US Navy Chaplains: Character Matters

At the behest of the Chief of Naval Operations, the US Navy Chaplaincy has begun a summer campaign hashtagged “#CharacterMatters.” According to the Chaplaincy’s release on the subject, CNO Adm John Richardson

challenged us to “actively strengthen our shipmates’ integrity,” so that the entire Navy team, as an institution, behaves in a way that is “consistent with the values that we profess.”

It’s a fascinating opportunity — and one that could be easily missed. For example, it Read more

Transgender Airmen Describes departure from Christian Upbringing

A Nellis Air Force Base Air Traffic Controller, SrA Irene Nelson, recently posted an official personal interest article about his “transition” to a woman. He made the important note that he was raised in a conservative Christian household:

I grew up in a very conservative Christian household…

My parents had issues with my sexual orientation (surprise), and they took me to a gay conversion seminar when I was about 15 years old…

I spent endless hours studying the Bible and praying for God to give me clarity as to why I had these temptations or feelings. Why couldn’t he take them away? Nothing is as hard as your whole world telling you that you are wrong. Your existence is wrong.

Lost in Nelson’s religious and philosophical musings is an important point. What if the “whole world [is] telling you that you are wrong” because you are wrong? More to the point, “right” and “wrong” aren’t Read more

Diversity in the US Military, and the Right Priorities

In an interesting piece at Military.com, US Navy PO2 Guldeep “Geena” Kaur Sidhu describes what it’s like to be a Sikh woman serving in the US military, noting:

In today’s politically charged and increasingly globalized world, it’s more important than ever to be open to the beliefs and cultures of those around you.

Kaur notes there is virtue in promoting and highlighting religious liberty and the values of religious belief:

I believe that it will lead us to greater unity. By better understanding the identities of our brothers and sisters in arms, we can become closer as a unified force. I hope that the changes brought about by this new directive will serve to educate my fellow service members on the Sikh religion, and how closely it aligns with the American values we’re fighting for day in and day out.

As has been noted in the past, there has been Read more

Bold Faith, Christian Warriors, and Patriotism

While some today look aghast when a preacher has the gall to say something political or patriotic from the pulpit, Cheryl Chumley writing at the Washington Times reminds us our faith wasn’t always so far separated from our devotion to our Nation:

Back during American Revolution days, the pulpits of the 13 colonies were filled with passionate preachers delivering fiery rhetoric.

These pastors didn’t care about losing their tax exemptions — there was no IRS to fear. They didn’t care about offending somebody’s more moderate views of the British, or angering some wishy-washy citizen’s concern about igniting violence with rhetoric.

And they certainly didn’t care about mixing politics into their religion right at the pulpit…

Episcopal Church records tell the tale of an ordained priest, John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, who…delivered what he called his farewell sermon [and] tore off his clerical gown to reveal his military uniform — after which he headed out the door to do what he considered his patriotic, godly duty Read more

West Point Grad Sue Fulton on the Importance of Integrity – Or Not

“I was asked by an investigator at one point if I was gay, and I lied,” said Sue Fulton in an interview with NBC Out. “I carried that with me for years. When it came time for the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ fight, that’s one of the reasons I worked so hard. To redeem myself.”
– former US Army Captain Sue Fulton, USMA Class of 1980

A failure of integrity tears at the conscience, as even Fulton acknowledges. Interestingly, her solution was not to be an officer of integrity.  It was not to change her behavior but to change the policies. Yet that doesn’t change the face she lied.

While Fulton advocated for homosexuality for years in the name of “tolerance,” it would seem Read more

Sexuality is Private, Except When Its Celebrated

“Your sexual orientation doesn’t relate to your job and it doesn’t relate to your successes in your career,” Bugenig said. “It’s your personal life.”
– Senior Airman Benjamin Bugenig, public affairs

SrA Bugenig was speaking in response to Beale Air Force Base conducting an LGBT Pride 5K Color Run to

recogniz[e] gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning servicemen and women. About 50 airmen participated in the event.

US troops participated in other Read more

Benham Brothers Compare Mikey Weinstein’s Message with Hitler, Alinsky

Jason and David Benham, the two brothers whose HGTV show was canceled before it began due to their Christian beliefs, wrote an article at the end of May that took issue with Newsweek’s insinuations that Christians in the US military were a “national security threat”. (That article was previously discussed here.)

The Benhams take an interesting perspective, essentially saying Michael “Mikey” Weinstein is spewing propaganda — and when done long enough and loud enough, people start to believe it: Read more

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