tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7734846.post110927619518466516..comments2023-10-02T06:06:38.784-05:00Comments on Fires Along the Tallgrass: CouragePhil Dillon, Prairie Apologisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00933117233625601141noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7734846.post-1109522456507037142005-02-27T10:40:00.000-06:002005-02-27T10:40:00.000-06:00It is very easy to offer someone some self-help ad...<EM>It is very easy to offer someone some self-help advice. It is very hard to ask someone to come to a God that wants to tear off their skin. That; however, is our call.</EM> I have done a whole post on this related topic, with quotes from you, <A HREF="http://blogotional.blogspot.com/2005/02/marching-trend.html" REL="nofollow">here</A>John Schroederhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02917037602880789273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7734846.post-1109444219566934312005-02-26T12:56:00.000-06:002005-02-26T12:56:00.000-06:00Great stuff, Phil. I borrowed a chunk for my post...Great stuff, Phil. I borrowed a chunk for my post today (properly attributed of course).Bob Spencerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06400471363764020869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7734846.post-1109300378243406052005-02-24T20:59:00.000-06:002005-02-24T20:59:00.000-06:00Ahhhh Phil :) You're speaking my language. And ...Ahhhh Phil :) You're speaking my language. And you are right. I will admit that three years ago, this post might have offended me. Thanks for writing what needs to be writtenTom Reindlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03109080936641920690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7734846.post-1109292657330457182005-02-24T18:50:00.000-06:002005-02-24T18:50:00.000-06:00Your message is excellent and badly needed to call...Your message is excellent and badly needed to call the warrior spirit forth in the body of Christ. It is an appropriate time to share my brief testimony. Agape' Jim<br /><br /> + + +<br /> My brother and I joined the U.S. Marine Corps <br /> right out of high school and went away to World <br /> War II. Our mother, a True Believer, wrapped us <br /> in Psalm 91 and claimed God's promises over us. <br /> He went to the Paramarine/Raiders and the 5th <br /> MarDiv and I to the OSS and the 2nd MarDiv. We <br /> both went through combat and returned home safely <br /> after the war.<br /><br /> In 1950, with the outbreak of the Korean War, we <br /> were both recalled to active duty with the 1st <br /> Marine Division. Our mother again wrapped us in <br /> Psalm 91, gave each of us a small New Testament, <br /> and again sent us off to war with the Lord's <br /> blessing.<br /><br /> As a 12-year-old, I had accepted the Lord but had <br /> never been well disciplined or obedient. I wanted <br /> to play patty-cake in the sand piles of the world. <br /> At 25, when I went to Korea, I started reading the <br /> little New Testament my mother had given me.<br /><br /> At the Inchon landing, and for the next two weeks <br /> of heavy combat as a rifle-squad leader, I read a <br /> few Bible verses every day. I loved my brother <br /> Marines who suffered and died alongside me. As the <br /> death and destruction grew more intense - and as I <br /> stood on the brink of eternity - I did not like <br /> what I saw.<br /><br /> As my outfit, Fox Company [F-2-1], attacked up the<br /> streets of Seoul, I was hit with a machine-gun <br /> bullet. I made it behind a burning police sub-<br /> station in the middle of the street. My corpsman, <br /> Chico, dressed my wounds and as sniper bullets <br /> crashed into the street beside us, he laid on top <br /> of me - covering me with his own body - and yelled <br /> in my ear, "You've had enough!" Other riflemen <br /> nailed the snipers and as Chico left me to help <br /> other Marines lying wounded in the street, he was <br /> hit by two bullets that blew the shinbone out of <br /> his leg. I never saw Chico again.<br /><br /> Several Marines threw a wooden door on the ground,<br /> rolled me on it and ran me down the street under <br /> heavy fire. It was a fearsome ride. I was placed on<br /> a DUKW, given a shot of morphine, and dreamed a <br /> beautiful restful sleep to Kimpo airfield and the <br /> flight to Japan.<br /><br /> At Yokosuka Naval Hospital for three months, I <br /> proclaimed my loyalty to Chico, my corpsman. One <br /> night, the Lord came to me. I saw the blood running<br /> down His forehead, into His eyes, and down over His<br /> cheeks. I looked into His blood-filled eyes. He <br /> spread out His bloody hands and said, "I did this <br /> for you."<br /><br /> I was willing to be loyal to Chico - but had not <br /> been willing to be loyal to the Lord. The Lord said,<br /> "Come and follow me. I will make you a man. Put <br /> away childish things." I knew what he meant.I said,<br /> "Yes Sir."<br /><br /> With the Lord as the Lord of my life, I re-joined <br /> my outfit and went back into front-line combat for <br /> another five months before returning home. My <br /> brother came home with frostbitten feet and I came <br /> home with a tender rear-end. Our mother cried with <br /> joy unspeakable.We were both baptized and have been<br /> His loyal Marines ever since. Everyday we say, "Yes<br /> Sir," to the Lord Jesus - our CHAMPION and HERO. <br /> My Lord and my God.<br /><br /> Winston Churchill once said, "Courage is the most <br /> important virtue because it makes all other virtues<br /> possible." As a senior in high school ready to join<br /> the Marine Corps, I thought his statement was good.<br /> The sequence sounded right.<br /><br /> As a 26-year old veteran of front-line combat in <br /> two wars, I came to understand that Churchill was <br /> not accurate. Courage is not the prime virtue. It is<br /> faithfulness/loyalty/commitment that is the prime <br /> virtue. It is being faithful that makes all other <br /> virtues possible, including courage. The Corps has <br /> it right: semper fidelis. Always Faithful<br /><br /> "Moreover, it is required of stewards that a man be<br /> found faithful." I Corinthians 4:2<br /><br /> + + +Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com