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| So its been awhile... Been having a great summer. I spent three weeks down at Hurlburt Field, FL doing some SpecOps stuff, then went home three weeks. Now I'm back here as an instructor for Basic Training. So far it has been an awesome experience, and I'm learning alot about leadership. I'll try to post some pics when I get a chance. Hooyah! | | |
| Finals start this week...24 hours of testing in a few days should be a good time. If you get a chance, send up a prayer or two for me. | | |
| I guess its been awhile...alot has been going on the past few weeks. School has been pretty rough, but only three more weeks 'till finals. This weekend we had our UCI, meaning lots of inspections, PT tests, and a sweet road march. I've been able to witness to a couple of people over the past month. I've known Steve since BCT, and almost every time I see him now he asks alot about Christianity. He's one of the smartest people I know but is very cynical about religion, but has alot of questions. Michelle is one of the girls that I'm responsible for in my element, and is a devout Catholic. As far as values and morals go, I have more in common with her than most people up here. But she didn't understand when I told her I was "Saved". She thinks that if you live a good life and follow the practices of the Catholic church that you might go to Heaven, but no one can know for sure. So I was able to show her some Scriptures that really made her think. Then I asked her if she read her Bible, and she said no. So I encouraged her to read the Bible, and now she reads it everyday. She still asks alot of questions, so I'm sure it'll be a long process. So please pray that Steve and Michelle that they will hear the truth and respond to it. This week I heard that instead of going to Airborne School I might go to Air Assault School at Ft. Drum, NY. So instead of jumping from C-130s, I might be fast-roping and rappeling from helicopters. Either one sounds good to me... | | |
| Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all. | | |
| Had a great Spring Break, now back to work. Here's a devotional my friend sent to a few of us up here: Have you ever been in a situation where you hear about someone having a problem with you, but they never come and talk to you about it. That would drive me nuts! My personality cannot stand having someone upset with me or mad at me. If that happened I would be compelled to go and try to fix whatever the issue was. As Christians though, it can be so difficult to win favor with the rest of the people around us. This can be due to many things, but I believe that hypocrisy in the Church is something that turns many people away from Christianity. If we could go straight back to the beginning of the Church as spoken of in Acts Chapter 2, I think we might see a change. Take a look at verses 46-47, "And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved." I love the excitement that comes from that verse….especially the part about having favor with all the people. Now in the end who should be more concerned about…finding favor with God or with men? The answer is always God. The point here is that the people SAW these early Christians living like Christians are called to live….in brotherly love…lifting one another up….praising God….studying the Word….being in the world but not of the world. In today’s world…what differences do you see in yourself or other believers compared to the rest of the secular world around us? Are there any differences? A friend sent me a great quote yesterday from Ghandi that said: "If Christians simply acted like Christians there would be no need for other religions." I thought that was interesting. Another quote from DC Talk says, "The biggest problem with Christianity today are Christians who praise God with their lips but deny Him with their lifestyles." Friends, the world is watching each and every one of us….what do they see? I challenge us today to take a close look at our lives and really begin to really LIVE the life we are called to live. It is freedom….it is joy….and it is most importantly lived with HIM! Have a wonderful day! | | |
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