From the Archives: Winter 2011

Written by Tim Brown

The Marine Corps became my life in 1983. Honor, courage and commitment were drilled into me in the Corps. I served 21 years and most of that time I was in a leadership position. As I look back now, I can see how the Lord was working in my life and protecting me even when I was unaware. I survived close calls in helicopters, trains, and trucks, as well as other dangerous activities.

The Best Sermon Is the Life We Live

The honor, courage, and commitment I was taught in the Corps falls into the Christian life as well. “Honor one’s father” and “continue doing good” were part of who I was. I was raised in church and godly examples were all around me. Because of this, all my life I tried to do what was right. People do great things for God, but to me, the Christian life is one day built upon another.

Sometimes people feel pressured to be more than they are; the secular society urges us to make a name for ourselves rather than making God’s name known. If that is to be the case, all of us would be preachers or evangelists. I believe the best sermon is the life we live. I have to look to God to find the energy to be the person I want and need to be. I want to be the person who comes to work every day, to do what I say I will: “walk the walk and talk the talk”.

Daily there are questions I want answers to but only God has them. When there seems to be no answers, I have to go to Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Our happiness is important to God, but I don’t think its God’s main goal. In my life, it seems that things seem to funnel down to me to get me where I’m supposed to be – not just living for momentary happiness.

Soul-Saving Grace and Provision

I wasn’t saved until I got out of the Marine Corps, in 2004. But even before that, I tried to follow good-living principles, which were: 1) try to live right, 2) try to do right and 3) live the values I had been taught from the Bible.

It was at that point, when I got saved, that I understood the song Amazing Grace. I understood the experience of being forgiven for my sins. I appreciated God’s long-suffering, his patience in waiting for me to respond to his soul-saving grace.

After I retired from the Marine Corps, I didn’t know what I was going to do to support my family. I went to the local employment office and found a security guard job opening at Samaritan’s Purse. I interviewed with a man, who, (I later found out) had been in the Marine Corps. I know God gave me this job. My first paycheck was two weeks after my last from the Marine Corps. I never had a gap in income. It’s just more of the Lord’s provision.

There was a point when so many things were going wrong, but the Lord has been and is always faithful. We started living the way the Lord wanted us to, and he has taken care of the problems. I like plans, but the time had come when I had no plan. I had to keep sight of the Lord’s principles.

The Lord is always the same. He never reneges on his promises. He has protected and provided, but the day came when we had to start living a life of faith. We may be on the “outside” of the Marine Corps, but we are on the “inside” of the Lord’s family, and we try daily to live a life of honor, courage and commitment to him and to others.