Soldier and Christian
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Search results for "But if not"
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The Challenge of Distress
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The Jungles of War
[…]the battle raged, they had stayed in a narrow tunnel where they were safe from small arms fire, but not from the bombs and napalm. These had killed the grandfather and grandmother, but left the child unhurt. My first response was horror and hurt at the infliction of pain and death in which I’d played an integral part. The fact that all our actions had been carried out professionally didn’t relieve the pain I felt, and it mattered not at all to this little survivor before me. Next came a wave of something mean and cruel in my nature: a […]
Thoughts for Young Officers
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Three Looks
[…]superiors, peers, or subordinates?) What went poorly, and what was your part? What would you do differently? What are some specific ways God moved as you led? Did you guard your commitment to your walk with God, leadership of your family, and other priorities? Have you taken advantage of any “360-degree” feedback tools? Who stood by you? Have you thanked them in a tangible way? These questions serve as the dials, gauges, and check-engine lights during your pit stop. Another great reflective tool as you navigate from one complex context to another is to read or review classics like Spiritual […]
TTP – Character
[…]by doing the right thing when no one is looking. Leviticus 19:11 commands, “Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.” When we fall short of God’s standard of integrity, we must acknowledge the shortcoming and correct it as best we can. We should not hesitate to ask for forgiveness. Trust is built by demonstrating character that is above reproach. To influence others, a leader must have an unwavering commitment to integrity as the foundation for character, regardless of circumstances. William J. (Joe) Shirey, (Colonel, USAF, retired), was commissioned from the Air Force Academy in 1976. He […]
TTP – Competition
[…]them without peer as well. Old habits die hard and I had to correct individuals from time to time, but the concept caught on quickly. We worked just as hard, we were just as successful, but never at the expense of a fellow Marine. Instead success came within an atmosphere of cooperation and mutual respect. I still receive comments from former company members about the wonderful command climate which we had experienced. There’s no secret to our success. All we did was love our neighbor. Major JoCephas Rozier, his wife, Deltha, daughter, Grace (11) and son, Isaiah (8) are currently […]
TTP – Platoon Leader
[…]an accountability partner to keep you straight in servant leadership and personal lifestyle, but I have not been blessed with an accountability partner since West Point. First Lieutenant Carolyn Martin is a platoon leader with 212th Military Police in Kitzingen, Germany. She spent nine months in Kosovo, and was a part of the OCF […]
TTP – Vision and Leadership
[…]to Paul in his epistle to the church at Ephesus, chapter 6, verse 7, “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men.” Yes, excellence in all we do-giving our all to each task toward performing to the absolute best of our abilities. By applying these values, as laid down for us over 2,000 years ago, we can and will be the organization of excellence that is our future and our duty. To grow to the level of excellence we owe ourselves, our customers, and our nation, we base our actions and behaviors on those core values and […]
Unity of Command
[…]has many different components, and we don’t always recognize or understand each other’s contributions. We are not all the same, but each of us has an important contribution to our joint spiritual mission. As Christians demonstrate loyalty and obedience to Jesus, we unify our efforts. We are one, even as He is one with the Father. How fulfilling it is to follow our CINC, and be a part of His spiritual force and mission! Military principles of war do apply to Christian living. This article is condensed from the book Surface to Air Christianity written by Colonel (Retired) USAF Ren […]
War on Spiritual Terrorism
[…]tried to instill in them in the way of confidence to perform under fire. Everyone will be scared, but there is a difference between scared or frightened and fear. Fear will dominate judgment. Those who don’t have an appropriate relationship with their God and an inner strength to live and function a day at a time in combat will be dominated by this […]
What Right Looks Like
[…]leader or platoon leader. Genesis 4:7 says, “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door…” Listen to the Right Advisors However, the question still remains–how do you recognize right when you see it? Second Chronicles 10:6-15 gives one lesson in that area. Within this Scripture we see the importance of listening to those who have experience and knowledge and can pass that on to others. However, in this situation King Rehoboam “…rejected the advice of the elders.” Because of this rejection his […]
You Are Commissioned
[…]family support system that travels with you, you not only have the challenges of military life, but you may have to find a whole new set of Christian friends and new sources of fellowship. Since you are “commissioned” to enter into this battle, you can expect the unexpected. Every battle has its crisis. The question is, “When crisis enters into your life will you view this as a time that may seem unfair, unexpected, and just to be tolerated, or will you view this as a challenge placed before you by God for His greater purpose?” Mothers will no doubt […]
Professional Excellence (Durfey)
[…]hurt those around us. Would we as an underway OOD purposely drive a ship onto a reef? Of course not, but why do we think having an affair “of the heart” (enjoying pornography or drinking/gambling to excess) is any different? We have seen others “shipwrecked” but for some reason do not give it a second thought. We have been warned! As Christian leaders, it is our duty to be obediently devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ, so that we may speak with His authority and “free the captives.” Christian leaders must remember to acknowledge the Lord in all their tasks […]
Professional Perspectives for Senior Officers
[…]may not give you a vision for your entire military service, or even for your entire unit, but if you pray and ask, He will give you vision for a specific task He wants you to do. Then pray that your vision will grow as you continue to mature in your faith and walk with Him. Be a person of faith, although you cannot see all of the details. We encourage you to ask God for a spiritual vision that includes the unique opportunities and capabilities that your position and rank afford the Body of Christ in your military unit […]
Six Generations: 1
[…]stopped. You know the rest.” The rest is that Paul Stanley has powerfully touched hundreds if not thousands of men’s lives through this kind of ministry of multiplication. Paul resigned his Army commission in 1970 and joined the Navigators ministry, for whom he now still works as a senior executive. Theirs is a ministry of discipleship…of faithful men teaching other faithful men the ways of Christ. Gwyn Vaughn, another committed officer, came along and picked up the ball from Paul. With the support of ministries like the Officers’ Christian Fellowship–another group, different in scope than the Navigators, but equally dedicated […]
Six Generations: 2
[…]be apart and to prepare for his going into harm’s way. Jon was very calm (author’s note: this calmness will manifest itself again in an amazing way later in Jon’s story) and he was spiritually ready. He was at peace with the task that was before him. The three of us talked about the role of the Word of God in our lives and ended up having a very meaningful prayer time together.” Paul also remembered a Scripture verse that Jon sent him in a letter from Vietnam in which Jon shared what became Jon and Gail’s favorite verse–Romans chapter […]
Six Generations: 3
[…]Buxton in 1972. He has published articles in COMMAND magazine and in the book, “Deployed But Not Disconnected”. Reprint Information If you wish to reprint this article please use the following copyright notice: “Downloaded and reprinted by permission of Officers’ Christian Fellowship of the USA, Englewood, Colorado. Authored by Colonel Barry Willey, USA (Ret.). All rights reserved.” Copyright Information 2004 Colonel Barry Willey, USA (Ret.), by special arrangement with Officers’ Christian Fellowship of the USA. No portion of this article may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way–electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or other–except for brief […]
Changing Demands
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Follow Me
[…]appointed as leaders, people are supposed to obey our orders and follow us. Servant leadership is not new to this age, but can be traced back to first-century Judea. In Mark’s Gospel account, Jesus redefined leadership for His disciples. This redefinition came on the heels of a request by James and John to be seated on the right and left of Jesus in Heaven. Upon hearing of the brothers’ request, the other disciples became upset and began to quarrel. Jesus gathered them and said, “…’whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among […]
6 parts that make up the ‘substance’ of leadership
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Leadership and the Christian Officer
[…]nor, practically, should one fret or worry in general. The Christian’s first duty is to glorify God. If we accept this duty, we will be single-minded and able to concentrate on the work to be done without being pushed and pulled by worry, fear, envy, and other concerns that prevent the full use of our abilities. God puts us where He wants us to serve Him. He will provide the talent to do whatever tasks He gives us. He will keep in perfect peace of mind one who fully trusts Him, regardless of circumstances (Is. 26:3; John 14:27; Phil. 4:4-8). […]
Leadership by Example
[…]I might add. And, if they do not, then, it goes without saying that the Army will not contribute militarily to subduing the insurgencies in those two locations. But it takes far more than tactical competence to fulfill your obligations as an officer. It takes, secondly, moral character of the highest sort in every commissioned leader, particularly as our Army fights the dirty battles of urban warfare as initiated by terrorists, jihadists, criminals and thugs. Even more, it takes this highest moral character coupled with the personal courage to exercise it routinely, to be the moral exemplar within your command. […]
Leadership Excellence
[…]the souls of our comrades, and we must always remember “Nemo dat quod non habet”-that we cannot give what we do not have. General Krulak graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1964 and earned a master’s degree in labor relations at George Washington University in 1973. General Krulak held a wide variety of operational tours, from platoon and company command during two tours of duty in Vietnam to Commander of all Marine Forces in the Pacific. Among other posts, his staff assignments included duty at the Naval Academy, in the military office at the White House and at Headquarters, […]
Professional Excellence
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Can’t Take it with You
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Central to Spirituality
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Financial Responsibility for Children
[…]for the value of money. By God’s grace we hope to have raised four good stewards who will contribute to the needs of the kingdom and who will be saved the painful lessons of our carefree-spendthrift […]
Giving God’s Way
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What is Stewardship?
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The Science & Art of Personal Finance
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Creating Your Financial Plan
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Phases of Planning and Portfolio Theory
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Investing & Markets
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Smart Christian Giving
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Strong to the Finish
[…]itself in one more day of responsibility, one more week of faithfulness, and one more deployment. But if you’ve ever asked, “How long?” you’re in good company. This question was asked more than 50 times by Old Testament heroes. In Psalm 13 David asks, “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?” David seems to be overwhelmed by thoughts of discouragement and sadness, as his enemies […]
Test Me!
[…]life and seeing if God is in charge of each and every aspect. Is God in charge of your finances? If not, it’s time to “Test […]
The Wonder of Worship
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Walking
[…]taken care of. Thus we become dearly beloved workers-together with God every step of the way. Difficult but triumphant is this life in Christ. Let us continue walking in the Spirit in the train of His […]
Wax the Car
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Ways to Give
[…]to your credit card. I also administer this personally at the beginning of each month. If you would like to contribute using your credit card, please contact me. Thank you very much for your support of and interest in the ministries of Officers’ Christian Fellowship. It is vital to the continuation of the work that the Lord has given all of us. To get started on one of these options today, or for more information, please contact me at […]
We Know This Place Too Well
[…]people, our friends, our school, and our God. We are so wrong. Yes, we know God personally, but we could never comprehend every facet of His personality nor know Him in the way that He knows us. There are still cool and different little rooms in every building here that I never knew existed, and it makes USAFA more exciting when I stumble across them. When I discover a true gifting in one of my friends that I didn’t know was there, it makes me happy! How much more when I see a new aspect of my Best Friend. Mystery, […]
Wealth: Friend or Foe?
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Returning Home
[…]been on hold. It’s important not to use past hurts as weapons against each other. Forgiveness is not forgetting or pretending that nothing has happened. When you remember the hurt, remember your forgiveness. The Hebrew word for forgiveness means “to have anger in one’s fist and to release it.” Some soldiers return home with a critical attitude, ready to inspect, take control, and fix the mess their families have made. Maybe things aren’t running smoothly, but family members have had to cope as best as they could. Returning spouses should respect the decisions made in their absence and be positive […]
Situational Awareness
[…]the time you were born. The industrial age reigned supreme. Truth was determined by the scientific method. Life consisted of laboratory-like certainties. Biblical laws were not always followed, but right and wrong were clearly defined. In commerce, tangible items like buildings and machinery were the valued commodities. Contrast this with the post-modern era generally coinciding with the information age. Portable assets such as information, expertise, and other intellectual capital became the more valued commodities. Everything is relative and nothing is certain. A popular conception says there are no absolutes. Situational ethics can override long-held rules of conduct. Individual experience has […]
Spiritual Battle Plans
[…]facet of godly ambassadorship and of message carrying is godly living. Living a God-honoring life is even more difficult when separated from one’s normal Christian “life-support” structure: Sunday School, Chapel/Church, a weekly Bible study, a weekly or daily accountability partner, and so on. I didn’t fully realize what a difference these events made in my personal walk with the Lord until I went nearly four months in Iraq without them. I had only occasional, encouraging phone calls to family and to my Christian brother, Jonathan Shine, a fellow commander and believer of like heart. I found that my individual walk […]
Combat Readiness
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How Shall We Pray?
[…]book, Knowing God, where he says, “But how are we to meet these baffling and trying situations, if we cannot for the moment see God’s purpose in them? First, by taking them as from God, and asking ourselves what reactions to them, and in them, the gospel of God requires of us; and second, by seeking God’s face specifically about them.” The Apostle Paul had a thorn in the flesh which the Lord addressed by saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” J. I. Packer frames our challenges in similar terms when […]
I Only See Green
[…]woman with whom he as a Jew should not have associated. The Son of God is many things to me, but racist is certainly not one of them. I see only green, my Savior sees only hearts. 1LT (P) Kevin Polosky, USA, was commissioned as an infantry officer in March 1998. While stationed at Fort Benning he wrote this article to share with the youth group he was leading. He, wife Mickel and son Tyler John now live in Friedberg, Germany where he is Movement Control Officer for 1 Brigade 1 Armor […]
Implicit Trust
[…]the wilderness, even so must the son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” Just as Moses raised up the brass serpent upon a pole, so Christ was raised up on a cross. There Christ bore the full judgment of our sin. He suffered, bled, and died in your place and in mine, the Innocent One dying for the guilty. Isaiah said, “… he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” […]
