What’s the weekly mettle maker? Training tips and educational information in support of our free programs, that’s what! What’s mettle? According the American Heritage Dictionary, mettle is, “The ability to meet a challenge or persevere under demanding circumstances; determination or resolve.”
Mettle Maker #340
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Do the Pen Experiment!
Self-Defense: It’s a 5-week month, so next week’s focus is self-defense and prevention. Are you aware of relationship tension, and how bad actors use it to get victims where they want them? Try this simple exercise. Take a pen, go a friend or associate, and ask if they’re willing to help you with an experiment. Hold out the pen, but don’t say anything. They will take it. Then ask them, “Did you want the pen?” “No,” they’ll say. “Did you need it?” Again, they’ll say “No.” They’ll take it because it’s natural to do so. Then tell them, “Okay, let’s try something else. I’m going to offer you the pen. This time, no matter what I say, don’t take it.” This time, hold out the pen and shake it a little. Say things like, “C’mon, take it. Just take it. Seriously, really, take it!” About 50% of people with will take the pen even though you specifically told them not to do so! This is what thieves, con artists, rapists, and killers do. They use your natural instincts, and the power of relationship tension, against you. They’ll pretend to be hurt and ask for help or flash a flyer about a lost dog. Everybody wants to help! Or they’ll promise not to hurt you if you just take them to the ATM or lay face down on the ground. Everybody wants to think the best about others! The problem is, of course, they are probably lying. They’re probably not going to take you to the ATM, but instead they’re taking you to the basement of their home in the country for a few days of what their corrupted minds think is fun. Or, once you’re face down on the pavement, they’re going to shoot you in the back of the head. What are you supposed to do? Well, you need to know P.R.A.: What’s P.R.A.? Sounds like you need a comprehensive self-defense training course! Click here to sign up for the 100% free Heritage Self-Defense Distance Learning Program.
Fitness: How to make sandbags. A giant bag full of sand is most certainly going to split and rain sand all over you training area. The smarter plan is to make a bunch of 5 and 10 lb. bags and toss them into a sturdy bag. This will hold up better and allow you to adjust weight easily. To make your bags, cut a square of tarp or other sturdy material about 30” x 30” and pour the sand into the middle. Use extra heavy (4 mil. or more) contractor grade garbage bags for best results. Then gather up the ends, and zip tie shut using pliers. Trim off the excess material and snip off the zip tie. Make sure that you carefully snip off the zip tie flush with the end of the closure so that no sharp edges remain – they will cut the bag or any adjacent bags if you leave them on. Then cruise the yard sale circuit or head to the thrift store for some small to medium canvas bags. Old backpacks are my favorite, but small athletic bags, camera bags, and old tool bags can work too. Cut off the straps and throw them anyway. Now go train! See photo set above-left. Need more training tips? Check out Martial Grit: Real Fighting Fitness on a Budget or click here to sign up for the 100% free Heritage Fitness Distance Learning Program.
Outdoor skills: Do you know how to signal for help? Certain visual signals are universal, and are very useful if you are trapped onboard a ship, inside a building in a flood, hiding in a car or cave in a snow storm, etc.
1. Smoke: smoke is a classic distress signal, especially aboard ship. If you can safely build a fire do so. If fire materials are limited, have a fire match-ready in the event that you hear or see an approaching search party. On a ship, or on the roof of a building, try to find a sturdy a metal container such as a bucket or barrel. Elevate it from the deck, floor, roof, etc. well away from other flammable surfaces. Punch a few small holes in the side of the can – not the bottom! – to admit air.
2. Inverted flag: flying or otherwise displaying a flag upside down is a universally understood signal.
3. Triangles: many motorists are familiar with the classic red reflective triangle in emergency kits, and mountaineers are trained to display three objects equidistant from one another to signal for help. Place three objects – the larger, more colorful, and/or highly reflective the better – in a perfect triangle to indicate that you’re in trouble.
4. SOS: A vintage classic, SOS has been the international signal for distress by Morse Code for over a hundred years. You can spell out the letters “SOS” in paint, stones, etc., or even mimic the Morse Code SOS with a car horn, fog horn, a flashlight, lantern, etc. Signal SOS with three short signals, followed by three long signals, then three short again.
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Homily for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 1/29/23 – Archdeacon Mitch
Readings: Zep 2:3; 3:12-13, Ps 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10, 1 Cor 1:26-31, Mt 5:1-12a
Matthew 5:1-12a World English Bible Catholic Edition
1 Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.✡
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.✡
5 Blessed are the gentle,
for they shall inherit the earth.*✡
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven.
These are the opening lines of the most incredible speech ever delivered by a spiritual teacher in all of history – the speech that establishes the foundation of Christianity itself. These influential words have shaped and inspired billions of people down the two millennia since they were spoken, both Christians and non-Christians, like religious pluralist liberator Mahatma Gandhi and agnostic author of Brave New World Aldous Huxley.
To deliver these words, Jesus chooses a mountain, yet he sits eye-to-eye. Fully God and fully man, he speaks at once as God, from a high place, but as a man, on our level. The scripture says, “he opened his mouth and taught them.” The Bible is sparse, not rambling. Every word matters. So what’s important about him opening his mouth? Doesn’t everyone open their mouth to speak? Are we expecting Jesus to be a ventriloquist? No, he opened his mouth to speak. He didn’t just repeat the words of other prophets. He spoke as one who has authority, not like a scribe reading the words of the ancient prophets (Mt 7:29).
And what does he say? Using a similar verbal format, but changing the message, Jesus turns the message of the previous prophets inside out. He subverts the old rhetoric. We know what the old messages sound like, especially from Proverbs and Psalms.
· “Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all our produce, then your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will be overflowing with new wine.” (Proverbs 3:9-10).
· “Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners” (Psalm 1:1).
· “Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom Yahweh doesn’t impute iniquity, in whose spirit there is no deceit.” (Psalm 32:1-2).
Jesus offers a new perspective. Yes, sometimes things go well when we think and act in accord with God’s commandments. Yes, sometimes God answers our prayers. But when things don’t go the way we want, despite our prayers and despite playing by the rules to the best of our ability, Jesus wants us to take heart and know that we are still blessed.
God is not a far-off God, an uncaring and legalistic God, or a merely a God of covenants. He is a God who sympathizes with our feelings of sadness and mourning, with our feelings of injustice and unfairness. This is why he comes down to earth as Immanuel, which means “God is with us” (Isaiah 7:14, Mt 1:29).
On a high mountain he sits down with us, looks us in the eye, and opens his mouth.
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*5:5 or, land.