| For those that know me, you know that I am a former | | | | For years I never understood what the sacrifice of |
| US Army soldier. I'm very proud of this fact, and it's | | | | Christ meant. When I watched the movie, "The |
| one of the reasons that I support both the military | | | | Passion of the Christ", then I truly understood what |
| personnel in Iraq, as well as the war in Iraq. | | | | Christ had done for us. How He suffered so that we |
| Ask any soldier though, and he/she will tell you that he | | | | could be restored to our relationship with God. |
| she is reluctant to go to war. After all, it is his/her life | | | | We as Christians have something no other faith, no |
| on the line. No one hates war more than the soldier. | | | | other religion has: our God made Himself a man, came |
| However, it is this boldness as a soldier that has led | | | | to earth, and He loved us so much that He died for us. |
| me to be bold for Christ. Although I struggle with it, I | | | | We don't have to die for Him to get into Paradise. He |
| can honestly say that I hate no one. There are some | | | | made sure that when He died the penalty of our sin |
| pretty dangerous insititutions out there: liberalism, islam, | | | | was paid forever. He has allowed to stand in history |
| communism, etc. However, I don't hate those who | | | | His brutal and humiliating death so that we can live |
| choose this. I pray for them. They are misled by Satan, | | | | forever with Him. |
| and if you really take the time to look past these | | | | This is the ultimate example of love and the ultimate |
| institutions, to the people involved with them, you'll see | | | | example of sacrifice. |
| a lot of misery. | | | | As Christians, we have nothing to be ashamed of or |
| At the bottom of all this is a lot of self hatred. It takes | | | | embarrassed about. For those who truly love Christ, |
| a lot of self hatred, and a lot of hate, to murder an | | | | we aren't here to impose our will on others; we are |
| unborn child, to murder 1000s on 9/11, to murder millions | | | | here to make the world a better place. |
| of Christians in Sudan. | | | | Like the military in Iraq, go boldly forth. Take up your |
| As Christians, we need to stand for social justice. We | | | | armor as outlined in Ephesians 6. Stand against this evil |
| need to stand against this prejudice and hate. Jesus | | | | that threatens to engulf us. The victory is already ours. |
| has taught me that the more I love myself, truly love | | | | We've already won. |
| myself as outlined in 1 Corinthians 13, the more I can | | | | Evil can never stand in the face of love, and evil will |
| love Him, and the more that I can love others. It is this | | | | never defeat love. May the peace and love of Jesus |
| kind of love that changes the world. | | | | Christ fill your life today. |