Corpsman Up!

New Blog Coming Soon!

2011-04-17T01:19:00.002-05:00

I was trying to figure out what would be the best way to wrap up this stage of our lives and figured the best way would be to initiate a new blog that didn't have military leanings. Okay, it does have some militaristic leanings, but only in the way of working at a Christian military boarding school. The link is over to the right and will go active on 1 August when I start as the Sergeant Major at Chamberlain-Hunt Academy.

We're all very excited about it all, though there is much apprehension because so much change is going to happen all at once. We are going to be retiring from all we've known for the past 23 years, our oldest son has joined the Marines and ships to Parris Island on 14 November, our only daughter leaves for college mid-August, I start a civilian job in August, I'm leaving my favorite place that we've ever been stationed with the church that I've grown into like none other, and we are moving to the most rural area we've ever lived in. Though I'm excited about the work, I confess that I'm not looking forward to Mississippi as I would like living in many other places. My friend and boss did it and they are doing well (they left his wife's family in Tampa to move there). I know that we will do okay too. We'll do better than okay. We are called to that place. There is a whole student body of young men who need MY experience with the gospel for them to identify their need for it to be THEIR experience too.

I'm bummed though. I had planned on attending seminary after retiring, but it appears that that dream will come to an end. My daughter will be attending Belhaven University so that she can be in the ONLY creative writing program in America with a Christian worldview. If she had not written a 98,000 word novel, I would never consider this, but she has shown me she is committed to the work. By comparison, the school is not as expensive as some, but it is too expensive for me. I'm signing over my GI Bill to my last three kids so that they can get a solid education with a Christian worldview. She'll still leave with a school loan debt after I turn over so lucrative a benefit to her.

I get to preach one or two times more before I cease to be a ministry candidate before we move. God has really tested me in this by removing my external call to the ministry and burned my bridges toward eventual ordination. As a consolation, I'm a ruling elder in my denomination which is a tremendous honor. I love to preach. I love the research that goes into it. I'm still in a specialized youth ministry though, which I'm looking forward to. If you asked me four years ago, I wouldn't have believed in youth ministry. These boys need this soon-to-be retired, Marine Corps experienced Navy Chief to live out the gospel for them. Though my heart is broken concerning ordained ministry, I'm still an ordained ruling elder with a very specialized ministry to look forward to - even if the presbytery doesn't recognize it as such.

The hardest part is the not knowing what God has in store for us. Abraham had no idea what he was getting into by listening and obeying God when He commanded him to go out of his comfort zone. I'm like Abraham. I've never owned land and have lived as a vagabond all these years. Yet, God is faithful. I'm looking forward to a home that's foundations are in heaven; in the presence of God the Father and my Savior. I'll rest then. As a Northern Baptist chaplain I knew had as his theme motto, "You can rest when you're dead." I think I can tough it out in this life for an eternal Sabbath rest.

Ooorah!

2011-04-09T00:05:00.002-05:00

My oldest boy joined the Marines today. I'm extremely proud, though a little apprehensive about it all. As it stands, he does not have a job yet, but is hoping to get something in combat arms; preferably basic rifleman (I can't see what fascinates him about it, but it's his deal). He'll leave in November unless he finds a job he wants earlier.

I admire the Marines who are riflemen, but I would not have wanted that for my son. It's not that he's too good for that; being a Marine is huge! I just wonder how parents with infantrymen are able to deal with the constant danger. As evidenced by the name of my blog, I am a corpsman who has served with the Marines. But I served with the air wing. My job was to support those who support the grunt Marines. I can only hope that those who have taken my place will be supporting my boy. He's a good kid and an excellent leader. I only hope the Marine Corps is a better place because they've hired my son.

Mystery of the Body of Christ

2010-10-10T01:01:00.002-05:00

My friend John is teaching a Sunday School class on the Patristic Period of the Church which is the period from the Apostles all the way to Saint Augustine. It is remarkable to me how our Church is forged through suffering. It is remarkable to me also that so much of the Church's identity comes from our identity with the sufferings of Christ.

Communion is my thing. I love it so much because I'm reminded in such a tangible way of Jesus' death on the cross for my sins. Though those elements are only common elements, what they represent is so much more. Though Jesus' human body is at the right hand of the Father in heaven, His presence as God, a spirit, is very real and very present at that communion meal. As the One who is fully God and fully man, He alone can do that.

One of the most meaningful songs to me is "The Communion Hymn" by Stuart Townend (I have a YouTube video on this website from April of 2010). In it our call to share in the sufferings of Christ are tied to the communion table and our lives. Here are the lyrics:

"And so with thankfulness and faith we rise to respond and to remember our call to follow in the steps of Christ as His body here on earth. As we share in His suffering, we proclaim Christ will come again! And we’ll join in the feast of heaven around the table of the King. As we share in His suffering, we proclaim Christ will come again! And we’ll join in the feast of heaven around the table of the King."

Never forget what it cost God the Father when He gave His Son for our sins. But, did He die for your sins too? The only way to know is if you turn in faith to Jesus, trusting that He did indeed die for you and pay your ransom for adoption into His family and forgiveness of your sins.

More Steel Guitar!

2010-10-01T08:51:00.000-05:00

I've been in the strangest mood this evening. I went to the seven-day store earlier to pick up some libation for the Navy Ball tomorrow night and was overcome by the need to hear, dum, dum, dum - Don Williams. I called the workplace of an old friend today to get some Navy information (the Navy/Air Force game is this weekend - I have tickets!) and reminisced about a flight we once took on the Commanding General's airplane from Second Marine Air Wing. We got there wicked early, but were allowed to get on the airplane and have coffee. We were just getting some flight hours. But, as we had our coffee we were listening to Don Williams. His smooth-as-Knob-Creek-bourbon voice took me to a day in the eighth grade when my family was traveling cross-country to California for my dad to start his new job. We stopped at a Holidome (a Holiday Inn with an indoor pool) in Las Cruces, New Mexico and you'll never believe who I saw - Don Williams. I recognized him from the K-Tel ads on TV for a greatest hits album. My daughter caught tears in my eyes whilst listening to "You're My Best Friend" (which has got to be the theme music for a video of Sheila and me sometime) and thought it was cute while my son John thought I was being a sissy. I'm such a softy as I get older. I'm going to be a basket case at my retirement ceremony.

I'm a heavy-metal rocker who loves Seattle grunge (my favorite bands are Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and Alice In Chains), but I LOVE STEEL GUITAR! I don't know what it is about it, but I love it especially in old country music like Don Williams, Hank Williams, and George Jones. There's a gal out of Ottawa, Canada named Kathleen Edwards that is awesome (be careful, she has some very unneeded vernacular) and has some crazy-cool lyrics (listen to "Pink Emerson Radio" if you get the chance. It'll make you ask yourself, "What would I take with me if my house was burning down?"). I also have grown to love Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs. "For the Summer" and "God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise" are fantastic songs, so full of that sweet steel guitar!

A little bourbon and a wonderful woman make me so sentimental and needful of sweet music. I was talking with my friend and choir director from church, Anna, about how music is so able to convey emotion when it's so hard to speak feelings or thoughts. She has taken over as the music director for our church and one of her first projects is to teach the church "The Communion Song" by Stuart Townend for Communion Sunday. You can hear the song on a video I have attached to the post "The Blood That Cleanses Every Stain of Sin." That piece really touches me too. It's almost as tangible an experience with Christ as the Lord's Supper itself (I stress "almost" because Jesus made that meal as real as it gets). All this to say that I'm so thankful to God for blessing us with music. You'll find this is a recurrent theme for me as it touches me in so many ways. When my quiet times with God become cold, nothing stokes my passion for Him as a song about the Gospel of Jesus and His love for me. Gotta go. My woman, who stokes other passions in me, has beckoned me.

The Great Unknown

2010-09-29T23:21:00.005-05:00

We still haven't heard back from Chamberlain-Hunt concerning the salary-compensation agreement so no new news. Sometimes the case is no news is good news. But we do need to plan, so it would be good to get that. God will provide.

Sheila sent me a great video about marriage and I really like the song. It's off Andrew Peterson's new album from "Counting Stars." Thought I'd share it with you all. When you're married you go through good and bad times, but the good ones can be really good and they make the bad ones insignificant. Sorry the width is truncated, but the important stuff is the song.

The End Of An Era and the Beginning of Another

2010-09-23T21:49:00.004-05:00

This past quarter has been full of events that are pointing us toward the end of twenty-three and a half years of service in the Navy. In July I learned that I had been passed over for promotion which was to be a fleece for us in our decision to stay in the Navy or move on. About a week prior to that news, I contacted Chamberlain-Hunt Academy, which is a Christian military boarding school for boys in Port Gibson, Mississippi. I discovered they were looking for someone with my skill set to be the Command Sergeant Major of Cadets. Unfortunately, they had been without one for three years prior and could not go the year it would take for me to retire from the Navy and join them. However, the commandant told me that he wanted to keep my application, but if we were in the area he would like us to come by for a tour. After our eldest son and our daughter were accepted to Belhaven University in Jackson, we had an opportunity to visit the school while our kids saw the university. By God's grace, the person Chamberlain-Hunt hired backed out at the last minute and left the position open. We have been asked to join their team, and are waiting for the salary/compensation agreement to be the last confirming circumstance that God is leading us there. This is a prime opportunity to be in a youth ministry where the Gospel can dramatically transform the hearts and lives of these troubled boys.

One would think that being in close proximity to Reformed Theological in Jackson would give me the prime opportunity to complete a Master of Divinity. However, my work schedule will not permit me to take coursework there. Taking coursework through RTS Virtual would have been a great alternative, but RTS will not accept VA benefits and will only give me a third discount on tuition for their online program. RTS offers a GI Bill replacement grant, but that is only for coursework taken in residence. My pastor agreed that Liberty University's online M.Div program with the languages taken through Gordon-Conwell (I'm currently taking coursework through them) could be a good alternative.

I'm still going to seek ordination as a PCA teaching elder. Though I would be wearing a uniform and providing discipline and structure for these boys, I would still be in a dynamic and purposeful ministry. Upon completion of my M.Div, I will still seek ordination in that presbytery if they will accept my work as a Sergeant Major at a Christian school and the internship work I've done at Forestgate PCA here in Colorado Springs.

We are very excited and cautiously optimistic about where it appears God is leading us. He has been faithful thus far and leaves us no reason to doubt He will be any less in the future. He has always proven that He keeps His promises and all His providence is good.

No Hope In Socialism

2010-04-20T19:27:00.004-05:00

I just finished reading a book yesterday that I picked up at the Museum of Communism in Prague, Czech Republic two years ago and was amazed at the similarities between what Czechoslovakia had been through and what our country is trying to do. What communism did to that country was astounding to me.

Did you know that the gross domestic product of all the countries of Europe and the U.S. lost 2.2 percent except one? I'll give you a hint. It was the first Communist Bloc country in Eastern Europe to reform its economic policies. It was Poland and this past year their GDP grew 3.1 percent. All of those other countries (including ours) try to use Keynsian economic policies which requires the government to adjust and fine tune the economy through legislation. Poland uses free market economic policies which allows the economy to adjust and fix itself as it can and does on its own.

An economy is something very fluid; one could even say organic. It quite naturally has contractions (recessions) and expansions (economic growth). In the free market cycle, the economy expands and contracts, but something special happens: the growth trend is always upward. Keynsian economics don't allow for contractions which tend to make the recession last longer and the expansions much shorter. The result is retarded economic growth. You know why Keynsian economics are so popular in America at least? It sells votes. This is why I think it should be mandatory for all high school seniors and college students to take macroeconomics. At least they'll know what a politician is promising when he/she tells you they're going to fix the economy. It means they're going to give you a "stimulus bill" so that you believe they're doing something to help you. The only economy where Keynsian economics truly works is socialism and even then it requires perfect adjustment so as not to ruin the balance. Did you know when Hungary became a democracy, they took "Socialist" out of their country's name? Human nature won't let Keynsian economics work. Just like communism, the human nature has a way of spoiling Utopia.

Do you want to fix the economy? Leave it alone. Do you want to fix health care? Make it free market and allow health insurance to be sold across state lines. Competition and tort reform is the best way to drive down the prices for quality health care. The government is not our savior. Because of mankind's fall into sin, we have trouble. Furthermore, we make more trouble by trying to have immediate heaven on earth. It's in God's mercy that economics govern themselves, but it takes man's desire for perpetual comfort and wealth to disrupt the balance by interference. Only Jesus can save our souls. Frankly, Utopia will only exist in heaven for those of us who love Jesus.

The Blood That Cleanses Every Stain of Sin

2010-03-15T23:11:00.005-05:00

The past two Sunday's I've been teaching on the Lord's Supper as well as leading a video series in our small group about the same subject. I have to say that it has made this Lenten season a real blessing for me (by the way, I don't really observe Lent, but it is a nice prep for Easter) by helping me to think about what is happening during the Lord's Supper. I had always wondered what pastors were talking about when they spoke of Christ's real presence. I had heard the arguments against the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation and the Lutheran one of consubstantiation, but I never could see how it related to where I was and what we were doing together. Put simply, it was a rite that had unknown significance to me concerning the Gospel.

I've been struck by how we are connected to Christ's humanity by the presence of his divine nature with us at the meal. It's more than just a way for me to connect with the humanity of Christ without breaking the second commandment. Just as the apostles were physically connected to him as they shared the bread and wine with him, through the presence of his divine nature I connect with his humanity as well. Thomas needed physical evidence of the risen Christ, yet Jesus has given us that physical evidence as well by giving us the physical representations of his body and blood, given for us. This is our way of being able to touch his nail scars and feel the wound in his side - all endured for us.

Jesus has loved us so much. I am daily reminded of how big a sinner I am, but when I look at the Gospel, I find forgiveness and reconciliation. What he did on this earth and on that cross for me is a debt I can never repay. I'm reminded of when we used to take the San Francisco Bay Bridge to get to our home on Treasure Island. Sometimes the guy in front of you didn't want change and would tell the toll booth attendant to pay for the guy behind him. You know somebody paid your debt to cross the bridge, you're grateful, yet you know you can never pay him back. To a much greater degree, Jesus paid our eternal debt for offending the perfect God. It's an eternal debt of gratitude I can never repay. But it is a sweet one and obliterates the even greater debt of satisfying God's wrath for all eternity - which everyone must do. Because of Christ's payment, some of us don't have to endure God's wrath because he did it for us. His payment can be yours too, if you receive it as your own.

The body of our Savior Jesus Christ torn for us, eat and remember.
The blood that cleanses every stain of sin shed for us, drink and remember.

You'll want to pause Project Playlist on the side to view the video.

I'm Adopted

2010-02-26T16:09:00.011-05:00

Last night at our eldership training, one of the subjects we discussed was that of our adoption into the family of God if we are in Christ. The pastor mentioned that it was the shortest chapter in the Westminster Confession of Faith, to which a friend of mine said jokingly that its brevity was probably due to its pathos (feelings of tenderness in this case). We all laughed. True, the Westminster Confession can be dry, unfeeling, objective theology. But it is merely a statement based upon the truths in the Scripture which functions as an excellent summary of the Gospel and Christianity. One read of the proof texts that those statements come from is enough to stoke flames of love within the heart of the truly redeemed.

I am an adopted son of God. Like any child who is adopted, I come with my own set of problems that I bring into my new family. It is the responsibility of my heavenly Father to discipline me as only the loving Father can do in order to make me more like His natural Son. Adoptions are not inexpensive. Some friends of ours spent many thousands of dollars to adopt their son from China. God the Father spent the life of His eternal Son to purchase mine. My friends left the comfort of the United States to go to China to take the necessary steps to adopt Joel. The eternal Son of God came to Earth, leaving His rightful privileges to do what was necessary for my adoption - He placed Himself under the Mosaic Law so that He could keep it perfectly for my sake. At the end of His mission on Earth, He paid the price for my adoption and appeased the Father's wrath toward me for my sin by dying for me. Christ's righteousness was secured to my account so that I could worthily bear His name as my own. His righteousness covers me and makes me fit to share His eternal inheritance which He was promised by God the Father.

Since we've been at our church, two families have adopted children from overseas. Praying for them during the preparation and trip to pick up their children would cause me to think about my adoption by God the Father. As a human being, I've been under the foster care of the Law, unable to fulfill its demands. But God has released me from foster care and has given me a home with Him. We are all under this same foster care. It gives us structure, but is very cruel and impossibly exacting in its requirements. I was obligated unsuccessfully to its power until the Father adopted me. You are obligated as well unless you turn to the Father in faith and repentance that Jesus paid your price for adoption. May God in His grace adopt you into His wonderful family.

Sweet Weekend

2010-02-15T23:07:00.005-05:00

This weekend was such a blessing and it actually began last Friday. As Sheila mentioned on her blog, we took the kiddos to Copper Mountain for some skiing and ice skating. Copper mountain is such a great place and is not too far away (about 2 1/2 hours). While we were there it snowed and everyone had a great time. We got to spend Friday and Sunday with the two youngest daughters of some friends of ours who are close to Trey's and Kate's ages. Everyone gets along swimmingly and they are great friends.

This past Sunday was such a blessing to us. We picked up Anna as usual and had a great time of Sunday school and worship followed by the fellowship meal. We hung out at the house all afternoon and then had an excellent evening for small group. Our friend Sarah chose to accompany us during our hymn sing which was fantastic. It's amazing how accompaniment adds so much to our singing. After our friends left and I took Anna back to her dorm, we hung out with Sarah and Olivia and flew the space shuttle simulator on Trey's computer. They are wonderful friends and it made for a great weekend

Sabbath Rest?

2010-02-02T22:23:00.003-05:00

This past Sunday was amazing. I hesitate to use the term "nightmare" because Sunday worship to me is always a pleasure, even when I have to work at it.

It started off to a slow start when we went to pick up Anna from Harmon Hall. We of course, were late to pick her up, but after waiting for a minute, we saw her coming from Sijan Hall where she lives. We then made it to church on time, but after we got to church and I got set up for Sunday School, I was asked to fill in for the adult class. I was completely unprepared. When I teach the high schoolers, I plan to actually teach for thirty minutes. The rest of the hour is filled with prayer requests and scripture memory. I had to teach for fifty minutes. Ironically, the guy who asked me to fill in seemed to be playing "Stump the Chump" with me (I'm sure he was trying to help the discussion along). Thankfully, another wise gentleman (his wife nominated me for elder) came to my rescue over and over again. It turned into an excellent discussion (which was totally unrelated to what I was teaching) and correlated to the sermon.

I was also leading worship this past Sunday. Thankfully, it went quite well. The worship was quite good and as I said earlier, the pastor's sermon completely correlated to the discussion in Sunday School.

Today we went to a funeral to support some friends whose mother passed away. It was a very pleasant service and our friends appreciated our presence there. We love them dearly and it is no chore whatsoever to support them.

Johnny Appleseed

2010-01-30T23:42:00.003-05:00

Alright, I'm back at it. I got a Home brewing for Dummies book for Christmas and was inspired to do something a little different. I was saving to send Trey and Kate skiing and so I can't afford the ingredients for the stout I want to prepare. So I figured since we have some honey that is beginning to crystallize, that I should make a mead. But while I had some downtime at work I looked up what it takes to make hard cider. Well honey made with apple juice is called a cyser, and hard apple cider can be strengthened with some honey. Sounds like a win-win situation to me. Thursday I picked up some wine yeast and yeast nutrient from a home brew supply store I found on the way home and had Sheila pick up some apple juice from Walmart. So, here it is, and it is brewing. Before you think this will be coming for the holidays, I must warn you this is still in the experimental stages. If it's bad, it's not going to be in your stocking next Christmas. Besides, wine bottles are expensive - especially the ones that really let you see the color of this tasty beverage. I did decide to brew a stout though, and when I get the kids outfitted for snow-skiing at Copper Mountain, I'm going to brew it. Here's a video of it fermenting. The yeast eats the sugar in the mixture giving off ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide. By the way, this cider will not be any stronger than wine, so if you think I'm going to start bootlegging, you need not worry. The stuff I usually make is too expensive and troublesome to be made for alcohol abuse.

On a different note, I started my training to become an elder at my church and the training was great. I'm in there with two close friends, a good friend, and an acquaintance that I hope to become good friends with by the time the training is over. We were studying the significance of scripture, who the triune God is, and many other topics of orthodoxy. I had some questions of my pastor earlier this week concerning baptism (I'm still an infant baptizer - I can't find any reason in Scripture not to be) and how the Westminster Confession and the church constitution treat infant baptism. I just wanted to be sure I was not against the church constitution by supporting those for membership who do not agree with infant baptism. I'll try to keep you all updated on my training. Please continue to pray for my family. As I said earlier, Satan can knock my knees out from under me by attacking my family or compromising my relationship with Sheila. God bless you all.

By the way, if you are a reader of my blog, may I trouble you to let me know you are? You don't have to say anything, but if you could at least let me know if it means anything to you. I'm surveying to see if folks like it. Toodle pip!

Same As It Ever Was

2010-01-21T23:33:00.002-05:00

Today was a very full day as I went to presbytery. It's after 9:00 PM and I got home about 30 minutes ago which made for a long day. Surprisingly, it went very well and I was very pleased with how things turned out. It's hard to believe I could enjoy it after that miserable experience I had last April when the presbytery voted down my pastor's very biblical complaint against it.

Most of the day was spent in taking care of business. They had a layman who was getting licensed to preach, there was a new teaching elder to be examined for licensure and acceptance in this presbytery as a church hired him to be their pastor. There was lots of regular church business to be cared for on a regional level too. The thing that struck me was that this business has been going on for two millennia. Men who are just as sinful as I am have been building upon the rock that Christ established at Pentecost two thousand years ago, and the church still remains. Not only does it remain, but at differing periods of time, it has actually thrived. I do have to qualify how the business was conducted. In the first two centuries, the church was very presbyterian in its government. Only when the bishop became recognized as more than a teaching elder with the ruling elders (presbyters) and those bishops were given the clout of being "apostolic," did the presbyterian system become episcopal. Presbyterian government did not come about again until the 17th century under Calvin in Geneva.

I was struck by the role of the elder tonight as we were praying corporately on how much responsibility these men have shepherding the church of Christ. Jesus passed this mantle to the Apostles who subsequently passed it to successive leaders throughout the ages. In my training to become a ruling elder, I've been reading about not only are we to serve the church, but just like the Good Shepherd, be willing to lay down our lives. This doesn't necessarily mean I'll have to physically do this (I might, just as leaders in persecuted countries have had to do), but the servant's life is a life of sacrifice and deference to the needs of the flock he shepherds.

If you think to, please pray for my family as I undergo this training. They are my first ministry and the thief (the devil) knows how to render the shepherd ineffective so he can have full access to the sheep. If you strike the shepherd, the sheep will scatter.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jig

2010-01-16T15:46:00.006-05:00

I got to Colorado Springs a little after 7:00 PM last night and we got to the house about 7:35. My trip home was somewhat uneventful, but I did run into a friend of mine from MWSS-271 who I deployed twice with. He's out of the Marines now and is working for a three-letter agency doing security work. It was great to run into him considering neither of us live in Dallas, and there are four huge terminals in that airport. The USO in Dallas is one of the finest I've been to and it was a good place to relax and have a free meal between flights.
In Pensacola I got to go to some of my old favorite haunts such as McGuire's Irish Pub & Restaurant, Kooter Brown's for wings, Brew's Brothers, Hong Kong, and Happy China for some of the good food I remember. I also got to go to the National Museum of Naval Aviation there at the NAS. They were having a retirement ceremony which made me look forward to mine. It would be a GREAT place to have a retirement ceremony, but it would only work well for having my family members and some of my friends. That museum is very special to me. I'm a huge naval history buff and that one is very comprehensive when it comes to Navy and Marine Corps aviation. I also got to visit some old friends from our church (they're at another church now) and I actually discipled one of them. All of us went on a missions trip to Mexico in the summer of 2000. The one I discipled is now the youth director at a PCA church north of Pensacola. I also got to see the "neighborhood" (it's now a park) where we lived when John was born.
Dad came down for a couple of days toward the end of my TAD and we had a very pleasant time. We had dinner Thursday night at Happy China (I had cold octopus salad which where whole little octopi). We then had coffee and watched the Cavs/Jazz game. The next day was at the museum before we parted ways to go to our homes. It was a good TAD.

Everything For A Reason

2010-01-14T03:31:00.002-05:00

Though my flight was delayed, I'm convinced it was for a reason now. I was bummed that I missed worship, but ended up having fellowship nonetheless. When the flight was delayed I noticed the woman next to me burst into tears and got on the telephone. I immediately thought maybe a family member had been in dire distress, but she composed herself and got in line to talk to the agents. I decided I would get in line too to find out which connecting flight I could get and found myself behind her. Deciding to start conversation, I found out she had a six-month-old son at home which she was separated for the first time from, had been a bride's maid at a wedding that weekend, and was a reformed Christian from Michigan. We chatted some time about children, marriage (blissful), how we met our spouses, and ultimately, how each of us loved Jesus.

When we got to Dallas, we parted ways with only first-name knowledge and the assurance that we would be friends not in this life but in glory. She thanked me for helping her pass the time and I did the same. It's strange how the fellowship of the Saints transcends circumstance. I then went to one of the nicest USO's I've ever been to in the DFW Airport. I got a free meal and got to watch some football while I chatted with Sheila on the phone. I'm amazed at how USO's really make servicepersons feel at home. It is a completely disarming atmosphere and I've felt this not just in Dallas but in Kuwait as well. If you have some extra cash you need to spend, spend it on the USO. It'll be money well spent.

I better knock off for now. It is very late and I'm going to go to bed. My dad is coming tomorrow to hang out with me. I'm also having lunch with some old friends (Gabriel is Trey's best friend and also his dad is coming too).

Here I Sit All Broken Hearted

2010-01-10T09:58:00.002-05:00

I'm sitting in the airport of Colorado Springs waiting for them to fix a battery issue on the airplane. They told us it would be warmer in the terminal than on the airplane, so we're waiting. No worries, but I was hoping to be able to make the evening worship service at one of our old churches in Pensacola this evening as I'll have to miss worship this morning. Part of me wishes I'd made flight arrangements to travel on Saturday, but that would have meant I'd be without my family on Saturday.

I was nominated to undergo training for elder at my church over the holidays. There are several men who are being considered too which I would be glad to serve with. It's a pretty daunting responsibility as in the presbyterian churches, the ruling elders are considered to have as much responsibility as the teaching elder (pastor). The biggest difference is that the pastor doesn't roll off the session (elder board) unless he resigns. Furthermore, the pastor is not a member of the church, he's a member of the presbytery which is the next higher court than the church.

Bummer. We just found out that our flight is going to be delayed for four hours.

What a Wonderful Gift

2009-12-04T00:04:00.002-05:00

I was thinking the other day about music and what an emotive tool it can be. I've thought about the different types of music I've listened to and recalled how I felt when I listened to them. Before I joined the Navy my life was an absolute shambles so I took solace in "The Final Cut" by Pink Floyd. In high school I would channel my angst through Ozzy Osbourne. I was so troubled during that time that I craved something much harder but couldn't find it. When I was only allowed to listen to Christian music while growing up, I always sought the hardest I could find like Stryper, Rez, and Bride (I think it's a riot that Stryper has come out with a new album!).

It's funny how it is now. Of the music I listen to now, I enjoy the music but don't necessarily channel emotions through it. I still like Ozzy and Pink Floyd, and have even taken on some of the new rock (I can't help it, I'm a rocker at the core), but it's just music to me now. The other night we were watching a video that Trey's and Katy's friend Bekah sent to Katy where a choral jazz group from Slovenia called Perpetuum Jazzile covered "Africa" by Toto (from the 80's) and did a fantastic medley of Bee Gees music. As I sang the songs along with the group, it brought back some good memories. It's funny how you forget the bad memories that happened during adolescence when Jesus' Holy Spirit begins renewing your mind. You remember the innocent diversions, recall only enough of the bad ones to see God's grace in your life, and can enjoy the art that music is unhindered by other people's opinions and judgments.

My kids astonish me. My oldest son likes the music I grew up on: Led Zeppelin, Bee Gees, Journey, and even likes dance R & B like Earth, Wind, and Fire. The other night we played "Beth" by Kiss over and over again! Kate's into the pop stuff, but that goes with age and personality I guess. Regardless, her interests really make her a likable kid.

Hymns, Christian, and church music has much more meaning to me. During our Thanksgiving Eve service a week ago Wednesday, I went through spells where I couldn't sing from just the emotion that our Thanksgiving hymns evoked. Sheila had a hard time too. Hymns have such a way of providing artistic imagery which can convey God's greatness and majesty, His love and care, His grace and mercy, and His justice and might. Music allows us to express in a finite way, God's infinity and splendor where words can fail and fall short of melting our hearts. I think that's why He gave it to us. When my heart is cold, an old or modern hymn can speak through me until my heart melts and begins to stand behind what I already know in my head: God is great and worthy of praise, and He loves me though I have nothing to recommend myself to Him.

Pride and Prejudice was a neat medium for music this year. For the first time I heard songs that enhanced and reinforced themes in the story. I love the story, but the music made it better. When Mary sings "The Girl Born Plain," or when Darcy and Elizabeth sing "First Impressions," it just makes the production much better. I really hope to see this again in a nationally recognized venue some day. The play and music were just that good. It was a pleasure to help with the support staff so I could see bits of it every night.

I've rambled enough, but it was something I wanted to put to "ink." God bless us one and all.

My Parents' Visit

2009-11-23T09:09:00.003-05:00

My mom and dad came to visit us early this month which was a very pleasant time. They arrived on the first of November and stayed until the following Sunday morning. It was a very busy time as Pride & Prejudice was just about in full swing, which took up most of Sheila's evenings, limiting the amount of time she and the kids got to spend. Trey originally was going to be with me, Mom, and Dad, but he volunteered to run spotlight.

Dad had a conference in Denver that he would attend for most of the week, but it gave them funds for coming out. Dad took the FREX (Front Range Express) to Denver for 2 out of 3 of his conference days. It's a neat bus that runs hourly and costs about $14 round trip. It has luxury seating and even has WiFi. I took leave that week which I'm glad of. Otherwise we would have had very little time together.

For events, we took them to Pride & Prejudice's opening night (to see their grandkids act), out to the Sangre de Cristos on Friday, a hockey game on Friday night, and the Army/Air Force football game on Saturday. It was a great visit and we look forward to seeing them again.

Bass Pro and Pride & Prejudice

2009-11-16T02:23:00.017-05:00

Alright, I promise I'm going to get better about blogging. I'm learning that small updates are better than none at all. Besides, Sheila updates you all so much better, but here are some goodies that I'll post and then I hope to tell you about my parent's visit with us week before last. This entry is about culture and culture on the skids.
Pride and Prejudice was performed at my church for the last two weeks and I had the opportunity to get involved with it, mostly setting up concessions and sitting with the townskid extras. Today has been sad knowing that there won't be anymore performances or rehearsals. Most of the actors and crew don't go to our church, but they are very special to me in addition to the fact that I love the story itself. There were producer scouts at this thing who are interested in trying to get this thing to Broadway. If it ever gets there, you owe it to yourself to see it. Music is such and emotive device, and when used with such a great story, it is greatly enhanced. I give glory to God first, then I give my complements to Karen Hamer and Abby Carsich for such a great production (also everyone else too). Some of those kids may go to Village Seven Pres for church, but I still think of them as covenant kids. You can't help but love them! I don't have any play pix of Kate, but Sheila does. See her blog!
These gals play Elizabeth and Jane Bennett. The fellow plays Mr. Darcy who John played the younger of when Darcy is writing to Lizzie.
These pix are from our vacation this past summer when we went to Bass Pro in Leeds, Alabama. I must have one of those recliners! The Bible is for reading in the tree stand. Not even the Devil can spot that one. Otherwise it'd have to be blaze orange!

What I Did For My Summer Vacation

2009-09-07T13:52:00.012-05:00

Alright, I know I haven't updated in forever. Besides, I don't know who even reads this blog anyway, but for those of you who still do, here is what I did for my summer vacation.

In June I took the rest of the family (Trey was in Mississippi) on a TAD/TDY to the D.C. area. I had a course to go to in Bethesda, so Sheila, Katy, and the boys stayed with friends in Annapolis and Fort Belvoir while I attended the school. It was great! I stayed in a nice Holiday Inn in Gaithersburg, MD, so I slept well, ate well, and unfortunately, worked on a term paper. At least I finished the paper and it kept me out of trouble with my fellow Chiefs. The first Friday of the course we went to the Capitol Building for a tour. One of our fellow Chiefs works in the Office of the Attending Physician and we were actually able to get gallery passes and learn what goes on there during special events. It was very informative. Thankfully, Congress wasn't in session. I suspect it would have been a waste of time if the were. We learned that it was hard, but we could drive straight through the night if we needed to in order to get to where we were going.

The next three weeks after we got back from Bethesda, we spent recuperating and catching up on my office work. I spent a great deal of time working on the lectures for my seminary class. With the paper behind me, I only had to worry about getting the lectures done, the exams, and finishing the required reading. I finished my final the day before we departed to go to Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia.

Prior to leaving, we took the van in for an oil change and tire rotation and were greeted with the horrible news that our front struts were blown and it would be over a $1000 to get them replaced along with the brake work that had to be done due to the strut fluid causing the front rotors to warp. They fixed it, but when we picked it up the next day, there was a crack in the windshield, possibly from the frame being flexed during the compressing of the strut springs. We couldn't get the windshield replaced until the afternoon of the day we were to leave. Knowing this, we knew we were not going to be able to spend the night in a hotel on the way. Thankfully, the Bethesda trip prepared us for this not-as-long all-nighter we would have to do.

Mississippi was pleasant. We had a great time visiting with Sheila's aunt and cousins. We got to go to First Presbyterian Jackson that Sunday which is always a treat to us. Ligon Duncan was on sabbatical, so Derrick Thomas preached. Fantastic! There's something about excellent preaching enhanced with a Welsh accent! Weight Watchers gets a holiday for Jerry's Catfish House all-you-can-eat catfish!

Birmingham was a lot of fun. We stayed with my in-laws who are always very hospitable to me (I'm a lucky son-in-law). We had much fun with extended family. We went bowling with Sheila's sister's family, the McWayne Center, swimming at my folks place, visiting with my uncle and cousins (I'd not seen one of them in many years), Mexican food night, etc.

In Georgia, we had our customary vacation-from-vacation-before-we-go-back as the Wichterselfs. We went to the beach, got sunburned, had our traditional double-date, listened to eighties dance music, karaoke, and just hanging out. While we were there we visited some friends from North Carolina who have moved there recently. So many of our friends are moving to Georgia now. It was great to visit with Kevin and Cheryl and get caught up. There new place is beautiful.

When we got back, it took me three weeks to get caught up with all of the work I missed. I finished my seminary course on vacation, so I didn't have that to worry about upon our return. Chief's Induction season has started. I preached (you can hear it on www.forestgate.org; I'll post a link on the side) and youth group is back to full swing. John and Katy are in the church's musical production of Pride and Prejudice, and football season has begun. It's good to be back home.

Tattoo You

2009-07-17T11:00:00.006-05:00

Katy got a henna tattoo kit for Christmas and just opened it up as she was saving it for a special occasion. I guess she got tired of waiting because she's been tattooing everything! First, she did her ankle, then she did a butterfly on her thigh. They turned out quite nice and then she said she would tattoo me. Today she did Sheila's foot. I told her that though she might have a gift for this, she should still seek a different vocation. Kate just wouldn't look right working at a tattoo studio.

The Little Engine That Could

2009-07-06T18:04:00.011-05:00

This past weekend Sheila and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary! It was actually Sunday, but we left Friday after we put Amy and the girls on a plane back to Alabama, and stayed in Canyon City, Colorado.

I booked us a room at the Jewel of the Canyon Bed and Breakfast which was not only the most elegant lodging in the city, but was also the best value. We stayed in the Red Rocks Canyon Room which was decorated in red. The breakfast was very fine as well and we enjoyed chatting with the other guests that had stayed the night.
Before we checked in Friday, we drove up to the Royal Gorge Park. Though the scenery around it was pretty, the park didn't seem nice enough to put out a lot of money to spend time there. The main attraction is the suspension bridge built in the early 1900's, 1050 feet above the Arkansas River. On our way back we drove along Skyline Drive which was built by the local prisoners back in the 1920's (Canyon City has a prison there that helps support the economy).

After we checked into the B & B, Sheila and I went to the local microbrewery a couple of blocks from the B & B called McClellan's. They had excellent beer and food and was most reasonably priced. After we went back to the B & B, we hung out in the garden and on the front porch watching the bees work.
After we checked out the next day, we went to Walmart to get some things, went to lunch at Merlino's (not recommended) for Italian, and then went the Holy Cross Abbey Winery for wine tasting and spending a fortune for special occassion wine for the next year. After going back to the Walmart to get a cooler and some ice to keep the wine cool, we went to have coffee at a local coffee cafe for mochas and scones. Once we were done there, we went to the train depot for our dinner ride aboard the Royal Gorge Route train.
The dinner aboard the train was spectacular and the view was magnificent. We both had prime rib, salads, and cheesecake. They charge extra for the vista dome car, but I think we got better atmosphere in the dining car. The vista dome decor is somewhat like a Denny's while the dining car was elegantly decorated in the early 1900's motif. Each way out and back they stopped the train on the hanging bridge which is in the heart of the gorge. The Arkansas River was a half-foot below flood stage with all the rain we've received, so the water was really rushing.
It was a great anniversary away. We slept in through Sunday School and when we arrived at church, we were greeted with the good news that some of our young friends got engaged to be married. It sure was a mushy weekend!

Old Man Mountain Showing Us Who's Boss

2009-06-21T13:56:00.013-05:00

This past weekend John, Randy, and I went to Mt Elbert with a buddy of mine from the Navy, Shawn, and his daughter Ashley. It took us about three hours to get there from the Springs, but as they say, getting there is half the fun. In this case it was beautiful. Shawn appreciated the fact that I was driving, so I had to let him get the pix, but I'll add them to this post when I get the pictures from him. Mt Elbert is the highest peak in Colorado and is the second tallest peak in the 48 contiguous states. Its actual height is 14,433 ft.
We set up camp at one of the most beautiful campsites I've ever been at. Our campsite was right next to Elbert Creek which flows into the Halfmoon Creek. Creeks in Colorado roar, so we had that sound to sing us to sleep at night. An old buddy of Shawn's from high school who lives close by also came out to see us. While the two of them caught up, I grilled burgers and dogs for supper. If you look past the camp and through the trees, you can see the creek rushing by. After supper, the kids made smores and then we brushed their teeth and sent them to bed. I've been sick, so I turned in with the boys.

The next morning after breakfast, we took off up the mountain. The starting elevation is at 10,050 ft which is already an altitude where one can get hypoxic who isn't acclimatized to the "Rocky Mountain high." We climbed a couple of miles below the tree line before emerging into some of the most beautiful scenery. We didn't know because my phone was turned off (yes, I could get a signal out there. I use Sprint and I expect a discount on my next bill for the plug), that a storm was coming in. Sheila had tried to contact us, but we suspected nothing because of all the people who were climbing the mountain that day.

Once we emerged from the treeline, we entered the alpine tundra. The tundra meadow had many pretty little wild flowers as well as alpine tundra lichen. This stuff expands its growth only about an inch every so many years, so if it is damaged, it takes a very long time to grow back. Above the tundra meadow was the boulder field. This was where it began to be very challenging. We were already hypoxic so we could only go so far before having to stop for a break. Our hands were purple by this time and our nail beds were blue. When we reached the first false summit, we discovered to our dismay that there were two more before we would reach the summit. By this time it had started snowing. The kids were wanting to turn back and after making that decision, realized it was the wisest one. As we descended, we were snowed upon, then came driving sleet which pelted and reddened our skin. As we got within 300 yards of the treeline, it began raining and continued to do so as the temperature dropped, all the way back down the mountain. When we made it back to camp, we were soaked and the temperature had dropped to 47 degrees. What had started as a fun hike up the mountain turned into a survival situation. By God's grace, we made it back without any permanent damage (I was already sick with a sinus infection and am hoping it does not turn to pneumonia).

We saw some wildlife up there which was neat. Below the treeline we met a snowshoe hare and once we got to the boulder field we saw marmots which look like a cross between a beaver and a guinea pig. I have some video of one making squeaking noises.

For our trip back we decided to take I-70 East through Vail to get home. The scenery through Leadville all the way to Denver was beautiful. We stopped in Frisco, CO for some Taco Bell which made the kiddos really happy (grownups too). Then the kids fell asleep while Shawn and I talked all the way back to his house. We'll definitely do the camping again, and I hope it will be there too. I'm not sure if I'll try to conquer another 14er again, but if I have the right equipment and a stout-hearted partner, I might try it again. Maybe next time I'll be healthier.

Gone, But Not Forgotten

2009-05-25T23:51:00.007-05:00

I have evidence, after all. A picture says a thousand words, so here are a few for your enjoyment.

To begin with, earlier this month Trey and I got a wild hair one Sunday to hike the Stanley Trail. We've hiked it many times, but it was the closest, most technical, and most beautiful trail we could find in short notice. John had strep that Sunday, so we cancelled the Sunday night small group. It was great. There was still snow on the trail and there were large amounts of snow sitting over the mountain stream with water rushing out from under it. I'm looking forward to when the aspens bud. I love these trees, probably because I love this state. It'll break my heart when we have to leave.

This past Tuesday we went to a baseball game. It was a crazy day though. Sheila and the boys couldn't go because of the boys' baseball practice (see Sheila's blog for baseball details). Their practice was cancelled for weather too late for them to go. So Kate, Trey and I took one of their friends with us named Hannah. She was a missionary kid who spent a lot of time in France, so this was her first baseball game. We've already introduced her to hockey and she's already been to a football game, so the next logical step was baseball. She had a great time as did all of us, and the Sky Sox won the game.

I gave Trey a Mohawk haircut the night before he left. You owe it to yourself to look at the pictures on Sheila's blog. I ended up mowing the rest of it down so he wouldn't have to get a haircut for a while.

Kate got back from the camp she was cleaning on Sunday (see Sheila's blog) and she had a good time with her friends working, but was not ready to be home again. She's bouncing back, but not liking taking over Trey's leadership in his absence.

Busiest Man in History

2009-05-10T22:35:00.002-05:00

I'm taking a church history course. That is the reason I've not updated my blog. At least that's the excuse I'm using, and I'm sticking to it. My course is "Church History to the Reformation" and it is truly a masters level course. The course requirements are as follows: 2000 pages of required reading, a 15-page research paper on anything in the area of study, 24 lectures, 4 interactivity requirements on the history forum, an online conversation with a teaching fellow via e-mail, and two exams. I have to sign an integrity reading report, so I have to read all 2000 pages. Approximately a 1000 of the pages are actual text, but the rest can be used as research for my paper which is tentatively on the first seven ecumenical councils. I've been busting my tail to try to get the bulk of it done before I go TAD to Bethesda, MD for a course in June.

I've been leading worship at church now for the past four weeks and it has been such a blessing to me. I'm and introvert (not!) and I have to exercise myself so I'll become an extrovert. This really brings me out of my shell. Actually, the worship is something that is very important to me and I enjoy being in control of it. Selfishly, I have family members that are there to worship and I would like to create an atmosphere where they can worship with the same degree of reverence we've had before. I also enjoy encouraging folks. It's so easy to forget why we are there on Sunday mornings. But, they are there to worship, and if I can facilitate that worship and help them, I feel as if I've served them and God.

I'm not teaching right now for the summer. It's a little weird for me though, because I've really enjoyed working with the youth in Sunday school. We've been going through the Piper series that I went through on my last deployment that meant so much in strengthening my relationship with God. I really love these kids and think of them as my true covenant kiddos. That's why it was so disappointing for me to find out that I was no longer going to be leading the youth on Wednesday nights. I was supposed to take it over in the fall, but things did not pan out as well as I had hoped. I wasn't the only one disappointed, but there are lessons for us all to learn in this like submitting to the authority of the church as works of God's hand.

I'm now an unofficial intern at my church. I was supposed to be examined at presbytery this last month, but I misunderstood the stringent application requirments and will now be examined in the fall. Bummer for being a Rocky Mountain Presbytery candidate, but I still get to intern at the church and the pastor will keep up with all of the details. I might consider just staying in the Eastern Carolina Presbytery anyway. I'm troubled by some of the license that has been taken in my denomination that is contrary to the Book of Church Order and especially, the Scripture. Honestly folks, if you don't like the way the PCA does things, then go find a denomination that meets your desires. Don't try to change this one.

I better quit before I start ranting. I'll try to do better with my posting. Sorry it's been so long. God bless you.

Writer's Block

2009-03-23T23:04:00.002-05:00

I have to confess that my life for the last month has been painfully status quo. There has not been much to write about or update. I still don't have the pictures up in my office, the boys' room still remains a wreck, and I'm still behind with my school work. The biggest difference between this class and the last one was that with this one, it's an integrity issue if I don't do all of the reading. I have to read 2,000 pages for this class.

I guess I can come out in the open now. I joined Weight Watchers late January and have lost 17 pounds. I've been really pleased with how well it's gone. I'm rarely hungry and I get to eat what I want for the most part. I'll make modifications so I can enjoy the things I especially enjoy like pizza and beer. Sam Adams Light has been a Godsend. It's nice to have a light beer that still tastes good (rich), and won't set me too far back in allowance. Guinness Draught is good too. There have been a couple of weeks where I've had to pay penance for eating too much over a weekend. This is one of those weeks. We had steaks on Saturday and two weeks ago, we went to Rock Bottom Brewery for supper. I ate three days worth of Weight Watchers points and had to PT my brains out the next week. But I did get out of the red before the week was out! Sheila's lost as much as I have on her own diet. I tried hers and had to quit. I found myself getting despondent with the food restrictions, but she does really well with them. Food isn't as important to her as it is to me. Besides, hers is tailored to women in her time of life.

I've only got another five weeks with the senior high Sunday school and I'm a bit bummed. I really love these kids and desire of all things to see them find the same happiness in God that I've come to know (even better). I'm a candidate for candidacy here in the Rocky Mountain Presbytery and I'm not too impressed. If there's going to be a presbytery that's going to go liberal outside of California, it's probably this one. There's a strong air of egalitarianism when it comes to women as officers. My pastor is fighting it tooth and nail, but even in the individual churches there is not much concern for following (even loosely) the Book of Church Order from the PCA. These weren't real issues in the Eastern Carolina Presbytery. God has us here for a reason.

I'm going to bed. Sheila and the older two have returned from choir rehearsal and Walmart. Cheers!

A Is For Achievement

2009-03-07T01:08:00.003-05:00

I got an A on my first seminary course! I had hoped for a B, but God in His mercy gave me an A. Praise the Lord!

Sorry I've not blogged in forever. Between the move, my school work, and my make-up work at my job, I've not had much time to even think about what to write.

We're moved in now, and I must say that it has been quite a chore. Moving is always a chore, but we have had many problems with our new, "better" place. Many of the things about this house are just fantastic. The view from our living room is gorgeous, and the house is very pleasantly situated. However, one of our walls leaked water (from the shower; it's fixed now), there is less storage than our previous place, and our stove will not even boil water (neither will any of our neighbors' stoves). The stove apparently is not rated for the altitude we live at. We'll see what happens over the next few days.

Trey didn't get accepted for the USAF Academy's summer seminar, though I found out later that it should be expected. Kids from the local area don't get invites because they want to use the slots for kids who can't visit it on a regular basis. We're about to send off his nomination and recommendation letters for the academy and the Marine Option Navy ROTC. We're looking primarily at Duke and UNC Chapel Hill for Marines ROTC and the Air Force Academy too, simply because of the major he's chosen (Eastern Europe and Eurasia with a concentration in Russian). Every option is a good education. It just depends on who has the best financial aid package. He's in track now too, but his back has been injured for the last two weeks. He's champing at the bit to participate. Hopefully he'll be able to compete in a week and a half.

Future seminary plans have become frustrated as I have learned that I'll have to apply for financial aid in addition to my GI Bill since the new GI Bill only covers the cost of undergraduate, in-state tuition. Though I'll be in-state, my coursework is graduate level and at a private institution. We'll see where God places us, as we are going to have to take the best financial aid package that can be offered, either through my employment, or what the school is willing to give me.

I'm now enrolled in my second course which is church history to the Reformation. It has 2000 pages of reading in addition to the research paper and lectures required. This time I have to read it all as there is an integrity contract I have to sign. My research paper will be on the seven ecumenical councils. I thought about doing it on St Augustine or Pope Gregory the Great, but I have a hunch that many will choose Augustine, as there are more primary sources for research. The councils were very important on the formation of our modern Christian doctrine about what we believe concerning the Trinity and the canonization of Scripture.

Tomorrow Kate and I are going to attend the last women's basketball game of the season for AFA. The women have done much better than the men's team. The men started strong, but have lost every game since New Year's Eve. This game is against BYU.

We have a busy morning ahead of us with Young Marines and Trey's team's track meet (he wants to be there to support the team though he can't participate yet). Kate and I are going to the Ft Carson library to work on writing and my homework during Young Marines. Hopefully we'll have some time to settle and prepare for the Sabbath tomorrow. I'm leading worship again, as well as teaching the senior high Sunday School. I love these kids. They are remarkably spiritual, so I'm taking them through John Piper's "The Blazing Center" video series which had a tremendous impact on my own walk with God during this last deployment to Iraq. Hopefully I'll have some pictures from tomorrow that I can blog next time.

I'll try to do better in the future about blogging. Unlike deployment, there is not as much to blog about, with spiritual things excepting. But I never intended for this blog to teach spiritual things. Anything I write is purely from my own experience. Cheers!

Just Around the Corner

2009-02-11T23:34:00.003-05:00

Friday we get our key to our new place and begin moving our stuff over. We intend to have the packable things moved over and set up before the furniture actually gets moved. Clothes, books, kitchen, etc., are all going to be over and in their places when the furniture begins to arrive. Moving some of it ourselves is lucrative, which will come in handy if by God's grace, our congressman and senators want to interview Trey next November for the academies.

I was interviewed by the session (board of elders in a Presbyterian church) of our church to be recommended to the Rocky Mountain Presbytery as a candidate for Gospel ministry and an intern at our church. I'm already a candidate in the Eastern Carolina Presbytery, but there are opportunities here for me to be able to knock out my internship part-time over the course of our time here. I'll still have four years after retirement before we can actually settle (we want to plant a church in Kinston, NC).

We might retire six months earlier than we originally planned. One of the quandaries we faced was when and where to put Katy through college. We're thinking that if we retire early, both she and I will be able to start our studies in Charlotte at the beginning of the 2011/2012 school year. We'll see, but it looks as though that may be one of our best options.

I taught the youth group tonight to free up our Christian Ed elder for a parents' meeting. I already teach them Sunday School and was allowed to teach the next quarter's Sunday School too. I love these kids. Most of them know how to love each other as they already love Jesus which is something you don't see in most youth groups. They learn, minister, bear each other's burdens, reach out to the lost, and enjoy each other's friendship like no other youth group I've seen. Before we came here, I did not believe in youth groups per se. I still would hesitate to lead a group from a large metropolitan church, but this group is just unusual. Between this church and the "group of youth" we had at our last church, I'd say we've been very blessed to find like-minded people who teach their children to glorify God above everything else in their lives. Cheers.

Sunday With Our Cadets

2009-01-19T19:42:00.008-05:00

This weekend we had Greg and Patrick over for a day away from the cadet area. We picked up Patrick from Harmon Hall on Sunday morning and took him to church with us. After church, I went to pick up Greg where we came back here to have chicken pot pie with the Johnson's. Their daughter Rachel had to do a science experiment on our stove, which was a great excuse for having them over. We had our usual Sunday night small group with Dr. Sproul, hymn singing, and fellowship. Since it was a holiday weekend, we extended the hours so folks could continue to fellowship. It worked out well as Rachel's experiment took a little longer than expected. Sheila and Becky (Mrs. Johnson) talked homeschool, while my kids and the cadets played games and enjoyed time together. Fortunately, Greg and Patrick didn't have to return until 0130.

When the Johnson's left, we watched an episode of Band of Brothers, and then Greg mentioned that he had not seen Prince Caspian yet. Then we learned that they could call in and request a pass for the evening, so they could spend the night! Trey and I left for Walmart at midnight to fetch some movie popcorn, sodas, and movie candy, as well as breakfast items for the next morning. When we returned, we watched the movie and then made it to bed at 0330! Needless to say, we slept in the next morning. But we had an excellent brunch of omelets and pancakes.

Today we went to Walmart to get some coffee and meat for supper and when we returned, Greg, Patrick, and I went over to snoop around the new house. It's great, but the pantry that the housing office promised was misinformation. There is more room in all of the bedrooms, but the living room is a trifle narrower. But outside our living room windows, is a spectacular view of the Rampart Range. I can look up Stanley Canyon and see the hospital up on the hill. There's this feeling of living in a canyon ourselves with the hills all around us. It's going to be a great place to live.

I'm All Caught Up

2009-01-14T00:18:00.003-05:00

Monday was a momentous occasion. I finally got all of my work caught up at the office after that fruitless (though fun) hunting trip in October. Thinking that we would be moving right away and that I really needed to have the week to get caught up, I canceled my plans to go TAD to Pensacola for the conference I have not been sent to since 1993! It would have been great to see some old shipmates and have a stout at McGuire's Irish Restaurant and Pub. That's okay. There'll be next year. I think we're going to try to go the Naval Academy's Induction Day next year. It would be good to see what goes on when they induct the next year's plebes.

Trey has his first track meeting at Air Academy High this Thursday. He'll have to try out to see if he makes varsity or JV. He's never done any field events, but he's very fleet-footed. I'm sure he'll do well in the running events. It's also good that he'll have someone to push him besides me. Familiarity breeds contempt when it comes to coaching your kids. The cross-country coach is an assistant coach for the track team as well. Trey will also be volunteering at the USAFA Youth Center helping out a friend of mine. Trey is very good with younger kids and will be a real asset to their staff.

Trey, John, and Randy all joined Colorado Springs Young Marines this past Saturday. I'm contemplating joining their staff again too as I really do enjoy it. The only drawback is that they have no real Marines. I'm the only one who's ever worn a Marine uniform, and I'm a Sailor! I'm helping some friends from church move this Saturday, so I won't be involved. But I will try to go to the hockey game Saturday night.

That's it in a nutshell. Until next time . . .

Nothing Happens As Expected

2009-01-03T18:44:00.003-05:00

It was a fun week with my parents and sister. They left yesterday. We had every intention of going to to summit of Pike's Peak, but the winds were hurricane force in the morning and when Dad checked out the status of the Pike's Peak Highway, it was closed due to snow and high winds.

Yesterday we went ice skating again with another couple of girls from church as well as a couple of other families that met us there. It was a great time, but I fell pretty hard forward. I was able to catch myself before I face-planted in the ice, but I gave myself whiplash and strained my triceps. Later I came down with what I thought was a fever, but it wasn't. I turned out to be an intestinal bug (or something I ate-probably). It felt very similar to when I had salmonellosis on the USS Saratoga in 1994. I think it was some leftover egg breakfast bar that I had made the day before. Needless to say, we threw out the leftover eggs from this morning. Katy and the girls had a great time watching The Village by M. Night Shyamalan. That's one of his better movies. We then had ice cream and watched "Over the Hedge." Everyone seemed to have a good time.

Sheila, Trey, and Kate are on their way home from the commissary with our supper, so I had better sign off. Cheers.

The Grandbird

2008-12-29T21:35:00.006-05:00

My parents and youngest sister came to visit us for this week. They arrived on Saturday and went to church with us on Sunday. They also went with us today to go skating over at the hockey arena. During the week, the hockey arena is available for open skating before the hockey team comes out to practice. I even got out there to skate. It had been 15 years, but it was still a lot of fun. I'm not near as good as Trey, but I was able to stay up for some time. I only fell three times.

My dad was introduced to the bird yesterday. Lovebirds like to be in a position of dominance, so they enjoy sitting on shoulders. Pippin climbed up Dad's arm and sat on his shoulder like Dad was a sailor. Speaking of Pippin, Trey is training him quite well. He's not biting nearly as often anymore and Trey is getting him to step up to his finger.

We got some GREAT (said facetiously) news! We got our 45 day notice on Christmas Eve, that we have move out of our duplex and go to another house here in the neighborhood. We were so frustrated that they gave us such disappointing news on Christmas Eve. I'm sure someone at the housing office thought it would be a neat Christmas present to know we were moving to a renovated house. In the morning we'll find out where we're moving to. We're also going to Pike's Peak (I'm driving us up this time) and then going bowling ($1 day) in the afternoon. It'll be a busy, but fun day.

I'm Finished With My First Graduate Level Course!

2008-12-23T23:09:00.004-05:00

As the title of my posting says, I'm done with with my first seminary class. I took my exam on Monday and I must confess, I'm kind of iffy on the projected outcome. Since they may use the questions again, I won't disclose them. But I will say that there were two easy questions and two extremely hard ones. One of them was a sure impossibility. The other, I felt I could at least get some of the answer to for partial credit. I only had to answer 3 of the 4 questions. Good thing too, I'd have gotten a zero for the question I chose not to answer! A "B" would be so sweet.

Sheila and I were commenting today about all of the Christmas presents we have been receiving from people we've had the privilege of getting to know in the eight months we've been here. One family in our church blessed us with several thoughtful gifts. Today we received a gift basket from one of our cadets and his mother. We're really touched by how special everyone has made this Christmas for us out here.

There's something about being involved in our church at Christmastime, that we've not previously had. It must be the snow. I've not seen such a Christmas spirit before, most likely because we formerly lived so far away from our church. Monday, my kids went caroling with the church at a nursing home and then in a neighborhood. My sons told me about a Jewish family that didn't recognize the hymns they sang, but thought they were very nice and received the invitation to the Christmas Eve service. They probably won't come, but the church's name and number were on that invite. First Samaritan's Purse, then Feed the Children, and now the neighborhood caroling. We may not be seeing folks coming to Christ, yet. But there is this sense of immanence that people WILL come to know the Savior. Maybe it's just optimism, but like Edwards, I can't help but feel that the Spirit is doing a mighty work. He's at the least giving folks at our church a heart to see people reconciled to God the Father through Christ.

As Sheila said, I got my commercialized Christmas fix for the year. I know the Reason for the season (see, I even capitalized "Reason"), but the mall and Santa give me so much pleasure. It takes me back to when I was a kid. My grandfather was the handyman who repaired and set up all of the animated puppets for the "Enchanted Forest" at the downtown Pizitz department store in Birmingham during Christmastime. It was so special to go to every year. They eventually closed the downtown store which led to my grandfather's retirement, and the whole corporation is now defunct. But I can still see Grandaddy's workbench at Pizitz with a lighted cigarette sitting in the ashtray! Mom would take us downtown to see the forest before we would pick up Dad from work. He worked only a few blocks over. It was very much like Macy's or Cole's in the "Miracle on 34th Street" movies. I have to confess, writing this is making me a little nostalgic. Those times are gone, and so is the era. I only hope my kids can get a little sense of how special commercialized Christmas can really be. Don't worry, Santa will never replace Jesus. He can't hold a candle to the richness we have from the poverty of His birth, nor can Santa's airborne sleigh replace the heavenly hosts of angels proclaiming Jesus' birth to the lowly shepherds. Santa's gifts are so insignificant compared to Jesus righteousness, His redemption, or the blessing of heaven that is to come. Santa is once a year, but Jesus is forever and He is our gift and inheritance! Merry Christmas!

Theology of the Little Drummer Boy

2008-12-14T23:14:00.008-05:00

Most people don't think of "The Little Drummer Boy" as a theological song, but there is a small little nugget of truth in it that in previous times I'd not thought of. "I have no gift to bring that's fit to give a King." We were at a concert at church tonight of a Manhattan Transfer like group and this was one of their selections. It really struck me of how I really don't have anything within myself that makes me worthy of bringing anything to God. What do you contribute to the God of the Universe who owns everything and I owe everything? Ironically, it's the Baby that is the direct object of the song that gives me my worthiness to even bring a gift to Him. Because of my sin, I'm unworthy. Because of Christ's righteousness, He imputes His worthiness to me which allows me to be His friend and make my feeble gifts "fit to give a King."

This weekend has been so special. I'll have to admit that this is one of the more special Christmases I've ever had. Friday night we (several of my teenagers' friends and some of ours) drove to Denver to participate in boxing up shoe boxes for "Operation Christmas Child" which is a ministry of Samaritan's Purse. They send these boxes all over the world (ours were going to Mexico) and give them to children who are underprivileged and typically have no Christmas, nor do they even know what Christmas is about. I couldn't help but be emotional (I tried to hide it as best I could) about how significant our work was. These boxes of gifts were going to help soften the heart of some child (or his/her parents) to the Gospel of Jesus Christ through a simple act of kindness. I felt like I was truly contributing to the proliferation of the Gospel to all of the world. I saw so many boxes that I felt that if a tenth of the recipients of those boxes were saved by Christ's Holy Spirit, that Jesus might come back the next day. I don't know when Jesus will come back, but it felt as though Christ's kingdom was imminent. Maranatha. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. I can't wait.

In my theology of Jonathan Edwards class, Edwards explained that because Jesus was incarnate, we could behold His beauty. Jesus said that if you've seen Him, you've seen the Father. You've seen God. I may not be able to see Him now because He is at the right hand of God the Father, but He was tangible and will be tangible to me one day when I'm with Him in glory.

The next day we passed out toothpaste and Gospel tracts to underprivileged families of the Department of Human Services (DHS) of Colorado Springs. There was a tremendous amount of selfishness which was hard to understand. People wanted all they could get their hands on and all wanted what was coming to them, including the Gospel tract! We stopped asking them if they wanted one and simply asked if they required English or Spanish. Then they took them! Our hope of course is that they understand the message within it and savingly know Who Jesus is as the Savior of their souls.

It may be that we live close enough to our church that we can be more involved in the celebration of Christ in Christmas. It could also be what I've learned in my seminary class about the incarnation of the Son of God, His ministry, death, resurrection and future second coming. Regardless of the reason, God has been very eminent to me this year in allowing me to sense how significant Christmas really is. It's about God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit covenanting from all eternity past to save me, and that eternal Son of God putting on flesh. Eternal God so He could pay my eternal debt to God for sinning against Him, yet fully man so He could suffer in my place so the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit could enter into a relationship of friendship with me. If we don't speak before Christmas, God bless you, and have a very Merry Christmas.

To see a YouTube video Sheila made of the weekend, click on the link at the top of this page to the right (under the title).

Happy Thanksgiving Back

2008-11-30T21:59:00.002-05:00

In case you're wondering about the title of this, it's from You've Got Mail, a favorite movie of Sheila's.

It was a wonderful Thanksgiving with our friends, the Congers. Chris and Allison are friends of ours from Harvest who are out here for seminary about two hours south of here. It began snowing Thursday night and really seemed to make the dinner more special. Friday it snowed some more and began to taper off on Saturday. Saturday night/Sunday morning, it snowed profusely. It was almost whiteout conditions as we made our way to church after Sunday school was cancelled. We were invited to have a meal with family friends today and had another family we've grown to love since they've attended our family small group.

Saturday we had leftover dinner with some friends from baseball this past summer. We watched the Oklahoma/OSU game. OSU is my friend's alma mater who unfortunately lost. After the big win on Friday night where Air Force (11) beat Colorado College (3) (huge rivals), AFA fell to Denver University (9) 4-1. AFA is now 13-1-0. It was a huge upset, but it was more important to beat CC than to lose to DU. They should do well for the rest of the season. It was bound to happen, but the streak was great.

Trey may end up taking American history from my friend Bob (OSU grad) who is a professor at AFA. He also wants to take Trey with his cadets to Boston this spring for American History tour. It would be a great time for Trey and the things he would learn from this guy would be great. Bob wants to teach Trey and Trey wants to learn from him.

The snow has been heavy and I have a delayed report time tomorrow, though I'll probably go in at the same time as usual. I have a lot of work I want to get caught up which I can't seem to get ahead on.

The End of the Season

2008-11-15T21:08:00.008-05:00

It was a sad day today. Today, Air Force got beaten by the number 16 team in the nation, BYU. There is a pretty intense rivalry that exists between these schools. Surprisingly, there are a lot of Mormons in the Air Force, thus the basis for the rivalry. All of the Air Force Mormons I've known all want to be stationed at Hill AFB near Salt Lake City. They were a very rowdy bunch of fans, but were civil. But up until now, I've not seen so many opposing team fans at our stadium before. Not even the schools in CO! Our football was sloppy, but we were soundly beaten by a superior team. Any time they had possession, they moved the ball down the field. We didn't even pass for yardage until the 4th quarter!

The other reason it was sad was because this was the last home game. I've been to all of the home games since the Navy game (4). I have to confess that it is very addictive. We're already looking forward to next years season, though we'll play Army here and not Navy. At least I'll be able to root for AF in all of the home games.

The kids had a great time. Originally, I had purchased 3 tickets for Trey, a buddy of his (Zack), and me. Last Thursday I was given 5 more tickets, so Trey, Katy, Zack, and two sisters-Sarah and Olivia all got to sit together. They had a great time, but we were all very disappointed (Sarah's and Olivia's father graduated from AFA).

The halftime show was neat. It was the AFA drum and bugle corps with a couple of bagpipe and Celtic dance troupes doing several American and Celtic numbers.

On to hockey and basketball now.

USAF Hockey

2008-11-13T14:12:00.008-05:00

We are all very excited about the hockey game next Friday against Sacred Heart. Trey and Kate have five friends who are going to the game with them (our family is too, but we're going to sit further up so they won't feel chaperoned) from our church, and then they are hoping to come back for popcorn, cocoa, and games or a movie.

Air Force hockey is so much fun. Right now they are ranked 14th in the nation and remain undefeated. The upcoming game with Colorado College (from here in the Springs) is coming up and they're ranked number 1. It will be a dogfight. That is the most looked forward to game of the season for anyone who follows Air Force hockey.

The pictures are from the Bemidji State game that we saw in October. It can give you an idea of what it's like. During the week when the team isn't practicing, the rink is opened up at lunchtime for folks to ice skate. It only costs about $5 including skates to skate around for a couple of hours before the team comes out.

Saturday we are going to see Brigham Young University play Air Force. It's not a well publicized rivalry, but it's kind of an Alabama/Auburn attitude where that's the only game of the season that really counts.

Enjoy the pix!

Lots of Happenings, Not Any Pictures

2008-11-05T23:33:00.002-05:00

Sorry there are no pictures to present. I gave the camera to Sheila who loaded everything on her computer. Now I would have to spend a great deal of time retrieving them. Besides, there were many rocks and trees. You get a lot of rocks and trees from us while we live out here.

My hunting trip was crazy. It was typical deer camp with the only thing getting killed were cases of beer. That wasn't me by the way. I was determined to get up early and hunt deer and elk, but they weren't to be found. The Tuesday of the trip it snowed and it was beautiful. I used it to track some elk, but I never found any. The Thursday of the trip I got to come home for the night when I took Trey and Kate to the Air Force/New Mexico football game. It was a great time with the two of them and Air Force won despite their inability to pass. Three passes: and interception, an incomplete pass, and a touchdown. I went back to the camp with Trey where we watched The Sand Pebbles with Steve McQueen. Again, there were no animals. It's going to take me two months to catch up my work. I don't think it was worth it. I'm now looking for a place to hunt pheasant on Veteran's Day.

I took all of the kids to an Air Force hockey game. This year they have the leading scorer in the country. His name is Jaques Lemoreaux and he is ours. Air Force is 8-0-0 and number 1 in the Atlantic Conference. These hockey games are so much fun. We're scrounging pennies to be able to go to more.

Our church is going well. It's fun living vicariously through my kids as they attend youth group. There are many sweet kids at this group. I still don't like youth groups, but this one is a winner. It's like a Harvest group that's formally organized. It's given me ideas for the time when I'm pastoring a church. There is another family in our small group (that meets at our house on Sundays) that do the youth Sunday School who are very active with the kids. I've been helping with the Wednesday night group and will tag team with my friend for next quarter's Sunday School. Our pastor pulls no punches, and the fellowship is especially sweet. We were invited to a family's house a couple of weeks ago that we've really grown to love. Their daughters are especially fun to have in the group.

Enough. It's time for bed and I feel I need it. Between my class, Sheila's work with the kids, my work, youth group, and a dozen other things, I'm beat. I thought living closer to everything would make life easier. We spend less money on gas, but we are always doing something. It has been great to be involved in church though. It's as if everything we didn't get to do at Harvest due to distance, has become possible and we can't get enough of it. God bless.

P.S. This is Trey's reminder to keep his nose clean.

The Mead Is Good!

2008-10-12T21:59:00.004-05:00

After four weeks, my mead is ready to be bottled. But before I could, I had to test it out and came to the realization that, UGH! It was awful. I tested its strength and it was over 17 percent alcohol! To someone who wants to abuse this stuff, I'm sure that sounds great, but in a mead, drinkability is important. After killing the yeast, I added two more cups of honey and a half-gallon of grape juice turning it into a berry mead. I let it sit for a couple of days before bottling it and it was much better. It's now about 15 percent and much tastier. Trey helped me cork the bottles (in a rather unorthodox way; by hand) and then we set some to age for a long time.

Today I led worship at our church for the first time (at this church) and it seemed to go decently. I was disappointed that a couple of the songs went awry, but the folks who came up to me at the end were pleased and they seemed to feel that God was glorified in our worship. Tonight's Bible study went well too. We really love the families that come to it. We're all very different, but have our love of this group in common (as well as some friendships too) and a love for worshipping as families. All of the children seem to enjoy it as well. We also have some very gifted cooks too.

Thursday my car broke down. As it turns out, I needed a new alternator and battery. The downside is that the money I received for my clothing allowance ended up paying for the repair. The upside was that I found a good garage that doesn't try to stiff you with miscellaneous costs. Pep Boys told me that I had all kinds of things wrong with my car. This shop told me that the only thing wrong was the battery and alternator and that I should feel very lucky to have such a good car. I needed to hear that. It's a Pontiac which means electrical problems, but I still like the car and the kiddos do too.

Tomorrow I'm off work for the holiday. I intend to spend it studying my seminary class. I'm so far behind. If you think to, please pray for Trey as he takes his PSAT this Wednesday. He wants to do well. His current desire is to get into the USAF Academy and study Russian. Considering the state of the world, that would be a good language to learn. He'd definitely be employable, if only in the military or a three-letter agency. God bless.

Go Navy, Beat Air Force

2008-10-05T22:20:00.009-05:00

Yesterday was FUN! It was a very busy day though. Of course, it was Sheila's birthday which meant that I had a lot of last minute running around to take care of. I took Trey to help a church family paint their house. While he was there, I went to get some flowers for Sheila and do some grocery shopping to prepare her birthday meal later.

At 1230 we walked to the ball game and got settled in to our seats. I bought the kids and I some lunch (these concessions are more expensive than the Colorado Springs Sky Sox ball park; it cost $36 for four bottles of water and four personal boxes of Papa John's pizza) and then the pre-game festivities began. All of the cadets and midshipmen marched onto the field and they presented the colors and the "Star-Spangled Banner." They then sprinted off the field in mass and ran to their seats. I love this culture of college football with a military flare.

The game went well for us, but it lacked a passing game. The most exciting pass play was one for about 30 yards for Air Force. The funny thing is that we beat Air Force with our second and third string quarterbacks. The second string got hurt in the first half, but came back to win it, 33-27.

After the game was over, there was a neat tradition of both teams going to the corners where the bands and their students sat. The band would play and the students would sing. They did this at both ends and for each school. Apparently it's a very emotional thing, but I'm afraid I don't know what the purpose is.

After the game we went home and I grilled steaks and vegetables, and baked yams in the oven for Sheila's birthday. She said it was one of the best birthdays she's ever had.

Today we had Greg over for the day. He went to church with us and came back for food, play with the boys, and sleep. He must have slept four hours over here. But he's getting A's in all of his subjects but calculus, so he deserved the break. We really love our cadets. Greg has a great rapport with the boys and they love him.

2008-09-18T23:05:00.002-05:00

This last Sunday, we began hosting a Sunday "small" group in our home consisting of an R.C. Sproul series, hymn singing, and food/fellowship (our Harvest readers will find this familiar). We had close to 36 people in our home which wasn't the whole expected group because one family was ill. It was tremendous. We were studying the sovereignty of God and the fellowship was especially sweet.

That afternoon (a few hours before) we hosted a new USAF Academy cadet that we sponsor. He came to church with us and had fellowship meal too. We had a little time remaining, so we brought him back to the house to introduce him to the place. He is a missionary kid whose parents are still in the field in northern Brazil, taking the gospel to tribal indians. He is a committed Christian and a great guy too. We thoroughly enjoyed having David with us and look forward to seeing him again.

Last Sunday we met my in-laws and Sheila's aunt at a Ruby Tuesday's not far from the Denver International Airport. We had such a good time with them. The previous weekend was spent seeing some of the sights around here, going to church, and even going on a nature drive where we saw many deer, a great horned owl, turkeys, and the same three bears that I ran into in the woods many weeks ago. That weekend did not disappoint. We also went into Cheyenne Mountain (where NORAD is. Remember War Games and Deep Impact?) and got to see where our nation's skies are watched as well as the space above us. We also went to The Garden of the Gods, and to a chuckwagon ranch for dinner and a show. It was a very complete weekend and my in-laws appeared to thoroughly enjoy it. Sheila's Aunt Janice got to see a statue in memory of a friend of hers and her late husband's. His name was Jerome O'Malley and he was the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force when he died in a plane crash in 1985. Janice, Bill, and Jerry were close friends growing up in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. It meant a lot to her to see the statue and we were very pleased that it was there. He was also the Director for Academics one time at the academy, though he graduated from West Point when that and the Naval Academy were the only two service academies.

My Theology of Jonathan Edwards course is going very slowly. I'm only a sixth of the way through the lectures and I should be farther along. I'm so glad I didn't decide to pursue a full-time degree while we are out here. Besides, I think I'm getting a better, more detailed education than I could get from the local school.

We joined our church out here. It was sad writing the tithe check to a church besides Harvest, but it is important to the body of Christ and to us that we be members of a local congregation. John and Randy joined the church too and had their first communion a couple of Sundays ago. Trey and Kate are becoming more involved with the youth group and I'm helping to lead it. The kids in the group and on our Sunday night fellowship are really great. We're going to a barn dance Saturday.

I'd best head off to bed now. Mommy Rose is coming to see us Saturday! We are thrilled, but there is much preparation in order to make our home ready for guests. It will be a blessing to have her out here for a few days. Our only regret is that Bob and the kids can't come out too. We long to be the Wichterself's again. We somehow don't feel quite complete without seeing them. Isn't it cool to have such kindred spirits?

Maybe I won't take so long to write next time. We'll see. Until then, God bless.

Communion of the Saints

2008-08-26T23:33:00.004-05:00

This last weekend was a very busy, very blessed weekend. One of the families we've been close to for so long came back for a week to Colorado to attend their church's family camp in Glorietta, New Mexico. They got back on Friday and spent all of Saturday with us. We had a cookout and when it was clear that they would be able to stay for dinner, we bought pizzas and continued our fellowship.

Scott and I became friends back in 1995 when I was stationed in Jacksonville, Florida. He visited our church for Easter as he was TAD and away from his family who were back in Boston. As the years moved on and we were stationed in Pensacola, he came back to see us when he attended Naval Air Crew Candidate School and then Officer Candidate School. When we were stationed in Cherry Point, he came down to Camp Lejeune for eye surgery and brought his family. We first met his wife Bonnie when Scott graduated from OCS, but without the kids. Cherry Point was the first time we had met his kids. When we later moved to Connecticut, we stayed with them for a few days as they were stationed at Ft. Meade, Maryland. They saw us one more time before this time when they visited us in Connecticut. They were on vacation visiting her family in Boston. That was four years ago. The funny thing with the two of us is that though we change in some ways, it hasn't affected our friendship. We instantly pick up where we left off.

Sunday, there two youngest daughters were baptized. Katy as a profession of faith and Sarah as a child of the Covenant of Grace. We're hopeful they can move back in a year so we can actually be stationed together for once. Collectively we've not been in each other's presence for more than a month of days. But think about it. If communion with another believer can be this sweet after spending only a month's time together, how awesome is eternity going to be when we can love with perfect love and share in fellowship with Christ face to face?

Cruisin'

2008-08-11T22:00:00.003-05:00

I realize that Sheila has already informed everyone about Trey getting his learner's permit. But there is WAY more to the story than his little drive around the base. Before you start wondering, Trey didn't scare me at all. He's a fine driver for someone who has never driven anything other than a golf cart before.

It all started on Thursday the 7th. Sheila picked me up early from work so I could go to the DMV with her so we could sign our responsibility forms. We picked up Trey from driver school and made it almost all the way to the office when we realized that we didn't have his Social Security card. We turned around and went back home to get it. When we returned to the DMV, after waiting for 20 minutes (that's light), we were informed that since his middle name was not spelled out on his military dependent ID, we would have to bring in his birth certificate - tomorrow. We drove home disappointed, but were assured that it's all okay.

The next day, I took Trey to the office with me. I managed to get some work caught up before we left and then we headed to the DMV again. As we pulled into the parking lot, I get a call from Sheila informing me that Trey had left his glasses at the house! We turned around to go back home to get them. Once we returned (I neglected to mention that each leg to the DMV takes at least 20 minutes), we discovered that the State of California (Trey's birth state) won't even recognize his birth certificate anymore. We would have to send for another birth certificate which would cost between $14 and $50, depending on how fast we wanted it here. I decided, rather frustrated, that we were going to go to the ID office at the base and see if they would re-issue him a card with his middle name spelled out.

When we got there, the clerk asked, "Driver's license?" I said yes and he informed me that he had already re-issued seven other ID cards because of the crazy rule. We finally made it back and got the boy his learner's permit.

The drive was pleasant. I took him to the Academy High School parking lot and let him drive a little and then directed him onto the street. He did very well and was tickled to finally be driving a real car. The Pontiac is the perfect car. It's a poor man's sport coupe that's built like a tank. I know he'll be relatively safe.

Next time I'll tell you all about this past Saturday! Sheila will brief everyone on the wisdom teeth extraction too. Blessings.

Where Do I Begin?

2008-07-29T22:13:00.002-05:00

Trey's home, for those of you who do not visit Sheila's blog. It's been great to have him back. His sense of humor is surely welcome in our house again. He's even taller after the two months he's been away. Our first order of business was to get his hair cut. Contrary to his sister's opinion (who wants all of her brothers to look like "Rubber Sole" vintage Beatles), he is much more handsome and has a way with grownups when his hair is short.

I'm almost through with the main text of my online class on the theology of Jonathan Edwards. Soon I'll be able to begin the lectures. It's been thought-provoking, to say the least, about revival and true conversion. During the end of the Great Awakening, Harvard and Yale had begun to already turn liberal in their theology. Princeton (The College of New Jersey) was the only conservative one at the time. Today I visited the websites of all three and it's remarkable how they've turned out. Yale pretty much will not even call themselves a Christian seminary. Harvard is nominally one, and though Princeton's statement of faith is still right-on, they are not very evangelical in their practice. Shoot, my seminary even trains women for pastoral leadership (see 1 Corinthians 11 and 1 Timothy 2:12).

Work's getting busier. We have a fresh batch of applicants and it appears, a different generation of kids who have epidemic asthma and emotional disorders. This requires a lot of extra work which consumes much of my time.

Well, it's back to Marsden and his biography of Edwards. If I could have half the godliness that man had during his time here . . .

Bear-ly Escaped

2008-07-15T23:30:00.003-05:00

As many of you know, we saw a bear Sunday night when our neighbor came to get us. Sheila of course, was able to take some pictures of the thing as he straddled a tree branch about five feet off the ground. Like no one would be able to get him so close to the ground. We were ten to fifteen feet from him with the windows down so as not to catch the flash from the camera in the window.

Well, we went to bed all excited about having finally seen a bear when we heard the dumpsters crashing out side. Sheila got up to yell at the neighbor (he's a friend of ours) about making too much noise when she announced to me that a bear was making all that noise about 25 feet from our bedroom window. We heard it because our home is un-air conditioned and we have to have the windows open. That was neat to see him lift the lid, crawl halfway inside, and pull our garbage out of the container. In the seven and a half years that we looked for a bear in North Carolina, we never saw one in the wild. In three months we saw two on the same night.

Today was great. I worked half of the day due to lack of work (we're between school years at the academies) and decided I was going to take a hike. Since I was alone, I knew I would be able to make good time, so I hiked at least six and a half miles, probably seven. They say to talk and make noise on the trails so as not to startle any wildlife such as bears or cougars. I used the opportunity to pray and commune with God in His magnificent creation. The bigness of the mountains really puts God's majesty in perspective for me. Praying along, I came into a clearing to see two black bear cubs. Knowing that Mama was not far behind, I looked to see her as well. I cleared my throat and they looked at me. Not wanting them to stay there thinking I wanted to do them harm, I clapped my hands and the cubs scurried up a tree. Mama then began to turn around and go away. I figured the best thing was to continue clapping until I got out of their sight. Funny thing, I wasn't scared. My heart didn't even race. I just remembered that they were more scared of me than I was of them. For the next beautiful mile, I praised God that I had seen such magnificent animals not even twenty feet away from me. But since I had seen bears, I was more concerned about seeing a cougar while out by myself. I have a hunting knife and prayed that I wouldn't have to use it. I also prayed that if I did have to use it, that God would give me the opportunity to. Praise God that I never had to.

Doolie Day Out

2008-07-13T20:05:00.005-05:00

Today was a very special day for us and for two young Air Force Academy Basic Cadets. About two weeks ago, I watched bus after bus of "Doolies" scurry off the buses onto the blue footsteps at the foot of the Core Values Ramp of the Cadet Area. They stood at attention as the Cadet Cadre (beginning seniors) "welcomed" them to the U.S. Air Force. They were then whisked off to medical, haircuts, uniform issue, and room assignment.

Today was a day that they all looked forward to with anticipation. Even though they knew not who would sponsor them, a few hours of not being yelled at would surely be better than knowing who you would spend the day with. When I picked up Patrick and Greg, as we drove off to Starbuck's to get them a snack before church (I'm sorry Sabbatarians, but this was an act of mercy), I thought Greg would cry when I told them that after church and a home-cooked meal, they were welcome to call their families on our cell phones and use the Internet for as long as they had available.

I was delighted to find that Greg already knew our pastor from a Friday night Bible study, and one of our elders prayed for the young men during our congregational prayer. I also found them a contact for Officer's Christian Fellowship (OCF).

Sometimes we think that our lay service to God is not as glorious or glamorous as overseas missions or the direct help of the poor. But these men looked at us as if we were angels. I feel deeply privileged for our family to be used by God in this service to Him, these young men, and our country. The two hats in the middle (in the Navy we call them "covers") belong to Greg and Patrick. John and Randy added theirs from the graduation of the Class of 2008.

Stars and Stripes Forever

2008-07-06T23:17:00.005-05:00

We've just ended a great weekend of celebrating our great country. Though I must confess, apart from Sheila's desert and the fireworks over the Cadet Area, I didn't do anything patriotic. Thursday was spent preparing for the weekend. Sheila and Kate went to have their hair done and after I dropped the boys off at a birthday party, I met them at Thai Basil for lunch (this is my favorite restaurant out here). Sheila and I went to the Academy District 20 school administration building to inquire about registering with the district for homeschooling. They have many things that they make available to home-schoolers unlike any other public school district we've ever been in. After Sheila and I went to the commissary, I picked up the boys and we settled in for the evening.

Friday the Congers arrived from Sangre de Cristo Seminary to spend a couple of days with us. We always have such a great time with Chris and Allison. I grilled kabobs and we watched the fireworks. It was a very pleasant evening out on the swing until it got too chilly to sit out there. Then we moved our fellowship indoors until it was time to turn in.

Saturday, after we had our quiet times, Chris and I went on a hike through the Stanley Canyon up to the reservoir. As usual, it was absolutely beautiful. I had not hiked in a long time, so I found myself getting winded, though I train for it weekly. I got to see a Blue Columbine (flower) for the first time. Chris explained that it is an endangered state flower and cannot be picked. So I got a picture of it. At the reservoir we had some trail mix with some happy snaps of the mountain lake. Going down is more strenuous than climbing because your calves stay short and your thighs are always bouncing. You really feel it the next day. I made paella and sangria to celebrate Sheila's and my 19th anniversary, and we shared it with the Congers after they got back from shopping. We watched their girls for them so they could get more done. They don't have as many places to shop in Westcliffe as we do. You can see pictures of the paella and sangria on Sheila's blog.

Today we had "Intern Sunday." Our pastor was out of town until last night, so our two interns led worship and a visiting pastor officiated communion. Sunday evening, a couple who moved out here from North Carolina had us for dinner at their home. We first met them at the Sunday evening Bible study we have been attending and we really hit it off.

It's been a great weekend, but the time really seems to have flown by. Next month I'll get a three-day weekend to celebrate the end of the cycle year the and various induction days at the service academies. Then it'll be time to start all over again.

Turkey Hunt

2008-06-29T22:52:00.005-05:00

Tonight was so funny. As has become our custom, we went for our Sunday evening nature drive to look for wild animals. Tonight we saw rabbits, deer, and the local turkey flock. This was so funny. We saw them behind one of the fire stations and we went around to get a better look. What we saw was two turkeys that went up to see themselves in a glass door. We also went for a half-mile hike over by the Air Force Academy Chapel. It was so pretty over there. It offered a nice view of the chapel and then from the chapel you could see a fine view of the campus quad.This week is going to be jam-packed with activities. We begin our new cycle year of applications for review on July 1st. We also have some dear friends from North Carolina who will visit us who are from this area. They're in the state to see family and are going to pay us a visit as well. We got to chat with them a week ago on Skype along with three other families that we used to visit with on Sundays back at Harvest Presbyterian. Chris, Allison, and the girls will come up from Sangre de Cristo this Friday to spend the night. I have Thursday off so it should be a pleasant weekend.

Dreadfully Busy

2008-06-22T23:21:00.001-05:00

I must apologize for neglecting my blogging duties over the last week. We did hike last weekend, but the pictures that I took were loaded on the camera, which was erased after Sheila uploaded them to her computer. I'll attempt to transfer a few of them over to this computer after a while.

Last weekend we hiked the Palmer/Section 16 Trail south of Manitou Springs. It was a six mile hike which offered a beautiful view of the south end of the Garden of the Gods as it continued to climb the mountain. This was a harder climb it seems, than our hike through the Stanley Canyon. Once we reached the top, we were pleased to find a breathtaking view of the canyon and a view of Colorado Springs Downtown. You can see some great pictures that we took that Sheila published on her blog. There was a runner who passed us out and back while we hiked, who we ran into again toward the end of the trail. She decided to finish her run because she saw a bear on a side trail that she had taken. I've never seen a bear in the wild and was envious.

We had our first baseball games this past Saturday. Both of our teams lost, but it was a very good time. Once the other coach was willing to let me pitch underhand, I was able to actually give the kids something they could hit. Again, pictures of the events are on Sheila's blog, so I highly encourage you to give it a visit.

I started seminary, finally! I began my class The Theology of Jonathan Edwards this week and am already surprised at the volume of work. I told my friends back in NC, and they want me to hurry and finish so we can launch a church plant over there. I love those folks.

My work is going great. I really enjoy it right now. I've been told that once September hits, we are going to be very busy. It will taper off through December, then get really busy again from January to April. I'm really catching on, but it's no wonder people retire out of here. Our command is very unmilitary. The majority of our staff are civilian, which is fine. But with civilian clothes every Friday (for a $2 donation to the picnic and Christmas fund), it's easy to forget I'm in the Navy. Shoot, our Navy Captain Director even lets me wear cammies to work. I also get to PT every lunch break if I want to and I get to take care of whatever I need to. I told Sheila that we are going to have to enlist the Chiefs from Peterson AFB to participate in my retirement ceremony just so I remember that I'm retiring from the Navy.

We had an interesting experience this past week. It seems that while maintenance was doing the lawn, their weedeater launched a rock through the back window of our van! I think it bounced off, but the damage was already done. It was the safety glass that will shatter with a pin-point pressure. Thankfully, the insurance company of the private landscaping company accepted full responsibility and paid to have it replaced. They were very gracious and admitted full guilt in the matter. I was thankful especially because my $500 deductible would not cover the $345 window. The company that repaired it only charged the maintenance company $300 to fix it. Guess where I'm going for glass repair. I'm going to throw USAA a bone and tell them they need to change their glass repair company.

Life is good here. I miss my son who is in Mississippi though. He's doing well, though he is not looking forward to coming home to our rules and home school again. He's good at obeying them though, but I know it will be a challenge to him in a month returning to the same old grind after such a mountaintop spiritual and recreational experience. My boy is growing up, but his God is no longer his dad's and mom's God. God is his God and Jesus is his Saviour and Lord which is all I could ever ask for my kids, even if they end up at the bottom rung of the socio-economic ladder. He who is least in this world, is greatest in God's kingdom. Soli Deo Gloria!

Stanley Canyon

2008-06-07T22:57:00.011-05:00

After looking forward to this hike all week, we finally embarked upon it. I had done extensive research on the canyon and had even printed off a topographical map to aid us in our great trek. As it turns out, it was such a used trail, there wasn't much of a chance of us getting lost without someone finding us. The trail begins on the AF Academy and then goes into the Pike National Forest. The first mile or so is just about vertical. There were tons of rocks and trees, and a stream that ran right beside the trail for just about the whole trip. Even though I had read about the hike, I had no idea it was going to be such a vertical climb. The rocks were a challenge, and just when you thought you might be done, there were more rocks to climb. In fact, I had no idea how far we climbed until we went back down. After we got through the rock climbing, the terrain began to level out. There was a meadow with lots of aspen trees.A little something about aspen trees that is really interesting is that their roots are all integrated. So if you see a grove of aspen trees, it's all one tree. The root network ties them all together. They are really pretty trees without bark, just a smooth outer surface with light-green leaves. The meadow would spread out and climb the hills surrounding it. We finally arrived at the reservoir and were surprised by how pretty it is. While we were there we sat and had lunch by the lake. There were several other people that we had met on the path who were up there as well. We found out that we can camp there too, though we can't start a campfire. I guess we'll use propane then. I'm already planning on a camping trip, maybe when Trey gets back.On the trip down, we were surprised at how quickly the walk went, despite the rocks. The funny thing about hiking trails is that you are watching your steps and can miss the scenery if you aren't careful.I found that my legs burned more going downhill than up. My knees hurt too. Kate and I really enjoyed our conversation. It appears that we both enjoyed ourselves. When we completed our hike, we went and got a cream soda, went to the house, and cleaned up. I'm trying to find something to top this hike. We'll most likely have to hike the AFA for the next few weeks due to baseball games. Pike's Peak remains a goal for us. I had thought that we'd have to wait until next year, but I've heard that it's not that bad a hike. It's just a long one (13 miles, in 8.5 hours). Speaking of baseball, John and Randy began baseball this week. I'm coaching Randy's team too. I have a very green team that needs a lot of work to get game-ready. Randy is a very good player (for his age) and will be a big help to the team.

Garden of the Gods

2008-06-03T23:10:00.005-05:00

We are so blessed to have one of the coolest free parks here in Colorado Springs. It is called the Garden of the Gods, and it is a series of sandstone conglomerate boulders amid the granite of the mountains. Last Saturday, Katy, the boys, and I went and hiked the three mile Palmer, Brevat, et al Trail that circles the park. I wondered if we were going to have all that pleasant a time as folks kept injuring themselves. I have to remember that they didn't spend any time hiking with the Marines as I did. When we stopped to eat some peanuts and have a sit-down, attitudes improved greatly. The scenery was tremendous. Our trail wound through a canyon and along a mountainside (good training for the Pike's Peak hike we're planning.

Hiking is a great way to enjoy the outdoors without spending a lot of money (unless you're going to backpack too). Kate and I bought hiking shoes yesterday in preparation for hiking the Stanley Canyon Trail hopefully this weekend. It should take us about three hours round trip, but it climbs up into a canyon that leads along a creek bed to the Stanley Reservoir. Of course it depends on our baseball schedule.

On Top Of The World

2008-05-20T13:57:00.013-05:00

Yesterday we took the family to the summit of Pike's Peak. It had been 22 years since Sheila and I had last been to the top of the mountain when we went to visit as part of the Senior High Choir Tour of Briarwood Presbyterian in Birmingham. I honestly couldn't remember much from the first trip which enhanced the significance of the trip with my family. We took the Cog Railway out of Manitou Springs which is west of Colorado Springs and the Garden of the Gods. Manitou Springs is such a quaint little town. Sheila commented that certain friends and members of our families would really enjoy the town.
The trip took about three hours and twenty minutes total. We took the cog railway through beautiful mountainous countryside where we saw a mule deer, a bighorn sheep, and marmots. We also saw some interesting plants as well. We saw fir trees, aspen trees, and a lichen meadow once we were above the timberline. In the lichen meadow close to the summit, we could see the wagon tracks in the tundra from the trip up of Katharine Lee Bates who composed the poem "America the Beautiful." The tundra lichens take well over a hundred years to repair themselves.

Once we reached the summit, we took some pictures and then went inside the summit house to warm up and have some "Pike's Peak Donuts." Apparently at that altitude, it's easier to fry food than it is to bake anything. That's the funny thing about living out here: you have to cook things much longer. Water boils quicker, but it's at a lower temperature than the normal boiling point. While we were there, I stepped into a knee-high puddle and soaked myself. With the exception of my socks and the inside of my boots, everything dried very quickly.

The views of the Rockies were incredible. The Alps are the only other mountain range I can compare them to and they're both special in their own ways (I happen to live in this one). Here's my favorite view:

On the way down, many people slept off the hypoxia from being in such thin air (you're considered hypoxic above 10,000 feet) while some teenagers from a group whooped it up in the front of our car. It was on our way down that someone yelled out that they saw a bighorn sheep. A couple of us got to see it, but many didn't get such a good view. We of course enjoyed seeing the marmots. They look like tailless beavers that are excessively fluffy. They weren't intimidated by the train in the least.

All in all, we were delighted with the trip. We found out there is a trail that leads to the summit that many people go up each year. Trey and I were instantly interested. We have some significant trails here at the Academy that we can condition ourselves on. Kate and I are going to hike the Academy trails while Trey is away. Hopefully we can at least go up to Barr Camp, which is about four hours into the hike to the summit, for a camping trip before it gets too cold.

Springtime for Lee In Colorado

2008-05-17T23:40:00.004-05:00

Today felt like an awful waste. We had to be indoors working on unpacking the utility room and it was absolutely beautiful outside. I couldn't get over how clear it was. We never even left the base. In fact, the only folks who went anywhere was Trey, Kate, and me when we went to the commissary. Sheila stayed behind to work on supper (pizza; yum). Any chance I could get, I went out to the swing to breathe some air. The wind really howls around here. We have a plastic chair next to the swing that can't seem to stay upright.

It was a day for catching up with friends. Katy called her friend Jordan to wish her a happy birthday as well as speaking with her friends Maribeth and Anna. Trey attempted to call a couple of his friends. John and Randy received a call from a buddy of theirs from Young Marines. Sheila spoke with Cheryl and I spoke with, dah dah dah . . . Dad! He and I had a great chat.

I entered the Air Force Academy elk lottery this past week. I had to pay $6 to enter, so hopefully I'll have the privilege of hunting
Tomorrow we try out Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian. I'll let you all know how it goes. We've gotten to see these magnificent animals and one would feed our family handsomely for a whole year!

The Weekend Update

2008-05-16T20:57:00.002-05:00

This entry has nothing to do with Saturday Night Live. As I write, I'm waiting for my family to finish computer time and homework so we can unload book boxes and utterly fill up the office with books. This past week has been so full of activities that I hardly know where to begin.

Last Sunday we tried out another church. The folks were very friendly, but unfortunately it had very little to offer for our adolescents. There were no boys in the youth group, though the girls were very friendly and welcoming of Kate. We attempted to attend youth group at Village Seven again, but they cancelled it for Mother's Day. Sheila had a great Sunday, by the way. We were so busy though, that we forgot to present her her cards in the morning. We failed to realize it was Mother's Day until the pastor said something from the pulpit. We had already purchased everything for her the Wednesday before, it was just so busy that morning that we didn't remember. We cooked a meal for her and presented her gifts at the afternoon meal.

The day before, we drove up to Denver to the Bass Pro Shop. What an incredible place! It was the biggest I've seen and was so much fun. Sheila and Kate did some clothes shopping while the boys and I looked at guns, hiking, camping, and fishing equipment. Randy and John both got to climb the rock climbing wall (there are many places out here that offer it). We found many items on clearance and with my 10% military discount, we came out well ahead. We then went to a seafood restaurant that is right there and had a wonderful meal.

My MacBook arrived a few days ago. It's been a lot of fun, but there is some getting used to the way it operates. Ironically, I used the Economic Stimulus Rebate to purchase the thing, but when I ordered the computer here in the US of A, it shipped right out of Shanghai, China (everybody would say "Singapore, Saigon, oh yeah, Shanghai!"). So much for helping American jobs. At least Apple's stock was helped.

Well, it's time to unload books. I've applied to Gordon-Conwell and now I await the news of acceptance so I can take my theology of Jonathan Edwards class. Hopefully I'll be able to update better next week, but Trey goes to Mississippi Thursday and I check into my command on Wednesday. God bless.

Thinking About Leaving

2008-05-03T11:49:00.002-05:00

Can you believe that we've just moved here and I'm already thinking about leaving? To my shame I've been foolishly ruing the day that we have to leave here to go to Mississippi. I absolutely love it here. But putting things in perspective, yesterday as I watched the sailplanes flying against the mountain backdrop and the snow all over Pike's Peak, I began to realize that Heaven is going to be infinitely more beautiful than even this place because God will be there, and He is infinitely more beautiful than anything. God created us purposing to save us so that we could enjoy a newer, even better Heaven and Earth that He would create when He makes all things new.

So now I'm excited. This place is breathtakingly beautiful, yet my inheritance in Heaven is going to be more beautiful than I can imagine because Jesus will be there, and I can then see Him face-to-face.

Filling In What Sheila Left Out

2008-05-02T11:29:00.004-05:00

One of the difficult things about both Sheila and I having blogs is that she is more faithful to update with new information leaving me with little to report on mine.

As Sheila said, we have arrived in Colorado and I am absolutely PLEASED with it! This place is better than I even dreamed it would be. I had built some cautious expectations for this place, and it reality has exceeded them all. Sheila mentioned wildlife out here, but yesterday John and I were on our way back from the commissary when we spotted a small herd of elk. All of them were cows, but the point was that we got to see some. Now all we lack is a mountain lion and a bear! That's okay, I'm content to see those in pictures or in the zoo.

Everything we need is right here. The on-base amenities are not as close as we had in Cherry Point, but they are nicer. I visited the commissary yesterday and was pleased to find that it is indeed cheaper than Walmart and as nice as a new, fancy grocery store. The children and I hiked to the Shoppette (that's a 7-day store for you Marines and green Sailors; a Quickie-Mart for Simpsons fans) a couple of days in a row. It's about a 15 minute hike. The gym is first-class with an indoor lap pool too. The neatest thing for those of us who have lived in eastern North Carolina is that one of the bigger shopping malls is right outside the gate across from I-25. So is Walmart (we got one in Cherry Point a month before we left), Sam's Club, Olive Garden, etc.

The unpacking is going okay, but there is always clutter during this time because there is no place to put anything until everything is unpacked and in place. I finally got the kind of room I needed to set up my surround sound and what do you know, the neighbors can hear it. Easy come, easy go. I have to use the night setting which completely eliminates most of the bass. We also found out that since we are in a valley, we get no TV reception with our antenna. I desperately wanted to see some college football this fall as well as baseball this summer. However, I submitted my application to Gordon-Conwell and am going to be too busy to watch TV. I've got to still figure out when I'm going to PT.

Well I guess there was a lot that I could fill you in on. There's still more I can report, but it will have to wait. Sheila and I were supposed to be at the commissary over an hour ago.

I Didn't Forget

2008-04-23T22:43:00.002-05:00

I didn't forget to post pictures today, but alas, the Internet server for my hotel room is down.

The trip to Topeka was very messy with thunderstorms that hit us from the town of Harrisonville, MO all the way here. We left Jessica and Joel's later than I intended, but we made it to Mark and Sara's only 15 minutes late. We had a wonderful time with them. It was nice that they were so much like Jessica and Joel which allowed us to feel comfortable with them right away. All of the children played with their kids which made everyone happy. The food was exquisite and the company was great! They are better in person than e-mail! It was a real blessing to put voices and faces with the correspondence.

Tomorrow we make that last push into Colorado. It will take us about 8 hours of driving time to get there, so we're hoping to leave a bit earlier to have a relaxing time of things. Thank heaven we gain an hour getting there. We'll catch up when we get there. We hopefully will be online again by this Friday night, but we'll probably do some shopping so we'll be ready when the furniture gets here on Tuesday. Sears is coming to fix the clothes dryer Wednesday so, God willing, we'll be able to do our laundry again at the house soon.

Springtime in the Ozarks

2008-04-22T23:55:00.003-05:00

After visiting Sheila's brother's family (it was an excellent visit with an excellent meal), we hit the road for Branson, Missouri. Some dear friends of ours from our time in Pensacola have relocated there and he is teaching high school math and Intermediate Algebra at the College of the Ozarks. It was funny getting here. We were winding through the mountains and then it dawned on me that this was the famous Ozark Mountains of Beverly Hillbillies claim.

Yesterday we went to see the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum in Branson. It was neat to see the actual Trigger and Buttermilk so well preserved by taxidermy. There was a fine collection of some of their furniture and other belongings that were theirs throughout their career in television and the movies. The were really great people who had a great sense of responsibility to the children who viewed them. We then went to the College of the Ozarks where we saw a museum about the Ozarks and had dinner after we met our friend Joel at a fine restaurant staffed by the students of the college. The students all attend the college free of charge in exchange for 15 hours of work done on campus per week. Students can earn their room and board by working throughout the summer too.

Today we decided to go to the beach at the local lake. Unfortunately it was thunder storming, so we were very late getting there. When we did get to the beach, we found that it was closed due to the extremely high water level (the beach was completely underwater). We then went across the dam and visited the visitor's center of the Army Corps of Engineers. They were kind enough to let us play in the water behind the center since everything else was underwater. Tonight we took Joel and Jessica out to dinner at Red Lobster and then saw the water and fire show at the outdoor mall in Branson. We also visited the Bass Pro Shop.

I'd better get to bed for now. We're going to visit my friends Mark and Sara (friends who corresponded with me during my last deployment) tomorrow for lunch. We were amazed to find out that they are also close friends with our friends Jessica and Joel. Small world isn't it? I'll add some pix and video later at the hotel tomorrow in Topeka, Kansas.

Family Time

2008-04-18T23:46:00.002-05:00

The last two days have been dominated by travel and family. Last night we spent the evening with my dad's brother and his wife. They have some beautiful property on the west side of Knoxville with wonderful vistas. When we arrived last night, we had a great dinner which included something I had not had since I was a kid. Truly country-styled green beans. My uncle cans them himself and they were so good that each of the kids asked for seconds. Randy didn't even add ketchup! The next day we went on a hay ride after a wonderful breakfast of biscuits, gravy, eggs, sausage, and bacon.

The hay ride was tremendous. Their last three properties have been in the same area and all of them have incredible views. We got there via a tractor hay ride. When we returned, two more of my dad's sisters had arrived for a visit and a cookout. It was great to see everyone again. In the afternoon, I helped the little boys start fishing. John was determined to catch a big catfish, but the sunfish were the only fish biting. So, we took the large hooks off and caught sunfish. They were eating the catfish bait anyway.

This evening we went to Lebanon, Tennessee for dinner with my mother's sister's husband, his daughter, her husband, and his grandchildren (minus one; he's the bass player for Chris Tomlinson). The food was great and my parents and sister came up to visit too (plus my nephew). At about 9:30 PM, we headed to Bowling Green where we are staying at a very nice hotel. Tomorrow we'll visit Sheila's brother and his family.

'Til We Meet Again

2008-04-15T15:17:00.004-05:00

This past Sunday was bittersweet for me. On the happy side, it was my 40th birthday. On the bummer side, we had to say goodbye to friends at our church. We have loved this church so much for the sweet fellowship that we have shared with these folks. We've been saying goodbye to folks we've known from the many things we have been involved with. The barbershop, Young Marines, friends of friends, and of course my job.

Saturday we had ribs at a friend's house who is from our home state of Alabama. We've been so thankful that they've received us into their lives as we have starkly different religious and political views. Sheila was willing to go with Kristi to go hear President Clinton speak in New Bern and they took our older two kids too. Since Trey had recently finished The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli and Katy had finished Plato's Republic, it was a neat opportunity for them to see the origins of modern political thought before they got to actually hear it. Alas, there truly is nothing new under the sun.

Monday we vacated housing so we are now homeless. It's not that bad. We're living in the TEQ (Transient Enlisted Quarters) which is very inexpensive and is right at Cherry Point. Sunday after we got back from visiting friends, we went right to bed so that we could get up early to load the car and finish cleaning. I was so glad we decided to wait until the morning. When you're tired you tend to drag things along which would mean we'd never get to bed.

Thursday is coming quickly which is when we will be departing North Carolina for our new home in Colorado. We've already recieved our travel advances and the furniture, as of today, is in Colorado Springs. They'll deliver it on Tuesday the 29th. Give us a month to get settled, then y'all come see us, ya hear?

Out With the Old, In With the New

2008-04-11T05:30:00.003-05:00

This entry has been brewing for several days now. The paragraph about my quiet time was originally written on Wednesday while the movers were wrapping up their loading. I am currently at the Maynards writing on their MacBook (I think I'm going to get one of these) while they prepare my birthday meal. We are having steaks and some other surprises that I'm not allowed to get near (thus the sitting around blogging). The Maynards have been so sweet to us. We are so different in so many ways, but are similar where it counts; as family members in the church of God.

Church was a blessing today, though some of our friends were away (we said goodbye to them last week). My friend Mark taught an exceptional Sunday School lesson on selfishness which was very convicting. I began to see some of the ways that I'm selfish through what he taught as well as other areas that came to mind independent of the examples he drew.

In my quiet time two days ago (they're so difficult to have these days with the move and all), I learned what the old wineskins of Matthew 9 were about. It called to mind the Sabbath issue that we've been discussing in church over the last few Sundays. There are some evangelicals who don't believe that the Sabbath of the OT is still applicable today.

I am one of those people who believe that the Sabbath is still applicable, but it goes much further back than the Law of Moses. Indeed God established the Sabbath in Genesis. But I think the crux of the matter is how Jesus' teachings about the Sabbath apply to us today.

I appreciated what Jesus had to say about the the application of the Gospel into old traditions (fasting and the wineskins). The Sabbath was clearly made for man, as evidenced by what Jesus taught. But the application of it, I'm beginning to think may b applied differently. There are some issues about commerce on the Sabbath as is given by example in the 13th chapter of Nehemiah where merchants viewed the Sabbath as just another day of business as well as the Jews in Jerusalem. The question is asked, "What about those who wouldn't give two straws for Jesus and the Sabbath?" An old friend of mine would say, "Plunder the Egyptians!" But I think differently as it applies to those who would pay money to show acts of mercy or use eating out to perpetuate Christian fellowship.

I realize that there are those who are strict Sabbatarians who would disagree, but after giving this much thought and after praying about having some resolution, I've come to this conclusion. Don't take what I'm saying as license; form your own opinion from your conviction. I personally will avoid eating out on Sunday, but as someone who has lived over an hour from my place of worship, this facilitates the fellowship of my Sabbath. In the meantime, I'll let you know if I'm convicted otherwise.

Penultimate Sunday

2008-04-08T07:57:00.005-05:00

It's tough to find time to blog these days. Today and yesterday, the packers have been boxing up our belongings to be shipped out to Colorado. This is a dark time for the Rebellion (Star Wars lingo) as everything is in disarray and we find ourselves living out of boxes and sleeping in sleeping bags. I continue to go into the office in the mornings and take care of a few loose ends before heading back to the house to supervise the packers.

Sunday was tough for us as we began to say goodbye to our church friends. Two couples in particular are going to be out of town next week for our last Sunday who are going to hear John MacArthur at Billy Graham Cove. We had our customary dining out with them and then spent some time with other friends (the man of the house arrived from Iraq this past week). After our Sunday night service we headed home to prepare for the packers to arrive. I think we went to bed closer to one.

While supervising the packers, I've been doing research on getting a MacBook. Trey is going to be attending junior college this next fall and will inherit this laptop for himself. I've been weary of Windows since Vista came out and the Mac seems to do some neat things as well as have a great reputation. They're just so expensive initially! If any former Windows users have any comments or critique of the Macintosh, I'd love to hear them. I won't purchase it until next month.

Tomorrow or Thursday the movers are supposed to come. Hopefully all will go well and I'll report our progress at that time.

I ... do solemnly swear ...

2008-04-01T18:16:00.007-05:00

I reenlisted today for four more years. God willing, this will be my last. I truly do not think I have a chance to pick up Senior Chief and I'm glad of that, as I would rather go to seminary rather than wait any longer to go into the ministry. My chaplain reenlisted me, and I was surrounded by fellow Chiefs and another chaplain who is a great friend of mine from deployment. He was in the neighborhood for the promotion of another chaplain. It was great to see him again and finally meet his wife who I had heard so many good things about.

Sunday was most pleasant despite the rain ruining our monthly fellowship meal. This would have been our last one, but we have it at a farm which requires playing outside for the children. Cleaning them up would not have been a Sabbath rest! The Sunday School lesson went well this week. It was on thankfulness and our lack thereof. Thankfulness is one of those things that is easy to overlook due to complacency as pertains to sustenance and blessing, or due to anxiety when we are going through trials. It made me remember others who have had less than I have and how important it is to tell others' stories to remind us of how good we have it here in America.I'm just thankful to have a job for another four years while I take some coursework on the Navy's tab.

I'm on house hunting TAD (temporary assigned duty) which is somewhat of a misnomer. I did get a place this week, though it was not what we had anticipated. We were planning on having a place with a basement that the kids could run around in during inclement weather. We were very disappointed to find that our basement would count as living space (it's finished), would be a duplex, and that we'll most likely have to move in a year (very similar to our multiple moves when we were stationed in Pensacola, some of you will remember). God has however, provided us a place to live with two hundred square feet more than we have now, more storage space, a usable utility room, housing on an Air Force base, and all of the shopping amenities we could want right outside the base (the biggest mall in CO Springs, Walmart, Sam's, Olive Garden, etc)! God is so good to us. We really owe Him more thanks than we can imagine we do.

The Weekend Update

2008-03-25T07:14:00.002-05:00

The lesson on discontent that I taught for Sunday School left me discontent. I thought it would be thought-provoking to discuss plastic surgery as relates to how content we are about our personal physical features. I didn't realize that this subject had come up before when I was on deployment. It was a pretty good discussion, but I gave too many examples which smacked of legalism. In our part of the state the plastic surgeons advertise like lawyers seeking our business. Our discontent with ourselves is their livelihood. Anyway, intentionally or not, I got put in my place which served as a wake-up call in how I address sensitive issues from the podium or the pulpit.

Sunday afternoon and evening was glorious! I'm not just talking about the weather which was too. We were privileged with participating in the progressive dinner that a few of the families from my church do three times a year. It was such a blessing to visit with folks one last time, that we don't get to see but for a couple of hours on Sunday due to the distance we drive to get to church. I sure love these folks and am going to miss them terribly. Maybe God will let us come back one day. But He is sovereign, and if I am to be jealous for His glory, I must content myself with His providence.

I Have Learned, In Whatsoever State I am, Therewith I Am Discontent

2008-03-21T07:17:00.004-05:00

Have you ever had one of those epiphanies that you were so completely wrong, that your heart broke when you realized that what you were wrong about, was at the core, part of who you were? I have been deeply convicted about how discontent I am. I have been preparing the Sunday School lesson this week from Jerry Bridges' new book, Respectable Sins and for the first time since reading this book, I honestly identified with what I was reading. But this was the last subject that I thought would be the one that convicted me. I always figured it would be my thoughts and motives, but not discontentment.

I've read the chapter twice now and sought to find some other sources from the internet. I've always liked Spurgeon, but nothing jumped out at me this time. So I turned to my theological hero, Edwards. What I got is what I never expected. I got a short paragraph on a blog from a woman who wanted a baby, and God had not allowed her to carry one. Yet she purposed that by God's grace, she was content. My heart broke when I thought about how discontent I was this week with cable when satellite TV was so much better for sports programming. She quoted Edwards at the bottom of her page (thus the Google hit), who put it all in perspective.

"The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here on earth. Earthly fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, children and earthly friends, are all 'shadows'. But God is the 'substance'. All earthly delights are but 'scattered beams'. But God is the sun. All earthly delights are but 'streams'. But God is the ocean."

-Jonathan Edwards

I am so wrong, but God is so gracious. As John Newton the slave trader said, "... I am a great sinner, and ... Christ is a great savior." I can identify with this.

Let the Games Begin

2008-03-17T18:14:00.005-05:00

My squadron had their "annual" (the last one was two years ago) field meet today. It's the day where the squadron runs out to the Shady Grove picnic area and runs relay races, Marine-specific competition drills, and throws a cookout. My company won it two years ago (Headquarters), but this year was the Air Operations company. They won the coveted horse head. Our current CO has a thing for Ben Hur, so he walks around and rewards the best company with the "row well and live" oar.

Yesterday's Sunday School lesson seemed to go well. I had many comments from people who spoke of different things from the discussion that meant a lot to them. It was on anxiety and frustration. Since Jesus and Paul command us in the New Testament not to be anxious, it comes down to sin if we harbor it. I realized that I had left out a piece that I really wanted to include, but failed to remember it when I finished the lesson five minutes early. Our pastor also preached on the last chapter of Nehemiah concerning trade and commerce on the Sabbath which bred much discussion. We also discussed Jesus' anxiety in the Garden of Gethsemane. The conclusion from the talk was that it's not so much that anxiety is the sin as what you do with it when you encounter it. Since we know Jesus didn't sin, His anxiety in the Garden was dealt with appropriately in His praying to the Father about it and acceptance of God's will in His dying for the elect.We had our pre-final walk through by the housing office today. Everything seemed to go well. It doesn't appear that we are going to have to shell out any money to pay for some wear and tear. Good thing too. We've already spent (mentally) everything that the Navy is giving us to move. I also picked up the paperwork to make arrangements for the movers to come and get our stuff.

You're Going Away, Let's Have a Party!

2008-03-15T19:52:00.002-05:00

We're back to pushing recruits through Young Marine boot camp, so our morning was spent over at St Timothy's. Afterward, we went home to begin preparing for Monday's walk-through inspection of the house to see if anything needs to be fixed before we have our final inspection on the 14th of April. Sheila began working in the garden to make it presentable enough to forgive us for ever planting it (so we won't have to plant grass there when we move), so I had to go to Wal-Mart (the new one opened up a week ago) to get some bark mulch and some groceries for this evening.

When Sheila finished, we went to a party thrown by a friend of mine who is moving to Yuma, Arizona. It's hard taking my family to a place where there is no regard for God's glory. Fortunately, the little boys played on the trampoline with the other kids, and the adolescents were amused by adults behaving like adolescents who can drink legally. I'm thankful that my kids think it's ridiculous. I was also thankful for my wife who is outgoing enough for us to be accepted, but mature enough to know how to redirect conversations toward more appropriate subject matter.

Tomorrow I teach Sunday School on frustration and anxiety. Fortunately, I preached on this a few weeks ago. Our lives have been very busy and anxious lately, leaving me wondering when I was going to have time to work on it. Since I'm blogging, it's apparent that I found that time. Y'all have a great Sabbath tomorrow!

Another Farewell

2008-03-14T19:54:00.002-05:00

Today I went with some of my friends from work to a retirement ceremony for a friend. Jeff and I went to Little Creek, Virginia where the ceremony was held at SEAL Team 10. It was good to see some old friends and while I was there, I bought a pair of pants from the uniform shop. I was going to purchase the pants and then one of the seamstresses told me that they could hem them while I waited. It was amazing! By the time I paid for them, they were ready.

I had a great visit with Jeff on the way up. He is the only one I work with that has a relationship with God, which afforded us some opportunity to discuss how great the Gospel is.

Tonight at Young Marines, we went to play mini-golf. We were originally supposed to go bowling, but they held a special league night and the other six lanes were taken already. It all worked out and the mini-golf was a $1 a game for the whole weekend.

This weekend is going to be very busy, so I'm taking some time for Sheila and me tonight. I have to write the Sunday School lesson tomorrow. Ironically it is about frustration, anxiety, and worry. Frustration reigned on Thursday as I was trying to contact the camp where my son will be working this summer. I wanted to ensure that he still had a job if he couldn't get lifeguard trained. It's all good to go, so I'll be ordering his plane ticket very soon. So much I can fret about. Considering worry is sin, there is much to repent over.

Unentertained

2008-03-13T21:24:00.002-05:00

Sheila and I were pricing utility services at the Air Force Academy tonight to see if anything would be within budget. As many of you can see from Sheila's blog, we spent last weekend with the Martineaus and fell in love with HD TV sports. I've been doing some research and we may be able to afford basic cable TV. Oh well, that's how I learned to love the Cubs. WGN always comes with basic cable.

I'm supposed to go to a retirement ceremony tomorrow in Little Creek, Virginia which means that I should be in bed instead of blogging. I've succumbed to the pressure from my wife to update my blog, but she does such a good job at articulating our lives in such an interesting way.

The last two weeks have been a bear trying to find a lifeguard course for Trey for this summer. We finally found one, but get this - it meets on Easter and our last Young Marines encampment. Fortunately the camp said they want Trey regardless of whether he's a lifeguard or not.

I got to be a Chief today! I actually got to do Gil's job since he left early to go ahead to Little Creek. I ran around processing a leave request for one of my Sailors, reprinted Gil's E-5 evals (the originals were rejected by the CO for unreadability), and actually took the same kind of flak from the Senior Chief that all of my colleagues complain about (she thought I was inconveniencing her for myself rather than the Sailor I was taking care of).

We may get cable or satellite anyway. The Olympics are this summer. Watch the US boycott them for human rights violations. There's always baseball though.

Slugfest

2008-02-21T00:08:00.005-05:00

No, the title doesn't mean that the children fist-fight. Instead, what they will do is get in their sleeping bags and slither down the stairs at their grandparents' house, pretending to be slugs.
My dad and Trey also set up the ping pong table. The competition is getting fierce between Trey and Dad. I've played my dad too and we're tied. Trey however, is beating my dad. I beat Trey before he got good.

Safe and Sound

2008-02-16T08:44:00.006-05:00

I picked up Katy yesterday from the airport and she was doing just fine. Her flight was exciting (the man next to her had a gran mal seizure during the flight), her deplaning was exciting (someone passed out when they disembarked), and her customs wait was long (six international flights arrived at the same time, delaying our reunion for over an hour). We got back to the Wichtermans at around 8:15am and had a bite of breakfast. It was so good to have my baby girl back.

We arrived in Birmingham at around 1:30pm and waited for a few minutes for my dad to get home from work. We sat and visited for a little while and of course, had coffee. I was so tired, I took my second nap. When I woke up I looked at my watch and thought we were an hour late for our next event. I had forgotten the time change! This phenomenon continued throughout the evening.

Speaking of time changes, we couldn't keep Katy awake yesterday. Several times she fell asleep where she was sitting. Actually, when she slept, she never really sat as she stretched out wherever she was. I don't understand how teens feel so welcome anywhere that they stretch out on any couch they sit on (Trey does the same thing when he sits on the couch during homeschool).

Preaching To The Choir

2008-02-10T21:04:00.000-05:00

Sunday School was convicting today, but what was so unusual about it is that I was teaching it. Right now I'm being tested in the area of "respectable sins." One of those respectable sins from Bridges' book is that of lack of self-control. I want to throw my wireless router out the window. Because it's old technology and my computer is newer, I often lose my signal. Well, I had completed the blog entry before this one and when I went to post it, it got deleted because there was no internet connection. I'm going to purchase a new router when we get to Colorado, but since it will come from advanced dislocation allowance, I have to wait until we get there.

Our pastor is significantly better and assumed his pulpit again this Sunday for the first time in almost three months. It's great to have him back.

We got home Monday from Czech Republic safe and sound. The road trip from Raleigh was a little frightening though as I kept falling asleep behind the wheel. The good side of sleeping behind the wheel is that it makes the trip go by faster.

We're going home to Birmingham, Jackson, and Atlanta this Wedesday. I'm planning to blog from there, so I intend to keep you all updated. Please comment! Our connection with you all will be most welcome during uncomfortable times. We love our families, but we've grown to call home wherever we are stationed. We're like a pride of lions taken from the savannah. Pray especially that we maintain our friendships with God. His family is closer than blood and his peace is enduring.

The picture's one of my favorites from Old Town Square. It's Jan Hus.

The Final Entry of the Trip

2008-02-03T16:01:00.000-05:00

Today's entries are in yellow.

We had to get up a little earlier this morning as we were planning to go to church. We wanted to give ourselves a little extra time to ensure we were prompt in our arrival. We went to the subway station a block away beside the National Museum and rode it to the next stop where we changed trains to to into southwestern Prague. Once we were there, we took a bus the rest of the way to the church which meets in a Seventh Day Adventist church.

The worship was generally reformed with Getty/Townshend and Sovereign Grace Ministries music in the worship. The sermon was about legalism and antinominanism (anti-law) from Galatians 5:1-12.

We then went to the Jewish quarter where we saw the Old Jewish Cemetery, the Pinkus Synogogue, and the Old Ceremonial Hall. Before we entered it, we had lunch at the Franz Kaffka Cafe for a traditional Czech meal of fried chicken and french fries.

Before we went back to U Radnice for supper, we had coffee at the Ebel Coffee House again. I love that hot Czech meade! We then visited the Old Town Square again for a little while before heading back to the hotel.

All in all, this has been a most pleasant holiday for the two of us. Though it cost a lot, the Czech Republic is not as expensive a country to visit as others I've been to. It's truly an international city as you can travel throughout the city and hear any language spoken. There are things to look out for, but it's safe to walk around at night and the people are generally quite pleasant. I give this vacation (holiday as they call it on this continent) two thumbs up!

A Step Back In Time

2008-02-02T18:05:00.000-05:00

Today's entries are in green.

Our day began with a walk to the Charles Bridge after breakfast. It is a foot bridge that crosses the river to the Castle. Once across, we discovered a most pleasant area of Prague. Everything was relatively clean and it was further hightlighted by the presence of a look from home - Starbuck's. After we viewed the changing of the guard at the castle, we went down for Starbuck's and a view of the John Lennon Wall.

Heading back across the river, we stopped at Cream & Dream for some excellent gelato and some mulled wine. We then left for Old Town Square to view the Astronomical Clock at the top of the hour. The Apostles would pass in front of the windows in succession as the chimes sounded. We also photographed Jan Hus (John Huss as he is known in our history books).

We then headed north toward the Convent of St Agnes of Bohemia who was the grandmother of St Wenceslas I. There was a large collection of 14th through 17th Century art work. On the way we stopped for a personal pizza and mineral water at a French bakery.

On the way back, we visited Ebel Coffee House. We almost didn't find it, but we discovered it in a hidden square on the other side of the building where we thought it was. We had Irish coffee, espresso, and Czech meade (the meade was great, I must have the recipe).

After Ebel, we did some shopping before we went to U Bakaláře for some Spaghetti Bolognese. Still looking to finish our shopping, we headed home. After not finding what we were looking for, we stopped in a British Pub for a pint and some football (soccer). Whew! What a long day!

Back In the USSR

2008-02-01T17:29:00.000-05:00

Today's entries will be in red to commemorate our visit to the Museum of Communism.

We got up today at 0700 to get ready to have breakfast and leave. We're going to miss the Grandhotel Pupp and Karlovy Vary. The spa district has to be one of the prettiest places we've ever seen. We took a cab to the bus station and were on our way to Prague. We were supposed to have snow last night, but it didn't hit Karlovy Vary. Instead we saw where it fell while we were on our way. We also saw roe deer grazing in the fields, but they are too little and far away to take a picture of. A roe deer is about the size of a Great Dane at its largest. We also saw a special tree stand called a hocherhaus which is a combination of a blind and a stand. There were several out in the fields for the purpose of hunting roe deer.We arrived in Prague, found a cab, and headed for the hotel. After we got settled, we headed to lunch at Vesmirna for Kus-Kus Sýrů which is Cous-Cous with cheese. I also had an almond mead which was wonderful, but expensive. We then went to Wenceslas Square. I must confess that this is a city to be careful in. The seedy establishments along with the people who frequent them and pick-pockets abound, so you must be on your guard at all times, while looking as natural as possible. They can spot an American a kilometer off. When we walked into Vesmirna, the girl had not even spoke with us yet before she brought us English menus.

After taking our photos of St Wenceslas and the National Museum, we walked north to the Museum of Communism. It was very sad how prolific was the lie of communism. In order for there to be a happy society, people had to be saddened by oppression.

We went to dinner at U Radnice just off of Old Town Square. This place has wonderful pizza and Moravian wine. They also had a restaurant cat that would have had the place shut down if it were in America. We were one of only three tables this evening.

The Image Theatre was our next stop for the Black Light Theatre. This was invented in China, but made popular in Czech Republic. The costumes are all luminescent and glow in the black light. It was a lot of fun, but we were so tired that the blue hues made me sleepy.

After a visit to a pub on the way home, we arrived back at the hotel. This was a very busy day, but wait until tomorrow. The blog will be a book.

Here's The Rub

2008-01-31T16:41:00.000-05:00

Today’s visits are in purple. Today was very quiet. I slept the whole night since for the first time since I’ve been here, but Sheila got up at 0200 in the morning. We got up in time for breakfast and then I went to work out. After the workout, I got a 40 minute massage from a very strong middle-aged lady who spoke only necessary English. We then did some laundry in the room and got organized for our bus ride tomorrow.

Instead of lunch, we went to the Café Elefant for cake and espresso. It was a very nice place with a window view of the street. The folks at the table next to us were a holiday party from England. Since I was still hungry, we went for a walk toward the busier part of town to a baked goods vendor we have seen the past couple of days for a cheese croissant.

This afternoon we relaxed in the room and spoke with the kids. For dinner we went back to the Café Bulvar via public transportation. I neglected to mention that we used the bus the other day to go to Moser glass. I couldn’t get over the price. It was less than a dollar apiece. We really liked Café Bulvar the first time and this time was no different. We decided to walk back. We’ve spent the evening working out details for our bus ride to Prague tomorrow. The next time we blog, it will be from there. Here's a picture of some fat pigeons and of a car small enough to park anywhere. There's a new video on the Cafe Bulvar balloon.

Climb Every Mountain

2008-01-30T14:24:00.000-05:00

Today’s balloons are in yellow. We got up right on time this morning, so I went for a run before breakfast. It was pleasant but very cold. I went almost to where the Albert grocery store is, crossed the bridge, and ran back behind the Hotel Thermal (It’s a modern-looking hotel built during the time of the communists; most people think it is ugly), and back again. We then finished getting ready and went down for breakfast. Breakfast at this 5-star hotel was not what I would have expected. The pastries were excellent, but the milk was pushing the envelope on sour, and the coffee was pitiful in comparison to places where I’ve paid very little for it. I guess it can’t all be great; I got a special deal.

After breakfast, we went up to Jelení Skok (Stag’s Leap) which overlooks the spa district of the town. The view was beautiful, but the climb was invigorating (it wore us out).

Next we went down to the colonnades where we purchased a mineral water sipping cup, and proceeded to sample water. The water is supposed to have healing powers to cure your digestive system. You can see tourists walking around all day sipping their cups. If you gulp it, it will have an explosive effect on your system, so the cups were designed to allow sipping. We sampled several, but the water tasted a little like the pipes they come to the surface through.

We had lunch at The Atrium shopping mall. While we were there, I drank too much of the Mattoni sparkling mineral water (I had Sheila’s after she gave it to me) and my face began to turn red. We switched to coffee and then headed out to look for a Laundromat. I’ll be hanged if I’m going to shell out $200 for the laundry service at the hotel to do it. Since we didn’t find a Laundromat, we decided to visit the grocery to get some bottled water, laundry detergent for hand washing, and some edible souvenirs. We then headed back to the Atrium.

At the Atrium, we stood in front of the web cam. I hope you all were able to see us because we got very cold out there waiting to be able to wave at you. The webcam is 15 minutes behind on its timer, so we stayed for twenty minutes to ensure folks could see us wave at them.

Back to the hotel we went, hiding our grocery bags from the desk clerks. Any extras are so expensive here that I’ve found it necessary to purchase them out in town and bring them back here. For instance, I replaced a 5ml bottle of Becherovka that I used from the mini-bar. I bought it in town for a couple of dollars to replace the $7.50 bottle of equal measurement. Ridiculous, but I’d stay at this hotel again. This is the nicest room I’ve ever stayed at in Europe.

For supper, we went back to the place we went the first night. We really liked it there because the food was excellent and the price was cheap. It also has excellent atmosphere (minus the cigarette smoke) for a basement restaurant. It’s far from the hole-in-the-wall one would expect of a basement establishment.

Tomorrow I get a massage and we prepare for our trip to Prague.

Eating and Drinking and Shopping, Oh My!

2008-01-29T16:18:00.000-05:00

Today was a little disappointing as we woke up entirely too late. I guess that’s what happens when you are jet-lagged and have trouble staying asleep (I awoke at 0200 and couldn’t return to sleep until almost 0600). After getting dressed (we missed breakfast), we headed to the north side of town to eat at Café Bulvar. While on the way, we took a back street and were pleasantly surprised by the neighborhood. We stopped to view the Russian Orthodox church (it’s new as over 60% of Karlovy Vary is owned by Russian families of a Corleone persuasion) and saw a McDonald’s too. There was a great looking bageteria along the way that had sandwiches for less than $3 that we will probably take advantage of tomorrow.

At Café Bulvar, we were helped with our Czech by our server. We had potato and mushroom soup (heavy on the garlic), an appetizer of tomato and mozzarella for Sheila, and an appetizer of grilled eggplant with tziziki sauce for me. To drink, we had bottled water and coffees. It was so cheap and very good. The place was a well-kept “hole-in-the-wall” restaurant in the basement of a building. These restaurants have turned out to be the best and cheapest we’ve found. The music was American which was better than last night’s restaurant, though it was American too – Elvis sings Christmas.

Afterward we went to the Becherovka Museum to learn how they make their national liquor. It has a 200-year-old history with a recipe that is memorized from generation to generation. There are 25 people in the world who know the recipe and only two of them work there.

Next we went to the Moser glass factory to shop their store. We had shopped the store on the spa side of town but wanted to see if they had something more at the factory store. The prices were the same as well as the selection. We were too late for the tour, but were able to view some pictures of VIP’s who have drunk from their crystal.

After returning to the hotel, we called the kiddos (who are in two different parts of the world). We then got ready to go out to dinner at a place called U Švejka. Švejka is the name of a human sized dummy dressed in a Czech uniform, drawing on a long pipe. We had the Bohemian Platter which was three different types of meat, red and white pickled cabbage (sauerkraut), dumplings, a cheese platter, and beer.

The vinoteque we were going to visit was closed, so we headed home in hopes of getting up on time tomorrow.

Today’s postings are in red. Yesterday’s were changed to green. At 1500 tomorrow (0900 EST) we will be on the webcam from the Atrium shopping center. We’ll be on the left side of the bridge in front of the leafless tree (Lee’s in black or khaki and Sheila’s in a long black coat). See you then!

Dobré večer.

Welcome To Czech Republic!

2008-01-28T13:03:00.000-05:00

We are finally in Czech Republic! After an almost 9 hour flight, we made it safe and sound. After arriving at Prague International, we boarded a bus for Karlovy Vary which is about two hours away. While we travelled, we kept seeing these large poles tied together with wire over large fields. When we inquired, we were told that they were used in the growing of hops for beer. Once here, we settled in to our room (see the pictures on Google Maps). So the first places to see are the Grandhotel Pupp and U Križorníku. Our hotel room has an unreal view of the Spa District of the city. At U Križorníku, we had original Pilsener Urquell, Becherovka, potatoes, meat, and garlic soup to start things. Everything was wonderful and the tab was less than $25. Click on the picture in the bubble to open Picasa Web to see the rest of the pictures. One’s a movie, so you’ll have to click on it.

I'm Leaving On A Jetplane

2008-01-26T18:33:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is the day! We are leaving out of Raleigh to begin our holiday in Czech Republic. On the left side of this blog, I am providing our maps on Google Maps. Each day I will update this blog with the stuff we did. You'll want to make the map larger by clicking on the hyperlink beneath the map on the blog. This will open the Google Map page I've saved. On the left of the Google Maps page will be a list of the places we will have visited or will visit. Just click on the place mentioned in the blog and a bubble will be opened. There you will see pictures and maybe some monologue about the place. Right now, Karlovy Vary is posted. Friday I'll post Prague. I hope everyone enjoys it! It'll be fun sharing it with you.

We picked up Sarah today who will babysit our boys in our absence. I must say that Trey is a very capable kid who can easily run things. However, he is a minor and cannot function as my attorney in cases such as medical care. Neither can he drive. Sarah is a lot of fun and the kiddos will have a great time.

I spoke with Katy today and she went to Masada and the Dead Sea today. They had a great time and she saw Jerusalem as they passed it heading south. She'll update her blog soon I'm told.

Czech This Out!

2008-01-20T21:11:00.000-05:00

As many of you know, Sheila and I are going to the Czech Republic next weekend for a little over a week. We have begun our planning and have set up a couple of formats for anyone who is interested, to follow us on our escapades. I have set up a couple of maps on Google Maps with bubbles designating where we will be visiting. Each day I am going to blog on this blog, the places that we went in the order we went to them, as well as pictures that you can view of what we will be seeing each day. We'll put together a picture book that we can pass around when we return to the States. Later this week I'll post more details as well as send out e-mail notification of when we will begin this, as well as the links to see it all. Na shledanou! (Goodbye!)

"I love you." "I love you too."

2008-01-13T20:43:00.000-05:00

I have to confess that I love my children. I'm not just saying that to be gushy or wax sentimetal, but my kids have such neat personalities and character traits and it excites me to think about what they can become. Trey and Katy have such a neat relationship and I love to hear them talk to each other. I'll hear them talk over the phone to each other and it pleases me to hear them tell each other that they love each other. Now if I can just get John and Randy to love each other. Guys don't tell each other they love each other, but maybe they'll start being nicer to each other. I'm hoping as they get older, the Holy Spirit will begin working in their hearts to love and defend each other.

We were watching a video tonight at church about Jake Deshazer, who was an American POW in Japan during WWII. During his captivity, God turned his hatred for the Japanese into a love that prompted him to go back to Japan after the war to be a missionary.

We heard from Katy tonight. She's doing well. She and Rebecca went to the mall today and also took in a movie. They saw National Treasure II and they really enjoyed it. I'm very happy for her, but I feel like I'm beginning to say goodbye. By the time we'll probably leave Colorado, she'll be marriage-aged, which is a frightening thought. Right now I'm more focused on her becoming her own woman in her relationship to God. The Dukes are godly people so I'm not worried about her getting in trouble. But I want her to have a relationship with God that is independent of us and our church. She'll move on one day and that's the most important thing she can take with her.

The sermon seemed to go well this morning. I received several comments about it and how it directly and providentially coincided with things that people in the church were going through this past week. It's great how God's Holy Spirit synchronizes us.

Sheila and I are stuck between a rock and a hard place. We had made arrangements for friends to watch our boys while we are in Czech Republic, but it seems that they are going to have to start moving during that time. Now we have to explore other options as the boys still have home school they have to keep up with. With Trey possibly going back to Twin Lakes this summer as an assistant counselor for two months and our move to Colorado, the kids (especially the older two) cannot afford to get behind. God will provide for us I know. I'm just waiting to see how.

Is Bigger Really Better?

2008-01-11T14:23:00.001-05:00

I'm blogging from Atlanta. Right now it is 2:25 in the afternoon and I'm waiting for the time when Katy and I will go off to the Atlanta airport to put her on a plane to Israel. I'm looking forward to the one-on-one time with her, sipping coffee in the terminal as we wait for her to board. I'm excited for her, though understandably apprehensive. I'm putting my only daughter on a plane to send her a third of the way around with world with only the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the knowledge that at the end of the month, Sheila and I will be one time zone from her when we are in Czech Republic.

On the way down here, I saw a billboard advertising the catchiness of outdoor advertising that read, "Bigger is Better; Size Really Does Matter." Of course it was a double-entendre, but it made me think about some of the research I've been doing as to where we will be going to church when we arrive in Colorado Springs. The church Sheila and I grew up in really left a bad taste in our mouths for megachurches. But I learned to sing and sight-read music in a megachurch because it had youth choir. The closest friends I had in high school were in that choir, one of which became my wife three years after graduation. Trey and Kate sing beautifully and I would love for them to get the same "free" training that I received in high school through youth choir. The downside of the megachurch is how easy it is to fall between the cracks. The peer pressure to fit in can be extreme too, depending on the socio-economic classes represented there. There is also the lack of intimacy that I remember too. However, our friends Bob and Rose attend a large church and really enjoy all that is offered there - including the relationships. Come to think of it, in high school I didn't really know how to make friends. There are many ways to minister to others and to be ministered to as well in a big church. So bigger may not be better, just different. We'll try it out though. You can make close friends at a megachurch. I've been friends with one for almost nineteen years.

Here's a side note. I'm listening to Elvis Costello do a version of "My Funny Valentine." This pales in comparison to the version by Sinatra that I heard earlier today. I must confess, I don't like anyone's version of the song. I enjoyed hearing The Motels, Bee Gees, and other songs we heard last night. I love Bob and Rose so dearly. Bob was into new wave in college before I was in high school listening to Ozzy, Iron Maiden, and Van Halen. But we all love good music, food, drink, and fellowship. Their a small taste of heaven on earth to our family.

World Travelers

2008-01-09T21:22:00.000-05:00

As I write, my daughter is packing to go to Tel Aviv to be with her friend for a month. She's extremely excited and rightfully so. I have to drive her to Atlanta where she will fly out some time this weekend. While in Atlanta, she will have some time with her good friend Maribeth. This is like the warm-up act for the big trip. I'm looking forward to visiting with Bob and Rose and Randy ("My traveling companion is nine years old, the child of my first marriage [only-in this case] I have reason to believe we all will be received in Graceland") will be able to visit with the girls and badger Uncle Milkshake (inside joke). Sorry for the musical interlude (Paul Simon), but it registered with me that Randy is 9. In a couple of weeks Sheila and I will go on a real honeymoon. We are going to Karlovy Vary and Prague, Czech Republic. Many have asked why Czech? Simply put, we saw how beautiful it was in a movie and felt inclined to go. Besides, the UK can wait another year and a half. I want to go somewhere out of the ordinary before it becomes ordinary.

Over the holidays we watched Band of Brothers on DVD (it was my Christmas present) with Trey and Kate. We got a player that has TV Guardian built in which enabled us to view it with a minimum of swear words. You still have to skip a gratuitous scene in the first chapter of the ninth episode.

I've been preparing a sermon that I will deliver this Sunday. I'm nervous as usual, but I did get to preach a few weeks ago. I hate the circumstace that allows me to do it because my pastor is very ill. It does however, give me some more practice for my future vocation.

I found that I can take some seminary courses through Gordon-Conwell while we're in Colorado which excited me greatly. They will take the tuition assistance that the Navy provides me as one of my fringe benefits. Any of the seminaries will only allow me to transfer 30 hours from distance education.

I'll be taking the laptop to Czech so we can blog each day. It's a lame way to share it with you, but it's better than nothing. I'll let you know how the weekend went.

What's a Better Word for "Busy?"

2007-12-26T15:37:00.000-05:00

Hey folks! I'm sorry that I've been such a rotten blogger since my return from the sandbox, but I've found that life in the United States is much busier than it is when I'm deployed. For those of you who continue to check for updates, my apologies. For those who have given up on me, you truly will never know how sorry I am that I let you down - because you won't be able to read my apology! What's another word for busy besides busy? My wife even challenged herself to not use the word "busy" in our annual newsletter this year. She did it though. Sheila updated her blog recently, so I won't duplicate details. But I will tell you what she didn't.

Our pastor developed an infection over three weeks ago and has been in and out of the hospital all this time. He is at home recuperating, but it appears he will be out of the pulpit quite possibly until June. The Sunday after Paul got sick, one of our ruling elders took up the mantle and preached. The next Sunday I got to. I love it. Tim Keller (Redeemer PCA, Manhattan) instructs that before you prepare your sermon, you must first prepare the preacher. Well I had to write two Sailor of the Quarter and Year packages at the last minute and had to redo them each three times due to poor instructions passed down to me. I simultaneously had to prepare the sermon too. This was truly a test of what I was preaching on - worry and anxiety, as is commanded not to in Philippians 4:6, 7. It did go well and I'm thankful for the training from this Keller lecture I've been listening to on preaching to the heart.

We're getting excited about this upcoming year. There are many things that will take place and in short order too. Our daughter Katy is going to be going to Israel next month to visit her friend for a month. Sheila and I are planning a trip while she is gone to the Czech Republic for some R & R. When we get back, we are then going to go on vacation, while swooping down through Atlanta to pick up Katy. We plan on visiting Birmingham, Jackson, and Atlanta, all in this trip. This will be the last time we get to be with everyone before we move out to Colorado. Can you believe it? Colorado Springs had a white Christmas. With our luck, the next four years will be unseasonably warm for Christmas. Trey will fly east in June to begin working as an assistant counselor at Twin Lakes, Mississippi. His first job!

Sheila made an excellent meal this last Sunday - seafood linguine. We love this dish but we rarely have it. Pinot Grigio goes especially well with it. I also got my commercialized Christmas too! I'm a firm believer in remembering the reason for the season, but I also enjoy all of the traditional 20th and 21st Century trappings that go along with it.

Happy New Year!

We're A Happy Family, We're A Happy Family, We're A Happy Family...The Wichtermans and Selfs!

2007-11-25T17:25:00.000-05:00

The weekend is about to come to a close and we (Sheila, Rose, and me) find ourselves sitting in the living room drinking Irish coffees, watching A&E "Pride and Prejudice." Today we went to church and had lunch with our Sunday lunch crowd before returning home. Bob and the kids left this morning at 0730 and as of right this instant, have arrived at their home in Atlanta. Rose will fly back on Tuesday evening. In the meantime, Sheila and Rose will behave like friends and are scheduled to have tea with two other ladies from our church tomorrow afternoon.

Thanksgiving was stellar. Sheila and Rose prepared a most excellent meal and we ate till we ached. The children then played "manhunt" outside in the yard after dark while the adults sat and listened to The Ramones, The Bangles, The Clash, The Call, The Alarm, The Pretenders, and other 80's bands that begin with a definite article (and a few with indefinite articles, i.e. A Flock of Seagulls).

Friday night we went to see the boat flotilla in Swansboro with pizza afterward. It absolutely HAD to be New York style pizza since it would be in keeping with tradition (it was New York Pizzeria though, and not Valentino's of Ledyard, Connecticut). Yesterday we went to Oriental, North Carolina which entailed a ferry ride as well. There was much to see, though not much to do. Oriental is a beautiful place on the other side of the Neuse River from us.

Once we are moved across the country to Colorado, we have every intention of continuing to see the Wichtermans. They are very much like-minded and we love to be with them. What great fun!

Time To Move Again

2007-11-22T11:57:00.000-05:00

As you all know, I've returned from Iraq. Unfortunately I don't maintain the same amount of motivation to keep it updated. There have been however, a lot of things going on around here. For those of you who don't know, I have received orders to ... dum dum dum ... the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado! I know, it's a weird place for a Sailor to get stationed, but there are precious few billets in the Navy for me right now. I'm not complaining. In fact, I'm thrilled. Our only regret is that we'll have to leave our Harvest PCA family here.

Last week was the Marine Ball for our Group. It was a pleasant time, though it wasn't as much fun as last year's. We got to see and party with many of our friends that we will no longer be able to be with again due to everyone moving soon. The Marines have been fun, but I'm looking forward to moving on.

Right now we are preparing for Thanksgiving and I must make lunches for the kids. It's been a great day though. Rose Wichterman (Mommy Rose) and I went for a run this morning and we will all sit down for Thanksgiving this evening. It's great to have them here again. Happy Thanksgiving!

Dr. Evil

2007-10-25T21:08:00.000-05:00

Today my family and I drove up to Norfolk to pick up my dress uniforms that were being altered. We had a very pleasant time of things. We stopped along the way and had McDonald's and when we were in Norfolk, we ran into a dear friend of ours that we knew down here. It was great to see him again and we were excited to hear that they were going to be staying in the Southeast which increases our chances of seeing his family again. We then had Starbuck's (they have one at the Exchange there) and headed home. Before we left, we drove down the waterfront to look at the many different types of Navy ships that were there. We saw aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships, cruisers, destroyers, frigates, and submarines. This was all very neat stuff and the kids loved it. On the way home we stopped in a Golden Corral and ate. The kiddos had the best time.

When we got home, I tried on my choker whites and showed Sheila. She asked me if I knew what she thought I looked like and I said "Dr. Evil." I was right. I didn't serve nineteen years to be called "Dr. Evil." That's Chief Evil, thank you.

I'll Take My Coffee Khaki-colored, If You Please

2007-10-20T23:05:00.000-05:00

Tonight was the Khaki Ball for the Chiefs of Cherry Point. Since our Mess is so small, we have a dinner instead. We rented the banquet room at a restaurant in New Bern called The Flame, and had beef medallions, shrimp and tortellini, green beans almondine, mashed potatoes, etc. (they catered the Young Marines Ball last week too, so it's a good thing we liked the food then). It was a great time with some of my friends that I deployed with and some that I worked with. Our oldest son babysat our friends' children so that they could come and he profited from it as well. Here are some of the pics.

New To Me

2007-10-20T22:08:00.000-05:00

Last Monday I took delivery of a "new to me" 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix coupe. I got such a sweet deal on this car and I know the previous owner of it. It had 67,000 miles on it and was loaded with everything but the leather, sunroof, and supercharger. The CD player was going bad so I replaced it with a Sony from Crutchfield that has an iPod hookup and something else really neat: a USB connection. I can save MP3 files on a thumbdrive and plug it into my stereo. I can even hook up an external hard drive and play my whole music collection. It has some skin cancer so my wife would like for me to have it painted. But in the meantime, I'm very happy with my new-to-me wheels.

Happy Birthday Young Marines

2007-10-14T20:57:00.001-05:00

Last night was so much fun. We had the Battalion/Regimental Young Marines Birthday Ball last night which our entire family had the privilege of attending. It was by far, the most fun birthday ball to date. I still don't have any uniforms since I picked up Chief, and so I have to wear my Marine Corps uniforms which were the easiest to get ready to be presentable. I usually wear my Marine Corps Service "A" uniform to the ball anyway, but this year it was all I had. Two of my other friends showed up in Navy Dress White. I felt a little awkward with them, but I fit in well with the Marines we were with. Our CO is a retired Gunnery Sergeant and he wore his alphas as well.

The kids had a blast dancing and eating. We all had a really good time. Our unit was the unit that closed the party at around 11:00! The Battalion Commander said that he can tell we PT our kids because they just kept going.

Next week will be the Navy Chief Petty Officer's Khaki Ball. It should be a good time in a different kind of way, though it will not have all of the innocence sober fun that our kids had last night. And a child shall lead them (by setting the example).

Back In the Saddle

2007-10-04T08:52:00.000-05:00

Lucy, I'm home! I arrived yesterday at 5:45 last night to my waiting family. It was a great reunion and Sheila and Katy took several pictures which are posted on Sheila's blog. So, take a look. From this point, I have several days of "being home again" briefs that I have to go to, so I'll be a trifle busy for the next little bit, but It's great to be home!

Passing the Torch

2007-09-28T02:16:00.000-05:00

Today was a special day for my squadron. We transferred authority to our successors, MWSS-473. I had the privilege of narrating it which is unusual because it is normally done by a Marine. So I put away my CPO cover and pulled out my cover with the eagle, globe, and anchor to facilitate a Marine Corps Transfer of Authority. Afterward, we had cake and coffee and talked.

We now get to sit around and wait for our flights home. There is no other work to be done, so we can sit around and read. Unfortunately, the mail service stopped before I could request any more Aubrey/Maturin novels to be sent for my reading pleasure. I'm meeting a friend from home for lunch today and then I'm going to go shopping for a couple of items.

Sheila's getting ready for my return. The poor lady has bought a couple pieces of new furniture that were both damaged when they arrived. This has been quite a burden to her in addition to all of the overhauling of the office in preparation for my return. I'll just be glad to get home.

If I don't get to blog before I reach the other side, I'll chat with you all then. God bless.

Anchored Down

2007-09-23T11:17:00.000-05:00

My Master Chief came by today with a CD with all of the pictures from the ceremony that were taken by the combat camera folks. There were a lot of pictures, but I'm only posting some of me from the ceremony. It was a tough ceremony. It commenced at 5:00pm and we had been going with a few 20 minute intervals of sleep since 1:00pm the previous day. The induction had many physical events including three, three mile force marches, night time land navigation, a white hat burial (the ceremonial leaving of our previous lives as blue shirt Sailors), team builders, a reenactment of taking Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima (this was a blast; it was a huge water balloon, water bottle, and firehose melee), and a couple of other things I can't remember presently.

Standing in the ceremony was painful because my right foot had been hurting since the first force march at 3:00pm the previous day. But I finally got pinned by my chief, Paul Johnson, and hatted by my mentor, Craig Cole. I was given some nice gifts (coins, a plaque, and some certificates for Sheila and me) and there was a nice reception with tons of wings, jalapeno poppers, and veggies. Enjoy the pix.

Selected, Tested, and Accepted

2007-09-22T13:55:00.000-05:00

I finished my induction period to become a Chief Petty Officer and am quite glad that it is over. Now the real test begins with leading troops. My friend Brian and I are most likely going to be moving to MAG-14 by November and will become the Leading and Departmental Chiefs respectively. I will be going back to work around the actual airplanes again, though I won't be assigned to any squadron in particular. This is a good thing as I am under consideration for a job teaching young Sailors how to do my job with orders to take us back to Pensacola. We are very excited about it as I am being considered for two different jobs in the same place. One would allow me to mentor Sailors which is what I would most enjoy doing, and the other would allow me to improve a program that I wrote a paper on a few years ago. Either way is a great opportunity, though the first has better advancement.

I am almost out of here. It's been a good deployment, but I'm really glad that it's over. Our relief is here and we are in the midst of turnover. I got to say goodbye to some of my friends who are Seabees too. They're going home as well. It'll be good to get back home. I miss my family terribly and long to be with them. I also look forward to going back to my church family. We had planned to get out to go to seminary, but those plans will be put on hold now so that I can take non-deploying orders. This will allow the two older kids to get into college and get started. We'll see what God has in store for us after that.

My friend Chaps Callison is on his R & R period since he is out here for a year. The transition training to Chief has put a strain on my normal Bible study and has made it difficult to maintain my relationship with God. I know that God doesn't leave me or forsake me, but I no longer have an excuse for not spending as much time with Him as I used to.

I'm also going to be starting back on my exercise program of weight-lifting and cardio. The transistion was hard in that we did a lot of anaerobic exercise, but not as much of the cardio training that I've been used to since I've been losing weight. I picked up about five pounds in all of this. Everyone still thinks I lost weight since this thing started. Maybe it's muscle. That's what we'd all like to think.

I'll try to continue updating the blog when I return. It'll most likely shift to more abstract things (spiritual), but I'll continue to talk about service in the Navy, since that has been the primary theme of this blog. God bless.

Selected

2007-08-20T14:36:00.000-05:00

I got selected for Chief Petty Officer! This means that I'm so busy that I'm not going to have any time to update my blog until September 21st when I get pinned. Please check back with me then! I would love to update you! God bless you!

The Pleasure of God

2007-07-29T13:02:00.000-05:00

I watched "Chariots of Fire" for the first time this evening. At the end of each month, Chaplain Bailey has Christian movie night. I remembered it coming out in the early eighties, but until today, had never seen it. Eric Liddell had said that God had created him for a reason, that He made him fast, and that when he ran, he felt God's pleasure. It reminded me of my status with God and that because of Christ, God is smiling at me rather than frowning on me in condemnation. It reminded me of the answer to the first catechism question which asks what is the chief end of man. The answer of course, is the glorify God and to enjoy him forever. The theme in the movie was that because of Liddell's love for God, he ran harder to God's glory. He was also a Scottish Presbyterian missionary. I can relate to just about all of it except the running. I'm a lousy runner. I'll glorify God in other talents He's given me.

I got to talk with my kids today. They came home from West Virginia last night and were home today after church since it was fellowship meal day. We drive an hour to go to church and the fellowship meal is held at a facility 30 minutes the opposite direction. As tired as they are, it was better that they came home. It was good to hear their perspectives on the progress of their mission trip.

Bigger Is Better

2007-07-29T01:36:00.000-05:00

In the Piper DVD some friends of mine and I are watching (one approached me last Tuesday to ask if I had a Bible study), Piper talks about how we were created to enjoy God and His glory and that is why we are attracted to big things. The universe is mathematical in its functioning, which clearly shows the design of Someone much more intelligent than we are. I was also thinking this morning about the Isaac Newton's, Stephen Hawking's, and Jonathan Edwardses of the world and contemplating their genius. In comparison to God's wisdom and mathematical genius (just to name a couple of attributes), these men are fools. I don't mean that to be negative or critical of them, but say this to draw a comparison to the infinite bigness of God and that human beings are created in His image.

Chaplain Power is one of the chaplains I worship and eat with on Sundays. Chaplain Callison refers to him as "the Irish poet" because he loves to find the beauty in creation: both physical and metaphysical. He of course, loves these things because he loves the Creator of them. "The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork." (Psalm 19:1) "The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the peoples see His glory." (Psalm 97:6) We've been jokingly arguing the theological difference between The Bangles (girl band from the eighties) and Jefferson Airplane. There really isn't any theological significance, but Live Earth was on the other Sunday and we were talking about Pink Floyd while Roger Waters played some of their songs. We were jokingly trying to justify the time we spent watching it (there's nothing wrong with it, it was just a topic of conversation).

God is big and those who reverence and know Him are privileged to be adopted princes and princesses of His. God bless.

Thou Lovely Source of True Delight

2007-07-24T23:43:00.000-05:00

I'm listening to a song with the title of my posting by Jars of Clay. I wasn't necessarily thinking about the title of the song when I felt compelled to play it. But I had been praying this morning that my delight in God would not be something conjured up within me as another religious exercise. I'm so afraid of that. It's like I was saying in my entry called "The Itch You Just Can't Scratch," that delight in God is such a faint glimpse in this life, that you're left wanting more. My unworthiness to be an adopted son of God causes me to ask why I have heavenly citizenship in the first place. Then I realize that such brokenness is what God wants in the first place. My mere mentioning of my brokenness even sounds like I might be saying I have worthiness because of brokenness, but such truly is not the case. I'm broken because I'm unworthy and I know it.

I've been meditating on Psalm 16 for the last week. I read it in my daily scripture reading early last week and was on pins and needles waiting to tell Chaplain Callison about it last Friday. The last verse says, "You will show me the paths of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." I thank God that I've been brought into the wilderness to learn this. This has been worth the separation from my family. Indeed because God is my pleasure, my family pales in comparison to the riches of the glory and beauty of Christ.

I've also been meditating on something Chaps Callison and I have titled "The Honey Sermon." We've been reading A Divine and Supernatural Light by Jonathan Edwards and Edwards uses the example of honey to describe experiencing Christ. He says that a person can tell you about honey: it's color, viscosity, texture, uses, chemical composition, and even describe the degree and peculiarity of its sweetness. I can then say that I know everything there is to know about honey. But until I've tasted it and felt its energizing effects on my body (it is sugar after all), I've not experienced honey. This is meant to be analogous to experiencing Christ. How many people in the church pews think they know Christ, but have never experienced Christ and His gospel? I went a step further. After you experience honey, you find that it makes so many things taste better. I can put it on biscuits, pancakes, bread with peanut butter, batter, pizza dough (my wife's recipe), etc. The gospel of Jesus is better because it can be applied to every facet of our lives. But because I've experienced Christ and His gospel, I want to apply it to everything because I see its applicability to everything. I don't mean to sound heady, but this stuff is delightful because my experience with Christ has made it so! This entry is too long, so I'll quit now. May you know delight in God, because it is blessing indeed.

Fantasy Island

2007-07-22T07:23:00.001-05:00

As you can see from the date on the photo, I finished the puzzle several days ago, but my senior medical officer was nice enough to glue it together for me, so I can go to Bora Bora anytime I want to. I told them that during the night I would sleep in the huts out on the water, but during the day I would sleep on the beach.

Sheila and the kids are in West Virginia right now with the church on a short-term mission trip. They are rehabilitating a house for an older couple as a project for a church in that area. This is the first time Katy, John, and Randy have all been a part of something like this. Hopefully they will learn to appreciate all that God has blessed them with afterward and presently learn to serve others. Mission trips are always good for teaching us to serve others.

We've recently gotten hot on our Fleet Marine Force Warfare program out here. It seems a little late, but our people needed the opportunity to motivate themselves. Unfortunately only one motivated himself and now we're providing outside motivation. We could either help them now or at the end regret that we had failed them as leaders. They may never thank us, but at least they can't say we didn't afford them the opportunity to excel.

I overworked my PT program last week and was providentially forced to take a few days off. I don't PT on Sundays, but Friday and Saturday were so busy that I did not get to go. The other four days I did three cardio routines a day in addition to my weight lifting. It was just too much. Saturday night I fell asleep at 7:00pm and with exception to a couple of nature breaks, I slept until 8:00am the next morning. I reckon I needed the sleep. In fact, I could use a nap now. Talk with you later.