Bovine Theology

My good buddy, Joey Smith, has just finished his first book, The Blender. Joey has mad skills at telling stories. He has the way to take the mundane things of life and make you laugh until you cry. I know because we worked together for too short of a time. But during that time, he would on a daily basis make us all laugh. But the thing I liked best about Joey’s anecdotes was that they always had substance. Even now, he’ll send me something, often about his boys, in which he makes my eyes water from laughing, but at the same time speaks to my heart. Joey is the real-deal. He wants to be a good husband and father, but falls on his face too often. And he talks about it, unlike the rest of us who fall on our faces just as often and try to hide it to protect our pride.

I’m excited because his book was released today, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it. I can endorse it even before I read it because I know it will make you laugh, cry, and think about your life. It may even make you a little wiser, a little more loving, and possibly even smarter. I know this because this is what my conversations with Joey always do. Pick up a copy of The Blender soon for some enjoyable reading.

Today was the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. It is a solemn memory to think back on that day. The ensuing war that is still going on plagues our nation. I feel that few understand much about it, and it saddens me to think so many have forgotten what happened on 9/11. I remember in 1993 when I went through 16 weeks of training at the Navy & Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center, how we were taught that the next war our nation would fight would not be a conventional one, but a war against terrorists. I had no idea then what that would look like, nor that it would actually come to pass. But it has. We were trained as intelligence specialists with conventional war in mind. No one knew exactly what a war on terror would look like. We still have much to learn. But we must be vigilant. I recently saw a bumper sticker that said, “Peace is patriotic.” It was one of many on the back of a car that was driven by someone who obviously opposed the war. This mindset, although noble, is faulty. None of us, if personally attacked in our own home, would sit by and wish that no one would attack us again. Our peaceful existence in the U.S. has been fought for, and is being fought for, by a strong defense. Only history will show where we went right and where we went wrong. But I do know that wishful thinking will not protect our freedom. Although it is an extreme example, this article with the included pictures is a testimony of those who wish to destroy our freedom. Again, we must be vigilant.

As for Leslie’s cancer, we are being vigilant in that war. I only wish that we could not have fought the war we are fighting against it. Life would be simpler for us now if she were not going through the battle of radiation and chemotherapy. But sitting on our hands and wishing that our peaceful habits would cause the terrorist cancer cells in her body to give up their fight would accomplish nothing. Instead, we are enduring the unpleasantries of a battle against this terrorist disease so that her body can live in peace. It is painful now, for her, and for the rest of us to watch. But it is a worthwhile pain. It is a temporary pain that we hope will protect her body from future invaders, and give her a long, peaceful life.

The strength that Leslie gained this weekend has waned. Tonight has been pretty miserable for her. Although strong inside, the signs of the stresses of her treatment are showing. She is weary. Please continue to pray for her comfort and for the effectiveness of her treatment. She now has only 3 days left of radiation and the current chemo treatment. We will certainly celebrate this weekend as this comes to an end, and especially next Wednesday as we praise God on her 35th birthday.

In a recent conversation with one of my Bush-hating friends, I listened as he told me that he agreed with the war in Afghanistan because we were fighting Al Qaeda, but not with the war in Iraq because we were fighting for oil. Although I insisted we were fighting Al Qaeda in Iraq, he was unmoved, staying committed that the Crook had a personal agenda to make his friends rich by fighting for their oil interests.

I read with interest today that the #2 in command (second only to Bin Laden) of Al Qaeda spoke of the war in Iraq as being against them (Al Qaeda). This isn’t on the Drudge Report or even on Fox News, but on CNN’s website. Click here to read the article.

Two thoughts went through my mind as I read the quotes from Ayman al-Zawahiri: 1) This is who we’re fighting. This is why we’ve stayed the task. 2) This is what my instructors we’re talking about nearly fifteen years ago as I set under them at the Naval and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center. They said, “the next war we will fight will be a war on terrorism.” This was in 1993. It sounded strange to me then. I couldn’t put that into a category. That was true for most if not all in my class. But these words were prophetic. And although our soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines have all been trained to fight, for the most part, conventionally; we are in a very unconventional war. But it is not one of revenge for Bush Sr., nor is it one for oil. It is for the security of our country.

I appreciated a quote by John McCain that I read in a recent issue of World Magazine. He spoke on his committment to the war, and then clarified by saying something to the effect of knowing that it’s not what most Americans want, but he’s committed to the principle not the polls. I think, although I could be wrong, that is what our President has committed himself to. But maybe my friend is right. Maybe Bush is just a crook who is using America’s men and women in uniform to make his few friends rich. Personally, I don’t buy it and I think it smacks in the face of all who fight for our freedom. I sure am glad God is in control of this world.