Posted on 08/24/2003 4:56:55 PM PDT by Happy2BMe
By HRVOJE HRANJSKI
The Associated Press
Sunday, August 24, 2003; 5:16 PM
TIKRIT, Iraq - With war and death on his mind, Spc. Barry Page was baptized Sunday in the Tigris River by an Army chaplain at the sprawling U.S. military headquarters on the fabled river's banks.
A Southern Baptist working as a military policeman, Page said he decided to "reannounce his life to Christ" in the birthplace of civilization.
"I realized death is walking in this place," said the 22-year-old from Houston, his uniform and boots soaking wet. "It can be any of us. Next time it could be me."
The temperature was 120 as Page and three other soldiers waited outside one of Saddam Hussein's palatial complexes to take their turn in the water. The baptism took place behind the palace, where the river waters surround an artificial island overgrown with palm trees.
"This ground has a historical, biblical meaning," Page said. "I can say I was in the same waters. I'm glad I found peace with God."
Each of the soldiers took careful steps into the arms of Army chaplain Capt. Xuan Tran, of the 4th Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 22nd Regiment. Waist deep in the river, Tran briefly submerged the soldiers, recited a verse from the Bible, and proclaimed "Amen" three times.
Corp. Christian Gaspard, 24, from Baton Rouge, La., said he was baptized before but did it again Sunday because "he didn't live like a Christian."
The father of a 3-year-old daughter said his pregnant wife was expecting another child in September, when he hopes to be home.
Tran said he was always happy "to have soldiers dedicating themselves to God."
"Some have done it before, others are doing for the first time," Tran said.
He said the reasons vary from being in a war situation to rediscovering their faith.
"For many of them, they are away from their wives and children, and they have time to think and rededicate themselves to God," he said.
In the last few weeks, Tran said he baptized at least 16 soldiers.
Since the troops of the 4th Infantry seized Saddam's hometown in May, they have come under increasing attacks by Iraqi guerrillas firing rocket-propelled grenades and laying homemade bombs. Soldiers detain Saddam loyalists virtually every night, seize caches of weapons and ammunition and conduct round-the-clock patrols of the tense streets of Tikrit, the former president's hometown.
There was also a huge revival during Desert Storm in 1990-1991.
David Wilkerson heard from God in 2001 right before 9/11.
God told him America had once again backslidden into the adultery, orgies, murder, and wickedness it had repented from during the 1990-1991 revival and that judgment was on it's way.
A few months later, David Wilkerson was looking out his office window and saw the planes hit the twin towers.
Judgment has begun on America.
Interesting thought process.
I know - surpise, disgust, and outrage at the thought that someone would dare say Almighty God would dare judge a nation such as America.
I didn't say it, David Wilkerson did. I agree with him that America is not immune to the wrath of God.
Our very worst MONTH we lost 28 troops to hostile fire across a nation the size of CA with 150,000 troops on the ground and major aggressive ops being conducted - including taking out the 2 Hussein "boys"....28 TOTAL.
The press misrepresenting the situation on the ground day after day for 5 months and counting is having an effect on morale, scaring the newly freed Iraqis and strengthening the will of the loser regime rapists and torturers, and terrorist wannabes who never could hold a candle to our awesome troops - whose numbers are diminishing daily, and who still have NO future in the nation of Iraq.
May God forgive our press. I can't.
Most of Latin America is far more Christian than the United States. You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a church. But these places have suffered decades of devasting poverty and civil war. A Fickle God, you have.
I can forgive mistakes. But the intentional bias and misleading articles over such a long period of time is tough to get past. Read an article tonight which said that a "majority" of voters do not want Bush re-elected. Then it said that this poll came back with 49% of voters voting against Bush. Unbelivable.
During the Florida election, Florida AP and Gannett (BBC South) pushed a dishonest internal DNC poll - which the good people at American Prowler warned us they would do - showing McBride within a few points of Jeb Bush. When we called them on it, they came out with something like 4 dishonest polls that week. We had months of pure propaganda going into the election.
We bypassed the press and went straight to the people.
Our troops are asking for our help to get the truth out to the people. It's the least we can do for them.
Bypass the press and spread the NEWS.
He judge nations for their wickeness in the past, what makes you believe he won't do it again?
The U.S. has not been a Christian nation now for many years.
There are many other nations more Godly than the U.S.
But you refer to Latin America?
Mexica? Brazil? Panama? Columbia? Cuba? Huh?
GOD certainly did hold Israel accountable for sins.
Now, I do not profess to know if 9/11 was a punishment or a sign from GOD.... All I know is that GOD IS CONTROL..... and that all things work for good for those who LOVE THE LORD.
I couldn't help but think that if God was really looking out for her, he wouldn't have let her ride into the glass door to begin with.
If God is in Control, do we have any control, or are we simply mindless robots? Does God use evil people and events to punish people? During the time of the old testament, no one understood earthquakes or volcanos. No what I mean?
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