News from here
I sit down to write again and again and nothing seems important enough to write about. so if you don't mind me rambling I will just do that.
One thing I am curious about. So far several people have written to me asking that I do either some writing on their blog, or that I grant them some kind of interview or that in some form or fashion I write something for them about the war here in Iraq. I am never sure if these things are some new brand of scam; and I being suspicious of everything have yet to write them back.
I have never considered myself a scholor or a writer or even good at smashing words together to make a sentence. So for these folks to ask for my input is flattering but at the same time it puts me off a little. I am not fishing for a compliment here, rather just letting you in on the questions that storm through my head. Do they really think I write all that well? Do they really think I have great insights on this war? Do they really want to hear about the gospel applied to a crawl through the mud profession. Actually I would like to hear about that last one.
I started writing on this blog just to keep my family and friends informed and maybe share with them a little of what goes on here. I am glad to hear that others of you are blessed by my comments. I would prefer to just keep this whole thing simple. If you like it great, if you don't, fine. Anything more than that is just not in my plans.
One of my soldiers commented on chapel this week, it was fun to read
he had some interesting insights on chapel this week.
posted by Chaplain Luken at 1:59 AM
23 Comments:
It's good to be wary. The predators out there are usually after your wallet. I'm sure this has gone through the proper channels, but there are people who prey on soldiers who have come back with a lot of unspent pay and/or bonuses. The one I have heard from are car dealers who have been ripping off soldiers. It's a shame, but with freedom comes freedom to do the wrong thing as well.
Hi Todd, Good to hear from you again. Imagine our troops must feel like they are kind of in Limbo as President Bush decides how to proceed in this war. More details after the first of the year. Whatever, we are proud of the work you do. The mass media is already talking about the large group of soldiers that will be coming back home this spring. They must have something in store for all of you. Take care. God speed. Judy and Randy
I know what you mean. I am still baffeled that they have new car dealerships over here. Like any of us need a new car or motorcycle now!!! They should just clear out of here, there will be plenty of time to pick our pockets when we get home
Hi Todd,
My co-worker received a Xmas card today from an Irish customer who has become her friend. I liked the poem on the card and thought your readers would like it also.
I Will Light Candles This Christmas
Candles of joy, despite all sadness.
Candles of hope where despair keeps watch.
Candles of courage for fears ever present,
Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days,
Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens,
Candles of love to inspire all my living,
Candles that will burn all the year long.
by Howard Thurman
Howard Thurman, poet and theologian, founded the first interdenominational church in the U.S. On the back of the card they mention one of his quotes, "There must always be remaining in every one's life some place for the singing of angels."
Judy and Uncle Randy
Hi Todd,
Randy and I just finished the tail end of our Christmas gift shopping, except for each other. I never heard anything bad about using the abbreviation Xmas for Christmas, but Randy has. I always though the 'X' stood for the cross, but Randy must have heard something different. Therefore, if I offended anybody, please accept my apologies.
Hope you have a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year. From what I read of Sack's blog, your Bible study and chapel are really great and make him feel like he's at his church back in his home town. We continue to keep you in our prayers and notice how frequently our troops are remembered in prayer at our churches.
Love, Judy and Randy
A gospel for those in the mud, this sounds like a good sermon title, especially for those who find themselves in the mud times of life. The gospel message is to those in life no matter where they find themselves, if we can find this relationship, we've found the answer to life. Life is so precious to the Lord, no matter where we find ourselves.
well said dewayne. Xmas is not necessarily bad. Depending upon what you mean by the 'X'. In greek the first letter of Christ is X. So in seminary and even now I routinely use X as an abbreviation for Christ it is like using the first letter of someone's name if you need to write fast or in a small space.
I have heard competing stories about how the X was intended to take Christ out of Christmas which is kinda funny seeing as the whole reason for the name is because of Jesus. Christmas is literally the 'Christ mass' The mass dedicated to Christ's birth.
I guess to really know you would have to be able to judge the intention of others. Me, I think that others are either using it because they think it is clever or because they really think that X is an abbreviation for Christ. Either way go ahead and use it, you know the real meaning of the Christ mass.
Hi Todd,
Merry Christmas!
Great to see Connor and Anne last Friday night at Grandma's house. Babies always amaze me with their intelligence even before they start talking. Friday night when Connor pulled off one of his socks and then went into the laundry basket to get some of his toys, I was reminded of babysitting my nephew when he was a baby. We'd make a game out of putting together all the socks that we had just gotten out of the laundry.
This incident kind of goes along with our pastor's homily this morning, too. (Mi 5:1-4). He said that it is in the midst of the least expected that we receive that life that strengthens us. While Bethlehem was considered a town of little significance at that time, scripture tells us this about the town, "out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be the ruler in Israel....And this man shall be our peace."
As the Christmas season begins today, we continue to pray for peace and thank you for for giving that message of hope to others, as your son brought joy and hope in my life, too.
Love, Judy and Uncle Randy
Hi Todd,
You're getting out of our first blizzard here in Minneapolis. I dropped Randy off at your Grandma's house and on my way home got a flat tire. That's so maddening.
When you get home you'll have to read the stories written by Berenstein about his bears to Connor at bedtime. The titles of a couple of his children's books are, "Just Me and My Dad," and "I Got So Mad." I could use somebody reading that last book to me tonight. No, seriously, the flat tire could have been worse.
Our homily was about the holy family this morning and father's words come to light as I realize how much support I receive from my family and that support (no matter how mad I get), draws me closer to Christ to do the will of God. So tonight while I celebrate family as a new year is about to begin, I am thankful for their love and forgiveness in the midst of all my imperfections. Our pastor also said today that family also includes those who sustain us, even though they may not be our biological family and I celebrate those relationships, tonight, too.
Happy New Year! Randy and I appreciate all you do and continue to pray for you.
God bless you in your work. Love, Judy and Uncle Randy
Hi Todd,
While it will be great to have you (and many of our troops) back on American soil soon, great that you are with a good group of servicemen and women in Iraq. I remember my sister took a European tour not long after she graduated from high school. While that isn't the same as being deployed, I though it kind of a coincidence because the other young travelers who accompanied her on that trip were from Nebraska also! After she got home, she even kept up the contact with her new Nebraska friends. The David Lettermen show is on now and I know he's a Nebraskan. Sorry to hear that the Cornhuskers lost their bowl game though.
Take care. Glad Randy got to talk to you on New Year's Day at Grandma's house. I was at a gourmet dinner celebration at my parish (fundraiser for the leaky stained glass windows in our church). Looked at our Pastor, Fr. Hose, at the table across from me and a young man sitting next to him looked like you!
We wish you, and all of our troops, special blessings for the New Year! Love, Judy and Uncle Randy
Todd,
It's good to actually see your ugly mug again; thanks for posting the pic. It's been a LONG time since I've seen you in person. As near as I can recall, the last time I saw you was probably October of 1991.
When you get back to the states, maybe I can arrange a trip back to MN and have a bit of a reunion. It would be fun to hang out with you, Joel and Ron.
Hi Todd,
Just got an email from Cousin Jeanne, Jim and Eunice's daughter. She said they're having a 50th wedding anniversary celebration for her folks not long after you get back to the U.S. So we'll be looking forward to that family celebration in Pine City.
As for today, the snow is melting, the days are getting longer, and temperatures will be in the upper 30's. Beginning to feel like spring time. Have a good day and worship service soon. Love, Judy and Uncle Randy
Hi Todd,
I was sorry to hear tonight that Pres. Bush plans to escalate the number of our troops in Baghdad and that our Minn. troops may have their tours of duty extended. Hope that doesn't include you, but I suppose it does. On the news tonight, Gov. Pawlenty said that he doesn't feel that that is fair for our troops already deployed in Iraq, Sen. Amy Klobuchar wasn't pleased, and neither was Sen. Norm Coleman.
Randy and I pray Pres. Bushes strategy
is a way where we can bring our troops home soon by bringing an end to the war. I guess none of us, who have always been blessed with so many freedoms, have any idea what it must be like to live in Iraq. Stay strong and know that we are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers. Our assignment will be to find all the Bible verses we can that have to do with encouragement, courage, faith, hope, and love.
Love, Judy and Randy
Hi Todd, Randy and I ran into your mother's sister, Marcia, and her husband, Chuck on our way into Target this afternoon. Good to talk to them. Chuck asked if you would be affected by Pres. Bush's new strategy and I said that I guessed you would. The Online Chaplain writes about his reaction on his most recent blog site. His words are more powerful than anything I can say. When we feel the wind has been knocked out of us and it hurts to breathe (after receiving news that their tour of duty has been extended), we must remember that it is in difficulties like this that we become closer to Our Lord. He is with us and won't abandon us. May the wind be always at your back,... May God hold you in the palm of his hand, Until we all meet again.
Love, Judy and Uncle Randy
For friends and family back home the stuff you write can be a breath of fresh air. Check out wymz.blogspot.com
Hi Todd,
Randy had a gift for Grandma, and when we stopped by last night to give it to her, got to see Connor. Anne had her nephews over helping paint.
Next month I'm taking a trip to visit Dad and Mom for 5 days with my sister. Looking forward to getting away and hopefully, Randy and I will be able to take a vacation together later in the spring.
Your grandma said that the worst case scenario will be that you will be in Iraq until August. And this morning on the news, they said just about the same thing. We continue to pray for your safety, help on the homefront (my mother always used to say, "I shouldn't have to ask for help." In other words, kind of expected.), and that the time goes by quickly. Terribly cold here in Mpls. this morning -6. Have a good evening. Peace, Judy & Uncle Randy
Hi Todd,
Sorry if I sounded crabby in some of my last comments. The past two weeks I was unable to go to my parish on Sun. due to a variety of reasons (Randy had a cold, felt overwhelmed plus the weather was bad.). Instead went across the street to another Catholic Church. Hope I can return to my parish this week. I get used to the way my pastor celebrates Mass and his homilies always seem to hit the nail on the head and get me back on track for the rest of the week.
Have notes from my pastor from a couple weeks ago. Said he blessed a couple boys who were to head out to Iraq and Afghanistan soon. Said we should be there for our troops, for people who need a sign of peace, for the poor... because of our relationship to God. And that love we receive from Our Almighty Father needs to be manifested in a world hungering for love, peace, and justice as we are all brothers and sisters of Christ. I pray we can be a blessing to one another.
Take care. We're counting the days. Love, Judy and Uncle Randy
Hmmmm...
A moustache.
Well, a cut finger.
Yours was the easiest blog to catch up on.
I have finally gotten hi speed.
And you do write well.
The sentences mash together well and seem to be interesting. It's better than reading the dictionary.
:)
Dear Todd,
I heard Randy sent you a long email yesterday. I was proud to learn that my second cousin, a news anchor on KSTP-TV, was in charge of a fundraiser for the Bob Allison Ataxia Research Center for KSTP. He said that Bob Allison may become more well known for being responsible for finding a cure for ataxia, than his career with the Minn. Twins baseball team. Hope the fundraiser is a success and I pray it will benefit both Randy and Margaret.
Have a good day. We continue to keep you in our prayers and pray you all get the feeling that Our Lord is by your side each day, even if you don't always feel his presence. May He give you a sense that he is by your side and by our side here at home, in all we do today and every day. Love and prayers, Judy and Unc Randy
Hi Todd,
Hope all is going well for you and your troops. Heard that you have a birthday coming up soon.
Still extremely cold in Minnesota and tomorrow is suppose to be even worse (30 below with the windchill). At least we're not getting the snow they got in upstate New York. It's over rooftops.
Have a Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Birthday, too.
We miss notes on your blog site, but suppose you are busy.
God bless,
Judy and Uncle Randy
Your e-mail isn't working today. But, Happy Birthday belatedly anyway.
Dear Todd,
Thanks to Uncle Randy's friends, family, and church members who helped him in my absence. Just got home last night and that help made my trip to visit my parents in Florida more enjoyable. Since Dad and Mom are in the 80's and 90's, I don't know how much longer they will be able spend their winters down there. Don't even have a Metro Mobility in Palmetto, FL.
Changing the subject, I thought of you recently. One of the contestants on the American Idol TV program (Sundance) and his wife, just had a baby before he was chosen to go to Hollywood. Since he is good, they predict he will go along way. However, like all of you young fathers and mothers, he misses his son terribly. Recently he made a joke about it. Said that when he finally does get home, his son will probably be asking him to go fishing with him!
Keep up your good work and hope you and all your troops are doing well. Thought I heard that there was a blizzard in Omaha,NE, a few days ago, so hope your troops' families are surviving. We're plowed out in Minneapolis, but more snow is predicted.
God bless. We all miss you very much. The Online Chaplain posted a list of all the things our soldiers like and need, so will forward it on to others, too.
Love, Judy
Hi Todd,
I bet it feels like you're on the home stretch now.
We just got good news. My brother and his wife just got pictures in the mail of the two children (brothers) they will be adopting. They are 2 1/2 and 6 1/2.
Randy said Grandma is doing better and people from their church are helping.
Hope all is well with you. Haven't seen Connor and Anne in quite a while, so hope all is well with them.
Love and prayers, Judy and Randy
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