Private Sam

Heard from Sam tonight. He called and filled me in on his basic training experience so far. He sounds very strong, very motivated.

He's been doing a lot of BRM. (That's Basic Rifle Marksmanship for you civilians out there.) He shot the hell out of the 300 meter target, which really impresses me, because I'm not that good with an M16. (I'm hell with a .45, a 9mm, and pretty much any machinegun, though.)

Sam has gotten one package from me, even though I've sent 3 so far. My first went to a different unit, and I'm mad that they didn't forward it to him. He requested a "Game Informer" magazine, so I'll look for that tomorrow.

I have to say that I'm very proud of this young man. There is simply nothing that a teenage man can do that is better for him than military service. I can hear in Sam's voice the maturity and drive. I'm loving it. Even though Sam and the other kids have their differences with me lately, I'm delighted that Sam has followed in my footsteps and is serving in the only profession that really challenges a man.

Salute, Private!

Having a Bad Wargaming Day

Well, this sucks. That's all I have to say.

Peter "Patton" comes over tonight and whomps me at Guadalcanal with his overwhelming Japanese attack. I scarcely got a shot off.

Then he says, in his innocent, little girl voice, "Why don't we play it again. This time YOU can take the Japs."

Fine.

Except this time the key objective is more easily defended. I deployed my Japs into two big groups and commenced a deliberate advance against the main objective. Peter's mortars and machineguns play havoc against my base of fire, but I push on. Finally, I come over the crest and seize the key objective. I advance and destroy the smelly Marines...and then time runs out. Just as I was getting into position to stomp on his next main defensive position.

Peter has beaten me in our last three games. Stoopid games. Stoopid Peter. Stoopid luck.

I need to go have a little cry.

Lab Lab

Been to the Lab twice this week (so far). Ugh. Finishing up all the paperwork from my last major project with the Pentagon.

Switching focus now to (1) the evolution of strategy in the war on terror; and (2) a comparative eschatology of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Been reading The Rapture Exposed by Barbara Rossing. A liberal reaction to dispensational theology (sort of). Basically, this gal watched the "Left Behind" series and wrote a book to refute it. Her work is a determined attempt to ignore the Bible's prophetic program, because it's too disturbing. Because she finds bloodshed repugnant, she simply re-interprets Scripture. When the Bible says, "War", it really means "Peace". When it says "Blood", it really means "Feathers and lollipops." When it says "Judgment", the proper interpretation is "Warm hugs."

Where DO these people come from? Why don't they just say, "I hate the Bible and I refuse to believe it!" At least that would be honest.

Anyways, Peter's coming over tonight, so soon you will be reading about my decisive victory over him.

Zanne and Joe went out to the property, and apparently they have laid down gravel where the footers will soon be poured. Wootness!

Fun Day of Teaching and Relaxing

Taught Revelation 19:11 ff today, and it's such an exciting part of Scripture. Almost too big to get our arms around it. It describes one of the most important events in the history of mankind: the Second Advent of Christ. And just as the Bible says will happen (2 Peter 3), many today scoff at Christians and claim that since Christ has not yet returned, He will never return. (A splendid piece of logic, that!) And yet we know that all prophecy and human history has been pointing toward that glorious and catastrophic day. I'm glad I'm on the right side of it!

At home group we studied Mark 12, and once again, I am so impressed with the insights that God has given the folks in our group. We are blessed with a great group of serious Bible students that love the Lord and each other. Had some great discussions on Jesus' confrontation with the religious turds in Jerusalem. Every time I study this part of the Bible, I come away more impressed with the majesty, restraint, wisdom, and love of our Hero. What an awesome ruler He will be when He arrives!

My gorgeous wife worked her butt off this weekend cleaning the house. Thanks, Babe!

Bob v. Peter, October, 1944

It's foggy. My men have to attack uphill into the teeth of Peter's German defense. My only chance of victory is to either penetrate his lines and race up the hill before he can stop me, or force him to surrender. The terrain is heavily wooded.

I broke my company into two sections--one under Sergeant White, one under Captain Stiner. White had a platoon with medium machineguns to act as my base of fire. Stiner's two platoons remained in a covered and concealed attack position to await LD time.

Peter set up a competent defense. He arranged a double belted minefield that blocked the avenue of approach to my right front. To my left front he had a platoon in reverse slope (so that my base of fire could not shoot at it). Echeloned back behind all that he had a fire group with his officer. They had one heavy machinegun and two lights.

I decided to make a move toward the minefield, hoping to bust through it before he could bring effective fire on my men. Sergeant White's platoon managed to stumble into wire and mines in their base of fire position, but no harm was done. Stiner's platoons approached the minefields, but they had made very slow progress through the woods, and time was running out.

Meanwhile, Peter moved his fire group over to intercept my attempt through the mines. At this point, I began calling down effective artillery fire whenever I could spot a target. I then decided to maneuver Stiner's guys back to the left, hoping to flank the minefields and scoot past the disrupted defenders in reverse slope.

Everything bogged down. I had good results from my artillery and machineguns, and I killed lots of Germans. But I couldn't get any momentum to get through his defenses, and the day ended with me scarcely halfway toward my objective.

Another big victory for Peter.

Some changes at work

My game of Mosby's Raiders that I've been reporting on has been terminated early, because I need the table space for tonight's wargame session.

The political axe has felled one of our contacts in the Pentagon, and our latest project is going by the wayside. The good news is that this will cut down on the number of trips to the Lab I have to take. Yay! I can shift my focus to writing about the evolution of strategy in the war on terror.

Dan Ryan is supposed to start building our house this week, but we'll see. The site supervisor, Rick, hinted that the house may not be done until late in June. (They had originally promised early to mid-June.) Of course, knowing what we know about builders, the whole project could take months longer than they promise, so we'll see. We're still pretty excited to FINALLY be owning a house again. It's been a long, difficult journey.

How 'bout that stock market, huh?

Peter's coming over tonight to wargame. Can't wait to beat him mercilessly.

Other than that, I'm up to Revelation 19 in Sunday School, and the end is in sight. Taught Mark 11 at home group and made a beer-basted corn beef brisket.

I had a VERY good day of eating right and working out. I've been slacking lately, but now I'm back on track.

Fourth Raid

I arrive at Union, north of Rector's Crossroads, and get the word out that I'm forming a raid. I get about the same number of recruits as last time. Meanwhile, the Yanks reinforce Winchester with a large force. Harry Gilmor and his partisans raid the B&O Railroad, with the result that the Yanks are alert now. But then I get a little good news: the Union boys have repaired all the railroad lines that I destroyed. But since their lines are still in disarray, I can go back in and destroy them again!

I need to be careful now. With the Yanks on high alert, I won't have much room for error. Hedgesville is wide open and a definite target. Charlestown is a bit riskier. Rappahannock Station is ungarrisoned, but there's a Union garrison at nearby Elk Run.

I decide to do Charlestown first, because after I start, my chance at surprise is going to decline. I might get away clean on my first raid. We'll see. Ha! Destroyed the rail line, and neither adjacent garrison pursued me. I destroy the rail at Hedgesville next and then countermarch to Rappahannock Station, where I destroy that rail line. Incredibly, the garrison at Elk Run stays put!

Exploiting the hole in the Union lines at Bristoe Station, I infiltrate through Brentsville, where a local informs me that there is a large garrison at Independence Hill.

For my last exploit I probe near Manassas Junction, triggering a massive pursuit. I race westward and hide at Rector's Crossroads. The Yanks that chased me left Manassas Junction completely uncovered. So as the Blue-Bellies wander through the countryside, I double-back and destroy the rail line there. I then sneak into Union Mills--also ungarrisoned--and burn the bridge there. A large body of troops gives chase from Centreville, and they defeat my little band, forcing me to disband and end the raid.

Still, I'm doing very well now.

Third Raid

I start out at Snickersville and get even more troops than before. Then I read the papers, and it seems that Union generals, in an attempt to get me to stop ambushing trains, are now putting Southerners on board, the scoundrels. The Yanks extend their lines down to Winchester and surrounding towns. Then large Union force enters Leesburg. Finally, I get word that the Union wagon train is moving from Harper's Ferry south to Middletown. Ha! I don't think so.

I've arranged ahead of time that my men and I will hide out in a local farmhouse after we visit the wagon train. I intercept the wagon train at Myerstown and destroy it. Before the Yanks can come after me, I hide as planned. One of the Union guard companies searches for me and then heads south to Berryville. Now on to more mischief.

I decide to head north to the Martinsburg area again, with the intent of wiping out some garrisons and destroying more rail lines. I lead my men through Park's Gap and into Hedgesville, where we surprise the garrison there, destroying it easily. Despite the noise of the battle, no Union reinforcements arrive from Hainesville, which turns out to be ungarrisoned. Perfect opportunity to destroy the rail lines.

I could cease operations for now--especially since the Union troops are all on high alert, but I want to try to clear out the Yanks around Manassas on the off-chance that I can organize one more raid there before they reorganize their lines. To that end, we march to Greenwich and enter Catlett's Station.

Ugh. The Yanks are waiting for me. The alert goes up, and troops from Bristoe Station join the pursuit. I'm attacked and outnumbered 2-to-1. I lose the battle, and some of my force are killed/captured. Not good.

But my performance during this raid is good enough to allow me to keep fighting.

Second Raid

Well, my notoriety is increased from my successes near Harper's Ferry, so the Union commanders reinforce their garrisons. I start the raid in White Plains and manage to get twice as many recruits as the first raid. Still pretty small group, but we're getting there. We're also joined by a local trader named Ben Hatton, who says he'll help us sneak through the Union lines.

The damn Yankees are looking for me. A bunch of them burned Bloomfield, Rector's Crossroads, and Paris. I'll make them pay for that. The locals all rally and put the fires out. Strangely enough, they are all still supporting my efforts.

Just when I thought that adventure was over, a larger body of troops arrives at Hopewell, just north of my position! After burning the town, they move to Hay Market. These guys obviously know I'm close by. They march through Hay Market and then return to Hopewell. Will they think to come south? No, they move to Middleburg and burn it to the ground.

Okay, time to get moving. The most lucrative targets for me are the bridges at Union Mills and Occoquan. I'm going to move to Manassas Junction and see what I can do. There's a large garrison there, so that won't do. I ride down to Greenwich and probe toward Catlett's Station, finding a small garrison there. I'm tempted to just fight them now, but I want to wait and develop the situation further before I start trouble. I find another small garrison at Warrenton's Junction, but Rappahanock Station is empty. That's a start. Durn! There's another large garrison at Elk Run. Okay, I'm going to see if I can isolate the garrison at Catlett's Station. No dice. There's another sizeable garrison at Bristoe Station.

I might decide to continue with my original plan, but first I'm going to probe further north. I march to Frankville and probe toward Dranesville, and it's garrisoned. A larger garrison is at Herndon Station. Chantilly is not garrisoned, and I ride into the town, eliminating a picket there. Still, I can't find a serious gap anywhere. There's another garrison at Hunter's Mills. I guess I stirred up so much trouble on the first raid that they reinforced pretty strong.

I move back south to Rappahannock Station and probe toward Kellyville, surprising a sutler's wagon there. But I ran into another big garrison at Morrisville.

Okay, enough of that. I'm going to ambush one of those little garrsons south of Manassas and see what develops. I sneak into Warrenton Junction unnoticed. I maneuver my men into position and give the signal. It's over before it starts, and we wiped out the whole garrison. The large unit at Elk Run alerts and another company in Bristerburg joins the hunt. We gallop west to Salem. But by the time we get there, I find out that both enemy units have already given up the chase!

I lead the men back to Warrenton Junction and decide to press my luck. I'm going to destroy the rail lines there. The boys at Elk Run alert again, but this time no one joins them. This is good, because I hope to draw them away from the area so I can return and destroy the rail line at Rappahannock Station. They chase me until they reach Rectortown, where they pitch tents. Ha! I return to Rappahannock Station and destroy the rail line there. Now I need to decide whether to continue the raid or disband and play it safe. I could move to Catlett's Station and ambush the other small garrison there. I would most likely win that battle, but the large garrison at Manassas would come after me. Well, let's give it a go.

Ben Hatton takes us into Catlett's Station by a hidden path, and we sneak over to where the Union boys are resting. Another friendly local tells me that there's a Union garrison at Harrison's Ford, too. That means that if I attack here, I'll have three different units chasing me. But I like the idea of clearing them out so I can return on another raid and exploit the confusion.

I attack. We easily wipe out the garrison. The large force at Manassas does not pursue! But the two smaller units at Harrison's Ford and Bristerburg alert. Well! Not bad--no other Union forces alert. In fact, it turns out that Brentsville and Stafford Spring are empty. If I can survive this upcoming battle and return before the Union reorganize their lines, I can really have some fun.

The Harrison's Ford garrison marches quickly to Catlett's Station and attacks, but the other garrison for some reason marched to Elk Run. I lose the second battle of Catlett's Station, and we disband.

We'll be back!

First Raid

I've decided to become a partisan ranger and scrub this country clean of Yankees. I started in Snickersville, Virginia. It was an inauspicious beginning, as no one responded to my call for recruits. Pressed for time, I tried again and managed to gather a small band of miscreants. I'm going to start operations in my own home town area of Martinsburg. I'll attempt to penetrate Union lines and tear up the rail lines from Hedgesville to Harper's Ferry.

I lead my little band to Shanghan and begin to probe Park's Gap. We are in luck--the Yanks have no garrison there. Unfortunately, there is a garrison in Hedgesville, and I don't feel strong enough to ambush them yet. I backed out of the area and cross the mountains to Smithfield. From there, we probe into Leetown, where I find a sutler's wagon, which I promptly seized. I then probe into Kearneystown, but the dratted Union troops are there, too. I rode over to Charlestown and found the city devoid of Yanks. This is good, because I'm going to tear up the rail lines there.

Ha! These lax Yankees have left Halltown unguarded, too, but Duffield's Depot is garrisoned. Okay, here's the plan. I'm going to sneak into Harper's Ferry and burn the bridge over the Shenandoah. If I don't get chased, I'll then work my way back to Halltown and tear up the rails there and in Charlestown. That should get my notoriety up and attract more recruits for the next raid. Here goes...

I sneak my band of thugs into Harper's Ferry and so far am unnoticed. We set fire to the bridge, and it collapses soon thereafter. The rising smoke does not seem to be a concern to that garrison in Duffield's Depot, but a picket in Harper's Ferry pokes his head up and starts scrambling. We shut him up quick with a bullet between the eyes. Then we chased a sutler's wagon that was heading toward Antietam and snatched it.

Not sure I should have chased that wagon, though, because now I'm north of the rail line and have to make my way back to friendly territory. The still-smoking bridge has alerted the Yankees that something is up, so sneaking through their lines might be tricky. I decide to head back into Harper's Ferry. I intercepted a courier and relieved him of his mail and horse. Whew! Got through the town and back to Halltown.

My guys get to work tearing up the rail lines. Ha! Still no reaction from the large force at Harper's Ferry. From there we move to Charlestown and destroy the rail line there. Unfortunately, that got me some attention. The garrison at Duffield's Depot finally wakes up, and we hear bugles blowing and horses galloping. The noise stirs up interest in Harper's Ferry, and now a second squadron of cavalry are after me.

We spur our horses and high-tail it south, paralleling the Valley Pike past Winchester. We reach the Double Toll-Gate south of Salem Church. I get word that the Duffield's Depot garrison gave it up and didn't chase us. But the larger force from Harper's Ferry raced southward on our trail. They are at Pleasant Valley Mill. I don't want to fight these guys, so we ride through Front Royal to Chester's Gap. The Yanks keep coming, reaching Niniveh. We turn and ride northeast to Salem. The enemy loses our trail and heads west to Newtown. After galloping about for a few days, they give it up and stay put at Milltown.

I'd like to continue operations, but all the excitement has the Union troops alerted, so I reluctantly decide to disband and prepare for the next raid.

Mom and Dad Finally Get It Right

Yep, the miracle happened 51 years ago today. After giving birth to three losers, the planets aligned, and my folks got the blessing of their lifetime: me. I remember it just like it was yesterday: the doting, the poop, the yellow slop they tried to make me eat.

Worked chest and back this morning; tonight shoulders; tomorrow morning up early for the Biggest Loser workout. Ugh, that's really hard. Can't believe I make it through.

Then to the Lab tomorrow.

Mad as HELL!

On Wednesday I was driving back from the Lab and listening to NPR Radio. Terry Gross' "Fresh Air" was on, and her guest was some pseudo-intellectual, Christian-bashing knucklehead trying to trash the Bible.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101389895

Now before you listen to it, hear me out. I'm not pissed off just because I'm a Christian reacting to attacks on the Bible. As a Bible teacher, I'm used to all that. Arrogant know-alls attacking the Word of God are as old as the hills. No big deal. What really burned me about this interview was the intellectual dishonesty. The guy's arguments make no sense, and Terry Gross lets him get away with it. He makes loose inferences and undocumented statements of "fact", along with logical fallacies that any competent interviewer would tear to shreds. But NPR lets him get away unchallenged, because he's bashing Christians.

Now here's the facts:

1. We ascribe the four gospels to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John as the authors. There is good reason to believe that those four men (two eyewitnesses, and two later compilers) were the authors, BUT it isn't a point of dogma for us, and it doesn't need to be. The real question is: are the accounts accurate and reliable. The answer is yes.

2. Critics of the Bible like to whine that "the Bible can't be inerrant because the gospel writers contradict each other." Wrong, bucko. The fact that the gospel writers bring slightly differing viewpoints PROVES their validity. That is exactly what we would expect from eyewitness testimony! If the four writers wrote exactly the same thing, THEN we could suspect that they were simply copying, or that the whole thing was some made up myth cleverly concocted. Instead, we have four men (actually six: Matthew (aka Levi the cynical tax collector turned Christian), Mark (Peter's secretary), Luke (Paul's follower), and John). These are real people with passions, prejudices, and limited perspectives. All guided by the hand of the Holy Spirit bringing us four fascinating perspectives on the most important story ever.

3. Inerrancy does not imply Newtonian exactitude. In fact, only a small portion of humanity would expect that. The Bible is a wonderful compendium of God's integrated message of salvation through Christ, brought to us in three languages--two oriental languages (Hebrew and Aramaic), and one occidental language (Koine Greek). When you take the time to really study the Scriptures, you come away in awe at how all these different authors tell the same amazing story.

Listen to this radio show. It will make you a stronger Christian when you see how these dopes deceive each other and pretend to be intellectuals.

But it still pisses me off!

Feed the Birds!

We watched Mary Poppins last night, so I have that song in my head: Feed the birds, tuppins a bag...

I enjoyed the movie primarily because the little girl looks a lot like my grand-daughter Rosy. I remember seeing that movie in the theater, so you can see how old I am. It was fun to watch, but poor Joe made two valiant efforts to stay in the room with me and Zanne as we sang along with all the songs.

So Sammy Miami is in basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, and I've been trying to get through their antiquated telephone system to find out his mailing address. So far it hasn't worked. According to one drill I talked to today, the companies all have recently moved to new barracks, thus the confusion. I'll call tomorrow during duty hours.

Since the last post, my Zanne-zanne is back, so all is well with the world. Still running back and forth to the Lab. Grateful for the job, interested in the projects I'm working, but tired of driving too much.

Tomorrow it's back to training hard and strict menu control. Gotta keep pushing!

Trying to get my website up and operating, on which I will post all my Bible class recordings. We've started it, but it's hard for a history major to navigate through all that crap.

Reading a great book on nuclear weapons in Asia.