~Forbidden Iniquity~

Purpose Driven Thoughts: Day Three

2008-06-02T19:35:00.002+02:00

* Gods purpose is not limited by your past

* Without a purpose, life is trivial, petty, and pointless

* Knowing your purpose give meaning to your life.

* Philippians 3:13 - "I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead."

* Knowing your purpose motivates your life.

* Living to create an earthly legacy is a short-sighted goal.

QUESTION:
What would my family and friends say is the driving force of my life? What do I want to be?

ANSWER:
Music has always been a big part of my life. As a child there are home movies of me singing. There is something about music that just drives me. Im always listening to music. If Im not listening to it Im singing. God willing I want to always do something with music. I hope to have my own worship band in my local church some day. I love nothing more than worshipping God through music...

Purpose Driven Thoughts: Day Two

2008-06-01T18:13:00.002+02:00

* God never does anything accidentally, and he never makes mistakes.

* If there was no God, we would all be "accidents", the result of astronomical random chance in the universe. (We would have no purpose in life)

QUESTION:
I know that God uniquely created me. What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?

ANSWER:
I have always struggled to be positive about who I am. Sometimes I get so down on myself when I make a mistake it can bother me for days. Even if I dont express it, it still bothers me. With my physical appearance Ive always hate how short I am! As silly as it sounds I struggle with that a lot, and the fact that I am not physically strong like most people in the Army. But I praise God because I am fearfully and wonderfully made! God created me to worship him, and with all my strength, I will do so. Whats even more amazing, is that when I am stubborn and dont recognize God or deny him, HE STILL LOVES ME!

PERSONAL THOUGHTS:
In this second chapter Rick Warren talks about how important we are as creatures of God. Everything was made because God willed it. If you read Psalm 139 the psalmist praises God that he is "fearfully and wonderfully made". No matter where we go God will always be there. In the dark just as much as he is in the light.
God knows each and every one of us so well to the point that before a word is even on our tongue, God knows it! Gods grace is never ending, and I am very thankful for that.
"How precious to me are your thoughts Oh God, how vast are the sum of them! Were I to number them they would out number the grains of the sand."

Purpose Driven Thoughts: Day One

2008-05-31T18:10:00.002+02:00

Ive started reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. Im going to try my hardest for the next 40 days, as in time with the book plans, to give you my personal incite in every chapter. At the beginning I will state the important parts of the book that caught my eye then answer the thought of the chapter as well.

DAY ONE:

* You exist only because God wills that you exist. You were made by God and for God - and until you understand that, life will never make sense.

* Every other path leads to a dead end.

* Without God life makes no sense.

QUESTION:
In spite of all the advertising around me, how can I remind myself that life is really all about living for God, not myself?

ANSWER:
"Every other path leads to a dead end." That quote within its self sum it up. In my life I've discovered that nothing else but Gods grace and love has made me more happy. Any time I stray away from God I find myself in that same lonely and dark place that seems so desolate. Living my life without God would be impossible. So, how can I remind myself that life is all about living for God? Read His word daily, and remember that no matter what Jesus loves me.

Journal of Iraq: 110 Degrees and Rising...

2008-05-22T18:09:00.002+02:00

So I haven't even updated my blog since Ive been to Iraq. Things here have been going great since we got into country. I'm all settled in in my trailer for the next 14 long months, and myself and the Chaplain and starting to get into our flow of work as well.
It's so hard to believe that I am in Iraq! As we've gone to a few different places here I look around and see things that I've heard about or seen in the news and its weird to know that I am actually here! Last week I went to the Al Faw palace, which is one of Saddams palaces.
The weather is another experience here that is crazy in itself. Today was probably the hottest day we have had so far since we've been here. It was about 110 degrees. Thank God we have airconditioning because I dont know what Id do without it LOL.
I have a good feeling about these upcoming months that we spend here. I know God is going to use this as a time for me to draw near to Him and become closer to Him than I have ever been.

and i promise i will try and keep this updated more often...really... i promise

Journal of Iraq: Kuwait

2008-05-02T12:57:00.002+02:00

I've been in Kuwait a little over two weeks now. So far I've experience.... nothing. The only thing that really sucks most about being here in Kuwait is its a hurry up and wait process. Myself, I did very little training. Out of the two weeks I have been here I've done maybe 3 days of actually training. Most of my time was spent watching movies or walking around doing anything and everything with my buddies Jacob and Bucky. The weather here has been fairly warm. Most days its atleast 100 degrees.
One of the coolest things that happend though, was when we were in the middle of the desert doing some IED training and a herd of camels walked up to us. It was probably a herd of atleast 6 camels. It was pretty cool because if full-filled my two things I wanted to see while I was here in Kuwait; vast wasteland desert and camels. So it was pretty neat. Then a few days ago I got to experience my first sandstorm here. It was really neat because the sand was so thick and dense you couldnt even see any more then 10 meters in front of you!
In a few days I will be in Iraq. Please continue to pray for myself and my unit as we prepare to roll into combat. Until later... pro deo et patria, facta cum honore!

wilcox out

EnErGy DrInKs!1!1

2008-04-08T13:59:00.001+02:00

i JuSt ThOuGhT tHaT i WoUlD pOsT aNd SaY tHaT i ReAlLy LoVe EnErGy DrInKs!1!1

back to work...

2008-04-08T13:52:00.002+02:00

So today is the first full day back to work after being on block leave for two weeks. I had the greatest time being back home in Iowa just relaxing with family. As the date for us to leave for Iraq comes closer and closer the reality seems to seep in even more and more.
Lastnight it was really hard for me to sleep because I had one stupid thing on my mind and it really bothered me. It kept me up for 2 hours! I was seaching all weekend for the packing list I need to have for the rest of my clothes that we taking to Iraq and I couldnt find it. So I wake up at 12:30 and thats on my mind wondering where its at. I easily could have waited til I got to work in the morning but I was bound and determined to find it. About an hour later I couldnt find it so I gave up and went back to sleep.
I talk to Michelle about being nervious and scared about going to Iraq. Which was really the main reason in the first place that I was up anyway. I know God would never send me somewhere where he didnt want me to go. But that doesnt make it any easier, ya know?
I've been trying so hard not to stress out about all of this. I just want to enjoy all of the time I can with Michelle and Addyson before I leave. I know once I get settled in in Kuwait and Iraq things will be okay. Because by then I just need to accept the fact that I'm not going anywhere for 15 months...

quick back home update

2008-03-28T01:28:00.002+01:00

It's been great being back home again to see how much things have changed, and at the same time the things that have remained the same. Michelle, Addy and I have had a blast seeing family and spending time with everyone. When we flew in to Cedar Rapids we were all so tired from spending the night in the Chicago Airport at the USO there. We spent Easter dinner with my parents then we went to Victor to spend time with Michelle's family until Thursday. It's almost time to go back to Germany... *sigh* I miss home. I really do...

facta cum honore

2008-03-17T13:30:00.002+01:00

During my lunch break today I was thinking about what I should write about in my next blog. As I sat there sipping my coffee my units motto ‘Facta Cum Honore’ crossed my mind. In Latin the phrase facta cum honore means ‘achievement with honor’. As I dwelled on that phrase I was overcome with a sense of pride in serving my country. Looking out the window over post I was filled with pride to be serving in the greatest country in the world. It’s amazing how much the Army has changed my view about life in general. Three years ago before I even enlisted in the military I never thought I would find myself in the position that I am today. I never thought I would be serving my country in the Army. Now I find it to be the greatest achievement of my life to be an American Soldier.
Thinking of the Soldier’s Creed in which we as an Army base ourselves upon is extremely motivating. Maybe this sense of patriotism is overcoming me because we are preparing to deploy and I want to keep my head held high. Or maybe this Army thing is really starting to grow on me more and more.
Reading the Soldier’s Creed below I’d like you to understand the honor of what it’s like to wear the uniform today.

"I am an American Soldier.
I am a Warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States and live the
Army Values.

I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.

I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough,
Trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I will always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.

I am an expert and a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage and destroy
The enemies of the United States of America
In close combat.

I am guardian of freedom and
The American way of life.

I am an American Soldier."

Maybe its finally kicked in of who I am supposed to be, an American Soldier. Achievement with honor...

Wilcox out

JOURNAL of IRAQ - APFT

2008-03-13T13:52:00.003+01:00

This morning we took the APFT (Army Physical Fitness Test), and I’m very happy to say that I passed. I didn’t do as well as I’d hoped I would but, none the less I passed so I’m happy either way. Just to explain more about the APFT for the folks at home it is a test of our individual physical status. During the test you have to see how many push-ups you can do in two minuets and how many sit-ups you can do in two minuets. After the push-ups and sit-ups you have to run two miles as fast as you can. There is a certain standard you have to meet, and it graded by age and sex groups. Overall it’s not so horrible as it sounds. Now I can take a big sigh of relief and relax knowing now that I’ve passed my PT test and can relax a little bit now!

There is one week left until we go on block leave! I can’t wait to get home and see everyone. It’s crazy how much I have missed Iowa. It’ll be great to be back home. Until then... pro deo et patria, facta cum honore!

Wilcox out

JOURNAL of IRAQ - pre-deployment thoughts

2008-03-11T16:16:00.004+01:00

I’ve been in the Army now for a little over two years now. It’s amazing how far along I’ve come since day one of Basic Training. I knew from the moment I raised my right hand what I was getting myself into. I knew that I would find myself in a combat zone, whether it being Iraq or Afghanistan.
It’s hard to believe that in a little over a month from now I will be heading to my first deployment in Iraq. The reality seems to creep in more and more every day as our flight date nears. Soon I will find myself fighting to protect the democracy of a terror torn country. I will see things I’ve never seen before and images that will forever be kept in my mind.
My mind seems rushing right now of how feel about the current situation in Iraq. I have mixed feelings that are driven by either political beliefs, or what I am trained to do as an American Soldier. I can’t stop thinking of the fact that I could leave for Iraq and never come back. At the same time I’m starting to wonder why the hell I even signed up for the Army in the first place.
Speaking as someone who hasn’t been to a combat zone yet, I feel that the war in Iraq is utterly pointless. We have been in Iraq for over five years now and what do we have to show for it; almost 4,000 dead American’s and a government getting frustrated with our efforts? Or perhaps a country that seems to be digging deeper and deeper into a civil war, or our presence as a “coalition of the willing” seems to have more than outworn its welcome. As I write this I’m very curious to see how my feelings and thoughts will change after what seems will be 15 months of a living hell. Until then… pro deo et patria, facta cum honore! -- Wilcox Out

*~Forbidden Iniquity~*