CHAPLAIN HAM - 함찬영 군목

Haiti-Operation Unified Response Haiti

2010-03-12T06:09:00.000-08:00

Strong Bond Family/Couples-Orlando FL dec 09

2010-01-03T19:21:00.001-08:00

It was awesome experience. We really had a good time. www.flickr.com/photos/chaplainham

LFX Dec 09

2010-01-03T18:48:00.000-08:00

It was so cold 7 days. Everyone get to shoot their weapons. I did my part by giving services and provide ministry of presence. www.flickr.com/photos/chaplainham/

Evangelist Oral Roberts dead at 91

2009-12-15T20:25:00.000-08:00

(CNN) -- Evangelist Oral Roberts, founder of the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association and Oral Roberts University, died Tuesday from complications of pneumonia in Newport Beach, California, his spokeswoman said. He was 91.

Roberts' son, Richard, and daughter Roberta were at his side, spokeswoman Melany Ethridge said in a statement.

Roberts was hospitalized Monday following a fall on Saturday, in which he suffered broken bones, Ethridge said earlier, adding he was being treated for pneumonia.

There will be a private interment, the statement said. Arrangements for a public memorial service in Tulsa, Oklahoma, are pending.

"Oral Roberts was a man of God, and a great friend in ministry," the Rev. Billy Graham said in a statement Tuesday. "I loved him as a brother. We had many quiet conversations over the years."

Granville Oral Roberts was born into poverty in Bebee, Oklahoma, on January 24, 1918, according to a brief biography released by Ethridge. His Christian ministry began with what he described as his own miracle healing of tuberculosis at age 17.

Roberts pastored churches in Oklahoma and Georgia and preached at revivals around the country while studying at Oklahoma Baptist University and Phillips University in Oklahoma, according to the biography.

In 1947, he founded the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association in Tulsa, "and began conducting crusades across America and around the world, attracting crowds of thousands -- many who were sick and dying and in search of healing," the biography said. "Through the years, he conducted more than 300 crusades on six continents" and "laid hands" on an estimated 2 million people, according to association officials.

In 1954, he brought television cameras into services, providing what he liked to call a "front-row seat to miracles" to viewers, the biography said. He later began a television program, initially called "Oral Roberts Presents." The ministry's daily program, now called "The Place for Miracles," can be seen on more than 100 television stations, multiple cable and satellite networks and the Internet, Ethridge said.

"If God had not in his sovereign will raised up the ministry of Oral Roberts, the entire charismatic movement might not have occurred," said Jack Hayford, president of the California-based International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, in the statement. "Oral shook the landscape with the inescapable reality and practicality of Jesus' whole ministry. His teaching and concepts were foundational to the renewal that swept through the whole church."

Roberts founded the Abundant Life Prayer Group in 1958 "to address the around-the-clock needs of those suffering and requesting prayer," according to the biography. Today, prayer partners at Abundant Life continue to receive calls 24 hours a day. The group has received more than 23 million phone calls for prayer, the biography said.

Oral Roberts University was founded in 1963, built on 500 acres in Tulsa and dedicated four years later by Graham, according to the biography. Graduate schools including medicine, nursing, dentistry, law, education and theology were later added. Roberts served as school president until 1993 but remained a chancellor until his death.

He remained involved in his evangelistic association as much as his health allowed, Ethridge said Monday. His son, Richard Roberts, currently serves as president.

In 1977, Roberts said he had a vision of a 900-foot-tall Jesus, who told him to found the City of Faith Medical and Research Center. The biography said the center was aimed at "merging the healing power of medicine and prayer."

In 1986, Roberts announced that God would "call him home" unless he raised $8 million to send medical missionaries from the center -- an announcement that was widely publicized. He wound up raising $9.1 million, but the center closed in 1989. However, the biography said, it left "a lasting impact on the understanding by many medical professionals of the importance of treating the whole person -- body, mind and spirit."

In addition, Roberts wrote more than 130 books, the biography said. "His book 'The Miracle of Seed Faith' has more than 8 million copies in circulation. This book's key principles -- God is your source, sow your seed out of your need, and expect a miracle harvest -- formed a fundamental part of Roberts' ministry and legacy," the biography said.

Before his death, Roberts said, "After I'm gone, others will have to judge how well I've obeyed God's command not to be an echo but to be a voice like Jesus," the statement said. "As far as my own conviction is concerned, I've tried to be that voice with every fiber of my being, regardless of the cost."

Responding to news of Roberts' death, Graham said Tuesday: "Just three weeks ago, I was privileged to talk to Oral on the telephone. During the short conversation, he said to me that he was near the end of his life's journey. I look forward to the day that I will see Oral and Evelyn Roberts again in heaven -- our eternal home."

Roberts wife, Evelyn, died in 2005 after the couple had been married more than 66 years. Roberts is survived by his son and daughter and their spouses, along with 12 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren, Ethridge said.

the day beforeThanskgiving 2009

2009-12-14T04:06:00.000-08:00

As part of Ch's duty, we are giving ceremonial invocations during army official activities. On the day before Thanksgiving, I had to do two line company change of commands, serving Thxgiving lunch, etc. Thanks to Soldiers and families...and supporters to Arm Forces.

Text of President Obama’s speech on Afghanistan

2009-12-01T19:07:00.000-08:00

The Associated PressPosted : Tuesday Dec 1, 2009 21:28:36 EST

Here is the text of President Barack Obama’s speech Tuesday about his plans for the Afghanistan war, as provided by the White House:
———
Good evening. To the United States Corps of Cadets, to the men and women of our armed services and to my fellow Americans: I want to speak to you tonight about our effort in Afghanistan — the nature of our commitment there, the scope of our interests and the strategy that my Administration will pursue to bring this war to a successful conclusion. It is an honor for me to do so here — at West Point — where so many men and women have prepared to stand up for our security, and to represent what is finest about our country.

To address these issues, it is important to recall why America and our allies were compelled to fight a war in Afghanistan in the first place. We did not ask for this fight. On Sept. 11, 2001, 19 men hijacked four airplanes and used them to murder nearly 3,000 people. They struck at our military and economic nerve centers. They took the lives of innocent men, women and children without regard to their faith or race or station. Were it not for the heroic actions of the passengers on board one of those flights, they could have also struck at one of the great symbols of our democracy in Washington and killed many more.

As we know, these men belonged to al-Qaida — a group of extremists who have distorted and defiled Islam, one of the world’s great religions, to justify the slaughter of innocents. Al-Qaida’s base of operations was in Afghanistan, where they were harbored by the Taliban — a ruthless, repressive and radical movement that seized control of that country after it was ravaged by years of Soviet occupation and civil war, and after the attention of America and our friends had turned elsewhere.

Just days after 9/11, Congress authorized the use of force against al-Qaida and those who harbored them — an authorization that continues to this day. The vote in the Senate was 98 to 0. The vote in the House was 420 to 1. For the first time in its history, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization invoked Article 5 — the commitment that says an attack on one member nation is an attack on all. And the United Nations Security Council endorsed the use of all necessary steps to respond to the 9/11 attacks. America, our allies and the world were acting as one to destroy al-Qaida’s terrorist network and to protect our common security.

Under the banner of this domestic unity and international legitimacy — and only after the Taliban refused to turn over Osama bin Laden — we sent our troops into Afghanistan. Within a matter of months, al-Qaida was scattered and many of its operatives were killed. The Taliban was driven from power and pushed back on its heels. A place that had known decades of fear now had reason to hope. At a conference convened by the U.N., a provisional government was established under President Hamid Karzai. And an international security assistance force was established to help bring a lasting peace to a war-torn country.

Then, in early 2003, the decision was made to wage a second war in Iraq. The wrenching debate over the Iraq War is well-known and need not be repeated here. It is enough to say that for the next six years, the Iraq War drew the dominant share of our troops, our resources, our diplomacy, and our national attention — and that the decision to go into Iraq caused substantial rifts between America and much of the world.

Today, after extraordinary costs, we are bringing the Iraq war to a responsible end. We will remove our combat brigades from Iraq by the end of next summer, and all of our troops by the end of 2011. That we are doing so is a testament to the character of our men and women in uniform. Thanks to their courage, grit and perseverance, we have given Iraqis a chance to shape their future, and we are successfully leaving Iraq to its people.

But while we have achieved hard-earned milestones in Iraq, the situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated. After escaping across the border into Pakistan in 2001 and 2002, al-Qaida’s leadership established a safe haven there. Although a legitimate government was elected by the Afghan people, it has been hampered by corruption, the drug trade, an underdeveloped economy and insufficient security forces. Over the last several years, the Taliban has maintained common cause with al-Qaida, as they both seek an overthrow of the Afghan government.
Gradually, the Taliban has begun to take control over swaths of Afghanistan, while engaging in increasingly brazen and devastating acts of terrorism against the Pakistani people.

Throughout this period, our troop levels in Afghanistan remained a fraction of what they were in Iraq. When I took office, we had just over 32,000 Americans serving in Afghanistan, compared to 160,000 in Iraq at the peak of the war. Commanders in Afghanistan repeatedly asked for support to deal with the reemergence of the Taliban, but these reinforcements did not arrive.

That’s why, shortly after taking office, I approved a long-standing request for more troops. After consultations with our allies, I then announced a strategy recognizing the fundamental connection between our war effort in Afghanistan, and the extremist safe-havens in Pakistan. I set a goal that was narrowly defined as disrupting, dismantling, and defeating al-Qaida and its extremist allies, and pledged to better coordinate our military and civilian effort.

Since then, we have made progress on some important objectives. High-ranking al-Qaida and Taliban leaders have been killed, and we have stepped up the pressure on al-Qaida worldwide. In Pakistan, that nation’s Army has gone on its largest offensive in years. In Afghanistan, we and our allies prevented the Taliban from stopping a presidential election, and — although it was marred by fraud — that election produced a government that is consistent with Afghanistan’s laws and Constitution.

Yet huge challenges remain. Afghanistan is not lost, but for several years it has moved backwards. There is no imminent threat of the government being overthrown, but the Taliban has gained momentum. Al-Qaida has not re-emerged in Afghanistan in the same numbers as before 9/11, but they retain their safe havens along the border. And our forces lack the full support they need to effectively train and partner with Afghan security forces and better secure the population. Our new commander in Afghanistan — General McChrystal — has reported that the security situation is more serious than he anticipated. In short: The status quo is not sustainable.

As cadets, you volunteered for service during this time of danger. Some of you have fought in Afghanistan. Many will deploy there. As your commander in chief, I owe you a mission that is clearly defined and worthy of your service. That is why, after the Afghan voting was completed, I insisted on a thorough review of our strategy. Let me be clear: There has never been an option before me that called for troop deployments before 2010, so there has been no delay or denial of resources necessary for the conduct of the war. Instead, the review has allowed me ask the hard questions and to explore all of the different options along with my national security team, our military and civilian leadership in Afghanistan, and with our key partners. Given the stakes involved, I owed the American people and our troops no less.

This review is now complete. And as commander in chief, I have determined that it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan. After 18 months, our troops will begin to come home. These are the resources that we need to seize the initiative, while building the Afghan capacity that can allow for a responsible transition of our forces out of Afghanistan.

I do not make this decision lightly. I opposed the war in Iraq precisely because I believe that we must exercise restraint in the use of military force and always consider the long-term consequences of our actions. We have been at war for eight years, at enormous cost in lives and resources. Years of debate over Iraq and terrorism have left our unity on national security issues in tatters and created a highly polarized and partisan backdrop for this effort. And having just experienced the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the American people are understandably focused on rebuilding our economy and putting people to work here at home.
Most of all, I know that this decision asks even more of you — a military that, along with your families, has already borne the heaviest of all burdens.

As president, I have signed a letter of condolence to the family of each American who gives their life in these wars. I have read the letters from the parents and spouses of those who deployed. I have visited our courageous wounded warriors at Walter Reed. I have traveled to Dover to meet the flag-draped caskets of 18 Americans returning home to their final resting place. I see firsthand the terrible wages of war. If I did not think that the security of the United States and the safety of the American people were at stake in Afghanistan, I would gladly order every single one of our troops home tomorrow.

So no — I do not make this decision lightly. I make this decision because I am convinced that our security is at stake in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is the epicenter of the violent extremism practiced by al-Qaida. It is from here that we were attacked on 9/11, and it is from here that new attacks are being plotted as I speak. This is no idle danger, no hypothetical threat. In the last few months alone, we have apprehended extremists within our borders who were sent here from the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan to commit new acts of terror. This danger will only grow if the region slides backwards and al-Qaida can operate with impunity. We must keep the pressure on al-Qaida, and to do that, we must increase the stability and capacity of our partners in the region.

Of course, this burden is not ours alone to bear. This is not just America’s war. Since 9/11, al-Qaida’s safe-havens have been the source of attacks against London and Amman and Bali. The people and governments of both Afghanistan and Pakistan are endangered. And the stakes are even higher within a nuclear-armed Pakistan, because we know that al-Qaida and other extremists seek nuclear weapons, and we have every reason to believe that they would use them.

These facts compel us to act along with our friends and allies. Our overarching goal remains the same: to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaida in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and to prevent its capacity to threaten America and our allies in the future.

To meet that goal, we will pursue the following objectives within Afghanistan. We must deny al-Qaida a safe-haven. We must reverse the Taliban’s momentum and deny it the ability to overthrow the government. And we must strengthen the capacity of Afghanistan’s security forces and government, so that they can take lead responsibility for Afghanistan’s future.
We will meet these objectives in three ways. First, we will pursue a military strategy that will break the Taliban’s momentum and increase Afghanistan’s capacity over the next 18 months.
The 30,000 additional troops that I am announcing tonight will deploy in the first part of 2010 — the fastest pace possible — so that they can target the insurgency and secure key population centers. They will increase our ability to train competent Afghan security forces and to partner with them so that more Afghans can get into the fight. And they will help create the conditions for the United States to transfer responsibility to the Afghans.

Because this is an international effort, I have asked that our commitment be joined by contributions from our allies. Some have already provided additional troops, and we are confident that there will be further contributions in the days and weeks ahead. Our friends have fought and bled and died alongside us in Afghanistan. Now we must come together to end this war successfully. For what’s at stake is not simply a test of NATO’s credibility — what’s at stake is the security of our Allies and the common security of the world.

Taken together, these additional American and international troops will allow us to accelerate handing over responsibility to Afghan forces and allow us to begin the transfer of our forces out of Afghanistan in July of 2011. Just as we have done in Iraq, we will execute this transition responsibly, taking into account conditions on the ground. We will continue to advise and assist Afghanistan’s security forces to ensure that they can succeed over the long haul. But it will be clear to the Afghan government — and, more importantly, to the Afghan people that they will ultimately be responsible for their own country.

Second, we will work with our partners, the U.N., and the Afghan people to pursue a more effective civilian strategy, so that the government can take advantage of improved security.
This effort must be based on performance. The days of providing a blank check are over. President Karzai’s inauguration speech sent the right message about moving in a new direction. And going forward, we will be clear about what we expect from those who receive our assistance. We will support Afghan ministries, governors and local leaders that combat corruption and deliver for the people. We expect those who are ineffective or corrupt to be held accountable. And we will also focus our assistance in areas such as agriculture that can make an immediate impact in the lives of the Afghan people.

The people of Afghanistan have endured violence for decades. They have been confronted with occupation — by the Soviet Union, and then by foreign al-Qaida fighters who used Afghan land for their own purposes. So tonight, I want the Afghan people to understand — America seeks an end to this era of war and suffering. We have no interest in occupying your country. We will support efforts by the Afghan government to open the door to those Taliban who abandon violence and respect the human rights of their fellow citizens. And we will seek a partnership with Afghanistan grounded in mutual respect to isolate those who destroy, to strengthen those who build, to hasten the day when our troops will leave, and to forge a lasting friendship in which America is your partner and never your patron.

Third, we will act with the full recognition that our success in Afghanistan is inextricably linked to our partnership with Pakistan.

We are in Afghanistan to prevent a cancer from once again spreading through that country. But this same cancer has also taken root in the border region of Pakistan. That is why we need a strategy that works on both sides of the border.

In the past, there have been those in Pakistan who have argued that the struggle against extremism is not their fight, and that Pakistan is better off doing little or seeking accommodation with those who use violence. But in recent years, as innocents have been killed from Karachi to Islamabad, it has become clear that it is the Pakistani people who are the most endangered by extremism. Public opinion has turned. The Pakistani army has waged an offensive in Swat and South Waziristan. And there is no doubt that the United States and Pakistan share a common enemy.

In the past, we too often defined our relationship with Pakistan narrowly. Those days are over. Moving forward, we are committed to a partnership with Pakistan that is built on a foundation of mutual interests, mutual respect and mutual trust. We will strengthen Pakistan’s capacity to target those groups that threaten our countries and have made it clear that we cannot tolerate a safe haven for terrorists whose location is known and whose intentions are clear. America is also providing substantial resources to support Pakistan’s democracy and development. We are the largest international supporter for those Pakistanis displaced by the fighting. And going forward, the Pakistani people must know: America will remain a strong supporter of Pakistan’s security and prosperity long after the guns have fallen silent, so that the great potential of its people can be unleashed.

These are the three core elements of our strategy: a military effort to create the conditions for a transition, a civilian surge that reinforces positive action and an effective partnership with Pakistan.

I recognize that there are a range of concerns about our approach. So let me briefly address a few of the prominent arguments that I have heard, and which I take very seriously.
First, there are those who suggest that Afghanistan is another Vietnam. They argue that it cannot be stabilized, and we are better off cutting our losses and rapidly withdrawing. Yet this argument depends upon a false reading of history. Unlike Vietnam, we are joined by a broad coalition of 43 nations that recognizes the legitimacy of our action. Unlike Vietnam, we are not facing a broad-based popular insurgency. And most importantly, unlike Vietnam, the American people were viciously attacked from Afghanistan and remain a target for those same extremists who are plotting along its border. To abandon this area now — and to rely only on efforts against al-Qaida from a distance — would significantly hamper our ability to keep the pressure on al-Qaida and create an unacceptable risk of additional attacks on our homeland and our allies.
Second, there are those who acknowledge that we cannot leave Afghanistan in its current state but suggest that we go forward with the troops that we have. But this would simply maintain a status quo in which we muddle through and permit a slow deterioration of conditions there. It would ultimately prove more costly and prolong our stay in Afghanistan, because we would never be able to generate the conditions needed to train Afghan security forces and give them the space to take over.

Finally, there are those who oppose identifying a timeframe for our transition to Afghan responsibility. Indeed, some call for a more dramatic and open-ended escalation of our war effort — one that would commit us to a nation-building project of up to a decade. I reject this course because it sets goals that are beyond what we can achieve at a reasonable cost and what we need to achieve to secure our interests. Furthermore, the absence of a time frame for transition would deny us any sense of urgency in working with the Afghan government. It must be clear that Afghans will have to take responsibility for their security, and that America has no interest in fighting an endless war in Afghanistan.

As president, I refuse to set goals that go beyond our responsibility, our means or our interests. And I must weigh all of the challenges that our nation faces. I do not have the luxury of committing to just one. Indeed, I am mindful of the words of President Eisenhower, who — in discussing our national security — said, “Each proposal must be weighed in the light of a broader consideration: the need to maintain balance in and among national programs.”
Over the past several years, we have lost that balance and failed to appreciate the connection between our national security and our economy. In the wake of an economic crisis, too many of our friends and neighbors are out of work and struggle to pay the bills, and too many Americans are worried about the future facing our children. Meanwhile, competition within the global economy has grown more fierce. So we simply cannot afford to ignore the price of these wars.
All told, by the time I took office the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan approached a trillion dollars. Going forward, I am committed to addressing these costs openly and honestly. Our new approach in Afghanistan is likely to cost us roughly $30 billion for the military this year, and I will work closely with Congress to address these costs as we work to bring down our deficit.

But as we end the war in Iraq and transition to Afghan responsibility, we must rebuild our strength here at home. Our prosperity provides a foundation for our power. It pays for our military. It underwrites our diplomacy. It taps the potential of our people and allows investment in new industry. And it will allow us to compete in this century as successfully as we did in the last. That is why our troop commitment in Afghanistan cannot be open-ended — because the nation that I am most interested in building is our own.

Let me be clear: None of this will be easy. The struggle against violent extremism will not be finished quickly, and it extends well beyond Afghanistan and Pakistan. It will be an enduring test of our free society, and our leadership in the world. And unlike the great power conflicts and clear lines of division that defined the 20th century, our effort will involve disorderly regions and diffuse enemies.

So as a result, America will have to show our strength in the way that we end wars and prevent conflict. We will have to be nimble and precise in our use of military power. Where al-Qaida and its allies attempt to establish a foothold — whether in Somalia or Yemen or elsewhere they must be confronted by growing pressure and strong partnerships.

And we cannot count on military might alone. We have to invest in our homeland security, because we cannot capture or kill every violent extremist abroad. We have to improve and better coordinate our intelligence, so that we stay one step ahead of shadowy networks.
We will have to take away the tools of mass destruction. That is why I have made it a central pillar of my foreign policy to secure loose nuclear materials from terrorists, to stop the spread of nuclear weapons and to pursue the goal of a world without them. Because every nation must understand that true security will never come from an endless race for ever-more destructive weapons — true security will come for those who reject them.

We will have to use diplomacy, because no one nation can meet the challenges of an interconnected world acting alone. I have spent this year renewing our alliances and forging new partnerships. And we have forged a new beginning between America and the Muslim World — one that recognizes our mutual interest in breaking a cycle of conflict and that promises a future in which those who kill innocents are isolated by those who stand up for peace and prosperity and human dignity.

Finally, we must draw on the strength of our values — for the challenges that we face may have changed, but the things that we believe in must not. That is why we must promote our values by living them at home — which is why I have prohibited torture and will close the prison at Guantanamo Bay. And we must make it clear to every man, woman and child around the world who lives under the dark cloud of tyranny that America will speak out on behalf of their human rights, and tend to the light of freedom and justice and opportunity and respect for the dignity of all peoples. That is who we are. That is the moral source of America’s authority.

Since the days of Franklin Roosevelt, and the service and sacrifice of our grandparents, our country has borne a special burden in global affairs. We have spilled American blood in many countries on multiple continents. We have spent our revenue to help others rebuild from rubble and develop their own economies. We have joined with others to develop an architecture of institutions — from the United Nations to NATO to the World Bank that provide for the common security and prosperity of human beings.

We have not always been thanked for these efforts, and we have at times made mistakes. But more than any other nation, the United States of America has underwritten global security for over six decades a time that, for all its problems, has seen walls come down, markets open, billions lifted from poverty, unparalleled scientific progress and advancing frontiers of human liberty.

For unlike the great powers of old, we have not sought world domination. Our union was founded in resistance to oppression. We do not seek to occupy other nations. We will not claim another nation’s resources or target other peoples because their faith or ethnicity is different from ours. What we have fought for — and what we continue to fight for — is a better future for our children and grandchildren, and we believe that their lives will be better if other peoples’ children and grandchildren can live in freedom and access opportunity.

As a country, we are not as young — and perhaps not as innocent — as we were when Roosevelt was President. Yet we are still heirs to a noble struggle for freedom. Now we must summon all of our might and moral suasion to meet the challenges of a new age.

In the end, our security and leadership does not come solely from the strength of our arms. It derives from our people — from the workers and businesses who will rebuild our economy; from the entrepreneurs and researchers who will pioneer new industries; from the teachers that will educate our children, and the service of those who work in our communities at home; from the diplomats and Peace Corps volunteers who spread hope abroad; and from the men and women in uniform who are part of an unbroken line of sacrifice that has made government of the people, by the people and for the people a reality on this Earth.

This vast and diverse citizenry will not always agree on every issue nor should we. But I also know that we, as a country, cannot sustain our leadership nor navigate the momentous challenges of our time if we allow ourselves to be split asunder by the same rancor and cynicism and partisanship that has in recent times poisoned our national discourse.

It is easy to forget that when this war began, we were united — bound together by the fresh memory of a horrific attack and by the determination to defend our homeland and the values we hold dear. I refuse to accept the notion that we cannot summon that unity again. I believe with every fiber of my being that we — as Americans — can still come together behind a common purpose. For our values are not simply words written into parchment — they are a creed that calls us together and that has carried us through the darkest of storms as one nation, one people.

America — we are passing through a time of great trial. And the message that we send in the midst of these storms must be clear: That our cause is just, our resolve unwavering. We will go forward with the confidence that right makes might, and with the commitment to forge an America that is safer, a world that is more secure, and a future that represents not the deepest of fears but the highest of hopes.

Thank you, God bless you, God bless our troops, and may God bless the United States of America.

1-325 AIR bn dining in

2009-11-26T17:31:00.000-08:00

In ancident days, dining in was celebrated over victory was remembered and booty of recent conquests raraded. I just had my first bn dining in. General (RET) Linday was the main speaker. This dining in was so special ciz it had so many tradition and honor of 82nd Abn div and 1-325 AIR.

Strong Bond-1Single retreat in DC on Nov 09

2009-11-20T22:02:00.000-08:00

After battle against contracting office for lodging and meals and crazy process to set up a retreat for singles, we end up in DC and tried our best to have some fun despite the accomodation. 1-325th Paratroopers had a good time in National Harbor and pay respect to fallen soldiers in Arlington Cemetery.

being an infantry chaplain

2009-11-11T19:05:00.001-08:00

The life is not easy as an airborne ranger chaplain and when you are in the 82nd airborne infantry regiment (I can't imagine ranger bat chaps). The OP Tempo and schedules are just crazy and non-stop. I don't blog about any sensitive tactical trainings nor other sensitive trainings (regular or chaplain ones). It is hard to judge what is classified and what not. I just finished our 3 days Bn's mini ranger officers' training. I end up eating only one MRE for last three days. As usual, God blessed us with wet and cold infantry weathers. Of course you are fighting for your shoulder n back pain due to heavy ruck and extra sensitive items on you. After exposure to rain 24 hours straight, you feel your body and ruck weighs 20 lbs heavier. Always responsive to your body tempertures due to sudden change of weather. You feel like you want to quit, but ranger hormones kick in to drive you further so as tactical portions. This last 3 days were challenging experience for me to handle since the Ranger school in 2o years ago. All my Army peers from 21 years ago were retired (so I heard). I am 40 yrs old and still going (as a chaplain). Although I am not young as 20 years old age group, God blessed me with physical strength and excellent health.

I think that I am so blessed to be serving as an airborne ranger chaplain in the 82nd, 2 BCT, 1-325 airborne infantry regiment. I am humbled by the professionalism of our Soldiers (paratroopers) and their competence and leadership for this present Army. I say that it is so different as an infantry chaplain than as FA chaplain. I am glad that I can experience both fields.

i can't wait to be deployed with this unit and serve them in the combat zone.

Disney shows

2009-11-11T18:48:00.000-08:00

My daugters like Disney figures and especially princess figures. First time in my life, I went to see The Walt Disney show (ice skating show) because of my kids. The show made all of us screaming and clapping because of their superb performances. It was spectacular.

Cotton fields in NC

2009-11-11T18:36:00.000-08:00

We passed by a cotton field near our house. There were so many farms around here which bears the dark history of slavery and tears of innocents. It was so mystical to touch a raw cotton. It was so soft and literally like a cotton ball.

Bright Star-Egypt 2009

2009-10-24T22:55:00.000-07:00

We left Ft. Bragg and tactically jumped into a desert in Egypt after flying 16 hours up in the air. We did one more friendly jump with coalition forces. Provided chaplain's ministry of presence and managed to conduct one religious service.

Foreign Jump

2009-10-09T09:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we had our practice run (jump and actions on the objective) with coalition forces. We end up getting Egyptian, German, Kuwaiti, and Pakistani jump wings. All allied forces were surprised by US chaplain jumping with their jumpers on a mission.

pay day activity

2009-10-09T09:27:00.001-07:00

During our pay day activity, I gave chaplain's brifing to new comers and suicide awareness prevention brief. It has been almost 18 years ago that I participated in payday activity with class A again.

DC Trip

2009-10-09T09:22:00.001-07:00

First time in my life, I visited DC and Army Walter Reed Hospital. With my BN Sr leadership, we visited SGT Hoxie, who was injured during Afghanistan surge with 1-325 AIR two years ago. The visitation moved my heart and brought more respect to veterans of OIF and OEF.

Spiritual Fitness Run

2009-10-09T08:26:00.001-07:00

I led the fist Bn spiritual fitness run. First I took Soldiers through golf course run about over 4 miles and stop 3 times b/w the run to give spiritual points. When we came back from the run, we prayed and sang and gave out St. Michael's pendant. The patron of airborne paratroopers.

first sand box

2009-09-23T18:32:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I made a sand box for my daughters. It was not easy process, but I managed it. Angeline kissed me for what I've done. I just need to hire people to lay out fences around our back yard. Taking care of the lawn is my duty. Both girls love to ride on a mower.

The City of Wilmington

2009-09-22T19:29:00.000-07:00

This is a very historical city where you find many civil war artifacts and buildings. Unlike Calfornia nor the West coast, you rarely see Asians around the streets of Southern States. The city was beautiful and clean. We stayed in the Hilton Hotel during our BDE Strong Bond.

Cameron Farmers Festival

2009-09-22T19:16:00.000-07:00

The city of Cameron is located 50 minutes from Ft. Bragg. CW2 Morgan grew up here. This place was so country style town. It is a town where everyone knows your name.

At the Sicily Drop Zone

2009-09-16T18:02:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I jumped into Sicily DZ with Reserve Riggers. I gave a short invocation for their change of command. I made 3 jumps in last three weeks.

Ft. Bragg and new life (dairy)-by the grace of God

2009-08-28T03:39:00.000-07:00

Since I got here at Ft. Bragg, things were going 100 miles an hour and many taskings were laid out for me to execute them. I cannnot desribe how busy I was!!! Take care of family, look for house, unit tasks, jumps....

I am so glad that first busy phase is over now and once I move to our new home, I believe that things will go smooth and crusing. Since 28 July to 28 Aug.

1. Arrived to Ft. BRagg and move to Airborne Inn/busy learning names of streets

2. bought used 09 Honda Accord

3. Moved out of Airborne Inn and moved to Landmark Inn

4. Moved out of Landmark inn and moved to Valueplace Lodge

5. Took us 10 days to find a house and started closing (our first home)

6. Attended Bde Strong Bond at Hilton Wilmington, NC (first time in my life to visit Southern city)

7. usual chaplain duty as counseling, make visitation, staff meetings, PT with unit

8. Conducted and led our Bn Strong Bond at Great Wolf Lodge, Concord (contract and prep were overwhemling), hosted 160 people

9. Made first night jump (hollywood) and end up receiving Chilean Foreign Jump Wing cuz Chilean Army Commando LTC Nunez was doing his JMPI on us

10. Conducted night combat jump with my unit for Aug JFEX

11. moving to new house/closing/move out of Valueplace

week 2 in Anahiem

2009-08-01T03:42:00.000-07:00

Long Beach Aquarium & Queen Mary, South Coast Plaza & Vive France Restaurant, Petra church, Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant

Week 2 in Anaheim-Visited Los Angeles zoo

2009-07-22T00:56:00.000-07:00

This weeks average temp runs about 90-100 F. It was so hot day, all the animals pretty much did not move at all.

BBQ restaurant

2009-07-22T00:06:00.000-07:00

My mother in law hosted our family to a Korean BBQ where they are known for rice cake wrap with a meat on it. SikDoRak (식도락) is a chain restaurant started from Los Angeles Koreantown. Somwhow in the restaurant, I saw 90% of customers were non-Koreans. OC Sikdorak must have been rated by a local newspaper food section. We had chadol-차돌배기(thin beefs sliced stripes). If we ate this much in Korea, we have to pay about $300 dollars. However, thanks to US beef prices, for 7 people we only paid just little over $100.

Huntington Beach

2009-07-21T23:43:00.001-07:00

When I retire from the Army, I will definitely settle in Southern California area. Its not because I am from here, but we are located 1.5 hrs from mountains and 20 minutes from beaches. The Huntington state beach is known for its surfing competition, beach valleyball, beach wears, etc... As we are playing on sand, we are visited by a seal and many followed a seal lion due to suprised visit.

1st Week in Anaheim

2009-07-21T22:30:00.000-07:00

Our first week in Anaheim was all about catching up on old friends and dishes we missed in two years. Pho, Vietnamese noodle, was the most we missed and we visited a pho restaurant we often visited. So far we are catching on our appetite at TGIF, Chinese restaurant, Vietnames restaurant, Inn and Out Burger...

Home at last

2009-07-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

After 13 hrs on the air, we finally arrived at the LA airport. LAX was terrible. Going thru rennovation, so small, over crowded, cops all over the place, etc... I really felt the necessity of cell phone's exiestence whenI landed. From the Dongducheon apt, I carried 10 bags and by the time I landed at the airport I end up with 8 bags. Felt so blessed surrounded by families.

Day 0-At the Airport

2009-07-14T09:31:00.000-07:00

Incheon Int'l Airport is the world's best and they won the best rating in last three years. Everthing went accoring to the plan and even at the airport, God's grace was all over us. We let them play at the indoor park and waste their youthful energies so they can sleep thru the trip. Kids did not cry while we are flying to Los Angeles. I finally get to experience what military move is like, especially from the Overseas tour perspective.

Day 2- w/ Dr. Chung's family

2009-07-08T17:10:00.001-07:00

Finally as last thing to do, I shipped my POV and expect to get them on Sept. 09. We had a dinner with our good friend Dr. Chung at the Todai restaurant. We appreciate for his friendship and hospitable heart over the years.

Day 3- Final out with 2ID

2009-07-08T16:17:00.000-07:00

I departed to Camp Stanley at 0630 to final out with 2ID. It was 1hr drive and it took me 10 mins to final out. We accomplished a few things on this day.

1. I took my family to "Pyongyang restaurant" at Samgakji next to Yongsan garrison. Thier cow organs soup and thin beef slice grill are famous among business workers.

2. After the lunch, we walked over to The Korea War Museum. Over 33,000 US Soldiers have died during Korea War. You'll see military artifacts from all decades and even from KOGURYO dynasty who ruled deeper area of China/Manchuria and part of Russia.

3. Visited by wife's cousin and we took him to Black Angus.

4. visited by wife's friends

Day 4- relaxing in Dragon Hill Lodge and Itaewon

2009-07-08T15:59:00.000-07:00

After celebrating nation's B-day, we just stayed in and relaxed. Most likely I won't be spending 4ofJuly with my family next year due to the deployment.

DAY 5-the rigorous Daegu and kyoung ju trip

2009-07-06T09:06:00.001-07:00

On Sunday, our trip started from Seou > Daegu > Pohang > Kyoungju > Daegu, and to Seoul. We went to see ellen's uncle, who is a doctor, in the city. Pohang is known for POSCO industrial area, ROKMC HQ and DIVs TNG. Kyoungju is known for ancient Silla dynasty's capital (57 BC – 935 AD) where you still see many artifacts and arche sites. Although Japanese stolen many treasures and French took many of monuments indirectly, you can see the majestic beauty of once prospered for 1000 years. Under the Silla dynasty, the belife of Buhdism was so prospered. We also can find a few evidence of Christian presence in the Silla dynasty where the followers of Thomas delivered the message of Christ. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silla

Day 6-last saturday evening in seoul

2009-07-06T09:02:00.000-07:00

I had a dinner with my good friend Ilmo Chung. I've known him since 1996. He was my dept. manager when I was working in Korea 96-97. I invited him and his wife to Dragon hill and spent the 4th of July evening.

DAY 6-Visiting Iksan

2009-07-06T08:47:00.000-07:00

On Satursay 6 July, I took my family to Iksan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iksan , where my aunt (mom's sister) lives. we took a KTX express train speeds up to 300 km/hr. It was so interesting to know that Iksan is a historical city carries the legacy of baekje dynasty from 5th cen. We had to hurry back to Seoul for another dinner appt.

DAY 7-Last Friday in Korea

2009-07-06T08:32:00.000-07:00

I met my Korean friends from the elementary years for the last time. Koreans are unique and they love to honor and celebrate their friends from the past. I tool my friend CPT Semidey for a cultural challenge, however, he became an instant star among us. What would a good korean do after typical Shamgyulsal grill? Hit the Noraebang or Karaoke. If I ever reassigned to Korea and see my friends then, we will be in 50s.

10 days left in Korea

2009-06-30T06:23:00.001-07:00

Its time to leave Korea and head on to a different assignment. I will be part of 82nd Airborne Division. It is like a dream come true after 21 years later. when I joined the Army 21 years ago, I wanted it to serve 82nd Div. I will be serving as a chaplain for 1-325 AIR "Red Falcons."

My good friends from 6-37 FA, CPT Flander and CPt Semidey, had a final night out to celebrate my departure. I am going to miss them all. CPT Flander spilled meat oil on his pants, however, the owner was gracious to buy him a new pants for him to replace it. Koreans are very hospitable.

Malaysia trip

2009-06-09T14:20:00.000-07:00

Somehow, Malysia attracts and I always thought about going to Malaysia as a missionary. Finally, I took my family to Kuala Lumpur for a vacation and get to see things about Malaysia. Malays are consist of Malay, Indian, Chinese, and Arabs. Since I am going back to States, I wanted to see Southeast Asia. We visited "The Twin Tower" where we saw in the movie "entrampment." I actually stood in the middle of bridge conntects two buildings.

Dr. Ralph Winter is with the Lord

2009-05-29T14:28:00.000-07:00

(Articles taken from www.perspectives.org)

Dr. Ralph D. Winter, 1924 – 2009
Renowned Strategist Redirected Church’s Worldwide Mission Efforts
Recognized by TIME magazine in 2004 as one of America’s 25 most influential evangelicals, Ralph D. Winter, a world-renowned scholar of Christian mission and the founder and creative activist in a wide range of mission initiatives, has died. He was 84.

Winter died Wednesday, May 20 at his home in Pasadena after a seven-year battle with multiple myeloma and after additional struggles with lymphoma since early February.

Many of the accomplishments of Ralph Winter’s long career as a missionary, mission professor and “mission engineer” stemmed from his conviction that Christian organizations accomplish more when they cooperate in strategic ways. It was at the Lausanne International Congress on World Evangelization in 1974 that Winter burst upon the world stage with innovative analysis and advocacy that have redirected evangelical mission energies ever since.

Born in 1924, Winter spent his boyhood years in South Pasadena and was nurtured in Christian faith by devout parents and membership at Lake Avenue Congregational Church in Pasadena. He pursued a degree in civil engineering at Caltech, an M.A. at Columbia University in teaching English as a second language, and a Ph.D. at Cornell University in structural linguistics, with a minor in cultural anthropology and mathematical statistics. While in seminary at Princeton, he served as a pastor of a rural New Jersey church.

He married Roberta Helm in 1951 while studying for his Ph.D. at Cornell. Roberta’s expert help in research, writing and editing, among many other gifts, made her a valuable partner to her husband from the time of his doctoral studies onward.

Ordained in 1956, Winter and his wife joined the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions. They worked for ten years in Guatemala among the native Mayan people. Along with the development of 17 small businesses for bivocational pastoral students, Winter joined others to begin an innovative, non-residential approach to theological studies known as Theological Education by Extension (TEE), which has since been reproduced in countless mission contexts around the world.

Winter’s creativity with TEE and other initiatives caught the attention of Donald McGavran, who in 1966 invited Winter to join the faculty of the new School of World Mission at Fuller Theological Seminary (Pasadena, CA). Between 1966 and 1976 Winter taught more than a thousand missionaries, but he also claimed to learn much from his students. During these years he founded the William Carey Library, a specialized publisher and distributor of mission materials. He also co-founded the American Society of Missiology, helped in starting Advancing Churches in Mission Commitment (ACMC), and inaugurated what is now the Perspectives Study Program (first called the Summer Institute of International Studies).

Building on McGavran’s emphasis on people groups, and gleaning insights from his interaction with students and faculty, in July 1974 Winter presented a seminal address at Lausanne, Switzerland to the International Congress on World Evangelization, underscoring the necessity of pioneer, cross-cultural missionary outreach to thousands of “hidden peoples”, later more commonly known as “unreached peoples”.

Winter’s statistics and careful reasoning stunned an audience (and their constituencies) that had previously assumed that “near-neighbor evangelism” by existing churches would be sufficient in world evangelization. To facilitate creative outreach to unreached peoples, in 1976 Ralph and Roberta Winter founded the U.S. Center for World Mission (USCWM), and in 1977 the related William Carey International University, on the former campus of Pasadena Nazarene College, mobilizing evangelicals to pay for the acquisition of the $15 million campus through a series of campaigns that culminated in 1988 and that emphasized mission vision more than fund-raising. A community of workers in Pasadena and other locations, now known as the Frontier Mission Fellowship (FMF), has developed to sustain an array of cooperative mission projects, and until two weeks before his death Winter served as General Director of the FMF.

John Piper, author of Desiring God and Pastor for Preaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church (Minneapolis, MN), commented, “Ralph Winter was probably the most creative thinker I have ever known. On any topic you brought up, he would come at it in a way you never dreamed of. This meant that stalemates often became fresh starting points.” Likewise, Dale Kietzman, a professor at William Carey International University, noted, “He was constantly thinking outside the box. He did this to such an extent that you weren’t sure what the box was anymore.” C. Peter Wagner, a colleague at Fuller Seminary, has observed, “History will record Ralph Winter as one of the half-dozen men who did most to affect world evangelism in the twentieth century.”

At 84 Winter continued to work full-time, finding personal satisfaction in addressing a wide range of new challenges and perplexing questions. John Piper noted on his Weblog, “He did not waste his life, not even the last hours of it. He was busy dictating into the last days. He taught me long ago that the concept of ‘retirement’ is not in the Bible.” Greg Parsons of the USCWM observed, “He died with his boots on.”

Winter is preceded in death by his parents, Hugo H. Winter (a civil engineer recognized as “Mr. Freeway” for his leadership in the development of the Los Angeles freeway system) and Hazel Patterson Winter, and by his first wife of nearly 50 years, Roberta Helm Winter. He is survived by his second wife, Barbara; by his and Roberta’s four daughters (all of whom are active in Christian mission), Elizabeth Gill (Brad), Rebecca Lewis (Tim), Linda Dorr (Darrell), and Patricia Johnson (Todd); and by 14 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

He is also survived by his older brother, Paul H. Winter (Betty), a graduate of Caltech and a well-respected structural engineer; by his younger brother, David K. Winter (Helene), president of Westmont College in Santa Barbara for more than 25 years; and by nephews, nieces, and numerous friends and colleagues worldwide.

A memorial service is scheduled for Sunday, June 28, at 3:00 p.m. at the Worship Center of Lake Avenue Church, 393 N. Lake Avenue, Pasadena, CA. Details will be posted to the website of the U.S. Center for World Mission at http://www.uscwm.org.

The official obituary is available here.

If you have a significant memory related to Dr. Ralph Winter that you would like to share, please click here.

*For information on the Roberta Winter Institute, visit the website.

6-37 FA Training Density- 1

2009-03-07T14:53:00.001-08:00

Since the January we've been in the field back to back. Our annual "training density" was held in the beginning of February. The weather was on ourside and everyone did their best to get by the OCs and test our go to war scenarios. Here are the images of US Soldiers and ROK KATUSAs. This was my last one before I move to Ft. Bragg.

Korean Relationship d Change My Life

2009-03-01T21:39:00.000-08:00

Korean Relationships Changed My Life

by Nancy Elizabeth Lund

Seoul, Korea is 6951 miles from my most recent home in the United States. Korea was not on the short list of countries I had always wanted to visit. Yet, as my family prepared to move to Korea, we heard positive comments from everyone we knew who had lived here--or even visited here. I wondered what I would do in this setting. Which aspects of this new land would transform my initial reluctance to leave my home? I am getting an answer. Relationships with people here are touching me in positive, life-changing ways.

I come from the most individualistic country in the world. Among all the peoples of the globe, only we English speakers insist on capitalizing our first person singular pronoun ("I"). I rarely get together with friends when I am in the United States. Most of the people I know there are busy working hard, commuting, and attending classes and sporting events. They do not find time for a long talk or leisurely meal with a friend. My own lifestyle fit this typical pattern.
When we left the plane in the Seoul airport to enter this strange new place, we encountered a different lifestyle. My husband's boss was there to greet us, as well as a pleasant Korean American colleague. This colleague drove us to our temporary home at the Dragon Hill Lodge. The trip was not short. We could have traveled to the Dragon Hill in a shuttle or a taxi, but these two people took hours out of their day to welcome and transport us. I was half asleep, but this fact still caught my attention. It was my first indication of how much some people in Korea invest in relationships.

Soon after our arrival, I began to learn some basic elements of this way of living. I discovered that traditional Korean culture dictates certain social behaviors. For example, I was urged to present credit cards and business cards to others using two hands.
This sounded simple enough, but required a reordering of my conduct. I love to multitask. It is impossible to hand your business card to someone with two hands and dig in your purse for your cell phone at the same time. When I am shopping, my hands are sometimes filled with merchandise, a purse, and a local map. It requires attention and planning to free both hands for the exchange of a credit card. Korean customs cause me to think about how I relate to cashiers and clerks, people I had ignored before in my busyness.

I was also advised never to start eating or drinking before my elders or an honored guest. To be truthful, I can eat a full restaurant meal in twenty minutes when I am in a hurry. I might appear to be in training for the Olympic speed eating event. In Korea, it is important to treat people politely when I share a meal. Instead of running a race to see who can clean their plate first, I must acknowledge the status of those around me. Observing their behavior is more important than grabbing the first helping of spinach.

Another early lesson was the practice of hosts paying for all their companions at a restaurant. I have always felt that, when someone paid for my meal, I should respond similarly. In the United States, this desire easily remained wishful thinking. In Korea, reciprocating has become a priority, because we do not want to appear greedy. Our hosts will receive a similar invitation from us. The relationship develops as we share repeated meals together.

Living in Korea would not have much impact if these conventions remained something encountered only in books or a lecture. But every time I shop, I have reason to remember the rule about using both hands. We have also had other opportunities to practice these respectful customs as people have extended hospitality.

My husband's colleague continues to show an interest in us. We have enjoyed meals and concerts together. She has volunteered to provide transportation on several of these occasions. This is important because one aspect of life in Korea that I steadfastly avoid is driving in the city traffic. I do not feel anxious when riding with our new friend because she drives with confidence. She is not completely free from stress, but she knows the streets and anticipates problems. Our outings have been enhanced by her personality, knowledge and driving skill, wonderful gifts she repeatedly gives. And she has shown the way. Now I know that I also can successfully navigate the city, even though I use the subway or taxi.

We met a shopkeeper in Itaewon who feels a bond with chaplains like my husband. Our journeys to the shop have been another special experience of relationship. My attitude toward shopping changed when he sat down, got acquainted, and served food and drink before doing business. After visiting for awhile, he carefully took my measurements and made a drawing of the item I wanted. He admonished us to call before our return, so we could have lunch together. That is just what we did. On our next visit, we relaxed on a couch with bowls of hot soup and basked in the hospitality of the shop.

Korean hospitality is not reserved for one nationality. At a concert, we met some Australians who were getting their first taste of this country. They had ducked into a coffee house on their first afternoon here, just to get away from the city streets. There they were given free tickets to that evening's concert, sponsored by a local church. We met them because a pastor of the church recognized them and introduced us. He also made sure they met the senior pastor. Cameras flashed all around the pastors as these Australian newcomers were caught on film. After the concert, someone located that family and gave them a place to sit where they could enjoy a splendid buffet. Within 24 hours of their arrival, this family had met several strangers. They had become special guests at an event unlike any they had attended before.

In their books for people working in Korea, De Mente and Keating say that Koreans are famous for their hospitality, especially to foreigners. The fame is well deserved. It is important for short-term residents like us to connect with others and do it fast, or we can feel isolated later on. The hospitable spirit of Koreans makes this process easy. A Korean woman invited several couples to a concert. In a few days, some of the concertgoers networked with others to return to the hall for another event. A number of group outings have been proposed. I asked some Korean and American acquaintances to come to a gathering at my home. It was not long before these individuals responded with invitations to see sights together, jointly support charitable events and join a calligraphy class.

This is not the way my life has worked in other places. I have lived in England and Germany. No one there offered to drive me to new locations numerous times. I do not recall receiving free tickets to any event or being the center of significant attention when I arrived at a concert. The business people were "all business," and I was on my own when it came to learning about the community and culture. While there were some new customs to learn in each country, they did not seem to clearly enhance relationships. Korea really is different.

Because of my experiences in Korea, I am different. I found my own way to the Seoul Arts Center to buy tickets for some people I did not even know. I have gone shopping, not so much for new acquisitions, as for quality time with special people. For the first time, I extended personal invitations to my home for Bible study. We have taken several newcomers out for meals. Our increased hospitality and sociability is in direct response to the example of gracious hospitality shown by Korean people.

One day, at a large gathering, I spotted a Korean woman standing alone. I went over to meet her and we talked for some time. She told me a bit about herself and then asked if I had any friends there. The question surprised me. I pointed to a woman going by and said that she was probably my closest friend in the group. My new Korean acquaintance spoke quite softly, but I thought what I heard her say next was, "Will you be my friend?" My heart said "Yes," and I am trying to learn and practice what it means to be a good friend to her.

My social opportunities in Korea are inducing me to live differently. The daily customs cause me to show more respect to other people. Individuals have showered me with gifts of kindness and attention. I hope to respond with enough kindness and attention that at least one Korean will see me as her friend. Korean relationships have changed my life.

Korea: A Station of Choice by CH (COL) Buck

2009-03-01T21:38:00.000-08:00

Korea: A Station of Choice!

Korea has been rapidly changing since the end of the Korean War in 1953, politically, economically and culturally. Korea has become a fully democratic modern country. Its economy is now one of the world’s largest, ranking 14th in the world. Culturally, it has become very diverse with both Asian and Western cultures blending together while taking a great pride in its 5,000 year history, customs and traditions. Its people are friendly, respectful toward others, and overall very religious. Some of the biggest Christian churches in the world are in Korea, with Yoido Full Gospel Church being the largest with over 800,000 members.

Over the past twenty years, the living condition for the troops of the United States Forces Korea has remarkably improved. Now it has come to the point where our Commander, General Walter Sharp initiated “Tour Normalization” for Korea all across the services. His goal is to make Korea a Station of Choice. While it will be a gradual process, most personnel will now be able to come here and serve with their families for a three year tour. Those who choose to come without their families will serve for a one year tour. For detailed information you may check our website: http://www.usfk.mil. In it you should be able to find a wealth of helpful information for you and your family as well as general information from the command.

I have attached three essays with the hope that they will increase your interest in serving in Korea. The first one is “Korean Relationships Changed My Life,” by Nancy Elizabeth Lund. Nancy’s husband is Chaplain (Major) Rick Lund serving as Region Chaplain for Installation Management Command, Korea, in Yongsan, Korea. The second one is “Korea: My Second Home” by Chaplain (Major) Stan Whitten, Director of U.S. Army Religious Retreat Center in Seoul, Korea. Chaplain (Colonel) Kenneth Kerr, 8th Army Chaplain wrote the third article, “Consider an Assignment in Korea.” These three essays should give you some good understanding and feel as to what it would be like to serve in Korea now. I encourage you to share them with others. I strongly believe that those who come will greatly benefit from experiencing Korea and its wonderful people by serving here.

Chaplain (COL) Paul P. Buck
United States Forces Korea
Command Chaplain
paul.buck@us.army.mil

Consider an Assignment in Korea!

2009-03-01T21:35:00.000-08:00

Consider an Assignment in Korea!

This is not the Korea your senior Chaplains told you about ten years ago.

I distinctly remember the words of my first senior Chaplain twenty four years ago, “Ken, someday you’ll go to Korea. You’ll live in a hutch and when it rains, it will leak through the ceiling. When it rains hard, the mud will flow across the floor. The electricity goes out half the time, and the water you drink will be brown.” In all fairness to him, he was describing the conditions he experience fifteen before he had that conversation with me.

In one simple sentence I’ll tell you, this isn’t MASH any more.

The first week of January 2006, I boarded Korean Air Lines in Atlanta, Georgia. The Chaplain I was replacing explained to me a lot about my new assignment, but the words of my first senior Chaplain played over and over again in my mind for the fourteen hour flight from Atlanta. We flew up and over Alaska, across the International Day Line, down through Siberia, back out into the western rim of the Pacific Ocean, across Japan, and eventually into Korea. My eyes were crossed. My mind was past tired. And everywhere I looked at Incheon International Airport there were exceptionally large flat screen high definition TV monitors. Was I dreaming? Everything was modern and high tech. The terminals were spacious and clean. The people were helpful and friendly. I was amazed how different Korea was from what I had pictured in my mind these past twenty four years.

I carefully followed the instructions sent to me by the Eighth Army Chaplain’s office, and eventually I was on my way to Yongsan in Seoul, South Korea. As we began this last leg of my journey to Seoul, I couldn’t help but notice the many nice cars on the excellent roads. The closer we got to Seoul, the heavier the traffic became. It was dark when we landed but, as we approached Seoul, I could see the night was ablaze with lights everywhere. Buildings towered up toward the heavens. Vehicles were tied up in traffic reminding me of the past six years stationed inside the National Capital Beltway. Little did I know that the traffic in Seoul really was worse than the traffic in Washington DC.

Again, I was amazed to be in the midst of a very modern, major city. This was not what I had expected.

I’ve been here in Korea for nearly three years now, and I must tell you, this has been one of the most rewarding assignments of my career. The opportunities to serve God, Soldiers, Family Members, civilians, and the people of Korea have been absolutely phenomenal. I’ve been privileged to preach and pray, counsel and care for Soldiers, literally from the DMZ to the South Sea; from the west coast to the east coast; high atop mountains and deep down in bunkers; in the heart of some of the largest cities in the world to hutches in a remote site. Yes, there still are hutches here in Korea, but they will soon become no more than a memory.

The past three years, I’ve seen the beginnings of a major transformation for all our U.S. Forces here in Korea. The big buzz word is “tour normalization.” What it means is the old, one year unaccompanied tour, is about to become a thing of the past. Massive building projects are well underway in two major areas of Korea for the U.S. Army. Over the next few years the center of gravity will be moving to USAG Humphreys (also called Area 3) and USAG Daegu (also called Area 4). Soldiers may opt to do a one year unaccompanied tour, but most, if not all, assignments will be Command Sponsored. I don’t mean to suggest that all family services are now available in all areas. Many areas already have full child and youth services. Other areas are working on developing those services. Transformation and tour normalization takes time and there will be some growing pains. But the goal is to keep families together and stabilize assignments. If you are due to PCS in the next few years, consider requesting Korea. You won’t be disappointed. And if you are on orders for Korea, ask what family services are already available, or will soon become reality in the area you will be assigned. Then ask for Command Sponsorship. You’ll probably get it.

In addition to wonderful ministry opportunities, we have been able to enjoy the Korean people, culture, and food. The largest and fastest growing churches in the world are here in Korea. The Christians here take their faith seriously. Many of my Korean friends get up at 0400 every morning and pray for me even before I go in for PT. Frequently, I am greeted by gracious Korean people who don’t know me, but they love Americans and remember the sacrifices of our Soldiers nearly sixty years ago who fought for their freedom. Koreans who still follow the Buddhist faith also hold Americans in high regard and give special respect to Chaplains as God’s representatives. The Jewish faith is not common in Korea, but Korea now has their first civilian Jewish Rabbi. Islamic Masque’s are also available in several communities for our Muslim Soldiers and Family Members. Soldiers serving in Korea have opportunities to grow spiritually as well as professionally.

On a final note, while stationed in Korea, our Soldiers and their families have opportunities to travel throughout the Far East. Places like China, Japan, Thailand, Guam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Okinawa, Australia, and New Zealand. Many people spend thousands of dollars to vacation in these countries. Our Soldiers and their families often visit these places on a long weekend. Imagine the memories they will be able to tell their grandchildren someday.

Let me encourage you to consider an assignment in Korea, the Land of the Morning Calm. I believe you will soon understand why it is called “The Assignment of Choice.”

Chaplain (COL) Kenneth L. Kerr
Eighth Army OCP-Korea
Command Chaplain
ken.kerr@us.army.mil

St. Barbara's Day

2009-02-21T15:27:00.000-08:00

On 30 Jan, I was awarded with tradition of St. Barbara's medal. I've invited my friend Dr. Jung and his wife. Dr. Jung is an orthopedic doctor, but he collects real gun like air guns and avid military fanatic.

2009-02-01T04:58:00.000-08:00

Live Fire during

2009-01-26T00:30:00.000-08:00

We just came back from our live fire exercise. The Rocket valley welcomed us with -10 'C cold. Everyone did terrific jobs to be qualified with their skills.

fermented soybeans

2009-01-26T00:21:00.000-08:00

Mejoo or fermented dried soybean is a traditional Korean seasoning method to make soy sauce, red pepper bean paste, and fermented soy (Miso in Japanese). Some researchers claimed that Mejoo can prevent cancers or fight against terminal illness. When you get a chance to visit Korean restaurants, you might want to order "denjang guk" or "fermented soybean soup" to experience the wisdom of ancient Korean people.

about chaplains in Iraq and other places

2008-12-27T03:10:00.000-08:00

Lee Lawrence, Christian Science Monitor reporter, spent three months with military chaplains in Iraq and Afghanistan. She has weekly report on whom she interviwed.

http://www.csmonitor.com/specials/chaplains

Thunder Ready 2

2008-12-13T06:50:00.000-08:00

Thunder Ready (ammo exercise)

2008-12-13T06:26:00.000-08:00

Before the Thanksgiving, we conducted ammo exercise for our go to war preparation. I thought this was realistic and we really get to learn what happens when silen goes off. It was so cold and windy, everyone really suffered from the cold weather. The temp went down from 22F to 15F. I had to carry water pot to serve Soldiers with hot coffees. I like going out the FTXs, I think I get to see the real faces of Soldiers.

Re-enlisting

2008-12-13T06:05:00.000-08:00

Coming back from Chulmae range, I stopped at Seoul and congratulated a Soldier from HHB Btry who reenlisted in front of the Korean War Museum. Its always good to see someone who decides to stay in the Army. I usually encourage people to stay.

1-43 ADA LFX and Chulmae Range

2008-12-13T05:55:00.000-08:00

Last month, I went down South (3 hrs from DDC) to see stingers LFX and conduct a religious service to 210 FIRES seperates. Chulmae range belongs to ROKAF, but it use to be US Army post. The units come to this range shot rockets and 50 Cal to targets placed in ocean or flying target plane. The unit played a song from "Apocalyse Now" when choopers striked a village next to the beach. We stayed overnight and went to fish district to have raw fishes.

FRG Fundraiser Golf Tournament

2008-12-13T05:46:00.000-08:00

Last Oct 31, UMT hosted BN FRG Golf Fundraiser. We raised about $590. Everyone had a fun and pleased with the event. I am planning to host another tournament before I leave Korea next year.

DMZ-the axe murder site

2008-11-01T21:57:00.000-07:00

Taken from the internet-----------
The axe murder incident, the most brutal event in the history of Panmunjom's JSA, occurred on August, 18th, 1976. It served to heighten tension between South and North Korea creating an environment that lead right up to the brink of war. A tall poplar tree was located near UNC checkpoint 3 and the Bridge of No Return. The tree limited visibility in the direction of checkpoint 4 for the soldiers working at checkpoint3. So, five South Korean civilian workers were dispatched to conduct the tree trimming operation under the protection of a UNC guard force.
At that time, two North Korean officers and dozens of KPA soldiers demanded that they should stop working. But when the workers continued with their mission and ignored the request to stop, another North Korean guard force arrived by truck and began to attack by wielding clubs and axes.

During the incident, the JSA Company Commander, Captain Arthur Bonifas, and First Platoon Leader, First Lieutenant Mark Barrett, were brutally axed to death by North Koreans. Immediately after the incident, the United States and the South Korean troops entered a state of alert declaring ‘DEFCON 3 ’. The United States dispatched battalions of fighter-bomber F-4’s and F-111’s each to South Korea and sent the aircraft carrier ‘Midway’ to the west sea of South Korea. So, the Korean Peninsula was again brought to the brink of war. This tension only ceased after the North Korean leader Kim Il-sung expressed his regret and sent a letter of apology to the United Nations Command.After this incident, the MDL became a permanent separation between the guard forces of South and North Korea from September 1976 on.In response, the United Nations Command carried out Operation ‘Paul Bunyan’ in order to cut down the tree.

DMZ and the bridge of no return

2008-11-01T21:37:00.000-07:00

A Soldier from our Btry wishes to re-enlist at the DMZ, the bridge of no return. When we go through the regular tours, we cannot get off the bus and walk over to the bridge. However, a special occasion like this can. I actually walked on a historical bridge and stood in front of MDL. You can see North Koreans guard post just 15 feet away.

---- THIS INFO IS TAKEN FROM A SITE ON INTERNET

The "Bridge of No Return" is located at the west end of the JSA and is bisected by the MDL. In front of the "Bridge of No Return" is also where the tragic Ax Murder Incident occurred in 1976. Before the incident, the "Bridge of No Return" was the only pathway connecting North and South. Currently the bridge is blocked off with a wall on the North Korean end. Today, that route goes via the "72 Hours Bridge". The Brige is called the "72 Hours Bridge" because North Koreans built it in three days.
The "Bridge of No Return" got its name from the prisoner repatriation operation after the Armistice Agreement was signed . The prisoners were exchanged across this bridge and given a choice to either cross the bridge to return to their original country or to remain on the side of their captors. However, once they crossed the bridge, they were not allowed to cross back to the other side and hence the name the "Bridge of No Return". The numbers of the prisoners exchanged from 5 August to 6 September 1953 were 13,444 UNC and 82,493 Communist troops. The guard posts on each side of the bridge were the setting for the popular korean movie "JSA".

Passion Tour (Seoul)

2008-10-16T15:41:00.000-07:00

The team of Passion Tour was in Korea. I took 14 people (Soldiers and chapel congregation) to this concert. Some of them was there from the morning. This was awesome Christian concert and engagement. Tomlin, Redman, Crowder, Francis Chan, and Giglio were there to bless all of us thru God's message. http://www.268generation.com/2.0/splash1.htm

Changdeokgung Palace

2008-10-16T14:50:00.000-07:00

Changdeokgung (Changdeok Palace) is a palace set within a large park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the "Five Grand Palaces" built by the kings of the Joseon Dynasty and because of its location east of Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeokgung is also referred to as the East Palace. The literal meaning of Changdeokgung(昌德宮) is "Palace of Prospering Virtue".
Changdeokgung was the favored palace of many kings of the Joseon Dynasty and retained many Korean elements dating from the Three Kingdoms of Korea period that were not incorporated in the more formalistic Gyeongbokgung. One such element is the fact that the buildings of Changdeokgung blend with the topography of the site instead of imposing upon nature. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Changdeokgung or http://www.cdg.go.kr/main/main.htm

What do we do here at Korea?

2008-09-28T01:05:00.000-07:00

I guess compare to Iraq and Afkhan regions, Korea can be different tour than other battle fields. However, the basic duties of chaplains and the coverages we provide were same as other Army installations.

As a BN chaplain, my mission is to support commander's religious master plan and more. My function as BN chaplain is to provide chaplain duties and special staff functions to commander and my BN.

"The Mission of the UMT is to provide military religious support (RS) to soldiers, families, and authorized civilians as directed by the commander."

According to METL (Mission Essential Task List), my mission is...
"6-37th Unit Ministry Team mission is to advise the commander on all matters of religion and morale, and provide comprehensive religious support, pastoral counseling, and training to encourage faith formation and spiritual wellness to enhance the war fighting readiness of the ON THE MINUTE DEEP STRIKE “ROCKET” Battalion in the 210 Fires Brigade."

I do counselings (my unit and other units in Casey), go out field trainings with my unit, be a part of convoy movement, do field services, hanging around the Soldiers, preach 3 times per month at chapel, attend BN Tng meetings, FRG meetings, lead single and married couples retreat, attend and conduct prayer breakfast and lunch, visit hospital, eat with Soldiers n chaplains,road march and PT with batteries, PT with Staff members. etc...

MLRS Table VII qualification

2008-09-26T06:26:00.000-07:00

If infantry has EIB for their skill qualification and EFMB for Medics, MLRS 13M has to go thru Table VII qualification for their crew certification. This FTX was less/no stress FTX where no one scream at each other, no graders, none tactical overall where I was free to move around to visit Soldiers. My picture taking skills got better and I am beginning to see where to focus on and what to look for. Taking pictures of Soldiers, when they focus on their duties and taking breaks, my camera draws to capture their smiles and attempts to leave an evidence of their hard work. I wish to take combat photos when I go to war.

Commander's cup and BBQ

2008-09-26T05:30:00.000-07:00

Based on S-3's OPORD and coordination of BN UMT and supported by USO, we are able to feed 300 Soldiers with burgers and hot dogs during our sports event. 6-37 FA has been winning cash prizes sponsored by Area I and Camp Casey. We took the golf tournament and received $1,000 for MWR fund, won Combat Taekwondo and received $2,000 and many more. Our commander is super jock and I think troops follow his lead and appreciate his support.

family

2008-09-26T04:55:00.001-07:00

Last Sunday, we drove to Seoul to participate in children's IQ and EQ expo. Angeline liked all stations which requires her mathmatics and social skills. These stations may help kids to develop thier social and brain activities. In addition, her use of chop sticks will increase her IQ due to brain and finger coordination.

Subin Christine's one year old

2008-08-31T19:20:00.000-07:00

Our second daughter Subin had her first B-day. Her great grand ma bought her a korean ancient dress and gold ring (traditional custom). We did not had an official DOL (one year old) party since all our families are in the States. Subin's grannies are anxious to see her again.

Combatives Level I Tng

2008-08-31T18:54:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago, I was in the Army combatives level I tng. We do not have to receive training since are non-combatant. However, I wanted it to try and see what Soldiers might go through in today's Army. I completed it, but I end up in two fractured ribs after going thru 4 clinch drills. I guess this is the only closest combat I get to see until I get out of Korea. One of the instrictors who broke my ribs is in one of these pics. Overall, it was humbling and learning experience. I end up passing out Bibles, tracks, and prayed with some injured Soldiers.

Story taken from 2ID newspaper

2008-08-11T06:21:00.000-07:00

Latest Story
Retreat offers Soldiers relationship lessons
by PVT Bo Park

Community — One of the challenges each Soldier faces is maintaining a personal relationship and finding the right partner. It can be especially difficult with frequent deployments and relocation due to mission requirements. So the Army helps Servicememebers to find the right partners and build healthy Families.
Under the program of Strong Bond, initiated and fully supported by the Chief of Chaplains, 210th Fires Brigade chaplain's office offered a single Soldiers' retreat at the Dragon Hill Lodge, Yongsan July 10-11. Strong Bond for singles is used to bring Soldiers out of their comfort zones and give them a handful of resources to make smarter decisions when finding a mate in their private lives.

"We only provide tools to help them make informed decisions and chances to reflect on their values, but the choices are theirs to make," said the program instructor, Chaplain (Capt.) Chan Ham, 6th Battalion, 37th Field Artillery.
Over five sessions, Soldiers learned to examine priorities, manage mate-choosing patterns and evaluate a relationship's potential through active discussions and exercises. Guide books and an emotion measuring apparatus were given out for future references and visualization to help inform rational decisions.

The retreat also provided an escape from daily life.
"Yongsan offers more features that Area I could not provide, such as great accommodations and proximity to Seoul, where Soldiers can enjoy touring," said another instructor of the program, Chaplain (Capt.) Chang Park, 70th Brigade Support Battalion. "Soldiers can concentrate on their personal matters and develop their skills more effectively."
However, this retreat was not just an opportunity for sightseeing Seoul and taking time off from work.

"I would have saved over $20,000, if I came to this retreat earlier," said Spc. Daryl Olthoft, F Tab, 210th Fires Bde. He explained that he had been in a few relationships that were financially draining and time consuming. Now he is much more confident in making his current relationship work after attending the program.

"They geared us with all the necessary tools to accomplish the end result for a reliable mutual relationship. It was a good chance to get to know myself, and has given me a different perspective on relationships in general," said Olthoft.

"Thank you for coming to the retreat," said 2ID Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Richard Spencer. "Think of this as an investment in your future. You are the biggest asset to the Army's inventory, so taking care of yourselves both mentally and spiritually as well as physically is essential."
During the after action review, the attendees complemented the practical and effective curriculum layout and location. The two chaplains thanked all those who made the retreat successful and wished to encourage other chains of command to get involved in chaplain activities to help Soldiers understand and overcome the challenges of their personal lives.
"I got a better understanding on how to make things work in a relationship," said Spc. Charles Micheles, Company B, 6th Bn., 37th FA. "This program is a reminder of how the Army is looking out for us, the Soldiers."

Single Soldiers Retreat 2

2008-08-01T15:21:00.000-07:00

Single Soldiers Retreat

2008-08-01T14:57:00.001-07:00

This is program is one of Strong Bond supported program for single Soldiers. We use Dr. Van Epp's material and his book "How to avoid marrying a Jerk" or Jerkette.

our kids

2008-08-01T14:52:00.000-07:00

They are growing and really growing. Hope they can remember some of the times they spent in Korea.

Ellen's Grandma's B day

2008-08-01T14:43:00.000-07:00

Last month, I went to Buchon (close to Incheon) to visit ellen's grandma (mom side). She is 80 some years old. We had a good time and met with her uncles and aunties.

FRG BBQ day

2008-06-12T02:52:00.000-07:00

our UMT hosted a FRG bbq lunch for entire BN. I learned how to BBQ this day.

KATUSA Friendship Week

2008-06-11T19:06:00.000-07:00

US and ROK Army celebrates KATUSA Friendship week anually. I really get to enjoyed many events and performances provided by Korean sponsors. Many events like horse fight, tug of war and performances by ROK Special Forces and honor guards were coordinated well.

Chaplain Jackson-farewell 8 May

2008-06-11T17:53:00.000-07:00

CH (LTC) Jackson, Franklin is a dear man of God and a soldier. I think I am very blessed to be under him and mentored by him (from a distance). He taught me and encouraged me about what is chaplain. I am going to miss him and hope to work for him someday. When I contacted Ranger Regt chaplan, he recommended me to other chaplains that I got in contact with. He also knows CH (LTC) Guthrie who was Ranger chaplain and the director of CHBLOC. It was a perfect timing for everything.

CH (MAJ) Lebon (in uniform) was 2-9th Inf Chaplain. I got to meet him during our MIK week last year. He is leaving for staff college.

My assistant KSGT Kang leaves end of June. KATUSA duty is same as regular ROK soldiers. He will be going back to school.

CH (MAJ) Williams was 1 HBCt's BDE chaplain. He is leaving to FT. Riley.

70th chaplain (CPT) Chang and his assistant Kim who goes back to HanDong Univ.

Jeju 2

2008-05-31T15:20:00.000-07:00

We visited "Hanlim Wild fortress, Teddy Bear Museum, Manjang natural cave (incorporated as UNESCO treasure), etc.

We are planning to do another long distant trip next 4 day weekend.

JEJU Island

2008-05-31T15:09:00.001-07:00

During our 4 day weekend (memorial holiday), our family went down to Jeju island. I have been down here when I was in the business world, but never as tourist. Ellen liked so much, we might come back before we leave Korea next year. On our last day in Jeju, we spent $150 on Jeju's famous fish "HWANG (Red) OKDOM" You find this fish only in the area of Jeju. However, when we went to the airport all flights have been cancelled due to the bad weather. We had to stay one more night. It was the owner of fish restaurant we asked for a help to look for a motel. Since whole town was booked and occupied by travellers. It was a nightmare.

Thanks to wife and kids patients? we made it thru.

dmz TRIPS

2008-05-31T15:02:00.000-07:00

One of the jobs we as chaplains provide here at Korea is taking Soldiers to DMZ. I've been up to DMZ almost 6 times now. It never bores me perhaps I am a Korean descent knowing the history of tragedy. Some may complain this is a boring trip or some may facinated by North Korean soldiers watching us thru scopes.

Easter service during march 08

2008-03-30T05:39:00.000-07:00

03-08 training density (exeval)

2008-03-30T05:26:00.000-07:00

family photo

2008-01-20T18:42:00.000-08:00

Last year's family photo. This photo was taken because of our second daughter's 100 days celebration "Baek Il

Ellen's birthday

2007-12-29T01:33:00.000-08:00

Last X-mas was Ellen's B-day. We went to Korean church to see X-mas perform and walked the streets of JiHeng to buy her cake. It is too difficult to do anything when you are committed to two little ones. Happy B-Day my wife. Thank you so much for your support.

LT Davis and Marinated Pork BBQ

2007-12-29T01:28:00.001-08:00

Lt Davis (our S-1) and his wife Melisa (she is visiting from NY) went to eat Pork BBQ with us. Pork is marinated in traditional and store's secret recipe. We all enjoyed it.

chaplain's job

2007-12-25T13:26:00.000-08:00

one of the chaplain's job is to give quick briefing to all the new comers to the unit. Starting with BN Commander, Chap, and CSM, basically encourage soldiers to the right thing. I have the greatest commander and CSM.

CLS and Combatives traning

2007-12-25T13:15:00.000-08:00

K food -sashimi, HyeJangKook (vegi beef soup) and soju

2007-12-16T06:18:00.000-08:00

Koreans love soju (people's drink like Vodka for Russians) with anything.

korean food-ramen n mt dew

2007-12-16T05:58:00.000-08:00

taking pic as my job

2007-12-16T05:45:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I wish I can capture pics like in the National Geography magazines which leaves legacy to other cherished pic lovers. Humans ideas and lives can be captures through the art of camera and the passion of its photographer. Even in the Army we have combat photographer.

2nd JSA and DMZ Tour

2007-12-16T05:35:00.000-08:00

Joint Security Area protected by Un forces or also known as DMZ or Panmunzum's tour is by bn chaplains. I organized my the first DMZ tour for my BN. I only received 10 volunteers we had good time in Panmunzum.

my first field experience

2007-12-10T10:47:00.001-08:00

Last Nov. I had a chance to go out to field for a few days. This was to support ROK Army. I prayed with soldiers and gave quick suicide prevention awareness talk. Originally I planned to give a service and class but situation did not allow me to do so. I am into taking pictures and my commander likes it.

winter in Korea

2007-12-10T03:52:00.000-08:00

It is so cold here. It is 5 C or 10 F colder than Seoul. Many seasoned soldiers display their toughness by not wearing any sniver gear outside. But not for me I need something to cover myself from cold wind and air.

Today I did my first pt test in Korea. I was not ready to do one but I just did it. I ran 14:51 and I cough whole morning after the run.

Japanese Udon and katsu

2007-11-22T14:26:00.001-08:00

Somehow Japanese resturants prospers in Korea everywhere. In Seoul and even in DDC area, we see many mini Japanese restaurants selling "DonKatSu" (Pork Friend Patty). In addition, "Udon" (noodle soup) can be an excellent choice to finish the meal with.

Korean food - Odeng and Sundae

2007-11-12T06:35:00.000-08:00

Sundae is like Korea sausage in a way. It contains sweet rice, clear noodle, vegetables, pig blood, pig intestines, etc. This food is sold in the places where they sell other korean version of fast food like Tukboki, Odeng, hot dog (a girl is holding in her left hand). Sundae will cost you abut W 2,000 and Odeng is W 500 per stick.

Korean food - sulrungtang

2007-11-12T06:19:00.000-08:00

this is called "sulrungtang" which has two meanings. In Chinese character, "white soup" 선롱 eventually called 설렁 in Korean. In 1475 King SungJong of Chosun Dynasty helped farmers to cultivated lands around Seoul and award them with Beef and Soup at the place called "SungNongDan" meaning a place of farmers which later called Sulrungtang. It is basically a beef soup (broth) with slices of tendons and meat. The broth is made of 20 hours of boling bones of Cows. This soup costs about W 5,000 or W 6,000.

my office and chapel

2007-11-05T03:57:00.000-08:00

I have a scooter which I often ride to go places. However, the weather got so cold its average about 32-45. I am really enjoying my stay in Korea. I am planning to take Hapkido and Kendo (sword) class soon.

Worth My Salt: Whats a Chaplain Worth?#links#links

2007-10-27T05:37:00.000-07:00

Worth My Salt: Whats a Chaplain Worth?#links#links

ministry in Korea - seminar 2

2007-10-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

We went to the Panmunjun aka JAS. We got to see a heavy metal band called "scorpions" at the one of the post to looking at the North Korean border. After that we went to the historical place "JSA." It literally brought tears to my eyes. Our kinds of people divided in two to kill and hate another because of ideals and theories. I felt so sad to see that Korea divided into two pieces. I pray that someday (soon and very soon) they will united and find peace among them.

ministry in Korea - seminar 1

2007-10-27T04:51:00.000-07:00

Since Monday, I was in YongSan where 8th Army and USFK is located. Every chaplains from all areas in Korea must go thru this MIK which is an orientation to familize to Korea theatre. I really had a wonderful time dealing with Korean cultures and meeting other chaplains in the Korean pennisula. I love Korea so much. Everywhere I go, I click to Koreans and I know their dynamics and i tend to sympatize with them. At the same time, I love America and our soliders. I serve them (really) and I care for them. I am at the cross road where I have to (force to) serve two kinds of people but at the same time my heart rejoices for its tasks. We get to see Gen (four star) Bell who is in command of Korea of US forces. It is not easy to see four star in your army career and get his coins. He was a firm leader with strong conviction to love soldiers.

off to Korea

2007-10-02T06:01:00.000-07:00

I am flying out to Korea. Since I got home I have been with my family and meeting only a few people. It is difficult to move and go places with 13 month old and newly born. Thanks to my wife and the support from my family members.

I am so happy that I am doing something for US and Korea. I am so happy that God has a plan for me.

Please pray and remember that we are there to serve and experience God's goodness.

a word from foursquare endorser

2007-09-16T23:27:00.000-07:00

Healthy Leadership Foundational Life Choices

With the recent difficulty Ted Haggard has gone through, it causes many of us to re-look at our own personal choices. Statistics show that only one in four leaders finishes well. I want to give myself over to being one of the ones who leads in a healthy personal life, and bid you to join me in regularly coming before the Lord to be shaped by Him. It can be observed that the choices we make privately have everything to do with the hand of the Lord on our lives publicly. I recently heard one person refer to our lives as an iceberg. The 10% that sticks above the water, that which is seen (our public ministry), is founded on the 90% that is below the surface (our private lives and choices).

Chaplain Don Eubank and I were discussing this at a recent time of ministry at Ft. Shafter. We noted that there are six keys to keeping healthy the 90% that is unseen to others, so the 10% that is seen shines well for the Lord. They deal with key character issues that touch and shape our lives, either for Him or resistant to Him. As a side note, Don thought something similar is in Pastor Hayford’s book, Pastors of Promise. For further study on similar subjects of personal growth, you might look there as well. These issues need to be dealt with; when we do, the fruit is pretty sweet, and when we don’t, the fruit is pretty bitter. Work through them with me:

1. Lack of integrity. Integrity is a dangerous word, and I use it with great respect. It deals with metal that is true. Metal that has the same makeup from one end to the other. It has been refined, shaped, poured and made for a purpose. When we lack integrity it can come out in many ways, but what can seem like the biggest influencing factor in undermining the strength of a leader is the tendency to exaggerate. It is a lie told here or there, a slant on a verbal recall of a situation, or the placing oneself in a position of accepting the thanks for things that are to be given only to the Lord. I periodically have to ask myself if I slant things, leave out some of the information on something, take credit for something that I did not do alone, or state numbers that just flat are not true. People around us need to know they can rely on you and me and that what we say is what we are and is what happened, without slants either positively or negatively towards myself or others. Check yourself on this. Talk to the Lord about anything you might see that lacks here. He is faithful and will help you see it. Sometimes He will even send someone else to aid in the process (usually a somewhat painful process).

2. Lack of Accountability. Accountability involves several factors. Included would be honesty to others as well as allowing them to speak into your life. I think I have heard about every reason in the book for people not being accountable to others. The better, but still unmerited ones, include being ripped off for trusting others who then betrayed that trust. Between you and me, I want to be trustworthy as well as trust others. Trustworthy would certainly entail a confidential mouth, but further incorporates the ability to not change your hope towards a person, and the ability to speak honesty into their life and to pray for them in what is weak in their life. Accountability is essential to long-term health, yet challenged in many of your lives due to the frequency in which you move. It takes me a while to find new accountability friends, but it is a non-negotiable in my life and must always be done. Do you have someone in your life who can hear the deepest challenges in your life and pray with you? Do you allow them to share what they see, even when it is painful? I pray so, as it has a lasting fruit of long-term healthy leadership.

3. Inappropriate sexuality. We’re talking sin here. Pornography is the biggie in the weakening process of a Christian leader. There are other biggies, as entertaining relationships of the opposite sex that need to be cut off, but I want to center around the use of the Internet here. Pastor Ted Roberts tells me that 85% of the pastors he works with (all denominations and independents) have an ongoing addiction to internet pornography. You could argue the point, but don’t. The truth is it is high, and it is highly addictive. I regularly have men in leadership entrust some sort of violation they have gone through so they can be held accountable to finding help and a plan with an accountability group. Though I cannot personally be in each of their groups, I can surely work with them until they get with other trusted leaders they can be open with and work through to victory. My dear friend, Pastor Scott Wood, says that every Christian leader either has been, needs to be or will need to be delivered from some sort or level of involvement in inappropriate sexuality. Join me in what Stephen Arterburn calls every man’s battle. Get with other trusted leaders and keep one another before the Lord on this. Be honest in your dealings with yourself and truly helpful in bringing help to others.

4. Lack of resolve of marital problems. This is a biggie here. It is easy for a Christian leader to suck it up and get through life, living off the health of other relationships, but not giving the necessary effort to getting his or her own home in order. What a setup of the enemy. Sometimes it is just that one doesn’t know what to do or who to turn to for help, or they fear their spouse will not respond well to their cry for help, or that things will worsen if they fiddle with them. Regardless of the reasons for letting things go, letting things go has an impact on a leader’s personal life that weakens things. I think the key "weaken-er" here is that it causes a person to subconsciously look to feel like a winner in other relationships, setting them up for what could be a disaster. Listen, every married couple deals with tensions from season to season. The key is to deal with it. Deal with it in love, without threat, without defense, in an accepting environment. If need be, see a pastor, chaplain or "outside the system" therapist, but get help. Don’t let things stew. Don’t wait for your spouse to initiate a solution. If your spouse baulks at the two of you getting help, let them know you need them to help you as you set out to be a healthier spouse, and that you love them so much you want things to improve all the more.

5. Lack of mentoring relationships. A mentor is a bit different than a peer. An accountability team is usually a small group (3-4, 3 preferred) of peers, whereas a mentoring relationship is usually not a peer, and it is usually one on one. Further, a mentoring relationship is usually not ongoing, but happens season to season. This is a person who is a bit "out in front" of you in their maturity before the Lord and their experience in ministering in the area you are called. It can be a senior chaplain, or one who is senior to you. It is often one of choice, but many times I find leaders who believe they are too busy to take the time, and don’t really see the need for it anyway. Listen, mentors, and I mean the godly kind, are life savers. They know the pitfalls. They are leaders you can ask real questions of, and get real answers. They are able to see things in your life and speak into those issues before those issues become mature problems. If you don’t have one, pray for one. Then keep your eyes open as one will be coming in your life soon. Invite that person in when they pass your way. Be clear as to what you are asking of that individual. Enjoy the journey.

6. Lack of daily time in the Word of God. You and I know (head knowledge that sometimes does not translate to practice) the importance of spending time alone with the Lord, getting in His Word, and letting Him speak to you afresh. This time alone with Him equips us, fills us, heals us, corrects us, shapes us and delivers us from issues we will never even know because of the protection the Word brings. Yet, over half the Christian leaders I recently polled have no ongoing consistent time alone in the Word. Listen, I can match most of you for busyness: emails, phone calls, meetings, emergencies, urgent demands of life, and then there is family, and even needing to do the chores and maintain the car once in a while. I want you to know, that I live in a way as to never miss a day of spending alone time with the Lord in His Word. Periodically I have fallen out of this and have found (past tense) that the urgent crowded out the essential. Take a stand with me on this one. This is a decision that is a wonderful mystery. As you and I take a stand that this time alone is a non-negotiable in our lives, He meets us there and expands our time and effectiveness. There are things that the Lord has planned in depositing into your life and mine this year, and He will only do it as we wait on Him.

All right, so #6 lacks. Here is my insight on this one. If you are neglecting two or more of these above lacks in your life, you have set yourself up to be knocked out of the race, potentially being on track to join the "three of four" category of leaders who do not finish well. If you see yourself in any of these, join with me in dealing with each, so that none will be lacking, and each issue instead will become a strength in which we can go and strengthen others.
I love you all and pray for you regularly.

Robby

75th rangers in action

2007-09-16T22:16:00.000-07:00

rangers

2007-09-16T22:03:00.000-07:00

Soldiers from 75th Ranger RGT participate tactical airborne ops during Ranger Rendezvous 2007