In 1965, intimidation and discrimination were rampant in Alabama. More than half the city of Selma was prevented from registering to vote. More than 600 demonstrators marched to Montgomery to protest , and were brutally attacked on Sunday, March 7, 1965. A protest march was organized by the head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His march did not have federal judicial approval, however, and he turned the marchers around rather than march without this approval.
When an Alabama federal judge ruled on March 18 that the march could go ahead, President Lyndon B. Johnson and his advisors were concerned for the safety of the demonstrators. The biggest obstacle in their way? Alabama governor George C. Wallace. Governor Wallace was reluctant to order the national guard to action and utilize state funds for the purpose of protection. He promised President Johnson (in phone calls recorded by the White House) that he would call out the troops to maintain order, then turned around and refused to do so, calling on Johnson to instead activate federal troops. On this day in history, 1965, President Johnson notified Governor Wallace that he would use federal authority to call up the Alabama National Guard. This clash between Johnson and Wallace was a major turning point in the civil rights movement. President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law in August 1965.
When the civil rights movement was in the news, I was a year old. The changes in our country, even during the short span thus far of my lifetime, have been amazing. Many things have come to pass, both good and bad. From the civil rights movement of the 60s, to the election of President Obama in the fall of 2008, America has come almost full circle. As a nation, we have so much to be proud of, yet so much to continue to work toward.
It seems to me that there is a disturbing trend today, and there are those who would have us remove all mention of God. The statement made by former president Ronald Reagan is so true: "If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." There are those who would have the phrase "In God We Trust" removed from our money. Please do not be a part of the silent majority when it comes to God and country! You can search and find many statements, comments, and quotes from a variety of Americans about the importance of God. Read the words of Thomas Jefferson (1781): "And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever."
As a nation, as individuals, we must pray that God continue to shine His favor upon us. Without Him, we can do nothing. God, we thank you for the multitude of blessings that you have, and continue to, shower upon us. May we remember each day that you are God!
"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." ~~Revelation 1:8 NIV
20 March 2009
17 March 2009
La Fheile Padraig
As far as I know, I'm not Irish. Today is March 17, Saint Patrick's Day, and there will be celebrations round the world. What is the meaning behind this Irish celebration?
Saint Patrick's Day is an annual feast day that celebrates Saint Patrick, one of the patron saints of Ireland, and is generally celebrated on March 17. In Ireland, it is a national holiday: Northern Ireland celebrates a bank holiday, and the republic of Ireland calls it a public holiday. The Irish have celebrated this day for more than a thousand years. Here in America, we celebrate, but it is not an official holiday. Who is Saint Patrick and why is he celebrated?
March 17 is generally accepted as the date of Patrick's death. He was English born to wealthy parents, kidnapped at 16 and held in captivity in Ireland for 6 years. During his time of captivity, he found solace in his religion and became a devout Christian. Some years later, he returned to Ireland to spread Christianity. Although it is part of Irish folklore, the banishing of the snakes credited to Saint Patrick appears to be more a metaphor for the rise of Christianity and the decline in paganism. March 17, Saint Patrick's Day, is a Catholic religious feast day in Ireland: a day celebrated in memory of a saint by special services and rest from work. Today, Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated by Irish and non-Irish alike.
Whether it be Saint Patrick's Day, or simply Tuesday, each day is a gift to be celebrated. Every day that I wake up is a chance for a new beginning. Whether I wear green, eat corned beef and cabbage, or go about my normal routine, I do not need to lose site of the importance of this day. Remember the song from Sunday school? "This is the day ... this is the day ... this is the day that the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it."
Today I give thanks for the many blessings that God has seen fit to bestow upon me. Look around, take stock, and give thanks of your own. Remember that He is good ... and He is God. Through Him all things are possible!! An Irish saying that I have heard through the years feels appropriate to close this devotion:
Accepting Jesus as your savior guarantees that you'll be in heaven ... and it won't matter if the devil knows you're dead!
Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.~Psalm 96:2 NIV
Saint Patrick's Day is an annual feast day that celebrates Saint Patrick, one of the patron saints of Ireland, and is generally celebrated on March 17. In Ireland, it is a national holiday: Northern Ireland celebrates a bank holiday, and the republic of Ireland calls it a public holiday. The Irish have celebrated this day for more than a thousand years. Here in America, we celebrate, but it is not an official holiday. Who is Saint Patrick and why is he celebrated?
March 17 is generally accepted as the date of Patrick's death. He was English born to wealthy parents, kidnapped at 16 and held in captivity in Ireland for 6 years. During his time of captivity, he found solace in his religion and became a devout Christian. Some years later, he returned to Ireland to spread Christianity. Although it is part of Irish folklore, the banishing of the snakes credited to Saint Patrick appears to be more a metaphor for the rise of Christianity and the decline in paganism. March 17, Saint Patrick's Day, is a Catholic religious feast day in Ireland: a day celebrated in memory of a saint by special services and rest from work. Today, Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated by Irish and non-Irish alike.
Whether it be Saint Patrick's Day, or simply Tuesday, each day is a gift to be celebrated. Every day that I wake up is a chance for a new beginning. Whether I wear green, eat corned beef and cabbage, or go about my normal routine, I do not need to lose site of the importance of this day. Remember the song from Sunday school? "This is the day ... this is the day ... this is the day that the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it."
Today I give thanks for the many blessings that God has seen fit to bestow upon me. Look around, take stock, and give thanks of your own. Remember that He is good ... and He is God. Through Him all things are possible!! An Irish saying that I have heard through the years feels appropriate to close this devotion:
May you be in heaven one half hour before the devil knows you're dead.
Accepting Jesus as your savior guarantees that you'll be in heaven ... and it won't matter if the devil knows you're dead!
Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.~Psalm 96:2 NIV
Cause for Celebration
There are many things in our lives that we view as cause for celebration. One of the more universal celebrations is that of a wedding. What is a wedding? Defined, it is the legal joining of two people in the union of holy matrimony. Weddings can range from a couple in front of the justice of the peace to a multimillion dollar event publicized worldwide. Regardless of the extent of the ceremony, the end result is the same: two become one. (written 26 Feb 2009)
Today, I ordered my wedding dress. While this may not seem like a major event for some, those who know me well truly understand my aversion to shopping for myself ... even for my own wedding. There are time constraints, however, and since I'm not exactly a size 4 off the rack kinda female, I had to break down and find a dress so it could be ordered if necessary, delivered in a timely fashion, and altered if need be. With that goal in mind, I headed today to Jim Massey. No particular reason for starting there today, other than the fact that the personnel in the store were extremely nice the previous times I had dashed in there to briefly look at what they might have available.
Believe it or not, it only took about 4 or 5 dresses for me to find "the one." It is not a wedding gown, rather a bridesmaid dress, and is of such a style that I will be able to wear it again. I do not in any way want to lessen the importance of this dress or this day ... but the fact remains that this is not my first wedding, and at my age, I want something I can wear again! Wearing my wedding dress again will only serve as a reminder of what a wonderful day it was!!
I write on this topic simply because I feel as if I have been truly blessed with the man who will in 128 days become my husband. We have differing opinions on some things of course, but for the important things, we see eye-to-eye. The celebration of friends and family will take place on July 4th ... and we both find it quite appropriate that on the day that our great nation celebrates its independence, we will join our lives as one.
God, thank you for the blessing that you sent to me in Rob. May your hand continue to guide our lives, and direct us as you would have us go.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV
Today, I ordered my wedding dress. While this may not seem like a major event for some, those who know me well truly understand my aversion to shopping for myself ... even for my own wedding. There are time constraints, however, and since I'm not exactly a size 4 off the rack kinda female, I had to break down and find a dress so it could be ordered if necessary, delivered in a timely fashion, and altered if need be. With that goal in mind, I headed today to Jim Massey. No particular reason for starting there today, other than the fact that the personnel in the store were extremely nice the previous times I had dashed in there to briefly look at what they might have available.
Believe it or not, it only took about 4 or 5 dresses for me to find "the one." It is not a wedding gown, rather a bridesmaid dress, and is of such a style that I will be able to wear it again. I do not in any way want to lessen the importance of this dress or this day ... but the fact remains that this is not my first wedding, and at my age, I want something I can wear again! Wearing my wedding dress again will only serve as a reminder of what a wonderful day it was!!
I write on this topic simply because I feel as if I have been truly blessed with the man who will in 128 days become my husband. We have differing opinions on some things of course, but for the important things, we see eye-to-eye. The celebration of friends and family will take place on July 4th ... and we both find it quite appropriate that on the day that our great nation celebrates its independence, we will join our lives as one.
God, thank you for the blessing that you sent to me in Rob. May your hand continue to guide our lives, and direct us as you would have us go.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV
Is It Safe?
When you consider things that are "safe," what comes to mind? As Americans, the safety that we felt within our borders was shattered on September 11, 2001, when multiple plane crashes into the twin towers, the pentagon and a midwestern field rocked not only the US, but the entire world. The reverberations from those crashes are still being felt today. The victims of terrorism are spread across the world, and there are those who have no place that they can call safe. (written 19 Nov 2008)
This morning has been a period of much anxiety for first semester nursing students at Wallace. Those of us enrolled in Pharmacology (NUR 104) were scheduled to take our drug comp at 0800. What is drug comp? It is a test that deals with mathematics and its application for the nurse in calculating medication doses. You have to know if a drug dose is safe before you can administer it to your patient. How do you know? You read the label. You calculate the dose ordered to see if it falls within the safe range as determined by the manufacturer. If it does, you can administer the dose. If it does not, you cannot give the drug as ordered.
In Western Civ, we are studying the early days of Christianity and its spread across the Roman empire. Living conditions, while advanced for their time, would be called primitive by most of us in the western world today. It is difficult to imagine taking days to travel from place to place, when we can fly practically around the world in a day or less today. The spread of Christianity and the subsequent building of churches gave rise to the term sanctuary. What is sanctuary? We may consider the main area of the church, often known as the sanctuary. Defined, however, sanctuary is a church or other sacred place where fugitives were formerly entitled to immunity from arrest, or more simply, any place of refuge. Sanctuary = safe. When I was growing up, the church we attended was never locked. You could go in at any time and commune with Jesus, or in our case, play the piano and sing to our imaginary audience.
As a nurse, it will be my duty to provide safety for my patients. As a believer, my place of safety is provided for me. Jesus is my safety, He is my rock, my unmoving strength. How do you find this safe place? Simply ask Him into your heart and believe that He is Lord. There is only one way to Heaven ... the ultimate safe place. No riches, no good deeds, no perfect life will get you through the pearly gates, but believing in Jesus Christ and accepting Him as your savior.
Jesus, thank you for giving me the ultimate place of safety. Help me to be a guide for others who may need help to find you and their own safe place within you.
"But you will cross the Jordan and settle in the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and he will give you rest from all your enemies around you so that you will live in safety."~Deuteronomy 12:10NIV
This morning has been a period of much anxiety for first semester nursing students at Wallace. Those of us enrolled in Pharmacology (NUR 104) were scheduled to take our drug comp at 0800. What is drug comp? It is a test that deals with mathematics and its application for the nurse in calculating medication doses. You have to know if a drug dose is safe before you can administer it to your patient. How do you know? You read the label. You calculate the dose ordered to see if it falls within the safe range as determined by the manufacturer. If it does, you can administer the dose. If it does not, you cannot give the drug as ordered.
In Western Civ, we are studying the early days of Christianity and its spread across the Roman empire. Living conditions, while advanced for their time, would be called primitive by most of us in the western world today. It is difficult to imagine taking days to travel from place to place, when we can fly practically around the world in a day or less today. The spread of Christianity and the subsequent building of churches gave rise to the term sanctuary. What is sanctuary? We may consider the main area of the church, often known as the sanctuary. Defined, however, sanctuary is a church or other sacred place where fugitives were formerly entitled to immunity from arrest, or more simply, any place of refuge. Sanctuary = safe. When I was growing up, the church we attended was never locked. You could go in at any time and commune with Jesus, or in our case, play the piano and sing to our imaginary audience.
As a nurse, it will be my duty to provide safety for my patients. As a believer, my place of safety is provided for me. Jesus is my safety, He is my rock, my unmoving strength. How do you find this safe place? Simply ask Him into your heart and believe that He is Lord. There is only one way to Heaven ... the ultimate safe place. No riches, no good deeds, no perfect life will get you through the pearly gates, but believing in Jesus Christ and accepting Him as your savior.
Jesus, thank you for giving me the ultimate place of safety. Help me to be a guide for others who may need help to find you and their own safe place within you.
"But you will cross the Jordan and settle in the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and he will give you rest from all your enemies around you so that you will live in safety."~Deuteronomy 12:10NIV
Wear Your Hat
I will start this with a statement that many of you know already. I am an Alabama fan (ROLL TIDE!). No offense at all intended to those of you who do not think that crimson is a beautiful color as it applies to football, including my three 'Auburn' children. Thanks to Rob, I also am a huge Texas Longhorns fan. (Big 12, SEC = No conflict of interest). Should Alabama and Texas play one another, however, my football allegiance will have to be with my Crimson Tide. Many Southerners dearly love this time of year, because fall equals one of the things near and dear to their heart: FOOTBALL! I am not saying that football is a southern thing, it just seems that we are more enthusiastic about it than most. (written 17 Nov 2008)
What does this have to do with hats? Name one thing that comes to mind when you think of Alabama football. Yeah, that's it. The houndstooth plaid hat synonymous with legendary head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. There are arguments about whether the pattern is houndstooth or just plain plaid (all houndstooth is plaid, but all plaid is not houndstooth). Call the pattern whatever you like, it is the spirit of the hat that reverberates through the Alabama fan to the rhythm of the school's fight song. Why did "Bear" wear the hat?
The story has it that it was a gift sent to him by the owner of the New York Jets to thank him for encouraging Joe Namath to sign with the then upstart American Football League's (AFL) New York Jets instead of the established National Football League's (NFL) St. Louis Cardinals. Rookie of the year in 1965, Namath led the Jets to a victory in 1969 over the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. (Yes, that's three). As quarterback at Alabama, Joe Namath (under the direction of Coach Bryant) led the Crimson Tide to successive National Championships in 1964 and 1965.
Still not following my convoluted train of thought? Alabama fans wear houndstooth fedoras to show their allegiance to their team as well as a symbol of their respect for UA's beloved Bear. If you are a football (or any sport, for that matter) fan, you probably have at least one thing in your possession that signifies your loyalty to your team. What signifies your loyalty to Jesus?
I don't think it's the Bible you read and/or carry, nor the clothes you wear to church on Sunday. It's not the bracelet/pendant/hat you wear asking the question "WWJD?", nor is it the cross or crucifix hanging around your rearview mirror. My opinion? It is the person that you are, not the possessions you have. While we all have responsibilities, bosses to please, families to satisfy ... our ultimate judge is God. When the day comes that you stand before Him, what will He say? Wear your hat for Christ ... stand proud and unashamed.
Jesus, I thank you for the ability of expression. Help me to use it every day so that I glorify you.
"I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you."~1 Chronicles 29:17-18NIV
What does this have to do with hats? Name one thing that comes to mind when you think of Alabama football. Yeah, that's it. The houndstooth plaid hat synonymous with legendary head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. There are arguments about whether the pattern is houndstooth or just plain plaid (all houndstooth is plaid, but all plaid is not houndstooth). Call the pattern whatever you like, it is the spirit of the hat that reverberates through the Alabama fan to the rhythm of the school's fight song. Why did "Bear" wear the hat?
The story has it that it was a gift sent to him by the owner of the New York Jets to thank him for encouraging Joe Namath to sign with the then upstart American Football League's (AFL) New York Jets instead of the established National Football League's (NFL) St. Louis Cardinals. Rookie of the year in 1965, Namath led the Jets to a victory in 1969 over the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. (Yes, that's three). As quarterback at Alabama, Joe Namath (under the direction of Coach Bryant) led the Crimson Tide to successive National Championships in 1964 and 1965.
Still not following my convoluted train of thought? Alabama fans wear houndstooth fedoras to show their allegiance to their team as well as a symbol of their respect for UA's beloved Bear. If you are a football (or any sport, for that matter) fan, you probably have at least one thing in your possession that signifies your loyalty to your team. What signifies your loyalty to Jesus?
I don't think it's the Bible you read and/or carry, nor the clothes you wear to church on Sunday. It's not the bracelet/pendant/hat you wear asking the question "WWJD?", nor is it the cross or crucifix hanging around your rearview mirror. My opinion? It is the person that you are, not the possessions you have. While we all have responsibilities, bosses to please, families to satisfy ... our ultimate judge is God. When the day comes that you stand before Him, what will He say? Wear your hat for Christ ... stand proud and unashamed.
Jesus, I thank you for the ability of expression. Help me to use it every day so that I glorify you.
"I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you."~1 Chronicles 29:17-18NIV
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