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[…]once you will be pressured to make a quick decision. Be aware that most decisions you make are not life-or-death. In other words, whenever possible, take a little bit of time before making important decisions. The Bible is full of leaders such as Nebuchadnezzar and Herod who later regretted making hasty, bad decisions. At the same time, don’t labor over minor decisions. Be assertive. But do not allow yourself to be pressured. Ask questions until you are satisfied and confident of your choice. Sharing Your Faith. This is a sensitive area. Once you have earned the respect of your leaders, […]
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[…]when you’ve blown it. Proverbs 27:17 tells us, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” If you’re serious about being at your best, this is a must. Don’t hesitate to seek counsel. Even though you are the commander, you don’t have all the answers and should not be shy about seeking sound advice. “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure” (Prov. 11:14). Incidentally, in case you are a little shy in this area, most people consider it a compliment when you ask their advice. Seek balance in being “salt and light” in […]
[…]I am an Augustinian; I tend to binge on pleasure and then retreat to an almost monastic existence, but it is difficult for me to maintain either state for too long. I have been pegged by some as fickle and by others as just plain unbelievable and insincere. Consistency is a problem for me, as is staying focused. I love the Lord with all of my heart, and want to give my life to Him in whatever way He might ask of me. I am not sure why I am telling you this but I thought that I should. I […]
[…]we need to produce qualified elders. He is right, but “elders” is a church term that means different things in different denominations, so a more applicable term for us is leader. Military people understand leadership. Cadets at West Point know from day one that the mission of the Military Academy is “To educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character…” (italics added). The other U.S. service academies have similar missions. Lieutenants and ensigns from every commissioning source are primed to hit the ground running as leaders of soldiers, sailors, airmen, […]
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[…]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 […]
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[…]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 […]
[…]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 […]
[…]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 […]
[…]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 […]
[…]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 […]
[…]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 […]
[…]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 […]
[…]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 […]
[…]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 […]
[…]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 […]
[…]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 […]
[…]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 […]
[…]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 […]
[…]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 […]
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[…]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 […]
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[…]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). […]
[…]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. […]
[…]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, […]
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[…]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 […]
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[…]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 […]
[…]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 […]
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[…]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 […]
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[…]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 […]
[…]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, […]
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[…]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 […]
[…]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 […]
[…]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 […]
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[…]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 […]
[…]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 […]
[…]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” […]
[…]rock. I know better than that. Brian took up most of the tent. He claims I snore! Chilly morning, but not cold. Break camp, much laughter. Drove into town, had a hot breakfast at this mom-n-pop breakfast place, and we get a discount. We fill up most of one end of the restaurant. Delicious food. Hot coffee, good company. Boys are talking about whose father snores the loudest. Brian has biscuits and gravy. Next we drive to a swim site / hot-springs location and enjoy the sunshine. Who can dunk their father? The boys are having a blast; dads, too. […]
[…]therefore, gracious God, be so affected with the glory and majesty of (Thine honor) that I may not do my own works, but wait on Thee, and discharge those weighty duties which thou requirest of me. . .Thou gavest thy Son to die for me; and hast given me assurance of salvation, upon my repentance and sincere endeavor to conform my life to His holy precepts and example. These are not the words of a deist. These are the words of a man that walked and lived to honor God. Washington had an impact upon his men immediately upon his […]
[…]creatures. They begin by adoring their new babies with coos of “Isn’t she beautiful?” and later find themselves saying, “I’m not going to tell you again!” They dream of someday wearing a clean white blouse, which will still be free of stains by the time they get to wherever they’re going. Mothers could teach our world leaders some great negotiating skills from what they’ve learned in checkout lines; how do you refuse to buy candy, gum, and crayons and still keep the peace? I thought my mom was brilliant because she understood which way was left and which was right; […]
[…]fought some significant battles during his absence; so that made the reunion with his men more difficult. But he was soon back in the rhythm of daily weapons and equipment checks, soldier care and training, and continual patrols. A few months later, however, we received a call from Darren–he was wounded during a firefight. Darren sounded weak but, by the grace of God, the wounds were not critical. We didn’t take the news easily–unsettled by a mixture of fear and great thankfulness. We only wanted to physically be there with Darren, to comfort him, protect him, and suffer with him. […]
[…]resides in your local church or chapel, in your OCF family, and with those whom the Lord loves but do not know Him. We serve our Lord by serving our nation, our family or prospective future family, and so that we have something that we can share with God’s people in need. But what is the greatest need? Why do we serve our God as Joshua exhorted? We serve our God because of what Jesus did for us on the Cross. We are blessed to be able, through our lives in the military, to demonstrate the message of salvation to […]
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[…]Since it is part of the command, officers can enthusiastically support events that it conducts. Another noteworthy dynamic occurs when an officer attends chapel. Usually it is not long before a number of that leader’s troops also attend. However, if that same leader attends a local church, few soldiers usually follow. The Chapel Challenge The challenge is to dedicate your prayers, time, and gifts to build your local chapel into something that makes a difference for the kingdom. Instead of complaining that the chapel does not have the programs or outreaches that you and your family want/need, do something about […]
[…]you are in the cycle of sin we see in the book of Judges (sin, suffering, seeking, salvation), but hopefully you noticed the witness of the Christians in your chain of command. We didn’t put you in a box. Rather, we encouraged and supported you and your family. We treated you with respect, since in America, you are innocent until found guilty. Your battery commander, who wasn’t required to attend the trial, was there all week. You need to know — it took a toll on him too. You asked your First Sergeant, Sergeant Major, and me to be character […]
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[…]I have traveled across Japan and the Orient introducing others to the One who changed my life. I would give anything to retract my actions at Pearl Harbor, but it is impossible. Instead, I work at striking the death-blow to the basic hatred that infests the human heart and causes such tragedies. And that hatred cannot be uprooted without Jesus Christ. He is the only answer. Japanese commander Mitsuo Fuchida died in 1976. This is his testimony as taken from the Peachtree Corners Baptist Church newspaper by permission of Col. John M. […]
[…]make them work for you! Marriages can grow even though husband and wife are separated by distance. If nothing else, separations force you to focus on the major good qualities of your mate, rather than his minor idiosyncrasies. When you are with a person all the time, little things like socks on the floor or newspapers scattered all over become progressively irritating. It’s easy to start taking each other for granted. Sometimes a few weeks of separation help to get perspectives back in focus as to what is really important! Once we were visiting the home of friends who had […]
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[…]Holy Spirit has sovereignly distributed spiritual gifts to a variety of believers. We need one another’s gifts in order to live properly as the Body of Christ. How wonderful and uplifting it is when Christians focus on their oneness in Christ and strive to get along with one another (Psalm 133:1). When Christians are eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:3), the chapel offers opportunities for exciting Christian ministries in growth and outreach. In such a congregation, few are concerned about the denominational background of the others. Their focus (praise God) is on the Lord Jesus Christ […]
[…]Paul when he said, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. . .” (NKJV, 2 Cor. 4:8-9). In addition to the strength and help you draw from your personal faith, your chapel or place of worship may offer a support group for encouragement. Military chaplains experience deployment and family separation too, and know what you’re feeling. The chaplaincy was the second-most deployed career field in the Air Force in recent years. Who could be better equipped to help you through tough times? […]
[…]you are. The military does not–and indeed cannot–recruit only evangelically-minded chaplains. But all is not lost! I have met some liberal chaplains who have been magnificent combat chaplains, and I’ve met some evangelical chaplains I wouldn’t give a plug nickel for. A chaplain does not have to be evangelical in order to care for your people in an exemplary manner. You should not expect your chaplains to use the same evangelistic techniques. Different denominations employ different ways tof sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. If your chaplains are doing things differently than you assume should be done, look deeper into […]
[…]I pulled the candle out of my shirt and lighted it. We were ready to begin where we had left off, but I had one resolve to act on before I wrote another line. Crouched in that clothes locker, I was brought up short with the thought that I had not talked to those two new men about Jesus Christ and what He means to me. As I looked for an excuse, I could find only that I had been “just too busy,” I vowed then and there that the first thing I must do if I ever got out […]
[…]daddy when he returned. She’s just too young to remember, they warned. Don’t expect too much, another said. It’ll take time, but they’ll start all over again. With that advice, I purposed in my heart to be different. I would do all I could to give my girls a sense of having a father, even if he wasn’t with them for months on end. Each day we talked about Daddy. We sent artwork and cookies to him and even made a tape or two. When the mailman brought a letter, it was a time for celebration. Daddy would send the […]
[…]it over the years from a knife into a trowel. My father intuitively recognized that in life there are different seasons for different pursuits. When his weapon had completed its military service, it was properly suited for a nonviolent use. Man forms instruments for war. God changes them into tools of peace. That is at the heart of this promise in the Book of Isaiah. “Many peoples will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD– He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths…’ They will beat their […]
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[…]using strong-arm tactics to terrorize smaller children. Yes, we complained. In fact, we begged. But time after time “negotiation” failed. Nothing seemed to work. Until one day one of us gathered the courage to stand up to him. Lying flat on his back Jimmy experienced an amazing change of perspective. He suddenly saw the logic in leaving the little people alone. Bullies never seem to quit until someone takes the initiative to stand between them and their victims. Recall Goliath, or Hitler, or Saddam, or the devil himself. The Christian warrior is the “man of the in-between.” With mind and […]
[…]we got along fine. I know of one other drill sergeant who reacted to my statement. He was not a Christian, and he decided to watch me to see if I lived up to my words. That’s the scary part of identifying yourself as a Christian-you put yourself on display. This was one of our best NCOs. We eventually sent him to be an instructor at the drill sergeant academy, a reward for and testimony to his character and performance. Three years later we had both moved on to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. When he heard that I was on […]
[…]a blessing for my young wife to hear that from one who had simply observed the difference in my life–a difference that was the result of my imperfect, but sincere determination that Jesus would be the Lord of my life. I was faithful to Sandra because I loved her and did not want to hurt her, as much as I loved my Lord and did not want to bring dishonor to His name. In this, as in all other areas, Jesus must be Lord. And as He is Lord, there will be integrity in your life. “Jesus is Lord” will […]
