Soap Box

This past weekend I spent three days at our church in Murfreesboro, World Outreach Church, all three days there were two guest speakers, but Friday night was a men’s event called God Strong.

The speakers all weekend were two American heroes, Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North, and Lieutenant General William "Jerry" Boykin.

Col North is probably more well-known of the two for his testimony during the Iran-Contra hearings in 1987, and from his presence on Fox News over the last several decades, including time embedded with troops in the Middle East as well as many other TV appearances. He is a retired Marine. You never say “ex-Marine” because “Once a Marine, always a Marine.” Col North served in Vietnam and has been awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, Purple Heart as well as many more decorations which would take up a considerable amount of space here.

Gen Boykin probably isn’t as well-known as Col North, but his military career has been remarkable. He was one of the founding members of the Army’s elite Delta Force where he spent 13 years, he was Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence in the George W. Bush administration, he was also awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and - as with Col North - decorations which would take up a very large part of this soapbox.

Both men spoke about their faith journeys and the need for godly men and the importance of being strong spiritual leaders and being men of God first and foremost. They also shared some of their battle stories, and I hate to disappoint the SJWs out there, but despite thousands of men in attendance, no toxic masculinity broke out, just genuine fellowship. 

My dad was a big fan of both Col North, and Gen Boykin. Dad and the general were both part of a documentary a few years ago, and in 2016 both attended Media Research Center’s Gala event and got to spend some time talking together.

In the spring of 2020, I went to hear Gen Boykin speak at World Outreach. It was one of the first outside services that the church had, but it made it possible for everyone to gather together since churches had been incorrectly deemed “non-essential.”

Since dad was 83-years-old and in that high-risk group for Covid, he and mom were sheltering in place at the time, so he wasn’t there, but he did ask me to send his regards to the general, which I did.

As I was leaving, it dawned on me that Father’s Day was the following weekend and since dad was nearly impossible to buy for. Col North spoke at the church in 2019, and I got him to personalize a book to dad for Christmas. So, before I headed to my car, I bought one of Gen Boykin’s books on the way out, and later ordered another of his books to give them to dad for Father’s Day.  

I did give them to him, but I got them right back because I was intending to see about getting an address for Gen. Boykin so I could send them to him to personalize them. 

Then, of course, a little over two weeks later, tragedy struck and July 6, 2020 made it unnecessary to get the books personalized, so I put them away on a shelf.

But Gen. Boykin spoke again on Friday, and afterwards I re-introduced myself to him and asked him if brought the books to him on Saturday night if he could sign them for dad posthumously.

He said he would be happy to.

It just felt like some unfinished business I needed to take care of.

So, I went back to the green room at WOC and he personalized the books for dad. He didn’t just write “To Charlie” he wrote very heartfelt words which – when I read them - tears welled up.

“To Charlie Daniels, May God give you rest in His arms. God Bless

William G. Boykin”

And

“To Charlie Daniels, Your legacy is of a great man of God and ah heck of a fiddle player! William G. Boykin”

Thank you, General Boykin, for your service, and for your kind words about my father.

So, I got to deal with my unfinished business, but it turns out there was some more unfinished business which also got taken care of on Saturday night. Pastor Allen Jackson introduced me to a couple from the state of New York who had driven down to be baptized at WOC.

It turns out that the couple had learned about the church by watching dad’s funeral livestream, and then started watching Allen’s messages regularly, and then decided that Murfreesboro, Tennessee was where they wanted to be baptized. Dad’s managing to help lead others to the Lord even after he’s moved on himself. 

Who dad was led the couple to Allen, and who Allen and the good folks from WOC are led them to make a decision to follow Jesus in the “Tennessee Midlands” as dad used to call it. I know he was celebrating along with the angels.

Hallelujah!

Let’s all make the day count.

What do you think?

Pray for our troops, our police, our nation and the peace of Jerusalem.

God Bless America!

#BenghaziAintGoingAway #End22

—  Charlie Daniels, Jr.