Posted in Military Family, Military Marriages, tagged air force, air force wife, armed forces, army, army chaplain, army wife, Bible, chaplain, christian, deployment, Elisabeth K. Corcoran, god squad, how to save a marriage, Jesus, marine, marine corps, marine wife, military deployment, military families, military family, military homecoming, military marriage, military reunion, national guard, navy, navy wife, religion, religious, saving a marriage, soldier, spiritual, troubled marriage, veteran, veterans, warriors on July 19, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Found a great article on the struggles of marriage that will speak to every military couple. She does a great job of sharing practical tips and reinforces the fact that being a Christian does not exempt you from marital problems.
Hats off to Elisabeth K. Corcoran for the excellent advice. Enjoy the article.
Posted in Military Marriages, Suicide Prevention, Veteran Resources, tagged ACE, air force, annual training, armed forces, army, army suicide levels, army suicide rates, army suicide training, Ask Care Escort, chaplain, christian, current events, Department of Defense, deployment, DOD, faith, families, family, friends, god squad, health, home, hotline, marine, marine corps, medicine, mental health counselor, mental-health, military, military families, military family, military life, military marriage, military one source, military suicide rates, national guard, national suicide prevention lifeline, navy, news, peer counseling, pentagon issues, post traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, reintegration, reunion, soldier, suicide, suicide hotline, suicide prevention hotline, veteran, veteran suicide rates, veterans, warriors on July 12, 2012| 4 Comments »
Chaplains are pretty busy during Annual Training season in the National Guard. Tuesday I gave another suicide prevention class. It’s a requirement that Soldiers get the presentation at least once a year. The training focuses on the magnitude of the problem, how common issues can drive anyone to the point of despair, and that everyone can watch out for your battle buddy.
While many try to pin the Army suicide issue on multiple deployments, the majority of issues that drive people to suicide are common issues: failed relationships, financial difficulty, and legal woes. These are typical factors that we see in the civilian population, at schools, in factories, and even in the church. PTSD is a factor in military suicide, but it is not the top issue that Time magazine or other media outlets want you to believe.
The fundamental issue to remember is that everyone can save a life. You probably survived a breakup, be it in high school, college, or at work. You probably understand what it is like to bounce a check or have a tough time making your paycheck last the entire month. We are all in the same boat. We all have the life experience necessary to help people at risk of suicide.
Remember and apply ACE: Ask, Care, Escort.
If you believe that someone is at risk of suicide, ask him/her about the problem. Find out what is going on in the person’s life. Directly ask if he/she is thinking about suicide. Care by listening to the issue. Find out what is causing the pain and suffering. Why is the Soldier upset? Finally, escort the Soldier to a resource. That can be a chaplain, a medic, a counselor, an NCO, a friend, or a family member.
Don’t leave the person alone. Make sure that he or she gets help. It is okay to call a suicide hotline or wake up a supervisor, just don’t ignore the warning signs.
You don’t have to be a mental health counselor to apply ACE. You don’t have to be an expert. But you can practice these basic steps in suicide first aid. Do your part to reduce suicide and help your friends.
If you need immediate assistance these suicide hot lines are always available:
Military One Source – 1.877.995.5247 or National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1.800.273.TALK (8255).
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged air force, armed forces, army, combat tours, deployment, free speech, government, marine, marine corps, military, military family, military medals, military service, national guard, navy, politics, soldier, stolen valor act, Stolen Valor Act 2.0, stolen valor fraud, stolen valor law, stolen valor lies, supreme court, Supreme Court Justices, Supreme Court veteran issues, veteran, veteran hiring preference, veterans, warriors on July 5, 2012| Leave a Comment »
There is new interest in trying to prop up the Stolen Valor Act, a federal statute that prohibits people from lying about military service and being awarded military medals.
Last week the Supreme Court struck down the law on grounds that it violated free speech on a 6-3 ruling. Many were disappointed with the action. Veterans and military groups across the nation spoke in favor of the law. While honest and integrity are at the heart of the law, people forget the impact this ruling will have on our service members. As veterans continue to return home and seek jobs, there is an increasing need to separate fact from fiction. Many private firms, along with government agencies, have veteran hiring preferences. Those with military service may be placed ahead of others when applying for a job. So there is something to gain from lying on a resume or job application.
Lawmakers will likely take a second bite at the apple. Efforts are underway to pass another version of the law, one more narrowly focused. The Stolen Valor Act 2.0, will make it illegal to lie about military service for profit. This way charlatans cannot benefit from claiming military medals or combat tours. By changing direction and focusing on the issue of fraud, let’s hope that this version will make constitutional muster.
Posted in Devotions, Military Family, Uncategorized, tagged armed forces, army, Bible, birth of America, celebrate religious freedom, chaplain, Christ, christian, Christian rights, christian worship, Christianity, constitutional right of worship, constitutional rights, current events, declaration of independence, democracy, faith, families, family, fourth of july, freedom, freedom to worship, friends, god, god squad, human-rights, independence, Jesus, love, mayflower, mayflower compact, military, military family, national guard, persecuted christians, persecuted church, persecution, pilgrims, Plymouth, Plymouth Colony, politics, religion, religious, religious freedom, religious liberty, religious rights, right to worship, rights of Christians, separation of church and state, soldier, spiritual, spirituality, squad on June 28, 2012|
Each Fourth of July we celebrate the birth of America. We celebrate freedom, independence, and the precious rights that guarantee the blessings of liberty. But it is important to remember how religious freedom was the original goal of living in our land. And by that, I mean prior to signing the Declaration of Independence.
Christianity operated in a very different environment from what we know today. Prior to the Pilgrims leaving England, there was no separation of church and state. There was one official church for people to attend and the King was the head of the church. During the 1600s, British law required citizens to attend worship services. Those who did not attend would be fined one shilling for each Sunday and holy day missed. People who conducted unofficial church services could be fined, jailed, or executed.
As persecution and arrests grew, the Pilgrims left England for Amsterdam. By 1617 the congregation was stable enough for another, more permanent move. They wanted an enduring place where opportunity and religious freedom could be secured for their families. They turned their eyes to the new America, braved a sixty-five day voyage across the Atlantic, and started Plymouth Colony.
Days after sighting land, The Mayflower Compact was established as a way to honor God, guarantee just and equal laws in the colony, and create a free form of government. The Pilgrims decided to establish a system where every member of the colony could enjoy guaranteed rights and freedoms under majority rule. Freedoms that they were unable to enjoy until that very moment when the ink was dry.
Their voyage and vision created the first written constitution on our continent. It became the seed of American freedom and democracy.
We often forget the past difficulties that Christians have faced trying to worship God. We also forget the difficulties in our present age. We have been so blessed with liberty in our nation, that we forget the inequalities that exist elsewhere. While we are not fined, jailed, or executed for practicing our faith in America many others suffer across the globe. We have brothers and sisters in Christ who live with the same fears, torment, and punishments of seventeenth century Pilgrims.
Recognize the incredible gift we have as Americans and utilize your religious freedom. Glorify our risen Savior in song. Strengthen your faith in a worship service. Read your Bible in public. But also take time to pray for the persecuted Church beyond our borders. Their current plight was ours not so long ago.
Posted in Devotions, Military Family, tagged air force, armed forces, army, Bible, book of Roman, chaplain, chick fil, chick-fil-a, chick-fil-a lemonade, Christ, christian, Christianity, Creator God, devotional, devotions, faith, families, family, food, friends, front, god, god squad, good lemonade, home, home front, Jesus, lemon, lemonade, lemonade recipe, lemons, love, marine, marine corps, military, military family, national guard, navy, religion, religious, reserve, restaurants, romans, Romans 1:25, soldier, spiritual, spirituality, squad, summer, summertime, summertime lemonade, the best lemonade, travel, vacation, veteran, veterans, warriors on May 29, 2012| Leave a Comment »
I love lemonade. There is nothing like a glass of lemonade during the summertime. It’s the best you could ask for. A cold glass of lemonade hits the spot after mowing the yard, walking the dog, or just relaxing on the porch. This amazing drink will immediately satisfy me, draw a thirst quenching “aaahhh” from my mouth, and deliver a toothy smile to my face.
Sure there are different kinds of lemonade out there. You can get lemonade in an Army mess hall or even a Navy galley. But I’m talking about the good stuff. The lemonade recipe that your grandmother used. You know what I’m talking about. A recipe with real lemons, sugar, and plenty of kick.
My wife and I recently went to a Chick-fil-A and ordered lemonade with our meal. We didn’t know what to expect of the drink. Would the lemonade be a watered down version or something that tastes too syrupy sweet? The sign said it was made-from-scratch daily, so we decided to take a chance on their lemonade. We were both amazed. It was absolutely fantastic! It had to be one of the finest lemonades out there. Where had this been all of my life? Why didn’t anyone tell me that Chick-fil-A lemonade tasted so good?
To say that I was surprised by their lemonade would be an understatement. I had been settling for something less, when this recipe was clearly better. This discovery became our new gold standard when it comes to lemonade. No longer will we settle for something less.
God understands good lemonade. He gave humanity a recipe to follow regarding life. He knew that this recipe would satisfy us, quench us, and make us smile. This recipe is the finest out there. In fact, it is the perfect recipe. It is the gold standard of recipes. But some folks wanted to make their own recipe. They wanted different ingredients and proportions in the mixture. They were willing to settle for a recipe with less because it was something that they had made.
Romans 1:25 shares that people exchange the truth about God for a lie or “the” lie depending on your translation. This passage tells how people “worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator . . .” This lie is about self. I know better. I am more important. I will do whatever I want. The rules don’t apply to me. In essence, I will follow my own recipe.
Folks have the choice to follow their own recipe in life. Perhaps they didn’t know just how satisfying God’s recipe is for us. But when you taste and discover how incredibly satisfying it is, you won’t settle for less. May God bless you and your pursuit of His righteousness, His recipe for your life.
Posted in Devotions, tagged air force, armed forces, army, artillery fire, audie murphy, battle of holtzwihr, Bible, book of Isaiah, Book of John, chaplain, Christ, christian, Christianity, devotion, devotional, devotions, faith, France, friends, god, god squad, Holtzwihr, isaiah, isaiah 53, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John, John 3:16, love, marine corps, medal of honor, memorial day, memorial day devotion, military, national guard, navy, New Testament, Old Testament, religion, religious, sacrifice, soldier, Son of God, spiritual, spirituality, squad, veteran, veterans, warriors, world war ii on May 25, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Memorial Day allows us to remember the meaning of sacrifice. Veterans, soldiers, and veteran groups frequently celebrate Audie Murphy and his sacrificial efforts during World War II.
As a soldier, Murphy was credited with destroying six tanks, killing over 240 German soldiers, and capturing many others. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the battle of Holtzwihr, France. In this campaign, Murphy’s unit was reduced to 19 out of 128. As they continued to take losses, Murphy ordered his men to fall back while he provided rifle fire to protect their escape. When he ran out of ammunition, he climbed on top of a burning M10 tank destroyer and used its .50 caliber machine gun to fight the enemy. He also called in artillery fire to slow the German advance. Murphy continued to shoot and call in artillery for an hour until he was wounded in the leg.
When asked after the war why he had seized the machine gun and taken on an entire company of German infantry, he replied simply, “They were killing my friends.” His selfless service and sacrifice is celebrated every year.
Each Memorial Day we celebrate the suffering and sacrifice of veterans. But to understand sacrifice we must look past the holiday weekend. To understand sacrifice we must look to God.
John 3:16 shares that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” A sacrifice was made for us. Christ was wounded for our wrongs. Isaiah 53 is titled the Suffering Servant. This chapter in the Old Testament shares how the Son of God would be “pierced for our transgressions” and suffer on our behalf. His actions would bear our iniquities and justify us before a Holy God.
As Christians, we understand that Jesus went to the cross for our sins. His substitution on the cross ultimately atoned for the sins of the world. He interceded to save us.
While stories of sacrifice, war wounds, medals, and heroism will take center stage this holiday weekend, remember that we understand sacrifice through the love and devotion of Jesus Christ. He is truly our Savior.
Posted in Military Family, Veteran Resources, tagged air force, armed forces, armed forces sexual assault policy, army, chaplain, current events, deployment, families, family, god, helpline, hotline, joint chief, joint chiefs, joint chiefs of staff, marine, marine corps, military, military family, military news, military sexual assault policy, national guard, navy, news, politics, reintegration, research, reserve, safe help line, service member, service members, sexual assault, sexual assault policies, sexual assault response, sexual assault response coordinator, sexual harassment, soldier, squad, veteran, veterans, victim advocate, warriors on May 15, 2012| Leave a Comment »
The Joint Chiefs of Staff have recently outlined new policies to deter sexual assaults in the armed forces.
One of the major changes will happen at basic training for new recruits in every service branch. New recruits will receive training on sexual assault policies within their first two weeks on active duty. Making sure that recruits are educated on right conduct and appropriate behavior will go a long way in the force. This prevention and education effort should be viewed as an important step in reducing sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military.
Additional policy changes include ensuring that sexual assault cases are handled by officers at the Colonel or O-6 level, and forming a new Special Victims Units across each service branch in order to better investigate assaults and bring more perpetrators to justice. Cases will no longer be dropped by low-level commanders who can prevent investigations from moving forward with flimsy excuses. Cases will instead move past the local unit level and be pushed up the chain of command for investigation by senior officers.
While these changes are new and still being fine tuned for implementation, I hope that advocacy efforts will also be a part of the equation. All of the services need to provide high levels of support through unit victim advocates, sexual assault response coordinators, medical services, legal representation, and counseling.
Veterans and service members can make confidential reports to a chaplain, healthcare provider, sexual assault response coordinator, or victim advocate. If you need help or have questions you can call 877-995-5247 or click www.safehelpline.org for additional resources.
Posted in Devotions, Military Family, tagged 2 timothy 1, air force, air force mom, apostle paul, armed forces, army, army mom, Bible, Bible lesson, Book of Acts, chaplain, Christ, christian, Christianity, deployment, deployments, devotional, devotions, Eunice, faith, families, family, friends, front, god, home, Jesus, Jesus Christ, love, marine mom, military, military families, military family, military mom, missionary journey, mom's day, mother day, mother's day, mother's day devotion, mother's day devotional, national guard, navy, navy mom, New Testament, Paul, religion, religious, reserve, single parent, soldier, spiritual, spirituality, squad, theology, Timothy, Timothy's mom, veteran, veterans, warriors, woman of faith, women of faith on May 10, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Moms play a critical role in every family. They raise us, nurture us, love us, demonstrate the right way to live, and make gigantic sacrifices for us. We owe them an incredible debt. Now consider the additional responsibilities of being a military mom.
Military moms act as a single parent during deployments. Their work load doubles when duty calls a Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine overseas. They endure hardship, long hours, little rest, and loneliness. They sacrifice time and comforts to make life better at home. A military mom keeps the family together while times are tough and a loved one is deployed.
The Bible shows us a great example of motherly love and action in Acts 16:1-2. “Paul came to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer; but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethern at Lystra and Iconium.”
Timothy was a remarkable and talented young man. He was highly recommended by the local church leaders. His mom, Eunice, had done such a good job raising and teaching her son that Paul wanted to take him on his missionary journey. Think about this accomplishment. Her work at home made this young man ready to enter the ministry of the early church and reach the world for Jesus Christ.
She was a strong woman of faith as was her mother (2 Timothy 1:5). But Eunice was unique in that she was able to pass this faith along to her son. This was no small feat since Timothy’s father was not a believer. It also required extra work since it was usually the father’s job to teach the sons and the mother’s job to teach the daughters. Perhaps there were times when she felt too exhausted from all the work of the day to spend time with her son. But she would not give up in her responsibilities. She was faithful and willing to do the extra work. Praise God that Eunice made time to teach her son Timothy!
Be mindful of Eunice and her tremendous example from scripture. Think about her loving sacrifice of time and how it changed her family and ultimately the world. Consider how moms have made time for us and how we should respond with our own families. May God give you the faith, the vision, and the strength of Eunice as we celebrate mothers across America.
Posted in Military Family, Veteran Resources, tagged active duty, air force, armed forces, armed forces day, army, current events, deployment, god, god squad, marine, marine corps, memorial day, military, military appreciation, military appreciation month, military families, military family, military personnel, military spouse, military spouse appreciation, military spouse appreciation day, military wife, military wives, national guard, national military appreciation month, navy, politics, reserve, reserves, soldier, squad, ve day, veteran, veteran organization, veterans, warriors on April 30, 2012| Leave a Comment »
May is National Military Appreciation Month. This important month honors, remembers, and recognizes all military personnel and their families. The month includes VE Day (8th), Military Spouse Appreciation Day (11th), Armed Forces Day (19th), and Memorial Day (30th).
This month we all have an opportunity to stop and reflect on those who have served throughout our history, those who currently serve, and their families. There are several ways to help celebrate the month. Take time to thank a veteran for his or her service. Send a care package to someone who is currently deployed. Donate money or time to a veteran organization. Pray for a military family.
During the course of our nation’s history, over 90 million Americans have answered the call to serve in the armed forces. Let us celebrate their devotion and the many sacrifices that they have made on our behalf.
God Squad 
Church Confidence Hits an All-Time Low
Posted in News & Commentary, tagged 2012 church confidence, 2012 confidence in religion, 2012 Gallup poll, 2012 Gallup survey, American confidence in organized religion, American confidence in the church, Bible, chaplain, Christ, christian, Christianity, church as a hospital for sinners, Church confidence, church split, confidence in institutions, confidence in the church at low, current events, faith, families, Gallup poll, Gallup survey, god, god squad, Great Physician, hospital for sinners, Jesus, Jesus Christ, looking for a church, looking for a church home, low church confidence, national guard, news, organized religion, poll, record low attitudes on religion, religion, religious, Son of God, spiritual, spiritual hospital, spirituality, survey, why do people leave the church, Why I hate religion and love Jesus, why I hate the church, why people leave the church on July 16, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Each year Gallup releases a “Confidence in Institutions” survey. This year it reveals that only 44% of Americans have a “great deal or quite a lot of confidence in ‘the church or organized religion.'”
Organized religion has ranked at the top of the list from 1973-1985, but now it is tied with the medical system. Bean counters will quickly point out that religion still ranks fourth out of sixteen institutions tested, but that can hardly be viewed as a prize. Bronze medal? Sorry church, you missed it by that much.
After I let the survey results simmer, my thoughts went to people who have been hurt, wounded, and injured by the church. When I hear stories of people searching for a different church home it is always for a reason. Too often families leave a congregation because of strife, bitterness, and conflict. They leave due to splits and infighting. They leave because of hurtful comments and negative attitudes. Unfortunately, the pain can be so intense that many won’t even bother to look for a new church home. Many stop looking or worse yet, stop going. When that is the legacy, why would people express confidence?
I like it when people describe the church as a hospital for sinners. It is the emergency room where we find comfort and peace through Jesus Christ. But this spiritual hospital will have people who are coughing, fever-ridden, and sick. There are varying levels of sickness due to sin. Cross-bearing is a requirement for ministry to occur in this setting. There will be unpleasant people in every congregation, but then again what emergency room doesn’t have someone in need of a physician?
If you are looking for a church home or stopped looking for a solid body of believers, remember that Jesus died for you and all who suffer from the pain of sin. He died for everybody. Congregations are made up of imperfect people who are in need of the Great Physician. Place your confidence in the Son of God and you will never be disappointed.
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