21 February 2007 at 4:06 pm (Army, Chaplaincy, God stuff)
I took a trip up to my former seminary yesterday to spend some time saying goodbye to old friends. During my seminary studies I met three men who have all become wonderful friends. We had all planned on continuing our education together and pursuing Ph.D. studies. Well, they are currently in the doctoral program and God has called me to the Chaplaincy. I wouldn’t change it for anything although I do hope to continue my education in the future.
Anyway, the four of us went out to eat and had a wonderful time with one another. We talked theology, church, family and military. One of my friends has a wife who is a, Ophthalmologist in the Navy, and in August they will be PCSing to Japan for their first Duty Station so he had much to share about their impending journey.
The time we were able to spend together was great. To be honest, I made the trip to say goodbye to my friends. In June I will spend 3 months at FT. Jackson for CH-BOLC and then my family is moving to Ft. Hood. There is no telling where God will lead us after that. It was difficult spending that time with my brothers in Christ and ministry knowing that it might be the last time I see them this side of heaven. I thank God for the people He has enabled me to run into over the past four years. Once the Lord led our family to this part of the country to serve He did a mighty work in our lives and allowed us to meet some fantastic people.
Before our final hugs, my friend who is moving to Japan told me, “See you around the world.” How neat would that be? I want to leave you today with a passage from Philippians that comforts my heart in times like these and captures the love I have for these friends.
Philippians 1:3-8 (NKJV)
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; 7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. 8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
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13 February 2007 at 7:36 pm (Army, Chaplaincy)
For those that are wondering, no I am not trying to change my name. However, there is a word that has popped up periodically on my blog that must now change. You have heard me refer to CHOBC (Chaplain Officer Basic Course – pronounced Chobic) as my first destination as a US Army Chaplain. Well, I have discovered as of late that the name has changed from CHOBC to CH-BOLC (Chaplain Basic Officer Leadership Course – prounounced Ch-Bolic).
I agree with Chaplain Ken who wrote, “I still just can’t bring myself to type…much less say…CH-BOLC.” I could not agree more. Where CHOBC just rolls off the tongue, Chaplain (LT) Ziems wrote, “CH-BOLC sounds like it’s some kind of Mexican food”.
Anyway, even though the name has changed, the course is still the same. CH-BOLC (hard to write) starts June 3 for us new Chaplains and I am so excited to start the race.
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1 February 2007 at 8:28 pm (Army)
I came across this quote earlier today and wanted to share it with others. I believe this pretty much sums up the sentiment towards the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. I pray this country never ceases to support our soldiers as well as realizes that the wrong decision, though easy for the time being, could result in lives lost in vain. May it never be.
“We had been told, on leaving our native soil, that we were to defend the sacred rights conferred on us by so many of our citizens settled overseas, so many years of our presence, so many benefits brought by us to populations in need of our assistance and civilization.
We were able to verify that this was true, and because it was true, we did not hesitate to shed our quota of blood, to sacrifice our youth and our hopes. We regretted nothing, but whereas we over here are inspired by their frame of mind, I am told that in Rome factions and conspiracies are rife, that treachery flourishes, and that many people in their uncertainty and confusion lend a ready ear to the dire temptations of relinquishment and vilify our action.
I cannot believe that all this true, and yet recent wars have shown how pernicious such a state of mind could be and to where it could lead.
Make haste to reassure me, I beg you, and tell me that our fellow citizens understand us, support us and protect us as we protect the glory of the Empire.
If it should be otherwise, if we should leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then BEWARE THE ANGER OF THE LEGIONS!!”
From a letter written by Marcus Flavinius, a centurion in the second cohort of the Augusta Legion serving overseas, to his cousin, Tertullus, in Rome, quoted in the Prologue of Jean Larteguay’s, “The Centurions.”
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