November 6, 2013 (Wednesday)
Many years ago in England, according to Shakespeare, Henry V rallied his followers into battle with these words: “”From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remembered-We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition; And gentlemen in England now-a-bed Shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.”
General Patton, before the Battle of Bulge, said to his troops: “..there’s one thing you men will be able to say when this war is over and you get back home. Thirty years from now when you’re sitting by your fireside with your grandson on your knee and he asks, ‘What did you do in the great World War Two?’ You won’t have to cough and say, ‘Well, your granddaddy [did menial tasks] in Louisiana.’ No sir, you can look him straight in the eye and say ‘Son, your granddaddy rode with the great Third Army and a [bad hombre] named George Patton! All right, you [so and so’s]. You know how I feel. I’ll be proud to lead you wonderful guys in battle any time, anywhere. That’s all.” (Colorful metaphors redacted).
Jesus met with His followers before He ascended to Heaven, and said, “..when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power to testify about me with great effect, to the people in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, about my death and resurrection” (Acts 1:8 TLB). “I have been given all authority in heaven and earth. Therefore go and make disciples in all the nations baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and then teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you; and be sure of this–that I am with you always, even to the end of the world” (Matthew 28:18-20 TLB).