Training Holidays

I'm told that the Army will exact its pound of flesh, so enjoy time off when you get it. One upside to Army is its training days--usually an extra day off every time a national holiday rolls around.  So last week was a four-day weekend, and we headed to a state park with a local church.  This brought back fond memories of camping with Cornerstone, especially that late-April trip when it was too hot.  Did I say fond?

Actually, it was great.  One morning I went on a run through the woods--one of my favorite things to do--and I recalled the Psalm, "Be at rest once more, o my soul, for the Lord has been good to you." 

Recently I counseled a Soldier who is 'mentally, physically, and spiritually exhausted.' I reminded him of the importance of self-care, to reflect on who God is, what he has done for us in Christ, the blessings we have, the need to decompress and take some deep, unhurried breaths. And then some more. 

After camping, and my first time preaching at Chapel, the boys and I jumped in the car toward Charlotte for the NASCAR race. They gave the Army a bunch of free tickets which we took advantage of. 

Thank you, God, for training holidays, for breaks, for time to refresh, for better focus on the important things of life.  Help my Soldiers, many of whom are overwhelmed, or stressed, or aimless.  Use me to make a difference for the single-Soldiers in my seminar this weekend. Use me in my counseling. Use my family, as the unit sees us interacting, and sees a 'normal,' happy family working through life together.

Amen!

Diversity and Discipleship with the MPs

Sometimes I'm just impressed by the MPs with whom I serve.  One day last week I took my boys down to the Green Ramp--this is where they put on their parachutes, check and recheck, and board the planes to jump.  One Sergeant was there checking his young Soldiers, and had even brought a young Soldier to watch for fun, who was not yet jump qualified.  The next day I saw this same Sergeant at Guard Mount--this is what you see on TV when cops are briefed on what to look out for on the roads, hit-and-run vehicles, etc. 

A few days later I went out in the field with one of the Companies--about 100 Soldiers, spending 2 weeks in the field, working on Soldier skills--orienteering, weapons training, convoy operations, etc.  I didn't see that same Sergeant there, but I marveled at the diversity of skills needed to be an MP in a jump unit of the US Army.  A truly impressive group of young men and women who work alot of long days, and into the night, and sometimes all night on the road.

At Green Ramp I go to pray for Soldiers preparing to jump, at Guard Mount I do the same, but last week I did a ride-along with the Duty Officer to get a better feel what it is like.  And in the field, I "embrace the suck" as they say--trying to sleep under a poncho in very heavy winds and rain.  Thankfully that was my only night out there, and their only night of rain, but they see me 'suffering' with them, and are more likely to attend my Field Worship Service, or come to me for counseling. 

Today three of my MPs showed up at Chapel for worship, which was thrilling to see.  One I had connected with, and given a devotional to in the Field (a previous month).   He has strayed, acknowledges he is not living how God would desire, and says it is hard to stay connected with God in the Army.  But he has a car now, and brought two friends to worship!

God, may there be a wider and wider stream of Soldiers from my unit that come to All American Chapel.  May the gospel continue to be preached there faithfully.  May they be plugged in relationally through Sunday School, or Navigators, or adopted by retirees, and come to faith, and grow in the Faith.  Amen!

Different Kind of Thunder

I miss Sarasota afternoon Thunder, but as I sit here in my breakfast area on a Saturday morning, my house shakes from artillery training blasts.  Sounds amazingly similar, but with actual vibration. 

Wednesday I had a chance to give a short message to other Chaplains from Col 4: ² Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ³ And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. ⁴ Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. ⁵ Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. ⁶ Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
  
One of my points was that we need to pray for open doors, and be careful to discern when they are open.  I had one counseling session yesterday where faith never came into the picture.  That was not why he was in my office, he had no religious background, and I felt it would have been harmful to bring it up.  But he was pleasantly surprised how helpful his first visit ever to a Chaplain could be, and he promised to come back by to let me know how he was doing.

On the other hand, I have had many opportunities to share openly, in several different settings.  Wednesday was my monthly Bible study, where we looked at money, love of it, that it is not just a problem for the ultra rich, but that Jesus made himself poor so that we through his poverty may be already rich in him (2 Col 8).  

I am teaching a Sunday School series on the New Heavens and New Earth, and how there are current implications--not just future--of Jesus' resurrection.  Next week I go to the field for 2 days and will hold a small, informal worship service for those interested in attending.  

Even still, I wrestle with the question of when there is an open door and I am too hesitant to walk through it.  God grant me the wisdom and discernment to know when it is open, to look for it, to pray for it, and to courageously walk through it.  And may your Word thunder forth in the hearts and minds of spiritually sleepy Soldiers, through this your feeble servant.  Thank you that the gospel is the power of GOD, and not my power, that it is not me I am calling them to but you, and that I am not a salesman for you, but a proclaimer.  May it be so, amen!