Yesterday, my wife and I went with some friends from our church to the Gettysburg National Military Park. On my church's men's retreat in the spring, I go to Gettysburg during the freetime on Saturday since it is only a 20-30 minute drive from the retreat center.
This past year was so popular with the guys they asked if I would lead another tour over the Summer so they could spend more time talking about the battle and seeing the park. We set the date and yesterday the group went up to the battlefield.
It was raining early in the day but it did not last too long and brought the temperature down. I have been to the battlefield several times (as you might imagine, being a historian and only living about 2 hours away), but this time I was able to go to several place I had not yet had a chance to see. Everybody had a great time. Even my parents came along and when they spoke with my sister's husband that evening, he said that he would like to go up as well.
It is an awe inspiring place. If you live close by, take a weekend and vist. The town is great and there are several nice restaurants in the area like the Farnsworth House. It is a nice trip and even if you know nothing about the battle, a stop at the Visitor's Center will give you a good overview of the events of July 1-3, 1863 and you can even take a self guided auto tour.
Well, as you can tell, I try to promote people to learn the history of the nation in which we live and for those on the east coast of the USA, it is all around you. Take some time to appreciate the areas that are quite literally in your own backyard.
Friday, August 20, 2004
RCC May Have Gone Overboard on This One
MSNBC - Girl with digestive disorder denied Communion
OK, this is a little much. The Roman Catholic Church (RCC) has revoked a first communion because the wafer contained no wheat. The little girl who has had her sacrament denied cannot have wheat because of a rare allergy that causes her small intestine to block the absorption of food and may damage the organ as well.
Now while I do not agree with the doctrine behind the RCC's move, it should not really be a problem. Since the Catholic Church holds to a view of transubstantiation, that the bread and wine really become the body and blood of Christ, then why does it matter whether or not you start with a wheat or rice wafer. The institution of the sacrament, in RCC doctrine, means that the wafers are no longer wheat (or rice) but only appear to be wheat.
With the importance to Catholic regading the Lord's Supper, you would think that they would accommodate those who may not be able to take part using the traditional elements. You can still use the wafers and wine, just use rice or corn or whatever to make the Mass accessible to all who want to take part.
OK, this is a little much. The Roman Catholic Church (RCC) has revoked a first communion because the wafer contained no wheat. The little girl who has had her sacrament denied cannot have wheat because of a rare allergy that causes her small intestine to block the absorption of food and may damage the organ as well.
Now while I do not agree with the doctrine behind the RCC's move, it should not really be a problem. Since the Catholic Church holds to a view of transubstantiation, that the bread and wine really become the body and blood of Christ, then why does it matter whether or not you start with a wheat or rice wafer. The institution of the sacrament, in RCC doctrine, means that the wafers are no longer wheat (or rice) but only appear to be wheat.
With the importance to Catholic regading the Lord's Supper, you would think that they would accommodate those who may not be able to take part using the traditional elements. You can still use the wafers and wine, just use rice or corn or whatever to make the Mass accessible to all who want to take part.
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Back from Iraq
An aquaintance of mine recently returned from Army service in Iraq. I had an eye-opening conversation with him with regards to the goings-on in country. He did not serve in a "frontline" post but spent most of his time in the area of Bahgdad referred to as the "green zone." He does not know who coined that term but he said that it is really a misnomer. They had motar shells fired at their compound daily, not to mention the car bombings that took place a few weeks ago.
He also said that if things do not change, we are going to lose and he cited several reasons why. First, our forces are essentially hamstrung. The recent upring with Al-Sadr is a good example. He is holed up in a mosque, as the Muslims put it, a holy shrine, and the U.S. forces are essentially prevented from moving in for political fears regading damage to the site. He referred to this as losing with an asterisk. "Yeah we lost but we did not put in our best quarterback." His solution was to treat the mosques as what they are, buildings. The U.S. needs to get over this idea that we cannot touch these places and get in there and root out Al-Sadr and those of his ilk.
Second, we should not put any faith in the new "Iraqi Army." These men that have been put in the army and police forces are not serving or protecting the people that put them there. When a crisis happens, a car bomb for instance, while the general populace in the area go to help the victims, these Iraqi police and military forces are looting the stores. While they guard bridges and overpasses, if the insurgents were going to attack the area, they would not stand and defend but rather, let them destroy the bridge or use it as a chockepoint to attack the United States military. Essentially, they are more in the way the helping maintain the peace.
Thirdly, even the secure areas are no longer secure. This serviceman's comment was that a year ago, you could walk around the Baghdad and not have any problems. Today, you need to be in fear for your life. He said there were times that they were driving around the city and finding themselves in a traffic jam with their weapons ready wondering if they were a sitting target.
If the government and military do not reach some sort of accord with how to conduct this campaign and win, we could be looking at another failure by the United States in nation-building. We need to allow our troops to get into the fight and take out the militant leaders like Al-Sadr and to put down the insurgents by force. The quicker those that are hindering the peace process are taken out of the picture, the quicker real peace will return to Iraq and the governing council can get on with its job of rebuilding the country. As long as the insurgents are there, little to nothing will be accomplished.
This veteran did say that going in was a good thing. They are still digging and finding all kinds of things, even a jet buried intact in the desert. If Hussein could find the time to bury that, who knows what else if out there.
He also said that if things do not change, we are going to lose and he cited several reasons why. First, our forces are essentially hamstrung. The recent upring with Al-Sadr is a good example. He is holed up in a mosque, as the Muslims put it, a holy shrine, and the U.S. forces are essentially prevented from moving in for political fears regading damage to the site. He referred to this as losing with an asterisk. "Yeah we lost but we did not put in our best quarterback." His solution was to treat the mosques as what they are, buildings. The U.S. needs to get over this idea that we cannot touch these places and get in there and root out Al-Sadr and those of his ilk.
Second, we should not put any faith in the new "Iraqi Army." These men that have been put in the army and police forces are not serving or protecting the people that put them there. When a crisis happens, a car bomb for instance, while the general populace in the area go to help the victims, these Iraqi police and military forces are looting the stores. While they guard bridges and overpasses, if the insurgents were going to attack the area, they would not stand and defend but rather, let them destroy the bridge or use it as a chockepoint to attack the United States military. Essentially, they are more in the way the helping maintain the peace.
Thirdly, even the secure areas are no longer secure. This serviceman's comment was that a year ago, you could walk around the Baghdad and not have any problems. Today, you need to be in fear for your life. He said there were times that they were driving around the city and finding themselves in a traffic jam with their weapons ready wondering if they were a sitting target.
If the government and military do not reach some sort of accord with how to conduct this campaign and win, we could be looking at another failure by the United States in nation-building. We need to allow our troops to get into the fight and take out the militant leaders like Al-Sadr and to put down the insurgents by force. The quicker those that are hindering the peace process are taken out of the picture, the quicker real peace will return to Iraq and the governing council can get on with its job of rebuilding the country. As long as the insurgents are there, little to nothing will be accomplished.
This veteran did say that going in was a good thing. They are still digging and finding all kinds of things, even a jet buried intact in the desert. If Hussein could find the time to bury that, who knows what else if out there.
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
Summer Daze
It has been a lazy summer (outside of work for me). Everybody around is either becoming all politcal (with the election coming up), national (with the Olympics), or regressing to being teenagers (just because it is late summer).
Not too much has been going on. My wife and I have moved twice and I hope for the last time for awhile. We are back down in our home town staying with some friends of ours who have graciously open there house to use for the forseeable future. It has been a major stress reliever knowing that we have a place to stay and do not have to worry about stretching our budget to the breaking point.
Barb and I did have a nice day to relax yesterday. Tuesday is my day off so we went to the mall to check out The Village. It was a great movie. I usually enjoy Shyamalan's story-telling ability but this was particularly good. The story was excellent and the actors did a wonderful job of drawing you into their world. It does start fast and took alittle time for me to figure out what was going on but after about 30 minutes or so, I was bale to settle in and enjoy the story. I highly recommend it and may go see it again. Now if I can just talk Barb into going to see The Bourne Supremacy or I, Robot.
In an unrelated story, I am still looking for full-time employment. The one church which I was farthest along in the process with declined my application deciding to go with another candidate. So that essentially puts me back at square one in my search for a pastoral position. The good news is that my name is getting around and I am being asked to fill in as pulpit supply more often. I have sent out some more resumes but I have not heard anything back as yet. Maybe things will work our where I am right now but it is a long time to wait (late fall).
I am also giving a tour of Gettysburg in a couple weeks. If it is going to be as hot as it has been the past couple days, that is going to make a long trip. It will be nice to do something fun and to take my mind off of job related problems. The World Boardgaming Championships are also this week. I will be going Friday and Saturday. Maybe able to get a few pick-up games in after the ASLSK tourney.
Not too much has been going on. My wife and I have moved twice and I hope for the last time for awhile. We are back down in our home town staying with some friends of ours who have graciously open there house to use for the forseeable future. It has been a major stress reliever knowing that we have a place to stay and do not have to worry about stretching our budget to the breaking point.
Barb and I did have a nice day to relax yesterday. Tuesday is my day off so we went to the mall to check out The Village. It was a great movie. I usually enjoy Shyamalan's story-telling ability but this was particularly good. The story was excellent and the actors did a wonderful job of drawing you into their world. It does start fast and took alittle time for me to figure out what was going on but after about 30 minutes or so, I was bale to settle in and enjoy the story. I highly recommend it and may go see it again. Now if I can just talk Barb into going to see The Bourne Supremacy or I, Robot.
In an unrelated story, I am still looking for full-time employment. The one church which I was farthest along in the process with declined my application deciding to go with another candidate. So that essentially puts me back at square one in my search for a pastoral position. The good news is that my name is getting around and I am being asked to fill in as pulpit supply more often. I have sent out some more resumes but I have not heard anything back as yet. Maybe things will work our where I am right now but it is a long time to wait (late fall).
I am also giving a tour of Gettysburg in a couple weeks. If it is going to be as hot as it has been the past couple days, that is going to make a long trip. It will be nice to do something fun and to take my mind off of job related problems. The World Boardgaming Championships are also this week. I will be going Friday and Saturday. Maybe able to get a few pick-up games in after the ASLSK tourney.
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