Today I had the privilege of carrying a banner for PFC Rocky Snyder who was killed in action on March 30, 1967 in South Vietnam. I carried the banner in a Veteran’s Day celebration here in St. Johns, and have been grateful to one of my parishioners for inviting me to do so.
Last year was the first time I participated in carrying a banner for a fallen soldier from St. Johns. The parishioner I mentioned, Al, asked me if I would like to come down and take part in the parade. Al lost his son, Andrew, in Iraq 10 years ago this coming Christmas. He is a Gold Star father. Upon arriving to the meeting point prior to the parade last year, I was handed a banner for Rocky Snyder. There was no particular reason I got his, other than each of us carried a banner and his was given to me. Continue reading “Veteran’s Day Thanksgiving”
Going into Election Day 2016, I was convinced that scriptural believing Christianity is a minority worldview in our country. I continue to be of that opinion. And it’s not because I’m a democrat – I’m actually a small government, social conservative, so I have no party. I voted for a lot of people who lost yesterday. Just like I have done for the past several years. I’m used to my guys/gals losing politically. But here is the thing: politics is not my primary identity. My political leaning does not define who I am. I hope that my faith does. And, as I stated in a sermon several weeks ago, the simple fact that we had the two major party candidates for President that we did, was further evidence that our country is not a “Christian nation.” In fact, it holds our values in contempt. I continue to believe that, and I knew that the day after the election would feel this way for me, because I knew that, regardless of who won, I was going to have a President with whom I very deeply disagreed. 
**Cutting Room Floor – One of the very rewarding aspects of being a Pastor, is getting to study scripture fairly in depth each week. One of the real challenges I face fairly often is learning something that, while interesting, just does not fit with the rest of the sermon. Sometimes it would be too far off point. Other times it may be cut in the interest of time. So, I thought it might be interesting to write up a quick blog post on some of the different things I learned studying for a sermon that were left “on the cutting room floor.”**
It is a happy coincidence on this Feast of All Saints, after just experiencing the frivolity of Halloween with my children last night, that I am working through CS Lewis’ brilliant little book, “The Great Divorce.” It is even happier, that I am working on chapter 9, and find in it, some interesting commentary on “ghosts.”
