Stand and Defend

             Several years ago I came into the possession of a great book about the Civil War. My brother, John, was heading for Maine to spend some time at a favorite cabin we often frequented during the summer located in the wonderful lobster village of Corea. A short drive from there was the Chicken Barn, one of those great old places where you could find all sorts of treasures. I had seen a book there the previous summer which I dearly wanted. John picked it up for me, shipping it to California.

The book is entitled, “The Book of Anecdotes and Incidents of the Rebellion,” by Frazer Kirkland, published by Hartford Publishing Co., Hartford, Connecticut, in 1866. What intrigued me about this book when I first laid eyes on it was the date – 1866. The Civil War (The Rebellion) had ended the year before in 1865, yet here was this sizable tome with three hundred lithographic engravings, a full color front cover page, and 705 pages of anecdotes and incidents of the Civil War from civil matters to military blunders. A reprint of this has come out within the last ten years, but mine is original. This means it must be handled carefully as the leather cover has dried out considerably over the last 149 years.

Reading from this treasure of Civil War minutiae is like eating a bag of potato chips – you can’t eat just one. Anyway, I thought you might be interested in some of the stories recorded within these pages of American history.

The young lady’s name was Miss Brownlow, daughter of Parson Brownlow of Knoxville, Tennessee. The good parson was known and respected in his community for being “bold-hearted and outspoken.” The Brownlow home was at one time the only home in Knoxville where the Stars and Stripes were raised. Much of Knoxville and most of Tennessee had joined the Southern Cause, the Confederacy.

Early one morning around first light, two men who were secessionists (pejoratively called “Secesh” by Northerners) came to the Brownlow home to forcefully take down the American flag. Twenty-three year old Miss Brownlow saw them coming and challenged them as to their intentions. They said, “We have come to take down them Stars and Stripes.” Much to their surprise, Miss Brownlow produced a revolver which she had held at her side, effectively hidden in the folds of her dress, and said, “Go on! I’m good for one of you, and I think for both!” One of the men then said, “By the look in that girl’s eye she’ll shoot. I think we’d better not try it.” The other man said, “We’ll go back and get more men.” “Go and get more men,” said the noble lady, “get more men and come and take it down, if you dare!”

Sure enough, the two Secesh returned with ninety armed men. In all their brag and bluster they demanded that the Stars and Stripes flying atop the Brownlow home be hauled down. The beauty of this story is that the Brownlow home was filled with men who were equally armed and ready to defend Old Glory should the rabble out front dare touch the blessed threads of the American symbol of freedom and liberty. The ninety men of the Secessionists wisely decided this was not their day and left.

A second incident of interest were the words spoken by President Andrew Jackson in 1830, thirty-one years before the Civil War began. For more than a decade a strong movement was taking place in Southern states, pushing back against what was thought to be an overbearing federal government in Washington, D.C. The occasion was the birthday celebration of Thomas Jefferson who had died only four years earlier. As was protocol for such a prestigious dinner party, honored guests were called upon to make a toast after the meal was consumed. The president was called upon first as the senior person present. In a most stately manner, stretching to his full height of six feet, one inch, President Jackson was brief, yet direct: “The Federal Union: It must be preserved!”

Jackson was born somewhere in the area that divides what are today North and South Carolina, of Scots-Irish heritage. Though technically a Southerner (perhaps the first true Southern Gentleman) he was totally opposed to any talk of Southern states seceding from the Union. He threatened military action should any such attempt be made during his presidency (1829-37).

The Southern states continued to fester over the next several decades, eventually erupting into Civil War due to the election of Abraham Lincoln. “I therefore consider that in view of the Constitution and the laws, the Union is unbroken; and to the extent of my ability I shall take care, as the Constitution itself expressly enjoins upon me, that the laws of the Union be faithfully executed in all the States.” --March 4, 1861 Inaugural Address.

Andrew Jackson, who was a founder of the Democrat party, and Abraham Lincoln, who was the first Republican president, both agreed and worked toward the preservation of the Union of states and the protection of our rights and liberties as enumerated in the Constitution.

May there be those today who defend the flag and the Constitution against aggressors, whoever they may be, and from wherever they may come.

Beware AB 953

               I don’t spend a lot of time reading about political issues, but there are certain topics that catch my attention. In this case, two topics that I found caused me to grind my teeth.

On Friday I attended the Ripon GRC (Government Relations Committee) where I heard a report from our police chief concerning Assembly Bill 953 (AB-953). I was alarmed and decided to check into this to find out more. Chief Ormande is not given to being bombastic, so I was immediately concerned with his analysis of this bit of legislative chicanery. As it turns out, this bill, now before the California Assembly, is a direct assault on our personal freedom – specifically, the 4^th Amendment – addressing unreasonable searches and seizures. Issued by Assembly Member Shirley Weber from San Diego, this paragraph provides a peek into the problem with this bill. It reads, “This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that revises the definition of ‘racial profiling’ and requires law enforcement departments to collect, analyze, and report data on individual stops in order to identify and eliminate unjustified racial disparities and bias.”

       Okay, on the surface this all sounds really good. The tone in the country today toward law enforcement has been damaged due to Ferguson and Baltimore and other hot spots where clashes have occurred between police and the local citizenry. There are those who want to make sure there are no racist cops anywhere. So let’s pass another law!

I chatted with Chief Ed Ormande of Ripon, discussing the various aspects of AB 953. I wanted to make sure I had understood his comments about this assembly bill. He assured me that I had understood what he said just fine. Too bad. I was hoping I had heard wrong.

The Chief said that if this bill, which has already passed the Safety Committee, winds up passing in the Assembly, police officers will be required to ask Joe Citizen a litany of questions every time he is pulled over or simply questioned on the street. There are four questions the officer must address during this encounter. The answers may be determined by the process of talking to the individual, or a question may need to be asked.

Here are the four questions: the person’s sexual orientation; the person’s religious affiliation; the person’s mental and/or physical adeptness; and the person’s proficiency with the English language. Read these four again. What does this have to do with anything?

Officers will be required to ask and evaluate the person’s responses every single time they are required to speak to an officer on official police business. So let’s say you have a tail light out on your Chevy. The officer pulls you over. You go through the license/registration/insurance drill. No problem, right? You’re still wondering what you’ve been pulled over for. The officer tells you your tail light is out. “Phew!” you sigh. A fix-it ticket. No problem. Oh, but we’re not done! The officer must ask you some questions. It’ll just take a few moments. You're thinking, I resent this intrusion into my life. I know the officer is merely carrying out his duties, but something is wrong when my government is asking questions like this.

One of the issues the Chief told me is what the officer will be obligated to do if Joe Citizen refuses to answer the questions. I’m pleased to report that the California Police Chiefs Association has pushed back on this bill. I asked the Chief what that means exactly. He said the chiefs are asking their members, the sworn officers, to contact their state representatives to express their displeasure with this intrusive questioning.

Ripon’s Finest will be receiving “body cams” by the end of June. So even if an officer might be inclined to ignore the questions, he can’t because he’s live on camera. Every move and word is recorded.

If you are as irritated as I am with this heavy-handed manner being forced on our folks who are sworn to defend and protect the citizenry, then you need to contact your elected officials and let them know your thoughts.

The second item I was miffed about will have to wait till another time. In the meantime, look closely at the 4^th Amendment. Our Founding Fathers put this in place to protect the citizens of this great land. It must be preserved at all cost.

On Being Conservative

              There certainly seems to be a greater divide between Conservatives and Liberals today. But I’ve always tried to have fun with the differences. Though less and less humor is focused on philosophical, political and theological differences regardless of where you stand in the continuum of Far Left to Far Right.

Words of wise counsel were given to me by my step father when I was a child. He said, “Don’t take yourself too seriously.” Because I tend to take myself and everything else too seriously, this was important for me to hear.

During my time in the Navy Chaplain Corps (1983-2008) I was selected to attend post-graduate school. This means you attend a school of higher learning to study at the doctoral level for one year. My field of academic endeavor was Pastoral Counseling. The school was the School of Theology at Claremont (STC), in a suburb of Los Angeles. I had a wonderful time that year (1990-91)! Several moments stand out as I reflect back. Allow me to share them with you.

Prior to the school year beginning, I was asked to speak at a conference of my denomination in L.A. I shared how I was tickled to have been selected to attend post-grad school at STC. After my talk I was approached by a number of church members telling me that they would be praying for me while I was at STC. I noticed that many of them appeared to be very concerned for me. STC is known to be a very liberal school in every way possible. I chose to attend there because it had the highest academic rating nationally. So I divined that these dear friends in Christ were concerned that I might somehow wind up being influenced, and thus change my views to conform to the liberal view of Christianity. I laughed at the absurdity (they obviously didn’t know me). I challenged them to pray for the school because I intended to proclaim Jesus there!

In August of 1990, Iraq had invaded Kuwait, you may remember. The United States then geared up for war. The faculty, staff and many students of STC decided to engage in a protest march. Well, I wanted none of that, so I decided that since I was on active duty while attending this institution of higher learning I would wear my uniform to school one day a week throughout my year there. My purpose in doing this was to visually remind them that American men and women were putting themselves in harm’s way so all of us could live in liberty and freedom. No one ever said anything, but I definitely upset their sensibilities.

One incident that is etched in my mind was during a class discussion on various theological conundrums. All the students were sitting in a circle of chairs. I was warming up to my subject, waxing eloquent to my fellow doctoral students. I was on a roll! One gal was sitting directly across from me with her arms folded across her chest, glaring at me. I had no idea what was troubling her. When I finished she spoke right up, stating in no uncertain terms, “It really offends me that you refer to God as he!” I blinked a couple of times, collecting myself for a response. I smiled (further infuriating her) and said, “I’m sorry if my reference to God in the male gender offends you. However, I have it on very good authority that God sees himself as male. No less of an authority than Jesus himself said in Matthew 6, ‘When you pray, pray in this manner: ‘Our Father who is in heaven . . .’ If Jesus had said, Our Mother, then you would have no argument from me. But he didn’t say Our Mother – he said Our Father.” She had no comeback which ended the discussion. I later had an opportunity to minister to her through some personal hurt she experienced in a relationship.

Toward the end of the school year (in another class) each student was required to give a ten minute synopsis of their term research paper. On the day I was to give my talk, sitting there waiting my turn, I spoke to the Lord and asked him to help me get through to these students who viewed me as an alien from some far distant galaxy. I often felt that they looked at me like I was a science lab project. “Oooh, look! It’s a conservative! I wonder what type of species he is?” It was now my turn, so I stood up, smiled at the class, and said, “It may surprise you to know that I’m more liberal than you would imagine. However, I am far more conservative than you’d ever want me to be!” The class burst out laughing uproariously. I glanced over at the professor. She was laughing so hard I thought she might fall out of her chair. It broke the ice, and I was able to present my talk to a most receptive and transformed audience.

And yes, I completed my doctorate from STC. I had a great time doing it, too!

Remembering

              Perhaps Memorial Day reminds me most of why the United States of America is such a great country.

As a young child I was intrigued by the military service of my step father, Charles Garratt. When World War Two broke out he was married, living in New York City where he drove a Wheaties truck. As so many men did at that time, he attempted to join the military to fight against Imperialist Japan and/or the hated German Third Reich. He wanted to be a Navy fighter pilot. Only one problem: On his test flight to see if he qualified to be a pilot he demonstrated a frightening lack of depth perception, a condition that immediately disqualified him from flying. They thanked him and sent him on his way.

Later, he decided to see if the Marines would have him. He met their standards, which I believe may have been nothing more than to demonstrate that he had a pulse. Growing up he had been a first rate athlete, excelling in football. He had been the captain of his high school football team in Concord, Massachusetts in the late 1920s. He received a scholarship to play for the University of Alabama (“Roll Tide!”) where he played on the same team with the future legendary “Bear” Bryant. My step father kept in good physical condition his whole life, so even though he was 31 years old when he enlisted in the Marine Corps, he had no problem with the rigors and demands of boot camp. He married my mother ten years after the end of the war.

I gained a valued respect and appreciation for the United States from him, because of his willingness to volunteer to serve in a war he could have legally and legitimately have avoided. His age and his marital status could easily have exempted him. In fact, while in boot camp with 17 and 18 year olds, he was affectionately referred to as “Gramps.”

That my step father chose to serve as a Marine, the toughest branch of service, also impressed me. I decided early on that I wanted follow in his footsteps. My older brother, John, also must have thought the same thing because both of us enlisted in the Marines, each serving a tour in Vietnam. Oddly enough, we never discussed joining the Marines with each other.

During the years growing up in New England, I recall those special days like Memorial Day, the 4^th of July, and Veterans Day when parades and special recognitions were given to our veterans. There were, of course, many WWII vets, and still quite a few WWI vets. There may well have been some Spanish American War soldiers in those parades down Main Street with American flags all aflutter in the breeze, marching to lively martial music. And I know that the last surviving veteran of the Civil War died in 1956 when I was eight.

I can still see in my mind’s eye the veterans from the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), wearing their fore-and-aft caps. These were the men who left their jobs, their homes and families, to take up arms to face a fierce enemy who was determined to destroy our freedoms and our beloved country. But these world enemies that our men faced, Japan and Germany, mistakenly misjudged the will and the determination of the American fighting man.

So why has the American military person been so ready to take up arms against an aggressor? Simple: Freedom. Our men and women in uniform are, and have always been, ready to fight for the freedoms the rest of us have enjoyed with hardly a ripple while going about our daily routines.

As a Navy chaplain it has been my sad duty and privileged honor to lay to rest numerous men and women whose mortal remains are resting in small town graveyards to massive national cemeteries. Their lives were cut short by war so your and my life could continue unabated.

So take time this Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, and visit the grave of a veteran from your family or friend. If you don’t know a military person who now lies entombed in the ground, then attend a Memorial Day Service at your local cemetery, and join others in giving thanks to God for those who were willing to stand in the gap and keep the wolf from the door.

You and I can sleep peacefully at night because rough men do the hard work of guarding our freedoms and keeping us safe.

Old Glory

            Every so often I feel compelled to write about a certain topic that is near and dear to my heart. That topic would be the proper display and care of the American flag.

As I drive through my community and surrounding areas, I take great pride in the number of businesses and homes that display our flag. It is, in a word, the greatest symbol of freedom the world has ever known. People from other countries are still risking everything to make their way to our shores because it is known world-wide that opportunity to make a wonderful life for them and their family is still very possible in the United States of America.

The American flag is called by many names, or nicknames, if you will. Some of them are: Old Glory; the Stars & Stripes; Colors (military term); the National Emblem; the Star Spangled Banner; and the Red, White and Blue.

Perhaps the best known name used for the flag is Old Glory. There’s quite an interesting story associated with the naming of the flag. In the early part of the 1800s, a ship captain of a commercial vessel, William Driver, was given a gift by his mother of a handmade American flag with the blue field boasting 24 stars, and the 13 alternating red and white stripes. Driver flew the flag on all his voyages, finally retiring in 1837, and settling in Nashville, Tennessee where he proudly flew his flag on all national holidays.

When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Driver asked some neighbor ladies to sew his beloved flag into a comforter, thus hiding it from the Confederates who were in control of Tennessee, searching to destroy anything that had to do with the United States and the Union Army. He chose not to ask his mother or other family members to undertake this task of hiding the flag. Exactly why, no one knows. I suspect it had to do with not wanting his family to reveal its whereabouts should they be pressed to give up the information.

When the war was over, Driver brought out his flag whereupon it was selected to be flown atop the spire of the state capitol building. The Ohio 6^th Infantry was on hand to witness this event. Caught up in the moment, the famed unit adopted Old Glory as their motto. Newspapers printed the story referring to the flag, just as Captain Driver had done for so many years, as Old Glory. Americans all across the land quickly adopted the new name for the national flag.

Today, flags are used to represent countries, states, schools, and organizations. Flags incorporate the history and ideals of an organization or country through symbolism. For you logophiles, you lovers of words, here’s one for you: Vexillology. This mouthful means the “study of flags.” You’re sure to have fun testing your friends at work and school with this word!

Back to the point of this article today: We’re coming up on Memorial Day, (a specific day we remember those military members who have died serving our country) which is recognized this year on Monday, May 25. Then there’s Flag Day on Sunday, June 14. This is a time for all Americans to show their love of country and patriotic fervor by flying Old Glory from homes and businesses. And of course, there is our Independence Day, Saturday, July 4. All of these days are made-to-order for flying the flag.

But the love of country and the surge of patriotism will not mean very much unless the flag is properly displayed and cared for. I see far too many American flags displayed in front of homes, as well as businesses and government buildings, which are in a pathetic condition. Besides being ripped and torn, worn and frayed, the colors have faded due to constant exposure to the elements, particularly the intense sun we receive in the Central Valley of California. The bright red stripes are faded to a dull pink; the blue field is a dingy grey; and the white stars, and alternating white stripes, are a dirty beige.

I love to see Old Glory flying throughout our town, and across the nation. But, please, if you are going to fly the flag, be responsible enough to have it replaced so it never deteriorates into a condition that is embarrassing.

Take a moment to stop and look at the flag flying in front of your home. And then look at the one flying at your place of work. The flags we fly typically from our homes cost about $25-$30 dollars at any hardware store. Flags flown from businesses will run from $150-$200 and can be purchased or ordered from a flag store.

My suggestion is to purchase two flags. This way you always have a replacement flag on hand. A flag will begin to lose its luster and crispness after about six months. So replace the flag every six months. It’s the cost of lunch for two for you folks with flags flying from your home. For business folks, write the cost of two flags into your annual budget just as you would any other business operation expense.

I’m proud to be an American! I want my flag to reflect that pride, don’t you?

Old Glory! Long may she wave!

 

 

Praying Leaders

              Last week my wife and I were graciously invited by our friend, Susan Vander Schaaf (like: scoff), to attend the San Joaquin County Leadership Prayer Breakfast. Leaders from various parts of our county were in attendance for a full-blown breakfast in the basketball gym of the University of the Pacific (UOP) in Stockton. There were county supervisors, mayors, city council members, church leaders; there were the presidents and CEOs of businesses and leaders of our community covering a wide spectrum, all gathered for one purpose – to seek the heart of God in prayer.

A short history was written on the back of our program which explained the background for this gathering of community leaders. It reads, “In 1953, the International Christian Leadership Group first sponsored the First Annual Presidential Prayer Breakfast, or National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. Every year this event brings men and women together to seek Divine guidance for our leadership and to reaffirm our faith. Communities throughout the nation have followed this tradition by establishing their own Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast or Leadership Prayer Breakfast. Over twenty years ago, Stockton began its own Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast. In 1995, the name of the event was changed to “The San Joaquin County Leadership Prayer Breakfast” to more properly reflect the extent of its outreach.”

I can assure you that this prayer breakfast was not for the faint of heart! It started at 6:45 with a sumptuous meal served buffet style. In this environment there was an energy that was virtually palpable, only with a growing sense of expectation. Animated conversations were taking place at the multitude of tables set up all over the gym floor. A stage was set up for the emcee and various other dignitaries. Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen was our Master of Ceremonies. We opened in prayer, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of the National Anthem. What a wonderful start!

Next followed various community members offering prayer specifically for business, agricultural and civic leaders; for military leaders, troops, law enforcement, fire service and their families; for clergy and staff; and for schools, families, and the impoverished. But there was one corporate responsorial prayer offered that, to me (and a lot of others), was the highlight of our time together. We were lead in this prayer by Dr. Stacy McAfee, Associate Vice President for External Relations at UOP. I spoke with her after the breakfast and told her how much I appreciated this prayer. The opening part of the prayer began like this: “Heavenly Father, we are human, and struggle at times to obey your commandments when it is easy to ignore them. As community leaders we humble ourselves today and ask first for your forgiveness for our transgressions as we forgive those who transgress against us. Humble our hearts as we pray for our nation’s Leaders, Families, Neighbors and ourselves with fervor and sincerity. Lord, we thank you for wisdom, understanding, and for your Holy Word. Bless us with courage, strength, and boldness to be agents of change you have called and ordained us to be.” The assembled responded with, “Lord, hear our prayer.”

The keynote speaker for our breakfast was Hercules! Well, not really, but the man who played the character of Hercules in the hit TV show, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, ran for seven seasons. I was very interested in hearing what Kevin Sorbo had to share. I don’t think I ever watched one of the Hercules programs, but I certainly recognized his face. And Isaura and I did watch the movie he was in, God’s Not Dead! where he plays a very convincing college professor who is an avowed atheist. It was wonderfully done and I highly recommend it. In chatting with him during the book signing, he said he believes the best of the movies about faith that he’s done is What If. We’ll be watching it soon, you can be sure of that!

Besides being a highly successful actor, he is also a director, producer, and author. I had heard some time back that Kevin had become gravely ill, never realizing just how close to death he came until I listened that morning to his story. I could not begin to do it justice in the space I have, but you can read it in his recently released book, True Strength: My journey from Hercules to mere mortal and how nearly dying saved my life.

Listening to Kevin share his story, particularly how his near death experience following numerous strokes brought him to faith in Jesus, I was struck by how down-to-earth he was in sharing his struggles. He is humble about the entire ordeal but isn’t hesitant to share it with you.

So pick up a copy of his book, and watch the two movies I mentioned. You’ll be blessed!