Letter from a Soldier

"Areas that were previously thought to be untamable and some of the most dangerous parts of the country are now actively experiencing peace, freedom, and stability for the first time in history." - Capt. Boots Dunlap

I asked permission to pass on this message from a long-time friend whose son has been stationed in the Middle East. I believe you will appreciate the insight into today's war.

Dear Friends,
Thank you to all of you that have supported my son, Capt. Boots Dunlap over his 474 day deployment to Afghanistan. His outfit, the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry, 10th Mountain Division endured a very difficult deployment in the Hindu Kush mountains of eastern Afghanistan. The 750 man battalion lost 20 fine soldiers along with 120 of our soldiers wounded. Boots has returned safely and is in the process of returning to civilian life in Arizona... Below is a thank you note to you from Boots.
Thank you again,
Charlie Dunlap and Family

Dear Friends, Family, and Supporters of 1-32 IN;
There is no way to thank you enough for the tremendous support you gave my family, my wife, my fellow Soldiers, and me over the last 17 months. I apologize that I am unable to thank you each individually. However, to properly thank so many of you for the overwhelming amount of letters, packages, gifts, and prayers would surely take us until next year.
My battalion has finally returned home after an extremely challenging but rewarding deployment in Northeastern Afghanistan. The Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry operated in one of the most rigorous combat environments that I have seen during my tours to Iraq and Afghanistan. For over 450 days they fought a determined and well trained enemy while simultaneously conducting numerous civil-military projects that helped to instill confidence within the Afghan people, as well as economic and civil prosperity in the provinces.
The long duration of the deployment allowed the Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry to see the effects of their personal sacrifices that Soldiers on shorter tours are never able to see. Areas that were previously thought to be untamable and some of the most dangerous parts of the country are now actively experiencing peace, freedom, and stability for the first time in history. Mountainous terrain that was once considered to be an unsecureable safe-haven for Taliban and Al Qaeda are now areas that strongly support the new Afghan government and are experiencing peace and prosperity unlike ever before. All this was only accomplished as a result of the selflessness, courage, and love these Soldiers demonstrated to the Afghan Army, police, children, and people.
Thank you for recognizing their service and the grave sacrifices they made with your relentless prayers and generous support. Your confidence in us gave us hope, which in turned infected the Afghan people.
On a more personal note, I am humbled by all the support I received, especially from people that I don't even know. It is Americans like you that justify the costs of protecting our way of life. For those of you that helped take care of my lovely and amazing wife in my absence, I am indebted to you. May God bless you all as you have been a blessing to the Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry and my family. God Bless You, God Bless America, and God Bless Afghanistan.
With deepest gratitude,
Boots Dunlap
CPT, IN
US Army

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”
-- Hebrews 10:23

History Belongs to Who?

The late Derek Prince once said: "History belongs to the intercessor." Who? How can that be? What is an intercessor? What does that have to do with government?

I just attended a seminar with Bob Beckett, who made a powerful case for the eternal impact of informed intercession. He has been a part of a community in California that has experienced a radical transformation in recent years (briefly chronicled on one of the "Transformations" videos). Deuteronomy 5:33 says: "You shall walk in all the way which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess." Hundreds of verses in the Bible make the clear connection of our actions and the welfare of our land. The necessity of the "healing of the land" is often stated. From the very beginning Adam, and all mankind, is instructed to rule the land. When man rules well, the land prospers. When government goes astray and the land suffers, God calls intercessors in prayer and action to arise. There is so much more to say on this matter, but I am absolutely convinced that the prayers of those who care, seek the Lord, and carry out His will on behalf of the land they are assigned to, EFFECT HISTORY. First, ask God if you are in the place He has assigned you. Second, ask Him for a revelation and understanding of your specific assignment for the "land which you will possess." Because, "history belongs to the intercessor."

A Frequent Recurrence

There is an extremely inconvenient phrase (for some) near the beginning of the Arizona Constitution: "A frequent recurrence to fundamental principles is essential to the security of individual rights and the perpetuity of free government." - Article II, Section 1. The constitutional convention members of our state in 1910 learned well from our national Founding Fathers. That is, there is a tendency for man to forget, especially to forget fundamental principles of good government. We get greedy. We get selfish. We get power hungry. So we need checks and balances and constant reminders about what is right and good. Otherwise, we begin to write our own new rules. The original contract protecting all people is eroded away. How many Arizona citizens have read the Arizona Constitution? Very few of us, I'm sure. Yet, it is one of the primary legal documents that we live under. How much more protected would we be from all the legal perversions of this document if there was a general public knowledge of what it says?

This applies all the more to the most fundamental principles of our lives. A frequent recurrence to God and His word - the Bible - is essential to our true security and freedom. We don't need to think up and write a new set of principles, the best have already been given. So, whether for the government of all people or for our own personal lives, let's take heed of Article II, Section 1 of the Arizona Constitution!

Summer Heat

Actually, I can't complain. Since I have returned from a Southern California vacation, the temperatures in Phoenix have hardly touched 100 degrees, and there have even been two or three cooling rains. Nonetheless, there is a summer heat that most of us experience that parallels the season in political events when there is a waiting and bearing that tests the mettle of men. This brings to mind the book of Daniel, chapter 3, and the famous account of Daniel's friends who faced "the furnace of blazing fire" because they would not serve other "gods or worship the golden image" under the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar. Because they entrusted their lives to Him, God brought Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego through the furnace (summer heat) experience despite the fact that the king gave orders "to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated." The heat of the furnace was so great that the king's men who escorted the men of God to the furnace were killed. However, not only were the men of God not harmed in any way after being thrown into the furnace, but a fourth man, with "the appearance like a son of the gods" (many say the Son of God!) appeared with them in the furnace and untied the three men.

Daniel 3:27-28 - "The fire had no effect on the bodies of these men nor was their hair of their heads singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them. Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king's command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God."

The Babylonian king was even moved to bless the very ones who violated his command.

That is how to weather the summer heat!

Pillars of Wisdom

First, I want to apologize for being so long between posts. I have recently finished writing the book, God in the Foundations of Arizona Government, and have seen it through the printing process. And I just returned from vacationing in California. Though I always have somewhat of a hard time returning to the sand of the desert after enjoying the sand of the beach, I do love my friends and work here in Arizona. A welcome assist in the transition was the steady splash of rain as we drove back into Phoenix. Having said that, here is today's post:

We all need wisdom. Whether in writing a book, on vacation, or in the heat of politics, wisdom makes all the difference. Proverbs 9 begins: "Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars." Many governmental buildings gain their appearance of strength by incorporating prominent pillars in their architecture. We commonly speak of "pillars of strength." I need to do some research on what the seven pillars might be that wisdom formed in Proverbs 9 -- I can't find their description conspicuously stated. What is clear appears in verse 10: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Sounds like that is the foundation of the building upon which the seven pillars rest. That is a foundation I want in my life - while writing, vacationing, and doing whatever He says when I return to the desert. He is the author and source of all wisdom.