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 #355
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Self-Defense: Shadow wrestling. Set a round timer and put in 3 rounds practicing your wrestling maneuvers (see video on the right). Could you reasonably expect to win a catch wrestling tournament by training exclusively solo? No. But you can use solo training to improve your wrestling stamina, build your form and fluidity, and even learn new techniques. If worked for Dan Gable and it’ll work for you. Want to learn how to fight Rough ‘n’ Tumble style? Join the Heritage Self-Defense club in Richmond, VA. Or, if distance learning is your thing, click here to enroll in the Heritage Self-Defense distance learning program!
Fitness: Loneliness and isolation can destroy your health. Did you read the Surgeon Generals terrifying report released just this week? About 50% of Americans suffer from feelings of loneliness and isolation. And the health effects are roughly equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day — more severe than obesity or lack of exercise. Read the entire report or watch this interview with the Surgeon General Murthy. How do you fight loneliness and isolation? The Surgeon has lots of suggestions, many of which are pretty good. And we do too — watch the video above-left — and in case you didn’t already know, Heritage Arts’ free programs are excellent solutions to achieving mind-body-spirit health. Please avail yourself of them — Click here to sign up. And if you’d like to start a martial arts, fitness, outdoor skills, or home church in your town, email mitch@heritageartsinc.com and we’ll show you how — absolutely free!
Wildwood: Wild edibles are everywhere, even in suburbia. You know what the adorable plant on the right is? It’s Vaccinium stamineum, a.k.a. deer berry, sometimes called huckleberry, very closely related to blueberries. (Note: One of my favorite movies is Tombstone, partially due to Val Kilmer’s turn as Doc Holliday, for my part one of the greatest acting performances of all time. There is famous scene in which he says, “I’m your huckleberry” (with the implied “pick me” left out for full effect). You can get an enamel on metal painting of Doc Holliday, handmade by Kilmer himself, from his website. The loss of health and voice that this great artist has suffered is a tragedy, but rest assured that his charm, genius and panache remain undimmed. I highly recommend Val, his autobiographical documentary. It’s A+. ~Mitch) Want to learn more wild edibles and outdoor skills? Click here and sign up for the 100% free Heritage Wildwood distance learning program!
Holy Communion is now LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 9AM EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live and, to view and print a copy of the program for holy communion, CLICK HERE.
Homily for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Sunday 5/14/23 – Archdeacon Mitch
Readings: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17, Ps 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20, 1 Pt 3:15-18, Jn 14:15-21
John 14:15-21 World English Bible
Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments. 16 I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, † that he may be with you forever: 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world can’t receive, for it doesn’t see him and doesn’t know him. You know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 One who has my commandments and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. One who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him.”
In today’s reading Jesus informs his apostles that, although he is leaving the world, Heavenly Father is going send to them a counselor and guide to be with them forever. Nowadays the preferred term for this counselor is the “Holy Spirit.”
I confess without shame that I prefer the older term “Holy Ghost.” Is it partly nostalgic? An appreciation for antique words? Maybe a little. But mainly, I prefer to say “Holy Ghost” for exactly the same reason that most people don’t like it: because “Holy Ghost” sounds strange, bizarre, and just a little bit creepy. It sounds different.
And the Holy Ghost should sound different. In the minds of most young people today, Christianity is just another hobby, one choice among a host of various spiritual pursuits. These days, spirituality is about feeling good, recharging your batteries, and maximizing your happiness and productivity. And as far as the youth of today are concerned, there are lots of ways to be spiritual. To them, being filled with the Holy Spirit is roughly the same as the refreshing, vaguely spiritual feeling you get after a really good massage with healing herbs, or an aromatherapy session.
The words “spirit” and “spirituality” are severely over-used and tossed around lightly. There are all kinds of “spirit.” A medium can claim to call upon the spirits. A high school can have team spirit. An army can cultivate fighting spirit. The word “spirit” is vague. “Holy Ghost” is specific.
There is only one Holy Ghost.
The Holy Ghost is, like Christian spirituality, unique. When you reference the Holy Ghost, it’s clear you are not talking about anything else. This isn’t just another type of spirituality, like yoga, mindfulness, Reiki, or Transcendental Meditation. We are dealing with an entity, a power, something completely other. So yes, the term “Holy Ghost” sounds weird, different, shocking. This culture desperately needs to be shocked -- shocked out of complacency, shocked out of folly, foolishness, and faithlessness – and reminded that Christianity is not a product. The Holy Trinity is not for sale. God is not a brand name, Jesus has no equivalents, and the Holy Ghost has no competitors.
This week the Surgeon General of the United States published his 82-page report entitled “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation.” It reveals that half of Americans are suffering from the negative health effects of loneliness, which are the rough equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day – more severe than obesity and lack of exercise. Meanwhile, the facilities that have the cure for this epidemic – America’s churches! – are closing at the rate of five per day.
It’s past time we made it absolutely clear that what we are offering to this suffering culture is something entirely different. We are the Body of Christ, his church, filled with the Holy Ghost! Inside these doors, you may eat the flesh and drink the blood of God. With him, and through him, and in him, you can be possessed by the Holy Ghost, remake yourself completely, and find peace in the blessed hope of life everlasting!
That’s the power of the Holy Ghost. And you can’t get that from your masseuse, or your yoga teacher, or your mindfulness coach.
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† 14:16 Greek παρακλητον: Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, and Comforter.