D. Castle-Shepard Transcript

November 25, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Announcer: Now, back to Dr. Kent and friends.

Dr. Kent Gustavson: Welcome back to Sound Authors Radio. Today is the day after Thanksgiving and we’ve got a lot to be thankful for. We have some troops over in the Middle East that is also celebrating Thanksgiving. We think a lot about military all the time and with the upcoming elections and all sorts of things. We have a unique opportunity today to speak with a fellow who often interacts with our troops. He has operated as a military chaplain for many years, he’s a 27-year citizens’ soldier and a veteran of Iraqi freedom in 2003. He also does practices social work with low-income clients.Welcome to the show, D. Castle-Shepard.

D. Castle-Shepard: Thank you.

Kent: What do you have planned for Thanksgiving this year?

D. Castle-Shepard: Well, I think we’re going to have a lot of family members here at our house, and I think we’re just going to relax. Relaxation is something that I feel is long overdue for this house. So, that’s the plan.

Kent: Your new book is titled Faith in the New Militia. What exactly does it mean, “Faith in the New Militia”? What is the new militia?

D. Castle-Shepard: Well, that’s an interesting question. Having been a National Guard member all my adult life, I notice that there wasn’t really a lot of good material to explain what the militia is in America. Of course, there’s a negative connotation to it because of the presence of some of the anti-government militias and in this age of terror that probably doesn’t help any.But I became very intrigued by the fact that in the founding of our nation, militia organizations that were really grassroots, the work of the people, the local communities produce them, they represent the neighborhoods. I just see in this age of a lot of confusion; I see a need for a new sense of renewal. Of course, in the time of globalization, I think we need a sense of localization because the globalization takes so many of us out of touch with people that we know that live around us. I think that is very much the heart of the society is, is the militia.So I see the militia as I say it in terms of not just the citizen soldiers today but also volunteers, people in the health care field who work in emergency situations, law enforcement, public health and all those things. I really see just a sense, a need to focus on that part of our society to sustain us.

Kent: In the area of elections, this is the most-I would say exciting-but it’s also the most drawn out election process that we’ve ever had. In this kind of climate, what do you see as this country needing? Do you see in one of these candidates or in several of these candidates, do you see what you’re looking for?

D. Castle-Shepard: A little bit. I’m one. I don’t publish this but I haven’t voted for the winning President for the past four elections. Some of those is just me personally, but I do see a good variety in the Presidential candidates this year. I guess what I hope is that we won’t allow major corporations to decide who should lead our country, but we can find somebody who truly captures the passion of grassroots Americans. I think caucuses especially are useful in the early states.I won’t make too many comments about my own political opinion here being under having some obligation to support my Commander-in-Chief. But I do see a good variety of candidates. I think there is real hope and I certainly maintain hope for finding the good leadership in 2008.

Kent: Now, you used to be a card-carrying member of the Christian Coalition. I know that you’re a man of very deep faith, and of course you are a practicing pastor. Tell me a little bit about your disillusionment with religion in politics.

D. Castle-Shepard: Well, I try to keep an open mind, but I have had a passion. I see a lot of the same passions that I’ve had all my life still being played out in various ways today. I almost wish I could say, “Hey, I’ve been doing this for 20 years. You ought to hear what I’ve learned.” But I watch the Christian Coalition, the religious right in general and I see a lot of things going in different directions with that now. Pat Robertson recently endorses Rudolf Giuliani, and that certainly surprises a lot of his supporters.But it’s occurred to me that while the religious right focuses so much on things like abortion and homosexuality, the issue of adultery being legal seems to be almost ignored. In the military for example, we are told and military personnel can be put in jail for an affair. That’s a fact for the military.But it’s not always true in the civilian life, and I don’t know if that could be a shock for a lot of soldiers who transfer to active duty for his deployments. They have to abide by a new sense of rules. But I ask why the religious right has been so focused on abortion and homosexuality and not even noticed the legalization of adultery. It’s a big issue but I think that if they’re going to be brave and bold, they should be able to tackle that one as well.

Kent: So have you had experience with the troops on Thanksgiving?

D. Castle-Shepard: I have. My experience when I was in Iraq in 2003, we spent Thanksgiving in Iraq. We had a very good Thanksgiving meal and that was memorable. I got a chance to serve myself along with some of the other leadership. I was their chaplain. I remember that, and of course, that was a time when they were all away from their families.We were about or maybe lesser than an hour from Baghdad in a small little camp called Kalso. There were a lot of hardships, but I did get to see the way that troops can experience a sense of togetherness, a sense of community, and Thanksgiving for all to have and even in harsh conditions. That’s what little knowledge I have of troops at Thanksgiving.

Kent: Over there right now, are they in a different place than they were back in 2003?

D. Castle-Shepard: Well, I’m told that and, of course, I haven’t been there since January of ‘04. But I’m told that troops that come back and officers who come back in the last few years say that if you have not been in Iraq in the last three months, you don’t know anything about it. So I don’t know anything about it, I guess.But I hear on the one hand, the month of October for example, was encouraging in the sense that the number of US fatalities went sharply down. However, the year 2007 is still being said to be the bloodiest year, a very hard year for US troops. So I have to believe it as a different place and probably different in the sense that the troops are all the more exhausted by now. The tension maybe higher today than they were five years ago.

Kent: I know that you spoke about how the troops have a lot to be thankful for and that’s very true. My question is what is it your job as a chaplain–and I know you might at some point go back over there–is to bring them back to their home, bring them back to reality. You’ve done and something that they’re familiar with. In what sense did some of the men not feel that and how did you assure them of that?

D. Castle-Shepard: Well, that is a very hard and almost a painful question just to even think about because there are many who come back, and the first that comes to my mind is after their marriages failed. I remember one soldier, a senior ranking individual who had been married for I think close to 30 years and his marriage failed. So it is very difficult to help them understand, “Yes, you are back home now.” But of course, one thing that chaplains would have to tell you at some point is that it’s very important to be there. We talk about the ministry of presence. A lot of times, the chaplain doesn’t get to do a whole lot more than just be there with the soldiers.So I think in practical terms, bringing the soldiers back home involves certain things like community events. Not a bombardment of community involvement but certainly events that allow the soldiers to realize and to accept appreciation that’s being offered to them–dinners and those kinds of things. Just small things that don’t have to become big and overblown, but just small things to let the community interact with the soldier returning to know their appreciation. I think the handshakes we get even one that we’ve gotten just back from the overseas theater or what. We give a lot of handshakes in these civilian communities. I certainly see the appreciation, and I encourage soldiers to accept that.

Kent: Your book is titled “Faith in the New Militia”. It’s available online, from your websitewww.DCastleShepard.com and from BloomingTwigBooks.com, and shortly, will be hopefully available from many other locations. Tell me a little bit about what your goal is after this book.

D. Castle-Shepard: Well, I thought about this a lot and of course I did spend several years working on this and Lars Clausen just said recently some authors spend six to eight years. I think I’m still chewing, aren’t I? I see it for myself, for one thing, as having been already a kind of therapy for me. It’s been a chance for me to express a lot of my thoughts and put them into words and I’ve done some journaling. The book is not a whole lot about me personally but it’s been a chance for me to put some things in perspective that are very important for me.Then I see myself being able to go to people that I know, and I’m being very cautious about how I do it. I’m not rushing into it, but I hope to approach universities and other gatherings where I can talk, through Christians, about the need, and not just Christians, but people of faith about the need. What I mention here is moralistic presumptions in the book. I think it’s important at a time like this to put presumptions down and be sober about the world we live in. So I hope to be able to speak to community gatherings and just dialog, interact and know that I’m teaching and I’m offering something useful to the people there.

Kent: D. Castle-Shepard’s new book is called “Faith in the New Militia”. It’s a real guidebook for us to look at in the new decade, in the new century, the new President to look towards firefighters, police and other small active militias to guide us into the new time.Thank you so much for being on the show.

D. Castle-Shepard: Thank you.

Kent: My next guest is musician Robbi Kumalo with her fantastic new CD, “Music Makes Me Happy”. You don’t want to miss it.[musical interlude]

Posted by admin | Filed Under TRANSCRIPTS, Motivation, Thanksgiving, Spirituality, Religion, AUTHOR INTERVIEW, Inspiration, Politics, PODCAST

Lars Clausen | Into the Wild

November 24, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Interview with Lars Clausen (Thanksgiving) [11:29m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

LARS CLAUSEN is a former pastor, activist, author and Guinness World Record holder. He speaks with us about the importance of family on holidays, about his experiences off the beaten path, and about the new movie Into the Wild, based on Jon Krakauer’s novel. Lars’ award-winning books are available from his website at www.straightintogayamerica.com

His entire book is available at no cost for a limited time as a PDF download. Visit his website for more details. Here is Lars’ brief description of his journey from the front page of his site:

During 5 weeks and 1,000 miles of unicycling for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equal rights:

No one cited Biblical injunctions against me unicycling on the road.

No one studied the constitution to see what to do with my one wheel preference.

No one said to me. “We have our place. You have your place.”

No one forced me to ride in a closet.

What if we celebrated LGBT difference as easily as the difference between bicycling and unicycling, as a gift to be thankful for among all the standard wheel arrangements?

I rode my unicycle to collect everyday stories, to show that queer people live normal lives, that there’s nothing to be afraid of from gay people, that the friendships I’ve developed through the years can be found everywhere, and that the church’s damnation of gay people is all wrong. I rode as a pastor to argue a point. (Read more from the Introduction)

Posted by admin | Filed Under Spirituality, Thanksgiving, Religion, Politics, AUTHOR INTERVIEW, Inspiration, PODCAST

D. Castle-Shepard | Faith

November 24, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Interview with D. Castle-Shepard [12:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

D. CASTLE-SHEPARD is a military chaplain, historian, and author. He speaks with us about Thanksgiving in Iraq, and about his concept of the militia at home. His new book Faith in the New Militia has been well-received across the country.

About Faith in the New Militia (from www.dcastleshepard.com)

In an age of terror and greed-based economics, not enough has been said about the place of faith in American society, or faith-based answers to real world problems. In essence the excessive globalization must be countered by new strategies at the local level. Conscience must be redefined after all of the distortions of moralizing and demonizing. Ultimately, people must learn to accept true community with the courage to uphold commitments, and overcome the fear of true intimacy.

About D. Castle Shepard (from www.dcastleshepard.com)

D. Castle-Shepard is a 27-year citizen-soldier (Lieutenant Colonel) and veteran of Iraqi-Freedom (2003). His education includes an M.Div and an MSW. He lives in a rural community with his wife and two children, and practices social work with low- income clients and their families.

Formerly a charter member of the Christian Coalition, Castle-Shepard still embraces radical ideas. But in post-9/11 America he has refined his perspective:

Grassroots militia are vital to American life in the 21st Century

His own white population is spiritually inferior to African Americans

Western capitalism is incompatible with the teachings of Jesus

Muslims are no less likely to enter heaven than Christians

Terror will not be defeated until global corporations are brought to accountability

All of this and more without abandoning his Evangelical Christian faith. With a primary focus on repentance, Castle-Shepard’s deepest convictions are centered around the believer’s need to recognize and renounce self-justifying tendencies. Faith calls all people to seek the glory of God, and refuse glory to the flesh. In his mind, Jesus taught us that people who justify themselves will not be justified by God. Therefore the believer must always grow deeper in awareness of self-righteous presumptions, and renounce them. Hope is in the light of God to expose these deceptions, and lead us to peace in His Truth.

Castle-Shepard’s book is available from the publisher at www.bloomingtwigbooks.com/shop

Posted by admin | Filed Under Thanksgiving, Religion, Politics, AUTHOR INTERVIEW, PODCAST

Pat Williams | Sports & Life

November 24, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Pat Williams Interview [14:23m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

PAT WILLIAMS, senior vice-president of the Orlando Magic, is an inspirational author, speaker, and former professional athlete with a long list of publications. He is also the father of 19 children (14 adopted), and speaks with us about family, sports, and a few of his more than 2 dozen books.

The following is his biography (taken from his website at www.patwilliamsmotivate.com)

Pat Williams is the senior vice president of the NBA’s Orlando Magic. Also one of America’s top motivational, inspirational, and humorous speakers, he has addressed employees from many of the Fortune 500 companies and the Million Dollar Round Table. He has been a featured speaker at two Billy Graham Crusades and two Peter Lowe Success Seminars. He has also spoken on many university campuses.

After serving for seven years in the United States Army, Pat spent seven years in the Philadelphia Phillies organization, two as a minor league catcher and five in the front office. He then spent three years in the Minnesota Twins organization before moving to the National Basketball Association. Since 1968, he has been affiliated with teams in Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia, including the 1983 World Champion 76ers, and now the Orlando Magic which he co-founded in 1987 and helped lead to the NBA finals in 1995. Twenty-three of his teams have gone to the NBA play-offs and five of them have made the NBA finals. In 1996, Pat was named as one of the 50 most influential people in NBA history by a national publication.

In his NBA career, he has traded Pete Maravich, traded for Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Penny Hardaway, and won four NBA draft lotteries, including back-to-back winners in 1992 and 1993 and most recently in 2004. He also drafted Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Maurice Cheeks, Andrew Toney and Darryl Dawkins and signed Billy Cunningham, Chuck Daly, and Matt Guokas to their first professional coaching contracts. Twelve of his former players have become NBA Head Coaches and seventeen have become assistant coaches.

Pat and his wife Ruth are the parents of 19 children, including 14 adopted from four nations, ranging in age from 20 to 34. For one year, 16 of his children were all teenagers at the same time. Pat and his family have been featured in Sports Illustrated, Readers Digest, Good Housekeeping, Family Circle, The Wall Street Journal, Focus on the Family, New Man Magazine, plus all of the major television networks, The Maury Povich Show and Dr. Robert Schuller’s Hour of Power.

Pat helps teach an adult Sunday school class at First Baptist Church of Orlando and hosts a weekly sports radio show. In the last 10 years he has completed thirty eight marathons, including the Boston Marathon 10 times and also climbed Mt. Rainier. He is a weight lifter, Civil War buff, and serious baseball fan. Every winter he plays in Major League Fantasy Camps and has caught Hall of Famers Bob Feller, Bob Gibson, Fergie Jenkins, Rollie Fingers, Gaylord Perry, Phil Niekro and Tom Seaver.

Pat was raised in Wilmington, Delaware, earned his bachelors degree at Wake Forest University, and his master’s degree at Indiana University. He has a doctorate in Humane Letters from Flagler University. He is a member of the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame after catching for the Deacons baseball team, including the 1962 Atlantic Coast Conference Championship team. He is also a member of the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame.