Sunday, August 19, 2007

Change of Course

Well, Fort Bliss, Texas was short lived. Way before receiving my official orders to Fort Bliss, I received a phone call from my accessions officer letting me know that the Army has seen fit to put my in Fort Hood.

Fort Hood is still in Texas; and it is the home of the III Corps Major Command, 1st Cavalry Division, and 4th Infantry Division. It is adjacent to Killeen, Texas. Think of it as being in the "heart of Texas."

Of course, chaplaincy is ministry, therefore, one must be flexible in ministry. The Bible teaches that man makes plans, but it is God who orders those steps. Living in the palm of God's hand may at times seem scary, because when you think you've figured out what He is doing, the wind shifts and there is a change of course.

It is of the utmost importance to be constantly in relationship with the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ through the power of prayer. Prayer draws us close to the heart of God and allows us to hear His voice saying, "Fear not, for I am with you." Prayer is part of the cultivation of our relationship with the Living God. It is most definitely not something we do out of duty or rite; rather because we have realized that knowing Jesus is the greatest thing that any human being could ever experience.

So, we are holding on to the mighty hand of God and seeing one Breakthrough after another.





Friday, August 10, 2007

Blissful Start


After all the waiting to know where my first duty station will be, I’ve finally received “the phone call.” My first duty station after CH-BOLC is Fort Bliss, TX. It was not one of the places that I had written down on my wish list. The only location that I had chosen that was in Texas was Fort Hood.

When I broke the news to my wife, she had a similar reaction, “Really?!” When one entrusts their life in the hands of the Almighty God, all one can do is have the faith to believe that it is exactly where God wants them to be. So, with that in mind, my family and I rejoice that we are no longer waiting to know where we are assigned to and that we are in the center of God’s will.

We now begin to focus our prayers and thoughts for the soldiers and their families that are stationed at Fort Bliss. We pray for our eyes to see the opportunities that God will use us to advance the kingdom of God. We pray that the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ will invoke faith and hope. We pray that the glorious power of the Almighty God would be always present, always evident, and always manifested.

Praise the Lord, for a blissful start!