One of our guest lecturers in my military chaplaincy class was a chaplain who served in a Baghdad ER. His stories and photos were a lot more graphic than HBO… He spoke of telling a soldier he was going to die and letting him borrow his cell phone to call home… all while we looked at a photo of his fatal injury on the big screen in front of us.
The young men and women who work in these hospital see things humans weren’t meant to see… over and over and over.
They need chaplains.
I often share links of interest on my Facebook account… I guess I should share them with you too. Here are the links I’ve posted in June.
Most Americans Believe in Higher Power, Poll Finds
Source: www.washingtonpost.com
Most Americans believe that angels and demons are active in the world, and nearly 80 percent think miracles occur, according to a poll released yesterday that takes an in-depth look at Americans’ religious beliefs.
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Father Emil Kapaun’s cause for sainthood to be officially opened
Source: catholicnewsagency.c…
The Cause for the Canonization of Father Emil Kapaun, an Army Chaplain who died while in a North Korean Prisoner of War Camp in 1951, will be officially opened on June 29.
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War’s Stresses Take Toll on Military’s Chaplains
Source: www.nytimes.com
“Just as it has claimed so many other members of the military, the war in Iraq has taken a toll on chaplains. Although they do not engage in combat, chaplains face the perils of war as they move around Iraq to visit troops. None have been killed, but some, like Chaplain Brunk, have been wounded. Many report post-traumatic stress disorder and other stress problems.”
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Soldiers’ Self-Harm: ‘Anything Not to Go Back’
Source: www.newsweek.com
There’s a rising trend of soldiers harming themselves to avoid returning to war.
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Joel got four free tickets to last night’s Springfield Cardinals game. It was military appreciation night… unfortunately he was away for Army training and couldn’t go with us. Um… thanks!?
We invited a friend of mine to join us and had a wonderful time. We got our first foul ball which was incredibly exciting. 
Seeing the young soldiers reminded me of why I want to be a chaplain. Sarah made a few friends. These future MPs represented the Army well. I’m very proud of them. They ate an INCREDIBLE amount of food. I’m going to need a huge snack budget when I become a chaplain…
Hello friends,
I’m preparing to write a paper on Unitarian Universalism. If you walk too closely to me in the library, sit by me in a hospital waiting room, or talk too long on the phone you’re destined to hear about this religious group.
Feel free to add your insight and suggested resources in the comments section. ESPECIALLY if you’re an Unitarian Universalism chaplain or minister. I’d like to add a section in the paper about how to provide religious support for UUs… I’d also like to know what UU Army Chaplains think about wearing the cross on their uniform.
P.S. Pestered friends, if you’re terribly tired of hearing about UUs… hold on. Next week I’m going to talk of nothing but Church history. [Which conveniently has a lot to do with this paper too...]
I got a chance to talk to Patti on the phone today. What a treat! I’m so very thankful for the amazing people God has brought into my life through the chaplaincy. I hope someday we can be stationed together!
I recently turned in a 20 page paper for the Military Chaplaincy course at AGTS. It covered my call, my strengths and weaknesses as it pertains to the chaplaincy, my vision of ministry opportunities and challenges, free exercise of religion, pluralism, working with chaplains of other faith groups, and a personal fitness plan addressing spiritual, physical, emotional, mental and career growth.
Me and my man.
[He was still in uniform because I made him come straight from work... just so I could get this photo.]
I’ve finally gotten a few opportunities to pull my ACU’s out of the back of the closet. Friday was Seminary Day at AGTS. Lunch and dinner were provided for prospective students by the Army, Air Force and Navy. Chaplain Candidates wore their uniforms all day and answered questions about the chaplaincy and about our Chaplain Candidate Fellowship Group. We also nabbed some swag from our recruiters.
Dr. George O. Wood, General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, [aka the head AG guy in the USA] preached during chapel. This was my fourth time to hear him speak. He’s hilarious, intelligent and insightful. Really, he makes me happy to be in this denomination.
Saturday I spent the morning hanging out with single moms while they got their oil changed for free at Central Assembly… no uniform… but free donuts.
This morning our church focused on missions. We filled the lobby with tables representing many of the Assemblies of God foreign and U.S. missions ministries. Nicole and I manned the AG Chaplaincy Dept. booth. We shook hands, handed out pens and dog tags, and heard about EVERYONE’S couisn/brother/nephew/neighbor who has served in Iraq or Vietnam or Korea or the Civil war… People love to tell these stories.
We had several cheerful men come tell us how important chaplains were to them when they served their country.
I also had a few interesting characters insist on saluting me… I know you’re not generally supposed to salute indoors… but really what could I do? Sometimes I just smile, but sometimes it’s just better to place people over protocol and salute the crazy old guy eccentric gentleman.
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Well… now I need to recover from all of this mandatory fun and start writing some papers! I only have 25 or 30 pages to write by Tuesday.
