Content and Media
Items on this page come from our various communications and podcasts.
January 2024 Prayer Focus
Scripture makes it abundantly clear that the Christian life is a mission that takes place in a battle, and therefore, spiritual readiness is a necessity. And it’s not something that we can choose to ignore or try to opt out of because the consequences are deadly. We have an enemy in that battle, one that we must be aware of, whose tactics are designed to kill, steal, and destroy each one of us (John 10:10).
The Unseen Armor: Spiritual Resilience in the Face of Trauma
Physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding work. These aspects of military service, among others, seem impossible to overcome, yet over one million men and women navigate these challenges in service to our nation. How?
Emotional Intelligence: The Keystone of Leadership in High-Stakes Decision Making
EQ gives us the ability to see stuff that we normally wouldn’t as a leader. And for me as a leader, do I want to make a decision at night with no illumination and no NODs? Emotional intelligence is the NODs.
4 Practical Steps to Knowing Peace
Many of us genuinely long for God’s peace in our lives, but we aren’t experiencing it. We think this lack of peace just impacts us. That’s simply not true. Your lack of peace not only prevents you from living the life God desires for you, it negatively impacts your witness.
December 2023 Prayer Focus
The songs filling the air during the Christmas season cover the spectrum of human experience, words and structure capturing the expression of our heart and soul. It’s in song, as recorded in the Gospel of Luke about the events leading up to and including the birth of Christ, that the joy and wonder of what God has done for those looking for Him is expressed. It’s Mary, chosen by God to bear His Son, rejoicing in “God my Savior” (1:47), and Zachariah proclaiming “the tender mercy of God” because of the coming Messiah (v. 78) that his own son “will go before…to prepare His ways” (v. 76).
Part 3: Spiritual Formation: A Counter-Cultural Approach to Spiritual Renewal
Today, you’ll hear audio from the conclusion of a speaking session by CH(MAJ) Jake Snodgrass, USA, this past fall at Spring Canyon’s Aspentime Retreat.
Part 2: Spiritual Formation: A Counter-Cultural Approach to Spiritual Renewal
Today, you’ll hear audio from part 2 of a speaking session by CH(MAJ) Jake Snodgrass, USA, this past fall at Spring Canyon’s Aspentime Retreat.
Part 1: Spiritual Formation: A Counter-Cultural Approach to Spiritual Renewal
Today, you’ll hear audio from part 1 of a speaking session by CH(MAJ) Jake Snodgrass, USA, this past fall at Spring Canyon’s Aspentime Retreat.
November 2023 Prayer Focus
So much of Jesus’ earthly ministry centered around the dining table. He shared meals with His disciples, friends such as Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, and even some Pharisees. He also dined with various others, most notably the fringe of society, those tax collectors and sinners who the self-righteous religious leaders looked down upon (Mark 2:15-16).
“Practice what we profess”: Three leadership principles for the Christian in the military
How do you know if you are a good leader? Pulling from decades of experience in enlisted and commissioned roles, Col Jassen Bluto, USAF (Ret.), shares three leadership principles–trust, respect, and caring–that he believes answer that question.
October 2023 Prayer Focus
Against the unapproachable perfection of God, we don’t feel holy. Our words, actions, and attitudes as accomplished sinners speak volumes to that. And we aren’t holy—that is, in our own striving outside of Christ. Holiness is imputed to us only through Christ.
“Get your emotions to work for you”: Understanding emotional intelligence as a military leader
In this episode, Noble Gibbens defines emotional intelligence (EQ), shares experiences with leadership in and out of the military context, talks about David and other biblical examples of emotional intelligence, and more.
Prayer first: Putting OCF’s Pray-Discover-Obey model into practice in your life
Proverbs 16:3 says to “commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” This is God’s invitation for us to transfer our ideas, plans, and wants to Him so that He can make our plans firm. This is also the essence of OCF’s Pray-Discover-Obey model, which emphasizes prayer first, planning second, and obedient action third.
Fall 2023 Ministry News
A round-up of OCF Ministry News items from Connected newsletter.
OCF celebrates recent move to its new location in Colorado Springs
This year’s annual Colorado Springs OCF community-area picnic was more than just a gathering for food and fellowship; it was also a celebration of OCF’s move from its 40-year residence outside Denver to its new location in Colorado Springs.
“Camouflage Christian”: Living for Christ while serving in the military
So many conversations within the OCF community circle back to this question: How ought Christians in the military integrate their faith and profession? Rich Smith unpacks this question in today's episode.
September 2023 Prayer Focus
One thing is crystal clear from the onset, from Genesis to Revelation and all other 64 books of the Bible in between: pride is the problem, and not one of us is immune from its lofty, lying lure.
“Understand your why”: Following Jesus’ example of servant leadership
Ricky Preciado shares what he’s learned about servant leadership via his work with Chick-fil-a and recaps his visit with USS Somerset OCF.
Establishing “foundations of resilience”: Learning how to bounce back after trauma
What is resilience? Is there a correlation between resilience and the prevalence of suicide in the military? How do you know if you’ve become resilient? Col Tim Hale, USAF (Ret.), joins Crosspoint to address these and other questions.
August 2023 Prayer Focus
As marvelous as nature is, and as pleasant as our pursuit to experience its grandeur may be, it fades to nothingness if its Creator is not acknowledged, known, and pursued.
“Take the biblical viewpoint”: Reframing parents’ conversations with kids about sex
What impact does pornography addiction have on the rest of the family? Do kids experience a similar type of trauma when they learn parents struggle with a problematic sexual behavior? How should parents respond if and when they discover their children are viewing pornography?
“Struggling in silence”: Talking through God’s design for sexuality and the single woman
Dr. Joy Skarka shares her own story with pornography addiction and how God turned a source of brokenness, pain, and trauma into a passion through which she helps other women navigate similar struggles.
July 2023 Prayer Focus
When it comes to “freedom” or “liberty,” this definition is usually listed first in collective humanity’s book: the right to be able to do anything I want to do without restraint, expectations—or sometimes even consequences.
“Pursue at all costs”: Solutions, healing, & recovery from porn addiction
In part 4 of this series with Brent and Nicole Breining, we break down the three parts of addiction recovery and address why we can feel so discouraged by the time and effort required to heal, the value of understanding the nature of addiction regardless of personal experience, and the importance of addressing these sin struggles for the purpose of restoration rather than rejection.
“Rebuilding your beliefs on a foundation of truth”: Understanding betrayal trauma
In part 3 of this series with Brent and Nicole Breining, we discuss how the symptoms and effects of betrayal trauma present uniquely in different individuals, then Brent and Nicole share their personal experiences with betrayal trauma.
