Week In Review (Dec 20th-26th 2010)

Short week is the best way to describe the past week.  That just means that we did 5 days worth of work in 3.

Monday was filled with briefs and other office work as is becoming the routine.  Went to dental for a checkup in the morning.  Of course they scheduled my cleaning on my day off.  Had an intel brief and overview of the upcoming deployment.  It gave me some framework with which to start planning our ministry plan for when we finally get in country.  I also did my first PRT since coming back on active duty.  I wanted to get one on the upcoming fitrep and to get on the cycle with the rest of the Navy personnel in the battalion.  I should have pushed the sit-ups a bit more and maxed those out.  I was remembering the old scoring system where your weakest area governed your overall score.  I figured I would run about 11min so didn't worry about the other areas too much.  I ran a 9:55 and should have maxed the sit-ups like I did the push ups then the overall would have been much higher.  Oh well, lesson learned for the spring cycle.

Tuesday was more meetings in the morning getting some predeployment presentations ready and then the afternoon was a cultural brief for the deployment.  That was pretty interesting and I got some good book recommendations from the presenter.  I also learned I can get some one-on-one tutoring on the local language before we deploy and will set up a schedule this coming week.  I think knowing the language, however limited, will help break the ice and open doors with the locals when we are deployed. 

Wednesday was a medical stand down which meant I had to have my record checked for a few things.  Seeing how I just checked in nothing was a surprise and I had to get a typhoid vaccination (its my 3rd one since joining) because the record didn't transfer.  I need to find that yellow card soon to update everything.  I get to endure the yellow fever one again once they have enough people to open a vial.  And I am sure there are more shots coming before the deployment.  We then put everyone on their 96 hour liberty and had our holiday party.  They moved the schedule up 30 minutes from what was published so I literally walked in to the party right as the CO was calling for me to do the blessing.  Divine intervention got me there in time to do the blessing and not miss my one job for the evening.

Spent the weekend at home for Christmas and got to see some snow finally.  I kept hearing all the people back in Durham talk about snow repeatedly this winter and was getting a little jealous.

The above picture is my parent's neighborhood right before I left this afternoon.  I was grateful that the NC DOT did a wonderful job clearing the roads this morning and that allowed me a smooth ride back.  There was one wreck on I-40 and I still can't figure out how it happened.  The road was completely dry where it occurred and there were 5 cars involved.

Next week is another short week as the 96 hour ends tomorrow afternoon and then we get another one starting Thursday at noon.  I can't go anywhere as I have CACO watch for the next 10 days starting tomorrow. 

Merry Christmas

I guess since everyone else is posting related to today being Christmas Eve, I'll join in the party.  I'm headed home for the holiday and will be back down to Lejeune on Sunday night as I have to take over CACO watch starting Monday morning and have it through the new year.  No parties for me I guess.  Seeing how I'll be deployed next year doing ministry to those who stand the watch I figured I borrow some poems I found over at Blackfive that sum up why I find it important to be doing what I do in taking care of the Marines and Sailors with whom I serve. 

The first one is pretty well known among the military circles:

‘Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
In a one-bedroom house made of plaster and stone.
I had come down the chimney, with presents to give
and to see just who in this home did live.

As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,
no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand.
On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.

With medals and badges, awards of all kind,
a sobering thought soon came to my mind.
For this house was different, unlike any I’d seen.
This was the home of a U.S. Marine.

I’d heard stories about them, I had to see more,
so I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.
And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor in his one-bedroom home.

He seemed so gentle, his face so serene,
Not how I pictured a U.S. Marine.
Was this the hero, of whom I’d just read?
Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?

His head was clean-shaven, his weathered face tan.
I soon understood, this was more than a man.
For I realized the families that I saw that night,
owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight.

Soon around the Nation, the children would play,
And grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year,
because of Marines like this one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home.
Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye.
I dropped to my knees and I started to cry.

He must have awoken, for I heard a rough voice,
“Santa, don’t cry, this life is my choice
I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more.
My life is my God, my country, my Corps.”

With that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep,
I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.

I watched him for hours, so silent and still.
I noticed he shivered from the cold night’s chill.
So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,
and covered this Marine from his toes to his head.
Then I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold,
with an eagle, globe and anchor emblazoned so bold.
And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,
and for one shining moment, I was Marine Corps deep inside.

I didn’t want to leave him so quiet in the night,
this guardian of honor so willing to fight.
But half asleep he rolled over, and in a voice clean and pure,
said “Carry on, Santa, it’s Christmas Day, all secure.”
One look at my watch and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas my friend, Semper Fi and goodnight.

©Copyright circa 1991 by James M. Schmidt
(As printers in the December 1991 issue of the USMC magazine, Leatherneck)

The second I just saw for the first time today and wanted to post it as well as it is a good thing for those who don't have the best of feelings for the military to read to get an insight into why those in the service volunteer to stand watch this time of year:

A DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS POEM

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,

I  gazed round the room  and I cherished the sight.

My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,

My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,

transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,

completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,

Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.

In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,

So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,

But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.

Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,

Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,

And I crept to the door  just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,

a lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,

Perhaps a Marine, huddled  here in the cold.

Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,

standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,

Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,

You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,

Away from the cold and the  snow blown in drifts..

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light.

Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every  night."

"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,

That separates you from  the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,

I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"

Then he sighed, "That's  a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."

My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam,'

And now it is my turn  and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,

But  my wife sends me  pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,

The red, white, and  blue... an American flag.

"I can live through the cold and the being alone,

Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,

I can sleep in a  foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,

Or lay down my life with my  sister and brother..

Who stand at the front against any and all,

To ensure for all time that  this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,

Your family is waiting  and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,

"Give you money," I  asked, "or prepare you a feast?"

It seems all too little for all that you've done,

For being away from  your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,

"Just tell us you love  us, and never forget.

To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,

To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

    For when we come home, either standing or dead,

To know you remember we fought and we bled.

    Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,

That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.

H/T Subsunk at Blackfive

My prayer for this night is for the safe return of those who are standing the watch tonight.  I have good friends all around the world tonight and I remember the days I was out there at Christmas.  We treated it like any other day knowing that we'd get a chance to celebrate it when we got back.  And I also use this night to pray for everyone to finally lay down arms and see beyond our nature to see God's good plan for us.  But until then, I'll continue to serve those who are on watch as long as God sees fit.  

Merry Christmas!

Week In Review (Dec 13th-19th 2010)

Another week in the life of an infantry chaplain.  Life is getting busier and will continue to do so until after we return from deployment seeing how we start the intense workups after the holidays.

Monday held my first day on Casualty Assistance Call Officer (CACO) watch.  We have a chaplain standing by each day to go with the CACO for any notifications.  Quiet day and that is a good thing. 

Tuesday was my day to attend Combat Life Saver (CLS).  This course is essentially first aid that I learned in Boy Scouts many years ago.  Tourniquets, pressure bandages, splints, treating for shock and hypothermia.  I got to learn what is in the CLS bag that I will most likely carry seeing how I don't have a weapon or ammo to carry and when things get dicey it is something I can do to help keep the Marines safe.  There will be other lifesaving/first aid courses before we deploy and I hope to catch a bunch of them.  We are blessed to have some great corpsmen that know their stuff.  I also went out in the field for a few hours in the late afternoon as a few companies were out there.  I didn't stay the night and that was fortunate as it was colder than the previous week when I slept outside. 

Wednesday was my second trip to the brig.  We have a few guys in there and I go out to visit them each week to see how they are doing, etc.  Until I come here I haven't done much visitation in a prison, other than some visits to CCU at Pearl for one of my Weapons Department guys, so it is a bit disconcerting and I hope I never get used to visiting the brig.  Good ministry, but still a bit weird ministering through bars.  Also did some viewing of possible Bible studies to start during the predeployment cycle. 

Thursday included some planning of the adopt-a-school program for not only the battalion, but also the regiment.  Our parent regiment is deploying forward soon so they are placing the program in our hands until we leave.  Then we'll turn the regimental program over to another battalion until the regiment returns.  Luckily the RP is the battalion coordinator and is willing to step up with regimental program.  Unfortunately, we also learned that the RP is heading to a different regiment and I'll be getting a new RP.  I really like the one I have now, so it will be a bit of a transition and there is some anxiety on my part regarding the new RP.  Just like with the one I have now, as long as he can shoot well and run around my pace, everything else is icing on the cake. 

Friday was my PRT weigh in.  I am doing one just to make sure we don't have to explain it away on the Fitrep next month.  The PRT is tomorrow and I am not worried at all about passing.  In fact, I've lost a bit of weight the last few months which means I'll lose some more in the next few months as the PT picks up.  I also missed my own Hail and Farewell (or at least the Hail portion) as someone came to see me right as I was getting ready to leave for the party.  Oh well, these things happen.

I went back home to Durham this weekend for a family dinner with my mom's family which is always a highlight of the Christmas season as I get to play with the little ones in the family.  Nothing like having three small children hanging all over you trying to keep you from moving.  I also got to visit my grandfather for his 87th birthday which is tomorrow. 

Looking forward to the short week and another trip back home for Christmas.  Plus, I might actually get some unpacking done and make some room to start cleaning the house. 

Week In Review (Dec 6th-12th 2010)

This week was highlighted by my first trip out in the field with the Marines. 

Monday was a typical Monday for me fraught with meetings all day.  While I'm not the biggest fan of scheduling meetings all day, it does free up the rest of the week for getting out of the office to be with the Marines I serve.  We also had a chaplain and RP training that focused on the gear we carry and how to put it all together so that training had some great value.  Plus, we were shown some of the new gear coming out next year that may lighten the load a bit. 

Tuesday was spent in the field all day.  I got out there around 1000 with one company to see them do some training on a variety of topics focusing on their squad level leadership.  At about 1600 I went to visit a second company which is the one I stayed overnight with.  It was extremely cold that night with a low around 15 without the wind chill.  I'm grateful for an effective sleeping bag they issued me as that was the warmest I was all day once I got in the bag for the night.  I now know what gear I need to buy to stay warmer when we do the Battalion wide Field Exercise next month. 

Wednesday was fairly light as I was recovering/warming up from the previous night.  I did get to PT with the Navy Corpsmen for the first time and of course I decide to go on the day they get in trouble with the HMC so he decides to make PT memorable for them.  I felt that one for a day or so. 

Thursday included a visit to the barracks to talk with the Marines on duty, something I try to make time for each week.  Got some great conversations in and really enjoyed those visits.  I think I ended up out there for about 2 hours. 

Friday was a day full of counseling and checking in 65 new Marines that just graduated from the School of Infantry.  After that was done I had to take off to the lawyer's office to close on the house and then went back to work for a few minutes to check on any last minute issues that might have come up.  Then I got to enjoy the first weekend here since I moved and got a good run in on Saturday and visited a local church today as well as getting things unpacked at bit and getting a new washer and dryer then doing three weeks worth of laundry.

Week In Review (Week of Nov 29th, 2010)

So one of the ways I want to take this blog is to provide people back home some sort of feel for what I do on a daily basis.  Seeing how I can't relay all of the conversations I have with my Marines for a number of reasons, I'll just provide some highlights of where I go each week with the Marines to give a small glimpse into the wonderful world of a Chaplain to an infantry battalion.

Monday was a day off for the most part as we were getting back from the Thanksgiving liberty period.  We reported in at 1800 just to make sure we were all still alive and doing well ready to start the week.  Being new to the USMC way of extended liberty periods, I assumed that the civilian organizations on base would be open on Monday.  I was wrong and spent a few hours driving around trying to do errands to no avail.  I'll just take the time off and relax next time. 

Tuesday was a long day, it started at 0445 with a muster at the barracks for a 9 mile hike with all of my gear.  It was only one company doing the hike, but they invited me and I need to get back into shape seeing how we have a battalion wide 18 mile hike coming up in a few months.  I survived and didn't fall out.  Unfortunately the 10 or so Marines that did fall out got some ribbing about how the chaplain kept up.  Perhaps the funniest moment came when I saw the Marine variety of inter service rivalry.  While we were doing the hump, some Marines from the logistics group were doing a run of some sort and one of them couldn't keep breakfast down.  From our ranks came one unrelenting voice harassing him for his inability to keep up with the rest of his PT group.  Infantry making their dominance known.  Later that day I had lunch with a senior chaplain of my same denomination and got some great advice on how to be an effective chaplain. 

Wednesday was moving day for me as my stuff arrived.  Still haven't had time to open more than 5 boxes.  Had a meeting with the family readiness team later that afternoon and learned a great deal about how to best connect with the families when we deploy.

Friday I flew out to San Luis Obispo to officiate a wedding for a former Junior Officer of mine back in the submarine days.  It was a beautiful town and a great time for myself.  I got to meet some great people and had some great food and laughs as well.  I have an airline I would rather not fly again on my list, but other than that it was a great weekend.  Got in late last night and still made it to work and through the whole day without much problems.

Those are just a few highlights of why I love my job so much.  Good laughs and ministry with my "congregation" at an intimate level.  This week will be my first night out in the field and of course I picked the coldest night of the year to head out there.  We'll see how warm the gear they issue really is.

Settling In

So for the very few of you that drop by from time to time, you have noticed light to non-existent posting lately.  It has been quite the whirlwind over the last month as I have checked in, done some house hunting and begun my ministry as a Chaplain to a Marine Infantry unit at Camp Lejeune.  I am now sitting in a mostly empty house waiting for the movers to bring stuff in the morning so I can at least get the stuff here before leaving this weekend for a trip to California to perform a wedding for one of my former Junior Officers.  Two weddings, two different coastal destinations.  Pretty good gig if I say so myself. 

I'll probably keep some light posting until I get settled in and then will try and do something weekly, depending on Internet access as NMCI blocks blogger sites so I won't be able to post while away on training.  My RP and I are trying to figure out ways to connect with our Marines through technology while out in the field so if you have any suggestions send them our way.  Especially if they are ways that can incorporate some of the restrictions imposed by the military.  We're looking for ways to keep the families connected with their Marines in an indirect way that is useful and connective. 

I'm loving the job and getting adjusted to the physical demands of the job.  Luckily, the Marines are pretty forgiving and are responsive to my eagerness to be out there with them.  I think that by the end of the year I'll have connected with enough of them to really determine what the needs are and tailor my pastoral care around those needs.  Now to get off here and help my body recover from today's early morning hike. 

Orders At Last

I finally received my official orders last Wednesday to Camp Lejeune with the 2nd Marine Division (I've had verbal orders for almost 2 months.  Got to love Congress not passing budgets).  That means that I'll be the chaplain for an infantry battalion for the next few years.  I'm hoping that my arrival times out such that I'll get two deployments during my tour.  What has been crazy is the short fuse from orders to reporting.  I'm used to getting a few months between receiving orders and the report date, but after a few crazy days it has calmed down a bit and it will be nice to check in and start earning some pay for a change.  I report on Friday, but the command has been gracious in allowing me to focus on getting the house in Durham packed and ready for sale as well as finding a place near Lejeune over the next few weeks so I can hit the ground running in mid-November.  Luckily there are a number of houses for sale down that way that look promising and are empty meaning I can get a quick closing. 

Missing Those Kids

I have been traveling a bit the last few weeks and haven't really thought of posting during that time.  Taking in some Georgia Tech football and a Presbytery meeting along with getting the honor of re-enlisting my little brother a few weeks ago.  That was a special moment that I will never forget.  Each time I get asked to serve as the re-enlisting officer is an honor and privilege, but to do that for a family member is truly amazing. 

But none of these excursions are the reason for this post.  The trips were all scheduled with the impression that my official orders would be here by now, but budget issues still keep them held on a computer in Millington away from me.  I had hoped the movers would have been here this week, but everything stays on hold while politicians get to take a vacation and tell me they are fighting for me.  Oh well.  Having to at least plan on the possibility that things would have been rolling by now, I had to quit volunteering at a special place right before I headed on three weeks of traveling around and hence the impetus for this post. 

For the entire time I was in seminary I volunteered at the UNC Children's Hospital working in the playroom (with the exception of my time there as a pediatric chaplain intern for dual hat issues).  I have to admit I probably learned more about theology and being a pastor in those two hours each Monday morning than during the rest of my time in class each week.  I never thought I would enjoy the experience as much as I did.  I started there to see if I could handle working with suffering children and their parents.  I figured if I could handle those situations and seeing seriously ill children I could probably handle anything.  And I did see some horrific physical and emotional situations, but after about a month it was less about me and those situations that just being with those kids.  I have vivid memories of those kids, their families, my fellow volunteers, the therapists and nurses that I will never forget.  It is my hope and prayer that I keep the lessons from all these people with me throughout my life and ministry and use them to guide my theology when I'm not with them each week. 

I had the opportunity to look suffering and despair in the eye on a level that many people will never see.  We tend to let people suffer in hospitals isolated and alone, especially those who don't have normal support systems in place.  I learned just how important it is to just be there.  Those kids didn't care who I was or what I looked like or what I did for a living.  They just wanted someone there who wasn't going to talk about the illness or injury unless they wanted to.  Maybe they needed someone to yell at or take out their frustrations with through Wii boxing.  I learned to see beyond the illness and see the person, which was a lot easier than I expected. 

They taught me how to suffer with dignity.  They made me translate all the theological language I heard throughout the week into the vernacular.  They shaped me as a pastor and person without knowing that is what they were doing.  I learned how to be present in horrible circumstances.  I learned how to listen.  I learned how to share.  I saw true wisdom first hand.  I learned how to laugh.  I learned how to play.  I learned how to love.  I learned how to smile from deep inside.  I learned I dominate in air hockey (two losses in three years).  I learned resiliency.  I learned how to suffer.  I learned how to cry.  I learned to open my eyes and see the world around me.  I learned what the world looks like from 2ft instead of 6ft.  I learned how to use a Wii.  I learned that nurses are amazing people that don't get enough recognition.  I learned more than I can articulate and will continue to glean lessons from people much younger and wiser than I'll ever be.  Perhaps most importantly, I learned who I was. 

Man, I miss those kids. 

Commissioning (For a 4th Time)

Last Wednesday, September 1st, I was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Navy with a designator of 4100 which means that I am now officially a Chaplain.  All that I am awaiting are some official orders and then things can really start to roll and get me to my first duty station.  I have a verbal confirmation of my next duty station, but will wait until after I see something on paper before I start getting ready to leave and start the next chapter.  So until I report to the duty station, I guess that I am on unpaid leave or something like that.  I plan to do a bit of traveling late this month and early next month (LA, Seattle, three GT football games in the ATL and a conference here in Durham) so I have enough to keep me busy besides getting the house ready for an attempt at selling it. 

It is really weird to be a LT again, but I guess not as weird as it was being an ENS again.  It will be nice going back in as a LT as people expect chaplains at that level to have a bit of experience and thus get afforded a bit more respect, though there will be a smaller margin for the typical mistakes when settling into a new job.  The other odd thing is that I may have been commissioned more than any other person I know.  First was as a line officer in 1996, then as a 1125 O-4 in the IRR in 2007, then as a Chaplain Candidate ENS in 2007 and now as a Chaplain.  Hence the reason for the pictures below not being in whites because I didn't feel that the commissioning needed a big ceremony with it being the 4th time.  Plus, staying true to my roots all 4 times the commissioning officer has been a submarine officer, hence the name of the blog.

Apostolic Succession

This past Sunday I was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA).  It was a wonderful service in which many different people who have been a big part of my theological training and ordination process were able to participate.  What a great honor and privilege to have the service at the congregation that I interned with my first year of seminary, St. Giles Presbyterian in Raleigh, NC.  They are such a wonderful congregation that gently taught me how to live into this calling and they really drew out my gifts in ministry.  I also stood in awe of the number of people who traveled great distances to be there, some I hadn't seen in over 5 years.  Looking back it is pretty humbling as the journey started 6 years ago when I discerned a call to ordained ministry and began in earnest about 4 1/2 years ago when I came under care of FPC Honolulu as an inquirer.  After many interviews, cross country trips and exams I now am ordained and awaiting official orders to begin the next chapter of my life as a Navy Chaplain.  Next step is the formal commissioning that will occur next week.

The photos below are from the ordination prayer and laying on of hands and a shot of me after the service greeting members of the congregation. 

Unsung Heroes

I was directed to a post today on Blackfive about a song project that involves a group we seldom hear about or even recognize the importance of their work.  It is a song called Angel Flight that honors the men and women who fly fallen servicemembers back to the States from combat zones.  I first heard about it a few months back and was taken aback by how I really didn't know about them and had taken their mission for granted.  I have posted the final video and a behind the scenes segment here as well.





You can purchase the song on iTunes with the proceeds going to support families of the fallen. Seeing this post reminded me that not only do we tend to place the whole idea of combat outside of our daily thoughts, but that there are many groups of unsung heroes across all walks of our lives. And I hope to highlight some of those in future posts. But a number military specific unsung groups came to mind first.

In the process of ordination with an ordaining body on the other side of the country I have personally ridden on flights with fallen Marines and Soldiers as they made their way back home for the final time. And typically forgotten in that trek is the individual(s) that accompanied them along for that journey. Luckily, for a time, they were brought into our national vision through the movie Taking Chance which I highly recommend.

A second group that I was reminded of was that of the Chaplains and Casualty Assistance Officers that are called on to make the initial notification of the death or serious injury of a service member. These individuals take the full force of grief that a family experiences and even must endure anger directed at them as representatives of the government. There was a great book written about one CACO officer in the West titled Final Salute that I also highly recommend for a look into a fairly thankless and time consuming duty that is in addition to one's regular full time job.

I am sure there are many other groups that deserve similar recognition and welcome suggestions for further posts and exploration not just within the military community. But seeing how a majority of my life has been associated with the military, I naturally am drawn to those type of stories.

Worth a Thousand Words

Official Navy Photo: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Andrew Dunlap

This picture conveys much more than I could ever describe to my fellow classmates over the last three years of seminary.  I went to a school with a strong current of pacifism running through a large majority of the student body.  That's fine and it really broadened my theological perspective and had made me a better thinker on many lines.  But for the life of me, I could never really get my point across that a nation as prosperous as ours and with the immense resources that we possess in material and drive needs a strong military.  It was difficult to demonstrate how the military does a great deal more than just send people into harms way.  The US Military is also one of if not the largest humanitarian aid organization on this planet.  Many pacifists I encounter fail to acknowledge that simple fact and don't even want to discuss the non-military benefits of a strong military. 

As a submarine officer, I never had the opportunity to participate in a humanitarian relief mission, but I know of several that occurred during my initial time of service Indonesia after the tsunami and Katrina to name a few.  But even in bringing those up it was hard to establish with certain classmates the amazing ability of the military to turn on a dime and switch from military missions to humanitarian ones.  I am keeping this photo on my computer to help illustrate the point in as clear a vision as I can.  This official Navy photo was taken onboard USS Peleliu as two of 19 helos lifted off for Pakistan to help with the relief efforts following the destruction of catastrophic flooding in that country (reports are saying 15+% of the country is under significant levels of water.) 

When you think about what this photo is saying, it is truly amazing.  We are diverting valuable resources from a military asset in an area in which the US Military is engaged in two separate countries simultaneously to help another nation.  A nation with which we are effectively fighting against as they are offering aid to our enemies in Afghanistan.  Pakistan is doing a good job playing both sides of the issue and yet we still send our resources to help the citizens of that nation.  Resources that could possibly save American lives in theater are being sent to help civilians of a nation that we don't really know is friend or foe.  Only a nation with a strong military can accomplish that type of operation.  What is truly amazing is that some in this country have derided us for taking too long to divert these resources. 

A strong military is the only way we can rapidly get humanitarian aid where it needs to go, regardless of our other commitments, in a rapid manner.  This is especially true in remote areas as seen in the Pakistan floods.  The military presence across the globe allows us to do just this.  And our servicemen and women gladly do this mission in addition to the other requirements they must still meet as this is additional mission requirements.  A peacekeeping force can't react this quick (I haven't heard much about a UN response to the catastrophe.)  The US military is the only agency that has been able to respond in a fast manner to help those in need.  I just hope that in the future I remember this photo and bring it out to tell the story of why we need a strong military in order to help those in need in every part of the world, even the most remote and desperate areas.

This photo is one of the many reasons I am proud to serve and am looking forward to getting back out there soon. 

Sermon 8/8/10: Our Hall of Fame Induction

I got invited to preach today at a congregation where I was an intern my first year of seminary and where I will also get ordained in two weeks.  It was great seeing that congregation again, getting back is not something I do very often as they routinely have interns there and I don't want to distract an attention away from the current interns during the year.  This was something all the previous interns have done as well and it is great having the freedom to learn who you are without the shadow of previous interns (of whom the congregation all love) around you all the time.  The text was Hebrews 11 and I didn't realize until after I had worked through the idea and completed a draft of the sermon that yesterday was the NFL Hall of Fame Induction.  Funny how scripture can intertwine with life in interesting ways.

    Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  Well that about sums it up.  I guess I’ll just stop right here now that we all have a firm grasp on the tough subject of faith.  Is faith really that simple?  I couldn’t find any other example of a biblical writer attempting to explicitly define faith with the phrase faith is…  What makes the writer of this passage so bold as to attempt such an explicit definition of faith?  Does he know something that we don’t?  It could just be my own weakness but it doesn’t seem quite as simple as hoping for things I can’t see.  Luckily, the passage doesn’t just end with the first verse.  The writer of Hebrews knew a little about the human condition and it seems that Hebrews 11 is an attempt to define faith through example.  Not the writer’s own example but through those who came before.           

So let’s take a closer look at who are lifted up as the exemplars of faith that we should follow.  We only heard a partial list in today’s Scripture reading so I’ll read the entire list so we can visualize what some call the international faith hall of fame.  Pay close attention to the list and see if any names jump out at you.  Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, the Israelites that passed through the Red Sea, the soldiers around Jericho, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, all the prophets, women and martyrs.  Were there any names that you didn’t recognize or know from your Bible stories?  Any names you perhaps thought unworthy to be in this faith hall of fame? 

            I understand why we hear the name Abel.  The younger brother who offered a beautiful sacrifice that was pleasing to God.  He provided the choice lamb of his flock and God noticed and beamed with pride at this beautiful child of God, a reaction that prompted his older brother Cain to murder him.  Abel, the first to lose a life because of his faith.  Noah’s inclusion is a given.  If you’ve seen the recent adaptation of his life, Evan Almighty, you probably have few doubts about his worthiness.  Despite year upon year of everyone mocking him for building an unusually large boat in the middle of a dry spell, he kept going and somehow convinced his family to come aboard and lock themselves in with all those filthy and smelly animals for a really long time.  Noah, included for following God against the insults of the world.

            Abraham makes perfect sense.  Here was a simple guy with a family just minding his own business when all of the sudden he hears a voice tell him to leave his country, his kin and his father’s house for a land yet to be determined.  He leaves his previous life behind based on a voice that promised to make him a great nation and a blessing for all the earth.  Abraham is listed because he turned around for God.  Moses is a no brainer for inclusion.  He was destined for greatness from birth.  God had an eye on this one.  He gets set adrift in a river to hide him from death and is found by pharaoh’s daughter and raised as royalty.  Then, in a stunning turn of events, Moses remembers his birth heritage and stands up to his adoptive family and brings down plagues to convince pharaoh to “let my people go!”  As if this wasn’t enough to warrant inclusion on this list, he then leads an entire nation, is given the Ten Commandments and even gets to feel God’s presence.  Moses’ inclusion is for delivering an entire nation from slavery and leading them in following God. 

            Rahab put her life on the line to protect two Israelite spies in Jericho.  She even admitted to housing them to the King of Jericho and then when it was dark she let them out of the city behind those who were pursuing them.  Somehow she knew they were from the Lord and that Jericho didn’t have much longer to stand so she asked them to spare her and her family.  Rahab welcomed mysterious strangers of the Lord and now stands as a hero of faith.  Gideon went and destroyed the altar of Baal.  What is amazing about this is that Baal was the god of the Midianites, a powerful nation that was harassing and destroying the economy of the Israelites.  This starts a bit of a fight so Gideon set out with 32,000 for the battle but God had other plans.  God keeps telling him to leave soldiers behind finally leaving Gideon with 300 with which to defeat the Midianites.  And he actually goes forward with God’s plan!

Samson was gifted with extraordinary strength and used it to pull down a building full of Philistines.  Unfortunately, this act also entailed the taking of his own life as he was chained to the pillars that he demolished to accomplish the feat.  David is the man of God’s own heart.  We tend to lift him up as the ultimate leader and the quintessential role model.  He reformed Israel as the king.  He patiently endured death threats from Saul trying to prevent him from taking his place as the anointed king of Israel.  He penned many of the prayers we now know as the Psalms.  Samuel was a young boy that could hear God’s voice.  In fact, when he first heard God speak, he was the only one who could hear God.  Not even Eli, the head priest could hear God.   

That leave three individuals that gave me pause when I read the list: Enoch, Barak and Jephthah.  I recognized the name Barak for what it means in Hebrew: blessing, but didn’t quite remember what he had done to warrant inclusion in this list.  And, maybe because I was sleeping in both Sunday school and my Old Testament class when the names Enoch and Jephthah were mentioned, I had no clue who those two individuals were much less why there were on such a prestigious list.  I guess they deserve to be here, don’t they?  The writer of Hebrews wouldn’t induct any questionable names or those of little faith into this hall of fame would he?  This made me dig around in the Bible for these individuals to learn what great acts they accomplished. 

Barak led 10 thousand Israelites into a potential battle based on the words of Deborah, one of the judges of ancient Israel.  As we would expect this results in a major victory for Israel and Barak gets recognition on this list for following the commands of God as relayed by someone who heard God’s voice.  I can live with his inclusion in the hall of fame; the other two leave me a bit puzzled.

Enoch is reported to have never died, though I’m not so sure of this.  In Genesis it just says that he walked with God and after 365 years was no more because God took him.  We don’t know what he did to warrant the honor of walking with God, something only really mentioned in relation to Adam and Eve.  We do know that he was father to Methuselah, you know Old Methuselah who lived to be 965 years old and he was Noah’s great-grandfather.  I guess including Enoch is like including Emily Putich or Alfred Smith in the College Basketball Hall of Fame.  Don’t know who they are?  Coach K’s mom and Dean Smith’s father.  Definitely an induction based on potential.

Jephthah is the most shocking of the list.  When I reread his story in Judges I remembered who he was and couldn’t believe that he was included in this list of honor.  He was disowned by Israel because of his lineage but in a time of need they called upon him to lead their army.   He just kept defeating army after army and gets a little confident of himself or something.  He decides to make a vow that if the Lord would hand over Israel’s greatest enemy, the Ammonites, then he would sacrifice the first thing to come out of his house to meet him as a burnt offering.  Now nothing in Israel’s belief system would have prompted this brash deal.  Well, he won and when he returns home a conquering hero who is the first to come out and greet him?  His daughter.  His only child.  He kept his vow.  Later he goes and kills 42 thousand fellow Israelites because they were unable to pronounce a certain word.  This guy gets included in this list?  Why lift up people like Enoch and Jephthah as examples of good faith?

But, what if that is the point?  What if they are as deserving of recognition and the future in Christ as those we see as our heroes of faith?  What if they are equals to Abraham, Noah and Moses?  I think the writer of Hebrews is making that exact point.  In our modern mindset we tend to venerate people, including those on this list, based on their accomplishments.  But if we take a closer look at these individuals a different picture of their lives and faith may appear.  Abel may not be the innocent child that we picture in our minds.  Anyone with a younger brother knows they can be the most annoying and cunning individuals.  Believe it or not sometimes they just keep pushing our buttons until we snap.  There were times my younger brother did just that and got the reaction he wanted so I would get in trouble.  This typical brotherly “love” is captured by an ancient Hebrew midrash depicting Abel as gloating over God’s love incessantly such that Cain just snaps and didn’t realize he had killed the brother he loved.  While the fights with my brother didn’t have disastrous consequences, the emotions were similar. 

Abraham lied about his wife Sarah, saying she was his sister, to save his own life, committed adultery and cast out his first born son.  Ham, one of Noah’s sons embarrassed Noah when Noah was drunk so Noah cursed Ham’s son, who did nothing, to punish Ham.  Moses murdered an Egyptian in a fit of rage.  Also, while leading Israel in the wilderness he got mad with God and threw a temper tantrum that kept him from entering the Promised Land with the people he led for 40 years.  Rahab was a prostitute.  Gideon tested God with a fleece.  Twice because the first time God demonstrated nature was under God’s command, Gideon felt he needed more proof.  Samson used his gifts for all the wrong reasons and purposely married a woman that was forbidden and lived a life of excess and debauchery.  David committed adultery and then conspired to kill a man so he could marry his wife.  Samuel eventually fell into the ways of Eli and abdicated his authority as judge and prophet in Israel to his sons.  In return, his sons performed poorly and were a disgrace leading Israel to loudly demand a king.  Samuel’s actions led to a distinct distrust of the people in God’s ability to rule over the land in a fair and just manner. 

This is the inaugural class of our faith hall of fame.  We have added many more in the last few centuries: Paul, Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Bonhoeffer, MLK, Mother Teresa.  While we focus on their accomplishments and the fruits of their faith we need to remember that each of these individuals are as flawed as those in the inaugural class and as us.  So what do all of these individuals have in common with each other?  What do we have in common with those on this list?  Just like with most children’s sermons the answer is Jesus.  His work on earth and the cross cleared the way for grace to be the dominating factor in our induction into this faith hall of fame.  Jesus did what was necessary for all of us to walk around knowing we are inductees into this faith hall of fame also called a priesthood of all believers or even a cloud of witnesses.  But we also have to do something.  By faith, we have to follow God’s call.  It may not be as drastic as Abraham’s dropping everything to travel to a new land, it may be a little more complicated than just living your life like little known Enoch.  I don’t think we’ll need to go into battle like Barak or build an ark like Noah.  All we have to do is be receptive to God’s working in our lives and God’s speaking to us in many different ways, including through the voices of those sitting in this room. 

But, regardless of how God calls us to fulfill God’s purpose on earth, the one thing we do to get inducted into this hall of fame is having the faith to say yes to God. When Jesus walked the earth he put it in one of the most powerful two word phrases ever uttered: “Follow Me!”  He didn’t promise anything in this life, in fact he warned of the danger in obeying that command.  Many have heard the command and turned the other way because they can’t comprehend not receiving something for following or because the near term consequences overshadow the glorious reward of “an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.” Once we agree to follow God and put God at the top of our mind, we are inducted into the faith hall of fame the benefits of which are eternal life and indescribable and incomprehensible rewards at the fulfillment of time.  Now that I think about it the writer of Hebrews had it correct by saying that faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  By faith, it really is that simple.

Youth In the Church

While I don't put myself forward as any type of expert in youth and young adult ministry, I have been involved in those types of ministries for a number of years.  Frequently, despite the ministry model in which I have worked, participated or watched leaders state that the youth aren't the future of the church but they are, in fact, the present church.  While I agree with this sentiment in its pure form it has bothered me over the years, but I just couldn't put my finger on why a statement that I wholeheartedly agree with bothered me.  While I was at the Montreat youth conferences again this summer working with as the Work Crew Coordinator (I got to work with college aged young adults in helping do many of the small unseen tasks that make the conference a success as well as lead them in a small group discussion every morning) I again heard that phrase from the leaders of the conference.  And then it hit me why that phrase bothers me.  From my perspective (and that of the young adults I was working with this summer), those words ring hollow and the youth and young adults from my denomination know it. 

The PC(USA) talks a good game about their youth ministry, and to their credit they make great efforts to demonstrate that the youth are an important part of the church right now.  We have the Montreat youth conferences for high school aged youth, conferences for middle school aged youth, an impressive college conference that brings in big named speakers, a young adult volunteer program that sends young adults to year long mission experiences and we even include young adults in our General Assembly as advisory delegates, we even ordain some youth and young adults as elders in local congregations (there are many more ways, but I think you get the point).  And as I look over that last sentence that I just typed, at first glance it may seem like that is enough.  However, we fail in two major ways.  First, we tend to have the attitude that after they graduate high school we set them out in the world to find their way and wait for them to return to the denomination (if they don't lose total faith) when they are grown and have children.  Secondly, we don't really back up all these programs with any force in how we include youth in our daily lives as congregations.  (I know that some congregations are doing phenomenal work but I will take the liberty of making a sweeping generalization based on my wide geographic base of church attendance over the years due to the military and discussion with youth from areas I haven't lived in yet). 

We need congregations near college campuses to reach out and embrace every single college student that grew up in the PC(USA).  This isn't just supporting campus ministries though they need a great deal of financial support and volunteer leaders and mentors.  We need congregations to live into that connectional system we like to brag about and talk with each other as we send youth to new congregations.  We also need to do this with all members, but I am focusing on youth and young adults.  In fact, the Book of Order outlines how the session should contact the receiving session to help members that move connect with a local worshiping congregation.  In all my moves I don't recall that ever happening or even having one session provide a list of congregations in the area.  Congregations could work with the campus minister and come in and introduce themselves to the students and offer a Sunday School class or a small group for them outside of their school.  They could also volunteer to provide congregation members to serve as mentors or "adoptive parents."  I still am in contact with families from congregations that reached out to me as a young adult and made sure I had a church home in every way.  In fact, two of those families pitched in together to purchase my robe for my ordination service and beyond.  The possibilities are endless and I am confident that if we put the issue before our congregations the need would be filled in a rapid and enthusiastic manner.

The second issue revolves around how we bring youth and young adults into "leadership" positions and then don't treat them in the same manner.  This struck me when I looked at the disparity between the number of youth elders at Montreat

Pardon me while I step down from my soapbox. 

The End is Near

Last Saturday I cleared the final hurdle in getting ordained as a Navy Chaplain (besides waiting for the Navy paperwork trail to catch up to me) when I went before my presbytery for final verbal examination.  I have to admit I was slightly nervous as they can ask any question they feel so moved to do regarding my theology, call, etc.  I only received three questions before someone had heard enough and moved to arrest the exam, but I was pleased with the types of questions they asked and how they directly related to my call.  One was how I would implement the theology of my statement of faith as a Navy Chaplain (not too bad as my being a Chaplain was a basis for the statement of faith), one on how I would handle a conscientious objector and the other as to how I would handle baptisms with military members in regards to the Presbyterian belief regarding baptism.  Apparently they were satisfied with my answers and now I am cleared to get ordained on August 22nd and will then be waiting for all the paper work to clear so I can get back on active duty. 

General Assembly and Congress

So, one other benefit of sitting around waiting to fleet up is that I was actually able to watch most of the PC(USA) General Assembly online last week.  As someone who will have both voice and vote in my presbytery in the near future I figured it would be best for me to watch the debate to get a feel of how decisions were made last week when the overtures come to my presbytery next year and I have to vote on approval or disapproval of the issues.  I was actually really interested in the debates and had a fairly good time watching it online.  I found it amazing that I knew some of the people arguing their cases or leading worship, etc.  It proved that the Presbyterian world is a small, small world. 

While watching something struck me.  What if Congress actually operated in the spirit of the General Assembly?  I think things would be more transparent, efficient and even civil.  First off I really like the idea of the committee having to defend their decision to accept or deny a certain item coming out of committee.  The committee moderator had to stand up and answer questions (with subject matter expert assistance) coming from the assembled delegates.  Open and honest in dealing with the work of a committee before coming to the whole body.  Can you imagine our elected representatives actually engaging in a true question and answer session on the floor of Congress instead of grandstanding?  Imagine the amount of work that can get done.  Also contributing to the transparency is that all overtures from individual presbyteries are due by a certain date and every commissioner gets to read the initial overture prior to the convening of the assembly.  There aren't many surprises in the agenda.  In the outcome and amendments that come out of committee perhaps but not in the general topics. 

The General Assembly process is extremely efficient.  The moderator of the assembly allows a fairly even distribution of debate on the issue alternating between supporters and detractors of the committee's stance.  Each person is given a definite time limit and is promptly cut off when time expires.  This forces you to make your point or ask your question in a succinct manner and not waste valuable time.  Good debate occurs and many matters are covered.  Additionally, there is no hope of extending the session beyond the number of days allotted so everyone stays until the work is done each night.  There are no press junkets during the voting sessions so things keep moving with committees reporting in a continuous manner consistent with the schedule.  By having to read so much and expecting that every overture must be read by a large number of people, overtures are generally short and everyone is prepared to debate the issue which smooths the process. 

Civility is the operative word at General Assembly.  Even when people disagree, and this they do well, personal attacks rarely if ever occur.  I don't recall any personal attack in the hours of debate on contentious topics that I watched online.  Seeing that occur made me proud to belong to a denomination that values civil debate, especially in light of the venom coming from all political sides when watching a debate in Washington or on a show giving voice to political pundits. 

How do we get people to believe that a debate can be transparent, efficient and civil?  Maybe that is the question we need to ask before we dive in to important debates in our larger society. 

Good News and More Waiting

I found out last week that I will be going back on active duty as a Navy Chaplain, but with a twist.  I have to wait until at least October until I get back out in the fleet.  So, while I know that I have a job in the future I have to do a bunch more waiting.  And it is getting quite tedious and frustrating.  But while I have to sit around unemployed for a bit longer (well at least not getting a pay check), it does offer some opportunities.  I get to head back to Montreat another week which is something new for me.  Usually I only get to go in one block but now I am going back at two separate times doing a job I found I really enjoy.  I will get to travel and visit friends a bit more before going back on active duty so that if I get sent overseas I will have been able to see people before that happens.  And I get to make sure everything I want to do on the house gets completed as I now have plenty of time for that to happen.  Of course, I get to do some serious PT to get ready (once a pulled back muscle heals).  I would say I could do some more blogging, but it has never really been a priority of mine so I won't make promises I can't keep.  But I will get to tinker with the blog and figure out how to best utilize the internet in general once I get some orders.  I want to employ all tools and technology to reach the sailors and Marines that I will serve in a manner that helps them and puts resources at their fingertips.  I plan to post my personal sermons in this space and use this as an outlet to minister to those of my faith group.  I also envision a blog for the command to which I will arrive that will have resources for all faiths and is accessible from the field and afar so everyone can sustain their faith in a substantial way.  If the few who read this have suggestions feel free to offer them here. 

Reflecting on Seminary (or Learning How To Wait)

So, the Navy delayed the board that decides my entry into Active Duty or the Reserves leaving me with two more weeks of waiting on where the next chapter of my life takes me.  This has provided me with an opportunity to do some things I probably wouldn't have been able to do over the last few weeks.  I got to travel to Hawaii to see a good friend get married.  The time has allowed me to put quite a dent in the stack of books sitting on my desk that seminary did not afford me the time to read (fiction and military history being the largest categories I am tackling.)  I have been working on the house, finally getting to some home improvements I was putting off and also dealing with a bunch of things that happened to break in the last week.  Next I head to DC to visit some old roommates and then off to Montreat again this summer but this time I will get to work with college students that are helping out the conference.  But more than anything else I have been able to reflect on the last three years and what this time meant for me and my future ministry. 

One major thing I have realized in this period of reflection is what seminary taught me and what the three years taught me.  Seminary, for the most part, was not where I learned how to articulate my theology or how to engage the world in a theological manner.  This is not to say the time was wasted or to discourage others from the process.  Seminary provided a great venue for me to learn how to think and write in a completely different manner than I had learned during my engineering studies and my role in the submarine force.  I didn't realize I could read or write that much in a week.  Not only did I learn how to write in a manner that would fit an academic context, but I also learned in my preaching classes how to write and speak to the context in which I would find myself whatever that would eventually look like.  I also learned that there is not singular theology to which we should all follow.  I think we all come out of seminary, or even from a particular congregation, with slightly different ways of speaking of God and our encounters with God.  The wide variety of reading in seminary showed me that in a stark way as they all have a slightly different take on the subject.  But none of these things really helped me to articulate my theology in a way others would understand. 

I have to admit that I learned theology outside the confines of classes.  There were times in which my fellow students debated what I believed and I learned how to articulate theology to those fluent in the lingo.  But I had to work in congregations to learn how to articulate theological themes, which can get quite complex, to those without the vocabulary.  Children taught me how to explain those complex themes in powerful ways that we can all understand.  My experience with kids shows they understand theology in a deeper and more powerful way than those of us "educated" folks.  The way they describe things cuts away the fluff we like to put on those themes.  But perhaps the place I really learned about theology was working at a children's hospital for the last three years as a volunteer.  They didn't care why I was there, only that I was there with them in that moment.  I entered into extreme suffering and extreme joy and learned how to feel comfortable in both emotions and that God is definitely in both of those spaces.  I learned that every interaction with another person is a sacred moment and that God is there in all of the relationships that I made with the children and their families.  I learned theology in the extremes and in the uncomfortable places of life not in the comfortable place I found myself in the sub force.  Now I have to wait and reflect some more before God sends me out to the extremes of life again to learn more theology in a different context and to pass on the lessons I learned over the last three years. 

Where's The Grace

There was a small blip in the news last Wednesday that caught my attention.  A group of 40 retired military chaplains sent a letter to the President regarding repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell.  They are decidedly against the change in policy saying that it would "threaten the religious liberty of chaplains and Service members."  As someone who is planning to become a military chaplain in the near future, and like the writers of the letters is not prohibited from speaking on the subject, I don't quite get what they mean.  Allowing someone of a sexual orientation you don't agree with doesn't affect your liberty in anyway.  To support this claim they use end of the world scenarios that would occur if we follow a steep and slippery slope.  There are homosexuals serving in the military right now and chaplains minister to them in a caring and compassionate manner right now and keep the information, like all conversations with the chaplain, privileged. 

They make an argument that repeal of DADT would water down their faith.  Last time I checked the message of grace was central to the Christian faith.  Plus, we all sin and are in desperate need of the grace provided through Christ.  That's kind of what Easter is about.  Each of these chaplains that signed the letter are sinners and probably acknowledge that every time they perform a worship service in a prayer of confession.  As one who is of the Reformed tradition, which many of the signers are as well, it is pretty much a staple of the worship service.  The chaplaincy allows us to conduct a worship service in a manner consistent with our own religious beliefs and thus prevents any watering down of our faith through services we conduct.  Granted, public services have a different standard, but that is to be expected based on the pluarlistic nature of the military.  Plus, don't these chaplains have to sit through services not in their own tradition when someone else is at the pulpit or they are monitoring the quality of service provided by their lay leaders. 

What really worries me about this letter is that many of the signers are endorsers for their faith groups.  What this means is that if they so choose, they can pull endorsements of their chaplains leaving a large number of gaps in the manning, thus removing chaplain support and causing the problem of service members lacking ministry support, something they claim will occur if DADT is repealed.  I suggest they just let their chaplains serve and navigate the murky waters of this issue like every other aspect of our lives.  It will take prayer, relationships with other chaplains and lay persons and most of all a lot of grace.  The focus should be on providing ministry to the best of our ability, according to our gifts, to every Sailor and Marine that crosses our path regardless of their situation, faith or sexuality. 

That Was Loud

So I got to watch the national championship game on Monday night in Cameron Indoor with about 5,000 other Duke students.  Needless to say it was pretty amazing and the loudest I have ever heard Cameron.  The ability to watch big time college athletics while in seminary was a reason to attend Duke in the first place and I really haven't been disappointed at all in that aspect, especially because I could drive down to Atlanta and watch Georgia Tech in football to get the full fix of sports as Duke hasn't quite gotten there for football yet.  The crowd just doesn't get into it yet, but that will come. 

It was nice to be on campus when the school I attended competed for and then won a national championship in a major division 1 sport.  It was a nice way to go out this year by having an experience that not many people get to witness and participate in.  I think maybe they need to kick the alumni out of Cameron a few times a year and fill it with students to completely overwhelm opponents with the crowd noise.  At times it was deafening and made me wonder why alumni don't feel the need to cheer and get into the games.  Oh well, I guess that happens as we get older. 

Congrats Duke and I hope you get there again next year. 

One Step Closer

Seeing how school work has been keeping me quite busy lately, I figured during my night off from school to focus on the Final Four would be a good time for a quick post to update the ordination status.  A few weeks ago, I was deemed certified ready for a call.  This basically means I have met all the requirements to officially look for a job and to have my resume for the denomination posted online.  I still need to find a job in order to get ordained, so there is still more waiting.  I have an endorsement from my denomination to enter as an active duty chaplain upon graduation and pending my ordination, so right now I am really just waiting to graduate (4 weeks and 4 papers away) and have the Navy board approve my application.  Once that happens, I get to go back to the presbytery and get final approval for ordination, then it is off to wherever the Navy sends me. 

Now if I can just find some motivation for school in these last few weeks it will make the wait less frustrating. 

Finally!

I have been fortunate to attend the Duke-UNC basketball game at Cameron Indoor stadium the last three years.  One of the benefits of going to grad school at Duke.  I can still remember the sheer joy of actually being able to be there the first time two years ago.  It was something I had always wanted to see and experience.  However, the first two years ended up with Duke on the losing end.  This year things pointed to us having a win with Carolina being in a major down year and Duke playing great as of late.  Luckily it all worked out the way I had intended and the last game I will probably attend at Cameron, cause I don't think a Chaplain is ever going to wind up with the cash to attend the UNC game.  We won 82-50 and here are some photos from the evening.

First, Dickie V crowd surfing before the game

Singler making some of his 25 points

The bonfire afterwards on the main quad