Joni: Hi, this is Joni Eareckson Tada and this week is my husband, Ken’s, birthday!
Ken: Oh boy!
Joni: That’s right! Hey Ken, thanks for coming and you are turning how old this week?
Ken: Oh Joni, 67 years old!
Joni and Ken: Yikes!
Joni: You don’t look 67 …
Ken: Well, thank you.
Joni: —and you don’t act it either! [Laughter]
Ken: That can be taken different ways.
Joni: Looking back what advice would a seasoned 67-year-old give a younger Christian man? Got any wise words of wisdom?
Ken: Well, I think the one thing that stands out is that we are in a spiritual battle …
Joni: Yeah.
Ken: … And I would tell a younger man don’t go into a battle by yourself.
Joni: Now what does that mean? What do you mean by that?
Ken: Well, I think you need to surround yourself with men who know Christ. You know, I think that is such an important part of the rooting system.
Joni: Yeah … When the devil turns the heat up, then—young man—reach out for a brother in Christ, someone with whom you can pray and confess your need; express the temptations you go through. Well, Ken, I have seen you invest years in prayer, Bible studies, Scripture memorization with a handful of close buddies and I’ve watched you and your friends. When the devil’s bullets start flying, I know that these faithful guys—these brothers of yours—always cover your back. And I like what you often call them; you call them your …
Ken: “Band of Brothers.”
Joni: I love that. And where does that come from?
Ken: Well, you know, I didn’t make that title up. It really comes from Shakespeare’s account of Henry IV at Agincourt. Remember the story?
Joni: Yeah, I think I do, but recount it.
Ken: Well, King Henry’s army had been reduced to a small band of tired and weary men and they were outnumbered by the French five to one.
Joni: Yikes!
Ken: But Henry rallies them with these words of inspiration.
Joni: Go for it.
Ken: It says …
“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother […] And gentlemen in England now-a-bed shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here, and hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks that fought with us.”
Ken (cont.): And from there, Henry took them to victory.
Joni: Wahoo! I can believe it!
Ken: Yeah, can you imagine him in front of a football team? Oh man! [Laughter]
Joni: “Band of Brothers.” Well that may be Shakespearean, archaic language but you know what? I love the way I hear you read that, talking to your friends. And I often hear you discuss this poem from Shakespeare with your friends on the phone, always ending conversations with—and I hear this—you say, “Love ya, buddy!”
Ken: But you know what I’ve learned this last year, Joni?
Joni: What’s that?
Ken: I want you in that foxhole with me.
Joni: Oh, thank you, sir.
Ken: You’re part of our “Band of Brothers.” You’re “Honorary Band of Brothers.” [laughter]
Joni: So friend listening: May I urge you to encourage a weary believer today? Go into prayerful battle on his or her behalf. Remind your brother or sister in Christ that victory is assured because this tired and worn-out friend needs your help! The fight against the devil is dark; it’s dangerous and we Christians might be few, but we are a happy few. We are fellow warriors with each beside the other. And as long as we stand firm and let nothing move us, our Captain takes us to victory.
Ken: Guys, you need to be vulnerable; we need to be transparent; they need to encourage each other; they need to get on emails and write each other. Call each other on the phone, but most especially, pray for each other.
Joni: Absolutely! Well, my husband, I hope you enjoy your birthday this week and I pray that God will continue to take you to an always deeper level of study, confession of sin, transparency, spiritual openness … And for all the men listening, I pray that you will be aware, really attune to the spiritual warfare in which you are engaged today. There is a target, right Ken?
Ken: Oh yeah.
Joni: … On our back, and our adversary would like nothing more than to take Christian men out of the battle through some sinful choice habit or relationship.
Ken: So get tight with your “Band of Brothers.”
Joni: That’s right. Ken, thanks so much for joining us!
Ken: Thank you, Joni.
Joni: On your birthday week!
Ken: Oh, I’m excited!
Joni: Let’s go celebrate!
© Joni and Friends, 2013
Compliments of Joni and Friends
PO Box 3333 Agoura Hills, CA 91376