Book Review

"Generals in Bronze"

“Generals in Bronze” is a history book presented in a unique and compelling form. I don’t recall how I first came across it, but my lifelong interest in the Civil War—second only to Biblical history—immediately drew me in. What truly piqued my interest was the subtitle: “Interviewing the Commanders of the Civil War.” This was not simply a historian’s account; it promised personal recollections from those who commanded on the ground.

Edited by William B. Styple, the book compiles the interview notes of artist James Kelly, who sketched and later created bronze castings of Civil War generals. While the generals sat for their portraits, Kelly asked them about the war, specific events, and—most revealing—their opinions of one another. What emerges is unfiltered history: candid, personal, and at times uncomfortable.

Kelly, who was a child during the Civil War, was especially fascinated by Union generals. His conversations capture perspectives rarely found in traditional histories, which often tell us what happened, when it happened, and sometimes why—but not how those who lived it truly felt.

General James Harrison Wilson once said, “One can't put down history as it really happened—people don't want it—it would shock them.” In compiling Kelly’s notes, Styple gives us that very history: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Rather than dismembering my understanding of the Civil War, this book brought clarity—especially regarding figures like General Custer in the postwar years.

I highly recommend this book. It provides insight into some of the most prominent men of the Civil War—many whose names later became associated with military posts or equipment. You’ll see how they viewed one another, and how history has sometimes redeemed men their peers did not. The 309 pages consist largely of organized conversational notes, with minimal editorial interruption for clarity. I purchased my copy used on Amazon and found it well worth the read.

This book reminded me that history is best understood through the voices of those who lived it, not just those who later interpreted it.

 

Faith, Life and Citizenship

“Once apolitical by duty, now engaged by faith and conscience.”

Transition from Soldier to Civilian

I spent 38 years and 3 days in the Army. I had an amazing career, both as an enlisted Soldier and as an officer. Thirty of those years were spent serving as a Chaplain.

Army regulations require military personnel to remain apolitical. That does not mean we lose our personal views; it means we are not allowed to publicly express them. A Soldier is a Soldier 24/7. What you do is not separate from who you are in public.

There are some regulations a military officer remains accountable to even in retirement, as officers are retired but not fully separated from service. That said, there are many regulations we are no longer bound by. Retirement brings significant freedom, though it must still be exercised wisely and responsibly.

For me, it has taken three years to become comfortable enough to express my opinions—especially political ones. My beliefs have not changed. Let me be clear: I am politically conservative and conservative in my understanding of Scripture. I am not fully satisfied with either political party, but the Republican agenda aligns more closely with my convictions.

Nothing has changed regarding what I believe—only my ability to speak openly from a biblical worldview.

Some have expressed surprise at my conservative views, or that I would express them at all. Others have voiced concern that I might isolate people I’ve known for years, subtly suggesting I should remain apolitical out of fear of division or because of my role as a minister. My hope is that the relationships I’ve built over decades—inside and outside the Army, across political and religious lines—are strong enough to allow honest conversation and, at times, agreement to disagree.

I am not likely to convince someone who believes differently to see things exactly as I do. Yet as a Christian—and especially as a minister, chaplain, or whatever title one chooses to give me—I have a responsibility to speak truth. I believe I will be held accountable before God not only for what I say, but also for what I fail to say when I should.

Outside of God’s mandate to share the Gospel, I also believe that after serving nearly four decades in uniform, I have earned the right to express my views.

Early in my career, a senior chaplain required us to read Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein. Like many of you, I initially assumed it would be a deeply spiritual book. This chaplain had it underlined and tabbed more than most people mark their Bibles—and yes, we had to take a test afterward.

I actually found the book compelling and enjoyable. One quote became a guiding principle for much of my career:
“Soldier, shut up and soldier!”

There are Soldiers today who could benefit from that lesson. It might even save their lives.

Heinlein also wrote something that struck me deeply:

“Only those who have served in the military become full citizens.”

Even in a novel, that statement raises an important question: why would someone write that? To me, it speaks to the willingness of some to place their lives on the line for something greater than themselves. Perhaps as a nation we should listen more to those who have served than to millionaire musicians or Hollywood elites—many of whom would cave under the slightest pressure.

What has defined my life longer and more deeply than the military is my relationship with Jesus. I was born to a pastor and his wife. At five years old, I surrendered my life to Christ. I have been in church for 58 years, a Christian for 53 years, and a minister for 35 of those years—30 as an Army Chaplain.

Because of this, my faith defines my life. My life does not define my faith. I do not compartmentalize belief. I view every aspect of life—including politics—through a scriptural lens.

Having served nearly four decades in uniform, my duty required political silence, and I honored that duty. Retirement did not change my faith; it changed my role. I do not believe the state should enforce Christianity, nor do I confuse the Kingdom of God with any nation or political party.

The First Amendment states:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”

While our nation was undeniably influenced by Christian principles, government-mandated faith would ultimately destroy religious freedom. History proves that enforced belief—whether atheistic or religious—leads to oppression.

Thomas Jefferson’s reference to a “wall of separation” was intended to protect the church from the state, not to remove personal conviction from public service. A politician’s faith should shape their conscience, and their conscience should inform their decisions. When convictions are abandoned for popularity, integrity is lost.

My engagement as a citizen is guided by conscience shaped by Scripture—not by a desire for power or control. Speaking as a Christian in the public square is not Christian nationalism; it is faith-informed citizenship in a free society. I seek persuasion, not coercion; witness, not dominance; and fidelity to Christ above allegiance to any earthly system.

I have been accused of Christian nationalism simply because my faith informs my politics. If loving my country and allowing my faith to shape every area of my life earns that label, then the misunderstanding lies with the label—not with me. I am not a patriot who happens to be a Christian; I am a Christian who is a patriot.

What Christian Nationalism Is—and Is Not

Christian nationalism typically includes beliefs such as:

• The nation was founded exclusively as a Christian nation

• Government should favor or enforce Christianity

• National laws should enforce a specific religious framework

• Citizenship is tied to religious identity

• Church and state should function as a unified authority

At its core, Christian nationalism is about power and identity, not faith.

The theological concern is this:
Christian nationalism shifts trust from the Kingdom of God to the power of the state.

Christian faith teaches:

• God’s Kingdom is not tied to any nation (John 18:36)

• The Gospel advances through witness, not coercion

• Faith requires freedom of conscience

Christian nationalism is not:

• Voting according to faith-informed convictions

• Advocating moral values publicly

• Acknowledging Christianity’s role in Western history

• Praying for the nation

• Speaking openly about faith after service

• Exercising citizenship guided by Scripture

A Christian engaging politics ≠ Christian nationalism.

My hope is that this helps other believers navigate their own civic engagement. And when I engage those who disagree with me, my prayer is not simply that minds are changed—but that hearts are touched by the message of Jesus.

Let's Get This Party Started

There I Was…

Often the best war stories start with, “There I was,” or “What happened was…”
So—there I was.

As a Chaplain, my war stories do not include exciting accounts of engaging the enemy. That said, I often placed myself in locations where the enemy did engage me—I just couldn’t shoot back. Technically, the Army issued me a weapon system, so if the enemy got close enough, they could engage.

My weapon system consisted of a single Chaplain Assistant (now called a Religious Affairs Specialist) who carried an M4 to protect both me and himself. That’s right—one weapon between the two of us.

I did not make my assistant’s job easy.

Many chaplains do not run toward the sound of booms and gunfire. I did.

Army regulations prohibit chaplains from carrying firearms. The only “weapon” I was authorized to carry was what I jokingly called my religious tool—a very large knife strapped to my side that extended nearly halfway down my thigh. Some Soldiers had a running bet that I carried a sidearm. Since they could only see the end of the scabbard beneath my blouse, they assumed it was a pistol. When I learned of the bet, I had to disappoint one Soldier by informing him he’d lost $20.

I called it my religious tool because I told my Soldiers, “You shoot them—I’ll circumcise them.”
It was a joke. I’m sure some will be offended, but after enough years in uniform, dark humor becomes a survival skill. I hit my 20-year mark while deployed to Iraq in 2004. By the time I retired in 2022, I had served 38 years and 3 days. Let’s just say I developed a bit of dark humor.

And for the record—I never circumcised anyone with my religious tool.

The vehicle in the picture above was mine in Iraq. For the first seven months of deployment, it had no up-armor. I patrolled outside the wire in a soft-sided Humvee—canvas doors, canvas roof, no ballistic glass. We had sandbags on the floorboard to “protect” us from IEDs. I was the driver, since I carried no weapon. If I needed a weapon, the vehicle was my weapon.

Before we even rolled into Iraq, I removed the sandbags from the driver’s side. They interfered with my ability to use the accelerator and brake smoothly. That was more dangerous than helpful. If anyone outside the vehicle was going to be at risk, it would be because I intentionally used the vehicle as a weapon.

I finally received up-armor and ballistic glass shortly before Fallujah. I had resisted it earlier because the added weight broke suspensions on the older 998 Humvees. I trusted God and believed a running soft sided vehicle was better than no vehicle at all.

Seven months in, higher headquarters decided no soft-sided Humvees were allowed outside the wire. For seven months I’d driven all over Iraq, and now—after the worst seemed behind us—they said I couldn’t. Insert facepalm. 

I sent the vehicle in for armor. By then, they’d figured out how to reinforce the suspension.

In November 2004, my battalion—2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, the RAMRODS—was tasked to assist the Marines in Fallujah. Yes, I will forever remind Marines the Army had to come rescue them. In truth, it was a coalition effort—Army, Marines, British, and Iraqi forces.

Operation Phantom Fury, the Second Battle of Fallujah, was the most intense urban battle since Vietnam and the bloodiest of the Iraq War. Over 700 coalition casualties—110 killed, around 600 wounded. An estimated 3,000 insurgents were killed or captured. The OPORD predicted an 80% casualty rate.

2-2 Infantry suffered 34 casualties—four killed, most others returned to duty. Credit goes to God and extraordinary leadership from LTC Peter Newell down to squad level.

Because of the anticipated casualty rate, Soldiers who hadn’t yet taken R&R were sent home and excluded from the assault. My assistant qualified, so I ordered him to go. I requested a replacement from brigade rather than pulling combat power from my battalion.

I knew I had a reputation among chaplain assistants. I also knew they probably thought I was one brick shy of a full load—maybe even missing most of the Happy Meal.

I lived by a Stonewall Jackson quote:

"My religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed.  God has fixed the time for my death.  I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may over take me."

I shortened it to:  “My faith allows me to feel as safe in battle as in my own bed.”

My wife hates that quote.

But I believed I could not ask Soldiers to trust my God if I did not trust Him myself—especially in battle.

I ran toward the booms because that’s where my Soldiers were. They didn’t need me safe in a bunker. They needed me present.

As we prepared to convoy to Fallujah, SGT James Matteson sought me out and asked if I was going. When I told him yes, it comforted him. He wasn’t afraid—he was one of our best Scouts—but faith mattered to him.

That photo below of me praying with him was taken before we left. He was later killed by an RPG. Years later, meeting his family helped me understand why he sought me out. I represented his faith going into battle. He may also have known he wouldn’t return.

Brigade sent SPC Figueroa—“SPC Fig”—to replace my assistant. He’d spent most of his deployment inside a FOB or a tank. Working for me was going to be…educational.

This young Soldier's combat experience to this point has been in or around tanks.  He was less than confident in our equipment.  When he asked about our vehicle, the up armor, the roof, the floor—I reassured him. Well kind of reassured him.  I pointed out we had up armor.  He then questioned the roof and I reassured him the enemy would not be shooting down on us (this is important to remember later).  I assured him that IEDs came more at a 45 degree angle so the up armor would protect us.  Those who have been in combat know there is no way of knowing how an IED is going to impact a vehicle.  They have been known to be powerful enough to flip tanks.  Some details mattered less than confidence. I am not sure I fully achieved that mission.  Maybe he would have more confidence had he been with me when we only had the soft side. My wife always says this is the moment she feels sorry for Fig.  Her words are, "Poor Fig".

When we rolled out, I strapped a boom box to the roof rail and played TobyMac’s “Get This Party Started ("Get This Party Started").”

SPC Fig was unimpressed with my choice of music. I thought the choice was perfect.

We arrived at Camp Fallujah and spent about a week in training and preparation for the assault on the city of Fallujah.  What I saw of the Marines training it gave me understanding how they got into the situation that required the Army to come out them out of it.  It also did not give me much confidence in their ability to survive the assault.  I went and visited a Navy Chaplain buddy that was at Fallujah.  As I walked past a large group of Marines that suddenly went screaming and running down the road.  I asked my buddy what were they doing?  He said training for Fallujah.  I shrugged and said okay then.  It thrilled me to be part of an Infantry unit who were skilled in their craft.  I am not saying the Marines were not skilled just the skills they showed was not ones I had confidence in like my infantrymen.

On 8 Nov 2004 we rolled out of Camp Fallujah to our staging area outside the city of Fallujah.  As we rolled in the staging area rockets and mortars came raining down on our area.  Once the perimeter was set I exited my vehicle along with SPC Fig and I started heading out to the vehicles along the perimeter to see how the Soldiers were doing and to check to ensure all were okay. 

As we headed to one side of the perimeter rockets and mortars came raining down in that direction.  SPC Fig was begrudgingly walking behind me not sure about moving about with incoming coming in.  Remember he had not been outside the wire of his unit much and I am certain he stayed in a bunker or a reinforced area when there was incoming.  Now I had him wandering in the open to check on the Soldiers.

As we headed to the perimeter SPC Fig called out, "Chaplain."  I said, "What."  He said, "Rockets and Mortars."  I responded, "You have been in Iraq long enough to know the enemy cannot hit in the same place twice so the safest place is to be where they already shot."  He sighed and continued to the perimeter with me.

We completed our rounds on that side of the perimeter ensuring all were safe and ready for the assault on Fallujah we proceeded across the staging area to the other side of the perimeter.  As we were making our way to the other side more rockets and mortars began to rain down.  It was almost as if they were bracketing off of us.  I passed CPT Cobb's vehicle on our way to the other side and saw that a mortar dud had landed just outside of his vehicle and he had the door partially open observing it.  CPT Cobb was our Fire Support Officer (FSO) for the battalion.  He and his team call in fire on the enemy to help silence the enemies rockets and mortars.  So I found it ironic and slightly humorous that a mortar dud landed near our FSO.  Once again my dark sense of humor.  Knowing he was okay and more qualified than I ever would be to handle the situation I proceeded with checking on my Soldiers.

The rest of Fallujah followed—rockets, mortars, doctrine bent but not broken, Soldiers served, casualties borne, heroes honored.

We lost four Soldiers. Many were wounded. I was honored to serve among legends.

This is only part of the story.

Fallujah changed us all.

I am grateful God placed me exactly where He did.

Where Has the Money Gone

The below, under the heading, "Scott Hagan is in Washington D.C. is a posting by Scott Hagan on Facebook (click his name for his FB account or search @jefferyscott88 for his X account).  They are not my words.  They are his words.  I simply felt they were well written and thought they were worth sharing.  

Scott is an Army vet and works in the United States House of Representatives as a Director of Veterans Affairs for a representative from Montana.  I do have one issue with what he says I don't think it is just the elite liberals but it is many on both sides of the aisle that have taken advantage of our tax dollars.  

What we are seeing is drastic.  For many of my family and friends it seems a bit frightening as there is some uncertainty.  Yet this is not the first time drastic measures have been taken by the executive office.  It has been done by both Democrats and Republicans in the past.  Is this more drastic than the past, likely, but we are further down the road of debt and thus more drastic measures are needed to save this Constitutional Republic we call the United States.

There is no way we would be able to manage our households the way the government has managed the country.  It was not too many years ago when I was a Resource Manager for the Religious Support Office at Fort Drum and I was managing the money in the way I had learned in order to be fiscally responsible.  I got in trouble for not spending at least 5% more than I was budgeted.  The reason is, "they can always print more money."  If we do not spend all the money plus we will get less money next year.  I was also held accountable for the money we spent.  Should not those above my level then be held accountable for the money they spend.

I was shocked and amazed but quickly understood why our country was in the financial situation we were in.  We cannot sustain our households continually piling up debt.  Our country cannot maintain if those in D.C. continue to pile up our national debt.  How many of you are unaware of where your money is spent.  We must be accountable personally why shouldn't our government be accountable to us how they spend the money.  I guess the difference is the our tax money is like a rental car, it is not theirs so what does it matter drive it like you stole it.

For those who are fearful of what is happening I can tell you in the moments of my greatest fears I have always found peace in my faith.  It doesn't change the situation often times but in the midst of the storm I can be in peace.  The Bible tells us 1. God does not give us the spirit of fear 2 Tim 1:7, 2. When we are concerned or worried we are to give everything our worries and concerns over to God in prayer Philippians 4:6 - 9 says,

“Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable. Practice what you’ve learned and received from me, what you heard and saw me do. Then the God who gives this peace will be with you.”

I do not want to seem unsympathetic to anyone that is feeling stress or fearful of what may happen.  I have faced fear.  Fear of when my family will have their next meal, fear of survival in combat, fear of an investigation over false allegations.  I get it.  What I also get is the one who knows all, who I call my Lord and Savior, is faithful to carry me through those times of fear.  In the midst of those times I can have peace.  The situations did not change.  I had to walk one step in front of the other through those storms I faced but on the other side was great celebrations.  So I am both sympathetic and empathetic to the situations.  What is happening is happening to people very close to me so I do not take those concerns lightly.

The uncertainty of the times you are feeling right now will bring about a celebration because our country will be stronger in the end.  More importantly we will still have a country.  My prayer is what is happening will cause you to dig deeper in your faith and pray for wisdom in our leadership.  We are instructed in scripture to pray for those in civil authority.  It also says in 2 Chronicles 7:14, 

“However, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear ⌞their prayer⌟ from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their country.”

Scott Hagan is in Washington D.C.

"The phone lines to Congress are still melting down, and the calls have only intensified this week. What are we to expect? The cuts are likely to hit everyone in some way. Where will the next major layoffs be? Our universities. The shutting down of grants is about to wreak havoc on college campuses. Is all this beneficial to America? Have we ever gone through something like this before? Yes, in the words of Margaret Thatcher, “Yes, the medicine is harsh, but the patient requires it in order to live.”

DOGE, Trump, and Elon Musk are the only defenders of our rights. Human rights, gay right's, women’s rights, ect…Let me explain… 

Take a hard look at how our system operates. The lavish lifestyle of DC’s elite liberals is sustained by you, the taxpayer, all without your say-so. Thanks to the transparency provided by Musk, we now have the receipt's.

This is how we’ve learned DC operates: The non-profit pays a liberal $300,000 or more. A married couple takes in $750,000 together, and often much more. Off of your back! If they want a free ski vacation in Aspen? Well there's a conference being held annually. The non-profit will of course fly them there and provide accommodations. Every meal is of course non-profit related. Eat well. Take Chelsea Clinton’s NGO, which received a jaw-dropping $84 million in taxpayer funding, and paid her a staggering $1.3 million solely for her “travel.” Yes, that was her “travel budget!”

In 2000, 30% of nonprofits took in federal dollars—by 2023 it was 68%. The number of nonprofits has DOUBLED in 20yrs. 

Washington DC has the highest median household income in America (outside of San Francisco tech bubble 126k) at 122k a year. It’s not a financial center, like New York City ($95k) or Chicago (87k). It’s not the home of any large ports, New Orleans ($61k) or Boston (98k) It doesn’t even have nice weather, like San Diego or Honolulu (both 101k) 

But what does Washington excel in? Extracting value from the federal government through your tax dollars! Astonishingly, 26% of households earn over $200,000 per year, more than any other city in the United States. In fact, five of the seven wealthiest counties are nestled within the DC Beltway.

Yet, rampant government corruption looms large. The head of the Social Security Administration stepped down after 30 years because she refused to let DOGE employees in. She earned $225,000 a year while the average SSA employee makes $99,000. Remember, all 42,000 government employees protested and convinced Biden that they needed to work from home until 2029 for their COVID safety. Which company has its entire workforce working remotely? Why do government employees earn, on average, $20,000 more than the average taxpayer? Once DOGE finally gained access to the building, we uncovered over 20 million people on the Social Security benefits system who are over the age of 100! Shouldn't we be purging these rolls? Is this really efficiency?

And the DISGRACE continues! The White House is unable to track $6.2 billion dollars sent to Ukraine.

California is unable to track $24 billion dollars to combat homelessness.

The Pentagon is unable to track $2.3 trillion dollars of military spending.

The U.S. Treasury is unable to track $5 trillion dollars of pandemic spending.

In just the first four months of our current fiscal year, we’ve racked up an $838 billion deficit—a staggering 15% increase from last year—as Democrats continue to block Trump and DOGE’s efforts to cut down on federal spending.

The statistics are staggering: Interest payments on our national debt now eclipse military spending, with the total debt skyrocketing to a staggering $36 trillion. Yet Schumer and Jeffries are committed to “choking off” any chance of budget cuts.

Unless we alter our course, guess what awaits us? Bankruptcy.

It’s a unique time to be a Republican; I often hear murmurs within the halls of Congress that “Elon Musk is moving too fast,” or that “some Republicans are about to lose their fortunes.” The reality, though, that we’re merely a decade away from government insolvency. This is the dark secret within DC no one would dare speak publicly. 

It’s alarming that this grim reality is an open topic in Congress, and yet there’s no political will from either side to confront it. Is Musk really moving too fast? Let’s not forget that Bill Clinton famously fired 12% of the federal workforce to bring balance to the budget. Is he now branded as a villain? The left is merely frustrated, caught in a tide of emotion and manipulation.

How is Trump and Elon protecting our rights? This is the cold, harsh, pragmatic truth of the world. There are no rights. No one has rights—rights are an illusion. They are a luxury enjoyed by the citizens in a thriving society.

Our government has grown too massive, and our spending is utterly unsustainable. Musk and Trump, both successful businessmen, understand money in stark black and white. It’s about profit and growth (let’s expand into Canada!) versus the risk of bankruptcy (think K-Mart, Blockbuster, or the Soviet Union).

On the global stage, equality and human rights are mere façades. You’re either a superpower dictating terms or you’re at the mercy of those who are stronger. The voices and lives of Ukrainians are but whimpers; Russia and America will ultimately decide their fate without their input. Is Israel’s war in Gaza ethical or just? It’s of no consequence—Israel holds the military might, while the Palestinians do not. Was the U.S. invasion of Iraq justifiable? It doesn’t matter; one million Iraqis—alive in March 2003—fell by March 2004.

If we collapse like the Soviet Union, when the lights go out and the water stops running, the results will be dire. If we lose our super power status, and are unable to properly defend ourselves, it’s not going to be pleasant. 

I would much rather engage in frivolous debates over trivial matters—like bathroom access based upon gender or egg prices—than face the dystopian reality of bread lines, rampant sanitation diseases, or the ominous presence of Chinese bombers dominating the skies over Los Angeles.

Trump’s idol, Teddy Roosevelt, imparted an essential truth: “The curse of every ancient civilization was that its men, in the end, became unable to fight. Materialism, luxury, and safety weakened the fiber of each civilized race until they became pacifists, easily overrun by those with the virile fighting power that ultimately makes all other virtues irrelevant.”

We either do away with the bread and circuses now and get our house in order, and confront the reality of our situation, or some other power, one that shares none of our values, will step in and do it for us. The great historian Thucydides warned us 2,500 years ago—“the strong do as they will, the weak suffer as they must.”

The billionaire who cut his teeth and made his wealth in one of ruthless buisness cities in the world—grasp this harsh reality. 🇺🇸"

Blessings, Ric

Restarting The Blog

I am restarting the blog I started in 2009.  It was always active but in the midst of the craziness of my life I had stopped blogging.  In fact I have not blogged for so long I could not remember where my blog was being hosted.  Thankfully for my wife she knew exactly where it was.  I was looking over this blog and found it was around Memorial Day 2014 since I last blogged.

When I started this blog I called it, "Life In This Multi-Color Leisure Suit."  This was in reference to the camouflaged uniform I wore while serving in the United States Army.  After 38 years and 3 days in uniform, in September 2022, I finally retired and for the most part hung up my uniform.  There has still been opportunities to wear a uniform but it now spends more time in my closet than on me.  With breathing life back into this blog I decided I needed to change the name so welcome to "Life After The Multi-Color Leisure Suit."

In the last week or so I have been feeling led by God to revive this blog as well as my other blog "Rambling Through Scripture" https://rmechapsdevotions.blogspot.com/.  These two blogs have two different purposes.  Rambling Through Scriptures is simply my ramblings as I work through the Holy Bible.  This blog, Life After The Multi-Color Leisure Suit, will look at various topics.  You could say it will be just my ramblings.  Sometimes it will be spiritual sometimes often times it won't be as spiritual as my devotional blog.  I do not separate my faith from who I am.  My faith is who I am and so often there will be spiritual overtones to anything I write.

The point of this blog is to simply share things about life.  In the past I have restricted what I shared on my blog simply to the fact that I was in uniform and as a Chaplain and commissioned officer I needed to be cautious in what I said.  Now that I am not in uniform I can be more open to share on many different topics.  I look forward to exploring with you my interests.  I do plan on being more political in this blog.  As a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army I had a responsibility to remain apolitical.  In other words I had my opinion about the political landscape but I kept much of my opinions to myself and in the voting booth.  I am learning to have a political voice which comes with great training because I am still that Soldier in uniform in my head.  When I do blog about the political landscape I will do my best to speak truth and hopefully as a chaplain provide some peace.

I have not decided on how often I will blog.  I am not sure if it will be daily because I am just not sure I have that much that is that important to say.  When I do blog my prayer is that it will not just be worth while for me to spend the time sharing but it will be worth your time to read.

Thank you for stopping by my blog.  If you are new here take the time to look at what I have written in the past.  The last time I wrote was almost 11 years ago.  Much in life has changed since I wrote those blogs.  There may still be some nuggets that will benefit you.  Do not forget to stop by my Rambling Through Scriptures blog.  The only thing new there, for me at least, is I have redesigned the page.  I will be doing my best to blog there on a daily basis concerning the scripture passages I am reading.  I pray that blog will help you grow in your walk of faith.  If you don't have a faith may you come to know the God I love with all my heart.

Blessing

Ric

Memorial Day 2014

    Today, 26 May 2014, is Memorial Day in the United States.  For all too many the day will pass as just another long weekend to bring in the long days of Summer.  For those who have been personally touched by war it will never be just another long weekend to enjoy.  As it should be for all, today will forever be a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice on a battlefield in a distant land.  As I sit in my office on Kandahar Air Field just outside of Kandahar, Afghanistan I find that my mind wanders to the memories of 24 Soldiers that I have personally been involved in their memorials in my career and the number of others that I have supervised. 19 of those 24 were killed while deployed to Iraq in 2004 - 2005. I refuse to allow their memories to be forgotten. 

"Ode of Remembrance," from "For the Fallen,"

by Laurence Binyon

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them.

     The following is from my speach that I gave at the Memorial Day Ceremony we conducted here on KAF in Afghanistan.

            Matthew 5:4 says, “Blessed are those who mourn.  They will be comforted.”

            Memorial Day for many of us will never be the same because at some time in the last 13 years of war or in wars previous a family member or a friend was killed in combat defending the country they loved.  There are very few of us that have not been personally impacted by the death of a loved one or a friend. 

Because of the death of a loved one or a friend Memorial Day is a day filled with mixed emotions.  Our emotions are impacted by the memories of Memorial Days of years gone by where we spent time bringing in the summer days on a long weekend with family and friends.  Those memories are now impacted by the memory of the death of someone close to us on a battlefield somewhere defending the country we all love.

            We each deal with our emotions in our own way some will do it openly others privately.  They will allow themselves to feel, to hurt, to grieve. They will laugh and they will cry.  They will at times sit quietly and remember and at other times they will share those memories.

            It is events like this one today where we find strength and comfort in the loss of that individual as we gather with family and friends or even strangers for a moment to give honor to those who paid the ultimate price for the freedom of others.  We grieve as individuals and as a country for the loss of that friend or family member alongside one another.  It is not whether we knew the person that was killed it is the point of giving honor and sharing for a moment in the pain. 

It is in allowing ourselves to feel whatever the emotions may be that we find the comfort we need.  We find the strength in people gathering to remember that today is not just another holiday but it is a day set aside to give honor to those who stood up and said I will not allow evil to prevail.  I will do my part to bring good into this world.  It is why each of us are standing here in Afghanistan because we are willing to say not on my watch will evil prevail.  So today is not just a holiday but a holy day, not in that is has spiritual significance, but in the fact that it is a day set aside to bring honor to those who gave all.

Today is not just about feeling the emotions and grieving to be comforted but it is a day to honor all who have stood on that battlefield and said not on my watch.  The fear of many Gold Star Families is that their family member will be forgotten by the world.  That the world will not remember the sacrifice paid by their family member on a battlefield for the freedoms we enjoy.

As much as we have said we will not allow evil to prevail on our watch.  We also need to say that we will not let those who sacrificed all to be forgotten on our watch.  Romans 13:7 says “Pay everyone whatever you owe them.  If you owe someone respect, respect that person.  If you owe them honor, honor that person.”

We owe those killed in combat and their Gold Star Families respect and honor.  We must do our part to show that honor and not allow these individuals to be forgotten.  We do this by sharing the stories of the individuals who paid the ultimate price.  The fallen may be gone but let us not allow them ever to be forgotten. For in giving honor where honor is due we then provide comfort for the grief.

Blessings of 2013

     As the New Year comes I often reflect on the past year.  It seems that I do this even more while deployed.  So here I sit in Afghanistan reflecting over 2013 as I watch the last few minutes of this year tick away soon a fresh year will begin.  As a Facebook post I saw said, "Soon an old year will pass and you will have a fresh 365 pages to write on in the new year.  What will you write on those pages."  
     Before I begin to write on this new year's pages I want to reflect on the blessings of this past year.  I see this not so much a longing for the old as it is giving honor to God for what he gave me this past year.

     I will always consider myself blessed that another year has gone by and I have my bride still by my side.  This past year we celebrated 27 years of marriage and 28 years of being together.  She has put up with much over these years and once again another deployment.  FaceTime is a great thing for even now I can watch her as she busies herself around the house to prepare for her own New Years celebration with family and friends.  Modern technology is a blessing that allows me to celebrate New Years with her even 7000 miles away.

     A blessing that keeps on giving year after year is our girls in our lives.  God may have not given us children in the way we expected but we are rich to have such amazing beautiful women in our lives and their families.  I am not sure how we came about to deserve such great rewards and honor but yet God has indeed blessed us.

     Facebook has been shown to be a challenge at times in many of our lives.  Yet I found it as a great tool to keep in touch with family and friends as the Army sends me around the world.  Facebook was a great blessing this past year as it allowed me to connect to some special people that I had lost contact with many years ago.  I was just a young boy and they younger then me when, for various reasons and circumstances, we lost contact with one another.  Yet this year I received a tremendous blessing and that was an opportunity to reconnect with cousins from my Dad's side.  One by one I was able to reach out and connect with them through Facebook

     There were times over the years I thought I would never see them again.  Yet 2013 has been a time to get to know them.  To learn of their lives and to be a part of their family.  I look forward to the day that I can see them face to face and we get to laugh and cry and grow closer as family.

     Another blessing is the development of friendships at the church we attend off post in Colorado Springs.  You have to understand that as a Army chaplain I am often leading or assisting at services on the installation I am stationed at.  Rarely having the opportunity to develop connections with those in my denomination.  This year I feel I was able to make friends and solidify those relationships so even if we move away from Colorado Springs I know that when we retire back to the Springs we will just be going home to those at the church.

     2013 has had its rough patches along the way.  Out of the ashes of those rough areas new friendships arose.  What Satan used to attempt to destroy God used to build bonds that were used to strengthen others.

     Proverbs 16:9 says, "A person may plan his own journey, but the Lord directs his steps." I am not sure that I would have planned all that 2013 brought my way, to include a deployment to Afghanistan.  What I have learned over the years is that God does bless the path he takes me on.  I am amazed at where my life has come.  I have done more and achieved more then I could ever have imagined in both my personal and professional life.

     I am not sure what God has in store for 2014.  I am pretty sure that it will likely involve another permanent change of station (PCS) which will be our 7th in 9 years.  Thankfully it will also include a redeployment from Afghanistan.  This I do know that though I may plan my journey I will always pray for God to direct my steps.

     It is now almost 30 minutes into the new year.  My prayer for you is that you too will allow God to order your steps.  That in the midst of trials in the new year you will find blessings.  Happy New Year and may each blank page of each day be written on wisely.