I'm stopping Xanga. It's been a good, what, 5 years? I've never officially stopped my xanga during those years. But today I am. I used to wonder what it feels like, shutting down something like GK's weekly. But, now I'm doing it myself, shutting down MrGuitarist. Farewell MrGuitarist. You were a brave pseudonym. And you too Caspian.

I've a new website now. http://www.claytoncooney.com You may keep up with my writings there.

Ever been in a situation, and you think to yourself "Oh if I could only change the last 30 seconds and not do what I just did!"

guilty.

I was probably 8 years old. I had this little olympic feat I would do as I walked down a certain hallway to my room. I wouldn't walk - I would rock my way in mid-air. How? On the walls of the hall, about waist high, was a chair-rail, and I would lift myself up on those and swing like an acrobat all the way down the hallway like a sea-horse.

One unfortunate day, part of the chair-rail slipped as I was making my moves down the hall. Down I went, and before I knew it, my slender straight little arm snapped into the shape of a Z.

I screamed.

It wasn't the pain of the fall or the break, it was the shock of seeing my arm in such a horrendous Z figure. I had no idea bones could do that, and I wished, so badly wished, that I had never picked up the art of swinging like an acrobat down my hallway. At least, not for those last 30 seconds!

But sometimes situations are forced upon us, against our will, 30 seconds or no 30 seconds. I think of Richard Wurmbrand. As the Communists rounded up the pastors and encouraged them to deny the full gospel of Jesus Christ, his wife Sabina leaned over to him and whispered:

"Richard, you need to go up there and wipe the spit off of Christ's face."
"You know you'll lose your husband if I do that."
"I didn't marry a coward."

Faithful witnesses don't get the privilege of choosing their platform. It is thrust upon them. But I guarantee you, come hell or highwater, that witness for Christ will never wish to reverse those glorious 30 seconds fulfilling the vow: "I do love Jesus Christ.

Have you ever read the history of Wessex circa 300 - 1000 AD?

Of Saint Germanus and his "Hallelujah victory" over the Picts and Saxons? What of Caedmon, Bede or Patrick?

Today I have have been reminded that I must not forget the cradle of my native tongue - England. Nor must I forget the people who spoke it and their history. And what struck me most this afternoon was the poetry of those long forgotten years. Genesis A and Genesis B, along with Judith and Battle of Maldon, even Chaucer's Gawain and the Green Knight.

The concept of true and honorable Christian men fighting for Christ, for their families, their land, and for Alfred their king ... it is not a fairy tale. Why should it be odd that a Knight in those days should worship Christ and fight for only a worthy and righteous cause?

I am not in favor of the Crusades or their motives, but I am certainly in favor of a man who worships his God, Jesus Christ, and begs to be sent on a holy mission, empowered by the grace of His name. I need no well fashioned sword or well-bred horse. I am in need of God's precious name to be signed on my heart, that my tongue might sing His praise. I would that all young men and all fair ladies seek Christ, the only God-King, that they too might be sent on holy missions of extravagant love.

Who told us the Dark Ages were dark? I might suggest that the days before Christ's return will be much darker than any day before us. If there ever were a King Arthur and his round table knights, I promise you, they would beg to live in the last generation, merely to see Christ descend from the sky with a great shout. I promise you, they would spend all their tears just to see Him - Faithful and True - ride His white horse, coming with ten thousands of His saints, executing judgment on all.