13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) hosts prayer luncheon

Photo By Staff Sgt. Kimberly Johnson | Col. Michael Lembke, command chaplain with United States Forces-Iraq, and an Crawfordsville, Ind., native, performs a song he wrote during the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) prayer luncheon, May 19, at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The theme for the day was "Deep Roots, High Reach and Resiliency." Lembke challenged audience members to grow strong root systems so they may reach high in their lives and stay resilient.  

JOINT BASE BALAD, IRAQ

05.19.2010

Story by Sgt. Kimberly Johnson 

13th Armored Corps Sustainment Command (13th ESC)

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – "Send your roots out in daily life to find the nutrients to keep your root system strong, in order to reach high for your goals," said Col. Michael Lembke, command chaplain with United States Forces-Iraq, and an Crawfordsville, Ind., native. "It's worth digging down to grow deeper roots."

The 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) hosted a prayer luncheon, May 19, featuring Lembke, at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation-East.

The audience of more than 70 service members, including Brig. Gen. Paul L. Wentz, commanding general of the 13th ESC and a Mansfield, Ohio, native; Command Sgt. Maj. Mark D. Joseph, command sergeant major with the 13th ESC and a Lake Charles, La., native; and Command Sgt. Maj. Lawrence Wilson, command sergeant major with to USF–I, and an Austin, Texas, native, and members of the 13th ESC command staff ate lunch, listened to music provided by the Task Force 38 Band, and heard encouraging words from Lembke about how to enrich their deployment and their lives.

The theme for the day was "Deep Roots, High Reach and Resiliency." Lembke challenged audience members to grow strong root systems so they may reach high in their lives and stay resilient.

"Live to learn and seek to teach as leaders," Lembke encouraged.

Lembke, who is an avid guitar player and song writer, shared how he keeps his root system strong with music.

"Music is a universal language," he said. "It's dynamic, much like our lives are dynamic."

Lembke also focused on his eight "F" words of resiliency: faith, family, friends, fun, future, focus, flexibility and forgiveness.

The luncheon provided a great break from the day-to-day grind of a deployment. Many leaders of the command came out to enjoy the chaplain's encouraging words.

"It's good to take time out to do these sorts of things because we all need balance in our lives," Wentz said. "The heart of today is fellowship and to take the opportunity to pause."

Added Lembke: "Anytime I can go and be out with Soldiers and share from my heart is a great day."

• Date Taken: 05.19.2010
• Date Posted: 05.23.2010 00:18
• Story ID: 50111
• Location: JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ