Gunfighter: A Modern Warrior's Life

Sitemeter, Guns, and Church

I have never made any bones about the fact that I am one of the least technologically savvy men on the planet.  Well, at least in the developed world, anyway.  I'm not the guy to ask about computer servers, memory, POP connections, or any of that stuff.  I didn't set up the pc in our home.  I never set the clocks on the VCR's (when we used such things).  My wife's laptop is light-years more advanced than mine, which might have something to do with the twelve hundred dollar disparity in price, but I digress.  I know people that talk about computers in terms that make my head spin after three sentences.  I am in awe of the things that other people know that I don't know... which probably has a lot to do with me deeply ingrained educational inferiority complex.

Anyway, my problem isn't one of programming... today, my problem is about Site-meter.  I got my weekly report from those fine folks who monitor my blog and tell me how many people are visiting and all sorts of things... and you know what?  according to them, I had no visitors last week. 

None.

Now, I am am not so egotistical to think that my blog gets lots of traffic.  It doesn't.  I realize that my life is neither exciting nor glamorous... or even interesting to most people.  It isn't.  I realize that many of my more savvy blogging pals read my blog via Google reader or bloglines or subscription or other means (or just don't read anymore), but I can't accept that NO ONE read, or even visited my blog last week.

Is sitemeter just f***ing with me?

Hmm.

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In other news, I got a new gun on Friday.  There, that ought to excite the search engines.  A brand new pistol, right out of the box, and she's all mine.  Well, that's not really true.  She belongs to Uncle Sam... but my uncle, being a swell fellow, has given her into my care.

It was with some sadness that I turned in my old pistol (it was only four years old, but VERY well-used), but this new gun is of a larger caliber (bigger bullets make bigger holes, you see), and has a few features that that old one didn't have. She's a beauty (pronounced bewdy, if you are in Australia), she is.  Have a look:

I won't bother with nomenclature or anything like that, but I will say this:  I put three hundred fifty six rounds through it on Friday morning, and she shoots well.  Very well.

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We went to church as per usual yesterday, and Mrs Gunfighter had the luxury of sitting in the pew without soccergirl or me, as sg was acolyte, and I was the assisting minister.  What made this day particularly fun was that we had a supply pastor (guest pastor for those that don't habla the Lutheran) who is originally from Ghana.  Pastor Edward was pretty cool, if a little long-winded.  He gave a great sermon, made so much better because of his African accent.  A self-deprecating man, he made us laugh several times during the service, but the funniest thing that happened took place during Communion. 

Now, I know that some of my readers are adherents to the Roman Church, and therefore usually have wafers at communion, and some of my readers are of the LDS church, still others are Baptists, Jewish, non-denominational Christians, and other assorted groups and or non-believing heathens, heck, I even have readers that are Republicans (you know that I love all of you equally, though, right?, especially the heathens).  Well, in our church, during communion we use bread, and as communion is served, the Pastor breaks off a piece of bread, about the size of a quarter, or a half-dollar (remember those?) hands it to the parishioner and says:  "The body of Christ, given for you" and them moves to the next person.  Well, yesterday, Pastor Edward was tearing huge, and I mean huge, pieces of bread.  So large that some of the communicants had to hurriedly tear the pieces into smaller pieces and bolt them down by the time I followed with the wine, saying: "The blood of Christ, shed for you" while trying not to laugh all the while.  After doing this for a while, Pastor Edward looked at me and said, are there many more people?( we were a little more than halfway done) and I said to him, "almost half are left, you might want to go smaller"  Which he found quite humorous... I suppose he was trying to use as much of the bread as possible.  Almost twenty four  hours later, and I am still laughing about it, even as I type this.

There, conjure with that for a while.  I have a date with my new Sig.

GF

Where Is God?

Last year, Bono was the recipient of the NAACP's Chairman's award for work that he as done on behalf of the poor.  Here is part of his speech.

Just in case you have forgotten.

Gunfighter Gets Holy

 I had planned to post the "Shoot 'Em Up Friday" video that I filmed last week, but alas, the business of the church took precedent.

I am currently attending the Metro DC Synod assembly at Roanoke college, but will be back on Monday with many stories to regale (or bore) you with.

You all play nice together while I'm gone.

Oh, and write something nice about Dads, it might get you some free books!

Haiku

Synod assembly
Long, dull drive to Roanoke
Vote on church issues

Papal Haiku (12)

Holy Father speaks
Welcome human rights message
Talk to George, willya?

You Want Cute?

Taken at church yesterday while soccergirl was serving as acolyte.

If that kid was any sweeter, It would be a felony.

Tell me THIS isn't cute.  I dare you... and remember, I have guns.

But... wait, this isn't just cute, no, it's cute AND Holy! (beat that!)

and if this one isn't enough... try this one!

A certain someone that I know was thrilled with her Easter dress... to the point that she didn't really want to take it off yesterday. 

Grandparents have been emailed, and a new photo album will be filled and dashed off to various points north.

Happy Easter

5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him".

Matthew 28:5-7 (New International Version)

Christ Is Risen!

Happy Easter.

GF

 

Book Review: The Monks of War

If the ongoing carnage in the middle east occupies any part of your brain, you really ought to learn a bit about The Crusades, Christendom's thousand-year struggle for The Holy Land.

If you want to learn about the Crusades, you need to learn about the history of of the Christian military orders. With this book, you'll learn a lot.

Most of you saw or read "The DaVinci Code", which makes a great many references to the secrets and mysteries of the Knights Templar... these mysteries make for great fiction, but the truth is that the Templars were a monastic military order, and they weren't the only one.

In his book, author Desmond Seward, has crafted what many people call the definitive history of The Order of The Temple (Knights Templar), The Knights of Saint John (The Hospitallers), The Teutonic Knights, The Knights of Santiago, and some smaller orders as well.

These fighting monks were "noblemen vowed to poverty, chastity and obedience, living a monastic life in convents which were at the same time barracks, waging war on the enemies of the Cross"

The military orders fought against Islam (and intrigued amongst themselves) from their inception in the 12th century through the 17th century, but that's not all they did. They also fought on the fringes of "barbarian" Europe, in what are commonly referred to as "The Northern, or Baltic Crusades". Perhaps the most famous battle of the orders came in 1565, with the Knights of Saint John, withstanding and then defeating the Turks at the Siege of Malta.

Seward not only discusses the military campaigns of the orders, he also goes on in-depth about the history of the Christian Kingdoms in "Latin Syria" and the involvement of European monarchs in the battle for primacy in the Holy Land.

The Crusades are important to the modern world. It isn't just fascinating history. Things done and left undone during the Crusades are the stuff of the evening news, here in the west. We only have to look to the Balkans, Iraq, The Philippines, the Horn of Africa, and Israel to see the conflict being played out. We can't understand today without learning something about yesterday.

Since we can factually say that the Crusades are important, than it must be said that the military orders of the day are equally important, for they stand at the very center.

If you want to learn anything about the military orders, here is the best place to start.

January 10th... don't forget!

Happy Hanukkah!

Before the close of The Festival of Lights, which will happen in about 90 minutes, at sundown, I wanted to say Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish friends, and to give this small, wee gift that makes Hanukkah special for me, too.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Hmr5YOewww&rel=1]

Once again, Happy Hanukkah!

GF

Advent

It's time for Advent, folks!

Well, Advent started a few days ago, but you knew that, right?

What's that? You are unfamiliar with the Advent season? Been a awhile since Sunday School for some of you, perhaps?. Well, good ol' Mr. Gunfighter is here with a wee reminder.

The Advent season marks the preparation for the celebration of the birth of Christ. Coincidentally, or maybe not so coincidentally, it happens at the same time of what most people refer to as the Christmas season.

In different faith traditions, the season of Advent begins on varying dates, but in the Lutheran tradition, Advent starts on the first of December... just a scant few days before my birthday... not that I am hinting at any of you.

I'd never do that.

Right... Advent. 

From Wikipedia (which explains this so much better than me):

Christians believe that the season of Advent serves a dual reminder of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah as well as the waiting that Christians today endure as they await the second coming of Christ.

This is a particularly important time in the church year, and during Sunday services in many churches (and certainly in Lutheran churches) a favorite Advent hynm is sung... that's the one you can hear now, if your volume is up and I embedded properly.

It is called "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!"

It's a big favorite of mine.