I'm Going to be a Dad

On Wednesday I found out I was going to be a Dad. This was the first month trying so we were a little suprised that it happened so quickly. To say I am in shock is an understatement. I am excited but very much afraid. To think God would entrust another human being into my care is awe inspiring.

You might say, "God already entrusts other human beings to you. You are a Chaplain. You talk and enfluence soldiers all the time." A soldier or realy anyone besides your own young child has a system of defences. If you say something wrong or do something wrong they have their own system in place to kick it out. Their mind is able to determine for itself or others that watch over them can protect them can expunge the thought or concept.

With parrenthood especially fatherhood it is different than any other type of influence. God places you as a father in such a position of trust that for the most part it becomes difficult to distinguish between your words and the words of your child. Your thoughts and the thoughts of your child. I can not count the times that I have opened my mouth only to here my father speaking through me.

Is it any wonder that Paul considered Timothy his son in the faith (1 Timothy 1:2). Paul had moved to such a place of influence within Timothy's life that the words of Paul flew indiscrimanetly from the mouth of Timothy. Timothy was sent by Paul to represent Paul and Christ to the city (1 Timothy 1:3). Paul was considered Timothy's father because he had almost completely supplanted the role of father to Timothy.

So here I am with God's trust placed upon my life. With the very ability to speak thoughts into my Child's mind. A trust I will be held responsible for. What should I do?

Timothy was in a similar situation. A situation where he was charged to duplicate what Paul had done for him.

"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others."

So what should I do but teach him the truth as I have recieved it and as those before me have recieved it. To guard the deposit or truth that has been made in me (1 Timothy 6:20).

Starting A New

So I am in a good unit and its time to begin again. I have already set my goals (see previous entry). But I have to ask the question, "What does this ministry look like?" You see whenever you have a goal you need a vision or an image of what it looks like.

I guess the first part of my vision is presence. I want to do what they do and go where they go. Why? So I can speak from there perspective. I want to be recognized as both one of there's and one of God's. By this I hope to introduce God to there presence. I want them to recognize that they are in the presence on the divine (Gen 28:16). That this be used as a bridge to belief.

Secondly I want to aid or partner with the Holy Spirit in affecting the soldier's culture and their person. I recognize that these are (for the most part) not Church boys. I recognize that they might not in the time that I am here go to Church. They can still however be influenced by the divine. They might not all make it to Jesus on my watch. They might not all make it from Genesis to Revelations (from sin to glory) but they can make it from Gensis to Liviticus (the Law Giving) if not to Deuteronomy (the reaplication of the Law or God becomming ingrained into the culture).

What would this look like? It would be the introduction of a moral cumpus. It would mean that they gain knowledge of the divine. That they might taste and see that the Lord is good. It means coaxing soldiers into Bible studies, apolagetics discussions and good works. It means a little bit of cross polishing, to present Christ in the best possilble light whether in public prayers, counseling, retreats or soldierly pressence. Here the goal is to put the power of Christ on full display.

Finally the challenge is to take advantage of the seasons of the soul to reap a harvest. I must learn to recognize them and to work within them. To speak peace to the angry. To tear down the proud and lift up the humble. To wipe away tears and to strengthen the weak. God is good and I pray that he uses me to show himself good to the soldiers.