BILL’S FINALE 

The days are winding down and there are just seven more to go; I fly out one week from today, 7 May 2010. Although last Sunday was my final Sunday for sharing from the Word, this coming Sunday will be the finale for everything else. In many cases it will be my final time to see many of you so I hope you can make it. Ki-ok and Jay, fearful that I might serve sloppy joes my final week here, signed up to insure that a Korean meal will help to send me off.  Our unique version of praise and worship starts at 1700 hours, followed by a short message from Sanford and some final remarks from me.  

TONIGHT/FRIDAY 

Our regular Friday night Bible study will be held this evening from 1930 – 2100 hours. Rick Pyles will be leading the study through chapter 7 of the gospel of John. As usual, free popcorn, sodas as well as hot drinks will be available and I can drive you back afterwards, if you so desire. 

MASCOT SHAMMER 

Barring some unforeseen circumstances, it looks like I’ll be taking my favorite mascot, Shammer, along with me. I got his shots, his health records, his plane reservation (in the cargo pit) and his cage and was finally able to teach him to get inside his cage at my calling. Now we’ll see if it all comes together.  

BIRTHDAYS  

A few birthdays were missed during my recent 17-day visit to the states. I hope that you, Jim Locklair, Josh Butts and Sanford Hamby had a nice birthday celebration and that Justin McCutchin, Jim Hyatt and Randy Johnson will have a nice birthday observance as the month of May comes upon us. 

REUNIONS 

During my recent stateside trip I managed to do what I am notorious for doing, squeezing in time to rendezvous with several Shalom House-related people. In Denver I was able to connect with Jeremy and Lisa Mutart, Cecil and Rusty Bean, Wesley Drake, Andrew Stroud as well as with Peter Fischer’s parents; all Navigator-related in one way or another. In Atlanta, I was able to meet up with Greg Garner, Roberto and Anna Torres, Kevin and SuJin West along with Peter Fischer. I also managed to attend Andy Stanley’s not-so-boring North Point Community Church. 

RETURNED 

Our Congratulations to LT Doug Bazil on his recent (like today) and safe return to the States from his year-long deployment.  Welcome back Doug…and I’m glad you didn’t have to use those bullets issued to you. 

DEPLOYED 

In spite of all that is going on both around me and inside my head, I think this list of former Shalom House attendees that are currently deployed, is fairly up-to-date. Please remember to pray for these people off and on until their safe return. They are counting on it… 

• Bryon Davis, John Rusch, Bill Bradshaw, Joe Horan, Dale Code, Keith Dreas, Dan Horst, Kevin Cutright, Darrin Clinton, Larry Hamell, Gary Plewes, Marc Migala, Issac Hayman, Matthew Stubbs, James Hong, Mike Becker, Jayme Hansen, Todd Dahmann, Jeffrey Kung, Trinity Carver 

FAREWELL 

Serving nearly twelve years here in Dongducheon as the Director of Shalom House has been an honor, a privilege and a humbling decade+ for me. I am well aware that my position here has actually turned out to be closer to that of ‘a pastor’ to a local church more than anything else. It wasn’t part of “the plan” and perhaps it shouldn’t even have turned into it, but it did. Church tradition aside, in reality, our meetings here at Shalom House were much closer to a New Testament model of “church”, especially compared to the chapel programs, the way they are set up. Working alongside over a hundred chaplains over my dozen years here has helped, challenged and stretched me for this position. And the chaplain support for our ministry, at least up through 2007, was solid, meaningful and added much to our Sunday evening gatherings. Those days are over as mine now are.  

I will be traveling through most of the United States over the next five months; thirty-nine at last count. Over those months I will stop at every major U.S. Army base along with a few minor ones. A few Air Force and Navy bases will also be thrown in for good measure. In fact, I even have two Marine bases on my calendar so I guess the circle is now complete. The Navigators, my new employee, call it a Fundraising trek but reunion and ministry will probably dominate most of our time and conversation. Glancing at the colorful map in my office, some of you might think that I keep up w/everyone who passes through these Shalom House doors but, in reality, I only keep up with perhaps 10%-15% of attendees. My goal is to catch up with nearly two hundred of you between 10 May and 31 October ’10. You others will have to wait until another opportunity presents itself.  

By now, most of you know that my ultimate goal is to land in Watertown, New York by 1 October to begin serving our guys with the Tenth Mountain Division, there at Fort Drum. I look forward to working closely with the Army chaplains stationed there as well as the local Hospitality House/Cadence people. My walk, my journey with Christ has now reached the forty-eight year mark and I have you to thank for helping me in this nearly half-century of adventure. I ask you to continue to support your local chapel program, your chaplain, the Shalom House ministry as well as me as I move on to a more arctic-like climate, west of New York’s Adirondack Mountains.  

In closing, I remind you, not just of The Navigator’s key verse, but one of mine as well. “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others”. This verse, this practice, this truth did not originate with any 20th century organization nor with me. It’s from the Bible and has been there for the universal church to read and apply for nearly two thousand years. The organized church may or may not practice this concept, but you and I are to receive our marching orders from Scripture itself, not from any particular pastor, priest or church.  

“Riches I heed not,
nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always.
Thou and Thou only first in my heart,
high King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.” 

I wish you God’s best but remember:  God’s best was simply Christ Himself. You will never discover “God’s best” for your life until you learn to appreciate what His Lordship in your personal life really means. 

Shalom 6 (Bill)

…7 more days…