Good evening... At least, it is evening for me while I am writing this blog entry. And, just to warn you, I am dping so on my phone. So, it will probably not be as pretty as it usually is. I hope you don't mind too much.
These last few weeks have been pretty long for me and our family. I have had several flare-ups with back, so that has made things even more challenging. My family also adopted another dog. A puppy, really. So, that brings another set of challenges to the mix.
My work with the Department of Corrections continues. Still see quite a mix of people who are sticking to change and those who are allowing their hearts to become even more hardened. It is both encouraging and depressing. On one hand, I see people seeking to better themselves and to find healing in their lives. But with others, they allow their fear and anger to fester and grow. They are physically alive, but emotionally and spiritully dead, consumed by bitterness.
Think g about this reminded me of an intestine incident that happened. I had to escorts a lawyer so that he could get a signiture. This particles inmate continued to ask questions, make comments, etc, for a good 20 minutes. The attorny finally was finished and we were able to leave.
During our walk back to the front entrance the attorney started apologin for the long, dragged out session that he had. I let him know that I appreciated the apology, but I was just doing my job. After over 8 years, I was used to things like that.
Our conversation eventually drifted to the topic of ethics concerning prison terms, how inmates are treated after being released from prison, etc. I shared with him that one of my favirile seminary classes had been on ethics. This really seemed to perk his interest.
Because of his interest, I told the attorney about an interesting book that I had done a paper on. In this paper, I examined the overall plot from a condensed, abridged view, and one from a well informed perspectives. The attorney really liked that approach and, as he left, stated that he was going to look for that book.
Looking back, I know that was a "God thing." That is, it was a very unique situation that God had set up so that He could touch someone's life through me. An otherwise irritating series of events that morning became a place of encouragement and blessing.
Isn't it amazing how God can take a situation that is negative and turn it into something good? Even though I have experienced it many times, God still surprises me with those experiences.
That has gotten me thinking about current events. There have been numerous terrorust attacks in Europe, brazen attacks on Law Enforcement Officers who are doing their jobs, etc. It is easy to start feeling depressed and hopeless just watching or reading about them. Especially in our information saturated world. But, the Bible Study that I led this evening was an encourager.
In both 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Paul directly addresses Christ''s second coming. Though persecution will grow, Crust will come again. No matter what we may experience, no matter how high of a cost, Christ will one day take us home.
That is the hope that we have. That God came into our world to not just redeem us, but to bring ourselves for His blessing. We will always ge
Monday, July 25, 2016
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Independence Day Thoughts
References:
• Freedom definition
• Independence definition
• Jude 1:1
• John 8:34-44
I have been thinking long and hard about this blog entry. Because we were out until well after supper on July Fourth, I was not able to write anything. Yesterday, I was taking care of the kids and doing typical household chores while my wife worked. Again, I was not able to sit down and write anything. But, I was thinking about what to write throughout the day. Today, because my lower back is really bothering me, I am home resting it, trying to stay on top of the pain. It is never a good day when my back acts up, because it affects all that I do. However, since sitting at a computer for short periods of times is something that I can do. So, I am finally getting a chance to put my thoughts into words.
My wife and I talked quite a bit about what we were going to do in celebration of Independence Day. After several discussions, we decided to visit the Homestead National Monument, just outside of Beatrice, Nebraska. It is not the first time we’ve been there. But, being Independence Day, we figured with would be appropriate. That is, celebrating what our Founding Fathers gave us to inherit, this vast country to settle and live in relative freedom.
But, do we really live ‘in freedom?’ That is a very subjective word. What freedom means to one person will not be the same for someone else. According to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, we freedom of the press, freedom of religious practice, freedom of assembly, freedom to keep and bear arms, etc. Because of the tyranny that our Founding Fathers, like George Washington, Ben Franklin, John Hancock, amongst many others, lived under, they put in many, many checks and balances within the Constitution to help ensure that future generations enjoy the same freedoms. And, to some extent, we are.
The thing is, we are never really ‘free.’ Think about it, we will eventually suffer the consequences of the decisions that we make. If we make positive choices, we should experience positive repercussions. If we make bad decisions, we should experience negative consequences. This is not always the case. One can easily read through crime and political stories and see that many people suffer bad consequences for making good choices or make bad decisions but yet are not held accountable. For those of us who believe in the importance of justice, that is a great heartache.
But, all of that aside, we really are not free. Though we may have more freedoms to speak our minds (though Political Correctness is a hindrance to that), worship how we choose, etc., they are all really limited. We are constrained by what is available to us where we live and work. For example, I am in the Army Nation Guard. Though I can participate in elections, I have to be very careful what I say and do in and out of uniform. I am held to different standard, due to the nature of my work. I am also very much constrained in how I critique my leadership. It’s against the Uniformed Code of Military Justice to speak of my leadership in a negative manner that impacts the morale and welfare of the US Military as a whole.
If I were ordained within a denomination (let’s say, Presbyterian Church USA, since that is the denomination that I grew up in) and challenged decisions that the PC USA leadership had made, they could (depending on what I said and how I said it), take me to court (Judicial hearings) and, could either reprimand me, prevent me from being able to accept a call to another church, revoke my ordination credentials, or even excommunicate me. Believe it or not, the PC USA can excommunicate someone. In a nutshell, the denomination, if it so chooses, will have every church that the excommunicated member attended and have them erase all references of their attendance, having been confirmed and/or being on any ministry boards, etc. Such a person would not be able to transfer their membership to any other church; they would literately have to start all over.
However, each and every one of us is truly not free. We all have a sinful nature and pushes us to make bad, selfish decisions. We all easily choose to do things that harm ourselves and others. Some people flaunt their sinful passions while others seek to restrain them. But, it is something we all have. We are either slaves to our sinful passions, or we are servants of Christ. That is, we willingly submit ourselves to His Lordship, seeking to be obedient in service to Him. Whether we choose to be servants to our sinful nature or seek to be faithful servants of Christ, we are not ‘kings or queens’ or our own life.
We are never ‘truly free.’ We have to submit ourselves to those that we work for. We have to submit ourselves to the rules and regulations of the local town, state, and even country that we live in, etc. While in school getting an education, we have to submit ourselves to their rules for attending classes, getting good grades, taking the courses we need to graduate, etc. We are always having to submit ourselves to someone or something (organization). We also either submit our choices to our sinful nature, or we prayerfully seek to be led by God via the Holy Spirit. What is our choice?
• Freedom definition
• Independence definition
• Jude 1:1
• John 8:34-44
I have been thinking long and hard about this blog entry. Because we were out until well after supper on July Fourth, I was not able to write anything. Yesterday, I was taking care of the kids and doing typical household chores while my wife worked. Again, I was not able to sit down and write anything. But, I was thinking about what to write throughout the day. Today, because my lower back is really bothering me, I am home resting it, trying to stay on top of the pain. It is never a good day when my back acts up, because it affects all that I do. However, since sitting at a computer for short periods of times is something that I can do. So, I am finally getting a chance to put my thoughts into words.
My wife and I talked quite a bit about what we were going to do in celebration of Independence Day. After several discussions, we decided to visit the Homestead National Monument, just outside of Beatrice, Nebraska. It is not the first time we’ve been there. But, being Independence Day, we figured with would be appropriate. That is, celebrating what our Founding Fathers gave us to inherit, this vast country to settle and live in relative freedom.
But, do we really live ‘in freedom?’ That is a very subjective word. What freedom means to one person will not be the same for someone else. According to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, we freedom of the press, freedom of religious practice, freedom of assembly, freedom to keep and bear arms, etc. Because of the tyranny that our Founding Fathers, like George Washington, Ben Franklin, John Hancock, amongst many others, lived under, they put in many, many checks and balances within the Constitution to help ensure that future generations enjoy the same freedoms. And, to some extent, we are.
The thing is, we are never really ‘free.’ Think about it, we will eventually suffer the consequences of the decisions that we make. If we make positive choices, we should experience positive repercussions. If we make bad decisions, we should experience negative consequences. This is not always the case. One can easily read through crime and political stories and see that many people suffer bad consequences for making good choices or make bad decisions but yet are not held accountable. For those of us who believe in the importance of justice, that is a great heartache.
But, all of that aside, we really are not free. Though we may have more freedoms to speak our minds (though Political Correctness is a hindrance to that), worship how we choose, etc., they are all really limited. We are constrained by what is available to us where we live and work. For example, I am in the Army Nation Guard. Though I can participate in elections, I have to be very careful what I say and do in and out of uniform. I am held to different standard, due to the nature of my work. I am also very much constrained in how I critique my leadership. It’s against the Uniformed Code of Military Justice to speak of my leadership in a negative manner that impacts the morale and welfare of the US Military as a whole.
If I were ordained within a denomination (let’s say, Presbyterian Church USA, since that is the denomination that I grew up in) and challenged decisions that the PC USA leadership had made, they could (depending on what I said and how I said it), take me to court (Judicial hearings) and, could either reprimand me, prevent me from being able to accept a call to another church, revoke my ordination credentials, or even excommunicate me. Believe it or not, the PC USA can excommunicate someone. In a nutshell, the denomination, if it so chooses, will have every church that the excommunicated member attended and have them erase all references of their attendance, having been confirmed and/or being on any ministry boards, etc. Such a person would not be able to transfer their membership to any other church; they would literately have to start all over.
However, each and every one of us is truly not free. We all have a sinful nature and pushes us to make bad, selfish decisions. We all easily choose to do things that harm ourselves and others. Some people flaunt their sinful passions while others seek to restrain them. But, it is something we all have. We are either slaves to our sinful passions, or we are servants of Christ. That is, we willingly submit ourselves to His Lordship, seeking to be obedient in service to Him. Whether we choose to be servants to our sinful nature or seek to be faithful servants of Christ, we are not ‘kings or queens’ or our own life.
We are never ‘truly free.’ We have to submit ourselves to those that we work for. We have to submit ourselves to the rules and regulations of the local town, state, and even country that we live in, etc. While in school getting an education, we have to submit ourselves to their rules for attending classes, getting good grades, taking the courses we need to graduate, etc. We are always having to submit ourselves to someone or something (organization). We also either submit our choices to our sinful nature, or we prayerfully seek to be led by God via the Holy Spirit. What is our choice?
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Some Thoughts on 1 Thessalonians
In the adult Bible Study that I lead, we have been looking at the shorter Letters from Paul and other Apostles. So far, we have finished Titus and 1 Thessalonians. It's been slow going with some classes having been canceled due to weather or holidays. Nice that we do not have to worry about specific time constraints.
One of the things that I have noticed in my preparation for the Bible Studies is that there is a lot one can learn from each of these 'Minor Letters.' Just like the Minor Prophets that I did a series of studies on while in Qatar last year, though they may be short, they are still very rich in theology. The Bible Studies that I have led have been fairly in depth. But, of course, we do not cover all that we could have.
Paul probably write 1 Thessalonians in approximately 51 AD, while in the city of Corinth (Life Application Study Bible, NASB. Zondervan Publishing House. Grand Rapids, MI, 2000. p. 2110-12.) From what I read in the Book of Acts, 1 Thessalonians, and several different commentaries, after Paul, Timothy and Silas had been forced out of Thessalonica (see acts 17:1-9), they eventually arrived in the city of Corinth. Due the circumstances with which they had been forced out of Thessalonica, Paul and his companions were very concerned with how the churches in Thessalonica were doing. Eventually, Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to see how they were doing. After a while, Timothy returned form this trip with news as to how well the house churches in Thessalonica were doing, as well as a number of questions that they had. Paul wrote 1 and 2 Thessalonians in order to encourage them and answer a number of these questions.
There are four main themes in 1 Thessalonians. They are persecution, Paul's ministry, hope, and being prepared (for Christ's Second Coming). According to the notes in my Life Application Study Bible, 1 Thessalonians can be divided into two main parts. The first one, 1 Thess. 1:1-3:13 is about faithfulness to God. The second part, 1 Thess. 4:1-5:28 is about 'Watchfullness for the Lord.' That is, maintaining an attitude of being ready for Christ's imminent return.
For those who have studies Scripture and have read about the Early Church, persecution was something Paul and the Apostles experienced on a regular basis. It would range anywhere from verbal harassment, to physical attacks, to imprisonment, even death. Quite frankly, Christians all over the work are experiencing persecution, just like the Early Church. For those of us in America, it will often be in the form or verbal harassment from family, friends, co-workers, etc., when we take a stand against sexual immorality, sanctity of life, the right to worship, etc. In other countries, persecution takes many darker, more evil forms. You can read more about the Persecuted Church at Open Doors.
To me, one of the key words in the first section of 1 Thessalonians 1:4, "...beloved by God, His choice of you." The Greek word used here (translated as '...His choice') is εκλογε (ek-log-ay'). It is where we get the theological word 'election.' It is defined as:
"Why is this so important?" you might be asking. To me, much. The idea that God has chosen us to serve Him and be His representatives on Earth is incredible and awe inspiring! Think about it, the God of all Creation, Who is not limited by time as space (things that He created) was to have a personal relationship with each of us. We are that important to Him. God, being holy, righteous, loving and forgiving, brings people to Himself through other believers. While facing harsh persecution, including being cut off from friends family, loss of work and income, even imprisonment and death, such encouragement can help a person endure the trials and tribulations.
And that is something that Paul really emphasizes. As Followers of Christ, we are to expect to experience persecution. Though it may not be as horrific as what some people in the Middle East experience, those of us in the 'Free World' will still experience it. Sometimes it will only be in the form of people making fun of us for our faith, or looking down on us for our 'old fashioned moral beliefs.' For me, passages like this and Romans 8:28-39 are of sweet encouragement. No matter what kind of problems I face, God will see me through. He called me for a personal relationship with Him for a reason, my life has purpose, there are things God wants to do through me, lives He wants to touch through my life, and He will see things through to the end.
Is that not wonderful news? It is to me.
One of the things that I have noticed in my preparation for the Bible Studies is that there is a lot one can learn from each of these 'Minor Letters.' Just like the Minor Prophets that I did a series of studies on while in Qatar last year, though they may be short, they are still very rich in theology. The Bible Studies that I have led have been fairly in depth. But, of course, we do not cover all that we could have.
Paul probably write 1 Thessalonians in approximately 51 AD, while in the city of Corinth (Life Application Study Bible, NASB. Zondervan Publishing House. Grand Rapids, MI, 2000. p. 2110-12.) From what I read in the Book of Acts, 1 Thessalonians, and several different commentaries, after Paul, Timothy and Silas had been forced out of Thessalonica (see acts 17:1-9), they eventually arrived in the city of Corinth. Due the circumstances with which they had been forced out of Thessalonica, Paul and his companions were very concerned with how the churches in Thessalonica were doing. Eventually, Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to see how they were doing. After a while, Timothy returned form this trip with news as to how well the house churches in Thessalonica were doing, as well as a number of questions that they had. Paul wrote 1 and 2 Thessalonians in order to encourage them and answer a number of these questions.
There are four main themes in 1 Thessalonians. They are persecution, Paul's ministry, hope, and being prepared (for Christ's Second Coming). According to the notes in my Life Application Study Bible, 1 Thessalonians can be divided into two main parts. The first one, 1 Thess. 1:1-3:13 is about faithfulness to God. The second part, 1 Thess. 4:1-5:28 is about 'Watchfullness for the Lord.' That is, maintaining an attitude of being ready for Christ's imminent return.
For those who have studies Scripture and have read about the Early Church, persecution was something Paul and the Apostles experienced on a regular basis. It would range anywhere from verbal harassment, to physical attacks, to imprisonment, even death. Quite frankly, Christians all over the work are experiencing persecution, just like the Early Church. For those of us in America, it will often be in the form or verbal harassment from family, friends, co-workers, etc., when we take a stand against sexual immorality, sanctity of life, the right to worship, etc. In other countries, persecution takes many darker, more evil forms. You can read more about the Persecuted Church at Open Doors.
To me, one of the key words in the first section of 1 Thessalonians 1:4, "...beloved by God, His choice of you." The Greek word used here (translated as '...His choice') is εκλογε (ek-log-ay'). It is where we get the theological word 'election.' It is defined as:
1. the act of picking out, choosing
• of the act of God's free will by which before the foundation of the world he decreed his blessings to certain persons
• the decree made from choice by which he determined to bless certain persons through Christ by grace alone
2. a thing or person chosen
• of persons: God's elect
(taken from here.)
"Why is this so important?" you might be asking. To me, much. The idea that God has chosen us to serve Him and be His representatives on Earth is incredible and awe inspiring! Think about it, the God of all Creation, Who is not limited by time as space (things that He created) was to have a personal relationship with each of us. We are that important to Him. God, being holy, righteous, loving and forgiving, brings people to Himself through other believers. While facing harsh persecution, including being cut off from friends family, loss of work and income, even imprisonment and death, such encouragement can help a person endure the trials and tribulations.
And that is something that Paul really emphasizes. As Followers of Christ, we are to expect to experience persecution. Though it may not be as horrific as what some people in the Middle East experience, those of us in the 'Free World' will still experience it. Sometimes it will only be in the form of people making fun of us for our faith, or looking down on us for our 'old fashioned moral beliefs.' For me, passages like this and Romans 8:28-39 are of sweet encouragement. No matter what kind of problems I face, God will see me through. He called me for a personal relationship with Him for a reason, my life has purpose, there are things God wants to do through me, lives He wants to touch through my life, and He will see things through to the end.
Is that not wonderful news? It is to me.
Monday, June 13, 2016
The Orlando Shooting -- My Response
References:
• 2 Timothy 3:1-9
• Libertarian Nominee: We must not 'politicize' Orlando shooting
• Five Rules for Coping with Tragedy
• Orlando Nightclub Shooting
• Orlando Shooting, What We Know and Don’t Know
• Orlando Nightclub Shooting (Terror Ties)
After learning about the horrific shooting in Orlando this morning, I knew that I would be writing a blog entry on it. I just took my time prayerfully deciding how I would address it. And, a ‘conversation’ on Facebook inspired the contents of this blog. I really do enjoy the INFJ group that I am in. Although we have a tendency to have some heated ‘conversations’ about things that we are passionate about, the majority of the time we sit down and clearly write out what we believe and why. More of a ‘discussion’ than a ‘debate,’ though both do happen. But, I digress a little…
I was saddened and upset by the attack, but not at all surprised. Over a year ago, various radical Islamist groups have pushed the idea of ‘lone wolf’ attacks. That is, someone who is either a member or just idealizes a group, finds a good ‘target,’ prepares for attacking it, and then follows through if they can. Sometimes, such a person can get training from other radical Islamist (or whatever radical group they affiliate themselves with), other times it is mostly, or even entirely, on their own. Such kinds of terrorist are much harder to discover, track, and intercept before they actually attack.
I have been in the US Army (Active Duty and the National Guard) for just over 15 years, having been a MP (Military Police) since about 2009, and having worked in corrections for over 8 years. Before I became a MP, I was trained as a Military Intelligence Analyst. Over the years, I have had a lot of training in research, analyzing patterns, enforcing laws, and working with criminals. This is all on top of my theological training. And, because of this broad training and experience, I believe that gun legislation is not the answer. It only creates more victims.
I do believe that background checks for purchasing firearms in necessary, that proper training in firearms safety and use are critical, and that allowing people to carry a firearm for their personal defense, and the defense of others, is important. For those who do not wish to own a firearm, or to carry if you do, that is your choice. I personally believe that God not only calls me not to take an innocent life, but to protect other innocent people.
As for the shooting in Florida, the man did his homework. He picked a place that, since it sold alcohol, it would be illegal to have a concealed (or openly carried) firearm. Unless there was someone there who was paid (or volunteer) security and did not drink while on duty, there would have been no one who could have immediately stopped the threat. And, since law enforcement take 5-15 minutes to respond, anyone who has done sparring, gone shooting, done 'crisis training,' etc., know that a lot can happen in 1-2 minutes, let alone 10-15 minutes.
The man chose something we in the military call a 'soft target.' Something that has a 'high pay off' and low risk. It was a ‘high payoff target’ do to the fact that it was something that he was religiously opposed to, something that those whom he idolized would quickly affirm, and there would be a lot of people who would be there. And, since it was a club, many people would be intoxicated, dancing, engaged in conversations, and totally distracted, not paying attention to what was happening around them until it was too late. And, it was a ‘soft target’ because there was no security (except for maybe unarmed bouncers), so he would be able to shoot a lot of people and leave safely, before the police arrived.
People who have an evil (sinful) heart will find a way to carry out their wicked plans. Whether it is to obtain a firearm (legally or illegally), create a homemade explosive device, commit arson, or use a table knife or baseball bat, they will find a way. Sometimes, they just have to get creative. Having worked at a Maximum Security Prison for 8+ years, I have seen some pretty creative weapons, as well as some 'standard improvised' ones (i.e. a lock in sock). Of the statistics that I looked at from the FBI (https://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/crimestats/) and the Bureau of Justice Statistics (http://www.bjs.gov/), firearms are often used to commit crimes. They are also often used in ‘justifiable homicide,’ where someone killed someone committing a felony against themselves or someone else. In fact, I noticed something interesting…. In 2014, there were 11,961 people murdered. Of that number, 8,124 were murdered by a firearm, 1,576 were murdered via a knife or other cutting instrument, 435 were murdered via a blunt object, and 660 were murdered by ‘personal weapons’ (hands, feet, fist, shoving, etc.) in the United States. Now, how many of these murders were actually gang on gang crimes, how many of them were gang related, how many were ‘crimes of passion,’ I don’t know (https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2014/crime-in-the-u.s.-2014/tables/expanded-homicide-data/expanded_homicide_data_table_9_murder_victims_by_age_by_weapon_2014.xls). But, when compared to the 2014 statistics on justifiable homicide (https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2014/crime-in-the-u.s.-2014/tables/expanded-homicide-data/expanded_homicide_data_table_14_justifiable_homicide_by_weapon_law_enforcement_2010-2014.xls), one sees that the use of a firearm in self-defense was almost 1/10 of the actual murder use. It is also interesting that, in some of the States that have the highest gun control laws, like California, Washing DC, Illinois, etc., (https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2014/crime-in-the-u.s.-2014/tables/table-20) we see that they have very high murder rates. I wonder how many few murders there would be if more people were able to use a firearm to protect themselves.
One group that I am a member of publishes stories week about people who use firearms, be it a pistol, rifle, shotgun, etc., to protect themselves and/or someone else. Many times, the simple fact that they either tell the person attempting to commit a felony, or aim the firearm at the person committing a felony, is enough to stop the crime from being committed. Many people committing crimes are not stupid. If they realize that they will get injured or killed trying to assault, rape, rob, etc., someone, they will go someplace else to commit their crime. They want an ‘easy target,’ someone who is not going to fight back. Sometimes, a person will have to use force to protect themselves or someone else. Thankfully, many times that is not always the case.
The answer is not gun legislation, I believe. The answer lies in good people being willing to stop evil people. Whether it is correcting or confronting the person, calling the police, or actively engaging a murderous person with what ever weapon one can find, doing something positive instead of hindering others from protecting themselves or others is the answer.
There is something else that we all have to keep in mind. People like Omar Mateen are called ‘lone wolf attackers.’ That is, they have little to no official ties to any particular radical/extremist group. Instead, they do most of their training, research, surveillance, etc., on their own. Because they have so little ties with radical groups, including communication, they are much harder to recognize, let alone track. Unless they get put on someone’s radar (local Law Enforcement, FBI, etc.), they will not ‘get noticed.’ That means, when they do plan on attacking, people, including local Law Enforcement, will be reacting to the threat, possibly after they start finding the injured and wounded. In such cases, having citizens there who are willing to lay their life on the line to protect others, enable them to get good training in order to protect themselves and others, and encourage them to do some in as many places as possible, give such people few targets.
Think about it. Would you want to commit a crime or terrorist attack, in an area where there is a possible to very high likely hood of someone stopping you? Not just the possible threat of someone or a group of people trying to tackle you to keep you from hurting more people, but actually can engage you with lethal force, would you want to attack there? Or, would you rather go some place where the people might not, or will not be able to fight back?
It is my opinion that ‘stricter laws’ on firearms, gun bans, ‘high capacity bans,’ etc., are not only ineffective, but create more dangers than the protections that they give. I also believe that places that are ‘gun free zones’ only invite people to commit crimes. What we need are more people who are willing to take good training in order protect themselves and others. I would encourage those who can, to take classes in self-defense, take some shooting classes, learn from others how to have better situational awareness so that you become less of a target to those who want to commit crimes, learn about the laws in your area so that you know what you can and cannot do to protect yourself and others, take first aid/CPR courses, etc. Those of us to genuine care about others and have the training and means to defend ourselves and others have a responsibility to do so. We also have a responsibility to do so wisely. I continue to train to make myself better. What are you willing to do?
• 2 Timothy 3:1-9
• Libertarian Nominee: We must not 'politicize' Orlando shooting
• Five Rules for Coping with Tragedy
• Orlando Nightclub Shooting
• Orlando Shooting, What We Know and Don’t Know
• Orlando Nightclub Shooting (Terror Ties)
After learning about the horrific shooting in Orlando this morning, I knew that I would be writing a blog entry on it. I just took my time prayerfully deciding how I would address it. And, a ‘conversation’ on Facebook inspired the contents of this blog. I really do enjoy the INFJ group that I am in. Although we have a tendency to have some heated ‘conversations’ about things that we are passionate about, the majority of the time we sit down and clearly write out what we believe and why. More of a ‘discussion’ than a ‘debate,’ though both do happen. But, I digress a little…
I was saddened and upset by the attack, but not at all surprised. Over a year ago, various radical Islamist groups have pushed the idea of ‘lone wolf’ attacks. That is, someone who is either a member or just idealizes a group, finds a good ‘target,’ prepares for attacking it, and then follows through if they can. Sometimes, such a person can get training from other radical Islamist (or whatever radical group they affiliate themselves with), other times it is mostly, or even entirely, on their own. Such kinds of terrorist are much harder to discover, track, and intercept before they actually attack.
I have been in the US Army (Active Duty and the National Guard) for just over 15 years, having been a MP (Military Police) since about 2009, and having worked in corrections for over 8 years. Before I became a MP, I was trained as a Military Intelligence Analyst. Over the years, I have had a lot of training in research, analyzing patterns, enforcing laws, and working with criminals. This is all on top of my theological training. And, because of this broad training and experience, I believe that gun legislation is not the answer. It only creates more victims.
I do believe that background checks for purchasing firearms in necessary, that proper training in firearms safety and use are critical, and that allowing people to carry a firearm for their personal defense, and the defense of others, is important. For those who do not wish to own a firearm, or to carry if you do, that is your choice. I personally believe that God not only calls me not to take an innocent life, but to protect other innocent people.
As for the shooting in Florida, the man did his homework. He picked a place that, since it sold alcohol, it would be illegal to have a concealed (or openly carried) firearm. Unless there was someone there who was paid (or volunteer) security and did not drink while on duty, there would have been no one who could have immediately stopped the threat. And, since law enforcement take 5-15 minutes to respond, anyone who has done sparring, gone shooting, done 'crisis training,' etc., know that a lot can happen in 1-2 minutes, let alone 10-15 minutes.
The man chose something we in the military call a 'soft target.' Something that has a 'high pay off' and low risk. It was a ‘high payoff target’ do to the fact that it was something that he was religiously opposed to, something that those whom he idolized would quickly affirm, and there would be a lot of people who would be there. And, since it was a club, many people would be intoxicated, dancing, engaged in conversations, and totally distracted, not paying attention to what was happening around them until it was too late. And, it was a ‘soft target’ because there was no security (except for maybe unarmed bouncers), so he would be able to shoot a lot of people and leave safely, before the police arrived.
People who have an evil (sinful) heart will find a way to carry out their wicked plans. Whether it is to obtain a firearm (legally or illegally), create a homemade explosive device, commit arson, or use a table knife or baseball bat, they will find a way. Sometimes, they just have to get creative. Having worked at a Maximum Security Prison for 8+ years, I have seen some pretty creative weapons, as well as some 'standard improvised' ones (i.e. a lock in sock). Of the statistics that I looked at from the FBI (https://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/crimestats/) and the Bureau of Justice Statistics (http://www.bjs.gov/), firearms are often used to commit crimes. They are also often used in ‘justifiable homicide,’ where someone killed someone committing a felony against themselves or someone else. In fact, I noticed something interesting…. In 2014, there were 11,961 people murdered. Of that number, 8,124 were murdered by a firearm, 1,576 were murdered via a knife or other cutting instrument, 435 were murdered via a blunt object, and 660 were murdered by ‘personal weapons’ (hands, feet, fist, shoving, etc.) in the United States. Now, how many of these murders were actually gang on gang crimes, how many of them were gang related, how many were ‘crimes of passion,’ I don’t know (https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2014/crime-in-the-u.s.-2014/tables/expanded-homicide-data/expanded_homicide_data_table_9_murder_victims_by_age_by_weapon_2014.xls). But, when compared to the 2014 statistics on justifiable homicide (https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2014/crime-in-the-u.s.-2014/tables/expanded-homicide-data/expanded_homicide_data_table_14_justifiable_homicide_by_weapon_law_enforcement_2010-2014.xls), one sees that the use of a firearm in self-defense was almost 1/10 of the actual murder use. It is also interesting that, in some of the States that have the highest gun control laws, like California, Washing DC, Illinois, etc., (https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2014/crime-in-the-u.s.-2014/tables/table-20) we see that they have very high murder rates. I wonder how many few murders there would be if more people were able to use a firearm to protect themselves.
One group that I am a member of publishes stories week about people who use firearms, be it a pistol, rifle, shotgun, etc., to protect themselves and/or someone else. Many times, the simple fact that they either tell the person attempting to commit a felony, or aim the firearm at the person committing a felony, is enough to stop the crime from being committed. Many people committing crimes are not stupid. If they realize that they will get injured or killed trying to assault, rape, rob, etc., someone, they will go someplace else to commit their crime. They want an ‘easy target,’ someone who is not going to fight back. Sometimes, a person will have to use force to protect themselves or someone else. Thankfully, many times that is not always the case.
The answer is not gun legislation, I believe. The answer lies in good people being willing to stop evil people. Whether it is correcting or confronting the person, calling the police, or actively engaging a murderous person with what ever weapon one can find, doing something positive instead of hindering others from protecting themselves or others is the answer.
There is something else that we all have to keep in mind. People like Omar Mateen are called ‘lone wolf attackers.’ That is, they have little to no official ties to any particular radical/extremist group. Instead, they do most of their training, research, surveillance, etc., on their own. Because they have so little ties with radical groups, including communication, they are much harder to recognize, let alone track. Unless they get put on someone’s radar (local Law Enforcement, FBI, etc.), they will not ‘get noticed.’ That means, when they do plan on attacking, people, including local Law Enforcement, will be reacting to the threat, possibly after they start finding the injured and wounded. In such cases, having citizens there who are willing to lay their life on the line to protect others, enable them to get good training in order to protect themselves and others, and encourage them to do some in as many places as possible, give such people few targets.
Think about it. Would you want to commit a crime or terrorist attack, in an area where there is a possible to very high likely hood of someone stopping you? Not just the possible threat of someone or a group of people trying to tackle you to keep you from hurting more people, but actually can engage you with lethal force, would you want to attack there? Or, would you rather go some place where the people might not, or will not be able to fight back?
It is my opinion that ‘stricter laws’ on firearms, gun bans, ‘high capacity bans,’ etc., are not only ineffective, but create more dangers than the protections that they give. I also believe that places that are ‘gun free zones’ only invite people to commit crimes. What we need are more people who are willing to take good training in order protect themselves and others. I would encourage those who can, to take classes in self-defense, take some shooting classes, learn from others how to have better situational awareness so that you become less of a target to those who want to commit crimes, learn about the laws in your area so that you know what you can and cannot do to protect yourself and others, take first aid/CPR courses, etc. Those of us to genuine care about others and have the training and means to defend ourselves and others have a responsibility to do so. We also have a responsibility to do so wisely. I continue to train to make myself better. What are you willing to do?
Monday, May 23, 2016
Suicide: A Serious Look
References (Military):
• Five Myths About Military Suicides
• Suicide in the Military
• The Truth About 22 Veteran Suicides A Day
References (Corrections):
• Suicide Among Corrections Officers: It’s Time for an Open Discussion
• Beating The Odds
• Prison Officers Need Help, But They Won’t Ask For It
• Correctional Suicides: Doing Time Takes its Toll
Suicide Prevention
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• Military One Source
• Suicide Prevention Program from Indian Health Service
• CDC Feature on Preventing Suicide
• Veterans Affairs Crisis Line/Resources
Honestly, this is a blog entry that I have been thinking about for almost 1 ½ years now. It is a topic that I am very concerned about, especially from a Military and Corrections standpoint. But, not exclusively. Let me start out by telling you a personal story…
Back in the mid ‘80s, my parents and I were living in Crestwood, KY. It was probably my senior year, sometime in the month of December. Though I don’t remember the exact date, I remember very clearly what I was doing. I was sitting in our living room and watching one of my favorite Christmas movies, “A Christmas Carol.” The version that I was watching was a black-and-white film, probably from the 1950’s. Like usual, I was totally engrossed with it. Then, the phone rang…
I got up and the woman on the line introduced herself as one of the members of our church, Pewee Valley Presbyterian Church. The reason for the call was to inform me that our pastor had committed suicide. I remember just standing there, numb, while I finished talking with the lady from our church. The pastor and I had become pretty good friends over the last year and a half, and had talked about quite a few things.
Here I was, getting ready to celebrate Christmas with my family and… Our pastor was gone… I remember hanging up the phone on the wall, standing there for a while, then I remember I had been watching one of my favorite Christmas movies, so I went back to the sofa to finish it. I am guessing that I was about half through. I just sat there watching for maybe 5 minutes. Then, I decided to just turn it off. I no longer felt like watching it. I just felt so numb… I can’t remember for sure what I did do after I got up and turned off the t.v., not that it mattered. I do remember feeling numb for a day or so.
A few years ago, I learned of the death of a friend of mine who used to work at Tecumseh State Correctional Institution. Todd and I had been friends for at least three years and really enjoyed working together and talking with each other. Todd had moved from Nebraska to Kansas and, from what I knew, was doing well. I knew that he had left Corrections because of issues that he had with some of the staff, as well as some of the Inmates. What I didn’t know was that, because of all the issues that he had been having, he had abused alcohol so much that his body essentially stopped working correctly and he died. He was born in 1966 and died in March of 2013. His sister had contacted me via Facebook to give me the sad news. She had known of our friendship even though we had never met. She also explained why Todd had died. ‘Feeling sad’ really didn’t describe how I felt.
I am sure that each of you reading this blog entry have been touched by suicide. I am sure each of you have been left wondering, “What went wrong?” Or maybe, “What should I have done differently?!” Or possibly “Why did I miss the warning signs?!” It is easy to not just think about those things, but to become focused on them.
People commit suicide for different reasons. Usually it is because they are trying to find a way stop the physical, emotional, or mental pain that they are feeling at the time. There have been many studies on why people commit suicide, and it is not what this blog is about.
I have been in the US Army (both Active Duty and with the Nebraska National Guard) for 15 years now. I have been with the Nebraska Department of Corrections for about 8 1/3 years now. Both of those are very high stress jobs. Although I am often thanked for my Service, not everyone understands the kind of experiences that I have had. Unfortunately, I rarely, if ever, get any kind of ‘thanks’ for my service in Corrections outside of my immediate family and close circle of friends.
I knew going into Corrections that it would probably be a ‘thankless’ job. Back in 2006 when I first started my Corrections training, Law Enforcement professionals were already been looked down upon. I knew that working in a prison would be a hard job to do, and many around me did not leave me disappointed. The stress that Custody (or Line) Staff have to deal with on a daily basis, plus a society that often misunderstand us or grossly dislikes us, can easily lead to lots of stress and the impression that there are few outlets out there for dealing with it. The same can be true for those in our Armed Forces.
The thing is, there are those out there who do genuinely care, both in Corrections and in the Military. In the Army, we have Peer-to-Peer trained soldiers and those who have had ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), myself being one who has both. Annually, those of us who work for the Nebraska Department of Corrections (NDCS) take refresher training on suicide prevention. Though it focuses more on dealing with Inmate suicide, the concepts there can be used with co-workers, too.
The thing is, there are many people out there who genuinely care. There are many people out there who want to help out. Even if they do not understand what you are going through, they still want to help and support you. The important thing is to keep asking, to keep searching for those who do care.
There are two analogies that I have learned concerning how things build up to wanting to commit suicide. The first one is the ‘blinders’ analogy. Have you ever seen a horse pulling a buggy? Over the eyes of the horse are what’s called ‘blinders.’ They are items to ‘blind’ the horse to things that are happening around it, keeping it focused straight ahead. As a person goes through life and stress and pain start building, a person can develop blinders that hinder him or her from seeing the ‘whole picture.’ As time goes on, he or she becomes more and more focused on the source of their pain (emotional, physical, etc.) and less and less on the options available. Maybe not the best analogy, but one that help.
Another good analogy that I found came from my ASIST training (site is https://www.livingworks.net/). Picture in your mind a dam with a large reservoir behind it, the canyon walls off to the sides in front of the dam, and then a pump house at the base. The reservoir symbolizes all that is in your mind (thoughts, feelings, memories, etc.). The pump house symbolizes the way that you process everything. The dam is, well, you. When a person is effectively regulating one’s emotions, thoughts, etc., the water behind the dam and the water coming out of the pump house work effectively. However, when there gets to be an excess of water within the reservoir and/or the pump house has problems regulating everything, cracks can start forming within the dam, water can start spilling out around the dam wall, the water can start flowing over the dam wall, etc. This can be a slow build up, caused by a traumatic event(s), created or aggravated by drug and/or alcohol abuse, etc. As the well becomes more and more overwhelmed, the odds of something ‘rash’ to deal with everything becomes more and more likely.
Again, these are only analogies. And I feel the need to emphasize that each and every one of us are dealing with different things in our lives. What may not really bother one person can greatly affect someone else. Some people thrive in environments of challenge, conflict, etc. Others excel and grow in areas of calm and quiet. We are all different, and we each react to things differently. But, no matter how difficult things may be, no matter how dark your life might seem right now, there are many out there who do care and want to help. And if one doesn’t understand what you are feeling or are not sure with how to help, the do want to help and at least walk with you during this challenging time. Keep searching and asking until one does help you.
• Five Myths About Military Suicides
• Suicide in the Military
• The Truth About 22 Veteran Suicides A Day
References (Corrections):
• Suicide Among Corrections Officers: It’s Time for an Open Discussion
• Beating The Odds
• Prison Officers Need Help, But They Won’t Ask For It
• Correctional Suicides: Doing Time Takes its Toll
Suicide Prevention
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• Military One Source
• Suicide Prevention Program from Indian Health Service
• CDC Feature on Preventing Suicide
• Veterans Affairs Crisis Line/Resources
Honestly, this is a blog entry that I have been thinking about for almost 1 ½ years now. It is a topic that I am very concerned about, especially from a Military and Corrections standpoint. But, not exclusively. Let me start out by telling you a personal story…
Back in the mid ‘80s, my parents and I were living in Crestwood, KY. It was probably my senior year, sometime in the month of December. Though I don’t remember the exact date, I remember very clearly what I was doing. I was sitting in our living room and watching one of my favorite Christmas movies, “A Christmas Carol.” The version that I was watching was a black-and-white film, probably from the 1950’s. Like usual, I was totally engrossed with it. Then, the phone rang…
I got up and the woman on the line introduced herself as one of the members of our church, Pewee Valley Presbyterian Church. The reason for the call was to inform me that our pastor had committed suicide. I remember just standing there, numb, while I finished talking with the lady from our church. The pastor and I had become pretty good friends over the last year and a half, and had talked about quite a few things.
Here I was, getting ready to celebrate Christmas with my family and… Our pastor was gone… I remember hanging up the phone on the wall, standing there for a while, then I remember I had been watching one of my favorite Christmas movies, so I went back to the sofa to finish it. I am guessing that I was about half through. I just sat there watching for maybe 5 minutes. Then, I decided to just turn it off. I no longer felt like watching it. I just felt so numb… I can’t remember for sure what I did do after I got up and turned off the t.v., not that it mattered. I do remember feeling numb for a day or so.
A few years ago, I learned of the death of a friend of mine who used to work at Tecumseh State Correctional Institution. Todd and I had been friends for at least three years and really enjoyed working together and talking with each other. Todd had moved from Nebraska to Kansas and, from what I knew, was doing well. I knew that he had left Corrections because of issues that he had with some of the staff, as well as some of the Inmates. What I didn’t know was that, because of all the issues that he had been having, he had abused alcohol so much that his body essentially stopped working correctly and he died. He was born in 1966 and died in March of 2013. His sister had contacted me via Facebook to give me the sad news. She had known of our friendship even though we had never met. She also explained why Todd had died. ‘Feeling sad’ really didn’t describe how I felt.
I am sure that each of you reading this blog entry have been touched by suicide. I am sure each of you have been left wondering, “What went wrong?” Or maybe, “What should I have done differently?!” Or possibly “Why did I miss the warning signs?!” It is easy to not just think about those things, but to become focused on them.
People commit suicide for different reasons. Usually it is because they are trying to find a way stop the physical, emotional, or mental pain that they are feeling at the time. There have been many studies on why people commit suicide, and it is not what this blog is about.
I have been in the US Army (both Active Duty and with the Nebraska National Guard) for 15 years now. I have been with the Nebraska Department of Corrections for about 8 1/3 years now. Both of those are very high stress jobs. Although I am often thanked for my Service, not everyone understands the kind of experiences that I have had. Unfortunately, I rarely, if ever, get any kind of ‘thanks’ for my service in Corrections outside of my immediate family and close circle of friends.
I knew going into Corrections that it would probably be a ‘thankless’ job. Back in 2006 when I first started my Corrections training, Law Enforcement professionals were already been looked down upon. I knew that working in a prison would be a hard job to do, and many around me did not leave me disappointed. The stress that Custody (or Line) Staff have to deal with on a daily basis, plus a society that often misunderstand us or grossly dislikes us, can easily lead to lots of stress and the impression that there are few outlets out there for dealing with it. The same can be true for those in our Armed Forces.
The thing is, there are those out there who do genuinely care, both in Corrections and in the Military. In the Army, we have Peer-to-Peer trained soldiers and those who have had ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), myself being one who has both. Annually, those of us who work for the Nebraska Department of Corrections (NDCS) take refresher training on suicide prevention. Though it focuses more on dealing with Inmate suicide, the concepts there can be used with co-workers, too.
The thing is, there are many people out there who genuinely care. There are many people out there who want to help out. Even if they do not understand what you are going through, they still want to help and support you. The important thing is to keep asking, to keep searching for those who do care.
There are two analogies that I have learned concerning how things build up to wanting to commit suicide. The first one is the ‘blinders’ analogy. Have you ever seen a horse pulling a buggy? Over the eyes of the horse are what’s called ‘blinders.’ They are items to ‘blind’ the horse to things that are happening around it, keeping it focused straight ahead. As a person goes through life and stress and pain start building, a person can develop blinders that hinder him or her from seeing the ‘whole picture.’ As time goes on, he or she becomes more and more focused on the source of their pain (emotional, physical, etc.) and less and less on the options available. Maybe not the best analogy, but one that help.
Another good analogy that I found came from my ASIST training (site is https://www.livingworks.net/). Picture in your mind a dam with a large reservoir behind it, the canyon walls off to the sides in front of the dam, and then a pump house at the base. The reservoir symbolizes all that is in your mind (thoughts, feelings, memories, etc.). The pump house symbolizes the way that you process everything. The dam is, well, you. When a person is effectively regulating one’s emotions, thoughts, etc., the water behind the dam and the water coming out of the pump house work effectively. However, when there gets to be an excess of water within the reservoir and/or the pump house has problems regulating everything, cracks can start forming within the dam, water can start spilling out around the dam wall, the water can start flowing over the dam wall, etc. This can be a slow build up, caused by a traumatic event(s), created or aggravated by drug and/or alcohol abuse, etc. As the well becomes more and more overwhelmed, the odds of something ‘rash’ to deal with everything becomes more and more likely.
Again, these are only analogies. And I feel the need to emphasize that each and every one of us are dealing with different things in our lives. What may not really bother one person can greatly affect someone else. Some people thrive in environments of challenge, conflict, etc. Others excel and grow in areas of calm and quiet. We are all different, and we each react to things differently. But, no matter how difficult things may be, no matter how dark your life might seem right now, there are many out there who do care and want to help. And if one doesn’t understand what you are feeling or are not sure with how to help, the do want to help and at least walk with you during this challenging time. Keep searching and asking until one does help you.
A Lifelong Journey
Many years ago, I was in seminary and working on becoming ordained with the Presbyterian Church (USA). One of the many requirements that I had to fulfill was attend a multiple day workshop with several career counselors. If I remember correctly, it took place during a weekend, not that it matters too much for this story.
I was not the only one participating in this career counseling session. There were at least three other people involved. Being that it took place almost 20 years ago, I can't remember a lot of the details. If memory serves me correctly, there was at least one 'group counseling session,' an individual counseling session, a battery of questionnaires, and quite a few group discussions. I believe that one of the questionnaires was on the Gifts of the Spirit and another one was the Meyers Briggs personality test. I know that one of the results of that test was being introverted. At this time, I cannot remember what the other three letters were of my 'type.'
During one of the discussions, we had to draw a picture of how we viewed our currently relationship with God. Each of us had a large piece of paper (something along the line of 24 inches by 36 inches, maybe a little smaller) to draw on. Of course, each of us drew something different. That's to be expected.
Not only did we have to draw the pictures, but we had to explain what it meant. And, I was more than willing to do so. The woods symbolized a brief period in my life where I faced a lot of challenges. Part of which was the room situation that I had endured several years prior with two of my four roommates. It was a very difficult time for me, but one I will discuss in another blog entry. Suffice to say, the pain and difficulties I had experience in Strasbourg, France, helped to facilitate my turning to Christ the following January.
Although I did not how to exactly explain it, I drew me by myself because that is how I often was. Not that because I felt I didn't need others. On the contrary, I do. However, being more introverted, I do a lot of things alone in order to be able to better enjoy being with others. I also tried to explain that though I was standing by myself at the top of the wooded hill, I wasn't completely alone. The picture was through the eyes of someone else.
Being at the top of a hill and the foreground being out of sight symbolized the fact that I didn't know what all the future held. Though I could see a little ways in front of me, I could not see all where the path would lead. There were other hills, valleys, streams, etc., in front of me that I was catching glimpses of. They had been hidden form me until I had reached that hill top. But, the person behind me still had the perspective that I just had. The one of not knowing what the future would hold. To myself and the person behind me, things are being revealed very slowly, by bits and pieces.
You are probably wondering why I would draw something like that. Well, a lot of it is because of the things that I experienced while growing up. The vacations that we took as a family and my love for walking, exploring new places, learning new things, etc., were all influential with developing this 'life is a journey' outlook.
I grew up a preacher's kid, the son of a Presbyterian (USA) minister. Each and every summer we would go on vacation and visit different places. Most summer vacations included visiting relatives, but not always. It was almost always by car, when traveling from place to place. Like a typical kid, I would sometimes get bored and ask, “Are we there yet?!” But, a lot of the times, my parents and I would play games to help make it seem that time was going by faster.
Having traveled all over the United States, I developed a real love for seeing different sights and learning about different places. I remember one especially challenging summer vacation when I was 10 years old. My parents, my Dad's cousin and his godson, and myself hiked the Grand Canyon. We went down the south rim and up the north rim. It was physically very demanding for all of us. I remember being very tired every day, but loving all of the sights, smells, experiences.
All of these many experiences, even traveling to Europe three times, have helped me to develop the mindset of life being a journey. It starts when we are born and ends when we die. The sights that we see, the people that we meet, and the choices that we make all influence what our journey will be like and how it will end. Sometimes things happen along our journey of life that are unexpected, painful and not of our choosing. Even though such difficulties are hard to accept, it is a part of life. We can make one wonderful choice after another and enjoy the beauty that God has created around us. But, because of sin in the world, things can go wrong and we suddenly experience pain, sadness, anger, bitterness, even death. That is, unfortunately, a part of life as a whole.
But, there is great beauty, if we take time to enjoy it. Although I usually have a quick pace, I have learned the importance of stopping from time-to-time, and just taking in my surroundings. Taking them in, savoring them, experiencing all that is around me. Being more introverted than extroverted, I usually have the preference of doing things on my own. That way I can emotionally and mentally recharge while I am enjoying life around me. But, just like everyone else, I need to love and be loved. I need to spend time with others so that I grow as a person and fully enjoy all that is around us. No person is an island. We cannot permanently separate ourselves from others. We all need time alone, those some need more than others. We all need loved ones in our lives to share in this journey.
I don't know if my parents understood that I was an introvert back then, or what that meant for me. I do know that they did allow me the space that I needed most of the time, often without question. This enabled me to ponder things, organize my thoughts, sort things out, so that I could better understand what I was thinking and feeling. And again, all of this walking and think, mental sorting, helped to develop my sense of life being a journey. One that I sought to enjoy as much as possible.
One of the things that bring me great satisfaction is walking with a person who is struggling with something. Although I am sure that this has happened a lot over the years, it became more apparent to me while I was in college. I gave my life to Christ in January of 1994. During the following fall, I had several 'odd' experiences. While walking to and from different classes, someone would start walking with me. Not only would they walk with me, they would start sharing something that was bothering them. I was stunned that this was happening to me. During each conversation, I would listen and share my observations, make suggestions, or whatever else I felt led to do. This happened several times over a period of two weeks. And, as time went by, I noticed how much satisfaction I got out of helping others. Even if I only listened to they share their burdens, I felt good about it. It was through these experiences that I felt God calling me to attend seminary.
As my journey continued over the years, I found myself 'journeying' with others. Sometimes it would be for a brief period of time. Other times it would be multiple conversations. No matter how long the 'shared journey' goes, I almost always feel a deep sense of satisfaction that I had helped someone, even in a small way. Even today, I find myself willingly walking '100 miles' with someone who has a burden that they need to share. When it comes to arguments and debates, I reach my limit very, very quickly. But, for someone who has a genuine need, I can walk a long ways with them.
I know that God gives different Spiritual Gifts to different people. To some God enables them to have deep insights and lots of knowledge. To others, He gives a Gift of prophecy (more 'forth-telling' of God's Word than 'fore-telling'). Still others receive a Gift of leadership. At least one of the Spiritual Gifts that God has given me is pastoring. That is, to mentor, protect, nurture, help, etc. Like what a shepherd does with his/her flock. It is something that I do naturally due to my personality.
Quite a glimpse into who I am, huh? And to be honest, this is just a small bit of me. Over the decades, God has been enabling me to discover new things about myself, new things about others, and new things about Him. It has been an incredible, ‘journey of discovery.’ Not everything I have learned has been pleasant. But, it has all been important for one reason or another.
Have you ever taken time to examine your faith walk and what you have learned over the years? Even if you have been a Follower of Christ for a few months or just a year or so, you have had a faith journey. I encourage you to think about it. It may be quite the eye opener!
I was not the only one participating in this career counseling session. There were at least three other people involved. Being that it took place almost 20 years ago, I can't remember a lot of the details. If memory serves me correctly, there was at least one 'group counseling session,' an individual counseling session, a battery of questionnaires, and quite a few group discussions. I believe that one of the questionnaires was on the Gifts of the Spirit and another one was the Meyers Briggs personality test. I know that one of the results of that test was being introverted. At this time, I cannot remember what the other three letters were of my 'type.'
During one of the discussions, we had to draw a picture of how we viewed our currently relationship with God. Each of us had a large piece of paper (something along the line of 24 inches by 36 inches, maybe a little smaller) to draw on. Of course, each of us drew something different. That's to be expected.
Not only did we have to draw the pictures, but we had to explain what it meant. And, I was more than willing to do so. The woods symbolized a brief period in my life where I faced a lot of challenges. Part of which was the room situation that I had endured several years prior with two of my four roommates. It was a very difficult time for me, but one I will discuss in another blog entry. Suffice to say, the pain and difficulties I had experience in Strasbourg, France, helped to facilitate my turning to Christ the following January.
Although I did not how to exactly explain it, I drew me by myself because that is how I often was. Not that because I felt I didn't need others. On the contrary, I do. However, being more introverted, I do a lot of things alone in order to be able to better enjoy being with others. I also tried to explain that though I was standing by myself at the top of the wooded hill, I wasn't completely alone. The picture was through the eyes of someone else.
Being at the top of a hill and the foreground being out of sight symbolized the fact that I didn't know what all the future held. Though I could see a little ways in front of me, I could not see all where the path would lead. There were other hills, valleys, streams, etc., in front of me that I was catching glimpses of. They had been hidden form me until I had reached that hill top. But, the person behind me still had the perspective that I just had. The one of not knowing what the future would hold. To myself and the person behind me, things are being revealed very slowly, by bits and pieces.
You are probably wondering why I would draw something like that. Well, a lot of it is because of the things that I experienced while growing up. The vacations that we took as a family and my love for walking, exploring new places, learning new things, etc., were all influential with developing this 'life is a journey' outlook.
I grew up a preacher's kid, the son of a Presbyterian (USA) minister. Each and every summer we would go on vacation and visit different places. Most summer vacations included visiting relatives, but not always. It was almost always by car, when traveling from place to place. Like a typical kid, I would sometimes get bored and ask, “Are we there yet?!” But, a lot of the times, my parents and I would play games to help make it seem that time was going by faster.
Having traveled all over the United States, I developed a real love for seeing different sights and learning about different places. I remember one especially challenging summer vacation when I was 10 years old. My parents, my Dad's cousin and his godson, and myself hiked the Grand Canyon. We went down the south rim and up the north rim. It was physically very demanding for all of us. I remember being very tired every day, but loving all of the sights, smells, experiences.
All of these many experiences, even traveling to Europe three times, have helped me to develop the mindset of life being a journey. It starts when we are born and ends when we die. The sights that we see, the people that we meet, and the choices that we make all influence what our journey will be like and how it will end. Sometimes things happen along our journey of life that are unexpected, painful and not of our choosing. Even though such difficulties are hard to accept, it is a part of life. We can make one wonderful choice after another and enjoy the beauty that God has created around us. But, because of sin in the world, things can go wrong and we suddenly experience pain, sadness, anger, bitterness, even death. That is, unfortunately, a part of life as a whole.
But, there is great beauty, if we take time to enjoy it. Although I usually have a quick pace, I have learned the importance of stopping from time-to-time, and just taking in my surroundings. Taking them in, savoring them, experiencing all that is around me. Being more introverted than extroverted, I usually have the preference of doing things on my own. That way I can emotionally and mentally recharge while I am enjoying life around me. But, just like everyone else, I need to love and be loved. I need to spend time with others so that I grow as a person and fully enjoy all that is around us. No person is an island. We cannot permanently separate ourselves from others. We all need time alone, those some need more than others. We all need loved ones in our lives to share in this journey.
I don't know if my parents understood that I was an introvert back then, or what that meant for me. I do know that they did allow me the space that I needed most of the time, often without question. This enabled me to ponder things, organize my thoughts, sort things out, so that I could better understand what I was thinking and feeling. And again, all of this walking and think, mental sorting, helped to develop my sense of life being a journey. One that I sought to enjoy as much as possible.
One of the things that bring me great satisfaction is walking with a person who is struggling with something. Although I am sure that this has happened a lot over the years, it became more apparent to me while I was in college. I gave my life to Christ in January of 1994. During the following fall, I had several 'odd' experiences. While walking to and from different classes, someone would start walking with me. Not only would they walk with me, they would start sharing something that was bothering them. I was stunned that this was happening to me. During each conversation, I would listen and share my observations, make suggestions, or whatever else I felt led to do. This happened several times over a period of two weeks. And, as time went by, I noticed how much satisfaction I got out of helping others. Even if I only listened to they share their burdens, I felt good about it. It was through these experiences that I felt God calling me to attend seminary.
As my journey continued over the years, I found myself 'journeying' with others. Sometimes it would be for a brief period of time. Other times it would be multiple conversations. No matter how long the 'shared journey' goes, I almost always feel a deep sense of satisfaction that I had helped someone, even in a small way. Even today, I find myself willingly walking '100 miles' with someone who has a burden that they need to share. When it comes to arguments and debates, I reach my limit very, very quickly. But, for someone who has a genuine need, I can walk a long ways with them.
I know that God gives different Spiritual Gifts to different people. To some God enables them to have deep insights and lots of knowledge. To others, He gives a Gift of prophecy (more 'forth-telling' of God's Word than 'fore-telling'). Still others receive a Gift of leadership. At least one of the Spiritual Gifts that God has given me is pastoring. That is, to mentor, protect, nurture, help, etc. Like what a shepherd does with his/her flock. It is something that I do naturally due to my personality.
Quite a glimpse into who I am, huh? And to be honest, this is just a small bit of me. Over the decades, God has been enabling me to discover new things about myself, new things about others, and new things about Him. It has been an incredible, ‘journey of discovery.’ Not everything I have learned has been pleasant. But, it has all been important for one reason or another.
Have you ever taken time to examine your faith walk and what you have learned over the years? Even if you have been a Follower of Christ for a few months or just a year or so, you have had a faith journey. I encourage you to think about it. It may be quite the eye opener!
Sunday, May 15, 2016
A Prayer
The prayer that I will write below is based on the prayer that I typically pray while driving to work or driving by myself to run errands. I do not pray like this every time. The order in which I pray will vary depending on the day. Some days I may focus more on one aspect of this prayer than another. Think of it as a fluid guide, not a set in stone template. If it is helpful for your, then wonderful! If not, at least you know one tool for praying that doesn't help you.
Heavenly Father, here I am traveling to work.
Thank you for all of Your love and grace in my life,
though I know that I do not deserve it.
I give thanks that You are a holy and righteous God.
For without your holiness and righteousness,
I would not know how to live.
I would not know right from wrong,
good from evil.
I also give things that You are a loving and forgiving God.
For without Your love and grace,
I would have no hope.
I would have no peace or joy.
I would still be dead in my sins
and have no eternal life.
Thank You, o Lord, for forgiving me of my sins.
My sins of commission and sins of omission.
Sins that I have committed intentionally,
and those that I committed unintentionally.
For You were pierced for my transgressions,
bruised for my iniquities.
You became cursed to set me free from curses,
for cursed is anyone who is hung on a tree to die.
I give thanks that You took my place!
Though I do not deserve Your love and grace,
You chose to freely give it.
Help me to live a life of thankfulness,
a life of obedience.
Prepare the way before me,
and help me to follow You.
Thank You for putting on me Your Spiritual Armor.
Thank You for putting upon my chest Your Breastplate of Righteousness,
thank You for girding my loins with Your Belt of Truth.
Thank You for shodding my feet with Your sandals
of the Gospel of Peace.
Thank You for putting upon my head
Your Helmet of Salvation.
Thank You for giving me Your
Shield of Faith and the Sword of Your Spirit.
And, thank You Lord, for helping me to take a stand,
even if it means standing alone…
May You continue to bless my family and I indeed…
May You continue to enlarge our borders.
May continue to lay Your hand upon our hearts,
to restrain us from evil,
so that we might not sin against You,
against each other,
and to not grieve Your Holy Spirit.
Help us to be faithful to You.
Lord, I lift up all of us who are in a leadership position,
for You call all of us to lead,
in one form or fashion every day.
Help us to make the right decisions
in all that we do.
Give us the insight with what to do,
the wisdom with what to do,
and the strength and courage to do it!
Heavenly Father, here I am traveling to work.
Thank you for all of Your love and grace in my life,
though I know that I do not deserve it.
I give thanks that You are a holy and righteous God.
For without your holiness and righteousness,
I would not know how to live.
I would not know right from wrong,
good from evil.
I also give things that You are a loving and forgiving God.
For without Your love and grace,
I would have no hope.
I would have no peace or joy.
I would still be dead in my sins
and have no eternal life.
Thank You, o Lord, for forgiving me of my sins.
My sins of commission and sins of omission.
Sins that I have committed intentionally,
and those that I committed unintentionally.
For You were pierced for my transgressions,
bruised for my iniquities.
You became cursed to set me free from curses,
for cursed is anyone who is hung on a tree to die.
I give thanks that You took my place!
Though I do not deserve Your love and grace,
You chose to freely give it.
Help me to live a life of thankfulness,
a life of obedience.
Prepare the way before me,
and help me to follow You.
Thank You for putting on me Your Spiritual Armor.
Thank You for putting upon my chest Your Breastplate of Righteousness,
thank You for girding my loins with Your Belt of Truth.
Thank You for shodding my feet with Your sandals
of the Gospel of Peace.
Thank You for putting upon my head
Your Helmet of Salvation.
Thank You for giving me Your
Shield of Faith and the Sword of Your Spirit.
And, thank You Lord, for helping me to take a stand,
even if it means standing alone…
May You continue to bless my family and I indeed…
May You continue to enlarge our borders.
May continue to lay Your hand upon our hearts,
to restrain us from evil,
so that we might not sin against You,
against each other,
and to not grieve Your Holy Spirit.
Help us to be faithful to You.
Lord, I lift up all of us who are in a leadership position,
for You call all of us to lead,
in one form or fashion every day.
Help us to make the right decisions
in all that we do.
Give us the insight with what to do,
the wisdom with what to do,
and the strength and courage to do it!
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