The New Beginning

Well… Here we go.
Many people have asked me about my future whether it be Marine related or not. Just so you know, I have enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and that is my immediate future. Career? Not a hundred percent sure yet but I’m here to stay for a while.

It was back in April that I signed my papers and swore in at MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) in Columbia, SC. The exact date was April 9, 2011. My intentions were to join active duty with my MOS (Military Occupational Specialty or job) being one of the following three: Combat Camera, Intelligence, Communications. Now you’re probably thinking, “Wait, did Jai graduate from Bob Jones already?” The answer to that question is no. I have about a year or so left since I would technically be a senior this semester and changed my major to Graphic Design. In the long run I want to become an officer and going active duty would help me accomplish that as far as money and experience goes. So needless to say I would finish school eventually just not at Bob Jones. So this posed a problem… BJU credits do not all transfer to other schools so my schooling would probably last longer (not to mention not all schools offer both NROTC and Graphic Design). So my plan was to transfer to Clearwater Christian College down in Clearwater, FL where I would be apart of a program that allows me to go to any school that offers NROTC (Which Clearwater offers). A problem with transferring is that CCC does not offer a Graphic Design degree meaning I would be switching majors again; the price you have to pay to stay in a Christian college rather than going straight to a state college I guess. So no worries people… I definitely plan on finishing school.

The Lord has put me through a lot of trials over the course of this last year, but, my, the lessons have been sweet. Whether it was anywhere from trying to figure out school payments, whether to stick with my major, my parents splitting up, going through a four-month process to get back to camp this summer, or remembering the joy that only comes from Christ…. It’s been trying but it’s through the trials that we learn the most. A good friend of mine once said, “If you’re not in a trial there’s something wrong.” James even tells us in his book that we can “rejoice when ye fall into divers temptations.” We can take joy in the trials because our God is sovereign. That phrase there should be enough to where we can say, “yes sir” and walk away, but yet we seek more and we can find it in His Word. “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth…” (1 Peter 1:7). Our trials shape us for eternity whether we fail or not, but material things like gold or BMWs will surely perish. This then brings up the question: what are we living for? Are our minds set on things eternal or temporal? Or let’s phrase it a different way: when we reach a point of decision do we choose to please God or please self? Let’s live in light of eternity.

Which is how I started praying about the Marines. It started out as, “what do I want out of joining the Marine Corps?” which then turned my heart around to say, “to give God the glory and use the field of military life as a missions outreach to impact those around me for eternity.” We read in 1 Cor. 6 that we are instructed to plant and to water and the Lord will give the increase. So that would be what I do… Plant where I can, water where I can, and just live the life that best exemplifies Christ. The Lord will surely give the increase in His time. That’s an easy phrase to say (His time) but we are impatient and still try to take control ourselves. Why are we so dumb? Haha.

So what’s the next step? Well, to save you from boredom and give you a break from this novel I will write again soon. This is the first big update of many but sadly is still incomplete. Give me some feedback as to what you want to know. I’ve got things to say… To God be the glory great things He has done and is continuing to do.

I leave you with my favorite verse; Phil 4:4

rejoice.always