3 Boxes of BS

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas; we at Bunker BS certainly did.

We had days filled with family, extended family and friends.

And to top it all off, it snowed on Christmas Day.

I’ll be back but right now I’m going to start looking to spend some of the gift cards I received.

Received one from my daughter, her finance and daughter that said “Poppy, we love you so much. Please buy some ammunition to protect us on Doomsday”.

I think I’ll do just that

I “occasionally” (as in about 50% now that the kids are gone) take the dogs out for their needs.

We have two dogs in the house — Baxter (AKA Sir Squirrels-bane)  is She Who Lets Me Make Her Coffee Every Morning’s  (SWLMMHCEM) Miniature Schnauzer and Kid Rock (AKA Chief Underfoot Rock Butt), son Z’s Shih-Tzu.

Kid Rock is a very laid back sort but Baxter is a little “energetic” about keeping his yard clear of competing critters.

(Click to enlarge all pictures– sorry main camera is out for repairs)

Unfortunately for him….the squirrels have air superiority in a fashion.

In this older neighborhood, the tree branches have formed a Squirrel Superhighway.

I often enjoy (but don’t tell SWLMMHCEM) the times I’m outside with the dogs. I look around, I listen to the bird calls and there are plenty. I hear the “thwack” of the aluminum bats from Little League and T-Ball practice at the park a block away. It’s is amazing how much clearer those sounds have been lately; the intervening houses have been torn down as part of flood control.

I hear the sounds of Mr. Don’s attic fan; thing needs a dose of WD-40 to stop the squeaking.

Situational Awareness, contrary to the claims of the antis, isn’t just about threats; it is about enjoying the sights and sounds of daily life.

Yesterday as I left the driveway, I noticed a young raptor enjoying the fruits of a successful hunt in the yard next door.

Had I not been scanning for problems, looking for children who might dart out; I might have missed it completely.

The more I become aware of my environment, the more amazed I am at my environment.

Please join the discussion.

Still recovering/fighting off a sinus infection – joy #1

Company rolled out a new ERP system today – joy#2

Not sure what joy #3 will be but they always seem to come in groups of 3.

Might not be able to post or respond to comments much today.

In the meantime, I’ll just think back to the scene below even though I can’t be anywhere near it today. (as with all pictures, click to enlarge)

Not in Kansas any more Toto.

More later

Last April, I posted a series of pictures showing some of the range facilities.

Since then we’ve been a little busy, just doing a little work around the place.

We tore down the old 50 yard range

(as with all pictures, click to enlarge)

And build a new one –

keep reading below the fold if you want to see what it looks like.

Continue Reading

Really should call this post “words really do have meanings but not all words mean the same thing”.

This is the second part — looking at the actual words used in the scriptures

When I was younger, I did not put much thought into my safety. Oh sure, I locked my doors, tried to live in the good neighborhoods, didn’t troll the bars (too much), didn’t do drugs, etc; but all in all, I wasn’t greatly concerned about my physical or fiscal safety.

Part, the large part, of that was because I was young and unattached. If something happened to me very few people would have been impacted.

When I getting serious  She Who Lets Me Make Her Coffee Every Morning, I started to revisit my views and beliefs on self defense.  9/11/2001 added to that emphasis.

Part of my study on self defense was to determine what the Lord, through the Bible, said about violence and/or self defense.

The logical starting place was the 6th Commandment — Thou Shall Not Kill — or was it really Thou Shall Not Murder. (Exodus 20:13)

It makes a difference. For some time I had been aware of the ‘controversy’ of the King James Version (KJV) translation.

Primarily, the language used to write the KJV was already archaic to begin with,it was based on previous translations, primarily the Tyndale’s Translation which was 150 years old at the time and the Bishop’s Bible which was read in Church.

INSTRUCTIONS TO THE TRANSLATORS.

1. The ordinary Bible read in the Church, commonly called the Bishops’ Bible, to be followed, and as little altered as the original will permit.
2. …
3. The old ecclesiastical words to be kept, as the word church, not to be translated congregation.
4. When any word hath divers significations, that to be kept which hath been most commonly used by the most eminent fathers, being agreeable to the propriety of the place and the analogies of faith.
5. …
6. …
7. …
8. …
9. …
10. …
11. …
12. These translations to be used, when they agree better with the text than the Bishops’ Bible: Tyndale’s, Coverdale’s, Matthew’s [Rogers'], Whitchurch’s [Cranmer's], Geneva.”
13. By a later rule, “three or four of the most ancient and grave divines, in either of the universities, not employed in translating, to be assigned to be overseers of the translation, for the better observation of the fourth rule.”

Next, The translators were also hampered by the King’s instructions as you can see above. (See the link for the full list of instructions.

And lastly, the Church itself had always resisted having the Bible translated out of Latin. Guess when the people can read for themselves, they aren’t as dependent on the hierarchy of the church.

When later translators started over, they weren’t under such restrictions. Read the front of each Bible usually they will state their goals and methodology used in that translation. Some go for the exact word for word translation, others for an exact meaning of the sentence, and still others will try for context.

I could go on for two or three posts about Bible translations but let’s cut to the chase. Did the 6th Commandment really say “Thou Shall Not Kill” in which case the basis for self defense would be very weak?

The answer it turns out was not really.

You shall not murder.
Exodus 20:13  —  “רצח” or râtsach — to dash to pieces

The word used in the original Hebrew was “רצח” or râtsach — most often used to denote murder — a deliberate and intentional act of wrongful killing.

How do we know this?
Because it wasn’t used consistently through out the Bible when God talked about killing.

Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to death. 
Exodus 21:12 — “נכה ” or nâkâh  — to smite
                                  “מוּת”   or   mûth — to die

Who strikes a man — a deliberate action – calls for the criminal to be put to death.
On the other hand, God recognizes the difference in accidental manslaughter in the next verse.

However, if he does not do it intentionally, but God lets it happen, he is to flee to a place I will designate.
Exodus 21:13  — “צדה ” or tsâdâh – destroy, hunt, lie in wait

The Hebrew language uses  a prefix/suffix denote “does not” as in does not lie in wait.

How do we know this, again we turn to the next scripture

But if a man schemes and kills another man deliberately, take him away from my altar and put him to death.
Exodus 21:14 –”הרג ” or hârag – to kill, slay

In the following verses, God requires anyone who strikes their mother or father to be put to death, anyone who kidnaps another person to be put to death.

It is clear to me that God not only approves of certain killings but requires them. It is also very clear to me that God does not see all Killing as equal.

So to recap; in part 1 I showed it does not logically follow that God says not to kill.

Here I believe I’ve shown that the language does not support the contention the 6th Commandment should be translated as “Thou Shall Not Kill.

Please join the discussion.

it is hot enough for me.

Photo taken by my mother in law Ann yesterday 104 degrees

25 days straight of 100 degrees or higher, 32 days total over 100.