My wife and I recently celebratd our 2nd wedding anniversary in early July and my wife ran into a problem: she wanted to buy me a book but didn't know what I already didn't have or what I already haven't read. True, I have more books than the average person my age, and I read constantly. My wife started to look at her options at the local Christian bookstore and be creative enough to find a book that she knew I hadn't read and that I would like.She came across a few books relating to the Iraq War, and knowing that I believe that we are winning and there was good reason for going into Iraq, she picked up the book, "No Atheist in Foxholes: Prayers and Reflections From the Front," by Chaplain Patrick McLaughlin.
The book reads like diary entries from McLaughlin's experiences and insight. He brings up many issues, such as the lack of accurate media portrait of the war and others, and reflects on how a chaplain, like himself, deals with them. The book is full of insightful, encouraging, heartbreaking, and thought-provoking stories that will keep your attention. Between each chapter, the author provides quotes, bible verses, and a prayer for various purposes.
I have often asked myself what I would do if I became a chaplain in the military. First of all, the military probably wouldn't want me. I am anything but military material. But questions of "why God..." etc. plague a chaplain like McLaughlin everyday while on the battlefield, and even on the base. Though the Bible provides answers to these questions, there's no doubt that war makes the issue even harder to deal with.
One of the things I enjoyed about this book was McLaughlin's belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ as the answer to all things. McLaughlin, as a Christian, is praying and calling for peace (as we all should), while at the same time is serving on the front lines to minister to those protecting us. It is no easy job, but I am greatful that God has called him to such a service.
For those interested in learning more about the war and gaining new insights to what is going on, this is a great read. Even better, it is a book that challenges us to hold firmly to our faith, even when men's wickedness are most visible.
7 comments:
No Atheists in Foxholes?
Atheists are not killers.
Tell that to those killed under the atheist dictators of the 20th Century like Hitler, Stalin, and the rest. If we were honest, the one worldview that has led to the massacre of the most people are atheist. Sorry to disappoint.
So there are atheists in foxholes?
Hitler, of course, was a creationist, who openly scoffed at the idea that human beings had evolved.
I don't think we're talking about the same Hitler. The Hitler I'm referring to was the atheist dictator who killed millions of people who believed in Darwian evolution and practiced eugenics in hopes of speeding up evolution. Obviously, your talking about someone else.
From Hitler's Tischgespraeche for the night of the 25th to 26th 1942 'Woher nehmen wir das Recht zu glauben, der Mensch sei nicht von Uranfaengen das gewesen , was er heute ist? Der Blick in die Natur zeigt uns, dass im Bereich der Pflanzen und Tiere Veraenderungen und Weiterbildungen vorkommen. Aber nirgends zeigt sich innherhalb einer Gattung eine Entwicklung von der Weite des Sprungs, den der Mensch gemacht haben muesste, sollte er sich aus einem affenartigen Zustand zu dem, was er ist, fortgebildet haben.'
I shall translate Hitler's words, as recorded by the stenographer.
'From where do we get the right to believe that man was not from the very beginning what he is today.
A glance in Nature shows us , that changes and developments happen in the realm of plants and animals. But nowhere do we see inside a kind, a development of the size of the leap that Man must have made, if he supposedly has advanced from an ape-like condition to what he is' (now)
And in the entry for 27 February 1942 , Hitler says 'Das, was der Mensch von dem Tier voraushat, der veilleicht wunderbarste Beweis fuer die Ueberlegenheit des Menschen ist, dass er begriffen hat, dass es eine Schoepferkraft geben muss.'
Hitler also wrote 'Die zehn Gebote sind Ordnungsgesetze, die absolut lobenswert sind.'
Himmler also knew that there were no atheists in foxholes.
From the London Times , December 3rd 1935
Herr Himmler enjoined the S.S. to make themselves a model of physical manly perfection. Recruitmcnt was designed [he said] to single out those nearest the physical ideal of the Nordic-conditioned being," and would become ever stricter as "increasing understanding of blood and breeding " set the German people physically on the upward grade.
Speaking of the religious attitude of the S.S. (who after training have largely withdrawn from the Christian Churches), he mentioned that the second of " 50 questions for the S.S. man " was Do you believe in a god ? " The reply was Yes, I believe in a Lord God."
The third question was, "What do you think of anyone who does not believe in any got ? " The reply was, I regard him as a boastful and stupid megalomaniac and unsuitable for us." They would not be the indissolubly plighted corps they were it we had not the convinced faith in a Lord God who stands above us and has crcated us and our Fatherland, our nation and this earth, and has sent us our Fuehrer.'
Guess there really were no atheists in German SS foxholes.
Yes because most of them are already dead.
Especially, as is the case in most of European history, including both world wars ,when most of the bombs dropping on their heads have been made and dropped on them by fellow Christians.
Meanwhile dreadfully sane Christian America is the biggest maker, owner,seller and USER of weapons of all kinds, including WMD's. It also accounts for 48% of the worlds armaments production.
Plus once again.
www.jesusneverexisted.com
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