DIRECTOR’S NOTE
Other than Israel, I know of no other country that has been as blessed as America has. This Nation has been under the Lord’s blessing in as many areas as one can imagine. The times of blessings appear to be changing, and it began back in the seventies.
When I arrived in CONUS from Vietnam, I was warned that it would not be wise to leave the Military Post in uniform. You see, there were demonstrators gathered across the street from the front gate of the Installation. They were not happy about what was transpiring in Vietnam. They were accusing the American soldiers of being “Baby killers.”
The American soldiers of today, remind me of those in days of old. Once again the American soldiers are to blame for the situation that our nation has put them in -- following orders given to them by their Commanders. One soldier, however has voiced his opinion (on the following page) about his situation, and wants to share it with his fellow brothers and sisters in uniform.
I can feel his frustrations and believe many of you – if not all of you – will be in agreement with him.
Blessings to all of you!
Hosea Amos
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A VETERAN WHO IS TIRED
Two weeks ago, as I was starting my sixth month of duty in Iraq, I was forced to return to the USA for surgery for an injury I had sustained prior to my deployment. With luck, I'll return to Iraq to finish my tour.
I left Baghdad and a war that has every indication that we are winning, to return to a demoralized country much like the one I returned to in 1971 after my tour in Vietnam. Maybe it's because I'll turn 60 years old in just four months, but I'm tired:
I'm tired of spineless politicians, both Democrat and Republican who lack the courage, fortitude, and character to see these difficult tasks through.
I'm tired of the hypocrisy of politicians who want to rewrite history when the going gets tough.
I'm tired of the disingenuous clamor from those that claim they 'Support the Troops' by wanting them to 'Cut and Run' before victory is achieved.
I'm tired of a mainstream media that can only focus on car bombs and casualty reports, because they are too afraid to leave the safety of their hotels to report on the courage and success our brave men and women are having on the battlefield.
I'm tired that so many Americans think you can rebuild a dictatorship into a democracy over night.
I'm tired that so many ignore the bravery of the Iraqi people to go to the voting booth and freely elect a Constitution, and soon a permanent Parliament.
I'm tired of the so called 'Elite Left' that prolongs this war by giving aid and comfort to our enemy, just as they did during the Vietnam War.
I'm tired of antiwar protesters showing up at the funerals of our fallen soldiers. A family whose loved ones gave their lives in a just and noble cause, only to be cruelly tormented on the funeral day by cowardly protesters is beyond shameful.
I'm tired that my generation, the Baby Boom -- Vietnam generation -- have such a weak backbone that they can't stomach seeing the difficult tasks through to victory.
I'm tired that some are more concerned about the treatment of captives than they are the slaughter and beheading of our citizens and allies.
I'm tired that when we find mass graves, the press seldom reports it, but if we mistreat a prisoner, it is front-page news.
Mostly, I'm tired that the people of this great nation didn't learn from history that there is no substitute for Victory.
Reprinted by permission
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Prison Ministry
A TEAM Perspective
TEAM Ministry’s approach to prison ministry is, perhaps, a little different from what you would think – it is also very different from what most of our members expected. Although we have only existed for less than 2 years, we find ourselves invited to conduct our chapel services in 10 different units.
TEAM is a loosely knit group of like-minded individuals from different churches and synagogues (Messianic) called to this special type of ministry. We minister to the youth (12 – 21 years of age) in Gainesville State School, the ladies in 6 different units in Gatesville, 2 male units (also in Gatesville), and we have been invited to begin ministering in the Hutchins State Jail. Everyone we minister to knows that they are sinners (an earthly judge has so informed them).
With so many ministries carrying so many different messages, there is much confusion. Some have been convinced that they can continue leading sinful lives because God gives a final opportunity for salvation immediately after death. Others have been convinced that salvation is not from Jesus, but rather from the Holy Spirit. Some have embraced the Messianic Jewish concept where their confusion has them convinced that the Christian way of life is evil because the real day of worship is Saturday. Still others come to exchange contraband and/or engage in sexual deviations of one sort or another. Most know that the old way of life just doesn’t work, and they are seeking real, life-changing answers. That is what we attempt to deliver. All are hungry for Jesus.
For the most part, and there are notable exceptions, we do not preach in the normal sense. We point out that we all have one thing in common. God has a plan for each of us, some follow that plan, some stray a little, recognize the fact, and get back on plan, and some just don’t have a clue that there is a God who still has the right plan for their life. We constantly stress that they should not place their faith in any preacher (including us) but to check everything out by studying the owner’s manual (Bible) that our creator has provided for each of us.
We have all heard the stories of jailhouse salvations where the same people repent every week. Would it be better if they didn’t repent? Inside or outside, salvation is between the individual and
God. Many of the inmates have a better relationship with our God than the pastors of many churches, and they can really come up with some thought provoking questions. They may well be the future spiritual leaders of this nation, and we are proud to know them. – CH Chuck Ballweg, Allen, TX.
Chuck recently received a letter from Gainesville State School for Boys announcing that he was selected as Chapel Volunteer of the year, and would be considered in the State Competition. Our congratulations go out to him!
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A NOTE FROM THE DEPUTY
1 John 4:16b (NLT) says, “God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” God is not only a loving God, but He is Love.
Difficulty with keeping personal victory is a problem that is deeper and simpler than lack of will power. Lack of personal discipline and deficiency in our ability to obey the Spirit is often (or always) linked to a condition created by internal attitudes toward God Himself, as well as His greatest creation – humans.
Love is the key to personal and contagious victory. The first step in obtaining lost or vanishing love is forgiveness. If we’re bitter at God, ourselves, or other people, we defile ourselves and open ourselves up to impure and unloving thoughts, attitudes and behaviors. After over seventeen years of ‘fighting’ to keep my relationship with God and man disciplined so as to be a “good strong Christian,” God finally showed me why my walk was such a battle. He revealed that I was holding resentment too much. For more than a few years now, the following solution has given me ease in the Love walk.
We don’t need to beat ourselves up. It’s much easier than that. When we find ourselves struggling in any area, with carnal manifestations, it’s not necessarily time to buckle down. It’s probably time to release and pardon. Forgiveness is holistically liberating. In extreme cases of bitterness we can even find ourselves so messed up that we’re missing our calling like Esau did.
Hebrews 12:14-17 (NLT) records his avoidable dilemma for our benefit. Let’s
learn from his failure that caused him to
miss out enormously:
”Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. 15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. 16 Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. 17 You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.”
The Word says that bitterness messed Esau up. His brother, Jacob, forgave, was given the promises instead, and became Israel. God has granted us Jesus for mercy. Let’s receive forgiveness, live it, and give it. Love starts and continues with mercy. God is Love, which is forgiving. Let’s receive and nurture that relationship.
– Todd Wolf
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WE ARE VAPORS
“God is concerned about His will more so than our plans. He wants us to plan, but we must allow room for His intervention, so plan loosely. When you make plans, give God a rough draft, so that He has the right to “Divine Intervention” (Rev., Dr. Anthony Evans, Sr.). “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that. As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins” (James 4:13-17). Let us learn lessons from the experience of others: Our days are but a vapor, so be prepared to share your plans with the Lord; for it is He that knows your future.
– Hosea Amos
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