WARSKYL: A Page For Christian Martialists

Resistance is Futile!

2011-12-29T20:00:00.001-05:00

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain (i.e., futile) thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed . . . . (Psalm 2:1-2)

I always thought I was the only one who drew a parallel between Star Trek's cube-dwelling Borg and the foursquare city of New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:16). Each respective cube lies suspended in space (the heavens).

I don't know if . . . .

To continue reading this post over at Christian Warrior Online, CLICK HERE

Protect Your Children from The Bad Guys

2011-12-01T14:26:00.000-05:00

What do you do when some pervert threatens the safety and security of your child? If the threat was imminent, you would take him out by whatever means necessary. Right?

If the threat . . . .

To continue reading this post over at Christian Warrior Online, CLICK HERE.

Defiance: Book Review

2011-11-26T09:38:00.000-05:00

. . . . More recently, I have read a non-fiction book that relates the account of a group of Jews that built a community deep in the Belorussian forest as they hid from the Nazis. In the book Defiance, Nechama Tec follows the wartime accomplishments of Tuvia Bielski and his brothers as they . . . .

To continue reading this post over at Christian Warrior Online, CLICK HERE.

Post Apocalyptic Society

2011-11-15T12:11:00.001-05:00

I like post-apocalyptic films. I see The Book of Eli as a high water mark in the production of such films. As I like to interpret it, the movie ends with a hope that the Word of God will provide the foundation for a new beginning for society & culture.

A Mad Max type of chaotic anarchy cannot go on indefinitely. People cannot, for long . . . ..

To continue reading this entry at Christian Warrior Online, CLICK HERE.

How to Protect Your Family from Nuclear Radiation, 2

2011-11-11T15:47:00.000-05:00

Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant disaster earlier this year brought it to the attention of Americans, however briefly, that nuclear plant accidents -- even half a world away -- can bring the threat of radioactive fallout right to their doorstep. In the wake of that incident . . . .

To continue reading this article over at Christian Warrior Online, CLICK HERE.

Christ's Alternative to Armed Revolt, 5

2011-11-09T11:34:00.000-05:00

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16)

So far, we have seen that our Lord and King, Jesus, has commissioned His people to subdue the nations to His rule (Matthew 28:16-20). In the passage above, you can see how He calls His people to act as . . . .

To continue reading this article over at Christian Warrior Online, CLICK HERE.

Home Invasion & the Christian Warrior: Are You Prepared?

2011-11-07T17:02:00.000-05:00

I assume that most of you reading this right now are at home. If so, do a little mental exercise with me.

Suppose armed intruders invaded your home at this instant . . . .

To continue reading this post over at Christian Warrior Online, CLICK HERE.

Keith Pascal on Facing Multiple Attackers (from behind?)

2011-11-05T00:10:00.000-04:00

Here's another article by Keith Pascal. I like the fact that rather than giving a set solution, he encourages individual discovery and experimentation.

Many martial arts and self defense teachers talk about tailoring a system to the individual's capabilities, but Keith is one of the few whose presentation actually lives up to that claim.

To me, this week's drill is a natural followup to . . . .

To continue reading this post over at Christian Warrior Online, CLICK HERE.

S.C. Sheriff Calls on Citizens to Arm Themselves & Stop Criminals

2011-11-03T11:34:00.000-04:00

In Spartanburg, S.C. on Sunday afternoon, a felon with multiple convictions sexually assaulted a woman in a Milliken Park. Sheriff's deputies apprehended the suspect, and Sheriff Chuck Wright held a press conference, the likes of which I doubt any of you has heard before.

Sheriff Wright told reporters . . . .

To continue reading this article over at Christian Warrior Online, CLICK HERE.

Psalm 1

2011-10-31T12:03:00.000-04:00

Jesus, the Anointed King, will prevail in time and on earth. From Heaven, He will subdue the nations BEFORE His final coming.

I believe any other philosophy of history . . . .

To continue reading this post over at Christian Warrior Online, CLICK HERE.

Identifying Any Terrorists as Islamic Offends Muslims -- U.S. Caves to Demands

2011-10-26T13:25:00.000-04:00

The Obama administration has undertaken the process of removing all references to Islam from anti-terrorist training materials. Acccording to an article in the Daily Caller . . . .

To continue reading this post over at Christian Warrior Online, CLICK HERE.

War Upon the Middle Class -- Who? Why?

2011-10-22T17:42:00.000-04:00

Over the past few years, both secular conservative and Christian observers have chronicled a concerted effort that amounts to a war upon the middle class in America. The attacks come from all directions: civil government, education, arts & media and more than a few religious leaders.

Most will lay the blame for these attacks at the feet of Marxists and liberal Democrats. Of course Christians see the hand of Satan behind this, but they generally identify the earthly perpetrators in terms of Marxism and Liberalism.

In the West, however, the great power behind the plan to destroy the middle class . . . .

To continue reading this post over at Christian Warrior Online, CLICK HERE.

Fall Schedule for Harold Camping's "End of the World" Series

2011-10-18T15:17:00.000-04:00

As you may have heard, false teacher of notoriety Harold Camping has revised his schedule for the end of the world. Instead of May 21, 2011 . . . .

To read the rest of this post over at Christian Warrior Online, CLICK HERE.

Christ's Alternative to Armed Revolt, 3

2011-10-17T13:13:00.001-04:00

The Apostle Peter exhorts Christian wives to influence their unbelieving husbands through example of life (I Peter 3:1). This represents an individual application of Christ's statement that the Church must collectively serve as a city set on a hill.

Most evangelical Christians will accept that much in theory, at least. They balk, however, when we start talking about . . . .

In order to continue reading this post over at Christian Warrior Online, CLICK HERE.

Regular readers, please note that Christian Warrior Online is my new blog. It contains the same Biblical philosophy and practical application that you have come to expect from WARSKYL, but in an expanded form that's easier to use and locate specific information. If you are a follower of WARSKYL, please become a follower of Christian Warrior Online in order to maintain continuity of communication.

Young Christian Warrior Motivational Poster

2011-10-14T09:51:00.001-04:00

This Christian warrior motivational poster features one of those cartoons that's supposed to make you see yourself and chuckle. To me, it's an acknowledgment of . . . .

To continue reading & to view the poster as it appears over at Christian Warrior Online, click here.

Regular readers, please note that Christian Warrior Online is my new blog. It contains the same Biblical philosophy and practical application that you have come to expect from WARSKYL, but in an expanded form that's easier to use and locate specific information. If you are a follower of WARSKYL, please become a follower of Christian Warrior Online in order to maintain continuity of communication.

Christ's Alternative to Armed Revolt, 2

2011-10-13T09:17:00.000-04:00

Can you imagine a church so dedicated to living out the principles of God's Word that the surrounding world would come just to scarf up the crumbs of blessing? A church that long ago decided to stop picking up the scraps of a bankrupt culture based upon a godless worldview, but rather decided to . . . .

To continue reading my post over at Christian Warrior Online, click here

.Regular readers, please note that Christian Warrior Online is my new blog. It contains the same Biblical philosophy and practical application that you have come to expect from WARSKYL, but in an expanded form that's easier to use and locate specific information. If you are a follower of WARSKYL, please become a follower of Christian Warrior Online in order to maintain continuity of communication.

Re: Christ's Alternative to Armed Revolt

2011-10-07T16:43:00.000-04:00

Continued from "The Christian Warrior: Mission & Strategy"

Since I write this blog for and about Christian Martialist warriors . . . AND since I also post articles highly critical of our nation's slide into totalitarian tyranny, some may conclude that I support some kind of armed revolt against the corrupt power brokers. . . .

To continue reading this article as I posted it over at Christian Warrior Online, CLICK HERE.

Regular readers, please note that Christian Warrior Online is my new blog. It contains the same Biblical philosophy and practical application that you have come to expect from WARSKYL, but in an expanded form that's easier to use and locate specific information. If you are a follower of WARSKYL, please become a follower of Christian Warrior Online in order to maintain continuity of communication.

Combat Lawn Gnome

2011-10-06T13:17:00.000-04:00

Not politically correct, but oh, so cool.

Click here to see the post over at Christian Warrior Online.

Rationale for Preparedness

2011-10-05T11:35:00.000-04:00

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. (Proverbs 22:3)

To continue reading this post as it appears over at Christian Warrior Online, click here.

American Combat Judo - A Review

2011-10-04T17:02:00.000-04:00

I published this review some time ago here on WARSKYL. I've upgraded it, and republished it over at Christian Warrior Online.

Click here to see the post.

Christian Warrior Culture in the Old Testament

2011-09-30T17:19:00.000-04:00

At first blush, some readers may consider my title a huge gaffe. How can I make any reference to "Old Testament Christian Warrior Culture"? After all . . . .

To continue reading this post at Christian Warrior Online, click here.

If you haven't yet become a follower of Christian Warrior Online, you should do so today. Just click the link in the "Followers" box in the right sidebar.

Operation Mountain Guardian: Martial Law Coming Soon to a City Near You?

2011-09-28T15:27:00.000-04:00

Last Friday (9/23/11), more than 100 gov't agencies participated in Operation Mountain Guardian hosted by homeland security. The exercise put Denver Colorado . . . .

To see the rest of this post at Christian Warrior Online, click here.

From the Barber's Chair: Preparedness Evaluation, 4

2011-09-27T16:02:00.000-04:00

Here is the final installment of my barber's preparedness evaluation (sorry this is late, but I had to leave town the latter part of last week):

Summation. I had about a week to think about everything. In disaster prep,you have two directions . . . .

To continue reading this post at Christian Warrior Online, click here.

Christian Warrior as Sentinel

2011-09-26T15:40:00.000-04:00

Yesterday one of my daughters plus husband & 8 children stopped in for a visit before continuing a whirlwind business trip. As they made their way to the car to leave, I stood over a pile of doggy-dooders with my flash light . . . .
Click this link to see the rest of the post and the picture.

Songs for Christian Warriors: The Blacksmith of Brandywine

2011-09-21T17:03:00.000-04:00

In 1963 Pat Garvey wrote the song "The Blacksmith of Brandywine", based upon a legend of the Battle of Brandywine . . . .

If you want to read, see and hear the rest of this post, click here.

From the Barber's Chair: Preparedness Evaluation, 2

2011-09-20T16:57:00.000-04:00

To read the second installment of my barber's debriefing on his flood & power outage experience, click this link.

The Christian Warrior: Mission & Strategy

2011-09-17T17:31:00.000-04:00

Re: The Christian warrior must understand the King's broader mission and strategy in order to contribute to ultimate victory.

Before you look to the future, sometimes it helps you gain perspective if you . . . .

To continue reading, click this link.

From the Barber's Chair: Ringing the Bell on 9/11

2011-09-14T12:22:00.000-04:00

To read what my barber said about why he volunteered to ring the church bell on 9/11, click here.

U.S. Gov't Involvement in the 9/11 Attacks?

2011-09-13T11:10:00.000-04:00

I hesitate to categorically state that elements of the U.S. government actively engaged in the planning/execution of the 9/11 attacks.

To continue reading this post, click here.

The Kingdom is Coming

2011-09-11T23:23:00.000-04:00

Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Martin Luther's catechism says that "Thy Kingdom come" means both that God's Kingdom . . .

To continue reading this post, click here.

In Memoriam: A 9/11 Sheepdog

2011-09-10T15:08:00.000-04:00

A 9/11 Sheepdog

To read my post about a sheepdog who may have given his life to cut the number of potential victims at the twin towers in half, click the link above.

Christian Warrior: An Idea Whose Time Has Come

2011-09-08T19:17:00.000-04:00

I want to tell you why I believe that the Christian Warrior concept is an idea whose time has come. The world continues toward a tipping point that will seal the fate of millions, if not billions, and the Church experiences ridicule in the West while it suffers outright persecution in backward nations.

To continue reading, click here.

ATF's "Fast & Furious" -- Multiple Objectives?

2011-09-07T20:22:00.000-04:00

First, the Feds over at Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) wanted us to believe that allowing the shipment of guns into Mexico was part of a sting operation. Then, they wanted us to believe it was a good plan gone awry -- a mistake.

According to some investigative reporters, the ATF operation known as "Fast & Furious" sprang from much more sinister motives.

To read the rest of this article, click here.

Finn's Army Awakens

2011-09-05T17:10:00.001-04:00

This dance is also called "The Fianna Awaken," and I think it expresses a major purpose for my WARSKYL blog and now Christian Warrior Online. Except, of course, for the ruffled shirts and the twinky shoes.

If you liked Riverdance, you'll probably like this as well. As the video begins, Finn's army lies bound and in a drugged stupor, but then . . . .

To continue with this post as it appears on Christian Warrior Online, click here.

We Rest on Thee, Our Shield and our Defender!

2011-09-04T16:53:00.000-04:00

I remember, as a boy, gazing with horror at the pictures of bodies in Life Magazine as they lay face down in the river, spears sticking out of them. I also remember Elizabeth Elliott's book Through Gates of Splendor on our shelf at home.

The death of five missionaries slaughtered by the Auca Indians in January of 1956 reverberated through the Christian world. So did the song they sang before embarking on what would be their last mission: "We Rest on Thee, Our Shield and Our Defender".

Elizabeth Elliott, wife to one of the slain used a line from that hymn as the title of her book about the five missionaries. The book, and the event that inspired it . . . .

To continue with this post as it appears on christianwarrior.co click here.

Defense against Mob Violence

2011-09-03T19:39:00.001-04:00

Since the media coverage of mob violence in London, I have seen some emails and articles that address the problem of mob violence and how to defend against it. Now that emotions have died down, somewhat, I think it;'s time for some sober reflection on the topic.

Here are my own observation/evaluation points:

To continue reading, click here.http://christianwarrior.co/2011/09/defense-against-mob-violence.html

The Christian Warrior's Mission Impossible

2011-09-02T16:45:00.001-04:00

The "Christian Warrior's Mission Impossible" appears at christianwarrior.co

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:16-20)

Mission Impossible?

Let me paraphrase what Jesus said to His disciples in this Great Commission: "Since I am the ultimate authority, I want you to take over the world and bring all its nations under My rightful rule. You are not to do this by force of arms or political machinations. You are to conquer the world by converting and discipling the nations. You must also transform their pagan/humanistic cultures by teaching them to observe everything I've taught you. You won't be in this alone and in your own power, for I will be with you."

Any way you look at it, that's a pretty tall order. It goes way beyond what we normally think of as evangelism, or even world missions. In fact, it's so far out of line with what most churches teach, that evangelical Christians tend to dismiss it out of hand. Here's a dialogue based on actual objections raised to me by people who call themselves Bible-believing Christians.

To continue reading, click here.

The Christian Warrior's Heart Health

2011-09-01T16:42:00.000-04:00

Do you, as a Christian Warrior want to avoid heart disease and have a healthy cardiovascular system? Here's a simple tip:Eat lots of . . . To continue reading this post over at Christian Warrior Online, click here.

Another Christian Warrior Inspirational Poster

2011-08-31T17:04:00.000-04:00

Click here to see it:
ChristianWarriorOnline.co

U.S. Military Backs Al Qaeda -- Should Christian Warriors Help?

2011-08-30T16:58:00.000-04:00

Should aspiring Christian warriors enlist in the U.S. military? On its face, it seems a good way to serve by protecting hearth and home.

You can see a problem with that as you consider the agenda of those who direct U.S. military policy. For example, ABC News has reported that Abdelhakim Belhaj, the new leader of . . . .

To continue reading this post, click on this link: christianwarrior.co

Christian Warrior Online is designed to be WARSKYL on steroids. Please link to christianwarrior.co from your blog or web page.

WARSKYL on Steroids?

2011-08-29T07:57:00.001-04:00

The launch of my new blog, Christian Warrior Online at christian warrior.co represents my effort to put WARSKYL on steroids.

Click here to hop on over there and see what I mean.

I do intend to cross post blog entries for a few weeks, so that all readers will have a chance to make the transition. And, if you're a follower of this blog, I will ask you to switch your followership to Christian Warrior Online.

Also, I would like to request that all of you with your own blogs and web pages link to Christian Warrior Online. This will help to get the new site recognized by the search engines.

Does the CIA Spy on American Citizens?

2011-08-27T15:37:00.001-04:00

Note: Watch Monday's blog for a big announcement about changes in the works now.

According to law, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) may not spy on Americans here at home. However, that does not keep them from outfitting and training local police departments to do it for them.

According to an Associated Press report, a New Brunswick, NJ building superintendent accidentally stumbled upon an intelligence operations center of the New York City Police Dept. (NYPD). It turns out that the police received special training and equipment in order to establish their covert intelligence operation.

Now, if the CIA did all this for NYPD, how much do you want to bet that there's a quid pro quo stream of information being fed back to the federal spy agency? Also, if New York has a CIA sponsored spy operation, how much do you want to bet that Washington, D.C. police already have -- or soon will have -- a similar setup (ditto other major cities like Chicago, Los Angeles or Boston)?

Here's a link to the AP article:

NYPD Partners with CIA

Pedophilia Warning

2011-08-25T12:18:00.006-04:00

Now that homosexuals have achieved protected status under federal policy, it appears that pedophiles (i.e., child molesters) are positioning themselves as the next politically correct protected lifestyle group. This came out at an August conference of the pedophilia advocacy group B4U-ACT held in Baltimore, MD.

Here are some excerpts from the article "Time to Naturalize Pedophilia" as it appeared in the Patriot Update:

Highlights of the conference:

Pedophiles are “unfairly stigmatized and demonized” by society.
There was concern about “vice-laden diagnostic criteria” and “cultural baggage of wrongfulness.”
“We are not required to interfere with or inhibit our child’s sexuality.”
“Children are not inherently unable to consent” to sex with an adult.

Also,

A consensus belief by both speakers and pedophiles in attendance was that, because it vilifies MAPs, pedophilia should be removed as a mental disorder from the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), in the same manner homosexuality was removed in 1973.

And,

Self-descried [sic] “gay activist” and speaker Jacob Breslow said that children can properly be “the object of our attraction.” He further objectified children, suggesting that pedophiles needn’t gain consent from a child to have sex with “it” any more than we need consent from a shoe to wear it. He then used graphic, slang language to favorably describe . . . [I cut off the rest of this quote, because I believe it is unfit for a family-oriented blog.]

Prediction: As this movement gains momentum, the public school system will become even more infested with child molesters, and it will become ever more difficult to prosecute them.

Prediction: Soon, just as same-sex perverts sling around the term homophobia, the child molestation movement will come up with a pseudo-clinical term to describe moral people who want to protect their children. And then, the whole protection concept will be turned on its head, as the establishment seeks t0 protect children from pedo-phobes (or whatever).

Prediction: The great majority of preachers will fall just as silent on child molestation as they have on homosexuality.

Sound too fantastic to be true? That's how same-sex perversions sounded in mainstream America not too long ago.

Sadly, I also predict that, if you presently let the establishment take your children on the big, yellow bus to the place where they receive instruction on homosexuality as a lifestyle option, you will probably also allow the statist schools to indoctrinate them regarding pedophilia.

WWI Hand-to-Hand "Training Video"

2011-08-24T12:39:00.000-04:00

While I doubt that the army used the video below for training purposes in World War I, it does contain footage of WWI training as it took place. The action looks fast and choppy because it was played at today's projector speed which differs from that of this film's era.

1909 Middleweight Champ Mike Gibbons demonstrates the boxing techniques, and Captain Allan C. Smith leads in the Jujitsu demonstrations. You will find my comments below the video

Boxing punches are much faster than traditional karate punches, and contests -- sans kicking, of course -- of boxers vs. karate practitioners have borne out their superior effectiveness. I have discussed the advisability of striking with a closed fist as opposed to open hand strikes here.

The come-along holds demonstrated in the video might have some practical application for military police, but I fail to see its application in hand-to-hand on the battlefield. The nest series demonstrates the palm heel to the chin and the palm heel in combination with the knee to the groin and shows that these techniques were around long before Fairbairn incorporated them into his system of combatives.

Interesting use of games to teach teamwork & coordinated effort.

I know I didn't cover it all. That will leave room for you to comment. Please do.

Another Short Roster of Terrorist Acts

2011-08-22T15:31:00.000-04:00

In "A Short Roster of Terrorist Acts" I tried to show the terrifying extent of encroachments by the police state. I meant to assemble reports of these abuses because when you see piecemeal reports, you tend not to relate it to the reports you've seen in previous days and weeks.

With that in mind, you may want to review the first post (see link above) to help you keep the total picture in mind. The power of the police state is growing exponentially and seeks to encompass all of life.

Roster Entry #4

Here's a link to an article about an FBI publication circulated to surplus stores.

FBI wants businesses watching for customers paying with cash Government calls buying 'night flashlights,' making 'extreme religious statements' indicators of terrorism

So, if you use cash, you may be a terrorist. If you buy a "night flashlight" you may be a terrorist. (Aren't flashlights made to be used at night?) If you speak about your faith, you may be a terrorist.

Here's another link that reveals the FBI has determined that you may be a terrorist if you use an almanac:

Bulletin #102

I know that I've made the point before, but here it is again: Exactly who is being terrorized here?

Roster Entry #5

I'm sure you've already heard about these terrorists, but it deserves honorable mention here. T.E.A. Party people -- people who believe that civil government is not above the law -- are dangerous terrorists.

Roster Entry #6

Finally, some good news! You don't have to worry about all those terrorists --people who believe in limited government, who pay cash, who eat unprocessed foods, who use flashlights at night, and who have the audacity to make videos of public servants. It seems the feds intend to make society safe by putting all these terrorists into American Internment Camps.

Roster Entry #7

This final group may not technically fall into the terrorist category, but they are definitely bad people. I'm referring, of course to parents.

On second thought, if these parents resist social workers who try to take away their children in order to fill quotas, then maybe the powers that be will consider them terrorists after all.

If you think the Protective Services abuses cited above represent isolated cases, check the videos below:

CPS "Insider" reveals secret rules

Nancy Schaeffer: CPS Profits from Seizing Children

NBC & CBS Reports on CPS Using Psychotropic Drugs to "Manage" Children

Truth about Child Protective Services

CPS Tyranny

Alex Jones: CPS Exposed (at least one instance of crude language)

Did you notice the oft recurring references to financial incentives? The opportunity for pedophiles who work in the system to abuse children seems to be merely the frosting on the cake.

Tactical Objectives -- Across the Board

2011-08-20T14:06:00.000-04:00

He who fights and runs away
Lives to fight another day. (Old maxim of unconventional warfare)

Recently I decided to re-read Anthony Herbert's book Soldier. He has a lot to say about tactics, and that has prodded me to think about a principle, a tactical approach, that I believe applies across the board to an individual or to groups.

In any violent (or potentially violent) encounter, the strategic objective is always to neutralize the threat. Many think of neutralization in terms of defeating an attacker. I hope you see that avoidance, evasion and escape will also neutralize a threat and deprive an enemy of realizing his own objectives.

Once you make violent contact with an enemy, however, the opportunity for avoidance and evasion has, by definition, passed. Further, if you focus on escape alone, you may incur more injury than if you simply stand and fight.

For an individual (or a small group) facing superior strength, numbers or firepower, I think the record shows the following course of action to provide the best means of survival:

Foul up your enemy's attack -- It's easier to mess up any operation than it is to execute one, so make Murphy's Law work for you.
Seize the initiative and take advantage of any and every opening
a) to hurt or stun opponent just long enough . . .
b) to take advantage of any avenue of escape that opens.

Of course such tactics work best if the enemy does not take you by surprise. For small groups, the OP/LP and the reconnaissance patrol provide the necessary intel. The tactical triad on patrol or the individual on the street must rely on alertness to short circuit the enemy's intended surprise attack.

Fighting Men: WWII Training Video

2011-08-18T12:06:00.001-04:00

I think you'd call this more of a motivational/mindset video than a training video, but this WWII film has some interesting points. I want to address some of those points below the video.

First, it says that in war, the rule book goes out the window. I understand why it says that -- in the face of the enemy, the main rule is kill or be killed. That's Biblical.

But that does not mean that anyone can wage warfare altogether without rules -- ethical standards. Look at Deuteronomy chapter 20 for an example of the Biblical ethics of warfare.

Another thing that stands out to me in the film is the one fight between the G.I. and the German soldier. The one where the German fakes out an American, shoots him, and another American comes upon the scene.

The fight that ensues impressed me because it is not all neat and tidy with clean techniques. It's a lot more like a real life fight for life -- dirty chaos.

What impressed you about the video? Good points or bad, I'd like to hear about them in the comments section.

All Authority and Power

2011-08-14T18:10:00.000-04:00

Christopher M. Idle, author of the stirring hymn "All Authority and Power", based it upon Christ's Great Commission (Matthew 28: 18-20) along with passages like Romans 10 and Philippians 2. I marvel that some can sing this song and yet maintain that the Great Commission contains no cultural component.

How can Jesus' rightful claim to reign over the rulers of the nations have no cultural impact? Not even on such cultural expressions as abortion, homosexual marriage and the [godless/demonic] education of our children?

The Great Commission plainly states that we must teach the nations to obey all that Jesus commanded. If "all the clear commands of Jesus must be heeded and obeyed," how can we avoid the cultural implications of what He said about interpersonal relationships -- family, brethren, neighbors and even enemies?

Below the hymn you will find the text of a little tract I printed up. It expresses the claims of Christ as found in Matthew 28, Psalm 2 and other loci of Scripture.

Melody: Unser Herrscher (Click link to hear)

1 All authority and power,
ev'ry status and domain,
now belongs to one who suffered
our redemption to obtain;
angels, demons, kings and rulers,
over all shall Jesus reign!

2 All the nations owe him worship,
ev'ry tongue shall call him Lord;
how are they to call upon him
if his name they have not heard?
Therefore go and make disciples,
preach his gospel, spread his Word.

3 All the clear commands of Jesus
must be heeded and obeyed;
full provision for our weakness
in his teaching he has made;
in the Gospel words and symbols
saving truth to us conveyed.

4 All the time he will be with us,
always, to the end of days;
with his own believing people
who keep steadfast in his ways.
God the Father, Son and Spirit,
bless us, and to God be praise!

Jesus Christ is King

You cannot impeach Him

He will never resign

Therefore, the only sane and logical course is to acknowledge Him and submit to His rule as individuals, families, communities and nations.

Political Comment

2011-08-13T14:05:00.001-04:00

In 2000, TX gov. George Bush courted the evangelical vote on the right hand and the homosexual vote on the left. He kept his promises to the homosexual bloc by appointing more open sexual perverts to office than any president before him -- including the morally bankrupt William Jefferson Clinton.

In 2012, another TX governor, Rick Perry, may follow in Bush's footsteps by bamboozling the ranks of evangelicaldom (and evangelicaldumber). He is running as an "Establishment Conservative" and an "approved evangelical".

Note the following facts:

"Perry supported Al Gore in the 1988 Democratic presidential primaries as chairman of the Gore campaign in Texas." (Wikipedia)
Over half of his campaign contributions come from "mega donors", which ties him in with the ruling elite. (Miami Herald)
Like Bush, Perry has ties with the Pharmaceutical industry, and uses government power to countermand parental authority and enhance big pharma's profits ("In 2007, Perry issued an executive order requiring Texas girls entering the sixth grade to be vaccinated against a sexually transmitted virus, the human papillomavirus. The outcry from parents and lawmakers that mandating Gardasil, a Merck & Co. vaccine, amounted to state interference in parental decisions led the Texas Legislature to rescind his order.. . . Amid the controversy were charges of cronyism because Perry's former chief of staff, Mike Toomey, was a Merck lobbyist. Perry denied any favoritism." (Miami Herald, op. cit.)
Perry has attempted to trample on the property rights of small businesses and homeowners through eminent domain, and he tried to funnel taxpayer money to foreign-owned corporations. ("Trans-Texas Corridor: Perry introduced the ambitious concept in 2002 of a network of corridors linking major Texas cities, with toll roads for cars and trucks, tracks for freight and passenger rail, and rights of way for power lines and pipelines. But the $175 billion, 4,000-mile network was immediately controversial, as Perry signed a contract with a Spanish consortium to build it and then used eminent domain powers to acquire private land. After sustained public opposition, the state abandoned the large-scale project - and its name, which had become toxic - in 2009 in favor of some highways and smaller projects." -- Miami Herald, op. cit.)

Yes, I know that Perry gave money to orphans. John D. Rockefeller handed out dimes to children. In Rockefeller's case, it was done to help change his public image. Of course, no liberal-Democrat-turned-Republican would ever do such a thing, would he?

But, like Bush, Perry goes to church. Rockefeller joined a Baptist church. Going to church does not automatically make one a born-again believer any more than walking into a garage makes me an Oldsmobile.

Motivational Poster: Christian Warrior Culture

2011-08-11T19:11:00.002-04:00

My barber sent me this motivational poster appropriate to Christian Warrior Culture.

Debt Ceiling Raised to Build Mosques?

2011-08-09T12:24:00.000-04:00

Over 25 years ago, I taught a high school Government & Economics course. When I pointed out various outrageous policies, not unlike the one in the video below, they were dumbfounded that "our government" would do such things.

Couldn't our leaders see the destructive nature of such acts? Why do they do such things over and over and over again?

I told my students that such things stop being a mystery once you stop assuming that the leaders are on our side.

Lord, Keep Us Steadfast -- Martin Luther

2011-08-07T19:40:00.000-04:00

Thanks to my wife for sending me the following:

Lord, keep us steadfast in Thy Word;
Curb those who fain by craft and sword
Would wrest the kingdom from Thy Son
And set at naught all He hath done.

Lord Jesus Christ, Thy pow’r make known,
For Thou art Lord of lords alone;
Defend Thy Christendom that we
May evermore sing praise to Thee.

O Comforter of priceless worth,
Send peace and unity on earth.
Support us in our final strife
And lead us out of death to life.

by Martin Luther

Stouthearted Men

2011-08-06T23:19:00.000-04:00

I've always found this song stirring, even if some think it's corny. Here's the video, and the words are below it.

When you think about it, this song expresses the major theme of stories like Rio Bravo, El Dorado, The Magnificent Seven, Tombstone and Silverado to name just a few (of the best). I want to dedicate this song to the memory of the brave men killed on the Chinook that was shot down in Afghanistan.

YOU WHO HAVE DREAMS,

IF YOU ACT THEY WILL COME TRUE!

TO TURN YOUR DREAMS TO A FACT,

IT`S UP TO YOU!

IF YOU HAVE THE SOUL

AND THE SPIRIT,

NEVER FEAR IT,

YOU`LL SEE IT THROUGH.

HEARTS CAN INSPIRE OTHER HEARTS

WITH THEIR FIRE.

FOR THE STRONG OBEY

WHEN A STRONG MAN

SHOWS THEM THE WAY!

[Chorus]:

GIVE ME SOME MEN

WHO ARE STOUTHEARTED MEN

WHO WILL FIGHT

FOR THE RIGHT

THEY ADORE.

START ME WITH TEN,

WHO ARE STOUTHEARTED MEN

AND I`LL SOON GIVE YOU

TEN THOUSAND MORE.

OH!

SHOULDER TO SHOULDER

AND BOLDER AND BOLDER

THEY GROW

AS THEY GO

TO THE FORE!

THEN THERE`S NOTHING

IN THE WORLD

CAN HALT

OR MAR A PLAN,

WHEN STOUTHEARTED MEN

CAN STICK TOGETHER

MAN TO MAN.

A Short Roster of Terrorist Acts

2011-08-04T13:25:00.007-04:00

Roster entry #1

According to Homeland Security, citizens who use cameras are possible terrorists (see previous post). Evidently this standard of what constitutes terrorism has filtered down to the local level.

This video of police brutalizing a citizen in front of his own home contains some cursing & "mild profanity":

Note that the citizen told them that they could look at his i.d. to prove he lived there. At that point it became obvious that this was not the real issue for the police.

He was arrested for "obstructing an officer." How would a video obstruct the officer?

Merriam-Webster defines "obstruct" thus:

: to block or close up by an obstacle
: to hinder from passage, action, or operation : impede
: to cut off from sight (a wall obstructs the view)

The only way a video might hinder or impede an officer in this circumstance is if he was doing something he did not want either the general public or his superiors to know about. Think this is an isolated incident? Check out these videos.

Source article & video can be found here.

Roster entry #2

What about those drug cartel terrorists? You know . . . the ones armed by ATF. Surely the police are justified to obtain no-knock warrants and use shock and awe against these low lifes. Right?

Well, maybe. If they break into the right house.

DEA Agents Raid Wrong House in Sterling Heights: MyFoxDETROIT.com

(Thanks to RPC for this link.)

It turned out better for this homeowner than for Marine combat vet Jose Guerena, whom police murdered in a similar raid. (I posted on this here.)

You, no doubt think that this, too, must be an isolated incident. Click this link for video reports of "wrong address" raids. In the People's Republic of Minnesota, they even handed out medals to officers who returned fire on a homeowner protecting his family -- again, at the wrong address (click here).

Roster Entry #3

Photographers and homeowners aside, we know who the real terrorists are, don't we? It's those !@#$% people who choose to eat fresh, unprocessed food straight from the farm.

Here's an excerpt from an article over at Natural News:

(NaturalNews) NaturalNews is now publishing some of the very first photos taken in the aftermath of the Rawesome Food raids, which involved a multi-agency raid against Rawesome Foods for selling unpasteurized milk and raw cheese (http://www.naturalnews.com/033220_R...). These photos show how Rawesome Foods has beenstripped bareby state and federal agents who engaged in what can only be called an act ofgovernment-sponsored terrorismagainst innocent small business owners.

As NaturalNews reported earlier, the warrant that was issued to authorize the Rawesome Foods raid specifically stated that "various samples of any food products present may be taken for laboratory analysis." (http://www.naturalnews.com/033224_R...) But instead of taking only "various samples," the LA County Dept. of Agriculture authorities engaged inthe wholesale theft of the entirety of Rawesome Foods' inventory.

Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/033225_Rawesome_Foods_photos.html#ixzz1U4gdvj1C
(Thanks to my wife for this link)

Here's a photo of just some of the empty shelves and cooler:

Here's one of the truck used to haul away the co-op's entire inventory:

We can't have terrorists opening co-ops that sell locally grown, unprocessed food to people who knowingly purchase it for their own and their families' health, can we? If we allowed this, pretty soon terrorist groups like this would pop up all over the country, and they might make a small dent in the profits of agribusiness and food cartel. Have no fear, though. The Dept. of Agriculture is here to protect us all from these terrorists.

Here is commentary on the raid by Alex Jones:

Surely this must be an isolated incident, an example of California's socialism run amok. No, for the food police have also been busy protecting us from Amish terrorists in Pennsylvania (click here), and a (shudder) homeschool family of organic food terrorists in Ohio that operates a co-op for neighbors who have opted out of patronizing the food cartel (click here). Then there's the inner city grocery-owner terrorist whom police raided for selling zip-loc bags (click here -- crude language by police). So, these must be isolated instances and not an expression of national policy, right? (Click here -- at least one instance of cursing) (And click here)

Conclusion:

Have you figured it out, yet? The real terrorists are not the citizens who want to be safe in their homes, who try to live safer, healthier, better lives. The real terrorists are the tyrants and their jackbooted enforcers who, for profit and power, terrorize the citizens of this nation.

Don't be alarmed. That tightness in your throat merely comes from the snugging down of the noose.

Buy a Truck, Get an AK-47

2011-08-01T19:44:00.000-04:00

What a great interview! The mainscream reporter could not rattle this guy, and it became obvious that she was doing her best to torpedo him.

Throw in a rifle rack, and it's a deal.

Two Views on Oslo Terrorism

2011-07-30T14:27:00.001-04:00

I have recently read two articles on the Oslo Incident that call for some reflective thought. The first comes from Fox News, and it presents what I would call an Establishment Conservative version of Homeland Security's line on terrorism and terrorists.

The very last sentence gives away the purpose of the piece as propaganda for the Conservative statist point of view. You can read it here:
Why Terrorism is a New Wave of Warfare

The second article comes from American Thinker, and it exposes the anti-Christian hysteria of the Liberal mainscream media -- and Establishment Conservative me-tooers -- for what it is: a hatchet job designed to divert the uncritical masses' attention from the real terrorists (and I'm not thinking primarily of al Qaeda here) to followers of Christ.

As you read the following article, you might want to ask yourself, "Am I a patriot or a nationalist?" If you don't know the diff, you definitely need to read the article.
The Protocols of the Elders of Liberalism

The Non-Christian Christianity of the Norwegian Shooter

2011-07-28T10:33:00.001-04:00

Police and the media have labeled terrorist Anders B. Breivik as a Christian fundamentalist. Sadly, this is the kind of hysterical reporting we have come to expect from the main-scream media.

Ken Ham's blog, however, reveals that Breivik called himself a Christian even though he did not believe in Christ. Sound weird? Well, nobody accused mass murderers of clear thinking.

Here's the relevant section from Mr. Ham's blog post:

On pages 1307–1308 of his manifesto, for example, he distinguishes between what he calls cultural Christendom and religious Christendom, stating that “a majority of so called agnostics and atheists in Europe are cultural conservative Christians without even knowing it.” He attempts to explain the difference, and then states his own personal belief:

"If you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and God then you are a religious Christian. Myself and many more like me do not necessarily have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and God. We do however believe in Christianity as a cultural, social, identity and moral platform. This makes us Christian."

Someone who believes in Christ is a Christian. A Christian who also believes in Christendom -- Christ's rightful dominion over the nations as in Psalm 2 et al. -- is a Biblically consistent Christian. Someone who believes in Christendom without Christ believes an inherent contradiction.

(Thanks to my wife for sending me the link to Ken Ham's post.)

The Scots' Christian Warrior Culture: For Christ's Crown & Covenant

2011-07-27T10:28:00.000-04:00

In May, we attended the annual Greenville Highland Games. I love the atmosphere, the games and the all-pervasive music of the 'pipes. The only thing missing is a frank and forthright representation of Scotland's Christian warrior culture: for Christ's Crown and Covenant.

(Thanks to my daughter Merrianna for the link to this video.)

Here's a video that presents a nearly-forgotten aspect of Scottish culture. Preachers, soldiers, martyrs -- all of them warriors for the King.

From the Barber's Chair: When Reality and Training Overlap,2

2011-07-25T11:03:00.000-04:00

Continued from "From the Barber's Chair: When Reality and Training Overlap"

My barber's post-combat debrief clearly reveals the crossover between shooting raccoons in the barn and training to confront human predators:

I train with the shotgun. The training kicked in.

Have a battery of weapons. One size does not fit all.

I train to hit a six-inch moving target daily. That training paid off.

If at all possible, wear pants when engaging in a shooting. Standing in a barn with your [most vulnerable area] protected by a flimsy piece of cotton,while possibly rabid animals are scurrying about,did not increase my combat effectiveness.

Even while a furry cat brushed my exposed leg during the melee,I maintined focus on the targets. Situational awareness.

Be prepared for multiple targets. you cannot always see how many targets are present.

I train on multiple targets daily. That training kicked in.

When the threat is down,keep up your scans for more targets. Clear the area.

I trained to use breathing control to dump adrenaline. It works. Use it.

You never know when a fight will come upon you. Spool-up quickly to the threat level.

There is value in trining,and debriefing....

Bureaucrats Define Potential Terrorist Activities

2011-07-22T11:59:00.003-04:00

I'm thankful that I'm one of a small minority of Americans who does not own a cell phone. Why? Because, according to a recent Homeland Security film, almost anything I do with it may be construed as "suspicious" and a potentially terroristic threat.

Prison Planet provided the link to the video below.Before you watch the video I recommend you read this excerpt from Prison Planet's accompanying article to see if its descriptions are accurate:

In the course of the 10 minute clip, a myriad of different behaviors are characterized as terrorism, including opposing surveillance, using a video camera, talking to police officers, wearing hoodies, driving vans, writing on a piece of paper, and using a cell phone recording application.

Despite encouraging viewers not to pay attention to a person’s race in determining whether or not they may be a terrorist, almost all of the scenarios in the clip proceed to portray white people as the most likely terrorists. Bizarrely, nearly every single one of the “patriotic” Americans who reports on their fellow citizen is either black, Asian or Arab. Imagine if the video had portrayed every terrorist as an Arab and every patriotic snoop as white, there’d be an outcry and rightly so, but this strange reversal must have been deliberate on the part of the DHS, but why? Is this merely political correctness taken to the extreme or is something deeper at work?

Are the people who made the film racists? In my opinion, probably so.

But the saddest part of this video is that those who produced it are, in my opinion, entirely sincere. They see people like me as enemies, but not just because of my race.

My ideas, convictions and beliefs, based on Scripture as they are, challenge the naked power and idolatry of statism. In the end, the power elite sees this as an infinitely greater threat than hordes of Muslim jihadists with guns and bombs.

Thanks to my barber who first drew my attention to this.

From the Barber's Chair: When Reality and Training Overlap

2011-07-19T11:27:00.001-04:00

I received the following email from my barber a few days ago. Note how a real, middle-of-the-night response to four-legged pests serves as a scenario to test one's training for the two-legged variety.

As you all know,while [my wife] is rehabing after knee surgery,I have assumed all her outside duties. Someone or something has been attacking our barn,destroying feed boxes,and has killed several chickens lately,during nightime hours. We set a havahart live trap in the barn. We caught,and dispatched a possum last week. We kept the trap baited. This morning,I arose at 0530,and entered the barn. Wearing shorts and a t-shirt,I flipped the light on. The trap had been sprung,a large amount of grey fur was visible inside the trap, and a racoon was looking at me from behind a barrel in the corner! I ran to the house ,returning with my tactical 12 guage,uploading on the run. I realized that impressive damage would occur by discharging the 12 inside the barn walls. I returned with the .410,loaded with 3-inch 9shot loads. The coon stuck his head out from behind the barrel. Headshot. A second coon came barelling out from behind the barell!!!! With barn cats flying in all directions,I engaged him as he ran. Headshot. That left one rather large coon in the trap looking at me. I repaired to the house,returned with the .17 rimfire rifle. Another headshot. Three suspects down,no injuries to responding units. They were,as the saying goes,code 4.

Continued

Excellent Cartoon

2011-07-16T15:30:00.000-04:00

This cartoon comes from Patriot Update, and it does double duty by rubbing the noses of both the Federal bureaucrats and the anti-gun crowd in their own mess.

Just in case you don't understand what the cartoon is about, you can be brought up to speed by reading . . .

this article by Chuck Norris . . .

and this article by Patrick Richardson

Defend Your Children from Big Pharma

2011-07-15T11:39:00.000-04:00

Why do you even need to think about defending your children from the pharmaceutical industry? Every few years a story breaks about some egregious acts of giant pharmaceutical companies in total disregard of public health and safety. The story causes a shakeup at the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), which results in someone's dismissal and a promise that they will do better in the future.

John Q. Public buys the story, and goes back to his football and video games as Big Pharma's hand-in-glove relationship to the FDA continues. A recent story about chicken pox vaccines provides a case in point.

Before I get to my major point, let me give you a quote from Joseph Mercola, M.D.

When I graduated medical school in the early '80s autism was not covered in my pediatrics rotation that I could recall.

Why?

Well it only affected about one in 100,000 children when I was in medical school. Since then there has been a dramatic increase to one in 150 and more recently autism rates in the United States have conservatively increased to 1 in 63. And this number is FOUR years old. (click here for source)
Another article on Dr. Mercola's site reveals a fact uncovered by a scientist that used to work for a drug company:

Former drug company scientist Helen Ratajczak recently created a firestorm of debate from all sides of the vaccine-autism issue when she published her comprehensive review of autism research. However, her 79-page review contains one detail that could easily go unnoticed—five words that reveal one of the most shocking secrets Big Pharma has ever kept from you.

"…Grown in human fetal tissue."

The line reads (page 70):

"An additional increased spike in incidence of autism occurred in 1995 when the chicken pox vaccine was grown in human fetal tissue."

If you are struggling to recall how you could have missed this important fact when signing your vaccine consent form, it wasn't your error—because it wasn't disclosed on any consent form. Most people are unaware that human cell cultures derived from aborted human fetuses have been used extensively in vaccine production for decades. And vaccine makers are happy that most of the public has remained ignorant of this fact, as awareness of it could blow up in their faces.

Setting aside, for the moment, unknown long-term health consequences of DNA contamination and religious beliefs about use of aborted fetal tissues—the ethics of nondisclosure are reprehensible. Drug companies and vaccine policy-makers should not be allowed to decide whether or not to share this information with you. This is information you should have received PRIOR to making a choice about whether or not to vaccinate.

Well, I for one am not going to lay my religious convictions or my concern about the health of my offspring aside. Just what is the proper response to government jackboots who threaten you with lethal force and/or possible loss of your children if you refuse to let them stick a hypodermic needle into your child that contains dangerous DNA from murdered babies?

Terror Threat to U.S. Churches

2011-07-13T12:30:00.000-04:00

The Warrior sent me a link to the June 30th article "Terror Threat -- U.S. Churches in Danger" at onenewsnow.com. The article reports:

In a video released by al-Qaeda spokesman Adam Gadahn, the American-born Muslim asks jihadists to quickly obtain guns and carry out terrorist attacks against the West. He states that Muslims are placed in the region to "do major damage to the enemies of Islam, waging war on their religion, sacred places, and things and brethren."

You may read the whole article here:

Terror Threat

Gravelbelly Meets Baguazhong Practitioner

2011-07-11T13:18:00.002-04:00

My family &I enjoy English Country Dancing one Friday each month. This past Friday, I met a practitioner of Baquazhong, one of the Chinese arts.

The practitioner (I'll call him "Buck") showed me some of the principles of his art. As he demonstrated, his movements easily took my balance.

Buck was a nice guy, though. As he showed me his art's version of push hands, he let me unbalance him.

He's back in Florida now, but he has sent me the link to the video below which lays out basics of the art.

There are three things I'd like to point out about the video -- all are pluses.

When the demonstrator shows the application of his movements against an opponent, you can see that those movements could easily be launched from the startle response position. Indeed, the demonstrator seems to do so more than once, whether by his design or not.
Notice the movements that are very similar to what I call the combat wedge, which I describe here.
The exercises look as though they are designed to promote focus, control and sensitivity as well as proprioception.

In addition, my conversation with Buck revealed that in his art, they do not learn techniques, but rather practice movement. Then they practice applying the principles of movement to opponents.

Wrist Stretches: Gateway to Solo Training

2011-07-09T10:00:00.001-04:00

I hope that you are on Keith Pascal's mailing list. Perhaps you've heard the expression, "He's forgotten more about martial arts than most people know." That would probably be true of Keith, but for one thing: he hasn't forgotten.

Here is his video on some of the prime values of wrist stretching. After you watch it, I'd like to present what I believe is an even more important value.

As usual, Keith's advice is spot on. However, I'd like to supplement his advice with something my Jiu-Jitsu (old spelling) instructor taught me.

One day, we were discussing practicing wrist locks, when he pointed something out that I had not noticed before. He told me that every wrist stretch we practiced was also wrist lock.

For me, it was one of those "Aha!" moments. One of the big difficulties with practicing joint locks is that you need a practice partner -- you can't do it solo (or so I thought).

Below is a series of photos taken in the summer of 2009. (As an aside, my belly has shrunk somewhat since then, and now I just have the two chins.) The photos show one wrist stretch followed its application as a wrist lock.

My third daughter Raquel appears in the pics with me, and my fourth daughter Merrianna took the pics. Thanks to them both for their help.

First, a close-up of this particular wrist stretch:

Jiu-Jitsu girl meets The Incredible Bulk:

Rather than thinking of this as a technique, I think it's better to consider it one application of this particular mode of stressing the wrist joint:

Utmost concentration! When your attacker is that much bigger than you, you don't want to get it worng (intentional joke).

I want to put these photos (and others, showing different angles and more transition phases) into an e-book. The book would detail four wrist stretches that can also be applied as wrist locks.

I'd appreciate your input as to whether you think this would be a worthwhile project.

Followup to "Can You Tell Me What's Wrong with This?"

2011-07-06T13:12:00.000-04:00

Continued from "Can You Tell Me What's Wrong with This?"

Thanks to Bruce and the Warrior for the good points they made. Now, let me add some of my own thoughts.

First off, I don't know where the author conducted his survey, but it would surprise me if violent predators across the nation have simultaneously adopted grappling techniques in their attacks. That's not to say it couldn't happen, but if so, it would really surprise me.

Second, as a self-defense rule of thumb, you should not play your attacker's game. Don't box a boxer, don't grapple with a grappler, etc.

If someone opens an attack by going for a take-down, he'll come in low with his arms apart to encircle your legs. In the post "Self Defense: Technical or Tactical?", Steve Golden made the point that you strike the target that's open.

What's open on an attacker going for the take-down? Just about everything!

Palm heel to the forehead, nose or chin, judo chop to the neck or throat, combat slap to the side of the head, are just a few possibilities. If he manages to get to the inside before you can react, you can resort to a knee to the chin or thumbs in the eye sockets.

Finally, the article's emphasis on grappling the grappler puts emphasis on training to go to the ground. While such an outcome is possible, my philosophy is

"Don't go to the ground with your attacker; send your attacker to the ground."

Can You Tell Me What's Wrong With This?

2011-07-02T09:27:00.001-04:00

I received an email with a link to this page:

How to Train to Defeat the #1 Street Fight Takedown

While I'm sure this teacher is knowledgeable and his training is worthwhile, I found his advice on this subject seems lacking. So, it's time to do a little analysis and list the things you find wrong with his article in the comments section.

"Fourth Amendment???? . . .

2011-06-30T07:31:00.002-04:00

. . . We don't need no stinkin' fourth amendment." That's the gist of the message from the Cedar Falls City Council on their ordinance to require all businesses and residents to make keys to their premises available to city officials.

As I've always maintained, the terrorists we have to fear most are the ones we put in office.

Thanks to RPC for the link to this video.

Push-ups: Dream or Nightmare? -- 2

2011-06-28T07:30:00.001-04:00

A year-and-a-half of chiropractic adjustments augmented by gravity based traction, some back exercises and weight loss has not only helped my spine, but also the joints and muscles of my shoulder girdle. I decided to see if I could retrain my joints and muscles to the full range push-up.

I started by raising my had supports to about 28" from the floor and reducing to 20 reps per set. I did ten sets, and at the end of each one, my muscles felt as well worked as they had when I was doing 50 rep sets with my hands much lower.

I have progressed to the point where this past Saturday, I did two sets with my hands elevated only 16" from the floor. The other eight sets I still do at the 28" elevation. My plan is to increase reps and gradually work down to fully horizontal, full range push-ups.

That brings me back to my dream: I was in the horizontal push-up position. I wondered if I could do a full range push-up with my hands on the floor.

I did a couple, then decided to go for a full set of 20. And I did them -- slowly and steadily but with some effort I completed a set of 20 full range horizontal push-ups.

I found the dream encouraging because it tells me that somewhere deep inside I really believe I can do this. And that's the kind of belief that, in God's providence, can make dreams come true.

Push-ups: Dream or Nightmare?

2011-06-27T10:30:00.000-04:00

Last night I dreamed that I was doing push-ups. Many people would describe that as a nightmare, but I found it pleasantly encouraging.

As some of you may recall from previous posts, I had a goal of doing 500 push-ups in a day. In fact, I reached that goal a little over a year ago.

I did my push-ups 3 days a week (usually 100 to 300 reps on Tues & Thurs), and on Saturdays I made the big effort to squeeze out the 500. I did them in 3 different position (horizontal, hands 12" off the floor and hands 16" off the floor), in sets of 50.

Over the course of a year, this routine provided an upper body workout that built up and hardened muscles. The one problem was that from the time I began, I was not getting a full range of motion in my push-ups.

Shoulder problems prevented me from going all the way to the floor, so I decided early on that half a push-up was better than no push-up at all. And that has been my practice up until about a month ago.

(To be continued)

Fit and Finish

2011-06-25T15:21:00.000-04:00

I've never owned an Ernest Emerson knife, so I'm not necessarily endorsing his product (as if his company needed my endorsement!) But his comments about "fit & finish" vs. performance apply to a lot more than knives.

Here's a link:

Fit and Finish

And, thanks to my barber for sharing the link.

Point Shooting Demo

2011-06-21T19:46:00.000-04:00

My barber sent me the following link to a video demonstration of point shooting. Incredible!

If they considered the handgun a musical instrument, this guy would be appearing in Carnegie Hall.

http://www.sabretactical.com/Jeff_Video/jeff_video.html

Oft in Sorrow, Oft in Woe

2011-06-19T09:17:00.000-04:00

My wife sent me the words to this song. You may hear the melody here.

Oft in sorrow, oft in woe,
Onward, Christian, onward go:
Fight the fight, maintain the strife
Strengthened with the Bread of life.

Onward Christians, onward go,
Join the war, and face the foe;
Faint not: Much does yet remain,
Dreary is the long campaign.

Shrink not, Christians will ye yield?
Will ye quit the painful field?
Will ye flee in danger’s hour?
Know ye not your Captain’s pow’r?

Let your drooping hearts be glad:
March in heavenly armor clad:
Fight, nor think the battle long,
Victory soon shall be your song.

Let not sorrow dim your eye,
Soon shall every tear be dry;
Let not fears your course impede,
Great your strength, if great your need.

Onward then in battle move,
More than conquerors ye shall prove;
Though opposed by many a foe,
Christian soldiers onward go.

MacAvram: Muslims at the Gate

2011-06-18T16:47:00.003-04:00

[MacAvram: from Scottish Mac ("son of") and Hebrew Avraam ("Abraham"); a son of Abraham by virtue of faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:29); a covenantal rather than genetic designation.]

Here's a bit of fiction I dashed off. I do not assert any connections to reality. It may be best to consider it total fantasy.

MacAvram was at war . . .

He carefully removed the surface divots from the forest floor before he began to dig in earnest. He placed the divots aside and then deposited the earth from the hole on a tarp.

After he dug down about three-and-a half feet, chopping away tree roots with a hand axe, he carefully place the waterproof package containing the AK-47 and three empty magazines in the bottom of the hole. Next to them, he put another container that contained the 90 rounds of ammo from the magazines along with 100 rounds he had picked up from the compound's ammo storage.

He filled the hole with enough dirt to make a small mound, then pieced the divots back into place as precisely as he could. As he had filled the hole, he put in odd pieces of scrap iron in hopes of fooling anyone with a metal detector.

Then he sprinkled pine needles and mold over the area to approximate a match with the surrounding ground. After he hauled away the excess soil, the average person would not notice the spot unless they were looking for it, and after the first good rain, only someone with the skills of an Apache tracker would find it at all.

Yes, MacAvram was at war. He had not initiated it, nor had he wanted it, but he was at war all the same.

**************************************************

It all started one morning just before dawn. In God's providence, Mac had awakened and, unable to sleep, sat down at his computer to begin sifting through the day's email.

The squeal of brakes drew his gaze up and out the window, where he saw an old three-ton truck rolling to a stop at the chain-link gate out front.On the back of the truck, he saw some figures with Islamic headgear and faces masked by scarves.

Mac immediately picked up his Remington 870 which already had two rounds of #8 shot in the magazine. As he headed toward the front door, he scooped up five double-ought shells and began feeding them into the weapon.

His hours of practice loading the weapon paid off, for he reached his front door in just a few seconds, as he completed the loading process. By now, the dog was barking, and he stepped onto the front porch to find that an intruder bearing an AK-47 had come over the gate and was more than halfway across the yard.

Mac fired through the porch window and scarcely noticed the wood and glass that exploded outward into his yard, as the intruder fell. Another sat awkwardly perched atop the gate, unsure what to do.

A bullet whizzed past Mac as he realized that a terrorist standing on the back of the truck had fired at him. Evidently he had been too excited to take careful aim. Mac's adrenaline was up, too, but he exhaled slowly as he sent a load of double-ought directly toward the shooter.

No sooner had he dispatched that attacker than he turned his attention to the one on the gate, who now attempted to bring his AK to bear. Mac fired at him, and as he tumbled over backwards, one pant leg caught on chain link material, and the sound of ripping cloth marked his slow, head-first descent to the ground.

No more than four or five seconds had passed since Mac fired the first shot. At this point, the truck engine revved as the driver began to let out the clutch. The rear window blew into the cab as Mac fired again. The truck lurched and stalled.

Somewhere in those chaotic seconds, MacAvram had noticed one last terrorist who had run along the chain link fence, using the vegetation that grew there for concealment. By now, Mac's wife had appeared behind him at the front door, carrying her Ithaca Model 37.

He called back to her as he headed toward the gate, "If any of them moves, shoot 'em." Keeping his eyes in the terrorist's direction, he slowly unlocked the gate and pushed it open with the muzzle of his Remington.

A full-auto hail of .30 caliber bullets sprayed past the gate as Mac jumped back. Figuring the shooter's magazine to be empty, MacAvram stepped out the gate and killed the terrorist just as his spare mag clicked into place.

Just a few minutes later, the terrorists' reinforcements arrived. They wore badges and rode in cars with flashing lights and sirens, but their words and deeds did not favor the man who had just defended his home.

Who fired first?

I did.

Why did you fire on them?

Men armed with automatic weapons were coming over a closed locked gate. In my book, that's a home invasion.

Do you have any idea why they would single you out for this alleged attack?

(Alleged attack?!!)

Well, I've been outspoken on the internet against Islamic terrorist cells that train at more than 30 bases around the nation, including here in South Carolina. Maybe they wanted to shut me up.

After seemingly endless interrogation, the police confiscated his shotgun -- because department policy dictated that they take any weapon used in a homicide. When he protested that the homicide was justifiable, they said it was not for them to decide, and they were just doing their job.

When he pointed out that these terrorists might have friends who would want to finish the job they had started, the police asked if he had any other firearms in the house. At this question, MacAvram decided to just shut his mouth while he was behind, to keep from falling even farther behind.

Mac was not at home when ATF arrived, searched his house and confiscated all every gun there. They told his wife that, as a suspect in a homicide investigation, he was not allowed to own any firearms. They comprised the third wave of terrorist invaders.

MacAvram knew he was at war. The first wave of invaders had failed; their allies in the second and third waves had rendered him helpless for the next attack.

**************************************************

When he arrived home, MacAvram spread the soil from the tarp in his garden. Then he went inside and carefully cleaned his Bowie knife with laundry bleach to destroy any DNA that might hide there.

He rinsed it thoroughly with distilled water to remove the corrosive bleach and then dried it and sprayed it with WD-40. As he worked, a crackling fire in his grill consumed two bloody arrows.

Later, as he clicked to the online news reports, his horse bow* leaned on the wall within reach, where he once kept his shotgun. The news video began to play.

The FBI reports that it is investigating a break-in at a rural Muslim community where three people were found murdered early this morning. One man's throat was cut, while two others' throats were pierced by what investigators speculate may have been hunting arrows . . . .

The report called it a "community" rather than a paramilitary training compound. It also failed to mention that all three "victims" were carrying fully automatic AK-47 rifles, but of course, before law enforcement arrived, the training compound's leaders no doubt hid the two assault rifles that Mac had left behind.

Yes, MacAvram was at war. He had not initiated it, nor had he wanted it, but he was at war, all the same. He did not intend to lose.

*A short, powerful, recurve bow, such as used by the Mongols and other mounted archers.

From the Barber's Chair: Erosion of Personal Character

2011-06-17T23:25:00.001-04:00

My barber responded to my Tuesday's blog entry "Is Society Collapsing?" with the following email:

This subject comes up at least weekly in the shop. I am not the one who brings it up,either. We all agree that the erosion of personal character is a huge problem,and getting worse. More and more folks are prepping.....

He and I observed this years ago, in the little rural PA town where they hold an annual week-long fair. The police treat whatever the carnies do on the fairgrounds as off limits.

I've seen trailers that ran sewage right out onto public streets, and I've seen a respected member of the community illegally use a handicap placard so he could park close to the fairgrounds.

Officialdom looks the other way, because not only is the fair itself big business, it also generates a lot of money for local business owners. They allow lawlessness during fair week because, in the short run, lawlessness pays.

For the general public, although, the fair is not quite as flamboyant as Mardi Gras, the principle is the same. Everyone excuses misbehavior with the phrase, "What the h***! It's fair week."

Well, the erosion of character is not limited to small town Pennsylvania. The Justice Department has unsuccessfully tried to cover up an ATF operation that deliberately armed Mexican drug gangs, fully knowing that murders would result.

Some observers think that part of the motivation for the operation lay in a plan to manufacture a crisis situation and then call for stricter gun control laws. IMNSHO, this would not have been the first time federal authorities have done this.

When some of the agents objected to the agency's deliberately subverting federal law, a supervisor issued the following statement:

I will be d****d if this case is going to suffer due to petty arguing, rumours, or other adolescent behavior," he wrote. "We are all adults, we are all professionals, and we have an exciting opportunity to use the biggest tool in our law-enforcement tool box. If you don't think this is fun, you are in the wrong line of work, period!

The erosion of character does not belong solely to the private sector. You may read more about the ATF fiasco here:

Exposed: The secret guns sting that backfired on the US

Is Society Collapsing?

2011-06-14T18:06:00.000-04:00

Over at the site named "The Economic Collapse" you will find an article entitled 18 Signs the Collapse of Society is Accelerating. I've known about some of them, but others are [bad] news to me.

You might want to look things over, especially if you need a little motivation to get your preparedness program in gear. Things are getting nastier, and the author hits the nail on the head -- economic hardship is not causing the collapse, but merely uncovering the erosion of personal character that has taken place over the past couple of generations.

Do you see any signs of a disintegrating social order -- large or small -- where you work or live? If so, I hope you will share them in the comments section

The Giant

2011-06-13T17:09:00.000-04:00

My wife sent me this poem as it appeared on the blogsite Large Family Mothering. The blogger got it from McGuffey's Juvenile Reader.

The Giant

There came a giant to my door,
A giant, fierce and strong.
His step was heavy on the floor,
His arms were ten yards long.

He scowled and frowned: He shook the ground:
I trembled through and through;
At length I looked him in the face,
And cried, "Who cares for you?"

The mighty giant, as I spoke,
Grew pale, and thin, and small;
And through his body, as 't were smoke,
I saw the sunshine fall.

His blood-red eyes turned blue as skies,
He whispered soft and low.
"Is this," I cried, with growing pride,
"Is this the mighty foe?"

He sank before my earnest face,
He vanished quite away,
And left no shadow in his place
Between me and the day.

Another Speech You Won't Hear from a Candidate in 2012

2011-06-11T16:49:00.000-04:00

Here is a man whose political view belies influence from a Christian worldview at some point. It's not perfect, mind you, but his analysis and outlook are better than anyone I know of who is running for office this time around.

I wanted to cheer when he said that the main concern is not whether a law is constitutional, but whether it is good or evil. What he failed to mention is that only the Bible offers us the absolute, ultimate, authoritative and definitive standard of good and evil.

A lot of conservatives won't like what he has to say about foreign policy, but I believe he's spot on. It's near the end of the speech.

Although I found it evocative and entertaining, at just over 3/4 of an hour, this speech runs about 47 and 1/2 minutes beyond the average couch potato's attention span. Nevertheless, I present it here, because I believe my average reader is way above average in focus and perseverance.

Okay, now I will leave the whole election process alone for awhile. At least for awhile .

The Speech You Will Not Hear from a Candidate in 2012

2011-06-08T17:55:00.001-04:00

Although the next national election is over a year away, potential candidates are jockeying for position as pollsters and pundits make their projections. So, I will step outside the normal parameters of WARSKYL to comment on the political status quo -- Latin for the mess we are in.

A roundup of the usual suspects, er candidates, will include the usual sprinkling of those who profess evangelical faith. Since the media will either dismiss or calumniate them, politically conservative evangelicals will tend to close ranks behind them and vote for them.

Therefore, as a public service, I want to present to you the speech that you will not hear from any of the conservative evangelical candidates running for office in 2012.

My fellow Christian Americans, I come before you today a changed man. Since the last election, God has severely convicted me of how I have put political expediency above my loyalty to Jesus Christ.

I have repented of that grievous sin, and I also ask you, my supporters to forgive me. Specifically, I ask you to forgive me for hedging my faith in the last election.

Two years ago, I told you that I would go to Washington to support traditional Judaeo-Christian values. I used the term Judaeo-Christian in order to seem more inclusive . . . less offensive to those who did not share my faith in Jesus Christ.

Since then, one of my supporters has sat down with me in a study of Paul's Epistle to the Galatians, and I have learned that Judaeo-Christianity is a departure from the Christian faith. Therefore, during this campaign, I want everyone to understand my position regarding my faith.

First, let me declare that Jesus Christ is not only my Prophet, Priest and King, He is the rightful Ruler over this and all nations. If God sees fit to allow me to go to Washington, my first allegiance will be to Him. The political machine, special interests, and even the will of the people must take a back seat to the fact that I will use my office first and foremost to serve my Lord and Redeemer.

Second, as a corollary to my first point, let me say that I will weigh all legislation by the standard of God's Word, the Bible. The Constitution may be a great document, but Holy Scripture reveals the will of the Creator and Governor of the universe, and as such I will treat it for what it truly is, the Supreme Law of the land.

Finally, let me say that I fully believe that public welfare programs, whether for the rich, like the bank bailout, or the middle class, like public education or for the poor, like food stamps are all contrary to Scripture. I will vote against any bill that seeks to redistribute wealth in any way, shape or form.

My advisors tell me that if I stand on this platform, I will not be electable. Over the past several months, however, I have come to realize that when I one day stand before the Great Judge of all men, He will not be interested in how electable I was. He will be much more interested in how faithful I was.

If I am elected, I will serve my King. If I am defeated, then at least the electorate will have had a real choice -- one which they have, perhaps, not had for over 200 years. One for which God can and will hold them responsible.

Amen.

Intruder in the House: Be Vewy Vewy Quiet . . .

2011-06-06T11:44:00.000-04:00

When Elmer Fudd was hunting Bugs Bunny, he cautioned us to be vewy vewy quiet. This advice also applies if you have an intruder in the house.

I was on the phone with my barber last night, when my wife came in to say, "Good night." The door hinges squeaked, as they always have as she came in and went out.

My barber pointed out that if an uninvited guest entered the house, those hinges would give away my exact location. The intruder would know my location, but I might not know his -- not good!

I got off the phone and sprayed WD40 on the hinges, and now they're quiet.

How about your house? Any noisy tattletales that could put you at a tactical disadvantage? If you have fixed any, I'm sure other readers would like to hear about the problem and how you solved it.

Self Defense: Technical or Tactical?

2011-06-04T09:46:00.000-04:00

Most self defense instructors teach a technique-oriented program. "If he does this, you do that."

Technique-oriented programs require scores, if not hundreds, of techniques in order to comprehensively cover the various situations and avenues of attack. Such a large number of choices is bound to slow down your OODA loop.

Bruce Lee practiced and taught a concept called No Technique. He operated in terms of a few simple principles, such as see the closest target and strike with the nearest weapon and find/create an opening and strike. These are tactics rather than techniques.

Steve Golden trained under Bruce Lee. If you are on any of Keith Pascal's e-mail lists, you recently received a link to the Steve Golden video below. If you missed it, here's your chance to gain a little insight into his approach.

From the Barber's Chair: The Inescapability of Character

2011-06-02T16:45:00.000-04:00

Bob Jones, Sr. used to say, "Your reputation is what men think you are. Your character is what you are when no one but God is looking." Nevertheless, character will always come out in our actions and attitudes.

This recent communication from my barber (edited for typos and to protect the identity of a certain young army captain serving in Afghanistan) anecdotally illustrates the inescapability of character:

Had to get blades sharpened yesterday. Williamsport Barber Supply does an international business. Few walk-in customers. Frank works in a small back room at his work bench. Frank apprenticed for his Barber License in 1939. That was not a misprint. 1939. "Retired" now,he services clippers,lather machines,and sharpens blades,and shears. We have been fast friends for years. Frank is a Barber's barber. If you are reading this email,it's because I know you appreciate sharp blades,and tools. Frank works only one day a week,wednesday,my day-off. We have known each other for years,and we both smile when we see each other. Like you and me,he's only serious about a few things. Like God,the Barber trade,sharp edges,and tradition. Frank stills travels back to the old country,Italy. He has family there yet.

Four blades,and one shear needed the master's touch. We talked shop as he hand sharpened the blades on a wheel he made himself decades ago. Only he knows the right number of times,and the right pressure to use on the wheel. Barber shears have a corrugated edge to the blades. If they didn't,the hair would just fold into the blades,and not cut. Turning to the shears,(scissors are what kindergarteners' use to cut construction paper with),we barbers are touchy when a woman comes in the shop and tells us to use scissors only on her child.Frank hand files them,using a well-worn groove in the workbench. Yeah,Craig,totally by hand,with a master's eye. He keeps an old wig perched on an old cosmetology mannequin head on the shelf. After hand filing the shear points,the filing of the blades changes the contact point at the tips ever so much,he reached up,took a small section of hair,and gently closed his hand. The now razor-sharp shears,severed the fake hair effortlessly. Frank looked at me,big grin on his face,and I smiled back in acknowledgement. That's our routine.

A woman's voice interrupted the joy of the moment. A voice I recognized. It was a lady barber from a town about 20 miles from my place. She announced herself,reached into a rather gaudy colored,large handbag,and unceremoniously dumped three clippers onto a table in the room,while at the same time complaining about all the haircuts she had to do the day before. All the life,and joy was sucked out of the room. She very high-and-mightily told frank to clean,and tune,and sharpen the clippers,and that she would return later for them. Frank looked at me with a look of disgust,shaking his head slowly. After she flew out of the room,Frank told me that she likes girls. I said, "That figures." In the fifteen years I have known this wonderful man and master,I have never TOLD him to do anything. I have always gently asked,and he has always dropped what he was doing,and went immediatly to work on my gear. Bidding goodbye,and giving him the Lord's Blessing,I walked out front to greet Kevin,the manager.

Kevin excitedly told me that his son-in-law is now discharged,and thanked me for the support,and Prayers. Turns out it had been four years since the IED blast in the armored-up HMMV in Iraq. Among the grievous injuries he suffered TBI still lingers. I told him that the Army wouldn't discharge him until he was fixed. Turns out that was correct. I couldn't believe it had been four years. Kevin always asks about [my son]. Told me before I left that he still Prays for [him],and to tell him so. Kevin began to tear-up as he describes what his daughter has to go through with her husband,and the TBI. I've said it before,the true cost of this war will never be known,but to God.

It's just a simple story, but in it you can see kindness, compassion and mutual respect contrasted with rudeness and self-absorption. Christian Martialist, how does your character peek through the trappings of daily activity? And what would your barber have to say about your last visit?

Inspirational Video

2011-06-01T07:17:00.003-04:00

For all its faults, the Lord of the Rings movies have their inspirational moments. Here is a speech that a local radio host played for Memorial Day.

It Is Not This Day

I think we should view it looking forward rather than back.

Tactics & Tactical Supplies

2011-05-30T15:36:00.004-04:00

Preparedness Dilettante (2nd meaning): I have a tactical shotgun as well as a tactical flashlight, watch and pen.

Wry Observer: Do you have any tactics?

Dilettante: Any what?

Tactical gear and supplies have a single purpose -- to enable you to reach a tactical objective. But to do so, you must use them tactically.

Tactics are simply the actions you take to achieve your objective. If you lack the knowledge, skill or physical capability to take the appropriate action (i.e., if you can't execute tactics), then all the gear in the world is useless to you.

For example, I've recently given some attention to my first aid gear. But it has been a few years since I got my First Responder certificate, so I've been thinking about finding a class where I can refresh my skills. The equipment is not enough.

Also, your tactical gear doesn't have to come from an expensive paramilitary outfit and sport camo paint in order to serve your tactical needs. (Boyoboy, don't you just love how that nifty camo stuff makes you really stand out in a crowd?)

In order put my body in a state of readiness, I like to take a big glass of tactical prune juice, every Saturday morning. It's a tactical supply because it enables me to take action appropriate to achieving my tactical objective.
;-)

Memorial Day Thoughts

2011-05-29T08:04:00.000-04:00

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

I've heard this verse quoted in reference to those who have died in service to our country, and I think it contains a general truth that applies to Memorial Day. Those who have laid their lives on the line to defend homeland, home and family have demonstrated a level of sacrifice that deserves our respect.

We must never forget, though, two inescapable truths that also come out of that passage:

First, Jesus was talking about Himself and His imminent death for His people when He spoke those words to His disciples. His death accomplished eternal redemption -- something all the lives of all our soldiers in all our wars could never achieve.
To benefit from Christ's redemption, you must be His "friend." In other words, faith in Christ alone saves men.

A military man willing to die defending his cherished home and family deserves our respect. He certainly has mine.

But as Christians, we must never cross the line here and imply (as we often hear, even from preachers who ought to know better) that a soldier's last full measure of devotion purchases him a ticket to eternal peace. Only by full faith in Christ can anyone be assured of peace with God.

It distresses me to think that the souls some people who died for my safety may be in hell today. It distresses me more that we, as Christians, may have given some of them the impression that their sacrifice would somehow put them in right standing with God.

As we remember our honored dead, let's pray for our military folk. Let's pray not only for their safety, but that they put their trust fully in the grace of God in Christ Jesus. Let's also pray that God will preserve them morally and mentally as well as physically.

And while we're at it, let's pray that our policy-makers not put them in harm's way for profit or political gain.

Christian Martialist Fellowship

2011-05-28T09:46:00.000-04:00

A couple of summers ago, we attended a Christian conference sponsored by the Federation of Reformed Churches in the finger lakes region of New York. One of my youngest daughter's online friends -- another home-educated gal -- lives in the area, which gave them an opportunity to get together.

First, however, her dad came by to check us out. As the father of four daughters, I understood and appreciated his mindset.

Within the last month or so, my daughter's friend gave her father the link to this blog and told him it might interest him. He liked what he read, perusing as many as 50 pages in a day. Then his daughter told him that her friend's father writes the blog.

Long story short, they arrived yesterday afternoon here in Possum Kingdom to visit for a few days. We had a great time of Christian Martialist fellowship yesterday.

You know how some people bring the hostess a bottle of wine when they visit? This guy brought a box of 12 gauge 00 shotgun shells.

Over the course of the evening, we talked about the Lord, martial arts, guns and our faith experiences, in a seamless conversation -- the kind that grows out of lives that express a Biblical mindset and philosophy.

Today, we will attend the Highland Games and Scottish festival together. I don't know how the bagpipes will play on his Italian ears -- actually the Romans had bagpipes before the Scots, but their mournful skirl fits the Scottish temperament so much better -- but I am looking forward to good time.

If I don't get my Memorial Day post up before tomorrow, let me wish you well and thank all of you who have, in good conscience, served our military.

4Sevens Memorial Day Discount

2011-05-25T16:52:00.001-04:00

First, a personal note: DLR informs me that not only did my son-in-law win the rifle match last week-end (for the second year in a row), but that his wife/my daughter came in a solid 7th place. It's good to know that the RKBA lives even in the hearts of folk who suffer under the yoke of oppression in the foreign state of Illinois.

As you may remember from my review of the Quark AA2 Tactical Flashlight, I have been very happy with the quality and performance of this 4Sevens product. That's why I'm passing on the following message that I received from the company:

From right now through Memorial Day, May 30th, you can receive 15% OFF your purchase at 4Sevens.com!

Simply use the following discount code when checking out on our website: MEM2011

Pressure Bandage

2011-05-23T11:38:00.002-04:00

Here's an item I'm adding to my first-aid kit:

Thanks to my barber for drawint this to my attention.

Another Soldier Down

2011-05-19T19:45:00.003-04:00

There is a young soldier in God's army who has been struggling for some time. He's on my daily prayer list.

I'm sure there are others like him, engaged in spiritual warfare, struggling, standing for the King, though wounded with failing strength. I dedicate this song to all Christian Martialists who share in those struggles, and to all of you who hold each other up.

My prayers are with you.

Thanks to my daughter Merrianna for the link to this video.

Daddy, why do we live in a police state? -- 6

2011-05-17T11:45:00.001-04:00

Continued from "Daddy, why do we live in a police state? --5"

Four year old Joel Guerena cannot ask his daddy that question, because his daddy is dead. Twenty six year old Jose Guerena had served this country as a Marine in two combat tours, died defending his family from a home invasion.

The invaders happened to be a SWAT team from the local sheriff's office apparently serving a no-knock warrant to search for evidence of a "drug conspiracy". In the process, they terrorized a young mother and her children, shot the husband and father, and then denied paramedics access for an hour-and-a-quarter as they seemingly waited for him to die.

Police found no drugs and no money (?) -- it seems that possession of legal tender is now evidence of criminal activity -- in the home. All they found was a family with a brave young husband and father whose inalienable right to be secure in his life and property was trampled upon by the jackboots.

It's so easy to excuse police-state tactics. We say the criminals shouldn't have rights, and that we mustn't tie the hands of the police as they protect us. But once we kiss the constitutional safeguards goodbye, there is no one to protect us from the police.

Read the whole story here:

"Why Did Police Kill My Dad?"

You can watch a news clip here:

It will wrench your heart, but you can listen here to Vanessa Guerena's impassioned pleas to the 911 operator for her dying husband:

Nostalgic Moment: Short & Sweet

2011-05-13T18:08:00.000-04:00

[Sorry this post is so late. I was pretty sick for a couple of days, and when I came back to post, the host had suspended access for "maintenance". I'm finally back. Missed you guys.]

When my daughters were younger and we passed a stone house, I would make a comment. And I repeated it so often that R_____ or M________ took to finishing it for me. If you had been in the car, you'd have heard something like this:

Gravelbelly: "Look! A stone house. I love stone houses. There's just something so . . .

A Daughter: ". . . BULLETPROOF about stone."

Ahh, nostalgia.

And, what did you think I would look for in a house?

There Be Goats!!

2011-05-07T13:48:00.001-04:00

Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation? The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens. (Proverbs 27:23-27)

I noticed the passage above several years ago, before it became popular with survivalist/preparedness gurus. I re-read it today, with a sense of contentedness after we picked up two milk goats.

In January, Laura sold our milk goat so we could get away to attend our 3rd daughter's wedding. After a good deal of prayer, the Lord's gracious providence (through some Christian acquaintances) provided us with two milkers at a price we can afford.

Their kids were just weaned, so they are not used to being milked. My wife will milk them for the first time tonight, and I will be on hand to help, in case they show skittishness at the milk stand.

Training them to the milk stand may take a little time, but we are looking forward to fresh, raw milk and also the homemade cheeses (mozzarella, chevre and feta are my wife's specialties), yogurt and kefir. Those delicacies along with eggs from our chickens could easily supply the three of us with more protein and probiotics than we need.

It should go without saying that we must put our trust in the Lord, not in our possessions and preparations. Nevertheless, our God works through the circumstances and resources that He puts at our disposal.

Therefore, today I breathed a sigh of relief as I reviewed the state of our flocks. Bless the name of Jehovah and His anointed King.

Clearing Your Home -- Update

2011-05-06T11:45:00.000-04:00

A couple of months ago, I posted an entry that included a video on clearing your home. (The link is here.)

Since the arrival of our Ithaca Model 37, Laura & I have been practicing. We started out by dry firing, then added the drill of loading it with our eyes closed in order to learn to properly index the shells by touch. Now, we have begun a walk-through of house clearing, working in tandem -- she with the Model 37 and I with my 1911.

As the video suggests, there's no easy or safe way to do it. In the past, when I've cleared the house from the front door, I followed a logical progression from one end of the house to the other. Now, however, we start from our bedroom, and entering the hallway exposes us in three directions: daughter's bedroom to the immediate right, the bathroom directly ahead, and the hallway to the left.

Thankfully, with two of us, I can cover two directions while Laura clears our daughter's room, and then we leap-frog through the rest of the house. Since she is left-handed, she takes rooms to the right, and as a righty, I take the ones to the left.

Our house is actually quite small, but its layout presents problems when it comes to clearing. Have you ever done a walk-through exercise of clearing your home? I urge you to try it.

And don't ignore potential problems. Solve them.

Model 1911: Inner Workings

2011-05-05T10:31:00.000-04:00

My barber sent me the following link:

STI International

Once you're there, you can select which parts of the weapon you want to view as it goes through a firing cycle. As my barber said, "Hypnotic . . ."

The Death of Osama Bin Laden

2011-05-03T10:32:00.000-04:00

Very rarely do I read an essay that so completely expresses my own thoughts as one that deolexrex called to my attention yesterday. It's called "Thoughts on the Death of Bin Laden" by James B. Jordan.

Here are some quotes that I hope will move you to click the link and read the whole article.

On September 11, 2001, Jesus brought judgment upon the United States of America. Following His normal procedure, He used an even more evil force to do it (Habakkuk 1-3).

Certainly the United States has not repented. It burns Bibles sent to Afghanistan. It promotes child murder. It steals from future generations in order to preserve prosperity by increasing debt. It does all but promote homosexual activity in its military. And so forth. The election of The Fool in 2008 shows the willingness of the American people to promote antichrist through the most sickeningly degenerate association of people the United States has ever known: the Democrat Party.

. . . as Christians we tread a tightrope between being favorable to much of what America used to stand for (because it was Biblical), and against almost everything America stands for today (because it is anti-Christ).

I will not quote what Jordan says about the actual death of Bin Laden. I'll let you read than for yourself.

Oh, and by the way, have you noticed that the liberal media have dropped the "O" from Bin Laden's first name and replaced it with a "U"? I suppose they want to deemphasize any similarities between the antichristian terrorist and President Ubama.

Til the Storm Passes By

2011-05-02T11:46:00.000-04:00

This is a song we learned some 40 years ago, and I'm posting it here in honor of Christ's sheepdogs who protected their families through the tornadoes last week.

Click here to hear the music

Or go here for both words and music.

In the dark of the midnight,
Have I oft hid my face;
While the storm howls above me,
And there's no hiding place;
'Mid the crash of the thunder,
Precious Lord, hear my cry;
"Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by."

'Til the storm passes over,
'Til the thunder sounds no more;
'Til the clouds roll forever from the sky,
Hold me fast, let me stand,
In the hollow of Thy hand;
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by.

Many times Satan whispers,
"There is no need to try;
For there's no end of sorrow,
There's no hope by and by";
But I know Thou art with me,
And tomorrow I'll rise;
Where the storms never darken the skies.

'Til the storm passes over,
'Til the thunder sounds no more;
'Til the clouds roll forever from the sky,
Hold me fast, let me stand,
In the hollow of Thy hand;
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by.

When the long night has ended,
And the storms come no more,
Let me stand in Thy presence.
On that bright, peaceful shore.
In that land where the tempest
Never comes, Lord may I
Dwell with Thee when the storm passes by.

'Til the storm passes over,
'Til the thunder sounds no more;
'Til the clouds roll forever from the sky,
Hold me fast, let me stand,
In the hollow of Thy hand;
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by.

Hold me fast, Let me stand,
In the hollow of Thy hand;
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by.

'Til the storm passes by.

Heroic Father Dies Protecting Family

2011-05-02T10:28:00.000-04:00

I could comment on the death of Osama bin Laden, but I will put that off to share an incredible video interview with the eldest son of a man who died during one of the tornadoes late last week. He shielded some of his 13 children with his own body and died praying for their safety.

The young man's maturity, focus and dedication to Christ are an amazing testimony to his upbringing. This is a must-see video.

The Day after Tomorrow Will Be Better, 2

2011-04-30T17:55:00.001-04:00

Continued from "The Day after Tomorrow Will Be Better"

Once when Alex and I were driving through the suburbs of Modrice, a group of young German hoodlums about fifteen years old threw stones at us. Our car windows were open, but fortunately,we were able to duck. A policeman was on the corner and Alex stopped the car immediately to ask him to arrest the boys.

The officer explained that it was impossible because Czech police were not permitted to arrest German-speaking citizens. That was disturbing. We were in our own country, and yet a minority siding with our professed enemy seemed to be gaining the upper hand. The incident upset us profoundly. (Zdena Kapral, Tomorrow Will Be Better, p. 43)

The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway. (Deuteronomy 28:33)

Under the Mosaic Covenant, God told His people that unfaithfulness to Him would result in subjugation to aliens, even within their own land. Did they ever give heed?

Have we?

If you have followed the news these last few weeks, you know that in the southernmost regions, our own ATF has deliberately allowed large numbers of firearms to be shipped south of the border to the drug cartels. Our leaders, no doubt will note the increased firepower and call for greater restrictions on gun ownership among the citizens.

You may have also read, in addition, that bureacrats have pretty much disallowed the arrest of those crossing the border illegally. But don't you try to take a day trip into Canada and expect to return to your homeland without a passport. If your papers are not in order, you could end up in the pokey for an indeterminate amount of time.

In the northernmost regions (i.e., Michigan), Muslims have assaulted Christian evangelists distributing Gospel literature. When the police arrived, they arrested the Christians.

Is God trying to tell us something? If so, I don't think it has anything to do with voting Republican -- even "Tea-Party Republican" -- in 2012.

The answer to our problems does not lie in political elections or political revolution. It lies in finding where we have strayed -- in our personal, family and church lives -- and then repenting and getting on board with God's objectives and agenda as laid down in Scripture.

. . . or as an alternative we could all learn Spanish and Arabic and get used to bowing and scraping to bureacrats and aliens.

Fish, Cut Bait or Get out of the Way

2011-04-29T11:04:00.000-04:00

Optimist: "The cup is half full."
Pessimist: "The cup is half empty."
Gravelbelly: "Why are we using a leaky cup?"