Dozier Hall

I arrived at Fort Jackson at 11:45 a.m. I couldn't check into my room until 2 p.m. so I ate at Burger King and walked around the PX. People are strange when you're a stranger...faces come out of the rain. I bought gas for $3.60 a gallon. Can you believe that? They are practically giving this stuff away around here! I thought I should fill some buckets to store in my room, but then I thought that might be a fire hazard. I dunno.

Anyhow, I was assigned to Dozier Hall which is good because it is close to the chaplain school. I met some other chaplains and chaplain candidates. We all went out to Za's Brick Oven Pizza. Lasagna seemed like the right pick. Later I heard it is supposed to be the best pizza in Columbia, SC! But, it's just a rumor.

Chaplains do not eat at the DFAC (Dining Facility). This means one of several things. One, I will get fat eating at Burger King all the time. Two, I may possibly starve to death this summer. Three, I will learn to cook. Four (please God), my neighbor will have a culinary degree! Five, got manna?
But the real news of the day! I joined the Army believing that I would be raptured before the physical training came into play. I even moved to the eastern seaboard for the event! How did that work out for me you may ask. Not too well. Oh, well.

But seriously, Harold Camping's recent failed prediction was seen as ill-informed by most. Something to be joked about. However, according to Reuters a man named Robert Fitzpatrick invested $140,000 to advertise/warn the people of New York about the coming doom. Camping, 89, has a popular radio program and clearly has a dedicated following.

The track record of such predictions is consistent throughout history. They are all consistently wrong! Camping had set a previous date for September 1994. Did either he or his followers learn the error of their way? Apparently not. Such date-setting puts yet another unnecessary black eye on the church. Bomb throwers are now having a blast (no pun intended). On the other hand, I think the vast majority of Americans are sophisticated enough to know a rogue pastor when they see one.

Travel Time

This morning I came into North Carolina. The mountains there are amazing! The clouds were resting in the trees as the sky came into contact with the earth. The natural scenery was so majestic it made me think of how reasonable it is to worship creation! Nature can be so breath-taking it can drive you to your knees. It is strange to say that mountains and trees can appear to be other-worldly, but they are in a sense. Their beauty should not lead to tree worship, but that worldview is not as irrational as some might suggest. However, I would argue the beauty of creation points us to a Creator, an intelligent designer, who has left his fingerprints on his artwork. The scenery on the road to Fort Jackson should leave one speechless for a spell. How it could be any other way is a mystery to me. Yet, there is always someone who can walk through an entire art gallery and never take off his hat and reflect, perhaps even cry. Such a man can never be moved nor will he move others.
Thus, begins for me a spiritual journey. This summer offers me an opportunity to take a break from preparing Wednesday Evening Bible Studies, Sunday School lessons, Communion meditations and sermons. Now is my chance to learn the art of listening again. I had already chosen Elijah as the prophet for my summer devotions. How fitting to travel through hill country as I follow in his footsteps! Elijah's journey of faith took him over some mountains and his peaks led him through some valleys.
Just as God designed this sin-stained planet, he has been creatively working in human history as well. His story does not end in Revelation with the apostle John. I am excited to see how God will use this summer to further mold me into the image of Jesus! I pray that as the Holy Spirit uniquely challenges you this summer you will have eyes to see and the ears to hear! May you take off your shoes and weep at his goodness and grace!

Joint Armed Forces Reserve Center

On Saturday, May 14th I reported for my first drill weekend with the Army Reserve in Bartonville. Lt. Cody Smith was my sponsor. Like myself, he is endorsed by the Christian Church and Churches of Christ and is currently completing his M.Div. at Lincoln Christian University. He is a Chaplain Candidate who will graduate from Chaplain Basic Officer Leaders Course (CH-BOLC) with me this August 19th.
It was requested of me that I report in my Army Combat Uniform (ACU). Not having been to basic training yet, it was inevitable that I make some protocol mistakes. Being ignorant of the ranks of enlisted soldiers I was not able to properly address unit members. Over the course of the weekend I learned that I should avoid placing my hands in my pockets. Add to that list hands on hips as well! Just keep your arms crossed. After I completed 17 pages of paperwork in blue ink I was told to only use black ink! Oops! My uniform had many loose strings that needed to be burned off. An hour later, I was a squared-away soldier.
I received the 419th Movement Control Battalion's (MCB) unit patch to add to my ACU. This unit just returned from Afghanistan in December 2010. I look forward to serving this unit of men and women! Hooah!