Our Family's American Hero

This is a picture of my Grandmother taken at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery holding Uncle Wayne's burial flag.

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Memorial Day is a day for remembering the men and women who have died protecting our country and pray for those serving today.

I grew up knowing our family’s American hero, though he died fifteen years before my birth. The picture of a young marine in dress blues was prominently displayed in Grandma’s living room.

I knew there was an island in the South Pacific, called Okinawa, before I could name the fifty States of America. The pain etched in Grandma’s eyes as she told and retold his story taught me the high price of freedom.

In 1943 a seventeen year old boy, from Kansas City, Kansas enlisted to become a man in the United States Marine Corps. His mother reluctantly signed her permission. He argued that a draft notice would come in a few months. He would rather volunteer.

Pfc Wayne A. McClintock, USMC – Died April 4, 1945 in Okinawa during WWII. His body was originally buried in Okinawa, until an act of congress gave my grandparents the option to have his body moved stateside four years later. On April 6, 1949 Uncle Wayne’s body was buried with full military honors at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Prayer

. . . praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints – (Ephesians 6:18, NKJV)

Up until this point, Paul has been describing the equipment that makes up a Christian soldier’s armor.

. . . truth as our girdle or belt
. . . righteousness as our breastplate
. . . the gospel of peace as our foot covering
. . . faith as our shield
. . . salvation as our helmet
. . . the Word of God as our sword

Paul turns from handing out equipment to passing on orders.

Now that we are fully equipped for battle we need to be in constant communication with our Commander.

How?

Pray!

How often?

Always!

Paul uses three words to describe the attitude in which we are to pray.

Supplication: Pray seeking answers, not only for ourselves but also for our fellow soldiers --all the saints.

Watchful: Keep one eye open, always on the lookout for attack.

Perseverance: Never give up. God wants us to keep praying even when we don’t hear His instructions right away or don’t understand His commands.

(This is the last of eleven blogs I’ve written over the past month on the Armor of God. Please pray with me as I prayerfully consider expanding this series into book form.)

The Sword of the Spirit

As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place where was a den, and I laid me down in that place to sleep; and as I slept I dreamed a dream. I dreamed; and behold, I saw a man clothed with rags standing in a certain place, with his face from his own house, a book in his hand, and a great burden upon his back. I looked, and saw him open the book, and read therein; and, as he read, he wept and trembled; and, not being able longer to contain, he brake out with a lamentable cry, saying, “What shall I do?”

These are the opening lines of The Pilgrim’s Progress written by John Bunyan and first published in London in 1678. What book could bring such woe by simply reading its pages? Later this same book brings comfort and guides the man to the Celestial City.

The book that the man held in his arms was the Bible. The Word of God brought sorrow as he read of his sin and God’s holy justice. God’s Word gave comfort as it pointed him to the cross where he found mercy. His Bible provided guidance as it became his road map through life.

In Ephesians 6:17 Paul describes God’s Word as the Sword of the Spirit. It is a worthy weapon in worthy hands, but the Bible must be proved like any other piece of armor if we are to use it effectively.

Imagine a knight going into battle with a sword he had not first proved on the practice field. Such an act would be foolishness. A knight needed to know the weight of his sword, its length and breadth, how it felt in his hands before his life depended on its use.

As Christian soldiers we need to prove our Sword; not its worthiness, but our skill in using it. We do that by becoming acquainted with the Bible through reading it, studying it and committing passages from it to memory.

How affective are you with the use of your Sword?

The Plight of Mattie Gordon

What follows is from an interview I had with Jeanne Marie Leach last week through the wonders of email. I don't get the chance to read much just for pleasure. So I’m excited when I find a book like The Plight of Mattie Gordon. Many Christian books today read more like a soap opera with a little Christianity thrown in. Not so with this small action packed book. I found it refreshing to meet a fictional character whose faith controls the hard decisions she has to make.

Q. Would you share some of your own personal testimony as a Christian?

I went to a church camp the summer between my Junior and senior year in high school. I lied to my parents about what kind of camp it was, since my mother had once told me that if I ever found myself in a situation where I was in another church other than the denomination we belonged to, I should not listen to anything they had to say. While at the camp, I asked Jesus to forgive me and to come live inside of me. When I got home, I entered the front door and called, “Mom. I’m home.”

Mom came from the kitchen and we met in the living room. She stopped short and stared at me a moment. “What on earth happened at that camp?” she asked. “You look different.”

I didn’t know what she meant, but my life was definitely different from that moment on. I never looked back and have served God to the best of my ability in several different areas for over 36 years. First, I taught Sunday school for over 25 years. Then I worked in Children’s Church for about 6 years. My calling in the past 10 years has been to minister hope to women and show their true value in Christ Jesus so that they may live their life to its fullest potential.

Q. How does you own faith direct your writing?

I wouldn’t dream of writing something without mentioning God. I rely heavily on His guidance, and I write everything with my calling in mind. It’s so much a part of who I am; it defines me. To ask me to write something and leave God out would be like asking the sun to not shine. It’s impossible. However, it is possible to write something that people don’t know has anything to do with the Bible, but it can impart biblical truths to the reader just the same.

Q. Where did you find your inspiration for Mattie?

It was over four years ago that I first started working on The Plight of Mattie Gordon. What I like to do is think of a character, then figure out what would be the worst thing that could happen to them.

I am a John Wayne fan, and one of my favorite movies is Rooster Cogburn and the Lady. I love the banter between John Wayne’s seedy character and the woman who hires him to help her track down the man who killed her father. She was a preacher’s daughter, so her retorts often contained scriptures. This is where I first began thinking of Mattie Gordon, a feisty middle-aged woman who doesn’t back down from anything.

Next came the setting. I'd just seen the Black Canyon of the Gunnison in western Colorado for the first time, and was totally awed by it. The information on the Black Canyon said that outlaws had hidden there back in the early days of the west.

I started to wonder what would happen if ordinary people lived there, and I got a picture of Mattie living in a deep canyon in my mind. Add to that an outlaw son, and the story took on a life of its own.

Q. How is The Plight of Mattie Gordon doing in sales since you published it a year ago?

Sales are slowing down now that it’s on the backlist. My second western was published in April this year, and I think sales of Mattie are picking up again because of how easy it is to mention all my books while promoting Shadow of Danger.

Q. More recently I see you have written a how to book on writing. Would you like to share anything about this latest work?

First, my “how to” book on writing, Writing Basics for Beginners, is an extension of a writing workshop I taught through the ACFW several years ago. Whether you haven't written a word, or you have almost completed your first manuscript, Writing Basics for Beginners will give you the direction you need to take the next step toward publication.

I believe everyone who has a book idea inside them can learn how to write it; they simply need to be shown how to begin. The task may appear too large and overwhelming. This book starts at the beginning of your writing journey, and will give you the confidence and direction to see the book through to those final two words – THE END.

My second Christian historical western romance novel, Shadow of Danger, was released in April of this year.

Back cover blurb: Rachel Ringhold is roused from her bed in the middle of the night and sent away from the orphanage, where she'd grown up and now works. Dazed and confused, she flees from an undisclosed danger. With a prayer in her heart, and little money in her satchel, she sets out to find Seb Jameson, the man who used to work for the orphanage as blacksmith and handy man, and who'd captured her heart as a youth.

Tired, dirty, and malnourished, Rachel finally reaches Leadville, Colorado and discovers Seb engaged to be married. Unaware of the turbulence in Seb and Myra's relationship, Rachel enjoys her new life and grows to a fresh awareness of what Jesus Christ accomplished for her on the cross.

The danger suddenly catches up to her. Her renewed faith is shattered. All she'd ever wanted was for someone to love her and a home of her own, but now her dreams have been stripped from her. Who can save her now? Is there anyone who would want to?

Q. Are there any other novels in your future?

Absolutely, Teresa. I have 4 more completed novels that I’m shopping around, which includes a series. I just got my rights back from my first Christian historical novel, Angel in the Saloon, and it is the first in the Brides of Glory Gulch series. I hope to get agent representation to help me place this series and all my future novels with the best publishers for each book.

Thank you for allowing me to talk about The Plight of Mattie Gordon. I love that story. It has been getting great reviews, and I’ve received e-mails from readers who’ve said it has touched their lives and given them hope for the future for the first time in a long time. It doesn’t get any better than that!
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You can order any of Jeanne’s books and learn more about this interesting writer by visiting her website at http://www.jeannemarieleach.com/.

The Helmet of Salvation

And take the helmet of salvation . . . (Ephesians 6:17, NKJV)

Do you KNOW without a shadow of doubt that you posses this important piece of armor?

We put on the helmet of salvation at the foot of the Cross. Our helmets shine from reflected splendor when we take time to stand and gaze upon the Cross. Dear friend meditate long and often on what Jesus did there. The helmet is our constant reminder that our salvation is sure.

In high school I memorized the following poem for a speech competition. Through the years lines from this stirring account of how one Roman soldier may have came to faith kept coming to mind, but I couldn’t find a printed copy of the work. Then this last Easter another blogger posted the poem on her site. I was so excited to be reunited with an old friend.

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A Roman Soldier’s Story
(By Mrs. Leo R. Goodwin)

I loved Him not — and yet, I could not hate Him.
I was a ROMAN…He was but a Jew.
Yet, there He hung, and agonized for others.
Was ever love of MAN so pure and true?

Upon the cross between two thieves they hung Him.
(And now, my stylus falters as I write –
For I must stand and see His awful anguish;
Must watch the daytime turn to darkest night).

One thief cried out, “If thou be Lord, then save us!”
The other looked at Him with glazing eyes,
And said, “Remember me, Lord, in Thy kingdom.”
Christ said, “Today, thou’lt be in Paradise.”

The hours dragged on; yet there He hung suspended
‘Twixt Heaven and earth. Ah, ’twas an awful sight!
I’d seen such sights before - I was a soldier -
Yet ne’er before did day become as night.

For three long hours the darkness lay around us;
The rocks were rent and lightning flashed around.
One called, “The veil is rent within the Temple!”
And saints rose from their graves within the ground.

I dared not look…The sky grew darker, darker –
Until it seemed like midnight all around.
And then I cried out, “Stop my ears, O Father!”
For I had heard his blood drip to the ground.

They said to me, “Go pierce His side, proud Roman.”
But ah…my spear hung heavy at my side –
For, once more He had cried out to His Father.
I would that in His place I might have died!

I could not thrust…and so they called another.
The blood and water poured out from His side.
The people smote their breasts and left Golgotha.
I knew then that it was THE CHRIST who died.

His seamless coat lay folded on the ground there.
(They said the lot had fallen unto me.)
With reverent, trembling hands I touched its border,
Then placed it where no human eye could see.

The day grew old. The thieves’ legs had been broken;
And men came now to take our Lord away.
More worthy lips than mine shall tell the story
Of how Christ rose that Resurrection Day.

The Shield of Faith

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, and above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. (Ephesians 6:14-16, NKJV)

The shield of faith is the next piece of armor Paul describes. To better understand what this weapon represents we need to find a biblical definition for faith and see how it is lived out.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1, NKJV)

Hebrews 11 has well been called “God’s Hall of Faith”. Can’t you just see the glorious line of saints stretching out across the ages of time?

By faith Abel . . .
By faith Enoch . . .
By faith Noah . . .
By faith Abraham . . .
By faith Sarah . . .

And in what were these Old Testament heroes of the faith grounded? Their trust was in the promises of an unchanging God.

By faith Isaac . . .
By faith Jacob . . .
By faith Moses . . .

. . . Rahab . . . Gideon . . . Barak . . . Samson . . . Jephthah . . . David . . . Samuel . . . the prophets . . . others . . .

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13, NKJV)

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses . . . looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith . . . (Hebrews 12:1, 2 – NKJV)

Paul instructs us to take up the shield of faith to protect ourselves from the fiery darts Satan throws at us. The steadfast soldiers in the Old Testament looked forward to the promised Messiah and stood firm. We look back at the Cross, the fulfillment of that promise, and are encouraged to faithfully follow their example.