Thursday, July 5, 2012

A living Memorial






One of Hollywood's greats died yesterday.

 Andy Griffith was well known and loved for the series called the "Andy Griffith Show" and the eight season success, "Matlock".

What has not been so widely publicised is that he left T.V. at the height of his popularity and spent his final years singing and recording gospel songs.

Recently interviewed, Griffith said:

 " I have received many accolades and awards in my acting career but may I, in the end, be remembered as a man of faith."

Sure thing, Andy.

Among the tombs of Tinsel Town there are all sorts of concrete Oscars and Emmies, but scarce a single tribute to Christ.

You are one of the few and we salute you for it.

Jubilate.

Ian

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

A living Memorial and a mystery

The Elelphant Whisperer died earlier this year.

Look who turned up to pay their respects at the funeral.

Lawrence Anthony had been responsible for rescuing and relocating hundreds of elephants including some from the Gulf War.

Without invitation, twenty of these elephants walked over fifty miles and arrived at his home the day after he died.

They stayed around for two more days then left for their homeward trek.

 Now there is a memorial for you!

Perhaps we can now begin to understand how all those animals arrived at Noah's Ark?


Jubilate.

Ian

Monday, July 2, 2012

this week: Memorials







There are some striking monuments set up around the world.
I rank this one from Germany among the most moving.

My Uncle Oliver went off to the same war when he was seventeen and left his bicycle in the back yard in his house at Chester-le- Street in County Durham. It was waiting for him when he returned from the Battle of the Somme in 1917.

Next spring my son and I will retrace my Uncle's footsteps in Belgium and finish by the monument on Paschendael Ridge where he fought and left sixty thousand of his fellow soldiers under the soil in Flanders Fields.

Lest We Forget.


Ian

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Memorials






Within seconds of the final whistle at the Kiev stadium, the camera took us to a side room for a special shot.
Here the steady hand of the engraver was already carving:

                                SPAIN  2012.

A memorial on a trophy to remind us of a brilliant 90 minutes in history when Spain  hoisted the Euro Cup in far off  Ukraine.

We all need to be reminded from time to time of events, both triumphant and tragic, so that a generation that follows might recall the skill, the sacrifice, the sweat and the courage of others who went before.

In the Book of Joshua, to commemorate the miraculous crossing of the Jordan, twelve mighty stones were brought out of the river bed.
They were carved and set up as a monument to the faith of the fore fathers.
The Bible says: "They are there to this day"

In other words "IT HAPPENED"

Each family should have something that "Will remain unto this day."

A memorial to the children and grandchildren of those who went before.
To the faith, sacrifice and courage of those who built bridges for others to follow.

Jubilate.