Better Chaplain Series - Live Specific

The motto of the Air Force Chaplaincy is “Caring for Airmen more than anyone thinks possible.” It’s a good motto and gives us a great vision to encourage chaplains to 1) care 2) go the extra mile 3) exceed expectations, and 4) identifies our missions field as members of the United States Air Force community.

But, as is the case with all great principles, it’s only as good as the one applying it. It’s a good general principle to care for Airmen (plural and anonymous), but it’s entirely another thing to care for a difficult Airman (singular and known-by-name). Many chaplains on a general level would say amen, but it’s entirely another difficulty to stay late, love the unlovable, and spend and be spent for individuals.

Jeremiah Burroughs, who wrote The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, emphasizes the principle of applying your theology to specific circumstances, he said, “There is great deceit in the general. Men will confess they are sinners, but do not think of any particular sin. They will confess they must be better, but never come to the particular work of repentance." General principles say things like, “All have sinned, rejoice in all circumstances, love your neighbor, love your spouse, be an active member of a local church,” but they get hard in the specifics when you say, “But there are much worse sinners than me, my circumstances are impossible, my neighbor is a jerk, my spouse is unlovable, and there are no good churches near me.” It’s easy to say amen to the general ideas, but the blessings come from the difficult application into the specific.

Each of the principles I’ve shared heretofore will make you a better chaplain, if you apply them. It’s not enough to consider them and then shelve them, you must be ready to utilize them and seek out men and women to minister to.

“It is a sad condition when men are content with a general conviction, a general profession, and a general repentance.” ~ Jeremiah Burroughs

Key Verse: Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ~ James 1:22

More:

1. John Owen applies this principle to individual sins, which is where we should all start, “General notions of conviction may quiet the conscience, but only specific applications of truth will kill sin.” Where are you failing in loving God and your neighbor? Get specific. How can you repent today and make a plan of continued repentance?

2. If any of the chapters of this series especially pricked your conscience, how can you do more research into God’s word to verify the truth, then plan to walk in the works which he’s prepared beforehand for you to walk in?

3. If you’ve mentored any young ministers you’ve likely run into glory seekers who want to be the next celebrity pastor. There is honor is aspiring to great things (1 Timothy 3:1), so we don’t want to squash ambition, but my heart breaks when I see those wannabe super-pastors despise the day of small things when God puts menial people in their paths, small churches under their watch care, and out of the way small bases as their first chaplain duty station. Unfortunately, I’ve seen several of them become bitter and leave the ministry for their unfaithful service. If you’re faithful in the small things (specifics), God will entrust you with greater things; so how can you rejoice in the day of small things, recognizing you’re serving eternal souls and a great God? The salvation of a single soul is of more value than all the kingdoms and the glory of the earth, for the earth will perish, but the soul is eternal.

4. Further Resources:

Burroughs, Jeremiah. The Evil of Evils: The Exceeding Sinfulness of Sin. Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1999.

Burroughs, Jeremiah. The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment. Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1999.

Spurgeon, Charles. Obedience Better than Sacrifice. Sermon No. 1644, delivered March 5, 1882. In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, vol. 28. London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1882. https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/obedience-better-than-sacrifice/

Better Chaplain Series - Make Peace

War begets war. Those who live by the sword will die by the sword. Fighting is caused by passions at war, desiring but not having, coveting and not obtaining, predicated by lack of communication and lack of love (James 4:1-4).

Jesus did not bless the peace-keepers, he blessed the peace-makers, those who step into volatile situations to heal relationships, align priorities, and mediate disagreements. The ultimate peacemaker made peace by the blood of his cross (Colossians 1:20).

Chaplain, people like being angry, they like being vindicated, they like playing the victim, but none of these bring real peace, abundant life, or eternal joy, and you must confront them to make real peace. You will be persecuted and maligned for this peacemaking, but that is why it is blessed. Your greatest example said he would leave us peace, not as the world gives it, for in this world you will have tribulation (John 14:27, 16:33).

The world uses the word peace without understanding anything of its power. Peace in the world means an end of hostility, peace in the Bible means complete reconciliation, unity, love, singularity of purpose, honor, and a plethora of other things. No wonder at the end of time there will be a false peace that will devolve into all out war (1 Thessalonians 5:3). How can you make peace between–and with–those you minister to?

Let us stand fast in what is right and prepare our souls for trial. Let us neither be dogs that do not bark nor silent onlookers, nor paid servants who run away before the wolf. Instead, where the battle rages, let us find ourselves. Run towards the roar of the lion! Run towards the roar of battle! That is where Christ’s most glorious victories shall be won. – Boniface

Key Verse: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. ~ Matthew 5:9

More:

1. I am shocked by how many conflicted people I counsel who believe themselves and their opponent to be Christians. In this case I press towards the unity of Heaven; if they are both Christians, will they reconcile in Heaven (or the New Earth)? The answer is invariably yes, we’re not going to split Heaven down the middle with tape to keep them apart. If there is a reconciliation coming someday, then why not now? Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity (Psalm 133:1)?

2. Paul wrote to entreat two women at Philippi to get along; he further asked those reading his letter to help them get along (Philippians 4:2-3). This is not just a chaplains job, this belongs to the church. How can you make your church or chapel a community of peacemakers?

3. The world doesn’t usually utilize chaplains to broker peace during war, but consider how you would respond if you found yourself standing between two leaders of warring nations? Real or imagined, past or present, how could you “as much as possible, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18) and “strive for peace with all” (Hebrews 12:14)?

4. Chaplain Tom Solhjem found himself face to face with Iraqi soldiers and machine guns in Iraq. The temptation was to run for cover and let the Army neutralize the threat, but Solhjem and his faithful chaplain assistant called out to the enemy for someone who spoke English, formed a quick bond with the Major who approached him, and negotiated the surrender of 80 Iraqi soldiers who would have surely died had he not taken the risk to make peace. Put yourself in his shoes and consider how you would react. Could you, like the Apostle Paul, be willing to give up your life or salvation so that others could be saved (Romans 9:3)?

5. Further Resources:

Brinsfield, John. Encouraging Faith, Supporting Soldiers: The United States Army Chaplaincy 1975-1995, Part 1, 140-142. Washington: Office of the Chief of Chaplains, Department of the Army, 1997.

Jones, Robert D. Pursuing Peace: A Christian Guide to Handling Our Conflicts. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2020.

Adams, Jay E. How to Help People in Conflict: Becoming a Biblical Peacemaker. Lancaster, PA: Institute for Nouthetic Studies, 2020.

Better Chaplain Series - Wage War

The chaplain is a member of the profession of arms. While a non-combatant and usually distant from kinetic combat, the chaplain works with warfighters daily. Many of these warfighters may not even recognize that they are the nation’s defenders, but each has a valuable role to play; if any current warfighting role were obsolete, their position would be withdrawn, so at this point in history, they are warfighters.

Chaplain, you must have a robust theology of war and warriors. Not least of which Paul says we are in constant combat, not with this physical world, but with the spiritual world (Ephesians 6:10-20). Jesus said if his kingdom were of this world, his servants would have been fighting, but his kingdom is not from the world (John 18:36). Romans 13:1-7 is clear that the government exists to bear the sword for good, proving a terror to bad conduct.

Chaplain, you live in both worlds, fighting the good fight in the spiritual realm, and bearing the sword in the physical realm, training soldiers to do righteously and to see the battle raging all around them.

A soldier who doesn’t fight is a derelict at best and a traitor at worst. Chaplain, wage war for souls, fight the good fight, bear the sword in righteousness, and love your enemies. How can you use the current conflicts and rumors of conflict in this world to point to Jesus?

Let a soldier be ever so well armed without, if he have not within a good heart, his armour will stand him in little stead. Spiritual strength and courage are very necessary for our spiritual warfare. ~ Matthew Henry

Key Verse: Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle… ~ Psalm 144:1

More:

1. A beneficial exercise for military members is to take them through what would happen if their career field suddenly vanished from the military. A couple of slogans that help to show the importance of every career field are, “An army marches on its stomach,” “Without POL (Petroleum Oil and Lube) Pilots are Pedestrians,” and “If it’s in the air, maintenance put it there.” Chaplain, what would happen if chaplains vanished from the military? Would warfighting capabilities be diminished?

2. “War is Hell,” said William Tecumseh Sherman, and the chaplain ought to see it for what it is. It is easy to romanticize war based on stories of heroes and battles won, but the death and destruction wrought shows the sinfulness of sin and the destruction of rebellion and conflict. How would you describe war to a group of your military members who are about to embark on a dangerous mission for the first time? Would you discuss “All who take the sword will perish by the sword (Matthew 26:52)”? What if someone brings it up?

3. Jesus described himself as “meek”, which is often mischaracterized as “weak”. The chaplain must understand that meekness is not a lack of power, it is power under control. Without an underlying power, someone cannot be meek, that makes them impotent. Jesus comes to judge and make war (Revelation 19:11), his power is immense, immeasurable, infinite. How can you help your members to grow in self-control and imitate Christ in meekness, so that they will inherit the earth?

4. Further Resources:

Gurnall, Wiliam. The Christian in Complete Armour. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1991.

Sauvé, Brian. Psalm 144 (A Fortress is My Lord). From Even Dragons Shall Him Praise. Ogden, UT: New Christendom Press: 2023.

Better Chaplain Series - Pray for People

If you could ask Jesus to teach you one thing, what would you ask?

    How to raise the dead?
    Heal the lame, blind, and infirm?
    Multiply loaves and fishes?
    Turn water into wine?
    Walk on water?
    Call down fire from Heaven?
    Cast out demons?
    Speak so people listen?
    Study the Bible?

All of those are amazing, but consider that Jesus’ closest disciples had this opportunity, and they asked, “Lord, teach us to pray.” (Luke 11:1)

Chaplains are expected to pray, and to be imitators of the greatest example of prayer. We ought to be known as men of prayer. We pray out loud so that others can be edified and say amen (1 Corinthians 14:16-17). We are called to be incessant in our prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17), it ought to be a far more substantial part of our ministries than it is for many of us.

If your disciples asked you to teach them one thing, would they ask you to teach them to pray?

No man can do me a truer kindness than to pray for me. ~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon

If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for. ~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Key Verse: I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-2

More:

1. I was leaving my office on the way to an important meeting as an Airman was coming into the chapel. I recognized this Airman and knew that it could be a crisis. If someone endeavors to come all the way to a chapel or church, it is always a good idea to consider that they are seriously seeking someone to speak to. Based on our history I was ready to cancel the meeting I was enroute to, but this Airman asked something that has stuck with me for years, “Would you pray for me? You’re the only person who prays for me.” Is there anyone in your life that is unprayed for? Stop reading and rectify that right now.

2. Andrew van der Bijl (Brother Andrew), was banned from the Soviet Union after smuggling many Bibles and much encouragement into closed countries. He found solace in the fact that “Our prayers can go where we cannot; there are no borders, no prison walls, no doors that are closed to us when we pray.” Prayer should be our first resort, not our last, we need to talk to God about people before we talk to people about God. Take time to pray for someone you can’t have a conversation with.

3. Paul commanded Timothy to offer prayers for all types of people. That means the chaplain should be praying for and with the commander and the newest recruit and everyone in between. Its my policy, as much as possible, to end sessions with prayer. Sometimes its refused, but its never offensive. I’ve only had one person say, “Don’t pray for me, chaplain.” To which I had to honestly say, “Too late.” We should be praying out loud as often as is appropriate, but in private at all times.

4. When someone asks you to pray for them, do your best to pray right then and there, and then as is appropriate. But praying immediately does at least two things 1) Ensures you do pray for them 2) Shows the urgency and seriousness of prayer in their life.

5. Further Resources:

Ryle, John C. Do you Pray? London: Tract Committee of the Church, n.d.

Bunyan, John. A Discourse Touching Prayer. Bedford: Bedford Gaol, 1662.

Shearer, Canyon. “The Privilege of Prayer.” Trust and Obey. July 17, 2019. https://trustobey.blogspot.com/2009/07/privilege-of-prayer.html

Better Chaplain Series - No Shrinking Allowed

Has the church ever compromised itself into righteousness or influence? This is not just a rhetorical question, consider for a moment if you can think of a time that compromise was beneficial for Christianity or people.

This chapter comes towards the end of this devotional because it is such an important topic, and one I want to leave you thinking on for years to come. G. Campbell Morgan said, “The church today has destroyed her own influence by compromise.” The Bible is clear on all matters that it speaks to, so our goal is not to please men, but God (Galatians 1:10). An apocryphal quote attributed to Martin Luther says, “Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved; to be steady on all the battlefields besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point!” While we don’t know who said it, the sentiment is worthy of acceptance: the Christian, the chaplain, is judged on his compromise.

A chaplain may think that he is going to make friends by flattering hearers with soft messages, but failing to tell someone the truth is helping them on their way to destruction. Too many popular speakers fill their message with much truth, science, intrigue, rhetoric, and facts, but make no difference; why aren’t they making a difference in eternity? They shrink back from the ultimate truth, they fail to magnify the Lord Christ and testify of repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Chaplain, let us not be like them, let’s make a difference for eternity, let’s stand and not shrink back.

There is a morbid dislike in these days of all that is called ‘controversy.’ Men will persist in crying ‘Peace, peace!’ when there is no peace, and in speaking smooth things, when they ought to warn men plainly of danger. This is not charity but cruelty. ~ JC Ryle

Key Verse: You yourselves know how I lived among you…how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable… ~ Acts 20:20

More:

1. There is room for being crafty as serpents in addressing controversial subjects (Matthew 10:16, Luke 11:53-54). I’ve had members come into my office and ask, “What does the Bible say about [explosive subject]?” It would be easy to say, “Let me lecture you exactly what it says.” Rather, I’ve seen the most fruit from asking, “What do you think the Bible says about [topic]?” In cases where someone is trying to trap you, this will reveal their motive, and in cases of someone trying to learn the truth, it nurtures a great conversation. Regardless of their motive, make sure you leave them closer to the truth than you found them.

2. When preaching we should consider what the audience needs to hear, but we shouldn’t force anything into the text or omit anything based on what our audience needs. If we do so, we can become their lens for reading scripture, or we may discourage them altogether because they don’t (nay, can't) see what we see. I have long held to Dan Phillip’s hermeneutic principle, “Remember: Scripture meant one thing before you were born, means the same now, and will mean the same, should you die. Preach that meaning.” Would the original author of scripture be surprised by your use of it?

3. If someone is going to be offended, let them be offended by the Word of God and not us; Paul Washer was approached with “I don’t agree with your interpretation of that verse.” To which he was able to faithfully say, “I didn’t interpret it, I read it.” Let us bring no offense outside of the scripture. John MacArthur put it this way, “If the truth offends, then let it offend. People have been living their whole lives in offense to God; let them offended for a while.”

4. Martin Luther pressed forward to nail truth to doors, stand before princes and pontiffs, and declare, “My conscience is captive to the Word of God…I cannot and will not recant. Here I stand, I can do no other, God help me.” Luther offended many in his day, but five centuries later we still remember his name for his stand. Will people in Heaven remember you five centuries from now? What about those in Hell who you flattered instead of warned?

5. Further Resources:

Lloyd-Jones, Martin. Preaching and Preachers. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1971.

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

Welch, Edward. When People are Big and God is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2023.

Better Chaplain Series - Show No Partiality

There is a real temptation in the military to only bond in cliques. Aircraft maintainers hang out with aircraft maintainers, personnelists connect with personnelists, pilots gravitate to pilots, officers congregate with officers, commanders associate with commanders, and every other clique you can imagine. There is a very real temptation for the chaplain to do likewise, finding others of a similar rank or education to flock to, a comfortable place amongst people that look like us, while neglecting those who don’t look quite like us.

As always, our example to follow in this is Jesus of Nazareth. Not only did he step out of the perfection of heaven to live among sinful people, but in so doing he met with Pharisees (John 3:1), Tax Collectors (Luke 19:5-7), children (Matthew 19:13-15), and those considered much lower (Luke 7:37-38).

We see Paul investing in individuals, churches, and kings; he was willing and ready to speak to anyone who would listen. Joseph had been ministering amongst prisoners when he was summoned to Pharaoh, at which time he shaved and changed his clothes, then ministered to the highest-ranking person in Egypt (Genesis 41:14). George Whitefield started many sermons, “I am come to speak to you about your souls!” He preached to Ben Franklin as well as unnamed children, declaring even, “It may be, children, that your parents will not come to Christ; but, blessed be God, you may come without them! If your parents won’t come to Christ, you come now, and go to heaven without them!” All the while writing precious notes to aristocrats, friends, and acquaintances imploring them to be born again.

Chaplains ought to be the least cliquish people in the world, like God, not showing partiality, or looking on the outside, or worrying what others will think, but becoming all things to all people so that by all means we may win some.

Go for sinners, and go for the worst! ~ William Booth

Key Verse: Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all and in all. ~ Colossians 3:11

More:

1. The chaplain is in a unique position to foster cross-career-field networking. Few people on the base have as much access to people and offices as a chaplain, and the importance of introducing people to one another with similar interests and needs cannot be overstated. I had one young Airman state that he couldn’t believe his best friend worked in such a different career-field as he did. When we stick to cliques we’ll never understand the diversity of God’s kingdom. Do you find yourself engaging the same people everyday? How can you connect with someone who doesn’t look, sound, or think like you do?

2. John Stroup, a tattooed, on-fire for Jesus, ex-convict was asked by his pastor to help bring in "more people who look like you." Stroup is not your stereotypical church-goer, but he brings people to Jesus and church in droves. After bringing in a lot of people who didn't "look" like they belonged in church, his pastor declared that he wasn't as ready as he thought he was to see those people in church, but he wouldn't change a thing! Are you ready for the church to have a better demographic-representation of the population?

3. On a TDY I had the privilege of attending a church service in a different nation and language. While I couldn’t tell what was being said, I could see the joy in my brothers and sisters, and I was able to garner just enough clues to believe that they loved the same Jesus I love. If we’ll worship with every nation, tribe, and tongue in heaven, why not start now?

4. While the chaplain cannot fraternize, they are in the place to befriend and edify everyone from E-1 to O-10. Each one of those ranks has a unique set of needs, but one thing is for certain, they all need Jesus. How can they see Jesus in you, and how can you tell them about Jesus?

5. Further Resources:

Stroup, John. From the Pit to the Pulpit. Springfield, MO: Freeway Ministries, 2018.

MacArthur, John. The Impartiality of God. June 17, 2025. Accessed July 8, 2025. https://sermons-online.org/john-macarthur/devo/the-impartiality-of-god

Laurie, Greg, and Ellen Vaughn. Jesus Revolution: How God Transformed an Unlikely Generation and How He Can Do It Again Today. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2018.

Erwin, Jon, Brent McCorkle, dir. Jesus Revolution. Kingdom Story Company and Lionsgate, 2023. Film.

Better Chaplain Series - Be Wronged!

The call of Christianity is to be Christlike. Christ poured out blessing upon blessing and yet was despised and rejected (Ezekiel 16:2-63), told the truth and was hated for it (John 8:45, Galatians 4:16), and was found innocent and still crucified (Matthew 27:23-24, Luke 23:4,14-15, John 19:4).

Jesus was wronged in multitudes of ways and it troubled his soul. But instead of escaping, of running from the danger, of calling divisions of angels or the equivalent of the 8^th Air Force to his rescue, he opted to suffer wrong, despising the shame, for the joy that was set before him. “What shall I say, ‘Father save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” (John 12:27-28)

We live in an era of offense, where it is common for people trained to be victims in everything can declare they are wronged even if they aren’t wronged. The idea of Critical Theory states that someone has to be oppressing me, so I need to declare my wrong and you need to acknowledge it. Christianity could not be any more opposite. Every offense, every overtasking, every stolen credit, every curt word is an opportunity to be like Christ and absorb that offense so that forgiveness and love and joy can propagate throughout the culture.

Being wronged opens the opportunity for forgiveness. Forgiveness is not optional, “As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” (Colossians 3:13) Forgiveness acknowledges that a price must be paid, and to salvage the relationship I am willing to pay it, even if I am not the debtor, even if the sin was against me.

A chaplain who does not understand this will foment bitterness and unforgiveness and backbiting everywhere he goes. Such a chaplain is not fit to be a chaplain, a Christian, or a follower of Christ.

Lord, do not hold this sin against them. ~ Deacon Stephen, Acts 7:60

Key Verse: Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? ~ 1 Corinthians 6:7

More:

1. In marriage counseling I love to point out that we get to be like Jesus when we pay more than our fair share. In all circumstances, if someone has to pay more, then why not me? Maybe that reminds you of the sermon on the mount, turning the other cheek or going the extra mile. Zig Ziglar reminds us that “There are no traffic jams on the second mile.” Where can you go a second mile this week?

2. Winfrid Boniface, missionary to the Germanic tribes, was ambushed on the banks of the Bordne River. It was apparent that he and the men he was with could have defended themselves, but instead decided that if they were killed, they knew they would be with Christ, but if they killed their attackers, they knew their attackers would be lost forever. Boniface is an extreme example, but his declaration, “Cease fighting. Lay down your arms. We are told in scripture not to render evil for evil but to overcome evil by good.” (quoting Romans 12:21) is a powerful illustration of “Why not suffer wrong?” If Jesus, and Boniface, could lay down their lives for others, which offense do you need to overlook today for the sake of the kingdom?

3. The temptation when someone wrongs us is to say, “It’s ok.” We teach the kids in our church instead to say, “It’s not ok, you could have really hurt me and/or our friendship, but Jesus forgave me so I forgive you.” Is there anyone you need to forgive or ask forgiveness from? Is it optional?

4. Further Resources:

Elliot, Elisabeth. Why Not Be Wronged? Grand Rapids MI: Revell, 1977.

Sande, Ken. The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2004.

Willibald. The Life of Saint Boniface. Translated by George W. Robinson. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1916.

Better Chaplain Series - Despair of Life

Chaplains will have difficult supervisors, impossible duty stations, hopeless phone calls, and many other trials. If you haven’t had one of these yet, it’s coming.

Paul faced more difficult situations than probably any other person in history, many of these situations were so intense as to make him consider his utter weakness and God’s strength. In fact, in at least one circumstance, Paul likely died and had to be resurrected to continue his ministry (Acts 14:19-20). Our temptation is always to take the easy route of escape, but we have to remember that God has placed us in our situations for our good and his glory, and that suffering and pain are not evidence of his turning his face against us but are often his perfect plan for our lives.

Those whom we minister to will likewise be faced with impossible situations. The chaplain must always consider that what might seem a simple problem to us may be a crushing weight on our counselee. When we offer worldly solutions, we often get in their way of trusting in God. Impossible situations full of despair are always invitations to put our trust in the God who makes the impossible possible, so that he, not us, gets the glory.

You may never know that Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have. ~ Corrie ten Boom

Key Verse: We were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. ~ 2 Corinthians 1:8-9

More:

1. Some things you can somewhat prepare for; such as the shock of knocking on a parent’s door to deliver a Next of Kin (NoK) notification, or the helplessness of sitting in an emergency room with the parents of a deceased child. If you can prepare, then prepare; but other situations will be thrust upon you. The key in facing impossible situations is trusting God to give you the right words (Luke 12:12) and that he is the only one who can offer hope (Ephesians 2:12-13) and comfort (Isaiah 49:13, 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, 7:6-7). Can you think back on a time when you faced impossible odds and had no option but to trust God?

2. The opposite of walking by faith is not doubt, but confidence in yourself. Have you overcome (or escaped) any difficult situations by your own power when God could have effected a better outcome? I’ve watched marriages split because of minor difficulties, and grieved at the lost opportunity to watch God pour out his blessings. The painful truth of many of our lives is, “If he had done less, he might have done more.”

3. Impossible situations bring out the necessity of prayer. Paul didn’t just ask for prayer, he said, “You also MUST help us by prayer…” I’ve sent several texts to groups stating simply, “Headed to the hospital for an emergency, prayers appreciated.” Calvin said, “If you derive any fruit from my labours, give me the benefit of your prayers to the Lord.” Who do you have praying for you? Who are you praying for? What would it look like if God answered those prayers?

4. Further Resources

Comfort, Ray. God Has a Wonderful Plan for your Life: The Myth of the Modern Message. Bellflower, CA: Living Waters Publications, 2008.

Priolo, Lou. Divorce: Before You Say “I Don’t”. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2007.

MacArthur, John. Job: Trusting God in Suffering. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2020.

Elliot, Elisabeth. Suffering is Never for Nothing. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2019.

Bennett, Sanford Fillmore, and Daniel Brink Towner. Trust and Obey. In The Baptist Hymnal, Nashville, TN: Lifeway Worship, 2008.

Better Chaplain Series - Make Bad Investments

How much of your property can you take with you to Heaven? What can you take to Heaven? Jesus tells us to “store up your treasure in Heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). It’s not money or property or cars or jewels that last for eternity, but the souls of human beings, and these are our treasure that we should be investing in.

There is a very real temptation to think of people as capital to utilize for the mission of the church. When we see people as what they can do for us, we will compromise the message to get more people in the church, more people volunteering, and more people letting us down. Do more people bring more manhours of useful volunteering? Potentially, but we are after quality, not quantity, after disciples, not pew-warmers.

In this role we might plant and water seeds in people, fostering relationships with those who will walk away from the faith and the church (Matthew 13:20-21, 1 John 2:19). Paul tells us to be “kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting our opponents with gentleness.” Why? Not because we’re sure they’ll be saved, but because “God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses, and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:24-26).

Therefore, our call is not to make wise investments, such as ensuring people are showing evidence of election and growth and worthiness before investing in them, but investing even when there is no evidence of their spiritual calling, they are going from bad to worse, and we are quite sure if the Spirit doesn’t move that we’re wasting our time. Many people in history have said something to the effect of, “Character is shown most clearly in how we treat those who can do nothing for us.”

If God would have painted a yellow stripe on the backs of the elect, I would go around lifting shirts. But since he didn’t, I must preach “whosoever will” and when “whosoever” believes, I know he is one of the elect. ~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Key Verse: Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding. ~ Proverbs 23:23

More:

1. Before evangelism, preaching, and revivals I usually pray, “God, if you’d don’t send your Holy Spirit, then we’re just bothering people and wasting their time.” The adage says, “We should talk to God about people before we talk to people about God.” How often do you pray for those you’ll come into contact with throughout the day? Are you praying that God would move in their life? How about praying now?

2. Can you think of anyone in your life who took a risk and invested in you? Any scholarships, open pulpits, free lunches? How do you pay it forward and take someone to lunch so you can invest in them?

3. Bad investments often require us to go looking for lost sheep. One of my regrets in ministry is giving up on a young man who repeatedly missed appointments and didn’t do his homework. If I could do it again I’d spend more time holding him accountable. Read Ezekiel 34 and consider how you’ve treated God’s flock.

4. Rudyard Kipling said something all people everywhere ought to heed, “Beware of overconcern for money, or position, or glory. Someday you will meet a man who cares for none of these things. Then you will know how poor you are.” Are you investing in truth and souls and prepared to meet the man who cares immensely about both of those things? Read Revelation 3:18 and Isaiah 55:1 and consider if you’re obeying Christ’s commands.

5. Further Reading:

Mack, Wayne. A Homework Manual for Biblical Living: Personal and Interpersonal Problems. Chicago: Moody Press, 1979.

Mack, Wayne. A Homework Manual for Biblical Living: Family and Marital Problems. Chicago: Moody Press, 1979.

Getty, Keith & Kristyn, and Fernando Ortega. My Worth Is Not in What I Own. Getty Music, 2014.

Better Chaplain Series - Pain is Gain

Physical tests, such as a mandatory run, strength test, or realistic training, provide invaluable illustrations of temporary suffering to secure future gain. Pushing through the pain yields physical growth, but it also prevents the consequences of failing those tests. It’s common to remind struggling runners that if they quit, they’ll have to run again in the very near future, so it’s less work to not quit. Pacers cry out encouragements, “It’s going to hurt for the next ten minutes or it’s going to hurt much longer!” The implication is that pain now is preparing for future joy.

The root words for compassion are “com”-together, and “pati”-suffering, which mean to suffer with. Paul points this idea to Christ by saying we’ll be in union with Christ’s kingdom if we’re in union with his suffering. Suffering has never surprised God, and he has never sought to shield his children from the terrors of the world. In fact, Paul says we’re like sheep being slaughtered all the day long (Romans 8:36, Psalm 44:22).

The chaplain will regularly encounter people who desperately need compassion and help with their burdens. This is going to cost the chaplain time and effort at a minimum, but how much more? Chaplains have diverse opportunities to sacrifice, such as hospital visits, late night phone calls, deployments, and difficult counselings; if it’s easy, it’s probably cheap, if it’s hard, you should at least give it a second look. It is not uncommon at all for chaplains and their teams to relish the memory of difficult deployments, stating it was where their greatest ministry was done. JC Ryle stated that religion which costs nothing is worth nothing. What is God calling you to put on the line for his namesake? What are a few minutes of pain or inconvenience worth in comparison to an eternity of joy?

            Can he have followed far who has no wound nor scar? ~ Amy Carmichael

Key Verse: The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ~ Romans 8:16-18

More:

1. In the counseling room I hear regularly, “I know God wants me to be safe!” or “The most important thing is my (or their) safety.” I asked a bunch of fifth-graders, “What’s the most important thing in baseball?” Their unanimous answer was, “Be safe!” Where are we getting this idea? It’s not from the Bible, which emphasizes walking by faith and not by sight. If Paul was willing to give up even his own salvation for others (Romans 9:3), which risks ought we be taking and price ought we be paying for our neighbors?

2. Hanging on the wall in multiple Intelligence Centers is the quote in some shape or form, “Safety is Not First, Security is First.” A parody says, “Coffee is First, Safety is Like Third or Fourth.” If you were to hang a poster in your chapel or church, what would it say? Might I suggest, “Salvation First, Sanctification Second, Safety When I Get to Heaven.” Or “Christ first, others second, me last.”

3. A healthy understanding of martyrs in history is sure to show a very unsafe world and calling. If you haven’t considered them, I recommend looking at the lives of men like Jim Elliot, women like Amy Carmichael, preachers like Thomas Cranmer, and reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin. The risks they took were immense, but the rewards belong to them and Christ for eternity. Do you think they’d regret any of those risks?

4. Further Reading:

Carmichael, Amy. Gold Cord: The Story of Fellowship. Fort Washington, PA: Christian Literature Crusade, 1983.

Fox, John. Fox’s Book of Martyrs: A History of the Lives, Sufferings, and Deaths of the Early Christian and Protestant Martyrs. Edited by William Byron Forbush. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1978.

Papa, Matt. “Stay Away from Jesus.” On This Changes Everything. Love Your Enemies Publishing, 2011.