Saturday, December 30, 2006

Last week of year


The last week of the year has proven to be somewhat interesting. I have some more pictures to add to my "what I did not expect to see in the desert" category: snow. Big huge flakes. Enough to dust the ground and make the hills around the base white. I was told this is a rare occurence here. As our commander said, he ordered snow for Christmas but like everything else here it takes a little longer to arrive so it was a few days late.

Those of you who were involved in Operation Little Debbie will be pleased to know the Little Debbie cakes have all been passed out now and they went over like gang busters. They were a huge hit. My office looked like a storage room at the Piggly Wiggly.

Had a little startle this afternoon in the form of a loud zoom and a loud thud - another rocket attack from some of our neighbors here. We continue to have casualties come to us on a regular basis. Last night was a night of firsts for us though as we received two children along with an adult. I helped carry the youngest, a little boy, in from the helicopter. Our team did an amazing job. Both children are recovering at one of our more advanced hospitals.

It has been very cold here but mostly clear. The stars are amazing, at least on the nights when the sky is not fogged from the burning fumes from the area refineries. At least the cold weather has put the creepy crawlies into hibernation.

Our chapel has been spruced up a bit thanks to one of our Master Sergeants with a nack for staining glass. Stained glass truly helps give the old building an appearance of a sacred space.

To all you who helped with donations through Operation Aircare I want to say a special thank you. Not only were Little Debbie donated but many many other food and snack items and other items hard to come by over here. Much of this found its way into our Christmas celebrations. In fact, thanks to your generosity, I was able to fill a Humvee up with donated food stuffs for the Army to have a reception following a Christmas Eve service that they looked to have to cancel because they could not secure refreshments. It has made a huge difference to our folks to know that they are thought of back home.

May God bless all with a blessed and prosperous New Year.

Sunday, December 24, 2006

Christmas Eve


It is Christmas Eve in Iraq. The sun has been shining bright all day with another tremendous sunset, just like most of the days here. But the cooler weather combined with upbeat spirits and Christmas decorations convey a feeling of Christmas in the air. But it still isn�t home for our folks. Our work is necessary, but it is not without a cost to our troops. For myself I find I am missing to things. The most easily guessed would be my family. I will miss seeing the smiles of my little girls and my wife as the evening progresses. As I sat in the congregation for the evening worship service which the army chaplains lead for the base, I found myself missing those Christmas Eve candlelight services in my parishes back home. I miss the parish from time to time even though there are so many more dimensions of ministry and a much busier tempo than in the parish. I miss many of the fine brothers and sisters in Christ who I have pastored. Today I received 66 boxes of Little Debbie cakes from Dayton Tennessee, part of an effort there lead by dear friends Marilyn and Teddy. I miss you guys.

But it is a joy to know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is being proclaimed in Iraq. Tomorrow night will be Christmas. I will hold a service of celebration with carols and candles and the Good News that our sins are forgiven in Christ Jesus will be proclaimed. I take care of my troops in all sorts of way on all kinds of levels, but the one that gives me the greatest joy is by proclaiming the Gospel to them as they come to hear what God has in store for them. Yes, being away from family has a cost, during the holidays, but there is also a joy and a need.

May God bless you this Christmas.

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Holidays

This week before Christmas seems as if it is taking forever to pass. I'm looking forward to the worship services and other celebrations scheduled this weekend I suppose. But in another way I'm trying to keep my mind off not being there with my family. I was visiting with one of the units yesterday. The conversation turned to what people would be missing and what people would partake of when they got home. Upon thinking, the thing I first want when I get home is one big hug from my family. I miss my girls snuggling up with me on the couch and watching TV or telling me about their day.

I had a heart racing experience the other night. I was out in an area where there is a small coffee shop set up and an outside sitting area. Talking with some folks, I looked up to see a red trail arcing across the sky toward our area. I just knew it was a rocket launch and I could tell it was coming close. I was just about ready to key down my radio to call it in and raise the alarm when it broke into a number of pieces. It was a meteor breaking up in the atmosphere, one of the last of a couple of days of the latest meteor shower, but this one was a big one. Really beautiful. Much better than a rocket launch.

I have the best job in the Air Force. Yesterday I was able to help an enlisted person with an issue that chain of command relationships prevented him from being able to deal with directly. But one of the blessings of being a chaplain is we can engage the chain of command at whatever level needs to be engaged to work an issue. In this case, I actually tag teamed with an army chaplain to get r done. Great stuff!

Tomorrow night our EMEDS staff will have their last and greatest town hall meeting. I anticipate that it will be one major blow out of a celebration with general teasing of all. These guys are a phenomenal team.

Most of my ministry is fairly routine as before. Lots of vistation and counseling. Lots of plain morale work.

Those Little Debbie cakes are coming in again, and going out my door as fast as they are coming in. I've got folks coming and asking for them. I've promised two big bunches to two different groups for their holiday events. Today I will make a run taking the bulk of what recieved yesterday out to various units. Passing these things out gives me a great interface for talking to folks and taking a pulse of how they are doing.

Friday, December 15, 2006

Home

I'm sitting here listening to Bing Cosby sing Christmas carols and I am taken back home to East Tennessee to my childhood when I watched the old Christmas records spin on our record player as his deep voice rang throughout the house filling it with holiday cheer.

I talked to my boss back home tonight. He advised me lots of things have changed, including myself, since my tour over here. All true enough. I've learned since becoming a pastor that life is more about change than it is same. I think though that one reason we think back to home, when home was good, is we desire something to remain the same.

I feel at home in Tennessee. I can go up in the mountains and I revel in the glory of God's handiwork. I feel closer to Him there though my understanding reminds me He is always present. Maybe it is my appreciation that is closer to my consciousness. I can refresh my spirit and life by spending some time in those mountains.

But home is where my family is. We've been all over. A couple of different places in the midwest, Tennessee, and finally DC. And I suspect another change will come in time. I was pondering what makes places so special. The mountains are special to me. To my friend I've made here Times Square in NYC is home to him, a place that would be an alien landscape to me. It's the love. Home is where we are loved, where our loved ones are. Christmas music and Christmas places take us back to times that may feel simpler but were likely as complicated as our lives now. We were just younger then and more filled with faith, trust, and belief that we were loved.

Home is where you are loved. Change is good, it keeps life growing and from becoming stale. But I'm glad some things stay the same. No matter where I take my family, in the states or oversees, as long as they know they are loved - they will feel they had a home.

Wednesday December 15th

In a few short hours we will kick off our holiday celebrations with a tree lighting. Evergreen trees are a bit scarce here, so we built one out of camoflogue netting. It looks good, really.

Thanks to the Walcholz's from back in Tennessee. Your Little Debbie cakes arrived today just in time for tonight's celebration. These are holiday themed cakes and will be a special treat.

Last night we had an alarm that had us taking cover in case of something coming in over the perimeter that makes noise and light in the night. The chapel was full of folks so I broke out my stress reliever, my wife's homemade fudge from home. A whole slab of chocolate peanut butter fudge. There was not a drop left. We lay on the floor eating fudge, reminiscing of holidays past, listening to Christmas carols, and ready for anything else that might come our way. Nothing did thanks to the work of some really great folks.

Today a very sweet lady from the midwest sent me a copy of Country magazine. Now that brings back memories of when I lived in Tennessee while in college and special holiday celebrations with friends and families. All over the base are little reminders from decorations, to pictures, and all sorts of memorabilia where people are triggering their memories of loved ones and making home feel not quite so far away.

12 days to Christmas. HooAhhh! as Big O would say. Gotta be here to get that one.

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Solemn Days

I received word this morning that the gag order we've been under has been lifted. Gag orders are put into place when certain things happen to safeguard operational data but also to enable contact of family when someone is hurt or killed here without their finding out through the internet, email, or some overzealous news agency.

A few days ago we had a visit from our Wing Commander. The base I am located at is part of a larger network of bases forming a wing. We have a "group" here. But the boss of the whole pie was in and took a few minutes to walk around the chapel. I had just returned from the morgue, where I had been summoned by an Army NCO who wished to have me up there to support his troops. We had dead coming in. Five. However, their bodies would not arrive for another 8 hours, so I had returned to the chapel with the news, which I passed to our leadership.

Five is an astounding number for us to experience. I'm not going to say anything more about their death because I don't want to give the xxx who killed them information or satisfaction, though taking satisfaction at killing people who are here to help says something about the evil depravity of their value system.

The next day I formed up with my Air Force brothers and sisters and marched out onto the flight line with our Army brothers to bid farewell to our dead. The sun was out and the day had warmed up. The flags were lifted by a gentle breeze as tears flowed from many faces standing rock solid at attention. Across from me holding his salute from his wheel chair was a soldier, a friend of one of those being carried home, just three hours out of surgery he had had earlier that morning. The commands rang briskley in the air. The slow solemn march of steps as the 5 teams bearing their comrads were heard approaching and passing under the frozen bodies locked in position to render honor to a group of people who gave their lives for the freedom we enjoy. Once again I remember the words spoken to a dying man in Ballad -- this is not a hospital but a temple, this is not a gurney but an altar, you are not a soldier, you are more -- you are a sacrifice for freedom. They defend freedom
and pay the price demanded by evil men so the rest of us don't have to.

Yesterday I helped to debrief some young people who formed our mortuary team. They pay a price too. Everyone who mounts up in a vehicle and goes out of the wire to engage the enemy who wants to kill them -- they pay a price. Family members back home -- they pay a price. Children celebrating the holidays, birthdays, first concerts, graduations, marriages, having children, and so forth -- a price is paid. I know a lawyer who has left his practice to stand a post 12 hours a day looking out at a piece of ground to make sure no one comes through that space to cause injury or death -- he pays a price -- willingly.

To the families who will celebrate without their loved ones, especially those who have lost loved ones, we understand and we care. We remember. And we promise - freedom will be preserved. Evil will not win.

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Small World

It is an amazingly small world. I sort of suspect to run into some folks from Andrews here where I am from time to time since this is largely an Air Force installation. But tonight I found out that one of the airmen I've gotten to know has a husband from Dayton Tennessee. What a small world it is. We started talking about Dayton and people we know and sure enough, we know many of the same people. She especially appreciated that many of the Little Debbie cakes she has been enjoying were donated by folks from Dayton. Small world indeed.

The Amazing People back home


This is a shout out to the folks back home.

To an operation named Soldier's Angels for providing me with a number of care packages and 2 cases of great coffee mugs which went great with out instant capuccino bar we have in the chapel. And they provided a great capuccino machine for our EMEDS unit here. Already they are becoming specialists in their own right and have helped me realize a dream of my own of someday owning my own coffee shop.

Thanks go back to Rhea County too. To the schools there and many churches who are supporting Operation Little Debbie. A special thanks to Marilyn for heading up the project there in town and the Dayton Herald for publishing about it. Marilyn and her husband were huge supporters of ministry in my days in the parish there and I am proud to say they have become like family to my wife and I. People who have a true heart for the Lord shine out in a parish and make being a pastor or a chaplain a true joy. She has passed word that Dayton has just shipped close to another 300 boxes. I'm estimating this will bring the total somewhere between 4500 and 5000 Little Debbie cakes that I will have passed out through visitation and the chapel to our troops here at my location, and that is just what is coming now. I anticipate more to arrive.

Then there are all the school supplies coming in from Lutheran congregations in Cincinnati and Bloomington Illinois. Thank you. I wish I could post pictures fo their bright smiling faces as items are put into their hands. Blankets, shoes, and clothing are greatly appreciated as well.

General Rand, our Wing Commander, was in and was very pleased with all our outreach efforts as has been our Group Commander here. The truth is that we can only do these things because of the support of the fine folks back home. You are very much involved in this struggle and you are making a difference. A big hoooahhh! goes out to you.

As for an update, we are gearing up for the holidays here and for our upcoming rotation of personnel. But each day is another day the mission is done. Flights are flown, security posts are manned, construction is done, training of the Iraqi Airforce, Army, and police forces progresses. Security checks are made at gates and security patrols are conducted in the city. In their off time troops watch movies, get a coffee, or visit with comrads in arms. Each day and ever day is a work day and every day a little more progress is made - another piece of the puzzle that makes a country and a society work comes alive and begins to function. Christmas will be another mission day. The last day we are here, as we ready to board the aircraft home on the next, will be a mission day. We are here to get the job done. And we are. Thank you for the part you play. The care packages, the cards, small gifts from families and friends, and even total strangers who become known make a huge difference in morale and attitude. We are in the struggle together. I wish all could see from where I stand the amazing changes and thankfulness of the Iraqi people, but rest assured it is there.

Blessings to you.

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Iraqi Friends

Today was a tremendous Day! I love my job.

I had the opportunity to have lunch with an Iraqi Army chaplain, an Iraqi Air Force Colonel, an Iraqi interpreter, an US army chaplain and his assistant. The conversation ranged over a variety of religious and social issues. Truly stimulating. We found we have much common ground in our hopes for our families, our people, and the nation of Iraq. It was a wonderful exchange I will always treasure the memory of.

Operation Little Debbie is growing tremendously. The following link is about how the city of Dayton Tennessee is really taking this project on:

http://www.rhea.xtn.net/index.php?table=news&template=news.view.subscriber&newsid=135346

I went through 12 boxes today alone at the chapel and have distributed cases of them out to the units. I'm actually getting requests now for boxes to take to various work centers. I started the week out with close to 200 boxes and am down to about 40. Plus all the other snacks. Being able to provide this little goodies to our guys is truly making a real difference in their morale.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Wow!


I gotta say thanks to some more folks.

Wow! Soldier's Angels- they have poured the stuff into our chapel from nice metal coffee mugs, to tons of coffee, to snacks and care packages and an extra special gift for an extra special bunch of folks that I don't want to mention just yet and ruin the surprise.

The folks at Our Redeemer in Bloomington Illinois -- wow! Thank you for the boxes and boxes of stuff for our troops and school supplies for the local kids.

Also all you folks from Cincinnati who have been sending in stuff for our troops and for Operation School Supplies -- Thank you!

Thanks to my wife too! Thanks to her efforts I've got 192 boxes of Little Debbie cakes to pass out adn there are more on the way. I've got word that the city of Dayton Tennessee is taking this on as a project. Way to go Volunteers!!!

A few updates. If you keep up with the news you'll learn that the oil refinery near our base was hit causing a large fire. We watched a very dark cloud burn all day yesterday. This morning we had a large VBIED go off in town. Shook my office pretty hard. It's getting down right cold here at night but is quiet pleasant and sunshiny in the day time. Had lots of counseling sessions the last couple of weeks and the great thing is actually being able to help out some folks. With all the snack items we have sort of become like a 7-11 with people coming in all times of day and night now. Our chapel lounge and snack area has definetly been discovered. I'm putting together a big tree lighting project to kick off our holiday celebrations, a real challenge considering trees don't grow in the desert. Our engineers are building one out of camo netting. I'm doing lots of visitation. I am truly enjoying the fact that several units have truly involved our team into their units having us for unit functions, cook outs, and so forth. It's a rare day I don't have someone call up wanting to have lunch or dinner. All those incredible connections really enable ministry not to mention friendships. I've got a big friend from the army that I have learned shares a passion with me -- Little Debbie cakes. In fact I love them so much, I married a woman named Debbie. (just kidding honey!)
There is that down side though. As the end of deployment is coming around the corner, I find that I will miss my new friends. I am eager to return to family and my team back home, but there are some really great people here. It's truly too bad we don't have Star Trek Transports to whip around visiting friends all over the world.

Peace to all.

Saturday, November 25, 2006

Thank God for Chocolate

I will never make fun of using chocolate for comfort food again. My wife sent me some homemade chocolate marshmallow fudge - exquisite stuff. It is more highly desired than any military decoration. It has been used to lift the spirits of wounded personnel and even to bribe a young man and woman into singing for our tree lighting ceremony. Last night, following a round of rockets that came a little too close to my location for comfort, we had a fudge fest and finished off the batch. Myself and my chaplain assistant, two cops, and two logistics people had a great time enjoying the remainder of that fudge.

Have to say, last night was the first time I felt at risk. I was outside exposed and they dropped a little close. I heard the little boom of launch, the whistle as it flew through the air and the whuump of impact as the concussion waved rolled over us. A friend from the Army was with me. We both heard the launch and travel at the same time and started tell our folks to hit the ground, which they did in quite an expert manner. The area around us rattled, but not the people. Professional and dedicated doing what was correct to do -- I'm proud of each one from the youngest airman to the oldest experienced veteran.

And some of us who gathered later -- are especially thankful for a taste of home -- Debbie's homemade chocolate fudge.

By the way honey, I figure you will check this when you get home from visting my family for Thanksgiving -- I love you. Send more! ;)

Friday, November 24, 2006

Mutual Salutes

This deployment has offered me some tremendous opportunities to be involved in the lives of people and in various activities that could never be afforded in other places. Today I gathered together a team of over 40 volunteers from the Air Force and even had a Army chaplain assistant. We went out to clean up the site of an Iraqi war memorial. We did landscaping, debris removal, and basic maintance to the site. The great thing was that we teamed with some of the Iraqi Air Force. It was a true honor to be given a salute of thanks from one of the ranking officers but also to have an opportunity to show them mutual respect as they work closely with us in this mission of making a difference for the people of Iraq.

Happy Thanksgiving

Boy was Thanksgiving a busy day. I put together a Christian Thanksgiving service as the main service the army put together was interfaith and isolated in the chapel on their more secluded side of the base. Our chapel is more centrally located. I used I Worship resources and created a tribute using the song "Thank You" and pictures of our troops. We had a good crowd and then people went off to try to get chow for the "big meal", which turned out to be quite a challenging evolution. There were huge numbers of army troops. Most of our AF personnel gave up trying to get into the dining facility. I was just glad I had protein bars from home in my office. Dinner was almost as bad. More protein bars. But I like them anyway. Got some great "mudpie" ones from Amazon.com. Amazon can be a lifesaver for morale for our folks sometimes.

In fact the entire week was busy. We had a distinguished vistor come through and look over our chapel operation. We had just briefed his team earlier that it was fairly quiet when we started taking rocket rounds. It never fails that I'm in the Dining Facility with a full bladder when we go to alarm red and get locked down. Once again though, no one was hurt.

I had several crisis counselings. I was invited to attend a Native American function (something meaningful to me even more because I have Cherokee blood) but had to push off because that day alone I had three counselings come in. Then it was off to the army side to put a showing in for the interfaith service. I was not asked to participate though.

Then yesterday a project I've been working on for six weeks suddenly took off like a rocket. The Group Commander has asked me to look into cleaning up a memorial site on base. I was advised the Iraqi Air Force will be tackling the project and was asked for support. So later today we'll be over there providing some muscle and equipment. Tonight though I should be able to wind down and rest. I've been invited to EMEDS for a BBQ and their town hall meeting. I trully enjoy time with these folks. I lead a Spiritual Support group with them on Wednesdays, and they are truly bright and insightful. I learn more than I am able to share.

So we've been full throttle since the weekend. I hope to take a day off Monday...need to do laundry.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Soup on a cold night

Tonight I warmed myself up a bit of tomato soup as I reviewed the news of the day. I read through the lastest Herald News from Rhea County Tennessee to be reminded of past holiday walks through the town and I found myself feeling homesick for an old fashioned Tennessee Christmas. I have a friend who owns a soup and sandwich shop in Dayton, Jacob Meyers Deli - a must stop if you are ever through there! He makes the most incredible soups. During the annual holiday walk all the shops decorate and are open late displaying their best wares and good old fashioned southern mountain hospitality.

Today was a good day though. Received more care packages that I distributed to our troops including several fairly large calling cards that I passed on to a couple of our first sergeants suspecting that as the holidays come closer they will have some troops that will need to reach out and touch home a little more frequently than usual.

I am working with our engineers to craft a Tree Lighting ceremony for the kickoff of our holiday celebrations in December. I truly believe these guys could build anything. We joke that if you give an Air Force engineer some duct tape and 5/50 cord he can repair or build anything, but I am beginning to see this as less of an exaggeration than one might expect. I've come to use duct tape for some trendous things myself from building myself storage shelves (you'd have to see it to believe it) to a radio hanger for my body armor. Of course that doesn't quite measure up to another friend from Dayton who several years ago tied his car door back on after it fell off with an orange extension cord his girlfriend secured somewhere. Give a whole new meaning to model T (inside joke for those in the know.)

Anyway, just a chance to say a little shout out and Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to my friends back home in Rhea County! Look out on the mountains for me.

Thank you #2

Additional thanks to the following folks for supporting Operation Aircare and Operation School Supplies:

St Paul's Women's Ministries (St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Cincinnati)
Eggerding family from Cincinnati.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Thank You!

I have to publically say thank you to some folks. Some I've mentioned before, but I'm going to start a sort of hall of fame because some have bent over backward to help in my ministry here. When I first arrived and learned of some of what was going on and saw some of the need, I sent out letter to some former congregations I've served or had a relationship and to some others. People have started to respond sending in school supplies for local children (Operation School Supplies) and hygene and snack items for our troops (Operation Aircare). So I want to publically thank:

Immanuel Lutheran Church of Hamilton Ohio
St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Cincinnati Ohio
Trinity Lutheran Church of Cincinnati Ohio.

So far, they have sent over 1,000 pounds of materials to support the chapel work here. It makes a huge difference for our folks knowing they are supported and not forgotten.

There are many other folks that contribute, individuals, other congregations and so forth, but these I single out to highlight here because I asked them to support my ministry through these programs, and they have done so. God's family is a team -- and teamwork is a great thing!

Evening honors

I stood still and silent in formation as a blazing orange sun slowly sat on what was turning into a very cool evening. It was fitting. For the night before, the full moon had just risen and was hanging low over the horizon as I helped carry the body of a fallen soldier to the waiting ambulance as he began his journey home. The moon had hung suspended over the tail of another medivac, its rotors still turning. With solemn dignity Air Force personnel carried this brother in arms. Later that evening I gathered with them and other medical staff during a lull. Together we prayed for the family of this young man and for comfort for our own grief. All this passed through my mind as we stood in formation to render honors to a man who had paid the supreme price to defend his nation and the liberty we enjoy. They endured the cold for over an hour standing in formation. Nor was this a mandatory formation. It doesn�t have to be. We were all honored to stand in tribute and remembrance. As the sky passed through the various shades of yellow, red, and orange finally fading into the darkness of night, I reflected on how amazing the folks are that I serve with here. They are asked to do an incredible job and they get it done. Prices are paid and they all know the price could be very high. But this is an all volunteer force. I know many of my Air Force brothers and sisters who asked to come here. Many would not have been deployed because of the nature of their service, but they sought it out. Our people do what they do out of love: love for their families, their country, and for each other. Every day people put it on the line for others. Sometimes it has consequences. But consequences or not, they are all worthy of honor and remembrance.

Tonight, as I listened to a brother chaplain lead prayer in an evening service, I heard the heavy throbbing of chopper blades, not medivacs this time, drown out his voice just for a moment. We are in a war zone. I thought to myself, what more timely place is there for ministry? My text this morning was Romans 8 with an emphasis on the message that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ � not even death itself. To know that in the end evil does not win � God wins � transforms everything. I can say with St. Paul that I do not consider the present sufferings, as great as they can be and mine are minor compared to what some people have given up and endured, to be comparable to the glory that is coming. I groan with the rest of creation for the final redemption and restoration of all things, where evil is no more, war is unheard of, and my job and the jobs of my brothers in arms are obsolete. If it happened tomorrow, I don�t think any of us would complain. We fight this war and do what must be done, but we pray for peace and we stand on the line that we might know peace and our loved ones be safe.

Friday, November 10, 2006

Words from home

One thing you learn in the ministry and especially in military chaplaincy is home is where the heart is. You take that attitude because one is often moving around, especially in the military. But you will find many military folks hae soemthing on them or in their work space that reminds them of home from a trinket or picture to a locket of a child's hair. Then every now and then home has its way of reaching out to you and reminding you of your roots. For instance, the other evening I was thumbing through a National Geographic and finding an article on the Smokey Mountains, a place very near my home in upper East Tennessee. Then in the mail today came a huge load of items from soap, shampoo, and other items to all kinds of snack items, almost 1,000 pounds worth, from a couple of congregations I got to know in my ministry in Cincinnati, another place that was home to me.

Usually in the ministry one is used to not being too close to home and to making other sacrifices and in the military even to being away from family and learning to call a tent or some small shelter home. People who are deployed together can develop a sense of family, just like pastors can become very close to the people in their parishes.

But there are sacrifices to be made, and not only by ministers and chaplains, but by all who serve, such as our military folks. Many who are deployed will suffer from not being near loved ones this holiday season. Many miss anniversaries, milestone birthdays, and graduations. Sometimes, there are tough days and tough situations. Even in the parish there are tough days. Sometimes people are a dissapointment. But then something will happen to remind you of the blessings found even in the midst of dissapointing situations.

East Tennessee is home to me. I was thankful when I had the opportunity to minister in Tennessee for a period of time before I heeded the call to return to the military. The hills of East Tennessee will always be home in the true sense of the word, but I was glad to be leaving behind some mean spirited people when I came on active duty even while I was deeply missing so many others. I admit that my time there was not what I had hoped it might be, but sometimes God and people have a way of reminding you that rarely is effort completely fruitless. This week a hand reached out to me in the form of a young lady who I had mentored in the faith in my previous congregation. She has continued to be rooted in the faith and is even planning to attend a Christian college, one that I doubt she knew I had taken some courses in during my college days. What a small world it is. But even more so, what an encouragement to know that seeds that are planted, even in difficult times, can bear such wonderful fruit. Truly touching lives is what it is all about. Sacrifices are worth it, even not being home, if lives can be touched and changed.

Our people make a lot of sacrifices, but everyday we recieve letters and packages from home and other such reminders that we are not alone and home awaits us. They remind us that to our families and friends we are important and we make a difference in their lives. Then we turn and we see in the face of locals how we are making a difference here. That is truly a great thing.

Missing

Someone sent me a note asking "what do you miss about not being at home". A timely question, as the cooler weather we've had the last few days reminds me so much of home.

I miss snuggling with my wife and kids on the couch on fall days. That's the biggest thing I'm missing right now. We are truly well provided for here on base. Pretty much anything I need and most things I would want are here. Except for family. That's the big thing. I miss not seeing my little ones trick or treat and I'll miss not having them around the table or seeing them open gifts at Christmas. But the reunion will be a great day. And it is not that far away. Yes, all service members pay a price being away from home, but there is a great reward. I rest more comfortable knowing they are safe back home because we are on the line here. I believe in what we are accomplishing here and elsewhere in teh world. Romans 13 talks of how the government holds the sword to keep evil in check. This is how I see our mission. There is a price, but the reward is worth the price. For a short time apart, my family, my friends, and my loved ones are safer and my nation continues to enjoy the liberty that allows by brother and sister Christians to gather, worship, and proclaim the mercy of Christ.

Thankful

As the sun set on a long and difficult day I began to remember that Thanksgiving would soon be coming and I felt a need to call my wife to see what she had planned. A few weeks ago she had sent me some Little Debbie cakes (appropriate since her name is Debbie) and I had shared how quickly they had disappeared out the door of the chapel. She told me that she had contacted friends from our former congregations and some family and that donations were pouring in for her to send forth an abundance of Little Debbie cakes to me here.

I continue to be amazed at the generosity and warmth of God�s many great people. So I say thank you to my friends: Great families like the Walcholz and Engel families. My paintball and gym buddy who makes one great bowl of soup and wonderful desserts Kevin, some generous congregations like Trinity in Cininnati, Emmanuel in Hamilton, and Concordia in Kingsport, as well as family. And the list could go on. But to all I say thank you and God bless.

There is much to be thankful for. Even in the midst of rain and cold (strange adjustment for the dessert) and in the middle of war and all the pain and suffering that comes with war, there is so much to be thankful for. Everyday I see how people back home reach out to make a difference in the lives of service members here whether it be in care packages or in efforts to make phone calls or send notes to lift people up. I visited with one shop that had to build a store room just to process all their mail. That is great stuff!

I had a young airman come to our Contemporary Service the other evening, the first he had attended in years. He had shared with me how he had become disillusioned with church after some rude comments made by some mean spirited people with their opinions of what a good Christian should look like.

It would be easy to be downed by the incredible focus on the negative in our culture. My young airman friend is not the first person I�ve talked to who has had a bad experience inside a church and been turned off by it. As a pastor I�ve known my share of people who claim the name of Christian who were just plain mean in their spirits. People who had been unhappy so long that their faces were creased into deep furrows of unhappiness and discontent. People whose only pleasure seemed to be in causing hatred and discontent. I�ve known my share of people in the pews and even a few in the pulpit that became so discouraged they were tempted to just leave and give up on it all. I think too that in today�s information age, internet and email have increased the problem, because a person of ill will can communicate hurtful words without looking into the eyes of the person they are seeking to hurt. (But that is a whole other conversation.) It is easy to be discouraged when meanness has infected a church or other organization through mean and cold hearted people. Another thing I�ve noticed is that often the coldness and negativity of mean people tend to make them louder and more noticeable making them and their pet issue(s) more important than they really are. This too can increase our sense of discouragement.

I think in a war, the same temptation can face people of a nation, when the focus is on the negative, the painful, the suffering.

But there is so much to be thankful for. There are many opportunities to reach out and make a difference. I am not surprised any longer when I hear stories of how our folks have done something that made a real difference in the lives of the people who live around us. Nor am I truly surprised by the generosity of friends and family whose hearts I�ve gotten to know over the years. I am thankful, for there is so much need, and assistance to do ministry and make a difference is a wonderful gift to receive. But I�ve come to know there are many warm and loving congregations and people moved by the Spirit of Christ and these I treasure.

So the advice I shared with the young airman I share with you. When confronted with the mean spirited and those who seemed inclined to cause hurt and mischief, I�ve learned to ignore them. Not ignore them in the sense of pretending they do not exist or even allowing them to cause harm when I can do something to prevent it, but ignoring them in the sense that I do not allow them to discourage me or lead me to give up on doing ministry that makes a difference. Don�t let the meanness that is in the world and in people narrow your vision to not see the good in warm hearted people or the opportunities to seize to make life better. God loves His people and through His people does tremendous things.

A mentor of mine once shared the story of the stumps. Our founding fathers were successful in their first colonies because they learned quickly as they cleared the fields for produce that when they had a stubborn stump, rather than spend huge amounts of time and energy trying to rip it out, just to plow around it. With the passage of time, nature itself would rot the stump. So in a field fertile and producing, the stubborn stump was hardly worth being concerned about. There is far too much good going on to become too discouraged by those who seek harm instead of good.

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Ups and Downs


I am learning the significance of gravity. Gravity is very important in Kirkuk. For instance, when a person has a wound you can elevate that portion of the body to help slow bleeding using gravity as an asset. Gravity becomes very noticeable when one puts on body armor and climbs up and down security towers all day doing visitation. Gravity is important when the enemy tries to lob something over the wire as what goes up must come down. In fact, the other night, I was wondering if people out in town realize that important fact when there was quite a round of celebratory gunfire following a wedding. Gravity makes the rain fall, even in the desert. And unfortunately gravity makes water run downhill, an important fact for our chapel as we sit on the lowest spot in our neighborhood.

Speaking of rain -- rainfall is up and it comes down in sheets. Rain is an all or nothing kind of thing here. It is either not or it is pouring. No little smiddly stuff here. The amazing thing is all the green that is popping up. There is actually grass growing here. Out on the towers, I saw something I had to take a picture of it was so unbelievable. In the middle of the desert I saw a bird one just would not expect to see. In a small pool of water surrounded by reeds, was a ... duck.

I rather enjoyed seeing the duck. Other critters I could do without, like the one that bit me this morning. I awoke to find a stinging sore on my leg. I didn't find the critter, so it is hard to tell if I got dinged by a spider or dinged twice by a scorpion (but I have two holes). Actually now I've got a nice blister going on.

I want to say a public thank you to friends and congregations that have responded to my call some weeks ago asking for support for Operation School Supplies and Operation Aircare. The stuff is coming in. We can use all the school supplies we can get. The local students and teachers are greatly appreciative of this source of supply.

I stood out on post the other afternoon watching the city life. There is a lot of building going on amidst the rubble and there were kids everywhere. Bright little faces. The highways are full of commercial and construction traffic. This city has a pulse. I am encourage by what I see out there. So when I know we can make a difference, that is a powerful motivation to help these kids have a future.

So if you are interested in supporting Operation Outreach below is an address you can mail items to and a list of the items we look for.

Blessings to all.

506 AEG Staff / HC
OPERATION SCHOOL SUPPLY
Unit # 70130
APO AE 09359-0130

Color Markers/Map Pencils
Pencils & Pens
12� Rulers with Metric
Round-End Scissors
Erasers
Pencil Sharpeners
Glue (6-oz Bottle)
Glue Sticks
8-1/2� x 11� Notebooks (better than loose paper)
Construction Paper
Coloring Books
Soccer Balls (Deflated)*
Air Pumps (For Soccer Balls)
Jump Ropes
Frisbees

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Why Kirkuk is Important

The following story explains the importance of Kirkuk in what is going on in Iraq.

http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/11/304874C7-D3FF-471C-BFA3-087B0618C459.html

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

All Hell Busting Loose

It felt like all hell was busting loose. The morning had started quietly enough in worship and praise of God at the chapel. Following my last morning service, I joined an Army Chaplain assistant and walked over to one of the main gym complexes for a memorial service remembering the soldier whose ramp ceremony I had attended earlier in the week. We had not even stepped into the gym when the dark thunderous blast and rumbling concussion of a large blast shook our bodies and buildings. One young Army Captain looked at me and said �thunder� but I knew better. I flipped my radio to scan the Security Forces Net and sure enough, a large VBIED (Vehicle Born Improvised Explosive Device) in the city had gone off. Thirty minutes later, in the midst of solemn ceremony, another. Shaking the building so hard that we were not sure if that one had been a rocket attack on the base, I could see the concern in the faces of the young army troops around me. I flipped my radio on to its lowest volume and raised it to see what was happening. Another VBIED. It was followed shortly by another. The radio was filled with chatter from different sectors on the perimeter as bad guys were moving, observing, and firing into the city from rooftops just outside our perimeter. Our dogs alerted to suspicious objects in a couple of places. (False alarms). The service was wrapping up, so I quietly excused myself on the heels of the Group Commander, figuring we would be having work to do shortly. There were more VBIEDS in the city in the afternoon. These were big ones throwing up white mushroom clouds of smoke crawling upward into the sky and sending shock waves through the buildings and our people. But our people were standing strong and standing together. There was a fire fight in the city within easy observation of our SFS folks on the perimeter and they could see people with weapons and binoculars looking in our direction. But these insurgents were not foolish enough to try attacking our heavily armed perimeter manned by some of the best trained security people in the world. One of our fast movers, I think an F-16, screamed in and the fire fight ceased. I learned of incoming wounded when contacted to cover a service for one of the Army Chaplains. I made my way to EMEDS as soon as I was free. My chaplain friend was quiet distraught because he knew the casualties well. I visited with him and with the soldiers who had been the victims of an attack.

I cannot say enough about the incredible professionalism, competency, and heart of the folks manning our EMEDS facility. All from Lakenheath, they are at testimony to their profession. I have seen them work wonders, not with an inhuman strength, but with a very human touch. They were exhausted. They had worked several traumas of local people and yet they more with certainty and deliberation to take care of our American casualties. But I could see the fatigue and concern in them as things wrapped up. It is a true honor to be working with people like this.

As the news broke we learned they had targeted a school and young girls had been killed. This especially touched our chapel staff as we had in recent weeks provided marterials to Army forces and others for the rebuilding and reopening of local schools. I don�t know if this was one of them or not. Later we learned that there was a death in the various bombings of the day. This valiant American began his final journey home shortly after midnight here with another ramp ceremony.

I observed a lot of resolve in folks yesterday. Our security folks as they came off shift, running by the chapel to make use of our cappuccino machine, determined that tomorrow nothing comes through our wire. Our medical folks working without sleep as long as there was need. The army troops I spoke with, determined they would continue with their mission. The insurgents can reach out and touch our humanity and raise within us profound questions of how can people do this to one another but they cannot shake our resolve. Evil will not win. We spoke of this in our morning and evening services � that good will triumph for God has promised it. The God who created us in the very beginning and who has redeemed us in the person of His Son Jesus Christ, has promised that in the end there will be a new heaven and a new earth and evil will be eliminated. It can be hard to fathom how misguided people in the name of a god they credit with creation can reach out to wreck mayhem and destruction on innocent people, even children. But I praise the one true God that He has revealed to us that evil cannot win, for He has already won with the cross and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.

Midweek update October 18

October 17th

As darkness fell I made my way over once again to guard mount for one of the sectors that our security folks watch over. This was a sector that I had not been to previously. I spent five hours out visiting the troops on the various posts. The city has an entirely different feel to it looking out from the towers at night. You see the city lights pushing back the shadows of darkness to reveal a vibrant city. People are coming and going. Markets were thriving. One could almost feel that he could step outside the perimeter and walk down the street for a cup of coffee or a pastry. But the wire, the weapons, and the vigilance remind you quickly that there are people killing one another out there.

I did have a great honor last night. I was asked by one of the young sergeants to do her re-enlistment. So in the middle of the dark night with the stars clear over head, standing at the base of one of our towers, and oil fires glowing in the background, as her team member held a small flag, I administered to oath of office to her and we congratulated her on continuing her career with the Air Force.

After midnight I made my way over to our EMEDS to check on folks there to find that a 9 line (casualty notification) was being made. The surgical team was woken up and people assembled and quickly, amazingly quick, they were ready. This time the patients were diverted to Ballad so that our team could get some much needed rest.

Today, the 18th of October that rest came in handy as this morning we had a couple of wounded come in. Once again our team did a great job and our guys are on their way to Ballad and recovery. After lunch the entire chapel team, Army and Air Force, met with the Medical Commander for some orientation and training. I had suggested that perhaps the chapel staff could be a solution for a few issues we have observed around the EMEDS the last few times we have had casualties and he had graciously agreed to put us to work in a more productive way. So today, our chapel staffs became much more integrated into the whole medical team and hopefully we can make even more of a difference than before.

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Why Kirkuk is Important

The following story does captures the key context for why Kirkuk is so important for the future of Iraq and why insurgent activity has heated up here. But we had good news today. Early this morning I heard the deep steady drone as another medivac descended to the landing pad about 100 yards from me. So I made my way to EMEDS finding an enemy combatant had been shot in the leg. I can't say too much, but this was great news because this was a man we'd been looking to stop as he had been responsible for some of the mayhem experienced in the area.

_______________________________________________________
Analysis: Battle looms of Kirkuk, its oil
By BEN LANDO
UPI Energy Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- Oil wealth in -- and historical ties to -- Kirkuk, in northern Iraq, is spurring increased violence in the once peaceful city as the future of it, and the country, is decided.

The Iraqi Parliament Wednesday cleared the way for Iraq to be carved into autonomous regions, which puts Kirkuk in a tug of war that could escalate to a full-scale civil war.

Oil revenue funds 96.3 percent of Iraq's government operations, according to Washington-based analysts PFC Energy, nearly all of which can be found in the north and south, where the Kurds and Shiites are majorities, respectively.

And although capacity is at around 2.5 million barrels per day, still below prewar levels, production is volatile and settling around 2 million barrels per day.

While estimates vary, oil fields in Kirkuk are estimated to have reserves of about 11 billion barrels, according to a 2005 survey of experts conducted by the Paris-based International Energy Agency.

The Kurdistan Regional Government, which has enjoyed autonomy since 1991, wants Kirkuk as its capital. The historically Kurdish city -- heavily mixed with Turkmen, Christian, Shiite and Sunni populations -- lies outside officially recognized KRG control. Its Kurdish majority was further eroded in the 1980s during Saddam Hussein's forced settling of Arabs there, displacing Kurds.

But as Kurds begin to return to Kirkuk, control over the territory has become more critical for directing its future with the region witnessing an upswing in violence more familiar to other areas of Iraq. The Kuwait News Agency reported five tortured bodies were found Thursday in the city.

Sunnis also eye Kirkuk as a vital part of a potential central autonomous region, viewing it as their only means of direct access to Iraq's oil wealth if the country splits in three.

"I don't see any possibilities in the near future" of resolving the Kirkuk issue, said Erik Leaver, policy outreach director of the Foreign Policy In Focus project at the Washington-based Institute for Policy Studies, both because of the deep divisions within the city now and the bloodshed sure to follow any decision of Kirkuk's fate.

"It can't be a flashpoint like that," said Leaver. "They just can't handle it," he said, referring to the civilians trying to live in a battlefield country and the occupation forces trying to quell the impending civil war.

"The oil issue is sort of central to it," he said.

Kurdish politicians, wielding the power autonomy brings, are ensuring the Kirkuk debate happens.

"Their prominent role in drafting the constitution in 2005 enabled them to insert a paragraph that ordains a government-led de-Arabisation program in Kirkuk, to be followed by a census and local referendum by the end of 2007" to decide who would control the city, the International Crisis Group wrote in a July 18 report titled "Iraq and the Kurds: The Brewing Battle Over Kirkuk."

But Kirkuk as a part of the KRG, let alone the capital, is heavily opposed -- not only by Sunnis who would lose oil resources. Both Iran and Turkey fear a Kurdistan in Iraq would be too much inspiration for their Kurdish minorities.

"Within a year, therefore, Kurds will face a basic choice: to press ahead with the constitutional mechanisms over everyone's resistance and risk violent conflict, or take a step back and seek a negotiated solution," the ICG report states.

And with the Parliament's move Wednesday the clock's now ticking: Overcoming a protest boycott by Sunni and some Shiite members by just one vote it passed legislation outlining a process by which provinces can form autonomous regions, although any such move can't happen until April 2008.

Raed Jarrar, director of the Iraq Project at Global Exchange, said now politics will unfold fast on the local level, adding Kirkuk is likely to see "more clashes, more violence and less stability" as various factions compete to control the city and decide its destiny.

A powerful bloc of Shiites, led by the Iran-backed Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq, is intent on creating a southern region, like Kurdistan in the north, which would control vast oil fields (and other possible reserves that energy experts have said could put Iraq at or near Saudi Arabia levels).

"The problem is there's no oil in Sunnistan," as John Pike, director of GlobalSecurity.org, refers to the swath of land in the middle of Iraq Sunnis would be left with, especially if Kirkuk becomes part of Kurdistan.

"It's the one possibility of oil in Sunnistan, but it's not self-evidently in Sunnistan," said Pike, which means the Baghdad-like violence already evident in Kirkuk will get worse.

Pike says there's no telling how bad the fight over the city will be.

"I'm afraid we're going to find out," he said.

Friday, October 13, 2006

Honoring the Fallen

Very early in the morning here on Thursday, our chapel team assembled with many other Air Force personnel to join the Army in rendering honors to a fallen brother. A young man, recently married, leading his troops fell to a grenade attack. Following the attack, I had ministered to one of his fellow soldiers who had been wounded. I had visited with this wounded troop both before and after his surgery here at our medical facility before his evacuation onward. I also had an opportunity to visit with another person in the vehicle, who fortunately was not hurt in the attack as well as with other soldiers of his unit. They all spoke very highly of the man whose life was taken from him. I feel for his wife and loved ones, but I suspect having heard from his fellow soldiers, that this man's ability and leadership has saved lives and had a direct impact on the mission here.

So early in the morning in the middle of the night, we drove to the assembly area and formed up in ranks. I remember hearing during my Office Basic training that the Air Force doesn't march beyond training, but that is not true. We formed up and waited at Parade Rest for the C-130 to land and take position. It was starkly quiet as the plane came in and pulled around. Then we marched out smartly to take our position on one side of the pathway. The Army marched out and took position on the other side. The color guard stood proudly; unit penants were clearly displayed as there were many upon many people there to render honor as our brother began his final journey home.

We rendered salutes as our fellow soldier passed, carried slowly with deliberation, lead on the first steps of his journey home by a chaplain. Then our chaplain colleague from the Army mounted the ramp of the aircraft followed by the members of the unit that the fallen soldier had belonged to and spoke some quiet words of comfort and promise. We stood stark still, in the silence of the night, hundreds of men and women frozen in rocklike solidarity and tribute covered with a canopy of stars with the silence broken only by the occassional audible sobbing that accompanied some falling tears and I suspect not a few prayers for family and loved ones and thoughts of why we are here and why we do what we do.

Then his team returned to their position, the ramp of the aircraft closed and we were dismissed to quietly return to our work with resolution and purpose. If they enemy thinks that loss will break our will and lead to our defeat, they truly do not understand us as a nation and a people.

I pray that God watches over and keeps the family and friends of my brother in arms.

Sunday, October 08, 2006

I love Sundays


I love Sundays. Our worship services continue to grow in popularity. Our contemporary services have re-established new and vibrant bands following the turnover with the most recent rotation. We have some great talent in our musicians and vocalists. Their energy and motivation levels are inspiring as well.

Today we farewelled our last Army musician from the last rotation as he is on his way home soon. We will miss him, but we are happy for the fact he will be returning to his family.

I personally also enjoy the Lutheran bi-monthly service that I am holding. I enjoy the contemporary format but I also appreciate being able to gather with my fellow Lutherans and reach back to the traditions which help form our beliefs and identity.

All in all, a day spent in worship gathered around God's Word is a great day.

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Quieter Week

The back end of the week has certainly been much quieter than it started out last weekend.  The news has reported that Kirkuk has been placed under a very strict curfew which I am certain makes it more difficult to mount attacks on our folks.  I had an opportunity earlier in the week to visit and talk to one of our security folks that had some small arms fire come a little too close.  Most of the week has been spent doing visitation and working to finish setting up our new chapel.  Our services and Bible studies continue to grow in number.  I'm running through Galatians with a group on Thursday nights.  There is a fairly substantial Bible study on Wednesday night and tomorrow we shall have some robust services. 
 
We've had some beautiful sunsets the last few nights thanks to some significant dust in the air.  I've managed to take some decent photographs of these.  It was hot today, but for the most part the weather has moderated. 
 
There is not much else to report that is new or different.  Most of my time is spend out visiting with the troops or speaking with them as they come to the chapel.  Some time is spent in preparation for Bible studies and worship.  I think one of my most enjoyable times is after I finish eating I usually get myself a cup of coffee and find some of our folks to sit and visit with.  Tonight I sat and talked with the leadership of our medical facility ---great people.  And it is a good thing that the coffee is good - very strong and very hot.  I'm also making use of our gym facility here.  It's not the best gym I've ever worked out in.  The equipment quantity and condition is limited partly due to the large number of folks that use it.  I wonder if the contractors who manage it could do somewhat better. But it gets the job done for the most part.  I may just be spoiled by our Air Force Services folks because when they run the gym of dining facilities they always do above and beyond.
 
Some of my mail has finally arrived including a letter from my oldest daughter - her first grown up letter to her daddy.  I have it tacked onto the wall beside my desk.  The mail is hard to fathom here.  Some items I purchased after I arrived were received weeks ago.  But one box my wife shipped out the day I left the country still hasn't shown up.  Go figure?  By the way, Walmart says it can ship anything over here that they sell on their website.  One of the guys I was talking to in the DFAC (dining facility) claims he purchased a patio set and that it is on the way.  I did order some storage cubes as furnature is sort of hard to come by here -- and they arrived -- no problem.
 
I've included two news stories about events, including one about the curfew.
 
Below is a story from Stars and Stripes that provides a little more background about what is going on the city of Kirkuk. 
__________________________________________

KIRKUK, Iraq -- On the third floor of a ramshackle housing complex in northeastern Kirkuk where scores of insurgents are rumored to live, 1st Lt. Michael McCave and two members of his squad gathered around a dented metal door Sunday and arranged themselves to go in.

It was the kind of door soldiers in Company B, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division might otherwise want to kick down, but this time McCave just knocked.

A few seconds later, a woman answered and the soldiers presented her with a small bag of toys for her children. It was a type of visit McCave and his fellow soldiers make regularly in their sector of this city of about 775,000 people in north-central Iraq, part of a patrol that touched on many of their objectives in Kirkuk.

McCave's squad was in Hussein Apartments to make a show of force in an area known to be less-than-friendly, and to gather intelligence from a friendly source about recent events in the area.

The soldiers only got to talk to the widowed mother of five for about 10 minutes, however, before a hollow metallic pop echoed in through the window.

"We've just had an explosion," said a voice over a sergeant's radio.

The soldiers left quickly to respond to the reported roadside bomb, but by the time they got to their Humvees someone else was on their way, and instead they diverted to perform some "route reconnaissance" around the sector.

For the 3rd Platoon, the afternoon included elements of much of the unit's work in the oil-rich city about 160 miles from Baghdad.

A great portion of the soldiers' effort in the city is aimed at maintaining stability, rooting out pockets of insurgents and "legitimizing" Iraqi police forces.

Earlier in the day, the platoon had made its daily visit to a police station in its area after the original plan for the afternoon -- to deliver supplies to local schools -- was scrubbed because the materials weren't ready.

The squad's mission reflected, in part, the situation in a city defined by its status as a multiethnic metropolis shared by Kurds, Sunni Muslims, Turkomens and others.

Originally Kurdish, it underwent a period of forced "Arabization" under Saddam Hussein that forced out many original inhabitants and moved in Sunni Muslims.

Since the invasion and overthrow of the dictator, however, the Kurds have made a return. The groups are now at loggerheads over who has a majority, and whether the city's future -- and oil -- should lie with the Kurdish north or the Arab south.

Either way, the American military is received well in some parts of the city, though the reception is cooler in the poorer, often Arab, areas, soldiers said.

"The Kurds love us," said Sgt. Aric Zern, serving on his second tour in Iraq.

Soldiers said the level of violence directed at the U.S. military has been low since they arrived about eight weeks ago from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, to replace elements of the 101st Airborne Division. But attacks have picked up in recent days, soldiers said.

McCave said the group had a scare not long ago when it came through one of the gates at Forward Operating Base Warrior, just before a truck loaded with hundreds of pounds of explosives detonated near the entrance. Roadside bomb attacks also persist throughout the city.

___________________________________________________

Iraq oil city shut down as troops hunt insurgents
(AFP)

7 October 2006


KIRKUK, Iraq - The northern Iraqi oil city of Kirkuk was deserted Saturday except for the rumble of military vehicles and the sound of patrolling helicopters as a curfew and military operations kept residents inside.

Iraqi police and troops were conducting raids across the city, hunting for insurgents and unlicensed weapons in a bid to end a wave of assassinations and bombings.

�These operations are the first of their kind in Kirkuk, with more than 14,000 police and soldiers supported by US helicopters,� said Captain Emad Jassim Khidr of Kirkuk police.

He added that all vehicles and pedestrian traffic had been banned and shops closed during the open-ended curfew.

Roads into the city have also been closed and in some cases sealed with newly dug trenches to cut down on rebel infiltration.

�We are tightening security on these entrances and searching the incoming vehicles,� said Khidr.

The new lock-down tactic is one increasingly being used by coalition forces in troubled cities across Iraq, including Baghdad where trenches and barriers are being built to control access to the capital.

In some cases, whole towns or neighbourhoods have been surrounded by massive earthen walls with limited guarded entrances in an effort to halt bombing campaigns by insurgents opposed to the US-backed coalition government.

More on the curfew from Aljazeera    http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/0CB40C3C-34CD-44E1-85CD-A70E13070C3A.htm

 
 

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Supporting the troops

These past few days have been very busy with many opportunities to provide support to our troops.  One night last week I spent some time with some of our security folks who took small arms fire near our perimeter that one person said came to close for comfort.  Yesterday I was once again at our medical facility watching as the medivac gently touched down.  Our litter teams went straight to the bird and began taking off wounded from an IED attack in the city.  Once again our troops were fairly fortunate. While they were hurt, it could have been much much worse.  Once again I have to say that our medical folks form a great and efficient team. 
 
News has reached us that one of our forward operating bases has once again suffered a death of one of our army troops.  I've spent some time encouraging our army chaplains as they once again are called on to provide comfort and encouragement to their troops. 
 
This week we visited a number of sites around the base we had not gotten to yet.  We went out to the ammunition bunkers, a place I feel at home in given my prior service as a torpedoman in the Navy where I worked quite often in similar bunkers.  These Iraqi bunkers have interesting character though.  On the surface they look like something out of the civil war era with walls composed of large rocks and cement.  But walking inside they penetrate deeply into the earth into cavernous rooms.  None of their weapons are stored there now.  In fact in areas around the ammo storage area one finds piles of collected and destroyed weapons from mounted machine guns even up to a couple of obsolete and destroyed armoured vehicles.
 
 
 
Visitation and counseling continue to be high priorities.  Already one month has passed and it feels like it has flown by. 

Friday, September 29, 2006

A busy Day

Thursday 28 September was quite a busy day here at our base. Our staff was working to pack up our equipment in our existing offices to move to new facilities in our new chapel building when the building shook to an explosion somewhere off base. This is a common enough occurence that I'm getting used to this. But in the afternoon there came another very large boom and concussion wave that struck and truly rattled our building. A very large VBIED (Vehicle Board Improvised Explosive Device)went off near the base not far from our from our location at the time. I and my fellow chaplain quickly made our way to our hospital. I was truly relieved that our Security Forces were ok, many of whom I've gotten to know over the past few weeks. Later that night our team went out to visit these security troops as they came off duty and also with the ones replacing them. Then early Friday morning before sunrise I was out again, this time accompaning the First Sergeant to call upon one of our Security Forces troops who had a family member pass away.

Friday we made substantial progress in getting our offices back up and running, though our lounge area is still down due our needing to get adapters for cable and power for our equipment and coffee bar. The morning was also spent in visitation of our Operations Support Squadron meeting the folks who manage our airfield operations and getting a tour of their workspaces in and around the flightline.

Sunday, September 24, 2006

Solemn Ministry

Saturday was a solemn day for our office. The emergency recall for our medical personnel sounded in the afternoon. I rushed to the EMEDS facility where I was briefed regarding casualties the army had taken. Anytime casualties come into our EMEDS, our personnel areready to go to insure they received the best possible care, and we as chaplains are on hand to provide support to the medical team and to any of their fellow soldiers.

When those who have lost their lives in service to their country are carried about the aircraft for their final trip home, we have what is called a "ramp ceremony" where in solemn dignity fellow soldiers and servicemembers render honors in formation and pay their last respects.

This evening I have two services where I plan to have a moment of silence and prayer for the families of the deceased in Iraq this week as well as for the healing and recovery of our wounded.

Friday, September 22, 2006

Morning Visitations

0500 is very quiet around our base. I was up making my way over to an area where our CES troops were getting together for PFT. In the distance large orange glows could be seen from fires burning at a couple of local refineraries as they burn off excess gas and such. I visited with the CES folks for awhile bringing them up to speed on what the chapel is offering and then moved over to where our security folks were getting ready to mount up a new shift to visit with them for awhile. Then I was off to our EMEDS facility after breakfast, to visit any patients and staff. We have quite an excellent facility here and great staff, even a dentist. I had my chaplain assistant give a ride to an army troops who was in getting stitches out of his hand from a vehicle accident. Tough fellow. Very banged up hand but still working 12-16 hours a day doing radio work since he can't handle a weapon well. I have to admire the get it done attitude of these troops here.

Below is a story that is running on the news from Kuwait. Good news for our local area.
________________________________________________

Iraqi force arrests 18 suspects in Kirkuk, seizes large quantity of weapons

IRBIL, Sept 21 (KUNA) -- A joint Iraqi police and army force arrested Thursday 18 suspected terrorists near Kirkuk and seized large quantities of weapons and explosives.

An Iraqi police source told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the Iraqi joint force, backed by Multinational Forces (MNF), carried out a number of raids in Daqouq area, South-West of Kirkuk, and was able to arrest 18 suspects, some of whom were wanted for insurgency cases.

The Iraqi force also confiscated warehouses where various kind of weapons and explosives, including a ton of TNT, were hidden, added the source.

He noted that Iraqi police also confiscated 80 rockets hidden near Al-Marai Village, west of Kirkuk.

Sunday, September 17, 2006

This is from Fox News about today's events:

In Kirkuk, police said a suicide truck bomb exploded in the city center killing 18 and wounding 55. A few hours later, a suicide car bomb rammed into a joint U.S.-Iraqi army patrol in the south of the city, killing at least three bystanders and wounding eight others.

Two roadside bombs later targeted police patrols in separate parts of the city. One killed two civilians and wounded four, while the second wounded three civilians.

Shortly afterward, a parked car bomb exploded near the house of a Waasif al-Obeidi, a Sunni sheik, killing one of his bodyguards and wounding eight people � two guards and six bystanders. Al-Obeidi, the deputy head of the al-Obeidi tribe, was not in his house at the time.

In the afternoon, a parked car bomb exploded as a joint Iraqi police and army patrol passed by in southern Kirkuk, injuring six people � two policemen and four soldiers.

In the truck suicide bombing, a gunman in the truck opened fire on civilians before the vehicle exploded near the city's criminal court and the headquarters of two main Kurdish political parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, police said.

Shortly after I finished morning services, I began to hear a series of booms, felt my building shake, and later outside saw dark plumes of smoke rising from the city. Soon an assembly of important personnel was under way. I reported to our EMEDS to minister to any wounded that would come in. Sundays are often big days for insurgent activity as the suicide bombers prepare themselves over the Muslim holiday on Friday and Saturday then reaching out to stike on Sunday. It was an eye opening day to how serious this conflict is and how much difference it makes to the lives of so many people. Our medical folks were ready and able to handle all comers. So today, I ministered to wounded and their fellow soldiers here for the first time. It was a very touching and heartening experience to see the brotherhood, dedication, and courage of these soldiers. I found that my experiences as a hospital chaplain in a trauma center in Cincinnai provided valuable experience in addition to the training I've received as an Air Force chaplain to facilitate my provision of care for these folks.

This from Reuters describes the events of the day here.
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-09-17T161408Z_01_GEO743062_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAQ.xml&WTmodLoc=NewsHome-C3-worldNews-2

By Sherko Raouf

KIRKUK, Iraq (Reuters) - Insurgents killed at least 23 people with a wave of vehicle bombs across Iraq's ethnically mixed city of Kirkuk on Sunday, one day after Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki urged Iraqis to embrace reconciliation.

At least 73 other people were wounded in the coordinated blasts caused by a huge suicide truck bomb and four car bombs which rocked oil-rich Kirkuk, a flashpoint city north of Baghdad disputed by Sunni Arabs, ethnic Kurds and Turkmen.

In the deadliest explosion, a suicide attacker driving a truck rigged with explosives blew himself up outside a police center and the offices of two top Kurdish parties, killing 17 people, mostly civilians, police said. The toll included 10 women and two children visiting relatives held by police.

Within an hour, a car bomb targeting a U.S. military patrol killed three civilians and wounded six other people. Minutes later, another suicide car bomber rammed into an Iraqi army checkpoint, wounding two soldiers. Two other car bombs struck the city.

The closed-off area where the truck bomb exploded also houses the headquarters of Iraq's President Jalal Talabani and Kurdish regional president Massoud Barzani.

Firefighters battled flames at collapsed buildings and charred corpses lay in streets littered with twisted car parts.

U.S. officials fear bloodshed may worsen with the holy month of Ramadan next week and have said car bombs could be a preferred tactic by al Qaeda and other Sunni insurgent groups.

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Out on the Perimeter

Yesterday saw me out doing a ride along while our Security Forces folks took their positions during a "Guard Mount". Climbing the towers for visitation, I was able to see the city of Kirkuk up close and personal. We toured the main gates and were present when some locals processed through the gates, quite a careful process to say the least. Then we carried meals out to those who are manning various posts in one of the sectors. I know that thanks to the dedication and attention to detail of these airmen, that are perimeter is secured and we can sleep well at night.

Later in the day we received a call from our EMEDs (Emergency Medical Facility) that casualties were inbound. My fellow chaplain and myself arrived ready to assist in any way we could. The good news was that this was only a very realistic exercise.

There are abundant opportunities for minstry. I've assumed the Thursday evening Bible study group, quite a robust bunch of folks, including some Christians who are from the region who live on base here as contractors. Next Sunday I will be starting a Liturgical service as I've discovered there are a number of Lutherans here. Our protestant program is quite robust with two contemporary services, a Gospel service, and our soon to start Liturgical service. Army chaplains are providing assistance in the rotation with these services. The army offers a traditional service in their chapel. In addition there are a number of Bible classes and fellowship groups that are meeting.

We are preparing to move into our new facilty. The current facility has a common day room with television and capuccino machine flanked by 4 offices. Our new facility is a combined office, day room, worship facility. The worship facility is fairly large and the day room area is easily 3x what we now have. We have new furniture and more televisions. IN addition we are looking to install a game room, and classroom/multi-purpose room. This should help increase morale and also provide even more traffic through for us to interact with folks.

Of course we are getting out to where people work getting to know the lay of the land. Already I've had several counselings ranging from spiritual questions to people having some trouble adjusting to their new work environment. It looks to be a busy rotation.

Soon the weather will be cooling down and the rainy season coming on. In addition the Muslim holy season of Ramadan will be starting soon, which may have an impact on what we experience during our rotation.

Monday, September 11, 2006

First Report from Downrange

(<---my living quarters)

I have made it to my deployment location without major incident, though my travel was delayed by one day due to the contractor having some sort of conflict with having an aircraft available for the first leg of our journey. After 22 hours of travel I've arrived. I've been here long enough that my sleep schedule is starting to adjust to local time.

I was deeply touched at a stop in Bangor Maine by the numerous veterans and other people who were there waiting for our plane to say welcome to Maine and to thank us for our service. My stop in Germany was entertaining. We were not there long, and I went up to a small snack bar and ordered Ein Tasse Kaffee (a cup of coffee) only to have the lady tell me "I don't speak German". Arriving in the Middle East during transit I was pleasantly surprised. I had expected a blast of heat as if stepping into an oven, but it was actually quite mild -- an atypical experience I've been told.

Weather at my current location is not bad at all. Hot yes, but dry enough that it doesn't seem that hot. As September passes into fall we can expect it to begin to cool down. The heat has not been a great hindrance though. Staying hydrated has not been too bad as there is bottled water everywhere you turn around.

Today, September 11, I performed my first offical duties as I participated in the Change of Command of our Communication and Civil Engineering Squadrons. Five years to the day after the attack on our nation that began the Global War on terror, its seems fitting that I find myself doing my first official duties in the AOR. (Area of Responsiblity). These are some motivated folks ready, willing, and able to serve their nation in this time of great importance.

I've already began to work closely with my army counterparts here. I've consulted with my army protestant chaplain liason so that we are not duplicating our efforts, but providing the best possible spiritual servies to all our people here. Our chapel team has taken possession of a new chapel facility with a great deal more space which is a fairly hardened facility as compared to the tent we had. We've got a lot of work to do on it yet, but there is a great deal of potential here. As the only Air Force Protestant chaplain here, I find myself responsible for oversight of all the Protestant services in our chapel and there are quite a few. 2 Contemporary, a Gospel service, several Bible studies and I plan to begin a Liturgical Service. On the Army side I was pleased to discover that there is an LCMS chaplain assistant who is planning to go to the seminary. I hope to be able to work with him on some aspects of our ministry here.

So what does a deployed chaplain do? First and foremost arrange for worship services and Bible studies. Then also visitation, counseling, and just about anything to support our folks spiritually and equip them for the missions God has called them to. I'm on duty 24/7 and it is great to have so many opportunties for ministry and service.

What else can I tell you. Our base has some nice ammenities including quite an impressive food court and the dining facility offers a spread that reminds me like a scaled down Golden Corral. There is a small shopping facility and once a month the locals have a bazaar selling their wares. My living quarters are small but private where I share a bath with my fellow Catholic chaplain. The base itself is mostly basic buildings, tents, mods and pods, and a flight line. It's pretty basic, but laid out quiet efficiently. The gym is very well equipped. I'm able to call home to my family twice a week.

And yes for those of you who ask, sometimes things go boom boom. There is a hold in the ground about 30 feet from where I am sitting right now, but that was a rarity. Thanks to the fine efforts of our security folks and others my location is fairly secure. The only boom I've heard/felt was in the city where I am near and not targeted at us. But even if we are targeted, I feel fairly safe due to the many precautions that have been taken to keep us safe.

One last note, I have started to coordinate with my home location at Andrews to feed our major chapel project here: Operation School Supplies. This is where we collect various items which our troops carry out to local peoples to assist their children's education and to demonstrate what Americans value.

Friday, August 25, 2006

New Experiences

Today I had the first time experience of having an inner ear imbalance. I awoke at 0530 planning to go PT, but found myself tired and dizzy. I racked it up to not enough sleep since I was up a little late working through a CD resource reviewing training for my upcoming deployment. So I went back to bed. But upon rising and going in to work, I found it was getting progressively worse and so made my way over to our hospital. After a thorough going over (partly due to my resting heart rate being so low from my being in good physical condition), I was finally diagnosed with fluid behind my ear drum and sent home with some medication. It is amazing how inconvenient a little bit of fluid in the wrong place can be. The rooms I occupy are still spinning from time to time.

A couple of days ago, I received an order from Integrity music that I made for worship resources to take with me on my deployment. I was extremely touched to receive the card that is shown here included in my order and with some items to take with me to facilitate ministry to our military service members out in the world. I wanted to post it here to show that not only is support still strong for our military folks, but to demonstrate the quality of the ministry performed by these folks at Integrity music.

These are also new days for the chapel program at Andrews Air Force base. We have a new NCOIC, a Chaplain Assistant, two new Protestant chaplains, and a new Senior Protestant Chaplain. Next week our new team is having an offsite to discuss planning for future ministry. But I can already tell it is going to be an incredible and dynamic time. I see a great deal of talent in our team members and am most especially impressed with the new Senior Protestant chaplain. I am truly looking forward to the next couple of years as I deploy and then finish out my first assignment in the Air Force.

Next week I am going up to Crystal City to help test some software that has been developed for the chaplain corp as part of a special team, another first for me. This week I gave my first formal briefing to the IDS (Integrated Delivery System: a committee composed of representatives from the helping agencies on base overseen by the Vice Wing Commander) on the topic of making some adjustments to how we reintegrate our people when they return from deployment. Due to short staffing at the chapel this spring, I found myself responsible for this program even though I am somewhat junior as a chaplain. I believe the briefing was well received based on the feedback I received.

And I am truly looking forward to deployment -- another first for me. The last time I was in the military was during Desert Storm. I volunteered then, but all the Navy wanted me to do then was to go to California and help with ammunition supply. I like to kid that I volunteered to deploy and got sent to California.

Finally, to note, in the last few weeks I've had to say farewell to two fine chaplains. One was an IMA reservist who stepped in as our interim Wing Chaplain while our current Wing Chaplain was recovering from an illness. He was an outstanding leader and I was truly blessed by his mentoring. The other is a man I am pleased to say has become a friend. A fellow Tennessean who grew up not far from where I grew up is separating from the Air Force. I will truly miss serving with him.