James 3:13-18 Wisdom - Officers' Christian Fellowship

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James 3:13-18 Wisdom2017-01-26T16:20:44-07:00

James 3:13-18 Wisdom

Our Address

OCF Home Office
3784 South Inca
Englewood, CO 80110-3405
Phone: 800.424.1984

OCF is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Our CFC number is 10531. OCF is also a member of these organizations:

ocfusa

When you become a member of OCF, you sign (either

When you become a member of OCF, you sign (either by hand or digitally) our Statement of Participation, in which you say you support the purpose of OCF and will “participate actively and prayerfully in the ministry of OCF with my time, talents, spiritual gifts, and financial resources.”

Amen, thank you! Participation helps keep what God says through Peter in mind, “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace … ” (1 Peter 4:7-10).

Whether you’d like to volunteer at a conference center, mentor cadets & midshipmen, help out with OCF’s website, or something else entirely, message us anytime to talk about how your gifts and interests might align with needs across the ministry.

#OCFHandbook #ocfusa #militaryministry #militaryfaith

Jesus wielded His influence—not his power—to a

Jesus wielded His influence—not his power—to accomplish the prophecies concerning Him. Man’s natural inclination is to think: He who carries the biggest stick wins. That wasn’t the case when Judas, who betrayed Jesus, arrived with the arresting party who would ultimately be responsible for Jesus’ crucifixion. Instead of condoning Peter’s protective gesture of striking the high priest’s servant, Jesus healed the injury Peter inflicted and told him to put away his weapon.

Jesus could have commanded a greater force than Peter’s dagger. He could have responded to the arresting entourage with a show of His mighty power or through a simple appeal to his Father who would have put thousands of angels at the ready for Jesus’ use as He pleased. Instead He identified Himself as the one they sought. A good leader becomes self-evident by his actions. That is, one leads best when one’s actions reflect decisions arrived at through calm, calculated, inspired thought rather than reckless displays of power. Jesus did that. He told Peter to put away his sword. His command to Peter reveals that leaders who use overwhelming displays of power are not always effective at accomplishing the mission.

Jesus’ mission was to ensure the prophecies concerning Him would be fulfilled. His leadership style was that of influence and not the use of “shock and awe.” Faith and leadership are therefore more appropriately modeled through keeping sight of how to achieve God’s purposes in and out of the workplace through godly influence, using softer tones, quieter approaches and direct resolve to see the mission through. Simply acting or reacting is not necessarily an effective leadership quality. Leading entails helping people see the bigger picture when “it must happen this way.”

📖: #OCFLeaderDrawNear, Chapter 24. Are You Leading?

#ocfusa #militaryfaith #militarypodcast

From today's #OCFPowerinPrayer reminder: "None is

From today's #OCFPowerinPrayer reminder: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one" (Roman 3:10-12). Pray for all officers serving in the military, especially our OCF members who strive to be Christlike in their service. Ask God to bless them with His wisdom, strength, and courage to stand strong as decisive, effective, and godly leaders.

📸: Sgt Paul Peterson, USMC

#ocfusa #militaryministry #militaryfaith

What do building spaghetti-and-marshmallow masterp

What do building spaghetti-and-marshmallow masterpieces and pursuing the Lord have in common? Both are a lot easier when you've got a good team, as cadets learned at @toah_nipi this past weekend.

From our friends at @usmaocf: "Great weekend in New Hampshire at the Northeast Academies and ROTC Retreat! Lots of fellowship (maybe some was slightly competitive 😉), laughter, and dancing (this is becoming the regular program piece of OCF retreats!). Our cadets loved being with Norwich, RPI, UNH, and Sienna cadets! 🥰"

#ocffellowshipfriday #ocfusa #militaryministry #militaryfaith

While all individuals commit to participate in OCF

While all individuals commit to participate in OCF ministry upon becoming a member, some may choose to answer the call to volunteer within one of several roles:

• Local Leader: Start, sustain, and hand off the baton of leadership for a specific OCF fellowship body
• Contact: Provide local connections to enable Christian fellowship while not actively facilitating a fellowship body
• Hospitality Home: Host other OCFers for a meal and/or overnight stay
• Coordinator: Synchronize, encourage, and help advance ministry efforts for a broader area, region, country, military specialty, etc.
• Council Member: Once elected, serve on the ministry’s strategic governing body by keeping OCF anchored in Scripture, lifting ministry efforts up in prayer, hiring and overseeing the Executive Director, etc.

Visit the link in our bio to learn more about the variety of ways volunteers make ministry happen across the OCF community.

#OCFHandbook #ocfusa #militaryministry #militaryfaith

How do you behave in a crowd? How do you know what

How do you behave in a crowd? How do you know what to do and what not to do? Does your Christlike behavior identify you as different, and do others find you approachable?

Jesus’ demeanor generally drew others to Him. He was not prickly, rude, arrogant, or stingy with His wisdom. On the hillside where He delivered the beatitudes, Jesus in the presence of many and in the company of His disciples freely shared wisdom for living.

Jesus also encountered individuals, including the solitary woman at the well. Likewise, many of our encounters occur one on one and are no less significant than large group interactions. They may, in fact, be more significant or impactful.

The issue often boils down to speaking when the Spirit prompts! Knowing how to respond actually starts before the encounter. Time spent in reading, studying, meditating, and memorizing Scripture will extensively aid how the Spirit directs conversation.

📖: #OCFLeaderDrawNear, Chapter 23. What Say Ye?

#ocfusa #militaryfaith #militarypodcast

As cadets and midshipmen return to routines this s

As cadets and midshipmen return to routines this semester, an OCF group at Furman University recently enjoyed some well-deserved time away.

“Our Bible study group took a trip up to Black Balsam Knob, NC, and had some great fellowship in the Lord's creation!” shared Cadet Chase Kuhlman, USA.

“It was a much needed break from our week of academics and training! Our group would appreciate prayers in support of our leaders being images of Christ whether it be in training, PT, or the classroom. Many of our group members hold key roles in ROTC, and it is awesome seeing how the Lord can work through them with our Cadets.”

#ocffellowshipfriday #ocfusa #militaryministry #militaryfaith

It is important to the health of OCF’s ministry

It is important to the health of OCF’s ministry that we have leaders who are members of Christ-proclaiming, gospel-driven churches. Our leaders need to have a place where they sit under the preaching of the Word every week, where they are known and encouraged toward obedience, and where they have leaders over them who have a responsibility for the care of their souls (Hebrews 13:17).

It can be challenging for OCF members to know how to participate fully in their local church while simultaneously leading and participating in OCF activities, so here are a few thoughts:
• Don’t minimize the challenge. It is tough to do both, but growth happens when we press beyond our own abilities and resources. If the Holy Spirit is convicting you to host/be part of an OCF group, then obey that call.
• Share OCF’s ministry focus with your church leadership early on—cast a vision for OCF’s military ministry. Talk about the unique opportunities OCF equips you for, grows you in, and sends you to do. We rejoice when the local church sees itself as your sending body. Maybe the church will “recognize” your OCF group as part of their military outreach or as the small group they want you to be part of.
• Bring TDY/TAD guests to church with you, not allowing new arrivals to languish in a hotel room alone.
• See if your church can develop a fast-track method for military membership so these folks can get involved and volunteer or serve within the church soon after arrival. Maybe a letter of introduction from the last church they worshiped with will help with this.

For more on OCF’s status as a parachurch organization, the importance of church membership, and additional ways to be active in both your local church and in OCF, visit the link in our bio.

#OCFHandbook #ocfusa #militaryministry #militaryfaith

In the midst of man’s evil and God’s displeasu

In the midst of man’s evil and God’s displeasure with him, Noah found favor “in the eyes of God.” When all around you are caught up in misbehavior, unethical practices and wickedness, how should you respond?

When we have our eyes set on godly living, the lust of the flesh has no attraction. We will dare to do bold things for God, and we will influence others. Noah was 600 years old when he, his wife, his sons, and their wives boarded the ark. For roughly 100 years while the ark was under construction, Noah’s convincing example was so credible that his sons followed their father’s lead throughout the project. And what of the centuries before construction started? The Lord’s commendation is “You alone I have seen to be righteous before me in this time.”

What has God commissioned you to do? In your vocation or avocation, are you aware of the influence that your obedience is positioning you to wield? In your home, church, community, and work, steady obedience to God’s always perfect, sometimes counter intuitive directions for living is still the way to distinguish yourself for God in your time.

📖: #OCFLeaderDrawNear, Chapter 22. Lasting Influence (audio also available via your favorite podcast app)

#ocfusa #militaryfaith #militarypodcast

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