On this day, 12 August 2016, Army Staff Sgt. Christopher A. Wilbur, 36, of Granite City, Il.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, in Fort Carson, Colorado; died from a non-combat related incident, while deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan. We must never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation.
John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
A comment about the text.
Words can communicate and explain some of how we feel about others. We can even tell someone we love them. We can explain how precious they are to us. However, our actions will either validate and confirm our love or reveal that our words are false. When we sacrifice ourselves, however, and give up our wishes, our preferences, and our lives for our friends, we give the greatest of all gifts and prove our love beyond any doubt. I had an outstanding professor who loved to say, "We must put our lives where our mouths are." Jesus did just that for us on the cross: he called us his friends. (John 15:14-15) then he showed his love for us. Now, Jesus calls us to love each other as Jesus has loved us — not just with our words but also with our deeds. (1 John 3:16,18)
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
A comment about the text.
Words can communicate and explain some of how we feel about others. We can even tell someone we love them. We can explain how precious they are to us. However, our actions will either validate and confirm our love or reveal that our words are false. When we sacrifice ourselves, however, and give up our wishes, our preferences, and our lives for our friends, we give the greatest of all gifts and prove our love beyond any doubt. I had an outstanding professor who loved to say, "We must put our lives where our mouths are." Jesus did just that for us on the cross: he called us his friends. (John 15:14-15) then he showed his love for us. Now, Jesus calls us to love each other as Jesus has loved us — not just with our words but also with our deeds. (1 John 3:16,18)
On this day, 13 August 2017, Army Sgt. Roshain Euvince Brooks, 30, of Brooklyn, New York, assigned to 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; died from wounds sustained while engaged in combat operations in Iraq. Also killed was Army Spc. Allen Levi Stigler Jr., 22, of Arlington, Texas. We must never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation.
On this day, 13 August 2017, Army Spc. Allen Levi Stigler Jr., 22, of Arlington, Texas, assigned to 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; died from wounds sustained while engaged in combat operations in Iraq. Also killed was Army Sgt. Roshain Euvince Brooks, 30, of Brooklyn, New York. We must never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation.