It wasn’t an unusual request, so I stepped aside with her. “I need to ask you about my son. I think he may be…I’m afraid he might be…showing some tendencies toward being…Oh, I think something’s wrong with him! Maybe he’s a psychopath or something!”

My eyebrows went up. “What would make you think that?” I replied, wondering if she was going to tell me he was torturing small animals or being a firebug.

“Well, he plays war all the time! And that means he’s pretending to kill people! And sometimes he pretends like he’s been shot and he pretends to die! That’s not normal is it?”

I relaxed. “Let me explain something to you. You are a girl, a mother. When you think of war, you think of orphans and widows, POWs and disabled veterans. You imagine your son coming home bloodied and beaten. It’s scary and brutal, right?”

“Yes, of course! Doesn’t everyone think that way?”

“No! When your son thinks of war, he is thinking of valiant deeds, courage, and bravery. He’s imagining standing up to the evil to protect the weak and innocent. When he pretends to be shot, he’s picturing nobly laying down his life for his brothers in arms. To him, it’s all about testing his strength and showing himself mighty when it counts, it’s about manliness and honor.”

Hope dawned in her eyes. “Really? I never thought about it that way! Is that really why he’s obsessed with war and battle?”

“Yes, certainly. Of course, the explosions don’t hurt the attraction any,” I smiled at her.

Yesterday, on the 67th anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Bulge, Life Magazine released some never before seen shots of the Ardennes during the Battle. They are really quite remarkable, some even in full color. Gather your children around and take a look at them. Take time to tell them about the great, glorious fight against one of the most evil leaders the world has seen — and don’t be worried when they are fascinated with war!

For manly, historical and inspiring gifts for boys fascinated with war, from King Arthur swords to rubberband machine guns, click here!

For inspiring stories of the heroes of American History that teach virtue and character, get our Hero Tales from American History dramatized audiobooks by Theodore Roosevelt and Henry Cabot Lodge. Order by midnight, Monday, December 20th for Christmas delivery.

‘Shake off those gloomy feelings. Drive them away. Fix your mind and pleasures upon what is before you. … All is bright if you will think it so. All is happy if you will make it so. Do not dream. It is too ideal, too imaginary. Dreaming by day, I mean. Live in the world you inhabit. Look upon things as they are. Make the best of them. Turn them to your advantage.””

H.W. Crocker, Robert E. Lee on Leadership, p. 16

Everyone was delighted when our friend Earl Pendleton started up the Homeschool Football League. Everyone, that is, except me. I was afraid, I said, they’d scramble their brains. I said they could play flag football, but honestly, they weren’t very good at it – not fast enough for a game where strength counted for nothing.

Then one year, our Math Man discovered sports stats. He kept notebooks full of stats on football players all over the nation. Playing football became the big goal of his 11 year old brain. He begged and pleaded until we agreed if they earned the hundreds of dollars needed for the first year equipment fee and registration for all of them to play, they could. They ran themselves ragged earning money in every way they could think of and they finally did it. It was a match made in heaven. Our boys are big and strong – they were really good at it!

They love football season. They love to try their strength against other guys. Football is controlled combat. The chance to stretch yourself against other men, but without the risk of war. Guys love it. And it does a great job using up that excess testosterone of the teen years. It’d be great if their were strongly Christian teams like HFL all over the place.

All that to say that we tend to notice football news and this morning we were struck by the juxtaposition of two big stories in the press.

In Florida this weekend at a youth game, the referees made an unpopular call. Now, in HFL if you talk back to a ref, you are ejected from the game. The adults in charge of the gators had a different attitude entirely. The Gator coaches threw their water bottles at the ref! Before long over a dozen coaches and players were assaulting the official, including one young man in full armor who tackled him. How shameful it is for those men young and old to use their strength to beat their unarmed, not opponent, but authority! They are guilty of felony as well as shameful behavior and their lives will never be the same. Read the whole story here.

In Indiana, on the other hand, three high school players saw a terrible accident and realized a family was trapped in a blazing pick-up truck. The young men crossed a ravine, stomped down a barbed wire fence and ran to the rescue. They released a man who immediately turned to pull his three year old daughter out and told them his pregnant wife was trapped. These young heroes undaunted by the flames grabbed a couple of passersby and flipped that truck right over, saving the young expectant mother just in time. That’s what strength’s for, gentlemen! Read all about it here.

God gave men strength to enable them to provide and protect. Sin perverts that design and uses strength in the service of intimidation and abuse. We need to encourage our boys to hone their strength, but more than that, to always use it for good. It’s a  noblesse oblige of strength – the obligation of nobility to use power to do right. We read these stories to our sons this morning. You might want to, too.

Many read about the adventure that we had when traveling through Mier on Sunday May 15, 2011. On Monday Isaac and I returned to Mier primarily to talk with the “Presidente”. I wanted to let him know that we were continuing to pray for him and his city. It was also my desire to continue talking with him about Jesus and the finished work that he did on the cross for us.

We crossed into Miguel Aleman around 2:00pm and continued on to Ciudad Mier. The two cities are only about ten miles apart but after the events of Sunday it seemed to take a long time to drive that short distance. When we arrived at City Hall it was not abandoned like it was on Sunday, but there was substantially less activity and fewer people than there have been at other times.

After parking, we walked across the plaza and up to the offices. By this time it was 3:30pm. Normally that office is very active, with many employees doing a variety of tasks. Now there were three people working in the office. They told me that the “Presidente” was gone for the day. One of the men added that most people began to leave by 3:00pm. I added that little tidbit of information to my memory banks for future use and then walked back out to my van.

As I sat in the van, I pondered the situation. I had really wanted to talk with Alberto and let him know we were praying for him. I was disappointed. Suddenly, I remembered that he had given me his cell phone number. I began searching for it—in my briefcase—among my papers—finally I pulled out my wallet. There it was stuck back in the corner!

I excitedly dialed the number. No answer.

A little later I dialed it again. He answered and then told me that he had been in a meeting before and couldn’t answer. We talked for a while. I let him know that we were praying for him. (I did not mention the events of Sunday to him. I felt like it would be unnecessary to burden him with any more difficult situations.) He seemed to sincerely appreciate the believers concern for him and his city.

I closed our conversation as I usually do—I reminded him that if there was ever anyway that I could help him just let me know and that if it was in my power to do it, I would.

Up until this time he has never told me about any needs that we could help meet. Today was different.

He told me that there were a number of disabled people in the city who needed wheelchairs or walkers. The he added that if “you and the brothers” could bring five or six wheelchairs and walkers to help those who cannot get around, that would be a BIG help for those men and women.

He also mentioned that there were about one hundred families who were without work due to the situation in the area and that they were having difficulty providing enough food to these families to keep them feed. I recently read in a publication written by the US government that the average family of five eats 23.5 pounds of food per week. For one hundred families that would be 2,350 pounds of food each and every week.

I have been asking the Lord for an open door in this city and I believe that the Lord has just swung the door wide open and he used four simple words—how can I help?

I will be returning to Mier the first week of June. It is now my prayer that that I would be able to return with at least five good quality wheelchairs, five good quality walkers, several sets of crutches (just in case they are needed) and no less than 2350 pounds of good quality foods that would provide well balanced meals for the families.

Matthew 25:35-40 For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in; I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me. Then the righteous shall answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry, and fed You? Or thirsty, and gave You drink? When did we see You a stranger, and took You in? Or naked, and clothed You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and came to You? And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you have done it to Me.

When we ask those four simple words, “How can I help?” we must be ready to put the required action behind them!

In Christ,

Mike & Pam Richardson

Mike

 vnm@hughes.net

We have known the Richardsons for many years, I believe we met them in 1997. They are faithful, dependable, honest, and committed servants of the Most High. On his website, he explains a little more about what they are doing in this city:

 Ciudad Mier is an area that has been impacted by significant violence. The new mayor said in an interview that he wanted to “change the image” of the city. The Lord has opened the door for me to meet with him and explain, with the Bible, how God wants to change not only the city but also his own life.

I am finishing a book that I prepared for the Mexican military, who are risking their lives to help people to live in peace, and for people who have been affected by violence. It begins by explaining the need for us to overcome the bitterness and resentment, and explains how it affects our relationship with God and with others. It then proceeds to describe in detail what the Bible says about heaven and hell. The book ends by carefully explaining the plan of God for the salvation of men. Once printed, we will be distributing thousands of these booklets to the military and those affected by violence.  I believe that God will use His Word, written in this book, to bring many to salvation through the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Besides these activities, we continue forward with our efforts to minister to Christian families through El Hogar Educador magazine as well as organizing homeschool conferences. We have scheduled conferences in Pachuca, Guadalajara, Saltillo and Sonora 2012.

Many of you have heard that the wife of an American missionary was killed recently in northern Mexico. Some, perhaps many, have felt sorry for this family and the sacrifice they made to advance the progress of the gospel. Never feel sorry for a missionary, for those who come to fulfill the mandate of Jesus Christ to preach the gospel. We are where the action is really where God is working in the hearts and lives of people. We are living “Where the life and death, where sin and grace come together, where heaven and hell battle for the souls of men, where the living God is working his will in the souls of men.

Wow. Your sons need to hear about this. Calling mine over now.

We talk about Admiral David Farragut (of “D— the torpedoes – full speed ahead!” Civil War fame) in our book and in several of our workshops.  The incident below happened during the War of 1812, when he was a young midshipman on the USS Essex, sailing off the coast of South America and harrassing British vessels in the South Pacific.  The practice of the time was that any ship captured in the course of war could be claimed as a prize, taken to a friendly port, and sold off as a bonus to the crew.  On this cruise, the Essex had a string of successful engagements with the enemy:

By this time [Captain David Porter] had captured so many vessels that he was compelled to draw on the midshipmen for prize masters, and in the trip from Tumbez to Valparaiso, he put the ship Barclay, with her ex-captain retained on board to help navigate her, under the command of Midshipman Farragut, then not quite twelve years old. At the very outset, the lad was compelled to settle the question of command with the big whaler, who swore that he would take the Barclay to New Zealand instead of Valparaiso, and went below to get his pistols. The other vessels of the squadron were by this time too far away to communicate with, but Farragut, after telling his right hand man of the prize crew what the situation was, shouted down the cabin ladder that if the whaler came up with his pistols he did so at the risk of going overboard. Finding that the crew were ready to stand by their young commander, the ex- captain had to give in. From that moment Farragut was master of the situation and navigated the Barclay without mishap to Valparaiso.

From Capt. George Ramsey Clark, et al., A Short History of the United States Navy (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1911), p. 178.

Thank you and God bless you, all veterans everywhere!

Martin Luther was a young German law student when he underwent a remarkable religious conversion.  Taking a bolt of lightning as a warning from God, he left the university and entered the Augustinian order as a monk.  From there, his restless search for peace with God led him to the Bible, then a doctorate in theology, then a teaching position with the tiny University of Wittenberg in German Saxony. 

Attempting to address certain abuses in the medieval Catholic Church, the young Dr. Luther posted a challenge to other scholars to debate a number of practices he questioned.  On October 31, 1517, he nailed the notice to the door of the university church, a common practice itself since the broad heavy doors were routinely used as bulletin boards.  The list of propositions known as “The 95 Theses” lit a firestorm of controversy that quickly spread across Germany and central Europe.  Luther had attracted the attention not only of academics and churchmen like himself, but the wrath of Pope Leo X and the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, as well!

Called before the Imperial Diet at the town of Worms*, Luther was challenged to withdraw his proposals and repudiate his writings.  In the front of everybody’s mind was the memory that the Czech reformer, Jan Hus, had made many of the same propositions decades earlier — and was burned at the stake in consequence. 

Luther’s response, after begging a recess to consider the Emperor’s demand, followed a sleepless night of anxious prayer.  When called for his answer the next dawn, Luther replied:

Since then Your Majesty and your lordships desire a simple reply, I will answer without horns and without teeth. Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason–I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other–my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe.

Here I stand.  I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.

Knowing what had happened to others who raised the issues he had, Luther stared death in the face and stood on the word of God – never mind Pope or Emperor.  What an incredible, gutsy thing to do.  It’s one of my favorite events in history.

Here at the Youngs’, we make a big deal out of Reformation Day (October 31).  We eat German food for supper, usually bratwurst, sauerkraut and German potato salad, then troop into the den to watch Martin Luther, a terrific B&W documentary made in 1954 and starring Niall MacGinnis as the reformer.  The movie was filmed at the actual location of some events, and they did a good job finding actors who actually looked like Luther, Charles, and Pope Leo.  And the scene at Worms is classic!

(The DVD is available from several places, but you can download it for $1.99 rental from Amazon.com)

And we do have a concession to the candy-intensive holiday … we play “Pin the Theses on the Wittenberg Door.”  Everybody wins.

*I’ve always loved thinking about “The Diet of Worms,” but to be fair, it’s pronounced “Vorms” in German.

Espinosa was walking a teacher to her car earlier this year when another vehicle bore down on them in the crosswalk.  He managed to push the teacher to safety but was struck by the car himself and suffered head and leg injuries; the teacher suffered fractures to her foot. Both are still recovering from the accident.

The Honor Medal is awarded to only three or four Scouts each year; the Crossed Palms are added “for extreme risk to life and personal safety,” according to a Scouting official. Espinosa’s decisive action in the face of danger likely saved the teacher’s life.

Espinosa avoids the accolade of “hero”, saying instead,

“The main thing I want them to know is to always be a gentleman and try to help people …  And to really love what you have at the moment because you never know what is going to happen.”

The whole story appeared in the Houston Chronicle.

This week’s episode from Hero Tales is the remarkable story of how George Rogers Clark and a few dozen backwoodsmen captured the Northwest Territory from the British during the Revolutionary War.  Theodore Roosevelt relates how Clark led his men through the icy floodwaters of the Wabash River to surprise the British outpost of Vincennes, among other outstanding acts of courage, persistence, and self-sacrifice.  Without this campaign, the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin might be part of Quebec to this day!

…York pulled off one of the great feats of any combat soldier of any time. He single-handedly annihilated a German machine gun battalion on Oct. 8, 1918, killing 25 German soldiers and capturing 132 enemy soldiers. He seized more than 30 machine guns, which had been killing Americans with extreme accuracy and ferocity.

The M1908/15 Maxim light machine gun was one of the German weapons York confiscated in the Argonne Forest battle, making it a highly significant artifact and a priceless war piece.

Since federal firearm laws won’t allow the library to keep the weapon, the gun has been moved to the Museum of Appalachia in Clinton, Tennessee.   York received the Medal of Honor for his action; you can read the citation here.

3D Reconstruction, Hudson River Ditching

An incredible example of excellence, courage and clear thinking under pressure.