8/9/05

Message

WHY? Some of us are parents, some of us aren't. But I think we've all been around little kids, particularly three and four year olds. They're curious and growing fast. They're learning about the world around them. I never had kids, myself (although I was one - a long time ago.) Kids are great! One thing about them that seems to drive many parents nuts is how little kids can keep asking, "Why?" Why this and why that, on and on. Actually, "Why?" is a very good question. Grown-ups ask it too or at least they should. Thinking people from teens on up ask very important questions, like, "Where am I going to live?," "What am I going to do?," "Who am I going to marry?," and so on. Thinking men and women from teens on are especially asking "Why am I here?" or, "What's my purpose in life?" This is one of the most important questions a person can ever ask. Fortunately, there are answers. Considering the magnitude of the question, both for you, me, and everyone who was ever born, it's smart to go to an authority that's better than just what we or other smart people can figure out on their own. That means going to the Word of God, the Holy Bible. After all, since God made us along with the rest of creation, it's only reasonable that we should go to the source for the answer to this question. So I checked in the Bible and found some of the many verses that give the answer: "Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air…. All of us used to live that way…. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's special favor that you have been saved!) … And so God can always point to us as examples of the incredible wealth of his favor and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us through Christ Jesus. God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (Ephesians 2:1-5, 7-8, 9 NLT). It looks to me that your purpose and mine is to be what God wants us to be, which makes sense since he's the one who made us and gave us our DNA, our body, our mind, and our soul. He also put us where he planned for us to be located, including who our parents would be, what our sex, race, and nationality would be and also which century we would be born in. Besides all that he planned that we should be united with him through the gift of salvation and eternal life through his son, Jesus Christ. And, finally, he decided that our purpose is to do what he wants us to do, how he wants us to do it, and when he wants it done. When, and as we commit to that plan and purpose, the plan and purpose will happen. Maybe you won't see it all at once, but it will open up a step at a time as you proceed with your life. You can ask, "Why?" all you want. Just be ready and open for the answer. It's there and it'll come and it'll knock your socks off as it does. God bless you. God loves you. So do I. Chaplain Larry Haworth 176 Rainbow Dr, #7627, Livingston, TX 77399. LEHaworth@aol.com

Date:

4/14/04

Message

THE PASSION As of now, "The Passion of the Christ" is still going strong in the theaters across America. It's also attracting audiences around the world, including Russia where it's legal on DVD but not in public theaters. Possibly you've seen it. Certainly, all of us know about it from the great interest it's attracted and the controversy generated by the media. Mel Gibson's use of the word "passion" is an accurate description of what Jesus was about as he suffered through that history changing event. I checked the word in the dictionary. Here's what I found: Passion - "usually implies a strong emotion that has an overpowering or compelling effect" (Webster's New World Dictionary, Simon and Schuster, 1982). The movie demonstrated what is clear in the Bible that God, through Jesus his Son, has an overpowering love for every man, woman, and child ever born. That is his overriding passion, his very purpose for coming into this world. His passion was clear from the beginning to the end of this historic movie. I believe you'll also find that passion is a profoundly strong emotion within your own heart as I find in mine. Not as strong as within Jesus' heart, of course, since we're only human. We recognize that we were the object of Jesus' passion. Now for each of us pops the question, "what is the object of my passion?" There are plenty of things to be passionate about. These days, lots of folks are passionate about changing the world in ways it's never been before and God never intended it to be. For one example, take this hot potato of gay marriage. Many activists are passionate about it, pro and con. Why else would it be in the news so much? People on the far left are adamant that marriage should be redefined to be something it's never been in the history of the world. Others, me included, are passionately in favor of keeping marriage what it is by nature as God has created men and women. To us it's clear and we're passionate about it because so much is at stake. In a less hot potato way, there are many other things people are passionate about. Look at NASCAR lately. Some folks really like car racing - again, me too. But I'm not passionate about it. However, I know some who are - some spend big bucks on their cars, others would never miss a race, some know every racer by name and statistics, some will recoil at any hint that theirs isn't the greatest sport since cave men threw rocks. Too many are passionate about eating - check the obesity statistics in the news lately. [Check the "waddle" of many shoppers in your local mall - or look at your profile in the mirror? Whoops!]. Yes, there are sure a whopping lot of things and causes to be passionate about. From a different angle, it's been my pleasure to know some fine folks who are passionate about helping and serving others. In my military career I encountered many true heroes. I've known some who put their honor and their lives in jeopardy for people they didn't even know. I've known many devout and honest Christians who've made a total commitment to serve in the toughest places - as missionaries to jungle tribes, in leadership positions with little reward, in small churches or menial jobs just because it was the right place to be or the right thing to do. I'm one who believes that everyone is passionate about something. What's your passion? God bless you. God loves you. So do I. Chaplain Larry Haworth Livingston, Texas 77399 176 Rainbow Drive, #7627 LEHaworth@aol.com

Date:

1/17/04

Message

AN AMERICAN HERO Do you remember Jessica Lynch? I expect you do. She's well known around the country for being a prisoner of war in Iraq during the Iraqi Freedom War. She was a 19 year old PFC from the hollows of West Virginia. She was in a convoy of rear support vehicles that made a wrong turn and got lost in the hostile city of Nasiriya early in the war. Jessi was your ideal hometown girl. She was cute, spunky, independent, and adventurous; the type you'd want for a granddaughter (don't forget, we're not 19 anymore). Nasiriya was loaded with Iraqis who wanted to make Americans dead. When her convoy got lost in that city, there were plenty who were ready and eager to shoot up the convoy, which they did. Jessica was captured. I expect you remember the story of her rescue by American forces. It was a daring and heroic action. Jessica had suffered injuries in the crash of her hummer during the ambush. But it was clear that she'd also been severely brutalized by her captors. They did things to her that you'd never want to happen to any woman, including our female soldiers who wear the uniform as proudly as the men. I'm convinced that Jessica was a hero. She was a real hero, although not because of any great fighting she did. According to her, she was unconscious after the crash and her M16 had jammed while they were making a run for it before the crash. But she's a hero anyway, for having been there, for serving in a tough spot as her country had asked, and for being honest about not doing the shooting and killing that many in the media had given her credit for. She was honest. She was forthright in telling who her heroes were. She did her job and, according to reliable reports, she did it well. Stories of what soldiers sometimes must endure are as endless as they are profound and powerful. We each have our stories, our experiences. Some are rough. Jessica's story continues in that she seems to be doing quite well even though she still has a long way to go toward complete recovery. She seems to be doing well mentally and spiritually too. She's had a lot of support. She has a great family, a great community, and prayers from all over the country. But her injuries were serious. Of the most concern to many, including me, is the three hours she can't remember and how some of the injuries were inflicted that she can't remember. Still her attitude is great and her future is bright. These thoughts don't end here. I want to share with you another story of suffering with a purpose that you probably know. Or maybe you don't know. It's important. It's the foundation of what this country is all about, a foundation which isn't as well known these days as it used to be. But it's true just the same. This story of suffering is the foundation of every life that connects with God Almighty. That's our highest purpose and the reason we were created to start with. I'll explain by quoting from the Word of God because that's the source of my authority for what I'm saying: "…Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps, 'He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.' When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." (I Peter 2:21-24 - NIV) Jessica is a hero to me. A lot of you vets are too. Jessica didn't shoot at the enemy. But she was still in the thick of the battle. So she's a hero to me. Others were in the thick of things too. You know what I'm saying. I know you feel deeply about this. So do I. I also feel deeply about what God has done for us through his Son, Jesus Christ. I hope you feel deeply about that too. God bless you. God loves you. So do I. Chaplain Larry Haworth

Date:

10/29/03

Message

MY FAVORITE PRAYER A few weeks ago a good friend of mine asked what my favorite prayer was. My personal background is that of spontaneous prayer (praying as it comes to mind) rather than formal, written prayer. I believe both kinds can be from the heart so both informal, spontaneous praying and formal, written praying are important. Just the same, it took me a little thought to realize the answer to my friend's question. I realized that I do have a favorite written prayer. The Lord's Prayer is almost my favorite, but it's not the one I mean. My actual favorite prayer is Jesus' prayer to his Father God which is written in John chapter 17. (That's the fourth book of the New Testament.) I hope you'll read it. Actually, I hope you'll take a couple of minutes, get a Bible out, and read the chapter now…. I'll wait…. OK…. See what I mean? This is Jesus' prayer to his Father as he was teaching his disciples and preparing for what he knew was to come: his trial and crucifixion. This was the evening before it all happened. He knew what his mission was. It was that he was here in this world for the singular purpose of providing for the forgiveness of the sins of every human ever born and the provision of eternal life in heaven for each and every one of them who would believe in him. He also was preparing for the event of his resurrection from the dead and going back to be with God the Father. That was how he seals our redemption and purpose for living in this world. A main reason this prayer is my absolute favorite is that it proves that there is a reason why I'm in this world to begin with and why I'll be here for however many years are given for me to be what is planned for my life. This prayer also proves that God through Jesus understands what it's all about. That's important to me. I believe it's important to you too. The times I get discouraged, which is often and frequent, it's a real boost to me to read this prayer of Jesus. It reminds me that God does know what's going on, after all. I expect you can see as clearly as I can that this world is in a bit of a mess, which is an understatement. You know what I mean so I won't expound here. But I'm sure encouraged when I read this prayer of Jesus when he says things like, "`I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world." This is verses 13-18 of John chapter 17. See what I mean? So think about the world. Then think about why you're in it. Then think about Jesus and his wonderful prayer. (By the way, it's the longest recorded prayer we have of Jesus anywhere.) Think about why Jesus was in the world. It's all there in this prayer of Jesus. See why it's my favorite prayer? Maybe it's your favorite too. God bless you. God loves you. So do I. Chaplain Larry Haworth

Date:

7/25/03

Message

A CLOSE CALL "I should have been dead by now." Have you ever thought like this? I sure have. Like when I was driving on a California freeway a while back. I was in the outside lane minding my own business driving my forty foot motor home with a car in tow. I wasn't even speeding - it's hard to speed in a forty foot motor home. A Camry passed me on the left, going a pretty moderate speed, only 5 or 10 miles over the limit. Trouble is, when we came to a curve in the road he didn't. He didn't curve, that is. He rammed into the guard rail on the left. That threw him across my lane real sudden like. I had to swerve and hit the brakes real fast. It about freaked my wife. Then the Camry hit the guard rail on the right and came to a real sudden stop. That's what I mean by a close call. Closer yet was a time in Viet Nam. My first tour was in the Mekong Delta at Soc Trang, a small airfield that had been Japanese and then French before we took it. This was during the Tet Offensive of '68. One of our guys was out on the perimeter pulling guard duty in a fox hole. It had been dug with a ledge to sit on in the hole. Then the soldier put an old piece of plywood on the seat for a little comfort. Naturally, we got hit that night about two in the morning. That's 0200 hours for you who remember such things (such as me). The VC in our area usually used 75mm recoilless rifles firing indirect rounds at us. Well, one of these rounds came in, landed in our soldier's foxhole, cut that piece of plywood cleanly in two pieces right beside the soldiers butt (right cheek) and lodged into the side without going off. How's that for close? Can you top that? Possibly you can. We all have our close call stories. Close calls sure get our attention. But we're still here to tell about it. Right? Close calls make great stories. They make great memories. They add spice to life, especially considering we still have our life. We made it, close call notwithstanding. The "call" didn't have our number. The crashing Camry didn't hit me and the recoilless rifle round didn't hit the GI. No matter how close, no matter how far, it still didn't hit. What almost happened, didn't happen. Like the old guy said, "A miss is as good as a mile." This reminds me of an incident in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. It's recorded in the Gospel of Matthew 19:16-30. There was a very wealthy young man. He had a lot of influence. He was well liked. He did many good things. Looks to me in the story that he was a plain good guy. Didn't hurt anybody - helped many. Jesus asked him about his character and his soul. He was straight arrow. He was 99% clean. He was 99% what he was supposed to be. He was within sight of being good enough to make it into the Kingdom of God, to go to Heaven when he died. He was very, very close. So was the crashing Camry and the 75mm recoilless rifle round. But close didn't cut it. That extra 1% was the line between getting in and not getting in. And he went away from Jesus sad because he wanted in, but didn't want it bad enough to go 100%. He was close, but close didn't cut it. How about you? Chaplain Larry Haworth - [LEHaworth@aol.com]

Date:

4/15/03

Message

VIET NAM VETS - A PROUD LEGACY "Iraqi Freedom." How does that sound to you? Today, as I write, our troops have almost completed their job of deposing Saddam Hussein and taking out his regime. From what I see, it's making the Iraqi people very happy. And that's an understatement. Have you been following this war? I have. Just as I followed Desert Storm a decade ago. Back then I was still on active duty at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. There have also been other conflicts in the years since we served in Viet Nam. But these wars against the brutal terrorist regime in Iraq have been particularly significant for us as Viet Nam vets. I remember when our troops came home from Desert Storm, how they were given parades and joyous celebrations to welcome them home. I remember that many Viet Nam vets were bitter that these troops were welcomed home whereas we were brought home, dumped onto the tarmac, so to speak, and left to fend for ourselves in a frequently hostile America. Not only were there no welcomes or parades, but there was a whole lot of nasty "unwelcoming activity" making clear that the warrior was seen as an object of disgust rather than as the hero that he really was. Now. Let's acknowledge that this is all true. At least as a broad generalization. However, let's also acknowledge that a whole lot of water has flowed under the bridge since our "homecoming." With the building of The Wall in Washington, DC and with the realization by the people that the Media and many politicians were spinning reality, perceptions changed 100% toward the warrior regardless of the war. These days Viet Nam vets are held in very high regard by almost all Americans. I say this even though schools are not teaching the subject adequately and people are vague about the history of that major event. It's even gotten so there are Viet Nam vet wannabes all over the place that want a piece of the action. Come back with me again to those parades we gave our Desert Storm troops. In the lessons learned department, have you ever stopped to realize that the reason those parades were so hearty and joyous was largely because America properly felt guilty for how it brought its Viet Nam vets home? . Have you stopped to think that these young Desert Storm troops were your own kids? Would you deny this recognition to your own kids? I don't think so. Be happy that they got what you didn't. Be happy that they got what you paid for. It's part of your legacy. Now here we are a decade later. Here we are welcoming a new generation of warriors home from war. Back again from the sands of Iraq and the Middle East. Looks to me that we have a lot to celebrate again. Looks to me like we're returning our own kids again from another war. Except now many are our grandkids. So be happy. Viet Nam vets paid a high price so these young men and women return home as heroes. This nation has learned to separate the soldier from the war. Even the leftists who opposed taking out the brutal Saddam Hussein regime, admit that they must support the warrior. That admission didn't come out of any genetic sense of goodness. It came because the nation learned from the Viet Nam vet that you treat your warriors with respect no matter what you think of those who sent them to fight the wars. It's more of our legacy. There are other lessons learned from the Viet Nam warrior that benefit the young generation of our military in service of America. Look at the embedded reporters in Iraqi Freedom. Some are there in harms way with the soldiers. Even though it's only a few who're putting their money where their mouth is, at least those are out there where the shooting is. Some are in their ivory towers putting their spin on events, but lessons have been learned, anyway. Those lessons came right out of the media and political spinners and agitators from the Viet Nam war. There's a more important event of a greater price paid for a greater good. We understand paying a large price for a greater good. We were part of such a price. We understand that idea pretty well. The greater price I'm talking about was that paid by God for the redemption of our very souls and the fulfillment of the purpose for which we were born. A verse in the Bible makes this clear. It's a popular verse. It takes a lot of abuse and ridicule which is strange, considering that it's true and has the power to transform the life of anyone who accepts it. (We understand that sort of thing, don't we?) The verse is John 3:16-17: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." It's clear that America has learned the lessons from Viet Nam that you respect, appreciate and celebrate the warriors who go to fight your nations battles. I'm glad this has been learned. Our young troopers now come home from war to the parades and appreciation of those who sent them. It's also clear that many appreciate what God has done for them through the price he paid for their salvation. That appreciation is given through accepting that offer of paid-up salvation and purpose through Jesus Christ, his Son. I've accepted that offer. Have you? God bless you. God loves you. So do I. Chaplain Larry Haworth 176 Rainbow Drive, #7627 Livingston, Texas 77399-1076 LEHaworth@aol.com

Date:

2/18/03

Message

DAVE

Dave and I have been friends since the early fifties when he and his family moved to our town. I think it was 1950. They joined our church and he became active in our youth group. Several of us boys ran around together. Most of us went to the same high school which helped a lot in keeping us bonded (we wouldn't have known what bonded meant in those days. But it applied, just the same). Several of us have remained in the same church over all these years. The others have stayed close enough to keep in touch, at least occasionally. So the bonds have remained strong. Now Dave is dying of cancer. He's lost a whole lot of weight. He's pretty weak now. But he still gets around the house and takes small walks along the sidewalk just to get out of the house. His last time to go to church was a month ago, although he still goes to an occasional elders meeting. Someone else has to drive. He had to quit driving some time back. However, Dave is a truly blessed man. He's had his ups and downs, of course. Who hasn't? Being human, Dave isn't perfect. Who is? But Dave is a blessed man. He married Sue over forty years ago. She was part of our church youth group too. Through think and thin, they've made it. They're still married. I was in their wedding with other guys of our "gang." Dave joined the Los Angeles Fire Department long time ago. Did a career. A fine career. He made it to Inspector. He didn't like the higher rank near as much as just being on the line. He preferred fighting the fires and driving the trucks - he enjoyed "the thrill of the chase," driving with the red lights flashing and sirens blaring. One of our gang, Gary, was on the Fire Department too. He made battalion chief. He told me the other day about Dave's reputation in the Department. For one thing, Dave always preferred to be stationed in downtown L.A. because that's where the action was. Dave was one of those who liked to go onto the roofs of burning buildings to cut holes to ventilate the fire. He was one who led the way up the stairs of a burning high rise. He still calls it "fun." Gary told me that Dave was one who the other firemen wanted to be with in times of danger because they could always rely on Dave to be there, keep cool, and know what to do in a tight situation. Dave must have been a great dad. You should know his three daughters. [Sue's too, of course]. They're great women now. The ups and downs figure in here too, of course. But the girls have turned out great. They love their dad beyond measure. The two who still live in the area stop by regularly. They just like to be around Dad. The one who lives in Hawaii flies home whenever there's an airline sale and she can get off work. All the girls love the Lord and are committed Christians. Dave knows he's a blessed man. In recent years, Dave's been an elder in our church. Maybe for some that isn't such a big thing. With some you could see leadership written all over them from the beginning. Some of us knew that Dave had it in him, but he's a very quiet and unassuming man of few words. He's been faithful to Jesus Christ and the church all his life. It's how he was raised and how he believes. It's what he is. But his leadership potential didn't come out until more recent years, especially when our church went through some difficult times and needed leadership. Dave came out of the woodwork and has been contributing leadership ever since. He's always contributed 100%. But now he's contributing as an elder and leader in addition to being a solid follower. (Some experts contend that you can't be an effective leader if you haven't been an effective follower - I agree). None of this is to imply that Dave hasn't always known his own mind. He knows exactly what he believes and why. He's one of the most rock solid Christians I know. Gary said this was always clear around the station house or wherever Dave worked with the Fire Department. The other firefighters always knew just where Dave stood and what he stood for. He just wasn't in their face. That's usually the best way. I believe that's how God wanted it. Now Dave's approaching the end of the trail unless the Lord does a miracle for him. That's what we'd like. But it looks like the Lord wants him pretty soon. We will miss him greatly. Even though Dave is a man of few words, when he talks, it's from his heart. It's honest. Dave doesn't mess around with jabber and gossip. He isn't too good with small talk. He's the sort of friend you just like to relax with and watch golf on TV. Or do something fun besides just chew the fat. Don't get me wrong. He'll talk plenty when there's something to say. Like the needs of the church these days [remember, he's an elder] or the leftists in the media and what a mess they're making of things in this country while they ignore and try to manipulate most Americans values and beliefs. Dave is, indeed, a blessed man. His family and friends are blessed too, for having him around. He's still in his early-mid sixties. Far too young to die, I think. But he's just slightly younger than me - about a year or so. He'd rather stick around a few more years. And he's asking God, why? from time to time. But his faith is solid. He knows exactly where he's going when he leaves this life for the next. He'll tell you, without any doubt whatsoever, that he'll join his Savior in heaven along with his Mom and Dad, with Roger our friend, and plenty of other saints. He knows without any doubt that his family and friends will join him in due course. It's only a matter of time. He knows of a certainty, that this bout with cancer is only his ticket to a better place. We who love Dave know this too. Dave can certainly say with the Apostle Paul, "I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all those who have longed for his appearing." (II Timothy 4:7-8). In the words of Jesus, God will certainly say to David as he approaches the gates of heaven, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matthew 25:21). I offer Dave's story to you because I believe it will inspire you as it does me. Dave never considered himself to be an exceptional man. Maybe he is; maybe he isn't. I think he is. But Dave is an exceptional man in ways that every man and woman can be exceptional: Believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior. Live your life deeply committed to Him and deeply committed to whatever God's plan is for your life. Have a love and abiding trust in God, even through the troubling times, even when you have basic life questions that don't seem to have an answer here and now. Dave was (is) a fireman. I was (am) an Army chaplain. Many of you are vets or families of vets. All of us have our life's callings, our life's purpose. We all have our questions. We all have our blessings. We all have our trials. We all need a basic and abiding trust in God. We all need Jesus as our Savior. Dave measures up. Do you? God bless you. God loves you. So do I. Chaplain Larry Haworth 176 Rainbow Drive, #7627 Livingston, Texas 77399-1076 LEHaworth@aol.com

Date:

1/1/03

Message

NEW YEAR 2003 GREETING Wide, wide as the ocean High as the heavens above Deep, deep as the deepest sea Is my Saviors love. I, though so unworthy, Still I'm a child of His care. For His Word teaches me That His Love reaches me Everywhere. This is a little song I learned as a child growing up in my home church in Southern California (in the 40s and 50s). Does that date me? I'm glad. Because now, in my sixties (age), I have more experience to draw on to demonstrate the powerful truth of that song I learned long ago. You have your own experience factor. I hope you draw on it for yourself to demonstrate the truth of the love of God for yourself. I've wanted to send something for a New Years greeting but didn't know just what to say, to tell you the truth. As I write this, I'm sitting in our motor home in southeast Texas having been to a very calm, but enjoyable, New Years party last night with plenty of other "young seniors." This morning I was going to sleep in. Then, at 0600 hours (6:00 am for you civilians reading this) the Lord dropped this little powerful song into my mind. I hadn't thought of it in a long, long time - several decades. And that's not an exaggeration. I know it was God's gift to me to start off 2003. I got up right away to get it onto paper because I want you to have these precious words of truth as my New Years gift to you. It will help start off your New Year very well too. That is without qualification - regardless of what the New Year may bring. That includes all anticipated events, both wonderful and not so wonderful, both those you may anticipate with great joy and those you may be anticipating with a measure of dread. I hope all of us realistically expect many blessings this coming year. Some of us look forward to the joy of new grandkids coming into our families. Some of us look forward to long planned retirement. Some of the younger of us look forward to marriage, to new jobs and to other wonderful opportunities that will effect your whole life. Some look forward to the need to adjust to the loss of loved ones. As I sit here one of my closest life-long friends is expecting to meet Jesus face to face in Heaven this coming year. Others must look forward to the loss of physical health or the trials and stresses of unemployment. Indeed, the New Year has much to bring into our lives. Some we want and some we don't want. Most will be of such a nature that we couldn't have anticipated or expected them. And there will be many surprises; some serendipities (an unexpected pleasure God brings into your life just for the sake of making you happy). Now go back to the little song; isn't it wonderful that we can know the love of God? Isn't it comforting to know that God does love us? Unconditionally. I can't outrun God's love. I can't rebel and destroy God's love (I can rebel, but God loves me anyway and is always ready to "mend the fences.") However, I can have the comfort of living within His love. I can share His love. I can demonstrate His love through all that comes my way in 2003. I can have purpose and meaning in all that the New Year brings because of His love. His love surrounds me, even when I don't feel it - which happens, as you know only too well. Isn't it wonderful that God puts things into your mind at the "funniest" of times? Like early this morning at 0600 hours when I thought I'd be sleeping off a raucous New Years Eve of celebrating with Welch's grape-peach juice and Fritos (and watching more skilled people than I try to line-dance?) Have a great New Year, no matter what. Remember "Wide, wide as the ocean...." God bless you. God loves you. So do I. Chaplain Larry Haworth LEHaworth@aol.com

Date:

10/21/02

Message

REMEMBER "LET"S ROLL?" On 11 September my wife, Deanna, and I had the opportunity to go to Shanksville, Pennsylvania for the observance of the crash of United Flight 93 on that terrible day of 9/11 in 2001. Do you remember the words of Todd Beamer, "Let's Roll?" He spoke these to his fellow passengers as they were about to retake the airliner from the suicide attackers before it crashed into the field near that small country town. Being at the crash site on the first anniversary of the event was a powerful and moving experience. A memorial service was conducted following which President and Mrs. Bush came to meet with the families. It was a moving experience just to be there. A few weeks later I was in Sam's Club and purchased a copy of Lisa Beamers new book aptly titled, Let's Roll (coauthored by Ken Abraham and published by Tyndale.) I highly recommend this book for everyone interested in what happened on that flight. I guess this includes just about all Americans and many others too. Lisa gives detailed insights into Todd's character and life which helps us understand what went on that day. She includes much about the other passengers too and how their actions clearly saved America and the world even more trauma in addition to what was already experienced on 9/11. Todd was clearly a man of God. He learned to face issues head-on. He was able to make the corrections in the direction and character of his life as the occasion and leading of God made necessary. He was a man of honor and deep commitment to his Christian faith. He knew what his life was all about. When the ultimate trial to his Godly character was put to the test, he passed with flying colors. It cost him his life. Given the circumstances, Todd would unequivocally say that it was well worth the price, heavy though it was. For Lisa and her young family, she recognizes the clear hand of God in all of this as she quotes from the Bible on page 83 of her book, "Oh, the depth of the riches of wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 'Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?' 'Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?' For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever! Amen. -Romans 11:33-36. Lisa describes what a great father Todd was to his two boys. "He was always extremely patient with the children…. Even when they were dawdling or dallying, Todd always put a positive spin on his encouragement to the kids. He had a special shrill whistle that he used to get the boys' … attention sometimes. At other times, he'd say, 'Come on guys, … it's time to go. Let's roll!' It was phrase we used a lot around our house." Lisa concludes her book with a story from home: "One day shortly before Christmas, just a few months after Todd's death, I was halfheartedly unpacking some holiday decorations. Evidently I wasn't moving fast enough for David, who was excited to put the stockings up on the fireplace. So he looked at me and, in a playful voice reminiscent of his father, said, 'Come on Mom! Let's roll!' It is well… it is well… with my soul. Are you ready? Okay. Let's roll." I offer this true story as an encouragement to each of us. When life gets us down, when something hard, or even traumatic, comes into our life, remember the events of 9/11. Remember the life and example of Todd Beamer and his family. Remember the others on United Flight 93. Remember the lessons that Todd lived his life for. He knew God, he knew Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He knew the events of 2,000 years ago when the life of the Savior was also snuffed out in an even more traumatic way. Todd knew personally that the life of the Son of God was offered and given for him personally. He accepted this and lived by it. Ask Lisa. Ask his kids. For Todd Beamer, when things got hard and the obstacles to his life were ponderous, the only way was: "Let's Roll!" Now, for you and for me, let's say with words of Lisa Beamer as she concludes her book: Are you ready? Let's roll! God bless you. God loves you. So do I. Chaplain Larry Haworth 176 Rainbow Drive, #7627 Livingston, TX 77399 LEHaworth@aol.com

Date:

9/15/02

Message

REFLECTIONS ABOUT SUICIDE A matter that is very important to veterans, especially Viet Nam vets, is that of suicide. When someone takes their own life it’s a traumatic and shattering event for the family and friends who loved the victim. I say victim because I believe it’s an accurate term, even if the person did do it to him or her self. It’s not natural for a person to take one’s own life. It happens as a result of much pain, depression and extremely skewed thinking. There are many official (and unofficial) figures as to how many Viet Nam vets have committed suicide. The dynamics of the Viet Nam war and its effects on those who fought it are well known and dealt with very well elsewhere so we won’t go into it here. Some experts say that more Viet Nam vets have committed suicide than were killed in combat. Others say the number is little more than with the American population as a whole. My belief, based on my experiences as a career Army chaplain, is that the truth lies somewhere between. My opinion is that, whatever the actual figures, the problem is real and is still with us. It is imperative for us as vets and families and friends of vets to be aware of the problem and to care about those who are still traumatized by the war to the extent of committing suicide. I believe that it is especially important for God fearing believers in Jesus Christ to have a profound concern for anyone who is in such a state that he would honestly consider suicide. After all, it was Jesus Christ Himself, our Savior and Lord, who said we must bear one another’s burdens. He also said we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. It is not possible to have a neighbor who is in a suicidal frame of mind and not care enough to reach out to that person. When that person is a veteran who has fought for our freedoms, then I believe the responsibility is even more compelling. For those who care but “don’t know what to do” here is information that can be helpful. I offer these symptoms and danger sign lists for your knowledge in being a sensitive and caring friend for those about you, some of whom may need your insights or help. This information came from Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) at www.save.org: (Experts have discovered that major depression is a primary factor leading to most suicides. Therefore, I am giving you this first list for your knowledge and awareness.) SYMPTOMS OF MAJOR DEPRESSION “Not all people with depression will have all these symptoms or have them to the same degree. If a person has four or more of these symptoms, if nothing can make them go away, and if they last more than two weeks, a doctor or psychiatrist should be consulted. Persistent sad or “empty” mood. Feeling hopeless, helpless, worthless, pessimistic and or guilty. Substance abuse. Fatigue or loss of interest in ordinary activities, including sex. Disturbances in eating and sleeping patterns. Irritability, increased crying, anxiety and panic attacks. Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions. Thoughts of suicide, suicide plans or attempts. Persistent physical symptoms or pains that do not respond to treatment. DANGER SIGNS OF SUICIDE Talking about suicide. Statements about hopelessness, helplessness, or worthlessness. Preoccupation with death. Suddenly happier, calmer. Loss of interest in things one cares about. Visiting or calling people one cares about. Making arrangements; setting one’s affairs in order. Giving things away.” The matter of suicide gets very complicated with a lot to be said about it. For the person who is a believer in Jesus Christ as his/her savior, there is even more to be said. But for this brief article I will finish by speaking to a question in the mind of many who know there is a heaven and a hell. A common question asked by them is whether a person who commits suicide can be forgiven or automatically goes to hell because of this act. Considering that his life ends as a result of his action there obviously is no opportunity to ask God for forgiveness. This is certainly true. However, what about the Christian who commits a sin while driving his car and is killed on the spot by a drunk driver who runs a red light and hits him broadside? Clearly, there is more than one way to die suddenly with unconfessed sin in ones life. Remember that judgment is God’s to render, not yours or mine. The condition of the victims heart when he dies is what God judges. Only God knows why the person took his life. Only God knows everything within that heart just as only God knows what’s in your own heart. Although suicide is a terrible act, the state of mind of the victim is in a terrible condition. God knows. God understands. God forgives as He decides, not as man decides. So, is suicide a forgivable sin? Yes, it is a forgivable sin. Thank God, all sins are forgivable by the blood of the Son of God except, as Jesus said, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. And that is another subject. Chaplain Larry Haworth

Date:

8/1/02

Message

DO YOU BELIEVE IN DESTINY? Do you believe in destiny? I was talking with an old friend a couple of days ago. We were reminiscing about how our lives had developed over the years. His life has been very interesting and productive. He's quite satisfied with how things have gone, how his life has developed and matured. He stated, "I think it's been my destiny." I believe destiny means that one's life goes in a direction that can be identified and seen but with no intelligence, power or extra-natural force driving it. I do not agree with this at all. I see destiny as an evasion of the reality that one's life has a purpose, a reason for being, a meaning given from outside itself. This reason for being, this direction, this destiny has a purpose which is not just an impersonal accident, something which just happened. Each life has purpose, reason and meaning. It follows that there has to be a giver of that meaning and purpose. This reality which provides direction for one's life is not just a cosmic accident. It is not just a faceless happening of nature. It is a force or quality built into our being that is given by a personal, intelligent being called God. So I cannot believe in such a thing as mere destiny. We humans are not just an advanced animal form of ape. We are not just a mess of protoplasm that happened to get organized and crawl from primordial slime. We are not just so many chemicals activated by electrical impulses. We are not some sort of naturally selected accident of nature by way of naturalistic evolution. We are beings created in the image of God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth. We are full of purpose and meaning. Our lives, our footsteps are guided by the Intelligent Designer who made us and gave us that meaning. Our part is to seek out that purpose. This is done by submission to God and his purpose for making us. This can be made plain to the willing eye and heart. This is verified in the Word of God in Proverbs 3:5-6 which says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths." So, how do we gain access to God? That's plain too. The Bible also tells us the answer to that question in the words of Jesus Christ, the Son of God in John 14:6: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." If you want God to guide your life, which I hope you do, just come to him in submission of your will to his through faith in Jesus and God will give you what you need. It isn't always clear ahead of time. I believe, and have experienced, that it usually comes a step at a time. But when our goals are set on God and our eyes are focused on him, it's amazing and satisfying how our lives take on a clarity, direction and meaning that we would never have expected. So, do you believe in destiny? I don't. God bless you. God loves you. So do I. Chaplain Larry Haworth - 1 August 2002 LEHaworth@aol.com

Date:

6/2/02

Message

GO IT ON YOUR OWN? 

Who of us hasn't thought for himself (or herself) that "I can go it on my own!" "I don't need anyone or anything." Have you ever had that attitude? Be honest. To be honest, I guess I've had that attitude at times. We should admit it's not realistic to think we can go it on our own. No matter how independent or capable we think we are, it's just a fact that we need others. Be honest. On the other hand, I've known a lot of men, and women too, who have the self-knocking attitude that "I can't do nuthin'," "I'm nuthin'," or even the extreme, "I'm worthless." Have you ever said such a thing? Have you ever felt that poorly toward yourself? Let's take a closer look at this. Number one, anybody who thinks he or she can go it completely alone just isn't living in the real world. It's not hard to prove - just look around. Do you refine your own gas (or kerosene if you're boondocking)? Do you knit your own socks or make your own toothbrush? I doubt it. These aren't great examples, but you get the point. Don't you? I'll concede that going it alone, relative to those who lean on everyone for everything, is one way to get by. Not the best, but still a point to ponder and an attitude toward life that many have. Probably because they've been betrayed or messed over in the past. Moving along. As we (me) pointed out, there is another type who might be considered something other than average like the independent ones we discussed. These folks are those who demean themselves with the "I'm nothing" complex. I've run into many, including vets, who feel helpless to confront their life or situation. They feel just overwhelmed. I'll have to say that, given life as they describe it, I can see why they feel that way. I can see why they feel worthless. I can see why they feel like nothing. A big zero. I won't concede that they're right or realistic. But it's true as to how they feel, how they perceive themselves. As an Army man I heard they say in the Navy that perceptions drive the ship. In other words, how someone sees his life is reality as far as how he lives his life is concerned regardless of what's true. Now let's get into deep water. This is going to be where the rubber hits the road. [You say how can the rubber hit the road in deep water? Just a figure of speech. OK?] Keep alert. Don't stop here - this is where it gets good! Ready? I'm telling you now, much to your surprise, that Jesus Christ, himself said that you can't do anything. Actually, the way he put it was that you can do nothing. Now he didn't mean you can't go to the store or drive your car without help But he did say you can do nothing. How he said it was, "Apart from me you can do nothing." That's in quotation marks because that's a direct quote from the Bible, the Word of God. I'll give you the whole context so you can see what Jesus meant. Here it is from the gospel of John 15:1-5 (Jesus is talking): "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me. Yes, I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing." See what I mean? So, if you're one of those who think they can do it all on their own, who "don't need nothin' or no one," think again. If your life is going to count for eternity, if your life is going to have purpose, the reason for why you were born, then you're going to have to come to grips with what Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was talking about. He was talking about you as much as me. And if you're one of those who thinks he (or she) is of no account, can't do nuthin', no how, then you're going to have to come to grips with what Jesus was talking about there too. Same as everyone else, except that you might have an advantage. Your self perceptions may be out of whack, but at least you do have a grip on knowing what it is to feel like nothing. And, so far as our life's purpose and eternal values are concerned anyway, we truly are nothing outside of Jesus Christ. However, with Jesus the vine and us the branches, we can do everything. The difference is life in Jesus Christ. Think about it. I suggest you make Jesus the center, the heartbeat, of your life. God bless you. God loves you. So do I. Chaplain Larry Haworth - LEHaworth@aol.com (1 June 2002)

Date:

2/12/02

Message

 A few years ago I had a friend whose name was Norm. He told me a story that I don't expect or even want to ever forget. Norm was a World War II vet. We'd just finished our Veterans Day service where Norm had played his old bugle that he dug out of his old duffel bag. It hadn't been touched in many years (or decades). He'd worked for weeks remembering how to play taps. It meant everything to him to get out that beat-up bugle and practice until he could play taps for the service. We were standing around talking after the service and memories were coming back to Norm that were just as real as yesterday. He told me his story. It took place somewhere in Germany during the closing months of the war in 1945. Norm and his buddy were standing around after things had quieted down a bit. I don't remember what he said his buddy's name was but Norm remembered it clearly. In his mind's eye he could still see his buddy even as he was telling me what happened. They had been just standing there talking face to face, like buddies do. Just relaxing after having seen some action which Norm didn't explain. While they were chatting a bullet shot through the air, creased across Norm's helmet and entered into his buddy's right eye. Of course, his friend was dead before he hit the ground. Norm could see it all even as he was telling me his story, this trauma that happened over half a century ago but which was still very much alive to Norm. And then it became alive to me too. What Norm said then to me I'll also never forget. Norm said, "Chaplain, you're the first person I've ever told that story to." Can you imagine holding something that personal, that precious, that intense and that important all these years? I don't mind telling you I was honored to be the recipient of such a story. It's OK for me to tell it to you because in telling his story, it gave Norm such a sense of release that he went on later to tell it to our vets group a few days later. He also told of what else happened. Other soldiers shot the sniper out of a tree. He was a German boy who looked to be only about fifteen - a powerful and traumatic incident of war. I learned, or relearned, powerful lessons from Norm's story. I learned anew of the love, the bonding that comes between friends, including between soldiers. It is forged through the crucible and trials of combat for the soldier. It is also forged just from the stresses of living and sharing the years and experiences of one's life for us all. Love between friends is a valuable and real possession that must be treated with care and be treasured far above the material possessions that so many prize so highly. A true friend cannot be bought with money. But a true friend is valuable far beyond whatever money can buy. I don't have to prove this point. You know what I mean. I am a most fortunate person as I hope you are too. I have friends that I love greatly. They are of enormous value to me. My life without them would be poorer indeed. I hope, and believe, that I am such a friend to them as they are to me. I hope and trust that they recognize my friendship and love and that I properly recognize theirs. I honestly believe this is so. Therefore, I am not only most fortunate, but I am wealthy beyond measure. May I not forget and may it not take trauma for me to recognize my friends. With many it has happened that our friendships have been tried through stressed times and hard memories. And they may be tried again. That's what the strength of the love of friends is about. The Word of God, the Holy Bible, offers pertinent words on this subject in I John 4:7-11: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." Norm was a fortunate man. Certainly, he was not fortunate in losing his buddy in such a horrible way. But he was fortunate in having such a friend that he could not only still remember his name, but could still see him in his mind's eye, even through such a traumatic event. Losing a beloved friend is a hard thing. Not having a beloved friend to lose is harder by far. Now Norm is in heaven too. Thanks, Norm, for being my friend. Thanks, Norm, for sharing your buddy with me. I have learned and I have grown. I hope the same for you. God bless you. God loves you. So do I. Chaplain Larry Haworth - 11thACVVC 1290 W. Monache Ave. Porterville, CA 93257 LEHaworth@aol.com

Date:

12/10/01

Message

CHRISTMAS REFLECTIONS The Christmas season is such a great time of year. Agreed? When we "ponder" on it it's easy to remember the happiness of gift-giving, family reunions, holiday cheer and even the crass commercialization of the holiday. I recently read an article that got me to contemplating along a different line about the meaning of Christmas. It got me to thinking more about why Jesus came versus why many people thought he came. Do you remember the story of the Magi? They were the wise men from the East who brought the baby Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. These Magi were wealthy and powerful men from a very powerful eastern Empire. They came and actually worshipped this baby. This obeisance (look it up) on the part of these powerful men from the East spoke mightily about who the baby Jesus was. I've been thinking that it also spoke a lot of what many people would come to expect of this baby as he grew up. Now jump ahead about 33 years, give or take a few months. Do you remember the event called the Triumphal Entry? That was when Jesus, toward the end of his life on this earth, rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. In those days when the Roman Empire ruled the western world, if a ruler rode into a conquered city on the back of a donkey it meant he was coming in peace. When Jesus rode in he was coming as the "Prince of Peace" prophesied in the Old Testament. He was coming as the Savior of Humanity. He was bringing in the Kingdom of God. But the people were looking for a king of this world to help get out from under Roman rule. That's a reason they were shouting acclamations and spreading palm branches. These things were done for conquering kings. Of course, they loved Jesus for what he did for them, too, like the miracles and healing people. But, right now we're talking about why he came to begin with. Now, here's what I believe. I believe that, if Jesus had wanted, he could have been made king right then. After all, it was his great popularity with the people that made the religious/political leaders mad and afraid of him. And look at what that would have done for him. I mentioned in the first paragraph that I had read an article that got me to thinking about this. The article was about the great wealth of the Temple in Jerusalem. In 70 AD the Romans, under a general whose name I think was Titus (or Titian), put down the Jewish revolt and destroyed Jerusalem in the process, including the Temple. There's a stone carving on an entrance to the Coliseum in Rome that's still there today. It depicts the gold and precious items from the Temple that the Romans brought into Rome after they destroyed and looted the Temple. I don't remember just how much gold there was, but it was in the tons. There was so much wealth that the Romans re-built a lot of Rome with it, including building the Coliseum from scratch. I could go on and on, but you get the point. The point being that if he'd wanted to Jesus could have taken over the kingdom with its huge wealth for himself. He could have had power beyond imagining. But that's not what he came for. Now, back to the birth of the babe in Bethlehem. He was recognized as the Savior, the Promised Messiah (remember the shepherds?) This happened even while he was still in the manger where he was laid after he was born. Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, came into this world to bring anyone who would believe and commit to it, entrance into the Kingdom of God, not another kingdom of this world. He wasn't after the gold and power of this world, even when it was at his fingertips. He came for the salvation of our souls, the forgiveness of our sins (including the biggest ones) and eternal life forever, starting in this life and going through death into heaven forever. He offered it then and he offers it now. It's for anyone who will believe and commit to it with all their heart. Your heart, that is. I'll close this off by telling you the words the angel said to the shepherds on that first Christmas night and that have sounded through the ages for all to hear: "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior - yes, the Messiah, the Lord - has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth." (Luke 2:10-12 New Living Translation). Chaplain Larry Haworth LEHaworth@aol.com

Date:

10/23/01

Message

BACK INTO RETIREMENT

Date:

08/11/01

Message

WHEN YOU COME INTO MY ROOM

Date:

07/01/01

Message

FREEDOM UNDER DURESS AND HARD TIMES

I have a friend whose name is Dan Luc. Dan is a naturalized American citizen who was born in Viet Nam. I have a special affection for Dan and the Vietnamese people because of my two years in that country when I was an Army chaplain during America's longest war. Dan was a Christian and was strongly anti-Communist. He fought alongside Americans to defeat the Communist menace that was destroying what little freedom the people had. Dan was out in the jungles where fighting was the fiercest. Dan's life was on the line for several years. When the Americans finally pulled out, Dan was stranded in his country and considered by the Communist invaders to be the enemy. It's a long story how, but Dan was eventually able to get his wife and baby out of the country on one of the rickety boats we heard about in those days. They were out on the high seas of the South China Sea when they were twice taken by pirates. The first pirates took all the valuables the people needed to start life in a new country. The second pirates took everything else they owned. Finally, a freighter rescued them and brought them to land. Dan and his family eventually made their way to the United States.

In 1968 a missionary in Viet Nam used to come to the services I conducted for American soldiers at an isolated compound in the Mekong Delta. He told me of an incident showing how God works to protect his own. A Vietnamese pastor was riding in the countryside one Sunday after church services. Viet Cong soldiers captured him, took the offering money and buried him with only his head above the ground. They were going to leave him to die with the ants stinging at his head. The VC leader came along and became infuriated at what they had done. He said this pastor had been doing much good for the people and ordered his men to dig the pastor up, return the offering money and release him immediately. The Lord was certainly looking out for his faithful servant that day.

These are two true stories of Christian believers who paid a high price to live according to their beliefs in difficult circumstances, under duress, in hard times where freedom was scarce. You who served in Viet Nam know what I'm talking about. This is worth thinking about during the month of the 4th of July, Independence Day. This is the day when we, as Americans, reflect the most of any day of the year about what our freedoms mean, what it took to gain those freedoms and what freedom is all about. We all know so well that freedom isn't free. It has cost plenty. It doesn't just happen either. We must work hard and be vigilant or we'll see freedom slip away right before our eyes.

Most of us think at least occasionally about our political and legal freedoms. On the 4th of July we especially remember our freedoms, and rightly so. But how often do you think about your spiritual freedom? Spiritually we're no more free in our natural state than Dan was in communist Viet Nam or the pastor was when he was captured by the VC. Our spiritual situation is summed up very well in Romans 7:22-25 where St. Paul says, "I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord."

I need to reflect on my political freedoms every day of my life. But I need to reflect on my spiritual freedom even more! That will carry me from this life into the next in Heaven with the Lord. How about you?

God bless you. God loves you. So do I. Chaplain Larry Haworth

Date:

06/13/01

Message

DID IT BEFORE; GONNA DO IT AGAIN - SOMEDAY

I thought I'd get a bit personal for this month's article. Last month we took delivery on our new motorhome. It's a diesel pusher with two slide-outs, 40 feet long and 8 1/2 feet wide. When not on the road, it will usually be parked on the back parking lot by the busses in the retirement community where I'm chaplain. Deanna and I had an open house planned but it rained instead. We wanted the residents here to see inside the coach. So we planned a "tardy party" (without the cookies and punch) so people could see inside if they wanted to. Many came to take the tour. It went over well as most seniors in their 80s have never seen such a thing as a motorhome. We've looked forward to this coach for many years. Now we're looking forward to living the Happy Wanderer life style someday in the near future. Buying this house on wheels is a first step. It truly is a gift of God.

We came here to the Chicago area five years ago, remarkable as it seems. For four months we lived in our fifth wheel trailer parked where the motorhome is now. I was still in the Army when we bought the trailer. We bought it a long time before retirement so I could learn to handle it comfortably before we hit the road. Then retirement day came. We put everything into storage, moved into the trailer and lived in it for four years. Now we're at it again. We'll take the motorhome on short trips until retirement day comes again. When that is I can't say. Probably in the fall around September or October.

Maybe you've lived the RV lifestyle yourself. RV means "Recreational Vehicle." A full-time RVer is someone who lives in their motorhome or trailer all the time. Like us. For some it's a great life style. For others, not. Some sell their home and live in their motorhome for many years. They go where they want, stay as long as they want, then move on. Same house, different view. There are several reasons why Deanna and I like that life style. One is we have family and friends all over the country. Deanna has a daughter in West Virginia and sons in Texas and California. I have family from coast to coast too. Get the idea? Maybe you have family scattered too. We like to go and stay a while. But we stay as neighbors, not as house guests. There's a lot of difference (like not sharing the bathroom).

Another reason for hitting the road comes from my military background. I have Army and vet friends all over the country. Since most people stay put, it means someone has to do the traveling if people are going to see each other. In my parents generation my aunt did the traveling - she loved to keep in touch. In my generation I'm the traveler. This has been important to me. I've been able to help in healing conflicts and family "mis-communications," if you know what I mean. In the next generation I've observed that my cousin's boy likes to travel around the family a lot. I'm glad.

Traveling for its own sake is great too. We like to explore and see new places, meeting new people and cultures. In our trailer we spent one winter in Florida and two in San Diego. We were headed to South Texas the next winter but were diverted to Fairview Village in the Chicago suburbs instead where we've come to love it. (For what it's worth, my five years at Fairview has been the longest I've lived anywhere since leaving my parents home as a youth.)

Finally, as some of you know, I'm chaplain for two veterans' organizations. I'm chaplain for my old Viet Nam outfit, the 11th Armored Cavalry Veterans of Viet Nam and Cambodia (the Blackhorse). I write articles, conduct memorial services, counsel, etc. I'm also national chaplain and board member for Point Man International Ministries. It's a Christian ministry of vets ministering to vets. So, as you can see, the Gypsy life style is great for me considering my interests and calling. Now, some would say, "but what about your poor wife?" Let me put that to rest by assuring one and all that she's got the wanderlust a lot worse than I do.

For now, we'll be happy to get the motorhome broken in and the driver adjusted to driving a 40 foot vehicle. One day soon we'll hear the call and see what the Lord has around the next bend in the road. Maybe you'll see us coming, so keep the coffee hot and the lights on ---------

God bless you. God loves you. So do I. Chaplain Larry Haworth

Date:

05/01/01

Message

"BEQUESTS"

Tombstone, Arizona, is right across the San Pedro River Valley from Fort Huachuca where I retired from the Army in 1992. It's a wonderful, picturesque old western town. I used to like to go through Boot Hill Cemetery to read the inscriptions. Here are a couple you might get a kick out of: "When Lester Moore, a Wells Fargo agent, got into an argument with a customer over a package in the 1880s, a gunfight broke out. Both men were killed. Local wags in Tombstone inscribed his Boot Hill marker: 'Here lies Lester Moore. Four slugs from a .44. No Less. No Moore.' In another case, a horse was stolen from Tombstone. The thief sold the animal to George Johnson, who blithely rode the steed back to town. The ensuing misunderstanding was summed up on Johnson's grave marker: 'Hanged by mistake, he was right, we was wrong. But we hung him up, and now he's gone." (From Kiwanis Magazine).

I've given thought to where I want to be buried. I assure you, though, that I can wait a long time until I need it. My burial plot is in the hills surrounding the San Fernando Valley in Southern California. It's where I grew up. My plot is in the veterans section on a hilltop overlooking the Antelope Valley Freeway where I used to roam as a youth. I want to be buried there among the soldiers with my marker saying "Chaplain." When I come to the end of the trail, I will leave a mark on this world, more than just on my grave. I'm leaving a bequest now, even as I speak. So are you. I am having an effect on this world. So are you.

Some people I know think they are so insignificant that they couldn't possibly leave a mark on the world. Let me tell you an experience to make a point: I lived in New York City for about five years all told over a twenty year period. I used to go into Manhattan for Broadway plays, to eat out, to research inner-city churches and to see my girl friend who lived on Third Ave. in mid-town. I was there for the Harlem Riots of 1964. I got to know and observe many different kinds of people. I talked with youths who were involved in the riots. I observed bag ladies grubbaging through trash cans along the curbs. I stepped around homeless drunks sleeping it off in doorways and subways. Every one of these individuals had an impact on my life. I've served with soldiers from private to general, in combat and in peacetime. Every one of them affected me one way or another. Every single person in the Blackhorse has had an influence on my life. Some have had a strong influence, some not so strong. But all have made me different from what I was when I came here and different from what I would have been had I gone elsewhere.

The same is true for you. You cannot avoid leaving a bequest to this world. You can, however, decide just what your bequest will be. You will bequest a mark when you depart this life. You are deciding now what that mark will be. I'll wind down with a short poem that sat on top of our TV cabinet when I was a boy: "Only one life, 'twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ, will last." I truly hope my life counts for Jesus the Christ. With my warts, flaws and scars I want my bequest to this world to be what God planned for me from my birth. I hope and pray the same for you.

I want to be able to say what Saint Paul said in II Timothy 4:7-8: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

God bless you. God loves you. So do I. Chaplain Larry Haworth

Date:

04/01/01

Message

ANSWERING PRAYER II

Last month I told you about some experiences I've had with God answering my prayers. It's really wonderful how God takes care of us and will respond when we pray. There are many people here at Fairview, the retirement community where I'm chaplain who can witness to what I say. There are plenty of Blackhorse troopers who can witness to it too. Plenty. Including during the old Viet Nam days.

I wanted to tell you another way God answered prayers but I needed my brother's permission because it's about him. So I called and he said OK. As before, God answered prayers in ways that were far better than what I would have thought of, much less asked for. My brother, Ken, has always been a hard working man who believes in earning his way. He's been a good dad to his three kids over the years. He worked for Lockheed in the San Fernando Valley for many years until lay-offs finally caught up to him in the late 1980s. This was very hard on him. I prayed earnestly for him to get another job. I was an Army chaplain stationed in Arizona at the time and had my congregation pray for him too. This went on for several years with very little happening that I could see. I was honestly having doubts about God answering prayer. Then in 1991 our mother became ill and could not take care of herself. Dad had died in 1986 so Mom was alone. Ken moved in and took care of her for the last year of her life. As most of us know very well, being a caretaker for a loved one can be a full time job. For my brother, this was definitely true. So, you see, the Lord did give him a job after all. It didn't pay a lot of money, but it paid very well in value far above what money can buy. My sister and I have been grateful to our brother then and ever since for doing this important job, caring for Mom. She deserved it.

See what I mean about answered prayer? God does answer. He often answers in ways far beyond what we expect or imagine. But my story doesn't stop there. Ken's daughter was in Texas as a single mother with two young daughters to care for on her own. When Mom died we agreed that Ken should have the house. With this resource, his daughter and her little girls were able to come to California to live with Grandpa Ken. That, in itself, was a profound provision of the Lord for the lives of those precious children. The timing of these events was remarkable. It was, indeed, God looking out for our family. The little girls have grown and prospered with Grandpa to look out for them while their mother works. The male role model and love in their lives has been important beyond measure.

Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." (NLT).

I believe that everyone reading this has a story to tell. Some stories are very profound and life changing. Of course, not all are about answered prayer. But many are. I believed that all of us have answered prayers in our lives. I realize that some may not believe or recognize it, but it is true, just the same. Others of you can remember when God answered prayer in wonderful, even miraculous ways. These are events worth telling about. Of course, the most important and life changing prayer that God will answer without fail is the prayer of the person who realizes their need of a Savior and prays for Jesus Christ to enter their lives, save them from sin, give them the righteousness they need and put them into the Family of God forever. I hope you have prayed that prayer. If not, I hope you will - today.

God bless you. God loves you. So do I. Chaplain Larry Haworth

Date:

03/03/01

Message

ANSWERING PRAYER

A subject that's getting a lot of attention these days is that of prayer. I go to conferences and have done some reading in the area of prayer. I've certainly believed in prayer and prayed all my life, especially after receiving Jesus Christ into my heart personally as a young boy. Now prayer is being studied within the medical profession by experts some of whom don't have any particular belief in God. They are even studying prayer as an alternative therapy. This gets very interesting. If you'd ever like to talk about it, stop by and we'll talk.

Prayer in my own life has been very prominent, as you would probably expect. But it's not something I just take for granted. This you might not expect. I'll let you know that it isn't every prayer of mine that gets answered just as I wanted. There have been times when this has disappointed me, believe it or not. As an Army chaplain I've seen young men die violently or children crippled through no fault of their own. Though I've prayed otherwise, these things happened anyway. I've asked God why. Fortunately, there are answers. For one thing, God does care. He doesn't just let us hang out to dry with empty promises and expectations. I've learned that God does answer, as He has promised. He just doesn't always answer in exactly the way I wanted or the way I decided was best. I've discovered that God answers in the way He decides is best. Frankly, I've also realized, in my own weak sort of way that God does know best after all.

I'll tell you a story that I hope makes the point. Its happening to me now. This may seem inconsequential to you, but to me it's a big thing. As many of you know, Deanna and I lived full time in a trailer before coming to Fairview Village, a retirement community where I'm a chaplain. When we came here we bought a house and didn't need the trailer any more. It was worth a lot of money so I tried to sell it before it deteriorated from lack of use. For four years I had it on dealers lots to sell on consignment. I had it at dealers in Rockford, Kankakee, and Pontiac. It wouldn't sell. I don't know why and the dealers didn't know why either. My price was way below market value. I prayed and prayed about it, but no sale. It was getting to be a real burden, especially as I was feeling that God wasn't hearing my prayers or He just wasn't answering. Then last November I went and made a deal on a new motorhome. It's very nice and expensive. Someday, I don't know when, we'll sell our house and live in the motorhome. Guess what! The dealer for the motorhome took our trailer as the deposit for the motorhome and gave me more for the trailer than I was asking for sale. Did God answer my many prayers to sell the trailer? Yes, He did. And He answered in a much better way than I was asking for. He let me use the trailer as a winter get-away place to relax for four years. Then, when I really needed to sell it, He led me to a dealer that was honest and reasonable in his dealing. So I sold the trailer at exactly the right time. Not a day too soon nor a day too late.

My story is pretty simple and mundane, I admit. But to me it is very important. It reassured me that God really does care. He really does hear and answer prayer. Just not always the way we decide He should. That's the best way, isn't it? I'm not smarter than God. Are you? I don't love more than God. Do you? I'm glad God answers prayer. I'm glad He answers prayer His own way, too. Aren't you? Even when things don't look so good, God is still there. Jesus, the very Son of God, said it perfectly in Mark 11:24, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

God bless you. God loves you. So do I. Chaplain Larry Haworth

Date:

02/02/01

Message

THE GREAT COMMAND

February is a logical time to talk about The Great Command. "Why is that, you say?" Well, do you know what The Great Command is? I'll give you a hint: "Valentine's Day." Does that help? OK. I'll tell you the subject. The subject of Valentine's Day is love. The subject of The Great Command is love. You've got it. Love. The Great Command is given to us in the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew 22:37-39: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself." This is a very practical matter, especially if you consider the next sentence where Jesus finished by saying, "All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." In other words, love covers the waterfront of relationships, "love is what makes the world go round." Isn't there an old song about that?

This subject could go in several directions. But, since it's the month of Valentine's Day, let me make a point about love by telling you about my vacation. Maybe you're thinking, "You've got to be kidding!" Bear with me for a minute. Deanna and I used vacation time and went to California for the Christmas holidays. We needed to be with family and friends for a while and couldn't get away earlier in the year. I have to admit that the warm weather was easy to take, especially for Deanna who has a hard time with cold. But that wasn't the reason for going. The reason for going was that I love my family. I love my wife (Deanna). I loved my parents who are in Heaven now. I love my brother and sister and her husband. I love their kids who are my nephews and nieces. I love their kids. I was raised in the heart of the San Fernando Valley in California. My church membership is still there. Many of my oldest friends are still there. My first and second girl friends are there. They married my old buddies. I love them all. I love their kids and their kids kids too.

I don't mind telling you that I prefer sunny warm weather even though I really don't mind winter too much, especially now that I have a new red Toro electric snow blower. So coming back home to the Chicago suburbs was easy partly because I love my neighbors too, especially the one who blew the snow from my driveway while I was away. So I'm glad to be back. Know why? Not because I like (not love) my new snow blower. I'm glad to be back mostly because I love the people here at Fairview. It's a retirement community where I'm chaplain. The people are great. Staff included. There's a lot of love around here. I'll admit there's a little friction too, but not so much. Taking this a step further, if you think the love of people is great, which it is, consider the love of God. We talk about that a lot around here and rightfully so. After all, it's the love of God that made the way for the saving of your soul, for eternal life in Christ and the assurance that your eternity can be spent in Heaven when you accept it "God's way." (Having it "your way" is a fallacy.)

Happy Valentine's Day. God bless you. God loves you. So do I. Chaplain Larry Haworth

Date:

01/16/01

Message

This is the second half of the letter I wrote to the vet last September 09/03/00 which is on the web site.

Dear Chaplain:

In Viet Nam there was killing going on all around me. I realize that we were fighting a war and that killing happens in war. But, just the same, it's on my mind all the time, even after all these years. I feel so guilty from my part in it. I don't know what to do.

Dear Joe:

This will finish the letter I wrote to you before. Last time we talked about different kinds of guilt and how to handle it. I told you mainly about reality based guilt. That's guilt that's realistic where you feel guilty because you are guilty of doing a wrong, probably a great wrong. We talked about what it is and how to handle it. Now we'll move on to the other kind of guilt.

The second kind of guilt isn't always as clear to understand. I call it perceived guilt. I call it perceived because the vet didn't really do anything wrong as with reality guilt. But he feels guilty anyway. For example, one of my vet friends (who I'll call Mac) had to kill an enemy soldier face to face. The enemy was shooting at him. Mac shot better and killed the enemy soldier. From that time to the end of his life Mac could not get out of his mind the expression on the face of the enemy soldier when he died. Mac had nightmares and flashbacks for the rest of his life over that. He couldn't handle the guilt he felt for killing the enemy. And the enemy was shooting at him. Mac had no choice. What I'm saying is that he didn't do anything wrong. He did what he had to do to survive and to win the war. He had no real guilt. But he perceived that he was guilty because it violated his nature so much. He felt guilty. So the results were the same as if he had actually been guilty of a moral or legal crime. He had been trained to kill in war. He was in a situation where he had no choice but to kill or be killed. But his perceptions and feelings were contrary to the reality of the situation. And that's what drove him for the rest of his life.

I believe this feeling of perceived guilt must be dealt with in a similar way as with reality guilt. First, it's very helpful to sit down with another vet or someone you trust and get the whole matter out in the open. Talk it "into the air" where you can examine it rationally with someone to help you see the matter more objectively than you can alone. This is a first step. Maybe it'll purge the feelings of guilt and give you the peace of mind you need. I'll admit, though, that it usually seems to take more. If this is your case, then I suggest the steps to be taken from this point are basically the same as for reality guilt. Obtain Gods forgiveness, obtain others forgiveness, including your buddies or anyone else involved in the offense. Then obtain the forgiveness of the victim or the victims family and others affected by the offense. Working out acts of atonement can be healing and helpful by giving the satisfaction of knowing you are productively making the world a better place to compensate for the bad you feel you did for which you feel guilty.

There are a couple more relevant points that are important for you to realize. One is that we all need God's forgiveness because, as the Bible says, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). So whether or not we are guilty of offenses in Viet Nam, we all, as members of the human race, are still guilty of sinning against God. "By one man (Adam) sin entered into the world and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." (Romans 5:12). This is a form of reality guilt. However, there is an answer. "For whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). The importance of this cannot be overstated. Upon this eternal truth depends your eternal soul. So, in the final analysis, we are all guilty before God. We all need salvation. We all need forgiveness. The atonement for our souls was made by Jesus Christ, the Son of God. "God commendeth his love for us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8).

One more point and then I'll close off. That has to do with the "size" of the offense. Many vets have told me that God couldn't forgive them because what they did was just too bad. Their sin was too great, too ugly, too awful, too unforgivable. Well, let me point out a certain fact. God is bigger than anything you can think of. God doesn't mess around. When he provided for the forgiveness of our sins, he provided for all our sins. Think about it. Jesus Christ, God's Son, was the price paid for our sins. Nothing less. It was the max. This wasn't because of anything we do or can do. It wasn't because we were so good and lovable in ourselves. It was purely because of God's mercy and his love. It says nothing about our greatness that we can be forgiven. It says everything about God's mercy, love and nature that we can be forgiven. Think about it. The only thing that's up to you is to accept it. Then your guilt is, in fact, taken away. You are free of your past sins and offenses. You can go on to live your life free of that burden. You are free to make restitution, to atone for what you did. You are living the guilt-free life God has for you, not because you deserve it but simply because God want you to have it.

Take it, Joe. Be free. Enjoy. Live. In Christ it's all yours. Guilt free.

God bless you. God loves you. So do I.

Chaplain Larry Haworth LEHaworth@aol.com

Date:

1/8/2001

Message

RELATIONSHIPS

Route 66 is a special highway. I have many memories of that old road. Maybe you do too. My memories are of the western stretch from Los Angeles to Oklahoma. Your memories may be of other sections, like from St. Louis to Chicago. Route 66 brings many memories of my youth in the 40s and 50s. It still represents much of my character and values. I'll explain and I'm sure you'll understand. Maybe you'll feel the same. When I was a kid we used to travel from California to Oklahoma to see my grandparents on their farm, the old home place. We went to see aunts and uncles, cousins and second cousins too. My dad was a dust bowl Okie. He rode the rails to California during the Depression to find a job. He found a job and found a wife too. They had a family with three kids of which I'm the oldest. We had lots of kinfolk out there too.My mother was a native Californian, a rare person. We had relatives on her side too. Not as many as my dad, though. We were close to all of them. We were with each other a lot so us kids grew up together. A few years ago, when my mother died, cousins came for the funeral that I hadn't seen in years. We still loved each other and felt close even after we had gone our different ways when we grew up.

Maybe you have similar stories of your relationships in growing up. I believe very strongly in family and friend relationships. I expect that most of you who read this feel that way too. Strong relationships are one of the things about the vets groups I associate with. It's true too of the retirement community where I am chaplain. Relationships are priceless. Whether it's family, friends or good neighbors, those we feel close to are important beyond measure. They are far more valuable than anything money can buy. Far more important than power, position, prestige or fame. When important relationships are broken through death or disagreement it's painful. It brings a sense of loss and grief. When relationships are mended it brings great joy. When we are reconciled with someone we care about, whether it's family or friend, it gives a sense of relief and wholeness! It's a happy experience to have strong relationships. It's an experience like no other to belong somewhere. When we lose someone we love, even in the pain of missing them we have a sense of peace knowing that the relationship was there. We know we hurt because we loved. Memories are warm and pleasant, even if not perfect.

It's similar with God. We are created for relationship with God. Think about it. Faith in God isn't just an academic or mental exercise. It isn't just a crutch for the feeble-minded or for the lazy to fall back on for being too indolent to accept reality. Faith in God isn't doing ones religious duty just in case there really is a heaven to go to and a hell to escape. Faith in God is an active, personal relationship. Faith in God is a family matter too. Let me explain. Romans chapter 8 informs us that as we have faith in Jesus Christ, God's Son, we have the Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, living in us (verse 11). It goes on to explain in verses 15 and 16 that we are God's very own children, adopted into His family. Then his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God's children. Do you see what I mean by relationship! s? That's what life in Christ is all about.

There are a lot of things I appreciate about being a Christian. I don't mean just another choice among many religions or denominations. I mean having a relationship, a personal relationship, with a living God through a personal Jesus. It's also about having relationships with others who share this same faith. It is having relationships with real love for all God's people. It is having relationships that keep going even into heaven forever.

God bless you. God loves you. So do I. Chaplain Larry Haworth

Date:

12/01/2000

Message

FOLLOW YOUR STAR

Here we are - we're into the Advent and Christmas season, the first of the third millennium AD. What a great time of year! Who cares that it's winter? Who cares that it's cold outside? Who cares that the days are short! It's a beautiful time of year! Thanksgiving had indeed reminded us that we are indeed a privileged people to be American. It's been a season to remember how very much God has blessed us. Far beyond how any culture or nation has been blessed in the history of humankind.

Now with the Christmas season here I'm reminded of the event of the birth of God's son, our Savior, Jesus the Christ, in the small back water village of Bethlehem. It was a place of little account except for being the hometown of King David centuries before. I talk often about the shepherds who were out in their fields by night when the angel announced the birth of the baby Jesus. The shepherds are some of my favorite people because they were so ordinary but played such an important part in history. But today I want to talk a little about the Magi, the "we three kings of orient are" of Christmas carole fame. The carole has it close, but not exact. We have no idea how many there were and they weren't exactly kings. But they really were nobility. That they arrived about two years after the actual birth doesn't matter because it was still part of the event. They did follow a star! . No one knows just what it was astronomically, but that doesn't matter either. It was a bright light in the sky which led them westward until they reached the Messiah who they knew had been prophesied in the Bible for many centuries. That light qualified as a star.

These men were not ignorant rabble of some sort. They were from the most educated classes of the Persian-Parthian empire in the East. This empire was a rival and enemy of the mighty Roman empire which ruled over Israel at the time. The Magi were the nobility, the politicians who made and unmade emperors and kings. They sat with the emperors and were the imperial advisors of the first class. No one messed with them. They were the smartest, shrewdest, most powerful men in the empire next to the emperor himself. When they saw the Messiahs star in the East they knew what it was and that they would follow it. For their long and dangerous journey they brought a whole retinue of servants, caretakers and bureaucrats to take care of the food, the animals, and keeping the journals and treasure they carried - the gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They had to travel through bandit countr! y and into Roman territory. So they had cavalry soldiers along for protection. (I researched it and it wasn't the 11th ACR, Blackhorse, though many undoubtedly had black horses.) No wonder King Herod was scared when the Magi rode into Jerusalem, the capital of this very small country.

After getting directions they followed the star to Bethlehem. There they found the object of their studies, their dreams, their devotions and their commitment. There they found the baby Jesus. The Scriptures record that they fell down and worshipped him. They presented him with the treasures they had brought so far and at such great expense of time, effort and money. Were they glad for going to all this trouble and expense over one little baby? You better believe they were glad. They had just met and worshipped the Savior of the world and they knew it. Their lives had a whole new meaning. All they lived for and studied for had come to fruition. Their life's purpose was fulfilled. They were now complete. They weren't kids anymore. These men weren't young boys fresh off the block - it had taken years of education and experience to gain their position. Now, in their "senior" years life took on a whole new perspective and meaning.

It's not hard to see that the Magi had a great Advent and Christmas season that year because they followed their star. What about you?

God bless you. God loves you. So do I.

Chaplain Larry Haworth - Saint 6

Date:

11/3/00

Message

BUCK ROGERS

As a boy in the forties I listened faithfully to Buck Rogers on the radio every Saturday. I don't remember too many specifics except Buck's partner was a bald headed intellectual named Doc and they traveled all over the universe in their remarkable space ships. That was years before "Star Trek" and "Star Wars" were even thought of. One of their adventures I've never forgotten. It was about a subject I've been fascinated with ever since. A lot of people are fascinated with this subject. It's about infinity in terms of "distance" or eternity in terms of "time." This episode of Buck Rogers was about their travel to the edge of the universe. Now, this could really get complicated. I'll just say that Buck and Doc got to the edge of the universe and no farther. I don't know why. That's all I remember. Ever since then I've wondered just what is beyond ! the universe. I believe the universe has limits. So, just what is out there past the edge? What is beyond the stars, the planets, the black holes, the quarks? What is beyond space, itself? After all, space is part of the physical universe just like the planets, stars, and space gas. So, what is out there? I don't know. No one else does, either. But I do believe it is infinite. Without measure. And way beyond human comprehension.

Eternity is the same. Eternity is not just a long, long, long time. Eternity is not time at all. It cannot be measured. The universe and people are eternal with a beginning but no end (except the death of the body, of course). Only God has no beginning. Only God has always been. One must accept that either the material or the spiritual has always existed. The part of creation that is spiritual is eternal. Eternity future, without an end. God created humans with an eternal soul. That is you, me and everyone else who ever walked the face of planet earth.

That is what Heaven is all about. I wrote about Heaven a couple of months ago. It's the place God has prepared for eternal souls to live forever, for eternity, for infinity as length of existence goes. It's the place of infinite love and perfection. It's the condition of wholeness and completion as God designed His creation for from the beginning. This is described in the Bible book of Genesis. Clearly, this is hard to understand. We cannot even comprehend infinity. The human mind is not capable of containing it. Why should we? If we could understand all about eternity that would make us equal to God. That will never be. However, we can comprehend enough in order to know that we are indeed included in the Kingdom of God, in God's plan for the ages. Jesus was clear when He said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. I will come back and take you to be with me that you may be where I am.... I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:1-3, 6).

I realize that these things are mind boggling and awesome. But God is truly awesome. The work Jesus Christ did for our eternal destiny is awesome. Knowing we can be a part of it through faith in the very Son of God is really awesome. I believe this all helps bring into perspective another verse that talks about eternity. It's probably the best known part of the Bible. It says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Eternity is ahead for us all. Thank God we can respond to God's love and know where we'll spend that eternity.

God bless you. God loves you. So do I. Chaplain Larry Haworth

Date:

10/06/2000

Message

MY BROTHER'S KEEPER?

Do you remember the recorded incident of the first murder in history? You might remember and you might not. I expect some of us have never known the story. Others of us have known it since childhood. It's the incident when Cain killed his brother, Abel, recorded in the Bible in Genesis 4. God had instructed both of them to make an offering appropriate for their labors. The sacrificial offering was to be an act of heartfelt obedience to God. Abel did as he was told because of his love for God. Cain did not. He made a sacrifice, but it was an act from a willful heart and not one of love and obedience. Therefore, God accepted Abel's sacrifice but rejected Cain's. It made Cain so furious that he killed his brother out of a vengeful, raging heart. Later, when God asked Cain the whereabouts of Abel, Cain lied to God in reply, "I don't know. Am I my brother's keeper?" We can learn at least two profound lessons from this incident. No. 1 is don't mess with God. No. 2 is "Yes, you are your brother's keeper."

The first lesson is clear on it's face: it's much better for you if you don't mess with God. Like a little kid once said, "If there's anyone you want to make happy, it's God!" God said for us to take care of each other. God said for us to "carry each others burdens" (Galatians 6:2). So, instead of messing with God, if we do what He says then life and everything else will go much better than when we just look out for ourselves. Caring for no one but ourselves is not only messing with God but it makes our own life a lot more miserable too.

The second lesson comes after the first (of course). It will take a little more explaining. Let's look in the New Testament book of Romans, chapters 14 and 15. It says, "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself.... May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." It is crystal clear that God expects each of us to be very conscious of those about us and live in such a manner that they will see the love of God in us. We are to live so all those about us can easily recognize the very high esteem in which we regard them. It is an especially strong mandate for those who are committed to Jesus Christ as their Savior, their Messiah, the Son of God. Then God expects us to take another step further. We are to actually love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves. That's a real tall order.

It's a prominent teaching of Jesus that every person who calls himself or herself a Christian will have a particularly significant responsibility to live an exemplary life before those around them so all may see the love of Christ lived out on a daily basis. This doesn't always happen, even in the Blackhorse, even in the churches of our communities. But the mandate is there and it is clear. We are to regard those about us in such a way as to not put a stumbling block or obstacle in anyone's way for seeing the love of God embodied in His Son, Jesus the Christ. It is to be lived out in the lives of those who claim to be one of His. For those who don't have this personal relationship with Jesus as their Savior and the Way to God, the principle is there anyway. Giving the highest regard and priority to others around us brings all of life into more meaningful and peaceful living.

God bless you. God loves you. So do I. Chaplain Larry Haworth

Date: 9/3/00

 

Message

Dear Chaplain:

In Viet Nam there was killing going on all around me. I realize that we were fighting a war and that killing happens in war. But, just the same, it's on my mind all the time, even after all these years. I feel so guilty from my part in it. I don't know what to do.

Sincerely, Joe (not the real name)

Dear Joe:

Thank you for writing. I'm glad you're reaching out to deal with this guilt you feel even though it's been over thirty years since you were in Viet Nam. The overwhelming guilt you are experiencing happens with a lot of vets who experienced the horrors of war. I don't know the specifics of your own experience. Of course, everybody had different experiences in relation to combat and their reactions to it. However, there are some facts that I believe can help you deal with your feelings of guilt.

It helps to recognize that there are two kinds of guilt. First I'll talk about what I call reality guilt. The other I call perceived guilt. Then I will talk to you about ways to deal with guilt feelings on a personal level since it's your own feelings that we're talking about, not someone else's feelings or whatever national guilt there may be. To begin I'll mention a few things about the subject of one human killing another.

I've read an excellent study that verifies what I believe and have observed from my 27 years as an Army chaplain, including in combat situations. Namely, it is not natural for one person to kill another. Even soldiers have to be trained to kill. It doesn't come naturally. Except for certain sociopaths, taking another human life violates our basic human instincts. We are born with a very strong aversion to the taking of human life. This is part of what it means to be created in the image of God. Therefore, it is to be expected that it will be a serious problem for the person who does take another life. This includes an overwhelming feeling of guilt afterward, perhaps even years later. This is regardless of the circumstances of when and where the killing took place. These guilt feelings must be dealt with. And they can be.

The first sort of guilt that must be dealt with is reality guilt. Simply put, that is the guilt produced by the fact that the person actually did commit an act for which he should feel guilty because what he did was just plain wrong. It was an act of sin. It was done in a sense of hatred, vengeance, fear, adrenaline rush or whatever. But it as not a necessary act of war, it was not a justifiable act in a justifiable war. Whatever rationalization might be used to try to justify the act falls apart in the face of the truth that what happened should not have happened and did not need to happen. So it's perfectly realistic to feel guilty. That's because the person is guilty of doing a great wrong.

When I was working with the VA in Sturgis, South Dakota one summer I talked with a vet who had been referred to me by the psychologist of the PTSD team. The vet he sent over had done something to an innocent old Vietnamese man that I wouldn't even describe here. Now the vet was having flashbacks and guilt feelings that were way beyond what he could handle. For this sort of re ality guilt I'll tell you what I told the psychologist and what I told the vet. The only way I know of to handle this guilt is through forgiveness. Now, don't go into a thousand yard stare or let your eyes glaze over because, if you really want the answer, it is here. This is a matter of just plain sin . And the only way to deal with sin is through forgiveness. First, the forgiveness must come from God because sin is first and foremost a condition of your heart before God, your Creator. You go to God through Jesus Christ, His Son who paid the price for our sins on the cross. He overpowered the forces of sin at their base when he rose from the dead. Now he sits at the right hand of God Almighty presenting us to God as forgiven and therefore guiltless. Our part is to accept it through belief and total commitment. Jesus does the rest. This is the beginning point and it works. Are you still with me? The healing begins right here.

Of course, there's more that goes into the healing. Now you're forgiven by God and the slate's wiped clean, so long as you've come this far in the process. This assumes that you've accepted the forgiveness that's truly yours. At this point you are forgiven by God. You have to realize it's true. Admit within your heart that you're really forgiven. Because you are. Enjoy the feeling of being free and clean of the sin that was once heavy upon you. Thank God for the freedom.

At this point there's more that can be done. I think you'll want to do this part. You can go to others who might have been involved and ask for their forgiveness too. Write to whatever buddies you can contact who may have been there and tell them what's happening. If you need to, ask them to forgive you for however you influenced them to do wrong too. Enjoy their forgiveness. It's part of the healing.

A harder part is to ask the forgiveness of those you may have hurt in Viet Nam. Clearly, if the victim of your action is available then directly appealing to them for forgiveness is mandatory. On the other hand, the victim isn't usually within reach, no matter how much you may wish they were. For instance, the vet who sinned against the innocent old man doesn't have access to the family of the old man. They are far away and long ago. The old man himself is long since dead. How he got that way is part of the offense. So what does the vet do? Nothing can be done, you say? I don't agree. This is where we come to atonement.

Atonement means to make amends for wrongdoing. It's obvious that you probably can't make atonement directly to make up for whatever you're feeling guilty for. But you can do something positive and constructive to "balance the scale" for whatever you did. To illustrate, I knew helicopter pilots who killed Vietnamese farmer's water buffaloes just for the sport of it. They thought it was funny to hit a water buffalo with the skids of a very low flying helicopter and see the animal die. Trouble is, that farmer depended on his animal for doing his tractor work in the rice paddies where he made his meager living. So now, years later, how does the pilot make atonement for the damage he did so many years ago and so far away? Well, he could help start a medical clinic in the village where the farmer lived, he could sponsor Vietnamese refugees who are in great need or he can help Amerasians come to America to look for their GI fathers. Does that "balance the scales?" I don't know. But it's a help in that direction. It's a healing act making the world a better place to help balance the former acts that made the world a worse place.

Joe, I have to sign off for now. I think I've given you enough to "ponder on" for a while. Next time I'll tell you about perceived guilt. It's very important and we'll tackle it too.

God bless you. God loves you. So do I.

Chaplain Larry Haworth

Date:

9/3/00

Message

REVOLUTIONARIES

Few of us are likely to revolutionize the world. I don't know of any among us who has started national movements, founded great universities, or invented world changing technologies. I do know of a few who have led great armies into great battles and won! We do have among us many who have made great contributions to the world, their communities, to their families and to their churches. We do have among us some who have dedicated their lives in the service of their country, their faith or their profession. We do have among us those who have made the world better in one way or another because of selfless service through missions, evangelism, teaching or pastoring. We have others who have made the world better through supporting others, through being hospitable, through fervent praying, through humbly encouraging others. We have among us many who have contributed immeasurably to making the world better through raising fine children who became fine adults. Frankly, I believe that everyone among us has done something to make the world a little better than it would have been had they not passed this way. In some very real ways, that's what the Blackhorse is all about. I have a poem that I will share for each of you to ponder upon:

One More Tomorrow

Is anybody happier because you passed this way? Does anyone remember that you spoke to them today? This day is almost over, and its toiling time is through, Is there any one to utter now a kindly word of you? Can you say tonight in parting with the day that's slipping fast, that you helped a single person of the many that you passed? Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said? Does the one whose hopes were fading now have courage to look ahead?

Did you waste the day or use it? Was it well or sorely spent? Did you leave a trail of kindness, or a scar of discontent? As you close your eyes to slumber, do you think that God will say: You have earned one more tomorrow by what you did today?

This is a poem at once beautiful, thought provoking and powerful. It can change the life of each person who will study it and relate personally to its message. Particularly for the Christian who has committed their life to God through his son, Jesus Christ, it is direct and to the point of what we are all about. After all, Jesus did say that the great commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37). The Apostle Paul wrote from God clearly that our lives should and do have an effect on those about us. I Corinthians 10 talks about this. Check it out.

To conclude, I'll put this all together by assuring everyone who reads this, that you not only can, but you do revolutionize the world in your own way by how you live your life in relation to others. I don't have space to demonstrate the point, but we all know that even offering a simple cup of cold water to a thirsty person makes the world a better place. Each of us can do that much. Surely we can do even more.

God bless you. God loves you. So do I. Chaplain Larry Haworth

Date:

8/1/2000

Message

RACHEL KNEW WHAT SHE WOULD DIE FOR

By now I expect all of us have heard of the Columbine Massacre in Littleton, Colorado. On 20 April 1999 two high school boys brought a whole arsenal of weapons to Columbine High School and went on a brutal rampage through the school murdering in cold blood fellow students and a teacher before turning their weapons on themselves and committing suicide. One of the students murdered was Rachel Joy Scott, a wonderful sixteen year old girl who loved everybody as she loved the Lord. Her love for people and for God was unconditional and unashamed. She was shot twice and wounded severely early in the rampage. Minutes later the murderers came back to her as she lay helpless and bleeding. One lifted her head by the hair and asked her if she loved God. She replied clearly that she did love God. The boy shot her through the head, killing her on the spot.

Rachel's funeral was broadcast live on CNN. The network reported that the funeral drew it's largest viewing audience ever watching this broadcast around the world. Many stories came from viewers such as one young man who was about to commit suicide when he turned on the TV. He saw Rachel's funeral. Instead of shooting himself, he put the gun down and accepted Jesus as his Savior on the spot. It turned his life around according to his own report. Testimonies from her fellow students and friends were profound and beautiful in their tribute to this committed Christian young girl. In talking about his daughter, Rachel's dad, Darrell, reported that 10,000 young people committed their lives to Christ from hearing the testimonies about Rachel's life during her funeral. Rachel was a genuine martyr. She died clearly and explicitly for her faith. It was because she was a genuine believer in Jesus Christ that she died at the hands of these boys so filled with evil and hate.

I could go on about believers who've given their lives in one way or another for their faith. Others have offered their lives through sacrifice or service. A question comes to mind for many as to why God would allow someone so young and so vibrant to die so brutally. Why does God allow these ugly things to happen? As an Army chaplain in combat situations in Viet Nam I knew of soldiers who would give their lives to save their buddies. Many vets know just what I'm talking about. This definitely includes you Blackhorse troopers reading this. This happened frequently in WWII, Korea and other wars as well as Viet Nam. As for Rachel Scott, her dad reported that one thing Rachel desperately wanted was for God to use her life to bring others to a saving knowledge of Him. According to her dad, Darrell, it was clear that God answered Rachel's heart's desire more in her sixteen years than in most peoples lives of many years. Rachel's life purpose was fulfilled in a most spectacular manner. Tragic and brutal? Yes. Full of meaning and purpose? Yes! Yes!

A most important question comes to mind at this point. It is a question that I have faced and have answered. I hope you have asked and answered this question for your own life as well. Only you can answer it for yourself. That question is simply, "What would you die for?" Someone has said, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." I hope and pray that your answer is the same as it was for Rachel Joy Scott: that love for Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and a commitment of your life to loving others through Him. For this is exactly what life is all about. Whether your life is long or short, what counts is complete meaning and purpose in Him. Rachel knew that. So do her friends and the many who came to know her, even after she was finished on this earth and had graduated to eternity with her Lord.

God Bless You. God Loves You. So do I. -- Chaplain Larry Haworth

Date:

6/6/00

Message

FREEDOM

Do you keep up with the news these days? There's so much going on it's hard to keep it all sorted out. For example, have you been following the Elian Gonzalez case? Elian was the six year old Cuban boy who was found way out on the ocean floating on an inner tube. The boat he was in had sunk and everyone else had drowned, including his mother. Some fishermen found him, brought him safely to shore in Miami and united him with relatives in the Cuban section of the city. Now his relatives are trying to keep him in the USA while his dad wants to take him home to Cuba. The reason the relatives want him to stay here is because Cuba is a dictatorship and the USA is a land of freedom. Without going into detail I will point out that this event has caused many of us as Americans to examine and appreciate our freedoms a lot more.

Are you aware of Sudan? This very day Christians are being massacred, kidnapped and taken into slavery while the government just watches. How about China? If a Christian wants to live his faith he is in danger of being persecuted, put into prison, losing his job and denied education for his children. Or North Korea? Or Saudi Arabia? What about sections of India or Sri Lanka? I have missionary friends in Indonesia. They can't return to their island and home because the Christians there were being beaten and their village burned. The people had to flee because of persecution by others who simply disagreed with their faith.

Why am I telling you these things? Because I want to remind you how extremely blessed we are to live in this land where we can worship according to our conscience and beliefs without fear. Or we can choose to not worship or practice faith at all. It is our choice. We are independent and free. The freedom to believe as we want or to not believe at all is very basic. But it's easy to take our religious freedoms for granted and lose them through neglect. As we value our freedom as Americans, we must recognize that these hard-won liberties are very fragile. The fact is that the Devil is always prowling around like a roaring lion seeking who he may devour (I Peter 5:8). We must always remain alert because those "roaring lions" are prowling around ready to crush our freedoms for their own purposes and power.

Through all of this, I need to point out that ultimate personal freedom is not found in government or constitutional rights. It is not won by wars or the armies of many nations. The ultimate freedom is the freedom of the soul, the independence of the innermost being from the bonds of sin and evil that bring misery and destruction. It is moving from the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of Light. Jesus, the Son of God, said he is the Light of the World. He said that whoever follows him will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life (John 8:12). Jesus also said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32). As we remember and celebrate our freedom as Americans, I encourage each of us to celebrate and guard our freedom in Jesus Christ. If you are one who hasn't yet discovered such freedom I hope you will. If you'd like to talk about it let me know. I am available and would like to talk with you about these things.

God bless you. God loves you. So do I. Allons!

Chaplain Larry Haworth - Saint 6/Battle 11

Date:

5/6/00

Message

"MEMORIES"

Memorial Day is a very important day in America. It's a wonderful holiday, of course. It's much more than just an extra day off. Memorial Day is a time we set aside to reflect and remember those who gave their lives in the service of our country, the United States of America. We understand that very well. Many Viet Nam vets are around who know first hand what war is all about. Many non-vets also were directly affected through the loss of a husband, son, dad, or friend. In our community we have vets of WWII and the Korean War. These wars, and others, were different from each other. But each has in common that when our country called, the vets answered. And of those who answered, many did not come home. We remember them. We remember all of them. We do not forget. We will not forget. We do not want to forget. We honor all those who made the ultimate sacrifice. We reflect on the words of Jesus Christ, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." That's a reason we remember.

Jesus also gave us other wonderful truths about sacrificial love. Many veterans had buddies who sacrificed their lives for others in combat. I experienced this in the jungles of Viet Nam. I know and you know that it is very powerful and lie-changing when someone deliberately gives his life so someone else might live. On the battlefield it is not uncommon for this to happen. Those who experience these things have an advantage in understanding the words of Jesus Christ who sacrificed his life that others might live. However, with Jesus, the Son of God, we're talking about eternal life, not just a few more years on this earth. Jesus said in John 15, "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command." This is very well worth remembering.

Memorial Day brings other memories too. I was born in 1937, near the end of the Depression. I expect most of you were born after that fine year. I was old enough during WWII so I remember things about it. We lived in Burbank, California. The Lockheed Aircraft Company was nearby. We lived in the flight path of their airport. I remember the P-38s and the Constellations taking off and landing from Lockheed where they were built. We lived near railroad tracks. I remember hospital trains taking wounded soldiers to Birmingham Army Hospital. The trains all had red crosses on the sides. I remember gas rationing and synthetic rubber tires. We saved bacon grease, balls of tin foil and balls of string for the war effort. I remember air raid sirens and driving without headlights with only our parking lights turned on. I even remember the flying wing, an experimental airplane that never made it into combat because it came at the end of the war. Later, I remember when the war and the sacrificing were over and you could buy a new car again. I even remember when tract houses began. You could buy a 3 bedroom 1 bathroom tract house for $4,700.00.

It's so important to remember the times of sacrifice and living and giving one's life for a cause. It's even more important to remember the greatest sacrifice of all. That was the sacrifice God made for the cause of providing for our forgiveness, for giving us a pure heart, and for giving, as a free gift, eternal life for any who will believe and accept.

God bless you. God loves you. So do I.

Chaplain Larry Haworth