Chaplains Corner - January 2018

Looking Back….WOW!!!. That is how I feel about the past seven days. The words in the Christmas cards and the meaningful hand-written comments touch one’s heart. Such may cause one to shed many tears of joy remembering treasured memories of times past when one was younger, healthier, and more active.

Since God called me to serve his followers and Himself with my life in 1956, I have looked at what the Holy Bible teaches about God with a strong focus on our relationship with God the Father, with God’s Son Jesus Christ, and God’s Spirit the Holy Spirit in a loving and supportive shared ministry. As God’s Spirit leads us, according to God’s plan, we will spend our eternal lives together in heaven. I sincerely hope and pray we spend our eternal lives together in heaven. John (14:6)

My Christmas memories cover 62 years of service to God the Father, God the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit . My Christmas memory of the 63rd year of my ministry has been very rewarding challenging and fruitful. Thank you for your love and support.

Love You All,
Chaplain John A. Szilvasy

Chaplain’s Corner - December 2017

Jesus Is the Reason for the Season

For some of you this is a time to experience the wonderful joy of being with your family and friends to celebrate the fantastic love of God. The birth of Jesus Christ shows us the way to know God through the life and teachings of Jesus in a direct and personal way. Jesus was sent by God to restore the loving and intimate relationship He had with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. God continued to love them as he continues to love us. God invites us to use our freedom to choose to accept Jesus as our personal Savior and Lord. In so doing, we receive God’s forgiveness of the sins committed while living in a broken relationship with God.

For some of us, this Christmas can be the time to use our freedom to decide to accept God’s love, accepting Jesus as our personal Savior and Lord. Should you do this, God will give you His Holy Spirit, and give you His promise of eternal life with Him in Heaven. This is just the beginning of the wonder of God’s love that will guide and strengthen us as we walk in the footsteps of Jesus, becoming more like Jesus each day of our time on earth. This Christmas, God may be offering you the gift of His love revealed perfectly in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

My Christmas Prayer for you is that you have accepted His loving gift of Jesus, bringing the joy of His love and solace into your life.

Love you all,
Chaplain Szilvasy

Chaplains Corner - October 2017

Managing Your Anger With God's Help The Apostle Paul writes his letter to the Christians in Ephesus, “Don’t sin by letting anger gain control over you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil…..Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And, do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of salvation. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander - all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, and forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

This biblical approach to anger management helps to clear the air and restore relationships. When we keep God and His love involved in the situation, restoration of the relationship is more easily achieved. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Love you all,

Chaplain John Szilvasy

Chaplains Corner - September 2017

Being On Time.

This past week, I kept getting my days mixed up. I was surprised at how easy it was to forget a lot of little things. I’ve wondered more than once what day it is. It seems that my typical day consists of rushing around town with my wife’s “honey do list”. This keep us moving through each day, fulfilling our obligations and keeping our needs satisfied. Sometimes it’s a circus in our households and life-styles. We all need to get off the world’s fast-track, and slow down so we can focus on our individual tasks one at a time. What makes what we do with our time, money, possessions, and relationships important, are our moral values, and our religious faith in God.

Take a good long look at the way you are living your life in this growing secular, atheistic and evil world. If you need help to get your life in order, go to God in prayer. Ask Him to help you live in this world now in preparation for living in heaven for eternity where God is in control and everything is perfect. There will be no concern about “what day is it.” I know I’m going to enjoy living in heaven forever with a loving God. See you there…

Love you all,
Chaplain John Szilvasy

Chaplains Corner - August 2017

I don’t know about you, but I’m finding it more difficult to handle the growing evil that is so prevalent in the news reports on worldwide situations. Evil appears to be growing very rapidly. I can thank my God for giving me the wisdom to understand (though barely), to keep myself stable and in control of my emotions and responses to what evil is doing to individuals, organizations, and countries.


I pray for the families of those who are killed or wounded in combat, for all first responders, military, firemen, and medical personnel. I also pray for innocent bystanders, and lastly, for those evil doers who did the killing and wounding. I have found that after watching the news, praying for others has allowed me to maintain the necessary emotional and mental stability to face the demands of each day. It is the knowledge that God hears and answers prayers that allows me to persevere.

Love you all,
Chaplain John Szilvasy

Chaplains Corner - July 2017

What happens when you wake up in the morning? Do you go to your family calendar and see who in your home has an appointment with their civilian doctor, their VA clinic doctor or clinic, a trip to a pharmacy or the commissary or a meeting with a military organization written on today’s day? They make up their list and plan their route to make sure they get everything done. As they get older they have to write in the time, telephone and address if needed. When they get to their front door and check their pockets to make sure they have what they will need at what place.

We often find ourselves overwhelmed by the list we have to make each day. Some people stay busy and enjoy it. Others dream of life in a retirement home with levels of living until they reach the end of their life. They die knowing they have met God’s requirements for their eternal life with God and will wake up in heaven to enjoy eternal life in the perfect peace of God’s presence. It is this certainty that motivates me to live each day to glorify God by confessing my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord and to walk in the footsteps of Jesus as recorded in the Bible. Be sure to include God’s requirements for eternal life in your daily lists.

Hope to see all of you in heaven.

Love you all,
Chaplain John Szilvasy

Chaplain’s Corner - June 2017

I recently came across this “Five-Finger Prayer” written by Anne Cetas for Our Daily Bread to use as a guide when praying for others: *When you fold your hands, the thumb is nearest you. So begin by praying for those closest to you- your loved ones (Phil: 1-3-5). *The index finger is the pointer. Pray for those who teach: Bible teachers and preachers, and those who teach children ( I Thess. 5:25). *The next finger is the tallest. It reminds you to pray those in authority over you – national and local leaders, and your supervisor at work (ITim.2:1-2). *The fourth finger is usually the weakest. Pray for those who are depressed or who are in trouble and are suffering greatly (James 5:13-16). *Then comes your little finger. It reminds you of your smallness in relation to God’s greatness. Ask Him to supply your needs (Phil.4:6,19).

Whatever method you use, just talk with God your heavenly Father. He wants to hear what’s on your heart. He will give you the wisdom to know how to pray for others. Remember that it is not the words we pray that matter; it’s the condition of our heart that matters. I hope this slightly adapted version will help you to grow in your prayer life.

Love you all,
Chaplain John Szilvasy

Chaplain's Corner - May 2017

When the going gets rough, who do you go to get help to get through your rough times. Some of you turn to your family for starters, then you go to your friends if they live near and they are available to help you. Finally, when you are through your hard times and you say to yourself, “I hope that kind of trouble doesn’t come around again for a long, long, time.”

What do you do when your sense of being overwhelmed and your difficulties, come roaring over you in a big bundle? So fast and so many that you just want to give up and let then take you wherever they want, and you end up getting smashed into little pieces. Then you fall to the ground in total despair and turn to drugs or alcohol as your escapes from your personal hell.

You are fortunate if you have a Christian family and friends who can help you when you go to them for help in solving the problems that are slowly overwhelming you before its too late. As your loving Christian Chaplain, my advice is to urge you to give God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit a chance to help you save your life and to live it till you die in a healthy and restored relationship with God.

I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

Love you all,
Chaplain John Szilvasy

Chaplain’s Corner - February 2017

Asking for God’s help when in the middle of a tough situation:

We are in the middle of evil political situations all around us, and some of us are on the verge of being overwhelmed with despair. In response, I thought I would share with you what King David wrote in his Psalm 86:1-13, which is recorded in the Old Testament of the Bible.

“Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put me trust in you.
You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer; Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to you because you answer me.
Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. 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.
Teach me your way, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead.”

I hope this has given you some comfort. May God bless you with His peace, love, and protection.

Chaplain John Szilvasy

Chaplain's Corner - January 2017

What do you do when you are confronted by person(s) who is on the verge of totally losing control of themselves in a middle of having a conversation about a sensitive matter? And if you confront them with your telling them that they are making fools of themselves and that you might soon lose control of yourself. And if you don’t stop, you indeed do lose your self-control as you stand there and exchange nasty, heated, cutting words that cut deep. And you hear yourself saying, dumb, stupid words that you know might seriously strain, shatter, even destroy your relationship with the person in front of you.

Let’s stop here and take a look at what is happening in your head as I ask you . . . What would you do? I would urge you to stop the conversation and go somewhere to regain your self-control. I suggest you offer a prayer to God and ask Him to help you to heal and restore your broken relationship. I urge you to ask God for the strength to apologize with the right words, and to ask God to become more important in your future relationship. After you have done all that I have recommended, offer your loved one a hug and a kiss, and an invitation for dinner at your favorite place for time to heal the strained relationship.

Love You All,......Chaplain John

Chaplains Corner December 2016

For those of your who may have missed the memorial service for Chapter member Vernon "Vern" Walden, this is the Liturgy for Vern's Memorial Service:

Dear family and friends of Vern Walden, we are here today in the name of Jesus Christ, to worship God, our Father in Heaven, and to give Him thanks for our time with Vern whom God has called to His eternal home in heaven.

We are gathered at this time in the name of Jesus Christ, to draw comfort and hope from the words of Jesus, who said, "I am the Resurrection and the Life; whoever believes in Me, even though they were dead, they shall live; and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” and to experience the comforting joy of Your presence and peace, as we mourn the death of Vern Walden.

Join with me in prayer: O God, our heavenly Father, we come to You in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Savior and Lord, to experience the comforting joy of Your presence and peace as we worship You. We thank You for sending your Son, Jesus Christ, so that we could receive forgiveness and cleansing for our sins; to receive the gift of faith to take the place of our fears, and to receive the Biblical knowledge about eternal life with you in heaven. We pray that you would open our minds to focus our attention on You, Your gifts, and Your Word and be filled with Your comfort and peace as we mourn Vern’s death. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Listen to the Word of God from the Holy Bible when Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. “In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, not 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." We thank you, O God for the hope and comfort we have received from Your Word at this time.

O holy and awesome God, we especially thank You for our precious memories of our times with Vern that will keep him present to during the days ahead. We thank You for Vern’s goodness, wisdom, and faith which passed from his life into our own lives, and made our world a safer and better place to live. The Vern we all knew was a loving father and dear kindhearted friend. And we all feel a heavy sadness caused by his departure from our midst. We ask You to comfort and strengthen Vern’s loving and supportive family and us, lead us all to a new or renewed faith in You through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, and to fill us with the hope of eternal life with You in Heaven.

And now, we sincerely ask You, our Holy Father in heaven, to help us to go forward from this moment to fulfill Your purpose and plan for our lives, and help us to joyfully anticipate being with you in heaven forever. Until the day of our home-going or the second coming of Jesus Christ, give us courage and the strength to serve You in this world as we live our faith in obedience to You. We ask these things in the name of Jesus. Amen

Love you all,

Chaplain Szilvasy

Chaplains Corner - November 2016

“Trust me – I’m still in control”

I sure am glad the voting for president is over. I felt some relief after I had voted, but it was a short relief. It seems that every day was like riding a Yoyo – being played by persons I didn’t respect too highly. Trusting my loving Holy Father in Heaven, I went to Him in prayer and I thanked my Him for the peace of His presence and placed my frustrations and fears in His care. I felt a gentle peaceful renewal of my faith, and during my time with God in prayer, He gave me the following comforting words. He told me to continue to trust Him, because He is still in control of everything in His creation.

I felt my frustrations and fears slip away and I felt calm and loved by my God, as I did as He told me, everything turned out as I had hoped would be God’s Will for me and the USA. I am at peace with God and His plan for me, the USA, and His Church, and the world. My hope in this article is that when you feel you are in a similar situation as I was, you would remember the comforting words God gave me to move forward with my life.

“Trust me – I’m still in control”

Love You All;
Chaplain John

Chaplains Corner June 2016 - God Promises to Never Leave or Abandon Us

Recently I was asked to write a letter to an Air Force ROTC cadet to help him get through the challenging times he would be facing while completing his summer training requirement. I wrote a short letter and included the following story named “Footprints.”

Footprints

One night a man had dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. “Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.”

The Lord replied,, “My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave ;you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of foot prints, it was then that I carried you.” (Author unknown)

When we pray to God for His immediate help, He reassures us with His Promise in the Bible in Hebrews 13:5 “I will never leave you, nor will I forsake (abandon) you.” With God beside us, guiding us with each step, all of life’s difficulties can be resolved in accordance with God’s plan and purpose for our lives. God's presence and help in rough times has really helped me many times (I Thank you, God)

Love you all,

Your Pastor and Chaplain

John Szilvasy SFA Chapter IX

Chaplain's Corner - June 2016

Recently, I have felt almost overwhelmed and helpless by my worries caused by the evil events happening all over the world? When this happened in the past, I would pray and thank God for providing me with the knowledge from the Bible to cope with my worries. So I decided to share with you the knowledge God has shown me for dealing with my worries over the tomorrow’s problems of the world facing me.

God’s answer is from the Bible, the New Testament, the book of Philippians, chapter 4, verses 6,7, written by Paul the Apostle which reads as follows:

“Don’t worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

I sincerely hope and pray you will find this Biblical solution helpful in remaining calm, cool, and collected when facing all of your worries.

God bless you all, Chaplain John

Chaplains Corner - May 2016: God's Amazing Grace

During most military funerals, the bag pipe player plays the hymn “Amazing Grace,” which was written by John Newton, a slave ship Captain. I thought it would make the hymn more meaningful to you if you knew the historical context of the hymn.

In the 1700s, John Newton went to sea with his father on a merchant ship. Soon after his father retired, Newton was drafted into service and served on a warship. During his career, he requested a transfer to a slave ship that was soon to set sail for Africa. Over the years he hardened himself to trafficking in human beings. He eventually became captain of his own slave ship. On May 10, 1748, his life was changed forever. His ship encountered a terrifying, violent storm. Just as it seemed that the ship would sink, Newton cried out loudly, “Lord, have mercy upon us!”

During that night in his cabin, he began to think seriously about God’s saving mercy, because he had experienced God’s amazing grace that was revealed to him by Christ’s sacrifice for his sins on the Cross. This experience led him to decide to accept Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord. Later, he left the slave trade and became a preacher of the Christian gospel. He is most remembered for his lovely hymn “Amazing Grace”, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, Was blind but now I see. (Read Ephesians 2:1-10)

I hope this leaves you with John Newton and his lovely hymn, “Amazing Grace”. It tells us that anyone, at any time, can receive the gift of salvation and eternal life with God in heaven through faith In Jesus Christ. (adapted from Radio Bible Class Article by Dennis Fisher)

Love you all,
Chaplain John

Chaplain's Corner March 2016 - Consequences of Freely Chosen Decisions

God created us with the freedom to make decisions for ourselves in all areas of life. We can use our freedom to choose to have a personal relationship with God or not. When we choose to live without a relationship with God, we must create a god of our own to determine right from wrong in our daily living. There are consequences to the decisions we make with our freedom to choose to determine who is the God we are choosing to be our personal God.

The Holy Bible tells us that to live without the one God who revealed Himself in Jesus, we are rejecting God and living in sin and will suffer eternal separation from God. Christians choose to accept as their God the God who revealed Himself fully in Jesus of Nazareth as stated in their Holy Bible. To know God, you must look to Jesus in the New Testament of the Holy Bible to know what God offers and expects from you. You will find that God wants to have a personal loving relationship with you that is based solely on faith in Jesus Christ who said he is the only way, the truth, and the life to know God. He offers you His forgiveness for the sins that you committed while you were rejecting Him and a relationship with Him that is based on faith in Jesus Christ to determine right from wrong in your life.

Once you confess your faith in Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord, you have an eternal relationship with God and you receive God’s promise of eternal life with Him in heaven. Where will you spend eternity is your freely chosen decision to make here on earth?

Love you all….Chaplain John

Chaplain's Corner - February 2016

  Seems like every day has its own world shattering calamities. Mass murders of every imaginable type are taking place in many places at an increasing rate. What is the cause for this sudden breakdown of moral authority in human relations? Look at how much and how fast God has been removed from our American character and American way of life. We seem to have lost our moral center that kept us in agreement with each other. I don’t know about you, but as I look at the world events and what has happened to our USA, I want to cry or get angry. I feel helpless to change the direction of events. which could make life better and more peaceful.


  Then I remember God is still in control, and His ways are beyond our comprehension. I remember God loves us and wants to have a relationship with us as we live on earth. Sadly, living in the total freedom God gave us, we disobeyed God’s laws. I remember He punished us by severing our relationship with Him. I remember that He restored our relationship by sending His Son Jesus Christ to die on the Cross as a living blood sacrifice that would pay the penalty for all of the sins of all people for all times. I remember God raised Jesus from the dead as a sign of accepting the sacrifice of Jesus’ body on the Cross. I remember that God removed the curse of death, giving people the gift of eternal life with God. I remember that this gift of eternal life is given to people who have accepted Jesus Christ as their risen Savior and Lord. And lastly, I remember by faith that this world is not my home, I am just passing through. My eternal home is with God in heaven beyond the blue. After remembering all of this I am at peace, because I can endure and persevere in all situations through Jesus Christ who gives me strength.


May God richly Bless you this Easter with the Gifts of Faith and Eternal Life….Chaplain John

Chaplains Memorializing Chaplains Who Gave the Last Full Measure

From John Szilvasy, who everyone knows is the SFA Chapter IX, Chaplain: A local Marine and I conducted a Memorial Service on Tuesday morning (Feb 2) at our Chapter’s Coffee gathering to remember and honor the self-sacrificing actions of the four US Army Chaplains on the troop ship Dorchester on February 3, 1943. They died to give four soldiers the chance to be saved. They embodied the great teaching of Jesus, who said, “I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. And here is how to measure it –the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.”

Gracious God, our Father in heaven, we are gathered here to honor the four military chaplains who sacrificed their lives on February 3, 1943. They gave their life jackets to soldiers as their troop ship Dorchester was sinking after being torpedoed by a German submarine. We remember them now by name: Chaplains George Fox, Methodist; Alexander Goode, Jewish; John Washington, Roman Catholic; Clark Washington, Reformed Church.

O God, as their ship was sinking they called to You in prayer and song for helping them to save four soldiers by giving them their life jackets. They died knowing that You were strengthening their faith with your promise in the Bible that You would never leave them, nor abandon them. With You beside them, You led them with each step to choose to sacrifice their lives so that four soldiers would be saved.

By remembering and reliving their supreme sacrifice of laying down their lives for others, our faith in you is strengthened. With a stronger faith and your guidance in the midst of life threatening situations, we know that our difficulties can now be resolved by our decisions to obey your teachings as did the four chaplains. We thank you O Lord, for the blessing of their sacrifice.

Our heavenly Father, we thank You for sending your Son Jesus Christ, our risen Lord and Savior, to sacrifice Himself to pay the penalty for our sins. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are reconciled to You and You give us the promise and the gift of eternal life with You in heaven when You call us to our eternal home in heaven.

Gracious God, please continue to hold our military in Your loving and protecting hands. Guide and defend them as they engage and defeat our enemies, and then return them safely to us. Bless their families with Your comforting presence, support, and guidance as they wait for the return of their loved ones. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen."

Chaplains Corner - December 2015

Paul, the Apostle, shows us the most excellent way to serve and glorify God (I Corinthians 13;1-7, 11, 13).

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I gain nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. If is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres…..When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me…..And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

The next time you are tempted to become angry, try asking God to help you love yourself and others instead. You just might be surprised at the results. May God bless all your efforts with success.

Love you all,

Chaplain John Szilvasy

Chaplain’s Corner - November 2015

This following poem, written by Beth Stuckwisch, captures the joy of believing Christians who receive God’s call to their eternal home with God in heaven. Jesus teaches Christians that He is the only way, truth, and life to God in heaven. Hope to see you there.…

When I come home to Heaven…..How joyful it will be!.....For on that day at last…..My risen Lord I’ll see.…

.....No greater happiness than…..To see Him face to face…..To see the love in His eyes…..And feel His warm embrace.…

…..I’ve done nothing to deserve…..That perfect home above…..It was given freely through…..The grace of Jesus’ love.…

…..Then why should earthly cares…..Weigh down upon me so?....They’ll be a distant memory…..When home at last I go.…



Remember…Jesus is the reason for the season. May God bless you all.

Love you all…

Chaplain John Szilvasy