By
Jim Baxter Sgt. USMC
World War II and Korea
Choicemaker@thegrid.net
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/2728
YOA PAGE!! http://www.youthofamerica.com/SgtUSMC/
In Jesus' name.
Welcome Generation- Choicemaker.
Never forget who you are... made in His image...for Freedom.
Man is earth's Choicemaker. Psalm 25:12 KJV
He is by nature and nature's
God a creature of Choice - and of Criteria.
Psalms 119:30,173
His unique and definitive characteristic is, and ought to be, the natural foundation of
his environment, institutions, and respectful relations to his fellow-man. Thus, he is
oriented to a Freedom whose roots are in the Order of the universe.
Let us proclaim it.
Behold!
The SEASON of Generation - Choicemaker. Joel 3:14 selah
MY TESTIMONY SEMPER FIDELIS
Psalm 91
My brother and I joined the U.S. Marine Corps right out of high school and went away to World War II. Our mother, a True Believer, wrapped us in Psalm 91 and claimed God's promises over us. He went to the Paramarine/Raiders and the 5th MarDiv and I to the OSS and the 2nd MarDiv. We both went through combat and returned home safely after the war.
In 1950, with the outbreak of the Korean War, we were both recalled to active duty with the 1st Marine Division. Our mother again wrapped us in Psalm 91, gave each of us a small New Testament, and again sent us off to war with the Lord's blessing.As a 12-year-old, I had accepted the Lord but had never been well-disciplined or obedient. I wanted to play patty-cake in the sand piles of the world. At 25, when I went to Korea, I started reading the little Testament my mother had given me.
At the Inchon landing, and for the next two weeks of heavy combat as a rifle-squad leader, I read a few Bible verses every day. I loved my brother Marines who suffered and died alongside me. As the death and destruction grew more intense - and as I stood on the brink of eternity - I did not like what I saw. As my outfit, Fox Company [F-2-1], attacked up the streets of Seoul, I was hit with a machine-gun bullet. I made it behind a burning police sub-station in the middle of the street. My corpsman, Chico, dressed my wounds and as sniper bullets crashed into the street beside us, he laid on top of me - covering me with his own body - and yelled in my ear, "You've had enough!" Other riflemen nailed the snipers and as Chico left me to help other Marines lying wounded in the street, he was hit by two bullets that blew the shin-bone out of his leg. I never saw Chico again.Several Marines threw a wooden door on the ground, rolled me on it and ran me down the street under heavy fire. It was a fearsome ride.I was placed on a DUKW, given a shot of morphine, and dreamed a beautiful restful sleep to Kimpo airfield and the flight to Japan.
At Yokosuka Naval Hospital for three months, I proclaimed my loyalty to Chico, my corpsman. One night, the Lord came to me. I saw the blood running down His forehead, into His eyes, and down over His cheeks. I looked into His blood-filled eyes. He spread out His bloody hands and said, "I did this for you." I was willing to be loyal to Chico - but, had not been willing to be loyal to the Lord. The Lord said, "Come and follow me. I will make you a man. Put away childish things." I knew what he meant. I said, "Yes Sir."
With the Lord as the Lord of my life, I re-joined my outfit and went back into front-line combat for another five months before returning home. My brother came home with frost-bitten feet and I came home with a tender rear-end. Our mother cried with joy unspeakable. We were both baptized and have been His loyal Marines ever since. Everyday we say, "Yes Sir," to the Lord Jesus - our CHAMPION and HERO. My Lord and my God.
I still pray for and bless Chico Carsonaro.
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Winston Churchill once said, "Courage is the most important virtue because it makes all other virtues possible." As a senior in high school ready to join the Marine Corps, I thought his statement was good. The sequence sounded right. As a 26-year old veteran of front-line combat in two wars, I came to understand that Churchill was not accurate. Courage is not the prime virtue. It is faithfulness/ loyalty/commitment that is the prime virtue. It is being faithful that makes all other virtues possible, including courage. The Corps has it right: semper fidelis. Always faithful.
"Moreover, it is required of stewards that a man be found faithful." I Cor. 4:2
Jim
Baxter Sgt. USMC
World War II and Korea
Choicemaker@thegrid.net
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/2728
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[REPRODUCTION PERMISSION GRANTED. JFB]
Welcome
Generation-Choicemaker "What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man
that
You visit him?" Psalms 8:4 144:3 Job 15:14 Job 7:17 Hebrews 2:6 KJV God, speaking in
the mouths of His prophets, asks the question, "What is man..?" From Genesis to
Revelation, God answers His own question
for our identity and edification. Only the Creator is qualified to define His creature -
made in His own image. The definition man chooses determines his view of himself, his
fellow-man, human institutions,
his life - and future.
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Because
definitions rule in the minds, behaviors, and institutions of men, it is essential to
specify that distinction which naturally and most uniquely defines the human being. Man is
earth's Choicemaker. Psalm 25:12 He is by nature and nature's God a creature of Choice -
and of Criteria. Psalms 119:30, 173 His unique and definitive characteristic is, and of
Right ought to be, the natural foundation of his environment, institutions, and respectful
relations to his fellow-man. Thus, he is oriented to a Freedom whose roots are in the
Order of the universe. Human knowledge is a fraction of the universe. The balance is a
vast void of ignorance. Human reason cannot function in a void, thus, the intellect can
rise no higher than the criteria by which it perceives and measures values. Humanism makes
man his own standard of measure, however, as with all measuring systems, a standard must
be greater than the value measured.Based on ignorance and an egocentric carnal nature,
humanism demotes reason to the simpleton task of excuse-making for the rule of
feelings and glands. Because man cannot invent criteria greater than himself, the humanist
lacks a predictive
capability. Without transcendent criteria, humanism cannot evaluate options with foresight
for survival and progression. Lacking instinct and foresight, man is blind to potential
consequence and is unwittingly committed to averages, mediocrity, and regression.The void
of human ignorance can easily be filled with a functional faith while not-so-patiently
awaiting the foot-dragging growth of human knowledge and behavior.
Faith, initiated by the Creator and revealed and validated in the Bible, brings a Transcendent Standard to man the Choicemaker. Other philosophies and religions are man-made and thereby lack transcendent prophetic validation. The foresight vision of faith in God and His Word is survival equipment for today and the future.Let us proclaim it. Behold! The SEASON of Generation-Choicemaker."Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision." Joel 3:14 "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven...." Ecclesiastes 3:1
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This is Page 1 [Introduction]
- from MAN: THE CHOICEMAKER c 1998
by James Fletcher Baxter
a
free 6-page article sent on request via e-mail: choicemaker@thegrid.net http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/2728
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[REPRODUCTION PERMISSION GRANTED. JFB]
In 1993, a dozen Christian leaders were invited by President Clinton to attend a private breakfast at the White House. It was for the stated purpose of "sharing concerns" with the Christian community of the Nation. None of the Christian leaders voiced any criticism of Clinton's policies, however, some of those present denounced other Christians who had voiced national criticism of Clinton's policies on abortion, homosexuals in the military, and condom distribution in the schools. Generally, the President was praised and validated as a fellow-Believer.
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A FAIRY TALE OF GLIBNESS OF PAP by James Fletcher Baxter c 1998 All Rights Reserved
In the fullness of time, John the Baptist was invited to the palace of Herod the Tetrarch. Upon receiving the invitation, John cancelled his weekly Jordan River obligation and purposed to go to the palace with a big smile on his face and a great big positive thought in his head."I won't mention any negativity of Herod's, such as his glands and his brother's wife," John thought. "After all, there are no crocodiles here. They are all in the great River Nile. Yeah! That's it! They're all in the great River Nile. Cool!" "Anyway," thought John, "I want him to think I'm a great guy in case he might want my advice in the future, and then I will have a positive influence on his choices."
So, along with several other community leaders, John went to the palace with great hopes of ingratiating himself to the ruler.
After breaking the fast with dainty finger sandwiches, kiwi fruit in oil of banana, and tasty Girl Scout Cookies, the occasion turned to the light banter of good fellowship among like-minded men of the royal kingdom. After a pause, Herod burped, looked at John, and said, "What think ye, John? What might you tell me to aid in my rule of this country? You have three minutes. GO!"
John gulped, and with a quick plunge into a sea of words, he blurted, "There are no crocodiles here! Gulp! I just wanted you to know."
The other leaders looked at each other.
"Yeah," chirped Herod, "I know what you mean. I had a lot of crocs back home. Heh-heh. You still have two minutes."
"Well," piped John, "I have great respect for the Office of Tetrarch, and gulp...."
"And,....?" smirked the Tetrarch.
"And, well, gulp, Tet Herod, I really feel you are 'Mr. Cuteness,' in all your ways, and...."
"And,....?" yawned Herod.
"Gulp, well, I don't think you could have ascended to this throne unless you were a really smart feller and had many skills, known and unknown, and we are like-spirited brothers!"
"TIMES UP," shrilled the Tetrarch. NEXT!"
And, so they went, from the first to the last, proclaiming Herod's virtues of royal cuteness and cool brilliance.
John was correct. There was not one 'crocodile' in the whole bunch!
Finally, Herod the Tetrarch yawned, fluttered his eye-lids, mewed, and waved them all away from his presence and out of his throne room - every one except one of the group who was invited to stay overnight.
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John was never again invited to the palace. To his last day he mused about what he might have said to make a better impression in order to have a lasting influence on Herod and his future choices. He never understood why....
"Oh, well," thought John. "I never really wanted the reputation that goes with 'kissing it up' to celebrities. At least, I still have my glibness of repetition and detailed attention to pap. Anyway, if I made any errors, who is great enough or worthy to correct me? Hmmph!"
John never was corrected and, to this day, no one has ever heard of John.
But, after all, this is a REAL Fairy Tale!
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NOTE: The true story of manly John the Baptist and his leadership can be found in the Gospel of Matthew, including, the following tribute from Y'shua Jesus: "Verily, I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist..."
Matthew 11:11 KJV
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choicemaker@thegrid.net
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/2728
[REPRODUCTION PERMISSION GRANTED. JFB]