Looking at the next piece, this one the one that people know best, this is the one that people think about this piece people talk about without talking about the others. Yes now we have come to the Sword of the spirit. “and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” And I know what you’re thinking, your thinking, now Brett what more is there to say about this, it’s a sword you can’t go anymore in-depth than saying it’s a sword. And it even tells us what that means, it tells us that it’s the word of God, what more could there be to know? Well I’m going to talk more about it anyway, because there is a lot more to get from this. The sword that the Romans used was called a Gladius it’s not a long sword in fact in later culture they used a similar sized sword only as their back up sword or a last defiance sword. Now I’m telling you this because there are those out there who do not look at the Armor of God right. They use medieval armor and sword and there was one time I heard a guy use all medieval armor but the size of sword that the Romans used in the time of the armor, which would have been a last defiance and that is not what Paul was trying to get across. With this short sword the Roman concord the known world, it was not used as a if all else fails pull this out, this was the Romans main weapon and with is they became one of the top three most feared armies in history.

The word of God is not something to use as a last resort, this power that Christ has given us may seem small but it has Great power. With this seemingly small tool we can and will overcome and fight off the armies of evil and the legions of the devil. Let others think our weapon is small and useless, but don’t let anyone make you believe that it is! The word of God is the only weapon that can fight off the Devil. The question is do you know how to use it? Are you trying to fight off the devil with a full Gladius, or do you have a nail file? You see we have a great power that is the word of God but that power will not help you if you don’t know the words of God. The more you know the more power you have over the devil, but unfortunately most Christians don’t know the word of God. This is why we see and hear of so many Christians falling, are you strengthening you sword of the spirit? Have you invested time into learning how to use the word of God? Have you made sure you know what the word of God says? Or are you just hoping that the little you hear on Sunday will be enough? When the time comes that you are attacked by the schemes of the devil will you know you’ve done what you could to stand? Or will you fall? Do you have a full Gladius, or are you trying to use a nail file?

8These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains, he was called Adino the Eznite, because of eight hundred slain by him at one time; 9and after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there to battle and the men of Israel had withdrawn. 10He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung to the sword, and the LORD brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to strip the slain.

2 Samuel 23

David’s Mighty men, the mighty men of David, what would it be to be among there ranks?  How many of us knew about these men? Please tell me if you knew about them, I would really like to know how many of us do. If you look here there aren’t very many names…this is not a army of his best. No this is the few men who have proven themselves over any among the armies of Israel, no, men who had proven themselves over any unit in the army. “he was called Adino the Eznite because of eight hundred slain by him at one time” 800 slain at one time…that is quit the feat.

We hear of men like this throughout history, Richard the lion heart King of England, William Wales, Alexander the Great. But do any of these men match David’s mighty men? The Greatest men in Israel, who Kept the armies of the Philistines and all other enemies at bay.  

I know what you are thinking, Brett how does this apply to us and why in the world are you talking about it. Well I was thinking the other day, and I want to see Christ’s mighty men (and women). Where are they? Can we be like David’s mighty men? Not in a slaying 800 warriors at a time but taking the devils army and routing them. The thing is we as Christian have more power than then David’s Mighty men (when it comes to routing the devil and his armies) for we have Christ in us and His Spirit within us, and that is something the legions of the devil cannot stand against. We need a David’s to raise up and we need David’s mighty men to stand up and fight for God’s Kingdom and what is right and Godly.

Stand up for what is right! Become a mighty man of David! Fight ageist the unseen forces or darkness in this world. Your are called By Christ Jesus to stand your ground ageist the devil and his schemes, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”Ephesians 6 10-17.  So stand up and do it! In Christ Jesus our Lord we can do all things, “¹³I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” There is nothing for us to fear, we can be the mighty men of this age! What will you do to protect and farther God’s kingdom?

Open your eyes look around you,

Your ears are clogged,

Go! Get up and run!

Why are you hiding in plain sight?

Your face is not hidden.

The ball your in will not protect you.

Stop winning about nothing!

Quit all this nonsense,

You’re not helping anyone!

You speak to those who don’t mater,

To the one that does you are silent.

Get over your pride and grow up!

These words of mine

They ring over and over.

Where am I going?

Looking to Christ for my answer

The only one who know what to do

The one who cares, loves.

The spit of the lamb,

I’ll rub over my eyes

I’ll open and see.

Q-tip of heaven come clean my ear.

Burn out this hedge of obstruction.

The pull me up and throw me to my Lord.

What have I to hide from,

You Lord are here

There’s no need to hide.

In the Arms of you Lord,

I’ll find my safety,

My comfort will be secured.

Your way is right, the way is clear,

Who am I to complain when I one of yours.

My strength has failed, but yours will endure.

Filter of God lay over my mouth,

My words go to you, who knows what to do.

I’m done with the earthly wisdom.

One as low as me, has nothing to boast of.

You My lord have all the power.

I am nothing, but through you I’ loved.

Ok so i know this is not really what i normaly poast, but i have been trying to write Poams and well, i'm not that good at it. but here is the most resent one. let me know what you think....if you have some advice i'd love to hear it...

Waves come crashing,

I hide on my boat.

The waves beat down,

Will I be shattered to peaces?

Wind blowing fiercely,

As I shiver in fear.

This wind is unbreaking,

I hold on for my life.

Thunder roars though the air,

In my head it echoes loudly.

With each roar my body shudders.

How does one stay alive though this?

Lightning flashing through the Black sky,

I try to squeeze my eyes shut.

With every flash I’m blinded.

How will I steer home?

 Ears are ringing,

 Body trembles,

Eyes see blurs,

Face is stinging.

Through this night,

 Of tarer and fear,

Is there a hope,

That rings out clear?

Where is the hope,

That once I knew?

It’s still here, it’s you,

You’re what makes my sky blue.

Yes you oh Lord,

The Strong and Mighty,

Will guide me through,

You are with me Lord Almighty!

Through every Gael,

The devil may throw.

I adhere to you,

 Through every High and low.

Ears can hear,

Body is calming,

Eyes see clearer,

Face is warming.

My eyes began to open,

And what do I see far in the distance?

Upon the shore,

A glimmer of light comes into a view.

I know this light,

 Off on the horizon,

The lighthouse of God,

 Calling me home.

You give me direction,

A way home you provide.

You lighthouse,

My lifehouse.

I see your port,

Your Angels wait to aid me.

Your people wait to sing with me,

You wait to hold me.

So my first morning was interesting, I woke up earlier than I should have…it was like 8 or 9am (so in my head it was 8 or 9pm) I got up and went into the kitchen and within the first 10 minutes there was an earth Quake…my first earth quake. It was something else that’s for sure. Maryann Laughed and was like wow your first day, your first morning and that happens.

After that I spent a few days getting use to the time difference. They took to a few places there in Baguio City, but I mainly stayed at the house those first few days. After a few days Roy to me up the mountain to Ambugneg…on a dirt bike. Well it wasn’t really a dirt bake, but at the same time it wasn’t really a motorcycle ether, so somewhere in-between. Any way it was my first time riding on one…I was on the back and it was a 2 hour ride up the mountain. We stayed there for about two hours, he introduced me to the ministers up there and the interns I would be working with. They all seemed nice and so it was pretty cool. After the intro’s we went to a funeral for a woman in the church there. It was a bit odd for me, because I didn’t know her or anyone else there for that matter. But it wasn’t too bad or uncomfortable. The only thing that I really didn’t like was the fact that I had to drink coffee. Roy and Maryann had told me ahead of time that I would have to drink a lot of coffee, because you can’t drink the water there without boiling it and no one wants to drink hot water, so they drink coffee.  For me to say no think you would be telling them that it’s not good enough for me. This is one of those places where they give you there best and all they have and if you don’t take it means they couldn’t give you enough or what they had wasn’t good enough. So I drank the coffee.

After that we went back down the mountain, but Roy said I had to not hold onto him this time. You see on the way up I held on to his shoulders (he is really ticklish so I couldn’t hold on to his sides) but he said that I was holding on to tight and it was hurting his shoulder and back. So I had to hold on to a bar behind and under me, for 2 hours. At first I wasn’t too bad but after awhile the vibrations bad it hard to grip it, so I would hold on with one hand to let the other one rest, and switched back a forth for awhile.

I don’t think I said this yet so I’ll tell you now, the roads that we used to get up the mountain are well less the great. They’re not paved, well for the most part they’re working on that now so there are paved parts here and there but it’s mostly a dirt road. And the dirt isn’t really like packed done dirt roads like we would find here, there’s lots of loss dirt and rocks which make it kind of unsteady. The other thing is that the roads are two way but only about a lane and a half. 

Well on the way down we hit a patch of loss dirt with a big rock (the rock didn’t like big, most of it was under the loss dirt), when the front tire hit the rock it moved and we well wiped out. Luckily it wasn’t a bad wipe out but that was a bit scary when it was happening.

After getting back to Roy’s house I stayed there for a few days until two of the interns from Ambugneg came down to take me up the mountain on a bus. Yes this time I went up without Roy or anyone else I knew. The bus ride was long and well just long. There was one long stop half way up the mountain for us to us the C R (what they call the bathrooms) and to get some food. After we got up to Ambugneg we went to the dorm of the college that’s up there. When I was there, there was no one else staying there, but a few weeks’ later two girls and one other boy moved in. after I dropped all my stuff off there we went to the mission house, that’s where the pastors and the interns stay. It’s only like 100 feet from where I was staying.

At first it was a little awkward being there with them, mainly because they were a bit scared to talk to me. You see everyone there speaks English but they all think they don’t speak it well, they were afraid that I wouldn’t be able to understand. So they at first just didn’t talk to me all that much.

There were three ministers Rodger, Erming, and Alvin. There were five interns’ three boys and two girls, Red, Abner, and Ryan and E-Jan and I can’t remember the other girls’ name.

It was a Saturday when I got there and we went to the place they use for church, to practice for worship for Sunday. It was really sweet, so everyone here can play instrument and they’re great at it…they just pick anything up and can play it just fine…lol I’m convents that they could pick up something they had never seen and be able to play it with great ease.

So in my last post I put up some Pictures I took while I was in the Philippines, and it accord to me (through Miss Amanda’s comment) that I hadn’t told ya’ll about that trip, so that’s what I’m going to talk about now. I know that this isn’t going to be one of my normal post, where I talk about a topic that means a lot to me, and try to tell you how I feel about it or what I think about it. And that’s probably why I haven’t done it yet, but I think it’s a good time to let ya’ll in on my super awesome trip.

June of 2006, I was at church camp, (where I spend all of my summers) the week was called Deeper Life, it a week for high scholars who want to go really deep in the word of God and Christian life style. The Missionaries for the week were Roy and Mariana and yes they were missioners in the Philippines. I had met them two years earlier at the same week of camp and got to know then really well, Roy and Mariana were two of my group leaders and Roy was one of my cabin dads. Then in 2006 they were again my group leaders and this time I spent a lot more time with them, asking them all sorts of things about there mission in the Philippines. I was really interested by the mission so I asked them what they needed more than anything else at this point in their mission. Their response was “we need people to come and help, not just by sharing the load but also to show the new Christians that the people from the US Church supported them.” So me being me I said “so when can I come.” they told me that the best time to go over was in their summer which is our spring. So for the next few months I talked with them and raised money and did some studying. 

Now when we found a time that would work for both them and me, I set my dates, and how existed I was! I wasn’t sure what all I would be doing but I didn’t care. I would do anything they needed, anything I could.

Some things you might want to take into your brain when reading this, you know some background stuff. I have never been out of the county; ok that not true, I did go to Canada for a weekend like 13 years earlier, and I don’t remember anything about it…I was like 5. I had never flown on a plane, I’d never been on a plane, I’d never been on or over or in the ocean, I’d never seen the ocean. The farthest I’d ever been from my house without any of my family was like 70 miles.

Ok now that you know that let me tell you the first part of my trip…or rather what I would have to do. I was going to fly is a plane for the first time in my life; the flight would be a 23 hour flight with one stop in Japan for two hours. I’m sure you got this but let me tell you anyway, I had been in an airport one time with my mom after dropping my Grandma off for her flight, I was 3. And oh yeah did I mention I was by myself? Mom dropped me of at the airport in Chicago, and I went through all the airport whateverness alone. After getting on my plane I found that I was sitting by a young Japanese girl who could speak very little English. The flight was a long and quiet one. After I landed in Japan I had to go through the Japan airport stuff….it was harder than it was in Chicago…they didn’t all speak English. I sat for a long time I the airport waiting for my plane to be boarded. After sitting by myself (the only American in sight) for about an hour a man came up to me, another American!! He was the son of the man who owned a company that makes things from bee’s wax. We talked for a while and he said that he would help me through the Manila airport. I was very Glad and thankful.

When we got on the plane we separated, he was on the other side of the plane then me. I was right by the door the row was one that had three seats and I was at the window there was no one in the middle seat and an older Philippine woman had the end seat. Now after flying for about 1 ½ hours I feel asleep for the first time in 21 hours. The woman on the end let me sleep she told the attendant who brought the food not to wake me. I only slept for about 2 hours, but it was a good sleep. After we landed the man I met before took me through the airport and I was so thankful!! I was told to stand by the letter B for Brett not M for Mitchell, and that a man was going to be there to pick me up, a man I’ve never met, seen or anything else. Marian wanted her or Roy to come to pick me up but she had just had a baby (a C section) so they couldn’t come down. There was only one other white man standing in the B section, so he didn’t have a problem finding me. The man who was picking me up was a van driver (it’s like a cab but for long trips, it’s safer than a bus). The van ride was long too, Baguio City was a 6 hour drive north, through the mountains. I finally got to their house at like 2:30 or 3:00 am, it was funny their gate is orange lol, she told me that and I picked out their house with great ease.

Here are a few of the pic's I took when I was in the Philippines…just look at the greatness of God’s Creation. See the creativity He put into the world that we don’t even take care of. Look at how much He poured out into it, yet we don’t even notice a lot of His Creation. Take a moment from you day and just spend some time out in the Great Creation He made for us….for us to enjoy, to enjoy and we don’t even care about it. We should be marveling at the Beauty of what He’s made. Show Him we care about what He’s made for us.  

Hello everyone, in case you’re not sure or didn’t really know, I’m Brett Mitchell Julie’s oldest son, Lonie’s Grandson.  I know that I was not as close as I would like to have been with Grandpa, but especially these past 3 ½ months I’ve spent a lot of time with him and got much closer then I had been in the past. We’ve had a lot of laughs and even a few augments.

Now I don’t know how many of you know this, but Grandpa gave me my name. Yeah believe it or not my mom and dad didn’t have a name for me and I was going to born in two or three days. So Grandpa told my mom that he wasn’t going to say anything and he didn’t want to tell her what to name me. But ever since he saw the old T.V. show Maverick he’s always loved the name Brett. Mom says she loved the name and that’s how I got my name…from my grandpa.   

What can I say about grandpa? Well I must say there were lots of times I didn’t and still sometimes don’t think I knew him all that well, there wasn’t all that much we had in common but there weren’t really many times that things were odd or uncomfortable but I will say there were a few times. Grandpa loved all sports not only did he like to watch them but he knew everything about all of it. He always knew the facts and other trivial things. While I have never gotten into any sports at all really, I played soccer in elementary school and that was it. The only thing I’ve really done that I was good at and liked was bowling and I’m not sure if that was one he really got into. Obviously I don’t get into drinking so that’s not something we shared. I have never smoked and have no entrenches of smoking so that was one thing that made thing uncomfortable, just because I don’t like the smell of it. We live 5 ½ hours apart and when we did see etch other it was only an hour or 2 at a time, until these past 3 month which I spent most the day for a week at a time with him.

Despite all these differences, when we were together we had a great time. I can remember playing rummy for a few hours at a time with him, he of course always beet me…to be truthful he bet me pretty bad.  I did always like and truly enjoyed the time I got to spend with my grandpa Lonie. He was such a fun guy, and well let’s faces a cool fun grandpa and really who doesn’t want one of those? I know that grandpa loved to sing and that he was really good at it too, and I retarget to say that I don’t remember ever hearing him sing, but I do of a few stories of when he was younger. This weekend I found out that back when he was younger he and uncle Bob would go out to bars and tack over the singing, that they just kind of kicked the band off the stage and sang till they kicked them out, and I heard that it did happen a few times.  

    To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be bore, and I time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dace; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to give away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silent, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

This is a time for many things, there are many things going through all of our minds right now.  We are all feeling different things right now. But looking at these verses what is this a time for, of all these things what apply to us right now? October 2 1938 was his time to be born and January 8 2009 was his time to die. God had planted him already and He saw it was time to pluck him up. God had been planted into his heart once more and now his soul was harvested into heaven. The past few months were the time for healing, but healing is not needed for all time. This is a time where it is appropriate to break down because we have our loved ones here to spend the next few days week months and even years to build echo her back up. The time of weeping has been here and will stay for some time and there’s nothing wrong with weeping, but remember the laughs we shared with him. Our time for mourning Grandpa Lonie will be stay with us for some time, but know that with time and God we will dace again. This for some of us is a time to embrace a time to comfort one and other, but not all of us heal with embracing, so this is also a time to keep in mind for some of us this is a time to refrain from embracing has hard as that may be for us. Our time to gain by having Grandpa with us has passed and the time of our loss of him started Thursday morning and this time will not end until we are with him again with our heavily father. We now have to give grandpa away for a time until we can keep him once more. A time to speak will be what many of us may want for this time of mourning but not all of us want to speak and we need to know that with those people it’s a time to keep silent. This is a time where we can and should share the love we have for grandpa and all the loving memories, a time to love one and other, a time for the love of our Lord Jesus Christ to fill the new gap in our hearts.  With this, a time of heavenly peace will sweep over us and we will again be whole. 

The time that we all had with Grandpa was great and memorable, these are the things that we need to keep, the things we all should and do cherish. All the funny things he did. There are many things he left here for us, like the proper use of the floor; because of him we all know what the floors for he made sure of that. I’m not going to make this to long cuz we know what grandpa did when you talked too much…that was one thing he always did to me, apparently I talk a lot. I’m sure we’ve all been teased at some point or another by grandpa, and though it may have hurt our feelings at the time I know that those things he said and did will stay with us and we will remember him every time we do whatever it was he teased us about. And feel blessed if you were teased often by him, because you will randomly remember him more often than others.

Speaking of those of us who are blessed;

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for the will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed peacemakers, for they shall be called son’s of God.

As we look at this we see that not only will the things we may be going through, we will be comforted, filled, and shown mercy. We can be each other’s comfort but only to a point, these all are linked together, not all how mourn are comforted but when you add it to the others here God will tack the mourning heart and replace it with one filled with a heavenly comfort that only comes from our Lord Jesus. Yes be with one and other help those here who need it, put yourself out there to be there for the others mourning but know that to truly be comforted you must seek God to be your comfort and will also bless you from your sorrows.

One of the first times I came down to stay with him for a week in October we started talking about religion. Now I knew that he was raised and brought up a very strict Nazarene and that he had spent the past several years questioning the existence of the omnipotent and Holy Creator. This past October as we were talking about God he told me how I am a radical religious zealot, now I’m not sure if he knew this but to me that’s a great complement.

We all know that grandpa was a great teaser; he just loved to teas us didn’t he. I know that as well as I can remember he didn’t tease me all that much when I was younger (let me know if I am wrong afterwards and you can tell me all the other things I was teased for) but these past few years and especially these past few months I got it a lot. He would tease me about being a picky eater (I’m not just so everyone knows) but how he liked to tease me about that.