"Don't Waste Your Life" - 3 August 2008

Dear Friends and Family:

Greetings from Okinawa. A lot has happened since the last time I wrote. Among other things, the mission trip to Thailand was an amazing experience; I recently changed billets (jobs) from Data Platoon Commander to becoming the Operations Officer for my Company; and my friend Jim and I just bought plane tickets to go to mainland Japan at the end of August to climb Mt. Fuji, Japan's tallest peak.

Though it was a while ago, here are a couple things from Thailand that were significant for me and hopefully they will be for you too... The missionaries we went to support were a 55 year old couple from the midwest, Dave and Shirley, who had taken early retirement to move to Thailand so they could minister to/provide loving Christian homes for Thai orphans, most of whose parents died from AIDS, drugs, or violence. Having just read John Piper's classic, Don't Waste your Life, before going to Thailand, it was an amazing contrast to a tragic example Piper gives on pages 45 and 46, "I will tell you what a tragedy is. I will show you how to waste your life. Consider this story from the February 1998 Reader's Digest, which tells about a couple who 'took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punto Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30-foot trawler, play softball and collect shells.' At first, when I read it I thought it might be a joke. But it wasn't. Tragically, this was the dream: Come to the end of your life-your one and only precious, God-given life-and let the last great work of your life, before you give an account to your Creator, be this: playing softball and collecting shells. Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgment: 'Look, Lord. See my shells.' That is a tragedy. And people today are spending billions of dollars to persuade you to embrace that tragic dream."

While Dave and Shirley will be the first to tell you they are far from being saints, as american Christian's often assume foreign missionaries to be, they are most certainly storing up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20). Amen. I challenge you, whether young or old, to read Matthew 6:19-24, and assess where you are storing your treasure.

Another significant part of the trip was something I've experienced on other mission trips throughout the world, Thailand included, and it is something I wrote about a couple months ago. Ephesians 4:4-6 says it best, "There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." There is perhaps nothing more significant to a person's faith in Jesus when that person bears witness to people of other nations, languages, and cultures who worship the same great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. It speaks volumes to the authenticity of the Faith, in a way that can bring you to your knees in awe, reverence, and wonder. Amen and Amen.

Thanks for reading. More news to come soon on my job transition and climbing Fuji once we actually do it. Please write and let me know how you are doing; I'd love to hear from you. Until next time, take care. Press on towards the goal to which God has called [you] heavenward in Christ Jesus. - Phil. 3:14

Semper Jesus,
1stLt Steven R. Haack

Post Script - Special congratulations to my great friend Brian Hammer, who just got married this past weekend. Way to make it happen, Brian and Jill, by the grace of God. That a baby. 1800 miles on a bike. ONE.