Posted on 11/06/2004 7:19:27 AM PST by InvisibleChurch
Marines turn to God ahead of anticipated Fallujah battle Sat Nov 06 2004 09:37:17 ET
NEAR FALLUJAH, Iraq, Nov 6 (AFP) - With US forces massing outside Fallujah, 35 marines swayed to Christian rock music and asked Jesus Christ to protect them in what could be the biggest battle since American troops invaded Iraq last year.
Men with buzzcuts and clad in their camouflage waved their hands in the air, M-16 assault rifles laying beside them, and chanted heavy metal-flavoured lyrics in praise of Christ late Friday in a yellow-brick chapel.
They counted among thousands of troops surrounding the city of Fallujah, seeking solace as they awaited Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's decision on whether or not to invade Fallujah.
"You are the sovereign. You're name is holy. You are the pure spotless lamb," a female voice cried out on the loudspeakers as the marines clapped their hands and closed their eyes, reflecting on what lay ahead for them.
The US military, with many soldiers coming from the conservative American south and midwest, has deep Christian roots.
In times that fighting looms, many soldiers draw on their evangelical or born-again heritage to help them face the battle.
"It's always comforting. Church attendance is always up before the big push," said First Sergeant Miles Thatford.
"Sometimes, all you've got is God."
Between the service's electric guitar religious tunes, marines stepped up on the chapel's small stage and recited a verse of scripture, meant to fortify them for war.
One spoke of their Old Testament hero, a shepherd who would become Israel's king, battling the Philistines some 3,000 years ago.
"Thus David prevailed over the Philistines," the marine said, reading from scripture, and the marines shouted back "Hoorah, King David," using their signature grunt of approval.
The marines drew parallels from the verse with their present situation, where they perceive themselves as warriors fighting barbaric men opposed to all that is good in the world.
"Victory belongs to the Lord," another young marine read.
Their chaplain, named Horne, told the worshippers they were stationed outside Fallujah to bring the Iraqis "freedom from oppression, rape, torture and murder ... We ask you God to bless us in that effort."
The marines then lined up and their chaplain blessed them with holy oil to protect them.
"God's people would be annointed with oil," the chaplain said, as he lightly dabbed oil on the marines' foreheads.
The crowd then followed him outside their small auditorium for a baptism of about a half-dozen marines who had just found Christ.
The young men lined up and at least three of them stripped down to their shorts.
The three laid down in a rubber dinghy filled with water and the chaplain's assistant, Navy corpsman Richard Vaughn, plunged their heads beneath the surface.
Smiling, Vaughn baptised them "in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit."
Dripping wet, Corporal Keith Arguelles beamed after his baptism.
"I just wanted to make sure I did this before I headed into the fight," he said on the military base not far from the city of Fallujah.
Inevitable, I suppose.
May God bless them all.
I wouldn't want to be a Fallujian when these Marines make their move.
C
Don't worry, the Army isn't insulted. They know that the USMC is every bit as good as the Army.
Yeah, I know, it's just
political correctness,
but, heck, it's our war.
I'm all for stopping
these pretenses at sharing.
They'll never LIKE us . . .
So I wish our troops
could just go there, fight the war,
and then come back home.
Which is just what they are, and always have been. The United States Marines Corps - a few good men who are often outnumbered, but never, ever defeated.
The media has really latched on to this 'evangelical' theme, but if I remember right, the largest denomination represented in the Marine Corps is Catholic. They can rock too, though! ;o)
The Marines know just exactly from WHOM they derive their strength!
God bless them all!
3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer
Smart Aleck! :)
12 Arise, LORD ! Lift up your hand, O God.
Do not forget the helpless.
13 Why does the wicked man revile God?
Why does he say to himself,
"He won't call me to account"?
14 But you, O God, do see trouble and grief;
you consider it to take it in hand.
The victim commits himself to you;
you are the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil man;
call him to account for his wickedness
that would not be found out.
16 The LORD is King for ever and ever;
the nations will perish from his land.
17 You hear, O LORD , the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.
and that they are brainwashed idiots who are lucky to be able to tie their boots
Kofi Anan and the ACLU will soon be heard from whining that we are not going to win "hearts and minds" with "exclusionary" religion right out in public where people of other opinions can hear about it ...
I say it's about time we begain to speak out boldly and profess what we believe, because it's not about hurting the feelings of dissenters and unbelievers -- it is about our own immortal souls.
How wonderful to read that our brave men and women going off to the front lines of a battle we all fight daily, have no problem telling the world in Whose name they fight. May He bless their enterprise with success and hold them in His arms alway.
Precious Lord Jesus protect these men as they go into battle against the enemy! Surround them with your armies of angels and give them a light for their path! We thankyou for these brave men, and ask Dear Lord, that you bless them and their families abundantly!! AMEN!
Very touching and moving! God Bless Our Troops!
I pray for these Marines and all our Military, miltiple times EVERY day!
Father bless them...............every one.
Draw those that don't know You to Yourself. Let them be witnesses to Your grace!
Give them boldness and courage. Lord! May they be wise to seek Your wisdom in this battle.
You love Your people, Lord. To You, we give ALL honor and praise!!!
God Bless our Military!!!
One of my pet peeves is the fact that so many people refer to all military as "soldiers".I think I even listed them one day, correct me if I'm wrong anywhere.
Marines-----------Marines
Army--------------Soldiers
Air Force---------Airmen
Coast Guard-------Coast Guardsmen
Navy--------------Sailors
Did I leave anyone out?
Romans 8:37-39 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Im praying for our Troops as they go into battle.
I also woke up thinking or our dear military people and have been praying all morning. May God bless and protect all of them.
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