Last week with friends visiting from South Africa we walked through
Philadelphia's Historic District. As a new American that's an emotional
experience for me. I can't stand in that hall where the Declaration of
Independence was enacted without thinking how many of the signers paid
dearly for their convictions.
Some lost their lives in the ensuing
struggle, some lost their families and almost all lost large amounts of
property.
Not everyone in New Jersey was keen to abandon the English rule
but in the end all here benefited from the sacrifices made.
On the lawn opposite the Liberty Bell we were drawn to the display
of combat boots and civilian shoes. A group had carefully arranged the
boots: one pair for every fallen American soldier in the latest Iraq war
per state. Next to a few of those boots were pictures of the dead
soldiers.
I gulped with wet eyes at how once again this country has
offered the cream of its youth to topple a tyrant and to give the Iraqi
people a chance to be free.
Those boots represented the current toll of 2
soldiers per day since the start of the conflict. I know that figure is
tiny compared to the 330 per day in the civil war or the 219 a day in
world war two but it still touched my heart deeply.
Not everyone reading
this is at peace about continuing the struggle in Iraq but at least there
is a small chance for freedom there.
A township police officer, Mike, keeps me, his pastor,
informed about what's happening to him where he serves in Iraq. He
confirms the American government's guess 2 years ago that this would be a
long and hard struggle against international terrorism.
The great
suffering of the Iraqi people is dear to Mike's heart.
I considered their
plight when I gazed upon the civilian shoes at the exhibition - or was it
a protest? Ordinary people like you and me have been killed at a rate of
30 a day by indoctrinated guerillas whose suicidal attacks have made the
streets run red for 27 months.
Our army is up against a force that cares nothing for the Iraqi
shopkeeper, the pupil or the pensioner. These people are willing to kill
wherever their bent ideology considers an enemy to be.
The violence has
spilled onto the streets and subways of London. You must be very aware
that they are keen to bring it here once more. Ponder Thomas Paine's
words from 1776: "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer
soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the
service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love
and thanks of man and woman."
I get asked if all this suffering in Iraq is worth their freedom.
Here's Paine again: "Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; . the
harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too
cheap, we esteem too lightly. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon
its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as
freedom should not be highly rated."
In the face of all this you need ask what price you would be
willing to pay for the freedom of ordinary people. It may well be time to
bring the US troops home and thus allow the security forces of Iraq
increasing opportunity to show their mettle, but any withdrawal needs to
be at the pace that will allow a steady transfer of power.
Is God interested in political leaders?
A Jewish prophet named
Haggai was sent to tell governor Zerubbabel that God had chosen him to
enact wise laws in the nation. In those days laws were sealed with a
signet ring.
God meant for this politician to be His ring.
O that the
earth were filled with people willing to be the instruments of a holy,
wise and living God!
How about you applying for that job?
Norman Rockwell paintings illustrated freedom
