Leap of Faith
Christian Chaplaincy Ministry

Trusting God is a spiritual pilgrimage.
Don’t make the journey to eternity alone.

 Journey to Chaplaincy Parable of the ‘Lost Seed’ Once upon a time, a twelve-year old boy felt a calling from God. A ‘Daniels Week’ later he met God on a sidewalk; kneeling down next to a parking meter, which was a fitting expression of doubting faith, since he was a loner and well acquainted with the streets and back alleys of his hometown. As it was at the beginning of creation, when the “evening and morning were the first day” (Genesis 1:5) so it was that night, when the young man became a new creation. And the Holy Spirit of God sowed seeds of Faith, Hope and Love into a willing heart. Faith and Love were large seeds which attached themselves to the outer shell of the young man’s heart. However, his faith and love for fellow man grew shallow over a few years because of the ‘thorns of life’ where the “worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22) The young man’s heart became calloused; with sin-skinned scars; as it lost its way over time through a wilderness excursion of confusion, bad life choices, fruitless searches for existence and finally personal rejection. But the Holy Spirit of God who “hovered over the waters” in creation (Genesis 1:2) made the seed of Hope purposely small so it could work its way down into the soft, fertile recesses of the hidden, inner heart of the young man. Despite the tempest tossed failings of life, that small seed slowly made roots, deep and strong which eventually made their way upward over decades of time. Embedded within the seed were two fledgling baby seeds of Faith and Love. Together they emerged and continued to grow as a late-in-life palm tree awaiting the ‘later-day rain’; whose witness branches boldly proclaim the coming of the King of Kings with a chorus of “Baruch haba b'Shem Adonai!” “It will come about after this, That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions.” (Joel 2:28) “I delight to do Your will O my God. Your Law is written in my heart.” (Ps. 40:8) “Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take away Your Holy Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to you. (Ps. 51:10-13) “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, O God You will not despise.” (Ps. 51:17) My journey to Chaplaincy can be best represented by the slow growth of the Talipot Palm Tree. “The talipot palm is another gargantuan plant (compared to other palms), which grows up to 25 meters (82 ft) high and has a one-meter-thick trunk. Also, its branched inflorescence is a remarkable six to eight meters (19 to 26 ft) tall—the largest of any plant. It takes extreme patience to see this tree in bloom, as it only flowers once when it is 30 to 80 years old. However, seeing the bloom is somewhat bittersweet, as it means the palm’s life is coming to an end. It expends all of its built-up energy to produce golf ball-sized fruit, which rain down by the hundreds of thousands just before the palm dies." May the Lord in my sunset years produce through me a harvest like the Talipot Palm. Grant, S. "10 Of The Slowest Plants To Ever Bloom." ListVerse, 13 Aug. 2013, (listverse.com/2013/08/11/10-ridiculously-slow-to-bloom-plants/.) 

 Core Christian Values Christianity is anchored on core values that are considered fundamental to living a life dedicated to serving God and others. These values provide a moral compass that guides believers to make choices aligned with their faith and values. The following are some of the core Christian values: Love - Christianity is founded on the concept of love for God and for others. Love is the most important of all virtues, and it manifests itself through acts of kindness, compassion, and selflessness. Compassion - Compassion is about putting oneself in someone else’s shoes and feeling empathy for their struggles. Christian values teach that showing compassion is a way to help others and demonstrate God’s love. Forgiveness - Forgiveness is a fundamental Christian value that emphasizes the importance of letting go of grudges and extending grace to others. Forgiveness is not about forgetting the offense, but about releasing the hurt and anger that comes with it. Humility - Humility is the ability to recognize one’s limitations and put others before oneself. It involves acknowledging one’s weaknesses, asking for help when needed, and not considering oneself better than others. Integrity - Integrity is the quality of being honest, trustworthy, and true to one’s word. It involves living a life that aligns with one’s values and principles, even when it is difficult. These core Christian values act as a guide for believers to live a purposeful life that reflects their faith. They provide a framework for making decisions, resolving conflicts, and building relationships based on love, compassion, forgiveness, humility, and integrity. What Are Christian Values: Core Beliefs & Virtues Explained (https://biblequeue.com/what-are-christian-values/) 

 “The preferred future vision becomes the star that you steer by, not a simple map to be followed.” (American futurist Glen Hiemstra) The 'North Star' of the Leap of Faith ministry is to disseminate the Knowledge of God, His Goodness, His Redemption for mankind and how to live a godly life in preparation for an eternal destiny of infinite love with Him the Eternal Father. The phrase ‘from the womb to the tomb’ signifies the terminal, linear nature of mankind from an earthly perspective. Out of all the fears and anxieties that humans experience, the fear of death and what if anything happens afterwards has no equal. There is, however, a time-tested remedy for the fear of dying. It is the hope of living an eternity in young, incorruptible, glorified bodies in harmony with God and fellow man as written in His Word (Bible). In this respect mankind's existence is not linear but is part of a ‘Wheel of Life’ which starts at birth and revolves around God for eternal life. Examining Christianity through regular Bible Study typically follows this progression of belief: Exploring Christ - “I believe in God, but I am not sure about Christ. My faith is not a significant part of my life” (1) which will lead to: Growing in Christ - “I believe in Jesus and am working on what it means to get to know him” (1) which will lead to: Close to Christ – “I feel really close to Christ and depend on him daily for guidance” (1) which will ultimately lead to: Christ-Centeredness – Discipleship in that “My relationship with Jesus is the most important relationship in my life. It guides everything I do.” (1) (1) Christian Leaders Institute MIN 320 Leadership Course, Bruce Ballast, (https://christianleaders.org/course/view.php?id=844) 

 “So then, you will know them by their fruits.” (Matt. 7:20 NASB) This is a short personal test for you to determine if you are ‘really saved’. First, a changed life! The Apostle Paul wrote “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Cor. 5:17 NASB) Listen, if the faith you seem to proclaim has not changed you, it probably hasn’t saved you! Salvation is accompanied by change! Think about it! Second, a changed attitude! An attitude adjustment concerning Sin is surely on the menu for the redeemed. See Paul’s introspection of himself in Romans 7:13 regarding his own sinful nature. And your bearing and behavior toward God, church, righteousness, holiness, the family of God, the Bible and the world will be greatly impacted by the new birth enjoyed by the child of God. This is reflected in what Jesus told the Pharisee Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3 NASB) Reference: Baptist Bread 

     

 "This Holy Week, Melania and I join in prayer with Christians celebrating the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ — the living Son of God who conquered death, freed us from sin, and unlocked the gates of Heaven for all of humanity. Beginning with Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and culminating in the Paschal Triduum, which begins on Holy Thursday with the Mass of the Lord's Supper, followed by Good Friday, and reaching its pinnacle in the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night. This week is a time of reflection for Christians to memorialize Jesus' crucifixion—and to prepare their hearts, minds, and souls for His miraculous Resurrection from the dead. During this sacred week, we acknowledge that the glory of Easter Sunday cannot come without the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on the cross. In His final hours on Earth, Christ willingly endured excruciating pain, torture, and execution on the cross out of a deep and abiding love for all His creation. Through His suffering, we have redemption. Through His death, we are forgiven of our sins. Through His Resurrection, we have hope of eternal life. On Easter morning, the stone is rolled away, the tomb is empty, and light prevails over darkness — signaling that death does not have the final word. This Holy Week, my Administration renews its promise to defend the Christian faith in our schools, military, workplaces, hospitals, and halls of government. We will never waver in safeguarding the right to religious liberty, upholding the dignity of life, and protecting God in our public square. As we focus on Christ's redeeming sacrifice, we look to His love, humility, and obedience — even in life's most difficult and uncertain moments. This week, we pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our beloved Nation. We pray that America will remain a beacon of faith, hope, and freedom for the entire world, and we pray to achieve a future that reflects the truth, beauty, and goodness of Christ's eternal kingdom in Heaven. May God bless you and your family during this special time of year and may He continue to bless the United States of America." 

President Donald J. Trump