In the Battle of Thermopylae, if one man would have lowered his shield or dropped it and ran for his life, the whole line would have fallen apart. Each Spartan protected the man next to him with his shield. It was and is very important that we stick close and not let our defenses down in the middle of a fight.
So when the Christian rapper Andy Mineo commits an act of cowardice and lowers his shield instead of defending the man standing next to him, I get pretty mad. In an interview with NBC, he basically put down the Christian rapper Bizzle for producing a song in response to the blasphemous and perverted "Same Love" by Mackel-gay-loving-more. He says that a rap song isn't the best place for a rebuttal of homosexuality, it should be done face-to-face.
Bizzle received death threats for his song (the ever-so-tolerant homosexuals for ya), but Andy just decided to back down and lower his shield. What a cowardly moron. Let me tell you something: Mackle-sell-out-more didn't go spreading his message face-to-face, he broadcast it onto the airwaves. He attacked Christians and Jews for believing what their holy books say, poisoned the airwaves, and let the filth and intolerance of the homos be known. It's time we fight back at the same level.
Andy is a coward because he's afraid of what the fags and their "allies" will do to him. It's not about "loving" people, it's sheer cowardice. Pull your dress up, Andy. Get back in the formation, raise your shield, and be a true Christian man. God does not tolerate views that are opposed to His Word. If you deny Christ before the world, He will deny you before the Father. If you don't feel like fighting with us, then quit the ranks and go over to the enemy (and go to Hell while you're at it).
SHIELD
STAND FAST!
Friday, May 23, 2014
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
You Don't Know Jack About My Marriage
As a product specialist working at Ashley Furniture, I get to meet a lot of people everyday. Rich people, poor people, people who can pay cash for a ten thousand dollar purchase, people who want to haggle over financing a four hundred dollar sofa; there are people from every part of the country and the world (I've pulled out both my Russian and German at least once), people who work hard for their money and people who sponge off our tax dollars. Every race, every creed, every religion, every political persuasion walks through the door at some point or another. Most people are at least somewhat reasonable, and they all expect good service and respond well to sincere concern for their needs.
Sometimes people can be pretty hard to work with, either because they're trying to save money or they just like being difficult. That's to be expected - you just do your best to take it in stride.
Then there's a really special kind of customer. They're somewhat rare (thank God), but when they come along they can really provide great fodder for a blog post. I call this kind of customer the "I'm here to hand out advice even though my life is falling apart" shopper. This kind of person sticks out because they talk non-stop and seem to be on a mission to personally insult or offend me without realizing what they are doing.
Today I had one of these special customers, a man who is on the brink of divorce. I've had several customers in similar circumstances and I've been struck by their humility and soft-spoken manner. Except for this guy. This guy (whose name I will protect as a matter of professional courtesy) not only wanted to tell me every detail about his divorce but also wanted me to take marriage advice from him.
This is about how the conversation went:
CUSTOMER: I'm really trying to keep the sleeper sofa price under seven hundred. I've looked at another place and they'll give me one just like this for six ninety-nine.
ME: Well we can definitely-
CUSTOMER: You see the reason I need it is because I expect to get screwed when my wife and I split up. I really don't want anything real expensive because I don't need to lose it in the divorce. This piece will be in my new apartment. Have you been married yet?
ME (slowly holding up left hand with ring visible): Yes sir, about eight months.
CUSTOMER: Any kids?
ME: We have one on the way.
CUSTOMER: Once that first baby comes, it all goes downhill. We were great and then once the baby came it was all over. Then we messed up and had a second kid so we had two kids back-to-back.
ME: Well-
CUSTOMER: Yeah that first baby really throws everything off. I'm gonna tell you right now, if you're like me and you're opinionated, you need to let her run the show and make all the decisions. That's the only way to be happy.
At this point I'm sure you get the gist of the conversation. It was pretty lame to have to stand there and listen to the world's most cynical husband as I tried to make a sales pitch. The gall of somebody telling me how I should run MY marriage when they don't even know me was enough to drive me up the wall.
Here's where this guy lost any hope of interesting me in his way of thinking:
1. Assuming that a newlywed knows nothing at all about how to create a successful marriage. Unlike most people my age, I have a stable family background and great examples of successful long-term marriages all around me. I'm actually pretty realistic about my marriage and I've listened to enough advice to fill up a book.
2. Giving marriage advice to a complete stranger. I would be hesitant to give marriage advice to young married couples that I know, and I would never give unsolicited advice to a complete stranger. And my marriage IS successful.
3. Assuming that my view of children is the same as his own selfish view. I'm from a family with eleven children; I've been helping to raise kids since I was a kid. I love them and so does my wife. We seek to have as many children as God will give us, and we know that He will protect our marriage as we honor His will.
4. Assuming my wife is just like his. If you ask me, this guy is an idiot who married the wrong person. My wife is calm and shy, which is precisely one of the main reasons I chose to marry her. I knew I wouldn't get along with a pushy woman who wanted to be the boss of me. So I picked very carefully, and my wife is a breeze to get along with as a result. I can be as opinionated as I want. My wife submits to my leadership as called for in the Bible, so we avoid the tension and discord that too many people have in their marriage. Not every woman is like my wife, which is exactly why I married her.
I could probably go on and on, but suffice it to say that I think this guy is a moron who lowered his shield when the missiles started flying. If you aren't prepared to be a father, if you haven't thought about the changes a baby will bring, then you're a short-sighted idiot. It sounds like this guy let his guard down. Plenty of other men did the same thing I plan on doing: they raised their shields and prepared for the reality of welcoming a new life into the world, they toughed it out and stayed married. My dad's marriage is still stronger than ever after eleven kids, so don't give me your wimpy, cynical garbage about how your kid ruined your marriage. You sicken me. Pick up a shield and try to defend what's left of your life. And one more thing: I didn't try to give you advice about how to save your marriage when you yourself told me it's in the toilet, so how about you keep your opinions to yourself around a complete stranger who is actually very happy with his marriage. Man up, dirt bag.
Sometimes people can be pretty hard to work with, either because they're trying to save money or they just like being difficult. That's to be expected - you just do your best to take it in stride.
Then there's a really special kind of customer. They're somewhat rare (thank God), but when they come along they can really provide great fodder for a blog post. I call this kind of customer the "I'm here to hand out advice even though my life is falling apart" shopper. This kind of person sticks out because they talk non-stop and seem to be on a mission to personally insult or offend me without realizing what they are doing.
Today I had one of these special customers, a man who is on the brink of divorce. I've had several customers in similar circumstances and I've been struck by their humility and soft-spoken manner. Except for this guy. This guy (whose name I will protect as a matter of professional courtesy) not only wanted to tell me every detail about his divorce but also wanted me to take marriage advice from him.
This is about how the conversation went:
CUSTOMER: I'm really trying to keep the sleeper sofa price under seven hundred. I've looked at another place and they'll give me one just like this for six ninety-nine.
ME: Well we can definitely-
CUSTOMER: You see the reason I need it is because I expect to get screwed when my wife and I split up. I really don't want anything real expensive because I don't need to lose it in the divorce. This piece will be in my new apartment. Have you been married yet?
ME (slowly holding up left hand with ring visible): Yes sir, about eight months.
CUSTOMER: Any kids?
ME: We have one on the way.
CUSTOMER: Once that first baby comes, it all goes downhill. We were great and then once the baby came it was all over. Then we messed up and had a second kid so we had two kids back-to-back.
ME: Well-
CUSTOMER: Yeah that first baby really throws everything off. I'm gonna tell you right now, if you're like me and you're opinionated, you need to let her run the show and make all the decisions. That's the only way to be happy.
At this point I'm sure you get the gist of the conversation. It was pretty lame to have to stand there and listen to the world's most cynical husband as I tried to make a sales pitch. The gall of somebody telling me how I should run MY marriage when they don't even know me was enough to drive me up the wall.
Here's where this guy lost any hope of interesting me in his way of thinking:
1. Assuming that a newlywed knows nothing at all about how to create a successful marriage. Unlike most people my age, I have a stable family background and great examples of successful long-term marriages all around me. I'm actually pretty realistic about my marriage and I've listened to enough advice to fill up a book.
2. Giving marriage advice to a complete stranger. I would be hesitant to give marriage advice to young married couples that I know, and I would never give unsolicited advice to a complete stranger. And my marriage IS successful.
3. Assuming that my view of children is the same as his own selfish view. I'm from a family with eleven children; I've been helping to raise kids since I was a kid. I love them and so does my wife. We seek to have as many children as God will give us, and we know that He will protect our marriage as we honor His will.
4. Assuming my wife is just like his. If you ask me, this guy is an idiot who married the wrong person. My wife is calm and shy, which is precisely one of the main reasons I chose to marry her. I knew I wouldn't get along with a pushy woman who wanted to be the boss of me. So I picked very carefully, and my wife is a breeze to get along with as a result. I can be as opinionated as I want. My wife submits to my leadership as called for in the Bible, so we avoid the tension and discord that too many people have in their marriage. Not every woman is like my wife, which is exactly why I married her.
I could probably go on and on, but suffice it to say that I think this guy is a moron who lowered his shield when the missiles started flying. If you aren't prepared to be a father, if you haven't thought about the changes a baby will bring, then you're a short-sighted idiot. It sounds like this guy let his guard down. Plenty of other men did the same thing I plan on doing: they raised their shields and prepared for the reality of welcoming a new life into the world, they toughed it out and stayed married. My dad's marriage is still stronger than ever after eleven kids, so don't give me your wimpy, cynical garbage about how your kid ruined your marriage. You sicken me. Pick up a shield and try to defend what's left of your life. And one more thing: I didn't try to give you advice about how to save your marriage when you yourself told me it's in the toilet, so how about you keep your opinions to yourself around a complete stranger who is actually very happy with his marriage. Man up, dirt bag.
PHYSICAL STRENGTH
I've been on an ad hoc weight loss program for about a month now, and I've had pretty good results so far: fourteen pounds lost. A big part of it has been eating better, but I've also been working out pretty consistently.
This morning I'm about to do a workout courtesy of spartanrace.com (If you don't know what a Spartan Race is, check out their website and sign up for the WOD). This one is all about building speed and being able to transition quickly from strength to endurance obstacles and vice versa. It goes something like this:
Warm-up (stretch, jog in place)
400 meter (1/4 mile) run
10-30 burpees
2 minute rest
10-30 burpees
400 meter run
2 minute rest
Repeat one to three times.
If you would like to receive workouts daily to your inbox that will help push you to the next level, go to the Spartan Race website. If you're interested in running a Spartan Race (and you should be) I'd be happy to form a shield wall with you and race together. I've already done two and I'm looking at doing one in the near future.
I say all this because physical prowess is essential to confidence and happiness in most if not all men. I've been in really great shape before, and I miss the days of being comfortable with my weight and running six miles in less than fifty minutes. Unfortunately, I lowered my shield after my last Spartan Race. It only got worse after I got married. Seriously, if you thought dragging yourself out of bed early in the morning to work out was a chore before, wait until you have a hot wife (who is usually very sleepy) sleeping next to you. My wife is one amazing cook as well, and I was sick right after we got married (chickenpox), all of which set me on the road to no work-outs and bad eating habits.
Before we go on, I don't blame my wife. I could have stopped her from making delicious food at any time, or I could have just eaten smaller portions. The responsibility falls completely on me. Now that I've told her what I want to do, she has been my greatest ally in losing weight. She encourages me to work out, cooks healthy meals, and times me when I have to do indoor workouts because of weather.
Physical fitness is a shield against many adversaries: laziness, sickness, obesity, depression, lack of confidence, etc. It has all-round benefits, which is why I am ending this post here, raising my shield high, and charging headlong into a work-out. Get up and get moving guys, it's going to be a great day!
This morning I'm about to do a workout courtesy of spartanrace.com (If you don't know what a Spartan Race is, check out their website and sign up for the WOD). This one is all about building speed and being able to transition quickly from strength to endurance obstacles and vice versa. It goes something like this:
Warm-up (stretch, jog in place)
400 meter (1/4 mile) run
10-30 burpees
2 minute rest
10-30 burpees
400 meter run
2 minute rest
Repeat one to three times.
If you would like to receive workouts daily to your inbox that will help push you to the next level, go to the Spartan Race website. If you're interested in running a Spartan Race (and you should be) I'd be happy to form a shield wall with you and race together. I've already done two and I'm looking at doing one in the near future.
I say all this because physical prowess is essential to confidence and happiness in most if not all men. I've been in really great shape before, and I miss the days of being comfortable with my weight and running six miles in less than fifty minutes. Unfortunately, I lowered my shield after my last Spartan Race. It only got worse after I got married. Seriously, if you thought dragging yourself out of bed early in the morning to work out was a chore before, wait until you have a hot wife (who is usually very sleepy) sleeping next to you. My wife is one amazing cook as well, and I was sick right after we got married (chickenpox), all of which set me on the road to no work-outs and bad eating habits.
Before we go on, I don't blame my wife. I could have stopped her from making delicious food at any time, or I could have just eaten smaller portions. The responsibility falls completely on me. Now that I've told her what I want to do, she has been my greatest ally in losing weight. She encourages me to work out, cooks healthy meals, and times me when I have to do indoor workouts because of weather.
Physical fitness is a shield against many adversaries: laziness, sickness, obesity, depression, lack of confidence, etc. It has all-round benefits, which is why I am ending this post here, raising my shield high, and charging headlong into a work-out. Get up and get moving guys, it's going to be a great day!
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
The SHIELD
'Rise up, warriors, take your stand at one another's sides, our feet set wide and rooted like oaks in the ground. '
-Tyrtaeus, Spartan Poet
If you've ever seen the movie "300" or anything with Captain America in it, then you will know what this blog is all about. It's a blog for men, written by a man. If any of the ladies care to read it, you will definitely be offended. But that is none of my concern.
If you're a woman reading this, jump over to my wife's blog www.proverb3130-aih.blogspot.com before things get ugly.
Alright men, it's time to discuss shields. Shields are AWESOME. Go out and buy one.
But seriously...
Every time you see a strong, tough guy in the movies holding up a big old shield, doesn't it make you just a little jealous? Do you wish you had his awesome shield/weaponry/fighting skills? A man with a shield inspires confidence and courage in the people he is fighting for.
A man with a shield is able to defend his family, his honor, and his sacred homeland. Even though we have traded the shield and spear for the rifle and the bullet-proof vest, the ability of a shield-wielding soldier to conjure images of strength and toughness survives. The legacy of a shield, a good shield, is that it did its job and protected the people who built the foundations of the world we live in today. The children of the Greek and Roman cultures who became our ancient philosophers, statesmen, orators, and authors were protected by armies of men with shields.
In no uncertain terms, the great shields of old are the reason we are here today. We might all be speaking Persian if it had not been for the shield soldiers of Sparta, led by the fearsome King Leonidas at the Hot Gates. Three hundred pieces of forged metal, twisted, bent, broken by showers of arrows and the thrust of swords were all that stood between an army of two hundred thousand men and the fertile, fragile fields of ancient Greece.
With this blog, we're going to recapture the spirit of the ancient shield. We'll examine how you can shield yourself against problems, adversity, and laziness. There will be no quitting, no whining, no dropping shields to allow enemy missiles in. We will form a shield wall together to repulse the Persian armies attacking us today.
There is a machine in operation today, one which is bent on destroying the entire world. It is made of evil, sin, and corruption in their purest forms. We will be the ones who throw a monkey wrench made of pure manly confidence into the cogs of that machine.
It's time we take our lives back. It's time we lose weight, toughen up, learn some real skills, create legacies, and take control. The excuses stop here: Come back with your shield, or on it.
On this blog, we will discuss the cultures of shield-wielding men, their attitudes towards life, and the role their shields played in relation to their survival. We will discuss famous shields from history and literature that grip our imagination. We, united as a shield wall, will brace ourselves and each other against the relentless tide of evil that threatens the border of our country, our families, and ourselves.
Charge fearlessly into a hail of bullets like Captain America, or withstand the Persian hordes as the Spartans did at the Hot Gates, by raising your shield in defense. Stand up, and be counted as a MAN!
-Tyrtaeus, Spartan Poet
If you've ever seen the movie "300" or anything with Captain America in it, then you will know what this blog is all about. It's a blog for men, written by a man. If any of the ladies care to read it, you will definitely be offended. But that is none of my concern.
If you're a woman reading this, jump over to my wife's blog www.proverb3130-aih.blogspot.com before things get ugly.
Alright men, it's time to discuss shields. Shields are AWESOME. Go out and buy one.
But seriously...
Every time you see a strong, tough guy in the movies holding up a big old shield, doesn't it make you just a little jealous? Do you wish you had his awesome shield/weaponry/fighting skills? A man with a shield inspires confidence and courage in the people he is fighting for.
A man with a shield is able to defend his family, his honor, and his sacred homeland. Even though we have traded the shield and spear for the rifle and the bullet-proof vest, the ability of a shield-wielding soldier to conjure images of strength and toughness survives. The legacy of a shield, a good shield, is that it did its job and protected the people who built the foundations of the world we live in today. The children of the Greek and Roman cultures who became our ancient philosophers, statesmen, orators, and authors were protected by armies of men with shields.
In no uncertain terms, the great shields of old are the reason we are here today. We might all be speaking Persian if it had not been for the shield soldiers of Sparta, led by the fearsome King Leonidas at the Hot Gates. Three hundred pieces of forged metal, twisted, bent, broken by showers of arrows and the thrust of swords were all that stood between an army of two hundred thousand men and the fertile, fragile fields of ancient Greece.
With this blog, we're going to recapture the spirit of the ancient shield. We'll examine how you can shield yourself against problems, adversity, and laziness. There will be no quitting, no whining, no dropping shields to allow enemy missiles in. We will form a shield wall together to repulse the Persian armies attacking us today.
There is a machine in operation today, one which is bent on destroying the entire world. It is made of evil, sin, and corruption in their purest forms. We will be the ones who throw a monkey wrench made of pure manly confidence into the cogs of that machine.
It's time we take our lives back. It's time we lose weight, toughen up, learn some real skills, create legacies, and take control. The excuses stop here: Come back with your shield, or on it.
On this blog, we will discuss the cultures of shield-wielding men, their attitudes towards life, and the role their shields played in relation to their survival. We will discuss famous shields from history and literature that grip our imagination. We, united as a shield wall, will brace ourselves and each other against the relentless tide of evil that threatens the border of our country, our families, and ourselves.
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