Of Holds, Locks, and Harrows: Mettle Maker #450 and Holy Eucharist for 3/23/25

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What’s the weekly mettle maker?

Training tips and educational info in support of our free programs, that’s what! What’s mettle? Mettle is, “The ability to meet a challenge or persevere under demanding circumstances; determination or resolve.”

Kylie (L), Fr. Mitch (C) and the Immortal Mark Hatmaker (R)

PRAYER REQUEST: Please pray for Kylie Hatmaker and her husband Mark (see pic on right). The brain tumor Kylie dealt with a few years back is growing again. Kylie is Mark’s primary co-conspirator, best friend, power animal, goddess, gourmet chef, pistol-packing bodyguard, and hoochie-coochie dancer in residence. A finer lady you’ll never meet. God give her strength, we pray thee, Amen.

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Mettle maker #450: Bent Arm Lock a.k.a. Master Lock

In the wrestling context, the terms hold and lock are mostly used interchangeably. I’m guilty of that transgression too. Just keep in mind that holds and locks, as a technical matter, are much different. A hold is just that. It’s a way to hold somebody (or a part of somebody) where you want it. Examples would be Collar and Elbow Tie, Overhook Clinch, Gunfighter Clinch, Bottom Scissors, etc. A lock causes pain and damage, like Top Wristlock, Double Wristlock, Short Arm Scissors, etc.

Bent Arm Lock from GET TOUGH! by W. E. Fairbairn

Last week we put up a video illustrating Bent Armlock, a.k.a. Master Lock. This move comes straight out of Fairbairn’s Get Tough! as well as Len Lanius’s American Jiu Jitsu. Our Chin Jab video got thousands of views. This one, which draws on similar source material, got a couple hundred.

This lock also popped up in a video Ivanka Trump made to promote the BJJ studio where she trains. I made a short about that too (see below). It hasn’t gotten many views either. Sigh. Who can plumb the dark depths of YouTube algorithms or comprehend the vicissitudes of viewers?

Fairbairn, interestingly, makes the mistake of interchanging hold and lock. He calls it “Bent-Arm Hold.” Why does he call it a hold and not a lock? Why are bent and arm hyphenated? Editor’s errors? Who knows.

Anyway, whatever you call it, the thing works. Just make sure you understand that it puts considerable tension on the shoulder, and to a lesser extent on the elbow. When practicing with friends, apply it with slowly-ascending pressure to allow time to tap — and the defender should not relax his shoulder muscles. Keep all of the structures engaged and tight, and tap early.

Want to learn Rough ‘n’ Tumble fighting as a full-context, mind-body-spirit martial art? Sign up for the Rough ‘n’ Tumble Distance Learning Program today!

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Holy Eucharist is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 10 am EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy Eucharist, CLICK HERE.

Homily for the Third Sunday of Lent 3/23/25 – Father Mitch

Readings: Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15, Psalm 103: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11., 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12, Luke 13:1-9

Luke 13:1-9  World English Bible

Now there were some present at the same time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the men who dwell in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.”

6 He spoke this parable. “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 He said to the vine dresser, ‘Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down! Why does it waste the soil?’ 8 He answered, ‘Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.’ ”

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus says that the Galileans who were slaughtered while offering sacrifices to the Lord were no greater sinners than anyone else.  Nor were the people who were crushed by the tower of Siloam.  Twice Jesus says that, instead of trying to figure out who is the most guilty or the most righteous, we should look to our own salvation.  He says, “unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.”  By this he means that all those who do not repent will all suffer the same fate – that is, utter destruction at the final judgement. 

Then Jesus tells the parable of the fig tree.  Assuming the role of gardener and putting God in the landowner’s place, Jesus pleads that the fig tree get one more chance to bear fruit before it is cut down.  We are the tree.  Jesus wants our Heavenly Father to give us a final chance to be saved before we are destroyed. 

 The Harrowing of Hell

 Nowhere is the Lord’s desire for our salvation more evident than in the Harrowing of Hell, which is celebrated during the Easter Vigil service on the Saturday night before Easter Sunday.  A harrow is a tool for breaking up soil for planting. After the plow is run through the field, the harrow (a rack of spikes, disks, or chains) is pulled or dragged over the soil to break up the clods before planting.  The Harrowing of Hell is the process by which Hell is punished, dragged over, broken up, and made ready for planting.

Jesus, after his death, descends to hell, smashes the doors of hell, and ministers to all who are trapped inside.  Orthodox religious icons – paintings used to illustrate and teach church doctrine – depict the doors of hell broken and Jesus dragging Adam and Eve out of Hell by their wrists.  Behind them, the rest of the repentant damned clamor to escape.  All of the sacramental churches – Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, Reformed, and so on – hold belief in the Harrowing of Hell to one degree or another. Thus Christians are justified in believing that before the final destruction, every soul in hell has an opportunity to meet Christ face-to-face, hear the gospel, repent, and be liberated.  Believers are encouraged celebrate Christ’s total defeat of sin, evil, and death – and to pray his victory will extend into the hearts of all sinners, even to the degree that all might be saved.

The Harrowing of Hell is referenced in the Apostles' Creed phrase, "He descended into hell," and in the following Bible passages: 

• 1 Peter 3:18–19: "For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison,"

• 1 Peter 4:6: "For this is the reason the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so that, though they had been judged in the flesh as everyone is judged, they might live in the spirit as God does."

• Matthew 16:18 "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it."

There are dozens more, but the following passages are some of the most frequently cited:

•        Matthew 12:40

•        Matthew 27:50–54

•        Mark 3:24

•        Luke 13:6-9 

•        Acts 2:24

•        Ephesians 4:9

•        Colossians 1:18

 For 1,500 years, the Easter Homily of St. John Chrysostom has been read aloud in the Eastern Orthodox Church during midnight services on Easter eve, the night of Holy Saturday. As the homily is read, laurel leaves are sprinkled through the church to symbolize the broken pieces of the gates of hell.  As his homily makes clear in the most beautiful language, no matter how late a sinner repents, destruction may be avoided.  He says,

 O death, where is thy sting? O hades, where is thy victory?

 Christ is risen, and thou art cast down.

Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen.

Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice.

Christ is risen, and life flourisheth.

Christ is risen, and there is none dead in the tombs.

Of Tells and Tents: Mettle Maker #449 and Holy Eucharist for 3/16/25

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What’s the weekly mettle maker?

Training tips and educational info in support of our free programs, that’s what! What’s mettle? Mettle is, “The ability to meet a challenge or persevere under demanding circumstances; determination or resolve.”

Kylie (L), Fr. Mitch (C) and the Immortal Mark Hatmaker (R)

PRAYER REQUEST: Please pray for Kylie Hatmaker and her husband Mark (see pic on right). The brain tumor Kylie dealt with a few years back is growing again. Kylie is Mark’s primary co-conspirator, best friend, power animal, goddess, gourmet chef, pistol-packing bodyguard, and hoochie-coochie dancer in residence. A finer lady you’ll never meet. God give her strength, we pray thee, Amen.

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Mettle maker #449: Tells

tell (tĕl) n. An unintentional or unconsciously exhibited behavior that reveals or betrays one's state of mind, as when playing poker.

How do you know when a confrontation is going to come to blows? Well, there are some “tells” — some sure signs and dead giveaways — that you can put to good use. Before we get to the “tells,” lets talk about preventative measures.

AVOIDING BAD SITUATIONS

1. Learn to identify and avoid social aggression. Social aggression is posturing, baiting, threatening, blustering behavior which human beings use in misguided attempts to assert dominance. You must be humble enough to ignore this sort of foolishness and leave the area. Entanglement in human threat displays is almost completely avoidable. These tells will help you determine if social aggression is about to make the transition to violence.

2. Violence is also avoidable, but less so. Most violence will be by surprise — no threat display, no bluster, no posturing. The tells that follow might not be applicable. Often without warning there will be a stab, a punch, a gun in your face, a shove to the ground, half a dozen fists flying at you. The only way to avoid most violence is with “warrior awareness” — which is relaxed engagement with your environment. See video below.

For more information on the P.A.D.E. continuum of prevention click here.

Now that we have the playing field straight, let’s talk about the “tells.”

FIVE COMMON “TELLS” — Ways Aggressors Reveal They’re About to Attack

Note: Do a personal survey. Do you present these tells? Recognize when you might be about to lose control and, if violence is unnecessary, mash the brakes and exit the situation. And, in case violence is necessary, start practicing your stoicism now so that you can maintain a calm exterior and a peaceful interior. Example: My tell is morbid laughter. When I feel that laugh begin to bubble up, I know that something inside is starting to take delight in malicious behavior. I’m not walking with Christ and I’m about to lose my temper. So I do everything humanly possible to change direction in mind, body, and spirit.

1. Facial expression. Sudden dramatic widening or narrowing of eyes or nostrils.

2. Discordant vocalizations. Speech or utterances inappropriate to the situation, such as a growling, morbid laughter, shrieking, etc.

3. Pacing. Sudden onset or cessation of restlessness or pacing. Watch for a sudden rigidity in stance or a pre-pounce wind-up.

4. Rising up on toes. This can be a subconscious attempt to appear larger or indicator of preparation to lunge.

5. Gestures covering surprise: People like to attack by surprise and they are poor fakers. Often they will pretend to leave by giving a dismissive wave or saying, “Forget you” or “I’m out of here.” Half way through their pretend turn to go, they will spring off the far foot, whirl, and attack.

Okay, so, you’ve practiced warrior awareness and you tried to leave. For whatever reason, you’re stuck. You can’t get out, and the person in front of you does something and you detect the tell. What do you do?

That’s a personal decision. But I suggest you attack with a formidable, but less-than-legal, self-defense method such as the dreaded Chin Jab.

Want to learn Rough ‘n’ Tumble fighting as a full-context, mind-body-spirit martial art? Sign up for the Rough ‘n’ Tumble Distance Learning Program today!

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Holy Eucharist is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 10 am EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy Eucharist, CLICK HERE.

Homily for the Second Sunday of Lent 3/16/25 – Father Mitch

Readings: Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18, Psalm 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14, Philippians 3:17-4:1, Luke 9:28b-36

Luke 9:28b-36  World English Bible

Jesus he took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up onto the mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling. 30 Behold, two men were talking with him, who were Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure,† which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men who stood with him. 33 As they were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not knowing what he said.

34 While he said these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud. 35 A voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!” 36 When the voice came, Jesus was found alone. They were silent, and told no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.

Each year, for the seven days beginning on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei (usually  sometime in September or October on the modern calendar), observant Jews celebrate Sukkot.  Sukkot is perhaps the greatest of the three great feasts of the Jewish liturgical calendar.  In English it is generally known as the Feast of Tabernacles. 

The feast is primarily a commemoration of the forty years of trial and tribulation in the wilderness and a celebration of thanksgiving for being given a permanent home in the promised land (Leviticus 23:43), but it is also a harvest time celebration (Deuteronomy 16:13; Exodus 23:16).  In Jesus’ time, the people were required to travel to Jerusalem and set up tents, booths, or small shanties in which they spent the entire duration of the seven-day festival, in accordance with the law of Leviticus 23:40.  The first and last days are more solemn in character, with serious religious activities.  But the days in between are set aside for social activities, fancy meals, dinners, parties, entertaining guests, and so on.  Because so many came from far and wide and flooded places of encampment, rich and poor, high born and low, found themselves spending time together.  So this was also a time for making new friends and expanding social circles.

It is believed that the events in today’s gospel reading happened during, or perhaps just before, the Feast of Tabernacles.  This would explain why Peter offers to set up tents for Moses and Elijah.  In a previous homily some years ago, I suggested that Peter was a silly goose for misunderstanding the significance of the event.  If the Transfiguration of Jesus did actually happen during the Feast of Tabernacles, we should be much more understanding of Peter indeed. 

What else was Peter to think?  He did not know what was coming.  He could not have known that the literal temple in Jerusalem was going to be destroyed, while the actual temple, Jesus Christ, would be destroyed and rebuilt – the immortal, indestructible, Son of God.  How could he have known that there was going to be a new Jerusalem, the church of Jesus Christ, and he was going to be its head?

Peter could not know any of these things.  Jesus gave him clues of course, telling him many things which he could not understand.  It would not be until after Jesus died on a cross and rose from the dead that he would come to see the fuller truth.  Peter knew that Abram made a material sacrifice and struck a covenant such that God’s people might receive a material promised land.  But only after Jesus’ resurrection would Peter come to fully grasp that the true “promised land” was not a geographical location, but the Kingdom of Heaven.      

At the time he offered to build tents, how could Peter have fully understood that through Jesus Christ all Christians would be called to enter into a new relationship: a spiritual sacrifice of hearts, mind, souls and bodies, to receive the new promised land of life everlasting.

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† 9:31 literally, “exodus”

Rough 'n' Tumble Lineage: Mettle Maker #448 and Holy Eucharist for 3/9/25

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What’s the weekly mettle maker?

Training tips and educational info in support of our free programs, that’s what! What’s mettle? Mettle is, “The ability to meet a challenge or persevere under demanding circumstances; determination or resolve.”

Kylie (L), Fr. Mitch (C) and the Immortal Mark Hatmaker (R)

PRAYER REQUEST: Please pray for Kylie Hatmaker and her husband Mark (see pic on right). The brain tumor Kylie dealt with a few years back is growing again. Kylie is Mark’s primary co-conspirator, best friend, power animal, goddess, gourmet chef, pistol-packing bodyguard, and hoochie-coochie dancer in residence. A finer lady you’ll never meet. God give her strength, we pray thee, Amen.

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Mettle maker #448: Rough '‘n’ Tumble lineage

Martial artists in the Western tradition don’t put near as much faith in martial lineage as they do in the East. But that doesn’t mean we ignore it. In fact, if we pay a bit of attention to it, we find that distinctions like East-West begin to fuzz, fray, and fall out of focus.

Erik Paulson is one of the greatest martial artists of all time. He has trained in more martial arts styles than most man can name, and literally wrote a book called “Rough and Tumble.” He is the first American to win the World Shooto Championship in Japan. But isn’t Shooto an “Eastern” martial art? Not really. Shooto is what you get when you teach judoka and karateka catch wrestling, and they mix it all together. You see, the Japanese got hooked on catch wrestling, and in the 1970’s catch wrestler Karl Gotch became a legend in Japan, and taught guys like Antonio Inoki, Tatsumi Fujinami, Yoshiaki Fujiwara, and Satoru Sayama, the original Tiger Mask.

Erik Paulson’s most famous student is probably Josh Barnett. Barnett is a true Rough ‘n’ Tumbler who got started in martial arts by fighting in unpaid backyard fights and became the youngest Heavy Weight Champion in the history of UFC. This is the guy who, in 2009, won the IBJJF World No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu Championship without having any formal training in BJJ. This is guy who, while fighting under Paulson’s CSW banner (“Combat Submission Wrestling”), tapped out undefeated BJJ giant Dean Lister using basic, high-school folk wrestling moves.

Read that again.

Josh Barnett tapped out undefeated BJJ great Dean Lister using basic wrestling moves like Crunch Cradle, Quarter Nelson, and Scarf Hold.

Of course, he sprinkled on some Rough ‘n’ Tumble “fairy dust” — mind-bending agony — by putting his shins on the tender portions of Lister’s body at all times. Watching this match very closely is essential homework for all Rough ‘n’ Tumblers (video above left).

If you watch it and you can’t see it, here’s my short breakdown on the right.

So, when you tell people that you practice American Rough ‘n’ Tumble, and they say “what’s that?” or “what kind of lame made up thing is that?” just drop some famous names: Erik Paulson, Josh Barnett, and Original Tiger Mask.

Want to learn Rough ‘n’ Tumble fighting as a full-context, mind-body-spirit martial art? Sign up for the Rough ‘n’ Tumble Distance Learning Program today!

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Holy Eucharist is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 10 am EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy Eucharist, CLICK HERE.

Homily for the First Sunday of Lent 3/9/25 – Father Mitch

 Readings: Deut 26:4-10, Psalm 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15, Rom 10:8-13, Luke 4:1-13

 Luke 4:1-13   World English Bible

 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. He ate nothing in those days. Afterward, when they were completed, he was hungry.

3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ”*

5 The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 The devil said to him, “I will give you all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I want. 7 If you therefore will worship before me, it will all be yours.”

8 Jesus answered him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’ ”*

9 He led him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from here, 10 for it is written,

‘He will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you;’

11 and,

‘On their hands they will bear you up,

lest perhaps you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”*

12 Jesus answering, said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”*

13 When the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until another time.

St. Augustine said that all temptations fall into the three categories which Jesus faced: pleasure, pride, or curiosity.  Pleasure being the desire to turn everything which is bland, like a stone, into something that is enjoyable, like bread.  The devil always tempts us by promising to flatten all of the steep hills we must climb, to sweeten all the bitterness of life, to make the complex simple, the unpleasant pleasant, and my personal favorite: the temptation to make the inconvenient convenient.  Rest assured that it is Satan who lies behind the most evil conveniences.  

When people say, “I just can’t have a baby right now” and they turn to abortion, or when you hear “Putting Grandma in an old folk’s home is the best thing for everyone” think about changing stones into loaves.  When you hear a divorced father excuse his behavior by saying, “My kids will be better off without me” or a business man say, “It’s not personal, it’s just business” this is stones-into-loaves thinking.

Pride is next.  The devil is always offering pride in the form of power, fame, and fortune.  Now, there’s nothing wrong with trying to better oneself, and certainly nothing wrong with healthy competition in sports, business, scholarship, artistry, and so on.  Competition breads competence. This is how we encourage everyone to be better, stronger, and more skillful.  Without competition there’s no culture.  But when our priorities are placed above God’s – when our power, fame and fortune come at the cost of loving God and our neighbor as we ought to – this is Satan’s temptation.

And finally, curiosity.  The devil says, “Just do it!”  He says, “Just relax, let your hair down.  Try that drug, you won’t get hooked.”  He says, “Stop second-guessing yourself and take the leap.  Bet your paycheck on the lotto.  You gotta risk it to get the biscuit!”  He tempts us take flight without regard for the fall – to taste the fruit and take the chance without regard for the implications and consequences.

St. Augustine concludes his statement on the temptation of Jesus by saying that, as Luke the evangelist says, “When the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until another time.”  The devil slinks away like a serpent, only to return like a roaring lion, entering Judas and making him betray his master.  He enters the Jews and fills them with rage.  No longer tempting, now he makes them cry out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” 

This is how we begin our Lenten season.  With awareness that, in our lives we must face the temptations and beware of the frustrations, lest they rush in and take us over like serpents and roaring lions. 

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 * 4:4 Deuteronomy 8:3

 * 4:8 Deuteronomy 6:13

 * 4:11 Psalms 91:11-12

 * 4:12 Deuteronomy 6:16

Ash Wednesday 2025

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Ash Wednesday

Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith.

I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word. And, to make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us now kneel before the Lord, our maker and redeemer.

Silence is then kept for a time, all kneeling. If ashes are to be imposed, the Celebrant says the following prayer

  Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the
  earth: Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our
  mortality and penitence, that we may remember that it is
  only by your gracious gift that we are given everlasting life;
  through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

  The ashes are imposed with the following words:

  Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

Holy Eucharist is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 10 am EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy Eucharist, CLICK HERE.

Stingers: Mettle Maker #447 and Holy Eucharist for 3/2/25

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Click here to sign up for daily motivational text messages! ...

What’s the weekly mettle maker?

Training tips and educational info in support of our free programs, that’s what! What’s mettle? Mettle is, “The ability to meet a challenge or persevere under demanding circumstances; determination or resolve.”

Kylie (L), Fr. Mitch (C) and the Immortal Mark Hatmaker (R)

PRAYER REQUEST: Please pray for Kylie Hatmaker and her husband Mark (see pic on right). The brain tumor Kylie dealt with a few years back is growing again. Kylie is Mark’s primary co-conspirator, best friend, power animal, goddess, gourmet chef, pistol-packing bodyguard, and hoochie-coochie dancer in residence. A finer lady you’ll never meet. God give her strength, we pray thee, Amen.

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Mettle maker #447: “Stingers”

Fighting is a nasty business that we should avoid at all costs. We never fight to prove a point, to settle a dispute, for entertainment, to give vent to negative emotions like hatred, spite, jealousy, vengeance, and so on. We are the inheritors of the rough ‘n’ tumblers’ legacy. Our charity is called “Heritage” for this reason — heritage and inheritance share the same root in the Latin heres from which the worlds heir, heiress, and heirloom are derived. But our task is not to imitate the worst habits and viewpoints of our forebears.

Our duty is to to carry forward the best of our inheritance, not the worst of it.

So when we read that the old rough ‘n’ tumblers fought one another because someone called them a nasty name, or “knocked a peach out of his hand,” or offered a sip of whiskey without first “wiping the mouth of the Bottle” we should be aghast. We should be repulsed.†

Heritage Rough ‘n’ Tumblers should only fight as a last resort, and only if life is on the line.

But if innocent life is indeed on the line, we should not hesitate to use our most effective and withering skills from first contact. Everything we do to the enemy must cause pain from first touch. Yes, whenever and wherever our bodies come into contact with the evildoer, he should feel pain — as though he reached into a bag to pluck out a puppy and found instead a scorpion.

Practice your “stingers” at least once or twice a week. Set a round timer for 3 x 3:00/1:00 and practice adding maximum discomfort into your wrestling movements.

• Crush with square chokes, levers, leg scissors, etc.

• Gouge with knuckles and elbows.

• Tie a rag to the heavy bag and practice pulling hair.

• Squeeze and choke with your fingers.

• Drive your fingertips into the mastoid process and the supraclavicular fossa.

• Switch your shin rides to knee rides, placing them against the sternum, ninth rib, collar bone, or jaw.

• Practice your “eye choke” by digging into the bag with the tip of your chin.

• Grind your forehead into the bag with all your might.

• Slip the “little mountain” behind his back and give him all your weight.

This is not an exercise in cruelty. Causing your attacker pain without permanent injury is a humane way to encourage him to break off the attack, which could save his life, your life, and the lives of loved ones and bystanders as well. As the great Dave Durch says, “Pain changes the game.”

Looking for a free mind-body-spirit martial arts program? Sign up for the Rough ‘n’ Tumble Distance Learning Program today!

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† See Elliott Gorn’s article, from which these quotes were taken, here.

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Holy Eucharist is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 10 am EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy Eucharist, CLICK HERE.

Homily for the Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time 3/2/25 – Father Mitch

Readings: Sir 27:4-7, Ps 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16, 1 Cor 15:54-58, Lk 6:39-45

Luke 6:39-45  World English Bible 

He spoke a parable to them. “Can the blind guide the blind? Won’t they both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye? 42 Or how can you tell your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck of chaff that is in your eye,’ when you yourself don’t see the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye.

43 “For there is no good tree that produces rotten fruit, nor again a rotten tree that produces good fruit. 44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. For people don’t gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks.

Brothers and sisters, I always feel very guilty whenever I stub my toe, spill a drink all over the carpet, cut my finger, or experience some other mishap and a swear word bursts out.  Why?  Because, as Jesus says in today’s reading, “the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks.”  I wonder when I curse: “Is this what I’m filled with to bursting?  Filth?”

Yesterday, my wife and I were getting ready for a friend’s birthday party.  I had crafted him a gift, a somewhat delicate wooden sculpture, and placed it on my wife’s desk.  I left it there while my wife worked on his birthday card, and I went to go shower and shave.

As I was shaving I heard a loud crash.  My wife exclaimed, “Oh no!  No, no, no!”  Her voice was filled with anguish.  Immediately I thought that she had knocked off the sculpture and smashed it.  My first thought was concern for my wife.  My heart sank with sadness, because I knew that wife would be crushed with guilt.  I imagined the tears that must surely be streaming down her cheeks.  I finished by shave, wiped the foam from my face and went to her.  To my surprise, I found she wasn’t crying.

“What was all that commotion about?” I asked.  I could see the sculpture was perfectly intact.

“Oh, clumsy me, I dropped a full glass of diet cola on my desk, all over the card I just made for Mike,” she said.  “But it’s okay, I’m making him another one.  No big deal.”  And then I thanked God for filling my heart to bursting with compassion and concern for my wife, rather than with concern for a material thing or some dirty swear word.  That’s what Jesus wants.  Jesus wants us to fill up our storehouses, not with material goods which moth and rust may destroy, but with heavenly things – the treasures of love and righteousness (Matthew 6:19-21) – so that we can let those treasures flow out into the world.  In our reading today from 1 Corinthians (1 Cor 15: 54-58) St. Paul, says,

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

55 “Death, where is your sting?

Hades, where is your victory?”

When Paul says, “the sting of death is sin” he is saying that the death has a metaphorical sting that, like a scorpion’s tail or a rattlesnake’s bite, injects the poison of sin into us.  But Christ, having conquered death, cuts off the tail of that scorpion!  Christ, in defeating death, defangs the snake!

We can, brothers and sisters, imitate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in the here and now.  We can let our old selves die – our old self-obsessed, material-loving, sinful selves – and be born again in Christ.  Because, as Paul says, “because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Cor 15: 58b)

Rough 'n' Tumble Revival: Mettle Maker #446 and Holy Eucharist for 2/23/25

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Kylie (L), Fr. Mitch (C) and the Immortal Mark Hatmaker (R)

PRAYER REQUEST: Please pray for Kylie Hatmaker and her husband Mark (see pic on right). The brain tumor Kylie dealt with a few years back is growing again. Kylie is Mark’s primary co-conspirator, best friend, power animal, goddess, gourmet chef, pistol-packing bodyguard, and hoochie-coochie dancer in residence. A finer lady you’ll never meet. God give her strength, we pray thee, Amen.

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Mettle maker #446: Rough ‘n’ Tumble Revival

Want to hear me spout some pretty-ish words about martial arts and whatnot? You’ve come to the right place!

In response to the naysayers, nitpickers, no-joys, and nattering nabobs of negativity who intermittently hurl narrow-minded criticality at Heritage Rough ‘n’ Tumble and/or at the Rough ‘n’ Tumble revival itself, I put together a video including both an overview of my methodology and an abbreviated survey of the hundreds of the sources I have used to develop the Heritage Rough ‘n’ Tumble program.

Just filming and editing the 38-minute video took about 18 hours. It is not an exaggeration to say that over the last 16 years of developing the program I have read hundreds of books and articles, watched hundreds of hours of video, and spent thousands of hours practicing and testing martial arts techniques — all without accepting a dime in salary as President of the Heritage Arts, Inc. educational non-profit.

The FY2024 990N filing for Heritage Arts, Inc.

In response to the occasional accusation that we are not a “real” non-profit, on the right you will find our most recent 990N IRS filing. I encourage anyone to use the IRS non-profit verification tool to check our current status. Our EIN number is 81-5406720.

If you want to take advantage of one of only two Rough ‘n’ Tumble martial arts training programs available today — and the only one that’s 100% free! — sign up for the Rough ‘n’ Tumble Distance Learning Program!

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Holy Eucharist is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 10 am EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy Eucharist, CLICK HERE.

Homily for the Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time 2/23/25 – Father Mitch

Readings: 1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23, Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13, 1 Corinthians 15:45-49, Luke 6:27-38

Luke 6:27-38  World English Bible

“But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. 29 To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer also the other; and from him who takes away your cloak, don’t withhold your coat also. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and don’t ask him who takes away your goods to give them back again.

31 “As you would like people to do to you, do exactly so to them.

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back as much. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.

36 “Therefore be merciful,

even as your Father is also merciful.

37 Don’t judge,

and you won’t be judged.

Don’t condemn,

and you won’t be condemned.

Set free,

and you will be set free.

38 “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you.§ For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you.”

Is it true that we are less likely to run afoul of the law and be incarcerated when we follow the commandments?  Isn’t it also true that our friendships, marriages, and family relations are stronger and healthier when we strive to be good Christians?  Of course.  It is also true that truth-telling, forgiving, golden-rule-living, Christian behaviors often result in greater successes in business.  And, probably due to the well-being and support we receive from our church communities, Christians also live longer than non-Christians on average. 

The pitfall that the evil one lays for us is that we’re always going to get rewards for good behavior.  We take the evil one’s lure when we begin to take earthly rewards for granted.  Like a rat snagging a poison bait, we drag this spiritual toxin into our hearts and expect things to go well with us all the time.  But we don’t always stay out of legal trouble, make lots of money, have more friends, and live long lives.  Things go wrong.  Sometimes badly wrong.  Then, a  catastrophe comes our way, we blame God.  Our faith shakes or breaks, and the devil wins.  Therefore we must at all times understand the clear distinction between earthly and heavenly rewards.

When we meditate on the story of David stealing Saul’s spear in our first reading, we are struck by the audacious courage it took to sneak into the opposing camp by night.  We feel the tension as Abishai whispers to David that they should murder Saul in his sleep.  But David, with a clear mind, is able to focus on right and wrong rather than the mere tactical practicality of killing his enemy.  Respectful of the king anointed by God, he spares Saul and merely embarrasses him by stealing his weapon from beside his sleeping body.  David says, “The LORD will reward each man for his justice and faithfulness.”

But whereas the Hebrews of David’s time likely would’ve expected a more tangible reward for sparing Saul – indeed, David ultimately ascended to the throne, didn’t he? – we as Christians have developed a different understanding.  In our epistle reading, St. Paul compares the first Adam to Jesus, the New Adam, and speaks of how “the first man was from the earth” and “the second man, from heaven.”  Being anchored in the earthly world, our tendency is always to fixate on the material, the measurable, and the visible.  We are easily tempted to fall prey to a material, give-and-get viewpoint.  But St. Paul makes it clear that we are bound for heavenly glory, not earthly rewards and eternal death.  He says, “Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one.”  When we take the body and blood of Christ into ourselves and genuinely allow to Christ to live in and through us, we can begin to participate in God’s unconditional giving with no strings attached.

So, to be clear, when Jesus says these words – “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you.  For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you” – he is referring to heavenly rewards, not earthly ones.  Trust in the Lord.  Love him with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength (Mark 12:20) and you may give freely and have hope of eternal life in the time to come.   

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§6:38 literally, into your bosom.

Two Paths: Mettle Maker #445 and Holy Eucharist for 2/16/25

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What’s the weekly mettle maker?

Training tips and educational info in support of our free programs, that’s what! What’s mettle? Mettle is, “The ability to meet a challenge or persevere under demanding circumstances; determination or resolve.”

Kylie, Mitch, and Mark (L to R)

Prayers for Kyle and Mark Hatmaker, folks. Kylie had a brain tumor a few years back and bounced back fast. But now the tumor is growing again, and we’re all mighty worried. For those readers not aware, Kylie’s husband Mark Hatmaker is my coach, the leading force in the American Rough ‘n"‘ Tumble revival, and one of the greatest martial artists alive today. Please do pray for both Kylie and Mark.

Mettle maker #445: The Dreaded Chin Jab

The dreaded “chin jab” (which is by no means a mere “jab”) comes by way of Lieutenant Colonel William Ewart Fairbairn, laid out in his book, Get Tough! The movement is a mainstay in the Rough ‘n’ Tumble tradition, so aggressive and dangerous that it cannot even be practiced with partners in a safe manner. That’s how you know you have a great fighting technique: it’s so devastating that you can only do it on a heavy bag. By all means do practice this maneuver and add it to your repertoire.

Here is what Fairbairn has to say about the attack:

“Deliver this blow with the heel of your hand, full force, with the weight of your body behind it, and fingers spread so as to reach your opponent's eyes, as in F ig. 4. Deliver the blow upwards from a bent arm and only when close to your opponent. The distance the blow will have to travel will depend on the height of your opponent, but will seldom exceed six inches. Always aim at the point of your opponent's chin. Never draw your hand back, thus signaling your intention of striking. F rom start to finish, make every movement as quickly as possible. Remember that an attack, or an attempt to attack, with the knee at your opponent's testicles will always bring his chin forward and down.” (W. E. Fairbairn, “Get Tough”)

By this last part, he seems to be indicating that we might get our enemy’s chin moving down and into our attack by throwing a knee at the same time. Try this out on your heavy bag — you may find, as I do, that you generate more power by keeping both feet on the ground. I also recommend that you slam your forearm into his chest at the same time. This keeps your weight forward and your arm perpendicular the ground.

Do not use this attack in sparring. There is a reason why you do not see this attack in MMA.

Like this move? You should sign up for our totally free mind-body-spirit program that incorporates self-defense, fitness, outdoor skills, and spiritual development — sign up for our free Rough ‘n’ Tumble Distance Learning Program!

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Holy Eucharist is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 10 am EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy Eucharist, CLICK HERE.

NOTE: This week’s livestream crashed — homily only this week. God Bless, ~Mitch+

Homily for the Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time 2/16/25 – Father Mitch

Readings: Jer 17:5-8, Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 & 6, 1 Cor 15:12, 16-20, Luke 6:17, 20-26

Luke 6:17, 20-26  World English Bible

Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place, with a crowd of his disciples and a great number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon.

20 He lifted up his eyes to his disciples, and said:

 “Blessed are you who are poor,

for God’s Kingdom is yours.

21 Blessed are you who hunger now,

for you will be filled.

Blessed are you who weep now,

for you will laugh.

22 Blessed are you when men hate you,

and when they exclude and mock you,

and throw out your name as evil,

for the Son of Man’s sake.

23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven, for their fathers did the same thing to the prophets.

 24 “But woe to you who are rich!

For you have received your consolation.

25 Woe to you, you who are full now,

for you will be hungry.

Woe to you who laugh now,

for you will mourn and weep.

26 Woe,† when‡ men speak well of you,

for their fathers did the same thing to the false prophets.

Brothers and sisters, today’s readings lay out two paths: one leading to spiritual life and one leading to spiritual death.  Jeremiah says the person who follows one of the paths like a withered bush standing in a desert, a salty dry lake bed, and the person who follows the other path is like a tree planted by a river, green and yielding fruit.

Our Psalm for today describes, in similar language, the same two paths.  If we stick to the path of the just, we can see our way to safety. But if we follow the other path, the trail slowly fizzles out, it fades, leading nowhere.  In the last lines, we sing, “For the LORD watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked vanishes.”  This path of the wicked is literally a dead end.

St. Paul lays out these two paths and explains brilliantly the crux of the issue – the crucial difference between the two paths.  I said the “crux” of the issue, and “crucial” difference, because both of these words share the same origin in the Latin root “crux” and “crucis” from which we get “cross” and “crucifix.”  Yes, the difference between the two paths is the Cross. St. Paul says, “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith also is in vain.” (1 Cor 15:14).  He says that because, if Jesus is just another man among many, he’s going to fade away like any other, and his wisdom goes away with him. There have been millions of books written, full of wit and wisdom, educational stories and such, that are now lost to the sands of time.  They’re gone, forgotten, irrelevant.  But if an author never dies – like Jesus Christ, who was, is, and ever shall be, who is the author of life itself – his wisdom endures forever because it continues to be spoken by him, through the Holy Ghost, and by us, his disciples!

If we trust in mortal men, we’re on the wrong track.  Politicians die, heroes and heroines perish, parents and respected elders go into the ground.  Houses and possessions break, fall apart, and decay.  Food rots.  Assets depreciate.  Everything in this world is crucified on the cross of this material world and dies.  Even the Lord.  Even he, when he came to earth, was subject to the reality of the cross.  But the difference is that Jesus Christ came back of his own accord.  Nothing and no one that has ever done that.  Even Lazarus, who Jesus brought back from the dead, didn’t do it on his own.  Only Jesus has done this. 

Standing on the plain, Jesus warns his disciples not to place their faith in the praises of mortal men.  Not to seek the false sense of security that comes from wealth and money, not to seek final satisfaction in creature comforts, like eating yummy food and yucking it up with our pals.  Mind you, he is not calling all men and women to be monks.  There’s nothing wrong with paying our bills, enjoying good food and the company of friends and family.  Jesus is only saying that when we sacrifice money, food, and laughter for his sake, we’re on the right path.  When we demote the people and things of this world to a status lower than him and his priorities, which are Love, Truth, Hope and Faith – and especially Love (1 Cor 13:13) – then our reward will be great in heaven.

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† 6:26 TR adds “to you”

‡ 6:26 TR adds “all”

Two Lives: Mettle Maker #444 and Holy Eucharist for 2/9/25

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What’s the weekly mettle maker?

Training tips and educational info in support of our free programs, that’s what! What’s mettle? Mettle is, “The ability to meet a challenge or persevere under demanding circumstances; determination or resolve.”

Mettle maker #444: A Prayer Request and 10 Quotes Defining Heritage Rough ‘n’ Tumble Self-defense

Kylie (L), Fr. Mitch (C) and the Immortal Mark Hatmaker (R)

Before we go any further, I would like to request that everyone in the Heritage Rough ‘n’ Tumble community begin praying for Kylie Hatmaker and her husband Mark (see pic on right). Kylie had a brain tumor a few years back and bounced back fast. But now the tumor is growing again, and we’re all mighty worried. For those readers not aware, Kylie’s husband Mark Hatmaker is my coach, the leading force in the rebirth of American Rough ‘n"‘ Tumble, and one of the greatest martial artists alive today. And Kylie? Well. she’s Mark’s power animal, goddess, confidant, head chef, hoochie-coochie dancer in residence, primary co-conspirator, and most importantly, best friend. She’s also a mighty fine martial artist herself, and one of the nicest folks you’d ever want to meet. Please do pray for both Kylie and Mark.

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Want to hear me spout some pretty-ish words about martial arts and whatnot? You’ve come to the right place!

So on last months’ Heritage group call, we discussed how it might be kind of cool to compile the top quotes that have come to, in a way, define what Heritage Rough ‘n’ Tumble is all about. Not literally define it, in a legal or scientific way, but in a philosophical sense. So I put a video together. Let us know what you think — see above left.

Would you like to participate in our monthly hob-nobs on Google Meet? Would you like to meet a bunch of really cool dudes, hang out, and talk about martial arts, the future of Heritage Arts, get the inside scoop, and so on?

Well first you’ll need to sign up for our totally free mind-body-spirit program that incorporates self-defense, fitness, outdoor skills, and spiritual development — sign up for our free Rough ‘n’ Tumble Distance Learning Program!

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Holy Eucharist is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 10 am EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy Eucharist, CLICK HERE.

Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time 2/9/25 – Father Mitch

 Readings: Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8, Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 7-8, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 5:1-11

 Luke 5:1-11  World English Bible

 Now while the multitude pressed on him and heard the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. 2 He saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 He entered into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

5 Simon answered him, “Master, we worked all night and caught nothing; but at your word I will let down the net.” 6 When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 They beckoned to their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. They came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.” 9 For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had caught; 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.

Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive.”

11 When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him.

In the movie "The Natural" – arguably the greatest baseball movie ever made, and perhaps even the greatest sports movie ever made – Glenn Close, who plays Robert Redford's childhood sweetheart, says that she believes people live two lives. There's "the life we learn with and the life we live after that."  If you haven't seen the movie, please do so.  It is a truly excellent film about facing past mistakes, obeying our moral compass no matter what, and ultimately finding redemption.

And that is what our readings are about today: the life we learn with and life we live after.  And so, we might wonder, who was Isaiah before his encounters with God?  We do not know.  But certainly, he must have transformed by his mystical, visionary experiences.  Afterall, his mouth has been purified with a burning coal from God's heavenly altar.  He has been filled with the Holy Ghost and made ready to proclaim God's truth come what may.

St. Paul also led two lives – one as a Pharisee who persecuted Christians and another as an apostle.  His encounter with Christ transformed him, and his life began anew.  As Stephen Blackwood said, "The encounter with the true ideal is inherently redemptive.  I don't know if it's even possible to know your sins without first encountering a love that transcends them."¹  What he is saying is that an encounter with someone who loves you more than your mistakes is what causes us to change direction.  The love and gentle reproach of a respected mentor can cause us to turn over a new leaf.  The caring and guidance of a trusted friend can lead us to choose a different path.  These are, in a sense, splendid human versions – foretastes, if you will – of the purifying fire that is God's love.  If someone who loves you and cares for you says that you should watch your mouth, you might begin to speak more politely, and watch your language.  But an encounter with God is something else again, capable of cleansing the lips of the prophet Isaiah so that he can speak prophecies; capable of turning St. Paul from a prosecutor to a proselytizer.

Likewise, the apostles have lived two lives.  One as fishers of the water's bounty, and another as fishers of men.  Their encounter with Christ, with the perfect ideal, causes them to see their past sins and completely change direction.  Peter says, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord" and Jesus replies “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive.”

The world itself has lived two lives.  One BC – before Christ – and the other AD – after Christ. This world has had an encounter with the perfect ideal, and it has been forever changed.  Pray, brothers and sisters, that all may follow Jesus Christ.  Pray that all may emulate Isaiah, welcoming the touch of the burning coal on our lips so that we proclaim the truth of God's Word.  Or pray that we can all be like Paul, encountering Jesus in our hearts, and being born anew, beginning new lives as apostles of Christ.  Pray that, like Peter and the apostles, we can trust in Jesus, confess our sins, and become fishers of men.

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¹ “Conflict with Authority” video seminar 1/5/25, part of “The Gospels” series presented by the Daily Wire at https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-gospels

Stoicism, Aggression, and Filling Gaps: Mettle Maker #443 and Holy Eucharist for 2/2/25

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What’s the weekly mettle maker?

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Mettle maker #443: Stoicism and Aggression (Aggression Fills Gaps Pt II)

Is shadow wrestling as good for your martial arts skills as actual wrestling? Nope. But it’s better than not training at all!

Week before last we put up a one-minute-and-thirty-second video of the most basic pistol strip, and then last week we followed that up with a slightly longer video covering rifle disarms. As I said last time, this is obviously a very complex subject. These videos demonstrate tactics in isolation. They are not complete treatments of pistol and rifle defense strategies.

If someone points a gun at you with intent to kill and there’s ten feet between you, you’re going to have to do something. That could be running away, diving for cover, trying to arm yourself, or something else I can’t think of right now.

But if you have to engage — if you sense that you are about to be executed and you’d rather fight than go down like a exterminated pest — then you need to be extremely aggressive.

In other words, charging forward with complete abandon and recklessness courage, like a raging animal defending its young. This needs to be practiced. This is why, from time immemorial, men (and sometimes women as well) have practiced being stoic:

sto·ic (stōĭk) n. 1. One who is seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by joy, grief, pleasure, or pain. adj. also sto·i·cal (-ĭ-kəl) 1. Seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain; impassive: "stoic resignation in the face of hunger" (John F. Kennedy). (American Heritage Dictionary)

But it’s more than that. Being stoic is just the beginning. A flat, unemotional demeanor does not scare the living crap out of an aggressor and change the tide. You need to practice exploding out of stoicism into pure aggression, utter hostility, and complete ferocity. This is the way you need to work your heavy bag, floor bag, wrestling dummy, war post or pell, etc.

Afterward, when innocent lives have been spared (if its God’s will, we pray), then stoicism returns. No hatred, no lingering malice, indifferent to injury, and re-centered in spirit, humble before God.

Hey — if you’re picking up what we’re putting down, consider signing up for a totally free mind-body-spirit program that incorporates self-defense, fitness, outdoor skills, and spiritual development — sign up for our free Rough ‘n’ Tumble Distance Learning Program!

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Holy Eucharist is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 10 am EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy Eucharist, CLICK HERE.

Homily for the Candlemas (The Presentation of the Lord) 2/2/25 – Father Mitch

Readings: Malachi 3:1-4, Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10, Hebrews 2:14-18, Luke 2:22-40 or 2:22-32

Luke 2:22-40 World English Bible

When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),* 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”*

25 Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.‡ 27 He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law, 28 then he received him into his arms and blessed God, and said,

29 “Now you are releasing your servant, Master,

according to your word, in peace;

30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,

31 which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;

32 a light for revelation to the nations,

and the glory of your people Israel.”

33 Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him. 34 Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. 35 Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

36 There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the temple, worshiping with fastings and petitions night and day. 38 Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.

39 When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40 The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

St. Jerome said, “All heretics have gone astray by not understanding the mystery of the Nativity.  The statement, ‘he who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord’¹ is made applicable to the special nativity of the Savior than to that of all men, for Christ alone opened the doors of the womb of virginity, which nevertheless remained permanently closed.”  What St. Jerome is saying is that Jesus is at once like us in having passed through the doors of a mother’s womb of flesh.  But he is also wholly unique for having traversed doors which none of us can or will ever pass – the doors of a virgin birth – the doors of virginity itself.

In the Eucharist service, the priest emulates Jesus.  As Jesus opened the closed, virgin doors of Mary’s womb, the priest follows in his footsteps, opening the doors to the altar which must forever remained closed to the congregation – in a manner similar to the way in which the high priests of the Jews entered into the Holy of Holies which were closed to all others.

Jesus’ birth opens the doors of the material world so that God may enter into his creation.  The infant Child of God enters through the temple doors, fulfilling the Jewish law requiring parents to bring an offering of either a spotless lamb or a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons (Leviticus 12:8).  Where once God had only been present in his indwelling Spirit, communing with the people through worship, at the presentation God enters as the physical firstborn son, sacred to God.

Rise up indeed, ye ancient portals, that the King of Glory may come in!  Let us celebrate that day long ago when the temple doors opened for the first time so that the King of Glory could come in and worship with us, not just in Spirit, but as a living Savior of Flesh and Blood!

Rise up indeed, brothers and sisters.  Rise up, those who struggle, who are sick or in doubt, who are in fear, adversity, or sorrow.  Rise up and knock, and the doors will be opened (Matthew 7:7).  Lift up your heads and let the King of Glory come in!  Let him enter into your hearts and you will find peace for your souls.  Let the King of Glory come in, and you will become in turn a gateway for others to enter into communion with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

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¹ Exodus 13:12

* 2:23 Exodus 13:2,12

* 2:24 Leviticus 12:8

‡ 2:26 “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew) both mean “Anointed One”

The Sword: Mettle Maker #442 and Holy Eucharist for 1/26/25

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Mettle maker #442: The Sword

"To North, South, East and West, to our higher powers and better selves, we ask and send our blessings; that we may train with sincerity, outside the influence of evil forces, and successfully embody the Five Virtues of Heritage Rough ‘n’ Tumble: Wonder, Sagacity, Frugality, Indomitability and Fraternity. Ex Gladio Scientia. Ruh!"

That’s the Heritage Rough ‘n’ Tumble student oath that we recite at the beginning of every meeting, right after the Pledge of Allegiance. Christians will note that the names God and Jesus don’t appear anywhere in it. That’s because we are a 501c3, federally recognized, public charity, and our programs are open to all everyone, regardless of their faith or non-faith. The reference to “higher powers” allows everyone to substitute his or her God name of choice, or for atheists to envision Truth or Justice.

That said, the student oath is biblically based — click here for the full breakdown. Rough 'n' Tumble is America's martial art, and Christianity is at the heart of our nation since it’s founding. Christianity has to be in the Heritage program. But the Christianity in the program has to be unifying, not dividing. There are over 40,000 Christian denominations. Few if them agree on much. We have to be okay with differences of opinion or all we'll do is argue.

And the last bit in Latin? That’s our motto. It translates to "From the sword comes knowledge." We're not fencers, so what's this business about a sword? For us the sword is symbolic martial arts and fighting skills. When we say, “Ex Gladio Scientia!” we are expressing our desire to learn something deeper from our martial studies than just how to fight and win. And we are calling forth the Sword of Discernment given to us by Christ in Hebrews 4:12 and Matthew 10:34-36:

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Heb 4:12)

34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— 36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ (Matt 10:34-36) [This quote, often misinterpreted, encourages us to put aside our clannish nature and put God’s morality, truth and justice ahead of everything else, even family ties. ~Fr. Mitch]

Hey — if you haven’t done so already, consider signing up for a totally free mind-body-spirit program that incorporates self-defense, fitness, outdoor skills, and spiritual development — sign up for our free Rough ‘n’ Tumble Distance Learning Program!

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Holy Eucharist is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 10 am EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy Eucharist, CLICK HERE.

Homily for the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time 1/26/25 – Father Mitch

Readings: Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10, Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15, 1 Corinthians 12:12-30, Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21 World English Bible

Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, 2 even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus; 4 that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.

14 Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and news about him spread through all the surrounding area. 15 He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

16 He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written,

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to heal the broken hearted,†

to proclaim release to the captives,

recovering of sight to the blind,

to deliver those who are crushed,

19 and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”*

20 He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Today’s gospel reading is written to you.  Not for people like you, but to you.  Directly to you.  Directly to each of us.  He starts by saying, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.” At his baptism by John the Baptist, the Holy Ghost descended upon him like a dove and God’s voice came from a cloud and said, “You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22).  And at the Transfiguration, God said, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” So Jesus saying to you, “Hey, I’m the Son of God and I’m talking to you, so listen up!”

Then he goes on, saying, “he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.” What does that mean?  You’re thinking, “How could he possibly be speaking directly to me and everybody else at the same time?  I could be flat broke, or I could be wealthy.  Everybody’s not poor.”  But every is poor spiritually.  Because whether your bank account is overdrawn or you’ve got more money that you can spend in two lifetimes, either way you’re obsessed with money.  If you don’t have any, and you’re in danger of being evicted or going hungry, it’s all you can think about.  If you’re a multimillionaire, you’re hyper-focused on protecting your investments.  If you’re jobless, you obsess on finding work so you can get by.  If you have a job, you’re worried about what your boss expects of you.

Every weekend I have chores to do.  I have a utility bill to pay or a home repair to make.  The grass has to be mowed or the leaves have to be raked.  The cars have to be washed and vacuumed.  I don’t own the house; the house owns me!  I don’t own the car; the car owns me!  And so Jesus is saying that there’s more to life than money and possessions.  Everyone who obsesses about them is poor.  He’s offering a kind of wealth that replaces that all of that.  Those who obsess on loving their neighbor and living righteously are truly rich.  These are the riches that moths and rust cannot consume and thieves cannot steal (Matthew 6:19-21). 

And Jesus goes on.  He says that God has sent him, “to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed.”  We are all held captive by work problems, personal difficulties, illnesses, family issues, floundering relationships, and all the difficulties of life.  To one degree or another, we are all blind to the transcendent and oppressed by the day-to-day grind.  Jesus has come to restore our sight so that we can see the fundamental beauty that surrounds us.  Jesus has come to liberate us from the tyranny of our private worries so that we can walk freely in the joy of having life in our lungs and the soil under our feet.  Jesus calls us to prayer and worship so that we can truly appreciate the good, true, and the beautiful and be set free from the bondage of sin and death.

Yes, today’s gospel reading is especially for you.  Not people like you – but you.  Directly for you, as an individual person.  And for me.  For each and every one of us.  Jesus spoke to us in the synagogue 2,000 years ago, and he’s alive even now, speaking to us at this very moment – not just through this gospel passage in on page of paper in a book, but in his real presence.

Listen to him!

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† 4:18 NU omits “to heal the broken hearted”

* 4:19 Isaiah 61:1-2

Warrior Mien, a Gun Strip, and the Party's Over: Mettle Maker #441 and Holy Eucharist for 1/19/25

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What’s the weekly mettle maker?

Training tips and educational info in support of our free programs, that’s what! What’s mettle? Mettle is, “The ability to meet a challenge or persevere under demanding circumstances; determination or resolve.”

Mettle maker #441: Aggression Fills Gaps

Is shadow wrestling as good for your martial arts skills as actual wrestling? Nope. But it’s better than not training at all!

The other day we put up a one-minute-and-thirty-second video of the most basic pistol strip (see video on the right). Obviously this is a very complex subject and this was one video, demonstrating an isolated tactic, not a complete treatment of gun defense strategy.

Nonetheless, a commenter said, “anybody that knows anything knows that you never stand with an arms length reach of someone when pointing a firearm, that’s just like a common sense thing you always keep a bit of a distance. But hopefully bad people with bad intentions don’t realize that.”

I’m not sure, but this may reveal if-then-then-that thinking, which is anathema in the martial arts. You learn techniques, and you drill things, and you spar, and you build up instincts. Learning to fight is a lot like learning to cook. You do not memorize techniques and how to apply them, any more than a master chef memorizes recipes.

I replied, “Very true. If he's further away, you might want to just run instead (in a famous study some years ago, only 23% of NYC cops could hit a moving target at 10' or more). Virtually anything is likely better than allowing oneself to be bound, taken to a secluded location, told to face the wall, etc. Thanks for visiting!”

If someone points a gun at you with intent to kill and there’s ten feet between you, you’re going to have to do something. That could be running away, diving for cover, trying to arm yourself, or something else I can’t think of right now. Or it could be charging him with complete aggression and utter recklessness, like a U.S. infantryman on Omaha Beach, facing an nearly impossible task with courage.

Intent is the secret sauce.

So it’s very important to practice warrior mien — facial expression, bearing, presence, and demeanor. If you need to rush a malefactor, you want him to wince and recoil in fear. In short, you need to scare the crap out of him.

Hey — if you haven’t done so already, consider signing up for a totally free mind-body-spirit program that incorporates self-defense, fitness, outdoor skills, and spiritual development — sign up for our free Rough ‘n’ Tumble Distance Learning Program!

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Holy Eucharist is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 10 am EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy Eucharist, CLICK HERE.

Homily for the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time 1/19/25 – Father Mitch

Readings: Isaiah 62:1-5, Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 9-10, 1 Cor 12:4-11, John 2:1-11

John 2:1-11 World English Bible

1 The third day, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. 2 Jesus also was invited, with his disciples, to the wedding. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine.”

4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My hour has not yet come.”

5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever he says to you, do it.”

6 Now there were six water pots of stone set there after the Jews’ way of purifying, containing two or three metretes† apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the water pots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the ruler of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and didn’t know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have drunk freely, then that which is worse. You have kept the good wine until now!” 11 This beginning of his signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

The modern world struggles increasingly with the loss of truth.  Our media says whatever gets the most clicks, whether it’s true or false, in order to sell ads.  Good attention and bad attention are now officially equivalent in the public sphere.  Entertainers behave as shockingly as possible to get attention.  Bad behavior pays as well as good behavior.  Lies sell as well as truth, probably better.  That’s the bad news.  But the Good News is that Jesus Christ is still a beacon of stability and truth amid the chaos.  And this story, the true story of Jesus first miracle and beginning of his ministry, is a cosmic truth.

It is a cosmic truth because it is true at every level of analysis. 

It’s true at the most basic level that every gathering of people requires drink, whether it’s soda, punch, beer, wine, or liquor, and when it’s gone the party’s over.  And, to some extent, nobody can really replenish it.  If the party stops while the hosts go on a beer run, the momentum is gone, and it’s impossible to get back.  Some or all of the partygoers are going to call it a night at that point, either or move on to another party or go home and turn in.

And the truths in this story continue to stack up, every higher.  The world always makes more sense to a child when Mom and Dad are aligned and in agreement.  If you ask Mom and she says “No,” then you go ask Dad and he says, “Yes,” then there’s going to be chaos and conflict, no matter which parent’s direction you accept.  Well, we are all children of God.  And in this story, Jesus’ Mom echoes and recapitulates the instructions that his Father gave us from a  cloud at his baptism.  She says to the servants, “Whatever he says to you, do it.”  At his baptism, God his father said, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!”  This is as true for the average kid as it us for the average person: things will go better for you if you do as Mom and Dad say.

It's also true that a wedding is the union of two people and two families, and the wine is what washes down the food.  It’s what makes the distasteful bits of one’s new relatives easier to swallow.  It’s what warms everyone’s blood and promotes good cheer.  When people run out of wine, they choke on their food, the mood turns, and the party is over.  Everyone goes home to his or her own place and does his or her own thing.

And now we approach the highest truths on display in this story, namely that the wine is the Blood of Christ – the spirit of sacrifice, selflessness, forgiveness, and grace.  ‘Running out of wine’ is running out of the spirit of patience, unity, and conciliation exemplified by Jesus Christ.  When we run out of that wine, we have to turn to Jesus to transform our water into wine so that we can continue to fuel the get-together – to wash down the distasteful elements of our fellow-man, to warm our hearts, to encourage is to love even our enemies.

Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” (John 6:53).  Without Jesus’s blood, which he spilled on a Cross as a sacrifice to save us all, the party is over indeed, and there is no marriage between Christ and his church, or between God and Man.

 ——————————————————— 

† 2:6 2 to 3 metretes is about 20 to 30 U. S. Gallons, or 75 to 115 liters.

Mettle Maker #440: Updated Feats, Good Enough, Spirit and Fire, and Holy Eucharist for 1/12/25

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What’s the weekly mettle maker?

Training tips and educational info in support of our free programs, that’s what! What’s mettle? Mettle is, “The ability to meet a challenge or persevere under demanding circumstances; determination or resolve.”

Mettle maker #440: Good Enough

Is shadow wrestling as good for your martial arts skills as actual wrestling? Nope. But it’s better than not training at all!

Over the years, many students who’ve dropped out of the distance learning program have made excuses like these:

• “I can’t do this program justice.”

• “I can’t find training partners. This is a total waste of time.”

• “I’m sorry, but I just can’t seem to train consistently.”

• “I’m not in good enough shape to do this.”

• “I don’t have the knack for this.”

Poppycock. No matter how unskilled or out of shape you think you are, keep attending classes and sending in your monthly training logs.

Send in your logs even if your training log contains just one entry that reads, “I didn’t train at all this month. I suck.”

Quitting equates to a 0% chance of improvement. Continuing to work has a 100% chance of improvement.

• If the calisthenics exercises are too hard, substitute easier exercises until you get stronger

• If injuries, age, or infirmity prohibits certain moves, find a substitute (ask your program mentor if you need help)

• If you only have a few entries this month, send your logs in anyway.

• If you miss a whole month at the club, come back and train anyway.

• Nobody is going to shame you for getting slack for a bit.

Something is nearly always better than nothing.

SPEAKING OF WHICH…the updated Feats List is up. Check it out. Go do some feats!

And if you haven’t done so already, consider signing up for a totally free mind-body-spirit program that incorporates self-defense, fitness, outdoor skills, and spiritual development — sign up for our free Rough ‘n’ Tumble Distance Learning Program!

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Holy Eucharist is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 10 am EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy Eucharist, CLICK HERE.

Homily for the Baptism of the Lord 1/12/25 – Father Mitch

Readings: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7, Psalm 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10, Acts 10:34-38, Luke 3:15-16, 21-22 

Luke 3:15-16, 21-22 World English Bible

As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ, 16 John answered them all, “I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire.

21Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also had been baptized and was praying. The sky was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form like a dove on him; and a voice came out of the sky, saying “You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased.”

We have all had someone we love and respect give us valid, negative feedback.  When we were children and young adults, parents and teachers gave us constructive criticism.  As adults, our supervisors, bosses and leaders do this.  Coaches and mentors, doctors and pastors, friends and relatives, all provide positive direction to us throughout our various stages of growth. 

If we accept these criticisms and take corrective action, we can get smarter, stronger, healthier, happier, less sinful, more successful at work and at play, and so on.  But criticism can hurt.  It can really sting to have someone we love and respect point out our flaws, mistakes, and missteps.  But if we take it on the chin, valid criticism will burn away some of our imperfections and refine our ore.  We can get our raw iron a little closer to becoming steel if we internalize the criticism and take action.

Imagine, however, what it will be like to meet Jesus face-to-face and have every single one of our faults become apparent to us by the light of his love.  Many of our faults we can’t even see.  But when the loving light of the Lord shines on us in Judgement, every single thing we’ve done wrong, as well as every fault public and private, will be revealed.  Try to imagine the fiery guilt and burning shame we will experience.  But remember that God is Love.  There is no hatred, no malice, no anger in the Lord.  His loving, holy face simply acts like a perfect mirror in which we will all see ourselves in perfect focus. As St. Paul says in 1 Cor 13:12, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood.”  God’s love reveals to us our sins and faults in a loving way.  St. Paul adds in the next verse, “So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 

And with this, I think, we begin to approach what St. John the Baptist is getting at when he says, “I indeed baptize you with water, but he…will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire.”  God is Love.  The fire of Judgement contains no indignation, no vengeance, no anger – only pure and  purifying, truthful love.

But the truth still hurts.  If we resist the truth, turn away, and allow resentment to set in, things will only get worse.  “How dare Coach tell me I need to spend more time in the batting cage?”  “Who does my boss think he is, telling me I’m not getting my work done right?”  “I’m okay just the way I am.”  “These ten commandments are outdated.  So what if I break a couple of them?  I’m still a good person.”  The more we think this way, nursing our resentment or clinging to the rightness of our disordered thoughts, desires, actions, and beliefs, and ignoring criticism to the contrary, the more our sins consume us.  This is how, brothers and sisters, we make the world into Hell – by embracing, rather than facing, our faults.  By spreading them, promoting them, and hatching them.  This Hell of our own making corresponds, albeit at a lower pitch and level, to the fires of Hell that await those who put off facing their faults until the end of time.

The baptism of water and spirit administered by fellow believers washes us clean and welcomes us into the company of the faithful.  Even Jesus, in his human capacity, was baptized by water and joined with us in this way.  But the baptism of Spirit and Fire, the baptism of the incomprehensible and limitless Love showered on us by God, welcomes us into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Mettle Maker #439: Vulnerability, Impairment, Three Magi, and Holy Eucharist for 1/5/25

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What’s the weekly mettle maker?

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Mettle maker #439: Impairment Drills

Just like last week, I’m telling you to “keep it real” — that is, keep your training as close to the real thing as you can. The reality is that if you are faced with real violence (not social aggression, such as your drunk Uncle Phil at the family reunion or a rowdy knucklehead at the state fair) you are going to be commodity. A resource. An untapped well of pleasure or treasure that the attacker is going to tap in order to experience the fun of inflicting pain or improve his balance sheet with an influx of cash or assets.

Get this through your head: You are not going to get attacked unless your attacker(s) have an advantage — surprise, superior numbers, better weapons, or all three. If your head is up, your eyes are bright, and you’re moving through the world like a squared away rough ‘n’ tumbler, you are not going to get selected as a target.

Plan on starting the fight disoriented, outnumbered, injured, and in pain. You are going to get picked when you’re sad, exhausted, miserable, vulnerable, and/or distracted — when you’re in the pharmacy line to get your Z-pack because the flu is crushing you, when you’re taking a work call on your day off while shopping with your kids at the mall, or something like that.

Watch the video above and train accordingly.

And if you haven’t done so already, consider signing up for a totally free mind-body-spirit program that incorporates self-defense, fitness, outdoor skills, and spiritual development — sign up for our free Rough ‘n’ Tumble Distance Learning Program!

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Holy Eucharist is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 10 am EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy Eucharist, CLICK HERE.

Homily for the Epiphany of the Lord 1/5/25 – Father Mitch

Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13, Matthew 2:1-12

Matthew 2:1-12 World English Bible

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men† from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born. 5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet,

6 ‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah,

are in no way least among the princes of Judah;

for out of you shall come a governor

who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’ ”*

7 Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.”

9 They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them until it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.

The story of the three wise men at once intrigues and perplexes us. We are charmed and fascinated despite the parts of the story that fly in the face of logic and expectation. Make no mistake, the confusing parts of the story aren’t there because people of the past were gullible and wrote things down without questioning them.  Writing over 1,600 years ago, St. John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople, noted that a star in the sky always appears to be hovering over a location in the distance, ever receding, like the proverbial carrot dangled in front of a mule, and cannot possibly indicate a specific location.  He further noted that, for two reasons, the magi could not have “followed” the star in the astrological sense – first, because astrology doesn’t work, and second, because no one has never been bold enough to make the false claim that astrology can reveal a location as specific as a particular building.  Chrysostom also mentioned the implausibility that Persian wise men, who were typically consultants in the court of Persian kings and princes, would risk being beheaded for paying homage to a foreign king.

The ancients certainly knew there were legitimate concerns with the reductionist, material, scientific truth of the story.  But they also understood that there are higher truths than the material, and that this story contains vitally important allegorical, moral, and spiritual meanings that make it more than worthy of being at the center of the 12th and final day of the Christmas season.  The biblical stories are infinite in their potential.  An unlimited number of insights into the text are possible.  Here are three that readily come to mind. 

First, a star is the most beautiful, distant light in the night sky – the highest light that everyone can see, royal and common people alike.  When we “wish upon a star” we give voice to our desires for the best possible future.   From a practical, behavioral perspective, we can see that, although our desires widely differ, all those trying to get to the best possible place are moving in a similar direction, striving for a twinkling, half seen and indistinct destination.  And all those who strive for the highest possible good for all will find a baby in a manger – the seed of extraordinary, life-saving potential available to all who share this common goal.

The moral message of the story is far more powerful, and is wrapped up in the way that stars represent objective moral truths.  A star, like the North Star or the stars of the Southern Cross, keeps us from getting lost when surrounded by darkness.  If we accept and live by the idea that all truths are subjective – that we are allowed to “speak our truth” instead of following God’s truth – we bicker and fight among ourselves, all traveling in random, chaotic directions.  But if everyone including the “magi” – those especially rich in knowledge, prestige, and money – seek the star of God’s objective moral truth, then the Son of God and his saving grace will be revealed to us all.

And perhaps the greatest and most obvious spiritual truth we can gather from this story is that the star is an allegory for God the Father who shows us the right way to travel through life.  That we, like the magi, should be prepared to risk our reputations and put aside our political allegiances, that we might ultimately find his Son.  And having found his son, that we may surrender to him our gold and treasures and replace our desire for money, power, and fame with the desire for love, truth, righteousness, and justice.  And having made our sacrifice, that we might worship him all the days of our life and be coheirs to eternal life through his salvific power.

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† 2:1 The word for “wise men” (magoi) can also mean teachers, scientists, physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, or sorcerers.

* 2:6 Micah 5:2

Mettle Maker #438: Improvised Weapons, Family Dynamics, and Holy Eucharist for 12/29/24

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What’s the weekly mettle maker?

Training tips and educational info in support of our free programs, that’s what! What’s mettle? Mettle is, “The ability to meet a challenge or persevere under demanding circumstances; determination or resolve.”

Mettle maker #438: Improvised Weapons

Keep the training as close to the real thing as you can. This is a fundamental rule of martial arts. So, with that in mind, do you practice using weapons from the environment? Or do you just assume that you’ll be good at grabbing something to defend yourself with when the need arises?

The reality is, if you’re attacked by an armed person, you need to arm yourself. Unarmed vs. weapon? Sure, if you have to. But the odds favor weapon vs. weapon. Watch the video above for ideas, and make an effort to train this way at least twice a month.

And if you haven’t done so already, consider signing up for a totally free mind-body-spirit program that incorporates self-defense, fitness, outdoor skills, and spiritual development — sign up for our free Rough ‘n’ Tumble Distance Learning Program!

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Holy Eucharist is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 10 am EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy Eucharist, CLICK HERE.

Homily for Feast of the Holy Family 12/29/24 – Father Mitch

 Readings: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14, Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5, Col 3:12-21 or 3:12-17, Lk 2:41-52

 Luke 2:41-52 World English Bible

Jesus’ parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast; 43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey; and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 When they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you.”

49 He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Losing a child is a parent's greatest fear – either losing them physically, to abduction, accident or violence, or losing them in spirit, to crime, addiction, ideological or spiritual possession, or some other horror.  Mary and Joseph's loss of young Jesus in today's gospel reading turns those fears inside out.  Although Jesus is lost to them for three days, he isn't lost due to kidnapping, murder, drugs, a cult, or anything like that.  They lost him to God's work in the temple, and their loss was transformed into what must've been a mix of joy and frustration, pride and relief.

What Jesus’ family did not know at the time was that their earthly, parental relief was destined to be elevated to the level of Salvation by a second, and even more terrifying disappearance: Jesus' crucifixion and death on a cross.  As a youth, Jesus is lost for three days, busy discussing Torah with the scribes and Pharisees.  As a man, Jesus is lost to the pit of death for three days, busy ministering to those bound up in hell.  In the former, he is found by his immediate family; in the latter he is found by the family of all humanity to be the Savior.  Jesus said in John 2:19 “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”  So now we see that, as a child, after three days Jesus is found alive in a temple; but in the Resurrection, he his found after three days to be the temple.

Before Jesus, the bonds of family were solely genealogical.  Now, in Christ, all men and women are brothers and sisters, and the blessings of family extend to all believers.  As St. Paul said in Galatians 3:26-28, “You are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Through his Life and Word, Jesus takes the natural truths of nature and society and elevates them to a higher dimension.  By the power of Christ, a cleansing bath which washes away dirt and cleanses the body is transformed into the sacrament of Baptism, the bath of regeneration which washes away sin and cleanses mind, body, and spirit. In Christ, the simple pleasure of sharing bread and wine with friends becomes the lifesaving sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.  And the blessings of family, through Christ’s saving grace, extended to the blessed company of all faithful people. 

Stoicism, Mount Carmel, Leaping for Joy, Mettle Maker #437, and Holy Eucharist for 12/22/24

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What’s the weekly mettle maker?

Training tips and educational info in support of our free programs, that’s what! What’s mettle? Mettle is, “The ability to meet a challenge or persevere under demanding circumstances; determination or resolve.”

Mettle maker #437: The Stoicism of Mount Carmel

No stoicism? No martial arts. There are going to be bumps and bruises, discomforts, requirements to be quiet and not complain, and so on, or else you’re just doing interpretive dance. When stoicism comes out of the martial arts, other innovations with questionable fighting relevance rush in to replace it, like musical forms. Not coincidentally, this runs parallel to other types of “modern art.” This is why, in 2024, paintings don’t look like anything, public buildings resemble bunkers or pillboxes, and most pop music is just vacuous lyrics over beats. Always beware of forces that are deconstructing rather than a constructing — people, ideas, and pursuits which pull things apart rather than pull them together.

Creative pursuits, ideas, and insights have to be structured within a sensible interpretive framework in order be constructive. Would you rather go and watch dancers move as whimsically inspired by orchestras playing random sounds? Or would you prefer to go and see The Nutcracker?

When the martial arts are unmoored from their stoic anchor they go adrift.

When it comes to stoicism, one of my favorite expressions comes from St. John of the Cross’s The Ascent of Mount Carmel. (p. 58-59, paragraph numberings removed):.

• That thou mayest have pleasure in everything, seek pleasure in nothing.

• That thou mayest know everything, seek to know nothing.

• That thou mayest possess all things, seek to possess nothing.

• That thou mayest be everything, seek to be nothing.

• That thou mayest attain to that in which thou hast no pleasure, thou must walk there where thou hast no pleasure.

• That thou mayest attain to that which thou knowest not, thou must go through that which thou knowest not.

• That thou mayest attain to that which thou possessest not, thou must go through that which thou possessest not.

• That thou mayest attain to that which thou art not, thou must go through that which thou art not.

• When thou dwellest upon anything, thou hast ceased to cast thyself upon the All.

• Because in order to arrive from all to the All, thou hast to deny thyself wholly in all.

• And when thou comest to attain the All, thou must keep it without desiring anything.

• Because if thou wilt keep anything with the All, thou hast not thy treasure simply in God.

• In detachment the spirit finds quiet and repose, for coveting nothing, nothing wearies it by elation, and nothing oppresses it by dejection, because it stands in the centre of its own humility; for as soon as it covets anything it is immediately fatigued thereby.

One more thing: December is Spirit Month, during which we always engage in some kind of special activity related one of the eight spiritual disciplines. This year we’re embodying service by donating money, food, and time to FeedMore, an esteemed Virginia charity providing food to folks who are hungry. Click here to make a donation.

If you haven’t done so already, consider signing up for a totally free mind-body-spirit program that incorporates self-defense, fitness, outdoor skills, and spiritual development — sign up for our free Rough ‘n’ Tumble Distance Learning Program!

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Holy Eucharist is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 10 am EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy Eucharist, CLICK HERE.

Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Advent 12/22/24 – Father Mitch

Readings: Mi 5:1-4a, Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19, Heb 10:5-10, Lk 1:39-45

Luke 1:39-45  World English Bible

Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah, 40 and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy! 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”

This is a charming story, a happy tale of a kind that often surrounds the pregnancies of women.  It is one of those popular "isn't that so sweet?" stories that get shared and passed down, told and retold.  Every family has them.  In our family, we often tell the story of my wife's severe morning sickness when carrying our youngest child.  For most of her pregnancy the only food she could keep down was watermelon!  There were times when half of our fridge was taken up by watermelon!  And so, you can imagine the people in Mary's extended family saying, "Remember that time when Aunt Mary and Aunt Liz were both pregnant?  And when they got together, John leaped in Liz's womb as if greeting his unborn cousin Jesus?" 

The fact that this story is touching and relatable is what makes it memorable, but this is not what makes it of the highest value.  Its homespun reality, the fact that we can see our own grandmothers, mothers, and aunts in these two characters, makes it heartwarming.  This may explain why it was told, retold, and remembered long enough to be written down.  But what makes it of ultimate relevance – worthy of being placed at the very forefront of the biblical stories – is something entirely different.  This isn’t just Elizabeth’s baby leaping as if her child is greeting Mary’s.  Elizabeth herself leaps up and, speaking like a prophetess, proclaims the truth of Christ.  What makes this story precious – not precious as in cute, but precious as in a diamond or a pearl – is that it reveals what always happens whenever we allow our Lord and God, like an embryo, to take root and grow within. 

The Blessed Virgin Mary says to the angel of the Lord, "let it be to me according to thy word" (Luke 1:38).  When we allow the Holy Ghost permission to fertilize our hearts, and give Jesus Christ a place to dwell and grow in the very core of our being, we take on a kind of glow, like pregnant women often do.  Carrying the light of Christ within us, letting that light shine wherever we go, we start to change.

Listen to a mother speak about her relationship with her child.  Ask her how carrying her baby profoundly altered the way she sees the world.  Now imagine how carrying the Son of God, growing closer to him than any other human being who ever lived, must've profoundly changed the Blessed Virgin Mary.  And ask yourself: "How might I be transformed by carrying within me – starting right now! – the spirit of Christ?"  If we do this, I guarantee that something will stir within everyone we meet, just as the unborn John the Baptist leapt inside his mother Elizabeth.  If we carry Jesus Christ within us, the divine spark placed in each and every person by our Lord and God will leap for joy when we come near.  And those people will stand up and proclaim, as Elizabeth did, the good news.

St. Paul says in Gal 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." Let us all nurture within ourselves God's Word, his only begotten Son.  Not just for our own sake, but for the sake of all those we meet, that a seed within them might resonate and stir.  Let us carry within us the life that is the light of men (John 1:4-5) – the Holy Light of Christ that shines in the darkness and which the darkness cannot overcome.

Updates, Amendments, Mettle Maker #436, and Holy Eucharist for 12/15/24

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What’s the weekly mettle maker?

Training tips and educational info in support of our free programs, that’s what! What’s mettle? Mettle is, “The ability to meet a challenge or persevere under demanding circumstances; determination or resolve.”

Mettle maker #436: Updates and Amendments

Last week I reminded the kind folks involved in the Heritage Rough ‘n’ Tumble part of the charity’s mission, that if you ain’t doin’ two constitutionals a week, you ain’t doing Heritage Rough ‘n’ Tumble. But those folks who’ve been around since the old days will tell you that we approach constitutionals somewhat differently than we did in the old days:

New Way of Doing Constitutionals vs. Old Way

• Lower reps (usually 25 per exercise) as opposed to High reps (often 50 or 100)

• Low impact instead of high impact

• Accent on martial rather than fitness relevance

• Restoration instead of perspiration

To do one the new way, check out our newer stuff — like the video above.

WE MADE THAT UPDATE SEVERAL YEARS AGO. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME OTHER MAJOR UPDATES LATELY.

Various Updates and Amendments

• Major overhaul of the YouTube Channel ongoing. There has been such major evolution in my thinking on matters material, martial, and spiritual since since I started the YouTube channel back in 2009, and there were so many older videos behind which I could no longer stand, that we’ve started taking down some of the older ones.

• The deletion of the YouTube videos has caused some broken links on the list of feats. Updates on the way!

• December Fellowship meeting is moving to Thurs the 19th this month. Mitch has a family get-together on the 20th. Click here on the 19th at 8 PM: https://meet.google.com/fyf-hofz-abq

One more thing: December is Spirit Month, during which we always engage in some kind of special activity related one of the eight spiritual disciplines. This year we’re embodying service by donating money, food, and time to FeedMore, an esteemed Virginia charity providing food to folks who are hungry. Click here to make a donation.

If you haven’t done so already, consider signing up for a totally free mind-body-spirit program that incorporates self-defense, fitness, outdoor skills, and spiritual development — sign up for our free Rough ‘n’ Tumble Distance Learning Program!

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Holy Eucharist is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 10 am EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy Eucharist, CLICK HERE.

Homily for the Third Sunday of Advent 12/15/24 – Father Mitch

Readings: Zep 3:14-18a, Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6, Phil 4:4-7, Lk 3:10-18

Luke 3:10-18  World English Bible

The multitudes asked John the Baptist, “What then must we do?”

11 He answered them, “He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise.”

12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what must we do?”

13 He said to them, “Collect no more than that which is appointed to you.”

14 Soldiers also asked him, saying, “What about us? What must we do?”

He said to them, “Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages.”

15 As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ, 16 John answered them all, “I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

18 Then with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.

 Today’s gospel reading immediately follows John the Baptist’s fiery speech saying, “You offspring of vipers… produce fruits worthy of repentance” for every tree “that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”  The people, having been warned, understandably ask, “Teacher, what must we do?”

The Baptizer replies, “He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise.”  Sharing is often seen as a small thing, something taught in kindergarten.  But it is far, far more than that.  It is the small miracle of which each and every human being is capable.  And truly a miracle it is!  In this world there is every reason to get and keep what is ours.  Why in heaven’s name, if we are to believe the materialists and the atheists, would anyone stoop to share anything?  Without God, the question would always be “What’s in for me?” And yet, welling up in the human heart, in, through, and down the ages since time immemorial, we see a spark of the divine placed there by our Lord and God.  That acts of selfless sharing are enacted at all is proof of the compassion and love placed in our breasts by our maker.  When someone shares with us, or we see an act of sharing, we are more likely to share with others.  In this way, we are acting out, and reenacting, Jesus’ multiplication of the loaves and fishes.  Sharing is contagious.  All of this, brothers and sisters, is proof that we are made in God’s image. 

And to the tax collectors, John the Baptist says, “Collect no more than that which is appointed to you.”  We should remember that a Roman tax collector, known as a publican, was a contractor.  Publicans would bid on contracts to collect tax in a given area.  If they won the bid, the total amount of tax was considered a loan which they had to pay back to Rome.  Any amount over and above the loan which they were able to collect was their profit for having done the tax gathering work.  So John is telling the publicans not to take advantage of their fellow citizens, to be reasonable in what they take for their profits.  To the soldiers he answers in much the same way, telling them not use their strength and position to mistreat the people in their community.

All three of John’s answers are essentially calls to “love thy neighbor as thyself” – the theme of Leviticus 19:18 which Jesus later proclaims in Matthew 22:39 to be like unto the greatest commandment.  These passages beautifully encapsulate why John the Baptist is called the Precursor and the Forerunner.  Here he begins to suggest in part the radical ideas that Jesus Christ will proclaim in full.  And when it is suggested that perhaps he might be the Christ, John announces the truth of what is really going in his ministry – namely that the healing work of baptism he has begun in the human dimension will be taken up into the spiritual dimension by the only one who can do so – our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Deserts, Disciplines, and the "CNL": Mettle Maker #435 and Holy Eucharist for 12/8/24

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What’s the weekly mettle maker?

Training tips and educational info in support of our free programs, that’s what! What’s mettle? Mettle is, “The ability to meet a challenge or persevere under demanding circumstances; determination or resolve.”

Mettle maker #435: Deserts, Disciplines, and the “CNL”

Mettlecraft Month is officially a wrap, December is here, and it’s time to get back to normal in terms of our martial arts and fitness training. Let’s get started with a reminder:

If you ain’t doin’ two constitutionals a week, you ain’t doin’ Heritage Rough ‘n’ Tumble.

Look, some folks call me “Father” as a polite honorific I suppose, but I’m not your actual dad, so I can’t order you around (and I wouldn’t even if I was). But if you don’t do two constitutionals a week, you’re not doing HRnT. In my training journal, I write “CNL” for short. You can do more fitness than just two CNLs per week. You layer on weights, running, rock climbing, whatever floats your boat — or nothing at all. Whatever you want. Personally, I suggest adding in old-school stuff, like harder calisthenics, sandbags, Indian clubs, light dumbbells, walking, hiking, real life adventures, and real life chore work. But as the kids are saying, “you do you.”

One more thing: December is Spirit Month, during which we always engage in some kind of special activity related one of the eight spiritual disciplines. This year we’re embodying service by donating money, food, and time to FeedMore, an esteemed Virginia charity providing food to folks who are hungry. Click here to make a donation.

If you haven’t done so already, consider signing up for a totally free mind-body-spirit program that incorporates self-defense, fitness, outdoor skills, and spiritual development — sign up for our free Rough ‘n’ Tumble Distance Learning Program!

---

Holy Eucharist is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 10 am EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy Eucharist, CLICK HERE.

Homily for the Second Sunday of Advent 12/8/24 – Father Mitch

Readings: Bar 5:1-9, Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6, Phil 1:4-6, 8-11, Lk 3:1-6

Luke 3:1-6  World English Bible

1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. 3 He came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for remission of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness,

‘Make ready the way of the Lord.

Make his paths straight.

5 Every valley will be filled.

Every mountain and hill will be brought low.

The crooked will become straight,

and the rough ways smooth.

6 All flesh will see God’s salvation.’ ”*

The path of every man leads through deserts and wildernesses.  Some deserts are literal, such as soldiers who return from foreign lands carrying the burden of physical or psychological injuries.  Some deserts are more metaphorical – periods of joblessness, sickness, mental illness, grief, loneliness, anxiety, turmoil, doubt, loss of faith, and so on.  The worst deserts, it seems, are the ones of our own making – the horrible situations we create through our own mistakes.  Because if we learn anything at all from them, these desert sands are made even more harsh by guilt and shame.

But, in the words of the great explorer, author, pilot, and war hero Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, “What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well.”  There is reason to see beauty and rejoice, even in the desert.  Because, deep beneath the sand there is an untapped aquifer.  Underneath the dried-up river bed, or inside a pile of stones, there is a cool puddle.  Somewhere over the next hill, there is an oasis with fruit, shade, and swaying trees.  And, here in our gospel reading today, into the desert there comes a voice proclaiming how to find and tap into that water.  There comes a voice announcing that there is a way out. 

But here’s the thing; we can’t rely on the navigator who steered us into the desert.  It doesn’t matter if that navigator is you, me, someone else, or just a bad set of circumstances.  What got us there can’t relieve our thirst or get us home.  There’s only one way to find the water, and only one path out.  In John 3:3-8 Jesus said, “unless one is born of water and Spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom…‘You must be born anew.’…The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don’t know where it comes from and where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”  Listen: “the wind blows where it wants to.”  The word for “wind” in the Greek is pneuma, which also means “spirit.”  The wind – the Holy Spirit – is invisible, it goes where it goes, and often we aren’t going to understand the why, where, and how.  We must follow wherever it leads. 

In other words, we can’t do what we want.  We have to do what God wants.

Let us then, brothers and sisters, listen to the words of Isaiah as proclaimed by John the Baptist.  “Make ready the way of the Lord.” Let’s always be ready to do it God’s way.  “Make his paths straight.” Let’s get his path straight in our hearts and minds and try to keep it that way.  And if we do that, we will find our way out – perhaps in this life, but with complete certainly in the next.  For “every valley will be filled. Every mountain and hill will be brought low. The crooked will become straight, and the rough ways smooth.  All flesh will see God’s salvation.”

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* 3:6 Isaiah 40:3-5

Recap, Log PT, and True Vigilance: Mettle Maker #434 and Holy Eucharist for 12/1/24

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What’s the weekly mettle maker?

Training tips and educational info in support of our free programs, that’s what! What’s mettle? Mettle is, “The ability to meet a challenge or persevere under demanding circumstances; determination or resolve.”

Mettle maker #434: Mettlecraft Month 2024 FINAL

Mettlecraft Month is officially a wrap. That was fun and different — now it’s time to get back to our usual routine — with one important caveat. December is Spirit Month. We are going to do something really fun and different for Spirit Month — a volunteer or service project, a group outing or activity, something that is spirit-filled. Watch this space to play along.

Anyway, to wrap up Mettlecraft month we decided to play with the log — see video above-right. Try it at home! If you don’t have a few buddies and big ol’ log to use, just do the exercises solo with a 40 lb sandbag — that’s roughly what 1/3th of our little log weighs in at.

Log Exercises

• Log Presses (25 - over and back = 1)

• Log Squats (25)

• Log Clean & Press (25)

• Log Curls (25)

• Log Push-ups (25)

• Log Sit-ups (25)

• Log March (1/2 mile+)

If this week’s mettle maker was fun, consider signing up for a totally free mind-body-spirit program that incorporates self-defense, fitness, outdoor skills, and spiritual development — sign up for our free Rough ‘n’ Tumble Distance Learning Program!

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Holy Eucharist is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 10 am EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy Eucharist, CLICK HERE.

Homily for the First Sunday of Advent 12/1/24 – Father Mitch

Readings: Jer 33:14-16, Ps 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14, 1 Thes 3:12—4:2, Lk 21:25-28, 34-36

 Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 World English Bible

Jesus said, “There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves; 26 men fainting for fear and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.”

34 “So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly. 35 For it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth. 36 Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

37 Every day Jesus was teaching in the temple, and every night he would go out and spend the night on the mountain that is called Olivet. 38 All the people came early in the morning to him in the temple to hear him.

Brothers and sisters, Jesus tells us to always be vigilant for his return and the preceding tribulations.  But what does vigilance mean?  Does it mean thinking, talking, and obsessing about it in a neurotic manner?

No.  What he wants us to do is something entirely the opposite of constantly thinking, talking, and obsessing.  This is harder for us to grasp than it must have been for his listeners two thousand years ago, because their lives were far more participatory.  The propositional and intellectual had not yet consumed their worldview.  Crime of all kinds was more prevalent; and since there were no phone alerts, news websites, or even newspapers, they had to be familiar with the people in their community, attuned to strange faces, acquainted with prominent citizens, and so on. Fishing, hunting, and shepherding flocks were common jobs, all of which require long periods of sitting or standing in peaceful attentiveness.  Every manufacturing task was manual and repetitive, which requires focus without tension.

Intellect actually stands in the way of success in these lines of work.  Good policemen and soldiers will tell you that the way to stay ahead of crime and violence is to be connected with, and attentive to, people, settings, communities, and situations.  Good hunters and fishermen will advise you to relax and use all of your senses to tune into the woods and the water.  The modern word for this way of being is “mindfulness,” which is really an awful term, because it seems to imply that the mind should be full, which is actually opposed to the meaning. Better words would be attentiveness, receptiveness, and contemplativeness. 

If we walk in the world in this way, we won’t feel the need to scan the news headlines looking for signs of the end times.  If we put our effort into being the sort of Christians we should be – loving our neighbors as ourselves and worshipping God – we’ll less likely to be distracted by this or that scandal, and less likely to be manipulated into outrage by the news stories that each new day inevitably brings.  Listen to what Jesus says.  He tells us to be careful or else our hearts will be bogged down by the day-to-day, our senses dulled by drunkenness, and our attention ensnared and entrapped in one of the common lusts of daily life – money, sex, power, creature comforts, and so on.  Listen to what St. Paul advises in our epistle reading: we must strengthen our hearts, abound in love for one another and for all, and strive to be blameless and holy.

If we follow these instructions, there’s no edginess, no anticipation, and no anxiety.  If we realize that all we need to do is be what we are called to be, we can relax in the peace of Christ.  If we are loving brothers and sisters in Christ and all will be well, come what may.

FM 21-20, Insomnia, NOTW, Mettle Maker #433 and Holy Eucharist for 11/24/24

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Training tips and educational info in support of our free programs, that’s what! What’s mettle? Mettle is, “The ability to meet a challenge or persevere under demanding circumstances; determination or resolve.”

Mettle maker #433: Mettlecraft Month 2024 Week 4

Mettlecraft Month is in full swing —this year we’re facing survival, rescue, and mettle tests for self-defense readiness compiled from a variety of sources, including but not limited to Mark Hatmaker’s Black Box Program, various armed forces readiness tests, Native American traditions, survival exams, and so on.

• Distance learners and friends should face the challenges solo. Share links to photos and videos by email or in the comments.

• They are not competitive. The goal of these tests is simply to self-assess — to disabuse yourself of misconceptions and become aware of your actual capabilities.

• Modify, adapt, and overcome. “Do what you can, where your, with what you’ve got” (Theo. Roosevelt). This week it was raining, so we switched things up a bit to avoid getting people and equipment muddy. A little rain is okay, but nobody wants to hop in the car and drive home covered in mud! See video on above-right.

WEEK 4: Conditioning Exercise Drill #1 from FM 21-20 Department of the Army Field Manual “Physical Training” (1950).

Look, not everything we do around here is a resounding success. Sometimes we try things and they don’t work out. There has to be a dud in every box of firecrackers, and in my opinion, this was one of those. Seemed like a good idea at the time, so we tried it. I’ll never do this again. I don’t know what they were thinking in 1950, but this is just weird. There are quite a few awkward, back-killing exercises in this thing, interspersed with pointless stretches and massive numbers of Push-ups (64 slow, and narrow old-school ones). But you know what, maybe it’s right up your alley. Click the pic on the right for more details:

Conditioning Exercise Drill #1 from FM 21-20 (All counts 16)

1. High Jumper

2. Bend and Reach

3. Squat Thrust

4. Rowing Exercise and Bottoms Up

5. Squat Bender

6. Push Up

7. Side Bender

8. Body Twist and Turn and Bounce

9. Squat Jumper

10. Trunk Twister

11. Stationary Run

12. Eight Count Push-up

    Bonus Homework: The Silent Insomniac Test. This comes from Mark Hatmaker’s Indigenous Ability Blog. “Can you for 3-days straight set your alarm for 3:08 AM [or whatever time that fits your shift schedule] wake-up at once [no snooze button] get on your feet and remain standing or walking around for an entire ¼ of an hour? No texting, phone checking, reading. Just you facing the prospect of waking up in the middle of the night and simply being up. Curiously, in our surveys this is one of our tests that even the most rock-solid “Hoo-aahs!” hate completing. Which means, it must be important.”

    If this week’s mettle maker was fun, consider signing up for a totally free mind-body-spirit program that incorporates self-defense, fitness, outdoor skills, and spiritual development — sign up for our free Rough ‘n’ Tumble Distance Learning Program!

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Holy Eucharist is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 10 am EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy Eucharist, CLICK HERE.

Homily for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, 11/24/24 – Father Mitch

Readings: Dn 7:13-14, Ps 93:1, 1-2, 5, Rv 1:5-8, Jn 18:33b-37

John 18:33b-37 World English Bible

Pilate said to Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

34 Jesus answered him, “Do you say this by yourself, or did others tell you about me?”

35 Pilate answered, “I’m not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered you to me. What have you done?”

36 Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If my Kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn’t be delivered to the Jews. But now my Kingdom is not from here.”

37 Pilate therefore said to him, “Are you a king then?”

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I have been born, and for this reason I have come into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Churches are grouped together into dioceses, consistories, classis, presbyteries, synods, etc. depending on the denomination, led by bishops and elders.  Denominations are joined in communions, or associations of churches, headed by patriarchs and leaders of various kinds – the Roman Catholic Pope, the Archbishop of Canterbury who leads Church of England, the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, the president of the Southern Baptist Convention, and so on.  There is a chain of command, a hierarchy, that stacks up like a pyramid. 

That’s what people do.  Everywhere human beings go, we create pyramidal reporting structures.  The most powerful and authoritative person up at the top delegates some of his or her authority to leaders of smaller and smaller divisions, right on down the line.  Power and authority trickle down.  In the army, generals lead divisions and brigades; brigades are divided into regiments led by colonels, which are divided into companies led by majors, etc. all the way down to platoons led by lieutenants.

Every human organization follows this model.  And that’s great, as far as it goes.  Certainly, we should conform our families, communities, states, and nations, as much as humanly possible, to God’s expectations.  Certainly, we should arrange our churches into hierarchies.  But we must guard against thinking that God’s Kingdom is constructed like a human hierarchy.  Christ’s Kingdom is not a church or a nation-state.

If that’s what it was, Jesus would’ve described it in human terms.  But he didn’t do that.  Nowhere in the gospels does Jesus explain precisely what the Kingdom is.  Instead he speaks of it only in parables.  And in today’s Gospel reading he specifically says, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If my Kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn’t be delivered to the Jews. But now my Kingdom is not from here.”

What Jesus has in mind is an entirely different arrangement.  Jesus is not a general who appoints colonels, majors, and captains to administer his authority and carry out his orders.  His authority is not delegated.  It is not divided.  It does not trickle down.  No, his kingship penetrates from within.  It comes from the inside out.  As St. Paul says in Colossians 1:15-20,

5 He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created in the heavens and on the earth, visible things and invisible things, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things are held together. 18 He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself by him, whether things on the earth or things in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of his cross.

Yes, our Lord Jesus Christ is the King of the Universe indeed.  And how do we find entry into his Kingdom, which is at once everywhere and nowhere, both in the heavens and on earth, made up both the visible and invisible?  Well, dear ones, Jesus said that all we need to do is  “Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.  Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”  (Matthew 7:7-8, 21)

Mettle Maker #432 and Holy Eucharist for 11/17/24

Click here to sign up for daily motivational text messages!

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Click here to sign up for daily motivational text messages! ...

What’s the weekly mettle maker?

Training tips and educational info in support of our free programs, that’s what! What’s mettle? Mettle is, “The ability to meet a challenge or persevere under demanding circumstances; determination or resolve.”

Mettle maker #432: Mettlecraft Month 2024 Week 3

Mettlecraft Month is in full swing —this year we’re facing survival, rescue, and mettle tests for self-defense readiness compiled from a variety of sources, including but not limited to Mark Hatmaker’s Black Box Program, various armed forces readiness tests, Native American traditions, survival exams, and so on.

• Distance learners and friends should face the challenges solo. Share links to photos and videos by email or in the comments.

• They are not competitive. The goal of these tests is simply to self-assess — to disabuse yourself of misconceptions and become aware of your actual capabilities.

• Modify, adapt, and overcome. “Do what you can, where your, with what you’ve got” (Theo. Roosevelt). This week it was raining, so we switched things up a bit to avoid getting people and equipment muddy. A little rain is okay, but nobody wants to hop in the car and drive home covered in mud! See video on above-right.

WEEK 3

1. 48 sit-ups in 2 minutes.

2. Standing Broad Jump your height.

3. Complete a 25 meter underwater swim on one breath. To approximate this test this on dry land, walk 100 yards on a single breath.

4. Square Choke hang for 1 minutes. Put your arms around your hanging heavy bag, grab in a Square Choke, pick up your feet, and hang.

5. Buddy Drag an adult 25 yards.

6. 25 Hand-Release Push-ups in 2 minutes. At the bottom of each Push-up, lift hands off the floor and reset.

7. Run 1 mile while carrying a 45 lb weight. Females and older folks, sub a 25 weight, or complete a POW Run with fingertips touching ears. Bum knees? Just carry the weight while walking.

8. Bonus Homework: Detachment test. For the next 24 hours, make a concerted effort not to be ruled by your emotions. This is a universal idea, even in fiction. Jedi Knights understand that extreme emotions are an entry to “the dark side.” In Zen Buddhism the goal is to avoid “attachments.” In Christianity, we seek to avoid being ruled by our passions. A great example is the recent presidential election in the USA. Many people were very depressed or pumped up by the results. If given free reign, extreme emotions on this topic, whether your candidate won or lost, could lead to alienation from relatives, friends, neighbors and coworkers. Resentment, loathing, and anger at the choices of others could stew. Feelings of superiority could lead to a lack of empathy. It’s perfectly normal and healthy to feel joy when things go your way, or sadness when they don’t. But if we allow ourselves to be ruled by it? Not good! Jesus told us to be above worldly things. He said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) As much as we can, given our mortal limitations, we too need to overcome the world! And remember, “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20-21)

   If this week’s mettle maker was fun, consider signing up for a totally free mind-body-spirit program that incorporates self-defense, fitness, outdoor skills, and spiritual development — sign up for our free Rough ‘n’ Tumble Distance Learning Program!

---

Holy Eucharist is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 10 am EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy Eucharist, CLICK HERE.

Homily for the Thirty-third Sunday of Ordinary Time, 11/17/24 – Father Mitch

Readings: Dn 12:1-3, Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11, Heb 10:11-14, 18, Mk 13:24-32

Mark 13:24-32 World English Bible

Jesus said when asked about the day and time of the return of the Kingdom,

“But in those days, after that oppression, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, 25 the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken.* 26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 Then he will send out his angels, and will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky.

28 “Now from the fig tree, learn this parable. When the branch has now become tender and produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near; 29 even so you also, when you see these things coming to pass, know that it is near, at the doors. 30 Most certainly I say to you, this generation‡ will not pass away until all these things happen. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

32 “But of that day or that hour no one knows—not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don’t know when the time is.”

In our gospel reading from today, Jesus warns us against attempting to predict the return of the kingdom.  He will do so again in the book of Acts 1:7.  The disciples ask him, “Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?”  And he says to them, “It isn’t for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father has set within his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”  In other words, don’t trouble yourself with exact dates and times.  That’s not your business – that’s Heavenly Father’s business.  Just accept your responsibility to carry the word to all the ends of the earth and let God the Father worry about dates and times.

And yet, from the very beginning, Christians have speculated on the date of Jesus’ return.  Despite being told not to worry about it, many Christians have been so obsessed with the date that they’ve poured through the Bible looking for clues for millennia.  They’ve even resorted to using psychics and seers, astrology and numerology – occult methods condemned by the church fathers and forbidden in the Bible! – to try and predict the date of the coming of the kingdom.  New Protestant denominations, like the Adventists and Jehovah’s Witnesses have arisen around such prophecies.  Milennial cults have even sprung up around various predictors and predictions, such as David Koresh and the Branch Davidians.

But we should be staunch in our rejection of these ideas in all their forms.  As the Roman Catholic Catechism says,

The Antichrist's deception already begins to take shape in the world every time the claim is made to realize within history that messianic hope which can only be realized beyond history through the eschatological judgement. (676)

In simple terms, the return of the Kingdom is not in time.  It happens outside history, and is thus impossible to predict.  The Kingdom of God is eternal.  Asking when the Kingdom of God will come is like asking, “When will 2+2=4?”  The Kingdom is, like  mathematics, a metaphysical truth – a metaphysical truth of such an entirely higher order that, unlike algebra, it is all but impossible to mortal minds to grasp.

The endeavor to pin a date on the return of the kingdom is not only forbidden, it pushes the immediacy and beauty of Christian life into some distant future.  It drains away the beauty of the eternal.  Engaging in this sort of thing is like a culinary expert who focuses on food chemistry rather than on making delicious food.  It is like a painter or sculptor who focuses on pigment science or metallurgy rather than on making beautiful art.

Jesus said in Luke 17:20-21, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” Let us, brothers and sisters, follow Jesus’ command and attend to the task at hand.  Let us be, as Jesus has commanded us, in the moment, attentive, alert, and prayerful.  Let us have faith in him, do his will, and stand fast.  If we do this, we can be in the kingdom now, in the life to come, eternally, and forevermore.

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* 13:25 Isaiah 13:10; 34:4

‡ 13:30 The word translated “generation” (genea) could also be translated “race”, “family”, or “people”.