I Hate to Be Wrong . . .

. . . but a friend of my barber sent him the following info regarding Homeland Security's contract to buy 200 million rounds of ammo from Winchester:

I talked to one of the guys in my unit who was a department rangemaster/armorer several years ago before promoting to detective.  He told me this morning that LAPD buys its ammo from a distributor in the Anaheim area and typically purchases about two millions rounds of our primary handgun rounds (9/40/45) annually, so 200 million rounds for DHS doesn't sound abnormally high to him, given the vast size of their organizational empire spread across the country and abroad, for recruit training at various academy facilities, plus in-service training, special training, and regularly-scheduled qualifications, and to replace/rotate older ammo stockpiles.

I admit it. I spouted off without sufficient information or reflection. Apologies to all.

That said, please don't think that I have changed my opinion about Homeland Security. They're an agency that defines potential terrorissts to include those who oppose murdering the unborn, supporters of politically incorrect candidates (like Ron Paul) and vets of the armed forces.

In short, I see these guys right up there with consistent Muslims as the real potential terrorists.

200 Million Rounds for Homeland Security

This just in from my barber. Article here.

It seems that Winchester has agreed to supply the Dept. of Homeland Security with 200 million rounds of .40 cal. (135 grain) ammo over the next 5 years.

Question: Who they planning to shoot?

They don't seem too worried about the Muslim terrorists training in Hancock, N.Y. And you know the Establishment has no problem with illegal aliens coming across the border (or running for president).

You know whom they see as the REAL terrorists, don't you? Armed forces vets, anyone against abortion, folks who vote "wrong" in elections and those pesky people who think the Bible is the highest Law of the land. Oh yeah . . . and gun owners.

(If I were paranoid, I might think that the growth & popularity of a movement like OathKeepers has led the bureaucrats to conclude that they cannot depend on the armed forces to disarm & subjugate the populace.)

In a previous post, I told about how Homeland Security investigated a man who ordered 1000 rounds of .223 ammo through the mail. Seems they don't think private citizens should have that many cartridges in their possession.

But I guess they figure we should trust them with 200,000,000 rounds. That's enough to put a bullet into 2 out of every 3 citizens of this country.

So . . . who ARE they planning to shoot?

Video of Terrorists Training in USA

All things temporal come to an end, and that includes the celebration of our Lord's incarnation and birth. May the peace of His kingdom grow in our world.

But for now, let us focus on those who want to take peace from our land. Below is a video from the Christian Action Network that shows actual training going on at the Muslims of America terrorist training center in Hancock, N.Y.

I believe that RPC sent me the link to this video. If I credited the wrong person, please forgive me & drop me a line so I can give correct attribution.

As you watch the video, you will probably notice (as I did) that the overwhelming majority of trainees are women. Also, their level of expertise is very low.

They are also learning techniques that, for the most part will be ineffective against a minimally trained, determined foe. You can also see a real lack of tactical awareness.

That's the good news.

The bad news is that men may also be training, but just not on the day that the video was made. Also, terrorists do not rely primarily on techniques and tactics if their strategy includes suicide bombing.

In that case, the training may simply be for morale purposes, so they can say, "Look at us. We're a bunch of real malevolent-posteriors."

In your comments, please do not point out specific lacks in the training. I have no desire to help them hone their training program.

Feast of Stephen

A happy 2nd Day of Christmas (or Feast of Stephen) to you!

It's a time to reflect on God's covenant blessings and to also reflect on those whom God has sent into our lives to bless us. In that spirit, I want to say thank you.


First, I want to extend my thanks to my barber & to deolexrex who have both contributed materially to the content of this blog. And thanks to any and all others who have made suggestions that I've used.

Then there are those of you who have used the comment section not only to encourage me, but to share your knowledge, expertise and valued opinions -- thanks for your contributions, as well.

Last, but far from least are all my regular & semi-regular readers. Safe to say that if no one ever read my blog, I would probably stop posting to it. So please accept my thanks for coming by WARSKYL to read these posts.

If you have not already done so, I urge you to download your free Nativity Season gift. It's an e-booklet about how to determine when an attack has begun. It's called Lines in the Dirt.

The e-booklet will be available at least until January 5th (the traditional 12th day of Christmas). After that, I may make it part of a package of informational items for sale.

The King of Kings

Where is He that is born King of the Jews? (Mat 2:2)

And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end. (Luk 1:31-33)

 At the Nativity season, we celebrate the birth of the King -- God incarnate, who came to redeem and reign over, through and on behalf of His people.

Several years ago, I was subject to frequent fits of discouragement & depression. In those years, I wore out a cassette tape of a short excerpt from a message by S.M. Lockridge entitled "That's My King". Later, I got hold of another copy, and it always helped me put things in proper perspective.

Today, there are several versions of that message on youtube. I have put one below that highlights key phrases of the message.

Rev. Lockridge here displays a rich mastery command of the English language; however, there are a few errors in the transcription. For example, the text should read:

• Not "He's honest," but "He's august;"
• Not "correlell necessity," but "cardinal necessity of spiritual religion,"
• Not "leader of the legislatures," but "leader of the legislators".
  

 If you are subject to holiday (or post-holiday) blues, I recommend you spend a little time reflecting on this many-faceted message about MY King. If you acknowledge Him as your King, you may find your perspective changed, as mine was those years ago.

Celebrating the Nativity

In the ancient world, all the land would celebrate the king's birthday as a holiday. Today, people in all lands celebrate Christmas as the birth of the one great King of Kings.

Both Christian and non-Christian, both churched and unchurched -- all, in one way or another, acknowledge Christ the King at this season. Of course, many only get the crumbs from the table in their celebration. All they see at this time is Santa, Rudolph and family get-togethers. Nevertheless, something about Christmas seems to resonate with just about everyone.

Did you ever wonder why Christmas seems to touch so many, so deeply? I think it has to do with a certain aspect of the Nativity message. It's a facet of the Gospel that most churches ignore, except during the Christmas season.

In short, the Nativity heralds the birth of a King who will put things right. A world where so many things are out of joint welcomes the arrival of the Baby in swaddling clothes who will restore goodness and justice to a troubled world. It's the message that resounds in many Scriptures that we quote only at Christmastide.

Christmas in Scripture

For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order and to establish it, and with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me; because the LORD hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and to opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God;

To comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified.

And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. (Isaiah 61:1-4)

Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11)

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He that is born King of the Jews?. For we have seen His star in the East, and are come to worship Him." (Matthew 2:1-2)

Christmas in Song

You also find the Biblical message of the King born to put things right echoed in the songs of Christmas. In fact, Handel's Messiah takes the words right out of Scripture itself. For example, Revelation 11:15 introduces the "Hallelujah Chorus":

The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.

In Joy to the World, you find the exhortation: "Let earth receive her King." Also, the third verse of this carol carries a message that perfectly expresses the message of the Scriptures quoted above:

No more let sins and sorrows grow, 

   Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make Hid blessings known

   Far as the curse is found . . . .

O Holy Night also repeats that same message:

Truly He taught us to love one another;

   His Law is love, and His Gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother,

  And in His name all oppression shall cease.

It Came upon the Midnight Clear also recounts message of the newborn King's peaceful reign:

For lo! The days are hast'ning on,

   By prophet bards foretold,

When with the ever circling years,

   Comes round the age of gold.

When peace shall over all the earth

  Its ancient splendors fling,

And all the world give back the song

  Which now the angels sing.

The Message of the Nativity

Have you ever heard people say that they wish that the spirit of Christmas could last all year long? Have you ever wondered why it doesn't?

I believe the reason lies substantially in the fact that after Christmas we (including most churches) pack up the message of the King along with the holiday ornaments. Yes, we preach that Jesus died for sinners (which is vitally true), and we preach that those who repent and trust in Him will have forgiveness and eternal life (also vitally true). But we leave out the part that Jesus is the King of Kings who has come to put things right.

Individuals, families, communities and nations that acknowledge Jesus as King and who live under His Royal Law will experience the blessings of Christmas all year round. That's the real message of Christmas (or as I like to call it, the Nativity).

So, proclaim liberty to the captive, seasons of refreshing to the weary and joy to the brokenhearted. For the King has come to put things right.

I Like Guns

This Nativity season I'm having a little trouble trying to focus on the grave and tragic. So, I'll focus more on the inspirational.

My barber sent me the link to this video. It's a country song with a lilting melody and a topic dear to my heart -- it's inspirational.

CAUTION: One profanity is repeated several times in the song.

Improbable, Impractical and Insane

The video below contains a premise that is improbable, impractical & insane. Which only serves to underscore the question, "Why do I find it so incredibly entertaining?"

I suspect it has to do with something incurably male about me. Thanks to my barber for sending me the link to this video.

CAUTION: The last 10 or 12 seconds of this commercial contain a beer commercial that includes music with a heavy beat & a sexually suggestive reference. Any minor reader should have a parent preview this to decide if & how much of this violates your family's standards, and how much, if any, you are allowed to watch.

Off Topic? You decide.

Some readers may think this post is way off the topic of Christian Martialism. I don't think so, but you're free to disagree.

The topic is personal debt. The average American family spends over 16% of its income to service personal debt.

In the present economy, you can't afford to be unemployed if you owe the credit card companies a pile of money. It could wipe you out.

If you are at risk because of personal/family debt, you may be interested in a Christian ministry that offers a free 12-week course in how to get out of debt & get control of your finances. Consider this information my second Nativity Season present to you.

Here is the link:

Deliverance from Debt

Now, why do I think that the Christian Martialist should free himself from the entanglement of debt? Here's just one small part of my rationale on the subject:

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. (2Ti 2:3-4)

A Nativity Season Gift to You & Yours

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (2Co 9:15)

At this season we celebrate the birth of the King. To us who believe, He is the greatest gift, for in Him we find the hope of liberation from sin, injustice, want and woe.

All of our Christmas gifts pale by comparison.

Nevertheless, I wanted to express my appreciation to my faithful readers with the gift of a little booklet I've prepared from a series of posts I made a while ago. I've edited a little & added a little, so it's better than the first time it appeared (I hope).

It's in .pdf form, and you can download it here:

Lines in the Dirt

It's not only meant as a gift for you to receive, but one you can give away as well. Post the link on your blog, Twitter, Facebook, Myspace or email it to friends & family. It's yours to give away to anyone you think will appreciate the information.

Just say that by special permission from the author, you are able to offer them the booklet free of charge.

I will have more to say about the Nativity Season later, but until then, have a merry one.

WARSKYL Supports Green Movement

What is Honor?, 7

Continued from "What is Honor?, 6"

So far in this discussion, I have worked on the assumption that insults to your honor (i.e., reputation or integrity) have come from one particular confrontational type: the big deal.

I have also noted that the best and safest course of action is to remove yourself from the scene. If retreat is impossible, I suggest you keep in mind the confrontational types and how to respond to each.

Remember that the most desirable response to personal violence is complete avoidance, if possible. If you cannot avoid it, then you can choose the level of force appropriate to the situation.

Moving on, Warrior has raised the question about defending a lady's honor. And, indeed, the ideals of the Age of Romanticism require a gentleman to defend the virtue of a lady.

But Romanticism is not a philosophy based on Scripture. Further, it places womanhood in an unbiblical perspective as beautiful but physically and psychologically helpless, frail and incapable of rigorous labor or logic.

These things are simply not so, and the defense of Romantic notions of womanhood by evangelicaldom have fueled the fires of militant feminism. The Biblical role of women, while different from that of men, requires great courage, strength and endurance (Think of Esther or Jael). Read Proverbs 31:10-31 and see the wisdom, intelligence and character of the woman portrayed there.

(Yes, the Apostle Peter did say that husbands should give honor to wives "as to the weaker vessel" [I Peter 3:7]. The physical constitution of the average man is stronger than that of the average woman. The physical constitution of women also makes them vulnerable in ways that men normally are not. Men need to honor those differences -- do the heavy lifting & physically protect women if and when necessary.)

The issue of honor, therefore, is exactly the same for a woman as it is for a man. An insult cannot touch her virtuous character, and although a good reputation has value, it remains highly doubtful that insults from street scum will harm her good name.

The street punk who tries to goad you into a fight has some invisible asset: weapon and/or friends. To accept his invitation to mayhem puts you in grave danger.

The addition of a woman to the equation only serves to complicate the tactical problems. The best chance for her safety (and yours!) lies in retreat.

If you have in your company a lady who embraces the Romantic notion that you have an obligation to fight for her honor, you need to realize that she values her pride above your safety or even your life. Unless you have the hard providence of being married to her, you need to let her find another companion and "protector".

The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. (Pro 19:11)

As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion. (Pro 11:22)

To Publicly Kill an Intruder

My barber sent me the link to the video below. It contains a news broadcast of a woman who shot an intruder while on the line with a 911 operator.

Here are some of my observations on the event:

1. Those who say that you don't need a gun when you can dial 911 need to hear this call. The woman dialed 911 AND she had a shotgun. If the police had arrived before the intruder had broken into the house, then she would not have needed the firearm (in this instance). No matter how good your local police are, there will be a time lag: you punch in 911 . . . operator picks up . . . you ask for police . . . operator asks scripted questions . . . you insist your life is in danger . . . operator dispatches an officer . . . officer(s) travel whatever distance to your location . . . officers call for coroner. The question is whether they will call the coroner for you or for the orc who tried to break in.
2. The 911 call provides a permanent, first-person record of the incident. This can work for the woman or against her. The pluses: a) the call shows that she did make an effort toward a resolution that did not involve her using lethal force, and she flatly stated that she did not want to kill the man; b) the call provides documentation of her actions and state of mind [e.g., she retrieved the gun only after the level of threat escalated; she verbally affirmed that she feared for her safety]. The minuses: a) the call records that she refused to lock herself in the bathroom (could be important in a civil suit brought against her by the orc's family); b) the woman shows immediate remorse for shooting the intruder (could also be used in a civil suit as evidence that she knew that shooting the orc was wrong)

Lessons? Even with good intentions and pure motives, you can incriminate yourself -- at least in the eyes of a sly attorney.

That means it might be wise to think ahead about what you or other family members may say to a 911 operator in a potentially lethal situation. Remember that anything you say will be used against you.


Disclaimer: This blog does not in any way purport to give legal advice or counsel. If you need legal advice, you should seek the counsel of a competent attorney.

JROTC: Good Idea or Bad?

Deolexrex sent me a link to an article a while back that we all need to think about. It seems the Army is developing a Middle School ROTC program.

Here's an excerpt from the Army Times article:

The Wichita school district in south-central Kansas is one of a few nationwide offering middle school programs based on the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps curriculum. Top Army officials are studying its programs to see if they could be a model for others nationwide.

The Army is collaborating with the National Association of School Boards to develop a so-called JROTC-plus program that would use the high school JROTC curriculum as a basis for a middle school program, Army JROTC director Col. John Vanderbleek said.

“We want to reach students at that age before they make decisions that put them at risk,” said Vanderbleek, who came to Wichita recently from Fort Monroe, Va., to see the Kansas program for himself.

I want to know what you Christian Martialists out there think about this. Good idea or bad?

Does this present the opportunity to raise up a generation of warriors, or is it one more step toward regimentation & centralized control of our children? Express your opinions, please.

Valkyrie: A Review

On Saturday, we watched Valkyrie starring Tom Cruise. I'm not a big fan of his, but I found this movie riveting.

Since we already knew the plot & the outcome, there had to be something else to hold our attention so effectively. You could call it character x 2.

That is, the characters themselves were fascinating -- their motives for getting involved in the plot to kill Hitler, their reactions to changing circumstance, even their approach to their own deaths. But through all this ran the thread of the character of each individual.

I guess one reason this struck me is that honor seems to be the major theme of the film. You can see how each character views honor in terms of his own integrity AND in terms of the oath he took to give his life in service to the Führer.

One aspect of the movie that bothered me was its representation of Field Marshal Keitel. He may have been the arrogant prima donna that the film suggests, but I have a soft spot in my heart for him after reading the memoirs of WWII that he wrote while awaiting execution at Nuremburg.

I recommend Valkyrie as an exercise in ethical discernment for the Christian Martialist. It also serves as an example of the doctrine of interposition -- something to consider if and when we find ourselves ruled by evil tyrants.

What is Honor?, 6

Continued from "What is Honor?, 5"

You should see your honor [correctly] in terms of your integrity and moral purity. That is,

HONOR = INTEGRITY (or CHARACTER)

Assuming you see that, how do you defend your integrity against the foul-mouthed orc who defames you? Short answer: you don't, because you can't.

Remember, your honor is not your reputation; it's your character. No low-life can touch your character with his words.

Don't get me wrong. Contrary to the old "sticks & stones" saying, words can and do hurt . . . if you let them.

If you let them. That's the key. The worst insults in the world tend to roll off of people who are secure in who they are.

To complicate the problem, however, the orc who uses words to goad others tends to have a sixth sense when it comes to reading people. His radar will home in on your weakest spot, the thing you fear is true about you but you don't want anyone to see.

With just a word or phrase, this street-Saruman exposes your insecurity in front of strangers & whatever friends and family are with you. It sticks in your craw, and now you have something to prove.

How do you defend against something like that? I think the answer lies in not in physical confrontation (which only adds validity to the accusation), but in the Biblical injunction:

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (Jas 5:16)

John Calvin comments, "the words clearly mean, that confession is required for no other end, but that those who know our evils may be more solicitous to bring us help." An example may help elucidate the matter.

In the early '80's, I pastored a small group of people trying to plant a church in Pennsylvania. I also worked part-time as a security officer at a local plant where pornographic pictures and magazines abounded.

That filth appealed to the filthiness of my old nature. I found it very tempting. What to do?

I saw two basic choices: 1) follow the leadership dictum of the world (i.e., never show weakness), or 2) follow the advice of James 5:16.

I chose the latter path and mentioned from the pulpit (actually, my pulpit was an old treadle sewing machine) that I would appreciate the prayers of God's people to deliver me from the temptation to look at the pornography which seemed ready to ambush me at so many places in the plant.

That honesty put my weakness out in the open, but it also put the people on my side. The other man in the group later commented about his own struggles to remain pure. This encouraged me in a later pastorate to be open about my weaknesses and even to use my failures in sermon illustrations along with how I was applying the principles of Scripture to overcome those failings.

If you get in the habit of confessing your weaknesses and asking your church & family to pray for you to overcome them, you will be practicing humility. And humility is your one and only defense against the foul-mouthed manipulator who wants to goad you into a fight.

Remember that nothing he says can diminish your integrity one iota. Nor can he expose your insecurities if you have already brought them before God's people for prayer.

Oh, and just for added incentive, this guy wouldn't pick a fight with you if he didn't KNOW he was going to win. He has an ace up his sleeve, somewhere -- a weapon, a gang of buddies . . . something that ensures that he will win.

Bottom line? As a Christian Martialist, strive to be pure in the entirety of your character, like Sir Galahad. But don't hide your shortcomings. Practice humility.

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. (Pro 28:13)

A Needless Tragedy

"You're going to jail. You're going to jail." You can hear the man behind the counter shouting at the frustrated and helpless man before him. That is, helpless except for the rifle and pistol out in the vehicle.

When you run a towing service, you must expect that many of the people who come in the front door are hostile. You also have to recognize that in today's economic climate, not a few are close to the end of their rope.

Hint: for your own safety, don't threaten to cut the rope.

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. (Pro 15:1)

This is not to excuse the shooter. He was wrong; he made the sinful choice to express his anger in the form of violence, which only made his problems worse.

Nevertheless, the people behind the counter were asking for it by treating a man in distress with contempt.

Below is a link -- sent by my barber -- to a video of a shooting at a towing service. Please view it with an eye to tactical errors made in the wake of the huge strategic blunder of piling the last straw on a guy who has made up his mind that he's not going to take any more guff.

http://www.break.com/trutv-crazy-stupid-vids/tow-truck-shootout.html

Here's one of those exercises where we can learn from each other:"Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." (Pro 27:17) Please post your evaluations in the comments section.

Also, if you have not already done so, consider getting a copy of Verbal Judo by George Thompson. I have reviewed the book in "The Best Self Defense System, 4".

Judo Chop Drill

I thought this video of a Judo Chop drill might be of interest. As you observe the drill, ask yourself, "How easy would it be to block these chops?" & "If someone did block the backhand chop, what would I do to counter?"

This drill reminds me a little of an Arnis stick drill designed to keep an opponent on the defensive by raining blows so fast that he cannot mount a counterattack. If that's the tactical purpose, then after you master the basic pattern, you'd need your partner to do what the orc would: block & grab.

Then you'd know just what you need to do to keep him from interrupting your momentum.