Here comes some more cowboy wisdom.  It seems cowboys believe, "Ya' can't weigh the facts if ya' got the scales loaded down with opinions."

  I find it absolutely amazing when I look back at my life, what an expert I was at 17, and 18, and 19 years old and so on.  Only to find out the opinions I had about life, love, family, friends, my view of the world, and faith were all pretty much wrong.  And why?   Because ALL of my views were the opinion of another person, usually a teacher or someone outside of my family circle, or formed from an immature, teenaged mindset.

  As I saw life back then it should all be peaches, cream and "strawberry fields forever."   It should be peace, love, flowers, beads and communal living with everyone supporting each other.   I went to Nam with the idea of being a "fine American citizen" demonstrating all that crap and winning their hearts and minds through kindness.   I got that idea crapped on by a rude awakening called combat and survival instincts.   War is a LOUD alram clock and people surviving in war an even more shrill scream.

  Love was another interesting arena.   My first wife and I were so much in love.   She gave me three wonderful children.   But at 14 years into the marriage she abandoned us for a 21 year old because, "[she couldn't] take this [military lifestyle] anymore."   I was stationed overseas in Korea when she decided she couldn't handle it anymore.

  The second time "love" came around, it brought control and manipulation.   She finally admitted she'd set out to "ruin [my] life and ministry."   She did a great job.   Because of her actions, according to Biblical standards, I, as an elder, had step down from church ministry and my youngest daughter no lnger speaks to me.    But out of the ashes the Phoenix rises...God blessed me with a wonderful wife (the 3rd) in Jamie. And a fourth, beautiful, miracle son.   Tre' another apple in my eye.   And that leaves family.

  I was amazed how family pulled in behind when my first two wives sort of pulled the plugs on me.   Oh, how they stood behind me.   And as long as I kept them behind me, they were free to judge and condemn me, which they did freely.   I'm sure you know exactly what I mean.   I'm positive that not all of them did it.   But enough did it to hurt and destroy my faith in the entire family structure.

  And dare I say how my world view was shattered by seeing Vietnam.   And places like Columbia, Africa, the Middle East and other Third World countries while on temporary assignment for "humanitarian purposes." You see Brothers, man's inhumanity to man, doesn't stop when the bullets stop flying.   Slavery still exists.   Racism is raging across the globe.  Women and gays ARE NOT oppressed in America like they think they are; or as they could be if they were in, oh, say, India, or Pakistan, or Kuwait, Qutar, Somalia, or Kenya and other Islamic nations.

  Much of our homeless problem is by choice whereas immediately across our southern border men, women AND children awaken at sunrise each day, breakdown cardboard shanties and move them to a safe place, outside the city dump where they're forced to live.  Then they move out to "earn" the day's bread.   That includes the children.   And like so many other Third World countries, Mexico has social medicine, "free" education and a kind of a social welfare system to take care of at least the children.   And it DON'T WORK because of corruption.

  Many nations are turning to communist forms of governments because universities here, in THE U.S.  are educating their young people that "the commonly shared; governmentally controlled access," way of life (communism) is the best way to go.   Those educators are the same ones that protested the Vietnam War because their opinion then, their worldview was right then and as college professors now, they can express it without limit.

  Then came my faith.   I started out Methodist,was baptised Catholic, corrected by the nuns and Mother Superior, left there and went back to the Methodists.   My parents said it was all garbage.   By the time I got to Vietnam I was thoroughly confused about everything in my life and was informed in basic training and the Nam that I was an idiot and knew less than I'd hoped I did.   I had no idea at 19 years old, it would continue as a lifelong process.

  One day in a final, desperate cry for sanity.   For anything to confirm to me that I counted.   That my feelings meant something to someone besides me...I got an answer.   An answer that actuallymeant something...

  Again referring to Scripture,  "My purpose is that they [all of us] may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ..."

  It was when I met the REAL Christ, not some denomination's, or televangelist's version, but the Jesus Christ of the Bible.   It was when I got religion out of the way that, FACTS and OPINIONS began to finally LINE UP and MAKE SENSE. I GAINED a worldview that put things into perspective.   Even what happened in Vietnam.   It was all brought home, so that I could see there was a real purpose for my life.

  A purpose more than sitting back and complaining.   More than wondering where it all went and where it would all end.   More than waiting on the VA, the Republicans, the Democrats or anyone else.   I've been empowered to act, to stand up with my brothers and sisters.   To stop playing the government's and society's fall guy and stop, well, feeling sorry for myself, and take back control of my life.   And to offer that same control to other Vets just like I was given.   To help them to be, "lifted out of a slimy pit...and have [their] feet set on a rock...a firm place." (Psalm 40:2)

Blesings,

Frank