New Year's Reading Ideas

NON-FICTION: "UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity... and Why It Matters" http://www.amazon.com/unChristian-Generation-Really-Christianity-Matters/dp/0801013003/ref=br_lf_m_1000158721_1_9_ttl?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=books&pf_rd_p=323610601&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1401&pf_rd_i=1000158721&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=136GV8QMMTNNRBHEQS1A

FICTION: "The Ordinary Spy" is reviewed at the New York Times as being "surely the best portrait of the working C.I.A. we have had in many years."
http://www.amazon.com/Ordinary-Spy-Novel-Joseph-Weisberg/dp/1596913762/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199124601&sr=8-1

CURRENT EVENTS: "Iraq and the Evolution of American Strategy"
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1597971960?ie=UTF8&tag=smallwarsjour-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1597971960

U.N. Changing For the Better?

An editorial says that the U.N. may be seeing a "slight glimmer of positive change": http://www.nypost.com/seven/12292007/postopinion/editorials/cleaning_up_the_un_924631.htm

Have a Blessed 2008!

No king is saved by the size of his army;

no warrior escapes by his great strength...

but the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear [respect] him,

on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.

Psalm 33:16,18

For you did not receive a spirit

that makes you a slave again to fear,

but you received the Spirit of sonship.

And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."

Romans 8:15

New PTSD Research

"A new study of combat-exposed Vietnam War veterans shows that those with injuries to certain parts of the brain were less likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The findings, from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Naval Medical Center, suggest that drugs or pacemaker-like devices aimed at dampening activity in these brain regions might be effective treatments for PTSD," reports Emaxhealth at http://www.emaxhealth.com/32/19515.html

The Fellowship of the Unashamed

"I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit's power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made-I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sence, and my future is secure. I'm finished with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded.

I now live by faith, depend on His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and labor with power. That's what it means to be a disciple of Jesus." --Dr. Bob Moorehead, from his book, Words Aptly Spoken.

Why Bhutto's Assasination Matters

The International Crisis Group released a press statement on Benazir Bhutto's assassination, which reads in part: "The assassination of Benazir Bhutto...is a serious blow to the re-emergence of democracy in Pakistan and the country’s return to stability. The leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party and former prime minister died alongside her colleagues and supporters campaigning in elections..." Link to ICG: http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm

Joel C. Rosenburg writes, "Pakistan and her nuclear weapons are in danger of falling into the hands of Islamic radicals. ..Today's attack is a sobering reminder that Pakistan is just one coup d'etat away from Osama bin Laden or one of his fanatical, murderous allies suddenly gaining control. It is difficult to imagine a more nightmarish scenario than al-Qaeda in possession of Pakistan's nuclear arsensal, but this is not an impossibility." Link: http://joelrosenberg.blogspot.com/


A Pakistani Christian remembers Bhutto:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/decemberweb-only/152-52.0.html

Her life in pictures: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7161605.stm

The Christmas Truce

"Beginning Dec. 24, 1914 German and British troops in Belgium laid their weapons down, and crawled out of their trenches to celebrate Christmas with carols, gifts and an impromptu game of soccer in No Man's Land," reports the Spectator: http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/299985

Keeping Christ in Christmas

"America might be the king of capitalism, but secularism must never become so prevalent that our religious traditions are discarded," writes Roland Martin at
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/20/roland.martin/index.html

Making "Peace on Earth" Happen

"At the first Christmas, the angels proclaimed, 'Peace on earth.' Just-war and pacifist Christians together can make it happen," writes Ron Sider at Christianity Today: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/december/27.44.html

Iraq: The Best Story of the Year

"Against all the odds, an optimistic prediction comes true," writes one UK journalist at
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/tim_hames/article3059926.ece

Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome
Peacekeeping PTSD

"Canada’s peacekeepers suffer similar rates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) as combat, war-zone soldiers...peacekeepers were more likely to have PTSD and more severe symptoms if they were young, single, or had multiple deployments." For more, read:
http://communications.uwo.ca/com/western_news/stories/stress,_depression_high_among_canadian_peacekeepers_20071213440814/

Peace Keepers, Peace Makers

Quotes on peacemaking, from Christianity Today: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/december/25.54.html

Best Present Ever??

Two kids were missing their dad, who was stationed in Iraq ... but guess what (who) showed up inside one of their Christmas packages? http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=14354

Fight the Good Fight!

"Where were you wounded?" asked the surgeon of a soldier on Lookout Mountain.

"Almost at the top," he answered. He forgot even his gaping wound -- he only remembered that he won the heights. So let us go forth to higher endeavors for Christ and never rest still we can shout from the very top, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)

As soldiers show their scars and talk of battles when they come at last to spend their old age in the country at home, so shall we in the dear land to which we are hastening, speak of the goodness and faithfulness of God who brought us through all the trials of the way. I would not like to stand in the white-robed host and hear it said, "These are they that came out of great tribulation, all except one."

God will not look you over for medals, degrees, or diplomas, but for scars.

(All quotations from the Dec. 12th reading of the devotional, Streams in the Desert.)

Military Ethics in the News

"The head of the CIA is due to testify to two key congressional intelligence committees, after it emerged tapes of two interrogations had been destroyed," reports the BBC:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7138637.stm

Adopt-a-Terrorist for Prayer

You have heard it said,

"Love your neighbor and hate your enemy."

But I tell you love your enemies

and pray for those who persecute you. --Jesus

Here's a unique opportunity to put Jesus' words into action: at the following website you can "select and pray daily for a change in the heart of [a] terrorist:" http://www.myatfp.com/

Military Ethics Concerns in India

An Indian newspaper columnist writes, "...indiscipline and discontentment in the Armed Forces ... [are] a matter of grave concern to all the right thinking people in general and the defence forces in particular." For more, see http://www.centralchronicle.com/20071207/0712301.htm

Pearl Harbor Attack

66 years ago today Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was attacked. Here is a related video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alzP0jHk18U

Top 100 Military Blogs

Here's an interesting list of the top 100 (almost exclusively) U.S.A.-focused military blogs: http://milblogging.com/top100.php

Where the Soldiers Are

Here's an interesting list of the top 101 U.S. cities with the largest percentage of people in military barracks, etc. (population 1,000+): http://www.city-data.com/top2/c526.html

...and here's the top 101 U.S. cities with the largest percentage of people in military quarters (population 1,000+):

http://www.city-data.com/top2/c525.html

Lost WWII Plane Found

The Daily Mail reports: "Shifting sands reveal World War Two fighter plane lost for 65 years." For 65 years, this Second World War fighter had lain hidden under the surface of a beach where it crash-landed. Just a short distance above it, holidaying families have built sandcastles, strolled and swum, all unaware of its existence. But now the P-38 Lightning has re-emerged after freak weather conditions caused the sands to shift and expose its rusting frame." Report includes great pictures of the plane on the beach: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=494079&in_page_id=1770

Venezuela's Good News

The good news this week is that Venezuela's leader surprised many people by accepting the people's rejection of his proposed constitutional changes, which would have greatly increased his power. As always, BBC is a great source for information:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7126308.stm

Military Ministry News

ACCTS' December newsletter includes a report from a regional (Pacific) military ministry conference in Australia and news from staff members' recent trip to Central Asia: http://www.accts.org/media/newsletters/07/acct07_12.pdf

Ministry to Sudan's Military

Flame International, a UK based organization which works for healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation, just sent a team to Sudan. They report, "We ministered for 2 days at SPLA army barracks. On the first day about 200 soldiers and commanders were present and about 20 gave their lives to the Lord and we had testimonies of men receiving physical healing also! The second day we had about 100 soldiers and the army commander was there throughout! This was another unique opportunity which the Lord opened up for us. These are significant 'gatekeepers' in the nation and we long for them to be healed."

Link: http://www.flameinternational.org/

U.S. Military Christian Controversy

"Some Americans believe that an 'evangelical coup' is being mounted by Christians in the United States’ military. The concept is absurd to mainstream America, which is why the constant tide of press releases by organizations trumpeting such a conspiracy is most often ignored." The brief but insightful article is here: http://christianfighterpilot.com/blog/?p=133