Post by Soulfyre on Nov 1, 2004 4:22:09 GMT -5
It is easy to forget to pray for those in the armed services...especially those overseas. So I hope this will jog our memories.
It is easy to say, in an off-the-cuff manner, that “war is hell”, but in our nowadays that statement takes on a rather unreal quality to those of us who are “stateside”, whose only connection with the conflict in Iraq are the pictures on the nightly news. And we are inundated with violence on television, in movies, in computer games...often to the extent that the horror of what we are seeing eludes us. Unlike World War II, when rationing of food and gas was implemented, everyone was called upon to help re-cycle, women were called upon to “man” the factories, and many sat by their radios listening for the “fireside” chats from President Roosevelt who told us that the only thing we had to fear was “fear, itself”, the only people who are being called upon to sacrifice now are the men and women of the armed forces and their family and friends.
One of our forum members, jamesquinn, is currently stationed in Iraq. You may read his most recent post at www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=jamesquinn, but in a nutshell, our Christian brother is having a hard time of it. Yet his concern is to honor Christ in all of his life, and to suffer for him! How embarassed I am at my small annoyances when I remember jamesquinn, one of many brothers and sisters who are stationed overseas in Iraq. There is more that I could say...and I am working on a blog even now. But how I wish I could travel overseas to do what I could to offer relief to those who daily prove their love in placing their own bodies at risk.
Let us pray for protection and safety for our brother jamesquinn, and those, who like him, must stand in our place. Let us pray that he returns soon and safely, that we may rejoice with him and his family. Let us pray for God's work in his life, for we are in desperate need of courageous and godly leaders. And let us consider even now how we can encourage jamesquinn in these upcoming holidays, when he must be away from home and family in harsh surroundings and harrowing situations.
In the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
Amen.
It is easy to say, in an off-the-cuff manner, that “war is hell”, but in our nowadays that statement takes on a rather unreal quality to those of us who are “stateside”, whose only connection with the conflict in Iraq are the pictures on the nightly news. And we are inundated with violence on television, in movies, in computer games...often to the extent that the horror of what we are seeing eludes us. Unlike World War II, when rationing of food and gas was implemented, everyone was called upon to help re-cycle, women were called upon to “man” the factories, and many sat by their radios listening for the “fireside” chats from President Roosevelt who told us that the only thing we had to fear was “fear, itself”, the only people who are being called upon to sacrifice now are the men and women of the armed forces and their family and friends.
One of our forum members, jamesquinn, is currently stationed in Iraq. You may read his most recent post at www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=jamesquinn, but in a nutshell, our Christian brother is having a hard time of it. Yet his concern is to honor Christ in all of his life, and to suffer for him! How embarassed I am at my small annoyances when I remember jamesquinn, one of many brothers and sisters who are stationed overseas in Iraq. There is more that I could say...and I am working on a blog even now. But how I wish I could travel overseas to do what I could to offer relief to those who daily prove their love in placing their own bodies at risk.
Let us pray for protection and safety for our brother jamesquinn, and those, who like him, must stand in our place. Let us pray that he returns soon and safely, that we may rejoice with him and his family. Let us pray for God's work in his life, for we are in desperate need of courageous and godly leaders. And let us consider even now how we can encourage jamesquinn in these upcoming holidays, when he must be away from home and family in harsh surroundings and harrowing situations.
In the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
Amen.
