The only miracles associated with his time on earth involve his salvation, convincing the comely and kind-hearted Miss Brenda to marry him, and achieving any rank in the Marine Corps beyond second lieutenant.
That, and the precedent for a Southern Baptist's canonization is kinda hard to find...
The low opinion the Colonel holds for himself is matched only by his opinion of those with whom he disagrees. Although hamstrung by a lack of education (he went to Ole Miss instead of college), he still considers himself at least the second smartest person in any room -- and he often has a hard time finding the first.
But, the Colonel is not-so quickly coming to the conclusion that his principled opinion, while fortified with the brick and mortar of studied fact and built on the bedrock of conviction, is corroded to inviability by his own attitude and conduct.
The Colonel's heart is as cold and unfeeling as one of his diabetic-riddled toes in a duck blind in January.
His lack of empathy would make Genghis Khan wince.
The meter measuring his concern for the welfare of others is pegged on empty.
The Colonel could blame his scorched earth nature on three decades of training to visit his nation's righteous wrath on enemies of the Constitution, but that would be a cop out worthy of comparison with a Nuremberg defense.
This toxic brew of narcissism, selfish pride, and positional self-righteousness, while quite entertaining personally, is poison delivered straight to the heart of any cause, no matter the moral strength of the argument.
So, the Colonel's quandary is this:
How does he stand up for what is Godly, right, and just, without the mangudai in him attempting to lay waste to the homeland of his opponent?
Look, the Colonel knows the answer. Second smartest guy in any room, remember?
God doesn't need any of us to fight His battles for Him.
The Colonel believes that God expects him to take a stand...
...behind Him.
And, the place to stand is at home.
The Colonel doesn't mean to ignore the evil in the world. He means there is plenty of evil to confront within the confines of his own home and heart.
Joshua's challenge to the Israelites sums up what the Colonel means best.
"Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 25: 14 - 15
The Colonel is convinced, without the shadow of a doubt in his military mind, that confronting evil begins at home.
Fair warning, though:
When God gets the Colonel's heart right and turns him loose, there will be hell to pay...
But, the Colonel is not-so quickly coming to the conclusion that his principled opinion, while fortified with the brick and mortar of studied fact and built on the bedrock of conviction, is corroded to inviability by his own attitude and conduct.
The Colonel's heart is as cold and unfeeling as one of his diabetic-riddled toes in a duck blind in January.
His lack of empathy would make Genghis Khan wince.
The meter measuring his concern for the welfare of others is pegged on empty.
The Colonel could blame his scorched earth nature on three decades of training to visit his nation's righteous wrath on enemies of the Constitution, but that would be a cop out worthy of comparison with a Nuremberg defense.
This toxic brew of narcissism, selfish pride, and positional self-righteousness, while quite entertaining personally, is poison delivered straight to the heart of any cause, no matter the moral strength of the argument.
So, the Colonel's quandary is this:
How does he stand up for what is Godly, right, and just, without the mangudai in him attempting to lay waste to the homeland of his opponent?
Look, the Colonel knows the answer. Second smartest guy in any room, remember?
God doesn't need any of us to fight His battles for Him.
The Colonel believes that God expects him to take a stand...
...behind Him.
And, the place to stand is at home.
The Colonel doesn't mean to ignore the evil in the world. He means there is plenty of evil to confront within the confines of his own home and heart.
Joshua's challenge to the Israelites sums up what the Colonel means best.
"Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 25: 14 - 15
The Colonel is convinced, without the shadow of a doubt in his military mind, that confronting evil begins at home.
Fair warning, though:
When God gets the Colonel's heart right and turns him loose, there will be hell to pay...
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