Fort Catamo
Built By Faith, Defended By Prayer, And Protected By God.
Fort Catamo
Built By Faith, Defended By Prayer, And Protected By God.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
I can choose to be a doctor. However, my choice doesn't mean I will become a doctor. I can choose to be a professional musician or professional writer or professional football player. But my choice doesn't mean I will accomplish any of those tasks. I may even choose to follow God's Word but that doesn't mean I will not sometimes fail to do so.
Man has been given the ability to think. He can invent things like the wheel which led to the birth of the wagon and as time passed on then man's thinking led to the invention of the automobile. An animal cannot do this. They only conform to their design of what they were created by God to be.
So man is the only creature that was created in the image of God. The animals, fish, birds, and plants were wonderfully created by God with God's wisdom imparted in them to function in a way which the Creator designed them. Man calls this word, "instinct."
Job 39:26 "Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?"
And with that, however, man has been given "wisdom" from God to go beyond the limits or bounds He placed on animals.
Man can make wonderful machines, design extravagant clothing with those machines, and use machines to build houses and construct buildings. But God's animal creation must depend on what God has provided for them. In a sense animals are still as primitive as the day God created them. That doesn't necessarily mean termed "wild" because God's animal creation suffered tremendously just as all of nature suffered after the fall of mankind. None of God's creation was exempt from suffering after the original things of the earth got disrupted, or should I say corrupted. by a sinful fall of disobedience.
Aside from a few isolated parts of the world man has moved for the most part of being primitive to sophisticated, civilized, or non-primitive creatures.
Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
So why is man so much more important than animals, fish, birds or plant life? There can be only one answer. And that is, because man was the only creation made in the image and likeness of God. In other words, man can think and choose and love beyond any affection an animal can possess. Only God Himself can love beyond the reach of man's heart. That is why we cannot always love others as we should. But we can love others, even our enemies, through Jesus Christ living in and through us. That is one of those special powers that God has given mankind in order to live in a special kind of way---as children of a loving Father.
God calls us to listen to His Words, to speak to Him, to obey His commands. Only when the children experience the goodness of God Who calls them to know Him and love Him, can they appreciate the malice of sin which is actually a refusal to love.
It is God's plan that every creature fulfill itself in a way He designed it. To people, God gives a special destiny with the special ability to attain it. God calls then to know Him and love Him as His children.
Matthew 22:37 "Jesus said unto him, 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.'"
Matthew 22:38 "This is the first and great commandment."
Matthew 22:39 "And the second is like unto it, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.'
Matthew 22:40 "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
However, God does not force people to obey Him or love Him. He wants them to obey Him freely by expressing their love towards Him. God has sent His only begotten Son into the world to show us and teach us how to obey and love Him---that Son is the Lord Jesus Christ Whom many still turn their backs on until this day.
Unlike God's animal creation, He has made people with the ability to know what His plan is for their lives. Animals have no way to know this. God has made them in such a way that they will live, grow, and survive in a way that is best suited for them. But they still have no way of knowing that God the Creator of all life has provided this for them.
God, our Father, loves us and wants us to love Him. But He also wants us to be "good stewards" of His animal creation along with all of nature that He has provided for us to live and enjoy life down here on planet earth.
Perhaps this is one of the reasons "Fort Catamo Cat Rescue" came into being.
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Fort Catamo Honors The Brave Men And Women In Blue And All Courageous Law Officers
Fort Catamo is more than just a mission to rescue animals in need. Truth is, police officers have driven by this sanctuary and have been greeted by the Captain of Fort Catamo and received prayer and New Testament Bibles on more than one occasion. In fact, there have been over 70 incidents where I have been a servant to those brave men and women who serve to protect the public.
The least I could do was to pray a prayer of protection to these officers. And so 7 years ago I felt moved to take to the streets to pay respect to those who serve and protect, to give New Testament Bibles and prayers of protection for those who risk their lives daily, to share a portion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those men and women who are often misjudged and mistreated.
I have prayed between two police cars at speed traps. Kneeling down with one hand on the driver's door of one vehicle and the other hand on the passenger door of the other vehicle my prayers have been welcomed beyond anything I could have ever imagined.
Other times I have prayed with police officers at crime scenes, automobile accidents, as well as the perimeters around the police station.
However, one particular incident happened recently. One that didn't occur as I was walking the city streets. This incident was a little different.
On that night one of my daughters was driving me home to my house. Unknowingly a headlamp on her car was out and so two officers in a SUV pulled us over at a convenience store.
Ironically, earlier that day I had purchased the Christian dvd "Courageous." This movie was the 10th anniversary issue of a movie about law enforcement officers. And now we are being pulled over by the law.
A lady officer walked up to the driver's window and told my daughter the reason she was pulling her over. She checked out the registration and ran a check on the vehicle as another officer held his flashlight on me on the passenger side of our vehicle.
The lady officer didn't ticket my daughter but advised her to get the headlamp replaced before she drove at night again.
As the two officers departed I got out of the vehicle with two New Testaments in my hand but noticed there were two other patrol vehicles on the scene now. All three vehicles had their lights flashing brightly.
Suddenly as I started to turn to go back and get another two Bibles, one of the officers shouted, "You're the guy who hands out the Bibles!"
"Yes, sir." I nodded.
Quite a scene at the busy convenient store as I handed out the four New Testaments, one that I had just purchased a few hours earlier at a used book store---otherwise I would have been one Bible short. This was followed by a prayer of protection that the Lord Jesus Christ would bless them and their families.
"Love you all and be safe out there," I ended with those words.
This was a scene my daughter needed to see, the first time one of my 5 daughters had witnessed what their father felt he had been called to do. Plus, my only son who I recently found out he was my son and used to be a deputy on the Sheriff's Department thought this was an awesome testimony.
Is this real? Is this ordained by God? You readers of this message will have to decide the realism of it all.
"I'm just a guy handing out Bibles."
Just a nobody, trying to tell everybody, about "Somebody" who can save anybody.
The Resurrection Of The Holy Bible
Easter week or what I call Resurrection Week I was faced with a particular problem. For seven years I had walked the city streets as I handed out New Testaments to police officers, people who were homeless, and those in need of prayer.
But suddenly Monday of Resurrection Week the fourth and fifth police officer in a row rejected the Holy Bible in fear that it was against policy of ethic rules regarding police behaviour.
Now I was facing an issue on whether or not it was lawful for me to hand out God's Word to certain high authority officials.
The validity of me handing out the Holy Bible all at once became a dead one after I had previously for seven years walked the city streets and handed out the New Testament to nearly one hundred law officers and only two refused to accept it.
So that Monday afternoon I took the matter to the office of the Chief of Police. However, it wasn't an issue on whether or not the Chief of Police could rule on. It would have to go before the city attorneys to decide if I was in violation of police ethics if I handed out the Holy Bible.
I pray for people in need and in the case of police officers I pray for their protection while they are out on the dangerous city streets. And since I pray using "It is written" while praying the Word of God in Scripture then I felt it necessary to hand out God's Word to those officers.
Well, the Lord Jesus Christ died on Friday and resurrected on Sunday the third day just as the third day on Wednesday I was given the okay by city attorney's to continue handing out the Holy Bible to police officers. There was no ethic rules violation and God got the victory and the glory in the decision.
Now I am able to go into the hellfire of spiritual battle as God leads and stand up for my beliefs in doing what I believe is my duty as an instrument of God's will.
God knows the law and I didn't think He would have me doing His will in passing out His Word if it was against the law.
Through The Eyes Of The Vietnam Veteran Activist
In Honor Of Our POWs, MIAs, KIAs, WIAs And All Our American Soldiers
Written By Danny Raney
P.O.W...Prisoner of War. M.I.A...Missing In Action. K.I.A...Killed In Action. W.I.A...Wounded In Action.
In the Holy Bible John 15:13 says, "Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends."
Jesus Christ went on to fulfill this Scripture not only laying down His life down for His friends but by laying down His life for His enemies also. This particular verse may also pertain to a friend laying down his life for another friend, such as a soldier laying down his or her life for a fellow soldier; or in a case where someone might give his or her life trying to rescue a child from some type of mishap such as drowning in a lake or a swimming pool. Another scenario might involve someone losing his or her life in an attempt to rescue someone from an automobile accident.
The above Scripture may even apply to a person who refuses to walk a life based on self but instead walks a life based on the benefit of others. I feel safe to say that the Vietnam Veteran Activist walked that walk in pursuit of his quest to go find out the fate of our American soldiers that were either listed as "Prisoners of War" or "Missing in Action."
Keeping track of the POW/MIA issue was not often a popular issue among Americans. However, to a few it meant everything, to many it meant nothing, and to some it seemed more like a strange and foreign land. But thank God for the few who recognized early on that it was a strange and foreign land that needed to be invaded. Refusing to take the easy path these men and women set forth to conquer and bring light to a dark misconception concerning our captured or missing American soldiers. Mostly soldiers whom had served also, the Vietnam Veteran Activists were gallant in their efforts with determining courage to put the truth out there before the pubic's eyes in order to help our nation gain a measure of understanding about war crimes and tragedies that lingered long after the war was declared over. With the Vietnam Veteran Activist's help compassion and knowledge for the American Soldier "Missing in Action" grew among some but was disrespected and forgotten by others.
Which brings to my mind another Scripture from God's Word, 1 Corinthians 1:18 which says, "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us that are saved it is the power of God."
That particular Scripture depicts two types of people, some of one side of the fence and some on the other side of the fence. So for the most part, for us to find meaning in a cause, we must have a reason or point of interest to support that cause. Still, no matter how important we think our agenda is there will always be those who think our goals are based on foolishness, especially when it involves money to bring back the remains of an American Soldier.
Most of us, including myself were told to "Forget the War" in Vietnam---to forget it ever happened. That in itself was probably not a bad idea. But for the Vietnam Veteran Activist who came to the rescue of the American Soldier his voice echoes these words, "Maybe we are right to have forgotten the Vietnam War, but we should have never forgotten the 'Brave American Warrior.'"
By error of judgement or lack of interest, I, like many others failed to realize that fact for years. I am a person who believes in worshiping God and I believe Jesus Christ was crucified, died on the cross on Calvary so that my sins could be forgiven and that He was resurrected back to life three days later. However, even though I would never put other physical events on the same level as what Christ Jesus accomplished, I do "honor" and "respect" the American Soldier who gave his or her life for my freedom. Like most of us, the Vietnam Veteran Activist understood the fact that an American Soldier gave the "ultimate sacrifice" in order that every American could raise his or her family in a country that cannot be equaled anywhere else in the entire world. However, the "ultimate sacrifice of all sacrifices" is a coat of honor which can only be worn by one Soldier---Jesus Christ Himself.
It is a known fact that tragedy and death see no race, creed, or color. Tears shed by families that grieve are crystal clear and show no color either. Truth is, both black and white American Soldiers have given their lives so that we can raise our sons and daughters in a free country. And many other races have fought under the American Flag also and we as Americans should honor all our soldiers each and every day---and not only on Memorial Day or Veteran's Day.
The Vietnam Veteran Activist recognized the fact that the military families have been robbed of their sons and daughters through lies, manipulation, and deceit---all three traits of the devil and considered in the Holy Bible as forms of witchcraft. This was not only disheartening but also a disgrace. And being an American there is another issue that also grieves my heart and soul and that is, since skin color matters none among American Soldiers on the battlefield then why does the difference in a person's skin color matter at all on American soil?
Only God knows the real answer to the above question and I think He would boldly say, "It is due to the hardness of a man's heart."
Even though we might not understand why war or why prejudice exist in the world efforts and words spoken by the Vietnam Veteran Activist can often soften the hearts of the American public and change public opinion on some critical issues if the people will only stop long enough to listen.
As a family of Americans whether we have relatives or friends who have served in the military we should all hold our heads up high and be proud of the American Soldier fought for such a just and noble cause. And for those who can't be proud of our military I pray that these people will look a little deeper within themselves and try to understand what soldier life was all about and what each one loved and stood for.
These words were from a grieving mother right after her son's skeletal remains had been returned from Vietnam may give a clue to understanding the importance to why we should continue to search regardless of the cost until all our soldiers are returned home and accounted for.
"It's been a long thirty-three years," she said. "Until you really know you never quite give up. I only had one boy and I thought the world of him. Now I can go to the grave and know he's there beside his dad."
Those words of love coming from this mom should move our hearts and help our minds understand what the Vietnam Veteran Activists' vision was all about concerning the POWs, the MIAs, and the fallen soldiers---KIAs. I am sure the Vietnam Veteran Activist would stand tall and salute his fallen comrades and say, "All you young men and women were made in America you fought heartily and bravely for America, and you definitely deserve to be brought back home to America.
In 1959 I witnessed the pain, anguish, and devastation that a family goes through as my mother's 19 year old brother was killed as a result of a jeep accident while he was serving in the United States Marines out in Bakersfield, California. His name was Paul Walton. At the time I was nearly four years old and on the day my uncle's body and casket was to arrive by train I suffered a mishap of my own---an accident involving a car door that took off the tip of one of my fingers. My mother elected to remain with me as I had the pleasure of having the tip of my finger sewed back on; however, this in turn caused her to miss the scheduled time of the train's arrival.
Even at such a tender age I was still able to remember my uncle's funeral. The pain, suffering, and tears brought on by my uncle's death lingered on for many months and then many years. Even though time does ease the pain somewhat, a family member never really gets over such a tragic event. The memory of our loved ones, whether it be a military death or a civilian death will never be erased; the wounds and scars never completely heal. However, for me, it was during those times of heartache and grief involving my family that I was able to relate at least partially to what the families of fallen soldiers go through.
A few years back, a month before Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, my four year old grandson Dayton and me visited the U.S.S. Alabama Memorial down in Mobile, Alabama. Etched on a black marble wall were these words in white letters from a Vietnam Veteran: "Vietnam can only be understood by those of us who were there---And we don't understand it."
Truth is, the American Soldier and the Vietnam Veteran Activist understood early in life what this veteran was expressing with his words that were branded on that monument. And I might have partially understood it because my father fought proudly in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict; but I didn't fully understand this soldiers sentiment until years later.
It was the Vietnam Veteran Activist who recognized the real "saga" in the POW/MIA cause that most of us never knew existed. And if we couldn't understand it back during the Vietnam War then maybe it is not too late to understand in now. Which tells me, if we can't erect a bronze or stone monument in our city honoring the Vietnam Veteran then a least we can erect a monument in our hearts and minds which says, "Welcome Home Vietnam Veteran---We Salute You!"
Several years ago I gave a speech at a memorial for a cousin of mine who served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. His name was Glen Raney. Glen became a Vietnam Veteran Activist who stood up and fought boldly for the cause to find and bring home the POWs and MIAs that were unaccounted for. A couple of years before Glen died he and I began to find a sort of "Common Ground" as we shared a few conversations about our father's military careers and the careers of other soldiers, some of which came home and some of which didn't come home.
Through "Operation Just Cause," an organization that does a tremendous job of keeping of public awareness of the POW/MIA issue, I adopted a soldier whose name was on the Vietnam Memorial Wall. His name is Sergeant Porter E. Calloway. He was from Lillie, Louisiana. Porter is listed as "Missing In Action" but according to the information I received which was soon put on my web page in honor of Porter E. Calloway, his actual status was "Killed In Action." This was in accordance to eye witness accounts from two of Porter's fellow soldiers who said they buried him on Vietnam soil. To this day Porter's remains have never been returned home.
Immediately after finishing the web page I had over twenty-five caps made with Porter E. Calloway's name, rank, and year he was declared "Missing In Action" embroidered on back of each of the caps in his memory. I had always wanted to visit with Porter's family but so far that has no materialized.
Anyway, as my cousin Glen's health began deteriorating more and more I got even deeper involved with the POW/MIA issue but I never came close to accomplishing what Glen and his wife Stephanie did for the cause to bring back the American Soldier.
My purpose for the speech at Glen's Memorial was not to make my cousin out to be someone he wasn't, nor was it an attempt to make Glen out to be some kind of martyr, but the words spoken that day were to let him be remembered simply as a person who saw a positive need to a negative war. A United States Navy Seamen, Glen was a serviceman who, just as his father did before him, served the American Flag with honor. Glen was a person who didn't wish to rewrite the song, but someone who hoped to finish the song for the families of missing soldiers that have yet to come home.
I remember the heading in big bold letters atop the newspaper article a couple of days after Glen's death which read: "Vietnam Veteran, Activist Dies."
The words in the first line were: "A Vietnam veteran active in veteran's affairs and keeping interest focused on the military's missing-in-action has died."
My reaction to that statement is this: "Glen may not be here physically, but his spirit lives on. A man is not dead until he is forgotten." Glen will continue to live as long as the world exists because the POW/MIA cause will never fade away thanks to the men and women who belong to the finest military in the entire world.
Every time that I will read about or hear about another soldier's remains being returned home to the United States, every time that I hear a voice talking about the Vietnam War, and every time that I will see a reflection in my mind concerning the POW/MIA cause then Glen's face will resurface from the depths of my memory.
Keep in remembrance our POWs, MIAs, and KIAs.
Their Fate Is In God's Hands.
The Badge, The Fire At Fort Catamo, And The Holy Bible
Wednesday February 16, 2022: The preacher at the church bought me a hundred Holy Bibles to hand out on the streets of Shreveport. Previously I had handed out New Testament pocket bibles. I would walk the streets and not only handing out the New Testaments but also praying for police officer's protection, praying for the needs of the poor, needy, and destitute people of the community.
This night as I left church I saw two police vehicles side by side. I walked up to the vehicles and recognized that one of the police officers was one I had met in a Walmart Parking lot three nights earlier. I had prayed for that officer after handing him a New Testament. But after the prayer the officer told me that he just didn't let anyone pray for him. He said, "Some people don't know the right Jesus."
I thought it rather ironic that the officer told me that statement after I had prayed the prayer. Then he added that he sensed something was okay to pray for him.
Anyway, this particular night I told the officer that my preacher wanted the officers to have the whole Holy Bible---both Old Testament and New Testament. And a moment later I handed him the Holy Bible and as I did a call came in across the monitor and he had to immediately respond to and emergency. As he left the scene I turned to the other vehicle and prayed for the officer.
I left and headed to Dominoe's Pizza but before I could order a pizza I received a call from a neighbor that my whole backyard was on fire.
I immediately left and starting walking the seven or so blocks to my residence. Never thought for one moment that if my whole back yard was on fire then my house would be on fire also. The whole way I was wondering what I would do with my cats at Fort Catamo.
By the time I got to my house there were six firetrucks blocking the street. Seems since it was suck a windy night that the whole calvary was summoned to the scene. Actually, there were three residences with their backyard on fire. A tree had blown over striking a transformer and a fire erupted and moved down the tree to a utility building. The blaze engulfed several trees after destroying the utility building, and then the fire rapidly moved Neacross my next door neighbors yard at the fence line before hitting my yard and making a 90 degree angle towards my house. A 30 foot path which the fireman put out three feet from my cat sanctuary.
Fort Catamo saved by the grace of God.
The fireman had everything in control so I decided to go back to Dominoe's Pizza. But as I was walking down my street I ran into a lone police officer who had arrived on the scene.
The officer, quite surprised, looked at me and said, "One of these three residences is yours?"
I responded, "Yes."
The officer then said, "When you handed me that Holy Bible is when I got the call to come to the fire at your house."
All turned out well that night, not only for Fort Catamo but for the two souls that were a part of God's glorious testimony.
Isaiah 41:20 "That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it."