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

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

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?

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

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

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...