Why I'm a Christian...my life story in a nutshell

http://dailycaller.com/2011/11/25/military-advocates-decry-illegal-early-terminations-of-157-air-force-majors/

This truly is a travesty...my situation with the US Army was similar back in 1989... over 12 years in service (9 enlisted and 3 as a Commissioned Officer)... I knew I would not be selected during the 1st promotion cycle (because I was up against the West Point Officers that had graduated at the same time as I got out of OCS).  But, tradition would indicate I would be eligible during the 2nd promotion cycle 6 months later.

I went to work in the morning, knowing that the promotion lists would be made public during the day...and that I would be waiting 6 more months until the next list.  I was in meetings during the AM and went back to my office (I was the S-3 Air Officer for our Cavalry Squadron) and told the Colonel wanted to see me.  I reported and he told the bad news...I was not selected for promotion.  I told him, no problem, I knew I would have to wait until the "2nd passover" selection in 6 months.  His response..."there is not going to be another passover selection.  DA (Dept. of the Army) has decided they are going to cut the officer corps.  They are discharging you, effective the end of this month.  I'm sorry, Bob, I got on the phone and argued with them...but their mind is made up. It's not just you, they are doing this across the board."

So, basically, I went to work, "knowing" I had a job for at least six months (in actuality, EVERYONE made Captain unless - as indicated in the article - you did something REALLY stupid which resulted in Administrative Action against you - and all I needed to do was make Captain and I could have finished out my 20 years for retirement (because I knew I would not make Major...but the twice over passover promotion selection would have occurred at like my 18th month prior to retirement...so I would have been "retained" - as the article indicates is policy).

But, instead, I went home from lunch with less than two weeks notice that I was out of a job.... devastating effect on my family - from which we are still, literally, recovering from all these years later.

All I had ever wanted to do was be in the Army.  I entered 10 days after graduating from High School.  I was always promoted ahead of my peers.  I was 23 years old and had more "authority" on duty in my position than some senior ranking NCO's working with me (I cannot go into the details because of security issues...but they "worked" for me when we were in HOT status).  I was the first person EVER to achieve a 100% score throughout the NCO Academy (for which I was the distinguished graduate and invited to several formal Army functions, etc.); I was promoted to Staff Sergeant actually 30 days before I was supposed to be eligible because of this...I was selected for 3 years on Drill Sergeant status - during this time, mid-way through my three years, I was also selected to go and OPEN a new training center that was just incorporating Drill Sergeants into their system.  After this assignment is when I decided I would go to Officer Candidate School and join the Cavalry....and the rest is history as outlined above.

The fact that the Army was going to discharge someone with my "credentials," just because I was an OCS officer and not ROTC or West Point, thoroughly upset some of the senior NCO's in our Squadron...and they immediately put in their retirement papers because, they said, "If this Army doesn't want to keep quality people like you anymore - then it's time for me to leave."  I know of at least 3 First Sergeants and 2 Command Sergeant Majors that retired telling me this was the reason.

I'm not complaining about what happened (it is all history now)...I'm just adding my two cents to this article.  It HAS happened in the past.  So, this is nothing new.

IS IT RIGHT?   NO!

Basically, the recruiting theme is (or, at least it was when I was joining) - as long "as you want to stay, you have a job."  (again, disciplinary actions not withstanding).

I was counting on that.  My family was counting on that.  And it was ALL taken away...with only 2 weeks notice.  WHY?  So some bureaucrat in DC could say he "cut the budget."

My family and I have gone through "hell" since we left the military.  There is not many civilian jobs that called for "professional killer" in their job description.  Or had as a job requirement "capable of staying awake 75 hours and still be able to tactically move a squadron 15 miles under the cover of darkness without being detected by the enemy; all while coordinating the battlefield scenario with higher HQ's."  Or, knows how to set and detonate booby-traps during the hours of darkness to inflict the maximum amount of casualties on the enemy."  Etc., etc., etc.

It was VERY hard on us financially, emotionally and socially.  All of my friends were now IN service and I was OUT of service.  Life truly did SUCK for many, many years.

It was not until 2001 when we moved to Maryland (to be close to my daughter who moved here)...that we truly "started over."  It was during this time that I decided to "start over" by joining the Maryland Transportation Authority Police Department.  I graduated from the Academy at age 45...not "the" oldest they ever had...but I was right up there!  But - by the Grace of God - I was able to do so.

I can actually say, truthfully and as honestly as I can relate it here, I enjoyed my job as a Police Officer with this department "almost" as much as I enjoyed military life.  The friends I made were more than friends...the word "brother" is truly applicable to my fellow officers.  God truly did Bless me with this job.

Then, unfortunately, I was injured at work in May 2007...an injury which, despite surgery, never did heal properly.  After "fighting" my health and the doctors so I could stay on duty...after almost four years...I came to the realization that to continue to do so might jeopardize one of them or myself if a "worst case scenario" would occur and I was unable to function at 100%.  That would not be fair to them...or my family.

So, in late 2010, I was praying about this (I really did - and DO - loved that job and the people there)... but the Lord brought a scripture to my memory:  Jeremiah 29:11, "I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you, not to harm you. Plans to give to you a hope and a future."  So, I told the Lord, "Ok.  I will not fight to stay on active, full time duty anymore.  I trust you.  You show me you are taking care of me."

Well, that was December 2010.  By March 2011, they told me that I was no longer physically capable for performing the duties of a police officer.  I submitted my disability retirement packet in April 2011.  (This is NORMALLY about a year to year and half process - unless seriously injured, which I was not).

The LORD moved my packet through with HIS FAVOR on it...He showed my  Exodus 3:21, "I will give you FAVOR in the eyes of the Egyptians (the Authority) and you will not go out empty."

2 months later...I was retired....and working FULL TIME in ministry for the LORD!

I have to admit...I DO ENJOY working for HIM.  YES - enjoyed my military career immensely!  YES - I enjoyed my time as a cop!  But to work for the LORD is the best "job" I have ever had...and HE did it record time...letting me KNOW that HE is the one I need to serve.

Why I have been moved to share all of this...I do not know.  Maybe it is therapeutic to some extent.  I know reading this article started to open up some "old wounds."

But, the Holy Spirit has guided my thoughts as I was going to "villainize" the government for what they are doing to these officers and for what they did to me.  But, as I was writing this...I was reminded how the LORD turned what the devil meant for my destruction and turned it to my benefit...(and don't get me wrong...I was "down for the count" when all of this transpired...the devil ALMOST succeeded in truly destroying my life during this time...but it was DURING this time - that I FOUND GOD and received Jesus as my Lord and Savior)!

Would I want to "do it all over again."  NO.  That part of my life was very, very traumatic.  But, I have come to a place NOW, where I can talk about it with no resentment and no anger (which my family and friends understand how difficult that is and was for me to do for soooo many years).

So, to close this VERY LONG post out...to these military officers and to whomever else reads this post and that it should touch your heart in some way....I will leave you with the Words I described above:  Jeremiah 29:11 "I know the plans I have for you, saith the Lord, plans to prosper you, not to harm you.  Plans to give to you a hope and a future."

REMEMBER - GOD IS IN CONTROL.  Yield to Him.  Give to Him all of your cares...and He will take care of you.  It may not "seem" like it at the time...but He will.

GOD LOVES YOU!

 http://dailycaller.com/2011/11/25/military-advocates-decry-illegal-early-terminations-of-157-air-force-majors/

GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL...even when I am not

Sometimes I get so discouraged by everything I see on the news and read on the Internet.  Sometimes I wonder if anything I ever do is worth the effort.  Sometimes I just sit and look at the computer and wonder if I should even "try" to make a difference.  Sometimes...I just "don't care."

Then - somewhere - deep down inside...I "hear" a still small voice.  His voice tells me "I care."  He gives me His Peace when everything around me seems to be in chaos.  He gives me Hope, when everything around me seems to be hopeless.  He gives me His Strength to carry on when I just don't feel like I can go one more step or one more day.

Then, when I least expect it...I receive an email from someone who this ministry has touched...it has made a difference.  Then, I pick up and "go another day."  I know that, for at least that one person somewhere in the world...what I do has made a difference.  They found Hope when there was no hope...they found Peace when there was no peace...they found Strength when they were out of strength...

Then, that still small voice - deep down inside...says "I told you so."

That is probably THE MAJOR PROBLEM in this type of ministry (Internet Radio)... sometimes I can feel so alone...so "disconnected" from anyone...not knowing if anything I do matters in the "great scheme of things."

I honestly say I put in "A LOT" of work into what our ministry is doing.  More so than most other "on the ground ministries" as far as hours go.  Virtually disabled by chronic back, hip, leg, knee and feet pain (basically, from the waist down!), I can only sit a little while before I have to get up and move around...problem with that...after just a few minutes of being on my feet...I have to either sit or lay down for a few minutes....and if I am at the point where I have to take pain medications...it will knock me completely off my feet for at least an hour or so...then, it is back to the computer again...and the process starts all over.

But, then I look at our "stats" on how many people have listened to our radio stations during the last 24 hours...or the last week...and I see we ARE making an impact.  People ARE listening.  THE WORD of the GOSPEL IS GETTING OUT! - OUT INTO ALL THE WORLD!

We have listeners in 92 different countries on one station and over 110 different countries on another...We have listeners in ALL 50 states here in the USA.  We are making major efforts to bring a THIRD radio station online January 1st...a station that will provide a service that, as far as our research has taken us...NOBODY else is providing.  This goes with what the Lord told me almost four months ago when He put it on my heart..."this is a station that will do what nobody else has done in the Christian Internet world.  Therefore, there will difficulties as you work through all of the obstacles...but you WILL succeed... because I am with you and guiding you."

It is true...we have experienced obstacles that I could not have even dreamed about...but, when I refer back to my original notes which I wrote down as the Lord was telling me how to set the station up and how it was to operate and what type of services it was to provide...I see every piece falling into place.  It truly is amazing to watch God work!  Amen!

"Evangelism Radio" will be a unique online radio station...offering 24/7 LIVE capabilities for those Christian broadcasters interested in doing LIVE INTERNET RADIO programming.  We are setting up call in capabilities for listeners to call in directly to the DJ Broadcaster and take questions, comments, etc.  Those are just TWO of the services... Glory to God!  It truly is a work of God, Amen!

But, sometimes I still get "down" over the question of "am I making a difference?"  It is in times like this that the Lord will move me to do something...like write this blog.  I find myself realizing that I DO make a difference...as long as I continue to do what HE tells me to do and to say what HE tells me to say.  But, then again, what else matters?

For more information on "Evangelism Radio" and how you can become part of it, email me directly at brother bob@ftfm.org.  I will provide you with the information as we have it right now.

Please check out our other two, highly successful, Internet radio stations..."Freedom Through Faith Christian Radio"and "Praise and Worship Radio" by visiting our website at www.FTFM.org.

Until next time..."Be Blessed in ALL You Do!"

Robert Thibodeau
Freedom Through Faith Ministries