In this special episode of OCF Crosspoint, you’re going to hear audio from the inaugural OCF Global Town Hall, which was broadcasted live on 10 February from the new Home Office in Colorado Springs, Colo. The first voice that you’re going to hear is OCF Council President Col Dale Holland, USAF (Ret.). He and OCF’s CEO / Executive Director, Col Scott Fisher, USAF (Ret.), started by discussing the impactful journey and future visions for OCF. After their opening remarks, the remaining hour or so was used as a Q&A time. During the Q&A portion, you’ll also hear the voice of LTC Colin Wooten, USA (Ret.), who helped moderate and also posed a mix of both real-time questions from the event and questions submitted ahead of time. The questions covered in this episode centered on these 12 topics: Local Leader training and information. Balancing OCF involvement with commitment to the local church. Starting an OCF ROTC group at a university that does not have one. Opportunities for retired ex-military to get involved with OCF. Creating more awareness about OCF. Challenges that our Christian military chaplains are facing. OCF funding shortfalls. Focusing on the National Guard and Reserves. Reaching out beyond U.S. membership. Pursuing GRACE relations amid a divisive and dismissive culture. Regional training conferences. Two to three things that both Dale and Scott are excited about in the upcoming year. If you’d rather watch a video of the Global Town Hall, visit ocfusa.org/townhall. On that page, there’s also a form you can fill out if you have questions, comments, or feedback, or send an email to [email protected]. We’ll make sure your message is sent to the appropriate person.

Today, you’ll hear audio from the conclusion of a speaking session by CH(MAJ) Jake Snodgrass, USA, this past fall at Spring Canyon’s Aspentime Retreat. If you’re new to OCF and you’ve never heard of Spring Canyon, it’s OCF’s western conference and retreat center located near Buena Vista, Colorado. And if you’ve never heard of Aspentime, it’s a weekend getaway at Spring Canyon for Christian military members and families, and it features teaching and small group sessions led by a speaker like CH Snodgrass. Participants at the weekend retreat explored the profound concept of spiritual formation through the lens of renowned authors such as John Mark Comer, Dallas Willard, John Ortberg, and Donald Whitney, and they uncovered principles and practices that challenge contemporary ideals, emphasizing the necessity of community in the pursuit of spiritual growth. There were also interactive discussions, activities, and real-life applications in which leaders discovered how to build and sustain a vibrant military ministry while fostering personal renewal in an increasingly secular world and military.   About CH(MAJ) Jake Snodgrass, USA Chaplain Jacob Snodgrass is a native of Ames, OK, and graduated from the University of Oklahoma and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Applied Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. He was commissioned from ROTC in 2002, and has served as a Chaplain since 2009, endorsed by the Southern Baptist Convention. He currently serves as the 10th Special Forces Group Chaplain and as the lead pastor of Agape Carson, Fort Carson, CO. Chaplain Snodgrass has served numerous assignments as a chaplain, pastor, and church planter, including Camp Humphreys, Korea; Fort Lewis, WA; and Kandahar, Afghanistan. He was named U.S. Army Chaplain of the Year in 2019. Chaplain Snodgrass has been married for 18 years to the former Heather Dostal of Leakenheath, UK, and they have six kids: Manuel 24, Karmen 22, Gage 15, Boyce 14, Jovie 11, and Bennett 8.

Today, you’ll hear audio from Part 2 of a speaking session by CH(MAJ) Jake Snodgrass, USA, this past fall at Spring Canyon’s Aspentime Retreat. If you’re new to OCF and you’ve never heard of Spring Canyon, it’s OCF’s western conference and retreat center located near Buena Vista, Colorado. And if you’ve never heard of Aspentime, it’s a weekend getaway at Spring Canyon for Christian military members and families, and it features teaching and small group sessions led by a speaker like CH Snodgrass. Participants at the weekend retreat explored the profound concept of spiritual formation through the lens of renowned authors such as John Mark Comer, Dallas Willard, John Ortberg, and Donald Whitney, and they uncovered principles and practices that challenge contemporary ideals, emphasizing the necessity of community in the pursuit of spiritual growth. There were also interactive discussions, activities, and real-life applications in which leaders discovered how to build and sustain a vibrant military ministry while fostering personal renewal in an increasingly secular world and military.   About CH(MAJ) Jake Snodgrass, USA Chaplain Jacob Snodgrass is a native of Ames, OK, and graduated from the University of Oklahoma and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Applied Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. He was commissioned from ROTC in 2002, and has served as a Chaplain since 2009, endorsed by the Southern Baptist Convention. He currently serves as the 10th Special Forces Group Chaplain and as the lead pastor of Agape Carson, Fort Carson, CO. Chaplain Snodgrass has served numerous assignments as a chaplain, pastor, and church planter, including Camp Humphreys, Korea; Fort Lewis, WA; and Kandahar, Afghanistan. He was named U.S. Army Chaplain of the Year in 2019. Chaplain Snodgrass has been married for 18 years to the former Heather Dostal of Leakenheath, UK, and they have six kids: Manuel 24, Karmen 22, Gage 15, Boyce 14, Jovie 11, and Bennett 8.

Today, you’ll hear audio from a speaking session by CH(MAJ) Jake Snodgrass, USA, this past fall at Spring Canyon’s Aspentime Retreat. If you’re new to OCF and you’ve never heard of Spring Canyon, it’s OCF’s western conference and retreat center located near Buena Vista, Colorado. And if you’ve never heard of Aspentime, it’s a weekend getaway at Spring Canyon for Christian military members and families, and it features teaching and small group sessions led by a speaker like CH Snodgrass. Participants at the weekend retreat explored the profound concept of spiritual formation through the lens of renowned authors such as John Mark Comer, Dallas Willard, John Ortberg, and Donald Whitney, and they uncovered principles and practices that challenge contemporary ideals, emphasizing the necessity of community in the pursuit of spiritual growth. There were also interactive discussions, activities, and real-life applications in which leaders discovered how to build and sustain a vibrant military ministry while fostering personal renewal in an increasingly secular world and military.   About CH(MAJ) Jake Snodgrass, USA Chaplain Jacob Snodgrass is a native of Ames, OK, and graduated from the University of Oklahoma and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Applied Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. He was commissioned from ROTC in 2002, and has served as a Chaplain since 2009, endorsed by the Southern Baptist Convention. He currently serves as the 10th Special Forces Group Chaplain and as the lead pastor of Agape Carson, Fort Carson, CO. Chaplain Snodgrass has served numerous assignments as a chaplain, pastor, and church planter, including Camp Humphreys, Korea; Fort Lewis, WA; and Kandahar, Afghanistan. He was named U.S. Army Chaplain of the Year in 2019. Chaplain Snodgrass has been married for 18 years to the former Heather Dostal of Leakenheath, UK, and they have six kids: Manuel 24, Karmen 22, Gage 15, Boyce 14, Jovie 11, and Bennett 8.

Got an idea for a guest or topic?   If you would like to share your own story, complete the form on OCF’s “Be a Guest” webpage. Alternatively, if you have an idea for a guest or topic I should consider for a future episode of the show, send an email to [email protected].    Show Notes:   Today’s guest is Col Jassen Bluto, USAF, (Ret.), a 32-year veteran who commanded four squadrons, served in combat in Iraq, and oversaw physical security and anti-terrorism policy and training at Air National Guard headquarters. He also gained extensive leadership experience in academia and then in law enforcement, where he served on three separate police agencies before retiring as a detective from an agency in Los Angeles County.  Pulling from decades of experience in enlisted and commissioned roles, Jassen shares three leadership principles–trust, respect, and caring–principles that inspired his short book titled Three Leadership Principles for the Christian in the Military. While the military certainly provides ample leadership training and experience, Jassen shares about the importance of leading from a Christ-centered life, Bible verses that shape his leadership style, and more.  >Check out these resources mentioned in Jassen’s interview:  Three Leadership Principles for the Christian in the Military, Jassen’s short book that features Biblical examples and methodology  Leadership Essentials Podcast, Jassen’s podcast that focuses on practical insights for leaders    >Study questions for this episode As you listen to this conversation with Jassen, here are a few questions to ponder in your personal time, with a small group, or with a mentor:  How would you characterize a good leader and a bad leader?  What effect does right relationship with God have on our relationships with others on earth, especially in leadership contexts?  What Bible verses come to mind to shape your leadership practices?  How does humility produce good leadership?  Why is it important to have deeper relationships with those operating under your leadership?  Who in your life is providing you with feedback in order to develop your leadership skills? 

Got an idea for a guest or topic?   If you would like to share your own story, complete the form on OCF’s “Be a Guest” webpage. Alternatively, if you have an idea for a guest or topic I should consider for a future episode of the show, send an email to [email protected].    Show Notes  How do emotional intelligence (known as EQ) and leadership go together? What does EQ have to do with leading in the military? How does EQ line up with scripture? Noble Gibbens, also known as the EQ Gangster, joins me on the podcast to answer these questions. An Oklahoma-born West Point graduate who served in the U.S. Army in the 82nd Airborne Division, Noble combined his entrepreneurial spirit and experience with his passion for emotional intelligence to become a certified emotional intelligence practitioner, corporate speaker & trainer, and executive leadership coach.  After growing up in a home where he “learned absolutely nothing about conflict resolution” and realizing his emotional dysfunction in his own home as an adult, Noble met with a counselor and began his emotional fitness journey. In this episode, he defines emotional intelligence, shares experiences with leadership in and out of the military context, talks about David and other biblical examples of emotional intelligence, and more.  Check out these resources mentioned in Noble’s interview:  Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Dr. Travis Bradberry and Dr. Jean Greaves  EQ-i 2.0, an online self-rating assessment tool  EQ Gangster podcast, Episode #273: Dr. Brooks Gibbs, Emotional Resilience in Teens & Adults, and Creating Unstoppable Humans  Changes That Heal: Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You by Dr. Henry Cloud  Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Dr. Henry Cloud, Dr. John Townsend  Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box by The Arbinger Institute  Running on Empty: Overcome Your Childhood Emotional Neglect by Jonice Webb, PhD, with Christine Musello Running on Empty No More: Transform Your Relationships With Your Partner, Your Parents and Your Children by Jonice Webb, PhD   As you listen to this conversation with Noble, here are a few questions to ponder in your personal time, with a small group, or with a mentor:  How would you define emotional intelligence?  Think back to your own upbringing. How did your community, family, etc. talk about emotions? How has that impacted your understanding of emotional intelligence now?  To pose Noble's question mentioned in this episode: How often do anxiety and frustrations, motivation, impulses, fear, and distress affect and impact your decision-making?  Having listened to Noble explain the impact emotional intelligence can have on working relationships, what can improve within your own workplace?  We talk about Jesus as the biblical model of being unoffendable, a trait that indicates high emotional intelligence. What can we learn from His example?   

Got an idea for a guest or topic?   If you would like to share your own story, complete the form on OCF’s “Be a Guest” webpage. Alternatively, if you have an idea for a guest or topic I should consider for a future episode of the show, send an email to [email protected].    Show Notes   So many conversations within the OCF community circle back to this question: How ought Christians in the military integrate their faith and profession? One week after graduating from high school, CW4 Rich Smith, USA (Ret.), embarked on 24 years of military service that provided him experiences that answer that very question. Upon retiring from the Army, Rich has developed a passion for encouraging other service members not to camouflage their faith in Christ during their years in the military.   In this episode, we discuss what hinders and helps Christians live out their faith in the military, his personal experiences with Christian fellowship during years on active duty, and more. He also shares about his book, Camouflaged Christian, which provides a deeper dive on the topics he discussed on Crosspoint. Rich now resides in his hometown of Rome, New York, with wife Teri and granddaughters Amerie, Elodie, and Maisy. As you listen to this conversation with Rich, here are a few questions to ponder in your personal time, with a small group, or with a mentor:  What motivates you to camouflage your faith while serving in the military context?  How does Ephesians 6:10-20 encourage you to live out your faith in all areas of life?  Rich shares a couple of personal anecdotes about how fellowship with other believers strengthened his walk during his time in the Army. What impact have you seen fellowship or the absence of it have in your own life?  What Scripture can you commit to memory for the seemingly impossible tasks you’ll face at work?  Rich talks about the value of turning to the Bible first in all circumstances. What things do you find yourself turning to first for encouragement, comfort, etc.? 

Got an idea for a guest or topic?   If you would like to share your own story, complete the form on OCF’s “Be a Guest” webpage. Alternatively, if you have an idea for a guest or topic I should consider for a future episode of the show, send an email to [email protected].    Show Notes:   After graduating from West Point in 1989, Ricky Preciado served in the Army on active duty for five years then as a reservist for an additional five before shifting into business operations for a variety of manufacturing companies. Since 2017, he’s been working for Chick-fil-a, and he currently works for them as an owner-operator in the San Diego area.   Ricky joined USS Somerset OCF for a day to share about one of his favorite topics, servant leadership, with Chick-fil-a in tow, of course, and he joined Assistant Director of Communications Courtney Taylor on the podcast to discuss the very same topic. He breaks down what can often seem to be a “Christianese” term in the church, shares what he’s learned about servant leadership via his work with Chick-fil-a, and recaps his visit with USS Somerset OCF.  To find a small group fellowship similar to the USS Somerset OCF group Ricky visited, check out the OCF directory online.  As you listen to this conversation with Ricky, here are a few questions to ponder in your personal time, with a small group, or with a mentor:  How would you define servant leadership?  Who are your role models, biblical or personal, for servant leadership? Why?  What personal experiences have humbled you and can be used in developing your own servant leadership?  How does surrendering your responsibilities to God enable better servant leadership?  Ricky talks about taking the focus off yourself as an impactful means to being a servant leader. What are some practical ways you can focus on others? 

Got an idea for a guest or topic?   If you would like to share your own story, complete the form on OCF’s “Be a Guest” webpage. Alternatively, if you have an idea for a guest or topic I should consider for a future episode of the show, send an email to [email protected].    Show Notes What is resilience? Is there a correlation between resilience and the prevalence of suicide in the military? How do you know if you’ve become resilient? Minutes after leading a session about the topic of resilience during OCF’s annual Local Leader Conference held at Spring Canyon earlier this year, Col Tim Hale, USAF (Ret.), sat down with me in the dining hall of Hartley Holmes Lodge to address these questions and others.  Raised in a military community near Scott AFB, Tim began his own career in the Air Force after completing Air Force ROTC at St. Louis University. Throughout his decades of service, Tim’s command positions at a variety of levels, bolstered by post-retirement experiences as a cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Department of Veteran Services and as an elder at his church, enabled him to see the importance of resilience firsthand. Tim now resides in Oklahoma, where he serves as OCF’s Area Coordinator for Central Oklahoma, Southern Kansas, and Northern Texas.   Check out the various resources mentioned throughout this episode “March or die”: Turning to Christ & community in times of trauma, OCF Crosspoint episode with Jeremy Stalnecker that focuses on topics related to today’s episode with Tim Path to Resiliency by Chad Robichaux, Jeremy Stalnecker, and John Mizerak (foreword by MG Bob Dees, USA (Ret.)) Days of Anguish, Days of Hope by Bill Keith The Resilience Trilogy by MG Bob Dees, USA (Ret.) As you listen to this conversation with Tim, here are a few questions to ponder in your personal time, with a small group, or with a mentor Tim says the best time to build resilience is before a traumatic event takes place. How can you build resilience now so that you’re better prepared if and when potentially traumatic life events occur? Referring to Path to Resiliency, Tim reminds us that God can heal our trauma and enable us to move forward. What examples, biblical or personal, come to mind as you think of God restoring people after a traumatic event? Specifically, what spiritual disciplines can you cultivate now so that those habits are already established if and when traumatic experiences occur? Who do you consider your community to support you through trauma and recovery? Tim shares 2 Corinthians 1:3 as a biblical encouragement that God sustains us through trials. What scripture can you begin clinging to now that will encourage you through the hardships of life?  Tim suggests that a self-examination of behavior in day-to-day life–even when things are good–can help assess personal resilience that will prove necessary in hardships. Reflect now on how you’re handling the “small things” during this season of life, and ask yourself if there are spiritual disciplines to pursue as you seek to develop this resilience. 

Got an idea for a guest or topic? If you would like to share your own story, complete the form on OCF’s “Be a Guest” webpage. Alternatively, if you have an idea for a guest or topic I should consider for a future episode of the show, send an email to [email protected] Show Notes: Earlier this season, Nicole Breining spoke about her husband’s pornography addiction that resulted in betrayal trauma and a serious strain on their relationship. But what impact does pornography addiction have on the rest of the family? Do kids experience a similar type of trauma when they learn parents struggle with a problematic sexual behavior? How should parents respond if and when they discover their children are viewing pornography? In this episode of Crosspoint, Dr. John Thorington addresses these questions. John is a licensed professional counselor and certified sexual recovery therapist, and he has a private practice in Huntsville, Alabama, called Restoring Hearts Counseling. If you haven’t already, listen to his first episode with Crosspoint from its first season, titled “The Theological Implications of Addiction.” John talks about how parents might navigate a conversation with kids when a parent is struggling with problematic sexual behaviors, how to set boundaries in recovery, and what resources to use in next steps. We then flip the script to talk about how parents can move forward when they learn their child is the one struggling with problematic sexual behaviors, turning to God’s design rather than the world’s during ongoing conversations. Check out the various resources mentioned throughout this episode:  Restoring Hearts Counseling, John’s practice that offers competent counseling and treats teen pornography addiction and other compulsive online behaviors with a Christian perspective Pure Desire Ministries, which seeks to provide hope, freedom, and healing from sexual brokenness through Jesus Christ Be Broken Ministries, which helps men, women, and families move from sexual brokenness to wholeness in Christ and equips others to do the same Treading Boldly through a Pornographic World: A Field Guide for Parents by Daniel Weiss and Joshua Glaser, written to help parents navigate conversations with their kids about pornography Honest Talk: A New Perspective on Talking to Your Kids About Sex by John Fort, a guide that provides parents a new approach to help children safely navigate today’s hypersexual culture The Porn Phenomenon: The Impact of Pornography in the Digital Age, a Barna Report published in partnership with Josh McDowell Ministries Focus on the Family, a global Christian ministry dedicated to helping families thrive Covenant Eyes: Screen Accountability™ Sexpectations: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Healthy Relationships by Barb Winters Pure Teens: Honoring God, Relationships, and Sex by Dr. John Thorington As you listen to this conversation with John, here are a few questions to ponder in your personal time, with a small group, or with a mentor:  What is the value of backing up promises with action when navigating recovery from addiction with your family? If you’re a parent finding out that your child is viewing pornography, how can you make sure you respond well so that your relationship is not damaged? What can we learn from Jesus’ example as He interacts with the woman at the well in John 4:1-26? How can you be proactive in educating your kids about God’s design for sex and sexuality in a world where we often see a rebellion against that design? John talks about the potential harm we can do by framing conversations about sex in a negative light. How ought God’s design and His positive view of it shape how we talk about sex?