Better Chaplain Series - Get On Fire

The Bible is written in several genres, from poetry, to letter, to proverbs, to narrative. The diversity in which God has opted to communicate reminds us that he has spoken in many times in many ways through the prophets (Hebrews 1:1). It’s easy to fall into the error that it’s all just words on a page, but we can’t forget that it’s real people in real life circumstances meeting the real God and feeling real emotions, and it’s written for our sanctification (2 Timothy 3:17)!

How we speak these oracles of God ought to be derived from the text. If the speaker is angry (Numbers 11:10-15, Matthew 23), get angry! If the speaker is weeping (John 11:32-36, Proverbs 25:20), then be sad! If there is mocking (1 Kings 18:27, 1 Kings 22:15, John 11:37), then be incredulous! If the speaker is hopeless (2 Samuel 13:12-13, Jonah 2, John 21:17), make sure your voice is full of compassion! How much is lost on our hearers because we aren’t invested in the story?

As we read, preach, and share the Word of God, we ought to be passionate in the sharing, not just the words, but the power behind them. Many revivalists have called this “Unction.” In fact, Leonard Ravenhill said that the most important thing a preacher can get is unction, a Spirit given passion to know and share the truth. The opposite of unction is a passionless pulpit that treats the Bible like a textbook at best, and a burden at worst. He said the tragedy of the age “is that we have too many dead men in the pulpits giving out too many dead sermons to too many dead people.”

As a chaplain, in and out of the pulpit, we have access to the very power that can quicken a dead soul. If that doesn’t excite you, and your excitement is not contagious, then maybe you’re in the wrong profession.

Get on fire for God, and people will come to watch you burn. ~ Leonard Ravenhill

Key Verse: Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ~ Romans 12:11-12

More:

1. Jonathan Edwards is famous at the beginning of his ministry for reading his manuscripts. Chief among these manuscripts was “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” which did much to start the First Great Awakening in the colonies that would grow to become the United States of America. Which is more important: Passion in the preaching or doctrinal fidelity in the preaching? Are the two mutually exclusive? Make it your goal to be passionately faithful as you are faithful to the Bible.

2. I had the privilege of preaching to a large crowd on a street corner on a warm Florida night. One man, leaning against a traffic light pole, was especially engaged in listening. When I concluded the sermon I offered an invitation for further conversation; as he approached I asked, “Do you believe it?” He said, “I don’t, but it sounds like you do, so maybe I should.” When you preach, does it sound like you believe it?

3. Chaplains who find their authority outside of God and the Bible find it hard to be passionate for the things of God. Voddie Baucham makes the point that some of them say they just don’t have any passion, yet he gives multiple examples (smashing your thumb with a hammer, hitting a golf-ball poorly, and a favorite team losing) that show that passion is not the problem, misguided passion is. Chaplain, you’re a passionate person, so if you have a hard time getting passionate about God’s Word, could it be that you have yet to understand its power?

4. Further Resources:

The Visual Bible: Matthew. Directed by Regardt van den Bergh. Performed by Richard Kiley and Bruce Marchiano. Visual Bible International, 1993. DVD.

Robinson, Haddon, and Torrey Robinson. Passion in the Pulpit: How to Exegete the Emotion of a Text. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2003.

Vines, Jerry, and Adam Dooley. Passion in the Pulpit: How to Exegete the Emotion of Scripture. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2018.

Baucham, Voddie. “Go Home and Love Your Wife!” YouTube Video, Jan 15, 2013. https://youtu.be/P4yS1Fzn3GM

Better Chaplain Series - Redeem their Time

What are some things that we say that Jesus would never say? Take a couple of minutes before reading ahead to contemplate your answer. As we strive to live Christlike lives, we never want to say things that he wouldn’t say, and we definitely don’t want to say the opposite of what he’d say.

A couple of things I know Jesus would never say that I hear regularly from chaplains are, “I want to be respectful of your time,” “I’ll give you some time back,” and “That’s how much time we scheduled, so we’ll dismiss now.”

Can you think of times when those responses would have been acceptable? I think about a time when four-thousand-plus people were in the middle of a desert with nothing to eat (Mark 8:2-3), or when Paul was preaching late into the night and a young man fell out the window and died (Acts 20:7-9), or when Ezra preached all day to people who were brand new to preaching (Nehemiah 9:3). If Jesus or Paul or Ezra were ever going to dismiss early, those were the times, but they prioritized the message over schedules for secular work. There were trades to be cared for, sheep to be shepherded, businesses to be run, sleep to be had, but none of those things were worth more than hearing from the God of Heaven.

When you show people Jesus and share his commands you are literally opening the gates of heaven in men’s faces. Sometimes that can be quick, but other times it can take a very long time. Chaplain, your call is to ensure you are bringing a message that is worth listening to, and that you’re sharing it so that your hearers can be mature in Christ (Colossians 1:28).

            We have too many preacherettes preaching sermonettes to christianettes. ~ Leonard Ravenhill

Key Verse: What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? ~ Mark 8:36

More:

1. Winston Churchill noted that the “head cannot take in more than the seat can endure.” There is good scientific and anecdotal evidence that there is a limit to the endurance of human absorption. How long is your limit to learning? How long is your audiences’? A young child will have a different attention span than a scholar, a junior enlisted different than a seasoned general. Should this truth help you tailor your efforts to make disciples of all nations?

2. Martha and Mary are famous for one choosing hospitality and the other choosing to sit at the Saviour’s feet. There is great truth in that dichotomy, but perhaps it’s too simplified, ignoring the heart of both women. Can the two principles be combined? Can you take Christ’s yoke upon you and be at work at the same time? Can you always be learning and never arrive at the knowledge of the truth? How can you reconcile discipleship with service? Hearing with doing?

3. Can you think of a message that you heard that was too long? Too short? What can you learn from those messages? A solid principle to consider is if it’s not important to you, it’s not important to the audience. Never go long on a topic that’s not interesting to you. If you ever encounter a message that important to Jesus but not important to you, or important to you but not to Jesus, here is an opportunity for your repentance.

4. Further Resources

Adam, Peter. Speaking God’s Words: A Practical Theology of Preaching. Leicester, UK: Inter-Varsity Press, 1996.

Shearer, Canyon. Honing the Congregation to Be Attentive to Expository Preaching at First Baptist Church New Lebanon, Ohio. Louisville: The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2020. https://repository.sbts.edu/handle/10392/6133 (Read specifically on Ezra starting on page 13)

Whitefield, George. “Directions How to Hear Sermons” (sermon). Ken Ramey, Expository Listening: A Practical Handbook for Hearing and Doing God’s Word (The Woodlands, TX: Kress Biblical Resources, 2010).

Better Chaplain Series - Train Your Discernment

Small children, of whom I have a few, are notorious for their lack of judgement between what is healthy and what is harmful. They’ll eat food (and other things) off the floor, take ridiculous risks, ignore what is clearly (to me) the best option, and think only in terms of immediate results. On the spiritual side, if it mentions God or Jesus or gives them a coloring sheet, they are sure it's great, no matter where it's coming from (Consider 2 Corinthians 11:4).

John MacArthur puts it this way, “A small child will stick almost anything into his mouth, touch anything he can reach, go anywhere he can manage to crawl—with no concept of what is good for him and what is bad, what is helpful and what is dangerous. The mature adult, on the other hand, has developed considerable discernment. He is careful about what he eats, what he does, where he goes. The same principle operates in the spiritual realm.”

Chaplains will encounter all sorts of people who believe all sorts of lies. Some lies are well veiled and you maybe will understand why someone would fall for them, others are so obvious that they’d be laughable if not so tragic. I’ll never forget one young Airman who readily admitted his life was a disaster, then rattled off five known heretics (some dead, some retired, and some active) who he was listening to and reading, and wondering why God wasn’t blessing his circumstances.

Ask these questions:

1. Is it true? By what standard?
2. Is it Christ honoring?
3. Is it helpful? Is it building up the church?
4. What is the logical end of this path?
5. Is there a better way?
6. Does the Bible speak directly or indirectly to this topic?

Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right. ~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Key Verse: Solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. ~ Hebrews 5:14

More:

1. The Bible teaches us that discernment is not a “one-and-done” proposition. You don’t gain it by taking a Sunday School class or earning your degree or reading one devotional. It requires new effort and new considerations every day and in every circumstance. It’s easy to point out Sabellianism, Pelagianism, Marxism, and Aryanism in the past, but how do we get good at pointing out Driscollism, Shrirerism, Marxism, and NARism when it’s found its way through the doors of our chapels or churches?

2. If someone served you a full cup of poison, your senses would scream at you not to drink it. Your eyes would water, your nose would revolt, and your gag-reflex would ensure the poison could not find its way anywhere near your digestive system. But if they dilute that poison with something pleasant, meter it in a smaller quantity, and cover those warning signs, then it would be easier to get you to drink it. Consider Proverbs 5:3-11 for one case study on how poison can be dressed up to look and taste sweet as it leads many straight to ruin and Hell.

3. People will bring you all sorts of questionable teachers, books, music, and movies that they like for a variety of reasons. The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart: they like having their ears tickled. I would too if I didn’t know the danger of such poison. Many genuine believers can be deceived, so our call is to help them out of the fire, but we hate the sin that got them there (Jude 22-23). Life is too short and eternity is too long for us to entertain false teachers even for a moment. We cannot be soft on false doctrine, because it "comforts no one, sanctifies no one, elevates no one, helps no one towards heaven." ~ JC Ryle

4. Further Resources

Baucham, Voddie T. Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism’s Looming Catastrophe. Washington: Salem Books, 2021.

MacArthur, John. The Truth War: Fight for Certainty in an Age of Deception. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2007.

Papa, Matt. Stay Away from Jesus. YouTube video, 4:33. Posted by Matt Papa, February 7, 2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jXfWW2U5bI

Better Chaplain Series - Holiness Over Happiness

In premarital counseling I lead with, “What’s the purpose of marriage?” I hear the usual cliches such as “someone to do life with,” or “because we love each other,” or “to start a family”, and even “for the legal and financial benefits.” There is truth in all of these, but what is the ultimate purpose of marriage? The purpose of marriage is not to make you happy, but to make you holy (compare Ephesians 5:22-33, especially vv. 25-27). This is why the vows include faithfulness in horrible (worse) unions, instances of sickness, times of scarcity (poorer – Habakkuk 3:17-19), till death does you part; because marriage shows us how to sacrifice for someone else, to love an unlovable bride (you get to be like Christ!), and to reveal our deep-seeded selfishness and sinfulness.

Given this introduction, what do you think the purpose of chaplaincy is? If you’re paying attention, you know that the purpose of chaplaincy is to make you holy. You’ll be faced with challenges, impossible bosses, long hours, conflicting priorities, and unlovable people (whom you’re called to love). Each of these is to conform you to the image of Christ (Romans 8:28-29).

If you became a chaplain to find fulfilment, or a paycheck, or a title, or a missions field, or to see the world, or any such thing, you may find those things to some degree (like a marriage can fulfil worldly promises for a moment), but you’ll miss God’s will and plan for your ministry. God is doing a great sanctifying work in his saints (those he has made holy) through many means, using all things to conform them to the image of his Son.

Holiness is not the way to Christ. Christ is the way to holiness. ~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Key Verse: This is the will of God: your sanctification (holiness). ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:3

More:

1. Many of our military members have never thought deeply about the purpose of life. Their expectation is that if they just do their best, good things will happen. We understand that God creates things for a purpose, and when we don’t fulfil that purpose we’re likely to misuse and abuse God’s good design. What would happen if we tried to turn an MQ-9 into a passenger plane, a C-5 into a fighter jet, and M1-A1 tank into a Surface to Air Missile (SAM) site, or an aircraft carrier into a low-earth-orbit reconnaissance satellite? Not only would they hopelessly fail their missions, but they would despair of their purpose completely. Helping our people to understand their purpose is paramount in the chaplain’s duties; we have to help them first to be image bearers of God, second to be trophies of his grace, and third to serve faithfully in their calling. This will help all of our disciples to not just know their purpose, but to fulfil it, and to understand their purpose is to be set apart from the world to magnify Christ in all they do.

2. Chaplaincy, like marriage, may lead to happiness, and I pray it does for you. But if you had to choose between happiness and holiness, which would it be? Which will matter most in the life to come?

3. The goal of Christianity is to look like Christ, the way to look like Christ is to walk with Christ, and the way to walk with Christ is to be saved by Christ. We say, “I was saved, I am being saved, I will be saved.” Do you look more like Christ today than you did yesterday? Than the day you were saved? Saintly chaplain, this is the will of God: your sanctification.

4. Further Resources:

MacArthur, John. Strang Fire: The Danger of Offending the Holy Spirit with Counterfeit Worship. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2013.

DeYoung, Kevin. Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2009.

Better Chaplain Series - Float Boats

When you leave a meeting, do you leave anything behind? Do you think people noticed that you were there or that you left? How about bigger: when you leave a base, a church, a city or state, the military, or the earth? Are people better for you being in close proximity to them?

David said that goodness and mercy followed him all the days of his life. The chaplain ought to be a source of hope in every situation with encouragement, love, and life pouring into every person as God gives opportunity. In their wake should be people who were faced to think on eternity because of the christian's witness.

Being indwelt with the Holy Spirit means that you’re going to bear much fruit in love, joy, patience, self-control, calmness (not a named fruit of the Spirit, but I often say that a chaplain should be the calmest person in the room), etc. because the chaplain ought to be an ever-present encouragement to those he ministers to. They may not have the same beliefs but one of your jobs is to make them jealous of how God is blessing you, so that they may be saved (Romans 11:13-14).

There is no such thing as neutrality, we are either for Christ or against Christ. Everyone you meet will be better or worse for having you in their life. You’ll either push them towards the Kingdom of Heaven or inoculate them against the truth. Richard Wurmbrand is an extreme case, but he spent years in a Romanian prison and found a ministry in which he was able to lead several prisoners and at least one guard to Christ. He summarizes his ministry like this, “It was strictly forbidden to preach to other prisoners. It was understood that whoever was caught doing this received a severe beating. A number of us decided to pay the price for the privilege of preaching, so we accepted their terms. We were happy preaching, they were happy beating us, so everyone was happy.”

Chaplain, how can you be spreading love and hope? Is it true of you that goodness and mercy follow you all the days of your life?

I pray that when I die, all of Hell will rejoice that I am no longer in the fight. ~ C.T. Studd (When I paraphrase this I say, "I pray that you will live your life and so order your faith that when you die, all of Hell will rejoice that a great saint has stepped off the field of battle.")

Key Verse: Thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. ~ 2 Corinthians 2:14

More:

1. I tell new servicemembers that if they are running low on hope to visit a chaplain, because we have an overabundance of hope and we’re happy to give some away. The adage says, “Hope floats all boats!” Are you ready to give a reason for the hope that is in you, that is, Christ in you, the hope of glory? If you don’t have any hope to give away, how can you, as Heath Lambert declares, “Go nuts in the hope department!”?

2. As a chaplain I regularly have people miss appointments or fail to do something optional that they said they were going to do. Often because of the rank disparity they ask if I’m going to report them. My response, “I’m here to alleviate stress, would reporting this alleviate stress or add stress?” Granted, there is room for accountability and the blessings thereof, but would you say you’re better at stressing people out or bolstering their hope? What would they say about you?

3. An anecdote from the Soviet Union says that soldiers despondently said they were having an “average” day. When asked what was average about it, they said it was “worse than yesterday, but better than tomorrow.” That's a sad “average”; are you making people’s day worse or better than yesterday? My prayer for you, dear reader, is that you’ll have an average day: better than yesterday, but worse than tomorrow, and that you'll do likewise for those God has put you in close proximity to. Only in Christ can this prayer be answered.

4. Further Resources:

Burroughs, Jeremiah. The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment. Reprint, Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1964.

Wurmbrand, Richard. Tortured for Christ. Washington Depot CT: Spire Books, 1971.

Wurmbrand, Sabina. The Pastor’s Wife. Bartlesville, OK: Living Sacrifice Book Co, 2005.

Better Chaplain Series - Understand Justice

When the world only does what is right in its own eyes we see a pandemic of interpretations of what is right and wrong. This results in victimhood and false accusations running rampant, and complex judgments falling to opinion and anecdotal evidence rather than authority and factual evidence. As chaplains we often fall into a defensive posture, one where we’re only waiting for people to come to us and when they do, we rely on their knowledge or faith to find an answer that suits them, something right in their eyes. Because of this, we’re already back on our heals when we hear of injustice.

Have we forgotten that as followers of the Truth (John 1:17, 14:6, 18:36, Revelation 19:11), we have a monopoly on truth (Romans 1:18, 1:25, 2:8)? The world won’t agree with that statement, but the question is: Is it true?

As one entrusted with the truth it is our responsibility to speak the truth. A convenient lie or agreeing with someone in sin may lead to a quick and painless conversation, but help comes from directing people to the truth which can set them free (John 8:31-32). When we enable someone in their belief that they are not thriving because of something that happened to them (or their ancestors) in the past, we lock them up in that abuse (or perceived abuse) and cut them off from the gospel that is able to transform and redeem. When we don’t stand up to a commander who is using an Airman as a scapegoat to a larger injustice, we silently give credence. When we leave a complex legal problem up to historical precedence, we deny that the Word of God speaks to every nuance and manner of justice. And especially when we don’t press into the idea that forgiveness is an option (a mandatory option), we might as well not even be chaplains.

As salt and light in this world, we have a duty to our commission from God to be men of sincerity, speak in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:17), and injecting his truth into the world so that they may know him and live life according to his precepts. You’ll look like an abomination to many (Proverbs 29:27), but your call remains to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).

God’s law has been written on all of our consciences, but only in Christ is it written on our hearts. ~ Alistair Begg

Key Verse: Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it completely. ~ Proverbs 28:5

More:

1. Proverbs 17:15 sets up an incredible dichotomy that is hard to reconcile with who God is. The summary is that God is furious with people who curse the innocent and who bless the wicked. But what happened on the cross of Christ? Wasn’t an innocent and righteous man cursed? Weren’t we the chief of sinners and yet we’ve received all of God’s blessings and heaven too? How is it that God is not the abomination in this story? Attempt to answer yourself first, then look at Isaiah 25:21, Romans 3:25, 5:8, and Psalm 85:10-13 for a hint.

2. As chaplains we hear heartbreaking stories. Within the span of a few days I had two young Airmen in my office with extremely similar trauma. Both had been horribly abused and their abusers never brought to justice. One was as bitter, emotionally hurt, angry, and scared as the day they were abused; in essence still under the control of their abuser. The other was joyful, forgiving, thriving, and loving; their question was, “Is there something wrong with me that I’m doing so well?” These were nearly identical situations, with practically exact opposite responses. The discernable difference was the first had no expectation of God’s justice being shown to their abuser, the second knew that God would mete out perfect justice either in eternal conscious torment, or on the cross of Christ, and amazingly their prayer was that their abuser would find the same redemption that they had found in Christ’s grace. How did understanding justice help? Can you think of similar testimonies?

3. Further Resources:

Edwards, Jonathan. Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. 1741. Reprint, Carlisle PA: Banner of Truth Trust, 1995.

Ryle, John Charles. Holiness: It’s Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots. Reprint, Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 2014.

Better Chaplain Series - Be Exhausted

Early in my career a senior chaplain told me, “A chaplain can do nothing and get away with it, or a chaplain can work themselves to death and (pause for effect) get away with it.” Finding the balance where you’re serving Christ but not thinking everything depends on you requires constant consideration. Feeling refreshed is definitely more comfortable than being stretched until you say like Bilbo Baggins, I feel like too little butter scraped over too much bread. But is comfort your most fruitful course of action?

There is far too much ministry to do on this terrestrial ball for you or I to accomplish even a fraction of it, but that is why God is employing his church all over the world. Knowing this, he has entrusted to you a few acres, a few sheep, and a few years to steward. What are your priorities in life and ministry? If you succeed in everything except what God has called you to, will he be pleased?

A chaplain who has been at the gospel work all day (at work, at church, and at home) will have no trouble sleeping because he has been spent for God’s sake (Psalm 127:1-2); a chaplain who has spent the day poorly in his own pursuits may find that sleep eludes him (Ecclesiastes 5:12, Daniel 2:1). On the other side, working so hard on everything that nothing is accomplished, or something important gets missed. The balance is in spreading the right amount of butter over the right amount of bread.

Consider today where you can work to publish the good news that God saves sinners through the life, death, and resurrection of his Son, who has been working from the beginning, and is working still, so that you can rejoice in the good work that he has given you to do!

It’s a father’s job to be exhausted. ~ Matt Chandler

Key Verse: In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that or whether both alike will be good. ~ Ecclesiastes 11:6

More

1. If we knew which events would be remembered, which conversations would be meaningful, which briefings would bear fruit, and which risks would be rewarded it would cut a lot of our exhaustion because we’d only do things that matter. I heard someone say that if they could turn back time three hours their life would be radically different. But we don’t know what will be formative or meaningful, so our call is to run and not grow weary (Isaiah 40:31)!

2. As we eagerly await the hour of Christ’s return and the consummation of history, we must remember that the blessed worker is found at work when his master returns (Matthew 24:45-51). If Christ returned today, would he find you in the work he left you?

3. It’s tempting to view your home and family as a sanctuary space away from work, but your family ought to be your first priority in your God-given work; in fact if you fail at your family, your faith is null and you’ll be counted an infidel (1 Timothy 5:8). Many chaplains have determined not to bring work home, but to be fully present. Maybe it's helpful to have a landmark that work cannot cross, such as a telephone pole, or an intersection, or an off-ramp. Would it be helpful for you to set a boundary like that? You'll have to consider things like duty phones, TDYs, and places where work blends with your family, such as at worship, but imperfect boundaries are better than no boundaries.

4. Further Resources:

Hamilton, James M. Work and Our Labor in the Lord. Wheaton: Crossway, 2017.

York, Hershael. “Tanya York on Marriage, Family, and Ministry.” Pastor Well – Episode 5. SBTS, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8907fTzVWR4

Better Chaplain Series - Stare Out the Window

In our reactionary world I often wonder what someone was thinking when they made a major decision that is not just counterintuitive to God’s kingdom, but their own wellbeing and beliefs. Total depravity is sometimes skewed as to think that people are evil, know they are evil, and are consciously making the most evil choice possible. But most, if not all, people don’t know they are totally depraved, are only acting in their own self-interest, and they genuinely think that they are making right choices (confer Proverbs 20:6, 1 Corinthians 2:8).

Chaplain, what keeps you from making the same mistakes (and/or sins)? Why are your decisions more righteous in your eyes than the bad decisions you see made every day? In one sense it’s because good trees make good fruit (Matthew 7:17-19, Galatians 5:22-24), but we ought not presume that just because the Holy Spirit lives in us we will always make good decisions (Romans 7:21-8:1).

Jared Wilson says, “Pastors are paid to stare out the window.” An obvious play on words, he doesn’t want us to mindlessly watch what’s outside our study, but to engage in deep thought about what matters most. Our stakes are too high to play fast and loose with decisions that have eternal consequences, so much as it is in our control we must be right in our words and actions. This requires deep thought, intentional research, and prayer to ensure we’re acting in accordance with what Christ has commanded us in his Word.

We are prepared to make many of those decisions because we’ve had to think deeply about seminary topics, but becoming a chaplain confronts you with things you probably never saw in the classroom. What can you anticipate in your future, chaplain? How can you think now about hard topics so that when they arise you will be ready to share the hope that is in you, Christ in you, the hope of glory?

            We cannot play at preaching, we preach for eternity. ~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Key Verse: Brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ~ Philippians 4:8

More:

1. President Teddy Roosevelt was known for concerning his cabinet with what seemed like brash and rushed decisions on topics of huge importance. However, it became apparent that he had already thought through many of those decisions and only had to give his decision at the time of presentation. He said, “Make preparations in advance. You’ll never have trouble if you are prepared for it.” At another time he said, “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” Chaplain, the best way to do nothing is to be caught unawares, unprepared to offer wisdom or action. How do you prepare for action? You ready yourself.

2. Aesop tells of a boar observed by a fox in the forest. The boar is sharpening his tusks, which worries the fox; the fox soon realizes that there is no immediate danger and ridicules the boar. The boar announces that when danger is present, he won’t have time to sharpen his tusks. How can you sharpen your tusks now before you need them? What do you need to think deeply about?

4. Chaplains, when they arrive on station, are given an office. What a chaplain needs is not an office, but a study. How can you change your office into a study? Is the space you’ve been given conducive to stare out the window (figurative or literal) and think? How can you make it more-so?

5. Further Resources:

A topic that you can’t wait to happen before you find answers:
Shearer, Canyon R. "Hope in the Loss of a Baby." Trust and Obey. April 4, 2020. https://trustobey.blogspot.com/2020/04/hope-in-loss-of-baby.html

Wilson, Jared C. “Pastors Are Paid to Stare Out the Window.” For the Church. April 3, 2023. Accessed 26 March, 2025. https://ftc.co/resource-library/blog-entries/pastors-are-paid-to-stare-out-the-window/

Broadus, John A. On the Preparation and Delivery of Sermons. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1944.

Comfort, Ray. Think on These Things: Wisdom for Life from Proverbs. Savage, MN: Broadstreet Publishing, 2017.

Better Chaplain Series - Make Great Tents

In the civilian world it’s not uncommon to be a bi-vocational pastor, someone who works during the week and pastors on weeknights and weekends. These pastors are in good company, as the Apostle Paul pastored full-time while making tents. This is how he met Priscilla and Aquila who were doing likewise (Acts 18:3).

I’ve previously said that “the Chaplain is the most overpaid minister in the world.” This is partly true when you look at the compensation, but it is not entirely true when you consider the chaplain’s duties. The chaplain should be a pastor first, but they are still an officer and have diverse and important roles to accomplish in this role. Some examples are supervising other chaplains or team members, overseeing budgets and spending, assisting with reports, running special events, and chairing meetings. As a chaplain reading this, you can probably add several items that you’re personally responsible for.

Maybe you can draw a direct line between pastoring and these additional duties, like developing a great Christmas event, or maybe you can’t, like sitting on a court-martial. Regardless, you’re being paid to accomplish diverse tasks by your employer, and these tasks are funding your gospel work. While I’m not making literal tents, I am supervising volunteers, coordinating funds, and writing reports which in essence is my tent-making profession.

While your highest and best usefulness should be in the pulpit, counseling room, commander’s office, and inspiring excellence, you should be equally great in your tent-making trade. Your spreadsheets should be world-class, your volunteers should be exceptionally well cared for, your handling of money should be above reproach, your briefings should be outstanding, your legal compliance should be impeccable, everything you are responsible for should shine, and it should be delivered on-time or early.

A chaplain who is not faithful in his small tasks ought never to be put in charge of large tasks. Show me the quality of your tents, and I’ll show you the quality of your chaplaincy.

He that had so much excellent work to do with his mind, yet, when there was occasion, did not think it below him to work with his hands. ~ Matthew Henry

Key Verse: You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ~ Acts 20:34-35

More:

1. A popular question in chaplain circles is, “Are you a chaplain or officer first?” Well, which is it? Do you ever expect to retire either title? When asked this question I declared that I was a minister before I became an officer, I intend to be a minister afterwards, but I will never cease to be a minister. Do you agree?

2. Are your bi-vocational duties a hindrance or an extension to your ministry? Do you think that anyone has ever judged or blessed Jesus based on the quality of your work in his name?

3. Chaplains—as highly paid ministers of the gospel—have more money to share than their civilian counterparts. Take a moment today to consider if you are spending your money well to help the weak and sow blessings through your giving.

4. The word "vocation" has direct etymological roots to God's voice/call in your career. What has God called you to?

5. Resources:

Crowe, Brandon D. Every Day Matters: A Biblical Approach to Productivity. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020.

Piper, John. “Tentmakers in Minneapolis.” Desiring God. Minneapolis, 1981. Accessed 25 March 2025 from https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/tentmakers-in-minneapolis

Wilson, Doug. Ploductivity: A Practical Guide to Consistent Productivity. Moscow, ID: Canon Press, 2018.

Better Chaplain Series - Jewels in Your Crown

Without reading ahead or peeking at the verse, what is your hope or joy or crown of boasting before the Lord Jesus at his coming?

a. Jesus

b. Your disciples

c. The number of Bible Verses You’ve memorized

d. Your fruit of repentance

e. Your suffering

f. The Holy Spirit

g. Your pastor

h. All of the above

The answer is actually b. your disciples, and this is a theme found all through the New Testament. John said he had no greater joy than to hear his children were walking in the truth (3 John 4), Paul said the only thing that would keep him on earth was the sake of his disciples (Philippians 1:24-25), the author of Hebrews calls pastors to watch over the souls entrusted to them with joy (Hebrews 13:17), and Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before him (Hebrews 12:2), an inheritance of nations (Revelation 21:26).

How does this apply to the chaplaincy? What’s your hope, joy, and/or crown of boasting (chaplain edition)?

a. Your promotion 

b. Your stratification

c. Your paycheck

None of the above! Jesus told you to store up your treasure in Heaven, none of those things are worth boasting about and none of them will last long in comparison to eternity. What is the only treasure that lasts forever? Souls. Human souls are how you store up treasure in Heaven, you help them towards the Saviour and exhort them to be born again.

As you make disciples, may you be storing up an imperishable reward in Heaven, a crown ready to be presented to the king who saved you, called you, employed you, and used you for his glory and the good of many.

With all her faults he loves the Church of England still, he loves the souls of men much more, and most of all the gospel of their salvation. ~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon on JC Ryle

Key Verse: What is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy. ~ 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

More:

1. Paul unapologetically takes possession of his converts/disciples; he is invested in their salvation, sanctification, and glorification (Philemon 10, 1 Corinthians 4:14-15, Galatians 4:19, Philippians 4:1, 2 Timothy 2:12, Titus 1:4, 2 Corinthians 11:28, etc.). Do you have any “children” in the faith? What do you think about calling them yours? Are you ready to give an account for their growth (or lack thereof)?

2. What sort of things have you heard people boast about that seem impressive on earth (to some) but have no weight in Heaven? A couple I’ve heard are pitching a no-hitter in baseball, paying off a mortgage, titles at work and church, achievements of children, and the amount of alcohol that can be consumed in one sitting (Isaiah 5:22). What would you add? What sorts of things will your disciples boast about you (2 Corinthians 1:14)?

3. Read 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 and consider: who is the ultimate example of disciple maker who finds infinite joy in his disciples? Are you imitating him?

4. Further Resources:

Shearer, Canyon R. "Crown of Boasting." Trust and Obey. March 23, 2012. https://trustobey.blogspot.com/2012/03/crown-of-boasting.html

Henry, Matthew. “1 Thessalonians 2 Commentary: Effects of the Christian Ministry.” Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary of the Bible. Accessed March 17, 2025. https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/1-thessalonians/2.html