"I see."

I am two days out from LASIK surgery.  My vision is 20/15 and I am in a dangerous place (intentionally melodramatic).  The danger lies in my quick recovery.  The doctor at my one day check up lauded my eyes for their fast recovery and allowed me to drive while still cautioning me to take it easy for the next month.  (Do not judge me for typing this now.  I am on the verge of becoming stir crazy.) 

So the danger ensued as I decided to go to work for a couple of hours this morning.  I forget my REFRESH wetting drops.  So after I drove to work and sat down to "quickly" check emails my eyes reminded me of its necessity and I was wondering what work I was actually going to accomplish.  I began to be overconfident in my own sight placing it at risk by not being attentive to the process.

Now I am home, REFRESHed and sharing with you my thoughts as quickly as I can.  The danger being my overconfidence that my vision is perfect, while I still have some "correction" occurring through healing.

Spiritually and theologically speaking (meaning God involved in everyday life), Jesus is LASIK to our soul (Yes, I know this is cheesy, but let me have my moment).  Our ahah moment of Jesus' saving work and invitation through the Holy Spirit into our daily lives quickly corrects how we see life.  We work on our cussing and pray for our kids.  We ensure we don't speed and try to say nice things to the people that annoy us. 

The spiritual danger is not the overconfidence in Christ's work, but our overconfidence that we no longer need to listen to his corrective and healing work.  Let me paint it this way: I can see, but if I do not listen to the doctor's continuing healing instructions I can impair the work.  Jesus' work clears up our spiritual vision, but we must ensure to remain attentive to the daily process so as we heal we can continue to see clearly the beauty of God and creation.

How do I capture three-and-a-half years in one post?  Camp Lejeune-8th ESB-Afghanistan-home-pregnant-CLB26-MEU-USS PONCE-Pakistan-Africa-Samuel-Kuwait-Libya-home-transfer-Norfolk-USS SAN ANTONIO-and all that is in between, it sounds like a Billy Joel song.

I am now renewing my commitment to blog about the adventure God has called me to embark upon.  Over the next couple of months I hope to catch everyone up on the variety of places I have been to and extraordinary people I have served with. - Grace and Peace, Jay!

A Long Overdue Update

February 2009

I greet you all in the awesome name of Jesus Christ, our hope and our salvation.

I just wanted to bring you up-to-date on what is going on in our lives. First of all Hannah is growing everyday. It is hard to believe she is already three months old. Sarah and I enjoy making her laugh and giggle; she has a great smile (she gets it from her mommy) and brings us lots of joy. Two weeks ago we traveled to Hollywood, MD to dedicate her to the Lord in our home church. Her mommy told her she had to behave during the ceremony, of which she complied with the exception of a burp into the pastor’s microphone during his prayer. Sarah has made friends with wives in the neighborhood and other Chaplain’s wives. She spends her week taking care of Hannah, going to Bible Study, and Coffees. The first part keeps her very busy.

Many of you have asked when I am to deploy. Originally it was this March to Iraq, but that has been changed. We have not received official word yet, but I will probably be deploying to Afghanistan later this spring. We covet your prayers. The battalion I am assigned to is mainly engineers (construction workers, heavy equipment operators, mechanics, electricians, ect…). They are a great bunch of Marines and Sailors to minister amongst and I am honored to be their Chaplain. While here at Lejeune (properly pronounced Lejeern) I spend my days counseling and hanging out with the Marines and Sailors, and teaching classes. When we deploy I will hold Bible studies and regular worship services as well as what I do here.

It is my plan to send out a monthly newsletter to our friends and family. If you wish to receive it, please let me know via email.

We love and miss you all!

Jay, Sarah, and Hannah

My Best Friend

Sarah flew out to visit me over the fourth of July. She was a sight for sore eyes. The mystery of love never fails to amaze me! We spent the weekend exploring Newport, RI and just enjoying each other's company. It was also the first time I was able to feel the baby move!

1. The hardest part of being called to serve is the cost my family has to, and will have to pay. Without Sarah's support I could not, nor would I even attempt to do this. It is really beautiful to see how God has been strengthening both of us. Truly, it is "in Him that we live and move and have our being."

Pull Chocks and Kick Rocks

"Pull Chocks and Kick Rocks" was the motto for Uniform Company and a week ago Friday I did just that as I graduated from Officer Development School (Officer Boot Camp).

It is a little sad that I will no longer have to be awoken with a bullhorn or dust my window sill 5 times a day. Whatever will I do with my time?

All in all it was a fun experience. God showed me the just how funny life really is and just how important it is to take care of one another.--jdw

Mama Mama Can't You See

"Mama, Mama, can't you see what the Navy's done to me..." Two weeks down and ten to go, three more for this first phase of my training. Rhode Island is beautiful. I am enjoying early mornings (3:30 am) with a little physical training strarting at 5:00 am. The food here rivals any federal institution. My Chief (Drill Instructor) is a very motivating gentleman, quick to encourage me and remind me how smart I really am as an officer. Please continue to keep Sarah and me in prayer. She has the tougher part as our soon to be child is constantly reminder her of his/her presence. Deus Est Semper Fi! --jdw

Transition

Wow our time of departure from Kansas City is here. Next week I will be heading out for Rhode Island and the following week Sarah will be going to Maryland. We have been in Kansas City for 4 years. I am grateful for all God has brought us through and I am excited about what awaits us. Keep us in your prayers.

9 Weeks and Lookn' Good!

Today we had our second sonagram! Baby is doing great, while Mama is battling morning/evening sickness. I am just excited. In fact when the sickness started I was jumping up and down--though not for long.--jdw

Penciled In

From the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Jacksonville... North Carolina that is... tar heels... sandy beaches... and Marines. As of right now Sarah and I are "penciled in" for the 2nd Marine Logistics Group, Camp Lejuene, NC. We are excited for this oppurtunity to serve our God and the Men and Women of the Corps.--jdw

The Cost of trying: 2 years, prayer, and tears. The Results: PRICELESS

Myers Briggs is for Wimps

Commissioned

On Friday, February 8, 2008 I was commissioned for Active Duty as a LTj.g. in the Chaplain Corps. This was yet another great day in the journey Sarah and I are on. It was a beautiful morning with my wife and mother present. My wife was cheesing and my Mom crying. For the three years he had to deal with me I think even my commissioning officer had a tear in his eye.

Stay tuned as we find out in about month where we will be stationed. We are praying for Hawaii and preparing for North Carolina. --jdw

G.I. Jesus

I am wrestling with a huge theological issue: Should I buy a Jesus Action Figure? Enjoy your laughter but it was burned into my Christian DNA - "thou shalt not have any images of Jesus." Yet this is the coolest thing since G.I. Joe!!

I had a whole bunch of G.I. Joes growing up, of which Snake Eyes is the all time coolest!!! I spent hours and hours with my friends fighting and taking over the evil COBRA. Sometimes, okay a lot of the time, we would become our favorite G.I. Joe and take on the bad guy of the day--jumpin' and kickn' butt. There is something so cool about action heroes. They represent a strong answer to all that can go wrong in our world. Where evil is at work... G.I. Joe is there.

As I am entering Lent I am seeking to gain a new appreciation for what it means to follow Jesus. Our church is spending every saturday until easter reflecting on the Jesus' journey to the cross. What actions did Jesus take that shape my everyday actions. How did he face the evil of his day? Heavy stuff... did I mention they have a Deluxe Jesus with glowing Hands?

Blog Blog Blog

In my excitement to refresh my blog

I found myself in a fog

It seemed so simple at first

Now my mind needs a burst

O for something useful to share

O for something... anything I don't care

A wise Chaplain told me to keep it fresh... keep it new

To write propheticly and give you somethin' to chew

Instead your stuck with my pitful rhyme

Maybe you'll get somethin' better next time

JT vs. GMT

Since today is New Year’s Day and I am thinking about time I thought I would share with you about the time war occurring in my own soul. I had all hopes and aspirations of leaving this coming week to resume my military career and fulfill God’s calling on my life as a Chaplain. To my utter surprise I have learned this last month and a half that God and the United States Navy do not operate on JT (Jay Time). This has been mind boggling and the cause of endless frustrated daydreams.

Part of my anxiety comes from self imposed guilt. There are women and men who have been doing their part for the last five years while I have been attending school. Part of it arises from my eagerness to fulfill God’s calling on my life as a Chaplain. Part of it comes from my ADHD and my three year itch to move (thanks to my previous military experiences). And so in my recent reminder that the world does not operate on JT I have heard God’s small, still voice scream “Just Chill Jay, your time will come.”

GMT (God’s Magnificent Timing, not Greenwich Mean Time), seems so allusive at times to follow. It is easy to look back and say “oh God’s timing is so perfect,” but in the moment my watch is not set to GMT and I wonder why God is not following my schedule. Then I am reminded I am not the one who hung the moon and the stars or Jupiter or Mars… PTL!

I know God has in the air, on the land and sea the women and men needed to do His work where they are. I am thankful for the time I have with my beautiful wife. The church where we serve is full of wonderful people and is a fun place to work and minister. We do expect to receive our orders in the next month or so and leave in May… and so it is time to wait.

As we begin 2008 I pray for Peace on Earth and Good Will to All!--jdw

Merry Christmas

A Capella

The story of St. Martin of Tours tells how Martin, when he was a soldier, shared his cloak with a beggar who was cold. The story goes he had a dream the same night in which Christ revealed to Martin, it was Christ whom he clothed. Symbolically, the cape or cloak was later carried into battle by Frankish priests for their kings to represent the holy. [1] They were known as keepers of the cloak (capella), or chaplains and around them mass would be held.

For me, the presence of Christ Jesus cannot be divorced from one of the ugliest realities of fallen humanity, war. The role of the Chaplain is to provide spiritual presence. It is one way God’s prevenient grace is at work in the world. All people are called to love God and love others. All people are called to live lives of service using the gifts and graces God gives them. The call to ordained ministry is scripturally and traditionally based upon God calling out of the community of believer’s men and women to serve the community. To serve by proclaiming and teaching the Word of the Lord, by caring for God’s people, by guarding what is holy, and by administering the sacraments. Primarily within our western social context this call is fulfilled within the community, within the local Church congregation.

The call to chaplaincy is a call to do so in similar and different ways. Chaplaincy is similar to traditional pastoral ministries in that the minister is called to serve believers by proclaiming and teaching the Word of the Lord, by caring for God’s people, by guarding what is holy, and by administering the sacraments. It is the primary function of a Christian military chaplain to provide for Christians. In scripture and throughout history when war has occurred God has sent priests and pastors to care for those in harms way. My understanding of my primary duty as a military chaplain is to be a Nazarene pastor who cares for protestant Christians. Chaplaincy is different in that the chaplain is to live and work in an institutional and pluralistic setting. The institutional demands on a military chaplain call for the chaplain to be an ethical and moral advisor, as well as to facilitate spiritual care for all military personal. What a Christ-like task to be God's love to all people despite religion or ethnicity! It is a tension only to be lived out by the grace of God.

One significant passage of scripture shaping my understanding of ministry is 2 Corinthians 5:16-21:

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (TNIV)

I understand my call to chaplaincy ministries as being an ambassador and reconciler for Christ. It is my desire to walk along side men and women who are willing to lay down their lives for others and to provide pastoral care, to share the gospel, and to reconcile as much as is possible the evil and awful realities of the world we live in. It is a call to listen, to grieve, to support, to be the very presence of God in the midst of national agendas, institutional realities, and the horrors of war. It is a call to be a capella.
[1] The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, 3rd Ed.

3883+ Families to be Held in Prayer

US Military Deaths in Iraq at 3,883
By The Associated Press – 17 hours ago

As of Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2007, at least 3,883 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. The figure includes eight military civilians. At least 3,163 died as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers as of Friday.

The AP count is the same as the Defense Department's tally, last updated Tuesday at 10 a.m. EST.

The British military has reported 173 deaths; Italy, 33; Ukraine, 18; Poland, 21; Bulgaria, 13; Spain, 11; Denmark, seven; El Salvador, five; Slovakia, four; Latvia, three; Estonia, Netherlands, Thailand, Romania, two each; and Australia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, South Korea, one death each.

Since the start of U.S. military operations in Iraq, 28,629 U.S. service members have been wounded in hostile action, according to the Defense Department's weekly tally.

Called to Serve

We are awaiting orders. As of September we were endoresed by the Church for military chaplaincy, and as of November we were approved by the U.S. Navy for active duty. So now we wait. Though our orders were issued a few years ago, as God began forming in us the work we would be called to do. Vocati Ad Servitium is the motto for the Navy's Chaplain Corps. Literally it means "called to serve" and I cannot think of a better descriptive for what Sarah and I have experienced over the past few years. We have been called to provide pastoral care for those who serve in the military. We ask for your prayers as we move forward in this calling. We also thank all of you who have encouraged us and prayed for us during this time of preparation.

Pax Christi--jdw