The Lord’s Army
November 10, 2013
I am a proud veteran. I come from a long line of veterans. I can trace ancestors who served in the military all the way back to the Revolutionary War. William Burch, from Haw River, North Carolina, was just a boy when he joined -but he served our country as it was just beginning. He was twelve when the war started and only 15 when it ended. He died in 1848 at the age of 84 in Monroe County, Indiana and was buried in Burch Cemetery there.
Here is a copy of my great, great grandfathers discharge papers from the Civil War. Daniel Adams was with the Northern Army, 8th Independent Battery, and Wisconsin Light Artillery. His outfit saw a lot of action from Chickamauga, Stones River, Chattanooga, Corinth, and Perryville.
My grandfather, John Edward Grossman, fought in the trenches of WWI as a machine gunner. He lost most of his hearing there and mustard gas ate out the roof of his mouth so he always had a raspy tone to his voice.
My father, Frederick Stanley Grossman, Sr., was a decorated hero of WWII. He fought in the Pacific theater and had 4 overseas bars, a Philippine Liberation service ribbon and a bronze star with a ‘V’ for valor.
My brother, Frederick Stanley Grossman, Jr. served in Vietnam and saw action there and struggled with PTSD for years.
I volunteered for Vietnam and got sent to Korea in 1968-69. I served in the Military Police and was a sergeant with my own dog handler squad. My son, Benjamin Andrew Grossman, was with the airborne combat team in Italy. My cousin Lt. Col. David Grossman probably has done more for veterans than anyone in the Veterans Administration. He taught at West Point and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize with his first book, On Killing. He continues to teach military, police, educator and veterans today.
I give you my history to let you know that my family and I love our country and have been proud to serve.
My service began one cold spring day in 1967 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. I had worked the previous summer and fall with Boeing Minuteman Missile that my Uncle (Dave’s Dad), who was in charge of security, got me a job with. I wanted to work in security but was too young. So rather than getting drafted and put wherever the army wanted me – I joined so I could be a Military Policeman. Before I knew it I was getting off the bus at Fort Campbell, KY, the home of the ‘Screaming Eagles’ for basic training. As an E-1 I got the whopping sum of $68 a month -just enough to keep me in cigarettes and watered down beer.
Before I knew it, basic was over and I was on my way to Fort Gordon, Georgia. I got there a little early so a big burly Sergeant made me go stand in a line and wait for a bus. Before I knew it I was in “Leadership Training School”. Consequently, I went through MP school as an ‘acting jack’, which is an acting sergeant in charge of leading the other men. The good thing about that was that it got me out of “KP” and I got my PFC stripe (no rocker then) upon graduation.
AIT went by pretty fast and I found myself in my first duty as a guard at a Nike site between Baltimore and Washington, DC. Before long I was a Spec 4 and after 11 months I was headed to Korea. When I arrived in Korea I was given of choice of line duty, which was 20 days on and I day off (at least that is what they told me) or become a dog handler. I volunteered for dog handler training and found myself on the DMZ for dog handler school.
I served as a dog handler school for a few months and before I knew it I got my stripes for sergeant E-5. I got my squad of dog handlers and began working with them.
I would like to tell you that I enjoyed my service in the military but the fact of the matter is that I hated it. I was not only far from home, but far from the Lord. I was like the prodigal son and broke every command in the Book. Before long I felt like life sucked. That was my philosophy of life – “Life sucks – you are better off dead!” Everything I tried, alcohol, drugs, sex, sports – you name it – ended up with more pain that pleasure. And sometimes I would put my men out on post and find a quiet dark place and contemplate ending the pain of life.
Somehow I made it home and found myself telling my philosophy of life to my godly mother. She said, “Andy, there is a reason you are here. God has a purpose for your life and if you will read the Bible He will reveal that purpose to you.”
I got a Bible and began reading and found out that God created me with a purpose. I gave the empty mess that was my life to the Lord – and He turned ashes into beauty. Where there was hate – He gave me love. The army taught me to kill – but Jesus taught me to love. Where there was sorrow and depression – He gave me joy. Where there was pain – He gave me pleasure. And every day is blessed. So when you ask me how I am doing and I respond with “fantastic!” or “Awesome!” - Now you know why. Every day is a gift from God – that’s why we call it “the present!”
I am proud to have served in the U. S. Army; I’m proud to be a veteran – but I am even more proud to be in the “Lord’s Army!” I am so thankful that God enlisted me in His Army. Paul talked a little bit about that. Take a look.
2 Timothy 2:3-4:
“Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.”
Let’s take a look at what enlisting in the Lord’s Army means. The first thing that jumps out at me is 1.There is suffering involved. When I joined the U. S. Army I signed on the dotted line knowing there was suffering involved. I didn’t know how much – but I knew it would be hard – and it WAS! We started with induction. They stripped us down and gave us a public exam that was pretty humiliating. When we got to basic we were met by a bunch of screaming Drill Sergeants who scared the heck out of us. Then they marched us to supply and dressed us in the clothes they wanted us to wear and then shaved all out hair off. That was just the beginning. Physical Training was exhausting. Going to bed late and getting up early was interrupted by the sergeants coming in the barracks in the middle of the night and making us disassemble out beds and lockers and reassemble them on the parade grounds – then reverse the whole thing and go back to bed and sleep. Can you say, “Sleep Depravation”?
I won’t even go into the low crawls and the runs and the bivouacs and the forced hikes with full field gear on. Was there suffering involved – you bet there was. But we could handle it. We were Army!
The Bible says,
“Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
2 Timothy 3:12
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.’ 1 Peter 4:12-16
Jesus said, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12
There is suffering involved when you enlist in the Lord’s Army. Expect it! Count on it! If you live a godly live – you WILL suffer for it. We have enemies. They will make us suffer. Our enemies are 1. Satan; 2.The World; and 3.Our own flesh. But there is good news. The Bible says,
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
1 Corinthians 10:13
When I was going through Basic Training in the Army, there were times when I didn’t think I could do any more or go any further. But I would dig down a little deeper and I would make it. I would be able to do what ever was demanded and achieve what was expected.
You can do everything God asks you to do – because you don’t do it alone. He is with you helping; strengthening; encouraging; guiding; and teaching. You can do it! His grace is sufficient. Paul said,
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Confess your weakness. Embrace it. Admit it to yourself, to others and to God. It is only when we realize we are weak that we can receive the strength we need.
A good soldier of Christ; 1.will endure suffering. I don’t know what you are going through or will go through – but you can make it with the Lord’s help.
A good solder of the Lord; 2. Does not entangle himself with the things of this world. You know what that means to you. God will speak to you about it if you let Him. Jesus will disciple you in this personal area. Don’t get all tangled up in the things of this world.
Lastly, 3. A good solder of the Lord “WANTS to please His commanding officer.” In the army there were a lot of guys who could care less about pleasing anyone but themselves. They knew exactly how many days left they had in the military. Some put things on their helmets that cursed the army. They weren’t very good soldiers. A good soldier wants to please His commanding officers.
As a non-commissioned officer I had men who could care less and others who really wanted to please me. Guess who the ones were that gave easy duty to and helped out?
Do you want to please the Lord with your life – or are you just trying to get by; just trying to make it to heaven? I want to live my life in such a way as to please God. I want to bring Him joy and pleasure and honor. Let’s do that. Let’s live that way. And one day WE will hear, “Well Done, good and faithful servant! Enter into the JOY of your Lord.”
