Interview: Major Willis Howell
Original Publication - JAC #53, February 2008 – March 2008
JAC: What is your idea of perfect happiness?
WH: Happiness…?
That’s way too fleeting (although I’ll admit that I really
enjoy playing bass trombone in a smoking-hot jazz band!)
But the fact of the matter is that I’d rather focus on
joy and satisfaction over happiness any day.
If I use those as a measurement, perfect joy and
satisfaction for me are the times when I sense the pleasure of
Jesus on me.
JAC: What is your greatest fear?
WH: Not measuring up to all that I was created to be.
Settling for something less than God has in mind for
me.
JAC: What living person do you most admire?
WH: Not sure that it’s one person, but a
kind of
person; someone who is unashamedly, passionately, sold out, on
fire and on mission for Jesus.
JAC: With which historical figure do you most identify?
WH: The first person who popped into my mind was Moses. Even
though I’ve listed my greatest fear as
“not measuring up to
all that I was created to be”, I seem to come up with a
thousand excuses as to why I’m not qualified to do what the
Lord has asked me to do (as if it’s somehow about the skills
and gifts that I bring to the table as opposed to what He
chooses to do with what has been surrendered to Him).
JAC: What is the trait you deplore most in others?
WH: Spiritual apathy and indifference in those who claim to
follow Jesus.
JAC: What is your greatest extravagance?
WH: Probably the musical instruments I’ve bought over the
years. There
haven’t been many of them (a couple of trombones and a couple
of guitars), but I’ve always gone for the best quality I could
afford.
JAC: What is your favourite journey?
WH: I’m not sure if you’re talking about
travel-and-destination related journeys, or inner, insightful
ones. So I’ll
touch on both… On the travel side, I really enjoy any journey
that takes me through mountains.
As for inner journeys, I love being able to get off to
a quiet place and get to the point where I have a deep sense
of the actual presence of God.
JAC: What do you consider the most over-rated virtue?
WH: Wow… “over-rated virtue”?
I’m not sure that any true virtue can be over-rated.
Where I live (USA), I think our culture of relativism
has turned the whole thing on its head to the point where a
lack of virtue is somehow seen as virtuous.
JAC: What talent would you most like to have?
WH: Organization.
JAC: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would
it be?
WH: If we’re talking about something other than the desire to
be more organized, as mentioned in the previous question, I
suppose I’d like to be more intuitive.
JAC: What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
WH: Being possessed by your possessions.
Being owned by all that one has hoarded and accumulated
to themselves.
JAC: What is your most treasured possession?
WH: The knowledge that I am a most treasured possession
to Jesus.
JAC: What is your most marked characteristic?
WH: Hmmm… I don’t
know that I can answer that.
You might do better to get the opinion of people who
know me.
JAC: Who are your favourite writers?
WH: As for Army writers, the usual names: Catherine Booth,
William Booth,
Railton, and Brengle.
Non-Army folks would include Andy Stanley, Erwin McManus ,
Calvin Miller and Leonard Ravenhill.
JAC: Who is your favourite hero of fiction?
WH: Oooo…that’s a tough one.
While I can’t settle on just one, my list would include
Jean Valjean (Les
Miserables), Aragorn (Lord
of the Rings), and Mighty Mouse.
JAC: Who are your heroes in real life?
WH: Anyone whose faith is authentic enough to prompt them to
Christ-like action.
JAC: What is your motto?
WH: Based on Leviticus 6:13.
Keep the altar
ready and the fire hot.
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