Good Afternoon,Down here in the panhandle we have a new unit coming to town, the 7th Special Forces Group. This is a great addition to the area for many reasons, but mainly for the economy, and selfishly for new playmates to train with.
When allot of people think of special forces they think of the last 9 years of warfare, and all the DA or direct action missions that they've been involved with and the association with the Hollywood films, The Green Berets, and Rambo etc... The primary mission of SF before 911 was mostly FID or Foreign Internal Defense. They would train indigenous forces how to fight, in doing this they would have to "Win the Hearts and Minds", of those people that they would be responsible for training or helping.
Hmmm...winning the hearts and minds, you know that this applies to us as Christians, and more importantly as fathers and mothers. We are in the process (hopefully) of mentoring and discipling our children, but unfortunately we are not the only ones that are trying to compete for the hearts and minds of our kids. Our culture has an insatiable appetite for young minds, and lives to devour and destroy. Therefore we must always be in pursuit for our children's hearts, we can't assume that they are absorbing our example passively through osmosis, learning is an active process. So once again we must be in pursuit of the hearts and minds of our children.
I charge you with this, that when there is a mission of great importance, a mission that requires exceptional skill sets on behalf of the operator, the US doesn't send the average soldier to get the job done, they send the best of the best, men that are best equipped to get the mission done, Special Forces. I would submit to you that when it comes to winning the hearts and minds of your children, God doesn't task the preacher, or the Sunday school teacher, or the youth group leader, he tasks the specialist, that individual that is best equipped to make a difference in the life of that child, the parents.
God Bless,
Joe Stapp
Joe-I just became inspired to learn about Rites of Passage today as a good friend of mine in SoCal is getting ready to start his Rite of Passage this coming weekend. He had asked me to contribute some "pearls"...inspirational, motivational words as his son turns 13 this weekend. He is commemorating this mile stone with a keepsake, engraved hunting knife which his son will be able to pass on to his kids someday.
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I also have 4 boys, and the Lord used my friend to speak to me and encourage me to start a similar journey with our kids. I googled "Christian Rites of Passage" and came upon your blog and wanted to let you know it, too, is inspiring. Great job, Joe, for your commitment to God to raise your boys as examples of Light in such an increasingly dark world. To create leaders who will fall on their knees, continually seeking God's direction and wisdom, in their lives, and the impact they will have on others for the Kingdom. Thank you also for your service to our country, the personal sacrifice you make each day, and also that of your wife and kids when you are away. I will continue to check in and see your progress. God bless you.
Perry