Sunday, September 15, 2013

Today, Sept 15 is the 73rd anniversary of Battle of Britain Day . . .

Hurricane, showing the characteristic
humpback and the fabric on stringer
construction in the rear of the fuselage
-- yes, WW I tech but it meant  easier
repair (Cr: Stephen Fox)
Today is also -- IIRC -- a Sunday, Battle of Britain day. 

The day commemorating when The Few in their Hurricanes (mostly!) and Spitfires stood between civilisation, however flawed, and a nightmare of aggressive barbarism.








Let us remember by watching:



(In watching, while the broadening attempted is important, never forget that if Fighter Command had been knocked out, all would have been lost, as the air would dominate all else. As happened with the Blitz in the West . . . yes, even the tank was secondary to the impact of the air.)

Churchill's speech:




Then, let us take heart and courage, learning to stand in an evil day against all odds.

In that context, I call on Paul's counsel:

Eph 5:8 . . . Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,
    and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. [ESV]

Let us move ahead, having learned. END