Here to discuss OCF's 75 years are a special round-table panel of guests: Brigadier General David Warner, USAF (Ret.), Lieutenant Colonel Kate Toms, USAF, Lieutenant Colonel Colin Wooten, USA (Ret.), and Captain Dan Abney, USMC.
Col Waring unpacks each one of these three characters—the soldier, the athlete, and the farmer—and tells us what we can learn from them and apply to our lives.
The story of Army Master Sergeant William Crawford, a Medal of Honor recipient whose job as squadron janitor at the Air Force Academy, inspired Col James Moschgat to pen 10 lessons in leadership.
"So help me God." It's the final four words in oaths for both officers and enlisted. Have you thought about what the phrase means, or what it implies? Our guest today is Col Richard Toliver, USAF (Ret.), and he’s going to unpack those four words—what he calls "a sacred covenant.”
When it comes to the various parts of your life—family, military profession, friends, relationships with others, and your relationship with God—should you be striving to find a balance among all those things? Or should you learn to thrive in the unbalance?
Interview with Brig Gen David Warner, USAF (Ret): "We are made up of men and women in the military. That's our center of gravity. That's how we do ministry."
As they Experience, Serve, and Lead at White Sulphur Springs, the EXSEL Discipleship interns are helping military members and their families realize the restoration needed in these challenging times.
What does that look like today? How are you courageously standing firm personally and in your family? Are you modeling an integrated life of faith, family, and profession to your family, those around you personally, and in the workplace?
The world desperately needs to hear about Jesus, and we’ve been called to share Him. I encourage you to become competent in your knowledge of Him. Draw people through your professional excellence. Be prepared through your life and words to shine His life-saving light.
Do you know how to dream? There are three tenets to dreaming for ourselves with a greater chance of realizing those dreams.
With each passing mile behind the Waring family, a pathway toward future ministry was being paved by connecting with and hearing the hearts of airmen and chaplains.
Life in general is complicated. Life in the military is extremely difficult and challenging and carries with it an increasing amount of angst with the operations tempo, separations, threats to life and limb, and the increasing challenges from within our own nation.
We reached out to two OCF small group leaders, LTC Tom Matelski, USA, and Lt Col Jim Wamhoff, USAF, and asked them to share their insights on starting and effectively leading a small group.
In my thirty years on active duty, I witnessed phenomenal leaders who inspired, encouraged, and built teams that accomplished great things. Sad to say, I’ve also seen those who used their positions to advance their own agendas, bully others, and feed their own egos—always at the cost of those around them.
If you want the best example of fellowship, we have to look no further than God, who is the author and definer of fellowship.
We live in a hurting world of people desperate for answers. As a Christian, you already have the answer—Christ in your heart. If you have successfully guarded your face, heart and mind, when uncertainty strikes those you lead will look to you and find comfort and confidence. And they will also be curious about the source of your peace.
If you want to be the Christian military leader God has called you to be, I believe a must-have is a strong support system that loves, supports, and sustains you.
by Colonel Larry and Bobbie Simpson, USAF (Ret.) “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword back into its place;
It’s incredibly important, yet challenging, that as you run your race in uniform for Christ, to keep His light in your heart burning brightly for others to see.
Outwit, Outplay and Outlast? My wish for you this Christmas season is instead that you “Out Love and Out Give."
Do you see others as the Lord sees them, as diamonds waiting to be set free to achieve their full potential? Steward leadership is taking care of the people who have been “given” to you, developing their full potential, and earning you those wonderful words from the ultimate Steward Leader, “Well done thy good and faithful servant.”
How do others see you fulfilling your dual commissions? Do they see a leader who cares for them with the heart of Jesus, who is humble, grace-filled and selfless, and who ultimately serves the One and only Lord? As you serve your nation and serve your Lord, you will have ample opportunities to shine the Light of Christ through your love and service to others.
Not many of us give much thought to that question on a daily basis. And truthfully, some days I may not really want to know the answer. But knowing how the Lord sees us is something we must consider because the answer dramatically affects our calling.
Congratulations on your commission! As you embark on the next phase of your journey, let me recommend competence, courage, and commitment as keys to your blueprint for successfully integrating faith and profession as military leaders.
Combating Satan's tool of discouragement requires confident faith in Jesus Christ, that unutterable trust of knowing He is always standing with us through all life's bewildering fires.
As Christians, we have the privilege of serving the King of kings and Lord of lords. But He also invites us to come aside and just enjoy being His children. That time will stoke the brightness of His light within us and our faces will reflect that glory He gave us! Where’s your refuge?
Thriving Christian marriages reveal prayerful planning and purposeful intention.
Congratulations to the OCF Class of 2012! We who have gone before welcome you to the profession of arms and the start of your great race the Lord has set before you. Crossing the threshold, you now carry two commissions simultaneously: one conferred on you from our Commander in Chief and one from the King of kings.
by Larry Simpson, Colonel, USAF (Ret) "And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, 'What
William Crawford was an unimpressive figure, one you could easily overlook during a hectic day at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Victory over adversity. It's something Dick Toliver knows well, this great-grandson of a slave, who grew up in dark days of the pre-civil-rights-era South. Despite the shackles of poverty, racism, injustice, he fought to become a highly decorated and accomplished Air Force pilot.
How's your Christ light shining?
Christ-centered chapel programs may involve your participation.
Often unseen in life's "lucky breaks" are the preparation, prayer--and waiting--for the opportunities from God.
Couples in resilient marriages are intentional and vigilant in building successful relationships.
How would a jury of your peers judge your Christian walk?
The godly leader is indeed a powerful witness for Christ. When we follow Christ's example—and let Him take the reins of our leadership—we will experience a calling that is fulfilling beyond measure, and one in which the results are undeniable.
So should we question God's authority?
What is your synonym for fear?
How do you respond to shaping?
What brings you to the point of task overload?
How might the Christian leader apply the lesson of Ananias and Sapphira to the work place?
What enables Christian leaders to maintain the charge when others give up?
Do you allow the "spiritual self" or the "old nature" to dictate your decisions?
The Word of the Lord penetrates the heart and compels an obedient response.
Failure is a part of living.
Every day is a good time for a reality check.
What mentorship lessons might we learn from Paul and his heartfelt concern for Timothy?
How are you doing when it comes to sorting through the competing priorities in your life? What's your battle rhythm?
The leader's satisfaction comes in doing what he is called to do.
Deep down inside most of us generally have a sense of how to respond to adversity and challenging circumstances.
The benefits of fasting shouldn't be overlooked.
Become a person who influences others for Christ.
May we boldly encourage the lifestyle our mottos, creeds, and principles promote--in order that we may not be put to shame.
You are commissioned to do the Lord's work as professional military servants.
We face a formidable enemy who continues to plague the human race.
As Christian officers desiring to exercise biblical leadership -- faced with constant flux and in the process of growing in our capacity to lead -- how can we best prepare for our next leadership role?
Character is the most important factor in Christian leadership.
We must mentally prepare ourselves and our loved ones for the mission requirements we may face.
Do the military principles of war apply to Christian living?
It is a joy and privilege to influence other lives through your leadership.
When we know how much we can't understand, we witness the birth of awe, wonder, and adventure.
Why do you serve in our military? Why are you an officer, an Airmen, a Soldier, a Marine, a Sailor, or a Coastguardsman?
I have asked myself, how should we pray? There is no easy answer.
What should cadets expect from OCF during an Air Force career?
If the chaplain's role is meeting spiritual needs, just how is that fleshed out?
