Fog of Training

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKThe Fog of Training Forging the Warrior: Body, Soul, and SpiritThe Fog of TrainingLorem ipsum dolor sit amet ligulaTrenz Pruca - July 2, 2018
 Colonel James R. Harper III, USMCR (Ret.) Warrior’s Notebook TM 1

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOK Line of DepartureThe line of departure is the geographical line along whichmilitary units position themselves prior to attacking theenemy. Troop movements are coordinated along this linebefore the force “jumps-off” into the attack. Similarly, when aWarrior begins a new cycle of training, he is at a jumping-offpoint into a new phase of life in which he will gain greaterknowledge and additional skills that will mold him into anintegral part of the United States Military—the most capableand powerful fighting force in the world. 2

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKFall in!When you—whether a Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine—enter anew course of training, you have chosen the well-worn path ofgallant Warriors who have gone before you. Like them, you haveembraced a noble calling on your life. You understand that whenyou stand within the phalanx of your fellow Warriors, you can bea force multiplier on any mission, in any battle. Your sense ofsignificance and call to duty stand guard against the lures ofcomfort, routine, and passivity that constantly try to distract anddemoralize you. When you fall in on the field of training, youembrace the rigors and toil of preparing yourself to ’bring thefight’ to the forces of oppression and evil. This is a fight that notonly protects our freedom, but imparts a lasting legacy on ournation’s history and lights a path of honor and commitment forgenerations to come.The Battle of the MindAs you discipline yourself to meet the physical challenges andrequirements imposed upon you in training, you will often face adeeper, more sinister battle within, where adversity seemsoverwhelming, and fatigue saps your strength and tests yourresiliency. This battle slams you up against your untested mentalcapabilities, and a deep fog of self-doubt and double-mindedthinking begins to seep into your mind. You find yourselfstanding at a crossroads in your life. In one direction is the road tosurrender—a road that way seems so much easier. As you lookdown that road you begin to mentally rehearse how you willrationalize your failure and make your defeat understandable andacceptable. In the opposite direction, you see a way marked by thefaint outlines of promise and hope. You wonder whether you canmuster the resiliency and the courage to take that road—in spite ofthe difficulties, in spite of the pain. Will you take the road ofresignation and defeat, or will you have the courage to take the 3

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKhard road through the fiery forge? One road leads to a darknowhere; the other to a lighted path of significance and purposefrom which you can emerge a skillful, focused and tenaciousWarrior—transformed in body, soul, and spirit?Understanding Significance—Discovering DestinyThe following is a collection of essays on personal experiences,historical perspectives and insights that will encourage you tothink, envision, and act with intentionality and determination.These stories will encourage personal reflection and give you agreater understanding of who you are, who you can be, and whyyour life matters—empowering you with a sense of destiny andthe spirit to soldier on. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalm 139:14 4

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOK Running the GauntletFor God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 Daniel Boone Escorting Settlers Through the Cumberland Gap George Caleb Bingham (ca. 1851)Across the globe and here at home, the United States Militaryfaces immense pressures to prepare for operations ranging frompeacekeeping to nuclear war. More complex threat environmentsand higher costs for advanced weaponry have increased the strainon the American military to pay for current deployments and toprepare for future operations. However, the power of the UnitedStates Military is not found in how much money it spends, or the 5

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKcapabilities of the advanced weapons systems it deploys, butwithin the physical, mental and spiritual capacity of its Warriors—Warriors with strength of soul—Warriors who will not panic.Panic vs. CouragePanic is one of those words that imparts a sound and a feel thatmatches its definition. It comes from an ancient Greek wordsignifying “all” or “comprehensive.” (e.g. Pan-American; Pan-Hellenic). The word comes from the mythological god Pan, whoappeared in ancient lore as a man with a goat’s legs, horns andears. Herders would tell of his sudden appearance that wouldfrighten the flocks, driving them to stampede and scatter. Scarysounds in the night and sudden storms were the work of Pan, thegreatly feared, mighty god of nature. Panic is the impact of fear onthe mind, which results in an inability to think or act rationally.Conversely, courage is the ability to think and act underpressure.Panic on the FrontierIn 1778, during the Revolutionary War, in the area now roughlycomprising Kentucky, the British sought to subdue the rugged andvery independent American frontiersmen. The British lieutenantgovernor, Henry Hamilton, decided to use the Indian tribes as aforce multiplier. He offered a bounty for every Americanfrontiersman’s scalp they could bring to the British fort at Detroit.The result was predictable and grotesque. Indians ambushedfarmers and hunters, attacked settlements, and brutally scalpedthe inhabitants. In some cases, instead of scalping the victims, theIndians took the settlers as prisoners. Men, women and childrenwere taken to the Indian villages where they were enslaved.Captives who behaved well and were deemed valuable weresometimes assimilated and allowed to join the tribe. 6

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKBoonesboroughThe small town ofBoonesborough wasfounded by DanielBoone, the greathunter, trailblazerand militiaman. Asthe ravages of thewar continued,panic set in, and notjust because of the British and the Indians. There was also aserious shortage of salt. That may not sound like much of aproblem in the twenty-first century, but salt was a critical and ahard to come by commodity that the frontier settlers needed tocure meat and animal hides. Salt was also used as a flavoring tomake otherwise disgusting food edible. Threatened by theIndians, and without salt, the settlers faced the prospect ofabandoning their homes and their dreams and heading back east.Boone Takes ActionConfronted with this dire need for salt, Boone led a group ofaround 30 men to gather salt from a saline spring about 60 milesfrom Boonesborough. After boiling, drying and collecting the saltfor about two weeks, all without incident, Boone left the group togo hunting. The Shawnee Indians, lurking nearby, were watching.The hunter became the hunted, and the Shawnee warriors quicklysurrounded Boone, who was forced to surrender. He was taken tothe Shawnee village.Boone Runs the GauntletOne of the Shawnee customs was to make all of the fighters theycaptured run a gauntlet. The Shawnee warriors would form up ontwo sides, and, armed with sticks, clubs, deer antlers and stones, 7

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKattempt to bring down the captive before he could reach the endof the line. Daniel Boone was a highly esteemed fighter, evenamong the Indians, so the young warriors took particular delightwhen Boone came up to the starting line. Victorious Resolve Boone came forward. He no longer had his weapon, but he still had his legendary drive, determination, and resiliency. Boone took off, sprinting through the gauntlet of Shawnee warriors, deflecting the blows, focused on the end of the line. As he reached the last warrior, bloodied and beaten, Boone rammed into the Indians’ last line of defense like a pro- linebacker, sending the warrior flying backward.. Boone was victorious.Welcome To Our TribeBecause of Boone’s fighting prowess, the Chief invited him tobecome a Shawnee warrior. Boone pretended to make acommitment to the tribe, even going through a ritual of cleansingand ceremonial induction. He hunted and fished with the 8

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKWarriors of the tribe, and embraced the tribal customs, but it wasall a ruse. Boone never quit looking for an opportunity to escape.One day, Boone learned that the Shawnees were planning anattack on Boonesborough. He knew that he had to warn thesettlers. Boone escaped and traveled 160 miles in five days,reaching the village in time to alert the settlers to prepare for theimpending attack. He successfully led the defense ofBoonesborough in a battle that lasted for twelve days before theShawnees lifted their siege of the fort and retreated. (In spite of hisheroic efforts, Boone was court-martialed for his suspected Britishsympathies. He took this attack head on as well, and wasacquitted of the charges.) Daniel Boone faced down his difficultiesand overcame his enemies resolutely and courageously focusingon what he had to do to be victorious—Boone never panicked.Warriors Don’t PanicThe prospect of failing can often seems more real than the hope ofsucceeding. Everyone under such stressful conditions will start toregret, complain, and ultimately to fear. Fear leads to mentaldisintegration and a fragmented mind where logic and rationalthought cease to function effectively, if at all. The result ispredictable. Panicked warriors don’t fight—panicked warriorsare not warriors at all.Looking Beyond YourselfThere is an old adage, “Don’t take counsel of your fears.” In otherwords, don’t let fear dictate your actions. Fear is the enemy ofyour goals, aspirations and your very soul. That is why theScriptures repeatedly tell us, FEAR NOT! Consider the followingwords of David, the great warrior of the Old Testament: 9

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKThe LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? theLORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Whenthe wicked, even my enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat upmy flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though a host should encampagainst me, my heart shall not fear: though war should riseagainst me, in this will I be confident. Psalm 27:1-3.As you encounter the challenges of training, ask yourself, “Am Istepping forward with my hands raised at the ready, prepared tostrike; or am I standing there just wishing the next blow won’tcome, and that the gauntlet I am peering into will evaporate into“high fives” and pats on the back?” Trust me on this: shirkersdon’t get congratulated.Courageous warriors push throughtheir fears and charge through theclubs and stones of life’s gauntletswith their heads held high, confidentand determined in battle—body,soul, and spirit. They deflect theblows, and forge ahead withdetermination and abandon, runningwith the Lord’s promises of strengthand protection firmly fixed in theirhearts—confident of the ultimatevictory. Consider the words of thepoet Virgil: “Let him who hascourage and a strong and collected spirit in his breast, stepforward, lace on the gloves, and put up his hands.” That is whatBoone did, setting his face “like a flint,” hardened, ready andresolute—and that is what you can do when you fight your battlesin faithful reliance upon the promises of God. Don’t panic. Be courageous. Keep fighting. 10

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOK Funk Holes He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. Job 33:28I am pretty sure that none of you know what the Kola SuperdeepBorehole is. Rather than let you wonder, I will go ahead and fillyou in. Our story starts on the cold and barren Kola Peninsula inthe old Soviet Union. In 1970, the Russians decided to drill down through the crust of the earth and see what they could find. Even after the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, and the old USSR was no more, these guys kept drilling. They drilled until 1992. They drilled 40,230 feet—that’s about 11

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKseven and a half miles—the deepest hole in the world. You knowwhat they found? Really old rocks. At one particularly excitingpoint, they actually found mud “boiling with hydrogen.” Yougotta believe that put some “wow” in the project. The reason thatthey had to stop was that it was getting really hot down there, 356degrees to be exact. They claimed their drill bits were weakening,however, one apocryphal story says one of the guys vaguelyremembered something about somewhere in the earth where itwas really hot and where you did not want to go. In true Russiantradition, they decided to break out the vodka and call it a day—actually a few decades.Reading about drilling the world’s deepest hole was strangelyencouraging to me. I thought I had dug the deepest hole of my lifein 1975 during my early days of military training when I was at Ft.Benning, Georgia. The days were long and the heat was stifling. Iwas unprepared for the level of difficulty that I was facing, and itseemed that I could do nothing right in the eyes of my drillsergeants. I was in a funk.Bad AirThe word “funk” appears to have originated as a slang expressionthat described bad odors (funky smell). Because bad air was oftenassociated with diseases of the mind, the word came to be used todescribe a state of mental depression. A man who is overcome byfear and panic, who quits and withdraws, came to be described as“being in a funk,” because he was seen as having “bad air” abouthim.Trench WarfareIn the trenches of World War I, Soldiers often dug holes into thesides of the trench lines for protection. Afraid of the massiveGerman artillery bombardments, the Soldiers would crawl into 12

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKthese small holes for protection from the shelling. Far fromoffering protection, however, these holes were very dangerous.The impact of the hundreds of shells that rained down on thetrench lines each day could cause the earth to collapse aroundthem, crushing or suffocating the soldier. The British startedcalling these man-sized burrows “funk holes.”PitfallsAnother term for a hole in the ground is a pit, which is deeper andmore than a dangerous funk hole. Pits are traps that hide hiddendangers. In Vietnam, for example, the enemy dug “tiger pits,” putsharpened spikes in the bottom, and covered the pits with brush.An unsuspecting Soldier faced mortal danger as he traversed thejungle landscape—a “pitfall” threatening every step.Mental pits can be just as treacherous. Though we can fall into pitsdug by others, we are all capable of digging ourselves into a deeppit of the mind without anyone’s help. Most pits I find myself in, I 13

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOK have dug myself or at least had a hand in it. As the psalmist wrote, He made a pit, and dug it our, and is fallen into the hole which he made (Psalm 7:15). Note the sequence. You start digging a pit, whether by error, misdirection, falling into sin, or some foolish decision. Next, even though you know you are making matters worse and need to quit digging, you continue the same behavior and keep making the hole deeper. Finally, you find yourself laying on the bottom,struggling to get out and not sure you ever will.Are You in a Funk?No matter how deep the pit you find yourself in, there is always away out. In my case, I was able to persevere through the fog ofdoubt and complete my required training at Ft. Benning, avoidingthe early end of my military career. Once out of that dark, mentalhole, and back up onto higher ground, I saw how I had misjudgedmy entire situation, and that I needed to understand that thecircumstances and problems that drove me into that pit wereactually hidden opportunities to grow in knowledge, skills, andresourcefulness. Moreover, I came to understand that I could notface these challenges alone.Quit Digging and Start Climbing OutYour life is more than some long, hot, empty shaft in the cold,barren ground. You have more to celebrate than rock and mud.Whatever the funk hole you find yourself in, or how deep andtreacherous it is, there is always a way out. Many times, this will 14

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKrequire the help of others, and you should be willing to let themlend a hand, and help bear your burden (Galatians 6:2). As youendure difficulties, you must also look to the Lord. But the God ofall grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, afterthat you have suffered a while, make you perfect [mature], establish,strengthen, settle you (1 Peter 5:10). Then, you can say, like KingDavid did in ancient times, He brought me up also out of a horriblepit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established mygoings (Psalm 40:2).It’s time to look to the Lord, face your difficulties, and GO OVERTHE TOP—out of that dark, damp, miserable hole with bad air—delivered from doubt and fear—charging forward withdetermination and faith. 15

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOK Play-Doh God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God. Psalm 62:11When I was a boy, I was inspired by Willie Mays, the legendaryoutfielder for the New York Giants, who was known as “The SayHey Kid”. One of Mays’ games that still stands out in baseballhistory was the first game of the 1954 World Series—New York Giants versus the Cleveland Indians. It was the top of the eighth and the game was tied. The Indians had men on first and second. Giant’s Manager Leo Durocher sent Don Little in to pitch against Indian Vic Wertz, who was looking for his fourth hit of the game. It was southpaw versus southpaw. With one ball and two strikes, Wertz catapulted Little’s next pitch to centerfield, right over the head of Willie Mays. Mays exploded with thecrack of the bat, following the ball as it rocketed skyward. A stepfrom the concrete wall and at full throttle, Mays magicallygrabbed Wertz’s 460-foot shot that otherwise would certainly havebeen an inside the park home run. Spinning back towards theplate, Mays, still off balance from the amazing catch, hurled theball and fell to the ground. Like a precision guided missile, the 16

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKball flew right to the second baseman, cutting off Cleveland’srunners advancing towards home plate. The Indians ended upscoreless for the inning. The Giants went on to win the game andThe World Series.Full DisclosureI never liked baseball and that probably relates to the fact thatduring Little League tryouts in the spring of my second gradeyear, I was the last boy to be picked for a team. (The very“unenlightened” coaches back then seemed more focused onwinning than building self-esteem.) My first time at bat did not domuch for my love of the game either. As the first pitch of my firsttime at bat of my first game was hurled towards me, I just stoodthere—frozen and looking stupid. The ball crashed into my side.That was my only time on base the entire season. I couldn’t field,or catch or hit, but I learned to appreciate those that could,particularly the “Say Hey Kid.”Willie MaysI told you that Willie Mays inspired me, but it was in a differentarea than baseball. Back in the 1960s, Mays recorded a publicservice announcement “with a word of caution for young boysand girls.” The spot showed a hillside collapsing from anexplosion set off by a blasting cap. Mays warned us that if yousaw a blasting cap in a construction site in your neighborhood,you shouldn’t touch it because it could blow off your arms andlegs. If you did see a blasting cap, Mays told us, we should call apoliceman or a fireman. Inspired by this announcement, I lookedfor blasting caps at every house under construction in myneighborhood. If I had found one, I had no intention of calling apoliceman or a fireman, because, like every young, red-bloodedAmerican boy in those days, I wanted to blow things up. Mysearches never uncovered a blasting cap—and I still have my armsand legs. 17

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKBlastingA blasting cap is a small and very sensitive explosive charge thatis used to detonate a larger, but less sensitive, primary explosive.Here’s an example: Let’s say you want to blow up a bridge. It would take a great deal of explosives to do the job on a bridge, and you don’t want to carry around a large amount of sensitive explosives. You need a controllable, sensitive explosive force to set off the larger, more destructive explosive force. C-4 is a good example ofa non-sensitive explosive, which means it won’t go offunexpectedly. If you drop C-4, or throw it against a wall, or throwit in the fire, it won’t detonate. C-4 can be molded and shaped,and carried safely in a backpack. The way it looks and feelsreminds me of Play-Doh. The scenario changes if you form a smallhole in the C-4 and then gently insert a blasting cap with a fuse.The blasting cap is like a tiny pipe bomb. It is a base chargecontaining a very sensitive explosive that provides the “activationenergy” that detonates the C-4, which is not at all like Play-Doh.The Explosive Force of Our LivesThe challenges, adversities, and afflictions of a Warrior’s life mayrun the gamut from merely irritating to totally devastating.Whatever the degree of difficulty, however, you must understandthat all of these trials can and will be used of the Lord to developand manifest your new identity, the new man, (Ephesians 4:24,Romans 6). A Christian Warrior has explosive potential that needsto be harnessed through training and motivation, and thenunleashed. But he knows the way that I take: when he has tried me, Ishall come forth as gold (Job 23:10). Refining gold requires that goldore be heated so the impurities, called “dross,” are separated andskimmed off. What remains is a pure vessel that can be shaped 18

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKand molded into new forms for specific, productive purposes.This comes about as teachings from Scripture drive deep into yoursoul, combining with and clarifying the tough physical challengesand difficult situations you are facing—developing in you a trueperspective on life, and a deeper understanding of the Lord’stransforming power in your soul. Your dedication to trainingbecomes a means of gaining spiritual insight as you apply what you know to what you are experiencing. Like blasting caps within our soul and spirit, the Lord breaks up our old manner of thinking, and teaches us new thoughts and new ways, by which we are to live—driving us forward with explosive spiritual power in the midstof conflict and adversity.QuestionAre you doing what I did—standing in the batter’s box, frozenand looking stupid, waiting for the pitch to slam into you? Or, areyou like Willie Mays—alert and ready to respond to the challengesthat life hurls at you?The tests we face show us our strengths as well as ourweaknesses. From our sufferings and difficulties, we learn how farwe have come, and how far we have to go in order to grasp ourdivinely appointed destiny. You can never discover yourexplosive potential without being tested. The trials you face showyou what you are made of and who you really are—just Play-Doh—or the real thing. 19

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOK Barnacles They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. Psalm 107:23-24Word of the Day: MOTILITY—The Ability to Move.In the sport of wrestling, coaches continually emphasize the needto keep moving. If a wrestler attempts one move and that effortfails, he must try another move—IMMEDIATELY. In everywrestling arena, you will hear these words resounding across themat: Sit-out! Stand-up! Shoot! Move on the whistle! Keep moving!MOVE! 20

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKIf you quit moving in wrestling, you enable your opponent totangle you up and pin you to the mat. Being pinned, in this wordpicture, is non-motility—and remember: if you quit moving, youwill inevitably lose the ability to move at all.To gain a greater grasp of motility and non-motility, we need lookno further than the oceans of the world. This naturally brings us tothe “wonders of the deep” and our subject.BarnaclesBarnacles are a form of arthropod—like a shrimp or a lobster—butnot nearly as tasty. Barnacles are designed for a sedentary life.They don’t even have to move to mate. Barnacles hatch as larvaethat swim freely about the ocean. These larvae can sense otherbarnacles to cluster with, as well as smooth surfaces to attach to.When they find a spot that suits them, the barnacle larvae secretea strong bonding glue and grab on. They then grow calcifiedshells and eat the plankton that washes through their feather-likefeeding sensors. Barnacles are non-motile—they just stick, eat, andreproduce for their entire lives—all in the same spot. 21

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKWhat a Drag!Barnacles do one thing exceedingly well—they hang on. Forexample, barnacles love whales. While the whales are young, swimming around in their nursery lagoons, the little barnacles climb aboard and they will stay with that whale, through every storm, through every growth spurt, through every 10 to 12 thousand mile migration, until thewhale dies. The barnacles never let go. They don’t hurt thewhales, but they do look real ugly.The Tenacious BarnacleBarnacles do, however, hurt ships. They cling to vessels that arestationary at anchor, or at the pier. Barnacles’ biological adhesivecures underwater. (It works like blood-clotting in a wound.) It iswhat scientists call “biofouling.” Barnacles’ defensive mechanismwill even secrete more glue in response to attempts to scrape themoff. Over time, barnacles can build up so deep on a ship’s hull thatthe ship will sink.The United States Navy spends over 100 million dollars a year onadded fuel costs due to the drag of the sedentary, but hang-toughbarnacles on ship hulls. You might think that an aircraft carrier,underway at around 30 knots (around 35 mph), would be enoughto send those pesky critters to Davy Jones’s locker—not a chance.Barnacles resist the fastest nautical speeds and the power of thebiggest storms at sea. 22

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKKeep MovingThe truth is that some type of barnacle besets us all. Considerwhat the Apostle Paul wrote to the Hebrews:Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud ofwitnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easilybeset us, run with patience the race that is set before us, looking untoJesus the author and finisher of our faith... Hebrews 12:1, 2aSins, like barnacles, grab on to us. They are ugly and tenacious.They can slow us down and drag us to the bottom.Human BarnaclesSome people are overwhelmed by barnacles, and some people arebarnacles. Human barnacles can destroy your potential becausethey cause needless conflict, drain time and resources, andinfluence you towards bad behavior—dragging you down to thebottom. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companionof fools shall be destroyed (Proverbs 13:20). Fools, or humanbarnacles for this illustration, can destroy people andrelationships. A fool considers doing wrong a sport (Proverbs10:23), and flaunts his folly (Proverbs 13:16). Not only should younot walk in their ways, but you should carefully avoid reacting totheir words, whether directed toward you or toward others. Don’tor engage them in arguments, or physical encounters. Scrape themoff the muster roll of your mind.Get to WorkScraping the barnacles off U.S. Navy ships is a regular dutyassignment for many sailors. Likewise, our duty assignment is todeal with those sins, attitudes, actions and people that cling to usand pull us toward the bottom. Because the barnacles of life are 23

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKtenacious and very tough to get rid of, eliminating them requiressome serious scraping of the soul. The first step in dealing withthose foul crustaceans is to tell yourself the truth—openlyacknowledging what barnacles are clinging to your life and howthey got there. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whosoconfesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy (Proverbs 28:13).However, this is not a process of self-help and personal resolve.You must look to Jesus, the author and finisher of [your] faith, andthe power of the Holy Spirit to cleanse you from all unrighteousness—scraping away at the grip of sloth, stagnation, and the sin thatso easily overwhelms you (See 1 John 1:8-9; Hebrews 12:1). That isa tough challenge—and it is certainly not enjoyable—but it isabsolutely essential when the mission you are assigned to, and thebattles you are facing require you to reach flank speed. So startscraping; stay afloat; and whatever the challenge, KEEPMOVING.By any measure, that will make for smoother sailing. 24

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOK Fumble Forward …Hold fast that which is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21One of the most famous fumbles in professional football occurredin the 1978 game between the San Diego Chargers and theOakland Raiders. Down 20 to 14, the Raiders, led by quarterbackKen “Snake” Stabler, moved the ball to the Chargers’ 14 yard line,seriously threatening the Chargers’ lead. With 10 seconds left inthe game, Stabler took the snap and dropped back, scanning forhis receiver. Chargers’ linebacker Woodrow Lowe, intent onmaking a victory sealing sack, grabbed Stabler’s arm around the25-yard line. As Lowe overwhelmed Stabler, Stabler fumbled theball, which bounded toward the Chargers’ goal line. Raiders’ PeteBanaszak desperately reached for the ball at the 13, momentarilygetting his hands on it, but fumbling the ball again toward thegoal where Raiders’ tight-end Dave Casper madly grappled forthe ball at the 5-yard line. Casper fumbled (or pushed if you are aChargers fan) the ball forward into the end zone where he fell onthe ball, scoring for the Raiders and tying the game. With the extra 25

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKpoint, the Raiders won 21-20. The play became known as “theholy roller.”Stuck in the PastWarriors often go through their days with the gnawing sense thatthey are about to be sacked, or that they can’t recover after theyhave fumbled. To make matters worse, they start to remember allthe “friends” and family who told them not to join the military; orworse, the sergeants who told them they would never make it.These voices become deceptively authoritative—“They wereright.” It is just a few steps from negative reflections such as theseto questioning your very purpose, not only in the military, butalso in life.It should be obvious that you cannot “unfumble” a football. It’sdone. Focusing on the past enslaves you in the present, stoppingyou in your tracks—unable to think—unable to act. Resignationand defeat are born in the face of shortcomings and failures. Theimmediate question is, “Can you recover the ball?” The answer is,“Yes, you can,” but only if you reject passivity, act and don’tquit, and, one more time—DON’T QUIT.What to Do?The Scriptures offer wise counsel. The Apostle Paul wrote, …[B]utthis one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, andreaching forth unto those things which are before. You dropped the balland it is rolling down the field. You must look beyond the pastand focus on the future. When you look to God, knowing that Hehas a plan and a purpose for you, then you can know, as DaveCasper showed us, fumbles don’t have to be fatal. God gives hope. Hope gives confidence. Look to Him and GRAB THE BALL! 26

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOK Never Surrender If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. Proverbs 24:10Safety is a subject so important that it is drilled into our headsbefore we can even walk. “Don’t touch that!” “No! No!” “Don’tcross the street without looking both ways!” “Don’t talk tostrangers!” “Don’t climb on a moving train!” (A rule which Ipromise to never ignore again, but that is a story for another day.)Of course, safety rules are important. “Don’t play with matches!”is certainly a good rule to follow. I figured that out after I startedour barn on fire when I was in the 6th grade. As we grow older,however, we must learn the distinction between being safe andplaying it safe. The two are oceans apart.Malay Peninsula, 1942: THE “SAFETY” OF SURRENDER 27

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKLieutenant-General Arthur Ernest Percival (1887–1966) was aBritish Army officer and World War I combat veteran who, in1942, commanded the the British Commonwealth Forces duringthe Battle of Malaya and the subsequent Battle of Singapore. TheJapanese knew that if they could conquer Singapore, they wouldcontrol the Strait of Malacca, the main shipping channel betweenthe Indian and Pacific oceans. It was (and still is) one of the moststrategic shipping lanes in the world.During the 1930s, the British spent enormous sums to build portfacilities and install coastal guns on the island of Singapore.Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of England, and hismilitary advisors believed that the massive coastal artillery,supported by the British Navy and over 100,000 ground troops,could defend the island against any Japanese assault from the sea.What the British did not prepare for was a ground advance onSingapore from the north, across the Jahore Straits from the MalayPeninsula. The Japanese were experienced jungle fighters by 1942,and the British, Indian, Canadian, and Australian troops inSingapore and Malaya were not. Using bicycles and light tanks,the Japanese knew that they could surprise the British byadvancing rapidly overland through the jungle and mangroveswamps of the peninsula. Yet, the British continued to anticipatean attack from the sea, thinking that the walls of their islandfortress would protect them.The Japanese AttackThe Japanese began bombarding Singapore on December 8, 1941.On December 10, the Far Eastern naval strength of the BritishEmpire was virtually destroyed in a two-hour engagement whenJapanese planes sunk both the battleship Prince of Wales and thebattle cruiser Repulse, east of the Malay Peninsula. The victorystripped the British land forces of their supporting naval gunfire, 28

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKenabling the Japanese to move rapidly down the Malay Peninsula,forcing Lt. Gen. Percival and his forces to fall back to the defensesof Singapore Island.On February 8, 1942, the Japanese, under the command of Gen.Yamashita, the “Tiger of Malaya,” attacked Singapore with just23,000 troops. On February 14, they captured the British MilitaryHospital and gave no quarter,savagely torturing andmurdering at least 150 people,including doctors, nurses, andpatients. Just one day later, Lt.Gen. Percival surrenderedunconditionally to Gen.Yamashita. The Japanese forcetook over 138,000 British,Australian, and other Commonwealth Soldiers prisoner. It was thelargest surrender of British-led forces in history. Over 9,000 of 29

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKthese men later died building the Burma-Thailand railway. Thepeople of Singapore fared worse. The exact death toll is unknown,but it its estimated that at least 50,000 Singaporean Chinese wereslaughtered.We will never know all that might have happened if Lt. Gen.Percival had stuck to his guns and continued the fight. Much ismade of the problems he faced: lack of significant airpower, nonaval gunfire support, no real anti-armor capability, and a criticalshortage of water. Some historians have also pointed to the largerJapanese forces in Malaya that could have been deployed in anyfinal attack on Singapore. It is hard to imagine, however, afterknowing the crimes of utmost savagery perpetuated by theJapanese only days prior to the surrender, how Lt. Gen. Percivalexpected his force would be safer under the total control of themurderous Japanese. We do know that if the British had foughtlonger and harder, fewer Japanese soldiers would have lived tofight another day, and far fewer British soldiers would have beencaptured and forced to build railways for the Japanese Empire. 30

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKLt. Gen. Percival took counsel of his fears, ignoring his manyyears of experience and training.The Spirit of FearThroughout our society, the desire to be safe from theunknown, the unexpected, and the uncontrollable drivesfear into the hearts of people of all ages, and allbackgrounds. This spirit of fear is NOT FROM GOD. As theApostle Paul wrote, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but ofpower, and of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Fear ofdifficulties, fear of uncertainty, and fear of your enemies in is notin the Lord’s playbook.Are You Safe?So what is your island fortress? What are you relying on forsafety? Past performance? Who you know? Your powers ofpersuasion? Your family connections? When the advantages that 31

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKyou count on for your safety and security vanish, what will yourely on to give you strength for the battles you face? Maybe youare like Lt. Gen. Percival. You think that by retreating and givingup, you will at least be safe. It never works that way. A retreat to“safety” out of fear will cloud your judgment and insure yourdefeat.Trust in the LordHow do we get to the point where your faith conquers your fears?A Warrior has to develop an ethos—an orientation and dispositionto life—that will enable him (or her) to break the bondage of fearthat grips the soul and immobilizes the body. Because fear standsin direct opposition to faith, you can only overcome fear bybelieving that the Lord is stronger than the threats you face, andthat He is fully capable of controlling every outcome by His mightyhand (Isaiah 41:10). Knowing that the Lord has a plan and apurpose for your life, and even appoints a time of physical deathfor you, is a significant aspect of learning to trust Him (Hebrews9:27). As you come to understand that He alone is your rock, andyour fortress (Psalm 18:2), then the power of the Lord’s presencein the battles you are facing can dominate your mind andsuppress your fears (2 Samuel 22:2-4).Fear Can Defeat You Even When Your Enemy CannotWhen you feel overwhelmed by the might of your enemies, callsto surrender will beckon you. Don’t give in. Turn your eyes uponJesus—come boldly unto the throne of grace, that you may obtainmercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:15 NEVER SURRENDER! NEVER QUIT 32

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOK DROWN-PROOF Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. Psalm 69:1-2Most of us can float. Maybe not like a bar of Ivory soap, butenough so we can breathe. I learned this at an early age when Iwas thrown into a swimming pool with my arms and legs tied.(My arms, by the way, were tied behind my back.) I floated forover an hour. During that very lengthy hour, I was fairly confidentthat I would not see first grade.This story is not the first chapter of a crime novel. As a World WarII veteran and Marine Corps officer, my dad wanted to make surehis son could survive in every clime and place. He was not aboutto let me wander around a body of water wearing those wimpy 33

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKlittle orange floatation wings; and, let’s face it, you never know ifyour boat up at the lake might get torpedoed. I was trainedaccordingly.“Drowning 101”Coach Fred Lanoue—the premier expert in the world on drown-proofing—trained me. He was the swimming coach at GeorgiaTech in Atlanta, Georgia. He began teaching drown-proofingclasses in 1940 at the Naval School located on the Georgia Techcampus. Several pilots who were shot down in the Pacific duringWorld War II reported that they had survived in the water becauseof the drown-proofing techniques they learned from CoachLanoue. The course was adopted for all Georgia Tech students,and, until 1988, no student could graduate from the GeorgiaInstitute of Technology unless they had learned drown-proofing.The course was known among the students as “Drowning 101.”How Not to DrownDuring the late 50s, Coach Lanoue decided to prove histechniques worked for any and all ages—that is where I come in. Iwas five years old. I was dropped off because parents were notallowed poolside. Coach Lanoue taught me how to swimunderwater and also the special stroke he had developed forswimming long distances. Coach Lanoue was ruthless in his questto make me drown proof. For the flotation test, he taught me whatI needed to know, tied me up, and threw me in. I hated everyminute of it. If I did not follow his instructions to the letter, hewould reach out with a long cane pole and smack me on the head.It was, no kidding, painful. One of the most memorable timesduring Coach Lanoue’s training was when I started to wimp-outduring the long-distance swim portion. I swam over to grab theside of the pool My fingers had barely touched the safety and 34

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKhoped for serenity of the tiled wall when my head felt the pain ofCoach Lanoue’s cane pole. I kept swimming.Yes, my head healed. My feelings took a bit longer. Now I can lookback and understand what I could not understand then. CoachLanoue’s motivation and passion in life was to keep swimmersfrom drowning. As mean as he seemed to be, he would never havelet me drown. However, in order to teach me how to survive inthe water, Coach Lanoue had to make me feel like I was going todrown. I had to trust his methods and his training in order tostay afloat. If I ever faced drowning, my life would depend on it.The ways of God seem a great deal like that.We Are Going to The Other SideJesus had been preaching all day to a large crowd gathered alongthe shore of the Sea of Galilee. It was time to go and Jesus, whohad been preaching from the boat, said, Let us go over unto the otherside of the lake. (Luke 8:22). The weather was calm and as Jesus andhis disciples pulled away from the shore. Jesus fell asleep (Luke8:23).Jesus’ disciples expected they would soon reach the other shore,where Jesus would continue to preach. While they were sailingacross the Sea of Galilee a huge storm blew in. The wind beatagainst the ship, and the waves poured in over the sides. Jesushad told the disciples they were going to the other side, but now itlooked like they were going to the bottom. (See Mark 4:37-41.)Making the situation all the more desperate, their captain, theirleader and their guide was sleeping through it all. Faithless,though they were, Jesus was with them, and there was never evena possibility that they would drown. He had told them that theywere going to cross over to the other side—and He would make 35

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKsure they did. He was, and is, after all, THE SAVIOR. Thedisciples had to learn to believe, not in what they saw, but in whoJesus was. The Storm on the Sea of Galilee Rembrandt van Rijn 1633Who Do You Have Faith In?Rev. James McConkey, a 19th century pastor wrote: \"Faith isdependence upon God. And this God-dependence only beginswhen self-dependence ends. And self-dependence only comes toits end, with some of us, when sorrow, suffering, affliction, brokenplans and hopes bring us to that place of self-helplessness and 36

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKdefeat. And only then do we find that we have learned the lessonof faith; to find our tiny craft of life rushing onward to a blessedvictory of life and power and service undreamt of in the days offleshly strength and self-reliance.”You know how to swim in calm waters and are confident in thoseabilities. However, what happens to you when you unexpectedlyfind yourself in rough seas, sinking towards the bottom? Thoseare the times of trial. When facing disasters, danger or death, youmust remember God’s promises, and trust in His faithfulness toyou. even when you might realize that you have been unfaithfulto him (2 Timothy 2:13). The Lord brings us through thesetribulations to teach us how to see the world from His perspectiveand not our own. Through this process, The Lord transforms ourminds, our motivations, and, consequently, our actions—as self-confidence becomes Christ-confidence. What we learn in thesedesperate moments is this: God will allow us to despair and fail,only so we can learn to trust Him more fully and more deeply.Are You Drowning?Everyone who tries to do something with their life beyond themundane or the average—the ways of ease and “good enough”—and sets themselves on a new course in life, often find themselvesdrowning under a strong current of obstacles and troubles,consumed with fears of failure. As our confidence breaks down,we feel as though we are about to go under the waves and nevercome up again. When you find yourself locked in those kind ofthoughts, know this: “All the dire circumstances of life arecontrolled by your heavenly Father. He it is that knows whatneeds we have. He it is that keeps us needy. He alone knows whatis needed to cause us to look away from self and to look toHim” ( from God’s Quiet Conquests). Fear and the breakdown ofself-confidence is the very ground upon which we can learn what 37

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKwe could not understand otherwise. Only then, after all the trialsand tempests, can we look up with wonder and gratitude and say,What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds andwater, and they obey him (Luke 8:25).Jesus is the express image of the invisible God. He is God. He cancommand the wind and the waves, and whatever trial or difficultyyou are facing, He is standing with you, even when it might seemthat He is sleeping, distant, and unconcerned. At such times, youmay call out to Jesus, as did the disciples, “Do you not care that Iam perishing?” At such times, remember His promises andunderstand His training plan. Jesus does care, and His verypresence secures your safety and calms even the fiercest storms.When you understand that, you too will be drown-proof. Vessels at Anchor in an Estuary Hermanus Koekkoek (1815 – 1882) 38

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOK DON’T LOOK DOWN Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not. Psalm 17:5Few appreciate the important role that beavers have played in thehistory of our country. Yes, I’m talking about those cute littlecreatures that cut down trees with their teeth and gently swimabout, building dams and creating wildlife sanctuaries for a hostof aquatic species. You may be thinking that I am about to make apitch for the “Save the Gentle Beaver Foundation.” Instead, I willshake you from this scene of serenity and explain to you theimpact of the beaver on American history and the skyscrapers inNew York City.PeltsBeaver skins have been highly prized for centuries for use in hats,blankets, coats, and even ladies’ dresses. In the early 1600s, beaver skins became increasingly scarce in Europe. In an effort to secure large supplies of beaver pelts for European markets, Dutch traders opened up trading posts and built a fort on the Hudson River at the site of present day Albany, New York. Here, they came in contact with one of the fiercest tribes in the New World, the Mohawks. 39

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKMourning WarsThe Mohawks were known for their speed and silence in theforest where they moved swiftly and stealthily along the narrowtrails, and slipped up on their enemies. Even so, fierceness has itslimits, and by the early 1600s, the Mohawks were suffering seriouslosses.To reinforce their depleted ranks, the Mohawk warriors replacedtheir dead with captives from other tribes, a practice called“Mourning Wars.” The Mohawks assimilated these captives intotheir tribal families, teaching them their traditions and skills,training them in the arts of war and hunting, making them fullmembers of the tribe. In this manner, the Mohawks were able torebuild their tribe, even after severe losses.Beaver Mortality Rates SkyrocketWe now return to the Dutch who were not just standing aroundwith their fingers in the dikes. The Dutch, always with an eye onthe bottom line, decided that the Indians who hunted and soldthem the beaver pelts could be a lot more efficient if they hadfirearms. They began to arm the Mohawks, who thrived with thisnew technology. The beavers didn’t know what hit ‘em. Beaverexports soared, as did the number of successful Mohawk attacksagainst other tribes. The Mohawks reclaimed their warlikereputation, added to their numbers, and were feared throughoutthe region.Fortunately for the New England settlers during these years,Edmund Andros, the English governor, developed strongdiplomatic ties to the Mohawks. In 1675, during the Indian warsagainst Plymouth and the other southern New England colonies,the Mohawks came to the aid of the colonists and in one verydecisive battle, defeated a confederation of Indian tribes arrayed 40

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKagainst the Puritans. The irony of the English royal governor andthe bloodthirsty Mohawks coming to the aid of the New EnglandPuritans is largely lost in history, but so is the contribution theMohawks would make much later on the skylines of New Yorkand other New England cities.Iron WorksBy the 19th century, the Mohawks had retired from the beaverhunting business and were largely confined to their reservationnear Quebec. They had maintained many of their customs andtraditions and still sought to impart the warrior ethos into theiryoung men. In 1886, construction began on a railroad bridge overthe St. Lawrence River near the Mohawk reservation. In need ofday labor, the construction company began hiring Mohawktribesman to work on the bridge. One company official describedwhat happened: “We picked out some [Mohawks] and gave thema little training, and it turned out that putting riveting tools intheir hands was like putting ham with eggs.”Inspired by DangerIn 1907, a span of the Quebec Bridge collapsed, killing 96 workers,35 of them Mohawks. Instead of discouraging the tribal workersfrom this dangerous work, the fatal accident had the reverse effect.Mohawk young men became even more convinced that climbingnarrow steel beams at high altitudes was just the ticket for makinga living and enjoying life. One commentator attributed their skilland daring to their earlier life in which they threaded forest trailsand canoed along rough rapids. He wrote:“A very important factor is undoubtedly their habit, in walking, ofputting one foot in front of the other, instead of straddling... Theydo not need to make an effort in walking a narrow beam.”Another commentator said the Mohawks’ high altitude,dangerous and difficult work is: 41

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOK “...a journey into self, a denial of death, linked to courage and grace. The Mohawks spent their lives on a sacred pilgrimage from…construction site to construction site.”By the 1920s, the Mohawks had moved from bridge building tosteel girders on New York’s largest skyscrapers. Their greatestnotoriety came in 1931 from their construction work on theEmpire State Building, where the 1250 foot high, 102 story steelframe structure was riveted together by Mohawk steel workers.(The entire building was completed in just over 13 months.) Thosepictures you have seen of the workers walking or eating lunch onsteel girders 100 stories off the ground are of the intrepidMohawks. 42

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKOne young immigrant who worked with the Mohawks told thisstory about working on the Empire State Building:“The Mohawks, they were the skywalkers. Whenever somethingbig was going up, theywere there. They werefantastic. They walkedacross those steelbeams as if they werenothing. And, as I wasa young fella, theytook me under theirwing and they told mehow to do it. Look, Joe.Look across there.Don’t look down.Look straight acrosswhere you are walking, put one foot behind the other, and we arebehind you if you make a mistake. I tell ya, I learned to walk thosebeams and I never made a mistake until one time I stepped on agreasy girder, and it slipped on me. They were there so fast. I bet Iwas not on that girder more than 15 seconds before they had meoff. They said they had to pry me off that beam.”Focused FaithI once repelled off the top of a 55 story building in downtownAtlanta. We did not have ropes long enough to reach the street,but we did not need to. About 10 or 15 floors down, the trainersopened a window into a room that allowed access to the buildingand a solid concrete and steel floor. While I waited my turn, I keptlooking over the ledge at the asphalt paving and the cars andtrucks over 500 feet below. When I stepped over the ledge, I froze,focused on where I was—hanging in the air. Instead, I needed tofocus on where I was going, and what I needed to do to get 43

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKthere. I had to quit looking down, remember my training, andexecute the proper rappelling technique. Once I did that, andreleased my death grip on the rope, I started my descent, andglided towards the window where a trainer was waiting to safelypull me in. Mission accomplished.Finding FocusThe walk of faith is as narrow as the steel beams the Mohawkswalked on—but infinitely steadier. If you keep looking at thedifficulties of the situation you are in—the “what ifs?” and the“maybes”—you can never see clear to get where you need to go.Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things notseen (Hebrews 11:1). Faith looks forward with hope—a confidentexpectation based on the Lord’s promises. It is not wishfulthinking, but belief in God who has not only called you to arms,but has also promised to forge you into a Warrior and aninstrument of His righteousness. You are His workmanship andHis creation (Ephesians 2:10). Moreover, He is always with youand ready to grab on to you when you slip (Psalm 37:23-24). He isalways faithful, even when you are not (2 Timothy 2:13). He willpry you off the beam, and set you back on the sure and solid path,the path of your calling and your vocation—the path of yourdivinely appointed destiny (Psalm 40:1-2, Jeremiah 29:11).So, walk the narrow path; look straight ahead, purposefullycontemplating where you are heading and what you need toaccomplish, and NEVER LOOK DOWN.Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. Proverbs 4:25-27 44

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOK STIRRUPS I when I said, My foot is slipping; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up. Psalm 94:18 Dash for the Pines Frederic Remington 1889A Tale of Childhood WoeLike my first time at bat in Little League, when I was whoppedwith a fastball on the first pitch, my experience with horses wasnot much better. At about age five, I was put on a horse at a familyfriend’s ranch in Alabama. I was lifted into the saddle. It was along way to the ground. The horse took off and I hung on—barely.Everyone was laughing—my parents included. I wasn’t. I wasscared. As my therapist later explained to me, because my feet did 45

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKnot reach the stirrups, I was unable to gain stability and controlthe horse. He also assured me that my parents and their friendsdid not hate me. I have not liked horses or Alabama since then,but I loved my parents.Roy RogersI have a friend who has developed a historical interest in the development and impact of the stirrup on Western Civilization. I suspect that my friend developed his broad knowledge of this subject so he could have something cool to talk about at parties, or he was trying to be selected as a contestant on Jeopardy. Regardless, he did let it slip that it always bothered him that Jesus came into the Jerusalem on a donkey instead of a palomino like Roy Rogers riding Trigger.   Anyway, hecontends that the stirrup changed the course of WesternCivilization. He seems pretty smart, so I bought into the wholeidea. Here’s what my friend reported.The Historical Significance of the StirrupBefore the advent of the stirrup, it was more common for peopleto ride on donkeys or in chariots. Scholars debate when stirrupsappeared first in Europe, but most agree that use of the stirrupbecame widespread in the army of King Charlemagne, whoconquered and united Western Europe during the 8th centuryA.D. Stirrups gave riders in Charlemagne’s army much morecontrol of their horses, and made it easier for them to balance andstay on their horses while they were fighting. With stirrups theknights were able to fight with 16 foot lances from the protectedheight and stability of the saddle. The stirrup gave greater controland maneuverability, making the knight the ultimate warrior. 46

WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOKNoble WarriorsArmed knights required a lot of resources to buy and maintainwarhorses, armor, and weapons. They also needed time to train.In order to compensate these mounted warriors and ensure theirloyalty, feudal lords gave them parcels of land, from which theknights could derive an income, so they could focus on theirfighting skills and be prepared for battle; in effect, forming aMiddle Ages quick reaction force (QRF). As a result, thereemerged a class of warrior-noblemen who dominated feudalEurope until 1346, when the English successfully employed thelong bow against them at the Battle of Crécy in Northern France.Balanced, Stable, and Prepared for BattleThe challenges of training, the battles of the flesh, and thetemptations of the devil, beset us at every turn. Just as the ancientknight needed his stirrups to maintain control and balance as hewas fighting, Warriors need the stability and wisdom fromScripture to give them the poise and the power to engage theenemies they face each and every day.The Poise of the Gospel of the Grace of GodThe United States Military needs Warriors who “can fight fromthe saddle.” If you know that the Lord has saved you from yoursins, and is guiding your path, then you are truly prepared for anyadversity and any enemy (see Psalm 27, below). That is poise thatonly the Gospel of the Grace of God can give (Acts 20:24). Apoised, confident warrior will not be tossed to and fro—like aknight with no stirrups. This Warrior is stable in the saddle, lanceat the ready, prepared to join the ranks and take up the fight (seeEphesians 4:14a). He has learned to see beyond the plight of hispresent struggles, the discomfort, the pain, and even the boredomof routine and the daily grind, because he has a sense of destinyand a divine calling. This warrior does his work heartily, as to the 47





WARRIOR’S NOTEBOOK The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Romans 13:12warriorsnotebook.com 50