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A Word to a Dying Soldier
James Robison ^ | 10.07.04 | James Robison

Posted on 10/22/2004 7:17:59 PM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican

A Word to a Dying Soldier
by James Robison

10/07/2004

In Vietnam, Dave Roever miraculously survived a hand grenade explosion, though it burned over 50% of his body and left him noticeably disfigured. During the past year, he has been answering the call of the U.S. military all over the Middle East and ministering to our fighting men and women. He has greeted soldiers in hospitals, counseled those seriously injured, and held the hands of a few as they died from combat wounds.

Dave has also inspired the troops, as well as the leadership. He has traveled to dozens of Saddam’s palaces, offering encouragement and support to those in the middle of the war zone. He has slept where generals now sleep and sat where a tyrant king once sat.

“I’m sitting on the man’s throne, wearing his crown and holding his sword!” Roever said (photo, top right). “This is the throne Saddam had built to send to Jerusalem when he conquered Israel and ruled the world." In reality, our soldiers dug this so-called king out of a hole in the ground. Now he sits in a prison cell awaiting what will surely be harsh judgment.

After 9/11 and the commencement of military operations in the Middle East, Dave received dozens of invitations to speak to men and women preparing to leave their homes and go to war. But he was not content to just send them off. He knew he had to go right to the front lines.

“The soldiers ask me, ‘Howcome you’re here in Tikrit? Why would you come to these places?’ I tell them, ‘It’s because I was in a jungle for eight months, and not a pastor, chaplain, preacher or evangelist… not even Bob Hope or the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders came to see me. I was blown up, burned up, shot up, and no one gave a rip. I’m here because we learned a lesson in America during Vietnam. They protested against us, but this time the churches are praying for you and prayer is going to bring you back home!’”

Dave has traveled to bases all around the Middle East and ventured right into the hottest spots in the war zone. He has seen what’s going on over there and knows the truth about the progress being made. He knows that when we watch the television and read the newspapers here in the United States and Canada, we get only a small glimpse of the truth. Usually, it’s a tragedy or a setback in the ongoing conflict.

“Think about what they show you on TV -- 20 people and a burning car,” Roever says. “But you’ve got millions of people who have not heard a shot fired that day. You’ve got millions of children across the nation of Iraq who are going to school every day… you do not see that on the evening news.”

Certainly the battle is not over. Freedom, democracy and peace have not yet come to every single person in these newly liberated nations. But for the majority of the people, life has improved beyond their wildest dreams and the future holds limitless possibilities.

“This image is something CNN will never show you,” Roever says (photo, center right). “Look at the eyes of the woman looking into the face of the man driving the Humvee… you see adoration, appreciation, joy. For her to raise a hand and wave could bring persecution from those ‘chicken boys’ who would not fight our troops, but now fight the women who wave at our troops. That’s what we’re up against. These are your Saddam loyalists and foreign fighters doing these things.”

“But the next picture is what it’s all about. This is why the troops are there,” he continues (photo, bottom right). “This is why our brave men and women are laying down their lives, because this generation is going to know about God and Jesus Christ. They are going to know hope and have a future in a world full of pain. That’s what our kids are dying for and make no mistake, it’s worth every drop of blood to give them freedom and hope for the future.”

Dave has laid his life down for his country, though he somehow lived. He knows about sacrifice. He knows what our brave young men and women, as well as their friends and families, are giving up for the cause of freedom.

“I’ve been with [a dying soldier] when he died in Iraq, whispering in his ear… and the last words he heard me say was, ‘This is not a hospital, it’s a sanctuary. This is not a gurney, it’s an altar. And you are more than a soldier, you’re a sacrifice. And I’ve come from America to tell you thank you.’

“He heard it before he died. And if I have lived for no other cause than for one man to hear someone say ‘thank you,’ then I have lived a good cause.”

We salute our soldiers around the world. They are living a good cause. To those in uniform, as well as their loved ones, we say, “Thank you.”


To order Dave Roever’s life story on CD and sponsor his ministry to our soldiers, go to www.daveroever.com.



Author: James Robison

Word Count: 865

About the author: James Robison is the founder and president of LIFE Outreach International, an international humanitarian aid ministry; host of the television program, Life Today; and author of The Absolutes. For more information, log on to www.lifetoday.org.

Media Contact: Randy Robison, randy.robison at loi.org

Photo available upon request. Reprint rights granted with attribution for complete, unedited article. Revisions allowed only with approval.

 



TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bush; iraq; robison; roever; supportourtroops

1 posted on 10/22/2004 7:17:59 PM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican
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To: RedBloodedAmerican

2 posted on 10/22/2004 7:20:27 PM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican
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To: RedBloodedAmerican

I saw him speak one night that I was surfing thru channels and landed on where he was talking....he was so good and inspiring......
:)


3 posted on 10/22/2004 7:24:32 PM PDT by ArmyBratCutie ("Four boxes to be used in defense of liberty:soap, ballot, jury, ammo in this order!")
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To: RedBloodedAmerican

Incredible story. And the photo of the cute little girls is wonderful, too. Why isn't the NY Times doing something decent and covering things like this?


4 posted on 10/22/2004 7:31:46 PM PDT by livius
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To: RedBloodedAmerican

There have been so many times when I've thought about all the brave and good guys in Vietnam, especially those who never made it back, when I listen to some POS politician like Kerry. Dave Roever is a real man as opposed to the fake Kerry. God bless Dave and keep him in his work.


5 posted on 10/22/2004 7:38:51 PM PDT by caisson71
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To: livius

He is a wonderful Christian and has a great Testimony! We continually hear on this site about all the good news from Iraq that the communist media machine refuses to show us. It is so damn frustrating! I pray that everyone in America will see 'Voices of Iraq' and that hearts and minds will be turned to President Bush and the plight of the Iraqis. May God judge the media and soon!


6 posted on 10/22/2004 7:38:59 PM PDT by Woogit (IN GOD I TRUST...NO MATTER WHAT!)
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To: RedBloodedAmerican

Brave man who loves the Lord.

I know he's helping a lot of soldiers over there. Thanks for posting this.


7 posted on 10/22/2004 7:40:24 PM PDT by Cedar
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To: RedBloodedAmerican; All

If you have never heard Dave speak you should check his schedule and seek him out. He is awesome, inspiring and full of the love of Christ.


8 posted on 10/22/2004 8:03:04 PM PDT by PleaseNoMore
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To: PleaseNoMore

Never caught him in person but on tv allot. he usually is around here during bike week. I think because so many bikers are nam vets, he has a repertoire with them.


9 posted on 10/22/2004 8:10:49 PM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican
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To: RedBloodedAmerican
“I’ve been with [a dying soldier] when he died in Iraq, whispering in his ear… and the last words he heard me say was, ‘This is not a hospital, it’s a sanctuary. This is not a gurney, it’s an altar. And you are more than a soldier, you’re a sacrifice. And I’ve come from America to tell you thank you.’

Wow. Thank you so much for posting this :::sniff:::

10 posted on 10/22/2004 9:25:19 PM PDT by b9
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To: livius
Why isn't the NY Times doing something decent and covering things like this?

Because the New York Times is not decent, of course. Ask a silly question. . .

11 posted on 10/22/2004 9:47:33 PM PDT by Capriole
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To: livius

Why isn't the NY Times doing something decent and covering things like this?


It's too far beyond them. They can't show American soldiers doing anything good. It would mess up their subscriptions!


12 posted on 10/22/2004 11:19:35 PM PDT by Just Lori (Before you can win the peace, you have to win the WAR!)
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To: RedBloodedAmerican; valleygal; Cannoneer No. 4; TEXOKIE; xzins; Alamo-Girl; blackie; SandRat; ...
“I’ve been with [a dying soldier] when he died in Iraq, whispering in his ear… and the last words he heard me say was, ‘This is not a hospital, it’s a sanctuary. This is not a gurney, it’s an altar. And you are more than a soldier, you’re a sacrifice. And I’ve come from America to tell you thank you.’
 
~*~
 
Thank you, RedBloodedAmerican.
 
Received this link (as did many others) from a Soldier in the war zone.

13 posted on 10/24/2004 8:49:24 AM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl

Thank God for all of our heroes and their loved ones and those who attend their graduation.


14 posted on 10/24/2004 9:01:05 AM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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To: RedBloodedAmerican

That picture just about says it all, doesn't it?


15 posted on 10/24/2004 9:31:11 AM PDT by McGavin999 (We have planted the seeds of democracy and watered them with our blood, now let freedom reign)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl

Oh thank you for this ping!


16 posted on 10/24/2004 10:13:37 AM PDT by Soaring Feather (~Poetry is my forte.~)
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To: All

~Josh Grogan~You Raise Me Up~
Click the graphic...

17 posted on 10/24/2004 10:22:15 AM PDT by Soaring Feather (~Poetry is my forte.~)
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To: All

ooops Josh Groban is the artist.


18 posted on 10/24/2004 10:24:34 AM PDT by Soaring Feather (~Poetry is my forte.~)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl; RedBloodedAmerican

Wow!

My Prayers are with them all, and Dave.. THANK YOU!
You are an inspiration.


19 posted on 10/24/2004 10:28:25 AM PDT by The Mayor (No one is hopeless whose hope is in God.)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl; RedBloodedAmerican
Thank you for the Ping, Ragtime Cowgirl! (Lump in my throat, and Awe in my heart)

Thank you, RedBloodedAmerican!

20 posted on 10/24/2004 9:31:45 PM PDT by Kitty Mittens
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