Bonus episode: Finding God’s purpose in suffering
In this bonus episode, get the conversation in its entirety as CH Michael Will talks about why we experience hardship and suffering as believers.
August 2024: Seeing God’s hand during hardship; enlisted involvement in OCF; and OCF ministry news
CH Michael Will talks about why we experience hardship and suffering as believers; TSgt Ryan Padgett answers questions about whether OCF is for enlisted; and Courtney Burdick shares a roundup of OCF ministry news.
“Pursue at all costs”: Solutions, healing, & recovery from porn addiction
In part 4 of this series with Brent and Nicole Breining, we break down the three parts of addiction recovery and address why we can feel so discouraged by the time and effort required to heal, the value of understanding the nature of addiction regardless of personal experience, and the importance of addressing these sin struggles for the purpose of restoration rather than rejection.
“Rebuilding your beliefs on a foundation of truth”: Understanding betrayal trauma
In part 3 of this series with Brent and Nicole Breining, we discuss how the symptoms and effects of betrayal trauma present uniquely in different individuals, then Brent and Nicole share their personal experiences with betrayal trauma.
“On your terms or God’s terms”: Digging deeper into God’s design for the human mind
In part 2 of this series with Brent and Nicole Breining, we discuss statistics and real-world case studies regarding the pornography industry that reveal the magnitude of its harmful effects on society and on individuals alike.
“There is hope”: Recovering from pornography addiction
Having reached a breaking point in their marriage in 2012 and recovered since then by God’s grace, Brent and Nicole talk about why that addiction placed such a strain on their marriage, how God worked through accountability partners in their healing process, and more.
“March or die”: Turning to Christ & community in times of trauma
His service as a Marine and the years to follow have given Jeremy Stalnecker opportunities to deal with and heal from his own trauma, resulting in a passion for helping others, particularly within the military community, do the same.
Embracing GRACE relations in the body of Christ
To say race relations is a complex issue is an understatement, and every facet of this topic cannot be covered in just one episode. So, we started here: How do I minister to the person in front of me who’s hurting from an ethnic or cultural incident?
How to see past the barriers and share your story
Capt Ryan McCary, ANG, recounts his own failures to share his faith and how the Lord changed Him through those experiences, then he offers practical steps on how to be bold in your faith today.
Amanda Yashack, part 2: “God is healing me and he is giving me my life back”
In this episode, Amanda concludes her story by sharing how God began to radically heal her heart and change her life through a series of events.
Amanda Yashack, part 1: “That morning at PT something inside me just completely broke.”
Capt Amanda Yashack, USAFR, talks about how her life spiraled out of control when she was in ROTC, largely as a result of the trauma she experienced after a sexual assault, and then how that led to burnout, compartmentalizing her pain, and as she calls it…rock bottom.
Rico Lane: “I just didn’t have that loving relationship with a father”
Capt Rico Lane, USAF, shares his story, which includes three primary themes: fatherhood, faith, and family—specifically how God used the Bible verse text messages of a grandfather to begin changing Rico’s life.
Becky Haggerty: “God, why don’t you care?”
Becky’s story is one of battling through anxiety and self-worth. It’s a story that tells of her journey to be in a right relationship with her Heavenly Father even when it seems like life sometimes has more valleys than mountaintops, even when it seems like God just doesn’t care.
18. An Actionable Plan
The leader whose commander is the Lord knows who controls his destiny. The tug of fleshly desires is weakened when I take my mind off my own interests and focus on God’s interests. When I do that, I am, in effect, denying myself.
17. Reignited Service
From what fear do you need to be delivered? Rescue is yours for the asking. Trust Him to reignite your gift in faithful service to Him.
16. Practice Makes Perfect
When I am suddenly arrested by God’s word, it becomes immediately apparent that God is commanding my attention. He is redirecting my swayed focus to sharpen or to compel me to obedience. God sometimes invades my private world because I have lost sight of Him.
15. Compliant Clay
How do you respond to shaping? I mean the kind of shaping that causes you to conform fully to the one doing the shaping. As leaders, do you reflect the positive image you desire to see in your followers?
14. Satisfaction
Jesus was so committed to His service that, metaphorically, it served as His physical nourishment. What about you? Does your stalwart service satisfy you as nourishment?
13. A Firm Foundation
The servant leader’s challenge is to display a Christ-like response when life changing moments arise, and thus be seen as the “wise man” with a firm foundation.
12. Reality Check
Where do we, in our leadership zeal, draw the line when it comes to pushing our own agenda or totally acquiescing to God’s divine plan? Are we convinced that God has a plan, or do we “head fake” God by developing our plan then devoutly asking His blessing?
11. Battle Rhythm
When do you surge and go all out to achieve a task? When should you pull back for contemplation, admiration, appreciation or just rest?
10. Any Volunteers?
Who around you needs your tutelage and encouragement? Let’s imitate what Paul did for Timothy. Don’t ask for volunteers, but encourage others to fulfill their calling or act of service.
54. Josh and Lindsey Bowen: The importance of small group fellowship
Today you're going to hear the story of Joshua and Lindsey Bowen, both captains in the Army. And, while their story contains a few themes, such as mentoring, leadership, and spiritual growth, the one common thread throughout their story is the small group fellowship and the importance that fellowship has played in their lives...going all the way back to when they first met.
49. Encore with Ryan Menicucci: Are you a leader that God can use?
This encore episode harkens back to episode 9, with guest LT Ryan Menicucci, USA. There were three things we talked about: first, we must have faith in something that is worthy of our faith; second, we must know who we are in Christ; and third, we must be prepared to fight the good fight, as we engage in spiritual warfare.
45. Nick Koza: Was blind, but now I see
Episode 45 show notes The story of Captain Nick Koza, USMC,
A discussion of OCF past, present, and future | Episode 26
Here to discuss OCF's 75 years are a special round-table panel of guests: Brigadier General David Warner, USAF (Ret.), Lieutenant Colonel Kate Toms, USAF, Lieutenant Colonel Colin Wooten, USA (Ret.), and Captain Dan Abney, USMC.
How ya doing? Do you really care?
Who will you meet today in an unexpected encounter, whether in a combat area, passageway, flight line, or on drills and maneuvers? And what will you say—and hear? In your command, how will you show Christ in your servant leadership?
God’s restoration for the wounded soldier, healing warrior
Since warfare in and of itself is ultimately the warfare of our soul and spirit, we have the choice of allowing our healing to proceed through our spiritual maturation instead of succumbing to substance abuse to mask problems. Ultimately our ability to be healed, or at least cope with our issues, is based upon spiritual healing.
The Five Myths of Mortgaged Rental Property
If your military family is a typical one, chances are you have moved about once every two to three years. With the many stresses associated with moving, one of the most difficult decisions can be whether to buy a house or rent one.
Do you have a PCS sponsor—to heaven?
We never think it will happen to us, but the reality is that each of us will someday receive our final PCS orders to stand before the Lord. Do you have a spiritual sponsor for that coming day?
Waging Another War
Waging war against sexual impurity starts in the battlefield of the mind.
Putting the Serve into Your Military Service
Each of you new officers raised your right hand and repeated an oath to faithfully support and defend the Constitution of the United States. The enlisted men and women you now lead vowed to faithfully follow your orders as their officer in support of the Constitution.
Working for a Difficult Boss
We all have to serve or work for someone at some time in our lives.
Two General Orders
As we seek a warrior's ethic for today we can reasonably look back 3000 years to another man of arms—arguably the greatest soldier ever to serve the nation of Israel, David, youngest son of Jesse. The ethic of David may be seen as consisting of two general orders: Do the Right Thing and Trust in God.
Persist in prayer, and know God more deeply
As Christians in the military, we ought to see the parallels between persistence in life and persistence in prayer.
The Space Between
The Lord has helped me shorten the space between my warriors, their families, and God.
The Chaplain’s Role
Because of the patrol rotations, a chaplain may find himself preaching at multiple services to accommodate his soldiers. This is the life of a field chaplain.
Exploring Biblical Leadership
What does it look like to be a disciple of Christ?
A Charge for New OCF Graduates
Live out the commission God has given you and you will shine in a dark world.
Support Your Chaplain
As a lay-indigenous ministry being conducted by lay military Christians inside the military society, OCF members and chaplains can be great coworkers in kingdom-building within our Armed Forces.
Demonstrating Christlikeness
The Body of Christ must embody godly attributes in order to reflect Christlikeness (2 Corinthians 3:18) to the watching, waiting world.
