Sunday, November 08, 2009

What is a Veteran? / Gene Dasher

Surfing with Jesus

Pastor Gene A Dasher, Sr

gene@SurfingwithJesus.com

59411112009

Web Site: http://SurfingwithJesus.Blogspot.com/

This page is dedicated to all veterans
past, present and future.
This Veteran's day, please don't forget
the Veteran's. The Men and Women who fought so
bravely and lost their lives during WW1, WW2,
Korea, Viet Nam, Gulf, Afghanistan, Iraq and peacekeeping.
Let us never forget our MIA's and POW's
please remember to keep all Veteran's and their
families in your thoughts and daily prayers.

What Is a Veteran?

Some veterans bear visible signs of their service:
a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye.

Others may carry the evidence inside them: a pin holding
a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg -
or perhaps another sort of inner steel: the soul's
ally forged in the refinery of adversity.

Except in parades, however, the men and women who
have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem.

You can't tell a vet just by looking. What is a vet?

He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi
Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored
personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel.

He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks,
whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a
hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of
exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.

She - or he - is the nurse who fought against futility
and went to sleep sobbing every night for
two solid years in Da Nang.

He is the POW who went away one person and came back another -
or didn't come back AT ALL.

He is the Quantico drill instructor who has never seen combat -
but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account
rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to
watch each other's backs.

He is the parade - riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons
and medals with a prosthetic hand.

He is the career quartermaster who watches the
ribbons and medals pass him by.

He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns,
whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever
preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor
dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield
or in the ocean's sunless deep.

He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket -
palsied now and aggravatingly slow - who helped liberate a
Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were
still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.

He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being -
a person who offered some of his life's most vital years in
the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions
so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.

He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness,
and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on
behalf of the finest, the greatest nation ever known.

So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country,
just lean over and say Thank You. That's all most people need,
and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could
have been awarded or were awarded. Two little words that mean a lot.

"THANK YOU."
Author- Father Denis Edward O'Brien
USMC

REMEMBER

“If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1John 1:9

Send prayer request to: genedash@yahoo.com.

Join Surfing with Jesus mailing list: genedash@yahoo.com.

Or gene@SurfingwithJesus.com.

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

God's Majesty 59311022009

Surfing with Jesus

Pastor Gene A Dasher, Sr

gene@SurfingwithJesus.com

59311022009

Web Site: http://SurfingwithJesus.Blogspot.com/

God’s Majesty

Several have commented today on how beautiful it is as you drive to work. Yes, God’s paint brush can be seen everywhere in our area. The leaves falling letting us know winter is near but it is so nice to behold the majesty of God.

Oh, that man would see God in all of this and behold him as our creator and know that his majesty can be seen in all of life; not just the changing of the leaves on the trees. It is breath taking when one thinks on all the beauty God places in our lives. We may be hurting physically, financially, mentally but we can be at peace in his arms and rejoice in him.

One song says “Look what the Lord has done.” Take a moment, stop what you are doing and behold what God is doing for you. When you take time for God you will see his majesty and you will know that he is near and will be your friend and guide forever.

Oh, the peace I feel as I take this moment just to behold God. Yes, I’m down in my back from raking leaves yesterday but just thinking on God puts my mind on wonderful thoughts of where I am with God as I rest in his arms.

I love the white sand between my toes when I’m on the beach. I feel the touch of God when I look across the water and see the power lying in that vast body of water but nothing compares to the love God has for each of us.

I know you got to get busy so I will leave you for now, I hope you took this moment to behold the splendor, the beauty and the majesty of God.

REMEMBER

“If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1John 1:9

Send prayer request to: genedash@yahoo.com.

Join Surfing with Jesus mailing list: genedash@yahoo.com.

Or gene@SurfingwithJesus.com.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

The Old Paths #592

Surfing with Jesus

Pastor Gene A Dasher, Sr

gene@SurfingwithJesus.com

59210282009

Web Site: http://SurfingwithJesus.Blogspot.com/

THE OLD PATHS

I liked the old paths, when
Moms were at home.
Dads were at work.
Brothers went into the army.
And sisters got married BEFORE having children!

Crime did not pay;
Hard work did;
And people knew the difference.

Moms could cook;
Dads would work;
Children would behave.

Husbands were loving;
Wives were supportive;
And children were polite.

Women wore the jewelry;
And Men wore the pants.

Women looked like ladies;
Men looked like gentlemen;
And children looked decent.

People loved the truth,
And hated a lie.

They came to church to get IN,
Not to get OUT!

Hymns sounded Godly;
Sermons sounded helpful;
Rejoicing sounded normal;
And crying sounded sincere.

Cursing was wicked;
Drugs were for illness;
And divorce was unthinkable.

The flag was honored;
America was beautiful;
And God was welcome!

We read the Bible in public;
Prayed in school;
And preached from house to house.

To be called an American was worth dying for;
To be called an American was worth living for;
To be called a traitor was a shame!

I still like the old paths the best!

'The Old Paths' was written by a retired minister who lives In Tennessee.
I wish the old paths were before us instead of behind us.I know this is an old one but I just wanted to share as a Veteran friend did with me.

REMEMBER

“If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1John 1:9

Send prayer request to: genedash@yahoo.com.

Join Surfing with Jesus mailing list: genedash@yahoo.com.

Or gene@SurfingwithJesus.com.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Impacting Others #59110142009

Surfing with Jesus

Pastor Gene A Dasher, Sr

gene@SurfingwithJesus.com

59110142009

Impacting Others

I’ve read this before and perhaps you have too but today it spoke to me so I am sharing it with you. Our young people face things today unlike anything we ever dreamed. My heart breaks when I see the pressure they face. Most make good choices but even the best young person can make a bad choice that will impact their lives forever.

We all know or knew someone like this!!

One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, 'Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd.' I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friend’s tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.

As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt.
His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes. My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye.

As I handed him his glasses, I said, 'Those guys are jerks.' They really should get lives. 'He looked at me and said, 'Hey thanks!' There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude. I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived.

As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now. I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books.


He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends. He said yes.
We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him.

Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again.

I stopped him and said, 'Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday! ‘He just laughed and handed me half the books. Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor and I was going for business on a football scholarship.

Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd.
He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak. Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him. Boy, sometimes I was jealous! Today was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, 'Hey, big guy, you'll be great!' He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. ‘Thanks,' he said.

As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began 'Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends...

I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story.' I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend.

He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. 'Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable.'

I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize its depth. Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life.

For better or for worse. God puts us all in each others lives to impact one another in some way. Look for God in others. 'Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.'


There is no beginning or end. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift.

It’s me again. Be a friend or allow someone to be a friend to you. Life will be enhanced and enriched for both of you as Jesus shines through you with love.

REMEMBER

“If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1John 1:9

Send prayer request to: genedash@yahoo.com.

Join Surfing with Jesus mailing list: genedash@yahoo.com.

Or gene@SurfingwithJesus.com.

Web Site: http://SurfingwithJesus.Blogspot.com/