Beech Tree News Network

In a few days people around the nation and in Kentucky will gather to celebrate Thanksgiving.  While the modern day tradition of Thanksgiving is usually marked by football, Black Friday, and leftovers, the history of this holiday is steeped in the fabric of our nation during both good and bad times.
 

It is not uncommon to marvel. We might marvel at a great feat of God or man. However, to think about the Son of God marveling at something merits our attention. It is twice recorded that Jesus marveled at men. The first time is in Matthew 8:5-10. “When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, ‘Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.’ And he said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’ But the centurion replied, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.

With Thanksgiving rapidly approaching, I’m seeing a lot of instances of people expressing their thankfulness.  This is something I believe we should always do.  I’m not one to make a pronouncement on Facebook that says “why don’t we be thankful all the time”. 

Over the past month, I’ve saved some news clippings and highlighted a few facts that interested me. Each piece of information – for some reason – held my attention, even though it was just a detail in a larger article. In no particular order, twelve bits of information are listed below:

As soon as he opened his mouth they knew him for what he was:

Although both my daughters would vehemently deny it, I think I hear pretty well for someone my age; and I hear remarkably well on sleepless nights.  I hear the tank on the commode leak and refill; I hear possums snacking on left-over cat food; and I hear the creak of the hinges on the back door that someone forgot to latch when coming into the house through the utility room.

Sometimes people think they know their capabilities better than God does. This is seen in those who will refuse to obey God, saying that they are not “able” to do what God says. What we need to understand is that God does not command us to do anything that is impossible for us to do.

There are a lot of stories being written about this Richie Incognito-Jonathan Martin bullying story.  Dan Patrick brought up the question of what is hazing and what is tradition.  This is not tradition.  If it is, the NFL has a massive problem.  If this is rookie hazing, well the guy is not a rookie anymore.  On November 5 at 6 am on Twitter, FOX analyst and former player Tony Siragusa asked “whatever happened to mental toughness”? So, he thinks people who get picked on are weak? I disagree.  It is my belief that the bullies are the weak ones.

My thoughts, remembering some who are or have been important in my life.

USMC
SSGT George H. Cron, fought for his Country in Korea, killed on the Island of Rhodes Greece while in the service of his Country, May 22, 1957.
Mike Miller, fought for his Country in Viet Nam, wounded and disabled in Viet Nam, returned home but never forgotten.
Joseph Roysdon, fought for his Country in Viet Nam, returned home but never forgotten.
Kenneth Bradley fought for his Country in Viet Nam, KIA, Khe Sanh February 28, 1968.

Recently, Bowling Green’s WBKO had a story about Black Friday shopping. The story said, “Stores across the country are opening up on Thanksgiving Day because they say that's what shoppers want” (http://www.wbko.com/news/headlines/Black-Friday-Turning-into-Black-Thurs...). On Thanksgiving Day, stores used to be closed.