Sunday, March 13, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Taps
To me there is nothing sadder than hearing Taps played on a bugle. I grew up in a military family and as I look back at our family in that setting, it was one of the greatest things that ever happened to me. I know that for many people that would be a terrible experience, but I loved that life for many good reasons. When Dad retired from the Army chaplaincy in 1966, we moved to southwest Atlanta to Fort Valley Drive, near Campbellton Plaza. Since our home was a short ride to Fort McPherson, it was the best of all worlds. Our commissary for food and post exchange shopping was there, our chapel was there, and all our medical support was there, and it was a 15-minute ride to downtown Atlanta. Then you had Greenbrier Mall, which was 15 minutes away. Everything a person could want was there. There was something else that you would hear every night at 10 p.m. It was the playing of Taps, since we lived so close to Fort McPherson. I had stood many times at the graveside of a soldier that I had not had the honor of knowing, but was there to provide a Christian burial for the soldier and his or her family. Each and every time I could not fight back the tears that would often stream down my face as Taps was played as a last tribute to this fallen comrade in arms. Often when I was involved in actually knowing the individual I was burying, it would be a joyous occasion to be burying a Christian soldier in knowing he or she was in the arms of Christ. This Sunday, March 13, our church will be dedicating our new church building which, in a way, is playing Taps on all the struggles and moves in the starting of a church. This will culminate eight years of praying, moving eight times, fund raising, inviting people, paper work, flyers, signs, Cottin Pickin Fair fund raisers, BBQs, rodeos, visitations, Bible studies, Fisher of Men Retreats, Women Retreats, youth ski trips, Super Wows, hunting and fishing trips to Alaska, wild game dinners, covered dish dinners, etc. etc. When Taps is played on all the work that has gone on before our dedication service, it will be a glorious future of more of the same ministry that will go on till Jesus returns. Taps will be played on me inviting you to this dedication service because it will never happen again. If you are involved in your church, and I hope you have a church, come and eat BBQ with us after your service and then go back and pray for His Houses success to reach souls for Christ. The dedication service will begin at 11 a.m. and we will eat around noon. To God be the glory, great things He has done!
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