MARTIAL ARTS; TO INSPIRE DISCIPLINE IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES

THE SUBJECT OF DISCIPLINE IS SOMETHING I COULD PREACH ON FOR QUITE A WHILE, THE BIBLE IS FULL OF SCRIPTURE THAT RECOMMENDS AND EVEN COMMANDS DISCIPLINE. WHAT ABOUT THE VERSE THAT SAYS, MEN OUGHT TO ALWAYS PRAY AND NOT FAINT. AT THE VERY LEAST THIS IS SAYING THAT PRAYER IS REQUISITE IN OUR LIVES, IT IS MANDATORY AS PART OF OUR LIFE STYLE. I CAN PROMISE YOU IT TAKES DISCIPLINE TO EVEN COME CLOSE TO WHAT THAT SCRIPTURE REALLY MEANS.

I BELIEVE THAT THE MARTIAL ARTS ARE AN EXCELLENT MEANS, TO INSPIRE DISCIPLINE IN OUR PHYSICAL LIVES IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES.
I NOTICE A DISTINCT DIFFERENCE IN MY SON SINCE HE HAS BEEN TAKING TAE KWON DO. ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT AS FAST AS I WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE I MUST ADMIT, I SEE A CHANGE TAKING PLACE IN HIS CHARACTER IN A POSITIVE WAY. HE IS VERY DETERMINED TO DO GOOD AND GET HIS PROMOTION. I SEE A MARKED INCREASE IN HIS CONCENTRATION AND FOCUS. IT'S NOT WHERE IT SHOULD BE, BUT I CAN SEE HIM REACHING HIS A LOT FASTER SINCE HE HAS BEEN IN TAE KWON DO.
THIS HAS SHOWN MY SON AND ME WHAT HE IS REALLY CAPABLE OF. SINCE HE HAS COMPETED IN HIS FIRST TOURNAMENT, I SEE A GREAT INCREASE IN HIS CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM.
IT TOOK DISCIPLINE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS VERY SMALL FIRST STEP. I MUST ADMIT THE RESULTS ARE VERY REWARDING TO MY WIFE AND ME, I BELIEVE IT'S MORE INSPIRING TO MY SON THAN HE ADMITS, BUT THATS' ALRIGHT, I CAN LOOK AT HIM AND SEE THE NEW LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE IN HIS DEMEANOR, IT'S VERY APPARENT.

BUT AGAIN THE PRINCIPLE THAT PRODUCED THIS INCREASE IN CHARACTER IS DICISIPLINE ONE OF MY SONS' INSTRUCTORS, MASTER TEE THOMPSON THE OWNER OF THIS WEB SITE TOLD MY SON WHAT MASTER JUNE RHEE ONCE SAID. " YOU HAVE TO DO A KICK 350 TIMES BEFORE YOU REALLY UNDERRSTAND IT"
I PERSONALLY CAN RELATE TO THAT WHEN I WAS INVOLVED IN THE ARTS, I DEVELOPED A VERY FORMIDABLE FRONT SNAP KICK. IT WAS WITH OUT A DOUBT MY BEST DEFENSIVE WEAPON, AND AT TIME MY BEST OFFENSIVE WEAPON AS WELL, ONLY BECAUSE I SPENT SO MUCH TIME PERFECTING IT FOR BOTH DEFENSE AND OFFENSE. BELIEVE ME IT TOOK A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF DISCIPLINE TO DO 200 FRONT KICKS A DAY AS THE BEGINNING OF MY WORK OUT.
BUT WHAT WE HAVE TO DO NOW IS BEGIN TO FOCUS THE PRACTICE OF DISCIPLINE IN OTHER AREAS, SUCH AS PRAYER, PRAISE, AND SCHOOLWORK. SINCE MY SON HAS BEGIN TO DEVELOP A PRACTICE OF DISCIPLINE, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE TASK WILL BE A LOT EASIER. BUT IT HAS TO START SOME WHERE. IN THIS CASE AND MANY OTHERS THE STARTING POINT WAS MARTIAL ARTS. IN PART 2 OF THIS SUBJECT WE WILL LOOK AT BIBLE SCRIPTURE THAT COMMANDS US TO PRACTICE DISCIPLINE IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES.

IN HIS SERVICE
JOHN OWENS
EVANGELIST PROPHET