December 17, 2010
ASIST Training
Last month I taught a class for thirty soldiers on ways to intervene when someone they know is considering suicide. The training is Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) and is a two day training event. In the training we got to teach soldiers skills that can use on many different levels. The two days are spent teaching the soldiers by group training, small group sessions, group discussion and finally with participant role playing. It was a great two day event.
December 1, 2010
What a beautiful place. Laura and I have been at The Cove for a Chaplains retreat. Wow, what a wonderful time for me and Laura. We have been able to fellowship with many other Chaplains and their spouses. We have been renewed by spending time in God's Word. We have heard the Divine Whisper and we have drank from the well of the Living Water.
Exhale!
One of the greatest things about this is that it is not over yet. We have a few more sessions and a few more people to meet. If you are feeling burned out and overwhelmed by life make sure you are spending some time with God. I often get too busy with ministry to spend adequate time with God. It is good to retreat to a quiet place to speak to God, to get a word from the Lord and to be renewed.
Thank you God for all your wonderful mercies!
November 14, 2010
Playing Catch-Up
It has been a while since I have posted anything so here is a shotgun blast of some of the things that have been going on since my last post.
Since moving to the new unit I have learned a lot. In the beginning of October, my unit had aerial gunnery and I had an opportunity to go into the field and see my new soldiers doing their jobs. I really enjoyed learning what they do and getting to know their stories. Things are going really well and I have had opportunities to connect with my soldiers and I look forward to more opportunities. While we were in the field we had a family day. Families came out to see their soldier doing their job. I think it was a wonderful event. The attached pictures are from that day. Laura & Victoria enjoyed being out there spending time with me in the field. I love my job!!
On 06NOV10, Laura, Victoria and I did a 5K on Fort Hood. It was my first ever competitive run. I hope is only the beginning, one day I would love to run a half marathon and some day a full marathon. For this run I finished 15th in my age group of 29-39. I completed the 3.2 miles in 25:11. Next time I hope to be a little closer to 21 minutes. Laura, Victoria and I enjoyed the great event.
Today, I had the opportunity to worship with First Baptist Church Belton, TX. It was a great time of celebrating Veteran's and their families and being reminded of why it is important tell people about Jesus. It was a great day of worship!!
On 28NOV10, I will become the Senior Pastor of 76th Street Chapel. Please be in prayer with me as I love and seek to lead the great people of our chapel community. I will be joined in leadership by CH Chris Weinrich. Part of my prayer is that we will be effective at reaching out to soldiers that are right around the chapel. I am praying for divine ideas of impacting our chapel and our soldiers. We have to have the perspective that the small things we do in life can and do make an eternal difference. Thanks for partnering with me in prayer as I lead this congregation.
Well, I think this is pretty much it for now. I hope all of you are doing well and that you feel the presence of God in your lives daily. God Bless!!
September 21, 2010
Moving On Up
If you are as old as I am, you probably have the Jefferson's theme song playing in your head. We did not move to a high-rise apartment when we moved last month, instead the title references my impending change of units. At the end of this month I will be leaving 1-7 CAV and going to 1-227 Air Cavalry Brigade (ACB). Yes, I will no longer be in a ground unit. The next time I deploy, my main means of transport will be by air, that will be different. My new soldiers will be helicopter pilots, mechanics, fuelers, etc. (everything to do with helicopters) It is going to be a very different world from what I have known thus far in my Army career, but I am looking forward to it. When I was in basic and I knew I was going to the 1st Cavalry Division I asked for the ACB. So, I am getting my wish a little delayed. :-)