Search results for "spiritual warfare lesson"

Results 1 - 318 of 366 Page 1 of 2
Sorted by: Relevance | Sort by: Date Results per-page: 10 | 20 | 50 | All

War on Spiritual Terrorism

[…]operational environments–the physical domain of direct action, and the domain of unconventional spiritual warfare. True Strength While physical training strengthens our bodies, and battle drills build the muscle memory to act automatically under duress–we often overlook the “moral, ethical, and spiritual strength” required for combat. As Christian leaders we must comprehend Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” To survive in this battle, our prayer orders become just as important as […]

Share this spiritual gift with your teen

[…]a location. Everyone is covered in dirt and dust. We look AWESOME! Picture time. Tonight’s lesson: reject social and spiritual passivity. “Chicago” (John) gets the chicken! Later that night it rains and the tent sounds like a cathedral. I listen to my son’s snoring sounds. So grateful for this time. Good breakfast, packed gear, drove to our camp site. Pitched tents, staff is fired up, everyone is fired up. The boys go exploring for a bit. Young warriors, fearing nothing. Later, the staff takes most of the group up into the mountains to a trail. Andy leads us on; beautiful […]

Spiritual Battle Plans

[…]follow through during the deployment itself. As we seek to train for godliness and prepare for spiritually dry times, it is good to start with assumptions about the nature of the spiritual environment at our projected deployed location. After my Iraq experience, I decided to make the following 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 […]

Spiritual War

by Jim Wilson There are a number of weapons and tactics in Spiritual Warfare. Some are: 1. The objective. God’s objective was the salvation of the world. In history He assigned subordinate objectives to the prophets. Each’s objective was a part of the whole. After the war had been going on for thousands of years, God produced the decisive person, place, action, and time: Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever. God accomplished His purpose. 2. Since that time, the enemy of our souls has been severely handicapped: his power is limited, his intelligence is limited, his time is […]

Spiritual Success

by LTC J. Randy Carey, USA (Ret.) Have everyone in your Bible study write out his or her testimony. Share one with the group each week. Understand what OCF is all about. Promote the encouragement that can be gained from a group coming together to worship Almighty God. Participate in OCF retreats and conferences. White Sulphur Springs and Spring Canyon offer continuous programs such as retreats, family events, and Rocky Mountain High. Use OCF as a meeting place to network with Christians on your base, in your unit, on your ship. Post updates on the Internet. Consider journaling your walk […]

Professional Perspectives for Senior Officers

[…]two is delight in and meditation on God’s Word. As a military Christian, you will be involved in spiritual warfare. You understand combat. A military force has specific needs to perform properly on the battlefield. You also have these needs, which include the following: PSALM 119:105. You need light–the ability to “see.” 1 PETER 1.23-25, 2:2. You need food–energy to perform. EPHESIANS 6:10-17. You need protection and weapons. EPHESIANS 5:19 and 6:18,19. You need to communicate–up, down, and laterally. CONTINUE EACH DAY to read God’s Word and to commit your circumstances to Him in prayer. If you have never established […]
Read more » Professional Perspectives for Senior Officers

Follow Me

[…]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 continually sought secluded places in order to pray and to seek His Father’s will. Jesus was accountable to His Father and had to get one-on-one time with His Father to ensure that He, Jesus, did His Father’s will. While Jesus introduced new paradigms to fulfill the old ways, He was operating fully within the guidance and intent of His Father. This could only be done because Jesus took the time out of […]

What Right Looks Like

[…]of this rejection his subsequent actions divided the people of Israel. Thus, the lesson learned here for junior leaders is the importance of listening to the right advisors. In relation to the Army, young second lieutenants assuming their roles as platoon leaders should listen to their platoon sergeant and first sergeant. They should not “reject the advice” of those who have served for many years and have much to offer. See What Right Looks Like Also important is the ability to see what right looks like. I’m reminded of John 10:32 as Jesus says to the Jews, “…I have shown […]

Six Generations: 1

[…]through these many activities that gave him an opportunity to study God’s word, prepare lessons, and share his faith. Perhaps most significant in his spiritual maturing process was an encounter he had with a field house maintenance man sometime during his first or second year at the Academy, the exact time being uncertain. Exactly when Jon made a specific decision to become a Christian and when he had the encounter with Hank Rhinefield is not what’s important. What is certain and what is important, though, is that Jon was greatly touched in his heart and encouraged in his faith by […]

Six Generations: 3

[…]inroads in my life and the lives of several other cadets, and set me on a course of personal spiritual discipline and training. During my senior (Firstie) year at West Point, I asked two younger men in my battalion–Greg Schumacher and Jim Blackwell–if they wanted to join me in a year of intensive spiritual growth together. They both eagerly agreed. My desire was to share the disciplines of the Christian faith that I was taught from my parents, and then had learned from and seen so clearly in Jon Shine and the Christian faculty officers who had “adopted” me. I […]

A day in the life of OCF

[…]four families lodging, making pasta salad for 500 people, hundreds of chairs set up for the spiritual commissioning ceremony, dozens of bridesmaids dressing for a wedding—and a power outage.  Bob and Kelly Plantz, Quantico. Supporting field staff is one facet of field operations director Chris Blake’s ministry of “helping others’ ministries succeed.” One of his East Coast trips includes Quantico, where all Marine Corps officers go several times in their careers, starting with The Basic School. Chris talks about Bob’s Bible studies, with participants from all five of the companies continually coming through Quantico for training. Flexibility and text messaging […]

The Line Officer and the Chaplain

[…]are united in Christ. This includes Christians in all denominations, of all theological shades and spiritual persuasions. In the chapel the focus tends to be on the essential doctrines of Christian faith rather than on denominational distinctives. We need each other for growth as well as fellowship. The Holy Spirit has sovereignly distributed spiritual gifts to a variety of believers. We need one another’s gifts in order to live properly as the Body of Christ. How wonderful and uplifting it is when Christians focus on their oneness in Christ and strive to get along with one another (Psalm 133:1). When […]

Let His Light Shine!

[…]user who employed a password or other measures to encrypt and protect their information.  In the spiritual world, we can draw the same analogy-our defense-in-depth measures include 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 […]

Financial Responsibility for Children

[…]to be certain everything was paid on time, and I remained the responsible party. Invaluable Lessons There were many interesting responses from the children as each their turn. They were amazed at how much money it cost to run a household. The house payment alone was a check like none they had ever written. They learned conservation when they saw the electric bill each month and not one of them continued to take long showers. Our lastborn worried there would be no money left for her to attend college and that had the added benefit of her beating the bushes […]

Leadership Q&A

[…]the only indictment that they could bring against him was against his faith–his God. Another lesson from Daniel is that despite the forces arraigned against him, he was open about his faith. Daniel was no coward, even though he knew that the cost could be high–even death. As modern day Daniels, we can’t be covert about our faith, and must 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 […]

Man of the In-Between

[…]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 experienced an amazing change of perspective. He suddenly saw the logic in leaving the little people alone. Bullies never seem to quit until someone takes the […]

Striving

[…]twenty-one years of service, I retired as a major in the Air Force Reserve. I learned a mighty lesson about the power of Almighty God who moves beyond any obstacle. And because He is in control, I learned to leave the struggling, pushing, and prodding in His hands. This wasn’t the first time I faced obstacles. Some were overcome, such as my promotion to major even though I had missed it on two previous boards. Some were not, such as missing the final opportunity for lieutenant colonel before I retired. As I moved into my civilian career, I struggled not […]

Truth and the Christian Leader

[…]lied to the Spirit of the Lord. He acted as He saw fit. How might the Christian leader apply the lesson of Ananias and Sapphira to the work place? I can recall saying or hearing others say: “I have to make an example of this one.” Why is it necessary for a leader to take extreme positions? What does the practice of truth and maintaining high standards do for the Christian leader? In a word: Everything! The leader often finds himself or herself in a position to judge matters. 2 Timothy 2:15 encourages diligence, which leads to right decisions and […]

TTP – Competition

[…]No one had been put down. Our pride in the Corps was not at anyone else’s expense. It was a lesson I have never forgotten. Years later I commanded a company. The unit I received had a well-earned reputation of excellence, but it was also a highly competitive organization. My predecessor had openly fostered a degree of competition that bordered on the combative. This level of competition had enabled the company to achieve great success, but had also created a blatant disrespect for our sister company. Yet, we desperately needed that sister company, because neither company was manned or equipped […]

Was it Failure or Success?

[…]because you say so, I will let down the nets.'” (Luke 5:5). To me, Luke 5:5 is a curious object lesson. On the one hand, Peter, a skilled fisherman, could have been insulted that Jesus asked him to demonstrate once more what he had repeatedly failed at throughout the night. On the other hand, Jesus allowed him the opportunity to demonstrate faith and trust. One might ask: Did Simon really fail, or was his unproductive fishing tied to Christ’s master plan and call? I would think the latter. What can we draw from this from a leadership perspective? Recognize that […]

Test Me!

[…]our money, but also our possessions, and our time, and our health, and our career. Part of spiritual warfare is looking at all aspects of your life and seeing if God is in charge of each and every aspect. Is God in charge of your finances? If not, it’s time to “Test […]

Bonus episode: What are you doing this summer?

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/9735809/height-orig/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/custom-color/002b54/height/90″ height=”90″ width=”100%” placement=”bottom” […]
Read more » Bonus episode: What are you doing this summer?

Leadership by Example

[…]in every commissioned leader, particularly as our Army fights the dirty battles of urban warfare as initiated by terrorists, jihadists, criminals and thugs. Even more, it takes this highest moral character coupled with the personal courage to exercise it routinely, to be the moral exemplar within your command. This is something soldiers in combat will discern in a flash, for they earnestly seek it in their leaders. I must note that the display and use of such moral character is the one big difference between where you have been here at UCLA and where you are going. In the civilian […]

Do you have a PCS sponsor—to heaven?

[…]the Lord. Do you have a spiritual sponsor for that coming day? Jesus Christ offers to be your spiritual sponsor now to help you through all those military moves, every moment of your life, and whenever your eternal PCS orders arrive. As Stephen was being stoned as the Church’s first martyr, he “looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55). Jesus’ promise to His distressed disciples the night before He was crucified is rock solid to us as well 2,000 years later, “My Father’s house has many […]

Leadership Excellence

[…]times, and I have always found sustenance and comfort there. My experience has convinced me that spiritual faith-faith in God-must become the solid bedrock of an individual’s character. While the leader must demonstrate the highest standards of conduct and, ideally, personify the values that define his organization, he must also ensure that those same values are instilled in his subordinates. He must endeavor to cultivate both a spiritual appreciation for them and confidence in the integrity of the institution. In the Corps, we have long strived to imbue every Marine with a profound appreciation of our cherished “core values.” These […]

Preparing for Active Duty

[…]are six themes we hope to reinforce during your time with us and the end state we hope to achieve: Spiritual development An individual who is being transformed into the image of Christ and developing a right relationship with God and an understanding of the fundamentals and disciplines of the Christian faith. (Romans 12:1-2, 1 Peter 1:13-16) Family An individual whose family models biblical marriage and parenthood and who can teach and equip others to do the same in the military. (1 Timothy 3:4-5, Titus 1:6) Leadership An individual who is motivated and equipped to exercise biblical leadership in his […]

Six Generations: 2

[…]the faithfulness of a generation of men who were willing to risk ridicule and perhaps spiritual persecution while living a godly life as a cadet. Being recognized not only as an upperclassman, but as a spiritual leader with responsibilities to the Lord and to his fellow cadets was a distinct honor…and an awesome charge. I felt a deep awe at this nod to my potential as a spiritual leader and a little bit of trepidation, hoping and praying that I could live up to the expectations inherent in this tradition. One more handshake and a heartfelt, manly hug sealed our […]

Undivided Heart

[…]to what the Lord is teaching. Practice putting God’s plan into action, daily. Realize our spiritual development is dynamic–adjust your spiritual leadership as you learn more truth.   Copyrighted by Officers’ Christian Fellowship and Larry Simpson. For personal reflection and growth. Not for […]

What is Required of Me?

[…]and emotional needs, then connecting with those who were open and receptive to treatment of their spiritual needs. Ambassadorship 401 Produce professional and spiritual heirs[iii]; count the cost. When you look back on your lifetime of service to the nation and to our Lord, will you see that you have spent much of your time teaching people to do things? Or will you also find that you have reproduced men and women who will reproduce? These are people with the capacity to question, challenge, and reinvent institutions in order to keep them relevant to changing times-including recruiting and evangelizing. I […]

Getting Intentional in Your Marriage

[…]members of their small group fellowship would have likely seen in them how couples grow together spiritually and keep pace with each other for the sake of the gospel. As a spiritually smart couple in today’s military and society, what do you need to add or remove to be intentional about God’s priorities for you? Open the dialogue with your spouse and discuss what you believe is God’s purpose for your marriage. Get intentional in your […]

Leaving a legacy of faith

[…]they received it. Cornelius was obviously a faithful soldier. He gave time and attention to the spiritual dimension of his life and for that his spiritual acts of prayer and good deeds were recognized by God. Similarly, the woman who anointed Jesus’ head did so in spite of criticism. With determined conviction, she offered this unselfish act of service.  Cornelius did not set out to be remembered. He had the responsibility of leading soldiers and his family. His devotion to God was neither a hinderance nor an after thought; it was his habit to beseech God on behalf of others […]

Members: Cast your vote now for OCF Council

[…]see currently facing OCF right now? The secularization of society has dramatically impacted the spiritual operating environment in the military. While it is popular to discuss and explore the “spiritual” du jour, the creeds and catechisms of the confessing Church are mocked and/or Christians are persecuted. OCF must be wise and discerning in its efforts to be faithful. It is a dynamic, socially networked world that we minister in, so communication must be clear and effective or unintended consequences will plague ministry efforts.  Nominated by: CH(MAJ) Joshua Gilliam, USAR; Col Bill Hudspeth, USAF (Ret.); CDR Clay Thomas, USN (Ret.); LTC […]

Three Words

[…]called to be active parts of the Body of Christ, “speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” and always being “prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have . . . with gentleness and respect.” In the military we share our message of hope and salvation. Finally, “Jesus is Lord” will affect your attitude towards the end and legacy of your life. “As men and women of God we seek a “well done,“, not the “well done” of men or even our precious alma mater. […]

Time, Talent, Treasure: ROTC

[…]meeting.    Your advice for getting involved in the ministry of OCF? Wiseman: Inventory your spiritual gifts, available time and resources, and what ministry activities are already in progress in your area. Then pray about how you might lead, join, follow, or stay out of the way, paying particular attention to areas you may be well disposed to go into. Be deliberate, intentional, prayerful and patient.  College ministry has ebbs and flows, and it is easy to get discouraged, especially if you are a nose counter.   Enos: It’s so worth it to see how God can use your faithfulness […]

You Are Commissioned

[…]Your husband may be deployed and you may struggle to fill two roles while continuing to focus on spiritual connectivity with your husband a world away. The battle is real, and it is spiritual. For those entering operational assignments, there is one thing for certain: there will be crises. You will have short-notice deployments, training will be demanding, and if deployed in this war on terrorism, the pressures of mounting combat operations will be intense. You can expect to deal with the casualties of war. That is a part of being a leader and part of “exercising biblical leadership.” So, […]

Impact Your Military Community!

[…]where the troops are but also carries with it the authority of the command. The chapel is the spiritual center for unit-wide outreach. Lost Opportunities Officers make a decisive impact upon their units. The chapel is the only church body that is a part of the unit. Since it is part of the command, officers can enthusiastically support events that it conducts. Another noteworthy dynamic occurs when an officer attends chapel. Usually it is not long before a number of that leader’s troops also attend. However, if that same leader attends a local church, few soldiers usually follow. The Chapel […]

Interview with Chaplain Beach

Chaplains have two roles: one is civil and military in nature; the other ecclesiastical, or spiritual. These are complementary roles. First, chaplains are commissioned as staff corps officers who have specific military staff responsibilities within a command. They are under the command officer’s authority in terms of these military duties. Second, each chaplain is ordained and endorsed by a specific denomination. Their ministry is to people from a myriad of backgrounds, regardless of their affiliation. Misunderstandings Chaplains are under the authority of their church in the conduct of their ministry. Their role, in this sense, is like that of any […]

Leadership without Coercion

[…]for them, that my judgment of them would be based on their performance and conduct alone. Their spiritual interests would have no weight in any decisions or fitness reports. Soon after, one of the drill sergeants put me to the test. He identified himself to me as a Christian, and it was obvious that he expected this to earn him special recognition. Once we came to an understanding that I loved him as a brother but expected the same from him as from any other drill sergeant, we got along fine. I know of one other drill sergeant who reacted […]

Letter to My Sergeant

[…]to duty. I want you to know that I’m praying for your full recovery. Your wounds came during spiritual battle, but they can be even more damaging than wounds to the body. You were wounded by things hidden in your heart — sexual sins acted out. Convicted in civil court and sentenced to prison, you will spend a season counting the cost of what you did, and its impact on your family and the victims. Sadly, the lion got another prey (1 Peter 5:8). How should a commander respond to a soldier charged, then convicted, of such crimes? God allowed […]

Operation Iraqi Freedom

[…]all these wars and skirmishes. I don’t know how to describe the feeling we had that there was a spiritual element to what we were doing. I did a double take when I looked at the maps in the back of my Bible and recognized cities we were flying over–Ur is now An Nasariyah; Dur-Kurigalzu became Sippar which became Baghdad; Tekrit is Tikrit; Babylon is near Al Musayyib, just north of Karbala. And I was living in the same desert where the Israelites wandered. We complain about being there for three months. It’s barren, flat, windy, hot, sandy, and dry-no […]

Reality Check

[…]was concerned, restoration of the temple was job one-a goal which the governmental heads and the spiritual leadership were willing to cooperate to achieve. Despite man’s best intentions and even focused passion, we are reminded that God has a divine perspective: not by might, nor by power, but by His power. So 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 own plan then devoutly asking His […]

Situational Awareness

[…]wisely, and counting the cost. Anyone taking a stand will draw the enemy’s attention. Be spiritually and mentally prepared. There is no substitute for God’s peace and protection in this matter; that, and the security provided by a spiritual phalanx in the form of your OCF Bible study group. Whether in your neighborhood or at work, the sense of Christian community and accountability these small groups afford is invaluable. Do not neglect to form these groups in your units during long-term deployments. 2 – Live and Lead as a Christian.Be salt and light to those around you. Speak the truth […]

The Chaplain’s Role

[…]Yes, I go on as many patrols as is safe for my men, and I share the Word, but I cannot meet the spiritual needs of all the patrols that proceed out our gates. I must equip my soldiers with the weapons to fight the spiritual enemy, then I must trust that they will learn through small group Bible studies as the Spirit leads. Pointing Soldiers to Christ I want my soldiers to learn to turn to Christ not to me. This is His ministry not mine. My goal is to utilize every avenue and resource so that my men […]

The Jungles of War

[…]My failure; God’s success. Different Insignia; the Same Savior Often in the course of our spiritual and emotional growth and maturity, the resolution of one problem brings with it the harbinger of another. So it was in this instance. A week or so later a sapper force attacked our position. The attack was successfully repulsed, and all was quiet until daylight. The cool morning light revealed several young Viet Cong soldiers dead, still hanging in the defensive wire. They looked exactly like the young Vietnamese Marines I had come to love. In no way could I distinguish them from my […]

The Role of Faith

[…]anxiety. David Paap says that “The only practical escape from this vicious cycle of anxiety is a spiritual one: trust in God. . . . Faith and trust differ from human optimism or self-confidence in that they are not the result of human effort or reliance upon anything within ourselves.”3 Paap is convinced that faith is the most important factor that determines how a family facing the crisis of deployment or war will deal with its members’ fears. People often turn to God during crisis. In the media coverage during recent missions, there were constant public references to prayer and […]

The Space Between

[…]by James F. Engel as a way of representing the journey from no knowledge of God through to spiritual maturity as a Christian believer. The model is used by some Christians to emphasize the process of conversion, and the various decision-making steps that a person goes through before they become a Christian.” (A. Scott Moreau, Harold A. Netland, Charles Edward van Engen, David Burnett Evangelical Dictionary of World Mission, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engel_Scale) In my first active duty unit, the 68th Corps Support Battalion at Ft. Carson, Colorado, the space was shortened by several things. The Lord let me lead a family conference, […]

What you do and how you lead does matter

[…]Creed challenges its adherents to give “100 percent and then some.” In your professional and spiritual life, you must not waver; you must wholly commit, completely surrender, “go all in.” Do the right thing at all times—“Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?” At the same time you’re being bold, be humble. Peters challenges us to act with gentleness, with a settled confidence in our souls. 2 Timothy 2:16 reminds us of the futility of getting sucked into stupid arguments. Our military training emphasizes the importance of the TEAM—battle buddies, the man or woman […]

Wrestling with Depression

[…]war has been won through Jesus. But until the fullness of that victory comes, we are engaged in spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:12). Our enemy, the devil, is the father of lies (John 8:44) who seeks to devour (1 Peter 5:8), and kill and destroy us (John 10:10). He wants us to believe we are easy prey for his schemes-that we are alone and isolated without worth, hope, or help. That spiritual battle is also within us, between our old and new natures. Our flesh always wants to be in charge, but as Christians with the Holy Spirit living within us, […]

WSS Winter Retreat #4

[…]balanced life where we can successfully weigh out personal, professional, marriage, parental, and spiritual responsibilities against one another? Let’s wrestle this out together. Click here to […]

Winter Sports Retreat #2

[…]they are in the Lord and where He’s called them to serve; how to serve with physical, moral and spiritual courage; and how to be committed not only to their Lord, but also their Nation, through perseverance and wisdom. SPEAKER | BRIGADIER GENERAL DAVID WARNER, USAF (RET.), Executive Director of Officers’ Christian […]

Finding certainty in an uncertain world

[…]than becoming bitter. Guarding your face, heart and mind all play out in OCF through our eight Spiritual Pillars. Pillars four and five address our key principles of being a “lay-led” ministry where “integrating faith and profession” is exhorted to our members. I believe the ability to shine the light of Christ effectively in the most difficult of our military careers’ situations depends upon how well we live out God’s instructions through Paul’s letter to the Philippians. We live in a hurting world of people desperate for answers. As a Christian, you already have the answer—Christ in your heart. If […]

How does the Lord see you?

[…]and lost people in need of Christ’s love. As a Christian in the military society, you hold a spiritual commission from Him to love and serve others, placing you right where you are to share the same joys, tears, fears, challenges, and broken hearts with those around you. It is a very special calling that only you can fulfill—serving the Lord while serving your nation. I encourage you: spend time with the Lord, and think about how He sees you, even if you haven’t fully come to terms with it yet. But once you do, you will hear the Lord […]

Leadership Moments: Are You Leading?

[…]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 […]

OCF Council Elections Now Underway

[…]I will participate actively and prayerfully in the ministry of OCF with my time, talents, spiritual gifts, and financial resources. I further commit, by God’s grace, to live my life as an example consistent with biblical guidelines.'” This change to OCF’s Statement of Participation, contained in Article V of the OCF Constitution, reaffirms OCF’s commitment to minister to the entire military society and ensures we OCF members live our lives consistent with biblical guidelines, so as to reflect Christ in every aspect of our life and be effective witnesses for […]

OCF Groups and You

[…]mixed group of AD, reserve, guard and civilian contractors meeting at lunch for Bible study. Pair/Spiritual Battle Buddies—two people praying/studying the Bible together; great discipleship opportunity. Church affiliated—varied people meeting for fellowship/prayer study as a formal ministry of a local church, cooperatively with OCF Specialty group—any of the models above but created specially for singles, women, senior officers, or whatever salient demographic at that location. Since you are OCF, your group will be what you make it at your duty station. Determine the need and start working to fill it. OCF’s website has great resources for starting/leading groups and finding […]

On The Rock

[…]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 all eyes turn to in the midst of tragedy and need. When I was a child, we played a game called Follow the Leader. As an adult, it is not a game. The world is watching, and those in our sphere of influence will follow our lead. The strength of our building materials will be revealed by how our life […]

Service Separations

[…]of tapes, e-mail or videos. Many have found that they tended to share and discuss things, both spiritual and otherwise, in greater depth on tapes than they did face to face. For one thing, how else can you talk to your mate for a full hour and have his undivided attention without fear of interruption! Recently a friend was sharing with a small group her experience with tapes: “When my husband just wrote letters,” she said, “they were always so short and even impersonal, ‘nothing much happening today,’ that sort of thing. Then we started sending tapes instead. He’d carry […]

The Role of the Chaplain

[…]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 for and with […]

The View from the Top

[…]time for exploring the beauty of God’s creation, meditating on God’s glory, and sharing our spiritual journeys along the way. The highlights of the trip for me were the devotions and Bible studies around the campfire each night. The final day was just for fun and relaxation — if rafting down white water rapids can be called relaxing! The beauty was out-of-this-world, and the fresh water in our faces was invigorating. We got a great view of the Royal Gorge — from the bottom looking up. My RMH adventure was fun, exciting, and took place in stunningly beautiful scenery. But […]

Three Looks

[…]tool as you navigate from one complex context to another is to read or review classics like Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders, The Effective Executive by Peter F. Drucker and The Leadership Challenge by Kouzes & Posner. Look Around If possible, interview the incumbent leader. Get as much information as possible, using questions like these: What have you enjoyed about this role? What (or who) has been particularly challenging? Who are the key “go to” people for information or to simply “git’er done” ? Who will expect what from me, and how often? Who are the influencers? What external […]

Time, Talent, Treasure: Retirees

[…]to OCF’s Spring Canyon conference center by their Sheppard AFB, Texas, OCF leaders, and were spiritually impacted for a lifetime by much-beloved OCF Bible teacher C.N. Tokatloglou (Mr. Tok), “a living example of Christ’s loving person-hood” possessing a “rare combination of great intellect and biblical wisdom with winsome humility,” said Jeff. The sharply pressed military uniforms Jeff Silliman, Joe Orosz, and Kit’s husband, Gwynn, once wore in their active duty days have hung in the back of the closet for years now. Retirement is in full swing. But in God’s economy, His call to serve Him never rescinds. It’s all […]

TTP – Vision and Leadership

[…]readiness, our goals are professional military readiness, physical readiness, and personal/spiritual readiness to carry out our mission anytime, anywhere, on a moment’s notice. We must each prepare ourselves to be the most proficient, most prepared technician and leader to support mission accomplishment in the face of any eventuality. We also must maintain our physical health and level of fitness to ensure we are capable of performing our mission under any circumstances. Finally, and most importantly, we must mentally prepare ourselves and our loved ones for the mission requirements we may face. Our business affairs must be in order, our families […]

What Works for New Officers?

[…]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 that He will give you the right mate. Just because you find a Christian doesn’t necessarily mean he/she will be like-minded or share the same vision for the Lord that you have (2 Cor. 6:14). 9. Watch your ENTERTAINMENT choices […]

Colorado – Rocky Mountain ROTC

[…]model to become servant leaders who integrate their faith and profession to take up the mantle of spiritual leadership within the military community. He also organizes an annual Rocky Mountain ROTC Retreat at Spring Canyon, OCF’s Retreat and Conference Center just west of Buena Vista, CO. He also seeks to find retired OCF members near universities in the region to catch the vision of OCF ROTC […]
Go to Top