Thought for the week:
1/31/12
The Law says...do!
Grace says....done!
9/19/11
"Today, I sound the shofar...."
-Q
(the sheepdog heeding the call of his shepherd,
watchmen, heed the call of your King!)
Please take the time to listen to the poignant message of Rabbi Jonathan Cahn from back in 2005. Go to the link below (YouTube) and listen to all of the five part series of 9+ minute audio clips (you will see links to the next clip, after each preceeding clip is completed. The history is fascinating, the message is simple and the timing is NOW! Do not think the name of the message is without hope, it's all about hope!
(Note: While the recording isn't "studio quality", please bear with it for the message. With the history and information laid out in the first 2 1/2 clips, the last 2 1/2 clips are a "call to all" and a "commandment to some!")
Blessings!
9/1/11
As I grow older I pay less attention to what men say.
I just watch what they do.
8/27/11
Sack up and start carrying your own load
7/15/11
“To every man there comes in a lifetime that special moment when he is figuratively
tapped on the shoulder and offered that chance to do a very special thing
unique to him and fitted to his talent.
What a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified.”
-Scott Owen
6/20/11
"...Here is how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently. The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day. After the attacks on September 11, 2001, most of the sheep, that is, most citizens in America said, “Thank God I wasn’t on one of those planes.”
The sheepdogs, the warriors, said, “Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a difference.” When you are truly transformed into a warrior and have truly invested yourself into warriorhood, you want to be there.
You want to be able to make a difference.
While there is nothing morally superior about the sheepdog, the warrior, he does have one real advantage. Only one. He is able to survive and thrive in an environment that destroys 98 percent of the population..."
Excerpt from 'On Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs'
(From the book, On Combat, by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman)
6/6/11
"You get what you emphasize."
5/21/11
"Islamic life is like a ladder, with prayer and praising Allah as the bottom rung. The higher rungs represent helping the poor and needy, establishing schools, and supporting charities. The highest rung is jihad.
The ladder is tall. Few look up to see what is at the top. And progress is usually gradual, almost imperceptible - like a barn cat stalking a swallow. The swallow never takes its eyes off the cat. It just stands there, watching the cat pace back and forth, back and forth. But the swallow does not judge depth. It does not see that the cat is getting a little bit closer with every pass until, in the blink of an eye, the cats claws are stained with the swallow's blood.
Traditional Muslims stand at the foot of the ladder, living in guilt for not really practicing Islam. At the top are fundamentalists, the ones you see in the news killing women and children for the glory of the god of the Qur'an. Moderates are somewhere in between.
A moderate Muslim is actually more dangerous than a fundamentalist, however, because he appears harmless, and you can never tell when he has taken that next step toward the top. Most suicide bombers begin as moderates."
2/21/11
"Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character."
1/27/11
"Some cause happiness wherever they go;
others, whenever they go.."
- Oscar Wilde
1/10/11
Silica Gel Packets - Unusual Uses
You know those disposable silica packets that come in your packaging? You should actually hang on to them; their moisture-wicking properties come in handy all over the house.
If you've ever bought shoes, handbags, and other merchandise, you've definitely come across little silica gel packets. Their purpose is to preserve products and eliminate moisture that can lead to damage and mildew. That means you can use them on other items too -- not just the ones they came packaged with. So don't toss silica gel packets; save them! And reuse them in these cool way.
SAVE YOUR ELECTRONICS
If you accidentally get water in your camera or cell phone, store it immediately in a plastic bag filled with silica gel packets, which will absorb the moisture and save the device in a matter of days.
PROTECT YOUR ELECTRONICS
Here's a secret that the photo-savvy know : Keep silica gel packets in your camera case at all times to prevent moisture-related problems. And if you're headed to the beach, pack a plastic zip-top bag with a silica gel pack inside, and use it to stash and seal up cell phones, cameras and other electronic equipment. When you open it to answer to phone or take a picture some moisture can get inside the bag. The silica gel will quickly wick away the moisture and protect the electronics.
PROTECT YOUR PHOTOS
Put silica gel packet in the boxes where you store your photos to keep them safe and dry.
PROTECT SILVER
Moisture can lead to tarnish and corrosion on silver and jewelry. Slip a silica gel packet in your silver chest or jewelry box to keep those items tarnish free and looking great!
PROTECT FISHING EQUIPMENT
If you're an outdoor sports enthusiast keep silica gel packets in tackle boxes, golf bags or with your climbing gear. The packets will prevent rust from forming on your equipment. This also works to protect your tools in the toolboxes or workshop.
PROTECT YOUR WARDROBE
If you live in a high humidity area, stash silica gel packets in with your clothes when you put them in storage for the winter and in your closets where you store coats and linens. They will wick away excess moisture and prevent mustiness.
Tip: If your silica gel packets don't seem to be working any more, put them on a cookie sheet in a 100 degree oven for an hour to recharge! When you're not using the packets, keep them in an airtight container to protect them from surrounding moisture.
1/3/11
"Why increase the volume of your voice
when you should instead
increase the merit of your argument?"
12/20/10
"Train with the understanding that firearms practice is 75% physical and 25% mental;
however a gunfight is 25% physical and 75% mental."
-Marcus Wynne
12/13/10
"The mind is not a vessel to be filled,
but a fire to be kindled."
-Plutrach
11/22/10
A re-post from Off The Grid News that I felt was an interesting perspective...
Surviving vs. Serving: A Biblical View of Preparing
As a young boy growing up in a military family, I learned quickly the value of always being prepared for the unexpected. Without warning or notice, the U.S. military would call upon my father to move to a new city or even a new country as an unfolding crisis would erupt. I remember my father’s famous mantra that he had learned in boot camp and often repeated to me:
“Proper Prior Planning…Prevents Piss-Poor Performance.”
The goal of “Prior Planning” was not just to survive, but to survive so that one might be able to perform their duties well!
As Christians, we also serve as “good soldiers” in a military operation with the King of Kings as our Commander in Chief.(2Tim.2:3) Though we do not wage war like the armies of man for temporal treasures, our battles are just as real, just as painful, and hold eternal victories for those that endure.(2 Cor.10:3 and Rev. 3:21)
America’s present economic, political and social landscape is uncertain at best and perilous at worst. Whether it is a new terrorist alert, the mortgage debacle, rising prices, natural disasters, spiraling debt, spiritual apathy or government gridlock, an individual is forced to admit that we live in dangerous & uncertain times.
With profound wisdom, King Solomon spoke a proverb that echoes true even in our day:
“A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.” (Prov.22:3)
Throughout the pages of Scripture, there have been many times where individuals scanned their present horizon and comprehended impending danger. They walked with God, acted in faith and with determination made wise preparations.
In each situation, the goal was not just to prepare and survive while others perished, but a much bigger perspective motivates the follower of God in their prudent preparations; that is to wisely prepare so that one can adequately and skillfully continue to minister and serve to the true needs of others!
1) In Noah’s time, he saw the horrifying cesspool of rebellious humanity sliding down the vortex of evil. Mankind had joined hands with Darkness in a way that guaranteed the judgment of God. As the impending storm clouds of retribution gathered, Noah listened and obeyed God’s warning:
“Prompted by faith Noah, being forewarned by God concerning events of which as yet there was no visible sign, took heed and diligently and reverently constructed and prepared an ark for the deliverance of his family”. (Heb 11:7a)
2) In an age when the government was corrupt and the people followed their own lusts, worshipping false gods, a young man decided to follow the True God. In spite of false accusations and wrongful imprisonment, Joseph knew that the Lord would never abandon him. In time, God raised Joseph up from prison, gave him the wisdom to discern Pharaoh’s prophetic dream and prepare!
“Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. The seven years of abundance ended, and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food.” (Gen.41:48, 54)
3) It was the year A.D. 47. During the reign of Claudius, the Roman Empire was expanding into Britain while the “armies” of Jesus were spreading outward because of persecution. The Christians went forth conquering the domain of darkness in Syria and Asia Minor as Barnabas teamed up with Paul ministering in Antioch. When the prophet Agabus arrived, his words moved the Christians to prudently prepare because of an impending disaster.
“During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.” (Act.11:27f)
In each of these crises, the Believers walked by faith while maintaining an acute awareness of the times in which they lived. That “awareness” carried with it a responsibility to wisely make preparations so that they could continue to love and serve others’ eternal as well as temporal needs. The admonition of Scriptures is for every Believer to listen and obey God, as well as to be attentive to current events around them. Even though we are “citizens of heaven”, we still live in the physical world and as such must be aware of dangers and calamities that can and will affect us.
‘And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now…” (Rom 13:11)
“Of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do…” (1 Chr.12:32)
“Five of them were wise and five were foolish…the wise ones took extra oil in their jars”
(Matt.25:2f)
One may believe that to “prepare” for a potential disaster shows lack of faith in God. However, Scriptures would reveal that it takes a true faith to see approaching danger and care enough for one’s family and others to make adequate preparations.
As stated in Acts 11, “The disciples, each according to his ability (resources), decided to provide help for the brothers” because of the impending calamity. Before the famine arrived, the Christians prepared and utilized their assets to be able to minister Christ’s love to others.
This is the Biblical reason that Christian’s, especially in America, need to be alert to approaching disasters. Believers should wisely set aside practical supplies, as each is able, so that one’s family and others can be helped in meaningful ways.
As “spiritual soldiers”, let our “Proper Prior Planning” enable us to serve and demonstrate God’s love to many… no matter what calamities may come!
10/1/10
Define, or be defined.
-Q
8/30/10
"Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens."
-JRR Tolkien
8/16/10
The function of leadership is to produce more leaders,
not more followers.
8/2/10
Silent and Listen have the same letters.
7/23/10
“Prayer is not asking.
It is a longing of the soul.
It is daily admission of one's weakness.
It is better in prayer to have a heart without words,
than words without a heart.”
7/12/10
"We either make ourselves miserable
or we make ourselves strong.
The amount of work is the same."
6/28/10
"You've been walking in circles, searching.
Don't drink by the water's edge.
Throw yourself in. Become the water.
Only then will your thirst end."
-Jeanette Berson
6/21/10
Joshua 1
5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.
(In my recent studies, a very poignant and simple principle was illuminated to me. The people were led across the desert for forty years to prepare them for their gift of the 'Land of milk and honey.' Once they arrived, they were told that the land across the Jordan was being given to them as promised. The only trick was they had to 'take it.'
We are not necessarily handed the gifts and promises of God, without effort.
Only through effort are we fully able to possess the gift or promise.
This simple, yet complex principle is a reminder that we are promised the Kingdom, but we also must 'take it' with boldness, faith and without fear.)
9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
5/31/10
"I find that the harder I work,
the more luck I seem to have."
-Thomas Jefferson
5/24/10
“ I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you ”
– Friedrich Nietzsche
5/17/10
If you "try", you'll fail.
You've got to "do" it!
-Q
4/19/10
"It is good to have an end to journey towards,
but it is the journey that matters,
in the end."
-Ursula LeGuin
4/12/10
3/29/10
Fear of not having provision:
Matthew 25:14-30
(The story of the talents)
Lesson:
"You can't save your way to prosperity"
Strength through faith:
Joshua 1:9
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
1 Corinthians 16:13
13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
Lesson:
"Faith or Fear, choose one"
Believe that God is our provision:
Deuteronomy 8:1-20
(Journey through the desert without lack)
Deuteronomy 29:5
5 I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn off your feet.
Lesson:
"God supernaturally provides for all who are in relationship with Him"
Walk in Peace:
Phillipians 4:7
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Lesson:
"A fruitful relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, is the key to all of the protection and provision that we will ever need"
3/22/10
"In order to become resilient communities, every single person in America - parents, teachers, students, police and government officials – as individual citizens and as organization members, must become our own best resource, ready to act in our own survival process, capable of effective support to First Responders, with decreased need for assistance, allowing that first response to be focused on most critical elements.
As we increase our ability to respond to disasters - natural or man-made - psychologically, physically, tactically, and mentally, we directly and positively affect the crisis decision making process.
We as knowledgeable adaptable citizens – we the people – become a significant participant in our survival as a nation on our own terms."
-PWH
3/15/10
On Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs
(From the book, On Combat, by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman) "Honor never grows old, and honor rejoices the heart of age. It does so because honor is, finally, about defending those noble and worthy things that deserve defending, even if it comes at a high cost. In our time, that may mean social disapproval, public scorn, hardship, persecution, or as always, even death itself.
The question remains: What is worth defending? What is worth dying for? What is worth living for?"
- William J. Bennett
In a lecture to the United States Naval Academy
November 24, 1997 |
One Vietnam veteran, an old retired colonel, once said this to me: “Most of the people in our society are sheep. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident.” This is true. Remember, the murder rate is six per 100,000 per year, and the aggravated assault rate is four per 1,000 per year. What this means is that the vast majority of Americans are not inclined to hurt one another.
Some estimates say that two million Americans are victims of violent crimes every year, a tragic, staggering number, perhaps an all-time record rate of violent crime. But there are almost 300 million Americans, which means that the odds of being a victim of violent crime is considerably less than one in a hundred on any given year. Furthermore, since many violent crimes are committed by repeat offenders, the actual number of violent citizens is considerably less than two million.
Thus there is a paradox, and we must grasp both ends of the situation: We may well be in the most violent times in history, but violence is still remarkably rare. This is because most citizens are kind, decent people who are not capable of hurting each other, except by accident or under extreme provocation. They are sheep.
I mean nothing negative by calling them sheep. To me it is like the pretty, blue robin’s egg. Inside it is soft and gooey but someday it will grow into something wonderful. But the egg cannot survive without its hard blue shell. Police officers, soldiers and other warriors are like that shell, and someday the civilization they protect will grow into something wonderful. For now, though, they need warriors to protect them from the predators.
“Then there are the wolves,” the old war veteran said, “and the wolves feed on the sheep without mercy.” Do you believe there are wolves out there who will feed on the flock without mercy? You better believe it. There are evil men in this world and they are capable of evil deeds. The moment you forget that or pretend it is not so, you become a sheep. There is no safety in denial.
“Then there are sheepdogs,” he went on, “and I’m a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf.” Or, as a sign in one California law enforcement agency put it, “We intimidate those who intimidate others.”
If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen: a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath--a wolf. But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? Then you are a sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero’s path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed.
The gift of aggression
"What goes on around you... compares little with what goes on inside you."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson |
Everyone has been given a gift in life. Some people have a gift for science and some have a flair for art. And warriors have been given the gift of aggression. They would no more misuse this gift than a doctor would misuse his healing arts, but they yearn for the opportunity to use their gift to help others. These people, the ones who have been blessed with the gift of aggression and a love for others, are our sheepdogs. These are our warriors.
One career police officer wrote to me about this after attending one of my Bulletproof Mind training sessions:
"I want to say thank you for finally shedding some light on why it is that I can do what I do. I always knew why I did it. I love my [citizens], even the bad ones, and had a talent that I could return to my community. I just couldn’t put my finger on why I could wade through the chaos, the gore, the sadness, if given a chance try to make it all better, and walk right out the other side."
Let me expand on this old soldier’s excellent model of the sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. We know that the sheep live in denial; that is what makes them sheep. They do not want to believe that there is evil in the world. They can accept the fact that fires can happen, which is why they want fire extinguishers, fire sprinklers, fire alarms and fire exits throughout their kids’ schools. But many of them are outraged at the idea of putting an armed police officer in their kid’s school. Our children are dozens of times more likely to be killed, and thousands of times more likely to be seriously injured, by school violence than by school fires, but the sheep’s only response to the possibility of violence is denial. The idea of someone coming to kill or harm their children is just too hard, so they choose the path of denial.
The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, cannot and will not ever harm the sheep. Any sheepdog who intentionally harms the lowliest little lamb will be punished and removed. The world cannot work any other way, at least not in a representative democracy or a republic such as ours.
Still, the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the land. They would prefer that he didn’t tell them where to go, or give them traffic tickets, or stand at the ready in our airports in camouflage fatigues holding an M-16. The sheep would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint himself white, and go, “Baa.”
Until the wolf shows up. Then the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one lonely sheepdog. As Kipling said in his poem about “Tommy” the British soldier:
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind,"
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind. |
The students, the victims, at Columbine High School were big, tough high school students, and under ordinary circumstances they would not have had the time of day for a police officer. They were not bad kids; they just had nothing to say to a cop. When the school was under attack, however, and SWAT teams were clearing the rooms and hallways, the officers had to physically peel those clinging, sobbing kids off of them. This is how the little lambs feel about their sheepdog when the wolf is at the door. Look at what happened after September 11, 2001, when the wolf pounded hard on the door. Remember how America, more than ever before, felt differently about their law enforcement officers and military personnel? Remember how many times you heard the word hero?
Understand that there is nothing morally superior about being a sheepdog; it is just what you choose to be. Also understand that a sheepdog is a funny critter: He is always sniffing around out on the perimeter, checking the breeze, barking at things that go bump in the night, and yearning for a righteous battle. That is, the young sheepdogs yearn for a righteous battle. The old sheepdogs are a little older and wiser, but they move to the sound of the guns when needed right along with the young ones.
Here is how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently. The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day. After the attacks on September 11, 2001, most of the sheep, that is, most citizens in America said, “Thank God I wasn’t on one of those planes.” The sheepdogs, the warriors, said, “Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a difference.” When you are truly transformed into a warrior and have truly invested yourself into warriorhood, you want to be there. You want to be able to make a difference.
While there is nothing morally superior about the sheepdog, the warrior, he does have one real advantage. Only one. He is able to survive and thrive in an environment that destroys 98 percent of the population.
There was research conducted a few years ago with individuals convicted of violent crimes. These cons were in prison for serious, predatory acts of violence: assaults, murders and killing law enforcement officers. The vast majority said that they specifically targeted victims by body language: slumped walk, passive behavior and lack of awareness. They chose their victims like big cats do in Africa, when they select one out of the herd that is least able to protect itself.
However, when there were cues given by potential victims that indicated they would not go easily, the cons said that they would walk away. If the cons sensed that the target was a "counter-predator," that is, a sheepdog, they would leave him alone unless there was no other choice but to engage.
One police officer told me that he rode a commuter train to work each day. One day, as was his usual, he was standing in the crowded car, dressed in blue jeans, T-shirt and jacket, holding onto a pole and reading a paperback. At one of the stops, two street toughs boarded, shouting and cursing and doing every obnoxious thing possible to intimidate the other riders. The officer continued to read his book, though he kept a watchful eye on the two punks as they strolled along the aisle making comments to female passengers, and banging shoulders with men as they passed.
As they approached the officer, he lowered his novel and made eye contact with them. “You got a problem, man?” one of the IQ-challenged punks asked. “You think you’re tough, or somethin’?” the other asked, obviously offended that this one was not shirking away from them.
“As a matter of fact, I am tough,” the officer said, calmly and with a steady gaze.
The two looked at him for a long moment, and then without saying a word, turned and moved back down the aisle to continue their taunting of the other passengers, the sheep.
Some people may be destined to be sheep and others might be genetically primed to be wolves or sheepdogs. But I believe that most people can choose which one they want to be, and I’m proud to say that more and more Americans are choosing to become sheepdogs.
Seven months after the attack on September 11, 2001, Todd Beamer was honored in his hometown of Cranbury, New Jersey. Todd, as you recall, was the man on Flight 93 over Pennsylvania who called on his cell phone to alert an operator from United Airlines about the hijacking. When he learned of the other three passenger planes that had been used as weapons, Todd dropped his phone and uttered the words, “Let’s roll,” which authorities believe was a signal to the other passengers to confront the terrorist hijackers. In one hour, a transformation occurred among the passengers--athletes, business people and parents--from sheep to sheepdogs and together they fought the wolves, ultimately saving an unknown number of lives on the ground.
“Do you have any idea how hard it would be to live with yourself after that?”
"There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible evil of evil men."
- Edmund Burke
Reflections on the Revolution in France |
Here is the point I like to emphasize, especially to the thousands of police officers and soldiers I speak to each year. In nature the sheep, real sheep, are born as sheep. Sheepdogs are born that way, and so are wolves. They didn’t have a choice. But you are not a critter. As a human being, you can be whatever you want to be. It is a conscious, moral decision.
If you want to be a sheep, then you can be a sheep and that is okay, but you must understand the price you pay. When the wolf comes, you and your loved ones are going to die if there is not a sheepdog there to protect you. If you want to be a wolf, you can be one, but the sheepdogs are going to hunt you down and you will never have rest, safety, trust or love. But if you want to be a sheepdog and walk the warrior’s path, then you must make a conscious and moral decision every day to dedicate, equip and prepare yourself to thrive in that toxic, corrosive moment when the wolf comes knocking at the door.
For example, many officers carry their weapons in church. They are well concealed in ankle holsters, shoulder holsters or inside-the-belt holsters tucked into the small of their backs. Anytime you go to some form of religious service, there is a very good chance that a police officer in your congregation is carrying. You will never know if there is such an individual in your place of worship, until the wolf appears to slaughter you and your loved ones.
I was training a group of police officers in Texas, and during the break, one officer asked his friend if he carried his weapon in church. The other cop replied, “I will never be caught without my gun in church.” I asked why he felt so strongly about this, and he told me about a police officer he knew who was at a church massacre in Ft. Worth, Texas, in 1999. In that incident, a mentally deranged individual came into the church and opened fire, gunning down 14 people. He said that officer believed he could have saved every life that day if he had been carrying his gun. His own son was shot, and all he could do was throw himself on the boy’s body and wait to die. That cop looked me in the eye and said, “Do you have any idea how hard it would be to live with yourself after that?”
Some individuals would be horrified if they knew this police officer was carrying a weapon in church. They might call him paranoid and would probably scorn him. Yet these same individuals would be enraged and would call for “heads to roll” if they found out that the airbags in their cars were defective, or that the fire extinguisher and fire sprinklers in their kids’ school did not work. They can accept the fact that fires and traffic accidents can happen and that there must be safeguards against them. Their only response to the wolf, though, is denial, and all too often their response to the sheepdog is scorn and disdain. But the sheepdog quietly asks himself, “Do you have any idea how hard it would be to live with yourself if your loved ones were attacked and killed, and you had to stand there helplessly because you were unprepared for that day?”
The warrior must cleanse denial from his thinking. Coach Bob Lindsey, a renowned law enforcement trainer, says that warriors must practice “when/then” thinking, not “if/when.” Instead of saying,“If it happens then I will take action,” the warrior says, “When it happens then I will be ready.”
It is denial that turns people into sheep. Sheep are psychologically destroyed by combat because their only defense is denial, which is counterproductive and destructive, resulting in fear, helplessness and horror when the wolf shows up.
Denial kills you twice. It kills you once, at your moment of truth when you are not physically prepared: You didn’t bring your gun; you didn’t train. Your only defense was wishful thinking. Hope is not a strategy. Denial kills you a second time because even if you do physically survive, you are psychologically shattered by fear, helplessness, horror and shame at your moment of truth.
Chuck Yeager, the famous test pilot and first man to fly faster than the speed of sound, says that he knew he could die. There was no denial for him. He did not allow himself the luxury of denial. This acceptance of reality can cause fear, but it is a healthy, controlled fear that will keep you alive:
"I was always afraid of dying. Always. It was my fear that made me learn everything I could about my airplane and my emergency equipment, and kept me flying respectful of my machine and always alert in the cockpit."
- Brigadier General Chuck Yeager
Yeager, An Autobiography |
Gavin de Becker puts it like this in Fear Less, his superb post-9/11 book, which should be required reading for anyone trying to come to terms with our current world situation:
| "..denial can be seductive, but it has an insidious side effect. For all the peace of mind deniers think they get by saying it isn’t so, the fall they take when faced with new violence is all the more unsettling. Denial is a save-now-pay-later scheme, a contract written entirely in small print, for in the long run, the denying person knows the truth on some level." |
And so the warrior must strive to confront denial in all aspects of his life, and prepare himself for the day when evil comes.
If you are a warrior who is legally authorized to carry a weapon and you step outside without that weapon, then you become a sheep, pretending that the bad man will not come today. No one can be “on” 24/7 for a lifetime. Everyone needs down time. But if you are authorized to carry a weapon, and you walk outside without it, just take a deep breath, and say this to yourself... “Baa.”
This business of being a sheep or a sheepdog is not a yes-no dichotomy. It is not an all-or-nothing, either-or choice. It is a matter of degrees, a continuum. On one end is an abject, head-in-the-grass sheep and on the other end is the ultimate warrior. Few people exist completely on one end or the other. Most of us live somewhere in between. Since 9-11 almost everyone in America took a step up that continuum, away from denial. The sheep took a few steps toward accepting and appreciating their warriors, and the warriors started taking their job more seriously. The degree to which you move up that continuum, away from sheephood and denial, is the degree to which you and your loved ones will survive, physically and psychologically at your moment of truth.
3/1/10
"Do not pray for easy lives.
Pray to be stronger men!
Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers.
Pray for power equal to your tasks."
- Phillip Brooks
1/25/10
2 Corinthians 5:7
"For we walk by faith, not by sight."
About the movie titled:
The Book of Eli
"One of the most powerful points in the movie is when Carnegie and his thugs have Eli cornered, and they ask for the book. Mind you, Eli has been protecting the book with his very life, but for some reason, he gives it over to the motley crew. Eli's walking partner asks, "I never thought you'd ever give up that book." And Eli replies, "I took for granted just reading it. I better live my life and do what it says."
1/18/10
"It is amazing what life a man can have,
when he isn't afraid of dying."
-Q
-Romans 8:6 (ESV)
"For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace."
(Rom. 8:6 To set the mind on the flesh means to think continually about and constantly desire the things characteristic of fallen, sinful human nature, that is, to think just the way the unbelieving world thinks, emphasizing what it thinks important, pursuing what it pursues, in disregard of God's will.)
1.11.10
"Yes, we did produce a near perfect Republic.
But will they keep it, or will they, in the enjoyment of plenty,
lose the memory of freedom?
Material abundance without character is the surest way to destruction."
-Thomas Jefferson
1/4/10
When organizing a plan, plan on dealing with something like
a natural disaster as a filter for contingencies.
"What if..." everything doesn't go as you would hope?
12/28/09
"Everything that is really great and inspiring
is created by the individual who can labor in freedom."
-Albert Einstein
12/21/09
“Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out..”
– Anton Chekhov
12/14/09
11/23/09
Whatever you tolerate...dominates.
-Bill Johnson
11/16/09
Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
Proverbs 28:19
ESV
10/26/09
I receive,
I believe,
I am,
I will.
10/19/09
"It's not about who you are going to be,
it's about how you are going to be."
-The Counselor
10/12/09
BOLD:
Main Entry: 1bold
Pronunciation: \ˈbōld\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English beald; akin to Old High German bald bold
Date: before 12th century
1 a : fearless before danger : intrepid b : showing or requiring a fearless daring spirit
10/5/09
What would you do,
if you knew you could not fail?
9/28/09
9/21/09
9/14/09
"The secret to happiness is not in doing what one likes to do, but in liking what one has to do."
9/7/09
"The journey is the reward."
- Chinese Proverb
8/31/09
Training the Brain...the Survivability Concepts way!
Three major components:
n *Awareness
n -Mind-set
§ -Programming survivability principles into our minds
-"Stay in the fight" mentality
n -Think about what we think about
n -Actually register what we see around us
n
*Recognition
n -Acknowledge that what we see is real (physical, mental, spiritual)
n -Understand what we see, for decision making
n
*Response
n -What we do about what we see
(These principles are applied to your physical, spiritual and mental walk in life in order to define situations, acknowledge their existence and effectively respond, so that you may survive and thrive.) -Q
8/17/09
No Excuses...
Find A Way...
Make It Happen...
Get It Done!
-Q
8/10/09
"Life is change.
Growth is optional.
Choose wisely."
- Karen Kaiser Clark
8/3/09
See correction to entry on 7/21/08 below.
7/27/09
Instead of
"Fake it till you make it,"
Why don't we
"Faith it till you make it."
7/13/09
"The primary war we fight is between our ears."
-Keith Henderson
7/6/09
Never miss a good chance to shut up.
6/29/09
"Craving clarity,
we attempt to eliminate the risk of trusting God."
-Brennan Manning
6/22/09
6/15/09
"Your body follows your brain,
your brain does what it trains."
-Q
6/1/09
Always drink upstream from the herd.
5/25/09
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Leave the rest to God.
5/18/09
"We may be measured by what we accomplish,
but we are judged by how we try."
-Q
5/11/09
"VICTORIOUS WARRIORS WIN FIRST...
AND THEN GO TO WAR,
WHILE DEFEATED WARRIORS GO TO WAR FIRST...
AND THEN SEEK TO WIN."
-Sun Tzu
5/4/09
Why is there never time to do it right,
but always time to do it over?
4/27/09
"Security Means Nothing Without Survivability"
-Q
4/20/09
“God is not calling us to win the world and, in the process, lose our families.
But I have known those who so enshrined family life and were so protective of ‘quality time’ that the children never saw the kind of consuming love that made their parents’ faith attractive to them.
Some have lost their children, not because they weren’t at their soccer games
or didn’t take family vacations, but because they never transmitted a loyalty to Jesus that went deep enough to interrupt personal preferences.”
- David Shibley
4/12/09
Proactive Procrastination is better than Reactive Anticipation.
-Q
3/30/09
It's less about
"What if?"
and more about
"What is!"
-Q
3/23/09
Courage is not the absence of fear,
but rather the judgement that something else
is more important than fear.
-Ambrose Redmoon
3/16/09
Visualization:
Training on the cheap...
-Q
3/9/09
Anticipation:
The key to determining if you will respond
proactively or reactively.
-Q
3/2/09
(I believe it is time to refresh a posting, from about a year ago...Q)
The Defenders Creed
I accept and understand that human predators exist. Criminal or
terrorist, they take advantage of our civilized society to prey upon
the weak. They represent evil and must be confronted and defeated.
I believe that self-defense is a moral imperative, and that illegitimate
force and illegal violence must be met with righteous indignation and
superior violence.
I will not rely on others for the security of myself, my family and
my community.
I proudly proclaim that I run with a like-minded pack. I do not amble
through life with the mind-numbed herd.
I will train with my chosen weapons, maintain them and carry them in
a condition of readiness at all times.
I will be mentally prepared and physically equipped to effectively
respond to an attack or emergency.
I will constantly test myself against realistic standards to discover
my strengths and weaknesses. I will turn weakness into strength.
I will seek to learn new skills and techniques, and then teach what I
have learned to other members of the pack.
Be it with firearm or blade, empty hand or blunt object, I will hit
my enemies hard, fast and true.
I will live a quiet and unobtrusive life, but I will develop and retain
the capacity for swift and decisive violence.
I recognize that I am the modern equivalent of the traditional
Minuteman, and that I may be called to service at any time against
heavily armed enemies. I will respond effectively.
I accept that I am a pariah among some of my countrymen, and a
quaint anachronism to others. I will not hold their ignorance against them.
I will win, or die trying.
I swear this creed before God, my family and my fellow citizens.
-Anonymous
2/23/09
"Stay low and keep your feet moving."
2/17/09
"The beauty of the second amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it away."
-Ayn Rand
2/9/09
Instead of hovering in the safety of the body,
diligently attempting to strengthen and gain more faith and certainty,
we should take what little faith we may have at any given moment
and run into the world to share and multiply it!
-Q and Phil 4:13
2/2/09
God never takes something out of your hand,
unless He wants it open to receive something else.
1/26/09
"To get something you never had,
you have to do something you never did."
1/19/09
Hope evolves from Faith.
1/12/09
Speak peace to the wolves.
Bless those who curse you.
Eat and drink with the sinners.
Become their friends.
Pray for them and their needs.
1/5/09
Develop the ability
or
become the liability.
-Q
12/29/08
Intemporaliter Paratus
(Eternally Prepared)
12/22/08
"Do or do not...there is no try."
-Yoda
12/15/08
If you don't know your rights, you don't have any.
-BTW
12/8/08
Trusting in Chariots
by Os Hillman
"Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD" (Isa 31:1).
It is human nature to want to use whatever means available to us to succeed. However, a conflict arises when we place our total trust in ourselves instead of God. The idea of maintaining a proper balance between trust and obedience to God versus placing an over dependence upon our natural skill and resources has created problems since Genesis. We are prone to build strong defenses through our natural gifts to avoid failure and use all of our might to be successful in our endeavors. However, this can often be done at the expense of the supernatural in our lives. When it comes to receiving from God, it is important we don't make the same mistake Moses made when God told him to speak to the rock in order to receive water for the people. Instead, He struck the rock and failed to enter the Promised Land. The people of Israel often fell back to trusting in their own abilities and God had to send a reproof into their lives.
How do we avoid the trap and maintain a proper balance between the natural and the spiritual? The rule of thumb is to submit every activity to God and use your skill as God directs you. Be sensitive to God's leading in all your activities. Avoid trying to build resources for the sake of insulating yourself against calamity which is rooted in fear.
Finally, follow Solomon's advice: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight" (Prov 3:5-6).
12/1/08
Many times it is a better choice to wrap ourselves in faith and preparation,
than to carelessly stumble forward in fear.
-The Counselor
11/24/08
Each day is a gift, that is why it is called...
"The Present"
-Master Ugway
11/17/08
Here's a Survivability Concept...
Proverbs 3
NIV
"My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first-fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent His rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, as a father the son He delights in. Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies, nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is the tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed. By wisdom the Lord laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens into place; by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew. My son, preserve sound judgement and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence and will to act. Do not say to your neighbor, 'Come back later, I'll give it tomorrow' --when you now have it with you. Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you. Do not accuse a man for no reason--when he has done you no harm. Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways, for the Lord detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence. The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous. He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble. The wise inherit honor, but fools he holds up to shame."
11/03/08
"Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay the price."
-Sun Tzu
10/27/08
"An attack must be executed with quickness, not speed.
Attack with power, not strength.
There is a great difference between speed and quickness,
power and strength.
Think this through carefully.
It is the essence of strategy"
-Miyamoto Musashi
10/20/08
EO NA TOA E!
("This is battle, you must respond!")
10/13/08
"Even if you're on the right track,
you'll get run over if you just sit there."
-Will Rogers
10/6/08
"Don't be afraid to climb out on a limb,
that's where the fruit is."
9/30/08
"Patience in Preparation Saves Patients in Panic"
-Q
9/22/08
Don't wait for the rescue,
be the rescue.
9/15/08
"Strength is a choice."
9/8/08
"You can have a life plan or a fight plan,
but when the action starts,
you're down to your reflexes --
your training.
If you've cheated on your training in
the dark of the morning,
you'll be found out under the
bright lights."
- Heavyweight Boxing Champion Joe Frazier
9/1/08
"Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the
morning, Satan shudders and says... 'Dag nabbit ...he's awake!!!"
8/25/08
Those who think it's impossible shouldn't interrupt those who are doing it.
8/11/08
"Excellence is an art won by training and habituation.
We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence,
but we rather have those because we have acted rightly.
We are what we repeatedly do.
Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."
- Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC)
8/4/08
Ecclesiastes 10:10
If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened,
more strength is needed but skill will bring success.
7/28/08
Ephesians 6:12
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers,
against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world and
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
7/21/08
The will of God is for us to collaborate with Him,
to bring the kingdom of heaven to earth,
as modeled by Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior,
who regained the keys to of heaven,
for us, from the enemy.
-Q
7/14/08
Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect.
It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections.
7/7/08
"Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off."
"Keep looking below surface appearances. Don't shrink from doing so (just) because you might not like what you find."
"Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier."
"Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate and doubt, to offer a solution everybody can understand."
-Gen. Colin Powell (USAR) on Leadership
6/30/08
"It takes a remarkable person not just to say a creed and memorize a creed, but to live by a creed."
-Stephanie Shughart
6/23/08
FEAR
False Evidence Appearing Real
6/16/08
1. Never slap a man who's chewing tobacco.
2. Never kick a cow chip on a hot day.
3. There are 2 theories to arguing with a woman ... neither works.
4. Never miss a good chance to shut up.
5. Always drink upstream from the herd.
6. If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.
7. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it and put it back in your pocket.
8. There are three kinds of men. The ones that learn by reading. The few
who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence.
9. Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
10. If you're riding' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and
then to make sure it's still there.
11. Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier'n puttin' it back.
12. After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring.
He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him...
The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.
-Will Rogers
6/9/08
Laminin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e4zgJXPpI4
6/2/08
"Life is tough and for stupid people it's even tougher."
-John Wayne
5/26/08
Positive thinking is 90% mental.
-BTW
5/19/08
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear,
but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
2 Timothy 1:7
5/12/08
This is the law:
The purpose of fighting is to win.
There is no possible victory in defense.
The sword is more important than the shield and skill is more important than either.
The final weapon is the brain.
All else is supplemental.
-John Steinbeck
5/5/08
The most destructive habit.....................Worry
The greatest Joy...............................Giving
The greatest loss..............................Loss of self-respect
The most satisfying work......................Helping others
The ugliest personality trait.................Selfishness
The most endangered species...................Dedicated leaders
Our greatest natural resource.................Our youth
The greatest "shot in the arm"................Encouragement
The greatest problem to overcome..............Fear
The most effective sleeping pill..............Peace of mind
The most crippling failure disease............Excuses
The most powerful force in life...............Love
The most dangerous pariah.....................A gossiper
The world's most incredible computer..........The brain
The worst thing to be without.................Hope
The deadliest weapon..........................The tongue
The two most power-filled words..............."I Can"
The greatest asset............................Faith
The most worthless emotion....................Self-pity
The most beautiful attire.....................SMILE!
The most prized possession....................Integrity
The most powerful channel of communication....Prayer
The most contagious spirit....................Enthusiasm
To the WORLD, YOU may be ONE person;
but to ONE person, YOU may be the WORLD!
4/29/08
"Always be aware of what's going on around you
and do the 'right' thing."
-Q
4/21/08
Key process for problem solving:
Define
What is the situation/problem?
Cause
Why does the situation/problem need addressing?
Effect
What is the end result you are looking for?
Evaluate
Did you acheive your desired result?
This process is applied in a continuous loop, until the situation/problem is solved, or mitigated enough that any unresolved effects are neglible.
4/14/08
"The circumstances of life,
the events of life,
and the the people around me in life,
do not make me the way I am,
but reveal the way I am."
4/7/08
"Perfect practice makes perfect."
3/31/08
When you see someone without a smile,
give them yours.
3/24/08
"Efficiency breeds speed, speed breeds mistakes.
The fastest are THE MOST efficient masters of their trade, whether it's a surgeon, shooter or what ever requires multi-step actions."
-Professional Soldier
3/17/08
3/3/08
"Are you willing to give up
that which you are,
in order to discover
that which you may become?"
2/25/08
Lord God, my singular ambition in life is to magnify you.
I care not what the cost; spend me as you please on your arrangements, I place no conditions.
You set the terms of my service.
My prayer is simply that you ordain for my life whatever will glorify Christ most through me.
If my saviour would be honored more through my death than my life,
more in sickness than health,
more in poverty than in wealth,
more through loneliness than companionship,
more by appearance of failure than by the trappings of success,
more by anonymity than by notoriety,
then your design is my desire.
ONLY LET ME MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
2/18/08
The Defenders Creed
I accept and understand that human predators exist. Criminal or
terrorist, they take advantage of our civilized society to prey upon
the weak. They represent evil and must be confronted and defeated.
I believe that self-defense is a moral imperative, and that illegitimate
force and illegal violence must be met with righteous indignation and
superior violence.
I will not rely on others for the security of myself, my family and
my community.
I proudly proclaim that I run with a like-minded pack. I do not amble
through life with the mind-numbed herd.
I will train with my chosen weapons, maintain them and carry them in
a condition of readiness at all times.
I will be mentally prepared and physically equipped to effectively
respond to an attack or emergency.
I will constantly test myself against realistic standards to discover
my strengths and weaknesses. I will turn weakness into strength.
I will seek to learn new skills and techniques, and then teach what I
have learned to other members of the pack.
Be it with firearm or blade, empty hand or blunt object, I will hit
my enemies hard, fast and true.
I will live a quiet and unobtrusive life, but I will develop and retain
the capacity for swift and decisive violence.
I recognize that I am the modern equivalent of the traditional
Minuteman, and that I may be called to service at any time against
heavily armed enemies. I will respond effectively.
I accept that I am a pariah among some of my countrymen, and a
quaint anachronism to others. I will not hold their ignorance against them.
I will win, or die trying.
I swear this creed before God, my family and my fellow citizens.
-Anonymous
2/11/08
The number one desired response to any threat is:
AVOIDANCE!
2/4/08
Lessons from Beslan
By John Giduck
America is a nation at war, and some of the battles in that war will be fought on American soil. Thus, it is incumbent upon every American to not only educate themselves, but prepare for the types of attacks we are likely to see. But it's difficult to prepare when one of the most likely targets is hardly ever talked about publicly.
There are two basic categories of terror attacks: the first, called "Decimation Assaults," is where terrorists plant bombs or use suicide-homicide bombers. Because these are so easy to execute, they are the more frequently used type of attack - but their impact is minimal because the body counts and are usually pretty low.
The more preferred, but more difficult to accomplish, attack is the "Mass Hostage Siege." Terrorists know that when they take hundreds of innocent people hostage and hold them for days they are really holding an entire nation hostage. By doing that they attract the attention of the news media, which helps them to accomplish their real goal, which is to spread terror as far and as wide as possible. It's the psychological impact that's most important, and nothing is better at promoting that than a Mass Hostage Siege, especially one that involves innocent children.
To understand how credible the threat is, we need only to look at the achievements of so many terror groups. In the first six months of 2006, 204 schools were attacked in Afghanistan. Three of them were attacked in two days in the first week of July 2007. Between 1984 and 1994 more than 300 schools were attacked in Turkey.
The number of school attacks are rising in places like Pakistan, Iraq, Indonesia and Thailand as well. A new girls' school in Iraq was found to have dozens of bombs hidden in the floor and walls and, just two weeks ago, a school was targeted in Great Britain. I also bet you never heard that the backup plan for the Madrid train bombers was a school attack.
But, despite all of these incidents, Beslan was the terrorists' best case scenario - which means that it is our worst case scenario. So what is the likelihood of it happening here? Osama bin Laden and other al Qaeda leaders have publicly stated that before this jihad is over they will see to the deaths of 4 million Americans, including 2 million American children. After several attacks involving children in Russia he said that what he was doing in Russia he would do to America. The head of the Chechen terrorists, Shamil Basayev, made a similar pledge before his death at the hands of Russian Special Forces. Afghan terror camp training tapes depict jihadists attacking students in a school, issuing instructions in English.
In addition, emergency response plans of numerous schools have been found in the hands of people who should not have them and intelligence gathering of schools and school facilities has been occurring in places like Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Texas, Florida, Virginia and California for some time now. People with no affiliation to any school have been crossing the border from Canada attempting to buy school buses, and buses in other locations, like Houston, have been stolen.
These are but a very few of the incidents occurring in America today, yet the schools, parents and citizens of our country refuse to acknowledge the threat, or to allow those we turn to for protection - our police - to be properly equipped, armed, informed, and trained for such an event.
There is a Kliebold and Harris in every single school who has at least planned to outdo Columbine. There is a Cho at every college who would love to get the same kind of publicity. There are even the Morrisons and Robertses from the Bailey, CO and Nickel Mines, PA attacks who are just waiting to exact their own revenge. And in every state across this country there are al Qaeda related groups that are, at a minimum, putting together information and plans to attack a school. No matter what the threat, the defenders of those schools are all the same: American police departments.
If Beslan is the worst thing that could possibly happen to our children, then it is incumbent upon our nation to be prepared for it. If we're fortunate enough that Beslan does not ever come to pass, our preparation will not have been in vein as we will be so much better prepared to respond to any other threat to our children and the supposedly safe places they happily trundle off to every day.
1/28/08
Faith or Fear...
Choose one.
1/21/08
Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory.
Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.
-Sun Tzu
1/14/08
1*
1/7/08
You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.
You are able to say to yourself,
'I have lived through this horror.
I can take the next thing that comes along.'
You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
-Eleanor Roosevelt
12/31/07
The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come.
When in a state of security he does not forget the possibility of ruin.
When all is orderly,
He does not forget that disorder may come.
Thus his person is not endangered,
And his States and all their clans are preserved.”
-Confucious
Survivability Concepts
P.O. Box 97012
Lakewood, WA 98497
consult@survivabilityconcepts.com