Notes from the Windy City

So, I’m in Chicago for a couple of weeks to get trained by Sears in refrigeration repair.  I am super excited to get some intensive training and I am enjoying getting to know some new people from various parts of the U.S.  I miss the family and am kind of bummed about not getting to properly celebrate Easter but I know there are a lot of people who have it a lot worse, especially those serving in our armed forces.  As I settled into my four hour flight to Chicago from Seattle, I buried my nose into what has turned out to be a very interesting and sobering account of soldiers’ lives on the front lines of war against the Taliban in the craggy, rugged mountains and valleys of Afghanistan.  I managed to get through half of the book before we landed awkwardly on one of the many runways of O’Hare airport.  Though I have never served in the military, I enjoy reading about others who have, especially regarding training and leadership under the chaotic horror of combat.  While in Townsville, I found an old copy of the book, Band of Brothers and devoured it in short order.  It too was a great read with important lessons.  A story that really epitomizes what Jesus said in John 15: 13 “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”  I am thankful also, for the many stories in the scripture that focus on leadership and many of them depict warfare or have some relation to military service.  In my devotional time today, I was in 2Corinthians 1: 1-11 and saw some of these leadership principles described by Paul as he wrote to this adolescent church.  He related the recent persecutions and trials that he and his traveling companions had experienced as opportunities to encourage the Corinthian Believers to endure the same things.  As I read, it is clear that Paul has lead the way through the battle and is showing courage and fortitude, much like the “Captain of our salvation”, our Lord Jesus.  He says in verse 6-7, by following in his footsteps they are affirming their faith thereby showing the fruit of their salvation.  The battle is certain, when the heat is turned up and the enemy engages us, the true Believers fight to hold their spiritual ground and the leaders rise to the forefront and boldly press forward while firmly but lovingly prodding others along.  May we find our strength in Christ to have victory against our adversary as Paul says in verse 9b, "...that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, who delivers us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us..."    Blessings, Jeremy