Bring enough gun

So small, it fits in the palm of your hand! Is that what you want in a combat weapon??

I recently saw in one of the GunMafia rags, an actual advertisement for a handgun that read “So small, it fits in the palm of your hand!”

That seems to be the trend.  Dressed up in words like “easy to conceal”, “won’t know you’re carrying it”, etc. manufacturers promote small, slim handguns that don’t bother anyone.  And that’s the problem.

In my years of training, I have seen MANY students show up to class with their new, diminutive, “wunder-pistol” that they can hide ANYWHERE.  Unfortunately, I have also seen many if not most of these disintegrate under training.  Ejectors go flying.  Triggers malfunction.  I have actually seen a slide or two crack under the stress.

On top of that, my students learn that when confronted with a life or death situation, requiring them to draw and employ a handgun, traits like “small, fragile, and low round count” are not necessarily what they want.  If you must draw and shoot, then SHOOT.  Ammo is cheap.  Your life is not.

One of my smaller framed students, handling a full framed Glock quite well!

On the other side, I rarely see any malfunctions from some of the more reputable manufacturers have difficulties.  I have NEVER had a Glock malfunction.  Very few of the other modern combat pistols do either.

I tell my students carry the LARGEST gun they can reasonably conceal.  One that holds the most rounds possible in the largest frame that they can shoot well.

And carry at least one, if not more, spare magazines.  Because if you do need to shoot, you want the most gun you can have.

“But I can’t carry a full size!”  Of course you can (in all but the most extreme cases). Your weapon is meant to be a comfort, not comfortable.  It will take some getting used to, but put it in a quality holster, with a quality mag pouch, untuck your shirt/cover it up, and away you go.

Because if you DO need to draw your gun, you don’t want to wonder if it will work, if you have enough ammo, or if you just bet your life on the latest marketing scheme.

Bring enough gun!

Mag Pouches

Worn horizontally to the rear

One piece of gear that is often overlooked is the mag pouch.

Latest and greatest pistol… Check!

A bag full of “the next best thing” holsters… Check!

A thoughtful and tactical approach to carrying spare ammunition for that system?  Often overlooked.

Most mag holders have to be hidden just as well as the weapon, because they immediately give away that you are armed! But a good magazine pouch/holder (like the Gray-Man sold by CBI) should look like a cell phone case, a Multi-Tool case, or a variety of other things.  This eliminates the need to worry about concealing it at all!  I have worn a Gray Man model for over 2 years, sometimes while speaking in front of large crowds, and NO ONE has ever made it for a magazine holder.

Your system should also allow you to reliably and easily carry a reasonable amount of extra ammunition.  How much is reasonable?  It depends.  Are you walking around your house?  Out running?  At the office?  At least one, and usually not more than two or three extra magazines should do the job.  You may need an entire magazine to suppress the enemy while you get to cover.  That’s why the Gray Man easily holds two full size Glock/double stack mags.

How about versatility?  Sometimes I need a horizontal carry – bullets up.  Sometime down.  And sometimes I need it to be worn vertically.  A good system allows all of these options. That’s why I designed the Gray Man to be worn horizontally or vertically, in a variety of configurations! Tactical without looking it, the Gray Man Mag Pouch is a one size fits any situation tool!  Now available in BLACK, Coyote/TAN, or A-TACS camo. A great deal at $14.99  Available here.

Black

A-TACS camo

Who needs training?

Defensive Handgun Students at CBI

Most states now allow some/qualified/all citizens to carry a concealed weapon with a license as an expression of their 2nd amendment rights.  Yes, I know that if you have to have a license to carry it, we are on shaky ground calling it a right, but that is a conversation for another day.

The patchwork of laws governing the carrying of CCW (Concealed Carry Weapons) is loose and poorly defined.  And so are the training requirements.  In several states on the Atlantic side of the country, for example, there are NO training requirements.  In Virginia, my home state, the training requirements are such that a safety course, without ever touching a firearm, qualifies one for a CCW license (called a CHL or Concealed Handgun License here).

While I believe that training requirements are not Constitutionally legal (that’s another article all together), I also believe that it is every gun owners RESPONSIBILITY to acquire superior training.

If you have the right to carry a weapon, and choose to exercise that right, then it is your responsibility to yourself, your family, and your community to know how to operate that weapon to the utmost of your ability.  To do otherwise is irresponsible, lazy, and stupid.  The irresponsible, reckless, and untrained use of a weapon can cause injury to uninvolved persons, the loss of your freedom, and the seizure of your fortune.  In short… there are no up sides and no excuses.

Some people won’t take the time or effort to pursue training.  Some won’t spend the money.  Some don’t see the need.

For all of mankind’s history, one of our basic elements of existence is protecting our loved ones and our possessions from marauding hordes.  This has required the training, time, and practice in some form of martial art with fist, stick, rock, blade, or gun.  EVERY era has recognized this basic need.

I can hear you behind your screen… ‘But Chris, we have the police now!’  Think about it. The police are a REACTIVE force.  Anyone have a local police officer that is assigned to your living room?  Your vehicle?  Of course not.  Something bad happens.  Someone calls 911.  The police have to process the call, and then respond.  It takes minutes at best, and hours at worst.  That’s the truth of it.  The police are there to make sure it STOPS with the first victim.  They CANNOT protect you from BEING that first victim.

That is why part of being a moral, responsible, and free citizen is pursuing the age-old skill set of self defense.  If we lived in 15th century Japan, I would urge you to get a sword.  But this is 2012.  Get a Glock (or a shotgun, or an AK…).  Learn to use it well.  Practice with it.  And live as a peaceful citizen.

In fact I would argue if you cannot afford the training and practice as part of the initial cost of the weapon, just don’t get one in the first place.  Keep your head down.  Hope someone is there to make war on injustice/violence/evil when it invades your life.  And hope the police get there in time.

New 2012 Schedule has been posted

Chris Bell International is going strong.  We have trained A LOT of students to better be able to defend themselves and their families, to be better and more responsible citizens, and to feel more confident in their ability to stand firm and calm in the face of violence!  And we offer THE BEST VALUE in tactical training on the whole Atlantic and Mid Atlantic area!

Thank you to all of our students who made 2011 such a great year!  2012 is shaping up to be twice as successful!  Because of greater demand, we have expanded our schedule in 2012.  In 2012 we are offering:

• Defensive Handgun
• Introduction to Shotgun Gunfighting
• Rifle Gunfighting
• Defensive Knife Fighting
• Close Quarter Combat

Check out our schedule here

 

cheat at running barefoot

i have always preferred to run barefoot.  after many years of barefoot martial arts, i much prefer to exercise that way.  and when i run in running shoes, my legs often feel the effects of the heel-pounding.  this video shows the effects of running barefoot and shod… basically shoes force you to run on your heels (heel strike) where the foot’s natural shock-absorbing actions cannot function.  plus there is nothing quite as joyful as running barefoot.  try it on some grass or sand – it’s just incredible!

i was an early adopter of Nike Free back in 2004 when they first came out – a shoe designed to mimic the feel and effects of running barefoot, but they gave me blisters in the top of my arch.  i have tried many different solutions and have never been completely satisfied.  i love to run barefoot, but since most of my running is on trails, it often hurts… even with the soles of my feet hardened by my many years of martial arts.

i think i have found a solution!

i recently bought a pair of vibram five-finger KSOs (keep stuff out).  you’ve seen them im sure – the shoes with the individual toe pockets.  ive been told i look funny wearing them – but i love them!  while the average running shoe has 35-40mm of loft at the heel, the vibrams have merely 6mm.  so they feel exactly like running barefoot… but i am protected from the rocks, sticks, and pokey things that line every trail here in virginia.

so i can cheat at running barefoot – enjoying all the freedom, the joy, and the tactile advantage of barefoot running without paying the price of footpain.  i took them out yesterday in a really muddy bog… running in mud and water sometimes up to my ankles, and they never missed a beat.  i could grip with my toes, jump over creeks and logs, hop from rock to rock, and never slipped once.

finding simplicity : in the kitchen

This is the second post in the finding simplicity series.  You can see the first post on finding simplicity in the bedroom here

The kitchen is probably my next favorite room in the home.  I love to prepare healthy and tasty food – I love to cook!  But it is also very easy to get the kitchen so cluttered it is unusable.  Here are some great tips for finding simplicity in the kitchen:

• Simplify the dishes – I buy and use inexpensive corelle brand dishes in plain white.  They are tough, easy to clean, and inexpensive to replace without having to worry about a pattern.  We also keep our dish count to a minimum – in our family of five we have 10 large and 10 small plates (enough for company), 8 coffee mugs, 8 bowls, and a corresponding number of silverware.  No need for huge amounts! (see dishwashing below)
• Simplify the dishwashing – a dishwasher came in the house we rented but I don’t use it, and don’t allow my sons to either.  Simply washing the dishes by hand as soon as the meal is over uses a lot less water and is much faster!  By the time I would load and empty the dishwasher (and clean up the spots the dishwasher missed), I could have washed the dishes by hand, put them away, had some great conversation with those helping, and brewed a cup of tea!
• Simplify the cooking utensils – we have a small number of pots, one frying pan, and regularly use the 4 Ps to declutter the kitchen tools (spatulas, tongs, etc)  The less you have, the fewer to clean, store, and maintain.  And the simpler it is to find what you need when you need it.
• Simplify the preparation – cook simple meals at home.  Eating out less improves your health and finances… besides eating at home is much more fun.  Take the time to plan your meals and shopping for a week – or use helpful services like E-Mealz to help you shop and meal plan.  Buy few packaged foods.  Eat and prepare more fruits and vegetables.  You don’t have to be Julia Childs – cook simple meals you and your loved ones will enjoy.  And slow down and savor the experience of preparation.  If you arrive home late, and are too tired to cook, then pre-cook several meals and heat them up when you get home.  With a little thought and preparation there is always an answer!
• Flylady your kitchen!  The flylady helped me when I was starting to investigate simplicity and minimalism.  Do the dishes before bed so you don’t wake up to a messy kitchen in the morning.  Shine the sink (a cool trick that actually works!).  Keep all horizontal surfaces (like counters and appliances) clear of stuff.  Everything has a place, and each thing should be in its place.

finding simplicity : in the bedroom

As you may know, my family has been on a quest of sorts to simplify our lives.  It started in 2008 when we moved from Chicago to Richmond… and filled the moving truck!  It was sickening how much stuff we had.  Furniture and boxes stuffed to the brim.  Then the journey intensified a year ago, when in an attempt to help The Ridge refinance its mortgage I volunteered to take a big pay cut and move my family into a mobile home (trailer) on the church campus.  We went from a 2200 square foot, 4 bedroom home, into a 1200 square foot, 2 bedroom trailer.  We need to simplify our possessions…. and fast!

I am proud to say that we have divested ourselves of well over half of our possessions that we moved to Richmond with.  And we are enjoying it!  We are finding more peace in owning less.  Wanting less.  Buying less.  And I thought it might be good to examine how we are doing this room by room.  Let’s start in the bedroom.

The bedroom should be the inner sanctum of your home.  Your ultimate retreat and sanctuary.  But it often becomes cluttered with stuff… furniture, paper, piles, clothes, etc.  Then add the noise and light pollution of a TV and it can easily become hectic.  Here are a few things I have done to increase the peace in my bedroom:

• Simplify the warddrobe.  This deserves its own post, but I have given away about 80% of my clothing and shoes.  How much can you really wear at one time any way?  The less you have, the less you have to store.  Find the 10-20% of clothes you actually wear and donate the rest!
• Simplify the clutter.  Use the 4 Ps.  Take it one drawer, one closet, or one basket at a time.
• Simplify the furniture.  What do you really use?  I recently moved all of the furniture out of my bedroom, save the mattress, two chairs (for dressing), and two small nesting tables used as bedside tables.  This was a simple decision, since the dressers were almost completely empty (simplified wardrobe), and had decluttered the remaining drawers.  The room now feels much more peaceful without being crowded with too much furniture. I store my clothes in a footlocker, but you can use minimal wardrobes, bins, and attractive alternatives to big, bulky dressers.  IKEA always has good options.  And because it can be scary to just get rid of a bedroom set, I moved it into another room for a month experiment.  If I don’t like it, I can always move it back in!
• Simplify the laundry – this deserves its own post entirely.  But I do one load of laundry a week.  That’s it.
• Remove the TV.  There are all kinds of reasons to not have a TV in the bedroom.  Studies repeatedly show that couples with no TV in the bedroom have more sex (what more reason do you need?), get more rest, and sleep more soundly.   Plus… why do I want to bombard my brain with advertisements when I am sleepy and most open to suggestion?  Get it out of there!

declutter with the 4 “p’s”

In tactical training there exists Hick’s Law… the more training options you have, the longer it takes to respond.  The same principle is behind my quest for simplicity.  The more stuff… possessions, bills, tasks, workflows, etc that I have competing for my attention, the more distracted I am.  The less focused and at peace I can be.

But the process of simplifying can be daunting.  How do I declutter?  Where to I start?  Let me introduce you to your new best friend… the 4P’s.  And we’ll start small – say with decluttering a single drawer.  Go find your messiest drawer and…

1. Pile – take everything out of the drawer and make a big pile.  On the bed.  On the floor.  It doesn’t matter. But get it all out.  Don’t sort.  Just pile!

2. Pick – you really don’t use all this stuff do you?  I don’t mean the stuff you think about using… or the stuff you like the idea of using.  Do you actually use it?  Often?  (How many socks/jewelry/tshirts do you actually wear?) Pick out only those things that you use, you like, and are important to you and create a second, smaller pile.

3. Prune – just like a tree needs to be pruned to grow, so does your pile.  Anything that you didn’t PICK for the smaller pile, get rid of.  Sell it on ebay or craigslist.  Give it to a friend.  Donate it to the Salvation Army.  Flat out throw it away.  Don’t be emotional or sentimental.  Don’t be afraid.  If you haven’t used it in a while, you probably won’t use it!   Why keep piles of stuff because you “might need it”?

4. Place – place the essential things back in the drawer in an organized manner.  Neatly.  With plenty of space around each item.  This makes it look neater and simpler.  (Of course, clean the drawer if you need to.)

That’s it!  You now have a much cleaner drawer that you can use to find and store the items you actually value.  And you have either made a little money selling the extra stuff, or have been generous and donated to someone who CAN use it.

And you can do a whole room with this process… just one drawer, one horizontal surface (dressers, tables, etc) at a time.  Just take it a bit by a bit.  Enjoy the process.  And watch as you slowly declutter your whole living space!

Ultimate Forgiveness Challenge

This last weekend at The Ridge, our faith community, we began a series examining the topic of forgiveness.

Forgiveness is one of those things that everyone agrees is important, necessary, decent, etc… and everyone waits until they get around to it before digging into.  So we began what we are calling the UFC – The Ultimate Forgiveness Challenge.  You can listen to our discussion here.

It is important to not relegate forgiveness to an intellectual pursuit… we have to dig in and begin the real work of setting ourselves and others free.  And that work is often painfully challenging.  So we are taking this week to ask ourselves a series of questions – as part one of the challenge.

Journal these… talk about them with someone you respect.  And then do something about what you discover:

Forgiveness Self-Evaluation:

Is there any situation that you need to drop the jawbone?  Give up the right to revenge?

Regarding that situation in your life right now, what’s your next step of forgiveness?  What can you do TODAY to begin forgiving?

Is there any way you have been excusing your own bad behavior, citing “what they did”?

Is there any person, any situation that you need to entrust to God’s justice?  Even if you don’t see it?

Is there anyone you need to wish well?  To bless?  To serve?

the power of mind maps

I speak in public and teach a lot… often as many as six times a week between my work with The Ridge faith community and my training business CBI.  The biggest part of the process of teaching is speaking is the preparation.  I have been doing this for 16 years now, and have been refining my process.  One of the key components is mind mapping.

Mind mapping is a graphical organization of ideas.  Consider it a circular outline.  I grab ideas, thoughts, my lesson plan and throw it into mindmap software. ( I use MindJet on my Macbook and iThoughtsHD on my iPad).  Don’t edit, don’t order… just collect.  Then with the software I can drag individual ideas, or whole thought branches, where I think they make sense.  As I work the talk/teaching over, I can add, delete, move, and edit effortlessly.

Then when it is time to present, i take the mindmap with me.  I use my iPad to read it off of (reading clockwise from 12oclock).  I keep my mindmaps vertical, so they are easy to manipulate in front of a crowd on the iPad.  There is more information than I need when actually speaking, but by practicing off of the same map as I present, I learn the material faster and am able to recal it more completely.  That means that as I present, I simply skim over the big points of the map, but have my notes there if I ever blank and need to dive deeper to make a point.

Here are examples of my maps from a recent series I did at The Ridge on suffering. Note that I sometimes use color as coding for visuals or emphasis.  Sometimes the notes are more intensive, sometimes less, as I need them.

110109 Choice 110116 – All and Nothing 110123 Harp Hangers and a Herd of Pigs 110130  The whole entire everything gets put back together

releasing the power of books

I love books!  But after spending years amassing (and that is the right root word there – mass!) my library I have a lot of them!  And I have to admit I have a love affair with each and every one.

But in my recent quest for simplification I have realized I am hoarding that which I love.  I have read them all – some over a dozen times.  I hold on to them for memories (sentiment), incase I might “need them” again (fear), because I have a lot of money invested into them (greed), and – frankly – because I like the idea of a big library (pride).  Not a great list of motives…

If I release them into the wild again, someone else will glean the learning, insight, perspective, and enjoyment that I have gotten from them.  My library will live instead of sitting dormant!

I have taken boxes of books to the library and used book stores.  I have sold some on ebay and craigslist.  But I have recently found a much more elegant solution.  I mooch.

Book Mooch is a online community of bibliophiles who share books.  Got a book to share?  List it on the mooch.  If another reader sees it and wants it, they send a request to have it mailed to them (thank God for USPS media mail!).  Sending books earns credits that can be “spent” on new-to-you books.  A totally voluntary and collaborative online book sharing community!

I can even make a wishlist of books I would like to mooch… and if someone lists one of them to share, Book Mooch contacts me to let me know.

Simple.  Elegant.  Communal.  And totally free!

I can enjoy my books and then send them on – knowing they will be enjoyed again and again.  Why own when you can mooch?
And in case you were wondering, YES! I do have an RSS feed of my wishlist and available books.

It’s been a while… and a journey

It has been quite a while since I’ve posted… but what a journey it’s been!  I’m glad to be back.  A few highlights that I JUST KNOW will see some future posts:

• A new design!  Blew the dust off Chrisbellonline and refreshed it a bit.  Going for simple and minimal.  What do you think?
• Since I have last posted, I have continued down the road to simplicity and minimalism… in some pretty significant ways – including giving away almost half of my belongings and downsizing significantly!  I am very excited about this path of minimalism…
• The Ridge has moved off of our campus, and started meeting in a coffee shop and a local school.  We are moving toward a model of debt-free ministry – I don’t know that I would ever want to sign a mortgage again!  Bankers, moving, and organizational flux!  Many more posts on this later…
• Our family adopted a homeless 18 year old, took him in, helped him get on his feet and find a job, and are walking him through various legal issues.  More later…

Religion as an excuse during pain??

I love reading Richard Rohr… here is a great quote Adapted from Job and the Mystery of Suffering, pp. 20-21

An awful lot of religion is an excuse for not facing our fears, our self, and our doubts.  True religion is not denial of doubt but a transformation of it; and often, to be honest, a temporary deepening of our doubt and darkness to get us there.

God walks with us into our fears, to feel them, to own them, to let them teach us.  During that time we are often in darkness and cannot uphold ourselves.  It even feels like a loss of faith.  It is then that we slowly learn to let Someone Else hold us, and we come out enlarged and more hopeful.  As long as I have lived, I cannot explain the chemistry of this transformation, but those who have gone through know it to be true.

Chris Bell International is born…

I would love not to have to take a paycheck from The Ridge… to be a pastor that doesn’t have to be paid.  And in that pursuit…

I have taken the next step toward that dream with the launching of Chris Bell International.

As many of you know, I have a background in tactics and training for law enforcement and civilians, and this business will accomplish just those things.  Firearms training, martial arts, security consulting for church and other NFP organizations… it is all a passion and former business focus of mine that I am restarting.

So if you know anyone who would like Cutting Edge tactical training… stop on by!

Smoke and mirrors… Or why the church is losing ground

Forever (or at least the recent past) the church has assumed the following:

Get as many people as you can in the door so as many as possible hear the gospel…. So as many as possible raise their hand, or sign a card, or whatever, and secure their “ticket” to heaven. This is the goal.

And recently that has meant put on the best show as possible to get them in the door. Best lights, videos, smoke, etc. Because while few would say it this way, it has been a numbers game… A pecentages game where a higher volume of people in the seats equals a higher percentage getting “saved”.

And we “reward” with pronouncements of the “successful ministry” label those who run the best numbers… Almost like the All Star game.

And we have learned that it works… Flash and Bang fill seats. Wow factor fills seats. Our cultural church has succeeded at this mission… To death.

Because we have also discoved that we have gotten so good at the “church machine” of filling buildings we have failed to re-orient ourselves around the goal. We found that attracting people with a wow and getting them to say a prayer doesn’t necessarily create a transformed follower of Jesus – with a life that is forever re-oriented around this new Kingdom way of life that Jesus describes and lives.

That instead we have built a culture of people who wear the label “Christian” but have been lured into our buildings with an unapologetic consumeristic approach and are living consumeristic spiritual lives. Church is something we go to, not something we are, to “get our needs met”, be it “getting fed”, having the right programs, music etc.

We awaken to find that church has become all about the delivery of goods and services just like any other service industry (“but they are Christian goods and services” is the cry). And the goal is to gain as many new customers as possible why minimizing the loss of your current customers to another brand/church… Just like every other business. With consumer christians switching loyalties with each new song or change in minsitry programs, it is not a surprise that many churches focus more time on protecting the “brand” of the church or lead pastor than any other activity. We even call it “church shopping” when consumers comparison shop one church with another to see which one “meets our family’s needs the best”.

And the cost has been significant: a generation that has rejected the consumeristic church and decided that it won’t shop for church anymore… It will instead simply abandon what it sees as an outmoded and selfish approach to spirituality. And the flash and bang crowd doesn’t understand why that generation isn’t responding… So they ramp up marketing efforts to find the “trigger” that will get the lost generation to respond.

Another cost has been sustainability. Church “A” spends $40,000 on an electronic sign (it’s worth it! It gets people in the door, which is the goal, right?) so church “B” down the street spends double that… For a color LCD. More and bigger buildings, lights, media, etc. Which even a toddler can see is unsustainable at best, and acutely negligent at worst in a world where many die without water, freedom, or medical care.

And what has it all bought? Best case scenario: More people in the seats (even though overall Church attendance is declining rapidly), saying a prayer for a ticket to heaven… But who are repulsed by a call to the 24/7 upside down Kingdom life of Jesus. How can a church that spends and attracts consumeristicaly then call a people to a simpler lifestyle of reduction and generosity? We shouldn’t wonder why the culture walks away shaking it’s head.

The ray of hope in all of this are the communities of faith that have awoken to this smoke and mirrors game and are trying to be authentic in reversing the consumeristic approach. They are small (generally), they look radically different than church of the last fifty years, but a lot more like gatherings in the first, second, and third century. And they are calling people to reexamine the meaning of Jesus, the gospel, and the church as bigger and more important than getting people in the door of a church building to say a prayer. They are calling people to a Jesus-Kingdom way of life. And they are often completely confusing/threatening/misunderstood to churches stuck in consumeristic smoke and mirrors.

It is definitely an exciting, confusing, opportunity-filled time to be a follower of Jesus. So glad God is still in charge!