The ready acceptance and openness to God's word has always humbled and heartened me. But never more than it has in the past three weeks as I attended military gatherings in Georgia and Texas.

I visited Forces Command in Atlanta, GA, where I had the opportunity to speak at a chapel service and display a table of Shields at a military conference. The conference was focused on military technology, so all the vendors were technology guys from the likes of Cisco, Sun Micro, Lockheed Martin, and other top-ranked corporate icons. Their displays were sophisticated and top of the line. I already felt out of place as I arranged dog tag necklaces on a flat table, with a few copies of my book. I had 2500 Shields to give away. As I set up the display, I knew the other vendors were wondering about the new guy (me). Many of them stopped by to meet me and see just what I was about. I shared the Cliff-Notes version of the Shields of Strength testimony, and handed a Shield to each one, who came over to me. As the conference attendees filled the exhibit hall, a line of those folks formed in front of my table, all of them waiting to get a Shield. In the next two days I gave away over 2000 Shields and a couple hundred books. I was just overwhelmed at the response to God's word. Not only did the majority of the conference attendees and vendors take Shields, the hotel staff started filing by, a few at a time, eager to get a Shield. By the end of the first day, I had given out Shields to most of the staff. Even the Hotel Chef himself came out of the kitchen in his white coat and tall white hat to say that since I was eating his food, he thought I should give him a Shield.

This past weekend Ellington Field Air Force in Houston, TX, had a Change of Mission Ceremony. The Air Force is retiring the F-16 and adjusting their mission focus to the Predator or unmanned aircraft. Commanders were flown in for the ceremony, along with a congressman and several other VIPs that would be participating in the ceremony. A few thousand people were in attendance, mostly consisting of military and their families, along with a number of food vendors that were catering the event. The Chaplain asked me to come over and speak at the chapel service that morning and suggested I set up a table of Shields outside. In the past, I believe I would have passed on the table thing, but after my experience at Forces Command I decided I should take him up on the offer. The chapel service was small but very nice.

After chapel we moved outside to set up the table. Chaplain found me a folding table and I spilled the Shields and neck chains out on top. Immediately people started coming over. I will spare you all the details and just say I gave away 2000 Shields in four hours plus all 80 books I brought. All the cooking teams came over to get a Shield. I watched each person pick up a tag, read God's word on it; turn the tag over to read the prayer of salvation, and then smile. I kept waiting for that one person that would get upset about the Shield's scripture or prayer. It didn't happen. Instead, everyone put their Shield necklace on, and most asked if they could have extras for family members. Several Airmen stopped by to show me they already had Shields that they have been wearing for years.

I just did the math -- 2000 in four hours is 500 per hour or one every eight seconds for four hours. I can tell you it was really that busy. It just blew my mind that so many people wanted a piece of God's word. What else could you put on a dog tag that so many people would grab onto with such passion.

I have learned that nothing I can say will ever compare to what our Lord has already said. His word will never return void.

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

I believe that faith is choosing to trust God's word regardless of our circumstances, but then we must also act on that word in order for faith to come alive inside of us. For years I had God's word in my head and in my heart, and I even chose to believe it. However, I was confused by the fact that even though I knew God's word and even trusted it, I was still controlled by fear. It took God teaching me to act on His word for faith to come alive inside of me. It was then that God replaced the fear with boldness.

I don't think faith is pretending to know something we don't or talking ourselves into believing something that may or may not be. I believe that, initially, faith is realizing that we don't know, but God does. Then, faith develops as we choose to seek and know what God says, understand without doubt that what He says is the truth -- despite what we see, hear, or feel -- and then we live by and act on His truth.

You know Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had the faith to be delivered from a furnace. I used to think: Man! What kind of faith they must have had to be delivered from that furnace! Then one day I was reading what they said and I realized they did not pretend to know what was going to happen. They just decided to act in faith not fear and in obedience to God no matter what. The last thing they said before they entered the furnace was Daniel 3:16-18 "O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and HE WILL DELIVER US OUT OF THINE HAND, O king. BUT IF NOT BE IT KNOWN UNTO THEE, O KING, THAT WE WILL NOT SERVE THY GODS, nor bow to the golden image which thou hast set up."

I believe our idols can be fear, or hate, or envy, or just anything that tempts us to go against the word of God. If we knew what would happen we would not even need faith. Faith is saying I don't know, but knowing or not, I will not bow to any idol. I will trust God and act on His word no matter what -- even unto death.

Kenny

As always I welcome any comments or questions kenny@shieldsofstrength.com

One of the highlights of my trip was getting up before daylight and riding with my friend to Camp Pendleton to meet Chaplain Radetski. I first saw Chaplain Radetski in a picture taken by a LA Times reporter in Iraq. The Chaplain was baptizing a Marine in a makeshift basin made from boxes of MREs with a plastic sheet for a liner. Marines filled the basin with water carried in five gallon cans. Several had made decisions to give their lives to Christ after losing a brother the day before in the fight for Fallujah. Chaplain Radetski was baptizing the Marines on the roof of the same building they had fought for the day before when the LA Times photographer took the famous picture. The Marine was rising from the basin with water still falling from his face. Hanging from a chain around his neck and seen clearly through the falling streams of water was his Shield of Strength. When I saw that picture I was just blown away. It was one of those connecting moments for me. I knew that thousands of Shields of Strength have gone to the Marines and I knew they were wearing them as a reminder of God's word, but it all felt so distant. That picture brought it all home in a moment.

That made my meeting Chaplain Radetski an extra special blessing for me. Chaplain Radetski took me up on top of a mountain and we watched 500 Marine recruits doing what is called the Crucible. It is a ten mile march they do just before becoming Marines. The last stage is a steep hill they climb called the Reaper. We stood at the top of the Reaper and watched them all climb. They were completely exhausted. Some only made it with the help of others. After they finished, the Chaplain and I gave Shields of Strength to their platoon leaders to be distributed to each recruit. I was told John McCain's son was one of the recruits.

The most amazing part was standing on top of the Mountain at day break and hearing their chanting echoing off the mountains. I could hear the drill Sergeants yelling and then see them emerge in the valley as seven platoons in parallel straight lines marching in cadence. They looked very intimidating. I would see them disappear behind another mountain and reappear in the next valley. The final march was a hike up a steep hill that rose to a still steaper hill called the Reaper. I watched them start the march up the final hill in formation and saw, as they climbed and became more fatigued, the formation slowly began to fall apart. I noticed that though some of the men seemed to have nothing left to give, they would not quit. I could hear them yelling in pain and frustration as they forced themselves to continue climbing.

Finally, as they eclipsed the Reaper, I could look them in their faces -- eye to eye, from just a few feet away -- each one a young man giving everything he had to finish and to become a good Marine for his brothers and our Country. I saw one recruit eclipse the Reaper without his 85 pound back pack. The drill sergeants gave him an ear full. I saw another come up over that last hill without his weapon. The drill sergeants gave him an earful also. Most of the young recruits were so exhausted they were holding their weapons with just one hand. The drill sergeants were screaming at them in harsh raspy commands to take control of their weapons. The recruits would yell back what sounded like "I Sir" and do their best to control their weapons. Then came a recruit with two packs, one on top of another. He was carrying his brother's gear. What an inspiration it was to see that!

The commander made it over the Reaper first and watched as the others climbed. He kept saying something about some recruit that was in the third platoon. I was not sure what he was talking about until that platoon made it to the Reaper. Then the commander said, "There he is at the back. That guy only weighs 95 pounds and he has been carrying an 85 pound backpack for the last 10 miles. He is a small guy but he has the heart of a lion."

As I tried to pick him out in the swarm of moving bodies, I saw what appeared to be a back pack moving on its own jerkily up the Reaper. Then, from underneath it, I saw two legs driving away. Wow! What an inspiration!

Our military is awesome! As a unit they are so impressive and intimidating but up close they are individuals giving their all for each other, for their Country, and for you and me. They learn to be unselfish and obedient to a cause and they fight an enemy motivated by hate while their motive is love. We live in a great nation with great leadership.

I Cor. 13:12 For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known.

13 But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

Kenny

Special thanks to Charlotte, Bill, Joshua, Rachael, Ryan, Scott, and Jeff for making my trip such a blessing.

December 4th I will be visiting the Pentagon and Bolling Air Force Base. I will be traveling with General Billy Thomas Ret. As soon as I return I will share my experience. If you have any questions or comments for me please feel free to email kenny@shieldsofstrength.com

Well, let me start by saying I have been and remain just overwhelmed by the fact that Shields of Strength now serve as a reminder of God's word to so many people. Most of all I have really been taken by the number of requests for Shields from the members of the United States military. God has done so much for me, and more than anything I wanted a way to share His word with others. I just never dreamed it would be a dog tag that would help me get that done.
The last few years have been so humbling. Last Wednesday Oct. 25th I was asked for the second time to be a guest speaker at the Pentagon Prayer Breakfast sponsored by the Pentagon Chaplains Office and Christian Embassy. It was very encouraging to see so many great leaders leaning on God's word and a relationship with Jesus. As intimidating a place as the Pentagon can be, I found it encouraging and heartwarming to be there, to meet the leaders of our military and to find they are hard working, humble, and God-fearing men and women.
One of the greatest qualities of our military, I believe, is that U.S. military leaders are not elected, but instead, they start at the bottom and work their way up. If you are a leader in the United States military, you know first-hand exactly what it is like at the bottom and at every step along the way. You have personal knowledge of the environments in which those under your command serve.
	After speaking at the Pentagon Breakfast meeting, I was escorted around the Pentagon by the Pentagon Chaplain and Assistant Chaplain. They both generously took three hours of their own time to escort my brother and me around to meet many of these great leaders. We had the privilege of
personally meeting the Air Force Chief Master Sergeant, The Chief of Army Reserves, The Chief of Chaplains, and the staff of the Chief of Staff. Without exception, each of these great military leaders were very gracious and seemed to genuinely appreciate the support of everyday Americans. The next time you see anyone in a US military uniform, I pray you will take just a minute to shake his or her hand and say thank you.
I would like to emphasize in this first blog entry that I believe our United States military is absolutely amazing. It is composed of dedicated individuals, men and women in every military branch: the U.S. Army, Air Force, Naval Forces, Marines, and National Guard, who are devoting a portion of their lives to service and sacrifice for the cause of God and country.
Many are devoting their full career span to military service. They live away from comfort, family, safety, familiar surroundings so that we may know freedom and safety. Many have and are sacrificing their lives so that we may live our lives in a better world. Our military service men and women are truly the most highly-trained and powerful human forces on the planet, yet I have seen another side -- from the very lowest ranks to the highest posts of command -- so many whose hearts are full of love and compassion.
I have not had the opportunity to meet our Commander and Chief, but I believe this innate goodness and humanity is a guiding force within him also.
Our military is so full of love, they daily lay down their lives for a just cause and anything less than just is not acceptable to them. I believe they gather as much information as they possibly can, they pray, they ponder, they look at every possible solution, they search for peace, and only as a last resort will they be forced to fight. Then, when they do fight, their goal is to win with as little damage as possible-- even to the enemy -- and as soon as victory is clear, they pick the enemies up, dust them off, wrap their arms around them and, as a friend, help them start their own Nation, one founded on love and peace. Don't let your opinion of our military and this great nation be formed by the negative dialogue of politics and media. Take time to meet our military service men and women, and make sure you say thank you for the great price they pay and the high standard they set for the rest of the world.
November 9th I will be attending a luncheon at Camp Pendleton. I have never been to Camp Pendleton or any other Marine Base so this will be an exciting experience. As soon as I return I will share my experience. If you have any questions or comments for me please feel free to email kenny@shieldsofstrength.com

Kenny