*** Click here for Commentary on SECRET RADIO and Jeri Massi ***

Welcome!

Thank you for visiting! At this time, in 2005, I am stationed at a military camp in the southern portion of the beautiful "Hoosier" state of Indiana, USA. The camp's surrounding area is mainly farmland with small forests of trees and brooks interspersed among the towns and hamlets. It is a very quiet and peaceful Army base. This seems to be a contradiction for a place where soldiers come to mobilize and train, but it's true. The main part of the base where I live consists mainly of several rows of quiet barracks and then a small area where there are buildings functional to the base's operation.

Coming to the Camp

In the summer of 2004, my Army Reserve medical unit from my home state of Minnesota was called up and activated to assist with medical processing here at the camp in Indiana. It has been an honor and privilege to serve as a medical specialist in America's "War on Terrorism." During this time I have been assigned to the Vaccinations/Immunizations clinic where my duties are primarily concerned with giving injections, blood draws and assisting with physicals. The people I work with are very competent, professional and experienced. Since I took my medical training in San Antonio, Texas[Academy Health Sciences-Ft. Sam Houston, 1984], I have been out of the the medical field for several years. It is with great appreciation and commendation that I thank my co-workers for their patience with me. I have had to re-study much of what I had learned previously and also to upgrade my medical specialty to conform with current Army standards.

Typical Day

Our clinic opens at 0700 every day. We immediately prepare to receive any soldiers that may come needing to be immunized. This would also include Tuberculosis skin tests [of which I have much experiance giving!], Influenza vaccine, small pox and blood draws. Normally, whole units are scheduled to come, so we often have many soldiers in the building come at one time making our building suddenly seem small and our spaces very crowded. Most of the soldiers who come are from National Guard or Reserve units that have been mobilized or de-mobilized. It has been interesting to talk and visit with them as time permits and ask where they are from [most come from the Eastern half of the US-east of the Mississippi River]. Those coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan, I frequently ask, "What was it like?" and again as time permits, I receive some interesting answers that most often point to the soldier's need to talk about their experiences with someone. In the near future, I would like to question closely, soldiers coming back from the Middle East, and to really understand what they have been through. Am I writing a book? Maybe!

As I close this section describing my duties, I want to say, dear reader, that the medical field truly reminds us of how remarkable the human body is. It is very evident that because of man's higher intellect and his various abilities to reason and create, that we have souls and that we are made in God's image [Gen.1:26,27]. It is false and absurd to even think that we evolved from animals. You may say, "True,but why do people fight and kill one another and why do we get sick, grow old, and eventually die?" I can answer that question with one word and upon the authority of God's Word: SIN. Sin is our worst enemy because it brings a double curse: both physical and spiritual death [read Romans 5:8-21]. More will be said about this later, but first let me ask you some important questions: "Where will you spend eternity? Where will you go when you die-Heaven or Hell? Are you 100% certain that you have Heaven as your true home and that you have trusted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour?" Please click on "My Life" and then "How to be Saved" to find out for sure!

Free days or days off

The Army is very good to its soldiers. In fact, the US military as a whole has treated its members with the greatest of care, concern and leadership in all of our over 200 years of being "a nation under God." The benefits given to US military personnel of education, finance, travel and experince would take many web sites to even begin to describe! Just thinking about them overloads the switchboard of the mind!

There are so many opportunities for recreation on military bases. During my time here I have really enjoyed the simple pleasures of walking or biking in the country. Even the many thousands of acres on the base offers the quiet adventurer like me to explore its many nature trails through the forests and fields. I really love colors and the sights and sounds of nature. I love to breathe fresh clean air with soft sunlight coming through the trees. It is said that "The sky is the daily bread of the eyes" and I really love looking up at the blue sky with the sunshine on the clouds! My idea of a good time is to simply take my Bible and some other books [with notebook or diary] and enjoy the beautiful, quiet natural world that God has created. In my life of over 40 years now, I have been to almost 50 countries and have visited almost all of the 50 states in the USA. Everywhere I go it has been my custom [habit] to find quiet places to be alone with God, to pray, read His Word and also read good books to educate myself. Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived and in his proverbs he had much to say about wisdom [often contrasting it with foolishness]. Solomon wrote:

Prov. 4:7 – "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."

. . . and he further clarified:

Prov. 9:10 – "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."

In Ecclesiastes he also wrote how much better wisdom is than folly:

Eccl. 2:13 – "Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness."

It is interesting that even though Solomon was the wisest man, he did a number of foolish things particularly toward the end of his life. By his example, it should warn us and make us all the wiser!

Eccles. 12:13 – "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."

Now, friend, let's pause; you may be thinking, "Is Peter Schissel just religious and he wants to make others religious too?" The answer is "NO!" My desire is to be wise and not a fool and help others see that true wisdom comes from God in the Person of His Son and that we are commanded by God to honor Jesus Christ and call Him Lord:

Psalm 2:11 – "Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling."

Acts 17:30, 31 – "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by [that] man whom he hath ordained; [whereof] he hath given assurance unto all [men], in that he hath raised him from the dead."

One day EVERYONE will bow the knee to Jesus Christ and call Him Lord:

Phil. 2:6-11 – "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Why not do it in this life? Why not meet Jesus as your Saviour today rather then one day as your Judge? A young man, Jim Elliot, who gave his life to bring the Gospel to savage Indians in South America said at age 22, "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose." Six years later he was martyred by these Indians with 4 other missionaries. It was not a waste! Jim gladly gave his life for Jesus Christ and God's Word promises, "to be absent from our bodies is to be present with the Lord" II Cor.5:8. While vacationing in Ecuador in 1980, I met one of the wives whose husband had been killed and she affirmed very confidently that her husband is with Lord. I am confident too that every true Christian will be rejoicing in Heaven forever because of what Jesus has done and promised:

John 5:24 – "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

John 6:37, 47 – "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (47) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life."

John 10:27-29 – "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."

John 11:25-26 – "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"

. . . and so much more!

Alone With God

Dear friend, let me encourage you, even right now, to get alone with God and His Word, the Bible. Why? Because God loves you and He wants to be your best Friend. To begin this beautiful relationship you need to understand Who God is from His Word, the Bible. Jesus said:

Matthew 4:4b – "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

And Jesus also commended the importance of quality time alone with God undisturbed by saying:

Matthew 6:6 – "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."

In the Psalms we read:

Psalm 46:10 – "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

Here is my personal experience: in the 1970's as a teen-ager I lived in both Africa and Europe. When I was 12 going on 13, I would take our large Catholic Bible to my room after school, close and lock the door and read very carefully all four Gospels-Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. How wonderful this was for me!!! Simply stated, I was alone with the life and words of Jesus! I really loved His stories and miracles of healing lepers, those crippled and the blind to see. I loved the story of the prodigal son coming back to his father and being forgiven. I loved the personal incidents when Jesus forgave repentant sinners. Each story I could relate to, and I put myself in it. I did not read about the life of Jesus in a detached or impersonal manner. I am so glad that I was taught to reverence God ever since I was a small boy; and at this time, when almost a teen, I truly reverenced Jesus. I began to realize the purpose of His mission was to identify with us by becoming a man [only Jesus had NO sin], to point us to reconciliation with God and to pay the full price of our sins upon the cross so we would not have to spend eternity in Hell!

Friend, I would like you to pause and read the words of Jesus in your Bible, the greatest message ever preached: The "Sermon on the Mount !" Truly it is beautiful and deeply portrays the righteous holiness of God and how He desires for all men to have a relationship with Him. There are also very clear warnings that Jesus gives regarding everlasting punishment and judgment:

Matthew 7:13-14 – "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

This is very serious! Jesus also said

Matthew 13:40-43 – "As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."

A Personal Example

Only about a week ago on a Friday night in the Army dining hall I had a very tasty dinner of rice and fish, meat and beans. Yum! Was it good! But it was also very salty. That night I read in my Bible from a nice easy chair (as my custom is) and turned in early about 10:30pm as is usual for me. About 2:00am I awoke with two major problems! I had a burning thirst, and I needed to relieve myself. So, climbing down from my bunkbed I proceeded to the restroom to fulfill one need and then opening a cold jug of apple juice I satisfied my second need by taking a long thirst-quenching drink. As I lay down again on my bunk, I prayed a short prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord as I am accustomed to and thought how wonderful it is to be saved. You see, friend, the problem in Hell is that there is no satisfaction for needs! The pain and agony are indescribable! There will be a burning thirst that will never be satisfied as well as loneliness and a desire for some companionship, but no one and nothing can ever bring relief because Hell is FOREVER. Friend, Jesus talked more about Hell then He did about Heaven. He gave strong warnings and clearly said those who reject Him would be "cursed and thrown into the everlasting fire..." [Matt. 25:41]. Oh, please consider this and even pause right now to repent!

What Will Heaven be Like?

Clouds and a harp? Boring and nothing to do? No way! Heaven is a wonderful real place where the presence of sin is gone forever, and all those who have trusted Christ alone will receive glorified bodies that will never age, nor experience pain, nor sickness. The beauties of Heaven we cannot even begin to understand.

I Corinthians 2:9 – "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

But God has promised everlasting love, joy and peace and that never again will we have the same problems of a fallen world that we have now of death, pain, fear, hatred and all the many evils sin brings. The very thought of eternity can potentially bring much fear! But this fear is completely taken away when you honestly trust the Lord Jesus Christ and focus on Him [John14:19; Col.3].

My Future Plans and Goals

My friend, as I close my home page and move toward a daily diary (with reviews from my past), I want to say that God has control of my life and future.

Philippians 1:20 – "According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death."

I know that God knows best in guiding and directing me.

Psalms 119:105 – "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

II Corinthians 5:7 – "For we walk by faith, not by sight:"

My big problem is simply allowing God to guide and direct my life! I need to submit myself to the Lord daily because I know from painful experience how terrible it is to be out of God's will – to not obey Him. Really, I need to say with the Apostle Paul...

Galatians 2:20 – "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

Mankind by nature is selfish and self-willed. We do what we want in our natural state because of our sin nature [Isa. 53:3-6; Judges 21:25]. But those who are true Christians, born again into the family of God by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, recognize right away the reasonableness of Christ's lordship. Jesus said so many times in His ministry, "Follow Me!"

John 10:27-28 – "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."

So it is clear and evident that Jesus, Who is God the Son, knows what is best for us, and we should joyfully obey Him. My goals and plans are simply to serve Him the rest of my life. I want to see His kingdom advanced by souls being saved, baptized and discipled. I want the Lord Jesus Christ to be honored and glorified in my life, in those close to me and in those I come in contact with. He is so wonderful [Isa. 9.6]! Believe Him and follow Him: you'll be glad you did!