Robert Michael Gallant's Blog: Robert's Ramblings

I'm sure you've all heard it said that "whatever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger." I challenge you to realize that sometimes it's what kills you that actually makes you stronger. Every trial you face gives you an opportunity to either follow the road to brokenness, or travel the path to wholeness. Will you choose to give in and give up? Or will you choose to see each trial as a chance to die more to self and live more for Christ? "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2) Draw on the only power that saves, that of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His grace is sufficient, and in our weaknesses He is made strong, and given the glory. "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-11)

Birth of a Leader
Posted on March 1, 2017 by robertgallant
There is something purely amazing when you witness a leader being born. Last night I had the tremendous privilege of partaking in my Toastmasters Club’s Spring Speech Contest. An even greater privilege was having my breathtaking wife standing right next to me, and also competing with me. I say “competing with” because personal growth is not about a competition against each other, it’s about competing with each other against a common foe. That foe goes by many names. Sometimes it is called failure, sometimes discouragement. Perhaps at times it can even be an overwhelming desire to give up. That is not what champions, or leaders, are made from. Leaders are born from the ability to get up in the face of all opposition, and the fortitude to fight for success. It is also imperative to know where that success comes from. True success can only be born by humility and the realization that all good things come from God. Yes, I enjoyed winning two first place trophies last night. I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t. But what I enjoyed infinitely more, was watching my wife get her first trophy as she follows her dream. A leader was born last night. That leader is my wife. She was actually a leader all along, but sometimes a little recognition of that flame that burns inside is all it takes to make that flame grow stronger. After the competition last night, I told her one of my secrets to public speaking. Prior to every speech I give, I pray that God speaks through me and gives a message to someone that needs to hear it. Being a leader is not a selfish endeavor. It is the ultimate exercise in selflessness. Be humble. Be confident. Know where true success is born. Be the leader you were meant to be.

Hi everyone! To those of you who entered my book giveaway for "Vodka, Vagabonds, and Victory," and didn't win, please message me and I'll send you a free PDF copy. Please be an actual contest entrant and please write a review when done. Thank you all and have an AMAZING day! God bless you all.

I just wanted to congratulate the winner of my book giveaway. I just got home from the post office and it should be there soon! I hope you receive immeasurable hope and inspiration from my story. God bless! To all those who entered, thank you for showing interest. I'm setting up a book giveaway for my second book today! May God's blessings rest on you all.

My second book just went live! It's a 40 day devotional filled with quotes from 40 of History's greatest minds, coupled with 40 relevant Bible verses, each set tied together with a brief meditation. It's available as a paperback right now from the link included here, and will be available on Kindle through Amazon within the next few hours. Thank you for the support and God bless you all!
www.createspace.com/6843402

I just wanted to let everyone know that the price of a paperback version of Vodka, Vagabonds and Victory has been lowered to $9.99. You can order it here www.createspace.com/6791475 The price of the kindle version has also been dropped to $2.99. You can find that one on amazon. Thank you for your support and enjoy!

Ok today we're going to have a little fun. If anyone here has ever been to Toastmaster's you know what Table Topics are. If not, Table Topics is a chance to come up with a reply off the top of your head to a sometimes strange question. Normally this is done in a public speaking venue, but I figured this would be fun.Please post your replies as a comment, and have fun! So here goes. Ahem...

Here's the scenario. You wake up in the middle of the night starving. You walk groggily down the stairs to get a snack from the fridge. As you're shuffling down the hall you can't help but hear the muffled sounds of rock music coming from somewhere in the kitchen. As you get closer to the fridge, you notice it is getting louder. You open the refrigerator door and freeze in place. The leftovers have grown beards...and have started a small garage band...err..refrigerator band. What do you do?

Hi everyone! I just wanted to let you know that I'm working on two books right now. One is a devotional style book filled with wisdom from great men and women from the pages of History. It is entitled, "A Book of Remembrance: Wisdom From the Ages." The other is a Biblical-based Historical Fiction book entitled, "A Token in the Window." It is an adaptation of the account of Rahab and the two spies which takes place in World War 2 era Europe. Here's a sample of each. Enjoy!

"A Book of Remembrance"

Introduction

Hello faithful reader! It brings me joy to present to you this volume of wisdom from ages past. During the first few years of my “new life” I developed a strong love for History. It is, in my opinion, one of the most important subjects that one can study.
Only in the pages of History can one find not only the tragedies that took place throughout the centuries, but also the choices that brought those events about. If you delve deeply into these matters, you can’t help but reflect upon the mistakes and bad choices you have made in your own life. We all make bad decisions that sometimes result in tragic events. All of our fingertips have darkened the pages of our own personal stories with the stains of remorse. We are not alone in that aspect of life.
On the other hand, however, we can’t help but notice the dazzling displays of courage and righteousness that color the cycle of time like fireworks bursting in the night sky. We too can emulate these displays. If we can learn how to harness the knowledge and wisdom that our predecessors possessed, and put it into action, we too can make the night sky burst forth with wonders of achievement. But how do we do this?
I believe Malachi 3:16 holds the key. God says here, “Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His name.”
These are tremendously powerful words that I hope will come alive for you throughout this reading. At the center of this magnificent verse we find a “scroll of remembrance,” which shows us just how important our History truly is. If we want God to remember us, we surely must remember Him and His servants throughout the ages. Notice, this scroll of remembrance is about those who honor and fear the Lord.
It is our duty not only to God, but to ourselves, our families, our neighborhoods, and the world itself, to reach back into the pages of History and learn what worked, and also what didn’t. Let us emulate the good, and discard the evil.
In the following chapters, you will find numerous quotes from some of the greatest key figures throughout all time. With each quote, you will also find a fitting Bible verse, along with a brief reflection. It is my utmost hope that you find great fulfillment, inspiration, and courage from these valiant men and women.
May each turning page bring you a new goal, a new strength, and a new passion. Open up your mind, and let the voice of History speak. I am positive its words will resonate in your soul, and plant seeds of life altering goodness. God bless you all, and may your days be filled with peace, joy, and true success.

One

“Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.”

-Winston Churchill-

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

-Proverbs 27:17-

We all know that it can hurt tremendously when we receive criticism of any sort. It feels like judgement is being heaped on us sometimes. But just like pain is necessary to let us know that something is wrong with our bodies, criticism is necessary to let us know when we are acting, or thinking in a way that is harmful to ourselves or others.
Only through constructive criticism may our character be sharpened, as today’s Bible verse shows. We must be open to receive criticism if we truly want to become the best versions of ourselves that we possibly can. We also can’t be afraid to tell our friends and loved ones the truth about their negative actions. We must always remember to approach such matters in a loving, non-judgmental way of course. It is very easy to fall into the trap of hypocrisy too. Make sure the proverbial speck has been removed from your eye before you try to remove someone else’s. (Luke 6:42.)
So, for today, let us all strive to look at criticism in the same light that Mr. Winston Churchill did, and be ready to refine each other through the mutual sharpening process of the truths contained in God’s word.

"A Token in the Window"

Prelude

Hamburg, Germany
April 26th, 1945

Alessa was awoken with a start by the sound of gunfire off in the distance. The Allies are here, she panicked. A cold chill traveled up and down her spine, filling her with an impending doom. She clumsily rubbed the sleep out of her eyes as she jumped out of bed to grab a candle from her nightstand, the only light she had remaining in her humble home.
As she fumbled with her matches the sounds of machine guns enveloped her senses as they grew closer by the moment. There was no time to lose, she thought to herself. Finally, able to light the pathetic stub of a candle, she ran down the stairs and through the house like a whirlwind in search of salvation.
She rummaged through a small, wooden chest by the food pantry looking for a small piece of rope, velvet red in color. She had no idea why she was doing this as doubt began to steal her fragile confidence. Her stomach did somersaults as her mind traveled in twenty different directions at once.
The two men who had visited her a few short months ago, had shaken up her entire universe with their promises of safety. She knew the Allied forces would claim the victory. It would take a complete idiot to believe otherwise. But why should she be saved? She was nothing but a worn-out prostitute, a beautiful face hiding the deadened soul beneath.
Even given the small chance that salvation was possible, what would she do with her life? Prostitution was all she knew. Sure, she knew how to weave and make basic clothing, but once the Allies took over, nobody would need her obviously German designs, or her raggedy German body. She would become a pariah to society and nobody would want her, even for a cheap good thrill.
After a seeming eternity, she found what she was looking for. The rope was shiny and tattered from the wear and tear from ages gone by. It was short and stubby and she couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. Just like my candle, she thought with the humorous certainty of death. It’s amazing how one’s brain copes with oncoming tragedy.
With the quickness that can only come from sheer desperation and just a little bit of faith, she proceeded to run back upstairs to her bedroom window. She tied one end of her velvet red rope to a hook screwed into the window frame that she had put here specifically for this occasion.
Now that her task was completed, she collapsed back onto her bed, exhausted from her efforts. She laid on her back as tears began to fill her eyes and drown her senses. I don’t want to die, she sobbed. I’ll never get to hold my own child.
With these troubling thoughts running rampant through her overactive mind, she began to pray for the first time in her life. Oh God, if you’re listening, don’t let me down. I need you now more than I ever have in my pathetic life.
A soothing calm came over her and filled her with peace from her head down to her toes. She couldn’t quite explain it, but she knew she would be all right. The two men who had introduced her to the “God” she just prayed to would come for her. She was certain of that.
As the gunfire grew closer with each passing moment, she calmly rested in her bed, waiting for her rescue. A smile grew on her pretty face as she began to sing a childhood lullaby. Her voice soon filled the room like a songbird of the gentle spring.
She looked to the window as the light from the candle played on its surface. I am safe, she thought with full confidence. The velvet rope dangled as it swayed from the breeze and whizz of gunfire. God would see to her safety. She had a token in the window that would see to it.

Chapter One

London, England
January 3rd, 1945

The current resident of 10 Downing Street couldn’t find the right emphasis. He had been pacing back and forth in his velvet “romper suit” for the past three hours, searching for the correct words that would rouse His Majesty’s troops. He was in dire need to bring order to the chaos that had befallen his Nation’s beloved armed forces. Panic had gripped the ranks, as news of a “secret weapon” that the cursed Nazi’s were supposedly preparing filled their sponge-like minds with paralyzing fear.
He waddled over to the cupboard where he kept his beloved cigars, and rummaged inside for his favorite kind. He soon found the right box and took one out with a sigh of contentment. He held the tobacco filled torpedo under his nose and took a whiff of approval before trudging over to his desk.
With an audible “thump,” he fell into his chair and leaned back. It creaked and buckled under his massive weight, but amazingly kept its physical integrity. With a flourish only the great Winston Churchill is capable of, he placed his hands on the back of his head and cradled it in his intertwined fingers, while shifting the unlit cigar from one side of his mouth to the other.
“Oh bother,” He said to nobody in particular. This was completely normal for Winston, as he was known to talk to himself on many occasions. That was actually how he wrote many of his greatest speeches. He would pace back and forth for hours, annunciating every word until he reached the perfect rhythm. His speeches were not just words, they were epic poems recited by a master conductor.
Unfortunately, today he had hit a roadblock of sorts. The master orator had writer’s block. He was beginning to show the symptoms last night when he began to work on the speech he was scheduled to give later on this afternoon. This was to be an occasion of major importance. The troops were suffering a major breakdown of morale ever since news of Hitler’s new toy spread like wildfire. Apparently his “mad scientists” had designed some weapon capable of unleashing unheard of levels of destruction. It was supposedly housed in some secret laboratory in some God forsaken mountain cave.
He hated the fact that there was no solid information that could confirm or deny these rumors. How come my network of informants hasn’t heard of this? He thought to himself with aggravation and wonder. Winston was famous for his conglomerate of “friends” who shared with him very important pieces of information regarding the Nazi’s and their activities. His circle of informants was extremely reliable, but so far haven’t been able to find anything regarding this “Mountain Lair.”
He needed rock-solid proof, either for it or against it, so he could know how to speak to the troops. Winston had this little thing called a conscience, and it wouldn’t let him lie about something so significant. This was the true source of his writer’s block. For the first time in his long career, he was at a complete loss for words.
With the weight of a million souls on his shoulders, he leaned forward, placed his elbow on the war-weary desk, and cradled his head in his sweaty hand. What are you going to do Winston? he spoke to the empty air with resigned exhaustion. In the wink of a schizophrenic eye however, he began to giggle as a smile crept onto his face. Well first, he said, I’m going to smoke this cigar.
With that thought, he reached into the pocket of his jumpsuit and pulled out his trusty lighter. He lit his temporarily forgotten habit and took a giant, satisfied puff. Plans, he thought. I need plans, not words.
He jumped to his feet with surprising agility and paced as he smoked. For the next two hours, he plotted his route as he waved his cigar like a conductor’s wand. The Maestro had returned and nothing would stop him now. He was not articulating a speech this time, however. He was constructing a series of what he believed to be epic turning points of the universe itself. If someone happened to be listening by the door during this time, they would have heard a man arguing with himself, even screaming at times. This was truly the work of a mad man, but this mad man happened to be a genius, and fortunately on the side of good.
Finally, after two long hours, the door to his study opened with a loud bang. Winston peeked his head out, cigar and all, and yelled, “Get me Roger and Clark! I need two spies!” He slammed the door shut just as quickly as he had opened it, as the hall was met with a resounding thud. If one held his ear to the door, they would have heard a muffled voice mumbling about the Dardanelles and the soft, underbelly of the beast, with an occasional laugh thrown in for good measure.

Transcript of an award winning speech I gave on September 9th, 2014.

You are sleeping peacefully when you are startled awake by a strong shove.

"Wake up ya lazy bum!....Duty calls!"

The sun is rising, the air is strangely silent, and it is your turn to keep watch over the enemy.

You have them completely trapped in a vice grip.

They are surrounded on three sides by rugged, snow-capped mountains, and on the fourth by an impregnable fortress - held by your seasoned ally.

You - and your fellow band of warriors - currently occupy the foothills guarding the only safe passage that could possibly allow them to escape.

Victory is yours - or so you think.

The year is 335 B.C. - and you are a member of an elite barbarian tribe who have chosen the wrong day, and the wrong enemy.

For you - my unlucky friend - are about to be vanquished by Alexander the Great - and his finely trained Macedonian war machine.

You take your place in your spotters nest, and gaze into the valley below.

The entirety of the enemy army has gathered in the early morning mist.

The infantry - with their iron-tipped spears and tempered brass armor - glinting in the sun.

The cavalry - easing their horses into a gentle trot, as they make their way to their appointed place.

You watch as they form into a complex and organized unit and begin a dazzling display of parade-style drill maneuvers - in complete and utter silence.

Not a command is spoken - nor a voice heard.

Nothing but the sound of men and weaponry - slicing through the vacant air.

Never in your years of military service have you seen the likes of this mesmerizing event.

"What skill!" you think.

"What perfection!"

Time passes as you continue to watch, and you find yourself edging closer - and closer to the action.

Half terrified....
Half enthralled...
COMPLETELY hypnotized...

Little do you know, but Alexander has been watching you and your brethren - waiting - for the right psychological moment.

And that moment has come.

He gives a pre-arranged hand signal, and out of nowhere the ENTIRE cavalry SWINGS to face your location and CHARGES at full speed - while THOUSANDS of infantrymen simultaneously beat their spears against their shields and let out a resounding Macedonian war cry -

"A-LA-LA-LA-LAI !!!"

The sound echoes and reverberates through the surrounding mountains as you RUN for your life.

You feel the earth tremble beneath your feet as the cavalry closes in like a bolt of lightning - the breath of stallions, hot against the back of your neck.

You trip over a large rock - and the last thing you see before you are trampled underfoot by thousands of thundering hooves, is the Macedonian ground

- rushing to meet you -

face to face.

You have just been victimized by Alexander the Great and his short - yet unprecedented career - as conqueror of the entire known world.

The account you have just heard has been called one of the most eccentrically brilliant strategies in the whole history of warfare.

So how did he do it?

What made Alexander so great?

Throughout his life Alexander was seized by an irresistible urge - a longing for things not yet within reach -

for the unknown,
far distant,
and unattainable...

If stopped by the difficult, he would try the impossible..

And succeed.

He would not accept defeat.

He didn't just try - he DID!

He achieved the impossible every single time, and conquered everything in his path.

We too can achieve the impossible - if we simply learn how to implement this Alexandrian stubbornness in every aspect of our everyday lives.

How many times do we find ourselves trapped in the middle of some seemingly unsolvable problem?

Surrounded on three sides by mountains of hopelessness and despair...

A solid brick wall of a fortress - blocking our only way out...

Not to mention those barbarians hiding in the hills...

Let us not falter in the face of adversity.

Let us climb those mountains with purpose!

Let us SMASH through that fortress with the strength of a conqueror!

Let us slay those barbarians with pure achievement!

Let us grasp - and pull - until we reach that which we long for...

Let us work - and strive - until the unknown has become a familiar friend...

Until the far distant had become our closest neighbor...

And until the unattainable is comfortably in our possession .

Let us not try...

Let us DO!

Alexander the Great has gone down in history as one of the greatest military strategists of all time.

All because of his inability to accept defeat, and his will to win at all costs.

Let us emulate him and reap the benefits of a life that consists of achievements, not mere attempts.

This irresistible urge to conquer everything in his path became Alexander's downfall, however.

One of his veteran officers was quoted as saying to him, "Sir, if there is one thing above all others a successful man should know - it is when to STOP!"

Alexander didn't know when to stop, and it made him a LOT of enemies.

One night - at a banquet he held in honor of the miraculous return of his naval fleet which was thought to be lost at sea - he was handed a large cup of unmixed wine.

He drained it down in one gulp - and instantly shrieked aloud as if smitten by a violent blow.

He collapsed in a heap, was carried back to his quarters, and put to bed - most likely the victim of poisoning.

He became increasingly sick over the following days, and finally, on the twelfth night after the banquet, he found himself lying on his death bed - surrounded by a group of his officers and friends, who were anxiously wondering amongst themselves who would take his place as their king.

Alexander - during his voracious conquering spree - never found the time to produce an heir.

One of his officers approached the dying king, gripped his hand carefully, and asked him in a gentle voice...

"Who, sir, do you bequeath your kingdom to?"

Alexander lifted his head weakly, and whispered in a fading voice...

"To the strongest..."

and proceeded to breathe his last, as his head dropped down onto his silken pillow.

These are prophetic words that we need to apply to every aspect of our lives.

For to the strongest...goes the kingdom.

To the strongest...goes the spoils...

To the strongest...who achieve the impossible...

Who try not....but DO!

The Fourth of July has meant many things to me throughout the years, but the one constant has been the underlying message of freedom that is contained in this date. My definition of freedom, however, has changed drastically since Christ saved me from a life of bondage. In my teen years the Fourth of July always meant that I was free to enjoy a nice cold beer at six in the morning as I pondered how much money I would make at the keg party I was throwing later that day. I was free to light up a joint and enjoy it's soothing powers as the smell of the steaks grilling on the barbecue wafted up and pleased my senses. I was free to enjoy life without fear of any repercussions. But oh how wrong I was. Prison taught me very well.
Now the Fourth of July took on a new meaning. I was now "free" to get woken up at five in the morning by a prison guard screaming "Get up inmate! Time for chow!" I was free to enjoy a meat patty the size of a silver dollar pancake that they mistakenly called a hamburger. I was free to pine away for even a one word letter from someone in my family, just to know someone still cared. Ninety nine percent of the time I was disappointed.
More importantly I was now free to ponder the decisions I made in my life that led me to the place I now found myself. I began to realize that what I thought was freedom was really bondage. I also began to realize that there was someone who cared so much for me that he gave the life of his only Son so that I may have life. Galatians 5:1 says, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Christ freed me from a life of addiction and wrong thinking, and he can do it for you too.
Now that I'm out of prison and about to celebrate my first Fourth of July completely free for the first time in my life, my definition of freedom is altogether different. Today I am free to wake up at six in the morning and enjoy a nice cup of coffee while I meditate on how grateful I am to be alive. I am free to eat a breakfast of my choice, and eat it at my pace. I am free to enjoy the sight of a spectacular sunset on the beach and feel the ocean lap over my feet. I am free to walk down the street without fear of being handcuffed and thrown into a cold dark cell. Most importantly, I am free to walk by faith and know on the deepest level possible that God has me wrapped in His ever loving arms and will never let go of me. I am free to be free.