“And when he
had given thanks, he brake it, and said, ‘Take, eat: this is my body, which is
broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.’ After the same manner also he
took the cup, when he had supped, saying, ‘This cup is the new testament in my
blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often
as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he
come.” (1 Corinthians 11:24-26 KJV)
When I was eighteen,
I joined the US Marine Corps. My dad had been in the Corps in WWII and fought
in the Guadalcanal campaign at Saipan and Iwo Jima. As a boy, I insisted that I
would be a “lifer” in the Marines. But the realities of service life
was quite different from my childhood fantasies.
I joined the US Marine Corps. My dad had been in the Corps in WWII and fought
in the Guadalcanal campaign at Saipan and Iwo Jima. As a boy, I insisted that I
would be a “lifer” in the Marines. But the realities of service life
was quite different from my childhood fantasies.
As it happened, I
ended up in South Viet Nam and forty-two years later, I still hate the smell of
Dial soap. I can’t bear to stand in the rain and the mere mention of some
things dredges up memories too horrible to relate. Yet, I also have a host of
happier memories.
ended up in South Viet Nam and forty-two years later, I still hate the smell of
Dial soap. I can’t bear to stand in the rain and the mere mention of some
things dredges up memories too horrible to relate. Yet, I also have a host of
happier memories.
There are the
wonderful days going fishing with my paternal grandfather and an uncle. There
are the afternoons of playing ball with dad. There are Thanksgiving and
Christmas holidays with our extended family at my maternal grandparents’ home.
wonderful days going fishing with my paternal grandfather and an uncle. There
are the afternoons of playing ball with dad. There are Thanksgiving and
Christmas holidays with our extended family at my maternal grandparents’ home.
There is my first
sermon — scary as it was — from St. John 3:16. Sincerely spoken from my
heart, it was a five minute sermon expressing hope in the eternal life provided
through the love of God on Calvary. In addition, every congregation I have
served is remembered with the deepest gratitude and affection. I have made some
mistakes — which I try not to remember — and achieved some successes that I
try to keep before me.
sermon — scary as it was — from St. John 3:16. Sincerely spoken from my
heart, it was a five minute sermon expressing hope in the eternal life provided
through the love of God on Calvary. In addition, every congregation I have
served is remembered with the deepest gratitude and affection. I have made some
mistakes — which I try not to remember — and achieved some successes that I
try to keep before me.
But my greatest
memory is of an altar where I knelt, as an eleven year old, and repented of my
sin. Then there is the altar where I accepted the call to minister. And the
altar where I later re-committed myself to Christ, surrendering my life to him
in sanctification and being filled with the Holy Spirit. And the place where I
knelt as Bishop M. A. Tomlinson laid his hands on my head and said, “Be
thou faithful. Be thou a bishop.”
memory is of an altar where I knelt, as an eleven year old, and repented of my
sin. Then there is the altar where I accepted the call to minister. And the
altar where I later re-committed myself to Christ, surrendering my life to him
in sanctification and being filled with the Holy Spirit. And the place where I
knelt as Bishop M. A. Tomlinson laid his hands on my head and said, “Be
thou faithful. Be thou a bishop.”
There are many, many
other memories that could be related — if I could only remember them — but
they are locked in the memory bank awaiting a moment when some word, event, or
smell will trigger them and I’ll smile.
other memories that could be related — if I could only remember them — but
they are locked in the memory bank awaiting a moment when some word, event, or
smell will trigger them and I’ll smile.
Dear Father, thank
you for memories that death cannot take away. Empower us today to remember with
joy and gratitude. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
you for memories that death cannot take away. Empower us today to remember with
joy and gratitude. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be strong and
courageous today as you remember,
courageous today as you remember,