It’s been a busy week as I’ve conducted literally dozens of radio interviews (live and taped) from my home office as our country prepares to honor the 24.9 million veterans in the United States. (For live radio broadcast interviews on Veterans Day, scroll down to the bottom of this posting.) Most of these interviews revolve around the power of prayer, and have very little to do with me and everything to do with the amazing men and women who have shared their true military stories with readers around the world.

I’ve been blessed to compile and edit God Answers Prayers Military Edition, an anthology from Harvest House Publishers that features stories from men and women of every branch of our military, and spanning decades of time to include our current world conflict and historic moments like WWI, WWII, Viet Nam, the Korean War, Pearl Harbor, the Civil War, and the Battle of Normandy—all these real life memories are woven together with the powerful thread of prayer.

As we watch the military presence around the world from our armchairs, we as civilians can gain a better perspective on just what military families go through, and how the power of prayer changes those situations, through reading the true short stories in God Answers Prayers Military Edition.

We know our President is a person of prayer, and through reading the powerful true stories in this new book, we can also see that many of the military men and women serving under him also tap into the same source of strength.

Please visit Crosswalk.com the next three days to read stories from God Answers Prayers Military Edition. The first story being featured on Crosswalk.com is from Jean Wise from Edon, Ohio. Jean shared a letter from Dan and the story is titled: Mail from Iraq: An American Soldier Writes Home. I’ve included a few paragraphs from Dan’s powerful letter; you’ll want to read the entire story.

… Mosul has become the key battleground area in Iraq right now. The media liked to use that phrase "battleground" to describe states like Ohio and Pennsylvania during the U.S. election. Well, up here, the "campaign" is of a slightly higher caliber.

… A sergeant from the first vehicle managed to get to the wounded soldier, moving toward him under fire and applying first aid. As he placed a lifesaving tourniquet around the specialist’s severed leg, we arrived to secure the area. Medics quickly evacuated the young soldier to the hospital. I removed his foot with the boot still on it from the vehicle. It could only have been God’s protection no one died and only one was severely injured.

… While some days are better than others and the news media sensationalizes the casualties, please remember there is an incredible amount of good being done for the Iraqi public. Good things largely being ignored by the media. About a week after we arrived back in Mosul the second time, we revisited the school. We were thrilled to watch the kids play a soccer game on the field we built. The teachers kept thanking and thanking us. The school is thriving and educating the future of Iraq.

… One of the guys from my company showed me the book of Nahum this evening. I must admit I’ve studied very little about Nahum. In Nahum, God speaks about the city of Nineveh and would you believe Mosul is built on and around ancient Nineveh? In fact, the locals say that Jonah is buried in the middle of the city. Nahum 1:7-8 states, "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him, but with an overwhelming flood he will make an end of Nineveh." I am sure Nahum was not referring to the present, but a flood of war has definitely come to this city Nahum’s description of Nineveh is full of violence and destruction, but I will continue to cling to his message of comfort in verse 7: "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble."

Read the entire story at Crosswalk.com.

Taken from God Answers Prayers: Military Edition by Allison Bottke, with Cheryll Hutchings and Jennifer Devlin. Copyright © 2005 by Allison Bottke. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene OR. Used with permission.

I’m also honored to be a guest on Janet Parshall’s America, both on radio today (live at 1:30 PM Central Time) and being rebroadcast on TV tomorrow, to share this wonderful collection of true military stories of answered prayer. Please join us in thanking our brave military men and women.

The History of Veterans Day

Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1918. Its purpose: to commemorate the end of World War I. First proclaimed by Congress in 1926 and each year thereafter, Armistice Day became “Veterans Day” in 1954 as a result of legislation signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The name was changed to honor all who served the nation in wars or conflicts. Veterans Day has been observed annually on this date since 1978, except for a brief period when it was celebrated on the fourth Monday of October.

God Bless America. And, may God continue to bless our Veterans and the military men and women currently serving our great country.


Veterans Day – Friday, November 11, 2005
Allison’s Live Radio Broadcasts

8:10 – 8:15 AM (Central Time)
KCBI, The Morning Program in Arlington, TX w/ Host Ron Harris

11:40 - 11:50 AM (Central Time)
KBJS, Take 5 in Jacksonville, TX w/ Host Eddie Baiseri (taped)

1:20 – 1:40 PM (Central Time)
WMCA 570, The Kevin McCullough Show in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ

2:10 - 2:18 PM (Central Time)
WKES Radio, Along the Way in St. Petersburg, FL w/ Host Ruth Dinwiddie

2:30 - 2:45 PM (Central Time)
KNKT, ABQ Connect with Peter Benson in Albuquerque, NM

3:15 – 3:30 PM (Central Time)
KJSL AM 630, The Debra Peppers Show in St. Louis, MO w/ Guest Host Duke Duvall

4:10 – 4;50 PM (Central Time)
KFAX 1100 AM Life Line in Fremont, CA w/ Host Pam Christian


Veterans Facts

24.9 million The number of military veterans in the United States.(From the upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2004-2005.)

1.7 millionThe number of veterans who are women. (From the upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2004-2005.)

9.7 million The number of veterans who are age 65 or over. (From the upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2004-2005.)

2.4 millionThe number of black veterans. Additionally, 1.1 million veterans are Hispanic; 272,000 are Asian; 159,000 are American Indian or Alaska native; and 30,000 are native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander. (The numbers for blacks, Asians, American Indians and Alaska natives and native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders cover only those reporting a single race.)

8.2 millionNumber of Vietnam-era veterans. Vietnam veterans account for more than 3-in-10 veterans, the largest share of any period of service. The next largest share of wartime veterans, 4.4 million or nearly 2-in-10, served during World War II. (From the upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2004-2005.)

16% Percentage of Persian Gulf War veterans who are women. In contrast, women account for 5 percent of World War II vets, 3 percent of Vietnam vets and 2 percent of Korean War vets. (From the upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2004-2005.)381,000 Number of veterans who served during both the Vietnam era and the Desert Storm era (August 1990 or later).

Hard data to grasp, isn't it? Even harder to grasp when listening to folks rail against the brave men and women who are fighting in Iraq today to keep the fighting off of our soil.

But let's save that argument for another day, okay?

For now, let's ask God to bless our Veterans on their special day.

And that's what's on my mind today.