Giving Thanks in all Situations

Wow! I am pretty sure I have blogged on this subject before, but once again my faith is being tested by my circumstances. As most of you know I have been searching for work ever since I landed back in the USA nearly 6 weeks ago.
Despite my 30 years of experience, 25 in a management or executive position, I can't seem to land a job as a retail manager or anything else for that matter. I have been entrusted with national security information and millions of dollars of sensitive item inventory, but can't be trusted with t-shirt and board shorts.
I have received several notices of interest from employers wanting me to return to the middle east, but very little here with the exception of one very good job with very low pay that would require me to move. The moving did not prevent me from taking the job, although there is nothing I would love more than to live out my years right here on the Outer Banks, it was the inability to sell our home or maintain two households on what they were offering that caused me to decline what otherwise would have been a great opportunity.
Then the call came. I could not have been more excited. The company that sent me to Iraq was offering me a position here in the US. This is the one I had been waiting and praying for, but it was not to be.
It seems there was an obscure government requirement, thought at first to be inconsequential, that derailed my excitement. Back to square one in the job hunt.
At first I felt depression, then worthlessness and then a bit of anger. But at who? At whom should I be angry? No one intentionally denied me employment for personal reasons. God did not punish me for un-confessed sin, I don't think (pretty sure I have confessed it all). There was no one to blame and quite frankly I didn't care for that. It would have made it much easier to have someone to direct my anger towards, but it was not to be.
Recently I have been doing a lot of talking about how I had been convicted by God to share His word of encouragement with men to live out the faith we say we have. God didn't convict me to condemn other men for their actions or lack of, but rather as a result of my own self examination of my faith and trust in Him.
Suddenly I realized here is my chance. The chance to live out my faith. To praise God in spite of my circumstances, to rejoice and to give thanks for the undeserved protection and love I receive daily from my Lord and savior who would never harm me, but has given me abundant life.

Lessons from the Desert: Battle Buddy

By now many of you know that I am back in the Great US of A! Wow, what an opportunity God provided for me and at the same time He has greatly increased my appreciation for the things I use to take for granted daily. The whole experience really your sensitivity to all we overlook on a daily basis. For example:



When our plane landed at Forbes Field in Kansas in late September I was awe struck by the glistening dew sparkling like diamonds off the beautiful green grass. It literally took my breath away. I know that sounds a little less than manly, but 18 months ago I would have never noticed the beauty of God's creation as I did that morning and for that I am so grateful.



It took God less than 7 days to create what it, unfortunately, takes some of us more than 50 years to appreciate. Sadly enough, perhaps, some never appreciate it. Personally, I think it is time to stop and appreciate all that God has done for us and at the same time step up to the responsibility he has given us as Christians. Stepping up to this responsibility is the greatest way we can worship and demonstrate our love and appreciation for all He has done.



Many of you reading this know the Lord as your personal savior and accept His word as the truth, the way, the light. However, how many of us truly live what we believe? I for one get very disappointed in the things I do and don't do that I know would be pleasing to God. I believe and yet I don't quite live what I believe. Why can't I get it right? Why can't I get my actions in sync with my beliefs? This is not an easy answer but there are things we can do to help us get up each morning and prepare ourselves for the day ahead.



One lesson God demonstrated to me while in Iraq was the importance of having a "Battle Buddy." Your Battle Buddy was the guy who would help to make sure you had all your gear in the right place, in working order, and who would never leave you. He went everywhere with you and made sure that during times of struggle or conflict, he was there and would never leave you. This provided both a sense of security and comfort knowing that there was someone to hold you accountable and keep you on the right course in preparation for a tough day in the trenches.



Here the Battle Buddy is just as important for us as Christians as it is for the soldier in Iraq. There is a war waging daily against good and evil. Everyday we face temptations that put us in harms way and unless we have someone who loves us enough to help us navigate the difficult path it is sometimes to much for our sinful nature to bear.



You are probably more familiar with the term "accountability partner", however, I tend to think "Battle Buddy" is a more applicable term for the difficult challenges that each of us face as we tend to the things we have been in trusted with.



I urge you today to find and reach out to a Battle Buddy of your own. It is too important to neglect. Find someone who will call at least weekly and see how you are doing in your spiritual walk. In kind, you check on them as well. You develop a relationship of trust and respect and you love them enough to tell them when the path they are traveling is one that will lead to destruction. Help each other to dress daily in the full armor of God (Eph. 4:13) and prepare for the challenges that lye ahead. If you do it will make a tremendous difference in your ability to see the danger that lurks ahead for all of us.



Be prepared! Be ready! Be all you can be for our God!

Thank You! To the Hero's at Home

I am with in days of leaving Iraq and heading home. As you can imagine I am thrilled to be reuniting with my family. Being away from them, my OBX home, friends, and the Church I love, for the past 16 months, has been one of the most challenging and difficult times of my life. I never imagined it would be so difficult and the experience has exponentially increased my appreciation, respect and admiration for the men and women who serve our Country.

Many of the young hero's here have been through multiple deployments and their dedication to our way of life is extremely impressive as are their skills and leadership.

While serving with them I have also learned how important it is to be a hero at home. That is one who supports our soldiers with prayers, letters, emails, care packages, family support and so forth. It can not be understated how valuable it is to the welfare of our deployed loved ones to receive a kind & encouraging word, dry socks, fattening snacks, DVDs or a toothbrush. Not long ago I opened up a fresh tooth brush and smiled when I realized what was inscribed on the side of it; "Jeffrey D Jacobson DDS" along with a number I recognized as local to my home.

Dr. Jacobson is not my Dentist, and I am not even sure how he knew I was in Iraq, but he sent a care package full of tooth brushes, toothpaste and floss for me and the soldiers I serve with.

This simple act of kindness is received here as a remarkable act of caring and support.

I have included a picture I thought Dr. Jacobson might appreciate of his act in action. While the tooth brush never saw combat action the recipients of his kindness did and they are all very appreciative of the support they get from home.

So to Dr. Jacobson, and all who have taken the time to show they care, Thank you from the bottom of my heart and may God bless you and your family always. I wish I could list you all, but that would be a tough task. So many of you have supported us during this war effort and to us you represent the hero's at home.

A Surprise from Iraq...7,000 miles away

My daughter Emily's 12th birthday was Sept 15. Big deal for an 11 year old girl! Twelve is the end of being a "Tween" and she is now working on becoming a teenager...oh my!  That is very hard to say. In 364 more days our little girl will be a teenager!

Anyway, back to the surprise from Iraq. While Emily was eagerly anticipating her birthday little did we know that her dad was planning one of the biggest (and best) birthday surprises ever. Over a month ago he had written one of his very good friends, Billy, from our church and asked him if he would surprise Emily on her birthday at school by bringing her a very special lunch. If you know Emily then you know that McDonald's Cheeseburger Kids Meals are one of her most favorite things to eat, and having a Happy Meal delivered to your Middle School, in front of all your friends, well that is just frosting on the cake...having it come from your dad who planned this all the way from Iraq, there are no words to describe it. Billy, who has consistently written Dale and asked if there was anything he could do for him here, said yes and he and Dale began coordinating the drop off of the Happy Meal. Now this was supposed to be a surprise for Emily,  but Dale also wanted to keep it from me too.

Dale wanted Emily to come home from school and tell me how wonderful, special, amazing, and fantastic her dad was...okay, I made that part up. He didn't tell me because he wanted to make sure that Emily did not find out about this at all (Note to Dale- I am very good at keeping secrets).

On with the story. One day at church Billy was asking Em and I all kinds of things about Happy Meals and what time she had lunch at school. Emily and I both wondered why in the world Billy would want to know about Em's lunch and what she liked to eat at McD's. When I got home from church I immediately IM'd Dale and told him about this strange conversation with Billy. For a minute or two Dale played along with this. He had "no idea"and he wondered what would "possess" Billy to ask such questions. Then the boy caved! He spilled the beans and told me everything. What a cool idea I thought!

As it got closer to Ems big day, I went in to the school to make sure it was okay if Billy came to school to bring Emily a Cheeseburger Happy Meal on her birthday. First I talked to the school counselor who said it was a great idea and she said that she thought it was so special that Dale would do this for his little girl from so far away and she knew it would mean so much to Emily. So we had all the details set in place. September 15th was right around the corner. Billy and I were going to meet at school at noon and he was going to wait in the cafeteria for Emily to come in and give her the Happy Meal.

Dale had made a sign that said "Happy Birthday Emily. Daddy loves you" and he was going to hold it and have a soldier take a picture and Billy would turn that into a card. Dale sent me a copy of the picture and the sign. It was great, but Dale was not even holding the sign. He was near it, but while he has been gone we have been sending packages and letters to some of the soldiers and Em has become Pen Pals with a few of them. When Dale said he wanted his picture taken they immediately took the sign because they wanted to wish Em a Happy Birthday as well.

Back to the day...I met Billy and he had the meal all set and ready and he and his wife, Martha Marie, bought Emily the most beautiful balloon bouquet I had ever seen. It was so big that I could barely see around the balloons to walk to the cafeteria. Most of the 6th grade teachers knew about the surprise and we all waited for Em to finish PE and come to the cafeteria. I hid in the corner because I didn't want her to see me. I wanted her to see what her dad had done for her. She comes out of the gym and there Billy is, all smiles, wishing Em a Happy Birthday from Iraq. Surprised...oh my goodness..Em was in shock! She got pretty emotional when she opened the card from her dad and saw him with his military buddies wishing her a happy birthday. I admit it made me pretty emotional too and Martha Marie even looked like she was a bit choked up. I even noticed a few teachers wiping their eyes. It was the best gift ever!

When Emily got home she could not stop talking about it. She said that almost every single 6th grader had wished her a Happy Birthday and by the end of the day the whole school had heard about it. Emily wrote her dad an email when she got home from school to thank him and tell him how special that was. She said it not only made her day, but it made her "life" and it was the best Cheeseburger Happy Meal she had ever eaten becasue it was all the way from Iraq with Love From Her Dad!

Lessons from the Desert

Hey Guys! My time here is getting short. I can't say that I hate to leave, but I can claim to have made enough new and great friends to be somewhat sad to have to part company. I have we sleep so well at night. They sacrifice so much for so little. I am proud to have been with them and to have experienced a tiny bit of what they go through.
The other day I witnessed a promotion ceremony. It is not the first I have witnessed, but something finally struck me about the significance placed on this promotion. Not that the soldiers getting promoted were anymore significant than the last, but the standing room only audience which was there to celebrate the accomplishments of one of their own.
So often in life we focus on ourselves and what we get or don't get. A good day is not measured by the accomplishments of others, but by our own success or failures. If we fail to live up to our standards or someone rains on our parade and we have a bad day everyone has a bad day. Kind of like the old saying that "when Mommas not happy, nobody's happy". Perhaps better put, if I have a bad day I could care less who has a good day.
This kind of thinking is not only self serving, but it is also self destructive. Furthermore, it is very un-Christ like. In 1st Thessalonian 5:16-18 Gods word tells us "To rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks; for this is Gods will for your life in Christ Jesus".
Why would this be Gods will for your life if it were not good and true? The answer is it wouldn't be. God does not want to hurt us or for us to hurt which is why this is His desire for your life. He wants you to have joy and peace, but not only when good fortune is coming to you. You see the more I live the more I learn that there are always wonderful things going on around us that are cause for us to celebrate. They may not directly affect us, but why can't we celebrate the joy of others? Now that sounds pretty Christ like doesn't it? Celebrate the joy of others.
Try this; next time you feel really down, you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, the dog wants to go out earlier than normal, it's raining and the umbrella is at the office, you lost your job, the car breaks down, Stop!, and think of someone else who just got a promotion, or in these times a job, think of the new Mother and Father, the graduation, baptism, the brutal chemo treatments that are going well, and smile. God has given us reason to celebrate everyday, we just have to look beyond ourselves to see it, and perhaps more importantly, to experience it. When you do, you will rejoice! Then pray and give thanks that God is on the throne and Christ overcame death and the cross so you don't have to carry the burdened.
God bless you and keep you. See you soon!

More Lessons from the Desert

Over the past couple of weeks I have been really meditating on a verse out of the book of Daniel. It seems to consume my thoughts as I seek to know my Savior better today than yesterday.
Ironically, while you are all familiar with Daniel, Chapter 3 and the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, it is a small part of one verse (18) that has me celebrating the remarkable word of God.
The 3 Jewish men had found favor with King Nebuchadnezzar and were set over the province of Babylon. Now, however, they were being accused of breaking the King's decree which required all men to bow down and worship a golden idol made by the King himself. In fact, they refused to worship any god, but their own, the God of Abraham. This of course took remarkable faith and courage. Their punishment was to be thrown in to the blazing furnace. Well we all know how the story ends and indeed God did rescue them.
But, they didn't know how the story would end when they responded to King Nebuchadnezzar's threat to toss them into the furnace. They knew God could save them and believed that He would save them, but they did not know. And still they responded;
"But even if He does not"... This statement spoke volumes to me. These men were prepared to remain faithful to their God whether He chose to save them or not. Can we have this kind of faith in today's world?
Not only can we, but we should if we truly believe that God is faithful to His word and faithful to us, His children.
I am sure right now there are things from which you would love to be rescued. I am sure that some of you believe that God will rescue you. What I hope is that we all understand that He may not, at least not how we expect, yet our faith should not be shaken.
I do not pretend to understand the ways of God, but I do intend on being faithful during all times, good and bad. If I stumble, and I am sure I will, He will pick me up again, not because of who I am, but who He is and in His Amazing Grace!
God bless you!

Lessons from the Desert

Hello Everyone! As my time draws to an end over here I want to thank you all for the support in the form of prayers, cards, and letters. Yesterday and even this morning I was overwhelmed by the many Birthday wishes I received. I am really grateful to you all. Spending my birthday far from home and family is not what I would have wished, but it was nevertheless another mile marker, or goal reached, along this journey.
Over here, more so than at home, I get in the habit of looking at the calendar and setting mile markers that draw me closer to home. I wouldn't call them goals, but there are goals met along the way with the ultimate goal of finishing well and reaching the end of a long journey.
I have set a goal of reading as many books as I can while here and I have read many. I have set a goal of drawing closer to Christ and, with out a doubt, have drawn closer. All of us have something we want to achieve and will often set goals to reach them. This is a good practice when the goal is a righteous one.
This morning I read a story of a man who happened to die yesterday on my birthday. The story is about a man from Kenya, Joseph Stephen Kimani Nganga Maruge, who at the age of 84 decided to enroll in primary school. Why is a pretty logical question to ask. Why would an 84 year old man decide it was time to go to primary school. Why put up with the embarrassment, the ridicule, the hard work and effort, which I am sure gets harder as we get older(and yes I am speaking from experience)? Joseph had a goal.
Joseph had set a worthwhile and righteous goal. He wanted to learn to read the Bible before he died. Joseph reached his goal. He didn't complete primary school, but he did learn to read the Bible.
I have no idea what kind of quality of life Joseph had during his 89 years of life in Africa, but I am sure the last few were full of amazement, discovery and peace few will ever know.
While this applies to all of us, the following is for the men who read this.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we would set righteous goals that advance the truth of God and enhance people's lives without concern over what others might mock, or ridicule? Not caring about what the world thinks, but only of what God thinks. Becoming leaders, armed with the truth, for our families, for our communities. Ask yourself this; are we building an earthly or heavenly reputation? I encourage you to read 1st Timothy 6:12 and take hold of the eternal life to which you were called.
My prayer is we all get to the point in our life when God is first and all else seems unworthy of worry.
God bless you all and I will see you soon.

Unity?

I feel compelled to speak out about the comments made by the President of the United States in regards to the arrest of Harvard Professor Gates. I respect the President and the difficult task he has of leading this country. That being said, I don't always agree with his views.
There are several things that bother me about his comments that the Cambridge Police "acted stupidly" when arresting his friend.
The first, and most obvious, is his own declaration that he did not have all the facts. We are currently fighting two wars, being threatened by other rogue nations, and at home are in a rush to vote on a health care bill that no one has read nor has had time to fully consider the implications it might have on future generations. All the while we are in an economic crisis, and growing deeper in debt, and unemployment is at an all time high.
It certainly makes me wonder if many of the decisions our government makes is without first having the facts to support their policies. Patience is a virtue and cooler heads should prevail.
Secondly, the label of "racial profiling" being used to describe the response to a reported home burglary by the Cambridge Police Department is way off. Racial profiling is something that is initiated by the police, not one in which they are obligated to respond to a citizens complaint. Third, I am disappointed that the President would intentionally, or unintentionally, inflame a situation by implying that it is somehow excusable that a black man would react with anger "given the history of abuse at the hands of American Law Enforcement Officers". We are living in unprecedented times. We have elected a black President named Barack Obama to the most powerful position in the world. This is progress. I am not naive, I know there are still racial issues out there. I also know they are not all originating from one race. Furthermore, I know that we as individuals are responsible for our behavior, our own personal biases, and the things we say.
Finally, I personally do not believe the President was speaking out on social injustice as much as he was simply defending a friend. That can be an admirable trait for sure when doing so with the full knowledge of the circumstances. Even if you know the friend is guilty a friend should support a friend. However, it still begs the question of whether or not our President should be critically commenting on local issues in which he is not informed nor involved.
I don't care what color you are wrong is wrong, right is right, and we as a people should always seek to be on the side of right.
In the end I will say this, the President of the United States should be on a mission to unify the people of the United States during difficult times. His job is challenging and very difficult and my prayers are with him. He is often attacked and criticized and faces increasingly tough issues everyday. It is not a job for the faint of heart. On the other hand, it is our job as citizens to hold him and our congress accountable.
In Proverbs 16:32 it says "He who is slow to anger is mightier than the warrior and he who controls his spirit than he who captures a city". We all must practice this kind of self control. We must control our spirit, we must control our sinful nature and we must join together on a mission to unify, encourage, lift up and support our Nation, no matter one's ethnicity, position in life, or financial status. We must not seek to divide based on personal and selfish endeavors and fact less harmful opinions. In the end it is not about me, or you, but about us as Americans.
God bless the President, God bless the United States of America and God bless us all as one Nation under God!

A Belated Thank You

"Most soldiers live a quiet life, never elaborating on what went on during their service years and that is pretty much as it should be.
The career soldier, like me, doesn't look for thanks from people for our service, though it is appreciated, the military is our chosen career and whatever lumps comes with it, we take proudly, although sometimes you must gripe a bit to stay happy, I am told."
"The military has been very good to us and to me in particular, it gave me a direction and a goal to excel in and if I had not had medical problems, I am sure that I would have made CSM and stayed in until I was forced out."

The preceding words were written by a soldier long since medically retired after more than 20 years service and well on his way to making CSM-Command Sergeant Major. In fact, just prior to the medical issues that sidelined this career soldier he completed a deployment essential to his assuming the next step, CSM.

His words, I believe, reflect the vast majority of our soldiers serving today, although significant time has passed since the last war this warrior fought in, which was Vietnam. In fact, I believe they would hold true for the brave men who fought and died to secure the freedom and independence of our Nation and in all the wars since. They don't seek recognition, other than career advancement achieved for a job well done, and they don't look for thanks, although they certainly appreciate it. They do it out of a calling to serve a higher purpose than themselves.
They don't do it for the security of a paycheck, but the security of a Nation. These guys are not paid near what they are worth I assure you.
Well today I want to say thanks to this soldier in particular. The one that penned the above quotation. I should have done it years ago, but honestly I didn't realize his sacrifice, or just didn't take the time to consider what he and his fellow soldiers did. Like so many others enjoying the fruits of their sacrifice, freedom, I took it all for granted.
Thanks Dad. Thanks for everything

A Quick Note

Hello everyone! Sorry I haven't blogged much lately, but to tell you the truth the closer we get to leaving this place the busier I seem to get. I have thought about blogging many times, but something always gets in the way. However, tonight I make a special effort to pass on something I heard in Church this morning that may actually have applications to everyday living, but certainly applies to those of us far away and longing to be home.
I have been counting down the days until I come home. I have 15 before I leave on my next vacation and roughly 75 days, after I return from vacation, before I leave this country to be reunited with my family after a long 16 months away. I thought nothing of it until this morning when the Pastor said he too was counting the days until he leaves, which is in the next two weeks. "But, he said, I can hear my commander saying "Don't count the days until you are no longer here, but rather make everyday that you are here count."
I long to be home, but I also long to do what God has for me to do. Let's all make everyday in this earth count.
By the way, this morning before Church on the Mike Huckabee Show Kathy Lee Gifford said that "if you have a pulse you have a purpose". We all have a God given purpose. Let's not waste the time God has given us here looking so far in the future we miss the moment.
As always, pray for our troops and their families and God bless you all.

The Heat Is On!

Hey Guys,
I am sure the weather at home is starting to heat up, but I have never experienced anything like the heat here in Iraq. The last four days have consistently been hoovering around 112 and the guys who have been here before keep telling me it isn't hot yet. What? You have to be kidding me. You don't think 112 is hot? It literally feels like you are walking outside on a very hot day with a blow dryer in your face. Your skin feels as if it is burning and at times the hot wind makes you lose your breath and it isn't hot here yet.
They tell me the temperature will get up around the 140 mark. I can't even imagine, but I will let you know what it is like when we get there. Now for all of you complaining about the heat at home, when it barely gets in the 90"s, stop and consider the guys keeping you free who are carrying an extra 80 lbs of gear when on patrol in the 140 degree heat. These guys bear so much burden for the things we take for granted. Remember them when you want to complain about the heat, remember them when you go outside in shorts, flip flops and a t-shirt, remember them when you sit in the comfort of your air conditioned home, remember them when you take a dip in the Atlantic Ocean or a pool to cool off.
My point is obvious, remember them always, not just on Memorial Day when you enjoy hot dogs, hamburgers and a ballgame, but everyday.
Please stop for one moment daily and give thanks for the awesome price paid for your freedom so that you may enjoy time with family and friends. This is not to make you feel guilty, but rather motivate you to action. My wife often tells me she feels guilty when she and the kids are enjoying themselves at home. I tell you what I tell her, don't feel guilty. If you don't live your lives to the fullest you will not honor the sacrifice being made. The men & women of the US Military want you to live, enjoy and take full advantage of your freedom. We just don't want you to forget. Simple as that, remember others always. Celebrate the men & women of the Armed Forces, those currently serving and those who are home now. Don't let this day go by without Thanking someone you know or meet who has served so courageously for the blessings we have.

Be thankful also for living in the greatest Country in the world.
One more thing, a special shout out to Juan & Pam & the Johnson family & too Maria Fargione for sharing your love across the world. The Johnson's with their adoption of kids who long for love and who desperately need to know the love of Jesus and Maria for sharing the love of Jesus with the many Military Units she supports across both Iraq & Afghanistan. God bless you all & Thank You!

Mens Night Out

OK, I may be wearing a dress, but I can assure you this was very normal for our current environment. Not too long ago the Iraqi Army Captain Omar (Captain Omar is not in this picture, but Staff Sgt. Ali is along with Charlie Company Captain S) invited us to his office for lunch. It was a wonderful lunch of chai and faloppas (sp). A faloppa is basically a sandwich made from the most wonderful flat bread which is cut open. On the inside they put cucumbers, tomatoes, and fried chic peas. It is a great sandwich and one I have now eaten many times.

The casual wear, provided by Captain Omar, is called a misdasha. Again, I have no idea if the spelling is correct and I would bet not before I bet for. The misdasha is common wear for the men of Iraq and understandably so. With the extreme heat here it is very cool and comfortable. The loose fit (not so loose for me) allows the breeze to flow under and provide some relief. In many ways it was sad to close down the Joint Security Station we were on because of the friendships we made with our Iraqi partners. The JSS was closed in preparation of all US troops leaving the cities on June 30Th.

Now I am on Camp Stryker Camp Stryker is a large base and walking here is the only exercise you need. I probably walk an average of 3 miles a day and that is going to and from the office and to chow. However, there are many benefits I am just now starting to enjoy. In my room I have AFN (Armed Forces Network)TV. It is so great waking up in the morning and watching the news. There are 10 channels in all which allow me to watch sports, movies and regular programming. The other advantage is the dining facility. It is huge and the food is terrific. In fact, it is too good. Way too many choices, good and bad. They have any kind of desert you would want or could think of and they have...get this...sweet ice tea. I am in heaven. Well not exactly, but I have learned it certainly can be worse.

For any of you wondering, my address is pretty much the same with some minor changes. It is now;

Alan Dale Hamilton

1-63 CAB LEP

Camp Stryker

APO AE 09322

Many of you have written and some I have not yet written back, but believe me I certainly appreciate each and every note you send.

Well, it is time to go, but remember keep our American Heroes in your prayers and thank God each day for the freedom we enjoy.

Putting It All On the Line!

Hey Guys! Have you ever really wondered what it would be like to really put it all on the line? Your faith, your family, your life? I read a story the other day about a Pastor from England who is doing just that here in Iraq.

Pastor Andrew White arrived in Baghdad, Iraq in 2003 which you may recall was the year of our invasion of Baghdad. Pastor White left his family, a wife and two sons, back in England believing God had called him to this place to witness to the few Christians that are here during a time of war. Having no regard for his own safety he answered the call. Wow! I often wonder do I have the faith, the real and tested faith, to follow the call no matter where it leads.

The population in Baghdad is measured in the millions, Christians in the hundreds. They are not, or have not been, welcome here. They have faced real persecution and yet this Brittish Pastor followed a call here where the claim of being a Christian can mean death. In fact, all of his assistants have been either kidnapped or killed or both. Despite the constant threat of danger Pastor White maintains a quick sense of humor. He can only do this with faith in the God who is Love and promises us that perfect love drives out fear.

Understandably it is difficult for Pastor White to hire staff. He says he likes to tell potential employees that "the benefits of this job are out of this world". They are certainly not in this world.

I pray we all come to a faith that will withstand the toughest challenges we may face, knowing that our God is the one who is alive in us and will never leave us or forsake us.

Examine today the challenges that are making it difficult for you to live a life of faith and then give it all to God and begin a new day. The Son will shine on your tomorrow.

Location Update

Hey Guys! Sorry it has been a while, but I have literally been on the go. Many of you know that my base location has changed. I have moved from Mahmudiyah to JSS Yarmouck. Yarmouck is a very small base in the middle of a Baghdad neighborhood. I have no personal computer Internet, but because it is in the middle of the big city I can use the military computers that are made available for personal use and I can now update the blog site myself for the first time since arriving in theatre.
I am really enjoying it so far here. I can look off my building and watch the neighbors in their yard. I don't know if you are aware, but Baghdad has a population of several million people. There are sites and sounds of the city everywhere. I can watch children play, a soccer game in the field next to our base and always traffic. We have a number of Iraqi soldiers that work here with us which is great for the cultural exchange that takes place. We live in Iraqi homes, very nice homes, large enough to house many soldiers. A lot of our patrols are now what we call dismounts which simply means we walk. I enjoy the interaction with the populace and the excitement of being out in the middle of what is happening.
So anyway, that is what is going on with me at the moment. The Iraqi troops are doing a terrific job here as are their policemen. It is truly amazing to see the transformation taking place in this once war torn country.
I ask that God bless this country and people and as always God bless our soldiers and the United States of America.
I also remember those at home with no jobs or who are suffering from lack of work. I know it is tough, but hang in their. We will overcome these times of trouble and God will see us through. His promises cannot be broken.

ANGELLS IN IRAQ

Today in Iraq is not much unlike yesterday or the day before or the day before.  The monotony and boredom are at once a blessing and a curse.  We could be busy, but that would probably mean that we are actively engaged in war and that would be far from a blessing.  On the other hand, when things die down, how you spend your time here becomes even more important.  I have read more books lately than I have read in my entire life, and I have watched more movies than I care to count.  I go to Chapel on Sundays, meet with a Bible study group on Thursdays and have been blessed with an Angell to spend time with.  No really, his name is Lou Angell.  I know you typically spell angel with one "L," But Lou's has 2 "L's" and that is alright.  Lou has become a good friend.  He is a fellow Christian I can share with, hang out with and drink lots of coffee with.  This friendship, I am certain, was arranged by God for two men who needed to occasionally be sharpened by another's sword.  So, together we do very little because there is very little to be done on an isolated base with few facilities, but without Lou I would be troubled by too much idle time which for me, or anyone for that matter, can be a dangerous thing.  So, while I have very little to report today I am thankful to God who keeps his eye on us at all times and sends you just what you need when you need it.  I hope you all have an ANGELL in your life.

Bazaar

Today we had our third or fourth Iraqi Bazaar on our base since arriving in October. The bazaar is run by Iraqi widows. It is pretty neat being able to buy locally made items from the widows of Iraqi victims of the war. It is also a sad reminder of the evil that once prevailed in this Country. On the other hand, it is a joyous day that can be celebrated by the liberation of these people who not long ago could not have openly sold their goods or mingled among US Soldiers. They would have been seen as traitors and would be risking their lives by simply coming to our base.
Seeing the other side, so to speak, reminds me that times might be tough and get tougher, but with God there is always a day of liberation. A day when we look back and see the work he has done in us to get us to the point we now find ourselves. Personally, it is difficult being this far away from home, but I know to trust in Him to see me through. I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but I know the opportunities I have today. It is my prayer that I will take full advantage of these opportunities and bring glory to God. What I do know about the future provides the motivation to live for today. The knowledge that one day I will be in His presence and all will be well with my soul.
God bless our Country and God bless the Iraqi people as they attempt to live in peace.

The Real Deal

I was recently rolling with one of our teams on a mission and just kind of watching in awe the way they go about their business. I almost used the word "casually" to describe the way they went about their duties, but this would not be the correct term to use. Nothing these men and women do is casual. They train hard, they prepare hard, they even rehearse hard and then they go on mission with the confidence of a warrior who knows he is prepared for the battle which may lay a head. The gunner is constantly rotating the turret back and forth scanning for the possibility of hostile engagement. The vehicle commander is constantly scanning a computer for updates as well as communicating with other members of the team by radio. The driver is always looking for any small sign of a well placed, well hidden explosive that could prove deadly to the convoy. There is no time to relax, no time to day dream, unless you're the one guy looking on in awe, no time to think about the problems you have at home. These guys are the real deal! No lip synching allowed. When these guys are called they don't play. They are here to defend & protect you and I from enemies foreign and domestic. You can have no better friend than the US Army, or if you choose so, no worse enemy. They don't pick their fight, but they certainly don't run from them either. In fact, from the well known story of David and Goliath, these guys run in to battle with the confidence that David had, knowing that the victory has already been won.
Enjoy today, enjoy school ( I know the kids are saying "yeah right"), enjoy work, enjoy time with friends and family, but never forget who stands guard while you enjoy the good life we've been given.
Before I go I want to encourage everyone reading to contact someone they know that could use a little lift in their day. I know many back home who are suffering from the economy, or they are suffering from a loss in the family, illness or perhaps simply lonely. You can make a big difference with a small act of kindness. Prepare and commit yourself this day, to doing something for someone else. Sacrifice is not just for foreign battlefields, but something Christians are called to do wherever they are.
God bless you always

MAIL Call!

Election Day!

Hello All! While we have a new President and our national elections are well behind us that is not the case here in Iraq. Today is the first provincial elections to take place across this country since I believe 2003 shortly following our initial move into Iraq. You might be very surprised to know that country wide there are over 400 seats to fill and more than 14,000 candidates willing to fill them. Unlike in the US, becoming a candidate for election here is often very bold and dangerous. People are willing to risk their personal safety for a position of influence in their new government. Today is also a pivotal day in the security of this country. As I write this it is currently 1:13 in the afternoon and all is well. I am praying that we make it through the day and I can still say that. The Iraqi Army is prepared and deployed in force along with their police counterparts to ensure the elections go smoothly and safely. Their success may have a lot of influence on when our troops are coming home. Pray with me that the elections and the days following are filled with peace and politics not blood and war.
On another subject entirely. Not long ago, my Pastor Rick, wrote in his blog about his concern for those in the congregation slipping though the cracks and how important it is for all members of the body to stay active and alert in helping to make sure this does not happen. He pointed out how difficult it is for him personally to monitor the growing flock and how each of us should be accountable to each other. Well, these may not have been his exact words, but I agree with his message in its entirety. We should take care of one another and that can be done in a relatively simple way as Pastor Rick goes on to describe in his bullets. Personally, I love getting letters, packages and cards from our Church. It is the one way I stay connected from 7,000 miles away. I also know of at least one Mother in the Church whose son is currently serving over here in Iraq. I encourage you to find out where Cindy's son is and drop him a note. Perhaps you have never met him, but I can assure you he will appreciate getting your mail. Over here mail call is the most exciting day of the week. Nothing tops the feeling of getting a note or box from home no matter who it is from. We would probably get excited receiving the junk mail we so hate to get back home.
Funny how something so small and simple can make such a big deal in the life of another.
God bless you all and thank you so much for the letters and goodies provided by some of our small groups and friends. I can assure you everything you send is much appreciated and finds it's way in to the hands of a soldier needing that pick me up at that very moment in time. Keep the letters and cards coming...it is almost time for MAIL CALL!

Dale Hamilton
1-63 CAB HHC LEP
FOB Mahmudiyah
APO AE 09322

Inauguration

Tomorrow we will inaugurate Barak Obama as President of the United States of America. While some of my fellow conservatives might be surprised, I am excited and hope to witness the Oath of Office on the Armed Forces Network here in Iraq. No, I didn't vote for him, but it makes little difference at this point who I voted for. Tomorrow it will be President Barak Obama who is sworn in as our 44th President. The President of the United States deserves our respect and support. These are tough times and tough decisions will have to be made.
That's one reason I did like George W. so much. He was never afraid to make the tough decisions. He didn't seem to care about the poles, just doing the right thing for the American people. President Obama comes into office during very troubling times and will need all the help he can get. The economy is a mess and getting worse. We are engaged in war in two different countries and there are signs of trouble brewing in others. What a heavy burden it must be to assume responsibility for the most powerful Nation in the world during these times. Well then, why am I excited?
I am excited because, political affiliation aside, America will make history tomorrow by electing her first black President. I don't know about you, but as troubled as this world still is I find comfort in the fact that we have come this far regarding race in our country. Today MLK would be celebrating one special birthday. I am certain he is smiling in heaven, but also hoping and praying that we continue to reconcile our differences. I am also excited because there is always something alluring about change. After 8 years we have a new President who has the opportunity to guide us in a new and more prosperous direction. Only time will tell if it works out that way, but for now I choose to hope and pray for his success. I can't imagine anyone wanting our President to fail, but I am sure there are. That is why I ask you all to pray for the Obama's and our country. The President needs our prayers. Prayers for protection and prayers for wisdom and for seeking God's guidance in all he does.
I just hope we can unite together and all share in this exciting time in our history. Don't forget the bottom line...God is in control. Assurance of that should leave us with little to worry about.

Back In Iraq

Hey guys! It's now been a little over a week and I am settled in again in my temporary home. I can't say I am glad to be here, but I can thank God for the opportunity he has given me along with the employment. It saddens me to think of the financial stress many of those I care for back home are having to endure right now. My prayers are with you all and especially with those out of work right now.
Here the work is plentiful. Not necessarily for me all the time, but for our soldiers the work is never done. I wish I could send you the long list of projects they are working on for the people of Iraq. I know I have shared some of what they do, but you would still be amazed at the rest of the story as Paul Harvey always says. These guys and girls are the best in my humble opinion.
As for me, every day is a blessing and a sacrifice. I miss my Nancy and the kids so much, but I know God is blessing us in ways we may not be able to understand just yet. I will hold on to that belief and to the faith I have that He never, ever makes a mistake or does anything without a purpose. After all, "Everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him." Colossians 1:16
Keep believing and never doubt that God is in control.
God bless you all