God Bless America
95 year old hero!
Letter To Obama at Whitehouse Sent from 95 year Old Pearl Harbor Survivor !! Fantastic!!
WW II Battleship sailor tells Obama to shape up or ship out !
This venerable and much honored WW II vet is well known in Hawaii for his seventy-plus years of service to patriotic organizations and causes all over the country. A humble man without a political bone in his body, he has never spoken out before about a government official, until now. He dictated this letter to a friend, signed it and mailed it to the president.
Dear President Obama,
My name is Harold Estes, approaching 95 on December 13 of this year. People meeting me for the first time don’t believe my age because I remain wrinkle free and pretty much mentally alert.
I enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1934 and served proudly before, during and after WW II retiring as a Master Chief Bos’n Mate. Now I live in a “rest home” located on the western end of Pearl Harbor , allowing me to keep alive the memories of 23 years of service to my country.
One of the benefits of my age, perhaps the only one, is to speak my mind, blunt and direct even to the head man.
So here goes.
I am amazed, angry and determined not to see my country die before I do, but you seem hell bent not to grant me that wish.
I can’t figure out what country you are the president of.
You fly around the world telling our friends and enemies despicable lies like:
” We’re no longer a Christian nation”
” America is arrogant” – (Your wife even
announced to the world,” America is mean-
spirited. ” Please tell her to try preaching
that nonsense to 23 generations of our
war dead buried all over the globe who
died for no other reason than to free a
whole lot of strangers from tyranny and
hopelessness.)
I’d say shame on the both of you, but I don’t think you like America, nor do I see an ounce of gratefulness in anything you do, for the obvious gifts this country has given you. To be without shame or gratefulness is a dangerous thing for a man sitting in the White House.
After 9/11 you said,” America hasn’t lived up to her ideals.”
Which ones did you mean? Was it the notion of personal liberty that 11,000 farmers and shopkeepers died for to win independence from the British? Or maybe the ideal that no man should be a slave to another man, that 500,000 men died for in the Civil War? I hope you didn’t mean the ideal 470,000 fathers, brothers, husbands, and a lot of fellas I knew personally died for in WWII, because we felt real strongly about not letting any nation push us around, because we stand for freedom.
I don’t think you mean the ideal that says equality is better than discrimination. You know the one that a whole lot of white people understood when they helped to get you elected.
Take a little advice from a very old geezer, young man.
Shape up and start acting like an American. If you don’t, I’ll do what I can to see you get shipped out of that fancy rental on Pennsylvania Avenue . You were elected to lead not to bow, apologize and kiss the hands of murderers and corrupt leaders who still treat their people like slaves.
And just who do you think you are telling the American people not to jump to conclusions and condemn that Muslim major who killed 13 of his fellow soldiers and wounded dozens more. You mean you don’t want us to do what you did when that white cop used force to subdue that black college professor in Massachusetts , who was putting up a fight? You don’t mind offending the police calling them stupid but you don’t want us to offend Muslim fanatics by calling them what they are, terrorists.
One more thing. I realize you never served in the military and never had to defend your country with your life, but you’re the Commander-in-Chief now, son. Do your job. When your battle-hardened field General asks you for 40,000 more troops to complete the mission, give them to him. But if you’re not in this fight to win, then get out. The life of one American soldier is not worth the best political strategy you’re thinking of.
You could be our greatest president because you face the greatest challenge ever presented to any president.
You’re not going to restore American greatness by bringing back our bloated economy. That’s not our greatest threat. Losing the heart and soul of who we are as Americans is our big fight now.
And I sure as hell don’t want to think my president is the enemy in this final battle…
Sincerely,
Harold B. Estes
Snopes confirms as true:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/haroldestes.asp
When a 95 year old hero of the “the Greatest Generation” stands up and speaks out like this, I think we owe it to him to send his words to as many Americans as we can. Please pass it on.
MONDAY, MAY 3, 2010
THE WARFARE OF REST
For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Today I want to speak to you for a few moments about a place called ‘rest’ and the warfare that’s involved as we strive to enter into that glorious place of rest. It is important that we enter into the rest of God, but clearly it is up to us whether we enter or not. Even as the nation of Israel was bidden of God to enter into his rest, the promised land of all things pleasant, they chose not to because of their unwarranted fears.
So let’s deal with the requirements of gaining entry into this place of rest, as it relates to us today, according to New Testament scripture.
How do we enter? It’s simple really; we enter the door by believing and trusting. There’s nothing complicated, nor confusing about the promises of God, nor his instruction to us. But aren’t we the ones today, as they too were the ones in history past, who simply choose not to accept his word regarding this blessed place of rest. We take the simple command and make it complicated by our thinking and reasoning. We challenge all of the promises of God, making them Goliaths of impossibility, refusing to do as he has commanded us.
At this point, I’m sure that almost every child of God will rise up saying, “well, I believe, and I certainly trust God.” But let’s be careful and not too hasty in making such statements of belief and trust, especially in light of what we know from scripture, when an entire generation of God’s people were denied entry into this place called rest, the promised land because of their unbelief.
Let me show you the importance of what I am talking about.
Heb 3:10-12
Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
The word of God is telling us several things here in this scripture.
1) That there is a real place called his rest.
2) That there were many who grieved him because they erred in their heart and did not know his ways, resulting in a failure to enter into his rest.
3) That we, the children of God, according to the new covenant, are also are to beware, lest we too enter not into that place called rest.
Question: What was it that caused the Lord to be grieved with that generation and swore that they would not enter into his rest?
Now stay with me. . .
1) Remember, this was not the first time rebellion surfaced in the children of God.
2) There were many instances of unbelief; a series of events that occurred from the time of the Red Sea Crossing to Kadesh Barnea.
3) Because of their continued unbelief, God grew weary of these people. This was the final straw.
Num 13:25-26
And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.
And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.
Now listen to what the spies said.
Verse 28
Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.
VERSE 30
And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.
And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
What really happened at Kadesh Barnea? The Israelites became fearful and upset by the words spoken by these ten fearful spies. Only two of the twelve spies, Caleb and Joshua gave a strong and encouraging report. Caleb could see fear rising up among the people and knew he had to make their case fast. The word of God says he ‘stilled’ the people before Moses. Why? Because there was better news to be conveyed and he didn’t want them to miss the opportunity to hear it. He and Joshua knew what God had promised the nation of Israel and were convinced they could possess the land in God’s strength, regardless of what was being said by the other ten spies. Caleb didn’t want them making a hasty decision based on a bad report, so he was trying desperately to embolden the children of Israel to go and immediately take the Promised Land because it was their inheritance, their possession.
What was the result? The impact of the negative report was greater than the truth of God’s promise. Fear had entered the hearts of the people based on lies and they would not go in. The ten spies had given the bad report and the people became upset over the bad report.
Question. . .
How many people reading this blog right now have received a bad report of your own, or become upset because of uncontrollable circumstances in just the past six months? Perhaps the negative report came from your doctor of a serious or deadly ailment. Maybe your employer was considering layoffs or cutting jobs. What if your spouse was asking for a divorce? How many are loosing their homes and possessions? Fear of the economy? The list goes on and on. Bad news is everywhere and touches everyone at one time or another. Has a bad report caused you great anxiety and fear? Each day brings greater fear and all hope seems dashed. Where are the promises of God? Unbelief rears its ugly head. Now you only deal in doubt and unbelief.
All it took was the bad report! “. . . Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.”
There it is! Unbelief has established itself.
How then are we supposed to defeat the devil? How can we stop what he is trying to do in our lives?
Four things to remember. . .
1) Don’t become upset by what you see before you.
2) Don’t become upset by what has been said to you, or what you hear.
3) Don’t become upset by situations and circumstances taking place around you.
4) Trust Only! – Believe Only!
“For we who have believed do enter into rest.”
Let me paraphrase it by saying it another way.
For we who have believed, who have adhered to, who have trusted in and have relied on God do enter into his rest…
2 Tim 3:1
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
What is this scripture trying to teach us? What is the meaning of perilous times? It means that times of great stress and great troubles are upon us all. It also means that times will be very difficult and hard to deal with / hard to bear. Well, if you haven’t guessed already, we’re in hard times and in times that are very difficult and hard to deal with / hard to bear. Perilous times are upon us.
2 Tim 3:2-5
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Vs 11
Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
What a great statement of faith that Paul gives each of us in this scripture. It’s a good report in the midst of everything that’s negative.
Vs 12
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
Hear the word of God again. . .
Continue in those things that thou hast learned and thou hast been assured of and knowing of whom thou hast learned them.
What should our response be to living in these perilous times and being in the midst of an atmosphere of pending doom?
2 Tim 4:2-4
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
We’re to preach the word no matter what. Should we keep our sense of urgency concerning the word and the time in which we live? YES!
1) We need to always be on stand by, always diligent, always alert.
2) We need to be firmly united with like minded believers.
3) We need to be ready whenever the opportunity seems favorable or unfavorable, convenient or inconvenient, welcomed or unwelcome.
Listen to the word. . . “…reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
What does that mean? “…correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction.”
Why are the children of God given instruction to reprove, rebuke and exhort? So that the individuals will not move farther from the truth than where they already are.
VERSE 3
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
More questions to consider. . .
1) What should our response be concerning all the trouble we see in the world?
2) What should our response be concerning all the troubles we see happening in our lives?
3) What should our response be concerning all the cares of the world?
4) What should our response be concerning people who are difficult to deal with and harder to bear?
Scripture says. . .
2 Tim 4:5
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
Two other versions help us understand the meaning.
(NIV version) But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
(Living Bible) Stand steady, and don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Bring others to Christ. Leave nothing undone that you ought to do.
Our response in trouble and perilous times should be that we remain calm, cool and collected. It’s the will of God for our lives because we trust him.
Now, let’s go back to Kadesh Barnea, back to the crossing into Canaan Land.
1) We’re the Israelites calm, cool and collected? Absolutely not!
2) Were they steady? Absolutely not!
3) Did they keep there heads? Absolutely not!
4) Were they watchful enduring hardships? Absolutely not!
Then what were they? What was the condition of their hearts and minds concerning the great promise God wanted to bestow on them? They were certainly in one mind and one accord, but in the worst sense of the word. Collectively they were upset, confused, anxious, bewildered, frustrated. They had lost all hope, feeling they were doomed to suffer or die horribly in a “terrible place” God called his “Promised Land.” How tragic! Instead of having their minds stayed on God and his promise, they had their eyes fixated on the problem. They lost the battle concerning his rest, they lost the warfare of their hearts and minds that must be won if they were to ever enter into his rest.
Because of the choice they made, individually and collectively, they lost out on God’s best and they did not enter into his rest.
Where will you rest tonight?
The warfare of his rest.