In Country!

Hello everyone. I am now in Iraq and living the dream. To be able to support our troops and our Country in this way is extremely gratifying and truly an honor.
I hope everyone at the beach is doing well and adjusting to school and the quiet time we know as the off season.
I have not been able to blog in a while, but now hope to have an entry for you once a week. It is difficult to get to a computer and the Internet on most days, but I think once a week I should be able to manage.
As usual I have a request, please continue to pray for our soldiers, the Iraqi Army, Police and citizens, as well as the many civilians that are here in support of OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom).
It is overwhelming what the coalition troops are doing here. I am proud to be an American and of the many positive changes made to the lives of the people of Iraq by our Country and allies. You can be proud to whether you support the war or not. There are great things being done here and much more to follow.

God bless you all

Home

I have been home now since Friday night the 12th of September. Just a few more days and I head out again and rejoin the military family I am now a part of.
Coming home has been a truly wonderful thing for me. Just putting my toes in the sand, going to my Church, singing along with our worship team (it's the best in the world), seeing friends and especially spending time with my wife and kids.
Emily's Birthday was wonderful and we all had a good time celebrating together. I got to watch Evan play baseball on Sunday and that too was a blessing. Our team lost, but that didn't seem to matter to any of us.
It is so nice to have a home. Some place where you feel comfortable, where you can relax knowing you are among those that love you and care for you.
Thanks to all my friends for kindness to me and my family.
God bless you all and God bless and keep my family.

9-11 We Must Not Forget!

As I sit in my hotel room at 8:46 am eastern time, and listen and watch the events of that tragic day repeat themselves, I still feel the same intensity of hurt, anger & pride I felt that day in 2001 when I sat in a conference room just outside Washington, DC.
I was trapped in DC for the next three days fortunate enough to be staying in a friends apartment just blocks from the Capitol. I remember praying to get home for my daughters 4th birthday on 9-15, & at the same time wanting so badly to stay & some how help. That sense of helplessness is one that will allows be with me & I am certain is shared by all who love this great country and watched in horror as terrorists committed such horrific & cowardly attacks on this place we love.
As we remember the brave fire, police & emergency medical personnel who gave themselves in heroic efforts to save innocent Americans, please don't forget the soldiers who continue to give of themselves, their families and their lives.
The war on terrorism is not over. Please remember & do not be lulled in to the same false sense of security you may have found yourself in on 9-11, 2001 at 8:45am.
WE MUST NEVER FORGET!

By the way, I did make it home for my daughters birthday. I made it home because a friend was willing to make the journey to get me in his personal car at a time when all forms of public transportation were standing still.
Thanks David, you are a true friend.

As He Is

In a day and time when shopping is almost akin to therapy, we will usually find the clearance aisles loaded with products and people. There we can also see the "As Is" items-something is wrong with them, so we get them at bargain prices, take them home and fix them up. Imagine how God has taken us "As Is," full of flaws and imperfections. He has purchased us far above a bargain price, for it cost Him His only begotten Son. How immense is God's love for us that He would choose us for His own, cleanse us through and through, and transform us from "As Is" to As He Is." So if we ever feel like anything less, we can call to mind what God has fixed us up to be in Christ Jesus-a pearl of great price-for now we are the children of God.

Leticia Skelton

Remember our God delights in His children. You are loved!

Deployment as an act of worship

Today Pastor Waters spoke to a congregation largely preparing to deploy to Iraq. Scripture reading was from 1 Corinthians 10:31, "So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." He spoke eloquently and very much too the point. He spoke of great sacrifice, death & fear. He acknowledged the great respect he has for our soldiers pointing out that God's word says, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).
Pastor Waters then reminded us that nothing we can do will get us to heaven apart from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Wow! That means that, even though our soldiers are willing to lay their life down for one another, they won't go to heaven without the knowledge and belief in the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
I guess it is sometimes understandable how some believe that earthly goodness will get you to heaven. However, we know the way, the truth & the light.
I am proud to say that there are many believers in our military, however, there are those that do not believe and really need our prayers. These are not good people, in many ways they are great people, yet their salvation uncertain.
Please pray for the truth to be revealed to all who are blind by the ways of this world. Pray for God's will in Iraq and His will in our lives as we pray that God will use us according to His will for His glory. If you Love the Lord you will suffer. May I count my time away from my beautiful wife and kids as my sacrifice for Jesus. Use me Lord according to Your will & bless my family with Your comfort & care.
God bless you all & God bless the USA. I love this country!

Thankful

Today was one of those days. They don't come along much, but ocassionally I have one of those days where I just miss my family and friends so much I forget about all of the blessings in my life. I feel miserable, or make myself feel miserable, and just don't want to do anything accept mope. Then you call on those that understand, right?
Well the first person I called understood perfectly well and basically put me in my place. She doesn't care much for mopers and helped me to remember how grateful I am, or should be, to be in the position I am in. That person is my wife, Nancy. God uses her regularly to put me in my place and I don't mind admitting it. In fact, I am grateful for it.
The second person is one who understands great suffering yet never let's it get in the way of worship. Tommy & his wife Claire have been through the ringer and always seem to come out fine on the other side. I don't mean to say that everything turns out rosy, but they have achieved something many never will. They are content with their situation whatever that may be at the moment. They would love for things to be different, but they never complain and are always a blessing to others. They know that God is in control. I know they are a blessing to me.
Tommy, Claire, I love you both and I am glad God has put you in my life. I will continue to pray that God blesses you and heals you.

Psalm 139:1-10

This morning's sermon at Church was on Psalm 139:1-10. It was an excellent service & I encourage you to read the scripture again or perhaps for the first time. Verse 1 alone, "Oh Lord, you have searched me and you know me", is enough to both scare me and fill me with joy at the same time. It scares me because with God there are no secrets & my sin cannot be hidden. It fills me with joy because I know I can never be the man I should be, but that's OK because Jesus Christ gave himself for me so I wouldn't have to be. I am redeemed!

One other observation I want to share with you from this mornings service. Men out numbered the women two to one. Men with battle hardened faces, some with wives and children and many on their own or with other Godly men. What significance does this hold? Perhaps it is but a small sign that our men, God's men, are ready to fulfill their roles as the spiritual leaders of their families, Churches & communities. Not weak men, but men of great courage, strength & power. I was moved by their presence.

Thank you Lord for all You do & all You are. God bless our military & God bless our Country.
Isaiah 6:8 "Here am I. Send me!"