Mission Blog: Warrior's Adventure

If a Candidate Is Inevitable, Why Have a Primary?

2012-02-12T22:33:00.004-06:00

If therewas ever a doubt about how nerdy I am, then I am about to open my mouth and removeall. Apologies to Mark Twain.

I've heard from a few friends, "The GOP needs to coalescearound one candidate right now."

Of course the mainstream media will also try to sell youon that same notion. I do not remember that kind of reporting on the 2008 Democratic Primary though. I do not recall ever hearing the media or the Democratic Party talk about narrowing it down quickly to the one nominee. Do you remember the day it was estimated that Barack Obama hadthe delegate votes needed for a majority? June 3, 2008. Do you know what dayHillary Clinton suspended her campaign? June 7, 2008. Four days! It took herfour days to accept the reality of her loss. Now, only four years later itseems we can't even wait four minutes for a candidate to state their positionon a Constitutionally relevant topic.

I have heard, "The lengthy primary is hurting the Party's chances in the General Election."

In 2008, the Democratic Party never once stated, "Weneed to wrap this up now to avoid hurting our chances in the GeneralElection." They did not say it in January, February, or March. JUNE, they settled on a nominee in June. You know what may have hurt the GOP in 2008? Wrapping it up too quickly. John McCain's two closest contenders were Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee. Mitt, who finished second, suspended his campaign on February 7, 2008. Mike, who finished third, suspended his campaign on March 4, 2008. Senator McCain had plenty of time to coalesce the party, but it never happened.

I have heard, "The continued debate will only serve toweaken the eventual candidate."

If the eventual candidate cannot withstanda little GOP introspection, then how will they ever stand up to the heat imposed by a Democraticcross-examination. In 2008, the continued debate did not affect the DemocraticParty's eventual candidate. In fact, it probably served to make him a little stronger and gain a little more appeal. Remember, their candidate won the General Election andthe last opponent they faced in the primary became their Secretary of State. Somebody coalesced!

I have even heard a few people go so far to say, "We donot have a very good field from which to make our selection."

I do notbelieve the GOP has a weak field, but if what others posit is true, then thecandidate selection process should be long, slow and tedious. The party is attempting to narrow down a selection of the best qualified from many qualified candidates who will best represent them against their opposition. If the GOP field is truly weak,then the GOP should have even more cause to pause, not rush to judgment, or makea choice without fully investigating each candidate. The GOP should be proud theyDO investigate candidates and leave no stone unturned.

Here is a picture (click to enlarge) of what has transpired in the GOP Primary thus far with a few relevant or irrelevant "nerdy" statistics below:

As of today, only 8 of 50 States have held their primary orcaucus. That is only 16% of the 50 States. Of those eight, only one (Florida, 4)ranks in the top ten for population. Two of the states (Maine 41, New Hampshire,42) are in the bottom ten for population.

As of today, only 225 delegates have been awarded with 2061still available. 90% of the total delegates are still available.

Today, if the GOP were to select the front-runner as the inevitablenominee, Florida alone would account for 48% of the front-runners delegates and59% of the total votes cast. Florida would single-handedly pick the GOPnominee.

Today, if the GOP were to select the front-runner as the inevitablenominee, they would be selecting their nominee on the basis of having only won10% of the required delegates. This would be equivalent to naming the winner ofthe Super Bowl after only six minutes had expired off the game clock.

Each of the 4 remaining candidates still needs over 1,000 delegates to become the eventual nominee at the GOP Convention in August!

The primary season is exactly the time we need to allow themaximum number of Americans to voice their opinion through the primary ballotbox. I believe we still have plenty of time. It is simply too early to crown avictor. After all, we haven't even reached Super Tuesday yet!

God, What is The Plan?

2012-02-04T08:21:00.002-06:00

Yesterday was my last day on duty at United StatesTransportation Command (USTRANSCOM). I would like to take this opportunity togive you an update as my tour ends. As an Army Reserve officer, I had the rareprivilege of serving on Active Duty at one of the nine Unified Combatant Commands within the Department of Defense. The Chain of Command is short as it flows up from the CombatantCommander to the Secretary of Defense to the President.

I thank God for the opportunity to serve at USTRANSCOMduring this time. It has been a wonderful blessing. I also thank my wife, Mindy,and our two children for their continued support of my military career. Withoutthem, I would not be able to do what I do, nor would I want to. They make me feellike I am living the life of a millionaire, rich beyond measure.

I also thank those for whom I directly worked for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the adventure. It really was somethingspecial. One thing I reflect on is the fact that at Scott Air Force Base, whereover 30 years ago I used to visit my Air Force Master Sergeant dad, there now standsa building which I had a part in bringing to reality.

During my tour, I served with USTRANSCOM’s Base Realignmentand Closure (BRAC) team. I gained invaluable experience during my tour and appreciated every day wearing the uniform of the United States Army. Beingpart of USTRANSCOM and their BRAC Construction project was one of thehighlights of my long military career. It was an absolutely greatexperience to work at one of the few Combatant Commands within our nation’smilitary structure. As a Reserve Soldier, I never dreamed I would have theprivilege of serving on a tour at this level. Never so much as imaginedanything quite like it. Looking back, I can see clearly how it was allGod-arranged. (I plan on posting a follow-up soon with details.) With regardsto my military career, I will continue to serve as an officer in the ArmyReserve. My current assignment is with the Joint Transportation Reserve Unit(Army Element) within USTRANSCOM.

I will soon start in a civilian position with the VeteransHealth Administration (VHA). I will be working from the Jefferson BarracksCampus as a General Engineer to facilitate new construction and renovationprojects. It turns out, I will have similar responsibilities there as I have hadwith USTRANSCOM. From where I sit today, I have a greater appreciation for thevalley God led me through when this chapter of my life was just beginning. Attimes the climb led to questions. The most frequent one being:

"What isthe plan you have for me in this temporary position?"

Now while I rest on amountaintop, enjoying the view of where I have been for the past four years*, againI am reassured, "I can rest easy in the hands of God..."

Moses said to God, "Look, you tell me, 'Lead thispeople,' but you don't let me know whom you're going to send with me. You tellme, 'I know you by name and you are special to me.' If I am so special to you,let me in on your plans. That way, I will continue being special to you. Don'tforget, this is your people, your responsibility."

God said, "Mypresence will go with you. I'll see the journey to the end." - Exodus33:12-14 (MSG)

* I mention four years as it was the first year's arrangements which took me into a valley. On the other side of that valley was the beginning of my three year tour with USTRANSCOM and the climb which led to a mountaintop...

Where Were You on September 10th, 2001?

2011-09-10T07:41:00.001-05:00

Anyone alive on 9-11-2001 has a memory as though it happened yesterday of where they were the moment they heard the news of the day - "Terrorists Fly Planes into WTC and the Pentagon". But, do you remember what life was like the day before? I do, only because the future consequences of 9-11 would demand that I recall this moment in time. Below is part of what I delivered at the funeral of CPT Benjamin D. Jansky. The events of 9-11 would eventually lead to both of us serving our tour at separate times in Iraq. His tour did not end with a joyous homecoming on earth, but with a joyous homecoming in heaven. His tour ended on July 27, 2005. Incidentally, his tour ended on my third wedding anniversary. The last time I saw Ben on this earth was when he came to our wedding. The next time I see Ben will be a similar occasion, when Christ returns for His Bride, the Church.

September 10, 2001. I started the first day of my Pre-Command Course at Ft. McCoy, WI. That evening, Ben drove out to meet me, I believe it was about a 2-hour drive, but for Ben, it was worth it to be able to visit a friend – a former battle buddy. We went into the town of Sparta, ate dinner, and shared about how our lives were coming along. The next day was Ben’s birthday, so I got him a card, and an old-style hand-held Mattel football game. This was pre-Gameboy or Play Station Portable technology. It was the kind where each player is represented by a little green or red LED line and to run the length of the field, you would wrap the 2” wide screen about 10 times. Ben looked at me a little confused. I saw it as a game from my youth, and since Ben represented youth to me, a great joke about his age. I only now realized, that the trademark “Ben’s confused look” was due to the fact that he was too young to remember those types of games.

Well, of course, the next day I got up early and class began promptly at 0730. But, by the time our class had hit our first break about 0810, our enemies were mounting an unprovoked attack. Returning to the classroom, and seeing a close-up of what I thought was a small hole in a large unfamiliar building, I asked, “What’s that?” The response was a plane just hit the World Trade Center in NYC. From the look of things at that particular moment, I thought it must have been a small commuter plane. From the angle of the camera, and the close-up shot, the damage didn’t look that great. We turned off the television and continued training; only to have class interrupted a few minutes later by someone who demanded that we immediately turn the television back on. Our instructor waited to complete his thoughts, and then turned it on to discover the horrors of the second plane. It was only then that we all realized what was happening:

9/11 – our generation’s Pearl Harbor.

Ben’s life and mine were about to change course from anything we had experienced or planned up to that point.

Following that day, Ben and I continued to call each other, sometimes we communicated through email. As most military people of similar ranks do, we would use each other’s ears to air out our complaints about our superiors, our subordinates, and the overall operational tempo. We would wonder about when it would be our turn to serve in the Global War on Terror.

How Can A Warrior Stand on His Knees?

2011-08-20T08:02:00.000-05:00

Only Through Prayer!

This is the Warrior's Theme Song!

For True Warriors, the lyrics are Perfect!

I cannot wait to see this movie which opens 30 September 2011!

we were made to be courageous
we were made to lead the way
we could be the generation
that finally breaks the chains

we were made to be courageous
we were made to be courageous

we were warriors on the front lines
standing, unafraid
but now we're watchers on the sidelines
while our families slip away

where are you, men of courage?
you were made for so much more
let the pounding of our hearts cry
we will serve the lord

we were made to be courageous
and we're taking back the fight
we were made to be courageous
and it starts with us tonight

the only way we'll ever stand
is on our knees with lifted hands
make us courageous
lord, make us courageous

this is our resolution
our answer to the call
we will love our wives and children
we refuse to let them fall

we will reignite the passion
that we buried deep inside
may the watchers become warriors
let the men of god arise

we were made to be courageous
and we're taking back the fight
we were made to be courageous
and it starts with us tonight

the only way we'll ever stand
is on our knees, with lifted hands
make us courageous
lord, make us courageous

seek justice
love mercy
walk on

be with your god

seek justice

love mercy
walk on

be with your god

in the war of the mind i will make my stand

(seek justice. love mercy. walk on. be with your god)
in the battle of the heart and the battle of the hand

(seek justice. love mercy. walk on. be with your god)

in the war of the mind i will make my stand

(seek justice. love mercy. walk on. be with your god)
in the battle of the heart and the battle of the hand

(seek justice. love mercy. walk on. be with your god)

we were made to be courageous
and we're taking back the fight
we were made to be courageous
and it starts with us tonight

the only way we'll ever stand
is on our knees, with lifted hands
make us courageous
lord, make us courageous

we were made to be courageous
in the war of the mind i will make my stand

(seek justice. love mercy. walk on. be with your god)

lord, make us courageous
in the war of the mind i will make my stand

(seek justice. love mercy. walk on. be with your god)

we were made to be courageous
in the war of the mind i will make my stand

(seek justice. love mercy. walk on. be with your god)

lord, make us courageous
in the war of the mind i will make my stand

(seek justice. love mercy. walk on. be with your god)

Will We Remember....Again?

2011-07-28T19:41:00.001-05:00

"AWOL Soldier Arrested in What Police Say Was New Fort Hood Terror Plot"

When MAJ Nidal Hasan carried out his attack at Ft. Hood in 2009, I said it would happen again simply because it was all couched in denial and political correctness. As much as we want to deny it, our country has enemies. A few of them are amongst us. Thankfully this time the vigilant did something to stop it.

Here is some of what I wrote back then:

"Failure to recognize it is denial, and denial will only serve to invite more “new violence” from our enemies."

"You see, the more we deny, the more “new violence” we will experience. The more “new violence” experienced, the more “unsettling” will be the next “tragedy”. If we do not break the cycle, that “tragedy” will suffer the same denial of not being labeled as terrorism or an act of war. It becomes a vicious spiral, increasing exponentially, continuing to lead our country to a politically correct abyss in the heart of darkness. If you look back in history, this same spiral of events led to 9/11."

This Time, Will We Remember?

Why "under God" Must Remain!

2011-07-04T07:31:00.006-05:00

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. - Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence, 4 July 1776

This is the final line of our country's Declaration of Independence. The 56 men, who signed it, pledged everything they had in support of that Declaration. But, they did not do so alone. As it clearly states, they put their full faith and firm reliance on having the protection of divine Providence. Firm reliance indicates a level of trust that cannot be broken. Use of the term "divine Providence" can only refer to God. So, while stating their Independence from Great Britain, they were simultaneously stating their Dependence on God!

They pledged so much including their sacred Honor to start our country. Our Pledge of Allegiance is symbolic of this original pledge. Given the reliance on God to make the original pledge prevail, it only stands to reason that we would include "under God" in our Pledge of Allegiance. That phrase, placing our nation under the authority of God, may not have been there originally, but it was a logical addition.

It should never be removed!

It is a constant reminder of our nation's reliance on His protection and our submission to His authority. May neither ever leave us...God help us if they do!

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty, and justice for all."

Couldn’t You Have Picked a More Exciting Hobby? (6

2011-05-13T22:51:00.003-05:00

"Have you prayed about it?"

What is a devastated and defeated husband to do when his wife strikes a blow against the enemy of his mind with such powerful words?

With that simple phrase, Mindy got me refocused on what was really important and not on the seemingly impossible eight years. Mindy reminded me that I was concentrating on what was impossible for man when I needed to focus on what was possible for God. God understands time. He set the boundaries of time, but He has no limits.

Right there in that moment, we prayed together. We laid out our heart's desires before our Lord. We handed him control of our budget and all that He would want for us. We asked for forgiveness for the debt we had incurred. We asked that He would make us good stewards of all He would provide. We asked that He would give us the stamina, focus, and encouragement to keep climbing and to not give up despite our current circumstances.

When we were done praying, I was no longer focused on the eight years. 96 months was still right there on the debt snowball forecast but instead, I was at peace. I knew God was already answering our prayer and He had a plan. There was no way to know what He would do, but I had faith that He was already doing it.

Now, I am about to share some things which most people would find very personal. We have been very open with many close friends with our story as it has been happening. We do this for two reasons - accountability and to build trust while discussing a tough subject. Even so, three or four months ago, I was hesitating about doing this. But, last weekend something happened to give me reassurance it is all for His Glory. The numbers only matter to show what He has done.

DEBT at the start (February 2007): $95,283.48

That was 51 months ago. As mentioned previously, we struggled through the first year.

DEBT Paid in 2007: $4,094.37

DEBT (February 2008): $91,189.11

This was the amount staring me down when the debt snowball forecast said 96 months to Freedom! That was the point I found myself ready to give in and accept a lifetime of mediocrity. This did not appear to be going away anytime soon.

Then we prayed.

That was 39 months ago. Today we can say:

"Praise God, because by His Grace, We Are DEBT FREE and can walk in Financial Peace and Freedom."

There is so much more to the story than I can share right now. So much happened during those 39 months which always pointed to the Hand of God. Here are two quick examples:

During four of those months, as the sole income provider in our home, I was without a fulltime job. During that time, we never lacked and we had peace like we never had during three previous jobless periods in my career.
Since February 2008, I have been working on 6 or 12 month orders at a time for the Army. The additional cool thing about that is I do not have to worry about throwing numbers out and someone extrapolating them to figure out how much I earn. My salary is public knowledge and easily found through an internet search.

When God takes 96 months and changes it to 39, Brace yourself for what He will accomplish next!

The rich rules over the poor,

And the borrower is servant to the lender. - Proverbs 22:7

At least in terms of consumer debt, we are servants no more. We are now moving on to Baby Step #3: 3-6 months expenses in savings. We still owe on a reasonable home mortgage, which we will pay off early in Baby Step #6.

I'll focus on that when we get there!

"The rewards for those who persevere far exceed the pain that must precede the victory." - Ted Engstrom

Couldn’t You Have Picked a More Exciting Hobby? (5)

2011-05-13T22:35:00.002-05:00

It's been just over a year since I started this series and now I can finally get back to it. If you missed any of the first four parts or would like a review, you can start here. Each of those posts has a "to be continued" statement at the end, which links to the next post in the series.

To summarize, where I left off in part four, I was discussing using Dave Ramsey's (DR) The Total Money Makeover (TMMO) plan for our finances in 2007. I mentioned that we were struggling through the year and would talk next about the focus we found in 2008.

When we looked back at 2007, we had paid off about $4000 during that year. Four thousand dollars is a good amount of money, but considering how much total debt we had, we were not making the kind of progress required. I knew we were doing something wrong because of the real life stories in the book. I thought, "if it worked for these families, then it has to work. I need to go back and figure out how to do this right." Part of me was still looking at the debt we had, and wishing it would just go away.

At the beginning of 2008, I reread TMMO and discovered my mistakes. Previously I mentioned, "through my impatience I was trying to apply at least four of the seven baby steps all at once, instead of concentrating on the step I was on." I was not focused on the one particular step we were on. This time when I read the book, I stopped after reading the step we were on and closed the book. I was going to focus on Baby Step #2, "Pay off all debt using the Debt Snowball." I was not interested in what came after that. Until we finished Baby Step #2, it did not matter. This time I was focused and we were going to be Gazelle Intense.

With my renewed determination, I got up early on a Saturday morning in February 2008. I started a brand new budget using DR's budgeting tool that morning. Up to that point, I was still using my budget spreadsheet, which did not cover all the expense categories we had. After setting up the whole budget, I put together our debt snowball by listing all of our debts, smallest to largest. The debt snowball automatically forecast how long it would take to pay off the remaining debt.

The answer it returned was not good. Instead, it was devastating. It immediately caused me to lose hope that we could ever get out of debt. At my current income, from a full-time job and a part-time job in the Army Reserve, the debt snowball would take EIGHT YEARS TO COMPLETE! At this point, after struggling to find a way out of debt since 1995 when I graduated from college, I was mentally done. Sitting in front of the computer, by myself, I knew I could not continue to live that life of sacrifice for EIGHT MORE YEARS. I felt completely defeated.

It was not too much longer and Mindy came downstairs. She could see I was upset and asked what I was doing. I showed her the numbers, the debt snowball and the eight year forecast. I explained to her, with tears in my eyes, that I could not do it any longer. I could not make the kind of sacrifices we had been making for another eight years. Lovingly, she took my hands, looked me in the eyes and said,

"Have you prayed about it?"

To be continued...

What is Your Leadership Philosophy?

2011-03-20T09:36:00.000-05:00

As stated previously, I am currently attending Intermediate Level Education (ILE) Phase II. One of the assignments was to write your leadership philosophy and explain how your leadership philosophy will change as an organizational-level leader. If you believe it does not change, explain why and justify your argument. Prior to the assignment, one of the requirements was to read Leadership, Leader, and Command Philosophies -What’s the Difference and Why Does It Matter? by Dr. Ted Thomas. Here's an excerpt from his article:

A leadership philosophy contains your personal views of leadership. It should contain your thoughts on how you want to lead and how you want others to perceive your leadership. Your leadership philosophy is yours alone. It can be elaborate or very simple. It should be the basis of who you are as a leader, what your values and priorities are, how you want to lead and how you want others to see you as a leader. You should understand why you have that philosophy and conduct the self-reflection and self-awareness of the logic and reasoning behind what you believe and why you act the way you do. You can write about who you would like to be as a leader, but if you do not live what you write, you will be seen as a hypocrite as you say one thing and do another.

My Leadership Philosophy:

For me, I am not sure if my leadership philosophy is about “how to lead” as much as it is about “how to be led”. If man is fallible and prone to error, then how can he lead? And not just lead, but lead effectively? I would state emphatically that he cannot, unless he is first led effectively. It also helps if he can be led by someone who is not fallible. Psalm 37:23 states, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD.” As a leader, I want to be a good man. I also want to lead knowing my steps will be ordered by the Lord. This is why I turn to God and His Word as the standard from which to lead and form a leadership foundation.

As a leader, I see my primary role as providing Vision to any organization or people over which I am given responsibility. Proverbs 29:18a states, “Where there is no Vision, the people perish.” I interpret this to mean, if you do not start with a Vision, then your organization will not fulfill its mission. In the military, a unit with an unfulfilled mission might as well be nonexistent or dead. Without a Vision, an organization has no purpose and it cannot prosper. Vision and Purpose are closely related, but I want to make a simple distinction between the two. As I define it, Vision is the “what”, and Purpose is the “why” for any goal to be accomplished. If an individual would like to be a leader and motivate followers, then he must provide a Vision followed by a Purpose.

When casting a Vision, I believe in setting a goal based within the organization’s mission, but which is larger than a typical goal. Due to the quick rotation of leadership positions in the military, the Vision will likely not be completed before the leader moves on. Vision casting is about getting people to move in the same direction and achieving more than they would have otherwise. As architect Daniel Burnham said:

“Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die, but long after we are gone will be a living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistency. Remember that our sons and grandsons are going to do things that would stagger us. Let your watchword be order and your beacon beauty. Think BIG.”

In the military, if my Vision is realized before I have left that position then either I did not cast my Vision out far enough or I was in the position too long.

Just casting the Vision means nothing at all, unless you are able to convince followers to catch it and find themselves in the Vision. This is accomplished through providing Purpose or the “why”. The “why” must have an aspect of personal ownership. “Why” can and should be related to a higher Purpose, such as the cause of a nation. But on a personal-level the Purpose must answer the question of “what is in it for me?" In today’s society, a leader must answer the “why” question in order to convince people to accomplish the goal. This was not always the norm. Leadership was based on a more authoritarian style in days past. At some point, questioning authority became not just the right thing to do, but a right. Perhaps the acceptance of questioning authority grew in direct correlation to an increase in failure to lead morally. This is another reason why I want to tie my leadership back to being morally led by the Bible. The Bible provides consequences for right and wrong behavior. In the same manner, a leader must state the Purpose to show why their Vision is the correct one and a Counter-Vision would have undesirable consequences.

Beyond providing Vision and Purpose, I believe a leader must perform within a framework of strongly-held beliefs or guiding principles. A principle is an accepted or professed rule of action or conduct. There are many different acceptable actions a leader can take, but I will quickly discuss a few of them. For me, these four rules of action are the most important: Communication, Authenticity, Humbleness, and Continuous Learning.

Communication between the leader and those he leads must be an honest and open exchange. The leader must ensure his message is comprehended and carried down to the lowest level. All formal communication must fit within the overall Vision with a clear, consistent message and understandable goals. The leader’s message must convey the spirit and letter of his intent. Additionally, a leader must be willing to listen and respond to those he leads, as they are his subject matter experts on how to accomplish the mission successfully.

A leader’s Authenticity will lead to respect and trust within the organization. An authentic leader will create faithfulness and dependability in those he leads. Leading with legitimacy will establish an organization which consistently displays a positive attitude. All organizations will inevitably be storm tested. Authenticity builds the type of strong bonds required for a genuine leader and his people to persevere through the storm. A leader who lacks authenticity will have the same effect as poison in the water – bitterness and a lack of pleasure within the organization. Soldiers need to know those assigned above them have their best interests at heart. An authentic leader conveys this knowledge.

Humbleness in a leader is an essential quality. Proverbs 16:18 states, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” A leader must be selfless and recognize their position of leadership is incumbent on those around them. Our selfish pride will always attempt to get in the way of being humble, and as the verse states an attitude of pride brings destruction and failure. A humble leader is committed to recognizing the hard work and efforts of those who are supporting him. A humble leader understands that he is to act as a servant to those who follow him.

John C. Maxwell reminds leaders “if they stop learning, they stop leading”. For every leader, today more than ever before, Continuous Learning is a requirement. Proverbs 1:5 states, “A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.” A leader must stay informed on the latest technologies. He should seek counsel on how to apply technological advancements to the organization’s advantage. A leader should be well read on past history and current events. With knowledge of both, he can identify current trends that resemble past occurrences and possibly determine a better way to navigate through the present circumstances.

Being authentic, this is how I like to work: I do my best work when there is an identified goal. Then I can organize the goal by breaking it down into smaller tasks, delegating, and working diligently to complete each task. This means that I can become very focused and less relational. My work ethic can be uncomfortable to those who work better with undefined responsibilities. I can tend to be demanding, not in a mean or belligerent manner. I do set high expectations and desire timely results. If there are questions about a task, then this goes back to my expectation of communication. I expect people to ask for clarification if something is not clear. I prefer having a discussion early to ensure comprehension rather than later when the task is due. This succinctly describes the hardest thing for most people to adjust to when working with me.

The leadership philosophy I have written above did change significantly from those I have written in the past as a tactical leader. As the reading by Dr. Ted Thomas described, there is a difference between a leadership philosophy, leader philosophy, and command philosophy. The philosophies I have written in the past were more of a leader’s command philosophy as they applied specifically to my job as a company commander. This current leadership philosophy is more of my personal views of leadership. It explains how I believe I am being led, how I want to be led, and how I want to lead. As I review it, I do not believe it will change much as I move between positions as an organizational leader. I believe this to be true, as it is based on having a mental picture of where I should be headed (Vision) and why I need to head there (Purpose). To help me in achieving the Vision and Purpose, I have outlined the four well-rooted actions that will assist me: Communication, Authenticity, Humbleness, and Continuous Learning.

"Lord, lead me. Help me to live this philosophy with Your Vision and Purpose."

Applying Creative Thinking to My Career Future

2011-01-18T20:21:00.001-06:00

Last summer, I had to write an argumentative paper following the Command and General Staff School's Writing Standard for Army Leaders. I have been enrolled in my Intermediate Level Education (ILE) course since last summer, which is one reason why I have not written much on here since then. Last summer was Phase I, and through May of this year I am in Phase II. I will attend Phase III this summer, which will complete the ILE course for me. I thought I would post a paper which I wrote in Phase I. As an introduction, here are the comments I wrote in my self-assessment:

As I began this assignment, I was really struggling with development of my arguments. Once I created a stronger assertion with my thesis statement and developed an outline of my major points, the flow of writing was easier. I believe the fact I was able to make it more personal increased my ability to write with passion for the subject. There is a logical progression, as I lay out a model of working on staff, transitioning to field command, but also applying what I will learn to my future civilian career. Overall I think it holds up well as an argumentative paper, and meets the intellectual standards for clarity, logic, relevance, and significance.

Now for the essay, complete with endnotes:

Generally, most people want to be viewed as being creative, due to the positive connotations of being unique and original when solving problems. I like to believe I am creative, but if I am being honest, I am more of a critical thinker. In my desire to be a better leader, I must improve my creative thinking and re-balance it with my critical thinking. Historically, when problems are identified, society has always looked for innovative leaders, who can apply logic to their creativity and make an appropriate decision. Over the next 10 years of my Field Grade officer career, I will be identified as an innovative leader by more readily applying the process of creative thinking to my duties. Operational level commanders seek officers with whom they have worked before, who think outside of the box, and develop alternative solutions to fill positions on their staff. Additionally, peers and subordinates tend to trust and follow these types of leaders, which will be of utmost importance when I am a commander. When I complete my current active duty tour, I will be an appealing candidate to business professionals, who tend to seek proven, creative leaders for employment.

Every military commander wants to be successful. I have not seen a commander yet, who takes command with a primary intention of failing. When given the latitude, a commander will build their staff with personnel whom they know will make them successful. They would seek Soldiers who fit the Army’s definition for a leader as set forth in FM 6-22, Army Leadership. FM 6-22 provides the Leadership Requirements Model, which defines the expectations of a leader’s attributes and competencies.(1) One part of that model, a “Leader with Intellectual Capacity” (2), relates directly to creative thinking through its attributes of mental agility, sound judgment, and innovation (3).

An Army commander could pick blindly and find plenty of critical thinkers to populate their staff. It is the search for the creative thinkers that will help them win the day when the nation calls. I must work to ensure my current superiors recognize those three intellectual capacity traits in me. As my superiors are selected for command, desiring to do well, I would expect them to invite me to join their staff. Based on past experience, the commander should know I would strive to make him successful and work as a creative leader on his staff.

Depending on the level of command, there would be an increasing expectation to solve a sundry of arduous problems. As I accept his offer for an organizational-level position, there will be an inordinate presumption, in fact a demand, to use the Military Decision Making Process (MDMP). The MDMP planning tool requires both critical and creative thinking to be successful and effective. But it is through the creativity-driven Course of Action (COA) Development, where a staff earns its pay. As part of that staff, I will be required to lay all my associative thoughts on the table during this step. In the end, the commander will test my creativity and decision making skill when I present the recommended Course of Action. Given our past working relationship, the commander will have assurance that he can depend on me to complete the MDMP process successfully.

When I am given the opportunity to command, I must never assume that peers or subordinates from previous assignments would automatically want to work for me. With regard to peers, of course the dynamics of the relationship would change instantaneously when I become the commander. I would never want soldiers who are subordinates, company grade and senior non-commissioned officers, to feel pressured to work for me again. In both cases, I would want them to work for me based on an established bond of mutual respect and trust. As the level of command increases, the potential for increased stress and tension can be considerable. At all levels in today’s operational environment, Soldiers need to know those assigned above, below and beside them have their best interests at heart.

Over time, I believe these types of relationships can be built with creativity through positive and “miscellaneous good” (4) attitudes. Whether you are working with peers or subordinates to solve a problem, the “ability to suspend judgment and criticism” (5), goes a long way toward building trust. To do this, I must work to remove the fear of criticism from those involved in the creative process. During times of immense pressure, when suspension of criticism is repeated, relationships can be forged in the same way as steel, and not easily broken.

Creativity also builds a positive attitude of perseverance. (6) Creative thinking brings with it a determination to keep working to make improvements and solve problems. Under the Warrior Ethos of the Soldier’s Creed, commanders are charged to lead with an attitude of perseverance. Soldiers will not follow unless they know the leader will always place the mission first, never accept defeat, never quit, and never leave a fallen comrade. (7) As Soldiers, we may lean toward using this only in the battlefield environment. Being creative allows a leader to see the Warrior Ethos’ application in regard to the issues Soldiers face in garrison as well.

One last attitude that builds and reinforces trust among Soldiers is “a belief that mistakes are welcome.” (8) Leaders must allow their Soldiers to make mistakes, especially in reference to subordinates. In much the same way that I must be creative in the absence of guidance, I want my Soldiers to exercise initiative in the absence of orders. If I squelch their creativity and they neglect to seize the initiative, opportunities will be lost. For both commanders and their Soldiers, mistakes are an important part of the creative learning and growth process. With an all-around positive attitude, I can work to create strong bonds with my Soldiers.

Continued improvement of my creative thinking process, while pursuing more challenging military positions, will also contribute to my future success in finding civilian employment. It is often mentioned that businesses seek candidates for employment who have a military background. For blue collar positions, veterans are most likely sought due to their learned discipline and strong work ethic. I believe employers have a different reason when hiring military officers to fill white collar vacancies. Creative thinking professionals, who can see the larger strategic plan, brainstorm with organizational level teams, and implement decisions are what drive American corporations to success. Two years ago when the economic slump affected my position with an architecture firm, I had to be creative in finding a new job. In 2009, United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) brought me on active duty to assist with their Base Realignment Team. I have been able to use my architecture knowledge as a Project Officer during construction of their new building. When I have completed my tour, I expect to use this experience and my increased skill in creativity to gain an organizational level position with a new architecture firm.

When I look to the future of my career in the Army, I have every reason to believe I will be successful. With a steady determination to increase my use of creative thinking in positions of increasing responsibility as a Major and higher, I know I will be recognized as an imaginative leader in my field. In working with superiors, peers, and subordinates alike, they will expect me to meet this high standard. I intend to meet and exceed their expectations while gaining their confidence and appreciation. As I am successful in meeting that objective, it will prepare the foundation for my transition into a future position with a St. Louis architecture firm. At that point, if I do not find a position available in architecture, then I will just continue to be creative.

Endnotes:

(1) FM 6-22, Army Leadership, (Washington, D.C., Department of the Army, 2006), 2-4

(2) Ibid.

(3) Ibid.

(4) Robert Harris, “Introduction to Creative Thinking”, VirtualSalt, Version Date: July 1, 1998

(5) Ibid.

(6) Ibid.

(7) FM 6-22, Army Leadership, (Washington, D.C., Department of the Army, 2006), 4-10

(8) Robert Harris, “Introduction to Creative Thinking”, VirtualSalt, Version Date: July 1, 1998

When Do We See God at Work?

2010-11-21T22:05:00.001-06:00

Yes, it has been a while. I apologize for being away so long. Sometimes in life other things have precedence and just take over. This is not a continuation of my financial situation series, but I do plan on sharing more of that story at some point. Since I have had such a long break from posting, I thought a brief change in topic would be in order as well. Today will be a heavier subject than personal finance...

Most who know me, know that I view most things in two extremes. There is rarely any gray. Life and Death: given the choice, most of us would prefer to talk about Life. Death is a heavy subject, one that is often avoided. At the other extreme, Life is a more pleasant subject. We typically equate Life with God, the Giver of Life. Can we consider for a moment seeing the presence of God, even in Death? Sometimes sharing the stories of how God works, even in the moments of our lives when we experience death, provides some of the great glimpses of the Hope that we live for each day.

On 10 November, I was changing my facebook profile picture to one of me in uniform. The next day was 11/11, Veterans Day in the United States. At first, I just changed it to a previous profile picture of me in uniform, one from my last promotion in 2009 (my blog profile picture above). Then a thought entered my mind, "No, use one from Iraq." As I was looking through my Iraqi Freedom pictures from 2003-2004, one in particular jumped out at me, along with another thought, "Use this one."

The next day, I had a facebook message, "Thank you for posting the picture of Denny, would love to see more if you have them." On what would be MSG White's last Veterans Day, I spent some time, searching, and pulled together an album of 27 photos from our time in Iraq. When I reflect on each of the moments during that 24 hour period, I am amazed at how God works through his Holy Spirit to prepare us for the inevitable.

Today, it is difficult for me to remember many specifics of our conversations while we were "over there", but on the day I learned of his passing, I reflected on one thing that was important. Through my years as a teenager and through college, I rarely was able to spend time with my real father. During our year-long deployment, sometimes MSG White would jokingly tell me that he was like my father, and he was right. During that time, we shared a two man tent at the Baghdad International Airport (BIAP). Needless to say, we had plenty of time to build a father-son type rapport. At the rank of First Lieutenant, I was his Platoon Leader and he was my Senior Non-commissioned Officer. We were battle buddies and mostly inseparable. His steady demeanor and mentorship served me well while deployed. That year spent with MSG White was priceless, and I believe a fundamental work of God. In a mysterious way that only God can perform, it not only brought me closer to Denny, but further opened the door to rebuilding the relationship with my real father. For that, I will always remember Denny. I am proud to be able to say that I served with MSG Charles Dennis White and I am forever grateful for his service. I look forward to the day when I will see him again on the High Ground!

"There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." - John 15:13

Headquarters Support Company
389th Engineer Battalion Combat (Heavy)
Roll Call of Honor:

MSG White?

MSG Denny White?

MSG Charles Dennis White?

First Sergeant, MSG White is not present. He has fallen.

MSG Charles Dennis White (66) passed away peacefully on the morning of 17 November 2010 at his home in Springfield, MO. MSG White was not only a Veteran of Iraqi Freedom, but also served two tours in Vietnam with the Navy. He served proudly in Iraq as the Senior Non-commissioned Officer for the Maintenance Platoon, Headquarters Support Company, 389th EN BN CBT (H). He turned 59 while serving in Iraq, and could keep up with the best of them over there. He was very proud to still be serving his country. After returning home, he served six more months in the Army Reserve before retiring in November 2004 when he turned 60!

The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.” - Psalm 91:14-16

Couldn’t You Have Picked a More Exciting Hobby? (4)

2010-08-29T16:50:00.003-05:00

So, that’s where I found myself in 1995 and as I stated in the first post of this series I was searching for a way to solve my money problem. After 11 years of searching I had made no real progress in paying off the debt. In fact, after buying a house and another new vehicle, the debt had only grown. I honestly believe I had just resigned myself to the typical myths:

"I will always have a car payment."
"I will make minimum payments on these student loans until they are done."
"30 years from now, I will have this house paid off."
"This is normal, life is full of payments."

At some point in 2006, I reached the point where I ended my first post in this series:

You ever have one of those moments where emotionally you have given up, but mentally your mind says, “God, I’m ready and willing, please help.”?

Because I had quit trying to find the money answer on my own, I stumbled onto Dave Ramsey through a Focus on the Family (FOTF) radio program. I rarely listened to FOTF, and I am not sure why I was listening on that particular day. I was streaming it while at work and listening through my headphones. It was during the last two weeks of 2006. Focus on the Family was replaying some of their most requested programs from the past year. As I listened to Dave, something struck me about how he talked about money and having financial peace.

He mentioned things about handling money God’s way, and that the “borrower is slave to the lender”. Well, I had enough debt for that statement to ring true. Dave said, "We give you the same common sense advice that God and your grandma did; only we keep our teeth in!" It wasn’t long before I found his website, and started doing more research on him.

I bought his book, The Total Money Makeover (TMMO), which I had seen in the stores many times but never picked up. As I said before, I had resigned myself to just making the minimum payments and living a normal life. I already had so many personal finance books, why would I need to buy one more?

One of the greatest discoveries in listening to Dave was that life did not have to be full of payments. I was right, broke was normal, and according to Dave:

"Debt is Normal. Be Weird!"

Within the first month or two of 2007, I had read the book, and was quoting things in it to Mindy. The book is set up in two parts, not literally, but through the message that it delivers. The first half starts with a challenge to stop denying that you are not doing too badly with money and start behaving differently. Dave discusses things we believe about money merely because it is so engrained in our American culture. These are labeled as myths, about both money and debt. He gives common sense advice on how to look at these myths differently. Through his explanations, it is easy to understand how we keep getting the same bad results when we live by the same bad rules. Your knowledge and understanding of money goes through a process of transformation by reading and studying the first five chapters.

In the second half, Dave’s plan is laid out in seven baby steps. The baby steps lead you on a walk out of the bondage of debt and into a life of financial peace. The walk is one of both contentment and sacrifice, but depending on your level of “gazelle intensity” can start to look like a full sprint. Overall, his strategy is loosely based on the Bible and he includes a few scriptural quotes. But, as he says in the beginning, it “isn’t a Bible study on the subject of money.” The subtitle of the book is “A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness”, and as Dave states, “that plan includes addressing the spiritual issues surrounding money.”

I was very interested in getting started, but as with most things I tend to lack patience. As we progressed through the year, I applied his plan incorrectly. At the end of 2007, Mindy and I were still struggling with quite a few financial issues both on paper and in our attitudes. Through my impatience I was trying to apply at least four of the seven baby steps all at once, instead of concentrating on the step I was on.

I would encourage you to pick up a copy of the book (most libraries carry it), and see what you think. If you do start to apply the plan to your life, remember that focus is one of the main keys to success. Next time, I will discuss the focus we found in 2008, to be continued...

Couldn’t You Have Picked a More Exciting Hobby? (3)

2010-08-08T20:27:00.005-05:00

Before I headed off to the University, I wish someone had sat down with me and shown me the financial facts on paper. Now that I am older and a little more experienced, I can see how the money-thing works. But, back then I really needed someone to enlighten me. Bear with me on this, as my numbers reflect figures from 20 years ago. In my head it would have went like this:

Ok Wes, three months from now, you will be starting school. Tuition for the year costs $4K; Books cost $500; Room & Board will be $7K. How much do you think you will need for gas & entertainment each month? One hundred dollars. Ok, that is every month, over nine months, we will just plan for an even $1K. So, totaling that up, we have $12.5K. Now, that is the total of your expenses.

What about income? Your GI Bill is $150/month for nine months, annually that is $1350. You make $133/month for your Army Reserve Drill weekends, annually that equals almost $1600. With two weeks of Annual Training, you have another $500. You have a part-time job, right? Yes. That gives you another $2450 per year. Is that it? Yes. Ok, well, your total annual income is $5900. That leaves you with a shortfall of $6600, how do you propose to make up the difference? Well, with student loans of course. Student loans? Really, ok! Can we look ahead to the future? Sure.

You plan to be there for three years. After three years, you will have a shortfall, or student loan debt of $20K. Then, what do you plan to do? Get my Masters Degree. Oh, do you have to attend Graduate School? Yes, for architecture I will need more than a 4-year degree. You need a professional degree for architecture! Ok, here’s a good school, and after two years there, you will have another $30K in student loan debt. So, now, we have you fresh out of school with $50K of student loan debt. What do you think your starting salary will be? I do not know, but I have always been told architects make lots of money. You are not sure; except that you are sure whatever it is, it will be enough. Pretty much, I do not plan on making six figures right out of school, but I should be able to live well enough.

Ok, well – I took the liberty to research starting salaries in architecture. Based on these figures, you are looking at about $25K per year. Wow! What do you mean “wow”? That seems like a lot, at least compared to what I am making today. Oh, you think that is a lot, because it is almost 5 times what you are making today – I see. Care to look at how that breaks down after taxes and deductions. Sure. First a few questions: Would you like Health Insurance? Of course. And 401K? Yes. And how much? 3%, I will start small and build up over time. And you live in the city, right? Yes. So, an additional 1% income tax. Ok, bottom line: you will receive an average $1443 per month – some months a little more, some a little less, as you will get paid every two weeks. Care to see how far that goes? Guess it would be good to know!

INCOME:

Architecture Income: $1443

Reserve Income: $150

Total Income: $1593

EXPENSES:

Rent: $500

Car Payment: $230

Utilities: $100

Cable: $50

Cell Phone: $50

Food: $250

Gas: $150

Student Loan Payments: $253
Total Expenses: $1583

Total Income – Total Expenses: $10

Well, would you look at that – you did it! You are $10 ahead. Oh, but wait, you are a young man. Were you planning on going out on the weekends? Of course. $10 is not going to get you very far! No, it is not.

Wes, looking out five years into the future, what do you think of this plan now?

The fact is that I did not look five years into the future before I started at the University. Due to my choices, which lacked wisdom, knowledge, and counsel – this was the predicament I was saddled with, more or less, when I finished graduate school in 1995.

Is it little wonder why I was searching so desperately for answers to my money problem?

What about you? Have you taken the time to see how much you spend each month? I am not just talking about the mortgage/rent, food, gas, and utilities. What about the little things? The things that add up, slowly each month, perhaps on a credit card, and become long-term debt. If you are to ever win at this thing called money, you need a plan (a budget) - "on paper, on purpose before each month begins." (DR)

Start today, use a small notebook and track each dollar you spend for the next 30 days. The truth might just shock you into starting an all-inclusive spending plan next month. When you do that, you will start to change your money spending behaviors.

To be continued...

Couldn’t You Have Picked a More Exciting Hobby? (2)

2010-07-25T00:10:00.004-05:00

For those of you who follow: I sincerely apologize for how long the continuation of my last post has taken. I feel like I wrote a cliffhanger the last time, and made you wait for the new fall season to reveal more of the storyline. As I am sure you all know - Life can get busy. Several things have kept me away, but not from thinking about this thread. Maybe later I can write about the several things. For now, here is Part II in a Series...

Perhaps I should get a job writing prequels. It wasn’t long after writing my last post that I started thinking I needed to back up – I had not started at the beginning. Realistically, we all start our life being debt-free. Technically, if we include our portion of the national debt which we will pay on during our adult-working life, we do not start debt-free. But, I’m talking about personal debt here. At the time of the mid-1980’s, like most teenagers, I was debt-free; not a care in the financial world. I believed I would graduate high school, go to college, and like most graduates finish with some student loans. But, given the unfounded belief that I would be rewarded for my diploma with a high paying job, those student loans would disappear quickly.

Well, after high school, I joined the Army Reserve and decided to attend Junior College for two years. This would give me the opportunity to not spend so much on college at the beginning. I could get the basic courses out of the way without spending too much, or taking out a loan. This plan was a good one as the tuition was less expensive. By working hard and a payment plan through the semester, I could pay as I went for an Associates Degree. I would be able to enter the big University still debt-free.

For my generation, most often, our elders taught us very little of personal finance. They did not sit us down and explain personal finance to us. Perhaps they believed we were picking up those lessons in public school. But the truth is: when the Great Depression became ancient history, people stopped teaching personal finance. With credit being in large supply, there was no more demand for the lessons learned during that era. We learned indirectly what little financial knowledge we gained from our parents. By watching the habits of our parents, most in my generation received this personal finance golden rule:

“Money = Spend; No Money = Spend with Credit”

I, too, followed the notion that I should start “building my credit”, and opened up an account of credit with a national chain. I did not go crazy, only buying some tools with the card, and quickly paying it off. I never really felt that I had a problem with credit cards. In fact, I despised them, but considered them a necessary evil in this world of "needed credit". When I got to the University, my financial problem was that I had no idea how to handle money. I thought I knew! My personal finance golden rule was this:

"money in the bank meant time to spend; no money in the bank meant time to stop"

My problem with following that rule, was I always spent until I had to stop, with no thought about what I might still need in the future.

To be continued...(much sooner this time, I promise)

Couldn’t You Have Picked a More Exciting Hobby?

2010-04-25T20:14:00.004-05:00

Perhaps you have borrowed too much on your home. You have credit cards, a car loan or two, and even student loans. Most Americans do; it is considered "normal". For the past few years, times have been tough and families have had to cut back. Maybe you have struggled for so long that you have accepted the situation and are no longer looking for a way out. Today, allow me to begin to share that there is a way out, but it will require extreme sacrifice on your part for a period of time.

Over the years, I've read several financial books and articles. I even spent real money on some of those books, actually on quite a few of those books. I could probably stack them up to my waist. I thought one day I’d look back and consider them a wise investment. Most of them covered what needed to be done with money, but lacked in the “how to” department. Some discussed ways to make more money, but didn’t really share the secret of not spending more if you did.

You might say that since leaving college, studying personal finance has been my hobby! Right now, someone is thinking, “Wes, couldn’t you have picked a more exciting hobby?”

Now, let me tell you right up front that I am not a financial planner or a CPA - just a normal guy who had money problems. I think that defines the majority of Americans: Normal people with money problems searching for a solution. I searched for years for a money program that would get me out of the big, deep hole I had dug financially. I was responsible for the hole; therefore I wanted to be responsible for filling it in.

Honestly, there have been a couple of times in my life when I had credit card debt and then I did not. The first time, it was because I took out a consolidation loan. I rolled my credit card debt together with my car loan. Amazingly, after spreading out the pain over five more years, collectively I had a lower payment. The consolidation loan seemed like a great deal, except that it did not teach me a thing about getting and staying out of debt. In fact, it was not long and I had credit card debt again. Also the new loan extended the period I would pay on my car by three years past the original payoff date.

Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others. - Proverbs 12:15

Then a couple years later (2000), I was at a six-month school for the Army. I was not spending much money and was able to quickly pay the credit card debt. I do not remember how much it was, but $5,000 would be a close guess. It was a great feeling to be free of credit card debt. I felt like a chain had been lifted from me. I still had several other chains holding onto me though: the consolidation loan with three more years of payments and quite a bit more in student loans.

Even though I had conquered the credit cards, I was not able to apply the same discipline to the other loans. One reason was that compared to the small amount of credit card debt, the student loans were an enormous amount. The payments were not huge and I could afford them. Paying them was painful though. Each month as the checks were written, I would think of what could be done with the money dedicated to them.

So, I continued to search through books for a plan: the perfect scheme to solve my money problem. Recently I found out that whenever I brought home a new book, my wife’s thought was, “Oh boy, another book on money.”

At some point, I had had enough of programs and “get rich quick” solutions – unconsciously I had stopped searching for a fix. I was ready to accept the “fact” that I would always need a credit card for emergencies. Life was trying to tell me, “You will always have a car loan, home loan, and student loan payment." Personally, acceptance of that kind of mediocrity would have been regretful! I would have been going through the motions: working hard to keep the bills paid, but never really seeing a brighter future through it all.

Have you ever had one of those moments where emotionally you have given up, but mentally your mind says, “God, I’m ready and willing, please help.”

To be continued...

Was this really that long ago? (Addendum)

2010-03-27T16:18:00.003-05:00

Addendum: same ROE as before: Red text denotes current thoughts & notes.

As I was preparing Part III of this series, I found a paper copy of the letter. Part III wasn't in the paper copy, but only on the electronic word document that I had originally found. This post was at the end of the paper copy, but since it was not germane to the Recovery Mission, I decided to save it for later. Now is later.

Also, I should state that it wasn't long after the "mission" that we received the newer vests with plates...

Architecture and Food - Two of My Favorite Things

At least the trip allowed me to see many residential areas of Baghdad. They build their homes in a much different fashion than ours in the States. As wood is at a premium, they build with block. The lots are smaller than a typical American lot, and are square, or close to it. They do not have large lawns, but use the lot entirely for the building. Usually the back and two sides are built as plain walls, stucco over the block. The front facade is where the exterior design elements are, and where the money is spent. Usually, there is a 6-8 foot wall around the front, with the space behind it carved out to create a courtyard, balconies and various other design elements. The front facades are very unique from home to home. Some facades incorporate marble columns with ornate capitals. Even the window designs are unique and vary in the shapes they create, unlike ours which are ordered directly from the double-hung catalog. With the many variations in design, both in elements used and space created, the homes are distinct and differ in character, despite the fact that most are similar color and materials used.

I am sure it won't be long before there is a McDonald's on every corner here also. After all, there has been a Burger Kind on BIAP for over a month already. If you want a Whopper, sometimes it can be up to a three-hour wait. I have been able to try some of the Iraqi cuisine a few times. Most everything I have had has been pretty good. I even had some Iraqi pizza, which is different than American style. It was good though.

One of the things I miss about home is the change in weather, if you can believe that. Since we left the States, the only weather we have seen is hot and sunny. No rain, no thunder, no lightning. I think when I return I will probably go outside and jump in a puddle the first time it rains.

Anyway, I should end this. Thanks for your support, thoughts and prayers. At least for me, Iraq is not as bad as it is probably portrayed on the nightly news. I have actually met some very nice Iraqi citizens, and enjoy learning about their culture and views, especially political (now that they have that freedom). They enjoy learning about America also.

Love and prayers, Wesley

When I used to write things like this back to the States, it was mostly in email and shot out to all my contacts. I labeled the subject line, "News from the Engineer Front". I always signed them "Love and prayers".

A few years ago, I was printing the emails off to PDF files and saving them to my hard-drive. Then I would delete that email. My plan was to eventually print each one to paper and place them in a three-ring binder for my children. At the end of 2006, my hard-drive crashed and I lost a number of them. I did not have them backed up and learned my lesson. For the sake of Part III, I'm glad I found the electronic version of this letter.

Of course, as the years go by, and other events take precedence in my mind, I don't remember as much about what happened day to day "over there". Early on, I had started a journal, but it did not stick. It's so easy when we are going through life to think that we will remember the really significant events later.

What are you experiencing today while thinking, "I'll need to remember this later"?

Was this really that long ago? (Part III of III)

2010-03-20T18:22:00.002-05:00

Excerpts from a letter written on 9 Aug 2003 – This is the third part. Red text denotes current thoughts & notes.

Hot & Humid With a Chance of Fire!

The Soldier who was injured during the IED attack, SPC Chasen, received a Purple Heart, and was returned to the United States. From what I heard, he got a piece of shrapnel in the back of his upper thigh - think Forrest Gump!

At the time of the Recovery Mission, we had not been issued the new Interceptor Vests w/ Armor Plating. We went out on the mission with the Vietnam-era vests, no protective plates.

It was very warm that day. We rehearsed our actions on the objective several times, starting at 0700 that morning, and left the LSA around 1300.

It was very hot and humid at the objective. By the time we left, my weapon was so hot in my hands that I just about wanted to hand it off to some of the Iraqis observing us. There were some homes in the area, and of course, all the residents came out to watch our actions.

We were unsure if during the first mission, someone in the area had tipped off the enemy on Alpha Company’s presence, which then led to the original attack. So, there was a thought that our presence could be tipped off again. Therefore, we wanted to spend the smallest amount of time at the objective as possible.

On the way out, which due to the area was the same way we came in, there were a couple of men standing along the side of the road. They were burning some dry grass or leaves, and for some reason, the fire was spread in a line half way across the road (a very narrow road). As we went out, the vehicles were in the opposite order of march, so I was near the tail. The lead vehicle radioed back about the situation. As we approached, I switched my M-16 from safe to semi, keeping the weapon pointed down towards their feet, at the ready. My eyes followed them completely as we drove by. I am not sure why they were burning in this manner, but if they had even flinched wrong, we would have been exchanging more than glances.

Nothing happened.

I am actually surprised that the enemy burnt the vehicle, when they could have very easily just stolen it, using it on a farm, or a worse attack. As the Maintenance Platoon Leader, this was about the most exciting thing I have been able to do here, other than leading the main HSC (Headquarters Support Company) convoy from Kuwait to Baghdad. If you want some really good stories, you should get in touch with 1LT Brad Lavite, who was transferred from the 245th (Maintenance Company) into a Transportation Company. He should be headed back to the U.S. in April (2004).

That day, as I rode in the front passenger seat of the HMMWV, I was sitting sideways, facing out. No doors, no plates; just that Vietnam-era vest with a seat belt holding me in. We didn't have up-armored vehicles, and the original doors were no thicker than plastic wrap. They held the heat in, but little out. It's always better to have physical protection in those types of situations, but honestly I preferred having full range of movement from the door opening. Call it naivete, but being in Iraq during that period didn't create blame in me towards anyone else for what was lacking. Instead, it made me more aware that I needed to rely on God for safety and protection. Many people, including me, prayed Psalms 91 during that time...here are some of my favorite verses:

v2: This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him.

v4: He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

v11: For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go.

v14-16: The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love Me. I will protect those who trust in My name. When they call on Me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them My salvation."

I'm humble enough to know, despite those prayers, I still could have lost my life at anytime in Iraq. I do not pretend to understand why God allowed me to make it home unscathed. He is my God and I trust Him.

On this day, the seventh anniversary of the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom, I would be remiss to not remember those who did give the ultimate sacrifice and in memory of them simply say:

"Thank you"

Click for Addendum

Was this really that long ago? (Part II of III)

2010-02-20T07:35:00.006-06:00

Excerpts from a letter written on 9 Aug 2003 – This is the second part. Red text denotes current thoughts & notes.

High Profile Recovery Mission

This last Tuesday, 5 Aug 2003, I was put in charge of a recovery mission to grab a 2 ½ Ton Truck for our Alpha Company. It was involved in an incident with an improvised explosive device (IED) about two weeks prior to our recovery. The soldiers involved left the vehicle to take a wounded soldier for medical attention. When they returned later, the vehicle had been burnt to a crisp, a complete loss.

It was located in a bad area of town, just outside of the built-up area of Baghdad. The location was about 1000m from the Tigris River, and the vegetation was quite high surrounding the road where it was located. It looked more like a jungle than a desert. We took 13 vehicles out to recover it, including three Military Police vehicles (each commanded by a Captain) to assist with security. The Group Commander, a Colonel, and his Command Sergeant Major also went. The location was 20 miles away from BIAP, but with traffic it took us one-hour travel time each way.

After checking for booby traps, we lifted the vehicle onto a lowboy trailer with a crane truck. The recovery operation took 30 minutes. We closed the narrow road while we accomplished the operation. The operation was a complete success without any serious incident or enemy contact. Thank God for that. Despite the success of that recovery, I do not want to see another area similar to that one the remainder of the time I am here.

Looking back, this mission is a classic military case study on the fallacy of micro-management. Based on the excessive command attention I got, you would think it was the mission meant to end Operation Iraqi Freedom. Maybe it was in some "war hero's mind"! At the time, I was a Platoon Leader (First Lieutenant) in the United States Army. The nation was entrusting me to fulfill the responsibility of that role. I appreciated having the Military Police there to help with security and firepower, and the three Captains knew their role was support. They did not try to take over my mission. But, did I really need a Colonel and his Sergeant Major to successfully complete this mission? Why did they feel the need to force themselves onto the scene and control every minor detail? Would I have done everything in the exact manner as them?

If they wanted to lead this mission, then why did they need me to tag along? When leadership does not allow their subordinates to step up and take charge, then the subordinates will learn not to step up and take charge. Novel concept!

Leaders, if you do not allow your subordinates to fail, how will they ever learn to succeed? ...Besides, it's a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer's job to make sure his Lieutenant doesn't fail!

Click for Part III

Was this really that long ago? (Part I of III)

2010-02-13T18:45:00.005-06:00

Excerpts from a letter written on 9 Aug 2003 – I plan on posting this in three parts. As I read through the original, it seemed to break up nicely that way. Lately, I've been finding things I wrote a few years ago. Thought they might be worth sharing...

Greetings from BIAP, IRAQ

For those who are unaware, BIAP is the Baghdad International Airport, formerly known as Saddam International Airport. No, he isn't a narcissist! Anyway, now we pronounce it “Bi-Op”. I have been here for a little over two months now, after spending a little more than three weeks in Kuwait.

Sometimes it seems surreal that I am really in Iraq, a country that the U.S. has been aware of for over 20 years now, but few Americans have visited. Currently we are going through the hottest time of the year, with temperatures ranging up to 135 degrees. It feels sort of like sticking your head in a brick oven. They say it will start to cool off at the end of August. Maybe we will see it drop to below 120.

In 2 months time, we have seen some things improve quite a bit and other things not so much. We continue to live in our tents, obviously, but at least we have wood floors built in each tent. We have A/C units for the tents, but continue to wait for the power grid to come up in order to actually see them work. Yesterday we were served our first meal out of a hard stand dining facility, instead of the normal Mobile Kitchen Trailer (MKT). The Dining Facility is run under a contract, so there are civilians working it, not the battalion’s cooks. Currently we only get dinner there, so we are still eating Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) for breakfast and lunch. But within a week’s time, they will serve 4 meals a day at the contracted dining facility, including a midnight meal (Soldiers are working 24/7!). The dining facility is nice, with lots of A/C and potable ice. First time we have had that in over 3 months.

As far as missions, the battalion continues to improve the military side of BIAP. Preparing the ground for the master plan and many buildings to come. I have the feeling that there will be an U.S. military presence here for a long time. Eventually, it will be just like Korea, with active duty soldiers serving 1-year hardship tours continuously. We don’t know anything about an exact date of when we will be allowed to return home. Rumors swarm every couple of weeks or so. We have orders that go to next May, but they could be shortened, and they could be extended. Some think they won’t let us go beyond six months, as that is when VA benefits kick in. But, six months is not too far off, and we have not heard anything yet.

On BIAP, we enjoy a relative amount of safety and security. Sure, something could still happen, and you must keep your guard up, but at least we are not out in the middle of the desert or a jungle. I only get to leave BIAP on occasion, and when I do, it is with quite an arsenal of weapons and ammo.

Honestly, with all that's happened since I wrote this, it feels like it was a whole other lifetime ago. I'll post Part II in a few days...

What Are You Going To Do About It?

2010-02-01T05:43:00.007-06:00

Recently, I had lunch with a colleague, and we discussed many things. At one point, we were discussing the Connect Group which Mindy (my wife) and I lead through our church. It’s a book study group based on Dave Ramsey’s book, The Total Money Makeover (TMMO). We’ve led the group through two semesters, and are just about to start our third. Ever since I can remember, I’ve had a passion for personal finance. I’ve read all kinds of books on it, and tried all sorts of systems. But it wasn’t until TMMO that I found something that really works.

My friend told me what we are doing is important, and he put it this way: “The three big rocks in a marriage are Intimacy, Communication, and Finances.” I’d never really thought about marriage with such uncomplicated clarity before. Both he and I are Christians, so involving God in your marriage was a given. The more I think about what he told me, the more it makes sense. If a man and a wife get those three things synchronized, then any other issues should tend to fall in place.

Now, I’m not about to give anyone advice on Intimacy, but I do know it’s important. Anyone who watches the news reported on society today would know it was important as well. And, I’m the last person you should talk to about better communications with your spouse – I’m too task-oriented. But, you start talking about Personal Finance and you’ve got my attention.

It’s no secret that our economy has struggled for the last two years. In turn, this has caused many families to struggle as well. But, my question would be this:

“What are You going to do about it? Are You taking a good, hard look in the mirror?”

See each of those big three rocks mentioned above are very personal things. No one is asking the government to assist their marriage with bailouts of Intimacy or Communication. Why then would we ask the government to assist with our Personal Finances? Maybe as a Nation, we just don’t know where to start. Here is a starting point, two items: Contentment & A Developed Plan.

Contentment: We are a living in a Society of Debtors, because we are not content. The wealthiest nation on the planet, and yet we are servants to lenders! Being a debt society is one of the culprits of our current economic crisis. We have replaced our needs with our desires. We place our desires before our needs. We need healthcare, but how many are willing to place that expense as a priority above entertainment? It is great to have desires, but we must live within our means and not “reward” ourselves until we can afford it. Contentment requires discipline. Discipline requires Focus.

A Developed Plan: A well-written plan requires focus to develop. It must be laid out in an achievable manner and help you reach your goals. A plan isn’t just something you write and throw on the shelf though either. A plan is a course of action, which means that it must cause you to do something. In this case, we want it to be positive action. A study of Harvard graduates found that after two years, the 3 percent who had written goals achieved more financially than the other 97 percent combined! That is an incredible stat which should motivate you to write down anything you hope to achieve.

This may not directly help with Intimacy or Communication in marriage, perhaps only in an indirect manner. Start working on the betterment of your Personal Finances, and partner with your spouse in this area. Doing this will open up lines of communication, and get you agreeing on the money allocation plan (budget) together. When you start communicating on one thing, other topics are sure to follow. The more you are communicating with one another, the more intimacy you will start to enjoy. I’ve heard it said that money fights are the number one cause of divorce in America. So, stop fighting about money, and start focusing on being content and building a plan. It may just transform your marriage!

Do I Choose Bovine Silliness or Wise Humbleness?

2009-12-20T07:27:00.003-06:00

This blog is young, and it is already taking turns I was not expecting. Today’s post will be one of those turns. Part of my nightly routine is that I always tuck my son into bed. Our routine is reading a story or a chapter if the book is longer. Then it is lights out, which is the official signal to start wrestling. More than just wrestling, this is wrestling mixed with tickling and laughter. When the wrestling is done, we settle down by ending our day with prayer. This is always a great silly and serious time of bonding between a father and son. It is an important part of each day for both of us.

Most of the books we read come from the children’s section of our local library. He goes through phases of different well known characters: Berenstain Bears, Curious George, and the Peanuts Gang. Lately he has been into a series of books based on two cows, named Minnie and Moo, who sit under a tree. Moo reads, thinks, and has a runaway imagination. Minnie drinks espresso and worries about what idea Moo will have next.

To a kindergartener, the first couple of books we read were funny. Over all, they were pretty innocuous. Written for younger children, who would still be learning to read, the parent would most likely be reading it to them. An alert adult would still be involved in the details to which the child was being exposed. One episode, Minnie and Moo attempted to save the farm by going to the bank and just asking for money. The only problem is they went dressed in trench coats, one carrying a violin case, and handed the cashier a note with a request for the money. You can imagine how that turned out. In the next book, they dressed up as two chickens to sneak into the hen house. They were looking for a jelly donut thief, who they had rationalized could be a blue chicken. When a wolf shows up, the rooster attempts to convince him that he should go for the two bigger chickens as they would make a better meal.

About a week ago, we started reading a longer Minnie and Moo story: Minnie & Moo and the Seven Wonders of the World by Denys Cazet. It states on the inside of the cover: Ages 7-10. So, it was written for children who would be reading it on their own. The Summary states:

Two cows try to save their farm by creating seven wonders and asking the other animals for donations to see them, but there is a wondrous and frightening creature in the woods that could foil the plan.

Seemed harmless enough, right? As this was a longer book, we were only reading one chapter a night. We made it through the first three chapters without as much as a hint of trouble. Then it happened, Dad’s internal alarm started going off. Why does the picture at the front of tonight’s chapter show one cow wearing “a turban with a red plastic jewel in the center of her head?” In front of the cow, setting on a table, she was holding a bowling ball with both hands. There were many other farm animals standing around her, looking on in curiosity. Taped to the front of the table were two signs, “Save Our Farm” and “Presidential Bunion” (a free lead-in to the Seven Wonders). On the table was one more sign, but the writing on it was not legible. We started reading, and on the next page finally discovered the content of the illegible sign, which also provided clarity about the jeweled turban and bowling ball. It read:

Madame Minnie

Mistress of the Presidential Bunion

Teller of Fortunes

When I saw that, I stopped reading out loud and started scanning ahead. My son of course was wondering why I had stopped, and wanted to know what I was doing. As I scanned ahead, I read other phrases that were bringing me to full alert.

“The mystery of the bunion. What magic lies within? What other presidential faces might appear to those with the vision to see Mother Nature’s magic?”

“I saw Mother Nature’s magic.”

“Madame Minnie will gaze into her crystal ball and tell you what you will see!”

That was all I needed to see; I closed the book. Is it really acceptable to the world to expose 7-10 year old children to the occult? Apparently, it is; as it states “A Junior Library Guild Selection” inside the front cover. Inside the back cover, it states: “Denys Cazet first introduced his lovable cows in a series of books for beginning readers. Here is more bovine silliness for children reading on their own.” I guess it is acceptable to the world, depending on whether the word “bovine” above is interpreted as a noun or an adjective. If it is a noun, then we are just talking about two silly cows. But defined as an adjective, it is bovine silliness to introduce children to the occult “on their own”. Used as an adjective, bovine can be defined as: crass, coarse, insensitive, Philistine, rude, and vulgar.

I informed my son that we would not be able to finish the book. He, of course, was curious as to why not. I went into our bedroom to let my wife know why we couldn’t finish the book. She agreed with me that it was inappropriate and not acceptable material for our young son.

Perhaps you are reading this and wondering, “What’s the big deal?” Allow me to explain. We are to judge things according to a standard. That standard must be higher than us. The Bible, God’s Word was intended to be that standard for all of mankind. God’s Word is pretty clear on the topic of fortune-telling and witchcraft. He spelled it out to the Hebrew people when they were preparing to enter the Promised Land:

“When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there. For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you. But you must be blameless before the Lord your God. The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the Lord your God forbids you to do such things.” – Deuteronomy 18:9-14

And despite this clear warning, later we see the consequences when the Israelites rejected God’s Law:

“They even sacrificed their own sons and daughters in the fire. They consulted fortune-tellers and practiced sorcery and sold themselves to evil, arousing the Lord’s anger. Because the Lord was very angry with Israel, he swept them away from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained in the land. But even the people of Judah refused to obey the commands of the Lord their God, for they followed the evil practices that Israel had introduced.” – 2 Kings 17:17-19

Just in case you are thinking, “Those are Old Testament references, they no longer apply to today’s teaching,” allow me to put a finer point on it. The New Testament clearly defines the foundation from which the sin of fortune-telling is established:

“One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters.” – Acts 16:16

You might still say, “What is the problem? It’s just a story. It doesn’t mean your child will turn to that.” I would answer, “Why introduce my child to the sin of fortune-telling which is built on the foundation of demon-possession?” In doing that, I would be assisting the devil in digging a hole in my child’s heart for that foundation of sin to be established. If I read it to him and pretend it is no big deal, then I have in effect told my child that it is acceptable. He has no reason to question it; he trusts his father. He doesn’t yet understand that God finds it detestable. If I abide in God and God finds it unacceptable, then I must find it unacceptable. It is no small coincidence that a few days later I noticed a young teenager at McDonald’s with what appeared to be a pentagram hanging on a chain around their neck. Both decisive action and indecisive non-action have consequences.

God’s Word says He will make fools of fortune-tellers, who predict only lies. I do not want to be associated with fools and liars, nor do I want my son to be associated with them. As a loving father, why would I hesitate in putting up a tenacious fight to protect my son from demon-possession? The best way to protect him is to ensure he isn’t exposed to that path at such a young age, before he understands the consequences. As a father, I have a mission to properly warn my children of the dangers along the path of sin. If I failed to act now and he were to take that path, then I also run the risk of contributing grief to his mother, my wife:

“The proverbs of Solomon: A wise child brings joy to a father; a foolish child brings grief to a mother.” – Proverbs 10:1

I want to experience joy. I want my wife to experience joy. I want my children to experience joy. To further that experience, I will choose to remain constantly vigilant, bold in my convictions, and not concede ground on my watch. According to the world, perhaps I am just being silly or arrogant; according to God I am being wise and humble.

Given the importance of raising children, what will you choose to do? How tenacious will you fight for an outcome which provides God's joy as the consequences for your children's choices?

For more of God’s Wisdom with regards to the fallacy of the occult, read: Leviticus 19:26; Isaiah 3:1-3; Isaiah 44:25; Jeremiah 27:9; Jeremiah 29:8-9; Ezekiel 21:29; Daniel 2:27-28; Micah 3:6-8; Micah 5:11-13; Zechariah 10:2-3

Where Do You Find Assurance?

2009-12-06T21:35:00.012-06:00

The past 1-2 years have been a struggle for most. The economic foundations have been shaken by a world in financial chaos. Nowhere has this been felt more than in the architecture and construction industry. I know because I was an early casualty. Over a year ago, I worked in a small architecture firm. Then suddenly I didn’t. Four months later, I found a new job. It is somewhat related, but requires me to wear the uniform of the U.S. Army. The Saint Louis architectural community is small and I do what I can to stay connected. In the last 14 months, more have been laid-off; some even as recently as the last few weeks. It’s hard to run a difficult race when it seems to last this long – even the strongest among us do not see the finish line.

Saturday morning, I was on my way to work. Rarely do I work Saturdays anymore. I was listening to the radio. It was top of the hour; time for the national and local news. The local news carried a story that immediately caught my attention: Local man, jumped to his death, owner of two well-renowned construction related companies. Due to the economy, his companies had gone through a period of many layoffs. I know some of those people who have been laid-off. I had met him once. This turn of events was a tragedy.

For the remainder of my trip, I thought about how this would resonate around the architectural community. My thoughts were filled with sorrow. No matter the potential loss of jobs and companies, they can always be replaced. Life cannot be replaced. Suicide is an irreversible decision. All of these (jobs, companies, life) are temporary, and the loss of each is always sorrowful and shocking. But an early departure from life is beyond shocking to those who must continue. For those left behind, the repercussions have the potential to be extremely detrimental.

My heart goes out to this man’s family and all the potential that was left unfulfilled. I do hope that they have a secure place to turn during this time. I pray that family and friends will stand with them and comfort them. I pray that they will be able to let go of the pieces and give them to God. Allow Him to help them find peace and move forward.

I do not mean to make light of the circumstances, but we can be so peculiar. We choose to go through life, placing our trust in treasures we know exist temporarily – only to be disappointed at their ruin. Men do this with jobs and position; sometimes allowing anger to enter our lives when it is time to move on. Anger and Disappointment are natural, but taken too far; they can lead to an overwhelming sense of failure that holds us down in a pit of defeat. The way to overcome anger and disappointment is with peace. Peace which passes all understanding, and leads to hope.

At our church, we have a saying: “He was reading your mail!” It is said when the message is on point with your life or thoughts. Today, Pastor Shawn was reading my mail. I hope he doesn’t mind me sharing his points on finding Peace in the Midst When Your World is Shaking. First the peace which is found in the world, the temporary circumstances:

An Absence of Conflict (Tolerance?)
An Easy-going Feeling (The Eagles: Peaceful, Easy Feeling)
Quietness and Solitude (Leave me alone)
Personal Relaxation (Stress-free Life)
Personal Happiness (Whatever makes you happy)

That is the list of False Peace. So, is that it then? We just go through life, one temporary false peace after another? Are we to just deal with the emotion of loss; until another gain replaces it or we are dealt a loss which appears irreversible? Has repeated loss of the temporary caused us to declare that nothing is eternal anymore? How far will you go to defend that notion? Are you willing to defend it into eternity?

Beyond the temporary, insecure offerings of the world, God offers eternal assurance in Jesus Christ:

"These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God." - 1 John 5:13

Once you have the Son of God, Jesus Christ, He offers you True Peace.

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” – John 14:27

This is the kind of peace which the world cannot replicate; it can only offer a cheap imitation. Here are the points which Pastor Shawn offered on True Peace:

It is Supernatural, only comes through Jesus
The gift is the Holy Spirit, who helps you in times of loss and sorrow
His peace is not dependent on circumstances
His peace stays with you when you have an open hand

Jesus instructed us not to store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Instead we are to store our treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. (Matthew 6:19, 20) Jobs, Position, and Status are all treasures we store here on earth. Right now the earth is being shaken. It is unstable and in chaos; treasures are being eaten, destroyed, and stolen. True Peace (Shalom in Hebrew) is strong, secure, stable and complete. Shalom is from the inside out, it is Eternal, and it is stored in Heaven.

Will we have an open hand and let go of the earthly treasures that are stealing our peace? Are we willing to accept Shalom and find real Hope?

Will We Remember?

2009-11-12T22:02:00.012-06:00

"Honor never grows old, and honor rejoices the heart of age. It does so because honor is, finally, about defending those noble and worthy things that deserve defending, even if it comes at a high cost. In our time, that may mean social disapproval, public scorn, hardship, persecution, or as always, even death itself. The question remains: What is worth defending? What is worth dying for? What is worth living for?"

- William J. Bennett
In a lecture to the United States Naval Academy
November 24, 1997

Yesterday, we honored veterans and remembered them for their service and sacrifice. In light of recent events, I need to mention something. Exactly one week ago, we had another terrorist attack on our soil. The very next day, the media was telling us two things: “Don’t assume you know the motive, (Hasan happens to be muslim)” and “This happened at Ft. Hood because our Soldiers are under a lot of stress after many years of war”.

In other words, you cannot think for yourself, so allow us to connect the dots. You must connect the dots in this manner: “The attack had nothing to do with our Global War on Terror (GWOT), fought entirely against radical muslims, and the American Soldier cannot handle the stress of that very war.” As more facts come out, we know the first part of that assumption is just not true – it had EVERYTHING to do with the GWOT!

As a Soldier, I can also tell you that the second part of this is an incorrect conclusion. True Soldiers will accomplish any mission you put in front of them, as long as the intent is clear. As defined by the Global War On Terror (GWOT), Soldiers know there is a radical enemy whose intent is to destroy our country and our way of life. We know it is our job to stop them, and we want the freedom of maneuver to accomplish that. We have been facing this war daily for over eight years now, and we want to win this war for the American people. We want to SUCCEED!

In order to succeed: We need the American people to recognize that we are at war and not back down from that fact. We need the American people to recognize the enemy and that they are on our soil. We need the American people to contemplate what could happen next in an American city, if this could happen on an Army Post. We need the American people to demand leadership which will stop denying that the enemy is on our own soil. We need the American people to demand leadership which will stop being politically correct. Political correctness is killing us as a nation.

One week ago as a nation, we received another resounding wake-up call – one reminiscent of Pearl Harbor and 9-11. It was a reminder that there is a domestic enemy living among us. Because of this fact, the American Soldier must remain vigilant, and not accept complacency. Asking the American people not to connect the dots and avoid conclusions is the same as asking the American Soldier to stop being vigilant and start being complacent.

I believe the attitude of being vigilant falls in line with God’s Word. In 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) God’s Word says to first:

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

We still rely on Him, and cast all our cares at His feet. After all, God is the Ultimate Defender and Protector. He has already claimed the victory through the resurrection of Jesus Christ and He will win the Final Battle against the devil. But listen to what it says in verses 8-9:

"Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are."

As Soldiers we take an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. On 31 October, I was sharing this fact at a Men’s Breakfast at our church. I was attempting to stress the importance of not allowing the devil to reside within you; not letting him be a domestic enemy. As I was doing so, off script, I said, “Knowing that I took that oath, what would you think if I told you I worked all day as a Soldier, then went home at night and called up Osama, asking, ‘What is Al Qaeda’s plan? What do you need me to do for you?’” I was saying that to make a point, about allowing sin in our life, after surrendering our life to Jesus Christ - essentially taking an oath to follow Him. But also to make the point that compromising with the other side calls into question your allegiance to the Constitution and the Nation. If so would that oath to the Constitution be taken with any integrity or honor?

And then, 3 days later, on the evening of Tuesday, 3 Nov, I was telling some friends that I just kept getting thoughts that an attack was imminent. I thought it would be more personal, against my family, and I was concerned about my church. I saw it as more of a spiritual attack from the devil. For me, as a Soldier, when you attack Soldiers, it is personal. You are attacking my family.

Personally, it’s a little eerie to me that an illustration that I used to show an extreme instance of dishonesty is now evident in the events of 5 Nov at Ft. Hood, TX. And, it gives me all the more reason to state the truth: what happened at Ft. Hood was an attack against the United States and our Constitution. It was an act of war by a domestic enemy, and unfortunately by someone who proved to be a traitor to that which he swore to bear true faith and allegiance. It was another battle within what has been labeled as the GWOT. We cannot afford to dismiss that, or fail to recognize it truthfully. Failure to recognize it is denial, and denial will only serve to invite more “new violence” from our enemies. I pulled the following from the book, On Combat, by LTC Dave Grossman:

Gavin de Becker puts it like this in Fear Less, his superb post-9/11 book, which should be required reading for anyone trying to come to terms with our current world situation:

"..denial can be seductive, but it has an insidious side effect. For all the peace of mind deniers think they get by saying it isn’t so, the fall they take when faced with new violence is all the more unsettling. Denial is a save-now-pay-later scheme, a contract written entirely in small print, for in the long run, the denying person knows the truth on some level."

And so the Warrior must strive to confront denial in all aspects of his life, and prepare himself for the day when evil comes.

You see, the more we deny, the more “new violence” we will experience. The more “new violence” experienced, the more “unsettling” will be the next “tragedy”. If we do not break the cycle, that “tragedy” will suffer the same denial of not being labeled as terrorism or an act of war. It becomes a vicious spiral, increasing exponentially, continuing to lead our country to a politically correct abyss in the heart of darkness. If you look back in history, this same spiral of events led to 9/11.

Then I speak of God
And I speak of faith
And the truth that will not bend
Of how compromise destroys this land
That they died to defend
Of how manhood starts
On bended knees
With a humble heart
With but One to please
Then to stand and fight
And act as men
And by this we will remember them

- Excerpted from The Stone
words by R.P. Edwards

Warriors, will we confront denial? Will we be prepared for the day when evil comes? Will We Remember?

Why a Mission?

2009-11-02T05:38:00.007-06:00

Ok, so this blog is new and I’m sure that in the vast ocean of blogs, it’s merely a drop. Perhaps as you read this, you’re asking yourself, “Why does the world need another blog?” I know I was asking myself that when the thought first entered my mind at the beginning of this year. (Yes, I know it’s November already!)

Well, when I ask questions, I like to first pose them to God and see what His response is. God, what would be the purpose of my blog? On August 21, while worshipping at my church’s Downpour event, I heard back: “Get focused when you know you are headed into battle. Apply the Warrior Ethos to Spiritual Living.”

The first part of the Warrior Ethos is “I will always place the Mission first.” I knew God wanted me to focus more intently on placing His Mission first. I get more accomplished when I approach all of life as a Mission. Life can be seen as a series of Missions. Some last a lifetime; others are completed in the course of an hour or a day.

A Mission is defined as this: an operational task, usually assigned by a higher headquarters, or, an operation designed to carry out the goals of a specific program. In life, God is the Higher Headquarters. He designed the entire Operation. His Specific Program is the Ultimate Goal.

That night God was saying to me, “The times in your life when you felt bored, were impatient, and generally lacked purpose and direction, it was because you were not focused on the Mission I had for you. That is why you suffered defeat. Focus on me and I will give you a Mission, and it will be a great Adventure.”

When God asks you to go on a Mission, How can you refuse?

Are you a Warrior?

2009-10-17T11:00:00.005-05:00

I am a Warrior. I have a Mission:

Listen to the Father's Voice. Fight the Battle. Rescue the Beauty (for me, her name is Mindy).

With her at my side, I will live the Adventure!