Author

I served in the Church of God European Servicemen’s Department from 1974 -1990. We had an unofficial motto and that was our service to the American Servicemen justified our breaking laws. We broke laws and when someone’s guilt got the better part of them they were reminded that our service was above the law.

I don’t want to go into the specifics of what this means however I can speak for myself, it left me a nervous wreck. I thought that I had overcome this and that I was “delivered.”

I guess that this is a mild form of post traumatic stress disorder, not to be confused with the severity that our military community suffers. (no headache is small when it is your own)

I have sleep issues and recurring nightmares. I am under treatment for sleep apnea and it has been working well as the sleep apnea has spurred the nightmares. This is accompanied by depression. I awoke this morning having scored 100 % on my sleep measurement yet there was a recurring nightmare and depression upon waking though I had slept well.

I considered not going to church. Instead I went to church three times and each service was a great blessing.

I resolved today to speak up about this issue in the hopes there maybe someone else in the same situation.

I expect to get some criticism as usual and perhaps there might be more healing for me as I confess to this need.

I am going to continue addressing this situation in the next days or weeks.

I welcome your thoughts.

Discussion

21 comments

  1. I would highly recommend speaking with Nigel Mumford whose ministry “By His Wounds” is geared to healing of military veterans. He is former Royal Marine from Great Britain who now lives in the U.S. You will love his heart and ministry. I refer many veterans to him.

  2. Was that Robert Moore Mttm?

  3. Charles Page says:

    I said “nightmares” and it is more like recurring dreams that just won’t go away. The depression is mild and not of a clinical nature. It is mostly things that won’t go away.

  4. I commend you for your service. God Bless and give you perfect peace! I pray that for you and your precious Wife.

  5. I am sorry for what you had to deal with in Turkey. We all at one time or another were placed in situations by our leadership that we did not know until after the fact the truth of what was going on. Thankfully God watch over all of us and blessed the work men like you the others did with the mtm

  6. Glad you came forth. While working with the Dept of Defense in Japan and Germany for over 26 consecutive years I saw many situations where the faith and trust by independent church people took advantages of ‘the privileges’ of the GI JOE who had access to many discounted benefits of our jobs.
    I always had a red official passport equal to embassy rank and I saw jealousy because admittedly, a poorly paid ministers wife could not have all the Kellogg corn flake type items from the commissary instead of seeing the challenge of buying on the economy as an adventure. That is where the locals lived daily. I heard more pity parties and know of high CoG officials who were early on in the PI and have a beautiful handcrafted pieces of furniture in their dining room after a military person squeezed it into their housing shipnent. True, God doth provide, however, there are rights and wrongs. I am glad you were given a fair warning by the commander.True, although you were an American all he could have done is send someone in his platoon to take you crackers, no legal responsibke for an out of order American. And, the CoG had to deal with an example.
    I encourage you to give up your pain and guilt of all of this. Did you not preach that God is the forgiver of all sins, big and small? Is the grace we know is for all is for this part of your life?
    Let me confirm you today that innocently you did your best at the time of your maturity in Him. Our Heavenly Father forgives like you would your child.
    Go find someone who carries a heavy burden and share your love for a forgiving, loving Father. You will be a total overcomer.
    SLEEP WELL FROM THIS POINT on…HE LOVES YOU SO!
    Sister Cathy B

  7. Sometimes I think it’s good to let others know what you are going through. Because we can pray about them. I’ve had problems that I knew that no one but God could work out. The devil will try to get us Dow anyway he can. It happens to the best of us. I will help you pray about this. Since my husband went to be with the Lord. I get nervous some days when I wake up. But I’ve found when I really get a prayer through to God. Read the Bible and the go to my keyboard and sing some good old songs. The devil has to flee. Many people that’s been in service has problems a lot of time. My Nephew does also sometimes because of war. I think that’s common. A lot of people does. But I pray it will never bother you again.

  8. That was suppose to be my husband sister.

  9. Charles Page, I worked for Chaplain Crick for several years at COG Scool of Theology with COG Chaplains Commission. Hope you are finding peace.

  10. Charles I just wanted to talk about your sleep apnea if it would be allowed.

  11. What kind of mask do you use. I started off with a f face mask but after awhile and many trials I use a nasal mask.

  12. Do you take a nap during the daytime?

  13. Charles Page says:

    But not like before

  14. Charles Page says:

    Don’t quit it does take awhile getting adjusted but the results are great

  15. I try to work a nap in each day and it makes me feel better. I also use my cpap when I am at home in the daytime. If I am on a long flight many airlines can will let you use your cpap.

  16. Charles what do you think causes your nightmares?

  17. Charles have you discussed this with your apnea Doctor?