TO AND FOR PEACE KEEPERS OF THE MILITARY AND ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT
AT ALL LEVELS AND ALL OF THOSE IN THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND ALL
WHO CARE ABOUT THEM AND THEIR WELFARE.
CHAPLAIN CORNER IS DEDICATED TO ALL PEACE KEEPERS, CURRENT AND
RETIRED, THOSE LIVING NOW... AND THOSE WHO HAVE PRECEDED US AND
PASSED ON FROM THIS EARTHLY SCENE. MY TERM PEACE KEEPER COVERS
ALL SECURITY, JAIL AND PRISON ATTENDANTS WHATEVER THE TITLE; LAW
ENFORCEMENT AT ALL LEVELS INCLUDING JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS;
MILITARY IN WHATEVER BRANCH; AND
THE SUPPORT SYSTEM PERSONNEL FOR ALL CATEGORIES IN WHATEVER
COUNTRY OF THIS WORLD YOU HAPPEN TO BE INCLUDING SECURITY CONTRACTORS.
YOU ARE VITAL TO OUR WORLD AND MY COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF AND I CARE GREATLY
FOR AND ABOUT YOU. YOU ARE THE MINISTERS OF RIGHTNESS IN THIS WORLD...
AND THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT COULD NOT EXIST WITHOUT YOU!!!
IN ADDITION IT IS FOR THE PEACE MAKERS OF THIS WORLD. SOMETIMES
THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE AS PEACE KEEPERS... SOMETIMES THEY ARE
NOT... BUT PEACE MAKERS ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY AS
ARE PEACE KEEPERS NECESSARY AND IMPORTANT.
PRAYERS ARE SAID DAILY FOR ALL WHO HAVE REQUESTED MY PRAYERS...
FOR ALL FOR WHOM I HAVE PROMISED TO PRAY... FOR ALL FOR WHOM I HAVE
BEEN INSTRUCTED TO PRAY... FOR PEACE KEEPERS... FOR FIREFIGHTERS...
FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL PERSONNEL... DOCTORS... NURSES... TEACHERS...
COUNSELORS... AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE ENGAGED IN THE TRANSPORTATION
OF THE GOODS WHICH WE NEED IN ORDER TO LIVE AND BATTLE THE EVIL IN
THIS WORLD... FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO MAKE UP THE SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR
ALL OF THESE AND ALL OF THE FAMILIES AND ALL OF THE LOVED ONES OF
ALL OF THESE PEOPLE... FOR LEADERS OF THE WORLD... LEADERS OF THE
CHURCH... AND FOR SPECIFIC PEOPLE THAT HAVE SPECIFIC NEEDS...
PLUS YOU ARE INCLUDED IF YOU ARE READING THIS MATERIAL.
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VITAL INGREDIENTS (Part 1 of 4)
DISCIPLINE
n.
v.
[Middle English, from Old French descepline, from Latin disciplīna, from discipulus, pupil; see disciple.]
dis'ci·pli·nal (-plə-nəl) adj., dis'ci·plin'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
===============================================================
These messages are for those engaged in positions where submission to procedures, rules, regulations and orders are the methods whereby all good success is obtained. Discipline works best when self applied and applied to self. Since the root word of disciple is discipline, we need to understand that in order to learn how to do that which we have decided to do with our lives... We must submit ourselves to the will and control of others who know what we want to learn. For them to know it means that they have given it so much attention that they have retained the knowledge, they can repeat the knowledge, they know where the knowledge comes from, they know why it is necessary... And they can apply the knowledge we are seeking to get the best possible results because they have proven that in the crucible of experience. They have been to the field, done the job successfully, lived through it and successfully returned to train us in the classroom and on the field in hands-on experience. In the old business world this was called apprenticeship (a program of training). In the New Testament of the Bible it is called Discipleship (a program of training). In peace keeping it is called a Recruit Academy, a Training Program, Basic School, Basic Training, etc...
Please recognize that I am using the male gender words he, his, him, etc. but they are to be read to include both the male and the female persons to whom this message applies in the sense of Man being the Human Race... So this applies to either male or female who wants to be or is a Peace Keeper...
An apprentice is one who attaches himself to another to learn all that the master knows and how to apply that knowledge in daily life. If you want to be a Carpenter, you must become a Carpenter's Helper or enter a Carpenter's Training School. In the beginning you are used to go for whatever the Carpenter needs. In the process of being a go-fer, going and fetching, you learn about wood... You learn it's qualities, sizes, lengths, useful purposes, etc. You carry a lot of wood to the Carpenter before you ever get to use a saw. Before you can use a saw you must learn how to measure. Before you can measure you must learn to read a ruler or measuring device used on pieces of wood to get the right lengths of material to be used in the construction of anything from a form to furniture to a building.
After you learn to read the ruler, you are allowed to practice measuring and marking measurements on scrap wood with a square... Then your measurements are checked. After you learn to measure and mark accurately you receive instructions in how to saw wood to length and accurately with square ends... Then you are checked for accuracy and for quality of workmanship. If you are good at this stage you may become a saw man... Cutting and carrying, or handing to someone else to carry, what the Carpenter needs for each piece he is assembling into the finished product.
Then you get a new set of instructions... Build something... But first you must learn how to use a hammer and drive nails... So it is back to the scrap lumber again... You must learn how to drive nails straight in... How to strike the nail without bending the nail... How to drive nails at an angle into the wood for special joints... How to drill pilot holes for some types of wood and joints... When you get good at the practice measuring, sawing, nailing and assembly of practice work you might get the chance to become a Framer.
A Framer must first know basic construction, joints, bracing, etc. and then must learn how to read plans before he can ever become a Framer on his own. A Framer learns how to assemble a finished product so that it is of good quality and of good strength... The Framer puts the skeleton of a house or building together so that others can do the finish work. If the Framer gets really good at framing he may stay there... Or decide to become a Finish Carpenter or Trim Carpenter. This is the one who makes the visible surface and joints of the wood look good... And this level also takes a lot more practice before one will become good at it.
If you want to become good at anything useful, you must learn all you can learn about the subject... Then practice what you have learned to become proficient in it's application... Then submit to testing to see if you are good enough to be permitted to do the job... And sometimes submit to periodic testing to keep the job. This is true of driving a car, flying an airplane, sailing a ship, being a diver, being a soldier, being a law enforcer, being anything useful in this life.
To become a Peace Keeper (Entry level of Military or Law Enforcement)... After a lengthly background check, criminal record check and testing during the application process, you are accepted or rejected. If accepted, you enter Basic Training. Passing all phases of Basic Training is a must. Some drop out in this process... Some are discharged in this process... Some people are intelligent enough but they cannot submit to the discipline and expectations of the Trainers. It is best they be weeded out here because in a hot situation on duty is too late to find out this is not for me!
Finally there comes the spit and polish of Graduation. The candidates shine like new coins. They literally glisten... Even their eyes and their faces shine!!!
Graduation is just a stepping stone, but a major achievement... Then comes more field training or more specialized training. In Basic School we tell you all about the horse (the job you are expected to perform)... After Basic School we teach you how to ride the horse(how to perform the job). We take you through the process of performing the job under watchful, experienced eyes. The Field Trainer watches and corrects the new member of this huge fraternity of Peace Keepers. If the new member does well under these watchful eyes, the new member is welcomed into the full fledged community of Peace Keepers... But the wise rookie well knows that there is much more to learn even while doing the job. The wise rookie becomes even more wise when he learns that this job requires that he continue to learn every day for the rest of his life if he is going to be successful in peace keeping, surviving the job and having a private, personal life as well.
There are numerous schools that have been established to train Peace Keepers. Each branch of the military has it's own training facilities and schools of higher education for teaching those who rise to the top of proficiency and want to be leaders. Each law enforcement jurisdiction and department has it's own schools for training and there are many specialized schools for those who continue to improve and want to specialize including schools for training those who rise to leadership positions. Many high schools have ROTC programs led by military personnel and Police Cadet or Police Explorer Programs led by police personnel.
The foundation for all of these schools is DISCIPLINE! Discipline is the foundation of all successful people. The level of self discipline determines the level one will rise to in life and in any profession or endeavor... Life in any profession is no more demanding than life in the profession of being a Peace Keeper and a Peace Maker for all the rest of humanity wherever you are. If one cannot control, guide and self-start themselves then they will not last at trying to be a Peace Keeper... The job will chew them up and spit them out.
DISCIPLINE also includes, as part of the definition, RESPECT for and willing submission to Authority. You may not like the supervisor above you but that person is the Supervisor. You may not like the decisions the Supervisor above you makes but that person is the Supervisor responsible for making decisions at their level... And responsible for carrying out the decisions that are made at a higher lever up the chain-of-command and passed down to them. You may not like rules, regulations, procedures, orders... But these are the very things that make peace keeping function properly and give the foundation to make Peace Keepers successful.
My careers in adult life all have involved unbendable discipline... Engineering... Peace Keeping... Instructing... Giving training and correction to others in the disciplines of engineering, peace keeping... And giving training in living daily life as taught by the Master, my Eternal Captain, and by the experience I have gained in the process. None of these endeavors works well without the foundation of self discipline and being willing to receive instruction, correction and discipline from others to learn what they know that will contribute to your success in life and in your job.
The Bible says that God, my Commander-In-Chief, is not a God of confusion but of order and discipline. Jesus, my Eternal Captain, took on twelve men to train them in what He wanted them to learn and convey to others. First they were Disciples under His discipline... After they learned and were empowered to give the message they were Apostles, meaning one sent with a message. In the spiritual realm I have been a Disciple, an Evangelist (one sent to tell others who have never heard), a Teacher, an Assistant Pastor ( one who works under the guidance and authority of a Pastor), a Pastor (One who works by and under the authority of the Lord Himself and His written word to guide those who want to gather together with those of like mind. One of his jobs is also to see to the training of Disciples) and I have been a Discipleship Instructor.
In peace keeping I have been a recruit, a rookie, a law enforcer, an Investigator, a Traffic Safety Officer/Community Service Officer, a Trainer/Instructor, a Supervisor, an Administrator/Director. Also, I have overseen budgets and supplies.
In the business realm I have been a contractor, a trouble-shooter, a service technician, a counselor, an appraiser, a salesman... and self-employed in several fields.
I have worked alone... I have worked for others... I have worked with others...
One lesson I learned very early from my mother and father was self discipline. If I watched out for myself to do right as I had been instructed, they would not have to discipline me. I learned that if you know what is right to do but do not do it, it will cost you something that you do not wish to pay!!! Then I learned the same from the Bible...
(1) LORD, WHO shall dwell [temporarily] in Your tabernacle? Who shall dwell [permanently] on Your holy hill?
(2) He who walks and lives uprightly and blamelessly, who works rightness and justice and speaks and thinks the truth in his heart,
(3) He who does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his friend, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
(4) In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honors those who fear the Lord (who revere and worship Him); he swears to his own hurt and does not change; (His word is his oath and he never changes in relation to his word no matter how he feels, whether it is convenient or not, whether any one else likes it or not, whether he likes it or not...)
(5) [He who] does not put out his money for interest [to one of his own people] and who will not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.
Luke 9:23, And He (Jesus) said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily (whatever his duty is in all that he does) and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].
It all means self discipline and doing right... And that is the foundation of success for the Peace Keeper, and for anyone else... But definitely for those in Peace Keeping... Learning what is the correct thing to do and making a prior commitment to doing it as you have opportunity and be looking for the opportunities.
If this sounds too preachy, please remember that I am both an Instructor and a Preacher... I have done this by inspiration because I see the need for it every time I work any of my jobs or professions. If I reach just one to help them, it will be worth making others irritated or causing them to stop reading. Long ago I learned that the literature that I read that challenged me or made me upset was usually good for me if I would stick it out until I read the whole book , message or article. I hope, as you have read this far, that you are encouraged and see where it might benefit you in some way.
I love you all. My Commander-In-Chief and I very deeply and eternally appreciate who you are and what you have done and are doing for all the rest of us. Someday, some of you will be doing this same thing for all the ones who will come along behind you. Learn well and convey that learning to the best of your ability... That is all that can be expected of any of us.
"BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!" ALWAYS be alert, watchful, suspicious and wary. Take the very best care of you as you care for and about others. See to the strength and well being of your spirit as well as all the rest of you. Your spirit must be strong for you to be successful.
Call or write if I may be of any service... Or if you just want to encourage me... Feedback encourages all who write... It helps to know we are reaching someone who reads the message.
My daughter had the skin graft on Tuesday. As of yesterday it was all pink and had all adhered with no visible problems. She will not be home until Monday. We had quite an adventure last week. On Saturday when the dressing was removed it was full of black stain and infection with a very hard, sensitive area at the right end of the wound.
Sunday night there was no infection and very little black stain. On Monday night there was no black stain and no infection. The hardness was gone and the wound had reduced in size dramatically over the three nights. The surgeon told me when he took the dressing off in the OR to do the skin graft that he and his staff were absolutely astonished at how much the wound had closed and how beautiful was its condition. He said he wished there had been a camera to show his astonishment. Thank you for all of your prayers and concern over all of these months. Now our next battle is to get relief from the leg swelling and then relief from the degeneration in her lower back.
Life goes on. Sometimes it is thrilling... Sometimes it is the hardest of work. It is always life and we are in this thing called life to be productive, successful and happy if we learn how to do it right. Life is those things which happen to you while you are making plans.
As it has always been... So it still is!!!
"VICTORIOUS WARRIORS WIN FIRST...
AND THEN GO TO WAR,
WHILE DEFEATED WARRIORS GO TO WAR FIRST...
AND THEN SEEK TO WIN." Sun tzu
Training and practice are everything!
Without them, the best results are not obtained!
ONLY LIVE PEACE KEEPERS SEE THE VICTORY!!!
THEY SEE IT ONLY BECAUSE OTHERS HAVE MADE THEIR ETERNAL
PAYMENTS OF SWEAT, BLOOD, TEARS AND LIFE FOR THAT VICTORY!
WITH THE DEEPEST OF APPRECIATION AND RESPECT...
BE BLESSED (A CONDITION TO BE ENVIED)...
BE SUCCESSFUL... BE SAFE...
[My injunction to be safe means doing all you know to do as you do your job... it means
doing the best you can with what you have where you are using all your faculties to get
the job done well and with good results conquering evil and keeping or restoring peace...
it does not mean to avoid duty and honor... it does not mean to cower or allow anything
to hinder you in the process of duty according to rules, law and ethics... it means that if
the demand takes your earthly life you destroy as much evil as possible in the process.
That is my definition of being safe... doing the best you can and leaving the rest to God
or whomever else is responsible... being best employed for the sake and protection of all
the things and people that we hold dear.]
I represent, write for... and give the credit to:
God the Father (my Commander-in-Chief),
Jesus Christ the Son (the Eternal Captain of my life) and
the Holy Spirit of God (my Eternal Teacher, Keeper and Guide).
In Christ I live... with Him and for you I serve...
And I rejoice that you are there whether you are Christian or not...
For God, Country and the Peace Keeper...
D. R. (Don) Staton, Chaplain to Peace Keepers,
Surviving Peace Keeper,
Virginia State Police Alumni,
RETIRED Police Officer Virginia Beach Police Dept.,
Senior Chaplain and Administrative Chaplain VBPD,
DCJS Certified Police Instructor,
Community Service Officer (Traffic Safety) VBPD
Blackwater Alumni
757-431-2190, chpln1@verizon.net
3709 Beacon Lane, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
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