Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays to all. Since I have written, we have been to Abu Dhabi, UAE and back. We are enjoying some rest time for the holidays. We have tried to have a Christmas experience as well as we could, but it just isn't the same out here. At least I have facebook to keep me a little closer to Christmas at home. I appreciate the letters I have received and apologize for not responding to them individually. Just know that they are appreciated.
I got a major qualification this week, so I feel pretty good about that. Ready to stay engaged for the next qualification. The Lord continues to be good to me, even though I am not faithful to him. His mercy is great. I am really out of things to say. Keep praying for me and letting me know how you are doing.

Week 5/40

I had a good week. We finally got to go to sea and do our primary job -mine countermeasures. It was good to be underway after six months of being stuck pierside. I am continuing to learn a lot and stay busy as time keeps flying by.
I got to shoot an M240 automatic machine gun mounted on the ship. Unfortunately I didn't get to see how I did because they had already sunk our target. But I'm sure I would've hit the target every time. We also watched the explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team detonate an underwater bomb and make a huge splash in the water.

Week 4/40

One more week. Now I've been here a month.We're tired of being in port and ready to get underway and do what we do. The more I learn about my job, the farther I realize I will have to improve. I have been working until ten about two out of every three nights when I get a break and take off at supper time. I'm doing well, I just hope I get enough experience under way to get my qualifications quickly enough. Nothing interesting this week just a lot fixing what is broke.

Week 3/40

Another busy week has passed. I had a productive week and a wonderful Thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for, I wish I returned my thanks better. I am thankful to all my wonderful family and dear friends who, though far away from me, are near in my thoughts and prayers. Thankfully I have more work to do than I possibly have time for. Racing deadlines sure makes time go by fast!

The Word of God is a light, pointing out the truth in the darkness. I am thankful to have that witness to guide me in good ways with a good end. Faith is the only way I can be sure it is a good end. Without faith we would just do whatever we felt like and wish for a pleasant outcome. A friend told me that God didn't intend on us knowing for sure if we would end up in heaven and that it wasn't important whether we are saved or not. I can agree that our own destiny isn't the reason that we serve God, or that the most important thing isn't where we will end up. But I can't disagree more with the belief that God didn't provide us certainty in our destination. Jesus himself said that in his Father's house are many mansions and that he will return and take us to where he is (John 14:3). It was important to Jesus for us to know. John wrote in I John 5:13 that he wrote so we would know that we have eternal life. It was important to John for us to know. The apostle Peter said that we by not living according to the Word of God forget that our sins are purged, but that living by the Word we make our calling and election sure (II Peter 1:9-10), and again in II Peter 3:12-14, we look for and haste unto the coming of the day of God, that according to his promise we find new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. It was important to Peter that we be sure. I am thankful for a blessed hope that is an anchor both sure and steadfast for my soul (Heb 6:19). God bless you all.

Thanksgiving turkey in the wardroom. Delicious.

 

Week 2/40

I had a good week this week. I am finding a rhythm and learning a lot. Some highlights.

We are undergoing software upgrades for our three of our computer systems. I am the ship's implementation coordinator which means I liase between the contractors and the command.

I had my first murder board for CICWO. That helps me learn what I need to know in order to qualify watch officer in the combat information center.

Basketball

I am starting to get my feet back under me and feel like things are somewhat normal. I haven't found any kind of routine yet, but I did get to play basketball with a bunch of guys yesterday. I felt like I did in high school when I loved basketball. It was a great time. After the first game in my running shoes, I went and bought some basketball shoes.

Nothing much else to report. I am staying busy and we are getting things done. I am hoping to have my first day off since leaving San Diego (Nov 2) this Friday. It will happen if just nothing goes wrong.

Week 1/40

I have been in Bahrain for one week and this is the first chance I have had to post. I have never been busier in my life. I am under a steady stress so I am always working hard to try to keep up -that is good. We checked and inventoried the ship from bow to stern, mast to keel, and took command. Yesterday I moved into an apartment where I will be able to stay two out of three nights we are in port. It is good to get away from the ship when possible, but mission readiness is first always. We are on six day work weeks and today is the weekend for us. I am on duty for the first weekend and have been busy for almost the whole day. But I have some time to read, pray and touch base with loved ones. I can't ask for more. Yesterday and today I read Ephesians and Phillipians respectively. It made me appreciate the church and all the brothers and sisters I have back home. Thank the Lord for all his blessings.

Leadership

Monday and Tuesday were very long and busy days. That is a good thing because I feel like it was productive.

Funny how there is a difference between learning something by word and learning something by practice. I know many things about leadership, but am just now learning some basic things by experience. Being a leader requires one to be involved in the decisions of people for whom he is responsible. I took that for granted until I realized that my own good decisions are no longer sufficient. It's natural to care about the results of junior people's decision; it's an entirely different challenge to effectively intervene for the better. May God give me the eyes to see the way my people take, the discretion to judge between good and bad, the courage to take action, and the wisdom to do it rightly. I am miserably inadequate but have the desire to improve.

Little Zion

As I was leaving the ship after duty this morning, I found myself in small talk telling a friend I was going to church in Bellflower nearly two hours away. For some reason I always dread the question, "Why do you pass all the churches is San Diego to drive to Bellflower?" There is no good reason I dread that question, but I don't do what I do just to be different. I don't really even like to be singled out anyway. But to my discredit I never have a very satisfactory answer. I think what I said was mainly that there weren't musical instruments and people are more serious about the worship or something to that effect. I basically try to avoid dwelling on it. Why is it so hard? Maybe because I don't want anyone to think I'm arrogant. I mean the perception I think people may get is that I must think I'm real special if I have found more truth than all the thousands who gather in Jesus' name in San Diego. I rather believe it's a matter of humility, not arrogance; but I dislike even being perceived as arrogant. It's a matter of humility to me because I want to be in a place where the saints strive to please God, follow his instructions, bring glory to his name, and put our fancies and preferences aside for an hour and a half. It seems to me that most churches focus on what people can get out of worship, and how to get more people to attend. There is nothing wrong with gathering with a large group of people, enjoying live music, and hearing a motivational speech; but on Sundays I look for something more -I look for Jesus. Jesus promised that he is where two or three gather in his name, and I believe that requires unity (John 17:20-23). Unity isn't sweeping differences under the rug for the sake of getting along. Consider Acts 4:32 where those that believed were of one heart and of one soul and had all things in common. I believe in Sovereign Grace. I have nothing in common with a teaching that we help God compete with Satan and cannot worship with those who teach such. Perhaps I should simplify and just answer: "Because I believe in Sovereign Grace".

Today I was blessed to attend Little Zion and here Elder Joe Holder again. So grateful for his gift and his willingness to share his wisdom. I would try to convince you of the depth of his wisdom, but it would be so terribly against his spirit of humility. He continually points to Christ each Sunday and reminds me that all wisdom and glory is God's. He preached on 1 Cor 4:1-6. The ministers are servants God and not of man. What they give is not their own and if they go about trying to please men, they cannot please God.

 

Thankful for leave to be with family

I've just enjoyed two weeks of leave where I was blessed to be with my entire family, including grandparents. I flew out of San Diego in a blaze of chaos and met up with the prettiest girl I know, who rode with me from Oklahoma City to Ozark, to spend family day with me and my family. We ate good food, played games, and exchanged gifts. Why did God bless me with so many blessings? I have more than I can ever appreciate. I received a cute, personalized coffee mug with the faces of my neices and nephews between red, white and blue stars and stripes. Best gift ever. The next weekend I went to Washington, OK to meet her family and attend the annual meeting of Bethlehem PBC in Purcell. I had the best time with everyone. The whole weekend I felt at home. By Sunday I was surprised when I remembered I had met these people only Thursday. There are truly no finer folks anywhere.

I am amazed and very pleased that this girl sacrificed her sleep to ride with me across the state of OK to be with my family

I am going to try to keep a blog so that all my friends can keep up with how I am and what I am up to in the service. I am excited for what my future holds. All glory is the Lord's.