Think About it -- Learning Together

Think About It Think About it -- Learning Together
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Faith Based Security Network

Jan 27, 2024

One thing we know about the human experience is that we function better together. Paul advised us in “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…” [i]

In another passage, we are reminded that, “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” [ii]

With such instruction in mind, congregations, marriages, businesses and other worthy endeavors succeed.

A great marriage doesn’t just happen. It takes intentional effort. It also takes intentional learning. From pastors, counselors, scriptures, like-minded peers and other intentional pursuits.

It is the same with a congregation or a business. They don’t succeed in a vacuum. Those that pursue intentional learning have improved chances at success (or simply surviving).

Faith-based security is a significant endeavor growing in the 21^st century.

Renowned military Psychologist and Author, Lt. Col. Dave Grossman (ret.) says about 3% of our society has the DNA of an active dedicated protector; those who run into a threat as others flee or hide from it.

These are the ones you see in your church who have signed up to serve with your safety ministry (or whatever you call it in your church).

Like any of the other endeavors mentioned and unmentioned, the folks who work to keep others safe at faith-based organizations are better together. That is exactly why the Faith Based Security Network (FBSN) was established; to be a place of like-minded responsible defenders having their own unique professional membership association.

It is also why we conduct the annual summit event for faith-based defenders (more info on that next week).

Think About It

If you are a member of the FBSN and know others who should be, forward the link to this message (https://www.fbsnamerica.com/blog) to them.

If you are not a member of the FBSN, we invite you into our membership. We need as many involved as we can to improve our status of being ready, willing and able to defend our congregations across the United States.

To learn more about the FBSN, investigate our website at www.fbsnamerica.com. There, you will find information on how to become a member. While on our website, take a cruise through the history of weekly “Think About It” articles (found at https://www.fbsnamerica.com/blog) like this one, to gain a feel for the philosophies that guide us.

[i] Hebrews 10:25

[ii] Proverbs 11:14

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Think About it -- Remembering Ron Allen

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Lessons From the Farm (No. 1)

Having moved back to farm country (from where I continue to manage the Faith Based Security Network), there is also the reality of needed work to be done on the farm. Fortunately, there is not (yet) any cropland; the daily duties are centered around making sure the small cow herd is healthy and accounted for. It is rare that I can’t think of the applicability of some farm action to the realm of effective security operations. Such was the case this week when a neighbor called to see if I could help him out. Helping is just part of common rural hospitality. It’s called “neighboring.” When someone’s ox is in the ditch, you go help them. He owns no oxen, but he did have a few hundred acres of corn to get harvested in a narrow window of time. He needed to keep 3 semis continuously filled as drivers ran the harvested corn to the granaries. He had a 12-row combine working nonstop cutting the corn. The missing link was a man on a tractor to catch the freshly harvested corn out of the combine into a 750 bushel mobile grain cart, then transport that corn to the waiting semis. The inset picture shows the operation and equipment well. He set aside an hour to have one of his workers train me on the tractor and the mobile grain cart. After that I was all alone in a John Deere 8400, 4-wheel drive row-crop tractor. This wasn’t like driving Dad’s old 2-cylinder John Deeres 50 years ago. This $300,000 monster had a computerized cab more like a cockpit. At 30,000 pounds and 225 horsepower, it was bigger, more powerful and more expensive than any machine I’d ever operated. One hour of training. Think About it The great late Jeff Cooper said, “Owning a handgun doesn't make you armed any more than owning a guitar makes you a musician” (another version quoted him as, “Owning a pistol doesn't make you a pistoleer any more than owning a piano makes you a pianist”). A few hours operating powerful machinery doesn’t make one a farmer either. Is your training commensurate with the tools and the needed actions? How much is a life worth? If you think an hour might be a little light for training on a monster tractor, how much is too light for your tools of protecting life?