Pat’s Blog

Sandy, my Bud and Webmaster in Fort Worth, Texas, sent this to me this morning. It is ABSOLUTELY TRUE!!! We checked it out on “Truth of Fiction“. Please feel free to do the same.

In this election year, it makes one shake off all the dirt, and realize what is REALLY going on, and pride in our country rises to the surface. Thank God for these boys and girls who put their lives on the line to protect us.

For those who are unaware, at a military theater, the National Anthem is played before every movie.

From a Chaplain in Iraq:

I recently attended a showing of “Superman 3,” here at LSA Anaconda. We have a large auditorium we use for movies, as well as memorial services and other large gatherings. As is the custom back in the States, we stood and snapped to attention when the National Anthem began before the main feature. All was going as planned until about three-quarters of the way through The National Anthem the music stopped.

Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 18-22 year-olds back in the States? I imagine there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments; and everyone would d sit down and call for a movie. Of course, that is, if they had stood for the National Anthem in the first place. Here, the 1,000 Soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward. The music started again. The Soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention. And again, at the same point, the music stopped. What would you expect to happen?

Even here I would imagine laughter, as everyone finally sat down and expected the movie to start. But here, you could have heard a pin drop. Every Soldier continued to stand at attention. Suddenly there was a lone voice, then a dozen, and quickly the room was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers, finishing where the recording left off: “…And the rockets red glare, The bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night That our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, O’er the land of the free, And the home of the brave.”

It was the most inspiring moment I have had here in Iraq. I wanted you to know what kind of Soldiers are serving you here. Remember them as they fight for you! Pass this along as a reminder to others to be ever in prayer for all our soldiers serving us here at home and abroad. For many have already paid the ultimate price.

Written by Chaplain Jim Higgins
LSA Anaconda is at the Ballad Airport in Iraq, north of Baghdad

Jordan Cave Claimed To Be World’s Oldest Church

Oldest Church?

June 11, 2008 — Archaeologists in Jordan have discovered a cave underneath one of the world’s oldest churches and say it may have been an even more ancient site of Christian worship.

An outside expert expressed caution about the claim.

Archaeologist Abdel-Qader Hussein, head of the Rihab Center for Archaeological Studies, said this week that the cave was unearthed in the northern Jordanian city of Rihab after three months of excavation and shows evidence of early Christian rituals.

The cave is under St. Georgeous Church, built in A.D. 230, making it one of the oldest churches in the world, along with one unearthed in the Jordanian southern port of Aqaba in 1998 and another in Israel discovered in 2005.

Hussein said there was evidence that the underground cave was used as a church by 70 disciples of Jesus in the first century after Christ’s death, which would make it the oldest Christian site of worship in the world.

He described a circular worship area with stone seats separated from a living area that had a long tunnel leading to a source of water. He said the early Christians hid there from persecution.

A mosaic inscription on the floor of the later church of St. Georgeous above refers to “the 70 beloved by God and the divine” who founded the worship there.

Thomas Parker, a historian at the North Carolina State University in Raleigh, who led the team that discovered the church in Aqaba, said that while he hadn’t seen the Rihab site, any such claim should be taken with a degree of caution.

“An extraordinary claim like this requires extraordinary evidence,” he said. “We need to see the artifacts and dating evidence to suggest such an occupation in the 1st century A.D.”

Parker asked how archeologists could be certain whether the “cave was actually a center of Christian worship.”

The archaeologist also noted that mosaics are difficult to date unless there is a precise date in the text of the mosaic inscriptions themselves and typical mosaic inscriptions with Christian themes are from the 5th to 6th century.

“It’s quite possible that there was a cave with earlier occupation which was later converted to Christian use. But to make the jump that this was actually used by Christians fleeing Jerusalem in the 1st century A.D. seems like a stretch to me,” Parker said.

Archimandrite Nektarious, Bishop Deputy of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in Amman hailed the discovery, calling it an “important milestone for Christians all around the world and right here at home.”

“It confirms that Christians in this region are not strangers,” he said. “They are real citizens who have always had roots in this region from those days until the present.”

Claudia and I really liked the following “Musings” on Music, written by one of our listeners, Brook, who happens to be a Yentl - a woman who loves the study of the Torah. She is a Messianic Jew, who loves her people, and loves the history and teachings.

This is REALLY quite good, as are all of her Musings, and well worth your time to read, giving you great insight into the Jewish mindset and the reasons behind some of the Biblical passages.

My love of music has led me into an informal study of music and singing in Jewish tradition. As you know, all prayers and blessings in Judaism are sung in Hebrew…they are never spoken…and the tunes are thousands of years old. Even readings from the Torah are sung…again to tunes that are ancient.

The Jews have a real love for music and find expression the best with the harp. There are 2 kinds of harps, a kinnor which has 8 strings and is commonly referred to as King David’s harp and a nevel which is a lap harp that has 22 strings and half levers to really change the tones.

The Jewish Sages tell us that when Messiah comes, he will add 2 more strings to the kinnor and change the octave to a dectave (think that is what it would be called). Right now, 10 string kinnors are being built in Jerusalem by the House of Harrari (American Jews who made aliyah to Israel…they are master harp builders and have restored the ancient kinnor and nevel) as the religious Jews believe Messiah is coming very soon.

The 22 strings on the nevel correspond to each letter of the Hebrew alphabet and each string is named after a letter.

Jewish tradition tells us that when G-d created everything, He did so while playing a 22 string nevel and that He sang everything into existence.

It is interesting that in the book of Revelation, John writes that G-d has given all the inhabitants of heaven a harp.

The Jewish prophets and prophetesses also sang their prophecies…they did not speak them or just write them down. Jewish tradition states that the prophet would sit quietly and strum upon a kinnor or a nevel and wait upon G-d. The prophet would then feel the presence of a hand upon his/her shoulder…would open his/her mouth…and sing the words that G-d had placed in his/her mouth.

In the days of the Second Temple, there were many visitors from other lands who came to Jerusalem to see the wonder of the Temple and to conduct trade. Some writings from these mostly Greek and Roman visitors remain which shed some light on to the everyday life of the Second Temple era Jew. They record that virtually every Jew had a small kinnor that was tied to a belt about their waist…that they sang all the time…work songs…prayers…blessings…etc. One traveler stated that when one got within a certain distance of Jerusalem (think it was several miles if I remember correctly) that you could hear the harp music coming from the city and surrounding areas.

In the Second Temple, there was a great nevel…it was placed upon a stand in one of the courtyards and the breezes would move along the strings and the nevel would play beautiful tunes. The Jews thought it was G-d playing the nevel.

When the Jews were led into Babylonian captivity at the end of the First Temple period, they hung their harps in the branches of the trees as they would no longer sing the songs of their land. Think this is referenced in either Jeremiah or Lamentations?

Personally, I think Messiah sung the Sermon on the Mount. The way that “sermon” goes is very much structured like a song. Ever see the movie The Robe? There is a scene in it where Marcellus, the Roman Centurion who crucified Jesus, is having a discussion with a woman in Cana who is crippled. But she plays a kinnor and sings for the people in the town. I thought it interesting that she sang the words of Jesus while strumming the kinnor.

Bill Gaither introduces Buddy Green at the harmonica…

Our good friend in Miami, Jim, sent this to Claudia and me. As I watched, tears came to my eyes. I saw the tender mercies of our Father, and what will be in our Heavenly Home.

Jim writes, “There is a sermon of truth in this short clip! When the Lion Returns it will be with great love and affection!”

There’s no sound.

These 2 guys reared this lion from a baby in England but the authorities would not allow them to keep it once it reached maturity so they were forced to give it up. They took it back to Africa and placed it in a wildlife sanctuary. A year later they went to see it and were told it would not remember them. Watch the expressions on the lion’s face.

Before posting this I checked to see if it was correct. This version accurately quoted Rush Limbaugh (some that are circulating are not accurate). Unfortunately, the figures are correct.  When are we going to do something about this?!!!

A BIG “Thank You” to Bob Fraga of Pacheco, California for sending this along to us.

Subject: The Truth Is
Rush Limbaugh transcript from March 11, 2002

I think the vast differences in compensation between the victims of the September 11th casualty and those who die serving the country in uniform are profound. No one is really talking about it either because you just don’t criticize anything having to do with September 11th. Well, I just can’t let the numbers pass by because it says something really disturbing about the entitlement mentality of this country.

If you lost a family member in the September 11th attack, you’re going to get an average of $1,185,000. The range is a minimum guarantee of $250,000, all the way up to $4.7 million. If you are a surviving family member of an American soldier killed in action, the first check you get is a $6,000, direct death benefit, half of which is taxable. Next, you get $1,750 for burial costs. If you are the surviving spouse, you get $833 a month until you remarry. And there’s a payment of $211 per month for each child under 18. When the child hits 18, those payments come to a screeching halt.

Keep in mind that some of the people that are getting an average of $1.185, million up to $4.7 million, are complaining that it’s not enough.

We also learned over the weekend that some of the victims from the Oklahoma City bombing have started an organization asking for the same deal that the September 11th families are getting.

In addition to that, some of the families of those bombed in the embassies are now asking for compensation as well. You see where this is going, don’t you? Folks, this is part and parcel of over 50 years of entitlement politics in this country. It’s just really sad.

Lindie Gibson sends some of the most precious e-mail. If you are not on her e-mail list, I encourage you to contact her, tell her Pat & Claudia sent you, and ask to be included. You can contact her at: LindieAnn@aol.com

She sent the following in one of her e-mail:

Some people say that Jesus Christ is just a crutch for Christians….

You bet your life He’s my crutch. But when you’re crippled, what’s wrong with a crutch? Besides, don’t let anyone fool you. Everyone’s got a crutch. Everyone’s got something they lean on. Some people depend on alcohol to be their crutch. Others lean on drugs. Some people make sex or money their crutch. While still others look to their friends, family or career for support. 

You see, everyone has some kind of crutch that they depend on. The only difference being, when I turn to my Crutch and cry out for help, my Crutch answers and helps me. Does your crutch do that for you? My Crutch strengthens me in all my afflictions. My Crutch leads me and guides me, He laughs with me in the good times and cries with me in the bad. And I know my Crutch loves me because not only did He tell me so, He proved it….

“Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down His life for His friends…..” 
(John 15:13) 

I just re-read my last blog, and to my dismay I was reminded that I haven’t put any pictures up for you to see. I’m so sorry. Claudia and I have been so exhausted. After taking Kaleb and Patrick to the airport yesterday, Claudia and I were going to take a short nap at home. Well, that short nap turned in to a couple hours. Then we were up for a couple hours, then asleep, again. I finally got up about noon today. Claudia is about to take another nap. We just can’t catch up on our sleep. I need to get up and get some more things moved to the new offices. Also, the lawn needs mowing later on this afternoon, after it cools down a bit.

Claudia and I received some news last night that broke our hearts, yet reconfirmed our work that Jesus has called us to. You have heard us speak of John and Gerry Woolgar many times On the Air. They live in England, and have been a source of much encouragement and comfort over the many months we have known them. Many of you are praying for Gerry, as she starts her battle with cancer, and the rigors of chemo.

A couple days ago, while attending a Men’s Bible Study group, John had a fatal heart attack. 

John and Gerry just recently retired, and were settling in to the senior years of their lives. John was having fun learning to play in the dirt… well, trying his hand at gardening, having, this week, planted melons, and having a grand time doing it. 

Claudia and I were stunned when we heard the news of Gerry’s cancer. We were no less stunned when we heard of John’s death. I said “stunned”, NOT “shaken”. We are followers of Jesus. We will NOT be shaken, nor moved from our trust in Him. 

“God is our Refuge and Strength, a very Present Help in trouble. Therefore, we will NOT fear. Though the earth may shake. Though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea. Though its waters roar and foam, and the mountains quake at its surging.” Psalm 46:1-3

It is time for reflection, as the sorrow of the loss of a trusted friend is fresh in our hearts and minds, we sing along with the songs of PBN about the goodness of God, and Thank Him for our opportunities to touch and encourage the weak each and every day, while we still have breath. Life is short. Opportunities abound.

Claudia and I want to thank you for the opportunity to touch and encourage YOUR heart. 

FINALLY!!! We aren’t done, yet, but we have enough completed where we can be LIVE On the Air Monday. Mike and I worked until about 11:30 tonight. We were both exhausted. There are endless connections to establish. Then, when the connections are made, we are leveling the meters and tones. All the equipment has to be balanced, or it will sound very bad. Some of you heard us on the air, breaking in the normal programming.

I have to thank Mike for all he is doing. I honestly was very concerned he wouldn’t have the time to do the engineering. Thank you, for all of you who were praying. He hasn’t been able to give a lot of time each day, but he has been able to give a couple hours each day, three or four times a week. 

I was able to connect a temporary web cam in the studio. You can’t see very much right now, but at least you are able to see something. What you can’t see to the right are the tables with the lineup of computers, monitors, turntable and reel to reel deck. Claudia’s table will be to the left of the Sound Board, along with her microphone, computer and monitor. One good point is that you will see much more of Claudia’s face… still the back of my head, but Claudia’s face. 

Patrick and Kaleb leave tomorrow. Claudia and I have had a WONDERFUL time with them here. It was soooo unselfish of Ericka to allow them to come visit us. That is just the way our daughter in law is. She is such a thoughtful person. She knew how much it would mean to Claudia and me. They are really putting on the pressure for us to move back to the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, to be close to them and Kaleb, but we just don’t feel God leading us there right now. It is a tough decision, as three of our four grandbabies live back in Texas. But, we feel North Carolina is where God wants us right now.

I have had little sleep this week. Claudia hasn’t had much, either. I’m falling asleep writing this, so I better stop, and write more later. I want to add some pictures here, as well. 

Thank you so very much for your love, prayers, notes and support.