My wife and I have 4 sons and three of them served in the U.S. Military. Our second son joined first. He joined the Louisiana Army National Guard. Jon joined because of 9/11. Our third son followed his older brother and joined the Louisiana Army National Guard. Our fourth son joined the U.S. Air Force and still serves. Jon got two of his friends to join with him, Seth Trahan and Jonathan Stafford. My wife and I became involved with the family readiness group. We raised funds for Jon’s unit to send care packages. His unit was deployed in 2004 to Iraq. It was still a shooting war. We had to come to the understanding that Jon was in God’s hand, here or in Iraq. They were stationed in Baghdad. They patrolled the southern part of the city. Their road block was one of the most active in the conflict. Jon was part of the security for the 10th mountain, in their search and capture of Hussein’s sons. Jon earned his combat infantry badge for the action.

Jon had never been to war. He never knew the terror of war or saw death before. We had talks before he left about death and what to do about it. But he was going to experience it firsthand. His unit lost 5 soldiers that year and a 6th soldier from Crowley also died. They lived close to the war at the Baghdad international airport. The base was attack on occasion, one time their cafeteria was attacked by rockets during lunch. We would talk on the phone every so often. I saw he was changing. Once, we hooked the computer and his brothers and I talked face to face with him. He had lost weight and it really bothered him to see us. He was homesick. A soldier’s life is never easy. It requires due diligence.

My third son went to basic training while Jon was in Iraq. We didn’t know that he would be in the middle of a war with nature. He returned in time for Hurricane Katrina. He was stationed at the Super Dome in New Orleans. Joel had joined the SRT team. The Sudden Response Team, all police offices and military police, were at the beckon call of the Louisiana Governor. The call went out and all forty five soldiers were stationed at the Super Dome. I didn’t get the chance to talk to Joel about death. It was the first time he saw death. The total body count for Katrina was 1800 dead and 700 missing. They stayed in New Orleans until they were called to Lake Charles for Hurricane Rita. My son grew up as fast as his older brother did in Iraq. We brought him care packages just like his brother overseas. Military life includes all the family, not just the soldiers.

My wife and I attended all the funerals for Jon’s unit. We met many of the soldiers and their families that served with Jon. We began to know the military family in Louisiana. Through the Family Readiness Group, we met family member’s state wide. Vicky became a leader in group. One of the hardest times we had with the military family was coming. We had to function to help this family, thought it tore out our heart.

On February 19, 2005, it was a regular Saturday morning. I was doing anything unusual. The phone rang and it was Jon in Iraq. Vicky answered the phone, but Jon wanted to talk to me. I got on the phone and asked how he was. He told me that his officers had allowed him to call home. I immediately asked if he was wounded. He said no. Then I asked about Jonathan and Seth, if they were wounded. He said no. But he was not allowed to say that Seth had died. When I asked about Jonathan, he said no. When I asked about Seth, if he was wounded. He said it was worst. I knew the Seth was dead. I talked to him to encourage his heart. Death had come home to roost. We talked for a while longer, but he had to get off the line. I told Vicky and cried. We couldn’t tell anyone about Seth. My phone began to ring off the hook. I couldn’t say a word. Vicky called the head of the Family Readiness Group and it began. The Company Commander, who was home on leave, and the Bereavement Officer went to Seth’s home to tell his parents. They weren’t at home, but his youngest sister was. Until the family is notified, no one can say anything. We prepared food and any kind of help we could provide.

I knew this boy almost from his birth. My family grew up with his family. His dad was my pastor. Seth had a military escort from Iraq to Crowley. There was a state, sheriff and city police escort from Baton Rouge to the funeral home in Crowley. The Crowley Fire Department escort him to the funeral home. His comrades in arms were still in Iraq and couldn’t come for funeral. Military personal statewide came to the funeral. The Commanding General of the Louisiana National Guard came to the funeral. Seth won the Bronze Star for his action that day. Honor should be given to this young man, but he is no longer here. It has been ten years since his death and it still affects me.

When Jesus died on the cross, the people of Jerusalem came out and laughed, jeered and mocked him. It seemed as if there was no one for him. His mother was at his feet, crying. The Apostle John came with Mary and several women. The Centurion that crucified Jesus began to believe in him. But the shame of it was that I was at that cross mocking and jeering the Son of God. Until I was 28 years old, I stood at that cross and cursed God. All that Jesus did to redeem me for hell and the grave and I cursed him. I kept hearing my name being called from a long way off. I would turn to see who was calling me. Finally when I was 28 years old, I understood who was calling. It was Jesus calling from the cross. Telling me that He loved me just the way I was and to come home. He is calling out. All you have to do is listen for your name and turn toward him. He loves us as we are and will accept us. Listen.

Most people believe that they receive information about this world through their mind. You can see with your eyes, hear with your ears, speak with your mouth, but that is only part of the information you receive. We as a human being are made up of a body, soul and spirit. The body comes from the dust of the earth. The soul is the life that God gives to unite your spirit and body. The spirit is who you are and is eternal. When people talk about your heart, they really mean your spirit. God made us in His image and likeness. We have attributes that God has that we can access, such as love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, gentleness, meekness and temperance. Our heart searches for these attributes all of our lives.  Hoping that we can find them in the things of this world. That is why the heart is a lonely hunter for God. The only way to receive what God has is to receive it from God himself. There is no other way that the Heart can truly be satisfied. Straight is the gate and narrow is the way.

It’s January 11th, 2014, and the bloom is off Christmas. I have seen decorations taken down and Christmas trees dumped for trash pick up. What ever happened to Christmas? I know that time goes by at a faster pace than I have ever seen it. But must we lose sight of what is real and important. What is real or important in this world? It isn’t money, power, greed, or prominence. Things that are intangible like, love, joy, peace. During The 1983 Year of the Bible, Gallup Poll polled the American people and asked what are the three most important thing in their life. You wouldn’t believe what the 1500 random people said. The three most important things in their lives was Love, Joy, and Peace. It wasn’t Food, Clothing and Shelter. Those three things only coming from the Holy Spirit. What is your three most important things in your life? Think about it.

What remains the same and is constantly changing? and Why?

The answer is Man. The constant or the same is change. Eccl.1:9 “The thing hat hath been, it is that which shall be, and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.”

What remains the same and is constantly changing? and why?

Christmas has come again and another year gone by. For me, it has been too fast. Some things are the same and some have changed. It is funny, that the only thing constant in this world is change. I don’t know if the change has me concerned or the changes are not good. I have lost two aunts this year, the last of their generation. Now I am the older generation. I have worked in retail for many years. I have always watched people coming and going. Before thanksgiving, people seem to be happy and almost joyful. But once thanksgiving has passed, the mood of the people changes. It would start with frowns on their faces and by the week of Christmas, they are almost angry.

Christmas is many things too many people. But there is only one reason for the season, his name is Jesus. God gave his finest gift to us and this gift was and is free. You can’t buy your way into heaven, it is not for sale. You can’t earn it, because it cost more than you will ever have. It is a gift, freely given by God Almighty and that is the only way you can receive it. When Jesus was born, the angels appeared in the skies above Bethlehem. They proclaimed “fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord…..Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Crain

I would wonder why I was on this earth? What was my purpose in this life. I fumbled around trying to find out who I was. My older brother introduced me to 2 guys who had an Amway business. They were looking for new people to join the business. We would meet in the morning for coffee. My brother was never there on time and I was always early. When I would get coffee and sit with these 2 guys, they never discussed business. They would be talking about what Jesus was doing in their lives. I would sit and listen. Finally one of them asked me to go to church. There God spoke to me and I knew where I belonged. At the end of the service, I gave my heart to Jesus  and was baptized in the Holy Ghost. That brother invited me to his home. There He and his wife taught me for months on how to walk in the way. Love ya, Kevin.

Ephesus became the center of Christianity in the first century. It was a free city in the Roman empire. It was over 100,000 people. It had paved streets, street lights, sewer systems, water system and a good harbor. The agriculture tried to keep up with the population. Paul preached and was imprisoned in Ephesus. Paul left Titus as the first Bishop. Eventually John, the brother of James, became Bishop.

Wealth changed the Christians. When John wrote about them, 40 years later, in Revelations, Jesus asked the question why have you left your first love?

Christianity isn’t about wealth. It isn’t about status. It has nothing to do with earthly goods. The parable of the eye of the needle was to show that we shouldn’t be deceived by earthly treasures.

My wife loves to shop. She’ll spend hours looking for one item. When she goes to the grocery store, she finds the bargains. She is very wise with money. There is always a cost to things, whether buying or doing something. Everything has a cost. Two of my sons joined the National Guard and served in Iraq. When one son came home from Iraq, we began to see the cost of war in him. Jesus said when a king considers war, he first sits down and counts the cost. He has to see if he can finish the war or sue for peace. Everything has a cost to it. Most people only see the cost after it is all over. Be wise and count the cost before hand.