I've heard that when we first invaded Iraq that Iraqi insurgents thought we had some special secret weapon that caused their weapons to miss. We had a secret weapon and we still do, but it isn't what they're thinking. Patriot Paradox posted a recent email that explains,
'Chaplain, let me tell you what God did for me; Chaplain, the angels that we have been talking about for weeks, preceding this war, shielded me and protected me.' It was amazing.
The email continues,
Rocket-propelled grenades would come at them, and literally curve in mid-air and go around them. Untold Marines shared with me that rockets would come and literally dive down as if batted by some unseen hand. We had one rocket go through a Humvee passenger-side window, and explode in the compartment. Without a doubt, it should have killed every man in that vehicle. And yet, when the explosion came through, it blew out the front of the windshield, and so it exploded out instead of in, and not a single man was injured.
And there's much more over at Patriot Paradox. Go read it and you'll be both amazed and thankful.
A related story caught my eye about six months ago. It was about something called "Shields of Strength". It isn't magic and doesn't act as some kind of talisman. In fact, soldiers have been killed wearing Shields of Strength. Instead, they serve as a testimony to Faith and the power of prayer.
The 1-by-2-inch shield, which Rippetoe wore along with his military dog tags and a Christian cross, displayed a U.S. flag on one side and a quote from Joshua 1:9 on the other: "I will be strong and courageous. I will not be terrified, or discouraged, for the Lord my God is with me wherever I go." [source]
Over at Beacon Blog is a post about a story in the LA Times. Go here and look at the pictures. In one of them there's a soldier being baptized. Around his neck you'll notice a Shield of Strength dog tag like the ones described above.
Read more about it here.
Once this thing is over and all of these soldiers return home, what kind of impact do you think they're going to have on their communities?
My brother, Kenny, is the one who created the Shields of Strength, in fact my younger brother named them. I am so proud of how Kenny is able to use this ministery to reach all of the soldiers who wear them. Kenny has such a heart for the Lord and winning people to Christ that he has passed out over 1 million shields and has not made a profit because his only concern is that people hear the Word of God and get saved so that they will have everlasting life with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Stories like these inspire Kenny to keep up the Lord's work because he is seeing people change with the Power or Gods Word. God Bless you all. Bonnie Knight
Posted by: Bonnie Knight at October 27, 2004 01:16 PMI've never met Kenny but through him I was introduced to his sister Bonnie via email. My son at age 20 went to Iraq and spent his Christmas, New Year's, and many other holidays, he was shielded by God, prayers swarmed around him as he was a blessed soldier to wear an armored vest and drive an armored humvee, he was shot in the chest and drove over a bomb that left a 15 ft crater, and came home alive with no wounds, ready to go back and help free the Iraqi people, he was given a tag before he left and I wore on the whole time he was there. Bonnie was there for me many times and although I've never met her or Kenny nor spoke to them I know their crowns will hold many jewels to lay at Jesus feet one day. Recently a coworker gave me a signed baseball card from her son who plays on the Expos, he had his testimony put on the back, Kenny sent several baseball tags, at no charge, to give to him with the same verse, now Jamey can't wait to get back to Canada and pass them out, the Word of God will not be stopped. And Kenny will reap a tremedous harvest when one day people walk up to him in Heaven and say, it was through you that I met Jesus and why I am here today.
Posted by: Diane W at October 27, 2004 06:11 PMI've never met Kenny but through him I was introduced to his sister Bonnie via email. My son at age 20 went to Iraq and spent his Christmas, New Year's, and many other holidays, he was shielded by God, prayers swarmed around him as he was a blessed soldier to wear an armored vest and drive an armored humvee, he was shot in the chest and drove over a bomb that left a 15 ft crater, and came home alive with no wounds, ready to go back and help free the Iraqi people, he was given a tag before he left and I wore on the whole time he was there. Bonnie was there for me many times and although I've never met her or Kenny nor spoke to them I know their crowns will hold many jewels to lay at Jesus feet one day. Recently a coworker gave me a signed baseball card from her son who plays on the Expos, he had his testimony put on the back, Kenny sent several baseball tags, at no charge, to give to him with the same verse, now Jamey can't wait to get back to Canada and pass them out, the Word of God will not be stopped. And Kenny will reap a tremedous harvest when one day people walk up to him in Heaven and say, it was through you that I met Jesus and why I am here today.
Posted by: Diane W at October 27, 2004 06:11 PMI have known Bonnie, Kenny, and Gabe most of my life. They are wonderful people. I am so proud of Kenny and his ministry. Kenny is so wonderful to supply the Shields of Strength. Kenny is truly a man of God who is blessed with a very virtuous wife, Tammy, and two beautiful daughters.
Posted by: Tammie Harrison Lang at October 29, 2004 09:34 PMI have known Bonnie, Kenny, and Gabe most of my life. They are wonderful people. I am so proud of Kenny and his ministry. Kenny is so wonderful to supply the Shields of Strength. Kenny is truly a man of God who is blessed with a very virtuous wife, Tammy, and two beautiful daughters.
Posted by: Tammie Harrison Lang at October 29, 2004 09:34 PM