IV – Know

Forgiving vs Forgetting

[The following is a guest article by retired police officer and police trainer Ron Borsch.]

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Interview With Police Trainer, Ron Borsch, on Church Security Teams Stopping Active Killer Incidents ]

Some readers may remember the 1982 movie with Robin Williams as an example of strange thinking. My takeaway was that Garp wanted to buy a house that an airplane had just crashed into. AI: “Garp’s logic was that the house had already been ‘pre-disastered.’ He reasoned that the astronomical odds against an airplane crashing into a house meant it could never possibly happen to that specific property again, making it the safest place they could possibly live…. The memorable quote from the IMDb The World According to Garp Quotes captures this comedic display of absolute logic cloaked in absurdity… “We’ll take the house Honey, the chances of another plane hitting this house are astronomical. It’s been pre-disastered. We’re going to be safe here.” “The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps” (Proverbs 14:15).

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Bible Verses to Overcome Fear and Gain Courage

No one likes living in a world filled with terror and uncertainty, but in such times, God does some of his most important work.

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of COURAGE ]

The Bible repeatedly tells us to not live in fear. Proverbs 3:5 says we should put our whole-hearted trust in God, no matter what comes our way.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Self-Defense In Spiritual Warfare: Know Your Enemies ]

We should turn to God, as David did in Psalm 34:4, “I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Pray the Prayers of the Apostle Paul ]

Below are 10 Bible verses to act on when you’re facing intimidating challenges. They’re arranged in the order they appear in Scripture. One way to keep them front and center in your mind is to simply remember the first reference: Deuteronomy 31:6. Turn to that verse in your print or digital Bible. Write the next reference, Psalm 23:4, in the print margin or digital notes section. Then turn to Psalm 23:4 and similarly write the next reference. Repeat this for all 10 verses.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, 100 Essential Bible Passages to Know ]

So when you’re feeling weak-kneed and fearful, remember to look at Deuteronomy 31:6 and follow the trail from there to gather your courage by trusting in the majesty and will of God.

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Religious Liberty Commission Report Addresses Violence Against Houses of Worship

Americans should view religion as an “essential support” and always remember “the Creator who made us and bestows our rights….The Constitution protects religious liberty not by exiling religion from public life, but by preventing government from controlling it.”

[ Read the SemperVerus article, US Department of Justice Task Force Reports Steps to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias in Government ]

So says the 224-page Presidential Religious Liberty Commission Report: Americans’ First Freedom published June 26, 2026 that identifies emerging threats to religious liberty, and makes recommendations for upholding “Federal laws that protect all citizens’ full participation in a pluralistic democracy, and protect the free exercise of religion.”

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100 Essential Bible Passages to Know

Here’s a basic approach to reading through the Bible during the year.

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of THE BIBLE ]

Read two passages a week for 50 weeks and in a year you’ll see the “big picture” of the Bible. Bookmark and return to this post weekly as a guide to help you study from your own Bible, or click the selected passage to open the reading online in a new window. Click the links below to read each passage.

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The Required Reading List of the Historically Classic and Bible Texts for Texas Public Schools

The Texas Board of Education on June 26, 2026 approved a required reading list of around 200 wide-ranging texts for its K-12 English and literature curricula in public schools across the state—perhaps the first of its kind in the US. The titles are appropriate for people of all ages to read for a well-rounded education.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Free Online Educational Resources to Grow Your Spiritual Knowledge ]

The list includes only 20 or so Bible passages and many more non-biblical and classical books such as Jack and the Beanstalk, The Life of Paul Revere, Winnie-the-Pooh, Aesop’s Fables, tales about Native Americans, a children’s version of Don Quixote, Stuart Little, Charlotte’s Web, Treasure Island, Declaration of Independence, A More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution, The Gettysburg Address, The Man in the Arena, Great Expectations, Pride and Prejudice, Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, biographies of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Susan B. Anthony, poems by Langston Hughes and Robert Frost, and many more classics. Multiple titles are mandated for each grade, and each one must be read in its entirety. The reading list will take effect during the 2030-31 school year.

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