REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Wherever he has been in life -- from the deserts of Southwest Asia to the rolling hills of Germany, from the countryside of Mississippi to the cold climes of West Point, New York -- retired Chaplain (Col.) Sonny Moore has found God.
And in finding God, he has been most inspired by Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Moore spoke about his faith, and leadership and teamwork at the Aviation and Missile Command Leadership Prayer Breakfast on April 19, 2016 at Redstone Arsenal's Summit. The breakfast was hosted by the AMCOM Chaplain's Office.
Moore, a Southern Baptist minister who has been a friend to AMCOM Commander Brig. Gen. Doug Gabram since they deployed to Operation Desert Storm together, served 34 years as an Army chaplain to include serving as command chaplain for the Forces Command at Fort McPherson, Georgia, and for the Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker. He is the program manager for Workforce Development and Community Relations for Army Fleet Support at Fort Rucker.
Today, Moore still lives by the creed he wrote while attending New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in the 1960s. He shared that creed with AMCOM leadership at the breakfast.
"The creed of my life is what I believe in, what I live on and what I stand by," he said. "I believe in four things, in the four Bs."
The first B -- Be yourself.
"A lot of people go through life playing games, not being who they are. A lot of people wear masks in their lives," he said. "They try to be something they are not."
There's no need to hide behind a mask, he said.
"Every one of us is special," he said. "I believe you are unique and you are special. God doesn't make any carbon copies."
The second B -- Be positive.
"Life is 98 percent attitude and 2 percent ability," Moore said. "A positive attitude goes a long way. You can do anything with a positive attitude. The people you want on your team are positive people."
As part of that, he said the first thing leaders should put on when we wake up in the morning is a smile. And even when they don't feel like smiling, leaders should still smile, he said.
The third B -- Be mindful of others.
Effective leaders think about other people, and consider the feelings and thoughts of others. And effective leaders are encouragers, Moore said.
He talked about the Bible's Barnabas, who was always in the background encouraging others.
The fourth B -- Be going somewhere.
"In life, you've got to keep your balance," Moore said. "You've got to keep moving."
Leaders have financial goals, educational goals, spiritual goals and other goals that make them better people.
Moore also encouraged leaders at the breakfast to read their Bible and pray daily, and worship regularly.
"When leaders do the right thing, leaders set the tone for everyone else," he said.
During the breakfast, Gabram also shared the Cowboy Ethics, a listing of 10 principles to live by.
They are:
• Live each day with courage.
• Take pride in your work.
• Always finish what you start.
• Do what has to be done.
• Be tough, but fair.
• When you make a promise, keep it.
• Ride for the brand.
• Talk less and say more.
• Remember that some things aren't for sale.
• Know where to draw the line.
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