|| Personal || Tornado ||

Living in Oklahoma you come to accept tornadoes as a way of life. The term "Tornado Alley" and constant warnings and watches come to be a way of life April through June. I remember the times of practicing where we would go if there was a tornado and preparing. Praise God that we never had to actually take cover.

In the past two years though tornado's have begun to strike closer to home. 2 years ago a small f-1 passed 2 blocks from our house in the middle of the night. This year hundreds of twisters tore through a small valley in Alabama wiping out an entire valley including the family of an ALERT graduate. Less than two months later Joplin was leveled by another deadly tornado.

As I think of the power that each storm brings I think back to Elijah in I Kings 19. He heard the wind, the rain, felt the earthquake, smelt the fire, and was surrounded by so many displays of God's power. While he could see the effects of God's power God was not "in" those events. His voice was in the still small quiet. What a reminder to look at my own life. Am I listening to His voice in the quiet? What about in the busy activity?

My friend Andrew is a phenomenal videographer who can tell stories in an amazing way. You can check out his work HERE. Also please take a moment to visit the following link and vote for his video of the Alabama tornado's. Contest Link He deployed down there while working with ALERT. During that time he shot the following film. Contest Link and Video of Alabama destruction His video was selected as a finalist for a competition for a company that designs some of the equipment he uses.

 After the Joplin tornado our ALERT Cadet unit along with a contingent from a Texas unit deployed to Joplin to clear houses and yards of debris. We also had the opportunity to serve the church we were working for. You can view pictures of that deployment HERE.

No greater L.O.V.E......

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. - John 15:13

4 years ago today, yet the memories of a brother who gave his all are still fresh on my mind. Because of you, Jaron, we enjoy freedom!

http://richardshoemakeriii.blogspot.com/2007/08/day-in-remembrance-and-celebration.html
http://www.iraqwarheroes.org/holliday.htm

In Honor of Flag Day

In honor of Flag Day. The Stars and Strips still proudly flying over a destroyed home in Joplin, Mo

THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.  -Thomas Paine, 1776-

 

Courtesy of Wiki.

To read the entire letter click on the image above.

Taking Chance

In This evening our family watched the movie, "Taking Chance". Taking Chance chronicles the trip home of Lance Corporal Chance Phelps, from the Dover crematory to his rural Wyoming burial in his families hometown as seen through the eyes of his escort, Lt. Col. Michael Strobl. Strobl chronicles the event and emotions surrounding it in his journal. Along the way as escort he was overwhelmed by the outpouring of gratefulness for the selfless sacrifice of a young man they had never even met.


As I watched I was taken back to 2006 and 2007. It was in 2006 that Marine Corporal Jared Shoemaker was killed in Iraq. Boldly protecting the freedoms that we hold so dear. Jared is the son of my dad's cousin. While I did not know Jared well I do know that no matter where he was protecting our freedoms he was also sharing with others about the freedom they could have in Christ. During his funeral our family witnessed first hand the gratefulness and honor of so many people who never knew Jared. Jared was also a Tulsa Police officer who protected our freedoms here at home as well as across the ocean.



Tulsa World account of Jared's Funeral. HERE


In 2007 I was down at the International ALERT Academy working in the Cadet office on a 9 month internship. On August 5th I received a phone call from my family telling me that Corporal Jaron Holiday had been killed in action in Iraq. Jaron had been an active part of our local ALERT Cadet unit up until the day he left for basic training. Jaron was a blast to be around and one the older guys that we all looked up to with admiration. Jaron had a love and passion for the Lord that was only seconded by his love for his family and music. Every where Jaron went his smile was always there to proclaim God's love.

Tomorrow my brother John will be graduating from high school with CHEF. The same group the rest of my family and Jaron have graduated with. At the service tomorrow Mrs. Holiday will present a music scholarship to one of the graduates. A continuing testimony to the life and service of an incredible young man who served God with all his passion.

Taking Chance - If you have not seen this movie before I would encourage you to have your parents preview it before hand. There is some inappropriate language and a few moments of inappropriate dress. The story is eye opening to the process of internment and the dignity and honor bestowed on them. It however, leaves out nearly all mention of the Lord and his true comfort and salvation.

Praise God for someone with a little Godly guts!

To view the original file follow this link or click on the picture.

Lew Sterrett and Sermon on the Mount in TULSA! (kinda :-) )

Lew Sterrett and Sermon on the mount will be here in Claremore at the expo center Saturday April 9th! Come and see the Jr. Rodeo at 10am or just browse the hundreds of vendors who will be there. Lew will be doing his presentation from 2-4pm. The event is free and open to the public.

Check out Lew's great resources and event schedule here: http://www.sermononthemount.org/

Photog ALERT!

For all my photog friends out there... If you are not able to purchase Adobe products with the educational discount then here is a great opportunity to pick up the full version of Lightroom 3 for $100 OFF!

Link to purchase.....