Just wanted to send a prayer out for those guys/gals fighting for us over this Christmas Season.:

Murphy's Laws of Combat

1. You are not Superman

2. If it's stupid but works, IT ISN"T STUPID!

3. When in doubt, empty your magazine

4. If your attack is going really well, it's an AMBUSH!

5. All 5 second Grenade fuzes will explode in 3 Seconds!

6. Friendly fire, ISN"T!

7. If the enemy is in range, SO ARE YOU

8. Try to look unimprotant, because the enemy may be low on ammo!

9.  The enemy diversion you are ignoring, is the MAIN attack!

10. Simple things are always the hardest!

11. No combat ready unit has ever passed inspection.

12. Tracers work both ways

13. In Chaos there is profit

14. in Extreme chaos, there is EXTREME PROFIT

15. It is easier to receive forgiveness than permission.

16. Success forgives all sins!

17. When accused, admit nothing, deny everything, and make counter-accusations!!!

18. THERE ARE NO ATHEISTS IN FOXHOLES!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

GROG!!!

I recall a story, not sure from whom, but it has a great message.....so, as I recall it:

There once was a farmer, a relegious skeptic, who humbugged at the thought of Christmas and Christianity in general.

On one particularlyl cold winter night he heard a loud "thump" on his back door.  Apparently small birds where freezing and, attracted to the light and heat from the windows in the back door, were hitting the glass trying to get in.

Feeling bad for the birds freezing, the farmer went out to his barn, which would provide comfort and safety out of the elements for the birds.  He turned on the lights and tossed some hay into a corner. The sparrows, however hid in the darkness, afraid of the HUGE farmer.  He tried and tried to get them into the barn, trying various tactics....sead, cracker crumbs, the works....to no avail  The birds could not overcome their fear of the huge creature in the barn.

The farmer withdrew to his house wishing " if only I was a small bird, like them, I could lead them into warmth and safety without scaring them."

BAM!  It hit  him THAT IS WHY JESUS WAS BORN A BABY, in a manager, in the simplest of ways.

Now, will you be led to the Safety, warmth and Grace of GOD's love??!!

Merry Christmas,

GROG!

(next up, one of my favorite stories about Three trees!)

There is a word for you....Destitute=lacking something needed or desired. Yet, as I think on Gods word today I can see that we have to be Destitute to fully accept the gift of Christmas.

Most Americans don't like to get a gift (unless it is "earned' by you giving a gift first, or otherwise earning it)....really....think about it. If someone walked up to you out of the blue and said, "here, I'd like you to have this gift." you'd say something like "no really, I couldn't."  we've each done that sometime in our life, yes?

If it is a gift we think "unworthy" of us, something cheap....then we really mean "eww, no thanks." If it is a gift we really need, then we inwardly jump and want it, but pride keeps us from grabbing it up. (if it doesn't, perhaps you need to look at your greedy nature! LOL)  anyway.....so, if we are Destitute and less prideful, we are more able to accept the magnanimous gift of Christ. 

We want/need to EARN our gifts....better that way....more fair somehow.  Or, better yet, "I don't need anyting or anyone elses help. I'm my own person.!" (wow-great pride)!  Each of us needs to know that we are destitute and unable to ever earn what God provided to us, the Gift of His Son, His ONLY SON!  Think on that.  Someone is giving you something there is only ONE OF!?  And you Dare accept it?!  Only if you are Destitute in pride and independance and know that you MUST accept the gift out of humility and need.

God be with each of you, this and every day.

Merry Christmas, 

GROG!!!

Today we are fighting, or should be, for our right to say a simple phrase of "Merry Christmas."  Are we kidding? 

We need to ensure we maintain our heritage. What heritage is that?  one based on the great traditions and teachings of Jesus Christ.

During this time of the year it is nice to be recharged and examine what it means to be a follower of Christ. To live as He would want us to live, with peace in our hearts and love in our words and actions.

Christmas has always been a time of great cheer and to reset our "synic" clocks....if you will, that we live for good, that the world can be good, and that we need to spread the love that is Christmas...that is Jesus.

So, Merry Christmas.  I plan on saying it not as a punch line, or a line to intimidate or coerce, but in the meaning that Jesus would want it said. Now is the time for us to love each other, take care of each other, and know that we are not  "it" but HE is everything and we have but to serve Him by loving each other.

Merry Christmas, and, to coin a Phrase, "God bless us, everyone!"

I'm watching the news (while my lovely wife works and slaves over the house-) and there is garbage on the news about how Seattle public schools are saying how Thanksgiving is bad for the indians and they will be upset?  (They being indians)  Thye'll be in mourning?   GIVE ME A BREAK!

Mourning how we stole their land and destroyed their heritage?  Bitter reminder of 500 years of betrayal!

Give me a break.

Facts seem to get in the way of this Political garbage! 

Did we break some treaties, Yep, did we do some dasterdly things that we should be sorry for-yep, is all fair in love and war-yep.....albeit I don't agree with that or like it, but i digress.

I don't want to go into the many sins of my fathers, much like the indians wouldn't like to go, or show, the sins of their fathers. 

None of us are perfect, all have sinned.....and the people who throw PC items on us try and forget that there are two sides to everything, usually many more sides, but they just want to bash the "white" guys.

Phooey.

Drop the hype, the whining and the "victimization" of your particular "ethnic" group.

Lets thank God for the freedoms we have, the great country that we live in (the greatest country in the history of man for Civil rights by-the-by) and have a day that remembers what many americans have sacrificed so that we can live and have the freedoms we have in this country.

God Bless the USA, and Thank God for all His blessings!

GROG!!!

Okay, so, it is time to give thanks?

To whom would the atheists thank?  I know who I thank,

For my life, I THANK GOD,

for my freedom, I THANK THE US TROOPS

For my being born, I THANK MY PARENTS (Yes, MOM, but Dad helped!LOL)

For MY mistakes, I THANK MYSELF

For my Family, I THANK MY WIFE

FOR ALL, I THANK GOD!

To Him be all glory and praise, and I don't care what you think,

I THANK GOD! 

Hope all is great in your life, but, if you can read this, THANK GOD, for you're in a country that you've got a computer and the freedom to log on!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours,

God bless and keep you,

GROG!!!

You did what you loved,

You loved what you did

Today we thank God for you

And for the lives you lived

To each of us you served

And gave so effortlessley

Today I weep not for you

As much as the loss to me

So fly well my brothers

Now in our Fathers care,

Knowingthat we will one day

Fly with you in Heavens pure air.

Okay,

So, my three previous blogs, while not the most enjoyable of writings, was very therepudic.!  Sorry for the poor attempt at poems...I am not poet, and all my girls no it!

I got the sad duty of investigating an aircraft crash. Death always makes me very "introspective!"  So, like the title implies, SHAKE IT.....,<rrrrrrrrrr> off.....like a dog does.

So, thanks for the words, and the patience to watchme wallow and vent and whatever.

They were two great guys, and they served each of you in a way that only the very best can know!

Godbless each of you, and may his angles take charge and watch over you.

GROG!!!

A hanger sits empty,

Its doors open wide,

Family and friends know,

They will never again park inside.

But they have not flown their last flight,

For now they fly in God’s perfect sky,

And It’s not as much for them as for us,

That we shed the tears we cry.

They now fly in a better place

Now, they can touch Gods face.

They’ve slipped these surly bonds

For a place with air smooth and sweet

They’ve flown their last mission here,

Their Earthly lives Complete.

Mourn not for our flyboys

For they now fly in God’s loving embrace

They’ve left the hanger doors open

Now a sad and empty place.

And while they may have left us,

In our earthly state,

On the other side of the sky

Is where they now wait.

Each touched us in his very special way,

Know that we’ll see them again,

In the Lords vast hangar bay.

This week I lost two friends.

They died tragically, albeit doing what they loved to do, flying.

Each was a legend in his own right, with over 25,000 flying hours, each (more like 28,000 each, but let’s not argue).

Think of that, 25,000 hours!  OVER 50,000 total!  That’s over 2,000 days of flying (24 hours in a day)  or 6,250 days of flying if you fly 8 hours a day, seven days a week, for 17 years!

What happened?  They made a mistake. Experts and as experienced as they were, they made a simple mistake, and it killed them. Such is the life of a flyboy.  They say that the second greatest thrill is flying.  The first, pilots wink at each other….is Landing.  Tragically, they didn’t make their last landing.

But I don’t wish this to be a sad blog, or a mad blog, or a trite blog, but just a note that says,

“Thank you Dion DeCamp, and Ed Lewis!”  -for your service, your dedication and the examples you set.

Each served with distinction, and each continued to serve by volunteering in the CAP (Civil Air Patrol).

They didn’t have to, they could have gone fishing, or golfing, or anything else. But each dedicated himself to excellence and to the service of their country. And I am in debt to each of them.

They have done what few achieve …they have left this world a better place because of how they lived their lives and because of who they were/HOW they were.

I pray God accept them, and grant their families/friends peace. Know that these were true men of honor and each had a style that will be missed.

God Speed you Dion, God Speed you Ed !

Once Upon a time there was this guy, in college, enjoying what he was doing, and chasing a girl.

During this chase he had a team of friends who studied together and had many of the same classes.

This guy hung out with these ladies three. Together they told each other of their dating woes and grips and of their perspective boyfriends/girlfriend and how messed up they each were.-As you can tell, in college study sessions not always do you study just the books!

So, to skip ahead, this guy kept watching this girl (in his study group) out of the coner of his eye, as they studied and talked and hung out. She kept saying how plain she was and how boys ignored her. All he could think of was how NUTS that was and how  gorgeous she was! Yes, physically, but also in her eyes...in her heart and soul. She was/is the complete deal. Loves God, loves kids, has traditional family values, the works.  But, They were friends....he didn't want to gum that up....what to do......

One day he took the leep!  Asked her out, although she wouldn't know that it was a date (she claims) until he showed up at her door wearing his "college" best....slacks, sweater, clean shaven and sucking in his gut but what's a guy to do!

Then, after they dropped off a Card at her "boyfriends" house, they went to a movie....a great cartoon, but fun!  Then, out for a swim.

Skip ahead a few years, and now he has that lovely lady as his wife, and two amazing girls to boot! (That's what you get folks.....)

So, still no "happy ending" as this story is still being written.  Happy Start, Happy duringly....and the "Ever after" will be with the Lord, so that's set. 

For now, we keep the fairy tale alive.   There are thorn bushes and shrubbery to collect for all the Knights who say "ni" but that's life, and so it goes on......Happily .......Slaying dragons along the way, perhaps taming a few to fly on and then upwards and onwards.

the Adventure continues!!!!.....

Thank you Lord, for my amazing ladies....Miszreadhead, Tazzypirate, and Nuttyhousemouse!

Wait until I start telling THIER stories.......hehe......

How terrible is war,

How much more terrible is it that a man loses his soul, or is too scared to stand

How terrible when a man forgets what it takes to lay his head down to sleep in peace and the sacrifices made by others that he may do so with confidence,

How terrible for a country to forget that freedom comes at a terrible price and it is not their job, nor their right, to judge the men who’ve been ordered to defend it

Men who defend don’t have the liberty to question nor fight their superiors in time of haste, that is, in time of peril, when, after much thought, leaders have decided it is time to stand against tyranny or danger.

The fact you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there, nor does it mean that we don’t care, it just means we have to go out and stand against it

How many times have you laid in the dark, scared of something you cannot see, and then felt silly when you awoke safely

Perhaps the danger was there, it just passed you by, unnoticed by you, but not by the men who defend this country

The danger detoured around the soldier who stood between you and what you couldn’t see, the danger.

Love the soldier, pray for his leaders, and sleep in the dark, in peace and security

We will stand between you and those dangers, seen, and unseen. Believed, and discarded, we don’t discriminate, we just defend.

War is a terrible thing, but not the most terrible of things.