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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
"Faith On Board"
March 6, 2008
I stood on the flight deck of the USS Midway and looked at the airplanes
on either side of me. Retired after its last tour of duty in Dessert Storm in
1991, the ship now sits in San Diego harbor and serves as a living
museum. It tells the story of naval life in post World War II America. The
audio tour reported that this aircraft carrier was like a city at sea in its day.
It carried as many as 4500 sailors on board at any given time. 229 cooks
served up 13,500 meals a day. Laundry services worked 24 hours a day.
Mechanics, engineers, painters, and medical personnel were always busy.
I never served in the military so this was all new to me as I visited the ship
last week. Watching CNN and MSNBC does not give us an accurate
picture of what life is like for our men and women in the military. Too
often the reports are colored by bias and political agendas. The truth is that
although many of our young men and women in the military look at their
life as a calling, it is also a job. Their four years or more in military service
isn't separate from life, it is life.
That was true for a young man named John Osmolski. John grew up in
Eustus, Florida and in 2005 he joined the U.S. Army. He was a good kid.
He loved the music of Metallica and he loved his Lord. As a matter of fact
he even listed Jesus at the top of his list of personal heroes on his
MySpace page. He took his commitment to the Army seriously and
worked hard. In a short time he rose to the rank of Sergeant with the 2nd
Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg,
N.C. Then last month, just days shy of his being sent home, he was killed
in action.
The strange thing about this horrible story is that John wasn't afraid of
death. He had recently wrote a note to his mother saying that "if I don't
come back, don't worry because I am eternally secure." As a matter of
fact his aunt, Jolene Bowers, told me that John was up front about his
faith and felt God had often used him to talk and pray with other soldiers
about their worries and fears. He felt he was right where God wanted him.
He prayed his faith would be a source of strength for his comrades in
arms and it was.
War is hell and I believe that we need people like John to serve alongside
our sons and daughters. Our soldiers need to be reminded that God is
present even when humanity is at its worst. That's why I was extremely
pleased to see an article a friend of mine passed along from the AP News
service. It reported that a Torah was presented to the crew of the USS
Truman in Norfolk, VA. last month. It came from Lithuania and was one
of the few Torah scrolls to have survived the Holocaust. That alone made
it noteworthy and a symbol of God's divine presence and protection in the
midst of a fallen world.
I thank God for thoughtful men and women who risk their lives so that
others may know the gift of freedom. I also thank God for sending these
reminders that we are never alone. Whether it be a Torah, the symbol of
God's presence, or a friend who walks with us in time of trouble, we are
never far from God's love.
God Bless! See you in church. Cal.
March 6, 2008
I stood on the flight deck of the USS Midway and looked at the airplanes
on either side of me. Retired after its last tour of duty in Dessert Storm in
1991, the ship now sits in San Diego harbor and serves as a living
museum. It tells the story of naval life in post World War II America. The
audio tour reported that this aircraft carrier was like a city at sea in its day.
It carried as many as 4500 sailors on board at any given time. 229 cooks
served up 13,500 meals a day. Laundry services worked 24 hours a day.
Mechanics, engineers, painters, and medical personnel were always busy.
I never served in the military so this was all new to me as I visited the ship
last week. Watching CNN and MSNBC does not give us an accurate
picture of what life is like for our men and women in the military. Too
often the reports are colored by bias and political agendas. The truth is that
although many of our young men and women in the military look at their
life as a calling, it is also a job. Their four years or more in military service
isn't separate from life, it is life.
That was true for a young man named John Osmolski. John grew up in
Eustus, Florida and in 2005 he joined the U.S. Army. He was a good kid.
He loved the music of Metallica and he loved his Lord. As a matter of fact
he even listed Jesus at the top of his list of personal heroes on his
MySpace page. He took his commitment to the Army seriously and
worked hard. In a short time he rose to the rank of Sergeant with the 2nd
Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg,
N.C. Then last month, just days shy of his being sent home, he was killed
in action.
The strange thing about this horrible story is that John wasn't afraid of
death. He had recently wrote a note to his mother saying that "if I don't
come back, don't worry because I am eternally secure." As a matter of
fact his aunt, Jolene Bowers, told me that John was up front about his
faith and felt God had often used him to talk and pray with other soldiers
about their worries and fears. He felt he was right where God wanted him.
He prayed his faith would be a source of strength for his comrades in
arms and it was.
War is hell and I believe that we need people like John to serve alongside
our sons and daughters. Our soldiers need to be reminded that God is
present even when humanity is at its worst. That's why I was extremely
pleased to see an article a friend of mine passed along from the AP News
service. It reported that a Torah was presented to the crew of the USS
Truman in Norfolk, VA. last month. It came from Lithuania and was one
of the few Torah scrolls to have survived the Holocaust. That alone made
it noteworthy and a symbol of God's divine presence and protection in the
midst of a fallen world.
I thank God for thoughtful men and women who risk their lives so that
others may know the gift of freedom. I also thank God for sending these
reminders that we are never alone. Whether it be a Torah, the symbol of
God's presence, or a friend who walks with us in time of trouble, we are
never far from God's love.
God Bless! See you in church. Cal.
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
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