Month: March 2008

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

The Panamanian boy had himself a trade; one huge pineapple for one small C-ration can of meat. I certainly thought I got the better end of the deal. The platoon was resuming its slither through the thick jungle and I tied the giant prickly fruit to the top of my ruck. As I trudged through the suffocating vegetation with my heavy load, each step brought the bounce and thump of the pineapple. The first miles seemed tolerable but by the end of the day, my bargain had become a curse. The pineapple had turned out to be an annoying hindrance to the march. Now, what are the pineapples in our spiritual lives? Could it be spending too much time at a good job or maybe recreation has become a slave driver? Do we own our house or does our house own us? What are the “good” things that slow us down in our march for God? It would be wise to consider our load plan and drop some of that excess weight. Marching On! SP232

C-ration – Army field rations before MREs (Meal Ready to Eat) and after K-rations
Ruck – Military Backpack

…Though seeing, they do not see… Mathew 13:13

I was under my poncho trying to keep the glow of my red lens flashlight from sneaking out. I didn’t want the light to give away our position and I needed to cut some 550 to repair my gear. As I worked with my razor sharp K-Bar, I noticed my hands were getting wet and sticky. I tried to wipe the substance off but it just kept getting worse. Wanting a better look at what was going on, I braved taking the red lens off my flashlight. To my surprise, the white light revealed hands covered with blood, my blood. Without knowing it, the sharp knife had cut a pretty good gash in my thumb but the red light had concealed the Class III leak. Likewise, the lenses of life can impair our vision. We are so used to looking at life a certain way that our weaknesses, character flaws, or even sin can go undetected. I have two white lights for my life: God and true friends. They shed light on the problems and help me see areas that I need to change. SP231

[Jesus said,] I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

What would you think if the enemy never even showed up? You had the troops and equipment ready to go and then your opponent didn’t bother coming to the fight. I was watching my son wrestle the one day at a high school meet. He pinned his first rival after a good struggle. But there was no opponent in his second match and it was forfeited. The match was won before it even started. But, what about the spiritual conflict? Well, the battle between God and His enemies has already been decided. They have no chance of winning because of their inability to stand in the presence of the Almighty. God has already defeated our enemy in a predetermined victory through Jesus Christ. They might as well forfeit. This realization should give us great confidence and help us to live the Christian life boldly. Victory is Ours! SP229

We have 90 subscribers in the SWORDPOINT community! Let’s ask 10 more to join the for 100.

(Wednesday, 26 March 08 at 2100 EST)

Go to the Website at: www.ustream.tv/channel/army-navigators

Joseph Peer from the Hunter Army Airfield / Ft. Stewart Ministry will be sharing – The 3 Responsibilities of the Disciplemaker

He’ll be taking your questions and comments via chat, phone, or OOVOO (free video conferencing program from oovoo.com). Bring your Bible, pen, paper (napkin) and your questions.

***Have some ideas about responsibilities in disciplemaking? Send me your top 5 tips (short and to the point, scripture is good too). Send them to charleswood1@gmail.com

To talk on oovoo, you’ll need to have the free software down loaded from http://www.oovoo.com/ (make sure you get the free stuff). And add his contact info by searching for me by using my contact name in the search: haafnavs

If you miss the live show you can catch the recording at: www.ustream.tv/channel/army-navigators

When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. He shall say: “Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. Deuteronomy 20:2-4

As men and women of faith, we pray and plead for peace. But, I’m afraid there are times when peace can only be achieved through the brutality of war. As we continue to fight this war on terror, I realize many of you, my friends, have deployed or will deploy soon. With that understood, I want you to hear the words of the Scriptures and receive it’s blessing. If you are called, go and fight with all the might the Lord of Heaven has given you and may compassion rise from the ashes of this necessary violence. Make sure your Bible is packed in your ruck and make prayer as essential as eating. Know that we who are in the support role here in the States are faithfully behind you in our thoughts and prayers. May God be with you. SP228

In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:2-3

I prayed for them before they left for Kuwait three weeks prior to our departure. They were the advanced party and their job was to get things started on our new home away from home. They set up tents, shower facilities, and the wonderful outhouses we were so fond of. They made coordination for food services so we could have a semi-hot meal twice a day. They did a lot of things to make life better in a barren wasteland. But, despite all their hard work it was a step down in the ol’ standard of living (a big step). There will be no such plummeting in residential standards when we pass from this life to the next. It will be like going from those hot sweltering tents in the desert to a plush 5 star hotel where the air conditioning never stops. The food will be gourmet and we will be seated with the King of kings. Be encouraged. Christ is our advanced party and He is preparing a place for us. SP227

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

As we celebrate Easter this weekend, let’s consider the love that was poured out on us by the Creator. He gave His only Son. A blameless and perfect Son, Jesus. He died a brutal death on the cross. And He voluntarily gave His life as a payment for our sins. But history doesn’t end there. He has risen from the dead and He is Lord. He has authenticated His saving work on the cross by conquering sin and death. Celebrate the risen Savior this weekend by telling someone else, He has Risen! SP37

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6)
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go, I will counsel you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8

“for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father.” (John 16:27)
““He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.””
(John 14.21)

The way to love the Father is to love the Son. And the way you love the Son is by doing His will. We need to be Jesus’ disciple and follow Him.

Are you a disciple of Jesus? I’m not asking if you prayed a prayer to invite Him into your life. I’m asking “Are you actively following Him, Obeying Him, Becoming like Him?” That’s what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. When Jesus ascended to the Father, He left this command with His disciples;
“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”” (Matthew 28:18–20)

My Story in 1 Minute from Chuck Wood on Vimeo.

The Two Kingdoms Gospel Presentation from Chuck Wood on Vimeo.

If you need help being His disciple, contact me at charleswood1@gmail.com

Tonight on ArmyNavsLive (Wednesday, 19 March 08 at 2100 EST)

The Pipeline Illustration – Some Love it, Some Hate it, Lets talk about it.

I’ll be taking your questions and comments via chat, email, and Skype. Bring your Bible, pen, paper (napkin) and your questions.

Website: www.ustream.tv/channel/army-navigators

And for those of you who use the Pipeline, I need your top 5 tips for sharing this Illustration – send them to charleswood1@gmail.com

To talk on Skype, you’ll need to have the free software down loaded from http://www.skype.com/ (make sure you get the free stuff). And add my contact info by searching for me by using my contact name in the search: benningnavs

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

In Ranger school, the word ‘quit’ never came out of my mouth but it sure went through my mind several times. When things got down right unbearable (and sometimes ridiculous), I could always count on my ranger buddy to make some kind of morbid sense of the torment we were going through. And I think I did the same for him on more than a few occasions. This is the powerful influence of having a buddy. We need that same source of encouragement in the Christian life. Because, to be honest, sometimes living for Jesus gets ‘stinken’ tough. We need a good Christian brother or sister to help us keep driving on when we just feel like quitting. Who’s your ranger buddy? SP225