The Power of the Pen … Day 59

In some ways our sons are totally different from each other. That much was especially apparent with respect to their individual learning styles during our years of homeschooling both of them. James was very book-oriented, and completed his workbook assignments with little or no trouble. TJ, on the other hand, was a “hands-on” learner and hated his text books. He was forever asking me why he had to learn grammar, or math, or history, or … At times it seemed a constant struggle to get him to complete his assignments. Reading and writing were the two things he seemed to detest the most.

When TJ received his orders to Malmstrom Air Force Base, he was really excited to begin serving. He also wanted to make a difference for the Lord in people’s lives. He became an active witness to those around him. He got involved with the base chapel, playing the drums for the worship team, as well as working with the young people. It was exciting to hear him talk about those to whom and with whom he wanted to minister.

TJ knows how important and powerful prayer is in a believer’s life. He certainly realized it during his weeks in Basic Military Training. So, one day he decided to enlist the prayer support of his family and friends and began writing his “MUM” letters. In his first letter he explained that “MUM” stood for “Malmstrom’s Underground Missionary” and that his real assignment was from the Lord to be a missionary to those on his base. TJ’s letters were not your “normal” one-page prayer letters. His were three and four pages long! I could not believe this was the same child I had fought “tooth and nail” with to get a one page report from, and now he was writing three to four page letters/reports of his service for the Lord.

As TJ continued to take his stand for Christ, he found himself being challenged to defend what he believed. This was not discouraging to him at all, but it challenged him and motivated him to study areas of doctrine in an effort to defend them.

Now, when TJ does something, as I’ve mentioned in past blogs, he ALWAYS gives more than one hundred percent of himself to it. So, when it came to his need to study the doctrinal areas that he was defending, he didn’t just study them. He studied and then wrote papers to defend his belief. And just as he was doing with his MUM letters, his papers were several pages long and also extremely creative. I teased him one day, telling him that his English teacher was thrilled to finally see him completing his writing assignments! (He didn’t think that was too funny.)

The cover of one of TJ's papers.

He has written papers on so-called “faith healers” [“I Command You to be Healed”], on witnessing [“A New Book, Written Each Day”], and on his own struggle with temptation [“The Stalker in My Midst”]. If you’d like to read these, or any of his other papers, you will find them on a site called Lulu, at TJ Lombardi’s Storefront.

We did not hear TJ talk about writing too much during the past year. But, about two weeks ago Joe told me that he had just received another email from TJ with a special attachment. TJ was writing again, and had asked his dad to please proof his newest paper. His current papers are dealing more with some of the things he is experiencing on the base in Kuwait, such as “serving with excellence.” In fact, he recently wrote to say that his most recent article will be published in the base’s newspaper.

There is no doubt in my mind: TJ is a soldier at heart. He loves defending his country and would not hesitate to fire that assault rifle of his if he believed it was warranted. But, I believe TJ also knows that his pen is just as powerful as the rifle that is strapped to his side. With his pen he not only expresses his thoughts, but can also influence others. And now, with the aid of the internet, his words are impacting people around the world. There may come a day when he will lay down his rifle, but I hope he never puts down his pen.