On Azimuth

  17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 English Standard Version                Popular culture paints the romantic picture of a man facing his destiny brave and alone, carving out his future and place with courage and pluck. Those of us who grew up in the American Southwest especially like the image of the solitary cowboy or pioneer wresting his fortune from a hostile landscape. Think of those old “Marlboro Man” commercials. Despite the fact that in reality snipers work in teams, the popular image of a solitary sniper bravely navigating the battlefield remains. No matter what our culture says, men were not made to face this life alone. In Genesis, God tells us how He feels about solitude. 18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Genesis 2:18 While this passage introduces the creation of females, it is imp...

  8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 English Standard Version                I enlisted in the U.S. Army sometime in January of 1981. I know, that’s before some of you were born. From that date, the U.S. government considered me a soldier; in some ways subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice being available for service as the Army saw fit. I shipped out to basic training in February of 1981. At that time, Basic Training lasted a little over four weeks. At the end of basic training I was considered a trained soldier, capable of serving wherever the Army sent me. My training did not end there. Over the ensuing years I attended many schools, obtaining numerous certifications and additional skills the Army felt I needed to successfully serve. For the duration of my twent...

  25  But Jesus called them to him and said,  “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.   26  It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,   27  and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,   28  even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28 English Standard Version                One of the great challenges leaders in the Army face is how to wear the rank. This is especially true for new leaders, new sergeants and 2LTs (Second Lieutenants). In both cases they are brand new to the leadership realm and must navigate a difficult track, or as my British friends might say, a sticky wicket. In the Army we recognize that there are two types of respect, respect...

  8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. I Peter 5:8                For a while, I served as the S-4, or logistics officer, in a Signal Battalion. I was responsible for all the supplies needed to operate the battalion. I was also responsible for the Cooks, Fuelers, and Electronic Maintenance Facility. Even when we had the battalion “fun” day, I found myself responsible for transporting a huge grill to the picnic area. One of my subordinates and I were hitching the giant grill trailer to the back of my pickup. The Battalion Commander wandered past and watched as we backed up my truck and sorted out the details of hitching it up. “You know,” he said, “I’m glad you gentlemen are handling this. You look like the kind of men that can solve problems and find solutions with good results.” I always have wondered what about me looked lik...