A.J. Holst

I was told no Christian is exempt from sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I don't know where this thread will go, but I hope to learn, encourage and enlighten with positive posts, responses, questions, and critiques. I want to be a better Christian today than yesterday and better tomorrow than today. I hope there will be enough information shared for folks make a decision about Christianity, free from hypocrisy and enough discernment to identify hypocrisy. That's what makes evangelism so hard and so I'll avoid it with the truth. Being 50 year old man, but only an 11 year old Christian, I was sure I wasn't prepared. Not a Bible scholar nor a theologian. Nice thing is I see this Christianity thing as a child does...it's not hard, it's not confusing. It has not been tainted by religion, the bias of my upbringing in the Catholic Church nor blinded by hypocrisy. I was actually saved in a Catholic Church, so the cause and event are probably the best place to start. You should all know I am a sinner; past, prssent, and future. I have broken more of God's commandments more times than I can remember. In 1988 I turned my back on God. Mom passed after 9 months of chemo and cancer. It was obviously God's fault, so I was ready to be like Frank Sinatra and do it my way. Had a pretty successful run, ups and downs but mostly up. Then a strange thing happened while bitching about having to wash some dishes in 1997. I had been married about a year and Mrs GtGs was the subject of my ire. All of a sudden, it occurred to me, if Mom hadn't passed, the likelihood of moving to Tennessee was zero. Not saying I'd still be living at home, but I loved my Mom and still miss her. It also revealed Mrs GtG was His gift to me, to love, cherish, lead and protect. Coincidence I had this errant thought, perhaps. Too much opium trying to connect randon events, maybe. God's plan for my life, with revelation of why I had / have trial and tribulation: this is my obvious choice considering my perspective. It was also a healing moment, my anger and hate towards God evaporated because I had an understanding of why. Here is where I missed the boat, when the anger faded, I was cool with God. I was aware of Him. That was about it, I didn't acknowledge, worship, glorify, or give Him any real credit. My lifestyle didn't change much. Went to church a few times, like any good C&E Catholic, I dropped some spare coin in the collection plate on the high holidays. Fast forward to 2007. Life (on the surface) was great. No cares or worries. Health, wealth, marriage...it was picture perfect. So I bought a bigger boat. The first Saturday I owned it, I was sitting on the bridge after washing and waxing. She was shipshape and in Bristol fashion. While surveying mine domain, another one of those errant thoughs, "I'd never thought I'd have a boat anything like this, I'd better get me to church." Strange to say the least, but at that moment the vague awareness of God manifested into, "GtG, you ain't all that and a bag of chips and somehow you think or know or feel God has been helping you out." So I went and talk about a religious experience. The folks in the pew next me probably thought my family just died or I getting ready to die myself. In the Gospel of Luke, there is a parable of the barren vine, the landowner and the gardner. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?' I was rocked to my core. This is what I heard and understood. I was the barren vine which had accepted 40 years sun, fertilizer, care, labor, space, investment, mercy and Grace for no yield. God was done with me and I was going to hell. Even my savior Jesus Christ, as the laborer, was willing to shield me, but I had to do something, because scripture doesn't say how long the season is. That's when my heart and mind opened to the truth recorded in the Bible, as I understand it with my childlike perception. The very next week, another religious experience. The Prodigal Son. Yep, through scripture, God revealed there was a party in Heaven over my return to the flock. So when I have zero doubt of heaven and hell and I was certain I was on the hell express, God showed how much he loved the wretched, selfish sinner I was by sending that message to save me from myself. What if I had hit snooze...yikes. So I found the Lord and got right with God and even went and got saved when times were good. I heard and read about trusting, patience, faithfulness. All those things you actually need when times are bad. Didn't quite understand as that stuff doesn't apply to me since time were good. Pretty important, because things got bad. 2009-2011 are tough financial times, I'm working 2 part time jobs to supplement my full time income, our home environment was not marital bliss. I'm reading my Bible a lot during this time, but truthfully, I didn't or couldn't feel God's presence or understand much of what I read. Except for Psalms and Job. There are some wonderful nuggets in Psalms which capture how I want to speak to or cry out to God. In Job, he praises and glorifies God regardless of his situation. He knows the Lord blessed him in the goods times, this is a test of his faith and he will trust God with tomorrow. I clung to this like a drowning man at the end of the rope. 2012 there was light at the end of the tunnel, it wasn't a train, and life got a bit easier with a new job. In August, out AC broke and so did my blindness. Mrs GtG was not happily married and didn't particularly care about the future outcome of our marriage. You see, like Paul, I was still blind to my sin. Yes, I got right with God, accepted who Christ is and what he does for me every day, began to forgive myself for treating God so poorly, but forgot I thing. Why do you persecute me, through her? In my selfishness, I had become a monster. When I looked at my behavior I was ashamed - I wouldn't want to be married to me either. I confessed and asked for forgiveness. Still married and it's better today than day 1. Well, that's my story and it's still being written. Welcome to the religious thread where all are welcome!

The Dodge retro styling is well done, v6 is peppy and with Chrysler Financial and Santander, they are doing a fair share of below 650 credit scores. The 300 is about the last big US luxury car since Cadillac and Lincoln exited the segment in 2011 (end of DeVille DTS and Town Car) Regarding reliability, all I know is every franchise dealer has a service department full of Hondas, Toyos, Fords, Chevys...

The rumors are Chrysler proper will go the way of the dinosaur. They have 2 or 3 models left, the 300, Pacifica (minivan replacement) and the 200? Word is they will support Dodge and the rebranded truck line, Ram. Jeep is safe, sales and value retention is still quite good (Wrangler specifically)

Holsters...

https://www.ammoland.com/2018/10/fifth-third-bank-joins-war-against-guns/#axzz5TTF60pjM 5rh/3rd is now following Citi and BoA. Big deal because after 2008, with intent to protect consumers, 70% of the baking held by the 7 major bankcorps, now it is only 5 holding that same 70%. Regionals would be next, since the major bank is out of gun business, and the regional shareholders usually want to sell out to the big boys, they will get the gun biz off the books. Pretty insidious way to attack the 2A, choke the financial services needed to run the wholesale/retail industry.

I picked up a 224 .40/.357 a few weeks ago. Still looking for a holster as well. N82 Tactical, original non tuckable is on my short list from current experience with my 75B I'm looking at the Kraft and Alien Gear shoulder holsters - may work with my daily attire / cover garments.

Big fan here, deep but very narrow experience. HiPoint 995, which will get another stock upgrade. 9mm compatibility with my primary handguns and affordable to shoot alot. M1 Carbine, either original or tactified. Not affordable to shoot and I'm not buying a Ruger .30 or Automag for the pistol version. I bought one of these before my first (and only) AR. Unless south Korea smuggles in the millions they have in storage, it appears the new min for a non-universal starts at $800. In my travels, my opinion is the stuff starting at $1200 is not necessarily collector grade, but good enough condition that I wouldn't shoot them much. I'm hesitant to add the PPS-43c as it's a modified open bolt sub gun. If I recall, the 7.62x25 is "optimized" for a 9" bbl. It does enter the realm of a cold war PDW. Got some pistol options, mine is a CZ 52.

No frills 870 Express 26" Just realized Best Gun Buddy has it (trade years ago) and it's still in service, repurposed with Magpul bits and pieces and slug bbl. Got it in late 1986.

I'm glad you found a solution for your fine aesthetic tastes...pic?

Attended a seminar earlier this week, presented by KCSO for financial institutions. Well done as some facts were presented coupled with more practical stuff for anyone in a shooting situation. These are some of my takeaways. 2016 stat: 20 active shooter events, avg 4 killed, 9ish wounded. Way too many, but practically speaking, a robbery is more likely. For me, my comfort level increased as engaging a whacko with a long gun is low. Most of time, pistol distance. The audience thought it was higher, thanks to the media coverage. Active shooter events over in 3-5 minutes, LEO response 5-7 minutes New trend is the active shooters are either surrendering or more disturbingly trying to escape. In the US, a mass killing is more than 3. Helps for headlines for any act of physical violence. Pay attention; the presenter specifically called out mobile device immersion. Gives any BG time to close distance, deploy a weapon, etc. Make eye contact, if it seems hard for the BG to approach inconspicuously, he may go next door or home. Don't profile, but look for predatory behavior, is the person, who got your Spidey senses tingling, exhibiting signs of pouncing like a lion at the watering hole? For guys more familiar with hand to hand combat forms, what body language is announced when folks get ready to fight? Keep an eye out for loiterers in odd places, is it normal for anyone to hang out in this place / at this time. Know your exits and get out of Dodge. In an active shooter, if you are armed, anticipate a long gun and decide accordingly. Evade and Escape. Responding LE do not know you are a sheepdog. They want to see EVERYBODY'S empty hands, act accordingly. Played the video Run, Hide, Fight. I prefer Avoid, Deny, Defend. Bottom line, you have a right to defend yourself

and without his testimony

I ankle or back pocket carry, works well. There was a thread on thin pocket holsters, I'd check it out for front pocket.

I've got one, base model. Prefer shooting it with the extended mag (medium sized hands) Mags are affordable. Fit and finish are top notch. Zero issues. Trigger is pretty good at mimicing a 1911 even though hinged. Kimber now offers an improved recoil spring and guide rod, I am still on the original (wire coil vs flat spring with diff rod and cheap to replace if I recall) It fits a great carry niche for me both in height and weight. I launched the safety plunger and spring, called Kimber, sent me one for free. The extras of flared and lowered ejection port, beveled mag well, slightly melted edges (on mine) are all nice features. With the flush mag it is the same height as a G26

Agree with Moped. I'm carrying a .380 right now - I have no issues with the caliber. Precision One and the new Sig Vcrown perfoms well in YouTube tests. If I was heavy into .380, I'd probably get the carbine. Great back up home defense, truck, range gun. (I think better carry options, but it'll do in a pinch) With .380 at $12/50, it's pretty darn affordable to shoot

Overrun by bronco Apache warriors of the SW US / Northern Mexican Sierra's, though we all thought and were taught they were all killed or assimilated after 1886...

What appears to be the same two females, haven't seen the male in weeks

I can arrange something out in the valley. 25 ish yards max, ground conditions are inconsistent. Brass scavenging is encouraged.

I probably need to buy this vs. upgrading my hipoint stock.

Why would illegal aliens come here? No jobs on Mars?

Not sure if a Grail, but when I saw one review refer to it as a hipster round, I was all in. It is nichey, just like .357 mag for SD. For my hipster persona, my 224 is the modern, quick reload version of my 3" SP101. I am also very impressed with the pistol shooting the round, so that is my only point of reference. Being thrifty, it's not wallet friendly, though the Sig brand of ammo is about the cheapest of the shelf I've seen (SMKW)

https://www.hightowerarmory.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=HTAMBS95 I've about convinced myself to be the TGO test bed for this HP upgrade. Another $275 into my original $175 investment, why not. In hold'em, I believe the term is pot committed. One of the reviews said the bull pup trigger is average, which has to be an improvement over the well broken and not particularly good stock trigger. Full ambi should be a plus, though curious if they got left handed operator and ejection patterns right.

Shooter did not hold up under questioning. After denying his BB gun could not fly that far and do damage, I offered the opportunity to do another test, right now. He then volunteered he may heard BBs hitting something, did not relate to hitting my house. Had a positive conversation and teaching moment about proper gun handling, offered to loan him a target stand and nicely, calmly said, "don't ever shoot my stuff again." Neighbor again confirmed intent to fix.

The majestic, biting moose of the fjords is in the opening credits...I probably shouldn't know that. Not coyote related, but Fawlty Towers is Cleese genius.

Closing credits of Monty Python Holy Grail