Prayers of a Warrior: Diligence & Faithfulness is my third installment in the Prayers of a Warrior series by Louis Martinez. This devotional poetry book exhorts the reader to maintain excellence in one’s walk with the Lord, particularly as it pertains to challenging moments. All are tempted, for one’s faith must be tested to ensure it is true. If never there was the opportunity to walk away, how can one be sure his walk is genuine? Also, the way we handle those moments of testing can be our best example to others that they may remember well beyond any words we share with them.
As is tradition, I would like to announce this new installment by sharing an original entry of poetry and prayer in the same style as found in the book. Please enjoy!
Numbers 32:17-18
[We] ourselves will go with diligence armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them to their place; and our little ones shall dwell in the strong cities because of the inhabitants of the land. We will not return to our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited each one his inheritance.
Tempting it may be To stand for but ourselves When victory we see Our woes upon the shelves
The foes we faced now gone Being beaten into dust The enemy withdrawn From the triumph of the just
Yet, what about our kin? Those standing by our side Shall we help them win? Lest our brothers be denied
Let us not forget their woes Our neighbors we doth love Let us rush to face their foes For them, and God above
Thank you, Lord of Armies, for how You have benefitted me as one of Your holy warriors. You have trained well my hands for war and my fingers for battle. You have brought me victory in combat whenever it mattered most. Yet, let me not forget those who still have foes to face when mine have fallen. May I not forget those who cannot fight for themselves. May they never be left wanting to rely on me. May I always be ready to answer their call. Make me that faithful man. Amen.
This is the month of July, in the year of our Lord, 2026. It has been 250 years since the founding of my homeland, the United States of America. God be praised for the good He has afforded me, my fellow Americans, and the whole world in making this place for us.
This month, of all months, I wanted to put in some extra effort for Pensive Warrior, posting extra content to celebrate. Writing here is one of my favorite things to do for God, His people, and my nation. It is a blessing and an honor to be a part of this story for Him, and for all of you.
This is a piece I wrote for my best friend – a woman named Ita, and a fellow Christian from the land of Indonesia. She asked me to craft a poem on the Biblical teachings of how and when to judge others rightly.
Going back to ancient times, such has been a common issue – our people struggling with this very thing. Though so critical it is if ever we hope to put our societies in any semblance of order, as they do oft fall out of from time to time.
The starkest words delivered to the faithful regarding this task may be these: “Don’t you know that we will judge angels—how much more matters of this life?” – 1 Corinthians 6:3
“For you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others.” – Matthew 7:2
Therefore, “judge according to right judgment.” – John 7:24
Or as one might say, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” – Luke 6:31
For the man who is never judged can never learn the right way. And the man who never learns the right way, can never be spared from destruction.
That is why the Lord tells us, “if you see a wicked man in his sin, and do not warn him, his blood is on your hands.” – Ezekiel 3:18
With these things in mind, I wrote this poem. For my best friend, Ita. And for all of you.
Judge rightly, as He doth judge Unto to all who cross thy path But from His Way, dare not to budge Lest ye do seek to face His wrath
Rare tis to find such a wise man And so rare, a woman too Who knows the truth, and by it, stands Doing what is right to do
Yet be not as deceivers are Who take the Word and cast Him down Who take Him not to go as far As He doth go for glory's sound
The wicked man is not just he Who judges harsh, and forgives not The wicked man, more oft we see Who judges not, for he's forgot
For life cannot yet thrive and grow And righteousness shan't bear its seed Where righteousness, one does not know And firm rebuke is sore in need
Then let us stand firm by what's right And call our kinsmen to be so Lest all our land be lost tonight And darkness take us all below
For happy is the nation who Does heed the Word of Him on high Blessed are their kin who always do Live by what's right, even to die
This piece was performed live at The Green Room for the Jim St. James Variety Show Open Mic on March 24, 2026. Watch the recording of this performance by clicking below.
The line is never-ending of competent heroes from history. God be praised. For what makes one a hero need not be so grand or glamorous, especially in one’s day. The hero is he who has done something of tremendous value in the sight of another, as a common father can be a hero to his own son by simply being there when it matters.
As the author of this story, Pensive Warrior, it falls to me to choose who is remembered here as a “Hero From History.” The only requirements I impose are that the person’s story in this age be complete (i.e., the person must be “dead” in a materialist sense), and the person must have done something I find to be inspiring and valuable. After, all I have to write about these people! As such, their stories must inspire me to do so.
That brings me to Joseph Plump Martin, a man who garnered no fame in his day. Yet today, and to me, his story is of immense value and inspiration. Of particular note is his willingness to plead for what is right and to do good unto others, even when his extreme circumstances would have pushed other men to the furthest reaches of apathy. His endurance through great suffering brings hope to us all in the midst of our trials we live through each day.
Joseph Martin & his wife, Lucy Clewley. This is the only known image of him. Public Domain
Upbringing
Joseph Plumb Martin was born on November 21, 1760 in Beckett, Massachusetts. According to Ray Raphael (2009, p. 13), his parents were Ebenezer Martin and Susannah Plumb. Sir Joseph was part of a farming family most of his life, except for a brief time when his father became a pastor and moved the family into urban life. Ebenezer Martin was a Yale-educated, Congregationalist Christian (Martin, 1830 p. 3). This no doubt contributed to Sir Joseph’s astuteness, moral character, and Biblical literacy displayed later in life. For when you train up a child in the way he should go, then when he is old, he shall not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6).
At the age of seven, our hero became a working man when he was sent to help his grandparents on their farm in Milford, Connecticut. This brought him back to agricultural life, which would be his profession for most of his days. There, he found himself until the age of 15 when he left home to join in the American struggle for independence.
Revolutionary War
Sir Joseph was inspired to aid in the fight against the British, despite his grandfather discouraging the idea. Speaking with others his age who were to join, marching with them when they were in town, and seeing them off are some of the reasons he gives for his inclination (Martin, 1830, pp. 5-6). When he threatened to run away and join a privateer ship if he could not enlist with the Connecticut Militia, he was finally allowed to go and outfitted with weapons and provisions. After completing his first term of service, he returned home for a short time before joining the Continental Army for the duration of the war.
Most of Sir Joseph’s time in the conflict is spent starving and searching for food. Indeed, the majority of his narrative is taken up by this activity. At one point, this nearly costs him his life after eating some poisonous apples he happened across out in a field (Martin, pp. 113-124). In his desperation, he did not examine them for edibility before digging in, and as a result, describes being close to death from food poisoning.
Fortunately, his commanding officer found him in this sorry state and nursed him back to health. Such moments caution us of how food must be ingested with care to prevent self-harm, and starvation has a way of impeding our judgement thereof. We are also reminded of the importance of faithful companions to care for us in the midst of our ailments, lest Death be unimpeded to accelerate our demise.
Apart from such woes, Sir Joseph laments all the time he spent marching in severe heat over long distances, lugging heavy cargo with his own strength the whole way. He makes the claim that no fighting was ever as perilous as the act of marching on foot. This, he says, put him in more suffering and danger to his health than any battle or action of the enemy.
Nevertheless, there is one moment where Sir Joseph claims he endured harder combat than he believes ever took place at any other time of the war (Martin, pp. 48-54). This was when he was ordered to defend Fort Mifflin in November of 1777, upon which time the British laid siege to it with multiple ships from the Delaware River. Joseph Martin would have been 16 years old at the time. It was reportedly a very cold autumn, and he did not have any shoes, likely having worn them out during previous marches.
Sir Joseph describes being sleep deprived from the sound and shaking of all the bombardment, and that the only part of the fort with proper sleeping quarters could not safely be used. Most of the men who went to rest there never came back alive, as the British artillery seemed to target that part of the fort in particular.
Our hero describes the situation as incredibly bleak, with it being difficult to keep warm and the guns possessed at the fort faring pitifully in his assessment. There was one gun he claimed could have been rather powerful, but alas, there was no ammunition for it. Still, the Americans managed to destroy two enemy ships during the siege. At night, Sir Joseph and the others would try their best to repair the damage wrought during the day.
Eventually, a massive group of enemy ships arrived and began bombarding the fort incessantly. The Americans attempted to return fire, but to no avail. Sir Joseph describes seeing many of his compatriots cut to pieces, and that no small number of the men attending the fort died over the next few hours. The decision was made to retreat as soon as the sun set and darkness could cover an escape.
Sir Joseph endured to the end of his post at Fort Mifflin, and aided in the burning of it before departure. This ensured it would be of no use to the enemy when they were sure to seize it, just as the Lord commands Joshua to hamstring the horses and burn the chariots of the enemy, preventing them from being used by again if recovered later (Joshua 11:6).
While the Americans were escaping in boats, the blaze of the burning structure illuminated them trying to flee, leading to them being fired upon and one boat disabled. Sir Joseph describes how they took the men from the broken boat into his own before getting away. His commitment to the mission, refusal to abandon his post despite nightmarish conditions, and endurance under indominable attempts on his life provide inspiration to us all in the midst of our own trying times.
Another one of Sir Joseph’s most commendable actions was that of convincing some fellow soldiers not to blow up their captain (Martin, p. 149). Our hero was a likable man who gained the respect and confidence of others, and was promoted from a private to a sergeant in the Army by this time. And so, there was a moment when a group of privates shared with him a scheme to detonate some powder in the canteen of their captain. They believed it would just scare the man, but when our hero examined the charge, he found it to be enough to kill.
Even though Sir Joseph himself was not fond of the captain, as everyone despised the man, he recognized the danger in the plan and the wrongness thereof. To spare both the intended victim and the prospective evildoers, Sir Joseph convinced the private not to follow through with the prank and never spoke of it to the captain. This was an honorable solution, and not one that just anybody could have brought about.
Any man, whether he intends to or not, can be made to withstand the pains of hunger. Many men, including mindless brutes, can be motivated to stand their ground and die for a position, provided the right incentives and some friendly faces by their side. However, it takes a man of good character and sufficient skill to convince a group of people not to do wrong when they are convinced it is of no harm, against someone the speaker despises no less. Sir Joseph was that kind of man, and that is something I greatly appreciate.
One last thing I found noteworthy in Sir Joseph’s narrative of the Revolutionary War is the time he saw a ghost (Martin, p. 139). He mentioned being camped out at night with his companions when one of their number who was on watch came screaming back to them about seeing an apparition. No one believed the man at first, including our hero. Nevertheless, they went to the spot where this supposed ghost appeared, and there it was.
Sir Joseph describes it as a sickly-looking horse, ghastly and undead in its visage. Beyond that, nothing else extraordinary occurred. The men simply saw the ghost, and its appearance was recorded in the narrative.
What makes this notable is the context of its presentation. The purpose of this narrative was to illuminate the plight of the Revolutionary War soldier in light of their difficulty receiving pensions. It is a plain, firsthand, historical account by a professional soldier, not a fiction writer, known satirist, or any other who might embellish. The objective of the writing is not to create an interesting story or mythological account. It is just history. It is Joseph Plumb Martin’s factual account of what happened, as best as he was able to recall by the time he wrote it.
Of course, the staunchest critics of anything supernatural would still contend his mind must have failed him in that moment due to extreme stress. To that, I would say, it is possible. However, that is all I would say to entertain such a notion.
This also was not a lone sighting by Joseph Martin, for he was in a group, and all reportedly saw the ghost. Of course, the accounts of the others are not preserved, and we only have Sir Joseph’s word. That seems believable enough to me, however, and I endeavor to be as honest of a critic as one can be. The reader may here think what one will. I thought it worth mentioning.
Marriage and Later Adulthood
Moving on in life, Sir Joseph worked as a teacher. He was in New York for a time where his Army service concluded, staying to find work there. At some point, he relocated to Maine and was married to Lucy Clewley. They eloped in 1794 and had five children. In Maine, he worked as a clerk and legislator before eventually returning to his life of farming.
While working the land, Sir Joseph apparently came into dispute with the prominent figure, John Knox over who owned what. This ended with what land the Martin family owned being significantly reduced, which may have been a blessing in disguise. It is said they already struggled to farm what land they did have before losing much of it. Nevertheless, such a turn of events would no doubt have been disheartening, regardless of whatever bright side one attempts to see from it.
Near the end of his life, Sir Joseph wrote down his memoir for us. It gained no prominence during his day. However, it has since become a treasure to those of us looking back. In his own words, he hoped his account of the war would move the hearts and minds of those in his time to afford better treatment for the nation’s veterans. The early Americans struggled immensely, and often could not afford to pay the pensions they promised to those who served in the military. Sir Joseph himself had to go to great lengths to get his pension, and even so, his communication skills, which were clearly above average at the very least, likely had a hand in that. Many others would not be so lucky.
Death and Legacy
On May 2, 1850, Joseph Plumb Martin passed on from this world. Now, I am sure he is waiting for the rest of us who are his adopted brothers and sisters to join him with Jesus Christ. He made it to the age of 89 before going on ahead.
I was personally inspired to share Joseph Plump Martin’s story as part of Pensive Warrior for several reasons. Firstly, his narrative serves as a critical firsthand account of the Revolutionary War for historians today This is a memoir he wrote himself, despite claiming to be no accomplished writer (Martin, p. 2). Of course, one might say he must have been well-educated privately given who his father was. However, Sir Joseph spent most of his youth with his grandfather, and most of his life as a farmer. Still, his firsthand account which is now passed down to us is impressive, and serves as an invaluable insight into the time period. We all owe him a debt of gratitude for that.
He displays a deep, philosophically-sound intimacy with the Holy Scriptures, applying them contextually to his own life. Not only that, but he also insightfully references other history and folk tales. As one who endeavors to do the same in my own speech, this is appreciable to me, and something I consider a good example from him. No matter one’s station in life, intimacy with the Word that became flesh is of critical importance. Sir Joseph understood this and took it to heart.
He also seems an honest man, speaking plainly of his own faults and never trying to justify his failings, such as at times he went along with what he himself considered pillaging for food amidst severe starvation. He encouraged others to do the right thing and abstain from causing undue harm, even to those he did not care for himself. This shows he was an honorable man, concerning himself with righteousness and goodness unto all along his path.
Lastly, Sir Josephs endurance through immense hardship and suffering is an inspiration in and of itself. Particularly, his ability to keep a clear mind and a good heart in the midst of starvation. Hunger is a temptress which has driven many a man to abject horrors, yet death is preferable to dishonor, especially in light of the fact that to willfully sin is to reject Christ’s Lordship, resulting in a “cutting off” of one from the people of God due to their being “no further sacrifice” therefor remaining (Numbers 15:30-31 & Hebrews 10:26-27); as well as the knowledge that those who die in Christ shall not truly die. After all, as our Lord would say, “whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:35). This is something our hero remembered well as he suffered to the brink of death, continuing with his mission despite his sorry state of affairs.
Through all his misery, Joseph Martin seems to maintain good spirits and a positive attitude. He is even funny at times, joking about the starvation he finds himself in. He also tries not to be bitter and resentful, despite rendering immense and brutal service to his country, only for his country to fail gravely in returning the favor.
And it is this faithful endurance, with contentment in all things, that is perhaps more inspiring than the specific details of any hardship which Joseph Martin endured. It is his indomitable will to continue on with what is good and right, living a life worthy in the sight of the Lord, that gives hope to those who still endure madness on the face of the earth. Just as the Lord assures us through the writings of Paul, “we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4).
With all that said, I am honored to recognize Joseph Plump Martin as one of the “Heroes From History.” As a fellow Christian, I look forward to meeting him one day. May we all live our lives in a way that such a brother may look fondly upon from Heaven as he waits for us to join him with the Lord.
I shall end with a poem Sir Joseph wrote that I thought was very good:
"You may think what you please, sir. I too can think- I think I can't live without victuals and drink; Your oxen can't plough, nor your horses can't draw, Unless they have something more hearty than straw;- If that is their food, sir, their spirits must fall- How then can I labour with - nothing at all?" - Joseph Plump Martin (1760-1850)
We find ourselves at the beginning of June in the year of our Lord, 2026. The best commendation I can give of summer is that it is very nice to look at. The sun shines bright, illuminating the landscape with a vibrant glow which highlights every possible color there is to reflect. It is always a sight to behold, especially after long stretches of cloud-covered days where all the world is drab and gray.
Yet, the beauty of summer is best enjoyed through the looking-glass of a window, in a well-insulated room. Lest the tyranny of the sun and its summer heat be known to one’s flesh and drive away all thoughts of fondness one may bear. Sometimes, nature’s charm is wise to admire from a distance, in the cool of the shade. Such is the way of things when the summer sun approaches.
And that is where I find myself now, in awe of the beauty of God’s creation as the sun shines and the birds sing. Yet, I know to keep my heart soft by propping myself a ways off from that realm of nature, able to adore it from the tower where I craft these words. There will be time enough to venture out into the heat, to do the hard work of the day. And when that time comes, I know it shall cast off all thoughts of fondness, so passing away the moment for good things to say.
Recently, when writing out the Holy Scriptures, I was moved by the account Moses gives in Leviticus 10 and felt beckoned to comment thereupon. This includes the deaths of Nadab and Abihu after offering “strange fire” before the Lord; Moses’ exhortation to Aaron not to mourn publicly for his sons; and the misunderstanding over Aaron not eating a sacrifice which is abated after Moses hears his reasoning.
Breaking Protocol
This portion of the Scriptures begins with Nadab and Abihu offering foreign fire to the Lord using their own censer, rather than the means they knew to be authorized by God (Leviticus 10:1). We would be remiss if we did not learn from this story to be diligent in how we present ourselves to the Lord. An abundance of knowledge, humility, and wisdom is needed for such an endeavor, bringing us to a state where we know His ways and can follow them well.
A servant does not prescribe how to fulfill a task for his master. Rather, a servant executes the will of his master as it was prescribed to him. And so, it matters how one follows and worships the Lord. He is the arbiter of how this can be done, not His followers.
This tale also reminds us of the time Samuel informs Saul that obedience is preferable to God over any sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). This is precisely what Nadab and Abihu fatally forgot, and what they should have known from the beginning, passed down as knowledge and wisdom from Adam and Eve, generation to generation.
Cain need not have despaired over his unacceptable sacrifice. Rather, he should have learned from the good example of his brother Able, and did likewise (Genesis 4:7). But instead of being accepted, Cain stood firm in his unacceptable ways, leading him to murder his brother and be cursed (Genesis 4:11).
While it may be easy for one to not think of anything he does apart from God as so serious as murdering one’s brother, it would be foolish to fail in noting this tragedy was the end of the story; not the beginning. The principle is the same, no matter the vector. That is, the end of sin so shall be, no matter how is the start.
Let us learn from these stories of the past and be wise for today. For timeless things, it seems, are so easily forgotten.
Breaking Protocol – In Our Hearts
There is more to be said of this first lesson, but in a different way.
The Lord does warn us that worship done in vain – without the right heart or motivation – is repugnant to Him. So much so, that He says insincere worship would be better off to cease altogether (Isaiah 1:13 & Malachi 1:10). This is an even greater warning than the incident with Nadab and Abihu, for their act of worship may have been a sincere attempt, yet it was done out of accordance with proper procedure.
Still, God’s later admonitions through prophets such as Isaiah and Malachi make no indication the worthless offerings in question were done out of accordance with protocol. Yet they were rejected nonetheless in the broader context of disobedience to greater matters (e.g., child sacrifice, temple prostitution, perpetual debt slavery, etc.).
Again, the principle is important to note. Worship done without a sincere heart, even if done correctly according to procedure, may still be rejected. I have seen it easy for many to be distracted by the grandiosity of the examples given in Scripture – people throwing their babies into fires for Molech one day while praying to God the next, or holding slaves in perpetuity while asking for forgiveness of their own debts to Him – and wrongly think their own matters, which they consider trivial by comparison, to be so incomparable.
Let us not delve into such folly, for then we do forget the principle of the matter, waving it away with perverted rationalization. Worship not done in sincerity – that is, by one who does not follow the Way of God – even if done correctly according to procedure, is repugnant. May we keep ourselves from such tragedy, knowing its deadly end, by earnestly following the Way of God in all we do.
Breaking Protocol – A Final Consideration
It is also possible Nadab and Abihu were drunk when they failed so fantastically.
This is evidenced by God prohibiting the consumption of alcohol when approaching the altar immediately after the incident (Leviticus 10:9). Such things remind us of warnings from Peter to be of sober mind, for Satan prowls about, waiting for a chance to destroy us in the midst of any drunkenness (1 Peter 5:8).
Drunkenness, as we of course know, leads to “reckless indiscretion” (Ephesians 5:18). Even should we assume well of Nadab and Abihu – that they knew what was authorized and what was not – history is replete with examples where even the best of men can have their better judgement destroyed by the influence of mind-altering substances. Let their deaths then serve as a cautionary tale to all, so that their example may not be repeated.
Of course, this lesson is not to contradict the Word of the Lord delivered through Solomon that wine was given to us for our enjoyment (Ecclesiastes 9:7). Of course, alcohol taken in moderation – that is, not to the point of drunkenness – does not interfere with one’s sober mind.
Let us not become the fool who would blaspheme the Law of God by adding thereto, claiming it sin in and of itself to drink but one drop of wine when no such prohibition exists. It is merely that excessive drinking, which does lead to drunkenness, is to be avoided. For surely one cannot think or do rightly, conducting himself in a manner worthy of the good news of Christ (Philippians 1:27), in a drunken state. And in some situations, any alcohol whatsoever is too great a risk to bear.
Public Displays of Emotion
Also of note in Leviticus 10 is the importance of Aaron not mourning publicly for Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:6). This reminds us that even if we are sad, we must be careful how we display that emotion in public, lest it influence others negatively. I have seen this is something effeminate and infantilized cultures can greatly struggle with. Nadab and Abihu died for their misdeeds, and the mourning thereof could be construed as discontent with God’s decision, stirring up rebellion against Him.
Such things harken us back to both the grumbling of the Israelites in the Wilderness (Numbers 11:1), as well as the bad report of the spies sent to reconnoiter the Promised Land (Numbers 14). Both times, the people’s relationship with the Lord was damaged by the disobedience that such groaning engendered.
Their grumbling hurt the Lord, making Him feel as though all He had done for them was a meaningless trifle to the people who He cared so much for. And the bad report spread by the spies, however honest it may have been in their sight, only served to damage the morale of the people and sink their hearts.
Sometimes, it is best to keep our feelings to ourselves, and the consequences of failing in this can be dire. I have seen and heard those who forget such lessons and attempt to trivialize their own grumblings in the sight of others, aired out in public for all to hear and be affected by. Perhaps they are trying to convince themselves. Perhaps they are truly trying to convince God against His own declarations.
Even I have done such things as a youth. I remember not thinking much of so doing at that time. So, perhaps people are not thinking when they grumble and groan. For it is written, “the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil” (Proverbs 15:28). Let us take heed and be wise.
This reminds us of how the Lord warns us to send home anyone who tries to come and prepare for battle, but who is afraid (Deuteronomy 20:8). For if we do not send those frightful ones home, they will melt the hearts of those next to them and scatter the ranks.
This is true not just in physical battle, but in principle, and thus, in all of life. For all of life is a battle in a larger war, or a drama if you will. This we see with the life of Job, and how he is affected by the discord between God and Satan (Job 1 & Job 2).
Thus, let us not think it a small matter how we present ourselves in public, but be strong and courageous. Let us not tempt others to despair, but encourage them with a good example. Let us endure suffering with resolve, and so charge others to do likewise.
In the end, may we all be better for it. For there is a time to mourn (Ecclesiastes 3:4). Yet, like all things, that must be done in its time and place, rather than outside those bounds.
Danger of Hasty Conclusions
Finally, we consider that Aaron does not eat a goat because he is still in mourning. He reasons that his grief may corrupt the act of holy service (Leviticus 10:19). Given the lessons just revealed by the Lord, Aaron’s reasoning is sound. He abstained from the sacrificial meal out of an abundance of caution that his grief might taint it. Moses agrees (Leviticus 10:20).
And indeed, Moses may be right to be suspicious of Aaron at first, given the man’s previous failures, immense as they have been. This is the same Aaron who failed to lead the people away from making a golden calf (Exodus 32). And now, this is the same Aaron who failed to lead his sons away from drunkenness and death (Leviticus 10).
Yet, Moses investigates the matter, discovering the truth behind Aaron’s motivations. In so doing, he finds all is well; and his concern was unwarranted, however well-founded it may have been. Let us all leave room to be surprised by those who have disappointed us so greatly before.
Also, we should here take note of Aaron’s wisdom and consider it for ourselves. Let us be sure that our grief, or any other emotion, does not taint our heart for God when we go to approach Him. Certainly not when it comes to public acts of service. The Scriptures are replete with examples of men and women coming to God with their despair privately. But doing so publicly is to fail to learn from the errors of those who came before.
This account also reminds us of Isaac requesting something to eat so that he could bless his son (Genesis 27:4). The words “so that” are important. It indicates he could not bless his son without having eaten something first. What are we to make of this? Of course, any answer on my part is speculation, but I will do my best to bear it out of reason.
Perhaps the state of mind or mood someone is in carries spiritual significance, even if it is not something the Holy Scriptures explicitly explain. Aaron recusing himself from the sacrificial meal in Leviticus 10 hints at this. And were it not so, Isaac should have been able to bless Esau right then in Genesis 27:4.
The only conclusion one can draw is that one’s mood or state of mind – influenced by food, as we all know from our own experience – makes a difference in what can or cannot be done spiritually. As for what that difference is precisely, or why it is, I cannot say. Perhaps there is an answer somewhere, accessible to us. If so, it alludes me at this time, and thus remains a mystery.
However, I can say this much. In an esoteric way, this all makes sense. Our mood affects how we think and do things. If we are in a good mood, we will do good things. If we are in a bad mood, we will do bad things, or at least our performance will be subpar, unless we rectify our mood. And good food can put someone in a good mood. If you also presume that being in a bad mood prevents someone from doing things in a spiritually-correct way, then all this controversy over food makes a certain sort of sense.
The Heart of the Matter
Worship of the Lord of Armies must be both sincere and proper in order to be acceptable. That is, it must done by a person who knows what is righteous, what is wicked, and who earnestly endeavors to do what is right as God has defined such things. Both the man who does things sincerely, but improperly; as well as the man who does things properly, but insincerely, needlessly risk the wrath of God by offering unacceptable worship.
Also, the way we present ourselves publicly, to the Lord and to His people, matters greatly. Emotion can be easily misunderstood. It is good to bring our emotions to God, and even to other people, in private. At times, it may even be good to bring out emotions publicly, yet public displays must be considered carefully. They carry weight which private displays do not.
Lastly, let us not be hasty in our conclusions, even when we have good reason to be. Let us remember that people can learn from past mistakes, as we no doubt have ourselves. Of course, the best indicator of future behavior is past behavior. However, we who have been forgiven must know how to forgive.
Live Well In All Things
In all we do and in all our ways, let us remember the Lord is not to be approached lightly, but in reverence. And let us rejoice in knowing that when we do approach Him reverently, then He, being just, returns to us that good, abundantly beyond anything we could provide to Him or to ourselves. Thus, it is certainly to our benefit to worship the Lord rightly, and it only makes sense to do so.
Long ago, there was a woman named Ruth, who would be one of the ancestors of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. She and her sister-in-law, Orpah, were left in the charge of Naomi, their mother-in-law, after the deaths of both their husbands.
This was a time of great struggle, desolation, and conflict for the land. Naomi, caring for Ruth and Orpah, told them to return to the land of the Moabites and be with their people, since the times were so perilous. Naomi knew, at least in the immediate, that Ruth would have a better life there.
“Go back home,” Naomi said. “May the Lord show kindness to you as you have shown to the dead and to me. My life is too bitter for you to share. The Lord’s hand has turned against me.”
Yet, Ruth stands by Naomi and the Lord Above All, refusing to leave her side. “Don’t plead with me to abandon you or to return and not follow you,” Ruth said. “For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me, and do so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”
In so doing, Ruth continues to endure much hardship, for a little while. Yet, in due time, she meets and is betrothed to Boaz, and her family’s estate is enriched beyond anything they had before. This due to Ruth’s faithfulness, honor, duty, and integrity in all her circumstances.
There is much to be gleamed from the tale of Ruth. Yet, this day, on this occasion, let us ponder the bounty of new beginnings. Of great new opportunities. Of wonderful days ahead that all begin with leaps of faith into times unknown, and waters uncertain.
May we all do our best in all that be, and carry on toward every morn till all is well, knowing full well that each dark day is not the end; and brighter days are always sure to come.
Something new and something grand So much to do, so much at hand Who knows just where, the place to be Not here but there, you come to see
Where friends come to, and gather round For love most true, for joyous sound That is where, it's grand to be Not anywhere, but here with thee
So come along, and gather close Where you belong, and find the most Of all that be, so good and true To come and see, yet something new
I thank the Lord, here with my friends He does afford, all our good ends And by His grace, new seasons come Joys to embrace, and love therefrom
Thank you to all those in the reading of these words who do all you do to make each day something worthwhile. God bless you, and may God be with you, always.
I performed this piece live at The Green Room last month, seen below.
“Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.” – Proverbs 25:25
More and more, I have come to understand the great truth of such words. Both in our own lands, as well as those far away, we may oft be more aware of the woes and troubles beset upon us than of our good tidings.
It can be easy to take blessings for granted, and hard to look past curses. Such speaks to the pressing importance of counting our blessings daily, since they can be so swift to pass from the forefront of our minds.
With that said, there is something particularly special and inspiring when one hears good news from a faraway land. Where good news from close to home can provide me with a sense of relief, good news from distant friends puts a different kind of smile on my face.
It is the joy I have for others and their goodwill. It is the peace that comes from the Lord caring for those I care for, but who are out of my reach. It is the inspiration that lifts me up to do more where I am, so as to repay the kindness shown me by those far away.
With that in my mind, my heart has been especially warmed by the Japanese people as of late. Good news from our friends across the Pacific has not been lacking, and it has stirred me to write once more in appreciation of all the history they have given us Americans.
I give thanks to the Lord or Armies for our friends in Japan, and I pray we Americans would be the best partners we can be to them.
A funny depiction of an American man dressed as a Samurai and a Japanese woman dressed as a cowgirl – Author unknown
Cherished Times Abound
Today is the first of April, in the year of our Lord, 2026. And it is a good day indeed.
The gesture was first reciprocated by Americans with the gifting of dogwood trees in 1915, under the Taft Administration. While the name “dogwood” might seem course, the tree itself is a gorgeous counterpart to match the beauty of the cherry blossoms.
Of course, having resources each other needs does not make for good alliances by itself. Obviously, that same dynamic did once lead to horrific conflict between us, and I feel that often overshadows the truly miraculous relationship America and Japan have had during the more than 150 years of history we now share.
Whatever the motivations of both nations at the time, much came from what ensued. More notable in this case is the Iwakura Mission of 1871. In this effort, Japan sent over 100 of their best minds to America, and later Europe, to learn all they could about modern science, technology, and engineering. They were successful, jumping the nation of Japan out of the Middle Ages and into the modern era in a just a few decades.
Japan’s first diplomatic mission to the United States occurred in 1860, and the delegation was pictured in numerous photographs.
The American fellows treated their wounds, fed them with all the delicacies they could afford, and treated them as much as their own as they could under such circumstances. As a result, many of those Japanese warriors became fierce advocates for America back home after the war, pushing back against anti-Western propaganda. Even new evangelists for the Christian faith were born from these interactions who would then go on to preach the Gospel in Japan.
May God look favorably upon those Americans who were willing and able to fight those Japanese warriors into submission, and then kind and caring enough to treat them so well afterward. Indeed, may our Heavenly Father also remember with fondness those Japanese souls who softened their hearts from bitterness and carried such goodness forward into the future. And may we all live our lives in such a manner, likewise worthy of God, the calling He has bestowed upon us all, and the life He lived and died for us.
Japanese cover of the traditional American song: “Battle Hymn of the Republic” – an endearing example of cultural exchange
In America, the cost of raw materials and interest rates can complicate new construction for domestic firms. In Japan, their aging population and extremely low birthrate has caused similar woes. Yet, for Japanese firms in America, their greater experience with prefabricated structures and lower interest rates at their Japanese headquarters present an opportunity for both peoples to help one another in amidst trying times.
To some, such matters may seem odd, unrelated, and frivolous to mention. Where is the allure in interest rates, construction materials, and market conditions? What do such things have to do with our shared story as two nations?
Well, day-to-day, are not our lives impacted in ways so great by things seemingly so mundane and small? And what if we struggle in those daily toils? What happens then? Does not our story grind to a halt until we find a way through? Indeed, I say. Indeed.
A group of Americans in costume, depicting Japanese characters at a Cherry Blossom Festival in California. Such festivals are typically during Spring, and can be found across the United States.
And so, helping one another in even the smallest matters, is often how we do prepare to help one another in great ways for times to come. For great things are built upon the small, and the grandiose does rest upon the stability of the mundane.
After all, if we cannot help each other with simple things, how could we ever hope to be of use in those troubles so great? We could not, of course. We most certainly could not.
Just as Japanese festivals can be found in America, so can the inverse be found in Japan. This photo is from “American Day” is Misawa. The “American Festival” is also popular in Tokyo.
As the Lord would commend, to those who have done well over a little, they shall be trusted over much (Luke 19:17). Therefore, let us not shirk our duties over small matters, but do them wholeheartedly, and thank the Lord for all such tasks.
With that said, may we all do the best we can in all we have to be good friends, partners, and servants to those whom the Lord has made available to us. May we Americans be good partners to Japan. And may we all be thankful for the opportunity. Amen.
Good friends, far away Always near, with us, they stay Our hearts, one, today
No time breaks us down No chaos sure to be found Our joy surely bound
At once, we began America and Japan Two, and now, one clan
Our Lord, we thank Thee For us, who You made to be And all we now see
Where now will we go? We are never sure to know But we will follow
Our hope is but this To face ev'ry dark abyss With love ne're amiss
Make us both good friends Faithful unto any ends Love that never bends
Oh, what could be a more memorable and foundational weapon than the staff? The sword, perhaps? Certainly none other.
Whether it be known as a rod, stick, baton, or by some other name, the staff is an ageless weapon, lodging itself across time and space. I recently started practicing with a collapsible baton, the modern implementation of this iconic weapon. The staff is so simple and effective as to find its way into the hands of martial artists everywhere, no matter when one looks about.
A Long & Storied History
Obviously, the staff is just a stick being used as a weapon. Therefore, it is impossible to claim anyone “invented” it at any particular time. The only thing one might say about its inception is that God brought it into existence when He created the world. Though, it would be some time in the course of recorded history before we can point to early manuscripts for the systematized use of the staff.
For example, the Combat Manuel of 1467 by Hans Talhoffer is one such book with instructions on the use of polearms. Obviously, this is a much later publication, almost up to the modern era. Royal Armouries Ms. I.33 from around the 1320s may be the oldest European manuscript on the usage of arms, though it does not depict any techniques using a staff or other pole weapon which I could see, displaying only the use of swords. I should note I was unable to read the text, so perhaps there is more to it than would seem to me.
Regarding manuals, obviously we have books from antiquity, but the systematic recording of martial instruction has come to be much more common in modern times. That is not to say ancient peoples never wrote down such things, though we are hard-pressed to find mass-produced copies of combat manuals.
Of course, the further back in history one looks, the harder it is to find evidence of anything. It was also more cumbersome to produce records in times past, and likely was often not done in the interest of time and effort. I am well aware of this as I type on a computer and upload my words to the Internet. Ancient peoples did not have such tools.
Visual depictions of techniques are a critical component of martial arts manuals Image Source
A staff, being merely a stick, was easily produced and readily available. The forms for other pole weapons such as spears, halberds, and the like could be seen as extensions of the use of the staff. Due to its ubiquitous nature, competence in its use was a societal expectation, particularly among the early English.
This cultural aspect of an assumption of martial prowess with the weapon would later break off from the English in a way during the modern period, to be maintained by us Americans as part of our separation from the British people. And of course, firearms would supplant many older weapons during that transition. Yet, it is important to remember our history to appreciate where we are today and how we got here. I would also be remiss if I did not exhort the English to remember who they are and restore what they have lost.
In the Far East, one might know such a weapon as a “bo staff.” Of course, “bo,” can potentially just mean “stick” or “staff” in Japanese. This is similar to how “katana” means “sword.” Other Asian languages would have their own variations of this term, but the Japanese may be the most prominent and influential among martial artists in the West, particularly Americans due to our close relationship with them. Thus, their term for the weapon is the one used here. A bo staff in Asia might commonly be made of bamboo, also popular for its sturdy and lightweight structure.
For example, if samurai or other agents of tyranny came to confiscate whatever they deemed a weapon, a staff could serve a dual purpose for fishing, carrying water, cooking, etc. This made it less likely to be taken away by any jackboot thugs in the East.
Notable Uses of the Staff
Perhaps the greatest advantage of the staff is its reach. It allows a warrior to strike a target from a greater distance than he could with just his hands. Of course, with its durability and leverage, a staff also allows for greater strikes than the body alone can perform.
The reach advantage is notably apparent when one modifies his staff with a blade attached to the end, turning it into a “spear.” Spears filled much the same role as the modern rifle across the ancient world, being cheap, effective, and too good to pass up.
This was true a century ago, as it is today. No matter how far away guns allow combatants to engage, there is still a great deal of conflict that occurs right in our faces, close enough to grab the enemy with our bare hands. At those distances, projectile weapons may become a liability, lending to the continued relevance of the staff in one form of another.
Nowadays, it is much more common and practical for one who prefers a fighting stick to use a so-called “baton,” especially in light of telescoping versions which can be collapsed into a smaller size when not in use. In fact, “baton” literally means “staff used as a weapon.” Though in modern vernacular, one probably thinks of a baton as a short stick and a staff as a long stick, similar to the hard distinction between a “sword” and a “knife.”
A collapsible baton made of steel – a modern innovation of the staff
Hardened steel combined with telescoping capability makes the expandable baton a martial artist’s dream. It is portable and unobtrusive as a sidearm in its collapsed state, which is always nice and comfortable. It leans into our human desire for convenience and portability.
Also, when moving around unsavory types, such as those who would cause trouble when they become aware of the presence of weapons, the telescoping baton is more easily concealed to hide it from disruptive and prejudicial eyes. Yet, it still retains all of the effectiveness of older, static designs, if not more so with conventional construction materials.
Related Weapons
As touched upon with the sometimes dubious distinction between a “knife” versus a “sword,” the line between one thing and another can be difficult to draw. So it is when trying to delineate between different weapons related to, or evolutions of, the staff. Some have been mentioned here, others have not.
Is the mace an alteration of the staff? Arguably. Should the Irish tradition of the shillelagh be mentioned in an article discussing the staff? Probably. What is the fundamental difference between the staff and spear? Not much.
Such it is with iconic weapons. Yet, I felt inspired to write about the staff and extol its virtues. It is an elegant, simple, and profound weapon. I appreciate it very much. God be praised.
Strategic storytelling is the communication of ideas using a narrative structure to persuade, inspire, or inform. It is important for all of us seeking to communicate well since stories are how humans receive and remember information. Dry facts have their place, but should be supplementary to an engaging narrative that takes the focus of any message.
We all know this. Have you ever sat through the lectures of an ineffectual teacher who droned on about data points without ever hearkening you to remember a thing? That person lacked storytelling capacity. How about the teacher who could make any topic interesting and memorable? Indeed, that was the one who knew how to craft the mundane into the remarkable.
Learning and exercising this skill is equally important to all of us who hope to get our point across and move others to action.
Ageless Wisdom
Christians should be especially aware of this reality. Respect for this design is why the Lord presents narrative stories to demonstrate the importance of all the commands He gives. It is not enough to plainly tell someone to do something or to abstain from it. You must also explain to them why with relevant examples which they can see themselves in.
To elaborate, this is why the Lord does not just forbid coveting your neighbor’s wife (Exodus 20:17). Instead, he gives that prohibition, and provides numerous expositions which demonstrate the negative consequences unto those who do not listen. One such case is David’s lusting after Bathsheba, which leads to an affair, which then leads to a pregnancy the two are not prepared to come to terms with (2 Samuel 11). The consequences of the aforementioned sins lead David to deceive and conspire to murder his neighbor, Uriah.
This story demonstrates the cascading disasters that come from failing to heed the Lord’s command. The narrative is potent in one’s memory, far more than any simple admonition. One can say “do not commit adultery'” until he is blue in the face, but it is the real story that commits such lessons to our core.
Storytelling is an effective way to communicate ideas and get people to remember them because it is the way our brains are designed to process information. Not only that, but it can also be important in getting people to care. CEOs and entrepreneurs are often heard extolling the virtue of storytelling for business success. A good narrative is what makes you memorable among your competitors and establishes an emotional investment in your clients. You may have the best product or idea to date, but you must still convince others it is so.
Don’t Fix What Isn’t Broken
I can certainly attest to the power of storytelling in my own learning and commitments in life. Why am I able to remember the lessons our Lord teaches in His Holy Scriptures. Well, does He not couch them so eloquently in timeless stories which speak to the heart? Why yes, He does. And so, the learning comes quite naturally with His Word when you study to show thyself approved.
With that said, if strategic storytelling is a good enough strategy for God, I would say it is definitely good enough for you and me. After all, I spoke of my own experience in statistics classes with two different professors: one who could make the subject interesting and memorable, and another who could not. I have no doubt many of you in the hearing of these words have had much the same experience in life if you are more than a few years old.
Wait Not For Tomorrow
With all that said, how does one go about such things? It really is a simple thing, though not something anyone would accomplish without a plan. Like anything strategic, you must have practiced what you intend to do before the time comes to do it. Let us discuss what that looks like.
Decide what message you intend to convey
Are you persuading, informing, reminding, etc.?
Consider your target audience and their reception
Outline your story points
Introduction, body, and conclusion
Approximate word count/speaking time for each point
Practice and refine before delivery
Consider both verbal and non-verbal delivery
I would be remiss if I did not say that strategic storytelling is much like writing any other speech or essay. You may simply use a condensed version of the same strategy for those things. The key is to avoid walking into important conversations with the intention to discuss things you have not practiced explaining beforehand.
Just as you do not want to be thinking about what to do in the middle of combat, but rather, want to have practiced what you will need to do beforehand; so too do you not want to be thinking of what to say in the middle of a conversation. Instead, you want everything to be thought of and practiced well ahead of time.
An Example to Leave You With
While the whole process from inception to delivery would go beyond the scope of this article, I would like to conclude with an example of strategic storytelling. For now, I will share just the end result. If I were endeavoring to convince an adult to read more who has expressed frustration and discouragement with the activity due to difficulty he has experienced, I would say something like this:
[Begin with soft voice and hands folded]
“I know reading is difficult. It is an exercise for the mind, and like any exercise for the body, it is overwhelming at first. When you push your muscles in a way they are not used to, they respond with burning and soreness. So too it is when you push the mind.
[Tilt head and point right index finger up]
Yet, have you ever stuck through an exercise routine or other rigorous activity which pushed back against you at first? And what happened then? Did it remain difficult forever, or did you eventually grow to handle it with ease?
[Smile and give a cross-sweeping hand gesture]
I know for me, when I push new bounds with my muscles, they falter at first. Yet, it it is not long before they come back stronger and what once was hard soon is done with ease.
[Lift voice and use an upsweeping hand gesture]
I promise you, it is the same with reading. It is an exercise for your mind, and so it tests your limits at first, pushing you down with its rigor, just as would any test of physical strength.
[Draw out voice and shake head gently; optional hand wave or finger wag]
But that hardship does not last forever. If you keep on reading, your mind will grow stronger just like your muscles, and it will not be long before passages which pained you before come to give you no pause. I assure you of that, for it was the same for me.
[Smile and make eye contact upon closing statement]
None of us are born strong readers. That is something we make of ourselves. You can do the same. I believe in you.”
Now, Go Forth
None of us humans are born competent at anything worth doing. We all must start somewhere, and every journey begins with the smallest steps. Be bold in telling your story, and fear not to share it.
Happy New Year! Good tidings unto you and all your kin. May the Lord bless you and keep you this year as in every other, for all His ways are perfect and lead us unto goodness and peace.
With the coming of this new year, I have published a new book! This is the second in the Prayers of a Warrior series. The book is available on Amazon, which you can navigate to by clicking here. You can also click the “Books” button at the top of this webpage.
This new installment focuses on the topics of “Discretion & Discernment.” Scriptures were selected which both speak to these topics directly, as well as those Scriptures which seem to contradict themselves at face value. The entries seek to exhort Christian warriors to grow in these disciplines and reconcile in their Theology any apparent contradictions within the Word of God so as to be both steadier in one’s own walk, and to be prepared to give a correction to critics who would claim the Bible is inconsistent.
With that said, here is a bonus entry written in the same style you will find in the book.
Acts 17:11
Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.
Day by day, must we adhere And keep God's Word in us most near Always eager to know more And of wisdom true, ne're to abhor
Examine those who claim God's call Test their ev'ry word, yes all Against the Word we know is true To see what then is right to do
And then, shall righteous men be found Our brothers with whom love doth abound And so, the wicked, brought to light Who sought to keep you in the night
By this, our family sets to grow And still more kin, we come to know By this, we also bless our heart To see that we are set apart
Beckon me, Lord, unto Thy Word each and every day. May I never neglect this pursuit, lest our enemies be given an edge over me when I am found wanting for understanding. Protect me from such moments of weakness that may present a triumph for deceivers by instilling a passion within me to continually reprove myself with Your Truth. In this way, may glory be unto You, and edification unto others. By this, may I be ever ready to rightly divide truth from lies. Amen.
This is a poem I wrote a while back, but my posting schedule did not permit it to be shared until now. In a moment of disappointment in my fellow man, and in the reminder that our enemies are not just people who avowedly oppose us; but also those unwitting pawns whose heart and deeds do not align, often at the behest of financial incentives. We can become the enemy of a man so easily, and often because we are following the will of another.
I was also reminded that to love one’s enemies is not a noble or enjoyable task. Indeed, it is not noble, as strong a sentiment as it may seem to suggest it is. In practice, we find there is no honor in it, at least not for the time being. Though, I know that as with all suffering, so shall loving thy enemies be as all things at the conclusion of the matter. That is, such things are promised to be worth it in the end. For all suffering done as the Lord’s servant produces good character, and a lasting hope. I hold onto that.
Just as important to remember is to humble ourselves in recognizing our enemies may be closer than anyone else could ever be. The Holy Scriptures in 1 Samuel 2:1, 1 Samuel 20:33, & Matthew 10:34-36 remind us of how even our own family members may at times be as such. The many wars fought between different Christian groups provide endless examples of how brothers and sisters in faith may even find themselves on opposite ends of a conflict in this fallen world. As C.S. Lewis notes in Mere Christianity, we may look back and laugh about such squabbles one day in Heaven. Though until that day, such things are certainly no laughing matter.
With all that said, the Advent season is upon us. During this time, it is important to remember that by coming in the flesh to save us from the consequences of our rebellion against Him, the Lord did exercise love for us – His enemies – in so doing. Is there honor in that? Indeed, as hard as it may be to see when in the midst of such events. Rather, these are things often understood with time.
To love thy foe is no simple trite No easy task and for sure, no delight For to love an enemy is to love and hate The one who is vile, yet does not relate
What a burden it is to hate one's own home The people who smile, yet spurn you as their own Those banal ones of ill, most evil dressed nice Who have not within, but a heart cold as ice
To love what one hates is no simple deed It requires all one can muster indeed It is not for the faint, nor the weak of will It shall take all you have until you are ill
You shall be an outcast in the land of your birth You shall know all the scorn that one can unearth All the good that you do is regarded as dirt They shall tell you all's well, and give naught but hurt
But God's child holds hope, for he knows what's to come He knows of the day to deliver us from All the evil dressed so nicely and neat He knows that true good, one can never defeat
God's child does know to suffer most long In a world where he knows that he does not belong For suffering doth produce a good heart And is key to him who is set apart
And as small as a comfort it may ever be To know of such purpose for the ill he does see It is all that one needs to endure through each day And to keep in good cheer along such a way
The Pensive Warrior 