07.30.08
Posted in Christian, Faith, Religion at 7:07 pm by
There’s a group on the social website “Facebook” that is dedicated to “Independant Christian Church Ministers”. The moderator posted this note on “The Wall” this week.
What does it mean to be relevant?
What is your church or ministry doing to stay relevant to it’s people/ community?
How do you balance being relevant without sacrificiing the message?
The space allowed for Wall posts is limited and I hit the end of my short space before I finished typing - so I’ll just post a link to this note there and answer here. 
Works for me, hopefully it’ll work for the folks in the group as well.
Relevant - having significant and demonstrable bearing on the matter at hand - affording evidence tending to prove or disprove the matter at issue or under discussion, having social relevance
OK, now that we’ve got a definition - how does it apply to me as a christian? It is my belief that through a life devoted to following Christ I can demonstrate relevance to those around me by having the answers to the questions that torment them. And not just a “pat answer” but an answer demonstrated through a life changed by God. When I go through the same trials and temptations that they do - but with demonstrably better results, that affords me the opportunity to show them what Christ could do in THEIR life - if they would but let Him.
So, what do I do to maintain relevance? I do my best Monday through Saturday to put into practice that which I teach on Sunday - so to speak. When the church is so busy with their “worship service” and their “praise service” and their “bring a friend Sunday” and other such programs and activities that they don’t take time to live out the Truth in their lives during the week, they lose relevance. They are no longer able to “have significant and demonstrable bearing on the matter at hand” because they are so wrapped up in themselves and their programs that they forget to whom they were sent to minister in the first place.
Our ministry maintains relevance by “the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ”. I do not believe that the Apostle was referring to “full time Christian service” when he mentioned “work of ministry”, but rather he referred to the Church serving (ministering to) the world around her - thereby maintaining relevance and building up the Body through natural means.
Permalink
06.04.08
Posted in Christian, Faith, Freedom, Friends, Religion at 6:28 pm by
We started holding public meetings in Pereira on the first Sunday of June in 2002. That first Sunday we had our family (six of us at the time) and one other family - of three at that time. Since then the Lord has blessed us and many have joined us in worshiping and studying God’s word. Many of those have moved on to other cities and other congregations, but the Lord has preserved a remnant here and in the past year has blessed and increased the number of His people here. Lately we’ve been stretching the folks a bit, encouraging them to move past their “comfort zone” to seek what the Lord is wanting to do through their life. But I digress. On June 1st, 2008 we had our annual “Anniversary Bash” This year we held it here at the house and were joined by 39 people, including two new families. For some of them it was the first time they experienced a “party” in which they didn’t have to drink to have “fun”. What a novelty to wake up the next day and remember what all happened and to not have a hangover…
Permalink
04.19.08
Posted in Christian, Faith, Firearms, Freedom, Politics, Religion at 6:12 pm by
233 years ago today a group of simple village and farm folk stood up against the forces of an empire which desired to force upon them its ideals and laws. They “fired the shot heard ’round the world” and after several long years of war they attained their goal - a free and sovereign nation that was built upon Biblical principles with freedom for all. May we all be grateful for the legacy passed down to us by those brave men. It is because of their resolve and dedication and sacrifice that we enjoy the freedom that we have a US citizens.
Now we have candidates to the presidency of the US who would take away the very freedom by which our nation was founded. We have a candidate who denigrates “fly over land” as “bitter people clinging to their guns and religion”. I stand amazed at the current crop of candidates and can only wonder what happened to the spirit of the men who stood that April morning against the forces of a far off king and set the stage for a grand new nation’s entrance upon the stage of the world. Oh that their spirit may spring once more to life in the hearts of my fellow citizens.
Concord Hymn
by Ralph Waldo Emerson
By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled;
Here once the embattled farmers stood;
And fired the shot heard round the world.
The foe long since in silence slept;
Alike the conqueror silent sleeps,
And Time the ruined bridge has swept
Down the dark stream that seaward creeps.
On this green bank, by this soft stream,
We set to-day a votive stone,
That memory may their deeds redeem,
When, like our sires, our sons are gone.
O Thou who made those heroes dare
To die, and leave their children free, –
Bid Time and Nature gently spare
The shaft we raised to them and Thee.
Permalink
02.04.08
Posted in Christian, Faith, Firearms, Freedom, Politics, Religion at 8:19 am by
With 2008 being a presidential election year, we are now about past the middle of the active electioneering that’s been going on since last year. There’s a recurring theme I keep hearing from dyed in the wool members of the supposed “conservative” party and that is “Anyone but a Democrat!” It matters not what the so called “Republican” stands for, all they need to do is say “I’m a REPUBLICAN!” and folks will vote for them. But that’s not what bothers me the most, and is only partially the reason for this post.
What really “gets my goat” is the attitude that “We have to vote for the ‘lesser of two evils’.” The lesser of two evils - is still evil. Let’s see. On one side we have Democrats who are in favor of the sodomite agenda to demean and dishonor marriage by twisting it to include their unholy unions. And they are also in favor of executing unborn children who have done no harm to anyone. And they are in favor of prohibiting the free use of weapons by ordinary, upright citizens. And they are in favor of granting amnesty to the millions of foreign nationals who have violated our laws and invaded our land. On the other hand we have Republican candidates who are in favor of the sodomite agenda to demean and dishonor marriage by twisting it to include their unholy unions. And they are also in favor of executing unborn children who have done no harm to anyone. And they are in favor of prohibiting the free use of weapons by ordinary, upright citizens. And they are in favor of granting amnesty to the millions of foreign nationals who have violated our laws and invaded our land. So, what’s to choose from? Does it really matter which party drags the country into the mud?
Now, I know I’m generalizing and not all the candidates openly support the issues outlined above - but they ALL have abominable track records on one or more of the issues above, issues I’m convinced are of vital importance to the nation. And yet, when one says “Send me a truly conservative candidate who will obey and enforce the US Constitution, uphold moral values, secure our borders and decrease the interference of the Federal government in individual citizens’ lives” people tell me “If you DON’T vote Republican you’ll be putting a DEMOCRAT in the oval office!”
I’ve got news for the Republican party. If they want to REALLY do something POSITIVE and garner the support of the sector of the US population that holds onto traditional values -THEN QUIT TREATING US LIKE IDIOTS BY OFFERING UP LIBERALS IN CONSERVATIVE CLOTHING!!!! If the Republican party endorses a liberal candidate and tries to cram them down the throats of voters with strict conservative beliefs - they are the ones who will be responsible for keeping conservatives away from the polls. Telling us that WE are responsible for the failure of a liberal Republican to win the presidential race is like telling a woman that she is responsible for the actions of a rapist.
I’ve made it clear that I will not be kidnapped. I will not go along with evil men merely because they threaten my life. Nor will I go with them because they threaten the lives of someone else. I will not go along with them because I do not agree with what they are doing. If they kill someone else or if they kill me because I refuse to cooperate - THEY ARE THE ONES WHO PULL THE TRIGGER - NOT ME. In other words, any innocent blood shed is not by my hand but theirs. In the same way, those who offer up a liberal, pro sodomy, pro abortion, pro amnesty for law breaking aliens, pro higher taxes and anti second amendment (or any combination of the above) candidate and say “Vote for them or else” are giving me the same option as those who would attempt to force me to acquiesce to their demand to accompany them at the point of a gun. I simply will not be coerced into violating my principles.
To those who are running the supposed “conservative” party I say “Give me a REAL conservative or I’ll seek out my own. And so will others who are also tired of voting against someone. Give us a leader who will honor the Constitution and the foundations of our nation, give us someone to vote FOR, who represents our values from the heart - or YOU will be responsible for the continued downward spiral of the nation as we sink lower and lower into the moral abyss - one “lesser evil” at a time.
Permalink
11.29.07
Posted in Christian, Faith, Religion at 7:18 am by
The following article is one that I received from Frontline Fellowship. It was written by Peter Hammond and is a look at what some of the hazards of missionary work can be. Not all hazards are from “evil pagans” who may wish to end one’s life and service, all too often one’s very “team mates” or folks on a “missions trip” can also distract one from the work to which one has been called. I’m reminded of the Apostle Paul’s litany of things which he had endured for the sake of Christ and the Gospel - not much has changed in 2000 years when it comes to danger for a missionary.
Five times I received from the Jews 40 lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the depths of the sea. On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the open country, dangers on the sea, and dangers among false brothers; labor and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and lacking clothing. Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my care for all the churches. II Corinthians 11:24-28
Anyway, without further ado - here’s the article - re-”printed” here with permission from www.frontline.org.za
From the very first day that I heard the Gospel of Christ, 4 April 1977, I have been called to missions. For over thirty years The Great Commission has been my supreme ambition. Starting with distributing Gospels of John door-to-door in Pinelands, being a Group Leader in Scripture Union Holiday Missions, teaching Sunday School, running Youth Groups and coffee-bar outreaches, ministering in old-age homes, mass literature distribution at railway stations and bus stops, then working in Hospital Christian Fellowship, starting a Bible Study and Prayer Fellowship in the army which met every night and led many soldiers to Christ, through to the launch of Frontline Fellowship, over 25 years ago, the last command of Christ has been my first concern.
I’ve had the privilege of ministering in 27 countries, on four continents. This has involved well over 11 000 meetings, including many missions camps and conferences, and conducting Great Commission Courses.
There is no doubt that the harvest is very large and the workers are far too few. However, I’ve become increasingly concerned about how ill-prepared most mission volunteers are on entering the field. Also disturbing is how little discernment is evidenced in all too many cases.
Over the years, I have tried to give an honest and balanced report on the problems, frustrations and difficulties of the field, without unduly glamourising missions. Of course one wants to encourage and inspire fellow Believers to wholehearted commitment to world missions, but, even from the earliest years of Frontline Fellowship, I have felt the need to also issue words of warning and caution as to the real dangers and difficulties involved. The Lord warned us to count the cost and much of what I have heard in different missions conferences seem to be setting up well-meaning people for inevitable disappointment, and even disaster.
The recent tragic story of seven international missionaries being robbed and abused in Zimbabwe prompted me to begin thinking about writing this article. Then the report back of one of our co-workers on his three and a half month mission to Congo impressed on me even further the importance of this article. We need mental toughness, emotional strength, spiritual discernment and a resilience to persevere in spite of the many discouragements, dangers and deceptions looming in most fields.
Certainly, in my 25 years experience in foreign missions, I have experienced thefts and threats, not only from the pagans, but from false brethren and false shepherds within the church. Right from my very first mission trip to Mozambique, in 1982, there were the greedy and malicious back stabbers and traitors quick to steal and to report one to the local communist commissar.
The trouble is, the vast majority of missionary volunteers give up before completing their first term in the field. Many short-term missionary volunteers only go once, and, whether because of negative experiences in cross cultural confusion, misunderstandings, sickness or thefts, for one reason or another, fail to return to the field ever again.
Enormous resources are being spent on training, preparing and transporting to the field missionary volunteers who don’t persevere, and return home within weeks or months – never to venture into any mission field again.
In 1989 I led a team of 6 American medical missionary volunteers to Mozambique. Within days we were captured, arrested and imprisoned, mistreated by the SNASP Secret Police and incarcerated in solitary confinement at Machava Security Prison in Maputo. Not surprisingly, none of those volunteers have returned to the field since.
However, one of the members of an Evangelism Explosion team that I took to Sudan in 2000 has continued to return multiple times since, despite us being bombed by the Sudan Air Force on Sunday morning.
Of course, one expects persecution from anti-Christian, Marxist and Muslim, regimes when working in restricted access areas. However, most missionaries are not prepared for the blatant theft from those they have felt called to serve. Yet even missions dedicated to establishing hospitals and schools amongst desperately needy people have been cheated and attacked by the very communities they are seeking to serve, stolen from by staff, and looted by the local community.
We should not be too surprised. Even Jesus had His Judas amongst His twelve hand picked Disciples. Although Judas was entrusted with the finances of the Apostles, he was a thief, not only stealing from the Lord Himself, but even betraying Him for mere money.
I know of all too many cases of missionaries who have faced muggings and manipulation in the field, threats and theft, being used and abused, not only from the local people to whom they were sent, but even by fellow Christians. Not only stolen from by local believers, but by fellow “missionaries” and “co-workers.”
This may be a shock to many people wanting to get involved in missions. When I first became a Christian it never crossed my mind that someone could claim to be a Christian and yet be malicious or devious. Not that we would not only be cheated and abused by local Believers and fellow missionaries, but also by overseas ministries and churches.
All too often there are those who don’t pay their bills, fail to fulfill their promises, never keep up their end of the work load, and happily run up huge expenses which they leave for the local missionary that they are meant to be “supporting”. While they return to engage in brilliant fund raising campaigns entirely built upon deception.
In dealing with guests from other ministries, we have sometimes been horrified by dishonest and unethical practices and claims. Some, who merely participated on one field trip with our mission, have gone on to make incredibly extravagant claims in their fundraising letters and videos. One launched an entire ministry with an impressive marketing campaign based entirely based on false claims and plagiarism. Pretending responsibility for Frontline Fellowship shipments and ministry activities in Sudan, one individual, who was merely a junior guest of a large team with no significant ministry role, later claimed to have been the leader of the entire operation, quoting all of our statistics of Bibles delivered, ministry conducted, flights chartered are his accomplishment.
Another individual, who came in on one Frontline Fellowship mission trip to Sudan and participated in the first few days of our Teacher Training Courses, leaving early, later claimed to have set up a couple of dozen schools in the area, and requested funds for his “staff” there. Needless to say, none of the teachers or pastors in the area were aware of any such activity. On numerous occasions we have been asked to arrange flights for overseas “missionaries” who later have left us to pay all their bills without so much as a contribution.
One needs to be aware of those who will happily send you on a fools errand. The book of Proverbs warns us about fools busy with some fantasy and unworkable project. There are people who want to live on your faith and want you to do their work for them. A mission in the hand is worth dozens of visions and concepts “in the planning stage”. They live by presumption – not by faith.
There is a desperate need for absolute honesty and integrity. We need to be people of our word, say what we mean, and mean what we say. And we need discernment, precautions and a basic understanding of security principles. Otherwise we could be guilty of sending out dedicated missionary volunteers who will fall victim to muggings, theft, rape and murder. All of this has happened to mission volunteers in the field.
Then there are the financial scams from false brethren who pretend to have all kinds of ministries and exploit well-meaning Westerners with their slick fundraising letters and e-mails. As we actually travel to the field, we have been able to expose numerous of these “pastors” as the real pastors in the area have taken us to meet the well supported frauds in the local bar!
Then there are the cross cultural opportunists and exploiters who seek sponsorships to travel the world and attend various missions conferences, only to gather as many names and addresses and e-mails as possible in order to soak well-meaning, but naïve, Westerners with emotive fund raising scams. “Can you just help with some money?”. Others try the politics of pity and guilt manipulation to get an American or European wife (and therefore a passport to the West): “God told me to marry you…!”
You would find it hard to believe how many times we have come across cross cultural opportunists attempting to guilt manipulate some Western girl into marriage. Even “pastors” who are already married. If you ever doubted the Biblical Doctrine of the depravity of man, you will find more than enough examples to verify it in the mission field, and even at missions conferences.
The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. We need to seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness. The Great Commission must be our supreme ambition. Nothing must be allowed to distract or deviate us from that. We are called to build God’s Kingdom, not to enrich false brethren, false shepherds and false prophets. We are to have faith in God, not in human nature. We are to trust the Lord, not be gullible victims of con artists.
If we want to be effective in the Lord’s service, we need to protect our time and our limited resources from the unscrupulous and manipulative. Because of the abundance of free-loaders, who inevitably are attracted to the rich pickings and targets of opportunity at missions conferences, we now insist on early morning PT and prayer meetings to weed out those who have another agenda. Of course, false brethren are able to put on a good act, but we find that as our Great Commission Courses progress with daily PT and prayer meetings, outreaches and late-night hikes, we begin to see the real person under the veneer.
There is no substitute for track record. We need to test all things. It is remarkable how many “pastors” and “bishops” turn out to be Bible illiterates when you compel them to complete our multiple choice Bible Exam!
There are so many frauds, fools, con artists and opportunists seeking to take advantage of missions. A large percentage of funds earmarked for missions don’t really reach the Lord’s work because of the abundance of dishonest scams and unworkable schemes which manage to intercept and hijack what is meant for God’s service.
This may not be a pleasant message to hear or acknowledge, but it is the truth. The world should have already been evangelised and discipled several times over if everything that is being said to be done, was actually being done. It is time for us to shine the light of God’s Word on some of the shady dealings of professional fund-raisers and con-men who have found an abundance of gullible and naïve Christians to exploit under the guise of “missions”.
We owe it to our Lord Jesus Christ to be watchful and alert, wise and discerning, taking proper precautions to avoid becoming a victim, so that we can be effective in real missions.
God’s work, done God’s way, will never lack God’s supply.
Only one life it will soon be passed, only what’s done for Christ will last.
Dr Peter Hammond
Frontline Fellowship
P.O. Box 74, Newlands, 7725, Cape Town, South Africa
www.frontline.org.za
Permalink
10.18.07
Posted in Christian, Faith, Religion at 8:30 am by
Yesterday I read a note about someone being “un-apologetically Christian”. Now, there’s a lot of things that tickle my funny bone and the way we use language is one of those. So when I hear of someone who’s “disgruntled” I wonder what being gruntled is like, and so on and so forth. Therefore it was inevitable that I’d start thinking about being “apologetically Christian”.
Now, at first blush, it’d seem almost like saying “I’m ashamed of being a Christian” - unless you look at it from angle of Christian Apologetics. Now from THAT angle you see something far different. Christian Apologetics is the opposite of being ashamed of one’s beliefs. Apologetics is the reasoned defense of the Christian faith. And even though some folks claim that Christianity is merely superstition based on antique fables from foreign cultures, there is a LOT of evidence upon which we can show that the Christian faith is solidly grounded on factual evidence. The apostle Peter wrote “but set apart the Messiah as Lord in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. ” (I Peter 3:15 HCSB) so the idea of giving a defense for our hope is not a recent one.
There are many resources from which the Christian can draw useful material for this purpose. Josh McDowell’s books “Evidence That Demands A Verdict” and “More Evidence That Demands A Verdict” are excellent sources, as is “The Case For Christ” by Lee Strobel. Does God Exist is a website where you can examine evidence for the very existence of God. There are many other sources as well and it is not the purpose of this piece to provide an exhaustive source of material. A good place to start is on the internet. Open your favorite search engine and do a search on “Creation Science” or “Christian Apologetics”. Those will give you hours of reading and study material. Our goal is merely to get you to thinking about the idea of becoming “apologetically Christian” and to urge you to be proactive about it.
Over the years I’ve seen folks get very violent and angry when their beliefs are questioned. My observance is that this is usually the result of having very shallow and unsubstantiated beliefs. When one love’s the truth and seeks it out, when others question one’s beliefs one is better prepared to give a reasoned argument for why one believes as one does. So, get busy! Start digging. There’s a world of evidence for the Christian faith out there. Don’t be lazy about it, take time and learn. Then you will be prepared to be apologetically Christian and will also be prepared to show others the way to The Way.
Permalink
10.10.07
Posted in Christian, Faith, Religion at 11:33 am by
I just got back from the weekly ministers’ association meeting. Once more we were regaled with a message of how we should look for the great and mighty moving, shaking glory of the Lord. Once more we were told that if God’s presence is REAL then it’s demonstrated by huge, thundering, glorious displays of unimaginable power. And once more I wondered about how folks can miss things as simple as the Word of God.
First, how does the Holy Spirit of God manifest Himself in the Christian’s life? How can a Christian KNOW that the Lord is “with him always, to the very ends of time”? The answer is simple - God keeps His word. He promised that if a person repents of their sin and is baptized for the forgiveness of those sins that they will receive the Holy Spirit as a gift. (Acts 2:38 - a promise to all who believe) Yes, it is true that God’s Spirit gives other gifts to God’s people, but those are not the true mark of the Spirit’s presence. If you’re walking through the forest and you see acorns on the ground you don’t expect to see a walnut tree directly overhead. Rather you expect to see an oak because that is what produces acorns. In the same way, the fruit of God’s Spirit is what the Spirit produces in the Christian’s life. And that is how we KNOW for sure that He is there.
And, just like acorns, the fruit starts small and grows over time. It does not burst full grown and ripe into the Christian’s life. Just as the acorn begins as a small, green bud, so does the Spirit’s fruit. And just as the acorn swells and grows and develops all the characteristics of a ripe acorn, so does the fruit of the Spirit grow and develop and mature over time.
I’d like to hear for once a message from I Kings 19, from when Elijah was fleeing from Jezebel - right after his great victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. Here’s a man who has just won a serious spiritual battle, showing to an entire nation that God is indeed the Living and Righteous God. And yet he fled in terror at the rage of a hateful woman. And he fled to the desert and told God “I want to die.” God told him to step outside of the cave because He was about to pass that way. Here’s the passage I refer to:
Then He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the LORD’s presence.” At that moment, the LORD passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” I Kings 19:11-13 HCSB
God was NOT in the mighty wind. God was NOT in the earthquake. God was NOT in the fire. God spoke to Elijah in “a voice, a soft whisper”. How often we don’t stop to listen, to hear God whispering His will to our ear. How often we seek God in mighty, powerful, showy ways - and miss His voice whispering in the stillness.
Is God great and powerful and mighty? Obviously. But most often He shows Himself in the small things, the quite voice of His Spirit speaking to our need - if we would just listen.
Permalink
09.24.07
Posted in Christian, Religion at 10:44 am by
There’s a program I’ve been using for a while now. It’s called E-Sword and you can obtain it free for the downloading at www.e-sword.net . There are a wide variety of Bible translations available for it, in a wide variety of languages. There are also many study tools, commentaries and other add ons available - all for the same price of downloading. Donations are accepted, but not required. In this world of “consumerism driven Christianity” it’s refreshing to see God’s word distributed in a useful manner that is accessible to folks from all levels of society. There’s plenty of high dollar, copyrighted material out there. I often wonder what would have happened to the Scriptures if the Apostles had copyrighted their work and demanded payment for distribution of their writings? Oh, I’m not against folks making a living, but too often we seek monetary gain rather then the payment that the Lord will provide us for our faithfulness to Him in teaching others and providing for them to be able to draw nearer to Him. Anyway, it’s good to know that some folks have the vision of sharing with others things which will have an eternal impact. Thanks, www.e-sword.net for providing these tools for the Kingdom.
Permalink
09.17.07
Posted in Christian, Faith, Religion at 4:34 pm by
Over the years I’ve collected a fair number of Bible translations. Studying how different people rendered the same text in various ways helps one to get a better grasp of the original meaning of the text. After all, the Bible wasn’t written in English or Spanish or Portuguese - it was written in Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic - only one of which I can decipher slightly. So when I find a different translation I pick it up if possible. Well, then I decided to catalog what I’ve got, to get an idea as to what all is on hand. Not counting electronic Bibles like in www.e-sword.net ’s program, I’ve got 29 translations in three languages and a copy of the New Testament in Greek. Here’s what’s on hand at this point in time. (NT) denotes “New Testament Only”
English
New American Standard
Holman’s Christian Standard
New International Version
Good News For Modern Man
James Moffatt
Revised Standard Version
King James
New King James
The Message (NT)
Live It Now(NT)
Charles B. Williams (NT)
Berkeley Version
The Living Bible
International Children’s Bible (NT)
Spanish
Nueva Versión Internacional
Reina Valera 1960
Reina Valera Actualizada 1987
Reina Valera 1995
La Biblia Para El Pueblo de Dios
Dios Habla Hoy
A Viva Voz
Bernardo Hurault y Ramón Ricciardi
La Palabra De Dios Para Todos (NT)
La Biblia De Las Américas
La Biblia En Lenguaje Sencillo (NT)
Traducción Del Nuevo Mundo de las Santas Escrituras
Portuguese
João Ferreira De Almeda
Nova Versão Internacional
Linguagem De Hoje (NT)
Other
Nestlês Greek New Testament (NT)
Permalink
09.01.07
Posted in Christian, Faith, Firearms, Freedom, Friends, Politics, Religion, humor at 9:02 am by
The piece below was written as a “birthday post”. The idea of a “Birthday Post” was started by fellow Pistol Packing Preacher Charles Graff. In years past Charles would post a controversial subject, attacking some “holy cow” of the shooting sports in a well thought out manner. People would rise to the bait and the dust and fur would fly. Then he’d own up as to how it was his birthday and folks would realize they’d been had. Over the years others have attempted to follow his example, but few have shown his skill. Some would merely say something like “Hillary Clinton’s right. I’m going to destroy all my guns” or some other such transparent effort. As I type this it is the day before my 42nd birthday. I’ve been cogitating on what kind of post to put up for 364 days. Over the past week I’ve put some more thought into the matter and finally decided to “go for it”. I’m guessing that the post below will generate some heat from certain quarters - or it could actually get ignored. Only time will tell. My question at this moment is, “Do the guys know me well enough to realize it’s a joke?” Surely by now SOMEONE realizes I’ve got an extremely weird sense of humor. We shall see what we shall see, as the butler said when he looked through the keyhole.
And, furthermore, to show that I’m not a completely insensitive person, I DIDN”T post the original 2007 birthday post on the forum. First I asked a fellow conspirator and radical thinker about it. Well, ok, the posting won’t occur there. Instead, I put up the first piece which is immediately below this. It’s more of a general “birthday post” instead of the pot stirring one I’d typed up yesterday.
All the recent talk about flat guns has put me to cogitatin’ a bit about them. I know that Jeff Cooper was a real proponent of the bottom feeding 1911 family of firearms, but for serious, dependable, defensive work, the semi automatic just doesn’t cut it.The semiautomatic is plagued by a host of weak points which can cause problems when it is called upon to defend one’s life. The weakening of springs in the magazine lead to failures to feed and/or eject (depending on design), the easily deformed magazine lips which also provide feeding problems, the strength (or lack thereof) of the recoil spring which can cause problems for proper feeding, not to mention the need to run pretty much full bore ammunition through them to ensure that the slide will reciprocate properly, all are inherent design flaws.
For defensive use you need a gun that’s likely to go “BANG!” each and every time you pull the trigger. If you get a dud while shooting a semiauto, you need need both hands to run the clearance drill prior to continuing with what you were doing. On the range this is an inconvenience - in a firefight it can get you killed. Yes, you can learn to grasp the slide between your knees or use other means to clear a dud or other failure to function, but most of the procedures to do so are not very safe to execute, unfortunate word there, execute…
Yes, I’ve owned (still do) and carried semi automatic pistols - back in my wet ears years. In a 22 for plinking they are a blast and the jams and malfunctions are not too much of a hassle since they’re almost invariably used on the range and not in defensive situations. But for pure reliability? A good revolver will out shine any semi automatic in that department. You can load anything from wax bullet to full bore hunting loads and they’ll keep on tickin’ - with no fussing around with finicky springs, barrel ramps and other such nonsense. You can load any kind of bullet profile from round ball to full wadcutter to jacketed hollow points to shot loads - and it will feed and fire them all.
I know there’s no way some of you will give up your slide action flatguns, and that’s OK. But you really should consider the danger you expose yourself to by relying on them for defensive work. I guess the best way to sum it up is: “I sure hope you never have to bet your life on one.”
The original “2007 Birthday Post” can be found in the complete article.
Read the rest of this entry »
Permalink
« Previous entries