Good Morning,

Well I'm back in Shreveport after a wonderful week in Virginia. Glad to see two of you met Thursday and hope the rest are keeping up with your "training." I was able to add several verses over the past week as I had no distractions and a lot of time to focus on the Lord and all he has done for me and my family. What better way to honor Him then by being obedient and doing what he say is necessary for us to advance in His kingdom, ...hide his Word in our hearts! [Luke 6:46]. I am looking forward to seeing you all this week. Lets plan to meet. Is Tuesday a good day? I know that some have a previous meeting planned for Thursday. Let me know what is best for all.

Missed Yall This Morning

Raymond and I held the fort down this morning at The Well. Missed the rest of yall.............Hope everyone is well. The blog is cool............Thanks Stephen.

1 Corinthians 13

I'm working on 1 Corinthians 13 - referred to many as the "Love Chapter."

It is helping me to break the chapter down into 4 parts:

• Spirituality without love is nothing
  
  
• Love is...
  
  
• What will cease
  
  
• What now remains

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails.

But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

It is Sunday morning here in Virginig Beach, just as it is in Louisiana, and God is here in Virginia Beach just as he is in Louisiana! You are all in my prayers as I "train" this morning. One thing about being "away," it allows me to concentrate on things other that what I would usually think about and my "training" is progressing beyond expectations! [Praise God] Looking forward to seeing you all soon.

Ken's Test Blog

This is the first time I have ever used anything like this and hope that I am doing it correctly. Actually this is just a test to see if what I write actually goes through. However, I want to say "Thank You" to Steve for his initiative in doing this for us. May God bless you Steve in your part in making this program a reality.

Warriors of the Word blog

Warriors:

I hope this blog (which is an online journal) will help us keep up with each other, share our goals, and how becoming a Warrior of the Word is impacting our lives. I hope to start seeing you guys posting here often.

For now, let me reprint the document Ken sent us regarding advancement:

The Black Belt, ...Our Spiritual Goal!

All students in the martial arts desire to someday achieve the coveted rank of ABlack Belt.@ However, in ancient Japan there were no ranks! The ranking system came along with the more modern development of the martial arts. Actually, in ancient times there were simply students and masters! It is believed that a student began with a white uniform [Gi] which had a white belt [or sash]. With time the uniform became soiled and darkened with age. The black belt represented an aged belt, which represented a seasoned warrior! A master=s belt would be Ared@ with the blood on his victories, ...and sometimes his non-lethal failures from which he also learned!!

Learning the way of the sword was literally a matter of life or death! It was a turbulent time, much like the old west during the development of this country. The law was nonexistent and you were either of the class of the Astrong@ [Samurai] or the Aweak@ [peasant]. You lived or died by your ability to defend yourself and your family!

We are not much different today in our spiritual warfare against the powers Paul wrote about in Eph 6:10-18, and Christ warned against in John 10:10! We live or die by our ability to defend our minds, families and brothers and sisters in Christ by our ability to utilize the only offensive weapon God has provided us with, ...and actually the only one we need because of its effectiveness, ...The Word Of God [Heb 4:12]! Our goal should be to be the most effective Asword's man/warrior@ we can be, leading and protecting our family, while serving in our church and community with godly character which draws others to Christ. Remember Christ=s lessons on leadership....a true leader is a servant! Thus, our true goal should be to be the best servant we can be!!!

Now, let's talk goals in our training. Following is the ranking system we have chosen to utilize. Each rank is in essence a "Spiritual Goal." May it serve to inspire and motivate you in your achievements, but may it never cause you to be proud or boastful in those achievements! To God be the Glory!

The Abeginner@ grades are referred to as the AKyu@ grades and require the following accomplishments:
6th Kyu = white belt = 0-8 verses learned
5th Kyu = yellow belt = 8 verses learned [GoKyu]
4th Kyu = Orange Belt = 16 verses learned [YonKyu]
3rd Kyu = Green Belt = 24 verses learned [SanKyu]
2nd Kyu = Purple Belt = 32 verses learned [NiKyu]
1st Kyu = Brown Belt = 41 verses learned [IkKyu]

The second level of grades is that of the "student." There are also five grades to this level.
1st Dan = Black Belt = 50 verses learned [Shodan]
2nd Dan = Black Belt = 100 verses learned [Nidan]
3rd Dan = Black Belt = 175 verses learned [Sandan]
4th Dan = Black Belt = 250 verses learned [Yodan]
5th Dan = Black Belt = 325 verses learned [Godan]

The third level of Agrades@ is that of the expert. There are three grades to this level.
6th Dan = Red/White Belt = 425 verses learned [Rokudan]
7th Dan = Red/white Belt = 525 verses learned [Shichidan]
8th Dan = Red/White Belt = 625 verses learned [Hachidan]

The forth level of Agrades@ is that of the master. There are two grade to this level.
9th Dan = Red Belt = 800 verses learned [Kudan]
10th Dan = Red Belt = 1000 verses learned [Judan]

Each time an individual is tested they must be ready to demonstrate their knowledge of all the verses they have learned up to that point and not just the verses they have learned since their last grade! Verses will be pulled randomly from a list of those verses they have "hidden in their heart" [learned].

Can a person actually train their mind to achieve the level of 10th degree, ...a thousand verses? Muslims learn the Koran! How many verses are there in that? It should be obvious that an individual could spend their entire life striving to attain, then maintain the ultimate level of 10th Dan in their spiritual training, but that is the point! To spend your entire life immersed in God=s word, not to earn a grade, but to be transformed [Rom 12:2] into what God would have you become....

Yours in Arms,

Ken [7th Dan]