Thundering Legion Podcast: Armed Forces Members Serving For Christ

https://linktr.ee/thunderinglegion At the age of 17, Brian Samuel enlisted into the Army National Guard out of patriotism and a desire to share the Gospel through military service. Growing up in a Christian family, he always felt the Lord calling him towards the Armed Forces, and he knew God would guide him no matter what hardships he faced. After spending time enlisted, Brian received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point where he currently is a Cadet, continuing to share the Gospel with those around him. Resources: Instagram: @brian.samuel76 Army West Point Officers' Christian Fellowship West Point Baptist Campus Ministry Episode Notes: Brian's background and how he ended up joining the military Brian's testimony and how this played into military service How Brian is applying faith in the military and future vision Biggest struggles Brian experienced while serving as a Christian How Brian has seen God working through your successes and failures in his military career What book of the Bible Bible goes to in times of difficulty How Brian makes spiritual growth a daily priority Advice to other believers in the military who are struggling Brian closes us in prayer REFLECT: What does this episode reveal about God's character? How does this episode cause us to see our need for a Savior? How can we apply lessons learned from this episode to our life? Follow Christ for this day! ✝️ "Choose this day whom you will serve..." ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭24‬:‭15‬ ‭✝️ "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." ‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬ Next steps: SHARE with another armed forces member FOLLOW Instagram, Facebook, Podcast https://linktr.ee/thunderinglegion

Today we will be digging into the Big Question "Why Do Evil and Suffering Exist?" Resources: Epicurean Paradox Metanarrative of Scripture Point 1: How do we define evil and suffering? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary lists several definitions: "the fact of suffering, misfortune, and wrongdoing… a cosmic evil force… something that brings sorrow, distress, or calamity… morally reprehensible : SINFUL, WICKED… arising from actual or imputed bad character or conduct." "Pain" … In summary: Evil is bad; evil is the opposite of good, and pain/suffering is the result of evil. Point 2: Why should anyone care about evil and suffering? Ultimately, evil and suffering are a reality of human life on earth. We all must decide how we will respond to this reality. In the end, how we respond to evil and suffering will determine our lives... We will either become the victim of evil & suffering, or we fight to overcome evil and grow through suffering. Point 3: We can observe evil and suffering in the human experience: 1) Humans are designed to feel pain. "congenital analgesia is an extraordinarily rare conditions in which a person cannot feel (and has never felt) physical pain... Because feeling physical pain is vital for survival, [this disorder] is extremely dangerous. It is common for people with the condition to die in childhood due to injuries or illnesses going unnoticed. Burn injuries are among the more common injuries." 2) Life begins with suffering, childbirth, and ends with suffering, death. Most have all lost loved ones and seen them suffer. 3) Turn on the news for 5 minutes… We see pandemics, shootings, theft, natural disasters. What is our natural response to these tragedies? Point 4: How do we separate good and evil? As defined earlier, evil and suffering are "not good"… so the definition of evil depends on our definition of good. So this drives us to ask the question "What is the definition of good which is our basis to judge evil and suffering?" Epicurean Paradox, linked in show notes: Life is basically pointless suffering unless God is 1) All-powerful 2) All-knowing 3) All-good/loving. If not, then God cannot prevent evil, doesn't know about evil, and/or perpetuates evil. If this is our view of God, we are simply helpless victims of evil. But an all-powerful, all-knowing, all-good God can and would have a master plan to destroy evil which we can hope and trust in despite evil and suffering. As we move towards the bottom of the logic flowchart: "Could God have created a universe with free will but without evil?" If yes, then why didn't he? My personal answer: If God created everything, God created relationship. Can a genuine, free relationship exist without a genuine, free choice to deny that relationship? My logical answer to this question: God chose to allow evil to exist temporarily in order to give people the opportunity to seek relationship with Him by free choice, BUT has always had a plan to destroy evil. Therefore, God is good even though evil exists. Point 5: What does the Bible have to say about this question? Metanarrative of Scripture is Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration. The greater story that ties the entire Bible together as God's greater story. Creation: In Genesis 1-2, we read about creation being "good… good… good… then very good (mankind)… then the first thing that's not good (isolation)… Adam and Eve exist in a state of blissful ignorance and perfect relationship with God in Garden of Eden… Fall: BUT, in Genesis 3 we read of evil's existence in the garden… Serpent tempts and Adam and Eve break God's command… Response is denial of responsibility, blaming, excuses… Eternal life and newfound human capacity for evil cannot coexist, so God places limits on Adam and Eve via physical death… Eve cursed with painful childbearing… Adam cursed with endless toil… Both expelled from Garden of Eden and humanity begins to devolve quickly into broken relationships via polygamy and murder, suffering via natural disasters and disease, and spirital death via evil hearts. Redemption: From Genesis 3 to Jesus' 1st coming, we see that God had always intended to redeem humanity (Genesis 3:15: [Eve's offspring] he will crush [evil's] head, and you will strike his heel." as prophesied throughout the Old Testament) and fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection. Restoration: Jesus' 1st coming – Jesus' 2nd coming. Promised in Revelation for those who trust in God: New heaven and earth free of sin, evil and suffering. Point 6: How can we practically apply what we've learned about evil and suffering to everyday life? When we are confronted with evil and suffering of the world, we can play the victim and blame others, or fight against evil… But how do we fight against evil without reciprocating evil? Answer: Christ's perfect life, death, and resurrection allows us by faith to break the cycle of sin through grace. We are no longer slaves to responding to sin with more sin, but can now respon

https://linktr.ee/thunderinglegion Today we interview Adrian Chuquillangui: a husband, father, Coast Guard officer, Salesforce Professional, and Real Estate Investor. We discuss Adrian's story, talk about passive real estate investing, and shares his free course. Resources: Adrian's Real Estate Business - St. Joseph Capital O Club Podcast Interview with Adrian Department of Defense Skillbridge Program US Chamber of Commerce - Hiring Our Heroes Episode Notes: Adrian's background and how he ended up joining the military Adrian's testimony and how this played into military service How Adrian is applying faith in the military and future vision Biggest struggles Adrian experienced while serving as a Christian How Adrian has seen God working through your successes and failures in his military career What book of the Bible Sam goes to in times of difficulty How Adrian makes spiritual growth a daily priority Advice to other believers in the military who are struggling Adrian closes us in prayer REFLECT: What does this episode reveal about God's character? How does this episode cause us to see our need for a Savior? How can we apply lessons learned from this episode to our life? Follow Christ for this day! ✝️ "Choose this day whom you will serve..." ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭24‬:‭15‬ ‭✝️ "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." ‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬ Next steps: SHARE with another armed forces member FOLLOW Instagram, Facebook, Podcast JOIN our online Slack community https://linktr.ee/thunderinglegion

https://linktr.ee/thunderinglegion Big Question: Can War Be Just? Today we will wrestle with the morality of warfare. On episode 3, we wrestled with the question "should Christians be in the armed forces?" which dealt with how a citizen of God's kingdom can also be a citizen of a nation, agent of that nation's armed forces, and bear the sword for that nation (reference Romans 13:4). This episode wrestled with these questions on an individual/tactical level. So as we move up into the operational/strategic level, how do we think about warfare? Today we will wrestle with the question "Can any war be just?" Ecclesiastes chapter 3 says "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens… a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace." The Bible takes a practical view of our sin fallen world, although the general arc of the Bible moves towards peace in the culmination of the person of Jesus (reference Truth Over Tribe series linked in Episode 3 show notes) Ancient philosophers from Egypt, China, India, Greece, and Rome wrestled with ethics of warfare. These schools of thought likely impacted later thinking on ethics of war. "Christian theory of the Just War begins around the time of Augustine of Hippo. The Just War theory, with some amendments, is still used by Christians today as a guide to whether or not a war can be justified." Wikipedia First off, how does our culture define is justice? Marriem-Webster "the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims the quality of being just, impartial, or fair. Just War Theory On one side lies pacifism. There is no such thing as a just war. War is never justified, therefore we should never choose to engage in war. Pacifism fails to address human nature, which is inherently sinful, and humans are bound to fall into conflict from their sinfulness. On the other side is militarism/nationalism. This position would argue that war is simply a tool to use as a nation, whenever the benefits of war outweigh the cause. I'd argue that Nazi Germany and Switzerland both practice this war theory. In the middle is Just War Theory. How does the Bible define justice? Isaiah 51:5 "My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations." Psalm 37:27-29 "Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever. For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed ; the offspring of the wicked will perish. The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever." Leviticus 19:15 "Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly." Zechariah 7:9 "This is what the LORD Almighty said: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.'" Isaiah 1:17 "Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow." Christian scholars agree that, to be considered just, a war must meet several jus ad bellum requirements. The four most important conditions are: (1) the war must be declared openly by a proper sovereign authority (e.g., the governing authority of the political community in question); (2) the war must have a just cause (e.g., defense of the common good or a response to grave injustice); (3) the warring state must have just intentions (i.e., it must wage the war for justice rather than for self-interest); and (4) the aim of the war must be the establishment of a just peace. Since the end of World War II it has become customary to add three other conditions: (1) there must be a reasonable chance of success; (2) force must be used as a last resort; and (3) the expected benefits of war must outweigh its anticipated costs. Not every nation subscribes to Just War Theory, and countries often sidestep it when it conflicts with their military objectives. One challenge to Just War Theory is that the criteria are too vague and easily twisted/rationalized. But we as Christians believe that God will judge everyone according to the motives of their hearts. Hebrews 10:30 says "For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people."" Example: Putin has justified the invasion of Ukraine as self-defense of Russia, but these claims have been widely condemned by the UN and internationally. Lots of talk on war crimes in the news lately Russians have been accused of committing war crimes and atrocities in Ukraine lately. What is a War Crime? Britannica Just war theory led to formation of international law and rules of engagement. Examples include the United Nations, Geneva Conventions, Hague Convention, and Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC). Three principles established by the

https://linktr.ee/thunderinglegion Today we interview Sam Logan, a Royal Marines Commando who now runs Complete Commando. Check out Complete Commando's content: https://www.instagram.com/complete_commando_/ Episode Notes: Sam's background and how he ended up joining the military Sam's testimony and how this played into military service How Sam is applying faith in current Complete Commando efforts and future vision Biggest struggles Sam experienced while serving as a Christian How Sam has seen God working through your successes and failures in his military career Sam's future plans and ambitions What book of the Bible Sam goes to in times of difficulty How Sam makes spiritual growth a daily priority Advice to other believers in the military who are struggling Sam closes us in prayer Resources: Case for Christ by Lee Stroebel: https://www.amazon.com/Case-Christ-Journalists-Personal-Investigation/dp/0310209307 Chariots of Fire about Eric Liddel: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082158/ Reflect: What does this episode reveal about God's character? How does this episode cause us to see our need for a Savior? How can we apply lessons learned from this episode to our life? Follow Christ for this day! ✝️ "Choose this day whom you will serve..." ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭24‬:‭15‬ ‭✝️ "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." ‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬ Next steps: Share with an armed forces member Follow Instagram, Facebook, Podcast https://linktr.ee/thunderinglegion

https://linktr.ee/thunderinglegion Big Question of the Week: "What is Thundering Legion?" Today we explore the story behind the namesake of this movement, community, and podcast. Podcast Links: https://linktr.ee/thunderinglegion https://tacticalathlete.com/the-thundering-legion/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6Rsv_k8RVo Camdidus Replied, "You offer us money that remains behind and glory that fades away. You seek to make us friends of the Emperor, but alienate us from the true King. We desire one gift, the crown of righteousness. We are anxious for one glory, the glory of the heavenly kingdom. We love honors, those of heaven. "You threaten fearful torments and call our godliness a crime, but you will not find us faint hearted or attached to this life or easily stricken with terror. For the love of God, we are prepared to endure any kind of torture." The governor was enraged. They were ordered to remove their armor and clothing, herded onto the middle of a frozen lake, standing there naked to die a slow, painful death. He set soldiers to guard them to prevent any from escaping. They were told, "You may come ashore when you are ready to deny your faith." The forty encouraged each other as though they were going to battle. "How many of our companions in arms fell on the battle front, showing themselves loyal to an earthly king? Let us not turn aside, O warriors, let us not turn our backs in flight from the devil". Reflect: What does this episode reveal about God's character? How does this episode cause us to see our need for a Savior? How can we apply lessons learned from this episode to our life? Follow Christ for this day! ✝️ "Choose this day whom you will serve..." ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭24‬:‭15‬ ‭✝️ "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." ‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬ Next steps: Share with an armed forces member Follow Instagram, Facebook, Podcast https://linktr.ee/thunderinglegion

https://linktr.ee/thunderinglegion Today we wrestle with the question: "What is a worldview?" Episode Notes: Every person, whether religious or "spiritual", atheist or agnostic, Jew or Muslim, holds a worldview. Societies function when members hold a shared worldview. Generally, a worldview is composed of 5 primary components: 1) origin, 2) identity, 3) meaning, 4) morality, and 5) destiny Origin: Where did I and everything come from? Identity: What and who am I, and what and who are we? Meaning: Why am I here? Morality: What is right and wrong, good and evil? How should I live? Destiny: Is there meaning and consequence after this physical life? Where am I going? Even if you've never thought about these questions before, you do hold a view on each of these components of a worldview. It was probably just learned and inherited subconsciously from the culture around you. So how does Christianity answer these questions? Origin: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth… And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light…"Genesis‬ ‭1:1,3 ESV‬‬ Identity: "God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Genesis‬ ‭1:27‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Meaning: "And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth."" Genesis‬ ‭1:28‬ ‭ESV‬‬ "And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," Matthew‬ ‭28:18-19‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Morality: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 Destiny: "Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Hebrews 9:28 Be sure to subscribe and share. If you have a Big Question you want us to address in a future episode, DM us with suggestions! Reflect: What does this episode reveal about God's character? How does this episode cause us to see our need for a Savior? How can we apply lessons learned from this episode to our life? Follow Christ for this day! ✝️ "Choose this day whom you will serve..." ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭24‬:‭15‬ ‭✝️ "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." ‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬ Next steps: Share with an armed forces member Follow Instagram, Facebook, Podcast https://linktr.ee/thunderinglegion

https://linktr.ee/thunderinglegion Today we wrestle with the question: "Should Christians be in the Armed Forces?" Episode Notes: Today's episode addresses whether Christians should be involved in armed forces and warfare. This will be a quick overview and we could write many books on this subject. Additional resources to broaden your knowledge and seek other perspectives: 1) 3 part series by Truth Over Tribe: "The Biblical Theology of Violence" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/truth-over-tribe/id1580807177?i=1000558714477 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/truth-over-tribe/id1580807177?i=1000558010766 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/truth-over-tribe/id1580807177?i=1000558129162 2) Episode by Mil Spec Believer: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mil-spec-believer/id1552817873?i=1000550261507 3) Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis https://www.amazon.com/Mere-Christianity-C-S-Lewis/dp/0060652926 REFLECT: What do the verses we covered in this episode reveal about God's character? How do these verses cause us to see our need for a Savior? How can we apply these verses to our life? Follow Christ for this day! ✝️ "Choose this day whom you will serve..." ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭24‬:‭15‬ ‭✝️ "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." ‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬ Next steps: SHARE with another armed forces member FOLLOW Instagram, Facebook, Podcast JOIN our online Slack community Link: https://linktr.ee/thunderinglegion

https://linktr.ee/thunderinglegion Today we wrestle with the question: "What Do We Swear an Oath To?" Episode Notes: Today we compare and contract military oaths of China, Russia, United States, and Iran Why do military members take an oath? What are you willing to give your life for? Jesus:"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." Romans 8:35-39: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." What separates the United States constitution and system of government from the Russian constitution and system of government? Outro/Conclusion: Scripture: "All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God." Psalm 86:9-10 "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands" Revelation 7:9 God is in ultimate control over all nations and all militaries. God is gathering believers from all nations and all militaries to Himself. People of all nations will either bear the crushing wrath of God as punishment for our sins and evils, or receive the free gift of mercy from God: Jesus' humble life as God in the flesh, Jesus' selfless crucifixion in our place, and Jesus' victory over sin through resurrection. WHO WILL YOU LOOK TO AS YOUR ULTIMATE SOURCE OF MORAL AUTHORITY??? Reflect: What does this episode reveal about God's character? How does this episode cause us to see our need for a Savior? How can we apply lessons learned from this episode to our life? Follow Christ for this day! ✝️ "Choose this day whom you will serve..." ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭24‬:‭15‬ ‭✝️ "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." ‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬ Next steps: Share with an armed forces member Follow Instagram, Facebook, Podcast https://linktr.ee/thunderinglegion

https://linktr.ee/thunderinglegion Today we wrestle with the question: "Can We Serve Both Nation and Christ?" We look at the "Faith of the Centurion" story from Matthew 8:5-13 & Luke 7:1-10 and discuss the importance of faith for armed forces members. Reflect: What does this episode reveal about God's character? How does this episode cause us to see our need for a Savior? How can we apply lessons learned from this episode to our life? Follow Christ for this day! ✝️ "Choose this day whom you will serve..." ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭24‬:‭15‬ ‭✝️ "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." ‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬ Next steps: Share with an armed forces member Follow Instagram, Facebook, Podcast https://linktr.ee/thunderinglegion