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Marine Shares How Coming to Jesus Healed Post Tramautic Stress Disorder: We can Honor our Veterans by Empathizing with Them; Understanding PTSD
After 8 years in the Marine Corps, consisting of 2 combat tours in Iraq, and 6 years of contracting, Michael Priddyreturned home and found out the fight wasn’t over. “I had really destroyed relationships with the people that were closest to me, and I was supposed to care for the most; most notably, my wife and my kids.”
The realities being experienced within veterans is almost unimaginable. As Priddy shares, “The veteran suicide rate in America, is 22 a day. The divorce rate amongst combat veterans is over 80%.” Veterans are experiencing massive trauma and many are unaware of how to respond or what to do. “There is no way to heal without coming into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.” Priddy is now putting his efforts to his pedals as he is setting out on a journey of bicycling over 2700 miles, to ride from Sacramento, California, to Marine Corps base Quantico in Virginia.
Steve Kaliszewski also experienced similar struggles and hardships in his return home after serving 2 combat tours in the Marines. He shares about the difficulty that veterans experience and the difficulty of trying to figure out how to live life again. No longer is it like it was before. After spending considerable time in team environments, understanding the values of selflessness and sacrifice, it is exceedingly difficult to then return home and empathize with many Americans as they complain and focus on what many do.
He shared what it was like to serve in Iraq during a summer deployment. In this environment, temperatures can peak in the 140s -50s. Literally. This still doesn’t stop the continual operations of carrying out missions in full gear and lengthy patrols. It also a time when he was able to be a part of a great team.
Coming home, he experienced an entirely different reality. There was no sense of urgency for those around him. He shared about one particular encounter, sitting at a red light and being filled with rage when the car in front of him didn’t budge when the light turned green. He couldn’t understand why there was no urgency. People would tell him that it would take a few months and he would be fine, but it was when he met a Vietnam Veteran that he was told,“this is going to take a lifetime.”
He didn’t know what to do with his life. He waited tables as a server in college, so that’s what he did. Now just a few months after returning home from combat operations in Fallujah, Iraq, he was waiting tables. His reality was about to take another turn when one of his customers began to yell at him about the food. He shares about he responded, “I almost killed her and I almost killed myself”. Overcome with emotions he didn’t know how to control, he simply shutdown and walked away. Not knowing what to do, he said, “God, I don’t know you, I don’t know where you are, but if you don’t come down here, if you don’t take this, I’m either going to kill somebody or I’m going to kill myself.”
It was at that exact moment that all the pressure in his life was immediately gone. “That scared me more than almost killing that lady, because I knew that was God; but I had no idea what to do.” There was another server that had been talking to him about Jesus and when Steve told him what had happened, the co-worker offered, “let’s go get something to eat”. It was at this nearby restaurant that Steve heard the message that changed his life. Jesus Christ had died for him and He had a plan for his life.
The reality is that many veterans are experiencing difficulties in every area of their life. Medical professionals have many different terms and diagnosis to label, but it is happening. What these men experienced was Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD. A simple understanding is this, “PTSD is a natural reaction to an unnatural reality”. War is not natural and it is surely not normal. Despite the extensive training for war, no one can be fully trained, yet veterans often feel alone in navigating the battle of returning home with few that truly empathize and understand.
When we hear these stories of what many are experiencing, it helps us to empathize, in order to connect and pray. Even though some may not be actively seeking the Lord, we can be encouraged by Romans 10:20. “I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”
When Yehuda Hayisraeli returned home to Israel after serving with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), he had suffered extensive head injuries from battle. His everyday life was greatly affected and he could no longer get around like he once did. After repeated attempts to receive the necessary benefits he was entitled to, he was repeatedly denied. When local residents heard his story, they immediately worked together to get the resources he needed.
By sharing Hayisraeli’s story using crowdfunding, they were able to raise more than $310,000 in a brief period that was more than enough to be able to make the necessary changes to his home. Because of this act of honor, Hayisraeli is able to enjoy his daily life with his family.
Allow your perspective of veterans to be challenged, your understanding to grow, and your empathy for their sacrifice and service to increase. Hear the full story of how Michael is impacting those around him, hear Steve share about his time in the Marines, his journey returning home, and so much more. Also shared in this segment: honor, sacrifice, service, values, brotherhood, teamwork, cycling, Veterans Affairs, suicide, divorce, waiting tables, service industry, and repentance. John and Steve shared in this segment.
Honoring God and Impacting Society Through Business
In each of our lives, God entrusts us with resources and we are called to faithfully steward what we are given. One particular couple had started a steakhouse in Texas. But, this particular steakhouse is unlike any other you may consider.
The Taste of Texas, in Houston, Texas, is known for its packed walls of Texas history and bustling tables. When you take a closer look, there is something that stands out. Before opening the front doors, guests are greeted with a bold engraving of scripture and Christian music as they enter the building. This isn’t just a business, as owners Edd and Nina Hendee share, “This is our ministry”. Today, “it is the largest, independently owned, restaurant in the state, and the top 30 in the country.”
Their story didn’t exactly start this way. After their ambitious goals to grow what they had started, they were faced with a mounting debt that reached $250,000. But, God encouraged them to continue. They pursued, amidst the trials, and remain to this day. But, their trials didn’t stop. One day, their son was killed in a tragic skiing accident. Most recently, a plane they were riding in crashed to the ground because the wrong fuel had been put into the tank causing both engines to suddenly stop. He shares, “we lived to walk away, open the door of the plane and walk out; and that is absolutely a miracle of God.”
This is such an encouraging story of how we can honor the Lord with our business and the talents that God gives us, even amidst the trials and hardships along the way. See the full story as the Hindees share what the Lord has done, and so much more. Also shared in this segment: VFN Kingdom Business, Hobby Lobby, The Bible Museum, faithfulness, and entrustments. John and Steve shared in this segment.
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Are Regulations Coming to the 46 Billion Dollar Pay Day Loan Industry that Charge as Much as 390% Interest
More and more attention is being given to payday lending and the industry that applies as much as 390% interest on its loans. As CNN’s Christina Alesci shares, “payday lenders are getting around individual state legislation that are meant to protect, often times, poor people, from abusive practices.” Reportedly, there are about 12 million borrowers a year that use these loans, their median income is $22,400 a year, and they take out an average of 10 loans every year. What is meant to be a short term loan, ends up being a cycle of repeated loans in order to pay off the previous loans.
It is important that we honor the Lord with the finances that we are given through tithes and offerings, so that we do not end up with the outcomes as expressed in Malachi 3:8-10. There is wisdom to be learned in this. Hear the full report of how we can respond to these realities and so much more. Also shared in this segment: debt, borrowing, lending, finances, curses, and honor. John and Steve shared in this segment.
Sony Developing Innovative Contact Lenses that Record Videos and Taking Images, Although Amazing What about our 4thAmendment Right to Privacy?
With all the presently advancing technology in our present day, get ready to add another to the list. Sony has currently developed a camera, that fits on a contact lens. No need for another smartphone, this development stores data on its own and is able to take pictures with a simple blink of an eye. The questions and concerns that can be a factor can be realized by looking at a previous invention, Google Glass. Some were against them as they felt it was a violation of their 4th Amendment Rights, and other even received traffic tickets for wearing them while driving. Will any of this change just because the technology is getting smaller? See the contact lenses for yourself, hear more about this technology, the possible dangers, and so much more. Also shared in this segment: The Constitution, privacy, vision, technology, and wisdom. John and Steve shared in this segment.