Sunday, July 9, 2017

One Last Ride



Life is just like riding broncs' it's a battle
Then he rolled his cigarette with shaky hands
Son I'd gladly take ten seconds in the saddle
For a lifetime of watching from the stands
~Chris Ledoux Ten Seconds In The Saddle~

Some people are content standing on the sidelines.  Others grab each and every opportunity that is presented to them with enthusiasm.  I tend to usually be the one standing off to the side.  I'm guessing that I don't want to be around when, as Murphys law tells us, things will eventually go wrong.  See, going after each opportunity which is presented to us takes a special type of personality.  This is the type of person who is willing to not only accept the victories in life, but the failures as well.  Sure, there have been many stories of those who have defied all odds to step up when those around them stepped back.  These are the risk takers.  That's not me.  I just seem to have a personality that is content with playing things safe.  I have friends in my circle who have from time to time wondered aloud just how I could survive this way.  Still, I manage to carry on.  Now, I would say that perhaps I need to change something about myself, but do I?  Do I need to change, or do I simply need to recognize that which is already in me?  Can it really be that simple as we ourselves not seeing who we truly are inside?  Am I a passive personality...or a risk taker just waiting for the opportunity to see my true self?  This may be a bit difficult to see for some, I know that it was for me.  For the longest time, I truly believed that I was somehow seperated from my Lord and savior.  For this is what I had been told.  I was simply a sinner saved by my Lords love and grace.  All the while, Christ Jesus who had given Himself in my place was at the right hand of the Father in heaven watching down on me...seperated from the one He died to save.

20“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Galations 2:20 NKJV

It wasn't until I realized that there was something more to this truth of Jesus that I began to see that I was not seperated from Jesus, or God, after all.  As the apostle Paul tells us in his revealing of this truth in Galations 2, we live AS CHRIST today.  I have realized that it is that Spirit of Christ Jesus who is now in me.  So, what else is there about my Fathers child that I haven't yet realized?  Am I content with being the man which my heavenly Father has already revealed to me?  Or do I continue to look inside of myself, waiting for Him to reveal something more?  For it wasn't until it pleased God that Christ Jesus was revealed to Paul on the road to Damascus {Galations 1:15-16}.  So it was that when it pleased Him, that His son was also revealed in me.  Am I to assume that God is now done revealing what He wants me to see?  Not by a long shot!  Who knows what things my heavenly Father will reveal to His child, but I trust in Him that His plans for me are good {Jeremiah 29:11}.  So, are we in need of change, or do we wait on our heavenly Father to reveal who we truly are?  Who knows, I could be one of those people who live in for the moment and take hold of every opportunity life presents me.  I will indeed, if this is what He chooses to reveal in me.  Like that old cowboy on one last ride.

 13For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. 14And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood.
Galations 1: 13 - 16 NKJV

~Scott~

Saturday, July 8, 2017

All In All



11“He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him ebe righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” 12“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” 14Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
Revelation 22: 11 - 14 NKJV

He is not simply a standby.  A safety net in times of trial and tribulation.  He is always to be remembered.  He is never to be forgotten.  We revere Him not because we are called to.  But because it is He who loved us first.  He is the the Alpha and the Omega.  The Begining and the End.  The First and the Last of all creation.  He is our All in All.  To put God in a box only to be opened in times of trouble and need does not do Him a disservice.  When we place our heavenly Father in a box, we do ourselves a disservice.  He is the first thing we see in the morning, and the very last thing we think of at night.  He knew us before we were born, and He will welcome us home once again when our time draws near.  In Him we live, move and have our being.  He is closer than our next breath, not far from each one of us.  He created us in His very image.  He breathed into us the breath of life, that He might forever live through us.  He is our All in All.
All in All.  When we think of everything that that term means, we still cannot grasp the majesty and greatness of our Lord.  A majesty so immense that Moses himself had to hide his face from the radiant glory of his Lord {Exodus 34:35}.  Indeed, what is there about our own lives that God has not touched?  Where is it that we can look where we will not see Him reflected in His creation?  This is something echoed by Dennis on more than a few of our hiking trips.  That we shall see our heavenly Father in all of His creation.  After all, it was by His spoken word that all that we see was created.  Whereupon He declared all that He had created...good.

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not acomprehend it.
John 1: 1 - 5 NKJV

It is foolish to think that we, the crown jewel of our heavenly Fathers creation, could be seperated from Him in any way.  Yet this is exactly the lie which some people believe.  Satan lied to Eve when he said that she could ultimately "be like God" should she eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil {Genesis 3:4-5}.  Be like God?  Be the All in All?  Yet, this is the very same deception which Lucifer himself had believed in his heart, that he could "be like the Most High."{Isaiah 14:14}.  Make no mistake, Lucifer himself was part of our Lords creation as well.  Yet, he chose to ascend higher than the All in All.  This lie did not work for Lucifer, and certainly will not work for us either.  For there is NOTHING that has ever touched nor ever will touch our lives that God has not been intimately involved in.  We are His children {1 John 3:1}.  There is indeed no seperation between our heavenly Father and all which He has created.  He is the First and the Last.  He is our All in All.

1Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know bus, because it did not know Him. 2Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
1 John 3: 1 - 2 NKJV

~Scott~

The Happy Times

~Muhammad Ali - The independent self on display~


30“But God raised Him from the dead. 31“He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. 32“And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. 33“God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You."
Acts 13: 30 - 33 NKJV

It was Charles Stanley who once said that we learn more in our own valley experiences than we do on the mountain tops.  Indeed, it is when we feel that we are walking the valley of adversity that we may learn some of lifes most important lessons.  All too often, it is these tribulations, struggles and trials which our heavenly Father may use for our very benefit.  For it is in these times of trial that we may be the most teachable.  Does a child learn the dangers of life simply from being instructed by his parents?  I would say not, for a large part of lifes learnings come from some valuable lessons.  Not touching a hot stovetop, not jumping off of buildings and not playing in traffic.  As parents, we desire that these lessons that our children learn will stay with them for a lifetime.  Sometimes they do, while others seem to learn things the hard way.  So it is with God.  It is my belief that He will use our most dire circumstances...to teach us what He desires us to know.  It took losing all that he owned before Job came to the conclusion that it wasn't all about him.  As a loving Father, God will get His message across to His children.  Yet, what about those times when we face life from that mountain top?  Those times when things are going along just fine and we feel as if there is nothing wrong.  Do times such as these mean that our heavenly Father has nothing to show us?  Not at all.  It only means that He has yet to choose how to reveal to us what it is He wants us to know.

46Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47“For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’”48Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. 49And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.

These are our happy times, those times in our life when everything seems to be going good.  It's also no coincidence that it is during the happy times when many a christian is said to backslide into trusting in only themselves.  Hello Job?  See, Jobs mistake was thinking that his wealth were as a result of his own efforts.  It wasn't until God spoke to him from that whirlwind that Job then understood.  These were Jobs happy times, he had it all.  It is all to easy for us to fall into the belief that our own efforts, determination and toughness is the very reason for our own success.  This is the mistake of the independent self, which I've spoken to before as being in error.  This is the lie of satan which we see in Genesis 3.

4Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5“For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Genesis 3: 4 - 5 NKJV

Be like God?  Really?  See, this is the lie perpetrated by satan which led to the fall.  The lie that we could be independent of our creator.  The lie of the independent self.  There is but one independent Spirit, which is that of our heavenly Father.  All else aside from Him...was created by His spoken word.  Still think that you're independent?  Now, I'm not saying that we won't have those mountain top and valley experiences in our own lives, but we need to realize what might be happening behind the scenes.  When we encounter these times in our life, we should be wondering, no, we should be asking our heavenly Father what He is doing through us.  Our true happy times are those when we walk as one in Christ {Galations 2:20}.

3Now aprepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. 4“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. 5Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the bline upon it? 6To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, 7When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Job 38: 3 - 7 NKJV

~Scott~

Friday, July 7, 2017

A Bold Proclamation



13When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 16: 13 - 18 NKJV

For His part, Jesus was never even interested in who others thought that He was.  Throughout His ministry He had made it known just who He was.  Jesus KNEW exactly who He was, what He strove for was that those around Him would see Him for who He truly was as well.  This man Jesus, this Son of man, spent His entire ministry telling others of what must happen.  Still, they questioned His authority.  Even those who were His inner circle all too often were left to wonder just who He was.  Despite having been witness to many of the miracles of Jesus, they still wondered.  They wondered, in the midst of the storm, who this was that even the wind and waves would obey Him {Matthew 8:27}.  Even after His death on the cross and despite hearing the witness of others who had witnessed His presence, one of His own refused to believe {John 20:25}.  It is moments such as these that make the proclamation of Peter all that more important.  For after the Jewish scribes and Pharisees had demanded a sign of who He was, Jesus inquired of His own disciples just who others were saying that He was.  Their answers ranged from John the Baptist and Elijah to Jeremiah or one of the prophets of old {Matthew 16:14}.  Then Jesus asked that million dollar question, "but who do you say that I am?"  I doubt that Jesus was all too worried about what He might hear in response to His question, but He asked them nonetheless.  For I believe that He already knew what Peter would tell Him in that moment.  Without hesitation, the disciple Peter answered his teacher.  "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  Whoa!  Just for a moment I believe that you could have heard a pin drop as Jesus took in His young disciples response.  This was indeed a bold proclamation by Peter.  As Jesus told him, "flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven."{Matthew 16:17}  How true this is.

5For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
2 Corinthians 4: 5 - 7 NKJV

The other day I was reading a devotional as to why the Jewish authorities hated Jesus so much.  Now, I am of the belief that God used these same Jewish authorities for His very purpose.  What man meant for evil, God meant for good {Genesis 50:20}.  One of the reasons that these Jews hated the man Jesus so much was not only because He made them look bad in front of Rome and the Jewish people, but because of His bold proclamation.  Jesus made no secret of just who He was, and this flew in the face of the scribes and Pharisees.  Jesus' bold proclamation that He was the Son of God threw the Jewish leaders into fits.  This man, this SINNER...is the Son of God?  They couldn't comprehend what Jesus was saying.  They demanded signs and proof of just who He was.  Time and again...He told them.
I've commented a few times of the reaction I have received when telling others of the truth I have in Jesus.  The truth that I live each and every day as Jesus.  This is our bold proclamation.  I can only imagine the reaction of those same Jewish Pharisees had I proclaimed back in the day that I was Jesus.  Perhaps I would have been nailed to that cross with Him.  Well, the truth is that I have been.  As the apostle Paul tells us, it was our "old man" who was crucified with Christ "that the body of sin might be done away with."{Romans 6:6}   The very reason that we can boldly proclaim today that we live as Christ Jesus is that Jesus Himself has put to death the sin nature we were born into.  This is the "treasure in earthen vessels" which Paul refered to in 2 Corinthians.  We can proclaim Christ Jesus in us loudly, proudly and matter of factly.

20“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Galations 2:20 NKJV

~Scott~

Leading In Christ



13And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” 15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
1 Peter 3: 13 - 17 NKJV

Nobody wants nor looks forward to following someone who is a bad leader.  Bad leaders and the decisions they make have led to many a bad situation.  All too often we complain and fuss over what we perceive as bad decisions by our bosses, coworkers or public officials.  It seems that, given the chance, that we ourselves could do much better than those who have been entrusted to make the important decisions.  After all, we didn't put them in charge.  It was John Quincy Adams who once said of leadership that "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then you are a leader."  That may be too high a standard for some to bear.  For when we are thrust into that caldron of leadership, our own needs will suddenly be replaced by the needs of those with whom we have been entrusted.  Those who have taken up the mantle of leadership in one form or another can attest to the struggles which all too often come with such a position.  When you are a leader, there is no room for personal favoritism, agendas or self gratification.  For if you seek the position of leadership simply for your own gain, then you will soon hear the discontent of those under you.  It was General Colin Powell who once observed that one must "Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego falls with it."  Pretty sound advice from one who has led others into the heat of battle.

"Be an example to your men, in your duty and in your private life.  Never spare yourself and let your troops see that you don't in your endurance of fatigue and privation.  Always be tactful and well-mannered.  Avoid excessive shaprness or harshness of voice, which usually indicates the man who has shortcomings of his own to hide."
~German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel~

So, what is it that makes a sound leader?  For many have tried, but precious few have actually succeeded.  Recently, many have coined the term "leading from behind" to describe one who lets their own agenda or ego get in the way of effective leadership.  Former presidents Barak Obama, George H.W. Bush and now Donald Trump have all been accused at one point or another of leading from behind.  It is my humble opinion that one can SAY anything, but what are you actually doing with your leadership role?  What was it that made others follow the man Jesus?  Was it His charisma, sweet talk or the promises that He made?  No, I believe the reason that so many followed Christ Jesus is that He all too often spoke as one who knew what He was talking about {Luke 2:46-47}.  Not only that, it was often the love, compassion and understanding of Christ which drew people to Him.  He spoke not of condemnation, but of the love of the Father who sent Him.  Remember, those who Jesus called to follow Him were of no special social standing in their society.  These fishermen, tax collectors and "sinners" were just who Jesus needed to hear His message.  As Jesus tells us, He did not "come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" {Mark 2:17}.  As Christ exhibits to us so many times in scripture, it is the humble in heart who all too often make the best leaders.  For in the hearts of such men are carried the hopes and dreams of those under their authority.


33Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” 34But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. 35And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” 36Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37“Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”
Mark 9: 33 - 37 NKJV

~Scott~

Thursday, July 6, 2017

Baggage Claim



14For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 16Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2 Corinthians 5: 14 - 17 NKJV

I have a good pretty decent fear of heights.  therefore, this fear of heights translates into a fear of flying.  Usually this doesn't affect the way in which I live my life, although it does provide me with limitations.  On the one hand, my travels are limited to ground excursions.  I have from time to time put my life in my hands and flown on a airplane, but not too often.  The few times which I have flown have been but short local hops which didn't last too long.  In such cases, little baggage is required.  However, I have heard the horror stories of those airline travelers whose own baggage has been held hostage by one airline or another.  At one time it was far too common to have one peice of baggage follow you, while another somehow lands 2,000 miles away.  Thankfully the airlines have seemingly taken steps to avoid the lost baggage issue.  I just wish we ourselves had followed their lead.  The different type of baggage which I'm speaking of is that internal baggage which we all may inadvertently carry along with us.  From past relationships to current bad feelings, it seems that some of us have enough internal baggage to choke a horse.  Now, it is one thing for someone to face the challanges of dealing with their own baggage on their own, but a totally different situation when they attach their baggage to those around them.  Suddenly, all of their thoughts, feelings and internal conflicts somehow belong to everyone else.  Now, there's no problem with people seeking help to deal with baggage, but yet another when they attach their own feelings and inadequacies to their relationships with others.  I know, you'd think that most people are smart enough not to do that, but I've seen it more often than I care to admit.  Not only that, I've often allowed my own baggage to cloud my relationships with those around me.  In his letter to the church at Corinth, the apostle Paul indeed warned us to not view those around us in the flesh, but as a new creation in Christ Jesus.

27“All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am fgentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30“For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11: 27 - 30 NKJV

For the purpose of conversation, I will refer to that internal baggage which we all carry not as baggage...but as burdens.  Indeed, this is a far better description of our own...burdens.  Jesus Himself, in Matthew 11, tells us to lay aside such burdens.  Not only that, but we are to take that yolk of Christ Himself upon us.  Now, what burdens do you think that Jesus carried?  Are His burdens less than ours?  Indeed, Jesus invites us to take and carry His burden as His burden is light.  It is my belief that Jesus would not offer us something which was bad for us.  Indeed, when we cast our cares, worries and burdens upon Christ, what is there left to attach to others?  We not only relieve ourselves of those things which choke us, but in the end we release our own burdens unto Christ Jesus.  In the end, it's not as hard as you might think.  For if we indeed live today as Jesus as Paul tells us in Galations, then all we need do is trust that He will release us from those burdens which...burden us {Galations 2:20}.  That which we once carried within us, is now shouldered by Christ.  In its place, we have the easy burden of Jesus Himself.  For myself, I would rather shoulder that yolk of Jesus than anything which this world offers.

6Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
1 Peter 5: 6 - 7 NKJV

~Scott~

Raising The Dead



6knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be adone away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6: 6 - 11 NKJV

It's something which has always confused me.  The very fact that Christ Jesus gave Himself on the cross for those sins I carried.  Yet, I was told that I should keep in prayer just in case I had sinned since Jesus had bled and died to forgive all my sins.  A real head scratcher that one.  Believe me, Dennis and I have had numerous discussions on this topic.  The fact that those sins which Christ died to free me of encompased ALL of  my sins past, present and future.  How then can we continue to pray for something which Jesus has already done away with?  In his wisdom, Dennis once told me that I was "dead to that (sin)."  Indeed, if Jesus has already become sin in our place, that debt has been paid {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  We are dead to that.  So, why do we continue to raise the dead?  That is, why do we continue to seek to resurrect sin which is supposed to be dead?  Trust me, there is NO resusitation for that which Christ has personaly put to death.  Once it has been killed, it stays that way.  I would think that if our sins were still valid, that the sacrafice of Jesus would therefore be invalid.  As the apostle Paul tells us in Romans 6, the death that Christ died, He die to sin once for all.  One sacrafice...one death...for all mankind.  That "old man," sin nature we were once born with...we're now dead to that.  There is no need for us to raise up what Christ has declared dead.

21For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for eus, leaving fus an example, that you should follow His steps: 22“Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 23who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose gstripes you were healed.
1 Peter 2: 21 - 24 NKJV

A simple Google search led me to 18 scriptures which assure us that we are indeed dead to sin, so it's not like there is no scripture verification that those sins which we once carried are now in the past.  This was in fact the way it was supposed to be.  This was the very purpose of Jesus giving Himself on that cross, that ALL might be saved {John 3: 16-17}.  I have no explanation as to why we continue to be cautioned not to ignore those sins which we carry, that we are simply sinners saved by grace, but this is simply not true.  For with the death and resurection of Jesus, each and every sin which we ever or ever will carry has been wiped clean.  The filthy rags have been made white as snow {Isaiah 1:18}.  We are victorious, spotless and blameless in our Fathers eyes as well as debt free.  We just need to realize it!  There is nothing we can ever do which will take away that which Christ Jesus has accomplished for us on the cross.  Christ did this not because he expected us to repay that debt at some point, but because He loved us first {1 John 4:19}.  There is no need for us to memorialize...or raise the dead.

When the final taps is sounded and we lay aside lifes cares
And we do the last and glories parade, on heavens shining stairs
And the Angels bid us welcome and the harps begin to play
We can draw a millon canteen checks and spend them in a day
It is then we'll hear Saint Peter tell us loudly with a yell
Take a front seat you soldier men, you've done your hitch in hell!
~Our Hitch In Hell by Frank Bernard Camp 1917~

~Scott~