Month: April 2008

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” Mark 10:51

It was my second jump in Airborne School and I couldn’t see a thing. Shortly after I exited the aircraft I was enveloped in green nylon. I had collided with a fellow jumper’s canopy. I frantically looked about me only to be totally blindfolded by parachute. Suddenly I popped out and I could see again. I quickly slipped away and breathed a huge sigh of relief. Most of us have the blessing of sight but there are occasions when we are struck with a temporary spiritual blindness. We fail to see God’s hand in the tough times or we are tempted and walk in darkness. We lose our way as we begin to doubt, groping in discouragement. The remedy for this temporary blindness is to turn to Christ to open our spiritual eyes. As the song says “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.” (Helen H. Lemmel)

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Before I joined the Army I thought that soldiers woke up when reveille was played. I would soon find out that I would wake up long before the 0600 bugle call. Normally, we had already conducted first call and an accountability formation prior to hearing the first note. Then we stood quietly in formation at Parade Rest ready to be brought to attention and render the proper honors to our Nation’s Colors as they rose for the day and the playing of reveille. We weren’t getting out of bed that time; we were up, alert, and prepared for the call. Another bugle call we need to be ready for is the trumpet call of God. Jesus taught many parables in which He exhorts us to be ready and alert for the time of His second coming and the gathering of His people (Matthew 24-25). Stand Ready.

If you’d like to here reveille, go to the following link;

http://www.paonline.com/jeff_lup/bugle/reveille.wav

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
2 Timothy 4:7

I was standing next the Commander of our MLRS Battery who had received orders to aim his missiles at Iraq. The troops stood before me, their chaplain, wide eyed and prepared to perform their mission. They asked me to offer prayers for God’s protection and guidance. Operation Desert Fox had begun. Just another response to Sadaam’s defiance since the First Gulf War. And later a Second Gulf War after another round of failed diplomacy. A soldier’s work is never done. And our spiritual soldiering is never done. Day after day, month after month, we are in a fight between the forces of good and evil. Are you in the fight or have you become a POW or WIA? Are you proficient with your weapon (the Bible) or are you struggling to aim it right? Let me encourage you, soldier on for Jesus! SP247

Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”
Judges 6:11b-12

If the truth be know, Gideon was hiding. He was beating out wheat on the inside of a wine press (which is not the prescribe way to perform this very dusty job) and trying to keep out of sight of the Midianites. Then the angel of the LORD shows up and addresses Gideon as “mighty warrior.” I can just see Gideon, “Who me?” Gideon did not see himself as a warrior let alone a mighty one. But God sees him in all his potential. He knew Gideon better then the man knew himself. How do we see ourselves? Sometimes a little reluctant, maybe fearful or nervous about the future? Well let me assure you that God sees our fullest potential. And why shouldn’t He? With all His power and might behind us, we really can’t fail. Has God asked you to do something you’re hesitant about? Trust Him and move out, He sees the mighty warrior within you.

But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Psalm 33:11

I helped one of my fellow Ranger Instructors grow in his relationship with Christ in Dahlonega, GA. He in turn helped a cadet at North Georgia College who, 15 years later, became an instructor at West Point. Some very close friends of ours from Ft. Stewart, GA sent their son to West Point and was discipled by that instructor. Small world? How about this? The man who discipled me at Ft Campbell, KY had a son who joined the Air Force 17 years later. The son just happened to be stationed at an Air Force Base near the seminary I was attending in Phoenix, AZ and I discipled him. Coincidence? No way. I believe God has a plan and it is intricately woven through our lives to accomplish His will. Occasionally, God lets us “connect the dots” and encourages us as we survey His handiwork. Contemplate His awesome sovereignty and take comfort in His grand design. SP244

In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:52

The 12-mile road march in less than 2 hours, that’s pretty high speed. Running the 2 miler with a sub-eleven time, that’s pretty high speed. Disassembly and assembly of the M4 rifle in less than 30 seconds, that’s pretty high speed. In the military we label people and things that are fast and proficient, High Speed. But nothing is going to be more high speed than our resurrection or rapture at the second coming of Christ. Jesus tells us “no one knows the day or the hour” (Mat 24:36), so no one knows the exact time He will return. I’ll never make predictions but, I do know this, He’s coming back and when He does, it’ll be quick, fast, and in a hurry! That’s High Speed. Are you ready?

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:10

I got the grand tour of the USS Enterprise, one of America’s finest weapon platforms. My fellow Navy Chaplain gave my family and I a four-hour walk about that even included eating lunch with the sailors. By the time we left, we had a pretty good understanding of the “Big E” and her capabilities. As we departed for the shore, I discovered others who were a little less enthusiastic about their tour of the aircraft carrier. They didn’t have a personal tour guide and were confined to the flight deck and the hanger one deck below. I listened to their disappointment and I realized the great benefits of my relationship with my fellow chaplain. It’s like the advantage we have as Christians. We belong to the family of believers. Certainly, we should take care of all people but we are also encouraged to give special priority to our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are the family of God, look out for one another. SP242

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31

The S3 and I were wandering through the rows and rows of crosses in the American Cemetery in Tunisia. These hollowed grounds honored the fallen warriors of the North African Campaign during WWII. We were awe struck as we walked. Suddenly, in mid-flight, a pigeon died and plopped at the feet of the S3. She was already feeling a little creepy walking among the dead and this pushed over the edge. She turned to me with a look of astonishment and she was white as a sheet. She asked, “Chaplain, is this a sign?” I responded, “Yes, it’s a sign that God loves you.” I explained the passage about the sparrows and how much more God loves us than the birds. The cemetery was full of fallen messengers saying, “I paid the price for your freedom, live worthy.” However, the bird was a fallen messenger who reminds us “Even though you do not live worthy, God still loves you and paid the price for your freedom anyways.”

Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come. Psalms 71:18

The Colonel and I were talking to some brand new Lieutenants and they were thanking us for the investments we had made in the Army. It was quite clear that we looked look ancient to these guys. I felt like a cowboy riding off into the sunset before the sun had really set. We were very honored that they would say such a thing, but I also realized my time is almost up. Even in the twilight of my career, I wanted to invest in young soldiers. Now comes the more important questions; Am I investing in the next generation of Christianity. Am I mentoring a younger man or woman in Christ. Am I taking the riches of God’s blessings and passing them on to another. I believe this is exactly what Jesus commands us to do in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). What a treasure! One day when we are “old and gray” the next generation will thank us for helping them become like Jesus. SP230

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

I stepped quietly over the frost covered sleeping bags to get to the 155-artillery piece. The occupants of the frozen cocoons were happily enjoying their dream world as their sneaky enemy placed “Destroyed by Rock Force” stickers all over their equipment. I easily slipped in and out without a challenge because no one was on their guard. The cost the next morning was probably nothing more than a little embarrassment, but could you imagine the consequences in a real war? We are in real combat everyday, spiritual combat. The enemy is constantly trying to sneak through our moral defenses by enticement and temptation. He is waiting for us to doze off mentally and then sneak through our principles and values. If we are not on our guard, we won’t even see it coming. In the spiritual fight, we cannot afford to be a sleep and allow Satan to sabotage our daily choices and our walk with Christ. Be on the alert! SP239