Use Your Talent, fear not

 https://braveknightwriters.com/blog/54-Fear-Not-Use-Your-Talent

Jesus spoke a parable according to Matthew 25: 14-30 which has popped up in our circles several times in last few weeks. One such place was on page 176 in Unshakeable: Facing Your Giants in God’s Strength: a 90-day journey in faith. A book brought to you by The Word for You Today. Pondering the passage as written in my Life Application Study Bible New International Version, I came to some conclusions about several key elements.

Of course, the main theme as spelled out in my Bible’s interpretation is the Lord’s departure and his return as stated in Matthew 25:21. The failure of one of the servants in Matthew 25: 24-30 is caused by fear and an unwillingness to serve. In Matthew 25: 29-30 the rewards received by those not living in fear, who work and invest their blessings are said to increase, while those who live in fear will exist with weeping and gnashing of teeth. These elements jump off the page, the message is clear. So, try to envision elements which exist between the lines. We are taught to fear God, he is all powerful and the creator of all things, this makes it necessary to delve into the emotion of fear and understand the difference between survival fear and crippling fear. It takes courage to sort out the cause and effect of fear. What a paradox. God wants us to have courage, fear not, and yet fear. Our courage is a gift from the Lord that we can nurture and increase.

God tells us to invest. He rewards those who do his work and invest their talents. What does investment entail? Investment requires risk versus return assessment and takes many forms; economic, emotional, intellectual, and even time. This parable doesn’t address what obstacles were faced while the master was gone. Did any investments fail? We know by the end of the story, two of the servants succeed in increasing the blessings of the Lord, but this can’t be the entire story, can it? How many of us have courageously invested in things which failed to provide a return? Many invest and work at a marriage, invest in their children, grandchildren, a home, or financial instruments, only to receive nothing or even are robbed in return. What of those who lost out by betrayal of a spouse, ungrateful children and grandchildren, or a home whose value has fallen?

The other element I ponder is the master leaves and returns. Jesus left, but the Holy Spirit is wherever invited. God is beside us as we toil and struggle. The one who was afraid also didn’t believe, for he thought, like Adam and Eve, he could hide from God. The Master had reason for only giving this servant one talent, he already knew his heart. He entrusted one with five talents— a good start— but the man also worked, we don’t know what losses he encountered and yet recovered. Same as with the servant given two talents, I am sure God watched how each handled their losses as much as their gains.

One factor to consider is the more you have, the more you could lose. This element has the potential to generate great fear. In the end, how we respond to our troubles should weigh as much as what we gained, but there are no rewards for the coward.

God blesses us, so share blessings, work them, and use your talents without fear of loss.

Talent is an interesting word. In Jesus’ time, a talent was the equivalent of 15 years’ salary. In the ancient world of Greece and Rome, to possess five-talents would equate to being a millionaire in our times.

Do your God-given talents indicate you are a millionaire? Yes. Have you unearthed those talents?

These are some of my thoughts. I don’t offer any answers, other than find courage and serve the Lord, for everything comes from Him and belongs to Him. The words of the failed servant, condemn him, “…harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.”   

    

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#Rails to #trails time travel

 https://braveknightwriters.com/blog/50-The-Courage-of-Children?sel=1-0

Saturday, August 5, 2023 by Brave Knight Writers

 

Riding rails-to-trails is more than bicycling, it’s time travel. A recent ride on the D&H trail in Susquehanna County in north-eastern Pennsylvania took us through coal country. The trail passes through coal towns once owned by coal companies—a type of town I am very familiar with, since I grew up in one, Sandy Creek. My first house was purchased in another, Harwick, and I was blessed to know and listen to the stories of an old miner nearing age ninety who lived nearby. Stories of going months without seeing the sun, descending into mines before daybreak, and returning to the surface after sunset. The old miner told of working coal seams 18 inches high, which meant you could lie down and dig, it saved one’s back. Imagine crawling deep into a coal vein with mega tons of rock 18 inches above. The old miner still had broad shoulders and powerful arms, built in his youth, but in time the work destroyed his health. His name was Mike, and I’ll never forget him. He purchased his home when the mine shut down and the company sold the houses.

The 38.6-mile D&H threads through such towns as Forest City, Union Dale, Herrick Center, Ararat, and Thompson, an area rich in history. The discovery of coal in the early 1870’s brought an influx of Welsh miners recruited by the Hillside Coal and Iron Company. By 1883 the mine output reached 75 daily tons, all dug by 300 men and boys.

Our blog revolves around everyday courage, and my thoughts focused on the courage needed to face the day by these workers as they descended into mines where tons of debris may fall, poison gasses might asphyxiate, and the possibility of entrapment in absolute darkness are daily threats. Desperate times drove immigrants to leave their native lands and submit to these conditions. The coal companies owned everything and everyone.

Sitting on my bicycle, experiencing my great adventure of taxing muscles and breathing the mountain air, I counted my blessings with thoughts of my children and grandchildren.

In our affluence so many problems are self-derived, as if we need drama and chaos. In years gone by, the horrors were real. In the collapse at Mine Shaft #2 on April 1, 1916, seven Welsh miners died. Boys. Ages six to eleven.

Meanwhile, the mine owners traveled in private railcars, sipped tea, and slept in luxurious estates. The dynamics of those days aren’t fully detailed in our schools or media. Where are the movies and books needed to document these times? The plight of some of our ancestors is largely ignored. The United States was born with great labor pains, suffered by children and adults who fled their foreign homes because of oppression and necessity. Few came with privilege, or in comfort. It took courage.

Untold numbers of workers were abused as the wealthy took advantage of their desperation. In 1922 the song "Crugybar o frynian caersalem" or “From Salem’s hills yonder in glory” commemorated the event, as the boys were fresh off the boat after fleeing Salem’s Hills in Northeast Wales.

D&H stands for the Delaware and Hudson railroad and canal company, originating in 1823 to establish communications between the Delaware and Hudson rivers. As an independent railroad it provided a connection between New York and Canada for 150 years, but in 1991 Canadian Pacific Railroad purchased it. The D&H was known as ‘North America’s oldest continually operated transport company’. Norfolk Southern Railway completed acquisition of the D&H South line on September 19, 2015.

The branch of the D&H that ran between Lake George and Glens Falls, New York, was converted to the Warren County Bikeway in several phases, starting in 1978 and finishing in 2000. The portion of the D&H we rode was designated ‘trail of the year’ in 2021. We dedicate this post to the Brave Knights and children of courage. Never forget the sacrifices of those who came before us.

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The knights of old lived in fortresses and wore armor as protection from the enemy. Today, brave knights live among us and the armor they need is not made of metal. Today’s battles and wars have become more spiritual than physical, so our armor needs to be the stuff of strong belief and principles. Many have asked me why we call ourselves Brave Knight Writers. The term formed long ago deep within my heart. It came to me in a time of deep despair and loss. During the events of those times, I realized how precious our time is, and how blessed I was. Over the years I longed to share those days with others, not to bring pity or attention on me, but to put people in touch with their blessings.

The death of one’s child changes our view of life, the event brings one to an intersection. Many roads lead away to unknown destinations. Your head fills with voices, you find taking your next breath burdensome, but you also know you must go on. After my son’s death we joined a group called Bereaved Parents, a support group for those who had suffered the loss of a child. After several meetings I decided the group wasn’t the road I wanted to travel. Some parents had been attending for years. It was as if they had sat down at the intersection, instead of choosing a new path. This desire to not move on I fully understand, you want time to stop, the feeling of leaving your loved one behind is strong and no one wants to do such a thing.

My answers formed over time, no solution came easy, and I started down many wrong roads. I also realized I could return to the intersection. The road I finally chose was one of celebration and gratefulness for all my blessings. It wasn’t an easy road. The baggage proved heavy, I needed to discard most of it before I could continue. The first item I put in the knapsack was the five and a half years I was blessed to be with my son. Especially important were his final words in the months we spent together after he came out of his long coma. He spoke with wisdom, and not in the words of a five-year-old. He clung to a single toy; one I didn’t realize the significance of until I gained more knowledge. His toy of choice was what he called the brave knight, “the bravest knight of all” he would declare. He said it had more courage than anyone else in the hospital.

Courage filled the hospital, from the children who fought for their lives, to the staff who stood beside them in thick and thin. Here were the surgeons who dared to open the skulls of cancer patients to extract tumor tissues, the nurses who tended to the daily needs of the children and interacted with grieving parents. Staff burnout usually set in within five years. The brave knight my son embraced turned out to be the one described in Ephesians 6:10-18. This would be the armor I would need to travel the road I chose, but for someone who lacked great courage, it turned out to not fit so well. In many instances the armor irritated my flesh, itched, rubbed my skin raw, and felt heavy and burdensome. Many times, I laid bits of it aside which left me vulnerable to life-threatening wounds.

 You see, I’m not the brave knight I write about, I struggle to be one. Therefore, we write about other, more formidable knights and their spiritual battles. Our desire is to inspire. Every minute we are given is a blessing and blessings are meant for sharing.      

#Brave #Knight #Writers

 Our first review, we now have 48 more, check us out on Amazon, B&N or any bookstore. We love feedback. braveknightwriters.com

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What can be said about this novel that may do it justice? So many cliches come to mind: 'tour de force', 'mind-blowing', 'life-changing', etc. And they're all somewhat accurate in describing this excellent first novel penned by a very talented husband and wife duo. But this work deserves much more than just a few overused phrases, none of which accounts for its impact on this reader. In terms of scope, it may not be the so-called "Great American Novel" - neither geographically, since the setting is pretty much limited to a certain region (Havasupai) within the Grand Canyon, nor in terms of its cast of characters, confined mostly to Russ, the story's psychically scarred protagonist, and 'Chief', an old and more than merely spiritual Native American with whom Russ joins in a quest that turns out to mean everything to both men.
At one point, the Chief relates to Russ an old Native-American myth wherein an aged warrior tells his young grandson that within each person's body are two wolves -- one good and one evil -- both always fighting for control over the person whose body they inhabit. When the boy asks his Grandfather which one wins, the old man replies, "the one that you feed".
Having been a reader for just over seventy years now, I can say that most likely everything I've read over that span has gradually influenced my life and my way thinking (not always to the good), some of it more than others. But up until my having read Havasupai, only two books really moved me on the Richter Scale: The Holy Bible and "The Book: On The Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are" by Alan Watts. Suffice it to say that if you do read Havasupai, you will definitely be feeding the "good wolf".

 

Leading the Way to Victory by Mark C. Vlahos USAF-RET
Thursday, February 9, 2023 by Brave Knight Writers

Courage takes many forms and addresses every aspect of existence. I refer our readers to Leading the Way to Victory by Mark C. Vlahos. He chronicles the 60th Troop Carrier Group’s history from 1940-1945, quite a courageous undertaking in and of itself. Colonel Vlahos served in the United States Air Force for 29 years, so who better to offer such a beautiful treasure to honor the veterans who became known as ‘The Greatest Generation’? Mark understands the sacrifices made by all those who serve, whether in war or peace. His assignments included command of a C-130 squadron in combat, Vice Wing Commander of the 314th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base, and a wide range of operational flying experiences. These assignments offered many occasions to overcome fear and remain calm in the face of adversity. Colonel Vlahos studied at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University. At Webster University and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces he earned master’s degrees. He’s a member of the Troop Carrier/Tactical Airlift Association and the Leon B. Spencer Research Team of the National World War II Glider Pilot Committee.

In Leading the Way to Victory, he preserves and lists those who served in the 60th TCG, not just the officers but the privates, corporals, and sergeants. Most history books acknowledge in mass the soldiers who died, were wounded, or performed outrageous acts of courage—while naming the high ranking officers in command. Mr. Vlahos drills down into the everyday workings of what it takes to achieve victory. He offers insight into what makes the difference between having an army of soldiers gathered to force others to submit, or a group of dedicated soldiers in the cause of liberty and principles. The 60th as a group stands out in a time of war, it’s mission didn’t directly wreak havoc and destruction on an innocent populace or even armed troops. These courageous soldiers went into war zones and behind enemy lines unarmed, even their aircraft had very limited armor. They flew missions in the dark of night, into mountainous regions occupied by hostiles, and landed by torch light. Much to Mr. Vlahos’ credit and detail, he examines everyday challenges faced by support personnel, like finding a sheet of plywood and painting it so staff can have a blackboard, or painting a slogan on the fuselage of an aircraft to please the pilot and crew. These are the unremarkable, remarkable feats found in this history book.

For a personal touch, Mr. Vlahos documents the actual words of those who survived, and these anecdotes take this book to an entirely new level. To have someone share their personal experience reaches the soul, and touches on the emotions of these soldiers. So many World War II soldiers saw such horrors, they could offer only silence after the war. They came home in search of joy and peace—and suppressed many memories. The ones who wrote of the experience offer us insight as to what war is really like, not a Hollywood glorified version. We thank Mr. Vlahos for his hard work and dedication to offer this treasure to the descendants of those who served, and to the American people so they can come to grips with what it takes to be free. The reader will find photographs, lists, maps, and charts along with well-structured and refined text. An awesome feature is the index which lists soldiers by name and indicates what pages mention them. Many thanks for publishing this book, and best wishes to Colonel Vlahos. If our readers go to our Indie Author Friends page, click the link to go directly to where you can purchase Leading the Way to Victory.

Mark C. Vlahos supports Vintage Wings Inc. and other charities.