Thank you my friend and brother-in-Christ Sgt (Join to see) for posting the “Colonel’s” VFV Motivational/Inspirational Quotes & Message of the Day! for Tuesday, June 28, 2022

“Obstacles Day!”
Long ago, by God's grace and admonishment I learned to be content in my circumstances.
I have overcome myriad obstacles by God's grace and learned much from my failures and vicariously from the failures and successes of others - especially in scripture.
1. My physical quality of life has been through significant ups and downs - ups include marriage [twice], fatherhood [four sons -including two adopted, promotion, salary increase, comfortable home. Downs include divorce, passed over for promotion, serious illness and injuries, termination from employment [twice], eviction, losing most of our earthly possessions, and enduring as gracefully as I can.
3. Periodically the foundation of the road of freedom is challenged. That has been happening in this nation for generations as views on the Constitution are challenged.
a. I am thankful that the United States Surpeme Court was not cowed by the induced radical abortion advocates. By God's grace the dsepicable Roe-v Wade decision was overturned. This reminds me of the of the Sanford v. Dred Scott, decision in 1854 also supported by democrats of that era which was responsible for reenslaving freed slave Dred Scott.


Quotes
1. Frank A. Clark 'If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.'
2. Walt Disney 'All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me…. but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you'
3. Kim George 'Behind every happy couple lies two people who have fought hard to overcome all obstacles and interferences to be that way. Why Because it’s what they wanted
4. Lincoln Patz [Fortitude] 'Fix in your mind to overcome all obstacles. When you truly determine this, the dawn will start to appear.'
5. Roy T. Bennett - 'Turn your obstacles into opportunities and your problems into possibilities' - The Light in the Heart
6. Moliere 'Push Yourself - The greater the obstacle the more glory in overcoming it. '

Scriptures:
a. Proverbs 17:17 ESV 'A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
b. James 5:11 ESV ' Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
c. Romans 5:3-5 ESV 'Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.'
d. Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV 'Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.'
e. Romans 5:3-5 ESV ''Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.'
f. James 1:2-4 'Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.'
g. Psalm 23:1-6 ESV 'The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.’



Image: Embrace Challenges
FYI SPC Woody Bullard Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen SSgt David M. SSG Michael Noll Maj Robert Thornton SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth LTC (Join to see) Lt Col Charlie Brown SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SGT Mary G. GySgt Jack Wallace PO2 (Join to see) CPL Douglas Chrysler SPC Lyle Montgomery PO3 Edward Riddle1SG Joseph Dartey Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D.CPL Ronald Keyes JrSPC Woody BullardCWO4 Terrence Clark
John Laws - Embrace the Challenge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFYxHwYvo6c

Empowering Grace of God

We are birthed into life in the empowering grace of our creative God, and our collaborative responsibility with that God is to birth anew the nature that has birthed us. In this co-creative process, there is no room for patriarchal power or manipulation. It is our sense of belonging that defines our true nature and our God-given identity. That to which we belong defines the very essence of our adult selves. Therefore, God’s will for humans—and for all creation—is to exercise an agency of co-creation: to bring about on earth a greater fullness, the evolutionary complexity I described in chapter one. We are meant to be an engaged and involved species, adult people serving an adult God, in the ever-evolving enterprise of our magnificent universe. Seeking to escape to a life hereafter makes no evolutionary sense anymore; in fact, it never did for our ancient ancestors.
—from the book Paschal Paradox: Reflections on a Life of Spiritual Evolution,
by Diarmuid O’Murchu, page 25

Saint Irenaeus


Image: Stained glass window of Saint Irenaeus | Église Saint-Irénée, France | photo by Gérald Gambier

Saint of the Day for June 28
(c. 130 – c. 202)
Click here to listen

Saint Irenaeus’ Story
The Church is fortunate that Irenaeus was involved in many of its controversies in the second century. He was a student, well trained no doubt, with great patience in investigating, tremendously protective of apostolic teaching, but prompted more by a desire to win over his opponents than to prove them in error.
As bishop of Lyons he was especially concerned with the Gnostics, who took their name from the Greek word for “knowledge.” Claiming access to secret knowledge imparted by Jesus to only a few disciples, their teaching was attracting and confusing many Christians. After thoroughly investigating the various Gnostic sects and their “secret,” Irenaeus showed to what logical conclusions their tenets led. These he contrasted with the teaching of the apostles and the text of Holy Scripture, giving us, in five books, a system of theology of great importance to subsequent times. Moreover, his work, widely used and translated into Latin and Armenian, gradually ended the influence of the Gnostics.
The circumstances and details about his death, like those of his birth and early life in Asia Minor, are not at all clear. However in 2022, Pope Francis named Saint Irenaeus a Doctor of the Church.

Reflection
A deep and genuine concern for other people will remind us that the discovery of truth is not to be a victory for some and a defeat for others. Unless all can claim a share in that victory, truth itself will continue to be rejected by the losers, because it will be regarded as inseparable from the yoke of defeat. And so, confrontation, controversy and the like might yield to a genuine united search for God’s truth and how it can best be served.

If the goal is worthwhile no Barriers will stop You.