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Chappie's Corner, 2406 Chaffee Road, El Paso, TX (2026)

06/03/2026

Buddhist Teaching of the Week

Entrustment: Carrying the Dharma Forward
“The Buddha entrusts the responsibility of preserving, practicing, and sharing the Dharma to the Bodhisattvas. Rather than keeping the teaching for himself, he places confidence in others to carry it forward for the benefit of future generations.”
- Lotus Sutra, Chapter 22

Reflection:
The chapter emphasizes that the Dharma continues through those who embody it in their daily lives. Entrustment is not merely the transfer of information; it is the passing on of responsibility, compassion, and commitment. The Buddha’s trust in the Bodhisattvas reflects his confidence in their ability to live the teaching and share it in ways that meet the needs of others.
For those exploring Buddhist teachings, entrustment is not limited to religious practice. It can be seen in everyday acts of caring, teaching, mentoring, and service. We all inherit wisdom, experiences, and opportunities from those who came before us. The question is how we choose to use them. This chapter reminds us that meaningful teachings remain alive when they are practiced and shared. By living with integrity, compassion, and responsibility, we become part of a larger chain of support that benefits future generations.

Meditation:
Sit comfortably and bring awareness to your breath. Allow your body to relax and settle into the present moment.
As you breathe, reflect on the people who have guided, taught, or supported you throughout your life. Notice the qualities they shared with you—kindness, wisdom, patience, or encouragement.
Now gently ask yourself: “What have I received that is worth carrying forward?”
Rest with the question without seeking an immediate answer.
With each inhale, receive the support you have been given. With each exhale, offer gratitude. Remain present with your breath, reflecting on how your actions may benefit others, both now and in the future.

Very Respectfully,

DUNG V. NGUYEN, DMin., BCC
Chaplain (Major), USA
Certified Educator Candidate
Joint Base San Antonio, TX
Cell: (626) 236-3445
NIPR: [email protected]

06/03/2026

Islamic Word of the Week

Bismillah Al-Rahman Al-Raheem In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

Welcome back to another Chap C’s heart and soul weekly reflections and this week about “Rooted Through Every Season.”

My dear brothers and sisters, one truth of life is that not everyone who enters our lives is meant to stay forever. Allah, in His wisdom, brings people into our lives for various reasons. Some come to teach us lessons, some to help us through difficult times, and others challenge us and help us grow. Fortunately, a blessed few remain with us through all the seasons.

Many will stand by your side when the sun shines. They celebrate your victories, rejoice in your success, and enjoy your company when life is easy. But when hardship comes when we face loss, disappointment, or trials the circle of support often becomes smaller.

Allah reminds us that trials reveal what is hidden in our hearts. Difficult moments expose our sincerity, loyalty, and true character. Those who stay with us during storms are a mercy from Allah like roots that keep us grounded when strong winds try to pull us away.

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught us the importance of sincere companionship. True friends are there not only in good times but also when we forget about Allah, when we falter, and during our hardest moments. They remind us of our faith and encourage us to keep going.

At the same time, we should remember not to hold bitterness towards those who leave. Every person in our lives plays a role known to Allah. Some bring blessings, other lessons, and some are both. Though their departure can hurt, Allah may be creating space for new growth, healing, and opportunities we cannot yet see.

As we reflect today, ask yourself: Who remains when life gets tough? Have you thanked them? Prayed for them? And more importantly, are you becoming that person for someone else?

May Allah bless us all to be loyal friends, faithful family members, and sincere servants who support each other in every season. May He grant us companions who bring us closer to Him, strengthen us in hardship, and keep us grounded in faith and love. Āmīn

Asnage CASTELLY, BCC

Chaplain (CPT), USA

Chaplain Clinician

06/03/2026

Jewish Word of the Week

The Tactical Word: Parshat Nasso

In the military, we thrive on accountability—personnel counts, inventories, and pre-combat checks are the bedrock of readiness. This week’s Torah portion, Parshat Nasso, opens with a command to take a census of the families within the camp, but the literal Hebrew phrase utilized is Nasso et rosh, which translates precisely to "lift up the head." The preeminent medieval commentator Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, 11th Century) notes that this phrasing elevates the census from a cold statistical count to an explicit recognition of individual status and worth. This linguistic nuance carries a profound leadership lesson for every Soldier. Accountability is not merely treating people like numbers on a spreadsheet or checking a box on a manifest. To truly count your people, you must lift them up.

The text goes on to detail the highly specific operational tasks assigned to each family, from transporting the heaviest structural components of the sanctuary to handling its most delicate sacred vessels. As the Talmud teaches in Tractate Berakhot 58a, "Just as their faces are not identical, so their minds are not identical," yet each was essential to the mission. True readiness is achieved when every member of the unit knows that their specific, unique contribution matters and that their leadership sees them as distinct human beings rather than interchangeable slots on a document. When a leader "lifts the head" of a subordinate, they reinforce the individual’s connection to the larger mission, transforming compliance into commitment.

As you look at the operations ahead, take time to conduct a deliberate check on the morale of your section. Identify a teammate or subordinate and actively "lift their head" by acknowledging a specific contribution they made to the mission recently. Ensuring your people know their value is the ultimate pre-combat check for organizational resilience and cohesion.

All the best,

Scott I. Klein, Ed.D.

Chaplain / Rabbi

407th LSB, 2nd MBCT, 82nd ABN DIV

Fort Bragg, NC 28307

06/03/2026

As Mental Health Awareness Month came to a close, I spent some time thinking about hope. Not shallow optimism. Not pretending everything is fine. Real hope.

Benjamin E. Mays once said: “However hard the road, however difficult today, tomorrow things will be better. Tomorrow may not be better, but we must believe that it will be.”

I think that matters because many people are carrying things nobody else can see. Stress. Grief. Anxiety. Exhaustion. Loneliness. Sometimes the hardest battles are the quiet ones.

And my faith tells me something important about that struggle. In Romans 5, Paul describes what almost sounds like God’s training plan for the human soul: tribulation produces patience, patience produces experience, and experience produces hope. Not because suffering is good in itself, but because enduring hardship teaches us that we can survive things we once thought would break us. Over time, that experience becomes the foundation for hope.

One of my CPE educators shared something his grandmother used to say: “Hope isn’t knowing that things will change, but that they can change.” I’ve never forgotten that distinction because hope comes from the experiences we learn through patience while going through tribulation.

As always, if you find yourself stuck in the process, I stand ready to help carry the load.
—Chappie

05/26/2026

CHRISTIAN WORD of the day: And For Their Sakes

As I reflect on Memorial Day, I’ve been thinking about my “why.” In the middle of deployments, long hours, distance from family, and the pace of the mission, it can be easy to focus only on getting through the next task, the next day, the next week. But Memorial Day reminds us there is something deeper behind service.

President Reagan, speaking at Arlington Cemetery, said: “As we honor their memory today, let us pledge that their lives, their sacrifices, their valor shall be justified and remembered for as long as God gives life to this nation. And let us also pledge to do our utmost to carry out what must have been their wish: that no other generation of young men will every have to share their experiences and repeat their sacrifice.”

I think that gets to the heart of why we remember. The men and women we honor did not sacrifice because they loved conflict. They sacrificed believing that maybe the next generation would not have to endure the same things they did. Their goal was peace. Their hope was that others might live with greater freedom, greater safety, and greater opportunity.

That idea reminds me of Jesus’ words in John 17:19: “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”
Even Christ spoke of sacrifice in terms of others. He willingly endured hardship, suffering, and the cross for the sake of those who would come after Him.

So maybe the Memorial Day season leaves us with some important questions to reflect on:
What is my why?
Who am I serving for?
And what kind of future do I hope my sacrifice helps protect for someone else?

05/26/2026

Jewish Word of the Week

Tactical Torah Teaching on Thursday (T4): Shavuot

"And they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mount" (Exodus 19:2). The festival of Shavuot commemorates the moment the Israelites stood at the base of Mount Sinai to receive the Torah. Our tradition notes that the text uses the singular form of "encamped" (*vayichan*), suggesting that the entire nation stood "as one person with one heart." Before they could receive their foundational "operating instructions," they first had to achieve total unity of effort.

In the military, we understand that even the most sophisticated equipment or brilliant strategy is useless without a unified team. At Sinai, the mountain was "forced" over their heads, symbolizing that when the mission is critical, personal differences must be set aside for the survival of the collective. Shavuot teaches us that excellence is not an individual pursuit; it is a communal responsibility. The strength of the covenant was not in the words written on the stones, but in the commitment of the person standing to your left and right to uphold those values alongside you.

This weekend, as we reflect on the values that define our service, take a moment to assess the "climate" of your formation. Are you operating as a collection of individuals, or as a unified team with one heart? True tactical advantage is found in the trust shared between Soldiers who know they are bound by the same code. Challenge yourself to bridge one gap in your team this week, ensuring that when the next mission comes, you stand ready and united.

All the best,
Scott I. Klein, Ed.D.
Chaplain (CPT) / Rabbi
407th LSB, 2nd MBCT, 82nd ABN DIV
Fort Bragg, NC 28307

05/26/2026

Islamic Word of Encouragement

Bismillah Al-Rahman Al-Raheem
In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful Welcome back to another Chap C’s heart and soul weekly reflections and this week about “The Cost of Freedom" Memorial Day Reflection.

My dear brothers and sisters, this Memorial Day, our hearts carry a special significance. Today is not just about a long weekend, barbecues, or gatherings. It is a day of remembrance, sacrifice, and honoring those who are no longer with us, the empty chairs at dinner tables, flags folded into trembling hands, and silent tears that fall long after the ceremonies end.

Today, we remember the sons and daughters of this nation who sacrificed their lives so others could enjoy freedom. Men and women who kissed their families goodbye, never knowing if they
would return. Service members who bore burdens too heavy for words and stood watch in dangerous places so that others could sleep peacefully.

Somewhere today, a mother mourns her child buried in uniform. Somewhere, a spouse reaches across an empty bed. Somewhere, a child grows up with memories instead of moments. Memorial
Day reminds us that freedom is never free; it is always paid for in blood.

For many veterans and service members, this day triggers wounds deep within the soul. Names and faces come to mind once again. The sounds of helicopters, boots on the ground, silence after
chaos all rush back. Some recall their last conversation with a battle buddy. Others carry the heartbreaking question: “Why them and not me?”

These burdens are not easy. They are sacred wounds. God tells us in the Qur’an: “And do not say of those who are killed in the cause of Allah that they are dead. Rather, they are alive, but you perceive it not.” Surah Al-Baqarah 2:154

As chaplains, leaders, caregivers, and human beings, we must remember that behind every uniform is a soul. Behind every casualty report is a family forever changed. Behind every flag-draped casket is a story unfinished in this life but remembered for eternity.

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) understood grief. He buried loved ones, stood at graveside, and tears fell from his blessed eyes. When people questioned his crying, he said, “The eyes shed tears, and the heart grieves.”

Even the strongest among us cry. Even the faithful sometimes break under the weight of loss. Grief is not weakness; it shows that love was real. Memorial Day should inspire us to reflect on how we honor those who died. Are we promoting unity while others sacrificed everything for this nation? Are we loving our families deeply enough? Are we serving others selflessly enough?
Are we living with integrity worthy of their sacrifice?

Because the best way to honor the fallen is not just with words but through the way we live. Live honorably. Serve faithfully. Forgive quickly. Love deeply. Stand for something greater than yourself. That is how we keep their memory alive.

Today, some among us silently struggle. Some carry survivors’ guilt, battle depression, loneliness, or invisible scars. Some smile outwardly but are exhausted inside. If you see someone hurting,
reach out. One conversation, one hug, or a sincere “How are you really doing?” might save a life.

This Memorial Day, let us vow never to become numb to sacrifice. Never take freedom for granted. And never forget those who paid the price by standing in harm’s way. To every Gold Star family, grieving parent, widow, child missing a parent, veteran carrying painful memories, we see you, honor you, and stand with you.
May the Creator comfort the brokenhearted. May He grant peace to those silently suffering. May He protect those still deployed worldwide. And may He make us worthy of the sacrifices made for
us.

Āmīn
Asnage CASTELLY, BCC
Chaplain (CPT), USA
Chaplain Clinician

05/26/2026

Buddhist Teaching of the Week

The Prodigal Son

“A poor son wanders far from home and lives many years in hardship, unaware that his father is extremely wealthy. When the son eventually encounters his father again, he does not recognize him and feels unworthy of being near him. The father, understanding his son’s fear and limited self-confidence, gradually guides him through simple work and encouragement over many years. Only later does the father reveal their true relationship and the inheritance already belonging to the son.”

· Adapted from Lotus Sutra, Chapter 4.

Reflection:

This teaching speaks to the human tendency to underestimate ourselves and forget our own worth. For someone exploring Buddhist teaching, the prodigal son represents the part of us that feels disconnected, uncertain, or unworthy of deeper meaning and growth. The father’s patient guidance reflects compassion that does not force change but supports gradual understanding. This story reminds us that transformation often takes time. People may not immediately recognize their own potential, especially after experiences of suffering or failure. Through patience, encouragement, and trust, we may slowly come to see qualities within ourselves that were present all along but hidden by fear or doubt.

Meditation:

Sit comfortably and bring awareness to your breath. Allow your body to settle naturally.

Bring to mind a time when you doubted yourself or felt unworthy. Notice any feelings that arise without judgment.

Now imagine someone meeting you with patience and understanding, without criticism or pressure. As you breathe, gently ask: “What strengths or goodness might I have forgotten within myself?”

Do not force an answer. Simply remain open. With each inhale, allow space for acceptance. With each exhale, soften self-judgment. Rest quietly with the possibility that growth and wisdom may already exist within you, waiting to be recognized.

Very Respectfully,
DUNG V. NGUYEN, DMin., BCC
Chaplain (Major), USA
Joint Base San Antonio
Cell: (626) 236-3445
NIPR: [email protected]

05/07/2026

CHRISTIAN WORD of the week: The Oracles of God

“Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?” (Romans 3:2-3)

This striking synonym for the Scriptures (“the oracles of God”) occurs just three times in the Bible. In our text, Paul emphasizes the great privilege and responsibility that was committed to the Jews when God gave His “oracles” to them, a word implying “divinely inspired utterances.”

The author of Hebrews rebuked those Hebrew Christians who had still not learned the very “first principles of the oracles of God,” despite having been professing Christians for a long time (Hebrews 5:12). Finally, the apostle Peter urged his readers, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11). That is, anyone who presumes to speak for the Lord must “preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2). It is not our words but His words that are “quick, and powerful” (Hebrews 4:12). In fact, Stephen called them “the lively [or ‘living’] oracles” (Acts 7:38).

In all these references, it is clear that these “oracles of God”—that is, the Holy Scriptures—constitute the very utterances of the living God. They were given to and through believing Jews and are preserved for us now in our Bibles. They obviously should be believed, studied, obeyed, and proclaimed by all who consider themselves to be Christians.

The fact that many people reject the Bible, even claiming it is wrong in what it teaches, is irrelevant. Such claims merely display human arrogance. God’s Word has been “for ever . . . settled in heaven” and “is true from the beginning” (Psalm 119:89, 160). It will endure even after this present world has passed away (Matthew 24:35) and will finally be the criterion by which its detractors will be judged in the last day (Revelation 20:12; 22:18–19). HMM

So, what keeps you out of God’s Word?

See ICR’s Days of Praise.

05/07/2026

Islamic Word of Encouragement

Bismillah Al-Rahman Al-Raheem In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

Welcome back to another Chap C’s heart and soul weekly reflections.

My dear brothers and sisters, why is it that when life becomes heavy with burdens, we often first reach out to others? We share our struggles with creation yet sometimes delay seeking the comfort and solace only our Creator can provide.

Allah reminds us gently in the Qur’an: “And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near. I respond to the call of the caller when he calls upon Me.” (2:186)

He is near, ready to help, and always listening with compassion, beyond our understanding.

Yet often we hesitate. Look to the inspiring story of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). When he faced rejection, humiliation, and wounds in Ta’if left bleeding, alone, and heartbroken he did not turn to those who hurt him. Instead, he turned his heart upward to Allah.

He raised his hands and softly said: “O Allah, to You I complain of my weakness, my lack of support, and the humiliation I have endured…”

In his lowest moment, he did not lose hope or direction; he turned his heart to the Most Merciful.

And what was Allah’s response? Not just relief, but blessing, honor, elevation, and opening that would forever change history.

My dear brothers and sisters, what you seek in people is limited. What you seek in Allah is limitless.

He can transform your life in a single moment. He can mend what has been broken for years. He can open doors no one else can.

So, why do we wait?

Turn to Him in your pain. Turn to Him before your fears overwhelm you. Turn to Him not as a last resort, but as your first and most heartfelt response.

Allah says: “And whoever relies upon Allah then He is sufficient for him.” (65:3)

Reflection: When your heart feels overwhelmed, do you seek refuge in the world, or do you find comfort in the One who created your heart?

Turn to Him and watch how everything begins to softly change.

Āmīn

Asnage CASTELLY, BCC

Chaplain (CPT), USA

Chaplain Clinician

Chappie's Corner

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