CWO James Levon Williams

From the Times Record News, Tuesday, September 15, 2009:

"CWO James L. Williams went to be with the Lord on Sunday, September 13, 2009 in Wichita Falls. Services have been scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at Hampton Vaughan Chapel officiated by Dr. James L. Williams, Jr. Interment with military honors will follow at Crestview Memorial Park.

Mr. Williams was born on September 9, 1919 in Carthage, MS. A WWII era veteran, he proudly served his country for thirty years, retiring from the USAF in 1970 as a W4. After his military career, Mr. Williams went on to work for the Department of Employment Security in Las Vegas, NV and Shreveport, LA. He and his wife often lived overseas and he and she continued to travel in retirement. A dedicated Christian and lifelong deacon, he was a loving father and devoted husband.

Mr. Williams leaves behind his wife of sixty-seven years, Alice Hodge Williams; son, James (Lee) Williams, Jr. and wife Deanna; daughter, Jeannette C. Vandestreek; nine grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren."

I love my grandpa and I will miss him, and I am glad to know that he is home with Jesus. The picture above is of my father and I saying goodbye to a great American and the pater familius of the Williams clan. Godspeed, Grandpa.

New Life on COL Freedom, WI

Three weeks at Ft. McCoy, WI does not mean the world stops turning. The pressures of life seem more acute because we can't fix things at home while we are focused on training. While I was there, I was able to share with many Soldiers the hope of trusting Jesus Christ for answers to these difficult problems. Four Soldiers accepted Him as their Savior, one rededicated his life to Christ, and two followed Him in believer's baptism! Hallelujah! I love working for the King!
Pro Deo et Patria

On The Road Again

Ft. McCoy, WI: I spent the last two weeks at Ft. Jackson, SC for my career course and I am going to the pre-command course this week to learn more about commanding a detachment. I am looking forward to the opportunity to be light and salt to a class of company grade officers! Though things have started a little rough, I am looking for where God can use me, and that's always better than inviting people to a pity party!

I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret [of being content] —whether well-fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me. ~Philippians 4:12-13

Marjorie Eleanor Sawyers (1935-2009)

Marjorie "Grammie" Sawyers was a loving, sentimental New Englander with a passion for her family; especially her Scottish and American heritage. My first introduction to this interest was the annual retelling of the original settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and Dr. Samuel Fuller, the doctor on the Mayflower. Marjorie was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution by virtue of her verfied relation to Dr.Fuller.

She also traced her ancestry to Robert the Bruce and the Royal Stewart Clan, and was a member of the St. Andrew's Society of New Hampshire. Her last present to me was a necktie from Scotland By The Yard made from Stewart Hunting Tartan. This tartan is the official tartan of anyone who does not have a tartan. My last present to her, before she moved to hospice and the last time I saw her, was to share the album of my military heritage that my mother put together for me this Christmas. She was a wonderful lady who always told me how proud she was of me and loved my wife and children lavishly. I will miss her laugh and her New England accent.

Commander Williams

Tomorrow I will drill with my new unit as the detachment commander of the 104th Chaplain Detachment! I was assigned to this position because it is administratively attached to my unit, and there were no other chaplains in my unit to take the job. Really though, I believe that this is just another part of God's plan to use me in the Army training Soldiers to care for the hearts and souls of our nation's service members. I am excited and will do my best, with God's help!

MARK WILLIAMS
CPT, CH, USAR
COMMANDING

Unconditional Love

This Thursday, Christians around the world will celebrate the love of God the Father and Jesus Christ as they initiated their plan to offer salvation and reconciliation to all peoples of the earth for all time. God sacrificed His only Son...

John 3:16-17 (NKJV) 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

...and Jesus sacrificed His rights as God to become a man, die in our place, and pay for our sins...

Philippians 2:5-11 (NKJV) 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

...all for love.

We have an innate desire to find this unconditional, "true" love during our lifetime in relationships with others. Though I will argue that a personal relationship with Jesus is the most important and fulfilling one you can have, I want to write a bit about another very important lifelong personal relationship.

When a man and woman are married, they are joined together as one flesh. This is accomplished legally and is symbolized by sharing a last name, physically when they conjugate their marriage, and emotionally.

Mark 10:5-9 (NKJV) 5 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. 6 But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh’ ; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Trying to separate two people once they have been woven together in marriage would be like trying to separate your arm from your torso. Can it be done? Yes. Will it hurt? Very much so! Will there be a scar left on your body? Only if you are alive.

I have counseled with many Soldiers who are struggling to make their marriage work. They are trying very hard to do the right thing, yet there seems to be no progress toward reconciliation. I counsel these men and women to focus on the one thing they can change: themselves. You cannot change your spouse, and separating from them will only make things worse for everyone (with the exception of leaving an abusive partner). Jesus loved us so much that He suffered the most painful death humans have ever been able to inflict on another person. Can you love your spouse enough to keep trying no matter what response you receive?

I challenge you to look into the Love Dare (see links below). This is about you, and how changing your perspective will impact your relationship for the better. If you are at the end of your rope, you have nothing to lose. If you want to get closer to your spouse, get closer to God.

Advent Activities

I found a cool website to help celebrate the season of Advent leading up to Christmas! Check it out at: http://www.teachingmom.com/features/advent.html.

Also found a neat activity to remind us of the "Reason for the Season."
Merry Christmas!

Bring some living greenery (pine boughs or holly, a winter flower, a Christmas cactus) into your home today. Remind yourself that our Christian forebears saw the color green as a sign of God's unending love and hope.

He is here!

Asher James Williams was born at 4:29 a.m. on November 24, 2008! He outweighed his largest sibling by 11 oz., coming in at a whopping 10 lbs. 9 oz., and 22 inches long. He is doing great, as is momma (she pushed for 15 minutes). He is named for the 2nd son of Jacob (Genesis 30:12-13) and his name in Hebrew means "filled with happiness." His middle name is in honor of his grandfather, James Levon Williams, Jr.
I will post more pictures on my website (http://www.wonderfulwilliams.com/) in the next few days. Follow the link to our gallery. I am thankful for a healthy baby and all of my friends and family who have been/are supporting us during this exciting season in the life of our family. Praise the Lord!

Waiting for Asher James

I am in the office today after telecommuting yesterday to be home with Sheri. She is at her women's Bible study and we have decided to go about our lives, as "a watched pot never boils." I spoke with CH Sachs yesterday and he gave me some wisdom from the Hebrew, which roughly translated says, "may the birth come at the perfect time." We are all excited to meet this new little man, and I will post pictures very soon!

Go Army, Beat Navy!

On December 6, 2008, the Army Golden Knights and the Navy Midshipmen will meet on the gridiron at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field for the 109th Army Navy football game. This rivalry began in 1890 and currently stands at 52-49-7 in favor of the Navy.

Did you know? The reason that the games are played in Philadelphia is because the two academies were forbidden to play away games from 1894 to 1898 because of an arguement between a Rear Admiral and a Brigadier General that almost resulted in a duel! Philly was chosen as neutral ground for the game in 1899 and has been played there 81 times.

CBS will air the game at 12:00 EST. GO ARMY! BEAT NAVY!
http://www.phillylovesarmynavy.com/