The U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point is located in Havelock, North Carolina, close to some of the Atlantic's most beautiful beaches. But when visitors come to Havelock the first thing they hear usually isn't the ocean's waves; it's the roar of fighter jets. Since 1940, the sound of jet engines have echoed through the local skies—from the attack planes used during World War II to the piercing whine of today's sleek Harrier or Intruder jets. But the Marines from Cherry Point don't mind the noise. As a matter of fact, the entrance to Cherry Point has a large sign that reads: "Pardon our noise. It's the sound of freedom."

A military website explains, "Those sounds are music to the ears of the Marines who fight on the ground, for there is nothing Marines like better than to have Marine artillery behind them, Marine intelligence in front of them, and Marine aircraft overhead."

Possible Preaching Angles: The Cost of Ministry or the Cost of Discipleship—There's often a price to pay, or at least there are inconveniences and disruptions, as we seek to reach people with the gospel.