Father Skills

In the movie We Were Soldiers, there is a scene in a chapel where one of the young lieutenants has become a father and he is contemplating how this is going to impact his life. His superior, Lt. Col. Hal Moore (played by Mel Gibson) comes in to congratulate him. The new father seeking some wisdom, turns to the Colonel and says, “What do you think of being a soldier, and a father?” Colonel Moore thinks for a minute and says, “I think being good at the one makes me better at the other.”

I had a unique opportunity the other day to put this idea to the test.

We were out on patrol in our MRAP Maxxpro. In our vehicle there was a driver, TC, I'm the gunner, and 4 soldiers in my platoon in the back. There are two seats on either side of the interior of the vehicle with the seats facing each other. Everyone in the vehicle wears, in addition to full battle-rattle, a Bose headset with a mic so we can hear each other and communicate.

We were moving through a village and having a conversation when all of the sudden one of the soldiers interrupts us in a very strained tone, “I have the bubble-guts!” He is hunched over in the back, with his hands on his stomach.
Our TC says, “Are you okay? Can you make it to the FOB we are only 10 minutes away?”
“Ohhh…I’ve got the bubble guts,” comes the reply, with the soldier still hunching forward and backwards, “No, I can’t wait that long.”
“Okay, lets just get through this village and we will pull over.”

Unable to wait even two more minutes, the soldier quickly unbuckled his seat belt. He climbed over the three other passengers, squatted, dropped his drawers and proceeded to attempt to accurately place, not a #2, but a #27 in a plastic bag while in a moving vehicle. Let’s just say his attempt had very limited success. Very limited.

Mind you there are no windows in an MRAP, so needless to say the stench was overwhelming. Luckily, I'm in the turret with my head outside the vehicle in the fresh Afghan air. But I did get to hear all the coughing and gagging due to the pungent aroma. We were all laughing hysterically due to the absurdity of the situation.

After we pulled into our final destination and exited the vehicle in record time, we were able to do a battle damage assessment. There was a rather thick, chunky brown syrup over a good portion of the floor and the steps to the ramp. Clean up anyone?

News spread of the defecating disaster and the other soldiers had to come see and smell for themselves. Yup, it was poop. Yup, it was gross. Yup, it was everywhere. Clean up anyone?

The poor soldier wasn’t finished with his business and ran off to the bathroom. I couldn’t stand to wait any longer, so I went off to grab cleaning supplies. Somewhere along the way I decided I would clean it up. It wasn’t because I wanted to, not because I was told to, but because that’s what a father does. He cleans up when there is a mess, no matter what kind it is.

So, I put on gloves, got the bleach, the pine-sol disinfectant, the air freshener, and bottles of water and went to work. I cleaned it up thoroughly, and honestly much to my surprise it didn’t bother me that much. I guess after cleaning up loads of messy diapers and explosions up the back, you kind of lose the paralyzing disgust of poop and realize its not the end of the world. It’s a skill I didn’t know I had and can only attribute to acquiring it through fatherhood. I guess, “being good at the one, does make you better at the other.”

How about you? Had a similar experience? Has parenting taught you skills you didn’t have before?

Read more...

Goal #1: Write a Book

I want to write a book. There, I said it. It's been a desire of mine for a little while now but I didn't want to say anything. Once you say something you can be held accountable for it, people expect you to do what you say. I want to write a book. There, I said it again. Now I definately have to do it.

Being a detailed person I am a bit overwhelmed at the thought of writing a book and all that is involved in such a bold undertaking. I don't have a subject yet (maybe fitness, relational leadership, something churchy) a length requirement (50-500 pages??) or a publisher. I don't even know how to write something interesting. But I think there is something inside of me that wants to make its way out onto paper. And no, not on toilet paper.

So, the goal is to complete it in my thirities. Think it's possible? I don't know. I have 3,645 days left after today. Seems like enough time. I probably need to read up on the process, take a class or do something along those lines. I like to think I have the potential/aptitude for it. Actually, I know I do, but the thought still kind of makes me nervous. But, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me..." right? Let's put it to the test, since He is the one who probably put the desire there anyway.

How about you? Is there something you have always wanted to do but haven't for whatever reason? Like learning an instrument? Going back to college? Visiting a foreign country? Starting a non-profit company? Becoming a tax consultant?
What is inside of you that needs a kick in the pants to get going? Go for it. Try it. See what happens...

Read more...

Turning 30

I got to celebrate my 30th b-day with a wild party and loads of friends. We enjoyed some Baskin Robbins Cookies & Creme ice cream and a German Chocolate Cake made especially for me. Okay, not really...

I spent it all by myself sitting on a picnic table behind my room. I spent the evening looking up at the stars smoking a Cuban cigar to commerate the occasion. Probably one of my worst birthdays ever. But anyway, as I was sitting there gazing up at the amazing star-filled sky, I began to think over the last ten years. And since I have officially started a new decade, I thought I would take a few moments and reflect on some of my more memorable experiences that have been apart of my life over the last ten years. So, here they are (I thought it was appropriate to select 20):

-Got married on Oct. 6, 2001 to the most amazing woman I have ever met!
-Graduated Elim Bible Institute
-I've traveled to four different countries (Canada, Mexico, Haiti, Afghanistan)
-I've lived in four different states (New York, Florida, Washington, Kentucky)
-Driven every mile of I-90, from Boston/New York to Seattle
-Earned 3 personal training certificates
-Owned my own business (Functional4Life, LLC)
-Fathered three beautiful daughters
-Visited the original Starbucks
-Met two of my favorite UFC fighters, Randy Couture and Rich Franklin
-Began studying Commando Krav Maga and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
-Joined the US Army and am currently fighting in OEF XI in Afghanistan
-Attended seven churches in those four states and interm pastored one of them
-Earned my Combat Infantry Badge
-I've attended games for the Yankees, Marlins, Mariners, Dolphins, Bills, Heat, Sonics, Panthers, Sabres and various other minor league teams and amateur MMA fights
-Been through over 25 airports in five counties (mostly US)
-I can build various structures with brick and cultured stone b/c of my mad masonry skillz
-I have truly learned to appreciate the simple things, like my daughters' giggles and laughs, the gentle touch of my wife, and sharing meals together as a family
-I have followed my Shepherd's voice wherever I have heard it leading me, no matter where, no matter what the cost
-I've learned deep in my soul that Jesus has the words of life, where else would I go?

There are many other moments that are dear to me but would be too numerous to list them all here. I am a blessed man and have been afforded many opportunities and had many great experiences. I am excited about the potential and general direction for my thirties. By God's grace I will continue to be able to follow Him on this journey and I look forward to seeing where else I may go and what else I may do. Here's to another amazing decade to come!

"The process is the goal of the journey, not the destination."

For those of you 30 and above, what are some of your fondest memories from your 20s?

Read more...

Being Followed

Have you ever had the feeling someone is following you...for real? You can feel your heart start to pound as your pace quickens. You look over your shoulder nervously, hoping that if the person that is there knows that you know, they will stop their pursuit. Thoughts go racing through your head as you begin to perspire, 'Who would want to follow me?' 'Why would someone want to chase me down?' 'What do I have they could possible want?'

Have you ever had the Holy Spirit pursue you like that?

He is on your trail and you try and shake Him but...you can't. You are not quite sure what will happen when He catches up with you, but you try and avoid Him anyway. Maybe His pursuit isn't a life-endangerment kind of thing, it's more of a life-changing kind of thing.

I think He is after me.

The phrase, "For the love of Christ compels me..." has been the pursuing whisper in my mind and heart...continually.

I can't get away from it.

I can't stop thinking about it.

"For the love of Christ compels me..." There is so much passion in that statement. Can you hear it?

I'm ashamed to say I don't know if I do anything because His love compels me. I can't honestly say that I feel compulsed or forced into action because of the intense motivation of His love.

But I want to be able to say it.

I want to say, "The love of Christ compels me to..." and you can fill in the blank. I am sure that when I am operating in that way I won't have to say it at all, the evidence will be plentiful. Others will know that Jesus has touched them through me. And for that I will let myself be followed and tracked down until I am caught and Christ's love is made my driving force.

"For the love of Christ compels me..."

Stay alert. Look over your shoulder. The Holy Spirit may be following you too...

Read more...

Emotional Constipation

Have you ever felt something deeply and wanted to express it verbally but just couldn't find the words? Maybe you've gone through a range of emotions but could not concisely articulate what you've been feeling? You've exhausted Webster to no avail and even tried that word dinosaur, a thesaurus, but your emotions still refuse to be defined? It's like trying to scratch that spot on your back you can't reach no matter how hard you try. Well, that's where I have been for the last six weeks or so and I call it emotional constipation. Quite the vivid word picture, huh?

Anyway, I've been reading this book entitled Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman. The premise of the book is that IQ scores and SATs do not accurately predict who will be successful in life. There is another form of intellegence, an intangible quality Goldman terms emotional intelligence that can better determine how far you will go in work and in relationships. Goleman suggests (based on research and evidence) that those who can clearly identify what they are sensing and experiencing on an emotional level will be better suited and adaptable to what they experience in life. This creates an emotional stability which will enable them to succeed no matter what life throws at them.

Now as a guy, reading and thinking about what "I am feeling" (written with a sarcastic tone) is pretty much like bamboo shoots under the fingernails or watching a marathon of Anne of Green Gables. Torture, to say the least. However, since I have been in Afghanistan, I have experienced a plethora of emotions that I need to work through. I find that if I do not try and decipher and identify what I am going through, they (emotions) just build up to where I am just sitting there with my mouth open, blank stare, knuckles on the ground, saying uhhh...real neanderthal-like. A constipation of emotions.

On a daily basis I wrestle with missing my wife and kids and praying I can make up for lost time, the reframing of my relationship with Jesus, the complexity of taking lives in combat, future plans, and the dynamics of military life to name a few. I want to improve my emotional intelligence and it seems I have been given an opportunity to do just that by trying to work through all these elusive no-name feelings. Not wanting to become an alexithymic, I have pain-stakingly hard soul-searching and name calling to do. So, I must continue to get brain cramps as I try to push one out...emotions that is, for my own mental and emotional well-being.

I just wish I had some ex-lax to get things moving...

Read more...

Blogging

I realize I am a late starter when it comes to blogging, I have a whopping two months under my belt. But I get the draw and even addiction of posting about the inconsequential and substantial happenings in your life that warrant a 'comment' from friends and the occassional 'anonymous'. Blogging is fun and impersonally personable, which is why I like it.

But, as much as I like the medium, I can't help think that all this blogging is really pointing to something else we could be potentially lacking...a place (or people) we can share the intricate details of our life with. I don't know if is is just me but I find I am more likely to share life's experiences on a computer than when I am looking someone in the face, eyeball to eyeball. It's easier to emote something and throw it out there on the world wide web indiscriminately, than to have that same life-sharing exchange with another person. Or maybe the difficult thing is finding someone (or a group of people) who you can be you around and they love you inspite of your idiosyncrasies, and you, them.

.

I think blogging can be a form of community for the intimacy-challenged. I hate to say it but I have had more insight into others thoughts, feelings, and struggles in their lives by reading their blogs, than by living nearby them for years. How does that happen?? Has that been your experience? We have to find a way to actually live together in community and carry one another's burdens.

My wife has a belief that desserts taste better when shared with loved ones, a foreign concept to me who believes the pie tastes better when I get to eat all of it myself. Though we may differ on our philosophy of desserts, I think she is on to something when it comes to relationships. Life is so much richer when shared.

I've been thinking a lot about community. Here's some of my thoughts; how I see it looking: a small group of (families) Believers, offering and sharing their lives as they live out life's challenges together. They switch weekly whose house they will meet at (so at least every house gets a good cleaning once a month). Every week it is someone else's trun to bring their version of the best chocolate chip cookies, tea, and Starbucks' latest overpriced coffee.

Everyone shares life's true challenges, 'Should the kids be home-schooled or public school?' 'This job opportunity opened up, but not sure I take it...' 'We're having trouble with our 2-yr old, Help!' 'What's the recipe for this chicken? It's amazing!' 'We're going through a tough phase in our marriage, can you pray for us?' This is the good stuff life is made of that we need to share. The all important and not important at all.

Over the course of the evening, the activities include: a time of prayer and sharing, some eating, maybe more prayer, playing with the kids, all of these and maybe more but in no particular order. Some good jokes and stories, hugs and handshakes round out the evening. "Talk to you tomorrow" "We'll set a playdate for the kids" "Thank you for sharing your heart with us tonight" and "Can't wait to do it again" are the comments as everyone returns to their own house having just been edified, encouraged, and genuinely loved by one another. That's what I want.

Do you have anything like this in your life? Do you have a group of friends you are living life with? How has that impacted your life? Are you still looking for that community? Have you found it at church? Or does the busyness of life relegate your relational interactions to only fb and blogging?

Read more...

My Favorite Things

I have a random talent not many people know about. And when they do they wished they didn't.

Is it twirling and singing in high-altitude meadows, you ask? Yes, but that's not I am talking about here.

Wondering what it could be??? Well, here it is: I am really proficient at changing the lyrics of songs in exchange for lyrics that have to do with experiences on the toilet.

For real.

You can ask my wife, she will validate my claim (with embarassment of course). And actually 'proficient' is a bit understated. I believe the term Grand Master is a better description.

(Usually, that term refers to a martial arts masters who have achieved more in their respective art than anyone else in history. That is why I am using the term in this instance).

However, the song below is not from my usual repertoire and may therefore lack a certain quality and high-standard my fans (wife and kids) are used to hearing. Nevertheless, I wanted to lay a foundation for my impromptu lyrical skizzles.

I say all that to say, missing my family causes me to think of the things that they enjoy doing, and one of those things is watching (over and over again) The Sound of Music. And that gave me an idea. I have applied my lyrical prowess and changed the lyrics to one of the songs in that movie to incorporate some of my favorite things. (You have to hum as you read)

"Waking up at six, to yells for Daddy,
Diaper changes . . . No, that one's for Sarah,

Hearing my girls run to me when I'm home,

These are a few of my favorite things

Laughing with my wife as we watch the Office,

Raising a family and love for each other,

Conversations of love for our kids,

These are a few of my favorite things

When I get shot at,

By the Taliban,

When rounds go through our tent,

I simply remember my favorite things,

And then I don't feel so bad

Trips to the park, me pushing the stroller,

Chasing the kiddos, 'Now which way did G go?'

Holding hands with the ones that I love,

These are a few of my favorite things

When RPG rounds,

Hit our vehicle, the blast is oh so loud,

But I simply remember my favorite things,

And then I don't feel so bad!"

And there you have it. An instant classic for the Fulton household!

Read more...

Unlearning

I read somewhere that you are either learning something or unlearning something. Unlearning something is a more difficult process and usually takes longer. In fitness for example, they say it takes 3000 repetitions for your body to learn a new movement. It takes 3x that amount to unlearn and learn again. It seems once our brain is hard wired for something, it really resists giving that information up.

I am running into this unlearning problem when it comes to my concept of God's plan for my life. I had one concept in my mind (full-time ministry) for so long, when it seemed like my life was changing gears I was caught in neutral, just revving the engine. Could it be that my ideas of what it (my life's calling) should look like are completely different than how God designed my life to be? Could it be that my ideas of ministry need to radically change?

I know I am not alone in this. I know plenty of people who have had visions and expectations of what God was going to do in and through their lives, only to find things turned out very differently than expected. Maybe they were turned down for the youth pastor position at church; they got married and pregnant right away; their pastor had an adulterous affair and rocked their view of church leaders. They want to remain hopeful they will accomplish their life's work: missions in Africa, planting churches in Islamic nations, preaching the Gospel to the unreached and unloveable, reaching America's youth for Christ, and yet nothing around them points to any of those things happening in the next 5 or even 10 years.

So, what happens? There is a mournful settling for the mundane that happens in the soul. A spiritual complacency. Your faith takes a hit like a childhood fantasy getting burst, when you grow up and find out the truth. 'You mean Santa isn't real?' . . . 'I can't grow up and fly the Millenimum Falcon?' . . . 'Unicorns don't exist? . . . What about Ligers?'

But there is hope, my friends, and I believe it involves unlearning. As Christians, we talk about leaving our burdens at the cross. Our burdens can be sin, bad attitudes, our career, or whatever is holding us back. I believe our very mindset about what 'ministry' is, what it looks like, and who is supposed to 'do it', can be stunting our growth and keeping us from our destiny. It is these ideas we have had since youth or whenever we came to Christ, that need to be brought to the cross and unlearned. There are winds of change blowing and if we would let the very ideas and traditions we hold dear be willing to be sifted, we might find the possibility of God's purpose and 'ministry' for our lives right in front of us in a totally different way. A way that we can be at peace with.

Are you ready to unlearn with me?

Read more...

THE Question

One of the questions every man must answer in his life is, 'Do I have what it takes?' There are a variety of applications for this soul-piercing question, such as: Will I be a loving husband and father? If I was getting mugged would I be able to beat down the attacker? Can I make it through grad school? Can I accomplish all of God's plans for my life? Will I be a person my kids will look up to when I am older? Do I have what it takes?

I was faced with this very question, a week ago Monday in my first firefight. I had heard of gunners (my job) hiding down in the trucks when the rounds start zinging at the truck, too afraid to stay up there and fire back. I have read of the body's biological response to the physical stresses of combat which can cause you to urinate (or even defecate) yourself, and there is nothing you can do about it. Others' responses include refusing to fire, or firing over the heads of the enemy where there is no chance of eliminating the threat. I was anxious to see how I would respond, and answer that questi0n for myself.

We were out on patrol when over the radio came a call that two MATVs (military vehicles) started taking effective fire. Our vehicles (4) responded by immediately heading in their direction, my blood pressure beginning to rise. Then the calls got worse, "Our vehicle is disabled, hurry up!" "We just lost the use of our gun, we are sitting ducks! Where are you guys!" "The other vehicle is disabled now...you need to get here NOW!"

By this time I could see their vechicles were about a 1800 meters away. I was flooded with a wave of emotions and thoughts. At first, anger. 'How dare they try and kill our guys. Don't worry guys your brothers in arms are on their way!' I thought as we drove closer and closer on the winding bumpy, dirt road. Then a heavy reality check of, this is a firefight...I could die. Oh man, this is it. I am going to die on my daughter's 5th birthday. All my girls are going to have to grow up without a dad. And my soul-mate, my wife, how could she bear the weight of losing her husband in combat? Tears instantly came bursting forth as we were about 900 meters from the fight. Then a wave of peace came over me reminding me of what God told me before I left for Afghanistan, 'It's not your time.' Invigorated deep in my soul, and gaining my composure, I chambered the shiny 7.62 rounds in my 240B. 'Let's do this!' I thought while sighting in the enemy's elevated position and placing my finger on the trigger...waiting to give it a good squeeze.

For the next four hours we engaged the enemy while trying to retrieve our dead-lined vehicles and the soldiers inside. We were in a horseshoe ambush, taking contact on three sides from elevated positions. Pretty much the worst possible scenario. I had several close calls, having RPG rounds whizzing by both the front and the back of the vechicle, narrowly missing each time. AK-47 rounds hit the glass in my turret right by my head on the left side, and I had rounds ricochet off my 240 about 12 inches from my face! I fired back until I was black on ammo (all gone), expending over 1800 rounds! Then I shot 12 40mm rounds from my 320 (grenade launcher). When they were gone, I was handed a 249 SAW from someone in the truck and kept returning fire, until they enemy wasn't returning fire any more.

Amazingly, no one from our group, even the dismounts who got out of the vehicle to help get the soldiers from the downed vehicles to safety, received any injuries and no one was killed. The enemy's death toll was as high as 30 from that 4 hours (about 150 from the entire offensive), and they were continuing to pull bodies out of the buildings days later. One of the mud huts we took RPG fire from where I fired 240B rounds and 40mms at, they found only body parts everywhere.

When the adrenaline rush came down and I was able to assess what had happened, and how I performed under fire, I felt a confident strength deep inside that had not been there before. I had not wilted, lost heart, or given into fear when the pressure mounted. I was able to find an answer for the question. Some answers only come in the face of combat.

"Blessed by the Lord my strength, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers to fight."

-Ps 144:1

Read more...

My Princess

Happy 5th Birthday Juliana!

You hold such a special place in my heart. God told me I was going to have a girl as my first born when I was still in high school, even before I knew your mom. I had to wait many years before I finally met you, but you finally arrived on June 29th 2005. I was overcome with emotion when I held you for the first time, my daughter, my Juliana, my princess.

You have had to endure lots of travel in your lifetime so far. From NY to Seattle, Seattle to NY, NY to Kentucky and then back to NY. You have been a great traveler from when you were a few months old until now. I would take you anywhere. Making the 5-6hr flights from Seattle to NY were not easy, nor were the car rides from NY to Kentucky, but you always did it with grace. Which happens to be your middle name, Grace. As the years have gone by this word has come to exemplify you in your speech, your dancing, your artisitc ability, and of course your beauty.

Often times when you come up to ask me a question, I can't focus on what you are saying because I am awestruck by your beauty. I have to pinch myself and ask you to repeat yourself. You're just turning 5 and you are beautiful way beyond your years.

I wish I could be there to celebrate your special day with you. But remember the good times we have had together: going to Mariners' baseball games, trips to the zoo, sleeping outside in the tent, swimming in Grandpa's pool, adventures in the woods, tea parties, Barbie movie marathons, and late night stories with snuggles and prayer before bed.

You mean the world to me Juliana, may you have a wonderful birthday and know that your Daddy loves you very, very much.

Read more...

Home Away From Home

Growing up in Upstate New York, my family during the summer months would annually make the trek to the Appalachian mountains to go camping. We went to such places as: Nick's Lake, Lake Placid, and Watkins Glen among others. We always went with three other families and had wonderful memories of swimming in mountain lakes, singing around the campfire, eating delicious hot schmoes, I mean s'mores, constructing forts in the woods, and of course making various weapons out of the fallen tree branches. Good guy stuff. Fast forward about 15 years...

I am in the mountains again, in a bigger fort called a FOB (Forward Operating Base), sleeping in a tent, and I have my M4 Carbine with a 40mm grenade launcher attached to it, with me at all times. It all feels vaguely familiar...minus the s'mores. It seems funny how God can orchestrate things in your life together. Things you enjoy in one season of your life can set the platform for another season later on.

Speaking of enjoying things, mountains are kind of my thing. Just looking at them, not climbing them...just wanted to make that clear. I am in awe of God's handiwork. Being able to see the Appalachians growing up and the beautiful Cascade mountains in Seattle was an amazing priviledge. The glimpses of Mt. Rainier on a sunny day are breathtaking. Now I am smack dab in the middle of my own little mountain getaway. And as a 240B gunner I get to sit up in the turret of the vehicle and visually take in the mountain landscape, the villages, and the Afghan people...while I am scanning for Taliban fighters of course.

So anyway, for now the mountains are my home. My home away from home. Far, far away from where I want to be, but where I need to be nonetheless.

Read more...

FC (Functional Church) Ideas Part 2

Idea #3 is a touchy one. you might not want to keep reading, or do, it's up to you. But I warned you. Alright, so here it is...

#3 Tithing-The early church did not support pastors' salaries, huge buildings, operating costs, or programs. It wasn't until the 4th century under Constintine that Christian leaders began to advocate tithing as a Christian practice to support the clergy. But it did not become widespread until the 8th century (Pagan Christianity Ch. 9). So, 700 yrs after Christ we set up a tithing system to the clergy.

There has to be reform to the way our "tithing" system works because when you use it to pay pastors' salaries you are elevating their position above the rest of God's people, creating a clericial caste system. The Body is divided into those who have the knowledge and calling (clergy) and those who don't (layperson). The pastor and his staff become paid Christians, and cause the Church to fall into passive dependency on the "professionals".

Didn't Jesus do away with the old system (Heb 8:13) and bring in the new covenant? Isn't the priestly system done away with? Aren't we all priests (1 Pet2:5)? If Christians today became functioning priests in God's house, why would we need to pay church staffs??? Read that last line again.

Christians in the US give between $9-$11 billion dollars a year on church buildings (Barna Group). Buildings...What!? What if we actually used that money to give to the poor, the needy, the orphan and the widow? What kind of impact could we make on the world!

Just a thought...

Read more...

Functional Church Ideas Pt. 1

As a follow up to my last entry, based on some of the comments I received, here are some ideas bursting forth from my brain as to how we can become a more functional church body. I feel a little bit like Martin Luther, posting my blogs of reformation...okay, not really.

#1 Size-It does matter, there I said it. It seems we have become too big and lost our personal touch. Think about this, if you put two elephants in a room in 22 months you will have one more elephant. If you put 2 rabbits in a room, in that same amount of time you would probably have 1000. Smaller is more effective for reching people and causing authentic, life-changing growth.

I think a home church of 10-25 people would work. Getting together in a home is more like a gathering of friends, than a put-on-a-happy-face get ready for a passive listening Sunday service. In a smaller group mutual edification is the focus, not spectatorship.

Plus, we need to get out of the mentality of "going to church". We ARE the church, it's not something we do or where we go, it's who we are, a living organism. The Greek word for church is ekklesia, which means "an assembly". The church body, His Body is an assembly of parts all working together and functioning in unison. That can't happen if there are a select few doing everything. Everyone has a role to play and something to offer. Which brings me to #2...

#2 Participation- Unlike, today where the teaching for the most part is brought by the same person week after week, when the 1st century believers gathered they all had a right, privilege, and responsibility to minister in the group, to the group (Eph. 4:16, 5:19 1Cor 14:26,31 Col 3:16).We have small groups where this happens more, but they are a ministry of the church instead of being the church. Which again goes back to the mindset of "doing" instead of "being".

We need to be "living life together", which can only happen when you are connected with others in open, authentic relationships. This goes back to point #1, we have gotten too big to be relationally effective for real sustainable spiritual growth.

I have more thoughts to throw out there but I will save them for later posts. Some books I have read along these lines are pagan Christianity by George Barna and Frank Viola, Reimagining Church by Frank Viola, and of course "the B-I-B-L-E, yes that's the book for me". Check them out they are very good.

Read more...

Birthday Wishes

"Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday, to the ARMY,

Happy birthday to you!"

Today is the birthday of the United States Army which was formed on the 14th of June in 1775. That's right, even before the formation of our country. I feel honored and privileged to be a part of a brotherhood of our country's warriors. I am keeping up a military service tradition that goes back to both of my grandfathers, and even my great-grandfather. So, Happy Birthday Army! I hope you will continue to stand for freedom and in the defense of democracy worldwide. Hooah!

Read more...

Functional Training

I was a personal trainer for several years, my speciality being functional training. This way of training moves away from a muscle-isolation, machine-bound, "How much can you bench?" mentality. Instead, functional training involves muscle-integration exercises, compound movements, core-based exercises which involves the total body working together as one unit. Getting the body's muscles to cooperate and function together are extremely more effective for getting results than a muscle-isolation system.

I've been thinking lately, when I look at our churches, I see some what of an isolation system between the clergy and the layperson, and I don't think it should be there. There are a select few doing the majority of the ministry and work. We have to move from spectators to participators. And I believe part of this divide is due to how the position of the pastor is set up.

Most would be surprised to find the word "pastor" is only used 1 time in the entire New Testament (Eph. 4:11) and yet today, our whole church system is based around the pastoral personality and position. Our heirarchy system where the pastor is the tip of the triangle of church leadership is not found anywhere in scripture. The early church did not have "pastors" as defined by today's role. So what did they do? Who preached at every service? The answer is...they all did. (1 Cor. 14:26, Heb 10:24-25) Everyone had something to bring, and was encouraged to do so.

I think we may be missing out on an all member-functioning church due to the system we have set up today. 1 Corianthinas 11-14 gives insight into what the early church's meetings were like. They were set up for mutual edification. Paul uses alot of "you all" and "one another" wording. I know it seems crazy, but there needs to be reform in how we function as the Body. We need to move from a ministry of a select few, to an edification of one another, in mentality and action. We all have something to bring to the table. Integration is always better than isolation.

Just some thoughts...what do you think?

Read more...

Gone But Not Forgotten

On June 7th, we were on patrol when we got the call about an IED taking out a vehicle. As the information continued to come and was passed through the headsets to everyone, the weight of the information began to sink in...we lost a 1st Sgt, a Sgt, and 3 Specialists. Two of these men I knew well. The reality of war was received like an unexpected punch to the stomach, sucking the very breath out of me. If you have lost someone close to you, you know the feeling.

Today, we honored their ultimate sacrifice with a memorial service. Everyone came out to give their respects. It didn't seem like enough for these men, but those who spoke, spoke with raw emotion and the sincerest of hearts when rembering their brothers in arms. There was hardly a dry eye in the place.

Farewell brothers, you may be gone but not forgotten...

Read more...

"You Know Something Is Wrong..."

I was watching the Matrix the other day and was struck by some of the dialogue between Morphus and Neo, just before he takes the blue pill.

"You know something. What you know you cannot explain.

You know something is wrong, but you don't know what it is...but you can feel it.

It's like a splinter in your mind, driving you mad..."

That pretty much sums up my thoughts on church the past couple of years. I used to love to go and participate and connect with God...but now everything feels so rehearsed, rigid, and regimented, lacking the very relational lifeblood I need in the spiritual and physical. It goes something like this:

Worship (3 fast, 3slow)

Greeting

Announcements

Tithe

Message

Prayer

Go home and next week do it again.

I have been in churches all over the country now, and with few variances it is the same thing...every Sunday. I have been around long enough to know how to look, behave and when to smile, raise my hand, and say "Good to see you".

But I want more than that. I want a real connection with Jesus and His presence, not something manufactured by smoke machines and high-voltage bands playing the latest Hillsong United hit.

Is there a way to really connect with people, live life together, grow in my relationship with Jesus inside what has become institutional church?

I haven't experienced it yet. So for now the splinter remains, and this unshakeable feeling that... something is wrong.

Read more...

Night Vision

I am often surprised at the twists and turns our lives can take. One minute you're bored wallowing in your fallen nature, and the next...your life is reborn full of the very nature of God. It's an incredible transformation.
But along with submitting your life to Christ's headship, He begins to navigate and steer you in directions you never thought possible or probable and I get lost sometimes trying to make sense of it all. Do you? I try to logically make sense of my life's events like moving to different states, attending Bible school, or moving across the country, or joining the military and finding myself across the world in Afghanistan...how do these things all link together??? What's He up to?
In the Army when we drive or do missions at night, we wear night vision or nods to help us see at night, when you can't see anything. They work very well. Sometimes just for fun in the black of night I will lift them up from over my eye to see what I can make out. It usually doesn't work and I trip over something, look stupid and then put them back down so I can see.
Sometimes this journey with God can be like that. I'm driving at night, but its not me who has the nods, its God. He can see everything clearly, even way into the distance. I just have to trust when He tells me to slow down, I slow, or turn right to avoid a pothole, that He can see even when I can't. I know He hears me complaining I can't see, and if He just told me where I was going we could get there faster, but for now I drive-on...trying to listen and make sense of it all as I go.
Can you see? Is His plan made clear to you? Or are you driving at night like me...without the nods?

Read more...