Mile High Rev

REVerie - Inspired by movie about spelling

Ever since seeing Akeelah and the Bee, I’ve been mentally toying with words.  Someone asked me a definition today (#2), and I’ve also had a couple of words bouncing around in my head for no particular reason.  Here they are.

1. nascent – coming into being, to be born

2. pariah - a person despised or rejected by others; outcast

3. cambist – an expert in foreign exchange, as a dealer in bills of exchange (winning word in 1977 National Spelling Bee)

4. galoot – loutish, clumsy oaf

5. pernicious – 1) causing great injury, destruction, or ruin 2) wicked; evil

REVerie - Georgetown Loop - Staff Fun Day

To launch our summer season and to spend some time together in a more relaxed setting, our church staff made a trip today to the Georgetown Loop – “Staff Fun Day!”  The Georgetown Loop is a narrow gauge railway in Silver Plume, Colorado.  I’m attaching a couple of photos (taken by my trusty personal assistant) that show our train on the track of a very narrow trestle bridge.  Some trivia – “standard gauge” railroad tracks are 4 feet and 8 and one and a half inches wide. (Seems an odd measurement….must be a reason for it!)  “Narrow gauge” is only 3 feet wide.  Obviously  narrow gauge is a more nimble option for rugged hillside perches in the Rocky Mountains.  The train was packed with tourists including many families with young children.  It’s about a one hour ride, and provides some amazing vistas of natural Colorado beauty.  While I had to leave early to return to Denver for some pastoral hospital calling, I appreciated the efforts of the planning team to make this a special day for our staff.  I did get in on the train ride and was once again regaled by the natural pulchritude of our state.

REVival - Baseball's Rockies seek revival on two levels

Here’s a very exciting link to a USA Today story about the Colorado Rockies.  Apparently, they aren’t ashamed of the fact that Christianity is welcomed and embraced by several of their players.   “God’s using us in a powerful way” – so says one of the owners.  After reading this article, I agree.  Most Christians will be surprised and deeply encouraged by this story.  Baseball's Rockies seek revival on two levels

REView - Akeelah and the Bee

It’s been a while since I’ve been to a movie.  Jan and I had been thinking about Akeelah & The Bee every time we went into Starbucks to get a soy chai.  (Those of you who have been there know that Starbucks is heavily promoting the movie.)  We finally made it.  What a delightful story…with a couple of PG-13 moments.  The story is of a little girl named Akeelah who lives in south Los Angeles.  Akeelah is a precocious 11–year-old who excels in spelling.  Being raised by a single mom presents some typical challenges to this struggling inner-city girl.  Her journey to the national competition is heart-warming and stirred some deep emotions in me.  What fun to focus on a range of challenging spelling words, as well as to wrestle with the complex emotional issues in the story.  The movie provided a great escape and was relaxing entertainment.  Surprisingly, it also addressed several social issues that I’m sure have made it controversial in some communities.  The little girl who plays Akeelah – Keke Palmer – deserves an Oscar nomination for her role!  Here’s the movie website - Akeelah and the Bee  My favorite word in the movie is “xanthosis.”  (If you see it, you’ll know why!)

REVered - Memorial Day 2006 - In Honor of My Dad

Memorial Day is a day that always turns my thoughts to my father.  Born in August of 1922, dad served in the U.S. Army for 2 years, 5 months, and 25 days.  He was in the Army Air Corps and was stationed in Italy for 10 of the months he served.  Prior to deployment to Italy, he was stationed at Peterson Field, Colorado, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Fort Logan, Colorado, and Muskogee, Oklahoma.  His highest grade achieved was Corporal.  He received an Honorable Discharge on October 9, 1945.  Dad died on November 17, 1980, after a six month battle with cancer.  On this Memorial Day, I pay tribute to him and the millions of men and women who served honorably in the defense of our nation.

 

Dad (left) & his brother Fred(right) 

Dad’s Honorable Discharge -10/9/45 (personal info. obscured)

 

REVered - Memorial Day at Fort Logan National Cemetary

After blogging about my dad’s military service I was reminded that he was stationed at Fort Logan for 8 weeks of training in 1943.   Fort Logan is only about 20 minutes from our house.  I decided that we needed to head over there today.  So we did.  The pictures say it all.

There’s a medallion like this for each branch of service.

REVealing - America's Wars: U.S. Casualties and Veterans

Here’s some sobering statistics to contemplate on Memorial Day 2006.

America's Wars: U.S. Casualties and Veterans

 

America's Wars: U.S. Casualties and Veterans

American Revolution (1775–1783)
Total servicemembers	217,000
Battle deaths	4,435
Nonmortal woundings	6,188
War of 1812 (1812–1815)
Total servicemembers	286,730
Battle deaths	2,260
Nonmortal woundings	4,505
Indian Wars (approx. 1817–1898)
Total servicemembers	106,0001
Battle deaths	1,0001
Mexican War (1846–1848)
Total servicemembers	78,718
Battle deaths	1,733
Other deaths in service (nontheater)	11,550
Nonmortal woundings	4,152
Civil War (1861–1865)
Total servicemembers (Union)	2,213,363
Battle deaths (Union)	140,414
Other deaths in service (nontheater) (Union)	224,097
Nonmortal woundings (Union)	281,881
Total servicemembers (Conf.)	1,050,000
Battle deaths (Conf.)	74,524
Other deaths in service (nontheater) (Conf.)	59,2972
Nonmortal woundings (Conf.)	unknown
Spanish-American War (1898–1902)
Total servicemembers	306,760
Battle deaths	385
Other deaths in service (nontheater)	2,061
Nonmortal woundings	1,662
World War I (1917–1918)3
Total servicemembers	4,734,991
Battle deaths	53,402
Other deaths in service (nontheater)	63,114
Nonmortal woundings	204,002
Living veterans	fewer than 500
World War II (1940–1945)3
Total servicemembers	16,112,566
Battle deaths	291,557
Other deaths in service (nontheater)	113,842
Nonmortal woundings	671,846
Living veterans	4,762,0001
Korean War (1950–1953)
Total servicemembers	5,720,000
Serving in-theater	1,789,000
Battle deaths	33,741
Other deaths in service (theater)	2,827
Other deaths in service (nontheater)	17,730
Nonmortal woundings	103,284
Living veterans	3,734,0001
Vietnam War (1964–1975)
Total servicemembers	8,744,000
Serving in-theater	3,403,000
Battle deaths	47,410
Other deaths in service (theater)	10,789
Other deaths in service (nontheater)	32,000
Nonmortal woundings	153,303
Living veterans	8,295,0001
Gulf War (1990–1991)
Total servicemembers	2,225,000
Serving in-theater	665,476
Battle deaths	147
Other deaths in service (theater)	382
Other deaths in service (nontheater)	1,565
Nonmortal woundings	467
Living veterans	1,852,0001
America's Wars Total
Military service during war	42,348,460
Battle deaths	651,008
Other deaths in service (theater)	13,998
Other deaths in service (nontheater)	525,256
Nonmortal woundings	1,431,290
Living war veterans	17,578,5004
Living veterans	25,038,459

1. Veterans Administration estimate as of Sept. 30, 2002.

2. Estimated figure. Does not include 26,000–31,000 who died in Union prisons.

3. Years of U.S. involvement in war.

4. Approximately 1,065,000 veterans had service in multiple conflicts. They are counted under each conflict, but only once in the total.

Source: Department of Defense and Veterans Administration

REVered - Memorial Day 2006

Tomorrow is the observance of Memorial Day in the U.S.  It’s a day set aside to remember American soldiers who paid the ultimate price for our freedom – they lost their lives in the service of their country.  A recent poll taken among high school students asked the question – “What does Memorial Day mean to you?”  “It’s the day the pool opens” – was the top response.  Sadly, many from the younger generation seems destined to criticize the military, find fault with the President, and to have little respect for those who have served or are now serving our nation in the cause of freedom. 

During a visit to Washington, D.C. last November, Mrs REV and I were able to visit several monuments and memorials.  Among the most stirring to me was the Viet Nam Memorial.  58,000 men and women died in the service of our country…defending the freedom of others on foreign soil.  The memorial lists every name, etched in black marble.  It was a sobering experience that brought tears to my eyes.  I looked for a high school buddy’s name – Robert Beckman – and found it…pausing to recall how different his life – cut down at age 21 – was than mine.  My draft number was very low…in the teens…and had I not been a divinity student, I may well have been called up to serve, as my friend was.  As you may imagine, I lingered at the Viet Nam Memorial for a long time.

Take some time tomorrow to reflect on the price paid for your freedom.  Take some time to thank God for those who were willing to serve and die.  Take some time to pray for the families who lost loved ones who fought for the cause of liberty.  And finally, take some time to pray for those courageous men and women serving in the U.S. military today in Iraq and several other locations around the world.

 A fallen friend…Robert C. Beckman

 The Viet Nam Memorial

REVealed - Indonesia struck by catastrophic quake

Though it’s not clear how many were killed in the early morning 6.2 quake, early estimates place the number over 3000.  Pray today for the battered people of Indonesia as they face yet another natural calamity.  May God have mercy on them.   Indonesia struck by catastrophic quake 

REVered - Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus

Yes, it’s Saturday, and time for a hymn that God uses time after time to remind me of the only perspective that really matters.  I’ve sung this hymn as long as I’ve lived.  Many of you have as well.  Don’t you just love it?  It soothed my soul this morning.  I hope it does the same for you. (Click on the link – with your sound turned up—>) Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.