Death, where is your sting? Life, where is your sting?

1 Corinthians reminds us that if Christ has not been raised, then our faith is useless and we are still in our sin. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead!  This evening we go on a short field trip to USC Med School's gross anatomy lab.  The idea is that our instructors do not want our first experience with death and dismemberment to be on the battle field.  A good friend took me to this lab years ago, and I remember the surreal experience of cold, clammy skin.   This thought makes my role in the Army more real and sobering.  Yet, in Christ, there is no fear of death and dying.

Scotty Smith reminded me recently in a prayer that for those who have no fear of dying, we also have no fear of living, and really living life to the full.  Army training continues to be excellent.  We are now deeply into counseling soldiers in resilience, against suicide, marriage counseling, how to pick a partner and the like.  But as I learn, I am applying many Godly principles to myself, and I'm experiencing more freedom from past ways of thinking.  And more freedom to really live in joy, and not in fear.  Even some 'secular' methods have common grace insights, training us to help Soldiers be more healthy physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  I guess in the process I'm plundering the Egyptians for my own use, and am very thankful.

Reunions

I drove home this past weekend for another sweet visit with the family.  Training continues to go well, and most aspects are now very enjoyable, as we have gotten into a routine and have learned the ropes, and as the leadership have lightened up...a bit.  I am now a squad leader, and also essentially the class social director.  I'll take the lead on the year-end banquet, and frequent birthday celebrations.  We are into classes on counseling, which are too short, but helpful.

I am blessed that I can drive to Charlotte most weekends. Some classmates have not seen their families for two months now.  But even after one week of separation, I eagerly anticipated holding my wife and kids in my arms.  I reflected fondly on the kids' growth and development, how fast they are changing, I prayed for them, I couldn't wait to be with them.   I shed some tears just listening to music that we loved and had listened to often together as a family.

As sweet as that reunion was this weekend, our reunion with Jesus will be infinitely sweeter.  That reunion will be in a state of absolute perfection.  He will make all things right, he will wipe away all our sins, he will love us perfectly, he will embrace us in his arms.  Often it is difficult to look forward to heaven because our eyes are so fixed on this world.  But earthly reunions give me a little better glimpse, and help me to say, "Come Lord Jesus, come."

Hump Day

Last Wednesday was double Humpday, the middle of the week, and the middle of our training.  It is very enjoyable now, as we are more used to the early morning PT, which I enjoy, and we are in a 'battle rhythm,' in the groove of the typical daily and weekly schedule.  As we get more specific to chaplain training now it is encouraging us to look forward to our assignments late December, fast approaching.   I get the sense that our assignments are up in the air to some extent--whether I will in fact be assigned to an MP battalion, or even Ft Bragg.  But as Lucibeth reminded me this weekend during a sweet visit, "A mosquito won't land on your nose unless God put it there."  He is in utter and complete control of all things, where I go, who I meet, Lucibeth's health, our kids' schooling, where we are assigned, whether and when I am deployed.  He is also moving all things to a final Day--which we are to eagerly anticipate, where he will make all things right, restore all things, reconcile all things, make us who know him like him, where we will be together forever in paradise!

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. 

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.

...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.

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.