Note: Carmen Ministries utilizes the leadership principles of the military Special Forces, i.e., Navy SEALs, in their ministry to develop Christian character in their men. This newsletter contains two articles containing military principles.

(See below "The Company You Keep" and "Live Lessons from a Navy SEAL")

The Bible tells us, "Knock and the door will be opened to you, seek and you shall find."

Just twelve short months ago, I stood on the edge of absolute self-destruction. I lived my life without concern for others and with no regard for the consequences of my choices. I was driven by the worldly pursuits of personal gratification; I was a lost soul.

One sweat-soaked night, my body wracked with agony as every fiber of my soul screamed for death to take me, I reached into the deepest recesses of my stony heart, and I found the humility to fall to my knees. In all my bitterness, I had found my last seed of faith, and I cried out to God, "Please! I cannot endure this any longer. Please take my life." To my great disappointment, I was not struck down where I knelt.

The very next day I was freed from my spiritual prison and sent to a physical one, where I began the process of my redemption - where God restored my sanity and began to heal my mind, my body and my soul.

I firmly believe that God works through the relationships we build with others, and it is directly through the love that we share with one another that we gain a truer understanding of God's love for us. God placed one person in my life and it was because of this man's example of faith that I began to surrender to God's will completely. Tony, I'd like to thank you from the depths of my heart for being steadfast in your conviction to the Lord. It is because of your demonstrations of faith that a miracle took place in my life. When I finally let God into my heart, I became willing to learn again and my mind was opened to the limitless potential available to me.

Today I have hope in my life. I have come to know true love. I am no longer in bondage to sin, and it is only by His grace that I have found true freedom. Vigilant and constant faith will keep me free. I have come to believe that God is with me ALWAYS and in ALL WAYS. I know the truth is always available when I have an ear to listen and the courage to act.  

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U.S. Navy Admiral William H. McRaven is an alumnus of the University of Texas and Commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command who organized the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. Admiral McRaven spoke at his alma mater's commencement last year. While the lessons recapped here are based on his military experiences, they apply to everyone. 

Start by making your bed. Every morning SEAL instructors show up in the barracks to inspect beds. Making a bed is a simple, mundane task but if you do it every day, you've already finished one task for the day. It gives you a small sense of pride and encourages you to continue. By the end of the day, that one simple job may turn into a very productive day. On the other hand, if you have a miserable day and nothing else gets done, at least you come home to a bed that you made and that gives you the encouragement that tomorrow will be better.

Find someone to help you paddle. During SEAL training, students are broken into boat crews of seven, three on each side and a coxswain, or navigator, to help guide the team. Every paddle must be synchronized to the stroke of the coxswain, exerting the equal effort in order for the boat to reach its destination. You cannot change the world alone; you will need help. To get you to your destination, you will need the help of family, friends, the good will of strangers and a strong coxswain to guide you.

Measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers. SEAL training crews are made up of many different sized people and varying strengths. One crew was the "munchkin crew" made up of no one over 5'5". The bigger guys would make good-natured fun of the "munchkin crew," but somehow these guys always had the last laugh - they outran and outswam the other larger, stronger crews. SEAL training, as is life, is a great equalizer. Nothing matters but your will to succeed.

Get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward. Uniform inspections occur several times a week in training. Uniforms are expected to be immaculate: hat perfectly starched; belt buckle gleaming; shoes shiny. Sometimes no matter how much effort you put forth, it just isn't enough. Inspectors find "something" wrong. The punishment for failed inspection is to run fully clothed into the water and roll around on the beach until every part of your body is covered in sand; you must stay this way for the rest of the day. It's known as being a "sugar cookie." No matter how well you prepare or how well you perform, you will still fail sometimes; you still end up as a sugar cookie. It's just the way life goes.

Don't be afraid of the circuses. Every SEAL training event has standards and if those rigorous standards are not met, which happens often, you are invited to a "circus." A circus is two additional hours of exercise designed to wear you down, break your spirit, and force you to quit. However, an interesting thing happens to those who consistently make the list: over time they grow stronger and stronger. In life you will fail; you will likely fail often. It will be painful and discouraging. It will test you to your very core but you cannot be afraid; you will be stronger in the end.

Don't back down from the sharks. To pass SEAL training, students must complete a series of long swims in shark-infested waters with one of the swims taking place at night. If a shark begins to circle, you stand your ground; you do not swim away. You do not act afraid. If the shark darts towards you, you summon all your strength and punch him in the snout. He backs down and swims away. There are a lot of sharks in the world. If you hope to complete your personal swim, you will have to deal with them head on.

You must be your very best in the darkest moments. Navy SEALs often conduct underwater attacks against enemy ships. Divers must swim down to the deepest part of the ship, the water being so dark you cannot see what is front of you. The noise from the ship is deafening. It is easy to get disoriented and lose your bearings. It is at this time - the darkest moments - when you must be calm and call on your physical power and inner strength to succeed.

Start singing when you're up to your neck in mud. During "Hell Week," training consists of six days of no sleep, constant physical and mental harassment and a day in the "Mud Flats" - a swampy patch of land engulfed by mud. SEAL units are ordered into the mud up to their necks. Chattering teeth and shivering moans are all that can be heard. Then there's one voice raised in song. That one voice becomes two and then three and before long the entire unit is singing. Somehow the mud seems a little warmer, the wind a little tamer and the sun not so far away. Remember, one person can change the world by giving people hope.

Don't ever, ever ring the bell. In SEAL training there is a brass bell that hangs in the center of the compound. Ring the bell and you no longer have to wake up at 5 a.m. Ring the bell and you no longer have to do the freezing cold swims. Ring the bell and you no longer have to endure the hardships of training. To give up, just ring the bell.

Remember: Start each day with a task completed. Find someone to help you through life. Respect everyone. Know that life is not fair and that you will fail often. But if you take some risks, step up in tough times, facedown the bullies, lift up the downtrodden and never give up, you will change the world.

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I Thank You 

A Poem by one of Carmen Ministries' young men

I thank you for your faithfulness

Oh holy, holy name I bless

Who raised the sun to be the light

The One who loves with all His might

Teach me what I can't forget

I'll take the path I won't regret

This life I live it to be true

Giving thanks and praising you

Glory, glory to the king

He's the reason that I sing

He whose word I've learned to trust

And do the things He says I must

Watching from His throne on high

He says He'll never pass me by

As I keep looking for His face

I am smothered with His grace. 

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