Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 559

Promises

I broke a promise.

Last summer I promised to take my kids to Waterworld. I fully intended to do so, and even purchased tickets in advance. But then one child went on choir tour, all three went to camp, we went on our family vacation, visited family out of state…where I broke my wrist. My cast was like a personal sauna, and I couldn't tolerate a full day in the sun. We didn't go to Waterworld.

I'm not alone. We've all broken promises. Sometimes due to circumstances beyond our control, sometimes ...

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—July 1, 1940: Vichy government set up in Vichy, France, in collaboration with Nazi Germany.
65 Years Ago—July 1, 1945: Australians land at Balikpapan, Borneo in the final amphibious landing of the war.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—June 30, 1940: Germans occupy British Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey, and Sark).
65 Years Ago—June 30, 1945: Organized Japanese resistance ends on Mindanao in the Philippines.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—June 29, 1940: Roosevelt signs the Alien Registration Act; 5 million foreigners will register and be fingerprinted. New song enters the Top Ten: "Fools Rush In."
65 Years Ago—June 29, 1945: President Truman approves the invasion of Japan, with Operation Olympic, the invasion of Kyushu to start November 1, 1945, and Operation Coronet, the invasion of Honshu to start March 1, 1946.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—June 28, 1940: At the Republican Convention, Wendell Willkie upsets Thomas Dewey on the sixth ballot to become the party's nominee for president.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—June 27, 1940: Britain announces a total naval blockade of the European continent.
65 Years Ago—June 27, 1945: Kamikaze hits carrier USS Bunker Hill, killing 400.

Kids Count

"If Jesus lives in your heart, does that make Him a parasite?"

For the past week, I've fielded questions like that from my class of fourth-graders at Vacation Bible School. While VBS wears me out physically, it energizes me spiritually. When I started volunteering at VBS twelve years ago, I was a little concerned. What if they asked questions I couldn't answer? What if I made a fool of myself? What if they were too cynical, too cool, too "all that" for Jesus?

Well, they ask me tough questions, ...

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—June 26, 1940: French General Charles DeGaulle forms French Volunteer Legion in London.
65 Years Ago—June 26, 1945: The United Nations Charter is signed by 50 nations in San Francisco. US forces secure Luzon in the Philippines, although pockets of resistance remain in the north until the Japanese surrender.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—June 25, 1940: British detain Italian and German enemy aliens, some to be kept on the Isle of Man.
65 Years Ago—June 25, 1945: Australians take Miri oilfields near Brunei; now control 125 miles of northwest Borneo coast.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—June 24, 1940: British government sends gold bullion and securities to Canada for safekeeping.
65 Years Ago—June 24, 1945: In a bombing raid, British destroy the infamous bridge over the River Kwai in Thailand, built at great cost by slaves and prisoners of the Japanese.