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The Role of Faith

[…]. . . The great things that come about through crisis are not the result of ‘great faith’ but of faith, even a small and flickering faith, in the greatness of God’s love and mercy in Jesus Christ.”4 Each morning, whether you’re separated from a family member or not, you may find it helpful to begin the day looking to God for guidance and strength for the day. The military lifestyle gives you unique opportunities to experience the peace and grace of God during hard times. Chaplain Stan Beach said, “When my situation can’t be changed, I can work at […]

Soldiers of Faith: Washington

[…]upon his men immediately upon his assumption of command. He knew that his men must have the inner faith of God to sustain them in the perilous times ahead. The day after assuming command, he issued the following order: The General most earnestly requires and expects a due observance of those articles of war established for the government of the army which forbid profane cursing, swearing and drunkenness. And in like manner, he requires and expects of all officers and soldiers not engaged in actual duty, a punctual attendance of Divine services, to implore the blessing of Heaven upon the […]

Superhero’s Faith

[…]else was doing, thinking it would take me somewhere. Now, I look back, and I long for that life of fun, of adventure, of true faith. I realize that in my attempt to recreate the “exciting life” that I had forgotten, I entered a life of drinking, status, and popularity, but it was actually making me more miserable. I would constantly return to that Clark Kent-like person, a lame, robotic person of whom I wasn’t really fond. I was never fulfilled-I needed to go to party after party and pump myself up by acting cool and buying cool things to […]

Leaving a legacy of faith

[…]burial” (Mark 14:8) is one such account. Jesus stated her act would subsequently be “spoken of in memory of her” (Mark 14:9). Death, however, need not be the event that delivers lasting memorials. Cornelius, a centurion, a leader of leaders, and a soldier is memorialized in Scripture for his consistent prayers and good deeds. An angel spoke to Cornelius and said: “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God.” The Spirit of God used Cornelius to intervene in the life of Peter the Apostle and to deliver the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 10:34-48). Cornelius’ devout life […]

OCF Council Elections Now Underway

[…]to the OCF Constitution be submitted to the membership for approval: “Replace the current OCF Statement of Participation with the following language (changes to current statement indicated by bold underline): ‘I am committed to the Purpose of OCF: to glorify God by uniting Christian officers for biblical fellowship and outreach, equipping and encouraging them to minister effectively in the military society. As an expression of my commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ and to His work in the military society, I will participate actively and prayerfully in the ministry of OCF with my time, talents, spiritual gifts, and financial resources. […]

Professional Perspectives for Senior Officers

[…]that more junior officers cannot bring. Some of these are as follows: A model of the relevance of faith to life at the level of rank to which many junior officers aspire. Elimination of the perception by many junior officers that a committed Christian cannot be successful at senior levels. Serving as “salt” among senior peers and within deliberations and decisions affecting the command. Having an active ministry among senior peers. Wisdom of years of experience in the military. Experiences in life to be used to encourage and disciple younger members. A model of a marriage and family that demonstrates […]
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What is Required of Me?

[…]to influence subordinates are not the tools of an ambassador. We can inadvertently offend people of other faiths or those without spiritual convictions. One of the reasons we serve as professionals in our military is to defend the freedom of religion for all of our citizens. However, respect and sensitivity do not require checking our own faith in Christ at the door. We live our faith through the profession of arms in a way that allows others to see Jesus through us: through our love, integrity, honor, courage in the face of danger, and our moral behavior. Jesus said, “Neither […]

Six Generations: 3

[…]article please use the following copyright notice: “Downloaded and reprinted by permission of Officers’ Christian Fellowship of the USA, Englewood, Colorado. Authored by Colonel Barry Willey, USA (Ret.). All rights reserved.” Copyright Information 2004 Colonel Barry Willey, USA (Ret.), by special arrangement with Officers’ Christian Fellowship of the USA. No portion of this article may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way–electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or other–except for brief quotations in printed review, without prior permission of the publisher. Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible: New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International […]

Leadership without Coercion

[…]introduction to the Army, sixty drill sergeants to give them that introduction, and a handful of officers and NCOs to support them. When I introduced myself to the drill sergeants, I included with my hobbies, family, and interests the fact that I am a Christian. I said I wanted them to know what shapes my values and behavior. I told them that, although I prayed that each of them would be a Christian because I believed that would be the best thing for them, that my judgment of them would be based on their performance and conduct alone. Their spiritual […]

Will you embrace the Christ of Christmas?

[…]of living. Ask Jesus to be your Savior and Lord. The Officers’ Christian Fellowship statement of faith serves as a simple, yet eternally profound prayer to use: Inasmuch as I am a sinner and deserve the wrath of God, and since Jesus Christ died for my sins, was buried, and has been bodily resurrected, according to the Scriptures, I have accepted Him as my personal Lord and Savior and am saved by His grace alone. Seek out other believers and a Bible-based church to help you grow in your faith.   OCF, which can be found at many installations across the nation, encourages small-group fellowship and […]

Financial Responsibility for Children

[…]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 giving to the Lord’s work. I have a small cubicle in my desk where I put bills and bank statements as they come in and they were to check periodically for bills to pay. […]

Service Separations

[…]wife, frustrated and anxious because she hasn’t heard from her husband for some time, has fired off a letter of recriminations and complaints, only to receive several letters from him the next day, which had been held up along the way. Or she discovers he hasn’t written because of illness or a work schedule that allows only a few hours of sleep a night as it is. In other words, if you don’t hear from your husband as often as you’d like, give him the benefit of the doubt! There may be a legitimate reason.   Must I Be Both […]

Staying Up Late

[…]up so you don’t have to. How many times have I heard people back home talk about this generation of kids? How often have people said to me, “These kids don’t care about anything. They are so selfish. We’ve become a society that simply gives kids everything nowadays and places no expectations on them. They’ll never amount to anything.” How I wish they could these young service men and women over here! They would see teens and young adults who are willing to give the ultimate sacrifice for many in their country who’ve written them off as selfish, immature leeches […]

Leadership Excellence

[…]for any success I’ve enjoyed. In peace and in war, I have confidently gone to the deep well of my faith in hard 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 […]

Six Generations: 1

[…]for whom he now still works as a senior executive. Theirs is a ministry of discipleship…of faithful men teaching other faithful men the ways of Christ. Gwyn Vaughn, another committed officer, came along and picked up the ball from Paul. With the support of ministries like the Officers’ Christian Fellowship–another group, different in scope than the Navigators, but equally dedicated to helping build cadets into disciples for Christ and sharing their faith with others through prayer, fellowship, and Bible Study. In 1969–Jon’s last year and my first–Paul Stanley’s focus was on a handful of men he felt would carry on […]

Further insights from Mike and Angie Moyles

[…]family and eventually fitness. He’s always been determined and that has never changed.   Man of faith, man of science on… …How my cancer was discovered…  After briefly knocked out by colliding head-first with another basketball player, I awakened unable to move my right arm. A precautionary MRI where the doctors said “we found something” was eventually diagnosed as astrocytoma. Prior to the MRI I never exhibited any tell-tale signs indicating the tumor’s presence: memory issues, mood changes or speech problems. …Fighting the battles of life…  Get your priorities straight. Whatever the struggle—aggression, depression, anger, etc.—the answer is the same: […]

Leadership Q&A

[…]be the best possible. The quality of your work and expertise should be so good that it provides proof of your faith. To put it plainly, your credibility as a Christian is on the line if you are a substandard officer. Take pride in your work, walk your talk, and thereby bring glory to God. Q: What are the must-have tools you suggest for keeping sharp as a military officer and as a Christian? A: Every Christian officer needs a friend in the faith to hold him/her accountable, hear confession, offer prayer cover, and encourage us through the struggle. Even […]

Implicit Trust

[…]gallop. Immediately the soldier lay down his arms, left his compatriots and passed over among the officers of Napoleon’s immediate staff. “What do you want here?” one of them asked, haughtily. “I am a captain in the Emperor’s Guards,” was the response. “You, a captain! Who says you are a captain?” “He said it,” answered the soldier, pointing in the direction of the Emperor riding in the distance, and immediately he was accepted by the officers as one of them. This was simple faith and trust on the part of the soldier. He believed his Emperor’s word and acted accordingly. […]

Leadership Came Naturally

[…]to salute anything that moved, and I was still in that mode. I’d developed a certain fear of officers, some of whom were certainly deserving of such fear. Not Tom. It was Tom Hemingway that I met, not LIEUTENANT Hemingway. I wanted to know why a robust, confident and clearly capable person like Tom chose to hang out at a Christian bookstore on a Saturday afternoon. Weren’t there more interesting things to do? When he told me the bookstore was an interesting place for a committed Christian I wanted to know more about that too. He had a magnetic personality […]

Six Generations: 2

[…]He was at peace with the task that was before him. The three of us talked about the role of the Word of God in our lives and ended up having a very meaningful prayer time together.” Paul also remembered a Scripture verse that Jon sent him in a letter from Vietnam in which Jon shared what became Jon and Gail’s favorite verse–Romans chapter 8, verse 28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (the verse on the plaque at Fort Shine). “I […]

Time, Talent, Treasure: ROTC

[…]spent “nine wonderful years of ministry” at White Sulphur Springs before taking “a huge step of faith to leave a life and work we loved” as well as the lifelong relationships formed there. “I mean, a farmhouse on 1000 acres with a pond for our three boys – who would leave that?” said Rob. Yet both sensed God “asking us to trust Him – and see how He could use our faithfulness.” Passionate about a ministry to the military and investing in college-age students, their leap of faith led them to God’s open door of full-time staff with the Cru […]

Christian Leadership for the Junior Officer

[…]the Battalion XO of my mistake, I immediately informed my Battalion Commander (now a General Officer) of my error and my plan to fix the problem. In return for a few minutes of discomfort, I gained the trust of my Commander–and I determined not to mess up again. I cannot guarantee that following these simple principles will bring you career success. But following them will allow you to serve effectively while preserving your good name. Who knows, maybe your good name will open doors for you to share your faith from time to time (I Peter […]

Members: Cast your vote now for OCF Council

[…]in the military. We need godly officers to pray, follow the Lord above all else, and be the best professional officers there are.  Nominated by: CAPT Bob Durfey, USCG (Ret.); Maj Jim Groves, USAF (Ret.); CAPT Gerald Hale, USCG; LT Andy Halvorson, USCG; 3/C Joshua Payne, USCG; CDR Vic Primeaux, USCG (Ret.); CDR Hank Teuton, USCG (Ret.)   Lt Col Amanda Birch, USAFR Education: USAFA, BS Mech Eng, Eng Science, 1996; MIT, MS Mech Eng, 1998; Air University, MS Mil Oper Art & Science, 2008 Present assignment: Commander (IMA), 4th Civil Eng Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC Ministry involvement: OCF […]

The Line Officer and the Chaplain

[…]development classes and counseling sessions, in front-line combat, or in the day-to-day routines of office work — non-believers and Christians work together with the common goal of contributing to the security of our nation. The close relationships that grow out of these situations may offer opportunities for Christians to share spiritual truth. Many times they have been used by the Holy Spirit to draw people to Christ. Nonbelievers think of the chaplain as one who is “paid to talk about Christ.” They usually don’t perceive the Christian line officer as a “professional” Christian. For this reason, your testimony about God’s […]

Time, Talent, Treasure: Academies

[…]service academies, deliberately designed as such to forge finely tuned military leaders from out of the fires of continual challenge. Cadets and midshipmen juggle jam-packed schedules that stretch them beyond the max physically, emotionally, mentally.  And spiritually.    These young men and women are preparing for lives of service and sacrifice as military officers to their country, a nation whose society is increasingly drifting off course into the ocean of moral compromise, severed from its Christian moorings.  Knowing full well the ever-increasing difficulties our nation’s future leaders are facing, four couples provide OCF presence at the U.S. Military, Naval, Air […]

How Should a Christian Live?

[…]ever quit questioning, and don’t ever quit demanding answers. The binge-and-bust phenomenon is often a manifestation of emotional struggle, experimenting to figure out what works for you and where you fit in. It’s a common and natural part of growing up. The Bible teaches us that there is a much broader range of conduct that is permissible (not sinful) than the range of things that are beneficial to us. It also teaches moderation. Just about anything to excess can be destructive. Most of the instructions on right conduct in the Bible are principles, not laws. While many of our decisions […]

Reignited Service

[…]your walk with the LORD yesterday? How do you want your walk with Him to be tomorrow? As an act of faith, trust God to reveal the response you need to whatever concerns you. What other lessons can we draw from Paul’s comments to Timothy? God has entrusted each of us with a treasured, indwelling gift (verse 14) Sometimes we need the help of another to reignite our gift (verse 6) Though we may have backed away from what God called us to, He is always willing to reenlist us in His service. He wants us to keep our faith […]

Was it Failure or Success?

[…]of drawing others to Him. “But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” In the face of failure, Simon did not give up. His was not a blind faith. He trusted Jesus for the things he had already seen Him do. What about you? Have you backed away from a challenge because the results have been slow to come? Remember, in God’s economy there’s no waste, “All things work together for good….”   Copyrighted by Officers’ Christian Fellowship and Larry Simpson. For personal reflection and growth. Not for […]

What you do and how you lead does matter

[…]man’s evangelism is another man’s proselytizing. But when you are asked, what seeds of faith are you prepared to plant? It highlights the importance of walking in the Spirit and having a tightly crafted personal testimony, of developing habits of scripture memory, of staying in the Word, and especially being able to distill the essence of the gospel message. Stay on message of God’s great love for each of us, about Christ and His sacrifice for us. No Fear! Peter admonishes us to “revere Christ as Lord.” The Army’s Ranger Creed challenges its adherents to give “100 percent and then […]

With the Love of a Clanging Cymbal

[…]of the Holy Spirit, drew me to the first verse of that chapter, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1). Clanging cymbal—that was a perfect description of my actions as I “clanged” away about a friend’s moral failure without any concern for the how or why. I had no love for him, and it was the one thing that, unfortunately, came through loud and clear. I wanted to show I was morally superior—I knew right from wrong while […]

On The Rock

[…]will follow our lead. The strength of our building materials will be revealed by how our life of faith is lived out when the rains fall and the floods come and the winds blow. In the leader’s case, how we walk in view-and out of view-of the public’s eye will speak volumes about what we truly believe and the source of our strength. In these days of rapid-fire media, the leader’s challenge is to display a Christ-like response when life-changing moments arise, and thus be the “wise man” with a firm foundation. Act on the teaching of Scripture and help […]

Preparing for Active Duty

[…]lives…Grow them deep…Commission them for service Active OCF Bible study groups exist at each of the professional military school here, and several evening Bible study groups meet on base and across the area. A vibrant partnership exists between OCF and the Maxwell/Gunter Chapel community. Here 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 […]

Question Authority

[…]in the heavenly economy. As God grilled Job (read Job chapters 38-41), revealing Job’s lack of knowledge of His creation and of His divine power, Job’s only response was: “I am unworthy-how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth” (Job 40:4). Job finally got it. In the workplace we are not always privy to the larger plan. We may be in the dark, not knowing how or whether we have a role to play. It can also be that way in God’s greater scheme. What we do know is that God is LORD and ruler […]

Speak my language

[…]nonfiction whose titles include Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives, Stories of Faith and Courage from the Home Front, and The 5 Love Languages Military Edition.    Order your copy today! The 5 Love Languages Military Edition: The Secret to Love That Lasts By Gary Chapman with Jocelyn Green / Moody Publishing The 5 Love Languages profile will help you and your partner identify your love languages so you can put the principles to work for you immediately. Guided by input from dozens of military couples in all stages of their careers, authors Gary Chapman and former military wife […]

The Role of the Chaplain

[…]of religion — and not just the Christian religion. So you may have a chaplain who is not of a Christian faith group, and you have no warrant to complain if that is the case. But whether the chaplain is Christian or not, he or she should still meet the expectations listed above, and of course must provide you with Christian worship leaders and space for worship. You should not be surprised if your chaplains, even though devout Christians, are interested in caring for non-Christians and atheists. You should not deter them from assisting non-Christian groups to secure worship leaders […]

TTP – Platoon Leader

[…]room for the “Sunday Christian” comment. I am always ready with an explanation of my faith, but no one asks, and I don’t push. The Lord knows I am not perfect, and I am sure I am far from the “ideal standard” of Christian Leader Outreach, but that is the system I have slowly figured out during my platoon leader time.  I suppose the best TTP is to get an accountability partner to keep you straight in servant leadership and personal lifestyle, but I have not been blessed with an accountability partner since West Point.   First Lieutenant Carolyn Martin […]

Why We Serve

[…]are all doing something that is not only “useful,” but critical to our Lord and nation. None of us are “stealing” but I hope none of us are robbing God as described in Malachi 3:8. The principle here is to not only serve and work in our military and for your present or future family, but to work so you can share with God’s larger family. That family resides in your local church or chapel, in your OCF family, and with those whom the Lord loves but do not know Him. We serve our Lord by serving our nation, our […]

Pennsylvania – White Sulphur Springs Conference Center

[…]to their military or civilian communities as ambassadors for Christ, prepared to “step out” in faith for His glory. Email: [email protected] Day & Time: We meet at 1930 on Thursdays for Bible Study, September through […]
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Families should develop a support system

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OCF/Valor ROTC Retreat

[…](LTC) Dave Bowlus, USA. Discussions will be facilitated by a Junior Officer Panel as well a Panel of seasoned Senior Officers. White Sulphur Springs is beautiful in the winter. You can look forward to outdoor actives such as hiking, ice skating (weather permitting) as well as climbing wall, an ice cream social or just sitting by the fire with time to read your […]

A day in the life of OCF

[…]seven decades the living waters of Jesus Christ have flowed forth, from the heart of the ministry of Officers’ Christian Fellowship—innumerable men and women making a kingdom difference by living, loving and working with others throughout the military society. No “day in the life of” is typical—Bible studies, small group fellowships, supporting the chaplaincy and so many other ministry endeavors, the kingdom work of our limitless Lord. How it all gets done is the continual flow of the Holy Spirit working through hard-working men and women, those OCF members who are the hands and feet of Christ, reaching out in […]

Finding certainty in an uncertain world

[…]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 you have successfully guarded your face, heart and mind, when uncertainty strikes those you lead will look to you and […]

For All Leaders

[…]in a mighty way through you for His glory! Adapted from remarks originally presented to a group of Christian officers attending Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. William J. (Joe) Shirey, (Colonel, USAF, retired), was commissioned from the Air Force Academy in 1976. He was an F-16 Squadron Commander and served in various staff assignments in NATO, the Pentagon and Air Combat Command. He retired in 2001. He and his wife, Johanna, have four daughters: Sarah, Katie, Rebecca, Emily. They have been actively involved in OCF and other military ministries since entering the […]

I Only See Green

[…]said that the most segregated time in America is eleven o’clock on Sunday morning. We, as the faithful body of Christ, need to realize the ramifications of this. In the military we’re spoiled by being able to worship with all races in our local post chapels. Too often when we look off the post in the local community we don’t see the same thing. We need to show the world how wonderful and color blind the grace of God really is. Racism is not a new problem; it has been in the world as long as there have been races. […]

Interview with Chaplain Beach

[…]it opens doors to witness! Military authority at its best is supportive of expressions of faith. Here’s an example of the chaplain fulfilling his military staff role. A sailor sent notice to the command paper of his religious group meeting. He was holding meetings in his home. The commander was furious that a cult operated on his base, and he contemplated official action. Before he took action against the sailor, however, he asked the advice of his chaplain. Here is what the chaplain did: First, he reminded the commander that, as in our larger society, a military installation is a […]

Leadership by Example

[…]and as leaders of character. Let me explain. In a few minutes, by swearing to the oath of office, you will assume the awesome responsibilities of your formal commission. The oath itself is simple and deliberately unconditional, a whole of five parts. In sequence you will swear: To support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. To bear truth, faith and allegiance to the same. That you take this obligation freely, without mental reservation or purpose of evasion. That you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you […]

Leadership Moments: Are You Leading?

[…]effective at accomplishing the mission. His leadership style was that of influence and not the use of “shock and awe.”  Faith and leadership are more appropriately modeled through keeping sight of how to achieve God’s purposes 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.”   3 Points to Ponder How do you respond to inaccurate or injurious comments? Do you fire back with insults, or are you […]

Let His Light Shine!

[…]armor of God–the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet fitted with readiness, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. Examine these components and I believe you can see these weapons as fellowship, prayer, and the Word. I remember a different kind of warfare from my active duty days–cyber-war, in which we would initially defend against by employing “defense-in-depth.”  This defense-in-depth consisted of a firewall, providing a perimeter of defense to keep out the bad guys, and anti-virus software patrolling within the perimeter to ensure nothing had slipped through to do damage, steal information, or […]

Part of an amazing lineage

[…]#1: Several weeks ago, I was blessed to visit with Morgan Jackson, senior vice president of Faith Comes By Hearing (FCBH). Morgan’s ministry is committed to getting “God’s Word everywhere for everyone.” So far, they have recorded the Scriptures in over 800 languages and dialects and have leveraged numerous methods to distribute these recordings.  In his introduction, he asked which part of the New Testament was the most compelling for many of the world’s cultures. Stymied, I uttered the usual—the good news about Christ. Morgan captured my attention by saying it’s the first seventeen verses of Matthew’s gospel. Why? Because […]

Some Thoughts for Christians

[…]believe Christians are called to be involved in government and to apply the truths and principles of our faith to the issues of our times. But it is my current belief that because of the limitations of human nature, and therefore the very VUCA environment of human politics, there are very few issues where the Christian position is clear-cut. We need to apply biblical principles to complex issues, while being careful not to quickly conclude that the “Christian” position on these issues is clearly and unarguably defined.   Al Shine is a retired Army officer and Vietnam veteran. He has […]

Strong to the Finish

[…]at his or her best. Perseverance reveals itself in one more day of responsibility, one more week of faithfulness, and one more deployment. But if you’ve ever 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 […]

The Jungles of War

[…]pose a great threat to those who stray from His Word, from His presence. He is able. He is faithful. Often, we are not. That’s the greatest reality of all, and it must form the basis of our response to every moral dilemma in every battle. *Programs like the Marines’ Kit Carson Scouts gained great success by implementing this principle. Kit Carson Scouts utilized former VC soldiers as scouts in operations against their former units, after these men had changed sides based on humane treatment and a change of […]

The Wounded Healer

[…]suffering is simply the effect of living in a fallen world where evil can strike anyone. Yet none of the aspects of suffering limit God’s capacity to use pain in a redeeming fashion. Isaiah’s prophesy about the greatest Suffering Servant declares, “By His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Jesus’ wounds and suffering are the venue through which we have been redeemed. Believers can rejoice because through our own lives, God uses the mystery of pain and suffering through which His eternal work shines brightly. After David came face-to-face with his scarred, miserable nature and repented, he penned marvelous words […]

Therefore We Will Not Fear

[…]the many dangerous assignments which were to be his. I heard later that Russell was the means of leading at least three of his buddies to the Lord. He was killed in the Gothic Linc in North Italy, and as a result of his last moments, when he exhibited great heroism and Christian faith, two men accepted Jesus as Saviour. I was glad for the witness in that blacked-out house, the promise to God in the crowded […]

Three Words

[…]forums, you will seek to carry out the Great Commission. All of us are 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 […]

Through A Glass Darkly

[…]Daily (or nightly) prayers on the most simple level help children to begin to learn a conversation of faith. Yes, there were times when I thought perhaps the voices were correct. Yes, there were times when I thought kissing the cold glass picture in the frame was a pretty stupid thing to do. I had more than one moment of doubt as to whether our girls would know their father when he returned. But somehow, we kept on. We did what we knew to do and gave it our best shot. There were no guarantees. But on that day of […]

Time, Talent, Treasure: OCF small group fellowships

[…]it more meaningful,” said leader Jennifer Corbin. “It was just a neat experience to be a part of.” In the life of the active duty family, it can be easy to focus solely on service to our country, but Christ reminds us that our service to Him includes those closest to us: our shipmates, our neighbors and our communities in need, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).   About Rhiannon Rhiannon is a classical home educator, proud Navy wife, […]
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Time, Talent, Treasure: Retirees

[…]still bearing fruit. Such is the extravagant generosity of so many throughout all the years of OCF, faithfully doing God’s Kingdom work, exemplifying the heart of OCF for a Lifetime.    It all started with an invitation. And the ensuing ripple effect throughout the ages, from people affirming that original “come follow me” call from the Messiah, has helped build God’s eternal kingdom—His adopted family—one redeemed person at a time. The Granville Sharpe family invited Kit Vaughn to an OCU conference in Germany, where Dr. Bob Smith’s salvation message there brought the high school sophomore to Christ. At Fort Lee, […]

Truth and the Christian Leader

[…]this perplexing story–which takes place as the early church was forming–maintaining a standard of truth and honesty proved to be the bedrock for the church and our Christian faith. Those endowed with leadership responsibility needed to set and safeguard ethical standards. Many are shocked at the decisive, harsh response to the couple’s duplicity. Yet neither Peter nor the disciples brought about this speedy demise. They 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 […]

What Are Parents to Do?

[…]husband. We did the only thing we could do–trust wholly in God. We daily claimed the promises of Psalm 91, parts of which we have posted in two locations in our home. We drew comfort from the words of David: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in Whom I trust.’ Even though television reports, radio alerts, news articles, and telephone calls would often startle us, we faithfully trusted in our all-sufficient Lord Jesus. […]

What Right Looks Like

[…]ministry may not be discredited.” Like Paul, through our walk with Christ, and our demonstration of our faith to others, people should not be turned away from the ministry of God. They should see what right looks like in us. Professional Development As military professionals we are often guided by the lessons we learn from past conflicts and operations. Professional development is an ongoing process for any officer, noncommissioned officer, or civilian. Proverbs 23:12 states, “Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.” Our professional development does not stop at the institutional schools but should occur […]
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