CHARACTER

Want To Be A Person Of Character?

Say the Same Thing About A Person When You Close The Door

As You Did To Their Face.

Only You and God Will Know The Difference....

Retreat! 1700hrs

The group of these civilian dressed soldiers are really me and several other Chaplains on our way to dinner. The reason we are standing around that car is because it is 1700hrs.

What that really means is that it's 5:00pm and the flag is being lowered. When we hear the bugle play "retreat" we are to stop whatever we are doing and stand at attention and face the direction of the music or the flag if it's in sight and render respect.

We happened to be on our way to dinner when we heard the bugle play, so we stopped the car and got out and since we are NOT in uniform we just stood at attention until the music stopped.

If we would have been in uniform we would have had to salute.

By the way, on another note, that is the rental car I was issued. A 2007 Chevy Malibu. Very nice and comfortable. It will be hard to go back to the Astro Van, but then again I would have a tough time letting Coda ride in a 2007 Chevy Malibu.

-John

Going Home - Coming Home

Today is Wednesday and I can almost taste the fresh Idaho air. Everything is shaping up for my departure from Fort Jackson here in South Carolina and on Friday evening I will be in Twin Falls and I can't wait.

I have had the most tremendous time with these Godly Chaplains as the Cadre have worked to develop us as the next phase of the Army's finest.

We have no doubt developed relationships that will last the rest of our lives. I don't know if we will see each other again on this side of heaven but I do know that while I will be doing what God has called me to do in Idaho, they will be working to do a similar task in a whole other part of the world.

"Rick" has been one of these men. He is a published author of a great book for pastors/ministers. He has been a true friend and I think the world of him and what God has called him to do.

I did have a chance to meet his family and even spend some time walking the mall and having dinner with them a couple of times. They are really a blessed support system to him more than he knows. They are visibly proud of their Chaplain-Dad/Husband, and it is really cool to see them watch him.

His first posting will be abroad with his entire family, and I have not seen a more eager group to leave home and live on the other side of the globe. Thanks for being my friend "Rick".

There are equally many more with similar stories and goals of serving the King. I am humbled to be counted among these Godly Chaplains, and I also amazed once again that God has graciously called me to this great task. Pray for me.

-John

I Didn't Need That Anyway!

Evidently there are few body parts that a person can get along without. The Gall Bladder is on that list, and it is no longer in my body.

Yup, The Dr. said he was in favor of removing mine since it was a little on the 'angry-side'.

It all began on Wednesday of this week: I attended a commander's briefing during my lunch break for a "Prayer Breakfast" coming up at the end of Phase One.

After the meeting, I realized I didn't have enough time to go back to my room and prepare a lunch, so I took the easy way out and zipped over to Burger King.

I don't know if I consider that providence or the straw that broke the camel's back, but it set into motion an event in my life that is of grand proportion.

The Double Whopper with Cheese and Extra Large Fries and 44oz Dr. Pepper sat at the top of my 'gut' for the rest of the afternoon.

It literally felt like it was stuck in my stomach and it began to hurt a whole lot. That evening our platoon went for a 'Run' for extra PT and it started to feel a little better.

But, later on that night the pain came back and by then it was getting worse and it wouldn't go away. I couldn't sleep and the pain in my belly made the rest of my body ache.

By 2230hrs (10:30pm) I was in the hospital telling the ER Doctor my story and the rest is history. After several tests and some X-Rays, she recommended that I receive an Ultra Sound the next morning and it was at that time they discovered my Gall Bladder was full of stones.

By then I had seen three doctors and they were all were saying the same thing. Surgery!

By Thursday afternoon I was in surgery and by dinner time that night I was waking up in a room with several Chaplains standing around my bed smiling and wanting to pray with me.

Today is Monday and I have to admit that I have no idea where the weekend went. But this is what I do know:

• I only stayed in the hospital one night.
• I was checked out the next morning by 9:00am.
• I know that I went back to my room and did as much sleeping as possible.
• I think I remember going to Church on Sunday morning.
• I don't remember Sunday afternoon or evening (very well).
• I spent all day on Monday (today) in class. (I'm pretty sure).
• I took a test today (and I passed).
• I did a Commander's Briefing this afternoon (and I passed)
• I attended a Platoon Dinner in honor of those students leaving after Phase One.
• I recall coming into my room about an hour ago and sat down to finally write in my BLOG.

Other than that, I don't remember much. LOL

God is good. It is amazing how His timing is perfect. Through His providence, I was able to extend my time at Chaplain School to include these past two weeks.

Had I eaten the Whopper in Twin Falls, I would be laying in a hospital in Idaho and I would be paying my share of the hospital bills and not allowing my dear Uncle Sam to pick up the bill 100%. Thank You Lord! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Plus when it comes to my Gall Bladder, "I Didn't That Anyway!"

-John

Friends from All Over

God has truly blessed me with a whole new set of friends. Some of these men are the Godliest men I have known. They show a deep desire to be in the thickest of situations meeting the spiritual needs of soldiers under the direst of conditions.

I don't think it's because they are Hero-Wanna-Be's; I believe most of our Chaplains are here because God has called them to be Chaplains. Think about it, these are a bunch of preachers.

I am told that according to a new standard and formula, Chaplains should be able to predict how frequently we will be "DOWN RANGE" -this is Army talk for being in combat.

The formula for National Guard works out to be once every 2 1/2 years. Yes, that's what I said.

For me this may be a little different since I am still a "Chaplain-Candidate". Candidates are non-deployable assets until they complete Chaplain School and their educational requirement. I am about 33 hours into my 92 hour M-Div (Master of Divinity). Additionally, I won't be back to finish CH-BOLC until sometime in 2008.

I am also a 2nd LT; Chaplains have to be at least a 1st LT. This takes at least 2 years - time and grade for the promotion as well as completion of the educational requisite. So for now know, you're stuck with me.

I do want to say thank you however, You as a church as well as family and friends have been completely supportive through my application process. I have felt nothing but your encouragement and the occasional question of concern sandwiched in support.

This would be so difficult knowing that I didn't have your backing and especially your time on your knees.

Blessings,

-John M

End of Initial Phase

Friday morning marked a bit of a milestone. Our class completed the intial phase of Chaplain school. "CIMT" (Chaplain Initial Military Training)

We marked it by a modified version of our normal PT. (Physical Training) We played competitive Ultimate Frizbee Football. From the picture above it may look like we were there at night because of the stadium lights, but actually it was 5:30 in the morning. We really did have a good time. Some of these Chaplains are very competitive.

We have the weekend off and we start back on Monday morning with "Phase 1" or otherwise known as "Death By Powerpoint". We spend a lot of time in the classroom during this next two weeks drinking from the Fire-hose of Army knowledge, so pray for me to drink it up and stay awake.

-John M

Back From The Field

I have had the most glorious three days I have had in some time in God's beautiful creation.

Our Class arrived back for three intense and "Fun-Filled" days of building soldier skills and applying what we have learned in the classroom.

Yes we did a lot of crawling in the dirt:

Yes we also did our share of building team:

And we even did what came natural: (Sleep)

But all in all we had a great time. And despite feeling like an 80 year-old at a track meet, I have had truly been blessed by the comradery of the future Chaplains I am training with.

We are currently enjoying a 3 day weekend and I am spending most of my free-time working on "Homework". You heard me right: We have homework assignments while we are here and those keep us quite busy with research when we're not in the classroom or on the range.

...

I think that's The Snoopy Dance:

DISCLAIMER!

I have been asked to remove all reference to names and locations and dates of all the soldiers pictured in my BLOG.

I will also be going back and making a few changes to some previous entries.

So please do me a favor, if you read any of my previous BLOG entries and remember names, dates, and locations, then please delete these from your memory banks or I will be forced to disavow any knowledge of you when the men in black suits come to get you.

Thanks

Signed: ...secretagentyouknowwho...