Search results for "statement of faith"
| Results 401 - 487 of 487
|
Page 5 of 5
|
|
Sorted by: Date | Sort by: Relevance
|
Results per-page: 10 | 20 | 50 | All
|
[…]to the OCF Constitution be submitted to the membership for approval: “Replace the current OCF Statement of Participation with the following language (changes to current statement indicated by bold underline): ‘I am committed to the Purpose of OCF: to glorify God by uniting Christian officers for biblical fellowship and outreach, equipping and encouraging them to minister effectively in the military society. As an expression of my commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ and to His work in the military society, I will participate actively and prayerfully in the ministry of OCF with my time, talents, spiritual gifts, and financial resources. […]
[…]
[…]
[…]
[…]
[…]
[…]
[…]
[…]in the heavenly economy. As God grilled Job (read Job chapters 38-41), revealing Job’s lack of knowledge of His creation and of His divine power, Job’s only response was: “I am unworthy-how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth” (Job 40:4). Job finally got it. In the workplace we are not always privy to the larger plan. We may be in the dark, not knowing how or whether we have a role to play. It can also be that way in God’s greater scheme. What we do know is that God is LORD and ruler […]
[…]your walk with the LORD yesterday? How do you want your walk with Him to be tomorrow? As an act of faith, trust God to reveal the response you need to whatever concerns you. What other lessons can we draw from Paul’s comments to Timothy? God has entrusted each of us with a treasured, indwelling gift (verse 14) Sometimes we need the help of another to reignite our gift (verse 6) Though we may have backed away from what God called us to, He is always willing to reenlist us in His service. He wants us to keep our faith […]
[…]this perplexing story–which takes place as the early church was forming–maintaining a standard of truth and honesty proved to be the bedrock for the church and our Christian faith. Those endowed with leadership responsibility needed to set and safeguard ethical standards. Many are shocked at the decisive, harsh response to the couple’s duplicity. Yet neither Peter nor the disciples brought about this speedy demise. They lied to the Spirit of the Lord. He acted as He saw fit. How might the Christian leader apply the lesson of Ananias and Sapphira to the work place? I can recall saying or hearing […]
[…]of drawing others to Him. “But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” In the face of failure, Simon did not give up. His was not a blind faith. He trusted Jesus for the things he had already seen Him do. What about you? Have you backed away from a challenge because the results have been slow to come? Remember, in God’s economy there’s no waste, “All things work together for good….” Copyrighted by Officers’ Christian Fellowship and Larry Simpson. For personal reflection and growth. Not for […]
[…]
[…]will follow our lead. The strength of our building materials will be revealed by how our life of faith is lived out when the rains fall and the floods come and the winds blow. In the leader’s case, how we walk in view-and out of view-of the public’s eye will speak volumes about what we truly believe and the source of our strength. In these days of rapid-fire media, the leader’s challenge is to display a Christ-like response when life-changing moments arise, and thus be the “wise man” with a firm foundation. Act on the teaching of Scripture and help […]
[…]
[…]
[…]to salute anything that moved, and I was still in that mode. I’d developed a certain fear of officers, some of whom were certainly deserving of such fear. Not Tom. It was Tom Hemingway that I met, not LIEUTENANT Hemingway. I wanted to know why a robust, confident and clearly capable person like Tom chose to hang out at a Christian bookstore on a Saturday afternoon. Weren’t there more interesting things to do? When he told me the bookstore was an interesting place for a committed Christian I wanted to know more about that too. He had a magnetic personality […]
[…]believe Christians are called to be involved in government and to apply the truths and principles of our faith to the issues of our times. But it is my current belief that because of the limitations of human nature, and therefore the very VUCA environment of human politics, there are very few issues where the Christian position is clear-cut. We need to apply biblical principles to complex issues, while being careful not to quickly conclude that the “Christian” position on these issues is clearly and unarguably defined. Al Shine is a retired Army officer and Vietnam veteran. He has […]
[…]else was doing, thinking it would take me somewhere. Now, I look back, and I long for that life of fun, of adventure, of true faith. I realize that in my attempt to recreate the “exciting life” that I had forgotten, I entered a life of drinking, status, and popularity, but it was actually making me more miserable. I would constantly return to that Clark Kent-like person, a lame, robotic person of whom I wasn’t really fond. I was never fulfilled-I needed to go to party after party and pump myself up by acting cool and buying cool things to […]
[…]
[…]to influence subordinates are not the tools of an ambassador. We can inadvertently offend people of other faiths or those without spiritual convictions. One of the reasons we serve as professionals in our military is to defend the freedom of religion for all of our citizens. However, respect and sensitivity do not require checking our own faith in Christ at the door. We live our faith through the profession of arms in a way that allows others to see Jesus through us: through our love, integrity, honor, courage in the face of danger, and our moral behavior. Jesus said, “Neither […]
[…]
[…]up so you don’t have to. How many times have I heard people back home talk about this generation of kids? How often have people said to me, “These kids don’t care about anything. They are so selfish. We’ve become a society that simply gives kids everything nowadays and places no expectations on them. They’ll never amount to anything.” How I wish they could these young service men and women over here! They would see teens and young adults who are willing to give the ultimate sacrifice for many in their country who’ve written them off as selfish, immature leeches […]
[…]
[…]
[…]be the best possible. The quality of your work and expertise should be so good that it provides proof of your faith. To put it plainly, your credibility as a Christian is on the line if you are a substandard officer. Take pride in your work, walk your talk, and thereby bring glory to God. Q: What are the must-have tools you suggest for keeping sharp as a military officer and as a Christian? A: Every 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 […]
[…]
[…]Chaplain Assistant, retiring in 2007. He served as the enlisted advisor to the Executive Council of Officers Christian Fellowship. His vision for ministry is to train, equip, and encourage chaplains and chaplain assistants globally. If you or someone you love is struggling with depression, seek the help of a qualified professional counselor. Talk to your commander or chaplain who can get you the help you need. Published in COMMAND magazine August […]
[…]me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.” If you would like more information about Jesus Christ, His offer of free salvation, and answers to life’s many questions you may have, check out the Billy Graham Evangelical Association […]
[…]
[…]
[…]loving me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.” If you would like more information about Jesus Christ, His offer of free salvation, and answers to life’s many questions you may have, check out the Billy Graham Evangelical Association […]
[…]
[…]
[…]
[…]the Battalion XO of my mistake, I immediately informed my Battalion Commander (now a General Officer) of my error and my plan to fix the problem. In return for a few minutes of discomfort, I gained the trust of my Commander–and I determined not to mess up again. I cannot guarantee that following these simple principles will bring you career success. But following them will allow you to serve effectively while preserving your good name. Who knows, maybe your good name will open doors for you to share your faith from time to time (I Peter […]
[…]
[…]in a mighty way through you for His glory! Adapted from remarks originally presented to a group of Christian officers attending Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. William J. (Joe) Shirey, (Colonel, 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 […]
[…]ever quit questioning, and don’t ever quit demanding answers. The binge-and-bust phenomenon is often a manifestation of emotional struggle, experimenting to figure out what works for you and where you fit in. It’s a common and natural part of growing up. The Bible teaches us that there is a much broader range of conduct that is permissible (not sinful) than the range of things that are beneficial to us. It also teaches moderation. Just about anything to excess can be destructive. Most of the instructions on right conduct in the Bible are principles, not laws. While many of our decisions […]
[…]
[…]pose a great threat to those who stray from His Word, from His presence. He is able. He is faithful. Often, we are not. That’s the greatest reality of all, and it must form the basis of our response to every moral dilemma in every battle. *Programs like the Marines’ Kit Carson Scouts gained great success by implementing this principle. Kit Carson Scouts utilized former VC soldiers as scouts in operations against their former units, after these men had changed sides based on humane treatment and a change of […]
[…]
[…]room for the “Sunday Christian” comment. I am always ready with an explanation of my faith, but no one asks, and I don’t push. The Lord knows I am not perfect, and I am sure I am far from the “ideal standard” of Christian Leader Outreach, but that is the system I have slowly figured out during my platoon leader time. I suppose the best TTP is to get 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 […]
[…]ministry may not be discredited.” Like Paul, through our walk with Christ, and our demonstration of our faith to others, people should not be turned away from the ministry of God. They should see what right looks like in us. Professional Development As military professionals we are often guided by the lessons we learn from past conflicts and operations. Professional development is an ongoing process for any officer, noncommissioned officer, or civilian. Proverbs 23:12 states, “Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.” Our professional development does not stop at the institutional schools but should occur […]
[…]you were “commissioned” in our Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard to do the work of our Lord as professional military servants, as a family, and as ambassadors of Jesus Christ. The crises in your lives will be hard, but they are for His purposes and for the purpose of shaping you in His image. So praise the Lord as you take on this new “commission” and this next assignment that the Lord has prepared for you. In the words of the apostle Paul, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: […]
[…]that more junior officers cannot bring. Some of these are as follows: A model of the relevance of faith to life at the level of rank to which many junior officers aspire. Elimination of the perception by many junior officers that a committed Christian cannot be successful at senior levels. Serving as “salt” among senior peers and within deliberations and decisions affecting the command. Having an active ministry among senior peers. Wisdom of years of experience in the military. Experiences in life to be used to encourage and disciple younger members. A model of a marriage and family that demonstrates […]
[…]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 to helping build cadets into disciples for Christ and sharing their faith with others through prayer, fellowship, and Bible Study. In 1969–Jon’s last year and my first–Paul Stanley’s focus was on a handful of men he felt would carry on […]
[…]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 8, verse 28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (the verse on the plaque at Fort Shine). “I […]
[…]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 quotations in printed review, without prior permission of the publisher. Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible: New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International […]
[…]served as Commander-in-Chief of the Caribbean Command. General Harrison served as president of Officers’ Christian Fellowship from 1954 to 1972, and as president emeritus until his death in […]
[…]and as leaders of character. Let me explain. In a few minutes, by swearing to the oath of office, you will assume the awesome responsibilities of your formal commission. The oath itself is simple and deliberately unconditional, a whole of five parts. In sequence you will swear: To support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. To bear truth, faith and allegiance to the same. That you take this obligation freely, without mental reservation or purpose of evasion. That you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you […]
[…]for any success I’ve enjoyed. In peace and in war, I have confidently gone to the deep well of my faith in hard times, and I have always found sustenance and comfort there. My experience has convinced me that spiritual faith-faith in God-must become the solid bedrock of an individual’s character. While the leader must demonstrate the highest standards of conduct and, ideally, personify the values that define his organization, he must also ensure that those same values are instilled in his subordinates. He must endeavor to cultivate both a spiritual appreciation for them and confidence in the integrity of […]
[…]
[…]
[…]
[…]privileges. Each year my wife and I plan our Christian giving for the next year and make a list of those to whom we send tithes and offerings each month. The manager would write out tithe checks. This also doubled as accountability for us, and a faith lesson for him, having at least one of our children knowing exactly how much of our income we were giving to the Lord’s work. I have a small cubicle in my desk where I put bills and bank statements as they come in and they were to check periodically for bills to pay. […]
[…]
[…]
[…]
[…]at his or her best. Perseverance reveals 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 […]
[…]kindle a prayer response (Acts 17:11). 10. If all else fails, rest in the knowledge that GOD IS FAITHFUL. Think of all the times when He has carried you through a situation and you didn’t realize it until later. TIP: In faith you will learn to be certain of what you do not see. Trust Him. Rely on Him (Phil. 4:4, Heb. […]
[…]
[…]said that the most segregated time in America is eleven o’clock on Sunday morning. We, as the faithful body of Christ, need to realize the ramifications of this. In the military we’re spoiled by being able to worship with all races in our local post chapels. Too often when we look off the post in the local community we don’t see the same thing. We need to show the world how wonderful and color blind the grace of God really is. Racism is not a new problem; it has been in the world as long as there have been races. […]
[…]gallop. Immediately the soldier lay down his arms, left his compatriots and passed over among the officers of Napoleon’s immediate staff. “What do you want here?” one of them asked, haughtily. “I am a captain in the Emperor’s Guards,” was the response. “You, a captain! Who says you are a captain?” “He said it,” answered the soldier, pointing in the direction of the Emperor riding in the distance, and immediately he was accepted by the officers as one of them. This was simple faith and trust on the part of the soldier. He believed his Emperor’s word and acted accordingly. […]
[…]lives…Grow them deep…Commission them for service Active OCF Bible study groups exist at each of the professional military school here, and several evening Bible study groups meet on base and across the area. A vibrant partnership exists between OCF and the Maxwell/Gunter Chapel community. Here are six themes we hope to reinforce during your time with us and the end state we hope to achieve: Spiritual development An individual who is being transformed into the image of Christ and developing a right relationship with God and an understanding of the fundamentals and disciplines of the Christian faith. (Romans 12:1-2, 1 […]
[…]upon his men immediately upon his assumption of command. He knew that his men must have the inner faith of God to sustain them in the perilous times ahead. The day after assuming command, he issued the following order: The General most earnestly requires and expects a due observance of those articles of war established for the government of the army which forbid profane cursing, swearing and drunkenness. And in like manner, he requires and expects of all officers and soldiers not engaged in actual duty, a punctual attendance of Divine services, to implore the blessing of Heaven upon the […]
[…]husband. We did the only thing we could do–trust wholly in God. We daily claimed the promises of Psalm 91, parts of which we have posted in two locations in our home. We drew comfort from the words of David: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in Whom I trust.’ Even though television reports, radio alerts, news articles, and telephone calls would often startle us, we faithfully trusted in our all-sufficient Lord Jesus. […]
[…]are all doing something that is not only “useful,” but critical to our Lord and nation. None of us are “stealing” but I hope none of us are robbing God as described in Malachi 3:8. The principle here is to not only serve and work in our military and for your present or future family, but to work so you can share with God’s larger family. That family 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 […]
[…]
[…]
[…]
[…]
[…]
[…]
[…]it opens doors to witness! Military authority at its best is supportive of expressions of faith. Here’s an example of the chaplain fulfilling his military staff role. A sailor sent notice to the command paper of his religious group meeting. He was holding meetings in his home. The commander was furious that a cult operated on his base, and he contemplated official action. Before he took action against the sailor, however, he asked the advice of his chaplain. Here is what the chaplain did: First, he reminded the commander that, as in our larger society, a military installation is a […]
[…]
[…]wife, frustrated and anxious because she hasn’t heard from her husband for some time, has fired off a letter of recriminations and complaints, only to receive several letters from him the next day, which had been held up along the way. Or she discovers he hasn’t written because of illness or a work schedule that allows only a few hours of sleep a night as it is. In other words, if you don’t hear from your husband as often as you’d like, give him the benefit of the doubt! There may be a legitimate reason. Must I Be Both […]
[…]
[…]development classes and counseling sessions, in front-line combat, or in the day-to-day routines of office work — non-believers and Christians work together with the common goal of contributing to the security of our nation. The close relationships that grow out of these situations may offer opportunities for Christians to share spiritual truth. Many times they have been used by the Holy Spirit to draw people to Christ. Nonbelievers think of the chaplain as one who is “paid to talk about Christ.” They usually don’t perceive the Christian line officer as a “professional” Christian. For this reason, your testimony about God’s […]
[…]
[…]. . . The great things that come about through crisis are not the result of ‘great faith’ but of faith, even a small and flickering faith, in the greatness of God’s love and mercy in Jesus Christ.”4 Each morning, whether you’re separated from a family member or not, you may find it helpful to begin the day looking to God for guidance and strength for the day. The military lifestyle gives you unique opportunities to experience the peace and grace of God during hard times. Chaplain Stan Beach said, “When my situation can’t be changed, I can work at […]
[…]of religion — and not just the Christian religion. So you may have a chaplain who is not of a Christian faith group, and you have no warrant to complain if that is the case. But whether the chaplain is Christian or not, he or she should still meet the expectations listed above, and of course must provide you with Christian worship leaders and space for worship. You should not be surprised if your chaplains, even though devout Christians, are interested in caring for non-Christians and atheists. You should not deter them from assisting non-Christian groups to secure worship leaders […]
[…]the many dangerous assignments which were to be his. I heard later that Russell was the means of leading at least three of his buddies to the Lord. He was killed in the Gothic Linc in North Italy, and as a result of his last moments, when he exhibited great heroism and Christian faith, two men accepted Jesus as Saviour. I was glad for the witness in that blacked-out house, the promise to God in the crowded […]
[…]Daily (or nightly) prayers on the most simple level help children to begin to learn a conversation of faith. Yes, there were times when I thought perhaps the voices were correct. Yes, there were times when I thought kissing the cold glass picture in the frame was a pretty stupid thing to do. I had more than one moment of doubt as to whether our girls would know their father when he returned. But somehow, we kept on. We did what we knew to do and gave it our best shot. There were no guarantees. But on that day of […]
[…]
[…]introduction to the Army, sixty drill sergeants to give them that introduction, and a handful of officers and NCOs to support them. When I introduced myself to the drill sergeants, I included with my hobbies, family, and interests the fact that I am a Christian. I said I wanted them to know what shapes my values and behavior. I told them that, although I prayed that each of them would be a Christian because I believed that would be the best thing for them, that my judgment of them would be based on their performance and conduct alone. Their spiritual […]
[…]forums, you will seek to carry out the Great Commission. All of us are called to be active parts of the Body of Christ, “speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” and always being “prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have . . . with gentleness and respect.” In the military we share our message of hope and salvation. Finally, “Jesus is Lord” will affect your attitude towards the end and legacy of your life. “As men and women of God we seek a […]
