Author: Chuck & Deb

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

American’s prize their freedom. Our country was built upon this foundational and noble pursuit. We expect it, we’ll fight for it, and we’ll even die for it. We place the highest value on freedom. So does Jesus. He showed us the way to true and lasting freedom. If we live our lives in accordance with His instructions, we will know truth and it will set us free. Freedom will always come at a price though. Spiritual freedom costs us our supreme allegiance and obedience to the only one that can truly give it, Jesus Christ. As we pursue our national freedoms and liberty for others, let’s be just as diligent to secure our own spiritual freedom by following Christ. SP252

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.”
Matthew 9:12

An interesting quirk about being in the Infantry was the pride we put in the ability to be sick and yet, not go to sick call. I could be running a fever, have a broken bone, or be half dead, but unless someone ordered me to go see the medics, it wasn’t going to happen. That’s what you call crossing the fine line between hardcore and stupid. I have since learned if you’re sick, go see the Doc! I’ve learned that lesson spiritually as well. Jesus gets on the religious leaders of his time because they thought they had a healthy relationship with God. But, because of their spiritual arrogance they were actually very sick. We cannot allow our spiritual pride to keep us from seeing the Great Physician. Acknowledge your sin and weaknesses and He will heal you. SP251

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us Ephesians 3:20

My radio crackled, “Whiskey One Five, Stand by, Aircraft is inbound.” I thought, “We still have 30 minutes till RI change over.” I got on the radio, “This is Whisky One Five, SITREP, Over.” “Your wife is having a baby, that’s what!” I gave my fellow RI the student’s evaluation reports as the Blackhawk landed on the LZ. We flew over the camp where I thought I’d get in my car and drive to the hospital, but we kept flying. We landed right on Dahlonega hospital’s helipad and I jumped out camouflage, rucksack and all. I ran into the maternity ward for the much-expected arrival of my first-born. I had been praying for his birth for months but I never expected my ride to the hospital to be so exciting. The events around my son’s birth demonstrated to me that God is able do to above and beyond my wildest expectations. Both of my sons are living proof to that fact. SP250

Whiskey One Five – Wood, 15 Staff, my Radio Call Sign
RI – Ranger Instructor
SITREP – Situation Report
LZ – Landing Zone

“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