Ouch! and Does anyone know how this works?

Well the second week is done and now there are only three more to go. My Senior Chief has really backed off this last week, but we all have a sneaky suspicion that he is coming back with a vengeance next week. Plus we all know at some time we have to go to the sand pit (what looks to be an old sand volleyball court that the Canadian Geese have been making use of). We owe our Senior Chief 210 8 count body builders for calling him "sir" 21 times since we have been here. It is hard to not say sir with someone who has authority over you yelling in your face or asking you a question, especially if you grew up in the south. But we have to learn that even if we are younger than alot of enlisted sailors we are still officers, and officers don't call enlisted people sir, especially chief's because "they work for a living" or at least that is what they say.

Ok so over a two day period last week I got 9 immunization shots. I don't really mind shots but after 9 it REALLY starts to hurt. My shoulder is still throbbing in pain, but now I should be immune to everything.

One part about ODS that is interesting is that every other student here is going directly from ODS to their ultimate duty station to begin work, except for the chaplains. Chaplains leave ODS and go to the other side of the base here in Newport and attend the Navy Chaplain School, which is a 7 week program if you are going to active duty. The crazy thing is that even though there are about 25 chaplains and chaplain candidates in my ODS class none of use have any idea about the details of Chaplain School. When can we report? Can we just go over the same day we graduate from ODS? Where are we staying? Do we get BAH or Per Diem? Do we get the full Per Diem rate, if we get it? Is Chaplain School like ODS? Does the Gunny yell at us all the time and "drop us"? None of us who are about to go through this have been given any information. We have all been reduced to talking about that guy we know who went through the school a year ago or two years ago, but all our second hand knowledge seems to be conflicting, so what is right? I guess this is the beginning of my military life, no one is going to give you the information you need you have to go from office to office, from call to call to get what you need.

It has been an interesting experience to talk to the other chaplains who are here and get their perspective on things. We are all under the "Christian" classification, but their are alot of traditions and theologies represented. I am eternally grateful for the grace I have received through the cross and that God has given me a desire to do nothing but exult Him through His word. Providentially I have a Father who has always directed me in that way and continues to do so even when we disagree on certain things. I have a loving and caring wife who is never afraid to challenge me and will let me know if I get away from the foundation of the Word, and I have wonderful friends who have driven me to deep thinking and hard work when it comes to taking the truth of scripture and preaching it in a clear, passionate way. (yes, especially you Chris....and Mike, Josh, Joe, Brian, and Zach)

I love you all.
God Bless
Joshua Earls

Romans 8:31-34
31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?