​Sadao Munemori was born in Los Angeles, California.  As a young man he joined the Japanese-American 442ndRegimental Combat Team which included the 100thInfantry Battalion, the most heavily decorated unit in World War II.  Sadao, while fighting on a hillside near Seravezza, Italy, was faced with a wounded squad leader and an entire team pinned down by machine gun fire. Private First Class Munemori decided to engage in a one-man frontal attack.  Using grenades he wiped out two machine gun nests but in the process became completely exposed to enemy fire.

​Meditation
2 Chronicles 32:1—After these faithful deeds, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah.  He laid siege to the fortified cities and intended to break into them.
 

I recently had the opportunity to respond to the blog of a friend, Dillon,* who suffers from a life-threatening disease.  In his blog Dillon related the difference between “fading away” and “going out with a bang.”  Immediately after reading his heart-felt thoughts, I was inclined to respond with the hope of the gospel.  Below is my letter to which Dillon thoughtfully replied and which has opened up a channel for further sharing.

There is natural reason for Ukrainians to dread Russia taking over their country again—oppression under communism was intense and costly.  Ukrainian Kostyantyn spent many years in a Soviet labor camp.  The authorities disliked his actions as an elder in his church so they sent him to be re-educated.  Over 200 pastors were also sent to the same camp.  

​Dmitri determined to educate his sons from the Bible at a time when Russia was dominated by communism. Soon neighbors began joining the family Bible study which grew to about 75 people crammed into his little house and standing outside in hearing range. Angry at his refusal to stop teaching the Bible, an officer and soldiers pushed inside during a time of fellowship and arrested him.  As the authorities were leaving, a small grandmother waved a finger at the officer and declared, “You have laid hands on a man of God and you will NOT survive.” Two nights later that officer died of a heart attack.  The fear of God so filled that community that 150 people joined the next time of teaching. Meanwhile Dmitri was sent to jail.[1]

​Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s youthful dictator pushes his nation towards the brink of war. Threatening a “‘preemptive nuclear attack’ on the United States, a ‘final destruction’ of South Korea, and a ‘nuclear attack’ on Tokyo” leaves much of the world holding its collective breath.[1]  While we should pray that war does not break out, we should also remember that even bullies and police states cannot keep God from revealing His love in amazing ways.

​Dr. Ben Carson, a pediatric neurosurgeon, spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast.  Sitting just two seats away from the podium, President Barack Obama listened intently as this godly doctor shared observations about what is troublesome in America and his prescriptive ideas as to what would change the country for the better.  It was a bold, uncompromising message delivered by a humble, God-fearing man.  Some in the media castigated him for daring to speak openly against policies connected to the president. Prophetically, the Dr. Carson emphasized the dangers of political correctness in his message.

​When I look back on my life, one of the scariest memories I have was the time I was rock climbing.  Somehow I got into a position where I was stuck.  I was frozen to a giant slab of granite knowing I had to move but scared that if I lost my grip I would plummet far enough that my chances of getting badly hurt were considerable.  I still remember asking for God’s help and for the immediate peace that came over me as He answered.

​When I look back on my life, one of the scariest memories I have was the time I was rock climbing.  Somehow I got into a position where I was stuck.  I was frozen to a giant slab of granite knowing I had to move but scared that if I lost my grip I would plummet far enough that my chances of getting badly hurt were considerable.  I still remember asking for God’s help and for the immediate peace that came over me as He answered.

​Marvin Alan Klegman was an eleven-year old Jewish boy who lived in a small two-bedroom home in Tacoma, Washington with his mom and dad, and his younger brother Kerry. Marvin was a motivated Cub Scout and honor roll student.  At Lowell Elementary School he served as a crossing-guard. Marvin also worked as a paperboy.  He won a Schwinn bicycle in a citywide contest by selling the most Tacoma News Tribune newspaper subscriptions.

​Eighteen of us sat around the circular table in the conference room of the Military Academy located in Gori. For several hours we met with different deputies from the Ministry of Defense and listened as they shared the challenges of living within field artillery range of Russian guns.  Their fear of angering their neighbor and again losing their freedom is fueled by Russia’s occupation in 2008 of Abkhazia and South Ossetia—two secessionist territories within Georgia.   

​Brian Birdwell in his book Refined by Fire wrote, “We all face personal fires—those life-changing, traumatic times when the course of our lives are altered.”  On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked and crashed American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon.  MAJ Brian Birdwell was so close to the impact area that the ensuing explosion burned 60% of his body.  He endured over thirty surgeries, fought off numerous life-threatening infections and suffered continuous horrific pain to the point that he “begged God constantly to let me die.”

​Admiral Yi Sun-Shin (1545–98)is one of the most famous military heroes in Korean history.  He was born into a poor family but through hard work and effort rose to become a brilliant strategist and Admiral.  At the age of 28 he took the government examination to become an officer but during the practical portion fell off his horse and failed.  Shamed by his failure he worked harder and four years later he retook the exam and passed. Eventually his persistence and wisdom convinced his superiors to give him command of a naval station in Cholla province.  

Eight months into his tour of duty in Vietnam, Navy gunner Dave Roever burned horrifically when a phosphorous grenade exploded in his hand.   This mild mannered Texan spent fourteen months in a hospital undergoing several major surgeries.  By God’s grace, he lived.  Yet, what he does with his survival is truly heroic.  ​

​David Ole Kereto was born in Narok, Kenya, the Maasai son of a witch doctor. By tradition he was expected to follow in his father’s footsteps.  One of the highest honors for a Maasai male is to become a warrior.  To achieve warrior status, one must kill a lion or a man.  To kill a lion, tribesmen will surround the big cat and agitate it by shouting.  One of the men then steps forward making himself a target.  He holds a spear in his right hand and a stick sharpened to a point on both ends in the other hand.  When the lion attacks it usually lunges for the spear hand.  Just as it leaps, the Maasai shifts the stick to his right hand and as the lion opens its mouth he thrusts it between its jaws.  David accomplished this at age 15 thereby becoming a Maasai warrior!

​Nicolo Paganini, (1782-1840), ranks as one of the greatest violinists of all time.  One night while playing a difficult piece of music a string on his violin snapped and hung down from his violin. Surrounded by the orchestra he continued to play.  Then a second string broke.  Still, this clever musician improvised and continued playing.  A third string snapped forever worthless.  Undaunted, Paganini played magnificently on the one remaining string before a stunned crowd.  When he finished they jumped to their feet screaming and cheering “Bravo! Bravo!”  Paganini waited until the noise abated then as everyone sat back down he raised his violin high for everyone to see.  The violinist nodded to the conductor to begin the encore.  He placed the single-stringed Stradivarius beneath his chin and played one final piece.  Can you imagine the buzz of that crowd as they returned home from that concert?!

​Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881), a British historian and essayist, once said, “Tell a man he is brave, and you help him to become so.”  His words amplify the word encourage which means to impart courage, to fill with hope, and instill confidence. George Adams wrote, “Encouragement is oxygen to the soul.”   I remember coming around the track in the mile relay and hearing the cheers of the crowd. Their voices and the steady clapping of their hands inspired me to run my fastest to win.  It is no secret why the home team has the advantage.  Adoring fans provide motivational energy athletes harness to succeed.  

​She is beautiful.  Her serene, unblemished face is a remarkable sight.  Her tiny feet wiggle to the tickling touch of her mother’s loving fingers.  Her black hair is thick and astonishingly full for a newborn.  But inside this lovely baby rages some unknown storm that throws her into seizures and more than once has arrested her ability to breathe. The doctors have no answers. Meanwhile, two hearts burst in agony.  Henry and Melody helplessly watch their first child not knowing . . . 

​When I wake up each morning, my first task is to let out the dogs and retrieve the newspaper.  Before I read the headlines I wonder what new tragedy has rocked people from their illusive peace.  In Israel, yet another Palestinian has blown himself up and taken the lives of bystanders. What propels these martyrs to so willingly die?  

​Meditation
2 Chronicles 24:2—Joash did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight throughout the lifetime of Jehoiada the priest. (NLT)