I went to basic training at Ft. Benning, GA in the summer of 1996 at the age of 17. I went in weighing 135 lbs and having no idea what was in store. While it was in many ways the most difficult summer of my life, it was something I would not trade for nearly anything. It taught me that preconceived mental and physical barriers can be overcome. I ran faster than I had ever run before, I did more push ups than I knew I could, I learned how to be a soldier, and learned more about myself than I could have imagined. The military is a wonderful tool for breaking one down and then building them back up stronger both mentally and physically. I went as a small, determined boy and left a much stronger man. In those 9 weeks I gained 15 lbs of muscle, but more importantly I gained an mental fortitude that blesses me to this day. I learned to not be intimidated by man, how to take orders, and how to block out outside stimuli and concentrate on the task at hand. These lessons serve me well today as I to fulfill my obligations and goals.
On a spiritual level basic training was very good for me. While I had gone to church for years I do not think I had ever really called out to the God I knew about, but did not know personally. Perhaps for the first time in my life I realized I was in over my head and needed Divine help. Drill sergeants can break you, but for me they drove me to God. I began to really read the Bible and pray in a way that I had not done before. I read Matthew and Revelation and loved it, though no doubt did not understand it. While I had not given my whole self to God it was a huge first step.
There are so many memories that stand out from that summer. There is nothing like stepping off the bus into the reality that is boot camp. It cannot be explained, it has to be experienced. The fourth of July singing the national anthem while doing push ups with gas masks on stands out for sure. Some things are very funny looking back, though I did not see the humor at the time. (I could go on, it is amazing how many stories can come out of such a short period of time).
At Advanced Individual training in Ft Leonard Wood the experience was very different. While learning how to blow things up with C-4 (a great experience I assure you), how to deploy and disarm landmines (not as fun), how to run a bulldozer, pan loader, tractor and trailer, dump truck, grader, and several other pieces of equipment (lots of fun) I also had a bit of an emotional and spiritual breakthrough. I think for the first time in my life I felt like and was treated like an adult in every sense of the word. I loved it and think I could have been content with a life in the military as an heavy equipment operator that also blows stuff up (combat engineer).
I was baptized at a small church right off base that summer. I can not tell you the name of the man that baptized me, but I can tell you I knew it was the right thing and time to do it. I began leading a prayer group and study group with my fellow students. It started small with two and ended up being over 100 guys by the time I graduated. Even a drill sergeant would join us from time to time. I was in the best physical shape of my life (even winning an award at graduation for highest physical fitness score in the battalion), I was mentally strong, and I was spiritually on the right track.
Over the next six years I was blessed to serve with a wonderful group of men in the Virginia Army National Guard. I am very grateful to have known and been mentored by such men as Ray Smith, Mark Vandyke, Alfred Wicks, Kenny and Anthony Keen among others. To this day I greatly miss those men and pray for them often. They went to Iraq shortly after I got out to go seminary in Cincinnati. I regret not being with them, but at the same time know I am where I am because of them. These men took me in as part of their family and I am blessed to know them and call them friends and brothers in arms. In the words of Shakespeare, we were a band of brothers. There is nothing like it and I have not found its equal anywhere in the civilian world since.
I could tell stories of experiences at Ft. Pickett, Ft. A.P. Hill, Ft. Jackson (for PLDC, now called warrior leader class which sounds a lot cooler) and many others, but I won't bore you. What I can say is I am the man I am today in part because of what the Army taught me and what those I served with taught me. I thank God for it. I praise God for those that are willing to give of their lives to protect our way of life, we are not worthy.
Here is this week's texts:
November 09, 2013 Jer 32:26–34:22, Philem, Ps 119:153–160, Prov 27:13–15
[
] November 10, 2013 Jer 35–37, Heb 1:1–2:9, Ps
119:161–168, Prov 27:16–17
[
] November 11, 2013 Jer 38–40, Heb 2:10–3:15, Ps
119:169–176, Prov 27:18–19
[
] November 12, 2013 Jer 41–43, Heb 3:16–4:16, Ps 120,
Prov 27:20–22
[
] November 13, 2013 Jer 44–46, Heb 5:1–6:8, Ps 121,
Prov 27:23–24
[
] November 14, 2013 Jer 47–48, Heb 6:9–7:10, Ps 122:1–3,
Prov 27:25–27
[
] November 15, 2013 Jer 49–50, Heb 7:11–8:13, Ps
122:4–9, Prov 28:1–3
[
] November 16, 2013 Jer 51, Heb 9:1–22, Ps 123, Prov
28:4–5
[
] November 17, 2013 Jer 52, Heb 9:23–10:10, Ps 124,
Prov 28:6–7
[
] November 18, 2013 Lam 1–2, Heb 10:11–39, Ps 125, Prov
28:8–9
[
] November 19, 2013 Lam 3–5, Heb 11:1–22, Ps 126, Prov
28:10–12
[
] November 20, 2013 Ezek 1–3, Heb 11:23–40, Ps 127,
Prov 28:13–15
[
] November 21, 2013 Ezek 4–6, Heb 12:1–17, Ps 128, Prov
28:16–17
[
] November 22, 2013 Ezek 7–9, Heb 12:18–13:6, Ps 129,
Prov 28:18–19
[
] November 23, 2013 Ezek 10–12, Heb 13:7–25, Ps 130,
Prov 28:20–22
[
] November 24, 2013 Ezek 13–15, James 1, Ps 131, Prov
28:23–24
[
] November 25, 2013 Ezek 16, James 2, Ps 132:1–4, Prov
28:25–28
[
] November 26, 2013 Ezek 17–19, James 3, Ps 132:5–12,
Prov 29:1–2
[
] November 27, 2013 Ezek 20, James 4–5, Ps 132:13–18,
Prov 29:3–4
[
] November 28, 2013 Ezek 21–22, 1 Pet 1:1–21, Ps 133,
Prov 29:5–6
[
] November 29, 2013 Ezek 23–24, 1 Pet 1:22–2:10, Ps
134:1–135:5, Prov 29:7–9
[
] November 30, 2013 Ezek 25–27, 1 Pet 2:11–3:6, Ps
135:6–11, Prov 29:10–11
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