Happy Thanksgiving from Uncle Sam

You gotta love 'em. They can make an intimidating team seem cuddly (Miami and its adorable dolphins), turn losers into lovable underdogs (Chicago Cubbies, anyone?), or make backwater minor-leaguers memorable (we've never seen the Montgomery Biscuits play, but we're fans on principle). So it's no wonder that countries capitalize on the phenomenon with mascots of their own. England has its bulldog, France has a beautiful warrior woman, and America ... well, America has a New York meat packer.

But you know him better as wacky, stilt-legged Uncle Sam. Allow us to explain.

Arguably America's most famous eccentric relative, Uncle Sam is a fairly recent addition to our national consciousness.

But that's not to say the United States didn't have its fair share of political personifications before Sam came along.

Lady Liberty was one of the earliest. Usually depicted draped in a toga and donning an elaborate headdress, she represented the blending of classical ideals and new world spirit.

Another early mascot, Brother Jonathan, served as the face of the common man. Appearing in countless political cartoons, plays, and novels, his character applied homespun wisdom, acerbic wit, and a generous dose of orneriness to both political issues and pop culture. Then came Uncle Sam, the famous face of U.S. Army recruitment campaigns.

And fittingly, he's an icon born out of a military contract. During the War of 1812, a meat packer from Troy, New York, named Samuel Wilson won the right to supply beef to the American troops.

Wilson (apparently more genial than your average butcher-slash-military contractor) was known to his neighbors as Uncle Sam. So when soldiers from the Troy area started spotting barrels of meat stamped with the initials "U.S.," they joked that the letters stood for Uncle Sam, rather than United States. Before long, even civilians were saying that "Uncle Sam was feeding the troops."

The phrase became common, and Sam-as-symbol made his debut in an 1838 political cartoon alongside Brother Jonathan. But, with his red stocking cap and conspicuously whisker-free face, ol' "U.S." didn't look much like the poster-boy we know today.

Earning his stripes (and stars)

By the time the Civil War started, Uncle Sam had become representative of a united federal government. That meant he had more resonance in the Union than Brother Jonathan, who'd become more associated with individualism.

Consequently, when the North won, so did Sam. In fact, over the course of the next two decades, Jonathan virtually disappeared from newspapers' editorial pages.

With Uncle Sam's new political symbolism came a new look. The nation desperate for leadership, he began to take on the characteristics of another famous icon, Abraham Lincoln.

Interestingly, this transformation is widely credited to 19th-century illustrator Thomas Nast, who's also responsible for our jolly, fat, red-suited image of Santa Claus as well as the use of the donkey and the elephant as political party symbols.

But Sam still had one last (extreme) makeover ahead of him. That came during World War I, when artist James Montgomery Flagg designed the famous "I want YOU" recruitment posters for the U.S. Army. In the process, he gave Uncle Sam a new face with a stern expression.

That signature mug, ironically, was made in Flagg's own image. In order to save the hassle and expense of hiring a model, Flagg decided to paint a self-portrait. The result was a national icon that's truly a cross-section of America -- incorporating the face of an artist, the style of a president, and the name of a New York meat packer.

Happy Thansgiving

Well as you can probably tell here is my first video blog.

Sex for 7 days!

Leaving Lust Vegas from Ed Young on Vimeo.
Rev. Ed Young The pastor of Fellowship Church, a mega church which draws about 20,000 people each Sunday and also has campuses in Fort Worth, Plano and Miami says he will challenge married congregants during his sermon Sunday to have sex for seven straight days - and he plans to practice what he preaches. Young, said he believes society promotes promiscuity and he wants to reclaim sex for married couples. Sex should be a nurturing, spiritual act that strengthens marriages, he said.

Young said he will deliver his seven-day sex challenge while sitting on a bed in front of his Dallas-area church campus.

So is this a little over board or is this guy have a legitimate claim? Well, I love the idea and as long as you're married, to the opposite sex, it can't hurt a thing!

Breakfast with Oliver North in Branson on Veterans Day!!

What more could a veteran ask for? Oliver North finished his "American Heroes" book tour in Branson, Mo today, and I had an opportunity to get the veterans day edition of the "Today's Pentecostal Evangel" in his hands. It has been a great week for me with all the connections I have made for the spreading of my testimony! Please pray that God will continue to open doors for the gospel to be spread through this testimony.

Night with "The Ultimate Beatles Experience"

Last night I had an opportunity to speak at a Branson show called Liverpool Legends. They were holding a tribute concert for veterans and an organization called Our House Foundation. There were over 500 people who heard a portion of my story found here www.tpe.ag.org I spent some time speaking with Louise Harrison, the sister of Beatle George Harrison, and she expressed her dear support of our veterans. This was not my first opportunity to share my testimony but my prayer is that this could be the begining of many more events that I will speak at. Thank you goes out to all of your prayers and support!

Veteran with a New Vision

Coming to your Assembly of God church on November 9, 2008 is the yearly Veterans Day edition of the Today's Pentecostal Evangel. Back in September the staff of TPE approached me about my story and wanted to do an article. In this issue you will find many stories of soldiers keeping there faith on the front lines and how God has brought them through war with a different look on life.

Here is an exert from the article:

"Over a crackling radio a team from Leitch's platoon radioed for help. An intense firefight was underway and the team had sustained multiple casualties.
When Leitch's team arrived they began extracting the wounded from the battlefield. One soldier, who was badly burned and had tourniquets on each limb, was placed in Leitch's tank........." Kirk Noonan, TPE

If you want an issue of this TPE you can go to www.tpe.ag.org. If for some reason they are out please contact me and I will arrange a way of getting them to you.

I have been given a great opportunity to work with Scott McChrystal on a organization called Veterans With a Future. Our goal is to reach veterans and soldiers with the gospel and offer prayer and accountability that goes beyond what has been done in the past. I have had the opportunity to speak at several diffrent venues and I am open to speaking at any church or setting that I can share the testimony that God has given me.

Thoughts on Barack Obama

I pulled in my driveway tonight with cars leaving just enough room for me to fit in. I got out of the car to the words of Barack Obama through a PA system just two blocks away. What I heard filled me so full of anger. I must first say I miss you to Doc V. and Sgt. Dones for I know they did not die in vain but they died fighting for two countries to have freedom. They died so that on this night Barack Obama could get in front of a country and claim to care about it and still say its OK to kill babies, for gays to get married and he has little to know experience we all know the list goes on. Theres no doubt that he's a good speaker but I guess we are a country that is looking for someone to tell them what they think they want to hear. You can probaly tell by now that I'm pretty angry well quite honestly I haven't been as mad as I am now since I was in battle with Iraqis trying to kill me and what I stand for and well I am the one alive tonight. This blog might not make alot of since but I guess the message I'm trying to get acroos is that Barack Hussein Obama is not my choice and I pray that you will please know who you are voting for and what they stand for. John McCain is clearly not a perfect candidate but he IS a God fearing man and truely loves this country and what it stands for.