I Can't Even Imagine

You've probably heard the contemporary Christian song by Mercy Me, "I Can Only Imagine". Here's the first stanza:

I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By Your side
I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When Your face
Is before me
I can only imagine

It's been very popular in the Church for some years now.

As I think about the day that we will see our loved ones and the Lord himself perhaps returning for the Church any day, I recognize a great expectation.

But, I also think about the exact opposite. What if Christians today were not the salt of the earth, a preservative force for good? What if we did not permeate every aspect of society to include (I dare say) the government? What would happen if Christians decided to no longer follow Jesus' command to be "the salt of the earth"?

The government could include: local, state, and federal. And, let's not forget other aspects of civil service like public school teaching, police, firemen/women, public works, etc. Could it even be possible? No, not at all.

Here is a post from an Army Chaplain that I think provides an excellent Biblical example for Christians following the Lord's lead to work in civil service. It's called, "In the Service of Empire." Though these examples all come from the Old Testament, it doesn't negate a New Testament view that God uses people as salt and light in every place of society, even the military:

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men" (Col. 3.23).

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (I Cor 10.31).

Most importantly Romans 13.1-7 and I Peter 2.13-17 instructs the Church to honor their government and leaders, even when they might not see things the same way. Scripture is the Church's authority. And because God is Sovereign, He knows the ultimate direction the Church must go.

Unfortunately there are some Christian leaders and authors who speak with a forked tongue. On one hand they will say that by being associated with the American government, or being patriotic, that one has become a full-blown idolater, chronically breaking the Number 1 Commandment. Their dichotomy is ever so subtle. They then will quote a Scripture here and there to cover their tracks in order assuage those working in civil service. However, carefully avoiding impunity the acerbic language always leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

So I write a pastoral corrective. And, I ask the question in reverse: Can you even imagine Christians purposely not being the salt of the earth in every part of society?

Review of "Crazy Love"

I've been out of the loop in a bunch of ways having been deployed. So, I'm trying to catch up on some reading.

One of the troubles I'm having is trying not to buy too many books at once. I'm holding off on purchasing the B&N Nook since it looks like the Cadillac version of e-readers. It comes out in January.

But, I had "Crazy Love," by Francis Chan waiting for me when I got home from Iraq. I had to have my battery replaced in my truck and so over a couple of hours at the local Ford I read half of it. Then, it was lost for a couple of days in the couch. Zoe found it this morning, and I polished it off.

So, here it is:

It is a challenging book. For those of you who have read it I'm not going to air out how I've measured up in following Jesus, but highlight what Chan has emphasized. I will say that at the end of the book, he tells the reader to go get on your knees. The first available moment, I basically did that because I know that I could do more, and I asked God to help me to do it.

The book starts off relatively slow, and Chan does basically tell the reader to hang in there for the first four chapters. He was right. After that, it picks up. His writing style isn't the most engaging, but the the material is engaging and right on.

Though he talks about God's great love for you and I in the beginning I felt the title was a little "gimmicky." Yes, God loves you and I, but the book's emphasis is on how to love God back. And, rightly so, the Church needs to amp it up in this department. I'm just not sold on the Crazy Love title because I think it should have been something closer to a "Normal Christian Life," or "Cost of Discipleship" title. "Crazy" is a gimmicky word. It's what we should be doing; it's not Crazy.

I don't take Chan to be a social-gospeler, but he recaptures what has been neglected in the gospel presentation in much of the Evangelical church. How do we deal with Jesus telling others to give all that one owns to the poor and follow him? In the 20th century western world we have a difficult time making this compute. What is so amazing about Chan is that he is doing it. One example is the cost cutting of the new church building that they are constructing. Instead of a new building, they are constructing an outdoor amphitheater. He says something like, "Every time we are worshiping in church and we are cold [although this is in the southwest], we will be reminded what we are financially sacrificing for--the gospel--and become more motivated to continue doing the right thing."

That is my paraphrase of Chan in quotes. But, he give lots of modern day examples like this. It's definitely inspiring. How to live out the Christian life the way Christ meant it to be. I've been challenged not to purchase the IPhone that I'd been anticipating before I left Iraq. I've also skipped out on paying the $30.00 on the data package for my PDA phone. Do I really need it? No! Of course this is just a small gesture of spiritual restraint hopefully channelling my faith to grow stronger while in the great US of A. This might sound minute, but gee, I just left my wife and kids for a year for God and country.

I really like this quote, even though Chan doesn't claim authorship. "Christians are like manure. If you spread them out, they will help others to grow. But, if you keep them all in one place they are sure to stink." With writing like this, it is difficult for the Pharisee-leader to stay comfortable. Homogenized Christianity is sure to stink. And, one-size of Christian does not fit all, and Chan spells that out well.

It's worth the read. Warning: if you read it, you may be convicted to change your life and become more like Jesus.

Thanksgiving Vision

A Jewish person once said, “Whenever you get 2 Rabbis together you get 3 opinions.” That’s the way it is with my Family, and probably yours as well.

When I think about my Family I also think about spiritual riches that we are blessed with as a Christian Family.

Christians have a spiritual heritage that dates back to the beginning of time in the Bible and flows through it into the New Testament, but really continues on throughout history. The History of the Church, whether it’s good, bad, or ugly is still our history. And, so from the time of the N.T. to the present, however form the Church took, essentially that is our spiritual roots.

One of the things that I’m not ashamed to claim as my spiritual heritage is the story of Thanksgiving and the Vision of the Pilgrims or more broadly they were called, “The Puritans.”

The Puritans have got a bad rap, some of it is deserved, but largely they were a passionate group of Christians trying to do their best. Someone once said about that Christian family, “Puritanism is the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.” That isn't quite true.

I want to talk about the Pilgrims and Thanksgiving, but also the Vision they had to be a new Christian Community that can be an inspiration to us today as the Church.

Looking back in history at the Pilgrims, and reflecting today, its quite likely that in generations to come people will be looking back in history at us talking about what we did, or didn’t do.

So, I ask, “Who were the Pilgrims?” The Pilgrims as we call them were a part of a much larger movement in the church called the “Reformation.” Generally, since Martin Luther’s 95 Thesis on the Wittenburg Door in Germany, and him saying, “Here I stand," the Church has begun to Reform herself to what she believes is a purer Biblical Vision of what she ought to be, and function.

Lutherans, Presbyterians, Baptists, and Church of England split off from Rome, and then inside of England there was a movement within her to continue to reform herself, and they were known as the “Puritans.”

The Puritans were devout Christians who wanted to see the Anglican Church continue to Reform. And, some things did change, but not enough, nor fast enough for the Puritans. King James of England, the King who inspired the King James (1611) Version of the Bible was at first open to these Puritan Reformers, but later he and many other grew intolerant of them, and the Puritans began to find themselves being persecuted. The Puritans as a movement also became interdenominational. There were Presbyterians, Baptists, Congregationalists, and Quakers.

So, some of them first left England for Holland in 1607, and later put together a Covenant in how they would live the Christian life called, “The Mayflower Compact.” Their vision for a greater Christian society caused them to dream about what it would be like to establish themselves in the New World without persecution and to become, “The New Israel.” In fact, the Pilgrims saw themselves as the New Israel ready to fulfill God’s agenda for a purer Christian Community. It would be a community government constructed around the Bible.

They then briefly returned to England and chartered a ship called, “The Mayflower.” Left in July of 1620 and arrived in late November. There was a crew of 48, and 101 passengers. It was an overloaded ship. 56 adults, 14 servants and hired people. 31 children. 1 died on board and 2 were born. Half of the settlers died during the first winter. Most were the lower class of society.

William Bradford, who was designated the Governor said, “We fell upon our knees and blessed God of Heaven. We had no friends to greet us, no inns to refresh our bodies, nor houses to retreat to. We arrived in the winter. And, it was a hideous and desolate wilderness.”

A Description of the 1st Thanksgiving: The original feast in 1621 occurred sometime between Sept. 21 and Nov. 11. It was 3 days long. The event was based on English harvest festivals. Gov. William Bradford proclaimed a day of thanksgiving and prayer that was shared by all of the colonists and neighboring Indians.

From the Journal of Edward Winslow, a Pilgrim at Plymouth MA: “After our harvest was brought in, our Governor sent 4 men to go hunting for water fowl—that probably meant geese. Those 4 men killed so much fowl that the whole community could eat for a week. At that time we exercised our arms/guns/rifles, and many of the Indians came among us and their great king Massasoit with about 90 of his men whom for 3 days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed upon our Governor, and upon the Captain, and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you could be partakers of our plenty.”

On June 12, 1630, the flagship of the Massachusetts Bay Company arrived in Salem to officially found the new colony. The company was founded by English Puritans, most of whom were educated and wealthy. A fleet of eleven ships brought hundreds of settlers to Salem. John Winthrop became the first governor of the colony.

At this point there were 2 kinds of Puritans: 1) There were the Pilgrims who immigrated to Plymouth who were generally considered more of a Separatists Movement. 2) The arrival of the M.A. Bay Company had a grander vision of continuing in the tradition of being Reformers of the Church of England, yet holding to their Puritan principles. 1630—400 people arrived, and 600 more next year. 1643: 20,000 had migrated to the New World.

One historian wrote: “Puritans provided the moral and religious background of 75% of those who declared the independence in 1776.”

More Facts: thoroughly integrated society of Christian life. Economic, political, and educational. And the heart of society was the Church: New Christian Order--The original vision of America. Wanted to be a “City on Hill”: On the Ship, Arabella, Governor John Winthrop, God had set them aside to be a model community to the world.

The Mass. Bay Code of Laws came directly from Scripture. At the end of every law there would be a Scripture Reference.

No one could be a part of the Church unless they were a converted, believing Christian. This was so important that individuals had to stand in front of the whole congregation and profess it. And the congregation would vote whether it was real or not.

All people by law were expected to go to church. But to be a member, to take part sacraments and vote, they had to be a Christian.

No one could hold any political office unless they were converted. No one could vote in society unless they were a member of the church, and in order to be a member you had to be a converted Christian. They didn’t like maverick spirits. They usually found themselves on the outside looking in if they didn’t learn to conform. I’m not just talking about the Church, but society in general. People were banished from their communities, or had their ears cut off, or were even put to death if they thought they could just be independent and live in the midst of the Christian community. Handling Quakers: kicked them out as soon as they landed in the Mass. Bay Colony. Ann Hutchinson—ecclesiastical and civil trial for bad mouthing the pastor’s theology and preaching. She was banished to Rhode Island. Witch trials broke into hysteria.

This was the Dark Side of Puritanism.

There is no perfect Christian Community, “When you find the perfect church, don’t go there, because you’re going to mess it up.”

Aldous Huxley, “Although neatness is good, it should always be surrounded by a margin of a tolerated mess.”

Rick Ezell: We were born to celebrate. God never intended for fun and laughter to be crowded out of our lives. God’s kingdom, according to Jesus, is like a wedding reception where he wants his friends to celebrate with him as though he were the bridegroom. God’s church is the ultimate party place – a place of rejoicing, celebration, and laughter. It is a foretaste of what is to come in heaven.

What happens when we celebrate? God is encountered. Joy is expressed.

Lewis Smedes put it this way: “To miss out on joy is to miss out on the reason for your existence."

C. S. Lewis said, “Joy is the serious business of heaven.”

The program of the Puritans can be an inspiration to us; an inspiration to reform ourselves without the legalization of righteousness. We are to be a community of believers who have come together to worship the living God. We are to be a celebrating community. If we don’t celebrate we have missed the heart of Christianity. And when we do celebrate, those outside the walls cannot help but want to be inside the walls.

My tea bag this morning read, “God resides in two places—heaven, and a meek and thankful heart.

What to do with technology?

Watching the local news last night there was a story about the rise of the divorce rate as a result of Facebook usage.

This was something that I briefed my Troopers before we left theater as I watched it take a toll over the deployment. When I would circulate back around I would discover that marriages were on the rocks as we were heading home. "Chaplain, I did what you told me not to do. I was talking to women other than my spouse through Facebook." Time to help pick up the pieces. I'd rather work harder on the proactive part.

This technology is going to stay, and advance. Here's a story from an Air Force National Guard General "Why I Tweet." The military knows that the technology is here to stay, so it's a matter of managing it well.

Having read several articles about the rise of technology usage in the Church, it definitely poses some challenges to Ecclesiology.

Technology is like WMD. Once it's here, there's no going back. And, you can't ignore it either. So, it's about thinking Biblicly first, and then managing it wisely in one's life.

Do Not Be Alarmed

Have you heard the joke about the 2 Chaplains and a JAG Officer? Well . . . I'm still working on it.

I'm posting a sermon from a Canadian Chaplain that I met through a friend who is an Army Reservist JAG Officer. Mike, the JAG Officer was a student with me in Airborne School. While in en route from Iraq he got my attention about his friend Mike the Canadian Chaplain. He said I should read his sermon. So, I did. I thought it was so good, I contacted Mike the Canadian Chaplain (Peterson) and became a Facebook friend and asked him if I could post it here, which he said, "Yes."

I think it is a very fine pastoral response to war and the times we live in. It's a little lengthy for a blog, but if you have the time, it's worth the read. Blessings, pl.

Preached this morning at St. Mary's, Auburn and Christ Church, Berwick, in the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, at the kind invitation of the Rev'd Charles Bull. Thanks to both congregations for a warm welcome and good worship. MP+A Sermon for the Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Pentecost,Preached at St. Mary’s Church, Auburn, and Christ Church, BerwickLectionary Year C: Samuel 1:4-20, Psalm 16, Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18),19-25“When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come (Mk 13:7)

It’s a great pleasure to be with you this morning, and a great honour to be allowed to share your rector’s pulpit. I bring you greetings from the people of St. Mark’s protestant chapel in Greenwood, some of whom I think some of you know, as they seemed well aware that I am in your parish this Sunday. I also bring you greetings from the Anglican clergy serving as chaplains with the Canadian Forces and from our Bishop Ordinary, the Right Reverend Peter Coffin. There are roughly a dozen of us serving in this Diocese, and we are grateful to you and to your bishops for your support of our ministry. When Charles and I were discussing my visit to this parish, we were first thinking that I would come on Remembrance Day, which would have been delightful but that is, as you can imagine, a busy time for a military chaplain. Had I been here then my sermon would no doubt have had a backwards looking quality, as is fitting for a day dedicated to historical memory. This Sunday however I want to look forward, as prompted by my text from today’s gospel reading: “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come (Mk 13:7).

Today’s gospel comes from an episode in the last days of Jesus’ ministry as described by St. Mark. Some of his disciples, like the proverbial country mice in the city, are impressed by the size and grandeur of Jerusalem and of the Temple built by King Herod. Jesus is unimpressed with these buildings, and after predicting the destruction of the Temple, goes on to describe what the last days of humanity will look like. He describes wars and natural disasters and religious confusion, but in the midst of these grim predictions Jesus says, almost casually, “do not be alarmed”. It’s that simple phrase, “do not be alarmed”, that I wish to focus on because in it we hear one of the greatest and simplest of the messages of good news that we call the Christian gospel. “Do not be alarmed” is also the hardest advice to follow when we are faced with the possibility of things ending.

Yesterday I read a news story about how a NASA astronomer is being plagued with calls and emails from people who are convinced that the end is coming – in 2012, to be exact. This scientist has heard a few teenagers say that they want to commit suicide and has also heard from several mothers saying they are thinking about killing their young children in order to spare them from the end of the world. These folks appear to be spooked by a film soon to be released by Sony Pictures called “2012”, which takes an ancient Mayan calendar, a mystery planet, and other cosmic forces and cooks them into movie where pretty much everything in the world gets destroyed. The director, Roland Emmerich, has made several previous disaster films, including “Independence Day” when the world nearly gets destroyed by aliens, and “The Day After Tomorrow”, which climate change freezes half the Earth. When I watched the trailer of “2012” on the internet, it showed some powerful religious symbols being destroyed, such as the famous Christo Redemptor statue standing over Rio de Janiero and the dome of St. Peter’s in Rome, which we see crushing the Pope and a crowd of Christians praying for mercy. While these images don’t hold out much hope for God, the trailer suggests that there is hope and that a few humans, played by photogenic actors, who will survive the coming apocalypse. Besides this movie, there are apparently dozens of books on the market describing the coming apocalypse of 2012 and giving some helpful suggestions to survive it. As a Christian I’m interested in what these sorts of films and other cultural products say about the fears of our society through the decades. Over the last three generations we have worried about fascism and communism and nuclear war and weapons of mass destruction. Today the weapons are still with us, and we fear that they will fall into the hands of religious radicals. We fear terrorism and drugs and pandemics and food shortages. We worry about financial collapse and the end of oil and we worry that we’ll have to give up our comfortable way of life. At the same time, we see signs of climate change, environmental collapse, dying oceans and vanishing species. Movies like 2012 exist, I think, because they feed off the tensions and fears that we carry within us as a society. But perhaps, as New York Times columnist Ross Douthat suggested this week, we need these fears because we don’t want our imperfect society to stumble along for ever. Rather, we need to imagine something bigger than ourselves which has the power to finish and judge us.

"Humankind fears judgment, of course. But we depend on it as well. The possibility of dissolution lends a moral shape to history: we want our empires to fall as well as rise, and we expect decadence to be rewarded with destruction. Not that we want to experience this destruction ourselves. But we want it to be at least a possibility — as a spur to virtue, and as a punishment for sin."

Now a sophisticated New York Times columnist won’t say it, even if he uses religious-sounding words like “judgment” and “sin” but as a priest speaking to you the faithful, I can say it. I can say that we as Christians have a story that begins with creation in the Book of Genesis and ends in Revelation with judgement. Even if we don’t read our bibles from cover to cover, we summarize this story every week in our creeds, including the statement that Christ “shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead” (BCP p. 71). Not only does the Christian story go from the beginning to the end of time, it is bigger than time itself, because we believe God as Alpha and Omega created time and lives outside of time. He was there before the cosmos was created and he will be there after it ends. As Christians we have a saviour, Jesus Christ, who is coeternal with God and because of his work done once and for all on the cross, as we heard in Hebrews this morning, we need not fear the end of our days or the day of judgement. The essential thing is that our names are written in the Book of Life. The rest is details. So what are we as Christians to do with this story?

I would say that we are called to spend the time we have standing with God against the work of evil in the world. We know that sin and evil are real. Christ warned his disciples that there would be wars and false messages and chaos in the world. The Book of Revelation speaks of the reality of sin and the devil, and we name this reality every time we witness a baptism in church. One of the great temptations of our time, in the pluralistic and tolerant west, is that we trivialize or downplay the existence of evil. An event like the Fort Hood shootings comes along and we look for sociological or psychological reasons, while not fully admitting that this was an evil act. When I speak to young soldiers preparing to deploy, I tell them that they need to understand that good is real, and so is evil. They will see evil things overseas. They’ve seen it, whether in the poverty of Haiti or the killing of Rwanda and Bosnia or the violence and fanaticism of Afghanistan. We see the reality of evil in every act of terrorism abroad and social injustice at home, where the needs of banks and shareholders seem to take precedence over the needs of the legions of poor and unemployed. We see the reality of evil in the steady exhaustion and abuse of God’s world. We are called to fight evil, fear and chaos with the light and love of the gospel for as long as we are given on earth, but we are also called to remember that we are mortal. Our time will end. Our lives will end. Our world will end. We need not be afraid of these things, for scripture promises us that evil, darkness and death will be defeated (Rev 21-22).

All through scripture, one of the great refrains, one of its main drifts as the Anglican divine Richard Hooker called them, is the call of reassurance “Be not afraid”. Adam and Eve hide in the garden, ashamed of their nakedness and of their disobedience, and God calls them back into relationship with him. The angels tell the shepherds to “fear not” when “mighty dread had seized their troubled minds”. The disciples are “startled and terrified” to see the risen Christ, and Jesus says “Peace be with you” (Lk 24:37). When John sees “the one like the Son of Man” in Revelation he falls to the ground “as though dead” but he is raised up and told “Do not be afraid” (Rev 1:17). Again and again in scripture, God’s hand is extended, raising us up out of fear and darkness and death, drawing us into the light and love and light of his presence. The root of all our sin is found when we ignore that outstretched hand and try to cling to our old lives, hoping for a little more time, a little more security, a little more comfort. There are many ways the world can seem to end. An IED can explode in Afghanistan. A job can vanish. A marriage can end. A diagnosis can be delivered. We can be wiped out on the highway. Darkness and death may seem to surround us. In the midst of these things, the Christian message as described in our second lesson remains as true as ever. Encourage one another. Fight for good. Be confident in the work of Christ, whose sacrifice made once and for all has set us free. This is the Christian story, and it is a never-ending story. “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed.”

Amen.

Task Force Panther--Mission Compete

Task Force Panther's mission to Iraq 2008-2009 is complete.

At Zero Dark Thirty in the morning it was too early to have the youngest 3 greet me at Green Ramp. But, Liz and Myles were there. The combination of drinking coffee (at the last airport stop and on the plane) and excitement to see Family was enough to energize me for the reunion. What a great feeling . . . .

The Fall(en)

My homecoming is quite a journey. It's more than a plane ride. It's so twilight zone. One becomes accustomed to living in a completely different culture: sights, sounds, smells, weather, etc. Then in a matter of days it feels like you are time-warped back into Garrison and American life: people, familiar things, safety in one sense.

But there is a kind of clashing that goes on inside of us. The deployment is over, but not quite.

The widow of one our Fallen Paratroopers was here to visit with us. Together it brings those closer to a sense of closure with new clarity.

On a bus in Kuwait I sat next to a sharp NCO and we discussed the reasons why Soldiers engage in high risk activities especially after a deployment even though they receive numerous safety briefings, ad nauseum. He took a very common sense approach and had some valid points. I asked him what he thought of the human being's fallen nature, the spiritual and moral bend to do things that cross the line. That was one to ponder.

When Paratroopers return from deployment to the desert they are very very thirsty. It's almost as if they had nothing to drink for a whole a year! That is difficult to mitigate against.

I visited a Trooper in the hospital who met terra ferma from four stories without a parachute.

Last night I took my son out to hear his piano recital. The leaves are still falling off the trees in this part of North Carolina. The church landscape was beautiful. The colors continue to pop though many leaves were rustling at my feet.

Upon the conclusion of the recital the instructor praised the children for their musical accomplishments. And, then she said something like, "If music was just about playing the perfect notes, then we would all be robots."

We are not robots. God did not create us that way, and our lives will not always play perfect notes. Life is not perfect, and somehow there is beauty in that. There is beauty in seeing a child struggle to play the perfect notes even though sometimes they are off key. That goes for you and me too. The perfect notes are out there though.

Twilight zone and time warp is going on inside of me. Driving home from the recital, my son and I are listening to Christmas music on the radio. My favorite: Peanuts, "Christmas Time is Here" (Piano Instrumental).

The Christmas music, hitting all the perfect notes pointed me to a time in the future when there will no longer be the Fall(en) or the proclivity to go in that direction. It pointed me to the Advent of the Perfect One who has shown us the perfect way. The season to celebrate that joy will soon be upon us.

In the News . . .

82D, 3BCT, the Brigade which I am assigned participated in a live studio audience show via satellite with Oprah.

Sarah Palin is to visit Ft. Bragg, but not after some misgivings. Story here.

Here are some great pics of my Battalion, 2-505 or 2-Panther, HHC and Fox Companies, returning on 17 Nov 09. I arrived ahead of them at 0300, twelve hours prior to their landing and was able to greet them as they returned.

1 of 6 Myths

Would you bear with me just a little for a moment? I'd like to share a pet peeve. I have a difficult time with people who have a "can't do" attitude. There are 10 different ways from Sunday why "it" can't work. The opinionators may have some influence, but they are not the subject matter experts in the field in which they are commenting.

I don't consider myself to be an idealist, but I'm no way a pessimist! Here's part of an article from the Weekly Standard written by an Infantry Officer who just returned from Afghanistan in July.

Myth: America cannot win a war in Afghanistan, the "graveyard of empires." How can America succeed where Alexander the Great, the British, and the Soviet Union struggled? This refrain belongs, as they say now in the military, in the graveyard of analogies.

The Soviets, in particular, teach us how not to win in Afghanistan. A heavily mechanized force, the Red Army was ill-suited for Afghanistan's treacherous terrain, and it was dependent on long, vulnerable supply lines. It also discouraged innovative junior leadership, which is critical against an insurgency. To compensate, the Soviets employed vicious, massively destructive tactics that inflamed the Afghan people and still scar the country with depopulated valleys and adult amputees maimed as children by toy-shaped mines.

Our present way of war couldn't be more different. We deploy light and wheeled infantry to Afghanistan, making our tactics more flexible, our supply lines shorter, and our soldiers more engaged with the locals. We also radically decentralize decision-making authority to our junior soldiers and leaders, who increasingly can draw on years of combat experience.

In short, America has a counter-insurgency strategy, whereas the Soviet Union had a genocide strategy. Afghans I spoke with always recognized the difference, reviled the Russians, and respected our troops.

Chaplains, Ready for Anything

From the USA Today, an article about the Chaplains responding to the crisis at Ft. Hood.

This is what we train for, even at home. Here is a post that I wrote back in June 2007 about a MASCAL (Mass Casulaty) Exercise on Ft. Bragg that I was spontaneously volunetold to participate in. It was a kink in my plans for the afternoon, but I'm grateful for the training. No bravado here. Chaplains are not innoculated from the pain either.

Five Scenes, One Theme: A True if Unlikely Story

In October of 1989, as a young Airman, I took some Leave, bought a Eurarail pass, climbed aboard a C-5 Galaxy on Space-A at Dover AFB, DE and found myself in Germany about 8 hours later. The U.S. was in the tail end of the Cold War, but we didn't really know the whole of it just yet. It was about 2 weeks later, after I had flown home that the Berlin Wall came down. I had just missed it! 20 years later, I just missed being in the same country for the anniversary, but I am reminded first of the stress, then the impact and change from those days.

As I return from my year-long tour in Iraq, essentially having fought agains Religious Extremisim, not Communism anymore, perhaps we don't quite see the whole way ahead for Iraq, though it's there, or even Afghanistan. It's a different idealogy, but the same kind of evil force that enslaves people for harm. I think it's quite possible that the tipping point for Iraq has already come on June 30th, 2009, when the Iraqi people celebrated their own freedom with much fanfare as the U.S. forces formally withdrew from the major cities. As usual, in this case, the world didn't take much notice.

20 years later, in Germany, I'm reading Bono reflect on the past:

EXT. BRANDENBURG GATE
BERLIN, NOVEMBER 2009 — NIGHT
The camera cranes over a crowd of thousands gathered in Pariser Platz.
An Irish band plays its song “One” in the city where it was written nearly 20 years earlier. The band is here for an MTV broadcast celebrating the anniversary of the wall’s falling. A helicopter shot glides like a ghost through the architecture of this most modern of cities: the avant-garde Chancellery, the glass dome at the top of the Reichstag, the refurbished Brandenburg Gate. Images of East and West Berlin dancing to the music are projected on the gate, turning this monument to peace into a graffiti wall of the same....

From the Army The Chief of Chaplains

11 November 2009, Veteran’s Day

Members of the Army Chaplaincy Family, Greetings to all of you in the Name of our Great God! I’m writing to you on Veteran’s Day, returning from a sad but hopeful trip to Fort Hood, Texas. Yesterday many of you watched or read about the Fort Hood Memorial Ceremony that honored thirteen of our fallen Soldiers who lost their lives to a senseless tragedy in the midst of a normal duty day. As President Barak Obama noted in his remarks, they were Soldiers “unable to escape the horrors of war, even in the comfort of home.” Our Army is a mission focused organization, prepared to defend our Nation at a moment’s notice and to do our duty in the midst of great challenge and calamity. And yet, events like the Fort Hood shootings don’t make sense; they “kick us in the gut” and take our breath away. They force us into an operational pause from our busy lives, and to reflect on what matters most- Family, friends, faith, community. In my own quiet moments since this tragedy, I have reflected on a few key lessons I’d like to share with you.

The first lesson is the reminder that we must always remain agents of hope in the midst of the persistent threat of evil. As President Obama said yesterday, “It may be hard to comprehend the twisted logic that led to this tragedy. But this much we do know - no faith justifies these murderous and craven acts; no just and loving God looks upon them with favor.” Such a treacherous violation of divine law as we witnessed on 5 November 2009 reminds us that there are indeed “spiritual forces of evil” from which we must guard ourselves, our Soldiers, and our collective hearts. Our Corps’ song, Soldiers of God, reminds us that “we are the Chaplains of the Nation…the Legions of Light.” We most effectively serve and protect our Soldiers, and each other, by remaining strong sources of light and hope that illuminate the glory of God’s righteousness above all other paths or alternatives. Our Soldiers struggle daily with temptations and thoughts that cause them to drift from the influence of what President Lincoln referred to in his first Inaugural Address as the “better angels of our nature.” As we represent and proclaim all those things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, moral, and excellent, then we help fortify our military culture against the influence of things that can harm our Soldiers and their Families. This is a powerful and important mission for us to remember and undertake daily as the agents of hope for our Army.

The second lesson is that we have the privilege of being part of an Army Strong community. Our Army Family is indeed the strength of our Nation. The President noted many who testified to the great ethos of our Army yesterday in his remarks. Amber Barr was “so intent on helping others that she did not realize for some time that she, herself, had been shot.” Police Officers Mark Todd and Kim Munley stormed into the face of danger to save others. Francisco de la Serna, a medic, treated both Officer Munley and the gunman; most likely saving the lives of both. Joey Foster, another of the wounded, also worked diligently to help others after being shot in the hip himself. Each of these individuals put a public face on what it means to obey the words “love your neighbor more than yourself.” Francisco de la Serna, while providing medical care for the gunman, showed the world that Soldiers will not return evil with evil, but will “overcome evil with good.” These are amazing testimonies to the values and virtues that our Soldiers possess and which you teach to them. They are not always easy virtues to maintain, but they are always beautiful to behold. I commend our Soldiers for practicing these virtues, and our Chaplain Corps for modeling and teaching them.

The third lesson I’ve been touched by is to love deeply now. We lost 13 precious souls we never expected to lose last Thursday. Yesterday there was also a powerful Memorial Service at Fort Lewis where multiple other Soldiers were remembered for their supreme sacrifice, including the spouse of one of our own chaplain assistants. At the Fort Hood memorial ceremony, I stood in reverence before each of the 13 memorial displays, reading the names and looking at the pictures of the Fallen. I regret not having met these Soldiers. I wish I had been given the honor of hearing their sacred stories. Life is fragile. It’s brief. We must learn to love all we can, in all the ways we can, as much as we can, and for as long as we can. We must love extravagantly all those precious people God places in our lives as treasured gifts from the Heart of God, for that is what they truly are. My heartfelt gratitude goes out to all of you for the record levels of Strong Bonds events, and other similar ministries you’ve conducted to enable our Soldiers and Families to love each other more deeply. You’re doing a great job to meet that need.

The fourth lesson regards the promise of resilience to the caregiver. Proverbs 11:25 says that “…the person who refreshes others will themselves be refreshed.” SGM Marrero and I flew to Fort Hood the day before their memorial ceremony with one purpose in mind: to provide ministry of presence to the Fort Hood UMTs. We observed their compassionate and pastoral care at the Spiritual Fitness Center as they ministered to the Families of the Fallen. We worshipped and prayed with them as they prepared their souls for another emotionally draining day. We watched our chaplains and chaplain assistants plan and rehearse every detail of the memorial ceremony to ensure that our Fallen were honored properly. And, we sat back with tearful joy as our UMTs quietly attended the many needs of over 15,000 gathered for the memorial ceremony to mourn our Fallen Soldiers. As SGM Marrero and I return back home to our loved ones, we find ourselves refreshed and ready for the next leg of our exciting journey as your chief and regimental SGM. God promises to refresh the caregiver as they refresh others.

On this Veterans’ Day, I admit to different emotions running through my veins. I grieve as a Soldier for our Fallen Soldiers and for their wonderful Families. Yet, simultaneously I am filled with exuberant pride for the humble privilege to serve the spiritual needs of such tremendous Americans, alongside each of you in our Corps. You are making a huge difference in our Army at this hour of great need and powerful challenge. What stellar servants and “Soldiers of God” you are. As we move beyond the clouds of the past few days and press ahead towards the Thanksgiving holiday, please know that my bride, Sunny, and I are thankful for each one of you. We count it a daily blessing to serve in your ranks. This is indeed a great Army and we as a Branch remain committed to its spiritual support and leadership. Thank you for remaining vigilant in your prevailing ministry to our Soldiers and Families. Happy Veteran’s Day and Happy Thanksgiving to you all.


Pro Deo Et Patria!

2012

Posting from Kuwait. I don't have much time, so I haven't vetted this website called, The American Catholic. While in the chow hall this morning I saw a story on Fox News that was very disturbing. It's about the new movie, "2012."

The link is worth reading for the religios news effect.

pl

Got Guilt?

When you read this, what is your reaction? What is the first thing that pops in your mind? By asking you that question there is a strong possibility that it will trigger feelings of guilt and shame from the past.

Is that guilt real? Or is it just perceived? The litany of questions could go on.

I'm convinced that the enemy of our souls wants us to feel guilty for things that we do not deserve. This is called, "false guilt."

We're all born with a conscience. Some are more active than others. Psychologists call it an "internal parent." A person's conscience could be under active if one choose a consistent course of thought and action that conflicts with the truth. An overactive conscience condemns oneself for imaginary faults.

This could be a quagmire.

For the Christian, one can find forgiveness from sin, the violation of truth and disobedience to it against God or another person.

Here is an existential definition of guilt: it is the negative feelings for doing something wrong; having "crossed the line."

Here is a definition of shame: it is the negative feelings that you are a bad person.

There is a difference between guilt and shame. Guilt comes from something that you did wrong. Shame is feeling like you are a bad person. Seeing the separation of these two is important.

Shame comes from guilt. If you get rid of the guilt, then you can get rid of your shame.

I John 1.9 says, "If we confess our sins, he [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

You can do that with a simple prayer to God.

When you confess your sins to God, and He forgives you, then you are no longer guilty. He does not hold it against you. You are forgiven, guilt free.

I John 3.19-21 says, "By this we know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us [false guilt], God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God."

You can gain confidence with youself by not allowing false guilt to hinder your life. And, God's plan of forgiveness also brings confidence before Him as well. Sometimes you might find yourself feeling ashamed, like you are a bad person, for something when you are in the right. This is when someone tries to lay a guilt trip on you, when you don't deserve it. Recongizing when we do, or not is crucial to gaining confidence in ourselves and before God.

O.K., so here's the catch. When we confess our sin, we also need to repent from it. Repenting means making a 180 degree turn-around. If you are going in the wrong direction, then turn around and go the right way.

"But, Chaplain, I don't think I'll ever be perfect?" You are right. Neither of us will on this side of Heaven. That is why I John 2.1-2 says, "But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation [forgiveness] for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world."

What do we get when we receive God's forgiveness? G.A.C.E.

G-God's
R-Riches
A-At
C-Christ's
E-Expense

We get something awesome that we don't deserve. Jesus Christ stood in for our punishment on the Cross. He was our substitute. He stood in for us when we deserved punishment from God. Romans 5.8 says, "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

When we trust God through Christ with faith in our hearts in Him that he will forgive us then that brings spiritual transformation in our lives. We are free from guilt. The Apostle Paul wrote, "If anyone is in Christ, s/he is a new creation, the old has gone and the new has come" (2 Cor. 5.17). We can know this and experience this every day.

Guilt is part of the make-up of our human nature. There is always a line of tresspass somewhere: with God, people, laws. Do you need forgiveness? Trust Christ, and God will forgive you. You do not have to be burdened with guilt, nor live with shame.

Hey, one more thing: if God forgives you, don't you think you should forgive yourself? Don't hold yourself to a higher standard than God. When should you stop feeling guilty? When you confess the wrong, and repent, walking in God's love and truth.

No more bad feelings from the past, nor feeling like a bad person. Now, go put this into practice with prayer, repentance, and walk in God's love and truth.

Someone needed that today. Maybe it was you.

Blessings.

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82D ABN DIV Arriving Home

My 56 Mike Leads the Way

SGT Derrick R. Hobbs, 2-505 PIR at Green Ramp, Pope AFB/Ft. Bragg, NC.

Derrick, may your homecoming be blessed! I'm not too far behind.

Veterans Day: Some Important Thoughts about Operation Iraqi Freedom

This is our HHC Company at Joint Security Station Beladiyat taken after the End of Tour Award Ceremony.

While eating my last meal in the dinning area at JSS Beladiyat I happened to be sitting across from one of our TERPS--Interpreters. Since the polling data in the U.S. has been abominable regarding our mission here, I thought because it was my last night I'll ask his opinion about the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and how things have progressed. Essentially, "What's your opinion on the whole matter?" Being honest, I was very unsure about what he might say.

But he told me over and over again like this, "I'm telling you. I'm telling you. I'm telling you. It was a good thing." So, why was it a good thing? He told me that he was a Kurd, which I didn't know. And, back in 1988 about an hour drive from his home 5,000 people in that village: men, women, and children were killed by chemical weapons when an Iraqi jet dropped WMD on them.

The link provided will tell you a lot more than just one incident. Thousands of villages were destroyed. Just Google the topic and there is documented evidence and graphic pictures all over the net. The Kurdish people were brutally oppressed. It was on December 30, 2006 that Saddam Hussein was executed for crimes against humanity from a different incident involving the execution of 148 Iraqi Shiites in the town of Dujail in 1982.

The list could go on and on. At FOB Loyalty where my "home base" was for 6 months of my deployment, the building which our headquarters was housed used to be a jail and torture chamber where victims where hung from hooks off the ceiling, like a slab of meat, and their blood would drip down a sloped floor into a drain in the corner.

As the many polls cite above, the military personnel, VETERANS, who have fought hard and bravely during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) deserve much greater credit than the majority of our citizens provide them in regard to the incredible success they have accomplished despite the overwhelming opinions against their mission. Indeed OIF Vets have been supported; though the majority of opinion was and is against what they were doing. They soldiered on even though the call across America has been, "Bring the Troops Home Now."

You must know that people like the Interpreter with whom I talked during one of my last nights in country say, "We love America, and thank them for what they did."

Read what Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said to our Troops on July 26, 2006:

US Embassy press release titled "Remarks by President Bush and PM Mailiki at Lunch with Military Personnel and Families":

"...We are happy to be partners in this holy task of fighting terrorism and establishing democracy. Iraq, because of what you have offered, because of what your sons have offered, your families have offered, has now moved from dictatorship to democracy; from oppression, torture chambers, chemical weapons, and now into a state of freedom, liberty and partnership... And we are confident that we will succeed, because you, and people like you are helping us to confront terrorism -- terrorism that is spreading in our land -- with foreign support."

A CBS News Poll from 9-12 July 2009 asked this question to Americans:

"Which do you think most Iraqi people are feeling right now: grateful to the United States for getting rid of Saddam Hussein, or resentful of the United States for having taken military action against Iraq?"

Answer: 44% believe that the Iraqi people are resentful for the invasion. And, 38% grateful.

Clearly that is a misperception on behalf of the American people because the vast majority of Iraqi people do not feel that way.

What America has done through her military forces has removed an oppressive megalomanic who was responsible for the deaths of nearly a million people through the initiation of the Iran-Iraq War, the genocide of the Kurds, the Invasion of Kuwait, and the oppression of his own people.

The Veterans of OIF can be proud that they have provided true Justice, Freedom, Democracy, and a regional ally in the Middle-east.

Sometimes the American people need to lift their eyes off themselves and look around the world instead of only asking, "what's in it for me?"

And finally, though I am a different religion than most of the people in Iraq, I am persuaded that there has been a ring of the Divine to provide true justice to the oppressed and freedom to it's people.

Happy Veterans Day to all Vets, but especially OIF Vets.

Chaplain Paul Lynn

Out of the Box

I'm "out of the box."

The term "inside the box" is used during a phase at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) when it's an intense time of over-realistic training. It's a years worth of experience compounded in a span of days. Well, my year is almost up.

I conducted my RIP (Relief in Place) with the replacing Chaplain, the BN Commander pinned a Bronze Star on me, I jumped in the back on an MRAP, climbed in a Chinook (pic. above), and arrived at BIAP (Baghdad International Airport) at zero dark thirty in the morning.

I had sent a ton of my stuff home so that I wouldn't have to carry as much as I brought into country. I remember SGT Hobbs and I estimating about a 120lb pack, herking it in from Kuwait up to FOB Loyalty last Dec 2008. When I was stepping off the Chinook I said to myself, "I'm not going to do this again." That is, bring this much stuff.

Well, sure enough, someone needed a hand because they had multiple bags. Tons of stuff going in. Tons of stuff going out. It's just another way to serve.

I am very thankful to the Lord, and His Saints for such wonderful support in so many different ways. I made over 70 missions "outside the wire" to Joint Security Stations (JSS) visiting Paratroopers; only 3 were done by helicopter. The bulk were by MRAP or 1151 HMMWV.

So, I'm out of the box and waiting for my freedom bird.

Pro-Life Health Care Bill Passes House

From the Gray Lady: "Both sides credited a forceful lobbying effort by Roman Catholic bishops with the success of the provision, inserted in the bill under pressure from conservative Democrats."

“We think that providing health care is itself a pro-life thing, and we think that, by and large, providing better health coverage to women could reduce abortions,” said Richard M. Doerflinger, a spokesman for the anti-abortion division of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“But we don’t make these decisions statistically, and to get to that good we cannot do something seriously evil.”

Great effort!

Movie Review of New Iraq War Film

There is a new Iraq war film out called, "The Messenger." No, it's not about Islam. It's supposed to be about the life of a Casualty Notification Officer (CNO), starring Woody Harrelson. This review from the N.Y. Times discusses the fact that Iraq war films have been underwhelming. The closest film to get it right, and I still didn't like it was "Hurt Locker." I didn't see all of the Hurt Locker, it just didn't hold my attention; though it was dramatic it felt slow and choppy.

In the Messenger, there is no flash bang, it's all about dialogue and drama. Just reading this N.Y. Times review about the movie, it makes no mention whatsoever about the Chaplain's role in handling Casualty Notification. Any Chaplain who has done a number of these will tell you it is probably the most difficult job they will ever perform. Chaplains know from training and experience that they are not only there to support the bereaved, but the CNO! Sometimes it's the Chaplain who has to hold it all together. I can't remember a time that I didn't pray with the CNO before he delivered the news. There are lots of variables to consider as one approaches this situation. Having just read this review, if they chucked the Chaplain out of the film, then they've just missed a big piece of reality.

Apparently Harrelson's character just returned from a deployment to Iraq and has taken this position as a CNO. Notice in the picture above that he is not wearing a combat patch on his Class A uniform, right shoulder sleeve. It's very unusual for an officer not to have it on his uniform. As you can tell, the NCO to his left is wearing it. If they don't get little stuff like that right, they will get written off like all the other Iraq war flicks.

Frontlines Spiritual Warfare

This picture was painted by Michelangelo circa 1487-1489. It is St. Anthony fighting off demons. Here is a short version of the story, and here is a longer version of a bio of St. Anthony. I read Athanasius' Life of St. Anthony many years back, and though one might have to discern your way around it, it definitely had some take-aways to ponder. And, thus I use his life as example for this ministry experience below, among others as way of reference.

One of the most unique ministry experiences I had while deployed occurred at a JSS located a stones throw from Sadr City.

One night while lifting weights (not too much) in the gym, there was quite a bit of chatter and laughter coming from the company commander's table that was a few feet away from the gym. He called out to me something like, "Hey Chaplain, you're gonna need to go exorcise that room up there." And, the guys around the table were laughing. I took it kind of like a joke, and was hanging out with another Trooper doing our gym time, so I didn't pursue what he was talking about.

Later that night I bumped into a bunch of guys who stopped me and told me that they were not kidding. That there was some really creepy stuff going on in the one room where there are 2 super-duper Paratrooper squad leaders living. So, I inquired further.

I ended up seeing one of the squad leaders not too much longer after that. He had bandages rolling up his arm and it appeared he had burn wounds on his neck, face, and arm. I asked him what happened and he said he didn't know. He had a huge blister on his arm that was popping up about 2 inches high and about 3 inches or more in circumference. He was pretty angry and upset. And, this is what he told me:

A dark figure had been coming into his room on a regular basis in the middle of the night. He and his roommate would hear the door open and see this figure standing there. Eventually, the figure on one occasion entered the room when the other squad leader was in there sleeping by himself. This thing, picked him up out of bed, and threw him on the floor and pulled a huge satellite dish off the top bunk to crash down upon him. This squad leader is no small guy. This guy was freaked out, and didn't know exactly what to do.

Then, the Trooper that I was talking with, the one with the second degree burns that went from his arm to his upper lip told me his story. The dark figure opened the door when he was alone sleeping. He sat up to see it. The figure then caused a spark to appear like a cigarette lighter. As the Trooper was sitting up in bed watching this about 5 feet away, all of sudden he started to feel a burning sensation all over the areas of his body that I had just described. And, he started yelling, "I'm on fire, I'm on fire!"

So, I went to the room and heard these stories in detail from both of these guys. Let me tell you, these guys are not push-overs. They are high-speed squad leader Infantry Paratroopers. They are in incredibly great shape and highly professional. But, when they were telling me their stories in their room, their eyes were as wide as saucers and completely freaked out.

I asked them if they wanted this spiritual harassment to stop. And, of course they did. I addressed in a general fashion that any sin issues in their lives needed to be cleaned up. And, I prayed with them. Then I anointed them with oil, and told that "thing" in prayer to go to hell and never return to harass them. My chaplain Assistant was with me, and I asked them to go down the hall while I prayed in the Spirit and anointed their room with oil on the inside and out, especially the door.

SGT Hobbs told me later that in the hallway one of them said to him, "Wow, the Chaplain told that thing to go to hell!" Sure, that's where it belongs. I thought that was pretty funny. But, Jesus says, "Don't rejoice that demons are subject to my Name. But rejoice your names are written in Heaven."

That place was turned over to the Iraqis. But, every time I went back to visit that JSS I asked those guys if they had any more problems. And, they said, "No." Well, I don't think I'd ever send up a Powerpoint Storyboard slide to Corps indicating a "Best Practice," but, it's sure one to put in the ministry history books on this deployment.

"Chaplain, I didn't know you could do an exorcism?" Sure, why not?

Thoughts and Prayers for Soldiers and Families of Ft. Hood

As I've read through the the N.Y. Times and the Washington Post last night, browsed through Foxnews.com and CNN.com, the media brought out different angles of the story. Many of them had contradicting thoughts.

Many of you are now having contradicting thoughts. This is the classic 1. Shock, 2. Anger, 3. Denial, 4. Bargaining, 5. Depression or some kind of variation of Elizabeth Kubler Ross's Stages of Grief. It's natural to be feeling this way. It might be worth your while to Google it.

It's easy to be the arm chair critic right now. I've had some very angry thoughts that I would have liked to blog. The conversation is happening everywhere: the water cooler, the kitchen, the Internet, from your neck up, or any place where people get together to gab. I've decided not to be the critic on this blog. I can connect the dots just like anyone else. Is it not obvious? Or is it?

What it boils down to is this: it is a very sad moment for our country and military. And right now, most of all, Ft. Hood and Families need your prayers and support. May the Lord provide comfort in this great time of need.

A Post Post Reformation Day Post

I just finished reading Mark Batterson's Evotional blog titled, "Do we need another Reformation?" His short answer is, "yes."

Just a few days ago I wrote a Post Reformation Day Post basically saying that I wouldn't place a picture of Martin Luther posting his 95 Thesis on the Wittenburg Door on my blog. I still hold to that. It's important to have doctrinal boundaries and know what you believe. If you analyze what I'm saying I hope you will get this point: It's more important to be for something, than living your life against something. Let's not live in the past because our work is still cut out for us.

I read this passage almost every day in my Palm Pilot. "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil," (I Peter 3.10-12).

I concur with Luther in his 95 Thesis, and I whole-heartedly agree with Mark that we indeed need a new Reformation, re-capturing something that we have forgotten. (And, I can't wait to read his book, "Primal.") We haven't forgotten Luther's work and the theological boundaries that are now in place. What's the point of rubbing it in the Catholic's face?

Luther is a milestone, an important one, in Church History. But, we can't stop there. The Reformation principle that the Church always needs to reform herself is true. The Church hasn't arrived. Ephesians 4.13 is incomplete, "until we attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."

The context for this is the gifts that God has given to the Church. It is incomplete. The Church is underdeveloped. And, there is a big job ahead of us. What are we missing? What do we need to rediscover? I'm going to check out what Mark has to say.

Dangles

This is Dangles. He is a beloved dog by our Paratroopers on this JSS. I can't leave here without posting about Dangles.

There is a difference of opinion, culturally speaking, on how Americans and Iraqis view man's best friend. Dangles has been around us since our first platoon arrived here in December of 2008. Dangles got his name because someone decided to shoot him, and everyone thought he ran off to die. But Dangles emerged, a tough old dog, with a permanent limp and a back leg that just . . . dangles. Ergo, his name.

When I took this picture, he had flies all over him. A new Sergeant that arrived complimented the dog in front of me, trying to scatter the flies off of him as I took his picture. Americans just love Dangles.

Dangles even tried to run with me on three legs when I took my PT test in July. He owns the place. If you think he's a mild mannered canine and he's there to be pushed around, you'll have to think again. No one who taunts this dog will get away with it. He will love you, but he'll also make you respect him.

Although I've just written some flattering words about a wounded dog, I can't help think about the analogy of Dangles to Christians. I think about the book that Henri Nouwen wrote, "Wounded Healer." Though all of us have been tainted by sin, those who allow Christ in our lives will emerge not just with God's Spirit, but we will rise again in the Resurrection to eternal life someday.

Though God's Spirit lives in us as Christians, we are still touched by sin in and around us. We no longer have a mortal wound that will lead us to death, but we still carry around with us the effects of it. We are like Dangles.

Dangles is one confident canine. Everyone who meets him is impressed by this dog. Christians in the same way can be confident that God has got our backs, that He loves us, and will never forsake us, and He empowers us by his Spirit. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead can live in you. Do you want that?

Every time I saw Dangles I didn't feel pity for him; he was a living reminder of what God wants to do in me.

The Spiritual and Physical Athlete

While deployed to Iraq I've reflected a lot about being an ascetic. In the Early Church there was a group called, "The Desert Fathers" that many sought spiritual insight from. They were considered Spiritual Athletes.

Here is a broad definition of an Ascetic. Simply put, an Ascetic is considered to be a Spiritual Athlete. As a Chaplain deployed to the desert, obviously without my wife and children there are ascetical qualities that are inherent. Yet, it's not just spiritual self-denial, but maintaining good physical conditioning through Physical Training (PT), even during deployment to a desert. There is a physical addition to the ascetical life as a Chaplain.

Here is an oldy but goody article that Eugene Peterson wrote for Christianity Today about the Ascetical and Aesthetical qualities of following Jesus. It's a great read. I've highlighted an excerpt, getting down into the weeds of a Christian definition of following Jesus, utilizing the ancient definition of ascetic and how it relates to the Christian life today.

"The ascetic. This is God's no in Jesus. Jesus' words are succinct and stark: "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me" (8:34). The ascetic life deals with life on the road.

The verbs that leap out of the sentence and pounce on us are "deny yourself" and "take up your cross." Renunciation and death. It feels like an assault, an attack. We recoil.

But then we notice that these two negatives are bracketed by the positive verb "follow," first as an infinitive, then as an imperative. "If anyone wants to follow" opens the sentence; "you follow me" concludes it. Jesus is going someplace; he invites us to come along. There is no hostility in that. It sounds, in fact, quite glorious: the great verb "follow" sheds glory on the negative verbs that call for renunciation and death."

I think it was Mark Batterson who said, "A change of pace, plus a change of place, equals spiritual growth." Certainly doing this kind of job qualifies, if one uses it as an opportunity for spiritual growth.

How might you avail yourself to an opportunity of spiritual growth?

The Secrets of Military Leadership

From WaPo: Here is an assorted compendium of reflections from various journalists, et. al., who have answered some of the questions why the American public has such a high trust level and respect for her Military Leadership. How might some of this translate to the Church? What aspects of leadership are they doing right?

Favorite Thing about Iraq and My Reverse Bucket List

This energy drink that I've only seen in Iraq is really good. I like the taste way better than any I've tasted back in the States: "Wild Tiger." Forget about sleeping if you drink one of these. Energy drinks like Red Bull, Monster, etc., are staple methods for liquidation, if you you can get your hands on some. I know, I just used the word liquidation in a new way. But, this Wild Tiger is the bomb.

Barbara asked me about my Bucket List. Things I want to do when I get home. Well, I'm still thinking about things I want to be removed from, like far far away. No offense to any Iraqi friends.

1. Indirection Fire (IDF). This means mortars and rockets--RPGs and 107mm. I got to see all three in a personal way.

2. IEDs/EFP, especially the latter. That is the Iranian version of an IED. It explodes and shoots out 1 to 4 (array) molten copper (most effective) or steal slugs, that are larger than softball size.

3. This goes along with #1 and #2. Driving on Route Predators or Route Plutos, the deadliest roads in Baghdad.

4. The almost constant stench of burning garbage and ubiquitous sewage.

5. This really could be #1. The absence of my wife and kids. Yeah, that could be on the bucket list. But, the sense of loneliness and absence of Family is painful enough to say I'm ready to leave that feeling behind.

6. No longer shaving with a bottle of water, sometimes on the hood of a 1151 HMMWV.

7. No longer carrying around a tourniquet in my lower right pocket. It's just awkward to think about having to save your own limb or someone else's on a daily basis, as it's just one reminder of potential danger. Oh yeah, and so you don't bleed out too.

8. Crazy sleep schedule. We own the night.

9. Regular Army chow.

10. The heat. I'm ready for four seasons.

And, one more. 11. The multiple-times-a-day Muslim Call to Prayer.

Movie about Muhammad

The producer of the Matrix is planning to unleash a movie most Muslims will disagree with. This is definitely one way to "educate" the West about Islam. It will definitely upset the apple cart.

Post Reformation Day Post

1 November is Reformation Day. I'm a little late on posting. I've been a little distracted. Our Internet has been turned off. In military parlance that's called a "commo blackout." Our brother infantry battalion lost a Paratrooper in a vehicle roll-over. This is coming on the end of the coat tails of the deployment. It's a hard hit right before our return. If you think of it, please pray for 1-Panther and the Family.

As commo came up I noticed some significant Christian blogs with the picture of Marty Luther posting his Thesis on the Wittenburg Door. When in college my friends and I celebrated Reformation Day together with some silliness. It was a lot of fun.

I grew up in a Family where my Dad was a devout Catholic and my mother Pentecostal. I like to say that after Church on Sunday at dinner time (lunch) we had holy wars. Not all the time, of course. But, it was kind of like Northern Ireland to take the metaphor farther. I had to do comparative religion at a young age. Well, my older brother, retired Air Force Officer and his Family have maintained the Catholic faith and so it still runs in my Family. He's been an Ordained Deacon in the Church for several years now. The polemics have ceased, but the wrestling with the doctrines of faith has not, at least in my mind.

He has been influenced by Pentecostal Pneumatology and just the shear experience of knowing God in the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. There is one particular story that if I wrote it out here, you would be taken aback by a bona fide miracle through the power of the Holy Spirit as it relates to the conversion of his friend one night. Perhaps I'll save that story for another time.

Here is a story from Christianity Today about the growing rift between Catholics and Evangelicals Together (ECT). ECT is not just a document that leadership from two sides of the Church signed, but it's a kind of a movement. Where has it gone? Where is it going? What does it mean in relation to John 17?

As a student in a Bible College I celebrated Reformation Day. Today, I wouldn't be so quick to post a picture of the great Martin Luther at the Wittenburg Door. Looking forward to reading Wright and Piper when I get home.