as far as i can remember the bullying began when i was in third grade. two boys who did the most of it were EDDIE ROLF and LARRY REED. both boys were far bigger and stronger than i. i hope i have forgiven them for this however. as we all know our inner being and subconscious minds harbor within them at leas the memory of all of this terrorism which i was subjected to. both of them would not do this in the presence of others but would wait until they could catch me alone. or with some friends or in one case EDDIE would hold me down and let his sister wash my face with snow. i carried so much hate for them for years. later on me and EDDIE became good friends and hung out together but LARRY continued this bullying right on into my adult life. he and i both worked in the local shoe factory (DEXTER SHOE COMPANY). and he picked on me even then but from a distance. as i grew up to big as big and strong as he. so his bullying amounted to verbal abuse and getting others who worked there to give me a hard time. i am sure if he had of tried to physically attack me i would have killed him. and i am not talking of giving him a severe beating but actually killing him right there on the spot. this is how much resentment i had developed over the years. now a days i see this differently because i finally understood that GOD had allowed it to be. my father did not ever teach me any self defense because the beliefs of the church caused them not to allow us to not fight back. the scripture says that if anyone strikes us on one cheek to turn to them the other. i believe this idea is based on taking things out of the intended context. this is true also concerning the scripture which has JESUS saying put away your sword. because he who lives by the sword shall die by the sword. i do not believe this means that a young kid should be not taught how to defend himself and then left to the mercy of bigger kids at school. to put the scripture in the correct context here as i have said i will discuss falsehoods taught be CHRISTIAN churches actually gives place to the workings of SATAN who hates those who will walk upright. the same will test the faith of the faithful by heaping abuse on them...to see if they will retaliate. no where in scripture does it say that we are to stand idly by while oppression is perpetrated against the small and weak of this world. you see in the garden of GETHSEMANE where this happened, the man (some say it was ST. PETER) cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest. his intent was to force JESUS to set up an earthy kingdom and overthrow the ROMANS. perhaps he hoped that it would be done by means of miracles. because he was with him and saw the lame walk, the blind eyes opened, the deaf ears hearing etc. not only he saw things this way but all of the disciples saw it the same way. they expected JESUS to overthrow the ROMANS on the spot! first of all JESUS did not need their help. nor does GOD! and to draw a sword to overtake such a force would have certainly brought about the deaths of all involved. we all know the ROMANS were brutal bastards and would have loved to do it. the second point i will make is that to turn the other cheek is a test of faith. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WHATSOEVER WITH NOT ALLOWING KIDS TO STAND UP IN THE FACE OF BULLYING!!! SATAN used these false notions to keep the small on their knees where his servants can walk all over them knowing full well that they would be east pickings! so in spite of all of this bullying and my hating the perpetrators. i finally realized that they had taught me how th fight and fight well. i can imagine that i would really kick their ass today. for one thing i have moved on to martial arts training and have been certified to 7th degree black belt. i have them to thank for it. now i see that they did me a service for which i am truly grateful. GOD caused them to train me where my father did not. and made me ready for my destiny a soldier-saint of the LORD. i will explain exactly what this is later on.