Remembering My Favorite President

My sermon this morning at TLBC was on Talent, Gifts and Fruit. Do you know the difference between them? See my outline HERE. I hope you have a good Memorial Day week end. For a good read about some of our heroes in the past, see last weeks post on Heroes. This week I want to leave you with some quotes from my favorite President.

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"Here's my strategy on the Cold War: We win, they lose." - Ronald Reagan

"The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help." - Ronald Reagan

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant: It's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan

"Of the four wars in my lifetime none came about because the U.S. was too strong." - Ronald Reagan

"I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandment's would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress." - Ronald Reagan

"The taxpayer: That's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination." - Ronald Reagan

"Government is like a baby: An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other." - Ronald Reagan

"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." - Ronald Reagan

"The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program." - Ronald Reagan

"I've laid down the law, though, to everyone from now on about anything that happens: no matter what time it is, wake me, even if it's in the middle of a Cabinet meeting." - Ronald Reagan

"It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first." - Ronald Reagan

"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." - Ronald Reagan

"Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book." - Ronald Reagan

"No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women." - Ronald Reagan

HEROES

Good day in church again today. I was able to preach both AM and PM services after my illness and God gave strenth as needed. My morning sermon outline is on our church website click here. It was good to see Brother Jim Turner there today too after his stay in the hopital this week similar to mine the week before.

Here is a good little story about Heroes.

Captain Kangaroo passed away on January 23, 2004 at age 76 , which is odd, because he always looked to be 76. (DOB: 6/27/27.) His death reminded me of the following story. Some people have been a bit offended that the actor, Lee Marvin, is buried in a grave alongside 3 and 4 star generals at Arlington National Cemetery. His marker gives his name, rank (PVT) and service (USMC). Nothing else. Here's a guy who was only a famous movie star who served his time, why the heck does he rate burial with these guys? Well, here is the amazing answer: I always liked Lee Marvin, but didn't know the extent of his Corps experiences.

In a time when many Hollywood stars served their country in the armed forces often in rear echelon posts where they were carefully protected, only to be trotted out to perform for the cameras in war bond promotions,Lee Marvin was a genuine hero. He won the Navy Cross at Iwo Jima. There is only one higher Naval award... the Medal Of Honor. If that is a surprising comment on the true character of the man, he credits his sergeant with an even greater show of bravery.

Dialog from "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson": His guest was Lee Marvin. Johnny said, "Lee, I'll bet a lot of people are unaware that you were a Marine in the initial landing at Iwo Jima...and that during the course of that action you earned the Navy Cross and were severely wounded."

"Yeah, yeah... I got shot square in the bottom and they gave me the Cross for securing a hot spot about halfway up Suribachi. Bad thing about getting shot up on a mountain is guys getting' shot hauling you down. But,Johnny, at Iwo I served under the bravest man I ever knew... We both got the cross the same day, but what he did for his Cross made mine look cheap in comparison. That dumb guy actually stood up on Red beach and directed his troops to move forward and get the hell off the beach. Bullets flying by, with motar rounds landing everywhere and he stood there as the main target of gunfire so that he could get his men to safety. He did this on more than one occasion because his men's safety was more important than his own life. That Sergeant and I have been lifelong friends. When they brought me off Suribachi we passed the Sergeant and he lit a smoke and passed it to me, lying on my belly on the litter and said, where'd they get you Lee?' Well Bob... if you make it home before me, tell Mom to sell the outhouse!" Johnny, I'm not lying, Sergeant Keeshan was the bravest man I ever knew. The Sergeant's name is Bob Keeshan. You and the world know him as Captain Kangaroo."

On another note, there was this wimpy little man (who just passed away) on PBS, gentle and quiet. Mr. Rogers is another of those you would least suspect of being anything but what he now portrays to our youth. But Mr. Rogers was a U.S. Navy Seal, combat-proven in Vietnam with over twenty-five confirmed kills to his name. He wore a long-sleeved sweater on TV, to cover the many tattoos on his forearm and biceps. He was a master in small arms and hand-to-hand combat, able to disarm or kill in a heartbeat.

After the war Mr. Rogers became an ordained Presbyterian minister and vowed to never harm another human and also dedicated the rest of his life to trying to help lead children on the right path in life. He hid away the tattoos and his past life and won our hearts with his quiet wit and charm. America's real heroes don't flaunt what they did; they quietly go about their day-to-day lives, doing what they do best. They earned our respect and the freedoms that we all enjoy. Look around and see if you can find one of those heroes in your midst. Often, they are the ones you'd least suspect, but would most like to have on your side if anything ever happened. Take the time to thank anyone that has fought for our freedom. With encouragement they could be the next Captain Kangaroo or Mr.Rogers.

It wasn't the Big One.

Greetings again from Tacoma, Washington. What a week. I became violently ill early Tuesday afternoon and Marion called 911. The medics transported me to the hospital with what they believed were heart attack symptoms. It turns out that my problem was not heart or stroke related but a thing called severe horizontal vertigo. I was reading calmly when I suddenly had a wave of nausea and dizziness. I broke out in a sweat and began to heave with the dry heaves. It was terrible. They kept me in the hospital until early Friday afternoon. I am home now, thank the Lord, and feeling 80 to 90% better.

Brother Jim Turner stood in for me today at church and I give his sermon outline on the front page of our church website but it will only be on there this week. See Latest News HERE.

Thank you to all of those who prayed for me this week.

Yours in Him,
Larry Killion, Pastor
The Killion Site

Gun Control

Happy Lord's Day.
Please visit our church website to see the outline
of the message preached today at TLBC. click here

Gun Control Refresher Course

1. An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject.
2. A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
3. Glock: The original point and click interface.
4. Gun control is not about guns; it's about control.
5. If guns are outlawed, can we use swords?
6. If guns cause crime, then pencils cause misspelled words.
7. Free men do not ask permission to bear arms.
8. If you don't know your rights, you don't have any.
9. Those who trade liberty for security, have neither.
10. The United States Constitution (c) 1791. All Rights reserved.
11. What part of "shall not be infringed" do you not understand?
12. The Second Amendment is in place in case they ignore the others.
13. 64,999,987 firearms owners killed no one yesterday.
14. Guns only have two enemies: rust and liberals.
15. Know guns, know peace and safety. No guns, no peace nor safety.
16. You don't shoot to kill; you shoot to stay alive.
17. 911 is government sponsored Dial-a-Prayer.
18. Assault is a behavior, not a device.
19. Criminals love gun control -- it makes their jobs safer.
20. If guns cause crime, then matches cause arson.
21. Only a government that is afraid of its citizens, tries to control them.
22. You only have the rights you are willing to fight for.
23. Enforce the "gun control laws" we have, don't make more.
24. When you remove the people's right to bear arms, you create slaves.
25. The American Revolution would never have happened with gun control.
26. "...A government of the people, by the people, for the people..."
PLEASE FORWARD THIS "REFRESHER COURSE" TO OTHER FREE CITIZENS.

Pray for TLBC

We made four new Radio programs for the Beacon of Truth broadcast here in Tacoma on Sunday Mornings. We'll be giving away free copies of "The Trail of Blood" this month as our theme for the month is church history. Last Lord's Day I preached on "PS Go Away" and the outline is on our TLBC website. click here There is also a moving clip on the history of our national anthem right below the schedule of our services on the same page. We added another audio sermon to our Click and Listen page and encourage you to check that page out. click here

Last Saturday was a fun day as we celebrated our grandson AJ's birthday and this Saturday we will party again for our granddaughter Kiersten's birthday. Things are starting to get back to normal after my trip back East. Pray for our services here in Tacoma that God would save the lost and add the saved to the church. It was good to see the Turners back from their trip to Idaho Wednesday night at our prayer meeting services. Our numbers are small and we pray that God would bring more folks out to hear the true preaching of His word in our services. Worldly religious outfits around town are growing but we cannot compromise on God's word. Pray for us that we would remain true even if none others come and go with us in the way of truth.

nuff 4 now,
Larry Killion
Personal Website