Adopt-a-Platoon

Yesterday, my troop went to the school that is adopting us for the Adopt-a-Platoon Program sponsored by Fort Drum with the surrounding community. We sat in front of the school assembly and listened to a bunch of talking that made me wonder who it was for; us, the kids, or the faculty?

The best part of the whole thing, which actually involved more than just the school assembly (to include being 'interviewed' by the second-grade and a huge lunch buffet), was immediately after the assembly. The principal released the students to return to class and said they could come up and shake our hands. This little boy came straight up to us and held out his hand to shake mine. I shook it and bent down to talk to him, and during the whole time he had just the cutest, biggest grin and his eyes seemed to say how happy he was that I was talking to him.

I showed him a picture of my son, who is the same age and grade as he is, and his dad is currently in Iraq. There was a connection made, even as fleeting as it was. He got a brief glimpse of his daddy through someone else's daddy and I got a brief glimpse of my son through someone else's son.

And we wonder how we will recognize Jesus...

Previous Comments:

"And we wonder how we will recognize Jesus..."

Harry - these thoughts were wonderful.

Posted by SolaG on November 11, 2003 at 09:01:44 PM

The Morality of Killing

(I'm not a great communicator. That being said, I am sure to get a few comments on this entry regardless of whether or not I effectively communicate the thought.)

I say, "Killing is wrong."

After an initial shock and just before disbelief settles in, I am questioned about what exactly do I mean by "killing is wrong"; a subtle negotiation of semantics from both liberals and conservatives alike. What do I mean when I say "killing" and what do I mean when I say "wrong"? And for some, it all depends on what my definition of "is" is. Well, I tend to go for the common interpretations of words. When I say "killing", I mean the taking of another human life. When I say "wrong", I mean there is no justification for it.

That's when all hell breaks loose. It doesn't matter, liberal or conservative, the majority of people are instantly convinced that I am off my rocker. That may be the case, but what is extremely interesting to note is how quickly many try to convince me to consider one kind of killing or another as being okay. In many cases, I am presented with hypothetical situations designed to invoke an emotion, such as the threatening of my wife or children. Perhaps that will appeal to my "sense of justice". I suggest that if I were to justify killing in one instance, pretty soon I could justify any kind of killing.

When asked for the source of my statement, I really have no definitive answer. I arrived at it one day when considering the whole question. I'd like to say that I have received it by "revelation". How can anyone argue against that? They could say that I'm deceived, but that means that they have to argue that it is okay to kill, which makes them wrong according to my statement. Which is where the whole conversation was leading to in the first place--Nobody wants to be wrong.

Every excuse for why killing would be okay is to preserve a moral high ground for us to stand on, so that we will not be accused or condemned based on our actions. But that's just the point, it bases itself in our actions, our decisions, our moral reasonings to preserve ourselves, those things that are already proven to change as they suit our needs to. When I am asked if those specific kinds of killing could be considered "acceptable", I am being asked for leniency--for mercy in my limited human judgment. As if what they might say in that instance is, "I had a really good reason." The premise of which begins with a universal understanding that killing is bad and that an excuse is needed to make it okay.

If I can explain away my behavior, then my being excused from being "wrong" is based on what I have done. Whether you consider that what I did "wasn't as bad" as someone else or whether you consider that my pleading my case was what "won" me the judgment for mercy. But with the totality of all killing being wrong, I am left with no excuse, no out, no escape. What will happen if I kill? I will be guilty; the very verdict attempting to be escaped by those who are asking me to consider that some kinds of killing are permissible.

But, wait. There is hope!

In Romans, Paul talked about how everyone--I mean, EVERYONE--was locked up under the law in disobedience so that God could display mercy for EVERYONE. Jesus died to do away with the problem of sin. A promise that he would no longer consider our failures in this life and hold them against us; somehow dying in punishment for the condemnation that our actions bring upon us, so that we could live without that very condemnation. The same result that others try to achieve with me, by argument, has been offered to us regardless of our own machinations and justifications.

It doesn't matter how "wrong" or "right" we are, there is only one thing that can ever make us right, and it isn't what we do, it isn't how little of the bad stuff we do, and it isn't the circumstances under which our actions occurred. The only justification that we can possibly have that makes us truly righteous, and not merely pretenders to the throne, is what Jesus did for all of us.

Travelogue, Part II

Mission accomplished! I've spent the last 4 days with my wife and kids, thoroughly enjoying my last taste of mundane family life for a year. Leaving is merely a repeat of [last two entries talking about leaving], so I won't bore you with those thoughts. The really cool part is that my Mom came down to see me off, thanks to my cousin's generosity! (Brian, YOU ROCK!!!)

Mom rented a car on an internet special. The restrictions being that you have to rent for a minimum of three days and you only get 100 miles/day. Perfect. Exactly what Mom needs to come and visit. The hitch is, and you know there's a hitch, is that they put a charge of $250.00 deposit charge on her credit card, which maxes it out and now she has no money for gas or meals because she was gonna use the credit card! We work out a deal, since I need a ride to Phoenix, and the shuttle is gonna cost me at least $25, I'd rent another vehicle on the weekend special, she could turn her vehicle in and free up the credit card. Sounds like a plan. Hitch#2: The credit card company will take up to 5 days to process the "refund" transaction from the car rental company.

Normally, I'd say that both of these companies are just whacked. The car rental company for conducting business that way, and the credit card company for being a slow giant, but so far, this story works out okay. They didn't charge Mom for an exorbitant rental cost (probably close to what she would've paid for the three days, anyways), and the credit company gave Mom an emergency authorization to exceed her credit limit by x-amount of dollars. Hitch #3, but it's livable, is that she'll have to call each day to receive the same authorization for the duration of her trip, or until the refund is credited to her account.

With everything finally taken care of, we pile into the new rental car and head out on the road. The relief of a solution freeing us to talk about other things, like whether or not killing can be moral.

Travelogue

I bought a ticket to go visit my wife and kids and at the time I went to buy it, all the regular airlines had jacked their fares up to the price-gouging levels. That's pretty typical of an airline. They figure if you're gonna need to go anywhere on that short of a notice, you'll need to travel badly enough to pay whatever they're charging. Well, normally, they'd be right.

There is hope for those of you not interested in paying exorbitant prices for last-minute travel choices. The option that you should probably take a look at is American Trans-Air (ATA). When other airlines jack their ticket prices through the roof, ATA stays reasonable. It's not like a "cheap" airline, either. Airlines like Southwest and USAir that have turned perfectly good aircraft into cattle transports. ATA has normal seating and normal accomodations.

Okay, enough of the free commercial. The thing about this ATA flight is that it leaves at 6am from Pittsburgh, PA, which is a 7-hour drive from where I'm living (according to RandMcNally.com). And the ATA website says that I need to check in 2 hours early to make sure I can get through the security. So, I turn my schedule upside-down for three days (resetting my circadian rhythm), telling my body it's time to be awake when all the normal and sane people in the world are sleeping. And then sleeping like a lazy bum with nothing to do. Oh, wait, that's how I normally spend my weekends!

Add to all this, I'm a procrastinator. So, there I am, with my departure time from the house targeted for 8pm Monday night, it's two hours to go and I'm whipping through my stuff trying to be realistic about what to pack for 4 days in Arizona. Like it was really hard. The temperature in October ranges from the mid to high 80s all the way up to the low 100s. Not to mention that after living in Hawaii for two and a half years, I own practically no other clothes but shorts and t-shirts.

Believe it or not, I got out of the house 2 minutes late. A remarkable occurrence to be sure. I get on the highway, and I'm driving like a bat out of hell. Okay, it was a whopping 74.999 miles per hour. I figure it was fast enough that the cops weren't gonna pay attention to me. Only, I keep passing all the trucks. Crap! The fuzz must patrol this thing. Lucky for me, my friend lent me his radar detector. BEEEDEEEDEEEDEEEEP!!!

Man, that thing works! Saved me twice. Not that 75mph is Mach 1 or anything, but there is no rhyme or reason to cops giving tickets in my experience. The only requirement be that you are caught traveling faster than the speed limit. After all my hurry and padding the timeline with extra time, "fudge factor" as we call it in the military, I hit Pittsburgh with an hour and 45 minutes to burn. I need some coffee and a nap.

Adages Suck!

It has nothing to do with what you call "the law of love". Love and sex are not necessarily linked. One can have sex without love, and love without sex. Neither love nor sex demands the other! However, the natural accompaniment to life-mate love which according to scripture, is Heterosexual love, is sexual intimacy.

Now, before you agree to what this gentleman is saying regarding homosexuality, think about his argument. What is it he is really saying with his words?

To me, he appears to be saying that love and sex aren't related at all, but at the end he says that love and sex are related, but only if you meet certain requirements. Essentially, he's talking out of his ass. A trait common to the human race. Disqualify the other guys point with an argument only to use the same argument to prove your point.

Hint: If it disproved the other guy's point, it disproves your point.

Adages suck. Mainly because they're overused, but also because they are pat answers. If I was to use an adage to address this situation, I would say, "Christians should be seen and not heard!"

See how that doesn't work?

The Expectation of Homecoming?

I just called my wife last night (technically early this morning) and told her that I would be flying down to spend a last few days before I have to deploy. There was a distinct and marked change in her voice, an excitement of anticipation was present as she asked, "Really?" After three or four weeks of having to take care of the four of our kids all by herself and very little adult contact, the possibility that I would actually be around and not just on the other end of a long phone line must seem like a treat.

I know that I've been brooding, a little bit moody as I think about a year away from my family and the activities I will miss, the memories I won't experience; my youngest's first birthday, Christmas, Valentine's Day, my wife's birthday, my 13th anniversary (maybe that's a good thing? ::smile::), my second-youngest's third birthday, my oldest's 11th birthday, my second-oldest's 7th.

There is a part of me that seriously wonders whether these things are worth sacrificing for anything. Not the continued lip-service to freedom, patriotic responsibility, the flag, the fight against terrorism. Honestly, right now, none of these things motivate me. What motivates me is to feel the way my wife sounded on the phone when I told her that I was gonna fly home!

Justifying One's Beliefs vs. Justification

Written by someone else:

"If this is what is meant by this statement [a sinner saved by grace] then why not say what is meant and avoid misunderstanding. The truth is this is NOT what is meant by it. I have heard this phrase come out of the mouth of Christians all the time. What they are often alluding to is how unworthy they are, how they never measure up and how they never will, and how they will never reach a level of victory in their lives until they get to Heaven.

If one wants to live the Christ-Life then their thinking and speech must line up with what God's Word says. Anyone who does not think that this is important neither knows the Bible, know nothing about faith, and do not realize how much they displease the Lord."

"I have died with Christ, and the life I live, I no longer live but Christ lives in me." Living the Christ-Life is the work of Christ. "Wanting" to live it merely produces actors and actresses who pretend by speaking their lines as dictated by their understanding of scripture. And they are easily distracted from the character they portray, to reveal themselves, and the flesh, in what they say and do. Not having understood that Christ reveals himself from within, they have felt the need to "reveal" themselves as having Christ within.

If Christ is in you, that is the hope of glory. One that becomes evident all by itself, not having to be spoken of in correct terminology in order to be true. Words mean little, as Jesus himself described. "Many will come and say...." But what comes from the heart of man, that is what shows who believes what, and this is where Christ dwells within us, in the hearts of men. Those who seek to be justified by their actions and words will find no justification in them.

Previous Comments:

A wholehearted and cheery amen, Harry!

Posted by Mary on October 13, 2003 at 11:01:48 PM

The War of the Words

I am participating in a 'discussion' on an internet forum, where the argument is made that the words you use to refer to yourself define who you are. I don't believe that anymore. Not quite sure when that belief went away, but I realize just how capable we are of lying to ourselves.

I often think of myself as better than others because of something I know or something I do better than them. Half of the time, I am kidding myself because I fail to take something else into consideration, like the amount of time I've had to learn or practice those things, compared to whomever I'm comparing myself to. The other half of the time, I am merely imagining myself as being better when I have no real reason to think that way.

What does it matter if I refer to myself as a "sinner saved by grace" or a "saint", if my reason for hope and justification resides solely in Jesus Christ? I am defined by the truth of my situation, not the words I use to describe it.

Questions

I like to ask questions. Most of the time, the questions I ask, are the ones I have. Sometimes, I ask them to get other people to think. But, I find that many times, people don't even want to hear the questions. They don't want to consider them. They don't want to find out if I am legitimately asking the question, or if I have an answer to offer to the question. I don't even know if it is the possible answer or the question itself that is the problem. Maybe it is neither. Maybe it is me, or maybe it is them.

Previous Comments:

So...what's the question?

Posted by Patti on October 8, 2003 at 10:04:27 AM


Shhh, don't interrupt my pity party! :) After all, I was only Just Wondering! In this case, the question was about the Genesis account. Don't worry about it, though, because the moment of self-pity is passed.

Posted by HarryTick on October 8, 2003 at 10:18:22 AM

Spaced Out

Woke up this morning at 9AM to a knock on the front door. I'm now staying with a friend from earlier in my career, and his wife. They have been more than gracious in opening their home to me. Anyways, they are gone for the weekend and a Sheriff's deputy is at the door asking to see either one of them. I tell him that they are gone for the weekend and I'm house sitting for them but that they should be back tomorrow or Monday.

Today is Sunday...

I hope he saw the sleep still in my eyes!

The Definition of Freedom

I was thinking that often we define freedom by what we can do. Others define freedom by what we can't do. Sounds like lawyeristic legal wrangling to me! Maybe the definition of freedom is simply being free??

Previous Comments:

Couldn't be that simple, could it? :)

Posted by the Shovel on October 4, 2003 at 06:13:20 PM


Freedom is measured by number of alternatives.

Posted by merol on December 8, 2003 at 02:14:41 PM


Isn't that the same as defining it by what we think we can do? If there is any restriction, and I mean any restriction at all, how can we possibly refer to it as freedom? It would be something more like permission to behave in a specific manner and not really freedom at all.

Posted by HarryTick on December 9, 2003 at 08:20:07 PM


To Define Freedom , first we take from the greek/latin prefix of the word. Free- liber, to Be unrestricted and independant. Applying this to one such as yourself it means , a state of mind, A mental condition only you can change. Outside forces can help to mold you view and perspective of freedom , but nothing can give or take it from you.

Posted by Unknown on December 10, 2003 at 10:22:49 AM


I just open my dictionary. Even better than that, every creature can intrinsically recognize it and earnestly seeks it!

Posted by HarryTick on December 11, 2003 at 11:39:21 PM