Would you like to get together, share some fellowship, and chat about God, religion, or whatever the spirit moves you to discuss? All faith perspectives welcome — especially curious atheists! Join us online this Sunday at 9:30 am EST.
THREE WAYS TO ENGAGE WITH MY WORK. St. Barachiel’s of Richmond is my Christian group. Join us online or in person in Richmond, VA. TWO MARTIAL ARTS DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE. 100% free and non-profit, Cabal Fang is martial arts for personal development, self-defense and fitness. Bobcat Frontier Martial Arts is Frontier Rough ‘n’ Tumble — the fighting arts, survival skills, lifeways and ethos of the colonial and indigenous peoples of North American during the frontier period (1607 – 1912). just $19.99/month.
Paul Foster Case’s Wisdom of Tarot was required reading for a class in my seminary. Rather than writing a paper, I was allowed to engage the material by making a video. If such things interest you, enjoy.
THREE WAYS TO ENGAGE WITH MY WORK. St. Barachiel’s of Richmond is my Christian group. Join us online or in person in Richmond, VA. TWO MARTIAL ARTS DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE. 100% free and non-profit, Cabal Fang is martial arts for personal development, self-defense and fitness. Bobcat Frontier Martial Arts is Frontier Rough ‘n’ Tumble — the fighting arts, survival skills, lifeways and ethos of the colonial and indigenous peoples of North American during the frontier period (1607 – 1912). just $19.99/month.
I am a Deacon in Ekklesia Epignostika Church and Seminary, and the Host I am consuming in the Communion video below has been Consecrated by my Bishop for this purpose. This is the Body of Christ, and must be given the Sacred Reverence due the Son of God.
Those desiring to follow along and partake of Communion at home should first consider carefully. If you are also a Sacramental Christian, you should observe the guidance of your Bishop, as to whether, and in what manner, you may partake of Communion at home. Other Baptized Christians should observe the guidance of their Pastor or, if unchurched, discern with the help of the Holy Spirit. Persons who have not yet been Baptized into the Christian Church, should not take Communion.
This month’s martial focus is Evasion, and the spiritual focus is the Hand of Mysteries (see right). These will the thematic elements around which the weekly Mettle Makers will revolve this month.
Heads up! This week’s mettle maker contains a coupon code for a flash sale at Mitch’s General Store so read on.
Handprints: Mettle Maker #246
Warm-up thoroughly for at at least 8 minutes. Do 2-3 minutes each of (a) jumping rope (b) light calisthenics and (c) shadowboxing, forms, light heavy bag work, or 8 minutes of MBF.
Do the February constitutional. Calisthenics are the most efficient fitness investment when you factor in equipment cost, space, time investment, injury risk, and functional strength. Do this month’s constitutional: 25 BRPs, 100 WTCs. 50 ZSQs, 25 CNPs, 100 JJKs, 25 GUPs, and 25 PUPs.
Look for some handprints in the snow — some critter handprints that is. As I mentioned last week, the snow makes animal tracks incredibly easy to spot and follow, and it’s so much fun. Last week we tracked a raccoon. This week watch this video and go look at a rabbit and a squirrel to see if we can determine which way they’re jumping.
Speak to the hand. The Hand of Mysteries that is. Watch this cool video about this remarkable symbol.
TWO MARTIAL ARTS DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE. 100% free and operated through my non-profit, Cabal Fang is martial arts for personal development, self-defense and fitness. Bobcat Frontier Martial Arts is just $19.99/month and that’s your choice if you’re interested in Frontier Rough ‘n’ Tumble — the fighting arts, survival skills, lifeways and ethos of the colonial and indigenous peoples of North American during the frontier period (1607 – 1912). What are you waiting for — enroll today!
A couple weeks back I had a great talk with Dr. Matt Jr. Rossano, the world’s foremost expert on the evolution of religion and author of Supernatural Selection: How Religion Evolved. He seems pretty modest, so he’d probably refute that statement.
It wasn’t an interview or anything, just a conversation. I just had a list of follow-up questions after I tangled with his book, and he was gracious enough to give me an hour of his time. He’s a teacher, and it shows in how he frames his thoughts and ideas. If you ask me, he could be as popular as Bret Weinstein or Jordan B. Peterson if he wanted to, but I don’t think he does. And why would he? But I did ask if he was open to having some public discussions with other people whom I think could benefit from his ideas — like Paul VanderKlay and John Vervaeke — and he said he was.
Now all I have to do is get in front of them and convince them to do it. If you know Paul or John, please tell them I want to have public discussions with involving them and Matt Rossano. Matt’s theories mainly support, but sometimes undermine, their various positions and I think all would be made stronger by the engagement.
Anyway, I’ve started to distill some of Matt’s ideas and put them to work in my mission, which is to save the world by making stronger, happier, healthier people through martial arts and religion. So here’s a video I made about fear.
TWO MARTIAL ARTS DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE. 100% free and operated through my non-profit, Cabal Fang is martial arts for personal development, self-defense and fitness. Bobcat Frontier Martial Arts is just $19.99/month and that’s your choice if you’re interested in Frontier Rough ‘n’ Tumble — the fighting arts, survival skills, lifeways and ethos of the colonial and indigenous peoples of North American during the frontier period (1607 – 1912). What are you waiting for — enroll today!
A fellow named John Cummings commented on my post Grandpa Lyne and Me Sharing a Love for Canes and requested to see the newspaper clippings regarding my Grandad Lyne’s job as caretaker of the old 7 Pines battlefield (there’s a shot of Grandpa Lyne there on the left).
Anyway, without further preamble, here you go John — articles below! Unfortunately my mother didn’t record the publication dates or save the mastheads.
TWO MARTIAL ARTS DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE. 100% free and operated through my non-profit, Cabal Fang is martial arts for personal development, self-defense and fitness. Bobcat Frontier Martial Arts is just $19.99/month and that’s your choice if you’re interested in Frontier Rough ‘n’ Tumble — the fighting arts, survival skills, lifeways and ethos of the colonial and indigenous peoples of North American during the frontier period (1607 – 1912). What are you waiting for — enroll today!
Sometimes I write blog posts and make videos that are deep and complex. Sometimes I just make a 60-second one-shot. That would be this.
Get dirty.
Anyway, I’ve started to distill some of Matt’s ideas and put them to work in my mission, which is to save the world by making stronger, happier, healthier people through martial arts and religion. So here’s a video I made about fear.
TWO MARTIAL ARTS DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE. 100% free and operated through my non-profit, Cabal Fang is martial arts for personal development, self-defense and fitness. Bobcat Frontier Martial Arts is just $19.99/month and that’s your choice if you’re interested in Frontier Rough ‘n’ Tumble — the fighting arts, survival skills, lifeways and ethos of the colonial and indigenous peoples of North American during the frontier period (1607 – 1912). What are you waiting for — enroll today!
I am a Deacon in Ekklesia Epignostika Church and Seminary, and the Host I am consuming in the Communion video below has been Consecrated by my Bishop for this purpose. This is the Body of Christ, and must be given the Sacred Reverence due the Son of God.
Those desiring to follow along and partake of Communion at home should first consider carefully. If you are also a Sacramental Christian, you should observe the guidance of your Bishop, as to whether, and in what manner, you may partake of Communion at home. Other Baptized Christians should observe the guidance of their Pastor or, if unchurched, discern with the help of the Holy Spirit. Persons who have not yet been Baptized into the Christian Church, should not take Communion.
Heads up! This week’s mettle maker contains a coupon code for a flash sale at Mitch’s General Store so read on.
Alas, Flesh: Mettle Maker #245
Warm-up thoroughly for at at least 8 minutes. Do 2-3 minutes each of (a) jumping rope (b) light calisthenics and (c) shadowboxing, forms, or light heavy bag work, or 8 minutes of MBF.
Do some calisthenics. Calisthenics are still the biggest bang for your fitness buck in terms of equipment cost (zero), space (very little required), and functional strength. Do this month’s constitutional. or dodge over to Mitch’s General Store and use coupon code FLASH121to get 50% off any fitness dice order (offer good until midnight 2/5/21).
Striking and self-defense movement drill. Set timer for 3 x 3:00/1:00 and get in front of your heavy bag. First round, strike with your focus on movement. Make sure that you are popping, weaving, dropping and twisting. For the break, practice your stalking steps. Walk the area like a crane stalking minnows. Second round, concentrate on striking with accuracy. For the break, practice your stalking low crawl around the training area. Move slowly and silently, keeping your navel within 2 inches of the floor at all times. Third round, strike with maximum power. For the break, practice your stalking high crawl on hands and knees. If you are stalking properly you should be exhausted. Not exhausted? Crawl slower and more quietly next time.
Go out your back door and see where your dinner is headed. Find some animal tracks near your home (trust me they’re there!) and follow them as far as you can as if your life depended on it. In a survival situation there are no vegetarians because critters are more nutrient dense than weeds (not that weeds aren’t yummy and great for fiber). Go get ’em, tiger. See video below.
Alas, you are only flesh. To quote theologian Paul Tillich, “Finitude in realization is anxiety.” Sooner or later the realization of mortality will shatter your soul’s pretentious façade and you will have to deal with the existential threat of death. Where is the solution to this ultimate reality? Our first clue can be found in the great Evelyn Underhill’s definition of mysticism: “One of the most abused words in the English language, it has been used in different and often mutually exclusive senses by religion, poetry, and philosophy: has been claimed as an excuse for every kind of occultism, for dilute transcendentalism, vapid symbolism, religious or aesthetic sentimentality, and bad metaphysics…Mysticism is the art of union with Reality.” Write at least 50 words in your journal on this topic. If you aren’t squared off and all set, schedule a meeting with me and let me help you get there.
TWO MARTIAL ARTS DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE. 100% free and operated through my non-profit, Cabal Fang is martial arts for personal development, self-defense and fitness. Bobcat Frontier Martial Arts is just $19.99/month and that’s your choice if you’re interested in Frontier Rough ‘n’ Tumble — the fighting arts, survival skills, lifeways and ethos of the colonial and indigenous peoples of North American during the frontier period (1607 – 1912). What are you waiting for — enroll today!
There is nothing going inside that phone or that laptop that is any more fun than this.
TWO MARTIAL ARTS DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE. 100% free and operated through my non-profit, Cabal Fang is martial arts for personal development, self-defense and fitness. Bobcat Frontier Martial Arts is just $19.99/month and that’s your choice if you’re interested in Frontier Rough ‘n’ Tumble — the fighting arts, survival skills, lifeways and ethos of the colonial and indigenous peoples of North American during the frontier period (1607 – 1912). What are you waiting for — enroll today!
I teach free of charge through Heritage Arts , a 501(c)(3) educational charity offering free or donation-only classes related to martial arts, fitness, outdoor skills, and spiritual development. Distance learning programs available. Visit the Heritage Arts website to find out more, or click here to join the Heritage Self-Defense group on Facebook.
What is Heritage Rough ‘n’ Tumble? It’s mind-body-spirit form of American Rough ‘n’ Tumble, which began as a manner of no-holds-barred fighting in the Southern Virginia backcountry during the Colonial Era and has since grown, evolved, and adapted to the realities of modern self-defense. An amalgam of the varying techniques brought to America by colonists from all over the world, blended with the fighting methods of the over 900 distinct indigenous tribes, American Rough ‘n’ Tumble is perhaps the world’s most fearsome martial art.
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A fellow named 
Robert Mitchell Jr. 