While most of us have heard of General H. Norman Schwarzkopf because of his success in commanding the allied troops in the Persian Gulf War, most of us have never heard about what he did in Vietnam.
He was assigned a battalion that was in shambles.
The First Battalion of the Sixth Infantry was knowm as the "worst of the sixth." Schwarzkopf called the location of his assignment as "a horrible, malignant place" which was on the Batangan Peninsula.
The area had been fought over for thirty years, and was covered with mines and booby traps.
On May 28, 1970 a soldier was injured by a mine and Schwarzkopf flew to the man's location. While the helicopter was evacuating the injured soldier, another soldier stepped on a mine and severely injured his leg. He thrashed about in pain and that's when everyone realized they were all standing in the middle of a mine field.
The general believed the injured man could survive with his leg if he would only stop flailing around. He knew there was only one thing he could do.
He had to go and immobilize the man. Schwarzkopf later wrote,
"I started through the minefield, one slow step at a time, staring at the ground...my knees were shaking so hard that each time I took a step, I had to grab my leg and steady it with both hands before I could take another...it seemed like a thousand years before I reached the kid."
The 240-pound Schwarzkopf pinned the wounded man and calmed him down, saving his life.
Some may call it courage, heroism, or even stupidity. But he loved his soldier more than his own position, even more than his own life. That's servanthood.
In our marriages, families, and in portions of the church, there have been battles. There are places in our lives and relationships that are in shambles.
Personal landmines have been walked upon, bombs of bitterness have exploded in hearts, defiling many.
We need leaders who will go out and get the wounded. We need leaders who will leave their own comforts and bring healing to bleeding hearts. We need leaders who love people more than their position. We need leaders willing to serve others; who are more concerned about their testimony rather than a title.
Will you be that leader? Pray with me, that we would all be good examples of servant leadership to the flock. Let's us pray to that end!
Remember when I asked the church to stand and say our mission statement together? Wasn't that interesting? I was so proud of our youth group! If it wasn't for them, I think we would have been in real trouble!
Our mission is all about "Buildinging believers who reach others for Christ."
We have looked at Isaiah's terrific vision in God's unhindered presence (Is. 6). If you'll recall we saw the foundation on which our mission rests. It rests in what God uses to fulfill His mission in us and through us:
1. God fulfills His mission through suffering.
2. God fulfills His mission through His sovereignty.
3. God fulfills His mission through the forgivenss of sin.
4. God fulfills His mission through surrender.
Pray is the work. It is the fuel that empowers the church to fulfill our mission. Please pray fervently for our staff and ministry leaders as we seek God's wisdom for our church.
And praise God for those who have joined our fellowship in these last few weeks!
Yours for fulfilling our mission,
Dr. Mark L. Richardson, Lead Pastor
First Baptist Church, The Colony
