And the meek shall inherit the earth...

I have heard that my whole life and long ago I was confused by the meek and weak, and thought that was the same.  But it wasn't.  Back about the same time I would fight because... well, I was a boy or young man and had nothing to show me that I wasn't supposed to fight, learn how to fight, and win the fights... Yeah, I know there were adults around that told me, in many ways and for many reasons that fighting wasn't that wonderful a thing.  But as a boy and a young man, it might be your only independent display of competence, courage and sacrifice - it might be the only way you could become a hero.

Often ignored, when young, is the winning the fight.  Christ really did understand how to win the fight. Master Morihei Uyeshiba understood how to win the fight, Buddha understood how to win the fight... but so many of their followers ignored their lessons or focused on the fight, not on the winning. You really can't win the fight by being a coward and surrendering, can't win that way. For the opponent will come back and peck at you again, you will know what hen-pecked chicken really means. You can't win the fight by attacking anything your opponent loves more than his life... really, you can't win that way. You can't win by destroying your enemy and thinking that all the other potential enemies are going to fear you... duh, as a young boy child that was a sure way to get the next one to get up and whoop upon you mightily. Those that are going to fear, will, but those that see your new wonderful status as CHAMPION, will get ready to attack and show you what defeat looks like. Some of those folks are really bad to the bone.

(for those thinking I might be trying to speak to the fools in government, you can stop reading here - but I have no message for those that can't be humble, so they are all so out of this blog)

No, I am concentrating on philosophy this day, and how to take what the LORD has given me and work with it. It has been said we are a nation of sheep, in the Soviet Union they would have said rabbits - the idea being that we are weak and afraid. The Gun Community, which isn't afraid of enough often enough, will hold out that the heroes with a firearm are the Sheepdogs, protecting the flock. Not a bad choice of one-upmanship, going from sheep to sheepdog. Dogs are pretty brave, and every working sheep dog I have met, and the ones without sheep even, are really smart and loving (not sure how much they love sheep, but they do care for them on command).

But sheepdogs are meek, and you are not called to be sheep dogs (really) you are called to be sheep herders, you are called to care for your flock. Your children, your elders, the lonely, the lost, the others that aren't strong, smart and able - those that will run or freeze in fear in the center of the flock, going where they will all be safe... herded by wolf pack, sheep dogs or shepherds - they are sheep. It is not your calling to change the sheep, to skin the sheep, to chain the sheep, poison the sheep. You get to lead them beside the still waters, you get to take them through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, --- no, I don't mean everyone is supposed to be a Pastor... I just mean that you need to win your fights, by caring for your flock and changing your enemy into your friend. The only way to win is that you love each other.

You have to be able to fight, to defeat your evil nature, to defeat evil when you see it, to sacrifice self for the love of the sheep, the sheep dogs, the wolves, for Man and God - knowing that you can't be defeated, means that you only have to work heroically - and praises all belong to the LORD. Only the hero can humble himself enough to be meek. Then he will inherit the earth. For those that foolishly proclaim that he will die and be buried in the earth, well, you will inherit the wind.

Yes, the President has made a line and won't negotiate...

Show some firm resolve.

So of course the National Parks are closed, off limits, not to be enjoyed nor preserved for posterity. No telling what is happening there while no one is on watch.

So, since the Federal government can't open up Mount Rainier National Park, God cleared the skies, brought out bright sunlight, and it is reflected on the fresh snows from the last two weeks of wet. You have to be impressed here in the great NorthWest, when all your gray skies and gloomy wet weather pass and the mountains cry out "Look at me, I am awesome!"

Yes, the day is great here, thank the LORD, because little men and women in Washington, DC, just don't do anything for the weather, the people nor the Lord God almighty.  Not an election cycle, is it?

Full faith and trust in.... the US government? not today...

Almost 17 trillion dollars in debt. And we aren't even fighting a war for our lives.

They had best start selling off the parks and the lands and paying down the debt, or the currency will become worth nothing. That is what happens, and I have some RVN currency, when it doesn't matter what the paper says, no one is buying it, taking it in payment, nor will you accept it.

I have a much higher credit limit than I use, the Federal and State governments should also, especially since they don't really create things. Really, they don't. Okay, they will create a mess, but you can't show me where that was supposed to be a function of government. And, are you buying a mess anytime today, tomorrow or from the past?

I have an idea, sell a couple of nuclear weapons to Iran, then they won't have to make their own. Then mention why the Soviet Union never used theirs. Or that we, Americans, haven't used any since WWII.

Leadership to me has always meant someone I would follow, into battle mostly - but I have tried to follow the best of my father and other men I have met during my life.  Not one elected to current political offices, very few media types, no entertainers.

The government has gone to forcing, bullying and demanding that I follow - the ton of rules, regulations, acts, and swarms of agents against me are LEGION. And this from a government that doesn't love me, won't protect me, doesn't nurture me -- have I requested stupid people with stupid ideas to force me to lose weight, stay young and virile, strong and hard working? Nope, not I.  So how did they start to think they are intelligent, fine folks? Who is fooling whom?

So why follow the fools? Come on, just because other fools elected fools, or the fools hired expert fools does not mean you should become so foolish. If there was a good to great idea in government, the people in government aren't sharing it, nor its benefits. Nor are they willing to subject themselves to their own foolish ideas. What do you think they are peons? What do you think they really think YOU are? Foolish in the least.

So today I find I know nothing about the Artillery...

I once was a 13 B, 13F, then a 13E and did wonderful things... but steady improvement means change.

So I catch a picture of two fine paratroopers that have distinguished themselves and A Battery 2-319 AFAR

Nice job, very nice job, then I notice that one of them is a 13D and I remind myself there is not such... well there is now.




So enjoy the quick video, remembering that the equipment demonstrated is for heavier units than the 82nd Airborne Division, but charts and darts remains the same.

Last day of September, thunderstorms wake me...

Sipping fresh coffee, trying to get up some excitement at checking the weekend's Lottery tickets against the numbers. No, the coffee is great but I do realize that normal efficiency of the government in running any program means that they should be losing billions and billions of dollars to folks like we... so what is different? Are the games really just an extension of traditional criminal syndicates - who knew how to account for even the skim of the skim? Can't get excited about that. My wife pushed a strange button on the machine, and ended up with a Seahawks Scratch ticket, I cleaned it off, found no wins and then they want you to submit the ticket for loser drawings. Another fine way to get individual information to sell to those needing more potential victims.

The total rainfall for September here in Washington State should be higher than normal, a river is running down the street. If I make morning breakfast and dine I will be prepared to row away later. Only forty more pounds to very slim pickings... like that is going to happen soon. Our Sunday school teacher returned for coffee fellowship, had major heart surgery - parts of his memory are hiding from him, he has really shrunk, and he looks tired. But everyone was glad to see him getting around and smiling gently, and all hoping they never have to suffer so much, because they know they won't do it as gracefully and gratefully. Just not that fine a folk, need more saving.

So tomorrow is the government shutdown, do they dare? I mean, what happens is the people go find a life without the benefit and obligations to a failed state. Like the king is dead, and haven't got time for another king in one's life. Really, do they dare shut it down? I was watching the sequester effect, on the Blue Angels, and such. We miss them but can catch YouTube reruns, can't we? I was watching Star Wars trilogy yesterday, and falling asleep in the first video, but looking hard at the last two. Wishing Lucas would do the last three episodes, on Computer animation if nothing else. Too many authors seem to die before finishing their series, then someone tries to finish it and it never is the same.

Well, time for breakfast and then job searching, a bit.

So you are getting dressed for church...

And the big decision point comes in the process, which caliber and with piece am I going to carry, concealed. I have been told that it would have much to do with who I am, 45 or 9mil? I would be going with the 45, then do I take the stainless steel one, the nickle plated one, the basic black, the one with the gold inlay and ivory (almost) grips? Should I use full metal jacket or hollow points? So many decisions in being a proper fellow.... what to do what to do. I am only a simple man, a humble man. I will have to wear my pensive Mickey Mouse tie - then the brothers at church will know I am carrying on.

Hope your Sunday worship and fellowship is blest by God, for He is good.

Have a nice weekend, my favorite barista says...

Doesn't she know, that every day is Saturday in my life, except Sunday. But she is a nice young lady, she knows what I like and 24 oz of black coffee works wonders after the work out. Hmmm, didn't even get to post my 10K rowing nor the 13.5 miles biking. Will do that after this post.

I was commenting on Facebook about a news report about the Appleseed shooting clinic in New York, the one written about was in New York City, but the pictures were from outside the city at another Appleseed in New York.  It wasn't a bad report, missed a few points, got some History wrong but mostly a positive write up about the activity. One of those commenting to my post started beating the RWVA up for not coming out and saying we support the Constitution and the 2nd Amendment. Although we shoot rifles, we teach marksmanship and tell the History of April 19, 1775 - the organization doesn't take a modern political stand, which actually isn't a modern stand - the 2nd Amendment was needed along with the other nine in order to get the states to ratify the new government. But the RWVA doesn't teach that at all, and is not going to voice any opinion on what anyone wants from today's government. There are lots of very vocal, very active groups defending the 2nd Amendment. As I pointed out my problem with those that can't understand English and have difficulty reading started in 1934 with the NFA (The National Firearms Act). But I never bring that to the Appleseed. There is so much to do in two days to get shooters the full course of instruction.

I finished reading Killing Jesus by Bill O'Reilly and his helper, don't bother - he uses the same stuff he used in Killing Lincoln and Killing Kennedy, and presents it as badly. If you don't know much about Romans, and their empire becoming more tyrannical then you should read it. You will recognize current political activities to protect the ruling elite and their excesses. But if you were looking for some proof of Jesus the Son of God, or even Jesus the son of Man. You will find the name, some of the story, and all of the rumors of miracles but none of the truth. They didn't go there. Which makes me think that the authors really are believers, and have in no way committed to making you one in this book.

I had posted my RWVA Appleseed trail on my sidebar, so I could keep track, and when reviewing the Eagle Creek, OR 11-12 December 2010 
I found a new entry, about Jason firing a very nice target about two weeks after that Appleseed, with the target. I made a comment about that and his father came back with a link to when Jason earned his Rifleman patch he seems to have cleared a Red Coat and scored 219, with a very fine looking rifle. That was a particularly fine Appleseed (Dec 11-12m 2010), very wet but lots of good shooting, splashing and one of my final ones as I headed for the exit. I am back, have Coupeville on Whitbey Island to Shoot Boss. My point to the commenter that doesn't like the RWVA and Appleseed because we won't make a modern commitment to the political chaos of America - we teach safe rifle marksmanship, and talk about a governor that tried to disarm the public, and failed. We are focused on the front sight, and keep hitting the target - he is focusing on the target and misses the point...