MY CHAIR

ALOHA & BLESSINGS
How do I, in spite of the many dramas the Church faces today remain a Catholic? Its simple. The chair of Peter is the chair of Peter. The one who sits on it or derives his authority from that chain of command may not always be my cup of tea, but I accept the foundation nonetheless. In the same way, I pledge allegiance to the country of my birth even when the elected officials are not the folks I voted for. Should I run red lights when the other party is in office?

Jesus makes a very strong statement about how to deal with bad leadership in an otherwise good system: Give attention to their words, but don’t follow their example. Jesus doesn’t resort to mudslinging to prove his premise that the leaders were hypocrites, He lays out the facts in adorned sentences so we can consider them for ourselves.

The greatest must be the servant of all. And in case we need a demonstration of how this works, Jesus shouldered our burdens all the way to the cross. This means we ought to see sweat on the brows of our leaders, and not only when they are being grilled by reporters. They can’t just tell us they feel our pain unless they also reveal their wounds. They can’t demand sacrifices of us they don’t intend to share.

Pax et Bonum
Duane A Vachon

Jesus & Women

Jesus & Women
Pope Francis recently called for a deeper “theology of women”. Pope Francis has quickly become my hero however with all due respect to him; this is not a Pope Francis original concept.
It has been said that women were the first at the cradle and then last at the cross. The women from the time of Jesus had never known a man like this Man. He was a prophet and teacher who never nagged about them, He never flattered or coaxed or patronized; He never made arch jokes about them, He never treated them either as “The women, God help us!” or “The ladies God bless them!” He rebuked without querulousness and praised without condensation. He took their questions and arguments seriously. He never urged them to be feminine or jeered at them for being female. He had no axe to grind and no uneasy male dignity to defend. Jesus took them as He found them.

The attitude of Jesus to women was staggering. He did not treat them like chattels, but like equals. When asked His thoughts on contemporary divorce, so totally weighted in favour of the man, he repudiated it entirely, taking His hearers back to the ‘one-man, one-woman forever’ concept of Genesis (2:24).

The position of women is abundantly clear in the New Testament. They are ‘joint heirs of the grace of life’ (1 Peter 3:7). The clearest manifesto of the position of women, is given by the supposed misogynist, St. Paul. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28)
We can gather from what St Paul tells us in Philippians about Lydia, Euodia and Syntyche, that women were also very effective in evangelism (Philippians 4:3).

As well as all of this, women were also deacons. Phoebe held this office in the church at Cenchreae. It appears that she was also Paul’s delegate in taking the Letter to the Romans to the church in the capital.

The value of women in the early church was immense, and it remains so today. How do we apply the lessons of the New Testament in today’s world? The same way that Jesus did, we accept and encourage women in all the roles they have in the ministry of Christ.

Pax et Bonum
Duane A Vachon

Where Are Our Values

I can’t help but wonder why the mainline press thinks George Zimmerman getting stopped for speeding is more newsworthy than the passing of one of this nations greatest heroes.

Sunday, August 4th, 2013 | Posted by Duane Vachon |
THE MOST DECORATED OFFICER IN MODERN U.S. HISTORY – Colonel George “Bud” Day, US Air Force, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Medal of Honor (1925-2013)

Colonel George “Bud” Day, Medal of Honor, U.S. Air Force
BY DUANE A. VACHON, PH.D. On July 27, 2013 America lost a great patriot and hero. Surrounded by family, Colonel George Day died at his home in Shalimar Florida.
Day was born in Sioux City, Iowa, on February 24, 1925. In 1942, he quit High School and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He served 30 months in the North Pacific during World War II as a member of a 5 inch (130 mm) gun battery with the 3rd Defense Battalion on Johnston Island but he never saw combat.
When the war ended, Day attended Morningside College on the G.I. Bill, earning a Bachelor of Science degree, followed by law school at the University of South Dakota, receiving a Juris Doctor. Day passed the bar exam in 1949 and was admitted to the bar in South Dakota. In later life, Day was also awarded a Master of Arts degree from St. Louis University, a Doctor of Humane Letters from Morningside, and a Doctor of Laws from Troy State University. Day was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1977.
Following his service in World War II, Day joined the Army Reserve and received a direct commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Iowa Air National Guard in 1950, and was called to active duty in 1951 for Undergraduate Pilot Training in the U.S. Air Force. He served two tours as a fighter-bomber pilot during the Korean War flying the Republic F-84 Thunderjet. Promoted to captain, he decided to make the Air Force a career and was augmented into the Regular Air Force. He then trained to fly the F-100 Super Sabre in 1957 while stationed at RAF Wethersfield in the United Kingdom.
Anticipating retirement in 1968 and now a major, Day volunteered for a tour in Vietnam and was assigned to the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing at Tuy Hoa Air Base in April 1967. At that time, he had more than 5,000 flying hours, with 4,500 of them in fighters. On June 25, 1967, with extensive previous service flying two tours in F-100s, Major Day was made the first commander of Detachment 1, 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 37th Tactical Fighter Wing based at Phu Cat Air Base. Under the project name “Commando Sabre”, twin-seat USAF F-100Fs were evaluated as a Fast Forward Air Control (“Fast FAC”) aircraft in high threat areas, given that F-4 Phantom II aircraft were in high demand for strike and Combat Air Patrol (CAP) roles. Using the call sign Misty, the name of Day’s favorite song, his detachment of four two-seat F-100Fs and 16 pilots became pioneer “Fast FACs” (Forward Air Controllers) over Laos and North Vietnam. All Misty FAC crews were volunteers with at least 100 combat missions in Vietnam and 1,000 minimum flight hours. Tours in Commando Sabre were temporary and normally limited to four months or about 50-60 missions.
On August 26, 1967, Major Day was flying F-100F-15-NA, AF Serial No. 56-3954, call sign “Misty 01”, on his 26th Fast FAC sortie, directing a flight of F-105 Thunderchiefs in an air strike against a surface-to-air missile (SAM) site north of Thon Cam Son and west of Dong Hoi, 20 mi (32 km) north of the DMZ in North Vietnam. Day was on his 65th mission into North Vietnam and acting as check pilot for Captain Corwin M. “Kipp” Kippenhan, who was upgrading to aircraft commander. 37 mm antiaircraft fire crippled the aircraft, forcing the crew to eject. In the ejection, Day’s right arm was broken in three places when he struck the side of the cockpit, and he also received eye and back injuries.
Kippenhan was rescued by a USAF HH-3E, but Day was unable to contact the rescue helicopter by survival radio and was quickly captured by North Vietnamese local militia. On his fifth night, when he was still within 20 mi (32 km) of the DMZ, Day escaped from his initial captors despite his serious injuries. Although stripped of both his boots and flight suit, Day crossed the Demilitarized Zone back into South Vietnam, becoming the only U.S. prisoner of war to escape from North Vietnam. Within 2 mi (3 km) of the U.S. Marine firebase at Con Thien and after 12–15 days of evading, he was captured again, this time by a Viet Cong patrol that wounded him in the leg and hand with gunfire.
Taken back to his original camp, Day was tortured for escaping, breaking his right arm again. He then was moved to several prison camps near Hanoi, where he was periodically beaten, starved, and tortured. In December 1967, Day shared a cell with Navy Lieutenant Commander and future Senator and presidential candidate John McCain. Air Force Major Norris Overly nursed both back to health, and McCain later devised a makeshift splint of bamboo and rags that helped heal Day’s seriously atrophied arm. On March 14, 1973, Day was released after five years and seven months as a North Vietnamese prisoner. Within three days Day was reunited with his wife, Doris Sorensen Day, and four children at March Air Force Base, California. On March 4, 1976, President Gerald Ford awarded Day the Medal of Honor for his personal bravery while a captive in North Vietnam.
Day had been promoted to Colonel while a prisoner, and decided to remain in the Air Force in hopes of being promoted to Brigadier General. Although initially too weak to resume operational flying, he spent a year in physical rehabilitation and with 13 separate medical waivers, was returned to active flying status. He underwent conversion training to the F-4 Phantom II and was appointed vice commander of the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
Day, in 2008, said of his imprisonment, “As awful as it sounds, no one could say we did not do well. …[Being a POW] was a major issue in my life and one that I am extremely proud of. I was just living day to day. One bad cold and I would have been dead.”
After being passed over for nomination to brigadier general, Day retired from active duty in 1977 to resume practicing law in Florida. At his retirement he had nearly 8,000 total flying hours, 4,900 in single engine jets, and had flown the F-80 Shooting Star, F-84 Thunderjet, F-100 Super Sabre, F-101 Voodoo, F-104 Starfighter, F-105 Thunderchief, F-106 Delta Dart, F-4 Phantom II, A-4 Skyhawk, A-7 Corsair II, CF-5 Tiger and F-15 Eagle jet fighters.

Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Colonel (then Major),U.S. Air Force,Forward Air Controller Pilot of Place and date: North Vietnam, August 26, 1967.
Entered service at: Sioux City, Iowa.
Born: February 24, 1925, Sioux City, Iowa.
General Orders: GB-180, March 22, 1976[23]
Citation: On 26 August 1967, Col. Day was forced to eject from his aircraft over North Vietnam when it was hit by ground fire. His right arm was broken in 3 places, and his left knee was badly sprained. He was immediately captured by hostile forces and taken to a prison camp where he was interrogated and severely tortured. After causing the guards to relax their vigilance, Col. Day escaped into the jungle and began the trek toward South Vietnam. Despite injuries inflicted by fragments of a bomb or rocket, he continued southward surviving only on a few berries and uncooked frogs. He successfully evaded enemy patrols and reached the Ben Hai River, where he encountered U.S. artillery barrages. With the aid of a bamboo log float, Col. Day swam across the river and entered the demilitarized zone. Due to delirium, he lost his sense of direction and wandered aimlessly for several days. After several unsuccessful attempts to signal U.S. aircraft, he was ambushed and recaptured by the Viet Cong, sustaining gunshot wounds to his left hand and thigh. He was returned to the prison from which he had escaped and later was moved to Hanoi after giving his captors false information to questions put before him. Physically, Col. Day was totally debilitated and unable to perform even the simplest task for himself. Despite his many injuries, he continued to offer maximum resistance. His personal bravery in the face of deadly enemy pressure was significant in saving the lives of fellow aviators who were still flying against the enemy. Col. Day’s conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Armed Forces.

Colonel George “Bud” Day was laid to rest on August 1, 2013, at the Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola Naval Air Station, section 51 plot number 30.

The information in this article was sourced from a variety of sources both internal and external. Every effort was made to ensure that the information is current and correct. These articles are presented to honor the heroes they are written about.
Short URL: http://www.hawaiireporter.com/?p=401323

Author: Duane Vachon
Duane A. Vachon PhD is a psychologist and a Secular Franciscan. He has several books published and has had hundreds of articles on social justice and spiritual issues published. His Doctoral thesis on ethics has set the standard at many universities. Reach Dr. Vachon at vachon.duane@gmail.com
Duane Vachon has written 147 articles for us.

Women in Ministry the Jesus Revolution

Women in Ministry, The Jesus Revolution!

Jesus revolutionized the status of women by the way he acted towards them. The portraits of Mary his mother, and Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist, are most sensitively drawn. In Luke’s Gospel, particularly, women confront us at every turn. Anna the prophetess (Luke 2:36-8), the widow of Nain (Luke 7: 11-17), the marvelous story of the woman in Simon’s house who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears (7:36-50), and Mary Magdalene, from whom Jesus expelled seven demons (8:2). We are introduced, albeit briefly, to society ladies from court, including Joanna and Suzanna, who followed Jesus around and provided for Him and His followers, sometimes at least, from their substance (8:3). Jesus bothered about the woman with the issue of blood and the dying girl (8:41:48). He noticed the widow with her two mites, and commended her giving above all the public benefactors of the day (21:2-4). We find him relaxing in the home of close friends, Mary, Martha and Lazarus (10:38-42). When the ‘daughters of Jerusalem’ wailed at His impending execution, He showed more compassion for them than himself (23: 27-31), and at His death it was the women who remained round the cross.

The attitude of Jesus to women was staggering. He did not treat them like chattels, but like equals. When asked His thoughts on contemporary divorce, so totally weighted in favor of the man, he repudiated it entirely, taking His hearers back to the ‘one-man, one-woman forever’ concept of Genesis (2:24).

Women were the first witnesses of the resurrection (Luke 24:1), and were the first to be entrusted with proclaiming it (Matthew 28:1). Jesus revealed himself first to Mary in the garden outside the tomb (John 20:1).

We find that women shared in the gifts of the indwelling of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1). We find that they owned houses that were used as Christian worship centers (12:12). Paul’s first convert in Europe was a distinguished businesswoman, Lydia (16:14).

The position of women is abundantly clear in the New Testament. They are ‘joint heirs of the grace of life’ (1 Peter 3:7). The clearest manifesto of the position of women, is given by the supposed misogynist, St. Paul. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).

We have seen that the gospel of Jesus revolutionized the place of women. Keeping in mind the deep prejudice that existed, it is remarkable how far and how fast the early Christians moved.

Women were engaged in the ministry of prayer, not only privately but also publicly
(1 Corinthians 11:5). Women also engaged in the ministry of prophecy. They were involved in teaching (Titus 2:3-5). As well they were in the ministry of personal counseling, Priscilla and Aquila used their home to help Apollos to Christian maturity (Acts 18:26).

A good example of women in the ministry of hospitality is John Mark’s mother; her home became a center

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for Christian work in Jerusalem (Acts 12:12).

We can gather from what St Paul tells us in Philippians about Lydia, Euodia and Syntyche, that women were also very effective in evangelism (Philippians 4:3).

As well as all of this, women were also deacons. Phoebe held this office in the church at Cenchreae. It appears that she was also Paul’s delegate in taking the Letter to the Romans to the church in the capital.

The value of women in the early church was immense, and it remains so today. How do we apply the lessons of the New Testament in today’s world? The same way that Jesus did, we accept and encourage women in all the roles they have in the ministry of Christ.

Pax et Bonum Duane A Vachon

Grace

 

Grace

Aloha and blessings. 

Many years ago while working as a counsellor at a crisis centre, a drug addict shared with me how she had to sell her body to support her habit. As we spoke more, she told me that her habit had become so bad that she also sold her 9-year-old daughters body. She pointed out to me that she made more money in one night doing that, than she could make in a week selling her own body. It was the only way she could see to support her drug habit. Listening to her story almost made me physically ill (It also made me legally liable to report her to the authorities. I was at a loss as what to say to this woman).

 

Finally I asked her if she had ever thought about going to a church for help. The look of shock that came over her face is one that I will never forget. “Church!” She cried, “Why would I ever go there? I am already feeling terrible about myself. They’d just make me feel worse.”

 

As I thought about this incident what came to my mind are the women, who went to Jesus. It seems the worse they felt about themselves, the more they saw Jesus as a refuge. Has today’s church lost that gift? Do the down and outs that live on this Earth today no longer feel welcome among His followers? What has happened?

 

A man that I have grown close to, a dying priest said to me recently “Grace is everywhere.” Yes but how easy we pass by, deaf to the euphony.

 

Many Christians seem to me to have a fundamental theological inability to understand the Incarnation.  To them religion is ultimately a thing of law rather than of grace, a scheme for human betterment rather than a vision of God penetrating a fallen world.

 

Compassionate service is not something to be tacked on to your schedule.  It’s the heart of Christian living!  Jesus said:  “I…did not come to be served, but to serve and to give my life.”  He summed up life in these two words: serving and giving!  It’s not enough to keep learning, you must practice what you claim to believe.  Impression without expression leads to depression.  Study without service leads to stagnation.  The old comparison between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea is still true.  Galilee is full of life because it takes water in and also gives it out.  But nothing lives in the Dead Sea because with no out flow its waters are stagnant. The word minister means: “to give service, care, or aid. The act of service.”  There are a lot of things God does for us every day and we don’t even realize what they are.  Often we don’t thank him for them, yet we expect worldly recognition for every little thing we do.

 

We are called in the strongest way to look for the needs of those around us. We need to put away our prejudices and sacrifice our time, money, and energy to help heal the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of both our neighbours and strangers. As we serve others, we are serving Christ Himself.

 

 

 

 

 

Pax et Bonum

Duane A Vach