Today is Tuesday, May 28th, 2013; Karen's Korner #2577

Like many communities around the United States, Clarion veterans hosted a Memorial Day service locally yesterday.
 
I was asked by our local newspaper to take a couple of pictures so I scribbled a few brief notes to add to the photo caption.
 
The guest speaker was Mark Thompson, a native of neighboring Eagle Grove, served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1977 - 1998, retiring as a Major. Currently, he serves in the Department of State working in such areas as counterterrorism, development and implementation of hostage policy and working with foreign governments to develop emerging terrorist threats. He lives with his wife near Washington D.C. and works in an office at the White House.
 
In my book that makes him a heavy-hitter.
 
In his remarks, Thompson said, "I always asked incoming Marines, 'why did you want to join the Marines?' Repeatedly their answers were, 'I wanted a challenge'." He said Marines live by the words 'never quit.....on themselves.......nor their teammates'. Referring to the Gettysburg Address which was read prior to his speech, Thompson said, "In Lincoln's brief address, he used the words 'dedication' and 'devotion' seven times." He challenged the listening audience to 'take the example of Marines and those in public service'........and to 'make a difference regardless of our position;' in life.
 
Some of his comments made my think of those of us who 'join the ranks' as a Christians:
 
* Are we ready for the challenge?
* Are we willing to never quit....
* On ourselves?
* On our Christian teammates?
* Like President Lincoln admonished his listeners at Gettysburg, do we serve with 'dedication' and 'devotion'?
* Are we willing to live lives of example whether we work out of the White House or 'our house'"?
 
And one of the phrases that he used that missed my possible newspaper tag-line, "never leave any soldier behind on the field of battle".
 
That should be our battle cry, as we take advantage of all the things God has to offer us. Among them eternal life for those who believe. Let's live our lives in such away that we 'leave none of our brothers and sisters behind on the battlefield of this life'.
 
And the best part: Unlike any armed forces Commander-in-Chief over generations, "Our 'Commander-in-Chief' has come to reside within each one of us via His Holy Spirit and to walk beside us wherever our journey might take us.
 
"Lo, I am with you always,
even to the end of the world."
~ Matthew 28:20
 
*
""But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,
you will receive power to testify about me with great effect,
to the people in Jerusalem,
throughout Judea,
in Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth,
about my death and resurrection."
~ Acts 1:8
 
***

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