Why You're Not Happy

If you've been around me for any length of time you know that I love to talk about purpose.  I truly believe that each person has their place in this world; a Purpose.  Your place is where you are excited about what you are doing.  Where you have a passion about your life, your family, and your job.  This place is where you love getting up in the morning, going to work, look forward to time with friends and family and spending time in your community.  

Is this not you?  Do you have trouble getting out of bed, going to work, dealing with your spouse?  Maybe you are just in a slump? Or maybe you have no idea of your purpose.  

What IS your purpose?  You have one, I promise.  Have you ever sat down and tried to put it on paper (to answer the question, "Why am I here on this planet")?  Most people go through life without a clue of why they are here.  It is my belief that your purpose fits hand-in-glove with the things you are passionate about.  Each of us have gifts and talents that make us unique.  Those attributes shape our purpose.  

Having a reason (a.k.a. purpose) for why you are doing something makes all the difference in the world.  Think of it this way: Understanding the purpose of a mission increases morale and focus for the unit.  Of course, no mission is accomplished without obstacles, expected and unexpected.  Still, understanding why you are doing that mission makes those obstacles more easily navigable especially if you are passionate about completing the mission.  Understanding purpose for your life does the same thing.  Spirits are higher, focus is greater, and trouble can either be avoided or more easily navigable.

One might say, "Chaplain, this sounds good.  A real light and fluffy 'kumbaya' type of deal.  I would love to live that type of life.  But my reality is that I hate my job, my family is a mess, and I generally don't like my life."  I would tell you, "fine, change it."  It is hard to implement a new game plan during the game.  But if you are loosing by playing with no plan, the only way to win is to make a plan and implement.  Finding your purpose not only changes how you play the game, it also changes the game!  I get to speak with a lot of people who try to find contentment in the wrong things, are unhealthy in their relationships, have out of whack priorities, and suffer from poor decisions in their past.  Knowing your purpose doesn't just change how you approach these challenges, it changes the challenge!

So WHY are you not happy? If you aren't, I would say you don't understand your purpose.  As I love to tell everyone, I'm here for you.  Let me help.  Find me during drill or call me anytime.  

HERE'S A GOOD START: If you would like to have a deeper discussion about purpose, come to chapel service 1100 on Sunday of Drill (CCC Breakroom).  We will be specifically addressing what the Bible says about your purpose.   Have a great week!

-CH Brawner 

Get to know know your Chaplain

Here are 24 things that you for sure don't know about your Chaplain.  Most of these I might not admit in conversation :)

1. I am an All American swimmer. I actually won the 50 Free at Nationals my Freshman year in college.
2. I was dyslexic (guess technically I still am). In the 3rd grade I had to re-learn all of my letters and sounds. It’s kinda weird. I can write my name upside down and backwards still with little effort. 
3. I’m a Pilot. I have my Private, Instrument, Commercial, Multi-Engine, CFI, CFII ratings and about 2000 hours of flight time.
4. My middle name is Wesley. Named after my great uncle (dad’s side) who owned a dairy, radio station, and insurance company all at the same time…I think we would have been close.
5. Everyone knows I call my wife Al. What you don’t know is that I named her Big Al the summer we met (was part of my humor...this cute little coed named like a large short order cook) At some point we just dropped the Big…smartest thing I ever did…
6. I’m in the National Guard as a Chaplain (if you didn't know this we really need to talk). 
7. I’m currently writing a book on parenting. 
8. I graduated from undergrad in 3 years.
9. When I got married in June ‘96 I was 6’4” 165lbs. In Dec ‘96, I was 6’4” 205lbs. All of this while training for a marathon. OOPS.
10. In high school I won an essay contest. The prize was a free trip to DC with some other kids that won contests in their areas. Was one of the coolest things I’ve done.
11. My senior year of high school I won best of show in the Central Ozarks Conference art show with a watercolor painting of a poinsettia.
12. I don’t like eating cheese by itself…to the point it almost makes me gag. However, I do like cheese melted on something…anything.
13. I have a cousin that is 9 days younger than me that I’m pretty close with. He was in the Arkansas state penn for over 10 years. He is an unbelievable guy. Goes to show how important a good home life is. He is out now and doing great.
14. In the 8th grade I got a perm. No real reason…just did it…
15. My dad was a defensive end for the University of Arkansas from ‘69 to ’71. He was asked to free agent for the bears.
16. My brother was an All American Kicker at MSU. He went to camp at Green Bay.
17. In high school my friend Mike Smalley and I swam across Taneycomo. Later that summer we were both baptized in Taneycomo…by his father…who was wearing a wetsuit. 
18. Both of my grand fathers were in WWII. My Father’s Father literally stormed the beach at Normandy and was in the Battle of the Bulge. My Mother’s Father was on a ship in the Pacific. As a side note my mother's father wrote a letter to my grandmother while in boot camp asking her to come to San Diego to marry him before he was shipped off. She did.
19. I like to cook…aaaannnnd sew. 
20. I once owned a Bellhop company in Branson that supplied bellhops to hotels in town that had bus tours. That company still exists today.
21. I once drove from Dallas, TX to NYC with 3 of my best friends to see the ball drop on new year’s eve. It was so cold we ended up staying in Brooklyn watching it on TV. The next day we drove straight from NYC back to Dallas stopping in Springfield to take a “wake up” shower.
22. Probably my favorite thing in the world to eat is my Great Grandmother Owen’s Chocolate chip cookies. She would make them and store them in coffee cans. Right behind that is my Granny Brawner’s fried French Toast.
23. Yes, I am truly from Arkansas. So much so that my Great Great Grandmother on my Mom’s side had a spittoon by her stove and used it while she cooked. There is a picture of this somewhere…
24. My sister is an actor. She has been on Law and Order, Ed, done a sketch with John Daily and many other wonderful feats!