I am so proud of my son Jonathan Jappe for joining the United States Navy. He took the position of Religious Programmer, commonly known as Chaplain’s Assistant. His desire is to serve the Lord as he ministers with the Navy chaplains. I also was filled with admiration and nervousness as he set off for his first tour of duty in Iraq. He sent back this wonderful message from Al Taqaddum Airbase, 2006 …..
Finding Beauty in Iraq
By RPSN Jonathan Jappe, USN
Someone asked me what is beautiful out here in Iraq, stating that because God has made this part of the world as well, that it could not be devoid of all beauty. I can't deny the argument, because God did look down on all that He had created and said that it was good. There is some beauty in the sunrise and night sky, the way the light streams into the back window of the chapel and creates a powerful image of the cross. The landscape however is devoid of all beauty, and the reason for this is plain. This land is one of, if not the oldest piece of inhabited land on the planet. It is postulated that the Garden of Eden was somewhere in the area. Abraham started his story in modern day Southern Iraq or Kuwait.
The point I am getting at is that Iraq is a huge example of human stewardship at its worst. This land has been in human hands since the beginning of time with the instructions to care for it, and man has done a poor job of it. My area of the base is near a lake which gives us the name Lakeside. It is a lake that could have been tapped for irrigation to make the desert bloom. Oil was found here, a commodity which could have sent Iraq into the first world, but instead added to the personal wealth of evil dictators. Even now, as a free and democratic Iraq is beginning, there are those who would send it back into the Stone Age. Small craters have been formed by explosions caused by Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs. Black smoke fills the sky as a truck that once held a group of Marines in it burns. Iraq once held wonders of the ancient world and now the civilizations of Babylon and Persia are used for cover from AK-47 fire. In the end, Iraq has no beauty that is unique to itself except for the smile of a young girl who is going to school for the first time, except for the joy in the faces of a group of boys playing with a brand new soccer ball, given to them by a service member. The sense of accomplishment of a woman who holds up her thumb covered in ink to prove that she has voted for the leader of her choice, and a father’s sense of relief knowing that his children have a chance of better life than he did. The land of Iraq is pitiful, but its people are its true beauty.
And now, the second tour, this one was optional. Jonathan had trained with the Combat Logistics Battalion, and he did not want to leave them in the lurch, so he decided on a second tour. Now he is stationed in Falujah approaching his half-way point, one of the toughest places to be: not at the starting line or close to the finish. The sacrifice for our country in facing this war is real. Our family members, fathers & mothers, sons & daughters, husbands & wives, sisters & brothers, and fiancés serve us every day in an often forgotten and complicated conflict. My hope is that we will remember them, first of all, in our prayers for victory, secondly, in our hopes for their safety, and thirdly, in our gifts for their support. Marriages have been strained, and many need counseling. Physical wounds need repair and psychological trauma needs our love Remember that a small act of kindness can go a long way. So, just the other day as I was standing in line at a Subway restaurant waiting for my sandwich to be made, I observed the lady in front of me, noticing she was an officer in the Navy, and I simply asked her, “May I buy you lunch today?” She said, “Oh, you don’t have to.” But I responded, “It would be my privilege for all you do to serve and protect us. Let me buy your lunch and say thanks.” She appreciated my gesture. It was a far cry from the response our service members received after Vietnam, and I say, it should be that way. Let us never forget that this is a time to pull together and support our troops.
In Christ, Pastor Mark
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( 2.9 / 323 )I am excited about African Nights! My friends, Samuel Nehemiah and Sunny Ikeagwu have diligently prepared duets and solos, and they have enlisted several African singing groups, both locally and in Los Angeles, to lead us in a night of worship and praise. Sunny arrived from Nigeria 10 days ago just to be able to sing with Samuel in this concert.
And let me tell you, these gentlemen know how to sing! They sang as little guys in an orphanage in Port Harcourt to forget how hungry they were. Can you imagine us doing that? God used this most difficult of circumstances to mold and shape them into the men that they are today, never bitter, but thankful to God for their life and their liberty and their salvation in Jesus Christ! You will not be disappointed, in fact, I think if you listen in your heart, you will hear God's angels joining in the celebration. This is a little taste of Heaven, to sing God's praises among the nations!
We have much to be thankful and praise God for. Here is what the psalmist says in Psalm 57: "My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises! Wake up, my heart! Wake up, O lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn with my song. I will thank you, Lord, among all the people. I will sing your praises among the nations. For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May your glory shine over all the earth." Psalm 57:7-11
If you are available this Saturday night, May 31....come to Gateway Church at 1280 North Johnson Avenue in El Cajon. The concert at 6PM is free, but there will be a free will offering taken to benefit Project Nigeria, a ministry of Gateway Church to the children orphaned or abandoned in that country.
Hope to see you there! Bring your clapping hands, joyful voices and smiling faces!
Joyfully His,
Janet
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( 2.8 / 355 )Juli Smith runs our Angel Tree ministry at Gateway Church. This is a ministry started by Chuck Colson to give Christmas presents to children that have one of their parents incarcerated. Over the years, we have given hundreds of presents away, filled the church rooms with decorations, a live Santa & Mrs. Claus, food, and then I would do a drama, acting out the Christmas story, playing the role of Joseph or Simeon or a shepherd watching his flock at night. The children love it, and through the years, some of the parents have started to visit Gateway Church. But Angel Tree is a ministry of 99% give, and that’s what it had been until Juli told me that LaDainian Tomlinson had invited all the Angel Tree kids to his football camp for inner city youth, and that they needed a sponsor. She asked, “Would you like to go, Pastor Mark?” “Yeah!”
When LT was 12 years old and growing up in Waco, Texas, he had an opportunity to go to a football camp put on by Emmet Smith of the Dallas Cowboys, and now every year, he wants to give back what he received when he was young. For this reason and others, I am a LT super fan! I have been wearing his jersey at the stadium and even while watching the games at home. It was so cool just to be standing on the same field with him, to see him interact with these young kids gathered at Hoover High School going through football drills and seeing the 2006 MVP up close. And then when he was walking by, I had my moment to speak with him; all I could say is, “I am a super fan.” He smiled and nodded; he understood.
See, I believe LT is somebody who could be admired, not only for what he does on the field, but what he does off the field. As a Christian he knows that all of his talents and skills come from God, and that he has to give Him the credit and that it is a responsibility to give back to the community. He also lifts his other teammates and challenges them to do the same. I got to speak to Jacques Cesaire, Matt Wilhelm, Jeromey Clary, and the voice of the Chargers, Hank Bauer. It was a great day to be with the young kids, learning about life, learning about football, and finding out again that somebody cares.
And can I tell you, that Jesus does! He knows your pain, He knows whether you have a parent in prison, or if it just feels like it because of your situation. God loves you. Receive His love into your life, but don’t just keep it. Be like LT, and pass it on to the next generation.
In Christ,
Pastor Mark
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( 3.1 / 151 )Wow, what a blessing, and what an opportunity that will keep you shaking in your shoes! “Share the Joy” radio program began on May 5, 2008 and here is my first blog entry. I feel like a rookie called up from Triple A ball to play with the Yankees. I have admired so many of the preachers on KPRZ radio for years, and now I get to be a part of this all-star lineup. I want to thank Sam Winchester of KPRZ for this opportunity, and Terry Frost who is doing an excellent job producing our program.
Years ago, Janet and I took our one and only cruise with Chuck Swindoll and his Insight for Living ministry team. Janet’s parents, Harold and June Hankins, graciously invited us to accompany them, as they also have appreciated the Insight for Living radio ministry. It was a blessing to hear Pastor Swindoll preach about the significance of lighthouses as a metaphor of the Christian experience. Every day we would catch a glimpse of these historical keepers of light along the Eastern seaboard, from New York along the inland passageway to Montreal, and every evening we gathered together to hear the preaching of God’s Word. I was thrilled just to be in the same room with this Champion for Christ, and now to be on the same station, is a true joy for me.
Another KPRZ pastor that is one of my favorites is Haddon Robinson, one of the best preachers of our generation. I first heard him through the cassette tape ministry of Leadership Magazine, and his message and style of preaching rings in my heart and head.
A local friend of mine, who I rooted for during his Charger days, is Miles McPherson, pastor of The Rock. He is quite an evangelist, and a great guy, building a super church right here in Point Loma. He came to speak at Gateway Church during a youth ministry night, and we saw our highest attendance of students. Over 140 came to hear Miles, as he just gives his time away over and over to those trying to build God’s kingdom. That is why God has blessed him so greatly, because he gives of himself continually.
I also have to point out John MacArthur. I first heard him at a Youth for Christ Breakaway at Grossmont High School and later at the Greek Amphitheater of PLNU when I was 16 years old. What a mastery he has of God’s Word, and a legend in building a strong church as well.
Of course, there is also Dr. David Jeremiah, just down the road at Shadow Mountain, one of my favorite preachers to listen to. He is articulate, insightful, and biblical; what a blessing!
In short, these heroes of the pulpit have been blessing the lives of people for years, and I feel encouraged as well as challenged to this great lineup of Godly men rightly dividing the Truth each day. Please pray for Janet and me as we look to God’s guidance to make this ministry, Share the Joy, something that touches you each day.
In Christ,
Pastor Mark
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