A Proud American

I always post some type of Scripture reading or Bible lesson, but not today.  I just read an email sent to me from a friend about a Medal of Honor Recipient that asked me to foreword it to friends.  I NEVER DO THAT.  I ALWAYS DELETE THEM AS THEY FREQUENTLY HAVE TRACKING THINGS ATTACHED.  For some strange reason I decided to check out the email so I went to snopes.com.  When I read the bottom part that stated what was written on this great man's Medal of Honor citation I felt moved to share that information.  You can click on the word "citation" to go to the website and read it there too.  Here is the email:

Courage.     You're a 19 year old kid. 
You're critically wounded and dying in the  jungle somewhere in the Central Highlands  of  Viet Nam . 

It's  November 11, 1967.  LZ (landing zone) X-ray.

Your unit is  outnumbered 8-1 and the enemy fire is so  intense, from 100 yards away, that  your CO (commanding officer) has  ordered the MedEvac helicopters to stop coming  in. 

You're lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns  and you know you're not getting out. 
Your family is half way around the world, 12,000  miles away, and you'll never see them again. 
As the world starts to fade in and out, you know this is the day. 
Then - over the machine gun noise - you faintly hear that sound of a helicopter. 
You look  up to see a Huey coming in. But ... It doesn't  seem real because no MedEvac markings are on it. 
Captain Ed Freeman is coming in for you. 

He's not MedEvac so it's not his job, but he heard the radio call and decided he's flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire anyway.  Even after the MedEvacs were ordered not to come. He's coming anyway.

And he drops it in and sits there in the machine gun fire, as they load 3 of you at a time on board. 
Then he  flies you up and out through the gunfire to the doctors and nurses and safety. 

And, he kept coming back!! 13 more  times!! Until all  the wounded were out. No one knew until the  mission was over that the Captain had been hit 4 times in the legs and left arm. He took 29 of you and your buddies out that day. Some would not have made it without the Captain and his Huey. 

Medal  of Honor Recipient,Captain  Ed Freeman, United States Air Force, died last Wednesday at the age of 70, in Boise, Idaho .. 
May God Bless and Rest His Soul. 

I bet you didn't hear about this hero's passing,  but we've sure seen a whole bunch about Michael Jackson, Tiger Woods and the bickering of congress over Health Reform.

Medal of  Honor Winner Captain Ed Freeman 

Shame on the American media !!! 

Here is the snopes link.     Ed Freeman on Snopes.com

Here is the Vietnam Medal of Honor Recipients link.    Medal of Honor

Twas The Night Before Jesus Came

Twas The Night Before Jesus Came

     Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house, not a creature was praying, not one in the house.

     Their Bibles were laid on the shelf without care, in hopes that Jesus would not come there.

     The children were dressing to crawl into bed, not once kneeling or bowing their head.

     Mom in her rocker with the baby in her lap, was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

     When out of the East there arose such a clatter, I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.

     Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

     When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.

     With light like the sun sending forth a bright ray, I knew in a moment this must be the day.

     The light of his face made me cover my head, it was Jesus returning just like he had said.

     I thought I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth, I cried when I saw him in spite of myself.

     In The Book of Life he held in his hand, was written the name of every saved man.

     He spoke not a word as he searched for my name, when he said it’s not here I hung my head in shame.

     The people whose names had been written with love, he gathered to take to his Father above.

     With those who were ready he rose without a sound, while all the rest were left standing around.

     I fell to my knees but it was too late, I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate. 

     I stood and cried as they rose out of sight, Oh if only I had been ready tonight. 

     In the words of this poem the meaning is clear, the coming of Jesus is drawing near.

     There’s only one life and when comes the last call, we’ll find the Bible was true after all! 

More than just words!

      I often find my self reading several different translations when I study the Word of God.  I do not believe that one of today's translations can have the title "best translation."  Although, personally I hold NASB and NKJV to be my personal favorites.  KJV, NIV, and NLT have several qualites to offer a person in their studies as well.  We MUST ALWAYS refer to the original Greek to find what God really had to say on a subject.  I often tell others, who have no ability to research or understand the Greek language, to read several translations.  This way they get a feel from several different angles of what was to be translated on a particular verse.
      This time of year we read scriptures that deal with the birth of Jesus Christ.  I want to look at the words of a few verses with you.  We will see the importance of using different translations.  We will use the aforementioned translations to illustrate what I mean.  Look at the following translations of Mt 1:21:

KJV- And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for          
          he shall save his people from their sins 
NKJV- And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for 
             He will save His people from their sins
NASB- She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save 
             His people from their sins
NLT- And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save 
         his people from their sins
NIV- She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name      
        Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.


     We can see that the words I have made made bold varies according to their translation.  Sometimes we need to understand that these are more than just words.  The Greek word used here is best translated "bring forth."  Some might say, "So what!  What is the difference if we say 'bring forth' or 'bear' a son?"  The difference is very significant.  Consider how Lk 1:13 is translated:


KJV- But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; 
         and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name 
         John.
NKJV- But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer 
            is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call 
            his name John
NASB- But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition 
             has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you 
             will give him the name John
NLT- But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! For God has heard your 
         prayer, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son! And you are to name 
         him John
NIV- But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your 
       prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and 
       you are to give him the name John. 


      We see here that these translations all use the word "bear."  Which is properly translated.  The question arises, "Why are the translations not in agreement on Mt 1:21 like they are on Lk 1:13?"  Again we must understand that these are more than just words.  These words are "inspired by God"(2Ti 3:16) and we must seek to find exactly what God was saying in each verse.  That is why it is so very important that we look at the original Greek. 
      In Mt 1:21 we see the Greek word tikto.  This word properly means to bring forth; to be born of a woman giving birth.  There is no ties to being born of a man. This is significant, as Jesus Christ was born to be born of a virgin. (Isa 7:14) This virgin birth was a sign from God.  Thus, the word in Mt 1:21 should have been translated "bring forth."
      Concerning Lk 1:13, we see all the translations used the word "bear."  This is the Greek word gennao.  This word properly means of men who fathered children.  We understand that Elizabeth conceived from a man, Zacharias.  In contrast, Mary was "found to be with child by the Holy Spirit."(Mt 1:18)  This is no doubt referring to the virgin birth of out Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
      You see, these are more than just words we read on paper.  We are reading God's Words.  We must be diligent in the study of these words so that we will not be lead astray by men who choose not to seek for the truth.  These men will teach things that do nothing but tickle the ears of people.  They teach according to their own lusts.  The only reason false teachings come from the pulpits today is because the pews allow the false teachings to happen.  




Have a red letter day,
Chad