combat

I do not know the author of this list of "Rules of Combat", but you may find it helpful:

1. If the enemy is in range, so are you.

2. Don't look conspicuous: it draws fire.

3. The easy way is always mined.

4. Try to look unimportant, they may be low on ammo.

5. The enemy invariably attacks on one of two occasions:

a. When you're ready for them.

b. When you're not ready for them.

6. Teamwork is essential; it gives the enemy someone else to

shoot at.

7. If your attack is going well, you have walked into an ambush.

8. Don't draw fire, it irritates the people around you.

9. The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is

incoming friendly fire.

10. When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is *not* our friend.

11. If it's stupid but works, it isn't stupid.

12. When in doubt, empty the magazine.

13. Anything you do can get you shot -- including doing nothing.

14. Make it too tough for the enemy to get in and you can't get

out.

15. Mines are equal opportunity weapons.

16. A Purple Heart just proves that were you smart enough to

think of a plan, stupid enough to try it, and lucky enough

to survive.

17. Don't ever be the first, don't ever be the last and don't

ever volunteer to do anything.

18. The quartermaster has only two sizes: too large and too small.

19. Five second fuses only last three seconds.

20. It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you

just bombed.

The Bible has a set of "rules for combat" as well. Rules such as, "Place high priority on making things right" (Matt. 5:23-24), "Stand ready to forgive" (Matt. 18:21-22), "Don't go to sleep angry" (Eph. 4:26), "Avoid strife whenever possible" (Prov. 20:3), "Don't lose your temper" (Prov. 15:18), "Keep your mouth shut" (Prov. 21:23), and "Don't argue with a fool" (Prov. 23:4).

We'd like for our lives to be filled only with peace, but times of combat are bound to come. However, the outcome doesn't have to be devastating if we follow God's rules!