III – Be

Strive for Readiness

The first principle of living a SemperVerus life is to intentionally prepare yourself for any and all conditions you face in your everyday living:

I. Prepare: Putting your life into proper condition and readiness to successfully handle material and spiritual foreseen and unforeseen circumstances.

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of PREPARE ]

Notice that the word “readiness” is included in that concept. In his Homeland Security Today article, It is Time to Replace Preparedness With Readiness, retired Army officer and former External Affairs Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 3, Dan Stoneking, owner and principal at Stoneking Strategic Communications, encourages readers to go beyond merely being prepared, and focus their attention on being ready.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Preparation Warnings from Former CIA Analyst, Sarah Adams ] 

Here are excerpts from his opinion column:

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Lt. Col. Dave Grossman on 3 Types of Aggression

Lt. Col. Dave Grossman is a US Army Ranger, paratrooper, and former West Point psychology professor. He holds a Black Belt in Hojutsu—the martial art of the firearm—and has been inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. His distinguished military and academic career has made him one of the foremost authorities on human aggression, violence, and the psychological effects of combat.

[ Bookmark the SemperVerus CHURCH SECURITY INTELLIGENCE CLIPBOARD ]

He’s the author of more than a dozen books, including On Spiritual Warfare, which is described this way:

“Evil from the world, the flesh, and the devil preys on those we love and stalks our every move. If we’re not fighting back, we’re losing. In On Spiritual Warfare, the sequel to On Spiritual Combat, Dave Grossman and Chris Pascoe guide Christians through operations of advanced spiritual warfare. Battle the forces of evil with 22 intensely practical WARNORDS, or military “warning orders,” drawn from the writings of Luther and Erasmus.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Self-Defense Body Armor for Spiritual Warfare ]

“These strategic warnings and tactical orders will equip you to

  • recognize and fearlessly confront evil,
  • confess and repent of your own sin,
  • serve others as you become sanctified, and
  • mature into a triumphant spiritual warrior of God.

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

“Filled with Scripture, powerful hymns, battle prep questions, and practical direction, On Spiritual Warfare is the map you need to successfully complete your mission from God. You become victorious as a Christian by living virtuously. Victory through virtue!”

[ Read the SemperVerus article, The Ministry of Protection: Why Church Safety Teams Matter and How Serving in the Ministry of Protection Brings Clarity to the Calling ]

The following is an excerpt appropriate for church security team members (“sheepdogs” as Lt. Col. Grossman calls them):

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Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, & Thanksgiving

Sunday, May 17, 2026, the National Mall in Washington, DC, was the scene of an historic gathering as Americans of every background across the country prepared for the nation’s 250th birthday with Scripture, testimony, prayer, and rededication of America as One Nation Under God.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Celebrating 250 Years: Learn About the American Revolution ]

From morning fellowship in front of the US Capitol to an evening filled with music anchored at the main stage on 12th Street, Rededicate 250 was rooted in giving thanks for God’s presence in America’s national life throughout 250 years of American history and asking for his guidance for the next 250.

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The Ministry of Protection: Why Church Safety Teams Matter and How Serving in the Ministry of Protection Brings Clarity to the Calling

[The following is a guest article by Trevor DeGroote, a safety and protection professional with a background spanning law enforcement, private-sector operations, and consulting services. He’s the author of Serving in the Ministry of Protection: Fulfilling the Call to Faithful Readiness in the House of God, which SemperVerus highly recommends every church security volunteer should read.]

In recent years, conversations around church safety have shifted dramatically. What was once considered a distant “what if” has become a practical, deeply necessary part of ministry life. Across the Midwest and beyond, churches are recognizing that the responsibility to create a safe environment for worship is not merely logistical; it’s pastoral. It’s spiritual. It’s an act of service and love.

[ Bookmark the SemperVerus CHURCH SECURITY INTELLIGENCE CLIPBOARD ]

That’s what makes the concept of a church safety team so vital. These groups of volunteers, men and women from within the congregation, stand quietly at the intersection of faith and readiness. Their job is not to control, but to care; not to intimidate, but to ensure peace. When done the right way, a church safety ministry doesn’t make a church feel guarded. It makes it feel secure enough to worship freely.

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US Presidential Message Commemorating 250 Years of the Bible in America

[The White House released the following statement by the President of the United States of America Donald J. Trump]

“This week (April 18–25, 2026), I send my best wishes to every citizen gathered at the Museum of the Bible, on the National Mall, and all across our country participating in America Reads the Bible, a historic initiative in which nearly 500 Americans will take part in a public reading, over the course of one week, of the entire Bible—from Genesis to Revelation—to celebrate 250 years of the Bible in America.” [On Tuesday, April 21, between 6–7 pm EDT, from the Oval Office of The White House, President Trump read 2 Chronicles 7:11-22:]

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Politicians, Celebrities, and More Will Read the Bible Aloud From Washington, DC ]

“From Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the New World and the first permanent English-speaking settlement at Jamestown to our founding in 1776 and to the present day, the Bible has been indelibly woven into our national identity and way of life. Nearly 400 years ago, a decade after the arrival of the Mayflower, the legendary John Winthrop powerfully invoked Jesus Christ’s Sermon on the Mount as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew: “We must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us,” Winthrop said, imploring his fellow Christian settlers to stand as a beacon of faith for all the world to see.

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