Understand the Times and Know What to Do

The Bible’s books of First & Second Samuel and First & Second Chronicles recount ancient Israel as heavily defended by tribal influence and force.

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of SPIRITUAL FITNESS ]

The country’s first king, Saul, rallied his fighting coalition to ward off the nation’s enemies. However, his reign began to end when he disobeyed God, and the young David became the LORD‘s anointed.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Church Security Review: House of Worship Firearms and Use of Force Policy ]

God selected the shepherd-poet to become a warrior of national renown, beginning with defending Israel by dispatching the Philistine Goliath with slingshot precision and beheading him. David describes his expertise with defensive weapons in 2 Samuel 22:35, which states, “He trains my hands for battle, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze” and is repeated in Psalm 18:34. And he reiterates it in Psalm 144:1, “Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.”

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Be a Leader: How to Start a Movement

The third practice of the five SemperVerus components is BE, which emphasizes the importance of intentionally reinforcing rectitude in yourself. It’s stated thusly:

III. Be: developing rich personal leadership character of exemplary moral and ethical quality.

In the following 3-minute video TED Talk, entrepreneur Derek Sivers presents lessons about leaders and followers he observed one day on a hillside of people:

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US Agency Reports 35 Countries Continue to Repress Religious Freedom

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has issued its 2025 Annual Report of countries it considers to be the most egregious violators of religious liberty.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Terrorists Call for Attacks on Christians ]

The report’s recommendations begin with “the prompt appointment of an Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, who leads initiatives through the US Department of State to highlight and address religious freedom concerns around the world.” President Trump has nominated former North Carolina Congressman Mark Walker for that position. If confirmed by the Senate, as expected, Walker will be the seventh person to serve in this role.

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Benefit From the Church Emergency Response Network

MAGEN DAVID ADOM, Israel’s Red Cross, describes itself as the most experienced mass-casualty response organization in the world.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Church Security Training: Decision Decks Help You Think Through a Crisis Before It Happens ]

As Israel’s national ambulance, blood services, and disaster relief organization, the 30,000 mostly volunteer workers of Magen David Adom (Hebrew for “Red Star of David”) respond to 8 million calls a year.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Understand the Times and Know What to Do ]

Because of the wars and repeated terrorist attacks against Israel, the non-profit agency has emerged as a world leader in emergency medical services.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, A Directory of Medical Kit Resources ]

American Friends of Magen David Adom has created the Church Emergency Response Network to enable its EMTs and paramedics to share with pastors, church leaders, and houses-of-worship security/safety teams the many lessons they’ve learned through assassin onslaughts, criminal assaults, natural disasters, auto accidents, physical maladies, and more.

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