In the latest attack on Christianity, the U.S. government has banned the flag-folding recitations at all 125 national cemeteries. The banning came as the result of one complaint! The situation is similar to that in which one person removed prayer from schools.

This article from The Associated Press explains the situation:
Complaints about religious content have led to a ban on flag-folding recitations by Veterans Administration employees and volunteers at all national cemeteries.
At thousands of military burials, VA volunteers have folded the American flag 13 times and recited the significance of each fold to survivors. The 11th fold glorifies "the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” The 12th glorifies "God the Father, the Son and Holy Ghost."
Citing a need for uniformity, the National Cemetery Administration has prohibited unpaid VA volunteers as well as employees from conducting the recital at all 125 national cemeteries.
American Legion attorney Rees Lloyd calls it "another attempt by secularist fanatics to cleanse any reference to God."

I am a Christian and a veteran. This situation can become a major situation. I'm thinking we need to have a religious and a secular ceremony of choice. Don't take away my right to have the entire flag-folding ceremony recited as written read at my funeral and I won't force you to take upon you a recitation that would be offensive at your funeral.

I am currently working on my will, estate and funeral with my family. I will request that a flag be draped over my casket, and that said flag will be folded with the full recitation and given to my son. I will further request that I receive the military honors of a 21 gun salute. If someone is offended by my patriotic rights, then you will be cordially uninvited to my funeral as the name of the Father and the Son will be used several times and will be testified to by the Holy Spirit. I would not want to force my love of God and country on you even in death.

I figure whoever it was that complained didn't have room to complain. After all it wasn't read at their funeral
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Reader Beware....I am just a music lover with no formal training. Comments from this blog are pure opinion.

Have you received Josh Turner's new CD "Everything is Fine"? If I hadn't known any better I would have sworn this was his greatest hits CD. There is something for everyone on this CD whether or not you like country music. The best thing about it is the positive notes he sends out about life, but I am getting ahead of myself already.

Most people will recognize Josh's single "Firecracker" on this CD. If the truth be known this song was the very reason why I bought the CD. "Firecracker" has been hitting the charts and stands on it's own merits but it is not the only jewel on this new release.

"Everything Is Fine" brings reality home with the country music sound we all love. A home, a wife, a truck and a dog means everything is fine. Simplicity and eloquence in a warm hug from the south is the gift of this song.

"So Not My Baby" I have termed a "teeny-bopper head banger". If a female were to sing this song it would be so sweet as to make more than one taste of it intolerable and yet the bass voice of Josh makes it fun and has you tapping along. This diamond has been polished to perfection.

"Trailerhood" made me laugh and smile as I remembered friends and relatives who have played out the soap operas sung in this song. Put it to a fifties type rock-n-roll country beat and you have yet another gem.

"Nowhere Fast" is Osmondic in it's vocal chorus harmonies, but you would never find the Osmonds singing about liquor and gambling. This song, however, reveals the character realizing he has struck rock bottom and he needs to pull himself up by the boot straps. This song may be a subject for a future philosophical thought.

The Irish Ballad of "The Longer the Waiting" needs to play the airwaves for the thousand of Navy personnel we have sailing the seas. Bagpipes blended with country guitars equals candle light and dinner.

Finally for the Christian music fans, you will not be disappointed with "The Way He Was Raised". I felt like I had listened to a phenomenal Sunday School lesson with this one. The life of Christ in modern word and music set this one apart from others I have heard. I would love for Josh to make a Christian CD with this and "Long Black Train" on it.

There are yet other fine jewels to discover on this CD (hey I couldn't let all the cats out of the bag). The point is....if you haven't bought it, go out and get it!!!

A little over a month ago I was packing a moving truck in North Dakota and making my way to Idaho. Since then I have made two trips to Colorado, had packed a second truck, gotten one daughter in to school, one daughter into an apartment, one daughter moved to Connecticut, serviced two vehicles, had two rooms built in my new home and painted my living room. Whew!!

Yesterday around 2 p.m. while driving home from Colorado, where my husband works, I got a severe migraine and began to vomit for 3 hours while still trying to get home. Once home I went straight to bed and slept for an hour. When I awoke I felt light headed and sore. As the hour continued, my chest began to hurt, my arms went numb and I feared I was going to black out. 911 was called and all services were aimed at me not having a heart attack.

The conclusion to the evening was that I had totally exhausted my body to the point where it felt it had to fake a heart attack to get my attention so I would slow down and take care of myself. Makes sense as I look at it this morning. Last night however, I watched my 13 year old daughter, watching her mother die.

This thought was heightened since I have been preparing a will (assets + children = will). My daughter and I talked about the fact that she would have to return to her biological father since she has not been officially adopted my her nurturing father (note to self: Get It Done!!). We talked about her knowing I loved her.

The children were called to the house and hospital as false blood pressure readings indicated stroke conditions. I have a son about ready to serve the Lord in the Mission Field and my thoughts were for him not to come home if I should die while he was out, but the need to say good-bye cannot be taken from him. I realized he would be haunted by it for the rest of his life as I have been for 18 years with my own mother's death.

My husband sounded the alarm as he jumped into the car and started driving to Idaho. My father in turn called my siblings who remained on high alert until this morning. One of our siblings died at the age of 33 and I nearly died six years ago from a head on collision. Death is a very real thing with our young family. My brother in Iraq called my husband wondering if flight arrangements should be considered.

Though all things turned out to be benign, the reality of death had been real. My "near death experience" last night, left me again knowing there would be few regrets left behind. The desire to finish raising my daughter was strong. The support from new friends a neighbors could not be denied. They are counted as a great blessing from the Lord. Adjustments need to be made in my life to make sure this does not happen again. I need to slow down. I can run myself into the ground literally if I am not careful.

Boxes can be unpacked, not today or tomorrow, but months from now. Dinner doesn't have to be hot...sandwiches are nice. I cannot be the strength for the family if I myself am weak. Reader be warned, for some day you too may have a near death experience that you may not recover from.