It was several months after my graduation from Boot Camp in 1968 when my monthly issue of the Marine Corps magazine landed in my mailbox. Several days later I got around to reading it. The articles did not seem as compelling as they did right after graduation from boot camp. For some reason this day I was pulled to the end of the magazine and the “Honor Roll” of those who had given their lives in combat this past month. Suddenly I had the same rush of emotions envelop me as I had at age 12 when my best friend fell from a cliff to his death. The “D” section announced that someone who had slept across the squad bay from me, only months before had died before the end of his first month “in country.” The meaning of Memorial Day became painfully real to me that day. Rarely does this day, established in 1866, go by without thinking about people I knew who gave their life during Viet Nam.

I often wonder about the uniqueness of those who die in combat because it has been happening since time began. God required every young Hebrew male to serve as soldiers during the earliest of Biblical times so they might learn valuable lessons. There are so many Biblical traits to be learned as a warrior, like obedience, discipline, respect, position and authority, and commitment to the greater good or cause. Traits that most in your generation will not learn with a volunteer military. However, they are traits that caused even Christ to marvel. (Matthew 8:10, Luke 7:9) Yet many who possess the traits that drew Christ’s amazement died on the battlefield, each for his own reason. For some, they fulfilled John 15:13 because their motivation was to protect their family, friends and a nation. For others it was ego that had to be dealt with. And yet others who simply had a thirst for blood. In each case God sorted them out as He does with the many that lived through times of war.

Since each of you have never had to face combat I ask you to take time today to consider some or all of the traits I mentioned in the last paragraph. You see, those are the traits that differentiated David from Solomon. It was the difference between having wisdom (which eventually failed) and being a man after God’s own heart. Even though you may never experience the lessons of military life, you can acquire those traits if you desire them – if you desire for Christ to be amazed with you. I’m going to ask you to do a simple exercise today. Go to the dictionary and look up two of those traits. Copy the definition on a piece of paper and list five things you can do to make one or both of these trait come alive in your life. If you are serious, the Holy Spirit will help you learn to acquire and execute the trait without bullets flying past your head. Before you do that though, ask yourself if you really want to be a man/woman after God’s own heart.

Be amazing.

Love Dad