Bowe Bergdahl has owned up.

Bowe Bergdahl’s fate is now in the hands of a judge. He’s awaiting sentencing after entering a guilty plea to charges of endangering his fellow soldiers in Afghanistan. There was no back and forth between lawyers, no “you can’t handle the truth” type of courtroom drama, just a traitor facing the music.

“I left my fellow platoon mates,” he told the judge. “That’s very inexcusable.”

It’s harsh, but there’s no sugar coating what Bowe Bergdahl did. He didn’t serve “with honor and distinction” as Susan Rice said. He betrayed the trust of his brothers in arms, and they died because of it.

If I can give him credit for anything, it’s that he’s owning his actions and accepting guilt. This is a tragedy on so many levels, but the focus today shouldn’t be on a disgraced soldier or the political maneuvering of a past administration. They say the greatest expression of love is to lay down one’s life for another. Six soldiers did just that, trying to bring back their lost comrade.

Staff Sergeant Clayton Bowen and Private 1st Class Morris Walker died from a roadside bomb while searching for Bowe Bergdahl.

Staff Sergeant Kurt Curtiss of Murray, Utah died from multiple gunshot wounds. 2nd Lt Darryn Andrews of Dallas, Texas was killed when an IED and RPG exploded nearby.

Staff Sergeant Michael Murphrey of Snyder, Texas told his family, after being taken skydiving on his 17th birthday, that he had found his calling. He wanted to be an Army paratrooper. He died from an IED.

Private 1st Class Matthew Martinek was in a vehicle searching for Bowe Bergdahl when his patrol came under fire. After initially surviving an IED, RPG and multiple gunshot wounds, he eventually succumbed one week later.

After eight years, Bowe Bergdahl is finally receiving his punishment, but today, say a prayer for those that died trying to bring him home. Say a prayer for the families of these brave men who are trying to move on. Today we honor the fallen.

Baptizing Eagles.

I could talk about the latest with Colin Kaepernick and his lawsuit against the NFL, but there’s a different NFL story I want to talk about that is much more important.

While the national anthem protests continue to dominate headlines and create division, one NFL team has been quietly taking a different path.

The night before the Philadelphia Eagles game in Charlotte, several players gathered at the hotel’s indoor swimming pool, holding hands and praying while one of their teammates, wide receiver Marcus Johnson, was baptized by a fellow player in the pool.

Apparently, this is kind of normal for the Eagles. A year ago, five other Eagles players were baptized in the recovery pool at the team’s practice facility.

Several players on the team are outspoken about their Christian faith. They’ve found strength and encouragement from fellow believers on the team. More and more teammates attend weekly Bible studies at players’ homes and prayer sessions the night before games.

While many of the players, like quarterback Carson Wentz, openly discuss their faith, some players have said they’re not interested. Yet no one on the team is excluded or pressured.

Colin Kaepernick seems to be allowing anthem protests to define the narrative of his life. The anger he felt about racial injustice that fueled his protest to begin with, is now boiling over into more anger and blame.

Several Philadelphia Eagles players are more interested in the Christian message that you no longer have to let your past, your mistakes, your bitterness, define your narrative.

The Eagles seem to be on to something refreshing during this divisive NFL season. They have a different kind of bond and peace that will serve them well beyond the football field. It’s the bond of faith that teaches radical love and forgiveness --- the only things that can truly reach across the racial and political divide. Protests have their place, but they don’t have the power to heal a nation.

Her concealed carry saved her life.

The woman was driving through a rural area that she was unfamiliar with.

She didn’t know where she was. She had never been to this part of town.

But she was sure of her destination.

Death.

She could feel her kidnapper’s knife dig deeper into her arm as she desperately tried to grip the steering wheel.

He was an unwelcome passenger who forced his way into her car. She could see in his eyes that he was hellbent on causing her pain.

She was terrified, but there was no place she would rather be at this moment than in her own vehicle.

She knew her salvation was hidden under the driver’s seat.

They reached a remote area of the woods and the kidnapper told her to stop the car.

In one fell swoop, the woman turned the ignition off and reached for her gun under the seat.

She thrust the barrel of the gun into his face.

Her attacked suddenly realized that he had brought a knife to a gun fight and fled into the forest.

The woman thanked God for her gun and concealed carry permit before driving herself to the hospital.

61-year-old Floyd R. May was arrested shortly after and charged with aggravated kidnapping and assault.

If this woman didn’t take the time to purchase and understand her firearm, she would likely be dead. But because she took the concealed carry class and was a responsible gun owner, she saved her own life.

This story is why we have the Second Amendment. You have the right to protect yourself. There are bad people out there who will think nothing of taking your life. Everyone deserves the chance to defend themselves.

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