Throw, Throw, Throw: Mettle Maker #367 and Holy Communion for 8/6/23

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Get your tickets now for the 1st Annual Heritage Arts Campout (CLICK HERE FOR THE DETAILS)

Event starts at 4 PM on Friday 10/13/23 and runs through noon on Sunday 10/15/23. Martial arts, fitness, outdoor skills, and spiritual development — for just $25/ticket. CLICK HERE for all the details.

Mettle Maker #367

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.”

Various old dudes throwing rocks

Fitness — Rock throwing? Oh, you bet! Stone throwing has been a human universal since we lived in caves. Rock throwing competitions are mentioned by Homer and have been commonplace in Scotland and across Europe for two millennia — until the rock was replaced with a cannonball and became the shot put.

A regulation shot put weighs between 8 and 16 lbs.. and a competition stone in the Highland Games between 22 and 28 pounds. Based on the above exemplars, visual depictions in paintings and tapestries, and the rare book mention, a mean stone in the 20 – 30 lb. range emerges from the mist, which is what I advise using for throwing exercises. Tip: To limit rolling, use a strangely shaped rock, or substitute a slam ball.

There are three primary throwing methods.

Putting Throw. The one-handed throw seen in modern shot-put competition, with the stone resting in the open hand and tucked into the chin/shoulder area or, if the stone is too large, with the other hand pressing down on the top. You may run up to the line and throw or spin up Olympic-style. Your choice.

Heaving Throw. Face perpendicular to the throwing direction. Grasping the stone with both hands, hold the stone on the side of your body farthest from the target. Flex knees. Swing the stone in a 180-degree arc from aft to fore, straightening the legs as you heave it upward at a 45 degree angle, releasing it in the direction of the target. Great for building rotational power.

Overhead Throw. This is the throw often seen when a basketball or soccer player completes a throw-in or inbounds pass. Get the stone into overhead carry position. Flex arms, trot or step up to the line, and straighten them as you toss the stone forward.

3 sets of 10 throws for a total of 30 throws (15 each hand throwing one-handed), done a couple of times per week, is a great addition to any fitness program. There are many ways to build up to that many tosses with a 30-pounder. Start with a light stone and do all the reps, gradually ratcheting up the weight over time. Or just start with the 30 lb. stone, tossing it just a few times rather lazily at first, and gradually increase intensity and reps over time.

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Martial Arts - Your Grappling Dummy is your friend. Lately we’ve been training hard with the grappling dummy, assiduously working through Mark Hatmaker’s incredibly rich material on this topic. 50 tosses once or twice a week will fortify any martial arts training program. Check out our YouTube shorts, one of which is on the left, or avail yourself of Mark’s great 2-DVD set Silent Partner. Want to learn Rough ‘n’ Tumble martial arts? Join as the club in Richmond, VA or click here to sign up for the Heritage Wildwood distance learning program!

Wildwood Outdoor Skills — Throwing sticks for survival. If you’re in a survival situation you have to appreciate the simplicity and elegance of the throwing stick. It requires virtually zero skill to craft one — you might even be able to just pick one up off the ground. They are virtually unbreakable, and if you lose it you can find or fashion another easily. To be clear though, hunting small mammals with a throwing stick is even harder than it seems. Throwing sticks work best against flocks of birds and schools of fish (in shallow water of course). If the critters are on the move, direct a leading throw for the middle of the flock or school in the area they are about to be occupying, not where they are at the moment. When hunting stationary birds, aim at the area just above them, as the birds are likely to be spooked by your movement and/or the sound of the whooshing stick, and take flight. And by the way, you should also practice. For a comprehensive outdoor skills program, click here to sign up for the Heritage Wildwood distance learning program!

Holy Communion is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 9AM EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy communion, CLICK HERE.

Homily for the Transfiguration of the Lord, Sunday 8/6/23 – Father Mitch

Readings: Dn 7:9-10, 13-14, Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 9, 2 Pt 1:16-19, Mt 17:1-9

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14  World English Bible, Catholic Edition

9 “I watched until thrones were placed,

and one who was ancient of days sat.

His clothing was white as snow,

and the hair of his head like pure wool.

His throne was fiery flames,

and its wheels burning fire.

10 A fiery stream issued and came out from before him.

Thousands of thousands ministered to him.

Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.

The judgment was set.

The books were opened.

13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like a son of man came with the clouds, and he came to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 Dominion was given him, with glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom will not be destroyed.

Today’s reading from Daniel is abbreviated in order to simply and directly highlight an Old Testament prophecy that points to the Transfiguration we celebrate today.  But if we examine the whole of Daniel 7, we can get an even deeper understanding of what the Transfiguration is finally all about.

The verses just before today’s describe Daniel’s vision of four beasts emerging from the sea.  The first three bear some resemblance to familiar animals.  But the fourth creature, which is “awesome and powerful, and exceedingly strong,” defies imagination, and we’re given some bizarre details regarding its horns.

8 “I considered the horns, and behold, another horn came up among them, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great [boastful] things.

What on earth can this nightmarish image mean?  Ten is the perfect number, the basis of math and the number of the commandments. Ten is God’s law.  A terrifying, talking horn with eyes and mouth appears in the midst of the ten horns, drives out three, and makes ten become eight.  The eight-pointed star is the symbol of the Babylonian goddess Inanna.  The city of Babylon had eight gates.  In Revelation, the antichrist is the eighth king.  Eight is chaos. 

The sacred shofar, the Jewish horn, is blown on High Holy Days.  Shofar is Hebrew for “listen.”  The shofar proclaims to the people, “Listen to God!” and to God it proclaims, “God, we are listening!”  But the evil horn on the fourth beast from Daniel’s nightmare is the opposite.  It is one of the most disturbing symbols in the Bible. In Daniel 7:25 we read that the talking horn “will speak words against the Most High, and will wear out the saints of the Most High. He will plan to change the times and the law.’” Rather than proclaiming God’s truth, this horn speaks for itself.  It literally toots its own horn and proclaims its own truth, turning the law into chaos.    

God help us, but this nightmarish horn that proclaims its own truths is sounding everywhere right now.  Voices of chaos are booming – out of our televisions, on social media, on billboards, howling from the mouths of performers, politicians, and pundits, tooting and honking, undermining God truth.  They are loud today, but were even louder and deadlier in the days of Peter, James and John.  James would be the first martyred, followed by Peter.  And it’s in that context that Jesus takes theses three apostles to a high place and gives them a glimpse of his power and glory, to give them heart.  To carry them through the trials and tribulations he knew they would face.

The Transfiguration which we celebrate today – Jesus appearing with his face shining like the sun and his garments as white as the light – is a foretaste of the glory to come.  Do not be disheartened in the face of oppressors.  Do not be worn down and led astray by voices seeking to subvert the rituals and laws that are the foundation of our society and our religion. 

As Daniel’s vision predicts, and the Transifiguration foreshadows, God’s dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom will not be destroyed.  The voices of evil and dissention will be silenced. God will reign forever and ever.

Walk for Your Life! Mettle Maker #366 and Holy Communion for 7/30/23

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Get your tickets now for the 1st Annual Heritage Arts Campout (CLICK HERE FOR THE DETAILS)

Event starts at 4 PM on Friday 10/13/23 and runs through noon on Sunday 10/15/23. Martial arts, fitness, outdoor skills, and spiritual development — for just $25/ticket. CLICK HERE for all the details.

Mettle Maker #366

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.”

HERitage Arts is walking the richmond marathon!

November 11th 2023

click here to donate or walk with us

A Martial Arts, Fitness, and Outdoor Skills three-for-the-price-of-one this week: Get to walking! The data is in:

• Walking is the safest and most efficient way to lose weight, shed fat, and build endurance. Old-time boxers, like Bob Fitzsimmons, used walking as their roadwork instead of running!

• And, as Mark Hatmaker reported on his blog, the benefits of walking include:

• improved circulation

• increased life expectancy

• improved mood

• strengthen muscles

• weight loss or maintenance

• joint support

• increased bone density

• improved sleep

• decreased Alzheimer’s risk and decreased mental decline

• improved breathing

• increased stamina

• And, my research shows that, unlike other forms of exercise (running, biking, jumping rope, HIIT, etc.) walking is extremely low impact. In other words, it doesn’t interfere with athletic performance in other sports.

• Because it doesn’t result in sharp drops in blood sugar, it doesn’t trigger extreme hunger or binge eating the way other more intense forms of exercise can. That’s why bodybuilders have always been devoted walkers.

• A 150 lb. walker can burn 266 calories per hour without generating a voracious appetite. And avoiding irresistible hunger is key for folks looking to burn off fat and keep it off.

• If you want to be lean, go for a walk. You can literally walk your buns off and still have plenty of juice for lifting weights – or for yard work, your day job, a night on the down, or a weekend canoe trip.

• Despite being low-impact and really safe, there are two relatively common injuries associated with going on a long walk with zero prep: Plantar faciatis and blisters. Start with a mile or two a day and you’ll up to to 10 miles or more in no time.

Heritage Self-Defense will be walking the Richmond Marathon this year, raising funds for Sports Backers Youth Fitness programs. Click here to donate! And if you'd like to walk with us, register as part of our team! And, by the way, this will be our challenge for Mettlecraft Month this year, so remote students should start planning routes, tying up togas, and getting for the ready for 26.2 mile travail!

Want to learn more about martial arts, fitness, or outdoor skills? Click here to participate in one of our free programs!

Holy Communion is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 9AM EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy communion, CLICK HERE.

Homily for the Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Sunday 7/30/23 – Father Mitch

Readings: 1 Kgs 3:5, 7-12, Ps 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130,  Rom 8:28-30, Mt 13:44-52

Matthew 13:44-52  World English Bible, Catholic Edition

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

45  “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls, 46  who having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

47  “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some fish of every kind, 48  which, when it was filled, fishermen drew up on the beach. They sat down and gathered the good into containers, but the bad they threw away. 49  So it will be in the end of the world.§ The angels will come and separate the wicked from among the righteous, 50  and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 51 Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?”

They answered him, “Yes, Lord.”

52 He said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been made a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings out of his treasure new and old things.”

When I was kid, my father would let me borrow the car.  He didn’t ask much, only that when I returned it to the driveway, its interior be as neat as I found it, and that the gas tank be filled up.  Well, thank goodness he was an infinitely patient and forgiving man because, like a lot of teens, I didn’t follow the rules.  So he stopped letting me borrow his nice car.  I had to use the old station wagon that he used for his contracting business and for hauling junk to the dump.

I still didn’t learn my lesson, I’m sorry to say.  I drove it too fast and wrecked it.  At that point there was only one thing he could do: sell me a car.  My mother needed a new car, and he agreed to sell me her old 1970 Pinto for $200.  That was a lot of money in 1978, especially if you’re a 17-year-old bagging groceries.  Now, let me tell you, that car I took care of.  I drove more carefully, did the maintenance, and drove that thing for almost ten years.  I brought my first child home from the hospital in that rambling wreck!

Lesson learned. 

And that’s the lesson Jesus wants us to learn. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”  The man in this story doesn’t own the field.  He can’t possibly treat the treasure the way someone does who’s invested in it, who has taken ownership of its perfection, its power, and its perpetuation.  Jesus wants us to buy into his wisdom.

Jesus says, “the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man…who having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”  Jesus wants to sell all we have to take ownership of his Kingdom.  What do we sell?  We sell our pride for humility in Christ.  We sell our greed and our envy for the spirit of sharing.  We sell our wrath for patience and our gluttony for food to feed the hungry.  We sell our lust for attention to shower on our spouses.  And we trade our sloth for the energy to work on behalf of our neighbors and our churches. 

  Jesus says, “Therefore every scribe who has been made a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings out of his treasure new and old things.” Jewish scribes copied Torah scrolls and were extremely careful and accurate experts in the law and the prophets.  They were consulted for answers to serious legal and ethical questions.  And when a householder digs into his savings, when he pulls out some of his treasure, it is only for something of paramount importance.  If we’re smart, we don’t touch our treasure troves – our retirement plans, our IRAs, and our 401Ks – unless it’s absolutely essential.  If we squander it, we’ll have no way to take care ourselves in our old age.    

Those of us who quote the Bible, who discuss its laws and prophecies, are being told to treat what we are dealing with in the same way as the householder – as if our ultimate end, the salvation of ourselves, our families, our neighbors, and all souls on earth depends on it.

Because it does.

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§ 13:49 or, end of the age.

Nasturtium, Square Choke, and the Eyes of Argus: Mettle Maker #365 and Holy Communion for 7/23/23

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Get your tickets now for the 1st Annual Heritage Arts Campout (CLICK HERE FOR THE DETAILS)

Event starts at 4 PM on Friday 10/13/23 and runs through noon on Sunday 10/15/23. Martial arts, fitness, outdoor skills, and spiritual development — for just $25/ticket. CLICK HERE for all the details.

Mettle Maker #365

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.”

Martin “Farmer” Burns

Fitness: Be Argus-eyed for the waste and drain of junk volume. In Greek myth, Argus Panoptes (“all-seeing Argus”) is the many-eyed giant who job it is to guard the priestess Io against the advances of Zeus. I spent months doing a deep dive on the Farmer Burns wrestling correspondence course, actually testing the methods laid out there. And one of the first things that jumped out at me was the amount of junk volume. Don’t get me wrong. There’s some great stuff in there! I was surprised how much I liked some of his self-resistance exercises, breathing exercises, and some of his dumbbell exercises. But the proportion of supportive work to actual wrestling is about 80/20, which should be reversed! If you want to be a good wrestler, wrestle. Don’t waste time on dozens of isometric and isotonic exercises, jumping rope, running, vibrating machines, “internal massage,” and so on. Look at your program. More isn’t always better. Get rid of junk volume, and jealously guard against it's re-entry. Looking for a fitness coach to help you design a training program or keep you on track with regard to your fitness goals? Click here to participate in one of our free programs!

Self-Defense: How tight is your Square Choke? Everybody knows the Rear Naked Choke, and to the untrained eye, the Square Choke is virtually the same. But it ain’t. Square Choke is a forearm attack, and it works like a draw knife rather than as a triangle. And what’s great about it is that it doesn’t matter much where you lay it on — under the chin, across the chin, under the nose, across the cheek, eye-line, or jaw. To practice your square choke power, set a 3-minute timer and latch onto your heavy bag with the proper Gable grip, attacking forearm palm down and as close to parallel to the ground as possible. Now lift your legs off the floor and hang. When you can hold on no longer, switch sides. Alternate until the timer beeps. Put in a few rounds a week this way, switching up chokes from time to time. Now, if you want to know the secret that increases your hang time and your submission power by about 25%, you’ll have to enroll in the Heritage Self-Defense distance learning program. Click here to get started!

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)

Wildwood outdoor skills: Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus), the delicious flower food. Every part of this little beauty are edible, except the roots. It contains a heaping helping of vitamin C, and more lutein than any other plant, more even that kale and turnip greens. And the flavor? it’s about as peppery and delicious as all get out! The best news is that it’s easily grown from seed, and it’s not picky about soil. It just needs plenty of moisture and sun. Sprinkle the seeds in a pot, planter, or bed in May and you’ll enjoy your plants all summer. Need more tips, inspiration and education regarding outdoor skills? Click here and sign up for the 100% free Heritage Wildwood distance learning program!

Holy Communion is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 9AM EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy communion, CLICK HERE.

Homily for the Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Sunday 7/23/23 – Father Mitch

Readings: Wis 12:13, 16-19, Ps 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16, Rom 8:26-27, Mt 13:24-43

Matthew 13:24-43 World English Bible, Catholic Edition

24 He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25  but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds† also among the wheat, and went away. 26  But when the blade sprang up and produced grain, then the darnel weeds appeared also. 27  The servants of the householder came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where did these darnel weeds come from?’

28  “He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them up?’

29  “But he said, ‘No, lest perhaps while you gather up the darnel weeds, you root up the wheat with them. 30  Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First, gather up the darnel weeds, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

31 He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took, and sowed in his field, 32  which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.”

33 He spoke another parable to them. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast which a woman took and hid in three measures‡ of meal, until it was all leavened.”

34 Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the multitudes; and without a parable, he didn’t speak to them, 35 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying,

“I will open my mouth in parables;

I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world.”*

36 Then Jesus sent the multitudes away, and went into the house. His disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the darnel weeds of the field.”

37 He answered them, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, 38  the field is the world, the good seeds are the children of the Kingdom, and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one. 39  The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40  As therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned with fire; so will it be at the end of this age. 41  The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling and those who do iniquity, 42  and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43  Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Various translations use different words for “weed” in Matthew 13:25.  The King James says “tares” were sowed among the wheat.  Tare is an old-fashioned word for a weed.  The Douay Rheims uses “cockles” and the RSV just says “weeds.” But, interestingly, the Greek and Latin both use the word zizanium which is a weed that closely resembles wheat.  I believe the meaning here is that there are Christians, and there are look-alike Christians, and it’s hard to tell the difference.  But Jesus knows.  And when he returns to judge the quick and dead, he’s going to separate the two.  There’s going to be a reckoning. 

As I meditated on this scripture, I remembered a man I haven’t seen in many years.  When my father passed away in 2008, my mother and I were stumbling through the darkness of grief.  Thankfully, my father had prepaid for everything and made all of the arrangements.  The only major thing we had to do was arrange the funeral service itself.  The funeral director put me in touch with a total stranger named Reverend Harry Bowman.  Reverend Bowman was a whip thin man in his 60s who had officiated hundreds of funerals.  He met with us to prepare the eulogy and service, Mom first, then me.  When it was my turn, he gently asked me questions about my father, and got me talking.  I felt like I’d known Reverend Bowman my whole life.  I told him all about my father, about how he was a god-fearing man who had considered becoming a Presbyterian minister as a young man and who read the Bible to me from the time I was born until middle school. 

During the interview he asked me why we weren’t church-going.  I explained that some kind of financial scandal involving the minister and the board had disillusioned my mother and father.  They had left the church for good.  As for me, I said, I just grew up and stopped believing.  I’m ashamed to say that I asked him, “You don’t actually believe all that stuff, like Jesus rising from the grave, do you?”

 He smiled warmly.  And with calm confidence, he said, “Yes, yes indeed.  Without question.  And you should too.”  I confess,  I remember that he did a good job with the service, but I really don’t remember the rest of our conversation or even the details of the service.  It has all been swallowed up in the hazy clouds of grief and time.  But his witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ echo down the years.  And by the way, he also helped me bury my mother, eulogizing her when she passed in 2016.

In my story, the weeds that look like wheat are the ones whose betrayal of their church so disillusioned my parents – and who knows how many others! -- that they left and never went back.  Woe to those look-alike weeds brothers and sisters!  Jesus said, “The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling and those who do iniquity, and will cast them into the furnace of fire.” 

And the good seed?  Well that’s Reverend Harry Bowman, who stood firm in his witness to the truth of the Resurrection.  Who patiently, calmly spoke the truth to a confused man like me.  Who has made a career out of guiding strangers through their darkest hours, steering them patiently toward Christ.     

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† 13:25 darnel is a weed grass (probably bearded darnel or lolium temulentum) that looks very much like wheat until it is mature, when the difference becomes very apparent.

 ‡ 13:33 literally, three sata. Three sata is about 39 liters or a bit more than a bushel

 * 13:35 Psalm 78:2

Chigger Myths, Barking Kick, Old-Time Dumbbells, and More: Mettle Maker #364 and Holy Communion for 7/16/23

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Get your tickets now for the 1st Annual Heritage Arts Campout (CLICK HERE FOR THE DETAILS)

Event starts at 4 PM on Friday 10/13/23 and runs through noon on Sunday 10/15/23. Martial arts, fitness, outdoor skills, and spiritual development — for just $25/ticket. CLICK HERE for all the details.

Mettle Maker #364

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.”

Fitness: Four Old-Time Light Dumbbell Exercises. Old-time dumbbells were light, weighting between 2 and 5 lbs (1 or 2 kilos), and were used in entirely different manner than they are today. Reps per set were comparatively high, from 20 up into the hundreds, and they were used in complex, compound movements rather than to isolate specific muscles.

Here’s a selection four from my forthcoming old-school fitness book — exercises I’ve incorporated into my training with great results. But first, some basic rules.

Old-School Dumbbell Rules

1. Start with light dumbbells, perhaps a pound or two, and work your way up to a max of 5 lbs. per hand.

2. Again — never use dumbbells heavier than 5 lbs. each for old-school exercises!

3. Swinging and Circling are hard on tendons, ligaments, and joints if you fail to maintain control through the movement or simply go too fast. Go slowly, and never sling yourself past your current range of motion.

4. Most of the old-timers recommended around 20 reps per given exercise. Start with a limited number of reps, perhaps 8 or 10, and work your way up somewhere between 20 and a max of 50 reps. Founding father Benjamin Franklin famously recommended 40 Deep Front Swings (Fig. 7). Listen to your body and behave accordingly.

Dumbbells used properly are of great benefit. But used improperly, they are wrecking balls.

• Chargers (Fig 6): Stand erect, holding the bells at the chest. Step out to the side as far as possible, at the same time punching the arms horizontally. Regain the first position and repeat the movement on the opposite side. Vary the movement by stepping to the front and rear.

• Deep Front Swing (Fig 7): Stand with the legs well spread, extend the arms vertically. Bend back as far as possible, then swing the bells down and as far between the legs as possible and up again.

• Squat Press (Fig 8): Bend the legs and keep the back straight, touch the bells to the floor, straighten up, curl, and extend the arms high above the head standing on tip toe.

• Twin Circles (Fig 9): Assume the position pictured. Then, scribing tilted circles with both hands in the same plane, swing both arms together until the right arm is back and the left arm is in front. Repeat to the other side. If you are doing this properly, half way through each rep you will be in a “T” position.

Looking for a fitness coach to help you design a training program or keep you on track with regard to your fitness goals? Click here to participate in one of our free programs!

Self-Defense: How is your Barking Kick? Last week we worked on your décollage. This week let’s work on your Barking Kick. This kick isn’t about power, it’s about closing distance, causing pain, and turning yourself into a striking buzz saw. Watch the video on the left, practice often, and keep your eye out for the next video short in the series. Looking for an affordable American Rough ‘n’ Tumble martial arts coach? Click here to participate in one of our free programs!

Wildwood outdoor skills: The Truth About Chiggers. If you’ve never had chiggers, you probably don’t understand what the fuss is about. If you’re one of those people, you should know that getting covered in chigger bites are the itchiest thing I’ve ever experienced. I’d rather have poison ivy on 75% of my body than chigger bites on one ankle. Trust me — you do NOT want chigger bites!

Chigger biting (from Wikipedia)

As a kid I was taught that chiggers burrow into your skin and take up residence. The way to stop the itch and get them, the old-timers said, was to paint the skin with nail polish to cut off the air supply and choke them out. That’s hogwash. By the time you start to itch, the chiggers have already chewed your flesh and dropped off. It’s the bite that itches. Prevention is the key with chiggers. If you’re going to be going off-trail, hiking in high grass, standing in the weeds by the lake in order to fish, etc. (chiggers love damp grass and weeds!), apply bug repellent containing DEET (studies show citrus oils neither kill nor repel chiggers). If you do not have bug repellent, coat your skin with a thick layer of mud or oil. There is a reason why the ancient Greeks oiled themselves frequently, and why even today so-called primitives still do: oil chokes parasites. If you don’t want to oil up, mud up, or use DEET, you better have access to a shower immediately after your outing. Just wash and scrub thoroughly and throw your clothes straight in the washer, and you should be fine.

Need more tips, inspiration and education regarding outdoor skills? Click here and sign up for the 100% free Heritage Wildwood distance learning program!

Holy Communion is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 9AM EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy communion, CLICK HERE.

Homily for the Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Sunday 7/16/23 – Father Mitch

Readings: Is 55:10-11, Ps 65:10, 11, 12-13, 14, Rom 8:18-23, Mt 13:1-23

Matthew 13:1-23  World English Bible Catholic Edition

On that day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the seaside. 2 Great multitudes gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat and sat; and all the multitude stood on the beach. 3 He spoke to them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, a farmer went out to sow. 4  As he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds came and devoured them. 5  Others fell on rocky ground, where they didn’t have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of earth. 6  When the sun had risen, they were scorched. Because they had no root, they withered away. 7  Others fell among thorns. The thorns grew up and choked them. 8  Others fell on good soil and yielded fruit: some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty. 9  He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

10 The disciples came, and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”

11 He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them. 12  For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he has. 13  Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don’t see, and hearing, they don’t hear, neither do they understand. 14  In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says,

‘By hearing you will hear,

and will in no way understand;

Seeing you will see,

and will in no way perceive;

15  for this people’s heart has grown callous,

their ears are dull of hearing,

and they have closed their eyes;

or else perhaps they might perceive with their eyes,

hear with their ears,

understand with their heart,

and would turn again,

and I would heal them.’*

16  “But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. 17  For most certainly I tell you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which you see, and didn’t see them; and to hear the things which you hear, and didn’t hear them.

18  “Hear, then, the parable of the farmer. 19  When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away that which has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown by the roadside. 20  What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word and immediately with joy receives it; 21  yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22  What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23  What was sown on the good ground, this is he who hears the word and understands it, who most certainly bears fruit and produces, some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.”

In traditional Karate, the only acceptable color for a uniform is white.  White signifies a blank sheet of paper.  It says that everyone is prepared – students and instructors alike -- to watch and listen, to learn lessons, and to take notes.  In a similar vein, the Greek philosopher Socrates said that wonder is the beginning of wisdom.  He believed and taught that the truth emerged out of sincere dialogue -- asking genuine questions and giving honest answers. 

This is universal wisdom.  If we approach a situation, problem, person, or social encounter – literally anything – with a sense of wonder, curiosity, and receptivity, we will learn things.  We find this wisdom offered up by many wise teachers and philosophers across the globe.  But what we are seeing in today’s Gospel reading a much deeper exploration of this dense philosophical concept.

He explains that some, when they receive the truth, are not curious at all.  They have no wonder, no receptivity.  They shrug it off.  This is the seed the evil one snatches away.  Others are moved emotionally and are inspired for a time.  But they don’t ground what they’ve learned in their heart and in their actions.  As soon as things get difficult, because of peer pressure, persecution, or the temptations of riches and social status, they give up.

When asked why he teaches in parables, Jesus says, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.”  He’s saying, “I’m giving it you straight because you get it, but I’m not giving it to them.  They get parables.”  And then he adds, “For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he has.”  Here he expounds the universal wisdom that those who have wonder, curiosity, and receptivity will be drawn ever forward into greater and greater understanding.  But he adds a unique observation: those who don’t cultivate wonder, curiosity, and receptivity will stagnate.

Nothing stays the same.

A scientist who wants to stay relevant and keep innovating must stay up-to-date.  Many professions, like lawyers, doctors and accountants, are required to engage in continuing education in order to be licensed.  This wisdom is everywhere.  But Jesus’ singular observation is deeper still.  The same is true of spiritual knowledge.  If we rest on our laurels, and feel that we’ve made our successes, done our good deeds, and had all our great insights, we begin to fall into an “I have arrived” standpoint, or a “been there, done that” outlook regarding the work of the spirit.  What little wisdom we’ve stored up will depreciate, perhaps even all the way down to hell.

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* 13:15 Isaiah 6:9-10

10 Rules, 2 Kicks, 4 knots, and 1 Yoke: Mettle Maker #363 and Holy Communion for 7/9/23

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Get your tickets now for the 1st Annual Heritage Arts Campout (CLICK HERE FOR THE DETAILS)

Event starts at 4 PM on Friday 10/13/23 and runs through noon on Sunday 10/15/23. Martial arts, fitness, outdoor skills, and spiritual development — for just $25/ticket. CLICK HERE for all the details.

Mettle Maker #363

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.”

Fitness: The Ten Rules of Old-School Calisthenics.

Calisthenics: “The science, art, or practice of healthful exercise of the body and limbs, to promote strength and gracefulness; light gymnastics.” (Webster ‘s Dictionary, 1913 edition)

Old-school calisthenics were like the physical therapy of their time -- the original cross-training used to build up health and support long-term performance in primary activities.  Toward that end, there are rules that should be observed with performing calisthenics the old-fashioned way.

Old-School Calisthenics Rules

1.     Go at a slow pace. 

2.     Avoid bouncing or ballistics.

3.     Maintain total control throughout every movement.

4.     Move through the full range of motion.

5.     Perform at least one deep breath on every rep.  Never hold your breath.

6.     Stay out of the redline.  A motor’s redline is the maximum safe rpm at which it can revolve without damaging components.  Your redline is 80% of your maximum safe heartrate. Find your max by subtracting your age from 220, then multiply that number by 80% to get your redline.  If you’re 30 years old, your max heartrate is 190 bpm (220-30).  Multiply 190 times .8 and your redline is 152 beats per minute (or 25 beats per 10 seconds on your watch).   Keep your heartrate under redline when doing calisthenics.

7.     Stay within failure tolerance. In engineering, the tolerance of a part or system is the performance range in which it continues to execute its defined function without breaking down.  Your “tolerance” is either 1 rep short of failure or when your form is less than perfect, whichever comes first.  If you’re doing Push-ups, for example, you should stop as soon as you feel your butt starting to sag, and/or when you think you might be able to get just one more rep.  Pushing to failure, doing sloppy reps, having to psych yourself up, feeling the need to yell or grunt, indicates you’re exceeding your failure tolerance.       

8.     Eliminate junk volume.  When 25 reps of an exercise becomes easy, move on to a more difficult exercise that works the relevant body part or parts. The old-timers never wasted their time doing beginner exercises once they moved past them, and you shouldn’t either.  Example: When a 60-second Front Plank is easy, begin doing Push-ups on knees.  When 25 of those get easy, begin doing regular Push-ups.    

9.     When you hit the ceiling, go slower.  When 25 reps of the most difficult exercise working that body part(s) becomes easy, decrease the speed at which you perform your 25 reps.  Keep the exercise challenging and fresh by going slower, never by increasing the rep count.

10.  Limit total volume.  No more than 25 reps of each exercise max per day, and no more than 250 total calisthenics reps per day (10 reps each of 25 different exercises, 25 reps of 10 difference exercises, 5 sets of 5 reps of 10 different exercises, etc.).

Observing these 10 simple rules will help ensure that your calisthenics are restorative rather than deteriorative – that they build you up rather than wearing you down. Looking for a fitness coach to help you design a training program or keep you on track with regard to your fitness goals? Click here to participate in one of our free programs!

Self-Defense: How are your skip and décollage kicks? You don’t have to be an acrobat or do be able to do extreme Taekwondo kicks to defend yourself— but it is advantageous to be able to increase your power, move offline, and/or cover additional distance quickly using techiques like skipping and décollage. Watch the video on the left, practice often, and keep your eye out for the next video short in the series. Looking for an affordable American Rough ‘n’ Tumble martial arts coach? Click here to participate in one of our free programs!

Wildwood outdoor skills: How are your knots? If you don’t know the essential twelve, start with the first four basic ones and move on from there. See video on the right, and stay tuned for the next two videos in the series until you’ve masted the 12 knots in the Wildwood distance learning program.. Speaking of which, how would you like more inspiration and education regarding outdoor skills? Click here and sign up for the 100% free Heritage Wildwood distance learning program!

Holy Communion is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 9AM EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy communion, CLICK HERE.

Homily for the Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Sunday 7/9/23 – Father Mitch

Readings: Zec 9:9-10, Ps 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14, Rom 8:9, 11-13, Mt 11:25-30

Matthew 10:26—33  World English Bible Catholic Edition

25 At that time, Jesus answered, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to infants. 26  Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight. 27  All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father, except the Son and he to whom the Son desires to reveal him.

28  “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. 29  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. 30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

“Come to me all who labor and are heavily burdened and I will give you rest.”  Brothers and sisters, what kind of labor?  Not just any kind of labor.  In the Greek this is kopos, which is labor to exhaustion, serious toil.  And what kind of burden? Well, since Jesus says in the next sentence, “you will find rest for your souls” we can tell that he is talking about soul-crushing burdens -- physical and spiritual loads that are too much for one person to bear.

For a year back in 1989 supervised a work crew stacking bricks in a coal-fired brick plant.  These men pulled bricks off the kiln cars, still warm from fire. For eight hours a day, five days a week, they stooped, lifted, and stacked. The plant had no air conditioning and in the summer the kilns rose the heat into the triple digits.  Sweat pooled in puddles on the deck boards. Nobody got on that platform on purpose, I can assure you of that.  Some were ex-cons.  Some had dropped out of school. One of my men had declined his previous employer’s offer of early retirement at 50% pension, only to be laid off a few months later.  At almost 60 years old, uneducated, he found himself stuck on that insufferable platform.  All of those men were well aware that they were paying for every last one of their mistakes in a kind of earthly hell.  That’s the kind of toil Jesus is talking about here.

And Jesus is also talking about spiritual toil.  We’re talking now about people who have sinned, repented, and made amends, but who still can’t give up their crushing guilt.  Or people who want to stop bad behaviors, but who can’t.  Alcoholics, drug and gambling addicts, kleptomaniacs, people stuck in back-breaking spiritual labor with no end in sight.

Jesus begins telling us how to manage these burdens by thanking his Father for revealing the secret to little children.  A child, you see, can do nothing alone.  A child relies on his or her parents for support.  “Daddy, Mommy, tie my shoe.”  “I feel down and hurt myself.”  “I’m hungry.”  Jesus couldn’t have carried his cross if it hadn’t been for his Father.  The Father passes the strength to the Son, and the Son passes it to us.  Jesus says, “No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father, except the Son and he to whom the Son desires to reveal him.”

And then Jesus concludes, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  A yoke is a wooden contraption for tying two oxen together so that they can pull a wagon or a plough.  Jesus is telling us that, if we want to find rest for our weary souls, all we have to do is yoke ourselves to him as he is yoked to the Father.  He’s telling us to rely on him as a child relies on its parents.

It’s an easy yoke, and it’s not a burden.  It is a relief, a fantastic blessing, to know that we don’t have to keep shouldering our burdens alone.  We can yoke ourselves to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.  This is how we relieve our suffering today and find eternal bliss in the life to come.

Mettle Maker #362 and Holy Communion for 7/2/23

DID YOU KNOW…? That you you can get a daily motivational text message from Heritage Arts? Click the awesome (and perhaps a bit cheesy?) scrolling link below to sign up!

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Get your tickets now for the 1st Annual Heritage Arts Campout

Event starts at 4 PM on Friday 10/13/23 and runs through noon on Sunday 10/15/23. Martial arts, fitness, outdoor skills, and spiritual development — for just $25/ticket. CLICK HERE for all the details.

Mettle Maker #362

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.”

Fitness and Self-Defense combo: Want to get your blood pumping with some practical fitness? Even people who aren’t into martial arts per se like to hit the heavy bag, right? Well, why not try pounding on a floor bag or sand bag? Set a timer for 4 rounds of 2 minutes each, no breaks, and run through this 8-minute beauty: 2 mins of Tackles to ground ‘n’ pound, 2 mins of Bottom Scissors squeeze and hit, 2 mins of Squeezes (arms and legs!), and 2 mins of Scarf Hold Switches. Now that’s what I call practical fitness and practical martial arts! Want to learn more old-school fitness and martial arts material? Need a Rough ‘n’ Tumble coach so you can learn more practical self-defensey sort of stuff? Need a fitness coach to help you design a training program that works for you? Click here to participate in one of our free programs!

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A selection of edible flowers that I dried and sealed for future use.

Wildwood outdoor skills: Edible flowers make superlative herbal teas. Grow them, pick them while fresh, and dry them in your dehydrator (or the old-fashioned way — on racks in a a cool, dry, well ventilated place). Use them within a couple of weeks, or package them with a vacuum sealer and save them for winter. Nasturtium is my current favorite — so peppery! Want more inspiration, and education, regarding outdoor skills? Click here and sign up for the 100% free Heritage Wildwood distance learning program!

Holy Communion is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 9AM EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy communion, CLICK HERE.

Homily for the Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Sunday 7/2/23 – Father Mitch

Readings: 2 Kgs 4:8-11, 14-16a, Ps 89:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, Rom 6:3-4, 8-11, Mt 10:37-42

Matthew 10:26—33  World English Bible Catholic Edition

37  He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me. 38  He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me isn’t worthy of me. 39  He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.

40  “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me. 41  He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. He who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42  Whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.”

Brothers and sisters, what usually passes for peace is something like a momentary  compromise, a negotiated ceasefire between combatants.  Open argument stops, but the parties continue to disagree fundamentally.  Fighting stops, but beneath the surface there is still anger and hatred.  But a truce isn’t peace. 

There may be periods of time when no rockets pass between Israel and Palestine, but there is no peace.  There are no Chinese troops currently invading Taiwan, and there is no bloodshed at the 38th parallel between North and South Korea at the moment, but there is no peace between these nations.  They’re not presently killing each other, but there are a great deal of people on both sides who would like to be.  That’s not peace.

Parents lay down the law and the kids may go along.  But behind bedroom doors, there’s plenty of grumbling on both sides.   Husbands and wives often disagree but bite their tongues and turn a cold shoulder.  Discontent continues to simmer.  Frustration keeps bubbling.  That’s not peace either.

Peace only comes when people talk honestly, discuss openly, and solve truly.  All of the old tit-for-tat, Hatfield-vs.-McCoy games have to be given up.  Truth has to be the highest ideal for all the negotiants.  This is why Jesus says that “He who loves father or mother…son or daughter, more than me isn’t worthy of me.”  At some point during these discussions, one or both parties must give up on “my country wrong or right.” 

Each side must forfeit petty grievances, give up on pride, and surrender their avenging will.  They must make a sacrifice.  A sacrifice.  Don’t you see?  This is why Jesus says, “He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me isn’t worthy of me.”  That’s how you make peace here and now.  And that peace is far greater, an order of magnitude greater, than a mere truce or cease-fire.  It’s a laudable goal.  We should always strive for peace.  But there is an even greater Peace – a capital “P” kind of Peace – that’s an order of magnitude greater even than that: the Peace of Christ. 

The Peace of Christ only inheres when we surrender our lives to Christ. Jesus says, “He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.”  We have let him take control.  To find peace between nations and families, we must sacrifice our petty jealousies, indictments, and vendettas.  But to find the Peace of Christ we have to sacrifice our whole selves. We have to get beyond the uneasy peace inside our heads and hearts.  We must stop rationalizing our lusts, compromising with our sins, holding onto our egos.  The Holy Spirit says in Revelation 3:16, “Because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.” 

God spits out the half-hearted truce-maker.  He spits out those seek to justify their internal, petty dictators and make deals with the devil.  Let’s not settle for truces, uneasy peaces, or temporary cease-fires – in the world or in ourselves.  Let us seek the true Peace of Christ.

Mettle Maker #361 and Holy Communion for 6/25/23

An Announcement

Hello brothers and sisters! I’ve been a little bit swamped lately, so this week’s post is a little late (just like last week's). Why have I been swamped? On account of my vestment into the priesthood yesterday. After a week of preparation, I left at 4 AM Saturday morning, drove 6 hours to The Riverside Church in NYC, got vested, performed my first Mass, had coffee, sandwiches, and fellowship, and then drove the six hours back. Frankly, It was all I could do to get Holy Communion done this morning after getting back into town last night just after 11 PM. See the photo set below. Online Holy Communion will transition to online Mass starting soon.

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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.”

DID YOU KNOW…? That you you can get a daily motivational text message from Heritage Arts? Click the awesome (and perhaps a bit cheesy?) scrolling link below to sign up!

Click here to sign up for daily motivational text messages!

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Mettle Maker #361

Fitness: What is “fitness?” On the right is an 8-minute, practical fitness drill for self-defense and survival. Maybe your idea of fitness is losing 100 pounds, bench pressing your body weight, running your first 10K, or looking good with your shirt off. Regardless of your definition, if you’re looking for a free coach — somebody to help you design a fitness program and to help keep you motivated and on track — Sign up for our free distance learning program.

Self-defense: Put in 3 rounds of “shadow wrestling.” Get out your floor bag and lay the smackdown on it. Come up with your own routine or watch the video on the left (and by the way, there’s a personal development bonus element to that drill that you won’t want to miss). Want more martial arts training info? Check our our free distance learning program.

Wildwood. Check out this video about Danish outdoor kindergartens. The evidence is in — has been in for many, many years — that outdoor play is fantastic for kids and adults! Everybody wants to talk about “hacking” stuff, especially your brain. Here’s a great mental health “hack.” Go outside and engage in unstructured play, and take your kids with you if you have any. You’ll be glad you did. Is there enough interest to start an outdoor kindergarten here in Richmond? Well, if there was, Heritage Arts would love to be involved. If you would like to lend money, time, and/or resources to such a project, email me at mitch@heritageartsinc.com.

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 Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Sunday 6/25/23 – Father Mitch

Readings: Jer 20:10-13, Ps 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35, Rom 5:12-15, Mt 10:26-33

Matthew 10:26—33  World English Bible Catholic Edition

26  Therefore don’t be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27  What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops. 28  Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.†

29  “Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin?‡ Not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31  Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows. 32  Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven. 33  But whoever denies me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven.

Brothers and sisters, Truth, along with Goodness and Beauty, is one of the three transcendentals.  The transcendentals are the three irreducible qualities.  Think of it this way.  Most numbers can be evenly divided, like 16 let’s say, into 2 times 8, or 4 times 4.  Qualities are the same way.  Patriotism, for example, can be divided into constituent parts.  It’s made up of love of country, military service, civil service, philosophical and cultural aspects, defense of shared values, and so on.  Just as there are prime numbers that cannot be evenly reduced – like 1, 3, 5, 7, 11, etc. – the transcendental qualities cannot be reduced any further either.  According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we can’t conceive of God’s infinite perfection. But we can see a reflection his perfection in the three irreducible transcendentals when they manifest in his creatures:

41 All creatures bear a certain resemblance to God, most especially man, created in the image and likeness of God. the manifold perfections of creatures - their truth, their goodness, their beauty all reflect the infinite perfection of God. *

So, in a sense, whenever we see Truth, Goodness, and Beauty in God’s creation, we see his fingerprints.

The power of Truth is in the forefront of today’s Gospel reading, which reminds us that speaking the truth is essential.  Look, we’re not perfect.  It’s difficult to communicate with others when we’re being honest and kind.  But if we twist facts, hide motives, and behave inconsiderately, communication is downright impossible.  Without truth, communication is doomed.  When I mentor people in the business world who aspire to be managers, I stress the importance of truth in all they do.  I often say, “Your success as a manager is directly proportional to your ability to express the truth with kindness, diplomacy, and tact.”  Without this ability, a manager can’t coach employees, build consensus among groups, gain the confidence of customers, or really do anything.  And the same is true of parents, coaches, and leaders of all kinds. 

There is no leadership without the ability to speak the truth in a unifying manner.  Jesus knows this.  And so, in today’s Gospel reading, he tells us to proclaim his truth without fear.  He knows that if we speak the truth – all forms of truth, but especially the truth of his Gospel – his message will spread.  Lives will be enriched, families strengthened, businesses improved, governments and organizations purged of corruption, and most importantly, souls will be saved. 

Fear not those who can only kill the body.  Speak the truth, in all things and about all things, and transform the world. 

† 10:28 or, Hell.

‡ 10:29 An assarion is a small coin worth one tenth of a drachma or a sixteenth of a denarius. An assarion is approximately the wages of one half hour of agricultural labor.

* Catechism of the Catholic Church, Section 41: https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__PC.HTM

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§ 9:36 TR reads “weary” instead of “harassed”

† 10:3 NU omits “Lebbaeus, who was also called”

‡ 10:8 TR adds “raise the dead,”

Mettle Maker #360 and Holy Communion for 6 /18/23

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 #360

DID YOU KNOW…? That you you can get a daily motivational text message from Heritage Arts? Click the awesome (and perhaps a bit cheesy?) scrolling link below to sign up!

Click here to sign up for daily motivational text messages!

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Fitness and Self-Defense combo: Breathing exercises — yea or nay? “Cleansing breaths” seem to be a universal and perennial favorite. But are they useful? Do they do anything? If so, what exactly do they do? Before you poo-poo them, I suggest giving them a try. I’ve been doing the Farmer Burns breathing exercises for a while now (see video on the left), right at the beginning of every training session, and and I have to say that I really like them. Can I quantify it? Do I have data? Nope. They’re just fun, and I feel like my training sessions are more relaxed and yet focused now that I’m doing them. I’d love to hear your thoughts and impressions after giving them a good try — not just once mind you, but at the beginning of every training session for a couple of months. Want to learn more old-school fitness and martial arts material? Need a Rough ‘n’ Tumble coach so you can learn more practical self-defensey sort of stuff? Need a fitness coach to help you design a training program that works for you? Click here to participate in one of our free programs!

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Blephilia ciliata a.k.a. Downy Wood Mint. Use leaves and flower petals for tea.

Wildwood outdoor skills: When was the last time you went camping? Got outside for a couple of days to see what you could see? My youngest daughter took me out into the woods for a Father’s Day camping trip and we saw all kinds of cool stuff (photo set below) including tons of beaver sign, a blue-tailed skink, enough oxe-eye daisy to fill up an 18-wheeler, and a nice-sized patch of Blephilia ciliata a.k.a. Downy Wood Mint (right). Leaves and flower petals make a mild tea. Want more inspiration, and education, regarding 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 Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time, Sunday 6/18/23 – Archdeacon Mitch

Readings: Ex 19:2-6a, Ps 100:1-2, 3, 5, Romans 5:6-11, Matthew 9:36—10:8

Matthew 9:36—10:8  World English Bible Catholic Edition

36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them because they were harassed§ and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38  Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest.”

1 He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these. The first, Simon, who is called Peter; Andrew, his brother; James the son of Zebedee; John, his brother; 3 Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus; Lebbaeus, who was also called† Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

5 Jesus sent these twelve out and commanded them, saying, “Don’t go among the Gentiles, and don’t enter into any city of the Samaritans. 6  Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7  As you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’ 8  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers,‡ and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give.

Brothers and sisters, this week we have no holiday, no solemnity, and no feast.  It’s not Easter, or Christmas, or any of that.  And yet in this week’s readings we find a message that is one of the most profound and important in all the Gospel.

In our reading of Romans 5:6-11, Paul says, “God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  And then he adds, “For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life.”  He’s saying in essence, “If you think Christ’s Passion reconciled you to God, you ain’t seen nothing yet -- wait until you see what comes with accepting Christ’s Resurrection!”

Imagine if we allowed ourselves to be crucified and resurrected in Christ.  What might we be capable of?  What might we be able to achieve?  We might be able to become “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” as we heard in our first reading from Exodus.  It might even be possible for us to go forth, as the disciples are charged to do in today’s Gospel reading, to “heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons” -- freely giving as we freely received.  

Why freely giving?  Because Christ freely gave his life for us.  And also because, as Ezekiel says in Ezekiel 17:24, it is the Lord who brings low the high tree and lifts up the low tree; who withers up the green tree and makes the withered tree bloom.  It is God who decides who is blessed and who is damned, who will wither in the wilderness of falsehood and who will take root and blossom in his truth.  And so, it’s not for us to decide to whom we should and should not freely give our love. 

Next Saturday, June 24th, 2023 on the Feast of the Solemnity of St. John the Baptist, I will be vested as a priest.  During last night’s session of the final class I’m required to take in preparation for the service, Father Clyde Kuemmerle told us that in the old days, priests used to frequently walk their parishes, speaking to everyone they met, getting to know each and every neighbor, offering help and assistance to the baptized and the unbaptized alike.  He said that I would do well to emulate the old ways.

And that’s great advice for us all.  Each and every one of us should strive to be a priest, and everyone we meet should be our neighbor.  And let’s not forget that our assignment is to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mt 22:39-40). 

---

§ 9:36 TR reads “weary” instead of “harassed”

† 10:3 NU omits “Lebbaeus, who was also called”

‡ 10:8 TR adds “raise the dead,”

Smoke, Food, and True Food: Mettle Maker #359 and Holy Communion for the Feast of Corpus Christi

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 #359

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Fitness and Self-Defense combo: It’s not about what you can’t do, it’s about what you can do. The recent wildfires in Canada caused a severe reduction in air quality all the way down the eastern seaboard to the Carolinas. My training takes place 100% outdoors. And since the air quality advisory for several days was red — unsafe for people with heart or breathing ailments — and I have heart trouble, I had to either skip training for several days or make do indoors without most of my equipment. Take a look at the photo set above left. I substituted a pouf ottoman for a heavy bag and practiced my squeezes and my pressuring. I did Farmer Burns’ dumbbell routine. I did a constitutional — 25 reps each of Reg Push-ups, Jackknifes, Russian Squats, Knuckle Push-ups, Single Leg Raise, Reg. Squats, and Ab Rolls. I did my body toughening using a brick from the garden and scrap of mulberry. No excuses, people — no excuses. It aint about what you can’t do, it’s what you can do. T'suh!!!! Need Rough ‘n’ Tumble coach so you can learn more practical self-defensey sort of stuff? Need a fitness coach to help you design a training program that works for you? Click here to participate in one of our free programs!

Red Mulberry — edible or not edible? If you don’t know, do you know how to test it?

Wildwood outdoor skills: Plant edibility testing. If you are in a survival situation and desperate for food, do you know how to test the edibility of an unknown plant? Did you read last week’s post about the edibility test devised by the U.S. military? You gotta do it — get over there and get that knowledge! Want more inspiration, and education, regarding 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 Feast of Corpus Christi, Sunday 6/11/23 – Archdeacon Mitch

Readings: Dt 8:2-3, 14b-16a, Ps 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20, 1 Cor 10:16-17, Jn 6:51-58

John 6:51-58  World English Bible Catholic Edition

Jesus said, 51  I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Yes, the bread which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

52 The Jews therefore contended with one another, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

53 Jesus therefore said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don’t have life in yourselves. 54  He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55  For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56  He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him. 57  As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on me will also live because of me. 58  This is the bread which came down out of heaven—not as our fathers ate the manna and died. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

These days most folks seem to believe humanity can nourish itself.  Afterall, we grow food and raise livestock on industrial farms don’t we?  And, thanks to innovations in agriculture, improvements in financial markets, advances in international relations, and the retreat of communism, we have raised more people out of poverty and starvation in the last 20 years than we did in the previous 200 years. 

And, fewer people are dying by violence in this century than in the last.  Owing to the collapse of socialist regimes like Germany’s Third Reich and the U.S.S.R., and owing to capitalist reforms in China, fewer people are dying by violence in this century than in the last.

On the medical front, human life expectancy continues to increase.  More and more diseases are being pushed back with new medications and treatments.  And somehow, despite disagreement and contentiousness about the right policies and treatments, we were able to overcome a worldwide pandemic with far fewer casualties than projected.

So, at first glance, humanity seems to have things under control.  But the exact opposite is true.  Monsanto can genetically engineer drought-resistant crop seeds, but only God can send down the sun and rain to raise corn from seed to ear. Only God holds the key to the mystery of germination.  We can create antibiotics, medications, and technologies to improve the yield of livestock farms, but only God can breathe life into a newborn calf, or stir the tiny heart of a chick to peck its way from the shell. 

Scientists and doctors can engineer new treatments to support the body, but end the end, all healing is the body healing itself by the miracle of God’s curative process.

And just because we’ve decided to take a break from the slaughter of the last century – two worldwide wars, a genocide, and a half-dozen communist purges – we shouldn’t believe that we can nourish ourselves morally and ethically.  There’s a war going on right now in Ukraine.  Political polarization is at an all-time high in the U.S. and in Europe.  Make no mistake: one match could once again set the world ablaze.  We could quickly return to the desert of famine, poverty, war, and disease. 

We could once again be like the Hebrews following Moses into the desert, fleeing Egyptian tyranny and searching for the promised land.  When they hungered and thirsted for physical, moral, and spiritual nourishment, God send manna from heaven like the dewfall so that the people could gather it each morning and live. But that bread, miraculous though it was, was but a dim foreshadowing of Jesus Christ to come. 

Today, as we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood of Christ, let’s remind ourselves, and our fellow man, that we cannot nourish ourselves physically, morally, or spiritually.  Let’s proclaim to the world that, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matt 5:6); that all physical sustenance is a biological miracle that comes from God; that morality itself emerges from God because God is Love, and the fullness of spiritual nourishment lies in the living bread that came down from heaven, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Stalking, Setback Coaching, and Edibility Testing: Mettle Maker #358 and Holy Communion for 6/4/23

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 #358

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Self-Defense: If called upon to do so, can you silently avoid or ambush a nefarious malefactor? Don’t assume you could move quietly if you needed to. Practice regularly. See the video on the left for inspiration (and proper foot position). Need Rough ‘n’ Tumble coach so you can learn more practical self-defensey sort of stuff? 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: How do you deal with injuries, lack of success, age, and other set-backs? Life isn't about what you can do -- it's about what you can do. Thinking about what used to be isn’t helpful. "Mr. Used-to" is dead and gone. After my heart attack, I had to adjust everything. Age never stops taking its toll. But I was patient. I started training old-school, using the philosophy espoused by Mark Hatmaker, Dan John, Farmer Burns, and so on, and I’ve never felt more more alive.

T'suh!!!! (That’s a Comanche expression — click the link for the background)

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Wildwood outdoor skills: Plant edibility testing. If you are in a survival situation and desperate for food, do you know how to test the edibility of an unknown plant? Here is the edbility test devised by the U.S. military. The document in which it is found, Survival — Army Techniques Publication

No. 3-50.21, is an excellent resource and is recommended reading for all sturdents in the Heritage Wildwood program.

U.S. MILITARY PLANT EDIBILITY TESTING

4-57. Select plants that grow in sufficient quantity within the local area to justify the edibility test and provide a lasting source of food if the plant proves edible. Plants growing in water or moist soil are often the most palatable. Plants growing in shaded areas are less bitter. There are exceptions to every rule, but isolated persons should only select unknown plants as a last resort.

4-58. When selecting unknown plants for possible consumption, remember the poisonous characteristics to avoid. Apply the edibility test to only one plant at a time so if some abnormality does occur, it will be obvious which plant caused the problem. Once a plant has been selected to be tested, proceed as follows:

• Step 1. If there are any unpleasant odors such as a moldy or musty smell coming from the plant, stop testing and disregard as a possible edible plant option. Also, if the plant gives off an “almond” scent, disregard it as a possible edible plant option.

• Step 2. Crush or break part of the plant to determine the color of its sap. If the sap is clear, proceed to the next step.

• Step 3. Touch the plant's sap or juice to the inner forearm. If there are no ill effects, such as a rash or burning sensation to the skin, then proceed with the rest of the steps.

• Step 4. If a there was not an ill reaction when touching the inner forearm, place some of the plant juice on the outer lip for eight minutes. If a reaction occurs, stop the test.

• Step 5. If still no reaction, taste a small pinch of the plant and leave it in the mouth for eight minutes. If there is an unpleasant taste, such as bitterness or a numbing sensation of the tongue or lips, stop the test. If a reaction does not occur, swallow the pinch of plant.

• Step 6. After swallowing, wait eight hours. If there is no reaction after eight hours, chew a handful of the plant, swallow, and wait an additional eight hours. If no reaction occurs after eight hours, consider the tested plant part edible.

• Step 7. Eat any new or strange food with restraint until the body has become accustomed to it. The plant may be slightly toxic and harmful when eaten in large quantities.

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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 Trinity Sunday 6/4/23 – Archdeacon Mitch

Readings: Ex 34:4b-6, 8-9, Dn 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 2 Cor 13:11-13, Jn 3:16-18

John 3:16-18  World English Bible Catholic Edition

16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born§ Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17  For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. 18  He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only born Son of God.

All sin, as St. Augustine said, is “incurvatus in se” – to be curved inward on oneself.  Not expanding outward to fulfill one’s proper role in the family, the community, the nation, and the world, but collapsed inwardly.  The seven deadly sins manifest this truth.  Pride is the mirror that says we are the loveliest of all, and envy is the one that says we are not, but we should be. Greed and lust are obsessions with obtaining our desires.  Wrath is about exerting our will, and sloth is disregard for our duties to others.

The opposite of curving inward is to give of oneself, which God embodies in his trinitarian structure.  In his role as the source and establisher of creation, God is the sheer act of being itself.  God could have remained inward, a single point, complete in himself.  But in his goodness, for our benefit, he looked out upon the void, imagined reality itself, and spoke it into being.

And then we, humanity, curved inward on ourselves.  The church fathers agree that the apple would have been ours eventually, when we were ready. But we were concerned, not with God’s plan or the fate of our descendants, but rather with our immediate wants and desires.  We could have expanded outside ourselves to fill up our role in his creation.  But instead, concerned with our will, we grasped rather than waiting to be offered, and collapsed inwardly into sin.

Yet God, ever-loving, ever-forgiving, ever-expansive, sent his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, down into our sin to pull us out.  Again, God could’ve remained a single, fixed point, being complete as he truly is, in and of himself.  But no -- he deigned to grant us a second point of contact.  He came down and offered himself up in total sacrifice to show us the way out of the inward-curving, downward spiral we created. 

This act of complete sacrifice and love we repaid by killing him on a cross.  Did God withdraw?  Did he become angry, and disdain his creation?  No.  He went further still.  Our ever-forgiving, ever-loving God gave even more.  He gifted us a third point of connection, the Holy Ghost, to be with us always and show us the way.

Today, brothers and sisters, let us with one voice celebrate and praise the Holy Trinity.  Let us embrace him as our Holy Father, who rightly and sweetly ordered all things, who gave us rules and structure, laws of physics, morality, and ethics.  Let us accept his son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, the Logos, whose loving hands created meaning itself and reached down into our sin to drag us upward into eternal life.  Let us burn with the fire of God’s Holy Ghost and embody his goodness and truth.

Let us not grasp, hold, and curve inwardly, but live by God’s example and forgive, freely give, and empty ourselves out into the world.

Mettle Maker #357 and Holy Communion for Pentecost Sunday 5/28/23

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 #357

DID YOU KNOW…? That you you can get a daily motivational text message from Heritage Arts? Click the awesome (and perhaps a bit cheesy?) scrolling link below to sign up!

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Self-Defense: It’s wrestling week this week. Do 25 Bridges per day, every day this week. A proper Bridge and roll is a wonderful thing. It’s supremely useful for getting off the bottom and should be your bread-and-butter. Make it happen and thank us later. Arch your back as high as you can. Begin your turn. Transfer weight from the heel to the side of the heavy foot, and from the back/crown of the head to the side of the head and/or shoulder. Lift the light foot and swing it over as you complete your roll. At no point should any part of your body touch the floor except your head/shoulder and feet. Reapeat until the cows come home. If none of this makes sense, sounds like you need a Rough ‘n’ Tumble self-defense coach! 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: Old school breathing exercises? Who needs ‘em? Maybe you do. The old-timers all swore by deep breathing exercises, something that modern folks have mostly left behind.  Here are the three advocated by the great Martin “Farmer” Burns. Try them and I guarantee you will like them.

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First Exercise: Heels together, feet at 90 degrees.  Place hands above shoulders as pictured in Plate 1.  Breathe in slowly and deeply as you raise your hands to the position indicated (this should take about 4 seconds).  Time your breath and your arms precisely such that lungs are full to the maximum just as hands are extended above the head.  Hold position with lungs full and airways open – do not clamp down on the breath – for about 4 seconds.  Slowly lower arms and place hands at shoulders as you exhale.  Again, time your movements to ensure that lungs are empty at the exact point fingertips are at the shoulders.  This too should take about 4 seconds.  Hold position with lungs empty and airways open for about 4 seconds.  Repeat 10 times.

 Second Exercise:  Heels together, feet at 90 degrees.  Start leaning forward, lungs empty, bent slightly at the waist, hands palms down and extended in front of the body as shown in Plate 2.   Breathe in slowly and stand straight and bring your arms back into a “T” with palms facing up.  This should take about 4 seconds.  Time breath and arms precisely such that lungs are full to the maximum just as hands are extended above the head.  Hold position with lungs full and airways open – do not clamp down on the breath – for about 4 seconds.  Slowly lean forward and extend arms as you exhale, returning to starting position.  Again, time your movements to ensure lungs are empty at the exact point arms are extended with palms down.  This too should take about 4 seconds.  Hold position with lungs empty and airways open for about 4 seconds.  Repeat 10 times.

Third Exercise:  Heels together, feet at 90 degrees.  Grasp left wrist with right hand.  Raise arms slowly, inhaling as you go, reaching as high as you can.  Make this take about 4 seconds.  Time breath and arms precisely such that lungs are full to the maximum just as arms are extended above the head.  Hold position with lungs full and airways open – do not clamp down on the breath – for about 4 seconds.  Slowly exhale, returning to starting position.  Again, time your movements to ensure lungs are empty at the exact point arms are back to starting position in Plate 3.  This too should take about 4 seconds.  Hold position with lungs empty and airways open for about 4 seconds.  Repeat 10 times.

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Wildwood outdoor skills: Mountains — get there.

“The early settlers of this earth, when standing at the foot of a mountain and looking up to where its head vanishes in the clouds, could not help feeling overawed by these stupendous giants. We take all these things for granted, and we have learnt to know what is beyond these mountains; nay, how they were made, and how they can be unmade. But to the early people a mountain-range marked the end of their little world. They saw the dawn, the sun, the moon and the stars rising above the mountain-tops, the very sky seemed to rest on them ; but what was beyond or beneath or above, no one could guess. In later times the highest mountains were often believed to be the seats of the gods, and the highest points were often chosen as the most appropriate for building temples to the gods. “ (Natural Religion by by Max Muller, 1898, page 151)

Want more inspiration, and education, regarding 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 Pentecost Sunday 5/28/23 – Archdeacon Mitch

Readings: Acts 2:1-11, 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34, 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13, Veni, Sancte Spiritus, Jn 20:19-23

Acts 2:1-11  World English Bible Catholic Edition

1 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky. 6 When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans? 8 How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabians—we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”

Flame?  Tongues of fire?  Tongues of fire that came down to rest on each of the disciples?  What is this flame that gives them the ability to communicate with people of all cultures and fills them with miraculous energy, dedication, drive, and fearlessness, such that they are able to face persecution, torture, and execution in order to spread the message?

This is the same flame that set a bush alight without consuming it, drew Moses aside from his path, and signaled that he must take on a new life’s mission – to lead his people out of bondage.

This is the same flame that, after the people have escaped Egyptian tyranny, appears as a pillar of fire to lead them through the wilderness by night.  In Deut 4:24 we read, “Our God is a consuming fire.”   And Isaiah declares,

Who among us can live with the devouring fire?

Who among us can live with everlasting burning?

He who walks righteously

and speaks blamelessly,

he who despises the gain of oppressions,

who gestures with his hands, refusing to take a bribe,

who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed,

and shuts his eyes from looking at evil –

he will dwell on high. (Isa 33:14b-16a)

And so we see now that this is the flame that does not consume our flesh but, if we allow it, burns away our desire to sin and shows us a way through the darkness we encounter in daily life.  This is the flame that burns away our appetite for money, power, and fame, and lights us up with passion to do God’s work.

This is the fire that, as we try to walk the footsteps of Jesus Christ, burns away the dead wood and renews the forest of our heart, mind, and soul. 

This is the flame that so purified the and illuminated St. Paul that he was able to proclaim, “I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.” (Gal 2:20) 

This is the fire of the Holy Ghost.  Let us all, my brothers and sisters, burn with this fire.  Let us give our lives to Christ and proclaim him to the nations as the disciples did.  And let us all pray, as the priest does in Mass after he has incensed the altar, “May the Lord enkindle within us the fire of His love and the flame of everlasting charity.”

Mettle Maker #356 and Holy Communion for 5/21/23

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 #356

DID YOU KNOW…? That you you can get a daily motivational text message from Heritage Arts? Click the awesome (and perhaps a bit cheesy?) scrolling link below to sign up!

Click here to sign up for DAILY MOTIVATIONAL text messages!

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Self-Defense: This simple hack makes your training more realistic and increases fighting effectiveness. To simulate hair, a shirt, necktie, scarf, or just an ear, tie a rag to every heavy bag and floor bag you own, and practice yanking it. The old-timers called this lugging. See the snip below from the Etymological and Pronouncing Dictionary of the English Language (1881) and watch the video on the right.

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I know. This sounds simple. But if you don’t practice it you won’t do it. Get there. 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: What Dr. Stuart McGill calls “stone” is the kind of strength associated with stability. Heavy carries are the secret sauce. My high school friend Scott was a farm boy. One day I went to his house to fly model rockets and planes, and he said he had to do a couple of chores first. He drove the truck down to the barn, picked up a giant rototiller — by himself — and put it in the truck. He added several adult sheep (about 150 lbs each) and moved the whole load to another barn on the other side of the property. Scott was about 5’11” and about 170lbs. I was gobsmacked. He moved very heavy, awkwardly-shaped objects like nothing. That’s why I wasn’t at all shocked when, one day a few months later, Scott exhibited remarkable strength during a friendly game of tackle football. A large, athletic kid named Terry had started playing too rough, literally throwing his weight around, bullying, dominating, and humiliating the rest of us who were much smaller. Finally Scott had enough of it. As Terry cut across the field with the ball, Scott headed toward him. Terry was confident he could brush off the smaller, and much nerdier, Scott. But, to his surprise, Scott executed a crushing tackle. Terry hit the ground, the ball went flying, and he lay there with the wind knocked out, struggling to recover. When it comes to building functional strength for contact sports and real life activities, there’s no substitute for heavy carries.

MITCH’s STONE STRENGTH REGIMEN

Day A: Bear Hug Carry (hvy), Farmer Walk (hvy), Dragon Flag

Day B: Aux Carry (Shoulder, Suitcase, KBS, etc.), Box Squats, Ab Roller

Day C: Bear Hug Carry (lgt), Farmer Walk (med), Chin-up/Pull-up, Dragon Flag

Day D: Aux Carry (Shoulder, Suitcase, KBS, etc.), Box Squats, Ab Roller

Day E: Bear Hug Carry (MED), Farmer Walk (LIGHT), Chin-up/Pull-up, Dragon Flag

• Work A--> E in order

• Take a day off as needed — approx. 4 on/1 off, 1.5 days/week on average

• Old School Protocol: no screaming, no insanity, if you can't do it every day you can't do it, gains need to be solidified, etc.

• Light = 10+ reps, or 50+ yards, per set

• Medium = 6 to 9 reps, or 25 to 50 yards, per set

• Heavy = 3 to 5 reps, or <25 yards, per set

Need help integrating heavy carries into your fitness program? Click here to sign up for our free distance learning program.

Wildwood outdoor skills: Elderberry is in bloom! The nifty plant on the right is Sambucus canadensis a.k.a. Elderberry. This little beauty likes moist areas, along the edges of creeks and drainage ditches where it can get full or partial sun. Flowers are edible raw (pluck them for addition to herbal tea, add mash to make drinks, dip the flower clusters in batter and fry them as fritters, etc.). The berries must be cooked and seeds strained before adding to jam, jelly, pie, wine, or mixed drinks. Never eat leaves or stems. In the photo set on the right you will find two elderberry recipes from Nelson Coon’s excellent book, Using Wayside Plants. The evidence for the health benefits of elderberry are really piling up. Doctors are now advising patients to take elderberry syrup to help fight colds and flu. Do not eat elderberries if you suffer from an autoimmune-related disease or are taking an immunosuppressant. 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 Ascension of the Lord, Sunday 5/21/23 – Archdeacon Mitch

Readings: Acts 1:1-11, Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9, Eph 1:17-23,  Mt 28:16-20

Matthew 28:16-20  World English Bible

16 But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them. 17 When they saw him, they bowed down to him; but some doubted. 18 Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19  Go‡ and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20  teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Brothers and sisters, we read in todays Gospel that, when Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples on the Mount of Olives, “they saw him and bowed down to him; but some doubted.” What were they doubting? Weren’t they seeing him, the risen Christ, in the flesh? 

Is it possible they were doubting their eyes, or their own thought processes, their own logic?  A wise man looks twice, knowing that at first glance he sees what he wishes to see.   Is it possible that the Gospel is conveying a sort of double-take on the part of a few of the disciples?  Some biblical scholars suggest that the word “doubt” would be better understood as “hesitancy,” meaning that some of the disciples were uncertain as they bowed down and worshiped him.  Possible?  Maybe.

But doesn’t it make more sense that they were doubting, not Jesus Christ, but themselves?  Doesn’t it make more sense that they were hesitant about their mission, that is, going forward to do their work without Jesus being present in the manner he was previously?  Some degree of doubt and hesitancy would be understandable, wouldn’t it, given the astounding nature of what they were witnessing, and the impossible mission they were given?  Of course it would.  Afterall, the disciples didn’t know what we know now. 

Even though we weren’t there to see and sit with the risen Jesus Christ, we need not have any doubt or hesitancy because we know that the Ascension of Christ was real.  We are witnesses to the Ascension of Christ.  We know that the obscure teachings of Jesus of Nazareth rose to ascendancy in the hierarchy of ideas.  Respect for human rights, and the inherent value of human life, largely unheard of in the ancient world, are now a primary concern nationally and internationally.  Charity and public service, rarities in the time of Jesus, are now commonplace practices.  We know that the disciples did exactly what Jesus Christ commanded them to do – that they went forth to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  We know Christianity grew from a small Jewish sect into the world’s majority religion. 

We need have no doubts or hesitancy because we’ve seen that, although he withdrew from physical view, Jesus Christ became a beacon to the world.  In the same way that a kite becomes visible to more and more observers the higher it rises, the Creator and Logos has ascended to very high place in human culture.  This is both an observable fact and a continuing, aeternal † process that surpasses the merely temporal, physical, and material. 

Jesus Christ withdrew from a world of limitations and ascended to heaven, a place of limitless potential.  The Ascension was, is, and always will be happening.  It began before the foundation of the world and continues now through our participation. So let us go out and, armed with knowledge the eleven themselves did not have, and participate in the continuing Ascension of Christ.  Let us elevate him still higher in the eyes of all humanity, lifting him up to the highest place for all to see and worship.

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‡28:19 TR and NU add “therefore”

† Here I use the archaic spelling aeternal to describe something that is not bound by the limits of time.

Mettle Maker #355 and Holy Communion for 5/14/23

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

DID YOU KNOW…? That you you can get a daily motivational text message from Heritage Arts? Click the awesome (and perhaps a bit cheesy?) scrolling link below to sign up!

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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.

Mettle Maker #354 and Holy Communion for 5/7/23

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 #354

DID YOU KNOW…? That you you can get a daily motivational text message from Heritage Arts? Click the awesome (and perhaps a bit cheesy?) scrolling link below to sign up!

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Self-Defense: Work the “Stairway to Heaven” 1-2-3 combo drill. Max power. Throw combo once with right side, twice with left side, three times with right, four left, five right, six left, etc. until you gas. Take a 30-second break and start again at one. Repeat until you reach “heaven.” See video on the right — this is one of our favorite drills. For some reason, this short has plenty of views but zero likes?!?! Feel free to suggest perhaps why that might me the case in the comments. Is it because I used the term “heaven” as a metaphor for “perfect exhaustion?” Who knows? Anyway, 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: Are you as fit as the founding fathers? Can you swim 3 1/2 miles or walk 20 miles? From the International Swimming Hall of Fame citation: “Benjamin Franklin was a competent swim coach and teacher; he advised on water safety, lifeboat rescue escape from shipwrecks, and the advisability of universal learn-to-swim classes…on a Thames River excursion in 1726, he swam from Chelsea to Blackfriars (3½ miles).” Thomas Jefferson was an early and lifelong advocate of 2 hours per day of mind-body-spirit exercise. In a letter dated August 1786 he wrote, “If the body be feeble, the mind will not be strong. The sovereign invigorator of the body is exercise, and of all the exercises walking is best. A horse gives but a kind of half exercise, and a carriage is no better than a cradle. No one knows, till he tries, how easily a habit of walking is acquired. A person who never walked three miles will in the course of a month become able to walk 15. or 20. without fatigue.” Want to start training “old-school?” Click here to sign up for our 100% free program!

Wildwood: Wild edibles are everywhere, even in suburbia. See the pics above or watch the video on the right. They are, from left to right, muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia), juniper berries (Juniperus virginiana), and blackberry leaf (Rubus L.). All are edible! I had a few minutes before Heritage Self-Defense session the other day, and I found all three right next to the picnic shelter. Want to learn more 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. Due to YouTube LIVE processing times, the weekly Holy Communion video is often partial until late afternoon or evening. If you attempt to view the video, and running time is less than 40 to 45 minutes, please check back later.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW AND PRINT THE HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAM

Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Sunday 5/7/23 – Archdeacon Mitch

Readings: Acts 6:1-7, Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19, 1 Pt 2:4-9, Jn 14:1-12

John 14:1-12  World English Bible Catholic Edition

1  “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. 2  In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. 3  If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also. 4  You know where I go, and you know the way.”

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. 7  If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you know him and have seen him.”

8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you such a long time, and do you not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How do you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ 10  Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I tell you, I speak not from myself; but the Father who lives in me does his works. 11  Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; or else believe me for the very works’ sake. 12  Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father.

In the passage prior to today’s reading (John 13:36-38), Jesus says to his apostles, “Where I am going, you can’t follow now, but you will follow afterwards.”  Simon Peter says he will lay down his life in order to follow, but Jesus foretells that Simon will instead deny him three times.

This is why Jesus says in today’s reading, “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many homes.”  Jesus is consoling Peter and the apostles for the mistakes he knows they are going to make.  A home is a place to feel comfortable and safe.  A home is a place of refuge for individuals and families.  “In my Father’s house are many homes.”  Pardon the pun, but this very much sounds like, “Don’t dwell on the past – dwell with Jesus and the Father in the home prepared for you.  There’s plenty of room.”

Jesus warns Peter – he warns us! – that we’re going to stumble.  In our reading from 1 Peter, we hear “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, and a stone that will make people stumble, and a rock that will make them fall. They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their destiny.”  Yes, we’re going to stumble.  But there’s a home waiting for us.  A home is a place of recuperation and rest after a long day of struggle, trial, tribulation, and hard work. After a lifetime of hard work trying to follow Jesus, after a lifetime of stumbling, fumbling, and failing, there is a home waiting for us where we can rest our weary bones.

Like Simon Peter, I have denied Jesus many times in my life.  I have run from his truth, tried to justify my bad behavior, deliberately disobeyed his teachings, and so on.  I cringe and shrink away from the memories of my misdeeds.  We have all done this to one degree or the other.  We can all, to a limited extent, imagine the guilt and shame Simon Peter must’ve felt after denying the Lord three times, only to meet his beloved Lord face to face after the resurrection. 

As St. Augustine of Hippo said in his Confessions, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”  So, not only is rest available to us in God’s house in the future, rest is available today if only we will stop running from God. We struggle, deny, and stumble.  We fall.  We get up again.  On we go.  But let us not be restless or troubled. Let us instead follow Jesus Christ and find our rest through him, with him and in him, today, tomorrow, and for eternity.

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Mettle Maker #353 and Holy Communion for 4/30/23

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 #353

DID YOU KNOW…? That you you can get a daily motivational text message from Heritage Arts? Click the awesome (and perhaps a bit cheesy?) scrolling link below to sign up!

Click here to sign up for DAILY MOTIVATIONAL text messages!

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Self-Defense: Does solo martial arts training actually work? Yes. Wrestling great Dan Gable — arguably the greatest collegiate-style wrestler who ever lived — is and was a huge proponent of solo training. He famously asked his high school wrestling coach for a key to the gym, and would spend hours shadow wrestling, throwing floor bags, and so forth. His home gym is in a barn — a Rocky-styled, dirt floored nightmare. See video on the left — this is one of his favorite solo drills. 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 Arts Self-Defense distance learning program!

Fitness: Food is more than nutrients. Eat food that has been prepared by hands, preferably your own, and say grace over it. Food is more than an accumulation of nutrients. It’s becoming increasingly clear to nutritionists, biologists, and researchers that there’s far more to the human-food relationship than nutrient science – simply isolating the nutrients in food and then attempting to determine the effects of those nutrients on human health. Buzzwords like “food synergy” and “food matrices” are being used to describe the relationship between whole foods and human biological systems (Jacobs 2007).

But our grandparents understood this already, without all the fancy words. Food has important social functions. We use it to demonstrate our care for one another. We take chicken soup to the sick and gift chocolates to our lovers on Valentine’s day. Food is at the center of every celebration and wake. We bake cakes for birthdays and weddings, have church potlucks on religious holidays, and grieve by sharing snacks and memories of the deceased at the wake. And we use family recipes to pass on family identities and traditions.

Private chef services, meal prep plans, and pre-made meal delivery services are probably “healthier” by the nutrition numbers than a cruddy TV dinner from the frozen food section at the grocery store or a military MRE. But all of those examples merely check a box, and none of them compare to a home-cooked meal, prepared and served in community with friends and family.

It’s one thing to plug a hole. It’s another thing entirely to sit at the intersection of food, family, and friendship and engage with your culture. The complete experience of food, in its entirety, is an important component of human mind-body-spirit health. So again: Eat food that has been prepared by hands, preferably your own, and say grace over it. Want more old-school fitness material? Click here to sign up for our 100% free program!

Wildwood: Learn to make some wild tea this spring. See the pics on the right. From left to right, these are all things I gathered and put in my dehydrator for homemade herbal tea — Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) leaves, Blackberry (Rubus L.) leaves and blossoms, and Chive blossoms (Allium schoenoprasum). Not pictured: rose petals and buds, dandelion blossoms, and mint leaves. There are tons of wild plants and flowers bursting into life right now. They’re fun to gather and brew and delicious to sip! Want to learn how? 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. Due to YouTube LIVE processing times, the weekly Holy Communion video is often partial until late afternoon or evening. If you attempt to view the video, and running time is less than 40 to 45 minutes, please check back later.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW AND PRINT THE HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAM

Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Sunday 4/30/23 – Archdeacon Mitch

Readings: Acts 2:14a, 36-41, Ps 23: 1-3a, 3b4, 5, 6, 1 Pt 2:20b-25, Jn 10:1-10

John 10:1-10  World English Bible Catholic Edition

1  “Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn’t enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2  But one who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3  The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4  Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5  They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they don’t know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they didn’t understand what he was telling them.

7 Jesus therefore said to them again, “Most certainly, I tell you, I am the sheep’s door. 8  All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9  I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out and will find pasture. 10  The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.

Brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd, and the good shepherd doesn’t force, threaten, or frighten the sheep.  This is a widely known leadership philosophy, one that has been attributed to everyone from Gen. George S. Patton to economist Maynard Keynes.  I’m not sure who said it first, but it goes like this: “People are like rope.  You can pull them, but you can’t push them.”† 

Jesus says, “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice.”  A good shepherd pulls and leads the sheep.  He has a relationship with the sheep.  Look at it this way.  A gate is a line of defense.  When we push people, they get defensive.  The gates, as it were, are closed and locked.  But if we lead, inspire, and have a relationship with people, their defenses naturally open and they follow us.   

The sheep follow the good shepherd because they “know his voice” and “will by no means follow a stranger but will flee from him.”  Unlike Jesus, the Pharisees, push.  They don’t care about the defensive feelings of the people.  They force behavior by punishing lawbreakers.  Rather than loving the people as a good shepherd loves his sheep, they objectify the people, treating them like defendants in the legal framework of Hebraic law’s 613 commandments.  

All of this was on display in the previous episode in the Gospel of John.  Remember how the Pharisees were up in arms about Jesus’ healing of the blind man on the sabbath?  Remember how they dragged the blind man into court – twice! – and then his family as well?  This is precisely what Jesus is talking about. 

The thief and the bandit get what they want at the point of a weapon.  The robber says, “Give me all your money!”  A bad leader is like a robber.  Instead of demanding money or goods, a bad leader says, “Obey the rules or you will be punished!”  When Jesus says, “All who came before me are thieves and robbers” it is a bold and revolutionary statement!  All of the previous prophets – all of the leaders, teachers, and kings of the Hebrews – were pushing.  Unlike Jesus, they used threats and punishments to try and impose good behavior. 

Jesus still wants us to follow the rules – to obey the ten commandments, say our prayers, observe the holidays, participate in church rituals, and so on – but not out of fear.  He wants us to do it voluntarily, organically, from a place of love and inspiration.  He says, “The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.”  He wants to come with him willingly, freely, and joyfully, and live with him in eternal life!

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† Those who are interested in this concept from a sociological, governmental, and/or business perspective should research the term “enforcement cost.”  The emotional, operational, and efficiency costs of excessive policies and procedures – a.k.a. “red tape” – is a massive drain on companies.  The fiscal costs of policing and litigation crushes societies and governments.  Examples are everywhere.  Getting people to cooperate and do things properly of their own accord saves individuals, communities, businesses and governments trillions of dollars – and makes them happier to boot!    

Mettle Maker #352 and Holy Communion for 4/23/23

EVENT DATE PUSHED TO OCTOBER 6TH - 8TH

Click the pic to get your ticks!

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 #352

DID YOU KNOW…? That you you can get a daily motivational text message from Heritage Arts? Click the awesome (and perhaps a bit cheesy?) scrolling link below to sign up!

Click here to sign up for DAILY MOTIVATIONAL text messages!

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tHIS WEEK WE’RE REPOSTING AN OLD BUT A GOODIE FROM THIS TIME 3 YEARS AGO (METTLE MAKER #206) FROM 5/2/2020. eNJOY!

• Martial Arts: Warm-up thoroughly for at at least 8 minutes. Do 2-3 minutes each of (a) jumping rope (b) light calisthenics and (c) shadowboxing, mettle drills, or light heavy bag work, or 8 minutes of MBF. Then do a “Martial Arts Mix and Match.” Put in 4 rounds of action (beginner/intermediate 2:00 each, advanced 3:00) for a total of 8 to 12 minutes. Take as few 12-second breaks as you need. Do one round each of Lunges, Clocks, Low Crawl, Sled Pulls/Yanks. See video, left. Did you know we offer a free martial arts distance learning program? Click here to sign up.

View fullsize

• Fitness: Do this the constitutional pictured on the right. Need help developing and sticking with a fitness program? Interested in learning outdoor skills? We’ve got both! Check our our free distance learning programs.

• Wildwood: Wind direction study. When you choose or make shelter, or just set up your camp, need to do so with cognizance of wind direction. You don’t want the wind blowing smoke and/or freezing air into your winter shelter, for example. Go for a walk and practice studying the terrain. Look at trees, from trunk to top. Examine the soil around them. Look at exposed ground, sand, and so forth. If you’re in town, or in the suburbs, look to see where debris and trash are accumulating. With just a little regular practice, you get really good at determining the prevailing wind direction. Interested in learning outdoor skills? We’ve got both! Check our our free distance learning programs.

• BONUS: Practice the Galahad Maneuver. Pick something you know isn’t good for you and make a substitution — a food or beverage, a form of entertainment, or even a person who’s a negative influence. Just 5 minutes of serious thought will reveal a list of stuff you know you shouldn’t be eating, watching, doing or associating with. Start with one of the easy ones and substitute a better choice. This is the trail-head that leads to the mountaintop of sacrifice. Keep going and perhaps one day you’ll come to see the world the way that Sir Galahad saw it when he said, “If I lose myself I save myself.” He gave away his wants and needs until there was only one thing left to relinquish — his ego. Remember, Galahad was the only Knight of the Round Table who saw the Grail. You are not your tastes, your needs, your wants, your favorites, or hobbies, or any of that. You are something much more than that. But you have to strip some things away to begin to see it. CLICK HERE to join our email list and to begin participating in church activities. And if you need someone to talk to, CLICK HERE to set up a phone call with archdeacon Mitch.

Holy Communion is now LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 9AM. Due to YouTube LIVE processing times, the weekly Holy Communion video is often partial until late afternoon or evening. If you attempt to view the video, and running time is less than 40 to 45 minutes, please check back later.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW AND PRINT THE HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAM

Homily for the Third Sunday of Easter, Sunday 4/23/23 – Archdeacon Mitch

Readings: Acts 2:14, 22-33, Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11, 1 Pt 1:17-21, Lk 24:13-35

Luke 24:13-25  World English Bible Catholic Edition

13  Behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia* from Jerusalem. 14  They talked with each other about all of these things which had happened. 15  While they talked and questioned together, Jesus himself came near, and went with them. 16  But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17  He said to them, “What are you talking about as you walk, and are sad?”

18  One of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things which have happened there in these days?”

19  He said to them, “What things?”

They said to him, “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people; 20  and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21  But we were hoping that it was he who would redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22  Also, certain women of our company amazed us, having arrived early at the tomb; 23  and when they didn’t find his body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24  Some of us went to the tomb and found it just like the women had said, but they didn’t see him.”

25  He said to them, “Foolish people, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26  Didn’t the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?” 27  Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

28  They came near to the village where they were going, and he acted like he would go further.

29  They urged him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is almost evening, and the day is almost over.”

He went in to stay with them. 30  When he had sat down at the table with them, he took the bread and gave thanks. Breaking it, he gave it to them. 31  Their eyes were opened and they recognized him; then he vanished out of their sight. 32  They said to one another, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us along the way, and while he opened the Scriptures to us?” 33  They rose up that very hour, returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and those who were with them, 34  saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35  They related the things that happened along the way, and how he was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

Brothers and sisters, in today’s Gospel reading we meet two disciples leaving Jerusalem in sadness, headed the wrong way.  Incredible things have happened and continued to happen, but they’re leaving the Holy City.  If this were a movie, we’d be yelling at the screen, “turn around, go back, you’re missing everything!”  But you see, they hadn’t seen the meaning in the prophecies and in Jesus’ teaching.  They had been sent into a tailspin by his death on a cross.  They were, in a sense, lost.

Isn’t that what this culture, this nation, is doing?  Going in the wrong direction?  Failing to see the meaning of the scriptures?  Failing to understand the prophecies?  Each year in the U.S. fifteen hundred churches shut their doors forever.  We too are headed away from Jerusalem, running from the truth. 

But Jesus was with the disciple Cleopas and his companion, right there in their midst, his identity unrecognized.  Jesus asks them to recount the events that had taken place, and to explain why they’re sad, and they do.  They know everything.  They have their facts straight and they can relate the proceedings perfectly.  But, as we know, there is no meaning inherent in facts.  Knowing facts is mere knowledge; wisdom is knowing what to do.  And so Jesus illuminates the events, the scriptures, and prophecies to them in such a way they begin to understand.  They ask for more.  When he appears to them in the breaking of the bread, it all comes together for them.  They get beyond the mere facts and receive wisdom -- that is, they begin to know what they must do.  They immediately change direction.  They head back to the Holy City of Jerusalem to rejoin the other disciples.

This culture also knows the facts.  The facts are all over the news!  We’re in the midst of a mental health crisis.  The demons of depression, addiction, apathy, and hopelessness drive 1.2 million people each year to attempt suicide in our country – about one-in-five of them teens – a 50% increase in the last twenty years.  Over 100,000 died from overdoses last year, five times more than just twenty years ago.  Just like Cleopas and his fellow disciple, this culture knows the facts, but it doesn’t see the meaning.  Jesus is walking among us right now.  But we don’t engage with him, we don’t have dialogue with him.  We don’t allow him to show us the meaning beyond the facts and the data.  And so, this culture continues to flounder.  It lacks wisdom.  It has no idea what to do.

The good news is this, everybody.  It’s what Jesus spoke to us when he was mercilessly nailed to the cross, as we read in Luke 23:34: “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  Jesus Christ is well aware that this culture and this nation knows not what it is doing.  Thank God, as Jesus himself has said, ignorance indeed a valid excuse. He forgives us, even as he forgave those who crucified him.  

There is still time to engage with him in dialogue.  To listen.  To accept his wisdom.  To change direction and return to the Holy City.

---

* 24:13 60 stadia = about 11 kilometers or about 7 miles.

Mettle Maker #351 and Holy Communion for 4/16/23

First Annual Heritage Arts Campout!

Click the pic to get your ticks!

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 #351

DID YOU KNOW…? That you you can get a daily motivational text message from Heritage Arts? Click the awesome (and perhaps a bit cheesy?) scrolling link below to sign up!

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Self-Defense: What’s “Rough ‘n’ Tumble,” and it is a “real” martial art? Yes, Rough ‘n’ Tumble is a “real” martial art, although it was never formally codified. American Rough and Tumble is a self-defense oriented martial art that originated in the Southern Virginia backcountry during the Colonial Era but quickly grew, evolved, and spread throughout North America.

Rough ‘n’ Tumble used to be a household word. One of the United States’ finest wrestlers, the Godfather of Wrestling, Martin “Farmer” Burns, was a renowned Rough ‘n’ Tumbler, and so was his no-account father, whose exploits probably fueled Farmer Burns’ distaste for alcohol, tobacco, and other vices. For more info on Rough ‘n’ Tumble, the first and best resource is Elliott Gorn’s article available here. Like this sort of thing? 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 Arts Self-Defense distance learning program!

A World War I era poster (1917) promoting a healthy relationship with food

Fitness: Food, the old-fashioned way. The old-timers, on the main, had a far healthier outlook with regard to food. My grandmother Mitchell cooked either biscuits or cornbread for every meal (from scratch of course). But her portion sizes were smaller, and the recipes much lower in fat, than those in most restaurants and fast food joints today. She made dessert for every meal too — but it was usually something not at all decadent, like a square of gelatin with fruit or a dollop of whipped cream, a half a canned pear with a drizzle of raspberry syrup, a small brownie, or a couple of cookies. There were always at least two vegetables served at every meal — one green and one other — and a starch (potatoes, rice, or beans, rarely pasta).. Nothing went to waste, everything she bought was local. and in season. And, if you were overweight and you reached for seconds, you might have gotten a smack on the back of the hand (unless it was a holiday). We’d all do well to toss out all of the voodoo, fads, and crash diets and eat like grandma and grandpa. We’d be happier, healthier, and it would be good for our communities too. Want more old-school fitness material? Click here to sign up for our 100% free program!

Wildwood: Know your knots. The Bowline Hitch is one of the most useful knots there is — very helpful when you want a non-slipping loop in the end of a rope — see the photo set on the left. Want to learn more fun nature appreciation and survival 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. Due to YouTube LIVE processing times, the weekly Holy Communion video is often partial until late afternoon or evening. If you attempt to view the video, and running time is less than 40 to 45 minutes, please check back later.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW AND PRINT THE HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAM

Homily for the Second Sunday of Easter, Sunday 4/16/23 – Archdeacon Mitch

Readings: Acts 2:42-47, Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24, 1 Pt 1:3-9, Jn 20:19-31

John 20:19-31  World English Bible Catholic Edition

When therefore it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the middle and said to them, “Peace be to you.”

20  When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord. 21  Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” 22  When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit! 23  If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.”

24  But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus,‡ wasn’t with them when Jesus came. 25  The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26  After eight days, again his disciples were inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the middle, and said, “Peace be to you.” 27  Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.”

28  Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

29  Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me,§ you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

30  Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; 31  but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

For Thomas, the death and resurrection of Jesus cannot be proved except by physical evidence -- placing his fingers in Jesus’ wounds and putting his hand in his side.  There were then, and there are now, many more men and women just like Thomas – those who need material proof in order to believe.  Jesus says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Indeed, blessed are they!

But the question is, where does that leave the doubting Thomases of today?  What are they supposed to do with their doubts?  And, when we’re evangelizing, how are we supposed to answer those who say, much the same as Thomas did, “Look buddy, you’re wasting your time.  I’m not believing in the resurrection until I place my fingers in the wounds of his hands, and put my hand into his side.”  Some will even say, “Your Jesus left you high and dry – you’ve got no proof.”

Well, I’ve got a very simple and direct answer that you can give to the doubting Thomases you encounter. And it goes like this.

My friend, you are not the first to want physical proof for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  One of his own disciples, named Thomas, when he received the news, doubted its truth until he was able to put his fingers into the wounds on Christ’s hands, and place his hand into the wound where Christ was pierced by a spear.  My friend, the body of Christ is alive and well, both literally and figuratively, because although Christ rose from the dead and, in a sense withdrew until he comes again, he left his mystical body, the church, “which is the blessed company of all faithful people” who are “heirs through hope” of his “everlasting kingdom” (BCP 1928).  We invite you, dear brother, to put your hand in our hand and to feel our wounds, and to place your hand into our side, and let us show you the reality of Christ. “For even as we have many members” we “who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another” (Rom 12:4-5).

This is not a metaphor, my dear doubting friend.  Nor are these just some clever words.  Christians have believed from the earliest days of the church, that all believers taken together are the literal body of Christ on earth and have used that precise term. Christ knew this moment would come, and he left his body, the church, right here on earth so that you could test, and see, and have proof.

Many of us have been like you, alienated or even enemies of God, separated from him by doubts, misapprehensions, delusions, and immaturity. Many of us have been swayed by convincing skeptics, witty cynics, and naysayers.  But “don’t let anyone rob you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, and the rudiments of the world”  from being made full.  “For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily, and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power.” (Col 2:8-10).  The doors are open my friend.  Come inside, put your hand in ours, test and see for yourself the fullness, happiness, healing, forgiveness, and salvation that await you inside the body of Christ.

This is the good news we must share, brothers and sisters, with the doubting Thomases of this world.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

‡ 20:24 or, Twin

§ 20:29 TR adds “Thomas,”

Mettle Maker #350 and Holy Communion for Easter 4/9/23

First Annual Heritage Arts Campout!

Click the pic to get your ticks!

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 #350

DID YOU KNOW…? That you you can get a daily motivational text message from Heritage Arts? Click the awesome (and perhaps a bit cheesy?) scrolling link below to sign up!

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Self-Defense: How’s your neck? Yours truly has taken a deep dive into the life and work of Martin “Farmer” Burns, the "Father of American Wrestling.” If you want to have a neck that rivals the neck of a bull, use the Farmer Burns method. Watch the video on the left for the low-down. And if like this sort of thing, you might consider joining the Heritage Self-Defense club in Richmond, VA. Or, if distance learning is your thing, click here to enroll in the Heritage Arts Self-Defense distance learning program!

Fitness: Dumbbells anyone? When old-timers talked about “lifting weights” they were referring to light dumbbells weighting between 2 and 5 lbs (1 or 2 kilos), often made of wood. These light dumbbells were just as often held by the ball as they were by the connecting bar. Reps were high, and the variety of exercises was great. Although there were exceptions (Farmer Burns, for example, recommended “snap” in most dumbbell movements), the watchwords of the old-timers were 1. slow pace, 2. total control throughout every movement, 3. full range of motion, 4. no bouncing or ballistics, and 5. a deep breath on every rep. Try out some of the movements in the photo set on the right.

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Wildwood: Know your spring edibles: dead-nettle. This is Lamium purpureum, a.k.a. '“purple deadnettle” or '“purple archangel.” It has a pleasant taste. Just take off the entire top of this extremely common weed and eat as a cooked green. Want to learn more wild edibles, as well as other fun nature appreciation and survival 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. Due to YouTube LIVE processing times, the weekly Holy Communion video is often partial until late afternoon or evening. If you attempt to view the video, and running time is less than 40 to 45 minutes, please check back later.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW AND PRINT THE HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAM

Brothers and sisters, today I’m delivering a beautiful homily that I found in an old book entitled “Homilies Preached at Alsbury” printed for private circulation by C. Goodwin Nortion of London in 1890.  The author’s name is not given, may God thank and bless him.  I hope you enjoy it.

“My Beloved spake unto me and said, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away, for lo! the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.”

This is the description, from the Song of Solomon, of the spring time, and of the joyousness which the flowers, and the singing of birds, and the coo of the turtle dove, and the bursting forth of the fruit-buds, produce in the hearts of those, who have passed through the winter, when all nature seems dead, and are able to rejoice at the return of spring, the foreshadowing in the natural kingdom of that time of joy and singing, when in the spiritual all things shall be made new, and all things shall be of God, when out of death life shall spring up, when light shall drive away the darkness, and the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.

Do not our hearts respond to this appeal, “Arise, and come away”?  Do we not hear in it a call to those, the blessed holy departed saints, who are gone into the land of forgetfulness, to prepare themselves to take again their bodies, and to burst through their cerements, to leave behind the grave-clothes, and to come forth arrayed in garments of glory and beauty, even the glory and beauty of Him, who appeared on the mount of transfiguration to the chosen disciples, His face shining as the sun, and His garment white as the light; and is it not at the same time a call to us to make ourselves ready?

The lilies, as we read, toil not neither do they spin, and the fowls of the air sow not, neither do they reap, yet our heavenly Father feedeth the fowls, and clotheth the lilies of the field, so that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these, though they are as the grass, which grows up to-day and to-morrow is cut down and withered ; and shall He not much more clothe and feed you? We, according to these figures, are taught to give up caring for this life what we eat, and for this body what we put on in the hope of being clothed with a body of glory, and being fed with the food of eternal life, and inheriting the kingdom and glory of Christ.

We wait, in common with those of our brethren, who have fallen asleep, for the call, “Arise and come away”; we wait and embody in our daily cry to the Lord the petition for our deliverance from the bondage of corruption into liberty and glory; and in this our cry we give expression to the longing desire of those, who have gone down into silence, who have fallen asleep, who have died in the faith, not having received the promises, who wait for the time of being made perfect not without us in the glory of the resurrection.

“Christ is risen,” is the song of our hearts. This day our mouth is filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing, because our captivity is at an end. If such is our experience of that salvation by hope, which we are now able to realize, what will be the joy unspeakable and full of glory which awaits us, when the day of the resurrection, to which Jesus Christ has attained, shall have come for us also? Then will be fulfilled the promise of the acceptable year of the Lord, when He shall appear again to give to them that mourn in Zion beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.

God who is rich in mercy, when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. If we then be risen with Christ, set your affections on things above. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear again, then shall we also appear with Him in glory.

Mettle Maker #349 and Holy Communion for Palm Sunday 4/2/23

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 #349

DID YOU KNOW…? That you you can get a daily motivational text message from Heritage Arts? Click the awesome (and perhaps a bit cheesy?) scrolling link below to sign up!

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““If you wish to have a healthy body that will quickly obey the orders of the brain, exercise your body in the open air; keep the mind in action with pleasant, hopeful plans of the future.””

— Martin "Farmer" Burns

Martin “Farmer” Burns

Self-Defense: Coming soon the fighting and fitness secrets of Farmer Burns. Yours truly has been taking a deep dive into the life and work of Martin “Farmer” Burns. Farmer Burns is known as the "Father of American Wrestling.” A carnival wrestler who took on all comers and before eventually being a wrestling champion in three different weight classes, Burns was a small and wire 165-pound powerhouse. He neither swore, drank, nor smoked, and his conditioning was second to none. There is indeed a a great deal to be learned from this master of the martial arts, and I’ll be sharing more with you soon! If like this sort of thing, you might consider joining the Heritage Self-Defense club in Richmond, VA. Or, if distance learning is your thing, click here to enroll in the Heritage Arts Self-Defense distance learning program!

Fitness: Take a hike. I know, we’ve been talking about pedestrianism quite a bit lately. But the fitness benefits are real! Go for a long walk and you can see really cool stuff. My son and I took a 10 mile walk the other day and we got to see one of the highest, longest pedestrian bridges in the world! Watch the short video on the right for more info.

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First Annual Heritage Arts Campout!

Click the pic to get your ticks!

Wildwood: Get your tickets for the first annual Heritage Arts Campout June 23rd - June 25th! The value you get for this ticket price is out of this world. Click here for event details, and if you’re looking for a remote lessons, 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. Due to YouTube LIVE processing times, the weekly Holy Communion video is often partial until late afternoon or evening. If you attempt to view the video, and running time is less than 40 to 45 minutes, please check back later.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW AND PRINT THE HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAM

Mettle Maker #348 and Holy Communion for 3/26/23

First Annual Heritage Arts Campout!

Click the pic to get your ticks!

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 #348

DID YOU KNOW…? That you you can get a daily motivational text message from Heritage Arts? Click the awesome (and perhaps a bit cheesy?) scrolling link below to sign up!

Click here to sign up for DAILY MOTIVATIONAL text messages!

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Self-Defense: What’s your self-defense IQ? We recently launched a new self-defense series on YouTube called “Heritage Arts Self-Defense Tips” — clicking the link on the right and subscribe so that you get notified of new vids. And please pay no attention to the ridiculous cover picture! With YouTube shorts, it automatically picks the thumbnail, and you can’t change it. Yikes! Anyway, if like this sort of thing, you might consider joining the Heritage Self-Defense club in Richmond, VA or click here to enroll in the Heritage Arts Self-Defense distance learning program!

Fitness: How do I get started in calisthenics? Perhaps too much of what we present around here advanced — what if you’ve never done calisthenics before and you don’t know to get started? Well, here is a beginner-level constitutional for people who are new to bodyweight work. (see below)

What’s a “constitutional?” According to Webster’s New International Dictionary (1913):

Con`sti*tu"tion*al, n. A walk or other exercise taken for one's health or constitution. [Colloq.] Thackeray.

That’s the way we mean it around here too, but it also means, more specifically, 7 different calisthenics exercises done in a session lasting 15 minutes or less.

Beginner Level Constitutional

Do as many reps of each exercise as you like, just make sure you don’t overdo it. Calisthenics can cause a fair amount of next-day-soreness for total beginners, so stop well before you start to get shaky, especially your first time out! Make sure that you

1. go at a slow pace (at least two Mississippis per rep).

2. exhibit total control throughout each movement

3. move full range of motion, and

4. breathe fully and deeply.

1.     Neck Crunches: Lay supine on back. Bring chin to chest for about 10 reps. Roll to your left side and bring ear to shoulder 10 times. Repeat on right side. Roll to belly. Look up and down slowly about 10 times

2.     Side Plank: Recumbent on left side, propped up on left elbow, spine straight. Hold until you sense instability ensuing, then stop and repeat on the right side.

3.     Front Plank: Start belly down. Prop yourself up on either forearms with arms bent, or on palms with arms straight. Hold until you sense instability ensuing , then stop.

4.     Single Leg Raise: Lay supine on back. Slowly raise left leg as high as you can (keeping right leg flat on floor). Repeat to desired count. Switch and repeat with right leg.

5.     Marching in Place: Arms bent, slowly raise left elbow and pull right elbow back as you raise your right knee. Switch sides and repeat to desired count.

6.     Jumping Jacks: Hop feet apart as you bring up your arms and touch hands together over your head, then hop feet together and slap thighs with palms. Repeat to desired count.

7.     Russian Squats: Take a relaxed step forward with left foot and place hands on hips. Keeping back straight, lower right knee within 4” of the floor. Straighten legs to come back up. Repeat to desired count. Switch foot positions and repeat to desired count.

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Carolina Chickadee (photo from Wikipedia). Click pic to listen!

Wildwood: Carolina Chickadees have an out-sized call, am I right? Last week we looked at how you can open your sensorium by tasting wine. How about by listening to birds and identifying their calls? This simple but pretty bird call goes “pwee pwee pwee pwee” and it belongs to the Carolina Chickadee (or maybe a Black Capped Chickadee — they swap calls sometimes). Click here to visit the Audubon Field Guide online and learn more. Listen to “four note song #2.” Their recording is way better than mine! Want to learn more about nature appreciation and survival? 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. Due to YouTube LIVE processing times, the weekly Holy Communion video is often partial until late afternoon or evening. If you attempt to view the video, and running time is less than 40 to 45 minutes, please check back later.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW AND PRINT THE HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAM

Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, Sunday 3/26/23 – Archdeacon Mitch

Readings: Ez 37:12-14, Ps 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, Rom 8:8-11, Jn 11:1-45

John 11:1-45  World English Bible Catholic Edition

1  Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister, Martha. 2  It was that Mary who had anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3  The sisters therefore sent to him, saying, “Lord, behold, he for whom you have great affection is sick.”

4  But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This sickness is not to death, but for the glory of God, that God’s Son may be glorified by it.” 5  Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 6  When therefore he heard that he was sick, he stayed two days in the place where he was. 7  Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let’s go into Judea again.”

8  The disciples asked him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you. Are you going there again?”

9  Jesus answered, “Aren’t there twelve hours of daylight? If a man walks in the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10  But if a man walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light isn’t in him.” 11  He said these things, and after that, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I may awake him out of sleep.”

12  The disciples therefore said, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”

13  Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he spoke of taking rest in sleep. 14  So Jesus said to them plainly then, “Lazarus is dead. 15  I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. Nevertheless, let’s go to him.”

16  Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus,* said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s also go, that we may die with him.”

17  So when Jesus came, he found that he had been in the tomb four days already. 18  Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia† away. 19  Many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother. 20  Then when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary stayed in the house. 21  Therefore Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. 22  Even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.”

23  Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24  Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

25  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. 26  Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

27  She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, God’s Son, he who comes into the world.”

28  When she had said this, she went away and called Mary, her sister, secretly, saying, “The Teacher is here and is calling you.”

29  When she heard this, she arose quickly and went to him. 30  Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was in the place where Martha met him. 31  Then the Jews who were with her in the house and were consoling her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”

32  Therefore when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.”

33  When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews weeping who came with her, he groaned in the spirit and was troubled, 34  and said, “Where have you laid him?”

They told him, “Lord, come and see.”

35  Jesus wept.

36  The Jews therefore said, “See how much affection he had for him!” 37  Some of them said, “Couldn’t this man, who opened the eyes of him who was blind, have also kept this man from dying?”

38  Jesus therefore, again groaning in himself, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39  Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”

Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”

40  Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see God’s glory?”

41  So they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying.‡ Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you listened to me. 42  I know that you always listen to me, but because of the multitude standing around I said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43  When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”

44  He who was dead came out, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth.

Jesus said to them, “Free him, and let him go.”

45  Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary and saw what Jesus did believed in him. 46  But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done. 47  The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, “What are we doing? For this man does many signs. 48  If we leave him alone like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

Brothers and sisters, we are all Lazarus.  Here we are, going about our lives, making a living, grocery shopping, doing chores, paying bills, celebrating holidays, and all of the usual work-a-day things we busy ourselves with, and then – bang! – suddenly we’re sick, maybe even terminally ill.  And where is Jesus when we need him?  Oh, he’s over in the next city, out there somewhere, so far away it seems.  And if we die?  Where is he then?  Many are the doubters who ask, “Why would a good God let a good man die?  Couldn’t he just stop it?”

The scripture doesn’t say what Jesus was up to that was so all-fired important that he lingered two days before heading out for Bethany to see Lazarus and his family.  When we fall sick, like Lazarus, or when, like Martha and Mary, a loved one is struck down, we wonder, don’t we, “What’s more important than me and my family?  What’s the hold up?”  That’s just how Martha and Mary of Bethany felt.  When Jesus showed up four days after their brother’s death, the first thing they said was, “Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.”  But we can’t possibly know what God is up to.  The tiniest corner of God’s mind is beyond our comprehension.  Who are we to question God?

We have to have faith in the ultimate end of that plan: the blessed hope of the resurrection.  Again, many are those who doubt the historicity of Lazarus’s resurrection and the possibility of our resurrection in the future.  Like Martha, Mary, and the rest of Lazarus’ family, many grieve even though they’ve heard the Author of Life tell them what’s to come.  Why?  If you believe in the Creator of the Universe, and you know the Author of Life wrote all of creation into existence out of nothing, which is the greater miracle: creating and sustaining all of existence, or raising a man from the dead?  Jesus says, “Take away the stone” and Martha replies, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see God’s glory?”  No wonder Jesus is exasperated.  No wonder he, “groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.”  He told them in advance what he was going to do, and still they couldn’t believe.

St. Paul says, “If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness.” (Rom 8:10).  When we live the Christian life, guided by the Holy Spirit, God’s righteousness enters us.  And, despite our faults and errors, Jesus Christ loves us and weeps for us just as he loved Lazarus and wept for him outside the tomb.  And that’s the good news everybody – many of us stink just as badly as Lazarus did after four days in the tomb.  But no matter how rotten we are, Jesus loves us just the same.  no matter how bad we stink, Jesus loves us, weeps for us, and is coming for us, bringing with him the blessed hope of the resurrection.

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* 11:16 “Didymus” means “Twin”.

† 11:18 15 stadia is about 2.8 kilometers or 1.7 miles

‡ 11:41 NU omits “from the place where the dead man was lying.”