My Last Sunday...For Awhile

Yesterday, the wonderful folks at Aydelotte Baptist Church held a fellowship (that's Southern Baptist for "food") Sunday night in my honor since it was my last Sunday for awhile. Like I have said many times already, this was just one more giant reality check. All of the wonderful people telling me to "hurry back" was amazingly comforting. At least they didn't say "don't let the door hit you..." My brother even drove in from 60 plus miles away to the fellowship. Thanks bro!

On a side note, it seemed quite fitting that my last Sunday was on Memorial weekend. When our guest preacher, recognized those who have served or are serving, I had the privilege to stand for the first time in my life. I remember all those times watching my father stand and be recognized and wishing that I had served and now I was standing right next to him when the preacher asked for those who have served or are serving in the Army. While I certainly haven't put in the years of blood, sweat, and tears that my father has, I did gain a new perspective on the appreciation that others feel for the armed forces. It was the first time that I was the recipient of the appreciation. The preacher was quite emotional as he expressed his intense gratitude for us.

So now I have rounded the turn and headed down the home stretch of CH-BOLC preparation. I only have three days left at my job at the bank. I wanted to use this day for my son and I to go fishing, but the rain has thwarted the trip. Instead I am currently trying to call around to find a Spider Man Wall Crawl Race game for him. If I can find it, then we'll be heading out to pick one up. I know this is a riveting post, but it is the little things like running errands with my son that I am going to miss the most. I love just killing time with my little buddy. Even if we are just walking around or playing catch or just sitting in the back of my SUV with the tail gate up, the time is never wasted.

Well...I successfully located one of the games at Target! Off to OKC I go!

A 5 year old's faith

Mark 10:14-15 says "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (NIV)

Today, as we sat on our kitchen floor by the sink and dishwasher, my 5 year old son asked the Lord of the universe to come and live inside his heart! I can't begin to describe the sheer joy and excitement of the moment. To hear that sweet, little voice gently ask our Jesus to save him is a moment that I will cherish like no other. As I finished leading him in that prayer, I was overwhelmed with emotion. As my wife looked on with camcorder in hand, she too was soaking up this tremendous "eternal moment".

I had been praying that if God so chose, that he would allow me to have the chance to lead my son to Christ before CH-BOLC. To be totally honest, I don't even know what I really expected from that prayer. It was just a tug at the heart that kept popping up. But Jesus, in His Godly timing answered that prayer in a way that became one more miraculous confirmation of the path He has for my family.

Finally, when it is all said and done, one more name was written in the Lamb's Book of Life today. I proudly get to say that it is MY SON!!!!

Running Log

This isn't really one of those thought provoking posts. I just wanted to show you the cool, little feature to your right and a photo of me about a week before the Lord cemented His calling for me to pursue the chaplaincy. If you go to the website runningahead.com you can actually create a free running log that tracks everything from shoe wear to calories burned in addition to your running times. I know that these stats are nothing to write home or even on this blog about, but I thought it was a cool, little feature. This feature will always keep my 5 most recent workouts posted. Then you can click on the link to see stats for that particular workout. Just thought I'd pass that on for you CH-BOLC attendees!

Hey Ken! We hit the road in two weeks from this date!!

Who is this "Butter Bar"?

Well...

No pressure here. I mean it's not like there are a bunch of chaplain blogs from a bunch of Godly folks!!! (sarcasm is an undervalued tool)

Hi...I'm David to most of my family; Bro. Dave or David to the folks at Aydelotte Baptist Church; daddy to a 5 yr. old boy and 21 month old girl; and husband to my amazing wife.

I'm also beginning this blog thing as a 2LT in the U.S. Army as a Chaplain Candidate, and with your votes this November, I hope to be the elected to full-fledge chaplain status! (that's not really how it works though)

God changed my plans last July when he directed a 265 pound lazy guy, with a reconstructed left knee, to serve him in the chaplaincy. I hadn't even taken one seminary class and the last time I had run a mile, it had to be done in three or four installments. However, I now stare at six weeks of CH-BOLC in total amazement that the Army and my God have found me worthy to serve! I now weigh around 205 (max for my height at 6'1" but hope to be around 200 or so come the first of June) and actually enjoy running!

Another crazy thing happened....
He also called my pastor and awesome friend, Ken, to active duty! What was truly amazing was that God worked out the calling in our hearts in completely separate ways, yet the timing was uncanny. I get to go to CH-BOLC with an amazing man of God and one of my dearest friend...but now I have to salute him! But it's more than worth it.

The Maiden Post

Well...

Let's get this blog thing started! They call me Dave, David, Bro. David, Daddy, and Lieutenant. I'll explain most of these titles in the upcoming posts.

Pro Deo et Patria!