When I was young, the generation of people who had survived the great depression and World War 2 were in charge of everything. The "Greatest Generation" people were the fathers and mothers, the business owners, the skilled workers, the civic leaders, the teachers, the church members, the entertainers, the coaches, etc.; you name it.
To me, there was (and still is) something about them that can not be replaced. It almost moves me to tears when one of them passes. Only a few remain.
I can remember a conversation I had with a WW2 veteran who is no longer with us. He said, "there is not much left is there? I am old enough to remember what a great country this used to be."
I didn't totally agree with his observation, but I knew what he meant. The culture that he had grown up in and had fought for was in decline. What will replace it?
I served in Vietnam and am a VFW member, although I have to admit that I have never been active as a VFW member.
It has come to my attention our VFW post is in dire need of people who will serve as officers. The position of chaplain must be filled, or the post will lose its charter and be forced to close.
I have made it known that I am willing to fill the chaplain position, although I have been reluctant to get involved because of issues that are political in nature. I hope to find a way to put politics aside in order to be a part of a solution to a problem.
The VFW (as well as other service organizations) used to thrive, largely because of WW2 vets, now most of whom have passed on. Their shoes remain unfilled in many situations.
I know that the words that Jesus spoke in Revelation 3:2 apply to the ancient church in Sardis, and perhaps it is wrong for me to try to apply them to America in 2017, but I can't help it. To me, there seems to be a correlation.
"Be watchful and strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works to be perfect before God".
I am not 100% certain that I can be everything that the post chaplain should be, but I hope that I can do something to help at least one person in this endeavor. Maybe I can do something to make the post thrive once more, in spite of the fact that the vast majority of the "Greatest Generation" is no longer with us.
It seems to me that many of America's institutions are like Sardis church, having a name that they are alive, when they are really dying.
On a slightly different topic; are the churches in America similar the Sardis church?
The churches that support a traditional agenda have members who seem to be very humble and very sincere, but they are declining in numbers (and in workers) because most people do not care about humility and sincerity anymore.
Most people want drama and excitement. So there are churches that provide drama and excitement. They seem to be thriving, but are they really as close to the Lord as they think they are?
Perhaps I have used the words of Jesus to the ancient Church in Sardis out of context, and maybe I have applied them to a modern situation in an inappropriate manner. However, these are my thoughts.
I hope that I can be useful in my efforts to “strengthen what remains” of America.
To me, there was (and still is) something about them that can not be replaced. It almost moves me to tears when one of them passes. Only a few remain.
I can remember a conversation I had with a WW2 veteran who is no longer with us. He said, "there is not much left is there? I am old enough to remember what a great country this used to be."
I didn't totally agree with his observation, but I knew what he meant. The culture that he had grown up in and had fought for was in decline. What will replace it?
I served in Vietnam and am a VFW member, although I have to admit that I have never been active as a VFW member.
It has come to my attention our VFW post is in dire need of people who will serve as officers. The position of chaplain must be filled, or the post will lose its charter and be forced to close.
I have made it known that I am willing to fill the chaplain position, although I have been reluctant to get involved because of issues that are political in nature. I hope to find a way to put politics aside in order to be a part of a solution to a problem.
The VFW (as well as other service organizations) used to thrive, largely because of WW2 vets, now most of whom have passed on. Their shoes remain unfilled in many situations.
I know that the words that Jesus spoke in Revelation 3:2 apply to the ancient church in Sardis, and perhaps it is wrong for me to try to apply them to America in 2017, but I can't help it. To me, there seems to be a correlation.
"Be watchful and strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works to be perfect before God".
I am not 100% certain that I can be everything that the post chaplain should be, but I hope that I can do something to help at least one person in this endeavor. Maybe I can do something to make the post thrive once more, in spite of the fact that the vast majority of the "Greatest Generation" is no longer with us.
It seems to me that many of America's institutions are like Sardis church, having a name that they are alive, when they are really dying.
On a slightly different topic; are the churches in America similar the Sardis church?
The churches that support a traditional agenda have members who seem to be very humble and very sincere, but they are declining in numbers (and in workers) because most people do not care about humility and sincerity anymore.
Most people want drama and excitement. So there are churches that provide drama and excitement. They seem to be thriving, but are they really as close to the Lord as they think they are?
Perhaps I have used the words of Jesus to the ancient Church in Sardis out of context, and maybe I have applied them to a modern situation in an inappropriate manner. However, these are my thoughts.
I hope that I can be useful in my efforts to “strengthen what remains” of America.