GOOD DAY READERS… our Chaplin Lieutenant Commander Gerald Box has submitted many articles during the past two years and I would like to honor his devotion by posting his various holiday articles.
Some Advance Thanksgiving Season Thoughts
from Lt Box, SFI Chaplin (2016):
“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” – William Arthur Ward
“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” – Oprah Winfrey
A Thanksgiving Look At Great Meals In Star Trek History
November 26, 2008 Posted online: http://trekmovie.com/2008/11/26/a-thanksgiving-look-at-great-meals-in- star-trek-history
Klingons come to dinner (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)
Perhaps no other meal time scene in Star Trek has the symbolism and meaning than when Kirk and the crew have the Klingons over for dinner on the Enterprise. The meal itself was impressive from its variety of foods from both cultures, but it was the conversations that were the most delicious. The themes discussed during the dinner scene echo through the entire film and is an important setting for the movie. The scene beautifully illustrates the differences, yet also the commonalities, of the Klingon Empire and the Federation. From a character point of view, Captain Kirk and Chang get into a verbal confrontation (with Kirk delivering his debate-winning line of “Earth. Hitler. 1938.”) Meanwhile, Spock and Gorkon try to salvage the dinner with diplomacy. The table itself is colorful with blue fish and bright flowers. Although it was on a starship and full of exotic foods and aliens, anyone with large extended family gathering for a meal can relate to some of the tensions at Kirk’s table – Credit: Trekmovie.com
Gerald Box http://www.geraldbox.coolpage.biz
Gerald Box, Customer Service Representative
Disciples News Service features Gerald Box Church and Star Trek National News Story
USS Valkyrie Chaplain Newsfeed
Earth-date June 2017 By Lieutenant Gerald Box
Greetings Fellow Star Trek Fans
My name is Gerald Box. One day I wore a Star Trek shirt to work. Several people saw it and would stop and engage me in a short conversation about Star Trek. Apparently, it seemed I knew a lot about all the TV series and movies. One of the youngest co-workers said to me, “You must have watched lots of Star Trek reruns when you were a kid.” I replied, “No not reruns, I watched the original broadcasts!” I have been watching Star Trek since 1966. Today my Star Trek collection includes books, DVD movies, VHS TV episodes, posters, View Master reels, records, cassette tapes, trading cards, games, action figures, Pez figures, model ships, cups, mugs, paintings, clocks, shirts, blue prints, manuals, magazines, comic books, watches, stamps, games plus a few other things including a William Shatner (Captain Kirk) autograph.
I am a Chaplain in STARFLEET International and I’ve been a member since 2015. I live with my wife Bernadette (along with 2 dogs and 1 cat) in Louisville, Kentucky. I am glad to be part of the USS Valkyrie Correspondence Chapter in Region 4. At my home church (a Christian Church – Disciples of Christ congregation); I serve as an ordained deacon. I preach sermons monthly at a local state prison chapel ministry, I officiate the devotional message at the Lord’s Table, I read scripture as sermon lector, I teach an adult Bible class and I serve as the Men’s Group discussion leader.
My email is listed below, and I welcome prayer concerns, spiritual questions, and your comments about people of faith from any of the Star Trek TV series or movies. One of the basic points in the STARFLEET chaplain program is the concept of Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations (IDIC). I have had life experiences with several aspects of faith in our own culture such as Baptist, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Catholic, Church of Christ, and Disciples of Christ. In addition, I have knowledge of Islam and Judaism. I also respect those people that do not practice any faith.
My role in the USS Valkyrie Chapter is to fulfill the duties of a STARFLEET chaplain as described below from the STARFLEET Chaplain Services website.
STARFLEET Chaplain Services is designed as an outreach to the spiritual and moral needs of Fleet members in order to express an avenue of love and hope to those who may require assistance in those areas and will be made available at the discretion of the Chaplain Services team in order to provide said assistance throughout all regions within STARFLEET, The International Star Trek Fan Association. The current leadership is directed by Rev. Admiral Russell D. Ruhland, Chief Chaplain, STARFLEET and the Region 4 leader is Chaplain Stephen Griswold, Chaplain Services Liaison. Serving chaplains complete a STARFLEET Academy certification course.
STARFLEET Chaplain Services Belief Statement:
WE, as Chaplains within STARFLEET, believe that there is a spirituality within all of humanity and cultures throughout the known universe.
WE, as Chaplains within STARFLEET, are here to serve the spiritual needs and moral support of the members of STARFLEET, The International Star Trek Fan Association.
We, as Chaplains within STARFLEET, believe in the concept of Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations (IDIC), of which there is a spiritual connection with one’s beliefs and moral lifestyle.
STARFLEET Chaplain Services Offered:
– Prayer request submissions.
– E-Mail messages to fleet members & their families regarding condolences, births, hospitalizations, etc.
– Chaplain Liaison support currently within 12 regions of Starfleet.
– A “Faith Advisory Council” comprised of members of various denominational/spiritual faiths/beliefs to assist in building a common ground for all faiths and beliefs in the spirit of Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations (IDIC).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=10&v=Zfi-SuOj0c0
Some of my favorite Star Trek related quotations include:
“Star Trek is a show that had a vision about a future that was positive.”
George Takei
“Nobody could have imagined the phenomenon that ‘Star Trek’ became. It’s still almost impossible to imagine.”
William Shatner
“Having played many roles of scientific intellect, I do have an empathy for that world. It’s been hard on me because flying the Enterprise for seven years in Star Trek and sitting in Cerebro in X-men has led people to believe that I know what I’m talking about. But I’m still trying to work out how to operate the air conditioning unit on my car.”
Patrick Stewart
“I was a huge fan of the original ‘Star Trek,’ and I’d never even dreamed that I would someday be captain of a starship.”
Scott Bakula
“I don’t think you ever leave Star Trek for good.”
Jonathan Frakes
“I think anybody with any intelligence sits down and sees Star Trek not a kids’ show.”
Nichelle Nichols
“I think the potential for man is so enormous, if we can stay alive long enough, we’re going to be seeing a lot of what Star Trek is projecting.”
Brent Spiner
USS Valkyrie June 2017 Prayer and Meditation:
“Source of all life and healing, my creator,
Be with me in this time of physical, emotional and spiritual need.
Help me cope with the challenges I am facing.
Comfort and encourage those who love and care and whose lives have been unsettled and disrupted by illness.
I pray for patience and for understanding.
I pray for strength and wisdom.
I pray for healing and for inner peace.”
I look forward to the open exchange of communication with all USS Valkyrie members.
Lieutenant Gerald Box, Deacon
Chaplain USS Valkyrie Chapter, STARFLEET Region 4
jerrybox@rocketmail.com
They are so determined to make Khan and his buddies. They even sound like that ‘green-blooded Vulcan’…. “genome synthesis is “a logical extension” of the genetic engineering tools that have been used safely within the biotech industry for approximately 40 years and have “provided important societal benefits.”
Captain Janeway has been officially vindicated for her coffee habit. She obviously has the ‘fast metabolizing’ gene for coffee! 
by CAPT Jeffery Redmond, USS Valkyrie
uss valkyrie 