Germany

I just got back from my first ever trip overseas, so i thought that it had to be worthy of blogging about. Sorry for the lack of pictures (those are usually the best blogs), but Crystal took all the pictures and she still has the camera with her, so no wories, pictures will be posted soon.

Germany was a great experience, but Crystal was so busy, that we literaly went from place to place during the day and never knew where we were going to end up each night. It was not the most organized trip once we were there, but we decided that we were just going to have to be "go-with-the-flow" if we wanted to maintian our sanity. I honestly did not experience much jet-lag either way, I think I had the perfect flights going both ways and I am very thankful for that.

Crystal and I were able to go to Paris on Wednesday and it was really a great day. We took the night train from Stuttgart, Germany to Paris, and we had a first class room to ourselves, so we had a nice little set-up of bunk beds that we were able to sleep on. We went right to sleep and woke up the next morning in Paris...I wish I could travel everywhere that easy. We got to Paris and for some reason I do not think the French really like us Americans. There were a few people that were not too impressed that we could only speak english. We spent the whole day on the subway going from Notre Dame to the Eiffel Tower, to the Arc de Triumph, and then to the Louvre. Because it was kind of raining in the afternoon, we spent about 3 hours in the Louvre looking at art and artifacts and we even saw the Mona Lisa. It was a pretty amazing place to be. In the evening we went to the Eiffel tower again to see it all lit up, and it was awesome. (Pictures to come).

Although it was a busy trip, it was a really fun experience. Germany is really a beautiful place and all of the Fall colors were in full effect. The german beer was amazing, and the food was actually really tasty. I really do think though that the best part was getting to know some new friends in the Wieland's. Ralf Wieland is what I call Crystal's German manager, and we were able to spend a lot of time with he and his wife and their little girl. They were so hospitably and took such great care of us, plus they were just so much fun to hang out with. I will miss them for sure.

One of my favorite things about the trip was just the old arcitecture Europe had to offer. Places I had seen on tv, but never actually seen in person was a lot of fun. It was a great trip.

Wall Art

Just thought I would share this painting I did on my soon-to-be-here nephews nursery wall. The photo is a little grainy because it was taken with my iPhone instead of a regular camera. They have this picture on the bumper that goes around the crib, so we decided to put it on the wall as well.

Rocky Mountain Camping

Not a bad view to wake-up to....
Lower Sand Creek Lake....full of Cutthroat Trout!! Beautiful.
At the trailhead of Music Pass. At 11,500 feet high, it took most of our energy just to get to the trailhead, but the view was worth it.


The campsite.
Beautiful Cutthroat Trout...AKA...Dinner.
Waterfall flowing down into the lake.
View from the hike up.
Glass.
The Trail.

Crystal's New Project

I was taking a look at the website for the film company Crystal has recently began working with and thought I would share it with you all. When you have some free time take a look at www.egm.tv to get a better grasp on what Crystal is up to these days. The company she works for is a division of Bearing Fruit Communications called "Ethnographic Media." As you look around on their website you will get a feel for what they are doing.


The specific project Crystal is working on is her own project called "Columbine Everywhere." She is heavy in the research and writting phases of the project which is scheduled to begin filming on 3 continents (maybe more) in the Summer/Fall of 2009. Anyway, i was just looking at the site and thought I would share it with you all.

Giving it All Away

I am not sure who actually stops by this blog, for all I know it is only about 3 of you, but it does not matter, I still enjoy putting random things out on the web for anyone to see or read. It is a comfortable way to feel kind of exposed and for some reason I like that. I have a few things brewing today and so I figured I would put it out there.

In our community we have a phrase. The phrase is "Go and give it all away." The phrase implies that we are filled with some good stuff that we should not keep to ourselves. The phrase also has to do with the simplicity of church planting. It has to do with the simplicity of gathering people around you and loving on them. We have something that we cannot keep for ourselves. As I was thinking through this I was remembering how much my life was different before we moved to Oklahoma 3 years ago. It was a good life, but it was no a full life. Something was missing, in fact looking back there were a lot of things missing, but I did not know that at the time.

We came to Oklahoma and we walked into a community that had a lot of good things and desired to give those good things to us. To lavishly love on us. A community that cared to walk with us through the details of life. A community that wanted to keep us accountable, and pushed us to see us walk in our giftings in the Kingdom. To develope those giftings and become more confident in them. Simply said, we walked into a community that "gave it all away," and continue to do so. It has forever changed my life and my perspective on community and on the Church. It is so good, and I am so thankful.

I say all this becasue what it boils down to is gathering people and loving on them. It entails all the stuff I listed above and so much more, but it is all so easy. I also say all this becasue this is what I want my life to be about now and forever. I want to see transformation in the Church simply through gathering and loving each other in communities. I want to see the Kingdom of God become bigger through people giving their hearts and lives to Jesus through these loving communities. I want to see the Holy Spirit move in amazing ways.

And to see all of this is not hard, it just takes obedience and a certian level selfless-ness. We have some good friends, Andy and Jessica Biddy, who are moving to NYC to do just what I am talking about in this post, to plant churches. And by that I mean they are going to gather people together to love on them and walk with them in the love of Jesus, and they will let Him lead. They will form communities built on loving each other and going after Jesus. It is so easy and so radical, but I know from experience that it is so life giving. I have a passion to see this happen, and I have a passion to see lives changed.

I have no idea if God will call Crystal and I to "Go and give it all away," in a specific place (ie. NYC, San Fran, Chicado, Istanbul, Rome) I have a feeling He will and I am very excited about that, I want that. I do know that I am called to that lifestyle here in OKC and I am learning more and more about it. I want to walk with people and love on them because I have felt the change in my life and I want to give that away. So.....Let's do it.

New Art

This is our new peice of art that we bought for above our fireplace. We have never bought "Art" before. It is a hand painted peice, it is not a re-printing, which I think is very cool. It is BIG, it is 5 feet wide by 3 feet tall, and does a great job of carrying out our objective of covering most of our pink fireplace. I have never been a huge art gallery guy, but I really love this painting. It has levels. We have been given pictures before and framed some of Crystal's pics, but this is the first time I have ever bought something to hang on the wall since my Michael Jordan posters as a kid. I like it.

Baby Hawk

This bird was found at my brothers house the other day. We know the parents live in one of the taller trees in the yard, but this little guy must have fallen out of the nest, becasue now it is hanging out in the front yard just walking around. I think it has made a make-shift house under some bushes, but the little thing can not yet fly. We know that it is a hawk, but we are not positive on which kind it is. Based on pics I have seen, it may be a red-tailed hawk. Either way, to get this close to a hawk is really rare. If you are wondering how it eats like I was, you may notice the meat under it's claws in this pic. The mother caught and killed a squirel and gave it to the baby. You have to love wildlife!!

Fly Fishing in the Snow

I just got back from a few days of Fly Fishing at the headwaters of the Colorado River near Granby, Colorado. Everytime I go to this river I come back with stories and this trip was no exception. I went with Crystal's dad Tom, who has been Fly Fishing in Colorado since he was a kid and each day started bright and early when he would wake me up at about 5:45 am. (you know what they say "Early to bed, early to rise, fish all day, make up lies.") Anyway, the first day, Saturday, was by far the coldest day I have ever been on the river. There was a period of about an hour where it snowed on us as we were standing in the middle of the river tossing around our flies. Freezing!!! The only thing that kept us warm was the fact that we were catching fish like crazy. It was a good first day, I ended up catching about 20 nice trout by 1pm and Tom tripled me and caught about 60 or so, (the guy is good).

The second day started at the same time, but we only went out for about 3 hours. The first hour on the river is what we as fisherman dream of. The water was low and we knew the fish were pooling up in some deeper holes. Luckily I was with someone who knew where all the deep pockets were. Right as we approached the river Tom pointed at a hole and told me to give it a shot, that there were probably some nice Browns laying down in there. Fisrt toss and the strike indicator was gone, after about a 20 second fight I was holding a big, beautiful Brown trout. How does Tom know this stuff?? I continued to fish the same hole for another 10 minutes and pulled out another 5 fish, all good size fish. It was amazing, and it was worth getting up at 5:45 both days.

Here is one rainbow I took a pic of with my phone. It was a beautiful time on the river.

Colorado Trip

Beautiful.

Crystal and I at the river.

I sat around this river by myself for about 2 hours throwing rocks while Crystal and a friend went on a hike.

Graham

Graham and Uncle Pete

Intersection

"When I choose to avoid whatever it is God has brought up, something in me weakens. Something feels compromised. It is at the least a rufusal to mature, but it also feels like a refusal to step toward God. When I choose to face the uncertian, admit the neglect or enter into my fears, something in me grows up a little bit. I feel strengthened. The scales tip toward a closer walk with God." - Walking with God by John Eldredge.

My heart is really connecting with this statement. It feels so true and it feels like an intersection I am sitting at. I want obedience in my character.

Feeling Good and Feeling Restless

It has been a while since my last post and not too much new has been happening. I have now lost almost 30 lbs and feel better than I have in years. I am eating better and actually starting to get a little exercise. I have been riding my bike a little bit and doing a few more sit-ups in preparation for our Mexico trip in about 6 weeks. Physically I am at a place that I have wanted to be at over the past 6 years or so, but never had the motivation to get with the program and drop the weight. I am feeling good, and happy that I have been able to make good decisions for my life and health.

Spiritually I cannot say the same thing. I am still in the place of wanting things that I am not willing to get motivated about and go after. Call it a dry season if you will. It is not that I do not feel God moving at all, which is how most people would describe a dry time, but it is that I feel him moving too much and it is making me uncomfortable. Weird I know. It is a dry time becasue I am making it dry, not becasue God is not speaking. I am battling with my faith right now when it comes to prayer for healing and prayer for change, basically any prayer for movement. I have no idea why my faith seems so weak right now, and after all these years of walking with Jesus and reading the Word I can honestly say I have never felt this clueless as to the ways of God. I feel like I know nothing. Who knows, maybe that is a good place to be, but I am having a hard time understanding it. I am having a hard time fighting off lies and going after the things I know He has called me to. I think I am scarred, which I hate to admit, but I am FULL of the fear of man and what they will think of my crazy belief in this unseen God. What will the lady at the counter think if I tell her God loves her, and the waiter or waitress when I tell them that Jesus is real. I have no idea how they will react and I think that terrifies me. So, I operate really well within my church family and with my friends that know my heart, but out on the streets where it really counts I feel like a complete coward. I am at a place where i have to ask myself if I really even believe all this Jesus stuff (which I completely do) and if so, why am I not yelling it from the top of my lungs every chance God gives me? It is just stupid the way I operate.

I want to be free of pride and free of fear and I trust Jesus to do it, but I feel completely lost right now as to how I am going to get there. Until then life still feels like it is going around in circles and I am getting sick of it. I am ready for something new. I am restless. As Lance always says, the best prayer we can ever pray is "Jesus, Help Me." So....Jesus, Help me!

Before and After Pt. 2

Since January 1st, I have lost approx 22 lbs. The first pic is from our Christmas card and the second pic is from March 29th. It has been 3 months of eating a lot better and just watching portion sizes. I have not really been working out, except for an occasional basketball game. Only problem with all this is that I now have to buy new pants, oh well, I guess I will take it.

Before and After Pt. 1

This is not something off of "Extreme Home Makeover," but over the past year or so we have done quite a bit work to the outside of our house, so I wanted to share some pictures with you. I am an idiot and forgot to take an actual "before" picture, but I found this picture of our house in 2002, so it works.

Our house in 2002.

This is a winter pic with the grass still dormant and the flowers not yet blooming, but it shows what I have been up to latley. My frined Randy and I tore out the existing cement walkway and I added a flagstone walk as well as the new "big" garden bed. I just recently planted the trees and plants a few weeks ago and plan to add a few more things to fill it out a bit.

Another view of the garden. Hope you enjoy the pics.

Light Drums

R-I-S-K

Last Sunday at church a guy named Brian Blount spoke about what is happening right now in the Kingdom in Oklahoma City. It was one of the most encouraging and challenging times I have had lately and it has brought on more thoughts throughout this week. Basically he was talking about the reality of God and how good He is. A few weeks ago there was a weekend event in OKC called Harvest Fest where a bunch of churches got together to love and serve the community and Brian shared many stories about he and a group going through some of the poorest areas of town praying for people and seeing God show up in amazing ways bringing both healings and salvations.

For me it was a story of a group of people with boldness who really believed that they had “Good News” to share. They just went out and went for it. They asked if they could pray for people, they shared the story of Jesus and a loving God, and as they prayed over people, God healed them!! Salvation happened!! Lives were changed!!

Now that is encouraging stuff, and it actually sounds really easy doesn’t it? But that morning as I was listening and even now I still feel nauseous when I think about walking up to someone and asking to pray and share Jesus. I doubt whether or not Jesus would really heal the people I would pray for. (for the record I did go up and recieve prayer over those feelings). I have prayed for lots of people and have never seen instant healing. I have seen things that I have prayed for come to pass in time, but never that instant healing. I have tried, but I guess it was just not in His timing to heal right when I prayed. So unfortunately I feel doubt when I think about going and doing it. I know that part of it is fear of man and wondering what people would think and that is total BS, because it should not matter. The only thing that should matter is obedience to what I feel God is calling me to do whether it is in the grocery store or restaurant or church. He is in control of my reputation, not me.

Brian talked about how you spell the word “faith” as R-I-S-K. I have heard that statement before and always thought of it as a Christian cliché, but this time it really got me thinking about how much I do not risk in my faith. A risk is walking up to someone with a cane and telling them that God is going to heal them today. That is really laying it on the line, putting it all on God and then just trusting and having faith that He will come and heal. I have prayed for people that were sick before, but I usually just ask God to heal them and hope that at some point they will start getting better, but I have never gone into that situation and risked it all and told that person “God is going to heal you right now so let’s pray.” I think I have never done that because I have no idea whether God is going to heal that person or not….how am I to know the thoughts of God and His plans? I want that confidence and I want that risking faith. I want to trust that God is going to come move, but when I am honest I have to say that I am not sure it will happen.

All in all I guess I just want a deeper faith to believe that He is going to move through me. I want to have fearless confidence and boldness in sharing the “Good News.” I want to be able to risk things and put them on God’s plate and trust Him to do what He knows is best. I want to hear His voice as He speaks and be obedient to what I hear. I really do want this stuff and I want a deeper faith that the kingdom of God is active and moving all around us.

Stuck in a Stage

I allowed myself to admit something the other day that has been true for some time, but I have always pushed it aside. It is something that always comes up when I see a friend or aquaintence and they ask "How have things been?" or "What have you been up to latley?" I think to myself and then answer the same thing every time...."Things are good, not much new going on, just working all day and going home." That seems to pretty much sum up my life over the last 6 months. Same old stuff. Sure there are other things going on from time to time, we are a part of a house church and d-group as well as church on Sunday morning, but it all just feels like a cycle, a rythem where everything is running a little too smooth. Everyday is predictable.

I thank God for the life he has given me, I do not want to complain about it whatsoever becasue I am so blessed, but I guess I just do not feel challenged by many things. I am too comfortable and settled in my life and I feel stuck in this stage.

I also feel that the change that I sense needs to happen is not something that has to do with my circumstances (work, church, relationships etc.), but it has to do with my heart and the way I am choosing to live. I am choosing to be as comfortable as possible and as lazy as I can get away with becasue I think that is what I want, but all it has done is give birth to this viscious cycle that I feel stuck in. A self-obsessed cycle where I am king and what I say goes. It looks silly when I type that, but there is some truth to it.

I do not have all the answers, but I am praying for change in my heart. I also do not want to continue to bash myself over things that I feel are not quite right becasue I know we all have those things in our lives. God has deposited so many good things in my life and I really am trying my best to live them out. I guess what I am feeling right now is just a sense of a change that needs to take place and He needs to do it in me. You can only get stuck if you stay in the same place to long, so I believe it is time to take a step foward and trust.

24

Have you ever wondered what the show 24 would have looked like if it had come out a few years ealier?? Well wonder no more! Enjoy this video and see what CTU would have looked like in 1994....pretty funny stuff if you are a 24 fan. Thanks to my frined Andy Garlich for passing on this video to me.

Is Faith Enough?

I feel like a lot of times I have a lazy faith, one that takes a lot and gives little. One that is self absorbed and so inward focused that my life natuarlly feels out of whack. I know it seems like an extreme because there are some people out there that never bother to take a look inside and what is going on in there, and only focus their attention outward. I have had a strong sense latley that I need a balance in my walk with Jesus.

God brought to mind the book of James and how he talked about the relationship between our faith and our works. Now let me state that I do beleve that I am saved by my faith in Jesus Christ and His grace to save me, and it is not becasue of my deeds that he saves me, but at the same time they still go together in a very intricate way.

Becasue of my love for Jesus I want it (works) to natuarlly come out of me, but that is sadly not the case. I want to see Jesus do some much in this city and in relationships, but what am I doing to activly pursue seeing those things? I watch so many people that I look up to and I see them give their time so freely to serve and love others and I want to get to that place, I need to get to that place becasue I beleive Jesus will meet me there in new ways.

I have a "Little Brother" with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and we have just started our relationship in the last few months and it has been a really tough thing for me. It is something that is way out of my comfort zone, but I felt like Jesus was asking me to do it, with much reluctence I obeyed and it is good, but hard. I want to be more active in the city with such places as The Refuge, and Cross and Crown. I want to be more active in the mission of our House Church in the Village. All these thing are things that I want deep down in my heart, and I want to do them becasue I love Jesus and need to be about giving my life away, not hording it, but in the end it is hard. In the end I work all day and come home tired and ready to veg. In the end I want the weekends to be about me and what I want and my projects.

In the end my faith becomes all about me and how I feel, so I sit at church during worship and evaluate my heart and find my love for Jesus to be present, but I also feel like He has so much more for me, that He is calling me to the front lines of what He is doing, almost like I have a valuble part to play if I would just accept that role and allow Him to lead me. I don't know, I just sense that my faith is not always enough and I need to get off the couch and get to living...get to serving. This is my prayer.

Do You Speak German?

I do not speak German either, but I still think this is pretty cool. About a year or so ago a German publisher got ahold of Crystal and NavPress and wanted the rights to publisher her book in German. Of course everyone involved agreed and here is the finished product:


Crystal has had the oppurtunity to go and speak a few times in Germany and has always had amazing times of ministry while over there. Hopefully this book will further encourage them to live fully for Jesus and what He has for them.

Family Force 5

Speechless....as in I am without speech when it comes to describing a Family Force 5 concert. There are no proper words to describe seeing them live. All I can say is that it is a Party. I was lucky enough to go see them last night over by Tulsa and they did not disappoint.


I want to tell you to check them out, but it may make no sense unless you are able to see them live. They have a cd and I think it is amazing, but I also understand them and how everything they do is built around seeing them live. I guess what I am saying is that if you ever have the chance to go see them live do not pass it by. Do not spend anytime thinking whether or not it is worth it or debate whether you would enjoy it...just Go!


I think in one evening of listening to them at their show I heard so many diferent types and styles within their music. I heard Rock/Hip-Hop/Gangsta Rap/Beastie Boys/Rage Against the Machine/Synth/and even a hint of R&B. It is all a very weird mix, but it is fun. A guy that I was with at the show simply said that they do what everyone else wants to do, they just let loose and have fun. They do not take themselves or the music too seriously, but musically they are so tight, they know what they are doing. Anyway, it was great and you need to see them live!!!


Craziness. Party. Fun.

Once

As tempting as it is to actually write a blog about this movie and how much I love it, I will refrain from doing so right now becasue I want everyone to watch it first and I don't want to spoil anything. All I will say is that it is definatley one of my favorite movies of the past year and the soundtrack is amazing. Check it out!

Burrito Heaven

I moved to Oklahoma almost 3 years ago and and in doing so left behind one of my greatest loves. I arrived on the red soil of Oklahoma only to realize that there were no Chipotle Mexican restaurants within a 2 hour drive. I did what I could, I emailed the company and asked why they were not in Oklahoma City, gave them city statistics, gave them ideas for places they could buy and use. I looked into franchising (which they do not do), and I got time lines on arrival about every 5-6 months. I had to have my burritos.

Well, I am happy to announce that a new Chipotle is opening in Edmond, OK on the corner of 15th and Broadway. Nothing is official yet, but I got an email from an insider at Chipotle today that said they are shooting to open their doors on Friday January 18th. This is a joyous day for Oklahoma indeed.

A little ps. is needed here for all Oklahomans. Chipotle does not have any queso dip for either the burritos or chips. I know this will bother some people, but my advice is to come try it anyway and enjoy the delicious tastes of a gourmet burrito.

300: We Have to Fight!

"We Spartans are descended from Hercules himself. Taught never to retreat, never to surrender. Taught that death in the battlefield in service of Sparta is the greatest glory he could achieve in his life."

I watched the movie 300 again last night and once again something within me was stirred. It was not that I was choked up or emotional, but rather I was stirred to live my life better and with more intention. These Spartans are warriors and they know it, there is never a doubt in their minds as to who they are. From a very young age they are trained and taught who they are and how to fight. They are tested and left to fend for themselves, to prove their ability and strength, to test their intelligence. These Spartans do not have an identity crisis, they are raised knowing who they are.

So as I watched the movie again I took stock in who I was and who I was made to be in God's image. It is obvious to me that God is a warrior. Exodus 15:3 "The Lord is a warrior, the Lord is His name." God has so many attributes, and one of those things is a warrior, and being made in his image makes me believe that He has put his warrior heart inside of me. I need to let that truth sink in more and more, I want that to be part of my identity that I do not have to doubt. I am a warrior because I have the Warriors heart inside of me. I can fight, I can battle, I do not have to back down, I do not have to have fear, I can be strong and dangerous. I can be good, but I do not have to be safe. I have freedom to walk this stuff out in my life and I need to do a better job of utilizing the warrior heart inside of me and recognizing the battles that lay in front of me.

Now I am not saying that I am going to war physically, but in the realm of spiritual warfare I have sat and watched far too long and I need to start fighting. If I believe that Jesus is more real than this computer that I am typing on right now, that he is more tangible than the chair I am sitting in, than I also have to believe that his world is real and the spiritual realm is real and there is such a thing as good and evil, which are constantly in opposition to each other and constantly at war. Angels and demons fight. Spiritual oppression and sin are real things. I cannot just slumber and wait and watch anymore, I need to join in the fight, I need to fight alongside my King. I have what is takes.

So this is obviously not 300, I am not going to fight the Persian army, but the war I fight is no less real, no less important. 300 is a picture of what is going on spiritually when good and evil fight. This in mind, what are the battles we fight? I cannot speak for everyone, but I personally feel the battle raging on a lot. I fight against sin and lust. I fight against pride and selfishness (2 of the enemy's best weapons against us!) I fight for my wife and for my marriage when I see attacks coming against us. You might think the big argument you have before church is just an annoying fight, but looking deeper it is so clear that an attack has just happened, the enemy trying to drive a wedge between you. I fight for relationships, I fight to spend time with Jesus, I fight against lies told to me and to the ones I love. I fight passivity, I fight fear, I am supposed to fight for the poor and the widows and orphans, I am supposed to fight for justice (not sure I have ever done that too well). Anyway, you get the point.....there is a lot to fight for and literally speaking, those battles are just as real as the battles we watch in 300, just spiritual.

It is possible to go through life and not fight at all, to be passive and selfish, but as a follower of our King we are called and equipped to fight, we have what it takes and we want to be some of the best warriors and fighters that have ever joined in this battle. We just have to make the decision that we are going to be an active part of these daily battles. Because we have the Holy Spirit in us, we are warriors that are to be feared by the enemy, we are among the best warriors in all the world if we just choose to fight. The Spartans say they are descendants of Hercules himself, and thus they are warriors among warriors, the best in all the known world, but we are descendants of God -the fiercest Warrior, so what does that make us? Even better than the Spartans!

I watched the movie 300 and got such a great picture of how I am to fight spiritually. "Never retreat, never surrender." The best part of the whole movie is how they fight, and it is such a great lesson for us all as we fight. They fight as a single unpenetratable unit, each man protecting the man next to him with his shield. Each man protecting the back of another man, watching for attacks and defending them. What a picture this is for us. We are not meant to do this alone, we are not made to fight by ourselves. We need others to fight with us and help protect us where we are vulnerable. When we are fighting the enemy we are rarely fighting just one attacker, but a legion or an army, so we need an army as well, close brothers and sisters that we trust to go into battle with us and watch our backs, our vulnerability. We Need each other, we cannot fight on our own. Other people have to know our weaknesses and our strengths in order to fight alongside of us. They need to know where to protect us and where to use our abilities. It just makes sense, we are warriors like none other, we are to be feared by the enemy and we are to fight together in order to have victory. That is our law.

This blog is a reminder to me that I have what it takes, the battle is always going on in some capacity and it is time to jump in and fight. I am a warrior filled with the Holy Spirit and most feared among my enemy. We can do this together, we can have victory.

"This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they DIE!" - King Leonidas