How Much Did Rumsfeld Know?

How Much Did Rumsfeld Know? - TIME

This is somewhat disheartening. I have no reason to doubt LTG Sanchez's account here.

Then again, why has this not been picked up by other news outlets? 

Military Action with what Army?

U.S. Weighing Readiness for Military Action Against Iran

While I think Iran is trying to goad us into some sort of open fight, it would be a mistake to grant them their desire.

It is clear that they feel some pressure, the US has troops in two separate countries along their border.  So right now they are responding the only way they can, through a proxy-war via the insurgents in Iraq and harassment in the Strait of Hormuz.

Again, just because the US military is capable of successfully prosecuting a conflict does not mean we should.  Right now, the has to be other options available for dealing with Iran.

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General Assembly

It will be nice to go to the PCA General Assembly this year.  It is going on from 11-13 June with a couple of days for Chaplain training.  I have missed the last couple years because of my deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom.

I'll be able to catch up with folks from seminary, other Chaplains, pastors and friends from my home presbytery in MD.  Now that I am back on the ground and relatively back to "normal," I can focus and getting up to speed on my denominations issues.

I miss the connectedness of being involved in a regular presbytery.  I may change to the Texas presbytery but as soon as that is down, I will be moving to a new unit and in all liklihood, a new post.  Plus, with multiple deployments in my future, being a regular member of presbytery is difficult at best.  It is hard to stay on top of issues within the presbytery and denomination where a considerable amount of thought is requored to reach an informed opinion.

Still, being back in a restful environment with like-minded people will be a nice change, even though it is only for a few days.

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Still Here

I am still here. The heat is coming back to LSA Anaconda and we should be into the 110's by the end of the week.

My unit is still waiting on offical word regarding the Secretary of Defense's announcement last month regarding extensions. The morale here is good but I think part of that has to do with the fact we can see the end of our time here.

Everyone is still focused on mission and I am preparing to go back the Forward Operating Base TAJI this week. I was there in October of last year. Now this is a follow-up visit to check on the team and see how they are getting along and their needs, if any. Also, I have several Chaplain buddies that are posted there. It will be nice to see them again.

We all went to Chaplain's Basic together and the Ft. Hood. I left about 5 months earlier than they did and have not seen a couple of them in close to a year now. We have tried to stay in touch by e-mail but our consistency has been poor. Man, it is going to be nice to see some old friends again.

Serving in Iraq

I have several posts to put up here. The long and the short of it is that I am currently deployed to Iraq and doing my best to take care of Soldiers.

After I check my reports for security issues I will post them.

About this time last year I started the Chaplain's Basic Course. Now I am with my first unit, a veteran of a foreign war and a father all in one year. Very quick year and this deployment is passing quickly too.

Update

It has been awhile since I have had an opportunity to write. I have gotten my orders for the Army and will begin Basic in a couple weeks. There are some pictures I am going to post and more news to print but I wanted to give a brief update regarding what is going on.

I'll post again soon.

The Ordination Service

Sunday night was my ordination service at my home church. Now that I have been cleared by the Army and passed my exam on the floor of Presbytery, this was the last official act before I could become a Teaching Elder in the PCA.

The service itself was great. Our Pastor spoke about Heroes from the 2 Samuel 23:8-17. After the sermon was the actual ordination and charge for the ministry. I hope that I will be able to get a copy of the message and charge so that I will be able to listen to them periodically.

I wish that my mother could have seen me become a pastor. Dad was able to be there though and he has now gone back into the hospital for the second round of chemotherapy.

These pictures are what my friends did to my car after the service. They have been walking alongside me through this whole process which has taken years, from my first class in seminary to my ordination this past Sunday. The only phrase that may require some explanation is in the picture below. "Ask me about sacramental union." This is somewhat of an inside joke as that was the only question that was asked of me by the presbytery members (apart from the Credentials Cmte. members who examined me). The question about Sacramental Union came from my good friend Pastor Chris, one of the Associate Pastors at our church. I knew he was going to ask at least one question but when I was telling the story, some my friends took it upon themselves to have some fun at his (and now my) expense. He told me later that he was "getting the reputation as 'Pastor Meanie'" for asking me a question at Presbytery. To be quite honest, I thought I would have gotten more questions but I am thankful that I did not.

All in all, a very good night. One that I will remember for a lifetime.