On our AWANA Hall of Fame board recognizing Timothy Awards from 1982, there are two initials and a last name etched on one gold plate. "J. T. Young". Twenty five years later, I am saluting Major J. T. Young of the United States Marine Corp. He made Major as he passed through this year in the Marine Corp...his eighteenth. J.T. is stationed in Jacksonville, North Carolina with the Second Marine Aircraft Wing. It is a big picture macro unit which presides over training and operations for a whole wing of the Corp. Among other duties, Major Young is the Anti-terrorism officer who insures the particular programs related to the required force protection of his unit. As an officer he hangs out with competent professionals in pilots and fellow officers. He shares company with the cream of the Marine crop. That is rarified produce! The best of a great Corp.

He is stationed there with his wife Kelly and their two boys: Brodi (age 4) and Colbi (age 2). (By the way, my wife and I are convinced that there is something a family with two boys understands that others families just can't get.) He is married to a Meg Ryan look-alike. She goes rather by Kelly. She is sweet gal. I had the privilege of officiating their wedding a few years back. He looked great in that Marine dress uniform. What about that Marine sword? And marrying "Meg Ryan" on top of it all.

He is an aviator with the Marines. He has flown huey choppers (UH 1 Iroquois) for them. Carted Oli North around once in Iraq! Go J. T.! J.T. has weathered three deployments in Iraq. In 2003 he was deployed with the H.M.L.A. (Helicopter Marine Light Attack) #269th for six months. He hooked up with the H.M.L.A. (and you thought that stood for some internet conversion font type!) #167th for another tour in 2004. He was on the ground with a Marine reconnaissance unit in 2005 (2nd Marine Recon Battalion). That last deployment had a different texture. War is different on the ground than from the air, although of course, threats abound in a war theater...on the ground and in the air. And when your boys are born and begin to grow up a little, the deployments are harder.

My favorite part of the life of Major Young is his devotion to His Lord, Jesus Christ. J.T. is not playing about his resolve to honor Christ with his life. Two truths have kept him going in the Corp- a group which can be at odds with a guy's resolve to stay with the life of faith. These two bedrock truths are pillars holding up his resolve to persevere and thrive as a Marine who follows Jesus. One, Jesus Christ is the only way to God (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). Two, God is the absolute sovereign of our universe and presides in holy rule over all the affairs of men (Isaiah 40:21-26, Psalm 2). Between these two posts, J.T. has worked out his own salvation with fear and trembling...in the Marine Corp.

I will long remember his report to our small group (which his Dad and Mom are apart) regarding his first deployment. He took us to Psalm 27:1-3,

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident."

I cannot now read those verses without thinking of Him and our Father who is in heaven who sustains us through the providence we face here on earth...in Iraq or Springfield. The location does not matter. His provision is available to all who will lay hold of Him. The Lord is the saving defense of our lives!

So today, I give a shout out to a neat guy with a cool family who grew up here at Southgate, Major J.T. Young, U.S.M.C. Thanks for serving J.T. We are proud of you and should all pray for you more. Keep going! Thank you buddy!