Greetings to all!
My name is Shon and I will start off by saying I am happy to be here. Eager to meet new like minded friends, and to strengthen my bond with the Lord through service in his name.
I have a brief "About me" in my profile if you would like to take a look. Maybe I can touch a few points to explain a little more why I have not only been drawn in closer to God, but to be part of something bigger than myself for the greater good of all...in our Lords name.
I'd also like to take a m... moreGreetings to all!
My name is Shon and I will start off by saying I am happy to be here. Eager to meet new like minded friends, and to strengthen my bond with the Lord through service in his name.
I have a brief "About me" in my profile if you would like to take a look. Maybe I can touch a few points to explain a little more why I have not only been drawn in closer to God, but to be part of something bigger than myself for the greater good of all...in our Lords name.
I'd also like to take a moment to tell a little more about myself which may explain the way I am the way I am. In 2015 my colon perforated (burst open). I was unaware other than I knew I was in a little pain. Finally my wife made me go to the doctor who immediately sent me to the hospital. For some reason I can tolerate major organs bursting and poisoning the inside of my body but having a sinus cold almost cripples me. 🙄
I was sent to emergency surgery and woke up with a colostomy bag. Long story short I was scheduled to have that removed and my "plumbing" all hooked back up after 3 months. This happened but I didn't leave the hospital before it burst again. Now for 6 more months of "the bag." In this time I learned to live with it, I'm not sure I ever fully accepted it though. Fear of living with the bag drove me into depression. I was in a very bad place...
I won't go into that fully but I sat in my recliner several days with the "off switch" in my hand and ready to just be done. Then along comes the television. I don't watch much TV but I cut it on one day to try and take my mind off of things. First commercial was for the Wounded Warrior Project and I say individuals who were missing ALL of their limbs, permanently disfigured, just bad, bad stuff. But they were smiling, playing with the kids, talking with their wives, etc. I reminded myself that my poop bag wasn't anywhere near as bad as any of those people and that I needed to stop my pity party. Which I did.
BUT, my sadness turned to anger as I wondered why God allowed this to happen to me when there are so many people in the world who don't live right, do awful things to kids, Rob, steal, kill etc. Why me? Well, commercial #2 was something that caught my eye while changing channels and I came across a TV evangelist giving a message about Job. We should all know how Job was tested by God....and why. This changed my direction again as I realized God didn't blow my colon up twice.......God kept it from killing me. Ultimately there were 3 times during those months in which doctors said they are not sure how I didn't die.
I know why I didn't die. Because it wasn't my time. Like it wasn't David's time to kill Saul and take the throne even when he easily could have. There is a time and reason for everything and just because we may think things are bad and may not understand why it's happening, I assure you that it's all part of his plan and his plan is always the right plan.
I channeled this new direction in my life towards helping others who were going through the same thing I was. Many wanted to commit suicide. I understood that pain because I had been there. But I also understood why I did and why I was where I was then and talking to who I was talking to. Many men shared that I kept them alive just by talking with them, praying for them and telling them to have faith in God's work. Many people couldn't afford the supplies they needed so I took advantage of the low prices I could get everything for and stockpiled closets full and mailed stuff out to people weekly.
Anyway, from that point on my entire life has changed. Every moment is precious and you really understand that when you have been so close to death. The feeling of being here to help others and knowing this also greatly pleases the Lord is the best feeling ever.
Anyway, when things get tough keep the faith. Remember Job. Remember David. It can always be worse and God is sending you down the road he wants you to go down. Your reward will come by praying. believing in him and keeping faith. Everything happens for a reason. Have faith and follow the path God has laid before you. It's not your place to question it or understand it. Just follow it. He has already written the story of your life from beginning to end. Trust in his ending. I'm sure it's better than where your own version will take you.
Had David killed Saul he would have probably still taken the throne. But the rest of the story would have been much different and everything else the Lord had planned would have been altered and changed the course of humanity. Not understanding why, David simply just trusted the Lord. Years later he still took over the throne. And he was the greatest of all kings, ruling for many years and through his lineage eventually came Jesus. I think we all agree that part of the story ended up being pretty important. David's lineage has and will rule forever.
Go forth every day, for every day is a blessing, and live for the Lord. Pray daily for his instruction and guidance, he will lead you where you need to go. Trust in him, serve him and praise his name.
Glory be to God, and may his grace be upon you all.
- Shon Foreman, CAA
we’ll be exploring five of the most epic and noteworthy battles in the history of the Knights Templar.
#1: The Battle of Montgisard
In late November, 1177, a large Crusader army had accompanied Count Philip of Flanders on an expedition north of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, into Syria, to attack the Saracen fortress of Hama. Saladin, the powerful Sultan of Egypt and Damascus, took advantage of the Crusader kingdom’s reduced forces to invade with a large army some 26,000 strong. The King of Jerusal... morewe’ll be exploring five of the most epic and noteworthy battles in the history of the Knights Templar.
#1: The Battle of Montgisard
In late November, 1177, a large Crusader army had accompanied Count Philip of Flanders on an expedition north of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, into Syria, to attack the Saracen fortress of Hama. Saladin, the powerful Sultan of Egypt and Damascus, took advantage of the Crusader kingdom’s reduced forces to invade with a large army some 26,000 strong. The King of Jerusalem, Baldwin IV, was only sixteen years old, and also stricken with leprosy. Nevertheless, the young King would not let Saladin’s attack go unchallenged, mustering a small army of just five hundred knights and four thousand infantry. The young leper King was joined by Raynald of Chatillon, as well as Odo of Saint-Amand, Master of the Knights Templar, accompanied by some eighty Templar knights.
Saladin did not believe such a tiny force of Christians should be considered a threat, and so marched at his leisure on Jerusalem, allowing his army to spread out across the countryside and pillage the Kingdom’s farmlands. Meanwhile, King Baldwin, the Templars, and the knights of the Kingdom closed in on Saladin’s army, encountering the enemy at Montgisard, near the city of Ramla.
Saladin was taken by surprise; his forces were in a vulnerable position attempting to cross a river. The young King immediately ordered a charge, and the Templars were at the forefront of the attack. Odo of Saint Amand led the Templars in several charges, which smashed Saladin’s forces. The Templars’ skills as cavalry warriors proved highly valuable that day, as almost the whole of Saladin’s army was wiped out. Saladin himself barely escaped, having to flee for his life on a racing camel.
Montgisard proved to be one of the greatest defeats of Saladin’s life, and a shining moment for King Baldwin IV, the knights of Jerusalem, and the Templars.
#2: The Battle of Hattin
On June 30, 1187, Saladin once again invaded the Kingdom of Jerusalem; his army was massive, numbering 30,000 men. To incite the Crusaders into a battle, Saladin attacked Tiberias.
The King of Jerusalem, Guy of Lusignan, marched out with a smaller but considerable army of 20,000, including a large contingent of Knights Templar. Although the other high ranking men of the army advised against it, Guy listened to the advice of the Master of the Temple, Gerard of Ridefort, who suggested an immediate attack on Saladin. The Crusaders made a forced march across scorching dry territory toward Tiberias. But when they tried to reach the Springs of Kafr Hattin, Saladin’s army intercepted them, forcing them to lay camp on the arid plateau. By morning the Crusaders were entirely surrounded by Saladin’s army, and Saladin launched his attack. The Crusaders suffered heavy casualties from Saladin’s archers and cavalry. But despite being outnumbered, exhausted and thirsty, the Crusaders fought with incredible vigor, and several times the Christian knights threw back Saladin’s attacks. The Templars were instrumental in this resistance, and fought with fierce spirit and courage. Indeed, the Saracen chronicler Ibn al-Athir tells us that Saladin, watching the battle unfold before him, was very nervous, tugging at his beard with anxiety as he watched the Templars and the other Crusaders repeatedly hurl the Saracen troops back.
Nevertheless, the superior numbers of Saladin’s forces finally prevailed and the Crusaders were defeated. It was a devastating loss for the Kingdom. Saladin was so afraid of the Knights Templar that he had every Templar prisoner captured at the Battle of Hattin executed immediately.
Despite their defeat at Hattin, the Templars once again showed themselves to be brilliant warriors, who fought with fierce determination even in the most desperate of situations.
For our next battle, we’ll move to the Iberian Peninsula, specifically Portugal:
#3: The Siege of Tomar
The castle of Tomar, built in 1160, was the headquarters of the Knights Templar in Portugal for many years. In the late twelfth century, a powerful Moroccan Berber dynasty, the Almohads, ruled over much of North Africa. They also controlled most of those portions of southern Spain still under Mohammedan rule.
In 1190, the Almohad Caliph, al-Mansur, crossed the River Tejo and invaded the Kingdom of Portugal. The Almohads captured the castle of Torres Novas, then moved on Tomar, which they put to siege.
Gualdim Pais, Grand Master, led the Templar garrison in defense of their fortress. Despite being impossibly outnumbered, the Templars held out for six days. Gualdim was around seventy years old at the time, and a long-time veteran of the Crusades both in Iberia and in the Holy Land. The Almohads made several assaults on the walls, but each time they were repulsed by the Templars. Finally, the Almohads managed to breach the fortress gates, but Gualdim led his knights in a counterattack, which devastated the Almohad troops. So heavy were the Almohad casualties during this attack that from then on the entrance to Tomar was known as “The Gate of Blood”.
At this point al-Mansur gave up his attack, withdrawing his troops and abandoning the siege. Tomar remained in Christian hands. The valor and determination of Gualdim Pais and his Templars had won the day.
For our next battle, let’s return to the Crusades in the Holy Land:
#4: The Battle of Arsuf
Following Saladin’s victory at Hattin, Richard the Lionheart, King of England, led a Crusade to the Holy Land to beat back the Saracen advance. After recapturing the wealthy coastal city of Acre from Saladin in the summer of 1191, Richard marched his forces south down the Palestinian coast, placing the Knights Templar at the head of the army.
Saladin was desperate to stop Richard’s advance, and so, as Richard’s army approached Arsuf on September 7th, Saladin attacked with full force. Once again, the Crusaders, with an army of under 12,000 troops, were outnumbered; Saladin had a host of 25,000. Nevertheless, Richard’s formation was solid and impenetrable. The Knights Hospitaller, who made up the rearguard, charged early, but Richard took advantage of the situation, and ordered a general charge, which crushed Saladin’s troops. The Templars, under their new Grand Master, Robert de Sable, played a key role in the battle, delivering some of the most devastating charges. Saladin was utterly defeated, losing thousands of troops. Richard and the Crusaders won the day, occupying Arsuf, and going on to take the important coastal city of Jaffa as well.
Once again, Templar cavalry tactics had proved very useful in the heat of battle.
For our last battle, we’ll again head to Spain:
#5: The Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa
In the summer of 1212, the Almohad Caliph, Muhammad al-Nasir, gathered an enormous army of some 25,000 troops and marched north out of Seville, intent on invading the Christian Kingdom of Castile with its capital in Toledo. Meanwhile, Pope Innocent III had proclaimed a Crusade in Spain to counter al-Nasir. Christian knights from virtually every corner of the Iberian Peninsula gathered in Toledo under King Alfonso VIII of Castile, King Pedro II of Aragon, and King Sancho VII of Navarre. Included in this Crusader coalition was a considerable contingent of Knights Templar under their Grand Master, Gomes Ramires, who was Portuguese.
The Crusaders marched south and the two armies met on July 14th at Las Navas de Tolosa. On the morning of July 16th, the battle began. The Templars and other military orders were in the front lines, and closed quickly with the Almohad troops. The fighting was fierce, and the Templars suffered some of the heaviest casualties on the Christian side. However, the Aragonese and Navaresse contingents, which made up the Christian right and left flanks, carried out a pincer movement that threw the Moors into disarray. A series of cavalry charges now shattered the Almohad army, and the Christian victory was total. Thousands of Almohad troops were slain, and the Caliph himself barely escaped with his life. The Templar Grand Master, Gomes Ramires, was one of the few Christina casualties, since he and his brother Templars had been among the first warriors to ride into battle; they died helping to win an incredible victory for the Iberian Crusade, which led to the collapse of Moorish power in Spain.
Sir Kenneth Glover
Ordre Militaire Suprême Des Templiers (OMSDT)
Marshal, Priory of St. Luke
Esto Benignus et Humilis
Good night to all brothers and sisters
1 john 2:2~ And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Psst! I have an extraordinary mystery. Jesus passed on to liberate you from the culpability and discipline of your own transgressions. Psst #2! He didn't do it only for you; he did it for every other person, as well! Let the news out.
Prayer: I'm lowered to the place of quietness, Almighty God and Heavenly Father, that you would take you... moreGood night to all brothers and sisters
1 john 2:2~ And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Psst! I have an extraordinary mystery. Jesus passed on to liberate you from the culpability and discipline of your own transgressions. Psst #2! He didn't do it only for you; he did it for every other person, as well! Let the news out.
Prayer: I'm lowered to the place of quietness, Almighty God and Heavenly Father, that you would take your most valuable gift and deal it for something as monstrous and awful as my transgressions. I can imagine no real way to reimburse you, however I need to thank you by offering this uplifting news to every other person for whom you've made this penance. In Jesus' name I ask. So be it.
SGT JOHN EDWARD SCIVOLETTI
PRIORY OF ST JOAN OF ARC
Dear Templar Brothers and Sisters,
I am writing to remind you about our upcoming OMSDT Bible Study session, scheduled for this Sunday, September 9, 2024, at 9:00 pm EST.
During this session, we will be discussing Part 5 (Constructing the Tabernacle) Exodus 32-40
Some additional information about the text:
- Order in OT #2
- 40 Chapters
- Written around 1400 BCE
- Time Period Covering 1525-1400 BCE
- Authorship is attributed to Moses
- Cannon Type: History (Pentateuch)
If you would like... moreDear Templar Brothers and Sisters,
I am writing to remind you about our upcoming OMSDT Bible Study session, scheduled for this Sunday, September 9, 2024, at 9:00 pm EST.
During this session, we will be discussing Part 5 (Constructing the Tabernacle) Exodus 32-40
Some additional information about the text:
- Order in OT #2
- 40 Chapters
- Written around 1400 BCE
- Time Period Covering 1525-1400 BCE
- Authorship is attributed to Moses
- Cannon Type: History (Pentateuch)
If you would like to attend the study, please click on the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87231462430?pwd=YOHH1DDICpwRtr5iEMXoQobhdewf7K.1.
To join the meeting, please use the following Bible Study information:
Meeting ID: 872 3146 2430
Passcode: 107447
Please mark your calendar and make every effort to attend. I look forward to seeing you all there.
Blessings,
GC John Kelmy
KCP, Priory of St. Michael the Archangel
OMSDT
Dear Templar Brothers and Sisters,
I am writing to remind you about our upcoming OMSDT Bible Study session, scheduled for this Sunday, August 11, 2024, at 9:00 pm EST.
During this session, we will be discussing Part 4 (Laws given to the People) Exodus 20-31
Some additional information about the text:
- Order in OT #2
- 40 Chapters
- Written around 1400 BCE
- Time Period Covering 1525-1400 BCE
- Authorship is attributed to Moses
- Cannon Type: History (Pentateuch)
If you would like to a... moreDear Templar Brothers and Sisters,
I am writing to remind you about our upcoming OMSDT Bible Study session, scheduled for this Sunday, August 11, 2024, at 9:00 pm EST.
During this session, we will be discussing Part 4 (Laws given to the People) Exodus 20-31
Some additional information about the text:
- Order in OT #2
- 40 Chapters
- Written around 1400 BCE
- Time Period Covering 1525-1400 BCE
- Authorship is attributed to Moses
- Cannon Type: History (Pentateuch)
If you would like to attend the study, please click on the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87231462430?pwd=YOHH1DDICpwRtr5iEMXoQobhdewf7K.1.
To join the meeting, please use the following Bible Study information:
Meeting ID: 872 3146 2430
Passcode: 107447
Please mark your calendar and make every effort to attend. I look forward to seeing you all there.
Blessings,
GC John Kelmy
KCP, Priory of St. Michael the Archangel
OMSDT
“In Nomine Eius Triumphabo”
