. . . that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. – Abraham Lincoln, November, 1863
After it all . . .
President Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863
https://animoto.com/play/4OSejdHrzg12254jdbBwaA
On June 6th of 1944 175,000 soldiers heard or read a speech from the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, Dwight D. Eisenhower. It was the eve of the invasion of Normandy Beach in France. The assault was code-named Operation Overlord.
Boys, some barely past high school and all who had their whole lives ahead of them, jumped into the unknown to save ordinary people from unspeakable evil.
We’ve seen a lot of wickedness, ourselves, of late. The more we find out, the darker it becomes. If you’re confused about that statement, you need to start doing some research in your spare time. Mainstream reporters won’t tell you. They have become untrustworthy and contribute to the problem. They will lie to you as smoothly as a crooning lothario. It’s time for you to take responsibility for your own knowledge.
And now we’re facing a panic over a type of flu. The virus spreads easily and unnoticeably and, though most people recover just fine, people with compromised immune systems are a bit more at risk for trouble. It’s always that way with the flu, by the way. What’s a puzzle is the panic. I’ll admit, early videos from China were very unsettling. They were awful not because of the sickness, but because of the way it was handled. But now schools, businesses, and churches are shutting down. This predictably affects the world economy. Yes, panic is affecting the world economy.
Don’t let words scare you. The word pandemic comes from the Greek pandemos, meaning “pertaining to all people”. Pan means “all” and Demos means “people.” Pandemic simply means the flu isn’t limited to one nation, but has traveled; in this case, worldwide. We might expect this because travel is very accessible these days.
No, getting sick is no reason for fear. But we are watching what we might call pandemonium. Would you like another lesson in etymology? You already know what pan means. Actually, Milton coined the term when he wrote Paradise Lost. He wanted to illustrate a place that was Satan’s Capitol, and he called it Pandaemonium. So pandemonium is literally the place of all demons. And that’s what you get when you allow chaos, confusion, and turmoil to fill up your world.
We have some idea of the people who are spreading the fear and can hypothesize some reasons for it. But it’s a strange state of affairs. And I believe that there is more behind this pandemonium than concern for health.
We have a choice. We can hide and quake and buy obnoxious amounts of whatever we believe we need to survive a long period of time. Or we can do our best to behave rationally, think logically, and live righteously.
Perhaps, should we be facing something yet unknown and just a little scary, we can read Eisenhower’s speech. C’mon now. If those young soldiers could act bravely, so can you. The eyes of the world are upon you.
You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have
striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The
hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.
In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on
other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war
machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.
Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well
equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.
But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory!
I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!
Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.
SIGNED: Dwight D. Eisenhower
Source: https://americanmilitarynews.com/2018/06; https://armyofgodspeech.wixsite.com/dday
Mrs. Covington’s here! Behave yourself. She’ll be watching!
Video made with Animato.com
https://animoto.com/play/Q9as0nbO1Yi96kaMaHWecA
Video made with Animato.com
Ladies and Gentlemen: We have a title! You will recall how I was bemoaning – wait, I’m not sure that’s the right word – puzzled? No. Frustrated? Mmm, no. It’s that state of being where you know something isn’t right, but are having trouble knowing how to fix it. What is that? Well, whatever it is, it’s fixed!
And, Rhonda Jensen, you have earned yourself a free, autographed copy of my new book fresh off the presses (when those presses print it 🙂 ) for your terrific suggestion! Yes, indeed. My publisher agreed to use the title, Mrs. Covington’s Sunday School Dropouts. 
I’m looking forward to August when it will be published! To whet your reading appetites, I will tell you that each chapter begins with something the main character has said to her students. Here’s a sample:
Peter said, ‘Lord, you know that I love you.’ and then Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’ Peter knew sheep were stupid and stubborn and could smell up the sheep pen, so he knew Jesus wasn’t saying this just because it had a pretty ring to it. No, Brandon, no one ever, ever adequately anticipates the clean up.
And so begins the clean up…
So Hallelujah and pass the coffee! I’m doing a little happy dance here in the hobbit-sized study where I write. I hope your day holds something as exciting for you as a new book title is for me!
Conundrum. That’s what I have. Maybe you can help.
I wrote a book that is set to be published the first week of August. There’s just one problem. I’m not crazy about the title. It’s a book about an old Sunday School teacher who gets a bit miffed when she realizes the number of her former students who no longer go to church. She decides to track them down. I love the thought of a Sunday School teacher tracking down her students. I mean, think about it.
Anyway, she and her cousin (everyone needs someone who makes trouble more fun) find themselves in places they would not otherwise be but for this “project”. There are some subplots, of course: a town parade she has to chair (she lives in a town with some admittedly quirky traditions), a shady businessman involved in some unscrupulous dealings, and a little family trouble. Oh, and there’s some found money involved.
The main character’s name is Cathy Covington. Her cousin’s name is Andi. I initially titled it Mrs. Covington’s Sunday School Class. I know. Not terribly riveting. Naming things is not one of my fortes. My publisher is thinking we’ll call it Mrs. Covington Calls Roll. If that title isn’t going to change, at least you have something to do on your snow/cold day.
Here’s something you need to know. When you sign a publishing contract, the publisher gets to make the big decisions. You can put in your two cents, but those final choices belong to the company store. However, I’d love to hear from you if you have any brilliant ideas for a title. I mean, really. Any readership that hits a high mark for my 2014 post entitled In Defense of Juan Pablo is admittedly in touch with popular culture.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to think of a title that will make this book jump off the shelves! This blog will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck.
Quotes and youtube clip: Mission Impossible, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA2KmJMKFrQ