Pentagon Bound

As some of you knew, I was waiting on three contracts my company was bidding on back in Iraq to decide if I was going back or not. Well, as of Tuesday, we lost all three, so there was no contract vehicle for me to go back on.

Next phase was to start looking for other contracts with my company in the DC area, mainly the Pentagon and local Army bases. I started that look on Wednesday and accepted a position at the Pentagon today that starts on Tuesday. God is sooooooo faithful!!!

My official title will be Senior Strategic Communication Strategist to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations and Environment (ASA-I&E)...gotta love DC titles...lol

My duties will mainly include assisting the Assistant Secretary in delivering messages using several types of media; preparing briefings, speeches and press releases; preparing Congressional testimonies; and serving as the office's Congressional liaison. It was a no-brainer as it fits perfectly in line with what I have done in the past and what I would like to do in the future.

While I'm a little personally disappointed I'm not going back to Iraq, I'm totally at peace with this next move. There are many great reasons that I'm also excited to be back in DC. As always, I take life one day at a time, completely trusting that if I stay in God's will, He will continue to guide my next step.

Faithfulness

Part 3 in my "Fruits of the Spirit" posts will cover Faithfulness.

Gal 5:22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. (NIV)

Here are some great cross-references and topical notes on faithfulness:

Dependability, loyalty, and stability particularly as it describes God in His relationship to human believers. The faithfulness of God and His Word is a constant theme in the Bible. It is particularly prominent in Ps 89 and 119.

God is "the faithful God who keeps covenant" (Deut 7:9) and chooses Israel (Isa 49:7); great is His faithfulness (Lam 3:23).

It is not surprising that this aspect of God's nature should also belong to the Messiah, who would be clothed with faithfulness (Isa 11:5) and who is described as the Faithful one (Rev 19:11), the "faithful witness" (Rev 1:5; 3:14), and the "faithful High Priest" (Heb 2:17; 3:2).

God's faithfulness is the source of the Christian's deliverance from temptation (1 Cor 10:13); assurance of salvation (Heb 10:23); and forgiveness of sins (1 John 1:9). He is faithful to His children because He is first of all faithful to Himself (2 Tim 2:13).

God's faithfulness should be so deeply reflected in the lives of His people (Gal 5:22) that they can be called simply "the faithful" (Ps 31:23). The New Testament speaks of the faithfulness of Paul (1 Cor 7:25), Abraham (Neh 9:8), and Moses (Heb 3:5).

Faithfulness is also expected in Christian believers. Faithfulness to one's fellowman is seen especially in relation to fulfilling an office. A steward must be found faithful (1 Cor 4:2), just as Daniel and other persons in the Bible exercised their faithfulness toward God (Dan 6:4; 2 Tim 2:2).(Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)


Father, I pray for a renewed focus and dedication to faithfulness among Your children. Faithfulness takes work, but it also brings great reward. I pray for marriages due to the lack of faithfulness of one of the partners. I pray for missionaries struggling to fulfilll Your call due to the lack of faithful supporters. I pray for the faithfulness of those believerss who are being tempted away from Your call on their life. Renew their strength and lead them back to You

Father, thanks so much for always being faithful in my life. Many people will probably think that last line is crazy for me to say based on the last year of my life. However, those that know the full story know that a more accurate statement could not be uttered. You have been so faithful to me through all the struggles and continue to be today!!! It would be insane for me to think otherwise. Please continue to show your faithfulness to Your children as they are faithful to You, in Jesus' name I pray, Amen!

Previous Posts:
Self-Control
Gentleness

Boycott CITGO

In light of the President of Venezuela's recent comments about America and President Bush and also due to the fact that the Venezuelan government owns the CITGO gas stations, I've decided to boycott CITGO for my gas needs.

I know it won't really do much to the country's bottom line even if every CITGO folded as they will just sell any lost sales to other companies, but it is more the principal of the matter for me. Same as I don't eat Ben & Jerry's ice cream due to the radically left wing owners open support for the wacky left agenda.

Now see, that is how a peaceful religion handles a situation when a leader we support is harshly criticized. I imagine had Chavez insulted Mohammed instead of Bush, there would be bombings and jihad being called on CITGOs as opposed to a simple boycott. Yep...us radical Christians are just as bad as radical Muslims right Rosie???

Gentleness

Finally back to DC after a two day journey which had a stop in NC.

The next word in the fruits of the spirit is gentleness (meekness in some translations).

Gal 5:22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. (NIV)

Here are a few definitions from a topical study:

Meekness - (Grk. Prautees) Mildness, indulgence toward the weak and erring, patient suffering of injuries without feeling a spirit of revenge, an even balance of all tempers and passions, the entire opposite to anger. (Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Meekness - submissiveness of spirit toward God and man (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1997, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

A very familiar cross-reference for this one is Matt 5:5:

Matt 5:5

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. (NIV)

[Blessed are the meek] Happy, easy, those who are of a quiet, gentle spirit, in opposition to the proud and supercilious Scribes and Pharisees, and their disciples. We have a compound word in English, which once fully expressed the meaning of the original, namely gentleman; but it has now almost wholly lost its original signification. Our word meek comes from the old Anglo-saxon meca, or meccea, a companion or equal, because he who is of a meek or gentle spirit, is ever ready to associate with the meanest of those who fear God, feeling himself superior to none; and well knowing that he has nothing of spiritual or temporal good but what he has received from the mere bounty of God, having never deserved any favour from his hand. (Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The definition I like most is "entire opposite of anger." We have a lot to get angry at in this world, but God calls us to be gentle and meek. However, this is not a call to be weak. Many people misinterpret these two passages and say that Christians shouldn't take bold stands but instead should be meek. I completely disagree with that interpretation.

Christ was anything but weak. He was gentle and meek in that he did not allow those who opposed him to get him angry. Instead their hatred drew him to compassion for them:

Luke 23:34

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (NIV)

Father, I pray for a spirit of gentleness among Your children. Let that gentleness be an example to those who don't know You. Let it draw them towards You by the sheer opposite nature of the world. The world is quick to anger. Let us not be of the world. Instead let us respond with gentleness to harshness and meekness to anger. Let our gentle attitudes attract others to You.

Father, let us not confuse meekness and gentleness with weakness. Help us to know when we are to be bold and stand strong in the face of opposition to Your will. Never for personal revenge or feelings, but to defend Your will like Christ did in the courtyard of the temple by running out those who were making a mockery of it. Let us never seek revenge but trust in You that all is according to Your purpose and will. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!

Self Control

Here is my first word study on the fruits of the spirit in Gal 5:22-23. I decided to go backwards because I want to do "love" last. Today's study is on self-control (temperance in some versions). Here is the verse again:

Gal 5:22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control .

I did a topical search using PC Study Bible and it brought up two references for self-control:

SELF-CONTROL (Grk. egkrateia); "temperance," KJV. The virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites (Acts 24:25; 1 Cor 9:25; Gal 5:23; 2 Peter 1:6, where it is named as one of the Christian graces).
(from The New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright © 1988.)

SELF-CONTROL; Control of one's actions or emotions by the will. The New Testament teaches that self-control is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). The Christian is to be governed by God, not by self.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

A great cross reference for self-control is 2 Pet 1:5-8:

2 Peter 1:5-8
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV)

In this reference, self-control is a vital step on the path to be effective and productive as you learn more about Christ.

Self-control was definitely one of the areas lacking in my life before the sexual addiction was defeated. It is the major trait lacking in anyone's life who has any addiction whether it be sexual, drugs, drunkenness, over-eating, financial, gossiping, procrastination, etc...

Father, I pray that all who read this, including myself, continue to learn the very vital trait of self-control. Let us look to eternity and Your reward as opposed to the quick "high" and fleeting "pleasure" of sin. Let us take steps to place boundaries around our weaknesses. Bring into our lives people who we trust and can open up to so that they can help hold us accountable in areas we struggle with self-control. Help us texhibitit self-control in desires that are not in line with Your will. Amen!

Exercising Our 2nd Amendment Right

My dad and I had a little father-son bonding time this past Saturday in the form of skeet shooting with his shotguns. For not shooting at a moving target in over 15 years I didn't do too bad. I did much better with the 410 (9 for 18) than with the 12-gauge (2 for 12). It was a lot of fun and if I don't go back to Iraq in November, I'm looking forward to a weekend in the deer stand over the holidays...mmmmm...deer sausage!!! =)

Fruits of the Spirit

Last night I felt the need to do a word study on each of the traits in Gal 5:22-23 known as the fruits of the Spirit.

Gal 5:22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. (NIV)

Over the next several days, I'll take a word a day during my study time and get a little more in depth as to what God is saying with each of those traits so that I may apply them more to my life.

These traits contrast the traits of verses 19-21 known as the acts of the sinful nature:

Gal 5:19-21

19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (NIV)

I'll do a summary and post on here in addition to my other posts for the day. Don't hold me to every day for the next 9 days due to my trip to DC this weekend, but for the most part that is the schedule I will try to stick to.

Blogroll Update

Due to me no longer being in Iraq for now, I've made some changes to my blogroll. I moved my MySpace page to the "Family Blogs" section. I moved Midnight to the "My Fav" section being he is no longer in Iraq, but definitely a blog I will continue to read if it stays as interesting as it has been.

I've added a new section, "Blogs on the Mission Field." This section will be for highlighting people who are actively serving on the mission field overseas. Right now they are all Africa blogs and Childrens Cup workers, but I hope to add more. If you know of any or I missed anyone I should have on here, please let me know. Please prayerfully consider if you should financially support any of these great servants!

I also added another blog to the "My Favs" section, Tori O. She is Dan O's daughter and an incredible young lady sold out to Christ. You will definitely be blessed reading her blog as she gives such tremendous hope for the next generation!

That's it for now...enjoy =)

Proving the Pope Right

As I'm sure most of you know by now, last week the Pope quoted a medieval text which called Islam a violent religion and Mohammed, evil and inhuman.

After Muslims worldwide protested (not just the "radicals"), started torching Churches and murdered a nun in response to this undisputed historical fact, the Pope said the words he quoted did not reflect his personal opinion.

Torching churches, murdering nuns, forcing journalist to convert to Islam by gunpoint...nah...no violence or evil in that religion now whatsoever. It was only a medieval quote that doesn't reflect the modern times at all. Ignorance must be truly bliss.

The Bad Call Game

Over the last few years, LSU vs. Auburn games have been given nicknames like the "Earthquake Game", "The Interceptions Game", "The Fire Game" etc. Well I officially label today's game "The Bad Calls Game."

Once again the refs decide the game at Auburn just like they did two years ago with that bogus call of our defensive guy falling on an offensive guy when they missed the extra point.

I'm not one to harp much on refs but when the calls are so blatantly wrong in such a close game, I can't help myself. There were 5 calls made that were extremely bad calls and effected the outcome of the game.

1. First drive of the game...3rd down...ball is caught then fumbled...refs say it was incomplete thus stopping the drive causing us to punt.

2. Pass in the endzone and the Auburn defensive player is all over our receiver...no pass interference call.

3. Auburn receiver catches the ball takes at least 3 steps then is hit by Landry causing a fumble and we recover it. They didn't review it, but decided it was an incomplete pass, thus no fumble.

4. We intercept the ball...because our player collided with the receiver three yards away...pass interference is called even though due to the interception there was no way he could have caught it...ball goes back to Auburn

5. Pass interference on our receiver before a ball is tipped...pass interference is called...flag is waved off due to the tip...ball turned over on downs to Auburn.

If just the last two would have been consistent, then I wouldn't have been as upset but how can the nearly exact same scenario have two different results. If you want to say it was interference despite the interception then you would have to say it is interference despite the tip. Or the other way, if it wasn't pass interference b/c of the tip...then it wasn't pass interference b/c of the interception.

Then you also had 2 very late hits out of bounds that weren't called. Both of which, after the 15 yard personal foul penalty, would have given LSU a 1st down in field goal range.

It's very sad that such an important high profile game is decided by the refs.

Even with all of that, LSU still had a shot to win it in the last seconds if Russell wouldn't have made two poor decisions at the end...one not throwing it away with 48 seconds left and the other throwing it to a receiver who wasn't in the endzone with time expired.

Ok...I'm done venting...thanks for listening =)

Great Day in the SEC

There are two very big and very important games today in the SEC. Both have the potential of setting up the winners for the rest of the season. In the West, it is #6 LSU vs. #3 Auburn at 3:30est and in the East it is #7 Florida vs. #13 Tennessee at 8:00est. Two games between 4 undefeated top ranked teams...any wonder why the SEC rocks!!! This is also however the beginning of the SEC beating itself up.

Being we play both Florida and Tennessee, I really don't care who wins that game. I'd like Florida to win to hopefully set up a game between two undefeateds in the Swamp on Oct. 7, but if Tennessee were to win, it would nice revenge from last year to beat a higher ranked Vols team.

Regardless, LSU has to take care of business today and beat them other tigers...GEAUX LSU TIGERS!!!

History Lesson

All you have to do is look at the Clinton administration complete lack of response to continued terrorist attacks on Americans and you will start to understand why they fought so hard to have the ABC docudrama, "The Path to 9-11" canceled.

Here is just a couple of quotes from Clinton officials in response to the Cole attack:

According to Rich Miniter, author of "Losing Bin Laden", Clinton's top national security advisers made the following classic Democrat excuses for doing nothing in response to the Cole attack:

Attorney General Janet Reno "thought retaliation might violate international law and was therefore against it."

CIA Director George Tenet "wanted more definitive proof that bin Laden was behind the attack, although he personally thought he was."

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright "was concerned about the reaction of world opinion to a retaliation against Muslims and the impact it would have in the final days of the Clinton Middle East peace process."

Secretary of Defense William Cohen "did not consider the Cole attack 'sufficient provocation' for a military retaliation."

Hat Tip: Coulter's Weekly Editorial

Outrageous!!! Will ABC Stand for This???

Rosie O'Donnell is once again spewing her looney left hatred. On "The View" she made the completely outrageous statement that "Radical Christianity" is just as threatening as Radical Islam. The silence on this ludicrous attack on Christians from the left is deafening. And don't even hold your breath waiting for an apology from Rosie or ABC.

Christianity is the only religion in America that you can discriminate against and spew hate with no retribution in the MSM. What is so sad is that is b/c we were founded as a Christian nation that other religions even have the freedom to exist much less share their faiths peacefully without fear of death.

Hanging With the Peanuts

Owen's First Bday

Future World Cupper!!!

This past Sunday I got major hang out time with Owen and Chloe. Owen's bday was Sunday and as you can see, he definitely enjoyed his cake. Chloe is playing soccer, so I was pumped that I was home to be able to go watch her play.

I bought Owen an LSU jersey and Chloe an LSU cheerleader outfit this past Saturday in BR. Look how cute they are!!! Definitely have to train them up right when they are young so that they don't depart when they grow up =)

Comprehensive Plan for Securing America

This has got to be the most comprehensive plan I have seen to date on how to deal with the threats we face 5 years after 9-11. Newt lays out the challenges and then the plan to address them in a very straight forward fashion. Note to you libs...this is what a plan to secure America looks like.

Never Forget!!!

"Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it" Poet, George Santayana

Hat Tip: Mike's America for link...it is an absolute must see!!!

Taking Care of Business

LSU did what they were supposed to do in beating an inferior team convincingly by beating Arizona 45-3. I have a feeling the PAC-10 is not liking the SEC too much after several major beatings the last two weekends. That's what happens when you play in a real conference =)

It was great being back in Tiger Stadium after a two year absence. Check my MySpace page for more pics from the day being it is much easier to add them on there.

GEAUX TIGERS

Due to the unexpected trip home, I'm getting to go the LSU-Arizona game tomorrow....whooohooo!!!! GEAUX TIGERS!!! Hopefully it will serve as a good fine tuning for next week's SEC opener with Auburn.

I'm Lovin' It

Mickey D's in Kuwait

MMMMMM...Mickey D Fries!!!

While the base and the heat in Kuwait are a 100x worse than Camp Victory in Baghdad, their one saving grace is a MickeyDs. Every time I flew through there, it was my first stop. Last weekend was no exception on our way home. As soon as we were settled in, I went and got some nuggets and FRIES!!! They truly are the best in the world and now I have proof =)

Newt Hits It Out the Park!!!

If you aren't on Newt's weekly mailing list from Human Events, you are definitely missing out. His article this week outlines the 11 issues Repubs should rally around to maintain their Congressional majority.

I am in complete agreement with all 11, and hope Repubs in vulnerable districts are paying attention. If we lose either chamber this fall, I fully expect this to be the start of Newt's platform for his '08 presidential run, which I also fully support.

Let's Cut and Run...NOT!!!

How pitiful the libs must truly be if the best they can offer coming out of recess is to try and get Rummy replaced. What kind of strategy is that? That's just the problem...they have no strategy. The only "strategy" they even come close to mentioning is to cut and run from Iraq. Well here are al Qaeda's own words if that were to happen before the job was done.

The terrorist Zawahiri has said that al Qaeda will proceed with "several incremental goals. The first stage: Expel the Americans from Iraq. The second stage: Establish an Islamic authority or emirate, then develop it and support it until it achieves the level of Caliphate The third stage: Extend the jihad wave to the secular countries neighboring Iraq. And the fourth stage: the clash with Israel."

Excerpt from President Bush's speech compliments of Mike's America.

Also here is what a strategy looks like in case any of you libs were curious.

Nope...No Bias Whatsoever

Check out this video of how news agencies doctored or staged photos in order to create animosity towards Israel in the recent war with the Hezbos. Very sad indeed!!!

Hat Tip: Nancy

He Ain't the Leavin' Kind

While I listen to Christian music about 90% of the time, I do still enjoy a little country every now and then. I've recently started really liking Rascal Flatts. I bought their latest album yesterday, Me and My Gang.

The last song on the album is a great example of how a group can play music besides Christian labeled music, yet still get across an unabashedly Christian message. It is entitled, "He Ain't the Leavin' Kind," and it is completely about God being there no matter that some don't believe in Him or may lose their faith in Him for a period of time. Here are some of the lyrics:

They tried their best to drag him out
of a courthouse down in Montgomery
Now they want to kick him out of school
And take him off our money

They can take those words off of paper and stone
But he aint gone, no
He ain't the leavin' kind

He'd never walk away
Even from those who dont believe
And wanna leave him behind
He ain't the leavin' kind

She stayed mad at him for a lot of years
For taking her husband
Started losing her faith and thinking that
Her life meant nothin

But when she looks at those kids
She raised all by herself
She knows she had some help
Yeah she knows
He ain't the leavin' kind

What a great song!!! That is so true. So many times we think God isn't concerned with our lives when bad things happen, yet He is always there. We were never promised a life of roses, just that He would always be by our side through it all.

Saying Bye

Official Farewell with General Horne

Delicious Iraqi food from Baghdad for going away party

Going away pool party at Camp Slayer Pool

Last week we had several opportunities for those of us leaving to say goodbye to everyone. Above are pics from three of those occasions.

Home Safe

Back in DC safe and sound. I'll do a post on my adventures after I catch up on my sleep =)

In Transit

I'm in Kuwait on my way home!!! See everyone soon!!!