Tapping The Power of God - From 12 Steps to the Pursuit of Excellence
Stephen M. Apatow
Founder, CEO, Humanitarian Resource Institute: H-II OPSEC Expeditionary Operations, Director: Global Special Operations Network, War Crimes Committee, International Bar Association, Certified Sailing Rescue Swimmer.
On 7 April 2022, prior to a podcast interview with Col. Doug Hurst, CEO, Third Order Effects, HRI:H-II OPSEC CEO Stephen M Apatow was ordained as a licensed ministry chaplain, by a global ministry group that included Pastor Henry Reyenga, President, of Christian Leaders Institute and Brian DeCook, JD, Chairman of the Board of Christian Leaders Institute.
This marked an important step in his humanitarian endeavors, interfaith studies and initiatives that include support of Preservation of the Force and Family (POTFF). This anniversary marks 32 Years Interfaith Ministry (Christianity, Buddhism, Baha'i, Confucianism, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Atheism, Agnostic). -- The Ultimate Objective: Humanitarian Resource Institute.
Stephen M. Apatow - Chaplain of Global Humanitarian and Security Emergency Operations, initiated the International Interfaith Peace Declaration after 911. -- United Nations Arts Initiative -- Google: Country Goes Global -- iHeart.com Search: H-II
6 February 2022
Dear friends,
As I speak with those working on the front lines of the worlds most difficult humanitarian challenges, the desperation is mind numbing. A key focus is the macro vs the micro in these humanitarian emergencies.
I started my first projects over 30 years ago, as a part of interfaith youth ministry (Ultimate Objective: Humanitarian Resource Institute). The adventures and challenges have led in many different directions, but that foundational focus remains my moment by moment lifeline.
Renewing this focus with chaplaincy studies (2019), to help those coping with combat stress, moral injury, and post traumatic stress, was an important concentration for me.
Please don't hesitate to reach out: 24/7/365 -- I hope to strengthen this support system in the near future.
30 October 2014
Building The Foundation
In the 80's, scholarships helped shape my life as an Olympic development athlete and coach.
When dedicating years to achieve a world class performance, that is many times measured in a fraction of second, one only begins to grasp the importance of diet, strength, speed, technical, and mental training, broken down in detail, every second, of every minute of every hour, 24/7/365....
The doors opened to me, normally available only to the privileged, inspired my motivation to share the lessons learned to youth leadership and community programs across America.
National Youth Leadership Projects
Following my first two national Interfaith youth leadership projects, Cycle Across America (1990), and Run Across America (1993), I formed Humanitarian Resource Institute (1994).?
The mission has always been interfaith focused: The Ultimate Objective, and HRI shield reflected the foundational belief "Omnia Vincit Amor," or Love Conquers All.
For 25 years, the mission was kept in the forefront, while the interfaith target audience remained in the background.?
28 April 2016
Our Potential Beyond Limitation
Everybody Dies, But Not Everybody Lives (YouTube). -- Reflecting on the importance of Film Arts Integration Into Education through the United Nations Arts Initiative.
The greatest aspect of this discussion is our potential, irregardless of age, that at begin at any point, from birth to 120+, the game can be changed for the positive. And if the process begins a bit latter in the game, that we don't look back in regret, but in appreciation of the lessons we learned, and opportunities had, that will now contribute to a level of progress never achievable, if they didn't happen.?It's a view that there is no such thing as coincidence.?That's why the Bible is summarized in 2 verses:
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." -- - Proverbs 3: 5-6.
30 October 2014
When we contemplate the power of nature, it makes the challenges inspired by man, small in comparison, though sometimes catastrophic. Perhaps, it's time we tap the creative power of nature, as a resource that can help us solve these problems. - For if you have faith as a grain of a mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain move to yonder place and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible to you. - MT17:20 - Plant Earth (YouTube): Robert Revol. Arts Integration Into Education through the United Nations Arts Initiative
“Only he who can see the invisible can do the impossible.” – Frank L. Gaines
"When campaigning, be swift as the wind; in leisurely march, majestic as the forest; in attack, like fire; in standing, firm as the mountains. As unfathomable as the clouds, move like a thunderbolt to protect the weak." -- Adapted from Sun Tzu. "The Art of War"
On the main page of the Humanitarian Resource Institute web site (humanitarian.net), I have provided our mission focus, The Ultimate Objective:
The weapons are active care, compassion, concern and focused efforts to confront the causes of violence, bigotry, hatred and depravity. The vehicle encompasses successful initiatives that address the ills of conflict, ignorance, poverty and disease.
As I contemplate the needs around me, mission and challenges such as wounded warriors (estimated over a projected 300,000 veterans Suicides - Post 911: No One Gets Left Behind), I find myself continually in need of meditation to refocus. I have compiled a few thoughts and progressions, that reflect this journey.
领英推荐
While I was in my mid teens, caught up into strength training and powerlifting, my goal was to learn how to push the envelope or reach the next level. From mental training to break pain barriers, to understanding divinity, one goal was to better understand and tap the creative power of God, control the fight or flight response, etc., etc.
Raised Catholic, one of my first explorations into religious studies, was sitting down with a local parish priest, for answers and insight. My question was: how do I tap a deeper connection with divinity, the power and grace that created the heavens and the earth, the force of nature itself? I was led to the study of the original languages of the biblical scriptures, and interfaith religious belief systems.
See: Interfaith Study Center: Humanitarian Resource Institute.
The Latin Vulgate proved to be a difficult resource to tap, but Buddism, Hinduism, Shintoism, Taoism, Bushido were accessible. Eventually, I learned about the study of Hellenistic Greek and Aramaic for New Testament studies, Hebrew for Old Testament, and began to focus on exegetical studies. These studies outlined some fundamentals that proved very helpful.
The first was the definition of Word (logos), is not in the grammatical sense, or in it's outward form, but that which is connected with the inward thought (Bullinger: A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament). This helped transition the study of the biblical scriptures, from an academic intellectual pursuit, to a focus on study as a vehicle to connect the reader with divinity, the source of strength and understanding that the writer had themselves.
One of my first series of studies was focused on who is God? The biblical meaning of God is Love (fullness of compassion, affection, benevolence), faith (pistis), grace (charis), power (dunamis), fruit of the spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, faith meekness temperance), and the summary of the entire Bible "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3: 5-6: KJV). The directive was not to intellectualize, it was clarity of mind, without distracting thoughts, acknowledging divinity as the source of grace and power, that was by my side 24/7. Thus the biblical directive to "love" the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might (Deuteronomy 6:5: KJV), and then "love" your neighbor, as you "love" yourself.
The depths of the Eastern cultural religious studies combined with the mind in the martial arts, provided even deeper insights, especially with regard to the difference between central vs peripheral vision focused activities.
Bring the mind into sharp focus and make it alert so that it can immediately intuit truth, which is everywhere. The mind must be emancipated from old habits, prejudices, restrictive thought process and even ordinary thought itself.
Empty you cup, that it may be filled.
Having totality of mind, being capable of following what is constantly moving and changing. If one is anchored to a particular view, one will not be able to follow the swift movement of what is.
These thought trains were affirmed by studies of of Zen Buddism and Bushido, that connected the focus of mental clarity and divinity:
In the Shinto temple, there is only placed a mirror, to typify the human heart, when perfectly placid and clear.
The Lord of Heaven and Earth, of all living things, dwelling in the heart of man, becomes his mind (kokoro); hense the mind is a living thing and is never luminous.
Love, affection for others, sympathy and nobility of feeling were regarded as the highest attributes of the soul.
Benevolence brings under it's sway whatever hinders it's power, just like water subdues fire.
The basic framework of Bushido consists of chi (wisdom), jin (benevolence) and yu (courage).
Seize The Moment
In the ring, you can either be focused on central vision, focused on one or a few concentrated points, or peripheral vision, mental clarity, taking in your entire opponent, the environment, prepared to respond appropriately to the demands and challenges presented.
Thus the importance of skills development, perfect practice makes perfect, practicing each skill 1000x, so they become engrained as a reflex, conscious vs unconscious response... so that with a clear mind, relaxed and receptive, in a peripheral vision focused frame, we can optimally responds to the demands of the moment, and the next moment, etc., etc.
Contact:
Stephen M. Apatow
CEO, Humanitarian Resource Institute (UN:NGO:DESA)
H-II OPSEC Expeditionary Operations
Telephone: 203-668-0282
Email: [email protected]
Internet: www.H-II.org
Twitter: HIIOPSEC
Instagram: HIIOPSEC
InfraGard: FBI ID?10076335
Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) Constituent:
U.S. Department of State.
###
Longevity through Increasing Health
8 年There is a simple and easy path to the unlimited, Taoism. I'm ready when you are.
Operations Manager at C.C.A. - "Baylor Club"- McLane Stadium - Baylor University.
8 年Mr A, truely incredible- if only i had read it, ill get the cliff notes on the LIKE.