Spiritual Fitness


This is an interesting term that defines a broad spectrum of Army activities. The word "Spiritual" according to the Army simply refers to the mental aspect of the soldier. To me, it has a much deeper connotation, however, as a chaplain, I need to help the soldier be mentally stable. (Blah, Blah, Blah - ok, I've said what was needed)

Yeah, so here it is. We are supposed to have "Spiritual fitness" activities from time to time. For chaplains that do not have as deep a faith as others this often means that they go on a retreat of some nature. For me, it means that I have an obligation to have what amounts to youth events, complete with whatever spiritual emphasis I feel led to do. (Which of course means, take them to the cross!!)

Anyway, the point being that the class was tasked with creating a spiritual fitness retreat. The OIC (officer in charge) picked me to do the worship portion of the service. (Surprise surprise) I took it on with typical gusto I guess but the best part was that I was in charge. Thats right! No committees, no senior chaplains looking over my shoulder, and I could do what I was led to do. So I did. And we had church!

Its amazing to me how much I miss doing the work of the ministry. Even the smallest amount of time away from the activities of preaching, teaching, and leading worship will really drag me down. I lose heart fast when I am in this position. Thus, I am throughly sick of being at CHOBC. I am quite ready to just get to my unit and do the work that God called me to. I know that I still have things to learn but I still want to get on with it - ya know??

The service was great. After, a bunch of people asked if I was a Pentecostal, I said no, "full gospel at least" again, no, finally, one guy looked at me and said, "but your not southern baptist?!" Then I had to tell him that I am in the Bible Church Tradition. This of course brings up the inevitable question - what the heck is that?? I then try to explain who I am and what I represent but then I am not a fundamentalist, nor a baptist, and I find that Calvinism sticks in my craw more and more. Grrr, being non-denominational has its drawbacks - besides which. when I leave the Army - who do I turn to for support? There is value in denominations and other organizations! As I meet others that are in established denominations, I have to say that I value the structure that they minister in. Its a bit like the Army, I have to put up with things that I do not like because I have been called to minister in this setting. It will be interesting to me where God leads in this manner. (In open discussions with others I find that much that I assumed about other denomination's doctrine simply isn't true. I found that I had a good deal of misunderstanding in my on life regarding this topic - for instance, Christian Perfection - I actually understand the issue and, well, it makes sense. Might be opening a can of worms there!!)

Anyway, I digress. The service. It went really well and God was glorified. Here are some picks from it. Remember, these are all chaplains!! (98% of which are older and have been pastors for some time!)


Yeaaaah, go! go! go! go!

Don't ask, don't tell baby!!

My closest catholic buds - Father George Okoth (from Kenya) and Father Sean Poland (from northern Ireland - he's pretty much a protestant. We joke all the time. He asked me the other day at PT, "Jonathan, (think Irish Accent) did you pray your rosary today?" I replied with a very pious face and voice, "I did Sean, but then God called and said, "Jon, what are ya doin?" I thought that he was going to burst a blood vessel he was laughing so hard!

My squad: Father Okoth, Brother Woodford, Me, Brother Clements, and Brother Seims (another teacher - both these guys are PCA)

We had Amazing Grace in Korean, Spanish and English



Posted: Thu - March 17, 2005 at 11:14 AM        

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