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The Last Journey

Written by admin on . Posted in war. 1 Comment on The Last Journey

As you know, we have a gentleman in our church who lost his son in the Iraq war.

Recently, the father, Darrel Griffin, Sr., wrote a book called the “Last Journey.”

I just finished reading this book and afterwards, I sat down and wrote his father the following letter.

Darrell,

As you know, I gave the first copy of your book on military criminal charges to a man I met on an airplane who helped build safety equipement for the vehicles that the army uses. So this week, as I traveled to Hawaii, I picked up my other copy and finished the book last night.

I really do not know what to say….

A few of my thoughts…. the FIRST is that I wish I had known your son. I wish that I could have spent some time with him. He seemed super human. Like he was beyond a normal person. His insight, his writing, his wisdom, his bravery, his heroics, his honor, his fight, his story, his love for his country and his love for his family were WAY above and beyond the normal. It was on a level that most people NEVER EVER see or experience.

Once I got into the battles of war I could NOT put the book down. It was a gut wrenching experience to read it, let alone to have lived it like Griff.

If I were in charge of our country, this book would be required reading for anyone desiring to be President of the USA. I think it would cause a man to think long and hard before sending our troops to war.

The back and forth of the emails and journals were so gripping. And of course the HARDEST part was reading all of this, knowing that the man that I was reading about (YOUR SON) dies at the end of the book.

It was almost too much for me to handle.

I again was drawn to the fact that I wish I could have been a better Pastor to you, and the book itself caused me to think more about my life and my commitment levels to my family, my country and to my Lord.

When I got to the chapter where your son dies…. I cried, closed the book and could not think about anything else for a while. I then drove to one of my favorite places in Oahu, a place called the Aloha Towers.

At the back of this little pier that is full of shops and stores are two restaurants that overlook a military harbor. It looks JUST LIKE PEARL HARBOR.

Whenever I come to Hawaii, I always eat here at least a couple of times because it just looks like a replica of Pearl Harbor and after I ordered my food I REREAD the entire chapter. I did NOT want to read the final chapters until I had reread the chapter where Skip dies. I did NOT want to move on without rereading that chapter. Reading it once seemed unfair to all you went through and alI the emotion that you must have felt writing about his death.

I wanted to understand, I wanted to see, feel and experience what he saw, felt and experienced.

I am NOT making this up… but when I got to to the EXACT point in the story where Griff was shot, while the sun was setting over the harbor, I heard gun fire ring out, just like what Griff would have heard. I turned and looked at the harbor and there were 4 gunboats doing a military/navy excercise and for about 15 minutes these boats were racing around the harbor firing blanks at one another.

This was not an act, this was real, live training, and it just brought the reality home even more that your son’s story is being played out all over the world, and I will never hear of another soldier’s death without being drawn back to your story and your son’s death.

I wanted to write and simply say thank you.

I wish I would have known your son.

He was truly a ONE OF A KIND guy.

His story does need to be turned into a movie.

The script will be powerful.

Your son is my hero. He is a hero to our country.

You did a great job telling his story.

You, too, should be proud of your work, but a million times more proud of having a son who lived out “strength and honor.”

I am a better man because you gave me a glimpse into his life.

In love,

Pastor Dudley C. Rutherford

“Last Journey” is written by Darrell Griffin, Sr. and SSG Darrell Griffin, Jr. (KIA March 21, 2007) will be in bookstores June 29, 2009.

A few words from Darrell Griffin, Sr. regarding why “Last Journey” was written:
Most of you soldiers, friends and family know about my son, SSG Darrell Griffin, Jr. He was killed in combat on March 21, 2007. At the time of his death, he and I were working on a book that would reconcile our readings in philosophy with the combat experiences he was having as a member of a Combat Stryker Brigade n Iraq. We were not able to finish the book because of his death. A few months after his death I was allowed to embed for a number of days with his combat unit in Baghdad to complete the necessary research to finish our book. The book is entitled “Last Journey.” It is available from Amazon.com. It will be in bookstores (e.g. Barnes and Nobel and Borders) June 29,2009. The publishers website for the book is www.lastjourney.net or email to [email protected].

Those who Sacrifice for Us!!

Written by admin on . Posted in sacrifice, soldiers, war. 2 Comments on Those who Sacrifice for Us!!


Click on the picture to view it in its full size format

The picture was taken in 1918. It is a gift from our grandfathers, and it’s a picture of 18,000 men preparing for war in a training camp at Camp Dodge in Iowa.

I have been looking at this picture, and I can’t stop thinking about how many men and women have given their lives so that we might have our freedom.

We have soooooooooooooooooo much to be thankful for, and of course, this picture also reminds me of our Lord, who sacrificed His life so that we might have LIFE EVERLASTING!!!

This Christmas, try to think about the fact that God loved YOU so much that he was willing to give his ONE and ONLY son so that YOU might believe in HIM and not perish but have everlasting life.

Pearl Harbor – 65 years ago

Written by admin on . Posted in evangelism, switching to Saturday night, war. 1 Comment on Pearl Harbor – 65 years ago



Sixty-five years ago today, in 1941, the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was attacked. The bombing killed 2,388 Americans, put much of the Pacific fleet out of commission, and came while the Japanese ambassador in Washington was preparing for a diplomatic appointment at the State Department. Among the losses was the battleship Arizona, which went down with nearly all hands on board. It is still there as a national shrine.

In President Roosevelt’s speech to Congress the next day asking for a declaration of war, he called Dec. 7 “a date which will live in infamy.” Congress responded promptly with a declaration of war against Japan. It followed up on Dec. 11 with retaliatory declarations of war against Germany and Italy. World War II was the last time the United States has declared war, though it has fought three major wars (Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan-Iraq) and numerous minor ones. Not many Americans are old enough to remember the events of 65 years ago.

One of the best books ever written that explains the details of that day is a book entitled “At Dawn We Slept”. I purchased my copy when I visited Hawaii many years ago. The name of that book explains it all. We were sleeping when Japan initiated a surprise attack on that December day.

I’ve always felt that title “At Dawn We Slept” would be a good moniker for the Church. So many people lost and dying without Jesus and the Church just sleeps, not realizing that Satan is trying to destroy as many as possible. We need to wake up and rally the troops. All hands on deck. This is not a time to be asleep at the wheel. God has called the Church to sound the trumpet to reach a dying world with the saving message of Jesus Christ.

My question to you are as follows.

Have you ever led someone into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ?
When was the last time you shared your faith?
When was the last time you brought a visitor to church?
When was the last time you bought a Bible for an unsaved acquaintance?
When was the last time you parked in the off site area and rode the shuttle?
When was the last time you fasted for a lost friend?
When was the last time you gave a sermon CD to a fellow employee?
When was the last time you thought about moving to Saturday night to free up more room for visitors who usually attend on Sunday morning.
When was the last time you cried over someone being lost?
When was the last time you wept over a soul?
When was the last time you invited your neighbor to church?

If Jesus came today…
If Jesus came tonight…
If Jesus came in the morning…

Could they say of the church?
Could they say of you?
Could they say of me?

At Dawn We Slept.

Religion and Politics

Written by admin on . Posted in politics, prayer, soldiers, war. 1 Comment on Religion and Politics

I know, I know, I know! A pastor always runs the risk of offending folks when it comes to politics… but I could NOT HELP MYSELF…. I loved this picture taken by our armed forces regarding Sen. John Kerry’s remarks. I wanted to post this picture just to remind us all that we need to PRAY diligently for the men and women in the service. These BRAVE and extremely intelligent soldiers desperately need our prayers of support. Why not take a moment right now and thank God for all of the men and women stationed around the globe that willingly serve and defend the United States of America? May God’s hedge of protection be around each and every soldier.