Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Prayer Request for Iraqi Elections
I received this over a listserv I'm on here at Tech, and as it asked for as much publicity as possible, here it is. I've left off all of the original sender's information except his first name and unit, as I don't know what's allowable. In any case, what follows is the message.
As a transportation battalion, my unit will be delivering the voting
machines and the ballots to villages and cities throughout Iraq during the
upcoming elections. (January 30/31) Our convoys are prime targets for the
insurgents because they do not want the equipment to arrive at the polling
stations nor do they want the local Iraqi citizens to have the chance to
vote; timely delivery must occur so that the elections occur. Encourage your
friends and family members and those within our churches to pray
specifically for the electoral process. Historically, the previous
totalitarian regime would not allow individual citizens to vote. Democracy
will not be realized in Iraq if intelligent and competent officials are not
elected to those strategic leadership positions within the emerging
government; freedom will not have an opportunity to ring throughout this
country if the voting process fails. Announce this prayer request to your
contacts throughout your churches, neighborhoods, and places of business.
Those with leadership roles within the local church post this message in as
many newsletters and bulletins as possible. There is unlimited potential for
God's presence in this process but if we do not pray then our enemy will
prevail (See Ephesians 6:10-17) A prayer vigil prior to the end of the month
may be an innovative opportunity for those within your sphere of influence
to pray. This is a political battle that needs spiritual intervention. A
powerful story about God's intervention in the lives of David's mighty men
is recorded in 2 Samuel 23:8-33. David and his warriors were victorious
because of God's intervention. We want to overcome those who would stand in
the way of freedom. David's mighty men triumphed over incredible odds and
stood their ground and were victorious over the enemies of Israel. (Iraqi
insurgents' vs God's praying people). They don't stand a chance.
I will pray with my soldiers before they leave on their convoys and move
outside our installation gates here at Tallil. My soldiers are at the nerve
center of the logistic operation to deliver the voting machines and election
ballots. They will be driving to and entering the arena of the enemy. This
is not a game for them it is a historical mission that is extremely
dangerous. No voting machines or ballots. No elections. Your prayer support
and God's intervention are needed to give democracy a chance in this war
torn country. Thank you for reading this e-mail. Please give this e-mail a
wide dissemination.
Thank you for your prayer support for me and my family. Stand firm in your
battles.
Blessings,
Lyle
HHD, 57th Transportation Battalion [US Army]
I received this over a listserv I'm on here at Tech, and as it asked for as much publicity as possible, here it is. I've left off all of the original sender's information except his first name and unit, as I don't know what's allowable. In any case, what follows is the message.
As a transportation battalion, my unit will be delivering the voting
machines and the ballots to villages and cities throughout Iraq during the
upcoming elections. (January 30/31) Our convoys are prime targets for the
insurgents because they do not want the equipment to arrive at the polling
stations nor do they want the local Iraqi citizens to have the chance to
vote; timely delivery must occur so that the elections occur. Encourage your
friends and family members and those within our churches to pray
specifically for the electoral process. Historically, the previous
totalitarian regime would not allow individual citizens to vote. Democracy
will not be realized in Iraq if intelligent and competent officials are not
elected to those strategic leadership positions within the emerging
government; freedom will not have an opportunity to ring throughout this
country if the voting process fails. Announce this prayer request to your
contacts throughout your churches, neighborhoods, and places of business.
Those with leadership roles within the local church post this message in as
many newsletters and bulletins as possible. There is unlimited potential for
God's presence in this process but if we do not pray then our enemy will
prevail (See Ephesians 6:10-17) A prayer vigil prior to the end of the month
may be an innovative opportunity for those within your sphere of influence
to pray. This is a political battle that needs spiritual intervention. A
powerful story about God's intervention in the lives of David's mighty men
is recorded in 2 Samuel 23:8-33. David and his warriors were victorious
because of God's intervention. We want to overcome those who would stand in
the way of freedom. David's mighty men triumphed over incredible odds and
stood their ground and were victorious over the enemies of Israel. (Iraqi
insurgents' vs God's praying people). They don't stand a chance.
I will pray with my soldiers before they leave on their convoys and move
outside our installation gates here at Tallil. My soldiers are at the nerve
center of the logistic operation to deliver the voting machines and election
ballots. They will be driving to and entering the arena of the enemy. This
is not a game for them it is a historical mission that is extremely
dangerous. No voting machines or ballots. No elections. Your prayer support
and God's intervention are needed to give democracy a chance in this war
torn country. Thank you for reading this e-mail. Please give this e-mail a
wide dissemination.
Thank you for your prayer support for me and my family. Stand firm in your
battles.
Blessings,
Lyle
HHD, 57th Transportation Battalion [US Army]
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Angels
I forget exactly where, but I was reading a piece about the development of environmental history and how the growth of modern science, turning us away from our old views of being above the animals and just below the angels, sparked a new understanding of nature. I was thinking about that some, as I think the subject of angels is interesting, and apparently TS O'Rama was, too. The Bible speaks of angels, telling us in 2 Peter 4,9 that angels rebelled and were cast down by God, and in 1 Cor 6:3 that we will eventually judge angels. This seems hard to for some people to understand, but for whatever, it made perfect sense to me.
Imagine there's a kingdom, and there's been a coup and the beloved king has been killed. The assassins look for the king's son and rightful heir, but can't find him because his faithful nurse has spirited him off to a sympathetic neighbor. Now, the prince is far weaker and more ignorant than his nurse, and he can be swayed for good or for bad by those who counsel him as he grows up. He never knows if an assassin will find him or if he'll simply get sick and die. However, when he grows to manhood, he will take his rightful place as king and judge both those who have harmed his family and those who have risked much to help him.
And this is the case. There may be far more angels than there are humans, and they constantly battle over the souls of mankind, with Satan's demons (fallen angels) trying to tempt us to sin and the LORD's angels, led by Michael, trying to protect us. I believe they watch us, see our every move, and wait with bated breath to see what we'll do.
I forget exactly where, but I was reading a piece about the development of environmental history and how the growth of modern science, turning us away from our old views of being above the animals and just below the angels, sparked a new understanding of nature. I was thinking about that some, as I think the subject of angels is interesting, and apparently TS O'Rama was, too. The Bible speaks of angels, telling us in 2 Peter 4,9 that angels rebelled and were cast down by God, and in 1 Cor 6:3 that we will eventually judge angels. This seems hard to for some people to understand, but for whatever, it made perfect sense to me.
Imagine there's a kingdom, and there's been a coup and the beloved king has been killed. The assassins look for the king's son and rightful heir, but can't find him because his faithful nurse has spirited him off to a sympathetic neighbor. Now, the prince is far weaker and more ignorant than his nurse, and he can be swayed for good or for bad by those who counsel him as he grows up. He never knows if an assassin will find him or if he'll simply get sick and die. However, when he grows to manhood, he will take his rightful place as king and judge both those who have harmed his family and those who have risked much to help him.
And this is the case. There may be far more angels than there are humans, and they constantly battle over the souls of mankind, with Satan's demons (fallen angels) trying to tempt us to sin and the LORD's angels, led by Michael, trying to protect us. I believe they watch us, see our every move, and wait with bated breath to see what we'll do.
