Eminent Commander’s Message

Ervin JanssenMy Fellow Sir Knights! Greetings for March! March come in like a “Lion or a Lamb” may you have the courage of a lion and the gentleness of a lamb.

Thinking about the “Servants Role” that Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ modeled for us, those people in our lives that serve us daily are in need of a great deal of praise and encouragement. They are often in assumed positions, every thing is just expected. Have you ever got their attention and just said? “Thank you for coming to work today!” You will love the response!

Luke 9:23-24 (NIV) “Then He said to all of them: ‘If anyone would come after me he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For who so ever wants to save his life will loose it, but who so ever looses his life for My sake will save it.”

“War is Hell” Thinking back to my time in Viet-Nam I was stationed with the 1st Marine Division, 1st Recon Battalion in DaNang as a Navy Corpsman. We would be out on patrols for 7, 8 or 9 days at a time, in the jungle, in those areas that were not secured. All we had to eat and drink on those patrols was the food and water that we carried with us. The thing we desired most was water, it was so precious! There would be time we would cross a stream and fill up but in most cases not. There would be times we would set up broad leaf plant, leaves and funnel rain water into our canteens.

When I read Rudyard Kipling’s 1892 Poem “Gunga Din” I was impressed with his descriptions of battle field conditions in India as the British Army fought to establish their ways and orders of how things should be done. The the hero of the poem inspired me for he brought water to the men and also was the care giver of the wounded. Describe as a “heathen”, he served and often died on the field. He receives his due in the end for the wounded soldier who watches him die says: “Your a better man than I am Gunga Din!”

As Sir Knights may we strive to serve in every possible way that we can. In our families, with our occupations, in our communities, our country and follow our model Jesus Christ for the world.
Matt: 10:42 (NIV) And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

In Christ’s Name,
Ervin Wm Janssen
Eminent Commander

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