Armed Forces Day 2013 at Ft. Lewis/McChord… cool day wandering about looking at impressive military hardware, and connecting with some sword brothers from down south. I spoke to a soldier who explained operational details of bomb disposal in Iraq, and matter-of-factly related that bombs under a certain kg of explosives, they could detonate themselves. This young man is about Kyle’s age. I am impressed by the bravery and excellent training of our US military.
eric artzt
I share here some of the things of beauty and truth in my life.
These two little pickles got ahead of me at Cal Anderson Park yesterday, climbed the dry fountain and then could not get back down! Eli had scampered all the way to the top in about 2 minutes! I swear my life resembles a Beatrix Potter novel.
Mm yyys
Alien autopsy game
“Being losers. Hatred to those who were able to settle themselves. These are the only reasons. Anything else to do with Islam, religion, is a fraud, it’s a fake. It is not my brother, who just moved back to Russia. He spend his life bringing bread to their table, fixing cars.”
When you use your religion as a reason to hurt people, you are not doing it for your God. You are doing it for someone else entirely.
Reflecting on the events of yesterday and really wanting to focus on the good that happened… 23,000+ runners from many nations and walks of life participating together to complete a marathon, and many finishing… the beauty inherent in this endeavor and in the relationships that brought so many spectators onto the street to support the athletes. The raw courage and selflessness shown by the people on the scene who chose love over fear and walked straight into danger to help the fallen. The responses of concern and helpfulness by many ranging from bystanders to emergency responders to marathon runners to city officials right up to the president. My wife’s heartbreak at this happening in her home city. All this beauty, but also such deep brokenness.
Evil is real, it is present and it seeks to destroy the innocent and even usurp the good. We live in a tainted and broken world, a world that does not work as God wishes. As CS Lewis eloquently explains:
Enemy-occupied territory—that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage. When you go to church you are really listening—in to the secret wireless from our friends: that is why the enemy is so anxious to prevent us from going. He does it by playing on our conceit and laziness and intellectual snobbery. I know someone will ask me, ‘Do you really mean, at this time of day, to re-introduce our old friend the devil-—hoofs and horns and all?’ Well, what the time of day has to do with it I do not know. And I am not particular about the hoofs and horns. But in other respects my answer is ‘Yes, I do. I do not claim to know anything about his personal appearance. If anybody really wants to know him better I would say to that person. ‘Don’t worry. If you really want to, you will. Whether you’ll like it when you do is another question.’
CS Lewis, Mere Christianity.
Hebrews 11:13-20: All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
2013 Angus Trim longsword recently delivered into my possession
Reblogged from raiseyourseat|1 note
Good review of new SRAM kit…
Hailmunchers
