Spiritual Fitness: Top 12 Acts for a Christian

The Bible extensively mentions the word heart more than 500 times in the New International Version English translation. It means the seat and center of all life; your inner person; the profound essence of your personality; the seat of your thoughts, passions, desires, affections, appetites, purposes, endeavors. It’s what drives you. Learn all the ways the Bible refers to the heart in the Encyclopedia of the Bible, free to read online.

Scripture emphasizes the phrase “with all your heart,” which conveys the message of unconditional, unlimited, resolute, total, complete, steadfast, ardent, zealous, all-in, no-turning-back involvement and commitment.

The following brief list is meant to help you, as a follower of Jesus Christ, focus your daily attention on the most important behaviors that make up the SemperVerus life. And the first one is the most important one; the one that should motivate us in doing all the others. “We are never nearer Christ than when we find ourselves lost in a holy amazement at his unspeakable love.” John Owen (1616-1683), An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews, ch. III-V, in Works of John Owen, v.XXI, London: Johnson & Hunter, 1854, p. 528.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Situational Awareness: Spiritual Self-Defense ]

With all my heart, I will…

Principles of Defensive Driving from the Michigan State Police

The Michigan State Police Precision Driving Unit provides regularly scheduled precision driving programs to law enforcement personnel from throughout the United States and Canada. These include courses in basic driving, instructor development, pursuit schools, and recruit driver training. Defensive driving lectures are offered for criminal justice agencies as well as private sector organizations. The Michigan State Police Precision Driving Unit is also internationally recognized for the testing of pursuit-rated patrol cars through the Police Vehicle Evaluation and Purchasing Program.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Self-Defense Tactical Driving Tips ]

One of its curricula is Civilian Defensive Driving, a free PDF that teaches principles of safe driving.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Protect Yourself from a Carjacking ]

Among its lessons are the following:

A Directory of Medical Kit Resources

Follow the SemperVerus X List of Medical Related Tweets

How prepared are you to handle a sudden medical incident as you go about your day?

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Self-Defense Includes First-Aid Defense: Turn to ProTrainings to Learn ]

Perhaps in your everyday carry (EDC) inventory you have at your ready convenience a pen and notebook, sunglasses, a flashlight, a pocket knife, OC (pepper) spray, and even a defensive firearm to navigate the multiple minor to major situations you could possibly encounter while out and about.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Checklist: Categories and Their Items for Every Day Carry (EDC) ]

Have you considered the idea that self-defense preparation includes being ready to “defend” yourself from injury of all sorts—small cuts to life-threatening bleed-outs?

[ Read the SemperVerus article, 20 Reasons to Concealed Carry a Defensive Firearm ]

At the very least, you should insert a few BAND-AIDs® into your wallet or purse for those occasions when you or a friend suffer a paper cut, pin prick, or the like. But to be prepared for the eventuality of more serious injuries, consider toting (in your pocket, around your ankle, on your belt, in your purse, in your car, etc.) an Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK) or Gunshot Trauma Aid Kit (GTAK) filled as minimally or extensively as your comfort level will allow. The basics (for stopping bleeding) include

  • a tourniquet
  • pressure dressing
  • Z-fold gauze and
  • a pair of chest seals.

The following is a SemperVerus resource of links to information and products to help you assemble and use your own IFAK.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Self-Defense Includes First-Aid Defense: Turn to ProTrainings to Learn ]

Small Decisions Matter: The 1% ‘Marginal Gains’ Rule

The little decisions we make every moment of every day add up to major results for the good or bad of our lives. The SemperVerus motto reminds us to Stay True to what is right in every step we take and every choice we make.

Illustrating this is the Marginal Gains Rule: small changes lead to significant outcomes. This article offers this example:

“Sir Dave Brailsford, former performance director of British Cycling, believed making a 1% improvement in a host of tiny areas would result in extraordinary cumulative benefits. The theory of marginal gains can be credited for vaulting the British cycling team from a mediocre performer to 16 gold medals over two Olympics and seven Tour de France wins in eight years. The dedicated focus on improvement in the smallest of tasks is what separates the elite few from wayward others.”

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Make Your Bed, Change Your World ]

“Success is a few simple disciplines, practiced every day; while failure is simply a few errors in judgment, repeated every day.” —Jim Rohn