The deeper you walk with Christ, the more the opposition shows up.
When you openly declare Jesus as Lord and stand for the faith, you stop being invisible. People who were quiet before start coming out of the woodwork. Some of them aren’t just operating in their own flesh — they’re influenced. Be careful who you open up to. Not everyone who smiles at you is safe, and some will respond with verbal attacks, mockery, or outright hate.
Christian persecution is real. For some it’s physical. For man... moreThe deeper you walk with Christ, the more the opposition shows up.
When you openly declare Jesus as Lord and stand for the faith, you stop being invisible. People who were quiet before start coming out of the woodwork. Some of them aren’t just operating in their own flesh — they’re influenced. Be careful who you open up to. Not everyone who smiles at you is safe, and some will respond with verbal attacks, mockery, or outright hate.
Christian persecution is real. For some it’s physical. For many of us, the battlefield is in our own circle and online. Jesus encountered a man possessed by a legion of demons. They couldn’t stand His presence and begged to be sent into the pigs rather than back to the abyss. The brighter your spirit becomes in Christ, the more certain forces will try to dim your light.
This isn’t theory. It’s the cost of drawing closer. Stay rooted. Stay discerning. And don’t be surprised when the resistance increases — it’s often confirmation you’re walking in the right direction.
Accurate 🎯 There is always opposition. Ive always said if you want to see a demon manifest, tell people the truth. No matter what, be truthful in the face of the opposition
CAA Bryon Rowell
Priory of the Holy Trinity
Dieu Avec Nous
Like a Templar examining the record, let’s separate what history can show from what faith asks us to believe.
Roman historian Tacitus wrote that “Christus” was executed under Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius—and that Christ’s followers were already in Rome decades later.
Jewish historian Josephus referred to James as “the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ.” Roman governor Pliny the Younger wrote to Emperor Trajan about Christians ... moreWas Jesus Christ real? Look beyond the Bible.
Like a Templar examining the record, let’s separate what history can show from what faith asks us to believe.
Roman historian Tacitus wrote that “Christus” was executed under Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius—and that Christ’s followers were already in Rome decades later.
Jewish historian Josephus referred to James as “the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ.” Roman governor Pliny the Younger wrote to Emperor Trajan about Christians gathering and worshipping Christ.
Those sources support Jesus’ existence and the early spread of his followers. For what Jesus said about himself, the New Testament records several passages Christians understand as claims to divinity:
* John 8:58: “Before Abraham was, I am.”
* John 10:30–33: “I and the Father are one”—and his listeners accuse him of making himself God.
* John 14:9: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”
* Mark 14:61–64: Before the high priest, Jesus speaks of the Son of Man seated at God’s right hand and coming with the clouds.
* John 20:28–29: Thomas calls him “My Lord and my God,” and Jesus responds to him.
The Bible doesn’t record Jesus using the exact sentence “I am God.” These are the key passages Christians point to when explaining why they believe he claimed divine authority and identity.
History gives us evidence of the man and his first followers. Faith speaks to who Christ is.
25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
CAA Brant Rotramel
St. Joan of Arc Prior... moreEzekiel 36:25–27 (KJV)
25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
CAA Brant Rotramel
St. Joan of Arc Priory
Act and God will Act
Brothers & SIsters, I want to share something deeply personal that I created: **Fortress to Future: A Father’s Legacy Codex**.
I have always been a comic-book nerd, and Superman has been one of my greatest inspirations. My son Graham is nonverbal and has severe autism. I know he hears me and understands far more than he can presently express, but I cannot always know exactly what he knows, what he does not know, or which of my lessons he has been able to fully receive.
Teaching him about life,... moreBrothers & SIsters, I want to share something deeply personal that I created: **Fortress to Future: A Father’s Legacy Codex**.
I have always been a comic-book nerd, and Superman has been one of my greatest inspirations. My son Graham is nonverbal and has severe autism. I know he hears me and understands far more than he can presently express, but I cannot always know exactly what he knows, what he does not know, or which of my lessons he has been able to fully receive.
Teaching him about life, faith, manhood, and our family’s history is more difficult than a father of a neurotypical child might expect.
That made me think about what Jor-El did for Superman. Knowing he could not personally guide his son forever, Jor-El preserved his voice, wisdom, and the story of where his son came from. I remember thinking, **“That is a great idea.”**
Who we are and where we come from matter. Our children deserve to know the men who came before them, what we believed, what we endured, what we learned, and how deeply we loved them.
That idea became **Fortress to Future**. I created this book to help other fathers preserve their own stories, lessons, and voices for their children.
Inside, I guide you through writing your own origin story, with prompts that help you share the memories, values, experiences, and advice you want your children to know. You can also design your own family crest and explore what its symbols represent about your family’s identity and principles.
The book goes beyond the written page. It explains how to create video logs and even start a private or public YouTube channel where your children can hear your voice, see your face, and listen to your lessons. It also encourages fathers to back up those messages on thumb drives or external hard drives. Websites and online services can change or disappear, but physical backups help ensure that your children can always access your words even without the internet and long after you are gone.
I created this with Graham in mind, but I realized that every father has something worth preserving.
As Christians and Templars, we are called to protect and provide for our families, but our responsibility does not end with the present. We must also leave behind the wisdom, testimony, and faith that can guide those who carry the torch after us.
Our possessions will eventually pass away. Our voices and lessons do not have to.
What do you all make of this rise in Orthodoxy in America? I myself was searching for something more 'serious' that my own Evangelical Church was simply not delivering for me. I wanted more than just a Christian Rock concert every sunday and a VBS event for kids. I wanted to learn how to pray like my Catholic Brothers and Sisters. I wanted to go deeper. I, like many of you noticed the rise of the Islamists and encroachment of other religions in America, I felt called. Have you all noticed this ... moreWhat do you all make of this rise in Orthodoxy in America? I myself was searching for something more 'serious' that my own Evangelical Church was simply not delivering for me. I wanted more than just a Christian Rock concert every sunday and a VBS event for kids. I wanted to learn how to pray like my Catholic Brothers and Sisters. I wanted to go deeper. I, like many of you noticed the rise of the Islamists and encroachment of other religions in America, I felt called. Have you all noticed this too?
⚔️ Brothers, I just ordered my synthetic training sword! Looking forward to getting moving and exploring HEMA Historical European Martial Arts.
Sword drills and footwork can be a fun way to work on coordination, balance, endurance, and strength while learning about historical European combat. Weapons such as the longsword, arming sword, and sword and buckler offer different skills to explore.
For our Templar group, this could be a great opportunity for fitness, discipline, and fellowship. Star... more⚔️ Brothers, I just ordered my synthetic training sword! Looking forward to getting moving and exploring HEMA Historical European Martial Arts.
Sword drills and footwork can be a fun way to work on coordination, balance, endurance, and strength while learning about historical European combat. Weapons such as the longsword, arming sword, and sword and buckler offer different skills to explore.
For our Templar group, this could be a great opportunity for fitness, discipline, and fellowship. Start with controlled solo drills and proper instruction. Synthetic swords can still cause injuries, so partner practice requires appropriate protective equipment and agreed safety rules.
Anyone here practice HEMA, or interested in getting started? Let’s put some movement behind our interest in history! ⚔️
I was a fitness trainer from 2013–2026, and I wanted to share a simple approach to training with you: the ancient Greek Tetrad, a repeating four-day cycle that balances effort with recovery.
⚔️ Day 1 — Prepare: Short, brisk exercises to ready the body without exhausting it.
⚔️ Day 2 — Work hard: Your most challenging training session.
⚔️ Day 3 — Recover: Rest, walking, or gentle movement.
⚔️ Day 4 — Practice: Moderate exercise with attention to technique.
I was a fitness trainer from 2013–2026, and I wanted to share a simple approach to training with you: the ancient Greek Tetrad, a repeating four-day cycle that balances effort with recovery.
⚔️ Day 1 — Prepare: Short, brisk exercises to ready the body without exhausting it.
⚔️ Day 2 — Work hard: Your most challenging training session.
⚔️ Day 3 — Recover: Rest, walking, or gentle movement.
⚔️ Day 4 — Practice: Moderate exercise with attention to technique.
Then repeat, adjusting to your health, ability, and recovery.
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
— 1 Corinthians 6:19, KJV
This passage speaks directly about holiness and honoring God with our bodies. We can also apply that principle through thoughtful care for our health: movement, nourishment, and adequate rest.
Our physical abilities differ, and fitness does not determine our worth. The goal is to care for what God has entrusted to us so we can serve our families, our fellowship, and those in need.
Prepare with purpose. Train with discipline. Recover with wisdom. Use your strength to serve.
CAA Bryon Rowell
Priory of the Holy Trinity
Dieu Avec Nous