Military | CountUp Ministries

Honoring My Fellow Veterans

11 Nov 2019 Leave a comment

by Chris M. Day in Career, Holidays, Military, Travel Tags: Veterans

It’s Veterans Day here in the U.S.A.

This past weekend marked the 34TH anniversary that the United States Air Force shipped me off to a foreign country solo for the first time in my life. As an 18½-year-old I flew from Washington Dulles Airport nonstop to London Heathrow Airport. It was an overnight flight from November 09TH into November 10TH of 1985. From there I took British Rail westward to Swindon, and then from there I hired a cab up to RAF Fairford – my home for the next 2 years. (It was my first permanent duty station.)

I’ve been a member of the United States Air Force for the past 35 years now – going back to when I first signed on the dotted line of the delayed enlistment program near the start of my senior year in high school. I was hesitant in joining the military way back then, but it all turned out just right, and it’s become my career. I’d do it all over again.

To my fellow Veterans – this is our day. From one Veteran to all of the others – I thank you for serving your nation so that we may be free indeed.

Weekend Kickoff Mini-Thoughts

10 Oct 2019 Comments Off on Weekend Kickoff Mini-Thoughts

by Chris M. Day in Astronomy, Bible, Blogging, Christian, Church, God, Health, History, Holidays, Home, Military, Ministry, Movies, Music, Scripture, Television, Weather

Let’s try this again – a rapid-fire session of thoughts on my mind right this minute:

It’s been awhile since I last did this.
In fact it’s been since Thursday August 01ST 2019.
I’m not sure that some of you “get this” feature.
If you’ve been following my blogs for the past 12 years then you “get this”.
For those that don’t “get this” no worries – just follow along.
Last night was our last sunset at 7 PM or after here until next March.
It’s getting darker earlier, and I like that.
In a little over 3 weeks we return to Standard Time.
I prefer Standard Time over Daylight Saving Time.
I wish we stayed on Standard Time all year long.
Most people don’t know what Daylight Saving Time is.
Pretty soon we’ll start getting cooler here in South Florida.
By “cooler” I mean the 60s in the morning instead of the 70s.
We’re still a good month away from feeling some 50s.
Our 5-month rainy season is almost over.
It’s been a below average rainy season.
I enjoy our 7-month dry season from October to May.
I hope to begin my dry season weekend fitness walks soon.
I hope to do much better than I did last dry season.
It’s Columbus Day Weekend here in the U.S.
I adore 3-day holiday weekends.
Maybe I’ll go for a walk in the park this Saturday morning.
I mostly plan to continue writing my next sermon this weekend.
It’s on God’s “Kindness & Love”.
I have another sermon that I’m working on titled “Ways & Memes”.
I’ll be stepping completely out of my comfort zone for that one.
There’s a few movies that I hope to see on HBO On Demand this weekend.
One of them is that World War 1 movie, “They Shall Not Grow Old”.
I’m really looking forward to a quiet and productive weekend at home.
Tomorrow on the blog my RETRO series continues with 15 years ago.
My new blog posts go LIVE at 3 AM U.S. East Coast time aside from Sunday.
I blog 4 times per weekend on Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays, and Mondays.
I don’t blog on Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.
If I were to add a 5TH day of blogging then I’d add Tuesdays.
But I have no plans to do that anytime soon.
Programming Alert: The 50TH GMA Dove Awards are coming soon.
The show occurs LIVE in Nashville next Tuesday October 15TH.
It airs on TBN the following Sunday October 20TH at 8 PM EDT.
I’ll be live-tweeting during the entire telecast !
Join me that night on Twitter @ChrisMDay as I talk God’s music.
The next morning I’ll reveal my brand new Top 10 music chart.
Well those are my rapid-fire one-line thoughts for now.
Enjoy your weekend and this 10TH day of the 10TH month.

Chanute AFB Illinois

25 Jul 2019 1 Comment

by Chris M. Day in 1980s, Career, Food, Health, History, Life, Military, Travel

I’m coming up on the 34TH Anniversary of my graduation from USAF BMT. That stands for United States Air Force Basic Military Training. I was stationed at Lackland AFB in San Antonio Texas from June 13TH 1985 (early in the morning – like right after Midnight) to July 29TH 1985 (at dawn). It was the roughest and toughest 46 days / 6½ weeks of my life at that point. (I had just turned 18.)

On July 29TH 1985 (a Monday) I boarded a plane (with others) from San Antonio Texas to Champaign County Illinois. I got food poisoning on the plane. That was when full hot meals were still served on airplanes. After landing we were transported from the airport to Chanute Air Force Base (near Rantoul Illinois). Everyone else was taken to their respective squadrons for in-processing. I was taken to the Base Hospital where I spent a couple of days and nights recuperating.

On the 3RD day I rose again – out of my hospital bed fully recovered, and I was released to my squadron. I moved-in to my dormitory room – my home for the next 3 months. School started soon for me. I would soon learn how to be an Aircraft Maintenance Systems Analyst (think “Statistician”). I was in a class of 4.

Today – 34 years later – I am an Analyst / Statistician, and I work for the United States Air Force.

My Top 5 Hits RETRO – 2004

12 Jul 2019 Comments Off on My Top 5 Hits RETRO – 2004

by Chris M. Day in Animals, Career, Driving, History, Life, Military, Music, Radio, Travel Tags: 2004

Every Friday night I post the Top 5 of one of my classic hit music charts based on personal preference and influenced by radio airplay from either 10, 15, 20, or 30 years ago this weekend (rotating each week).

It’s the 2ND Friday of the month, so I go back 15 years ago. Here it is – for the week ending Sunday July 11TH 2004:

“Ocean Avenue” – Yellowcard
“Meant To Live” – Switchfoot
“The Reason” – Hoobastank
“Hey Mama” – The Black Eyed Peas
“Pieces Of Me” – Ashlee Simpson

15 years ago this weekend seems so long ago. I had recently flipped away from electronic dance music and returned to my roots in calmer pop music. I actually don’t remember much about 2004, and I really choose to not remember much about that year. It was a forgettable year. I wasn’t happy at work, and I wasn’t particularly happy at home either. I came home to my cat every afternoon, and he adored me. He was my best friend at the time. I still miss him over 12 years after his passing. #Boots

It’s interesting what I discover when I review old E-Mails. 15 years ago TODAY – the 12TH of July of 2004 (a Monday) I drove about 650 miles from a hotel very near Walt Disney World (like a mile away) to a suburb south of New Orleans. I was TDY (military term = temporary duty) at NAS JRB New Orleans during that week. According to my extensive records I filled-up with gas twice that day during my drive westward, and I paid $1.959 and $1.919 per gallon for gas.

It’s halftime my friends. I’ll be back on Sunday afternoon and Monday night with two more blog posts for this weekend. Enjoy your Saturday. Thanks for going RETRO with me !

Nostalgia

11 Jul 2019 1 Comment

by Chris M. Day in Bible, Career, Christian, God, Military, Ministry, Scripture

I’m feeling rather nostalgic this week.

Yesterday – the 10TH of July – was the 9TH anniversary of the passing of my Dad. He slowly began exhibiting the effects of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or “Lou Gehrig’s Disease”) during the latter portion of 2006, and it eventually crippled him. He passed on to Heaven after 4 years of bravely battling the disease. I believe that in his final weeks of life he repented to his Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, and God immediately rescued and saved him. That’s why he’s in Heaven today – watching from up above – cheering on his wife, his two sons, his daughter-in-law, and his two granddaughters.

As long as you’re still breathing it is not too late to ask God to take control of your life. He will do so immediately, and He will give you a new life – a life that will last forever because it comes from the eternal living Word of God.

Today – the 11TH of July – “7/11” – is the 25TH anniversary of a career change at work that I didn’t see coming until the moment it occurred. It actually began the worst 13 years of my (now) 34-year USAF career. It was also the worst 12 years of my life, and I say 12 years because just after the start of my 13TH year during that time-period I hit rock-bottom, and God rescued and saved me. He lifted me out of the pit of despair – out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground, and He steadied me as I walked along.

God also flipped my career almost a year later, and I’m getting ready to observe the 12TH anniversary of the best era of my career (by far).

The 13TH anniversary of the start of my salvation through Christ is 40 days away. That’s the day that I’ve been celebrating above all ever since. That’s the day that my #CountUp began.

Weekend Kickoff Mini-Thoughts

27 Jun 2019 1 Comment

by Chris M. Day in Career, Football, God, Home, Life, Military, Music, Politics, Sports, Television, Travel, Weather

Let’s try this again – a rapid-fire session of thoughts in my mind right this minute:

Yesterday was not such a good day at work.
It only takes one person and a minute to ruin a whole work day.
I know that today will be a much better work day.
I know that God is always in control no matter where I go.
Sometimes during those not so good work days I forget that God is with me.
The past 12 years of my 34-year USAF career have been the best 12 years.
Is it a coincidence that Jesus Christ rescued and saved me 13 years ago ?
No coincidence, as God doesn’t do coincidences. He does intentionals.
Back on the homefront I enjoy relaxing in my 77°F living room.
I’m feeling good with my air conditioning taking care of business.
All of my modern technology is right here where it belongs.
If it’s summer then I’m watching “America’s Got Talent” and “Big Brother”.
I’ve never missed a single episode of either show since the beginning of both.
I’m also addicted to “Live PD” on Friday and Saturday nights.
There was a political debate on the NBCs last night.
I don’t get political online or offline.
As an apolitical person I’m in the minority fringes both online and offline.
I have very solid political beliefs, but I choose not to share them with anyone.
I’d rather talk about the weather.
I’m a weather expert, so I know what I’m talking about there.
I’ll even talk sports with you. Hail to the Redskins !
I’m so looking forward to the start of the NFL season.
I may go to a game this season – my Redskins against the Cowboys in Dallas.
33 years ago tomorrow I attended the first concert of my life.
I was 19 at the time, and this young teenybopper was at the final Wham! show.
That was at Wembley Stadium in London England.
Google it. It was June 28TH 1986, and I was there singing and dancing.
I’ve been to 100+ concerts since that first one – an average of about 3 per year.
My two years of living in England as an 18 to 20-year-old were wild and crazy.
I haven’t been back since.
July starts in just 4 days.
2019 is almost half over.
This whole decade of the 2010s (or #TwentyTeens) is almost over.
Will we all see better in 2020 ?
Will we all have the vision to love each other in 2020 ?
Will we change the world in 2020 ?
Time keeps on slippin’ slippin’ slippin’ – into the future.

Happy Flag Day

13 Jun 2019 Comments Off on Happy Flag Day

by Chris M. Day in Holidays, Military Tags: Flag

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

This Friday June 14TH we observe Flag Day here in the U.S.A. It commemorates the adoption of our flag on this date in 1777.

This week I celebrate my 34TH anniversary working for the United States Air Force. #AimHigh

Here’s what I looked like 34 years ago: