Music Mix-up Post 21 (UBC #27)

This is the last Music Mix-up post in July, so this will be the last patriotic one I do for a while.  I have enjoyed looking for these songs, and I hope you have enjoyed listening to them as much as I have.  The first song is, "Letters from War," by Mark Schultz.

The first time I saw this music video was actually at an Air Force Basic church service.  I cried.  And I know I wasn't the only one....
    This second song I heard just a couple of weeks ago, but I thought it went so nicely with "Letters from War" that I had to do them together.  May I present, "Letters from Home," by John Michael Montgomery.  I tried to find a way to publish the music video but I couldn't do it, but if you click on the link you can watch it.  The music video is so well done, and I love it, but this video works just as well.




Both of these songs are so touching.  In today's day of technological advances, we sometimes forget how comforting a letter in the mail can be.  If you have a soldier, or you know someone who does, or even if you don't.... send a letter.  It could make all the difference in the world.
    In His Love,
       Christy

In Flanders Field (UBC #20)

In Flanders Field

In Flanders Field the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead.  Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset's glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders Field.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders Field.

  I first read this poem in high school.  I had to memorize it, and it is one of the things that has stayed with me, both because of its haunting beauty and fervent plea.  This poem was written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD for the Canadian Army in May of 1915.  This poem is a lasting legacy of the terrible battle in the Ypres salient in the spring of 1915.  One of Lieut. McCrae's friends and a former student, Lieut. Helmer, was killed by a shell burst on May 2, 1915.  He was buried in the little cemetery outside Lieut. McCrae's dressing station, and since the chaplain was absent, McCrae performed the funeral service.  This poem came out of the anguish and pain of losing his friend.  

Music Mix-up Post 19 (UBC #13)

Since last week was the fourth of July, I thought I'd continue doing patriot music for this month. :)  One of my most absolute favorite patriot songs is, "God Bless the U.S.A.," by Lee Greenwood.




This song inspires me.  It makes my heart swell with gratitude and pride for all of the service men and women who are and have served our country.  And for their families too.
    I debated on whether or not to do two songs or not, but I decided to go ahead and do two.  This song is in honor of my brother, who is leaving for Afghanistan this week.  In honor of him and everyone else who left today, may I present "American Soldier," by Toby Keith.



I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! My prayers are with all of you who are serving.
   In His Love,

Music Mix-up Post 18 (UBC #7)

With Monday being the fourth of July, I thought I'd put the National Anthem as my music song for this week.... Couldn't find a music video I liked.  What kind of country have we become were I can find all sorts of music videos on all sorts of things, but the National Anthem?  Couldn't find a decent one.  Most were either instrumental, or sung bizarrely, or badly taped NFL videos.  And just when I was about to give up all hope of ever finding one that I actually liked, and wondering if I should just simply pick a different song, I found this music video.  I hadn't really liked most of the acapella versions that I'd found, but this one I actually liked.




I hope you all had a lovely 4th, and please remember all who have died for your freedom, and those who continue to serve and protect us.
    In His Love,
      Christy

Sadness.... (UBC #4)

Today my brother left.... He was home for 17 days.... 17 days of sunshine and rain.... fun and work.... hugs and movies.... fireworks and mosquito bites... I will treasure the memories that were made in my heart always...  I know he needs to do what he has to do, but I will miss him while he is gone.
    This song has been running in my mind for the past few days.  It seemed fitting.  "I'm Already There," by Lonestar.






  In His Love,
    Christy

Music Mix-up Post 13

Okay - this is a blog post that I put up a couple of weeks ago but blogger crashed and it disappeared.  So, I'm re-posting it.  

There has been much talk this past week about the death of Osama Bin Laden... Whether, as Christians, we should rejoice in the death of a nonbeliever.  Scripture has been quoted, thoughts have been said, blog posts have been written, words have flown, and sides have been drawn.  Some people believe that there is only one right answer to this question.  But I think that sometimes, in moments like these, we have forgotten the past.... The terror that we all felt when we watched the second plane fly into the Twin Towers.... when the towers started falling.... the plane crashing into the Pentagon..... the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania... The war that Osama brought to our soil.  President Bush vowed to get him, and our military did.  Many brave men and women have lost their lives in order to help preserve our lives.
    So, I ask you... would you rather he still be alive to continue wrecking havoc in our world?  Having him dead doesn't solve all of our problems.  I know that... but honestly folks, he has had his opportunity to repent, and he'd rather kill us all.  Yes, I am sad that he will be in hell, separated from God for all of eternity, but I am relieved that he isn't alive anymore.  One of the verses that people have been quoting is Proverbs 24:17-18: "Do not rejoice when you enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; Or the LORD will see it and be displeased, and turn His anger away from him."
   But if we are going to start quoting Proverbs, let's not forget this one either: Proverbs 11:10: "When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting."  Does Scripture contradict itself?  No, it doesn't.  I don't think that both of those views that are presented in these Scriptures are mutually exclusive from each other.  You can be glad when the wicked perishes without gloating about it.
    I vacillated back and forth about which songs to use, and finally settled on two.  The first one is "Have You Forgotten?" by Darryl Worley.




This song always makes me want to cry.... But it so true... How often would we rather forget what happened?  It didn't happen in my neighborhood, it doesn't really affect me.  But it did happen in our country and our families are paying the cost of it.  It's easy to forget.  It is harder to remember.  Because if we remember, then we have to do something about what happened. 
   The second song is "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue," by Toby Keith




This song just cracks me up.  It is one of my absolutely favorite songs.  It stirs my heart and American pride.  I am proud of my country.  No, it isn't a perfect country, but it is mine.  And it was founded on principles and freedom.  If we don't support our troops who are standing in the gap for us against those who want to destroy us, who will?

In His Love,
    Christy

Music Mix-up Post 7

Well, this week seems to have flown by, and it seems to have crawled by at the same time.... Ever had one of those?  You get to the end and say, where did the week go, but during the week, it felt like it would never end?
  Anyway, for whatever reason, I was really missing my brother this week - maybe because some of the dads were harassing me earlier this week, just like my brother... But I turned on the radio, and I thought, maybe they were playing a patriotic song over on the country station, so I switched over there, and this song was playing, and I thought I would share it with all of you this week.  May I present, "An American Soldier," by Toby Keith.




    I know I say this a lot, but this song always makes me want to cry.  I just want to dedicate this blog post to all of you who either are service men or women, or those who are related to them.  Without you, life would not be the same.  Thank you for your sacrifice. 
   I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
      In His Love,
        Christy

Luke

This morning I was talking to my mother and found out she had gotten a call from my brother Luke this morning. He was in the hospital. Turns out he had had another seizure. He's had two before.... One after his airway got blocked when he was state-side. The other occurred in Germany after a fight not too long ago. Both times he had been fighting. But not this time. They were all out doing training and he and the people he was with were cleaning their "track." It's like a tank, but isn't quite. It's what they ride around in while doing their job.
Anyway, they were cleaning it to bring it out to the field and then they were riding it back in to their "tent city" and he just suddenly had a seizure (they think). His body was flaccid, his jaw was rigid, and he couldn't open his eyes. My mom was talking to the captain that was with Luke - he is the physician assistant for their battalion - and he told her that they had taken him to a local hospital. The doctors there were running some tests - a CT, an MRI, and an EEG. The first two turned out normal. I still don't know about the last one. They also did a spinal tap to see if he had an infection of some kind. They don't really know what is going on..... The Captain said that the hospital wanted to keep him for a few days but the battalion is going back to their base soon, so the Capt. is going to try and have Luke transferred to a hospital near their base or have Luke released to him, with a close checkup when they got back to base as he is at a German hospital, not an Army one.
So, needless to say, I have been praying for Luke a LOT today. This has the possibility of ending Luke's career in the Army. It's all he's ever wanted to do since he was 6, I think. God has worked mightily in his favor and opened so many doors for him. It was amazing to watch. And now this happens. Now, I know that God has a plan. And I choose to believe that God already knew that this was going to happen. I mean, nothing is a surprise to Him. Everything is all written out in His book for us before we were born. It was interesting - earlier this month I was reading in Exodus, when God was talking to Moses about all the plagues that were going to happen. And everything just seemed to get worse, and I could just about here the Israelites grumbling, and saying, "This isn't working, God. Whatever You are doing, quit. It is only making things worse!" At least, I could see myself saying that. I have said it. And I've gotten hung up on the part of the verse were God says, "And I will harden Pharaoh's heart" and I've missed the second half of the verse, that says, "But I will gain glory for Myself from Pharaoh and all his army." (Exodus 14:4) So easily I get caught up in the "this is so bad" attitude and miss out on everything that God is doing.
So, I just pray that Luke would be able to see how God is working this out for him and for His glory. And that the doctors would have wisdom and know what to do. I appreciate y'all praying for him and for us. This is all much easier to say than it is to do.

In His love,
Christy