Grace Martial Arts Fellowship began in 1990, went online with a website in 1995 and began publishing newsletters to the Christian martial arts community in 1998.
Because of the quality of information found in those early newsletter articles and the fact they are no longer available online, we’ve decided to re-publish many of them in the coming weeks and months. Our hope is that a new generation of Christian martial artists will be blessed by the wisdom of those who were on the path before them.
GMAF NEWSLETTER
November – December 2005
Welcome to the GMAF Newsletter! We pray it will encourage you in your Martial Arts and Outreach for Christ.
Thoughts from the Master
” The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord…This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”
Jesus Christ
“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
The Apostle Paul
Wisdom Notes
“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”
Proverbs
“According to God’s Grace”
by
Sensei Mark McGee
GMAF Director
“For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.” KJV
“Now this is our boast. Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God’s grace.” NIV
2 Corinthians 1:12
Can we say this about ourselves? Can we “boast” we have conducted ourselves in the world and with our brothers and sisters in Christ in “the holiness and sincerity that are from God?” Paul was speaking straight from his heart to the hearts and minds of his friends in Corinth. He was also speaking to you and me and every other believer through the centuries. Paul was an example to Christians of how they should conduct their lives on earth.
Notice several highlights of this verse.
1. Paul was “boasting.” That’s something many Christians would think is wrong. It is in some cases, but not in this one. The word “boast” is kauchesis . It means “to boast, be proud, to glory, the matter or cause for glorying or boasting.” The KJV uses the word “rejoicing” to explain the meaning. This is what Paul is proud to say.
2. Paul’s “conscience” testified. The word “conscience” is suneideseos . Literally, the word translates as “a knowing with.” Dr. Vine wrote, “i.e., a co-knowledge (with oneself), the witness borne to one’s conduct by conscience, that faculty by which we apprehend the will of God, as that which is designed to govern our lives.” A conscience is a person’s “own internal witness”. Each of us has one. Some are more sensitive to its voice than others. Christians should have a very sensitive conscience because they are practiced in listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit. I believe the Spirit works with our own conscience to speak to us about what’s right and wrong, what’s good and bad, what’s holy and unholy, what’s true and what’s false.
3. The Spirit of God led Paul in his writing of this letter. That’s why it’s included as part of Holy Scripture. Paul is telling the truth when he says his conscience “testifies”. The word “testifies” is marturion . It is a noun. The literal translation would be: “the testimony of the conscience of us.” The word means, “testimony, witness, evidence, proof, the declaration which confirms or makes something known.” Paul is speaking about how his conscience is “proof” of what he is saying. He knew it was true deep in his soul. No matter what anyone else said or thought, Paul knew. That’s the way of the conscience. Others may try to fool us. We may try to fool ourselves. But when we are quiet and honest with ourselves, we know what’s true about us and what’s not true. We may fool others, but we don’t fool ourselves for long.
Our conscience is an important part of our lives. It’s easy to get carried away with what other’s think about us. It’s easy to be confused by our own thoughts and perceptions. God has given every person a powerful internal tool called the “conscience.” Listen to it. Listen to the Spirit and the Truth of God’s Word. They will guide you into all truth. Listen to the Christ Who is “in” you.
4. Paul’s conscience testified about how he “conducted” himself. The word is anestraphemen . It comes from the words ana (“back”) and strepho (“to turn”). The idea is “to turn back, return.” It is in the passive voice here and speaks to the way someone conducts themselves. It indicates what kind of life a person lives. It means “to conduct one’s self, to behave, to live in the sense of the practice of certain principles.” Paul is speaking honestly about the way he lived his life. It’s one thing to boast in speech and written word. It’s quite another to boast by one’s actions. The phrase “actions speak louder than words” is true. Paul’s conscience was proof to him and others about the way he conducted himself.
5. Paul speaks about two locations for his conduct. One is “in the world.” The other is “especially in our relations with you.” Paul lived his life in two worlds. One was the world around us: the cities and towns, the stores and markets. Paul knew that conducting himself well to the unsaved world was important to his testimony as representing Christ. The other world Paul lived his life was his relationship with brothers and sisters in Christ. He could honestly boast about the way he conducted himself in both worlds.
You and I also live in two worlds. There’s the physical world and the spiritual world. We exist in both worlds simultaneously. You are always “conducting” yourself in those two worlds throughout your day. One minute you are relating to the physical; the next minute you are relating to the spiritual. It happens in our homes, our extended family, our jobs, schools and community involvements. Paul could say that his conscience was a testimony to how he conducted himself in the world and “especially” to the Corinthians. The most important relationships we have in life are with other Christians. These are people with whom we will spend eternity. Christ has made us a “spiritual family.” There is no stronger bond!
6. Paul’s conduct and relationship with others was “in the holiness and sincerity that are from God.” Notice the two things Paul pointed out as important in our behavior before the world and fellow Christians: “holiness and sincerity that are from God.” “Holiness” is hagioteti . The KJV translates the word “simplicity.” It comes from the root word hagios (holy). It is an inherent or acquired moral holiness. It deals with the way one’s mind and soul direct one’s moral actions. What you are inside shows itself on the outside. Again, we may fool ourselves for a time, but our conscience will tell us what we really believe as will our actions towards others. The phrase “practice what you preach” is a truism.
I’ve spent most of my ministering life in the workplace with a mixture of saved and unsaved. One of the most often complaints by unsaved about saved is they don’t practice what they preach; that they’re “hypocrites.” Paul is saying clearly here that he was not a hypocrite; that he practiced what he preached. That’s what every Christian should be able to say about themselves. It’s a boast we should be able to echo with Paul; not in pride but in fact.
“Sincerity” is eilikrineia . It was used for unmixed substances that were unalloyed and pure. It comes from the words heile (the shining or splendor of the sun) and krino (to judge, discern). It means “sincere, pure, unsullied, free from spot or blemish to such a degree as to bear examination in the full splendor of the sun.” Paul used the word in other writings for moral and ethical purity. The idea was of an uncorrupted, pure Christian behavior in the light of God’s judgment. That’s something when a Christian can say the way they conduct themselves in the world and with other believers passes the judgment of God’s light!
Notice that “holiness” and “sincerity” are “from God.” They are not from ourselves. They are not something you and I can work up in our own power and intelligence. They must come from God. They must! We do not have the power, wisdom, knowledge or ability to be truly holy and pure. No way! The Christian must rely on God for everything. Being a Christian means living a life dedicated to and depending on God’s strength. If we try to live out God’s expectations for His children in our power, we will fail. Only God can live a holy and pure life through us. Our strength to lead a Christian life comes from Christ “in” us. We need Him just like Paul did.
7. Paul gives God the credit for everything he accomplished. Paul was not trying to make himself sound great or special. He wanted everyone reading the letter to know it was because of God’s Greatness that he had lived a life of which he could boast. “We have done so not according to worldly wisdom, but according to God’s grace.” There is no possible way you, I or anyone else can live a life of holiness and purity in the world and with other Christians from the wisdom of this world. You’ve read and heard the wisdom of people in the world. Their wisdom doesn’t hold up. It can’t under the pressure of real living. Life is hard but God is full of Grace and Power and will get us through anything if we’ll commit our plans and actions to Him. Let God be God in our lives! Let Him show us the way. He knows best. What lasts in this life and the next is the power of God’s Grace! God knows what’s true. He knows what will work. He knows that the Holy Spirit will take His Perfect Word and do a Holy work in our hearts and minds. He knows that “if” we obey His Word and the leading of His Spirit, we will be able to “boast” with Paul that “we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God.”
“What is the Purpose for Your Life?”
by
Dr. Robert Xavier
Set Free Youth & Family Ministries
Confident Kid Martial Arts
- What are you living for? What is the central purpose of your life?
- Good education
- Dream mate of your life Big beautiful home
- Great paying job
- Has the ladder of your life been leaning against the wrong building?
- Animals do what they do from instinct.
- Humans do what we do on purpose.
- Examine your life — “An unexamined life is not worth living and will bring you into disastrous consequences.” Socrates …. We need to examine our lives.
- Why God created you! (Revelation 4:11) (Colossians
1:16-18) (Ephesians 1:4-7)
“And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”
“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”
- To Know Him
- We are unique unrepeatable miracles of God, created for the purpose of glorifying God and having a personal relationship with Him.
- To Make Him Known
- We were created to advance the kingdom of God, glorifying Him by sharing His love with other people.
• Only four possibilities. Right Purpose (Philippians 3:7-10)
“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”
Cross Purpose… Christians serving two masters (Matthew 6:24)
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (that is deceitful materialistic riches of this world.)
Wrong Purpose… self-centered focus, food, money, sex, drugs, etc. (Luke 12: 16-20)
“And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?”
No Purpose… lost without purpose, confused, destitute of purpose (Proverbs 13:12 & 15:13)
“Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.”
“A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”
- “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents.”
- Which purpose are you living for? (Matthew 6:33) “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
- Preparing for your final exam.
The Lord’s central message and teaching to mankind was: REPENT from living apart from His purpose. Believe God’s Word and receive the Gospel of Christ!
The tide of life comes in and goes out. The crashing waves of God’s righteous judgement is coming upon all those who do not know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.
Is the purpose of your life to know the Lord Jesus Christ and to make Him known to others? This is a moment to examine your life’s purpose.
You are a unique, unrepeatable miracle of God. You were created to live perfectly naturally, to be completely practical and to enjoy your intensely spiritual created purpose of life.
NOTE: Dear Friends, To willfully disobey the Commander and Chief of the armed forces results in a court martial and a dishonorable discharge from military service. When a person refuses to yield to the purpose God has designed, there can only be one result.
- The Most Important Decision of Your Life! Come to the throne room of God’s grace and receive His unconditional love, acceptance and forgiveness.
- Prayer to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior of men and women, I invite you to come into my life and live in my heart. Please forgive my sins for they are many. Wash me and make me whiter than snow and clothe me in your grace and righteousness. Instill within me a committed desire to intimately know you and live for you. I pray in the sinless name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who suffered death, was buried and raised from the grave the third day, to take all of my sins onto Himself. I will thank you and praise your name forever and ever.” Amen. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (I Corinthians 2:9)
• Bible reading and study, Scripture memory and church fellowship are not electives for us, but rather required by the God of our universe. God wants to bless your life heavens high and oceans deep through His spiritual wisdom, knowledge and understanding.
Schools and universities have Required Courses and Elective Courses. A student will not graduate with a degree if he/she does not take the required course for that degree. God wants us to study His Word so He can bless us with wisdom and understanding.
(Next newsletter: You Shall Know the Truth!)
“Meditation is a Biblical Concept”
by
Dr. Daryl Covington
Karate For Christ, International
Psalm 119:15-16 says, “I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.” The question we must ask is, “What is acceptable meditation? Much of what goes on in training halls, dojos, dojangs, and schools in the name of “Martial Arts Meditation is unbiblical.
Most of the Eastern forms of meditation, whether up front or behind the scenes, have a common denominator in that they teach we are all part of an impersonal universe. They teach to get rid of the personal things in order to get to be one with the impersonal universe. This is the “empty yourself “or “empty your mind “concept that many martial arts instructors have their students participate in.
Yoga meditation teaches the student to become “one with the impersonal universe.” Yoga is a Sanscript word that literally means to become “One with God.” Through yoga and Zen meditation, the concept is to be absorbed into the universe. This in not the road to peace! We cannot find inner peace without first knowing the peace that can only come from the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.
What is true meditation? In a biblical perspective, it is a conscious, intelligent use of the mind to learn or study something. True meditation is founded upon the nature and character of God. God loved us enough to send Jesus to pay for our sins in full. We do not need to empty our minds, we need to fill our minds with and meditate on the fact that God loved us enough to sacrifice His son for our sins so that we could have fellowship with Him. God considers us more valuable than anything in this creation. We must meditate on the great love of God.
Secondly, we discover that true meditation is grounded in God’s Word. Psalm 1:2 says, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Ps 119:97 says, “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” True meditation is to study God’s Word, and then apply it to ones life.
Thirdly, true meditation is centered in Jesus Christ. Col 2:2-3 says, “That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” This is the key understanding. We don’t empty ourselves to find peace. Peace comes from God. Col 3:15-16a says, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.” Peace is only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. We don’t descend into the universe for peace, we look to heaven for our peace. We must fix our minds on Christ not on “nothingness.
There is a great difference between Eastern meditation and Christian meditation. Christian meditation is not a technique, it is a continual lifestyle of Godliness. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” We must realize this: We must learn to meditate on God at all times, and even in the midst of adversity, we must be still and look for God in the situation. This is the ultimate result of our biblical meditation.
” SELF-DEFENSE”
By
KARL WILLIAM MARX SR.
Founder of Keichu-Do Martial Arts
If you study self-defense for four years and learn all the techniques for the rank of Black Belt, yet you never practice, you will have only the knowledge and how to do a given technique. However without practice your skill at applying techniques will be lacking. A black belt with just knowledge without skill is NOT a black belt. Knowledge without skill can be dangerous. It is for sure lacking Wisdom.
The same can be said of someone who can pass the written test at the DMV to drive a car, yet has never been behind the wheel or actually driven an automobile or truck. This is only an example of incompetence. About the only thing worse than knowledge without skill is not even having knowledge or skill. Let’s go up a level. The Mental level is vitally important in self- defense. Even if you have knowledge and skill, if you’re too frightened to apply yourself to the occasion “you’re roadkill.” The mind in training for personal protection is necessary. In a fistfight or in a tournament you must be able to concentrate, otherwise you will be unable to apply your techniques. Forgetting, because of nervousness, often gives a body stage fright or a freeze up.
Ok! Now we are ready for the Big one. Spiritual attack is the most-often used against all of us. Not having the knowledge to recognize a mental attack is bad enough, but not knowing how to defend against the wiles of the enemy is like fighting blindfolded or with your eyes closed and ear plugs in you ears. The same can be said concerning Spiritual attacks. If someone is not educated as to the contents of the Bible, there is little hope of successful happiness and a joy-filled life.
Let me use the automobile to illustrate my meaning concerning how we take care of ourselves physically, mentally, and Spiritually. Or I should say how we “DON’T” take care of our bodies known by many folks as the TEMPLE of the Holy Spirit. Our situation would be like if we purchased a brand new car. Then without reading the manual about how much air to keep in the tires, and what kind of gas to use regular or a higher octane, or even reading how much oil to put in and how often to change the oil, we might run amiss somewhere in the future by not knowing when to tune the engine or rotate the tires. In other words our maintenance would be lacking and the car might be worse for the wear and tear. Taking proper care of an automobile will give it longer life and better gas mileage, not to mention less breakdowns.
Our bodies are somewhat similar in upkeep. The better care we give ourselves the longer life span and the healthier we are. Mentally IF we are aware that smoking, party hopping, night clubbing, womanizing, substance abuse, overworking, extreme sports that endanger the life of its practitioner, any thing that produces too much Stress, disappointment that turns into anger, which in turn produces depression, and then anxiety, all in all this kind of living often leads to death sooner than God had planned. Our freedom to choose is often to our demise. Intelligence is not always in the best interest of the beholder. Using myself as an example I was once tested in College to determine what my IQ was and to my astonishment it turned out that I scored a whopping 185. Which I’m embarrassed to say proved that stupidity could come from being a Genius. My not being aware of the manual of life, I had a little physical knowledge of how to live properly, however I didn’t follow the instructions very closely. Which resulted in my mental and physical impairment. Boy, did I learn the hard way.
By my NOT taking time to read the instructions of how to maintain my physical, mental, and Spiritual bodies, my human maintenance was lacking and believe me I am paying the price. Like an old car it cost more to keep me running than I would like to pay. My frame (spine) is bent, my tires (feet) have to be rotated or changed (shoes). I need a tune up more than I can afford (high blood pressure). Thank God for insurance. And my motor (voice) sounds like a tractor. My battery (heart) is weak and my transmission (nervous system) needs top grade fluid to keep from stripping my gears (joints) to name but a few examples or comparisons. You see, when I don’t read the manual of how to maintain MY body, I paid a large price for my negligent behavior. Now I need a Mechanic (medical doctor) to keep me going.
So, now we come to the Owners Manual. The author of that book is none other than God Himself, and that is the best you can get anywhere. If you’re not a Christian, know this, Martial Arts like Religion has some good ones and some bad ones. Self-Defense is also a situational effective field. Many
methods or styles are different, thus everyone has to choose which of the styles or religions he or she will study. There is still the attitudinal or “how much do you want it” process to deal with. If you practice what you believe ,you will be better at it than one who doesn’t.
So whom do you love? Will you choose to study a Japanese style, or how about a Korean? Maybe you prefer a Chinese style? Then there are the different styles within the system. Shotokan, Goju-Ryu, yes, I know most of them come from Okinawan background, so what? Judo and Aikido. In the Korean ring there is Tae-Kwon-Do, and Hapkido, Tang-Soo-Do, and from China there is Kung Fu, and the many styles within that. Choy-Li-Fut, Drunken style, Crane style, and so on. Religion is similar, with Catholics, Protestants and the many styles within the protestant believers. Baptist, Methodist, Assemblies of God, and then First Baptist, Second Baptist, Four Square, Calvary Chapel, on and on.
My purpose in all this is to open your eyes to see the reality of what Self- Defense actually is. The Human Being is different from an automobile, however, the similarities of maintenance are not so foreign. Both are necessary for longer existence. Or if you will, LIFE. Be it car or human, both are better served if properly cared for. So, if you choose a martial Art school that teaches an inferior style or has an instructor lacking in knowledge and Wisdom you may progress well, but to what avail? You may be a black belt in one martial Art, and according to their requirements be considered to be great. However, a student of another style might be only a Green Belt and have the skill and technique to defeat you.
The same might be said concerning different religions. Except in this section your Mental and Spiritual existence is at stake. If you practice a certain karate style and lose in a tournament, that is no big deal. However, if your religion is lacking you stand to lose a lot more. Your upkeep maintenance could take a terrible toll on you life. The incorrect Spiritual understanding will always weaken your mental ability to overcome adversity. Strong Spiritual knowledge brings forth great Wisdom, and that in turn makes you a formidable opponent for ANY adversary, be it Human, Mental, or spiritual warfare.
(Next Month: Self-Defense continues!)
Taking God’s Grace to the World!
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