Just Like You

I came across an article from a man whose Grandfather fought on an opposing side of America in WWII. I was impressed at the

Depth of thought and respect that this man had for his enemy. I want to share it with you in the hopes that your thoughts will

Be provoked in a positive manner.

What did the WWII Japanese soldiers think of the Marines?

Neen

, Proud Military family grandfather fought in ww2

Answered Jun 15, 2020 · Upvoted by Tim Wells, former SSgt Of Marines at U.S. Marine Corps (1968-1974) and George Nelson, former Corporal at U.S. Marine Corps (1965-1969)

My grandfather was a japanese officer who captured several wounded american soldiers from the

battlefield. They were not ill treated nor were they harmed in anyway, my grandfather ordered they

be given medical aid and fed a good meal. Other officers did not like this at all, but some officers

admired it. My grandfather had great admiration for the allied soldiers and more specifically the

american marines. The few that survived one of the battles were in prisoned by my grandfather

and would remain in his custody through out the war. He would even become good friends

and would regularly have good conversations with a few of the us marines he captured, about

their lives before the war. My grandfather described the us marines as warriors with incredible

valor and bravery. He was quite close with one marine, who was a talented sketch artist. My

grandfather was also a very talented artist too. Both had a huge and very common passion for

the arts. He said that the marine would always be drawing his little brother and mom. This showed

my grandfather that all these men have families and loved ones back home just like him, and he

respected this even though they were his enemy. He pushed this idea onto his men he

commanded, he used to tell me “Though they are your enemy never forget just like you they

are fighting for something”. Like any society or war or whatever, there will always be different

views on things. Alot of japanese soldiers and officers were very fanatical, while some/very few

respected and had alot of admiration for the us soldiers, my grandfather said; in war we tend too

dehumanize our enemy so we can be more comfortable taking the life of another man in war. Its

just horror and chaotic and you don’t really get the chance too fully understand what your enemy is

and what they fight for. All you do is kill without a second thought and when the battle is over you

feel almost ashamed and regretful. The only thing keeping you from the shame is fanatic patriotism

and duty to your country. even so taking the life of a enemy soldier was never easy for me and I

know they felt the same way through all the hate and blood shed, i know that they are no different

than me. That is why i respect them and give them my highest admiration.

It seems to me that what people need to remember and focus on, in this hour of false Virtue Signaling.

Is the commonality and the fact that people are 'Just Like You’. Everyone is trying to have the best

Life that they can. To be clear; I have no respect for those who try to punish others for their own mistakes,

Poor judgement and decisions, or their past. I dont believe in False Virtue Signaling just like I dont

believe that every one who is called a racist actually its one and that everyone called a martyr for

social justice is actually a good citizen. I propose that we let people show us who they are by their

Actions. Good people invest in their society and bad people take from it. Its simple. However,

The vast majority of people, simply want to live and benefit by the work of their hands and

Help their children achieve more than they did. I know I do. I want my children to soar higher

In life and achievement than I ever have. Its normal. Catch that? Normal. Again, with the exception

Of the people who steal, kill and destroy others property, The rest of society simply wants to

Live life to the fullest.

I encourage you to look at people as someone Just Like YOU.

Dont judge them for their differences. Remember Like You, they want to enjoy every ounce

Of life they can. They want to make as much money as they can. They have opinions, emotions

Loves and hates Just Like You. They get up every morning hoping things go well, they hope to

Love and be loved. To be accepted and respected. To believe that they make a difference in the

Circle they live in. They hope to be admired for their skills and forgiven for their mistakes. In short:

They really ARE JUST LIKE YOU!

Out . . . of My Mind

Rev RJ Hall

Expecting to be Changed or Changing to the expected?

Let’s set the stage . . .You – average Joe(sorry Joe), are sitting in “Your” chair - the one you have finally got shaped to your lumps! ;-) Now, let’s see where is the remote- ughh! You get up and get it and finally get settled and turn on the power and start surfing the Tube. Now, what’s on?  Let’s seeeeeee…….? Shopping? NO! Reruns? Nahhh! What are you doing!?! You are doing what 90% of Americans do. Looking for something that entertains you, that you like, or at least can stomach until your favorite program comes on.  Whatever comes on, that you don’t agree with or don’t like, gets the instant next channel button. Changing to the Expected!

You my friend are Not looking for something that changes your life. You are not looking for something that you have to think too hard. There is always the “Price is Right”, if you want to think.  No, you are trying to find something entertaining to take your mind off of the day, Your problems or issues or bills or whatever it is that TV takes you away from.  The next step from that is to try to find a person that entertains you. Or to find someone that inspires you to believe without any real effort on your part.   Negative? NO.  Sarcastic ? NO!  Realistic ? YES!

Now take this to the next level . . .you, find a need for spirituality in your life. So, first you start seeking TV Preachers. But while it satisfies the need For religious entertainment, you find yourself needing a bit more. Perhaps the ‘Real Life’ people support and connection. You find the need to Go from spectator to participator. Wow! Where do you start??
A. near where you live.
B. something you feel safe with or have some idea of what They are like. 

But then you have to find a place like your chair and channel – That fits you. *remember this*.  And people you feel comfortable with - Like you??  What has happened is that we have become a nation of seekers of what pleases us and what we agree with instead of a people seeking truth. Even churches have become seeker sensitive, to the point that they try to present what pleases people instead of what changes people. If the Church Fits the seeker – they can never grow! If you remain comfortable in your beliefs and thoughts, as you are. You can never change. Your thoughts will never be challenged to change or develop. Your understanding can never change. You and I must not change things so they are as expected. I should never look for a church where the people are all just like me. Where I agree with everything.  I need to be presented with deeper Truth. Not a changing Gospel, but the Gospel that changes me.  This thought was born from my own thoughts about how to make the Church, “User Friendly”, and about what they see, or get when they arrive. 

I realized that, while I want everyone to be welcomed and feel wanted, and while I desire that they feel as comfortable as possible. I am not interested In leading them down the same path they are on. I am interested in helping them connect to God based on His plan for them, Not my own plan. That means that they must hear truth not inspiration for a feel good only moment. I will be the first to tell you that there is Joy, and peace, in the presence of the Spirit of God. You will feel better in the presence of the Lord. However, if that is all that happens, you will also find a resurfacing of those old pains and feelings that are negative.  God wants to help you rip off the band aid on hurt feelings, and address the real cause of pain.You cannot get anything new if you do the same Old Things.  You might turn off the TV or music with an attitude change, but the same old stuff will be there In the morning!   Don’t keep changing to receive the Expected.

Are You hungry for something that will change how you live?  then come to The Pentecostals of Hayward. Come ready to hear the Word of the Lord. Not just the stuff you like, but all of it.  Come to be a part of a time of worship, that you do on purpose, not based on how you feel at the moment.  You cannot feel different until you change what you do and think.  We don’t want to inspire you for a day and then find you broken again – we want to help you find Jesus and walk with Him and let Him develop you.  Worship service is the time to give not Just receive. A church body is a place to make a difference not Just watch someone else make a difference. Giving is something that brings blessing, not just receiving blessings. "Faith without works is dead, being alone" James wrote. I don’t want to speak so that you just feel good. I want to share the word of Truth with you, so that you start thinking differently and start doing things differently because when you think and do something good, then and only then, will you start feeling different.  The word should inspire you, absolutely! But it should inspire you to change. It should correct you. It should challenge you. It should bring you to repentance as well as Faith, Hope, and Love. It should cause you to want to reach for those things that God has for you, Not argue against what God has for you, that you deem unnecessary.  I Hear so many people say that Gods promises for them are unnecessary. How Sad!    My prayer is for you to come to know your God, the way He has decided is best for His people. If you did not mind expecting God to change you by His Word and Spirit . . .What could you become for Christ in this world!?!

Come Expecting Change. You need a church to encourage you. A church to be the Body of Christ with, a Church to encourage someone else in, a Church to bring people to. A church to grow in. A church to become a co-laborer with Christ. A Church to hear the unaltered word of God in. A church to be preached and stirred In. A church to grow your children in. You just a need an Honest to Goodness Apostolic Church to live for God and become what God is calling you to be. Come expecting change! 

Just a thought! 

Out of My Mind

Rev. R.J. Hall  

Measuring Up?

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What size wrench fits this nut? (No pun intended), Is it ½ inch or 12 mm? What Measurement system do we use?  In the early 1960’s they said that the metric system was coming to America. It didn’t seem possible, but today we have a mixed system of measurement. Everywhere you look there are metric sized fasteners.  Metric tools don’t always fit Standard sizes. I believe that we struggle with this same type of mixed measurement issues in our lives as well.

It seems, we often measure what we can or cannot do, based on our feelings about it. The Military has proven that people’s endurance is not just in the body but in the mind. How they measure their ability, directly affects their abilities limits or lack of limits. Such as; I don’t think I can do this!

I often see people filter their efforts through their feelings or emotions about something.  I have long observed that “I can’t”, essentially means, “I won’t”.  It seems desire plays a huge part in whether or not we “Feel” like we can, or could it be want to?

But what if we simply went back to a measurement that was original. The first standard, Before the mixed types of weights and measures.   Where the value of something was not how we felt about it but what God thought about it. Where we didn’t measure our ability according to our feelings but, according to the bodies’ manual.

What if we allowed God to put the value on things and allowed the word to Direct our steps and tell us when to quit or keep going?  The possibilities are endless when you think of what God has spoken in His word to us.

Ephesians 4

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity (feelings) of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts (desires-feelings);
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Just a thought! 

Out of My Mind

Rev. R.J. Hall