Wars and rumors of wars...

N. Korea has been pretty busy lately. The Taliban in Pakistan is causing a huge row, as is al-Qaida in Iraq. Israel is about to conduct wargames which are making the Hezbollah in Lebanon nervous. Are these the wars and rumors of wars that Jesus was taking about in the book of Matthew...the ones that would lead to his second coming? I don't know...yes, I suppose...but somehow this does not seem different from previous periods of warfare.

I do believe those days are coming, and I do believe they are apporaching quickly, but I'm not convinced the days are right at our doorstep. There is time before Christ comes again, but the question for many is, "How much?"

The adage that goes, "there is no time like the present", applies here. If you are on the fence about making a decision for Christ, if you feel an emptiness inside that makes you wonder if there is somethig to this "God thing", then I implore you to act now. If you are wondering if a friend or relative needs to know what Christ has done for you...and can do for them...chances are you need to tell them.

I write this fully realizing that very few people read my blog, and the message is mostly pointed at myself. That's OK because I need a kick in the butt as much as anyone. If I am your friend, and I have never told you about my faith--please forgive me. It's not because I do not care. It is becasue I am weak and timid, and am more concerned over my own discomfort than your eternity. I admit this to my own shame...

CrossFit- not for sissies, but good for your family

We've been doing CrossFit for about 11 months now. There has been little I've enjoyed more over this past year than working out with my family. Mark Mazlakowski and his sister Sandy in Clarksville, TN (http://www.maxfxcrossfit.com/) were our first coaches who really introduced us to the CrossFit concept. Their gym is actually a transformed separate garage located out in the country, but despite its innocent demeanor, vile displays of exercise brutality routinely go on inside that building. I mean that in the best possible way, of course.

What is it that makes CF so fun, you ask? I don't know...I'm demented, I guess. But when you go through a complete workout, with your legs burning and your chest heaving to provide more oxygen to your withered muscles, you feel a sense of ease and accomplishment. Ease because you know the pain is over (at least for now). Accomplishment because you realize you just did something that 90% of the people in our society are scared or unwilling to do. CF makes you meet yourself every time--it tells you who you are and how far you can go.

Plus, I love to watch my wife workout. Hey! Not like that you sickos! I like to see her succeed and push and struggle and win. She is an awesome athlete. I have seen her do some things that would embarrass most women. Sweat, spit, grunt, moan, cry--none of it very pretty, but all of it very real. She is really an amazing and beautiful woman.

We just completed our daily WOD (workout of the day). I lifted 7000lbs. over my head in 10:32 and my wife lifted 5000lbs. in 8:16. See what I mean? Tell me your wife can do that!

UFC

I gotta say...I like it. I just finished watching UFC98 this evening. Matt Hughes beat Matt Serra in a very close match. With the bad blood between them, I really wanted Hughes to crush Serra, but it was a spirited fight and I respect them both for it.

Lyoto Machida utterly dominated Rashad Evans. Machida is the real deal with serious knockout skills. I'm not sure Evans, who can knock some dudes out too, even laid a glove on him. Evans got his clock cleaned.

Why do I like it? I think it's the physical one-on-one, where the truly better fighter wins (most of the time). The raw strength and physicality the fighters display impresses me...I may feel like I'm in good shape on occasion, but I never feel like those guys look. Does that make sense?

There is also an honor between fighters--a mutual respect that I appreciate as a warrior.

The question: is mixed martial arts fighting incompatible with the Christian life? I know how I negotiate the apparent dichotomy, but what do you think?

Memorial Day weekend 2009

I think it's appropriate that I started this blog today. This blog is a reflection of what my life as a modern Army officer is like. I could not have this experience if it was not for those who have gone before me...those who struggled, fought and died in defense of our great nation.

The tug of patriotism surges and wanes with the popular tides of our modern culture. I feel the current steadily drifting out now...loving your country, and saying so, doesn't seem to have the acceptance amongst the cultural elites that it once had. But I will not be ashamed. I am proud of who we are as a people and everything this great country has accomplished. I am proud to serve in her defense along the 1% of Americans who join me.

To those out there who also serve, and to those who don't, I have one question: "What is worth fighting for?"