"You, This is Me" PART 1

    "You ready to call in some close air support, Chappy?"
The NCO's question took me by surprise. I had been observing the training exercise, but wasn't quite expecting to get to take part in it myself.
    "Sure I'm ready!" I wasn't ready. "What do I do?"
    "Write down these lines, and repeat them to the pilot." The NCO proceeded to list the lines, beginning with the first: "LINE 1: You, this is me."
    This was the line where I was supposed to address the pilot by his call sign and indicate who was asking for support.  I wasn't literally supposed to say, 'You, this is me.' The idea of a Soldier on the ground actually addressing a pilot in this manner is ludicrous. I was supposed to replace the "YOU" with the pilot's call sign, and the "ME" with my call sign. But I was nervous, and I choked. All the high-speed Soldiers around me were trying not to snicker too loudly when I addressed the pilot, saying, "You, this is me." The pilot responded, "Uhm, excuse me?"
   "Wait, erase that!" I looked at the NCO who was trying not to laugh, "Can I have said 'erase that'?" The NCO took the mic from me with a smile and told the pilot what was going on. The OH-58 helicopter passed over and turned around for another run.  This time I did a little better. I think the pilot probably had a good time later that night over some beers with his friends. I cringe just thinking about what he must have said: "So, no joke, there I was supporting a training exercise when a chaplain comes online. Guess what he said?" I'm sure I was the brunt of many jokes I would never hear.
    You know, prayer can seem to a lot of people like calling in close air support felt to me. It's one of those things we all know we should do; but the thought of actually doing it intimidates many of us. It's easy to think that it's something better left to "experts."
    It's really not that difficult, though. It's simply a matter of talking to God according to the particular circumstance you're in. In my observation of Scripture, I see five basic kinds of prayer that can be categorized this way: 
1) Adoration
2) Confession
3) Thanksgiving
4) Supplication
5) Fellowship
   These categories spell the acronym "ACTS-F." I will explain these simple types of prayer, and demonstrate how easy it is to practice them.