I have a handgun carry permit and I carry a handgun.  This is a serious responsibility and because of that I practice and seek out training whenever I can.  Yes, I enjoy shooting sports a lot and I participate in IDPA and 3-gun 

competitions, but in the final analysis the real reason I do IDPA, and to a lesser extent the 3-gun matches, is to prepare myself for that moment one hopes will never come; the need to preserve life and/or the prevention of grave bodily harm by means of lethal force.

The problem with competitions is it is easy to get caught-up in the "game" and possibly develop poor techniques that could get you or a loved one killed in a real-life circumstance.  Don't get me wrong, any trigger time a shooter experiences is worthwhile - to a degree, but the serious individual that carries a handgun must be ever mindful to keep the techniques of the "game" from polluting the muscle-memory required for effective combat defensive shooting.  That's why repetitive independent practice drills that are learned in a formal training environment are so critical.  It is a perishable skill.  Drills for properly drawing and moving such as the Wyatt Protocol, or scanning techniques are not always the best way to "game" a match scenario.  Often times I have not placed in a match as well as I could have because I choose to execute the scenario as I know I would try to do in real life.  Its all a matter of priorities.  

I was fortunate that early in my handgun carrying days I found myself in a two-day close quarter handgun course at a local training firm called PRI.  The class was composed mostly of LEOs and my experience with them quickly put me into the ballpark of a what a proper mindset is all about.  Thanks Ron and John.  However, it took a Tactical Response (formerly OPS) 2-Day Combat Handgun course taught by Mr. James Yeager to introduce me to the way of the Warrior Mindset.  This was a very enlightening experience,  - a real epiphany, indeed it has become as much of a life-style for me as is my pursuit of a Christian walk.  It is my sincerest hope that sharing these pages with the reader will influence you to consider the path of the Christian-Warrior.