It’s cold here. Not unbearable, but still cold. We stopped in three or four places on the way here and the entire transit took almost two weeks, but here I am. Finally. Two or three days ago marks the one month anniversary of being in Afghanistan.

I can’t talk about a whole lot of what goes on, but I can say that I have rather enjoyed the experience so far (aside from some of the frustrations with certain individuals who shall remain nameless).

Not much to write about… Not much I can write about. Love to the family!

27 FEB 10

Ahh, exotic Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Or Tennessee. They had some trouble figuring that out when the base was brought online prior to World War II. Ft. Campbell was home to several heavy armor divisions during that time. Aside from that there are some really cool (and one wierd) looking aircraft just sitting around at the museum. Pictures to follow.

My unit is a Cavalry unit. It has maybe 200 people in it, if that. Also, if the title isn’t clear enough, I now have internets in my room. It’s kind fo disturbing really. I woke up this morning and went to PT and then came back, changed into ACU’s and went and ate some mediocre chow at our above average chow hall. All during that time there were no internets. When I got back from chow they were all over the place.

Beyond the internets and obviously interesting history: I’ve been driving to Huntsville, Alabama on the weekends. This weekend is a four day so I’m thinking of going to see some of the local sights (caves and stuff-not nearly as interesting as old aircraft; it’s not like you can fly a cave around).

Also-I’m reading through “Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren. I don’t agree with a lot of stuff he has done, but I was assured by a good friend of mine who knows these things that the book is one of the more concise compilations concerning purpose as related to Christianity.

PT here is hard but easy. It’s difficult, but there are so many people good at it that is becomes easy to push harder and farther. It motivates a person to excel when they are the only person not.

I love you Mom! Happy Mother’s day! I left a message on your answering machine. I hope you got it. I love you Dad! I’m praying for your knee. I love you gramma and grampa!

(Brother, sister, I love you both. Uncles, cousins (Natalie, welcome home), etc. I hope you are all well!)

19 MAY 09

Also, Tim: answer my phone calls. Meagen: Sushi, yes? I’m looking forward to it!

This is all temporary… This world I know will shortly be gone.

It mirrors sectors of my life; minutes turned to hours. When I die it will all be but a distant memory. Simply one more wisp of smoke lost in time. Perhaps this will lend to the generation of my priorities…

I focus on the details, the science, things I can feel and touch and when I do this I forget my priorities-those handed to me by my God-and I lose myself in this little torrent of time we live in.

It is simply a matter of perspective. I can look from where I stand and I remember the past, I see the present and I anticipate the future. Where I am bound contains none of these things; time is encompassed by what waits, simply another dimension in which to move…

If I attempt to rationalize where I conjecture God to stand (a foolish pursuit, but one with a few fruits) I see how He might see. He stands outside time, seeing this thread of existence we live in; knowing all, seeing all. And for some reason He subjected Himself to this limited existence we inhabit.

For the love of man, Christ died. For me and every other person on this planet. But because of His infinite nature it is not some impersonal love, but an individual love.

And I suffer most from this: I do not perceive that love because it is not in the things I immerse myself in, not in the things I see, or feel, or touch. I have been granted these things: a life to live, and a free will to affect that life. And for one purpose I have those two gifts-to seek God and His love, His promise.

I pray to God that I do not become lost once again in the things of this world, its science and things that can be touched and heard. I pray, oh God of Heaven, that you grant me this incite; that You alone are God and that You are outside this limited existence. That You love me and let me know that you love me, not with knowledge of this limited existence I have been granted to inhabit, but with the knowledge of Your love instilled by the Spirit.

I pray these words are your Will, Lord. I pray that they touch someone for Your greater glory.

In Your holy name, the great ‘I AM,’ I pray these things.

Keep me mindful of these things, Lord, God Almighty.

Amen.

09 APR 09