December 28, 2014

The Shepherd's Corner

Something unusual will take place in the 2015 Tournament of Rose Parade.  The horse that is supposed to carry the Grand Marshal will have no rider on it!  Louis Zamperini, the designated rider, died on July 2 of this year, just weeks after he was named to be the 2015 Grand Marshal.  However in honor of his service to this country the Rose Parade committee decided to keep him as the Grand Marshal and not choose anybody else to take his place.Something unusual will take place in the 2015 Tournament of Rose Parade.  The horse that is supposed to carry the Grand Marshal will have no rider on it!  Louis Zamperini, the designated rider, died on July 2 of this year, just weeks after he was named to be the 2015 Grand Marshal.  However in honor of his service to this country the Rose Parade committee decided to keep him as the Grand Marshal and not choose anybody else to take his place.Louis Zamperini, an Olympic athlete and a war hero, came home not as a victor but rather as a prisoner of war.  He was still at war with himself and imprisoned by hatred and alcoholism.  After three years of marriage, his wife could not take it anymore and thought about leaving him.  It was then a young Billy Graham came to Los Angeles to hold his citywide crusade in 1949.

At the urging of his wife, Louis Zamperini went and there in front of thousands he dedicated his life to Jesus and to forgiving the Japanese prison guards who had tortured him.  It was there he also committed his life to serving Jesus, especially to reaching the troubled youth—a commitment he kept till he died.

His son recently spoke about him.  He said a lot of people often referred to his dad as an inspirational speaker but he was more “a witness, an evangelist . . . sharing his remarkable story of survival and forgiveness.”  When he gave his life to Jesus and made a decision to forgive, he was forever free from his own prison.

In a way we, too, are witnesses and evangelists.  We, too, have our own stories to tell—stories of how the grace of God through Jesus saved us and how He gave us hope and strength.

Pastor PaulLouis Zamperini, an Olympic athlete and a war hero, came home not as a victor but rather as a prisoner of war.  He was still at war with himself and imprisoned by hatred and alcoholism.  After three years of marriage, his wife could not take it anymore and thought about leaving him.  It was then a young Billy Graham came to Los Angeles to hold his citywide crusade in 1949.

At the urging of his wife, Louis Zamperini went and there in front of thousands he dedicated his life to Jesus and to forgiving the Japanese prison guards who had tortured him.  It was there he also committed his life to serving Jesus, especially to reaching the troubled youth—a commitment he kept till he died.

His son recently spoke about him.  He said a lot of people often referred to his dad as an inspirational speaker but he was more “a witness, an evangelist . . . sharing his remarkable story of survival and forgiveness.”  When he gave his life to Jesus and made a decision to forgive, he was forever free from his own prison.

In a way we, too, are witnesses and evangelists.  We, too, have our own stories to tell—stories of how the grace of God through Jesus saved us and how He gave us hope and strength.

Pastor Paul

More Shepherd's Corner Articles

The Shepherd's Corner - October 3, 2021
Every time we visit Tante Margareth, we cannot help but admire the so many trees—fruit and flowers trees—lining up around her house.  They are just so green and healthy, thanks to the care of her son in-law.  It reminds me of a wise advice given by George Eliot, the pen name of Mary Ann Evans,...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - July 03, 2022
On Monday morning Our Lord Jesus came and took Tante Agnes home.  And on Thursday in the wee morning hour, He also came to take Tante Gwie, beloved wife of Oom Kiat, home.  In the words of Paul, in 2 Timothy 4:7-8, they both have fought the good fight; both have finished the race, and [&he...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - May 03, 2015
THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER May 2 and May 4 have always had a special meaning for me. May 2 was the day I left Indonesia and May 4 was the day I set foot on American soil for the first time. The year was 1978. It was the beginning of the second chapter of my life—the […]...
Read More