It has been a long time since I've written. I've had plenty to say, but decided to keep it to myself. The purpose of my blog has always been to document things for my three boys who don't always care about my input or wisdom, or my insights on why things are the way they are. Maybe someday they will find these and get some answers and insights that they don't care much about right now. Yesterday, November 24, 2013, I had the privilege of hearing retired Lt. Col. Oliver North speak at Grace Chapel. I have always been an "Ollie" fan, mostly because I thought he was very very handsome and very strong. There are lots of handsome, strong men around but he was one that seemed real.....authentic.....Now I know why.
I take my responsibility of raising boys to be upstanding Christian men very seriously. It's not easy, and it doesn't always work, but I still keep trudging on. Because I am the middle of three girls I constantly look for opportunities to have Godly men speak into their lives. Of course they have their Dad who does that, but it's not the same. As hard as it is to accept, most of the time they think that Mom and Dad have NO IDEA what they are talking about. We sound like Charlie Brown's teacher.....just a bunch of "wahh wahh wahh." So I jumped at the opportunity to hear Lt. Col. North when I heard he was going to be "giving his testimony."
I'm not going to attempt to recap Lt. Col. North's testimony but I just wanted to recap some of the things that stuck with me. The things that I can't get off of my mind and that I want to preach to anyone who will listen. So, I decided to "blog" them so that I will know that they are down in writing and maybe someone will read them. (I hope noone takes offense to the fact that I'm going to refer to Lt. Col. North as "Ollie" from here on because it's easier to type. But just know that I have the UTMOST respect for his rank and position.) I found it amazing that I was listening to an American Hero, who testified before Congress about a very controversial time, who is now a Fox News reporter, embedded with our troops in very dangerous places, and was now giving his "testimony" in a rural church in Franklin, Tennessee. I know it involves a book and a book signing, but still, I found it to be pretty cool. As I'm listening I am struck by the fact that he is military through and through. He loves and admires the women and men who are on the battlefield for us. He believes in them and supports them. There is absolutely no doubt about that. He loves America and what it stands for. The thought crosses my mind of how different the beautiful landscape of Williamson County must look in comparison to the stark desert of Afghanistan or the many other places he has spent time.
One of my favorite points he made was that of his gifts to his grandsons when they reach their 13th birthday. He gives them a 30 gauge shotgun, a compass, and a Bible. Only after they have read the book of Proverbs can they learn to use the shotgun and compass. Those of us who have had 13 year old boys know that they will do anything to get to shoot that shotgun, so reading the book of Proverbs is a great pre-requisite to this. But it also peaked my curiosity. So I went to read some of Proverbs this morning. What an incredible book of wisdom. What an awesome gift to give to a 13 year old before he learns his way around life with his compass.
"Ollie" wasn't always a Christian. He became a believer as an adult. He is highly intelligent and highly motivated. He was both of these and many other things but he didn't know Jesus. But Jesus knew him and what he would face in the coming years. He went on to explain how several things happened to him, backpain was healed, his life was saved many times, etc.... and he attributed them to the fact that he "was really good at what he did." One of his commanders who Ollie refers to as his "Hero" gave Ollie a Bible and strongly suggested that he read it. So, being a obedient soldier, he followed orders. This is when his life changed.......
As I listened to his story I was taken in. I loved hearing all of the war stories and I loved his personal testimony. I even loved his references to President Reagan. But I will say that to me, there was nothing as beautiful as when he quoted scripture. I have contemplated this since I heard him and I will never figure it out. There is simply no match for God's written word. The way it touches your heart when you read it or hear it is "music to your ears." You can hear the most wonderful sermon, the most beautiful song, the sweetest memorial at a funeral service, but to me, the words of scripture cause a stirring in my Spirit that nothing else can match. Lt. Col. North did his entire talk but closed with words from Isaiah, and I immediately smiled because the words he quoted from Isaiah already had special meaning to me and were written on a card stuffed in my Bible. My Spirit was dancing because the words were more beautiful than anything else he said. It reminded me of the time I was in a funeral and everyone was sad and the preacher said "better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." Psalms 84:10. Again, Spirit was dancing and not feeling anything but peace. My point is......God's Word, the Bible, His Truth, is "living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12.
I could go on and on about this but I won't because I think that a person has to make the conscious decision to pick up God's Word and read it. But I also can testify to this......if you will do this, then God will "write it on your heart." When you are faced with things, you will miraculously recall His truths that He has graciously written on your heart. I am thankful for men like Lt. Col. Oliver North who are humbled by God's word and His grace. But mostly I am thankful for my "Hero" Jesus Christ, who made "the ultimate price" for me.
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone.
