Warrior Heart

Long before I attended law school, I began reading the Bible. The following is a short excerpt of an electronic book that we are offering to provide at no charge. Just request a copy of The Warrior Heart at the email address on our Homepage.

“He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.”

Psalms 18: 34

 The Bible, personal experience and the history of nations demonstrate the importance of good government. That is what attracted me to attend law school. The calling to be involved in administering justice increases with study of Scripture.

What happens when leaders in government pursue an agenda that unleashes evil forces? The advent of ISIS in Iraq and Syria vividly demonstrated that a most terrifying condition to be in is to be taken captive by an enemy. Think of all the Christians, Jews and other religious minorities who have been targeted by ISIS. Churches have been bombed, schools invaded, young boys and girls sold into slavery, systematic rape, torture and beheading; all these have become normal events to see in the news. These events all resulted, at least in part, as a result of national security policies formulated in Washington, DC with help from U.S. national intelligence agencies.

Greg Stevens spoke at a Sheepdog Seminar in Coeur d’Alene Idaho about how he stopped two ISIS recruits. Officer Greg Stevens was on duty in Garland, Texas when two home grown ISIS recruits from Arizona arrived intending to shoot as many people as they could. The Garland police officer was on duty at a Draw the Prophet contest on May 3, 2015. He saw the passenger, Elton Simpson, one of two radicalized American citizens who had come to attack the crowd at the Culwell Center, exiting a vehicle with a rifle. Wearing soft body armor and load-bearing equipment and carrying a pistol and an ominous backpack, Simpson exited the car with a smile and began firing the rifle at Officer Stevens. The rifle was fed from a 100 round drum magazine and there were at least 1500 additional rounds inside the vehicle.

Officer Stevens stated that walking in the Holy Spirit had empowered him to stop the gunmen. He had been an officer for 37 years and had never shot his pistol in a gunfight. He observed the gunman, dressed in black, directing the rifle in his direction. Stevens immediately drew his Glock 21 pistol and engaged Simpson with four to five rounds as Simpson fired at him and a security guard with the rifle.

As Stevens fired, he slowly advanced on the two suspects from 15 yards away, pressing the attack as he fired very deliberately and with calm, careful aim. While some other officers often complained about training, Stevens had looked at every training sessions as a gift from heaven and now his gratitude and faithful warrior attitude protected his life and the lives of many others.. Stevens was conscious of the fact he had to make his hits count. The ISIS gunman that initiated the attack fell to the ground and dropped his rifle. Officer Stevens stopped both the gunmen dead that day in May.

Stevens saved himself and many other people. The terrorists were targeting those who had gathered in Texas to protest against the Charlie Hebdo attacks- a previous series of coordinated ISIS assaults on a Paris suburb that killed seventeen people. The fact that Officer Stevens used a Glock pistol fired from a distance against two gunmen who were shooting at him with rifles speaks for how important it is to train to shoot while moving.

All of the above raises the issue of whether armed teachers, church-goers and even soccer moms can train to defend themselves and others the way Greg Stevens defended those attending the event in Garland.

Sheepdogs & Warriors. Since Old Testament days, the formula for a strong nation has been the same – a Godly leader in the mold of King David or Gideon and his 300 Men of Valor. Such men & women who follow instructions from the Lord are able to defend the people because their hearts are set in a certain way and their training as warriors prepared them for the task at hand. As it was in the days of David and Gideon— even as it is today—the Lord calls for such faith and training. He gives us the power to get Chayil, the Hebrew word translated as valor, strength, power & military resources. Chayil is also translated virtue. See Proverbs 31 which speaks of the virtuous wife and mother who possesses sound business judgment and sacrifices to provide good things for her husband and children.

Prosperity and stability come from our Creator.  The Proverbs say, “The horse is prepared against the day of battle; but safety is of the Lord.” Personal safety, just like national security, does not come from a gun, an army or by government spending.  Nevertheless, we have to do our part to prepare faithfully for the battles ahead. 

“He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.”

Psalms 18: 34

“No one will be able to resist you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not abandon you or leave you alone. Be strong and brave! You must lead these people in the conquest of this land that I solemnly promised their ancestors I would hand over to them. Make sure you are very strong and brave!”

Joshua 1 (NIV)

But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

Deuteronomy 8:18 (KJV)