The Colonel is proud to announce the birth of his third grandson -- Joshua Bradley Gregory -- aka: the Hope of 21st Century Civilization, Dash 3 (H21CC - 3).
The latest manchild in the Gregory lineage began his air-breathing ride 'round Ol' Sol shortly after noon yesterday, 1815Z 04182013.
H21CC - 3 weighed in at 8 pounds, 3 ounces; 20 and 1/2 inches.
The Colonel's daughter-in-law, she of the high and exalted position of Provider of Grandsons, executed her duties in an exemplary manner with which the Colonel takes great pride and relief.
Dozens of family and friends are now taking turns cradling and cooing at the young man.
They had better get their fill in quickly.
The Colonel has announced loudly and repeatedly, lately -- to any one who would listen and to many who would prefer not to listen -- that all such cradling and cooing will soon come only at the Colonel's pleasure.
For the Bama and LSU fans, who have felt a tremor of dread foretelling the birth of yet another future Ole Miss Rebel who will one day carry the Gregory name into gridiron battle, and who have come fearfully and reverently searching for him, the Colonel would have you understand that what he means by the above is that NO ONE except the Colonel gets to hold H21CC - 3 if the Colonel is in the room -- unless the Colonel decides otherwise.
The Colonel further decrees and announces that the Tallahatchie Free State will hold welcoming ceremonies this weekend, replete with manifold gunfire from select semi-automatic, high-capacity magazine-fed firearms from the Colonel's vast Constitutionally-protected collection.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Sunday, April 14, 2013
The Greatest Warrior
The Colonel has embarked on myriad journeys over the course of his ride 'round ol' Sol.
Many took him by routes carefully planned to destinations fully expected.
Some took him physically to new climes and places.
Other journeys required the Colonel to climb new mental heights.
The latter were always the most challenging journeys, given the Colonel's dearth of usable grey matter.
The Colonel's latest journey -- one of the heart -- may be the most difficult yet.
When one takes a spiritual road trip, the heart is where the rubber meets the road; and the Colonel's heart is dry-rotted, deflated, and inelastic.
It's going to take some supernatural strength to stretch the Colonel's heart back into large enough shape to provide room for more than just the Colonel's concerns.
It's also going to take a fierce warrior to drive out the demons of destructive desire filling every nook and cranny.
Luckily for him, the Colonel serves a Savior God who has authority over EVERYTHING, with the infinite power of creation at His command.
For over a year, now, the Colonel has been praying intentionally and specifically for spiritual revival in his church and nation. As his prayers have become more and more fervent, the Colonel's own sins and shortcomings have become more and more manifest.
It has become painfully clear, and please don't take this as a lack of humility, that any revival must begin in the Colonel's heart first. The Colonel is now convinced beyond a reverse-slope defense of doubt in his military mind that the spiritual revival of his church and nation is entirely dependent on the condition of the Colonel's heart.
Not the condition of your heart.
Not the condition of any political leader's heart.
Not the condition of any one's heart, but the Colonel's.
Further, the Colonel has been convicted of late that his spiritual revival (and, subsequently, yours) will not happen until he sees God for who He really is.
The Colonel has always had a healthy respect for Jehovah God, and a personal relationship with Jehovah God through Jesus God (Jesus is the Christ -- the Messiah -- but Christ is not Jesus' last name). But lately, the Colonel is beginning to see Jesus God in a whole new light.
And, this newly understood Jesus ain't your Grandmother's Jesus.
Jesus is first and foremost, a warrior.
Jesus is the "man" who appears to Joshua prior to the Battle of Jericho (Joshua, Chapter 5).
13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”
15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
How do we know this is Jesus?
Well, He identifies himself as "commander of the army of the Lord." That's Jesus. John tells us it's so in Revelations 19: 14.
11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and wages war.
12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He Himself.
13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God.
14 The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 Coming out of His mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. [The Psalmist prophecies (Psalms 2:9)] “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.
16 On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords.
How else can we know that this is Jesus and not just some angel appearing to Joshua?
Look back at Joshua 5: 14. Joshua falls on his face in reverence. Any other time an angel has appeared to men, the angel has refused to accept worship.
Not this time.
In fact, the "man" appearing before Joshua uses language with which Jehovah God addressed Moses from the burning bush:
"Remove your sandals. You are standing on holy ground."
Commander of the army of the Lord.
Accepting worship.
That's Jesus.
Jesus, God's only Son, the commander of the army of the Lord, humbled himself to be the once and for all sacrificial lamb, whose blood covers the sin of the world.
Now get this. Jesus was, and is, no pacifist. He was, and is, the greatest Warrior. He humbled himself -- from commander of the army of the Lord...
... to crucified Christ.
No one took His life.
He gave it.
Then, he whipped death in mortal combat.
Don't know about you, but the Colonel is looking forward to his ringside seat at Armageddon. Hope to see you there.
On the Colonel's side of the ring, of course.
Many took him by routes carefully planned to destinations fully expected.
Some took him physically to new climes and places.
Other journeys required the Colonel to climb new mental heights.
The latter were always the most challenging journeys, given the Colonel's dearth of usable grey matter.
The Colonel's latest journey -- one of the heart -- may be the most difficult yet.
When one takes a spiritual road trip, the heart is where the rubber meets the road; and the Colonel's heart is dry-rotted, deflated, and inelastic.
It's going to take some supernatural strength to stretch the Colonel's heart back into large enough shape to provide room for more than just the Colonel's concerns.
It's also going to take a fierce warrior to drive out the demons of destructive desire filling every nook and cranny.
Luckily for him, the Colonel serves a Savior God who has authority over EVERYTHING, with the infinite power of creation at His command.
For over a year, now, the Colonel has been praying intentionally and specifically for spiritual revival in his church and nation. As his prayers have become more and more fervent, the Colonel's own sins and shortcomings have become more and more manifest.
It has become painfully clear, and please don't take this as a lack of humility, that any revival must begin in the Colonel's heart first. The Colonel is now convinced beyond a reverse-slope defense of doubt in his military mind that the spiritual revival of his church and nation is entirely dependent on the condition of the Colonel's heart.
Not the condition of your heart.
Not the condition of any political leader's heart.
Not the condition of any one's heart, but the Colonel's.
Further, the Colonel has been convicted of late that his spiritual revival (and, subsequently, yours) will not happen until he sees God for who He really is.
The Colonel has always had a healthy respect for Jehovah God, and a personal relationship with Jehovah God through Jesus God (Jesus is the Christ -- the Messiah -- but Christ is not Jesus' last name). But lately, the Colonel is beginning to see Jesus God in a whole new light.
And, this newly understood Jesus ain't your Grandmother's Jesus.
Jesus is first and foremost, a warrior.
Jesus is the "man" who appears to Joshua prior to the Battle of Jericho (Joshua, Chapter 5).
13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”
15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
How do we know this is Jesus?
Well, He identifies himself as "commander of the army of the Lord." That's Jesus. John tells us it's so in Revelations 19: 14.
11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and wages war.
12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He Himself.
13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God.
14 The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 Coming out of His mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. [The Psalmist prophecies (Psalms 2:9)] “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.
16 On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords.
How else can we know that this is Jesus and not just some angel appearing to Joshua?
Look back at Joshua 5: 14. Joshua falls on his face in reverence. Any other time an angel has appeared to men, the angel has refused to accept worship.
Not this time.
In fact, the "man" appearing before Joshua uses language with which Jehovah God addressed Moses from the burning bush:
"Remove your sandals. You are standing on holy ground."
Commander of the army of the Lord.
Accepting worship.
That's Jesus.
Jesus, God's only Son, the commander of the army of the Lord, humbled himself to be the once and for all sacrificial lamb, whose blood covers the sin of the world.
Now get this. Jesus was, and is, no pacifist. He was, and is, the greatest Warrior. He humbled himself -- from commander of the army of the Lord...
... to crucified Christ.
No one took His life.
He gave it.
Then, he whipped death in mortal combat.
Don't know about you, but the Colonel is looking forward to his ringside seat at Armageddon. Hope to see you there.
On the Colonel's side of the ring, of course.
Wednesday, April 03, 2013
Raising the Next Greatest Generation
Here in a couple of weeks the Colonel will welcome another air-breathing resident to the Tallahatchie Free State.
The Hope of 21st Century Civilization, Dash 3 (H21CC - 3) -- the Colonel's third grandson -- has been present and accounted for in a gestative state for nearly three quarters of a trip 'round Ol' Sol and all the legal residents and citizens (one not to be confused with the other, owing to strict citizenship requirements) of the representation-restricted republic here at the shallow northern end of deep southern nowhere (established with tongue firmly planted in cheek and hands tightly gripping any one of a large assortment of firearms) are anxiously awaiting his birth.
No one more than the Colonel.
Grandchildren, grandsons in particular, represent many things to many people.
To some, a grandchild represents an opportunity to exact revenge through spoilage on the intervening generation.
To others, a grandchild represents an opportunity to correct mistakes made in the parenting of the fore-mentioned intervening generation.
Yet to others, a grandchild represents an opportunity for proud comparison with the grandchildren of peers and siblings.
To the Colonel, a grandson is an opportunity to do all of the above... and more.
To the Colonel, a grandson is an opportunity to build another in the long line of family patriots.
To the Colonel, a grandson is an opportunity to educate and produce one of the most rare humans on the planet -- one who knows, appreciates, and understands history.
To the Colonel, a grandson is an opportunity to train and produce another increasingly rare human -- a gentleman who places the life and security of women and children above even his own dignity; knowing that no manly dignity is attainable otherwise.
To the Colonel, a grandson is an opportunity to pass on the increasingly rare belief that there are indeed things worth fighting for; and that following Jesus does not mean forsaking the responsibility to fight -- with weapons as well as words.
Find that last clause troubling?
You may find it so because you have been mistakenly led to believe that Jesus preached and practiced "non-violence."
News flash -- Jesus was Almighty God in the flesh; not a pre-incarnate of Gandhi. Today, Jesus is Almighty God. Tomorrow, Jesus will be Almighty God's war-bringing judgement for the nations.
The Colonel invites any self-professing Christian who believes otherwise to read Revelations 19: 11 -- 16.
Raise your grandsons to be politically correct, "tolerant" followers, if you wish.
The Colonel's grandsons will be prepared to fight in the company of a principled few for the protection of the many whose upbringing without virtue hamstrings their ability to even defend themselves, let alone others.
The Hope of 21st Century Civilization, Dash 3 (H21CC - 3) -- the Colonel's third grandson -- has been present and accounted for in a gestative state for nearly three quarters of a trip 'round Ol' Sol and all the legal residents and citizens (one not to be confused with the other, owing to strict citizenship requirements) of the representation-restricted republic here at the shallow northern end of deep southern nowhere (established with tongue firmly planted in cheek and hands tightly gripping any one of a large assortment of firearms) are anxiously awaiting his birth.
No one more than the Colonel.
Grandchildren, grandsons in particular, represent many things to many people.
To some, a grandchild represents an opportunity to exact revenge through spoilage on the intervening generation.
To others, a grandchild represents an opportunity to correct mistakes made in the parenting of the fore-mentioned intervening generation.
Yet to others, a grandchild represents an opportunity for proud comparison with the grandchildren of peers and siblings.
To the Colonel, a grandson is an opportunity to do all of the above... and more.
To the Colonel, a grandson is an opportunity to build another in the long line of family patriots.
To the Colonel, a grandson is an opportunity to educate and produce one of the most rare humans on the planet -- one who knows, appreciates, and understands history.
To the Colonel, a grandson is an opportunity to train and produce another increasingly rare human -- a gentleman who places the life and security of women and children above even his own dignity; knowing that no manly dignity is attainable otherwise.
To the Colonel, a grandson is an opportunity to pass on the increasingly rare belief that there are indeed things worth fighting for; and that following Jesus does not mean forsaking the responsibility to fight -- with weapons as well as words.
Find that last clause troubling?
You may find it so because you have been mistakenly led to believe that Jesus preached and practiced "non-violence."
News flash -- Jesus was Almighty God in the flesh; not a pre-incarnate of Gandhi. Today, Jesus is Almighty God. Tomorrow, Jesus will be Almighty God's war-bringing judgement for the nations.
The Colonel invites any self-professing Christian who believes otherwise to read Revelations 19: 11 -- 16.
Raise your grandsons to be politically correct, "tolerant" followers, if you wish.
The Colonel's grandsons will be prepared to fight in the company of a principled few for the protection of the many whose upbringing without virtue hamstrings their ability to even defend themselves, let alone others.
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