The Process

Here we are. For some reason the Army doesn't like my gall stones. I don't know why. But I am in the process of working that out.

The good news! I thought, for some crazy reason, that I would have to go to Phase One, the first six weeks of Officers Basic for Chaplains, before I could take part in other potential Chaplain training. See, as a Chaplain Candidate, I can work up to 45 days a year as a "shadow" of Active Duty Chaplains. And I get paid! Well, I just assumed that I would have to go and learn all the Army protocol stuff before they would allow me to do this. I was wrong. I don't have to go to Phase One before doing this "shadowing." That is Great! You see, I would really would like to apply to do what is called, Introductory CPE, with the Army. That is Clinical Pastoral Education, (more acronyms) CPE is hospital chaplain training. Introductory CPE is a short 10 week course that is available to Chaplain Candidates at a couple Army Hospitals. I am hoping to apply to this course which takes place from January to March at Fort Sam Houston. I am excited to know that as long as I eventually get through MEPS, I could apply to this without having to worry about Phase One right now!

Anyway, this is a definite praise for my process. It gives me hope that I can still start my military career even if I don't go to CHOBLC this summer! That is exciting. Now, we are praying that I get through this physical. I don't think anything is really wrong with me, but I have to get through MEPS before anything else can happen. Fortunately, God's timing is perfect! We know that whatever He has in store for Katie and I is better than anything we could dream up. We'll continue to wait on Him, the Author and Perfecter of our faith.

Rob

Research

I'm in the process of completing a research project for my masters degree. It is called a "culmination project" but is kind of like a thesis. The goal is to do some new research that will be applicable to my ministry in the future.

I have been working on this on and off for the whole school year. My focus is basically looking at three different types of pastoral education; the seminary, the Bible College, and the local church or denominational training program and comparing them looking for the positive and negative aspects of each. After surveying four church programs, six seminaries, and three Bible colleges, I am convinced that each have their place for training up pastors. Now I get to look at the specifics of each and look for the positive and negative aspects of each type of training model. It has been quite fun but I am really looking forward to getting it completed. I have to turn in a rough draft sometime in the next couple weeks. That's not a problem because I have a lot of work already finished, I just have to analyze it and document it. It will be fun.

Why is this applicable to me? I believe that some day in my life of ministry, I will be a part of training up pastors for the ministry. I don't know when or what that looks like, but I wanted to look at different types of training models so I could both counsel people as they wrestle with their call to ministry and how to get their training and so I could figure out which would probably be the best fit for my gifts and talents. We'll see how God uses this. It will be interesting.

Updates on the Chaplaincy: Well, I'm still waiting on MEPS. I have everything completed that I can do to get my packet before the board which I am still hoping happens in April. I am just waiting to hear back on whether or not I need a waiver or a consult for my medical issues. In the mean time, I am trusting that God will open and close doors as He sees fit. I have probably called the recruiter every other day. Just want to make sure I don't take a back seat.

Rob

Waiting

Kind of a challenging day. More challenging than someone living on the street with no food? Absolutely not! But my God even cares about my seemingly insignificant challenges. I am working this chaplaincy thing to the core and I know I need to just chill out and let God take over. I think I have done just about everything I can do before I actually get my MEPS physical. So, until the Army says they want me, I just have to rest in God's timing. Not an easy thing for me to do. But it is vital that I allow God to control this process. Wherever we end up, it is important that I continue to learn the importance of waiting on my God. I am thankful for his patience as he walks with me every day.

Acts 8:26-40
Reading in the book of Acts tonight. God led Philip out of a great revival to share the message of Jesus with one man on his way back home. What an amazing God I serve. He will lead me to the place he wants me. Until then, may I have the attitude of a servant so He can use me right where I am.

Rob

The Root of my Calling

The title of my blog is Rob's Calling. But I want anyone who happens upon this little blog amidst the massiveness of the world wide web to understand the basis of this call.

It is a relationship. It is not a religion. It is not just a faith group labeled by sociologists. It is a relationship with the living God. I've recently begun reading The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer. Oh my! I strongly encourage anyone to pick it up. Anyway, I can't comment on the whole of it yet, because I have only begun the book, but I can comment on the first couple pages. The first line of the book is powerful. Tozer writes, "Christian theology teaches the doctrine of prevenient grace, which, briefly stated, means that before man can seek God, God must first have sought the man." Do you know what this means? The God of all creation seeks to have a relationship with me. Not because I am good. Not because I have anything of value accept that I am his child. You see, the root of my calling is based on my relationship with God through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because without Jesus, my imperfection separates me from a perfect God. But because of my faith in Jesus as the perfect sacrifice, God no longer sees my screw ups, he sees Jesus. And as a result, I can fellowship with him!

I wanted to write this tonight because I am constantly amazed at the blessings I have in knowing him. I have been a follower of Christ for 21 years. And the fact that God loves me and wants to walk with me daily still blows me away.

Let me encourage you that if you are also a follower of Christ, continue to seek him and build on the relationship you already have. If you are not a follower of Christ, I encourage you to pursue God. Don't get tripped up by religion, just pursue Jesus.

Making a Mess

Have you ever noticed how cleaning sometimes makes more of a mess than it was before? Well, today I am cleaning my little office, reorganizing my files, (which is way overdo) and throwing a ton of junk in the trash. I am basically going through all my folders from my grad. school classes thus far and am trying to organize all the information I got in those great classes.

It's interesting how the Army has changed in the past few years. When I first started praying about the Army Chaplaincy, I would have been required to get an Masters of Divinity and have two years of pastoring after graduation before I could apply for active duty. Now, for I'm sure many reasons, an Army Chaplain needs only 72 graduate level hours with a certain number of hours in five different categories. And in regards to the two years of service after graduation: the Army is willing to waive it if the Endorsing Denomination says the person has sufficient experience. Not that I am against school, but it's interesting how things change. The school I am attending, Huntington University Graduate School of Christian Ministries does not have an MDiv. And while in no way would I criticize anyones particular educational process, I have loved my educational experience. My MA in Pastoral Ministries is only 42 hours, so I need another 30 to fulfill the Army requirements. I will probably take some online courses to fill some of the slots in the five categories I mentioned earlier and focus on taking some extra counseling courses at my current school to prepare for the many opportunities for counseling I'm sure I will have in the Army. I still have to talk to the recruiter about this possibility. But, if it all works out, and if the Lord opens the doors, I hope to be done by next spring or summer. We'll see.

As far as ministry experience. God has given my wife and I a number of amazing ministry opportunities, from church planting to jail ministry. It has been good and I can honestly look back and be thankful that God gave me these experiences before my wife and I went full force into the process of joining the Army.

It has been and will continue to be an amazing adventure as we daily walk with our loving God.

MEPS

MEPS is an acronym. The Army is full of them. It stands for Military Entrance Processing Station. Anyway, they are located all around the country. Basically it is the most intense physical out there. I can't imagine the NFL conducts physicals like the ones at MEPS. Anyway, I was supposed to make my trip to MEPS physical today, but because of "possible gall stones" I was told to stay home. Now my records get sent to another doctor who decides if I need a consult from a surgeon. If he says I do, then hopefully it will happen quickly. If not I should be able to get to MEPS more quickly. A waiver basically says, "Hey, this thing you were worried about, well don't." So, thus begins the process. I honestly don't know what to think. I must admit I was really frustrated last night, but the Lord has calmed me down. I am trusting in His leading. Hopefully I will end up at MEPS sometime next week. We'll see.

By the way for those of you who are interested, my goal is to get all my paperwork in so I can be presented as a potential Chaplain Candidate by the time the April Boards meet. That way, I can hopefully attend CHBOLC this summer in Fort Jackson, SC. (More on that later.)

Feel free to check back. I will be adding options to this blog as time goes on. This is a first attempt for me, so it will take time.

Rob

First Entry

Here it is! The first entry of my blog. I don't imagine anyone will read this quite yet, but hey, it's a start. I guess I should introduce myself.

I am the husband of pretty much the most beautiful woman in all of creation!,
I am the father of one, but soon two,
I am a pastor,
I am starting the process to becoming an Army Chaplain.

It will be an exciting time. I hope to share about it here. And if God closes the door to this amazing ministry opportunity, I know there is something else out there that he wants to do my life.