I attended an evening Taize service recently in a Catholic Church in the Terre Haute area. It was wonderful and I plan to go back.
As I sat down, I immediately noticed that the large crucifix had just the feet of Jesus illuminated. I thought, "that is odd, is today some special feast day recalling the annotating the feet of Jesus and thus they have a special light affixed on his feet?"
I didn't think much about it until I later looked up and saw the light had traveled up his leg and pretty soon it was on his stomach. I thought, "these Catholics have a very dynamic lighting system!"
It wasn't until the end of worship when the light had traveled up to his heart that I realized that I was in an East facing sanctuary and the light traveling up Jesus was actually the sun going down behind me and coming in a window!
Knowing Church architects, I don't put it past them to have designed it for this very purpose. It was a beautiful sight to behold.
It is an even greater truth to behold...the more we participate in good worship, the more the heart of Jesus Christ is illuminated in our life.
As my wife would say, "that will preach!"
Monday, September 30, 2019
Church Mantra
I think most of us like easy to remember phrases to help us remember the purpose of something.
What do you think about this for the Church:
Show up
Plug in
Move out
What do you think about this for the Church:
Show up
Plug in
Move out
Sight Psalms
From a new devotion I have been using comes this suggestion:
https://www.upperroom.org/sight_psalms
It offers amazing pictures and a Scripture or other thought to help focus.
Try it!
https://www.upperroom.org/sight_psalms
It offers amazing pictures and a Scripture or other thought to help focus.
Try it!
Homework
As previously mentioned, I have assigned myself Church homework so that I continue to be a faithful disciple and leader even while not actively serving as a local Church pastor.
I have started here: https://www.seeallthepeople.org/resources-downloads/ All of these resources are FREE!!
I am currently reading and working through "Prayer Practices for Disciples." Great stuff.
I have started here: https://www.seeallthepeople.org/resources-downloads/ All of these resources are FREE!!
I am currently reading and working through "Prayer Practices for Disciples." Great stuff.
First Day
With a equally heavy heart and a grateful heart, I left Churubusco yesterday and have reported for "zero day"...the day before my orders officially begin for fiscal year 2020. There are things I need to do today on this last day of the fiscal year so I can hit the ground running tomorrow.
Wow...CUMC sent me off in a wonderful fashion. I appreciate the care packages, the hugs and the promises of future prayers.
This next part is especially for our Lay Leader Amy Motter...yes I have assigned myself Church homework that I plan to do during my free time in order to keep learning about leading an effective Church in our time away.
Wow...CUMC sent me off in a wonderful fashion. I appreciate the care packages, the hugs and the promises of future prayers.
This next part is especially for our Lay Leader Amy Motter...yes I have assigned myself Church homework that I plan to do during my free time in order to keep learning about leading an effective Church in our time away.
Friday, September 27, 2019
Golden Ticket
I spent a recent Sunday morning waiting in a long line to give my required "golden flow" sample for a military drug test. My observer was not happy to be spending his day watching guys do our thing at the urinal. He yelled at me because I didn't wash my hands before procuring the sample!
I realized that with all our "blouses" (outer shirt of our uniform) off we looked about the same. No rank, not even any names. For a brief moment I felt a unity knowing we were all attempting to do our best to get through something we didn't want to do.
It was not lost on me that this encounter of unity happened on the Lord's Day. And although I would formally worship that afternoon in our Protestant service that I led, I did realize that there are many times I sit in worship at Church and don't feel this same level of unity.
Maybe mandatory urinalysis testing is the ticket!?!?!?!?
I realized that with all our "blouses" (outer shirt of our uniform) off we looked about the same. No rank, not even any names. For a brief moment I felt a unity knowing we were all attempting to do our best to get through something we didn't want to do.
It was not lost on me that this encounter of unity happened on the Lord's Day. And although I would formally worship that afternoon in our Protestant service that I led, I did realize that there are many times I sit in worship at Church and don't feel this same level of unity.
Maybe mandatory urinalysis testing is the ticket!?!?!?!?
Army Strong
I was recently at a combined Army and Air Force Chaplain training. Most of it was a combination of classroom lectures and small group discuss. We did spend a morning on an Army "conditioning course." Elements that made me remember of terror of Jr. High gym class!
Obstacles such as a low crawl, rope climbs, cargo netting, jumping up and rolling over a large horizontal pole awaited us. And we were expected to run from station to station. This Air Force guy had only done anything like this once and that was at basic training.
It was obvious from my Army colleagues that they had spend much time on courses such as this. I was very impressed with Chaplains older than me mastering these elements. I was put to shame!!
Confession...before that day I had some pretty crass assumptions and opinions about Army Chaplains. Not any more! Wow, was I impressed. I have a new high level of respect for my Army colleagues. But I will stay blue none-the-less!
I realized how easy it is to have a closed mind about someone I hadn't taken the time to really get to know.
Obstacles such as a low crawl, rope climbs, cargo netting, jumping up and rolling over a large horizontal pole awaited us. And we were expected to run from station to station. This Air Force guy had only done anything like this once and that was at basic training.
It was obvious from my Army colleagues that they had spend much time on courses such as this. I was very impressed with Chaplains older than me mastering these elements. I was put to shame!!
Confession...before that day I had some pretty crass assumptions and opinions about Army Chaplains. Not any more! Wow, was I impressed. I have a new high level of respect for my Army colleagues. But I will stay blue none-the-less!
I realized how easy it is to have a closed mind about someone I hadn't taken the time to really get to know.
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Teachers
My mainstay daily devotion is a book called "Openings." I love it!
One of the exercises recently was to think about who my teachers are in my "University of Life."
I will probably come back to this list as my thinking evolves in this area.
My current list of who teaches me:
Music--Marti...vocal performance major at Northwestern, sang the National Anthem as a Cubs game, can play the piano like nobody else!
Ministry--Rev. Charles Curtis. Teacher of my Confirmation class. Pastor to my family during some dark times. Always available to encourage and challenge me. And we were roommates together on a pilgrimage we made to the Holy Land when I was in Jr. High (I know, I know...the early 80s had different rules...our Safe Sanctuary policy today would not allow this!). He helped me remember my Baptism in the Jordan River and it was at that point I knew that I was being called to be an Elder in the UMC.
Theology--Rev. Dr. Brian Witwer. No better Wesleyan thinker than Brian. I learned so much in the 12 years I worked with him at Aldersgate.
Running--Team Hoyt; read about them here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Hoyt
Military Chaplaincy--Ch (Col) Greg Clapper (retired). My first Wing Chaplain. A great balance between "pastor" and "officer"
My knucklehead tendencies--no experiences are ever wasted if we allow them to teach us to become better...I must be a slow study, but I am making progress!
My sister Kathy and brother Kenneth--they suffered much and died way too young. Life is tenuous.
My sons Josh and Nathan--they have and continue to teach me about myself and offered me a whole new perspective on the world.
Rev. Sue Laurie--with grace and persistence, she tremendously helped me overcome my homophobia and made me realize the love of God equally loves all...period.
One of the exercises recently was to think about who my teachers are in my "University of Life."
I will probably come back to this list as my thinking evolves in this area.
My current list of who teaches me:
Music--Marti...vocal performance major at Northwestern, sang the National Anthem as a Cubs game, can play the piano like nobody else!
Ministry--Rev. Charles Curtis. Teacher of my Confirmation class. Pastor to my family during some dark times. Always available to encourage and challenge me. And we were roommates together on a pilgrimage we made to the Holy Land when I was in Jr. High (I know, I know...the early 80s had different rules...our Safe Sanctuary policy today would not allow this!). He helped me remember my Baptism in the Jordan River and it was at that point I knew that I was being called to be an Elder in the UMC.
Theology--Rev. Dr. Brian Witwer. No better Wesleyan thinker than Brian. I learned so much in the 12 years I worked with him at Aldersgate.
Running--Team Hoyt; read about them here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Hoyt
Military Chaplaincy--Ch (Col) Greg Clapper (retired). My first Wing Chaplain. A great balance between "pastor" and "officer"
My knucklehead tendencies--no experiences are ever wasted if we allow them to teach us to become better...I must be a slow study, but I am making progress!
My sister Kathy and brother Kenneth--they suffered much and died way too young. Life is tenuous.
My sons Josh and Nathan--they have and continue to teach me about myself and offered me a whole new perspective on the world.
Rev. Sue Laurie--with grace and persistence, she tremendously helped me overcome my homophobia and made me realize the love of God equally loves all...period.
De-stressing
Some have asked who will care for me. This is the age-old question of how does the care giver receive care? Since most of my day will be spent in a top secret vault caring for Airmen that are doing top secret things, I am not sure what my specific care plan will look like.
I do know that there are at least 4 ways I plan to look after myself:
1) This blog. Thanks for reading. Being "forced" to process parts of my deployment will be helpful. Side note: I have blogged before from other deployments and training I have been sent to. If you are really interested I can let you know where to find those entries.
2) Middle School basketball officiating (when my schedule allows)! In a prior life I was a basketball official for several years and was honored to worked at the Division One men's college basketball level for a few years even. I have not worked a formal game since Feb., 2007...but I have missed it and am looking forward to getting back out on the court.
3) Serving as a volunteer chaplain at the Terre Haute Federal prison. This is long shot. I have made myself available to do what I can to help. Not sure if this will pan out, but I am ready to do what I can when/if that time comes.
4) Getting into better physical shape. The 181st has a very nice gym with lots of equipment that is open 24/7 and literally across the parking lot from my office. No excuses to get to a healthier place!
What is your self-care plan?
I do know that there are at least 4 ways I plan to look after myself:
1) This blog. Thanks for reading. Being "forced" to process parts of my deployment will be helpful. Side note: I have blogged before from other deployments and training I have been sent to. If you are really interested I can let you know where to find those entries.
2) Middle School basketball officiating (when my schedule allows)! In a prior life I was a basketball official for several years and was honored to worked at the Division One men's college basketball level for a few years even. I have not worked a formal game since Feb., 2007...but I have missed it and am looking forward to getting back out on the court.
3) Serving as a volunteer chaplain at the Terre Haute Federal prison. This is long shot. I have made myself available to do what I can to help. Not sure if this will pan out, but I am ready to do what I can when/if that time comes.
4) Getting into better physical shape. The 181st has a very nice gym with lots of equipment that is open 24/7 and literally across the parking lot from my office. No excuses to get to a healthier place!
What is your self-care plan?
9X12
I get to move into my 9 feet by 12 feet apartment this week! In addition to the 9X12 living space, I have a galley type kitchen and a regular bathroom.
I will have a bed, desk and a footlocker from my last deployment.
No, there is no housing on base. Yes, I could have rented a larger apartment. This apartment is close to base and seems to be quite. I will not be on vacation and the small living space will force me to not be a hermit and get out into the world.
One upside is that I have all that I will need in one trip in my van! It is a gift to live simply.
This is got me thinking about all the stuff I really don't need but yet I keep for some unknown reasons back home.
I will have a bed, desk and a footlocker from my last deployment.
No, there is no housing on base. Yes, I could have rented a larger apartment. This apartment is close to base and seems to be quite. I will not be on vacation and the small living space will force me to not be a hermit and get out into the world.
One upside is that I have all that I will need in one trip in my van! It is a gift to live simply.
This is got me thinking about all the stuff I really don't need but yet I keep for some unknown reasons back home.
Pre-deployment check list
Each time I have deployed I have had to get several things in order before I could leave. Such things as having a signed will and a solid estate plan in place in case I didn't come back alive. I had to make sure things around the house were as done as possible.
Side note: it is true that things that could go wrong, do seem to go wrong AFTER I leave!
All that to say there are many tangible things to set in place before leaving to do the Nation's business.
But there are also intangible things such has making sure my relationships with family and friends are in order. Are they sure I love them deeply? Have I looked them in the eyes enough to carry me through the separation?
This time around has been different. Yes, the tangible check list is done. But I find myself battling between, "I will just be in Terre Haute so it's no big deal" to "this a a deployment and I have no idea what will really happen."
It is a very funky place to be in. I am trying to make sure I stay present, even though it is literally uncharted territory.
Side note: it is true that things that could go wrong, do seem to go wrong AFTER I leave!
All that to say there are many tangible things to set in place before leaving to do the Nation's business.
But there are also intangible things such has making sure my relationships with family and friends are in order. Are they sure I love them deeply? Have I looked them in the eyes enough to carry me through the separation?
This time around has been different. Yes, the tangible check list is done. But I find myself battling between, "I will just be in Terre Haute so it's no big deal" to "this a a deployment and I have no idea what will really happen."
It is a very funky place to be in. I am trying to make sure I stay present, even though it is literally uncharted territory.
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