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