Main Page

Tis the season to be....... to be what? that's the question. Seems like the Christmas stuff gets put out earlier and earlier every year. They certainty don't wait for after Thanksgiving anymore. This year there was Christmas stuff out just before Halloween. And if you have been to the BX or any toy store this month... wow.... they should make PPE a requirement for shopping. I mean, I feel safer on my Harley than shopping during the Christmas season :-) If you have been out the last few days.... you may certainly have ask yourself, where is the Christmas spirit? While waiting in line today with my 3 year old son, I witnessed a middle aged man yelling at a young lady, who was working two different booths at one time because the other employee was in the rest room. The man was upset because she was not moving fast enough to suit him. And don't even think about getting the latest item on sale before the caffeinated soccer mom grabs it out from under you. (No offense, my wife is a soccer mom too). So, where is it? Where's the joy and peace of Christmas?

Don't worry, I'm going to tell you. Like many of us, the problem is just that we have been looking in the wrong place. Where's the Christmas spirit? With the Christians of course. There's no doubt had you attended church with me last Sunday and heard Pastor Evetts summon, and spent time with the other members of the congregation, you would find some spirit there. Or if you had accompanied me to the Landstuhl Chaplains office and saw smiles on the chaplains faces as they ran around like camouflaged Santa, grabbing items from the storage closets and rushing out to give them to the staff and patients. Sit with SSGT. Johns or Chaplain Junkyness and listen to the excitement in their voices when they share about their work and service to this community. It's is very hard to sit still and not catch Sgt. Guerrero's enthusiasm while he shares about the Spanish couples bible study held in their home two nights a week. Spend any time with the very motivated Larry Burns of Black Sheep, and soon you'll be wearing leather, sowing patches on and spreading the gospel on an American V-twin. Not to mention everyone of these people and at least a half a dozen other Christians I've talk to this season are inviting soldiers, sailors and airman in their homes for a little ho, ho, ho and Christmas Turkey. There is spirit out there all right, flowing all over the place. Right where you expect to see it. Flowing out of the hearts and lives of those who follow Christ. Just as it should be, after all it is us the Church body who has the most to celebrate. The gift of salvation, of Christ, Gods very son! That is definitely something to get excited about.

But as we enjoy and celebrate the birth of our Risen Savior this Christmas, let us remember that our Lord came to free and save all men! Let share this JOY! This GOOD NEWS! Lets spread the spirit of Christmas and share with others the reason for the season.

Let me leave you with some words from our savior.

Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way,

anyone who holds on to life just as it is, destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal.

If any of you want to serve me, then follow me. (Jesus) (John 12:23-26 The Message)

So, lets get out there and get reckless with our love! Tell someone about Christ!

Have a very Merry Christmas!

Chaplain Greg Wilhite

Ok, so this is a little bit of a sermon ;-) But I think you'll enjoy it! Hope everyone has a great week. Pastor Greg

The Bible says that Christ came to give us not just life- but an abundant life. So, what's going on with the church today? Why are we walking around defeated? Why is the Christian divorce rate higher than those that don't attend church? So many of our friends and those I work with are coming to me in increasing numbers saying that they can't find a church or are disillusioned with the church that they are currently attending. What's going on in the church body today? First, let me address some of the issues with the body of Christ -or what we call the church. Then I would like to take a moment to address us as individual followers of Christ.

Unfortunately, what many believe as biblical fact is merely tradition that we have institutionalized over the last two thousand years to justify our practices and understanding of Gods word. We- as individual people, for some reason, can't accept the simplicity of grace and the gift of Christ. Therefore, we add our own beliefs, practices and traditions to the gospel- often confusing those we minister to, and causing dissension in the body. (i.e. denominations) An important question that we as denominations, or just the body of Christ, must ask ourselves is- are we bending the word of God to meet our beliefs- or do we base our beliefs from the word of God? Most of the practices we see on any given Sunday are religious tradition. Not that they are all bad, I'm not saying that at all. The purpose of worship is to bring glory to God and many of our traditions and practices do just that. So, they are not all bad. The problem lies when we as an institution put rules and regulations in place that we feel may uphold the best interest of our denomination or people worship group. This can be tricky ground- when we try and stretch the word of God or "read between the lines" to justify a practice we dictate as law, or 'biblical'. Even worse- is when we 'just ignore' a portion of scripture that doesn't meet our agenda or denominational base.

So, where does this leave us? What do we, as the Christian body... do? Well, before you go out and start preaching reform... We've been there before:-) Let us just consider where we... as individuals... fit in to this picture of being a -Christ follower-. First, we must look at each brother and sister in Christ on an individual basis. The more I come to understand Christianity, the more I'm am convinced that it is about relationships. Now, for some of us, this causes a problem-- especially for men. (to be honest, most of us, if we really looked deep down in ourselves, we don't even like people in general!) The only reason we tolerate people at all is if they share our same hobbies or... to build our ego. If you disagree, why is it so hard to get men to go to church or join and support any organization outside there interest? So, as a man, this causes a conflict with this whole 'christianity thing'. Man! the flesh always gets in the way... does it not? So, first things first, we have to go to the scripture- ourselves -and see how God has called us, as men and women, to act. This may be the biggest obstacle to Christianity for some.

The first step to changing ourselves and the church body is for us to stop trying to make God into what we think He should be or what we want Him to be and accept Him for who He is. The only way to do this is to get into the word of God. (BIBLE) Then, and only then, when we allow God to be who He really is and accept what Christ has done for us can we truly submit our lives to His most perfect will. We must put aside our our biases, prejudices, and misunderstandings- and accept people for who they are -and what Jesus sees in them. In the same way, we have to stop expecting the church body or other believers to be anything more than they are. For Christ so loved the WORLD... not just people like ourselves. Think of your Christian brothers and sisters as family. Everybody likes and loves everything about their families right? Your mother in law, brothers, sisters, mom, and dads. Lets, just say that they're family and you deal with it. That's how we have to look at one another. There are plenty of saints that are easy to love and welcome in to our lives and home. Then there are a few that are like in-laws... and we pray for their safe passage home. When we, as individuals, lay down our daily lives to look after one another- then we are modeling the church as Christ in tended it.

Yes, there are a lot of things that are going wrong with the Church today, but there is also a lot going right with it. Number one, it is still our attempt to worship the God who loves us. It is still God's way of showing us that we are one, one family, one body and hopefully of one accord. Bottom line! Change starts with us. If we don't like the way things are going, then we need to do something about it. We need to stop preaching tradition and start preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. We need to share our daily lives and be real with one another. There is no such thing as a 'super Christian' or 'super saint'. We are ALL sinners saved by grace. Most importantly, remember the Gospel is good news, we should be filled with joy for our salvation. John chapter 10 verse 10 says; "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Lets start living the life Christ has called us to. If we want revival, if we want to win this world to Jesus, we must get in the Word! ...and pray, pray and pray some more! Pray that your relationship with your spouse, your family, and your brothers & sisters in Christ be strengthened. Be encouraged! You are not alone. We are in this together- and together we will work out our salvation and exercise our faith.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gregory Wilhite

Chapter Chaplain

Not a sermon, Just a thought!

Now let me be the first to say that I'm not condemning those who have put their bikes away for the season. Nor, am I advocating riding in the snow or ice. I'm just saying that if you choose to keep your bike out this winter there may be some unexpected blessings in it. I know it's cold, and I've already had a few people to include; my wife, the gate guards and the gas attendants say to me, "it's a little cold or late in the year to be riding isn't it," or "Sooo..... when do you put it up for the winter?" Well, if your like me (and I pray that you are :-) riding, my Harley is a wonderful opportunity for me to put it all behind me, to sort through all the things I'm dealing with that day. It's just down right the most relaxing thing I can do. Now here we have an opportunity to ride in one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen, so it doesn't take a long ride to let your cares slip away. Of course that's all and good but what if we could take this peace just a little further. Just the other day I was riding home from Landstuhl hospital thinking on (well you know; work, wife, kids, new kid, bills, wife, Thanksgiving, Christmas, mother-in-law coming for Christmas, wife, new kid, prayer time or lack there of, work etc.) all the things I had to do that day when I found myself riding under a canapé of trees. The sun was breaking through the trees here and there and the wind was starting to blow a little. Just as I was passing through this area, leaves started floating down from the trees and gently blowing across the road. Man, let me just say it was one of those WOW! moments. Really breath taking, and immediately I thought of the verse out of psalms (46:10) "Be still and know that I am God;" Right then I just had to say wow God, thanks for that. The Bible says that every man will know of Gods existence by just observing His very creation. And as you all know, there is no artist in the world who can paint a better picture than the views that we have riding around here. So I would just like to encourage all of you, as we go into the holiday and winter season, and your out there, on or off your bike, take a few moments and be still in your heart. Look around at this great place God has created just for you. Take it all in, give your days burdens up to the Lord, and relax, rest and be still, knowing that there is a God who loves you and is in control of all things. THEN, the ride can be that much sweeter.

In His Service,

Gregory Wilhite

Chapter Chaplain, Germany