Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Short Story: The Strong & Victorious

Christ's Church of the Valley (CCV) likes to run short, 250-word stories in each weekend's bulletin to tie in with the sermon or events happening within the church. The approximate bulletin count was 13,000 for Easter weekend.

The Strong & Victorious: A Warrior’s Profile

“Men will not follow or be associated with weak men,” says Lieutenant Colonel Bob “Cutch” McCutchen, a man who has recently flown two combat tours in Iraq and has a family military background going back as far as World War I. The act of protecting and serving is in his blood and allows “Cutch” to live out his career as a modern-day warrior.

Bob McCutchen grew up attending church, but his technical, scientific education led him to question religion as he often struggled with the concept of faith alone. Thanks in part to a rock-solid college professor who mentored McCutchen while he was a graduate student studying Aerospace Engineering, McCutchen finally researched the accuracy of the Bible and Christ became real to him for the first time.

After graduate school, McCutchen entered pilot training where his newfound faith was tested. “Core values of the squadron did not align with those of Christ, and those who did not conform were ridiculed, chastised and pretty much pounded on a weekly basis,” he explains. “What got me through all the intimidation and the negative influence was knowing a handful of other Christian pilots who kept me accountable.”

Ken Ashley, another F-16 pilot who knows McCutchen well, says, “I have personally witnessed his Christian courage in military as well as social settings. He is someone I respect as an individual, as a fellow F-16 pilot, and as a fellow Christian who is truly walking the walk.”

Fast forward thirty years…McCutchen is now in the process of being promoted to full colonel with the Air Force. There is little doubt that God strategically, specifically placed “Cutch” where he would be challenged and used the most. “Cutch” is a great example of a strong man, a warrior who is living a victorious life for Christ day in and day out.

No comments: