Home

Yes! We are home. It's interesting, because this was really the first true vacation Katie and I have had since we have been married, coming up on nine years. All other vacations have either been weekend jaunts or have been at family's homes. I have come home from weekend trips where I felt like I could have used a little more time away, but this time I came home totally ready to be home. I was really excited to see my son, who was being watched by his grandparents and I was really excited just to be in our house. That being said, the time away was great! The week with friends from The Alliance was refreshing, challenging, and just all around wonderful! I met three new Chaplains who shared about some awesome ministry they had done throughout their careers. I would never have thought that our year of helping a team plant a church would be useful in the Army until a Colonel told me about the three "new" Chapel services he began during his career. And two of them continue to this day! To say we are excited about the coming ministry in the Army is an understatement! If there was one common theme that God was communicating to me it was, "finish well." This lives itself out in being focussed on ministry and not promotions in the army as well as being open to new ministries until the day we die. It was great to see so many men and women who spent thirty or forty years in ministry. One "older" couple, probably in their fifties, was going back to the field! That's what I want for Katie and I. To be open to new adventures until Jesus takes us home.

If God puts it on your heart, we are needing some prayer in regards to my training schedule. I am thinking that it would be wise to go a little more slowly in my classes so I can take advantage of many of the practicums offered by the army. I just have to find out a few things before we make any significant changes. Anyway, we are praying and believing that God will give us wisdom in this.


Rob

Lots Going On

Wow, it's been awhile! Let's just say our lives have been going at full speed for about a week or so now. Last weekend, I graduated from Grad. School. It was a really fun day. Then on Monday, we were scheduled to fly out of Fort Wayne to head to Florida for a vacation. We have been planning this for some time. We were going to rent a car and stay with some friends of the family for four days so we could save a little money, but when we showed up at the bank to get travelers checks on Monday morning, we found out that both of our driver's licenses were expired! Yikes. Well, we called and canceled our rental car and booked extra nights at the hotel. But how do we get from the airport to the hotel? Hmmm. Well, the main reason we headed to Florida was for a C&MA Conference. So I started calling all my contacts to see if anyone could give us a ride from the airport to the hotel. Yes, we could have taken a cab or van, but it would have cost us at least 50$ each way. As I'm calling contacts, a gentleman and his daughter overhear our plight and offer to take us from the airport to our hotel. She is a golfer for Purdue and although she didn't make the tournament, they were coming down to support the girls that made it to the national championship tournament. As of Friday, these were the results. So, we got to our hotel, praise God, and we are enjoying the time with other pastors and leaders of our denomination. By the way, if you have some time either this evening or Saturday evening at 7:00 pm, click HERE to view a live streaming video of the evening service. (You may have to use IE if you are having problems with Firefox not having the appropriate plug-ins.)

Anyway, that is a quick update. I don't know if I'll have access to the net until we get home, because it is like ten bucks a day, but I will update the rest of our week later.


Rob

Time with God

While I graduate this Saturday with my MA in pastoral ministries, I have started taking classes through Liberty University's distance learning program. Part of one of my assignments is to pray for one hour every day for thirty days. I have been waking up at 6:15 to make my coffee and start prayer walking by 6:30. It has been a lot more enjoyable than I originally expected. Don't get me wrong, I am not apposed to spending time with my God, I am just not the most disciplined person. I've spent time praying for my brother-in-law who recently got deployed to Iraq. I have been praying for a good friend who is an Army Chaplain and recently got deployed to Afghanistan. Among other things, I have also been praying for our church. I also try to spend at least ten minutes or so just listening, because I do not believe prayer is a one way street. This morning I was thinking and wrestling with the idea of whether or not it is possible to organize a missional church. Missional, meaning a church that releases people to do ministry without having to manage every person or every ministry. There are certainly missional churches, but I don't quite get how do to release people to do ministry in a missional way while providing some type of organization? It's very important to me because I appreciate organization but I also believe strongly in the priesthood of all believers and want to figure out how to release people to do ministry under an umbrella of an overall vision for ministry. Again, just something I am working through.

On the Chaplain front, my packet of information is just about complete and should go before the board of Chaplains on June 18. After that it will take about a month or so to get my paperwork in order to be commissioned in the Army. After commissioning I will figure out what type of practicums I could do with the Army. We'll see what happens. One cool part of this will be the role my dad will take. As a retired Army Colonel, he will lead me in my oath of office as a Second Lieutenant. It will be really cool!


Rob

Physical Waiver

I got my waiver! Although the whole recruiting team is in San Diego this week, the NCO I've been working with passed on the good news through a short e-mail. I don't know if my packet will be complete before boards for this month, but I am sure I will have everything ready by June. I am really pumped. Thanks to all of your prayers. Katie and I appreciate them.


Rob

All But Graduated

Well, I found out today that I was awarded an A on my culmination project. I was really excited! I also paid my 40 cent fine from the library, whew. Anyway, I am on my way to graduation. The graduation ceremonies are in two weeks. While I am in the midst of another class right now with Liberty, it is really exciting to think about graduation.

In regards to the Army, I have to wait another week. All the recruiters are in San Diego at a recruiters conference. Kind of a bummer, but oh well. I should find out next week whether or not I got my waiver. The real bummer is I was supposed to make sure my background check was properly filled out so my packet could go to the board of Chaplains next week. I guess it wouldn't matter if I don't get a waiver, so I will probably have to wait until the June boards if all goes well with the physical. We'll see.

Rob

God's Sovereignty

We took a step back yesterday in this process of joining the Army, but the door is not shut yet. I was Disqualified by MEPS. Meaning, the Military Entrance Processing Station doctors did not feel I met the medical qualifications to be in the US Army. So, what's next? My medical packet is sent to an Army doctor. He reviews the records and I believe he reviews my potential job function to see if the medical condition will adversely affect my ability to complete my job in any type of location, meaning both in a combat and non-combat situation. He can then either choose to waive my condition and allow me in the Army or he can permanently disqualify me from the Army. All I have to say is, we'll see what God does. I serve a God who created the everything from nothing. If it is His desire I serve in the Army, than I am not going to sit back and worry about it. It will happen. If He, in His infinite wisdom, knows that I will function in the Body of Christ more effectively somewhere else, than who am I to get in the way of God?

Certainly, there will be disappointment since I am still human. But, I am confident of what the Scripture says, He is faithful to complete the work He began in me. I have a pastor friend and mentor who shared with me on the phone the other day. He basically encouraged me that God has way too much invested in my wife and I to have us sit on the shelf. And so, we confidently ask God to continue to lead, knowing that He loves us and has a perfect plan for our lives.

If you are reading this and you are a follower of Christ, I ask that you just take a second and pray for us. Pray that I will be open to the movement of God in our lives, whether that is in the Army as a Chaplain, or as the pastor of a local church, or wherever. I want to serve my God and use my gifts for His glory!

Thanks for reading and thanks for your prayers.

Rob