I just wanted to proclaim thanks to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit for their continued efforts, along with the saints and all the holy angels and those who have gone before me to help me through my time as a soldier in the Long War on Terrorism.

Just last week I was angered over a soldier who shot a Quran in Iraq. Shooting Qurans is not going to win hearts and minds over to a more peaceful
way of considering things. It especially will not help win souls over to Christ -
who said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

The way to win souls is to, as Ghandi said, "be the change you expect others
to become." By shooting Qurans, we are not fulfilling God's will and Christ's
desire, to love those that persecute us and to bring his discipleship unto the
world.

I made it through my anger over this event, that arguably, along with the remnant hatred that Iraqis hold over Abu Ghraib, will result in more actions
against our soldiers, not less.

I just wanted to thank God for helping me to do this, and to share with all you out there that I, a many times deployed soldier, do not hold the Quran
shooter's sympathies.

I look forward to a more peaceful Iraq, one that will be receptive to having Christians and people of all faiths practice whatever they are led to believe in, of their own free will and in keeping with the evolution of their culture into a more peaceful one.

I'm glad you don't hold the shooter's sympathies. My heart sank when I heard that story.

Your statement above is a little disturbing though, considering the recent news of soldiers trying to convert people over there to Christianity. Please remember "winning souls over to Christ" is not in your job description over there, and it can make it dangerous for your fellow soldiers - not to mention us too.

As peaceful and loving as it feels to spread the "word of God," it can also be viewed as an attempt to take over their land and resources through Christianity - as "Christian soldiers" have done in the past. Many of the people over there have lost their loved ones, their homes and livelihood in a tragic way. Their (Muslim) faith is all they have left. Don't you think it would be wrong to attempt to take that away from them too? If we are to win their trust, we can't be seen as "crusaders."

My son is on his way out to the desert now. ALL of you are in my prayers.

I didn't mean to imply that we should be attempting to convert them. I was equally upset to see reports of Marines handing out John 3:16 coins. I disagree with that as well.

I'm sorry if I implied that. I absolutely agree with you that the soldiers need to remain entirely neutral.

Thanks for your feedback.