Day 11 - FOLLOW ME

‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ (Matthew 4:19)

Being assigned to the Ranger Training Brigade under the headquarters of Ft. Benning, Home of the Infantry, I wore the 'Follow Me' patch. It's a blue shield with a bayonet and the words 'Follow Me.' Most people didn't like the patch because it meant you were assigned to a training unit with a lot less unit heraldry than a combat unit. But I liked it because it had another meaning for me. As a Christian, it reminded me of my mission. Jesus said “follow me” and the bayonet reminds me of the Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God, Ephesians 6:17). It's good to have a reminder of our Christian mission always visible on your shoulder, to follow Him and be an expert in the use of the Word.

Application: Name five ways other people around you would know that you are a follower of Jesus Christ.

Day 11 - FOLLOW ME
Day 12 - Son Beams
Day 13 - Holy Airborne
Day 14 - Good Intel
Day 15 - A Little Book Learnin’
Day 16 - Pay Day
Day 17 - Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto
Day 18 - Telling It Like It Is
Day 19 - Takin' Out the Trash
Day 20 - The Master of His Trade

Day 12 - Son Beams

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

It would be a long cold night in the field and finally the ‘Great Heat Tab in the Sky’ would come up. As that big fireball rose in the blue it's heated beams would break their way through the trees. We would find ourselves migrating to the sunspots on the ground to bask in the warmth and shake the chill from the night before. It’s just one of those little treats that all suffering soldiers know. God's love is a lot like that. Morning after morning we can stand in the SON beams of His love that come breaking through the circumstances of life and warm our very souls.

Day 11 - FOLLOW ME
Day 12 - Son Beams
Day 13 - Holy Airborne
Day 14 - Good Intel
Day 15 - A Little Book Learnin’
Day 16 - Pay Day
Day 17 - Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto
Day 18 - Telling It Like It Is
Day 19 - Takin' Out the Trash
Day 20 - The Master of His Trade

Day 13 - Holy Airborne

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

I've said a C-130 aircraft is the best chapel ever built and being a paratrooper is a very religious profession. There are more sincere prayers offered up to God before a parachute drop on Thursday than there are in church on Sunday. Why? Because we want God's protection. And according to this passage of Scripture He delivers. Fear is the platform on which the bricks of courage are laid and God is the mortar that holds it all together. Is something causing fear in your life? Remember, He is with you, wherever you may be. SP01

Application: List your three greatest fears. Pray about them specifically and give them to God.

Day 11 - FOLLOW ME
Day 12 - Son Beams
Day 13 - Holy Airborne
Day 14 - Good Intel
Day 15 - A Little Book Learnin’
Day 16 - Pay Day
Day 17 - Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto
Day 18 - Telling It Like It Is
Day 19 - Takin' Out the Trash
Day 20 - The Master of His Trade

Day 14 - Good Intel

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:11-13)

As a Reconnaissance Platoon Sergeant I spent a lot of time on the radio with the Battalion S2 (Intelligence Officer) and the Battalion Commander, nicknamed ‘Smoken Joe’. The things they didn't want to hear when we called in our SALUTE Reports was, ‘I think...’ or ‘I guess...’ No, they wanted the cold hard facts and RECON was committed to getting them. You know we don't have to wonder whether or not we are going to Heaven. We don't have to say, ‘I think I'm going’ or ‘I guess I'm going.’ You can KNOW for sure. He who has the Son has life. Now that's good Intel.

Day 11 - FOLLOW ME
Day 12 - Son Beams
Day 13 - Holy Airborne
Day 14 - Good Intel
Day 15 - A Little Book Learnin’
Day 16 - Pay Day
Day 17 - Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto
Day 18 - Telling It Like It Is
Day 19 - Takin' Out the Trash
Day 20 - The Master of His Trade

Day 15 - A Little Book Learnin’

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

SFC R was a stickler for perfection. He wanted to make sure every ‘i’ was dotted and every ‘t’ was crossed when it came to tactics. He made us read field manuals (FM), books, journals, history, and Combat Lessons Learned. We read until our eyeballs fell out. But by the time his ranger instructors hit the ground they were ready to teach from a broad base of knowledge. As Christians we look to the Bible for instructions and guidance. Have you given yourself to reading about eternal things as much as career things? The Bible is our FM-1. The priority is clear.

Application: Read at least one chapter in the Bible daily. If you have been doing that for at least six months, ramp it up to two (one in the Old Testament and one in the New). If you have been doing that for at least six months, ramp it up to three chapters daily (Old, New, Gospels).

To get someone started in reading the Bible give them SWORDPOINT as a primer. Pass it On!

Day 11 - FOLLOW ME
Day 12 - Son Beams
Day 13 - Holy Airborne
Day 14 - Good Intel
Day 15 - A Little Book Learnin’
Day 16 - Pay Day
Day 17 - Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto
Day 18 - Telling It Like It Is
Day 19 - Takin' Out the Trash
Day 20 - The Master of His Trade

Day 16 - Pay Day

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

I remember my first earned wages as a Private in 1977, $360. I thought to myself, ‘I'm rich!’ Although I managed to spend it pretty quickly it still seemed like a lot of money to me at the time. I had the opposite reaction when I learned in the Bible what my wages were going to be for all my many wrong doings. DEATH! I was bummed. But through God's grace He didn't leave us hanging. He gives us a gift we don't deserve. He cancels out the debt of death through His Son's own payment on the cross. All we have to do is endorse the check by placing our faith in Jesus Christ by following Him.

Day 11 - FOLLOW ME
Day 12 - Son Beams
Day 13 - Holy Airborne
Day 14 - Good Intel
Day 15 - A Little Book Learnin’
Day 16 - Pay Day
Day 17 - Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto
Day 18 - Telling It Like It Is
Day 19 - Takin' Out the Trash
Day 20 - The Master of His Trade

Day 17 - Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto

For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:20

One of the things drilled into me in Ranger school was always having a Ranger buddy. No matter what you did, you always did it with your Ranger buddy. Heaven help you if a ranger instructor caught you in the chow line, cleaning your weapon, or even running to the latrine by yourself. The benefits are obvious. But in the faith there is the one additional benefit of having your buddy with you, the presence of the living God. It doesn't mean He's not there when we are alone. But there is some added experience of His presence when we are with brothers and sisters in the faith. Don't be the Lone Ranger.

Application: Get with your spiritual ranger buddy once a week and ask these three questions; How are you doing? What are you getting out of the Word of God? Who are you helping to grow in the faith?

Day 11 - FOLLOW ME
Day 12 - Son Beams
Day 13 - Holy Airborne
Day 14 - Good Intel
Day 15 - A Little Book Learnin’
Day 16 - Pay Day
Day 17 - Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto
Day 18 - Telling It Like It Is
Day 19 - Takin' Out the Trash
Day 20 - The Master of His Trade

Day 18 - Telling It Like It Is

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:7-8)

My squad leader in the Ranger Battalion didn’t pull any punches, he just came right out and told me I was messed up. Then he proceeded to tell me how I was going to fix it. Throughout my career I've had several men whom I’ve respected for telling it like it is. They were men who could gave it to you straight. No beating around the bush, just laying all the cards on the table. James is like that. He goes right at the center of the issue. I think we all need straight shooters in our lives. We need someone to call a spade a spade, even in the areas of our spiritual life.

Application: Do you have someone in your life who will tell you what you need to hear rather than what you want to heat. If not, start praying that God will send you that kind of friend.

Day 11 - FOLLOW ME
Day 12 - Son Beams
Day 13 - Holy Airborne
Day 14 - Good Intel
Day 15 - A Little Book Learnin’
Day 16 - Pay Day
Day 17 - Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto
Day 18 - Telling It Like It Is
Day 19 - Takin' Out the Trash
Day 20 - The Master of His Trade

Day 19 - Takin' Out the Trash

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9

One of the challenges of our deployment to Kuwait was the enormous amount of garbage a Heavy Task Force can generate. Mountains of refuge. Thousands of empty water bottles, MRE packets, package wrappings, and a heaps of other stuff. And man oh man, the smell! But the S4 had a plan for even the garbage. Big trucks were contracted to haul the stuff away before it became a stench in the whole camp. God has a plan for the garbage in our lives too. It's ironic that the base of Golgotha where Christ was crucified was nothing more than smoldering garbage dump. That's where He took on the sins of the world. And we are encouraged to take our trash out by personal confession. Remember to take out the trash daily.

Application: Do a quick inventory of things in your life that you know displease God, confess it right now before you move any further.

Day 11 - FOLLOW ME
Day 12 - Son Beams
Day 13 - Holy Airborne
Day 14 - Good Intel
Day 15 - A Little Book Learnin’
Day 16 - Pay Day
Day 17 - Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto
Day 18 - Telling It Like It Is
Day 19 - Takin' Out the Trash
Day 20 - The Master of His Trade

Day 20 - The Master of His Trade

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:13-14)

I sat on the hood of my Humvee and watched the M1 Tanks refuel. As each one passed by, I'd give them a friendly chaplain's wave. One Tank Commander, covered with dust, peering through shaded goggles, gave me a confident thumbs up with a half cocked smile. I marveled as I thought about the master of his craft riding high on his iron beast. I marveled still more as I began to think about the Master who made him and gave him the gifts that translated into a proficient warrior. It's amazing to think that God has created each one of us with special gifts, talents and abilities so that we may glorify Him in our specific purpose. Live your purpose to the fullest!

Application: List five ways you are using your gifts, talents, and abilities for the Kingdom of God.

1. My military career - Writing SWORDPOINT
2. Speaking - Teaching SS on Sunday
3. Mentoring - Met with 3 men today
4. Leadership - Talked ministry stratagy with co-laborer
5. Friendliness - Invited several people to Sunday's chapel service today

Take Your Instructions from the Tower

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’ (Isaiah 30:21)

‘Are we ready on the right? Are we ready on the Left? The firing line is no longer clear...Firers, watch your lane.’ Don't you wish that God's instructions were as loud and clear as the Range NCOIC's voice from the tower? Well, actually, they are! I have found the more time I spend in the Bible, reading His Word, the more I hear those words coming back to me all day long. 99% of life's instructions are outlined right there in the Scriptures. And for the other 1% we have the Range Safety (the Holy Spirit) right behind us quietly giving us guidance.

Application: As you are reading the scriptures use this acrostic to find applications, SPECK, Sin to avoid, Promise to claim, Example to follow, Commandment to obey, Knowledge to gain.

I Want to Be...

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

I’ve heard the jodies of troops running down the streets of every Army post throughout my whole career; “I want to be an Airborne Ranger, I want to live a life of danger…” Well there is a big difference between singing about something and living it. For the follower of Jesus it’s not good enough to want to be a lover of God and people. Loving God and others has to be the real deal.
There are three kinds of Bees; Real Bees, Wanta Bees, and Useta Bees. Authentic Christian living is hallmarked by a real love for Jesus and one another. Without love, it's just a lot of buzz.

4 Day Supply

I will be out of town at the All Army Navigator Conference so here is a 4 day supply of SWORDPOINT. Remember to help others get the point!

DAY1

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

Combat Life-Savers

One thing I like about the Combat Life-Saver Course is giving and receiving an actual IV. You can't pass the course unless you are able to successfully stick the needle in your buddy's arm and safely administer intravenous fluids. It makes the skill practical verses intellectual. I think that's what we encounter when we have endured various trails and God heals our wounds. We have experienced both the pain and the comfort. Then we become compassionate and effective ministers to those in like circumstances. Have you experienced the comfort of God? Pass it on.

Day 2

Jeremiah 9:23 This is what the LORD says: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the LORD.

Fruit Salad

As men and women in uniform, our eyes are drawn to the left breast pockets of our comrades. We can see the accomplishments and achievements of an individual almost immediately. We have instant bragging rights written all over our uniforms. But is God impressed when He looks at us? Is it about ribbons, tabs, badges, and medals? No, God looks at the heart. If a Christian has anything to righteously brag about, it would be they know the living God. The most important symbol I wear on my uniform is the cross.

Day 3

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

No Pain, No Gain

Often soldiers come to me with the desire to be stress free. Reminds me of the time, while driving, I eyed a billboard stating, ‘Live a painless life.’ I laughed so hard I almost wrecked my car. How ridiculous! Anyone who has lived a little bit of life knows ‘it ain't pain free.’ I think you can place man's goals in to two distinct ventures; pursue happiness and avoid pain. You can boil God's goals down to one: help us become Christ-like. Sometimes our desires and God's are at odds. Don't get me wrong. I like to be happy as much as the next guy, but it's not my ultimate goal. To be like Christ is what we strive for. That's why we call ourselves CHRISTians.

Day 4

Romans 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, [39] neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Master Tracker

I had a habit of walking at a distance from the Ranger student patrols. For fun, I tracked them as they went. One of the worst things that could happen to you as an instructor was to lose a Ranger student. But I was good and there was little risk. Right!? One night I was a short distance from the patrol and I was tracking them by the noise they made. Suddenly, in the pitch dark it was deafly silent. I had been separated from the patrol. I had lost not only one ranger student but the whole patrol! In a panic I broke noise and light discipline and yelled out, ‘Patrol Leader!’ At which point I heard a small faint voice down in the valley below, ‘Yeees, serrrgggeanttt?’ True Confessions of a Ranger Instructor. Let me assure you God's love is the master tracker. There is no way we could ever elude its reaches.

Surprise, Surprise!

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:12-13)

As the Chaplain of an AIT Battalion I had a soldier come into my office and explain how he didn't realize how he’d actually have to go to war. He said he had joined for the college money and never dreamed that being a real soldier was in his future. I was amazed! I kind of rubbed the US Army tag above my left breast pocket and reminded him that it didn’t say Wal-Mart. But sometimes I think God is amazed as well. When we are confronted with the fiery ordeals of life as Christians and we ask, ‘Why? How did this happen?’ We are in a spiritual war! Check out your tag above your left breast pocket. It says Christian. Keep fighting the good fight!

Application: Answer this question; what ground have I taken for the Kingdom this week?

Spiritual R&R

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

Military folks work some long hours. There is no such thing as overtime and during deployments you can work 16-hour days (and more). Some of us have gone months without a single day off and have been dog-tired. But life can run you into the ground too. Relationships, disappointments, illness, defeat, and trials can beat us down and we get flat out whupped. Jesus says ‘Come to me...and I will give you rest.’ Take it to Him, spend some time in prayer and the Scripture and get a little R&R.

Application: Take a knee, drink spiritual water, for seven minutes in the morning and at night.

Too Many Bosses

‘No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.’ (Matthew 6:24)

We have all had it happen to us. ‘I don't care what he said, I told you to do it my way.’ Two supervisors at odds with one another and you’re stuck in the middle like a human ping pong ball. Well fortunately the lines are clear in the spiritual chain of command. You either serve God or the world. We get to choose.

Application: Who are the voices in your life? Does God’s voice trump all others? Pray and ask Him to open your ears to His voice above all others.

The Secret

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:11-13)

I've figured out the secret to being happy as a soldier. (And we know being happy as a soldier can be a challenge at times.) The secret to being happy is being content and the secret to being content is realizing my strength to overcome any obstacle comes from following Jesus. God knows exactly what is going on in our lives. And He is able to get us through every circumstance. Whether its 130 degrees in Kuwait or a Manchurian cold front in Korea, I have the strength to be victorious.

Application: Think of the circumstances that you have faced in the past and how you got through them in the strength of Christ.

The Feed Tray

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom…(Colossians 3:16)


The trick to getting the old M60 machine gun to fire correctly was making sure the ammo was placed in the feed tray correctly. If you placed the belted ammo in just slightly off, you would turn your machine gun into a 21 pound sniper rifle (and not a very good one at that). A machine gun is designed to spit out a bunch of bullets not just one. You know, God kind of designed you like a machine gun. We put the Word of Christ in us and teachings and admonitions come spiting out. A properly loaded Christian just can’t help it; it’s what he or she was designed to do. But remember, spaying a lot of bullets doesn’t make a good gunner. Hitting the target makes a good gunner. Practice makes perfect.

Application: Try this…write this verse on a 3x5 and begin to memorize it. Then ask a friend (Christian or non) to test you. You will be loading and firing in no time.

NO GO

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)

I think I have the record for the number of tries for the Expert Infantrymen's Badge (EIB). It took me eight times to finally get the coveted award. It was kind of humiliating as an E7 being told by an E4, ‘Sergeant, you are a NO GO at this station.’ Failure can be a bitter experience but we all have tasted it. The Bible says, ‘You are a NO GO at this station called life.’ But where there is no mercy with the EIB there is with God. The Bible also says there is forgiveness for those who acknowledge their shortcomings and trust in the work done on the cross. Thank God for mercy through Jesus Christ!

Application: Got a pet sin? Stop it, Confess it, Get over it (because God has...1 John 1.9)

Break in Contact

Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands… (Isaiah 49:15,16)

Some of the most dreaded words heard in Ranger School. In the midst of struggling up the heavily forested mountain in the middle of the night, the words would be whispered up the line, Break in Contact! We have left a man behind. And since Rangers do not leave their own behind, that means you go all the way back and get them (no matter how hard it will be to recover the lost ground). And normally you would find your Ranger Buddy sweetly curled up next to a tree dreaming of sugar plums dancing in his head because he had drifted off to sleep during a halt (not a happy moment). As committed as a Ranger may be to his buddy, or a mother to her child, nothing compares to God’s commitment to His own children.

Application: Knowing that Jesus is this committed to you, should move you to deep gratitude. Write down one way to express this gratitude to Christ for His commitment to you. (I will invite one of His children to dinner tonight to encourage them.)

Latest Audio Message Helping & Training by Chuck Wood

The Only Thing You Missed was the Boat

While Jesus was saying these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed." But He said, "On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it."

(Luke 11:27-28)

…That’s a great idea Ranger, under normal circumstances, except for the fact that you are all ready poised to attack the enemy’s rear. To flank them in this situation, would be attacking their strongest point… Aggressive actions, poor judgment. So right but so wrong. Has that ever happened to you spiritually? Have you ever thought; surely God thinks this way or that. Only to discover, oops, I need to do a 180 on that one. (I remember as a baby Christian, praying that God would give me more iniquity until I discovered what the word meant.) The key is a constant, progressive, thorough reading of God’s Word so we can really get to know Him better. This could save us from some very embarrassing circumstances.

Application: If you have trouble being consistent in your daily Bible reading, try this: Go to the shortest book in the New Testament, read one chapter daily (the shortest is only one chapter!) Then go to the next shortest and so on. When you finish the New Testament email me and I’ll give you a strategy for the Old Testament. Charleswood1@gmail.com

Day 11: Irresistible

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with lovingkindness.”( Jeremiah 31:3 )

Bunched up so one grenade could kill them all, it happened with out fail. As the Ranger Students would cross the objective during a cold winter’s raid, they would invariably end up some where near the fire. The OPFOR always had a fire on the objective to illuminate (makes it easier for the Rangers to find) and for warmth. Violating the principle of dispersion the light and heat was just too much for these frozen Hooahs to resist. Life is the same. It’s cold out there and it can be bitter to the bone sometimes. But the light and warmth of God’s love is irresistible. Come in out of the cold.

Application: Share the love of God with one person this week. Invite them to church, Bible study, or a fellowship activity. Tell them what Jesus has done in your life. Or share a passage of encouraging scripture.