“Light in August” by William Faulkner is the book for the first time Faulkner reader to start with. The book is very readable. Unlike some Faulkner stories, the story line is easy to follow. He is not as verbose in this work as in some of his others where monologues within the story derail the reader. The plot is more typical than any of his other works. The average reader will appreciate the book and get a hunger to dip into other works by this southern master writer. In the days ahead I will do a chapter by chapter summary of the book.
Month: July 2011
The Day My Life Changed
On July 11, 1977 my life changed. If you look up that date in history, you will find nothing historically significant happened on that Sunday. It was historically significant to me. That day was the watershed event in my life.
July 1977 found me on active duty as a lieutenant in the United States Army. I was serving as Battalion Maintenance Office, 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division located at Fort Lewis, Washington. Life was good. I had a beautiful, intelligent wife. I had a new son born in January that same year. My career was going great. I had just gotten a commendable rating during an annual general inspection in maintenance. I had been named an Outstanding Junior Officer of the Ninth Infantry Division because of the commendable rating. I was offered a regular army commission.
I always tried to be the best I could be, and do what is right. But, after all of this, I still had a empty, unsatisfied, void, and alone feeling. Beginning in my teen age years I had tried such as social drinking, women, materialism, partying, and hanging with the right crowd to fill this unexplained need I had. I knew something was missing from my life.
I was attending church. I noticed a group of men that seemed to have what I was missing. I attended a Bible study with them. Here I found that God has given us an important manual for life, the Bible. He has the answers to the problems and emptiness we may face. I found out I was here for a purpose, and not by accident. I learned Jesus loves me, and desires to have a personal relationship with me. But, sin separated me from Him.
I realized I had a sin problem. The Bible says: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 But no one is perfect! We have all sinned and therefore cannot save ourselves by simply living a good life. Why?
I learned there was a penalty to be paid for my sin. The Bible says: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
I learned God gives us a promise. The Bible says: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16.
I learned that God made provision for me. The Bible says: If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10:9-10
I prayed to accept the gift of eternal life through Jesus. I prayed, Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I believe that You died for my sins and rose from the grave so that I might have eternal life in Heaven with You. I willingly repent of my sins and ask you to come into my heart and life. Take control of my words, thoughts, and actions. I place all of my trust in You for my salvation. I accept You as my Lord and Savior, and this free gift of eternal life. Amen.
Since then all has not been perfect. I have messed up from time to time. Heck, I’m messing up big time in some areas right now. But maybe knowing God personally through Jesus Christ His son has kept me from messing up too much. When I blow it, He is there for me. Now I have had direction and purpose in my life. I know where I am headed. I have the Bible to give me the principles for daily living. I am never alone. I have had real peace for the last 34 years.
Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Do you know for sure heaven is your eternal destination? If you only hope so or aren’t for sure, why not nail it down today and pray the prayer I have written above. I want you in heaven with me and Jesus. It’s your choice. Pray to accept Christ now. Today is the day of salvation.
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Never Too Old – Go For Your Dream
“The world stands aside,” said David Jordan, “to let anyone pass who knows where he is going.” This applies to those, who learn where they are going late in life as well as for the young.
At 40, James Michener published his first book. He authored more than 50 titles – 26 historical fiction novels, 31 nonfiction books, and 13 of his works were adapted into TV mini series or made into movies.
At age 53, Margaret Thatcher became Britain’s first female prime minister.
At 65, Winston Churchill became British prime minister for the first time and started the epic struggle against Hitler. Churchill received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953 at age 79 for his numerous published works, especially his six-volume set The Second World War. He wrote the six volume set when he was in his 70s without any assistance or ghost writers. The photo is of Sir Winston Churchill.
At 69, Ronald Regan was elected President of the United States. He served two terms. He was 77 years old when he completed his second term in office.
At 70 and again at 80, former President of the USA George H.W. Bush parachuted out of an airplane.
At 72, Golda Meir became prime minister of Israel.
At 75, Ed Delano of California bicycled 3100 miles in 33 days to attend his 50th college reunion in Worcester, Massachusetts.
At 80, Grandma Moses, who had started painting in her late 70s, had her first one-woman exhibit.
At 80, Winston Churchill returned to the House of Commons as a member of parliament and also exhibited 62 of his paintings.
At 81, Benjamin Franklin skillfully mediated between disagreeing factions at the U. S. Constitutional Convention.
At 96, George C. Selbach scored a 110-yard hole-in-one at Indian River, Michigan.
On his 100th birthday, ragtime pianist Eubie Blake exclaimed, “If I’d known I was going to live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself.”
How about you? Have you slowed down, packed it in, given up, and checked out? If I know the Father, I know that He has something wonderful still in store for you! It’s never too late. Why don’t you call God up and ask Him what that might be. His number is Jeremiah 33:3 “Call upon Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know!”
Picture Source: Churchill V sign HU 55521.jpg This artistic work created by the United Kingdom Government is in the public domain. This is because it is one of the following: 1) It is a photograph created by the United Kingdom Government and taken prior to 1 June 1957; or 2) It was commercially published prior to 1961; or 3) It is an artistic work other than a photograph or engraving (e.g. a painting) which was created by the United Kingdom Government prior to 1961.
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Poem: We Never Lived In the Now
We Never Lived In the Now
Your face shows your age,
though your countenance is still glowing.
Your age says grown-up,
but you’ve never decided where you’re going.
You’ve grown older.
Yes, I’m older too.
The remainder of our lives is before us,
oh, what’ll we do?
What were the dreams
you had so long ago?
What was your vision?
Where did it go?
You traveled your way.
I went mine.
A history so different,
yet lives intertwined.
The gray now shows in our locks,
showing how much we cared.
Your grin still lights my life,
my smile brightens yours when shared.
You lived for then.
I lived for when.
We never lived in the moment.
No we never lived in the now.
Copyright © 2008 by Jimmie A. Kepler
Originally published in WORDS..RHYMES..POETRY & PROSE!
Originally published in WORDS..RHYMES..POETRY & PROSE!
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“The Pacific War: The Strategy, Politics, and Players That Won The War” by William B. Hopkins
“The Pacific War: The Strategy, Politics, and Players That Won the War” is the best book I have read on the Pacific War Theater of World War Two. The book presents the decision-making processes, strategies, and at times politics that guided the Allied Forces to victory. You are there decision by decision and campaign.This is both an extremely readable book filled with recent scholarly research. It is as entertaining as a novel. The prose is amazing. I cannot over emphasize how well written the book is. It has an amazing freshness readers will enjoy and is a book you will read from cover to cover. The book covers all the familiar episodes as well as censored or little known events that played a major role in final victory.
The book begins with the first few chapters setting the background. The chapters that follow tell the story chronologically. The chapters are so well written they could stand as independent historical journal articles. They cover the various campaigns.
You receive insights into all aspects of the war. You learn about the big picture items like Plan Orange (a series of United States Joint Army and Navy Board war plans for dealing with a possible war with Japan during the years between the First and Second World Wars) and it’s implementation.
You learn of the economic mobilization of the USA. You learn of the size of the role of Australia’s involvement in the defeat of Japan as well as the size of General MacArthur’s ego. You learn of the role of breaking code and how it was critical to victories in the Coral Sea and Midway.
The battle between the Army and Navy over command and control amazed me. The infighting between services was childish. It shows the need for strong command and control – I think of the removal of an Army general by a USMC general which from the facts given was justified, but caused inter-service strife. You learn how 1944 presidential candidate Thomas Dewey was made aware of the role of the code breaking by General Marshall to keep him from causing grave injury to the war effort.
The role of the submarines is given due credit. The problems with the torpedoes at the war’s beginning and their resolution show bureaucratic failures and American ingenuity. The decisions to keep US Army Divisions out of Burma and China as well as the struggles between Generalissimo and Madame Chiang Kai Shek and Lieutenant General Joseph W. Stilwell, Commanding General, China Expeditionary Forces. You learn the details of the Battle of Leyte Gulf and Philippines as well as realize General MacArthur’s personal obsession with the Philippines.
I highly recommend the book. It should be required reading for every Army, Navy, and USMC officer. It should be included in every military and university library as well. This is a very import addition to the history of the Pacific War in World War Two.
