Sunday, February 26, 2012

our national anthem



We had a call from the nurses station at St. Joseph Hospital this morning as we were getting ready to start Sunday School They were taking brother Skip into surgery due to a cardiac event. We stopped everything and had a season of prayer. Rick went on to bring a good study in SS on "The Shepherd's Trilogy" and "Matthew Falls Sick." Pastor preached on "The Christian and Politics" audio in the AM worship service and on Acts 17, "Going To Greece" in the afternoon service. audio

When Pastor got home after the services today he called the nurses station to check on Skip. The nurse said he was doing very well and was on dialysis at the moment and that it would be just fine for Pastor to come for a visit. AMEN! Thanks the Lord for another AP (answered prayer)

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"So, with all the kindness I can muster, I give this one piece of advice to the next pop star who is asked to sing the national anthem at a sporting event: save the vocal gymnastics and the physical gyrations for your concerts. Just sing this song the way you were taught to sing it in kindergarten - straight up, no styling. Sing it with the constant awareness that there are soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines watching you from bases and outposts all over the world. Don't make them cringe with your self-centered ego gratification. Sing it as if you are standing before a row of 86-year-old WWII vets wearing their Purple Hearts, Silver Stars and flag pins on their cardigans and you want them to be proud of you for honoring them and the country they love - not because you want them to think you are a superstar musician. They could see that from the costumes, the makeup and the entourages. Sing "The Star Spangled Banner" with the courtesy and humility that tells the audience that it is about America , not you."

StarSpangledBanner...asyouveneverheardit

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