ROWvotions by Ben Mathes

Whom do you turn to when times are tough? Let me tell you about my friend, Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin (Ret.). He served as the United States Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence. It was Jerry who once said, “It was God whom I relied on when I nearly lost an arm in battle. It was God whom I prayed to when my men went to war. It was God whom I cried out to when my men returned maimed and bleeding. It was also God whom I cried out to when they didn’t return at all.”

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Most families have certain ways of doing things, don’t they? You probably feel that your family celebrates the holidays like no other family. Your family travels to destinations unlike other families. When a new person is added to the family, such as through marriage, it may seem a bit awkward until that person gets used to the way things are done in your family.

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I traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in June and I must tell you this part of the world is so hot, it is so dusty, it is so crowded and the needs there seem so endless. We visited the orphanage recently completed in Kinshasa. Through much prayer and generous support, Rivers of the World (ROW) built the orphanage and installed a well in Kinshasa, constructed a library for the school attached to the orphanage, outfitted the students with school supplies, and provided food and caps for all the children.

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Many folks have been enjoying the warm summer months of July. Well, I took a little detour this month and traveled to a place that experiences winter from May through September. I crossed over into the Southern Hemisphere and spent some time in Paraguay and Argentina.

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During the month of July, my thoughts turn to independence, freedom and I think about the men and women who have so bravely defended our country. One of my favorite people in the entire world is Lt. Gen. Sam Wilson (Ret.) of Rice, Va. Sam was one of the original Merrill’s Marauders during World War II. He played a part in driving the enemy out of Burma.

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Do you know what day it is? Oh, I don’t mean Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or such. I mean do you understand what day this is, today. On this day you are one day closer to landing that job you have prayed for, you are one day closer to achieving your goal of losing weight, you are one day closer to beating that addiction and you are one day closer to spending eternity with Christ and finally being at peace.

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It felt so good to be home when I arrived in America several weeks ago from traveling overseas. Most of you know by now that I am in at least one different country every month. There just isn’t anything in the world that lifts my heart more than returning to America especially at sunrise. I can watch the sun as it begins a new day over my town. It is during moments like these that I have an opportunity to worship Christ and praise Him for America.

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At times when it seems as if life is standing still and nothing appears to be happening that is when I say, “Full steam ahead!” This is a term Rivers of the World (ROW) uses to get the engines up and going on our ships. We say, “Full steam ahead!” and charge on down the river.

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I was out walking recently when I came across my neighbor, Carl. Carl was taking a walk with his two new King Charles spaniel puppies. It was incredible because I am not sure who was walking whom but there they were! As Carl and I chatted, he said something very profound.

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How did you celebrate Independence Day this year? Independence Day, also known as the Fourth of July, is one of my favorite holidays. For whatever reason, I am always in another country when this holiday occurs. This year, I was, and still am, in a country that has been ruled by several dictators over the course of the history of Argentina. That is not freedom.

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