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Monday, October 28, 2013

Military Direct

'Military Direct' is a main tenant of the Army writing style.  Give me the bottom line up front, keep it short, be direct, get it done.  This does not only apply to writing, but also to every day interaction, tasks, teamwork, and all things interpersonal while on the job.  There is no beating around the bush, there is no time for touchy feely.

I'm being considered for the XO (Executive Officer) position for the class.  This person has to use military direct style in passing on the Class Leader's commands to the staff and class.   This is not my natural style (maybe in writing, but not in relationships), but it is an area where I have wanted to grow and develop.  God is at work doing something, in both me, and Lucibeth.  Pray that--no matter what--we would rise to the tests and challenges that he is placing in our lives, that we would respond by faith, that we would be strong and courageous, that we would know that the Lord our God goes with us wherever we go. 

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Workout


Praise God from whom all blessings flow, that though he takes us through deep, deep valleys, a mountaintop is always ahead and ultimately promised.  Life is a series of valleys and peaks, followed by the ultimate peak of everlasting life with him. 
“You’re in the Army now!” That was what one instructor yelled at the class, in a tone that necessitated regret at the beginning of the first month of basic training (for Chaplains).  But while the first month was grueling, the second month is proving just as rewarding. 
Army does training extremely well, and Chaplain training is a workout for mind, body and soul.  Paul talks about this life as training: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?...Therefore I box, and discipline my body, and keep it under control.”   To think of this life as training ground for the next is incredibly freeing and encouraging.  It promotes an eternal perspective.  It likens our suffering in this present life to the suffering one experiences in a gym, or during a long run.  It is painful, but it has a purpose, it is good for us, and it will be over soon.  Somehow, how we train in this life is preparing us for the next.  God, through his Spirit, is preparing for us bodies, minds, souls perfectly fitted and suited for his presence.  And what I am going through today is part of that process. May he grant us such an eternal perspective, and the perseverance to see it through to the end.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

...to do you good in the end.


In Deuteronomy 8, Moses speaks of the desert wanderings, “He humbled you and let you hunger…”  Later he says that God did this “that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end.”  Isn’t this incredible, that here God tells us explicitly, with example, that a trial is placed there, particularly in our lives, deliberately by God, for the purpose of doing us good?

I don’t have physical hunger today, or any physical needs right now, but I do have mental needs and emotional shortcomings.  Army training is incredibly well done and at a high level.  I am learning some things that I should have learned years ago, like what are the steps to solve problems, how to lead teams.  I’m also asked to do some things that I’m having trouble learning, like how to think quickly on my feet.  I am mentally and emotionally ‘hungry,’ or deficient in some of these areas.  Thank you God that you have brought these good trials into my life for very specific purposes, and to do me good in the end. 

These two weeks are all about how to be a proficient staff officer, serving the battalion commander alongside peers.  But tomorrow is a break where we climb another tower and face physical obstacles.  This, I love, but please pray specifically for safety for our class, that no one would fall or get hurt, and that some who have a fear of heights would be able to overcome by faith.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Staying on the Rails

Friday marked the end of the general Army training portion, and the most physically demanding phase of Chaplain training.  Lucibeth and kids arrived just in time for the mini-ceremony and marching competition.  I took the kids bowling Friday afternoon on base, and we drove back to Charlotte for the weekend.  We hiked Anne Springs Friday morning, and the kids (and I) had a blast on a swinging bridge there.  We had sweet worship and fellowship Sunday at Uptown Church, our old (and new again) home church.  Then the White Pearl (Accord) wouldn't start, so I drove the minivan back to Columbia today, leaving Lucibeth to deal with a repair.  She is up to the task and is doing a phenomenal job with the household and kids.

Before we were released Friday, we were given an extensive safety brief and reminders of our handbook as to the rules to follow while on leave.  There are consequences for breaking the rules, which brought to mind a Psalm I've been camping out in, Ps 119:32: "I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free."  Lucibeth and I talked this weekend about how God's commands are 'Laws of Love' (thanks Phil Woods)--they are a reflection of his good character, and they are for our good.  When we pursue him, and follow him, and live according to his good principles and laws for our lives, we are generally blessed.  But when we run off the rails, if you will, we get stuck in the muck and mire until we turn back to him in repentance and faith.  This rail illustration was used in Sunday School today as it relates to training our kids, but it is just as powerful for us adults.  Thank you God, for loving us enough to give us guideposts, rails, laws of love by which to love.  Thank you for your infinite patience for when we jump the tracks--often willingly.  I am sure this truth will be often used in discussions with young soldiers who are stuck deep in the mud, far from the tracks, and yet a moment from being lifted out and rescued by our great God.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Ebenezer

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer, for he said, "Till now the Lord has helped us."

Today marks the last day of our first phase of Army training.  It has been incredibly challenging. There have been times early on that I asked myself, "What have I gotten myself into?"  Now I see the purposes, now I see progress, unity, strengthening, learning.

How often do we get through a tough trial, and rather than praise God, rather than give him thanks, rather than point to him as the source of strength, we immediately go on and start worrying about whatever is next?  Thank you God for your strength to get through this, and many other trials in life, thank you for carrying me, thank you for working in me, often through my trials, to give me the spiritual workout I need to precisely prepare me for your presence one day very soon. 

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Another Week

We just finished our third and most physically challenging week.  It included night time land navigation and low-crawling under live and simulated fire. We have had short nights, hours of drill, and death by power-point at the most sleepy part of the day.  Still, it is rewarding, and encouraging when I have a chance to come up for air, like this afternoon.  The class enjoys sweet devotional and prayer time together, albeit brief. 

I preached in class a 12 minute sermon as I would preach in chapel and received positive feedback.  But the experience of the chaplains with prior service tell us that our main activity will be counseling.  As we get to know soldiers and build trust, they will come to us with a myriad of issues.  The numbers and scope I imagine is overwhelming, but I'm looking forward with finishing and diving in nonetheless.

This coming Friday marks the end of the initial phase, which is the most difficult.  Thanks for prayers for endurance, patience, health, and especially for family back 'home' in Charlotte.