Persist in prayer, and know God more deeply
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Search results for "Pray and Obey"
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Leadership Q&A
[…]Christian officer needs a friend in the faith to hold him/her accountable, hear confession, offer prayer cover, and encourage us through the struggle. Even Moses couldn’t do it alone (Exodus 17:10-13). He had Aaron and Hur help him in the midst of a desperate battle against the Amalekites. We also need such support. There are a lot of temptations to compromise your testimony. Your wing-man in the struggle will help you overcome these. For me, this faithful partner has been, and remains, my wife, Rebecca. She is my confidant, advisor, friend, and accountability partner in the fight. I could not […]
9 Important Tools for the Christian Officer’s Toolbox
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Rescue on the High Seas
[…]God. I was a modern-day Jonah trying to escape the grasp of God rather than make Him my priority and obey Him. A few weeks before the pirate attack on the Maersk Alabama, my wife asked me how I was coming along in my Bible studies. To my shame, all of the Bible studies I brought with me were stuffed into a cabinet. I was resigned to leafing through the Bible from the beginning, as if reading a novel. Nonetheless, God spoke to me in my sluggishness, catching my attention with the book of Joshua, “Be strong and very courageous. […]
Wrestling with Depression
[…]For me, even though I was adopted as an infant and raised by wonderful parents, the rejection and abandonment of my birth parents still hurts. My thoughts are, I’m afraid that who I’m supposed to be and what I’m supposed to do will not be good enough. And the most important people in my life will reject me and my efforts, leaving me all alone with no hope. Even after his great victory over the 450 false prophets of Baal, when hearing that Jezebel was after him, Elijah prayed that he might die, saying, “I have had enough, Lord…. Take […]
OCF at Garden Tomb
[…]Meryons oversee the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem. “Rosalind and I greatly want to greet OCFers and their churches and groups. We will endeavor to welcome every one of you to this pinnacle experience during your time in Israel.” The Meryons were on the British Naval Staff in Washington, DC, from 1985-88 and back again from1992-1995 at the NATO headquarters in Norfolk, VA. Their son, David, who was born in 1987 in Fairfax County Hospital, plans to be the U.S. President in 2028 when he says there are no decent candidates! Contact the Meryons at [email protected] for more […]
Whose Arm Doth Reach
[…]floor Dive with our men beneath the sea Traverse the depths protectively Lord, hear us when we pray and keep Them safe from peril in the deep. Its hauntingly beautiful melody gave me my first inkling of the risks involved in sea service. The second was when Dad began taking us to the aquarium…where it first occurred to me that there were places in the ocean so dark that the creatures living there possessed their own bioluminescence as a substitute for sunlight.… We learned that there were many strange creatures in the deepest, uncharted parts of the ocean where no […]
We Honor Them
[…]the plane, moved to the flag-draped transfer cases, and the chaplain offered a prayer. The Commander and I then returned, in step, to the tarmac where the Army Honor Guard was waiting. As we all stood at attention, the Honor Guard moved to lift each case. At this time the Commander and I saluted (ceremoniously-a slow, three-second move) as they moved the case to the open doors of the hearse. We did this for each soldier being honored. Then one last salute as the hearse started to drive away. We all then followed, in step, the slow moving hearses back […]
Walk in the Spirit
[…]needs your loving touch one more time. SELF-CONTROL… when the kids are sick, dinner has burned, and you receive a call that your husband’s deployment has been extended. May you walk with the inner strength that comes from the LOVE of Christ […]
Lead Your Child to Christ
[…]on his or her maturity level. 3. Don’t use terms like “take Jesus into your heart,” “dying and going to hell,” and “accepting Christ as your personal Savior.” Children are either too literal (“How does Jesus breathe in my heart?”) or the words are too trite for their understanding. 4. Deal with each child alone, and don’t be in a hurry. Make sure he or she understands. Discuss. Take your time. A Few Cautions: 1. When drawing children to Himself, Jesus said for others to “allow” them to come to Him (see Mark 10:14). Only with adults did he use […]
7 pitfalls to avoid if you want to ask good questions
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What Are You Reading?
[…]are dog-eared, highlighted, and well worn from frequent review. All have influenced my understanding and practice of the art and science of leadership. In more recent years I have become increasingly interested in the topic of Christian servant leadership. I believe there are at least three reasons why few servant leaders exist. First, most leaders do not spend sufficient time studying leadership — and many still subscribe to the concept of being born as a leader (or not). Second, servant leadership is hard work and involves significant time and investment in the development of those you lead. Finally, to be […]
The View from the Top
[…]more than enough to keep me motivated. On day one we tackled the vertical wall climb, mine field, and low rope exercises — both with and without blindfolds. In addition to being great fun, they helped us with team building. The following day we climbed up steep rock walls and rappelled down even steeper cliffs. What an adventure — exhilarating and exhausting. Once you’ve rappelled down an 80-foot vertical cliff, you feel like you can do anything. Next we conquered Mount Yale — one of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks. We took three days for this trek to allow time for exploring […]
OCF in Space
[…]he and fellow crew members delivered critical spare parts to the International Space Station. And the ISS’s Expedition 22 Commander? OCF member COL Jeff Williams, USA, who was in space 167 days from September 2009 until the foillowing April. Endeavour‘s February 2010 mission, taking parts for an observation deck and a new room for the ISS, was piloted by Col Terry Virts Jr., USAF. The very next space shuttle mission was in April with former OCF Council member Col Jim Dutton, USAF, piloting Discovery, taking a module filled with science racks for use in the ISS’s’ […]
Project Help Afghanistan
[…]in the October 2009 CONNECTED, at an outreach in Afghanistan. COL Teetsel contacted CH Satterfield and Operation Iraqi Children (OIC), which was established by Sinise, School supplies, clothes, shoes, etc., were sent to Afghanistan. SPC William Seo, an OCFer who started Project Help Afghanistan while deployed, was sent those supplies and he invited Sinise to be a part of the distribution. Pictures–with SPC Seo in a couple of them–from that November 2009 outreach, are shown as Sinise talks to Bonnie Hunt on her TV […]
What’s Your Altitude
[…]is all about a great God who willfully humbled Himself by coming into our world through a manger–and eventually to a cross to be our ultimate example, and most importantly our Savior. As we start this new year, let’s strive to model His life in our lives with the right […]
Home Front Holidays
[…]help, yes. As families who have faced this holiday scenario, here are a few lessons we learned: 1. Pray, pray, pray. Pray that the Lord will sustain you and that your heart will be drawn to your Savior and your spouse in a new way. Pray for all of the deployed service men and women, and for their families. Search the Scriptures and claim God’s promises for your children, your spouse, and yourself. 2. Be realistic about what you can do. A perfectly planned and executed holiday does not automatically make it a happy one. Do your best to make […]
Keep the End in Mind
[…]back together. We envisioned long walks, picnic lunches with the children, standing on the beach and holding hands as we marveled at God’s handiwork, silently and verbally thanking God for our reunion. This looking ahead perspective had its practical side, too. As we purposed to begin with the end in mind, we had to decide what that looked like in pre-deployment, mid-deployment, and post-deployment. This minimized the emotion of departure and separation for both of us. It exposed the frightening unknown. Practically, looking ahead meant several things. Preparing for Deployment First, we would keep life as normal as possible. Attending […]
OCF Combined Federal Campaign
[…]Our CFC number for your pledge for is #10531. State & Local Government Employees For state and local campaigns, you can find Officers’ Christian Fellowship under the Neighbor To Neighbor Federation. Ask your payroll or benefits person for the code number for Officers’ Christian Fellowship. In some cases you can just write our name on your pledge form, but be sure to check with your employer for the correct […]
Strong Tower
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The Chaplain’s Role
[…]to turn to Christ not to me. This is His ministry not mine. My goal is to utilize every avenue and resource so that my men and women come to know a saving knowledge of the one true God and His Son Jesus Christ. I want to do His will so that I will someday hear Him say to me, “Well done, my good and faithful […]
The Space Between
[…]my chaplain assistant and me has shortened, as well as the space between us and those in command and on staff. Individual counseling sessions with warriors is another way the Lord allows people to grow closer to those they love, and to Jesus. In the future, prayerfully, I will be a Family Life Chaplain (licensed Marriage and Family Therapist), then I will be able to have more impact on individuals and families, as I am able to spend more time with them working on their challenges. I will continue to offer hope, as I “nurture the living, care for the […]
War Eagle, Iraq
[…]life in the 1st Brigade Combat Team thus far while deployed in harm’s way. Members openly prayed and thanked the Lord for His sovereign grace. Intercession was voiced aloud. At the conclusion of the service, staff officers arrived and informed us that one of our soldiers had just been shot outside of Ur — the very place Abraham left in obedience to follow the living God. The soldier who was shot was on a humanitarian mission — passing out soccer equipment to neighborhood children. While doing this, a sniper took aim and fired. The bullet penetrated the Kevlar helmet of […]
First Bible Studies
[…]above point, this study is a great introduction for your group to have a follow-on Pray, Discover, and Obey (also see the Pray, Discover and obey Leader’s guide). The obvious next step would be to schedule a “Pray and Obey” where you would draw aside for a “season” of prayer to ask God to show you how He sees your installation (the walls of Jerusalem), and in prayer, discern His leading as you progress from a concern for others in the military, to a burden, then to a vision and finally to a plan. Leader’s Preparation In preparation for a group […]
Leading Effective Small Groups
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Pray, Discover & Obey (PDO)
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9 steps to starting a group
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Child Evangelism
[…]on his or her maturity level. 3. Don’t use terms like “take Jesus into your heart,” “dying and going to hell,” and “accepting Christ as your personal Savior.” Children are either too literal (“How does Jesus breathe in my heart?”) or the words are too trite for their understanding. 4. Deal with each child alone, and don’t be in a hurry. Make sure he or she understands. Discuss. Take your time. A Few Cautions 1. When drawing children to Himself, Jesus said for others to “allow” them to come to Him (see Mark 10:14). Only with adults did he use […]
How to handle 5 personalities often found in small groups
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Ice Cream in Iraq
[…]like ours where we are free. 13. Have you ever gotten hurt? I have not been hurt so far and I hope and pray that I won’t get hurt during my time here. I want to come home the same way I left. And now for the most asked question of all… 14. What do the bad guys look like?This is a hard question to answer because the bad guys look very much like the good guys on the outside. They wear the same type of clothes, speak the same language, and live in houses and drive cars just like […]
Striving
[…]package ready to go before the board. But I did it, leaving the outcome in the Lord’s hands. And after twenty-one years of service, I retired as a major in the Air Force Reserve. I learned a mighty lesson about the power of Almighty God who moves beyond any obstacle. And because He is in control, I learned to leave the struggling, pushing, and prodding in His hands. This wasn’t the first time I faced obstacles. Some were overcome, such as my promotion to major even though I had missed it on two previous boards. Some were not, such as […]
A Questionable Life
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Dear Chaplain
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A Charge for New OCF Graduates
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Centurions in the Conflict
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Christian Leadership for the Junior Officer
[…]and the technical systems you will use. Communications systems alone will require reading and hands-on practice. For a time, put away the books on Generals Patton and Lee and the “bulletproof superhero” novels and focus on the technical aspects of your new job. Every type of unit will have high expectations of you. An airborne unit will expect you to attend Jumpmaster School. An artillery unit will expect you to pass the Gunnery Safety Exam. An Air Assault Unit will want you to graduate from Air Assault School. There are similar expectations in every service. The good news here is […]
Exploring Biblical Leadership
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For All Leaders
[…]men and women in the defense of our nation. The following TTPs are humbly offered with the hope and prayer that something included might help you bring glory to our Lord as you serve. Pray for wisdom. Your leadership will affect lives. The Bible tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). Don’t miss out on this indispensable asset for your kit bag. We all need it! Make quiet reflection alone each day a priority. It allows you time […]
How Should a Christian Live?
[…]a philosophy major, and as you can assume, I love reading anything from C.S. Lewis and Sproul to Rand and Nietzsche. I am compelled to point out the flaws in the arguments that are presented, which makes me ask a lot of questions. Additionally, 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 […]
OCF and Leadership
[…]leaders, or are we focusing on vision? Is the question going into an installation Pray, Discover, and Obey, “How many Bible studies do we need?” or is it,”How are we going to build Christian leaders…families…fellowships at our installation?” The first is a process question, the second is a vision-a leadership-question. Ephesians 4:11-16 talks about the leadership model of the church. God gifted some individuals to be apostles, others prophets, evangelists, or pastor/teachers. That is leadership. To what purpose? “…To prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…” (v. 12). Our purpose […]
Soldier and Christian
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Spiritual War
[…]is essential. Unity is composed of two components: 1) greatest loyalty is to the supreme commander of all units, and 2) great love for all those who are under the supreme […]
The Challenge of Distress
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The Jungles of War
[…]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 rejection of responsibility — a denial of my role in all of this. […]
Thoughts for Young Officers
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Three Looks
[…]yourself sharp? What would you like God to do in the lives of your new superiors, chain of command, peers, and subordinates? What do you want to trust God for in this new role? As you enter each phase of your leadership journey, I encourage you to take these three looks. Look back on where you’ve been. You’ll be reminded that God was indeed acting as you led—and that He was preparing you for the next assignment on the dream sheet He wrote for your life. Look around at what you’re about to step into—go in with your eyes wide […]
TTP – Character
[…]USAF, retired), was commissioned from the Air Force Academy in 1976. He was an F-16 Squadron Commander and served in various staff assignments in NATO, the Pentagon and Air Combat Command. He retired in 2001. He and his wife, Johanna, have four daughters: Sarah, Katie, Rebecca, Emily. They have been actively involved in OCF and other military ministries since entering the […]
TTP – Competition
[…]roles and missions, to say nothing of the fight for budget dollars. Healthy competition is good and spurs us on to heights of success and excellence we would not reach striving individually. Yet we all know competition is too often taken to its extreme. How does the Christian leader achieve and promote healthy competition while maintaining an atmosphere that fits within the boundaries of “Love thy neighbor as thyself?” I learned a very useful technique for achieving this balance in Marine Corps Officer Candidate School. Early in the course, the staff sergeant in charge, our “Sergeant Instructor,” sat us down […]
TTP – Platoon Leader
[…]with your platoon without crossing some EO line or offending someone? How do you stand up for Christ without standing on someone’s foot? It is such a fine line to walk. I started with the language issue. I simply made it clear that foul language and coarse joking were unacceptable around me. Folks still slip up, but they know to watch how they speak to others. Then I focused on being a servant leader and letting my feet do the talking. I don’t waste my soldiers’ time. I pay attention to their problems. I train them hard and make sure […]
TTP – Vision and Leadership
[…]the mission requirements we may face. Our business affairs must be in order, our families informed and prepared, and our accounts set straight so that we can focus our energies on putting forth our best effort-anytime, anywhere, on a moment’s notice. Together, we can provide exceptional service and support to all customer agencies to ensure mission success for our unit, our customers, and our nation. We will do this by focusing on training and readiness, all with our basis of performance and behaviors coming from the core values of “Integrity First,” “Service Before Self,” and “Excellence In All We […]
