A Knight's Blog

SPOILER ALERT! You've Been Warned. There is a common custom to read a book first and then see the film. I do not practice this convention and it turns out to be a blessing when I see the adaptation first and then read the book. This is the case with Les Misérables . The latest adaptation of the famous Victor Hugo book is actually based on the play. It is a musical. For some this maybe a deterrent, but it really shouldn't be. Les Misérables certainly surprised me. I had no notion of what the story was about save for that it was taking place during The French Revolution and that the protagonist Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) is taking care of child named Cozette and that he is being hunted by the police inspector Javart (Russell Crowe). Let me dispense with the praising of the performances. The musical score is fantastic! Every song is preformed with excellence and by the actors themselves no less! Hugh Jackman does a brilliant job of showing the emotions and turmoil Jean

Behold my brothers and sisters, the day of great suffering and persecution has come. A war is being waged by the Secular Progressives and Staunch Atheists against Christians and the holiday Christmas. In Florida, Governor Chaffie has refused to recognize the Evergreen Tree as a Christmas Tree and has instead called it a Holiday Tree. In Pittsburgh, a Church is being harassed about their worship. Those offended say they can hear it out on street and they are threatening to sue if the music isn't changed to a softer and more silent style. In the Sudan, Muslims are continuing their genocide of the Christians and now a war has begun between them. In some public schools here in the States praying and Bibles are being outlawed, even though it violates the First Amendment. It is clear that a war has been started against Christ and anything tied to him. Persecution has returned and like the Early Christians, we are going to need to be prepared for what is to come. Jesus foretold that

There are many in God's flock that take a salary to minster his Word. Preachers, pastors, priests, popes, bishops, cardinals, and minsters. These men have sworn themselves to the service of the Savior. They are supported by the saints and given a salary to sustain their livelihood. However, the question is if this is just? Paying priests has existed since the Levite Priesthood. Originally, the Israelites would tithe a portion of their grain, oxen, or commodity to the Temple. The priests would take a share to live on, while storing the rest in houses for famine and other catastrophes. Today we do much of the same, only the clergy doesn't put a portion aside for the security of the sons of God. Can you imagine if your Church were to take the collected tithe and put it in an account for emergencies? If a brother or sister in the Lord were in dire straights, revenue could be requisitioned and given to them from the store house or account. It would be money put to much better us

When a damsel in distress needs to be rescued from a dragon's lair or a devil's dungeon. When a Liege-Lord desires to route and repel his enemies. They call upon the one and only noble knight. It might surprise many to know that knights weren't always the champions of chivalry or the valiant virtuous men they've so often been depicted as. Originally, knights were brigands. They were barbarians who were prone to every one of the deadly sins. There are accounts of these men raping women, slaying peasants (without cause), pillaging towns and stealing crowns. The early knights were denizens of debauchery. Their shining armor instilled fear instead of inspiring the fight for freedom. The Church disturbed by these uncouth and intemperate warriors, decided to do something to reform them. Thus the Chivalric Code was devised. The code was to promote pious and proper morals. Once implemented, the Code of Chivalry changed chevaliers, nay transformed them into godly soldiers of

Templar Knight To become a Templar Knight it required the utmost devotion and sacrifice. Those who submitted themselves to the Order were obliged to make a vow before the Grand Master and the other Templar Knights. This vow included an oath of perpetually celibacy. This is the sacrifice of being clad in the white robe. It means being chaste and not building a family. The reason behind this rule was to make sure that knights had no attachments. They were to be Monastic Knights, because their charge was so perilous that they had to be prepared to give up their lives for the cause of Christ and the Church at any moment. It would be foolish for a Templar Knight to have a bride when he is required to put his life on the line for Palestine. The Templars were renowned for rushing into battle and putting themselves in harms way for pilgrims. However, there is a sect of the Templar Order that allowed men to join and maintain their families. These warriors were deemed Sergeants and they wer

"A man's enemies will be the members of his own household." -Matthew 10:21 Growing up you are innocent. You are blind to the greater evils in the world. You believe that those who love you shall never turn on you nor forsake you. Then one day you wake up and your an adult and you find that those people whom you trusted most; those family members and dearest friends have become your worst enemies. How does this happen? Why does this happen? I've been trying to answer these questions for months. Only now do I think I know why "brother turns against brother" (Matthew 10:21) and why those we love become our adversaries. The answer is that the "devil is working overtime." The great falling away from the faith has begun. When we think of falling away from the faith, we think of backsliders or people who have abandoned following Christ. However, the definition of faith is trust. So could this verse be re-interpreted as the Great Falling Away fro

In this day and age it is easy to be persuaded to participate in something that is against your convictions. This threat to your distinct sense of what is acceptable for you isn't always threatened by overtly evil activities. It can be something a simple as a film. Often those we love will question our convictions and assure us that they approve of an activity. But the problem is that this is their own conviction not yours. The Apostle Paul says, "If you go against what you believe is right, then you are sinning." (Romans 14:23), This is what is call specific sin. This is a sin that is exclusive to a person, not to a collective of people. Whether is is right or wrong to see a certain horror film will be different for each individual person. For one the horror film is a entertainment meant to induce terror and adrenaline. For this individual it is fantasy and all the gore and gruesome moments are filtered out. For someone else the horror film is traumatic. A sensitive

Today is All Saints' Day, a polar opposite holiday to Halloween. All Saints' Day honors the memory of the saints who lived and died for the faith. For a saint there is no true death, for he or she who is in Christ shall be swept to paradise and live eternally. This is a day to think about life. To remember the lives of the believers who paved the way before us. I think of the Apostle Paul and his tremendous life. He was Pharisee of Pharisees. He persecuted the Christians and sought to route them when on the road to Damascus he encountered Christ. Paul undergoing a transformation became one of greatest Fathers of the Church. He ministered to the Gentiles and Jews alike. Through him God converted his children Israel, the Greeks, Scythians, and the people who physically put Christ on the cross, the Romans! Most of the New Testament was written by this audacious man. Paul is proof that even an enemy of Christ can become His most devout and faithful ally. Then there is the B

Today is the darkest day of the year. It is the High Solstice that has been watered down into a holiday called Halloween. I have never celebrated the morbid and morose holiday. The reason I refrained from joining the ghouls, goblins, and ghosts is because I know the origins are occult. The High Solstice is a holiday practiced by the Occult and on October 31 they do human sacrifices to Satan. This is actually where the Jack-O-Lantern came from. It was not about "Stingy Jack", no it was sick and twisted act. The Occult ever Hallows Eve would take a daughter from a local home and sacrifice her. When they were done with their Satanic ritual, they would take the remains and put it in the Jack-O-Lantern and leave it on the porch or near the front door of the family who's daughter was sacrificed. Likewise, the man charged with rounding up daughters could be paid to pass over a house and the sign you had paid him off was that you placed Jack-O-Lantern on your porch. The Eng

There is an epidemic sweeping through the Church today. This pestilence is heartlessness. There is local Church in my town that I have attended on and off for fifteen years. It has gone through many changes, but there is one recurring problem that has never been resolved. At this Church intellect is supreme and theology is elaborate, but there is no heart. You are not cared for or receive the feeling that people genuinely love you. You are treated like a commodity, a human doing rather than human being made in image of God. I wish I could say this was an issue found in only one church, but I'm finding it everywhere I go. It seems Christians have bitten the forbidden fruit of humanism. Believers have become so self focused that they are becoming incapable of showing compassion or truly caring for others. This is a major problem because a major pillar of the Christian Faith is to "treat people the way you want to be treated." (Luke 6:31). So why have churches become c

Back in 2001 I like most gamers became bespelled by Bungie's Halo: Combat Evolved. It was the must play shooter and it set the stage for how all subsequent FPS (first person shooter) games would be made. At the time the plot or narrative was relatively benign, humans in the 26th century wage war against a religious collective of aliens known as The Covenant who are bent on genocidal war. The first installment in what is now the biggest FPS franchise next to Call of Duty, didn't lend much insight on the beliefs of these aliens you spend hours slaughtering. They were elusively depicted as evil radicals who incited war against mankind. In 2004, greater knowledge about The Covenant became accessible through books and the advent of Halo 2. The sequel to the successful Combat Evolved delved deep into the roots of the Covenant's faith and what their overall goal. Gamers discovered that The Covenant is trying to merit salvation by waging war against the enemies of their gods (T

The Return of the Crusader, Karl Friedrich Lessing High deeds achieved of knightly fame, From Palestine the champion came; The cross upon his shoulders borne, Battle and blast had dimm'd and torn. Each dint upon his batter'd shield Was token of a foughten field; And thus, beneath his lady's bower, He sung as fell the twilight hour:- 'Joy to the fair! - thy knight behold, Return'd from yonder land of gold; No wealth he brings, nor wealth can need, Save his good arms and battle-steed His spurs, to dash against a foe, His lance and sword to lay him low; Such all the trophies of his toil, Such - and the hope of Tekla's smile! 'Joy to the fair! whose constant knight Her favour fired to feats of might; Unnoted shall she not remain, Where meet the bright and noble train; Minstrel shall sing and herald tell - 'Mark yonder maid of beauty well, 'Tis she for whose bright eyes were won The listed field at Askalon! ''Note w

King Richard The Lionheart on Crusade Somtyme this world was so stedfast and stable That mannes word was obligacioun; And now it is so fals and deceivable That word and deed, as in conclusioun, Ben nothing lyk, for turned up-so-doun Is al this world for mede and wilfulnesse, That al is lost for lak of stedfastnesse. What maketh this world to be so variable But lust that folk have in dissensioun? For among us now a man is holde unable, But if he can, by som collusioun, Don his neighbour wrong or oppressioun. What causeth this but wilful wrecchednesse, That al is lost for lak of stedfastnesse? Trouthe is put doun, resoun is holden fable; Vertu hath now no dominacioun; Pitee exyled, no man is merciable; Through covetyse is blent discrecioun. The world hath mad a permutacioun Fro right to wrong, fro trouthe to fikelnesse, That al is lost for lak of stedfastnesse. Lenvoy to King Richard O prince, desyre to be honourable, Cherish thy folk and hate

Around The Middle East, Muslim nations are protesting and killing Americans. This tidal wave of violence was supposedly incited by a 12-15min film on YouTube by a radical Christian who in his pastime burns Qurans. I frankly don't think the film has anything to do with the revolts. Libya, Egypt, and thirteen other Saracen realms (more are joing the protest as I write this) have all declared death to America. Even the leader of Hezbollah came out of hiding and asked "for sustaining of protests." This isn't over a movie. It's been planned for sometime. The Radical Islamist Jihadists are rising and they intend to destroy Israel and the West. There have insurgents all over Europe and America who are training for Jihad-Akbar (Holy War). We are looking at the return of the Crusades, only this time there are not nearly enough Christians willing to arm themselves and repel these fanatics. In addition to these protests, it has been released that a discover has been ma

Sir Galahad Before Christ, John Howe My good blade carves the casques of men, My tough lance thrusteth sure, My strength is as the strength of ten, Because my heart is pure. The shattering trumpet shrilleth high, The hard brands shiver on the steel, The splinter'd spear-shafts crack and fly, The horse and rider reel: They reel, they roll in clanging lists, And when the tide of combat stands, Perfume and flowers fall in showers, That lightly rain from ladies' hands. How sweet are looks that ladies bend On whom their favours fall! For them I battle till the end, To save from shame and thrall: But all my heart is drawn above, My knees are bow'd in crypt and shrine: I never felt the kiss of love, Nor maiden's hand in mine. More bounteous aspects on me beam, Me mightier transports move and thrill; So keep I fair thro' faith and prayer A virgin heart in work and will. When down the stormy crescent goes, A light before me swim

Hamlet, Laurence Oliver (1948) "To be, or not to be, that is the question : Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune , Or to take arms against a sea of troubles And by opposing end them. To die—to sleep, No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to: 'tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep; To sleep, perchance to dream— ay, there's the rub : For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, When we have shuffled off this mortal coil , Must give us pause—there's the respect That makes calamity of so long life. For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, Th'oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, The pangs of dispriz'd love, the law's delay, The insolence of office, and the spurns That patient merit of th'unworthy takes, When he himself might his quietus make With a

Alleluia, o virga Mediatrix   Abbesse Hildgard von Bingen wrote the beautiful "Alleluia, o virga Mediatrix" during 12th century. Hildgard lived from 1098-1179. She is a woman who was born the year before the final victory of the First Crusade. In 1099, Godfrey de Boullion, his younger brother Baldwin de Boullion, and the rest of the Franks stormed the walls of Jerusalem and captured the holy city. Therefore this enchanting chant was born during the time of Outremer (The Latin Kingdoms or Crusader Kingdoms). What you are hearing is the music of the Middle Ages and the Holy Wars! It captures exactly what I imagined the Templars listening to as they attended Vespers.               

In Revelation 13 it says that those who follow the Man of Sin (Satan incarnate) "will be marked on their foreheads and arms with the name or number of the Beast." (Rev 13:16). What if I told you this has already begun? A couple years ago, the logo of the famous MONSTER Energy Drink was analyzed. The symbol is in fact 666 in Hebrew (see diagram below). Image provided by Google. Some have dismissed the MONSTER 666 as a mere hoax or coincidence. That it is a witch hunt and looking for a "devil under every bush." I however, recently had an epiphany. What if this is the beginning? MONSTER is after all the most popular brand of energy drink available. Young people are getting tattoos of the symbol on their necks, arms, and are displaying it on their foreheads via hats. What if this is what it really means in Revelation 13:16? What if before the Man of Sin rises, this symbol becomes so likable that when everyone is forced to get it, no one objects because they&#

1. Doubt Makes you question God's word and his goodness. 2. Discouragement Makes you look at your problems rather than at God. 3. Diversion Makes the wrong things seem attractive so that you will want them more than the right things. 4. Defeat Makes you feel like a failure, so that you don't even try. 5. Delay Makes you put off doing something, so that it never gets done. -From the Student's Life Application NLT Study Bible 1996.

School of Athens, Raphael. There are men today that claim that The Age of Religion is over and The Age of Science has taken It's place. These men say that God and the devil are old conventions and that what really exists is energy fields and philosophies. The scholars and thinkers of Greece & Rome are revered and the pagan gods are memorized by children in American schools. I find it quite interesting that our society has decided to become Greco-Roman, when those two civilizations were some of the most brutal and ruthless that ever walked the earth. The Greeks under Alexander The Great  conquered the known world and tried to make diverse peoples submit to their beliefs. The Romans followed in Greek  footsteps and took over the world. The Romans were so cruel and malicious that they would salt the fields of their enemies causing the crops to perish and not grow back. The Romans also invented many of the worst forms of torture and execution; including crucifixion. So why do