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We Know This Place Too Well

by CDT Peter Dyrud, USAFA “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?’ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen” (Romans 11:33-36). We know this place too well… Living in a State of Wonder When did we stop living in a state of wonder? Remember when we first […]

What Works for New Officers?

[…]are you in the military? Have you ever thought of yourself as a highly paid missionary? TIP: Be the thermostat and not the thermometer. Effect your environment-don’t let it affect you. 4. If you get to your unit and can’t find a BIBLE STUDY, start one! See whom the Lord sends your way. Get support from your chaplains. Ask for their advice; they may even be able to buy study guides for your group. Start with an interesting study in which all can participate, like Luke or Philippians. Ask others for help. Make it fun, avoid controversial issues, and focus […]

Situational Awareness

[…]your career experience has seen unprecedented change. Your life has spanned the dependable pace of the Cold War, the revved up tempo of the 1990s peacekeeping and stability operations, and now the frenzy of the Global War on Terrorism. More than modernization, your byword is transformation. Each branch of service is undergoing major shifts in organization and culture. The impact of continuous change can leave service members and their families mentally adrift and stressed to the breaking point. You have great opportunities in this environment to provide the stability that only a relationship with Jesus Christ can bring.Standing Tactics, Techniques, […]

Spiritual Battle Plans

[…]walk with the Lord suffered. I saw that God truly made us to be relational creatures. Hence, one of the natural effects of time spent with other Christians (whether realized at the time or not) is an increased ability to withstand temptation and walk victoriously in the Christian life. Because a robust Christian support network is often not available on deployments, godly ambassadorship during these times requires intentional vision and endurance. There are also other factors that cause godly ambassadorship on deployment to be more difficult: an increased operational tempo, less sleep, irregular eating habits, more demands/stress, and less alone […]

Implicit Trust

[…]were proceeding in his general direction, stepped out of formation and, springing into the path of the frightened animal, seized the bridle, brought the horse to a stand and replaced the reins into the Emperor’s hands. In recognition and reward for the soldier’s devotion, Napoleon said, as he secured the reins in his hands, “Thank you, Captain.” Without hesitation the soldier came to attention, saluted his imperial master and inquired, “Of what regiment, sir?” Charmed by the soldier’s complete faith and unquestioning confidence in his word, the Emperor responded, “Of my own guards,” and then, turning his mount, he rode […]

Share this spiritual gift with your teen

[…]+ the birds outside. Slept well. Cleanup, shower is great! Brian moves slowly in the morning. Most of the dads are moving before their sons. Go figure. Biscuits and gravy for breakfast. Camp volunteers are wonderful. Dozens of hummingbirds outside the lodge at the feeders. First activity is volleyball. Brian is pretty good. I didn’t realize he played that well. Much fun and laughter. Grilled cheese sandwiches and more for lunch, delicious. Team building activities after lunch. We form two even groups. Competition! Very similar to field leadership reaction course (FLRC). Connect multiple picnic tables with 2X4s, cross your team […]

Soldiers of Faith: Washington

[…]the noble metal, the real bright-polished weapon,” he wrote. While he concluded that the realm of the talents of the commander included virtue of the army and national feeling, he missed the chance to capture by historical example a general that embodied such moral force in action. George Washington was a great commander because he acted upon his personal moral convictions, which resulted in his entire Army being victorious against an opposing force that, by all accounts, should have beaten them. Much has been written about Washington the hero, Washington the commander, and Washington the President. Unfortunately, historians have often […]

Stretchmark Sorority

[…] realize, “I sound just like my mother!” Many of us swore it would never happen. One of the first times that occurred to me was when I heard myself saying to my children, “Because I said so, that’s why!” Moms have a very important job teaching safety rules. It is our responsibility to impart eternal truths to our children because they, in turn, have the burden of passing these “truths” on to their children. For example, every child must be warned that if you cross your eyes, they will sooner or later stick just like that and stay crossed […]

What Are Parents to Do?

[…]hands now. There were so many uncertainties as Darren began his first deployment. We were unsure of the environment and the type of operations he would be involved in. Our minds were full of questions: How would he do? Would he try to be a hero? Would he stay healthy? Would he have access to email or a phone? We had some of these questions answered when we went to Fort Drum, New York, to bid him farewell and meet a few of his unit leaders. But anxiety remained. The two of us had very different feelings. Don was confident […]

Impact Your Military Community!

[…]disciples, ‘The harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest'” (Matt. 9:37-38 RSV). A base theater is jammed with 252 people to hear Christian rock bands Damask Rose and Joy Electric. The bands use their musical talents to deliver the gospel. The crowd includes soldiers (officers & enlisted) and family members, half of whom are not believers. During the intermission, a chaplain takes the stage, presents the Gospel and offers an invitation to accept Jesus. Meanwhile, fifteen volunteers from Fort Stewart’s Vale Chapel perform an […]

Letter to My Sergeant

[…]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 witnesses. Did you notice how we responded? Despite the […]

Mortal Enemies

[…]my objective: to surprise and cripple the American naval force in the Pacific. I gave no thought of the possibility of this attack breaking open a confrontation with the United States. I was only concerned about making a military success. “Plunge in to Attack” As we neared, I made a preliminary check of the harbor, nearby Hickam Field, and the other installations surrounding Honolulu. Viewing the entire American Pacific Fleet peacefully at anchor in the inlet below, I smiled as I ordered, “All squadrons, plunge in to attack!” The time was 7:49 a.m. Like a hurricane out of nowhere, my […]

Service Separations

[…]have been a few problems. The washing machine got stuck on the rinse cycle for six hours, one of the children had to have his tonsils out, and the family cat had seven kittens. But a kindly neighbor straightened out the washing machine. Junior is recovering nicely, and she found a home for all but three of the kittens. Otherwise everything is just fine! What explains the difference between these two experiences? Does Wendy love her husband more than Sally loves hers? Is Sally luckier? Or could it be that there is a basic difference in their attitudes? Separations are […]

The Line Officer and the Chaplain

[…]expects us to be salt and light in the military commands to which He has assigned us. Ministry of the Line Officer A Christian line officer serves with his or her personnel daily in all kinds of situations. On field maneuvers, in hangar bays and electrical repair shops, on adventure training trips, in professional 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 […]

The Role of Faith

[…]families, especially if His call requires separation.”8 Worry about the family back home is one of the greatest concerns military service members face, but many families find that sharing in letters how faith is active in their lives helps ease that concern. Finding things to thank God for helps keep attitudes positive. Remember that God is with you anywhere you go, even in the most isolated place the military may send you. When you’re away from your family, it’s easy to feel like you aren’t accountable to them; separation may offer temptations that would threaten your relationship with your spouse […]

The Role of the Chaplain

by CH(Lt Col) David Bena, USAF What should you expect from your chaplains? The role of the chaplain is to meet spiritual needs. The chaplain should lead worship, counsel, teach troops, care pastorally for all, encourage ethical conduct, honor the dead, nurture the wounded, and give hope to the weary. But how’s that role fleshed out? I think you should expect a godly person who: Is honest and ethical Really cares about the people in the unit, willing to face opposition in order to make their lot more livable. Will die with you and will not run away. Will pray […]

Therefore We Will Not Fear

[…]a single candle. We had a hard day’s battle to take that town, and were very glad to find in one of the buildings a room that could be blacked out enough to allow us to light a candle and catch up on our long overdue letters to home. Two of the men were new to combat and they were especially eager to write their reactions to the thick of the fight — their first combat experience. As each of us sat there, busy with thoughts and pens, distant antiaircraft fire was heard. We became alert and listened. The new […]

Through A Glass Darkly

[…]Laura was almost three and Beki was then nine month old. Other mothers had shared with me some of the pitfalls they’d been through. Their advice was to prepare for the fact that our baby wouldn’t even know her 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 […]

Fervent Desire for Peace

[…]of other faithful Christians who battled and bled on both sides. Monday, May 1, 1865 News of the surrender of General Johnston and his army–and also all the posts in his department, comprising the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida… Soon again with the blessing of our Heavenly Father we will be at home among friends, our swords beaten into plough shares and our spears into pruning hooks, never, I trust, to learn war again. Thank God for peace; may it be lasting and righteous, the evil cause of it being entirely blotted out. Alley’s devout hopes were common to the soldiers of his […]

Man of the In-Between

[…]said it best, “We were soldiers once–and young.” We were soldiers for a lot of reasons. One of them was the “bully syndrome.” Many years ago, as a young boy in a cozy little neighborhood in central Washington state, I learned a valuable lesson. Our neighborhood bully, Jimmy C., would never stop throwing dirt clods and 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 […]

Leadership without Coercion

[…]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 […]

Three Words

[…]the Thayer Award. We knew we were in the presence of history. We were seeing and hearing one of the greatest soldiers of all time in what was his last visit to the alma mater he loved. You have most likely heard or read the speech, or at least this part of it: “Duty, honor, country. These three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be.” Duty, honor, country. These are indeed words to live by. It is my hope, prayer, and expectation that they will mark your character throughout your […]
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