29 January 2007

SERMON OUTLINE 011--28 JAN 2007

KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING

Epiphany 4
FOB Paliwoda
28JAN07


Scripture
1 Corinthians 13

Timeline
1:10-4:21 Unity of the Church
5:1-6:8 Immorality of certain church members and disputes among fellow Christians
6:9-20 Paul denounces sexual sin
7:1-40 Addressing the issues and problems of marriage
8:1-11:2 Be sensitive to other believers
11:3-14:39 Worship and spiritual gifts
11:17-26 Unifying power of the Lord’s Supper
11:27-34 We must prepare ourselves to receive the body and blood of Christ
12:1-11 The Spirit unites through its gifts…it does not divide
12:12-31 Many members, one body.
13:1 Eloquent but not compassionate
13:2 Prophetic but not wise
13:3 Generous but not genuine
13:4-7 Paul’s definition of love:

Love is patient
Love is kind
Love is humble
Love is considerate
Love is not paranoid
Love seeks truth
Love seeks goodness
Love is hopeful
Love is faithful

13:8 Prophecies, tongues, and knowledge will pass away, but love will remain
13:10 Only the perfect will remain
13:11 It is time to grow up
13:12 We will finally see ourselves as Christ sees us
13:13 Summary: Love is greater than faith and hope
14:1-5 Prophecy is more important than speaking in tongues
14:6-19 Tongues must be interpreted
14:20-25 Tongues are a sign to unbelievers

I. Introduction

    A. Illustration: preparing for our upcoming mission. I was war-gaming with the staff. But as we continued along I discovered that while I knew of the terms I could not fully understand or comprehend what we could or would do.

    B. The church in Corinth was beginning to grow focused on the words than on the content of the Gospel. They were more concerned with what you knew than who you are. Illustration: finding someone to help me at PSB. We tend to make the mistake of equating intelligence with rank.

    C. We need to reclaim love. Love has been so overused that we no longer know what the word means. This is exactly what Paul is doing in this chapter. He educates the church that there is a difference between knowledge (γινώσκω) and understanding (ἐπιγινώσκω).

    D. Illustration: overuse in the incorrect context. We use this as a wedding Scripture without understanding what it is calling us to do. We can only know God and one another when we fully comprehend the sacrifices it takes to sustain a marriage.


II. Idolatry-Ministry Without Love (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

    A. Unfortunately, this is what love is like for too many Christians. It is about the pomp and circumstance of faith, not the day to day discipline of maintaining your witness.

    B. Oftentimes we compete for attention, or we direct our love towards an idol.

    C. Definition of an idol is something that is unchanging and static. We can even make God an idol if we worship the wrong version of Him. We worship idols because we can control them.

    D. Kathleen Norris' Amazing Grace: An Alphabet of Faith (p. 88-90): “Idolatry makes love impossible. It is much safer to love an idol than a real person who is capable of surprising you, loving you and demanding love in return, and maybe one day leaving you.”

    E. Lack of love in the battalion. Illustration: lack of courtesy, or love, in the battalion


III. What Is Christian Love (ἀγαπάω)? (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

    A. What it is not

      1. Unconditional acceptance

      2. Unconditional tolerance

      3. Unlimited bitterness

      4. Arbitrary emotions


    B. How can we love like this? It must be learned. We are learning to do that over here. Illustration: The CNN reporter embedded with the 1st Marine Battalion


IV. Love Lasts (1 Corinthians 13:8-13)

    A. v12: perhaps one of the most undervalued verses in Scripture. We will finally see ourselves as Christ, as God sees us.

    B. Few have been given genuine examples of Christian love. Illustration: for the first time in the history of the census, more women are single than are married.

    C. We see living together as an acceptable alternative to marriage.

    D. Some only see disappointment in love.


V. Conclusion (John 21:15-19)

    A. We can only discover the true meaning of the Gospel by living it out in a community.

    B. This is the secret of evangelism. It is not in great arguments, or shows of emotion, or even demonstrations of miracles…it is in how we love each other, both in and out of the Church.

    C. This type of love is difficult; it should be. Illustration: Stanley Hauerwas stating that we should marry someone we do not know.

    D. Faith and hope find their origins in love. Because we love God, we can love our neighbor and ourselves. Because we love God, we can have faith and hope.



Instrument of Peace

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

--St. Francis of Assisi

DIGIJOURNAL 011--28 JAN 2007

DATELINE: 28JAN07 PB PALIWODA

Dear Friends,

One of the cardinal rules of running a website is that you have to keep it updated. I have violated that rule, but it has not been without reason. Earlier this month we lost one of our soldiers, CPL R. CPL R was a 21 year-old son of missionaries and was the soldier that everyone liked, despite differences in rank, station, and background. It has been devastating for his company and for the battalion. I have been amazed at how the company has come together in support of one another. They were out conducting missions within an hour of his death. I ask that you keep his family, his company, and the battalion in your prayers.

I will try to get everyone caught up on what has been going on in Warhorse-land.

Thought for the Day
Scripture: “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.” 1 Timothy 1:5
Quotation: “In war, it is extraordinary how it all comes down to the character of one man.” General Creighton Abrams

Mouse Jihad
I think we have successfully eradicated the mouse insurgents. Despite our numerous traps, loaded with the enticing bait of peanut butter and placed in strategic locations, we have yet to get a hit in over a month. I think CPL C waged a fairly successful psyop (psychological warfare operations) campaign against the mice. I will not get into it, but he even scared me with his determination. We will continue to keep you and the scoreboard updated. I know you are hanging on every tidbit of news.

Gloom Period
We have entered into the gloom period of the deployment. While we have completed over four months of the deployment, we still have over a half of the deployment to go.

When I was at West Point, the gloom period was used to describe the time between Christmas and Spring Break. The pristine white snow in Central Area became gray slush and eventually turned into a gray iceberg due to all the shoveling. You knew you had a long haul until spring, battling the foes of academics and the indoor obstacle course test (IOCT).

Well, we are experiencing the same type emotions here. We have had fairly regular rainfall, which turns the Iraqi dust into a gloopy mess of mud that gets on and covers everything. Lakes have formed within the various FOBs, and I have mentioned to the Special Forces Team that they should rent out jet skis due to the unusually large lake in front of their villa.

We have also grown weary of each other, especially the quirks and idiosyncrasies that we have tried to overlook but can no longer stand. This is the time to separate the spiritual men from the boys. I have continued to proclaim that we must have patience and forbearance during these times, because we are family whether we like each other or not. For the most part, we peacefully settle our disagreements, but I bet we soon will need a boxing ring for some roommates to handle their “issues.”

Thank You to Our Families
While we are having our trials and tribulations in Iraq, our wives and families are experiencing their own gloom period. At first, there is the initial anxiety (that never goes away) over the deployment. Usually the wives and moms initially have more than enough to do with the adjustment to being a single mom and geographical bachelor-ette. Over time, they grow weary of the daily grind, which tends to happen when you are working in or outside of the home, dealing with bills, playing referee to sibling rivalries, and cleaning up vomit and other excreta that children inevitably produce. So it is understandable that it sometimes gets old when friends and family ask about the husband or father who is downrange without checking in on who is keeping the homefires burning. While it is nice for folks to remind you that your husband is a hero, it would be even better if YOUR hero, when he is not deployed, could pick up his nasty PT gear from the bedroom floor and put it in the laundry basket once in awhile.

Well your faithfulness does not go unnoticed, and I cannot thank the wives enough for keeping their husbands and themselves between the rails so that they can focus on the things here, like keeping their chaplain alive. You remain in my prayers, and we could not do what we do if you did not do what you do.

Finding God on the Battlefield
One of these days (or years), I want to write a book describing all the interesting places that I have seen God at work on the battlefield. Some would think that God is conspicuously absent from combat, but the opposite is true. Since death is an ever-present reality (seminary professors would call this the concept of finitude), God tends to show up quite a bit. I have learned that I make a big mistake when I try to limit where and through whom God works. I have seen God work through the godless, which tends to make me think that there is no such thing as those without some knowledge or experience of the sacred (how Presbyterian of me, and if you do not know what I mean by this, do not worry, for half the Presbyterians do not either [see the Reformed understanding of Providence]). I am truly awed and amazed by what our soldiers do on a daily basis. In the next section I will share with you a personal story about the Spirit at work.

Kathleen Norris, IEDs, and There Is No Such Thing As Luck or Coincidences
About a week after the Memorial Ceremony for CPL R, CPL C (Paul C., my chaplain assistant) and I made our weekly trek down to LSA Anaconda and Patrol Base O’Ryan. The night before, when I was still trying to deny how much CPL R’s crossing into the Promised Land had affected me, I had been going through our library (made possible with your donations) when I came across an old favorite of mine: Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith by Kathleen Norris. Ms. Norris is a poet who returned to the church after decades of wandering in the secular desert. Her book is one of the best compilations of all the important words in the Christian faith and what they mean. So I grabbed the book and decided to reread it.

As CPL C and I were waiting to leave our FOB, I came to her definition of detachment. The way she goes about defining the words is by writing an essay on each one. She talked about detachment as not being without feeling but being free from anxiety since God is in control of our lives and the world. For some reason I found comfort reading this as I sat, folded and very uncomfortable, in the back of the Humvee.

Soon we were rolling, and I placed the book in my cargo pocket and took up looking through the window in order to observe my sector. At about the time I was thinking about how many pastors visit their congregants clothed in Kevlar and traveling in an armored mini-tank, the enemy reminded us why we have the stuff in the first place. An IED (improvised explosive device) detonated 40 meters in front of our vehicle and ten meters behind the one in front of us. Most folks imagine a Hollywood type of pyrotechnical extravaganza when these bombs go off, and sometimes this happens, but not usually and not this time. We responded according to our training, and I looked at Paul with blame in my eye for his bad luck (it was our second time viewing a detonation right in front of us).

Now I could go with the facile explanation that God was looking over us, which I have no doubt He was, but I also think we were blessed with incompetent insurgents. I tend to shy away from the “God protected me because I am important” explanation because I know many soldiers who are better than me that have been hurt or killed by the terrorists. Instead, my detachment comes from the fact that I might have begun to understand that I really do not control very much when it comes to my life. God is in control, not me. While this thought used to bother me when I was 24, it does not seem so bad at 37. It is rather nice to know that I am not responsible for everything, and worrying about future consequences from battles I may never fight does not make me a more effective husband, father, friend, soldier, or chaplain.

Fortunately, no one was hurt, and we continued on our way. The difference this time is that I was more at peace with whatever the future holds instead of worried about it. And I had begun to make peace with the loss of a soldier and the pain of his friends and family. Faith is not a life accessory; it is life itself.

And all this because I tarried (goofed off) at the library made possible by you.

Tracking Boxes
I am trying to do the best I can to keep you posted on what we have received. I think the list is fairly up to date. I must thank my wife for keeping the list and the website going. I am slow, but I usually get to it. The mail has been fairly reliable, so I think most of what you sent has arrived. If you have any questions, please email me.

Closing
Well, it is already late and I must get ready for tomorrow’s missions. I thank you for your continued prayers for our soldiers. They truly are great people. I give thanks every night before I go to bed for what God has done to me through them. I also thank you for your faithfulness and interest in what is really going on over here.


Grace and Truth,
Warhorse Archangel

DISPATCH 011--29 JAN 2007

“Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”

Psalm 31:29

As I have been visiting our soldiers at the different FOBs, it is apparent to me that we are in what some call “the gloom period.” The gloom period is the point in the deployment where, even though we have completed almost four months of it, we realize that more than half of our time remains. It is easy to get depressed, irritable, and frustrated. Unfortunately, instead of each of us finding some way to cope from within ourselves, we at times take it on those around us. The gloom period is a natural and normal phase of a deployment, but can we do something in order to cope?

Before the birth of our first child, one of the things my wife made me promise not to tell her during his delivery was to “suck it up.” I did not (but almost did) tell her that then, and I will not tell it to you now. Instead I suggest that we must start with being aware of what is really causing our problems. Most if not all of us have suffered from misplaced frustration. Since we cannot voice our anger at the source (boss, spouse, co-workers, family members, etc.), we often take it out on those with whom we feel more comfortable. We can behave this way at home, in Iraq, or in both places via the phone and internet. The real issue is that by month four, the newness of the deployment is gone and the complications from it have piled up. The deployment itself is at the heart of the problem, but it is hard to take out our frustrations on an idea rather than a person.

My heart goes out especially to the wives and families back at home, because, during this or any deployment, I believe you have a greater challenge. We stay pretty busy here, and it is easy to watch the day pass when it is filled with mission responsibilities. You, however, while being just as busy, also have to get through the day not knowing exactly what is happening over here. While we might be residing safely inside our FOBs at the moment you think of us, you do know for sure. I think the other problem with having a deployed spouse is that people you meet or talk to immediately begin to ask how your soldier is doing and tend to overlook you. While you appreciate their concern, it has to be difficult to constantly answer how your husband or wife is doing while not having people ask how you are doing. I can picture the thought in your overhead cartoon bubble (my term for what we think but do not say) when someone tells you that your husband is a hero, “Well my hero, when he is home, cannot seem to complete the burdensome task of picking up his dirty socks off the floor and putting them in the laundry basket.” The final hurdle you must face is that those with children never really get a break from being Mommy (or Daddy). Even the busiest soldiers get a little time to themselves, but the Moms and Dads on the home-front are never off the "Mommy-clock."

I chose the Scripture for this dispatch because you are doing well and deserve as much or more honor than we do. I believe that you have made the greater sacrifice. And even in this gloom period of the deployment, you continue to do the things at home that keep us focused on our missions here and their safe conduct. Your efforts have not and do not go unnoticed by your spouses or by God.

One of my prayers for all the family members back home is that in times of great anxiety and frustration that you will discover a sense of God’s grace. You are not going through this alone, and you are not without help. Just as I am often surprised by how and where God is working over here, I know that you will find Him working in and through some of the most difficult situations back at home.

It is during times like these that we develop our wisdom. We can only gain wisdom by patiently enduring during times of trial. We earn it when we are faithful to the promises we have made to God, to each other, and to ourselves. I try to remind our soldiers (in a non-preachy way) that, with the limited amount of time we have in this life, we cannot think of our time in Iraq as a waste. God, through His grace, can use this time to prepare us for the future: preparing us not for our sake, but for others.

I feel blessed by the daily acts of grace I see our soldiers do. God has also blessed me through this deployment by getting to know some of the families that support the great men and women of the Warhorse Battalion. Because of your faithfulness, patience, hope, and fortitude, this time in Iraq has not and will not be a waste. You truly "excel them all."


Gratia et Veritas,
Chaplain Kevin Wainwright

22 January 2007

SERMON OUTLINE 010--21 JAN 2007

POOR RECONNAISSANCE

Epiphany 3
FOB Paliwoda
21JAN07

Scripture
Luke 4:14-30

Timeline
3:21-22 John baptizes Jesus
3:23-38 Genealogy through Joseph
4:1-13 Temptation in the wilderness
4:14-15 Jesus returns to Galilee
4:16-30 Jesus returns to Nazareth, is rejected
4:31-37 Jesus goes to Galilee, begins ministry

I. Introduction

    A. Luke was written by a Gentile for a Gentile audience.

    B. Remember, there was a great deal of persecution of the early Christians by some Jews.


II. Exposition

    A. verses 14-15

      1. Galilee was known to both the Jews and the Gentiles. It was generally understood that the Gentiles lived on the Eastern shore while the Jews in the West. Additionally, there was a great deal of syncretic beliefs, the combining of religions. They were viewed by other Jews as almost non-observant Jews.

      His ministry bore fruit. Many glorified Him. So Jesus was building a reputation as a successful preacher.


    B. verse 16

      1. Nazareth was a hill town approximately 20 miles from Capernaum in Galilee. It was Jesus’ hometown.

      2. “as was His custom” tells us that Jesus was a faithful churchgoer. He was basically attending His family church.

      3. “He stood up to read,” It was a regular custom to have a visiting rabbi read and interpret from the Scriptures. The people must have been very proud knowing that one of their own had taken up the cloth. They must have felt very good about themselves.


    C. verses 17-19

      1. When we hear “opened the book” we need to mentally replace it with unrolling the scroll. Jesus sat behind the pulpit in his hometown church and began to read from Isaiah.

      2. Some call Isaiah the fifth Gospel. Christ quotes from this prophet more than any other book in the Old Testament save the Psalms.

      3. Isaiah 60 and 61 are Messianic in origin. They proclaim the coming of the Jubilee for the Lord’s people. But they also mention light coming to the Gentiles.


    D. verses 20-22

      1. The people were amazed and impressed by Jesus, they were proud of who He was and where He came from.

      2. “Is this not Joseph’s son?” tells us that Christ learned His faith from Joseph.

      3. I would have liked to have met Joseph.


    E. verse 23

      1. Jesus knows what the people are thinking. They are expecting a miracle from Him. They are expecting Him to do in Nazareth what He did in Capernaum.

      2. Jesus was already responding to the silent criticisms he knew were in their hearts. He could not be a real prophet because He preached to the gentiles.


    F. verses 4-27

      1. After a pregnant pause He predicts their dissatisfaction with His upcoming message.

      2. Jesus knows that His message is not going to go over well.

      3. He uses two examples to show how God comes for the Gentiles and sometimes prefers to work for them.


    G. verses 28-30

      1. The people were enraged. Not only did He not do any miracles amongst them, He had the gall to tell them why. They were not deserving of such miracles.

      2. The people were so upset that a riot ensued. They were so angry that they forgot to murder Him.



III. Conclusion

    A. The Pharisees were not bad people. They were the people that Jesus, John the Baptist, and Paul the Apostle came from. They started off with the right motives but became twisted in the execution of their plan.

    B. Why was Jesus frustrated with the people of Nazareth? We might be inclined to think that it was because the people doubted Him, but I would like to posit this possibility. He was frustrated because they were so focused on the practice of their religion; they were so focused on maintaining purity in the midst of this foreign occupation, that they forgot to care for the people around them.

    C. They were so busy observing the Law that they forgot to live it.

    D. There can sometimes be a bunker mentality amongst Christians today. We must wall ourselves off from the world to maintain our purity.

    E. Have we become too familiar with the Gospel, with our own image of Christ?

    F. “The problem with Jesus is not between the new and the old, between the known and the unknown, but between the people of God and their own memory. Between the known and the known.” –William Willemon

    G. Sometimes we need to see the Church, see ourselves through the perspective of an outsider. When we do this, we can begin to see where we are falling short in our witness. Illustration: we can only see America when we are separated from it. We begin to value our families once we are away.

    H. Have we as a Church forgotten about the people around us? Have been become so focused on our personal relationship with Christ that we have forgotten who is in need?

    I. Is this story believable? Would anyone’s words finally cause a riot? Illustration: the balcony at St. Mary’s Presbyterian Church in St. Mary’s Georgia.


The Year of Jubilee is here. Have we been living for ourselves or for Christ? If it is for Christ, then we should be living to love and serve others.

14 January 2007

RADERSTROF MEMORIAL--10 JAN 2007

HE WAS THAT SOLDIER
MEMORIAL MESSAGE
for
CPL STEPHEN JAMES RADERSTORF

10JAN07


Corporal Stephen J. Raderstorf, or “Rader” to his friends, represented all that is honorable, all that is professional, all that is sacred about soldiering. He was a soldier whose enthusiastic personality and caring heart transcended rank, age, and status. He was a soldier who was a friend to all and an enemy to none.

We heard from the Psalmist that God fashions every heart individually, meaning everyone is unique and has within themselves the capacity for greatness. All soldiers are special people, but every company has that one guy who stands out in the crowd. The guy who can make you laugh even when you feel down. The guy who is willing to protect you from your own worst impulses. The guy who can be both a warrior and a peacemaker, a man of faith but not of condemnation, a leader who knew when to be serious and a friend who knew when to be carefree. Every company has that kind of soldier…and CPL Raderstorf was that soldier for Alpha Company.

Today we could focus on what has been taken away. We could think about those dreams of home, of finally owning that Pontiac Solstice that he always talked about, and of a future in law enforcement…the dreams that have been tragically taken away by the death of this young man. But I have two questions to ask after hearing how this man affected so many people around him. How would Rader have wanted to have been remembered? What would be the legacy, the gift that he could give through his life?

Some if not all of us have been asking other questions concerning his death: legitimate questions, hard questions. Why did he have to die? What did his death gain? And make no mistake that how we answer these questions will affect the trajectories our lives, the paths that each and every one of us takes as we go forward after today. I will not be so arrogant as to even begin to give an answer, for I still feel now as I did when you came in on Sunday night, and that is that no human words can even begin to address the pain you have and are experiencing.

But how would Rader have answered these questions? Why was he here with you? Well, from the stories that you have shared…his actions at a Dallas IHOP, his humorous attitude during trips to the lake or while shooting pool, or just his every day display of goofiness around his friends…Rader was here for one reason. That reason was summed up in the words of one of his best friends who said this about Rader, “He was exceptionally good at taking care of other people.” CPL Stephen J. Raderstorf was here in Iraq because…of…you, because…of…us. Rader served because he wanted to serve you, his comrades, his leaders, and his friends. And what he gained was your love, your respect, and your friendship.

The last thing Rader would have needed or wanted would be to have a chaplain try to preach him into heaven. You of all people know where he is. We go to the grave of a friend, saying, “A man is dead.” But angels throng about him saying, “A man is born.”[1] But before we close, let us ponder the question of his legacy once again.

What would be the final gift that CPL Raderstorf would have wanted to give Alpha Company? Would he have wanted our legitimate sense of grieving to be slowly replaced by desires for revenge? You, his company-mates, his leaders, his friends, know in your hearts that a future consumed with bitterness and regret is not the legacy that Rader would have wanted, that any of us would want. The words, your words, that you used to describe him were words like courage, selflessness, faithfulness, and compassion.

I will humbly ask that you permit me to suggest one more virtue to add to CPL Raderstorf’s list. We find this in the last verse of Psalm 33, “Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, Just as we hope in You.” Rader did not put his hope in horses, or in weapons, or in men. His hope, and his strength, rested in God. And because of this, Rader’s most noble quality was his sense of mercy, God’s mercy. Rader lived his life like he knew he had received a second chance, a pardon for the wrongs that he and we all have done. Another word for mercy is forgiveness. And that should be his legacy, that through his death this company grows closer together, not farther apart. And you can and do honor him with your tears, your honesty, and your actions. God bless Stephen James Raderstorf, and may his family and his friends feel a sense of the Lord’s presence and comfort in the difficult times ahead. And God bless Alpha Company, and may we all live our lives in a way that brings honor to the soldier who made those around him better men. Hallelujah, Amen.

[1]Tan, P. L. Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations : A treasury of illustrations, anecdotes, facts and quotations for pastors, teachers and Christian workers. Garland TX: Bible Communications, 1996, c1979.

02 January 2007

LETTER to ESQUIRE MAG--31 DEC 2006

Dear Esquire:

Enough! Please cancel my subscription to your magazine. I cannot take it anymore. Since I am deployed to Iraq, I receive the latest editions of Esquire several months after publication. I am writing in response to the article "Innocent" by Tom Junod in your July 2006 issue. I will not go into all the specifics of what is so wrong with the details of this piece (question: when did Mr. Junod take a course in Christian theology, comparative religions, or basic journalistic skepticism?). While he is a fine writer, his conclusions are interesting...and unsettling.

What is especially appalling is the statement "He [meaning John Walker Lindh] is a better person than you or I," that appears on page 109. Usually I would laugh at such a misguided and facile conclusion, but every day I look into the faces of the young men and women of our military as they roll outside our gates to face the danger of combat. I could not let Mr. Junod's claim that Lindh is better, more compassionate, and intending more good than our 140,000+ military personnel stationed in Iraq pass uncontested. And why do our forces do it? Because, spectacularly, instead of doing it for money or because they have no other choices due to their socio-economic status, most actually believe they can make a difference.

While I understand the Junod's concern about the legal proceedings of Lindh's case, the broad and sweeping generalizations about Christianity, Mr. Lindh, and how good he is are not only incorrect but disturbing. Mr. Lindh self-admitted that he carried guns and weapons for the Taliban. Last time I checked, these are the same folks who have no problem inflicting horrible collateral damage upon the innocent in the name of their worldview. These are the same folks who, if they believed it would further their cause, would drop a grenade in a baby carriage, walk away, and enjoy their evening meal.

Normally, in the spirit of open debate, I would let such things slide by, but Mr. Junod's words are more of a critique of your own editorial laxity than it is of his journalistic irresponsibility. How can I trust such a magazine that claims to speak for the "man at his best" when it chooses to publish such tripe? Mr. Junod, do us a favor, convert and get it over with, but please spare us the non-critical perspective and wholesale acceptance of what Lindh and his extremist ilk claim. I wish I had more time to write, but I have to get ready to go out on a patrol with some of the Americans eclipsed by Mr. Lindh's down-home, friendly brand of fanaticism.

Take care.

Gratia et Veritas,
CH (CPT) Kevin Wainwright

DISPATCH 010--01 JAN 2007

“We pay God honor and reverence, not for his sake (because he is of himself full of glory to which no creature can add anything), but for our own sake.” --Thomas Aquinas, medieval theologian

Honor.

Honor can mean many things, but what does it mean to our soldiers and their families?

We sometimes confuse celebrity with honor. Our society will elevate someone who is famous or popular by giving them the “star” treatment. Power is often confused with honor. The powerful seem not to be judged with the same standards as others. But even we misuse honor when we begin to think that, because of extenuating circumstances, we deserve that particular item, experience, or person despite the cost to ourselves or others.

Because of this confusion we find ourselves wondering what honor really means and if any of it is left in the world. We look at corporate scandals where the powerful have lied, cheated, and stolen, all in the name of profit. We look at the superficial and shallow lives of some celebrities and grow weary of the constant tabloid headlines we see at the checkout line of the local supermarket. And lastly, if we are honest with ourselves, we might even examine the many different times we have sacrificed truth and goodness in the name of compromise so we could get ahead of or go along with the crowd.

Despite all this confusion, honor, true honor, still exists. It exists amongst our soldiers as they go about their daily missions. Honor for them is when they do their difficult tasks without cutting corners. Honor is when our soldiers do the right thing even when no one else is around. Honor is when a mechanic stays up all night to make sure a Bradley Fighting Vehicle is properly fixed. Honor is when a squad leader makes a second and a third check of his soldiers to make sure that they are fully prepared for a mission. Honor is when a convoy commander conducts the same safety brief despite how many times her soldiers might have heard it. Honor is when a soldier upholds what is good and just despite the pain and ridicule he will endure for telling the truth.

In the end, the type of honor I see here involves personal sacrifice for the greater good. It is not about recognition, or popularity, or rewards. It is about service. We honor one another when we do the little things that help build the bonds of comradeship. Many people hunger for the type of honor that is commonplace amongst our troops.

Unfortunately, honor is often not recognized in our society because the label is overused, and honor is often not recognized in Iraq because it is overseen. Every day, despite the pressures of combat, the deployment, and separation from our loved ones, our soldiers do the little but significant things that make them such an example for all of us. They know honor because they know sacrifice. They know that anything worthwhile in life does not come cheaply or easily.

Honor is what our soldiers render to you back home each time they do good despite the temptation to do evil. And you honor us by the sacrifices that you make while we are away. Honor is the care packages piled up during mail call. Honor is the quiet efficiency with which you, our loved ones, go about the daily challenges of life without us at home. Honor is when you support us despite the discouraging news you see on the internet, television, or newspaper. Honor is when you have our children pray for us before they go to bed.

The gift that honor brings to the person who lives it out each and every day is that our lives are making a difference. Every person, deep down in their very soul, yearns to live a life that matters, and many in our society do. But when you think about your loved one, your husband, your father, your wife, your daughters, or your son, remember this: there is no question that what they are doing, what you are doing, matters. We are protecting the widow and the orphan from an enemy that wishes them harm. We are distributing aid to a community isolated by its enemies. We are making this part of Iraq a safer place.

I am honored to serve such fine men and women that wear a uniform, and we are honored by your love for and continued support of us. God bless you.

Gratia et Veritas,
Chaplain Kevin Wainwright

DIGIJOURNAL 010--31 DEC 2006

DATELINE: 31DEC06 PB PALIWODA

Happy New Year!

I hope you are all doing well back in the States. It has been awhile since I posted an update, so this entry will be fairly long. We have been busy during Christmas week. We were even able to get Father K down for another visit this week, and Father B made it to PB O’Ryan on the 23rd. Without further yakking, here is the latest.

Thoughts for the Week
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” -Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King

“On the Day of Judgment, surely, we shall not be asked what we have read but what we have done; not how well we have spoken but how well we have lived.” -Thomas a Kempis

Christmas Eve/Day Services
Many people feel sorry for soldiers during the Christmas Season. It is a tough time for us, for we are missing our families and wishing we were home. Nevertheless, the Christmas services over here tend to be some of the most meaningful I have ever experienced.

We had two services, one morning and one evening, on Christmas Eve and one night service on Christmas Day. We had about 7-12 at each service. I was even able, with much thanks to my wife, to get my hands on an Advent wreath. Our services here are very simple. Here is the basic liturgy…

Opening Prayer
Praise Song
Prayers of Confession and Petition
Praise Song
Scripture and Message
Communion
Apostles’ Creed
Praise Song
Benediction

When we gathered for the Christmas services, what made them special were the people. Since we are small in size, I know every soldier/parishioner personally. Having a chaplain is like having your minister/priest live with you in your home. In Iraq we are all brothers and sisters, at least for this year, for better or worse. Because of the size of the "congregation," I am also able to go to every soldier and serve them communion. We closed out the Christmas Day service with the Advent wreath lit and the lights off. There is something sacred in watching the light flicker on the faces of the soldiers while our voices sang, a capella, Silent Night. After the service we looked up at the stars and saw the very same sky that the magi followed to Bethlehem. When we come together in worship, the effect is to further bind us together like family.

At midnight on Christmas Eve, CPL Crnkovich and I went around to the front gate and guard towers saying hello and Merry Christmas. Despite the cold weather (it does get cold over here), our soldiers were in good spirits. Going around visiting is a good example of how the majority of our ministry is done with and for soldiers who are not necessarily church-goers or chapel attendees. This does not mean that worship on our respective FOBs is exclusive. I believe that, when we come together in our small groups for prayer and worship, we are somehow speaking for all of our soldiers. We are not speaking of dogma or religious sects but instead of the brotherhood and fellowship we all have over here. For a brief moment on Christmas Eve, it felt like there was an island of peace in this war-torn land.

The New Year
Today is New Year’s Eve, and, for some of our young (and not-so-young) soldiers this will be the first New Year’s Eve they will have remembered in many years. I have told most of them to think radically and attend worship. We will see if my requests bear fruit.

Saddam’s Execution
I will not say much about this. I am probably in the minority, but I am not so sure this was a good thing. This is my personal opinion, which means that it is not worth much nor based on extensive research and scholarship, but there was just something sad about it. Do not misunderstand me, Saddam was a genocidal murderer, but I do think that it says something about us as people that we still have to resort to this way of dealing with evil. It speaks about our fall from grace and about how any attempt at justice will always be imperfect.

Recognizing Knocks
CPL Crnkovich and I are getting to the point where enough people are coming by to visit that we are able to recognize who some folks are by the way they knock on the door. I am glad that soldiers are beginning to feel comfortable with Paul and me. I had the honor of following in ministry a very capable and holy man, Tim Cross. He was the battalion chaplain last time 3-8 was deployed. He had a very good relationship with the soldiers. When you live with your congregation, you are always witnessing to who God is and what you believe. For soldiers it is more important to live faithfully than to speak eloquently. I still have many people I need to meet, but I am glad that God has used our UMT (Unit Ministry Team, Armyspeak for the chaplain and his assistant) to reach out in compassion to some of our soldiers.

A Stocking and a Card
I want to thank everyone who sent items for Christmas. You were so generous that every soldier (all 700+) was able to receive one stocking andat least two Christmas cards. Knowing that we have your love and support made Christmas a little easier to bear. Thank you for your faithfulness.

Pray for Healing in the Church
Many of our soldiers are uncomfortable with attending chapel because of what has happened in the past to them in church. Either they were let down by a minister or came to see how hypocritical, at times, church-goers can be. I remind our soldiers that, because it is populated with people, broken people in search of healing and restoration, the Church was never intended to be perfect. One of the reasons Christ called the Church into being was so that we could learn how to forgive one another and practice forbearance with people whom we would not necessarily associate. Many ask me if there is anything they could pray for, and I always tell them for our safety and the safety of our families back at home. Well, I would also like to add forgiveness of the church for being all too human. My prayer is that, while we are deployed, there will be sufficient healing so that, when we return, some of those soldiers who feel alienated will once again be called to be a part of a local congregation.

Techno, Trance, and Street Cred
CPL C has been able to get me hooked on techno and trance. Techno and trance are typically instrumental forms of modern club and dance music featuring mostly keyboards and little or no lyrics. CPL C, who is always quick to point out how old I am, has encouraged this music fetish in hopes that it will enhance my “Street Cred” (the latest generation’s word for street credibility, meaning "with the times," or what my parents' generation would have called “hip”). Unfortunately, after he saw the way I waved my head to the base beat, he soon concluded that having me take up this form of music was a bad idea.

Fergie Videos
I have discovered a new danger for our soldiers on FOB Paliwoda: Fergie videos. I did not know who she was until our S3, MAJ John “Buckhead John” Throckmorton pointed out that she was the former lead singer for the band “Black Eyed Peas.” (For those of you scoring at home, because I did not know who she was and the S3 did, I lost some of my street cred while he gained some. If you are into physics, street cred is like mass: it can never be destroyed (unless you are into quantum physics, where I believe mass can be changed into energy. Guess who had too much coffee this morning).

Back to Fergie. We have big screen TVs in the Paliwoda gym. Usually they are tuned in to an Italian version of MTV. The Europeans have interesting choices when it comes to American pop music and culture. Anyway, everyone seems to stop what they are doing when the latest Fergie video appears. Because of this guys fall off treadmills and drop weights on their feet as they stare at her gyrating all over the screen. I still do not know what she looks like since I always keep my eyes straight ahead when she comes on the screen.

Armyspeak Word for the Week
UMT-Unit Ministry Team comprised of the chaplain and his or her assistant. Usage, “The assistant daydreamed about having another chaplain as part of the UMT.” Sometimes they do not work together as a team, which means that very little ministry gets done. I am blessed in that I have had and continue to have great assistants. I am not so sure what CPL C thinks of me as a chaplain.

Well, I must go get ready for worship. I pray that all is well at home. I have included below a very helpful article for folks looking for resources to educate their children about this and upcoming deployments. God Bless y’all.

Gratia et Veritas,
Warhorse Archangel

My husband is scheduled to deploy soon. I have found many books and resources [to help] military spouse[s] but none for my 5-year-old son. Can you tell me of any good books for military children regarding deployment? Actually, any children's books related to military would be a great help.
Bridgette, Fort Hood, TX Active Army spouse; 4 years

Dear Bridgette:
We'd love to help you in your search for books for your child. A military child is a very important person. Don't you wish there was a book or website that just explained it all to them or at least to us so we could tell them? As spouses, we tend to have an easier time expressing our feelings. Children are sometimes less vocal when it comes to the struggles of military lifestyle.
So, we have scoured libraries, both brick and mortar and virtual, to bring you the most up to date and relevant books for military children. We hope you find this list helpful in your "pre-deployment" conversations with your child as well as in everyday military life.

    A Yellow Ribbon for Daddy by Anissa Mersiowsky
    Daddy Is a Soldier! by Kirsten Hallowell
    While You Are Away by Eileen Spinelli
    A Year Without Dad by Jodi Brunson
    Daddy, Will You Miss Me? by Wendy McCormick
    Uncle Sam's Kids: When Duty Calls by Angela Sportelli-Rehak
    Making New Friends by Jacqueline H. Blumenstock
    Mommy, You're My Hero! by Michelle Ferguson-Cohen
    Daddy, You're My Hero!by Michelle Ferguson-Cohen
    Our 50 States: A Family Adventure Across America by Lynne Cheney
    The Blue Day Book for Kids: A Lesson in Cheering Yourself Up by Bradley Trevor Greive
    H Is for Honor: A Military Family Alphabet by Devin Scillian
    A is for America by Devin Scillian
    Dear Soldier: Heartfelt Letters from America's Children by Barbara W. Baldwin, Amber Baldwin D'Amico, Heather Baldwin Duff
    I Miss You!: A Military Kid's Book About Deployment by Beth Andrews
    The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman, Ross Campbell
    The Magic Box: When Parents Can't Be There to Tuck You In by Marty Sederman, Seymour Epstein
    Night Catch by Brenda Ehrmantraut
    Lulu's Rose Colored Glasses by Gretchan Pyne
    An American Flag for Their Father by Annmarie Hickey Georgopolis
    A Very Long Time by Geri Timperley
    Ned And The General: A Lesson About Deployment by Ron Madison
    Daddy's in Iraq, But I Want Him Back! by Carmen R. Hoyt
    When Is Daddy Coming Home? by Richard Carlton Haney
    Mommy, Don't Go by Elizabeth Crary
    My Daddy is a Soldier by Kirk Hilbrecht
    Deployment Journal for Kids by Rachel Robertson
    The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
    War? I'm Scared! by WeWriteKids
    A Paper Hug by Stephanie Skolmoski
    The Hero in My Pocket by Marlene Lee
    Footsteps Around the World: Relocation Tips for Teens by Beverly D. Roman


Many of these books' authors and publishers have websites that include additional material in support of military children and their attempt to make the most of military life. All of these books can be purchased through the FP Booklist found at www.fieldproblems.com/booklist.shtml

Have other questions? For more information or to submit your Field Problem, visit www.FieldProblems.com or e-mail FromTheField@FieldProblems.com. Please include your first name, location, branch of service, and years in/associated with the military. Questions may be edited for length and clarity. Field Problems™ reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its website or in any other form, the emails and letters that we receive. By sending us a letter or email, you agree to these terms.

SERMON OUTLINE 009--31 DEC 2006

SPIRITUAL BATTLE DRILLS

First Sunday in Christmas
FOB Paliwoda
31DEC06

Lectionary Texts
1 Samuel 2:18-20; 26
Psalm 148
Colossians 3:12-17
Luke 2:41-52

Scripture
Colossians 3:12-17

Background/Timeline
Paul writing to address problems of syncretism in the church
2:1-10 Faith versus philosophy
2:11-23 Faith versus legalism/works
3:1-11 Faith versus permissiveness
3:12-17 What a man looks like who puts his faith in Christ

I. Introduction

    A. Spiritual Warfare: We are in the midst of a spiritual battle as well. How do your fellow soldiers look at you? Just as God is working through our thoughts, words, and deeds; so is the Devil looking to use us for his twisted kingdom. He wants us to hate; he wants us to despise; he wants us to despair; he wants us to think highly of ourselves. He wants to use this war, this deployment, to cripple us not only now but for the future.

    B. It does not have to be this way. This deployment is a great opportunity to grow in faith. We can learn to stop relying on our own strength and skills and begin relying on Christ.

    C. “The sign that God is at work in us is that He corrupts confidence in the natural virtues, because they are not promises of what we are going to be, but remnants of what God created man to be.” —Oswald Chambers

    D. Before we can answer the question “What would Jesus do?” we must first answer “Who does Jesus want us to be?”

    E. The Apostle Paul speaks to us through the Word today, instructing us and giving us the answer to this question.


II. Spiritual Battle Drills

    A. v12-13, what is expected of us. A list of battle drills to gain our hearts for Christ. Tender mercies:

      1. kindness
      2. humility
      3. meekness
      4. longsuffering (patience),
      5. forbearance (endurance)
      6. forgiveness

    B. How many of these actions can we do without the participation of another person? This is why Christ called the Church into being, so that we could learn these tender mercies. How can we exercise any of these disciplines if we do not come together as a body?

    C. True worship is more than church attendance. It is the community putting into practice these virtues. It is living a faithful life in church, in the home, and in the world that bears the greatest witness.

    D. Christian warrior ethos. To live this way requires heroic discipline. It is not weakness to give ourselves to Christ; it is strength.


III. Armed with Love

    A. How can we live out these virtues? We cannot do it with our own strength, for we must rely on the strength of the Lord. What is at the center if God’s strength? Love.

    B. v14: “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”

    C. Love is what makes us perfect in Christ. It is the source of all our right actions, and it is the witness that we have truly repented and accepted His call.

    D. Love is not a feeling but an attitude, an expectation, a state of mind. Love is a verb, not a noun.

    E. “Indeed it is not learning that makes a man holy and just, but a virtuous life makes him pleasing to God. I would rather feel contrition than know how to define it. For what would it profit us to know the whole Bible by heart and the principles of all the philosophers if we live without grace and the love of God? Vanity of vanities and all is vanity, except to love God and serve Him alone.” —Thomas à Kempis


IV. Winning the Peace

    A. Our objective is peace. v15: peace of God, not of men, needs to be Lord of your spirit. Being at peace with God means you will be thankful for God.

    B. Until we make peace with God, we will never be at peace with men.

    C. Illustration: Katie Couric, the famous newscaster, commented in an interview with Esquire magazine that she could not commit herself to God because she could not accept that God was more important than her family. Further along in the interview she expresses anger and resentment of the loss of her husband (he died at age 42 of cancer). She does not strike me as a person filled with peace.

    D. Until we fully accept and understand God’s forgiveness of us, we will never be able to forgive others.

    E. Peacefulness of the heart means that you can and have forgiven people, including yourself, for hurting you.

    F. True forgiveness can only take place if we put on the love of God. Forgiveness must be practiced. Have you grown up in a forgiving home? Is there someone you need to forgive? Illustration: a great source of pain I see right now in our deployment is the fracturing of fragile relationships. This separation combined with the stress of war is beginning to reveal our true character.

    G. Writing someone off is not forgiveness; we are just hiding, or sublimating, the pain. And this is the damage—every time we are faced with a similar situation or a similar person we will repeat the process. Lack of forgiveness is a guarantee of self-sabotage.

    H. Forgiveness is hard. “Forgiving the unforgivable is hard. So was the cross: hard words, hard wood, hard nails.” —William S. Stoddard


V. Conclusion

    A. v16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.”

      1. We can only understand God’s Word through Christ

      2. God’s Word comes to us in song, in prayer, in worship, in preaching, and in studying scripture.


    B. “They who are conscious of their own sins have no eyes for the sins of their neighbors.” —Abbot Moses (10th century)

    C. Worry about yourself, not others.

    D. Armed with love we will win the peace that allows us to live out our faith by working through these virtues:

      1. kindness
      2. humility
      3. meekness
      4. longsuffering (patience)
      5. forbearance (endurance)
      6. forgiveness

    E. “It is vanity to wish for long life and to care little about a well-spent life.” —Thomas à Kempis


We need to be careful when we begin to look at others in our lives. It is too easy to begin to think that we are better, or more spiritual, or more of a Christian. Instead of asking why a particular person is not a believer, we should instead ask why has our lives not been a sufficient witness for the Spirit to win our neighbor for Christ.