Month: April 2008

Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62

The wooden board was pre-cut so that it would break easily over my back. It was a stunt we had pulled many times in our hand-to-hand combat demonstrations. As long as the aggressor struck me across the meaty upper-back, the most I would feel was a little sting. During this particular demo, my pugilistic partner was late with the anticipated blow. I looked over my shoulder and WHACK, the board broke as planned but the jagged edge put a nice gash in my chin. As the blood flowed, I realized it was a big mistake to look back. Can we make the same mistake spiritually? In our walk with Christ we can be tempted to look back. We may desire the lifestyle of the past or be unable to let go of previous sins committed. We could be resting on old laurels or just unwilling to face the future. In any case, looking back keeps us from moving forward and can be a potential danger to our spiritual journey. Eyes Front! SP238

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
Isaiah 58:8

Many spiritual parallels have been drawn from the pointman, but what about the warrior pulling rear security? Can’t the enemy sneak around and attack from our 6 o’clock just as easily as the 12? In fact, many times the enemy prefers to attack from the rear because our defensive posture focuses little attention in that area. But, God has not forgotten our vulnerabilities. He is alert to the deceptive tactics of the enemy. He provides 360 degrees of security. He’s got your six. SP237

Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.” Genesis 32:28

I knew from my buddies in the Ranger Battalion that hand to hand combat training was the one of the worst gauntlets in Ranger School. At the time, hand to hand was responsible for most of the casualties and medical drops. I had visions of a 7-foot, 250 lb, freak of nature tossing me around the pit like a rag doll. I prayed for a ranger buddy my own size. Not so with an Old Testament guy named Jacob. The Bible says that he wrestled with God and held on until He blessed him. What tenacity! But, why would Ranger Jacob get into the hand to hand pit with God and better yet, why would God let Him win? It was all about a blessing. Jacob wanted God’s benevolent fingerprints all over his life. And God was pleased accommodate him. In a sense, I wrestle with God everyday in my morning prayers. I’m asking Him to bless my family, my ministry, and YOU. SP236

Deb and I will be on vacation for the next week. Praying for you as we get some needed R&R. In the mean time, keep serving Jesus with all your might and let someone know about SWORDPOINT.

And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins.” Mark 2:22

I can remember when God was just starting my calling to be a chaplain. I couldn’t believe that He actually wanted me to get out of the Army with 12.5 years invested in a career. I was good at it and smokin’ through the ranks. And, I was only 7 years left to retirement! I had no idea how we would pay for school and put food on the table. What about our boys, one was two years old and the other two months. What was I thinking? This was a tremendous risk. But, God was at work. He was doing something new and I needed approach things in a completely new way. I had to renew my faith in Christ. When I finally committed to His call, He provided a place to live (rent free), friends supported us as we went to school, and I started receiving scholarships and grants. The rest is history, I became a chaplain. It may not be as radical as my calling, but God wants to do a new work in all of us. Are you ready and willing? Are you a new wineskin? SP235

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” Genesis 28:16

“Do you like hunting and fishing?” Oh no, I knew what was next, the Mountain Ranger Camp. I just told the CSM that I wanted to go to the Florida Camp or stay at Ft. Benning. I had scoped this out and had no desire to be stuck in the back woods of Dahlonega or out in the desert at Ft. Bliss. “Well Wood, I need you in the mountains because they run the desert phase too and they need folks bad.” I agonized in my mind, “What? The two places I didn’t want and I get them both!” I spent the next five years there and it was one of the most rewarding times of my life. My sons were born there and my wife graduated from NGC. I was leading three separate Bible studies and it was an incredible time of ministry. We made lifelong friends in that place. I received my calling to be a chaplain in those mountains. I saw God work like never before. Sometimes we experience God’s powerful hand in the most unexpected places. SP234

CSM – Command Sergeant Major
NGC – North Georgia College

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 strong currents put so much pressure on the nylon rope, it felt like I was pulling a dump truck across the river. I was responsible for getting the lead end of the rope bridge tied to a sturdy tree on the far side. Running out of strength, I got a bright idea. I starting turning in a circle allowing the rope to wrap around my body act like a human wench. Before long I realized I had made a big mistake. The rope was getting tighter and tighter with every turn. It felt like I was being strangled by Boa Constrictor and I strained tremendously to even breathe. This was a bad idea. Sin is an awful lot like that. At first we may think it’s good idea, but as we become entangled it starts to squeeze the life out of us. We begin to strain for spiritual breath and slowly but surely, we lose consciousness of our Creator. Be careful, don’t get wrapped up in things that will damage you and your fellowship with Jesus. SP233