Category: Military Service

  • Riding Solo: Trusting God Through Your Deployment

    “And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32 [ESV]) Do you remember learning to ride a bike? Perhaps you learned by yourself. Perhaps someone taught you. Either way, at some point, the…

  • Church Leader, Start a Deploying Well Group

    “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15 [ESV]) There is a lot of weeping associated with military deployments. And, perhaps surprisingly, there is a lot of rejoicing as well. We do well to experience this weeping and rejoicing in community with one another. This is why I encourage you to…

  • Deploy Well: A Guide for the Long Days of Deployment

    “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise.” (Ephesians 5:15 [ESV]) I trust that you have put some time in preparing for the spiritual journey that lies ahead of you on this military deployment. I encourage you to continue the work as you walk through this deployment. Continue to prioritize your…

  • Find your rhythms

    “He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray.” (Proverbs 5:23 [ESV]) I was shocked the first time I read that passage. A lack of discipline leads to death? Really? On second reading, I knew it to be true. The one who knows the truth and yet dies…

  • Finding Strength in Suffering: A Journey of Hope

    “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5 [ESV]) People have been going off to war for at least 5,000…

  • Process Your Military Deployment

    You did it! I assume you are reading this article because you have recently completed or are about to complete your military deployment. Congratulations! The first thing I want you to hear is Jesus’ encouragement to his disciples in Mark 6, “Come away with me… and rest a while.” Jump right into the first article.…

  • Come Away and Rest a While

    “And [Jesus] said to [his disciples], “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” (Mark 6:31 [ESV]) As you return from a military deployment (or your spouse returns) it is important to realize that you have just endured a significant challenge. Picture yourself completing a marathon. You have crossed the finish…

  • Navigating Post-Deployment: Questions for Your Ongoing Spiritual Journey

    “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time…” (Ephesians 5:15-16 [ESV]) I trust you have taken the time to work through the first Post-Deployment discussion guide that aims at helping your process what God has taught you along your deployment journey. In that article, you…

  • Read the Bible for Yourself

    “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105 [ESV]) If I could convince you to do one thing, it would be this: Read the Bible for Yourself. Of course, I would then add that you should seek to understand it the best that you can, apply it…

  • Deploying Well

    “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13 [ESV]) “Preparing your minds for action…” Whether you are the one deploying, or the spouse who is remaining behind, thoughts and emotions that surround an impending…