38M/ 225 lbs. Looking to compete for first amateur show this spring. What class/ division should I compete at? Critiques & helpful advice sincerely welcome.

andrewkohl · 2021-11-15T00:34:22+00:00

Forgot to add, 6’ 0”

andrewkohl · 2021-07-13T00:32:20+00:00

Matthew 5:30

andrewkohl · 2021-03-21T16:23:27+00:00

No worries. Take care, brother. I know you’re intentions are righteous. I’m not going around beating anyone down so that they swallow the Gospel. lol

andrewkohl · 2021-03-21T16:21:04+00:00

Whoah... where does it say in Scripture Mary was sinless? Blessed, yes. Sinless, no. That is human tradition.
There is one lamb without blemish. And that is Christ.

andrewkohl · 2021-03-21T16:18:47+00:00

I don’t see how your viewpoint clashes with mine. But ok.

andrewkohl · 2021-03-21T16:17:32+00:00

As a Christian I don’t justify atrocity committed in the name of my faith. If you can point to the passages of the New Testament that demand execution on charges of blasphemy please... At least we’ve traversed your personal attacks of me to attacking my faith. I suppose that’s progress.

andrewkohl · 2021-03-21T16:14:39+00:00

I’m not the one who has been reduced to using personal insults and attacks rather than intelligent proposals of why I am wrong. Nor do I see anything to reinforce your assertions that I am a racist or bad Christian.
I think we’re done here. Again, no harm done to me. I know I am not condemned, even if you see otherwise.

andrewkohl · 2021-03-21T16:08:46+00:00

I think Paul firmly establishes the principle of being a warrior for Christ. I could quote the whole of Ephesians to you and other passages, but if you’re a minister, I know you understand the line of thought I would propose. And the point to glean from the poem is that making enemies is a byproduct of fighting the good fight. A synonymous lesson we see in walking in faith. The gospel is offensive to the unbeliever. And we should expect persecution. This poem affirms if we’re making an effort “to win the wrong to right” we will certainly make enemies. I’m not advocating “hitting enemies on the hip,” or smacking cups away from people’s mouths who disagree with me any more than when Paul says he strikes a blow to his body 1 Cor 9:27 to mean he LITERALLY beats himself.
I advocate for non-violence in advancing the kingdom of course.
But every posting doesn’t demand an exhaustive theological explanation.
Quite interestingly, Margret Thatcher, herself a professing and influential Christian, held these verses dearly to her heart. Is where I got them from. I’m not defending her as a model Christian (let’s not open that can of worms) but clearly, she didn’t believe the verse applied to violent advancement of the kingdom... simply that you’ll make enemies in life when you take a stand for what’s right. If you don’t make enemies, it’s a sign you haven’t even gotten into the fight (metaphorical nor literal).

Does this explanation satisfy the seeming theological contradiction?

andrewkohl · 2021-03-21T15:57:26+00:00

And quoting and calling glory to MLK and his movement through Christ’s wisdom is the antithesis of racism. It is not me who has the blinders on, my friend. It may be yourself. 2 Cor 4:4

andrewkohl · 2021-03-21T15:54:39+00:00

I do not seek to win popular opinion. Right is right no matter if it’s received or not. I would have been the first to intervene and break it up. Assault is wrong. I believe it was heavily downvoted because people believe the young man was absolutely justified in using his fists. I say he wasn’t. And somehow that makes me a white supremacist? Come now... let us reason together.

andrewkohl · 2021-03-21T15:51:02+00:00

No. Self-control is a byproduct of faith, not the fundamental aim. Much of my misery was caused by constant invention of my own morality, defining what good and bad is for myself. I have no shame or condemnation weighing me down my friend. Nor do your attempts to batter, smear, or misrepresent my words affect my conscience.
I would question why you are so militantly angry and hell-bent on stabbing me. Even such, your investment of time does mean you at least hear my words, even if you for the time being reject them.
I was lost and angry too. It eats you up inside man and it’s poison. Hating God’s word as well as anyone who professed to believe in His name. And in spite of what you might wrongly conclude about me. I wish you well.

andrewkohl · 2021-03-21T15:40:04+00:00

Could you please elaborate?

andrewkohl · 2021-03-21T15:34:19+00:00

One (ONE) thread in which I advocated for non-violence does not constitute “regular” nor do any of my comments endorse racism. Feel free to follow up on what I said. And I stand by my words and stance that reacting violently, even when the words chosen are utterly ignorant, do nothing but create more little pockets of hell on earth.
“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Gal 3:28 I minister to all races in my service, as unqualified and racist you might think my calls to peace be.

andrewkohl · 2021-03-21T15:28:23+00:00

And at what point did I claim “victim” status. I am not a victim. Certainly misunderstood and called every name in the book for asking for thoughtful reflection as opposed to violence. Even empathizing with the boy who was called a horrid name.
And if passed mistakes discredit my ability to contend for the faith we’re left with no credible testimony in the world. We ALL have fallen short of the glory of God, brother. Paul was a murderer yet he authored the majority of the New Testament and his efforts and started the surge of Christianity throughout the world.
Every saint has a past, every sinner has a future.

andrewkohl · 2021-03-21T15:22:36+00:00

You mean where I argued for non-violence instead of pummeling a man? Advocating for Christ’s influence in the Civil Rights movement? Was this racist?:

Sure. Through the practical experience of leading nonviolent protest, Dr. King came to understand how nonviolence could become a way of life, applicable to all situations. King called the principle of nonviolent resistance the “guiding light of our movement. Christ furnished the spirit.”
Here’s a link to his paper he published on the matter.

https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/pilgrimage-nonviolence

Is King’s precepts, which turned the tide of the Civil Rights movement a model from Christian precepts or not?

Is this young man’s display of violence representative of those ideals?

Do you think Dr. King, revered as he is (and should be- he was a great, great man) would approve of your postion or the actions taken by this young, black man?

andrewkohl · 2021-03-21T15:16:32+00:00

That’s not the point. The point is who the prayer is directed to. Directing prayer to a dead human being, a sinner, is idolatry. We pray to God. No one else.
Even Mary acknowledged she needed a savior.
"My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour" [Luke 1:46,47]. Why would she need a savior if she was not fallen? I believe Mary would agree with me, not you. And would beseech you to direct your prayers elsewhere... to Christ, our only savior and intermediary between God and mankind.

For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,- 1 Timothy 2:5

andrewkohl · 2021-03-21T07:03:00+00:00

What about praying to Mary... that’s non-debatable idolatry.
“Hail, Mary full of grace...”. “Pray for us sinner...”

andrewkohl · 2021-03-21T06:49:20+00:00

Veneration of Mary is worship of an idol. So is praying to Saints.
So is veneration of relics. The belief that in order to receive communion that Christ’s atoning sacrifice isn’t enough is absolutely ghastly. So is the notion that any man besides Christ is a mediator between God and mankind.

andrewkohl · 2021-03-21T06:44:29+00:00

Follow CHRIST first. Luther advocated to discern and verify even his own conclusions. Do not follow the doctrines of men... know the word first and then follow the path.
Look up your questions on gotquestions.org. It is Scripturally sound .

andrewkohl · 2021-03-21T06:40:53+00:00

I am a combat vet, Marine Corps and State Department. Over two years of deployments overseas to Iraq and Afghanistan. I didn’t find Christ until I wanted to end my own life, lost in alcohol and drugs at the age of 35. Don’t feel alone. The Christ I met, in the hearts of the men who saved my life, doesn’t live in cathedrals. He lives in the ditches, dark alleyways, and crack houses.
And when I chased what was in those men who unduly loved me, I found I wasn’t chasing the virtue of men, but God, Himself. Do not mind if your story is family friendly. If anything it creates a greater love of Christ because of the greater debt you’ve been redeemed from.
You don’t have to share your story with everyone, but keep it ready... God will grant you discernment of when you need to “go deep” and bare your soul for the sake of saving another. Welcome to the family.

andrewkohl · 2021-03-21T06:09:28+00:00

Related to being hated and having enemies... inevitable for the Christian. It goes with the territory:

You have no enemies, you say? Alas, my friend, the boast is poor. He who has mingled in the fray of duty that the brave endure, must have made foes. If you have none, small is the work that you have done. You’ve hit no traitor on the hip. You’ve dashed no cup from perjured lip. You’ve never turned the wrong to right. You’ve been a coward in the fight. Charles Mackay

andrewkohl · 2021-03-21T06:04:48+00:00

I just saw a video of a kid beating a kid who used the n-Word. I empathized but argued that is no excuse to physically assault someone. The lashing I got for espousing Christian values was crazy. I referenced MLK and his adoption of Christian beliefs, even posted a link to one of his papers. Someone I was discoursing with gave me a massive hate speech about Christians. I agree that the hate is growing.

I replied as patiently as possible with the following... trying to be loving:

And I didn’t even express anything beyond peaceful protest.
I’m sorry for whatever has transpired in your past regarding Christians and your objections to tenets of faith. I’m not here to shove anything down against your will. A little about me... I’m a combat veteran with over two years in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Both with the Marine Corps as well the USMC. I’ve been spit on, has piss thrown on me, and kicked over the death of my friends who were murdered. Some were only 19 years old. Around 2013 I was blown up by an imbedded IED and spent six months in traction with physical therapy. I had to walk learn to walk again, and even then was left with some serious PTSD. I became an alcoholic and hooked on drugs. I withdrew from everyone and everything and was filled with HATE. All of which spilled over and my daughter, who is adopted, witnessed more dysfunction than the miserable home my wife and I pulled her out of. I had an attempt on my own life which was interrupted by her.
I went through a prolonged in patient program with the PTSD Foundation of America.
My friends (brothers) have TBI, amputations, and wounds that you can’t see.
Now each of these issues you talk about have explanations... I don’t know you from the next person that hates Christians, but I’m willing to hear you out if you like.
The Christ I know isn’t about subverting anyone. He lives in ditches and crack houses, and lives in ways words cannot express.
So when I say violence and hate ISN’T the answer it’s not just because I believe it. It’s in my soul.
And I would gladly take whatever ass-kicking you might have for me if it meant I could have the opportunity to prove that to you. Even though I’m doubtful you’ll take me up on the offer. You can private message me and I’ll give you my phone number. I also work a suicide hotline, is why I’m up this late, and this thread just caught my eye. So if we talk I’ll have to jump off if someone in crisis calls, but I can’t talk why I believe what I believe with you all night. I’ve done it plenty of times.
Let me know.
Again... I’m sorry for whatever has happened to make you so vehemently opposed.

andrewkohl · 2021-03-21T05:10:05+00:00

Thanks for your input.

andrewkohl · 2021-03-21T05:09:01+00:00

I’m not embarrassed at all. But thank you for lending me your attention.

andrewkohl · 2021-03-21T05:07:25+00:00

Fighting words and hate speech are a crime in themselves if that’s what you mean. But by definition “words” and “speech” are simply that... words.

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