Mission Accomplished - World Record Freefall

Felix Baumgartner reached an estimated speed of 1,342.8 km/h or 834.4 mph (Mach 1.24) jumping from the stratosphere, which when certified will make him the first man to break the speed of sound in freefall and set several other records while delivering valuable data for future space exploration.

I believe in God, and I truly think there is a plan that He has for everybody. And I also think He has a plan for me; it looks like I’m becoming an Astronaut. Locking myself in a pressure capsule and going up to 130,000 feet . . . and I’m going to slide the door open, bail out, and I’m going to be the first human person, in free-fall, breaking the speed of sound. That’s His plan, and that’s probably my last goal to accomplish. —Felix Baumgartner

This week, the world stopped to watch a man fall from the sky. Exactly sixty-five years to the day after Chuck Yeager’s inspirational, record-setting flight breaking the sound barrier, Felix Baumgartner would break multiple records with his jump out of his helium-filled balloon at 128,100 feet. After his literal “leap of faith” into the unknown, the Austrian reached a speed of 833 mph through the near vacuum of the stratosphere before being slowed by the atmosphere later during his 4 minute and 20 second-long free-fall. At the age of forty-three, Baumgartner also broke the records for highest free-fall and highest manned balloon flight in history. This privately-funded experiment tested the boundaries of technology and skill, and inspired millions that there are great adventures yet to be had....

Read the rest of the article HERE  :-)

Tribute

“The eyes of the world are upon you. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle.” 

~ General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander

“The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.” 
~B. Disraeli

Perfect Aim

I've been fascinated with history since I was young, and WWII is one era that I find especially interesting.  I recently saw this video on a friend's bog and loved it!  It is about an 86 year old man who was a sniper in WWII.  The thing I love about this clip is the respect and honor the young army snipers have for this gentleman. :)

Of Paper Dolls and Vintage Dresses

Yesterday Mom and I went to a brunch at which a lady gave a talk about paper dolls. She had several different kinds, from different years, in her collection.

She also had an old Montgomery Wards catalog from 1941-1942 since children would often cut out their own paper dolls from magazines.  I remember my Grandma showing us how to do this when I was little! Since it was such an old catalog, I wasn't sure if she would mind someone looking through it, but when I asked her after the talk she said "Yes, of course!"  :)  

Ladies wore such lovely dresses back then.

Mom and I had a fun time together. :)

Do you have any memories involving paper dolls?

The Courage to Stand Alone

The photo was taken in Hamburg in 1936, during the celebrations for the launch of a ship. In the crowed, one person refuses to raise his arm to give the Nazi salute. The man was August Landmesser. He had already been in trouble with the authorities, having been sentenced to two years hard labour for marrying a Jewish woman.

We know little else about August Landmesser, except that he had two children. One of his children recognized her father in this photo when it was published in a German newspaper in 1991. How proud she must have been in that moment.

Indifferent

‎"History is cluttered with the wreckage of nations that became indifferent to God, and died." 

~ Whittaker Chambers

...Major Dick Winters...

Major Dick Winters
Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
101st Airborne Division

Today is the 1 year anniversary of the death of Major Dick Winters. He was 92 years old. 

I first read his book Beyond Band of Brothers, in 2010, and it quickly became one of my favorites. I don't know if he was a Christian, but he was certainly a man of integrity, discipline, and moral character. Here is the review I did back then, after reading the book:

I recently finished reading a book by Major Dick Winters called Beyond Band of Brothers. He tells about his experience as a paratrooper in WWII as a part of Easy Company, later known as the "Band of Brothers". On D-Day he parachuted into France and assumed leadership of the Band of Brothers when their commander was killed. When other officers were inadequate or shell shocked, he stepped up and saved the company more than once, demonstrating superior leadership abilities and battle tactics. After leading the men of Easy Company to victory on D-day, behind enemy lines, he continued to do so throughout the war. He fought with them in Bastogne in the famous Battle of the Bulge, and all over Europe, including Austria and Germany, captured Hitler's "Eagle's Nest" and liberated a concentration camp.

Here are his principles for leaders:

Leadership at the Point of the Bayonet

Ten Principles for success

1. Strive to be a leader of character, competence, and courage.
2. Lead from the front. Say "Follow me!" and then lead the way.
3. Stay in top physical shape - physical stamina is the root of mental toughness.
4. Develop your team. If you know your people, are fair in setting realistic goals and expectations, and lead by example, you will develop teamwork.
5. Delegate responsibility to your subordinates and let them do their jobs. You can't do a good job if you don;t have a chance to use your imagination and your creativity.
6. Anticipate problems and prepare to overcome obstacles. Don't wait until you get to the top of the ridge and them make up your mind.
7. Remain humble. Don't worry about who receives the credit. Never let power or authority go to your head.
8. Take a moment of self-reflection. Look at yourself in the mirror every night and ask yourself if you did your best.
9. True satisfaction comes from getting the job done. The key to a successful leader is to earn respect - not because of rank or position, but because you are a leader of character.
10. Hang Tough! - Never, ever, give up.

The Official Major Dick Winters Website

A book everyone should read...

Hitler's Cross 

by Erwin Lutzer

Swastika banners in churches.  Pastors and leaders who tried to serve two masters.  

A country seduced and hypnotized by a demon possessed leader.  This was Germany under the rule of Adolph Hitler in the 1930's and 1940's.  

This book tells how Hitler rose to power, scheming to eliminate the church in Germany and set up his own ‘religion’ after his own image, and what we can learn for today from this deception.   Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer saw that following Christ was to focus on the message of the cross without shading the message to fit the political zeitgeist (spirit of the age). Sadly, most of the German pastors did just the opposite and the church lost it's influence in the country.  Nationalistic pride clouded their minds and many churches and pastors (although not all) looked the other way when Hitler began his elimination of the Jewish people.  It's hard to believe how this could happen, and this book examines how the church was deceived, and the lessons we can learn from this as our own nation becomes increasingly secular.  A nation that rejects it's solid moral foundation in God is a nation adrift and capable of much evil.

God let Satan loose to shake the whole German church to separate the wheat from the chaff. Hitler was a powerful man, but God is in control and nothing that happens is a surprise to Him.  He sets up rulers and takes them down.

I highly recommend this book.

~Alyssa W