Remembering a Christian Soldier
This is a day given to remember those who have died
in battle for our country and for our freedom. I think about that daily as I read
the papers and see the results of many who return home from Iraq and
Afghanastan with missing appendages. My heart goes out to the families
and friends of those who have been devestated by losses to loved ones
from all wars including of course the one we are currently waging. My
daily prayers include the ones who have suffered as well as those who
give care to those in need. Thank YOU to all of the soldiers and
families of soldiers for the sacrifices you are making.
This MMM is dedicated to a Christian Soldier who
did not go to a war fought with lethal weapons but who fought a spiritual
war every day of his life. He was born in a humble manner on a farm in Kansas, and
was a young pastor when he took a job in Wauseon, Ohio, as the first
pastor of the newly formed Evangelical Mennonite Church. It was
a small church that grew into a bigger church but really was not ever
called a "mega" church at that time. This pastor also had duties
outside the church which included refereeing basketball games, piloting
small planes, and caring for the needy. He decided that even though
he had a great college experience, he would attempt
to go to graduate school at the University of Michigan while keeping
all of the other activities and family obligations in balance.
What a witness, a Mennonite
pastor with a graduate degree from one of the top schools
in the country and also leading revival services and
Sunday morning worship and Sunday Schools. When I went forward to receive Christ at one of those
revival services, it was this man, Gordon Zimmerman who counseled me
about the gift of salvation that Jesus was offering me and unless I reached
out and took it and accepted it, I would never have it.
The reason I trusted the information this soldier
was sharing with me is because I had some history with this man. You see, I had watched
him as he played softball with me and other little kids at our Vacation
Bible School every year. I watched him as he kidded around with
me when I was a spectator at basketball games he officiated, and then
also when he refereed games that I was playing in as I grew older. When
he explained the truth of the gospel to me, it was believable because
the man delivering the message was believable. I thank God every
day of my life since then for sending a man of faith
and courage to my little church in Wauseon, Ohio, who had the credibility
and honesty to share the truth with me.
As I see the large churches of our day that impress
many of us with the vast number of people being reached, I think back
and wonder how many kids will get to play softball with their pastor
and learn from a person with that kind of credibility? Take the time to play with
your kids and grandkids as often as you can and think about a man named
Gordon Zimmerman who took that lesson to the world with his example. Happy
Memorial Day! dls
Sent May 21,
2007
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