Why Blog? (pt. 1)

I want to talk a bit about some of the reasons this blog exists over the next couple of days. I believe that it is critical that we, as military leaders, are intentional about the way we lead - which is to say that we are intentionally biblical. Biblical, God-glorifying, Christ-like, redemptive leadership does not and will not happen on accident. We cannot be passive, but must actively engage our minds in the process of purposely leading to fulfill our potential in Christ.

As we unite to dialogue on the integration of our faith in Christ and our profession in arms the hope is that individual leaders will be redeemed; redeem the leadership and change the culture; change the culture and entire organizations will be impacted (think of the emanating effect of rain drops hitting a pond). My prayer is that we, a struggling and broken band of leaders, will lay hold of the Gospel (the power for change), learning to live it in such a way as to see the spheres in which God has appointed us be radically redeemed. May we be Anchored Leaders and glorify Jesus, the true embodiment of all we seek to be, while hearing Him exclaim the same words spoken to the military leader in the Gospels saying, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone . . . with such great faith” (Matt. 8: 10).

Our goal should be to: Lead to Redeem!

Resurgence Military Ministry

"When you are a starving man among starving people and you discover a banquet in the wilderness, you become a debtor to all." (John Piper, Desiring God)

I'm a big fan of the things happening at TheResurgence, specifically in their military ministry. Al Lobian and his team have a real heart for those serving and are doing the Lord's work in ministering in real ways to us. Below is a sampling of some of what they are doing:

- Mars Hill Military Mission
- Jesus At War
- Missional Militia: Work
- Porn and 24
- Bio of a Christian Soldier 1
- Bio of a Christian Soldier 2

This is a good time to plug the book "Porn Again Christian." Download it, it's free. The last section of the book is almost entirely written specifically for military members. I'll talk more about this topic, but suffice it to say - if you are a guy and in the military this has been or inevitably will be a problem area for you. You can't lead effectively if bounded and hampered by this area of sin. Read this book! It's short, poignant, and redemptive. 'Nuff said.

Leadership Failures of JPJ (& Me)

Here's a good "naval" leadership post from John Maxwell. In it he uses John Paul Jones as the type of leader not to be. He asserts that while he may have been successful in execution of his mission he was careless with people, using them simply to accomplish his agenda in pursuit of his own glory. This is an all too familiar story with many great leaders and the Navy is not immune from them. Most interestingly sad to me is the fact that JPJ never learned, never changed. He was content to continue in his relational recklessness until the day of his early death.

Yet, this is the man that wrote the famously memorized "Qualifications of a Naval Officer." How could this be that he would expound on the necessity of an Officer to be "the soul of tact, patience, justice and firmness" while committing the atrocious, recorded (not to mention the lesser offenses never reported), and nearly incomprehensible acts toward those entrusted to his care? I'm not sure - but, it caused me to wonder if I regularly mentally ascent to virtuous Christian behaviors while functionally forgetting what I previously preached? The short answer is yes and frequently. JPJ and I have much in common. Like, JPJ I remain a sinner in need of a Savior. Only the Redeemer is able to regulate and rectify my sinful brain-heart disconnect in my relationships. Leadership defined is influence in the context of relationship. To be a great leader for Christ you must be great in relationships because of Christ.

Merry Christmas!

Lk. 2: 1-21

Remember those standing the watch today in your prayers.

The Anti-Psalm 131

I am able to identify particularly with the post below from Justin Taylor's blog:

The Anti-Psalm 131 vs. the Real Psalm 131

I’m grateful that CCEF is periodically posting great meditations from David Powlison. The latest is on Psalm 131, entitled “Peace, Be Still”: Learning Psalm 131 by Heart. Powlison argues that “Psalm 131 is show-and-tell for how to become peaceful inside.”

One of the things that Powlison likes to do is to contrast a biblical God-centered worldview with a functional godless universe; he does so by composing “anti-Psalms” that show the opposite of the life of the faith.

Here’s Anti-Psalm 131:

Self,

my heart is proud (I’m absorbed in myself),
and my eyes are haughty (I look down on other people),
and I chase after things too great and too difficult for me.

So of course I’m noisy and restless inside, it comes naturally,

like a hungry infant fussing on his mother’s lap,
like a hungry infant, I’m restless with my demands and worries.
I scatter my hopes onto anything and everybody all the time.

Contrast that with the real Psalm 131:

O Lord,

my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.

But I have calmed and quieted my soul,

like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.

Do Not Be Surprised

"1Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin . . . 4With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you . . . 12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 16Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name." (1st Pet. 4: 1, 4, 12-14, 16)

Armed with Christ-like thinking, determined to endure the denial of fleshly desires, we can cease from sin. Expect others to take note and antagonize you (possibly behind your back) in spiteful consternation. A firey trial will ensue, but clothe yourself (Rom. 13:14) with Christ like the ultimate Fire Fighting Ensemble. Anticipate the fire fight. Every Christian Sailor a fire fighter! Do it with joy knowing that your are united with Jesus, because He did the same thing. The ultimate hypothesis - if insulted, then blessed. No shame, instead glory to the Name.

Jah Puts His Soldiers Everywhere

Thought this was worth sharing. Consider the wisdom, the humility, and the true worship. From loswhit, "If you listen carefully at the end you hear Carlos saying this to Danny (the homeless worshipper). Here is what Carlos said, “Keep trying to make it man.” Danny looked me square in the eye…cocked his head sideways with a confused look on his face…and said, “Trying to make it? No man. I ain’t trying to make it…I’m making it. Jah puts His soldiers everywhere. Jah says, Yea though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death… So He places some of us, in that valley.”

Game, set, match…

Save us from these comforts.
Break us of our need for the familiar
Spare us any joy that’s not of You
And we will worship You