[…]spiritual assumptions for my Bosnia deployment: There will be: No Chapel. No OCF or weekly Bible study. No other Christians in my immediate proximity. I will have: A high OPTEMPO. A non-regular work schedule. Limited time alone for personal devotions. More temptations than normal. A primitive support structure-spiritually and logistically. Less (or irregular) sleep/food than normal. Less exercise time than normal. Less time for hobbies/diversions. These assumptions then became the contingencies, just as in a military operation, for which I sought God’s guidance on how best to prepare. I asked God how I could be a godly ambassador despite factors […]
[…]the good news of God’s love and holiness. Like those the Apostle Paul encountered in synagogues (Acts 9:20, 13:5) and in places of prayer (Acts 16:16), these people may be open to the loving witness you offer concerning the grace and truth that can be found only in Jesus Christ. That may be why God drew them to your chapel! The chapel ministry offers you an open door to the personnel in your command. We sometimes overlook the potential for ministry of this rather obvious fact. Christian ministries authorized by the military allow a means for the gospel to be […]
[…]heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened” (Acts 5:5). A close reading of Acts 5:1-11, the account of Ananias and Sapphira’s deceit, should lead one to conclude that truth is the essential thing. In 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 […]
