A Story About Two Famous LEGO Craftsmen

by Sally Matheny

(Part Christiansen and part Sawaya)

This is a story about two, famous Lego® craftsmen. It’s not meant to inspire you to build with colorful, plastic bricks—although it may. Read on and find your motivation. 

Have you heard of Ole Kirk Christiansen? Probably not, but I am sure you’ve heard of his company. 

Ole Kirk, one of ten children who grew up in an impoverished home, worked hard as a wood craftsman in Denmark. Years later, after focusing more on toys than anything else, he named his toyshop “Lego.” Originally, he made wooden toys, but later, in 1947, his company expanded to make plastic toys. 

Ole Kirk was well known for saying, “Det bedste er ikke for godt.” Essentially, that meant, “the best is never too good.” He insisted his toys be of the highest quality. Not all toymakers stood by that motto. But we know by their continued success, the LEGO® company, did and still does. 

The Christian Faith of Rosa Parks

by Sally Matheny

Christian Faith of Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks said, “As a child, I learned from the Bible to trust in God and not be afraid. I felt the Lord would give me the strength to endure whatever I had to face.”

In honor of what would have been Rosa Park’s 100^th birthday, the Henry Ford Museum initiated a National Day of Courage on February 4, 2013. Many gave tribute to the bravery of the former Alabama seamstress, who on December 1, 1955, chose to disobey the unjust segregation law by refusing to give her bus seat to a white man.

What many history books and public speakers fail to mention is the Christian faith of Rosa Parks. Her faith in Jesus Christ was integral with the choices she made in her life—some of which changed the lives of millions.

THIS DANGEROUS BOOK by Steve & Jackie Green: A Review & Giveaway

 by Sally Matheny

This Dangerous Book

“Research shows over 80 percent of Americans own a hard copy of the Bible. More than half of agnostics and skeptics own a Bible.

But have you ever asked, ‘What is this book, really?’” 
                 -This Dangerous Book

The release of THIS DANGEROUS BOOK coincides with the opening of the Museum of the Bible located in Washington D.C. Steve and Jackie Green, the founding family of the museum, co-authored this book with Bill High. 

It’s a book about three journeys—that of the Bible, the Green’s, and the Museum of the Bible.

The Greens interweave vignettes of their own faith journey while sharing fascinating information about the Bible and the effect it has had on people throughout history. They are transparent about their Christian faith in the book, yet they have chosen not to proselytize within the museum.

        “We would not promote our faith but could present the facts.”

No doubt, some people will say there’s not enough of Jesus represented at the museum, while others will say there’s too much.

“Yet throughout the process, we’ve continued to pursue a factual presentation of the Bible…I know that we won’t satisfy everyone. There will still be critics who will challenge our methods and motives…Like it or not, the Bible simply cannot be ignored.”

The mission of the museum is to “invite all people to engage with the history, impact, and narrative of the Bible. It is the largest museum in the world “devoted solely to the presentation and the preservation of the Bible.”

THIS DANGEROUS BOOK opens with almost twenty endorsements from folks such as Lee Strobel, Dr. David Jeremiah, and Korie Robertson. After a foreword by Rick Warren, the book contains five parts:

Part 1: The Story Begins

Part 2: The Book

Part 3: Collecting Secrets

Part 4: Appeal to Heaven

Part 5: To the Ends of the Earth

Each part contains three to four chapters. Each chapter opens with three or four quotations—some from the Bible, some from people since the Bible’s publication. Most are from Christians but a few are not, such as the one from the fictional Huckleberry Finn.

WWII Veteran’s Letter Inspires Us All

by Sally Matheny

WWII Veteran Charles H. Walker

Three weeks before D-Day, WWII Navy sailor, Charles H. Walker wrote a letter to his mother. 

No matter how big or small we think our contribution is in life, this WWII veteran's letter inspires us all to give our best.

(excerpt):

May 14, 1944

“Dear Mother,

I will write you a few lines tonight to let you hear from me. These few lines leave me in good health and getting along fine. I hope you are well.

Mother, I think of you and Dad a lot these days and would like to very, very much see you. Of course, I don’t think it will be as long as it has been until I’ll be back in the states. Not for good, but for a leave, I hope. I think of the rest of the family, too. Of the little girls and of Sis. I know that it will be one more happy day for me when I do get home.

Right now, I’m going to do all I can to get this war over with. My part is only a small one, but I’m proud I can do it, and I’m going to do it as best I can.

Mother, I’ve been in the Navy fifteen months now. And I’ve never been on report or had any extra duty or anything yet. I’m going to try and have my record as clean as if I stay in for 15 years. It’s just as easy to do it right as it is wrong. . .” 

    

                                                                             Good night, Mother. 

                                                                             Your Son, 

                                                                             Charles

Charles Walker served as the senior electrician on the U.S.S. LCF #27. When he wrote this letter at age twenty-two, he thought his role in the war was small.

I disagree.

If the electricity failed, the sweeping for mines came to a halt, the rockets did not launch, and more lives would have been lost. 

Every person on board had a job to do. Whether it was sweeping for mines or sweeping the deck, it all mattered. Doing it well mattered even more.

Charles decided, regardless of the significance of his job, he planned to give his best. He persevered through many monotonous days at sea. Occasionally those days were punctured by kamikaze pilots. The force of one plummeting plane was so close the sailor's pants tugged against his legs.

Later, as the crew fished the Japanese pilot out of the water, Charles found the method of death, for such a young man, unsettling.

A similar empathy came when he observed the frightened German POWs on the shores of Normandy. Charles said many were his age or younger. He felt sorry for them because they looked terrified.

Charles stressed the necessity of America's involvement in the war. He was proud to serve his country and help the oppressed. He realized most of the Japanese and German soldiers were simply following orders, like everyone else in the war.

Thank you and Happy Veterans Day

Some of Charles' days were exhausting, stressful, and lonely. Other days, not so much. But he still longed for home.

He would see the American flag rise at Iwo Jima and serve until February 1946 before heading home for good.

And he was right. It was “one more happy day” when he reunited with his family!

It’s not an easy job serving in the military, especially if you’re far away from the people and the country you love.

I salute Charles Walker, who is still persevering and giving his best at age 95. I wish a Happy Veterans Day to him and all the veterans who chose to serve honorably, or quoting Charles, they did it the "right way.”

Veterans, whatever you consider a “small part” in service to our country, I consider it monumental.

Thank you.

Saluting the Brave Army Chaplain Corps

by Sally Matheny

Chaplain candidates praying.
(Photo by Capt. Kristin Mack)

Did you know July 29, 1775 is the official birthday of the American Chaplaincy Corps? 

Although some pastors enlisted or were commissioned as early as April 1775, it wasn’t until July when Congress recognized chaplains as part of the national army. Their rank was equal to that of a Captain.

Chaplains often trained to perform medical procedures in addition to attending to the spiritual needs of the troops. It made sense. While some did fight with weapons, most chaplains were back at camp either praying for those heading to battle, the wounded returning from battle, or over the deceased.

Chaplains gave sacrificially in more than one way. Many of those first army chaplains were required to pay those who were filling in for them at their home churches.

Back in September of 1776, Congress recognized the spiritual need of soldiers, whether the soldiers realized it or not. Congress passed the “Articles of War” which included fines and confinement for soldiers not attending services.

Serving as a chaplain was not for the faint of heart either. Any chaplain bowing out of the stresses of war, by going AWOL, was court-martialed and fined.

Rules and expectations varied within the different branches of service. The Navy Chaplaincy, established in November 1776, required religious services twice a day and a service on Sunday.

According to legend, seamen are typically known for their colorful language. It’s interesting to note one of the early rules for the Navy:

"If any shall be heard to swear, curse, or blaspheme the name of God, the Commander is strictly enjoined to punish them for every offense, by causing them to wear a wooden collar or some other shameful badge of distinction ... Commissioned officers forfeit one shilling for each offense, a warrant or inferior officer, six pence. For drunkenness, a seaman shall be put in irons until sober - if an officer he shall forfeit two days pay." 

Drury, Clifford Merril, The History of the Chaplain Corps, United States Navy - Volume One - 1778-1939, (Washington, DC, US Government Printing Office, 1948).

Take note, Congress ordered 20,000 Bibles for the Army in 1777.

The National D-Day Memorial: Clearly a Worthwhile Journey

by Sally Matheny

The National D-Day Memorial

The fog on June 5 of our family vacation, reminded me of another foggy June 5.

Our trip to Virginia, in the summer of 2015, began on a sunny note, but quickly immersed under thick clouds and drizzling rain. 

The dreary weather lounged with us almost every day in the Shenandoah Valley. 

The day of our departure was June 5. That morning the dense fog that had lingered all week rose just above the treetops. The rain ceased. Wondering if we could squeeze in an activity before checking out. we raced to the chairlift located on the property. By the time we reached the top, the weather had changed. The only view to behold was a veil of dense fog.

We decided we might as well head home. As we descended the mountain, I thought about how thick clouds caused problems on another June 5. 

Originally, WWII’s D-Day invasion of Normandy, France was scheduled for June 5, 1944. 

However, British meteorologists said the weather would not permit a successful invasion. Although it was sunny on June 4, Eisenhower trusted the meteorologists and wisely postponed the invasion until June 6.

Massanutten Ski Resort in Virginia

On our way home, I noticed the National D-Day Memorial was a thirty-minute detour from our route. Usually, the GPS is set for home and there are no stops except for the essentials—gas, food, and restrooms. But this year, we chose to deviate from our set ways.

By the time we reached Bedford, Virginia blue skies welcomed us. The admission tickets purchased at the Welcome Center included an optional guided tour. 

At first, we thought the price was a bit high. However, after discovering it is a non-profit and does not receive federal or state funding, we deemed it reasonable.  By the end of our visit, we all thought the D-Day Memorial was clearly a worthwhile journey.

Hope Presses Through Hardships

by Sally Matheny

Hope Presses Through Hardships

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by your circumstances? Sometimes things happen beyond our control. When we have no power, we still have hope. Hope helps us press through the hardships.

Betty Patzke's story exemplifies this. 

When Betty Patzke’s brother, Jack, enlisted in the Army Air Forces in November 1942, her hope of seeing him again remained strong.

The first of many heartbreaking ordeals for the Patzke family occurred on April 8, 1945; the day German soldiers killed Jack. The end of WWII was only five months away.

One month later, Betty lost two more siblings to the war. Her brother Dick, age 13, and her sister Joan, age 11, died from the explosion of a Japanese balloon bomb. The bomb was the only attack on American soil causing death.

Betty’s pastor, Archie Mitchell and his pregnant wife had taken the Pantzke children and three other teens in their Sunday school class to the beautiful Gearhart Mountain of Oregon for a picnic. Arriving at Leonard Creek, Rev. Mitchell let everyone out while he parked the car. In a matter of seconds, lives changed forever when an explosion pierced the air.

Almost 10,000 balloon bombs were launched from Japan on November 3, 1944. The Japanese military designed the bombs to travel the Pacific Ocean via the jet stream. They hoped the bombs would wreck havoc on American soil. Only 400 of the balloon bombs, called fugos, reached North America. 

The one landing on Gearhart Mountain brought death to 26 year old, Elsie Mitchell and her unborn child, as well as all five Sunday school students ranging from age eleven to thirteen.

Reeling from losing three siblings in one month, how would Betty Patzke press through such devastation? 

Is It Important to Teach American History?

by Sally Matheny

Is It Important to Teach American History?

Not everyone loves history. I do--especially American history. When I encounter some interesting part of history I’ve never heard before, it's like a treasure hunt. I begin researching primary documents to see if it’s true. I usually end up finding a few more gems along the way.

So many fascinating facts never make the cut for school textbooks. Perhaps if it were possible to incorporate more of them, there would be a greater interest in American history. 

Apparently, there’s a debate on what children should learn about America's history.

Summer Fun for the Family: Pickin’ and Grinnin’ at the Earl Scruggs Center

  by Sally Matheny

photo courtesy of Wikipedia

If you've ever watched The Beverly Hillbillies, you may remember musicians Earl Scruggs and Lester Flatt. Occasionally, they sauntered through the Clampetts’ mansion door pickin’ and grinnin’. 

If you missed their appearances, you didn’t miss out on their music. Scruggs and Flat performed the theme song for the show.

You can share the history of the toe-tapping, bluegrass music with your children by visiting a wonderful museum in western North Carolina. The Earl Scruggs Center, which opened in January 2014,  is located on Lafayette Street in Shelby, North Carolina.