Forgotten Soldiers? (Not if I can help it)

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Jan C. Johnson

My young Lieutenant: always a smile. . .

When my son Eric was commissioned into the Army, he vowed to defend our nation. He would follow orders to the best of his ability, wherever they might take him. We wiped stray tears and “pinned” his rank onto his uniform jacket.

Then came several months of training, including specialized programs near both coasts. He learned such skills as desert survival, driving a Humvee into and out of a trench, and allowing for wind speed and type of gunpowder when aiming a Paladin self-propelled Howitzer.

How’s that for a resume builder?

Meanwhile he was also obeying orders when he enjoyed them and when he didn’t, taking responsibility for his actions, and generally growing into the kind of officer that our military wants and needs. After Field Artillery school, he and Heather were stationed at Ft. Hood, right here in Texas. They moved into a nice apartment in Killeen.

Eric and an Iraqi colleague handing out school supplies donated by his aunt's third-grade class in Houston.

By mid-July, six months later, Eric was in Iraq, earning everyone’s respect by his cordial and helpful attitude. His unit’s deployment was to be for “no more than 365 days.” No one knew what they would do after all US troops were to be out of Iraq; naturally, we at home hoped the deployment would simply be cut short.

For a while it sounded as if that might be the case, but in November we got word that Eric would be one of about 4,000 soldiers who would remain in Kuwait. Disappointment, quickly followed by adjustment. Head up, shoulders squared.

Apache helicopters escorted the convoy along the road leading to Kuwait.

And so they went, off to an area of Kuwait that makes their camp in Iraq look like a tropical resort by comparison. We keep hearing that all our troops are “home from Iraq.” Even though the Brigade put out word that some units stayed in the Middle East, this information never quite seems to get mentioned on the news. You sometimes hear about our troops in Afghanistan, and indeed they are still seeing conflict. But the news media seem unaware that 4,000 brave men and women remain in Kuwait for another five months or so.

Eric is still following orders, still doing his job and encouraging his men as they do the same. I asked him about these things during his recent R&R leave. Despite the sacrifice of being away from his wife for so long, he likes Army life. He bears the responsibility of leadership with honor and with tremendous class. And he doesn’t want any sympathy or special recognition. It is, he says, what he signed up for. Really, all he asks of us in the States is to just know that his soldiers are still overseas.

So here is my two cents: When you hear people mention that the U.S. war in Iraq is over, please remember that “out of Iraq” does not necessarily mean “home.”

Thanks for reading,
Jan

PS: You are welcome to “Share” on Facebook at the bottom of this post if you are so inclined.
Also, I am linking up with Rachel Anne and our Company Girls friends, as well as with Jen and the Soli Deo Gloria girls.

Posted in Everybody Has a Story | Tagged , , , , , , | 22 Comments

“Spamples”

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Jan C. Johnson

So. I have started a collection. It isn’t a hobby, exactly…

You see, after I started publicizing my blog posts (by adding “tags” so other WordPress users might find them), I also started getting spam comments. These are designed to lure the blogger into clicking on an ad or on the commenter’s Web site. Some are just obvious generic come-ons. Others sound almost legitimate… until you notice that they speak passionately about something totally unrelated to the post.

I have compiled a sampling (or, “Spampling”) of the goofiest, most irrelevant fake comments into a new post for your amusement. All are pasted in “as-is” except that I have removed links. Enjoy!

On “Post-Thanksgiving Leftovers, Anyone?”

“we expect our guest to make some simple changes and to live by societys rules � were more than happy to answer all your questions and show you around.”

“My gym specializes in having lots of free weights rather than many different machines and I really like this in the gym.”

On the post “Writers and the Soul of a Painter”

“Great review! You actually overviewed some curious news in your post. I came across it by using Google and I’ve got to admit that I already subscribed to the RSS, will be following you on my iphone”

“I feel like any time you let someone have authority over you, you are basically giving them a white card to become a tyrant.”

“Greeting there administrator, I actually needed to firmly give a brief remark to firmly state that I cherished your specific blog post. Thanks!”

“Wow, wonderful weblog layout! How long have you been running a blog for? you make blogging glance easy. The whole look of your website is magnificent, let alone the content!”

On “Guest Post: Faith and Football” (a 500-word excerpt from a friend’s devotional book)

“In this site the best arguments from both sides are laid out, so that the reader can examine and question both sides of the argument.”

“I had texted Dad while on the way to meet me there, and he arrived at the same time so it worked out great.”

“how do i do this”

“I wish the author took a little more time to introduce the characters because I felt that the plot took off before I was ready.”

“good idea im gonna try it”

On the post “2011 In Review”

“I want you to find out some thing from the very start on this record and that a thing is this: I care about your needs and I sincerely imply.”

On my book review, “The Opposite of Art” by Athol Dickson

“That appeal beads are frequently gold and also rhodium as well as precious metal plated by using (link) or magnifying glaas and include not less than 800 styles…”

“This is an intensely personal issue and everyone should be able to make a decision on vaccination with all the facts in front of them.”

On the post “Gift Ideas for the Bike Masochist”

“What’s the deal with debt free?” (Also contained a link to some debt consolidation Web site)

“By us now to obtain more knowledge and facts at all events By us at times to grasp more low-down and facts in the matter of (link).”

Well, that’s it for now. I’m sure my collection will continue to grow.
To my bloggy Soli Deo Gloria sisters: Do you ever get spam comments like these?
To the spam-comment robots: Leave me alone.

Thanks for reading,
Jan
PS: I’m also linking up with Rachel and the Company Girls.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Bill Myers’ “The Judas Gospel” (Book Review)

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Jan C. Johnson

This morning I am linking up with Jen and our Soli Deo Gloria sisters… some of whom are bookworms just like me. Only perhaps without the grey hair…

Here is the latest title on my virtual shelf (the “…And Writers Read” page above):

Myers, Bill. The Judas Gospel. Howard Books, New York, 2011.

Once again, Bill Myers asks a “What if…” question and lets his fertile imagination go into overdrive.

In The Judas Gospel he asks, What if Judas Iscariot had never meant to betray Jesus, but was only trying to promote Him? Myers explores what might happen if Judas got another chance, this time to work with a young inner-city prophet in present-day Los Angeles. And this time, unlike when he followed Jesus, Judas would be allowed to use his own methods.

As with a true prophet, each one of Rachel Delacroix’s bizarre predictive dreams turn out to be accurate. Much too accurate, as far as the LAPD Robbery Homicide Division is concerned…

I’m usually a 15-minute-lunch-break reader, but as this suspenseful plot took me around twist after twist, I finally ditched everything else, curled up on the patio and read the last 70 pages in one sitting. What a ride–entertaining and lots of food for thought! I hope you will read and enjoy it.

Thanks for reading,
Jan
PS: If you have elementary-age kids, especially boys, I recommend Myers’ “My Life As…” series featuring Wally McDoogle. Here is his Kids’ Web page.

Posted in Everybody Has a Story | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Creature of Habit (Part 2)

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Jan C. Johnson

I already told you about how I go on auto-pilot when doing routine things at home. Well, now it seems there are times I can’t remember whether I am riding my bicycle, or driving a car.

One afternoon I was driving along the freeway (in my car, not on the bike), heading south toward home. After I took my usual exit toward our little town, I found the access to the road I needed was temporarily blocked. Since I bicycle the area, I knew I could make a U-turn, go back north about a mile, and follow the backroads until I was on course again.

I maneuvered around, drove north on the feeder road, turned right and bumped across the railroad tracks. After a couple more turns I was going south again toward our little highway. Soon I came to the intersection where, if I had been bicycling, I would have turned left to avoid the highway traffic. Of course, since I was in the car, I didn’t need to worry about getting run over, so I would just go straight.

The car turned left, seemingly of its own willpower.

Okay, fine. This will take me a mile out of my way, but then when I finally get to the highway, I’ll turn onto it. Because I’m in the car. Not on the bike. It’s okay to drive the car on the highway.

I pulled up at the stop sign at the highway, turn signal blinking. After carefully looking both ways, I crossed the highway, staying on the little asphalt road instead of turning. Sheesh, here we go again.

Eventually I got home, but that is how I managed to fit a 10-minute drive into 20. All that cornering around pastures, up hill and down dale along narrow blacktop roads. Just because once I got on a familiar bike route, I could not get my brain out of bike mode.

Does anyone else find it hard to tame their inner “creature of habit?”

Thanks for reading!
Tailwinds,
Jan

PS: I am linking up with Rachel Anne and the Company Girls today. Feel free to stop by for a cup of virtual coffee!

Posted in I Remember When... (my OWN stories), Thoughts on Two Wheels | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Why Fear is Obsolete

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Jan C. Johnson

As I promised last Monday, I’m going to pass along my take on some insights that my brother-in-law shared with the family when we were together last, just before the new year.

Robert’s mind is far more orderly than mine is. Combine that orderly mind with an attack of insomnia, and you get a logical progression of thoughts that are well worth writing down. Which, fortunately, he did. (Then there’s me. When I can’t sleep, I start thinking of absurd things like squirrels, verb tenses and trying to remember my street address from when I was in the second grade.)

Robert started with Jesus’ offer in the Gospel of John, chapter 10, verse 10: “… I came that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Then he asked a great question about that offer: What does life to the full actually mean? What does it look like?

1. If you read Psalm 139 you see that even before we were born, God knew everything about each of us. He even knows the words we haven’t said yet. So Robert concluded we have nothing to hide.

2. (Talking about those who have trusted in Christ for forgiveness and eternal life) God chose us from ages past to belong to him, to be adopted into his family and even to be a new creation. See 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Ephesians 1:4-6. Since God did all the choosing and all the work, we are left with nothing to prove.

3. Jesus teaches in Matthew 19:29 and 25:34 that, no matter what we give up for God, he will sooner or later give us much more as our inheritance. Since giving away always results in gain, we have nothing to lose.

4. If you have nothing to hide, nothing to prove, and nothing to lose, then there really isn’t anything left to worry about. We have nothing to fear. After all, as Paul says in Romans 8, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” He goes on to point out that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.

So the next time fear sticks its nose into your business, remember: as a child of God you qualify to claim the advice and promise in Philippians 4, verses 6-7…

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Thanks for reading!
Jan

PS: I’m linking up with Jen and my Soli Deo Gloria sisters!

Posted in A Page From My Journal | Tagged , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

The Fear Spiral

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Jan C. Johnson

Dear Friends,

I know, a lot of people did not enjoy the New Year as much as usual this time around. No matter how much you call each January 1 a “fresh start” or a “new opportunity,” the promise of 2012 just doesn’t shine as brightly as what we are used to. The US economy has been drifting toward trouble for some time. It now seems to be teetering at the edge of the falls, and our leaders appear more interested in fighting each other than in working together to sort out our problems. It all seems out of control.

You might say that our confidence has been shaken.

If so, it doesn’t need to be that way.
Here's the book... I bet it will encourage you!
Last fall I studied through A Confident Heart by Renee Swope, led by my blogger friend Ashley. In this book Swope offers some pretty keen insights on why our confidence might falter. I highly recommend reading it when you have time. Meanwhile, I’d like to share some of the quotes and notes I recorded while studying a section on “fear” in Chapter 10.

Swope recalls that she used to be afraid to go to sleep when her husband was out of town. Even after praying for safety, she would gather things around her to help her feel safe. Like any of us might do. One night she even brought the children into her room and then put the dresser in front of the bedroom door. She writes,

I thought I was controlling my circumstances, but instead fear had taken control of me. … That night God helped me see that my fears were like flames and my efforts to protect myself were like gasoline.

It sounded like a spiral of increasing fear. As I thought about her words, I could see how that had worked on me in the past. Every effort at self-protection served to validate my fear. That is, I was telling myself, “There is good reason to be afraid.”

I was telling myself, “God won’t take care of you.”

Swope gained that insight after reading Isaiah, chapter 43, verses 1 and 2 (God speaking): “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. … When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned…”

She remembered, as the apostle Paul reminded Timothy, that God had not given her a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind (Paul’s 2nd letter to Timothy, chapter 1, verse 7).

Swope realized that the only way to overcome her fears was to walk through them. She concludes, “I would have to put away my props and to go bed trusting God and not myself, knowing that even if my fears came true He would be with me.

Even those of us who have trusted in Christ for eternal life may miss that last key phrase. I know I tend to fear because I cannot be sure that nothing unpleasant will happen.

But “faith” doesn’t mean believing that nothing unpleasant will happen. As near as I can figure, real faith trusts God even when we get hurt, or fired, or… whatever. He knows where we are and he cares.

By the way, Swope adds that (paraphrasing here) when she put the furniture, the children and her faith back where they belonged… she slept better than she had in weeks.

Next: Why my brother-in-law says that fear is obsolete. And why he’s right.

Meanwhile, I am linking up with Jen and the Soli Deo Gloria sisters. Come see how Jen gathered her courage… and the exciting results!
Also, with the Company Girls for a visit with Rachel Anne and her ever-impish donkey, Flash.

Thanks for reading,
Jan

Posted in A Page From My Journal, Near As I Can Figure... | Tagged , , , , , , | 18 Comments