It is good to be living in a military community in the Colorado Springs area! Even though I served 13 years in the military I am guilty of forgetting those who have and are serving today. I have a neighbor Rob who I have come to know over past 9 months since moving to the area here. He was slow to warm up to me but when I offered to help him and saw me wearing my old camo-fatigues he was delighted. We have become good friends and I have invited him to some of our church services. I have shared some of my military experiences with him but Rob was subdued about his? One day about a month ago Rob opened up to me. Rob got a medical discharge from the Army. Here is how it happened. Rob deployed to Saudi Arabia with the Army for a short term working with the Saudi military joint exercise. Near the end of his deployment the Saudi military asked his commander if they could recover a Saudi military vehicle in a remote area of Saudi Arabia? The American Army commander complied and sent Rob and four other service members to recover the vehicle. Rob noticed when they got to the area this local village looked like a ghost town? No people? So they recovered the vehicle and brought it back to the Saudi military base. Within one week of recovering this vehicle Rob’s comrades all died! Rob went to a military hospital for two years! What happened? The Saudi military used this vehicle in a chemical attack on this remote village! Evidently this village was rebelling against the King so they got the gas. Rob even today has to take anti-anxiety medicine. Rob holds a part time job in the community. Here is the beautiful part of this story. I shared with Rob that due to my four back surgeries I cannot shovel the snow off our driveway. So everytime it snows Rob shovels my driveway! I have told him many times you do not have to do this! Rob simply says,”I always look for an opportunity to serve others!” Rob is still serving his nation and me! This is the Spirit of America that no enemy will ever defeat! Thankyou. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Tag: neighbor
Tribute To Captain David Lyons USAF 1985-2013
One of our very own Captain David Lyons was celebrated at the memorial service today in Colorado Springs at New Life Church. The military protocol was moving as hundreds of Air Force Academy Cadets and other military members attended the services along with New Life church members. Captain David Lyons was killed in action last month in Afghanistan by a suicide bomber. Other military members were killed and injured in the attack along with some NATO troops. David was a star athlete at the Air Force Academy and still holds the Idaho High School State record for the shot put throw. He was adopted and took on his adopted parents name. His wife Dana is also an Air Force Academy graduate and serves in the Air Force. It is so encouraging to see military members and church members support their fallen hero’s and their families. I want to give you a famous quote by Charles Province which was given at the memorial service. It reads as follows;” It is the Soldier, not the minister who gives us freedom of religion. It is the Soldier, not the reporter who gives us freedom of the press. It is the Soldier, not the poet who gives us freedom of speech. It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer who gives us freedom to protest. it is the Soldier, not the lawyer who gives us the right to a fair trial. It is the Soldier, not the politician who has given us the right to vote. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag, and Who’s coffin is draped by the flag!” Jesus said in John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, That a man lay down his life for his friends!” The word friends translates from the Greek as neighbor. Remember in Mark Chapter 12 the scribes asked Jesus which is the greatest Commandment? Jesus answered, “”Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind and strength. Then the second is to love thy neighbor as thyself. There is no greater Commandment than these!” David did lay down his life for his neighbor’s which represents millions of American’s and millions of people in Afghanistan! We must also recognize a distinction here. David laid down his life to save others! The suicide bomber laid down his life to destroy others! There are two separate eternities for each. There are two sides of the fence here. In one eternity David is joined with Christ the one he lived and died for! The suicide bomber who died to bring death to others is separated from God forever in the fires of hell! Two different outcomes created by two different choices! Choose this day who you will serve! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com