Remembering Heroes

These figures are from the Marines Times and Encyclopedia of War (vol.1-3), They serve as a reminder that freedom is not cheap. I am honored to have served in the USAF and to remember all those men and women who gave up time in their lives, who were injured and who died to keep this country free.

American Revolution: 4,435 died
War of 1812: 2,260 died
Mexican War: 13,283 died
Civil War: 529,511 died (perhaps quite a lot more, but records are incomplete)
Spanish-American War: 2,446 died
World War I: 116,516 died
World War II: 405,399 died
Korean War: 36,574 died
Vietnam War: 58,209
Grenada (Operation Urgent Fury): 19 died
Persian Gulf War: 383
Panama (Operation Just Cause): 23 died
Somalia (Operation Restore Hope): 43
The Iraq War: 4,564 (and counting)

A New Phase in Life

It is graduation time once again. We went to a couple of graduation parties this past weekend. We had a nice time. The graduates as usual were excited and ready for the next phase of their life, be it college or a full time job. They talk a lot about freedom and being on their own, and maybe even leaving town for some place new and exciting. I am all for that, they need to be able to dream.

There is one thing for sure, they are moving on and hopefully it is in a positive direction. How many times do we get to begin a new phase in our life? A couple of oblivious answers would be, moving to a new place, taking a new job, getting married or divorced, or having children. How about a new phase in your relationship with God? Reading through Hebrews there are those verses at the beginning of chapter 6 that always cause me to stop and think. Have I really moved on to maturity or am I still stuck in the elementary things? I guess my answer would have to be a yes in some areas and a no for others. The areas in which I haven't moved forwarded, as least what I would call moving forward, could be called safety zones. I have thought about the "what ifs" but I am still considering the options. If I take a step outside the safety zone, where will it lead? It is the unknown that is frightening and I guess I am still concern about being correct. Well, I guess this is a new phase, one in which I am questioning as opposed to just being satisfied with the status quo.

Go ahead it's just a little bit

I was having a Coke Zero with supper tonight and just happened to glance at the side of the can that lists the nutritional facts (boy is that an oxymoron). At the top it said VERY LOW SODIUM, (in all caps to emphasize the point I guess) 35mg or less per 240ml (8 fl oz), then later it lists the serving size as 1 can which is 12 oz. Why list the amount of sodium in 8 oz. when you are going to drink 12 oz. Ever looked at the serving size on a carton of ice cream, it is 1/2 cup most of the time. Stop and think just how big is 1/2 cup or more appropriately how small is 1/2 cup. I think they are just trying to convince us their product is low in calories, fat and carbs by listing them in ridiculously small amounts. How many people are going to eat the suggested serving size?

That train of thought got me to thinking (I know I must lead a boring life) about when the evil one whispers just a little bit won't hurt you. He says just a quick glance at the cover of SI's swimsuit issue won't hurt. But who is going to look at just one picture when there are so many more good ones just waiting to be drooled over. Borrowing a just a little bit from work, just this once, it can't hurt. One lie is all I need to cover up my mistake. How many times have I fallen prey to this type of logic? The old cliche, "It is easier to stop, if you never get started" is so true.

If watching what you eat is important, and if you can't limit yourself to a suggested serving size, it would seem the wise course of action would be not take any at all. With sin there is no acceptable amount that won't hurt us, so do whatever you have to and don't get started.