Has it been a year?

Craziness! How can it be a year since I last posted. Another year of school is done--Praise the Lord. I have 24 hours to go and I will graduate next May.

This summer I will be heading throughout the southeast for AF training. I will be at Robins AFB, Patrick AFB, Charleston AFB, Homestead ARB, Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field, and Moody AFB. I'm looking forward to it.

Well, I'll write more later.

Training is going well!

I have already completed 1 1/2 weeks of training and it is going well. Our Flight received the Academic Flight of the Week Award. We lost the Honor Flight Award for the week by .0000002!!! Can you believe it? It is crazy how close it was. Our goal is to be the Honor Flight within the Honor Squadron and I want to be a DG (Distinguised Graduate) as well. We are doing lots of marching, drill practice, classes, PT, and studying so I am averaging 4-5 hours of sleep a night! I am tired, but I had a good night of sleep last night.

Jen and my parents will be coming out to graduation (29 Jun) in just a few weeks. Then I will have two weeks of CCC (Chaplain Candidate Course) before I am done. At that point, Jen will meet me and we will be spending a week at NAS Pensacola for a needed vacation! Can't wait!

Well, I should study. My first CWT is on Tuesday and I need to get a 100%. Talk to you all later!

Shipping out!

Just wanted to let everyone know that I am heading to Maxwell AFB for training. I am leaving today. I will have four weeks of COT (Commissioned Officer Training) followed by 2 weeks of CCC (Chaplain Candidate Course). So, if you notice that my blog is a little quiet--that's the reason.

During the evenings I will have access to my phone, so feel free to call! Talk to you all later!

A little vacation!

We just returned from visiting San Antonio. We had a wonderful time seeing the Alamo, various missions, the Riverwalk, and just relaxing. Hope you enjoy the pictures! Talk to you all soon!

Reflections

Most of you know that I graduated from Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga, TN. The school was founded in 1946 by Dr. Lee Roberson. He died last Sunday at the age of 97. He was a faithful man of God that had a tremendous influence in the world. He started Tennessee Temple Schools, Camp Joy, Worldwide Faith Missions, WDYN radio station, Union Gospel Mission, countless missions churches, and much more. The amazing thing is that he was humble in all of his actions and never took credit for the tremendous things that God allowed him to do. Dr. Roberson retired in 1983 from Highland Park Baptist Church as pastor and as president of Tennessee Temple, but continued to preach all over the world.

I wanted to go to the memorial service at HPBC, but with finals I could not do it. I listened to a bit of it online and the service was about 3 hours long. Dr. Roberson was a tremendous inspiration for the Christian world and I would not be where I am if it was not for him. Although I only "met" him once (shaking his hand at graduation) and I did hear him speak several times, this is not the legacy that he imparted to me. While at TTU, I rededicated my life to the Lord and decided to follow Him into full-time Christian service, which is why I am training at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary to become a chaplain in the USAF. Without his dedication, faithfulness, and service, TTU and HPBC would not be the great institutions that they are today.

I remember his charge to the TTU graduates of 1999. He encouraged us to remember three things: Temple, who we are, and who we are in Christ. It's amazing how a simple message of just a few minutes has stuck in my head. That was Dr. Roberson. He typically spoke a sermon in 20 minutes, but it was straight and to the point.

Thank you, Dr. Roberson. Thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for leading with integrity. Thank you for standing for the fundamentals of the faith. Thank you for being an inspiration. Thank you for being an example.

The question that I have been thinking about for a few days is: What is the legacy that I am leaving for others? Is anyone watching me or trying to pattern their life after my example? Am I leading others to Christ? I know that I will never be a worldwide leader in Christian circles like Dr. Roberson was, but am I a leader in the circles where God has placed me?

It's not a game anymore

Yesterday, Jen and I travelled to Abilene to see her alma mater, Abilene Christian University. While there, we also went out to Dyess AFB so that she could see her first AFB. We've been out to NAS Fort Worth JRB quite a bit, but the Navy and the Air Force manage their bases differently so it was good for her to see the differences firsthand. While entering the gate, the Security Force Airman saluted me and I returned the salute. Each time I receive a salute, I am excited but realize that I haven't gone through training yet so it is weird. Last night, it hit me that soon it won't be a game anymore. I will be in training at Maxwell and it will be the real thing. I am an Air Force officer, but after training I will appreciate the responsibility far more. Just a few thoughts. . . .

Air Force Update

On March 24th, I was commissioned into the Air Force Reserves as a 2nd Lieutenant Chaplain Candidate by my good friend, Dan McCullough (Major, USAF) from Colorado Springs. This was a culmination of 1 1/2 year application process. It was nice to have it done. On Monday, Jen and I went to NAS Ft. Worth JRB to get our ID's and DOD vehicle tags. I gotta admit, it was weird to have a guy salute me when I entered the base. I liked it, but it was weird, especially since I won't go to training until this summer.

Speaking of training, I will be at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, AL from 29 May until 13 July. The first four weeks will be COT (Commissioned Officers Training) with other Chaplains, doctors, and lawyers. The final two weeks will be CCC (Chaplain Candidate Course). I am excited about it. Unfortunately, Jen will not be able to accompany me on this training, but she will get to come out at the end of the first four weeks for graduation. There will be a Dining-in Ceremony where I get to wear my mess dress (Air Force tux) and a graduation with a military parade. If any of you are interested in attending, please let me know.

After CCC, Jen and I are planning on going on vacation for a week. This location is to be determined, but we are looking at Florida. We can't make any final arrangements until I get my orders from the Air Force.

Well, hope you've enjoyed the update and the following pictures.

Taking the Oath of Office.

My first salute to Major Dan McCullough, my superior officer.

Handshake after the salute.















I asked Jen to pin on the bars after the oath.

Dr. Vann (on the right) is a Retired US Army Chaplain (Colonel) and one of my professors at Southwestern.

Here are two Navy Chaplain Candidates.

I gave Jen some roses to thank her in advance for the journey ahead.

Jen and I enjoying life after the ceremony.

A much needed update!

I have been rebuked for not updating my blog, thanks, Laura. :-) But I have to admit, I needed the reminder! So much has gone on since my last post. We are settled into our new apartment and love it! It is so nice to have the extra room (both bedroom and space). One of our friends from Colorado has already used the room when he visited recently. School is going well! Only two weeks to go from today. I have one major paper (12-15 pages and I've been to the library once and haven't started it yet), 2 short papers (2 pages each), and currently 4 finals, but my Hermeneutics may be cancelled. My Old Testament was cancelled already and it would be awesome if my Hermeneutics professor decides to do the same thing.

Let me tell you, taking 16 credits was a lot to do this semester with a wife, work, and church!! But, I'm almost done and it looks like I'll do fine in my classes. If I finish well (when I receive the grades on my papers and finals), then I will possibly make the Dean's List again. To make the Dean's List, you must have a 3.9 GPA for the semester. I am borderline. At the lowest, I think I would have a 3.88, but I want the 3.9!

Jen is doing well. She is beginning to study for her exam to become a licensed social worker. She should take the test in the next few weeks. She is involved in a Bible study with girls from our Sunday School class and enjoys that a lot. She still loves her car.

Since the weather has been warmed up, we have been able to enjoy the Jeep without the doors and top. Don't worry, we have been safe from all of the tornadoes that have been in our area. Some have been close and it is quite wild to hear the tornado warning sirens go off, but everything has been at least a few miles away.

Well, I will post some pictures and talk about the Air Force in the next post!

We're moving!!!

We are moving today! Can you believe it? For all of you that need a place to stay while visiting Fort Worth, we will now have an extra bedroom/study (for me). We tried to send our new address to everyone by e-mail, but if we forgot you please let us know and we'll send it to you quickly! Have a great day!