Personal 1

Another ViewPoint
by :Hill-Billy Preacher

The good Samaritan

Compassion worth more than many Bombs.

I am sure that most of us have been spending a major part of our spare time watching the advents unfold in the war taking place in Iraq. Is Hussein alive or dead? Why is it taking so long for the battle to be won by our forces? Who will rule Iraq once the present government has been been removed from office? I suppose most of us have heard these questions over and over with the varied replies that they invoke. I am not going to endeavor to give you the answers. They are better left to those who are more knowledgable than I. And these are multitude.

It seems to me that those events that attract attention are the personal ones. It is hard for the mind too grasp the total scope of the war, but it is possible for us to relate to another human being that is experiencing the events even though they are on the other side of the world.

Who would have dreamed that a young woman from Palestine, W. Va. would capture the attention of the entire world as she was rescued with the help of a local Iraqi and many of her fellow soldiers. As the news people reported of the events, this story got major billing even though many were dying and the devastation was occurring in various places throughout the country. She was our daughter, our granddaughter, our daughter in law, the neighbors kid next door. She made the war real to us. We identified with her as one of our own. In years to come we will remember her and will forgot much weightier events.

An event that I will always remember from the Gulf war some dozen years ago was the sight of an Iraqi soldier coming out of his fox hole giving himself up to one of our soldiers. I could not hold back the tears as I felt his plight. We human beings have been touched by the good Lord to feel compassion on our fellows. This word literally means to suffer with. This is the ability that makes it possible for us to relate to fellow human beings. It is the process of one human being sharing the feelings of another.

I observed one such unfolding event last night. Unable to sleep I watched, what turned out to be one of the most touching occurrence of one human beings reaching out to another. The scene was one of death and devastation. A dead body of an Iraqi soldier was shown laying in the road while others of his comrades lay entombed in a destroyed tank a few short yards away. The shots from anti-aircraft shells were exploding only a short distance away. The barrage continued unabated for what seemed like and eternity.

One of the newsmen noticed a movement from one of the bodies that had been laying beside the road for more than five hours. Upon closer investigation he discovered a wounded Iraqi soldier. One of the newsman who was a doctor, began immediately to administer first aid to the stricken man. No matter, that the Iraqi's fellow soldiers were firing shells that could kill him and those who were trying to administer to his medical needs. They continued to give him the help he so desperately needed. The doctor / newsman was soon joined by medical personnel from the Marines. The Iraqi rallied and was seen to smile even waving his hand toward the camera. His enemies had become his salvation, for without them he would surely have perished. At the risk of their own lives our young people brought aid to their fallen enemy. But no matter, for he was a part of a greater family that that of a enemy soldier. He was a fellow human being who was in need. Feeling his pain they reached out to help him. For a few short minutes warfare was set aside as help was administered to the one who needed it.

I could not but help remember the story that our Lord told thousands of years ago. It was of a man who fell victim to robbers who left him to die. Though others passed him by the good Samaritan bound up his wounds an d took him to an inn and made arrangements for his medical care. Who was neighbor to him that feel among the thieves asked the Lord. The answer was clear. " The one who helped him," came back the answer.

I saw last night the story of the good Samaritan portrayed on international T. V. Never was I any prouder to be an American as I watched our young men be a neighbor to their stricken enemy. The reply from our Lord is still appropriate today. "Go and do thou likewise." The most powerful weapons America has to bring peace to men on earth is not her powerful armaments, but it is in the compassion of our people toward those who are in need. The compassion of our young people toward their enemy may do more to bring peace than a thousand bombs.

God give us more young people like these.

.

. With millions of Americans, I observed the news conference given by our President this past Thursday evening. I can't ever remember watching a more somber affair. No one could doubt that our President took seriously the decision that was being imposed upon him. I can't begin to image the weight that must be upon his shoulders as he ponders the possibility of sending tens of thousands of our young men into harms way. How easy it is to be the backseat driver and to offer our copious criticisms of this man in the highest political office in the world. Some suggested that he was so obsessed with the ideal of removing Hussein from office, that his judgment was impaired. Some felt he had failed, in that he could not rally our allies to join with us in doing so. I will leave to others the dealing with the wisdom or lack thereof, in waging this conflict. I would briefly deal with the man upon whom, in final analysis, will alone make the decision to wage war.. Many questions were proffered by the news media along with their criticisms.

However, one particular question attracted my attention. Toward the end of the news conference, one reporter ask him how the President's religious faith entered into the equation. He explained that he prayed daily for God's guidance and that God might give him strength to fulfill his duties as President - especially in this conflagration that could lead to immediate warfare. It was very plain that he did not savor sending our young men into battle. He explained that he prayed continuously for peace. I was even more impressed when he stated his concerning for Iraqi soldiers as well as our own. It was a blessing to me to see our Lord's principles being practiced in highest offices of our land. For it was Jesus that taught us to pray for our enemies and do good to those who evilly entreat us. Our President also expressed his concern for the innocent Iraqi people. He stated that every precaution would be taken to spare their lives.

In continuing to explain the importance of his faith, he with teary eyes expressed how deeply he was touched by the thousands of prayers given on his behalf. He expressed his disappointment that he could not personally thank each individual for their prayers. Our present President is not alone in recognizing the need of prayer and Bible study.

George Washington was known to arise at four each morning for prayer and Bible study. He would spend another hour of prayer and Bible studies each night before retiring for sleep. He was also known to be a collector of sermons. When he could not attend the church services he was known to study one of the sermons, he had collected. He once stated, "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible

. "I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to men. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this Book." declared Abraham Lincoln, our 16th President. He was know to pray often during turbulent days of the Civil War.

I am thankful that we have a President, in these trying times, who realizes his need to pray to God personally and cherishes the prayers of the citizens or our great nation for himself. It may well be that many a dark day lays ahead for our nation. How many more terrorist attacks shall we endure? The possibilities are frightening. Though we have the most powerful military might that the world has ever know, we cannot completely protect ourselves from the fanatic who is willing to become a human bomb in order to take the lives of others.

It is to God that we must raise our voices. Let us pray for our President, for all his officials who advise him. Let us pray for our young men who will put their lives on the line if war ensues. Let us pray for the Iraqi people that they may be spared. Let us pray for their leaders that they may have the regard for their people to relinquish their power and position, that their nation might be spared the destruction that war will surely bring.

"Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. (Rom 13:2-:4 KJV)

Dear Father in heaven. Guide our president, that his will may be as your own. May God have mercy on us all.

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