Chapter – 9 ‘The Chaplin receives New Orders’
Today was Valentines twenty-ninth birthday. There would be no cake or ice cream and certainly no happy birthday sung around a camp fire. It was overcast and looked like rain could come down at any moment. The Chaplin was making rounds today and planned to stop at Captain Holt’s platoon last and talk with Valentine, that is, if it worked out.
Valentine had moved up higher on the hill, there was one rock formation that had a hidden cave entrance. It had a small opening no more than 3 x 4 feet; he had no idea how far it went back but it would do for the isolation that he was looking for. He had used his binoculars to look towards the enemy location. There were two of the enemy troops standing near a tree, mostly hidden from his sight. They were having heated words from what he could gather. It wasn’t long until one was knocked unconscious and then tied up. The remaining soldier grabbed a white cloth and started running with it toward their hill. Valentine hollered toward the bottom of the hill, “Don’t shoot! A guy has a flag and wants to surrender.”
It wasn’t long until the enemy soldier was captured and taken to Major Cox’s mini base-camp. The excitement had stirred up the soldiers all over the hill. Valentine looked back toward where the man had come from and could see that reinforcements were untying the enemy soldier. He was talking and pointing towards the hill; it was almost toward where Valentine was now standing.
The Major was not happy with the status of having to guard a captured enemy. The next time the chopper came out, the captured enemy would be sent to the Base HQ location. He would probably send Sargent Valentine to escort him; unknown to his platoon commanders and the other troops, he just received orders to send Valentine back to HQ Base Camp and then stateside. His time for serving Uncle Sam was about up.
Back up on the hill Valentine had pulled out a small flashlight and pointed it into the cave entrance. Inside the entrance the walls ballooned out and there were several wooden boxes scattered around. The entrance reminded him of a message his preacher dad had once taught. He had called it ‘the door’ and even referred it as a PORTAL in the message. His dad had told the congregation that going through the PORTAL could lead a person to a new realm. He had spoken about the Hebrews putting blood on the doorway and in a sense, it became the PORTAL that let the Jews escape from Egypt to the Promised Land. His dad had told them the story; that it was the first Passover. Exodus 12:21-27
It had been an interesting message; as he recalled. His dad had told them that Jesus, who is the Passover lamb had an interesting PORTAL as well John 10:9. It was called the CROSS and it was also marked by blood being shed Hebrews 10:19. It also had led people from an old life to a new life. As he thought about his dad, a quick sob escaped from his lips. The Sargent leaned back and closed his eyes and asked the Holy Spirit to minister to his spiritual need. He spent half an hour just one-on-one praying like Rach’ and he had done. Silent tears were falling from his cheeks to the front of his uniform. He was making peace with his Lord at last.
The Major was in his tent looking at new orders to send scouts eastward to scope out the area; could there be a troop buildup by the enemy was the question from HQ? There was a river that flowed north to south along the border and it had been quiet there far too long; HQ was worried there might be future trouble and they had not invested manpower there for months.
As the four commanders walked into his tent there was an attack just beginning on the north side of the hill. Out of nowhere two tanks appeared along with an attack chopper. The soldiers were quickly looking for shelter as the barrage continued. Valentine crawled through the opening of the cave just in time as gunfire had found the location he had just vacated.
Twenty minutes later the enemy chopper exploded in midair and the enemy soon ceased their fire, which allowed company 538 to get the wounded to the back side of the hill. The medics were ready for the wounded along with the Chaplin who had just arrived.
Half an hour later the Major was giving orders; he also informed the commanders that the Chaplin had new orders as well and would be leaving with Valentine. The MILITARY were reducing Chaplin’s by fifty percent; cutting the budget and calling them nonessentials to the war effort. Captain Holt commented, “Yep, seems like wherever they can cut God out of government; that is what is happening across the land. It is the way of the world but not a good thing.” Proverbs 14:12. The other officers looked at him but did not comment.
IS GOD BEING CUT FROM GOVERNMENT, SCHOOLS, AND OTHER AGENCIES?
Is it the way of the world?
Attached
Exodus 12:21-27, When Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, Go and take for yourselves lambs according to your families, and slay the Passover lamb. 22 You shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and apply some of the blood that is in the basin to the lintel and the two doorposts; and none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning. 23 For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you. 24 And you shall observe this event as an ordinance for you and your children forever. 25 When you enter the land which the Lord will give you, as He has promised, you shall observe this rite. 26 And when your children say to you, What does this rite mean to you?’27 you shall say, ‘It is a Passover sacrifice to the Lord who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but spared our homes.’” And the people bowed low and worshiped.
John 10:9, .. JESUS said; I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. [Is Jesus the invisible portal you have chosen?]
Hebrews 10:19, Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, [The holy place is where God has his abode; how is it that we can join him?]
Proverbs 14:12, 12 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. [The secular world does not put their TRUST in God; they will face judgement.]
Valentine has been grieving for eight years; maybe it is time his mourning to be over.
DG