Happy Memorial Day 07

Happy Memorial Day 07
Originally uploaded by LOvED88

I know I have been away for some time. I will be back and posting soon.
Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Ed

A Few Good Men

So - - - I could not sleep and thought it would be best to spend some time in prayer and then catch up on some blog reading that I have been a bit negligent of recently. As I was reading through Al Mohler's blog, I came across a most intriguing entry, one that I post here for your consideration. What most especially challenged me was the end of this post, a call to the church to train up young men in the discipline and fear of the Lord.

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"The Army We Have" -- Young Men, Responsibility, and Leadership for the Twenty-First Century
Posted: Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 3:14 am ET

by Al Mohler

Inevitably, the armed services are a mirror held up to the nation. When we look at our soldiers, we see the profile of a generation. This was true of the rag-tag army that coalesced under the leadership of General George Washington, of the massive American forces that fought in two cataclysmic world wars, and of the Vietnam generation. Now, it is true of the current generation as well.

Writing in the June 2007 issue of The Atlantic, Brian Mockenhaupt -- himself a recent soldier -- provides the nation with a compelling analysis of today's Army and its recruits. The article, "The Army We Have," should be required reading for all who work with young men, and all who care about the future of the nation.

Today's Army is all-volunteer, of course. The end of the draft meant the rise of the volunteer army and massive changes in the way the Army operates. But, as Mockenhaupt makes clear, the current generation of young men presents the Army with some new challenges.

As Mockenhaupt reports:
Since the end of the draft, more than 30 years ago, this is the first time the all-volunteer military has faced sustained combat, and the demands on its human and material resources have been heavy and relentless. At the same time, a relatively prosperous economy and certain larger societal changes have made it harder for the Army to meet its recruiting goals. As Lieutenant General Michael Rochelle, the Army's deputy chief of staff, testified to Congress in February, the confluence of challenges in recruiting, training, and retaining soldiers is "unparalleled in the history of the volunteer force."

The challenge:
[T]he Army doesn't have the luxury of selectivity in filling its expanded rolls. It needs 80,000 new soldiers this year and must find them in a populace that is in many ways less willing and less able to serve than earlier generations were. Young people are fatter and weaker. They eat more junk food, watch more television, play more video games, and exercise less. They are more individualistic and less inclined to join the military. And with the unemployment rate hovering near historic lows, they have other choices.

Today's soldier must be an information-processing machine, a diplomat, and a lethal instrument of national power. As Mockenhaupt explains, these soldiers face a complex combat environment where, as in Iraq, the soldier must be able to know "when to shake a hand and when to shoot someone dead."

But the Army has to recruit from the generation of young Americans it faces, not the recruiting pool it might dream to have. In order to meet recruiting goals (80,000 new recruits each year for the Army alone), standards have been lowered, expectations have been altered, and basic training has been transformed.

Consider that in age group 17-24, 7 of 10 young men are ineligible for military service -- that's 70 percent. As Mockenhaupt explains, "More than half the members of this youth cohort are disqualified for moral, mental, or medical reasons." These range from run-ins with the law, psychiatric diagnosis, drug problems, and medical issues to gang-related or extremist tattoos.

Mockenhaupt then introduces his readers to Colonel Kevin Shwedo, the director of operations for the Army's Accessions Command within the Training and Doctrine Command, or TRADOC. This sets up the most fascinating single paragraph in the article:
At the same time, Shwedo sees today's recruits as the product of a society that can't quite figure out how to raise its children. "Most kids coming into the Army today have never worn leather shoes in their life unless it said Nike, Adidas, or Timberland. They've never run two miles consecutively in their life, and for the most part they hadn't had an adult tell them 'no' and mean it. That's bizarre," he says. "Our society says you can't count in a soccer match, because you might hurt somebody's feelings. Every kid is going to get a trophy, whether or not you ever went to practice or ever won a game." But these societal shortcomings can be leveraged in the training environment, Shwedo says. "If you go up and do something as simple as slap a soldier on the back and tell them they are doing a good job, you are giving them the recognition that society hasn't given them besides those cheap trophies."

In that single paragraph, Mockenhaupt gives us a portrait of a generation in trouble -- a generation of young men who were largely unparented. Consider this one telling sentence: "They've never run two miles consecutively in their life, and for the most part they hadn't had an adult tell them 'no' and mean it." They haven't had an adult tell them 'no' and mean it. That goes a long way toward explaining the culture around us.

The Army's goal:
For all the evolution in military tactics, weaponry, and organizational structure, the basic aim of military training--producing strong, disciplined soldiers, skilled with their weapons--remains constant, and the core methods are simple. You must look like everyone else. You must act like everyone else. You must perform like everyone else. If you don't, you will be punished. Or worse, the group will suffer for your mistakes. To instill this obedience, the Army taps into young people's basic desire for acceptance, and their abhorrence at being singled out for punishment or critique.

Finally:
The Army's problem, however, is really just the nation's problem writ small. The number of Americans serving in the military has steadily shrunk from more than 1 in 10 during World War II to fewer than 1 in 100 today. The all-volunteer military has allowed most Americans to distance themselves from national service, forcing the Army in particular to work harder and spend more to get the people it needs. As former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said in another context, "You go to war with the Army you have. They're not the Army you might want or wish to have at a later time."

Until more Americans are more willing, more able, or perhaps more compelled to serve, the Army must maintain an effective all-volunteer force with the people it has and the limited number of additional people it can recruit. And that larger conundrum is beyond the power of any generals, captains, or drill sergeants to solve.

The focus of Mockenhaupt's article is young men and what they represent as a new challenge to the Army. The article is an incredible piece of cultural insight and analysis, and it should spark thousands of worthy conversations among parents, pastors, youth ministers, and others concerned with today's boys and young men.

The emergence of a generation of boys and young men who have never been told 'no' by an adult who meant it, who include a large percentage who had no father in the home, who were put on Ritalin instead of taught and disciplined, tells us a great deal about ourselves as a society.

The Army's challenge is to transform several thousand young men from this generation each year, turning them into soldiers. The future of the nation, to a significant degree, rides on those young men. The Army faces new and daunting challenges in the recruitment and training of these young men. As Mockenhaupt makes clear, thousands of these young recruits and soldiers go on to make their nation proud. Clearly, the Army is doing something right.

How about the church? How is the Church faring in its own challenge to reach this generation of young men -- the same generation described by Colonel Shwedo above? Are we reaching the boys and young men in our own churches? Are we seeing them transformed from boys into men, from followers into leaders, from undisciplined young males into faithful disciples of Jesus?

If anything, our challenge is greater than that faced by the Army. Beyond that, the stakes are even higher for the church than for the military. The church needs more than a few good men. What are we waiting for?

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We need godly fathers to train up their sons in the discipline of the Lord. We need such fathers and sons to faithfully participate in ministries that reach out to other young men, encouraging, exhorting, challenging such young men to be faithful disciples of Jesus. How are we doing?

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Ed

Hearing the Word of God!

The first evening of our time with Michael Ginn was of great encouragement and challenge. Michael (From the Word Ministries) began the evening with a question – “How often do you focus on the kingdom of God outside of Church or personal devotion times?” This was a reminder of how easy it is to get sidetracked by the things of this world.

Then Michael proceeded to lay out his direction for our time in the Word, explaining that he was going to begin with the first public message of Christ, the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and follow that with the last public message of Christ before the cross, the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24-25). What a blessing to hear and listen to these messages of Christ in their entirety much as those first readers heard such things. I am reminded that “faith comes by hearing” (Romans 10:17) – that there is something special and unique to simply hearing the Word of God. Consider as well that throughout most of the history of the Church, large numbers of people were illiterate and yet how did they come to faith – by hearing the Word of God read.

After hearing Michael quote the texts, he challenged the congregation with several thought, the first of which was a question of passion. We all have a passion, be it for work, or for sports, or for people or for God and our passion is generally revealed in what we participate. If we have a passion for God, then we will participate in those things in which we draw near to God, through prayer, the Word, and fellowship with the saints. If we have a passion for other things, these things will occupy a place of prominence in our lives. So again, “How often do you focus on the kingdom of God outside of things like Church or personal devotion times?” Are you passionate for God or have other things slow and systematically crept in to have first place in your life.

I am looking forward to tonight as we continue to hear the Word of God – may we really hear it with spiritual ears and be changed to a greater likeness of Christ.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Ed

Home From Texas

It is good to be home. We arrived back in Rogers at about 5 pm, after a 300 plus mile, 6 ½ hours, accident dodging journey home. Just about 5 miles from home there was a terrible accident on 540 that left one person dead and three others severely injured. All we could do was pray.

We got home just in time to participate in the Home Bible Fellowship. We were somewhat exhausted (funny how traveling does that) but very glad we made the effort to get home, particularly because our brother, Michael Ginn (From the Word Ministries), who will be speaking at the church Friday, Saturday and Sunday, decided to come a day early to enjoy the fellowship! We had a blessed time of fellowship around our discussion of A.W. Tozer’s “The Knowledge of the Holy” – chapter 2 asking the question, “What is God Like?” To which Tozer initially responds, “He is not like anything” explaining that we have to understand the incomprehensible, invisible and infinite God in human terms. This is what makes God so glorious. Yet, while being infinite, God has disclosed Himself to us, allowing us to probe, be it ever so shallow, into the depths of His being. We had a lively discussion and brother Ginn brought an added dimension of insight.

With the Texas trip complete, I am now focusing my attention on the events of the weekend as well as looking to the future, both near and far. In July Hope will bring on a second intern (Jake Wyatt) and the men of the church will be participating in a Sunday evening teaching series entitled, “The One Anothers.” As our little church grows, we are faced with all kinds of new challenges from just how to do some things, to expanding areas of ministry.

The Elders of Hope will be meeting on Friday, May 25, devoting the day to seeking vision and direction from the Lord, discussing where we are as a church and where we should be according to God’s Word.

These are blessed days and let us never neglect or take our eyes off of Jesus, the head of the Church and Lord of our lives.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Ed

Texas - Day Three - Six Flags

All I can say is that I am sooo tired. It is about 11 pm and we have made memories for yet another other. Not only was Six Flags filled with all the excitement we had anticipated, riding every ride we wanted to and some even a couple of times, but we ended the day with a Wyatt dinner that included Rocky, Sue, Curtis, Annie (and their two babies), Jake and Candace (along with baby Caleb).




After dinner we reminisced about past times and experiences, played some pool with the guys while the ladies enjoyed an evening chat. When you don’t know how many opportunities you will ever have to again do such a thing, it makes the opportunity all the more precious. I am thankful for the Wyatt boys (or I should say - "young men") and their wives coming over.





Getting back to Six Flags, there is not too much to report except that we had a good time (see the pictures below). Just as we were disembarking the last ride we had intended to ride, we got a good ol’ fashioned, springtime Texas thunderstorm the shut everything down. But we were already wet and tired so it really didn’t matter. We headed up toward the front gate, did a little window-shopping and then headed back up to Southlake.

I am relaxing and enjoying this time with my family, but Hope is still on my mind and in my prayers. Please pray that I come back with more joy and more fervor to serve the Lord and the congregation. Good night!

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Ed

Texas - Day Two

Day two of our little get away has come to an end. It is about 10:30 and we are getting cleaned up after a wonderfully busy day – but busy in ways uncommon to us. Everyone was up and visiting by about 8:15 am. We had breakfast and a nice time of visiting with the Wyatts in the morning. Then, about 10:30 am, we were prepared for our adventure – the Baseball game.

We loaded ourselves into the van, with the intention of hitting a grocery store to pick up some peanuts in the shell. What kind of ballgame would be complete without peanuts in the shell? But about five minutes on the freeway, I asked the question, “Do we have the tickets?” There was only a brief silence, but it was enough to know that we had left the tickets at the Wyatts. So, we turned around (so to speak with a freeway involved) and returned to base to retrieve the tickets.

Now we were ready – still with enough time to pick up the peanuts, which we did in record fashion and then headed south to Arlington and the ballpark. What a beautiful place is the ballpark at Arlington. We found our parking lot and enjoyed the walk to our gate. We bought some hotdogs ($18 for four supposedly “jumbo” dogs) and found our seats, which were nearly identical to the seats we sat in a couple years back when we came – right next to the Angels’ bullpen. We got to watch Jered Weaver, the starting pitcher, do his warm ups and then the game began.




There are a few things in life that make you feel strange. I am sure you can think of a few. But one of the strangest (only because I am not used to being in such a situation) is when you are fervently rooting for a team that happens to be the “visiting” team. The opening inning was thrilling as the three of the first four batter reached base and then Casey Kotchman, the Angel 1B man, hit a grand slam homerun putting our team up 4 to nothing from the get go. The only thing is, while my family and I are screaming and cheering, no one else was. It is not the same as when 40,000 fans are all screaming with you. Oh well, these runs would be more than enough to win the game and yet the Angels added three more to win 7-2.




Of course, the game was not without its quirks. About the third inning a cloud decided to dump its contents in the form of rain on the field for about 25 minutes delaying the game about 45 minutes. The rain certainly brought a refreshing reprieve from the 90-degree temp, but it was only temporary, for after we were soaked, then the sun came back out and baked us, but oh well.

After the game we returned to the Wyatts, had a bite of dinner and then headed to some other dear friends home, the Ryans. The Ryan children were headed to play “Ultimate Frisbee” with the church and so they and our kids left leaving Bryan, Carla, Laura and myself about 2 and ½ uninterrupted hours of visiting. Talking with the Ryans makes us miss them and appreciate their friendship. The kids returned hot and sweaty about 9:45 pm and so we headed back to the Wyatts for showers and preparations for tomorrow – Six Flags.

Anyway, that’s the update. Hope everyone’s Monday was as eventful as ours.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Ed

Off to Texas

Obviously by the pictures below we made it to Texas – at least to the visitor’s center! Our trip was smooth and relaxing. We actually listened to an audio book of Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea” – and then we talked about the old man’s persistence. O that I would be as devoted and persistent to Christ, who is my inheritance, as that old man was to catching a great fish that he would not be able to keep.




We made it to Countryside Bible about 20 minutes before evening service, which was wonderful as it gave us a bit of time to greet some friend we have not seen for some time. The service itself was a children’s choir program, which was well done – “Roamin’ through Romans” and was essentially a walk through the gospel presentation of the book of Romans. Admittedly however, we were a bit distracted as this was our first contact with a Wyatt baby. Laura had not seen baby Caleb (Jake’s and Candace’s new arrival) before she was holding him and did so through about half of the service before I finally got to do so. What a good baby – at least for us through the service – sleeping away, waking up only ever so slightly to give us a peek of his eyes only to see them roll back up and then close again. Such tiny little hands and feet. I can hardly believe that mine were once that small!






On top of this, I had a revelation, one that brought both joy and showed me my age. As I held baby Caleb, I was remembering many years back now when I once held baby Jake. Not any bigger than Caleb with nothing but a future ahead of him. And now, in a few months, that baby I held so many years ago will be partnering with me in ministry, as an intern, as a man of God, at Hope Community Bible Church along with his family. Where does the time go?

After service we made some arrangements with the Ryans (Bryan and Carla) to meet up with them after our Baseball game (Rangers vs. Angels) for dinner. After dinner Luke and Beth will go with the Ryan children (the oldest of which I once held in my arms and is now driving!) to play “Ultimate Frisbee” (also known more simply as Frisbee Football). I think that the “senior Wyatts” will come over for dessert.



Laura and Carla Ryan

Speaking of the senior Wyatts (it seems hard to say that, particularly due to the fact that when I first saw Sue last night at the church, she was standing amid a sea of children who made up the choir for the service and she appeared to fit right in – don’t know that I could say the same of Rocky!) – anyway, Rocky and Sue are doing well and set us up nicely in their wonderful new home. We ordered pizza and visited with them as well as with Jake, Candace and Caleb. At about 11 pm we called it quits and settled in for a good night’s rest.





I can’t believe how blessed I am – the Lord’s granting me such wonderful friends, so warm and hospitable, such wonderful memories and along with such wonderful hope for the future. I am certainly unworthy of it all – and yet, in Christ, I am to enjoy it all to His glory.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Ed

Sorry for the Hiatus

I must apologize for the "hiatus" (is that how that is spelled - and does it mean what I think it does?) [I was graciously offered the correct spelling of "hiatus" not "hiadas" as I previsouly had it] – there have been a number of issues and projects that have so occupied my time that I simply haven’t been able to make a post in – well – too long. And even as I make this post, I must confess that I do not know when the next will be as my family and I will be taking a few days off, going to Texas to visit some friends. We are looking forward to our trip as on Monday we will take in a Texas Rangers vs. Anaheim Angels (life long Angels fan) ball game and then on Tuesday we are taking Luke and Beth to Six Flags (their first time ever).

Now the strangest thing happened this past week. It all began last Sunday evening when one of my friends pointed out that I had a screw in the back right tire on my van. The tire was low, but I was going to try to drive it home. I didn’t make it a few feet through the church parking lot before it was apparent that the tire needed to be changed. The exciting thing was, there were three men from the church that changed it for me.

I took the tire to Wal-mart only to be informed that the screw was too close to the sidewall and therefore was unable to be fixed. This coupled with the fact that the front two tires were getting dangerously low on tread and that we were planning to take this trip to Texas prompted me to bite the bullet and purchase four new tires (at Sam’s Club – better deal; better tires) – Ouch to the pocket book. But in the end, I felt good, knowing that we would be treading well on our upcoming trip.

Now the strange part. Yesterday as the men were gathering for our month Men’s prayer, the same friend who informed me of the screw in the back right tire of my van, walks in, and with the straightest of faces says, “You have a screw in the back right tire of your car.” I replied, “Yeah, right!” To which he said, “No, you really have a screw in the back right tire of your car.” So, he followed me out to my car (not my van) and sure enough, in the same exact location as the screw in my van tire was a screw in my car tire.

Now, is that just coincidence or should I be paranoid? I am not aware of any construction through which I have been driving. My wife and I managed to get the car home without incident and will just let it sit while we go off on vacation. But I still can’t believe the odds of getting two screws in the same exact location on two different tires. But I guess as they say somewhere, “Them the berries!”

I would like to remind or encourage everyone to visit the recently revamped website for the church (www.HopeCBC.org). Not only is there a new look, but we also have updated Sermon texts along with - MP3’s of the messages. Additionally we have our current Home Bible Fellowship series, “The Knowledge of the Holy” by A.W. Tozer along with study questions on the site. Take a look around and prayerfully you will be blessed.

Well – it is Sunday morning and while I have been up for a while and think I have everything ready, I’d better turn my attention to the more pressing matters of heart preparation for preaching and worship. If I am able to connect, I will post summaries of our days in Texas. If not, then check back in a few days. Have a blessed week and live heartily as unto the Lord!

Colossians 3:23-24
23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Ed