Today is Memorial Day, the day we honor our heroes, the ones who have given "the last full measure of devotion." It is a day we take off to relax with family and friends and celebrate the good things those heroes have preserved for us. In all our barbecues, ball games, and fun, let's not forget that it is all possible because somebody spilled his blood to ensure our freedom to take the day off.
Today is also the birthday of two great Americans. One everybody knows, even world wide. He was Mr. America. Born in Winterset, Iowa in 1907, he rose from obscurity to be one of Hollywood's greatest stars, but more importantly, the greatest cheerleader of true American values in the last hundred years. Even though he passed away thirty-five years ago, his popularity and influence has not subsided. When other superstars pass from the scene they are relatively forgotten in a short time. The legacy of John "Duke" Wayne, however, has never declined, and today he is as popular as he ever was. Good, honest patriotism, shoot straight, tell it like it is, stand up for the little guy. John Wayne - American.
The other is also well known on a world wide scale, although not by as many perhaps as Duke Wayne. He is also a patriot, having served in Patton's Third Army in World War 2, landing at Utah Beach in the D-Day invasion. Also born in Iowa, in the little town of Ringsted in 1925, he grew up through the depression in the most difficult of times and situations. He often had to be out in the fields working the farm when he should have been in school, because his father was sick with a bad heart, asthma and rheumatism. And somehow the family survived. After the War he enrolled in Bible college, served under Harvey Springer at the First Baptist Church of Englewood, Colorado, and then founded the East Side Baptist Church in 1956. In 1972 he became the Missions Director of the Baptist Bible Fellowship, International and began a ministry of overseeing and encouraging missionaries, raising funds for their work, and preaching at mission conferences in all fifty States and in dozens of countries around the world.
His legacy is not on celluloid; it is in souls. Tens of thousands have been won to Christ because of the burden and passion of my uncle, Dr. Carl Boonstra. He turns 89 today, and even thought his eyesight is going bad and he can hardly drive anymore, he still preaches dozens of times every year. He is my spiritual father, mentor, and hero and I love him with all my heart.
Happy Birthday Uncle.
I remember fondly both of these men. I still from time to time pull down my John Wayne DVD collection and enjoy the old movies. But with greater fondness, i recall sitting under Dr. Carl's ministry of the Word. Many sermons we heard at Silver State Youth Camp up in Sedalia, CO. I had the privilege of working as a wrangler for a few years up at SSYC. Both Dr. Carl and Harvey Springer loved young people and wanted to raise a generation for Christ. I think my sisters were up at camp, the year that Harvey was killed during the rodeo. It is good to remember Dr. Carl today, a champion for Christ!
ReplyDeleteHow special that your favorite uncle shares a birthday with your hero--John Wayne! A blessed birthday to your uncle!!!
ReplyDeleteIt is a wonderful memory of two wonderful people.
ReplyDeleteThank you. This was beautiful.
This is a wonderful birthday tribute for my dad - thank you so much for what you had to say. Of course the whole thing is good but I am partial to the last half.
ReplyDeleteA very blessed bday to dear Carl and certainly the still very visible 'duke' on TV , DVDs, In libraries, etc.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Dr. Carl Boonstra and many more to come. Thank you for serving God.
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