Top chaplain visits Sheppard, says make every day count

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jacob Corbin
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  A day may not seem like much. After all it's only 24 hours.

According to Chap. (Maj. Gen.) Charles Baldwin, the U.S. Air Force chief of chaplains, though, one day can change a life forever.

Chaplain Baldwin visited Sheppard Feb. 16 and was the guest speaker at the National Prayer Breakfast held at the Sheppard Club.

Chaplain Baldwin used one of his favorite shows, "24," to help illustrate his message, which was based on a quote from the bible.

"Teach us to number our days," says Psalms 90:12, "so we may gain a heart of wisdom."

Chaplain Baldwin said that Jack Bauer's, the main character of "24," days are filled with the same things as ours; trouble, trials and truth.

"Jack Bauer may be a television character but real federal agents are always busy because trouble abounds," Chaplain Baldwin said. "We know about trouble. We deal with it every day because we're fighting a global war on terror.

He then said when trouble becomes personal, it becomes a trial, and that everyone, good or bad, experiences trials in their life.

The truth, of these trials and troubles people face, he said, is that they need help.

"This is why the National Prayer Breakfast is important," he said. "We need the help of God."

After talking about what our days are made of, he went on to talk about how people could make their days count.

"How do we number our days," Chaplain Baldwin asked the crowd. "We give it to God and we live it for others."

He closed by saying what he does to help "number his days."

"I want my life to count," Chaplain Baldwin said, "not for me but for God and for those we meet along the journey."

The National Prayer Breakfast was established in 1953 by members of the Senate and Congress, along with President Dwight D. Eisenhower, with the purpose of seeking divine guidance for the national leadership and to reaffirm faith and dependence on God.

Sheppard's breakfast was one of many coinciding with the 54th Annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington held on Feb. 7.