The Giant

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

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

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 . . .

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?

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

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

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.