BRAVE DEAD

This morning I went out to lower the flag to half staff in honor of those whom we remember in special ways on Memorial Day. As I stood saluting it a memory flowed through my mind. In the late 1940's, I was on full time duty as an Administrative Assistant with the New York National Guard. Often, I and others were called upon to be honor guards at the burial of soldiers whose bodies were brought back to the United States following their deaths in World War II.

That detail was difficult as we saw the families of these brave dead, mourn their son's and father's deaths. It was harder for the veterans forming the honor guard than it was for me. I saw the suffering of the family, but with them memories of their buddies, who were killed in action, flooded through their minds.

Often upon return to the armory they would drown their sorrows with rounds of beer. It was on those occasions they shared their battle experiences. Their stories were overwhelming.

It is to those men, all of whom have since died, and to the veterans I have seen buried, that I dedicate the following poem:

BRAVE DEAD

These men went forth to fight our wars,
Were placed in body bags.
Heroically they gave their lives,
Returned with coffin flags.

We stood beside their open graves,
With rifles by our side.
Their coffins draped above the ground,
Brave soldiers were inside.

The rifles to our shoulders flew.
We heard our sergeant’s cry,
Volleys fired over men, who
For country dared to die.

The bugle sounds its mournful taps,
Its echo fills the air.
It is these soldiers’ final call,
At rest they’re lying there.

Their flags were folded carefully,
To their families given.
I saw the sorrow in their eyes,
By grief all were riven.

We climbed into to our vehicle,
Our duty had been done.
We would be called on numerous days,
To honor fathers – sons.

Their graves are closed and tombstones stand,
Above each soldier’s head.
May we who live stand by their graves.
And honor our brave dead.

Don E. Cunningham, Author/poet ©5-26-2008 (Memorial Day)

On last night's news I heard that there are 100 burials a day in our National Cemeteries. Take time to thank a veteran or active duty service person whenever you can. I hope that not only on this Memorial Day, but each day we will pause to remember those who gave their lives for our freedom and those who continue to do so today. Their anxious families also need our prayers.

Hugs, In Christ's and my Love,

Don E. Cunningham, Author/Poet Copyright 5-26-08

HOMELAND HEROES

HOMELAND HEROES

My second posting in honor of Memorial Day was written to recognize those who loyally served at home during World War II. I remember as a youngster pulling a wagon filled with shirt parts from house to house. My brothers and I would leave off one part of a completed shirt, pickup the parts that had been sewed at that house, and take them to the next home for the next step in the process. In winter we followed the same procedure using a sled.

As you will see in my poem, all of us shared in the war effort.

I still can see the banners with stars on them for each family member who was in the service. There were two stars on the banner that hung in our window. My oldest brother served in the Navy and the next oldest, in the army. After the war me and my next younger brother served in the New York National Guard. My youngest brother served in the Navy during the Korean War.

Toward the middle of the war a large wooden monument was placed in front of our high school with the names of all who served in the U. S. Military. Gold stars were painted next to the names of those killed in action. One banner with a gold star hung in the window of the house on the corner of our block. The whole neighborhood felt the sorrow of Jack’s family.

As I paid tribute in my last posting to those who served in the active military service, so now my tribute extends to those who provided them with the resources to fight.

I hope as you read these poems you will take time to pray for those who are now giving their all on behalf of our great country.

HOMELAND HEROES

Silent Heroes served in our wars,
They never left our homeland shores.
Worked in factories and in their homes.
Not heralded with heartfelt tomes.

Dedicated souls went to work,
Patriot duties did not shirk.
Ten to twelve hours – six day week,
Glory and praise they did not seek.

No silk or nylons their legs graced,
With painted limbs to work they raced.
Built planes, tanks and all tools of war.
Only to hear, "Make more, make more."

In many homes throughout our land,
They gave their best to tasks at hand.
Small victory gardens cared for well,
Whose was best it was hard to tell.

Shirts and jackets were needed bad,
Parts carried to houses by lads.
Our mothers cut and sewed the parts,
Did what they did with all their hearts.

The junkman down our alleys came,
Took any trash that he could claim
All kinds of junk he gladly took.
It was pulled out from every nook.

Scrap metal drives and bond sales too,
Bought saving stamps to pull us through.
Alloy replaced our copper coins,
Our nation told, "Gird up your loins."

Rationing came, far less to eat,
And little gas our needs to meet.
A, B and C the coupons read,
Price ceilings set by those who led.

The sirens wail, the lights go out,
The air raid warden really shouts.
The people huddle, they are stressed,
The siren sounds ‘twas just a test.

Banner in window with blue star,
Child was serving in lands afar.
But when the star was turned to gold.
A tragic story did unfold.

A life was given, oh, so young.
A child upon whom hope was hung.
Parents grieve, their hearts are broken,
The dread work of war has spoken.

Husband taken from child and wife,
For his country he gave his life.
Never to see his young newborn,
Left a widow to mourn and mourn.

Yes, silent heroes all were they,
Freely gave their children away.
Served in factories and in their homes.
Seldom included in war tomes.

To those who served within our land,
You are a very special brand.
Helped win the war, in silence served.
You never from your purpose swerved.

Oh, let the songs of freedom ring,
In liberty our voices sing.
And so to you we say with praise,
A loud THANK YOU with voices raised.

Hugs, In Christ's and Our Love,

Don E. Cunningham ©7-8-06 (Posted 5/25/08)

MEMORIAL DAY MUSINGS

With Memorial Day coming up I decided that over the next couple of weeks I would post two poems I wrote. The one I am posting today is in honor of our servicemen and women. We have several living here who fought in World War II. The poem was originally written for a party honoring them.
We decorated the tables with flags of the various armed services and played several patriotic hymns. The songs of each branch of service were played. I hope you will take the time over the Memorial Day weekend to honor our past and present heroes. Remember them in your daily prayers.
My next posting will be dedicated to those who served on the home front.

BRAVELY YOU WENT FORTH

Bravely, you went forth to our wars,
Fought to protect our land and shores.
Fiercely entered into the fray,
You saved our country and our way.

Now in your eyes we see the tears.
You overcame so many fears.
Of comrades lost and battles won,
Your sense of duty did not shun.

We sent you forth to many lands,
Noble men you met our demands.
The stench of war your nostrils filled.
You battled on though friends were killed.

On land and sea and in the air,
You showed your country that you care.
Though weighted down you fought and won,
You even stopped the rising sun.

The enemy you did defeat,
The likes of you they could not beat.
Our conquering heroes you returned.
Did not receive the honors earned.

Bought freedom with your blood and sweat.
The bravest men we've ever met.
We have not heard you brag or boast,
To you dear friends we give a toast.

Men and women who served our land,
Our full debt we can't understand.
Services greater far than gold.
Deeds of valor you've left untold.

You've all turned gray or lost your hair,
Hidden burdens you've had to bear.
We're proud to know brave folks like you.
Ever loyal and ever true.


Don E. Cunningham, Author/Poet
©Memorial Day, 2006

TEARS IN THE TABERNACLE

My blog posting today, comes after much soul searching and reflection upon two verses of scripture concerning tears. With the death of my last brother I decided it was time to deal with these verses. I know there are two positions regarding the Great White Throne judgment. One is that saints won't go through this judgment. The second, which I feel is correct, is that we will. I would suggest that you review both sides of the issue and come up with your own conclusion.

Psalm 56:8. You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book? (NKJV)

Revelation 21:3 & 4. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (NKJV)

For years I have been fascinated with two verses of Scripture containing references to tears. The first one is found in Psalm 56:8 where the psalmist is heard saying: Psalm 56:8. You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?

Why in the world would the Lord be collecting our tears and recording them in His book? Whatever would be the purpose of such a collection? Initially I thought of it as a symbol of God's caring and concern for us. While I believe this to be true, I feel certain there is more to it than that.

As I reflect upon it I think of Sharon’s Uncle Carl. He was a man who kept meticulous records. Anything he replaced in his home had a tag on it with the date, what happened and how much it cost. The tag cross referenced to a file containing the manual and receipt for it. Things he bought as keepsakes were also tagged and cross filed.

That which means a great deal to us we refer to as "keepsakes." We keep them because they have special meaning to us. Some are filed in a special place and some are memories stored in our hearts.

So it is with God. Our tears are precious to him. He retains them as His keepsake. He records everything about the circumstances surrounding them. Each teardrop is cross referenced and kept on file!

Charles Haddon Spurgeon in his "Treasury of David" comments on this verse as follows:

Put thou my tears into thy bottle. His sorrows were so many that there would need a great wineskin to hold them all. There is no allusion to the little complimentary lachrymators for fashionable and fanciful Romans, it is a more robust metaphor by far; such floods of tears had David wept that a

leathern bottle would scarce hold them. He trusts that the Lord will be so considerate of his tears as to store them up as men do the juice of the vine, and he hopes that the place of storage will be a special one--thy bottle, nota bottle.

Are they not in thy book? Yes, they are recorded there, but let not only the record but the grief itself be present to thee. Look on my griefs as real things, for these move the heart more than a mere account, however exact.

How condescending is the Lord! How exact his knowledge of us! How generous his estimation! How tender his regard![i]

In his comments about Psalm 56:8, G. Vernon McGee made reference as follows:

"My tears have been put into thy bottle." A note in The New Scofield Bible concerning this subject says, "Sometimes, in olden days in the East, mourners would catch their tears in bottles (water skins) and place them at the tombs of their loved ones" - to show how much they had grieved. Let me add to that something John Bunyan, the tinker of Bedford, said, "God preserves our tears in a bottle, so that He can wipe them away," When I read that, I wished I had cried more. We need to weep more. Matthew Henry said, "The tears of God's persecuted people are bottled up, and sealed among God's treasures."[ii]

How comforting it is to know that our Savior is so concerned for us that he not only keeps our tears, but he numbers them. Whether they be tears of joy or sorrow, he records them!

I cannot help but wonder what book they might be recorded in. I have been unable to locate in my commentaries any reference connecting the recording of our tears with a specific book referred to in scripture. So I am letting my mind wander.

Is it possible our tears are recorded in one of the books which are opened during the "Great White Throne Judgment?" I know there are many who believe that Christians will not be in that judgment and give sound reasons why we will not be in it.
(Expositor's Commentary)

"To return to the main question in connection with the passage before us.

Does it present us with the picture of a general judgment or of a judgment of the wicked alone? There is much in the passage that leads distinctly to

the latter conclusion."[iii]

My greatest difficulty with those who believe we are exempted is, if no saints are there, why did John include that the Book of Life was also opened, and those whose names were not in it were condemned. It would seem that if all who were judged were not in it, why would it be opened?

Other commentators believe we will. (Pulpit Commentary)

Revelation 20:12 - 5 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (NKJV)

Immediately following this text we read about the New Heaven and new earth and about the tabernacle of God being with men. It is then that we come to the second verse with which I have struggled. It is Revelation 21:4 - And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (NKJV)

I picture the connection of these two verses as follows. Throughout our lifetime God has collected all of the tears we shed, whether of joy or sorrow and sealed them into His very special bottle. He has recorded the circumstances surrounding each one of our tears in a book. In doing so, God demonstrates his meticulous care and concern for us. He is keeping a diary of our joys and sorrows.

Our Lord is touched by the feelings of our infirmities. He is especially attuned to the tears surrounding our deaths. This is clearly expressed in Psalm 116:15. Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His saints. (NKJV) In our time of grief, He mourns with us and collects our tears.

Surely, all the tears that he collects and the recording that he does he plans to share with us. What better time to do this than at the great white throne judgment where he thoroughly evaluates every person's works.

In the Pulpit Commentary, D. Thomas describes how all men will stand before God in the Final Judgment as follows:

"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God (verse 12). They stand before God; they confront him, as it were, eye to eye, being to being. Each feels God to be the All to him now. The idea of God fills every soul as a burning flame. They stand before him, feeling his presence, and awaiting his doom fixing word. This is a distinguishing feature of the retributive period. In every preceding period of human history, with the exception of the millennial ages, the vast majorities of all generations had no conscious contact with God. Some denied his very being, whilst others desired not a knowledge of his ways.

But hence on, forever and ever, all the good and the bad will "Stand before God" - will be in conscious contact with him. His felt presence will be the heaven of the good, and his felt presence will be the hell of the ceil.[iv]

In the Pulpit Commentary S. Conway defines the literal meaning of judgment as follows:

Now, the Greek word for "judgment" is "crisis;" that is the Greek word, simply, in English letters. But what is more is that our word "crisis" does more accurately set forth the meaning of "judgment" than what is commonly understood thereby. When we speak of a "crisis." we mean a turning point, a decisive settling as to the course which affairs will take. That is a crisis. But when we speak of "judgment," the imagery of these verses rise up before our minds, and we think of an external judge, and a sentence that he passes upon us.[v]

During this great crisis in my life, I see my book of tears open in His presence. As he reads the circumstances surrounding each one of my tears, He speaks of my joys and my sorrows. Teardrop by teardrop drip from my bottle of tears upon my cheeks. As He reveals the works of my hands and of my heart tears flow from my eyes mixing with the tears from the bottle and flow across my cheeks. I see how far short I fall in the light of His glory. How many hurts I caused others to suffer.

Through those tears I see the book of life opened by a nail scarred hand. In it I see my name, Don, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. My crisis is over. Tears of joy flood my face.

God's judgment is complete. With the apostle John I see a New Jerusalem coming down from God. I hear a loud voice, "The Tabernacle of God is with men and He will dwell with them." The literal translation is, "He shall tabernacle with them."

I am now with Him in the tabernacle. I no longer see the face of God as that of a terrifying judge, but the Lord of grace and mercy. Slowly the mighty hand of my Lord stretches toward me and gently wipes away all those tears. Tears of joy and tears of sorrow evaporate beneath the warmth of His fingers. Sorrowful memories disappear; all aches and pains are gone.

No longer are there tears in Heaven or in the tabernacle. ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW!!

Hugs, In Christ's and My Love,

©4/28/08 Don E. Cunningham © 5/1/08 1876 words

---

[i] Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Treasury of David, Books for the Ages (Electronic) Vol6, 2006, page 894

[ii] G. Vernon McGee, Through The Bible, Vol. 18, Libronix Digital, Psalm 56:8

[iii] William Milligan, DD, Expositor’s Bible, Book for the Ages (Electronic) Vol 3 Chapter 16, Revelation 20

[iv] D. Thomas, The Pulpit Commentary, Book for the Ages (electronic), Vol 13, 2006 Revelation 20:12

[v] S. Conway, The Pulpit Commentary, Book for the Ages (Electronic), Vol 13, 2006 Revelation 20:11-15