US Air Force Chaplain, Major General Steven Schaick, on II Samuel 9-11 – “Mephibosheth: Lessons from the Bible’s Unlikely Friend"

Mark is both delighted and highly honored to welcome Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Steven A. Schaick, the US Air Force Chief of Chaplains, to the podcast this week. In his role, Chaplain Schaick is the senior pastor for more than 685,000 active duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces serving in the U.S. and overseas. He leads a Department of the Air Force Chaplain Corps of approximately 2,000 chaplains and religious affairs Airmen from the active duty and Air Reserve components. The passage he has chosen to discuss with Mark is II Samuel 9-11. Chaplain Schaick’s summary of the passage reaches back to its roots in an earlier chapter in II Samuel that introduces listeners to the relatively little known Mephibosheth, and the similarity of his story to that of Joseph. He and Mark explore the notion of people who have been ‘dropped’, their tendency to allow themselves to be defined by their setbacks, and the Chaplain’s strategies for encouraging all to focus upon their blessings in life. He finishes up the podcast by offering a glimpse of how chaplaincy works with so many service members of different faiths, and, of course, the lessons he has learned about humankind. Brimming with wisdom and insight, Chaplain Schaick’s analysis of this fascinating passage here today reveals its direct relevance not only to his noble ministry but to society as whole, particularly during the pandemic, offering enlightening information and valuable advice for us all in the process. Episode Highlights: · Chaplain Schaick’s summary of the passage, the character introduced in it, and why it’s important for him · The roots of the story in II Samuel 4 and Mephibosheth · This story’s similarity to Joseph’s story · People who have been ‘dropped’ · Focusing on what we can be grateful for even during the pandemic · Clinging to negative experiences · Ministering to those defining themselves by their setbacks · The value of journaling and finding blessings throughout the day · How chaplaincy works among so many people of different faiths · The lessons abou