J. Matthew Henry

Honor, A Cornerstone of Leadership

noreply@blogger.com (J. Matthew Henry) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 11:30:00 +0000

Written in the sixth century, verse seventeen of the Tao Teh Ching from Lao Tzu reads:

A leader is best
When people barely know he exists,
Not so good when people obey and acclaim him,
Worst when they despise him.
'Fail to honor people,
They fail to honor you.'
But of a good leader, who talks tilde,
When his work is done, his aim fulfilled,
They will all say, 'We did this ourselves.'

I don't know about you, but as a leader and follower I find this passage intriguing and challenging.

As I watch other leaders (and in most cases, managers) I notice how common it is for so many leaders to want to be in the lime light. I'm sure you've seen it too. Perhaps you have worked alongside someone who will only allow their own ideas to be implemented, will take someone else's idea and claim it as their own, or simply wait until you are gone and then implement it. Behaviors like this make me wonder; if the idea was good enough to selfishly steal and implement later, why not just go ahead and humbly use it now? Why wait? I sense a similar caution to Lao Tzu—it is the dishonorable leader that selfishly claims another’s idea as his own.

On the flip side, I have also had the opportunity to observe honorable leaders who chose not to be concerned with their visibility while still being a true point person. The leader that honors his team is the one who is trusted most completely. The honorable leader may not have a formal title. However, the honorable leader is the one which has been tested over time, through giving his team the honor they deserve, who can rally the team to greater success.

If you watch a team, you will recognize the real leader by taking a moment or two to be still and simply observe. Don't be surprised. Here are some things to look for:

- Who takes time to listen to all the input?

- Who makes a calculated response?

- Which person actually commands the attention of the team when they speak?

* Who does everyone follow?

These questions will drive your attention to the real leader. Just because someone has a title does not mean they are the leader. In the same way, just because people follow instructions does not mean they are following a leader--they may simply be following a manager's instructions.

How do you honor your team? How do you enable them to rally together? Are you riding the limelight or stabilizing yourself on the cornerstone of honor?

What's Your Global Position?

noreply@blogger.com (J. Matthew Henry) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 11:30:00 +0000

A man walks into a gas station and asks for directions...

Okay, okay... that must be the beginning of a bad joke but I after this past week's experience I couldn't help but open with it.

You see, my best friend asked me to both officiate and be the best man in his wedding which was on St Patrick's Day. Chuck (who has guest posted for me) and I have been friends for well over 30 years. We have built and destroyed our fair share of small projects and have a great appreciation for cool technology.

When Chuck moved here from Arizona he journeyed with his very own brand new GPS. I can't lie, I wanted one. But, because I normally have a pretty good sense of direction and have learned to use Google Maps I had yet to justify the cost. Well, this past Christmas my wife bought me my very own GPS. Now, Chuck and I were both able to navigate to Florida for the wedding with ease!

Like Chuck, I have been most amazed with how quickly I have gotten used to relying on this simple little device. For me, the past few months have created a new dependency on my GPS.

What creates our dependency on these little devices?

- Short notice, convenient directions

- Reliability

- Ease of use

- Ability to find local Points of Interest even when we aren't sure what we're looking for

- Ability to find the closest gas station on the fly (of course that won't help if I don't fill up soon enough)

- Voice navigation

- Blue tooth capability

- Availability of International maps

Ultimately, all of these features, and their benefit to us, build a sense of trust in a little electronic device that can tell us where in the world we are.

This past weekend Chuck and I were reminded of how dangerous it is to trust in our GPS units. Being the kind of guy that will give the shirt off his back for you Chuck loaned his GPS to a friend while in FL for the wedding. It wasn't until Chuck and his new Bride departed Florida to start their new life together that he realized that he had not gotten the unit back from our friend. DOH! Shortly after this realization I was reading a text message from him... I'm sure you can imagine his sense of frustration.

Psalm 20:7 reminds us that while some may trust in earthly things, we should be trusting in the Name of our Lord.

If you own a GPS unit you probably have experienced getting lost even with its high percentage of reliability. Yet, why is it so much harder for us to rely on God for direction in life? Why is it so hard for us to trust the One who is ever faithful even though we think we know the best route?

What things have you grown to trust that have drawn you away from putting your full trust in God's faithfulness? What steps are you taking to rely on God for your global position?

How Hot is Your Coffee?

noreply@blogger.com (J. Matthew Henry) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 11:30:00 +0000

The morning began in the kitchen at work making a carafe of coffee for my team members. As I was standing there Luke walked in with a pre-coffee look on his face. Jokingly I let him know what his face was saying about how his morning appeared to be starting. His response was great!

As he proceeded to fill his mug up with boiling hot water from that little red tap on the coffee machine he said, “You know… if you fill up your mug with hot water and let the mug warm up before you fill it with your coffee, the coffee will stay hot for hours!” He then added that the credit for that tip actually goes to Debbie.

Wow! That really got me thinking about how vital that tip really is—not just for keeping coffee hot though. I couldn't help but think of the implications for leadership, character, and our spiritual lives.

Whether we are leaders or followers our days can be exhausting. From the time you arrive at work to the moment you leave there are things to be accomplished and goals to be achieved. I believe that in order to maintain a sense of calm haste we need to be filled before we can pour out something refreshing and energizing into our work and the lives we come in contact with.

Here are a few suggestions for charging yourself up before pouring yourself out:

- Have a daily devotional time

- Put down the electronic devices for an hour

- Take an hour to simply think

- Workout

- Begin your week with by setting a strategy for the upcoming tasks

- Take a walk outside

- Take a nap

- Brainstorm with a close friend

So, what are you filling your mug up with? How do you stay hot for hours?

I invite you to leave a comment below.

Business as Usual...or Not!

noreply@blogger.com (J. Matthew Henry) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 11:30:00 +0000

I recently came across the following video that has challenged me to think twice about the idea of "business as usual". It's made me wonder, what could I do with my team at work to make our job more fun? How could I add a little more fun for my daughters as they clean their room? What about my own goals... add in a little fun?

What are the possibilities for increasing fun? I'd love to hear your comments...

What's Your Potential?

noreply@blogger.com (J. Matthew Henry) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 11:30:00 +0000

What is your potential? Perhaps, like me, you probably have been told that you have a ton of potential or have had a reference say they same of you. My guess is that you took it as a compliment. I would've too. But is it a compliment? I think not!

Potential is one item that really stirs me up. Whether in myself or in someone else I find myself getting angry at the mention of it. Think about it. What is potential really? I would pose to you that potential is what you are capable of becoming but are not currently.

Wow, what a thought! I'm sure, if you are taking the time to read this, you too see things within yourself that you could become. For whatever reason, you have not yet spent the energy on changing or investing in yourself. But are you ready to make a change? Let's look a few steps that can turn potential to reality.

I believe the first step is to realize that you have a unique potential that no one else has. Sure, you may have things in common with other people. So what are your skills? What excites you? What are you most passionate about in life? These are just a few questions that can get the juices flowing.

Second, take some time to think about who it is that you want to become. What does the end product of "you" look like? I would recommend that you take an inventory listing the skills, experiences and characteristics that are part of your potential. Essentially, this list is a description of what you believe you could look like within the next few weeks, months or even over the next several years.

The third step is to strategize. Like step two, take some more time to think. However, now the direction of your thoughts should be in regard to how you are going to execute. Goals and action steps will help you create a realistic plan that can help you move potential to reality.

Finally, execute. Depending on why the potential you have even exists you may find that this is the most difficult part. I may suggest that this step is one that you can't do on your own. In order to execute many of us find the need for accountability. Why not build accountability into your plan by telling a friend, coworker, or spouse your plan to execute your potential?

How would your life look different if you are able to Realize, Think about, Strategize & Execute your potential into action? Add your comments below.

Too Busy Driving... to fill up the tank...

noreply@blogger.com (J. Matthew Henry) — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:28:00 +0000

Today, while I can't claim this post, I'd like to share my best friend's thoughts on how our mornings collided today:

Early today my morning routine was interrupted by a phone call from my closest friend’s wife. I missed the call but was able to quickly call her back. When she answered the phone she informed me that Matt had run out of gas a few miles from my house, and asked if I could bring him some gas on my way to work. Without hesitation I accepted this new task and placed it into my morning “to do” list.

First, I called Matt to find out where he was; next I got dressed cause I had just got out of the shower; and then I walked both my dogs. After rushing through these tasks, and skipping my morning cup of coffee, I rushed to the assistance of my friend in need.

My five gallon gas can was empty and my truck was very low on fuel too, so after filling up the gas can and adding an additional 5 gallons to my truck I headed off to find my friend. I found Matt parked in his Jeep next door to Osaka’s. He quickly came to the bed of my truck, grabbed the gas can and started to pour the contents into his tank.

Once we were both back on the road and stopped at a light I sent him a text message that read “Have you ever been too busy driving to fill up with gas..?” I thought I was being funny jesting at his recent situation that left him stranded, and he responded with the typical “LOL”.

Now I am in my office and honestly feel a bit grumpy, not for having changed my schedule around to aid in the assistance of a friend, but because I feel tired. I left the house without eating anything, had no coffee, skipped my devotional, and forgot to bring my apple and orange that have become my staple snacks since I’m trying to lose weight for my wedding. In short, my own personal gas tank is empty. I am guilty of exactly what I had texted Matt. I was too busy driving to fill up my own tank.

As I sit in my office grumpy, hungry and tired, I realize how easy it can be to allow our personal fuel tanks to run dry, and how important it is to be intentional about filling them up. So, as I am being deliberate in filling my personal tank through a quick devotional I found online while drinking a cup of coffee and eating a sausage and egg English muffin from Founders, I found myself asking, “Am I filling up the tanks of the people on my team or am I just driving them without consideration to the fuel that is needed to make them perform?” Even Highways have a rest stop to help you mentally recharge so you don’t run off the road. Where is my rest stop at work? Some days are so busy that I just wish I would see a sign “Rest Stop in 15 Minutes”

One of the things I do when planning a long road trip is to plan where I will be stopping to fill the tank, and where am I going to stay the night so I am recharged for the next day. I feel we must take this same approach as we manage our teams. We need to plan to drive long, plan to fill up, but also plan to rest and recharge. I’m not saying give the whole department or office a day off, but I am saying that as managers we need to intentionally plan to refuel and recharge the team, give them the proverbial tune up through training, celebrating victories and sharing about challenging situations and ways to overcome similar ones.

Deliberately scheduling this time is like sticking a sign post in the middle of the work day that says REST STOP Next Exit. Employees that know they are going to get this chance to share, celebrate and train will be able to work through the rough times knowing they will get a chance to rest up, tune up and fill up.

Happy Motoring!!! - Chuck Ford

True Love

noreply@blogger.com (J. Matthew Henry) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 23:00:00 +0000

As I sit here on the eve of Valentine's Day I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. While I'm not a fan of "Hallmark" holidays I am grateful to have a formal reminder of true love.

Do you have people in your life that seem to simply be noise makers? You know who I mean, the person who always seems to have an answer for everything, the person who doesn't seem to ever really be present even though they are standing in front of you. If we are really honest with ourselves we will have to admit that you and I have been that person. Perhaps it has been with your spouse, girlfriend, boyfriend, mother, father, child, or even a coworker or employee. But how do we change? What's really wrong?

I would submit to you that we have lost sight of what True Love is.

So let's take a quick look back to 1 Corinthians 13. What do you see? Read it one more time but this time slow down while you read 1 Cor 13:4-7. Before we lift that finger we were about to point just a moment ago let's evaluate ourselves against what Love is not.

Those verses say that Love does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, is not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, and doesn't delight in evil. Although I can't speak for you, I know I've been guilty of some, most or perhaps all of those at some point in my life. It makes me wonder how often I sounded like a clanging cymbal--a mere noise maker.

But the greater contrast is what Love IS. Love is patient, kind, protects, trusts, hopes and always perseveres. Can you imagine what it would be like to be loved in that way? How different would your life be if you were loved with patience despite your flaws, treated kindly even though you have moments of selfishness, and perpetually trusted with hope even though you have previously failed. My guess is that you would feel like you were on the top of the world, that you could do anything--without fear.

I think that many of us hold back living in true love because we are afraid. Afraid of what? Afraid that we will not be loved in this way because we know how hard it is to love in this way. But we must remember that this is exactly how Christ loves us. 1 John 4:18 reminds us that "perfect loves casts out fear." If you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ you are loved perfectly! You are loved with a love that perseveres even when you fail.

So what do we do with this knowledge? I believe we need to learn to accept the love of God and abide in Him in such a way that His perfect love fills and flows through us till it overflows out of our lives into the lives of those who need to experience a love like this. Imagine how different your community would be if we allowed Christ to infect our lives with this perfected love! Imagine what would happen as we love those around us as best we humanly can as He loves us.

Now we have a choice to make. Will we be a clanging cymbal merely making noise or will we choose to model Christ's love that casts fear. Perhaps this Valentine's Day you will think twice about that lovely box of chocolates and take a step toward the One who loves perfectly.

Are You a Mile-Marker?

noreply@blogger.com (J. Matthew Henry) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:01:00 +0000

Every generation seems to have significant mile markers that impact and, at times, define them. My generation has been impacted by major events from the war on drugs to the global war on terror, from the Berlin wall to Tiananmen Square, from Operation Enduring Freedom to Operation Iraqi Freedom, and from the shuttle Challenger to the events of 9/11.

As I write this I am reminded that I will never forget my experience on September 11, 2001. I will never forget standing on my back porch overlooking the New York City skyline filled with smoke as I watched the second tower fall. I will never forget the moments that followed as I learned of the impact on family, neighbors, friends and classmates who were in those towers. I will never forget the stories of those who stepped up and were called “heroes.” I will never forget.

Today, honored to humbly serve my country as a Chaplain and officer in the USAF, I strive to uphold the Air Force core values of “Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence In All We Do”. What I love about the Air Force core values is that they also uphold the spiritual truths that are found within the Scriptures. In particular, the central core value of service reminds me of Matthew 20:28; “for even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and give his life as a ransom for many.”

If you have accepted Christ as the leader of your life, you have a great responsibility to prepare now for the opportunities that you will be presented with. His desire for you is that you live an “abundant life” (John 10:10) as you live out His mission to “Go into all the world” (Matt 28:18-20). The only way for us to truly live this abundant life and fulfill His mission is to be groomed and fed by the Giver of Life as we abide in Him (John 15:1-11). The question now is, how will you respond?

You see, having accepted Christ we have been given the greatest gift of all. Just like the countless men and women who have stepped up to serve in moments of crisis, even at times gave their life, we too need to be prepared for the moments that will be presented to us. At times, they may not seem like acts of heroism but I would challenge you to think about what role you play in someone’s eternal journey. How will you affect someone today? What value are you adding to their life? How are you serving in response to The One who came to serve you? What legacy will you leave behind? How, and why, will you accomplish this?

Warren G Harding said, “I accept my part with single-mindedness of purpose and humility of spirit, and implore the favor and guidance of God in His Heaven.” My prayer is that we will be able to respond to the salvation we have been given in such a way that we too can be mile-markers in the lives of those we come in contact with. Moreover, that we would infect the world with His grace, as we become more like the Servant who placed a mile-marker for us on the Cross.

A New Dawn

noreply@blogger.com (J. Matthew Henry) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 01:04:00 +0000

Over a year has passed since my last post, now it's time to start writing again.

I have found writing in blog form forces me to ratchet down my wordiness, getting to the heart of the matter in a succinct manner.

Since my last post, so much has transpired. I have completed my second Masters degree, been ordained for ministry, completed a second Chaplain Candidate tour at Lackland AFB and am currently waiting for my reappointment interview with the USAF to become a "real" Chaplain.

I have not written for so long wondering what I could possibly say that would have an impact on others through this venue. Perhaps the real truth is that the thought that goes into my writing has more impact on me than anyone else--so I will begin to write again. However, my hope is that as you read this you will find something in my journey that can serve as part of the transformation process in your life (Heb 10:23-24).

Just as this photo shows the sun setting over the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, the place I currently call home, the sun also sets on the old man as I seek to continually be renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Though the mountains do not disappear when the sun sets, the dawn renews them just as we are renewed every morning by the grace and mercy of our heavenly Father (Lamentations 3:22-24).

CS 08.10 - CCIIP Raptor Flight Recap

noreply@blogger.com (J. Matthew Henry) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:00:00 +0000

I would like to share with you a video I created for my CCIIP flight,the Raptors, led by Chaplain, Major Bill Dickens. All of the members of the Raptor Flight are included and I am very grateful to each of those who took the time to be interviewed for this project. Although there was over an hour of video from the interviews and hundreds of photos what you will see below expresses our experience from the members of the Raptor Flight.

I would also like to recognize our mentor Ch. Dickens for being an invaluable resource for us as Chaplain Candidates as he invested in us with purpose. Finally, although not featured in any of the interviews, I would like to also thank MSgt Patricia Ayres. MSgt Ayres gave of her time and energy to make much of this trip possible often giving beyond her responsibilities so that the trip would be a success. I'm sure I will continue to post more about my experiences through COT, CCC and the CCIIP but for now, let's roll the video...

CS 08.9 - Don't Get Stuck on Stupid!

noreply@blogger.com (J. Matthew Henry) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:01:00 +0000

Wow, what a summer... once again, so much has happened since my last post. Nearly one month later and I have completed my USAF Chaplain Candidate Internship, taken a wonderful vacation with my family at the beach as well as starting work again with the world's largest evangelical university and leader in online education as the Supervisor for Admissions Consultants.

Before I share more recap of the summer with you however, I thought it best to keep my commitment and post the devotional that I had promised. This devotional stems from a message offered to the Chaplain Candidate Course students from class 08A but I have adapted it for a broader audience here.

I'm sure that in your life, as has been the case in mine, there have been times in which you had seemingly lost hope or simply become frustrated with your place in life. Perhaps you wondered if there was a point feeling as though you had seemingly lost your direction. I'd like to share with your three key words you can easily remember that will help impress the following Biblical principles on you.

1. Remember
2. Recall
3. Rely

I'm not normally one who goes for alliteration but, it seems to work here. Take a moment to read through Lam 3:19-27 then follow along with me through the following.

It's so easy to remember all the reasons for your pain, frustration, and overall loss of hope when you are in the midst of a tough time in life. Moreover, it's even easier to sit down and have a pity party for yourself while you wallow in sorrow enjoying your misery. Doesn't it seem to come as nearly second nature to a number of people? You know what I'm talking about. There seems to one in every crowd. The person who is unnecessarily needy, aimless in life or just enjoying the low spot in life because it allows them to draw the attention of others. Well, here in verses 19-20 of this passage we see the writer doing just that--remembering. But he is allowing his soul to be downcast as a result.

However, although the author is remembering the root of the feelings he does not end there. The remembrance turns into recall of how past circumstances have been orchestrated and what the outcome was in verses 21-23. He does not get stuck on the past but begins to move forward as he recalls the faithfulness of God time and time again. God's mercy is truly new every morning and the author recognizes that God's faithfulness is not dependent upon anything he has done but solely upon God's character.

Finally, in verses 24-27, having remembered his pain and affliction, recalling God's faithfulness, He is able to rely upon the Father and move forward!

This summer I was shared a story of a three star General who was giving a media briefing (see the video inset) after hurricane Katrina and just prior to hurricane Rita. During his briefing the reporters kept addressing the past--all of the frustrations that the public was dealing with after Katrina. The General reminded the reporters that the purpose of this briefing was to move forward and get information out to the public about what was about to happen. He encouraged them not to get stuck on stupid. In other words, he didn't want them to get so wrapped up in the past that they could not move forward and help those who were in the path of this new hurricane. Immediately following his comments, what was the first question from one of the reporters? He wanted to compare this storm to the last storm. Immediately the General points out that the reporter was stuck on stupid.

The point I'd like to make is, "Don't Get Stuck on Stupid. Remember, Recall & Rely."

It's entirely too easy to get stuck on stupid while getting caught up in the frustration, stress, pain and merely the ebb and flow of life and forgetting the faithfulness of God. I would like to simply challenge you to follow the heart of the author of Lamentations.

Remember why you are feeling what you are feeling.

Recall that God has been faithful throughout generations. His faithfulness is not dependent upon you or anything you do. Simply put, God is faithful.

But do not let it end there. Take action. Rely upon God's faithfulness.

It is in remembering and recalling that there is renewed hope found in a faithful Father. He will continue to carry you through the difficult times and allow you to find joy once again. Don't get stuck on stupid.

CS 08.8 - Been a While

noreply@blogger.com (J. Matthew Henry) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 19:32:00 +0000

So, it's been several weeks again between posts. So much has happened! I've graduated from the CCC (Chaplain Candidate Course) and have already visited several bases on the CCIIP Tour (Chaplain Candidate Intensive Internship Program). Please feel free to check out the photos I've posted by clicking the link at the top of the page. Immediately following this post I'm going to add a devotional thought that I shared with my squadron during CCC.

Where have I been, you ask. Immediately following CCC I drove from Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, AL to Robins AFB in Warner Robins, GA. During our stay at Robins we visited the flight line and the shops where they work on the F-15's as well as visiting the AF Museum (see photos).

I then experienced my first C130 flight to Patrick AFB in Cocoa Beach, FL where we had several briefings about the various missions of that base including both the space and rescue mission. The Airmen at Patrick are top notch and we all had a great experience there meeting the PJ's from the 920th Rescue Squadron as well as the various others from the 45th Space Wing who support the Space Mission. While in Cocoa beach I also visited Ron Jon's Surf shop, did PT on the beach in the morning, as well as take a deep sea fishing trip (where I caught a baracuda).

Leg three of the trip started again with a C130 flight to Homestead ARB (where I'm writing this from) which is just south of Miami, FL. This base is unique because it is a Reserve Base. It had previously been an active duty base and was nearly closed for good following the 1992 hurricane Andrew. The ministry setting here is unique because the base is comprised entirely reservists. I was blessed to go on visitation twice to the Equipment Maintenance Squadron with Chaplain Fink. On my second round of visitation he asked me to take the lead since I had been before. This was a great time as we got to know some of the Airmen serving in the various shops as well as how they support the Mako's, F16's, to which the base is home.

From Homestead we will be traveling to Charlestown AFB, SC and will be traveling on a C17. This will be yet another new experience as the C17 is a large Airlift aircraft. Just to give you an idea of how large a C17 is I should mention that it is able to house 10 Hummers within its cargo bay.

Keep your eyes peeled for new pictures. My ability to connect to the internet has been very unstable so I am not always able to post as often as I would like. However, I will tell you that this is a trip of a lifetime and I am blessed to be able to be a part of this experience. My flight commander/mentor, Ch. Dickens is an incredible man who serves as the reserve wing chaplain at Wright Patterson AFB, OH. Our Chaplain Assistant, Patricia "Trish" Ayres is an incredible asset to the Squadron as well. I look forward to telling you all more about them as time progresses. I have been able to learn much merely by observing them both in action as they lead us though this tour.

CS 08.7 - I Made It!

noreply@blogger.com (J. Matthew Henry) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 02:54:00 +0000

Graduation never quite meant so much as it did today. I've squeaked by in elementary, middle, and high school not to mention my undergrad where I exceeded the minimum GPA by about .01 (if I remember correct). Now that I've been working on my master's degrees I've finally been succeeding, even getting several "A's"!

However, I took my first test at Commissioned Officer Training only to find that I missed two too many questions. Having been fed information as though I was trying to take a drink from a fire hose on full blast I was overwhelmed with information and attempted to pass that test in my own strength. Yes, I admitted it--the Chaplain Candidate was relying on self. I know better than this. As a result I was placed on SMS (essentially academic probation). The following week was filled with even more information to learn, pressure and stress of knowing that if I didn't attain the minimum level on the next test I would have to complete a cumulative exam in order to graduate.

I once heard John Maxwell say, "Life is full of flat squirrels who couldn't make a decision." The decision I needed to make was to start relying on God again. I realized I had been doing things solely out of my own strength and began to once again rely upon God for my strength as well as the support of my flight. There were several of my flight members who really encouraged me and kept me accountable in my studies. Not only that, I am also grateful to everyone back home who were praying for me. It took some time but I recalled the verse I had placed on our morale board: "Tune your ears to wisdom & concentrate on understanding" Proverbs 2:2.

I felt great taking this exam. I was fully prepped and ended up only getting two questions wrong! After the test was reviewed several Officer Trainee's challenged one of the questions I had gotten wrong and as a result we were all credited for that one yielding me a 98% as a final grade!

So, there's always a lesson--right? I think it's pretty obvious... Who are you relying on? I'm not suggesting that Christianity is or should be a crutch. I fully believe that my responsibility was to study and do my part yet, I wasn't relying upon God to assist me. I had left Him out of the picture for test #1. What have you left God out of? Who do you rely upon? Where do you get your strength , peace, rest, sanity, and security? If you're not really sure please feel free to drop me a line, I'd love to talk to you more about this.

CS 08.6 - 5K Run

noreply@blogger.com (J. Matthew Henry) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:57:00 +0000

So much has happened since my last post but I wanted to quickly make a post this morning. I just finished the 5K and made it in 28:57. My personal goal was to make it under 35 minutes with a stretch goal of 30 minutes. I paced most of the way with Lt. Mullins, Lt. Bird and Lt. McCrae (seen with me here). We’ve got an awesome flight! There’s an incredible amount of teamwork as we drive toward winning with excellence through discipline. I’ll post some more later about the field exercises we went on this week and when I get access to a public internet connection I’ll post some photos as well.

As a side note, I also passed my second exam with flying colors!!!! I only got two questions wrong and after official evaluation they gave me credit for one of the questions finalizing my score at a 98%.

CS 08.5 - Red Cross

noreply@blogger.com (J. Matthew Henry) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 01:43:00 +0000

It’s summer time and man is it Hot here in Alabama. I’m told that summer is when the Red Cross is typically short on blood supply. COT Class 08-04 held a blood drive today and many of us decided to donate. In the picture above is Lt. Marc Mallone and I. Lt. Mallone is our Flight Social Officer and was assisting the Red Cross with the blood drive.

CS 08.4 - The Airman's Creed

noreply@blogger.com (J. Matthew Henry) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 21:48:00 +0000

I am an American Airman.

I am a Warrior.

I have answered my Nation’s call.

I am an American Airman.

My mission is to Fly, Fight, and Win.

I am faithful to a Proud Heritage,

A Tradition of Honor,

And a Legacy of Valor.

I am an American Airman.

Guardian of Freedom and Justice,

My Nation’s Sword and Shield,

Its Sentry and Avenger.

I defend my Country with my Life.

I am an American Airman.

Wingman, Leader, Warrior.

I will never leave an Airman behind,

I will never falter,

And I will not fail.

CS 08.3 - Changing of the Guard

noreply@blogger.com (J. Matthew Henry) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 02:52:00 +0000

Montgomery has historically been a place of change. On December 1, 1955 Mrs. Rosa Parks was on her way home from work and decided to do nothing. That is, she decided to remain seated toward the front of the bus. Mrs. Parks said, “If you want to be respected for your actions, then your behavior must be above reproach. If our lives demonstrate that we are peaceful, humble, and trusted, this is recognized by others.”

Above is a picture of most of my flight that ran the Assault Course on Tuesday. Thursday we experienced a Change of Command ceremony in which the staff here at OTS gave us the charge of the class (COT Class 08-04). We were also upgraded to third class status which means that over the weekend we are given Base Privileges (allowed to travel anywhere on outside the OTS Campus but still on Maxwell AFB). Today we had a Hall Call in which our Squadron handed out awards for the highest Athletic, Academic and Overall best flight of the week. My flight, KILO Flight, won two of the three—Academic and overall best average scores. Over the weekend we’ll be spending a lot of time studying for our second major academic test. A lot has changed in the past week.

So what’s the connection to Rosa Parks? Simply this, I am an officer in the world’s greatest Air Force! As such, among my duties is to uphold the core values of the USAF. The first core value of the Air Force is “Integrity First.” The AFOATS manual on character says that integrity first is “an unfaltering devotion to honesty, truthfulness, doing one’s duty, and doing what’s right.” As Kilo has been working to hone our communication and leadership skills and work cooperatively toward the same end we have found success in living out integrity and simply doing what is right even when it’s not easy. We have been encouraging each other to rise to the next level and have plans to continue to succeed.

Personally, all of this ties into my faith as well as my service to country. One person can make a huge difference as part of a team working to make a greater impact. I’m incredibly proud to be a part of Kilo Flight. We are a strong, confident, and positive group of leaders who desire to win, strive for excellence and greater discipline. As part of this awesome team I must remember that I need to personally do my part of living out Integrity First.

This core value is not something that should be left to Airmen or even other military members—it should be embraced by all of us. Imagine what your family, community, church family, or team at work would be like if we all began to embrace Integrity First. Imagine if there were more Rosa Parks in the world. I have the pleasure of serving alongside some incredible men and women who just may very well become the next Rosa Parks. Some are commissioned to be Doctors, Nurses, PA’s, JAG and chaplains. I can’t wait to see where this journey will take each of them and what kind of impact they will have on our incredible country.

The question now is—how about you? Are you prepared for a changing of the guard? Are you willing to take responsibility and live a life that puts integrity first? Are you another Rosa Parks?

CS 08.2 - Assault Course

noreply@blogger.com (J. Matthew Henry) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 04:47:00 +0000

One week down and things are still moving along. It’s so hard to keep up with all the events of the past week. Essentially we wake up at about 0400 to prepare to head out for PT (Physical Training) at the PT Pad. We have to line up in formation and size up before marching over to workout. Monday morning we had to take the PFB (Physical Fitness Baseline) at 0500. This consisted of one minute of pushups, one minute of crunches and a mile and a half run. These three things combined with the wait measurement provide a baseline score for the Assessment later in the month as well as assess whether or not you could participate in the Assault Course.

Having passed the PFB, I was able to go through the Assault Course. This course was made up of various obstacles that needed to be traversed. From the parallel bars seen here (if my picture loaded remotely), and performing a low crawl in the sand like you see in the movies to monkey bars over water. In this picture you see me in the background and Lt. Mullins, my temporary wingman, in the foreground. We ran the course together encouraging each other and our flight to raise the bar and make it through the course without giving up.

Though this was a physical event we spend most of our day in the flight room learning about USAF leadership principles. On Saturday morning we had our first exam which I passed as well. The next exam is going to be on Monday, 09 Jun. I believe this is going to be a tough one. I’m going to have to spend most of my weekend studying and preparing for the exam.

I hope to share more later. I am learning a lot not only about leadership but also about myself. If this post is successful I plan to post a bit more often and post much shorter snippets perhaps some day shots here and there.

Please continue to pray for me and my family.

CS 08.1

noreply@blogger.com (J. Matthew Henry) — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Here I sit in Atlanta, teetering on the edge of the unknown. In just about an hour or so I will be making the final leg of my trip to begin Commissioned Officer Training which will be followed by the Chaplain Candidate Course and then a four week Chaplain Candidate Intensive Internship Program. Though I'm sure that at some point this summer I'm going to have a sense that time has flown by, at the moment I see that there is a long haul in front of me.

While I have an idea of the big picture, it's the details that have me a bit on edge. However, I know that I have a BIG God who is able to sustain me. I have been thinking about Paul's words to the Corinthians in chapter 9 of I Corinthians. He said, "I beat my body and make it a slave..."(27). My goal is to be among the best in my class while honoring God in the process. In order to accomplish that goal I know that I will need to continually be challenged physically while keeping myself prepared mentally and spiritually for the journey ahead.

So, what's with the title for this post? I'm planning to keep up on my journey and thought the easiest way was to keep the title simple. CS 08.01 is simply an abbreviation for Chaplain Series 2008 First Post. Again, the plan is to be able to follow up giving a glimpse into life as a Chaplain Candidate but, we'll see how the summer rolls.

The Urgent vs. The Important

noreply@blogger.com (J. Matthew Henry) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:27:00 +0000

What eats up your time?

What tugs at you all day?

What tempts you toward procrastination or laziness?

What unnecessarily fills up your calendar?

Every day each of us are presented with choices. For some of us, the choices presented come hourly, others even more frequently. The balance I am still learning to find is between the urgent and the important. Though this is a common concept taught to young professionals it is one that takes years to master. We must not merely evaluate what is important, that which will best serve the vision of the organization, we must follow through and weed out the urgent, that which appears last minute and draws us away from the important. The urgent can also mask itself as being supportive of the important yet we must not fall prey to its temptation while getting caught up in busyness and tedious work.

Eugene H. Peterson, in The Contemplative Pastor, writes, "I am busy because I am lazy. I indolently let others decide what I will do instead of resolutely deciding myself...If I vainly crowd my day with conspicuous activity or let others fill my day with imperious demands, I don't have time to do my proper work, the work to which I have been called. How can I lead people beside the still waters if I am in perpetual motion?"

What I most appreciate about Peterson's statement is his humble honesty in which he takes responsibility for not taking responsibility. The beauty and danger of the urgent versus the important is that the easy way out is to allow ourselves to rush off to do something exciting and fresh as we justify our actions in fulfilling the urgent while the important is silently ignored.

The danger is that when we allow ourselves to succumb to the urgent too frequently, the important is left alone as the whole show begins to unravel. This is dangerous in any environment whether at work or in one's spiritual life.

So how do we overcome this battle? Donald Rumsfeld, former Secretary of Defense, said, "Think ahead. Don't let day-to-day operations drive out planning."

1. Be Vigilant From Day to Day. Planning definitely plays a major role in overcoming the temptation of the urgent. Cautiously guard your calendar as you plan each day.

2. Learn to Say NO. We can not allow ourselves to become busy with tasks that seem to result in quick results.

3. Do not Forget the Big Picture. If we evaluate tasks in light of the long term vision and goals of the organization, as well as our individual calling, we will be more likely to choose the important over the call of the urgent.

4. Make a Firm Decision and Move Forward. Life is full of flat squirrels who couldn't make a decision.

Lord, as I move into the next phase of life, grant me the wisdom needed to find balance in both my spiritual life, family life, and business. May you help me stay vigilant, learning how to say no while keeping the big picture in mind as I move forward. May I learn to consistently overcome the temptation to succumb to the urgent. May I honor you in choosing to do what is important as I seek to fulfill your calling for me, my family and my employer.

Always With Honor

noreply@blogger.com (J. Matthew Henry) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 09:00:00 +0000

It is with great honor I proudly continue to prepare to attend the United States Air Force Commissioned Officer Training (COT). Today I present to you this brief video of what I will be experiencing as I cross into the blue. There is no doubt that this training will prove to be both challenging and rewarding. I am truly thankful to God for the opportunity to serve my country as a United States Air Force Reserve Chaplain Candidate.

Calm Haste

noreply@blogger.com (J. Matthew Henry) — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 01:11:00 +0000

In The Journal of the Reverend John Wesley, Wesley wrote,

"Though I am always in haste, I am never in a hurry; because I undertake more work than I can go through with perfect calmness."

I sit here tonight having just finished submitting my final assignment for my homiletics class as well as completing the last of my discussion boards for both my homiletics and small group ministry classes. Now, I await my final grades.

Right now it seems that I'm in the calm between the storms as one school term has ended and another will begin next Monday. For me, life is always busy. Nearly every day someone inevitably walks up to my desk at work and starts by asking, "Hey boss, are you busy?" If I am at my best, I actually stop what I'm doing to pick my head up and respond properly. Most of the time I am in need of being reminded of Wesley's words above. More importantly however, I need to be reminded of Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God."

What this boils down to is time management and yet, greater still, reliance upon God. Being a motivated and driven person I can empathize with Wesley's attitude of haste. Yet his haste is not hurried or frantic. I see this as a call to greater growth and high productivity while maintaining a calm spirit as we strive to fulfill our calling.

Do you know that to which God has called you? Yes?

Together, may we move forward with calm haste as we fulfill His calling for our lives.

Happy Valentine's Day From Charis

noreply@blogger.com (J. Matthew Henry) — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 03:00:00 +0000

I trust everyone had as wonderful a Valentine's Day as I did with my family.

I won't say much and simply leave the talking to Charis.

noreply@blogger.com (J. Matthew Henry) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 01:34:00 +0000

CCIIP - Chaplain Candidate Intensive Internship Program

The latest and greatest from the USAFR Chaplain Candidacy Program is CCIIP. I recently learned that I am going to be part of this new and exciting program summer 2008. Essentially, this is an intensive internship tour which "will involve visits to five different bases (Robins, Patrick, Homestead, Eglin, Charleston), several different MAJCOMS, and one Combatant Command. [I will have the opportunity to] see and experience many different missions of all three components of the Air Force (Active Duty, Reserve, and Air National Guard), and [I] will experience the ministries of several different Chapel staffs. One of the exciting aspects of the tour is that we are planning to fly on AF Reserve aircraft—most likely C-17s and C-130s--from base to base."

I'm extremely excited about this portion of my training. As you may know, there is not a very high demand for active duty Protestant chaplains. However, I'm simply trusting God to continue to lead through this experience and direct my family to the place He has chosen for us.

noreply@blogger.com (J. Matthew Henry) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:11:00 +0000

Wanted: Military Chaplains

While on my way into work the other day my Chaplaincy professor hollered for me, calling me into his office. He said that the local television station, WSET, would be in later that day compiling video for a story they were putting together in regard to the shortage of military chaplains. I agreed and showed up to his class at the requested time. As a small group of us filed into the classroom the video camera was set up and they began rolling film. After the camera man finished getting some classroom footage, those of us who are Chaplain Candidates were asked to meet in a conference room the following day for a brief interview with the reporter, Leigh Forrester.

Since the shortage is primarily for the Army Reserves and Army National Guard I didn't know that the input David (one of my USAF buddies) and I shared would be included which was fine by us.

Though it was a short segment it highlighted the passion we have for those we serve as well as the incredible educational program at LBTS.

In the video you will also see Dr. Charlie Davidson. Dr. Davidson Lt. Col. USAF (Retired) is currently the head of the Military Chaplaincy program at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary where I am currently a student. I have gained great insight under his guidance and look forward to my experiences as a USAF Chaplain Candidate.

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