Monday, January 17, 2005
Wing and a Prayer
Got this in email. Thought it was worth passing on.
Sent: Monday, January 17, 2005 9:41 AM
Subject: Prayer Request
As a transportation battalion, my unit will be delivering the voting
machines and the ballots to villages and cities throughout Iraq during
the upcoming elections. (January 30/31) Our convoys are prime targets
for the insurgents because they do not want the equipment to arrive at
the polling stations nor do they want the local Iraqi citizens to have
the chance to vote; timely delivery must occur so that the elections
occur. Encourage your friends and family members and those within our
churches to pray specifically for the electoral process. Historically,
the previous totalitarian regime would not allow individual citizens to
vote. Democracy will not be realized in Iraq if intelligent and
competent officials are not elected to those strategic leadership
positions within the emerging government; freedom will not have an
opportunity to ring throughout this country if the voting process fails.
Announce this prayer request to your contacts throughout your churches,
neighborhoods, and places of business.
Those with leadership roles within the local church post this message in
as many newsletters and bulletins as possible. There is unlimited
potential for God's presence in this process but if we do not pray then
our enemy will prevail (See Ephesians 6:10-17) A prayer vigil prior to
the end of the month may be an innovative opportunity for those within
your sphere of influence to pray. This is a political battle that needs
spiritual intervention. A powerful story about God's intervention in the
lives of David's mighty men is recorded in 2 Samuel 23:8-33. David and
his warriors were victorious because of God's intervention. We want to
overcome those who would stand in the way of freedom. David's mighty men
triumphed over incredible odds and stood their ground and were
victorious over the enemies of Israel. (Iraqi insurgents' vs. God's
praying people). They don't stand a chance.
I will pray with my soldiers before they leave on their convoys and
move outside our installation gates here at Tallil. My soldiers are at
the nerve center of the logistic operation to deliver the voting
machines and election ballots. They will be driving to and entering the
arena of the enemy. This is not a game for them it is a historical
mission that is extremely dangerous. No voting machines or ballots. No
elections. Your prayer support and God's intervention are needed to give
democracy a chance in this war torn country. Thank you for reading this
e-mail. Please give this e-mail a wide dissemination.
Thank you for your prayer support for me and my family. Stand firm in
your battles.
Blessings,
Lyle
CH (CPT) Lyle Shackelford
Battalion Chaplain
HHD, 57th Transportation Battalion
Providing With Mobility
"Keep Em Moving"
vernon.shackelford@adder.arfor.army.mil
vernon.lyle.shackelford@us.army.mil
833-1264
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged,
for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
-Joshua 1:9
If you don't pray, put out a good thought, at least. These are our brothers and sisters, and this is a horribly dangerous task they're doing. Every savage lowlife scumbag over there with a weapon and twisted mind is going to be out to kill them.
I mentioned reading in a book by an Iranian woman about how life was for her. Ladies, can you imagine being "inspected" on a public street by government thugs, and if they decide, even though you're wearing your burkha and veil, that you've got too much mascara on, therefore they pound you with their police batons? Are you capable of conceiving an existence that restricted?
While I agree with those who don't believe that our form of Democracy can work in the middle east, it doesn't mean ANY form won't. They're all Muslims. If they truly want peace, if they're sick of the Saddams and the Udays and a ruling party, maybe they'll loosen up just a bit. If their government spreads that oil money far and wide, where they again have an infrastructure and comfortable lives, maybe they'll put their hatred of us infidels aside and focus on KEEPING those comfortable lives. Maybe.
At LEAST, do something nice for our soldiers.
If you got a problem with that, next time you're in your garage, roll down them windows, close that door, and leave that engine running. Turn on some nice commie pinko music and DIE. You're wasting good air.
