New Year's Eve 2012

I am very certain that 365 days ago, I wrote a "Post" on "Another Year"in reflection of not only the year behind me, but the one coming up ahead as well. Here's the link if you wish....( http://www.fodwalker.blogspot.com/2011/12/another-year.html

I believe in the article, I mentioned how quickly 2011 went right past me. Yes, it did that AGAIN! However this year ends on a unique note. I am currently serving in a foreign land about three months into a 1-year deployment in Afghanistan. The year 2012 includes that word "transition" again as I saw a change in unit assignment and my first deployment with the US Army.

So, staying true-to-form on this next endeavor, I will first look back at my "predictions" and see if I came anywhere close to mastering or completing.

I made the assessment to:

1. First, I am looking forward to my transition from student-based ministry to "regular" unit ministry with the 201st MI BN at Fort Sam Houston.
2. I am still counting on my first Army deployment to Afghanistan in October 2012.
3. I would like to be sitting at 200lbs (or possibly 195-198lbs) on December 31, 2012 (one year from this writing).

Looking over the list, I'd say I did fairly well...at least 2 out of 3! I did transition to the 201st Military Intelligence Battalion at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. So, that is a "check"...done! Then, on to #2, which, considering that I am writing this "from" Afghanistan, it would be safe to say that this is also a "check"...done!

Not sure if there is a need to move on to #3 as that just didn't happen! I wish weight loss was equally easy as weight gain. I struggle with this and have been for nearly 15 years. Yes, this is "confession time." It is my goal while deployed to shed that down significantly. So, #3 is a BIG red "X"...almost like getting one on "Family Feud!"

So, with that out of the way, I believe it is time to look ahead to 2013! Dare I even make any?? Why not? I have a few options on the table that could possibly be obtained from Afghanistan! For 2013, I would like to think:

1. Will make it safely home in early February 2013 for my wife's birthday and two weeks of R&R.
2. Will finish my deployment with success and come home (along with my unit) in September 2013
3.  Unlike 2012, I WILL be "Home for Christmas" in 2013!
4. Pass my physical fitness test with my best score to date.
5. Yes...I'm going to put it down again! I would like to be at 200lbs or less come December 31, 2013.

Well...I guess we'll see...I'll have 365 days to accomplish these 5 goals...I think I am in the best position to actually do it this time....100%...all five! Let's hope! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

"This is the Day"

There is a particular praise song of "thanksgiving" that most of us have sung at one point and time in our lives to uplift us on any particular day.

The familiar tune, "This is the day! This is the day that the Lord has made! I will rejoice. I will rejoice and be glad in it!" On and on it goes...for various occasions, at church, or even right now as you read.

The reason this song resonates with me at this particular time is due to my current location. I just happen to be deployed with the Army in Afghanistan. We arrived here with the understanding that it would be a 9-month deployment. Well, that quickly changed on "Day #5" after our arrival. We are now here for an entire year...a 12-month deployment.

Even as a Chaplain, I found myself a bit overwhelmed at the vastness of rocks, lack of grass, blowing sand and dirt...not to mention the choking smoke/exhaust of generators, burn pits, and vehicles. I must admit that it was hard...or should I say, flat-out difficult, to be motivated to be here.

I just wanted to be home. I wanted it to be September 2013...time to return home. I soon found myself "being grateful" that the time was passing quickly and at the end of each day, remarking that it was at least"one more day that is over with." I was in a mind-set of "just get this over with."

Then came a subtle reminder of Psalm 118:24...you guessed it...that quaint little praise chorus that gets easily stuck in your head. The verse that proclaimed, "This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it."

This became a wave of conviction that I had become so focused on "being done so I could go home" from my deployment, that I was missing the opportunity to "rejoice and be glad" for each day...even if "that day" is in Afghanistan. I have asked God to forgive me for my ungratefulness and sour attitude towards each day that He has given me on this deployment to be His Ambassador to our Soldiers.

So, starting now...and each morning as I awake to the sunshine and beautiful mountains of this part of Afghanistan, I will proclaim in a song of praise..."this is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it!" Thank you, Lord for your reminder to adjust my attitude and to be grateful for each day that you give me. Thank you!!

Happy New Year!

For most of us, in this busy and hectic world our attention is numbed by political ads for the upcoming Presidential election as well as tensions surrounding the brutal and unnecessary focus of mobs storming our U.S. Embassies around the world. In a sense, we would like to "start over" with a New Year...why wait until December 31, 2012. Well, you can!!

This week in September 2012 marks the dawning of "Rosh Hashanah" or YEAR 5773. This important date marks the beginning of the 10-day holiday that will end with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. This is an important time to to be charitable and thankful, and, above all, to deepen your connection to God and fellow people through prayer and penitence.

So, yes...you CAN have a "do-over" and start new...or, just simply "pick up where you left off" with those "resolutions" you made a little over 9-months ago! In this year of 5773, let us all recommit ourselves to those things that bring peace and the presence of God's love in this world that seems confused, bewildered and lost in unrest.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! May this be a new beginning for you...as well as a time for reflection on how we can all contribute to the cause of hope. Hope...something this world so desperately needs.

Have We Become Like Samson?

There has been some discussion recently about what each of us considered as some of "the scariest" scripture in the Bible. Of course, most would probably say that "blaspheming the Holy Spirit" would rank up near the top of the list (Mark 3:28-30). However, I came across one that startled me a little because, quite frankly, it had never "popped up" in my face before.

It comes out of the book of Judges as part of what we know as "The Story of Samson and Delilah." It is Chapter 16, Verse 20 and it reads, "Then she cried, 'Samson, the Philistines are here!' When he awoke from his sleep, he said, 'I will escape as I did before and shake myself free!' But he did not know that the Lord had left him."

Wow...can we, as believers, actually get comfortable enough in our faith or even become so routine in our walk with God that we don't even notice when we start "drifting away" from Him? Has our ministry lost its vitality...has our influence lost its grasp on others...do we even find ministry all that enticing anymore?

Think about it...you may be assuming "all is well...everything is fine," but seriously consider where things stand at this very moment. Take inventory and see...for instance, when you pray, do you notice the answers don't seem to come as they once did? The positive effect you once had on those around you seem to be negligible or even harmful? You were once friendly and reconciling, but now have been noticing more problems in your relationships? Have those who have relied on you stopped coming because you're not proving to be as helpful as before? Some things to consider....have we, like Samson, taken our relationship with God for granted?

Spiritual decline is something to guard against daily. If we can get to the point, like Samson, that we don't even realize the Lord "isn't even with us," we need to stop and get our relationship with God back where it belongs. The fact remains: God desires a relationship with us...one that is close, personal, loving and intimate.

May it be our prayer that we would invite God to search our lives to see if there are attitudes, relationships, or activities/habits that need to be removed from our life. When He reveals this to us, we quickly rid them from our life, and walk with God to grow in spiritual strength.

Maintaining a loving, personal, and intimate relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit will allow us the vitality to stay alert and strong so that we don't "fall asleep" like Samson and end up in a ton of trouble. We should never get to the point where we don't even realize "the Lord had left...." Have you become like Samson? Let us all make sure our relationship with God remains close!

I LOVE MY JOB!

I wonder how many of us could honestly say, "I love my job" and enjoy going to work. I've have heard several state that "the way" to know you love what you do is to "envision that it is Sunday night and you are looking forward to going to work tomorrow."

There are times I wonder if that is the case for everyone. I must first "preface" that with the fact that I believe ALL work is important and that it is crucial for everyone to "work to earn their keep." But, I still can't help but ponder the dreams of others and the aspirations they may have had in their earlier life given the work they do now.

I sometimes wonder if the people doing certain jobs ever said as a young person, "when I grow up, I want to stock shelves at Walmart!" Did anyone ever dream that "when I grow up, I want to work at McDonald's." I wondered if they had dreams of being in the Military, becoming a Lawyer, or owner of their own business. But, regardless of what "it" is that they do, is it something they enjoy doing?

I came across a statement from one of my favorite actors, Morgan Freeman, when asked if he thought about retiring from acting. He said, "No! What good is that? You want to retire from a job you’re not that all enamoured with. I love what I do. I want to keep doing it till I can’t get out of bed doing it."

It is my prayer that we are all gainfully employed doing our best and enjoying what we do each day. It honestly doesn't matter what the job is at hand as long as we approach it with a grateful heart, a good attitude, and the best effort we can afford. Maybe even adopt the mindset of Mr. Freeman that the job you have is something you'd like to do "till I can't get out of bed doing it!"

Although I enjoy the weekends as much as anyone else, I am thankful that I CAN get up each Monday morning and approach the week with a thankful heart that I can be productive in this world "doing what it is that I do." Yes, I LOVE MY JOB!!

Love Despite Failure

Many I have spoken with through the years have had a concept of failure as being "final." They express that "all is lost" or that they should just give up, throw in the towel and quit because "it's over." I think our society is too quick in sending these kind of messages. Just look at how easy it is to go from "Hero to Zero" today. Look at how quick our world will disown, discredit and destroy those who fail "just once."

I am sure the Disciples of Jesus were feeling like they totally blew it when they suddenly realized what they had done...abandoned Jesus at the most crucial time in human history. Unfortunately, Judas took the "easy wrong" instead of the "hard right" and committed suicide by hanging himself. Peter cursed up a storm to emphatically deny knowing Jesus.

But, it wasn't just Judas and Peter...it was all 12 Disciples. When Jesus was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane, Matthew 26:56 tells us "...Then all the disciples deserted him and fled." Betrayal, abandonment, denial...you name it, Jesus endured it all. His purpose was not to be a punching-bag or a 'sin-sponge' to absorb all the brokenness we could dish out. His purpose was to show us the unconditional love of God the Father. It was to invite us into a personal, loving, intimate relationship with him.

This is what I find so fascinating about how Jesus restored Peter (John 21:15-19). Jesus didn't take Peter's denials and rub them in his face or grab him by the collar and demand an apology. In fact, Jesus wasn't looking for a confession of sin...Jesus was hoping for a confession of love...and that is precisely how Peter responded. PETER GOT IT!

Jesus covers all our failures with his unconditional and pardoning love. What disappointments, mistakes or failures are you STILL holding on to? Failure is not in falling down...it is in the refusal to "get back up." Will you allow Jesus to help you back up? His hand is outstretched...will you grasp his hand and let Jesus help you get back up on your feet? I'm sure Peter would be cheering you on saying "do it...you won't be sorry!!"

For the Gospel

I read with interest the introductory words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 1:12 when he talks of his own personal hardship and possible disappointments, sadness, and struggles. He said in verse 12, "Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel." I honestly don't know if I could say those words with full assurance while sitting in prison especially when I know I haven't committed any crime or broke any law. I wonder how many of us, when faced with a set-back, illness, job loss, or other life-challenging situation, would step back and happily exclaim "hey, at least this will advance the gospel of Christ!" Don't get me wrong, because there IS a season to mourn and grieve loss, disappointment and set-back. There is a season to be angry and question during these momentous times of great challenge. But there also needs to be a time to allow God to not only use these challenging times in our life, but to use how we respond to these events to bring Glory to Himself and to show others how they can come to Him, through His Son Jesus, to experience a loving, close, personal and intimate relationship with Him. Through this experience they can find comfort and peace in order to see that their "issue" can, indeed, "advance the Gospel."