Sunday, November 6, 2016

The Inner Views of Jason B. Ladd

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
Ephesians 6:12,13
(KJV)

A few months back, I was contacted by the man being interviewed today,
asking if I would be interested in reading his book and talking about it on Homespun Devotions.
I was more than happy to do so, and soon after, I received a copy of his book, One of the Few, in the mail.
Rather than just share my thoughts on his book, I thought it would be so nice to include his interview,
and, he, very kindly and graciously granted my request.
He is a United States Marine Christian Apologist who, throughout his book,
 likens spiritual warfare to his own personal lessons and life experiences in the military.
I am very humbled and grateful to share his words with you today, and, at the end of his interview,
I share some of my favorite takeaways from his book.


The
of
Author, Marine, Husband, and Father of Seven,
Jason B. Ladd

Cheryl:  Please tell us about yourself.

Jason:  I had a wonderful childhood and a comfortable life growing up. But after getting married, joining the Marines, and having children, I began to sense that there was something missing in my life. After investigating my wife's faith, I came to the conclusion that Christianity is true. Then I wrote a book. I think that pretty much sums it up.


Cheryl:  The details of your path to find and follow Christ are incredibly fascinating. Will you share some highlights of your journey with us here?

Jason:  My wife was raised in a Christian home, and since meeting her, I always felt like she had something that I wanted. As it turns out, I was becoming a fighter pilot at the same time I was becoming a Christian.

Cheryl:  Before you began exploring Christianity, would you have described yourself as more of an agnostic or an atheist?

Jason:  I would have self-identified as an agnostic, however, I was living more like an atheist. It's not that I hadn't given it much thought, it was that I had given it no thought. When you're an agnostic, you feel like it's a very reasonable position. It wasn't until later that I realized how weak the position really is when it's carefully analyzed.

Cheryl:  What would you identify as being the one persuasive factor that convinced you to open your mind and heart to the truths of God's Word?

Jason:  I write about this in the book. Even after being married having children, I felt unprepared to be the kind of husband and father I wanted to be. I knew something was missing, and I had a hunch it had to do with the spiritual side of life. Turns out I was right.

Cheryl:  Who has been your strongest mentor in your Christian walk?

Jason:  Undoubtedly my wife. From her I learn every day to be unselfish and think about others before myself. She makes it look easy. Why is it so hard for me?

Cheryl:  We would love to hear about your family. Where and when did you meet your wife? How many children has God blessed you with?

Jason:  I met Karry in Japan just before my sixteenth birthday in the summer of 1995. I fell in lust immediately. Love followed, then marriage, then seven baby carriages.

Cheryl:  As a Christian husband and father, what brings you the most joy? What do you consider to be your biggest challenge? What do you most hope to instill in the lives of your children?


Jason:  Watching them laugh. I think the biggest challenge is knowing that despite your best efforts, each child may one day go his or her own way. I can only pray that if it happens, it is only for a time. I want to show my children that while life is amazing and beautiful, knowing why it is amazing and beautiful makes it even more so.

Cheryl:  Jude 1:3 instructs us, as Christians, to earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. As a Christian Apologist living in a culture that is becoming more and more hostile towards that faith, what advice would you give to the Christian who is discouraged and ready to cave to the pressure to conform?

Jason:  I would encourage them to read or reread Paul's letters. Talk about someone who had every reason to give up! I would also remind them that Jesus was also living in a culture hostile to the faith. What is amazing is that he never stopped speaking truth to power in accordance with his Father’s will. He neither feared, nor evaded capture. But when captured, he conformed to the unjust commands of his captors, allowing for God’s perfect plan to unfold even to the end. That’s amazing.

Cheryl:  I would like to personally thank you for your devotion and service to our country as a United States Marine. Will you please share with us about your military career?

Jason:  I’ve had a great run. I served on active duty for 14 years, and once I was in the F/A-18, I never left. That’s pretty rare these days. I deployed once to Iraq, lived in Japan for three years, and even got the chance to fly the F-16 with the Air Force on an exchange tour.

Cheryl:  What message do you most hope to convey to your readers?

Jason:  Everyone has a worldview—recognized or not—and it affects every aspect of your life. And the Christian worldview is capable of sustaining you through life’s most difficult circumstances.

Cheryl:  To me, one of the most intriguing aspects of your book, was the way you likened military warfare to the spiritual warfare which we, as believers in Jesus Christ, are constantly engaged. It is amazing to trace the hand of God in your life and see how He allowed you to live through so many experiences that would later serve as such convincing analogies with which to compare the two types of warfare. If you had to choose one such experience that you consider to be the most powerful, which one would it be?

Jason:  In One of the Few, I tell a story about being in a foxhole during Marine Corps basic training. I was very tired and hadn’t eaten much food. My body felt like it wasn’t working without that nourishment. I remembered that when I realized my spiritual malnourishment.

Cheryl:  What do you consider to be your darkest season of life, so far? What sustained you through that season, and how did you maintain hope?

Jason:  We had a son on April 16, 2015. A month prior to his birth, we learned he had Trisomy 18, a chromosomal anomaly with a difficult prognosis. He died on the day he was born. It was hard to accept that God will not always protect you from pain. What got us through is knowing that He will still carry us through whatever happens.

Cheryl:  Bless your dear hearts.  I am so sorry you and your wife had to go through such a sad, difficult time, and I so appreciate your willingness to share about that pain, both here, and in your book.  What are some of your favorite go-to Scriptures, hymns, books, and other sources of encouragement?

Jason:  Romans 7, because it reminds me why I do what I don’t want to do. Psalm 127 to remind me that children are a heritage from the Lord. Job 13:15 to remind me that even when he slays me, I will trust in him. And of course, 1 Pet 3:15, to remind me to always be ready to give a defense for the hope that is in me.

Cheryl:  How can we pray for you?

Jason:  Please pray for my wife and children, that we continue to enjoy the blessings of a big family without killing each other. And please pray that whatever happens with One of the Few and beyond, that it would fulfill it’s purpose of bringing others to Christ.

Cheryl:  How can we order One of the Few?

Jason:  You can find links to all the formats at www.OneoftheFewBook.com.


Jason, THANK YOU ever so much for being willing to answer our questions and share your heart with us.  We are so blessed and humbled by your presence here.

Dear readers, thank you for reading and for your faithful support and encouragement to us.

Throughout my reading of Jason's book, I noted many parts that really spoke to me.  
I would like to list just a few of them here, in hopes that I will whet your interest and you will consider buying this book and seeking out your own favorite parts.

Click HERE to order your own copy!!!

From page 69 of "One of the Few"
"The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 13:14 to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ".  When you put Him on, there is no fall from which you cannot safely recover."

"When you are stuck and become injured, do not give the controls to an unproven student;
let God take control of your life.  
No one is more qualified to pilot your vessel than the engineer who designed it."

From page 88 of "One of the Few",
"Centuries ago, men were the spiritual leaders of the household.
Men of courage were strong in their convictions and fought battles for God and country.
They went to their deaths rather than recant what they knew to be true.
It shaped how they viewed the world and related to others.
Under God's authority, they defended their countrymen's inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Times have changed.
Today, Christianity is mocked in the media, dismissed by university professors,
and challenged by litigious secularists.
Men who devote their lives to Christ are likened to Ned Flanders (the stereo-typical Christian on the popular animated series The Simpsons) and dismissed as soft, emotional, goody-two-shoes pansies.
One who follows and enforces the rules might be called a whistle-blower, a traitor, or even "gasp!" un-cool."

From page 90 of "One of the Few",
"Unfortunately, the secularization, pluralization, and privatization of America has run so deep
that people will do or say anything to avoid being branded the most shameful label our culture 
has to offer:  intolerant.  Slapped with this major infraction, there is no shortage of lawyers willing
to make you pay for supporting the death penalty, natural marriage, or anti-abortion legislation.

Public expressions of religious faith have become taboo in America.
Let me re-phrase that:  Christianity has become taboo while worldviews that espouse enlightenment,
oneness, and "tolerance" are celebrated."

From page 253 of "One of the Few",
"We must continue to fend off spiritual attacks until Christ's final return.
The instances of inception and deception will not cease.
But, the process of sanctification will make it more difficult to reject the Holy Spirit.
Instead of rejecting the Spirit, you will grow stronger in rejecting enticements from the flesh and the world.
This is where we come to the "decide" step of the OODA loop process.
In the words of the character Walter Donovan in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,
"It's time to ask yourself what you believe".

We've observed the enemy (the devil, the flesh, and the world) and studied his weapons (darkness, deception, division, and destruction), and found our orientation in the middle of it all.
Look any direction and you will find the enemy wielding his weapons of war.
In the words of legendary Marine Lieutenant General "Chesty" Puller at the battle of Chosin Resevoir, "We're surrounded.  That simplifies things."
Now, we must take the last step.
Like Lieutenant Raible, we must remain alert,
recognize the enemy,
and take action when he attacks."

Very wise words, indeed, and much-needed in this era of compromise of Biblical truth.
Thank God for men like Jason who are unashamed to stand up for God and what is right.

Please keep Jason and his family in your continued prayers.

God bless them, and may He bless all of you, too, dear friends.

To read previous
click the links below.

19 comments:

  1. Hi Cheryl and Jason! Isn't it amazing that even though you found the love of your life, and had children you still knew something was missing? That is the Spirit knocking on your door, and you sure did answer. I admire you in writing your book, spreading your faith and encouraging others. What more could God ask you to do?
    Thank you Cheryl for introducing Jason to us!
    Ceil

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is amazing, Ceil. There is a void in every single one of us that only God can fill...He reserves that place for Himself. So thankful for His Spirit Who knocks, as you said. Thank you for reading and for your kind encouragement. Have a blessed day!

      Delete
  2. thanks so much, Ceil! I've learned to come quickly when I hear the knock ;)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I really appreciate his testimony! I have heard that everyone is searching because we all have a God sized hole until we accept him. It's good to see how God is working in Jason's life and I'm sure he will further work through his book. I'm off to check out the book - I think my hubby and I would both enjoy it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is so true, Mari! I am so happy to know you will check out the book! Thank you for your sweet visit and comments. God bless you, my friend. :)

      Delete
    2. Mari, can't wait to hear what he think!

      Delete
  4. Cheryl I have just been enjoying these series. It's so interesting to see everyone's journey to Jesus. Such an inspiring testimony. May God continue to bless your work Jason.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, I am so thankful to know that you enjoy the interviews, sweet friend! Thank you ever so much for your kind words. :) God bless you.

      Delete
  5. Praying for Jason and his family; as well as for you and yours Cheryl.

    God bless.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Victor! Your blessings are always a blessing! God bless you, in return. :)

      Delete
  6. How marvelous that Jason's wife's life's testimony led him to turn his life over to Jesus and continue on to walk with Christ! A very powerful testimony of the marvelous way the Lord can work through our lives, if we just let him. I really enjoyed Jason's story, and pray that the Lord will bless this book in a mighty way, and bless his family too. Many hugs to you, dear Cheryl, and your precious family today!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are so right! I, too, loved reading about Jason's wife's consistent walk with the Lord and how it affected him. I think of some of dear friends who have husbands who are not believers, and I see their struggles and have prayed with them and for them so many times. Those of us who have Christian, praying husbands are abundantly blessed. So thankful to see how Jason and his wife now walk with Jesus hand in hand. Such a sweet testimony and example to us all. Sending many hugs and lots of love back to you, sweet friend.

      Delete
  7. Cheryl, well I now know what I am getting my 14 year old grandson for Christmas, Jason's book. OUr grandson wants to enter military service after he gets out of college. Thanks so much for bringing Jason's book to your site...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, how wonderful! He will absolutely enjoy reading this book. Jason really goes into a lot of detail concerning military issues and he so effectively applies that to our Christian life. Thank you so much for supporting Jason and his ministry. God bless you, Betty!

      Delete
  8. Jason's book intrigues me because I love the parallel he draws of spiritual warfare vs. being a fighter pilot. I think he can teach me a lot! Praying for his book, his family and life's work. What a guy. Cheryl, this is an inspiring interview. Thank you for informing us and thank you, Jason, for serving our country.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, sweet friend, for your dear support and encouragement. It truly means so much! Sending you much love and gratitude!

      Delete
  9. Thanks Jason for your transparency in sharing your testimony. And thanks Cheryl for sharing it on Mondays @ Soul Survival. Thanksgiving blessings to you both.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Donna, for your kindness and support. God bless you!

      Delete