Real Heroes

On Saturday, the day began pretty early. I was up and at the church before 7:00 AM, for a Men's breakfast and a special guest speaker. Technical Sergeant Donald G. Malarkey (born July 31, 1921) is a former non-commissioned officer with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army during World War II. (Mr. Malarkey was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers)

Sitting and listening to this treasure of a man was simply amazing. He shared so many of his experiences in World War II and made some of these larger than life stories feel very real and personal. He's an honest to goodness American hero (and one tough and funny old codger!). It's people like Don whom fought to allow us to freely decide where we want to live, to pursue the career or our own choosing and to say what we want to say in this great country of ours.


Later in the evening, our Discipleship and Men's Ministry pastor shared his personal testimony about how he came to know Christ. He said that God is speaking to us all the time, either audibly, internally, through other people or in positive or negative circumstances. God wants us to listen to His voice, obey his will and follow Him on grand adventures in this life. Pastor Dan's real-life examples of God's involvement in his own marriage, steps throughout his career and literal life-saving covering of his entire family during a catastrophic auto accident was truly touching. Listening to this mountain of a man crumble and crack at the thought of his family being spared from serious injury or death was absolutely stunning. (our church will post the podcast here later in the week) After hearing Dan's story, I'm convinced that he too, is a hero. Dan is living the kind of meek and Godly life that I want for myself and for my own sons.

The world needs more leaders and genuine heroes like these two men.

Joshua 1:16

Then they answered Joshua, "Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.

Good Night