Whiteboards and Pulpits

Today marked a unique day in my life. I have officially been an Active Duty Army Chaplain for 36 months. Of those 36 months, I also rolled over 20 months deployed. The military Chaplaincy offers a very different approach to ministry. Not only do you shepherd a very small flock most of the time, but you are also a counselor to staff and soldiers within your unit. Counseling sometimes is a formal 'appointment', while more often it tends to be a sitting down in a 'smoke shack' or close seat at chow time, or even a late night knock on the door of my CHU. Therefore to say that I am a formally trained counselor is not really an accurate statement. I like to tell people to think of me as a 'first aid' center on the way to the surgeon, in the realm of counselors. But not to make my job too insignifigant, I have seen many unscheduled "Band Aids" do a great deal of healing. With this in mind, I am wanting to take some of the more common counseling appointments...

(Above Clip, comes from Stars and Stripes Wednesday April 20, 2010.) There is a lot of speculation floating around regarding the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy" (DADT) on how it will effect the military. Obviously, I have great concerns regarding this. I love the Army. I love being so close to a people group that desperately needs to hear more of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is far from easy. The strain on families during a war on two fronts leaves a ministering Chaplain with not the problem of 'who' do I minister to, but more of a ' Out of the multitudes I can minister to, God please direct me." There is a desperate need for a Evangelical presence in the military, if we are truly about reaching ALL people with the Great Commission. The advancing repeal of the policy could possibly prompt an "exodus of many conservative Chaplains". So, as I look ahead at some of the possible ramifications of the repeal of this DADT policy, thes...

Why be an Army Chaplain? How many ministers: 1. Counsel 30+ sessions per month. 2. Go on Retreats quarterly to places like the Alps. 3. Preach your beliefs, your convictions, not fearing the Deacons or an Old Lady who rules the church. 4. Get to workout for 'Work'. 5. 30 days of paid vacation a year. 6. A more than reasonable salary. 7. Have soldiers ask you, "So, Chaplain what is it that you believe?" ALL DAY LONG. 8. Confidently walk around, simply asking, talking, and laughing with individuals about their lives. 9. Ride on top of Tanks going 40 mph down a winding road. 10. Fly on Chinooks, Blackhawks, and other lovely aircraft. 11. Wear the same thing everyday, and love it. (no fashion sense-necessary) 12. Wear a cross, that prompts people everywhere to identify and know you represent Christ to them. I love my job, excuse me, my calling. God truly knows what he's doing. Support your Army Chaplains. Click here to read more about Chaplaincy, if interested.