Working for Whom?

Most people (As I have often been) are working to "Make a Living". There is nothing wrong with that, unless, they are working only for themselves. There are larger problems in our world and societies to "Work for". We must never settle for just "Our" own little comforts or needs or wants at the exclusion of the entire world's needs. We are all together in this planet. We in America have become (In my opinion) too self-centered and selfish. Too insensitive to the needs of the world. We spend our days and nights only thinking about and doing about what can benefit us. America was never meant to be a Country of selfish people, and in the past it never was! But, since WW2 we have slipped more and more into selfishness and (In my opinion) Un Godly behavior. We only want to have fun or make a "Buck" or distance ourselves from the rest of the world. (We tried that prior to WW2 and it almost destroyed us!). Are we going down the same "Isolationist" road again? It is long past the time for us to "Step Out" (Like our founding Forefathers did in the Revolution) and be willing to sacrifice or risk our lives, our property, our jobs, our comforts our families even for the "Cause" of Liberty and Freedom not just for America alone, but for the entire planet! That's serving God! You may disagree with me, (I am only one Patriot and old and insignificant now), but I ask you to "Study" "Our American History" and determine yourselves if you match the challenge of Christ. Jesus never took the "Easier softer way". So, should we? He was trying to teach us that, to be one of His Disciples means to be willing 24/7 to "DO" the things that seem Scarry, but are the "Right things to do" How many of today are willing to follow Him? How many of us today are willing to step out of our "Comfort Zone" to follow Him? Are You? I have and still am. And, please pray for Yourselves and all of us! We need it!

What's A Counselor?

I am a Counselor. But, what does that mean? A true Counselor (In my opinion) is a person who will come to you when you can't come to them. A person who can sit in silence and listen when you need to speak. A person who can offer you a hug, weep with you, and feed you or bandage you when you are too hurt to do it yourself. A person who can cry with you in your grief and laugh with you in their joy or insanity of life. A Counselor is always and first, a true friend. A person who knows about the hardships of life and the beauties of life and will wait to encourage you when you are ready. A person who won't judge or condemn or lecture or reject you just because you are the same human being that they are. They will never betray your right to be who you are. They will put aside their pains and join you in yours. They will take physical care of you when you can't do it for yourself. A Counselor will tell you the Truth without filtering it through their own Truth. A Counselor is simply your "Friend" in all and through all because they too know and need love too. And, for sure, one day you will be Their Counselor and true Friend if you learn this. And, I think you will be wiser. And, I too am still learning. I am not perfect either. I welcome any new ideas or methods that will help me to be a more loving Counselor. These are just some things I have learned in life. I hope you will share with us your wisdom. In His Name, Pastor Smitty

The Right Thing For The Right Reason

Here’s the thing. As Christians I have found that most do not want to take the time or effort to “Go Out” (Matthew 28:19) and just knock on doors in a practical way to see if we can be of some comfort (Listen) or “DO” something for our neighbors in a “Practical way”. We are too AFRAID of “Rejection” to simply offer our willing hand to help people with “THEIR” needs. How can the world “Know” the LOVE of Christ if we, who claim, to be “Christians” HIDE OUT” and DO nothing for the suffering? We go to Church services on Sunday, but then DO NOTHING to reach out to the neighbors alone in their misery! I say, shame on us! We are failing! We are too afraid or self absorbed to reach out to the people all around us in so much pain. We do not get the “Right” to be “Christians” by getting a comfortable and pain free life! NO! We Must Sacrifice! God will bless us if we do, but in this world, we must SUFFER for HIM and not sit back and enjoy all the time our many good benefits from HIM! If someone in your town or street needs a visit to cheer them up, then you MUST do it! I don’t care to hear if you don’t like doing it! I only care that THEY are comforted (And you will be too) When you do it! We Christians should be the “First Responders” (Not 911). I have more to say, but I am too saddened by the current Church in it’s self-centered ways! If we do nothing, then nothing will change for better. Where do you stand? Do you want a life of self-indulgence and then die? Or, do you want a life that means something for history? (And for God). It is YOUR CHOICE! As for me I am for LOVE and TRYING to get out of my own way and let Jesus Overcome! And, be assured, in the end, HE will Overcome! Pastor Smitty

SHUT UP?

I make no excuses for being an American Patriot. I do not claim that I am totally right, but I do claim that I’ve lived a full life in service and defense of my Country and what I believe God believes is right. And, that is simply Truth, Liberty and Freedom for all American’s (And People in the world) to live within our Blessed American Constitutional Rights. And I believe these are Universal rights. You may disagree with my personal ideas or belief’s or opinions. And, I say, that I will defend your right to do so. But, do not misunderstand me (Or most American Patriots) that have fought like I have in 5 wars (Conflicts) for America. I was a Soldier and I and we soldier’s earned the right to express our opinion the “Hard Way” with blood! If you study the Bible you will notice that the only one whom Jesus Christ credited with having “Great Faith” was a Soldier (Centurion) (Matthew 8:5-13). So, do not judge me or my fellow comrades in arms who are trying to protect your rights to be free and complain! If not for us you would have no rights and no ability to complain without being killed by those who oppose you. (Study history and you will know I’m correct). I’m a man for peace. But, I have no sympathy for those who never shed an ounce of blood to maintain peace. Even Jesus Christ shed blood for peace! And, peace and Freedom cost Blood! It cost sacrifice! Most people nowadays would rather complain about what they PERSONALLY want. But, what about what is good for everyone they do not complain about? We are becoming a self-centered and selfish society! It is time to wake up and get a larger Vision! So, do not compare your little complaints against what my Soldier Comrades have sacrificed for you to be comfortable watching your sports and TV’s! We are the ones who made it possible for you all to have and keep them! And, we suffered for it more than you can ever imagine! Listen here, I've lost a Son and a Daughter who were Soldier's and died for America. Do not tell me what it cost to have freedom of speech! I will not shut up! We Veterans make NO apology for your ingratitude! We are the ones who really deserve the Freedom and Liberty of America because we have paid the price for it! So, do not forget, you are just guests in OUR Country! And God IS on OUR side!

No man Left behind

I want to examine the roles and responsibilities of the shepherds (Church Leaders), the Flock (Church Congregation), and the sheep (You) when one of God's lambs is wounded. Take an honest look at how God asks you to respond when you are the wounded lamb. And we will look at the model of the Good Shepherd (Jesus) to see how health can be restored to wholeness. The Goal is simply to bring stray sheep back into the fellowship of other believers. That is reevangelism. I am not talking about believers losing their salvation. It is specifically about the idea of returning those who have made a commitment to faith but re no longer a part of a fellowship. It is us to us to restore the wandering and injured sheep and heal them, emotionally and spiritually. We must no ignore the uncomfortable fact that many injured lambs sit near us every Sunday. Even if they have not physically wandered off, many Christians are emotionally absent from the body of Christ, and their untended wounds are rendering them ineffective for God's Kingdom.They need our help too. Imagine what could happen if we restored the powerful influences of once-committed believers and joined it with the energy of the new followers the Holy Spirit calls daily to the Lord's flock? Perhaps with that combined strength we would be more effective in our efforts to establish vibrant flocks that effectively feed and tend each sheep, as well as attract new lambs to the circle. Out in the fields, successful shepherds tend the wounded, seek the wanderers, and welcome new lambs through the miracle of birth. We Christians should do the same by pursuing the abandoned, healing and restoring our injured, and adding new lambs through the miracle of spiritual rebirth. Our prayer should be as Pastor Dave Burchett says, in his book, "Bring 'Em Back Alive" (Which I quote heavily from). That this principal is well illustrated in the movie, "Black Hawk Down" (which I was a soldier there). "In a devastating battle the troops have the option of escaping to safety or staying to rescue their comrades. They choose to endanger their own lives because they "Never leave a man behind." Their love of country and commitment to one another prevents them from taking the easier route. We Christians, however, are often too willing to take the easy way out and leave our brothers and sisters behind. But surely the love of God, His liberating grace, and His commitment to us His bride, the church, gives us no choice but to care about and seek the lost and the wandering, the wounded, and the abandoned lambs. We Christians must come to the conviction that we must never abandon members of the flock. We are to pursue those who have been hurt or who have made bad decisions, and we have a responsibility to restore them to health, not compound their injuries! We have a call to seek those wandering lambs with the overwhelming love of Jesus. I am going to challenge you to prayerfully ask God to give you a desire to seek, comfort, and "Bring 'Em Back Alive!" "Most of us would gladly seek to restore SOME people to the body of Christ. These are the people we connect with, like, and miss when they leave. Honestly, though, we would be just as happy if others found a different flock to call home, not because it would be better for their growth, BUT BECAUSE WE WOULD PREFER THEIR NOT BEING AROUND TO BOTHER US!" (Dave Burchett, "Bring 'Em Back Alive"). And that is my exact sentiments too! I know, because I have been rejected too! Pastor Smitty

On Suffering

In my many studies (Both Academically and experientially), and in my personal interviews with people, (And my own personal experiences as a sufferer of the things I am now sharing) AND, as a Presently Anointed, Licensed and Degreed, “Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor” and “Temperament Therapist”; And a previously non-Religious Counselor), concerning, and (Particularly concerning) the Military Soldier’s that I am a member of and as my “Band of Brother” (I don’t excuse it but, Yes, it does sound overused). Also, I must acknowledge and include many others who also suffer these symptoms who were not Military Soldiers. I am not ignorant of them and do include them). After those respectful and legal statements, now I shall begin to expound my professional (And Personal) opinion on the topics of Suffering, PTSD, TBI, etc., as a fact and condition existing, but treatable with a new and different approach. I have discovered a few truths that may explain and help us. I would like to share my own research findings to all who are still looking for a way to deal with the terrible after-effects of war or traumatic injury. I do not have all the answers yet, but I do have some. And, unlike many professional therapist’s, I do not ask for anything in return. What God has given me (Although I have the right to charge for it) I will not charge. That was taught to me by my Mentor Paul. He lived the same way and so do I. First, if any of you reading my Blog are really trying to fight with some Secular Therapist’s and their tools exclusive of Spiritual tools, then you probably have found that their tools are lacking when it comes to relief (As I did). However, I do respect Secular Psychologist’s tools somewhat (Because I too have a Degree in Psychology) and also the Philosopher’s (And I have a Degree in that too). But, the missing element that even Religious Theologian’s claim to have (And, I also have a Degree in Theology) is escaping the unique and individual person who suffers from these painful symptoms. Here is where I can help fill the gap. In my opinion, the “Thing” that can really help has mostly been overlooked by the modern medical sciences and their methods. As a suffer myself, I discovered the real “Cure” quite by accident (Or, I should say, quite by the Grace of God). For example, once I went to a respected military psychologist/Psychiatrist and asked him in my first meeting why I was so depressed all the time. His reply was that, in his professional opinion, that my depression was my own fault, that I was angry at myself, and that it was a “Bad” thing. But, when I replied him that I had found depression a useful tool to bring me closer to my God he just scoffed and told me that he could not help me and to not return to him! Now, I ask you my friends, is that the way of mercy, kindness and compassion? Does that show an open mind? Is that scientific? I think not. Listen, depression (Acute or Chronic), PTSD (Now called PTSI, “I” being “Injury), TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), etc. are WAR Injuries (Or, from any traumatic event) and must be accepted as a NEW part of the person who is experiencing the as “Normal” for them considering what has happened to them. The solution lies in the age old principle’s taught by Jesus Christ. Namely, Love, acceptance, comfort, encouragement, shared grieving and without telling the suffering person what they did wrong or what they should do to fix themselves (Why would they come to therapy if they could fix themselves?). In my best moments as a sufferer and counselor I have discovered the best treatment to be along the lines of: Give them a listening ear, hugs, and encouragement that their suffering has meaning. Meaning to people and meaning to God. I just let them know that I am available to help them (And do for them) whatever I can. I’ve noticed that in that simple way they seem to feel better! Well, of course! They now know that someone really cares that they suffer and that I too suffer like them. “There is no stronger bond between humans than a common bond” (That is my Credo). Jesus told us as believer’s we would suffer in THIS world. We believer’s suffer just as non-believer’s do, except we have one thing they do not have, HOPE. And, MEANING also in our suffering, they do not. The trick is to be able to turn our suffering Outward toward other’s who suffer as much or more than ourselves. In THAT is the “Cure” for our depression, etc. When we go to Christ we get His Holy Spirit and the Power of God to make our world a better place for ourselves and other’s. Your suffering is NOT your fault! Your suffering is NOT God’s fault! Your suffering came because you were trying to DO the RIGHT thing for the RIGHT reason! And you got hurt for it. That makes you a hero! Not a crippled or disabled or whatever label put on you by the Society. You are now just DIFFERENT and can choose to do things differently as God desires. Now is the time to introspect yourselves, check your motives, and discard the critics and MOVE AHEAD WITH CHRIST! Believe me, you will find more happiness in life if you do (And, eternal happiness later). I hope you will give Christ a “Try”. And, regardless of what you’ve been taught, “TRY” is NOT a four letter word. The Bible is full of those victorious and faulty and damaged people who just “Tried” and God made them successful. Would you like to be one too? OK, I will add more ideas later. But, please join and comment on our Blog. Blessings, Pastor Smitty

On Being a Soldier and Memorial Day

It’s astonishing to me how “Family” member’s can be so ignorant and careless about member’s of their Family who have selflessly sacrificed their own comforts and lives to defend and protect the Family and the American way of life against Evil. In my own case, (And I know of many thousands of other Military Veteran’s who have experienced this) that my own Nuclear( Immediate) Family has been and continues to be a source of perpetual suffering and sadness to me. Because they were never in Military Service (And war’s as I have been) they remain ignorant and even worse, do not care to learn about us Vets and the problems that we have, which directly affects, not only us, but our ability to love them and their inability to love us as we now are. For us Veteran’s, we get very sad and even angry at them (And ourselves if we care for them) because they have never risked their own life in any way as we Vets have for anything (Except to just get for themselves) other than themselves. I personally find it impossible to even try (And I have) to persuade or teach them to even TRY to to learn or understand us Vets. As for my own relatives, none of them really even made an effort to learn about my disabilities stemming from my active (Or current) combat horrors of war(s). Since it is (In my opinion) impossible for them (Unless they may honestly want to learn about us Vets, which mine do not) They then continue to treat me (Us) Veterans as if WE are at fault for having disabilities or in some way we are responsible for our own disabilities (Which we are not). And, that, we are responsible to make these disabilities go away on our own (Impossible) or conform to their ideas of what normalcy is within a Family (Or Nation). This is the Great Lie and the Great trouble we as Vets face daily. I cannot tell you of them many Vets (And other non Vets) who have come to me for counseling who have afterwards committed suicide in spite of my attempts to avert it! They never accepted their uniqueness as wounded and never could not accept that other’s could not or would not accept their wounded souls. What a tragedy! Yet, it has even happened to me. However, I believe that only GOD has the right to end me. They did not apparently. This is the great trouble we Veterans face. It IS possible for them (Our Families and Nation) to learn and accept us as we are now in spite of our disabilities (Not our fault) of war(s). But, for THEM it means that THEY must make an effort to begin to accept and love our different ideas, thoughts, feelings and strange behaviors for what they are, a result of violent experiences not our fault. For many relatives who never sacrificed as we Vets have it seems impossible (As with my own Family, except my Wife now) to adjust to. Bit, hopefully it can happen IF, and ONLY IF, they are more willing to make an honest effort to learn about what our disabilities are and how they came about and the adjust themselves and their own attitudes to include our symptoms and sometimes radical reactions to the “Norm” as they see it of a non-combatant society which they have always been a part of that remain ignorant to and of our brave Veteran’s (And dead hero’s) experiences. And what those mean to us. If they (our Families and Nation) do learn then we will all be able to respect and love and help one another in participation with them in a more peaceful and loving way. But, if they deny that they are ignorant it will only make for continued disfunction and disruption within our Families and our Nation. It appears then that it is up to US Veterans to keep trying to educate them. However, it is NOT our fault if they refuse to be taught. This has given me a great relief (And Calling) just knowing that it is THEM and NOT ME who refuse to learn and change. I can now go on with my damaged life and seek out other’s who do share and understand or are at least willing to understand and change themselves to accept me and my peculiar “Disfunctions” or “Disabilities” (I do not like these terms actually) as the thing for which it is. Namely, a direct consequence of living and fighting enemies of all families and America and it is just the affects of war(s) that have made us Vets seem distant or unusual to others. Hopefully, in the future they will make that seemingly impossible change. But, unfortunately for now not many have or will do the very hard work required to make it come to pass. So, what can I or we Vets do now? I suggest that we focus on our Comrades in arms, both on active duty and the Vets and ultimately focus on Christ and how HE did love and acceptance. It will be in these two areas of life that we hurting Veterans may be able to have any kind of peace and love in our own personal life and our relations. Even more, I hate Evil in all forms, and I hate Terrorism like ISIS (ISIL) and I would do anything I can to stop and end them either inside or outside the Family, America or World as a whole. That being said, may GOD help you in doing it! And, if you want, I am willing to listen to you. So, join and participate in our Blog! Blessings, Pastor Smitty