Whether you do, or do not, like George W. Bush as our President, this
message reveals some interesting plateaus he has reached.
First, an observation. Have you noticed a difference in the salute given by
our military men and women as President Bush walks by? Most folks would not
notice anything, but those of us who have served in the military see it
right away.
Next time pay close attention when President Bush leaves his helicopter or
Air Force One, the honor guards salute and face him as he disembarks, then
turn their faces towards him as he passes by. They continue to salute his
back as he walks away. This kind of salute has not been seen in the previous
eight years, though it is customary courtesy to the Commander-in-Chief. You
see, soldiers aren't required to turn and face a President as they salute.
They are not required to salute his back. They are only required to salute.
They can remain face-forward the entire time. And that is what they did
during the previous administration. Our soldiers were forced to obey his
orders, but they were not forced to respect him. From their salutes, we can
surmise that they did not.
Why is such respect afforded to President Bush? He doesn't even know how to
bite his lower lip and get teary-eyed whenever he speaks! The following
incident from Major General Van Antwerp may give us an insight.. Gen.
Antwerp is president of the Officers' Christian Fellowship. He lost nearly
all his staff when the Pentagon was attacked September 11. His executive
officer LTC Brian Birdwell was badly burned and was in the hospital when
President Bush visited him. Our President spent time and prayed with Brian.
As he was getting ready to leave, he went to the foot of Brian's bed and
saluted. He held his salute until Brian was able to raise his burned and
bandaged arm, ever so slowly,in return.
The Commander-in-Chief almost never initiates a salute, except in the case
of a Congressional Medal of Honor winner. The injured soldier did not have
to return the salute. But he did, out of respect to his President ...a
Soldiers' President.
Congressman JC Watts (R. Oklahoma) said, "Character is doing the right thing
when nobody is looking," (My favorite quote of all time). The nation and
world learned some of what our last President did when nobody was looking.
That President has been disbarred, the worst disgrace (other than
imprisonment) to a lawyer. CNN will have a difficult time shining his or his
wife's tarnished images.
In this time of war and danger, I am so grateful to have a President whom
the soldiers salute -- fully.
On Special Report with Brit Hume, at the close of the show when they
normally have some funny video clip, they showed President Bush and the
First Lady on their way to Maine to leave for Camp David for the weekend. As
the video starts, the First Lady is leading the way into the helicopter with
the spaniel dog on the leash, and the president is right behind her with the
Scotty on the leash. As the First Lady entered the chopper, the Marine at
the gangway saluted and held his salute. The Scottie that the president was
walking, decided it wanted to sit just when he got to the steps. The
president pulled on its leash, but the stubborn Scottie persisted in
sitting. The president bent down and scooped up the pooch and entered Marine
One. After he entered, the Marine cut his salute and returned to the
position of attention. Moments later the President reemerged from the
helicopter and out onto the steps. The Marine was standing at attention,
head and eyes straight ahead. The President leaned over and tapped him on
the left arm. The startled Marine turned his body toward the President and
received his returned salute!
I was so impressed by this true act of respect for our military people by
our President! He really does get it. Most any other person of his stature
would have just continued his journey, disregarding the neglected return
salute. Not George W. Bush. He is earning the respect of the military
community, not expecting it -- as most have and would.
President George W. Bush, the man who admitted to having a drinking problem
in younger years, and whose happy-go-lucky lifestyle led him to mediocre
grades in college and an ill-fated oil venture. Who mangled syntax, and
whose speaking missteps became known as "Bushisms." He came within a hair's
breadth of losing the election in November 2000.
Bush named Jesus Christ as Lord of his life on public TV. Not an Oblique
reference to being "born-again" or having a "life change." He actually said
the un-PC-like phrase, "Jesus Christ!"
On September 11, he was thrust into a position only known by the likes of
Roosevelt, Churchill, Lincoln, and Washington. The weight of the world was
on his shoulders, and the responsibility of a generation was on his soul.
So President George W. Bush walked to his seat at the front of the National
Cathedral just three days after two of the most impressive symbols of
American capitalism and prosperity virtually evaporated. When the history of
this time is written, it will be acknowledged by friend and foe alike that
President George W. Bush came of age in that cathedral and lifted a nation
off its knees. In what was one of the most impressive exhibitions of
self-control in presidential history, President George W. Bush was able to
deliver his remarks without losing his resolve, focus, or confidence. God's
hand, which guided him through that sliver-thin election, now rested fully
on him. As he walked back to his seat, the camera angle was appropriate. He
was virtually alone in the scene, alone in that massive place with God, just
him and the Lord.
Back at his seat, George H. Bush reached over and took his son's hand. In
that gesture his father seemed to say, "I wish I could do this for you, son,
but I can't. You have to do this on your own." President George W. Bush
squeezed back and gave him a look of peace that said, "I don't have to do it
alone, Dad. I've got Help." What a blessing to have a professing Christian
as President.
Please take a moment after you read this to "pray for him." He truly does
have the weight of the world on his shoulders. Pray that God will sustain
him and give him wisdom and discernment in his decisions. Pray for his
protection and that of his family.
Our President needs Christians, Democrats and Republicans alike, to be
praying for him.
Eliminate distractions, focus on your goals and visualize what you hope to accomplish.
message reveals some interesting plateaus he has reached.
First, an observation. Have you noticed a difference in the salute given by
our military men and women as President Bush walks by? Most folks would not
notice anything, but those of us who have served in the military see it
right away.
Next time pay close attention when President Bush leaves his helicopter or
Air Force One, the honor guards salute and face him as he disembarks, then
turn their faces towards him as he passes by. They continue to salute his
back as he walks away. This kind of salute has not been seen in the previous
eight years, though it is customary courtesy to the Commander-in-Chief. You
see, soldiers aren't required to turn and face a President as they salute.
They are not required to salute his back. They are only required to salute.
They can remain face-forward the entire time. And that is what they did
during the previous administration. Our soldiers were forced to obey his
orders, but they were not forced to respect him. From their salutes, we can
surmise that they did not.
Why is such respect afforded to President Bush? He doesn't even know how to
bite his lower lip and get teary-eyed whenever he speaks! The following
incident from Major General Van Antwerp may give us an insight.. Gen.
Antwerp is president of the Officers' Christian Fellowship. He lost nearly
all his staff when the Pentagon was attacked September 11. His executive
officer LTC Brian Birdwell was badly burned and was in the hospital when
President Bush visited him. Our President spent time and prayed with Brian.
As he was getting ready to leave, he went to the foot of Brian's bed and
saluted. He held his salute until Brian was able to raise his burned and
bandaged arm, ever so slowly,in return.
The Commander-in-Chief almost never initiates a salute, except in the case
of a Congressional Medal of Honor winner. The injured soldier did not have
to return the salute. But he did, out of respect to his President ...a
Soldiers' President.
Congressman JC Watts (R. Oklahoma) said, "Character is doing the right thing
when nobody is looking," (My favorite quote of all time). The nation and
world learned some of what our last President did when nobody was looking.
That President has been disbarred, the worst disgrace (other than
imprisonment) to a lawyer. CNN will have a difficult time shining his or his
wife's tarnished images.
In this time of war and danger, I am so grateful to have a President whom
the soldiers salute -- fully.
On Special Report with Brit Hume, at the close of the show when they
normally have some funny video clip, they showed President Bush and the
First Lady on their way to Maine to leave for Camp David for the weekend. As
the video starts, the First Lady is leading the way into the helicopter with
the spaniel dog on the leash, and the president is right behind her with the
Scotty on the leash. As the First Lady entered the chopper, the Marine at
the gangway saluted and held his salute. The Scottie that the president was
walking, decided it wanted to sit just when he got to the steps. The
president pulled on its leash, but the stubborn Scottie persisted in
sitting. The president bent down and scooped up the pooch and entered Marine
One. After he entered, the Marine cut his salute and returned to the
position of attention. Moments later the President reemerged from the
helicopter and out onto the steps. The Marine was standing at attention,
head and eyes straight ahead. The President leaned over and tapped him on
the left arm. The startled Marine turned his body toward the President and
received his returned salute!
I was so impressed by this true act of respect for our military people by
our President! He really does get it. Most any other person of his stature
would have just continued his journey, disregarding the neglected return
salute. Not George W. Bush. He is earning the respect of the military
community, not expecting it -- as most have and would.
President George W. Bush, the man who admitted to having a drinking problem
in younger years, and whose happy-go-lucky lifestyle led him to mediocre
grades in college and an ill-fated oil venture. Who mangled syntax, and
whose speaking missteps became known as "Bushisms." He came within a hair's
breadth of losing the election in November 2000.
Bush named Jesus Christ as Lord of his life on public TV. Not an Oblique
reference to being "born-again" or having a "life change." He actually said
the un-PC-like phrase, "Jesus Christ!"
On September 11, he was thrust into a position only known by the likes of
Roosevelt, Churchill, Lincoln, and Washington. The weight of the world was
on his shoulders, and the responsibility of a generation was on his soul.
So President George W. Bush walked to his seat at the front of the National
Cathedral just three days after two of the most impressive symbols of
American capitalism and prosperity virtually evaporated. When the history of
this time is written, it will be acknowledged by friend and foe alike that
President George W. Bush came of age in that cathedral and lifted a nation
off its knees. In what was one of the most impressive exhibitions of
self-control in presidential history, President George W. Bush was able to
deliver his remarks without losing his resolve, focus, or confidence. God's
hand, which guided him through that sliver-thin election, now rested fully
on him. As he walked back to his seat, the camera angle was appropriate. He
was virtually alone in the scene, alone in that massive place with God, just
him and the Lord.
Back at his seat, George H. Bush reached over and took his son's hand. In
that gesture his father seemed to say, "I wish I could do this for you, son,
but I can't. You have to do this on your own." President George W. Bush
squeezed back and gave him a look of peace that said, "I don't have to do it
alone, Dad. I've got Help." What a blessing to have a professing Christian
as President.
Please take a moment after you read this to "pray for him." He truly does
have the weight of the world on his shoulders. Pray that God will sustain
him and give him wisdom and discernment in his decisions. Pray for his
protection and that of his family.
Our President needs Christians, Democrats and Republicans alike, to be
praying for him.
Eliminate distractions, focus on your goals and visualize what you hope to accomplish.
