Search results for "matthew 2 herod killing 2 year old babies commentary"

Results 1 - 326 of 425 Page 1 of 2
Sorted by: Relevance | Sort by: Date Results per-page: 10 | 20 | 50 | All

A day in the life of OCF

[…]for their lives, Arden acknowledges not realizing “just how hard this moment would be.”    2200 OCF team leaders John and Eva Haddick’s volunteer ministry for OCF is a “God-given mission” going back to “what Christ did” for them through the legacy of OCF’s biblical foundations. OCF’s small group gatherings are key to their lives, and the JBLM one they now attend is a varied mix: second lieutenants, a retired Air Force general, medical professionals, and Rangers. John is at a chapel service that is just wrapping up, as part of a joint OCF-Valor ministry to the Army ROTC cadets […]

Will you embrace the Christ of Christmas?

[…]stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him. Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him. Herod couldn’t kill Him. Death couldn’t handle Him and the grave couldn’t hold Him. That’s my king!” Soon, Christmas nativity scenes and all the Christmas season trappings will be packed away into storage for another year. But the unopened package—the Christ of Christmas—remains for the taking, offering lasting hope and future beyond our often dreary, heart-breaking world. Finding peace with God:   Tell God you are sorry for your sins and that you are willing to have Him change your way of living. Ask Jesus to be your Savior and […]
aaaa-Junior-Officer-Leadership-SSG-Armando-Limon-USA

Christian Leadership for the Junior Officer

[…]them and where are they now?” Integrity. Nothing is more valuable than a good name (Proverbs 22:1). I confess to having been very naive in this area and continue to be surprised by those, including church leaders, who sell their good name so cheaply. Of course, honesty goes for your commander, your colleagues and your subordinates. I remember as a new support officer in a Special Forces unit, briefing in error that a group of passports were “squared away” for an upcoming small element deployment. One of my subordinates briefed me in error, earlier on that busy day, as I […]

Stretchmark Sorority

[…]chocolate, and they test out special “treats” on Mother’s Day. I remember the year our girls decided to serve me breakfast in bed; the “cinnamon toast” would have been delicious, except that they thought the can of nutmeg was cinnamon. Between large gulps of milk, I enthusiastically praised them for their wonderful cuisine. Mothers are evolving creatures. They begin by adoring their new babies with coos of “Isn’t she beautiful?” and later find themselves saying, “I’m not going to tell you again!” They dream of someday wearing a clean white blouse, which will still be free of stains by the […]

Predicting the Future

[…]was a king and ruler from the Babylonian era who developed a code to live by. This code of 282 laws was one of the earliest examples of a ruler publicly proclaiming to his people an entire body of laws, arranged in orderly groups, so that all subjects might read and know what was required of them. The code was carved on a black stone monument eight feet high; it was discovered in 1901. The code then regulated in clear and definite strokes how society should be organized. Yet, Hammurabi’s code is not really the earliest. There are some indications […]

Wrestling with Depression

[…](Major General) Douglas Carver, U.S. Army Chief of Chaplains, say that the three main reasons soldiers are killing themselves are because of personal shame, failed relationships, and being isolated from community. Honesty is a common value of all the services. In the seasons of “everything under the sun,” there is a time to drive on and a time to ask for help. Acknowledging that your spirit, soul, or body is in pain is the right thing to do whether you’re junior enlisted, NCO, officer, or family member. A close friend of mine saw a doctor because of a sharp stabbing […]

Service Separations

[…]time when Jerry had to leave, this time only for a week, but no sooner had he left than our eight-year-old son, Kevin, came down with an upset stomach. The next morning I took him to the base hospital where the diagnosis was acute appendicitis. He was taken into emergency surgery almost immediately. I considered calling Jerry as soon as I had the diagnosis, but I knew that there was really nothing he could do about it, except probably be frustrated because he could not be present. When I did call after the surgery was completed, I could tell him […]

Staying Up Late

[…]leave. His baby was not quite a month old when he deployed. The other soldier was only nineteen years old. Man, did I start to feel my age then! Towards the end of our time together, I asked if I could say a quick prayer for them. “Sure, sir,” the guard said. “Always love it when you pray for us.” I put my arms around their shoulders and prayed for them. I asked that God would be with them throughout the night and help them stay awake and alert. I prayed for their families. And as always, I prayed that […]
edit-Jungles-of-War-LCpl-Kealii-De-Los-Santos-USMC

The Jungles of War

[…]of a sea bag (11 grammar schools and four high schools) was not for me. In 1955, when I was a 17-year-old boy living in Yokohama, Japan, I accepted Christ as Lord. Thereupon I told God I’d go anywhere and do anything He said. I soon discovered that “anywhere” meant the military and that “anything” meant, more specifically, the Marine Corps. I signed on for what seemed the logical “patriotic minimum” tour, but was soon to discover God’s plans were for me to remain a Marine for some years to come. The point of this explanation is to establish that […]

Six Generations: 1

[…] witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” 2 Timothy 2:2 “Choosing the Harder Right” When I learned back in October of 1970 of the tragic death in battle of my friend and spiritual mentor at West Point, Jon Shine, and thought of the powerful and eternal impact he had on my life, and that of so many others, I committed then to telling his amazing story to others. His selfless lifestyle and his courage–at West Point, in the Army and in combat in Vietnam–have inspired me and many others whom he contacted during […]
aa edit-Professional-Perspective-MC3-Justin-Whitley-USN

Professional Perspectives for Senior Officers

[…]the washing of the Word” (vss. 26, 27, 29). For wives– Adapt yourselves to your husbands (vs. 22 24, (Amplified)). Respect your husbands (vs. 33). Your relationship with your children PSALM 127:3-5. Children are a special gift from God. A military professional knows arrows are weapons of war that must be given particular care. We have a special responsibility to care for and train our children. 3 JOHN 4. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth! ” John is speaking of spiritual children, but God’s Word continually uses family examples that […]
Read more » Professional Perspectives for Senior Officers

Test Me!

[…]who lived during the time of Malachi. However, we live today under a New Covenant. Although the Old Testament Jews under the Old Covenant were given material blessings as a physical manifestation of God’s blessing, that is not necessarily true under the New Covenant. While God may choose to give us material riches as a reward for our faithfulness, and many times He does, I believe its much more likely that in this day and age that He will choose to give us spiritual riches here on earth and/or eternal riches when we will be living with Him forever in […]

Through A Glass Darkly

[…]didn’t feel like one. It was an awesome responsibility to raise two little girls alone for a year. 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 […]

It Didn’t Surprise God

[…]would occur. In the midst of the unknown, I felt His peace and security. The words of Psalm 37:23-24 were further reassurance: The steps of a man are established by the Lord; And He delights in his way. When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong; Because the Lord is the One who holds his hand. (NASB) As I meditate on God’s sovereign goodness, my fickle heart grows in steadfast confidence that all things are from Him, through Him, and to Him. Even in worst-case scenarios. Second, our family was blessed by God’s church. Despite our tendency toward privacy […]

Members: Cast your vote now for OCF Council

[…]and patriotism to all his children. I claim the earliest salvation of Christ as seen in Psalm 22:9-10. Throughout my life in two wars and three fronts the Lord has been my rock and shield. I trust in Christ alone.  What is the biggest challenge you see currently facing OCF right now? To continue our partnership with chaplains while boldly standing for Christ and the gospel in a military that becomes ever more anti-Christian. As soldiers and leaders we must learn to exemplify the virtues of Christ through action and deed so as to cause the lost around us to […]

Follow Me

[…]He needed to do. He did not “put on airs” or flaunt the fact that He was the Son of God. He told His disciples earlier, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). By the power of the Holy Spirit and through prayer, we too can have a humble heart and serve others, as Christ would have us do. Seek the Father’s Will The second part of Jesus’ leadership lesson was that he constantly sought to do His Father’s will. He […]

Six Generations: 2

[…]G-1 Thru M/C (message center) Let it be now and henceforth known that you will report to room 3921 at 031525 June for Special Inspection. This order to be superceded only by someone with 6 stripes. Jonathan C. Shine Cdt Cpt, 2d Bn, 1st Regt. Commanding An order to report for Special Inspection strikes fear and anxiety into any plebe, especially when it comes from the Battalion Commander. I had gotten to know Jon in a more personal way throughout the year in Jon’s company and studied the Bible with him during our free time. It still was not clear, […]

Six Generations: 3

[…]the truth in Scripture that the Apostle Paul taught to his young friend, Timothy. (2 Timothy 2:2) Following graduation I sensed there would be other opportunities to work with men eager to grow as believers. The first opportunity came during my first assignment in the Army. As a young lieutenant of infantry and a member of the storied 82d Airborne Division, the quick reaction force for the United States, I was humbled yet proud. Following an alert to possibly deploy to the Middle East in 1973, we all felt what it was like to be physically and emotionally prepared for […]

The Five Myths of Mortgaged Rental Property

[…]is affordable. Biblical wisdom instructs us “the borrower is slave to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). By taking on debt in the form of a mortgage, we are introducing additional risk to our lives. Here are common pitfalls associated with owning a rental property and some ways we can be wise stewards of the resources God has given us: Myth #1: My tenants pay my mortgage Many property owners mistakenly assume that as long as a tenant pays the mortgage, they’re making money. But in reality, after all other expenses such as maintenance, insurance, taxes, and utilities are added in, most […]

Making the ‘no greater love’ sacrifice

[…]humanity aren’t soon forgotten. One day out of Greenland, a torpedo struck the side of the ship, killing all in the blast area, plunging the vessel into total darkness. Terrified and confused, the surviving soldiers scurried in search of exits and rescue boats. Chaplains Alexander Goode, John Washington, Clark Poling and George Fox could have headed for the lifeboats. Instead, they went to different parts of the ship, assisting panicked and wounded soldiers to the top deck and rescue boats, handing out lifejackets to those who had left theirs behind, and giving their own away when all the lifejackets were […]

War Eagle, Iraq

[…]from the back of his head. The helmet exploded by the impact of the bullet, but the intended killing-round ricocheted through the helmet, above the soldier’s head, exiting through the front of the helmet, only grazing his scalp! The time of the shooting at Ur coincided exactly with the prayer of the soldiers at War Eagle! While some might call this good luck, coincidence, or good fortune, one thing is certain; prayers were being made at the very moment that incident occurred. What we can assess from this includes: a) The Living God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is our […]

War on Spiritual Terrorism

[…]Stiner, while commanding the US Special Operations Command, summarized our task: “How well our soldiers perform in combat is directly related to how well we prepare them in peacetime, and only part of this preparation is training related.” The big part, in my mind, is moral, ethical, and spiritual strength. Most soldiers don’t pray. Most young leaders don’t pray. Not until they stand up to put that snap fastener on the anchor line cable do they start to try and get serious, because when they go out the door they know it’s them, that equipment, and the Lord. Or they […]

Financial Responsibility for Children

[…]card for the new financial manager. Some may see this as a risky business, having a sixteen-year old in charge of your finances and giving him a signature card. Our children never abused their 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 […]

TTP – Competition

[…]because neither company was manned or equipped to function independently. I decided to apply my old Sergeant Instructor’s technique. I let every officer and staff noncommissioned officer in my unit know that while I knew we were the premiere company within the battalion, I would tolerate no disrespectful word regarding our sister company. Instead I put our sister company up on a pedestal of their own and made sure everyone knew that I considered them without peer as well. Old habits die hard and I had to correct individuals from time to time, but the concept caught on quickly. We […]

Some Thoughts for Christians

[…]does Scripture tell us about human government? Prescriptively: (see Romans 13:1-7, Matthew 22:15-22, and Acts 5:29) Government is God ordained. Thus, anarchy is ruled out. Government rightly has a responsibility to reward good and punish evil, using force when necessary. Believers ought to obey the law, render respect to officials, and pay taxes. Government’s rightful authority is always subordinate to the authority of God, and in situations of clear conflict between the two “we must obey God rather than men.” This is about all I find prescriptive or direct in Scripture about the role of government. There are several roles […]

Part of an amazing lineage

[…]we stand at the foot of the Cross, have we lived up to a life worthy of the call (Ephesians 2:10; 2 Corinthians 5:20)? The God of the Universe, creator of all things, has invited you to partner with Him in His kingdom in the places He has you right now. If we really grasp the enormous truth of His calling on each one of us, we should be passionate and excited about the mission He has for us […]

Unity of Command

[…](John 17:21). One critical way believers live in unity is to pray for our leaders. In 1 Timothy 2:1-2 the apostle Paul exhorts us to pray for those in authority over us. Through intercessory prayer for our leaders, believers unify with God and with each other against both military and spiritual forces. Here’s one last example to illustrate spiritual UOC. In a joint military environment, one commander commands bombers, tanks, and ships. One of those components is no better or worse than any other. They follow and trust the leadership of their one commander. So, too, the church: believers must […]

Florida – Pace

Hospitality Home: LT Matt Cleveland, USN and ENS Carrie Cleveland, USN Email: Matthew[email protected] Phone: (301) 801-3734 We would love to welcome you in for a meal and a good night’s sleep. We have a queen mattress and a blow-up twin mattress with all the trimmings along with a baby who loves to snuggle. Reach out if you are in the […]

Re-entry Reminders

[…]   Normal has changed for everyone. Be patient–it takes time to get into a routine. Soldiers haven’t been on a vacation. Expect your household to be different. Keep life as routine as possible. Take time to re-adjust to one another. Go slowly. Communicate feelings. Anxiety is normal. Discuss frustrations. Accept that we are all different. Initial discomfort in adjusting doesn’t mean your spouse is unhappy with you or the family. Communicate ahead of your spouse’s return about radical changes in your physical appearance (once a redhead now a blonde). Communicate about changes in discipline of children. Assume you’ve both […]

Home Front Holidays

[…]feel like “doing” the holidays this year? Thanks be to God that the holidays can both still hold their joy for spouses, children, and the deployed soldiers, too. Can it be just the same as if they were home? No. Can it be joyful? With God’s help, yes. As families who have faced this holiday scenario, here are a few lessons we learned: 1. Pray, pray, pray. Pray that the Lord will sustain you and that your heart will be drawn to your Savior and your spouse in a new way. Pray for all of the deployed service men and […]

Ministry Snapshot

[…]duty days meld into retirement, God’s call to serve Him remains evergreen, for in age’s autumn years “…they will stay fresh and green” (Psalm 92:14), still bearing fruit.  IV. Time, Talent, Treasure: ROTC Every year the Reserve Officer Training Corps program launches several thousand newly commissioned officers into the operational military.  V. Time, Talent, Treasure: Warrior Forge Before Army ROTC cadets can be commissioned as second lieutenants, they must successfully complete what is now known as the Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC), a training event developing their leadership skills while evaluating their officer potential. Once held at Joint Base […]

Implicit Trust

[…]but because he already was one. The key – simple faith and trust in the Master’s Word. In the Old Testament passage of Numbers 21 we read the powerful illustration from God’s own word, the Bible. The nation of Israel, with the Lord’s help, had just overcome the Canaanites in battle. They journeyed on in the wilderness and became discouraged because of the hardships. Despite all God had done for them, they murmured and complained against the Almighty God and His servant, Moses. “The people spoke against them,” says the Word. How lenient the tone! By actual count this was […]
aa edit-Man-InBetween-Sgt-Zachary-Orr-USMC

Man of the In-Between

[…]old set of Vietnamese jump wings. And pictures of young men. Hal Moore 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 […]
edit-Mortal-Enemies-PO1-Randi-Brown-USN

Mortal Enemies

[…]eventually changed my life. On that Sunday while I was in the air over Pearl Harbor, an American soldier named Jacob DeShazer had been on K.P. duty in an Army camp in California. When the radio announced the demolition of Pearl Harbor he shouted, “Jap, just wait and see what we’ll do to you!” One month later he volunteered for a secret mission with the Jimmy Doolittle Squadron—a surprise raid on Tokyo from the carrier Hornet. On April 18, 1942, DeShazer was one of the bombardiers filled with elation at getting his own revenge. After the bombing raid, they flew […]
aa edit-Prof-Excel-LTC-Steven-Johnston-USA

Professional Excellence (Durfey)

[…]Group Humbolt Bay, where he commands all Coast Guard operations, personnel and material along a 250-mile coastline in northern California. A 1978 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy, he holds a Master in Public Administration degree from Harvard University. Commander Durfey is a longtime member of OCF and is a Council Member, Class of 2001. He, his wife, Carolyn, live in Eureka, California, with their daughter, Sarah, and son, […]
aa edit-Speak-my-Language–SGT-Dontavian-Harrison-USA

Speak my language

[…]already spent two years on a previous Coast Guard tour. I was looking forward to reconnecting with old friends, and was frustrated that Jocelyn seemed to want to monopolize my home time. If I had realized her Quality Time needs, I would have focused my attention on her first. Jocelyn: And then I would have been much happier for him to spend time with friends. I confess, I didn’t recognize Rob’s love language of Acts of Service either. Before we met I was fairly independent already, living on my own in Washington, D.C. But once married, I made a list […]

Strong to the Finish

[…]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 of discouragement and sadness, as his enemies appeared to have gained the upper hand. Maybe, like David, you are experiencing a time when God seems out of […]

Undivided Heart

[…]one’s conscious choices (actions). Our options are to allow the “spiritual self” or the “old nature” to dictate our decisions. David asked that he would know God’s ways and walk in His truth. Is it possible to discern right judgment without knowing the truth? James 1:8 says: A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. Surely, as Christian leaders, our desire is to show compassion with an undivided heart–one that rightly discerns truth with reverence and awe of the Lord. As you read the Bible, and especially as you contemplate Psalm 86:11, consider these simple action points: Discern truth–notice […]

We Honor Them

  • Relevance: 1%
  • Type: Post
  • Post author:
  • Published date: May 29, 2010
  • Terms:
[…]as the contract Boeing 747 lifted off from Ramstein Airbase in Germany, with the remains of five soldiers killed in Iraq this past weekend. We quickly arranged for the helicopter to take the Army Honor Guard (from the Old Guard, the unit that guards the Tomb of the Unknown) and me to Dover where we arrived to greet the plane. As we waited, the Air Force Honor Guard mounted the arriving airplane, ensured a new and unblemished American flag was draped and secured properly over each “transfer case” (not yet a casket); and then loaded them individually, in a slow […]

Do you have a PCS sponsor—to heaven?

[…]one day present us into God’s glorious presence “without fault and with great joy” (Jude 24-25). Army: Escort… [and] introduce the new arrival to chain of command. Our spiritual sponsor will one day escort us into heaven and introduce us to the Apostles, martyrs, and all Christians throughout history—and ultimately to Almighty God.   Bill served thirty years active duty as a Navy line officer and then as a chaplain at Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard commands, including combat. He led many to Christ and was with others PCSing to their ultimate homecoming. Now serving at a Florida retirement […]
edit-For-all-leaders-MC2-Amanda-Hayes-USN

For All Leaders

[…]are an important aspect of your character. I’ve found it helpful to pray through Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Watch out for pride. Many a commander has been caught up in his success and been trapped by the things of this world as described in 1 John 5:16 above. Satan is subtle in his attacks. Proverbs warns that, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). It’s difficult […]

Ice Cream in Iraq

[…]I was driving a tank. It’s way better than making plans like I’m doing now! 6. Is it hot or cold there?It’s both hot and cold here. Iraq is just one big desert. You probably think a desert is always hot and dry. Well, I can tell you that the desert also gets pretty cold in the winter. The temperature here at night right now usually gets down to nearly freezing. However, in the summer time, it gets up to 120-130 degrees Fahrenheit. 7. Are there a lot of camels running around? I’m pretty sure there are but I have […]

Laborers and Laboring as Unto the Lord

[…]rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash” (Matthew 7:26-27). All of which underlines the real heart and core of celebrating workers and their work, particularly in the greater-than eternal economy of God’s full kingdom to come, “That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe” (1 Timothy 4:10). Unlike 401(k) portfolios that go up in smoke or hard-earned homes that vanish in a pen stroke at foreclosure, God’s promise […]

Leadership Moments: Are You Leading?

[…]comments? Do you fire back with insults, or are you exercising servant leader restraint? (1 Peter 2:23) How effectively do you take the spiritual high road when resolving conflicts? (James 1:20, Proverbs 15:1) When project goals are seemingly being thwarted, do you entertain the idea that God can also work through this opposition? (Romans 8:28, Acts 8:1)   More leadership articles on the website Courageous Command: Beyond Battlefield Boldness Lessons in Leadership…from a Squadron Janitor Leadership […]
aaa-Leadership-Q&A-LCpl-<span class="bsearch_highlight">Matthew</span>-Navarra-USMC

Leadership Q&A

[…]not be ashamed of the name of Jesus. Using wisdom and discernment throughout our lives, we are told to be bold and courageous. Jesus has called us to take a stand in such a time as this. Laying low, and compromising are outside of our calling. In taking a stand, you may pay a high price, but in the end, your trust and faith must be in Him. So, as Jesus said, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16) in these times of challenge.   COL Douglas Mastriano is currently at the US Army War […]

Let His Light Shine!

[…]fellowship, which acts as our perimeter defense, surrounding us with brothers and sisters to hold up our hands and protect us from outside evil influences.  Prayer acts as spiritual anti-virus protection, culling out evil thoughts and evoking the Holy Spirit to keep the “hard drive” of our inner man unpolluted.  And by feasting on the Word, we password-protect our heart and mind with Scripture, locking and protecting our thoughts. As you continue to serve our nation, know that OCF was tailor-made to come alongside and provide you with the defense-in-depth measures needed to keep your light shining brightly–the light of […]

On The Rock

[…]words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24). I think that deep down inside most of us generally have a sense of how to respond to adversity and challenging circumstances. So the question isn’t “What should I do?” but “How will I choose to respond?” Will you succumb to the demands of the event or will your response come from the foundation of your spiritual life? Jesus said that everyone who hears and acts on His words is wise. That wise one will be the person […]

Operation Iraqi Freedom

[…]being this close to where all the events we were reading about happened. For example, it’s cold at night in the middle of winter there. I’d always wondered if it were really cold when Jesus was born, being so near a desert and fairly far south. If He really were born around Christmastime as we celebrate it, yes, it would have been cold in that stable! And if the restrictive way they treat women in Saudi is anything close to the traditions of Jesus’ day, then it really did go blatantly against the culture when He honored women (such as […]
aa edit-Spiritual-battle-plan-LCpl-Dalton-Swanbeck-USMC

Spiritual Battle Plans

[…]and to carry His message of reconciliation to the world (2 Corinthians 5:18-20, Philippians 3:20, Matthew 28:18-20). One facet of godly ambassadorship and of message carrying is godly living. Living a God-honoring life is even more difficult when separated from one’s normal Christian “life-support” structure: Sunday School, Chapel/Church, a weekly Bible study, a weekly or daily accountability partner, and so on. I didn’t fully realize what a difference these events made in my personal walk with the Lord until I went nearly four months in Iraq without them. I had only occasional, encouraging phone calls to family and to my […]

TTP – Vision and Leadership

[…]to the absolute best of our abilities. By applying these values, as laid down for us over 2,000 years ago, we can and will be the organization of excellence that is our future and our duty. To grow to the level of excellence we owe ourselves, our customers, and our nation, we base our actions and behaviors on those core values and focus our efforts in two overarching areas-training and readiness. In the area of training, our goals are increasing technical proficiency and continuous leader development. We will ensure the excellence of our efforts through ongoing task and skill learning, […]

Waging Another War

[…]anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). The objective in successfully battling lust was in learning to build three perimeters of defense-with the eyes and in the mind and heart. Two such tactics were “bouncing eyes” (Job 31:1 —I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman), and “taking thoughts captive” (2 Corinthians 10:5 –-we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ). And a third perimeter was in the strengthening of their affections for, and the commitments and promises made, […]
aa edit-What-is-required-of-me-SrA-Janiqua-Robinson-USAF

What is Required of Me?

[…]longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”(Romans 12:2). Ambassadorship 201 Influence other leaders; healthy relationships and shared experiences. As your leadership experience and reputation grow, you will be selected for positions where you impact the organization by leading the leaders rather than the doers. An OCF installation-level ministry is like this as well, where your job is to encourage others through relationships of trust in an environment of grace. “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s…” Army Rangers talk about giving “100 percent and then some.” For you as an ambassador, this means […]
edit-What-Works-for-New-Officers–SGT-James-McCann-USA

What Works for New Officers?

[…]your job well. Only then will you earn the respect of your peers and the right to be heard (Col. 3:23, 24). Be reliable and take the initiative when opportunity arises. TIP: Avoid complaining. A common tendency in any workplace is to complain. Do your job as unto the Lord (Phil. 2:14, 4:11). 8. Decide now what kind of SPIRITUAL COMMITMENT you will require of a future mate. Will he or she have the same vision for ministry as you? After coming to know Christ, choosing a mate is the most important decision you will ever make. TIP: Trust God […]

Pennsylvania – Butler

Local Leader: CH(CPT) Matthew Lower, USAR. Email: [email protected] Phone: (607) 742-4200 Please contact me for fellowship details. I am an Army Reserve Chaplain and C&MA pastor here in Butler. Feel free to stop on by for prayer, fellowship or if you want to chat over coffee, this is the place to go! Would love to host […]

Finding certainty in an uncertain world

[…]I’ve had since March, orders that would have kept the Warner family in Colorado for another year. Now wide-awake, Lori and our two daughters are hanging on every single word of the one-way conversation they’re hearing. We’re to be at our new duty station in thirty days.   The impact of sudden change was overwhelming. Lori had to inform her school she wouldn’t be returning in the fall to teach. Eldest daughter, Brittney, would spend her senior year at a new high school—her third high school. And Ashley would leave behind her best friends. Uncertainty had flooded in, leaving in […]

Know Your Rights!

[…]all our dealings we quietly depend upon the Lord for His help, and not on our own skills (2 Cor. 1:23). If you have any questions or need any more information on the finances or the programs of Officers’ Christian Fellowship, please call me at 1-800-424-1984 or e-mail me at […]

Leadership Came Naturally

[…]him, or even knew about him. I thank God I was privileged to meet him in that bookstore so many years ago and am able to follow his example through life.   Editor’s note: Tom Hemingway, a servant of the Lord, died suddenly in August of 2000. This article, on the fifth anniversary of his death, is a remembrance by a good […]

Superhero’s Faith

[…]to have faith like a child.6 I’m going to be a Superman for Christ.     1 John 3:16, John 20:29 2 John 10:10 3 Michael Yaconelli, Dangerous Wonder: The Adventure of Childlike Faith, (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2003), 58 4 2 Timothy 2:13 5 1 John 4:16 6 Mathew 18:4   Jim Freeze is a First Class Cadet at the United States Military Academy (USMA ’05) and the Cadet-In-Charge of OCF at West Point this year. He wrote this devotion to all of OCF at the beginning of the school year to encourage his fellow cadets to fall in love […]

The Heartbeat of OCF

[…]the experience with others. Important: To improve from there, OCF encourages that at least once a year the leader collect feedback by using the feedback form available on the OCF website. Growing OCF Groups Caution: if the group gets too large to comfortably fit the venue (work meeting or home living rooms) the experience can become less personal and the motivation to bring in new participants diminishes.  If your group has more than twelve regular attendees each week, you should pray about dividing into two groups–if, when, and how. Knowing the importance of small, growing OCF groups to the lives […]

The Space Between

[…]me preach and help people grow in their relationship with Jesus. My unit deployed to Kuwait for a year. Preaching there was another chance to help people with their spiritual growth, as well as using the Alpha Course for discipleship, and living our lives the way the Lord wants. My second active duty station was the 2d Military Intelligence Battalion in Darmstadt, Germany. The Lord let me lead singles’ and family conferences there, which once again helped people get closer to each other and to Christ. God also opened the doors for me to preach at the Kelley and Cambrai […]

Time, Talent, Treasure: Academies

[…]on those around them.  Austin: Seeing what OCF does, connecting people for life!  A couple years ago one of our senior girls led a group of plebes at our Tuesday night Bible study, and frequently met with each one outside of class. She would listen to their plebe year woes, record prayer requests, share Scripture, and bring them treats. And she’s continued, even sending them encouraging cards and packages from Afghanistan while deployed. That core group is now leading plebe studies, excited about doing for these girls what this lieutenant did for them   Your advice for getting involved in […]

WSS Winter Retreat #4

[…]“Living the Christian Life Unbalanced.” Description: An Air War College student declared this year that there are no good New Testament role models for how to live a balanced life in the military. He said that the apostles and writers of the NT books all seems to be a bit extreme. That got me thinking about what I encourage students and permanent staff and retirees to pursue. I am usually found reminding believers to not be ashamed, to share in suffering, to endure everything for the sake of the elect, and to preach the Word. Have I missed something by […]

From Mid to Married to Mom

[…]my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”  We’ve been through a lot in our four short years of marriage, but it’s been exciting to look back and see how God has been a part of it all, especially in the last two years. God poured out countless blessings on my husband in the pursuit of his dreams, making it through the arduous training without any major injuries or setbacks. I couldn’t be prouder of him! But with that joy comes the burden of my heart—what if I […]

Further insights from Mike and Angie Moyles

[…]question. Only One knows the answer—God. Some of the best doctors in the world gave me five years to live—seventeen years ago. Don’t focus on how long. Rather, live every single day as if it’s your last. Cancer or not, that might be the case. So maximize every minute. “Why me” is more difficult, but the answer is largely the same: faith, fitness, family. There are explanations—smoking, obesity, malnutrition, other clear links—in some cases. In my case, there’s no explanation. I was in the lowest risk group. But it didn’t matter. The key is to be ready to fight at […]

Our Address

OCF logo
OCF Home Office
4050 Lee Vance Drive, Suite 330
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Phone: 303-761-1984

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

Subscribe

Our Connected Monthly email will keep you connected with OCF ministry news, events, and more. Subscribe or re-subscribe below.

View our email archives

* indicates required

Copyright © 2000-2023 Officers’ Christian Fellowship. All Rights Reserved.

Subscribe

Our Connected Monthly email will keep you connected with OCF ministry news, events, and more. Subscribe or re-subscribe below.

View our email archives

* indicates required

Our Address

OCF logo
OCF Home Office
4050 Lee Vance Drive, Suite 330
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Phone: 303-761-1984

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

Copyright © 2000-2023 Officers’ Christian Fellowship. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies and third party services. Settings Ok
Go to Top