2 Pantherville

Around the horn in 2 Pantherville. Lest you think I'm very spiritual, I'll tell you the fuzziness on the water baptism pictures was not the Holy Spirit descending on us as a dove. Although I really like that theme. It was a smudge on my camera phone.

Top 5 Books, and More

A Paratrooper asked me what might be the top 5 Christian books to recommend him. I've excluded reference works. He's not read any of these:

1. Simply Christianity, Why Christianity Makes Sense, by N.T. Wright
2. Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis
3. Basic Christianity, by John Stott
4. Knowing God, by J.I. Packer
5. Confessions, by St. Augustine
(6.) Dangerous Duty of Delight, by John Piper
(7.) Celebration of Discipline, by Richard Foster
(8.) The Wounded Healer, by Henri Nouwen
(9.) Wild at Heart, by John Eldredge

Courage

"Cowardice and laziness mask as discretion." ~ Thomas Merton

Godliness

Humility will get you everywhere. The meek shall inherit the earth. Humility will give you confidence because you see reality as it is. Pride puffs up and makes life look too idealistic in one's eyes.

Humility is the key to Godliness. Who is the most Godly person you know? Godliness is attractive and powerful, but it only comes through humility, suffering, conflict, and the peace of the Holy Spirit.

Strive for Godliness, not legalism. Not showboatism. Not grandiosity. Not escapism. Godliness in the fight is true Godliness. Godliness exclusively cloistered is impotent.

Godliness through humility will not exalt itself with others, like peers, or superiors. Godliness like this brings peace and provides grace. Godliness never envies power.

Godliness is prophetic because it cuts through the pathetic in the world. Godliness is courageous because it requires one to take risks not to fit in.

Godliness promotes trust with one's relationship to God. God can trust you because you are like God, reflecting Him. And others can trust you because they know (see, hear, experience) you as faithful and reliable.

Godliness brings trust with one's spouse. It is easier to draw closer to each other and risk more, go farther, and deeper with each other.

Godliness is never meant to be used for profit like the Pharisees did. The purpose of Godliness is about knowing God through Christ, something happening on the inside, not about appearance on the outside.

I Cor. 2.2, "For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified."

America the Beautiful -- 4 July 09 Hometown Tribute

Leo, my older brother received this American Flag (below) that I had sent to him, which I carried with me to the Joint Security Stations around Baghdad. He purposed to fly it atop of Moosic Mountain in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I wrote about it here: http://worthmysalt.blogspot.com/2009/05/my-memorial-day.html.

He and his friends made kind of a pilgrimage to post it. As you can see it was a beautiful day in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Over the years we've ejoyed many hikes to this precious place and he has placed a flag or two there. See post: http://worthmysalt.blogspot.com/2008/01/rescuing-flag-part-ii.html.

The pictures below were from this past Memorial Day time-frame. Although, the pole was missing on this last trip. With our last email exchange it sounds like there will be another sometime in the future.

The 4th of July is one of my favorite American Holidays. I've spent a 4th up on top of the mountain a time or two. It will be nice to get back home, most likely late this year, for a hike. Enjoy the view. Thanks, Bro.

~ Paul

Celebrating Mom's 80th and our Nation's Independence (Update)

Course Correction

"The secrete of life is to go through something harrowing that doesn't kill you . . . and to love one woman for the rest of your life." ~Garrison Keilor

This isn't quite the truth, but I like the quote anywway, and thought I'd put it down somwhere. My Facebook account has pretty much seen it's limit. Rather, I've seen my limit with it, for now. TMI. Too much information to manage. It has become taxing, almost out of control, and it's not how I want to live my life--always checking Facebook.

I've heard from some Family that they still want to be keeping a tab on how their brother is doing while deployed. So, I'll be posting again here. You can always email me. That still works. For those of you who have sent me snail mail, my address will be changing and changing again. I'm o.k. without mail for sometime.

Looking forward to R&R in the not too distant future.

Peace Out,

Paul

Closing Down Shop

Friends,

I'm gonna close down shop for a while. For how long? To be determined. No, I didn't get in trouble or anything like that. No one in particular has addressed me to remove it. It's just time to shelve it again.

Hope you enjoyed the show.

Blessings,

My Memorial Day

This speech will be given at a Memorial Day Service to my fellow paratroopers somewhere in Baghdad, Iraq.

In a couple of weeks my older brother Leo will be celebrating a birthday. He's a retired Air Force Officer, and whose daughter is now a 2nd Lieutenant. He's sent me a couple of awesome care packages since I've been here.

It's not a quid-pro-quo, but for his birthday I decided I was going to send him 2 American flags. One of them hung in my office at the Joint Security Station (JSS) where I am most frequently located, and the other traveled with me when I convoyed to JSS Oubaidy and JSS SUJ. As I was leaving Battalion Headquarters to take the folded emblems of freedom to the Post Office I bumped into a former Platoon Sergeant who seemd to have a different kind of reaction to the flags than most others would. It occurred to me, just then, that a folded flag represents to many around me the supreme sacrifice of a friend, like SSG Bauer, who we lost in January.

As I was walking to the Post Office I was having an epiphany. These flags traveled with me to places where I was mortared a handful of times and rocketed several others. Then I also began to sense some more personal symbolism in how the 2 flags could represent the 2 Paratroopers (SSG Bauer and CPL Davis) from our Battalion who we lost this year in combat. The flags took on more significance to me than ever before. These flags represented the ultimate sacrifice that for me and you are more than just noble ideas. The flag on this Memorial Day is a symbol of the high cost of freedom which we personally know firsthand.

Early in the deployment my older brother and I discussed sending the 2 flags home. One would be a personal keepsake. The other is to be placed on top of Moosic Mountain that overlooks the best of beauty in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Although the motorists who look up and drive by it may never know the distance and personal sacrifice that the particular flag has travelled. Old Glory will fly high and like always, will represent the God-give freedoms we cherish: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

At the Post Office I was having an unscheduled appointment with a significant emotional event as all these thoughts rushed through my head. When the Soldier at the Post Office helped me place the flags into a box to send back to the States I remembered the words by a Chaplain prior to the deployment. They were nuggets of wisdom. "You will be changed when you go to war. Everyone has some software scrambled in the brains when you are touched by war. However, it can make you a better person." I wouldn't trade my experience at war for anything. It comes at great personal sacrifice to oneself and Family. Although you and I are changed, we are better people for knowing the men and women we've served and sacrificed with. We are better human beings because we know the cost of freedom more so than 99 percent of the American population who haven't had their "boots on the ground." Our character has been forged in the crucible of Baghdad, Iraq where we have been contributing to the on-going security gains to protect the freedoms that we indelibly share with the Government of Iraq.

Our National Pride will fly high on top of Moosic Mountain in Northeastern Pennsylvania. But someday it will become tattered from the wear and tear of the elements. All material things have a life-span. But the American values that we hold dearly are eternal. On this Memorial Day it is apropos to quote the final words of President Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg Address. "It is rather for us to be here, dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion--that we here, highly resolve, that these dead shall not have died in vain--that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom--and that government: of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from this earth."

Winning the War in Iraq 1 Cup of Chai at a Time

Service at 799

Memorial Ceremony Pics

CPL Brad A. Davis, 2 Panther Fox Co Hero