Overcome!

Between Revelations Chapters Two and Three Christ tells us to overcome seven times. He reminds us through a message that is being sent to the seven churches that it is imperative that we overcome. He even reminds the two churches that had no criticism from Him to overcome; the church in Smyrna and the church in Philadelphia. If there is a group of people that should be able overcome anything that is thrown at them, it's the church body because we hold the keys and the ability to overcome; God's Word. We just need to know where to look. And I believe that every Bible believing Christian has the ability to overcome.
When most people hear the word overcome they immediately want to listen. There are some that just tune out as soon as they hear the word. Then a large number of those who listen eventually start to be turned off of it maybe because they aren't receiving the tools to overcome. Or maybe they receive the tools and still feel as if they have failed. BUT, I'm here to tell you that you can succeed in overcoming. Whether you are a skeptic or whether you've tried the tools and feel like you've failed, I KNOW that you can do it. Everyone one of us has that ability to overcome what ever challenges it is that we face. God has built us with that drive to be victorious in the face of adversity.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me or leave a message.

Resilience

 
The photo shown above is the photo of the vehicle I was in on October 22, 2007. It was this very moment that changed my life. A large I.E.D, 150 lbs. of unidentified bulk explosive, detonated directly under the seat that I was seated in. Though the armor of that truck separated myself and the blast I still took the brunt of that explosion. I was unconscious for several minutes. When I woke from that darkness everything about me was changed.

As a Combat Engineer on my third deployment this wasn't the first time that I had experienced a blast, but it was the largest that I had received. The combination of past blast and that last was devastating to my body. Things that were affected were my balance, memory, emotions, and speech... among many other things. After evaluation it was determined that I needed to go to Walter Reed to receive further treatment. Indeed, I went to Walter Reed and was in their care for about five months. During that five months I received occupational therapy, speech therapy, and pain management. It was a very challenging time.

When I arrived back at my home station when I left Walter Reed there were other challenges that I faced. Along with receiving more therapy I started the process of a early retirement due to my injuries. I didn't want this at all however, it was in the best interest of the Army and for myself. It took almost a year for this process to take place and then I was on my way home. When I left the Army I determined that if I can get a fit for duty status to return back to the Army that I could say that I truly had gotten better.

It wasn't that easy, but I was determined to recover because I didn't like feeling that way and wanted to be better. After being on retirement for three years I did get that fit for duty status and returned back to work to finish my contract that I had with the Army.

I am now leaving the Army with an honorable discharge. While back on Active Duty I deployed once again and received a lot of great training. There was a great consensus that because I rehabilitated to come back in the Army that I was a great candidate to receive the training of resilience. I received Master Resilience and other resilience training in order to teach others in the military how to be resilient for the many challenges that we face in the military.

My story of being "blown up" and being injured isn't a unique story especially in our time of being in a couple of different wars for over a decade. However, my story of overcoming those challenges and being resilient is unique. It is so unique that when I tell people that I re-entered the Army after an injury like that they are shocked.

Because I am a Christian with this story of overcoming I have been asked to speak at groups and churches. It is my fullest intention to start setting up my calendar to start speaking with groups and churches to encourage. You see, it wasn't me that had the ability to overcome this, it was my faith in Christ and His ability in my life.

There is so much going on right now in the world that people's resilience is fading. I believe that we as a whole were more resilient in times past, but with all that is going on it becomes harder and harder to keep that resilience. I believe that is why there are so many programs popping up all over to teach resilience. One of the biggest attractions right now is the resilience training in the Army and rightly so. Soldiers need it abundantly due to many different circumstances. Organizations all over are starting to also turn to this training as well. Again, rightly so because it is very important especially in our day and time.

I also believe that resilience is something that we as Christians have always known as overcoming. Resilience just has a better "ring" to it than when we say "overcome". Either way, whether we say resilience or overcome it is important that we learn or relearn these fundamentals that we used to know and it starts with Encouragement.

After some encouragement from a friend that told me that I really should use my story to encourage others I have decided to do just that. Starting mid October I will be available to start visiting churches and groups. If you would like for me to come speak at a church or with a group please email me and let me know. I am also working on a program that I believe is really important that will also help people to be more resilient and would also love to share that with people as well. If interested in having me to speak and/or teach this program let me know. My e-mail is rogergriggsministry@gmail.com.

Leadership

With all of the different leadership roles in any kind of work place there are some qualities that all leaders should have. It doesn't matter if the leader is in a large organization or leading a small team on a mission in Iraq these qualities will prove to be successful for the leader.

When called to be the leader; be the leader. Often times people will question their role as a leader and it causes wavering in that particular leader and the people they lead will lose confidence in them. When there is a lack of confidence on both sides the mission will fail. Numbers 27:18
A leader should never expect his/her people to do what he/she isn't willing to do. If a leader convinces those they are leading that the best course of action is to crawl through mud, that leader should also be willing to crawl through mud. This shows that the leader doesn't think of themselves higher than those he is leading. There will be much respect from those that the leader is leading. John 13:5
The leader should be someone that is humble. Humility can be one of the best qualities that a leader can possess and also displays that he/she is taking this role as a leader serious. John 13:5
A leader should always be someone that has diligence. Diligence is defined by perseverance. A leader should always be there for and with his men/women that they are leading. They can't expect the people they are leading to keep going if they can't keep going as well. Romans 12:8

There are many other qualities that a leader should possess, but these are the first few that any leader in any role should gain.