On this day, 14 August 2011, Army Cpl. Joseph A. VanDreumel, 32, of Grand Rapids, Mich.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade Grafenwoehr, Germany; was killed while conducting vehicle recovery operations and encountered a secondary explosion while dismounted. He was engaged in combat operations in Yahya Khel district, Paktika province, Afghanistan, Also killed was Sgt. Matthew A. Harmon. We must never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation.
On this day, 14 August 2011, Army Sgt. Matthew A. Harmon, 29, of Bagley, Minn.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade Grafenwoehr, Germany; was killed while conducting vehicle recovery operations and encountered a secondary explosion while dismounted. He was engaged in combat operations in Yahya Khel district, Paktika province, Afghanistan, Also killed was Cpl. Joseph A. VanDreumel. We must never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation.
On this day, 14 August 2011, Army 1st Lt. Damon T. Leehan, 30, of Edmond, Okla.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma National Guard, Stillwater, Oklahoma died from wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was engaged in combat operations in Alingar district, Laghman province, Afghanistan. We must never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation.
Romans 8:15-16
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." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
A comment about the text.
Ab-ba. Listen to a baby and you will hear these basic early sounds. Incredibly, Jesus showed us, and the Spirit enables us, to speak to God with these basic-to-a-baby syllables of familiarity, trust, vulnerability, dependency, and intimacy. The Spirit is our guarantee that we don't have to be afraid of God. We must revere him and hold him in awe, but we can also approach him as our loving and tender Father who always listens to our hearts and seeks to bless our lives.
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." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
A comment about the text.
Ab-ba. Listen to a baby and you will hear these basic early sounds. Incredibly, Jesus showed us, and the Spirit enables us, to speak to God with these basic-to-a-baby syllables of familiarity, trust, vulnerability, dependency, and intimacy. The Spirit is our guarantee that we don't have to be afraid of God. We must revere him and hold him in awe, but we can also approach him as our loving and tender Father who always listens to our hearts and seeks to bless our lives.
I had the pleasure, this afternoon, to speak with a retired marine who fought in Okinawa. He lied about his age and shipped off to bootcamp at 16. There are very few of these warriors left. If you have the opportunity, don’t pass it up.