Men of Heroic Courage

Late 1943 into early 1944 was a critical time in the European Theatre of Operations for the cause of freedom. Plans were proceeding for what would become known as D-Day and it was vital that, before Allied troops could control the beaches, Allied planes had to control the air. An essential element in gaining air superiority for the American & British flyers was to drastically degrade the production of Luftwaffe fighter planes.

As the eleventh day of 1944 began, more than six hundred B-17s & B-24s of the Eighth Air Force took off from England for a bombing run deep into Nazi Germany. The lead element’s target was the Focke-Wulf Aircraft Plant in Oschersleben, about 90 miles southwest of Berlin, the birthplace of the German workhorse FW-190 fighter. Chosen to protect that lead element of bombers was a squadron of American P-51 Mustangs commanded by the son of a missionary eye doctor - - Lt. Colonel James H. Howard.

As the long-range mission progressed, the weather deteriorated. Many P-51s and their older brothers, the P-47s, were forced to turn back due to low fuel. Then, well into the mission, headquarters made the call to scrub the bombing raid completely, but the radio transmission didn’t make it to many of the bombers.

As Jimmy Howard’s squadron neared their rendezvous with the B17s, they spotted several German fighters and immediately broke off to intercept them. During this initial skirmish, Howard descended to eliminate a Nazi fighter, then climbed to find the American bombers being raked by 30 or more German fighters – and not a single other Allied fighter in sight!

Having flown the same course as many who had already turned back, and having absolutely no help from his fellow Mustangs, everyone would have understood if Howard had bugged out to regroup with others from his squadron. By all rights and appearances, Jimmy had good reason to leave the bombers to fend for themselves. But he didn’t.

Lt. Colonel James Howard pointed his Mustang at the Nazi fighters, plunged into their midst and, with a burst from his guns, sent an ME-110 to the ground. It was then that an ME-109 spotted Howard and dove. Jimmy gave chase, diving steeply to give the German a burst that brought a steady stream of smoke from the doomed fighter. The blur of rolls, dives, and climbs, highlighted by bursts from his guns kept Howard’s adrenaline flowing and Germans falling. Spotting another Nazi fighter, Howard dove and fired again, but by now gravity pressure had jammed the ammo feed to three of his four guns. Still, he stayed by the bombers, even though he was getting dangerously low on fuel and firepower. Finally, after watching the last German fighter pull off, Jimmy waggled his wings to signal his departure to the bombers, and headed for home.

For his courage & heroism, James H. Howard, became the only fighter pilot in the European Theatre of Operations to be awarded his country’s highest citation, the Congressional Medal of Honor.

When I heard Howard’s story, I was reminded of another man who was chosen to escort and protect the most vital mission in the cause of freedom for all of mankind. This man’s name was Joseph, and we read about him in the first chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, verses 18-25:

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

We learn a lot about Joseph, and a lot about being a Godly man in these nine verses. Take note:

1. Joseph was a Man of Purity – Though they were pledged to be married, he & Mary had not yet been sexually intimate. (v. 18)
2. Joseph was a Man of Integrity – He didn’t just go through the motions of following God. He was “faithful to the law” (v. 19a)
3. Joseph was a Man of Grace – By his rights, Joseph could have declared Mary to be unfaithful and promiscuous, sentencing her to a lifetime of shame, rejection, and exclusion. But he didn’t want to do that. (v. 19b)
4. Joseph was a Man of Strong Faith – He had heard the prophets foretell of a Messiah who would save his nation. He believed Mary when she told him of her encounter with the angel Gabriel. He believed what God said to him through the angel in his dream. And his actions reflected what he believed. That’s Faith – Belief that translates into Action. (v. 24)
5. Joseph was a Man of Self-Control – Read verse 25. Enough said.

God, may we display the courage & heroism to become real men - - like Joseph.
That’s the Challenge.
Semper Fi.
Doug

(Copyright by Doug Shope, December 27, 2010)

"The Astounding Thing Was...He Came Back"

Seven months after American troops had landed on Omaha & Utah beaches in Normandy, France, the men of Easy Company, of the 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne, found themselves advancing on a small, yet strategic, crossroad town of Foy, Belgium. The town had to be cleared of a German panzer company and the men of Easy didn't want to have to face them, again, up the road in Noville. Therefore, it was vital that E company connect with I company, which was coming in from the east, to cut off the Germans' retreat. Problem was, Easy's commander, Lt. Dike froze up during the initial attack, making his men sitting ducks for German snipers.

It was in that critical moment that Major Dick Winters ordered a platoon leader from Dog Company, 1st Lt. Ronald Speirs, to take over for Dike and get E Company moving forward in their attack. Without hesitation, Speirs was off at a full run. Out of breath, he found Dike behind a haystack and, giving no explanation, bluntly asserted, "I'm taking over!" After barking out a couple orders for 2nd & 3rd platoons, it was "Let's go!" and, without looking back to see if his men were following, the lieutenant was, once again, charging toward town.

HBO's drama, "Band of Brothers", portrays quite accurately what happened next:



Easy Company had a man of action. A man they could follow. And they did - - capturing more than 100 Germans and securing Foy for the Allies.

Jesus left the safety of heaven and, at the most critical moment, plunged into our battle some 2000 years ago. Knowing it would cost Him His life, He rushed to our aid. He died for our sins. And, astoundingly, He came back.

Jesus was, and is, a man of action. He didn't come just to save you, but to enlist you, inspire you, and lead you to a great victory that will save many. Even as you read this blog, Jesus shouts "Let's go!" and, once again, He's on the move.

Will you follow Him?

This is Challenge Pointe.

Semper Fi.
Doug

Breaking Out of Mamby-Pamby Land

On my drive home the other day, a very personable man in a very comforting voice asked me if I was "suffering" under a heavy load of credit card debt - - even tens of thousands of dollars. Then, without waiting for my answer (which I started to give him, because not only do I sing --badly -- in the car, I also talk to the radio, to myself, and to God). Well, anyway, he assured me that if I was suffering, "It's not your fault." The troubling thing is that there are an awful lot of people in our American culture today who buy into this load of garbage. And not just about credit card debt, but about anything wrong in their lives. It's never their fault.

That's not what God's Word teaches us. Listen to God's prophet, Ezekiel, as he speaks for God Himself,

"The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child." (Ezekiel 18:20a)

And again,

"...I will judge each of you according to your own ways," declares the Sovereign LORD. (Exekiel 18:30a)

And Jesus maintains the same stance throughout his teachings.
Jesus says,

"If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains." (John 9:41)

Look at this video clip. I'll bet you'll like it. One of my favorites.



The only thing that would've made it better would've been if the box of tissues had hit the guy square in the head.

You liked it, didn't you? And do you know why you liked it? Because, in the depths of our beings, God has wired us to know the truth. And the truth is that God has given us the freedom to choose. And with that choosing comes consequence.

So, where does that leave us? We've all chosen poorly, stupidly, selfishly, arrogantly, hatefully, and maybe even violently. We are responsible for those things - - no one else. Oh sure, there are influences all around us. None of us had perfect fathers or mothers, or families, friends, or churches, for that matter. We've all been damaged along the way, yet we, alone, are responsible for our lives and actions. So, again, where does that leave us? Without hope?

By no means!! You see, while God holds us accountable for our lives, and while he wants us to be responsible (i.e. pay the people we owe, honor the commitments we've made, and do what's right in His eyes), He also knows that we are completely unable to totally make right (and, therefore, overcome all of the consequences) all of the wrong we've already done.

The prophet Ezekiel provides us with the germ of the answer in part b of verse 18:20 when God says through the prophet, "Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall."

What you do and what you say matters. It carries deep & lasting consequences for good or for evil. But, when we resolve to leave mamby-pamby land and when we turn away from our sin, our selfishness, our blaming, and turn to Jesus, He takes our sins upon himself, and they are no longer held against us. Now there's a challenge!

This is Challenge Pointe.

Semper Fi.

Doug

Moonlight's Sacrifice

In the 1989 film "Field of Dreams", Burt Lancaster and Frank Whaley provide the fictional portrayal of the real-life doctor, Archibald "Moonlight" Graham. Moonlight toiled for several years in the early 1900's in baseball's minor leagues, but it was in July of 1905 that he got his shot in the Major Leagues. Playing for the New York Giants, in the top of the eighth inning of a game against Brooklyn, Graham was sent to right field as a defensive substitution. In the bottom of that inning, Graham waited on deck and watched as a teammate flied out for the final out. The Giants held on to their lead and Graham was shipped back to the minors soon after, having never gotten an at-bat in the big leagues.

In the movie, however, a boyish-looking Moonlight gets his chance, stepping onto Costner's "Field of Dreams" in a converted Iowa cornfield. Settling into the box, he winks at the Chisox' pitcher, Eddie Cicotte. Cicotte promptly puts Graham on his seat with two straight high hard ones at his head. Graham retreats to the screen to get a little advice from Shoeless Joe Jackson, who asks Archie what he thinks Cicotte will do since the last two pitches were high & tight. "Either low & away or in my ear," Archie replies. Jackson advises Graham that he ought to be looking low & away, but to watch out for "in your ear". Cicotte goes low & away and Moonlight connects with a solid fly to center field. The runner on third tags up and slides safely across the plate as the catcher sweeps for the tag. A perfect sacrifice fly.

But that's merely of harbinger of what happens next (watch video):


Movie Videos & Movie Scenes at MOVIECLIPS.com

Archibald Graham gives us a striking picture of Courage & Sacrifice - - a picture of what Jesus did when he willingly stepped off the field of heaven and into our world. Paul puts it this way when he writes to the believers in Philippi:

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross! (Phil. 2:5-8)

There's the Challenge! Do you, do I, have the courage to be that man?

This is Challenge Pointe.

Semper Fi.
Doug

Man Alive: Who Do You Think You Are?

In Tim McCanlies’ 2003 screenplay “Secondhand Lions” (set in the late 1950’s) young Walter gets dropped by his deadbeat mom at the dusty old, run-down, isolated farmhouse of his two eccentric great-uncles whom he has never met and who, for their part, want nothing to do with him. Garth & Hub McCann, played by Michael Caine & Robert DuVall, have lived most of their seventy-some years as independent bachelors and they have no desire to baby-sit some twelve year-old wienie (their description, not mine).

On his first night, the two tough old codgers inform Walter that he is to bed down up in the creepy, old tower at the top of the stairs. And if he needs anything – well, just get it himself. Or, better yet, he should learn to do without. Not exactly Talking Points from the Welcome Wagon. However, as the summer wears on, the boy grows on the two curmudgeons and he begins to catch glimpses of the adventurous lives these two septuagenarians have lived. But it seems that those days are gone now – much to the chagrin of the uncles.

Then, one day, on their return trip to the farm, they stop at an seemingly forgotten general store & diner. The three slump at the counter, and while waiting for their food, Garth works to get to the bottom of his brother’s bitter & angry disposition of late.

“All your life, you’ve never been frightened of anything.” Garth says, “So what’s eating at you now? Getting old? Dying?”

“Hell, no.”

“What, then?”

“Being useless.” Hub snaps. “When we were young there was always a reason. There was a point. Things made sense. Now there’s no point to anything. What do we do? We garden. We outlived our time, brother.”

Then, Hub gets a providential reminder. Watch & listen to someone who knows, once again, who he is:





You see, Hub McCann knew who he was. And as long as he lived with an awareness of that identity, life had a purpose, a point, a reason. And when he lived with a purpose – he had an impact.

You see, one reason we so often feel dead & defeated in life is because we rarely live up to who we are. Disease attacks, friends desert, parents abandon, careers collapse, those we love betray us – all of them jabbing their fingers in your face demanding: Who do you think you are? And we either don't know or we've forgotten.

So who are we? Who are you?

Listen to who God says you are:

1. You are an Intentional Creation of an Omniscient God
-Not a cosmic-chemical roll of the dice
(See Psalm 139:13)

2. You are a Beloved Son or Daughter
-It isn’t all up to you
(See Galatians 4:6-8)

3. You are a Brother or Sister
-You’re not on this ship alone
(See Hebrews 2:10-12)

4. You are an Heir
-There’s plenty more to come – and it’s more than you’d imagine
(See Matthew 19:29)

5. You are a Leader
-Lead by Example
(See 1 Timothy 4:12)

6. You are a Trusted Steward
-God Trusts You & He knows what He's doing
(See 1 Peter 4:10)

7. You are a Protector
-Take Care of Those Around You
(See Matthew 5:13)

8. You are a Warrior
-There is a very real Battle Raging & You are in it
(See 1 Timothy 6:11-13)

9. You are a Priest
-Talk to God on behalf of those He brings across your daily path
(See 1 Peter 2:5)

These comprise but a short list of who you are in Christ. Memorize a few that seem to hit home. Then, next time the Enemy tries to take what isn't his, asking, "Just who do you think you are?" - - take a stand, tell him just who you are, and fight the good fight!

Semper Fi.

Doug

"The Rescue"

Late on Tuesday, October 21st of 2008, the Blue Ballard, fishing in the Bering Sea more than a thousand miles southwest of Anchorage, Alaska, received an email on the ship's computer from another vessel nearby named the Katmai.

It seems that the Katmai, a 93-foot cod-fishing & processing vessel, had begun taking on water in it's stern during the day and, as the water continued to pour in, the pumps struggled to keep up.  Compounding the flooding problem was the fact that the ship's steering mechanisms are housed in the stern and if the flooding continued and reached the steering compartment, the Katmai would not only be in danger of sinking (which could happen slowly and allow time for rescue) but would be in very real peril of capsizing at any instant, since the vessel would not be able to be aimed to properly meet the icy, two-story waves head-on.

The ship's engineer, Bob Davis, fought furiously to stay ahead of the flow and, having seemingly gotten in front of the problem, the ship's captain, Hank Blake advised his crew that they could remove the survival suits which they had donned earlier in the ordeal.  It wasn't long, however, until Captain Blake issued the order to re-suit, and Blake, Davis, and the nine other crewmen once again put on the gear that is necessary to extend life in the 40-some degree waters of the North Pacific from only minutes to several hours.

Cedric Smith, one of the crewmen, may have thought of his jobless cousin who had, a couple years back, passed up the chance to join him in this line of work because he couldn't swim.  Perhaps, as Smith or any of the other crewmen looked through the gale-blown rain & snow and into the churning, black tempest, they knew that it would take a lot more than the ability to swim to save them should they have to abandon ship.  As Bob Davis feverishly worked to keep the rising water away from the steering mechanisms, 22 year-old Jake Gilman, on his first professional fishing trip, struggled along with 50 year-old Deck Boss Guy Schroder and the rest of the crew to prepare the Katmai's two life rafts.

Perhaps it was a loose piece of equipment that lodged in the watertight door to the steering compartment.  Or maybe the door seal itself was not functioning properly on the 31 year-old ship.  But whatever the reason, water began rushing into the steering compartment and in short order the pumps that were crucial to the steering of the vessel were rendered inoperable.

Captain Blake - - unsure of how preparations were progressing, and becoming more concerned by the minute - - felt his ship listing to the port side.  While this was no small concern, he really began to worry when the Katmai suddenly began listing starboard allowing great amounts of water to rush into the below-deck engine room and work areas.  The captain bolted from the wheelhouse to check on preparations for abandoning his vessel and, even as he did so, he felt the stern begin to sink.

Knowing now that the Katmai was doomed, Captain Blake gave the order to abandon ship.  In just moments, the captain, Adam Foster, Ryan Appling, Deck Boss Schroder, Cedric Smith, and two others jumped into the frigid waters and made for one of the life rafts.  As young Foster looked back, he saw first-timer Jake Gilman and two others struggling with the 2nd life raft.  It was the last time ever that anyone would see the three fishermen alive.

It was about 1:00 AM on Wednesday morning when the Coast Guard station on Kodiak Island, more that 4 1/2 hours away, received the electronic distress signal from the Katmai's Emergency Position Beacon that is automatically triggered when it is submerged.  Though the fishermen struggling in the icy waters of the Bering Sea had no way of knowing, the Coast Guard's search helicopter and C-130 airplane were already on their way.

Meanwhile, Captain Blake and six of his crewmen struggled to stay alive as the violent waves repeatedly overturned their raft, throwing them into the freezing waters and forcing them to expend precious energy struggling back into the small inflatable.  Throughout their ordeal, above the howl of the wind & the roar of the waves, Guy Schroder bellowed his warning, "Don't lose the raft!  Whatever you do, don't lose the raft!".  But the straps for the men to grab were small and slipped too easily from nearly-frozen hands.  Before long, after another wave tossed the seven men from the raft, only six climbed back on.  Then, having spilled into the waters again, Cedric Smith was gone.  For 17 hours they struggled for their lives, being upended into the sea more than two dozen times.

Flying through the worst conditions some of the Coast Guard crew had ever battled, finally, the men in the C-130 spotted a strobe from the Katmai.  It was connected to a survival suit.  The suit was empty.

It wasn't long until they spotted a second strobe - - this one connected to the 2nd life raft that Foster saw Jake Gilman and the others wrestling.  There was none on board.

Ultimately, having nearly lost hope of finding anyone alive, the Coast Guard spied the raft with just four struggling seamen on board.  A rescue swimmer hit the water and began the arduous transfer of the survivors from the raft, to the water, to the rescue basket, and then to the chopper.  In the end, only Captain Blake, Deck Boss Schroder, and crewmen Foster and Appling survived.

Having watched their friends and co-workers perish beneath the dark waters of the Bering Sea.  And having, themselves, been mercilessly and repeatedly thrown into those same frigid waves.  Knowing that they were hundreds of miles away from the nearest spot of land - - those four men knew they needed someone to rescue them.  If they entertained any hope for life at all, they knew it would have to come from somewhere outside themselves.  They knew they were in need of a savior.

It is the same for all of us, too.  The only real difference is, too often, we don't realize our need.  We somehow think we can row this thing home on our own.  This is especially true for us men.  We presume we can out-swim the waves, out-last the storm, and out-run the very real perils that would drown us all.

But we can't.

We need a Savior.  And it is into this wintery sea of hopelessness, that God's Son plunged on that night two millennia ago.  "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:  That while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  (Romans 5:8 NIV)

For the One Who is Semper Fi,

Doug

Copyright, Doug Shope, December 5, 2010