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We the People - Our Issues and Concerns

Many believe the Biden administration, happily and now an historical footnote, fostered an anti-Christian approach to politics, culture, and lifestyle generally. That was so even though Biden was a self-proclaiming Catholic Christian.In the Biden administration, there really were none in high positions who were publicly confessing Christians. That of course, under the Trump administration, has significantly changed, and changed for the better. There are those in leadership in America now who come to their awesome responsibilities as public citizens and representatives of WE THE PEOPLE with a biblical influence in their lives, even an outright Christian testimony. What a blessing that is for America, for Christianity, and for:FREEDOM OF RELIGIONfor all Americans, the FIRST AMENDMENT really at work!I do hope and pray that you know by heart, by memory, those First Amendment freedoms. They include and especially so:THE FREEDOM OF RELIGION.The freedom to practice any religion of choice. Or, none at all. Your call. But there can be no restriction on religious freedom and worship of any kind, so says the First Amendment. Let people believe and worship as they please. We The Christians, born again, evangelical, denominational, Roman Catholic, are free not only to worship as we please, but to believe as we please. Few countries in this modern age allow that, and so many nations abridge that freedom, attack it, attempt to control it, or even eliminate it. Not so with the Trump administration. Trump has pledged to reinvigorate the old Christian America, to respect Christianity and all its forms, and to make absolutely certain that there is no persecution, disrespect, or attempts to control this precious faith.And the same for Jews. Antisemitism is on the rise, one of the most ugly things in the entire history of mankind and now even resurrected today. So many politicos, academics, and even many in business and higher up in corporations turn a blind eye or actually foster antisemitism. That will all end under the Trump administration. Amen to that.And there is absolute freedom to worship for all other religions, including Islam, the Hindu religion, and any other legitimate religion. That is the American promise, the Constitutional guarantee, that sacred Frist Amendment freedom and it will be respected more than ever, more than under the administration of Obama or Biden, as the Constitution has always promised.That beloved First Amendment also guarantees freedom of speech and press. More than ever, that will be reinvigorated and protected. Both such freedoms are absolutely essential with regard to the full and free practice of religion.And the same for the other First Amendment freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, namely freedom of assembly and freedom of petition. Churches, gatherings, services, the congregations of people in worship can feel the old constitutional freedoms under the Trump administration more than ever. Amen to that. Make it happen President Donald J. Trump, MAKE IT HAPPEN!DEFENSE. Our Department of Defense needs change, even radical change back. It has become woke, socialized, racially concerned, all to the detriment of its clear and primary priority and mission, namely, the development and growth of the greatest military, army, navy, and marines, and more, that the world has ever known. We need an aggressive, remade and revitalized Department of Defense and branches of the military. We have threats to our great country like never before, threats from China, especially China in this modern day and age, and our old nemesis Russia, and North Korea, a rising nuclear power, and of course Iran, which literally hates the Great Satan, the America we love. All four and more would love to see the end of America and given the right circumstances, whether all-out war, or terrorism, or limited combat, they are ready, hatred brimming, to destroy America or as much of it as they can.Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, intends to change the department, bring in new leadership, develop meaningful financial budgets and the support of Congress and develop the weapons, offensive and defensive, which our country desperately needs, especially to keep pace with China. It seems inevitable that we will have warfare of some sort with China sometime in the future, perhaps the near future.We, America, must be ready!THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. More than ever judges at any level of the federal judiciary and all the way up to the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) will play an important and primary role in the development of the philosophy, policies, and future of our country. There are many, very many, judgeships unfilled and can be filled by the appointments of the president of the United States. President Trump intends to do just that. He is well aware of the need to appoint judges and the right kind of judges, fair thinking judges who will make the right decisions for America. In the first Trump administration, 2017-2021, Trump nominated three Supreme Court justices, all were confirmed by the Senate, and all were fair minded or conservative leaning. They were the outstanding scholars including:1.Neil Gorsuch2.Anthony Kennedy3.Amy Coney BarrettMuch litigation will be decided by the Supreme Court, critical for America, and there will be many emergency hearings on the basis of critical and immediate need of our country, which will be decided upon by the Supreme Court in short order. Trump has issued dozens of Executive Orders, many are being challenged by liberals, radicals, and democrats, and the Supreme Court will be more active with emergency hearings perhaps than in any other administration. We can only hope for fair results, for the vast majority of those executive orders are exactly what America needs, they are legal, thorough, and they create the change-back which again, our country desperately needs. We were under Biden on a pathway to Socialism, even Marxism, and so many of these executive orders put a stop to so much of that. I say Amen to that, and I trust you do as well. What do you think of the first six weeks in office of Donald J. Trump?Franklin Graham, the marvelous evangelical evangelist and pastor, son of perhaps the greatest evangelist ever in the history of America, Billy Graham, prays himself that President Trump will surround himself with men and women who will give him Godly counsel and advice, and urges us, we the Christian people of America, to do the very same. I do hope and pray that you will. President Trump will be challenged the world over, and especially by China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. But Trump is tough, no nonsense, determined, and not at all intimidated, and no nation or foreign leader will intimidate him no matter what they do. As world events unfold in the next four years, WE THE PEOPLE should both:WATCH AND PRAY.We should follow the advice of the Apostle Paul in I Timothy 2:1-3, where this God-sent apostle admonishes us as follows:“THEREFORE, I EXHORT FIRST OF ALL THAT SUPPLICATIONS, PRAYERS, INTERCESSIONS, AND GIVING OF THANKS BE MADE FOR ALL MEN, FOR KINGS, AND ALL WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY, THAT WE MAY LEAD A QUIET AND PEACEABLE LIFE IN ALL GODLINESS AND REVERENCE FOR THIS IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD OUR SAVIOR.”So, my fellow Christians, prayers. And intercessions. And giving of thanks. So that WE THE PEOPLE may lead a quiet and peaceable life, and be assured of the rights in the Constitution which are justly ours. Why? Because this is good, says Paul, and not only acceptable in the sight of God our savior, but what this God, our Lord Jesus Christ wants for us.So, my fellow Americans, pray for President Trump, and all who advise him, all of our leaders, secretaries of various departments, our Congress, House, and Senate, our courts and our Supreme Court, pray for all of them. Pray for anyone who is in authority and who works for us. Pray that the wisdom of God Almighty will guide President Trump and all political others so that America can be great again. Pray thatthe promises of Donald J. Trump will be fulfilled that indeed, the four years of the second Trump administration will:MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN (MAGA)!

DOGE vs. DEBT - The Incredible American Debt

Owe no man nothing, says the scripture.The fact remains, however, that every single American is in debt, EVERY ONE OF US. Every day of every month, we owe someone something. That debt could be as normal as a phone bill, electric bill, cell phone or cable bill, or currently repayable credit card bills. But, we always owe something if we wish to live in any reasonable way in this world.What that debt admonition means is that we ought not to owe anything which we cannot repay in the present in whole or in part. None of us could own a home unless we were able to borrow a mortgage for 10, 20 or 30 years, and make the monthly payments with interest thereon. If we can repay that 30-year debt on a monthly basis and timely so, that is a manageable obligation and not the kind of debt proscribed by scripture.Debt, unpayable debt, and especially that debt which accumulates with interest, sometimes as much or almost so as the debt principle itself is crushing. It is always there, its presence a constant reminder that so much of the future has been mortgaged and that our present spending endangers and preempts our options for the future. Families are ruined by that kind of debt. So are marriages. Profligate businesses go bankrupt and governments, nations and states which over-borrow and accumulate crushing interest obligations sacrifice the future for the present. They kick the financial can down the road.And that, my fellow Americans, is the pathway and the financial condition of our beloved America. Our once great country, operating on a current budget, the financial envy of the world, the dollar the hallmark of financial stability, is now the unbelievable debtor in the amount of:$36 TRILLION DOLLARS.$36 Trillion Dollars. As incredible, hard to believe, and frightening as that number is, the interest America pays on those $36 trillion dollars of debt is now at or about:$1.3 TRILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY.$1.3 Trillion dollars in interest alone!That means, my fellow Americans, that every American household owes as much as $275,000 of that debt. Or that also means that every tax paying person in America, every citizen, owes the sum of approximately $110,000 to our creditors, foreigners and foreign nations, and American business entities and individuals. $275,000 PER HOUSEHOLD and $110,000 PER PERSON. That is the kind of debt with interest that scripture so aggressively warns against. But we do nothing, our leaders do nothing to stop the bleeding and solve the problem. The overwhelming debt problem. But some day, we will have no choice but to deal with this horrendous financial reckoning.Economists now believe that the nation’s debt of at or about $36 Trillion Dollars is indeed an existential threat to our great country, and to us, we the people. The fact of the matter is that America does not owe this debt, we do. WE, THE PEOPLE, the citizens of this great country owe that $36 trillion dollars, with its unbelievable annual interest burdens. WE OWE THAT MONEY! And someday, we will have to pay it. What an unbelievable effect that will have on our lifestyles and our future. That existential threat threatens our very existence!But our Federal Government continues in its profligate way. It spends, and it spends more. It never seems to care because it can postpone the debt, financing even more of its spending, and it always has what it thinks is the fail-safe remedy, and that is:TAXATION.More taxation, more taxes, for we the people to pay.And more bad financial news. Economists estimate that by the year 2034, a decade from now, America will add $20 trillion dollars to its debt of $36 trillion dollars, which would put our country in debt by the staggering sum of $56 trillion dollars, $56 TRILLION DOLLARS! And some economists think those estimates are conservative, believing that the real debt will be as high as $60 trillion dollars or even more if spending continues as is. That would also mean that the annual interest alone on that staggering debt would be somewhere between $2 Trillion and $2.5 Trillion Dollars Annually, and possibly more. In the year 2034, our total debt will be approximately 120% of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). And hear these words carefully:NO NATION HAS EVER CARRIED THAT KIND OF GOVERNMENT-DRIVEN DEBT AND ESCAPED CALAMITY. NOT ONE GOVERNMENT IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF MANKIND HAS EVER SPENT OR WILL SPEND WHAT WE AMERICANS ARE AND ESCAPED ABSOLUTE AND TOTAL DISASTER AND CALAMITY.Not to worry, say the Democrats in charge and in power and seeking four more years of spending privileges, assuming the election of Harris-Walz. We will simply tax the rich more and more. Even if there is a sharp rise in the tax rates for the wealthy, that meager amount of additional income would never begin to seriously pay down the debt which our once fiscally responsible America now owes and will owe ten years from now.But that day of reckoning will come when we the people will pay an unbelievable price for the profligate way our Federal Government spends our money and accumulates this strangling, bankrupting debt.Regarding the so-called rich, the top 1% of Americans in terms of earnings reported 26.3% of the country’s adjusted gross income and paid accordingly:Almost 46% of total income taxes!All the rest of America’s taxpayers, 99% of them, paid the grand total of 54% of all taxes. But there is never any effort to tax more the 54% but only the so-called rich and wealthy 46%. That is fiscal policy which leads to absolute disaster!Even more interesting, the top 10% of all earners in America provided 76% of the total revenue, tax revenue, and the other 90% of taxpayers provided 24% of tax revenue. If you were not one of the so-called wealthy, you have really gotten off cheap by taxing comparison.Our great country, We The People, face the ever-present possibility of default in payments to our creditors, now $36 trillion dollars and in 10 years to be some $60 trillion dollars. That default of any serious kind would set off a major depression and fiscal revolution THE WORLD OVER. That economic crisis could well ruin the world.There would also exist in America HYPERINFLATION. That is what occurred in Germany where the German Mark was absolutely worthless. If those tragic and calamitous conditions arise in America, our dollar will be just like that Mark and virtually worthless itself.That debt-caused disaster will produce incredible internal instability, even revolution, and the very real potential of the destruction of law and order. It could also occasion the rise of dictatorship, as the very same fiscal problems in Germany gave rise to Adolf Hitler and it would undoubtedly be the end of our great democracy.But, my fellow Americans, that debt and the problems it causes, are:OUR FAULT.Our responsibility. We the People allowed that debt to happen. We continue one election after another to elect a president, a senate, a house of representatives which do nothing, absolutely nothing about the problem, continue to spend, talk the talk but never walk the walk, and again do absolutely nothing about this incredible end-of-America problem, nothing but nothing. But the day of economic reckoning comes, and we will pay, WE WILL PAY! Or, our children and grandchildren will pay. The life and lifestyle which they hope for and work for will never materialize and the America we now know will never be the America they will ever know. What America once was fiscally and economically will be nothing more than an historical footnote.Wake up, my fellow Americans, please wake up. You vote, you elect these politicians to represent you. You allow them to spend your money, to tax you, to do as they please with YOUR money but the one thing they never do is hold themselves accountable for the way they spend your money, the fiscal problems they are causing, and the insurmountable debt they are creating, which may very well never be repaid. That of course would be the end of the democratic America we now love and enjoy. But again, we have no one to blame but ourselves. We the People allow these reckless economically indifferent or ignorant politicians to do what they please, spend our money as we will, and we continue to do nothing:NOTHINGabout that spending or them. When this disaster, this calamity occurs, we will have no one to blame but:OURSELVES – WE THE PEOPLE!

The Trump Presidency

Donald J. Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States with both a campaign and a promise to the American people that he and his administration would bring:CHANGE.Fundamental and systemic change to the America WE THE PEOPLE love and live in. That massive, fundamental change he promised would occur under the plan to:DISRUPT AND INNOVATEa mammoth, behemoth of a federal government that had become massive and mediocre in so many ways.This massive federal government had become addicted to the status quo, determined to protect and defend the government and its addiction to processes rather than results, and to champion the Democratic Party ideals of radicalism, woke, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and to the financial priorities of:TAX AND SPEND.That had produced an American mediocrity, a lack of innovation and idea flow, and the loss of respect for this once great country. Trump promised to change that, radically change it.Our once great federal government with presidents like Reagan, Bush, had become incredibly expensive. Federal agencies and bureaucracies had become massive and had developed a culture of resistance so that in effect, those agencies and bureaucrats, the so called FOURTH ESTATE had produced a culture of resistance to both Congress, House, and Senate, and even the president himself. They often defied the Supreme Court of the United States and this massive bureaucracy which President Trump labeled:THE SWAMPwas determined to derail Trump and his grand plan of disruption and innovation for America at any cost. But, President Trump understands that and it makes the Trump plan even more bold and aggressive in order to not only disrupt and change these agencies and bureaucrats, but wherever possible to:ELIMINATE THEM.Trump and his chosen people realize that the slogan coined under the Ronald Reagan first administration:PEOPLE ARE POLICYwas so very true. Trump realized that bureaucrats and members of Congress are slave to process, and status quo preservation and not RESULTS. They care little for the American people but only the philosophy and policies which advance bureaucracy and protect the bureaucratic status quo. As such, these bureaucrats have been primary drivers in increasing the cost of government to almost 8 trillion dollars annually. 8 TRILLION DOLLARS! And, my fellow Americans, our national debt, which WE THE PEOPLE owe because of their spending, is the staggering sum of:SOME 37 TRILLION DOLLARS.37 TRILLION DOLLARS! There is simply no way a debt like that could ever be repaid unless there were radical, fundamental changes to America, democracy, and freedom, and the end of the lifestyle we all now so readily assume and thoroughly enjoy.Enter Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, now running for governor of Ohio, called upon by President Trump to reimagine this federal government. Trump has asked Musk to bring a sense of entrepreneurship, appreciation for results, and to examine all expenditures by the federal government to determine the:COST – BENEFITof every governmental expenditure and the results or the lack thereof which those expenditures-investments produce. Musk will head the so-called DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency. Government will become more efficient, financially structured and results will triumph over process and so much of American bureaucracy will be eliminated, reduced, or otherwise radically changed. What a blessing that will be for WE THE PEOPLE! Of the now approaching 8 trillion dollars of an American annual budget, Musk and Trump believe they can reduce that budget by as much as 2 trillion dollars or at or even more than 25% of the existing federal budget. If so, that would be absolutely unbelievable, and the financial muscle of America could be restored in this great country and worldwide in four or less years of the Trump administration.President Trump is determined to make that happen. Many of his appointments, nominations, and people with whom he will work are businesspeople, CEOs, bold entrepreneurs who are determined to make things happen, to produce results, and to do away with process and mediocrity. Such a one is Linda McMahon, who built one of the largest entertainment enterprises in the entire world. She will run the Department of Education. That department needs to be downsized and the authority it now has given back to the individual states.Then there is Doug Burgum, who will run the Department of the Interior, a man with a strong business mentality. And then there is Chris Wright at the Department of Energy, and Scott Bessent at the Department of the Treasury, and Howard Lutnick at the Department of Commerce. Those four men create a fearsome foursome whose entrepreneurial skills have created billions of dollars in wealth in private business and they will now create trillions in economic growth and government savings inside the Trump cabinet. How great that will be for our beloved America.Under the Obama and Biden administrations, huge numbers of government officials were addicted to working from home and some have even abandoned the cities they were assigned to for early retirement homes elsewhere. Trump intends to target those do-nothings for a massive cost-cutting departure. Hegseth, Secretary of Defense, will bring a new mindset, priorities, and way of thinking and evaluation to that critical department, critical for the defense of America, which has now become woke, liberal and radical, and far more concerned with social matters rather than those of military and defense.Then there is the border problem. Our country is plagued with perhaps as many as 11 million illegal immigrants who have entered our country unlawfully. Trump intends to close the border and not only that but deport many of those illegal immigrants and he has pledged to deport any and every such individual with any kind of criminal record in the millions. He has appointed one Tom Homan, a no-nonsense business person, who will aggressively carry out such a plan. Homan intends to eliminate, even crush sanctuary cities and states like New Jersey, and Homan has promised the prosecution of recalcitrant officials, those who violate American law with impunity and he has threatened cities and states with the complete loss of federal funds if they resist. May it be so. It is time to use the full force of the law to punish state and city officials who violate those laws with impunity.Americans know that the Biden inflation continues. Prices are at an all-time high. So many American families are struggling financially. Trump, Musk, and so many others in his cabinet are determined to attack and eliminate inflation wherever possible. The Trump administration intends to unleash America’s vast energy resources and to turn the regulatory and permitting processes positive, encouraging the resumption of oil and gas leases, and creating investment certainty for the energy industry which has been radically suppressed by Biden and company for the last four years. The resumed mining and drilling will unleash a new era of energy dominance that will lessen the impact of China, Russia, Iran, and Venezuela. Trump will also encourage the innovative development of CLEAN NUCLEAR ENERGY.Trump has also pledged to do away with CRT (Critical Race Theory), DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), ESG (Environment Social Governance), and Transgenderism. May it be so. Women will not have to worry about men using female bathrooms. Women in sports will not have to compete against men who claim to be women. In fact, all vestiges of extreme liberalism and socialism will be done away with, eliminated from American culture as much as possible. Core liberties, values, and traditional American culture will once again reign supreme.As a loyal American citizen, I am more than delighted with these promises and I just hope and pray that Trump follows through and this radical change back, this determination to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN (MAGA) does in fact occur.Trump knows that he has four years and no more to accomplish these goals. He also knows that the first 100 days of a presidency is the most important and he intends to get as much done through executive orders on the one hand and through working with the Republican controlled House and Senate to pass the legislation needed to accomplish these goals as well. There are Republicans who are skeptical and who may resist the Trump agenda in some cases. But achieving these fantastic goals can be accomplished and much of the Trump agenda will become reality and law and America will begin the CHANGE BACK even this very year 2025.Many believe that Donald Trump, within an inch of being assassinated, was divinely spared to provide for America one last chance to be the beacon on a hill, the true land of freedom, the land of the constitution and the rule of law, and the nation where, as from the beginning, freedom rings. WE THE PEOPLE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING TO SUPPORT DONALD TRUMP AND MAKE THIS GRAND PLAN TO CHANGE AMERICA HAPPEN! Make America great again, my fellow Americans:MAGA – MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

Love

"LOVE IS THE GREATEST.""Even greater than faith, or hope, or any other thing.We celebrate the love of Valentine’s Day and appropriately so. That loving celebration is fun, romantic, even emotional. It is a day set aside once to live love and to express our love to all, but especially so to someone special.Love is a word difficult of definition. In fact, it has many component parts. Love is complex, defining itself, manifesting itself in so many different ways. But love is a force without which we can not live, or live right. It is the stuff of life, and without it, life is mere existence, sterile and harsh. Love is the force, the resource of God, an energy which produces the highest and best relationships with OTHERS, and, as we love ourselves, allows us to live life at its highest levels.TO LOVE AND TO BE LOVED IS THE GREATEST HAPPINESS OF EXISTENCE. Sosaid Sydnie Smith.Love out and in is a daily process which produces the greatest happiness. It does indeed. Nothing feels better than to give love, share love, and experience love.NOTHING.""If you had no one to love, you would never be hurt. But, you would never grow. You would never venture outside your own self-centered needs and perceptions. Your heart would never be cracked open so that God could enter it. To love and love unconditionally is to take risks, and especially the risk of rejection. But nothing energizes and cleanses like love.Profound words about love by a poet unknown. To love another, large or small, is the only real way that one can grow as a human being. The risk of loving produces the risk of hurt but even hurt toughens and matures love. The risk of loving another allows one to VENTURE OUTSIDE and to experience. Doing that allows your very own heart to be CRACKED OPEN so that love in its purest sense could enter, that is God Himself. Loving is always risky, and especially the risk of rejection. Rejection hurts but it is part of the loving process. The risk of love is worth it because nothingenergizes like love, and nothing cleanses like love, NOTHING.""Charles Dickens said that a loving heart is the truest wisdom. Knowing life at its best, the most real and the truest wisdom can only be produced by a loving heart, a heart cracked open and wanting more love.""Robert Schuller said that in the presence of love, miracles happen. Love itself is a miracle and the loving miracle produces other miracles. Miracles can and should happen more often and they can and will happen when:LOVE IS AT WORKTrue love allows us insight, real insight into the character and persona of another:“BECAUSE I LOVE YOU, I CATCH GLIMPSES OF THE YOU GOD CREATED, THE TRUE YOU. I SEE YOUR IMPERFECTIONS AND FAILURES, BUT I CHOOSE TO SEE PAST THEM TO THE REAL YOU. LOVE CREATES A PLACE WHERE YOU ARE FREETO BECOME YOUR COMPLETE SELF.”""What a marvelous statement. Perhaps we can only really know another not completely but only with glimpses and those glimpses made possible only because of love.We are all riddled with imperfections and failures, are we not? We can see past things in our desire to find the real person, the real you. Love breaks down those barriers and produces eyes that truly see.Benjamin Disraeli the great English Prime Minister said that:“WE ARE ALL BORN TO LOVE. IT IS THE PRINCIPLE OF ITS EXISTENCE AND ITS ONLY END.”""Born to love, genetic, all that we really are, the very highest principle itself of existence. And, its only end, like the highest and greatest spiritual commandment that we should love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength and our neighbor as ourselves. In fact, we are known as Christians, followers of the Christ:IF YOU HAVE LOVE ONE FOR ANOTHERLove said another is tough, practical, and active. Love is washing the kitchen floor over and over again. Love is scrubbing the toilet and doing the laundry. Love is taking out the garbage and cleaning the refrigerator. Love is smiling when you are tired, finding reasons to laugh even when you are angry, volunteering for a dirty job, working hard, and making the world a better place.Powerful and profound. Indeed, love is practical. Love is very much in the scrubbing of the toilet. Love is there from the one who takes out the garbage. Love indeed delights in the dirty jobs for when you do for the least of these, you do it unto HIM.""And yet more insight into the God of all love:GOD SAYS TO US, IN LOVE, I HOLD YOU IN MY MIND. I REMEMBER YOU. I HOLD ALL OF THE PIECES OF YOU. THE PAST WOUNDS AND THE PRESENT. AND INLOVE, I KNIT THEM TOGETHER INTO THE PERSON I LOVE, THE PERSON I CREATED TO GIVE ME JOY:""YOU.""Held are we in the mind of God, remembering us even as we remember Him, all of our various pieces, wounds, wrongs, and problems no matter. God knits them together and all become the mosaic, the person God loves, the individual and special you.Love frees us of the weight and pain of life! True love always lightens life’s heaviestburdens. True love is a force far more powerful than the weapons of any enemy.Life is a flower of which love is the honey, so said Victor Hugo. Love is knit into the very cells of our bodies. It is written into our DNA. It is encoded in the chemicals that make plants green. It is that which makes the sky blue, the substance of the song of the birds in summer, the whisper of the wind in the trees, the silence of the snow as it falls. Love is the voice of God calling to us endlessly and passionately through all HIS marvelous creation.There is no fear in love. Perfect love drives out fear. The more one loves, the less there is of which to be afraid. Love secures and drives our insecurity. Love at work is the most powerful force and energy of all.Take away love, said Robert Browning, and our earth is a tomb. Without love, life is like dead, lifeless, even meaningless. And, if you wish to be loved, LOVE. Any time that is not spent on love is time wasted.True love is a durable fire in the mind ever-burning, never sick, never old, never dead, from itself never turning, so said Sir Walter Raleigh. The durable fire of love burns unquenchable, always alive, always energizing.The great artist Vincent Van Gogh said:“THE HEART THAT LOVES IS ALWAYS YOUNG. LOVE IS A MARVELOUS BEAUTIFIER. LOVE IS ART AT WORK. I ALWAYS THINK THAT THE BEST WAY TO KNOW GOD IS TO LOVE MANY THINGS.”""Indeed, all of art is love at work and there really can be no great art without love. It beautifies and brings out the best in everything.Here, the words of Thomas Merton:“THE BEGINNING OF LOVE IS TO LET THOSE WHO LOVE BE PERFECTLYTHEMSELVES, AND NOT TO TWIST THEM TO FIT OUR OWN IMAGE. OTHERWISE,WE LOVE ONLY THE REFLECTION OF OURSELVES WE FIND IN THEM.”""The more we are perfectly ourselves, living to our highest and best, the more and better of us there is.Love cures people, the ones who give it and the ones who receive it. Love conquers all things, so said the ancient poet, Virgil.""Love allows us to believe so fully and firmly in God even when He is silent!The great thinker-theologian Soren Kierkegaard profoundly stated that when one has once fully entered the realm of love, the world, no matter how imperfect becomes rich and beautiful. It consists solely of opportunities for love.It is love, said Thomas Mann, not reason that is stronger than death. And that love, stronger than and which conquers death is the love of the Christ on the cross and the resurrection which followed.To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others, said Francois Mauriac. Life is replete with invisible miracles which can only be revealed by love at work.If you love somebody, tell them, so said Rod McKuen. The telling unleashes the energy and the power of love.The heart has its reasons which reason alone can not understand, so said the thinker Blaise Pascal. Love is a dimension in life different from and beyond reason itself. The more the mind the less the heart and consequently the less love. Reason no matter how wise can never understand love.The great theologian Paul Tillich said that the first beauty of love is to listen. One who loves wants to listen more than talk, listen to every word, every expression of thought and emotion which comes from the one loved. Listening, really listening in a caring way, may very well be the highest attribute of true love.For those who love, time is eternity. Love is God’s finger on man’s shoulder. Love is like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and to give thanks for another day of loving. Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end.Sir Alfred Lord Tennyson said:“TIS BETTER TO HAVE LOVED AND LOST THAN NEVER TO HAVE LOVED AT ALL.”""Love indeed is risky, the risk of rejection but a life lived without true love is a life never really lived at all.I love you, says Anna Corbin, as you are, not as you wish to be. I love you for the real person you are, not the imaginary perhaps I fantasize you could be. I love the real,amazing, utterly unique YOU.""Love in the ultimate, unconditional, love so REAL.If you love until it hurts, really hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love said the wonderfully loving Mother Teresa. True love at work drives away the hurt.""Looking back, said one, I have this to regret. That too often when I loved, I did not say so. Love uncommunicated is love aborted. It is there but never shared. More time is spent judging people which leaves less time to love them.Zelda Fitzgerald said that nobody has ever measured, not even poets, how much love the heart can hold. There is no limit to love, none whatsoever. Love is there, always and love takes up when knowledge leaves off. In fact, love is the supreme knowledge, superior to all else.Love’s greatest gift is its ability to make everything it touches sacred. Love at work produces the holiest of the holies. The great English statesman William E. Gladstone said the following:“WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE TIME WHEN THE POWER OF LOVE WILL REPLACE THE LOVE OF POWER. THEN WILL OUR WORLD KNOW THE BLESSINGS OF PEACE. POWER KILLS LOVE AND WITHOUT LOVE, THERE IS NO PEACE. THERE ISNOTHING MORE POWERFUL BEFORE AND EVER AGAIN THAN LOVE.”""The theologian Reinhold Niebuhr said the following:“WE ARE SAVED BY THE FINAL FORM OF LOVE, WHICH IS FORGIVENESS. FORGIVING AND FORGETTING ARE THE HIGHEST ACTS OF LOVE RESULTING IN OUR SALVATION. THERE WAS ONE, YEARS AGO, DRIVEN TO THE CROSS BY THE LOVE OF MANKIND PROVIDING IN HIS DEATH THE LIFE AND THE LOVE WE LEAD.THE CROSS WAS THE FINAL AND FORGIVING FORM OF LOVE.”""The crucifixion of the Christ on the cross was indeed the ultimate act of love. The great writer C.S. Lewis said the following:“TO LOVE AT ALL IS TO BE VULNERABLE. LOVE ANYTHING AND YOUR HEART WILL CERTAINLY BE WRUNG AND POSSIBLY BROKEN. LOVE BREAKS DOWN ALL BARRIERS, OPENS WIDE THE HEART, EXPOSES TRUE INNOCENCE AND RISKS THE WRINGING AND THE BREAKING OF THIS MORE PRIZED POSSESSION. REAL LOVE DEMANDS THIS, CONSTANTLY.”Sir Arthur Pinero said that “those who love deeply never grow old. They may die of old age, but they die young at heart.”That deep love here and now is but a prelude to the perfect love there. In fact, they are one love contiguous and continuous. Love is both earthly and eternal. Love never dies. For there is only one real happiness in life and that is to love and to be loved.The great writer Ralph Waldo Emerson said:“NEVER SELF-POSSESSED OR PRUDENT, LOVE IS ALL ABANDONMENT.”""True love is pure risk, always. Love at work risks hurt to the self and rejection by another. But the risk at work is what makes the word of love so special.""Vulnerability, openness, risk but so great reward.Hear then the marvelous words of the great poet William Wordsworth:“A PERSON CAN BE SO CHANGED BY LOVE AS TO BE UNRECOGNIZABLE AS THE SAME PERSON. LOVE TRANSFORMS, REGENERATES. LOVE PRODUCES CHANGE, EVERYWHERE AND IN EVERYONE. LOVE BETTERS WHAT IS BEST!”""The great philosopher Plato said that love is the best friend of human kind, the helper and the healer of all ills that stand in the way of human happiness. In fact, love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries and without them, humanity can not survive. And for some real definition of the word love, hear the words of Saint Augustine:“WHAT DOES LOVE LOOK LIKE? WHY, IT HAS HANDS TO HELP OTHERS. IT HAS FEET TO HASTEN TO THE POOR AND NEEDY. IT HAS EYES TO SEE MISERY AND WANT. IT HAS EARS TO HEAR THE SIGHS AND SORROWS OF HUMANKIND. THATIS WHAT LOVE LOOKS LIKE!”""Amen and amen. Hands and feet at work, eyes and ears to see and hear human need. Love at work is what love really is.Love comes supreme and most innocently from a child. A child’s love is pure, uncomplicated, unconditional, fully trusting. Such innocence opens deep the world of feeling and emotion and it is a return to that childlike love and that ability to love which alone can make complete the adult version of that child. May we all be wise enough to return to the innocent love of a little child.And so my friends, my fellow Americans, we the Crawford Broadcasting Company wish you all of the love possible on Valentine’s Day and during Valentine’s week. May love in all its forms permeate your life and may you know the supreme love of the One who laid down His life for you. Live love every day and know the real and true meaning of life.And finally, the profound words of poet Emily Dickenson:“IF I CAN STOP ONE HEART FROM BREAKINGI SHALL NOT LIVE IN VAINIF I CAN EASE ONE LIFE THE ACHING OR COOL ONE PAINOR HELP ONE FAINTING ROBIN IN TO HIS NEST AGAINI SHALL NOT LIVE IN VAIN!”""Love is the greatest!"

Rejoice

"It’s over! Finally, Elections 2024 are over and done with.It may have been, say many American legal citizens, the worst elections ever. It was a season of negativity, lies, half-truths, slander, personal attacks, all of which adding up to national and international disgrace for our once-great country. The candidates and their conduct, almost all of them, were indeed an embarrassment to WE THE PEOPLE. Do you feel that way?Many Americans are deeply concerned. They worry, fret, and are deeply concerned with the future of our country. They worry about the future, do you? They know that most politicians say and do what they need to do in order to get elected, and then, with virtually no compunction, do what they please, join the power structures, and fly their true political colors. They worry. They are afraid. They are concerned. They have little faith in government and rulers. Are you like that? Do you, as seemingly millions of others, believe that the end is near for America, do you?Our Lord Jesus Christ has a message for you. He says emphatically in Matthew 6:25: DO NOT WORRY!""Don’t worry, Christian. Rather, move on, or as Paul says: “PRESS ON FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING!”""DON’T WORRY! And more from scripture:" "LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED, NEITHER LET IT BE AFRAID.""Our God is in control. We may not understand the means, but that control is real. All governments are ordained by God. They come about by His will. So do rulers, dictators, kings and presidents. When it comes to government, elections, and the authority given to those who exercise power:THEY ARE ORDAINED BY GOD!Nothing happens politically other than as a result of HIS WILL. Nothing. We should never forget that. If we have done everything we can for the good, for right, for justice,""we have voted, stood tall, done what we are expected to do, all the rest is up to the God of the universe.And our God reminds us, constantly reminds us: MY WAYS ARE NOT YOUR WAYS!My will, which will be done in heaven and on earth, may or may not be something you understand. We should ask for that understanding, that wisdom, and we should pray without ceasing for the answers we seek. But, if we do not understand or agree, we should always recognize that what happens, everything that happens, EVERYTHING isaccording to His will. EVERYTHING!""If then, we set our affections on things above and not on things on this earth, then and only then will we not worry. Then and only then will we not give a single thought for the morrow, for no matter how much we plan, worry, none of us can add one singlehour to his or her life, no not one. So, says Jesus of Nazareth, don’t worry, DON’T!""The more we worry, the more our Lord describes us as persons of: LITTLE FAITH" "O YE, O YE OF LITTLE FAITH.""The more worry, the less faith. The more faith, the less worry. We may worry about earthly kingdoms and kings, but Jesus admonishes us to seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness, and all will be well. The structure of His kingdom, the rules and regulations, and the standards for his righteousness never change. They are eternal, abiding, consistent, always just, where love, real love, abounds. So, set your affections there, up there, in there where there is nothing but faith, hope, love, and justice, andnone of it ever changes, NEVER!""There are some who seek vengeance for wrongs done. Don’t, says the Lord: VENGEANCE IS MINE SAYS THE LORD. I WILL REPAY!Not you, but me. We, on the other hand, should:REJOICE.""And, the Apostle Paul confirms. In fact, Paul says we should rejoice in all things, and he says again, and for the second time, I say:" "REJOICE.""Think positive. Don’t let your heart be troubled. Rejoice in the Lord. GIVE THANKS IN ALL THINGS. All things. Think on those things, says Paul, which are just, pure, lovely,commendable, praiseworthy, happy, joyful, and loving. And, says Paul, always have""hope, grow and stand by your faith, and remember that everything ultimate comes down to one word:LOVE,""and especially that of the love of Jesus Christ which passes all understanding!So, don’t worry, my fellow Christian, DON’T WORRY! Render under Caesar the thingsthat are Caesar’s. Abide by the law, unless Caesar, the government and its rulers cross over from government to the spiritual realm and trespass on the things of God. Then, you are required to stand up, protest, resist, and do everything in your power to protect and defend the things of God. You are commanded to do that knowing that, with the power of our Lord,:“YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS US.”""You can. So:REJOICE – AND AGAIN I SAY REJOICE.Live by the joy of the Lord, never lose faith, hope, or love, and:DON’T WORRY.""Our Lord tells us that he will guide us with His eye, that He will give us the words we need, that He will meet our needs for food, clothing, and shelter, and so those mighty and reassuring words in Matthew 6:25-31, which you should read, and with this absolutely necessary admonition:DON’T WORRY - REJOICE!""Our God is in control."

The Vote 2024

There comes, in some two short weeks, the most important and critical elections which our beloved America has ever encountered. Elections 2024 will determine the future, the heart and soul of America for decades to come.You, American citizen and person of faith, will vote in this election, will you not? If you are Christian, and you wish to protect your faith, the freedom you have to enjoy and practice your religion, and the free speech guaranteed by the Constitution, you have no other choice:YOU MUST VOTE!You must.Troy A. Miller, President and CEO of the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) says unequivocally and emphatically:“CHRISTIANS HAVE A MORAL AND ETHICAL DUTY TO VOTE NOVEMBER 5!”Miller says that a Christian really has no choice but to vote. There is no option not to vote for there is a moral, Christian duty to vote. So, my fellow Americans, legal citizens, and Christians:YOU WILL VOTE NOVEMBER 5, WILL YOU NOT?Troy Miller goes on to state the following:“It’s time to get millions of evangelical voters to the polls.”Is it ever.In this election, there are seven so-called swing states, the votes in which and the electoral college numbers, pundits say, will determine the election. Listen to this tragic statistic. It was estimated that in Elections 2020, an estimated 7 million evangelicals in those 7 swing states did not participate in the election:DID NOT VOTE!That is a shocking, frustrating, and tragic statistic and it is, says Miller, one inexcusable, unpatriotic, uncaring, abandonment of civic duty and concern and love for America, and of course the freedom of the Christian faith we hold so dear.Dr. James Dobson, he of Family Talk Fame, is greatly concerned for the future of America and the outcomes of Elections 2024. Dobson also agrees fully, as do his cohorts, Michelle Bachman and Gary Bauer, that America is on the path to destruction if evangelical Christians, real Christians, do not vote, and vote right and informed for the very best candidates. So, you will vote, will you not? YOU MUST VOTE!Hear the words of candidate for President, Donald Trump:“OUR ENEMIES ARE WAGING WAR ON FREEDOM AND FAITH, ONSCIENCE AND RELIGION, ON HISTORY AND TRADITION, ON LAW ANDDEMOCRACY, ON THE FAMILY, ON CHILDREN, ON AMERICA ITSELF.”It is simply tragic to learn how many real Christians, so-called evangelicals, bible-believing and Christian-faith-practicing Christians have not voted and who do not intend to vote 2024. That is absolutely tragic, almost sabotage to our great country and an utter and total disrespect for the freedoms, the lifestyle, and the American way we all enjoy and which so many take for granted. But progressive, liberal thought and activism have contaminated the mainstream of American life and culture, and in the words of Franklin Graham:“SO MUCH SO THAT ONCE UNTHINKABLE ABOMINATIONS SUCH ASSAME SEX MARRIAGE, ABORTION ON DEMAND, AND TRANSGENDERADVOCACY HAVE BECOME DOGMA IN ONE MAJOR PARTY’S PLATFORM.”That political party is of course not Republican. I wonder if you can guess which party that would be? Various and considerable strong biblical, God-fearing, evangelical leaders have said unequivocally, that a vote for Harris-Walz, or Democrat senators or congress persons, is indeed a vote for unlimited abortion, transgender advocacy, and the curtailing of freedom of speech and religion, and the growth and power of all governments, and the drift of America towards Socialism and even Marxism itself. More from Franklin Graham:“The Bible clearly teaches that governments are ordained by God to restrain evil and enable righteousness to flourish.”And then Franklin Graham states unequivocally:“That’s why Christians should carefully pray and vote!”Like Troy Miller of NRB, and James Dobson, and so many other evangelical leaders, Graham really believes it is the moral duty of a Christian to vote, to protect America, and to elect the best possible candidates. So, my fellow Americans, legal citizens, you will vote will you not? YOU MUST VOTE! The senatorial voting and the gubernatorial decision making of Harris and Walz lead so many Christian leaders to state the following:“CAN ANY THINKING, WELL INFORMED CHRISTIAN VOTE FOR ANY DEMOCRAT?”Given what this party stands for, its platform, what Harris truly is and what she believes, and what she will inevitably do should she be elected President, will result in the most anti-Christian, religious persons of faith political administration in the history of our country. Christians have a duty to do everything humanly possible to prevent that from happening.Vote 2024, Christian, VOTE! Protect your constitutional freedoms. Stand up for what is morally right, traditionally American, and biblical truth. STAND UP! YOU and so many other, literally millions, of bible-believing, real Christians can in fact determine the outcome, up and down the ballots, of Elections 2024. YOU CAN DO THAT! So, never forget the admonitions of Troy Miller, Franklin Graham, and James Dobson:YOU MUST VOTE 2024!YOU MUST.

Voting

Every four years it seems, we the people are told that we will face the most important election ever held in America, that for the President of the United States, and of course, the 435 representatives of the House in Congress, and as many as 35 U. S. Senators, in addition of course to state and local elections as well. EVERY FOUR YEARS!But many politicos, and even so very many Christian and evangelical leaders do state unequivocally that elections 2024 are THE MOST IMPORTANT ever held in the history of our great country. Franklin Graham is one of them. And so is Tony Perkins. And so is Brent Bozell of Media Research Council. And very passionately so is Dr. James Dobson, he of Family Talk ministries, along with his very own Gary Bauer and Michelle Bachman. It may very well be, my fellow Americans, the most important election year in the history of our great country and so I ask:DO YOU INTEND TO VOTE?And, as you vote, will you really know the candidates, the issues, what will happen if certain individuals are elected and will you render an:INFORMED VOTE?Will you?I for one, and so many others in the Crawford Broadcasting Company, say to you, our faithful and loyal listeners and the Christians who get daily value from our stations that:YOU MUST VOTE!I believe it is your duty as a Christian, and in the case of these elections, clearly your duty as an American citizen (a legal American citizen) to:VOTE.Again, I say unequivocally:YOU MUST VOTE! WILL YOU?America, says Franklin Graham, has drifted far from the biblical values that once stood as our rock-solid foundations. We have turned our back on God and the results have been devastating.Progressive, liberal thought and activism, says Graham, have so contaminated the mainstream of American life and culture that once unthinkable abominations such as same sex marriage, abortion on demand, and transgender advocacy have become dogma in one major party’s platform! It is not difficult at all to identify to which party Graham refers. That is clearly the Democrat party, and the head of that Democrat ticket, Kamala Harris and indeed every bit as much so Tim Walz, the would-be Vice President, and so many others. That leads to the question, rightly posed:CAN ANY REAL CHRISTIAN VOTE FOR HARRIS-WALZ AND THE DEMOCRAT PARTY?The answer of course is a resounding:NO!Democrats champion government control, not only through a socialistic (socialism) approach to government, but even in some extreme ways to the brutal Marxism itself. Democrats are by no means persuaded by the realistic and right-on philosophy of Winston Churchill, Great Britain’s great Prime Minister who said:“SOCIALISM IS THE PHILOSOPHY OF FAILURE, THE CREED OFIGNORANCE, AND THE GOSPEL OF ENVY.”And more from Churchill:“THE INHERENT VIRTUE OF SOCIALISM IS THE EQUAL SHARING OFMISERIES!”The socialistic approaches of the Democrats and Harris-Walz will lead America down the path of socialism and worse in the four years to come if they are elected.Harris is an avowed, open, fully supportive advocate of absolutely no restrictions of any kind by federal, state, or local governments, on:ABORTION.Democrats do not want to leave abortion decisions to the states but wish the codification of the old Roe v. Wade so that, as binding federal legislation, it is the law of the land, and applicable in every state, all 50 states! That indeed is more evidence that no thinking, caring, spiritual, born-again Christian can vote for Harris, is it not? As US Senator, Harris was rated by GovTrack as “the most liberal senator, of all 100 senators,” THE MOST LIBERAL! Harris voted in favor of legal infanticide, she vowed to force taxpayers to fund abortion, she believes that a religious test should be applied to judicial and supreme court nominees. She sponsored the unbelievably radical EQUALITY ACT, which in many ways would put an end to religious freedom in America, she promoted legal prostitution. Harris opposed homeschooling and school choice legislation, she fully supported Planned Parenthood, and Harris openly lobbied for girl’s restrooms, locker rooms, showers, sports and even women’s prisons to be open to biological men. So, the question is posed again:CAN ANY THINKING, CARING, TRULY BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN VOTE FOR HARRIS-WALZ?So, if we the people, the Christian people, the real Christian people that is, wish to be the SALT AND LIGHT which our Lord tells us we must be, then we cannot vote for Harris. It seems as though our only choice is to vote for Donald Trump and JD Vance as President-Vice President, and republicans who are far more likely to uphold traditional American and Christian values.Harris and Walz are major proponents of the:EQUALITY ACT.This brutal act, if passed, would allow male-bodied transgender women (biological males) to utilize women’s private spaces such as bathrooms, locker rooms, shelters, and participate in women’s sports and sports leagues. Employers would be forced to provide healthcare insurance coverage for hormone treatment and sex-reassignment surgery for individuals with so-called gender dysphoria. Parents would be federally banned from seeking counseling for their children struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction or gender confusion.If Harris-Walz are elected, this brutal, freedom-extinguishing act may very well become law, and every Christian and Christian family will be subject to its horrible terms and conditions. This is yet another reason why no thinking, caring, real, true-born-again Christian can vote Democrat and absolutely cannot vote for Harris-Walz.Here the words of the one-of-a-kind BILLY GRAHAM:“WE WORSHIP THE GODS OF SECULARISM AND MATERIALISM. GOD IS DISPLEASED, AND I WARN YOU THAT HIS ANGER IS BEING KINDLED.”Boy, is it ever. The forces of secularism, radical, ultra-progressive, socialistic secularism are the leading, driving force in our great country. And, that is so because WE THE CHRISTIAN PEOPLE simply do not step up, STAND FOR THE RIGHT AND TRUE MORALITY, and do everything in our power to elect right thinking men and women who will govern this great country and us with it. We have indeed lost our right to ask:GOD BLESS AMERICA.Perhaps our only prayer is:GOD HELP, GOD SAVE AMERICA!But if we the people don’t stand for what is right, and for Christian values and morality, no matter the cost, we can not expect the intervention of our God, and we will lose the America we true citizens of this republic and our freedoms have long-since taken for granted.It is, I and so many others firmly believe, our duty, and especially our duty not only as citizens but Christians, to:VOTE.You must vote, and you must vote in an informed, intelligent, issue-oriented way.If you are a Christian, a real true born-again, God-fearing and believing Christian, can you in good conscience vote for Harris-Walz, can you?

Fear

Are you afraid? Do you fear the future?Are you afraid or at least deeply concerned about America, the radical changes which are occurring in our once great country, and in fact the world over. Do you fear for the future, for your family and friends, for yourself? Do you fear that America has lost its way, is now in the control and political decision making of those who are anti-American, anti-Christian, and wish fundamental and radical changes in our country in every meaningful respect, are you really deeply concerned and afraid?Many are, a very many, many perhaps by the millions. That fear, to the extent it exists, can paralyze an individual on the one hand, preventing any kind of action, or it can mobilize an individual to do more, to stand up, to fight the fight of faith, and to do everything possible to prevent those radical changes, satanically influenced, from happening to our great country and then to that extent to the world at large. In which camp do you find yourself, the one who is fearful that you can do little or nothing, or the other so powerful that you will do more than you had believed you were capable of doing? Which camp, which kind of individual are you?The concern for America is real, but the fear of inevitability, resulting in a powerlessness is not. Hear the words of our Lord through the Apostle Paul:“GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT OF POWER, LOVE, AND A SOUND MIND.”Our Lord has put power in your life, POWER! You can fight the fight of faith for both our Lord and America (God and Country). You and I are powerful through HIM and because of HIM. While at the same time we can show Christian love for our enemies, we cannot love, and we must indeed resist, evil and the devil which propagates it, so that real love can abound.You and I need, now more than ever, a:SOUND MIND.We need to be able to think, rationally analyze, understand political issues, candidates, problems and potential, and we act accordingly, VOTE accordingly. We cannot be deceived by false prophets or false advertising. We must know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth for it is only that truth, God inspired, which can make us free and keep us free. That is a sound mind at work, always thinking, discerning, knowing the signs of the times and reacting accordingly. So that, as Christians, even as we KNOW in whom we have believed, so it is in the worldly realm, and the world of politics and government, that we are required to know in whom we can believe and trust to prevent these radical changes from occurring.I do believe that we cannot ask God to bless America, even to help America, unless WE HIS PEOPLE are doing everything in our power to champion the truth, the right, and Christian principles and values. If we do, in fact, our very best for country, than we can expect our God to hear our prayers when we ask for his help and intervention and to not only help America, but to bless America.BE NOT AFRAID! In you, there should be no spirit of fear, but only the love, the power of God Almighty! If you are a child of salvation, then you know the reality of that promise.We, his children, are warned by our Lord that because of our faith in Him, active and uncompromising, we can expect persecution. We can expect hardship. We can expect resistance, separation, disrespect. The more we truly believe and testify of the love of Jesus Christ, the more disrespect and persecution we can expect. But that faith is worth it! In fact, it is more than worth our laying our all on the altar no matter the cost. We do the best we can, but knowing all the while, that God is on the throne, in control, and so very often:HIS WAYS ARE NOT OUR WAYS.If in fact we move toward the END TIMES, as scripture predicts, then the road grows more narrow, more difficult to navigate, full of hazards, testing us, our character, and commitment, and that really is the bottom line. How much, say all these terrible events, do you love and trust your Lord? For, it is His will which will be done (on earth as it is in heaven) and when we have given our all, and done our best (two absolute preconditions), then it is our duty to trust in Him for the results as God would will. That is so for America, our world, and even the future of mankind.We should never forget that God is all wise (omniscient), all powerful, all knowing, and in control of everything:COMPLETE CONTROL.The spirit bears witness within us, leading, directing, goading, prodding when we need it, making sure we do our best for Him. That Holy Spirit makes sure we know when we do not do our best. He made us Americans, responsible for America. He gave us the opportunity to live here, to witness for Him, and we owe Him. We owe Him our best to protect what He has given us, the most unique and the finest country, government, and lifestyle in the history of mankind. Unless we completely spiritually shut down, the Holy Spirit of God lets us know that we have let him down. That is a reassuring spiritual check and balance. Knowing that, there is absolutely no reason why we should be afraid, none at all. But rather, we should claim over and again the promise:FEAR NOT! FOR I AM WITH YOU.No matter what happens, we should never lose hope. Our hope is in Him and in things to come. The reality is we are citizens of a greater, larger, heavenly, spiritual kingdom. Here, we are temporary dwellers, temporary residents. Our citizenship is there and with Him. How then can we ever be afraid!Think about David who in his most fearful moments, trusted the Lord, SANG unto the Lord, verbalized his feelings in song, joyfully, rejoicing in:GOD, HIS (DAVID) SAVIOR.And the very same for us as Christians, we sing at Christmastime and hopefully all year long:JOY TO THE WORLDTHE LORD HAS COME.We sing:HAPPY AM IJESUS LOVES ME.No matter what happens, especially political, God ordained, wills, and is in control and we should rejoice in knowing that. If God is love, and God is love, then we should always rejoice and be glad for IF WE HAVE DONE OUR BEST AS CITIZENS, then the rest, the outcome, the results are up to HIM.So, my fellow Americans, and fellow Christians, be not afraid and claim the promise of our Lord:I WILL GUIDE YOU WITH MINE EYE!Whether here or there, we are SAFE IN THE ARMS. That should be more than enough to make us rejoice and be exceedingly glad, don’t you think? So, no matter politics, government, the things of this world, we must always remember that only three things abide, and only three things last for all eternity. They are:FAITHHOPELOVE.Never lose your faith in the God who is in control of everything, EVERYTHING and Everybody!Never lose hope in Him or the best result for all things as He wills, or hope for a better future with Him or for a better future here as he would will.And always allow your heart to pour out its love for all things and all people, for no matter what else, the very greatest of everything on this earth and for all humankind is:LOVE.SO, BE NOT AFRAID. I AM YOUR GOD AND I WILL GUIDE YOU WITH MINE EYE!

Debt - The Incredible American Debt

Owe no man nothing, says the scripture.The fact remains, however, that every single American is in debt, EVERY ONE OF US. Every day of every month, we owe someone something. That debt could be as normal as a phone bill, electric bill, cell phone or cable bill, or currently repayable credit card bills. But, we always owe something if we wish to live in any reasonable way in this world.What that debt admonition means is that we ought not to owe anything which we cannot repay in the present in whole or in part. None of us could own a home unless we were able to borrow a mortgage for 10, 20 or 30 years, and make the monthly payments with interest thereon. If we can repay that 30-year debt on a monthly basis and timely so, that is a manageable obligation and not the kind of debt proscribed by scripture.Debt, unpayable debt, and especially that debt which accumulates with interest, sometimes as much or almost so as the debt principle itself is crushing. It is always there, its presence a constant reminder that so much of the future has been mortgaged and that our present spending endangers and preempts our options for the future. Families are ruined by that kind of debt. So are marriages. Profligate businesses go bankrupt and governments, nations and states which over-borrow and accumulate crushing interest obligations sacrifice the future for the present. They kick the financial can down the road.And that, my fellow Americans, is the pathway and the financial condition of our beloved America. Our once great country, operating on a current budget, the financial envy of the world, the dollar the hallmark of financial stability, is now the unbelievable debtor in the amount of:$36 TRILLION DOLLARS.$36 Trillion Dollars. As incredible, hard to believe, and frightening as that number is, the interest America pays on those $36 trillion dollars of debt is now at or about:$1.3 TRILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY.$1.3 Trillion dollars in interest alone!That means, my fellow Americans, that every American household owes as much as $275,000 of that debt. Or that also means that every tax paying person in America, every citizen, owes the sum of approximately $110,000 to our creditors, foreigners and foreign nations, and American business entities and individuals. $275,000 PER HOUSEHOLD and $110,000 PER PERSON. That is the kind of debt with interest that scripture so aggressively warns against. But we do nothing, our leaders do nothing to stop the bleeding and solve the problem. The overwhelming debt problem. But some day, we will have no choice but to deal with this horrendous financial reckoning.Economists now believe that the nation’s debt of at or about $36 Trillion Dollars is indeed an existential threat to our great country, and to us, we the people. The fact of the matter is that America does not owe this debt, we do. WE, THE PEOPLE, the citizens of this great country owe that $36 trillion dollars, with its unbelievable annual interest burdens. WE OWE THAT MONEY! And someday, we will have to pay it. What an unbelievable effect that will have on our lifestyles and our future. That existential threat threatens our very existence!But our Federal Government continues in its profligate way. It spends, and it spends more. It never seems to care because it can postpone the debt, financing even more of its spending, and it always has what it thinks is the fail-safe remedy, and that is:TAXATION.More taxation, more taxes, for we the people to pay.And more bad financial news. Economists estimate that by the year 2034, a decade from now, America will add $20 trillion dollars to its debt of $36 trillion dollars, which would put our country in debt by the staggering sum of $56 trillion dollars, $56 TRILLION DOLLARS! And some economists think those estimates are conservative, believing that the real debt will be as high as $60 trillion dollars or even more if spending continues as is. That would also mean that the annual interest alone on that staggering debt would be somewhere between $2 Trillion and $2.5 Trillion Dollars Annually, and possibly more. In the year 2034, our total debt will be approximately 120% of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). And hear these words carefully:NO NATION HAS EVER CARRIED THAT KIND OF GOVERNMENT-DRIVEN DEBT AND ESCAPED CALAMITY. NOT ONE GOVERNMENT IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF MANKIND HAS EVER SPENT OR WILL SPEND WHAT WE AMERICANS ARE AND ESCAPED ABSOLUTE AND TOTAL DISASTER AND CALAMITY.Not to worry, say the Democrats in charge and in power and seeking four more years of spending privileges, assuming the election of Harris-Walz. We will simply tax the rich more and more. Even if there is a sharp rise in the tax rates for the wealthy, that meager amount of additional income would never begin to seriously pay down the debt which our once fiscally responsible America now owes and will owe ten years from now.But that day of reckoning will come when we the people will pay an unbelievable price for the profligate way our Federal Government spends our money and accumulates this strangling, bankrupting debt.Regarding the so-called rich, the top 1% of Americans in terms of earnings reported 26.3% of the country’s adjusted gross income and paid accordingly:Almost 46% of total income taxes!All the rest of America’s taxpayers, 99% of them, paid the grand total of 54% of all taxes. But there is never any effort to tax more the 54% but only the so-called rich and wealthy 46%. That is fiscal policy which leads to absolute disaster!Even more interesting, the top 10% of all earners in America provided 76% of the total revenue, tax revenue, and the other 90% of taxpayers provided 24% of tax revenue. If you were not one of the so-called wealthy, you have really gotten off cheap by taxing comparison.Our great country, We The People, face the ever-present possibility of default in payments to our creditors, now $36 trillion dollars and in 10 years to be some $60 trillion dollars. That default of any serious kind would set off a major depression and fiscal revolution THE WORLD OVER. That economic crisis could well ruin the world.There would also exist in America HYPERINFLATION. That is what occurred in Germany where the German Mark was absolutely worthless. If those tragic and calamitous conditions arise in America, our dollar will be just like that Mark and virtually worthless itself.That debt-caused disaster will produce incredible internal instability, even revolution, and the very real potential of the destruction of law and order. It could also occasion the rise of dictatorship, as the very same fiscal problems in Germany gave rise to Adolf Hitler and it would undoubtedly be the end of our great democracy.But, my fellow Americans, that debt and the problems it causes, are:OUR FAULT.Our responsibility. We the People allowed that debt to happen. We continue one election after another to elect a president, a senate, a house of representatives which do nothing, absolutely nothing about the problem, continue to spend, talk the talk but never walk the walk, and again do absolutely nothing about this incredible end-of-America problem, nothing but nothing. But the day of economic reckoning comes, and we will pay, WE WILL PAY! Or, our children and grandchildren will pay. The life and lifestyle which they hope for and work for will never materialize and the America we now know will never be the America they will ever know. What America once was fiscally and economically will be nothing more than an historical footnote.Wake up, my fellow Americans, please wake up. You vote, you elect these politicians to represent you. You allow them to spend your money, to tax you, to do as they please with YOUR money but the one thing they never do is hold themselves accountable for the way they spend your money, the fiscal problems they are causing, and the insurmountable debt they are creating, which may very well never be repaid. That of course would be the end of the democratic America we now love and enjoy. But again, we have no one to blame but ourselves. We the People allow these reckless economically indifferent or ignorant politicians to do what they please, spend our money as we will, and we continue to do nothing:NOTHINGabout that spending or them. When this disaster, this calamity occurs, we will have no one to blame but:OURSELVES – WE THE PEOPLE!

The Once Great Moral Majority

There was a time, in America no less, when true evangelicals, real born-again Christians, were of great moral influence and persuasion numbering perhaps as many as 75-80 million citizens. The Moral Majority was founded by the Rev. Jerry Falwell Sr. and it was indeed a powerful organization, politically, culturally, and spiritually.But today, far from constituting a moral majority, the evangelical Christian of today finds little tolerance, much less acceptance, by their fellow citizens, many of whom are anti-Christian to the core. The shared moral ideals of old have indeed deteriorated and no longer have the priorities they once did. That includes FAITH. Real Christianity, biblical Christianity, born-again Christianity is ridiculed or ignored by the IMMORAL MAJORITY of today’s culture. The concept and value of FAMILY are torn apart and the governments of today substitute foreign and often godless concepts and meanings which attack and depreciate traditional values and definitions. Freedom, once a burning priority, now hangs in the balance, watered down by legislation, indifference, and constant attacks on our constitution.Especially within the last decade, faithful, biblical Christians have witnessed ideological disintegration of trusted religious institutions. That has resulted in an incredible cultural compromise. Conduct and behavior that was once forbidden is now not only allowed but encouraged. So much of the freedoms Americans take for granted was relinquished during the pandemic and even church attendance, the freedom of assembly and religious worship, was also forbidden by government action.That sense of compromise and indifference even permeated the church pulpits. Church after church, pastor after pastor, seceded to the demands of an anti-Christian culture, accepting compromise and change to traditional and long accepted Christian tenets and the gospel message, once proudly preached, was seldom heard in one denomination after another. So many American pulpits fell silent, fearing retribution or alienation.Many Christian believers witnessed evangelical leaders’ quart secular acclaim by compromising on conservative Christian values and, like the false prophets predicted, preached a foreign gospel or none at all. Strong Christian values that contributed to American strength and vitality but were recast by these false prophets, outmoded and second class. New concepts, often man-made were formed to water down traditional biblical concepts of salvation, born-again, faith and works, and so much more. Those believers who held fast to strong biblical principles and concepts were often depicted as “violent enemies of democracy” because they failed to recognize, accept, and give credence to the priorities and beliefs of the anti-Christian majority which seemed to be taking place in America.Consequently, so many Christians abandoned the world of politics in their very own country. In a recent survey by the respected George Barna, more than half of the Christians surveyed reported that they did not pay much attention at all to political news, which would inevitably be essential to understanding the issues most relevant to believers. As a result, an estimated 7 million evangelicals in swing states did not participate in the 2020 presidential election. Had they done so, results would have been entirely different up and down the ballots. Barna estimates as a result of the conclusions of that survey that shockingly:AN ESTIMATED ONE THIRD OF ALL EVANGELICALS IN AMERICA SATON THE SIDELINES (DID NOT VOTE) IN ELECTIONS 2020.Even if they did, those evangelicals not paying attention to news and information about politics and government were in so many cases incapable of making informed, educated, voting decisions.The one presidential candidate who addressed the Christian audiences, spoke to the issues which concerned Christians, and otherwise collaborated with the National Religious Broadcasters was Donald Trump. Trump addressed in positive ways, the issues which really concern Christians including freedom of expression (First Amendment, Speech and Press), prayer in schools, homeschooling, America’s support for Israel, and the role of religion in public life. No other candidate for president did so. In fact, the Left has extended no hand of friendship to born-again believers. The Left has in fact elevated “unlimited abortion” as the non-negotiable priority of their policy agenda. No true Christian can tolerate such a position, and it leads to the question:CAN ANY TRUE CHRISTIAN VOTE FOR ANY DEMOCRAT?Further, and disturbingly so, many Christians will not vote for a candidate whose personality they find offensive. Many for example do not personally like Donald Trump and even though his policies are more akin to their beliefs, they will not vote for him. Many will also not vote for a candidate whose private life they do not like. Many use that excuse not to vote for Trump, at least for now a convicted felon. Perhaps even more do not like the way Trump communicates, speaks, and finding his public image objectionable, will not vote for him. What a tragic loss for America, for Trump and the republican party champion values and decision making which is far more akin to Christian values and positions than their democratic counterparts. The withdrawal and non-involvement of Christians and Christian voters is indeed tragic for America. Real Christians, many believe, have no choice but to vote for Trump and the Republican party and its candidates if they wish traditional America and traditional American values to remain.Real evangelical Christians must thoroughly examine the records of candidates on the critical issues, including:immigration and illegal immigration (the border)pro-family policiesreligious freedom (the Constitution and the First Amendment)national securityfederal spending and the incredible American debtthe economy and inflation (pricing)parental rights (in the world of the transgender)conscience protectionsAmerica’s support for IsraelChristian voters must also consider the regulatory overreach of the Federal Government and the disastrous fiscal policy which the democratic government has adopted and utilized and what some believe is the weaponization of government against private citizens, including and especially people of faith.Christian radio, and I am proud to say the Crawford Broadcasting Co., devote much of their broadcast time, finances and concerns in programming which seriously address the concerns of Christians today and our beloved America at large. So many of us, who love our America, are deeply concerned with what is happening in all facets of our great country, and we are determined to make a difference, to educate all people including and especially Christian believers, real evangelicals, and encourage them to do their duty as American citizens and become fully involved in government, in politics, in the elections, and to take a stand for what is right, for traditional moral values, and to do everything possible to have America and its citizens return, rethink, and reevaluate the disastrous moral and cultural trends which now affect and radically change our once great country. Said one Christian politician:“WE ARE THE BLESSED STEWARDS OF A TEMPORAL HOME BUILTON A FOUNDATION OF FAITH TO THE BEST OF OUR FOUNDER’SABILITIES. WE MUST DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE IN OUR POWER TOSAVE AMERICA FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.”Amen. We, the Crawford Broadcasting Co., fully agree, and we are dedicated to that purpose, and we hope and pray you believe and act the same and that you will do so for the glory of God and the salvation of America in Elections 2024. It really is our Christian duty.

The Vote - The Christian Vote

Do you intend to vote in this critical November election, do you?Are you registered to vote so that, unlike many others, you are a legally qualified voter?America needs your vote, YOUR VOTE! America needs your informed vote, a vote that is educated in the issues, understands the essential workings of politics and the government, and assuming you are Christian, voting for candidates and issues with the direction and guidance of your Christian conscience.YOU MUST VOTE!For many Christians, they seem to find reasons not to vote. If those Christians find the candidates personality, or private life, or public image objectionable, that gives them reasons, really excuses, for non-participation, for not voting. And that, my fellow Americans and fellow Christians, is simply dead wrong. As Troy Miller, President and CEO of NRB, the National Religious Broadcasters Association:“I urge Christians who are so inclined to pivot from personality andtake a closer look at policy.”That is a strong message to those conservative Americans and Christian Americans that if, for example, you do not like the personality, or the private life, or the public image of Donald Trump, those are not reasons for you not to vote for Donald Trump. If in fact Trump and his party represent and will champion and defend the policies and political decisions which are consistent with your Christian values.Dr. George Barna has produced a new survey indicating that:“Theologically defined evangelicals (are you one?) are no more likely thananyone else to be attentive to news about politics and government.”That is a sad, sad indeed conclusion and I do hope that you are not one of those evangelicals who doesn’t care, isn’t involved, and doesn’t intend to vote. You and I have, so many believe, a theological duty to be involved to the extent we can in the political process and most importantly, in every meaningful election:VOTE!That Barna survey indicates that an estimated 7 million evangelicals, in swing states no less, did not participate or vote in the 2020 President Election. If those 7 million registered and potential voters actually did vote, the outcomes and elections of candidates up and down the ballot would have been entirely different. And that was in so-called swing states alone.Generally, across America and in all states, the Barna survey estimates that one third, 33%, of all evangelicals did not vote or participate in the political process in 2020! One third. If there are, as many think, as many as 75 million so-called theologically defined evangelicals in America, that means according to the Barna survey that as many as:25 MILLION EVANGELICAL AMERICANS DID NOT VOTE IN 2020!That is a startling and frankly sickening survey conclusion and they discredit and disgrace not only the privilege of American citizenship, but to our very Lord himself! As many as 25 million registered American citizen voters in 2020, says Barna, did not even simply bother to vote. To me, and to so many others, that is just simply unbelievable, UNBELIEVABLE! That led Troy Miller to state in his article:“WE HAVE A DUAL ISSUE OF TURNOUT (NOT VOTING) AND TUNE OUT (NOT PARTICIPATING IN OR BEING INFORMED OF THE POLITICAL PROCESS AND ITS ISSUES).”I do hope and pray that you, if in fact you are Christian and Evangelical Christian, are not one of those 25 million. You and I have the unbelievable privilege of being citizens of the greatest country in the history of mankind. At least, it once was. We live in a country where true freedom exists, or at least it used to. We the People, all people, including Christians, all people of faith or not of faith, have freedom of religion, complete unabridged freedom of religion, and the very same total and complete freedom of speech, and press, and no government, including and especially the Federal Government, can in any way interfere with or abridge those precious, inalienable, God-given through the constitution, freedoms we enjoy, and now have begun to assume and take for granted.We also have freedom of petition. We can say what we want, ask what we feel is right to do, complain, criticize, compliment, and express what we believe to anyone who acts as our political leader at any level of government. They are duty-bound to listen, read, understand, and respond, whether or not they do. That is our constitutional right.Perhaps most importantly as Christians, we have the constitutional and First Amendment right to assemble. That is, to form, support, attend, and be involved in the functions of a church or any type of religious organization. No one, including and especially the Federal Government, can prevent any American from worshipping as he or she pleases in any venue as he or she may wish and the slightest abridgement of that freedom is constitutionally wrong, illegal, and cannot be tolerated.WE, THE EVANGELICAL PEOPLE, are free, we have been given these freedoms, we can partake of them without fear of retribution and with those freedoms, those benefits, those assets, we consequently have the duty, the God-required, American citizen-required, duty to protect, defend, and to be involved in the processes (voting) which involves the protection and continuation of those freedoms. Therefore, it seems perfectly clear that we as Christians, and perhaps especially as evangelical Christians, do in fact have the:DUTY TO VOTE.Are you registered to vote?Do you intend to vote?Will you encourage others, especially other evangelicals, to vote, will you?If you claim those freedoms as your rights, and I hope and pray you do, than as a result of those rights, you have the duty to protect those freedoms, to be informed, educated in the political process to the extent you can, and most importantly, to participate:TO VOTE!None of the freedoms which we enjoy as Americans exist in Russia, or North Korea, or China, or Iran, or many of the other Far Eastern countries, and socialism abounds in many Western countries which were once more democratic and those people in so many parts of the world yearn for the freedoms we enjoy and take for granted as Americans and are probably stunned to learn that so many of us simply do not care, are not engaged, and do not:VOTE.So many men and women the world over and in all of history died to either get or protect those freedoms and if this political-voting lethargy, which exists in so many parts of America continues, that day may soon come when the blood of freedom loving individuals, real American freedom patriots, must be shed if those freedoms are to be protected and preserved. That will sagacious vice of former and early U. S. President Thomas Jefferson. He was right, perhaps dead right. America is changing and may radically change, the loss of freedoms expedited depending upon the results of Elections 2024, especially if evangelicals do not participate, do not vote as it is estimated some 25 million did not in 2020.Please vote my fellow Christians. Protect our constitutional freedoms for yourself, your spouse, your children, your family, your friends, and all Americans. AMERICA NEEDS YOU INVOLVED AND YOUR VOTE NOW 2024 MORE THAN EVER!

Labor Day - Work

Work is good. Work is necessary for the fulfillment of every human being. Work is required of every person according to his or her capabilities and talents, so sayeth the Scripture. All of us must work to survive, live, grow and profit and be all that we can be and as God intended us to be.Our very own America was built on hard work, and is in fact itself a work in progress. The progress depends upon us, we the people, how hard we work and how we make things happen. The majority of we the American people are hard workers. And, the harder and the better we work, the better America and all of us are. To be sure, nothing comes easy in this life, nothing. Everything we have or enjoy is the product of hard work by someone, whether you, or me, or someone else. You and I must do our share, accomplish our calling for the very short time we have on this precious earth. Life, said the wisest man of old King Solomon, is but a vapor here today and gone so soon tomorrow. We should make every working day count to the fullest.Pioneers built our country. They were men and women who did little but work hard morning till night. They farmed land never before productive. They raised animals and used them for work and feed. They built houses, and churches, and City Halls. They built roads and bridges. They built autos and trucks. They built hospitals and invented medicines. They designed and manufactured clothing. They created places for entertainment and worship. They built elaborate and majestic campuses for education and things theological. They built laboratories and science centers and they sent us deep into space. They were then and we are now the workers who made America great, America, the most exciting, creative human and social experiment in all of history. You and I should be proud of them and we should be proud to be workers like they were. The more we work, the better we are, caught up, energized and thrilled by the spirit of America, our exceptional opportunity to pursue our dreams and to build our future. America and those who believe in what it stands for are indeed EXCEPTIONAL and we have been blessed by EQUALLY EXCEPTIONAL opportunity. As we work, we should do everything possible to protect and defend the opportunities, lifestyles and freedoms which America offers.How wonderful it is that the talent and ability of every individual God-Made is different, unique. It is marvelous indeed that every single person has talent and gifts which are in fact different. That is true divine diversity. None of us are better at least not in the sight of God, but different only. Each of us has our own special CALLING. So, no matter who you are, YOU are special and it is your right but every bit as importantly your duty to utilize those God-given talents to the fullest. It is your duty to fulfill your calling. So then, we should not be concerned with what others think nor should we judge what we do and how we work by the standards of others. Nor should we be inhibited by their criticism. For we need to know ourselves, be true to that special self and soul which God has created and through prayer and meditation, come to a full recognition of those talents and be the very person God intended that you and I be. We can fail, but we can bounce back. The opportunity for growth and change is still available in America, thank God. Ignore rejection and focus on your calling.So then, my fellow Americans, you may be called to be a mother. Be all that you can be as a mother for the sake of your children and do your God-given calling with all of your might. Or perhaps you are secretary, or babysitter. Perhaps you clean for a living. Recognize all such work as a calling and do your calling with all of your might. Or perhaps you are plumber, electrician, landscaper, restaurant worker. Do your calling with all of your might and as you can, as unto the Lord. Or perhaps you are lawyer, accountant, radio salesperson, financial planner. Do your calling with all of your might. And if you are the President of anything, including the President of our great United States, you perhaps have a calling with higher standards, duties and demands. No one should do a calling better than you WITH ALL OF YOUR MIGHT!So, we work, we produce and as we do, we should expect return which of course includes money and profit. We work for economic growth and benefit, for the fruit of our labors. We follow the biblical prescription that we can expect even with minimum work product the return of that work one for one. Or perhaps, five to one. Or even as Scripture indicates, perhaps as much as ten to one or more as we diligently develop and exploit those talents and capabilities through hard work. The money return from our work, efforts, creativity and initiative is blessed by Scripture. That money return is right, as we become work men and work women worthy of our hire. We plant, as Scripture says, and Mother Nature waters and it is GOD who gives the increase so the Scriptures say. It is a good thing to make money and to be rewarded for our work. Money supports. Money helps others. Money creates opportunity. The best of us at work, hard work, is exactly what this world of so many ENTITLED needs now more than ever. In fact, hard and productive work is so necessary for this world of entitlements in which we live in order for it to survive and continue. It is well and good indeed to help those all in real need. But all who can, any and all including those receiving entitlements, should work as they can.But today, unfortunately it seems, there are those supposedly progressive in thinking who wish to tell us that profit is wrong, especially in excess. That profit made is the result of GREED at work. Profit they say is not as a result of hard work or special skills, but rather the exploitation of others. Ignore them. You are worthy of the profit and gain of anything you produce at any level of life. The more you invest as a mother, the better your child, perhaps better than others. Enjoy the fruit, the profit of your labors. When you build something, revel in the fruit of your labors and do it with all of your might, and better than others. For no matter what progressives or others would say, YOU DID IN FACT BUILD IT, and you did build it yourself. In fact, so much of what is built would not have been built without you or me. Revel in, enjoy and profit from anything and everything YOU BUILT!But work produces much more than money. Those who understand the value of work realize full well that the doing well of anything is the reward itself! The satisfaction, the fulfillment, the full expression of the self among mankind and before God are THE BEST REWARDS. They are indeed more valuable than money for money comes and goes. But the rewards of work well done last a lifetime and are in fact eternal. We create an earthly balance sheet, personal financial and loss statements here and now, but it is the ETERNAL balance sheet which really counts. Nothing goes with you, no matter what you leave behind, but only the heavenly balance sheet you create. For there is always something more, often much more than the work itself or the profit therefrom. There is good, often enormous good in work well done and even very spiritual good. See that clearly as part of the goal of your calling and WORK which only adds to the return and the enjoyment.So, the work we do can be not only for money, or profit, but for non-profit. For worthy causes. For the good of society in which we live. For all humanity, especially those in need. For the Christian Church and for the Christ we love and serve. For blood drives. For HIV awareness and treatment. For feeding and sheltering the homeless. For carrying the message of the Gospel to forsaken and needy parts of America and the world. Shepherding and guiding children. Tending to the needs of the elderly. Visiting and comforting those in prison.THE WORK OF THE LORD AT WORK FOR ALL MANKIND, AS WE ARE CALLED.All of these things make us what we should be before the Lord and our fellow man.So many of us are people of faith. But our faith, sayeth Scripture, without works is dead. Whatever you believe, whatever your faith, there is no way for anyone to know whether or not it is real except by your works. Talk is cheap. But by the fruits of your labors your fellow human beings will know you. If there is in fact a work of God in you, a CALLING, a life objective, the works that you do will prove to others who you are. What you and I do not do also proves who we are. The great thinking Dietrich Bonhoeffer said that not to act is to act. Negative actions, doing nothing, can be as potent negatively as actual action itself.Unfortunately, there are those who do deceitful works and works of iniquity. They are known for their fraudulent and deceitful acts. They work not for the good of mankind, but only for themselves, for ego, for elicit gain in a deceitful way. Their works and their lives are in vain. William Shakespeare said that the evil that men do lives after them, the legacy they make and that evil is the only thing remembered here and in eternity.So, it is our duty to study, to grow ourselves in our career and constantly make ourselves better, so that we can show ourselves approved as work men and women, understanding the objectives, values and priorities which are ours, always growing in our understanding, especially the Scriptures so that we can be approved by God before him as well as man. Learning, whether a trade or in law, or by gaining experience and growing or by learning from others, or the school of hard knocks, and by mistakes, learning standards of excellence to which we can aspire so that we can be all, ALL we can be, working with all of our might knowing in this world that indeed the night is coming where no man can work. Work while you can and the best you can.In this life, we slow down, age or perhaps lose interest or motivation, and of course energy and our ability to work dissipates or even ends. With that ends opportunity and potential and we may not have finished what we are called to do. Some retire, or quit, or are forced to retire prematurely. Some of us are fortunate enough to finish and accomplish our objectives and purposes, while others can not. For us, we are fortunate that even Jesus of Nazareth said in John’s Gospel that he had in fact finished the work for which the Father had sent him. He had accomplished His objectives, fulfilled His purposes and He did so to His last dying breath. Our goal, like HIS should be to finish our work, the work for which we were sent by God and meant to do. That is the greatest fulfillment this life can offer.We are called upon by God Almighty to live every day to the fullest. CARPE DIEM my fellow Americans, seize the day. It is the day which the Lord hath made and for you to work and be productive. Worry not about tomorrow, or the criticism, expectations or even the rejections of any man. It has its own problems-evil-which you can not control or do anything about. But, rather think in terms of how precious every minute of every hour of every day is, and rejoice in that. Maximize the opportunity that minute brings and, whatever your hand finds to do, YOUR CALLING, do it with all of your might. Every God-given minute is indeed an opportunity there once never to return. So that everything we do, everything no matter how menial works together for good. The joy of living is so special. We are told by our Lord that He is come that we might have life in its most ABUNDANT form and that our joy, OUR TOTAL JOY may be full. There is joy in every moment, as we work, as we rest, as we play, as we love others and as we understand who we are and:BE ALL THAT WE CAN BEThose who love to work and love as much to be productive and make things happen know that the ultimate reward for such work is:THE VERY WORK ITSELFNo matter the accolades of man, or profit, or any other earthly benefit, the ultimate reward, the ultimate satisfaction is the work itself. Nothing feels better to any right-thinking person than a job well done, having done the best you can with all of your might.So then, for the Christian, there is something even greater than works. There is GRACE, saving grace. And no manner of works can ever equal that. The grace at God at work trumps the works of any man, but when added to works, leads to the complete fulfillment of that life. We can and should be proud of the works we do, but the work of God in Jesus Christ, saving grace through Him is the greatest work of all. The combination of grace producing work, the right work is the very best thing in life.So, my fellow Americans, work hard. Work well, with purpose. Know your calling. Do what you were CALLED to do, and do it in each and every minute, hour and day of your life. Do what your Creator would have you do and you will find fulfillment in that work and in your life. It matters not whether you are housewife or President, millionaire or middle class, never forget that:YOU AND YOUR WORK ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANTYOU AND YOUR WORK ARE UNIQUE, DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHERSWe need not the approval or recognition of mankind however enjoyable that may be. We need to work to be approved by God, who knows us, our every thought and deed. His approval is all that matters.I and the Crawford Broadcasting Company honor all of the men and women in America who work, and work hard, and make America, family and friends, and all of us so much better and especially those who work as unto the Lord. Find the work you love to do, really love to do and you will never work a day in your life!God bless you work men and women worthy of your hire and it is because of you that:GOD WILL BLESS AMERICA

CHRISTIAN EVANGELICALISM IN AMERICAN SOCIETY GEORGE BARNA RECENT SURVEY

George Barna, he of the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY, may well be the most respected Christian surveyist in America. In a survey he conducted, released August 6, 2024, on CHRISTIAN EVANGELICALISM and Christianity in America, the Barna survey said the following:“The cultural awareness sparked by the Covid pandemic and the 2024 Presidential campaign has led millions of Americans to realize just how depraved American society has become. Corrupt politicians, dishonest journalists and media outlets, broken social institutions, immoral religious leaders, unconstitutional government programs and policies, and more, have generated non-stop headlines highlighting the decadence of American society and the demise of the United States.”That, my fellow Americans and fellow Christians, may be the most damning judgment of our great country in many years. The depth of the depravity in America, says Barna, is shocking. And it really is with no end in sight. The real reason for this satanic cultural decline says Barna:“is a direct result of the spiritual collapse of Christianity in our nation.”Barna is right. The once dynamic of Christianity in America does indeed seem gone, tarnished, diminished, of little force and effect, not only nationally and generally, but individually as well.The survey found that this steep cultural decline emanates from the dramatic transformation in the evangelical community in the United States during the past 30 years. Real evangelicals, however that is defined, seem to be far fewer in number and even more importantly far less biblical in their thinking and beliefs. There has come about the growth of SYNCRETISM, which is a worldview that combines core beliefs and behaviors from a variety of other well-defined worldviews such as Marxism, Secular Humanism, Eastern Mysticism, and Postmodernism. Individuals, in other words, offer their own worldview, belief system, and ultimate values with core beliefs gathered from any number of sources and the Barna survey indicates that as many as 9 out of 10 adults are in fact categorized by this CUT-AND-PASTE approach to their philosophy of life. That also means that any absolute truth claimed by scripture, THE BIBLE, is unacceptable or only acceptable in part, and Christianity, once a dynamic, monolithic force in America and the world, no longer exists. SYNCRETISM has won out over Christianity!Christians, evangelical Christians, what is left of them, now vote in far fewer numbers than once believed. They are simply far less active in the political process and seem to have little concern for results, so says Barna.And more, most evangelicals do not possess a biblical worldview with only about one third of so-called evangelicals doing so. In fact, says the Barna survey, evangelicals are more likely to be shaped by the culture around them, than they are to influence that culture or even more importantly, evangelize it.So then, the ultimate question then becomes:WHAT IS AN EVANGELICAL?If the absolute truths of the Bible, the gospel message, the old and new testaments are at best guides and syncretized with other religions and worldviews, and beliefs and values, and that affects evangelicals, what really is an evangelical and what does a real evangelical believe?Several decades ago, it was thought that there was some 60-70 million adults who were in fact bible believing evangelicals. Barna estimates that today, that figure could be as low as 25-30 million adults. I, for one, do hope and pray that is wrong, for an aggressive, moral, committed, right-thinking and living evangelical is a critical component of the American society.Barna then goes on to state, as a result of his most recent survey, that the following priorities and beliefs are foundational for the current day evangelical.First, God is the all-knowing (omniscient), all-powerful, just and perfect creator of the universe.God is the basis of all truth, and those truths are conveyed to us through the Bible.The purpose of life is to fully know, love, and serve God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and there is no other besides him.Satan, representing all evil, truly exists and is the author of the current immoral society.All humans are born into sin and can only escape the consequences through Jesus Christ.All such beliefs are incorporated in the Bible, its 66 books, and do in fact comprise basic tenets of belief which a real and true evangelical must embrace and adopt. Do you, as Christian, real Christian, believe in those Christian fundamental and basic tenets, do you?The Barna survey then concludes that as many as 7 out 10 so-called evangelicals do not believe in all of those tenets and of more concern, reject the idea that truth is absolute and biblically based. Small wonder that Christianity is on the decline and no longer acts as the antidote to the immoral decline in American society.It is indeed tragic that there are millions of evangelicals who do not vote, so concludes George Barna, are not active in the political process, do not seem to care about political happenings, candidates, or events, and otherwise totally ignore and walk away from their citizenship responsibilities. When these good men and women abandon the political arena, the very bad, immoral men and women take over, exercise power, work to foster things anti-Christian, and further enhance the immoral decay and slide of this once great country. Time, survival time, for all of us, for American democracy, runs out.More Barna findings. As many as 50% of so-called evangelicals believe that eternal salvation can in fact be earned through good works, something directly contrary to the strong teachings of scripture.Almost 50% believe, says Barna, that there is no absolute moral truth, again something absolutely contrary to biblical teaching.And this survey found, shockingly so, that somewhat more than one out of every five so-called evangelicals prefer SOCIALISM TO CAPITALISM! In short, it seems that even the modern-day evangelical has been syncretized, believes something from scripture but otherwise believes whatever they want to believe or whatever they think is right to believe. Small wonder, my fellow Christians, that there is an amazing, considerable, seemingly irreversible immoral decline and slide in America, its culture, politics, and beliefs.Are you a Christian, and are you an evangelical Christian, and if so, what do you believe, what do you really believe and what is the foundation for those beliefs, the source, the reality of those beliefs? The power of the gospel at work in the lives of individuals, individuals by the millions, is the only real thing which can impact, change, and reverse the immoral slide in this once great country. So that, say many, our motto should not be GOD BLESS AMERICA, but GOD HELP AMERICA! And powerful, moral, people of faith, at work, in control, and dynamic in influence are the only ones who can reverse and save this once great country. I do hope and pray that you are one of those Soldiers of the Cross. That you are ready to put all on the altar and that you will be an active force in politics and culture in America.And, that you will vote and be active and outspoken in elections 2024!

Leader - The Characteristics of a Leader

What makes a leader?Is a leader born, born with those natural leadership qualities, or is a leader made, made by experience, trial and error?A leader surely is one who steps up, steps forward, takes charge, one who recognizes the opportunity to provide direction, encouragement.A leader is surely one who is not afraid to make decisions, take risks, and in extreme cases, be willing to risk life and limb for what he or she believes is right.A pastor, for example, takes charge. He speaks with voice strong, courageous, especially when those words come from the Lord who has promised to those who love him:I WILL GIVE YOU THE WORDS!A leader should surely have perfected the art of:LISTENING.Surely for the Christian, one should listen for the direction, the guidance, the wisdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. The meaning of the words is then magnified, and they contain the wisdom of the Lord rather than that of a man.A leader is strong, courageous, not afraid. A real leader knows that God has not given him or her the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. That loving, sound mind, divinely created, is perhaps the strongest evidence of a real leader.A mother is a real leader, the captain of the children which God has given her. She trains them, this female leader does, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. She instructs, disciplines, sets standards and values, and by her words and actions, cultivates love and respect not only for her, but for all women, for all humankind.The values she conveys are strong Christian values, clear standards of right and wrong, and no one in the household in which she is THE LEADER deviates from those standards. She lives those standards by example. She shows her faith by her deedsand her words always have value and meaning. No household, no husband or wife relationship, no father or mother at work can be all that they can be without the leadership of a mother, a true, loving, god-fearing mother.A true leader is creative. A plumber analyzes a problem and fixes a toilet. Every true blue collar person at work is creative, a leader, a problem solver, a fixer, taking charge of that situation and making it right. Fixing a broken toilet is leadership at work and that God-given ability can translate to every part of that man or woman’s life. Plumbers are leaders. Carpenters are leaders. Mechanics are leaders. Daycare workers are leaders. Doctors and nurses are leaders. They possess those God-given qualities which can translate to all of life in so many ways.It should be the task of every man and woman to understand themselves, to analyze their strengths, capabilities, creativity, and understand all the ways in life, everyday life, how they make decisions, take charge, fix problems, and lead. Every single individual God created possesses significant leadership qualities and no one, no matter their calling, career, or life’s work, should ever be disrespected, and perhaps more importantly, never disrespect themselves.A true leader is loyal. Faithful is he or she in everything.A true leader is honest. Integrity rules their every thought, word, and deed.A true leader is positive, knowing that all things work together for good to those who love the Lord. In a negative, often evil world, the positive, make-it-right attitude, approach and conduct proves to all that this man or woman is in fact a true leader.We are all born with those characteristics. They are inherent, God-given. Unfortunately, so few are recognized or ever developed. But they can be by the experiences of life, from the challenges, the difficulties, the problems which every human being will face. The true character of every person will be challenged in so many ways as life goes on. Our courage and commitment will be challenged. That is especially so if we are spiritually minded, Christian at heart, standing tall and uncompromising for the Lord Jesus Christ we love. Leaders are always at work in little things not just large. Real leaders make leadership decisions in every aspect of life, every day in every way. They follow the example of their Lord, who promised, as our shepherd, that he would lead us in the paths of righteousness, that we would fear no evil, that goodness and mercy would follow us all the days of our lives, and that we should live by those promises.That very same leader from Nazareth promised that He would guide us with his eye upon us, and in every life situation, bring out the best in us. Trust that, ask for that, believe in that.You, everyone, were given these strong leadership qualities. You can be a leader in these paths of righteousness and make every person an opportunity in your life better. Believe in yourself. Bring out the best in you, always. Pray for His wisdom, strength, and courage. And you will be all

You the Citizen - The Vote

POLITICIANS LIE!All of them. Do you know of any politician at any level of government who tells the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, all the time, do you? I don’t.It is as though for one to become a politician is for that candidate or elected official to embrace the lie. To compromise, to sell the soul, or be willing to do so, to play the game, the political game. Politicians deceive. They will do or say virtually anything to get elected, and then again re-elected. So much of WE THE PEOPLE have come to expect that, and worse, accept that. We do our best to determine facts, and truth, and we make our decisions to vote so often on the basis of faulty facts, the best alternatives, knowing that trust, ultimate trust in the candidate, the person, the platform, the promises are anything but certain once that candidate gets in office, takes power, and becomes a member in good standing of the political class, a class of individuals better than us, entitled, and almost always without accountability. It is a sad day in America as we look at anything political.Nevertheless, now comes politics 2024, elections this November, federal state and local, which will determine the future of America. That future is not decades, or even years away. Change, and radical change is a present possibility, an immediate political dagger in the constitutional heart of WE THE PEOPLE. Our freedoms, our way of life, our constitutional guarantees, our very own Bill of Rights have never been more in danger. What is sad is that, even as these forces of evil, anti-democracy, totalitarian march on, we the people, the citizens, the voters seem unaware, even indifferent, falsely believing that nothing so aggressive, fundamental, and revolutionary could ever happen to our great country, our way of life, and the freedoms not only enjoy but take for granted. We are a citizenry naïve, unsuspecting, accommodating, intimidated, lied to, and ripe as never before to radical change and the end of our democratic way of life.Words and warnings seem to do little good. The indifference of WE THE PEOPLE, the lack of involvement, real sacrificial involvement, the toleration of the lie and flat out evil is incredibly alarming. We heed not the warning of founding father Benjamin Franklin that this republic, this democracy of America can only last:IF WE THE PEOPLE CAN KEEP IT!The sacrifice, the involvement, the constant attention to the political process and the holding of wrong-doers and unfaithful politicians accountable are demanding courses of action which we seem unwilling to take. America teeters on the brink not only of change, radical change, but even outright destruction when those who take power fully exercise that power and reveal who they really are, what they think, and what they intend for our beloved America.WE THE PEOPLE are much more responsible for commitment well beyond our vote. Our vote 2024 begins the journey. Then comes accountability, follow up, demand, contact, devoting a significant and meaningful portion of one’s life to the protection of the freedoms and citizenship we now take for granted. Look at how many politicians have changed course once elected. They tell us they are evolving in their thinking (compromising), considering different points of view, developing new definitions of fairness, equity, and in fact, learning the full meaning of diversity, and equity, and inclusion so much of which means reversal of position, belief, standards and values, and the beginning of the:LIVING THE LIFE OF THE POLITICAL LIE.It is then that so much of America does nothing. It talks, complains, watches and listens to media, most of which is liberal-radical, and vows that things political in 2028 will be different. But the problem is that the America of 2028 will be radically changed from the America of 2024.These are not words of pessimism or despair only, but reality. They are words of challenge, asking all of us who care about America to stand up for the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, and to hold our elected officials, those who ask for our trust and confidence, to the very highest possible standards as they make critical decisions affecting our lives. Candidate Donald Trump already begins to change his beliefs, positions, and even former promises. Many believe that Trump is the only conservative alternative. But Trump has signaled that he is not the president he once was in 2016, so far without major change but having created enough of political and cultural differences which may be precursors of more aggressive position change to come. Watch what he says and does most carefully.Kamala Harris is a liberal, in many ways a radical liberal, woke, and already her fawning media begin the cover-up, the reinterpretation of her record as politician, and district attorney, and find ways to compensate for her total inexperience and perhaps considerable inabilities at the presidential level. The democrat lie has already begun and WE THE PEOPLE will be asked to vote for a largely recreated Harris. Whether Trump or Harris, or senate or house candidates, get ready for the lie, so much you will hear and see which is not the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. But vote you must, for this election, like almost all others before it, is a vote for the better candidate, not necessarily the really right one or the best one.Truth is the truth, the whole truth, leaving nothing out, and nothing but the truth, adding nothing in. Politicians are masters in adding and subtracting fact and theory so as to make up their own version of the truth, anything which accomplishes their ultimate objectives. That is why, say so many political experts, American democracy is ultimately doomed. Will you let that happen? Will you let the forces of evil take over? Will you do what is necessary to protect, preserve, and defend this great country in which you are privileged to live, will you? President Thomas Jefferson said that the preservation of democracy requires the shedding of patriotic blood from time to time. I wonder if that time is now or coming soon. Millions have died protecting America, its democracy and freedoms and now may be the time for more.As you make incredibly important voting decisions for all of the elections 2024:WHAT PRICE ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY?

Israel - The Jews - Antisemitism

IT TAKES A LOT TO GET JEWS TO SHUN DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES, so says writer for the New York Post, Adam Brodsky.It does take a lot, for traditionally, most Jews vote democratic, so say the polls. But that is changing, changing more so every day and finally for the right reasons. Far too many democrats, and democratic candidates for office are anti-Israel and consequently, more or less, antisemitic. No matter what they say, their actions speak louder than words.So many today are pro-Palestinian, and consequently, anti-Israel, and as a result of that, anti-Jewish, antisemitic. The protestors demand that the United States not support Israel, not provide it with foreign aid, weapons, or justification, or defense of any kind. These protestors have no problem with present day Israel becoming the homeland of the Palestinians, even if Israelis are located or even extinguished. Jihadist radicals have no problem with that, and in fact, that may be their goal, for the motto is:EVERY JEW IN ISRAEL BURRIED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MEDITERRANEAN!Israel has a population of approximately 7,250,000 people, which is less than the population of New York City, and a good many of them are not Jewish, but Arab or otherwise. The land of Israel is 8,000 sq. miles. It is 263 miles from north to south, and 71 miles at the very widest part, and only 6.2 miles at the most narrow. Israel, all of it, is approximately the size of the state of New Jersey. By contrast, surrounding nations, mostly Arab and Muslim, are huge in size geographically and in terms of population, and include Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and not far away Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia among others. Strange it is that none of these countries want to welcome the so-called Palestinians and allow them access and living in their very own countries. The Arab hatred for Israel and the Jews is far more important than the wellbeing of the Palestinians, so it seems.Long ago, well before the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, himself of course a Jew, the God of scripture, THE GREAT GOD JEHOVAH, gave this land, this promised land to his chosen people and if you believe the Bible account of that land gift, said to Abraham, the father of the Jews:“I GIVE YOU THIS LAND FROM THE GREAT RIVER NILE OF EGYPT TO THE GREAT RIVER OF BABYLON, THE EUPHRATES.”Interestingly, Israel now occupies but a small part of that God-given gift. But the divine promise continues to exist and one day, in the providence of God, that land inheritance, all of it, will be fulfilled. If you believe the Bible and the promises made in the book of Genesis, Israel, THE PROMISED LAND, belongs to the Jews, to the descendants of Abraham, all of it.The world ignores October 7, 2023. That was the most horrible day for Jews and antisemitism since the holocaust. Hundreds of innocent Israelis, including women and children, were slaughtered by Hamas, jihadist radicals. It is only natural that for the first time in the lives of so many Jews, they feel nervous about America as a refuge. That fear is fueled by district attorneys, like Alvin Bragg in New York City, who do nothing, do not prosecute those who assault and physically attack Jews, political candidates almost all of whom are Democrats who rail against the Jews, and Israel, champion the protestors, and the insidious movement DEI (Divestiture, Equity and Inclusion) which, at its extreme, encourages antisemitism and hatred of the Jews characterizing them and all Israelis as oppressors and colonizers. It seems as though the radical jihadists, not only Muslims but so many other ignorant individuals, entities, institutions (colleges and others) to foster this hatred of Israel and the Jews. President Biden did nothing, other than a complete about face. When Israel was attacked by Hamas October 7, 2023, Biden aggressively told the world that he and our country would protect and defend Israel and the Jews. Just before his withdrawal as Democratic Presidential Candidate for 2024, Biden showed clearly that he had reversed that position completely, supplying additional arms and aid would be suspended or reduced and he will leave office with his famous quote:“THE PROTESTORS HAVE A POINT.”The holy day of the week for Muslims is Friday, and for the Jews Saturday, and for the Christians Sunday. Radical jihadists say the following:FIRST THE SATURDAY PEOPLE (THE JEWS), AND THEN THE SUNDAY PEOPLE (CHRISTIANS)!Our world, which now comprises more than 8 billion people, is comprised itself of 1.7 billion Muslims, and adherence to that religion seem to grow daily.Israel has always had a very special relationship with the United States. There are now some 2,500 US companies which do business with Israel in one form or another and employ some 72,000 Israelis according to the US Chamber of Commerce. This small nation of 7,250,000 people has the highest concentration of engineers, scientists, and technicians per capita and produces more scientific papers per capita than any other nation in the world. The economic and commercial relationship between these two countries includes IT, biotech, life sciences, healthcare solutions, energy, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, defense industries, cyber security, and aviation just to name some. Even our own armed forces benefit greatly from Israel’s innovativeeconomy with many critical military components invented by this industrious little nation. Again, Sunday Christians, never forget that Jesus of Nazareth was Jewish!Robert Knight, writer for the Washington Times, said the following:“THE RADICAL AMERCIAN LEFT HAS MADE COMMON CAUSE WITH THE ANTISEMITIC, PRO-HAMAS MOVEMENT.”Israel is the only functioning democratic republic in the Middle East, not without problems and difficulties to be sure, but the very best governmental structure in the entire Middle East and far better, more tolerant, and democratic than any other nation in that entire part of the world. Scripture requires that all who believe, all Christians, and all Jews, that the Great God Jehovah, will, as HE so plainly said, will bless those nations and individuals who bless Israel and the Jews, and conversely, curse those who persecute Israel and the Jews. Jerusalem is His holy sitting place. Israel, the land he gave to Abraham, and consequently, the rightful legal and religious heritage and inheritance of the Jewish people. That truism means that a whole lot of radical university professors, politicians, and protestors, and now an ever-growing number of businessmen and wealthy individuals will fall under the curse of Almighty God, a promise which should make them tremble in their boots.We are urged to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, peace for Israel, America, and the whole world. The great I AM intended Abraham and the Jews to be a blessing to all humankind and all nations, and our Lord and His special emissary, the Apostle Paul, hoped and prayed for grace, peace, and mercy for all humankind, and these promises, these hopes are the only thing which can end war, hatred, killings, and bring a love and understanding to all humankind. May each of us, Jew, Gentile, and all humankind do everything possible to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, and our neighbors as ourselves, and hope and pray for the day when this DIVINE PEACE, the peace of Jerusalem and the world becomes a reality. The way this world is, and the ever growing anti-Judeo-Christian forces at work, we may have to wait until the second coming of our beloved Messiah, who perhaps, all alone, can be the only one to bring the promised:PEACE OF JERUSALEMto all of us, to all humankind.

The Economy - The Debt

IT’S THE ECONOMY, STUPID!Those were the famous words of former president Bill Clinton when asked what the most important issue was in Presidential Election 1992.Clinton was right, at least about that one thing. Nothing works, everything breaks down if the economy doesn’t work and it breaks down. And the American economy is breaking down, slowly but surely. When an economic crisis occurs, or a collapse occurs, no entity, no family, no individual can function normally, and everything breaks down and even grinds to a halt.Our scriptures tell us to:OWE NO MAN NOTHING!Nothing, that is, that cannot be repaid with current monies. But inflation, the insidious rising of prices, produces a lack of affordability which is even now affecting lower income Americans who cannot purchase, in some cases, even basic necessities. Inflation is the artificial rise of prices without necessarily economic justification. Inflation produces monetary crisis and virtually the end of free nations when it finally produces economic crisis. Said one economist:“THE NATIONAL DEBT CRISIS IS COMING!”And perhaps the beginning of that crisis is already here.No matter, our Federal Government continues to spend, more so every day, with impunity and without consequence. Higher prices occur from regulation, serious regulation. Because of that spending, higher taxes are necessary to raise the revenue needed to pay back debt, old and new.But, no matter, says our Federal Government, the Biden Administration, America will never run out of money because we will simply print more. The dollar is our currency, we control it, and if we need more money to pay debt, we can and we will make that happen. The result, of course, is even more inflation, less value to the dollar, and more dollars required to buy goods and services. That is inflation and debt run rampant. If we the people were STUPID (Bill Clinton), economically stupid, then our Federal Government is far more stupid as it incurs far more debt, caring little or nothing about repayment. The American debt which WE THE PEOPLE (not the government) owe is now at or about real dollars 35 trillion. That debt is projected to rise in the next decade to 55 trillion dollars which will mean that every American citizen will owe as much as $200,000 for debt repayment. The amount of the debt principal and interest is projected to rise to almost 130%, more than the gross domestic product (GDP) in its entirety. More dollars will be printed, inflation will continue to rise in rampant, uncontrollable ways, and prices of everything, EVERYTHING will rise to absolutely brutal and unaffordable levels. That debt will, as economist Gerald Seib so well said, will indeed:SINK THE AMERICAN EMPIRE.Economists warn us that Medicare and Social Security costs and obligations are simply totally out of control. They are now federal debt obligations, massive in size and growing every day. In the next decade, one out of five American citizens will be at retirement age, 65 or older, heavily if not entirely dependent upon Medicare and Social Security and both programs will in real economic terms be bankrupt, without reserve (all reserves have been spent by Congress) and in need of that new paper money which Congress can authorize and print which will raise prices, lifestyle costs, and the standard of living to totally unsustainable levels.Every individual and household will need to earn more money and depend even more so on Federal and State Governments for economic assistance. But, these economic conditions will actually result in even lower wages, not higher. Employment and the family will be in a state of total disruption and a certain chaos will reign. Unemployment in America, like in 1929 and the Great Depression, will be at an all-time high.Credit ratings will be worse than ever. Individuals will find it virtually impossible to borrow and credit cards will become obsolete or unusable. There will be, says Seib, massive defaults in mortgages, investments, even such items as automobiles and other kinds of lesser financing now taken for granted. Buying on credit will be almost impossible.In this coming economic crisis, so many economists say, there will be higher interest rates for everything, not only higher but absolutely unaffordable. There was a time once in the American economy, some 30 years ago, when interest rates rose to almost 20%, but even that ridiculously high interest rate will be far exceeded, say these economists, when the new and perhaps final American debt crisis arises. And again, the only solution will be some cut-back in spending, especially with social programs, including defense and education, the printing of more, cheap, and meaningless money to pay debt, or the insolvency and bankruptcy of virtually everything. These conditions, say these economists, are not scare-tactics, predicted by naysayers, but have already started, and they will become the new reality, THE NEW NORMAL!Our Federal Government will default on virtually every obligation, every debt and payment it must make. The dollar, now the standard for much of the world’s currency and economic foundation, will be greatly devalued, if not meaningless. We will in factdefault to nations like China who control so much of the American debt, unless we can persuade other nations to refinance, accept payments in wildly inflated American currency, or simply endure the nonpayment and further endure the world chaos that will cause. That will be the end of the American nation, like it was with Rome of old, and France in the late 1700’s, and Germany in the 1930’s, a Germany which eventually produced such civil and economic chaos and unrest, the maniac Hitler, the dictator and world destroyer, was the ultimate outcome. They predict, these economists do, that there will be civil unrest, revolution like never before, chaos and total disruption of lifestyle, and the end of everything, THE END! All or some of that may occur even as soon as the next decade, so they predict.It seems as though WE THE PEOPLE care little. We seem to do nothing. Unless any or all of these conditions directly affect us, we the People, our families and lifestyles, we seem to do little but talk, vote the best way we can, but watch as our great country sinks every day deeper and deeper in debt. Trump says no new taxes, but they may be necessary to correct the borrowing-spending habits of past governments. Biden says new taxes and especially taxes on the wealthy. Neither approach is the answer. The only answer is to stop spending, cut spending, endure hardships in many areas of our governmental support and do it now or eventually there will be no such support.Wake up Americans, WAKE UP! No matter who you are, Christian, conservative, atheist, liberal, woke, even anti-American as it now is:WAKE UP!Face the realities of this here and now, and coming like a hurricane, economic crisis, which indeed will SINK THE AMERICAN EMPIRE. No matter how we live or how busy we are, we better work now, all of us, to solve these problems or it will be the absolute end of our beloved America. Founding Father Benjamin Franklin told us that we had, as far back as 1776, a new republic, a way of life like nothing else in the world or in history, a new republic:IF WE CAN KEEP IT!We now do one terrible economic job in keeping that republic, and the way things are, we will in fact lose it. Perhaps we have one last chance in the next several years to save it, to keep it. But, that depends on:YOU.Are you willing to do what is required to save America, are you willing to sacrifice, at least to some extent, will you do what is right and necessary in order to save this beloved country and the lifestyle you enjoy, are you so willing?NOW OR NEVER!

Debt

OWE NO MAN NOTHING!So says the scripture. Good advice, not only spiritual wisdom, but secular as well. Debt, unrepayable, with its pressure and tension, ruins everyone and everything.That makes reference to debt which cannot be repaid in the normal course of business or living. Tens of millions would never own a home, or a car, or be able to afford the extreme cost of education today unless reasonable financing was accomplished. Scripture means don’t incur debt you can’t repay in the normal course of living and in the present.But, my fellow Americans, we have a debt which we know little about, and which only increases daily, and which cannot be repaid in the normal course of living. That debt is the American Federal Government debt which now exceeds the unfathomable sum of, are you ready for this:$35 TRILLION DOLLARS.Not millions, not even billions, but now TRILLIONS of debt dollars, owed by Uncle Sam, that is by:YOU AND ME.That means, says one economist and accountant, that you and I, American citizens who elect and foster the decision making of this federal government owe the unbelievable sum of, are you ready for this:$100 THOUSAND DOLLARS.$100,000! And if we think that is a problem, that number only increases daily, hourly, for this DEMOCRAT GOVERNMENT, the Biden Administration, just loves to spend your and my money and of course without ever asking.Biden Administration officials now spend and increase this American debt number by:ONE TRILLION DOLLARS EVERY ONE HUNDRED DAYS.That, my fellow Americans, my freedom-loving, freedom-from-debt-loving Americans, is an absolutely staggering financial fact and it is absolutely stunning that such a debt, this unbelievably high number is accepted, if it is even understood, by you and me. WHY?And another absolutely stunning fact. WE THE PEOPLE must now pay one trillion dollars per year, ONE TRILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR just for interest alone on that debt. ONE TRILLION DOLLARS EVERY YEAR JUST FOR INTEREST ALONE AND THAT NUMBER GROWS EVERY DAY! That interest payment alone is more than we spend as a nation on DEFENSE. It is more than we spend on the ever-declining American infrastructure. One Trillion Dollars in interest is more than WE THE PEOPLE spend on Education and more than we spend on poverty programs. It is the worst kind of debt, really unpayable unless there are mammoth and massive new taxes put in place, and the world at large comes calling for the repayment of that debt, demanding that each American citizen pay the one hundred thousand dollars each would owe if the debt were to be repaid. How in the world did we the people ever let our country, our profligate Federal Government ever get to this point, HOW?President Bill Clinton knew that we had to deal with this big long-term debt problem, but he and his administration did nothing about it. President Barack Hussein Obama knew such fiscal policy was “irresponsible” but did nothing about it. President Donald J. Trump said we’ve got to get rid of this long-term American debt, but he as well did nothing about it. Then comes President Joe Biden, a man given to the lie whenever expedient, and he tells the American people one of the largest lies he has ever told:“WE LITERALLY CUT THE FEDERAL DEBT IN HALF.”And no one, especially his supporters, liberal, woke, radical media cohorts ever challenged one of the greatest and largest lies ever told by any American President. Not only was the American budget not cut in half, but it was and is increased by one trillion dollars every one hundred days, President Biden! We Americans don’t need nuclear warfare with Russia or China or any other nation to destroy us, we have become expert at:SELF DESTRUCTION – FINANCIAL SELF DESTRUCTION!Small wonder we have had the inflation problems so recently experienced, in the last four Biden years, where the prices of everything have risen dramatically. We are on the verge as a country, of what is known as hyperinflation, an economy out of control, and a nation virtually bankrupt. It was that very hyperinflation which destroyed Germany, the German economy after World War I and produced perhaps the most evil man in all of human history, Adolf Hitler as dictator, promising to solve the hyperinflation problem and restore Germany to its former greatness. Many think there is some possibility that such a thing could happen in America at some time in the future, the end of course of our great nation and our even greater democracy.No problem says Biden. We will just tax the rich, the wealthy even more. We will get what we need to manage the debt in the present (not reduce it) from the American rich. That of course, as Biden and his cronies well know, is an absolute impossibility. The Federal Government could confiscate all the wealth, all the assets held by the wealthiest Americans, whoever they are and however many of them there are, and this profligate American debt would never, ever be extinguished or repaid. We are, my fellow Americans, a nation painfully out of financial control and you and I, YOU AND I, are responsible for letting that happen.In ten short years, or realistically even sooner, the debt held by the American public will reach the staggering sum of:$50 TRILLION DOLLARS.If so, that staggering number would represent 136%, 136% of the entire American economy. Our nation would be beyond hyperinflation and would be utterly destroyed financially. Why, my fellow Americans, do our elected officials, our politicians with their heads in the sand, never acknowledge or deal with these problems, why?This ever increasing debt produces ever increasing interest payment demands, and the payment of interest alone will be one of the most destructive factors ever in the American economy. This profligate Federal Government (Biden) spending will destroy our country, utterly destroy it. Our elected officials, our politicians do not seem to really view these critical and crucial financial matters as real problems, and it matters not whether the politician is Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, or whatever. NO ELECTED WASHINGTON-FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL HAS THE COURAGE TO DEAL WITH THE GREATEST PROBLEM AMERICA HAS EVER FACED!WE THE PEOPLE know that and we do nothing about it, NOTHING! WHY?America, the republic, the democracy, is on a path to self-destruct. It will soon be another post-World War I Germany, where hyperinflation destroys the lives, the lifestyle, and the economy of millions upon millions of people. But it seems as though WE THE PEOPLE remain indifferent. We do nothing. We lack courage or demand. We elect and forget. We vote every four years or sooner, and get back to the good life, all the while our beloved America is economically destroyed. Like Nero of old, he fiddles on a balcony while Rome burns, while Rome is destroyed. We just simply don’t seem to care. God help our children and grandchildren, and those young yet to come, for them there will be no America, no nation even close to what we know and in which we have lived.Instead of owing no man or anyone nothing, WE THE PEOPLE will owe everything we have and that debt will be the end of everything.

The Methodists - The United Methodist Church

I had three uncles who were Methodist ministers. They so very faithfully served parishes in the state of New Jersey.They were men who were strong Christians, biblical Christians, born-again Christians, and they were proud to be Methodists when the United Methodist Church was a biblical church to be proud of.But, like other old line protestant denominations, the UNITED METHODIST CHURCH has gone its own way, departed from the biblical way and brought its own man-made interpretation to scripture and the Christian view, succumbing to the pressure of current culture rather than the scriptural love, admonition, and standards of the Christ.The United Methodist Church General Conference voted overwhelmingly in May to disavow the once clear ban on clergy who are “self-avowed practicing homosexuals.” Such individuals can now be ordained and become full ministers in the Methodist Church. In addition, individual UMC churches can now decide whether or not to conduct and ordain gay marriages (weddings).Prior to this new and radical vote, the UNITED METHODIST CHURCH authorized any individual Methodist church to depart from the denomination and become independent. ALMOST EIGHT THOUSAND METHODIST CHURCHES DID SO, Bible believing, real Christians and real Christianity at the core, unwilling to abide by these new woke, current-culture changes.That led one critic to state:“The General Conference has as expected rolled back not just decades of United Methodist policies, but centuries of Christian teaching.”This critic, Mark Tooley, said further:“Liberal theology and politics displaced orthodox doctrine, evangelism, and exacting spiritual standards.”Founder of the real Methodists, John Wesley, would turn over in his grave!One of the nation’s largest protestant religious denominations has gone woke, has gone rogue, and once with more than 5 million members, is now a shell of its former self. When this matter came up for vote, you could say that some 8 thousand congregations, hundreds of thousands of real Christians, voted with their “feet and wallets.” To practice real Methodism, real Christianity, and real biblical teachings. Liberal, woke, protestant denominations continue to do what they have always done, adding a pious blessing and an air of divine sanction to the cultural politics of the day no matter how far left those politics moved. They followed the sexual revolution of the times, they supported abortion, and homosexuality, and transgenderism, all in the name of current and compromised “divine love.”Now, the United Methodist Church no longer believes that marriage is an inclusive and sacred union between one adult man and one adult woman. Man can marry man, and woman can marry woman. That man-made decision is of course absolutely contrary to biblical teaching and the tradition of the UMC for more than 3 centuries.Interestingly, in 1970, only some 50 years ago, THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH claimed the following:“We do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider it incompatible with Christian teaching.”And in 1984, the following:“Therefore, self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in the United Methodist Church.”Forty years ago, the UMC believed, followed, proclaimed, and operated by biblical teachings and standards. Somehow, false teachers, as the Apostle Paul would say, took over, gained control, and corrupted THE WORD OF GOD, reinterpreted that and destroyed, overnight, Christian practice and belief. My three born-again uncles, once proud Methodist ministers, would turn over in their graves.The Apostle Paul was incensed at such arrogant, prideful, manmade false teaching, and he warned all to stay away from them, have nothing to do with them, and in fact, said of them:“Let them be accursed!”What a sad day. Under the great Constitution of America, and the immutable First Amendment, there is absolute freedom of religion, where any American citizen can believe what he or she wishes, and worship as they will. They can adopt any belief, see and understand God as they desire, and worship as they please or not at all. Our constitution allows no man, no government to in any way forbid any human being from worshipping as they please, establishing any religion they wish, no matter whether true or factually based. That freedom is absolute, unconditional, and cannot be abridged by any government authority. THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH can posture any set of beliefs they wish and no one, not even their very own congregations can prevent that from happening.HOWEVER, it is absolutely untrue, the highest form of falsehood, for the UMC to declare it still remains fully Chrisitan. The UMC cannot declare itself a Christian denomination, following Christian practices, for their conduct clearly indicates they are anything but. They are now some sort of a church man-made, operating as men think, not as the Bible instructs, and surely without the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit. The false teaching which the Apostle Paul feared so very much has not only crept into this church, but become dominant in its thinking, belief, and practice. A small wonder 8,000 congregations left, openly refusing to follow this man-made gospel.I have from time to time visited the state of New Jersey, travelled through its small towns and large cities. I have seen again as I did years ago, the great churches and strong edifices built by the Methodists to honor our Lord Jesus Christ. Some are absolutely magnificent, wonderful tributes to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. I spent time as a young boy with my uncles and aunts in their parishes and worshipping with them in their real and biblical Methodist churches. I remember those real, biblical, Christ-loving experiences in New Jersey towns like Woodstown, Pleasantville, Salem, Haddonfield, Ocean City, and more. My Methodist uncles and the strong church ministries they established and fostered taught me so much about the Lord Jesus Christ. Their experiences with Him and consequently mine were real, wonderful, and loving. I learned so much about my Lord through their preaching and the strong, loving bible teaching of my aunts. Methodism, real and biblical, real Christian Methodism, was an indispensable part of my life and still is. You can well imagine how sad it is for me to see the compromise, the corruption, and departure of this once great church from real, true, biblical, Christ-filled Christianity.But I thank you, thank you with all my heart, Revs. Bill Duvall, Bruce Duvall, Tom Eden, and my beloved aunts, Mildred, Jo, and Esther for the real Methodist teachings of our beloved Bible and the love of Christ. You made Him real to me and I am forever indebted.Both magnificent New Jersey churches, once filled with the love of Jesus Christ, now seem empty, hollow, devoid of real spirituality. But I, and so many others I am sure, will always remember what they once were, the message in word and song, which echoed through those magnificent cathedrals, and the real Christian men and women who once made Methodism a dynamic and passionate Christian witness.THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH is now the DIVIDED METHODIST CHURCH, splintered, broken, compromised, a spiritual shell of its former self. Perhaps the message should be to those who remain:“COME YE APART AND BE YE SEPARATE!”

Freedom

FREEDOM!We are, America is, the home, the land of the:BRAVE AND THE FREE.We are lovers of freedom. It is, you could say, in our genes. We inherited that love of freedom from those who founded our great country, fought against the oppressors more than two centuries ago and built the foundation for the FREEDOMS we now enjoy today. Give us, we say with that great statesman and our forefather Patrick Henry, give us that LIBERTY or if that is taken away, give us death for there is no real life without freedom.For us, America is in fact exceptional no matter the indifferent attitude of Barack Hussein Obama who thinks that America is no more exceptional than any other country! But all of America and we the people are exceptional in so many ways, including our way of life and our lifestyle. Everything is okay down to the last sentence and raise and champion our great flag, and wear the American flag pin proudly, especially in the world of academia which thinks the American flag is a symbol for racism and xenophobia rather than exceptionalism.And now, we should take quality time to honor the founding documents which make us great, namely our Constitution, our Bill of Rights and our Declaration of Independence. We should honor these incredible documents by reading them, studying their content, understanding the values therein and resolving as the authors of these documents did, and honor our forefathers who provided them for us recommitting to them and the world at large that we the people will protect and preserve the freedoms contained therein, even to the laying down of our lives.In this day, there are so many who would CHANGE what we have, or even more radically so, eliminate it. There seems to be an ever-growing number of those in our very own country with little or no respect for our great founding documents, our freedoms, the principles by which we have lived and built THE GREAT SOCIETY, and especially what America has been, our glorious history. They the un-Americans wish to eliminate or erode so many of our freedoms and move this great country toward socialism. THEY are the enemy inside and they must be stopped. We the people, true Constitutional Americans energized and emboldened by our founding documents and founding fathers must make certain we do what is right for our great country, and as true patriots, protect and defend our freedoms as never before. We should do everything humanly possible to prevent socialism of any kind in thought or deed.We should remember the words of that great statesman, a founding father himself, Benjamin Franklin, who said, when asked, that he and his fellow revolutionaries have given us, Americans then and now, a Republic. Not a Democracy, but a Republic. Franklin went on to warn us then and now that this Republic was FRAGILE, and needed at all times to be protected with vigilance, vigor and valor. That this Republic of the combined United States could never be taken for granted. Nor could any citizen assume it would go on, and on. For freedom, for Franklin and the fathers, was a precious right that could only be sustained by watchful, involved and proactive citizens. We who would live in this free country and enjoy its immense freedoms must at all times be:WATCHMEN AND WOMEN ON THE WALLSNot talk, debate or discussion, but action, actively working to protect our freedoms and our way of life, willing to die in the fray if necessary. Would you be willing to die, to lay all on the altar in the cause of freedom? What would you do if ISIS or jihadists attacked America and threatened harm to your family and you? What would you do? Our forefathers never gave the matter a second thought. They, in Second Amendment fashion, took up arms to defend their country, their freedoms and their family. Would you?In fact, we AMERICANS should be so proud of our country, and our freedoms, that we as a nation are ready at all times to help others in the cause of freedom. We gave the lives of millions of young American men and women to others in the cause of freedom. Witness World War II. One Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman 83 years young arrived in Paris by airplane. At French customs, it took him several minutes to locate his passport. The Customs Officer with sarcasm and disdain asked Mr. Whiting:“You have been to France before, Monsieur?”Mr. Whiting answered, yes he had and the smart aleck French official replied pompously:“Then you should know enough to have your passport ready!”Mr. Whiting then stared this official in the eye and said the following:“The last time I was here I didn’t have to show my passport.”To which the French Customs Official replied:“Impossible! Americans always have to show passports on arrival in France!”Mr. Whiting gave this arrogant Frenchman a long hard look and he proudly stated:“Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this country, I couldn’t find a single Frenchman to show a passport to!”You could have heard a pin drop. God bless America and God bless Mr. Whiting.And yet another instance of a proud American at work. When in England at a fairly large conference, Secretary of State Colin Powell was asked by the Arch Bishop of Canterbury if America’s plans for Iraq were simply a rationalization for empire building or land-grabbing by George Bush as American soldiers went to war. Powell simply answered by saying:“Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those who did not return.”All attending that conference were deadly silent. Well said, Mr. Powell, well said as a proud American.There was once a conference in France when a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. One of the French engineers said the following:“Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intend to do, bomb them?”Those in attendance snickered and jeered. That is, until an engineer from the Boeing company in America stood up and proudly stated:“Our aircraft carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people. They are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities. They have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day. They can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day. They carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and the injured to and from their flight deck. We have eleven such aircraft carriers. How many does France have?”You could have heard a pin drop.And again, a U.S. Naval Admiral was attending a naval conference that included admirals from the united states, England, Canada, Australia and France. Every one in attendance was conversing in English. Suddenly a French Admiral complained the Europeans learn many languages but Americans learn only English. This French Admiral arrogantly and pompously said:“Why is that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?”The American United States Naval Admiral stood up proudly and replied:“Maybe it is because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so that you would not have to speak German!”The room was deadly silent.So, whether here at home or anywhere abroad, anywhere in the world, it is our privilege, our duty, our passion to protect FREEDOM at every turn. That freedom means for us and all in the world the fundamental rights, the God-given rights to:LIFELIBERTYTHE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESSIt is our right to live life free, with maximum freedom. It is our right to live and champion liberty everywhere. And, it is our right to pursue happiness as we define that, as free individuals, to pursue life legally and lovingly as we choose. May it always be so, but it only can be if we are willing to do anything possible to protect those freedoms. ANYTHING! Are you?So now, this Independence week, culminating in the great day July 4, Independence Day, we should honor America, this great country in which we are privileged to live. We should honor all things American and we should honor our flag as a symbol of who we are and what we believe. There are those who would desecrate or cause to be irrelevant the great stars and stripes. There was the action of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) which banned the wearing of the American flag as a lapel pin or otherwise in clothing because the flag in their view was controversial and represented the causes of certain conservatives. How tragic, how ridiculous, how un-American the actions of the American Broadcasting Company. There are times when our President, our Congress, our leading citizens simply do not wear or honor the flag or any other symbol of all great things American. We the people should find all such conduct unacceptable and we should protest. The greatest form of protest is to protect, preserve and defend our freedoms and the symbol of those freedoms, the great American flag, the perfect symbol of our independence and the finest possible expression of freedom on the great day July 4, Independence Day. Do just that loudly and proudly my fellow citizens.Think carefully, my fellow Americans, about the precious freedoms granted by your Constitution and your Bill of Rights. Remember that you are guaranteed the right to freedom of religion, to worship and practice religion as you please. You are guaranteed the right to free speech, to speak as you wish at anytime, anywhere, with any words. You are guaranteed the right to freely assemble, to petition, to print in press or on the Internet. YOU ARE GUARANTEED THOSE RIGHTS! You are guaranteed the right to bear arms, to purchase, own and use them for pleasure or in self-defense. You are guaranteed the right against governmental illegal search and seizure. You are guaranteed the right a trial by a jury of your peers rather than to be summarily convicted by any governmental agency. You are guaranteed the right to counsel if you can not afford one when charged with a crime. You are guaranteed the right to vote.You are guaranteed to pursue life, liberty and happiness as you wish! You are guaranteed by your Constitution and Bill of Rights the highest and best form of living and lifestyle the world has ever known! You should give thanks for America, for all that it was, is and can be in the future if YOU as Benjamin Franklin so well said standup and do everything possible to KEEP IT that is the great experiment in freedom which our founding fathers intended. Please join with me this Independence Week, this Freedom Week and especially on the set-aside day for freedom celebration, namely July 4 in pledging once again our allegiance to this great country. Please join me in these great words which honor America:I pledge allegianceto the Flagof the United States of Americaand to the Republic for which it standsone nationindivisiblewith liberty and justicefor all!I ask humbly and lovingly that GOD BLESS AMERICA.And I ask humbly as well that GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!There is only one America. Keep it that way!

AMERICA - THE ONCE BRAVE AND THE ONCE FREE

In Revolutionary times, Thomas Paine said the following:“These are the times that try men’s souls”.And indeed these are the times that try women’s souls, some at least now that the United States Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade.Thomas Jefferson admonished Americans of his time that the blood of patriots must be shed from time to time in order to refresh the Tree of Liberty. In short, the Constitutional America of 1776 (Declaration of Independence) and the Constitutional America of 1787 needed new patriots, new passion, new commitments to liberty and freedom. Now more than ever that is true. The constitutional, rule of law, freedom–liberty America of old is not only under attack but becomes divided, angry and more violent by the day. Freedom and liberty we have always taken for granted are now all the more at risk and at stake.The patriot Patrick Henry provided a testimony applicable to all of us:“Give me liberty or give me death”.Henry was willing to die for freedom. He would live under no form of bondage. Oppression and bondage in his time was English. Today it comes internally from anarchists, that small virulent, violent minority which wishes the destruction of the greatest country on earth.Our forefathers fought for freedom. They gave their blood then which we can assume made Jefferson proud. They gave us the greatest ruling document in the history of mankind, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. That incredible document contained the First Amendment which gave every American citizen the following rights and freedoms:1.Freedom of religion2.Freedom of speech3.Freedom of press4.Freedom of assembly5.Freedom of petitionGuaranteed, unconditional, unchanging, FOREVER FREEDOMS. Every one of those sacred, inalienable (God–given) rights and freedoms are at risk today, EVERY ONE! We the People seemed to have lost our vision, our understanding, even in some cases our desire to protect and preserve this incredible country. We have become indifferent to the struggles and problems we face. So many of us are ignorant of our history, and our Constitution, and our rule of law, and how we are governed. So many of us have withdrawn from the political process. As few as 10% will vote in some elections and perhaps no more than 60% of eligible, voting Americans will go to the polls in the most serious of elections. It has become tragic how We the People take democracy for granted. It is as though freedom will always be there no matter what we do. We the People are an easy target for violence and anarchism.One of the most anti–American Americans was one Saul Alinsky. In essence, Alinsky championed the destruction of everything, every institution, every tradition, anything and everything in America so that the country could be rebuilt and reestablished. The philosophy and beliefs of Alinksy were adopted by George Soros among others and the state of objective of Soros and others was to:BRING DOWN AMERICA.Bring it down. Destroy it. Rewrite its history. Do away with its Constitution and its rule of law. Get rid of the moral standards of the country today and especially the Judeo–Christian heritage and morality of the past. Do away with it completely! Beneath the violence, disrupt, and the lack of accountability today is this Alinsky model, the destruction of America, the destruction of everything which America holds dear. WOKE better serve to wake up America, defend itself, its values, morality and principles or all will be lost. WAKE UP AMERICANS, WAKE UP. The time may be near when the blood of real patriots will be required once again in America.We the People assume that we live in a democracy. We live by democratic principles, the core of which is freedom. That is true but our government is not a democracy. Our forefathers who forged our Constitution were suspicious of democracy. They feared an intolerant majority. They created checks and balances which would prevent as much as possible the potentially crushing majority rule. They created for us a REPUBLIC. That of course consisted of a president, senate and house of representatives. It also consisted of an independent federal judiciary with the Supreme Court of essentially nine justices as final arbitrators of the rule of law. Such a republic respected democratic principles but it guarded so very well against abuse.Those founding fathers gave us the concept of federalism. That is, that each of the individual states of America, then 13 and now 50, would be protected, have rights not specifically granted to the federal government (Constitution Amendment X), and otherwise make certain that its people were protected, and larger states would have no real advantage over smaller ones. It was and continues to be a brilliant system and check and balance.The founding fathers gave us an electoral college where leaders were not elected by majority vote but by states according to their population.They gave us the rule of law, they gave us the Declaration of Independence, they gave us the Constitution, incredible documents with incredible freedoms, fully protected. They gave us all of this as a result of the blood of so many Revolutionary patriots shed in the cause of freedom. How tragic it is that we sit back and take those then given freedoms for granted, watch them whittle away daily, observe the indifference among younger generations and the beginning of the erosion and eventually the elimination of our great Country, its way of life and government. The great destroyers win, Alinsky, Soros, Sanders the socialist. They refuse, those anarchists and anti–Americans to work within the system for reform. They work for radical change and ultimate destruction. And, We the People sit back and watch it happen and in so many ways do nothing. Violence is everywhere. There are threats, intimidation, radicalism everywhere. A senator threatens a supreme court justice. Senator Schumer from New York threatened Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh as follows:You will pay the price.It is simply unbelievable how seemingly everything America stands for, believes in, the fundamental structure of our great Country is not only under attack but is being destroyed day by day. History shows us that democracies as the foundation of government cannot last. Democracies in history last at or about 200 years. America is now 246 years young and We the People, our democracy, our great constitutional republic may be near the end. How I for one hope and pray that simply does not happen.The Constitution and its Amendments of the United States is the finest document, political governing document which mankind can produce. But it cannot last forever. Only one document can. And that is THE WORD OF THE LORD, the Holy Bible which gives us the world’s only reliable ABSOLUTE TRUTH. The Constitution gives us the freedoms of mankind. The Bible gives us heavenly freedoms, eternal freedoms, the ways of the Lord God Almighty, the most important freedom of all and the most important freedom of all, salvation in Jesus Christ. Man’s democracy cannot last, but the democracy of peace and love of Jesus Christ will last forever.Human leaders, people, men and women, politicians and those in power can never last. The only person, leader, visionary, difference maker who can is Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of Glory. That eternal leader will never fail.So, now in America violence reigns. Everything is under attack. The spiritual warfare has begun. The:FIGHT OF FAITH IS HERE AND NOW!So, my fellow Americans, my fellow Christians, how will you fight this fight of faith? HOW? Put on for sure the armor of the Lord. And the helmet of salvation. And the breastplate of righteousness and be ready for the spiritual war. It is here, IT IS HERE. You will be called upon to defend your faith with everything you have. If you truly believe as a Christian and you will not compromise, you will take on a danger you never have before.How will you respond? Will you stand up to violence? Would you use any means at your disposal to protect your family, your friends and yourself from violence? You will engage in prayer, more prayer perhaps than ever before. But you will be called upon to ACT, and perhaps act returning violence for violence. Would you do that? We the People, we Christians have choices to make we never have before. In prayer, may our Lord lead us to the right decisions for God, and Country, and family, and all humankind.Freedom, inalienable rights, God–given rights, are of the most value, the most important to all. Don’t lose them or lose life in the process. May God bless you, my fellow Americans as you energize the courage to stand for Christ, for Christianity and for the greatest Country in the history of mankind.Always remember. FREEDOM ONCE LOST IS LOST FOREVER!

The Real Man

It is becoming difficult to know what a man is, that is the definition of a real man in this woke society of ours.The definition of a man seems to change. Once a man, by both biblical and secular-societal definitions was clear, in biblical terms created by the great G-d Jehovah, the great I AM to be like him, to be the ruler of the planet and to be head of all things. That included Eve, with the creation of the first man’s helpmeet, and the family, the children to follow. Sadly, no more.The definition of a real man has changed and is constantly in the process of change. HOMO SAPIENS can now be gay, that is homosexual; bisexual, that is having genetic desires for both man and woman; transgender, a man wishing to become a woman (i.e. Bruce Jenner); or simply queer, whatever that means (LGBTQ); or perhaps even intersexual, alternative or anything else which eviscerates the definition of a man, A REAL MAN.It is just a tragedy what has happened to God’s first man and all men. We the men, the creation, are no longer like HIM, the great creator.A real man, like a real woman, is called by God and that calling is clear, and a matter of priority. That real man is called upon to be strong, not only in body, physically, but in mind, will, spirit and soul. That real man is possessed of a body which is THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, and the physical body of a real man should be honored, respected, cared for, and kept in the finest physical shape possible as the housing of the triumvirate HOLY SPIRIT.So, the real man, while like our Lord, may enjoy the fruit of the grape, the wine which Jesus drank, should never be drunken. Drinking to excess is the ruination of the Temple of the Holy Spirit. No real man can function mentally or spiritually under the influence of drugs or alcohol.The real man respects his body, and especially his sexuality, and will not be given to adultery, lascivious living, and fully respects marital intimacy.The real man constantly strives to learn, educate himself, and in all things, ask for the wisdom for decision making which only God can give. If that man really asks with all his heart, God, pure wisdom, will give that wisdom to that man.That real man is strong spiritually, learned in the Bible, studying and teaching, always growing in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. That is the only way that man can be a real father and train up his children in the way in which they should go, the way of the Lord.That real man is politically active, rendering under Caesar oversight, involvement, constructive criticism, and a demand for morality, truth, respect and honesty in all political decisions made. The real man is a watchdog, a watchman on the wall, making certain that Caesar functions in the way that Caesar should.The real man discharges his duties as HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD. That notion has become most unpopular today. Far too many men abandon their responsibilities, leaving that critical household responsibility to the wife, or others by default, often to the ruination of the family.The real man loves his wife, and children, really loves her and the relationships, the marriage and the fathering really work. The real wife, and woman, really respects her husband as the Apostle Paul says, and she can only do that if he really loves her.If the real man is privileged to have a real family, then that man, husband, father, and friend, spends time, quality time, consistent regular and respectful, with every member of that household, lovingly together, and respectfully individually. That man is involved with their training, their growth intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually, and really enjoys the opportunity, the privilege to build relationships with every member of his family-friend circle which God has allowed him to have.The real man doesn’t lie. Truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, transparency in all things is not only necessary but a way of life. When relationships are intimate, all know and easily sense hypocrisy, the phony, and most certainly the lie of any kind. No relationship can be sustained without trust built on truth.The real man, with the support of the real wife-woman, never fails to discipline. That discipline is not physical, but confrontational, always ready to say no when necessary. The governance of the household is the joint responsibility of the real man and the real woman, and the right rules and regulations must be followed. In that regard, that real man and woman must be examples, living examples, of the rules, the lifestyle, the values they insist upon.In the search for strength and wisdom, every real man, and woman, must spend QUIET TIME, time in prayer, meditation, thoughtful evaluation, and in the study of scripture and in constant communion with their maker, their God. No matter the demands of anything else, that quiet time is an absolute priority, cannot be avoided, and must be practiced on a regular, surely daily basis.Today more than ever, it is really difficult to be a real man or woman. The morality, the values, the standards, the definitions of old are constantly challenged, belittled, changed, and disrespected. But no man can ever be fulfilled, live the life with the full potential he has, leave so much behind unless, with courage, the constant will to be all that he can be, he is prepared to meet the challenges of this world, this society, and the GOD AND FATHER who created him. It is far too easy to compromise, give up, or succumb to the pleasures, lusts, and daily distractions of the flesh. We, who recently celebrated Father’s Day, should count it a privilege to be a man, a real man, a spiritual man, and to never let anyone or anything distract us from that sacred calling and even our reasons for existence. What a privilege and pleasure it is to be a real man, A REAL BIOLOGICAL MAN. To be so, that requires work every day, diligence, growth, prayer, learning, never, ever afraid to admit wrong, to apologize, to shed a tear, to show love, and respect, knowing there is nothing in life, NOTHING which begins to equal the responsibility, the privilege of being:A REAL MAN.

Father

Two kinds of fathers are there.The one Heavenly, the other earthly.The Lord of Glory, the Carpenter of Nazareth said:“I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE.”What a claim. Blasphemy by a human being if it were not true. But they were ONE, and the carpenter from Nazareth told us in unequivocal terms that the CREATOR OF THIS UNIVERSE AND OUR EARTH was indeed among so many other things a:FATHERTo Him and to us. For otherwise, this Creator would be completely unknown, incapable of being known by us, but HE is. And, the Supreme Creator loves us and cares for us. To me that is a thought incomprehensible were it not for:HIMOur Lord Jesus Christ took something remote, obscure and unfathomable and made it known, personal, deeply meaningful and loving so that we, the creatures of His creation, could understand who we are, why we are, and what we should believe.We are to understand and believe said Jesus, that there is for us an ETERNAL FATHER and not merely a cosmic Creator. We are known as individuals, as sons and daughters by this Father, and we are not mere specks in the universe or dust in the wind. We have meaning. We are in fact SONS AND DAUGHTERS of this Father having claimed our inheritance as such through the SON Jesus Christ. Hard to comprehend but true.We are also told that God the Father is love. GOD IS LOVE, and that love is the essence of God and so available to us. Love is the greatest says the Scriptures, more so than faith and hope, and to know that God is love incarnate is just incredible.And we who are fathers should love the very same way. Even as the eternal Father loves us, so should we love our children. If a Heavenly Father loves unconditionally, so an earthly father should do the same, love the child unconditionally. The highest attributes of any earthly father are the embracing, heartfelt and unconditional loving openness to the child even as the Father loves the child:LOVE NEVER FAILSBut there is another side of love from our Heavenly Father, a TOUGH LOVE. That is, love at work which is ready to:DISCIPLINELove may indeed be meek, warm, gentle and forgiving, kind and open and it should be. But love must also be tough, demanding, disciplined and concerned for all things which are:RIGHTFor there are indeed prodigal sons and daughters who go astray. As such, they honor not the Heavenly Father nor the earthly. Discipline is required, firm and straight. The rod was used in the old days to accomplish discipline and to carryout punishment. But that has been taken away. Discipline today is more on the order of depriving the child of opportunities and pleasures or requiring the child to make up for the wrong and do what is right. Sometimes it works and sometimes not. But fathers can not SPARE THE ROD however the rod is determined for that is a fatherly duty. No child can grow without discipline for there is nothing worse for a father than a child spoiled and bent upon his own way. Demanding standards, the terms and conditions of sonship, are a father’s duty which can not be delegated or ignored. And the Scriptures make it perfectly clear:WHOM THE FATHER LOVES HE CHASTENSChastening is real love at work. BY THEIR FRUITS, LOVING DISCIPLINE AT WORK, YE SHALL KNOW THE FATHER AND WHO THE FATHER TRULY IS.The integrity of the father is critical. Dads must do what they say and dads must say what they mean. The father must live by the same standards he requires of the child. The father must be consistent in character, live a life with values and without hypocrisy. Nothing is harder for a child to accept than lectures about right and wrong from a father who lives by neither. So that, a father does not have to explain or justify the demands. The father does not have to negotiate with the child and in the course of discipline ask the child if it is OK.For it matters not if the child agrees with the father. If a child respects a loving father, that is all that is required. So many families seem to have so little respect for each other and rapidly become dysfunctional. But a true father, a real father is head of household. He is the one in charge, so say the Scriptures, kind, loving, considerate and respectful of all including and especially the wife-mother, but head of the household nonetheless. Discharging all of those functions gives the father the right to discipline and demand. But again, the father has earned that right by the way he lives. When the son is old and ready for his own life, the ways of the father will be his and the son in turn will perpetuate, carryon those values for his family.It is so very important for the father to incorporate the son into his life. To train up the child is to involve the child in the life, the career, the work of the father. So many sons carry on, inherit and follow the father. Father and son, or daughter, work together,learn together and the father teaches in practical ways. What the father holds dear and in which he has invested his life becomes part of the child, a very practical and worthy training for the child. The child can learn the way of business, work, industry so that like father, the child can be:A WORK MAN OR WOMAN WORTHY OF HIS HIREThat kind of fatherly guidance is so very important and it is the duty of the father to invest the time and effort to train up the child in that way.And so with hobbies, and fun. There are games, trips, sports, theater, dining and all manners of wonderful vacation which must be shared by father and child. Life is difficult and even as there are the demands of work, there must be the pleasures of play. To laugh and cry together. To enjoy the joys of this world as God has indicated is our right. Lasting moments are created in fun and play.Father and child are intimate, or should be. Their dialogue, their caring for each other should be totally open, transparent. Nothing should be hidden. The child should have the confidence and the trust in father to openly reveal, discuss hurts, ask questions, confess doubt, challenge beliefs and otherwise make certain that the father fully understands precisely who the child is. For the child develops independently and individually, a special and unique creation by God, and not merely as the earthly father would have him be. The answers to questions should come first from the father, not from peers or school but from DAD. The son should want to talk to father first and be assured that he knows what the father thinks. They can not always agree but father and son can always be open and honest with each other. That seems so lacking today. There is little communication, virtually no dialogue. Father’s preach and lecture but seldom practice one of the most important attributes of good fathering:LISTENINGReally listening. Patiently allowing the child to open the heart, to question, to express love and anger and to know as a child the father will listen and respect. That more than anything builds character and confidence in the child. Fathers are friends and confidants. The father in the mind of the child is the first GO-TO.If not, the child seeks FATHER SURROGATES and substitutes. Today’s education can often occur without traditional moral values or the standards of old. No third party education is a substitute for a father’s education. Children who are fatherless in actuality or spiritually seek comfort, guidance and acceptance from their peers which can often be secular and even with immoral influences. They are ready to learn and adapt, to be accepted in so many ways different from what the father might believe or want for the child. The conduct of the child can then become permissive, even unlawful as standards or morality are worn down and compromised. That fatherless child goes a different way and the father has forsaken the most important duty of fatherhood, training up that child. If you have a child, if you are a biological father, then you must, YOU MUST be a spiritual, loving father as God would have it. Don’t send a child to church. Take him. Worship with him. Love together the Lord of Glory. Study Scripture and pray, together. Talk about spiritual things for the child is even more interested in what the father thinks and believes than perhaps a pastor.Take time for the child’s life, school events, sports. Be there, lovingly and with respect for the child growing to adult. Nothing means more than a father BEING THERE. That child is YOU, dad. You can not ignore or deny YOU. The child wants YOU more than anything else. There came to you that little bundle of joy, your very own son, your very own daughter, YOU IN EVERY WAY! You are privileged to be a father of that child and he or she should be a clear priority, a first priority. There will never be better earthly love, nothing comes close, than the love of a father for his child. However strong the bond, and even if the father-child bond is broken, in some deep primal way, love is always there, or at least the hope of that love. There is no child, or father however old or hardened who does not feel that way. What a joy, what a privilege to be a father.Even as an adult, well-educated, perhaps successful, father himself, a son will always seek out a father, for fellowship, for advice, for comfort and caring, and for love. That never changes. Even in death, he the father being dead yet speaketh. All he was and all they were together lives on, it is eternal even as the love of God is eternal. The words, the deeds, the loving deeds will never be forgotten. The understanding, the trust and the respect between father and child will never die.Perhaps a father’s proudest moment is when the child, adult and ready, leaves the father and becomes his own man. That is a biblical requirement, and at that time, the father should be proud, very proud of the INVESTMENT he has made in the child. For a father can think back, reminisce and remember all of those things which forged the bond, the training, the education and growth of the child, an investment far more valuable than anything financial. That, says dad, is my son. That, says dad, is my daughter of whom I am so very proud. He or she was worth everything I gave. The loving bond between father and child will sustain, motivate and guide the child for a lifetime. It is the earthly component of the Heavenly Father. What a privilege it is to be a father.So, I and my company the Crawford Broadcasting Company salute fathers, real fathers who love, educate, grow and train up their children in the way in which they should go. You are special, dads like that, very special. The world needs real fathers now more than ever. And, what is so wonderful is that it is never too late to be father no matter what has gone before. Fathering may ebb and flow but the opportunity is always there, always. Never quit, never give up on fathering.So, enjoy your day DAD. Father’s Day can show love and respect for dad one day. But real fathers are honored by their children every day. For the most priceless thing any child can have is:A LOVING FATHER!

Student Terrorists

Education in America is in one sad state. Even in some cases, Christian education succumbs to secular pressure, woke-radical influence, even anti-American and anti-Christian influence but, thankfully for the most part, remains a sane and sensible option, certainly for Christians but for truly conservative Americans as well.The leading secular universities are beset with student terrorist tactics. Those once illustrious universities including Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia, UCLA, and others are campuses of lawlessness, rebellion, defiance of authority, criminal activity, and a total disregard for the rule of law and constitutional authority. What a tragedy, an unbelievable tragedy which represents the great discontent and divide between Americans today. We the people are indeed a house divided and unless we find a way to correct these problems, and once again realize that our primary responsibility is to be law-abiding citizens of this great country, this house of ours will indeed fall.These student rebellions and riots are not just mobilized by students. Leaders of these outbursts are often the very professors who are supposedly their teachers. It is simply unbelievable to see these teachers defying university authority, rules and regulations, and even the laws of the city and state. That however is professorial conduct fostered by a radical, woke, anti-American philosophy and point of view.But more, the riots we see on campus, the takeovers of buildings, and the sit-ins are fostered by outside rabble rousers, some paid to do so by men like George Soros, and his supposedly charitable, nonprofit entities, anti-American to the core. Other paid rabble rousers, rioters, and mini-terrorists are paid for by other extremely wealthy, radical businessmen who, like Soros, are anti-American-anti-Chrisitan as well. These men and women want the end of the America we have always known and loved, and are in danger of losing at least in part if not all together.But the real actors are the students themselves for the most part. They are responsible for the consequences. They are children, so many of them, without parental guidance and certainly little or no discipline. The influence of a real mother or father is missing in so many cases. They act irresponsibly, they seem to desire attention, and they are more than willing to act out. In so many cases, they really don’t understand the full meaning of why they are doing what they are doing, and acting the way they are acting, nor do they care about the consequences of their actions. There is some uneducated talk about acting under the freedoms of the First Amendment, but that is totally wrong. They talk about their rights to protest, and to assemble, and to petition for redress of their grievances under the First Amendment, but they absolutely plagiarize and corrupt the true meanings, the freedoms and responsibilities, the rights and duties, which the First Amendment allows and requires.Our beloved and special First Amendment allows for peaceful assembly, not the kind we see at Columbia, and it never allows for trespassing. There is no right, for example, on the part of any student or rabble rouser to unlawfully occupy buildings or otherwise restrict the access of others to those buildings. To do so is a violation of the law, a criminal action, and should be punished as the law requires without exception. There can be no exception for these BRAINLESS BRATS, or these radical and progressive professors, and certainly these AWFUL AGITATORS, paid by radical anti-Americans should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.These so-called protestors, really mini terrorists, violate with impunity the rules and regulations of the universities they attend, including Columbia, Harvard, and the University of Pennsylvania. They also violate with impunity the laws of the jurisdiction of the city, and the state in which the university resides. They should be punished. They should not be suspended from school but expelled. They should not be free from prosecution but disciplined and punished according to their unlawful acts.They have utterly ignored the rights of other students. They have prevented access to classes, they intimidate and even threaten, and on occasion even do harm to their fellow students. Such conduct is as wrong as it can be.They chant, bear signs which are anti-Semitic to the core. These students hate Jews and they engage in hate speech against the Jews. One hears chants and sees signs which they bluntly say:KILL ALL THE JEWS!They even wish for a reincarnation of the holocaust. They are violently anti-Jewish, and they have ignored the atrocities committed against the Jewish people by Arabs, Iran, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and of course HAMAS. It is as though October 7 never happened.They promote BDS, the boycott of all things Israel and Jewish, the divestment of all investment in Israel, sanctions against Israel, and the end of all aid, financial and military, to the only democracy in the Middle East. The main motivation behind these student riots and uprisings is a hatred of the Jews, the re-emergence of a vicious and vitriolic antisemitism. They even invoke the name of Adolf Hitler in their so-called cause.They trespass upon the private property of others with impunity.They leave property damage in their wake. They set up their tents and leave refuse and garbage behind, caring nothing about the property or the people who formerly used those spaces.They rebel against and resist any police action and they have committed violence with impunity against the police who attempt to restore law and order.They disrupt education. They prevent students, especially Jewish students, from going to classes or attending events. They have created an atmosphere of fear and a lack of individual safety in attending classes, interfering at every turn with the educational process.They have and they will engage in violence, as the opportunity may occur, no matter if innocent and uninvolved individuals take the brunt of such actions. Whether to property or persons, violence and damage are the end result of these unlawful actions in so many cases.These student terrorists block access, ingress and egress, to university campuses, classes, and events. They bargain with university officials, who lower themselves in considering the demands of these terroristic student gangs, and the so-called university officials and leaders seem to have no compunction in compromising with these would-be young criminals. The leaders of these student gangs bargain with university officials and even law enforcement for:COMPLETE AMNESTYfor their actions. Woke and radical anti-American district attorneys, law enforcement officers, politicians, and others, so many of them look the other way, do little or nothing, and seem ready to forgive and forget. What an absolute tragedy.In so many cases, these rioters do not really understand why they are rioting. They don’t know the facts; they are unconcerned with the truth for they live in the day and age of:POST-TRUTHwhere anything goes. Compounding this American tragedy is the fact that these students are fully supported by their very own professors who stand with them, picket, barricade, march, and otherwise encourage this unlawful activity. George Soros and company would be proud. Small wonder Israel no longer trusts America like it once did and is determined to protect and defend its nation, its rights, and its people ALL BY ITSELF, no matter what. It may come to just that.What a world. We hope and we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we ask for the intervention of God Almighty, the great G-d Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; but the hate, the antisemitism, the worldwide rebellion against law and order, and religion, and especially Christianity, goes on. We cannot forsake Israel, especially we the Christian people. We know that if we bless the nation and the Jews, God will bless us, and if we don’t, we will be cursed, as we are told in the Book of Genesis.What is happening in the world at large, the Middle East, and in Israel-Palestine, all are signs of the END TIMES. If so, we should be watchmen and women on the walls, watching for the return, the rapture. But in the interim, we should work for the night is coming when no man can work, work for peace, for goodwill, for dialogue, for salvation, for the return of this world to faith, hope, and love. Otherwise, the worst, the very, very worst is yet to come.

Memorial Day

In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated on the last Monday in May, echoing the words and sentiments of the proclamation of General John A. Logan of the grand Army of the Republic in 1868 who stated:“Memorial Day is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion (the Civil War) and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet, church yard in the land.”So it is that the primary purpose of Memorial Day is to strew with flowers literally and figuratively the graves and memories of America’s daring defenders. They the fallen died for freedom, liberty, for America, for us, for YOU AND ME. We were asked to remember those who died in the great American Civil War, but the day to remember now incorporates all who have given lives in defense of our country. Far too many wars, my fellow Americans, and far too many fallen defenders by the millions who believed in America, and in its fundamental principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all mankind. How grateful we should be.We are descendants or contemporaries of patriots, men and women who cherish freedom and were willing to fight and die to defend it if necessary. These warriors lived by the words of Patrick Henry who said:GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH.Our nation was formed in the fight for freedom for there was no life worthwhile without it. There came our great Constitution and our incredible BILL OF RIGHTS, the rights and freedom amendments which are the finest in the history of mankind. But no matter the origin, it seems as though in so many ways the passion for freedom may have been lost today as they once had it. We seem to take for granted what they died for. And the courage, they the fallen had seems lost today in so many ways and the change in our country, produces in so many ways an America in decline, at least politically, philosophically and certainly passionately. Our ancestors fought for the Constitution, for the Bill of Rights and the freedoms those now 27 Amendments allow us. They were ready to die for them, but we the current people allow them to be watered down, interpreted away and often ignored without the fight or conviction to protect and defend them. Perhaps the freedoms of Patrick Henry are giving way to a slow but sure death. Perhaps we have failed to meet the challenge of Ben Franklin who told us that the Republic they created for us was a marvelous way of government IF we could keep it. I wonder if we can.So, in the midst of barbeques and baseball, it is so healthy to look back and remember. Remember a George Washington, a general, a leader, a President, a warrior, a patriot. Or a Paul Revere who rode the land warning that the enemy was coming, sounding the alarm. It seems as though we need more Paul Reveres, warning us that enemies to our Constitution and way of life are coming, and in fact are HERE. We the people should be ever mindful of the threats and sound the alarm as he did, like those who energized our country once before, THE BOSTON TEA PARTY PATRIOTS and the revolution their courageous acts energized and inspired. They took a stand against taxes and so must we. Ours continue to rise, and rise to the point of confiscation and nothing but nothing destroys freedom like taxes. President John Adams reminded us that the two killers of liberty are slavery and debt. The debt of confiscatory taxation strangles freedom and that is happening at an incredibly rapid pace today. Shame on us.It is hard for us to think back and remember the early days in America when slavery, slavery was a way of life in America to our great shame and embarrassment. We the moderns find that inconceivable, and the practice of slavery of any kind abhorrent, do we not? Right-thinking men and women fought and fell to rid America of the scourge of slavery, God bless them.And to rid the world of despots like Hitler, evil to the core, Mussolini and those who in war would destroy the freedom and liberty of all. God bless them.There can hardly be a family anywhere in America which has not laid a son or daughter on the altar of freedom. So many fought and fell, lives given willingly for us in war after war. And there were those who supported those who fought. We honor them. Many of our warriors and defenders came home hurt and damaged in body or mind perhaps for a lifetime. On Memorial Day, we honor these veterans of wars, these HEROES, these wounded warriors who gave us our freedom:WE OWE THEM!A debt we can never repay. To honor them is the least we can do, to thank them as we remember and as we encounter those in our military who follow after them. We should help and support them. They lived and died for what they believed. Whenever I encounter a member of our military, I thank them for what they did and what they do for our great country, for me, and for you, and for my friends and loved ones and all Americans whether I know them or not. But I really do know them for I know what is in their hearts and minds and I know they love America as much as I do. I will salute them as a sign of respect. I wish them to know that I will always be grateful for everything they do for me and the America I love. Perhaps YOU should do the same, not on one Memorial Day, but all days. They the heroes and defenders are the very best of us.God bless them.Memorial Day is always celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery, a very special place, a burial site for some of America’s bravest. At 3 PM on that Monday, a very special ceremony occurs and each grave is decorated with a small American flag. Thehighlight of the celebration is a speech in honor of these brave men and women from the President or Vice President of the United States honoring their contributions to America and laying a wreath at the tomb of The Unknown Soldier. That tomb represents tens of thousands of other unknown soldiers who gave their lives in service to our country, but in death never got the recognition and respect they so justly deserved. Do remember them, my fellow Americans, do remember them as well on Memorial Day as there may be no one else, no loved one, no friend or family to do so. And as you do remember these American heroes, thank our God, the God who blesses America for all those who gave so much for us. They allowed us to be parents, to have and enjoy family, they allowed us to be workers and fully participate in the great opportunities America offers. THEY allowed us to be all that we can be because our soldiers, they were determined to be all they could be. Have a special place in your heart all week for any loved one, family or friend of yours who should be MEMORIALIZED AND REMEMBERED this day and always.And, as we pay tribute and remember, let us become better citizens of this great country, ready more than ever to preserve, protect and defend all it stands for, all of our blessed and precious freedoms which exist like there are nowhere else in the world. Let us stand for what is right with actions, protests, town meetings, marches, debate, fact and truth at work, counteracting government spin and disinformation. Let us stand tall for the right, for truth, for all things moral and valuable. Let us resolve, we the people, we who own and control this country to do our job as citizens far better. And remember to cherish and exercise the greatest privilege which every American has. That is:THE VOTEThere is no more powerful weapon than the vote of the American citizen. It is the most precious Constitutional right we have and for which our forefathers fought and died. Let us make certain that we vote for those to represent us who so passionately believe in these very special freedoms as we do, and they the fallen did. It is only then, when we do our part, day in and day out, that we would have the right to say with conviction and passion as our forefathers did:GOD BLESS AMERICAFor that can not happen unless we the people do what is right, remembering whom and what went before and committing with conviction to follow in their footsteps. These men and women died for GOD AND COUNTRY and for you and me in the never-ending fight to protect and preserve:FREEDOMMemorialize their memories this Memorial Day and every day!God bless America and God bless you.

Christian Education

Education in America is in a sad state. That is especially so with higher education, colleges and universities.Traditional education, at every turn, is being challenged, reduced, or eliminated and new educational subjects take hold. Places of higher education have become breeding grounds for radicals, revolutionary tactics, and rebellion against authority and the rule of law. Witness the takeovers and the tents, the camps, and the rabble rousers protesting, and especially exhibiting anti-Israel and anti-Semitic speech and conduct. Ironically, many of these protestors are not even college students, but rather so many paid troublemakers, paid by individuals like George Soros, and entities run by him and his cronies. They stir up hatred. They make unbelievable demands upon the administration, alumni groups, and faculty, and among other things, they demand that the universities sever all ties with the state of Israel and embrace the policy BDS, Boycott-Divest-and otherwise stop all relations with Israel and the Jews.These rabble rousers are pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel and the Jews, calling for justice on the one hand for starving and displaced Palestinians without ever mentioning the killings of Hamas, the hostages taken and still held, and the barbaric conduct of Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, and other Arab nations which hate Israel and the Jews. Secular education has changed and may never be the same.In addition, there is now an assault by the Biden Administration on CHRISTIAN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. Joe Biden, unbelievably our President, purports to be Christian and Catholic and sits back, says nothing, and of course does nothing as DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Secretary Miguel Cardona goes after these Christian schools. They, thank God, refuse to toe the line, walk the liberal walk, and refuse to endorse or support the gay agenda, the attack on the family, parenting, and especially marriage, and of course abortion, all of which the Biden Administration favors and which the DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION supports.Cardona and, unbelievably so, congressional representative Rosa DeLauro, Democrat (of course) from Connecticut are the attack dogs in the lead. Said they:“WE ARE CRACKING DOWN NOT ONLY TO SHUT THEM DOWN (CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITIES) BUT TO SEND THE MESSAGE TO THEM TO NOT PREY ON STUDENTS.”The allegations they make are that these universities “lied to students about the cost of education and their programs.” Of course, there is nothing specific, no facts involved, nothing really to refute except this horribly prejudiced, biased generalization, the suit being brought by the Federal Government against the great Christian Universities, Grand Canyon University and Liberty University, incidentally America’s two largest Christian institutes of higher education. I do suppose more will come but these so-called allegations are so minor, so frail, so fact-less and so obviously biased that they are almost laughable. But then again, so much of the conduct of our Federal Government under the Biden Administration is just that. I do wonder how any Jew, true Jew, or any Christian, real Christian, could ever vote for Biden or the democratic party that supports him and these absolutely absurd, prejudiced, anti-American views and policies. What a world.Grand Canyon University is the largest Christian university in America and a good one. President Brian Mueller describes these allegations, and the lawsuit which followed including the fine, as “ridiculous.” Not stopping there, Cardona and the DOE went after Liberty University and accused them, in a $37 million dollar fine, of “over alleged under-reporting of crimes.” Unbelievable. Of course, there were no facts, nothing specific, but only these biased, general allegations, really nothing more than anti-Christian at the core.Said President Brian Mueller:“It's interesting, is it not, that the two largest Christian universities in the country, ours and Liberty University, are both being fined almost the identical amount at the identical time.” Now, said Mueller:“IS THERE A CAUSE AND EFFECT HERE? I DON’T KNOW, BUT I KNOW IT’S A FACT.”Again, hear the words of Cardona and representative DeLauro:“WE ARE CRACKING DOWN NOT ONLY TO SHUT THEM DOWN BUT TO SEND A MESSAGE TO NOT PREY ON STUDENTS.”Cardona and his ilk want not only to fine these great Christian universities, but to actually close them:“TO SHUT THEM DOWN!”There really can be nothing more anti-Christian than such statements and such actions by this liberal, woke, radical, Joe Biden government and administration. Again, how can any true Christian ever vote for Biden or anyone who supports the policies he does? Can you?Said Jon Schweppe, a conservative spokesperson:“The Federal government’s education agenda is punishing schools that do not conform to their progressive ideology. It is time we took a stand against this egregious abuse of power.”Not so, Mr. Schweppe. It is far past time we the Christian people took a stand against this anti-Christian bias, this woke ideological bias, and got rid of them, the evil doers. It is time we voted them out of office, them and the one who appointed them, namely Joe Biden.GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY (GTU) has as its motto that its university is:“PRIVATE, CHRISTIAN, AFFORDABLE.”It stands apart from universities across the country that are facing declining enrollment or unenrollment and the students who wish to attend GCU are only increasing. The decline in enrollment is especially severe at universities which are indoctrinating students with radical politics. They are also failing to defend the American Constitution and rule of law and especially the First Amendment with regard to freedom of religion and freedom of speech among others.The Goldwater Institute (GI), a conservative group, wrote the following:“So why then are the Feds targeting GCU, a popular university that seems to be doing everything right? That’s exactly what we’re going to find out.”President Mueller said that no matter what the Federal Government does, “it has had zero impact on anything that we’re (GCU) doing.”Mueller went on to say:“The enrollments are just continuing to grow. The morale (of our students) is very high in terms of our faculty and staff. The campus is extremely vibrant. The students absolutely love this place. They’re extremely loyal to it and so we just keep marching through it.”Amen, Christian brothers in education, march on, fight on, stand up as soldiers of the cross, and of Christian education, and stand for the excellence in education which GCU has championed all these years. Never compromise and remember the words of Winston Churchill:“NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP!”So, GCU President Brian Mueller asks for prayer. Pray for them and the great Liberty University. But do more. Perhaps you can give. You can surely write your Congress person and make sure they know about this biased, grossly unfair attack on these Christian universities and Christianity generally, and ask them to intervene. By the way, don’t bother writing to Biden and Company, for that is a letter which is a waste of time and will never be read.The attack on Liberty University and Grand Canyon University is just typical of the anti-Christian attitude and activities which are permeating our society in America, and so much of the world at large. Yet another reason, my fellow Americans and my fellow Christians, for us to stand up, put on the armor of our Lord and our faith, and:FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH.The battle is here in so many different ways and it is time, aggressively and consistently to respond, to make certain that evil men like George Soros and so many others who are determined to destroy America and Christianity with it, do not prevail. Christian education is absolutely essential today, especially with secular education declining and in such disarray, more so every day. I ask, along with President Brian Mueller, that you render your full support, encouragement, prayers, and even giving to GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY and as well LIBERTY UNIVERSITY. They stand for truth, for real Christianity, and they stand for real, solid, education in every other respect. In this world of ours, they are the best!

The Woman - The Wife

He, the man who finds a good wife finds a good thing, so says the scripture.Any such man is blessed of the Lord when he finds the RIGHT woman and, in love, takes her as his wife. The life of any man is made complete, richer and fuller, when he shares life with the right wife.Solomon, the King, knew the value, the blessing of a good wife. The crowning joy of a woman-wife was to be MOTHER, and the husband-father rejoiced in the son or daughter who began the family. But both before and during mothering, that woman-mother remained individual, unique, special in and of herself. This right mother-wife, daughter of the living God, was a woman-wife of noble character. She was moral, faithful, trustworthy, a woman of her word. That kind of woman was worth far more than rubies, far, far more.Her husband, blessed and fortunate, had full confidence and trust in her. He was proud of her, rejoiced in her strengths and her family influence and all with whom she came in contact. She was a valuable human being.She brought good, love to her husband and her family, and to all with whom she came in contact. She was a woman of love and charity and so easily loved in return.Solomon then says that this wife of noble character worked eagerly with her hands. She was productive, not idle, contributing to the good of her family. She provided food for that family of hers and made certain as wife and mother that her family was properly clothed, fed, and protected. She was a woman who could earn, and as a merchant, frugal and sensitive to the value of money, she could like a merchant engage in trading for the profitability of herself, her efforts, her husband, and her family. Her trading, her doing business said Solomon, was PROFITABLE.She cared for the poor. She always extended help, love, comfort, and succor to the needy. In olden times, she with her husband were always welcomed and respected at the CITY GATE, the place where business and legal matters were conducted.This very special woman was a person of strength, enduring whatever came, and always with grace and dignity. She had no worry for the future, she thought little or nothing about tomorrow’s problems, and with a happy spirit she could laugh at the days to come. She was positive in all things.This good woman, constantly learning, was filled with wisdom and she spoke with wise words. She taught her family, her children, and FAITHFUL INSTRUCTION WAS ALWAYS ON HER TONGUE! She was responsible for and carefully carried on the business and the affairs of her household. She was never idle. Always busy in the work of a woman and a wife and joyfully so. She made the household a happy place in which to live, and her husband and her children were so very grateful for this God-given woman. So much so that all called her blessed, knew how special she was, followed after her spirituality, and praised her, blessed her among themselves and to all others. To her husband and children, her household, she was the best of all women, one of a kind, beautiful in the eye and the heart of the beholder. They knew, this household did, that there were many other noble women who did noble things, but for them, their mother, his wife, was the best, the very best of the best.Her beauty came from within, from a character adorned by the Holy Spirit, radiating joy, happiness, and positivity. Her life spread blessings. No matter what she looked like, she was beautiful to all who knew her.She was a woman and a wife who believed deeply in God. This woman of today had found that deep and rich personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and his love in her was spread to all others. Scripture tells children to honor their father and mother, and to obey their father and mother, and a mother like this was both easy to honor and obey. She was a lifetime asset for her family, and especially her children.So, Solomon concludes:HONOR HER FOR ALL THAT SHE HAS DONE.HONOR HER! Praise her, at home and everywhere and to everyone. Any woman like this, or even close to all of this, is more precious, more valuable, of more blessing than all the rubies and all the precious gems in the entire world.Any man who finds a woman like this and marries and takes her as wife, finds a lifetime asset more precious than gold, so says Solomon, so says the scripture, so says the great God Jehovah, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the creator of all men and all women.HE THAT FINDETH A GOOD WIFE FINDETH THE BEST THING IN LIFE!

The Fight

It is here now, this spiritual fight and the preliminary stages of the battle rage.The fight is with an enemy stealthy, sly, and determined. The enemy is an evil force, hateful, and determined to win this battle. It plots day and night to do just that.We, God’s people, are in this fight, and it must be with all our might. This enemy, the army of Satan, has every weapon possible available in its arsenal. It is an enemy determined to wage war with conservative America and Christian America in the political arena. It will use every governmental power possible in the fight.It will pervert everything religious, especially true Christianity, to spread doubt and fear.It will control culture and seek to change customs, beliefs, priorities, and terminology.In this era of post-truth (no truth), the LIE prevails, and the enemy will use that viciously. Mankind will find it extremely difficult to know the truth which makes us free as Christians and conservative Americans.The enemy will use hate, viciously hateful themselves, but accuse people of faith of being hateful.This vicious anti-Christian enemy has and uses every weapon possible. But, my fellow Christians, they the enemy do not have the greatest weapon of all.WE DO. WE, THE CHRISTIANS, DO!And that weapon, which can never be defeated, is none other than the greatest force, the greatest power in this world, no less than:LOVE! LOVE!We, the believers, fight the fight of faith with love. With God. For we are told from childhood that:GOD IS LOVE.God loved us so much that He sent His son, Jesus Christ, to die for us. Mythological even comical to the enemy, but the ultimate reality for us who believe.So that, in this vicious spiritual battle against the enemy, Satan himself and his legions, we the Christian opposition:SHALL NOT BE MOVED.We have on, in the battle, the BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. We fight evil with what is right. We have from head to toe the armor of LOVE. No Weapon of the enemy can pierce that armor.We carry with us at all times the SWORD OF THE LORD. It bristles, it gleams with righteousness, and with love, and with truth. Even with this armor and carrying the sword of righteousness, we can run the race and win that race against the enemy. The power of love is just simply unbelievable, a weapon which can never, ever be defeated.We have no fear of our enemy, none at all. We look evil in the face and we say:I SHALL NOT BE MOVED!We know, with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength that the love of God in Christ:CONQUERS ALL!So that, even if any of us would lay down our life in the service of our Lord, and in the fight for our faith, we know that our Lord, our captain, our Savior, and His remaining army, will ultimately win the battle. We will never be afraid of, nor will we lose to, this Evil Enemy. The love of God in the fight of faith can never be beaten, NEVER!We his people look forward to the time when:THE POWER OF LOVE WILL REPLACE THE LOVE OF POWER!Then this world and this evil enemy will know defeat even as the LOVE of Christ will win this war of faith and peace like never before and will reign like never before.That really is the only way this enemy, Lucifer’s Legions, can ever be defeated. LOVE, the ultimate weapon, is the only force which can defeat the Anti-Christ and everything thrown against the Christ and his people, and it will, it definitely will, not only defeat the enemy but win the battle and ultimately:TRANSFORM THIS WORLD.The Love of God in Christ is so powerful.The Love of God in Christ is eternal. It is the only thing we can carry with us when we die. Love makes the end so easy. Even on the battlefield of faith, if we die, love lives on, love lives long and eternal and it alone abides eternally along with faith and with hope.But the greatest of these, the greatest of all powers in this world, the weapon which will ultimately destroy the enemy is none other than:LOVE.So, we love our enemies when they persecute us, so says the scripture. We bless them, and we do good for them, our enemies, when they do the opposite to us. For we know that:GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF FEAR BUT OF POWER,AND LOVE, AND A SOUND MIND. WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED.So, when the enemy comes after us with every weapon possible, we fight back with the only weapon we need:

Christian Joy

This world of ours has little joy, real joy. Perhaps there exists some sort of superficial happiness, but transient and really unfulfilling, but little more.It seems that so much of our world is sad, hopeless in feeling, even hateful. Our world is angry, antagonistic, so very jealous and greedy, negative in so many ways.I wonder, are you afraid, feeling uncertain and insecure, perhaps even from time to time hateful and angry, untrusting, are you? I wonder sometimes, how much of the joy of Christianity, rejoicing in the relationship with Jesus Christ, in possession of a thankful heart, the promises of the Son of God have been lost as the wiles of the devil seem to permeate this world.The carpenter of Nazareth, the Son of the Living God, told us quite plainly that He came not only to forgive but to bring us who believe His JOY that our lives may be full, full of that joy. How tragic it would be if once we have met him, and believed in Him, that the joy of our relationship with Him should be tarnished, even eliminated by the ever-growing hateful things in this world.And more. REJOICE, said He, and even more:BE EXCEEDINGLY GLAD.Let gladness permeate your heart, your mind, your emotions, your attitude, your entire life. Be happy, no matter what. For not only are you forgiven but you are born again into a brand-new life of joy, happiness, and rejoicing! I wonder if you take time every day, EVERY DAY, to rejoice, rejoice in Him and for the life you should have now, and you will definitely have hereafter. Do you?The Apostle Paul tells us to give thanks, GIVE THANKS IN EVERYTHING, the good, the bad, the average, the day-to-day, IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS, thanks to God for His unspeakable gift. Do you? The strongest possession any Christian can have is a thankful heart.And our Lord says that we should love our enemies. Is there anything harder to do in this world than that? When someone identifies as an enemy, comes at you, does you wrong, hurts you or ones you love, is there anything harder than to love that person? But, the love we have for Jesus Christ never fails, transcends everything, is stronger than anything and it is always there, always. Our God is love and we his people should love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves, even if that neighbor is our enemy so says the scripture. That essential principle, that basic tenet of Christianity, that emotional command, is the hardest thing for any Christian to do, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, IT IS THE MOST REWARDING! We should never accept the wrong, but we should always love the wrongdoer, thus saith the Lord. To carry a grudge, to return hate with hate, to get even, to make a wrongdoer pay, works havoc on the believer, even more so than the evildoer. Be glad, be happy says our Lord when you are persecuted for His name’s sake, when evil comes after good, and never forget, NEVER that ultimately:GREAT IS YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN!Even, says HE, if you weep now, you will laugh sooner or later. YOU WILL LAUGH, you will be happy. Never forget that. You will laugh, you will be happy as David says in the Psalms, even as our Lord laughs at the wicked. Full belief in the love of God in Jesus Christ can do nothing but make one, the believer, be glad, rejoice, be happy and LAUGH!The smile, the facial smile, the real smile is a rarity today. The heavy heart makes for a sad face. The happy heart, the loving heart produces a cheerful face as Solomon tells us in Proverbs. Our Lord confirms that when he tells us that we should:BE OF GOOD CHEER!Life is short, so very short, and any hour of any day spent glum, sad, angry, jealous, or hateful is simply the waste of a part of THE DAY WHICH THE LORD HAS MADE! The spirit of the loving God is at the ready to help, to remind you of this part of your life which you are wasting. Be glad, says the spirit of the living God, and rejoice, and always remember, says the Lord:I AM COME THAT YOUR JOY MIGHT BE FULL!I AM COME THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE LIFE AND LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY!And more. James tells us that the happy heart breaks out in singing, singing songs of love, praise, and joy. David confirms in the Psalms when he tells us to be glad and sing for joy. Even if you can’t carry a tune, sing anyway. Sing songs of praise every day, let your heart sing, be cheerful, be glad, be happy, and never let any part of this sad world, this world hateful, angry, jealous, and itself without joy, bring you down. NEVER!When the rich man met the Lord Jesus Christ, He sold everything he had, and he did so with JOY. Nothing mattered to him but the joy he found in Jesus Christ. Never forget, my fellow Christians, that a cheerful heart is good medicine. It heals like nothing else, and also remember the wise words of Solomon in Proverbs that:A CRUSHED SPIRIT DRIES UP THE BONES!Avoid at all costs the dry bones of Ezekiel. Every day, even all day, you can live with the joy, the happiness, the rejoicing that our Lord provides, which is only a taste of that JOY TO COME!So, in everything give thanks. In the testings, the trials and tribulations, the sicknesses, the losses, the betrayals, the hateful, the persecution, give thanks, be grateful, for our Lord who never left the Apostle Paul when he suffered in the dungeon all alone, will never leave us. The key to claiming that promise, says the Apostle Paul, is to give thanks:GIVE THANKS IN EVERYTHING.And that is especially so when the trials, the tribulations, the persecutions, the hurt and the pain are the worst. When life is at its worst, our Lord is at HIS BEST.Now abides safe in Him, hope in Him, and the love because of Him. Never let go of a cheerful heart any hour of any day. That is what the Lord of the abundant life wants for YOU!

The Truth

Do you tell your spouse the truth? ALWAYS?That would be the whole truth and nothing but the truth, do you?When you communicate with spouse or children, or any family members or friends, or even in the workplace, or church, or social gatherings, do you tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth all the time? ALL THE TIME?And, do you expect others to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth when they communicate with you, do you? To tell the truth always, all of it, to everyone under every circumstance, is an extremely difficult task, if not impossible. Our communication, our cultural exchanges, our personal expectations are difficult, partial at best, and seldom if ever contain the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. More often than not, we leave out or add in. We communicate Half-Truths. The definition of half-truth is that only about half of that is true, if that. So often, we communicate with the so-called WHITE LIE. Interesting, is it not, how we give colors (black-white-gray) to falsified communication? The truth, knowing and communicating the truth, is a difficult process.Perhaps it is a journey to know, believe, and communicate the truth. No matter, it is the obligation, the duty, of a Christian to be truthful, to know and communicate the truth. THOU SHALT NOT LIE (bear false witness) say the commandments and affirmed by our Lord. When we communicate with others in word or deed, it must be with the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth to the very best of our human abilities. That is especially so in family circles. The lie sets an example, a very bad one, especially in family circles, with spouses and children. If a parent expects a child to tell the truth, then that parent better tell the truth as a matter of course, regularly and all the time, and without exception.Pilate, the governor who passed judgment on Jesus, asked the age-old question, perhaps one of the most important questions (issues) ever asked:WHAT IS TRUTH?He had his answer from Jesus of Nazareth, who told him bluntly and point blank:I AM THE TRUTH. I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE!That message was for all of us. Jesus told the world of that time and all of us since, that he was ONE WITH THE FATHER, in other words, God himself. That was either the biggest lie of all time, or the most profound truth, one or the other. But, said He, that is the ultimate truth and to know exactly what Jesus was, who He was, was the ultimate spiritual and divine truth. Do you know that and do you believe that?But what is the definition of truth? It is extremely difficult to define. Truth is based on fact, that which really happened. It is reality, truth is, unvarnished. It is what actually happened, what was accurately said, things not subject to interpretation or question. Truth is moral, good, and right. It is honest and reliable. Truth, real truth is not subject to question, doubt, or interpretation. It comes from the deeds and the words of an honest person. It creates no doubt.The exact opposite is the LIE. Amazing, is it not, how the lie pervades our culture, our society, our government? Our political world, worldwide and especially in America, is corrupt, knows not the truth, cares nothing about the truth, and in fact boldly proclaims that we live in the day and age of:POST TRUTH.Our leaders, almost all know more than mere politicians, power, money, and fame- hungry individuals seem to care little or nothing about the truth. They lie to us with impunity. Many pastors do the very same thing by perverting the Word of God, watering down hard scriptural truth, and failing to set the truthful and moral example which this world of ours so desperately needs. The lie, the lack of truth, pervades business, even the medical world, education, and in fact almost every aspect of our society. The lie goes on in both word and deed. Hypocrisy, saying one thing and doing another, seems part of our everyday life. We exaggerate, and we compromise. We would rather be liked than tell the hard truth or stand up, tall and strong, for what we believe. We seem to have little regard for the conspiracy factor, that we may be equally guilty of not dealing with the lie, the false, the hypocritical, when it is our spiritual duty to do so. The journey to know, believe, and tell the truth is long and difficult indeed, is it not?So often, to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, straight and without exaggeration is unpopular and such a person is often disliked. Recall how hated Jesus of Nazareth was when he confronted, challenged, and convicted so many with the message of the eternal gospel. But he boldly proclaimed himself to be the truth and he told all humankind that to know Him (Me) was to know the truth and that truth would make any believing person:FREE.Free from guilt, free from sin, free from inhibitions, weakness, and anger, FREE! And that freedom would give us courage, courage to stand for the truth so that we would not be ashamed or afraid, or anxious, or intimidated. Rather, we would be confident, actualized, energized, and filled with the Holy Spirit who would give us the words, structure the beliefs within us and make us the new creatures our Lord intended, his disciples who would joyfully pursue the journey of truth lifelong. That same Holy Spirit, the spirit of truth, would govern our conscience, structure our mind and our thinking, and live inside as a warning system. That same Holy Spirit would be our guide, our leader in:KNOWING THE TRUTH.That very same truth which would make us free.So, the answer to Pilate’s question WHAT IS TRUTH? Is provided in a nutshell by our Lord. Jesus said:I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE.To know him, really know Him, is the only real way to really know THE TRUTH. As you grow in the knowledge, belief, and love of your Savior, you come to know the truth in the most ultimate and satisfying way, and HE is the end goal of our ultimate journey in the search for truth. The more He lives within your heart, the more you know the truth. There is nothing more wonderful in life than to live the life of truth. No matter this world, the lie of Satan which seems to pervade everything, and almost everyone, you can know the truth, and that truth, that ultimate truth, is contained in two words:JESUS CHRIST.

The Resurrection

Do you believe that the Resurrection happened?That a man, Jesus of Nazareth, actually rose from the dead, do you? We celebrate this unnatural, God – motivated event, the greatest in human history next week. But again, do you actually believe that this Resurrection, physically, bodily actually happened?The Apostle Paul says that if you do not believe, then your faith is in vain. That is, if this Resurrection never really happened, Christianity is predicated on a false premise, no better than any other so called religion and in fact maybe worse. Unless Jesus Christ rose from the dead, He was no more than a good moral teacher, and perhaps more magician than miracle worker and by no means the Savior of the World. Again, the words of the Apostle Paul:IF CHRIST BE NOT RISENYOUR FAITH IS IN VAINBut he did. So we believe, and in fact base our lives, our future fortunes on this miraculous event. But Christian faith is based on:THE EMPTY TOMB.Witnesses saw him. They touched him. They heard him speak. They dined with him, another supper after THE LAST SUPPER. They listened to him, heard his voice and believed. They saw an ascension. They felt the power of God the Father in his person. And if ever there was doubt, it was gone. And all who believed could say with the Apostle Paul:FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST!The power of this Resurrection consumed them, became them and out they went to testify, to witness, boldly proclaim, never the same again and wishing the same for others. The power of the resurrected Christ, the coming of the Holy Spirit produced a movement among mankind never before and never like it again. They went, these empowered believers:INTO ALL THE WORLD TO PREACH THIS GOSPELto the Jew first and then to the Gentile. But to all men and women everywhere.But think of this man, this carpenter from Nazareth whose ministry was a short some three years before his Crucifixion. He was a worker of MIRACLES. He, the God – man, was possessed with power over nature. He commanded the seas, he raised the dead, he healed the sick, he restored sight but all of that, miraculous as it may be, was not enough.He was a great teacher, endowed with divine wisdom. His teachings, those parables would live ‘til the end of time. He brought a special divine wisdom. But that was not enough.He introduced a new social order. John the Baptist came fasting but HE came eating and drinking. He came that our joy, the happiness of the new believer should be full. That life in HIM should be merry, abundant for the earth was his and he gave it to us. But that was not enough.Some who came before him did these things. And so, for him to be special, one-of-a-kind, GOD WITH US, there came the trial by heathen men. Then came THE CRUCIFIXION, that horrible, brutal, excruciatingly painful death on the cross and the shedding of all that innocent blood. There had to come that event of NO GREATER LOVE. For we were taught in that Crucifixion that there is no greater love than that a man or a woman should lay down his or her life for someone else, for a friend. THAT WAS NECESSARY, the shedding of the blood of this innocent man for the REMISSION of all sin. The Crucifixion, this supreme redemptive act was absolutely necessary for without it, all that HE was or did was not enough.The blood of a sinless man must be shed in remission of the sins of sinful men.Even he, on that cross, felt forsaken even as we at times do. But this radical, lifechanging event was absolutely necessary in order to change the course of human history, to change the nature of all mankind. Think of all that the next time you partake of the wine and the bread.I often wonder about this man, this carpenter from Nazareth. Sinless was he, so we are told and believe, but a man nonetheless. I wonder about his humanity, what he looked like, how he acted, his personality, his ability to laugh and cry. We know he wept but we can only assume he laughed, because he loved the joy of life. We know his heavy heart and enlightened mind, his teachings serious and weighty. But surely he laughed, saw the humor in life and in mankind for his teaching parables can often be ironic or even sardonic. We can perhaps believe that even as he loved mankind, surely he laughed at their hypocrisy and pretenses.Was he, I wonder, subject to headaches, or on occasion a stomach upset. Surely he was tired. We were told he could be angry which means he ran the gamut of human emotions. I wonder how often he bathed or who may have trimmed his hair. I wonder how he prayed in all those private moments when he was alone with his FATHER. I would trade any of the four gospels for a recording of his thoughts and words in private, with his disciples, in prayer, comments on sunsets, or howling winds, or even the sporting events of the time. How wonderful it would be to know more about this MAN, this carpenter from Nazareth who was crucified for the sins of the world.But then he died. And the earth shook. The sun hid its face. One Joseph of Arimathea took his dead body and laid it in a tomb, over and done for every man before or since.But not this one. For then came the third day:EASTER.The greatest day in the history of mankind. RESURRECTION DAY. UP FROM THE GRAVE HE AROSE. And so we celebrate Easter and we who believe in the Resurrection say boldly to all mankind:HE IS NOT HEREHE IS RISEN!The natural man receives not these things of the Spirit. They are folly, mythological, just flat out untrue. From dust you came, says this natural man and to dust you will return and there will be no more. Not so, says the carpenter from Nazareth, the resurrected Christ of Glory, NOT SO. Even as I rose up from the grave, SO WILL YOU! Those who believe in me will live with me eternally. You are wrong, natural man, dead wrong for you have failed to understand or believe in the greatest event in human history. But the natural man continues to say that CHRIST IS NOT RISEN, and the natural man laughs at Christians and with a look in the eye boldly says:YOUR FAITH IS IN VAIN!Ah, but not so says the Christ of Glory. I am by the power of God alive and I have triumphed over death and the grave. And so will you if you believe in the crucified Christ and the resurrected Christ of Glory. It is as the philosopher and theologian Pascal said the supreme wager in all of life:Do you believe in the resurrected Christ or not?You will make the wager of a natural man or a spiritual man. You will BELIEVE or you will not.Do you believe, do you believe in that Resurrection? If you do, and you should, then your faith is not in vain.

Easter

Up the carpenter went to Jerusalem, a very special man soon to be crucified and then, in mighty triumph, wondrously resurrected from the dead.He dined with his disciples, a last loving supper with them to celebrate his body and his blood. The communion, the meaning of the Living Christ had begun.They found him, the Romans and the Sanhedrin did, they tried him, found him guilty although no man so convicted had ever been more innocent and sentenced him to death, the cruelest and most brutal death possible, a public crucifixion.They nailed him to that wooden cross. Ironic is it not that a man who lived and worked with wood died on wood.But before he died he uttered unforgettable words:MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?WHY?Stunning, shocking words, almost impossible to believe. Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of Glory, the SON of the Living God believed that this God the Father had forsaken him! It is impossible to know how he felt, how awful that death must have been for him. For, in that crucial moment, when worlds collided, when heaven and earth met in a tumultuous and cataclysmic way, when the most powerful earthshaking event in all of human history was about to take place, the one whose life was taken so that he could give life to all others felt forsaken! He felt abandoned by the God who sent him for this mission. He was in that sense like us, a man, a human being with emotions and feelings as we have. On that cross, he was like us.And it was in that dark moment as though God had departed, forsaken this man. It might well have been that this holy God could not look upon the ultimate and tragic event. For on that cross, in the blood and body of that person, in that death unto sin were in fact the sins of the world, all of them and all of ours. Perhaps God had in fact withdrawn until that ultimate act was finished and when done, there would be propitiation, remission, which would take away the sins of the world. Perhaps the agony, suffering and meaning of that event needed to occur all by itself.Our Lord knew what would happen. He knew what he would have to do, what God required him to do, what his mission was. And yet, he asked as a man:LET THIS CUP PASS FROM MESaying, in effect that he could only wish that he would not have to go through this monstrous ordeal. But then came the realization, that eternal realization that it was not up to him, whether or not this fate, this mission would go away and he uttered the ultimate words of submissions:NOT MY WILL BUT YOUR WILL BE DONE, FATHERThis crucifixion I endure because you would have me do it.And so our Lord, the carpenter who made living things from wood was to die on a deadly wooden cross. He would die in pain, excruciating pain, in agony, awful agony. He would die exposed physically, body naked and mutilated and subject to ridicule. He would die with ultimate humiliation, mocked by so many. He would die blood, sweat and tears everywhere, the worst possible death the Romans could deliver. And all the time innocent, guilty of:NOTHINGSmall wonder he said:LET IT PASS, PLEASE LET IT PASS!And so he died, the blood, the remission for our sins, for us complete. But, on that third day came the most miraculous, wondrous event this world of ours has ever known. There came on that third day the resurrection, the back-to-life of Jesus Christ, our living Savior and the Prince of Glory. From that brutalized dead body of a carpenter came the resurrected and risen Savior of the world. The power, the ultimate universal power of God Almighty at work.The tomb where he was buried was empty and that is the CRUX of Christianity. If Christ be not risen, says Apostle Paul, then our Christian faith is in vain, worthless. Of all men we who believe in a Christ not risen are most miserable. Then we are of all men deceived and spiritually deranged. Christianity says Paul without the risen Christ is worthless. Yet it seems so difficult to believe. Coming back to life after death is just simply not humanly possible. Except that, ALL THINGS are possible with God, all things including the resurrection of the dead. But the tomb was empty, no body found, as witnessed 2,000 years ago by three women Mary, Mary Magdalene and Salome. They came to this tomb of Joseph of Arimathea to anoint the body of the crucified Christ only to find the messenger of God, an angel who pronounced the three most important words for every believer in the risen Christ:HE IS RISENGo and tell, the disciples, and Peter, and start the spread of that Gospel, the good news to all mankind the world over. Hallelujah and praise the Lord.So we sing on Easter Sunday:CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY!HALLELUJAH!Let us sing with praise and worship for that man tried and convicted, crucified, dead and buried was in fact, hallelujah, raised from the dead, resurrected by the power of God, eternal life in him and because of our belief in him, eternal life for us.We know, we believe that Christ is risen and we who are Christian are one with him. We pray that the love and forgiveness of the Christ of Calvary shall be the portion, the salvation of all mankind even as we sing in praise now and for eternity:CHRIST THE LORD IS RISENHALLELUJAH!

The Cross

That, says the scriptures, THE CROSS is an:OFFENSE.The meaning, the thought, the application of the cross is indeed an offense to the NATURAL MAN. That is, the man or woman who has no belief in Christianity. This natural person, man or woman, is offended by the notion of the cross. In fact, this anti-Christian person is offended by anything about the cross, including the blood of Jesus Christ.For Christians, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, was the act of the son of God who laid down his life for mankind, for the sins of man and woman, and without, says the scriptures, this shedding of blood there is:NO REMISSION FOR SIN.None at all.But the concept of sin generally and the need of humankind to accept that propitiation for sin is offensive, even mythological. Some critics, atheistic, even go so far as to call the crucifixion and the shedding of blood:BARBARIC.They go back to the Old Testament, to the very book of Genesis, where there was a sacrifice of an animal, the shedding of that animal’s blood as atonement, remission for sins, declaring that to be barbaric as well. But, again, for Christians, without the shedding of blood, the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, there is no remission for sins, none at all. Sin and blood, and of course crucifixion, say the natural man and woman, is ridiculous mythology and stokes the passions of these anti-Christians in this day and age, perhaps as never before.But sin, the coming short of the glory of God is indeed a reality. In fact, it is everywhere in deed and in heart. Evil is a reality, and there really is no cure for it, except ONE! And that is the saving grace of our Lord clearly manifested to us at Calvary, Golgotha, THE CROSS. Thank God for the cross and Christ!Jesus of Nazareth was tried before Pilate, and the verdict was:I FIND NO FAULT IN HIM!But the mob cried out:CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY HIM!Pilate, politician that he was, honored the tradition of the time, to release a prisoner to them and Pilate chose Barrabus over Jesus, so much for justice.To Calvary, he went. Weakened as he was, Simon of Cyrene was conscripted by the Romans to carry the cross of Christ and the Golgathan drama began. Nails were driven into his hands and feet, and there he hung, suffering, parched with a terrible thirst, the crown of thorns on His head causing his blood to drip and his spirit to yearn for the end. He felt all alone, even abandoned by His Father, as he took upon himself the sins of the world, of you and me. In that lonely state, he cried out:MY GOD, MY GOD WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?But then, mercifully, it was over. And his parting words were:IT IS FINISHED!That ultimate act of redemption was accomplished once and for all, for all mankind, for you and for me. There were those at the time who saw the event, witnessed the horrible act of Roman crucifixion, and watched the innocent Jesus of Nazareth suffer. They witnessed his body taken down from that cross, and the man Joseph, wrapping it in fine linen and laying the precious body of Jesus Christ in that very own and special tomb.That was Friday, but then came Sunday. On the third day, this son of the living God, with the power of God, rose from the dead, and accomplished the greatest event in human history:THE RESURRECTION.Up from the grave he arose, with a mighty triumph or’e his foes. He arose the victor from the dark domain, and he lives forever with his saints to reign. Blessed are we, by the millions and millions, who have never seen but who believe, nonetheless.BLESSED ARE WE!And we are indeed, for Gentile and Jew, anyone for that matter, all humankind, can have the incredible benefits of the crucifixion and the resurrection, a life of reconciliation here and life eternal there. Death is destroyed, for there now is no more death. We who believe will live eternally with Him so that the life we now live is redeemed, cleansed, and forgiven by His BLOOD. And we will be raised like HIM in our very own resurrection morning to know HIM and to live eternally with HIM.Thank God for that third day. Life here and now is one of joy, unspeakable rejoicing, praise, worship, and thanksgiving because of this great offense, the cross of Jesus Christ, the crucifixion, and the resurrection.So, my fellow Christians, on Easter Sunday and every other day, may we praise God for Jesus of Nazareth, and:THANK GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT!

Jesus & Hollywood

Hollywood is increasingly finding Jesus - and the results could be profound.Those are the words of Billy Hallowell, writer for the interesting publication THE WASHINGTON TIMES.Finding Jesus in the world of Hollywood can always be suspect for such a finding may be superficial and could be the finding of a Hollywood Jesus and not a Biblical Jesus. Nonetheless, it can be hoped that the real Jesus, Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus the Christ of Glory is what is being discovered by Hollywood and Hollywood-ers and that the corrupt culture of Hollywood, and the entertainment business generally, may in fact, at least to some extent, be:BORN AGAIN.What a blessing that would be, would it not?Coming out of Hollywood and the entertainment world, says Hallowell, is an “agonizing stream of debauchery and hedonism.” Indeed, it is, and if that stuff is not aggressively anti-Christian, it at least cares nothing about morality, much less Christian values. Perhaps there is a revival of some sort in Hollywood, and maybe the entertainment world and business generally, and we who believe in the real Jesus Christ can only hope that such a revival and Christian enlightenment can be based on strong and solid biblical truth, fostered by the Holy Spirit, and result in real transformation, not only of the individual but the industry itself. How good that would be.We can only hope and pray that the so-called stars, actors and actresses who wish to be famous by the tens and tens of thousands, can indeed have a real born-again experience, experience real salvation, and bring to the entertainment field the love, charity, and sense of forgiveness which only true Christianity can offer. That and only that would really make a difference. And I for one do pray that that is the Jesus which this so-called new Hollywood is finding. If so, the results could as Hallowell says, really be profound and work for real change in what is probably otherwise a god-less industry.Our culture does indeed reel with division, hatred, mistrust, and anger. If we can find leaders, men and women of character, faith, and real morality, that indeed would make a great difference in our once-great country.So many of these actors and entertainers have indeed achieved fame, notoriety, and of course money, and the more of that, the less it seems of meaning and value. So many actors, entertainers, sports figures, and personalities of all sorts, keep looking and hoping until there is a real finding of the ultimate happiness, Jesus of Nazareth. Faith and belief in Him, the salvation provided by Him, is the ultimate answer, the ultimate happiness, and it would be wonderful indeed if the entertainment world would find the REAL HIM.One of the problems the people in this industry face is that the Call of the Christ echoes loud with a summons to not be of this world, but to be transformed. To be a real Christian says the scripture, is to be in the world but not of the world. Hollywood inhabitants do not seem willing to place their all on the altar, to be willing to give up fame, fortune, money, power, influence, and stardom to follow the babe of Bethlehem and the carpenter of Nazareth. But that is evidence of real faith and that is the only way that their lives can be transformed and the industry in which they live itself can be transformed.Recently, Hollywood has produced some very interesting Christian respectful and Jesus-oriented movies and other products of a higher moral order. What example is the film:JESUS REVOLUTION.To the astonishment of Hollywood executives and businesspersons, that film was a box office hit, drew strong reviews, and made very good money. That, said Hallowell, sent “shockwaves” through Hollywood.Then there is also the TV series:THE CHOSENthat is cinematography well done, copy and storylines which are in virtually every way biblically authentic, and well watched by millions of viewers. If such programming does in fact honor Jesus Christ in a real and uncompromising way, thank God and thank Hollywood. That would mean more of this programming being produced and made available. If that in any way spreads the gospel and results in the salvation of souls, again PRAISE THE LORD. Hallowell firmly believes there is a real revival in Tinsel Town and he may be right.Now comes our celebration of Easter, the crucifixion and the resurrection of our Lord, the real Jesus, and I for one do hope and pray that anything which comes from Hollywood which in fact respectfully and lovingly represents the real biblical Jesus would be of enormous value to our angry, hate-filled, and divisive country at this critical moment in time. Jesus states clearly that HE is the way, the truth, and the life. It is HE who has come to give us life more abundant, that our joy might be full, that our rejoicing may be great in Him and that true and real happiness can only be found in Him. Amen. Amen and I hope you feel and believe the very same way, do you?Hollywood has always been ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, perhaps even anything too moral, never acknowledging the fact that this gospel is the power of God unto salvation and the only force in this world which can really transform in a fundamental and eternal way the lives of human beings. If anything, ANYTHING in Hollywood can be changed, born again, and its self-produced change for the better, may God be praised. We should pray indeed that Hollywood and its inhabitants, the actors and actresses of the world, continue on the path to find the real Jesus so that indeed as Hallowell well states:THE SPIRITUAL RESULTS CAN BE PROFOUND!

The Nones

What a joy it is to be a Christian, a real Christian. A biblically based Christian. A Christian who believes as a life-long credo:FOR BY GRACE ARE YOU SAVED THROUGH FAITHAND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES,IT IS THE GIFT OF GODNOT OF WORKSLEST ANY MAN OR WOMAN SHOULD BOAST.That, my friends, is the real gospel, simply put as the real gospel is. The grace of God is almost undefinable, without boundaries, limits, magnificent, perhaps the chief characteristic of God the Father Almighty.The faith that saves NONES, is a simple one as well. It is faith just like that of a little child. Children, the strongest evidence of what faith means, loving, trusting, hopeful, single-minded, uncompromising, and unconfused. That is the kind of faith by which salvation occurs and lasts a lifetime. What a shame that child-like biblical faith is challenged, so often not preached in the pulpit, and is exactly what the NONES need and are undoubtedly looking for.I have little confidence in surveys, surveys of any kind, the best a survey can do is highlight an issue, a problem, a way of thinking, but when sampling the opinions of a few hundred people leads to conclusions drawn sometimes for millions, the inadequacies and inaccuracies of those conclusions are painfully evident. Now comes the most recent Pew poll.The more educated those NONES were, those who are so-called atheists or agnostics, that is the more intellectual the none-believer was as a result of education, the more it seems they believed in themselves, their own thinking, their own determination of truth, and ultimate values (if any) and the less they were willing to accept the absolute truth of any religion, and especially the gospel of Jesus Christ. The educated were more critical. They were especially critical of religious institutions, churches, denominations, and what they termed overly zealous religious people, whatever that means. These NONES thought the pulpit was weak, pastors compromised, and the power of the message missing. In many cases, they were probably right about that, but instead of looking around that, or deeper into the truth of the gospels, they simply wrote off religion and any concept of salvation, especially salvation by grace and faith. Rather than the God and the Christ of the Bible, these so-called educated NONESconstructed their own version of GOD, which had little or no relationship or similarity to the God of the Bible. They chose for themselves what they wanted to believe and discarded the rest. They happily acknowledge the fact that we live in the age of POST-TRUTH, the end of the age of absolute truth and the end of any kind of formal religion with claims to such a truth. These new NONES were part of the WOKE generation and they relished their easy god and their very own made-up religion. They embraced the fact that this new wokeness had strong elements of Marxism and although anything from the pen of Marx was totally contrary to the truth of the gospel, incorporated those Marxist generalities into their religious thinking and beliefs. Nothing could be more anti-Christian, REAL CHRISTIANITY and it is nothing more than a brand new and powerful insidious way in which the powers of evil attack the powers of righteousness and those with simple, child-like, bible-believing faith approach their beliefs.Paul reminds us that these end times will bring forth many false teachers, false beliefs, compromises to the real gospel, and challenges to the concept of salvation by faith through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is happening big time, my fellow Americans and fellow Christians. Avoid it and them like the plague.Many believe that the church has become infected with theological liberalism, woke-ism, even Marxism, all of which denied the resurrection, the bible’s authority, miracles, the virgin birth, and salvation by faith. Reconstruction and redefinition are the new rages with regard to religion generally and especially and hurtfully, the very real and wonderful Christian church. As one theologian said:‘MILLIONS OF CHRISTIANS HAVE GOTTEN DISILLUSIONED WITH CHURCHES, RELIGIOUS LEADERS, AND PASTORS WHO ARE CLEARLY ABANDONING THE BIBLE.”What people want, and especially the NONES, is truth, loving truth. Searchers for this loving truth, this real truth, want more than anything:AUTHENTICITY.The real, the real gospel. Real truth, uncompromised. So many in this generation hunger for faith, hope, and love, all of which are the essential components of the gospel of Jesus Christ. To know HIM is to know Truth, absolute truth. And there He is, ready to be known, accepted, and believed in. What an opportunity to present the gospel to this incredibly compromised, needy, day and age.David Closson, of FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL, said the following:WE DON’T NEED TO DRESS THE GOSPEL UP. WE DON’T NEED THE LIGHT SHOW, THE ROCK BANDS. I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN GOSPEL (AN UNDERSTATEMENT TO BE SURE). AND IF CHURCHES AND CHRISTIANS REALLY PUSH INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES, I THINK THEY WOULD FIND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE READY TO HEAR THE GOSPEL AND TO RESPOND TO IT.Amen. Go ye into all this generation with the power of the gospel, the real gospel, and watch, you just watch the real results, the saving results which will be produced by your life and your testimony by:THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD ALMIGHTY!

The Chatbot and The Church

Inevitable, was it not my fellow Christians, that artificial intelligence, the so-called AI would step into the pulpit?This people-replacer, so say the experts, can be either friend or foe. It can either be an aid to the pastor in terms of preparation and time, like the concordance, the wrap-opt, the microphone, and existing sophisticated bible research software; or say the foes, AI can actually write the sermon for the pastor. If the sermon originates from a non-human source, why bother to go to church at all?The potentiality for AI use can be addictive to any pastor, to any Christian preparing materials looking for a shortcut, unwilling to invest the time for real human preparation, a God-required responsibility of any pastor, at least to this point. It is, in the words of one Jared Bridges, where:AI IS COMING FOR YOUR PASTOR!The real problem occurs when this brand-new technology doesn’t nearly aid the pastor in doing his responsible preaching, but instead does it for him! To be sure, AI indeed saves time, and to some, that saved preparation time can allow the pastor to “reroute that time to other ministry goals.”One pastor stated:‘When I need examples or applications for a sermon, I go to ChatGPT for ideas.”Having been called upon generative AI can produce applications for a sermon, not from a mind and heart dedicated to the things of the Lord but from the code base and algorithm of the AI chatbot itself. So, the question may be, is the chatbot born again, has the chatbot experienced salvation, is the chatbot led and influenced in preparing the materials by the Holy Spirit, does the chatbot have a soul, does the chatbot pray and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit before it tells the pastor what to say?So then, if any pastor, any preacher was to use AI methodology in sermon preparation, in outline, priorities, applications, and illustrations, that is a shortcut which allows them to avoid hard work, the hard work of preparation, the pouring of a spiritually led, Holy Spirit led heart and mind to the testimony to be given to those who hear. Says the scripture, study to show yourself approved, laymen and pastor. Study don’t shortcut. Be a workman or woman for God. WORK! Work in preparation for the delivery of the sacred Word of God to a congregation entrusted to you. Then and only then will that workman, the Lord’s workman never be ashamed of anything written or prepared, delivered in the power of the gospel to those who hear. There are no shortcuts in the work of the Lord, NONE!The more AI is used, the more a pastor trusts a soul-less AI with known biases to interpret the meaning of the Word of God. By its very title, ARTIFICIAL, much of what AI produces is indeed soul-less, a matter of fact, and any sensitive hearer of the word can discern the fact that the material does not come from the heart and mind of a human being nor does it contain the real wisdom, love, and emotional impact of the Holy Spirit. There is absolutely no way that a chatbot can interpret the real meaning, the real spirituality of the Word of God, NO WAY!But that doesn’t stop the founders of Pastors.ai, or ChatGPT, or SermonAI among others. They continue to produce materials, outlines, suggestions, illustrations, and applications drawn from sources everywhere and unknown. But the sites always produce the following disclaimer:‘Since an AI generates these thesis statements and outlines, please use them with caution. Notably, AI likes to make things up so don’t trust anything it says at face value.”So, that is the bottom line. In sermon preparation, pastor, AI is untrustworthy, and should not be taken at face value, so perhaps the real issue is not don’t trust it, but the real issue is:DON’T USE IT!To be sure, AI can write sermons. They can do the work of a pastor however worthy or trustworthy. In fact, with sermon.ai, the sermon it can write for the pastor is written at the level of an honorary doctorate, so they say. In fact, AI has the capability of writing that very sermon in a different voice. It uses the illustration of voicing that sermon in the voice of none other than:BILLY GRAHAM.Can you believe that? If I were Franklin Graham of the Billy Graham organization, I would get the lawyers ready to stop that nonsense.So, my fellow Christians, do we want a sermon prepared by a machine or a human being empowered by the Holy Spirit of God, which? AI simply cannot do the soul-transforming work required of a real sermon honoring our Lord. Machine sermons cannot fully bless a congregation and this shortcut for the pastor severely curtails his own spiritual development. Lose-lose, don’t you think?There are no shortcuts in the work of the Lord. We need to fight the fight to the end, run the race to the finish line, press on for the prize, work for the night is coming, study to show ourselves approved, and in all of that, in the call of our Lord, there are no:SHORTCUTS.We the Christians, the congregations must hold our preachers to a much higher standard, a standard which is set and strengthened by a heart generated by love and grace and not generative AI, not generated by a prompt. We need heart-open pastors, not automated ones, not spokesmen weak in the flesh but mighty in the scriptures. We need the power of the Holy Spirit in sermons, not the applications and prompts of AI. Another sign of the end times, don’t you think?So, pastor, we your congregations, say study to show yourself approved, be a workman rightly dividing the word of truth. Spend the time in the book and the things of the Lord and teach us sermon after sermon of HIS faith, hope, and love.

Study Thinking

Study to show yourself approved unto God. Workmen and workwomen who know what they’re talking about, know what and in whom they have believed, and consequently are not ashamed because they really know how to understand, digest, and explain the precious INSPIRED WORD OF GOD:OUR BIBLE!What a pleasure, what a privilege, to be a Christian, especially in this dark day and age. Christian faith does not only make us a life better, but in itself is that which is:DIFFERENT AND BETTER THAN ANYTHING ELSE,anything else in this life. So, to learn more about it, to become a better, more knowledgeable Christian, intellectually and spiritually, should be priority number one in our life.

Love

LOVE IS THE GREATEST.Even greater than faith, or hope, or any other thing.We celebrate the love of Valentine’s Day and appropriately so. That loving celebration is fun, romantic, even emotional. It is a day set aside once to live love and to express our love to all, but especially so to someone special.Love is a word difficult of definition. In fact, it has many component parts. Love is complex, defining itself, manifesting itself in so many different ways. But love is a force without which we can not live, or live right. It is the stuff of life, and without it, life is mere existence, sterile and harsh. Love is the force, the resource of God, an energy which produces the highest and best relationships with OTHERS, and, as we love ourselves, allows us to live life at its highest levels.TO LOVE AND TO BE LOVED IS THE GREATEST HAPPINESS OF EXISTENCE. So said Sydnie Smith.Love out and in is a daily process which produces the greatest happiness. It does indeed. Nothing feels better than to give love, share love, and experience love. NOTHING.If you had no one to love, you would never be hurt. But, you would never grow. You would never venture outside your own self-centered needs and perceptions. Your heart would never be cracked open so that God could enter it. To love and love unconditionally is to take risks, and especially the risk of rejection. But nothing energizes and cleanses like love.Profound words about love by a poet unknown. To love another, large or small, is the only real way that one can grow as a human being. The risk of loving produces the risk of hurt but even hurt toughens and matures love. The risk of loving another allows one to VENTURE OUTSIDE and to experience. Doing that allows your very own heart to be CRACKED OPEN so that love in its purest sense could enter, that is God Himself. Loving is always risky, and especially the risk of rejection. Rejection hurts but it is part of the loving process. The risk of love is worth it because nothing energizes like love, and nothing cleanses like love, NOTHING.Charles Dickens said that a loving heart is the truest wisdom. Knowing life at its best, the most real and the truest wisdom can only be produced by a loving heart, a heart cracked open and wanting more love.Robert Schuller said that in the presence of love, miracles happen. Love itself is amiracle and the loving miracle produces other miracles. Miracles can and shouldhappen more often and they can and will happen when:LOVE IS AT WORKTrue love allows us insight, real insight into the character and persona of another:“BECAUSE I LOVE YOU, I CATCH GLIMPSES OF THE YOU GOD CREATED, THETRUE YOU. I SEE YOUR IMPERFECTIONS AND FAILURES, BUT I CHOOSE TO SEEPAST THEM TO THE REAL YOU. LOVE CREATES A PLACE WHERE YOU ARE FREETO BECOME YOUR COMPLETE SELF.”What a marvelous statement. Perhaps we can only really know another not completelybut only with glimpses and those glimpses made possible only because of love.We are all riddled with imperfections and failures, are we not? We can see past thingsin our desire to find the real person, the real you. Love breaks down those barriersand produces eyes that truly see.Benjamin Disraeli the great English Prime Minister said that:“WE ARE ALL BORN TO LOVE. IT IS THE PRINCIPLE OF ITS EXISTENCE AND ITSONLY END.”Born to love, genetic, all that we really are, the very highest principle itself of existence.And, its only end, like the highest and greatest spiritual commandment that we shouldlove the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength and our neighboras ourselves. In fact, we are known as Christians, followers of the Christ:IF YOU HAVE LOVE ONE FOR ANOTHERLove said another is tough, practical, and active. Love is washing the kitchen floorover and over again. Love is scrubbing the toilet and doing the laundry. Love is takingout the garbage and cleaning the refrigerator. Love is smiling when you are tired,finding reasons to laugh even when you are angry, volunteering for a dirty job, workinghard, and making the world a better place.Powerful and profound. Indeed, love is practical. Love is very much in the scrubbingof the toilet. Love is there from the one who takes out the garbage. Love indeeddelights in the dirty jobs for when you do for the least of these, you do it unto HIM.And yet more insight into the God of all love:GOD SAYS TO US, IN LOVE, I HOLD YOU IN MY MIND. I REMEMBER YOU. I HOLDALL OF THE PIECES OF YOU. THE PAST WOUNDS AND THE PRESENT. AND INLOVE, I KNIT THEM TOGETHER INTO THE PERSON I LOVE, THE PERSON ICREATED TO GIVE ME JOY:YOU.Held are we in the mind of God, remembering us even as we remember Him, all of ourvarious pieces, wounds, wrongs, and problems no matter. God knits them togetherand all become the mosaic, the person God loves, the individual and special you.Love frees us of the weight and pain of life! True love always lightens life’s heaviestburdens. True love is a force far more powerful than the weapons of any enemy.Life is a flower of which love is the honey, so said Victor Hugo. Love is knit into thevery cells of our bodies. It is written into our DNA. It is encoded in the chemicals thatmake plants green. It is that which makes the sky blue, the substance of the song ofthe birds in summer, the whisper of the wind in the trees, the silence of the snow as itfalls. Love is the voice of God calling to us endlessly and passionately through all HISmarvelous creation.There is no fear in love. Perfect love drives out fear. The more one loves, the less thereis of which to be afraid. Love secures and drives our insecurity. Love at work is themost powerful force and energy of all.Take away love, said Robert Browning, and our earth is a tomb. Without love, life islike dead, lifeless, even meaningless. And, if you wish to be loved, LOVE. Any timethat is not spent on love is time wasted.True love is a durable fire in the mind ever-burning, never sick, never old, never dead,from itself never turning, so said Sir Walter Raleigh. The durable fire of love burnsunquenchable, always alive, always energizing.The great artist Vincent Van Gogh said:“THE HEART THAT LOVES IS ALWAYS YOUNG. LOVE IS A MARVELOUSBEAUTIFIER. LOVE IS ART AT WORK. I ALWAYS THINK THAT THE BEST WAY TOKNOW GOD IS TO LOVE MANY THINGS.”Indeed, all of art is love at work and there really can be no great art without love. Itbeautifies and brings out the best in everything.Here, the words of Thomas Merton:“THE BEGINNING OF LOVE IS TO LET THOSE WHO LOVE BE PERFECTLYTHEMSELVES, AND NOT TO TWIST THEM TO FIT OUR OWN IMAGE. OTHERWISE,WE LOVE ONLY THE REFLECTION OF OURSELVES WE FIND IN THEM.”The more we are perfectly ourselves, living to our highest and best, the more andbetter of us there is.Love cures people, the ones who give it and the ones who receive it. Love conquers allthings, so said the ancient poet, Virgil.Love allows us to believe so fully and firmly in God even when He is silent!The great thinker-theologian Soren Kierkegaard profoundly stated that when one hasonce fully entered the realm of love, the world, no matter how imperfect becomes richand beautiful. It consists solely of opportunities for love.It is love, said Thomas Mann, not reason that is stronger than death. And that love,stronger than and which conquers death is the love of the Christ on the cross and theresurrection which followed.To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others, said Francois Mauriac. Life isreplete with invisible miracles which can only be revealed by love at work.If you love somebody, tell them, so said Rod McKuen. The telling unleashes the energyand the power of love.The heart has its reasons which reason alone can not understand, so said the thinkerBlaise Pascal. Love is a dimension in life different from and beyond reason itself. Themore the mind the less the heart and consequently the less love. Reason no matterhow wise can never understand love.The great theologian Paul Tillich said that the first beauty of love is to listen. One wholoves wants to listen more than talk, listen to every word, every expression of thoughtand emotion which comes from the one loved. Listening, really listening in a caringway, may very well be the highest attribute of true love.For those who love, time is eternity. Love is God’s finger on man’s shoulder. Love islike a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To wake at dawn with awinged heart and to give thanks for another day of loving. Love is a symbol of eternity.It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of anend.Sir Alfred Lord Tennyson said:“TIS BETTER TO HAVE LOVED AND LOST THAN NEVER TO HAVE LOVED AT ALL.”Love indeed is risky, the risk of rejection but a life lived without true love is a life neverreally lived at all.I love you, says Anna Corbin, as you are, not as you wish to be. I love you for the realperson you are, not the imaginary perhaps I fantasize you could be. I love the real,amazing, utterly unique YOU.Love in the ultimate, unconditional, love so REAL.If you love until it hurts, really hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love saidthe wonderfully loving Mother Teresa. True love at work drives away the hurt.Looking back, said one, I have this to regret. That too often when I loved, I did not sayso. Love uncommunicated is love aborted. It is there but never shared. More time isspent judging people which leaves less time to love them.Zelda Fitzgerald said that nobody has ever measured, not even poets, how much lovethe heart can hold. There is no limit to love, none whatsoever. Love is there, alwaysand love takes up when knowledge leaves off. In fact, love is the supreme knowledge,superior to all else.Love’s greatest gift is its ability to make everything it touches sacred. Love at workproduces the holiest of the holies. The great English statesman William E. Gladstonesaid the following:“WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE TIME WHEN THE POWER OF LOVE WILL REPLACETHE LOVE OF POWER. THEN WILL OUR WORLD KNOW THE BLESSINGS OFPEACE. POWER KILLS LOVE AND WITHOUT LOVE, THERE IS NO PEACE. THERE ISNOTHING MORE POWERFUL BEFORE AND EVER AGAIN THAN LOVE.”The theologian Reinhold Niebuhr said the following:“WE ARE SAVED BY THE FINAL FORM OF LOVE, WHICH IS FORGIVENESS.FORGIVING AND FORGETTING ARE THE HIGHEST ACTS OF LOVE RESULTING INOUR SALVATION. THERE WAS ONE, YEARS AGO, DRIVEN TO THE CROSS BY THELOVE OF MANKIND PROVIDING IN HIS DEATH THE LIFE AND THE LOVE WE LEAD.THE CROSS WAS THE FINAL AND FORGIVING FORM OF LOVE.”The crucifixion of the Christ on the cross was indeed the ultimate act of love.The great writer C.S. Lewis said the following:“TO LOVE AT ALL IS TO BE VULNERABLE. LOVE ANYTHING AND YOUR HEARTWILL CERTAINLY BE WRUNG AND POSSIBLY BROKEN. LOVE BREAKS DOWN ALLBARRIERS, OPENS WIDE THE HEART, EXPOSES TRUE INNOCENCE AND RISKS THEWRINGING AND THE BREAKING OF THIS MORE PRIZED POSSESSION. REAL LOVEDEMANDS THIS, CONSTANTLY.”Sir Arthur Pinero said that “those who love deeply never grow old. They may die of oldage, but they die young at heart.”That deep love here and now is but a prelude to the perfect love there. In fact, they areone love contiguous and continuous. Love is both earthly and eternal. Love neverdies. For there is only one real happiness in life and that is to love and to be loved.The great writer Ralph Waldo Emerson said:“NEVER SELF-POSSESSED OR PRUDENT, LOVE IS ALL ABANDONMENT.”True love is pure risk, always. Love at work risks hurt to the self and rejection byanother. But the risk at work is what makes the word of love so special.Vulnerability, openness, risk but so great reward.Hear then the marvelous words of the great poet William Wordsworth:“A PERSON CAN BE SO CHANGED BY LOVE AS TO BE UNRECOGNIZABLE AS THESAME PERSON. LOVE TRANSFORMS, REGENERATES. LOVE PRODUCES CHANGE,EVERYWHERE AND IN EVERYONE. LOVE BETTERS WHAT IS BEST!”The great philosopher Plato said that love is the best friend of human kind, the helperand the healer of all ills that stand in the way of human happiness. In fact, love andcompassion are necessities, not luxuries and without them, humanity can not survive.And for some real definition of the word love, hear the words of Saint Augustine:“WHAT DOES LOVE LOOK LIKE? WHY, IT HAS HANDS TO HELP OTHERS. IT HASFEET TO HASTEN TO THE POOR AND NEEDY. IT HAS EYES TO SEE MISERY ANDWANT. IT HAS EARS TO HEAR THE SIGHS AND SORROWS OF HUMANKIND. THATIS WHAT LOVE LOOKS LIKE!”Amen and amen. Hands and feet at work, eyes and ears to see and hear human need.Love at work is what love really is.Love comes supreme and most innocently from a child. A child’s love is pure,uncomplicated, unconditional, fully trusting. Such innocence opens deep the world offeeling and emotion and it is a return to that childlike love and that ability to lovewhich alone can make complete the adult version of that child. May we all be wiseenough to return to the innocent love of a little child.And so my friends, my fellow Americans, we the Crawford Broadcasting Company wishyou all of the love possible on Valentine’s Day and during Valentine’s week. May lovein all its forms permeate your life and may you know the supreme love of the One wholaid down His life for you. Live love every day and know the real and true meaning oflife.And finally, the profound words of poet Emily Dickenson:“IF I CAN STOP ONE HEART FROM BREAKINGI SHALL NOT LIVE IN VAINIF I CAN EASE ONE LIFE THE ACHINGOR COOL ONE PAINOR HELP ONE FAINTING ROBININ TO HIS NEST AGAINI SHALL NOT LIVE IN VAIN!”Love is the greatest!

Love

The greatest of all things is LOVE.The greatest, says the Apostle Paul, agreed upon by the world’s greatest thinkers, artists and poets is:LOVELove is best.The Bible book 1 Corinthians 13 is Paul’s finest expression of love by far. Read and read again those marvelous apostolic definitions of love. One of the meanings of this powerful force is spiritual devotion, a reasoning, intentional spiritual devotion such as is inspired by God’s love for and in us. To really know what love is, says Paul, can only occur as a result of a meaningful (loving) relationship with God Almighty. The longer, the deeper the relationship, the more the meaning of love becomes clear.Love is good. In fact, good is defined by love. For no mere mortal can do good without love. One may intend to live right, perhaps following the Ten Commandments and other great moral precepts. But mere intention, the act of the will is not enough for it lacks the energy, the conviction, the power of LOVE.There really is no definition of love, no simple one. Words like affection, attachment, emotion, even ultimate feelings are inadequate. So, Paul says let’s begin by defining love as PATIENT. Love is longsuffering because love is eternal. We live in a world fundamentally impatient, Type A, a world of pressure and intensity. Life as it is in the 20th Century and the people who live that life cause us to be impatient, frustrated, even angry. But if one loves and lives by the power of love, one says Paul is PATIENT. That is, no matter the circumstances, one is patient because patience is inherent, a spiritual genetic component of one who loves.Love is kind, says the open-hearted Apostle Paul. Love is gentle, easy. It avoids meaningless confrontation and struggle. Love thinks on those things which are good in gentle ways, avoids strife and is slow to anger. Our world is hard, feisty and confrontational, so often without love. But love at work is the antidote to harsh things in life. That easy love soothes. It strokes. It forces its way into the heart and opens it. Love replaces the harsh with hugs. It cares about others first and about the things of God even more. There is no gentle or kind without love.Love, God’s love in us, does not insist on its own rights or its own way. Love is not self-seeking. The natural man without love is selfish, self-centered, and egotistical. A loving person is giving, open, and caring. These standards are extremely high, and virtually impossible for any human being to accomplish without, says Paul, the love of God.Love even allows us not to take account of the wrongs or evil done to us by others. Love allows us to forgive and forget. Love allows us to love an enemy rather than to seek vengeance. Love allows us to move past righting wrongs. We can lovingly forgive even as a loving God forgave us.Love rejoices when right and truth prevail. Real love is straight, a kind of tough love structured by what is right and true. Love deals with problems in the present, and deals with them straightforwardly as truth would have it. Love can discipline and correct in truth without hurting. True love never compromises. How wonderful and joyful it is to lovingly live in truth at all times. For to know the truth of love is to be set free and allows us to live a life rejoicing and praising.Love protects and defends. It guards the hearts and minds of the young. It trains up children in the way in which they should go. It shows them the way of the Lord, the path of righteousness. Love protects and defends home and family. Love guards against false prophets and the lie. Love tolerates no evil, only the good.Love is loyal, says Paul. Love is trustworthy and trusting. Love makes character predictable, reliable, steady, and dependable. Love produces bonds unbroken, full trust unto death.Real love, says Paul, always hopes for the best, especially the best in others. No matter the evil or inconsistencies in others, or the uncertainties in life, hope for the good is always love’s objective. Love, real love is contagious. In the presence of love, real love, others participate and share and begin to feel that real love themselves. Love at work creates the belief that all things will work together for good for those who love each other, and especially those who love God. That, says Paul, is an absolute truth for:LOVE NEVER FAILSIt endures now and for all eternity. It overcomes the greatest evils in this world which combined, can never destroy love.But the Apostle Paul in his great treatise 1 Corinthians 13 also tells us what love is NOT.Paul tells us that love is not talk no matter how eloquent. Words are not love and may even have difficulty communicating or defining love. No matter how eloquent the tongue, even the language of angels, words are like sounding brass and tinkling symbols, hollow and meaningless. Even, says Paul, if words are those of the angels themselves, they are worthless without love.And Paul says that even the gift of prophecy, knowing the future, discerning the divine will and purpose without love means nothing. Even moving mountains with all power and energy means nothing without love.One can not even give to the poor without love. One can not even be willing to die, offer a body to be burned, or lay down a life for another without love, for all such acts no matter how charitable are meaningless without love.Love is not envious. Love is not jealous of others, what they are or what they have. Love desires the best for everyone. Love rejoices when the best things happen to other people. Love never craves or lusts. It is content no matter the circumstances.Love is not controlling, says Paul. It lets go. It never holds on. Love never demands and always reasons with an open heart. Love is never possessive. Love is always ready to share, give and understand.And love never boasts or brags. Love is not proud or puffed up. Love has no ego. Love cares little for power, fame or possessions. Love is in the doing for by their loving fruits we shall know them. Love wishes to be known and loved by God and not man. Love reminds that it is not about me but about HIM.Love does not behave unseemly. Love allows one to live modestly, humbly and joyfully. Love builds and sustains character. Love has its own rules and standards, instinctive even genetic, which controls and directs behavior instinctively. By their fruits, by their actions, it is easy to know one who loves.Love is not easily angered says Paul. Not that one never gets angry, but that anger is slow to wrath. No tempers, no rages. Life can not be lived on the defense. Love calls for rational and reasonable responses and reactions, for a fiery tongue does nothing but damage. When one is possessed, and consumed by love, that loving person can not be easily provoked. Anger, even righteous anger does very little good.Perhaps so very importantly Paul reminds us that love does not keep any record of wrongs. We, the humans, have such long memories when things go wrong, when we are wronged. We may in some sense forgive, but it is so very difficult to forget. But love, says Paul, keeps no record of these wrongs, love has no balance sheet, no list of spiritual assets and liabilities. Love is owed nothing for all it gives, even for major acts of forgiveness. It requires no payback or retribution for any harm done, no matter the wrong. Love truly forgets and presses on for only the good things in life. Love holds no grudges, none whatsoever. There is no get-even, no aggression, nothing defensive about real love at work. Real love allows anyone to love an enemy, the worst of them no matter the wrongs, so says Paul. Love allows us to do good to those who persecute us, defame us, slander and abuse us. That is real love. Easy it is to throw up one's hands and say impossible, all of it just plain impossible. And perhaps all such things are impossible at the human level only, that is without the love of God at work in any life. We are told that God is love and the more of the love of God in our lives and hearts, the more we can live by love and in love. We now see imperfectly, we now understand love imperfectly, as Paul says, but we will know when we see the source of all love FACE TO FACE. Then we shall know that perfect love which passes all understanding. To stand in the HOLY PRESENCE, the source of all love is to know completely. Love is a process as is learning to love, here and now. But love will be fully completed in the dawn of that eternal day.And finally, Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 13 that there are three great things, the very best of all things in this life, namely:FAITHHOPELOVENo matter how important faith is, and it surely is, that is the conviction and belief with respect to man’s relationship to God and divine things, love is greater. And no matter how strong the force of hope, the joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation, as important as that is, love is greater.The greatest of all things is LOVE, that is, true affection for God and man, affection growing out of God’s love for and in us.The greatest of all things is love because LOVE NEVER FAILS!

The Godly Mind

SHOW YOURSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD.Those are the words of the Apostle Paul, inspired by the God for whom we should study, to his brother, his son Timothy.And to you and to me and to all.Once the heart is redeemed, cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, then comes the mind, the ability to think and to reason in a Godly way, on Godly Christ-like things and to learn how to train up that mind, make it fully effective, and use it to the best of your ability:FOR ALL THINGS GODLY AND CHRISTIAN.Many of us fail to do that. To train the mind, to really STUDY is difficult, time-consuming, a matter of real priority and commitment, difficult at first, especially when we begin to run the mental race and fight the mental fight of faith, which God requires.But there is no substitute for the study of scripture, none whatsoever. We cannot simply digest THE VERSE FOR THE DAY, or read a chapter a day as though it were enough. Daily devotionals may help but they seldom rise to the level of the scripture demand, the Godly demand, of real and true:STUDY.So, the scriptures tell us clearly that if we do not learn how to study those 66 books, our way, with the special and individual intellect which God has given us, each of us so very different, we will not be approved by God as worthy disciples functioning for HIM with all of our might, and to the best of our abilities. It is our Christian duty to learn how to think, to use the mind, to reason, to testify, to tell all what we believe, not as someone would, not as anyone else would, but the very best of us, you and me.We cannot be compared to another. Most of us are not scholars, theologians, biblical analysts, or teachers of the Word. We are lay people, saved by grace, therefore fully desirous of serving our Lord but only to the best of our individual talents, capabilities, and intellect. We are not the Apostle Paul, nor Billy Graham, nor the Pope, nor Charles Spurgeon. We are different. We have our own mission, our own priorities, our own abilities as God has given them. We study to show ourselves approved unto God interms of the abilities He has given us to do just that. THAT AND THAT ONLY, NO MORE!But we need to constantly learn how to THINK. Scripture tells us that it is our Christian duty to think on the good things in life, the good things offered to us by our Lord, the blessings, the positive, and to grow intellectually and spiritually, grow every day, to improve the mind, the brain, the ability to reason, which God has given us. So that, when the right opportunity arises for us, for you and me, we are ready, READY to give an answer, to explain who we are, what we believe, and why, and how we have been transformed. That, for most of us, is not standing behind a pulpit or on a street corner, or even necessarily talking to strangers. We can do all those things through Christ who strengthens us if that is the right thing for us to do, but that might not be our gift, our talent, and the way our mind, redeemed by the blood of Christ, requires us to live, and grow, and learn, and become fortified as better Christians mentally in every way.We should be what God intends us to be and not what any man or woman wants us to be or thinks we should be. We should be ready to give a reason for what we believe, what God has laid on our mind and heart, and how with aggressive, committed, prioritized study, we learn and grow in THE WORD OF GOD.Alone, by ourselves, the study we do is only partial. We need, in fact, we must have the guidance, the inspiration, the explanation of:THE HOLY SPIRIT.Therefore, before we enter the Word of God, before we STUDY, we must through prayer invoke the intercession, the intellectual partnership of the Holy Spirit. We must ask that the Spirit awaken us, stabilize our focus, make every inspired word of God meaningful, and know that every word in those 66 precious inspired books is the words, THE WORDS, of eternal life. They are indeed precious, unique, the words of the living God, and it is those very words that we must study, constantly study, so that our mind can be trained up in the way in which it should go, and when the wiles of evil and the culture of this world try to bring us down, plant doubt, or guilt, or spread diabolical disinformation, we know and only have believed, that knowledge dominates our mind and we will not go astray, mentally or spiritually. The mind, the brain, the intellect, firm in the Lord, cannot be changed by the forces, the evil of this world. It stands on the rock and any such attack only strengthens belief, and to the extent we are intellectually capable, our mind is totally infused, injected, energized with the Word of God and intellectually:WE WILL NOT BE MOVED!So then, we can come together and reason, the mind at work in the things of the Lord:COME NOW, LET US REASON TOGETHER.So that, whenever we are with one or more, whether in the household, among friends, in study groups, at church, anywhere and everywhere, if the opportunity arises, we are ready to reason together and offer a reason which God has given us, which the Holy Spirit has given us, to explain who we are (Christian) and what we believe, the truth of scripture and our Lord Jesus Christ.You matter. You are endowed with the ability to think. You can, no matter who you are or what education you have had, learn how to STUDY TO SHOW YOURSELF APPROVED! But that takes work, commitment, time, and energy. Will you put the work in that is necessary to train your mind and really STUDY? Will you today allow the Holy Spirit to show you how?

Itchy Ears

We who believe live in a day and age of so-called:PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIANITY.Progressive means that Christians today are subject to new interpretations of scripture, a redefinition of what Christianity is all about, a resetting of Christian values, morals, and priorities, and most of all, a battle with a foreign and antagonistic culture like never before. The Bible, always presumed to be the inspired word of God, becomes more of a moral guide rather than statement of absolute truth. The Bible is subject to mankind’s interpretation and even an individual’s sense of right and wrong, rather than the infallible standards of scripture. Christian believers have, now more than ever, ITCHY EARS, a far greater propensity to compromise and accommodate the current culture, rather than standing up for scripture, our Lord, and the absolute truths of the Bible.That is why the Apostle Paul in II Timothy says that even then, some 2000 years ago, the ITCHY EARS of believers have wandered into myths, forming a religion based upon THEIR TRUTH, not that of God Almighty. If such a trend prevails and those progressive, woke changes continue to occur, that will indeed portend the very end of Christianity itself.There is strife in the church. Denominations compromise and individual churches move on, especially when woke prevails. Christian fracturing becomes every day a more serious problem. When any church or Christians therein bow to the world’s standards and interpretations, true believers come apart and are separate from them refusing to bow to woke in any way.The bottom line for woke is that there is no such thing as absolute truth. Wokers thrive on the penance of this so-called age of POST TRUTH, compromise, the religion of the individual, and changing standards of morality and truth as individuals define them. The Apostle Paul clearly indicates this is dead wrong and, in fact even more so, a critical sign of the END TIMES.An essential question, says Joseph Backholm, of the CENTER FOR BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW, is the following:“The Question seems to be whether or not God actually wants us to repent or mostly just wants us to be happy and comfortable.In short, the new and progressive approach to Christianity attacks the concept of sin, the very reason itself for repentance, and wishes to do away with sin and the need for repentance, and instead of a redeemed mankind, one which is merely happy and comfortable. These woke changers simply do not believe that sin exists, but rather that the concepts of right and wrong are in flux and constantly changing. They have forgotten the Biblical admonition:BE SURE YOUR SINS WILL FIND YOU OUT!So, says our Lord, and the Apostle Paul, Christian believers, true believers, are obligated, indeed have the duty to stand up to the evil of woke and progressive Christianity and defend the faith, our Lord, and His scripture. It is, says Christian author Eric Metaxas, this new form of evil that must be confronted. We cannot compromise, accept, or be silent. We must speak out against it. Metaxas says the following:SILENCE IN THE FACE OF EVIL IS EVIL ITSELF!Indeed, it is. Not standing up, not speaking out, is a form of compromise, and in essence, is condoning, accepting, and not confronting the evil as it is. As Paul says in Ephesians, we the church are called to stand against the culture as we engage in the spiritual fight regarding the principalities and powers of this world. That is our duty, His command, and if we do not stand and confront the evil of woke, we disrespect HIM and we fail to do our duty as Christians.Any denomination or church which changes or modifies in any way spiritual beliefs, Biblical beliefs, and postures themselves as politically correct, and with the times, seeing itself as loving and not confronting, cannot change the non-changing and absolute truth of scripture, and the eternal truth of God’s word. That word, those principles will never change, and:“ANY CHURCH THAT CHANGES THE MESSAGE TO FIT THE TIMES, IS PREACHING A FALSE GOSPEL.”So, my fellow Christians, man or woman, remember the words in the book of James:“BLESSED IS THE MAN OR WOMAN WHO REMAINS STEADFAST UNDER TRIAL.”Never giving up, never compromising, willing to lay all on the altar, believing without woke interpretation the true and absolute truth of scripture, never deviating from that and always ready, willing, and able to defend that. What a joy, what a privilege, what insight into eternal truth is ours to be a Christian, a true follower of our Lord Jesus Christ. What a joy to abide in Him and as 1 John 2 states:“WALK IN THE SAME WAY IN WHICH HE WALKED.”More than ever, HE asks you to do that so that you can be salt and light to this world, emphatically resisting the progressive, woke, secular culture of the times and standing for Him.As Joseph Backholm further states:“WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER WE ARE TRYING TO SHAPE OUR MINDS AROUND GOD’S WORD OR WHETHER WE ARE TRYING TO SHAPE GOD’S WORD AROUND OUR MINDS.”The former produces actual Christianity, the latter produces so-called progressive Christianity.I pray that you stand for actual, real, biblical Christianity, which now more than ever is what the world needs.

Home Schooling

Public schools in communities across the country have failed to educate students.Have they ever, with very few exceptions.Public schools have failed and are continuing to fail to educate students. The worst part about all of this is that there really is no solution in sight. It really seems as though public education will only get worse.Years ago, parents and taxpayers lost control. Perhaps that loss was gradual. Perhaps parents were in default, indifferent, and many others feeling simply helpless. They lost control, these parents did, to what Matthew Hennessey, Wall Street Journal Deputy Editorial Editor, called:THE EDUCATION BLOG.The blog was a quasipublic syndicate of teachers unions, government bureaucracies, brand-name credentialed institutions, and the woke and progressive media. They were determined to keep control of education and, of course, to get as much money to do that as they possibly could.In one sense, there was a public-parental awakening. That occurred in 2020, the year of Covid, and in the year of lock-downs and lock-outs. Schools were closed, education occurred online and virtually, and parents, perhaps many of them for the very first time, were forced to pay attention to what education in those public schools was really like. Millions did not like what they saw. What they saw, in so many ways, was:WASTED TIMEWOKE-INFUSED CURRICULAPOOR INSTRUCTIONamong others and so many of them, by the millions, decided change was in order, rather necessary. They decided they liked the freedom and convenience of homeschooling. They liked it so much, these parents did, they saw the benefits and they kept homeschooling alive even after the lockdowns and the virtuality ended.But, the progressives, the wokers woke up. They saw what was happening, real education, good education, quality education, and they realized the real threat to the public education they were committed to foist upon the American public. They saw the end to their control, these wokers did, and their money, and the threat of taxpayer's dollars being utilized elsewhere, and as wokers do when their backs are to the wall, they attacked. So many of these radicals preached the message that education wasn’t about helping young people reach their full potential, but rather:TO SOCIALIZE CHILDREN INTO RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP.In other words, to WOKE them, change them, do away with so many traditional American values, and of course, water down individual freedom, family, and most importantly:FAITH.Millions of parents fought back.Hear the words of MSNBC personality Melissa Harris-Perry, who said the following:“SOCIETY HAS TO SHAKE OFF THE ANTIQUATED NOTION THAT PARENTS HAVE SOME SPECIAL CLAIM ON THEIR CHILDREN. INSTEAD, WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT KIDS BELONG TO WHOLE COMMUNITIES.”Can you believe that? Parents have no claim, no rights, and no ability to instruct, mold, or teach the very children they bear and bring into this world. Can you believe that? That really represents the views, opinions, and the values, the radically changing values, of the progressive educational wokers of today. That did nothing but give added impetus to the homeschooling movement.And more. Teachers’ union member Randi Weingarten said the following:“THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION THAT MORE MONEY WOULDN’T CURE.”More money for more woke education, anti-American, anti-faith, anti-Christian, anti-classics, anti-fundamentals (reading-writing-Arithmetic) among others? More money to foster all of that?Said Matthew Hennessey of The Wall Street Journal:“THE EDUCATION BLOB AND MEDIA PROGRESSIVES SEE THE GROWING POPULARITY OF HOMESCHOOLING AS A SOCIAL PROBLEM THAT URGENTLY NEEDS TO BE SOLVED.”These radicals are simply unwilling to give up their control of public education, the molding of the young American mind, and of course, the money, always the money to some extent.Homeschooling is a great remedy for the ills of public education. It is the answer to the biblical admonition to:TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE OR SHE SHOULD GO AND WHEN THEY ARE OLD, THEY WILL NOT DEPART THEREFROM.Children when born are the responsibility, the privilege, and the duty of the parents who brought them into this world. That, says scripture, cannot be delegated, especially to woke-radical public education.We, the Crawford Broadcasting Co., and our charitable entities believe in and support the homeschooling effort. We are proud sponsors and benefactors of:HOME SCHOOLING LEGAL DEFENSE ASSOCIATIONHSLDAThat is one good work, determined to fight any attempt of big unions or progressive education, to take away, eliminate, or water down homeschooling. We urge you to know more about this good organization, and more importantly, HOMESCHOOLING ITSELF. Whether or not you do it, or know others who do, it is a movement worthy of your time, attention, and financial support, for real American education can occur, and so can faith-based training, and the morals, values, and standards of Christianity. If public education cannot be reformed, then homeschooling, especially by Christian parents, is a viable, worthy alternative, and perhaps in some cases:THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE.

THE YOUNG GEN Z & OTHER MEANINGLESS GENERALIZATIONS

If you were born, human being created by God Almighty, between the years 1997-2012 you are a member, like it or not, of the newest generation in America:GEN Z.You would be of the age 11-26.Therefore, you are so informed, you and your Gen-Z compatriots have little if any interest in RELIGION, whatever that means. In the extreme, perhaps that means you have no interest in faith, or no faith in your life. Do you?I personally know a multitude of young, wonderful people that age, who are strong, passionate:PEOPLE OF FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.Do you?And more, you Gen-Z’er. You have little interest in patriotism, so these progressive pundits say. You are not willing to protect and defend your country, your freedoms, your constitution, in fact, your way of life. If you are 30 and under, is that you? Do you have little concern, love, passion, or commitment to your country, to the America in which you are blessed to live? Is that you?Some of the most Passionate Patriots I know are THE YOUNG, 30 and under. They know what the real America is all about and are willing to do whatever it takes to protect this country, its freedoms, and their way of life, in any way possible. Is that you?Don’t you just despise generalities like that?And, you Gen-Z’er, you have little or no interest in marriage and virtually no interest in having children. Is that you? I know any number of wonderful people 30 and under who are married with children, raising families with the blessing of God, and I am privileged to have any number of them in my very own company. Do you eschew marriage and do you, man or woman, not wish to have children of your own? Such generalizations for millions of young people are ludicrous, inaccurate, false, and evenfraudulent and perhaps politically purposeful in a very negative way.And even more. You are supposedly a member of a generation that has a very poorwork ethic, cares more about self rather than others, and is negative, critical, andindifferent to the norms of society, and the morality of the past. Is that you?Again, I know dozens and dozens of human beings, God-created, 30 and under, whoare exactly the opposite.The real YOUNG PEOPLE of today are people of faith. They have strong faith in JesusChrist, living out that faith in a passionate young way. They are patriots believing inthe real America, working to change and solve its problems, all the while protecting itsfundamental concepts of freedom, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, equality, andjustice for all. They are married or will be. They will then have children, God willing.The real young Americans, the real Gen-Z’ers are workers, people of strong work ethicand commitment, workmen and work women, worthy of their hire. Those are the Gen-Z’ers I know, and like, and respect, and have the highest hopes for turning over myAmerica to them and not the stereotypes, negative and demeaning, individuals whowoke, progressive, radical, anti-Americans described and categorized in such negativeways.You and I, human beings, all, were created by the God of the universe, the Father ofour Lord Jesus Christ, as unique individuals. There is no human generalization orcategorization which can apply to any of us. Every human being thinks differently,more or less. Believes differently, more or less. Lives life differently. Works and playsdifferently. Worships differently. EVERY HUMAN BEING IS DIFFERENT! He or she isnot Gen-Z, not millennial, not baby-boomer, not a member of the so-called silentgeneration, but a unique, specially crafted, INDIVIDUAL, different from any other andstriving to be better in every way. Those are the young, the 30 and under I know,respect, and believe in. If you are of that age, privileged to be young, with many moreyears of productive life to live, I pray that you are:YOU.That you will be all that you can be and that you will never fall victim to somegeneration, age, or category classification. Just like so many of those RIGHT youngpeople 30 and under whom I know so very well, productive, faithful, patriotic, believersin marriage and children, and with a work ethic as good as anyone anywhere. Ipersonally thank God for every individual male and female in my company, 30 andunder, who brings fresh vision, commitment, passion, the dynamic of youth, and thelove for:GOD AND COUNTRY,the twin pillars of the right, ethical, and moral life. If you are 30 or under, I pray thatis you. We should be about the business of encouraging the young, educating andedifying, for they are the ones who will replace us, live in a world and an Americansociety far different from ours, face challenges not before faced, and be responsible toour God with risks and rewards intensified as never before. They will battle an enemyinternal, determined to destroy and seize power, control, and demand conformity.Their faith in God and Country will be challenged like never before. The courage theyoung will need will increase day by day and it is absolutely critical that their vision beclear, bold, and steadfast, just like that which so many young 30 and under in mycompany exhibit and live by.The young who inherit America must have a new grit, a rekindled passion, and amental fortitude that allows them to endure intimidation, threat, even violence, and ofcourse criticism, backlash, slander, and opposition. They will be tested like neverbefore, tested like we of previous generations never experienced.Thankfully, I know many, many young people 30 and under who are that way,TOUGH. They are ready for the fight of faith. They are anxious to run the race and winthe prize. In them, there is no quit, no give-up. They will not be bullied or intimidated.They know in whom they have believed, and they are persuaded that HE IS ABLE andtogether, they are invincible.They, the real young, are biblically guided. They are Holy Spirit-led. They know rightfrom wrong. They learn, grow, and work for the night is coming. This generation ofyoung Americans has the God-given potential to be the best of any, THE BEST! It hasto be because the challenges have never been greater. I have seen enough of the rightthinking, right living, and right believing young Americans, 30 and under, younghuman beings, GOD-CREATED to whom I’d gladly turn over my beloved country andto whom I pledge my allegiance as they FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH. I only wish I hadthe years they have to serve God and Country.Encourage them, WE THE OLDER. Support them, give to them. Guide them. Advisethem. Share wisdom. For in them, ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD, in thepurpose and rule of God, and for the incredible America in which we and they havebeen privileged to live.Categories and stereotypes are dead wrong, DEAD WRONG! There is purpose,meaning, and individuality for every human being, no matter the age. YOU ARE YOU!May every privileged young person 30 and under be all that he or she can be as Godintended. The more of them I know, the better. The more of them who work for CBC,the better. For, my fellow Americans, there is only one category that matters. And thatis whether one is fully committed to Jesus Christ, born again, saved by Grace. Thatcategory is real Christian:GEN-JESUS.No other category matters, none.

New Year 2024 - America

We live, my fellow Americans, in the greatest nation in the history of mankind. There is not, nor has there ever been, a nation like:THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.Never.It is a nation conceived in freedom. It treasures and fosters democracy. It is a constitutional nation, and it is a nation where, as Dr. Martin Luther King so well said, if in fact its citizens live up to its constitution, treasure it, believe in it, and enforce it, all men and women who are created equal can live a life to the fullest.AMERICA. What is America to you? Do you understand your country, your nation, its history, its purpose and meaning, the reality of the:REAL AMERICA?Do you? Right-thinking men and women thank God every day, EVERYDAY, for the privilege of living in America and being an American. Do you? Are you a grateful citizen, are you proud to be an American, and since this great country can do so much for you, remember the words of President John F. Kennedy, who admonished us to:ASK NOT WHAT AMERICA CAN DO FOR YOUASK WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR AMERICA!That in my opinion should be the motto of every real American.THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION. Please read it. Do your best to understand it. Study anything which helps you understand the incredible rights, privileges, and duties which are yours as a citizen and as an American. Think always about the First Amendment to that Constitution, perhaps the finest words, rights, privileges, opportunities, and expressions of freedom ever written in the history of mankind. The First Amendment of America’s Constitution allows you full and unabridged freedom of:RELIGIONSPEECHPRESSASSEMBLYPETITIONThese precious freedoms are the very best that can be offered to any human being and they are essential, priorities, GUARANTEED to every man and woman by this Constitution and its very precious First Amendment. Read it, know it, treasure it, and thank God for it.RULE OF LAW. It is watered down, ignored, or even eliminated in this woke and radical, anti-American day and age. Lawlessness in the end times, says the scripture, prevails and runs rampant. That is happening today. Stand up, my fellow Americans, to lawlessness and insist upon the rule of law, insist upon the concept of:JUSTICE FOR ALL.There is risk in so doing, but the reward is well worth the risk.RIGHT AND WRONG. There are those today that think there is no such thing as right and wrong. There is no absolute truth. This is the day and age of:THE LIE.We live in an age which many describe as:POST TRUTH.That is, we live in a culture where there is no such thing as absolute truth and consequently, the lie, that which is not truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, is the law of the land. WRONG, dead wrong. There is right and wrong, there is truth, and never forget in this great year 2024, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ:I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE!I AM THE TRUTH!Believe in Him and you will know the truth indeed.STAND. Stand tall for America. Protect it. Founding Fathers were willing to die for it. Are you? Am I? Are there enough Americans left who are willing to do whatever is required to protect and defend the greatest land in the history of mankind?So much of the world despises, even hates America. Perhaps that is because we live hypocritically, we do not stand tall for our ideals, our freedoms, and our way of life, and we are not consistent, constantly compromising, and so often not holding individuals and nations accountable for their actions. We the People need to redefine who we are as a nation, make those ideals, values, and standards clear, and stand for them no matter the cost, now more than ever in the great year 2024.POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT. We the People need to be far more politically involved. Especially Christian citizens. We need to be active in government. We need to take positions of authority locally and to make certain our neighborhoods, towns, andcities, are safe, law-abiding, and true to American ideals, its constitution, rule of law, and way of life. WE THE PEOPLE NEED TO STAND UP! We need to make certain right-thinking and right-acting men and women are elected to office, who will truly represent us, and even more importantly, our Constitution, rule of law, and all that America should be. WE THE PEOPLE NEED TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT HAPPENS! If not, we need to speak out critically so, aggressively, withhold financing, and our vote, and where necessary, exercise the process of recall and do whatever we can to get elected or appointed officials unworthy of citizen trust out of office and authority. WE THE PEOPLE NEED TO STAND UP BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!WOKE, THE PROGRESSIVE, THE ANTI-AMERICAN. They are everywhere, EVERYWHERE! They are determined to effectuate radical change or even in so many cases, the destruction of the American way of life. They would water down or eliminate much of our Constitution, curtail our freedoms, control family and education, and change the way we live, think, and believe. DON’T LET IT HAPPEN MY FELLOW AMERICANS, DON’T LET IT HAPPEN! Time is short. America needs right-thinking Americans in action now more than ever.PRIDE. Be proud 2024 to be an American. Be proud to be a citizen of the real America, the constitutional America, with its freedoms, and be proud to stand tall as America beckons, asking you now more than ever to be a soldier in the fight for freedom.Wear the flag, salute the military, proudly sing, and respect the National Anthem:STAND UP FOR AMERICA.Pray that God will bless America, convicted of its wrong doings, and once again make it the city on the hill, the shining light among nations, a country safe and protected for us today and for our descendants tomorrow. Let us proudly sing in 2024:GOD BLESS AMERICALAND THAT I LOVE!

Christmas - The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

With God, all things are possible. ALL THINGS!Even an event like THE VIRGIN BIRTH.Some 2,000 years ago, an angel was sent by God to the tiny town of Nazareth in the Galilee area. The area was small, the inhabitants few, and a popular saying of the day was:CAN ANY GOOD THING COME OUT OF NAZARETH?Perhaps not before, but after the visit by the angel Gabriel to an unknown Mary, from Nazareth would come the Savior of the world.Mary the Virgin was pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The angel Gabriel said to her:GREETINGS, YOU WHO ARE HIGHLY FAVORED! THE LORD IS WITH YOU.Gabriel went on to say:DO NOT BE AFRAID, MARY. YOU HAVE FOUND FAVOR WITH GOD. YOU WILL BE WITH CHILD AND GIVE BIRTH TO A SON. YOU ARE TO GIVE HIM THE NAME JESUS.HE WILL BE GREAT AND WILL BE CALLED THESON OF THE MOST HIGH.THE LORD GOD WILL GIVE HIM THE THRONE OF HIS FATHER DAVID AND HE WILL REIGN OVER THE HOUSE OF JACOB FOREVER. HIS KINGDOM WILL NEVER END!And, rightly so, Mary was troubled and she said to the angel:“How will this come about since I am a virgin?”To which the angel responded:THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL COME UPON YOU AND THE POWER OF THE MOSTHIGH WILL OVERSHADOW YOU.So the Holy One to be born would be called the SON OF GOD.The natural man scoffs at angels but the spiritual man knows that with God all thingsare possible, including angels.Mary, now with child, the Holy Ghost having come upon her, went to the home ofZechariah and Elizabeth, relatives, and when she arrived, Elizabeth knew of thisImmaculate Conception and Elizabeth said to Mary:BLESSED ARE YOU AMONG WOMEN, AND BLESSED IS THE CHILD YOU WILLBEAR!Elizabeth knew that Mary would be the mother of her Lord and ours as well.So, the world was about to change because of that event in Nazareth. Jesus ofNazareth would soon be born in Bethlehem of Judea and this Nazarene, this SON OFTHE MOST HIGH would soon be known as THE SAVIOR, the Prince of Peace, theChrist of Glory.When Elizabeth had finished, Mary began her very own song of praise:MY SOUL MAGNIFIES THE LORDAND MY SPIRIT REJOICES IN GOD MY SAVIOR!FOR HE HAS BEEN MINDFUL OF THE HUMBLE STATE OF HIS SERVANT.FROM NOW ON ALL GENERATIONS WILL CALL ME BLESSEDFOR THE MIGHTY ONE HAS DONE GREAT THINGS FOR MEHOLY IS HIS NAME!Such powerful praise and adoration this Magnificat of Mary was. Mary, the virgin, sohumble in spirit, thought of herself as the HANDMAIDEN of the Lord, perhaps stillpuzzled as to why she was chosen to bear the King of Kings, but willing and obedientto do the will of God.And the Babe of Bethlehem grew within her. Fiancé Joseph, of the lineage of David,sought to put her away but again, an angelic message explained to him what hadhappened, foretold the birth of this Son and the instructions to him that His namewould be Jesus. Thereafter, Mary would be wife and mother for Joseph. It is incrediblydifficult to imagine how this man 2,000 years ago would react. Nothing like this inhuman history had ever happened before. He, Joseph was chosen to supervise andsupport the birth of the Savior of the world. That would be impossible for any man tocomprehend but Joseph, obedient like Mary, accepted the angelic explanation and thisdivine drama proceeded.Surely, Joseph could see the remarkable changes in Mary. For those precious months,Mary’s soul glorified the Lord. She told all that her spirit rejoices in God my Savior.Surely that glorifying and rejoicing was well noticed, even participated in by Joseph.Mary, the humble servant of the Lord knew what great things God had done for herand she was perhaps the first to live in a brand new, revolutionary state of praise andworship. Soon, that would be available to all mankind.Then came the decree from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of theentire Roman world. Joseph, who belonged to the house and lineage of David thereforewent to Bethlehem of Judea to register with Mary, since Bethlehem was the City ofDavid. But the town was full and there was no room in the inn so that Mary andJoseph slept in a manger. And there, in that manger, Mary gave birth to a son and asa proud and loving mother, she wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in amanger. Such were the humble circumstances of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, theBabe of Bethlehem, the Prince of Peace, and the Savior of the world.AND THAT IS THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS! That birth of the Savior of theworld is what we celebrate at Christmas! This rabidly secular world of ours wishes tode-spiritualize this event and take CHRIST OUT OF CHRISTMAS. We who believe mustnever let that happen but rather band together in glorious praise and worship to theBabe and especially to the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let not, my fellowChristians, the secularists abandon the Christ of Christmas.So, Christ was born and there began the spreading of the Word:AND THERE WERE SHEPHERDS ABIDING IN THE FIELDSKEEPING WATCH OVER THEIR FLOCKS BY NIGHTAND LO THE ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO THEMAND THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHONE ROUND ABOUT THEMAND THEY WERE SORE AFRAIDBUT THE ANGEL SAID TO THEMDO NOT BE AFRAIDI BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY THAT WILL BE FOR ALL PEOPLETHIS DAY IN THE CITY OF DAVIDA SAVIOR HAS BEEN BORN FOR YOUHE IS CHRIST THE LORDTHIS WILL BE A SIGN UNTO YOUYOU WILL FIND THE BABE WRAPPED IN SWADDLING CLOTHESAND LYING IN A MANGERAND SUDDENLY THERE WAS WITH THE ANGELSA HEAVENLY HOST OF ANGELSPRAISING GOD AND SAYINGGLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHESTAND ON EARTH PEACE AND GOODWILL TO ALL MANKINDHow interesting that shepherds were chosen as the first to hear this angelicenunciation. Shepherds were watchmen, observant, especially at night as they madecertain to protect their sheep. They knew the heavens, the stars and their movements.They were familiar with the night and they could, like wise men and kings, identify andfollow the STAR OF WONDER, the star which shone brightly that night over the City ofDavid, the blessed Bethlehem of Judea, where the Prince of Peace was born.And those shepherds left immediately and they found Mary and Joseph and the Babelying in the manger. And when they had seen him, they were the very first evangelists,spreading the word of this miraculous and marvelous birth, the message they hadbeen told by the angel about this Babe. And that was the beginning of the Gospel ofJesus Christ. From then on, the shepherds glorified and praised God for all the thingsthey had heard and seen even as we who believe do so today. We well say today as theshepherds and angels did then:GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHESTAND ON EARTH PEACE, GOODWILL TOWARD ALL MANKINDMen and women search today for truth even as the shepherds did. The search iseverywhere but the truth, the ultimate truth was revealed to mankind in a manger inBethlehem 2,000 years ago. Wise men and women, who truly seek him, will find himthere. Those who scoff, mock a virgin birth, the concept of angels, and the creation of aGod–man will never, ever know that:NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GODNothing.But to find HIM is a most joyous, wondrous discovery. It is an epiphany like no other.The finding of the Babe is the finding of the world’s greatest treasure. The power, thelove, and the understanding which results from finding HIM is life–changing then andforevermore. That finding allows us to become as a little child, open and transparent,filled with love and compassion, fully understanding the GRACE of God and thatgracious gift which changed the world 2,000 years ago. That faith in the Babe ofBethlehem is the key to entering the Kingdom of God, humbly trusting and believingeven as Mary did of old. Women become handmaidens of the Lord as Mary did. Menbecome servants of the Lord as the shepherds did.So that, on Christmas Day, we discover the greatest present, the greatest gift onecould ever find:THE BABE OF BETHLEHEMThe gifts we give to others at Christmastime can never begin to equal the gift of God tous. We should celebrate that gift FIRST and wherever possible, give the love of that giftto others. That is what Christmas is all about and that should never change.And we, like the shepherds should spread the news, the Good News. That is trueevangelism and we who believe must never let that message die not only at Christmasbut every day. The wise men of old found Him and the wise men and women of today,the truly wise who search will find Him. For in Him, it is all that God is. And that, asthe angels well said, are indeed the glad tidings and the great joy for all.For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son to all humankind so that thosewho believe could have life abundant here and life eternal there. For those whoreceived this gift of God, there comes the power of God making them sons of God anddaughters, life all brand new. Women praise the Lord like Mary of old. Men glorify theLord as the shepherds of old. And that, and only that can bring peace to the world.The message of that Babe is the only message which can spread the goodwill of Godand transform the lives of all mankind. May it be yours.We the Crawford Broadcasting Company, all of us, wish you a very happy, merry,blessed Christmas centered around the Babe of Bethlehem, and may the love of God inJesus Christ be your very special gift this Christmas season. Glory to God in thehighest and on earth, peace and goodwill for all.CHRIST IS BORN!

Peace - CHRISTmas Peace

PEACE.Peace, I give unto you. My peace. Not as the world gives. Mine is perfect peace. Let not your heart be troubled and do not be afraid!The words of the BABE OF BETHLEHEM. The most reassuring words, the words, the promises, which this world needs now so desperately. All humankind craves peace now more than ever, and that peace is more elusive than ever.In the end times, so say scriptures, there will be wars, rumors of wars, and physical brutality. Hatred among mankind will replace love. Jealousy, suspicion, lawlessness, and evil conduct will be how the world is. The peace of God in the person of Jesus Christ, THAT PERFECT PEACE, will be nowhere to be found, NOWHERE!Israel battles Hamas, the proxy of the brutal land and its rulers, Iran. There is enmity between the seeds, Arab and Jew, so says the scripture. That enmity is nowhere more evident than what now happens in The Holy Land, The Promised Land. The very land where the Babe of Bethlehem was born, the Christmas ambassador of peace has really never known that peace now more than ever. We are admonished as Christians to:PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM.We pray, and pray more, and earnestly so, but that peace eludes in every way. It should be obvious to all that only the Messiah, THE PRINCE OF PEACE, the Babe of Bethlehem, Jesus Christ himself the Messiah, can bring that peace. That will come only WHEN HE COMES.War goes on. Hatred increases between Arabs and Jews, between Israel and Hamas. War goes on between Russia and Ukraine, war fostered by the evil dictator Vladimir Putin and civilians die, thousands upon thousands of innocent men and women, the elderly and children. They die without cause, craving peace, begging for it, praying for it, but it eludes them as the war-like hatred, the Christ-less hatred of mankind prevails. More of this will come. China will become a serious war monger and so will North Korea, and Iran, governed by men who dictate war, hatred, and killing, with no concern for human loss but only human destruction and more of it. The conduct of this world indicates clearly signs of:THE END TIMES.There would be nothing left of this world if those days were not shortened and the only one who can do that, THE PRINCE OF PEACE returns to take charge.When He does, swords will be ground into plowshares. The prince of Peace will make certain there will be no more wars, NO MORE! But, only the Babe of Bethlehem, whose birthday we celebrate soon, can bring that peace, can change whole nations and bring them to the Holy City of Jerusalem, to learn how to cooperate, work together, and foster peace under His rule of love. Only HE can make that happen, no one else.So, we who believe, believe in Him, His salvation message of love, healing, and PEACE. You should not worry or be afraid. Our Lord, the Prince of Peace, has admonished us:LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLEDNEITHER LET IT BE AFRAIDBELIEVE IN ME! Believe in my promises. Believe that I come again and I, He says, will bring the peace, the eternal peace which all humankind craves. I PROMISE I WILL DO THAT. So again, don’t be troubled. Don’t let your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe in Me and that promise. BELIEVE! I will bring the PEACE OF JERUSALEM and I will bring (Shalom) peace to the whole world.So, don’t worry. If God be for us, who can be against us? No one or nothing can. PEACE-SHALOM I give unto you, so let not your heart be troubled. Rather, praise God for His unspeakable gift, the gift of His Son, Jesus of Nazareth:THE BABE OF BETHLEHEM.So, like the Angels of old, as they made that unbelievable announcement to the Shepherds about this divine birth, let us say with those Angels:GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHESTAND ON EARTHPEACE AND GOODWILL TOWARD ALL MANKINDAnd let us praise our God for that gift.And let us worship Him as the angels do, those of us especially who believe in that Salvation message which came from Bethlehem of old.And let us be thankful unto our God for his unspeakable gift. We cannot describe in human words the wonder, the magnitude, the depth of the love of that gift but we can now and evermore give thanks, and praise, and worship, and GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST! All the while we pray for that promise of peace on earth and goodwill toward all mankind, and for the soon return, THE SOON RETURN of the MESSIAH:THE PRINCE OF PEACE.So, we thank you, Father God, I thank you for our Savior, your precious son:OUR LORD JESUS CHRISTTHE PRECIOUS BABE OF BETHLEHEM!

The Birthday

quit, we learned from our mistakes, and we always did our best, always with his unique and abiding strength and most importantly:LOVE.We, the Crawford Broadcasting Company, for 65 years, prayed for His blessing, even as we praised Him, and God our Father. The battles we faced were difficult and many still are, but praise and thank God, we never compromised, and stood steadfast every day of our broadcast life devoted to Him and the precious country in which He ordained we live.We made mistakes but we always corrected them. We always did our best and found those to partner with us who always did their best. Anything we accomplished past, present, and future, was as a result of: PRAYERPRAISEPEOPLE PARTNERS Those three are the anchors of our company and always will be.Faithful, prayerful people, God’s people, made this company what it is for 65 years, every success for God and Country is because of them and their calling. So many men and women devoted so many years, some virtually all of their professional lives in the service of our Lord and in Christian radio, Crawford Broadcasting style. There were and are men like Frank Franciosi (48 years), Nev Larson (57 years), Don Crawford Jr. (34 years), Mike Triem (30 years), Cris Alexander (39 years), Mike Cary (33 years), anchors, rocks like the Rock Of Ages, CALLED AND COMMITTED.Then there were men like Mark Bostic, James Kilkenny, Bob Dutko, Terry Patilla, Neil Boron, and so many more for whom CBC Christian radio was more than a calling. It was LIFE itself.So many women gave their all to our Lord in service through CBC. There were those like Paulette Peterson, Debbie Robey, Heather Hanger, Kim McMonagle, and many more who served with all their hearts, called and committed in so many ways.So many served our Lord for years unknown to those who listen. A man such as Todd Stickler served our Lord through the ministry of KBRT for years and years. In all, my fellow Americans and CBC listeners, there are some 210 individuals, servants, called-ones who serve our company and give their all every day to bring you the very best Christian and Country programming possible. There seems no adequate way to thank them for all that they have done for this company, and for their Lord and the blessed country in which they are privileged to live.We try every day with all our might to do what is:RIGHT.That is what is behind the operating philosophy of our company and its approach to money we call:THE TAILORED PLAN.We seek at all times to create economic and spiritual benefit for our listeners and no matter our mistakes, our human failures, our Lord has sustained us now for some:65 GLORIOUS YEARS.To the extent we have brought honor and glory to our Lord, we are blessed, satisfied, and fulfilled. To the extent we have done everything to protect the privilege God has given us to live in and be citizens of the greatest country in the history of the world, we are further blessed. This company began its mission in 1958 when, with the help of our Lord, WMUZ-FM Detroit was:BORN AGAIN.Even though there was no model to follow for Christian radio, we made our own with the wisdom and blessing of our Lord. We made mistakes, but we never quit. We were threatened but were never afraid. We were offered considerable sums of money to sell, but the gospel could never be purchased, it never had a price. We sought at all times to build trust with our listeners, to honor our Lord with integrity, and to the best of our human ability:NEVER COMPROMISE,NEVER!We thought of our programming as:REAL CHRISTIANITY.We modeled our programming, our approach to our Lord, and our understanding of Christianity on:THE BIBLE.The precious, inspired, unique, infallible:WORD OF THE LIVING GOD.We were never WOKE, we never tried to interpret scripture to our advantage, and we required those who shared programming with us to believe and present the same.All the while, we never shied from COMPETITION. We fought to be professional at every turn, we hired and trained men and women who wanted to be nothing but the best as they served their Lord, true professionals.We offered employment opportunity to those who would present the most compelling programming for God and Country:FOR YOUR BLESSING.They are workmen and workwomen who are worthy of their hire, but the main reason, the main motivation in their lives is to love and serve the Lord God Almighty with all their heart, soul, strength, and mind, and:THEIR NEIGHBORS, THEIR FRIENDS – YOUfaithfully every day and with all their might.So, as we continue to do our best to serve GOD AND COUNTRY, beloved listener, please know how much we love and respect you, we thank you for your support, and your belief in our company and its purposes. Knowing there are still some few who knew us when we began our mission and made it possible for so many to listen today. In a world of rapid change, short-term in thinking and demand, inpatient and searching for immediate gratification, the Crawford Broadcasting Company stays long-term, committed to and redefining our purposes (never changing) and believing more than ever in the power, the unique communication abilities, and the special position in the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals of:RADIO – AM & FM.Thank you for listening, and with the help and blessing of our Lord, it is our prayer and hopefully yours that this company, the Crawford Broadcasting Company, will have many more years of service for you as we continue to serve with one purpose:GOD AND COUNTRY.

Home

There is no greater privilege for any man or woman than that of being a:PARENT.To be the father or mother of a son or daughter is indeed life’s greatest privilege. But with that privilege comes great responsibility. Parenting, true parenting, and biblical-Christian parenting demands commitment, real commitment. When unto those parents a child is born, life’s priorities change, irrevocably change. No matter career, education, hobby or any other thing of interest, parenting becomes:PRIORITY #1So says the scripture. So says the Apostle Paul. And so says God the Father who, as the supreme example of father, sent his son to this world, to us, that we might know what the ultimate and eternal father-son relationship really is. That eternal father and son provides the perfect example of what parenting should be, heavenly and earthly.TRAIN UP A CHILD. Train him or her in the ways of the Lord, believer father and believer mother. The God-given birth of that son or daughter becomes priority #1 for BOTH father and mother. So says our heavenly father. Building a Christian home with a Christian father and mother, structuring and controlling that home, is then, at birth priority #1 and always will be.HOME, that sacred environment where there is Christian learning, loving, and listening is the very finest thing for any Christian parent.That home must be guided by REAL CHRISTIANITY. Christian principles must apply. The morality of old and new testaments must be the Lonestar, the code of ethics and honor of that home. That is why it is critical, indispensable, uncompromisingly so that both mother and father be:CHRISITAN - BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN – REAL CHRISTIANS.For only real Christian mothers and fathers, true believing parents can:TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE OR SHE SHOULD GO.For, done right, when children are raised in a real Christian home by real Christianparents (both father and mother) and where the love of the Lord prevails, only then canboth principles, that Christian code of ethics, last a lifetime. Only then can the childbecome the Christian the parent is, like the Christian parent, and believe like them fora lifetime. Children will never depart from the belief of real Christian parents no matterwhat.Children are remarkably sensitive. They sense hypocrisy perhaps even better thanadults. If any parent is ‘do what I say and not necessarily what I do,’ the child rebels,acts out, disavows, and comes to believe that not only is the purported faith of theparents hypocritical, but that all of Christianity itself is hypocrisy. So, when they areold and ready to depart the home, leave their parents, and become adults on theirown, they want nothing to do with what they believe is hypocritical Christianity. Theparents, mother and father, have failed the child in the most negative way.Our Lord and the Apostle Paul have told us so very clearly that there are three greatthings in this world:FAITH – HOPE – LOVEAnd the greatest of these is LOVE. The greatest lesson any child can learn is Christianlove and that Christian love displayed between husband and wife, father and mother,that real love that exists between father and son, mother and daughter, and eachparent for each and every child, equally, sincerely, and without compromise. Theultimate expression of that love was the love between God the Father and our LordJesus Christ. Real love, parent for child is like that and when it is, or when parents dotheir very best guided by the Holy Spirit to saturate the home with Christian love, thechild learns the greatest lesson in all of life. Nothing can equal a home filled withChristian love, Christian parents loving young Christian children with that very sameChristian love. It is the greatest teacher, and the most important lesson to learn in allof life.But that takes TIME. There must be quality time between parent and child. Nothingexpresses love more, teaches better than the love between father and son, and fatherand daughter, and mother and son, and mother and daughter. NOTHING! That TIMEmust be qualitative, one on one, open and transparent, and consistent. To be a realChristian parent and train up that child in the way in which he or she should gorequires quality time as first priority and always. Nothing expresses better than timespent together one-on-one. NOTHING!The roles of father and mother are different, but they must be guided, as scriptureclearly states, by Christian principles, morals, ethics, and commandments. TheChristian home must be full of faith, hope, and above all LOVE. Real love. REALCHRISTIAN LOVE! That home environment is far more powerful than any church. Orany pastor. Or any Sunday School. Evil human beings know that as well or perhapseven better than the good, the Christian men and women. Evil men like Hitler andStalin knew the power of the home and the education provided by the parents orparent SURROGATES. The training of that young mind, heart, and soul from the firstability to comprehend, perhaps as early as age 3 or 4, is the most formative, lasting,training and experience any child could ever have.Home is where the heart is, so it is said. The real home is where the real Christianheart of love exists, where both mother and father LIVE THE LIFE OF REALCHRISTIAN LOVE. When a child is raised in that environment, that child will be raisedright, and have every opportunity to live the very best possible life, the very life whichGod the creator intended for that child, HIS CHILD.A real believer should marry another believer. A real mother will want a real Christianhusband-father, and a real husband-father will want a real Christian wife-mother. Andevery child will want a real Christian mother and a real Christian father and when heor she is old, mature, an adult, and living as the Lord intended, that child will notdepart from the ways of the Lord, lovingly lived out by loving Christian parents:PARENTS WHO REALLY AND TRULY LOVE THE LORD!

The Real Christian

Are you a Christian, a real Christian?You are indeed if, in fact, you are a Biblical Christian, Bible-believing, following the pathway to salvation, and eternal life which the Bible clearly indicates.You are a real Christian if you are an EPHESIANS 2:8-9 Christian:FOR BY GRACE ARE YOU SAVED THROUGH FAITH, THAT NOT OFYOURSELF, FOR IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD NOT OF WORKS LEST ANYMAN OR WOMAN SHOULD BOAST.You are indeed a real Christian if you are conscious of your need, conscious of SIN, confess that sin, seek the forgiveness and repentance of Jesus Christ, and accept and believe in Him as the Messiah, the Savior, the One and Only Way to God the Father. That is indeed the salvation pathway of a real Christian. Are you one?If in fact, you are a real, Bible-believing Christian, saved by the saving blood of Jesus Christ, no further description of self or belief is necessary. We need not call ourselves EVANGELICAL, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, or for that matter anything other than BIBLE-BELIEVING CHRISTIAN SAVED BY GRACE. NOTHING else is necessary, nothing. In fact, it would then be the responsibility of every Christian, real Christian, to study the scriptures, study them well, and every day:STUDY TO SHOW YOURSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD, WORKMENAND WOMEN WHO NEED NOT BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY UNDERSTANDING(DIVIDING) THE WORD OF TRUTH (THE BIBLE).Study that book and learn, learn more every day about what it means to be a Christian, A REAL CHRISTIAN SAVED BY GRACE.And, the real Christian believes fully and engages in a life of:PRAYER.Pray, says the scripture, without ceasing. The Holy Spirit of God indwells, accompanies, and becomes a lifelong partner of the real Christian. That very same member of the Trinity enables, strengthens, enlightens, verbalizes, and communicates the deepest thoughts, feelings, emotions, and needs of every real Christian to God the Father. The heart of a real Christian has its reasons for thought and prayer which far transcends reason itself, and THE HOLY SPIRIT makes that known as a prayer partnerto God the Father as we pray. PRAY WITHOUT CEASING!The real Christian knows that God is HOLY and therefore, takes time every day nomatter where he or she is, to WORSHIP God the Father:HOLY, HOLY, HOLYLORD GOD ALMIGHTYThe real Christian luxuriates in the daily worship of our holy God no matter where heor she is. No special place is necessary.The real Christian engages in communion anytime the Holy Spirit leads. The flesh andblood, the bread and wine of Jesus Christ, can be constantly experienced anytime,anywhere.The real Christian engages in confession of sin, and transgressions, and seeks a holylife, more so every day, knowing that salvation is permanent and secure, but desiring abetter walk with the Lord each and every day.The real Christian engages in praise:PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOWPRAISE HIM ALL CREATURES HERE BELOWPRAISE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY GHOSTThe real Christian gives THANKS at all times, thanking God for everything,EVERYTHING! And especially:THANKS, BE UNTO GODFOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFTOUR LORD JESUS CHRISTIn everything give thanks.The real Christian engages in daily meditation, the so-called quiet time. The mind of areal Christian daily meditates upon God the creator of all things, omnipotent,omniscient, and omnipresent. Wisdom and understanding flow freely in those quiet,contemplative moments. No matter how many or how long, meditation moments are avital, spiritually energizing part of the life of every real Christian.The real Christian asks and seeks at all times. Pride and ego go away. The wisdom,guidance, and direction of the Lord God Almighty are critical to every Christian.The real Christian is ready at all times to give an answer, a reason for the hope that isin him or her through Jesus Christ. When the opportunity is right, discussion of thatfaith without pretense no matter how eloquent the words, comes easily and it is thosediscussions of those faithful reasons a joy to share a real and personal testimony.The real Christian is a person of the Word, living the glorious life of those 66 books. Nowords are necessary to describe faith when any real Christian lives what he or shebelieves. The Christian life really lived is a far higher and better testimony than anywords could convey.The real Christian seldom self-interprets scripture but seeks the guidance, wisdom,and interpretation of the Holy Spirit. There is no higher wisdom, none at all.So, my friend, I ask:ARE YOU A REAL CHRISTIAN?A BIBLE-BELIEVING CHRISTIAN?SAVED IN FAITH BY GRACE?I do hope and pray you are. May you today and all of life seek first the Kingdom of Godand all the righteous things HE has to offer will be given to you!

The Real Evangelical

Do you consider yourself an evangelical Christian, do you? If so, then you should understand the definition of an evangelical and you should define in full, clearly, and factually, what it is you believe, the real biblical definition of an evangelical Christian. That is critical; for as our beloved Bible states so clearly, we should always be ready to give a reason for the faith, a full explanation, clear and understandable as to exactly:WHAT WE BELIEVEIN WHOM WE BELIEVEWHYGeorge Barna, the respected pollster, himself a biblical evangelical, has defined what he considers to be the definition, THE PILLARS of evangelical faith and consequently a strong and solid definition of a real biblical evangelical. These seven cornerstones of an evangelical and one who holds a biblical worldview are as follows.1.GOD IS THE ETERNAL, OMNISCIENT, OMNIPOTENT AND JUST CREATOR. God therefore is eternal, always was, is, and always will be. The God we love and serve is without beginning or ending. Our God the Father is the great I AM. God knows all (omniscient). God is all powerful (omnipotent). God is just, a God of justice with clear rules and standards. Do you believe that? Do you believe those four things about our GOD THE FATHER of our Lord Jesus Christ? Do you?2.HUMAN BEINGS (ALL OF US) ARE SINFUL BY NATURE. From the beginning, the Garden of Eden, man and woman were of a sinful nature. We as human beings can not help but sin because of our sinful nature. Do you believe that? Do you think that is an essential component (pillar) of true biblical evangelical faith, do you?3.JESUS CHRIST GRANTS FORGIVENESS OF SIN AND ETERNAL LIFE WHEN SINNERS REPENT AND PROFESS THEIR FAITH IN HIM ALONE (ALONE). Our Lord Jesus Christ is the answer to sin, the ultimate forgiver of sin, and the granter of eternal life through belief in Him. All such happens when sinners repent (have you?) and profess their faith:IN HIM ALONE.Not of works, lest any man should boast, or a church, or a religion, or a denomination, but:IN HIM ALONE.Do you believe that? Have you sincerely repented and fully been granted the forgiveness of sin and eternal life through Jesus Christ THE LORD, have you?4.THE BIBLE IS TRUE, RELIABLE, AND ALWAYS RELEVANT. The Bible, our Bible, all 66 books, 39 Old Testament and 27 New Testament, are inspired, infallible, true in every way, and the only ultimate guide in life in the pursuit of that life and truth. Do you believe that? Do you believe it is reliable, a guide, a source, and always relevant, meaningful, current to the day, not subject to interpretation but stand-alone, do you believe that, do you?5.ABSOLUTE MORAL TRUTH EXISTS. And, that truth is defined by the Bible, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that essential part of the triune God, the Trinity. Do you believe that there is such a thing as absolute moral truth, do you? And, do you believe that such an absolute moral truth is in fact clearly defined by our beloved Bible, the gift of God the Father to us, do you? Do you believe that our Bible is the absolute and ultimate standard for:RIGHT AND WRONG.Do you? True evangelicals, says George Barna, do just that. Again, do you?6.SUCCESS IS DEFINED AS CONSISTENT OBEDIENCE TO GOD. Obeying God through scripture, commandments, standards, and a clear definition of right and wrong is essential for every true Bible-believing evangelical. Do you believe that obedience to God in every aspect of your life is necessary, a matter of ultimate truth and the hallmark, the cornerstone of every true Bible-believing evangelical, do you?7.LIFE’S PURPOSE IS TO KNOW, LOVE, AND SERVE GOD WITH ALL OUR HEART, SOUL, MIND, AND STRENGTH. Do you know all you should know about the eternal God, God the Father, in order to have the fullest faith possible? Do you love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength, do you as every true Bible-believing evangelical should, do you? And, to the best of your ability, do you serve our God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with all of your heart, mind, strength, and soul, to the very best of your ability and with the strength and power of the Holy Spirit, do you as every true Bible-believing evangelical would, do you?Of course, there is more to the definition of a true Bible-believing Christian, and even more to a true modern-day evangelical, much more in those 66 God-given books, MUCH, MUCH MORE! But these seven points, says pollster George Barna, are the cornerstones of a real Bible-believing evangelical and a true Christian who sees the world and the life we live through the lens of scripture (Franklin Graham) and possesses at all times a biblical worldview. Do you believe that, do you?So then, the task of every Christian is to grow in faith, the knowledge and wisdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. The life’s task of every real true evangelical Bible-believing born-again forgiven Christian is to constantly define and redefine the faith, to learn more about it, to be able to give different and better reasons for that faith, to be proud and unashamed of that faith, and when opportunities arise, present that faith in the very best way possible. And, to live out that faith, to serve the Lord God Almighty, our whole life long. Do you believe that, and do you live that way, do you? That, says George Barna, Franklin Graham, and all true evangelical Christians and scholars is the definition of a real evangelical who knows that Jesus Christ and HIM ALONE is:THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE.I pray that is what you believe and who you are.

The New Evangelical Pastor

Thirty percent of so-called evangelical pastors do not believe that salvation is based exclusively on confession of sins, repentance, and accepting and belief in Jesus Christ as sole and exclusive savior.In short, 30% of today’s evangelical pastors do not believe in a biblical worldview.Those were two findings by George Barna in a recent survey of 1,000 so-called evangelical pastors. Three out of ten so-called evangelical pastors today believe in:WORKS-BASED SALVATION!So, the question becomes:WHAT IS AN EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN?WHAT DOES THE SO-CALLED NEW EVANGELICAL BELIEVE?Especially evangelical pastors.How, I wonder, can any evangelical, pastor or layperson, believe that salvation, truly born again, occurs with both faith and works? Where in the entire 27 books of the New Testament is there any biblical justification for such a position.Belief in works-based salvation directly contradicts and goes against so many passages of New Testament scripture including and especially the following:FOR BY GRACE ARE YOU SAVED BY FAITH.It is a gift (salvation) from God, and it is:NOT OF WORKSLEST ANY MAN OR WOMAN SHOULD BOAST!EPHESIANS 2:8-9Scripture makes it clear that salvation occurs as follows:1.Recognition and confession of sin2.Repentance of sin3.Accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior4.Believing totally and fully in faith in HIM!There are two fundamental and essential pillars of salvation:1.GRACE2.FAITHGrace, God’s unearned mercy provides us, all of us humans, with the gift of salvation. There is nothing we can do to earn that forgiveness, that acceptance, that new status of being BORN AGAIN, NOTHING! None of us can ever measure up to the standards of Almighty God, to His commandments, no matter what we do or how hard we try. We cannot earn forgiveness, much less complete salvation, except by faith in the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. THAT AND HE IS THE GIFT OF GOD AND THE HEART AND SOUL OF SALVATION.Works indeed are essential but not FOR salvation. Works, after salvation, not in the salvation process. They are fruits of the Spirit; they show and prove our belief in our Lord and they are evidence of our deep love and gratitude for HIM. We are saved, the scripture says so very clearly, by grace and faith as a gift from God:NOT FROM WORKS.The works we do will show the world what kind of Christian we are.In biblical terms, we all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God, the standards of God, miserable human failures in any attempt for righteousness. We need help, HIM! We need CALVARY at work, in us, forgiving, cleansing, redeeming. We need HIM not WORKS! So says the scripture, our inspired Bible, over and again.No matter how hard we try, no matter how good we are, no matter how many good works we do, we cannot measure up. ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT! It is the full recognition of the fact that not only have we sinned, and with our nature as it is, and without Him, we will continue to do so, there is nothing more we can do to earn salvation. Salvation comes from Jesus Christ, for it is, says our Bible:THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST WHICH CLEANSES US FROM ALL SIN!Not of works lest we would boast of what we have done to earn that salvation.If 30% of evangelical pastors believe in works-based salvation, 3 out of 10, and almost 40% do not believe in a biblical worldview, 4 out of 10, that answers the oft-asked question:WHAT IS WRONG WITH AMERICA’S PULPITS?The real, the true, the biblical definition of salvation is missing, not only in the preaching but in the life of the so-called new evangelical pastors. Far too many have been watered down, become woke, and willing to capitulate to the progressive thinking of today’s ever-growing anti-Christian cancel-culture society in which we live. These modern-day, woke, pastors are the new OURSELVES and they preach a blasphemous gospel that includes works in the salvation process.The pulpit must return to the real salvation process, the biblical process, as Franklin Graham has so well stated:“PEOPLE NEED THE TRUTH OF THE WORD OF GOD THAT HAS THE POWER OF GOD TO CHANGE HEARTS AND LIVES FOR ETERNITY.”What about your church, your pastor? Do they preach the real gospel, with the saving message of Jesus Christ and faith in Him alone, without works, do they? If not, the power of the gospel is missing, and the pulpit and the pastor are weakened. It is time for you, all of us, to stand up and demand that pulpits and pastors proudly proclaim:EPHESIANS 2:8-9For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man or woman should boast!Any pastor who believes in work-based salvation is just simply not an EVANGELICAL! So says scripture.

Paul

What a man!He was the New Testament version of Old Testament David in so many ways. Paul was a Jew, a Pharisee of the highest order, completely devoted to Judaism. In his early life, no one hated Christianity or Christians more than Paul. In fact, his life’s mission was to destroy Christianity and to kill Christians, KILL THEM! He hated Christ, even though he had never met him.But then, miraculously, Paul met Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World in a way which perhaps no other man had before him. Paul was on his way to Syria from Jerusalem, traveling the Damascus Road on his mission to hunt and kill Christians, when a searing light confronted and blinded him, and a voice like one he had never heard before confronted him saying:SAUL, SAUL (PAUL), WHY DO YOU PERSECUTE ME? WHY?Paul, totally traumatized, managed to mumble:WHO ARE YOU LORD, WHO ARE YOU?I am, the answer came, the one you seek to persecute said Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of Glory. Paul, the killer, the hater, the destroyer instantly became not just a follower of Jesus Christ, but perhaps one of the most devoted followers CHOSEN, CALLED, COMMISSIONED for a Christian calling and commission like no other. From that point forward, the Christian killer let the whole world know that:FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST!You and I have never had a DAMASCUS ROAD CONVERSION but our very own conversion, confrontation with the Christ of Glory can be every bit as meaningful and life-changing. I pray your life has been changed by Him and that you serve him as:YOU ARE CALLED!Paul served his Lord every day of his new life from that day forward. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul authored almost one-half of the New Testament. His writings explain, give meaning to, challenge, and inspire like no other writings before or since. His life’s motto, theme, and purpose was:FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN.At the last, he went to Rome, spent his last days in a dark, dank, freezing, Roman prison, where he announced to his adopted son Timothy:THE TIME HAS COME FOR MY DEPARTURE.Then came five words which perhaps were the epitaph for his life and that of which he was most proud:I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH!I have, he told us:FOUGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH.I have run the Christian race and I have won with the help of my Lord. I HAVE FINISHED THE RACE.Paul sat deserted in that brutal Roman prison, with no one to befriend or defend him and he told his adopted son Timothy:EVERYONE DESERTED ME.But then, overwhelmed by Christian love, he wrote the following:BUT THE LORD (THE LORD) STOOD AT MY SIDE AND GAVE ME STRENGTH.The more we give of our lives, the more persecution, the more rejection, criticism, ridicule, and abandonment by others. Nothing but nothing, and no one would ever get Paul to forsake his faith for he proudly stated over and again:I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH.At his first defense in a Roman court, Paul told Timothy that:NO ONE CAME TO MY SUPPORT. EVERYONE DESSERTED ME.And perhaps the same with you and me. The firmer we stand for the Lord, perhaps the less likely others would come to our support. It is then, especially then, when we should remember, count on, and know for sure that, like Paul:THE LORD WILL STAND BY OUR SIDE AND GIVE US STRENGTH!Paul knew that to die was gain and he longed to see and be with his Lord. And that time came. For the second time, this man would hear the voice of his Lord, just like he heard that voice years ago on the Damascus Road. Paul was brutalized, slaughtered, and:BEHEADEDbecause he was a believer from head to toe. Paul was a man of total faith, never doubting, living a life with sure hope, knowing himself and writing to us that as great as faith and hope were, there was nothing like nor could anything equal:THE ULTIMATE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST.He went then, and he lives now with Him in that eternal, ultimate, never-ending LOVE of Jesus Christ.What a man, what a mission, what a marvelous ending, what a loving ministry. You and I have our own, and that love experienced by Paul is available to us. That calling, that constant companionship of our Lord is available to us every bit as much as it was to Paul. I pray you know Him, that you know His forgiveness, and then perhaps most importantly, like Paul, because of your faith and hope, you know the ultimate:LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST!

Christian and Conservative Action Agenda

God ordained that you and I live in America. Why, only He knows. You and I are privileged to live in the greatest land, the greatest nation in the history of mankind. We are blessed beyond belief, far more than we can know. No matter what may be wrong, the problems and difficulties WE THE PEOPLE face, America is the greatest. There is no nation like her, none in human history. NONE.It is ironic, sad really, that we the citizens, the partakers of these American privileges and liberties cannot fully appreciate them, teach them, live by them, and, as our constitution says, protect, preserve, and defend these freedoms and liberties for our posterity and to teach them how unique, how special, America, its Constitution, rule of law, its way of life, all of this and so much more, so special.With these blessings and privileges are obligations, and duties. We owe, we are required to give back, to invest back in this great country, to do our part to preserve, protect, and defend this way of life. Today, how casually we seem to neglect those duties. More than ever, Americans take their freedoms, especially their political freedoms for granted. We assume they go on, that we will live out the life given us without doing our share of the work required to maintain them. As that practice continues, the freedoms we enjoy will be lost indeed in one generation. Sad and tragic, don’t you think? Where are we? Where are you and where am I when the revolutionary call of THE BRITISH ARE COMING echoes through America. Where are we? Why do we not grab our muskets of faith and head to the battlefield, wherever that is, whatever that is to protect our beloved America, why?Our political system is the finest ever designed, ever. It provides for the full exercise of Federal power. But it also provides for incredible CHECKS AND BALANCES. Run right, implemented in Constitutional terms, the American form of government is the very finest ever designed by mankind. The vast majority of our children never know that. They are not trained up in the ways in which they should go, especially politically, and when they are old, and become decision-makers, they know not the way of their parents, the way of America, the way of the Constitution! How sad and the beginning of the end of freedom, of America itself!There are so many ways to learn who we are, what we are, how we should function, and why it is necessary for every citizen, EVERY CITIZEN, to do his or her part, CRITICAL! Millions are uninformed. Perhaps even worse, those same millions really don’t care, really don’t feel a sense of urgency, REALLY DON’T REALIZE what is happening in America today. They remain indifferent and like Nero of the Rome of old, fiddled while America burns. Someone else to the rescue, but I am too busy, say the millions. And freedom, our very constitutional liberties teeter on the brink.Every American citizen should know one issue and know it well. So often, when an American knows one, and can think it through and discuss reason, and come to constitutional conclusions, that American wants more, more issues, more involvement, and becomes possessed daily with a greater concern for all things American. ONE ISSUE, a catalyst for more, but just one.Then comes a desire to really know the candidates, and what those candidates for political office think and believe about the ONE ISSUE. The priority of this American voter. And, one leads to more. Candidates are understood in terms of their past, their true actions and deeds, their real beliefs without hypocrisy and voting alliances are formed. Support, real support can be given. Money or money consideration, time, effort, and endorsement can be rendered confidently.That informed, enlightened voter will attend rallies. That supporter will support special appearances and attend. That voter, one issue expert and exploring all others, can influence so many readily and confidently. ONE ISSUE, and that inevitably leads to the want more, more knowledge of all issues.Political discussions then become natural. They move from mere duty to opportunity. It becomes natural and normal to discuss with family, to educate and be educated. It stimulates thinking and when watered with prayer, political matters become all the more clear.Then, action becomes easy. Action becomes natural, even desirable. It is not forced but is there, right there, waiting, waiting for the right passionate and loving American to SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY and stand up for our beloved America.Then, the First Amendment, the absolute guarantee, the five guarantees of freedom, critically necessary for mankind become a way of life, for without them, any of them, there would be no America. That American, that real American citizen, studies to show himself approved unto God, and to America, and fellow citizens, true political workmen and workwomen, constantly in the task of learning and loving the constitution, and all things American political, so that he or she will become a far better American, a far better citizen, rightly dividing, understanding and communicating political truths in an America which now lives in so many ways in the era of:POST TRUTH.NOW IS THE TIME FOR CHRISTIAN AND CONSERVATIVE ACTION! NOW! Are you willing to do your part, do you love, care for, and are you willing to protect and defend this the greatest land in the history of mankind in which you are privileged to live, are you? Now or never. The loss of freedom is only one generation away. You and I have the duty as citizens to make certain that THIS IS NOT THAT GENERATION!

Action Agenda

IT IS TIME! It is time for all of us who love our Lord Jesus Christ, who are real Christians, to stand up.It is time for all of us soldiers of the cross, to:FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH!Time to take action. Time to wrap ourselves in the armor of truth.It is time to embrace the shield of righteousness. It is time to be both energized and protected by the Holy Spirit.IT IS THE RIGHT TIME, to wield the sword of faith. IT IS TIME TO FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH IN AMERICA AND WORLDWIDE.NOT WITH WEAPONS. NOT WITH BULLETS. NOT WITH FORCE OR VIOLENCE. But with all of our might with the spiritual weapons of:FAITHHOPELOVE,Especially love.It is time to show the enemy the power of love, the real power of love which Christians have in Jesus Christ. We are told that God is love. And, God IS love. And that love is available as the greatest force in all of this world, ALL OF IT! And, with regard to our Lord, we are told that there is no greater love than that a man or woman lay down his or her life for a friend, for a belief, for Jesus Christ. NO GREATER LOVE! Are you willing to lay down your life as you fight the fight of faith, are you? Am I?Tenderness and compassion are also weapons of the fight of faith. It is an enormously difficult task to love a sinner but hate the sin. Our God does it well, naturally, but we, human and weak, tend to judge both sin and sinner. Judging is not our business but testing the spirits is. Confronting sin, evil, the WRONG, is our business and we may to some extent be conspirators if we do not stand up against that sin, like abortion, like the unnatural, like euthanasia for there is no such thing as mercy killing. Jesus gave his all. He laid down his life for his friends, all of us, all humanity. He showed us the way, the truth, and the life…in death. There is nothing in this world like knowing Him, REALLY KNOWING HIM! Nothing but nothing is more empowering, energizing, enabling, and edifying, NOTHING!With those, the weapons of faith, it is only natural, only right that we, the Army of the Cross, speak up and speak out. There is no way, with that power, that we can be anything but bold, aggressive in our faith, sharing that faith in word and deed, especially deed. There is no way we can be afraid or ashamed. Each of us who believe is possessed with unique talents, all different, but all effective. Your talents are unique in the kingdom of God, needed on the spiritual battlefield. If you truly love your Lord, and you truly believe, you must bring your talents, God-given, to the fore. And now. The night is coming when no man or woman can work, can bring their talents to the fray. Today is the day. You have the opportunity to serve today, this very day. Be on the watch, watchmen and women, and when the opportunity arises, seize it for your Lord. FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH!Those with the gift of speech must speak out. Those who cook the food which God has given must do it as unto the Lord, FEED THE SAINTS! And the needy, and the hungry.Those who tend to children must do it with fresh vision, energy, and conviction. Those artistic should paint as unto the Lord. Those with strong intellect should teach in love. Those who preach and teach the Word should do so with fresh vision and love. ALL IN THE FIGHT OF FAITH.That battle wages, where two or three are gathered together. Franklin Graham, good man, man of God as he is, draws hundreds of thousands. One, or two, or three may well be more than enough for you and me.YOU ARE CALLED, whoever you are. You are possessed with unique faith weapons. And talents. And the Army of the Lord needs you today. TODAY!So, action, Christian and conservative action, is called for. Absolutely necessary TODAY. This is the day which the Lord hath made. Be glad, rejoice therein, and thank God for your salvation and for the privilege you have of living in your, my, our beloved America, EXAMINE YOUR WEAPONS, YOUR TALENTS, and this very day:FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH.Not with the weapons of the world, not with violence, killing, not with hate, vengeance, or any of the ways of the world, but only with the potent, never-failing, eternal weapons of our Lord:FAITH – HOPE – LOVE.And, my fellow Christian:YOU WILL WIN THE BATTLE BEFORE YOU!For Him. God has promised you and me the spiritual victory!

The Christian Home

The Apostle Paul in an epistle (letter) to his very own son in the faith, Timothy, tells him with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that any man or woman who builds a HOME, a Christian Home, must take as a first priority the ruling of that home, before anything else, before any other service, even to God himself, which includes says Paul having the children in that home in subjection.At the time of that writing, marriage was different than marriage today. For the most part, wives were subservient to their husbands, who were head of the household in virtually every way. The roles of fathers and mothers were different but each in the home was responsible for making sure that the home was fully Christian, and the children abided by those Christian rules and regulations in that home. Today, so it seems, there is far greater equality between husband and wife, mutual decision-making for the most part, shared responsibilities, and very much equal obligations with regard to the training up of children in the ways (Christian) they should go. But, there is no change in that absolute unconditional priority that if a man and a woman make a home with children, THAT is their first priority without exception.The making and maintaining of that home require TIME, quality time, caring and loving time. That quality time should be one-on-one, each parent with each child, and quality time for family ALL TOGETHER. That quality time is really the only way that father and mother can train up that child in the way he or she should go so that when he or she is old, mature, an adult, making adult decisions, he or she will not depart therefrom.That time includes careful, sincere, and devoted listening to the mind and heart of the child. It includes dialogue, question and answer, dealing with doubts, and of course, full transparency, anything, and everything thought and felt. That dialogue-parent-child relationship must be fully truthful, never corrupted by the lie. The gospel message, the forgiving love of Jesus Christ must be fully discussed, understood, and embraced. Then and only then can the child, and for that matter, the parent as well, be bold, strong, encouraged, and not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Only then can every member of the family, especially the children, deal with the ridicule sure to come, the criticism, the ostracizing, and the negative reactions of peers. Only then can the child stand firm, in love, and refuse to compromise in any way the love and faith in Jesus Christ. ONLY THEN!The family should have regular time to discuss together, pray together, study the scriptures together, grow the faith together, learn to testify about that faith together, and perhaps above all, discuss doubts about the faith, pose questions and seekanswers, full understanding from the family, or others, and of course, seek theintercession and influence of THE HOLY SPIRIT.That powerful family group, seeking and learning in the ways of the Lord, should learna new sense of gratitude and thankfulness. They should learn together to praise God,to look for better growth and association with the Holy Spirit that very day. That familygroup should learn to experience a new sense of joy. Life should take on greatermeaning and life should therefore become more abundant and enjoyed to the fullest. Areal Christian family is a happy family, having fun and good times together. Thatfamily should learn to pray without ceasing, ever learning the joy of constantfellowship with the Lord in a private, often non-verbal way, with a heart always open tothe Lord, never shut off, and always ready to receive the Love of God in Christ Jesus.Fundamentals of the Christian faith should be discussed. Perhaps the most importantis that of what it means to be a BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN. Believing, that giving one’slife to Christ, may occur in different ways for each individual of the household and thatindividuality should be fully expressed even as the commonality, the basics remain thesame.Discussion is so important with regard to what is regarded by scripture as SIN. Andthen, the forgiveness of sin. And more. That is, any questions or enlightenments whichany of the household members have and can share with others.Children should be encouraged to express their thinking as to how God is leadingthem in their lives, what careers they may wish to pursue, and how as adults theywould wish to live their lives as God intended. That may be like the father or mother,or something entirely different as God intends.The family should understand the concept of Christian witness. Be ready says thescripture to give a reason for the hope, the faith, the belief that is within you. Thetestimony of that faith is critically important. That can be verbal, words. That can beactions and acts, the deeds of a true Christian. A powerful Christian message can besent by works showing the world that faith, by those works, is very much alive. Or,perhaps sometimes by silence, refusing to be tempted, refusing to respond to ridicule,learning not to test the pearls of true faith before those (swine) who would trampleupon them. The challenge of witnessing is more difficult than ever and it should be asubject of discussion at all times with the true Christian family.Most importantly, the Christian home must be characterized at all times by:LOVE – CHRISTIAN LOVE.Early on, we learn that God is love. And, that love is greater than faith, hope, oranything else in this world or the world to come. That love of Christ should be the lovebetween each family member for the other. A true Christian is known by the world asone filled with, expressing, and living LOVE. There was no greater love expressed to allhumankind than the love of Jesus Christ who laid down his life for all. That love untodeath is the ultimate love and as much of that as possible should be shared by thefamily unit.It is a tremendous responsibility to build a home, to have children. But it is anenormous privilege, a fabulous faith-filled adventure with nothing else in this world asfulfilling, NOTHING. Home is where the heart is, where Jesus Christ reigns supreme,and where love abounds. Small wonder it is far and away the number one priority ofany Christian parent!

The Home

FOR IF A MAN OR WOMAN KNOWS NOT HOW TO RULE HIS OR HER OWN HOUSE,HOW SHALL HE OR SHE TAKE CARE OF THE CHURCH OF GOD?So, husband and wife, father and mother, or one without the other in God’sprovidence, if you decide with God’s blessing to have children and to make a HOME,then that becomes your primary priority, and you must do it right. You must structurethe home by biblical standards, and enforce them, in loving and disciplinary ways asChristians with the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit.That Christian home must be ruled by the Holy Spirit. Our Lord Jesus Christ must bethe HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD-HOME! No exceptions, no compromises, and sinceyour hand found that to do:DO IT WITH ALL OF YOUR MIGHT!A real Christian home requires two real Christian parents, both mother and father asstrong believers in Jesus Christ. One without the other is simply not enough, for onebeliever parent and one non-believer parent produce:A HOUSE DIVIDED!No real Christian home, effective, meaningful, and lasting can ever be truly andthoroughly Christian, but compromised at the top, if one parent is a non-believer.The first priority for Christian parenting and the making-structuring of the Christianhome is the investment of:TIME.Adequate, qualitative and quantitative, LOVING time must be invested in the buildingof the Chrisitan home and is critical for maintaining those noble and ethicalstandards. The more time the better. Regular FAMILY TOGETHERNESS should bescheduled. David sought the face of the Lord three times daily, morning, noon, andevening. Perhaps the modern, busy, cellphone-age family should do the same.The best quality time should be spent at home, in the home. That time should includeone-on-one time, father and son and daughter, and mother and son and daughter. Itneed not be long, says Paul, but qualitative. It should be real time, where both parentand child desire to be with each other one-on-one.The second priority is to train up that child in the way in which he or she should goso that when they are mature, on their own, making a difference in society, the Christof Glory is #1 in their lives. That includes the full sharing of the beliefs of the parentsso that the child knows the strong faith, hope, and love of the parent for Jesus Christand for the family which he has blessed all members with. Each parent shares faithand belief and each child shares faith and belief. There is mutuality in dialogue,discourse, and discussion. Lecturing and sermonizing accomplish little in this day andage. Sharing MUTUALITY is critical. That builds respect and appreciation for EVERYMEMBER OF THE FAMILY.The third parental responsibility and duty is to:LISTEN.Really listen to everything said, shared, confessed, to every word of every member.There comes the inevitable family battle between:LISTENING v. LECTURING.Far too many parents are too good at lecturing (do what I say and not necessarily as Ido) and poor at listening or not at all. Nothing turns off a child or a spouse, nothingshows disrespect for that individual like not listening, NOTHING!The fourth priority in building a strong Christian home is that of:DIALOGUE.Parents should encourage children to speak, share, be open and unafraid to sharetheir deepest thoughts, feelings, and:DOUBTS.Especially spiritual-religious-Christian doubts, or any serious questions they may haveabout the faith. No comment, no word, no thought from any family member shouldever be disparaged, NEVER! Nothing and no individual should ever be ridiculed,criticized, or presented with real negative disrespectful reactions or responses.Everything said and shared should be respected and respectfully dialogued with.The fifth priority of building and maintaining a Christian HOME is that of:TRANSPARENCY.Every member of the family circle should be open and feel confident in sharing theirmost intimate and deeply felt thoughts and feelings. When the family meets to discussanything, spiritual or secular, Christian or cultural, anything from the head or heartgoes, ANYTHING! Anything deeply felt and not shared finds out elsewhere in thesecular, anti-Christian culture of today, or even acting out against the parents inharmful ways. Nothing prevents criminality or anti-social behavior, including theillegal and overuse of alcohol and drugs, than parental openness and lovingtransparency.The sixth priority of a home, a Christian and biblical home, is that it be:TRUTHFUL.Every member of the household must fully and confidently believe that their Christianhome stands for:THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.The cardinal rule for any parent or child is that both parent and child should:NEVER LIE.NEVER. Nothing destroys love and respect more than a lie.The seventh priority of any permanent Christian HOME is that its biblical standardsshould never be compromised. If they are, in any way, there should be confession,openly admitting wrongdoing, apologizing with the vow that those standards will neverbe broken again to the best of the offender’s ability.The eighth most important priority in a Christian home is to:BUILD BOLDNESS.So that, every member of the Christian household, each parent and every child, shouldbe:UNASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.Standing for the faith, witnessing of that faith, never apologizing for strong Christianfaith, uncompromised in every way.The building, the establishment, and perhaps most importantly, the maintaining of aChristian home with its biblical and Christ-like standards, loving to the core is aconstant challenge, demanding the very best of each of the home members, requiringtime, effort, planning, and prioritizing in every way possible, so that as parents matureand LEARN (they must), and children are trained up in the way in which they shouldgo:NO MEMBER OF THE FAMILY WILL DEPARTFROM THE CHRISTIAN FAITH THEREIN!

Home

There is no greater privilege for any man or woman than that of being a:PARENT.To be the father or mother of a son or daughter is indeed life’s greatest privilege. But with that privilege comes great responsibility. Parenting, true parenting, and biblical-Christian parenting demands commitment, real commitment. When unto those parents a child is born, life’s priorities change, irrevocably change. No matter career, education, hobby or any other thing of interest, parenting becomes:PRIORITY #1So says the scripture. So says the Apostle Paul. And so says God the Father who, as the supreme example of father, sent his son to this world, to us, that we might know what the ultimate and eternal father-son relationship really is. That eternal father and son provides the perfect example of what parenting should be, heavenly and earthly.TRAIN UP A CHILD. Train him or her in the ways of the Lord, believer father and believer mother. The God-given birth of that son or daughter becomes priority #1 for BOTH father and mother. So says our heavenly father. Building a Christian home with a Chrisitan father and mother, structuring and controlling that home, is then, at birth priority #1 and always will be.HOME, that sacred environment where there is Christian learning, loving, and listening is the very finest thing for any Christian parent.That home must be guided by REAL CHRISTIANITY. Christian principles must apply. The morality of old and new testaments must be the Lonestar, the code of ethics and honor of that home. That is why it is critical, indispensable, uncompromisingly so that both mother and father be:CHRISITAN - BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN – REAL CHRISTIANS.For only real Christian mothers and fathers, true believing parents can:TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE OR SHE SHOULD GO.For, done right, when children are raised in a real Christian home by real Christianparents (both father and mother) and where the love of the Lord prevails, only then canboth principles, that Christian code of ethics, last a lifetime. Only then can the childbecome the Christian the parent is, like the Christian parent, and believe like them fora lifetime. Children will never depart from the belief of real Christian parents no matterwhat.Children are remarkably sensitive. They sense hypocrisy perhaps even better thanadults. If any parent is ‘do what I say and not necessarily what I do,’ the child rebels,acts out, disavows, and comes to believe that not only is the purported faith of theparents hypocritical, but that all of Christianity itself is hypocrisy. So, when they areold and ready to depart the home, leave their parents, and become adults on theirown, they want nothing to do with what they believe is hypocritical Christianity. Theparents, mother and father, have failed the child in the most negative way.Our Lord and the Apostle Paul have told us so very clearly that there are three greatthings in this world:FAITH – HOPE – LOVEAnd the greatest of these is LOVE. The greatest lesson any child can learn is Christianlove and that Christian love displayed between husband and wife, father and mother,that real love that exists between father and son, mother and daughter, and eachparent for each and every child, equally, sincerely, and without compromise. Theultimate expression of that love was the love between God the Father and our LordJesus Christ. Real love, parent for child is like that and when it is, or when parents dotheir very best guided by the Holy Spirit to saturate the home with Christian love, thechild learns the greatest lesson in all of life. Nothing can equal a home filled withChristian love, Christian parents loving young Christian children with that very sameChristian love. It is the greatest teacher, and the most important lesson to learn in allof life.But that takes TIME. There must be quality time between parent and child. Nothingexpresses love more, teaches better than the love between father and son, and fatherand daughter, and mother and son, and mother and daughter. NOTHING! That TIMEmust be qualitative, one on one, open and transparent, and consistent. To be a realChristian parent and train up that child in the way in which he or she should gorequires quality time as first priority and always. Nothing expresses better than timespent together one-on-one. NOTHING!The roles of father and mother are different, but they must be guided, as scriptureclearly states, by Christian principles, morals, ethics, and commandments. TheChristian home must be full of faith, hope, and above all LOVE. Real love. REALCHRISTIAN LOVE! That home environment is far more powerful than any church. Orany pastor. Or any Sunday School. Evil human beings know that as well or perhapseven better than the good, the Christian men and women. Evil men like Hitler andStalin knew the power of the home and the education provided by the parents orparent SURROGATES. The training of that young mind, heart, and soul from the firstability to comprehend, perhaps as early as age 3 or 4, is the most formative, lasting,training and experience any child could ever have.Home is where the heart is, so it is said. The real home is where the real Christianheart of love exists, where both mother and father LIVE THE LIFE OF REALCHRISTIAN LOVE. When a child is raised in that environment, that child will be raisedright, and have every opportunity to live the very best possible life, the very life whichGod the creator intended for that child, HIS CHILD.A real believer should marry another believer. A real mother will want a real Christianhusband-father, and a real husband-father will want a real Christian wife-mother. Andevery child will want a real Christian mother and a real Christian father and when heor she is old, mature, an adult, and living as the Lord intended, that child will notdepart from the ways of the Lord, lovingly lived out by loving Christian parents:PARENTS WHO REALLY AND TRULY LOVE THE LORD!

The Patriot - The Patriot Day

America is the leader of the west.Or at least, it once was.We were born as a marvelous experiment in Democracy, in FREEDOM. We, the 1776ers built our country as THE CITY ON THE HILL, the bright, shining beacon welcoming all to enjoy these precious freedoms with the Pledge of Allegiance to protect, preserve and defend our precious constitution and our way of life.We were built as a nation, one nation, indivisible, UNDER GOD with the promise of liberty and justice for all but America 2021 is nothing more then divided, deeply divided. We the people are polarized in virtually every aspect of our lives and our society. Instead of UNITED WE STAND, our motto should be divided to the core. We are anything but one nation.We are weakened in virtually every aspect of our society. Our economy. Where the dollar once used to be the measure of financial stability, it is no longer. We pile debt upon debt and print money for anything and everything. Our military is nowhere near as strong, threatened as we are by China and Russia. We are culturally far different, Judeo – Christian standards mocked and ignored. Religion wanes, faith in the God of the universe, and especially the God of our Lord Jesus Christ crumbles daily. We are a house divided, and a house divided:CANNOT STAND!No matter the wars of the world, Continental America was never attacked. That was so until September 11, 2001. Then came Bin Laden and his minions and the World Trade Center twin towers were destroyed, as was much of the Pentagon in Washington D.C. We found it unbelievable for these incredible acts of terrorism had never happened to us before, NEVER. But we rallied. We became almost overnight UNITED, ready to defend, to protect and preserve all that we held dear. Some 4,000 of our fellow citizens perished. We rallied to their cause, their families, their aid and support and our President George W. Bush vowed to bring the killers to justice. There was a feeling of PATRIOTISM which America had not experienced in decades. We were ready to do whatever was required. America was the America it should be, the America of old, the America of 1776. In the midst of this incredible disaster, the 9/11 massacres, America was:PATRIOTICALLY BORN AGAINBut that renewed Patriotism did not last long. It gave way to partisanship, ideological differences, deep societal divisions and rather than the patriotic love for country, an ever growing hatred for so much of what America stood for. There came about a more active socialism, something to replace democracy. Marxism reared its ugly head again. China and Russia emerged as ever growing threats to America, more each year in the past two decades. Iran and other terrorist African and Middle East nations flexed their aggressive muscles. Terrorism spread virtually everywhere. The world seemed never to have been more unsafe. There were wars and rumors of wars. America fought such wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and it seemed as though the world we knew in the year 2000 was now dramatically changed. At least America was.But, who are we my fellow Americans? What kind of people are we and what kind of society, civilization and political orientation do we have. What is America today? And how shall we live, HOW?I wonder if we are the descendants the people of 1776 who fought and gave their lives for the freedoms we enjoy today. I wonder whether we are freedom fighters, willing to fight with our lives for our freedoms.I wonder what we really believe, what are our real priorities. I wonder what kind of government we want to have and how active and aggressive we will be in participating in that government. I wonder whether or not our Judeo – Christian values, the moral principles upon which this country was built, will endure and how meaningful they are. Is it not time, with the lessons of 9/11, of Patriot day in mind to ask straight forwardly:WHO ARE WE?We were leaders of the world, world watch dog empower. We were proud to be Americans and citizens the world over respected our country and WE THE PEOPLE. We honored our commitments, our WORD but today, America lives in the error of POST TRUTH where the lie abounds. We can no longer be trusted. We have abandoned Afghanistan and for the most part Iraq, military endeavors we undertook after 9/11. We have left thousands to die as terrorism spreads and rules. It is in many ways embarrassing to be an American for so many.How good it would be for our country if that born again Patriotism were to be revived an become once again our way of life. If only Patriot day could awaken once again the spirit of Patriotism, love of Constitution, and an even deeper love of freedom, all of the freedoms we enjoy. A young American saved hundreds of lives when he and his cohort aboard a plane bent on sabotage and killing said to his fellow passengers:LET’S ROLLHe and they gave their lives as the plane went down, saving hundreds of other lives and perhaps even the very White House of America itself. This man was willing to die for freedom. Are we? Are we willing to give our lives for the incredible life and lifestylewe now enjoy, are we? Patriot day asks that of us. HOW WILL WE RESPOND. What will we tell the world America is and what do we believe.The real America would heed the call of President Thomas Jefferson who said so clearly that:“The tree of liberty needs to refreshed by the blood of Patriots from time to time.”And now is surely the time when that might happen if in fact we are determined to live free.The lesson of 9/11 should be that we the people have a renewed hunger for freedom, that we have a far deeper appreciation of what freedom is, how fragile it is and what we must do to live free. Perhaps 9/11 allows us to once again adopt the slogan, the theme of the great revolutionary state of Vermont:LIVE FREE OR DIEI wonder if we are willing to die for freedom like they were, are we? Are we willing to lay our all on the alter for freedom to protect, preserve and defend our way of life, are we?May it be so. Be willing, my fellow Americans, to do whatever it takes to preserve, protect and defend our beloved America.For these precious freedoms once lost, are lost forever.

Labor Day - Work

Work is good. Work is necessary for the fulfillment of every human being. Work is required of every person according to his or her capabilities and talents, so sayeth the Scripture. All of us must work to survive, live, grow and profit and be all that we can be and as God intended us to be.Our very own America was built on hard work, and is in fact itself a work in progress. The progress depends upon us, we the people, how hard we work and how we make things happen. The majority of we the American people are hard workers. And, the harder and the better we work, the better America and all of us are. To be sure, nothing comes easy in this life, nothing. Everything we have or enjoy is the product of hard work by someone, whether you, or me, or someone else. You and I must do our share, accomplish our calling for the very short time we have on this precious earth. Life, said the wisest man of old King Solomon, is but a vapor here today and gone so soon tomorrow. We should make every working day count to the fullest.Pioneers built our country. They were men and women who did little but work hard morning till night. They farmed land never before productive. They raised animals and used them for work and feed. They built houses, and churches, and City Halls. They built roads and bridges. They built autos and trucks. They built hospitals and invented medicines. They designed and manufactured clothing. They created places for entertainment and worship. They built elaborate and majestic campuses for education and things theological. They built laboratories and science centers and they sent us deep into space. They were then and we are now the workers who made America great, America, the most exciting, creative human and social experiment in all of history. You and I should be proud of them and we should be proud to be workers like they were. The more we work, the better we are, caught up, energized and thrilled by the spirit of America, our exceptional opportunity to pursue our dreams and to build our future. America and those who believe in what it stands for are indeed EXCEPTIONAL and we have been blessed by EQUALLY EXCEPTIONAL opportunity. As we work, we should do everything possible to protect and defend the opportunities, lifestyles and freedoms which America offers.How wonderful it is that the talent and ability of every individual God-Made is different, unique. It is marvelous indeed that every single person has talent and gifts which are in fact different. That is true divine diversity. None of us are better at least not in the sight of God, but different only. Each of us has our own special CALLING. So, no matter who you are, YOU are special and it is your right but every bit as importantly your duty to utilize those God-given talents to the fullest. It is your dutyto fulfill your calling. So then, we should not be concerned with what others think norshould we judge what we do and how we work by the standards of others. Nor shouldwe be inhibited by their criticism. For we need to know ourselves, be true to thatspecial self and soul which God has created and through prayer and meditation, cometo a full recognition of those talents and be the very person God intended that you andI be. We can fail, but we can bounce back. The opportunity for growth and change isstill available in America, thank God. Ignore rejection and focus on your calling.So then, my fellow Americans, you may be called to be a mother. Be all that you canbe as a mother for the sake of your children and do your God-given calling with all ofyour might. Or perhaps you are secretary, or babysitter. Perhaps you clean for aliving. Recognize all such work as a calling and do your calling with all of your might.Or perhaps you are plumber, electrician, landscaper, restaurant worker. Do yourcalling with all of your might and as you can, as unto the Lord. Or perhaps you arelawyer, accountant, radio salesperson, financial planner. Do your calling with all ofyour might. And if you are the President of anything, including the President of ourgreat United States, you perhaps have a calling with higher standards, duties anddemands. No one should do a calling better than you WITH ALL OF YOUR MIGHT!So, we work, we produce and as we do, we should expect return which of courseincludes money and profit. We work for economic growth and benefit, for the fruit ofour labors. We follow the biblical prescription that we can expect even with minimumwork product the return of that work one for one. Or perhaps, five to one. Or even asScripture indicates, perhaps as much as ten to one or more as we diligently developand exploit those talents and capabilities through hard work. The money return fromour work, efforts, creativity and initiative is blessed by Scripture. That money returnis right, as we become work men and work women worthy of our hire. We plant, asScripture says, and Mother Nature waters and it is GOD who gives the increase so theScriptures say. It is a good thing to make money and to be rewarded for our work.Money supports. Money helps others. Money creates opportunity. The best of us atwork, hard work, is exactly what this world of so many ENTITLED needs now morethan ever. In fact, hard and productive work is so necessary for this world ofentitlements in which we live in order for it to survive and continue. It is well andgood indeed to help those all in real need. But all who can, any and all includingthose receiving entitlements, should work as they can.But today, unfortunately it seems, there are those supposedly progressive in thinkingwho wish to tell us that profit is wrong, especially in excess. That profit made is theresult of GREED at work. Profit they say is not as a result of hard work or specialskills, but rather the exploitation of others. Ignore them. You are worthy of the profitand gain of anything you produce at any level of life. The more you invest as a mother,the better your child, perhaps better than others. Enjoy the fruit, the profit of yourlabors. When you build something, revel in the fruit of your labors and do it with all ofyour might, and better than others. For no matter what progressives or others wouldsay, YOU DID IN FACT BUILD IT, and you did build it yourself. In fact, so much ofwhat is built would not have been built without you or me. Revel in, enjoy and profitfrom anything and everything YOU BUILT!But work produces much more than money. Those who understand the value of workrealize full well that the doing well of anything is the reward itself! The satisfaction,the fulfillment, the full expression of the self among mankind and before God are THEBEST REWARDS. They are indeed more valuable than money for money comes andgoes. But the rewards of work well done last a lifetime and are in fact eternal. Wecreate an earthly balance sheet, personal financial and loss statements here and now,but it is the ETERNAL balance sheet which really counts. Nothing goes with you, nomatter what you leave behind, but only the heavenly balance sheet you create. Forthere is always something more, often much more than the work itself or the profittherefrom. There is good, often enormous good in work well done and even veryspiritual good. See that clearly as part of the goal of your calling and WORK whichonly adds to the return and the enjoyment.So, the work we do can be not only for money, or profit, but for non-profit. For worthycauses. For the good of society in which we live. For all humanity, especially those inneed. For the Christian Church and for the Christ we love and serve. For blooddrives. For HIV awareness and treatment. For feeding and sheltering the homeless.For carrying the message of the Gospel to forsaken and needy parts of America and theworld. Shepherding and guiding children. Tending to the needs of the elderly.Visiting and comforting those in prison.THE WORK OF THE LORD AT WORK FOR ALL MANKIND, AS WE ARE CALLED.All of these things make us what we should be before the Lord and our fellow man.So many of us are people of faith. But our faith, sayeth Scripture, without works isdead. Whatever you believe, whatever your faith, there is no way for anyone to knowwhether or not it is real except by your works. Talk is cheap. But by the fruits of yourlabors your fellow human beings will know you. If there is in fact a work of God inyou, a CALLING, a life objective, the works that you do will prove to others who youare. What you and I do not do also proves who we are. The great thinking DietrichBonhoeffer said that not to act is to act. Negative actions, doing nothing, can be aspotent negatively as actual action itself.Unfortunately, there are those who do deceitful works and works of iniquity. They areknown for their fraudulent and deceitful acts. They work not for the good of mankind,but only for themselves, for ego, for elicit gain in a deceitful way. Their works andtheir lives are in vain. William Shakespeare said that the evil that men do lives afterthem, the legacy they make and that evil is the only thing remembered here and ineternity.So, it is our duty to study, to grow ourselves in our career and constantly makeourselves better, so that we can show ourselves approved as work men and women,understanding the objectives, values and priorities which are ours, always growing inour understanding, especially the Scriptures so that we can be approved by God beforehim as well as man. Learning, whether a trade or in law, or by gaining experience andgrowing or by learning from others, or the school of hard knocks, and by mistakes,learning standards of excellence to which we can aspire so that we can be all, ALL wecan be, working with all of our might knowing in this world that indeed the night iscoming where no man can work. Work while you can and the best you can.In this life, we slow down, age or perhaps lose interest or motivation, and of courseenergy and our ability to work dissipates or even ends. With that ends opportunityand potential and we may not have finished what we are called to do. Some retire, orquit, or are forced to retire prematurely. Some of us are fortunate enough to finishand accomplish our objectives and purposes, while others can not. For us, we arefortunate that even Jesus of Nazareth said in John’s Gospel that he had in factfinished the work for which the Father had sent him. He had accomplished Hisobjectives, fulfilled His purposes and He did so to His last dying breath. Our goal, likeHIS should be to finish our work, the work for which we were sent by God and meantto do. That is the greatest fulfillment this life can offer.We are called upon by God Almighty to live every day to the fullest. CARPE DIEM myfellow Americans, seize the day. It is the day which the Lord hath made and for you towork and be productive. Worry not about tomorrow, or the criticism, expectations oreven the rejections of any man. It has its own problems-evil-which you can not controlor do anything about. But, rather think in terms of how precious every minute ofevery hour of every day is, and rejoice in that. Maximize the opportunity that minutebrings and, whatever your hand finds to do, YOUR CALLING, do it with all of yourmight. Every God-given minute is indeed an opportunity there once never to return.So that everything we do, everything no matter how menial works together for good.The joy of living is so special. We are told by our Lord that He is come that we mighthave life in its most ABUNDANT form and that our joy, OUR TOTAL JOY may be full.There is joy in every moment, as we work, as we rest, as we play, as we love others andas we understand who we are and:BE ALL THAT WE CAN BEThose who love to work and love as much to be productive and make things happenknow that the ultimate reward for such work is:THE VERY WORK ITSELFNo matter the accolades of man, or profit, or any other earthly benefit, the ultimatereward, the ultimate satisfaction is the work itself. Nothing feels better to any rightthinkingperson than a job well done, having done the best you can with all of yourmight.So then, for the Christian, there is something even greater than works. There isGRACE, saving grace. And no manner of works can ever equal that. The grace at Godat work trumps the works of any man, but when added to works, leads to the completefulfillment of that life. We can and should be proud of the works we do, but the workof God in Jesus Christ, saving grace through Him is the greatest work of all. Thecombination of grace producing work, the right work is the very best thing in life.So, my fellow Americans, work hard. Work well, with purpose. Know your calling. Dowhat you were CALLED to do, and do it in each and every minute, hour and day ofyour life. Do what your Creator would have you do and you will find fulfillment in thatwork and in your life. It matters not whether you are housewife or President,millionaire or middle class, never forget that:YOU AND YOUR WORK ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANTYOU AND YOUR WORK ARE UNIQUE, DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHERSWe need not the approval or recognition of mankind however enjoyable that may be.We need to work to be approved by God, who knows us, our every thought and deed.His approval is all that matters.I and the Crawford Broadcasting Company honor all of the men and women inAmerica who work, and work hard, and make America, family and friends, and all ofus so much better and especially those who work as unto the Lord. Find the work youlove to do, really love to do and you will never work a day in your life!God bless you work men and women worthy of your hire and it is because of you that:GOD WILL BLESS AMERICA

Christian and Conservative Action Agenda

God ordained that you and I live in America. Why, only He knows. You and I are privileged to live in the greatest land, the greatest nation in the history of mankind. We are blessed beyond belief, far more than we can know. No matter what may be wrong, the problems and difficulties WE THE PEOPLE face, America is the greatest. There is no nation like her, none in human history. NONE.It is ironic, sad really, that we the citizens, the partakers of these American privileges and liberties cannot fully appreciate them, teach them, live by them, and, as our constitution says, protect, preserve, and defend these freedoms and liberties for our posterity and to teach them how unique, how special, America, its Constitution, rule of law, its way of life, all of this and so much more, so special.With these blessings and privileges are obligations, and duties. We owe, we are required to give back, to invest back in this great country, to do our part to preserve, protect, and defend this way of life. Today, how casually we seem to neglect those duties. More than ever, Americans take their freedoms, especially their political freedoms for granted. We assume they go on, that we will live out the life given us without doing our share of the work required to maintain them. As that practice continues, the freedoms we enjoy will be lost indeed in one generation. Sad and tragic, don’t you think? Where are we? Where are you and where am I when the revolutionary call of THE BRITISH ARE COMING echoes through America. Where are we? Why do we not grab our muskets of faith and head to the battlefield, wherever that is, whatever that is to protect our beloved America, why?Our political system is the finest ever designed, ever. It provides for the full exercise of Federal power. But it also provides for incredible CHECKS AND BALANCES. Run right, implemented in Constitutional terms, the American form of government is the very finest ever designed by mankind. The vast majority of our children never know that. They are not trained up in the ways in which they should go, especially politically, and when they are old, and become decision-makers, they know not the way of their parents, the way of America, the way of the Constitution! How sad and the beginning of the end of freedom, of America itself!There are so many ways to learn who we are, what we are, how we should function, and why it is necessary for every citizen, EVERY CITIZEN, to do his or her part, CRITICAL! Millions are uninformed. Perhaps even worse, those same millions really don’t care, really don’t feel a sense of urgency, REALLY DON’T REALIZE what is happening in America today. They remain indifferent and like Nero of the Rome of old, fiddled while America burns. Someone else to the rescue, but I am too busy, say the millions. And freedom, our very constitutional liberties teeter on the brink.Every American citizen should know one issue and know it well. So often, when an American knows one, and can think it through and discuss reason, and come to constitutional conclusions, that American wants more, more issues, more involvement, and becomes possessed daily with a greater concern for all things American. ONE ISSUE, a catalyst for more, but just one.Then comes a desire to really know the candidates, and what those candidates for political office think and believe about the ONE ISSUE. The priority of this American voter. And, one leads to more. Candidates are understood in terms of their past, their true actions and deeds, their real beliefs without hypocrisy and voting alliances are formed. Support, real support can be given. Money or money consideration, time, effort, and endorsement can be rendered confidently.That informed, enlightened voter will attend rallies. That supporter will support special appearances and attend. That voter, one issue expert and exploring all others, can influence so many readily and confidently. ONE ISSUE, and that inevitably leads to the want more, more knowledge of all issues.Political discussions then become natural. They move from mere duty to opportunity. It becomes natural and normal to discuss with family, to educate and be educated. It stimulates thinking and when watered with prayer, political matters become all the more clear.Then, action becomes easy. Action becomes natural, even desirable. It is not forced but is there, right there, waiting, waiting for the right passionate and loving American to SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY and stand up for our beloved America.Then, the First Amendment, the absolute guarantee, the five guarantees of freedom, critically necessary for mankind become a way of life, for without them, any of them, there would be no America. That American, that real American citizen, studies to show himself approved unto God, and to America, and fellow citizens, true political workmen and workwomen, constantly in the task of learning and loving the constitution, and all things American political, so that he or she will become a far better American, a far better citizen, rightly dividing, understanding and communicating political truths in an America which now lives in so many ways in the era of:POST TRUTH.NOW IS THE TIME FOR CHRISTIAN AND CONSERVATIVE ACTION! NOW! Are you willing to do your part, do you love, care for, and are you willing to protect and defend this the greatest land in the history of mankind in which you are privileged to live, are you? Now or never. The loss of freedom is only one generation away. You and I have the duty as citizens to make certain that THIS IS NOT THAT GENERATION!

Action Agenda

IT IS TIME! It is time for all of us who love our Lord Jesus Christ, who are real Christians, to stand up.It is time for all of us soldiers of the cross, to:FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH!Time to take action. Time to wrap ourselves in the armor of truth.It is time to embrace the shield of righteousness. It is time to be both energized and protected by the Holy Spirit.IT IS THE RIGHT TIME, to wield the sword of faith. IT IS TIME TO FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH IN AMERICA AND WORLDWIDE.NOT WITH WEAPONS. NOT WITH BULLETS. NOT WITH FORCE OR VIOLENCE. But with all of our might with the spiritual weapons of:FAITHHOPELOVE,Especially love.It is time to show the enemy the power of love, the real power of love which Christians have in Jesus Christ. We are told that God is love. And, God IS love. And that love is available as the greatest force in all of this world, ALL OF IT! And, with regard to our Lord, we are told that there is no greater love than that a man or woman lay down his or her life for a friend, for a belief, for Jesus Christ. NO GREATER LOVE! Are you willing to lay down your life as you fight the fight of faith, are you? Am I?Tenderness and compassion are also weapons of the fight of faith. It is an enormously difficult task to love a sinner but hate the sin. Our God does it well, naturally, but we, human and weak, tend to judge both sin and sinner. Judging is not our business but testing the spirits is. Confronting sin, evil, the WRONG, is our business and we may to some extent be conspirators if we do not stand up against that sin, like abortion, like the unnatural, like euthanasia for there is no such thing as mercy killing. Jesus gave his all. He laid down his life for his friends, all of us, all humanity. He showed us the way, the truth, and the life…in death. There is nothing in this world like knowing Him, REALLY KNOWING HIM! Nothing but nothing is more empowering, energizing, enabling, and edifying, NOTHING!With those, the weapons of faith, it is only natural, only right that we, the Army of the Cross, speak up and speak out. There is no way, with that power, that we can be anything but bold, aggressive in our faith, sharing that faith in word and deed, especially deed. There is no way we can be afraid or ashamed. Each of us who believe is possessed with unique talents, all different, but all effective. Your talents are unique in the kingdom of God, needed on the spiritual battlefield. If you truly love your Lord, and you truly believe, you must bring your talents, God-given, to the fore. And now. The night is coming when no man or woman can work, can bring their talents to the fray. Today is the day. You have the opportunity to serve today, this very day. Be on the watch, watchmen and women, and when the opportunity arises, seize it for your Lord. FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH!Those with the gift of speech must speak out. Those who cook the food which God has given must do it as unto the Lord, FEED THE SAINTS! And the needy, and the hungry.Those who tend to children must do it with fresh vision, energy, and conviction. Those artistic should paint as unto the Lord. Those with strong intellect should teach in love. Those who preach and teach the Word should do so with fresh vision and love. ALL IN THE FIGHT OF FAITH.That battle wages, where two or three are gathered together. Franklin Graham, good man, man of God as he is, draws hundreds of thousands. One, or two, or three may well be more than enough for you and me.YOU ARE CALLED, whoever you are. You are possessed with unique faith weapons. And talents. And the Army of the Lord needs you today. TODAY!So, action, Christian and conservative action, is called for. Absolutely necessary TODAY. This is the day which the Lord hath made. Be glad, rejoice therein, and thank God for your salvation and for the privilege you have of living in your, my, our beloved America, EXAMINE YOUR WEAPONS, YOUR TALENTS, and this very day:FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH.Not with the weapons of the world, not with violence, killing, not with hate, vengeance, or any of the ways of the world, but only with the potent, never-failing, eternal weapons of our Lord:FAITH – HOPE – LOVE.And, my fellow Christian:YOU WILL WIN THE BATTLE BEFORE YOU!For Him. God has promised you and me the spiritual victory!

Christian Action List

STUDY TO SHOW YOURSELF APPROVED!If you are a true, bible-believing, saved-by-grace Christian, and so much has been given to you by our Lord, to you and me, when so much has been given, MUCH IS EXPECTED.Every Christian, no matter the intellect, education, or academic capability, is required to:STUDY.Woke, progressive, radical, anti-American individuals, growing by leaps and bounds, count on the fact that you and I will not study the issues, and understand their implications to our faith, our church, and our Lord. No matter the issue, they the enemy count upon Christians being indifferent, uninvolved, and even ignorant of what is really happening, truth and fact in this world of cancel-culture and post-truth. You and I, lovers of our Lord Jesus Christ, must show them that we are the exact opposite. That we still stand up, that we will fight the fight of faith with God-given weapons far superior to the military and violent weapons of the world, and that:TRUTH MATTERS.It matters now more than ever. And of course, to us, the ultimate truth is:THE BIBLE.THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH OF THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, THE FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THE AUTHOR AND MAKER OF ALL TRUTH.That takes study, and work. There is not any human being anywhere who does not have the capability to do that. No matter your level of intelligence, IQ, or academic rating, YOU CAN DO THIS! You must do this. You must be informed, educated, and enlightened, and you must be active, participating, strong in the Lord, wearing the armor of faith, wielding the sword of Righteousness, and fully protected by the Love, Power, and Strength of Jesus Christ. YOU MUST STAND UP AND BOLDLY SO!Study those scriptures, all of them, Old and New Testament. Learn from them, and ask for the wisdom, guidance, and understanding of the Holy Spirit. Think through those issues. Dwell upon them until you understand them, issues that matter to you, and issues which God has laid upon your heart. Find the answers. That starts with Holy Scripture. Therein lies absolute and unconditional and uncompromising truth.Study the Constitution. Understand what you can. Seek outside sources which will explain, educate, and edify you, and enlighten you as a proud American citizen. There is no guarantee, no expression of freedom any better or more comprehensive than the incredible First Amendment of that American Constitution. Perhaps the greatest document ever produced by mankind, the expression of freedom, the body of that document with its amendments, ours as Americans since 1787.We can worship as we please, openly, unashamed, publicly, and as the Lord leads. The right to believe and proclaim the Gospel is a right that can never be taken away, NEVER. We must fight the fight of faith to preserve that right, now and always.There is no freedom of religion, no right, opportunity, or privilege to be a Christian without the free speech and free press that the First Amendment of the Constitution guarantees. We must be able to speak loudly, boldly, intelligently, and joyfully about the faith which has transformed us, made us different, and which is the core, the substance of our lives. We must preserve those freedoms, speech and press, the heart and soul of liberty at all costs. We must say, and believe, and act upon the words of founding father Patrick Henry, ‘GIVE ME LIBERTY (freedom of religion, speech, and press) OR GIVE ME DEATH!We must be ready to lay our all on the altar, our lives, our possessions, our future, to protect this liberty, the first and most important of which is:FREEDOM OF RELIGION.Anyone, ANYONE, can do that, no matter the education or level of intellect, ANYONE! Ask for the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit, ask for understanding and enlightenment. Ask and you will receive that if you are serious, willing to work and study, and determine to be a better Christian and American. All freedoms take work, and require protection, passionate belief, and determination to win the battle of faith, hope, and love. That battle of faith is not easy, constant, never-ending, and we must be soldiers of the cross until HE returns, the captain of our faith and the only one, THE ONLY ONE, who can redeem and bring peace, goodwill, and love to all humankind.STUDY! Scripture and Constitution.THINK.MEDITATE.PRAY. Ask for the wisdom and understanding of the Holy Spirit, our precious Holy Bible, and our beloved secular counterpart, our Constitution.  SPEAK BOLDLY! And, like Paul, say with all your heart:I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION!PROTECT AND DEFEND our holy Scriptures.PROTECT AND DEFEND our beloved Constitution.Read it, understand what you can, and seek guidance and understanding from sources that can help you become a better fighter of the faith and a champion of America.To be Christian, to be American, to have those incredible opportunities comes with duty, responsibility, and obligation. Chief of which is to study, learn, engage, be involved, and work for the night is coming, work for your Lord and your Country.DO WHAT YOU CAN! Only what you can, but do it well, do it with all your might, and protect your faith and your country. For those precious freedoms, privileges, once lost are lost forever. Heed the words of Ronald Reagan:THE LOSS OF OUR FREEDOM, ALL OF THEM (PERMANENTLY SO) IS ONLY ONE GENERATION AWAY!

Pride Month - Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence

The Los Angeles Dodgers are a popular, well-known, and for the most part, good baseball team and organization.They play baseball, or at least they should, that and that alone. Their objective, their mission, is sports, clean, honest, hardworking sports, with the objective of winning the World Series. They are not qualified and should not be involved in politics, cultural or social issues and ideas, and most importantly, religion. They have no business or expertise to take positions on any religious matters or social-cultural matters and issues as well. PLAY BASEBALL AND DO IT WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT!But then comes so-called PRIDE MONTH. Supposedly, Americans-We The People are supposed to honor and embrace the LGBTQIA movement. Whether or not we believe in gay homosexuality and the lifestyle which accompanies that movement, which in so many ways is anti-Christian, and even more broadly anti-religion. Somehow, and for whatever reason, and whoever made these decisions, the top brass of the LA Dodgers, that major league baseball organization, decided to honor the Pride movement by having a night and a baseball game in their honor and in celebration of PRIDE MONTH.Shockingly, the LA Dodgers decided to “celebrate” pride month by honoring the:SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE.These so-called SISTERS are nothing more than men who dress up in sexually explicit and rainbow-colored nun clothing to mock Catholics. These men, posing as women, perform shocking stunts designed to be as offensive as possible. They include a CONDOM SAVIOR MASS and believe this or not, pole dancing on a crucifix, perhaps the height of blasphemous mockery of Christianity and the Catholic church, and presenting DRAG QUEENS posing as nuns. Can you believe that? What an entity. Sounds to me like straight from the devil. What do you think?Again, shockingly, the LA Dodgers gave this anti-Catholic bigoted group center stage and honored them as representatives of the Pride movement with utter disregard for Catholicism, Catholics in general, and in fact all Christians who believe in the crucified Lord Jesus Christ.  The Dodgers organization invited SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE, then as a result of an outpouring of thousands of protests, disinvited the group, but then the radical, woke, progressive, cancel-culture thinking, which obviously dominates the Los Angeles Dodgers ownership and decision makers, re-invited this blasphemous group once again. This intolerant hate group showed up at the LA Dodgers PRIDE NIGHT, a baseball game at Dodgers stadium on June 16th. To me, it was totally improper for the Dodgers to honor pride month, really none of their baseball business, but to do so with this vial, blasphemous, hate group was the ultimate disrespectful and blasphemous attack upon all things CATHOLIC, and consequently all Christians.Up stepped the aggressive organization:CATHOLIC VOTE.This organization stands up for the rights of Catholics and indirectly all Christians and will not tolerate any hate, blasphemous attack, or disrespect of any kind to Catholicism. Ironic, is it not, that our illustrious president, Joe Biden, claims to be a devout Catholic but has no problem endorsing Pride Month and the LGBTQIA movement, which is anti-Christian and Catholic in so many ways. I wonder if any of this anti-Catholic activity reaches the ears of Pope Francis!The organization CATHOLIC VOTE went public, with advertising everywhere, demanding that the Dodgers:1. Publicly apologize for honoring this so-called SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE.2. Pledge, this Dodgers organization, to never host or honor an anti-Catholic hate group ever again.3. Fire every person within the Dodgers organization responsible for organizing and approving this reprehensible stunt.CATHOLIC VOTE is determined that the Dodgers organization will not get away with celebrating sexual perversion to mock Catholics. I can only imagine the outcry, the protest, politically and culturally, and the litigation which would follow such blasphemous mockery of Jews and Judaism, or Muslims and Islam. But to the Dodgers, it seems like the blasphemous mockery of Catholics and Christianity generally is fair game, attacks and disrespect the Dodgers organization can get away with.I, like millions of other Christians, and a baseball fan, love the game, and always respected the Dodgers organization, until now.Up stepped the great organization Judicial Watch. JW filed a lawsuit along with Catholic Vote, perhaps motivated by this latest Dodgers blasphemous action to sue the FBI, the once objective, fair, and well-trusted FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, and the Department of Justice of which it is a part, alleging the targeting of Catholics by the FBI who adhere to traditional beliefs on abortion and other cultural issues. Judicial Watch president, Tom Fitton, issued this statement:  “In a brazen attack on the First Amendment and Christians, the Biden FBI planned to treat Catholics as potential terrorists and spy on them in their churches.”Tom Fitton of Judicial Watch and Brian Burch of Catholic Vote are two formidable, no-quit, no-nonsense individuals, formidable foes to say the least. They are determined to find, identify, litigate, and rid our beloved country of those biased individuals who attack Catholics specifically and all Christians generally as well. It is time, overdue in many ways, for all Catholics and in fact, all Christians to live out and make happen the mission of Catholic Vote which is:“To inspire every Catholic in America to live out the truth of our faith in public life!”Amen. Get on with it. Stand up for the First Amendment, for freedom of religion, and assembly, and put a stop once and for all to all things anti-Christian. In many ways, that Stand is now or never.Clayton Kershaw, star pitcher for the LA Dodgers agrees. Strong Christian that he is, he protested Pride Night at Dodgers stadium and more importantly, the honoring of THE SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE. I only wish other members of the Dodgers organization, or perhaps, more importantly, the baseball team itself, had stood up, protested, and realized the unbelievable enormity of the action of the Dodgers organization and the anti-religious, Catholic and Christian disrespect of this action.My fellow Americans and fellow Christians, if every Christian, of every denomination, were to stand up, take charge of culture and government, and education and the media, rather than being intimidated or silent, or withdrawn, or perhaps worst of all indifferent, and FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH, America could be restored overnight and in one election to its traditional roots and the deep and abiding respect for real religion, for real Christianity. Unfortunately, protests occur, and millions of American citizens are offended, speak out, but for some reason, do not follow through, and as a result, do not win the spiritual battle. To fight the fight of faith is to win the spiritual battle, not just to fight. We the Christians fight not with traditional weapons, force, or might, but with the power of the gospel, conviction, stand, uncompromising, with love not hate. But I believe we must be determined to win this battle, to preserve our freedoms, to protect our Loving Lord, and the real Christian faith in which we believe. Do you agree?And if you do, are you willing to lay all on the altar and win this battle? Christians are not hateful. All those anti-Christian are the hateful ones. Somehow, WE THE CHRISTIANS must fight this fight of faith with love and do so with all our might!

The Silent Christian Conservative Generation

We all know about Millennials. Now we know about the so-called Gen-Z. We heard for years about the Baby Boomers and the so-called Silent Generation, old folks like me.Well, my fellow Americans and fellow Christians, I think it’s about time the great USA and the world at large heard about and from:THE SILENT-QUIET-INTIMIDATED GENERATIONand that would be strong, born-again Christians, and equally strong, passionate Americans who will change the hateful label of silent-quiet and replace it with:THE STAND-UP GENERATION.The fight-the-fight-of-faith generation. The fight for the real America, the constitutional and rule of law America and to fight back against Cancel Culture, all things woke, radical and anti-American. It is time that America everywhere heard, loud and clear from this no-more silent Christian generation who will now aggressively fight the fight of faith with strong Christian and conservative, PEACEFUL WEAPONS. Can we now date this new STAND-UP GENERATION from 2023 to a time to be determined far into the future? No matter your age or stereotype, no matter by what generation you are labeled, you and I, mentally and spiritually, emotionally, and culturally should form the new aggressive meaningful force in America, once again:THE STAND-UP GENERATION.Are you ready to join? Are you finally ready to be heard, silent generation members? I do hope and pray so.A recent poll conducted by the ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM (ADF) found that conservative college students and workers say they fear sharing their political and religious beliefs in this virulent cancel-culture environment. They fear losing their jobs if they champion or express conservative religious or political views at work. Cancel culture retribution, woke intimidation, and criticism would come if such views were posted and made available on social media. So much for free speech, silent generation. But that silent force of intimidation seems to exist virtually everywhere.There are at least 284 large companies and corporations, such as Apple and Disney, which champion the agenda of LGBTQIA and at the same time, do everything possible to limit or extinguish the views and free speech expressions of conservatives and Christians. These large companies openly make it clear, even if indirectly, that conservatives and Christians will be “shut out of advancement opportunities,” mistreated by co-workers and bosses, and even fired for voicing their beliefs. Courageous conservatives and Christians will however stand up, not be intimidated, exercise their constitutional First Amendment rights of free speech and if there is retribution, bring a healthy dose of litigation against the offending company. That should be the non-violent payback of conservatives and Christians who experience this illegal, hateful, non-constitutional threat, intimidation, and unfair treatment.The ADF survey indicates that this kind of censorship and intimidation is everywhere and affects everything and virtually everyone either directly or indirectly. The bottom line is that these woke-workplace policies unfairly silence these good employees, and it is necessary and critical that they fight back.One such form of intimidation, and unfair and unequal treatment is the policy expressed by so many of these 284 corporations which require conservatives and Christians to not offend another person when they express their views. These companies require that corporate policy and etiquette require others, in speech expression, to be respectful of others. How interesting that these one-sided, biased, even hateful corporate officers, with their directors of integration, diversity, and the like, do not have the very same policies and expectations for woke, radical, anti- American employees as they work and express their views. Unfair, biased, hateful, anti-Conservative, and anti-Christian every bit as much as anything direct, overt, and tangible.The ADF study also indicated that so many large companies and corporations in America now enforce official and unofficial speech and thought codes for their employees. That of course produces a toxic, strained, stressful, and tenuous work environment. These same rules are surely applied in force to conservates and Christians but not so very much with all others.The excellent FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND EXPRESSION (FIRE) reported in December that 88% of four-year colleges and universities now restrict the free expression of their students, requiring such expressions to be done only in so-called FREE SPEECH ZONES and even there with restrictions. So much for the Constitution, First Amendment, freedom of speech and press, and assembly, the gathering and speaking of conservative speakers, and of course, unabridged freedom of religion. These anti-American, anti-constitutional forces are everywhere and growing in clout and political muscle.CANCEL CULTURE is winning the cultural battle, but that is primarily because conservatives and Christians do not protest, are not heard, do not stand up, and do not exercise their constitutional or legal rights because of this rampant intimidation, ridicule, rejection, and revenge. This has to stop, my fellow conservatives and Christians, IT HAS TO STOP AND STOP NOW. And, only the brand-new STAND-UP GENERATION of those once silent, now silent no more, can make that happen. Let us start to fashion a new generation of Americans, Americans who will not take it anymore, Americans who will stand up for the true and real America, their rights, and freedoms in every constitutional rule of law sense. I URGE YOU TO BE AN ACTIVE PART OF THIS NEW GENERATION. I urge you to influence politics and culture in every way possible, and to be a force to be reckoned with in:ELECTIONS 2024.Millions of silent-no-more Americans can make an unbelievable and wholesale difference in this country and the:TAKE-BACK OF THE REAL AMERICA.Stand up, fight back with peaceful, spiritual weapons, speak out, and be afraid no more of aggressively challenging this hateful, change-or-destroy America, woke and cancel culture generation in which we live. FIGHT BACK AND STAND UP. The loss of freedom is only one generation away and my right-thinking, fellow conservatives and Christians adopt the words of Winston Churchill as your motto for this new stand-up generation:NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP!

Pride

Bill Clinton, former President of the United States declared the entire month of June as:PRIDE MONTH.That momentous, unusual presidential decision-order occurred in 1999. For the past 23 years, America has supposedly honored all things and all peoples LGBTQIA month whether or not we were supportive or believed that America should pay homage to this movement.Strange word to adopt as a slogan, the word PRIDE. The connotation is both negative and positive. Scripture, biblical truisms indicate that Pride is a very negative state of being and that:PRIDE GOETH BEFORE DESTRUCTIONandA HAUGHTY SPIRIT BEFORE A FALL!That may indicate that the so-called Pride Movement might not last, and it might also indicate that WE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, who embrace completely different gender views, beliefs and opinions about sex, far and away in the majority, will resist. Will you?In the End Times, sayeth scripture, there will be an unleashing, new aggression by all things and people:UNNATURAL.Men, says the scripture, will lie with men, and women with women, although never intended by the creator (unnatural) who created us male and female and for different purposes sexually. None were intended to be bisexual, transgender, or queer, experimenting. None were surely not intended to be binary. Today, the PRIDE movement adopts and embraces all such lifestyles, brand new gender identities, and totally different and non-biblical sexual orientation, and perhaps even more variations are yet to come. Surely, as Jesus Christ predicted, and as the Apostle Paul affirmed, all such things are sure signs of:THE END TIMES. Do you agree? Do you have a firm position and conviction on LGBTQIA, do you?The PRIDE MOVEMENT is surely a war against Christianity, its values, morals, and certainly its sexual beliefs. And it is also an attack upon real Old Testament Judaism and Islam as well. In fact, PRIDE may be an attack, open warfare against all religions. So that, all who believe in a God who created humankind, male and female, seem to be under attack at every turn, cultural warfare at work, becoming more aggressive by the day.Some say we Conservatives and Christians have indeed lost the cultural war. They offer no proof. In reality, in so many ways, the FIGHT OF FAITH has only just begun. Many think that Conservatives and Christians are finally waking up, aroused by the aggression of LGBTQ, Black Lives Matter, the 1619 project, and so much more. Cultural warfare which threatens everything that America has been to this point and the very heart and soul of Christianity itself.BUT, look around. There is now a new resistance at work, a new and aggressive STAND-UP where Christians and Conservatives will not be intimidated, will stand up for their rights, for freedoms, for biblical truths, for religious values, and begin aggressively to:FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH.Do you see that? And are you a part of that?PRIDE MONTH may have unleashed a new conservative BACKLASH. There is at work a more aggressive PUSH-BACK. There is new religious muscle at work slowly becoming more evident, powerful, and meaningful. Do you see that? And are you a part of that? The American way, constitutional rights, individual freedoms and the liberties we enjoy apparently permit LGBTQIA guaranteed by the constitution. BUT, it gives the movement no special rights no matter how progressive or radical and it certainly gives them no rights to constantly attack, criticize, and use legal, cultural, and economic means to stifle all things Christian.Finally, the so-called conservative but really truly constitutional majority in the Supreme Court of the United States recognizes the subversive attacks on religions- Christian rights and the Court is reinforcing the rights of the Constitution, allowing Conservatives and Christians to disagree with LGBTQIA, not participate economically or in any other way with the demands of the movement (the Baker and the Photographer) as a matter of basic constitutional right. The cultural war, waged more aggressively by LGBTQIA now begins to feel the real fight-back, the STAND-UP of Christians and Conservatives, and the cultural war has only just begun.From the biblical books of Moses (first five Old Testament) through David and the Psalms, Solomon and the Prophets, our Lord Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul, there is a universal and unanimous condemnation of the:UNNATURAL. These are strong Christian-Jewish-Islamic beliefs. They are not fashioned by individuals like you or me but are given to us as Truth-Absolute. To be Christian is to embrace them, believe them, and live by them. That is an inalienable right under the Constitution, and now for the first time in years, WE THE CHRISTIAN PEOPLE are demanding those rights and fortunately, our Supreme Court agrees.Christians by the millions are beginning to exercise the push-back of:BOYCOTTDIVESTMENTSANCTIONSChristians begin to BOYCOTT, come apart from, and have nothing to do with LGBTQIA.Christians are exercising the right of DIVESTMENT distancing and disagreeing with this unnatural biblical position. Christians are also exercising SANCTIONS, speaking out, separating from, and standing up to the aggressions of LGBTQIA.FORD MOTOR COMPANY forgets business and champions PRIDE. Ford now makes a gay pickup truck and expects its customers not only to embrace the move but buy the truck. Fortunately, that is not happening.TARGET displays swimwear, and other products, openly gay, and fully embraces the philosophy, and its stock value and income plummet.ANHEUSER-BUSCH, makers of Bud Light, tout the gay agenda and promote Dylan Mulvaney, the transgender as spokesperson. Bud Light loses 30% of its market share and once, far and away #1, is now a distant #2.The Los Angeles Dodgers dedicate an entire night of baseball to the SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE, a group that mocks and disparages the Catholic church and its dedicated nuns. The reaction, the push-back was enormous, led by star Dodger pitcher Clayton Kershaw. The believers in the natural stand up. Are you one of them?Christians have no choice but to fight the cultural war. None at all. You are in the fight, you must engage in that fight, you must contribute to the forces of the natural, and you must stand up and protect and defend your Christian beliefs, especially as you train up children and grandchildren or you will watch those precious biblical beliefs whittle away.PRIDE goeth before destruction. The only pride worthwhile is for us to be proud of the fact that we are Christians, proud of our Lord Jesus Christ, proud of what he has done for us and for the world, for all mankind, proud that we can live by his instructions and commandments, and humbled by the fact that one day we who see through a glass darkly will know in truth and in person when:WE SEE HIM.

Freedom

FREEDOM!We are, America is, the home, the land of the:BRAVE AND THE FREE.We are lovers of freedom. It is, you could say, in our genes. We inherited that love of freedom from those who founded our great country, fought against the oppressors more than two centuries ago and built the foundation for the FREEDOMS we now enjoy today. Give us, we say with that great statesman and our forefather Patrick Henry, give us that LIBERTY or if that is taken away, give us death for there is no real life without freedom.For us, America is in fact exceptional no matter the indifferent attitude of Barack Hussein Obama who thinks that America is no more exceptional than any other country! But all of America and we the people are exceptional in so many ways, including our way of life and our lifestyle. Everything is okay down to the last sentence and raise and champion our great flag, and wear the American flag pin proudly, especially in the world of academia which thinks the American flag is a symbol for racism and xenophobia rather than exceptionalism.And now, we should take quality time to honor the founding documents which make us great, namely our Constitution, our Bill of Rights and our Declaration of Independence. We should honor these incredible documents by reading them, studying their content, understanding the values therein and resolving as the authors of these documents did, and honor our forefathers who provided them for us recommitting to them and the world at large that we the people will protect and preserve the freedoms contained therein, even to the laying down of our lives.In this day, there are so many who would CHANGE what we have, or even more radically so, eliminate it. There seems to be an ever-growing number of those in our very own country with little or no respect for our great founding documents, our freedoms, the principles by which we have lived and built THE GREAT SOCIETY, and especially what America has been, our glorious history. They the un-Americans wish to eliminate or erode so many of our freedoms and move this great country toward socialism. THEY are the enemy inside and they must be stopped. We the people, true Constitutional Americans energized and emboldened by our founding documents and founding fathers must make certain we do what is right for our great country, and as true patriots, protect and defend our freedoms as never before. We should do everything humanly possible to prevent socialism of any kind in thought or deed.We should remember the words of that great statesman, a founding father himself, Benjamin Franklin, who said, when asked, that he and his fellow revolutionaries have given us, Americans then and now, a Republic. Not a Democracy, but a Republic. Franklin went on to warn us then and now that this Republic was FRAGILE, and needed at all times to be protected with vigilance, vigor and valor. That this Republic of the combined United States could never be taken for granted. Nor could any citizen assume it would go on, and on. For freedom, for Franklin and the fathers, was a precious right that could only be sustained by watchful, involved and proactive citizens. We who would live in this free country and enjoy its immense freedoms must at all times be:WATCHMEN AND WOMEN ON THE WALLSNot talk, debate or discussion, but action, actively working to protect our freedoms and our way of life, willing to die in the fray if necessary. Would you be willing to die, to lay all on the altar in the cause of freedom? What would you do if ISIS or jihadists attacked America and threatened harm to your family and you? What would you do? Our forefathers never gave the matter a second thought. They, in Second Amendment fashion, took up arms to defend their country, their freedoms and their family. Would you?In fact, we AMERICANS should be so proud of our country, and our freedoms, that we as a nation are ready at all times to help others in the cause of freedom. We gave the lives of millions of young American men and women to others in the cause of freedom. Witness World War II. One Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman 83 years young arrived in Paris by airplane. At French customs, it took him several minutes to locate his passport. The Customs Officer with sarcasm and disdain asked Mr. Whiting:“You have been to France before, Monsieur?”Mr. Whiting answered, yes he had and the smart aleck French official replied pompously:“Then you should know enough to have your passport ready!”Mr. Whiting then stared this official in the eye and said the following:“The last time I was here I didn’t have to show my passport.”To which the French Customs Official replied:“Impossible! Americans always have to show passports on arrival in France!”Mr. Whiting gave this arrogant Frenchman a long hard look and he proudly stated: “Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this country, I couldn’t find a single Frenchman to show a passport to!”You could have heard a pin drop. God bless America and God bless Mr. Whiting.And yet another instance of a proud American at work. When in England at a fairly large conference, Secretary of State Colin Powell was asked by the Arch Bishop of Canterbury if America’s plans for Iraq were simply a rationalization for empire building or land-grabbing by George Bush as American soldiers went to war. Powell simply answered by saying:“Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those who did not return.”All attending that conference were deadly silent. Well said, Mr. Powell, well said as a proud American.There was once a conference in France when a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. One of the French engineers said the following:“Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intend to do, bomb them?”Those in attendance snickered and jeered. That is, until an engineer from the Boeing company in America stood up and proudly stated:“Our aircraft carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people. They are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities. They have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day. They can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day. They carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and the injured to and from their flight deck. We have eleven such aircraft carriers. How many does France have?”You could have heard a pin drop.And again, a U.S. Naval Admiral was attending a naval conference that included admirals from the united states, England, Canada, Australia and France. Every one in attendance was conversing in English. Suddenly a French Admiral complained the Europeans learn many languages but Americans learn only English. This French Admiral arrogantly and pompously said:“Why is that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?” The American United States Naval Admiral stood up proudly and replied:“Maybe it is because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so that you would not have to speak German!”The room was deadly silent.So, whether here at home or anywhere abroad, anywhere in the world, it is our privilege, our duty, our passion to protect FREEDOM at every turn. That freedom means for us and all in the world the fundamental rights, the God-given rights to:LIFELIBERTYTHE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESSIt is our right to live life free, with maximum freedom. It is our right to live and champion liberty everywhere. And, it is our right to pursue happiness as we define that, as free individuals, to pursue life legally and lovingly as we choose. May it always be so, but it only can be if we are willing to do anything possible to protect those freedoms. ANYTHING! Are you?So now, this Independence week, culminating in the great day July 4, Independence Day, we should honor America, this great country in which we are privileged to live. We should honor all things American and we should honor our flag as a symbol of who we are and what we believe. There are those who would desecrate or cause to be irrelevant the great stars and stripes. There was the action of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) which banned the wearing of the American flag as a lapel pin or otherwise in clothing because the flag in their view was controversial and represented the causes of certain conservatives. How tragic, how ridiculous, how un-American the actions of the American Broadcasting Company. There are times when our President, our Congress, our leading citizens simply do not wear or honor the flag or any other symbol of all great things American. We the people should find all such conduct unacceptable and we should protest. The greatest form of protest is to protect, preserve and defend our freedoms and the symbol of those freedoms, the great American flag, the perfect symbol of our independence and the finest possible expression of freedom on the great day July 4, Independence Day. Do just that loudly and proudly my fellow citizens.Think carefully, my fellow Americans, about the precious freedoms granted by your Constitution and your Bill of Rights. Remember that you are guaranteed the right to freedom of religion, to worship and practice religion as you please. You are guaranteed the right to free speech, to speak as you wish at anytime, anywhere, with any words. You are guaranteed the right to freely assemble, to petition, to print in press or on the Internet. YOU ARE GUARANTEED THOSE RIGHTS! You are guaranteed the right to bear arms, to purchase, own and use them for pleasure or in self-defense. You are guaranteed the right against governmental illegal search and seizure. You are guaranteed the right a trial by a jury of your peers rather than to be summarily convicted by any governmental agency. You are guaranteed the right to counsel if you can not afford one when charged with a crime. You are guaranteed the right to vote. You are guaranteed to pursue life, liberty and happiness as you wish! You are guaranteed by your Constitution and Bill of Rights the highest and best form of living and lifestyle the world has ever known! You should give thanks for America, for all that it was, is and can be in the future if YOU as Benjamin Franklin so well said standup and do everything possible to KEEP IT that is the great experiment in freedom which our founding fathers intended. Please join with me this Independence Week, this Freedom Week and especially on the set-aside day for freedom celebration, namely July 4 in pledging once again our allegiance to this great country. Please join me in these great words which honor America:I pledge allegianceto the Flagof the United States of Americaand to the Republic for which it standsone nationindivisiblewith liberty and justicefor all!I ask humbly and lovingly that GOD BLESS AMERICA.And I ask humbly as well that GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!There is only one America. Keep it that way!

America - The Once Free and the Once Brave

In Revolutionary times, Thomas Paine said the following:“These are the times that try men’s souls”.And indeed these are the times that try women’s souls, some at least now that the United States Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade.Thomas Jefferson admonished Americans of his time that the blood of patriots must be shed from time to time in order to refresh the Tree of Liberty. In short, the Constitutional America of 1776 (Declaration of Independence) and the Constitutional America of 1787 needed new patriots, new passion, new commitments to liberty and freedom. Now more than ever that is true. The constitutional, rule of law, freedom–liberty America of old is not only under attack but becomes divided, angry and more violent by the day. Freedom and liberty we have always taken for granted are now all the more at risk and at stake.The patriot Patrick Henry provided a testimony applicable to all of us:“Give me liberty or give me death”.Henry was willing to die for freedom. He would live under no form of bondage. Oppression and bondage in his time was English. Today it comes internally from anarchists, that small virulent, violent minority which wishes the destruction of the greatest country on earth.Our forefathers fought for freedom. They gave their blood then which we can assume made Jefferson proud. They gave us the greatest ruling document in the history of mankind, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. That incredible document contained the First Amendment which gave every American citizen the following rights and freedoms:1. Freedom of religion2. Freedom of speech3. Freedom of press4. Freedom of assembly5. Freedom of petitionGuaranteed, unconditional, unchanging, FOREVER FREEDOMS. Every one of those sacred, inalienable (God–given) rights and freedoms are at risk today, EVERY ONE! We the People seemed to have lost our vision, our understanding, even in some cases our desire to protect and preserve this incredible country. We have become indifferent to the struggles and problems we face. So many of us are ignorant of our history, and our Constitution, and our rule of law, and how we are governed. So many of us have withdrawn from the political process. As few as 10% will vote in some elections and perhaps no more than 60% of eligible, voting Americans will go to the polls in the most serious of elections. It has become tragic how We the People take democracy for granted. It is as though freedom will always be there no matter what we do. We the People are an easy target for violence and anarchism.One of the most anti–American Americans was one Saul Alinsky. In essence, Alinsky championed the destruction of everything, every institution, every tradition, anything and everything in America so that the country could be rebuilt and reestablished. The philosophy and beliefs of Alinksy were adopted by George Soros among others and the state of objective of Soros and others was to:BRING DOWN AMERICA.Bring it down. Destroy it. Rewrite its history. Do away with its Constitution and its rule of law. Get rid of the moral standards of the country today and especially the Judeo–Christian heritage and morality of the past. Do away with it completely! Beneath the violence, disrupt, and the lack of accountability today is this Alinsky model, the destruction of America, the destruction of everything which America holds dear. WOKE better serve to wake up America, defend itself, its values, morality and principles or all will be lost. WAKE UP AMERICANS, WAKE UP. The time may be near when the blood of real patriots will be required once again in America.We the People assume that we live in a democracy. We live by democratic principles, the core of which is freedom. That is true but our government is not a democracy. Our forefathers who forged our Constitution were suspicious of democracy. They feared an intolerant majority. They created checks and balances which would prevent as much as possible the potentially crushing majority rule. They created for us a REPUBLIC. That of course consisted of a president, senate and house of representatives. It also consisted of an independent federal judiciary with the Supreme Court of essentially nine justices as final arbitrators of the rule of law. Such a republic respected democratic principles but it guarded so very well against abuse.Those founding fathers gave us the concept of federalism. That is, that each of the individual states of America, then 13 and now 50, would be protected, have rights not specifically granted to the federal government (Constitution Amendment X), and otherwise make certain that its people were protected, and larger states would have no real advantage over smaller ones. It was and continues to be a brilliant system and check and balance.The founding fathers gave us an electoral college where leaders were not elected by majority vote but by states according to their population. They gave us the rule of law, they gave us the Declaration of Independence, they gave us the Constitution, incredible documents with incredible freedoms, fully protected. They gave us all of this as a result of the blood of so many Revolutionary patriots shed in the cause of freedom. How tragic it is that we sit back and take those then given freedoms for granted, watch them whittle away daily, observe the indifference among younger generations and the beginning of the erosion and eventually the elimination of our great Country, its way of life and government. The great destroyers win, Alinsky, Soros, Sanders the socialist. They refuse, those anarchists and anti–Americans to work within the system for reform. They work for radical change and ultimate destruction. And, We the People sit back and watch it happen and in so many ways do nothing. Violence is everywhere. There are threats, intimidation, radicalism everywhere. A senator threatens a supreme court justice. Senator Schumer from New York threatened Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh as follows:You will pay the price.It is simply unbelievable how seemingly everything America stands for, believes in, the fundamental structure of our great Country is not only under attack but is being destroyed day by day. History shows us that democracies as the foundation of government cannot last. Democracies in history last at or about 200 years. America is now 246 years young and We the People, our democracy, our great constitutional republic may be near the end. How I for one hope and pray that simply does not happen.The Constitution and its Amendments of the United States is the finest document, political governing document which mankind can produce. But it cannot last forever. Only one document can. And that is THE WORD OF THE LORD, the Holy Bible which gives us the world’s only reliable ABSOLUTE TRUTH. The Constitution gives us the freedoms of mankind. The Bible gives us heavenly freedoms, eternal freedoms, the ways of the Lord God Almighty, the most important freedom of all and the most important freedom of all, salvation in Jesus Christ. Man’s democracy cannot last, but the democracy of peace and love of Jesus Christ will last forever.Human leaders, people, men and women, politicians and those in power can never last. The only person, leader, visionary, difference maker who can is Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of Glory. That eternal leader will never fail.So, now in America violence reigns. Everything is under attack. The spiritual warfare has begun. The:FIGHT OF FAITH IS HERE AND NOW!So, my fellow Americans, my fellow Christians, how will you fight this fight of faith? HOW? Put on for sure the armor of the Lord. And the helmet of salvation. And the breastplate of righteousness and be ready for the spiritual war. It is here, IT IS HERE. You will be called upon to defend your faith with everything you have. If you truly believe as a Christian and you will not compromise, you will take on a danger you never have before. How will you respond? Will you stand up to violence? Would you use any means at your disposal to protect your family, your friends and yourself from violence? You will engage in prayer, more prayer perhaps than ever before. But you will be called upon to ACT, and perhaps act returning violence for violence. Would you do that? We the People, we Christians have choices to make we never have before. In prayer, may our Lord lead us to the right decisions for God, and Country, and family, and all humankind.Freedom, inalienable rights, God–given rights, are of the most value, the most important to all. Don’t lose them or lose life in the process. May God bless you, my fellow Americans as you energize the courage to stand for Christ, for Christianity and for the greatest Country in the history of mankind.Always remember. FREEDOM ONCE LOST IS LOST FOREVER!

The Quiet Conservative

There are many conservatives, polls say, who have become QUIET.They fear, these conservatives do, sharing their political and religious beliefs. They fear speaking out and speaking up for fear of cancelled culture retribution. The conservative culture of old has been cancelled and the progressive woke culture rules the day. These new culture majoritarians do not welcome dialogue, much less opposing points of view, and conservatives who entertain such points of view are silenced, threatened, and intimidated to the point, say the polls, where they simply become:QUIET.On college campuses, three out of five employees fear losing their jobs if they mention conservative religious or political points of view at work. Fifty-four percent of those workers and conservative college students say that posting religious or political views on social media could lead to negative consequences in the workplace, including immediate termination.Corporations entertain charitable giving programs, and they seek the opinions and recommendations of employees. But not-so-conservative or Christian employees simply are not accommodated. One such reliable survey was conducted by ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM (ADF) and Jay Hobbs of ADF said:“It puts (woke and progressive priorities) religious and political conservatives in the cross-hairs of cancellation.”As a result of this militant cancel culture philosophy of the liberal, progressive left, conservatives have a legitimate reason to fear being shut out of advancement opportunities, mistreated by coworkers and bosses, and even fired for voicing their beliefs. Consequently, many conservatives go quiet, refusing to exercise their first amendment rights of free speech and the conservative point of view becomes increasingly culture-cancelled moreso each day.This censorship is everywhere and affects everything said one free market spokesperson. Workers and professionals are just simply not allowed to speak out. Have you ever experienced that in your life, where you live and work, and even you yourself, have you? That seems to be the ever-growing effect of WOKE WORKPLACE POLICIES.Robust opinion-sharing and aggressive dialog, protected and encouraged by the first amendment, is anathema in the woke workplace. Conservatives, but not progressives, are admonished to be careful how they express their religious or political points of view so as:NOT TO OFFEND ANOTHER PERSON.That in itself is intimidation, implied threat, a silent demand to KEEP QUIET. It matters not if woke, cancel-culture, progressive ideologies, and workplace, political dialogue offend the conservative, but only that the conservative does not offend the liberal.The survey goes on:“Right now, companies enforce official and unofficial speech and thought codes for their employees which is toxic.”It is critically important to note that not only is speech involved in censorship, but now comes THOUGHT processes as well. A radical woker is determined not only to control and even eliminate free speech but now THOUGHT as well. We sound the alarm, my fellow Americans and Christians though sadly, that warning is far too often ignored or unheeded. But those freedoms once lost are lost forever. The ADF poll went on to find that this new, aggressive, cancel-culture entered the workplace and so much of the rest of life from recent college graduates, motivated and guided by the speech codes which were officially and unofficially enforced on college campuses. They seem, said ADF, on a mission to cancel and silence anything and anyone who may in any way disagree with the new woke, progressive, cancel-culture.And yet another poll, conducted by the FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND EXPRESSION (FIRE) found that 88% of four-year colleges and universities now restrict the free expression of their students on campus, to the detriment or even elimination of free speech and first amendment rights. It is just simply amazing how so many of our inalienable rights granted by our constitution, and especially the rights of the first amendment including free speech and press and religion, are simply ignored and in reality, done away with. Have you ever experienced this kind of threat, intimidation, and demand to be silent? If you entertain any kind of conservative or religious points of view, have you?And yet another free speech spokesperson stated the following:“Religion and politics are vital to the soul, our way of living, and our common well-being. People should feel free to discuss these existential matters, with due respect, with family and friends and at work.”And that is so even if the feelings of someone, the sensitivities are agitated and made uncomfortable. That process of robust dialogue and disagreement is absolutely necessary and critical to the growth of the mind, the understanding of the total nature of the issues, and of course the preservation of objectivity, fact, and truth.There is no freedom, no liberty my fellow Americans without free speech, free press, emboldened dialogue, peaceful, non-violent, nonthreatening, but thorough, honest, and open, and always accompanied by the willingness to LISTEN without ignoring, shutting down, or intimidating a confrontational or disagreeing response. America changes daily, right before our eyes, often aggressively, and WE THE PEOPLE slumber, seem unaware, or indifferent and non-caring (A-political), and the America we love and now take for granted slips into uncertainty and change, radical change not for the good. Such a warning seems to come from a voice crying in the wilderness, but the day will come, soon I fear when such a warning will be the new reality. CANCEL-CULTURE WILL HAVE WON THE DAY, and America will be changed forever.Don’t let it happen, my fellow citizens, please don’t let that happen. Step up, stand up, speak out, and do everything necessary as our founding fathers did to protect and defend the GOD-GIVEN INALIENABLE FREEDOMS OF OUR BELOVED CONSTITUTION AND ITS IRREPLACEABLE FIRST AMENDMENT.THOSE FREEDOMS ONCE LOST ARE LOST FOREVER.

Father

Two kinds of fathers are there.The one Heavenly, the other earthly.The Lord of Glory, the Carpenter of Nazareth said:“I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE.”What a claim. Blasphemy by a human being if it were not true. But they were ONE, and the carpenter from Nazareth told us in unequivocal terms that the CREATOR OF THIS UNIVERSE AND OUR EARTH was indeed among so many other things a:FATHERTo Him and to us. For otherwise, this Creator would be completely unknown, incapable of being known by us, but HE is. And, the Supreme Creator loves us and cares for us. To me that is a thought incomprehensible were it not for:HIMOur Lord Jesus Christ took something remote, obscure and unfathomable and made it known, personal, deeply meaningful and loving so that we, the creatures of His creation, could understand who we are, why we are, and what we should believe.We are to understand and believe said Jesus, that there is for us an ETERNAL FATHER and not merely a cosmic Creator. We are known as individuals, as sons and daughters by this Father, and we are not mere specks in the universe or dust in the wind. We have meaning. We are in fact SONS AND DAUGHTERS of this Father having claimed our inheritance as such through the SON Jesus Christ. Hard to comprehend but true.We are also told that God the Father is love. GOD IS LOVE, and that love is the essence of God and so available to us. Love is the greatest says the Scriptures, more so than faith and hope, and to know that God is love incarnate is just incredible.And we who are fathers should love the very same way. Even as the eternal Father loves us, so should we love our children. If a Heavenly Father loves unconditionally, so an earthly father should do the same, love the child unconditionally. The highest attributes of any earthly father are the embracing, heartfelt and unconditional loving openness to the child even as the Father loves the child:LOVE NEVER FAILS But there is another side of love from our Heavenly Father, a TOUGH LOVE. That is, love at work which is ready to:DISCIPLINELove may indeed be meek, warm, gentle and forgiving, kind and open and it should be. But love must also be tough, demanding, disciplined and concerned for all things which are:RIGHTFor there are indeed prodigal sons and daughters who go astray. As such, they honor not the Heavenly Father nor the earthly. Discipline is required, firm and straight. The rod was used in the old days to accomplish discipline and to carryout punishment. But that has been taken away. Discipline today is more on the order of depriving the child of opportunities and pleasures or requiring the child to make up for the wrong and do what is right. Sometimes it works and sometimes not. But fathers can not SPARE THE ROD however the rod is determined for that is a fatherly duty. No child can grow without discipline for there is nothing worse for a father than a child spoiled and bent upon his own way. Demanding standards, the terms and conditions of sonship, are a father’s duty which can not be delegated or ignored. And the Scriptures make it perfectly clear:WHOM THE FATHER LOVES HE CHASTENSChastening is real love at work. BY THEIR FRUITS, LOVING DISCIPLINE AT WORK, YE SHALL KNOW THE FATHER AND WHO THE FATHER TRULY IS.The integrity of the father is critical. Dads must do what they say and dads must say what they mean. The father must live by the same standards he requires of the child. The father must be consistent in character, live a life with values and without hypocrisy. Nothing is harder for a child to accept than lectures about right and wrong from a father who lives by neither. So that, a father does not have to explain or justify the demands. The father does not have to negotiate with the child and in the course of discipline ask the child if it is OK.For it matters not if the child agrees with the father. If a child respects a loving father, that is all that is required. So many families seem to have so little respect for each other and rapidly become dysfunctional. But a true father, a real father is head of household. He is the one in charge, so say the Scriptures, kind, loving, considerate and respectful of all including and especially the wife-mother, but head of the household nonetheless. Discharging all of those functions gives the father the right to discipline and demand. But again, the father has earned that right by the way he lives. When the son is old and ready for his own life, the ways of the father will be his and the son in turn will perpetuate, carryon those values for his family.It is so very important for the father to incorporate the son into his life. To train up the child is to involve the child in the life, the career, the work of the father. So many sons carry on, inherit and follow the father. Father and son, or daughter, work together, learn together and the father teaches in practical ways. What the father holds dear and in which he has invested his life becomes part of the child, a very practical and worthy training for the child. The child can learn the way of business, work, industry so that like father, the child can be:A WORK MAN OR WOMAN WORTHY OF HIS HIREThat kind of fatherly guidance is so very important and it is the duty of the father to invest the time and effort to train up the child in that way.And so with hobbies, and fun. There are games, trips, sports, theater, dining and all manners of wonderful vacation which must be shared by father and child. Life is difficult and even as there are the demands of work, there must be the pleasures of play. To laugh and cry together. To enjoy the joys of this world as God has indicated is our right. Lasting moments are created in fun and play.Father and child are intimate, or should be. Their dialogue, their caring for each other should be totally open, transparent. Nothing should be hidden. The child should have the confidence and the trust in father to openly reveal, discuss hurts, ask questions, confess doubt, challenge beliefs and otherwise make certain that the father fully understands precisely who the child is. For the child develops independently and individually, a special and unique creation by God, and not merely as the earthly father would have him be. The answers to questions should come first from the father, not from peers or school but from DAD. The son should want to talk to father first and be assured that he knows what the father thinks. They can not always agree but father and son can always be open and honest with each other. That seems so lacking today. There is little communication, virtually no dialogue. Father’s preach and lecture but seldom practice one of the most important attributes of good fathering:LISTENINGReally listening. Patiently allowing the child to open the heart, to question, to express love and anger and to know as a child the father will listen and respect. That more than anything builds character and confidence in the child. Fathers are friends and confidants. The father in the mind of the child is the first GO-TO.If not, the child seeks FATHER SURROGATES and substitutes. Today’s education can often occur without traditional moral values or the standards of old. No third party education is a substitute for a father’s education. Children who are fatherless in actuality or spiritually seek comfort, guidance and acceptance from their peers which can often be secular and even with immoral influences. They are ready to learn and adapt, to be accepted in so many ways different from what the father might believe or want for the child. The conduct of the child can then become permissive, even unlawful as standards or morality are worn down and compromised. That fatherless child goes a different way and the father has forsaken the most important duty of fatherhood, training up that child. If you have a child, if you are a biological father, then you must, YOU MUST be a spiritual, loving father as God would have it. Don’t send a child to church. Take him. Worship with him. Love together the Lord of Glory. Study Scripture and pray, together. Talk about spiritual things for the child is even more interested in what the father thinks and believes than perhaps a pastor. Take time for the child’s life, school events, sports. Be there, lovingly and with respect for the child growing to adult. Nothing means more than a father BEING THERE. That child is YOU, dad. You can not ignore or deny YOU. The child wants YOU more than anything else. There came to you that little bundle of joy, your very own son, your very own daughter, YOU IN EVERY WAY! You are privileged to be a father of that child and he or she should be a clear priority, a first priority. There will never be better earthly love, nothing comes close, than the love of a father for his child. However strong the bond, and even if the father-child bond is broken, in some deep primal way, love is always there, or at least the hope of that love. There is no child, or father however old or hardened who does not feel that way. What a joy, what a privilege to be a father.Even as an adult, well-educated, perhaps successful, father himself, a son will always seek out a father, for fellowship, for advice, for comfort and caring, and for love. That never changes. Even in death, he the father being dead yet speaketh. All he was and all they were together lives on, it is eternal even as the love of God is eternal. The words, the deeds, the loving deeds will never be forgotten. The understanding, the trust and the respect between father and child will never die.Perhaps a father’s proudest moment is when the child, adult and ready, leaves the father and becomes his own man. That is a biblical requirement, and at that time, the father should be proud, very proud of the INVESTMENT he has made in the child. For a father can think back, reminisce and remember all of those things which forged the bond, the training, the education and growth of the child, an investment far more valuable than anything financial. That, says dad, is my son. That, says dad, is my daughter of whom I am so very proud. He or she was worth everything I gave. The loving bond between father and child will sustain, motivate and guide the child for a lifetime. It is the earthly component of the Heavenly Father. What a privilege it is to be a father.So, I and my company the Crawford Broadcasting Company salute fathers, real fathers who love, educate, grow and train up their children in the way in which they should go. You are special, dads like that, very special. The world needs real fathers now more than ever. And, what is so wonderful is that it is never too late to be father no matter what has gone before. Fathering may ebb and flow but the opportunity is always there, always. Never quit, never give up on fathering.So, enjoy your day DAD. Father’s Day can show love and respect for dad one day. But real fathers are honored by their children every day. For the most priceless thing any child can have is:A LOVING FATHER!

THE YOUNG GEN Z & OTHER MEANINGLESS GENERALIZATIONS

If you were born, human being created by God Almighty, between the years 1997-2012 you are a member, like it or not, of the newest generation in America:GEN Z.You would be of the age 11-26.Therefore, you are so informed, you and your Gen-Z compatriots have little if any interest in RELIGION, whatever that means. In the extreme, perhaps that means you have no interest in faith, or no faith in your life. Do you?I personally know a multitude of young, wonderful people that age, who are strong, passionate:PEOPLE OF FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.Do you?And more, you Gen-Z’er. You have little interest in patriotism, so these progressive pundits say. You are not willing to protect and defend your country, your freedoms, your constitution, in fact, your way of life. If you are 30 and under, is that you? Do you have little concern, love, passion, or commitment to your country, to the America in which you are blessed to live? Is that you?Some of the most Passionate Patriots I know are THE YOUNG, 30 and under. They know what the real America is all about and are willing to do whatever it takes to protect this country, its freedoms, and their way of life, in any way possible. Is that you?Don’t you just despise generalities like that?And, you Gen-Z’er, you have little or no interest in marriage and virtually no interest in having children. Is that you? I know any number of wonderful people 30 and under who are married with children, raising families with the blessing of God, and I am privileged to have any number of them in my very own company. Do you eschew marriage and do you, man or woman, not wish to have children of your own? Such generalizations for millions of young people are ludicrous, inaccurate, false, and even fraudulent and perhaps politically purposeful in a very negative way.And even more. You are supposedly a member of a generation that has a very poor work ethic, cares more about self rather than others, and is negative, critical, and indifferent to the norms of society, and the morality of the past. Is that you?Again, I know dozens and dozens of human beings, God-created, 30 and under, who are exactly the opposite.The real YOUNG PEOPLE of today are people of faith. They have strong faith in Jesus Christ, living out that faith in a passionate young way. They are patriots believing in the real America, working to change and solve its problems, all the while protecting its fundamental concepts of freedom, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, equality, and justice for all. They are married or will be. They will then have children, God willing. The real young Americans, the real Gen-Z’ers are workers, people of strong work ethic and commitment, workmen and work women, worthy of their hire. Those are the Gen-Z’ers I know, and like, and respect, and have the highest hopes for turning over my America to them and not the stereotypes, negative and demeaning, individuals who woke, progressive, radical, anti-Americans described and categorized in such negative ways.You and I, human beings, all, were created by the God of the universe, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, as unique individuals. There is no human generalization or categorization which can apply to any of us. Every human being thinks differently, more or less. Believes differently, more or less. Lives life differently. Works and plays differently. Worships differently. EVERY HUMAN BEING IS DIFFERENT! He or she is not Gen-Z, not millennial, not baby-boomer, not a member of the so-called silent generation, but a unique, specially crafted, INDIVIDUAL, different from any other and striving to be better in every way. Those are the young, the 30 and under I know, respect, and believe in. If you are of that age, privileged to be young, with many more years of productive life to live, I pray that you are:YOU.That you will be all that you can be and that you will never fall victim to some generation, age, or category classification. Just like so many of those RIGHT young people 30 and under whom I know so very well, productive, faithful, patriotic, believers in marriage and children, and with a work ethic as good as anyone anywhere. I personally thank God for every individual male and female in my company, 30 and under, who brings fresh vision, commitment, passion, the dynamic of youth, and the love for:GOD AND COUNTRY,the twin pillars of the right, ethical, and moral life. If you are 30 or under, I pray that is you. We should be about the business of encouraging the young, educating and edifying, for they are the ones who will replace us, live in a world and an American society far different from ours, face challenges not before faced, and be responsible to our God with risks and rewards intensified as never before. They will battle an enemy internal, determined to destroy and seize power, control, and demand conformity. Their faith in God and Country will be challenged like never before. The courage the young will need will increase day by day and it is absolutely critical that their vision be clear, bold, and steadfast, just like that which so many young 30 and under in my company exhibit and live by.The young who inherit America must have a new grit, a rekindled passion, and a mental fortitude that allows them to endure intimidation, threat, even violence, and of course criticism, backlash, slander, and opposition. They will be tested like never before, tested like we of previous generations never experienced.Thankfully, I know many, many young people 30 and under who are that way, TOUGH. They are ready for the fight of faith. They are anxious to run the race and win the prize. In them, there is no quit, no give-up. They will not be bullied or intimidated. They know in whom they have believed, and they are persuaded that HE IS ABLE and together, they are invincible.They, the real young, are biblically guided. They are Holy Spirit-led. They know right from wrong. They learn, grow, and work for the night is coming. This generation of young Americans has the God-given potential to be the best of any, THE BEST! It has to be because the challenges have never been greater. I have seen enough of the right thinking, right living, and right believing young Americans, 30 and under, young human beings, GOD-CREATED to whom I’d gladly turn over my beloved country and to whom I pledge my allegiance as they FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH. I only wish I had the years they have to serve God and Country.Encourage them, WE THE OLDER. Support them, give to them. Guide them. Advise them. Share wisdom. For in them, ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD, in the purpose and rule of God, and for the incredible America in which we and they have been privileged to live.Categories and stereotypes are dead wrong, DEAD WRONG! There is purpose, meaning, and individuality for every human being, no matter the age. YOU ARE YOU! May every privileged young person 30 and under be all that he or she can be as God intended. The more of them I know, the better. The more of them who work for CBC, the better. For, my fellow Americans, there is only one category that matters. And that is whether one is fully committed to Jesus Christ, born again, saved by Grace. That category is real Christian:GEN-JESUS.No other category matters, none.

Memorial Day

In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated on the last Monday in May, echoing the words and sentiments of the proclamation of General John A. Logan of the grand Army of the Republic in 1868 who stated:“Memorial Day is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion (the Civil War) and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet, church yard in the land.”So it is that the primary purpose of Memorial Day is to strew with flowers literally and figuratively the graves and memories of America’s daring defenders. They the fallen died for freedom, liberty, for America, for us, for YOU AND ME. We were asked to remember those who died in the great American Civil War, but the day to remember now incorporates all who have given lives in defense of our country. Far too many wars, my fellow Americans, and far too many fallen defenders by the millions who believed in America, and in its fundamental principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all mankind. How grateful we should be.We are descendants or contemporaries of patriots, men and women who cherish freedom and were willing to fight and die to defend it if necessary. These warriors lived by the words of Patrick Henry who said:GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH.Our nation was formed in the fight for freedom for there was no life worthwhile without it. There came our great Constitution and our incredible BILL OF RIGHTS, the rights and freedom amendments which are the finest in the history of mankind. But no matter the origin, it seems as though in so many ways the passion for freedom may have been lost today as they once had it. We seem to take for granted what they died for. And the courage they the fallen had seems lost today in so many ways and the change in our country, produces in so many ways an America in decline, at least politically, philosophically and certainly passionately. Our ancestors fought for the Constitution, for the Bill of Rights and the freedoms those now 27 Amendments allow us. They were ready to die for them, but we the current people allow them to be watered down, interpreted away and often ignored without the fight or conviction to protect and defend them. Perhaps the freedoms of Patrick Henry are giving way to a slow but sure death. Perhaps we have failed to meet the challenge of Ben Franklin who told us that the Republic they created for us was a marvelous way of government IF we could keep it. I wonder if we can. So, in the midst of barbeques and baseball, it is so healthy to look back and remember. Remember a George Washington, a general, a leader, a President, a warrior, a patriot. Or a Paul Revere who rode the land warning that the enemy was coming, sounding the alarm. It seems as though we need more Paul Reveres, warning us that enemies to our Constitution and way of life are coming, and in fact are HERE. We the people should be ever mindful of the threats and sound the alarm as he did, like those who energized our country once before, THE BOSTON TEA PARTY PATRIOTS and the revolution their courageous acts energized and inspired. They took a stand against taxes and so must we. Ours continue to rise, and rise to the point of confiscation and nothing but nothing destroys freedom like taxes. President John Adams reminded us that the two killers of liberty are slavery and debt. The debt of confiscatory taxation strangles freedom and that is happening at an incredibly rapid pace today. Shame on us.It is hard for us to think back and remember the early days in America when slavery, slavery was a way of life in America to our great shame and embarrassment. We the moderns find that inconceivable, and the practice of slavery of any kind abhorrent, do we not? Right-thinking men and women fought and fell to rid America of the scourge of slavery, God bless them.And to rid the world of despots like Hitler, evil to the core, Mussolini and those who in war would destroy the freedom and liberty of all. God bless them.There can hardly be a family anywhere in America which has not laid a son or daughter on the altar of freedom. So many fought and fell, lives given willingly for us in war after war. And there were those who supported those who fought. We honor them. Many of our warriors and defenders came home hurt and damaged in body or mind perhaps for a lifetime. On Memorial Day, we honor these veterans of wars, these HEROES, these wounded warriors who gave us our freedom:WE OWE THEM!A debt we can never repay. To honor them is the least we can do, to thank them as we remember and as we encounter those in our military who follow after them. We should help and support them. They lived and died for what they believed. Whenever I encounter a member of our military, I thank them for what they did and what they do for our great country, for me, and for you, and for my friends and loved ones and all Americans whether I know them or not. But I really do know them for I know what is in their hearts and minds and I know they love America as much as I do. I will salute them as a sign of respect. I wish them to know that I will always be grateful for everything they do for me and the America I love. Perhaps YOU should do the same, not on one Memorial Day, but all days. They the heroes and defenders are the very best of us.God bless them.Memorial Day is always celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery, a very special place, a burial site for some of America’s bravest. At 3 PM on that Monday, a very special ceremony occurs and each grave is decorated with a small American flag. The highlight of the celebration is a speech in honor of these brave men and women from the President or Vice President of the United States honoring their contributions to America and laying a wreath at the tomb of The Unknown Soldier. That tomb represents tens of thousands of other unknown soldiers who gave their lives in service to our country, but in death never got the recognition and respect they so justly deserved. Do remember them, my fellow Americans, do remember them as well on Memorial Day as there may be no one else, no loved one, no friend or family to do so. And as you do remember these American heroes, thank our God, the God who blesses America for all those who gave so much for us. They allowed us to be parents, to have and enjoy family, they allowed us to be workers and fully participate in the great opportunities America offers. THEY allowed us to be all that we can be because our soldiers, they were determined to be all they could be. Have a special place in your heart all week for any loved one, family or friend of yours who should be MEMORIALIZED AND REMEMBERED this day and always.And, as we pay tribute and remember, let us become better citizens of this great country, ready more than ever to preserve, protect and defend all it stands for, all of our blessed and precious freedoms which exist like there are nowhere else in the world. Let us stand for what is right with actions, protests, town meetings, marches, debate, fact and truth at work, counteracting government spin and disinformation. Let us stand tall for the right, for truth, for all things moral and valuable. Let us resolve, we the people, we who own and control this country to do our job as citizens far better. And remember to cherish and exercise the greatest privilege which every American has. That is:THE VOTEThere is no more powerful weapon than the vote of the American citizen. It is the most precious Constitutional right we have and for which our forefathers fought and died. Let us make certain that we vote for those to represent us who so passionately believe in these very special freedoms as we do, and they the fallen did. It is only then, when we do our part, day in and day out, that we would have the right to say with conviction and passion as our forefathers did:GOD BLESS AMERICAFor that can not happen unless we the people do what is right, remembering whom and what went before and committing with conviction to follow in their footsteps. These men and women died for GOD AND COUNTRY and for you and me in the never-ending fight to protect and preserve:FREEDOMMemorialize their memories Memorial Day and every day!God bless America and God bless you.

You Matter

You matter to God Almighty. You matter perhaps far more than you know.You are:UNIQUE,one-of-a-kind, special, individual with different and better talents, capabilities, and above all:POTENTIAL.There is no one like you and you cannot be stereotyped, put in a category, or labeled, especially by age for there is only one:YOU.In the beginning, scripture and the precious book of Genesis tell us, God created them:MALE AND FEMALEMAN AND WOMAN.There are no other categories, no other creation, types whether biological, psychological, or spiritual. There are only two, male and female. You are one or the other and no other.In the eyes of God, the creator, categories, types, stereotypes like Italian, Irish, African American, Russian, English, Kenyan, Caucasian, Hispanic, old or young, all of that matters little or nothing to:GOD THE FATHER – CREATOR.You and only you, a unique creation, matter.It matters not to God whether mankind categorizes you as a BABY-BOOMER, whatever that means, or MILLENNIEL, whatever that means, or GEN-X or GEN-Z, whatever those categories mean, for they can do nothing but prevent you from understanding who you really are, God created, the potential you have to live and serve and be all that you can be for HIM. All such terminology does nothing but distracts and destroy WHO AND WHAT you really are:A ONE-OF-A-KIND, ABSOLUTELY UNIQUE, DIVINE CREATION!How the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ must rejoice when we are all that He intended us to be. And how our Great Creator must grieve when we ignore or fail to live to the fullest potential which our God has given us. What a world this would be, dramatically transformed for the good, if you and I lived as God intended us to live. We matter, we really do, to God the Father – Creator.It is undoubtedly a devil’s tool to make you think less of who you are and what you are capable of. There is nothing wrong with living lives mediocre, safe, and average, says the world secular to the core, avoiding risk, growth, challenge, and even opportunity. Accepting and living something else as some other way is A-Okay no matter the potential lost or unused. Devil wins if you or I do not live up to our God-given potential, whatever that is.We know whether or not that is happening, for good (God-given eyes to see) or for worse, we know. For the CALL of God is always on our heart, challenging, and convicting. You, and I, hear that still small voice that no one else hears calling, constantly calling. You and I, individually, and only you and I feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in us, showering us with discontent, calling, constantly calling, YOUR OWN INDIVIDUAL GOD-CALL, for you alone asking that you do more for HIM, that you live to the fullest with the talents, abilities which HE has given to you, you and you alone, uniquely so. I do believe we can never be content unless we heed that call. The Holy Spirit will not be denied, will not leave, and will not give up. You can know that in your head, your heart, your conscience, and as one put it:YOUR SPIRITUAL GUT.There is no greater joy, no greater satisfaction than to fulfill that CALL. The called life lived is energizing, satisfying, joyful, and fully productive. Nothing satisfies like living life the way God intended, nothing. You are not a millennial. YOU ARE HIS! In the eyes of God, you are not Caucasian or African American or Hispanic, you are not old or young:YOU ARE HIS SON OR HIS DAUGHTER.You matter to the God who made everything, EVERYTHING, and everyone. Perhaps our supreme task is to understand who we are, what our potential is, what our God-given talents and abilities are, and work, WORK to be all that He intended us to be.You matter. All lives matter. Every individual male and female whom God created matters. If we who believe in the SON of the Living God understand that, and live that way, we change the world in dramatic fashion. Nothing else will!

The Sinful Jesus

Do you believe that Jesus lived a SINLESS LIFE?Or do you, like 56% of so-called born-again Christians today, believe that Jesus did not live a sinless life, but rather committed sins during his life?Is that the kind of Jesus of Nazareth you believe in?A recent poll in which the well-respected George Barna, a Christian researcher, was involved, indicated that some 56% of all so-called born-again Christians believe that Jesus did not live a sinless life! That is so, no matter that Hebrews 4:15 states emphatically that Jesus lived a life without sin. Other scripture passages indicate the same thing. No matter, in this pick-and-choose spiritual Christian day and age, so many Christians are apt to interpret for themselves, ignore, or even deny any part of scripture, 66 books, which they do not like, or with which they do not agree. That, says George Barna, is even true of so-called born-again Christians. Scripture, the Holy Word of God is no longer believed by so many so-called Christians to be inspired, infallible, the perfect Word of God Almighty. So, when asked by these pollsters, the 2000 so-called born-again Christians interviewed had no problem indicating that they thought, in their infinite wisdom, that Jesus did not live a SINLESS LIFE.That, my fellow Christians, is the attitude and spiritual approach of this HE GETS US woke Christian approach. The false teachers abound, progressive, changing, spirituality is the rule of the day and Jesus needs to come to us, accept us, understand us, rather than the traditional biblical way of our coming to Him, understanding Him, and asking of Him, especially for forgiveness.So, they believe that our Savior, who went to the cross, did so as a sinful carpenter from Nazareth, subject to, and perhaps even yielding at times to such sins, the true Son of Man, and not the perfect Son of God, a flawed, sinful, human being perhaps in need of a blood-washing himself. That, to me, is shocking, heresy, blasphemy, and just plain dead wrong in every way.Again, do you believe that Jesus lived a sinless life? Or a life sinful like ours?There is no doubt that Jesus was tempted and tested like we are. But there is an enormous difference between being tempted, exposed to sin, and yielding to sin. There are three illustrations of that temptation. The spirit led our Lord into the wilderness, where he was subjected to fasting for 40 days and nights, and the tempter, the tester, Satan himself, came to Jesus in this weakened physical-human state, knowing HE was hungry and thirsty. So said the devil, turn these stones into bread. Jesus told him to back off, for all humans should live from the bread of life, every word out of the mouth of God.Satan, undeterred, led Jesus to the highest point of the holy temple in Jerusalem, and said JUMP! Cast yourself down and nothing will happen to you, because His Angels, your angels will watch over you and protect you. Jesus rebuffed him again. And yet, a third time Satan tried. Our Lord was led to a high mountain where there was a view of all the Kingdoms of the world, and Satan promised to give all of them to him if Jesus of Nazareth would worship him. Again, he refused and Satan, defeated, departed. There was no way that Jesus would worship and serve the tempter, the evil one.So, that eliminated the potential sins of power-hungry, ego, pride, and greed. Tempted, yes. Tested, yes. Sinful, NO!But the Christ haters never give up. They claim Jesus was guilty of violating the commandment that all should honor their father and mother. They say he rejected his own father and mother, encouraged children to leave their parents, dishonored his mother by refusing her requests, and claimed that his followers were his father and mother. Commandment broken, they say. But, not so, for his intention was for all children to live the life which God Almighty had ordained for each of them. Still sinless was the Son of Man, the Son of God.But, they say, HE was guilty of the sin of anger. He angrily treated the money changers with contempt and even violence as he threw them out of the temple. Wrong again. That was nothing more than the right attempt to protect the integrity, the purity of the Temple of the Living God. So, that spotless, sinless record was still intact.But, these anti-Christians say, Jesus used curse words, first-century curse words, calling religious rulers, the Pharisees, VIPERS, snakes, and poisoners. He swore at them, they say, by calling them white as sepulchers, hypocrites, dead and deadly. But in reality, there was nothing more than describing them as they were. Sinless record still intact.Then comes Gethsemane, where they say that Jesus, in temptation, was a quitter. He asked out of His mission, His purpose in coming. He knew the horrific ordeal which awaited him, a Roman crucifixion on a wooden cross, and with sweats of blood, He asked the Father to let him out, to let this CUP pass from me. Not once, not twice, but three times. But, at the end of the third request, He knew what He had to do, what He came for, and that it was the will of the Father to be done, and not his will. The human side of our Lord was tempted to quit, but for the good of the world and all of us, He knew He had to fulfill his divine mission. To the cross our Lord went, SINLESS, and that SINLESS BLOODSHED was the greatest act of redemption in human history.Do you believe that Jesus lived a sinless life? Do you accept the truth of Hebrews 4:15 which states emphatically that he did live a sinless life? Let it be known that I surely do, and I hope and pray that you do as well. If you don’t you had better have some incredibly strong, powerful, convincing evidence to the contrary. I hope you are not like 56% of 2000 so-called born-again Christians interviewed who, in their infinite wisdom, believed that Jesus of Nazareth sinned and consequently lived at least to that extent a sinful life. Scriptures say that is wrong in every way.May the sinless but tempted LIFE OF OUR LORD be a source of joy, inspiration, and hope for all of us as being truly born again, we love and respect the life of our Lord, and seek to be like Him, LIVE LIKE HIM!

Mother

In our world, love rules.It is the highest attribute, with fundamental characteristic of all humankind.Perhaps the finest expression of love is:MOTHER LOVEThe definition of mother, a real mother is simply put:LOVEA mother’s love is the ultimate human love.It is said that THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE RULES THE WORLD. Perhaps so because so much of a child is formed in the early years by mother. One is in life so much of what a mother was. A real mother is part of the life of a child forever. What we learn at mother’s knee is so often what we are. Her values become ours. We are HER.The egg of a woman is the source of all life, the fundamental stuff of the universe and when fertilized by the sperm of the male:LIFEThe most precious thing of all happens. The egg and the sperm unite and become one but it is:GODWho gives life. At that very moment of conception, the life of a HUMAN BEING begins.That life is not a mere collection of cells as one biologist so flippantly said, but in reality the first moments of the life of a human being, a child on the grow in the womb. That fertilized egg is a BABY. So much for abortion which is nothing more than murder of that baby at any stage in the womb.And so the mother begins mothering, and the baby grows. The enriched womb of the mother nourishes and cherishes the baby, sensitive to every need. The morning sickness is a small price to pay for the life within. Moods and diets may change as the womb grows large and beautiful. It is really wondrous to behold the change of mother in the making with that womb at work.It is marvelous indeed to touch the nine month home of that child. The ear presses down, hoping to hear any sound from the baby. Touching, hearing, kissing, sensing life at work are really more important than any ultrasound. God at work through Mother Nature creating life is wondrous, even miraculous.Some today are actually privileged to see the baby born. Out of the womb comes a bundle of joy, of life and yet another miracle happens. The pain of childbirth is so well worth the end result. Perhaps it is the most loving moment, the ultimate loving moment when brand new baby lays firm on mother’s breasts. Having seen that, how I wonder could any potential mother abort, kill her very own child? To do so is to abort a miracle.Early on, it is the still, small voice of the mother which is perhaps the greatest teacher in life. We the infants hear that voice and remember what the voice of our mother sounds like and says for a lifetime. We do so consciously and perhaps even more importantly subconsciously. That loving voice in many ways is angelic, the early words of love. They come with touch, and they are spiritual, psychological, character forming and building. The love of a mother is every bit as important as food itself. So, in a sense, these early words are eternal for they train up the child in the way the mother wishes the child to go and to grow is not to depart from the right ways of the mother.The words of a mother to her child are melodic, soothing, comforting. They support, encourage and they make a child feel safe. A mother touches, hugs, strokes, talks and sings to her baby, episodes never to be forgotten. When all else fails and all others as well, a truly loving mother never does. She is forever, eternal.A loving mother is kind. In a world rough and confrontational, the kindness of the mother is a most necessary characteristic.A loving mother is never jealous, never envious, always willing to put the child first, in love. A real loving mother is proud of her child no matter what the child becomes.Motherly love is always positive, not negative. It looks for the best, the good and the right. But the mother renders discipline when things are wrong. The love of a real mother is tough love. That love has standards, clear, straight and simply and lovingly communicated. Real love is without compromise. A loving mother never bargains with a child.A mother explains and answers perhaps better than any teacher, helping a child to understand. A mother stretches but never pushes knowing that her child must be challenged in order to grow. There is always demand and discipline from the right mother, both easy to implement when the child knows he or she is:LOVED A loving, Godly mother makes certain her child understands her standards and values and those of God as well.A loving Godly mother teaches the child the things of her Lord. Train up that child in the ways of faith, of Christian faith, the faith of the mother. There is no better witness for the child than a loving Christian mother, living life by those standards and the child along with her. That is faith with works, the best kind.A real loving mother gives time, quality time to the child. There is for mother and child that quality time to talk and much more importantly, and especially for mother, to:LISTENIn an age of cell phones, babysitters, fast foods, carpools and demanding social life, all of that and everything else should never, ever interfere with quality time spent by the mother with child. Truly listening, and touching, and hugging, and encouraging, respecting the child produces some of life’s finest lessons. Those bonding moments are, as one psychologist has well said:PEAK MOMENTSNever to be forgotten by either. Patient, kind and understanding. Truly interested in the life of a child, not superficially so. Perhaps that is why so many mothers wished more than ever, so we are told, to stay home, build that home for husband and child and all children and to spend full time training up that child in the way in which he should go. That is what mothers are for and no other job can ever come close to that incredible responsibility and opportunity.No matter the love, child rearing is work, and hard work. It demands the time of the mother at all times. The real needs of a young child are great and they demand full time, mother always on the ready. How beautiful it is for father and husband to watch the baby breastfeed. How beautiful to see mother and child so intimately and sensitively connected. There is special nourishment from the milk of the breast but there is also the psychological nourishment, the nourishment of love and bonding, one with each other, the young and often subconscious memories lasting for a lifetime. A mother’s touch, feel and taste are vitally important to the growth of the child.Some mothers homeschool. They want to train up that child in the right ways themselves. Others work to send the child to special schools, private schools or schools of faith. Loving mothers are more than willing to sacrifice to accomplish the right objectives for the child they love.And all the while, a mother encourages the love of a father for child and the child for the father. There is respect, as important as love, between mother and father, husband and wife. There is a sense of equality as both parents love their child in different ways. Perhaps the love of a father for a child is different but as the child grows and matures, the love, the real love of a real father becomes as important to the child as that of the mother. Without both loves, something fundamental is missing. So that, when a child is ready for the world, and independence, and a life for itself, both loving parents have formed the young adult and are ready proudly so to watch a brand new life unfold. They have earned, these loving parents have, the right to be proud parents.Small wonder that loving children love to give back. There comes a time when the priorities are reversed and the child becomes the support, the loving support of the parents. Loving children love to give back to loving parents. That love which began in the womb is eternal. It never fails. It outlasts faith, and hope and all the wisdom and riches of the world. It endures forever even as the love of Christ does.And so it is with the deepest admiration, respect and love that we, all of us at Crawford Broadcasting Company, salute all real loving mothers on Mother’s Day and all year long. If you are a loving mother:YOU ARE SPECIALThere is one day set aside to honor loving mothers which in reality should be done every day of the year. We are admonished, commanded to:HONOR OUR FATHER AND MOTHERIt is a commandment that we honor real loving parents with our love and respect. Give back the love you owe to your mother. Give it back with tears, with laughter and with joy. With gratitude and thanksgiving for all that she has done for you. Let her know how much you love and appreciate her, knowing as you do that you can never repay the loving debt you owe. No child can ever give back all that he or she has gotten. Never.If she is here, make sure she gets what she deserves. There are so many mothers, like mine, not here. My mother is with her Lord as she has been for more than a quarter century. How much I would love the opportunity to give her one more hug. Do that for yours while you can.We salute you and thank you, mother. There is really nothing like you in this world:NOTHING!

Woman

God created man in his own image. God created male and female in his own image. And he blessed them, male and female.MALE AND FEMALE! Not lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, much less queer, whatever that is (LGBTQ). But male and female:MAN AND WOMAN.The woman, like the man, was created in the:IMAGE OF GOD.Why would anyone want to be less than what God created, especially if one, either male or female, man or woman, is created in the image of God, why? Can there be any higher status, identification, human understanding of WHO WE ARE then to know, BIBLICALLY SURE, that we are God’s creation, and we are created in his image.God created man (Adam) and then God created a helper, woman who was:COMPARABLE TO HIM.Comparable! Equal to him, like him, and also, this woman was created in the:IMAGE OF GOD.To be sure, they were different, this man and woman. They, and consequently we, were created for different purposes, objectives, ROLES. But as each developed and sought the wisdom and understanding of the GOD CREATOR, those differences, divinely intended, became stronger and more evident. The man, the male, developed as God intended. The woman, the female, also and equally developed as God intended. So, there was at the beginning, at the time of creation a certain equality (comparable) between man and woman, a respect, and as husband and wife, a joining together, loving and caring. And that, the Lord God creator Almighty, fully intended. That was the divine purpose for:MALE AND FEMALEMAN AND WOMAN God intended that they should leave father and mother, grow and mature, populate the earth, join together as one flesh. Not that man should join with man as one flesh, or woman with woman as one flesh, but as man and woman as:ONE FLESH.That and that alone is the divine way.But again, the woman, created by God as Genesis tells us from the rib of a man, is both:COMPARABLE AND EQUALto that man. God created no second-class citizens. There were different roles, purposes and objectives, differences in the physical but the very same in spirit, mind, heart and understanding. Neither was inferior to the other!And so, says our GOD ALMIGHTY, creator of everything, of heaven and earth, there is the role, objective and purpose of the woman to join with the man in marriage become wife, with the responsibilities and privileges of a wife, and to become mother and bear children, perhaps the most important and vital function of the woman as wife. What an honor for that woman to be mother, and what an honor for that man to be father. There is probably nothing finer for either. NOTHING!Today, there are any number of women who are not married, not wife, not mother. They yet remain what God intended, COMPARABLE to and EQUAL to man. They live independently, strong, capable, productive. They pursue another way, perhaps a different calling. These women, not married, are often well educated, developing wisdom and understanding. They often themselves become teachers, intellectual, spiritual, and emotional examples to children and even adults.They are often strong professionals, these independent women are. They are competent in business, the world of finance, and they are often every bit as talented and capable as any man, and in any number of cases even more so. Many women have been highly successful in business, some having achieved the status of:BILLIONAIREA possibility never imagined years ago. Many believe that women control the majority of the wealth of the world and in most such cases, that wealth is in good hands, well managed and productively utilized. Success in business and finance is yet another way, a modern way, that a woman, created in the image of God, is both:COMPARABLE TO AND EQUAL TO ANY MAN!So many women, females God created, are strong Christians. They know scripture. They study the Bible. They are led by the Holy Spirit. They begin and develop strong faith in Jesus Christ, and they become some of the finest Christian examples in the entire world, often more so than any man. They bring a unique, loving, caring to the young. Whether mother or not, children gravitate to them. They can be a source of tender love, comfort, and support and at the same time, strong, independent, vital, and competitive in the business world with any man.That woman can be respected for often times a superb work ethic. A woman can be fully disciplined, straight, and honest, every bit as any man and often more so. That honest work ethic exists in so many places in our very own company, the Crawford Broadcasting Co. There are many proud examples of comparable, competent, and productive females at work in CBC.Some find ways to be mother and pursue careers at the same time. They have the ability to do what is right in their eyes, and before God, always on call, work and responsibility never ending. Most females, women God created, are blessed caregivers, especially concerned with the health of children, but with all human beings, and equally concerned with rendering care and affection to the elderly. They follow proudly the individual call of God for their lives, they know in whom they have believed, and they pursue His purpose for their lives, always pressing on for the goal, the prize of the high calling of Jesus Christ, the very same as any man.Jesus Christ loved and respected women. They ministered to Him and HE to them. There was the unforgettable encounter of our Lord with the woman at the well. There was that generous and loving woman who poured incredibly expensive perfume on the feet of Jesus, washed them, and dried them with her hair. That loving female act reverberates through the years, a vitally important Christian teaching. Women were the very first to know that Jesus, the Christ was risen, resurrected from the dead as He said. The very first to discover the empty tomb and to know that this Son of God:LIVES ETERNALLY.Women were the very first evangelists to spread the good news to Peter and the disciples that Jesus Christ was risen from the dead. What an honor.So, it is good to be a woman, that woman created in the image of God, that biological woman who can be joined with a man as one flesh, comparable before God in every way. We honor women as wives and mothers. We should as well honor them for what they are, who they are, as strong, independent, productive, servants of the living God, comparable to and equal to:ANY MAN.How good it is that both man and woman were God created!

You

The church of Jesus Christ needs YOU now more than ever.This precious church, this body of believers, the worldwide followers of Jesus Christ need:YOUto stand, be strong in the faith, bold and aggressively unashamed of your faith now more than ever.The forces of evil are at war. Our age grows dark and darker by the day. Satan’s army works directly, overtly, aggressively, and every bit as effectively subtly, secretly, covertly to overthrow, even eliminate, the Christian faith and the Christians who believe. This radical army hopes you are unaware. YOU are unaware. A believer not watching, lulled to sleep by the comforts of this world and the deceit lurking everywhere, content with your cellphone and Starbucks culture. They are always at war; they live for their immoral victory, and they will employ any means to win this incredible spiritual battle in this dark day and age of post truth.This is not scare tactic or even for that matter pessimistic, fearful, or weak:IT IS REALITY.It is happening. It is everywhere. These anarchists are determined to win, and they will lay their all on the altar of Satan in order to do so. Please, arouse and observe, understand and be ready to deal with the:SIGNS OF THE TIMES.The army of our Lord needs YOU now more than ever. YOU! God the father, of our Lord Jesus Christ and YOU calls YOU and me now more than ever to enlist, prepare, be ready and wherever necessary:FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITHwith the spiritual weapons which God has given us. These satanic forces hope you are unaware of the battle at hand, or perhaps simply don’t care, don’t want to be involved. They employ against YOU the weapon of ridicule. If you dare loudly and lovingly to proclaim your faith, you are ridiculed as fanatic, intolerant, non-inclusive, bigot, and racist. This weapon, properly employed, shuts down the walk, testimony and stand of literally millions of believers, MILLIONS!The evil other side employs the weapon of REJECTION. If you are a sincere person of faith, they utterly reject you and they encourage others to reject you. They accuse you of non-Christian conduct, not loving, not turning the other cheek, not accepting people as they are. And so often YOU, and in fact so many of WE THE BELIEVERS, succumb to this satanic weapon of war.They, the enemies and haters of our Lord and YOU, intimidate even threaten violence and actually, the world over, employ this weapon. Churches are burned, congregations are shot, Christians are martyred. The courts are full of litigation against Christians (Jack Phillips, Baker in Colorado among others). Legislation is passed by Federal Government, states, and even local communities contrary to Christian morality and accepted standards of behavior. The non-violent weapon of CHANGE, radical change, is utilized everywhere and ALWAYS AT WORK.Against YOU comes the weapon of SHAME. They believe that Christians will not follow the biblical commandment to be unashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, even if it is the power of God unto Salvation. That power, which can defeat any enemy seems so seldom to be called upon by any believer. THEY know that and THEY, unashamed of their purposes and proud of their evil desire to win at any cost, do whatever it takes to advance their cause knowing that millions will not resist. The power of real Christianity, the stand of real Christians are dull, even useless weapons in this dark, ever growing evil day and age. Far too many Christians are impotent, weak, even afraid. They seem not to claim or believe in the biblical promise that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. The sound mind promised by the great God Jehovah and his Holy Spirit seems overrun by the fear which God abhors.The forces of good, of God, of morality, of CHRISITANITY need YOU now more than ever in this fight of faith. You were created, a child of God, a son or daughter blessed with belief and with spiritual purpose and YOU, no matter who you are, are important, necessary, and vital in the overall plan and priorities of our Lord Jesus Christ. The captain of our spiritual army, THE HOLY SPIRIT, needs YOU now more than ever, fully enlisted and ready to lay your all on the altar.YOU ARE UNIQUE! No matter who you are, you are UNIQUE! There is only one YOU! The forces of evil make you think differently that you are average, nothing special, without purpose or meaning in any ultimate way in your life. They hope you live life-long content with mediocrity, a mere average existence spiritually, so you could never be a threat, a unique part of this spiritual army which God intended you to be. Without YOU, no matter who you are, the forces of good, the army of God is weakened. YOU must believe that you are special, you are unique, you have a purpose in life, a reason for being different from anyone else, and you must be the person which God intended you to be in every possible way. You must stand up, proud and loving, a joyful believer, who will never compromise, nor be intimidated, nor shy away from the full defense of the faith and the truth and the life, which Jesus Christ has given you. YOU MUST DO WHAT YOU CAN! No more, but no less. You must do what you should as a Christian, as your duty to your Lord. That action and reaction must occur in your life more than anything else.That kind of response of course can only come if you truly believe, REALLY BELIEVE in your faith. If your Christian commitment is minimal, your faith small, your knowledge of the plan of salvation incomplete, and you are driven by every wind and doctrine, every intellectual and spiritual threat which confronts you, this kind of message will seem extreme, irrelevant and most importantly:IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU!You may think of yourself as having few talents, abilities, not like so many others. And that is one of the most powerful tools of the devil, having you compare yourself with someone else, getting you to believe that you really don’t have a calling or purpose, or real value in the plan of the great God Jehovah for you in this world. You fail in your ability to understand the talent, strengths, and assets which God has give you and the devil rejoices. More than ever, you must know:YOU.You are unique. You are different. No one can do what you are ordained to do, no one! YOU, all of us, need to constantly search our heads and hearts to determine who we are, why we are here and what is our ultimate divine purpose in life. YOU MATTER! If, for example, you are a mother, wife, responsible for household in so many ways, you have skills, talent, leadership qualities, caring, loving, and listening. You have the ability to discipline, organize, communicate, and be a force, spiritually and socially, TREMENDOUS TALENTS. You should recognize them and use them in all of life, even as you perfect them in the home. Undoubtedly, that is what God intended. That is WHO YOU ARE, and who you should be in order to be all that you can be. Be proud of those talents, strong in them, knowing that you, and how you do things are UNIQUE,Different from and in some ways better than anyone else. That, all of that, is what God intended for:YOUYOU TO BEWHAT YOU SHOULD BE!Replenish yourself every day, all day, with the resources God has given you. First, PRAY. Pray says the scripture without ceasing, all the time. Give thanks, thanks to God, and thank God for who you are, and pray for His wisdom to understand yourself all the better. And, FELLOWSHIP. The company of believers is nourishing, sharpening. You can help strengthen the brethren, whether one on one or in a large church community. Fellowship, contact, and loving listening with other believers grows every human being, every Christian and servant of the Lord. And STUDY. Study to show yourself approved unto God, workmen and workwomen who, because of what they know:NEED NOT BE ASHAMEDbecause you rightly understand, YOU KNOW the truth, the biblical truth. The truth of the God who created you. You know the saving power and love of Jesus Christ. You experience daily the wisdom, guidance, fellowship, and strengthening of the Holy Spirit. You are made better every day by that witness and that influence. YOU ARE READY TO GIVE A REASON FOR THE FAITH THAT IS WITHIN YOU! You are ready to stand for the gospel and for Jesus Christ, and lay all, even your life, on the altar if necessary. You are never weakened by comparing yourself to ANYONE ELSE! You are a unique child of God. You are proud of who you are, spiritually, and you will never be intimidated, ridiculed, or rejected by anyone, ANYONE!THAT, you are then the warrior, the soldier, the fighter which the Christian FIGHT OF FAITH, the army of God needs now more than ever. I pray that your faith is that strong, so strong that it makes you realize who YOU are and how important you are in the loving plan of Jesus Christ. Without You, the army of God is incomplete, no matter who you are. Please understand that, and your calling, your uniqueness now more than ever.The church of Jesus Christ, the army of our Lord, needs:YOUTHE REAL PASSIONATE CHRISTIAN YOUSTRONG IN THE LORDNow more than ever!

American Values

Recently, a poll was conducted by the Wall Street Journal. To the extent it was accurate and representative, the poll contained some very interesting and alarming statistics.The poll revealed that only:38%Of Americans say that patriotism is:VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM.That alarming statistic, my fellow Americans, that incredibly low percentage is down from that of 1998 which at that time was:70%.38%, only somewhat more than 1 out of 3 Americans think that patriotism, loyalty to and belief in the one-of-a-kind America is very important. That to me is shocking. Are you one of those 3 or are you one of the 2 out of 3 who really don’t think that patriotism matters that much? How sad, rather how tragic is this lack of loyalty and commitment to the greatest nation in the history of humankind.Small wonder we are adrift as a nation, deeply divided, woke to the point where this new way of thinking is destroying everything once assumed to be American, and in danger of losing our very country itself.President Thomas Jefferson once said that America from time to time needs to be REFRESHED, the tree of liberty did with the blood of real patriots. That is, we true Americans should be willing to fight for our country and our freedom if necessary. But if only 1 out of 3 of us really care about and believe in America, the other two and their different way of thinking will certainly prevail. The America we have known and loved and lived in for almost 250 years will be gone with the wind.This Wall Street Journal poll also found that only about 40% of all Americans believed that religion of any kind was:VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM. Two out of five Americans only, 2 OUT OF 5 believed that religion, that broad and all-inclusive word was very important to them. That lack of belief was literally unbelievable!Twenty-five years ago, 2 out of 3 Americans, some 65% believed that religion was VERY IMPORTANT to them. Now, says this poll, only 2 out of 5 Americans believe that instead of 2 out of 3. Small wonder, my fellow Americans and Christians, that theologians predict the END TIMES and surely the end of America as we know it.Further, found the poll, only 27% of Americans said that their community was VERY IMPORTANT to them, a percentage down from 62% in 2019. Don’t you find that unbelievable, as I do? Similarly, tolerance for other people, the poll found, was very important to 80% of Americans just four years ago. Today it is, says the Wall Street Journal, just 58%!Twenty-five years ago it was normal, expected that Americans would feel pride in their country. Proud of America was the normal belief of the vast majority of WE THE PEOPLE. We were, America was, the country unrivaled, a dominant force in the world. We were proud of our ancestors, our history, our constitution, our rule of law. But now, woke and radically progressive teaching, teaches our children that America was founded in “sin” and essentially irredeemable. If children, become adults, are taught to believe that there is little or nothing good in our history and our past, that America is irredeemably evil, small wonder that so many Americans do not feel a proud and aggressive sense of:PATRIOTISM.For example, trans-gender extremists recently called for a:“DAY OF VENGENCE”in America. Politician Marjorie Taylor-Greene recently insisted that the Untied States must break up, blue states divorced from red. That is simply just another way of saying that America is hopeless, irredeemable and must be destroyed or at least divided. I hope that you are aware of these incredibly satanic forces at work in our country, that you resist and defend whenever you can, and that you are proud of and willing to fight the fight of faith as necessary as the radical changes in America predicted by Barack Hussein Obama, the incredibly evil George Soros and others occur and grow every day. Our, YOUR future is at stake.And yet another Wall Street Journal finding. Only 23% of American adults said that having children was very important to them. Less than 1 out of 4! Stunned at that finding, I discussed the finding with a very intelligent and bright woman who said to me point blank:“I REFUSE TO HAVE AND RAISE CHILDREN IN THE AMERICA AND THE WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE!” Conservatives are silenced. They keep quiet out of fear of losing their jobs and other retribution from woke-progressives-radicals. Conservatives fear being shut out of advancement opportunities at work, mistreated by co-workers and bosses and even fired for voicing their beliefs. Censorship is everywhere. It affects everything and everyone.The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) reported that 88% of four-year colleges and universities now restrict the free expression of their students.The New York City Teachers Union sponsors a virtual workshop on fighting against the, are you ready for this:HARMFUL EFFECTS OF WHITENESS IN OUR LIVES.The bottom-line objective of course is the vague and misleading:DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION.I suppose it is not good today to be white, is it? It seems as though every other skin color matters except white. I, for one white, politely and passionately disagree!What a world! There seems to have been such radical change in values, morals, ethics and beliefs in our great country and the world at large. We are, my fellow Americans, like it or not, engaged in a spiritual, political, cultural and historical warfare like never before which threatens to tear our country apart and even destroy it. I am no prophet of doom, but a realist, I see what is happening as I am sure you do, knowing that there are so many who have no hope for this great country.I DO! I still believe the majority, perhaps the vast majority of Americans, are patriotic, are religious, and I hope that means Christian-Born-again, care about community and their fellow brothers and sisters and would count it an honor to bear and raise God-given children. I have that hope because I have:FAITH-HOPE-LOVEin the risen savior:JESUS CHRIST!HE is perhaps the only hope for peace, understanding, equity, and love. And of course, salvation and freedom, REAL FREEDOM.I love America and I am one of Thomas Jefferson’s patriots who is willing to shed blood if necessary for the Tree of Liberty, for the America I love, and more importantly for:THE LORD I LOVE.I PRAY THAT YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE AS WELL!

Easter Again

 HE IS RISEN! Haven’t forgotten that, have you? Just because we celebrated Easter and the Easter message of resurrection even though virtual Sunday, April 4, I just can’t let you and me ever forget that. It’s not just April 4, it’s every day of 12 MONTHS.HE is the only man who ever triumphed over death and the grave, none before Him and none since. THE ONLY ONE! That resurrection, that bodily resurrection, that ascension, that VERIFIED – WITNESSED resurrection and ascension is crucial, pivotal, revolutionary, life changing, essential and indispensable to the belief of every Christian. Morning, noon and night, every day of all 365, the living, resurrected Christ LIVES within the hearts of every Christian believer. And every believer, the Christ has promised, will live with Him now, in this life, and in the life WITH HIM to come. Incredible, is it not?Wonderful, glorious, jubilant, to every believer. But to the natural man:FOOLISHNESS, Absolute and altogether foolishness. It is absolutely ridiculous, says a natural man, an atheist or agnostic, that a mere human being, a carpenter from Nazareth no less, who came from dust and shall return to dust as the scriptures say should rise from the dead. It is just simply not possible. And of course, the myth of the resurrection and the myth of the virgin birth and even for many the myth of the crucifixion all are nothing more than fairytales or as the scriptures say IDLE tales. One can readily see how a natural man, one not drawn by THE HOLY SPIRIT, with eyes closed and ears blocked would scoff, mock and ridicule the EASTER story. If you want, as physicist and astronomer Steven Hawkins would say to believe in a myth of fairytale, that is your right. But the world of science, says Hawkins, astronomy and the so called reason and rationality of the mind dismiss a resurrection possibility out of hand. It didn’t happen, says Hawkins. IT CAN’T HAPPEN! And, to that, the Apostle Paul says if in fact the resurrection did not happen, then:YOUR FAITH IS IN VAIN. Worthless. No better than any other belief system, if even that. If Christ be not risen, any professing believer is not only deceived but becomes him or herself a DECEIVER. Such a believer testifies to a lie, perhaps the biggest lie in all of human history and consequently, becomes a conspirator in the spread of evil and duplicity. So that, not only is the believer’s faith in vain, but the guilt of the false belief of others lies upon him or her as well. When you or I profess to be Christian, we must therefore champion the resurrection with all of our heart, soul and mind. There can be no doubt. NONE!Perhaps that is why the nonbeliever dislikes, even hates Christianity and as a consequence the Christians who follow it. Nonbelievers hate the concept of sin. They see no need for forgiveness. They deeply resent the demands of Christianity and the Christ who boldly proclaims:NO MAN OR WOMAN COMES TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME! Nonbelievers hate that demand, that exclusivity. For it rules out everything else, every other form of belief, in fact every other religion. The crucifixion at Golgotha was merely the death of one man, perhaps even justified. The man who died was a revolutionary, a seditionist, constantly conspiring to get THE PEOPLE to resist and rebel against Rome, the political system, Herod and Pilot on the one hand and the religious authorities, the Pharisees and Sadducees on the other. And he even admitted he came to stir up trouble, to turn one family member against another. He called Herod the Tetrarch of Rome a FOX, cunning, deceiving and lying. The religious establishment despised him because he referred to them over and again as nothing more than hypocrites, or whited sepulchers, empty inside. If any mere man deserved to die, and die in an excruciating way, it was this mirror man Jesus of Nazareth. It was with HIM then as it is now love or hate. You embraced him, believed in him, gave him your all. Or you despised, even hated him nothing more than a rebel or rabble rouser, deluded, even perhaps insane a man in no way to be taken seriously. WITH OR AGAINST. And, written off by Him who again boldly even arrogantly stated:HE THAT IS NOT WITH ME IS AGAINST ME.The world, the secularists, the natural men and women accommodate Christianity one weekend, three days each year. From Good Friday through resurrection Sunday, those who believe in fairytales are allowed their celebration. But then comes Monday and it is back to business as usual, criticizing Christianity, attempting at every hand to get Christians, Christian beliefs and Christianity out of the public square, out of the marketplace, confined if at all possible to the four walls of a church. They are determined, these rabid, progressive secularists to curtail or eliminate Christian witness, any form of evangelism for they the enemy have determined that all Christian speech is:HATE SPEECH.They are determined to destroy, eliminate any form of testimony, any message which states:CHRIST IS RISEN Even as they scoff at the message:  UP FROM THE GRAVE HE AROSE WITH THE MIGHTY CHILD O’ER HIS FOES Wherever he was buried, there he remains they say. From the time he was laid in a tomb, everything else, EVERYTHING is nothing more than myth, fairytale, idle tale WHY!But, natural man, like it or not, he did in fact rise again. HE WAS SEEN first by the women Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James and Salome, and Joanna, and other women. They first saw the empty tomb as they brought spices, the announcement of the resurrection by the angel and these women were the very first EVANGELISTS. They were the first to go and tell. They told Peter, and the disciples, 11 of them and others that at the tomb:HE IS NOT THERE!HE IS RISEN! He was there, back for some 40 days before an ascension. He fellowshipped with his disciples and with others. He was there in the flesh for he was hungry and thirsty. He ate and drank and he showed them his nail pierced body and the wounded side where he was pierced. He returned as a man alive and ascended in glory as the eternal Christ. For Christian believers, it is true, all of it. It is fact. It is the foundation of belief. He was alive in the flesh before and after the crucifixion and now lives eternally and forever with his saints to reign. So, the Christian joyfully proclaims Easter Sunday and every other day:HALLELUJAHCHRIST AROSE We the believers celebrated the Easter weekend, mourning at the remembrance of the crucifixion on Good Friday April 2 but joyfully and jubilantly celebrated HIS Resurrection on Easter Sunday, April 4. That resurrection message was heard that day the world over. The world made time, even priority at least to recognize that incredible message. But now, only mere days later, it is business as usual. Perhaps even we who believe become gradually less open, less aggressive in our testimony, perhaps even unwilling to STAND for what we believe, in Him. Perhaps, gradually, we become more defensive, even withdrawn, unwilling to testify and confront. Perhaps the message of those three potent days becomes a matter of memory, fading, the power of it all dissipating, the courage to fight the fight of faith waning.So, just a few days after the Easter celebration, it is well for us to celebrate again, and again and again, and every day the fact, the most supreme fact in all of human history that:HE IS RISEN.That, as the old hymn says, Christ the Lord is risen today, and every day. Hallelujah! Let us with all our hearts proclaim that message and live that message. It is the greatest fact in human history! So, from the virgin birth, to a powerful human life symbolist, to the crucifixion offering forgiveness for all mankind through the shed blood, to the resurrection, believe it, proclaim it, and live it every day of the year.And one more thing. There is yet to come the rapture. This, the crucified and resurrected Christ will return again for his church, for us. Perhaps that day is near and we should be ready. The rapture is yet another fairytale, so says the natural man. But for Christians, it is the ultimate event, the culmination of everything. If you are Christian, if you believe, then the Holy Spirit bears witness, fortifies your belief, encourages you and strengthens you and makes certain that you live joyfully in the faith, hope and love of the Christian journey. Easter was celebrated days ago. But Easter is not a day, it is a way of life. Celebrate morning, noon and night:HE IS RISEN HALLELUJAH CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY AND EVERY DAY!

Easter - The Lord is Risen

Up the carpenter went to Jerusalem, knowing full well why. It was time, HIS time, the time, the eternal time as appointed when a world changing event would happen.It was to be the end of his earthly journey, a time for the transition between the Jesus of history and the Christ of Glory.There came that time in the Garden of Gethsemane where he went to pray. He asked his disciples to participate, to watch with him, to stay awake with him. Not knowing the incredible events about to happen, they slept. But the Master prayed, communed with the Father. How wonderful the humanity of Jesus the Christ in Gethsemane. As man, he knew the incredible suffering and agony to come, the crucifixion which would happen and he prayed to the Father:LET THIS CUP PASS FROM MELet there be another way to introduce your love and saving grace rather than crucifixion. But the answer was clear, the plan in place. There would be no change.Perhaps that was the greatest expression and revelation of the WILL of God at work. The plan of salvation would begin with Him, Jesus of Nazareth so that all men might know that He was indeed the SON OF GOD.And so, in blessed surrender, the soon to be Christ of Glory uttered this incredible prayer:NOT MY WILL BUT THY WILL BE DONEOn earth even as it is in heaven. He was ready, and willing.Jesus of Nazareth loved Jerusalem as all Jews do. There stood the temple, the holiest place on earth to the Jews, the earthly abiding place of the HOLY OF HOLIES. It was ordained so by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and it was the place, the center for the longing, the love and the passion of all Jews. Jerusalem, the one and only Jerusalem, the City of David.Jesus of Nazareth poured out His love on the city and its people so very special to him. He passionately lamented how he would love to take the city and its people under his wing and to show them what he firmly believed was the way, the truth, and the life, all new things. There would be from God through him a new creation possible, all things and people born again, a fresh and vital spirituality. But before these new gifts from God could become universal, a tragic and horrific event must occur followed by the most miraculous and wonderful event in the history of mankind.HE had dined in Jerusalem with his disciples, a loving Last Supper to commemorate the event to come, the celebration of his body and his blood. That communion of the disciples and the Lord, that spiritual fellowship celebrated vicariously with bread and wine, was the end event for them but only the beginning of a lifelong celebration for us.Roman soldiers found him in Gethsemane. There came the mockery of trial and interrogation before Pilate and Herod. The world knows of the hands–washing, the refusal to make the decision of death for a just and innocent man and the offering to the people of a choice between Jesus of Nazareth and a convicted criminal. The crowd of course chose the criminal.Then came the walk to the cross, the VIA DOLOROSA, the way of sorrow still today commemorated in Jerusalem by the 12 Stations of the Cross. When His cross became too heavy to bear, another carried it for him. Crowds lined the way, watching and listening, some mocking, some wailing, all perhaps sensing this was no ordinary man nor would there be any ordinary crucifixion. But none could know that the world could change.And so, the cruelest and most brutal death possible occurred for an innocent man, a public crucifixion. Roman soldiers nailed Jesus of Nazareth to that wooden cross.It seems ironic indeed, does it not, that a man who lived and worked with wood died a brutal death on wood itself.He hung on that cross for hours, a criminal on each side. The sky grew dark and it was as though the earth and all in it mourned. The Christ of Glory hung in utter agony, and the horrific pain he experienced caused Him to utter these unforgettable words:MY GOD, MY GOD WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN MEWHY?So alone, in utter agony, feeling even that the FATHER had forsaken Him. It is impossible to know how He felt, how awful that death must have been for Him. But He was man, human. We as humans like him can understand the cruelty of man and the suffering and agony he suffered in death as many of us have. HE took on the suffering of mankind on that Golgotha Hill. So many who loved him watched, mourned and prayed, never really knowing that this tragic crucifixion would turn into a glorious Resurrection.It seemed indeed that in that darkest moment, God Himself had departed, forsaken. Perhaps it was, as some scholars think that this Holy God could not look upon the ultimate and tragic event as they were laid on him the sins of the world. On that cross, in the blood and tortured flesh of the body of the Son of God, in that death unto sin were in fact the sins of the world, all of them and all of ours. That final bloody act of remission and propitiation had to be finished. There had to be that tumultuous and cataclysmic collision of worlds, when heaven and earth became one through Him. For hours, He suffered in agony and pain. His precious body was exposed, mutilated and mocked. He was crowned in the ultimate sarcasm with a crown of thorns to mock the claim of:KING OF THE JEWS.Roman soldiers taunted him, challenging him to use His miraculous powers to come down from the cross, laughing all the while. They cast lots for his garments and treated in cavalier style this world changing event as ordinary, the crucifixion and death of yet another fanatic, yet another would be Messiah as there were so many of them in that day. Never could these men know what would happen on the third day.And so He died and as He was removed from the cross, there came mercifully and lovingly Joseph of Arimathea to claim the body, something which rarely happened in early Roman times, so that Jesus of Nazareth could be buried in His very own tomb. And there He lay as all who knew him, loved, followed and believed in Him mourned. There was perhaps that day a sense of no hope, the law so tragic that HE would never be replaced. Like doubting Thomas, none really believed what would happen that third day.But on that third day, they hurried, they ran to the tomb, the women did. They were so anxious lovingly to attend His body. Instead, they found in the tomb the Angel of the Lord. The stone which had covered the tomb had been rolled back. The event was so terrifying it overwhelmed the Roman guards. The women announced that they had come looking for Jesus of Nazareth, He who had been crucified, buried and laid in this tomb. They demanded to know who took His body. But the Angel of the Lord said to them, words which would change the world:HE IS NOT HERE HE IS RISENHE IS ALIVE. Death as we know it had no power over Him. For millions, that is impossible for us to believe. But for us who do and especially those of us never having seen, heard or been in His physical presence, we who believe the truth and reality of the Resurrection are entitled to the power and the eternal victory over death even as it was with Him. Even as He returned to the Father, so shall we at our appointed time be with Him and the Father as well. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is not a myth, not symbolic, but the most real event in all of human history.The Apostle Paul states that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most fundamental event, the crux of Christianity. If, says Paul, there was no Resurrection, then Christianity is a farce and more importantly our FAITH is in vain. If the Resurrection was myth, or symbolic and not real, actual, factual, a bodily resurrection, then our faith is in vain. But thank the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, as Paul did, that the Resurrection was real, it endures with everlasting power even now and for all eternity. OUR FAITH IS NOT IN VAIN. The tomb was empty and the empty lives of all mankind could now be filled with the power of this incredible resurrection. The words again which changed the world:HE IS NOT HERE! HE IS RISEN!And so came the Resurrection witness. The resurrected and risen Christ was seen, heard, touched, and otherwise fully experienced as living once again. There were those who doubted, demanding proof. They touched the nail pierced hands and the side pierced with that Roman spear. And they said with the words of doubting Thomas:MY LORD AND MY GODTheir eyes were opened and they recognized Him. They fellowshipped with Him and ate with Him. And He said to them “why are you disturbed and troubled.” Why do such doubts and questionings arise in your hearts? He told them to see His hands and feet and know that it is I MYSELF. No mere spirit, He said, has flesh and bones as I have. His disciples were filled with sheer joy and marvel. Their minds were open to understand Him and the Scriptures. Now said the Resurrected Christ, you are witnesses of these things. Go and preach this wonderful event and our message to all nations. He blessed them and sent them.GO YE, He said, into all of the world and preach the Gospel to everyman, to the Jew first but then to the Gentiles. TO ALL MANKIND. The saving power of the Resurrection was for everyone. So many of us doubt in some ways even today. We see through a glass darkly, said Paul. Our understanding of these things is limited, human here and now. But hereafter, we will know, really know when we see HIM:FACE TO FACEBlessed are those who have never seen and believe!There is nothing in this world like this belief, the outpouring of the saving grace of the Resurrection. The power of life and life eternal through Him is the most powerful force on earth. It comes by acceptance and an open heart, the outpouring of this transforming love. It has been my blessing and I hope and pray that you have had such an encounter with THE LIVING CHRIST, that you have experienced the forgiveness of the cross and that you have accepted and believed in the power of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is Easter, that is what Easter means. It is life anew, one born again. A decision to encounter is the most important decision any person can make. It changes life here and it creates life hereafter. It allows the unfolding of the Kingdom of God now and fellowship in that Kingdom for eternity. We become ONE WITH HIM now, and then forevermore.And so, we who believe sing on Easter Sunday and all year long:CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAYHALLELUJAH!Let the heavens and the earth sing with joy and praise and fill the mind and heart with the power and love of the Resurrection. May the meaning of Easter be with you always, and firmly fasten in your mind the words of the angel, the Messenger of God who stated to those women so many years ago and consequently to all mankind:HE IS NOT HERE!HE IS RISEN!Christ the Lord is in fact risen and our faith is not only NOT in vain but the greatest thing in life. As He was with them in those days following His Resurrection, so He will be with us. His words to that effect are unforgettable.HEAR ME!I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS!EVEN UNTO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH!Christ is Risen!HALLELUJAH!

The Risen Christ

IF CHRIST BE NOT RISEN, THEN YOUR FAITH IS IN VAIN!Those are the words of the Apostle Paul. What Paul was saying was that the truth of Christianity rested entirely on the fact that Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead. The resurrection was real, a fact. It happened; it was a historical event. The resurrection was completely and unequivocally verified, and therefore, for all of us Christians, our faith was real, our belief in Jesus Christ verifiable. OUR FAITH WAS NOT IN VAIN!Who, in the history of humankind, knew better about the risen Christ than the apostle Paul. This pharisee, Christian hater, on the Damascus Road on the way to Syria to persecute and kill more Christians, was met face-to-face by the risen Christ, who confronted him in person and said words Paul would never forget:SAUL, WHY DO YOU PERSECUTE ME?Saul, later Paul, would never forget those words. How could he when they and the speaker, the resurrected Christ changed his life completely and Saul, later Paul, from that time forward, from that miraculous encounter-conversion set out to serve this risen Lord and present His gospel of truth to all mankind, to the whole world.Saul, a Jew, a pharisee, let the world know that the gospel of Jesus Christ was delivered and meant for the Jew first, and then, secondarily, to the gentiles. How wonderful, how miraculous that we were included in the gospel of saving grace, the salvation experience offered by the risen Christ.If Jesus of Nazareth was not risen, then at best he was one of the world’s prophets, a good one, a very good man. He was moral and taught morality. He was a teacher, a rabbi, respected by his peers, but by no means divine, nor the SON OF GOD he claimed to be. In fact, were he not risen, those words, that claim was nothing short of blasphemy. If Jesus of Nazareth were not risen, then he was a fraud, deluded, a megalomaniac seeking power, fame and notoriety with one false claim after another. The Christianity of this Christ was also in vain, nothing more than a cult. Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of Glory, was either the divine way of the God Jehovah Almighty, the Truth and the Life, or one of the greatest frauds of humankind.But again, praise God, Jesus of Nazareth is Risen! He Lives, and he is in fact, the Way, the only Way, the only ultimate Truth, and the only giver of Life Eternal. Even as Christ was resurrected, so we who believe, with faith and love in this risen Christ, shall also be resurrected, risen from the dead as He was, and we shall spend eternity with Him. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the ultimate truth and life. It is exclusive, the only way, the only ultimate divine truth. There is absolutely no need for woke or progressive Christianity. The movement HE GETS US is dead wrong, for the resurrected Christ makes it clear that we need to GET HIM. There are no other ways, there are no other ways to God, to eternal life other than:BY FAITH IN THE RESURRECTED CHRIST!Now comes Easter when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Friday before, we identify with the brutal aspects of HIS crucifixion. From that time of agony, frustration, and pain, we move to the celebration of his resurrection on that blessed third day and we thank God Almighty for his UNSPEAKABLE GIFT. I pray you never let Easter eggs compete with Easter resurrection, that you never let Easter bunnies take the place of or compete with our beloved risen Lord. That is Easter! Celebrate that. Blessed are we, twenty-first century Christians, who have never seen or known him in the flesh but yet believe. BLESSED ARE WE! We never had the privilege, the spiritual thrill of touching the nail prints in His side. We never heard him speak after he rose from the grave. We did not bear witness to his testimony, his reality. We never had the opportunity to share a fish or a loaf of bread with him. We never witnessed the transfiguration, nor his commission to his disciples. But yet, we know, we believe, for his spirit, THE HOLY SPIRIT bears witness to the truth of Jesus Christ and:THE EASTER RESURRECTION.What a thrill it is to be a Christian. And so we say on Easter Sunday, and I do hope and pray we say these very words all year long and every day:PRAISE BE TO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT!

The Responsible Christian - The Responsible Citizen

 It is such a joy to be a Christian. The promises, the benefits, the fulfillment, the change, the clarity of life’s priorities among so many others, are the best things in life, the things which are ours as Christians when we follow the man from Galilee who is:THE WAYTHE TRUTHTHE LIFEIt is such a joy as well to be privileged, ordained to live in America, the finest nation in the history of the world, in my opinion, and that of tens of millions of others as well. It is, indeed, America is the land of the brave and the free, the land built and sustained upon:FREEDOM.The rule of law, the rights, we so fully enjoy and so often take for granted, and of course, next to the holy Bible, old and new testaments, the land of the greatest human documents ever written:THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE &THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.So then, we are citizens here and there. The home we make here in this land of freedom is temporary, but wonderful. But our real home is there, the place where our Lord went to prepare for us, and HIM. That is our ultimate dwelling place where we will be HOME WITH HIM forevermore. What a joyous journey we have, here and there, do we not my fellow Christians?But with these privileges, come responsibilities. We have a clear duty to our God who gave us his only begotten son and who put us here in America to live with such privilege. Not in some earthly place without American freedoms but here and now, so that we could utilize every talent we have for HIS glory and to protect and defend this great country as its indebted citizens with the privilege to pursue life, liberty and happiness and to make certain that such a pursuit was available to all citizens, equal as all of us are before our God. To follow Christ is to take up the cross, and to be an American citizen is to be willing to put all on the altar of freedom, even life itself as the founders and all true Americans were so willing. Thomas Jefferson said that the tree of liberty must be refreshed, nourished from time to time with the blood of real patriots.  We then, citizens here and there, should be willing to put our all on the altar for our Lord, and for America and freedom, even our very lives themselves.We should be willing to fight the fight of faith and freedom. And, to fight with all our might. But our weapons are not guns and bombs. The weapons we use are reason, the use of a thinking, challenging mind. We use the weapon of dialogue, discussion, debate:WORDS AT WORK.We go into all of America and preach the gospel, testify to HIM wherever we are.We use the weapon of LOVE. There is no greater force, no greater persuasion, powerful even to the point of loving our enemies.We use the weapon of the VOTE. We prayerfully ask for wisdom to select those individuals who would have the privilege of representing us, and as leaders, protecting and defending the freedoms of this, the greatest country in the history of mankind.We use the weapon of TRUTH. The words, the direction, the commandments, the insight, and wisdom of:THE HOLY BIBLE.And it is guaranteed that we the people, citizens here and there will win. The God of Abraham, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ has guaranteed that in His own time and in His own way.But we the people, citizens here and there, must take the duties of these privileges far more seriously. We really need more than ever to:STUDY TO SHOW OURSELVES APPROVED UNTO OUR GOD.Far more time should be spent in the WORD, the study of the Bible. Far more time must be spent in the study of American history and the:THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE &THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.That study must be a daily priority. We the people spend more than four hours on cell phones, laptops, internet, television, and entertainment. Much of that time must be devoted to study, learning, and in the process, it is our duty to:TRAIN UP OUR CHILDRENIN THE WAYS IN WHICH THEY SHOULD GOAS REAL CHRISTIANSAS REAL CONSTITUTIONAL, FREEDOM-ORIENTED AMERICAN CITIZENS.  Scripture, old and new testaments, like HIM are THE TRUTH, the way, the truth, and the life. There is no access to God Almighty, the Father, other than through HIM, and the Word. The testimony of Christians, the witness, the practice must be real, more real than ever, uncompromising, aggressive, exclusive in this day and age of inclusivity. There is only one way, not all ways. Life and language must testify to that.The life of prayer of the Christian must be powerful, persuasive, persistent, and patient. The Holy Spirit of God bears witness with us, as we ask and seek this divine help, a force, a weapon more powerful than any other,More than ever, citizens like us, HERE AND THERE, must be AWARE of the evil, the evil works of the natural man. Hatred for Christians grows every day. We must be aware of the attacks on our faith, the freedom to believe and practice our Christianity, the attacks on our brothers and sisters in Christ, and the virulent movement worldwide to shut down the freedom of speech, the freedom to present the truth of the Gospel. Lift up your eyes, my fellow Christians and Americans, to what is happening in this world, to the challenges, and consequently the opportunities we have to protect and defend Christ and Constitution. Freedom in HIM and our beloved America has never been attacked internally as it is today. More than ever, we should be watchmen and watchwomen ON THE WALL, recognizing the enemy and protecting and defending. That is our duty, our non-delegable duty we have for:GOD AND COUNTRY.We must do what we can NOW. There is no tomorrow for the fight of faith wages like never before. The fight for freedom, and for the real America wages now, as never before. We the warriors, citizens here and there, soldiers in the fight for God and Country must weaponize in every possible way for this fight, with love, truth, reason, dialogue, uncompromising for Him and for the land where He put us.I hope and pray you see the enemy; you know the evil at work as never before, and that you as Christian and citizen will:STAND UPand fight the fight of faith for our Lord and for this great country. Freedoms to practice and witness to our Christian beliefs and our rights under the Constitution in this great country once lost, are lost forever!

The Age of Post-Truth

Barack Hussein Obama, President of the United States for eight years, told us during and as he left office that WE THE PEOPLE, and in fact the whole world, lived in the age, the era of POST-TRUTH.That means, said one scholar, that we live in the age of the LIE. If our Federal Government is any indication, that is surely the truth.POST-TRUTH is an adjective defined as relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion that appeals to emotion and personal belief.POST-TRUTH was declared Oxford Dictionary’s WORD OF THE YEAR in 2016, thanks in part at least to Barack Obama.The corruption of the truth is certainly happening in Europe. There is a certain teaching at work where students are taught to sneer at the truth because it is no more than an:EURO-NORMATIVE CONSTRUCT.In fact, some university professors have gotten to the point where they argue that any speech which opposes the left-wing narrative is VIOLENCE. In short, certain words anathema to the radical left are viewed as not only hate speech but actual VIOLENCE itself. Therefore, these radical professors state, that to respond with actual violence is merely self-defense! Our world, my fellow Americans, and Christians, has come to that.How then can we function as a people? What can we believe, how do we communicate, if there is no such thing as truth, absolute truth, or:HOW CAN WE LIVE?This new assault, professorial and academic (radical woke) assault on truth has led to violence, riots, destruction of property, assaults on persons, breaking of laws within punity, tearing down of historical statues, burning and pillaging as first fruits of this new age of unaccountability. The mob rules. This unchecked mob action is what Abraham Lincoln called years ago the:MOBOCRATIC SPIRIT.  Even then, in the 1860’s, Lincoln believed that this radical, unchecked spirit would destroy the American republic if in fact it were left unchecked. There seems to be a sense today of a total lack of accountability, the law of the land is broken within punity, district attorneys fail to prosecute and hold accountable, judges are far too lenient and criminal behavior expands. It is the very beginning of a very tragic day and age, and it has the seedlings of destruction for the very American republic itself. WE THE PEOPLE are threatened internally now more than ever, and much more so than externally.The assault on our institutions, principles, values can well produce what some scholars call a:CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS.Our judicial system, our judges in so many ways ignore the constitution. These judges are labeled:LIVING CONSTITUTIONALISTS.In short, society does not conform to the constitution, but the constitution is interpreted and applied in accordance with the prevailing standards and lifestyles current and contemporary. The battle wages judicially with these judicial renegades and radicals against the strict interpreters, these so-called ORIGINALISTS who believe the constitution should be literally applied no matter the circumstances. These internal threats indeed challenge the very existence of our American republic and remind us of the warning of founder Benjamin Franklin that the founding fathers gave us a republic in the form of a constitution:IF YOU CAN KEEP IT.In many ways today, it looks as though we will not be able to keep it.John Adams, an illustrious founding father, wrote that the constitution so constructed:“WAS MADE ONLY FOR A MORAL AND RELIGIOUS PEOPLE. IT ISWHOLLY INADEQUATE (ADAMS SAID) TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ANYOTHER.”That sentiment was bolstered by first president, George Washington, who warned in his farewell address that:“RELIGION AND MORALITY WERE INDISPENSIBLE SUPPORTS OF A SELF-GOVERNING REGIME”.Free government, free people, freedom itself, depended upon close ties with and strong belief in religion and faith. Our political institutions were invented by men for whom religion was a lodestar, and reason was the holy grail, and civic virtue was an inexhaustible resource.As a result, Thomas Jefferson famously wrote for the original constitutional convention, these words:“WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF EVIDENT: THAT ALL MENARE CREATED EQUAL, THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATORWITH CERTAIN INALIENABLE RIGHTS, THAT AMONG THESE ARE LIFE,LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.”These inalienable rights, essentially God-given, were in fact the lodestar of the constitution, the very pillars of the constitution itself.The founders intended the constitution to be literally interpreted, that The United States would be governed by just laws linked to religion and objective standards of right and wrong. It seems as though little of that applies today. So many of our laws are not enforced. Our constitution is virtually interpreted away, and it is almost impossible for WE THE PEOPLE to know how to live.Strict adherence to the text of the constitution, our history, traditions, and laws have been replaced by a living, organic, current interpretation of right and wrong.Everything WE THE PEOPLE hold dear, believe in, and was part of traditional and historical America is under attack, everything. That includes and, in many ways, especially so religion. Morality is relevant. There are no absolutes, and truth as we have always known it based on fact, right or wrong, has been replaced by emotion and worst of all, personal belief. For Christians, scripture, the Bible is absolute truth, the inspired Word of God. More than ever, WE THE CHRISTIAN PEOPLE, must stand up, defend, and profess a new, energetic and commitment faith to truth, scripture, law abiding living, professing and believing aggressively, publicly, and uncompromisingly in our eternal faith in Jesus Christ. The right to do so is under attack as never before. It should be the duty of every Christian to know the Bible as well as possible, to read and study it daily, and to know the constitution of the United States, to read some part of it and study it daily as well. Otherwise, the freedoms we now enjoy in Christ and Constitution may well be lost and once lost:LOST IN AMERICA FOREVER!

He Gets Us - Part 2

 David Green is the founder of the Christian craft chain HOBBY LOBBY.David Green is a devout Christian, so he says. David Green is worth as much as:FOURTEEN BILLION DOLLARSso says the financial magazine Forbes. David Green and his family give millions of dollars to conservative Christian causes, a good thing. The Green Family is also a major funder of the brand-new campaign to REBRAND Jesus and Christianity under the slogan of:HE GETS US.Green and other conservative donors intend to invest as much as:1 BILLION DOLLARSin behalf of this rebranding campaign with the ultimate objective of:HUMANIZING JESUS AND CHRISTIANITY.Interestingly, this new and rebranding movement is comprised of so-called conservative Christians, EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS. This movement waters down, reinterprets and reprioritizes the fundamental principles of Christianity and seeks to rewrite and reinterpret the life, ministry and humanity of:JESUS CHRIST.Much of this new movement is little more than blasphemy, so said one Christian writer. Another called it flat out heresy, following the example and influence of the secular, Godless, woke-progressive movement of cancel-culture (and Christianity) of today. The apostle Paul called it false teaching from false teachers, a corruption of the real gospel, a strong sign of the END TIMES, the end of all things including real Christianity.David Green and his fellow woke conservatives spent the sum of:20 MILLION DOLLARS 2 on ads and promotions in Superbowl LVII, February 12, 2023. 20 MILLION DOLLARS!That incredible amount of money could have been so much better invested in Christian causes, Christian humanitarian efforts, or the spreading of the real gospel in all the world, also a sign of the end times. But that money was used to take the sting out of the gospel, the hurt, the pain, the exclusion which this investment group feels has come to characterize the beliefs and actions of current Christians. Christianity needs humanizing, they say. But in so many ways the real Christianity has never really been tried, never practiced on a large scale. There is nothing wrong with Christianity, my friends and especially my Christian friends, not one thing wrong. The problem is that we the disciples, the believers, the Christians of today really haven’t lived out the Christianity we profess to believe. We try, but constantly stumble. The ideals are high, discipleship demanding. So often, we give up, neglect, or fail. That led the old Philosopher, Edmund Burke, to state in essence that Christianity had not been tried and found wanting (David Green), but real Christianity had never really been tried! Real Christianity had never been lived by individuals much less an entire society. If it had, the world would be a different place, extremely and entirely different. There is no need to rebrand, remarket, readvertise Christianity, none at all. But there is a desperate need to understand it and most importantly:TO LIVE IT!So now, this group of so-called conservate evangelicals (not) reverse Christian priorities and now we are told this new Jesus has a different message:HE GETS US – ALL OF US!All are welcome, come as you are and stay as you are, the way you are, for you, your lifestyle, your beliefs are understood by this new Jesus and the difficult discipleship of real Christianity is made easy, no real radical changes required. If you are marginalized (LGBTQ), excluded because of race or ethnicity, or you are liberal-radical-progressive politically and culturally, you are nonetheless welcome by this new Jesus no matter what you believe. That is, as Christian scholars well state, both blasphemy and heresy, big time.Jesus of Nazareth was the SON OF GOD, the CHRIST OF GLORY, not some newly minted human figure. The real nature and person of Jesus of Nazareth is what should be marketed, what needs to be believed, what the world needs now and not some rebranded, woke, progressive definition of this precious SON OF GOD. The gospel with all of its rewards and demands must be understood, believed and trusted, and followed faithfully in the real world, in real life, all of it.We come to him as sinners. We come to Him knowing that HE gets us as we are, in need of salvation, cleansing, changing, in need of being:BORN AGAIN.We cannot be accepted as we are for the BLOOD of the cross must be our portion. For without that, there is no remission of sin. We must recognize and confess and willingly 3 enter the straight and narrow path with all its demands. We must take up the cross and follow Him. The change required is radical, aggressive, and permanent. It is not negotiable, nor can it be compromised by continuing any form of any pre-salvation lifestyle. That is the message that needs this kind of commitment, investment, and passionate urging by these wealthy evangelicals, not the tokenism of a superficial rebranding. No matter the scripture speaks of sin, hell, the unnatural man, the ten commandments, and so much more, this new world of REBRANDING regards all of that as HATE SPEECH. You can be sure you will hear nothing about Hell in this new marketing campaign or anything like it.Two things are fundamental and cannot be changed in any way. Jesus said:I am the way, the truth, and the life. No person comes to the father (in any way) except by ME!HE says to us, you, sinner, must be born again, you must!In short, you and I need radical change, not rebranding.HE GETS US, that is for certain. He knows us, he knows our nature, our need and what is required for us to be reconciled to God the Father. And his message stands clearer than ever. We, HE says are sinners, flat out sinners before a Holy God and we need, we must have the radical change of Salvation. David Green and his cohorts intend to invest as much as:ONE BILLION DOLLARSIn the course of three years to rebrand Jesus, to humanize him and Christianity. May God convict them along the way so this incredible potential investment can be used to promote the real gospel, the real message of salvation and not this heretical rebranding of our Lord and His real gospel message.

He Gets Us

 In the end times, says Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of glory, false teachers with their false doctrine will abound.None will be more eloquent than the so-called Anti-Christ, but there will be many, far too many with the eloquence of Satan who, were it not for the influence and protection of the Holy Spirit, would be able to persuade the very elect themselves.Many Christian scholars believe the end times are upon us. They have their beginning, and the time is short. The great prophetic events are near including the rapture, the advent of the Anti-Christ, Armageddon, and the second return of Jesus Christ, among others. Be ready, says the scriptures, be watchmen and women on the walls and joyfully await the return of the Lord on high. I trust you are a believer, a full believer in those biblical promises and you are:READY.Are you?In this turncoat day and age, there are those who believe that the gospel, the saving grace of Jesus Christ has lost its power, its ability to persuade and convince, and even its ability to bring the salvation message to a lost mankind. They are about the mission, these newly woke Christians, to change that, and backed by millions and millions of dollars, they are about the business of:REBRANDING OF JESUS.The Lord of all, in their view, has become the Lord of just some. Some others have been marginalized, excluded so these new Christian woke-rs say by far too fundamental conservative evangelicals that Jesus Christ needs to be rebranded, remarketed, and made available to especially the LGBTQ community, certain races and ethnicities. They change the dynamic of relationship, reverse the priorities of the gospel, and announce an all-inclusive, less demanding approach to inclusion, even to salvation and announce to all the world a newly prioritized gospel, a newly discovered message of Jesus Christ that:HE GETS US!  The gospel message is reversed. The Lord of glory, they say, is ready to embrace anyone, as they are, to love and accept them as they are, and consequently on THEIR terms rather than HIS. The real gospel, however, indicates that the real message is:WE GET HIM!That message for the re-branders is too strong, too exclusive, hurtful, and unwelcoming. So, in their infinite wisdom, they change it, reverse it, and announce to all the world, especially the LGBTQ community, that HE GETS YOU and He will accept you as you are, no matter whether how you live, believe, or interpret scripture conflicts with Him and His teachings (the Holy Bible).One Christian scholar rightly called such an approach BLASPHEMY. Another called it HERESY. Those who believe in the inspired Word of God know this nice-nice approach, an easy-going Jesus, not the demanding yet loving Savior of the scriptures, is WRONG, DEAD WRONG. Blasphemy indeed. A sad distortion of scripture, the moral message of our Lord’s words (rebranding) constructed by the Evil One himself. The sad thing is these REBRANDERS have tens of millions of dollars behind them. In fact, they intend to spend as much as ONE BILLION DOLLARS in a three-year period to rewrite scripture, rebrand Jesus of Nazareth and the Christ of glory and spread this blasphemy worldwide. Many biblical scholars see this heresy as a very tangible sign of the END TIMES. HE GETS US is the fruit of false teachers, subtle, sound-good, soft and loving (all-inclusive) but:WRONG, DEAD WRONG!The Christ message is clear. All have sinned and come short. All need to recognize that, request forgiveness and reconciliation to a Holy God and the salvation offered by the crucifixion of the Son of the Living God. He does in fact get us, knowing our sinful nature (hate speech today), offering himself as the sacrifice for us, for our transgressions and the way, THE ONLY WAY to the FATHER. Anything which changes, eliminates, or waters down that truism corrupts the essential teaching of scripture itself, is inspired by Satan and is just plain:WRONG - BIBLICALLY WRONG!You can indeed come as you are to HIM. Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of glory, will welcome you with open arms but only if you seek his forgiveness, his loving forgiveness and recognize your need and the emphatic statement of our Lord:EXCEPT A MAN OR WOMAN BE BORN AGAIN, HE OR SHE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD!That saving grace can and must change ways, habits, lifestyles, and former beliefs. His blood on the cross was a brutal price to pay, but the way to salvation and the only way to the Kingdom and the Father. Anything which REBRANDS this direct, unequivocal, absolutely true message is in fact blasphemy, heresy and:DEAD WRONG.  These rebranders with this message are indeed false teachers spreading a false gospel and with a billion-dollar campaign, will mislead so many. Signs of the end times my friends. I pray you defend against this heresy, this blasphemy, this reversal of the salvation message and stand tall for the biblical version, the only true version of the person and message of the Savior of the world:JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE CHRIST OF GLORY!He needs no rebranding. He only needs to be accepted and embraced AS HE IS!

Anti-Semitism

Subject:      ANTI-SEMITISM It’s back!  And it’s back with a vengeance. Especially so on college campuses. Vial, hateful, immoral, and un-American stuff, don’t you think? At least the bible does. You do wrong, says the great God Jehovah, the great I AM to my people, my chosen people and you will surely pay:             I WILL CURSE YOU Genesis clearly states. Provide Jewish blessing and I will bless you, says this very same God. So, we have a choice. Either God’s blessing as we bless Jews and Israeli’s. Or THE CURSE OF GOD if we do His Chosen People wrong! I choose blessing. But why, why really is there so much hatred for the Jews, why? I never understood that, and I passionately disagree with that. The Jewish state of Israel and consequently Jews themselves are subject in so many ways worldwide to the movement BDS:             BOYCOTT            DIVESTMENT            SANCTIONS Economically, culturally, politically, and now with vengeance and irrationality:             In the world of education COLLEGE CAMPUSES! Anti – Semitism flourishes in THE IVY LEAGUE! That led one Jewish person to say it should be renamed:             THE POISON IVY LEAGUE! Jew hatred surely exists in many ways on college campuses. It is not only directed at the nation of Israel, the Jewish State but such hatred is directed against all Jews. Said one:             JUST BEING A JEW IS ALL IT TAKES! Why, one asks is there such a lack of public outrage and why do political and university leaders allow this hatred with its hate speech, supposedly unacceptable, to continue, why? If, said one, this hatred were directed toward Muslims or Catholics, or Blacks, or Italians, it would be condemned by the world of education and by all politicians. But no one seems to care if this vitriol is directed against Jews. Sort of reminiscent of Adolph Hitler and Nazi Germany some eighty years ago, don’t you think? But universities and so much of education allows this anti – semitic rhetoric and even conduct (violence) to continue against the Jews. And that is wrong, so very wrong.  One Jewish person believes that one of the root causes is the hiring and promotion of Left – wing teachers and professors who offer WOKE ideas that condemn merit and any traditional view of history as evil. That is right. Jew hatred, anti – Semitism begins at the top of these universities, in the professorial class, elitists, irresponsible and unaccountable. These anti – semi professors are leaders in the stamping out of free speech on campus. Such speech complies with WOKE VALUES or it is disallowed. You can condemn Jews on the one hand but says another Jewish person:    “Do not criticize Palestinian student organizations. Otherwise, you are       ISLAMOPHOBIC.” Said another Jew:             “I am so sick and tired of reading about an occasionally dealing with the rise of anti – Semitism.” If black, gay, or Asian people or any other group for that matter were treated the same way, it would not be tolerated.  What a tragedy. It is even more tragic, in my view, because Christians do not stand up, do not rise to the defense of the Jews, GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE and a powerful voice, a strong political and educational voice is never heard as it should be. Christians have no problem speaking out against abortion. They – we confront biblical apostasy, and the infection of WOKE thinking and values into Christian theology. There is little acceptance of the gay lifestyle (LGBTQ) and again, the Christian voice and opposition is heard.  BUT, when it comes to the Jews, or the Jewish State of Israel, and the hatred, the hate speech, and the irrational opposition to all things Jewish occurs, Christians as a whole seem silent. No matter the promise of the curse of the living God for those who do not RIGHT by his people, voices remain silent. Boycott them, divest all monies economically which benefit anything Jewish, and sanction them. The world cries out for inclusion, that is inclusion of all except:             THE JEWS AND ISRAEL  That is wrong, dead wrong. Fortunately, Arch Enemies, members of the Abraham Accords are burying old hatreds and animosities and finding ways to cooperate economically, in the world of technology, culturally and politically. They begin to realize that Arab and Jew must cooperate, must get along. They realize the old hatreds were nothing more than irrationality, unjustified and a new era of cooperation and working together must occur for the good of all.  But not so on college campuses. Anything Jewish remains anathema, subject to criticism, verbal attack and even physical and this vicious, satanic prejudice spreads. No one within university circles steps up to stem the tide. If they do, they are more than likely to be fired, themselves ostracized. So many of these anti – free speech and prejudiced universities are funded by federal and state monies. Those governments, those legislatures often turn a blind eye to what is happening. We can, we the Jews as one Jew has so well stated, really only depend upon ourselves in this day and age.  Well, that’s partially true. God’s chosen people can depend upon me to combat anti – Semitism with all my might. And you, especially if you are Christian, will you defend the same? I sure would prefer the blessing of God rather than an awful divine curse, wouldn’t you? Anti – Semitism is wrong, satanic and must be stopped. I hope you will do what you can to put IT to rest once and for all. 

The Unnatural LGBTQ

Man sexually lying with man. Woman sexually lying with woman. MORALLY WRONG SAYS THE HOLY BIBLE. Dead wrong. You just simply can’t adopt and engage in the LGBTQ lifestyle and sexual practices and claim to be a Christian following THE WORD OF THE LIVING GOD, the Bible, and its messages of truth, and live an unnatural way. ONE OR THE OTHER! American freedom allows anyone to practice the homosexual lifestyle but Christian freedom, freedom in Christ, does not. Natural biological behavior or, says Jesus Christ:             DEPART FROM ME. Harsh words. The LGBTQ community calls it HATE SPEECH. But I call it and believe it to be, as Franklin Graham does, BIBLE SPEECH, the clear message of the Old and New Testaments. If you claim to be a Christian and as Hebrews 10:26 states clearly, you go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, THERE NO LONGER REMAINS A SACRIFICE FOR SINS. Harsh words, hard words, but the message of truth. It seems clear from a biblical perspective that it is ONE OR THE OTHER, don’t you think? But not so according to Christian music icon, Amy Grant. According to the GRANT GOSPEL, you can have it both ways. No matter what scripture says. The GRANT GOSPEL and spokesperson Amy Grant, says the following:             “JESUS YOU JUST NARROWED IT DOWN TO TWO THINGS:            LOVE GOD AND LOVE EACH OTHER.” So, according to the GRANT GOSPEL, as long as you love God and each other, your neighbor, nothing else matters. There are no other rules, restrictions or truths that matter. Wrong, dead wrong, Amy Grant. Unfortunately, for Grant and her followers, the authority of God’s word is never something we can compromise on, says the straight-shooter Franklin Graham. Scripture clearly declares the unnatural lifestyle as MORALLY WRONG, whether you and I accept that or agree with it. ONE OR THE OTHER! Interestingly, Grant refers to Christians who believe in biblical truth and consequently do not accept homosexuality, as the:             RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY. In short, that professing Christians who believe as the Bible clearly declares that the unnatural lifestyle is morally wrong are little more than hard and fast religious people. They are, according to the GRANT GOSPEL, not loving, not welcoming, not inclusive, lacking in spiritual understanding: “VERY UNWELCOMING”. Apostle Grant goes on to state:             “The journey of faith is just being willing and open to have a relationship with God. And everybody is welcome. EVERYBODY.” That is correct. God the father of our Lord Jesus Christ does want relationship with EVERYONE, but:             ON GOD’S TERMS! Not on the terms and conditions of anyone else, including Amy Grant. This misguided, once trusted, Christian singer goes on to explain her gospel and that of her husband, country music star, Vince Gill, as follows:             “It doesn’t matter how we behave.” Really? Nothing could be further from the truth, nothing. If we enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ, and consequently we are accepted by God through Him, then it absolutely matters how we behave, how we live, how we treat others, and how we make every effort to understand the truths of THE HOLY BIBLE and the commandments, especially THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. It does matter, Amy Grant, it matters greatly how we behave. Hebrews 10:26:             ‘For if we go on sinning deliberately, after receiving the knowledge of the truth (salvation), THERE NO LONGER REMAINS A SACRIFICE FOR SINS.” Behavior and lifestyle matter, really matter after the salvation experience, more than ever. Amy Grant can believe anything she wants, misinterpret scripture if she so chooses. BUT, she cannot do that and at the same time call herself:             A BORN AGAIN, BIBLE BELIEVING CHRISTIAN. No way. It is amazing how so many corporations, large and small, non-profit entities, and sporting entities acknowledge and support the gay lifestyle. Recently, the Philadelphia Flyers hockey organization sponsored PRIDE NIGHT at one of their hockey games. Gay rainbow colors were on uniforms, hockey sticks and throughout the arena. That to me is a kind of discrimination, a statement by this organization which should be neutral in that regard, that the gay lifestyle is something special. They never think of having a special night for faithful married people, MAN AND WOMAN, and proclaim to all, in this case sports fans of Philadelphia that the Philadelphia Flyers clearly and fully endorse LGBTQ and the gay lifestyle. That is unfair, discriminatory and completely inappropriate which should be a neutral sports enterprise without regard to specialized lifestyles like LGBTQ. One or the other. You can’t have it both ways, so says the scripture. You are bible believing, or you can believe any other way you wish. But be honest, be bold about your beliefs and tell the world you think:             THE BIBLE IS WRONG! And above all, do not dare, do not have the audacity to call yourself:             CHRISTIAN. According to the scripture, the clear gospel message, Pauline explanations, and the clear qualification in Hebrews 10 regarding salvation and Christianity:             YOU ARE NOT!

The Evangelical Pastors - Continued

Along with this new WOKE – Progressive – Liberal – Secular heresy is the concomitant rise of:             BIBLICAL ILLITERACY The churches, the Pastors do not encourage parishioners, hungry Christians to read, study and learn scriptures on their own. So many of the once great seminaries have been LIBERALIZED, reinterpreting and doing away with much of the bible. Sadly, many Christian colleges and universities, so called, have also been liberalized and professors do not read or study scriptures themselves and consequently do not encourage other to do so. What a tragedy indeed. So, how much time do you spend reading, actually reading the bible, the holy word of God? All by yourself, or in small study groups where you can really listen, learn and be heard. Separate and apart from church, Christian television or radio, you and you alone with the holy word of God as interpreted by the Holy Spirit of God. How much time daily, weekly, and monthly do you spend:             IN THE BOOK If you don’t know the word of God, you will fall prey to virtually anything or anyone, including and especially false Prophets and teachers of the last days and their WOKE, heretical ideas, interpretation and eliminations of the holy word of God. You and I, and our biblical LITERACY are the major checks – and – balances against this progressive WOKEISM of these apostate evangelical Pastors.  Many of these so-called evangelical Pastors, says George Barna, do not have a regular spiritual routine. There is no regular regimen of bible reading, prayer, worship of God or confession to Him, none. In fact, 1/3 of all such wrong thinking and believing Pastors do not read the bible during a typical week. I find that incredible. They are, as a result says Barna, spiritually weak and ineffective. Not to mention wrong and apostate. Thankfully, there are those in the pulpit who are strong, REAL EVANGELICALS, real bible believers and they are the hope, the leaders of truth and love in this ever growing secular age. They are the antidote to the false teachers which seem to occur everywhere.  Even though the Barna survey found that only 37% of clergy (1,000 Pastors) have a biblical world view, those Pastors of non-denominational and independent Protestant churches scored the highest for upholding biblical beliefs, bible truisms and world view. I wonder if you attend and worship in one such church? Those apostate Pastors, some 2 out 5 so called evangelicals, have become:             APOSTLES OF THE WOKE (WORK) I do hope and pray that we the people, we who believe in the truth, that absolute truth of scripture and the saving grace in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ remain more than ever faithful:             PEOPLE OF THE WORD Stand up, my fellow Christians for that WORD, its truth, it and it alone no matter the cost in secular society. Even if that means confronting your Pastor or other Christian leaders, do so. God will reward you, strengthen you and even as is promised, give you the words to speak in your:             STAND UP Pray for them, apostate leaders, but confront them as Paul did to Peter. Redefine what it means to be EVANGELICAL, assuming that really matters. If you are a person of the word, a true believer in Jesus Christ, him alone as God’s gift of salvation, that is the straight and narrow which leads to eternal life. Stay away from the WOKE, Progressive, work pathway which is:             THE WAY TO DESTRUCTION May God bless you, my fellow Christians as you stay:             STRONG IN THE WORD

The Evangelical Pastors

Thirty percent of evangelical pastors believe in works-based salvation! Not layman, not members of the congregation, not we God-fearing, Christ-believing ordinary Christians, but:             PASTORS. Those privileged individuals who are allowed to present the gospel of Jesus Christ in churches everywhere. These supposed preachers of the real gospel, presumably learned in the WORD OF GOD, the holy and inspired Bible, are not satisfied with scripture, and as a result, in their infinite wisdom and having become WOKE and in some cases radically progressive, bowing to the secular culture of these times, now proclaim the Bible is wrong, and misinterpret it and salvation by the Grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ ALONE, is not enough. To be truly Christian, they say, a person of faith must contribute works, GOOD WORKS to the salvation process, or there is none. No matter that the scripture so clearly says:                        FOR BY GRACE ARE YOU SAVED THROUGH FAITH            NOT OF YOURSELVES (WORKS OR ANYTHING YOU CAN DO)            IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD IN THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST.            HIM ALONE. A 2022 survey of 1,000 Christian pastors across seven major denominations revealed that only:             37% OF CLERGY have a biblical worldview. 37%! Among evangelical pastors surveyed, 30% said they don’t believe that their salvation is based exclusively on confession of sin, repentance and accepting Jesus Christ as their savior, HIM AND HIM ALONE. 30% OF EVANGELICALS! Unbelievable. 39% of evangelical pastors reject the fact that there is:             ABSOLUTE MORAL TRUTH. Instead, these woke and progressive evangelical Christian pastors, wiser than scripture, believe that each individual, every one must determine their own truth! Can you believe that? That might be understandable if the survey indicated the results of beliefs of pastors of musty old protestant denominations. But these are the opinions of 39%, some 2 in 5 EVANGELICAL PASTORS, one of which may be the leader of your church. What, in the name of Paul and Peter, I ask is the definition of:             EVANGELICAL. Can you define this now elusive, woke, and reinterpreted concept-theological branding where once the meaning of evangelicals was clear and distinctive, but today subject to the interpretation of every individual who is about the business of:             INTERPRETING THEIR OWN TRUTH. No matter what scripture says. To me, that is absolutely shocking, the utter disregard for the truth of THE WORD OF THE LIVING GOD! Salvation, dear Christian friend, is offered strictly, only and solely through the Grace of God, salvation comes from faith alone in Jesus Christ, and there is nothing you can do, no works, no good deeds which can aid in or be necessary to that salvation process, NONE WHATSOEVER. It is the GIFT of God, unmerited and unworthy as we are. It is, as scripture plainly says, this salvation so dear and necessary:             NOT OF WORKS. Not of works in any way, shape or form. The only thing you and I can do is confess, acknowledge SIN, and ask for the grace of God to provide the salvation process through Jesus Christ alone.  That is all! So, if almost 2 out of 5 evangelical pastors believe that there is a work component to salvation, then I ask again:             WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF AN EVANGELICAL? Do you know? Should we not, with all of our spiritual might, hold these woke pastors, these apostates accountable, remove them from Christian leadership or move ourselves to another worship congregation with a BIBLE BELIEVING LEADER? It is, in this day and age, the power of evil, satanic power at work which now even greatly affects the pulpit of the church of Jesus Christ.  Signs of the last days my friends. Paul tells us clearly, emphasizing the words of our Lord, that in the last days, there will be an epidemic of:             FALSE TEACHERS. Today, they seem to be everywhere. This excellent George Barna survey indicates there is ever-growing numbers of these false prophets, false teachers in the pulpits of our churches. If your church has one, come ye apart and be separate from them. Get away from their woke, satanic, evil and dead-wrong theology, teaching and influence. They have forsaken the true gospel of Jesus Christ. They no longer live by, follow or abide by the precious, inspired and only source of truth:             THE WORD OF THE LIVING GOD – THE BIBLE. So, my fellow Christians and any right-thinking individuals, I ask once again:             WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF AN EVANGELICAL? Do you know? Do you expect your pastor to be evangelical? And if so, do you hold him accountable if the heresy of salvation with works creeps in, do you? I do hope and pray that you do not define your own truth and live that way rather than the biblical way. The survey which revealed these troublesome facts was conducted by George Barna, a most respected pollster, who works with the FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL (FRC), and its strong Christian leader, Tony Perkins. The information and conclusions are reliable and factual, and HEART-BREAKING AND SCARY. MORE! There is no absolute moral truth, say the evangelical wokesters. So, for them, forget about the ten commandments.  Barna determined that 38% of all EVANGELICAL PASTORS (what a misnomer) do not believe that, get this:             HUMAN LIFE IS SACRED. Life, including you and me, created by the God of Abraham and the father of our Lord Jesus Christ is NOT SACRED! Unbelievable. And this finding is tragic and is absolutely contrary, satanically contrary to the teachings of the Holy Word of God:             HAVING A FAITH (ANY FAITH) MATTERS MORE THAN WHICH            FAITH YOU HAVE! Some 2 in 5 so called evangelical pastors believe that any faith will work, all faith-based pathways lead to God, salvation, eternal life and all good things no matter what scripture says. So, another direct, biblical truism and commandment goes down the woke drain. Said our Lord:             I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE,            NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER (NO MAN)             BUT BY ME! There is no other way! There is the Jesus way or nothing, woke evangelicals! You can’t have it both ways. You can, of course, do your own thing, believe your own way, invent and reinvent your own MORAL TRUTH. You can certainly follow your own spiritual way even if that way is the pathway to hell and destruction, so says the scripture. Have it your way but be ready for the consequences. Of those 1,000 pastors surveyed, 1,000, George Barna found that only approximately 1 in 3 pastors surveyed: INTERPRET THE WORLD THROUGH THE LENS OF SCRIPTURE! These woke, apostate pastors, leaders of Christian churches, do not see the world through a biblical worldview. Only one out of 3, says Barna, of such pastors believe in the Word of God to such an extent that their life is driven by biblical truth! Barna says that incredible fact is:             APPALLING. How about satanic? And Barna asks the same question I ask:             WHAT IS AN EVANGELICAL? WHAT DOES THAT TERM MEAN? George Barna, in this survey, and elsewhere, goes on record as stating that in his opinion, there are SEVEN CORNERSTONES of a biblical worldview as follows: God is the eternal, omniscient, omnipotent and just creator.Human beings are sinful by nature.Jesus Christ grants forgiveness of sin and eternal life when sinners repent and profess their faith in HIM ALONE.The Bible is true, inerrant, reliable and always relevant.Absolute moral truth exists.Success is defined as consistent obedience to God.Life’s purpose is to know, love and serve God with all one’s heart, mind, strength and soul. Sounds good to me. Sounds like the foundation, the basic tenets, the real truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, and a good start on the real definition of EVANGELICAL. What do you think? Do you believe in, follow and live by those 7 basic tenets of one who lives life through a biblical worldview? Do you? If not, what do you propose as alternative and by what model of faith do you live your life? George Barna goes on to state as a result of this valuable survey taken in 2022 of 1,000 evangelical pastors, that:             88% OF ALL AMERICANS HAVE AS THEIR WORLDVIEW                                            SYNCHRETISM. Barna defines syncretism as a personalized or customized worldview dictated by an individual’s preferences, desires, and subjective truth claims! Barna believes that “thousands of pastors” have become leaders, ministers, preachers of a life philosophy which moves away from God and toward:             NARCISSISM. All about me, what I believe and what I THINK IS RIGHT. For these narcissists, the bible is irrelevant in so many ways, nothing but at best a guide, a moral guide and no more. The Barna survey led FRC President, Tony Perkins, to state that secular culture is influencing, even dominating, Christian thinking more than Christians and biblical worldviews are influencing the culture! And Perkins states clearly and emphatically:             THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE PULPIT. At least in 2 out of 5 so called evangelical pulpits, that is exactly where the problem exists. Those woke, evangelical pastors, perhaps without even knowing it, are the false teachers, bringing destructive heresies to the people, bringing “swift destruction” to them and themselves.  CONTINUED…

Martin Luther King

It was the shot heard round the world.  Martin Luther King, Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, by James Earl Ray, a crazed racist. Dr. King had become to emerge as the face, and more importantly the voice for America, and even the world over for racial equality. King was an eloquent spokesman, learned academically, Christian in belief and determined to make a difference. He would never know the difference he would make.  The assassin’s bullet, deadly and accurate, was the beginning in many ways of a new awareness of racial inequalities, primarily black and white. Perhaps that dastardly assassination awakened right – thinking men and women of good faith, and color blind and constitutional to the beginning of a new respect for each other regardless of color or skin and a commitment to build different and better human relationships. WE THE PEOPLE, real Americans, millions of us people of faith both black and white were challenged by the King assassination to really live up to the requirements of our faith, to understand and love one another and to be champions of the constitutional rights of all people, all citizens, all Americans as guaranteed by our beloved constitution. We were challenged by the first amendment and its five incredible rights and freedoms, and the fourth amendment, and the fifth amendment and in fact all amendments which defined, protected and guaranteed the rights and freedoms of ALL. That was so, no matter the color of ones skin, whether red, yellow, black, white or brown or any mixture thereof.  All men and women were created equal, none were inferior, even though all were different in terms of talents, skills, capabilities, intellect and even work ethic. It was in fact those differences that made America great when at work and when each of us, WE THE PEOPLE were the best we could be, as God created us to be. We counted upon HIS inalienable rights as defined by our constitution which were permanent, eternal and guaranteed to all. If only America and WE THE PEOPLE could be that way, live that way, respect others that way. What a wonderful world that would be.  It is simply possible for us in the 21st century to comprehend servitude, to think in terms of any man or woman as SLAVE. Most regrettably, slavery did actually exist in America up until the year 1865. Thereafter, any who were slaves were freemen and women and we embarked on the difficult task of freedom for all. Slavery was gone but racism continued. It existed overtly and subtly. I find racism so difficult to understand, much less justified. In my family, as we were raised, there was no such thing. Our family, my parents respected all men and women no matter the color and as Christians, we offered and expected love, understanding and mutuality from all.  And the very same in my company, the Crawford Broadcasting Company. We have more than 200 employees and partners. They are diverse, men and women, elderly and young, many of different skin color, all equal and treated fairly. Skin color never matters but only, as Dr. Martin Luther King so eloquently stated, the content of ones character and the quality of ones work. We ask that these special men and women have a serious commitment to Christianity, to the God of Abraham, and to the real America, the real constitutional America. We ask more for a strong work ethic and that each do the very best possible in the job for which they were hired. If there is any sign, any hint, any possibility of racism, or prejudice, or discrimination, any overt conduct in that regard which affects the workplace, that individual would be immediately dismissed. Racism of any kind will never be tolerated in the Crawford Broadcasting Company. That is so whether white for black, black for white or discrimination shown or displayed for any other race or ethnicity. IT WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! Racism begins if and only if parents do not:             TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY THAT CHILD SHOULD GO If parents are prejudice, children will be likewise. If parents respect, show love, give unto others and construct a true CHRIST – LIKE HOME environment, children will live and believe accordingly. Without that, the love of Christ at work at home, there can be no end to racism, none at all. That is so no matter a 1619 project, no matter the efforts of BLACK LIVES MATTER, no matter how much cancel culture is at work, no matter how much of American history is destroyed. None of that in any way will affect racism in a positive way. The violence our society now experiences is fostered so much so by racism. Killing is commonplace. Lawlessness abounds. There is so little respect for police, for law and order, for borders as illegal immigrants pour into America by the tens of thousands. Racism, disrespect for others fosters all such and sooner or later, will be the end of the greatest nation in the history of mankind, our beloved America.  Right thinking voices, the voices of reason, tolerance, even love are silent or unheard. They are drowned out by the shrill, hateful voices of intolerance, those voices, posing as WOKE, progressive, enlightened not only help NOT to solve the problem, but actually foster division, lack of understanding and distrust among races. College and University campuses stamp out free speech, order things politically correct and do not allow right thinking men and women to exchange ideas, speak freely on issues and otherwise pursue mutual understanding. Churches move away from the real gospel, from the love of Jesus Christ, from salvation, from dealing with sin and make it so difficult for men and women to approach each other equally, trusting, and concerned with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Diversity is emphasized far more than oneness, each of us first and for most human beings, God – created, entitled to inalienable rights and constitutional guarantees and protections. WE ARE AMERICANS. All of us. There are diversities, differences but there is only ONE AMERICA. It is up to us as Dr. Martin Luther King advised and warned to live up to our constitution, to what makes America great and only then can racism be dealt with. But the truth of the matter is that there is only ONE SOLUTION.  There is only one way to do away with racism once and for all and that is in the person of, the love, the sacrifice, the salvation, the cleansing, the life changing capabilities of the one and only:             JESUS CHRIST Without that transforming power, salvation and guidance, there will never be a real end to racism, never. That solution is available today, NOW. A heart transformed by the love of Jesus Christ will produce a mind which would find anything racist ANATHEMA. Then, what a wonderful world this would be, Christ – centered and love – filled. The Christ of glory loves all men and women, ALL! All regardless of skin were created by Him, loved by Him and so should we. The solution to racism is so simple, but so difficult so it seems. If not before, CHRIST ON EARTH once again will see to the end of this insidious, satanic problem. Only HE an do that. 

The Great Social Issues of the Day - Biblical Sexuality

“The Time is coming when speaking biblical truth regarding sexuality will be illegal.” Those are the words of Ken Ham, founder and CEO of ANSWERS IN GENESIS. In reality, my fellow Americans, that time has come and the great issues of sexuality, including homosexuality, transgenderism, gender identities and other sexual orientations are radically changing, in an unbiblical way. Those who espouse, preach, believe in, or even teach their children the biblical ways, beliefs, morality and principle are in danger not only of being ostracized, but in fact CRIMINALIZED! The recent bill passed in Canada, known as C-4, not only outlaws “conversion” therapies for homosexual and transgender individuals, but even makes it a crime for parents to provide Christian therapy to their children! In Canada, those crimes can be punishable by imprisonment up to 5 years! The crime is describing homosexual practices, alleging that human beings are indelibly male or female from birth, is regarded as a full and consequently hate speech, and again is punishable by imprisonment up to 5 years! That strikes an unbelievable blow to free speech, at least in Canada, and it endangers the ministry and beliefs of so many evangelical pastors.  Many believe the same thing is coming to America. Already, in our great country, California has enacted a law that prohibits conversion therapy. So has the once great state of New York, and New Jersey, and Oregon, and Massachusetts, and Nevada among others. And, my fellow Americans, on a national level, the democratic party included in its political platform at its convention, its strong belief in banning:             HARMFUL CONVERSION THERAPY PRACTICES. No matter the first amendment and the prohibition against any abridgement of free speech. So much for the once great democratic party!  Hear the words of pastor John MacArthur, who said as follows:             “We are all well-aware of the evil power and destructive influence of the homosexual and transgender ideology. Our government is bent on not only normalizing this perversion, but also legalizing it, and further criminalizing opposition to it.” In this politically correct and culture changing world in which we live, it takes incredible courage and boldness like never before in America to speak out against this trend, describing the ideology of homosexual and transgender movements and ideology as both “evil and destructive”. Not only that, but MacArthur calls it a perversion, even stronger words. Do you agree with MacArthur? Do you agree with his and thousands of other pastors’ thinking regarding the primacy and priority of biblical morality and sexuality and consequently, do you believe that homosexuality and transgenderism is wrong, a perversion, a sin and in general evil, do you? Will you and I, accept any such changes in biblical doctrine and principle if American states and our federal government outlaw conversion therapies and declare biblical principles as wrong, and hateful and consequently hate speech, and ban or criminalize all such? What is your thinking? What are your strong beliefs, and what are you willing to stand up for in this compromised day and age in which we live?  Sadly, school districts across the United States have grown much more aggressive in teaching students that they may be gay or transgender and that identifying as such is good for children’s mental health. Many of those school districts insist that they have a right to indoctrinate children with the idea that characterizing homosexuality or transgenderism as sin is hateful. Do you agree with that, and would you send your child to a school which indoctrinates with such ideology and beliefs, would you? Interestingly, the preamble of the bill C-4 indicates that traditional biblical morality that teaches that the sex assigned to a person at birth is to be preferred over any other sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression is nothing more than a:             MYTH. Perhaps nothing could be more of a direct attack against biblical teachings and morality than such a legal statement. What do you believe? The bible teaches that sex should be conducted within the bonds of marriage, that you and I are created male or female, that biblical marriage is between one man and one woman, among others. Do you believe that? If so, are you willing to stand up for that? Resist anything and anyone who would change, eliminate or attack biblical morality, would you? Today, that would take extreme courage, Christian boldness, and a willingness to protect freedom of belief and expression now more than ever, no matter the persecution including the possibility of criminal conviction and jail time. Are you willing to be that bold? And are you willing to suffer (in jail) for biblical truth and as a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ, are you? Sooner or later, you will have to declare who you are and what you believe one way or another. Are you ready? You will soon be called upon to challenge so much and so many. You will be called upon to react as a Christian like Moses did when he challenged Pharoah, political power, and like Elijah did, challenging Ahab. Pastors everywhere, like John MacArthur, must stand up for biblical truth, or even in silence, compromise it or deny it. Remember the words of Ken Ham:                  “The time is coming when speaking biblical truth regarding sexuality will be illegal.” If we are real Christians, true believers, we will really have no choice but to stand up and defend. We would be required to boldly state, believe and live as Peter and the apostles did when they emphatically stated:             “We must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29)”. That commandment-requirement is never more true than the bold facing of the radical changes proposed in sexuality and gender identity.  It is, in my view, the hardest, most difficult, most challenging SOCIAL CHANGE ISSUE of our day. Our country and our world are becoming so secular, so anti-religion, so anti-Christian, a culture changing in the definition of morality, right and wrong, and especially the concept of SIN which this day and age detests and if we as Christians really believe in Christian morality, Christian sexuality, Christian gender identities, (male and female) then we need to stand up, unashamed, rightly defending THE WORD OF TRUTH. We need to resist on a personal level all such thinking and we need to fight the fight of faith with all our might if we are forced politically, federal or state, to abide and live by totally different standards. That can well mean laying all on the altar, at least all of what you think, believe and hold dear as a Christian.  Are you willing to do that? Do you believe in Christianity, the God of Abraham, the moral codes of the Old and New Testament, and the witness and testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ so much so that you can be bold, courageous, and stand up and resist the devil wherever required? Christian belief needs, now more than ever, courageous Christians. I pray that you, AND I, are those passionate believers, now more than ever. 

The Great Year 2023 - Challenges and Opportunities

Comes now the great year 2023, yet another year which the Lord God has made.  You and I are alive, with the wonderful opportunities, challenges which this new year offers. The issues for Christians and American Patriots have never been greater. The demands of citizenship, this world and HIS world are clear, challenging, requiring the strong response of real men and women.  YOU are called upon as never before to be a Patriot in the fight for America and a Soldier of the cross of Jesus Christ this year with all your might now more than ever. Always remember, my fellow Christians, that YOU are unique. You are one of a kind, made for a special purpose by GOD THE FATHER. You have been called, challenged by HIM, sent into the great year 2023 on a special mission, a mission only you can accomplish. You should feel the strength of that calling, believe, with the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit that you can and you will, and be glad and rejoice therein. YOU are as special in the eyes of God as anyone. Whoever you are, whatever you do, do what you need to do as God leads with all your might. Stand tall for the gospel. Let your light so shine before all mankind so that they may see your great works and glorify OUR FATHER in heaven. Witness with words and deeds. Some are called to preach, testify and others by works, by life, by love. The life you live is more important than the words you speak. PREACH THE GOSPEL AND IF NECESSARY USE WORDS, so said Saint Francis of Assisi. A loving life is more important than even the wisest words. WORK and work hard. Whatever your hand finds to do, whatever God calls you to do, do it with all your might. Work for the night is coming when no man or woman can work. Work knowing that a workperson is worthy of his or her hire and that your work will be rewarded by mankind and by Him. You are given certain talents, every human being different. Know them and use them the very best you can.  STUDY to show yourself approved unto God and mankind so that you will never be ashamed of the gospel knowing its power and truth, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, understand the truth and the power of the gospel so that you can live it with all your might. Beware of false teachers. They abound, as Paul and our Lord so rightly said in the last days. If these are in fact those last days, make every one count now more than ever. Beware of false Christianity, WOKE and progressive Christianity which adds to the simple and stand – alone concepts of grace and faith. Never forget that by grace or you and I saved, NOT OF WORKS but less any man or woman should boast.  PRAY, thankful in all things to GOD THE FATHER, ALL THINGS good or bad. God provides what we need whether we like it or not. Thank God for THE SON and the salvation HE brings. Pray for our leaders. Pray for our enemies. Pray for family and friends. And pray with all your might for:             YOU Ask and you will receive, in due course, at the right time and in accordance with the WILL of God. Wait patiently for that answer. PRAY WITHOUT CEASING! And in private (in the closet). There is nothing more powerful than prayer. FORGET those things which are behind. FORGET where you failed. Forget your mistakes, the sin of before. It is gone, all of it, WASHED in the blood of the lamb. Nothing harms anyone more than GUILT. Guilt renders one impotent, weak, living in the past. Press on, says the Apostle Paul, PRESS ON! Get on with your life and never, ever let the past CLOUD the present and the future, NEVER! FORGETTING becauseyou are forgiven, not only washed but a continual washing by the loving blood of the lamb. What glorious thoughts to guide all of us in the great new year. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, set them. Set goals for your life spiritually, financially, lovingly. Set the goal to grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Press on and strive for those goals. ENDURE, do whatever it takes to reach those goals. Carry with you the words of Sir Winston Churchill, who so well said:             NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP!  The reward comes to those who never quit, press on and ENDURE the wiles of the devil.  GIVE. Tithe and more. Give, says scripture to anyone who asks, who needs, where that gift will be used to better the life. Be ready to lay all on the altar. And more than money. Give, tithe and offer to the Lord your time, the really most valuable thing you have, more than money. Give work to others and charities. Give expertise as you have it for worthy causes and the Church of Jesus Christ. Give from the heart, knowing that the act of giving itself is its own reward.  HAPPY NEW YEAR! Joyfully celebrate the coming of the grand year 2023. Be blessed and enjoy every minute of this God given precious time. Live it well and most importantly, live it with all of your might for:             GOD (JESUS CHRIST) AND COUNTRY. 

Christmas - The Greatest Story Ever Told

With God, all things are possible. ALL THINGS! Even an event like THE VIRGIN BIRTH.  Some 2,000 years ago, an angel was sent by God to the tiny town of Nazareth in the Galilee area. The area was small, the inhabitants few and a popular saying of the day was:             CAN ANY GOOD THING COME OUT OF NAZARETH? Perhaps not before, but after the visit by the angel Gabriel to an unknown Mary, from Nazareth would come the Savior of the world. Mary the virgin was pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The angel Gabriel said to her:             GREETINGS, YOU WHO ARE HIGHLY FAVORED! THE LORD IS WITH YOU. Gabriel went on to say: DO NOT BE AFRAID, MARY. YOU HAVE FOUND FAVOR WITH GOD. YOU WILL BE WITH CHILD AND GIVE BIRTH TO A SON. YOU ARE TO GIVE HIM THE NAME JESUS.             HE WILL BE GREAT AND WILL BE CALLED THE            SON OF THE MOST HIGH. THE LORD GOD WILL GIVE HIM THE THRONE OF HIS FATHER DAVID AND HE WILL REIGN OVER THE HOUSE OF JACOB FOREVER. HIS KINGDOM WILL NEVER END! And, rightly so, Mary was troubled and she said to the angel:             “How will this come about since I am a virgin?” To which the angel responded: THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL COME UPON YOU AND THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH WILL OVERSHADOW YOU. So the Holy One to be born would be called the SON OF GOD. The natural man scoffs at angels but the spiritual man knows that with God all things are possible, including angels.  Mary, now with child, the Holy Ghost having come upon her, went to the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth, relatives, and when she arrived, Elizabeth knew of this Immaculate Conception and Elizabeth said to Mary: BLESSED ARE YOU AMONG WOMEN, AND BLESSSED IS THE CHILD YOU WILL BEAR! Elizabeth knew that Mary would be the mother of her Lord and ours as well. So, the world was about to change because of that event in Nazareth. Jesus of Nazareth would soon be born in Bethlehem of Judea and this Nazarene, this SON OF THE MOST HIGH would soon be known as THE SAVIOR, the Prince of Peace, the Christ of Glory.  When Elizabeth had finished, Mary began her very own song of praise: MY SOUL MAGNIFIES THE LORDAND MY SPIRIT REJOICES IN GOD MY SAVIOR!FOR HE HAS BEEN MINDFUL OF THE HUMBLE STATE OF HIS SERVANT.FROM NOW ON ALL GENERATIONS WILL CALL ME BLESSEDFOR THE MIGHTY ONE HAS DONE GREAT THINGS FOR MEHOLY IS HIS NAME! Such powerful praise and adoration this Magnificat of Mary was. Mary, the virgin, so humble in spirit, thought of herself as the HANDMAIDEN of the Lord, perhaps still puzzled as to why she was chosen to bear the King of Kings, but willing and obedient to do the will of God.And the Babe of Bethlehem grew within her. Fiancé Joseph, of the lineage of David, sought to put her away but again, an angelic message explained to him what had happened, foretold the birth of this Son and the instructions to him that His name would be Jesus. Thereafter, Mary would be wife and mother for Joseph. It is incredibly difficult to imagine how this man 2,000 years ago would react. Nothing like this in human history had ever happened before. He, Joseph was chosen to supervise and support the birth of the Savior of the world. That would be impossible for any man to comprehend but Joseph, obedient like Mary, accepted the angelic explanation and this divine drama proceeded.  Surely, Joseph could see the remarkable changes in Mary. For those precious months, Mary’s soul glorified the Lord. She told all that her spirit rejoices in God my Savior.Surely that glorifying and rejoicing was well noticed, even participated in by Joseph.  Mary, the humble servant of the Lord knew what great things God had done for her and she was perhaps the first to live in a brand new, revolutionary state of praise and worship. Soon, that would be available to all mankind. Then came the decree from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. Joseph, who belonged to the house and lineage of David therefore went to Bethlehem of Judea to register with Mary, since Bethlehem was the City of David. But the town was full and there was no room in the inn so that Mary and Joseph slept in a manger. And there, in that manger, Mary gave birth to a son and as a proud and loving mother, she wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger. Such were the humble circumstances of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the Babe of Bethlehem, the Prince of Peace and the Savior of the world.  AND THAT IS THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS! That birth of the Savior of the world is what we celebrate at Christmas! This rabidly secular world of ours wishes to de–spiritualize this event and take CHRIST OUT OF CHRISTMAS. We who believe must never let that happen but rather band together in glorious praise and worship to the Babe and especially to the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let not, my fellow Christians, the secularists abandon the Christ of Christmas.  So, Christ was born and there began the spreading of the Word: AND THERE WERE SHEPHERDS ABIDING IN THE FIELDSKEEPING WATCH OVER THEIR FLOCKS BY NIGHTAND LO THE ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO THEMAND THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHONE ROUND ABOUT THEMAND THEY WERE SORE AFRAIDBUT THE ANGEL SAID TO THEMDO NOT BE AFRAIDI BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY THAT WILL BE FOR ALL PEOPLETHIS DAY IN THE CITY OF DAVIDA SAVIOR HAS BEEN BORN FOR YOUHE IS CHRIST THE LORDTHIS WILL BE A SIGN UNTO YOUYOU WILL FIND THE BABE WRAPPED IN SWADDLING CLOTHESAND LYING IN A MANGERAND SUDDENLY THERE WAS WITH THE ANGELSA HEAVENLY HOST OF ANGELSPRAISING GOD AND SAYINGGLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHESTAND ON EARTH PEACE AND GOODWILL TO ALL MANKIND How interesting that shepherds were chosen as the first to hear this angelic enunciation. Shepherds were watchmen, observant, especially at night as they made certain to protect their sheep. They knew the heavens, the stars and their movements.They were familiar with the night and they could, like wise men and kings, identify and follow the STAR OF WONDER, the star which shone brightly that night over the City of David, the blessed Bethlehem of Judea, where the Prince of Peace was born.And those shepherds left immediately and they found Mary and Joseph and the Babe lying in the manger. And when they had seen him, they were the very first evangelists, spreading the word of this miraculous and marvelous birth, the message they had been told by the angel about this Babe. And that was the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. From then on, the shepherds glorified and praised God for all the things they had heard and seen even as we who believe do so today. We well say today as the shepherds and angels did then:             GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST            AND ON EARTH PEACE GOODWILL TOWARD ALL MANKIND Men and women search today for truth even as the shepherds did. The search is everywhere but the truth, the ultimate truth was revealed to mankind in a manger in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. Wise men and women, who truly seek him, will find him there. Those who scoff, mock a virgin birth, the concept of angels and the creation of a God–man will never, ever know that:             NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD Nothing.  But to find HIM is a most joyous, wondrous discovery. It is an epiphany like no other.The finding of the Babe is the finding of the world’s greatest treasure. The power, the love, the understanding which results from finding HIM is life–changing then and forevermore. That finding allows us to become as a little child, open and transparent, filled with love and compassion, fully understanding the GRACE of God and that gracious gift which changed the world 2,000 years ago. That faith in the Babe of Bethlehem is the key to entering the Kingdom of God, humbly trusting and believing even as Mary did of old. Women become handmaidens of the Lord like Mary did. Men become servants of the Lord as the shepherds did.  So that, on Christmas Day, we discover the greatest present, the greatest gift one could ever find:             THE BABE OF BETHLEHEM The gifts we give to others at Christmastime can never begin to equal the gift of God to us. We should celebrate that gift FIRST and wherever possible, give the love of that gift to others. That is what Christmas is all about and that should never change. And we, like the shepherds should spread the news, the Good News. That is true evangelism and we who believe must never let that message die not only at Christmas, but every day. The wise men of old found Him and the wise men and women of today, the truly wise who search will find Him. For in Him it is all that God is. And that, as the angels well said, are indeed the glad tidings and the great joy for all. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son to all humankind, so that those who believe could have life abundant here and life eternal there. For those who received this gift of God, there comes the power of God making them sons of God and daughters, life all brand new. Women praise the Lord like Mary of old. Men glorify the Lord as the shepherds of old. And that, and only that can bring peace to the world.  The message of that Babe is the only message which can spread the goodwill of God and transform the lives of all mankind. May it be yours. We the Crawford Broadcasting Company, all of us, wish you a very happy, merry, blessed Christmas centered around the Babe of Bethlehem and may the love of God in Jesus Christ be your very special gift this Christmas season. Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace and goodwill for all. CHRIST IS BORN!

Christmas - The Christ

He was born of a virgin, so we are told.  The angel of the Lord visited Mary and divine conception occurred, so we are told.  The virgin birth is difficult for many to believe.It defies nature, biology.  It is simply not the way things happen.Conception and birth are as a result of the very best of female and male.  So, you either believe in the virgin birth or you don’t.  Christians, real Christians do.  And so do I and I hope you. Bethlehem, where once HE was born was then Bethlehem of Judea.  It is now Bethlehem as part of Palestine.  It is so very different even though the place where he was born continues to be celebrated by the Church of the Nativity.  Jesus was Jew, fully Jewish and Bethlehem no longer reflects that.  That is most unfortunate and sad to see.  We are told that Jesus as child, teenager and young adult lived a sinless, blameless life.This God-man was able to do that even though so many find that hard to believe.  But Christians do believe that, real Christians do, and I hope you do.We know little of his early years.  The son of a carpenter, the Lord of Glory was a carpenter by trade.  Nazareth where he lived and built has like Bethlehem radically changed.  It is Arab and Islam influenced and in many ways dominated and so much that was Jewish of old is long gone.  It is difficult as the old hymn states to WALK WHERE JESUS WALKED.  Those little lanes have in fact changed and really not for the better. Perhaps the sweet peace that once filled the air was real then, but there is anything but peace as the century’s old hatred between Arab and Jew festers and so often boils over.  Perhaps it is only this carpenter from Nazareth who built so many things could rebuild, restore and reborn peace, real peace between Arab and Jew through his love.  Nazareth, Bethlehem and the world sorely need just that.  The Galilee where Jesus of Nazareth conducted so much of his ministry and performed his memorable miracles has also radically changed.  It is modernized in so many ways.  The City of Tiberias which surrounds the Sea of Galilee is modern on the one hand, wealthy and thriving in part but on the other broken, poverty ridden and anxious.  The city seems very much in need of the carpenter from Nazareth who walked on the Sea of Galilee.  How wonderful it would be if those marvelous miracles of old could once again transform, born again the place where he lived and the people that he loved.So often, the carpenter from Nazareth and the CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS went up from to Jerusalem to fellowship and worship at the temple.  Much of the Jerusalem HE knew has changed.  Much is modern, commercial and much is not Jewish as he was.  There is significant Arab and Muslim influence.The Temple Mount where the temple of the great G-d Jehovah once stood is now controlled by Arabs and Muslims.  On that once holy Jewish site stand the mosques Al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock.  To visit the Temple Mount as I recently did is to feel the tension between Muslim and Jew, and in fact Muslim and all others.  The peace which passes all understanding which HE brought is nowhere to be found.  The love of the BABE OF BETHLEHEM has been replaced by war, hatred and vengeance, so much vengeance.  There is, as HE asked, no love for an enemy or even peace.  There is only détente, reluctant acceptance of a temporary truce enforced with tension and military presence.  The joy the three wise men felt as they gave gifts to him in Bethlehem is long gone. Watchmen on the walls watch not for HIM but for the coming of the enemy.  Gold, frankincense and myrrh have been replaced by uranium, chemical warfare and poisonous gas.  Love offerings have been replaced by suicide bombings.  The good tidings of great joy which once emanated from Bethlehem have been replaced by the sirens which trumpet more war at work.Jerusalem, like all of Israel has changed.  Yet Jews and Christians everywhere pray for the: PEACE OF JERUSALEM And Israel, and the world.  But THE PRINCE OF PEACE is nowhere to be found in the land or in their hearts.There can be no peace, sayeth the Scriptures, old and new without the Messiah.  Christians believe that Messiah has come, born in Bethlehem in Judea and faithful Jews wait for HIM to come for the first time.  What a different world it would be, and what a different Jerusalem it would be if mankind allowed the Prince of Peace to gather all under His wings, as he prayed and heal the world (Jews call it Tikkun Olam) as only HE can.  Christians, real Christians believe the Messiah has come and will come again.The Babe of Bethlehem, the Christ of Christmas is in fact that Messiah, so Christians believe. Anti-Semitism, as hateful as anything on this earth, is once again on the rise.  It is everywhere, even in our very own open-minded country.  Europe is awash in Anti-Jewish hatred and action.  Jihadist Islam is on the march, to exterminate the Jews once and for all, to finish as one a valid jihadist said the work that Hitler never completed.And of course, with the extermination of the Jews, so would jihadists exterminate Christians and all other religionists who would not convert to Islam and exchange the G-d Jehovah for that of Allah.  And of course, the exchange the Christ of Christmas for the Prophet Mohammad.  For, to exterminate the Jews is to eradicate Jesus of Nazareth, Himself a Jew.  Perhaps because Jesus was in fact Jewish there is now even more hatred and Anti-Christian sentiment the world over.  It is indeed a time for realignment, for standing together, especially for all things Judeo-Christian, so severely attacked and protect and defend the faith.In so much of the world, freedom of religion requires the protection of the military, as in Bethlehem of Judea.The Church of the Nativity and its environs are protected by Bethlehem police, Palestinian soldiers and even the Israeli Defense Force.  Guns protect and allow the giving of alms.  How ironic but a way of life in this day and age, in this Anti-Semitic day and age.  The love and the peace which emanated from Bethlehem 2,000 years ago seems long gone.But it is still there.  It can live among mankind or in their hearts.The power of the peace of the Babe of Bethlehem is still available and can change lives and even whole nations.If only, as little children, we could open our hearts to love and peace and to HIM, the world could in fact be changed.  That is the promise of His birth in Bethlehem. And so we watched the return of the Jews to Israel, so many of them, the great Aliyah.  There is the fulfillment of the words of the Prophet Amos who said: “I WILL BRING MY PEOPLE ISRAEL BACK FROM EXILE.THEY WILL REBUILD THE RUINED CITIES AND LIVE IN THEM.  THEY WILL PLANT VINEYARDS AND DRINK THEIR WINE.  THEY WILL MAKE GARDENS AND EAT THEIR FRUIT.  I WILL PLANT ISRAEL IN THEIR OWN LAND, NEVER AGAIN TO BE UPROOTED FROM THE LAND I HAVE GIVEN THEM, SAYS YAHWEH YOUR GOD.” That is now happening.  We should rejoice as the Scriptures are fulfilled, especially we who are Gentile.In fact, we should be reminded that God intends to use Gentiles to help fulfill that promise and we are reminded of the words of Isaiah who said: “SEE, I WILL BECKON TO THE GENTILES.  I WILL LIFT UP MY BANNER TO THE PEOPLES.  THEY WILL BRING YOUR SONS IN THEIR ARMS AND CARRY YOUR DAUGHTERS ON THEIR SHOULDERS.” What a privilege is ours as Christians and Gentiles to help return the Chosen People to the Promised Land.  The motivating force for the reuniting, the bonding and standing together of Christian and Jew is the love of the Babe of Bethlehem.  It is that love which started in a manger centuries ago which alone can unite and put an end once and for all to Anti-Semitism and in fact all evil and hatred.  So, it is the peace of God which passes all understanding and we should never forget the words from the Torah, the Book of Numbers which reminds us that only: YAHWEH Can bless you and keep you.  Only Yahweh can make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.  Only Yahweh can turn his face toward you and give you peace. Only HE can. Love indeed came down at Christmas, love so divine.  Those who believe shout hallelujah, the Lord is come.  Let our hearts be filled with joy and praise at this wonderful season.  No matter the wars and rumors of wars, let us luxuriate in His peace, and His Love and like little children as He once was, open our hearts to that love divine so that we can in fact say with the angels of old: GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOODWILL TOWARD ALL MANKIND Perhaps none on this earth want peace more than Israelis.  They live with the motto NEVER AGAIN.  They will protect and defend against any enemy.  They will never forget, never ever.  But they, like all mankind, should never forget what happened in Bethlehem, 2,000 years ago.  There was a man, a Jew who changed the world then and can do it now.  And that man was and is: THE BABE OF BETHLEHEM Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward all mankind at Christmastime and: ALWAYS

WAI MOMI - Waters of Pearl

Many of the sailors aboard naval vessels moored in Pearl Harbor were getting ready for leave and preparing for church services. That fateful day was Sunday morning December 7, 1941. Soon, the colors would be raised on more than 185 naval vessels throughout the harbor.  The Japanese attack came with no warning. Aircraft emblazoned with red disks bore down on the moored and trapped ships from all directions. First came torpedo planes. Ships were severely wounded. Then came Dive–Bombers bombing and destroying hangers and buildings and any number of parked aircraft at Hickam Field on Ford Island. In just minutes, the Japanese attackers had transformed the quiet routine of the Sunday morning military into a nightmare of massive explosions, black smoke, men leaping from burning ships into oil covered water, death and disaster everywhere. The peaceful habitat of oysters and pearls was transformed into a scene of utter disaster. A second wave of Japanese aircraft attacked approximately one–half hour later dealing more death and destruction and, in less than two hours, the Japanese attackers have severely weakened the United States’ military Pacific Naval Force. Wai Momi, perhaps the most majestic harbor in all the Pacific, calm, beautiful, with waters as colorful as any, was virtually destroyed. December 7, 1941 was indeed a day of extreme infamy in the history of our American Nation. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was indeed a momentous event in American history. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, to that point had refused to enter World War II, believing America was immune to attack. Pearl Harbor was a game changer. America had no choice now but to enter the war, with a goal toward protecting our Country from further attack, doing our very best to stamp out the evil now perpetuated the world over by Germany, Japan and Italy.  When America prepares for war, it is “all–in”. Industry overnight shifted from peaceful and civilian purposes to all out military production. Men and women were not only drafted into military service, but willingly enlisted in the cause of freedom and the protection of a Country they loved. Our nation overnight became ready for war and the possibility of further attack. Blackouts occurred every night. Food was rationed. Travel was restricted. I remember as a young boy sitting with my father and mother around a large RCA radio listening to the news with no lights in the house. We waited every night for President Roosevelt to speak, hoping for assurance but always prepared for the worst. Killing and human slaughter happened every day the world over. Germany, Japan and Italy were brutal in the warfare they raged and the world trembled at the thought of one or all three of these nations invading and making war on home territory. Small wonder that PEARL HARBOR, that infamous event and the Sunday morning December 7, 1941 on which those invasions occurred became a National Day of Remembrance, a day of gratitude to those sailors and naval men and women who gave their lives for their Country without any real opportunity to defend or fight back. Remember that, my fellow Americans, this December 7, all week long and every year to come. The infamous Pearl Harbor occurred 80 years ago. It is every bit as important in American history as any other military event including the equally barbaric 9–11 attacks on the World Trade Center. In those 80 intervening years, the world’s military capability has radically changed. Nation after nation develops nuclear capability. Weapons of mass destruction are everywhere. Armies and navies are more sophisticated than ever before. Combat weapons are unbelievably lethal and potent. New weapons and military capability occur with great regularity, military state of the art always influx. Whether for the purpose of offense–attack or defense–protection, the cost of warfare is staggering indeed. There seems to be no choice. If we cannot defend our great Country, we will for sure be attacked with modern weapons and much of our great Country can be destroyed with millions of lives lost, just like the carnage in Pearl Harbor, only much, much worse. Now more than ever, in these Last Days, there will be wars and rumors of wars everywhere the world over. Nation will rise up against nation and it seems as though the powers of evil will be everywhere. PEACE will be nowhere.  2,341 service members died as a result of the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor, Wai Momi on December 7, 1941. The slaughter was so destructive, the killing so barbaric that many of those who died were never identified and given proper burials. Nearly 400 unidentified human remains were buried as MILITARY UNKNOWNS, a human tragedy for their families. Those men and women were heroes, true Americans who gave their lives without the ability to defend or fight back for the America they loved and for you and me. They died for PEACE. It never came for them, but in 1945 it did for us.  Peace among mankind is transient at best. The hearts of men are deceitfully wicked and this world can be at war in an instant. No matter the United Nations, NATO or any other world peace organization, this world of ours, so it seems, will never achieve true peace no matter what it does. There is only ONE who can bring true peace. HE comes soon, the Babe of Bethlehem:          THE PRINCE OF PEACE HE is the only one who can change swords into plowshares. HE is the only one can change the hearts of mankind from hate to love. Like the marvelous creations of Pearl Harbor, He is the only real solution to the problems of mankind. I pray you know HIM for He, like the best of Wai Momi, Pearl Harbor, and that you will find Him:          THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE.

The Grand Old Party - GOP

It once was grand; this old party was.  But that was once upon a time. It once won elections. It had, for the most part, the respect of the American people. It authored a political alternative, often in sharp contrast on the issues of our time to the Democrat party.  Its platform was basic, well-written, clear in its purposes and objectives. Its candidates were viable, reasonably trustworthy, men and women of their word. But, above all, they were Americans, true constitutional Americans, true rule-of-law Americans, concerned with the safety, well-being, preservation and growth of our country. But today, it sadly seems that the republican party is a mere shadow of its former self. The republican party is a party in disarray. It is divided, a party with any number of factions, points of view and it does not have intellectual, moral and political consistency and unity. This once grand old party, the GOP is made up of politicians, House and Senate, far right in their thinking, libertarians, moderates, centrists, and above all RINOs. There are far too many men and women who hypocritically pretend to be republican in thought and action when in fact, they are anything but. They seem, these republican politicians, all too ready to get along with the so-called loyal opposition, to cooperate with them and most importantly in a way disastrous to the party and to WE THE PEOPLE, they are ready, so it seems to:                   COMPROMISE with the opposition. Republicans appear at time to be negative, reactionary, defensive rather than proactive, aggressive, standing and working for the principles for which they were elected.  Today, republicans are dominated as a party by the influence of Donald Trump. As President from 2016 to 2020, Trump did many good things for America. For the most part, whatever he truly believed, he championed conservative values, his decision making was largely done with a conservative bent, and he upheld the constitution and the rule of law. He was the real leader of the party at that time. BUT NOT NOW. This once reasonably good president has become critical, negative, shrill, aggressive, attacking opponents, belittling men and women who are more republican than he is, portraying an image to the American public that he is all about himself, even appearing selfish, elitist and in so many ways anything but a leader, especially a leader of the republican party. Many believe that it is time for him to move aside and turn over the leadership, the public face of the republican party to others, younger, more truly conservative, with the real concern for the protection of our constitution, and especially our first amendment freedoms, five of them, true republicans who will revive and reenergize the republican party and make it once again what it once was. Trump, with a large ego and ever growing, infected with Potomac Fever, smitten by the power, image and authority-control of the federal government can never give up his loss for power and his return to the White House. Many believe the republican party will never, ever be what it should be if it remains under the control, influence and dominance of Donald J. Trump. It seems as though time and again the republican party either deceives or thoroughly disappoints the American people. In elections 2022, many predicted a massive RED WAVE. That is smashing republican victories in elections for House and Senate. That did not happen. The Red Wave predicted turned into, as one pundit called it, the RED TRICKLE. The republicans, expected to take a large majority of the House of Representatives achieved a bare majority, so it seems. Certain senate races remain undecided and the results of those will determine which party controls the Senate. The GOP has had so many wonderful opportunities but so little results to show. It is a major disappointment in so many ways.  Its candidates for election are often, as one called them “Hapless”. Some have little or no political experience or reputation (credibility) like Dr. Oz running for Senate in Pennsylvania. Some have flawed character, little or no political experience and fail to gain the respect of the American voter. Even when a top-of-the-line candidate, politician and governor of the great State of Florida Ron DeSantis dominates elections in the state of Florida and becomes nationally known and respected, his own party, including and especially Donald Trump, fail to embrace him, criticize him, and show the divisions, the ruptures, the factions within the republican party. It is so sad to see that this once great and grand old party knows well the pathway to internal destruction and shows itself to the American people as a:          HOUSE DIVIDED WHICH CANNOT POLITICALLY STAND! The republican party has no true leadership. Those in power and authority like Senator McConnell from Kentucky and Representative McCarthy from Maryland have shown themselves ineffectual. They seem unable to unite the various factions and individuals elected by the people in common causes and platforms.  Republican priorities are not clear. Republican promises made over and again seem seldom to come to fruition. Many think that republicans are elected instead of democrats as the only alternative to democrat candidates and political points of view. Republican alternatives, whatever they are, seem never to be made clear. Our economy, for example, suffers greatly from a horrid inflation, eroding everything. Democrats are ready, no matter the circumstances to tax and spend but the republicans do not have a clear, aggressive and challenging alternative platform and policy. Many think the republican party is hopeless, unable to be born again, and that the only true alternative for America and WE THE PEOPLE is a brand-new political party. Sadly, that may be the case. Our great country now some 250 years of age, our great democracy desperately needs and is very much dependent upon two parties at work, contrary points of political view, so as to keep the concept of free ideas alive and to make certain that all Americans, all citizens are represented and have a voice in government. In fact, it may need more than two, like Israel, if in fact America, as it was meant to be, is to survive and prosper. We live, my fellow Americans, WE THE PEOPLE do in the greatest country in the history of mankind. It is on a path, both overt and subtle of destruction. Perhaps the most important reason why is the impotence, inefficiency, division, lack of commonality and purpose of the once great republican party:          THE CURRENT INEFFECTIVE GRAND OLD PARTY! If you voted republican, hold those candidates, House and Senate, accountable. Hold them accountable not only for their political promises, but for the perseverance and protection of America and the American dream. Without a revived, reenergized, recommitted, united republican party with conservative ideals at the fore, the America we know, and love may well be living in its last days.

Thanksgiving

We the people so privileged to live in America have so much to be thankful for. God has allowed us to live in the greatest nation in human history, in my opinion. How grateful we should be. Thanks be unto God for His incredible gifts to mankind. There are so many things to be thankful for. And we should approach this wonderful time of year with gratitude and Thanksgiving Day, and Thanksgiving week, and in fact all year long, we should: GIVE THANKSAnd you are thankful are you not my fellow Americans, for so much, so much that you have, so many opportunities that you have and the life which God has given you to lead. You are thankful and grateful, are you not? Our forefathers, as they established America one-of-a-kind, the pilgrims and others, did exactly that: THEY GAVE THANKS OVER AND AGAIN Those who came first to America brought with them a deeply rooted sense of gratitude for all good things. They were grateful to God for everything, the Great Giver of all things. They thanked their God with works and prayers. And they set aside a day in the fall, after harvest to be especially thankful for all that God’s earth had bestowed.  They set aside Thanksgiving Day to be grateful and to celebrate. The harvest reaped assured them of survival and prosperity during the harsh winter to come and they were grateful. The earth gave and they harvested. The earth bestowed the bounty of God and they reaped the harvest, with gratitude and with thanksgiving. Even as they, the first ones here, thanked the God Creator for these unspeakable, incredible gifts, so should we. So, amidst the fun and fellowship of the Thanksgiving Day and week, we should set aside time to be grateful. We should tell others of our gratitude and in a world so often negative and spiteful, let our attitude be positive and think on those things which are good, for there are so many of them. When households and humans the world over die every day, we should be grateful for life, for living, for the lifestyle we enjoy. Opportunity for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is everywhere, thanks be to God. We can start by serving HIM, and others.  We can work and be productive. We can learn and train. We can earn, and profit, and grow, grow personally and professionally in so many ways. And we can do that every day, EVERY DAY, and especially this day which the Lord hath made. Thanks be to God for opportunity, for the freedom which creates that opportunity. So we celebrate life and we who are pro–life pray that there may be no abortion. That life, man and woman, and family will be governed by Biblical principles. That the elderly will be loved and live as long as possible. That we will educate, train up our young in the right ways so that when they are mature, they will take responsibility for our great country, protect the American way and revive us again with a deep sense of morality. How thankful so many of us would be for such a revival, the revival of love and respect for our Lord and for our great country. We should help them learn the lessons of grateful hearts. And surely, we should be grateful for family and friends, should we not? Those closest to us may be the least appreciated. We should share our love with them and tell them our feelings. We should thank them, love them for all that they do and all that they are. There are those who do so much, give so much to us without thanks. Like a loving spouse. And our children, spreading their love and joy. And for our friends, ready in our time of need, sharing life with us and making it better. We should not only be thankful for all of them, but tell them so, and share the love we feel for them. So that we honor our Lord at Thanksgiving not only with love for HIM, but others as well, our neighbors, even as we love ourselves. If you were to see them, be with them perhaps for the last time, what would you say? Thanksgiving gives you the opportunity to say it.  And surely we are thankful for our freedoms, are we not?  For our great Constitution, our Bill of Rights, our Declaration of Independence, our Rule of Law at work and the freedom we enjoy to pursue life, liberty and happiness as we choose. No one, no entity, no government can tell us what to do. We can define our own happiness and pursue it as we wish. We can feel the joy of living as we wish and perhaps as much as anything at this special time, we should be thankful, THANKFUL for this.  And, surely Thanksgiving gives us the opportunity to CELEBRATE, and joyfully so.Most of us can enjoy wonderful food, and the aromas of turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce. How good it would be if we could make certain that others less fortunate could enjoy what we enjoy as well. We should be grateful Thanksgiving Day, and week and all year long for the food of the harvest we enjoy as our forefathers did. Even as we partake in the fellowship of family and friends, and the fun and good times of the day, and of course for so many the football, as we eat the bread of the day, we should remember the BREAD OF LIFE, the One who came for us and makes life so worth living. Even as we enjoy the fruits of the plains, so we should rejoice even more so in the fruits of the Spirit. In all things, giving thanks, THANKS to the God who indeed blesses America. As a young boy at Thanksgiving, our family traditionally traveled to a local orphanage.There we sang and witnessed to them in word and song, brought them joy and blessings and provided them with Thanksgiving food. Our family Thanksgiving Day started with that special blessing for them, and even more so for us. Even as we gave, we got more in return. Then, back home where our family tradition included a spirited touch football game on the front lawn, more games, and more fun, and more fellowship, and more laughter, and more joy. The joy of the Lord was abundant in our household and we were grateful, thankful to God for father and mother, for home, for food, for everything we were given. We were safe and secure, wrapped in the arms of love and joy. How wonderful that was. And we think of the world at large. Wars and rumors of wars. ISIS kills without reason.Terrorism abounds, and the threat of that even in our own country. There is North Korea with incredible nuclear capability, seemingly ready to strike even our beloved America. And Iran, and Russia, and China, so that the world is at war or gets ready for it. We have been ordained, privileged to live in these times, perhaps the end times which should cause us to be even more thankful for what we have, never taking for granted or assuming the future but living with thanks for this very day and the opportunities it brings. We who can and will enjoy the spirit of Thanksgiving should do our very best to spread that to a needy world. And the best of that of course is the Bread of Life, the salt and light of Jesus Christ, the first fruits of the spiritual harvest.  We should spread that message the world over and give thanks to God for the opportunity. Only that message, that person can solve the world’s problems, and make all humankind loving and grateful. So often, we sing or recite the words of God Bless America. For it is in fact, OUR HOME SWEET HOME. But God has already blessed America, and all of us. In so many ways, we have had the best of everything. Our lifestyle has been exceptional. America is in fact an exceptional country in so many ways and we should make certain that this, OUR LAND OF PLENTY shares that PLENTY, all that bounty with all of our fellow citizens. Thanksgiving gives us that very special opportunity to share in that way.  And as we continue to pray for our great country, we should ask the God of all blessings to STAND BESIDE HER (America) and guide her, through the night and with the bright light of the Gospel at all times. For the moral light of America has been dimmed and we are no longer the beacon on the hill we once were. We should resolve at Thanksgiving to be a part of a new reformation, a new revival, grateful and thankful hearts returning to the very highest spiritual principles. That is real Thanksgiving at work. We should resolve to turn from our wrongful ways, we should pray for God’s help, we should seek His guidance and wisdom and above all, as Second Chronicles tells us, we should humble ourselves before our God and when we do all four, we will be heard and change, fundamental moral and loving change will occur in our great country and in us. Thanksgiving should motivate us to do that.  The blessings of God do in fact exist from the mountains, and to the prairies and to the oceans white with foam. God has blessed America with a uniqueness we should never take for granted. And at this wonderful season, we should be especially thankful for: OUR HOME SWEET HOME And for all of those great and brave men and women who have fought and died for our freedoms, and made certain that we who now enjoy can live so abundantly in this our Home Sweet Home. We owe them gratitude this day and in fact at all times.Especially at Thanksgiving time, the words of that great song GOD BLESS AMERICA should ring out with love and gratitude: GOD BLESS AMERICALAND THAT I LOVESTAND BESIDE HERAND GUIDE HERTHROUGH THE NIGHT WITH THE LIGHT FROM ABOVE FROM THE MOUNTAINSTO THE PRAIRIESTO THE OCEANS WHITE WITH FOAM GOD BLESS AMERICAMY HOME SWEET HOME GOD BLESS AMERICAMY HOME SWEET HOME I personally am so thankful for the Christian faith, for the love and salvation of Jesus Christ which is mine. I have experienced that spiritual harvest, and I have so personally enjoyed and partaken of the blessings of THE SALT AND LIGHT OF THE WORLD. Life has, for me, been so much more meaningful and I treasure and am so thankful for such wonderful blessings in my life. And so I personally say, thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift in Jesus Christ and I do hope and pray for the very same for you. May you and all mankind experience that love, and that salvation so that you can say at Thanksgiving time and every day this marvelous prayer: THANK YOU LORD FOR SAVING MY SOULTHANK YOU LORD FOR MAKING ME WHOLE THANK YOU LORD FOR GIVING TO METHY GREAT SALVATION SO FULL AND FREE And as well, gratefully and prayerfully, our grateful hearts should sing these wonderful words: O BEAUTIFUL FOR SPACIOUS SKIESFOR AMBER WAVES OF GRAIN FOR PURPLE MOUNTAIN MAJESTIESABOVE THE FRUITED PLAINS AMERICA, AMERICAGOD SHED HIS GRACE ON THEE AND CROWN THY GOODWITH BROTHERHOODFROM SEA TO SHINING SEA At Thanksgiving time, my fellow Americans, may God bless America and may: GOD BLESS YOU!

Veterans

WOULD YOU DIE FOR YOUR COUNTRY? Would you be willing to give your life to protect and defend the lifestyle, the freedoms, the benefits you enjoy as an American citizen, would you? I wonder sometimes whether that day is coming when WE THE PEOPLE will have to put our all on the altar of DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM to protect and defend this one – of – a – kind country. Many think that day may not be far off.  There were American men and women by millions who were willing to die in defense of the America they loved. And in fact, millions did. So I ask again, would you die in defense of America your freedoms like millions of Americans have done for you and for me, and like thousands of Ukrainians are doing this very day to protect their freedoms and their way of life, would you, would I? Anyone who was so willing is special, very special. Obviously, they love America deeply. They believe in and champion FREEDOM the world over. They are against tyrants like Putin, like Hitler, like Mussolini, like the Chinese communist government today, like Islamic Iran and the clerical rule that exists and they are willing to put their lives at stake to put an end to anyone or anything like that. There was once THE GREAT WAR, World War I, it ended officially November 11, 1918. An armistice occurred. Then President Woodrow Wilson, so blessed by that ending declared the date of the armistice November 11, 1919 as officially Armistice Day. That day was set aside to honor the heroism of all those brave Veterans who fought and died, and survived that horrible war. In 1938, Congress made the 11th of November of every year a legal holiday in honor of those heroic Veterans. Armistice Day was official. It originally only honored those Veterans of the first World War. In 1954, November 11 became a legal holiday to honor American Veterans of ALL WARS. Then President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued a Presidential proclamation asking for an even requiring a wide spread observation of the day in honor of America’s finest, THE VETERANS OF ALL WARS. November 11 of every year became the legal holiday in America for all Americans to honor Americans past who both served and died to protect the freedoms of this great country.  We owe them. WE THE PEOPLE have a never-ending debt, a patriotic debt to those American heroes. 1.1 million patriots died defending America and ridding the world of Adolph Hitler. Even more died in the Korean War, and the Vietnam War and we owe them observants and gratitude. Those Veterans gave much of their lives or all of it in service of America and for you and for me. We owe them, those heroes. For them, what they did in war was something more than duty. It was the highest form of patriotism, the deepest love for America. They cherished the freedoms, the lifestyle and the democracy so many of us take for granted today. They endured sacrifice, a kind of warfare which doesn’t even exist today. So many of these Veterans were wounded, maimed, handicapped for life. Many of our beloved Veterans, men and women suffered the pain of warfare for America every single day they live. We owe them! By the way, when you see a member of the armed forces, do you salute them, do you thank them, do you honor them? Those Veterans of foreign wars indeed had higher standards, patriotic standards. The Stars and Stripes, the precious flag of America was sacred for them. Those Veterans honored and respected that flag and all that it represented. Today, there are tens of thousands who disrespect the flag, dishonor America and care nothing for those who made it possible for them to disrespect the country which has been so good to them. How tragic that is. They can hardly be considered citizens of the United States of America. They are destructive, hateful, disrespectful and without an ounce of gratitude for those who sacrificed so much for this great country. Today, patriotism is on the wane, big time. Holidays, like Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Labor Day and more are simply viewed as a day off from work, a day set aside to party, have fun engage in sports but in so many ways by so many, those days mean little or nothing to so many who take freedom for granted. Former President Thomas Jefferson rightly stated that: THE TREE OF LIBERTY NEEDS THE FRESH BLOOD OF PATRIOTISM SHED FROM TIME TO TIME  Our Veterans believed that and millions did in fact shed their blood as incredible patriots so that freedom might live, and prosper, and we the beneficiaries along with it. I for one, older American citizen am deeply, deeply grateful to any man or woman who has served this country in time of war or otherwise for that matter and I salute them where ever I can. NO ONE RESPECTS A VETERAN OR HONORS VETERANS DAY more than I do. Those Veterans loved America, love this country deeply. SO DO I! and I do hope and pray that you do as well for there is only one America and if what America is, is lost because of apathy, indifference, negligence or down right sabotage, America like freedom once lost is lost forever. Tragically, that day may soon approach. While you can, honor America every chance you get. It has its problems, by no means perfect but it continues to work for liberty and justice for all. Never forget that, my fellow Americans:          NEVER FORGET I pray that God will bless America, and I pray that God will bless and encourage every VETERAN, every man or woman who gave time or life in the service of this great country. WE THE PEOPLE owe a debt of gratitude to those Veterans which can never be repaid. 

The Vote - Before and After

Every two years the very same thing is said when Americans vote:          THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT VOTE IN AMERICAN HISTORY! They, all of them whoever they are, are right. It is in many ways the most important, fundamental vote Federal, State and Local America has ever had.  It seems as though Americans are mobilized, ready for action, ready to vote now more than ever. So many Americans who perhaps never took voting seriously, or may have never even voted now fully intend to vote this November 8. In fact, many are so motivated they will vote early, by absentee ballot or in person or any other legitimate way, legal way to make their political voice heard. I hope and pray you are one of them. The majority of Americans are Conservative. The majority are people of faith. The majority believe in traditional America. They are constitutionalists. They believe in law and order. And secure borders. They are against any and all voting irregularities. They believe in traditional education, THE THREE Rs: READING – WRITING – RITHMATIC, in classical education, in American history among many others. They believe in Freedoms, especially the five basic Freedoms in the First Amendment. But surprisingly, many of these Conservative, often Christian, Protestant or Catholic, and people of other faiths, so many of them never bother to vote. Incredible indeed, and tragic, tragic for the real America. Many believe as I do that voting is a duty, a duty which is an essential part of American citizenship. It really is the duty of every American to vote, especially when critical issues for GOD AND COUNTRY are at stake. Like never before, there are those, so many of them, who would wish the end of democracy, and if not the destruction of America, then at least total and radical change in government, whether socialistic, or even communistic at the extreme, or eventually, something close to dictatorship, one party – one man rule. For some reason, far too many Americans do not take that seriously even though they absolutely should. So many Christians for example talk and pray but do nothing. They are not people of POLITICAL SECULAR ACTION. But they should be. So many Christians believe that God put them, and all of us believers in America, made us American citizens and charged us with the responsibility – duty of energizing, protecting, preserving this great country, its freedoms and democracy. Every American citizen enjoys the benefits of citizenship, the benefits this great country offers. It is little more than a little duty to vote, to understand the issues, the politics and policies, the candidates and to vote accordingly.  Those who are elected at the Federal level, the Senate, The House of Representatives and key state elections such as Governor, and local legislatures will determine so many things that WE THE PEOPLE must endure. Critical moral issues, the votes involved or the votes of those who will make decisions will affect Americas approach to abortion, the Gay agenda, Euthanasia, even freedom of religion without constraint and so many more. With all of that at stake, more than ever it is the duty of every Christian to vote. I hope and pray you will take voting seriously. I hope and pray YOU WILL VOTE TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8. The real America needs your vote now more than ever.  So many think one vote doesn’t matter. How wrong, dead (politically and culturally) wrong that is. EVERY VOTE MATTERS! Your vote is no exception. So many have deep love and passion for spirituality, faith, family but so little when it comes to politics. I pray you will step up, know the issues, vote accordingly and be heard November 8, recognizing:          YOUR DUTY TO AMERICA This once great country needs you and your vote now more than ever.  Then, it is over Wednesday November 9. Candidates have advertised. They have done everything possible to get your vote and every bit as importantly:          YOUR MONEY They have presented themselves as Representatives not Rulers. They promised so much, and they promised to stay in touch with you and me and to make certain they know what we want and what is right for us as American citizens. You can be certain that so many of these candidates, misrepresenting in so many ways along the way, will never fulfill that promise. They got your vote, they got your money and so good bye until the next election. Don’t let that happen. Don’t let them, the newly elected get away with that. HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE! Every two years, the House of Representatives changes. It stays the same, some like Pelossi re-elected pro forma, little or no opposition, remaining in control, in power and in political position. Others are brand new. Seldom does the process change. Washington is Washington, the home of the elite, the BETTER – THEM – US, making decisions which they think are right whether we do or not. They know the only remedies you have are:          RECALL, IMPEACH Or practically speaking, no more support or the giving of money. They will do their own thing for two years, or four years, or six years and VOTER BE DAMNED. HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE! It is your America, not theirs. You are the decision makers. You made your decision November 8. STAY INVOLVED! Be ready to replace candidates who have misrepresented and will not follow through. REPLACE THEM as soon as you can. Again, and again:          AMERICA IS YOUR COUNTRY! So is your state, county, city, and township. All of that is YOURS. It is an incredible DERELICTION OF DUTY if you don’t stay involved. Hold them, your Representatives, to their promises and platforms. Make them perform and do what is right, what you and the majority of voters have indicated is right.  Never forget that progressives and politicians never sleep. They are involved, on the watch, proactive and aggressive:          24 – 7 And, WE THE PEOPLE should be the same. Freedom, democracy, the American republic, our way of life, our rule of law, all of that is at stake day by day and year by year until the next election. Hopefully, and prayerfully, you have done your duty as an American citizen by voting. Now comes the second part of that duty:          THE FOLLOW UP AND ACCOUNTABILITY  Stay involved American citizen, STAY INVOLVED! You may wake up one day and find you live in a different country, a different world if you don’t.  So, all of us at the Crawford Broadcasting Company thank you for voting, prayerfully urge and admonish to stay involved as an American citizen in the political process and hold those elected representatives accountable so that they stay as representatives and never become detached, independent and self – serving:          RULERS REAL AMERICA needs you to be an active American citizen 24 – 7. 

The Vote - Republican

Freedom - Part 2

So, my fellow Americans and my fellow Christians and in fact all people of faith, you should know by heart, by memory the inalienable rights which the first amendment confers upon you and me as citizens. You should champion those words; you should discuss and educate with those words. For AGAIN, without them and the rights they convey, there is no FREEDOM. There is no DEMOCRACY!You and yours should adopt the motto:         “I disapprove of what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” No matter, censorship and cancel culture go about their evil, suppression ways. Radicals, anti-Americans never sleep. They are always at work abridging, determined to take power and control and do away with democracy. They apply George Soros’ tactics, destroy what they can, rewrite history, destroy monuments and legacy, and foster ILLIBERALISM wherever possible. They care nothing for the rights of the fourteenth amendment which guarantees all Americans:          DUE PROCESS OF LAW         EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAWS These hateful radicals wish to do away or greatly restrict the privileges and immunities of the fourteenth amendment available to every American citizen. They are haters of America and what it stands for and they are determined to change, radically change, America, democratic and freedom-loving America any way they can. Ironically, college and universities are the greatest suppressors of free speech in our culture. They should be bastions of free speech, the free exchange of ideas, any ideas, wrestling with speech of all kinds but so many are exactly the opposite. At the university of California, Berkeley, for example, antisemitism, the epitome of hate speech, exists in virulent form. So much so that UC Berkeley actually created what they termed:         JEWISH-FREE ZONES. They fore bad, these university officials did, any pro-Israel speaker at any event. And in fact, went to the extreme of championing a pro-Palestinian group, clear evidence of the hatred of the university of anything Jewish. They were against anything ZIONISM. So much for an environment which has been established, in terms of education, to welcome and discuss diverse points of view. Ironically, the dean of UC Berkeley, Erwin Chemerinsky is JEWISH! This new policy and bylaw will prevent the very dean of the school himself from speaking at any events! This odious, illegal and unconstitutional policy and action by this ultra-liberal university is typical of what is coming, and even now on the way with regard to the suppression of free speech. You and I, my fellow Americans must be ever so vigilant, on the watch for this suppression, for eventually, it will find its way into the churches and into Christian theology. You can count on that. Christians are admonished to fight the fight of faith.  The weapons are different. They are not weapons of destruction, or war, but:         IDEAS AND BELIEFS. We are, as the apostle Paul so well said, not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, not ashamed to preach it, testify to our faith for in fact it is the power of God unto salvation. And it is available, said Paul, to THE JEW FIRST and then to the Gentile. Stand up, my fellow Christians, stand up not with weapons but words! THERE CAN BE NO FREEDOM OF RELIGION WITHOUT FREEDOM OF SPEECH! It would not be necessary to take away freedom of religion if somehow, there is no longer freedom of speech.          THE SON OF MAN fought constantly with the pharisees. They were, for him, spiritual enemies. He fought with the power of the gospel WITH WORDS, not actions. He confronted, challenged and convicted not with swords and spears, but the words of the power of the gospel, the truth of almighty God. He called them what they were, vipers, snakes, white as sepulchers, adorned on the outside with nothing on the inside. But words, always words, no harmful or hateful deeds and HE won, Triumph. For his words were the words of truth, ultimate truth and the truth of his words, his preaching and message live vibrantly and passionately today as then. His words were revolutionary, radical for the time. Men and women were, he clearly stated, SINNERS, regarded as hateful at the time and now, today, perhaps even more so. So much so that those who hate religion, Christianity, and the message of the gospel regard HIM and his words as hateful, real hate speech for calling any person a sinner. You can count on more of that, much more of that, in so many ways.  Back to the first amendment. These modest collections of inalienable, unchangeable, fundamental words not only guarantee freedom of religion and freedom of speech but also FREEDOM OF PRESS. Print what you want, publish anything you wish. Send it, distribute it, mail it and do it again, and again and over again without any censorship or suppression. NONE! Reprint the Bible, Christian books, pamphlets against abortion, championing the biblical view of all things UNNATURAL, and anything else, ANYTHING. Print it freely so says the constitution.  And more from that blessed first amendment:     FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY.Gather together peacefully, anywhere, anytime including and especially church, religious events, political rallies. Assemble anywhere you wish FOR ANY PURPOSE! Congress and no legislative body can prevent that! And finally:         FREEDOM OF PETITION Complain to the government, request, disagree with, make your thoughts and ideas known. Stand up, be heard, without fear of intimidation or retribution. PETITION-SPEAK OUT! It is your inalienable right.  Memorize, my fellow Americans and fellow Christians, this precious first amendment. Discuss it, think about those five freedoms. Think about the prohibitions to legislation, congressional action. Rejoice in those freedoms. Protect and defend them for:         FREEDOM ONCE LOST IS LOST FOREVER! Radicals, hateful anti-Americans count on the fact that WE THE PEOPLE, you and I are IGNORANT AND UNEDUCATED     AFRAID AND INTIMIDATED      LACKING IN COURAGE AND FORTITUDE      FEELING ALONE AND POWERLESS SHOW THEM THEY ARE WRONG MY FELLOW AMERICANS, SHOW THEM. Stand up my fellow Christians, unashamed of the gospel, champions of the constitution and protect and defend the incredible freedoms of the first amendment to our constitution.And in fact, the entire BILL OF RIGHTS and the constitution itself. It is both your duty and privilege. Show the freedom haters that you are not ignorant, that you know the constitution and your inalienable rights, that you are not afraid, that you are willing to put all on the altar, knowing that you are not alone, that there are millions upon millions like you and will stand up and fight the fight of faith with words with you. The loss of freedom is only one generation away. Let us, we the people of this generation, show all of our fellow citizens and the world at large that WE are the lovers, the protectors, the defenders of: DEMOCRACY         FREEDOM OF RELIGION, SPEECH, PRESS, ASSEMBLY AND PETITION         THE ONE-OF-A-KIND NATION OF AMERICA. Freedom, any and all freedoms once lost is lost FOREVER!

Freedom

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. So say those who believe in the absolute, unadulterated, unabridged rights of the first amendment to the blessed USA constitution. I agree with that wholeheartedly, do you?Today, however, public universities, education in general and even much of America think differently. If I disagree with what you say, I will not only not defend your right to say it, but I will do whatever it takes to STOP YOU FROM SAYING IT! my speech, what I believe is right or nothing at all. END of the first amendment, END of free speech, END of the first amendment of the constitution: END OF FREEDOM!END OF DEMOCRACY!Founding fathers wrote the constitution. They did so in 1776 as representatives of WE THE PEOPLE. There objective was to “form a more perfect union.” They authored this document to ESTABLISH JUSTICE, justice for all. The constitution of the United States was written for the purpose of:SECURING THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY TO OURSELVES AND OUR POSTERITY!It was a marvelous document, brilliantly written by founding fathers who were determined to articulate the concepts of LIBERTY AND FREEDOM and provide for the beginning of a nation never before seen in the history of humankind. The basic document was formed, agreed upon by the greatest minds of the day, but in some ways lacking and incomplete. Then came necessary additions to that constitution in the form of AMENDMENTS. There were ten, the first ten which are collectively known as the:BILL OF RIGHTSAbsolute rights, inalienable rights, God – given rights, fundamental, basic never to be changed, modified or abridged and never, EVER to be eliminated. NEVER!They were born, all ten of them, and ratified in the year 1791. They became part of, these ten amendments, and absolutely fundamental to the body of the constitution itself. The first and most important amendment, AMENDMENT 1 contained some of the finest, most basic and necessary words ever written by mankind. You should know those words, my fellow Americans, you should know the first amendment to the constitution of the United States of America BY MEMORY. They are absolutely critical to the TREE OF LIBERTY as Thomas Jefferson so well said. For, without the first amendment and its freedoms, THERE IS NO FREEDOM! There is no democracy. There are no individual rights which matter without the five inalienable rights absolutely and unconditionally guaranteed by the first amendment to the constitution of the United States. Those incredible words of freedom should be etched in the minds and hearts of every American citizen, every young person, taught, explained and discussed in all of education at all times. For without those inalienable first amendment rights: THERE IS NO FREEDOMTHERE IS NO DEMOCRACYThey contained those words did, an absolute restriction, a direct and unequivocal prohibition on the Congress, House and Senate, of the United States. The clear and unequivocal words of the first amendment forbad Congress from making any law (CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW) respecting an establishment of religion of prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The rule of law, the prohibition of the first amendment made absolutely certain that there would never be a congressionally determined national religion. Congress was forbidden to establish, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, any type of religion or any part thereof. Religion of any kind was the province of the citizens of the then 13 states and now 50. But more, Congress, even more when it comes to religion. You, Congress, said the clear words of the first amendment cannot prevent, you cannot PROHIBIT in any way the free exercise of religion. Real religion can be practiced in any way, no matter what it is by the citizens of the United States of America (13) and Congress can never, ever, EVER prohibit in any way:THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF!No matter those clear, unequivocal words and admonitions, the federal government and the CDC (CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL) shut down the churches in violation of that first amendment when COVID came. It was, many thought, a direct illegal, unlawful and dictatorial violation of the constitution. Many Pastors and religious leaders passionately disagreed with such a governmental order. One such first amendment champion was Pastor John MacArthur in the Los Angeles area, Southern California who kept open his church for worship and as a result, engaged in litigation with the federal government. That Pastor not only obeyed the WORD OF GOD, but championed the unconditional, unabridged and unalienable guaranteed rights of the first amendment with regard to religion and the practice thereof, including the right of assembly. MacArthur was the champion, the leader, the model in the fight for freedom the country over. FREEDOM OF RELIGION WAS THE FIRST AND INALIENABLE RIGHT OF EVERY CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES, the first and most important! For without freedom of religion, THERE ARE NO FREEDOMS! Remember that, my fellow Americans, the next time you go to church. Remember that, and him, the Reverend John MacArthur. And more, much more to this incredible first amendment, an amendment to unalienable freedoms. Then came:FREEDOM OF SPEECH!You, Congress and by extension the 13 states and those to join later, were absolutely, unconditionally for in any way, direct or indirect:ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH!,Every citizen can say what he or she wishes at any time, anywhere and with any content, and nothing Congress can do, no law can be passed which would in any way prevent or restrict that freedom of speech for Congress was absolutely forbidden from in any way:ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECHAny speech is free, ANY. No matter how derisive, disagreeable, attacking, vulgar, confrontational, angry, critical of America and even this very blessed constitution, no matter the speech, nothing and no one including and especially Congress can stop it, abridge it, prevent the citizens of the United States from saying what they want, when they want, where they want. Any attempt to do so, much less law to that affect is absolutely forbidden and ABSOLUTELY UNCONSTITUTIONAL!No matter, somehow, the Congress of the United States and other legislatures have adopted what they term:HATE SPEECHNo matter the constitution, no matter the clear and unequivocal prohibition to do so, if speech is regarded as politically hateful, that can be stopped directly or perhaps more effectively, indirectly through litigation, lawsuits and financial penalties. HATE SPEECH which abridges the freedom of speech and expression is absolutely unconstitutional! Surprisingly and sadly, Americans, right thinking, freedom loving Americans do not rise up, protest, and demand that any legislature anywhere not violate the first amendment, in no way ABRIDGE the fundamental freedom of speech for when any speech is abridged, that is the beginning of the end of FREE SPEECH GENERALLY, and in so many ways, my fellow Americans, the end of FREEDOM OF RELIGION. For, there can be no freedom of religion without freedom of speech.The Holy Bible, the WORD OF GOD condemns intentional killing and consequently ABORTION, and all things unnaturally (biologically) sexually, and consequently gay marriage and gay sexuality – life style, even so-called mercy killing among others and even now, some think the bible a compilation of hate speech in various forms and whether gospels, torah, even quran, seek to label any such teachings as hateful, compilations of HATE SPEECH. As such, these hateful individuals now begin to do their best to band and condemn such teachings no matter the beliefs of others. Radicals, anti-Americans purpose to do away with all religions and anything religious including the bible with the objective of establishing a purely secular society, a religion – less society. It is happening now slowly but surely.

Progressive Christianity

“The Ultimate danger is that progressive Christianity can send a person to hell.”Those were the words of Franklin Graham of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.If there ever was an oxymoron, the term progressive Christianity is the ultimate. CHRISTIANITY IS CHRISTIANITY. It is what it is, means what it says, cannot be reinterpreted or interpreted away. Christianity is a belief system, with standards and values which one accepts or rejects. It cannot be “cherry-picked”, one cannot take some and leave others. CHRISTIANITY IS ALL OR NOTHING! But, it is indeed progressive, radical, revolutionary, life-changing, even radical in terms of faith, hope and love. Mankind in its infinite wisdom cannot make it better, soften, as one so-called progressive, woke thinker said the “hard edges of Christianity” to make it easier, more adaptable to current culture and broader in terms of inclusion. In fact, Christianity is exclusive, excluding what it clearly terms “sinners” and non-believers and rather than a broad gate and lane of welcoming: Straight and narrow is the way.And there is only one way and that is absolute faith and commitment to the God of the Bible and all out commitment to Jesus Christ.There is, says writer Michael Brown, now in current culture, the so-called gay rights revolution. That movement sought to normalize same-sex relationships, completely expand, even change the definition of, morality, and fashioned today the category of LGBTQ(IA)+ with even more to come. No matter that up to the late 20th century, when major Christian denominations believed and taught that same-sex relationships and marriage were wrong and according to the Bible “sinful”, LGBTQ fought for complete change in sexual and moral behavior, a movement in the forefront of today’s culture where “anything goes”. To disagree with anything gay at work was to champion HATE, flagrant discrimination the movement said and it determined at every turn to silence or punish those who exercised freedom of speech and spoke out against the new moral revolution and lifestyle in favor of the old biblical standards of morality. Today, it seems that so many Christians, Jews, and even Muslims, the sacred writings of each condemning such a lifestyle, are silenced, intimidated and refused to speak out. Even though LGBTQ is a small minority of the population, it has become loud, vocal, even championed by high tech, digital (Facebook and Comcast among others) and it has clout far beyond its representation. In some cases, it demands inclusion in the Christian church, even though the lifestyle is condemned. This progressive approach, the widening of the road, the narrow road which leads to salvation, is an objective which would include far more and broaden beyond scripture the doctrine of salvation. It is said by Lutzer, the essential goodness and understanding of human nature today as something equally important to determining salvation and morality as the requirements and demands of scripture itself. Man over God or at least co-equal with God, in terms of truth and interpretation. Franklin Graham is right. This so-called progressive Christianity can lead a believer therein “straight to hell”.We should today expect that my fellow Christian, the apostle Paul warned us in2 Timothy 4 that: “the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth.”Surely you know, as I do, that is exactly what is happening today. The Bible is old, crusty, musty, written for ancient times, out of touch, UNWOKE, greatly in need of reinterpretation and modernization so as to be acceptable by all human kind in this radical PROGRESSIVE culture. NOT ME AND MINE. As for my house, my family, my company, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD OF THE BIBLE! What about you?Progressive Christianity denies the concept of original sin. Humankind they say is innately good, born good. Wrong according to the Bible.The new woke Christianity simply does not believe in the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ, the blood. There is no need for the unnecessary and mythological doctrine of salvation. The cross of Christ and the blood are totally unnecessary.Progressive Christianity denies the existence of hell. Woke Christianity expands the doctrine of marriage to include almost anything. The movement centers around a global attempt to effectuate so-called UNIVERSAL SALVATION. It champions social justice far more so than any doctrine of individual or personal salvation.It rejects the concept of sin and the need for redemption. It just seems amazing that these radical, woke, progressive individuals would even bother with Christianity. Why not be totally honest, progressives, and deny anything and everything Christian.Be not deceived, progressives. GOD IS NOT MOCKED. Vengeance is mine, says the Lord. I WILL REPAY. Perhaps it is the ultimate sin (unforgiveable?), the denial of the true God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit and the substitution of the so-called intelligence of mankind and the re-write, the fundamental change-over of the Bible of old. Now comes to life, the words in the book of Judges: “They (mankind) did what was right in his or her own eyes.”The bottom line, my fellow Christian, and for every Jew and even Muslim, is that the all-out war against: PEOPLE OF FAITHhas begun and moves full speed ahead. You stand up, and do so NOW, Christian, or the faith of our fathers, the truth of ONE GOD may well be extinguished forever. More than ever, now, you and I must FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH. We must stand for biblical truth, ALL OF IT. There can be no exceptions, no interpretations, no cherry-picking. Scripture and the Christian way of life is ALL OR NOTHING. This still remains the right way, the only way: THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE!

Pastors Burnout

A staggering 42% of Pastors have considered quitting full – time ministry. That is a result of a recent study conducted and reported by Jon Brown of Fox News.That study quoted one Pastor Ferguson who previously served in ministry but now resigned, who said:“There is no doubt rates of clerical burnout are increasing”The Pastor at pastorate has always presented pressures potentially detrimental to relationships and mental health said Ferguson. But these cultural rifts have deepened in recent years because of politics and political issues and the pandemic. These two driving forces have “pressed Pastors to not stay in their lane, which is focusing on our faith and spiritual life. Pastors and Priests are called to ministry for one essential purpose:PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRISTThey are called to minister, teach, encourage, marry and otherwise perform the services God would have. They are not called and they are “out of their lane” to take stands on political issues, or cultural, or economic, the province of someone else. THEY ARE CALLED TO PREACH THE BIBLICAL GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!One Reverend Richard White, Pastor of a Presbyterian Church in Montreat, North Carolina said that he and his staff were overwhelmed with Covid 19 requirements. They did their best to utilize the newly required methodologies of livestreams, cameras, uploading to the church website and other new technical approaches to church services as a result of Covid. But as the pandemic wore on, the church Pastor began to experience a “grinding spirit” and there occurred what Reverend White described as “decision fatigue.” No matter what decision you make, White said, there is a group in the church that is not happy and is local that you are wrong. Bitter decisions over politics and the pandemic have seeped into churches, leading to the growing rates of job and career burnout among Pastors. David Ferguson, now Executive Director of the Great Commandment Network and former Pastor said:“Our faith does not exempt us from anxiety, depression, temptation or Covid.”We live said he in a divided, polarized, politized and hateful world which far too often requires Pastors to take positions on every imaginable topic, many of which are beyond their knowledge or expertise. Rather than the spiritual life of families and individuals growing in the nurture and admonition of the Lord through the ministry of the Pastor, churches are now experiencing division, confrontation and a lack of fellowship. 42% OF PASTORS CAN NOT COPE WITH THIS. As a result, they seriously consider resignation and career change. The Barna Group agrees. A careful and accurate study by the Barna Group found that Pastors identified unbearable stress as the main cause of burnout. 56% said growing stress would prevent them from achieving the spiritual ministry to which they had been called. 43% of Pastors stated loneliness was a main cause of burnout and 38% said that political divisions were extremely difficult negative factors. Most of those Pastors surveyed that these issues and more had taken a serious toll on their families and the pressure was becoming unbearable. Another Pastor stated that members of his congregation resigned such membership in the church because the church required congregants to wear masks while another church had members leave because the church did not require the wearing of masks. Another Pastor said that he credited his survival as Pastor to God’s presence, the prayerful encouragement of his staff, his own strengthen and renewed prayer life, and the vocal and continued support of his wife and family. That Pastor said he was often pressed beyond his own strength and forced to “press into the Lord” to sustain himself. What a sad state of affairs. It seems as though far too many in today’s congregations are far too demanding, selfish, egocentric to the point where spiritual issues and matters are taking a back seat to the political and cultural issues of the day.Monsignor Stephen J. Rossetti, a Roman Catholic Priest of the Diocese of Syracuse New York, also a licensed phycologist indicated that rates of depression and anxiety rose among Catholic Priests during the pandemic. As with Protestant churches, Catholic parishioners also laid demands on their Pastors that prove overly burdensome. Said Rossetti:“People can be very demanding and sometimes they can have expectations that are unrealistic.”Senior Pastor Drake Caudill of a Baptist Church in Carmi, Illinois stated that too often Pastors are expected to perform more like the CEO of a church rather than a spiritual leader. That he said is not biblical. Said Reverend Caudill:“I think the expectation for Pastor (performance) should start from scripture and using what scripture expects from the Pastor.”And in reality, it should not only begin there but end as well no more should be required of any congregation. Covid and the pandemic only increased Pastor problems. The newly required Covid expectations brought about increased work product and time involved to the point where Pastors were getting tired and exhausted. And, their families were getting tired and exhausted as well. Pastors began to expect too much from themselves. Covid, coupled with political and social issues were taking a toll on Pastors they never before had experienced. The bottom line was that Pastors were now expected to be proficient in those issues which in fact was the profession and expertise of someone else. Said one Pastor:“We are not economists. If we focus on what God has called us to do, pastoring, preaching, serving, we are far less likely to face some of the challenges that are making Pastors want to quit today.”As a result of these studies, Tucker Carlson, host of Fox News, stated that “Christianity was dying.” How wrong he is. But is has, as Pastor Ferguson well stated, gotten “out of its lane” and it needs to go back to the old map, the unchangeable, biblical, gospel and the fundamental and basic varieties of Christianity. It is tangential, defeating, a devil’s pool, divisive, unspiritual and unbiblical to do anything but preach the gospel and anything related there to. Pastors need a new courage, a return to the spiritual energy of the Holy Spirit and a new – found ability to saying NO. Pastors need to take control, re-educate the congregation as to the mission, ministry of the church. The world needs the gospel now more than ever. Pastors, called by the Holy Spirit, must lead the way, champion the faith, fight that fight of faith and run the gospel race like never before. If Pastors and Priests don’t do that, Carlson will prove right that Christianity is dying not because of the marvelous, unchanging, life changing power of the gospel, but because those agents and spokespersons of this gospel have lost their way. The Apostle Paul warned of apostasy. He warned of false teachers, false doctrine (politics and social issues) and implored those who preach and teach to do so with the true gospel, the real gospel, lacking today in so many churches. The burnout of our Pastors will cease and desist only when they return with all their heart, soul and mind to the pure and unadulterated SAVING GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. Them, and only them.

California

I first went to the great state of California in the year 1957. The first thing I saw after deplaning was:CALIFORNIA IS A STATE OF MIND A fabulous state of mind. A land exciting, gorgeous, naturally beautiful border to border and most importantly a land of opportunity. A land where entrepreneurs could thrive, work was plentiful, a democratic land indeed, truly American in every way where anyone could pursue:THE AMERICAN DREAMHow this once great state has changed, radically changed. It talks of secession, negotiating directly with foreign nations, establishing its own immigration policies in many ways creating benefits for illegals more so than American citizens. California is, says the Wall Street Journal “a leading exporter of progressive policy and businesses.” It has become WOKE in so many ways, radical in so many ways SOCIALISTIC. It drives business away. It taxes greedily. It ignores our beloved Constitution in so many ways. California is no longer the epitome of the American dream, THE AMERICAN STATE OF MIND but in fact the leading exporter of progressive policy and businesses. The latest example is legislation which would allow the government to determine and fix fast – food worker wages and micromanage restaurants. This legislation as passed by the California democratic legislature creates a ten member council appointed by the governor and state legislative leaders with virtual CARTE BLANCHE authority to fix wages, benefits and working conditions at most fast – food restaurants. Get ready to eat higher prices and be ready for the inevitable lower business and job opportunities and growth. The California state minimum wage is already among the highest in the United States at $15 per hour. The new socialistic council authorized by the legislation has signaled it may raise the minimum wage to as much as $22 next year! Not only that, but the council could well decide there would be a 3.5% increase in that minimum wage every year thereafter. It has, further, the authority to provide paid vacation or protest days away from work and it could even consider a work week with as few as 32 hours. Fast – food workers would enjoy incredible benefits, favoritism more so than any other class of workers in the once great state of California. The legislation would comprehend some 16,753 franchise locations in California and the effect on small business in the state would be disastrous.Restaurants will almost certainly be forced to raise prices to the extent they can in order to cover higher labor costs. But the end result could be a significant drop in sales since many of the customers of fast – food restaurants simply could not afford any substantially increased food prices. That could force restaurants to reduce work hours or layoff employees. Some in lower income areas may be economically required to close. Those restaurants simply could not pass on these newly increased costs to their customers. Governor Gavin Newsome, radical as they come and a purported democratic candidate for President 2024, does his best to soften the economic blow by telling Californians that the legislation only affects fast – food restaurant chains with 100 or more establishments nationwide. But the incredible economic damage which this new ten member labor council can inflict will in fact extend well beyond fast – food restaurants. Other businesses, including hotels, retail, food delivery services and more which compete with restaurants for workers will be forced to dramatically increase their minimum hourly wage, or cut back on services and refuse to retain or attempt to hire new workers. Their labor costs, along with many other sectors of the economy, dramatically increased will be passed on to their customers, if they can. What a tragedy for California. This legislation and the act of its radical governor is a tragic example of socialism at work, governmental control over private enterprise and a virtual destruction of the economic competitive position of these desirable and even necessary businesses. We will witness even more economical decline, the loss of jobs, and the exodus of more businesses OUT OF THE STATE or shut down as a result of economic necessity. It seems incredible to think that a small, radical minority, democrats by political label, can get such total control, political and economic control over one of America’s largest and most influential states. California seems to have so many inhabitants, citizens legal and illegal who simply vote for a party, protest little, virtually uninvolved in the political process with little understanding and the autocrats in Sacramento do virtually anything they wish, ANYTHING! Edmund Burke reminded us that when good people abandoned the political arena, the bad take over. California, perhaps more than any other state has produced politicians and political decision makers who are increasingly anti – American, anti – Constitution and rule of law more than any other state. We who continue to have the privilege of doing business in California, in our case spreading the gospel and championing all things GOD AND COUNTRY can only hope for revival, a re – awakening of the citizenry, significant voting changes and a RETURN, a passionate return to the morals, values, principles and ideals of the traditional and true AMERICA. If not, California will continue to change, not at all for the better, it will continue to set anti – American examples, and continue to be as the Wall Street Journal says “a leading exporter of progressive businesses and policies.” I knew California in 1957. That state and its state of mind gone, perhaps never to return. That is a sad and unbelievable loss to all Americans. We do hope and pray that your state, whether Colorado, Michigan, New York, Illinois, Indiana, Alabama or any other never follows suit. But it will unless you, WE THE PEOPLE in those great American states stand up, say no and prevent yet another state from becoming yet another California. Do it, my fellow Americans, do it with all your passionate and political might. FREEDOM ONCE LOST IS LOST FOREVER!

Amazing Israel

YOU WILL BE A BLESSING TO ALL PEOPLES! That was the divine promise to Abraham. Leave your home in Mesopotamia, go where I show you and I will make of you and your seed a great nation. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their wives Sarah, Rebecca and Rachael were the chosen of Jehovah, the great I AM were the ancestors of the Jews and those responsible for the founding of the great nation of Israel. THEY WERE THE BEGINNING OF THE BLESSING!Anti–Semitism is brutal, vicious and never–ending. Asians can be persecuted, discriminated against and mankind rises up. And the same with Native Americans, African Americans, Latinos and each time, mankind rises up, defends and vilifies the alleged discriminators. But it seems that when it comes to the Jews and anti–Semitism, mankind is slow to care or be concerned, much less rise up in defense. The persecution seems rampant, on college campuses, in local politics, even in Congress itself at times. It is a mystery to right–thinking individuals WHY that happens, where this prejudice even hatred comes from. But it is there, real and ugly. Those who hate and discriminate against the Jews will feel the curse of the great God Jehovah, the great I AM. That doesn’t seem to matter at all. It is further made difficult to understand, this anti–Semitism because the nation of Israel is one of the world’s most technically advanced, medically involved, humanitarian at heart, and philanthropic and charitable in its activities. In the Negev Desert, at one time little more than sand, there now exists the incredible Ben–Gurion University (BGU). That is one of the greatest sources of medical achievement and advancement in the entire world. It is founded and operated by Jews, Israelis who are determined to make the world a better place (Tikkun Olam) one person at a time. BGU houses one of the world’s most advanced medical schools.Their mission statement states as follows:To train humane, holistic, ethical and skilled physicians. 700 brilliant world–changing physicians are trained by BGU every year. The underserved Negev inhabitance consisting primarily of immigrants from the former Soviet Union, Ethiopia, India and even Arab lands reap the benefits of this marvelous medical institution. And so does the world!The list of discoveries and medical achievements at this incredible university is absolutely astounding. These brilliant doctors are transforming medicine as we know it. Ben–Gurion University (BGU) is working on a medical process which can, get this, accurately predict the onset of an extreme medical event BEFORE it actually happens. They have developed a new wearable helmet which can measure brain activity in order to predict seizures in epileptic patients, for one. Other extreme medical events are also being studied for the very same result. The future of cancer treatment may be starting in the Negev and at BGU as well. Researchers have discovered that peptides and their biological function, controlled, is key to preventing the spread of cancer! What a blessing to mankind that would be (thus saith the Lord). And more. Molecules designed by BGU researchers could someday help to slow the progression of ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE, and even ALS for which there has been no cure and other degenerative diseases.BGU researchers have stopped the progression of Type 1 Diabetes in newly–diagnosed children through clinical trials. What an unbelievable benefit for all mankind the treatment, control and eventual elimination of Type 1 Diabetes in children would be. The blessings for all mankind promised by G–d to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are never more evident or now even available than the medical discoveries at Ben–Gurion University. Those are just a mere few of the incredible medical work product and discoveries already perfected at BGU or at work and will someday happen for the blessings of mankind. Think about that, my fellow Americans, the next time you see anti–Semitism at work.Where once only hatred and mistrust existed, Israelis have reached out to Arab nations for cooperation, free trade and social intercourse between the nations. The ABRAHAM ACCORDS have fostered new friendship, cooperation and economic ties between Israel and the UAE (United Arab Emirates), Bahrain, and Morocco with an ever–growing possibility that those same accords will exist with Saudi Arabia. Free trade, friendly access between peoples have now begun to most seriously replace the old Arab–Jew hatreds of the past. The Israelis have made that happen. This little nation is one of the most capable in the entire world when it comes to things military and especially nuclear. It is powerful beyond belief. But the heart and soul of Israel is peace, cooperation and the real humanitarian concern for all. The Abraham Accords are evidence of that. Israel would far rather engage in friendly cooperation rather than nuclear warfare with any nation, including Iran. Unfortunately, at least for now, that will never happen for Iran carries on viciously the old Arab–Jew hatreds. Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith was a JEW. Never forget that. He came to all humankind from the seed of David and consequently Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We who worship this SON OF GOD and SON OF MAN must always remember that our Lord was a Jew. He is described as THE GREAT PHYSICIAN. Perhaps He is the unrecognized motivator and inspiration for the incredible medical discoveries of Ben–Gurion University. Israel and the Jews who are privileged to live in the promised land, the great nation of Israel are in so many ways:A BLESSING TO ALL MANKIND!

The Patriot - The Patriot Day

America is the leader of the west.Or at least, it once was.We were born as a marvelous experiment in Democracy, in FREEDOM. We, the 1776ers built our country as THE CITY ON THE HILL, the bright, shining beacon welcoming all to enjoy these precious freedoms with the Pledge of Allegiance to protect, preserve and defend our precious constitution and our way of life. We were built as a nation, one nation, indivisible, UNDER GOD with the promise of liberty and justice for all but America 2021 is nothing more then divided, deeply divided. We the people are polarized in virtually every aspect of our lives and our society. Instead of UNITED WE STAND, our motto should be divided to the core. We are anything but one nation.We are weakened in virtually every aspect of our society. Our economy. Where the dollar once used to be the measure of financial stability, it is no longer. We pile debt upon debt and print money for anything and everything. Our military is nowhere near as strong, threatened as we are by China and Russia. We are culturally far different, Judeo – Christian standards mocked and ignored. Religion wanes, faith in the God of the universe, and especially the God of our Lord Jesus Christ crumbles daily. We are a house divided, and a house divided:CANNOT STAND!No matter the wars of the world, Continental America was never attacked. That was so until September 11, 2001. Then came Bin Laden and his minions and the World Trade Center twin towers were destroyed, as was much of the Pentagon in Washington D.C. We found it unbelievable for these incredible acts of terrorism had never happened to us before, NEVER. But we rallied. We became almost overnight UNITED, ready to defend, to protect and preserve all that we held dear. Some 4,000 of our fellow citizens perished. We rallied to their cause, their families, their aid and support and our President George W. Bush vowed to bring the killers to justice. There was a feeling of PATRIOTISM which America had not experienced in decades. We were ready to do whatever was required. America was the America it should be, the America of old, the America of 1776. In the midst of this incredible disaster, the 9/11 massacres, America was: PATRIOTICALLY BORN AGAIN But that renewed Patriotism did not last long. It gave way to partisanship, ideological differences, deep societal divisions and rather than the patriotic love for country, an ever growing hatred for so much of what America stood for. There came about a more active socialism, something to replace democracy. Marxism reared its ugly head again. China and Russia emerged as ever growing threats to America, more each year in the past two decades. Iran and other terrorist African and Middle East nations flexed their aggressive muscles. Terrorism spread virtually everywhere. The world seemed never to have been more unsafe. There were wars and rumors of wars. America fought such wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and it seemed as though the world we knew in the year 2000 was now dramatically changed. At least America was.But, who are we my fellow Americans? What kind of people are we and what kind of society, civilization and political orientation do we have. What is America today? And how shall we live, HOW? I wonder if we are the descendants the people of 1776 who fought and gave their lives for the freedoms we enjoy today. I wonder whether we are freedom fighters, willing to fight with our lives for our freedoms.I wonder what we really believe, what are our real priorities. I wonder what kind of government we want to have and how active and aggressive we will be in participating in that government. I wonder whether or not our Judeo – Christian values, the moral principles upon which this country was built, will endure and how meaningful they are. Is it not time, with the lessons of 9/11, of Patriot day in mind to ask straight forwardly:WHO ARE WE?We were leaders of the world, world watch dog empower. We were proud to be Americans and citizens the world over respected our country and WE THE PEOPLE. We honored our commitments, our WORD but today, America lives in the error of POST TRUTH where the lie abounds. We can no longer be trusted. We have abandoned Afghanistan and for the most part Iraq, military endeavors we undertook after 9/11. We have left thousands to die as terrorism spreads and rules. It is in many ways embarrassing to be an American for so many. How good it would be for our country if that born again Patriotism were to be revived an become once again our way of life. If only Patriot day could awaken once again the spirit of Patriotism, love of Constitution, and an even deeper love of freedom, all of the freedoms we enjoy. A young American saved hundreds of lives when he and his cohort aboard a plane bent on sabotage and killing said to his fellow passengers:LET’S ROLLHe and they gave their lives as the plane went down, saving hundreds of other lives and perhaps even the very White House of America itself. This man was willing to die for freedom. Are we? Are we willing to give our lives for the incredible life and lifestyle we now enjoy, are we? Patriot day asks that of us. HOW WILL WE RESPOND. What will we tell the world America is and what do we believe.The real America would heed the call of President Thomas Jefferson who said so clearly that:“The tree of liberty needs to refreshed by the blood of Patriots from time to time.”And now is surely the time when that might happen if in fact we are determined to live free. The lesson of 9/11 should be that we the people have a renewed hunger for freedom, that we have a far deeper appreciation of what freedom is, how fragile it is and what we must do to live free. Perhaps 9/11 allows us to once again adopt the slogan, the theme of the great revolutionary state of Vermont:LIVE FREE OR DIEI wonder if we are willing to die for freedom like they were, are we? Are we willing to lay our all on the alter for freedom to protect, preserve and defend our way of life, are we?May it be so. Be willing, my fellow Americans, to do whatever it takes to preserve, protect and defend our beloved America. For these precious freedoms once lost, are lost forever.

Labor Day - Work

Work is good. Work is necessary for the fulfillment of every human being. Work is required of every person according to his or her capabilities and talents, so sayeth the Scripture. All of us must work to survive, live, grow and profit and be all that we can be and as God intended us to be.Our very own America was built on hard work, and is in fact itself a work in progress. The progress depends upon us, we the people, how hard we work and how we make things happen. The majority of we the American people are hard workers. And, the harder and the better we work, the better America and all of us are. To be sure, nothing comes easy in this life, nothing. Everything we have or enjoy is the product of hard work by someone, whether you, or me, or someone else. You and I must do our share, accomplish our calling for the very short time we have on this precious earth. Life, said the wisest man of old King Solomon, is but a vapor here today and gone so soon tomorrow. We should make every working day count to the fullest.Pioneers built our country. They were men and women who did little but work hard morning till night. They farmed land never before productive. They raised animals and used them for work and feed. They built houses, and churches, and City Halls. They built roads and bridges. They built autos and trucks. They built hospitals and invented medicines. They designed and manufactured clothing. They created places for entertainment and worship. They built elaborate and majestic campuses for education and things theological. They built laboratories and science centers and they sent us deep into space. They were then and we are now the workers who made America great, America, the most exciting, creative human and social experiment in all of history. You and I should be proud of them and we should be proud to be workers like they were. The more we work, the better we are, caught up, energized and thrilled by the spirit of America, our exceptional opportunity to pursue our dreams and to build our future. America and those who believe in what it stands for are indeed EXCEPTIONAL and we have been blessed by EQUALLY EXCEPTIONAL opportunity. As we work, we should do everything possible to protect and defend the opportunities, lifestyles and freedoms which America offers.How wonderful it is that the talent and ability of every individual God-Made is different, unique. It is marvelous indeed that every single person has talent and gifts which are in fact different. That is true divine diversity. None of us are better at least not in the sight of God, but different only. Each of us has our own special CALLING. So, no matter who you are, YOU are special and it is your right but every bit as importantly your duty to utilize those God-given talents to the fullest. It is your duty to fulfill your calling. So then, we should not be concerned with what others think nor should we judge what we do and how we work by the standards of others. Nor should we be inhibited by their criticism. For we need to know ourselves, be true to that special self and soul which God has created and through prayer and meditation, come to a full recognition of those talents and be the very person God intended that you and I be. We can fail, but we can bounce back. The opportunity for growth and change is still available in America, thank God. Ignore rejection and focus on your calling. So then, my fellow Americans, you may be called to be a mother. Be all that you can be as a mother for the sake of your children and do your God-given calling with all of your might. Or perhaps you are secretary, or babysitter. Perhaps you clean for a living. Recognize all such work as a calling and do your calling with all of your might. Or perhaps you are plumber, electrician, landscaper, restaurant worker. Do your calling with all of your might and as you can, as unto the Lord. Or perhaps you are lawyer, accountant, radio salesperson, financial planner. Do your calling with all of your might. And if you are the President of anything, including the President of our great United States, you perhaps have a calling with higher standards, duties and demands. No one should do a calling better than you WITH ALL OF YOUR MIGHT!So, we work, we produce and as we do, we should expect return which of course includes money and profit. We work for economic growth and benefit, for the fruit of our labors. We follow the biblical prescription that we can expect even with minimum work product the return of that work one for one. Or perhaps, five to one. Or even as Scripture indicates, perhaps as much as ten to one or more as we diligently develop and exploit those talents and capabilities through hard work. The money return from our work, efforts, creativity and initiative is blessed by Scripture. That money return is right, as we become work men and work women worthy of our hire. We plant, as Scripture says, and Mother Nature waters and it is GOD who gives the increase so the Scriptures say. It is a good thing to make money and to be rewarded for our work. Money supports. Money helps others. Money creates opportunity. The best of us at work, hard work, is exactly what this world of so many ENTITLED needs now more than ever. In fact, hard and productive work is so necessary for this world of entitlements in which we live in order for it to survive and continue. It is well and good indeed to help those all in real need. But all who can, any and all including those receiving entitlements, should work as they can.But today, unfortunately it seems, there are those supposedly progressive in thinking who wish to tell us that profit is wrong, especially in excess. That profit made is the result of GREED at work. Profit they say is not as a result of hard work or special skills, but rather the exploitation of others. Ignore them. You are worthy of the profit and gain of anything you produce at any level of life. The more you invest as a mother, the better your child, perhaps better than others. Enjoy the fruit, the profit of your labors. When you build something, revel in the fruit of your labors and do it with all of your might, and better than others. For no matter what progressives or others would say, YOU DID IN FACT BUILD IT, and you did build it yourself. In fact, so much of what is built would not have been built without you or me. Revel in, enjoy and profit from anything and everything YOU BUILT!But work produces much more than money. Those who understand the value of work realize full well that the doing well of anything is the reward itself! The satisfaction, the fulfillment, the full expression of the self among mankind and before God are THE BEST REWARDS. They are indeed more valuable than money for money comes and goes. But the rewards of work well done last a lifetime and are in fact eternal. We create an earthly balance sheet, personal financial and loss statements here and now, but it is the ETERNAL balance sheet which really counts. Nothing goes with you, no matter what you leave behind, but only the heavenly balance sheet you create. For there is always something more, often much more than the work itself or the profit therefrom. There is good, often enormous good in work well done and even very spiritual good. See that clearly as part of the goal of your calling and WORK which only adds to the return and the enjoyment.So, the work we do can be not only for money, or profit, but for non-profit. For worthy causes. For the good of society in which we live. For all humanity, especially those in need. For the Christian Church and for the Christ we love and serve. For blood drives. For HIV awareness and treatment. For feeding and sheltering the homeless. For carrying the message of the Gospel to forsaken and needy parts of America and the world. Shepherding and guiding children. Tending to the needs of the elderly. Visiting and comforting those in prison. THE WORK OF THE LORD AT WORK FOR ALL MANKIND, AS WE ARE CALLED.All of these things make us what we should be before the Lord and our fellow man.So many of us are people of faith. But our faith, sayeth Scripture, without works is dead. Whatever you believe, whatever your faith, there is no way for anyone to know whether or not it is real except by your works. Talk is cheap. But by the fruits of your labors your fellow human beings will know you. If there is in fact a work of God in you, a CALLING, a life objective, the works that you do will prove to others who you are. What you and I do not do also proves who we are. The great thinking Dietrich Bonhoeffer said that not to act is to act. Negative actions, doing nothing, can be as potent negatively as actual action itself.Unfortunately, there are those who do deceitful works and works of iniquity. They are known for their fraudulent and deceitful acts. They work not for the good of mankind, but only for themselves, for ego, for elicit gain in a deceitful way. Their works and their lives are in vain. William Shakespeare said that the evil that men do lives after them, the legacy they make and that evil is the only thing remembered here and in eternity.So, it is our duty to study, to grow ourselves in our career and constantly make ourselves better, so that we can show ourselves approved as work men and women, understanding the objectives, values and priorities which are ours, always growing in our understanding, especially the Scriptures so that we can be approved by God before him as well as man. Learning, whether a trade or in law, or by gaining experience and growing or by learning from others, or the school of hard knocks, and by mistakes, learning standards of excellence to which we can aspire so that we can be all, ALL we can be, working with all of our might knowing in this world that indeed the night is coming where no man can work. Work while you can and the best you can.In this life, we slow down, age or perhaps lose interest or motivation, and of course energy and our ability to work dissipates or even ends. With that ends opportunity and potential and we may not have finished what we are called to do. Some retire, or quit, or are forced to retire prematurely. Some of us are fortunate enough to finish and accomplish our objectives and purposes, while others can not. For us, we are fortunate that even Jesus of Nazareth said in John’s Gospel that he had in fact finished the work for which the Father had sent him. He had accomplished His objectives, fulfilled His purposes and He did so to His last dying breath. Our goal, like HIS should be to finish our work, the work for which we were sent by God and meant to do. That is the greatest fulfillment this life can offer.We are called upon by God Almighty to live every day to the fullest. CARPE DIEM my fellow Americans, seize the day. It is the day which the Lord hath made and for you to work and be productive. Worry not about tomorrow, or the criticism, expectations or even the rejections of any man. It has its own problems-evil-which you can not control or do anything about. But, rather think in terms of how precious every minute of every hour of every day is, and rejoice in that. Maximize the opportunity that minute brings and, whatever your hand finds to do, YOUR CALLING, do it with all of your might. Every God-given minute is indeed an opportunity there once never to return. So that everything we do, everything no matter how menial works together for good. The joy of living is so special. We are told by our Lord that He is come that we might have life in its most ABUNDANT form and that our joy, OUR TOTAL JOY may be full. There is joy in every moment, as we work, as we rest, as we play, as we love others and as we understand who we are and:BE ALL THAT WE CAN BEThose who love to work and love as much to be productive and make things happen know that the ultimate reward for such work is:THE VERY WORK ITSELFNo matter the accolades of man, or profit, or any other earthly benefit, the ultimate reward, the ultimate satisfaction is the work itself. Nothing feels better to any right-thinking person than a job well done, having done the best you can with all of your might.So then, for the Christian, there is something even greater than works. There is GRACE, saving grace. And no manner of works can ever equal that. The grace at God at work trumps the works of any man, but when added to works, leads to the complete fulfillment of that life. We can and should be proud of the works we do, but the work of God in Jesus Christ, saving grace through Him is the greatest work of all. The combination of grace producing work, the right work is the very best thing in life.So, my fellow Americans, work hard. Work well, with purpose. Know your calling. Do what you were CALLED to do, and do it in each and every minute, hour and day of your life. Do what your Creator would have you do and you will find fulfillment in that work and in your life. It matters not whether you are housewife or President, millionaire or middle class, never forget that:YOU AND YOUR WORK ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANTYOU AND YOUR WORK ARE UNIQUE, DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHERSWe need not the approval or recognition of mankind however enjoyable that may be. We need to work to be approved by God, who knows us, our every thought and deed. His approval is all that matters. I and the Crawford Broadcasting Company honor all of the men and women in America who work, and work hard, and make America, family and friends, and all of us so much better and especially those who work as unto the Lord. Find the work you love to do, really love to do and you will never work a day in your life! God bless you work men and women worthy of your hire and it is because of you that:GOD WILL BLESS AMERICA

The Holy Land

I WILL BLESS THOSE WHO BLESS. AND WHOEVER CURSES YOU I WILL CURSE. AND ALL PEOPLES ON EARTH WILL BE BLESSED THROUGH YOU.Those were the words of the great God Jehovah, the great I AM, a warning sent to all peoples for all times in Genesis 12:3. If there is no other reason to care for and bless the people of the promised land Israel and the Jews, and there are many, many more, not falling under the curse of the God of the Universe is certainly the main one. No matter, anti–Semitism continues on. The agent of Satan, Adolf Hitler, slaughtered 6 million Jews, and today, whether Iran or Russia or Turkey, Lebanon, Gaza and other nations and peoples have no problem blaming everything on the Jews and nations like Iran will never rest until as once publicly stated:“Every Jew in Israel is buried at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea”.But God’s chosen people are tough, survivors, smart and brilliant, determined that something like the Holocaust and other acts of violence against the Jews or Israel will not happen again telling a largely Jew–hating world:NEVER AGAIN!Israel will protect itself in every way possible and revenge anti–Semitism fulfilling the promise NEVER AGAIN.No matter, Hezbollah, a brutal terrorist group in Lebanon sponsored by the even more brutal Iran and its Revolutionary Guard Corps hates Israel, is determined to destroy it and it launches mortars, artillery rounds and Katyusha rockets against Israel at random and at will. So do the Palestinians in Gaza which as a result of the committed purpose of the Israelis and IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) NEVER AGAIN, produces constant warfare tension at all times. Nothing pleases Iran more and now with Iran’s medium–range ballistic missile capability and its current rival at the point it can produce nuclear weapons, becomes an unbelievable threat to Israel and God’s chosen people. I can only imagine the curse of Jehovah at work, the revenge of the God of Israel against the Iranians who mock that God, OUR GOD the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and that awful promise of divine curse. Missiles and mortars sent by terrorist groups can threaten Israel any day, any time. Israelis, brilliant technicians, ever developing military and warfare capability, especially defense, produced the famous IRON DOME, an anti–missile system which protects Israel from rocket, missile and artillery attacks most effectively. Israel has also developed what is known as DAVID’S SLING, a longer–range missile protective system to aid the protective capabilities of Iron Dome. Together, these sophisticated military anti–weapons are excellent deterrents and protective devices for the some 7 million inhabitants–citizens of the Jewish nation of Israel.The problem with Iron Dome and David’s Sling, again effective anti–missile systems with the Israel Tamir missile, costs about $50,000 for each anti–missile missile. Sustaining these two effective systems at that cost is simply not sustainable for Israel given the demands of its national budget and its social welfare programs. So, back to the drawing board these brilliant technicians go and they have now invented a third protective system which is named:IRON BEAM.A laser based system which, rather than $50,000 per counterattack, will cost the nation of Israel incredibly:$2.00 FOR EACH INTERCEPTION.$2.00! That lead Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to claim the Iron Beam, the first deployable directed–energy laser weapon, is not only a major advance in defensive technology but a gamechanger as well in the art and strategy of war. So that, depending upon the attack, mortar, missile, or artillery, one of these three great protective systems, IRON DOME, DAVID’S SLING, or IRON BEAM will shoot down and destroy the incoming projectile resulting in even more complete defense of the Holy Land, Israel the apple of God’s eye.Laser–based weapons do have major power requirements. Recycling times between the firings of these sophisticated weapons is considerable and that must be shortened from minutes to seconds in order to be effective. An enemy can launch barrage after barrage of such weapons and overwhelm the systems unless the recycling and reenergizing time is consistent. It is certain that the Israelis know that and are working to make certain that this new system Iron Beam can in fact reenergize itself in the shortest possible time.No matter these three incredible defense systems, Iran, or Russia, or any other anti–Israel nation with nuclear capability, but especially Iran with nuclear weapons can overwhelm and destroy the nation of Israel with an all–out nuclear attack. The counterattack from this brilliant military nation, small as it is, would be absolutely devastating to the attackers and the enemies of Israel. Such an Iranian attack and the counterattack sure to follow would signal nuclear warfare the world over and undoubtedly the end of this world as we know it. Israeli Prime Minister Bennett has promised that, if warfare so indicates, Israel will attack the leaders of Iran beginning with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and destroy them in addition to Iran itself. What a horrible, fateful day that would be but in so many ways, it seems inevitable. I wonder how America, We The People would react if, like the Jews in the 1940s, half of our citizens were destroyed, killed as those innocent Jews were. Surely we would do everything to protect and defend our Country and WE THE PEOPLE and unleash our considerable military capability against such attackers. The End Times of this world indicate worldwide destructive military forces at work, nuclear warfare and in most ways the utter destruction of mankind. Such happenings are preconditions to ultimate and final events like the rapture and the second coming of Jesus Christ. These significant Christian events are the spiritual light at the end of a very dark and hateful tunnel. No matter what happens in this world, no matter how disastrous, the best for Christians is yet to come. The spiritual Iron Beam of our Lord will be wrapped around His church and His people and this warlike world will see a reign of 1,000 years of the PRINCE OF PEACE. How wonderful, indispensable the love, forgiveness, blessing and promises of the BABE OF BETHLEHEM. No matter this world, never forget the words of the angel:FEAR NOT.For HE is far greater than any Iron Beam!

Age - Our Elders

HONOR THY FATHER AND MOTHER. So says the scripture. It is not a suggestion but a commandment. In today’s Cancel Culture, it is more often ignored than followed, like so many other so–called commandments. The BIBLICAL TEN are far more often ignored than observed. In time’s past, we the children were ordered to respect our elders, and especially our parents. That included doctors, lawyers and above all ministers and pastors. And, for the most part, that respect was also required for our political leaders whether or not we agreed with their political philosophy. It was presumed that the older they got, the better they were, wiser, more mature, deeper in experience, experts in so many things, WISDOM AT WORK. But today, as our culture changes, and so–called millennials take root and now GEN Z, whoever they are, respect for age and the elderly seems to wane if it exists at all. It was always assumed that politicians of all stripes, no matter their politics, were loyal Americans, loving our Country, believing in and taking the oath of allegiance to the greatest Country in the history of mankind, our beloved America. They our leaders were men and women who never shied away from our problems, did their very best to solve them but never with any thought of radical change (the end of democracy and our republic and the institution of socialism or worse) and would work together for good with all others, always with the goal of making America better. But today, that seems to have changed and radically so. There are those who would radically change our Country from its present status of republic with democracy to socialism or even worse. There are elected officials in House and Senate who are a valid socialist (i.e., Bernie Sanders) or perhaps even deep at heart communist sympathizers. There are those in the pulpit who would water down Christianity, prune the Gospel and even eliminate fundamental, basic Christian tenants. There are today those lawyers and judges who have little or no respect for the law, the Constitution, for objectivity and justice. A certain chaos, uncertainty, even fear exists in our Country today because of these subversive forces at work. Respect for our revolution and revolutionaries, our Declaration of Independence, the war of independence and of course our beloved Constitution decreases every day. The younger generation seems to have little respect for American institutions, traditions, and especially history which, with things at work like the 1619 Project, Critical Race Theory and more seek to change or eliminate so much of what was once the backbone, the fundamentals of our beloved America. Age and the maturity and wisdom it supposedly brings not only is not respected, but age seems more so to generate disrespect.That is especially true in Washington D.C. It is so very interesting how so many of our leaders, our elected officials are aging. The New York Post quoted the following:“WASHINGTON’S LEADERS ARE OLD AND VOTERS ARE BEGINNING TO NOTICE.”Begin with President Joe Biden who evidences a growing “apparent cognitive decline”. Hear the quote of the New York Post. Biden:“SHUFFLES ALONG, STRUGGLES TO READ TELEPROMPTERS AND REGULARLY MAKES GAFFES OR UTTERS INCOHERENT SENTENCES, HAS DRAWN SCRUTINY TO WASHINGTON’S CADRE OF AGING LAWMAKERS.”This is the man who, amongst so many other one–man–powers can decide to unleash nuclear warfare and with any such guaranteed reaction, destroy the world. President Joseph Biden will be 80 YEARS OLD IN NOVEMBER. Joe Biden is the oldest person ever elected to the White House and even a growing number of his own Democratic Party do not want him to even consider running for reelection in 2024. More of our federal leaders are even older than Joe Biden. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is 82 years old. Pelosi has emphatically stated that she intends to run for Congress again in 2022. Nancy Pelosi, who is serving her fourth term as Speaker of the House, pledged privately to her caucus four years ago that she would not run for Democratic Leader (Speaker of the House) again after this year, even though she will seek reelection for a 19th term as congress person from San Francisco. We would assume that Pelosi, with all those years of political experience, and the wisdom of the age of 82 would be a formidable and respectable political leader. In fact in most quarters, and including many in her own Democratic Party, she garners little respect, age notwithstanding.Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnel of Kentucky is 80 years old. Many republicans, with perhaps little respect for McConnel hopes he does not run for reelection for another term.Patrick Leahy, the Democrat Senator from Vermont is 82 years old. By the way, Leahy is third in line for the presidency in the event succession to Biden is required. Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama, the top republican on the powerful Appropriations Community and a key negotiator on all major spending deals is 88 years old. One can only wonder whether or not Shelby, with all those years of experience can be considered wise and right for America. Democrat Senator from California, Diane Feinstein is 89 years old. She has a certain cognitive decline and many in her own party hope she does not seek reelection. If she did and if she were, she would be 95 years old when her reelected term expired.Then there is Senator Charles E. Grassley, republican from Iowa who is running for his 8th senate term at age 88 years old. If he wins, Mr. Grassley would be 95 at the end of his 9th term. Iowa voters seem unconcerned about Grassley’s age. He visits all 99 Iowa counties every year and is known for his 4:00am jogs six days a week!President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) was elected president for four consecutive terms. That prompted the American people and the necessary majority of our states to pass the Constitutional amendment which limited the presidency to two terms, eight years. There is no such term limit for members of the House of Representatives or United States Senators. They can be elected ‘til death do us part over and over again. But all such reelections come with the citizen assumption that these men and women are loyal Americans, avid believers in and supporters of the Constitution and the rule of law, and with their AGE and political experience, bring wisdom to office and the mature leadership America needs so desperately in this day and age. Unfortunately, in so many cases, that is not happening. Ever–growing age is no guarantee that it brings to public life the wisdom, experience and maturity which every leader of our great Country must possess. How We the People need true Americans in office, as leaders who are moral, right–thinking patriotic individuals, determined to make decisions and do what is right for us, THE ELECTORS, and view office and the power it brings as a privilege, not a career and, as our Founding Fathers intended, “return home” when the time is right. Look at the age, my fellow Americans, of candidates for office, federal, state and local and consider that as an important factor as you determine how to vote. Age does not disqualify by any means and in fact can be positive. But age can also bring cognitive and physical decline which can be harmful to America, and the wise and mature functioning and decision–making of our federal and state governments. We the People are charged with the duty as citizens to determine who should be our leaders, and it is incumbent upon us to make the right decisions. The leaders we elect affect not only America, but the world at large. America has been the world’s leading nation, the Country most people the world over would love to inhabit. The leadership, the decision–making of our politicians done right, morally and politically, greatly influences the entire world. Think of that awesome responsibility, my fellow Americans, when you vote. That is why it is so critical that the vote of every citizen be well–informed, objective, and right for the election of the right leader and the creation of a better America going forward. If in fact age brings wisdom and maturity, then age is a desirable even necessary component for the right political leadership. Honor, says the scripture, the elderly, honor the wise and mature. The right American leaders and decisionmakers are more critical and important today than ever before. What America is and what it becomes is up to YOU AND ME. America is no better than our right vote. Think of that awesome responsibility, my fellow Americans, when in November, you head for that vitally important voting booth!

Age - Our Elders

HONOR THY FATHER AND MOTHER. So says the scripture. It is not a suggestion but a commandment. In today’s Cancel Culture, it is more often ignored than followed, like so many other so–called commandments. The BIBLICAL TEN are far more often ignored than observed. In time’s past, we the children were ordered to respect our elders, and especially our parents. That included doctors, lawyers and above all ministers and pastors. And, for the most part, that respect was also required for our political leaders whether or not we agreed with their political philosophy. It was presumed that the older they got, the better they were, wiser, more mature, deeper in experience, experts in so many things, WISDOM AT WORK. But today, as our culture changes, and so–called millennials take root and now GEN Z, whoever they are, respect for age and the elderly seems to wane if it exists at all. It was always assumed that politicians of all stripes, no matter their politics, were loyal Americans, loving our Country, believing in and taking the oath of allegiance to the greatest Country in the history of mankind, our beloved America. They our leaders were men and women who never shied away from our problems, did their very best to solve them but never with any thought of radical change (the end of democracy and our republic and the institution of socialism or worse) and would work together for good with all others, always with the goal of making America better. But today, that seems to have changed and radically so. There are those who would radically change our Country from its present status of republic with democracy to socialism or even worse. There are elected officials in House and Senate who are a valid socialist (i.e., Bernie Sanders) or perhaps even deep at heart communist sympathizers. There are those in the pulpit who would water down Christianity, prune the Gospel and even eliminate fundamental, basic Christian tenants. There are today those lawyers and judges who have little or no respect for the law, the Constitution, for objectivity and justice. A certain chaos, uncertainty, even fear exists in our Country today because of these subversive forces at work. Respect for our revolution and revolutionaries, our Declaration of Independence, the war of independence and of course our beloved Constitution decreases every day. The younger generation seems to have little respect for American institutions, traditions, and especially history which, with things at work like the 1619 Project, Critical Race Theory and more seek to change or eliminate so much of what was once the backbone, the fundamentals of our beloved America. Age and the maturity and wisdom it supposedly brings not only is not respected, but age seems more so to generate disrespect.That is especially true in Washington D.C. It is so very interesting how so many of our leaders, our elected officials are aging. The New York Post quoted the following:“WASHINGTON’S LEADERS ARE OLD AND VOTERS ARE BEGINNING TO NOTICE.”Begin with President Joe Biden who evidences a growing “apparent cognitive decline”. Hear the quote of the New York Post. Biden:“SHUFFLES ALONG, STRUGGLES TO READ TELEPROMPTERS AND REGULARLY MAKES GAFFES OR UTTERS INCOHERENT SENTENCES, HAS DRAWN SCRUTINY TO WASHINGTON’S CADRE OF AGING LAWMAKERS.”This is the man who, amongst so many other one–man–powers can decide to unleash nuclear warfare and with any such guaranteed reaction, destroy the world. President Joseph Biden will be 80 YEARS OLD IN NOVEMBER. Joe Biden is the oldest person ever elected to the White House and even a growing number of his own Democratic Party do not want him to even consider running for reelection in 2024. More of our federal leaders are even older than Joe Biden. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is 82 years old. Pelosi has emphatically stated that she intends to run for Congress again in 2022. Nancy Pelosi, who is serving her fourth term as Speaker of the House, pledged privately to her caucus four years ago that she would not run for Democratic Leader (Speaker of the House) again after this year, even though she will seek reelection for a 19th term as congress person from San Francisco. We would assume that Pelosi, with all those years of political experience, and the wisdom of the age of 82 would be a formidable and respectable political leader. In fact in most quarters, and including many in her own Democratic Party, she garners little respect, age notwithstanding.Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnel of Kentucky is 80 years old. Many republicans, with perhaps little respect for McConnel hopes he does not run for reelection for another term.Patrick Leahy, the Democrat Senator from Vermont is 82 years old. By the way, Leahy is third in line for the presidency in the event succession to Biden is required. Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama, the top republican on the powerful Appropriations Community and a key negotiator on all major spending deals is 88 years old. One can only wonder whether or not Shelby, with all those years of experience can be considered wise and right for America. Democrat Senator from California, Diane Feinstein is 89 years old. She has a certain cognitive decline and many in her own party hope she does not seek reelection. If she did and if she were, she would be 95 years old when her reelected term expired.Then there is Senator Charles E. Grassley, republican from Iowa who is running for his 8th senate term at age 88 years old. If he wins, Mr. Grassley would be 95 at the end of his 9th term. Iowa voters seem unconcerned about Grassley’s age. He visits all 99 Iowa counties every year and is known for his 4:00am jogs six days a week!President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) was elected president for four consecutive terms. That prompted the American people and the necessary majority of our states to pass the Constitutional amendment which limited the presidency to two terms, eight years. There is no such term limit for members of the House of Representatives or United States Senators. They can be elected ‘til death do us part over and over again. But all such reelections come with the citizen assumption that these men and women are loyal Americans, avid believers in and supporters of the Constitution and the rule of law, and with their AGE and political experience, bring wisdom to office and the mature leadership America needs so desperately in this day and age. Unfortunately, in so many cases, that is not happening. Ever–growing age is no guarantee that it brings to public life the wisdom, experience and maturity which every leader of our great Country must possess. How We the People need true Americans in office, as leaders who are moral, right–thinking patriotic individuals, determined to make decisions and do what is right for us, THE ELECTORS, and view office and the power it brings as a privilege, not a career and, as our Founding Fathers intended, “return home” when the time is right. Look at the age, my fellow Americans, of candidates for office, federal, state and local and consider that as an important factor as you determine how to vote. Age does not disqualify by any means and in fact can be positive. But age can also bring cognitive and physical decline which can be harmful to America, and the wise and mature functioning and decision–making of our federal and state governments. We the People are charged with the duty as citizens to determine who should be our leaders, and it is incumbent upon us to make the right decisions. The leaders we elect affect not only America, but the world at large. America has been the world’s leading nation, the Country most people the world over would love to inhabit. The leadership, the decision–making of our politicians done right, morally and politically, greatly influences the entire world. Think of that awesome responsibility, my fellow Americans, when you vote. That is why it is so critical that the vote of every citizen be well–informed, objective, and right for the election of the right leader and the creation of a better America going forward. If in fact age brings wisdom and maturity, then age is a desirable even necessary component for the right political leadership. Honor, says the scripture, the elderly, honor the wise and mature. The right American leaders and decisionmakers are more critical and important today than ever before. What America is and what it becomes is up to YOU AND ME. America is no better than our right vote. Think of that awesome responsibility, my fellow Americans, when in November, you head for that vitally important voting booth!

The New Anti-American Woke Culture - Part 2

It is, woke culture is, anti–American. It is also very passionately anti–Christian. One such awakened member of the woke culture said most bluntly:“I hate Christianity as much as I hate America.”Why was never made clear. Wok–ers don’t need reason for their hateful conclusions.They want the history of our great Country gone. They have destroyed monuments. They have introduced Critical Race Theory (CRT) which rewrites history. They are determined to train up children, new generations of young learners, in the WOKE WAY, and reading, writing and arithmetic, and history as we know it be damned. They constantly find ways to mock and disrespect our Founding Fathers, those who bled and died for this Country early on, fought for the freedoms WE THE PEOPLE now do little but take for granted. They are determined to destroy, eliminate or at least erode and water down our great Constitution. They care little for the RULE OF LAW unless it is for their benefit. They will do what they want to get what they want. They see racism as systemic, sexism and anti–LGBTQ attitudes and beliefs as fundamental and essentially not changeable, the Country economically imbalanced and unfair to minorities, they foster socialism or worse, even communism. But the bottom line is that these new progressives, radicals, socialists and revolutionaries, having found safe harbor in the Democratic Party are determined in the words of George Soros, the world’s most evil man, to:BRING DOWN AMERICA!Destroy it in the words of the radical Saul Alinsky no matter what happens. America has always been a land which has honored, respected and protected the essential right of mankind:FREEDOM OF RELIGION.Progressives see America as a Christian nation and they are determined to destroy Christianity at the same time as they destroy America. They will use any means possible to accomplish that end. That includes violence wherever necessary. They wish to take control of government, institutions, legislatures and especially the courts. They wish to exercise complete power and rid the Country of any vestige of Christianity and for that matter, all things Judeo–Christian, other religions to follow. They want power, complete power. And, they are prepared to use the lie, destroy facts, say and do anything which will advance their cause. They do not believe that the vast majority of Americans who are decent, Christian, law–abiding citizens will fight back or for that matter, resist in any aggressive way. They know they can win because they will do anything to win. They can and will use any weapon necessary knowing that very few will fight back, believing that Christians will not fight the fight of faith at least with arms and counter–violence. They think that most Christians and even believers of other faiths would rather “come apart”, and “be separate” rather than fight. That is why they, the destroyers believe–know they can win and can ultimately destroy America. It is happening even now, step by step, mostly subtly, sometimes overtly. But their satanic, demonic, evil agenda goes on every day, EVERY DAY!They are determined to destroy the Constitution. God is in there, part of that, motivating that, the same in the Declaration of Independence. No more God and no more Constitution for them. That is so even though WE THE PEOPLE are a Christian majority, we are Judeo–Christian in the majority. We are PEOPLE OF FAITH, when all faiths are included. Perhaps as much as 75% of our great Country is comprised of citizens who are faithful, who believe in God. But this small minority of radical–progressives firmly believe they can conquer, control and dominate this super–majority. They will not rest, not ever until that vicious, satanic goal is accomplished. They are determined to destroy freedoms of all kinds, and especially Freedom of Religion. They will use the Alinsky, Saul Alinsky method and philosophy of utter destruction. Ironically embraced by Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama. Funded by the satanic George Soros, they are intent upon destroying America:BRING AMERICA DOWN!There are specific reasons why they also hate Christianity. Progressives believe the BIBLE is nothing more than mythology. They also condemn the so–called violence of the Old Testament, the just God it reveals and portrays. They mock the fact that Jews and Christians for the most part consider the Bible to be infallible, the word of the living God Jehovah and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. They further mock the idea that the Bible is absolute truth and when the Gospels of the New Testament quote the words of Jesus Christ:“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man or woman comes to the Father BUT BY ME.”Those words as HATE SPEECH, disrespectful of other religions and beliefs, and just plain wrong. So much for Christianity. These radicals find OFFENSIVE:THE CROSS.That a death brings about new life, eternal life, and is necessary for salvation, is hateful, exclusionary and of course for all such Alinsky–ites, just plain wrong. They resent the cross symbol on churches, and especially the people who wear the cross as a sign of their belief. That cross is OFFENSIVE to them and they are determined to eliminate the very symbol itself, and along with that, any and all constitutional:FREEDOM OF RELIGION.THE BLOOD. The blood of Jesus Christ shed for you on the cross, at Calvary is utterly offensive. They chafe at the notion that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission for sin. They mock Communion where Christians celebrate salvation in Jesus Christ and partake of the body and blood symbolically of Jesus Christ. They hate that celebration, that memorial, that living and saving experience with great passion and are determined to destroy it. THE RESURRECTION. To the radical–Soros–progressive–anti–Christian, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the bodily resurrection is nothing more than mythology, and Easter celebration which they are determined to extinguish and the SON OF MAN, son of God at the heart thereof. But if Christ be not risen, then the faith of WE THE CHRISTIAN PEOPLE is in vain. Destroy the resurrection, destroy faith so say the progressives. SIN. The concept of sin really brings out the hatred, the passion of progressives in every way. That there is a moral God, with standards of morality, commandments and expectations is unthinkable and motivates a radical, atheistic progressive to do away with all things Christian. That is an ultimate goal of every angry–atheistic–Alinsky–ite!AND A DEVIL. A real devil, a Satan at work as an evil power in this world. Mythological, laughable. A fabrication. As with sin, there is no devil. There really is no evil in the world for them, but perhaps only men and women go on astray and in need of psychiatric or psychological help but nothing which any religion offers, NOTHING!AND HEAVEN AND HELL. This world for them, and no more. Nothing beyond. No heaven, nothing more than mythology at work, and no hell, more mythology. That there would be a place reserved for the Devil and his Angels is nothing more than a work of fiction, a scare tactic to make susceptible people fearful and consequently locked–in as believers. It won’t happen, they say. And heaven the same, no more than vain, fairy–tale mythology designed to produce hope for believers when in fact, there is nothing beyond the grave, for radical–Alinsky–progressives, NOTHING! To talk about the wonders of heaven and eternal life, and eternal association with Jesus Christ is offensive, anger–producing and these anti–Christians and people of faith are determined to destroy that along with our beloved America. EUTHANASIA. They believe in so–called mercy killing even though scripture clearly warns against the sin–commandment of NOT KILLING. Others can kill if a person requests that so say the progressives, the radicals, the anti–life individuals. No fairy–tale God can tell them:“Thou shalt not kill.”If they, in their infinite human wisdom, decide that is the right thing to do. The anger builds and the determination to extinguish Christianity and in fact all religious faiths with it.THE NATURAL MAN. That man or woman hates Christianity, and all religion. There is no such thing as GOD. That person cannot be reached by testimony or witness, given over completely to the power of Satan, having become not only indifferent to but hateful of religion, determined to destroy it. The heart of the natural person is closed, the spirit of God gone and there is an ever–building resentment, turning to hatred and a resolve to destroy all things religious. That natural man is at the heart of the radical–hateful–progressive movement determined to destroy America and Christianity with it.THE GAY AGENDA: LGBTQIA. All things unnatural, non–biblical increase today dramatically. Gay and gay marriage is now recognized the nation over. No matter any biblical condemnation, or that of other religions as well (Islam), and the express condemnation of the unnatural person in both Old and New Testaments of the Bible, any number of people of faith, Judeo–Christian today accept the unnatural man and woman. So much of that acceptance, the Bible notwithstanding, occurs in both Catholic and Protestant churches. Any stand–up against all things unnatural is regarded as hateful, hate speech at work and is for this natural, radical, hateful progressive OFFENSIVE. AND ABORTION. There is no such thing as pro–choice. There is only pro–life or pro–death: abortion. Abortion is nothing more than the killing of a young human–being in the womb. It is biblically wrong, morally the same, and right–thinking men and women, whether of faith or not believe that abortion is just simply dead wrong. But that, and the laws now of some 24 states (about half of America) will permit baby killing to go on. And that is unbelievably offensive to the modern–day progressive and they will do whatever is necessary to keep the killing fields alive.AND EVANGELISM. Progressives hate witness and testimony about Jesus Christ, hate it with a passion. They are determined to end free speech especially as it applies to religion. They care nothing about the First Amendment and the rights, the inalienable rights it guarantees including religion, speech, press, assembly and petition and they are determined to confine Christianity to the four walls of a church, NO MORE! Christians share their faith as do other people of faith. They do so with words and deeds, a Constitutional right and freedom, necessary as a command of the savior (another offense) and the firstfruits of a born–again believer (another offense to progressives). Progressives want Christians to keep their faith to themselves (for now) and keep Christ out of the marketplace and the culture at large. In short, they wish the end of evangelism, of testimony, of testifying for faith in Christ or God in any other religion no matter the Constitution. To hear words about or see evidence of God, Jesus Christ or anything else religious is patently offensive and it must be eliminated by any means. The fight is on my fellow Christians, big time. It will last the rest of your life and mine! There is an anti–Christian, anti–American army of determined radical soldiers who will never stop, never quit until they accomplish their ultimate objective:THE DESTRUCTION OF AMERICA AND ALL THINGS CHRISTIAN! Again, I remind you that you are in this fight of faith, like it or not. You must decide how you will fight, with what weapons, spiritual or otherwise and you must do it NOW, NOW! You can’t wait because they the enemy will not wait, not one day. They are at work even now whether you know it or not. Every waking moment of these radical, hateful, Soros–Alinsky disciples is dedicated to the destruction of America and Christianity. And that, I do fear, will happen unless you, YOU stand–up, fight back, resist, protect, be proactive, protect your freedoms as GOD would lead and direct you. More than ever, housewife, plain American person, God and Country need you more than ever, MORE THAN EVER! Never forget that the loss of basic freedoms including freedom of religion can be lost in one generation, a generation which exists even now. And, never forget the famous words of President Ronald Reagan:FREEDOMS ONCE LOST ARE LOST FOREVER!What will you do?

The New Anti-American Woke Culture

It is, woke culture is, anti–American. It is also very passionately anti–Christian. One such awakened member of the woke culture said most bluntly:“I hate Christianity as much as I hate America.”Why was never made clear. Wok–ers don’t need reason for their hateful conclusions.They want the history of our great Country gone. They have destroyed monuments. They have introduced Critical Race Theory (CRT) which rewrites history. They are determined to train up children, new generations of young learners, in the WOKE WAY, and reading, writing and arithmetic, and history as we know it be damned. They constantly find ways to mock and disrespect our Founding Fathers, those who bled and died for this Country early on, fought for the freedoms WE THE PEOPLE now do little but take for granted. They are determined to destroy, eliminate or at least erode and water down our great Constitution. They care little for the RULE OF LAW unless it is for their benefit. They will do what they want to get what they want. They see racism as systemic, sexism and anti–LGBTQ attitudes and beliefs as fundamental and essentially not changeable, the Country economically imbalanced and unfair to minorities, they foster socialism or worse, even communism. But the bottom line is that these new progressives, radicals, socialists and revolutionaries, having found safe harbor in the Democratic Party are determined in the words of George Soros, the world’s most evil man, to:BRING DOWN AMERICA!Destroy it in the words of the radical Saul Alinsky no matter what happens. America has always been a land which has honored, respected and protected the essential right of mankind:FREEDOM OF RELIGION.Progressives see America as a Christian nation and they are determined to destroy Christianity at the same time as they destroy America. They will use any means possible to accomplish that end. That includes violence wherever necessary. They wish to take control of government, institutions, legislatures and especially the courts. They wish to exercise complete power and rid the Country of any vestige of Christianity and for that matter, all things Judeo–Christian, other religions to follow. They want power, complete power. And, they are prepared to use the lie, destroy facts, say and do anything which will advance their cause. They do not believe that the vast majority of Americans who are decent, Christian, law–abiding citizens will fight back or for that matter, resist in any aggressive way. They know they can win because they will do anything to win. They can and will use any weapon necessary knowing that very few will fight back, believing that Christians will not fight the fight of faith at least with arms and counter–violence. They think that most Christians and even believers of other faiths would rather “come apart”, and “be separate” rather than fight. That is why they, the destroyers believe–know they can win and can ultimately destroy America. It is happening even now, step by step, mostly subtly, sometimes overtly. But their satanic, demonic, evil agenda goes on every day, EVERY DAY!They are determined to destroy the Constitution. God is in there, part of that, motivating that, the same in the Declaration of Independence. No more God and no more Constitution for them. That is so even though WE THE PEOPLE are a Christian majority, we are Judeo–Christian in the majority. We are PEOPLE OF FAITH, when all faiths are included. Perhaps as much as 75% of our great Country is comprised of citizens who are faithful, who believe in God. But this small minority of radical–progressives firmly believe they can conquer, control and dominate this super–majority. They will not rest, not ever until that vicious, satanic goal is accomplished. They are determined to destroy freedoms of all kinds, and especially Freedom of Religion. They will use the Alinsky, Saul Alinsky method and philosophy of utter destruction. Ironically embraced by Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama. Funded by the satanic George Soros, they are intent upon destroying America:BRING AMERICA DOWN!There are specific reasons why they also hate Christianity. Progressives believe the BIBLE is nothing more than mythology. They also condemn the so–called violence of the Old Testament, the just God it reveals and portrays. They mock the fact that Jews and Christians for the most part consider the Bible to be infallible, the word of the living God Jehovah and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. They further mock the idea that the Bible is absolute truth and when the Gospels of the New Testament quote the words of Jesus Christ:“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man or woman comes to the Father BUT BY ME.”Those words as HATE SPEECH, disrespectful of other religions and beliefs, and just plain wrong. So much for Christianity. These radicals find OFFENSIVE:THE CROSS.That a death brings about new life, eternal life, and is necessary for salvation, is hateful, exclusionary and of course for all such Alinsky–ites, just plain wrong. They resent the cross symbol on churches, and especially the people who wear the cross as a sign of their belief. That cross is OFFENSIVE to them and they are determined to eliminate the very symbol itself, and along with that, any and all constitutional:FREEDOM OF RELIGION.THE BLOOD. The blood of Jesus Christ shed for you on the cross, at Calvary is utterly offensive. They chafe at the notion that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission for sin. They mock Communion where Christians celebrate salvation in Jesus Christ and partake of the body and blood symbolically of Jesus Christ. They hate that celebration, that memorial, that living and saving experience with great passion and are determined to destroy it. THE RESURRECTION. To the radical–Soros–progressive–anti–Christian, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the bodily resurrection is nothing more than mythology, and Easter celebration which they are determined to extinguish and the SON OF MAN, son of God at the heart thereof. But if Christ be not risen, then the faith of WE THE CHRISTIAN PEOPLE is in vain. Destroy the resurrection, destroy faith so say the progressives. SIN. The concept of sin really brings out the hatred, the passion of progressives in every way. That there is a moral God, with standards of morality, commandments and expectations is unthinkable and motivates a radical, atheistic progressive to do away with all things Christian. That is an ultimate goal of every angry–atheistic–Alinsky–ite!AND A DEVIL. A real devil, a Satan at work as an evil power in this world. Mythological, laughable. A fabrication. As with sin, there is no devil. There really is no evil in the world for them, but perhaps only men and women go on astray and in need of psychiatric or psychological help but nothing which any religion offers, NOTHING!AND HEAVEN AND HELL. This world for them, and no more. Nothing beyond. No heaven, nothing more than mythology at work, and no hell, more mythology. That there would be a place reserved for the Devil and his Angels is nothing more than a work of fiction, a scare tactic to make susceptible people fearful and consequently locked–in as believers. It won’t happen, they say. And heaven the same, no more than vain, fairy–tale mythology designed to produce hope for believers when in fact, there is nothing beyond the grave, for radical–Alinsky–progressives, NOTHING! To talk about the wonders of heaven and eternal life, and eternal association with Jesus Christ is offensive, anger–producing and these anti–Christians and people of faith are determined to destroy that along with our beloved America. EUTHANASIA. They believe in so–called mercy killing even though scripture clearly warns against the sin–commandment of NOT KILLING. Others can kill if a person requests that so say the progressives, the radicals, the anti–life individuals. No fairy–tale God can tell them:“Thou shalt not kill.”If they, in their infinite human wisdom, decide that is the right thing to do. The anger builds and the determination to extinguish Christianity and in fact all religious faiths with it.THE NATURAL MAN. That man or woman hates Christianity, and all religion. There is no such thing as GOD. That person cannot be reached by testimony or witness, given over completely to the power of Satan, having become not only indifferent to but hateful of religion, determined to destroy it. The heart of the natural person is closed, the spirit of God gone and there is an ever–building resentment, turning to hatred and a resolve to destroy all things religious. That natural man is at the heart of the radical–hateful–progressive movement determined to destroy America and Christianity with it.THE GAY AGENDA: LGBTQIA. All things unnatural, non–biblical increase today dramatically. Gay and gay marriage is now recognized the nation over. No matter any biblical condemnation, or that of other religions as well (Islam), and the express condemnation of the unnatural person in both Old and New Testaments of the Bible, any number of people of faith, Judeo–Christian today accept the unnatural man and woman. So much of that acceptance, the Bible notwithstanding, occurs in both Catholic and Protestant churches. Any stand–up against all things unnatural is regarded as hateful, hate speech at work and is for this natural, radical, hateful progressive OFFENSIVE. AND ABORTION. There is no such thing as pro–choice. There is only pro–life or pro–death: abortion. Abortion is nothing more than the killing of a young human–being in the womb. It is biblically wrong, morally the same, and right–thinking men and women, whether of faith or not believe that abortion is just simply dead wrong. But that, and the laws now of some 24 states (about half of America) will permit baby killing to go on. And that is unbelievably offensive to the modern–day progressive and they will do whatever is necessary to keep the killing fields alive.AND EVANGELISM. Progressives hate witness and testimony about Jesus Christ, hate it with a passion. They are determined to end free speech especially as it applies to religion. They care nothing about the First Amendment and the rights, the inalienable rights it guarantees including religion, speech, press, assembly and petition and they are determined to confine Christianity to the four walls of a church, NO MORE! Christians share their faith as do other people of faith. They do so with words and deeds, a Constitutional right and freedom, necessary as a command of the savior (another offense) and the firstfruits of a born–again believer (another offense to progressives). Progressives want Christians to keep their faith to themselves (for now) and keep Christ out of the marketplace and the culture at large. In short, they wish the end of evangelism, of testimony, of testifying for faith in Christ or God in any other religion no matter the Constitution. To hear words about or see evidence of God, Jesus Christ or anything else religious is patently offensive and it must be eliminated by any means. The fight is on my fellow Christians, big time. It will last the rest of your life and mine! There is an anti–Christian, anti–American army of determined radical soldiers who will never stop, never quit until they accomplish their ultimate objective:THE DESTRUCTION OF AMERICA AND ALL THINGS CHRISTIAN! Again, I remind you that you are in this fight of faith, like it or not. You must decide how you will fight, with what weapons, spiritual or otherwise and you must do it NOW, NOW! You can’t wait because they the enemy will not wait, not one day. They are at work even now whether you know it or not. Every waking moment of these radical, hateful, Soros–Alinsky disciples is dedicated to the destruction of America and Christianity. And that, I do fear, will happen unless you, YOU stand–up, fight back, resist, protect, be proactive, protect your freedoms as GOD would lead and direct you. More than ever, housewife, plain American person, God and Country need you more than ever, MORE THAN EVER! Never forget that the loss of basic freedoms including freedom of religion can be lost in one generation, a generation which exists even now. And, never forget the famous words of President Ronald Reagan:FREEDOMS ONCE LOST ARE LOST FOREVER!What will you do?

The Summer of Rage

Roe v. Wade, that infamous case which created out of thin air a constitutional right for abortion, was in fact unconstitutional. As the Wall Street Journal described Roe, it was a decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in 1973 which was nothing more than a LEGAL INVENTION. It was politically driven, the legal product of a very liberal Supreme Court under the influence of Chief Justice Warren, the decision in Roe written by Justice Harry Blackmun. Even liberal scholars at the time, scholars who supported abortion, many of them agreed that there was no constitutional basis for the decision in Roe v. Wade (5–4). The current Supreme Court, as we know, has overturned this constitutional disaster and along with it the decision in the Casey case, in the now famous decision of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a case appealed to the Supreme Court by the state of Mississippi. The decision, which had been essentially leaked before formal announcement by the Supreme Court (the preliminary draft of that decision) occurred weeks ago, leaked by a radical progressive whoever he or she may be in order to produce liberal citizen RAGE upon the Supreme Court for the TAKING AWAY of so–called constitutional women’s rights to abortion. It did just that. Liberal rage was everywhere, starting with the illustrious president Joe Biden who told the country that this conservative Supreme Court, the Roberts’ court, was out of control, dangerous, and on a mission to destroy much of the legal liberal gains in the past several decades. Senator Chuck Schumer from New York actually threatened Justice Kavanaugh with harm by telling him that, if he voted for the overturn of Roe, he would, Kavanaugh would:“PAY THE PRICE.”A radical then went on a mission to assassinate Kavanaugh, but of course, Schumer, a democrat, a liberal and even a radical from New York got away with it. The RAGE promised started at the very top of the political process. Even Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who knows little or nothing about the Constitution, reminded her following that it was time for action. Then came JANE’S REVENGE, a liberal action group which began firebombing pregnancy centers and, the violence was on. Summer has a long way to go, and the violence promised will only increase, even as protection for all nine Supreme Court Justices has and will be increased. Roe v. Wade was justified, rationalized by the Supreme Court 1973 essentially on the basis of the 14th Amendment and the so–called DUE–PROCESS CLAUSE. But there was no rational connection between the result reached (the so–called abortion right) and anything written, expressed or implied in the 14th Amendment. A women’s right to privacy was also used but there is no right to privacy for anyone, male or female, anywhere in the Constitution. It was a legal stretch, a legal invention, a social and cultural decision made by liberal Justices without any firm foundation or basis in the Constitution. It was ripe for a right–thinking constitutionally–minded court, perhaps ORIGINALIST in thinking and belief, to overturn this Constitutional disaster. Dobbs v. Jackson did just that by a vote of 6–3, along political lines, six so–called conservative Justices for overturn and three liberal–radical against it. Let, said Jane’s Revenge and by implication Biden and Schumer, the:SUMMER OF RAGE BEGIN!Abortion is murder. It is the killing of a human–being in vitro, in the womb. It is done intentionally, and maliciously with no concern for the human–being to be utterly destroyed. It is therefore first–degree murder, abortion is, of a live, feeling human–being and there is every justification for the conviction of that killer under first–degree murder charges. But it goes on none–the–less. Many think that Dobbs may put an end to the brutal, satanic practice of abortion. Unfortunately, it will not. Under the excellent system of federalism which our Constitution fully supports, the issue of abortion is now no longer a federal matter but one for the states. Each of the fifty states must deal with the issue of abortion its own way, by the democratic process, the vote at work by the people of the state and laws for or against abortion will be passed by each. It is estimated that some 26 states will eliminate the right to abortion altogether or seriously curtail the practice. BUT, some 24 states will permit abortion in some fashion and that sometime in the nine–month pregnancy period, whether at the very beginning of conception or even up to the point where the baby–human–being is born or about to be born. First–degree murder, and killing will go on in America in at least 24 states. The Founding Fathers sought to limit the power of the federal government. The Constitution clearly protects states rights. In fact, it states in the 10th Amendment and even the 9th Amendment of the Constitution that the powers:NOT SPECIFICALLY ENUMERATEDGranted to the federal government are absolutely reserved to the states and the people. The federal government cannot infringe on that sacred legal territory, nor can it go about the business of legal invention, treat the Constitution as an organic document to produce the results wished, and must legally stay out of the business of the states. The Supreme Court has no power or authority, constitutionally or otherwise, to usurp all such rights and powers which the Constitution expressly grants to the states, all 50 of them. If the people of the United States want things to work differently, wish to change the Constitution, or further amend it, they should follow the legal process, call into effect a CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION and with three quarters of the states agreeing, change the Constitution. But the mobs who wish the disastrous SUMMER OF RAGE will not wait, will not follow DUE–PROCESS and they will act with violence, whoever they are, to get what they want, the rule of law be damned. You should read, my fellow Americans, the Constitution, but you should especially read and know:THE 9TH AND 10TH AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.They are short, clear, easy to understand and you should remember that the federal government, the Biden–Schumer–Pelosi politicos have no right, power or authority to change the Constitution, NONE WHATSOEVER! But they will try, and as Schumer and Biden have threatened, they will try by any means necessary to get what they want.If a woman wants an abortion, it will unfortunately be available in America and readily so. We the People, all of us may no longer have to pay for these abortions through medical insurance, but states can offer access and money to any woman who wishes an abortion, even helping with transportation costs to travel from a state that prohibits it to one that endorses it and the brutal killing of God’s creations goes on. This message can be heard in the once great states of New York and California, and the states of Colorado and Wyoming, and the great state of Alabama and the very great state of Michigan. We can only hope and pray that the citizens of those states, especially the Christian voters, will do their very best to persuade their state legislators to do away with or at least severely limit the practice of abortion and urge them to:STOP THE KILLING OF INNOCENT BABIES!That we feel is the moral duty of any Christian, any Christian citizen of this great Country. Please become politically active in your state, if nothing more than writing (email) to your state legislators, house and senate, and your governor and urge them to pass legislation which STOPS THE KILLING. Email addresses are readily available. Do not allow liberal, progressive, radical lawmakers to allow the satanic practice of abortion to continue in your state. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Your simple email can make a difference. It is a golden opportunity for your to be heard so:SPEAK UP!Hear clearly the loud voice of crying, pleading, painful BABIES IN THE WOMB who prayerfully ask you to protect them, champion them, to be one of millions who rises up and says to your state and our nation:STOP THE KILLING!

America - The Once Brave and the Once Free

In Revolutionary times, Thomas Paine said the following:“These are the times that try men’s souls”.And indeed these are the times that try women’s souls, some at least now that the United States Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade. Thomas Jefferson admonished Americans of his time that the blood of patriots must be shed from time to time in order to refresh the tree of liberty. In short, the constitutional America of 1776 (Declaration of Independence) and the Constitutional America of 1787 needed new patriots, new passion, new commitments to liberty and freedom. Now more than ever that is true. The constitutional, rule of law, freedom–liberty America of old is not only under attack but becomes divided, angry and more violent by the day. Freedom and liberty we have always taken for granted are now all the more at risk and at stake.The patriot Patrick Henry provided a testimony applicable to all of us:“Give me liberty or give me death”.Henry was willing to die for freedom. He would live under no form of bondage. Oppression and bondage in his time was English. Today it comes internally from anarchists, that small virulent, violent minority which wishes the destruction of the greatest country on earth. Our fore fathers fought for freedom. They gave their blood then which we can assume made Jefferson proud. They gave us the greatest ruling document in the history of mankind, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. That incredible document contained the First Amendment which gave every American citizen the following rights and freedoms: Freedom of religion Freedom of speech Freedom of press Freedom of assembly Freedom of petitionGuaranteed, unconditional, unchanging, FOREVER FREEDOMS. Every one of those sacred, inalienable (God–given) rights and freedoms are at risk today, EVERY ONE! We the People seemed to have lost our vision, our understanding, even in some cases our desire to protect and preserve this incredible country. We have become indifferent to the struggles and problems we face. So many of us are ignorant of our history, and our Constitution, and our rule of law, and how we are governed. So many of us have withdrawn from the political process. As few as 10% will vote in some elections and perhaps no more than 60% of eligible, voting Americans will go to the polls in the most serious of elections. It has become tragic how We the People take democracy for granted. It is as though freedom will always be there no matter what we do. We the People are an easy target for violence and anarchism. One of the most anti–American Americans was one Saul Alinsky. In essence, Alinsky championed the destruction of everything, every institution, every tradition, anything and everything in America so that the country could be rebuilt and reestablished. The philosophy and beliefs of Alinksy were adopted by George Soros among others and the state of objective of Soros and others was to:BRING DOWN AMERICA.Bring it down. Destroy it. Rewrite its history. Do away with its Constitution and its rule of law. Get rid of the moral standards of the country today and especially the Judeo–Christian heritage and morality of the past. Do away with it completely! Beneath the violence, disrupt, and the lack of accountability today is this Alinsky model, the destruction of America, the destruction of everything which America holds dear. WOKE better serve to wake up America, defend itself, its values, morality and principles or all will be lost. WAKE UP AMERICANS, WAKE UP. The time may be near when the blood of real patriots will be required once again in America.We the People assume that we live in a democracy. We live by democratic principles, the core of which is freedom. That is true but our government is not a democracy. Our fore fathers who forged our Constitution were suspicious of democracy. They feared an intolerant majority. They created checks and balances which would prevent as much as possible the potentially crushing majority rule. They created for us a REPUBLIC. That of course consisted of a president, senate and house of representatives. It also consisted of an independent federal judiciary with the Supreme Court of essentially nine justices as final arbitrators of the rule of law. Such a republic respected democratic principles but it guarded so very well against abuse.Those founding fathers gave us the concept of federalism. That is, that each of the individual states of America, then 13 and now 50, would be protected, have rights not specifically granted to the federal government (Constitution Amendment X), and otherwise make certain that its people were protected, and larger states would have no real advantage over smaller ones. It was and continues to be a brilliant system and check and balance. The founding fathers gave us an electoral college where leaders were not elected by majority vote but by states according to their population.They gave us the rule of law, they gave us the Declaration of Independence, they gave us the Constitution, incredible documents with incredible freedoms, fully protected. They gave us all of this as a result of the blood of so many Revolutionary patriots shed in the cause of freedom. How tragic it is that we sit back and take those then given freedoms for granted, watch them whittle away daily, observe the indifference among younger generations and the beginning of the erosion and eventually the elimination of our great Country, its way of life and government. The great destroyers win, Alinsky, Soros, Sanders the socialist. They refuse, those anarchists and anti–Americans to work within the system for reform. They work for radical change and ultimate destruction. And, We the People sit back and watch it happen and in so many ways do nothing. Violence is everywhere. There are threats, intimidation, radicalism everywhere. A senator threatens a supreme court justice. Senator Schumer from New York threatened Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh as follows:You will pay the priceIf Roe is overturned. We are promised a summer of rage by JANE’S REVENGE. That means violence, firebombing, destruction, perhaps killing, Alinsky and Soros rage at work. We live in the age of post–Truth, as former president Barrack Hussein Obama told us where there really is no absolute truth of any kind, no morality and it is indeed a day and age of:ANYTHING GOES.It is simply unbelievable how seemingly everything America stands for, believes in, the fundamental structure of our great Country is not only under attack but is being destroyed day by day. History shows us that democracies as the foundation of government cannot last. Democracies in history last at or about 200 years. America is now 246 years young and We the People, our democracy, our great constitutional republic may be near the end. How I for one hope and pray that simply does not happen. The Constitution and its Amendments of the United States is the finest document, political governing document which mankind can produce. But it cannot last forever. Only one document can. And that is THE WORD OF THE LORD, the Holy Bible which gives us the world’s only reliable ABSOLUTE TRUTH. The Constitution gives us the freedoms of mankind. The bible gives us heavenly freedoms, eternal freedoms, the ways of the Lord God Almighty, the most important freedom of all and the most important freedom of all, salvation in Jesus Christ. Man’s democracy cannot last, but the democracy of peace and love of Jesus Christ will last forever. Human leaders, people, men and women, politicians and those in power can never last. The only person, leader, visionary, difference maker who can is Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of Glory. That eternal leader will never fail. So, now in America violence reigns. Everything is under attack. The spiritual warfare has begun. The:FIGHT OF FAITH IS HERE AND NOW!So, my fellow Americans, my fellow Christians, how will you fight this fight of faith? HOW? Put on for sure the armor of the Lord. And the helmet of salvation. And the breastplate of righteousness and be ready for the spiritual war. It is here, IT IS HERE. You will be called upon to defend your faith with everything you have. If you truly believe as a Christian and you will not compromise, you will take on a danger you never have before. How will you respond? Will you stand up to violence? Would you use any means at your disposable to protect your family, your friends and yourself from violence? You will engage in prayer, more prayer perhaps than ever before. But you will be called upon to ACT, and perhaps act returning violence for violence. Would you do that? We the People, we Christians have choices to make we never have before. In prayer, may our Lord lead us to the right decisions for God, and Country, and family, and all human kind. Freedom, inalienable rights, God–given rights, are of the most value, the most important to all. Don’t lose them or lose life in the process. May God bless you, my fellow Americans as you energize the courage to stand for Christ, for Christianity and for the greatest Country in the history of mankind.Always remember. FREEDOM ONCE LOST IS LOST FOREVER!

America - The Once Brave and the Once Free

In Revolutionary times, Thomas Paine said the following:“These are the times that try men’s souls”.And indeed these are the times that try women’s souls, some at least now that the United States Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade. Thomas Jefferson admonished Americans of his time that the blood of patriots must be shed from time to time in order to refresh the tree of liberty. In short, the constitutional America of 1776 (Declaration of Independence) and the Constitutional America of 1787 needed new patriots, new passion, new commitments to liberty and freedom. Now more than ever that is true. The constitutional, rule of law, freedom–liberty America of old is not only under attack but becomes divided, angry and more violent by the day. Freedom and liberty we have always taken for granted are now all the more at risk and at stake.The patriot Patrick Henry provided a testimony applicable to all of us:“Give me liberty or give me death”.Henry was willing to die for freedom. He would live under no form of bondage. Oppression and bondage in his time was English. Today it comes internally from anarchists, that small virulent, violent minority which wishes the destruction of the greatest country on earth. Our fore fathers fought for freedom. They gave their blood then which we can assume made Jefferson proud. They gave us the greatest ruling document in the history of mankind, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. That incredible document contained the First Amendment which gave every American citizen the following rights and freedoms: Freedom of religion Freedom of speech Freedom of press Freedom of assembly Freedom of petitionGuaranteed, unconditional, unchanging, FOREVER FREEDOMS. Every one of those sacred, inalienable (God–given) rights and freedoms are at risk today, EVERY ONE! We the People seemed to have lost our vision, our understanding, even in some cases our desire to protect and preserve this incredible country. We have become indifferent to the struggles and problems we face. So many of us are ignorant of our history, and our Constitution, and our rule of law, and how we are governed. So many of us have withdrawn from the political process. As few as 10% will vote in some elections and perhaps no more than 60% of eligible, voting Americans will go to the polls in the most serious of elections. It has become tragic how We the People take democracy for granted. It is as though freedom will always be there no matter what we do. We the People are an easy target for violence and anarchism. One of the most anti–American Americans was one Saul Alinsky. In essence, Alinsky championed the destruction of everything, every institution, every tradition, anything and everything in America so that the country could be rebuilt and reestablished. The philosophy and beliefs of Alinksy were adopted by George Soros among others and the state of objective of Soros and others was to:BRING DOWN AMERICA.Bring it down. Destroy it. Rewrite its history. Do away with its Constitution and its rule of law. Get rid of the moral standards of the country today and especially the Judeo–Christian heritage and morality of the past. Do away with it completely! Beneath the violence, disrupt, and the lack of accountability today is this Alinsky model, the destruction of America, the destruction of everything which America holds dear. WOKE better serve to wake up America, defend itself, its values, morality and principles or all will be lost. WAKE UP AMERICANS, WAKE UP. The time may be near when the blood of real patriots will be required once again in America.We the People assume that we live in a democracy. We live by democratic principles, the core of which is freedom. That is true but our government is not a democracy. Our fore fathers who forged our Constitution were suspicious of democracy. They feared an intolerant majority. They created checks and balances which would prevent as much as possible the potentially crushing majority rule. They created for us a REPUBLIC. That of course consisted of a president, senate and house of representatives. It also consisted of an independent federal judiciary with the Supreme Court of essentially nine justices as final arbitrators of the rule of law. Such a republic respected democratic principles but it guarded so very well against abuse.Those founding fathers gave us the concept of federalism. That is, that each of the individual states of America, then 13 and now 50, would be protected, have rights not specifically granted to the federal government (Constitution Amendment X), and otherwise make certain that its people were protected, and larger states would have no real advantage over smaller ones. It was and continues to be a brilliant system and check and balance. The founding fathers gave us an electoral college where leaders were not elected by majority vote but by states according to their population.They gave us the rule of law, they gave us the Declaration of Independence, they gave us the Constitution, incredible documents with incredible freedoms, fully protected. They gave us all of this as a result of the blood of so many Revolutionary patriots shed in the cause of freedom. How tragic it is that we sit back and take those then given freedoms for granted, watch them whittle away daily, observe the indifference among younger generations and the beginning of the erosion and eventually the elimination of our great Country, its way of life and government. The great destroyers win, Alinsky, Soros, Sanders the socialist. They refuse, those anarchists and anti–Americans to work within the system for reform. They work for radical change and ultimate destruction. And, We the People sit back and watch it happen and in so many ways do nothing. Violence is everywhere. There are threats, intimidation, radicalism everywhere. A senator threatens a supreme court justice. Senator Schumer from New York threatened Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh as follows:You will pay the priceIf Roe is overturned. We are promised a summer of rage by JANE’S REVENGE. That means violence, firebombing, destruction, perhaps killing, Alinsky and Soros rage at work. We live in the age of post–Truth, as former president Barrack Hussein Obama told us where there really is no absolute truth of any kind, no morality and it is indeed a day and age of:ANYTHING GOES.It is simply unbelievable how seemingly everything America stands for, believes in, the fundamental structure of our great Country is not only under attack but is being destroyed day by day. History shows us that democracies as the foundation of government cannot last. Democracies in history last at or about 200 years. America is now 246 years young and We the People, our democracy, our great constitutional republic may be near the end. How I for one hope and pray that simply does not happen. The Constitution and its Amendments of the United States is the finest document, political governing document which mankind can produce. But it cannot last forever. Only one document can. And that is THE WORD OF THE LORD, the Holy Bible which gives us the world’s only reliable ABSOLUTE TRUTH. The Constitution gives us the freedoms of mankind. The bible gives us heavenly freedoms, eternal freedoms, the ways of the Lord God Almighty, the most important freedom of all and the most important freedom of all, salvation in Jesus Christ. Man’s democracy cannot last, but the democracy of peace and love of Jesus Christ will last forever. Human leaders, people, men and women, politicians and those in power can never last. The only person, leader, visionary, difference maker who can is Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of Glory. That eternal leader will never fail. So, now in America violence reigns. Everything is under attack. The spiritual warfare has begun. The:FIGHT OF FAITH IS HERE AND NOW!So, my fellow Americans, my fellow Christians, how will you fight this fight of faith? HOW? Put on for sure the armor of the Lord. And the helmet of salvation. And the breastplate of righteousness and be ready for the spiritual war. It is here, IT IS HERE. You will be called upon to defend your faith with everything you have. If you truly believe as a Christian and you will not compromise, you will take on a danger you never have before. How will you respond? Will you stand up to violence? Would you use any means at your disposable to protect your family, your friends and yourself from violence? You will engage in prayer, more prayer perhaps than ever before. But you will be called upon to ACT, and perhaps act returning violence for violence. Would you do that? We the People, we Christians have choices to make we never have before. In prayer, may our Lord lead us to the right decisions for God, and Country, and family, and all human kind. Freedom, inalienable rights, God–given rights, are of the most value, the most important to all. Don’t lose them or lose life in the process. May God bless you, my fellow Americans as you energize the courage to stand for Christ, for Christianity and for the greatest Country in the history of mankind.Always remember. FREEDOM ONCE LOST IS LOST FOREVER!

Freedom

FREEDOM!We are, America is, the home, the land of the:BRAVE AND THE FREE.We are lovers of freedom. It is, you could say, in our genes. We inherited that love of freedom from those who founded our great country, fought against the oppressors more than two centuries ago and built the foundation for the FREEDOMS we now enjoy today. Give us, we say with that great statesman and our forefather Patrick Henry, give us that LIBERTY or if that is taken away, give us death for there is no real life without freedom.For us, America is in fact exceptional no matter the indifferent attitude of Barack Hussein Obama who thinks that America is no more exceptional than any other country! But all of America and we the people are exceptional in so many ways, including our way of life and our lifestyle. Everything is okay down to the last sentence and raise and champion our great flag, and wear the American flag pin proudly, especially in the world of academia which thinks the American flag is a symbol for racism and xenophobia rather than exceptionalism.And now, we should take quality time to honor the founding documents which make us great, namely our Constitution, our Bill of Rights and our Declaration of Independence. We should honor these incredible documents by reading them, studying their content, understanding the values therein and resolving as the authors of these documents did, and honor our forefathers who provided them for us recommitting to them and the world at large that we the people will protect and preserve the freedoms contained therein, even to the laying down of our lives.In this day, there are so many who would CHANGE what we have, or even more radically so, eliminate it. There seems to be an ever-growing number of those in our very own country with little or no respect for our great founding documents, our freedoms, the principles by which we have lived and built THE GREAT SOCIETY, and especially what America has been, our glorious history. They the un-Americans wish to eliminate or erode so many of our freedoms and move this great country toward socialism. THEY are the enemy inside and they must be stopped. We the people, true Constitutional Americans energized and emboldened by our founding documents and founding fathers must make certain we do what is right for our great country, and as true patriots, protect and defend our freedoms as never before. We should do everything humanly possible to prevent socialism of any kind in thought or deed.We should remember the words of that great statesman, a founding father himself, Benjamin Franklin, who said, when asked, that he and his fellow revolutionaries have given us, Americans then and now, a Republic. Not a Democracy, but a Republic. Franklin went on to warn us then and now that this Republic was FRAGILE, and needed at all times to be protected with vigilance, vigor and valor. That this Republic of the combined United States could never be taken for granted. Nor could any citizen assume it would go on, and on. For freedom, for Franklin and the fathers, was a precious right that could only be sustained by watchful, involved and proactive citizens. We who would live in this free country and enjoy its immense freedoms must at all times be:WATCHMEN AND WOMEN ON THE WALLSNot talk, debate or discussion, but action, actively working to protect our freedoms and our way of life, willing to die in the fray if necessary. Would you be willing to die, to lay all on the altar in the cause of freedom? What would you do if ISIS or jihadists attacked America and threatened harm to your family and you? What would you do? Our forefathers never gave the matter a second thought. They, in Second Amendment fashion, took up arms to defend their country, their freedoms and their family. Would you? In fact, we AMERICANS should be so proud of our country, and our freedoms, that we as a nation are ready at all times to help others in the cause of freedom. We gave the lives of millions of young American men and women to others in the cause of freedom. Witness World War II. One Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman 83 years young arrived in Paris by airplane. At French customs, it took him several minutes to locate his passport. The Customs Officer with sarcasm and disdain asked Mr. Whiting:“You have been to France before, Monsieur?”Mr. Whiting answered, yes he had and the smart aleck French official replied pompously:“Then you should know enough to have your passport ready!”Mr. Whiting then stared this official in the eye and said the following:“The last time I was here I didn’t have to show my passport.”To which the French Customs Official replied:“Impossible! Americans always have to show passports on arrival in France!”Mr. Whiting gave this arrogant Frenchman a long hard look and he proudly stated:“Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this country, I couldn’t find a single Frenchman to show a passport to!”You could have heard a pin drop. God bless America and God bless Mr. Whiting.And yet another instance of a proud American at work. When in England at a fairly large conference, Secretary of State Colin Powell was asked by the Arch Bishop of Canterbury if America’s plans for Iraq were simply a rationalization for empire building or land-grabbing by George Bush as American soldiers went to war. Powell simply answered by saying:“Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those who did not return.”All attending that conference were deadly silent. Well said, Mr. Powell, well said as a proud American.There was once a conference in France when a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. One of the French engineers said the following:“Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intend to do, bomb them?”Those in attendance snickered and jeered. That is, until an engineer from the Boeing company in America stood up and proudly stated:“Our aircraft carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people. They are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities. They have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day. They can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day. They carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and the injured to and from their flight deck. We have eleven such aircraft carriers. How many does France have?”You could have heard a pin drop.And again, a U.S. Naval Admiral was attending a naval conference that included admirals from the united states, England, Canada, Australia and France. Every one in attendance was conversing in English. Suddenly a French Admiral complained the Europeans learn many languages but Americans learn only English. This French Admiral arrogantly and pompously said:“Why is that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?”The American United States Naval Admiral stood up proudly and replied:“Maybe it is because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so that you would not have to speak German!”The room was deadly silent.So, whether here at home or anywhere abroad, anywhere in the world, it is our privilege, our duty, our passion to protect FREEDOM at every turn. That freedom means for us and all in the world the fundamental rights, the God-given rights to:LIFELIBERTYTHE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESSIt is our right to live life free, with maximum freedom. It is our right to live and champion liberty everywhere. And, it is our right to pursue happiness as we define that, as free individuals, to pursue life legally and lovingly as we choose. May it always be so, but it only can be if we are willing to do anything possible to protect those freedoms. ANYTHING! Are you?So now, this Independence week, culminating in the great day July 4, Independence Day, we should honor America, this great country in which we are privileged to live. We should honor all things American and we should honor our flag as a symbol of who we are and what we believe. There are those who would desecrate or cause to be irrelevant the great stars and stripes. There was the action of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) which banned the wearing of the American flag as a lapel pin or otherwise in clothing because the flag in their view was controversial and represented the causes of certain conservatives. How tragic, how ridiculous, how un-American the actions of the American Broadcasting Company. There are times when our President, our Congress, our leading citizens simply do not wear or honor the flag or any other symbol of all great things American. We the people should find all such conduct unacceptable and we should protest. The greatest form of protest is to protect, preserve and defend our freedoms and the symbol of those freedoms, the great American flag, the perfect symbol of our independence and the finest possible expression of freedom on the great day July 4, Independence Day. Do just that loudly and proudly my fellow citizens.Think carefully, my fellow Americans, about the precious freedoms granted by your Constitution and your Bill of Rights. Remember that you are guaranteed the right to freedom of religion, to worship and practice religion as you please. You are guaranteed the right to free speech, to speak as you wish at anytime, anywhere, with any words. You are guaranteed the right to freely assemble, to petition, to print in press or on the Internet. YOU ARE GUARANTEED THOSE RIGHTS! You are guaranteed the right to bear arms, to purchase, own and use them for pleasure or in self-defense. You are guaranteed the right against governmental illegal search and seizure. You are guaranteed the right a trial by a jury of your peers rather than to be summarily convicted by any governmental agency. You are guaranteed the right to counsel if you can not afford one when charged with a crime. You are guaranteed the right to vote. You are guaranteed to pursue life, liberty and happiness as you wish! You are guaranteed by your Constitution and Bill of Rights the highest and best form of living and lifestyle the world has ever known! You should give thanks for America, for all that it was, is and can be in the future if YOU as Benjamin Franklin so well said standup and do everything possible to KEEP IT that is the great experiment in freedom which our founding fathers intended. Please join with me this Independence Week, this Freedom Week and especially on the set-aside day for freedom celebration, namely July 4 in pledging once again our allegiance to this great country. Please join me in these great words which honor America:I pledge allegianceto the Flagof the United States of Americaand to the Republic for which it standsone nationindivisiblewith liberty and justicefor all!I ask humbly and lovingly that GOD BLESS AMERICA.And I ask humbly as well that GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!There is only one America. Keep it that way!

Life

“We live in really scary times”. Those were the words of a person living in western New York, a verbal reaction to the firebombing of the CompassCare pro–life pregnancy center in Buffalo, New York. The firebombing was carried out by a radical, leftist, progressive group JANE’S REVENGE. The terrorists left this writing on the wall:JANE WAS HERE.There of course was no reaction from the left, nothing from Senator Schumer or Speaker of the House Pelosi who shrugged and provided an indifferent response. After all, it was nothing more than a terrorist attack on a pro–life, anti–abortion group with which Pelosi has no caring. The scary times in which we live are marked by one key factor:VIOLENCE.We the People can expect more violence perhaps than ever before in our once great Country. Our freedoms, our Constitution, our way of life, our rule of law, our traditions are under attack as never before, NEVER! The CompassCare bombing was indeed scary. The CEO of CompassCare, Jim Harden, one good man said:“This is the pro–abortion Kristallnacht. Because of this act of violence, the needs of women facing unplanned pregnancy will go unmet and babies will die. I wonder (said Harden) if Governor Hochul will veto the Pregnancy Center Investigation Bill. I wonder if Attorney General Letitia James will investigate these cowardly criminals. CompassCare will rebuild, because women deserve better. CompassCare will not stop because pre–born boys and girls deserve protection.”Well said, and well done, Mr. Harden. We know you will rebuild and rededicate yourself and your good people to the task of saving life, LIFE IN THE WOMB. You and yours, we know, will do everything possible to stop the ABORTION KILLING FIELDS, and protect the precious human life which God himself has created. What a world, scary hardly describes it!There is little respect for law and order in our great Country today. There are citizens, inhabitants, immigrants legal and illegal, especially illegal who care nothing about law and order and are willing to do anything to get what they want. There are those willing to firebomb, destroy and even kill if they disagree. Now comes the decision by the Supreme Court in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson perhaps by the end of this month. The Country over knows about the leak at the Supreme Court, a supreme illegal, criminal act. It is highly likely that the Supreme Court will overturn Roe v. Wade that case, some 50 years ago was as Justice Samuel Alito so well stated, was decided by:“Reasoning which was exceptionally weak and the decision has had damaging consequences. And far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division.”If the Supreme Court does indeed decide to overturn Roe, and again we should know (at or about June 30) the issue of abortion will return to the states where it belongs constitutionally. Instead of one, we would have 50 different decisions about abortion. But our Constitution, a champion of federalism and the states, welcomes that and encourages all Americans to think of that as RIGHT. Anything, ANYTHING which is not expressly granted to the federal government by the Constitution is automatically left to the states, their judiciary, legislation and THEIR PEOPLE. That is the American way. There is nothing but nothing in the Constitution about the right to abortion. The court reasoned that the 14th Amendment and the so–called right to privacy justified the abortion decision. Nothing said Justice Alito in the leaked decision could be more unconstitutional than that conclusion, fatuous reasoning to be sure. If that decision holds, and there is always some possibility that there could be change as the court engages in final dialogue, the court will probably vote 6–3 to reverse, or perhaps 5–4 (one never knows about Chief Justice Roberts), and We the People can expect violence to erupt all over our great Country. Perhaps no one or no entity would be safe from the attacks of the violent, progressive, ultra–liberal left. SCARY TIMES INDEED!Security will be increased everywhere and especially for the nine members of the Supreme Court and their families. There has already been a “slay plot” on the life of Justice Kavanaugh. U.S. Marshalls, protecting his home and family, thwarted that attack. But there is more to come, for sure. Perhaps any of the other five so–called conservative–leaning Justices would be in danger of violence. That would include: Justice Roberts Justice Thomas Justice Alito Justice Gorsuch Justice Barrett In addition to Justice Kavanaugh. If more violence occurs against the Supreme Court (SCOTUS), it would be interesting to see the public reaction of liberal Justices Kagan, Jackson and Sotomayor. There would probably be very little for, like America itself, the Supreme Court is divisive, split, and deeply polarized. If Roe is reversed, it is interesting that, of our 50 states, perhaps half would protect abortion with new legislation and the other half would eliminate or limit abortion. No matter what the Supreme Court decides, abortion will still be available in America, most unfortunately. If the court follows the Constitution as it should, Roe and Casey will be reversed. Violence will occur, but the states will protect it. There is significant criticism of Donald Trump for inciting the January 6 riots in Washington D.C., right or not. But here the words of the inciter, a senator no less who should himself be investigated and even prosecuted for inciting violence, as follows: “I want to tell you, Kavanaugh (Justice Kavanaugh). You have released the whirlwind and you will pay the price. You won’t know what hit you if you go forward”.Can you believe those words from the senator from New York Chuck Schumer? Again, the man should be investigated, arrested and disbarred from the Senate. But nothing will happen, nothing because he is liberal, democrat. A scary world indeed. Everybody conservative, pro–life, anti–abortion needs to be on the watch. THE FIGHT OF FAITH IS ON, and like it or not, we are required to fight this fight of faith with all our might. There is perhaps no higher goal for any conservative, any human being than to protect the most precious thing:LIFE!Life in the womb. Overturning the unconstitutional Roe and Casey is absolutely the right thing to do and I for one hope that is legally accomplished by our Supreme Court. But abortion goes on and consequently the fight for life does as well. Half of our Country will protect the right to abortion rather than life. Babies cry out, literally, for help, protection, for LIFE. No matter what the decision in Dobbs, let us, especially Christians and conservatives, stand up for:BABIES IN THE WOMBFOR LIFE!

Father

Two kinds of fathers are there. The one Heavenly, the other earthly. The Lord of Glory, the Carpenter of Nazareth said:“I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE.”What a claim. Blasphemy by a human being if it were not true. But they were ONE, and the carpenter from Nazareth told us in unequivocal terms that the CREATOR OF THIS UNIVERSE AND OUR EARTH was indeed among so many other things a:FATHERTo Him and to us. For otherwise, this Creator would be completely unknown, incapable of being known by us, but HE is. And, the Supreme Creator loves us and cares for us. To me that is a thought incomprehensible were it not for:HIMOur Lord Jesus Christ took something remote, obscure and unfathomable and made it known, personal, deeply meaningful and loving so that we, the creatures of His creation, could understand who we are, why we are, and what we should believe.We are to understand and believe said Jesus, that there is for us an ETERNAL FATHER and not merely a cosmic Creator. We are known as individuals, as sons and daughters by this Father, and we are not mere specks in the universe or dust in the wind. We have meaning. We are in fact SONS AND DAUGHTERS of this Father having claimed our inheritance as such through the SON Jesus Christ. Hard to comprehend but true.We are also told that God the Father is love. GOD IS LOVE, and that love is the essence of God and so available to us. Love is the greatest says the Scriptures, more so than faith and hope, and to know that God is love incarnate is just incredible.And we who are fathers should love the very same way. Even as the eternal Father loves us, so should we love our children. If a Heavenly Father loves unconditionally, so an earthly father should do the same, love the child unconditionally. The highest attributes of any earthly father are the embracing, heartfelt and unconditional loving openness to the child even as the Father loves the child:LOVE NEVER FAILSBut there is another side of love from our Heavenly Father, a TOUGH LOVE. That is, love at work which is ready to:DISCIPLINELove may indeed be meek, warm, gentle and forgiving, kind and open and it should be. But love must also be tough, demanding, disciplined and concerned for all things which are:RIGHTFor there are indeed prodigal sons and daughters who go astray. As such, they honor not the Heavenly Father nor the earthly. Discipline is required, firm and straight. The rod was used in the old days to accomplish discipline and to carryout punishment. But that has been taken away. Discipline today is more on the order of depriving the child of opportunities and pleasures or requiring the child to make up for the wrong and do what is right. Sometimes it works and sometimes not. But fathers can not SPARE THE ROD however the rod is determined for that is a fatherly duty. No child can grow without discipline for there is nothing worse for a father than a child spoiled and bent upon his own way. Demanding standards, the terms and conditions of sonship, are a father’s duty which can not be delegated or ignored. And the Scriptures make it perfectly clear:WHOM THE FATHER LOVES HE CHASTENSChastening is real love at work. BY THEIR FRUITS, LOVING DISCIPLINE AT WORK, YE SHALL KNOW THE FATHER AND WHO THE FATHER TRULY IS.The integrity of the father is critical. Dads must do what they say and dads must say what they mean. The father must live by the same standards he requires of the child. The father must be consistent in character, live a life with values and without hypocrisy. Nothing is harder for a child to accept than lectures about right and wrong from a father who lives by neither. So that, a father does not have to explain or justify the demands. The father does not have to negotiate with the child and in the course of discipline ask the child if it is OK.For it matters not if the child agrees with the father. If a child respects a loving father, that is all that is required. So many families seem to have so little respect for each other and rapidly become dysfunctional. But a true father, a real father is head of household. He is the one in charge, so say the Scriptures, kind, loving, considerate and respectful of all including and especially the wife-mother, but head of the household nonetheless. Discharging all of those functions gives the father the right to discipline and demand. But again, the father has earned that right by the way he lives. When the son is old and ready for his own life, the ways of the father will be his and the son in turn will perpetuate, carryon those values for his family. It is so very important for the father to incorporate the son into his life. To train up the child is to involve the child in the life, the career, the work of the father. So many sons carry on, inherit and follow the father. Father and son, or daughter, work together, learn together and the father teaches in practical ways. What the father holds dear and in which he has invested his life becomes part of the child, a very practical and worthy training for the child. The child can learn the way of business, work, industry so that like father, the child can be:A WORK MAN OR WOMAN WORTHY OF HIS HIREThat kind of fatherly guidance is so very important and it is the duty of the father to invest the time and effort to train up the child in that way. And so with hobbies, and fun. There are games, trips, sports, theater, dining and all manners of wonderful vacation which must be shared by father and child. Life is difficult and even as there are the demands of work, there must be the pleasures of play. To laugh and cry together. To enjoy the joys of this world as God has indicated is our right. Lasting moments are created in fun and play.Father and child are intimate, or should be. Their dialogue, their caring for each other should be totally open, transparent. Nothing should be hidden. The child should have the confidence and the trust in father to openly reveal, discuss hurts, ask questions, confess doubt, challenge beliefs and otherwise make certain that the father fully understands precisely who the child is. For the child develops independently and individually, a special and unique creation by God, and not merely as the earthly father would have him be. The answers to questions should come first from the father, not from peers or school but from DAD. The son should want to talk to father first and be assured that he knows what the father thinks. They can not always agree but father and son can always be open and honest with each other. That seems so lacking today. There is little communication, virtually no dialogue. Father’s preach and lecture but seldom practice one of the most important attributes of good fathering:LISTENINGReally listening. Patiently allowing the child to open the heart, to question, to express love and anger and to know as a child the father will listen and respect. That more than anything builds character and confidence in the child. Fathers are friends and confidants. The father in the mind of the child is the first GO-TO. If not, the child seeks FATHER SURROGATES and substitutes. Today’s education can often occur without traditional moral values or the standards of old. No third party education is a substitute for a father’s education. Children who are fatherless in actuality or spiritually seek comfort, guidance and acceptance from their peers which can often be secular and even with immoral influences. They are ready to learn and adapt, to be accepted in so many ways different from what the father might believe or want for the child. The conduct of the child can then become permissive, even unlawful as standards or morality are worn down and compromised. That fatherless child goes a different way and the father has forsaken the most important duty of fatherhood, training up that child. If you have a child, if you are a biological father, then you must, YOU MUST be a spiritual, loving father as God would have it. Don’t send a child to church. Take him. Worship with him. Love together the Lord of Glory. Study Scripture and pray, together. Talk about spiritual things for the child is even more interested in what the father thinks and believes than perhaps a pastor.Take time for the child’s life, school events, sports. Be there, lovingly and with respect for the child growing to adult. Nothing means more than a father BEING THERE. That child is YOU, dad. You can not ignore or deny YOU. The child wants YOU more than anything else. There came to you that little bundle of joy, your very own son, your very own daughter, YOU IN EVERY WAY! You are privileged to be a father of that child and he or she should be a clear priority, a first priority. There will never be better earthly love, nothing comes close, than the love of a father for his child. However strong the bond, and even if the father-child bond is broken, in some deep primal way, love is always there, or at least the hope of that love. There is no child, or father however old or hardened who does not feel that way. What a joy, what a privilege to be a father.Even as an adult, well-educated, perhaps successful, father himself, a son will always seek out a father, for fellowship, for advice, for comfort and caring, and for love. That never changes. Even in death, he the father being dead yet speaketh. All he was and all they were together lives on, it is eternal even as the love of God is eternal. The words, the deeds, the loving deeds will never be forgotten. The understanding, the trust and the respect between father and child will never die. Perhaps a father’s proudest moment is when the child, adult and ready, leaves the father and becomes his own man. That is a biblical requirement, and at that time, the father should be proud, very proud of the INVESTMENT he has made in the child. For a father can think back, reminisce and remember all of those things which forged the bond, the training, the education and growth of the child, an investment far more valuable than anything financial. That, says dad, is my son. That, says dad, is my daughter of whom I am so very proud. He or she was worth everything I gave. The loving bond between father and child will sustain, motivate and guide the child for a lifetime. It is the earthly component of the Heavenly Father. What a privilege it is to be a father. So, I and my company the Crawford Broadcasting Company salute fathers, real fathers who love, educate, grow and train up their children in the way in which they should go. You are special, dads like that, very special. The world needs real fathers now more than ever. And, what is so wonderful is that it is never too late to be father no matter what has gone before. Fathering may ebb and flow but the opportunity is always there, always. Never quit, never give up on fathering. So, enjoy your day DAD. Father’s Day can show love and respect for dad one day. But real fathers are honored by their children every day. For the most priceless thing any child can have is:A LOVING FATHER!

The Conservatives

It really is not all that popular to be a conservative today, is it? The liberal side of our society stereotypes a conservative as biased, narrow, even fundamentalist. A conservative is oppressive, defensive and for many offensive. But what exactly is a conservative? Can any individual human being be classified as a conservative in every way, for every occasion or every issue, anymore than a liberal can? For, in reality, virtually every human being holds some conservative points of view as well as liberal. And even the most ardent liberal can find himself or herself on the conservative side of an issue from time to time.So I ask again, what exactly is a conservative?One young aggressive entrepreneur Pia Varma chooses not to even use the word conservative, but rather the POLITICAL RIGHT. And she, bright young thinker that she is, thinks of this political right as a mixture of different and often conflicting factions. And, she is right even as there are many different liberal points of view in the liberal tent. There are, Varma says, under this conservative or politically to-the-right tent the following: Republicans Conservatives Libertarians Classical Liberals Objectivists Randians Austrians Neocons RadconsNine of them. Some who may think of themselves as conservative may never have heard of some of these conceptual categories or political groups. Do you know, for example, what a Radcon is, or for that matter an Austrian? There are for them enough differences on the political scene to differentiate themselves, to form a new category, and postulate new political philosophies and principles. Differences prevail and no wonder there are often conflicting factions under the so-called conservative or politically right tent. But it seems as though there are common areas of agreement for all those politically conservative or on the right.The first point of agreement is that government should be less and not more. Government at work in any capacity, size or political or social sphere is NEVER the solution, never. Government at work, especially large government, creates more problems than it provides solutions. All conservatives agree.Conservatives further agree that government bureaucracy is social and financial strangulation. It produces little more than obscure, inefficient and extremely difficult rules and regulations, and red tape at every turn. Conservatives also agree that welfare of any kind, in any extreme, is wrong done by government. That is so whether corporate or personal welfare. Government cannot provide and support in any permanent way again without causing more problems than solutions.Conservatives also agree that the government must take a conservative approach to the world of finances, to money. Government cannot provide bailouts and government cannot print money to pay the debt, only at the cost of runaway inflation and the devaluation of private assets and property.Conservatives agree that our Constitution and its precious amendments are the law of the land, and that law must be respected at every turn. Conservatives are essentially strict constructionists when it comes to the constitutional law and in fact all law and its interpretation and application of the law. Conservatives are passionate believers in individual freedom, and freedoms generally, and they rebel at the thought of government circumscribing any individual freedom. The more government intervenes, the less freedom there is.Conservatives passionately agree that taxes should be extremely limited. All taxpayers should be treated fairly and equally. The concept of taxation should never be utilized for social purposes, and any form of taxation should be eliminated whenever it is not absolutely necessary. Those on the political right think that the tax code should be overhauled, simplified or perhaps even eliminated in favor of a flat tax. Rampant taxation is a means towards socialism, it results in a redistribution of wealth and the subservience of individual rights, including and especially financial opportunity.Conservatives passionately believe in free enterprise and in the great system of capitalism without undue restraint or restriction. Those on the political right believe in laissez faire. That is, government HANDS-OFF, hands-off private enterprise and capitalism at work. Let the marketplace determine and let individuals have maximum opportunity to think, create, and make things happen.None of those nine groups would disagree in any fundamental way with these overarching principles. Whether Republican, Conservative, Libertarian, Classical Liberal, Objectivist, Randian, Austrian, Neocon or Radcon, or any other form or type of conservatism, none would disagree with the above principles. They are fundamental. They are American. They are the principles which formed the basis and total structure of our great country. They have guided us for more than two and a quarter centuries and those principles are right. They are the best. Without them, there would be no America. We are headed my friends in so many ways for statetism, for a new form of socialism foreign to all Americans. Movements are at work to erode or eliminate virtually every fundamental conservative principle and point of view, especially those mentioned. It is absolutely imperative that conservatives of all stripes put aside their differences, and work together for a common cause. That is, to save America. We need such an aggressive act to make certain that our great Country does not go under. America needs to be saved from the CHANGE which has come with far more detrimental change on the way. If we the conservative do not band together and protect and preserve what we have, there will be no America for our children and grandchildren. Nowhere near the America you and I now know and love and enjoy.Democrats and liberals, fairly synonymous, have an amazing way of putting aside differences and working together for common causes. That is why they are generally more successful in the political arena than conservatives. Conservatives seem to maximize and stumble over differences rather than putting them aside, forging allegiance and alliances on principles in common that bind and unite, and making things happen. Conservatives are done as a political force or a philosophic and conceptual point of view if they, if we, if you, as conservatives, if we do not unite. I urge you my friend to find every commonality with anyone who cares for America as it used to be and as it is. Otherwise, get ready for CHANGE radical, fundamental and perhaps forever. Stand up and say what you think and believe or say goodbye to America!

Abortion - Dobbs Vs. Jackson

I am a born again Christian. I do not believe in abortion. I think it is morally wrong, biblically unacceptable. But if my daughter was raped or the victim of incest, I would allow her to have an abortion. In fact, I would encourage it.Those words come from one of my fellow Christians, were not mine. They came from a dear friend who is a very strong Christian. His argument was seemingly well taken for all discussion about abortion is theoretical, in the world of the hypothetical unless abortion happens to:YOUWhat would you do, father or mother if your daughter, became pregnant and would have a child born unplanned and even unwanted? What would you do? What would you decide and how would you make that decision? If your daughter wanted, even begged for an abortion so as not to have her life ruined by RAPE, would you turn her down? And if she had an abortion, would you shun her, ostracize her, remove her from your family or worst of all, seize loving her, would you?The real question is, are there any circumstances, any at all where the otherwise brutal, killing act of abortion can be justified, any at all?There are Christians who do believe that abortion can be justified, even biblically so in the event of rape, incest, or the life of the mother, or the life of the baby. Do you believe that and would you participate in or at least condone the act of abortion for any of those four circumstances or happenings, would you?There are those who say that, no matter how a woman may get pregnant, the pregnancy should be carried to full term, the baby born and if unwanted, given up for adoption. But not killed, not destroyed in the womb no matter the circumstances of conception, including rape and incest. Do you agree with that, do you? Adoption agencies the country over are ready to take the born baby, care for it and seek the right home. Therefore, don’t kill, that is abort the baby in the womb. God, they say, allowed this to happen, it was part of his WILL and therefore, this baby no matter how conceived should be born. DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT? That is really a profound issue, is it not? Why, says a family and especially the pregnant mother–to–be should we suffer, live the rest of our lives with the results of this tragedy when a simple and safe abortion would end the matter, why? The words of my friend are haunting, my born again, Christian friend. Under any of those four circumstances, if pregnancy happened to his daughter as a result of rape, incest, or her life or that of the baby was threatened, he would gladly condone abortion for her sake. Would you, would you? I don’t know what I would do if such a tragedy had happened in my family or to one of my daughters. I suppose I would have many long and loving talks with her, I would make certain that she would consider biblical and moral points of view and I would make certain that she would wrestle with the possibility of giving birth and giving up for adoption. But if she insisted on abortion, I do not know what I would do, do you? If your daughter insisted upon having an abortion, under any of these four circumstances, would you support her, would you? Fortunately for most, these questions remain hypothetical. The issues are theoretical because any such tragic pregnancy has not happened to us, to any one in our family. But one of these tragic pregnancy circumstances happens to literally millions of families and will continue to happen. It will be an issue which will never go away no matter what the Supreme Court decides, no matter what the States decide, no matter the activities of Planned Parenthood and no matter how biblical admonishments are interpreted. The day may come when you or members of your family are forced to deal with abortion in reality rather than hypothetically. What will you do? How will you decide for abortion, whether legal or illegal will always be available, always. Every American that Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey may well be overturned by the Supreme court in a June decision. Dobbs v. Jackson. That will not end abortion. The matter will be returned to the States and the people for decision, perhaps where that decision should be made in a democracy like America. Would that there were men and women every where who would rise up and put an end once and for all to this abominable practice. Not so for at least 24 states are poised to enact some of the most protective and pro-abortion laws and legislation ever guaranteeing the right of any woman to abortion. It will be readily available in any of those states. While some states may treat abortion as a criminal act, which in my view it is, others will make it more available than ever. Liberal private enterprise will be involved. Amazon will cover up to $4,000 in expenses annually for employees who need to travel to other states to access treatment for non-life-threatening situations including abortion. Citigroup has already done that. If any woman wants an abortion, it will be available no matter what the Supreme Court rules and whether or not it continues to be a constitutionally guaranteed right (which it is not). But back to you and me. Do you view abortion theoretically, hypothetically, intellectually rather than actually, in reality, do you? That is really the easy way for one can always change the mind or an opinion or belief. But when a scalpel kills a baby in the womb, that is the real world hard at work no turning back. Personally, I believe abortion is murder. I would have a baby born, life created by God no matter the circumstances and deal with that human being out of the womb. What would you do? What do you believe? As you pray for the end of abortion, as I do, perhaps you and I should also pray that our daughter, or any member of our family come to us with an unwanted pregnancy asking you or me to support them as she seeks an abortion!

Memorial Day

In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated on the last Monday in May, echoing the words and sentiments of the proclamation of General John A. Logan of the grand Army of the Republic in 1868 who stated:“Memorial Day is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion (the Civil War) and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet, church yard in the land.”So it is that the primary purpose of Memorial Day is to strew with flowers literally and figuratively the graves and memories of America’s daring defenders. They the fallen died for freedom, liberty, for America, for us, for YOU AND ME. We were asked to remember those who died in the great American Civil War, but the day to remember now incorporates all who have given lives in defense of our country. Far too many wars, my fellow Americans, and far too many fallen defenders by the millions who believed in America, and in its fundamental principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all mankind. How grateful we should be. We are descendants or contemporaries of patriots, men and women who cherish freedom and were willing to fight and die to defend it if necessary. These warriors lived by the words of Patrick Henry who said:GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH.Our nation was formed in the fight for freedom for there was no life worthwhile without it. There came our great Constitution and our incredible BILL OF RIGHTS, the rights and freedom amendments which are the finest in the history of mankind. But no matter the origin, it seems as though in so many ways the passion for freedom may have been lost today as they once had it. We seem to take for granted what they died for. And the courage they the fallen had seems lost today in so many ways and the change in our country, produces in so many ways an America in decline, at least politically, philosophically and certainly passionately. Our ancestors fought for the Constitution, for the Bill of Rights and the freedoms those now 27 Amendments allow us. They were ready to die for them, but we the current people allow them to be watered down, interpreted away and often ignored without the fight or conviction to protect and defend them. Perhaps the freedoms of Patrick Henry are giving way to a slow but sure death. Perhaps we have failed to meet the challenge of Ben Franklin who told us that the Republic they created for us was a marvelous way of government IF we could keep it. I wonder if we can. So, in the midst of barbeques and baseball, it is so healthy to look back and remember. Remember a George Washington, a general, a leader, a President, a warrior, a patriot. Or a Paul Revere who rode the land warning that the enemy was coming, sounding the alarm. It seems as though we need more Paul Reveres, warning us that enemies to our Constitution and way of life are coming, and in fact are HERE. We the people should be ever mindful of the threats and sound the alarm as he did, like those who energized our country once before, THE BOSTON TEA PARTY PATRIOTS and the revolution their courageous acts energized and inspired. They took a stand against taxes and so must we. Ours continue to rise, and rise to the point of confiscation and nothing but nothing destroys freedom like taxes. President John Adams reminded us that the two killers of liberty are slavery and debt. The debt of confiscatory taxation strangles freedom and that is happening at an incredibly rapid pace today. Shame on us.It is hard for us to think back and remember the early days in America when slavery, slavery was a way of life in America to our great shame and embarrassment. We the moderns find that inconceivable, and the practice of slavery of any kind abhorrent, do we not? Right-thinking men and women fought and fell to rid America of the scourge of slavery, God bless them.And to rid the world of despots like Hitler, evil to the core, Mussolini and those who in war would destroy the freedom and liberty of all. God bless them.There can hardly be a family anywhere in America which has not laid a son or daughter on the altar of freedom. So many fought and fell, lives given willingly for us in war after war. And there were those who supported those who fought. We honor them. Many of our warriors and defenders came home hurt and damaged in body or mind perhaps for a lifetime. On Memorial Day, we honor these veterans of wars, these HEROES, these wounded warriors who gave us our freedom:WE OWE THEM!A debt we can never repay. To honor them is the least we can do, to thank them as we remember and as we encounter those in our military who follow after them. We should help and support them. They lived and died for what they believed. Whenever I encounter a member of our military, I thank them for what they did and what they do for our great country, for me, and for you, and for my friends and loved ones and all Americans whether I know them or not. But I really do know them for I know what is in their hearts and minds and I know they love America as much as I do. I will salute them as a sign of respect. I wish them to know that I will always be grateful for everything they do for me and the America I love. Perhaps YOU should do the same, not on one Memorial Day, but all days. They the heroes and defenders are the very best of us. God bless them.Memorial Day is always celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery, a very special place, a burial site for some of America’s bravest. At 3 PM on that Monday, a very special ceremony occurs and each grave is decorated with a small American flag. The highlight of the celebration is a speech in honor of these brave men and women from the President or Vice President of the United States honoring their contributions to America and laying a wreath at the tomb of The Unknown Soldier. That tomb represents tens of thousands of other unknown soldiers who gave their lives in service to our country, but in death never got the recognition and respect they so justly deserved. Do remember them, my fellow Americans, do remember them as well on Memorial Day as there may be no one else, no loved one, no friend or family to do so. And as you do remember these American heroes, thank our God, the God who blesses America for all those who gave so much for us. They allowed us to be parents, to have and enjoy family, they allowed us to be workers and fully participate in the great opportunities America offers. THEY allowed us to be all that we can be because our soldiers, they were determined to be all they could be. Have a special place in your heart all week for any loved one, family or friend of yours who should be MEMORIALIZED AND REMEMBERED this day and always. And, as we pay tribute and remember, let us become better citizens of this great country, ready more than ever to preserve, protect and defend all it stands for, all of our blessed and precious freedoms which exist like there are nowhere else in the world. Let us stand for what is right with actions, protests, town meetings, marches, debate, fact and truth at work, counteracting government spin and disinformation. Let us stand tall for the right, for truth, for all things moral and valuable. Let us resolve, we the people, we who own and control this country to do our job as citizens far better. And remember to cherish and exercise the greatest privilege which every American has. That is:THE VOTEThere is no more powerful weapon than the vote of the American citizen. It is the most precious Constitutional right we have and for which our forefathers fought and died. Let us make certain that we vote for those to represent us who so passionately believe in these very special freedoms as we do, and they the fallen did. It is only then, when we do our part, day in and day out, that we would have the right to say with conviction and passion as our forefathers did:GOD BLESS AMERICAFor that can not happen unless we the people do what is right, remembering whom and what went before and committing with conviction to follow in their footsteps. These men and women died for GOD AND COUNTRY and for you and me in the never-ending fight to protect and preserve:FREEDOMMemorialize their memories Memorial Day and every day!God bless America and God bless you.

Abortion - Murder

ALL RELIGIONS ACCEPT ABORTION.Guess who said that. Not me my fellow Christians and fellow Americans, not me. Those were the words of the President of the United States Joe Biden who as we know is an ardent pro–abortion President which doesn’t seem to matter to the Roman Catholic church. He remains a member in good standing while he abdicates abortion, MURDER. But the early Biden, Senator Biden from Delaware in 1974 said the following:“I think the ruling (pro–abortion from the Supreme Court) went too far. I don’t think that a woman has the sole right to say what would happen to her body.”The power, the money, the notoriety and prestige of Washington D.C., so–called potamic fever captured THE BIG GUY big time. Biden was referring to the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, which by a 5–4 vote by the Supreme Court, the practice of murder also known as abortion was made legal the Country over in ROE by the vote of five American citizens, FIVE! Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973 and will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. There followed the next major abortion case PLANNED PARENTHOOD V. CASEY in 1997. That case decided by the Supreme Court reaffirmed Roe’s protection of the right of a woman to abortion. The Supreme Court ruled that the right to abortion was encompassed by the 14th amendment’s DUE PROCESS CLAUSE which guarantees liberty. From the very beginning, constitutional scholars, jurists generally and learned laymen, conservative and liberal, disagreed with the decision, called its reasoning flawed, irresponsible, and unconstitutional and in a later case, Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist protested that rights, so–called, are only protected by the due process clause if they are “deeply rooted in this nation’s history and tradition”. Therefore, according to his reasoning, abortion which before 1973 was never a right of any kind of any woman should not have been proclaimed a constitutional right especially under the due process clause of the 14th amendment. Abortion as it was before 1973 was a matter for the people and a matter for the states, but not the Federal Government and not the nine UNELECTED MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT. The Country–wide knows well the matter of the LEAK of the Supreme Court draft of a potential decision by the Supreme Court which would overturn not only ROE, but CASEY as well. The draft was written by Justice Alito. Alito said “a right to abortion is not deeply rooted in the nation’s history and traditions. Roe was egregiously wrong from the start”. In short, there was no right to privacy on the part of any woman in that regard nor did any supposed right of abortion fall under the protection of the due process clause of the 14th amendment. Consequently, two very wrong decisions must be overturned in order to protect constitutional integrity and the reasoning and decision–making of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Supreme Court, if it holds to such a preliminary decision, will effectuate these long overdue overturning of the abortion permitting cases of Roe and Casey in the case now under decision DOBBS V. JACKSON WOMEN’S HEALTH ORGANIZATION. The Supreme Court is now staffed by nine Justices, six of whom are essentially conservative in thinking. There is every good chance that abortion will no longer be considered a constitutional right for every citizen and every state. MAY IT BE SO!Even if the Dobbs decision allows the Supreme Court to overturn Roe and Casey and as one put it, get out of the abortion thicket, that will unfortunately not end abortion in America. It would simply return the issue of abortion to the states which would decide, by popular vote and by their own legislatures whether or not abortion should be legal within their state boundaries. Surveys estimate that 26 states are certain or very likely to ban abortion without Roe. But that means 24 states would allow it, including most of the most populous states in our Country (i.e. California, New York and the like). It would be ironic indeed if abortion was killing–murder in 26 states but perfectly legal in 24 others. Such is life in America 2022. The leaked draft (Alito) notes that abortion battles have remained bitterly divisive for the past half century and Alito well states that the Supreme Court cannot bring about the permanent resolution of a rancorous national controversy simply by dictating a settlement and telling the people to move on. Please note. The Supreme Court has not made a final decision, not by any means. Drafts like the one prepared by Justice Alito are circulated, reviewed, critiqued and CHANGED. So are votes, Supreme Court votes. And there is always the role of Chief Justice John Roberts who always looks for middle ground, healthy compromise and some way to avoid what he thinks of as BLACK AND WHITE, but rather grey, flexible, inclusive. A final decision will probably not be issued until the end of June ample time for any Justice to change his or her mind or opinion. Until then, the nation waits and only speculates.But again, Roe’s reasoning was exceptionally weak and the decision has had damaging consequences. And far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey both have enflamed debate and deepened division. Indeed they have and even though it will never please the entire Country, the Federal Government, the Supreme Court should not make any such decisions for the American people. Only they should through their states. Alito’s draft concludes with these words:“It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.”That is absolutely correct from a constitutional standpoint. But, unfortunately for those who regard abortion as murder, killing without any possible justification, unlike President Biden the only ultimate remedy is DISALLOWING THE PRACTICE OF ABORTION ALTOGETHER! All religions do not accept abortion, President Biden. The religious belief I have and millions of others is that abortion is dead wrong and to commit abortion is to commit murder. States are already on the move. The most liberal have legislation already or at work which would overly protect the right to abortion. Even a state like Connecticut with Democrat Governor Ned Lamont is ready with legislation which would even allow medical professionals who are not physicians to perform abortions. Scary thought, is it not? THE PRACTICE OF ABORTION WILL NEVER DIE! ONLY BABIES WILL!So now we wait, We the People. There is hope for those of us Americans who believe that abortion is murder, HOPE that this satanic practice will be done away with at least at the Federal level. We should all hope and pray for the overturn of Roe and Casey. Let us hope, pray and believe that those right and moral decisions by the Supreme Court will happen by the end of June. Abortion is murder. We must stop it!

Ukraine - Billy Graham

HE BEING DEAD YET SPEAKETH!Loud and clear, he does, his ministry carried on by his son Franklin Graham. The ministry which bears his name, THE BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION (BGEA) carries on its spiritual and humanitarian calling at the very highest levels. The BGEA may be even more effective today, especially from a humanitarian standpoint. A madman, a tyrant, dictator and butcher from Russia has killed tens of thousands of people and injured many more. This one man wants Ukraine to be part of Russia and he will do anything, Vladimir Putin will, to make that happen, even at the expense of thousands of innocent human lives. They mean nothing to him, nothing. Some four million people, maybe more, have fled Ukraine. They fear for their lives and rightly so. Putin’s Russian butchers kill without warning and indiscriminately. They murder, rape and plunder. Zelensky and his cohorts beg and plead for Western help, especially USA and get little or none. But they fight on, defending their freedom, perhaps choosing to die rather than live under Russian rule. Any organization or individual for that matter which comes to the aid of Ukraine is as brave as can be, all on the altar, willing to risk life and limb for the sake of others, do unto others at the highest level.Such an organization is THE BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION (BGEA). They go anywhere under any circumstances to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. And more, often much more. They go everywhere with humanitarian aid. They provide medical services. And clothing. And shelter. And food. They know they must provide human aid before that individual is capable of hearing the gospel. BGEA feeds the hungry and perhaps most importantly, provides medical services through trained doctors, the services of men and women highly competent, highly trained who are at the highest levels professionally and spiritually. They do so through their organization’s Samaritans Purse. That is one incredible organization. The good it has done, the benefit to mankind is simply outstanding. Those tremendous individuals meet need, whatever it is. Billy Graham would be proud! Another branch of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association ministries is that of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG–RRT). They have gone to the Ukraine, risking their lives in order to minister to and train church leaders on the methodology of ministering in the times of serious crisis. First, the needs of the body but then the even greater need, the need for salvation through Jesus Christ. Again, the one–of–a–kind Billy Graham would be proud.Franklin Graham, the son and worthy successor of Billy deployed a team of disaster response specialists to Poland, Romania and Moldova to provide aid and meet the needs of the some four million people who have already fled the Ukraine for the safety of those nations. The BGEA affiliated organizations Samaritans Purse deployed these disaster response specialists and in addition, Samaritans Purse sent an Emergency Field Hospital to Ukraine and set up a medical clinic at the train station in Lviv, one of the largest cities in the country. Again, Dr. William Franklin Graham, the Billy of old would be proud. This emergency hospital can do fourteen major surgeries per day or thirty minor surgeries per day, an incredible feat indeed, incredible spiritual and humanitarian–medical accomplishments, driven and motivated by the love and passion for Jesus Christ. Samaritans Purse which provides these services has long partnered with more than 3,200 churches within Ukraine and that partnership will not stop even in the face of this evil, satanic war. “God calls us to go into crisis areas to help those who are most vulnerable”, said Franklin Graham. And BGEA does just that through its excellent ministries Samaritans Purse and the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team. By the way, if you want to be certain that any gift you make for the benefit of the Ukraine is rightly used, give it to BGEA. Ukraine and Russian churches, their leaders and pastors, and so many families who are congregation members who have stayed in the Ukraine, refusing to leave their homeland no matter what Putin does, have joined together in fellowship, worship, prayer and concern for their fellow human beings. They are, these truly called individuals, truly unstoppable in the face of this crisis. Those who truly love and believe in Jesus Christ are better than ever when any crisis is at its worst. Said Franklin Graham, “My father (Billy) preached several times in the Soviet Union. Some criticized him for going there, since the U.S.S.R. was under authoritarian communist rule and the Cold War was raging but my father (what a great man) knew that the message of the gospel was for all people and the people desperately needed to hear the Good News. In 1992, less than a year after the fall of the Soviet Union, my father preached to more than 155,000 people at Moscow’s Olympic Stadium, where more than 12,000 people registered decisions for Jesus Christ”. Franklin’s father was fearless. Franklin inherited those spiritual genes. So, the bottom line for Franklin Graham, BGEA, Samaritans Purse, and Billy Graham Rapid Response Team:PRAY.Christians, they say must meet the need for prayer around the world. All humankind, right–thinking, loving human beings must solicit the help and intervention of God Almighty to put a stop from this evil from Russia. The Ukraine has some 42 million citizens. It is the second largest country in Europe after European Russia. It is critical territory, geography which shares a long border with Russia, now to its disadvantage, and the Belarus, Poland, Romania and a large area of the Black Sea. It possesses large fertile land making it known as the bread basket of the Soviet Union (once was). Russia wants it back. Putin will do anything to get it back and in the process, so much will be destroyed, so many will be killed, the devastation and evil at its worst. Pray and pray hard. Include in those prayers the divine request that we the Americans, our government, talk no more but DO, act, help, stand up to Russia, and especially Putin and all who would return Russia to its former warlike nature. The Great War, the Third World War looms and the world must be ready. THE GREAT RUSSIAN BEAR IS ON THE PROWL! The civilized world can end in a heart beat if this aggression is not stopped. There is only one way it can be put to a permanent end. That is through the love, forgiveness, salvation and radical change which can only occur through:JESUS CHRIST!

Mother

In our world, love rules. It is the highest attribute, with fundamental characteristic of all humankind. Perhaps the finest expression of love is:MOTHER LOVEThe definition of mother, a real mother is simply put:LOVEA mother’s love is the ultimate human love.It is said that THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE RULES THE WORLD. Perhaps so because so much of a child is formed in the early years by mother. One is in life so much of what a mother was. A real mother is part of the life of a child forever. What we learn at mother’s knee is so often what we are. Her values become ours. We are HER. The egg of a woman is the source of all life, the fundamental stuff of the universe and when fertilized by the sperm of the male:LIFEThe most precious thing of all happens. The egg and the sperm unite and become one but it is:GODWho gives life. At that very moment of conception, the life of a HUMAN BEING begins.That life is not a mere collection of cells as one biologist so flippantly said, but in reality the first moments of the life of a human being, a child on the grow in the womb. That fertilized egg is a BABY. So much for abortion which is nothing more than murder of that baby at any stage in the womb. And so the mother begins mothering, and the baby grows. The enriched womb of the mother nourishes and cherishes the baby, sensitive to every need. The morning sickness is a small price to pay for the life within. Moods and diets may change as the womb grows large and beautiful. It is really wondrous to behold the change of mother in the making with that womb at work. It is marvelous indeed to touch the nine month home of that child. The ear presses down, hoping to hear any sound from the baby. Touching, hearing, kissing, sensing life at work are really more important than any ultrasound. God at work through Mother Nature creating life is wondrous, even miraculous. Some today are actually privileged to see the baby born. Out of the womb comes a bundle of joy, of life and yet another miracle happens. The pain of childbirth is so well worth the end result. Perhaps it is the most loving moment, the ultimate loving moment when brand new baby lays firm on mother’s breasts. Having seen that, how I wonder could any potential mother abort, kill her very own child? To do so is to abort a miracle.Early on, it is the still, small voice of the mother which is perhaps the greatest teacher in life. We the infants hear that voice and remember what the voice of our mother sounds like and says for a lifetime. We do so consciously and perhaps even more importantly subconsciously. That loving voice in many ways is angelic, the early words of love. They come with touch, and they are spiritual, psychological, character forming and building. The love of a mother is every bit as important as food itself. So, in a sense, these early words are eternal for they train up the child in the way the mother wishes the child to go and to grow is not to depart from the right ways of the mother. The words of a mother to her child are melodic, soothing, comforting. They support, encourage and they make a child feel safe. A mother touches, hugs, strokes, talks and sings to her baby, episodes never to be forgotten. When all else fails and all others as well, a truly loving mother never does. She is forever, eternal.A loving mother is kind. In a world rough and confrontational, the kindness of the mother is a most necessary characteristic.A loving mother is never jealous, never envious, always willing to put the child first, in love. A real loving mother is proud of her child no matter what the child becomes.Motherly love is always positive, not negative. It looks for the best, the good and the right. But the mother renders discipline when things are wrong. The love of a real mother is tough love. That love has standards, clear, straight and simply and lovingly communicated. Real love is without compromise. A loving mother never bargains with a child.A mother explains and answers perhaps better than any teacher, helping a child to understand. A mother stretches but never pushes knowing that her child must be challenged in order to grow. There is always demand and discipline from the right mother, both easy to implement when the child knows he or she is:LOVEDA loving, Godly mother makes certain her child understands her standards and values and those of God as well.A loving Godly mother teaches the child the things of her Lord. Train up that child in the ways of faith, of Christian faith, the faith of the mother. There is no better witness for the child than a loving Christian mother, living life by those standards and the child along with her. That is faith with works, the best kind. A real loving mother gives time, quality time to the child. There is for mother and child that quality time to talk and much more importantly, and especially for mother, to:LISTENIn an age of cell phones, babysitters, fast foods, carpools and demanding social life, all of that and everything else should never, ever interfere with quality time spent by the mother with child. Truly listening, and touching, and hugging, and encouraging, respecting the child produces some of life’s finest lessons. Those bonding moments are, as one psychologist has well said:PEAK MOMENTSNever to be forgotten by either. Patient, kind and understanding. Truly interested in the life of a child, not superficially so. Perhaps that is why so many mothers wished more than ever, so we are told, to stay home, build that home for husband and child and all children and to spend full time training up that child in the way in which he should go. That is what mothers are for and no other job can ever come close to that incredible responsibility and opportunity. No matter the love, child rearing is work, and hard work. It demands the time of the mother at all times. The real needs of a young child are great and they demand full time, mother always on the ready. How beautiful it is for father and husband to watch the baby breastfeed. How beautiful to see mother and child so intimately and sensitively connected. There is special nourishment from the milk of the breast but there is also the psychological nourishment, the nourishment of love and bonding, one with each other, the young and often subconscious memories lasting for a lifetime. A mother’s touch, feel and taste are vitally important to the growth of the child.Some mothers homeschool. They want to train up that child in the right ways themselves. Others work to send the child to special schools, private schools or schools of faith. Loving mothers are more than willing to sacrifice to accomplish the right objectives for the child they love. And all the while, a mother encourages the love of a father for child and the child for the father. There is respect, as important as love, between mother and father, husband and wife. There is a sense of equality as both parents love their child in different ways. Perhaps the love of a father for a child is different but as the child grows and matures, the love, the real love of a real father becomes as important to the child as that of the mother. Without both loves, something fundamental is missing. So that, when a child is ready for the world, and independence, and a life for itself, both loving parents have formed the young adult and are ready proudly so to watch a brand new life unfold. They have earned, these loving parents have, the right to be proud parents.Small wonder that loving children love to give back. There comes a time when the priorities are reversed and the child becomes the support, the loving support of the parents. Loving children love to give back to loving parents. That love which began in the womb is eternal. It never fails. It outlasts faith, and hope and all the wisdom and riches of the world. It endures forever even as the love of Christ does. And so it is with the deepest admiration, respect and love that we, all of us at Crawford Broadcasting Company, salute all real loving mothers on Mother’s Day and all year long. If you are a loving mother:YOU ARE SPECIALThere is one day set aside to honor loving mothers which in reality should be done every day of the year. We are admonished, commanded to:HONOR OUR FATHER AND MOTHERIt is a commandment that we honor real loving parents with our love and respect. Give back the love you owe to your mother. Give it back with tears, with laughter and with joy. With gratitude and thanksgiving for all that she has done for you. Let her know how much you love and appreciate her, knowing as you do that you can never repay the loving debt you owe. No child can ever give back all that he or she has gotten. Never.If she is here, make sure she gets what she deserves. There are so many mothers, like mine, not here. My mother is with her Lord as she has been for more than a quarter century. How much I would love the opportunity to give her one more hug. Do that for yours while you can.We salute you and thank you, mother. There is really nothing like you in this world:NOTHING!

Israel and the Jews

JESUS WAS A JEW!His mother, the blessed virgin Mary was a Jew. Joseph, Mary’s husband was a Jew. Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, conceived by the Holy Ghost. Jesus was raised in Nazareth, in Jewish surroundings, culture, education and work ethic, the son of a carpenter, a trade he was intimately familiar with.Jesus the Jew often went to Jerusalem, UP TO THE TEMPLE. There, with them, he worshipped, learned, observed and respected the Jewish holidays, especially Passover and even at a young age, dialogued with the Rabbis, discussing scripture and the Torah, amazing all with his incredible learning and wisdom. Jesus the Jew was of the seed of David, the King of Israel whom God loved. The blood and genes coursing through his body were Abrahamic in heritage. Jesus the Jew was one of God’s Chosen People, destined by his Father for the most special role in human history. Jesus was destined to be the Messiah prophesied by the prophets of scripture, the Torah and what Christians refer to as the Old Testament.Jesus the Jew loved Jerusalem even as he loved the Jews. He wept as he cried out how much he would have loved to gather Jerusalem’s people under his wing, like a mother hen with her chicks but they had nothing to do with him, nothing. He knew how special Jerusalem was. The Prophet Zachariah declared some 2,500 years ago:“THUS SAYS THE LORD. I WILL RETURN TO ZION (JERUSALEM), AND DWELL IN THE MIDST OF JERUSALEM. JERUSALEM SHALL BE CALLED THE CITY OFTRUTH.”There is no place in this world like Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the place where Abraham offered Isaac on the altar. Jerusalem is mentioned in the Bible 811 times. It is respectfully referred to as THE CITY OF DAVID, ZION, THE CITY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING, among others. Jerusalem was the place where Christian Church history began. The Book of Acts is replete with references to the activities and sufferings of the early Christians, including Peter and John. I have had the pleasure and privilege of visiting Israel and Jerusalem 9 TIMES! There is no city in the world like Jerusalem, none. The Prophet Ezekiel states the words of the Lord:“I HAVE SET HER (JERUSALEM) IN THE MIDST OF THE NATIONS AND THE COUNTRIES ALL AROUND HER.” It is the place where Jesus the Jew, the Christ of Glory, the Messiah will return for the second time and claim his Church. It is a place chosen by God Almighty, where His name may be forever, the Lord has chosen Zion, a city he has desired for his “dwelling place”, meeting place, the City of God. There is every scriptural, biblical reference to the fact that Jerusalem is ETERNAL. It will never die! Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, by decree of King David was special in all of history and will be so in the End Times. Scriptures tell us that Jesus will return, the second time to Jerusalem at the Mount of Olives. He will then establish the Millennium, the thousand–year reign from Jerusalem. As the Prophet Jeremiah stated:“AT THAT TIME (THE RETURN OF THE MESSIAH), JERUSALEM SHALL BE CALLED THE THRONE OF THE LORD, AND ALL THE NATIONS SHALL BE GATHERED TO IT, TO THE NAME OF THE LORD, TO JERUSALEM!”But the best has yet to come. After the Millennium, the ultimate Jerusalem, THE NEW JERUSALEM will descend and be the capital city of the new earth and the new heaven, so says the scripture. The Holy City, the new Jerusalem will be established. The God of Abraham, and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ will bring about the Peace of Jerusalem, of Israel, and the whole world. There will be no more wars, sickness, sadness for the new heavens and the new earth will be the Eternal Kingdom forevermore. THUS SAITH THE SCRIPTURES, THE WORD OF GOD!Think of that my fellow Christians, and in fact all people. You worship a Jew! Your savior was a Jew. The Great Physician was a Jew. The most astounding human–being ever was a Jew. Think of that any time you encounter a modern–day Jew, one who comes from the blood and genes of Abraham. Even as Jesus was chosen by God, for His special saving mission, the Son of the Father God to whom you and we pray, so that Jew today, 2% of the American population, and perhaps no more than 15 million worldwide are special in the eye of Almighty God. Think of that the next time you encounter rabid, ever–increasing ANTI–SEMITISM. Jesus was a Jew.Hate crimes against Jews have never been more so, especially in America but the world over as well. Jews are attacked, Synagogues are burned, Jewish–owned property is destroyed, universities attacked and much of the world in the Middle East now seems ready to make war against Israel and the Jews. The world seems more than ever against Christianity. Perhaps that is so because, at least in part, JESUS WAS A JEW. For any Christian, real Christian, THE JEWISH JESUS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN YOUR LIFE. God Almighty has said in Genesis that any one who blesses the Jews will also be blessed. But if you curse them, go up against them, hurt them, revile them, ostracize them, ridicule them, THE JEWS, you yourself will be cursed by the Living God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. YOU WILL BE CURSED!There is now this ugly movement known as BDS, BOYCOTT–DIVESTMENT–SANCTIONS against Jews and Israel, anything Jewish! Scripture promises that those involved will themselves be cursed. Vengeance will be mine, says the Lord, and there is the promise of repayment. Likewise, says the scripture, if you hate the Jews, you will pay and pay big time. Jews are chosen by God to be a blessing. There are those of course who ignore scripture, and those who deny Jesus as Messiah, and they will receive the discipline of Almighty God. But it is a Christian duty to love and respect a Jew, to understand, to know history, and to visit Jerusalem (UP TO JERUSALEM) if you ever have a chance. It is an experience one–of–a–kind. And it is a Christian duty to understand THE JEWISH JESUS as the Messiah, the one to whom you have given your life.Israel will protect and defend itself. The Jews of Israel will never forget the Holocaust where 6 million of God’s Chosen People were slaughtered and they have vowed it will happen NEVER AGAIN without a fight back for every Jewish life. They will constantly be challenged by the message of the Messiah, the Christ of Glory and the second coming of that Messiah. What a pleasure it will be to see the unification of Christian and Jew under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The day will come, and come soon when JESUS THE JEW WILL REIGN SUPREME!

Easter Again

HE IS RISEN!Haven’t forgotten that, have you? Just because we celebrated Easter and the Easter message of resurrection even though virtual Sunday, April 4, I just can’t let you and me ever forget that. It’s not just April 4, it’s every day of 12 MONTHS. HE is the only man who ever triumphed over death and the grave, none before Him and none since. THE ONLY ONE! That resurrection, that bodily resurrection, that ascension, that VERIFIED – WITNESSED resurrection and ascension is crucial, pivotal, revolutionary, life changing, essential and indispensable to the belief of every Christian. Morning, noon and night, every day of all 365, the living, resurrected Christ LIVES within the hearts of every Christian believer. And every believer, the Christ has promised, will live with Him now, in this life, and in the life WITH HIM to come. Incredible, is it not? Wonderful, glorious, jubilant, to every believer. But to the natural man:FOOLISHNESS, Absolute and altogether foolishness. It is absolutely ridiculous, says a natural man, an atheist or agnostic, that a mere human being, a carpenter from Nazareth no less, who came from dust and shall return to dust as the scriptures say should rise from the dead. It is just simply not possible. And of course, the myth of the resurrection and the myth of the virgin birth and even for many the myth of the crucifixion all are nothing more than fairytales or as the scriptures say IDLE tales. One can readily see how a natural man, one not drawn by THE HOLY SPIRIT, with eyes closed and ears blocked would scoff, mock and ridicule the EASTER story. If you want, as physicist and astronomer Steven Hawkins would say to believe in a myth of fairytale, that is your right. But the world of science, says Hawkins, astronomy and the so called reason and rationality of the mind dismiss a resurrection possibility out of hand. It didn’t happen, says Hawkins. IT CAN’T HAPPEN!And, to that, the Apostle Paul says if in fact the resurrection did not happen, then:YOUR FAITH IS IN VAIN.Worthless. No better than any other belief system, if even that. If Christ be not risen, any professing believer is not only deceived but becomes him or herself a DECEIVER. Such a believer testifies to a lie, perhaps the biggest lie in all of human history and consequently, becomes a conspirator in the spread of evil and duplicity. So that, not only is the believer’s faith in vain, but the guilt of the false belief of others lies upon him or her as well. When you or I profess to be Christian, we must therefore champion the resurrection with all of our heart, soul and mind. There can be no doubt. NONE! Perhaps that is why the nonbeliever dislikes, even hates Christianity and as a consequence the Christians who follow it. Nonbelievers hate the concept of sin. They see no need for forgiveness. They deeply resent the demands of Christianity and the Christ who boldly proclaims:NO MAN OR WOMAN COMES TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME!Nonbelievers hate that demand, that exclusivity. For it rules out everything else, every other form of belief, in fact every other religion. The crucifixion at Golgotha was merely the death of one man, perhaps even justified. The man who died was a revolutionary, a seditionist, constantly conspiring to get THE PEOPLE to resist and rebel against Rome, the political system, Herod and Pilot on the one hand and the religious authorities, the Pharisees and Sadducees on the other. And he even admitted he came to stir up trouble, to turn one family member against another. He called Herod the Tetrarch of Rome a FOX, cunning, deceiving and lying. The religious establishment despised him because he referred to them over and again as nothing more than hypocrites, or whited sepulchers, empty inside. If any mere man deserved to die, and die in an excruciating way, it was this mirror man Jesus of Nazareth. It was with HIM then as it is now love or hate. You embraced him, believed in him, gave him your all. Or you despised, even hated him nothing more than a rebel or rabble rouser, deluded, even perhaps insane a man in no way to be taken seriously. WITH OR AGAINST. And, written off by Him who again boldly even arrogantly stated:HE THAT IS NOT WITH ME IS AGAINST ME.The world, the secularists, the natural men and women accommodate Christianity one weekend, three days each year. From Good Friday through resurrection Sunday, those who believe in fairytales are allowed their celebration. But then comes Monday and it is back to business as usual, criticizing Christianity, attempting at every hand to get Christians, Christian beliefs and Christianity out of the public square, out of the marketplace, confined if at all possible to the four walls of a church. They are determined, these rabid, progressive secularists to curtail or eliminate Christian witness, any form of evangelism for they the enemy have determined that all Christian speech is:HATE SPEECH. They are determined to destroy, eliminate any form of testimony, any message which states:CHRIST IS RISEN Even as they scoff at the message:UP FROM THE GRAVE HE AROSEWITH THE MIGHTY CHILD O’ER HIS FOESWherever he was buried, there he remains they say. From the time he was laid in a tomb, everything else, EVERYTHING is nothing more than myth, fairytale, idle tale WHY!But, natural man, like it or not, he did in fact rise again. HE WAS SEEN first by the women Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James and Salome, and Joanna, and other women. They first saw the empty tomb as they brought spices, the announcement of the resurrection by the angel and these women were the very first EVANGELISTS. They were the first to go and tell. They told Peter, and the disciples, 11 of them and others that at the tomb:HE IS NOT THERE!HE IS RISEN!He was there, back for some 40 days before an ascension. He fellowshipped with his disciples and with others. He was there in the flesh for he was hungry and thirsty. He ate and drank and he showed them his nail pierced body and the wounded side where he was pierced. He returned as a man alive and ascended in glory as the eternal Christ. For Christian believers, it is true, all of it. It is fact. It is the foundation of belief. He was alive in the flesh before and after the crucifixion and now lives eternally and forever with his saints to reign. So, the Christian joyfully proclaims Easter Sunday and every other day:HALLELUJAH CHRIST AROSEWe the believers celebrated the Easter weekend, mourning at the remembrance of the crucifixion on Good Friday April 2 but joyfully and jubilantly celebrated HIS Resurrection on Easter Sunday, April 4. That resurrection message was heard that day the world over. The world made time, even priority at least to recognize that incredible message. But now, only mere days later, it is business as usual. Perhaps even we who believe become gradually less open, less aggressive in our testimony, perhaps even unwilling to STAND for what we believe, in Him. Perhaps, gradually, we become more defensive, even withdrawn, unwilling to testify and confront. Perhaps the message of those three potent days becomes a matter of memory, fading, the power of it all dissipating, the courage to fight the fight of faith waning. So, just a few days after the Easter celebration, it is well for us to celebrate again, and again and again, and every day the fact, the most supreme fact in all of human history that:HE IS RISEN.That, as the old hymn says, Christ the Lord is risen today, and every day. Hallelujah! Let us with all our hearts proclaim that message and live that message. It is the greatest fact in human history!So, from the virgin birth, to a powerful human life symbolist, to the crucifixion offering forgiveness for all mankind through the shed blood, to the resurrection, believe it, proclaim it, and live it every day of the year. And one more thing. There is yet to come the rapture. This, the crucified and resurrected Christ will return again for his church, for us. Perhaps that day is near and we should be ready. The rapture is yet another fairytale, so says the natural man. But for Christians, it is the ultimate event, the culmination of everything. If you are Christian, if you believe, then the Holy Spirit bears witness, fortifies your belief, encourages you and strengthens you and makes certain that you live joyfully in the faith, hope and love of the Christian journey. Easter was celebrated days ago. But Easter is not a day, it is a way of life. Celebrate morning, noon and night:HE IS RISEN HALLELUJAHCHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY AND EVERY DAY!

Easter - The Lord is Risen

Up the carpenter went to Jerusalem, knowing full well why. It was time, HIS time, the time, the eternal time as appointed when a world changing event would happen. It was to be the end of his earthly journey, a time for the transition between the Jesus of history and the Christ of Glory.There came that time in the Garden of Gethsemane where he went to pray. He asked his disciples to participate, to watch with him, to stay awake with him. Not knowing the incredible events about to happen, they slept. But the Master prayed, communed with the Father. How wonderful the humanity of Jesus the Christ in Gethsemane. As man, he knew the incredible suffering and agony to come, the crucifixion which would happen and he prayed to the Father:LET THIS CUP PASS FROM MELet there be another way to introduce your love and saving grace rather than crucifixion. But the answer was clear, the plan in place. There would be no change. Perhaps that was the greatest expression and revelation of the WILL of God at work. The plan of salvation would begin with Him, Jesus of Nazareth so that all men might know that He was indeed the SON OF GOD. And so, in blessed surrender, the soon to be Christ of Glory uttered this incredible prayer:NOT MY WILL BUT THY WILL BE DONEOn earth even as it is in heaven. He was ready, and willing.Jesus of Nazareth loved Jerusalem as all Jews do. There stood the temple, the holiest place on earth to the Jews, the earthly abiding place of the HOLY OF HOLIES. It was ordained so by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and it was the place, the center for the longing, the love and the passion of all Jews. Jerusalem, the one and only Jerusalem, the City of David.Jesus of Nazareth poured out His love on the city and its people so very special to him. He passionately lamented how he would love to take the city and its people under his wing and to show them what he firmly believed was the way, the truth, and the life, all new things. There would be from God through him a new creation possible, all things and people born again, a fresh and vital spirituality. But before these new gifts from God could become universal, a tragic and horrific event must occur followed by the most miraculous and wonderful event in the history of mankind.HE had dined in Jerusalem with his disciples, a loving Last Supper to commemorate the event to come, the celebration of his body and his blood. That communion of the disciples and the Lord, that spiritual fellowship celebrated vicariously with bread and wine, was the end event for them but only the beginning of a lifelong celebration for us. Roman soldiers found him in Gethsemane. There came the mockery of trial and interrogation before Pilate and Herod. The world knows of the hands–washing, the refusal to make the decision of death for a just and innocent man and the offering to the people of a choice between Jesus of Nazareth and a convicted criminal. The crowd of course chose the criminal.Then came the walk to the cross, the VIA DOLOROSA, the way of sorrow still today commemorated in Jerusalem by the 12 Stations of the Cross. When His cross became too heavy to bear, another carried it for him. Crowds lined the way, watching and listening, some mocking, some wailing, all perhaps sensing this was no ordinary man nor would there be any ordinary crucifixion. But none could know that the world could change.And so, the cruelest and most brutal death possible occurred for an innocent man, a public crucifixion. Roman soldiers nailed Jesus of Nazareth to that wooden cross.It seems ironic indeed, does it not, that a man who lived and worked with wood died a brutal death on wood itself. He hung on that cross for hours, a criminal on each side. The sky grew dark and it was as though the earth and all in it mourned. The Christ of Glory hung in utter agony, and the horrific pain he experienced caused Him to utter these unforgettable words:MY GOD, MY GOD WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN MEWHY?So alone, in utter agony, feeling even that the FATHER had forsaken Him. It is impossible to know how He felt, how awful that death must have been for Him. But He was man, human. We as humans like him can understand the cruelty of man and the suffering and agony he suffered in death as many of us have. HE took on the suffering of mankind on that Golgotha Hill. So many who loved him watched, mourned and prayed, never really knowing that this tragic crucifixion would turn into a glorious Resurrection.It seemed indeed that in that darkest moment, God Himself had departed, forsaken. Perhaps it was, as some scholars think that this Holy God could not look upon the ultimate and tragic event as they were laid on him the sins of the world. On that cross, in the blood and tortured flesh of the body of the Son of God, in that death unto sin were in fact the sins of the world, all of them and all of ours. That final bloody act of remission and propitiation had to be finished. There had to be that tumultuous and cataclysmic collision of worlds, when heaven and earth became one through Him. For hours, He suffered in agony and pain. His precious body was exposed, mutilated and mocked. He was crowned in the ultimate sarcasm with a crown of thorns to mock the claim of:KING OF THE JEWS.Roman soldiers taunted him, challenging him to use His miraculous powers to come down from the cross, laughing all the while. They cast lots for his garments and treated in cavalier style this world changing event as ordinary, the crucifixion and death of yet another fanatic, yet another would be Messiah as there were so many of them in that day. Never could these men know what would happen on the third day.And so He died and as He was removed from the cross, there came mercifully and lovingly Joseph of Arimathea to claim the body, something which rarely happened in early Roman times, so that Jesus of Nazareth could be buried in His very own tomb. And there He lay as all who knew him, loved, followed and believed in Him mourned. There was perhaps that day a sense of no hope, the law so tragic that HE would never be replaced. Like doubting Thomas, none really believed what would happen that third day.But on that third day, they hurried, they ran to the tomb, the women did. They were so anxious lovingly to attend His body. Instead, they found in the tomb the Angel of the Lord. The stone which had covered the tomb had been rolled back. The event was so terrifying it overwhelmed the Roman guards. The women announced that they had come looking for Jesus of Nazareth, He who had been crucified, buried and laid in this tomb. They demanded to know who took His body. But the Angel of the Lord said to them, words which would change the world:HE IS NOT HEREHE IS RISENHE IS ALIVE. Death as we know it had no power over Him. For millions, that is impossible for us to believe. But for us who do and especially those of us never having seen, heard or been in His physical presence, we who believe the truth and reality of the Resurrection are entitled to the power and the eternal victory over death even as it was with Him. Even as He returned to the Father, so shall we at our appointed time be with Him and the Father as well. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is not a myth, not symbolic, but the most real event in all of human history.The Apostle Paul states that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most fundamental event, the crux of Christianity. If, says Paul, there was no Resurrection, then Christianity is a farce and more importantly our FAITH is in vain. If the Resurrection was myth, or symbolic and not real, actual, factual, a bodily resurrection, then our faith is in vain. But thank the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, as Paul did, that the Resurrection was real, it endures with everlasting power even now and for all eternity. OUR FAITH IS NOT IN VAIN. The tomb was empty and the empty lives of all mankind could now be filled with the power of this incredible resurrection. The words again which changed the world:HE IS NOT HERE!HE IS RISEN!And so came the Resurrection witness. The resurrected and risen Christ was seen, heard, touched, and otherwise fully experienced as living once again. There were those who doubted, demanding proof. They touched the nail pierced hands and the side pierced with that Roman spear. And they said with the words of doubting Thomas:MY LORD AND MY GODTheir eyes were opened and they recognized Him. They fellowshipped with Him and ate with Him. And He said to them “why are you disturbed and troubled.” Why do such doubts and questionings arise in your hearts? He told them to see His hands and feet and know that it is I MYSELF. No mere spirit, He said, has flesh and bones as I have. His disciples were filled with sheer joy and marvel. Their minds were open to understand Him and the Scriptures. Now said the Resurrected Christ, you are witnesses of these things. Go and preach this wonderful event and our message to all nations. He blessed them and sent them.GO YE, He said, into all of the world and preach the Gospel to everyman, to the Jew first but then to the Gentiles. TO ALL MANKIND. The saving power of the Resurrection was for everyone. So many of us doubt in some ways even today. We see through a glass darkly, said Paul. Our understanding of these things is limited, human here and now. But hereafter, we will know, really know when we see HIM:FACE TO FACEBlessed are those who have never seen and believe!There is nothing in this world like this belief, the outpouring of the saving grace of the Resurrection. The power of life and life eternal through Him is the most powerful force on earth. It comes by acceptance and an open heart, the outpouring of this transforming love. It has been my blessing and I hope and pray that you have had such an encounter with THE LIVING CHRIST, that you have experienced the forgiveness of the cross and that you have accepted and believed in the power of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is Easter, that is what Easter means. It is life anew, one born again. A decision to encounter is the most important decision any person can make. It changes life here and it creates life hereafter. It allows the unfolding of the Kingdom of God now and fellowship in that Kingdom for eternity. We become ONE WITH HIM now, and then forevermore. And so, we who believe sing on Easter Sunday and all year long:CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAYHALLELUJAH!Let the heavens and the earth sing with joy and praise and fill the mind and heart with the power and love of the Resurrection. May the meaning of Easter be with you always, and firmly fasten in your mind the words of the angel, the Messenger of God who stated to those women so many years ago and consequently to all mankind:HE IS NOT HERE!HE IS RISEN!Christ the Lord is in fact risen and our faith is not only NOT in vain but the greatest thing in life. As He was with them in those days following His Resurrection, so He will be with us. His words to that effect are unforgettable.HEAR ME!I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS!EVEN UNTO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH!Christ is Risen!HALLELUJAH!

Pride

“There is one vice of which no man or woman in the world is free; which everyone in the world loathes when he sees it in someone else; and of which hardly any people, except Christians, ever imagine that they are guilty themselves. There is no fault which makes a man or woman more unpopular, and no fault which we are more unconscious of in ourselves. And the more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others.”Those were the wise and spiritually motivated words of C.S. Lewis, a brilliant writer and apologist who in the later years of his life was converted to Christianity. The vice, or as C.S. Lewis called it THE GREAT SIN is perhaps the deadliest of all:PRIDE.Lewis says that pride is an ego–motivated maneuver to hide from ourselves and others the truth about our inner reality. It comes about, says the gospel writer Mark “from within and defiles a man or woman.”Perhaps one of the greatest examples of destructive pride was the ancient King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar. This great King, the mightiest of his time, at or about 600 B.C. was a living example of pride which goes before destruction. He built then the city far and a way the most famous and beautiful in the world at that time, the great city of Babylon. Its huge walls were 387 feet high and 85 feet wide, wide enough that four chariots could be driven side by side along the top. The city was a perfect square, 15 miles on each of the four sides, comfortably housing a population of 1.2 million. The mighty Euphrates River flowed through the city and gardens, groves, orchards and farmlands were contained therein, providing enough food to feed the entire city. Nebuchadnezzar in the Book of Daniel was full of himself, as prideful as any man could be. Hear his words about himself and his great creation Babylon:“Is not this great Babylon that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”In one sentence, Nebuchadnezzar referred to himself with one I and two my’s. The great Jehovah brought him down, big time because of his arrogance, his egoism. God turned him into a wolfman and for seven years he ate with the animals until such time as he repented and was restored by the Almighty to his throne. In the case of Nebuchadnezzar, pride indeed went before destruction. A good definition of pride is inordinate self–esteem. Too much, character changing to the point where, as C.S. Lewis so well said to the point where this vice causes all to dislike the person. Pride as well is conceit of superiority, better than others, better than the average person, the common man and woman. We see today a perfect example of that in Vladimir Putin. The man is ruthless, barbaric. He is a murderer, a destroyer because HE believes he is right, entitled and destined. He has total disdain for others and through political maneuverings, has become a virtual dictator in Russia like Stalin, like Kruschev, a believer in the theories of Karl Marx, a rabid communist determined to rebuild the old Soviet Union, the UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS.Prideful persons are arrogant. They have an exalted opinion of themselves and there is considerable vanity in their lives. They are indifferent to others. They don’t listen. They simply manipulate the opinion of others in order that what they believe and in a prideful way know is right is fully accepted. Such a man was the Apostle Paul, then Saul, hard as a rock, a prideful, hateful pharisee who saw it as his life mission to destroy and kill Christians. Pride in old line Judaism drove him. But the Christ of Glory brought him down, humbled him beyond belief and radically changed his life. Even as God did that to Nebuchadnezzar, and the Son to Paul, so the day will come when Putin will be brought down and his and Russian pride will be destroyed. Never forget that pride goes before destruction. Pride hardens the heart. A prideful person not only does not listen, but cannot learn and can never appreciate others. Take the case of one of the original twelve disciples, Judas. Here was a man with one of the greatest twelve privileges of all mankind. He worked with, was influenced by, learned from and served the Christ of Glory but never learned to appreciate his God–given opportunity. In fact, he sabotaged, sought to betray and was unfaithful with the money of the Apostles. His thievery and personal shame caused him to commit suicide. How much would you have appreciated being on the original twelve of Jesus Christ? Judas was a prideful man. And so was Peter. When the Roman soldiers came to get our Lord, Peter did not depend upon God, or his Lord for defense. But, took it upon himself to go to battle. He drew his sword, cut off the ear of a Roman soldier and otherwise stood ready for battle until he was put down by his Lord. His pride led him to believe that he could save the day, something utterly impossible. Had he gone to battle with the Roman soldiers, Peter’s Pride would have destroyed him. Pride goes before destruction.It is indeed a deadly sin, perhaps the deadliest of the sins. IT EXISTS IN YOU AND ME! We hate to be wrong, criticized, ridiculed, mocked or rejected, do we not? All of us are that way MORE OR LESS, all of us. The only real remedy, lasting, permanent and transforming is:SALVATION IN JESUS CHRIST.That includes the input in heart and soul of humility, grace and most of all, LOVE. If God hates pride and God does, and if it is a C.S. Lewis says a vice of which no man in the world is free, and if at times we are even unaware (unconscious) of pride in ourselves, then the only remedy is:SALVATION IN JESUS CHRIST.You see pride in others and you, as C.S. Lewis says, and I loathe it. We simply do not like a prideful person. It is trouble, a pathway to wrong decisions, a force which prevents the ability to listen and learn. It is toxic, like poison in the body and it will eventually, EVENTUALLY destroy a man or woman. It destroys relationships and marriages. And all the while it wreaks human havoc, it perhaps becomes more than ever one of the things:THE LORD HATES!Our political leaders today are extremely prideful. Many of our religious leaders are as well. Perhaps the most prideful are educators, or learned people. The more in the head, the less in the heart. The Holy Spirit can knock at the heart’s door, but there is no heart key to let it in. That is because pride dwells therein and pride is the ultimate destroyer.It is all well and good for us to take satisfaction in accomplishments, including our own intellects, physical or emotional abilities. We can be fulfilled in what we do, and take pleasure in our accomplishments. We can have confidence in ourselves without stepping over the line into the dastardly world of pride. God indeed is a God of love, but we are clearly told that GOD HATES (incredibly opposite) pride. If not now, the time will come when it will bring down any person no matter how high up or powerful. May God melt you, show you yourself when pride rules and lead you away from that short path of that destruction. I know one who could do that. That one is a:CARPENTER FROM NAZARETH!

C-4 - O-Canada

On January 7, 2022, a new law went into effect in Canada. The Bill was known as C–4. In effect, the Canadian Government in this dastardly bill, an overt attack on free speech, banned “conversion therapy”. That was defined as:“ANY PRACTICE, TREATMENT OR SERVICE DESIGNED TO REPRESS OR REDUCE NON–HETEROSEXUAL ATTRACTION OR SEXUAL BEHAVIOR”.This incredible law forbids any form of advice or admonition that challenges such behaviors or tendencies. It seems as though anything non–heterosexual goes. Any dialogue, criticism or speech which challenges such behaviors or tendencies is now illegal, whether that is “offered by professionals, religious officials or laypersons”. If you engage in such discourse, you are guilty of committing a federal offense which the government of Canada in this bill classifies as a HATE CRIME to call a transgender person or a homosexual to repentance. If anyone does that, they have broken the law. Christians, if they do so, that is challenge homosexuality or transgenderism, especially as biblically indicated sinful behavior, have defied the statute and, get this now, can be imprisoned for doing so for as many as:FIVE YEARS!Absolutely unbelievable. That clear portion of scripture is now no and void, and illegal in the once great country of Canada. In addition, C–4 makes it a crime punishable by two years in prison even to recommend or advertise any church or program that urges people to conform their identity and behavior to the biblical and social norms of their biological sex. In short, this horrendous legislation strikes a most serious blow against all Christians, and Christian radio, and the Christian programs which are broadcast on Christian radio, and Christian advertising which promotes directly or indirectly anything which this C–4 statute prohibits and threatens as much as five years in jail or two years in jail for those who do such programming or advertising. You might expect something like this legislation from Russia or China, but never, ever from the once great free democracy of the country of Canada. Unbelievable. That means that potentially three stations of the Crawford Broadcasting Company are at risk daily of violating this law, namely WDCX–FM in Buffalo, WMUZ–FM in Detroit, and WDCX–AM in Rochester. All put signals, programming and advertising into the great country of Canada and sooner or later, each is bound to produce programming or advertising content which will violate this law. As the owner of all three, I find this unbelievable and unacceptable, and I will do whatever is necessary to fight this unjust, undemocratic attack on free speech and especially our beloved Christianity no matter the consequences. This company and I are ready to put all on the altar in defense of the gospel!John MacArthur, strong servant of the Lord says the following:“IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS TO OBEY SUCH A LAW”.The scripture he says defines such conduct as “sinful” and that the conversion process needs to be at work for salvation from such sin. MacArthur reminds us that the church of Jesus Christ is the salt of the earth and the light of the world. It is our duty to obey God and His word rather than man, and in this case C–4. Christians, real Christians in Canada face the most unbelievable challenge to their faith, EVER. Pastor John MacArthur of Grace Community Church points to the very direct and clear scripture, 1 Corinthians 6 which is the polar opposite of this dastardly law C–4. That scripture, now forbidden, is as follows:NEITHER FORNICATORS NOR IDOLATERS, NOR ADULTERERS, NOR EFFEMINATE, NOR HOMOSEXUALS, NOR THIEVES, NOR THE COVETEUS, NOR DRUNKARDS, NOR REVIVALERS, NOR SWINDLERS WILL INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD (1 CORINTHIANS 6: 9 – 10).That God–given scripture could not be more clear. It is the duty, says MacArthur, of every true Christian to champion, to preach that truth, that biblical truth as with all others, no matter the consequences. No law made by man can contradict or co–op this emphatic moral commandment. This clarion call from 2,000 years ago, etched in heavenly, moral stone is an inviolable commandment to every Christian. You must, says the Lord through the Apostle Paul, stand up against this immoral, “sinful” behavior and proclaim it as wrong if in fact you are a true follower of Jesus Christ. It is your spiritual duty. MacArthur then goes on to say that REDEEMING CULTURE is not the heart of our God–given task, not a priority as such but preaching the gospel, the whole gospel of Jesus Christ is! The admonitions in 1 Corinthians 6 are a critical, clear and fundamental part of that mission. We are, he reminds us again “obliged to obey God rather than men (Acts 5: 29). We cannot remain silent says the scripture and we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard and know to be true (Acts 4:20). This law is not only an attack on Christianity, but it is also an equally dastardly attack on free speech. We can only hope and pray that there are aggressive, politically active Christians and Constitutionalists in Canada who will rise up, take the challenge, litigate this awful legislation with the hope that Canadian courts will declare it unconstitutional and once again allow the gospel to be preached without restriction which includes the right to promote conversion therapy. Do it now, Canadian Christians, before it is too late.John MacArthur, faithful servant of our Lord, provides us with one final admonition:“NO GOVERNMENT CAN EVER MAKE ANY LAW THAT WILL STOP THE TRUTH CHURCH FROM PROCLAIMING THE TRUTH THAT GOD USES TO CONVERT SINNERS”.Amen. I, like those in my company, are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ for we who believe know it is the power of God unto salvation. This company will put all on the altar to defend the total and unabridged freedom to preach the gospel, to declare its morality, its power and its rightness. No Canadian law, C–4 or any other, will ever prevent that from happening, NEVER!

End Times - Last Days - Lawlessness and Violence

Prophecy in scripture indicates that these may indeed be the last days, the end times of this world. Could be, don’t you think?No man knows the hour, the time, the era when end times will occur, only the FATHER. But it is our duty, says the scripture, to study the signs of the times and to be on the watch, looking for that grand appearance the second time, the return of the savior of the world, the beginning of His reign and the end of all things earthly. A prophecy expert is one David Jeremiah who studies and teaches prophecy, a real expert. Dr. Jeremiah believes that the rapture, the taking away of the real church of Jesus Christ could happen any day, ANY DAY! The signs of the times are right for that to happen. The church of believers will be redeemed, taken out and the great restrainer, the moral restrainer, the Holy Spirit will be removed from this world and as Jeremiah well says, all hell will break loose. Some of that seems to be happening right now, don’t you think? Then will rise up the Anti–Christ who will become the leader of the world, a one world dictator and all with the mark of the beast (666) will pay homage and swear allegiance to him and any who don’t will be cut off and killed. The rise of the Anti–Christ, say prophecy experts, will usher in the great tribulation, a period of seven years says the Prophet Daniel. There will be relative peace for the first three and one half years, and a treaty with Israel which will guarantee peace and its safety. But at the end of the first three and one half years, the peace treaty will be broken and the war to end all wars, the Armageddon of all conflicts will break out and the Anti–Christ will cause nations to rise up against Israel and in fact against all people of faith. Scary stuff, is it not? But, that’s what scripture says, war, violence and killing will occur like has never been seen before in the history of mankind. Prophecy experts believe that real Christians will be gone, delivered, up there with Him even as this incredible slaughter, destruction and barbarism occurs on this earth. The signs of the times seem to indicate that these are the last days. One of the key signs of those barbaric days is lawlessness. The rule of law is replaced by the rule of dictators. And violence. Violence is everywhere. But the main sign is:WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS.Scripture predicts and Jeremiah affirms that Russia will be reborn, reenergized, and play a key role in the military affairs of the last days. We now witness the start of that prophecy with the brutal, barbaric and bestial invasion, slaughter and killing of Ukraine and the Ukrainians. Vladimir Putin is a brutal, barbaric man. He is determined to rebuild the old Russian empire, take back every state and piece of territory which he believes was taken from him and Russia, and as long as he is in power, he will drive the new Russia to retake and rebuild the old USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics). The Ukraine war will not end until Ukraine is absolutely subservient to the new Russia. Then, more wars will occur, more invasions, more slaughter and killing of innocent civilians, and eventually, the involvement in these wars of other nations. Russian induced conflicts will spread until the entire world is at war. That then occasions the Third World War, and the last world war, the rapid development of those signs and conditions which lead to the rise of the Anti–Christ and the happening of the tribulation. Prophecy experts say these will be the last wars for they will be NUCLEAR in nature. It only takes one nuclear bomb to trigger the entire world, every country to military action. The nations of Russia, China, North Korea, India, Pakistan and some European countries, along with we Americans, and soon to be if not already Iran have the nuclear bomb and nuclear capabilities. Any one of those nations can unleash one bomb and the world explodes. America is by no means immune as it always has been. In the Second World War, one of the most popular songs was OVER THERE. Americans were energized and motivated to enlist in the military to fight the war over there, the fight with Germany, Japan and Italy. Then came Pearl Harbor in 1941 and we realized that the war over there could very well some day soon be the war over here, right here. It was ironic how that song and others romanticized the war until such time as American body bags began to arrive back in America. War is brutal, vicious, barbaric, evil and the ultimate satanic tool. Russia indicates that America is the ultimate enemy, not Ukraine, not the Baltic States, but THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Russia has the capability of sending ballistic missiles which can reach our shore armed with nuclear warheads and in an instant, some of our great cities and all of its citizens could be totally destroyed never again to return. The modern–day Adolf Hitler, Vladimir Putin may one day do just that. We Americans are unprepared for this war. We believe naively it won’t happen here because death and destruction are always over there. But violence, killing, barbarism, murders, terrorism and war itself will happen in America. IT WILL. It is only a question of when. Our military is strong but many military experts think that the Russian and Chinese militaries are stronger. China and Russia are ready for war. We are not. Americans who understand and fear these possibilities arm themselves. The purchase of all kinds of weapons is at an all time high. Americans have distrust for our governments, our National Guard and the readiness of our Country in a time of war. These Americans are determined to defend themselves, and their families and loved ones and they are ready when, not if, this happens. Putin comes from a KGB background, skilled in the art of torture and killing and really has little regard for human life much like his predecessors Khrushchev, Gorbachev, and especially Stalin and Marx. Tens of millions of human beings were slaughtered at the direction of these men, and Putin, if he retains the power he now has, will do the very same thing. Tens of thousands of innocent human beings, including women and children have already been slaughtered in the Ukraine. And there are many more brutal deaths to come.One bomb, one nuclear bomb, and the world explodes. The end times will in fact happen then and there. Nations will demand vengeance. If Israel is attacked, especially in a nuclear way, the payback destruction that tiny nation can dish out will be nothing like the world has ever seen. Then, say the prophesiers, people will lift up their eyes and pray, plead for the return of the only one who can bring peace to the world, Jesus Christ. They will pray for the rapture, the deliverance from this world, and for justice and vengeance. But that won’t come from human hands. VENGEANCE is mine says the Lord. I and only I will repay. These indeed are frightening times, but they are times of incredible opportunity. The witness for the gospel, true revival will have opportunity like never before. The work we do will never be better for we work knowing the night, the black dark night of death and destruction is coming. In the midst of this incredible barbarism and killing, there comes the opportunity for love to reign supreme. These are trying days indeed but days of incredible spiritual opportunity. Take advantage of them my brothers and sisters in the Lord. Count it a blessing that you have been called upon to be an active spiritual participant in:THE END TIMES.

The Angry Parent - Homeschooling

Education has been taken over by radicals, by progressives, by those intent, even passionate about changing America. The true parent gets angrier by the day.But not just a different kind of education, not just all things politically correct and WOKE, there are those in education anti–American, intent on destroying this Country and its history. These subversives now exist at every level of education from day school to graduate school. The payrolls of our colleges and universities are chock full of professors and teachers who have these radical, progressive, woke agendas, far more important to them than the studies they were hired to teach. Enough say the parents, we have had enough. We will find a different and better way to educate our children.So, now there are more than eight million students in America, kindergarten to 12th grade being educated by the means of:HOMESCHOOLING.The Homeschool Boom is happening all across America. Not only did this occur as a result of the incredible default in education of America’s high schools, colleges and universities, but it was fostered by the COVID–19 Pandemic. Homeschooling has been adopted by American families from diverse communities, different political ideologies, and by different races and ethnicities. There are even many children with special needs who have also successfully transitioned to homeschooling. Lance Izumi, Senior Director of Pacific Research Institute’s Center for Education stated the following:“The COVID–19 Pandemic forced millions of students to learn at home. Many parents saw for the first time how ineffective traditional schools were at educating their kids.”What began as a stop gap measure, something temporary until the regular schools could open, turned into a viable alternative for parents who were fed up with public education. The temporary became permanent in so many families, eight million students and growing. This wonderful phenomenon crossed racial and ethnic boundaries. For example, the number of African American families homeschooling increased by five times, FIVE TIMES. And, the number of Hispanic families homeschooling doubled as parents were determined to take control of the minds, hearts and emotions of their precious children. If these precious God–given children were to be educated by progressives, radicals, woke and anti–American teachers, parents who love their children would provide their education themselves. Homeschooling showed the fight, the spirit, the passion of true American families who were determined to control the educational destiny of their children. Enough of Critical Race Theory, the 1619 Project, the teaching of white supremacy and racism and back to real education. When former governors like former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe tell parents they have no right to tell teachers what they should teach their children, THE ANGRY PARENT rebels and these parents will not only control what is taught, but they will do it themselves!The really good thing about homeschooling is that it is not a phenomenon only among conservatives or Christians. Parents from every background, and religious belief, or even political persuasion are homeschooling. It undoubtedly exists in your own family, or friends, or surely those you know. The Pacific Research Institute even profiles a parent who is a self–proclaimed “flaming liberal” who joined, of all things, with a conservative Christian parent and together they found it a:HOMESCHOOL CO–OPERATIVE. One of the beautiful things about homeschooling is that it can provide the most INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING OPTION POSSIBILE. It offers choice, real choice in education. It offers flexibility, real flexibility. It offers personalization, real personalization. That is simply not available in traditional schools. There are a tremendous array of resources available to help parents educate their children at home. There are online learning platforms. There are affiliations with neighborhood charter schools and more options become available by the day. It is a wonderous movement to behold. But of course, homeschooling comes under increasing attack by teachers’ unions. These powerful unions cannot abide competition and they bring power and political pressure to bear on authorities and politicians to put an end to or severely limit homeschooling. There are many politicians ready to take up the cause in behalf of unions because of their power, money and voting resources and they have no qualms in attacking the homeschoolers, even with the possibility of legislation which would end the phenomenon altogether. And you can be sure the Ivy League academics and other educational elites decry homeschooling and attack it every way possible. That makes these real parents even more determined to preserve, protect and defend their right to educate their children, to control that education as they wish. THE HOMESCHOOL BOOM has also become a successful alternative for the most vulnerable, special needs students in our society. There are numerous resources now available that enable them to provide 1–on–1 instruction, flexible scheduling and creative and individual learning environments for these different students. That kind of education is far more effective than anything which traditional schools can offer.The Homeschool Boom is here to stay, my fellow Americans. There are millions of parents dissatisfied with traditional education, more so each day, and they are determined to create and control educational alternatives. When it happens in the liberal bastion of San Francisco, it can happen anywhere in America. Homeschooling can occur in individual families, individual households and homes or it can extend out to co–operative efforts where families band together and provide even more resources. These loving, caring parents do all of this and at the same time, continue to pay high taxes for public schools and state and county education because they know that as parents, it is their first and foremost duty to train up their children in the way in which they should go, so many of them for God and Country.This movement will not go away. It will only grow. Woke and radical progressivism have taken over America’s educational systems, they are deeply entrenched and while the task of eliminating, eradicating and changing, CHANGE BACK goes on, THE HOMESCHOOLING BOOM continues to boom all across America. If you are a Christian, or conservative, or true American parent of a child, especially young children, why not join the movement. Perhaps you should consider that for today, it may be America’s best choice in education.

The Angry Parent

Mom and dad are mad, really mad the Nation across. In fact, there is a “wave of anger like no other” coast to coast in America. The problem is education and the source of the anger is:CRITICAL RACE THEORY.Americans by a margin of more than 3 to 1 think that the top issue in our Country is:SOCIALIST IDEAS IN EDUCATION.This information was provided by polling of CONVENTION OF STATES ACTION and THE TRAFALGAR GROUP. They report:“Politicians have vastly underestimated the extent to which parents are charged up about wokeness in education. Everywhere we go across America, people are absolutely furious.”So that, the bottom line is:“When you mess with someone’s kids and their schools, you strike at the very heart of what Americans care about the most.”The right education may well be the most important responsibility of any parent. “Train up a child in the way he or she should go. Train them up right.” So says the scripture. That means not only in the ways and the things of the Lord, but in all things secular which make them better citizens and responsible society members. The right education is critical for any child. Joseph Stalin, the ruthless Russian Dictator told the world that if he could educate a child until that child was four years old, he would have him for life. The worst killer in the history of mankind Adolf Hitler said let me control the books (the education) and I will control the child forevermore. Education, learning, quotes the study to show yourself approved unto God, workman for Him and for society should be priority number one. But, somehow some way, right thinking parents lose control to radicals, progressives, the woke individuals, the radical minority that wishes to replace real history, real facts, real learning with subversive and radical theories like the 1619 project and Critical Race Theory rule the day. How does this happen? How did these radicals get control of school education boards, determine the criteria and curriculum for education and introduce over and again radical change, how does this happen? Parents the Country over are finally waking up to woke, seeing so clearly the damage these radical social ideas in education can cause and they are saying by the millions:ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!And, as always in the radical segments of our society, it is the Democrat party where these candidates arise, and the most radical, progressive of them with their anti–American ideas somehow get control. In Virginia, one very passionate Democrat mother said:“We used to have a good school system. Now, my daughter’s safety and education seem like an after–thought.”The former Democrat Governor of Virginia Terry McAuliffe said on the campaign trail last fall, a reelection effort he lost by a substantial margin:“I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.”Unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable! Small wonder this radical, progressive, Democrat Governor lost for he and all like him in Virginia lost perspective, value, historical significance and then, LOST the election big time. McAuliffe was soundly defeated by Republican Glen Youngkin, who aggressively campaigned against socialist ideas in education among many other anti–progressive ideas and principles. Even Virginia’s new Lieutenant Governor, Winsome Sears, by the way the first female and African American woman ever to become Lieutenant Governor, denounced Critical Race Theory and socialist ideas in education. Said she about CRT:“It says that black children are oppressed and white children are the oppressors. And I ask you, what kind of learning can happen in that kind of a school environment?”Conclusion: none, none at all. Nationally, socialist ideas in education is the number one issue among parents in America so say these two polling organizations. All the way west, in progressive, radical San Francisco, California, there is an aggressive and frustrated parental reaction. Voters demanded a recall of pre–Board of Education members and 75%, 3 out of 4 of the votes in that recall election demanded the recall of the only three board members who are eligible to be recalled. They were radical, progressive, kept the public schools of San Francisco closed for 13 months, introduced the most radical education curriculum possible including Critical Race Theory, the 1619 Project, and an agenda endorsed and prorogated by the LGBTQ movement. Even in San Francisco, enough was enough.Back east to Florida. The Governor of that great state is Ron DeSantis, Republican and conservative, a real, true American. The Governor openly and aggressively refers to Critical Race Theory as a, “mortal threat to the United States”. He says:“The rise of this woke ideology is an attempt to really delegitimize our history and to delegitimize our institutions.”DeSantis is determined to tackle Critical Race Theory everywhere he can, and especially in the new corporate diversity, equity and inclusion training programs. He cited certain reports and information produced by Christopher Rufo of the Manhattan Institute as evidence of his deep concern. Some are as follows: Arizona claiming that babies are racist Santa Clara County, California denouncing the United States as a parasitic system Philadelphia teaching students to celebrate BLACK COMMUNISM San Diego, California telling teachers, “You are racist” Bank of America teaching that the United States is a system of white supremacy Verizon teaching that America is fundamentally racist Google teaching that all Americans are raised to be racist Governor DeSantis claims that all of this is an elite–driven phenomenon in bureaucracies, universities, and corporate America among others. He vows that radical, progressive wokeism will not happen in the state of Florida. One good man, this DeSantis, many think a strong potential Republican candidate for President in 2024.Americans the Country over are WAKING UP TO WOKE. They realize now more than ever how this small group of radicals, progressives and anti–Americans have somehow taken an unbelievable number of positions of control, especially in education, and they are standing up. They are demanding change, CHANGE BACK to the values, morals and standards of traditional American education. They are determined to elect right thinking individuals at all levels of government, influence and decision–making, including and especially in education. Public education in so many cities, especially large, in our Country are little more than problematic and the parents will fight back. Contrary to what former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe said, parents will tell teachers and Boards of Education what they will teach their children. America will be in their hands as the next generation matures. If they are not trained up in the way in which they should go, if they do not know how to truly study to show themselves approved, there will be as Governor DeSantis has well said, no more America. They will destroy this great Country as we know it. Even in San Francisco, parents have vowed that will not happen. Our children are our future. Show them, teach them, educate them for the good of all mankind. Our future depends upon that. Millions of parents say to Boards of Education and teachers that if you don’t do it right, WE WILL.

The Supreme Court - Critical Decisions

9 people, my fellow Americans, make the most fundamental decisions which guide and affect your life, 9 PEOPLE!The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is comprised of 6 men and 3 women. The most pressing, difficult decisions, the fundamental issues of our Country are brought to them for resolution. How fair, objective and constitutional they are determines how we live. Our Supreme Court is now in session and this term, the cases to be decided are some of the most weighty in the history of the court. For example, the Biden Administration, its secretaries and agencies have begun to issue one order or mandate after another whether or not it is constitutional. Our society, our culture, WE THE PEOPLE are being flooded with Executive Orders (the President), mandates from the Justice Department (Attorney General Garland), the US Department of Education, the EEOC, HUD (Housing and Urban Development), just to name some. Many of those orders and mandates are unconstitutional, so say so many of our fifty states, private and nonprofit agencies and individuals. Our Federal Government attempts in every way possible to grow itself, take as much control as possible and in this case, the Biden Administration, turn the Country, actually veer it sharply to the left, the radical progressive left no matter the Constitution. Recently, just weeks after the administration all but admitted that a mandate with respect to vaccination, an Executive Order from the President would “not be the role of the Federal Government”, Biden announced that he would impose a national vaccine mandate on all employers with 100 or more employees. The Federal Agency OSHA began immediately attempting to force any and all private employers with 100 or more employees to require their employees to be vaccinated, and/or tested, and wear masks. An organization of states, along with private nonprofit legal entities such as ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM persuaded the Supreme Court to halt the OSHA order, introduce a legal stay, and take the case for decision at the highest level. In this term, the Supreme Court will decide this COVID matter and that a vaccination, testing and masking among others. What, I wonder my fellow Americans, is your position on vaccination. Many well–meaning Christians have refused to be vaccinated for various reasons. Many more others have in fact received both COVID vaccinations (Pfizer, Moderna) and even the booster. The question is whether you or I, as a matter of conscious and personal decision (freedom) have the right not to be vaccinated. What do you think? These 9 individuals will tell us.And another one. There comes now a case CHRISTIAN EMPLOYERS ALLIANCE V. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION (EEOC). There were two Biden Administration mandates which ordered (forced) nonprofit employers to pay for or perform gender transition surgeries and other treatments that violate their religious beliefs, no matter that so many of them held sincere beliefs that God created humans as biological male or female and that a person’s biological sex is immutable. But the EEOC went full speed ahead in an attempt to force the mandates upon religious employers, requiring them to pay for and provide health insurance coverage for gender transition surgeries. This case as well now comes before the Supreme Court in this term and these 9 fellow citizens will tell us what will be. If entities or individuals, especially doctors and surgeons, refuse to perform gender transition procedures on any patient, they can be punished with huge financial penalties, loss of federal funding and even the removal of their ability to practice medicine. What a world. And then there is another case pending. THE STATE OF TENNESSEE V. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION essentially states that women and girls deserve to compete on a level playing field and biological men no matter their gender identity or sexual orientation should be allowed to so compete. Now these males, self–proclaimed females, are allowed to compete, and, so long as they identify as transgender, to not only compete on female athletic teams but also to use female showers, bathrooms and locker rooms. I find that simply unbelievable, don’t you? 6 men and 3 women, only 9 of We The People 340 million of us, will be told whether or not that is constitutional. And then there is COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS V. BIDEN. The College of the Ozarks, one good and strong Christian college, is suing the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as it attempts to force religious schools to open dorm rooms and shared shower spaces to members of the opposite sex. This good college implores the Supreme Court that the government cannot strip a private faith–based institution of its constitutionally protected freedoms to recognize the strong biological distinctions between male and female. And then there is ARLENE’S FLOWERS V. STATE OF WASHINGTON. Arlene’s Flowers was originally owned by Barronelle Stutzman, who refused to make a custom floral arrangement for a same–sex wedding. The US Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit ruled that a Colorado law, the very same one used to target Jack Phillips, baker, can require the new owner Lorie Smith to create custom websites promoting messages that violate her religious beliefs. The Supreme Court this term will decide that one. And then comes DOBBS V. JACKSON WOMEN’S HEALTH ORGANIZATION. The good organization Alliance Defending Freedom went alongside the state of Mississippi to defend the Gestational Age Act before the Supreme Court, a law which eliminated abortion after 15 weeks of gestation, with the hope that such a case might lead the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. What a fascinating case that will be. And more. There are more cases, more critical issues, more of the constitutional issues which now come before our United States Supreme Court this term for decision by these 6 men and 3 women. You should watch carefully, my fellow Americans and Christians, the legal action which occurs this term at our Supreme Court. The decisions these 9 make will affect our lives for years to come. The Biden Administration moves forward in its aggressive and merciless attack upon so many things Christian, in defense of radical, progressive, LGBTQ assaults on tradition and history and there is no other option for faithful Christians but that of standing up and FIGHTING THE FIGHT OF FAITH. We should be ready to thank God for the preservation of constitutional protections or we should be ready to stand up and resist for it may well be time for us to determine whether or not we truly serve God or man. I am ready for this fight in whatever form it comes and I hope and pray you are also. Real biological men and women, like you and me cannot compromise or surrender. WE CANNOT! Pray, pray more but be ready to do more, much more. The fight of faith is on. DON’T BACK DOWN!

The Catholic Church and the Progressives

They are everywhere, these progressives. They are intent upon transforming society, even all of mankind. They are ready to attack anything traditional. They challenge the old order no matter where it is, including all things biological, and sexual, and male–female. Nothing is sacred or sacrosanct, especially anything which has to do with religion.They hate the notion of God. There is no such thing as a divine being, or Creator of the Universe, and most especially a special creator of mankind, male and female. If anything is traditional, conservative, you can be sure that sooner or later it will be under attack, change demanded and often radical change. The means justify the end, and if the end, an ultimate societal, biological and human progressive transformation, requires that the freedoms to differ, disagree or even discuss alternatives, true freedom of speech or belief must be eliminated, so be it. So much is under attack by these angry, aggressive, activists and they are determined to win no matter the cost. This radical, constructive, all encompassing and changing force occurs in religion as with anything else society holds dear. Progressivism arises in the German Catholic Church where there is open opposition to fundamental and traditional Catholic theology traditionally in place for hundreds and hundreds of years. German Catholic Bishops and lay leaders have petitioned Pope Francis to loosen the church’s rules on priestly celibacy and to permit the ordination of women as deacons. Such petitions are the latest in the German’s progressive drive for change no matter that Francis has warned that such moves if enacted could well split the worldwide Catholic Church.The draft statement from the German Catholic Bishops called on the Pope to allow Catholic Bishops around the world to ordain married men and to give already ordained Priests permission to marry without having to leave the priesthood. If any such changes were made, the Catholic Church would fundamentally change at its core and the progressives within the church would have scored a major victory. It will be interesting to see if Pope Francis bends and accommodates, which of course means a major and fundamental compromise to a radical once considered heresy.The German Bishops went further. They asked the Pope for permission for Bishops to ordain women as deacons. In the Catholic Church, that is a lower rank of clergy, lower than Priests. But women would be authorized to preach which the German Bishops find reasonable and many Catholics agree, especially those in Germany. And more. The German Synod is asking the Pope to permit women as deacons and as established members of the clergy to officiate at baptisms. That was once reserved strictly for Priests. Further, the Germans are asking the Pope for permission for women to perform weddings and to officiate at funerals. All such clergy functions have been prohibited to this point for women and only authorized by the Catholic Church for men. Pope Francis has turned down similar requests before and it will be interesting to see how he reacts this time around. There are those in the Catholic Church worldwide who believe that the discipline of celibacy for Priests is a real symbol of the orientation of life towards the Lord, embedded as they say within a long spiritual experience. Married to Christ for Priests is a hallmark for the Catholic Church. Even the Apostle Paul believed that one could tend to the things of the Lord better and with more singular devotion if a male Priest was not married. Many feel that celibacy however at this extreme level may have given rise in part to the sexual abuse and the pedophilia which has troubled the Catholic Church for years. Permission to marry would go far in ameliorating this problem. The German Catholic Bishops point out to the Pope that sacramental marriage, the union between one man and one woman, points to God’s love and unbreakable faithfulness towards His people. They indicate that God created Eve for Adam so that he would not be alone and that he would bear children. He created them male and female, no matter what the progressives say and for man and woman that was a good thing. So, there is a logical extension between that God–created act and the quality role that women should play in His service. The German Bishops point out that married men already can be ordained as Priests in some of the Eastern Catholic Churches. The Vatican also has allowed, they remind the Pope, the ordination as Priests of married men who formally served as Protestant Ministers but converted to Catholicism. Conservative Catholics remind the Germans that of the more than 400,000 Catholic Priests, the vast majority are celibate. Conservative Catholics including retired Pope Benedict XVI have warned that loosening the rules on clerical celibacy could undermine the church’s tradition and identity. That it surely could. It would also produce an extremely different priestly culture, lifestyle and approach to the church which could have both benefit and negative effects.Interestingly, the German Bishops admitted that a shortage of Catholic Priests in Germany was one reason for opening the Priesthood to married men. In short, the call for this radical change was practical, meeting a current earthly need of the German church and perhaps the Catholic Church worldwide. The German Catholic Synod also stated very forthrightly the following:“Obligatory celibacy may attract a disproportionately large number of men who are unsure of their sexuality, of their sexual identity and orientation, and wish to avoid confronting it”.That, say conservative Catholics, sounds like true compromise and the lessening of the standards of the church which needs to solve its problems in other ways. But the German Catholic Bishops are adamant in their call for GENDER EQUITY in the church. They firmly believe that women are called in equal measure to exercise diaconal ministry and there can be no exclusive on the basis of gender. They point out that women served as deacons in the first millennium of the church’s history. They pointed to all the ministerial acts and Christian services rendered by women in the time of Jesus and the early church. But what really concerned conservative Catholics was that the Germans admitted that all of these measures, if approved by Pope Francis, were merely intermediate steps toward opening all sacramental offices to all genders. Conservatives fear that may mean transgender admissions or others with gender identity (i.e. lesbian or gay) which is now forbidden by the church. Jesus they say was a man and he appointed 12 male disciples, no women. How cogent that argument is remains to be seen. So, the Catholic Church itself a mammoth, worldwide institution is under attack. There is progressive and radical progressive demand for change. If these petitions are granted by Pope Francis, there is no question the Roman Catholic Church will radically change, perhaps not all at once but for sure in due course. There are indeed two sides. But these petitions cannot be granted without fundamental change and potential damage, real damage to the Orthodox, traditional, firmly and biblically established Roman Catholic Church. Time will tell. What a world. There is something, my fellow Christians and Americans which will never change. That is:I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE. NO MAN COMES UNTO THE FATHER – BUT BY ME!

SCOTUS - The Supreme Court of the United States

We are, my fellow Americans, ruled by the grand total of:545 PEOPLE.545 PEOPLE! That includes the House of Representatives, 435 of us, the U.S. Senate, 100 of us, the Supreme Court, 9 of them, and of course the President. 545 PEOPLE RULE AMERICA.They tell us how to live. They make our laws. They choke us with regulations. They exercise control any and every way they possibly can. As much as possible, THE 545 ignore the states. They create agencies, and more agencies. They make special appointments and invest additional persons with power. They control the military. And, WE THE PEOPLE think we live in a democracy. We don’t. At best, functioning as our Founding Fathers intended this Country to do, we America are a REPUBLIC, a series of checks and balances, the power of our Country divided four ways between House, Senate, Judiciary (federal courts) and of course the President. If the right people are in office, true Americans, REAL REPRESENTATIVES of We The People, the United States of America is the finest government ever created by mankind.The Constitution of the United States created a Supreme Court. This court was empowered to create lesser courts and they created local federal district courts, and federal appellate courts to handle legal business before it got to the Supreme Court. Again, with the right people in office, the federal judiciary can function extremely well, dispensing real justice, constitutionally driven, fair decisions, with liberty and justice for all. There are, my fellow Americans as you undoubtedly know, 9 of them. They come and go. Some stay far longer than others. Some are appointed because they are brilliant jurists. Others because they are fair, impartial and constitutional. Still others are political appointees, put in office to serve a certain and specific cause (i.e., conservative). All make a mark, one way or another. There are 9 of them. Five, ONLY FIVE, United States citizens, men and women no different than you or me can make a decision which radically changes or deeply affects the lives of millions upon millions of people. FIVE! Justice Stephen Breyer, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States resigns his position at the end of the current Supreme Court term. Justice Breyer has been a member of the Supreme Court now some 27 years. Breyer has been labeled a pragmatic liberal. That is, Breyer votes with the liberal–progressive block of the Supreme Court in every major decision, but at the same time he is sympathetic to law enforcement, not hostile to business and a great believer in the independence of the Supreme Court, in fact all judicial bodies. He was openly against the Democrat notion of packing the Supreme Court, that is increasing the number of justices from the current 9 to 15. But again, in every major decision, Breyer showed himself to be liberal in thinking and belief, and in interpretation of a constitution, progressive to the core. But Breyer was pragmatic, reasonably fair, and most importantly listened to opposing points of view. In light of the candidates who will arise out of the progressive, radical left to replace him, small wonder that many think the resignation of Stephen Breyer will indeed be a loss to the Supreme Court. The balance of power will not change. There are now 6 justices who are considered conservative and 3 liberal or progressive, including Breyer. His resignation will leave the court with but 2 liberal members, Kagan and Sotomayor and the same 6 conservatives namely Thomas, Alito, Roberts, Coney Barrett, Kavanaugh and Gorsuch. There are 6 males and 3 females. There is one black male justice, Clarence Thomas and no black females. In choosing a replacement, it seems as though President Biden is determined to play the race card. Biden has promised that he would appoint a BLACK WOMAN to the Supreme Court with his first nomination. As the Wall Street Journal stated, that is most unfortunate because that promise “elevates skin color over qualifications”. Indeed it does. It is most unfortunate for WE THE PEOPLE that race is a determining factor as high up as the United States Supreme Court. But sadly, that is America 2022. The two most discussed black female candidates who meet Mr. Biden’s demographic litmus test are Leondra Kruger of the California Supreme Court and Ketanji Jackson, now a member of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. If either were nominated, either one would be a progressive farther to left than Stephen Breyer.If justice is in fact colorblind it matters not who sits on the Supreme Court. If justice occurs as a result of the rule of law and is fully constitutional in justification, it matters not who sits on the Supreme Court. But it never is for human beings are involved. They have preferences and predilections. They have their very own points of view and the members of the Supreme Court invariably show their colors conservative or liberal, when all WE THE PEOPLE care about is whether or not the decisions they make are fair and constitutional. We should hope and pray, We The People, that Biden will appoint a fair minded, objective, constitutional, rule of law nominee so that those 9 people who ultimately rule us will protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and more importantly, protect, preserve, and defend the freedoms of this great Country and all of:US.

Love - Valentines Day

The greatest of all things is LOVE.The greatest, confirmed by the Apostle Paul of old, and agreed upon by the world’s greatest thinkers, artists and poets is:LOVELove is the best, even says Paul better than faith or hope.The Bible book 1 Corinthians 13 is Apostle Paul’s finest expressions of love by far, perhaps the finest writings in all of his letters. But even Paul acknowledges that there is no really complete and definitive definition of love. But Paul says what real love, ultimate love is, can only occur as a result of a meaningful, experiential, loving relationship with God the Father and the Son Jesus Christ. The fulfillment of that comes eternally, but here and now, the longer, the deeper the relationship with HIM, the more the meaning of love becomes clear. That, says Paul, that relational love is ultimate reality.Love is good. In fact, good is defined by love. For no mere mortal can do good without love. One may intend, willingly so to live right, perhaps following the Ten Commandments and other great moral precepts. But that mere intention, the act of the will is not enough for it lacks the energy, the conviction, the power of real LOVE, total love.For as one poet has said:GOD SAYS TO US IN LOVE: I HOLD YOU IN MY MIND. I REMEMBER YOU. I HOLD ALL OF THE PIECES OF YOU. THE PAST WOUNDS AND THE PRESENT. AND IN LOVE, I KNIT THEM TOGETHER INTO THE PERSON I LOVE, THE PERSON I CREATED TO GIVE ME JOY:YOUMore. Love says Paul is patient. Love is longsuffering, not easily provoked. Love knows how to wait, fully observe, and listen, perhaps most importantly LISTEN. Love sees and hears the other. As the poet Thomas Merton said:THE BEGINNING OF LOVE IS TO LET THOSE WHO LOVE BE PERFECTLY THEMSELVES, AND NOT TO TWIST THEM TO FIT OUR OWN IMAGE. OTHERWISE, WE LOVE ONLY THE REFLECTION OF OURSELVES WE FIND IN THEM.In a world angry and hateful and growing worse, love is the only antidote, the ONLY! With his heart wide open, the Apostle Paul says love is KIND. The life of a lover is lived easy, gentle, avoiding confrontation and struggle wherever possible. Said the writer Sydnie Smith:IF YOU HAD NO ONE TO LOVE, YOU WOULD NEVER BE HURT. BUT YOU WOULD NEVER GROW. YOU WOULD NEVER VENTURE OUTSIDE OF YOUR OWN SELF-CENTERED NEEDS AND PERCEPTIONS. YOUR HEART WOULD NEVER BE CRACKED OPEN SO THAT GOD COULD ENTER IT. TO LOVE AND TO LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY IS TO TAKE RISKS, AND ESPECIALLY THE RISK OF REJECTION. BUT NOTHING ENERGIZES AND CLEANSES LIKE LOVE, NOTHING!Love, says the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13 allows the lover to dwell on good things. The lover avoids gossip and negative language. Love stays silent in the face of false accusations as Jesus did. The communication of a lover is positive as Rod McKuen said:IF YOU LOVE SOMEBODY, TELL THEM! THE TELLING UNLEASHES THE ENERGY AND THE POWER OF LOVE.Does it ever. It seems difficult for so many to say distinctly, clearly and unconditionally:I LOVE YOUFor that is the ultimate exposure, “a heart cracked open.” But those three words are perhaps the most powerful in the English language.Love then says Paul does not insist on its own rights or its own way. A loving person gets more out of giving, and caring than getting. To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others. So said the writer Francois Mauriac. Love is a miracle, miraculous in its absolutely powerful and transforming effect. That kind of giving, other-ness is truly the love of God at work which both constrains and motivates.Love says Paul, never keeps a moral balance sheet. Lovers take no account of the wrongs or evil done by others. Love forgives and forgets. It is difficult to forget but Paul says if you live in love, you can forget. That is so even for the most difficult object of love, an ENEMY. It seems hard to believe that we could love an Islamic terrorist or an angry political opponent or even a hateful family member or friend. We really can’t, but we can do so with the power of a loving God working within us who himself forgave us, forgot what was wrong with us and only in return, asked us to forgive others. The theologian Reinhold Niebuhr said the following:WE ARE SAVED BY THE FINAL FORM OF LOVE, WHICH IS FORGIVENESS. FORGIVING AND FORGETTING ARE THE HIGHEST ACTS OF LOVE RESULTING IN OUR SALVATION. THERE WAS ONE YEARS AGO DRIVEN TO THE CROSS BY THE LOVE OF MANKIND PROVIDED IN HIS DEATH, THE LIFE AND THE LOVE WE LEAD. THE CROSS WAS THE FINAL AND FORGIVING FORM OF LOVE.Was it ever. The crucifixion of the Christ on the cross was indeed the ultimate act of love.Love protects and defends. It guards the hearts and minds of the young. It trains up children in the way in which they should go. It shows them the way of the Lord, the path of righteousness. It helps them to resist the devil who in the face of love will flee and not return.Love is loyal and always at work. The great writer St. Augustine said the following:WHAT DOES LOVE LOOK LIKE? WHY, IT HAS HANDS TO HELP OTHERS. IT HAS FEET TO HASTEN TO THE POOR AND NEEDY. IT HAS EYES TO SEE MISERY AND WANT. IT HAS EARS TO HEAR THE SIGHS AND SORROWS OF HUMANKIND. THAT IS WHAT LOVE LOOKS LIKE!Amen and amen.And then Paul says:LOVE NEVER FAILSIt endures, never-ending here but more importantly FOR ALL ETERNITY. True love, ultimate love can never be destroyed. The great theologian Paul Tillich said:FOR THOSE WHO LOVE, TIME IS ETERNITY. LOVE IS GOD’S FINGER ON MAN’S SHOULDER. LOVE IS LIKE A RUNNING BROOK THAT SINGS ITS MELODY TO THE NIGHT. TO WAKE AT DAWN WITH A WINGED HEART AND TO GIVE THANKS FOR ANOTHER DAY OF LOVING. LOVE IS A SYMBOL OF ETERNITY. IT WIPES OUT ALL SENSE OF TIME, DESTROYING ALL MEMORY OF A BEGINNING AND ALL FEAR OF AN END.Brilliant and accurate. Paul then tells us that words without love are like sounding brass and tinkling cymbals. Hollow, meaningless, perhaps doing more harm than good. Better by far to LISTEN:THE FIRST BEAUTY OF LOVE IS TO LISTEN. LISTENING, REALLY LISTENING IN A CARING WAY, MAY VERY WELL BE THE HIGHEST ATTRIBUTE OF TRUE LOVE.More brilliant insightful words from theologian Paul Tillich. Real listening really is the highest attribute of true love, real love. We allow the heart of another to crack open, pour out, empty so that there is nothing left but love.Paul then says the act of the will can motivate an individual to give to the poor, to tithe and use money well, or even give your body, to lay down your life for another. But if any or all of that is done without love no matter how good, Paul says without love it means little or nothing.But love indeed is risky. The great writer C.S. Lewis said:TO LOVE AT ALL IS TO BE VULNERABLE. LOVE ANYTHING AND YOUR HEART WILL CERTAINLY BE WRUNG AND POSSIBLY BROKEN. LOVE BREAKS DOWN ALL BARRIERS, OPENS WIDE THE HEART, EXPOSES TRUE INNOCENCE AND RISKS THE RINGING AND THE BREAKING OF THIS MORE PRIZED POSSESSION. REAL LOVE DEMANDS THIS, CONSTANTLY.Sir Alfred Lord Tennyson said:“Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”Life without love is a life never really lived at all. “If you love until it hurts, really hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love,” said the wonderfully loving Mother Theresa. The Apostle Paul would fully agree.Love is not jealous, said Paul. It envies no one or nothing. Rather, there is rejoicing when the very best things happen to others. And we in love can help them. The Poet Emily Dickenson said the following:IF I CAN STOP ONE HEART FROM BREAKINGI SHALL NOT LIVE IN VAINIF I CAN EASE ONE LIFE THE ACHINGOR COOL ONE PAINOR HELP ONE FAINTING ROBININTO HIS NEST AGAINI SHALL NOT LIVE IN VAIN!So beautiful, and so true.Love never controls. Rather, it lets go. It never holds on and it encourages others to be all they can be. Love is not possessive. If we love, we let those we love be perfectly themselves! We have no fear of hurt because of the actions of others. The more one loves, the less there is of which to be afraid.And love is humble, says Paul. Never boastful or bragging. Love really has no ego. Love allows us to be about others more than ourselves. Content are we to be immersed in the love of God.That allows us to live modestly, humbly and joyfully.Then, Paul deals with anger and reminds us that love is not easily angered. Not that one never gets angry, for we do. But that anger is slow to occur, slow to wrath. Love allows us to be angry, but only in the extreme. Love allows us to turn the other cheek and move on, pressing on for the high calling. Love more than anything is powerful energy at work, always.So remember, says Paul, that of faith, hope and love, love is the greatest. It is eternal, never-ending:LOVE NEVER FAILSAnd as one poet says:LOVE IS THAT WHICH MAKES THE SKY BLUE, THE SUBSTANCE OF THE SONG OF THE BIRDS IN SUMMER, THE WHISPER OF THE WIND IN THE TREES, THE SILENCE OF THE SNOW AS IT FALLS. LOVE IS THE VOICE OF GOD CALLING TO US ENDLESSLY AND PASSIONATELY THROUGH ALL HIS MARVELOUS CREATION.Love is everything said the writer Ralph Waldo Emerson, never self-possessed or prudent. LOVE IS ALL ABANDONMENT. Or as the Poet William Wordsworth said:LOVE BETTERS WHAT IS BEST!Does it ever.We the Crawford Broadcasting Company hope for you the best, the greatest, love and especially the love of God. Live in love and share it, my fellow Americans. Open a cracked open heart to it. Feel the miracle, the energy and the power of love.Those who love deeply never grow old. They may die of old age, but they die young at heart said Sir Arthur Pinero. But in death comes the completion of love:KNOWING FACE TO FACEThat ultimate encounter with God the Creator and Jesus Christ:ULTIMATE LOVEWhat a day that will be.Looking back, said one writer, I have this to regret. That too often when I loved, I did not say so. Love uncommunicated is love aborted. It is there but never shared. More time is spent judging people which leaves less time to love them.Don’t be like him. Allow Valentine’s Day and Valentine’s week, the love days to be reminders of what really matters. For in the end, nothing matters but:LOVEFind out how much love your heart can hold!

The Quit or the Call - The Great Resignation - Part 3

51% of all Pastors in the United States, 38% of whom are Evangelicals are seriously thinking about resigning the Pulpit. So says the Barna Group as it announced the results of its most recent survey of these Pastors. They have had enough, these Pastors say. They now suffer from serious stress. There is pressure everywhere and problems mount. They find themselves separated from in–person ministry to which they were called and the demand from a congregation, parishioners who now more than ever demand what they want and do not give back in return. They face in the church the new consumer culture which is all about what the person wants or needs. The church and the Pastor provide that, I get what I want or I move on. Congregation divisions and demands increase. The church has become, these disgruntled Pastors say, a place of convenience rather than conviction and commitment. Enough is enough, 51% of these Pastors say and they seriously intend to join the Great American Resignation and so many fully intend to:QUIT THE CALL.They have lost, these Pastors have, passion for the ministry. The original motivating purpose has been tarnished. The sense of mission, GO YE and preach the Gospel the original motivating force is simply not there. Any control, the setting of priorities now becomes so very much so the decision–making of the Board of Directors and of course the congregation itself. The Pastor, once the leader of the church, now becomes the follower. The institutional church becomes more institutional, structured, changed. The still small voice of the Holy Spirit calling and leading becomes muffled, and the ears to hear which heard the original calling no longer do so.The result for them BURN OUT. The mind becomes dull and the renewal, the transforming of that mind promised and required by scripture through the work of the Holy Spirit wanes. Heart and soul lose passion. The body weakens and says the Pastor, it is time to move on. The CALL once so clearly heard is replaced by the mentality and the waning spirituality of THE GREAT QUIT:THE GREAT RESIGNATION.To some extent, that can be understood. Think of the calling of the Apostle Paul. This ardent, persecuting Pharisee when radically changed on the Damascus Road found his new life ship–wrecked, his body beaten and persecuted, imprisoned, hated, betrayed by so many in whom he placed confidence and eventually beheaded by the Roman Emperor. In spite of all of that, Paul never quit. He knew who he was, what he was called to do and the life that Christ of Glory expected. I know a very few Pastors who have ever had that kind of Christian persecution. What prompts THE QUIT today is nothing like it was in the time of Paul.Even our Lord, Jesus Christ wanted to quit. Recall His prayer in Gethsemane where he asked His Father to let this cup, the coming crucifixion and brutal death pass from Him. Let me move on, let me continue my ministry, change your mind and my priorities, FATHER. But, no way. But then, He knew what He had to do, that for which He was called, that for which He was sent and in loving compliance, He prayed to the Father:BUT, NOT MY WILLBUT YOUR WILL BE DONE!If the Apostle Paul was attempted to quit, or even thought about it, and if the Lord of Glory not only thought about it but proposed it, so it is natural for any of us, Christians and called, to suffer a certain amount of BURN OUT and wish to change, to quit. We can be tempted to resign the Great Calling (the Devil’s work) and give up, a temptation of 51% of current Pastors. That temptation grows as the Pastor loses leadership, control, the ability to say NO. As priorities change and demand, pressure and stress increased, that Pastor and that original commitment to Christ, change as well, wane and suffer the lose of love and passion. But these Pastors, these Christian leaders must get away. They need to be RENEWED. They need time alone with the Holy Spirit, in prayer and meditation, the renewing of the mind and the spirit, and the relaxation and pleasure of the body. Jesus went to the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights. He was both tempted and strengthened. But He was made better by the experience for the incredible ministry He undertook. He withdrew from the crowds in the course of the ministry when their demand was too much. Even separated from his disciples from time to time as they so often became sources of annoyance. In prayer, in fasting, and in feasting, HE was constantly about the business of RENEWING. He always knew who He was and what His purpose, His calling as the man from Galilee would be. He never swerved, changed or ever thought about THE QUIT. If you are called, truly called and you know that call, and you QUIT THAT CALL, you can never be content, fulfilled from that point forward if you QUIT THE CALL. Women who are called to be mothers, an incredibly high calling, can never QUIT MOTHERING, never. If you are called to be lawyer, accountant, plumber, truck driver, if you abandon that call, your life can never be entirely fulfilled. For the call, as Paul so well states, is that ONE THING for you to do. And you should do that one thing, in the service of the Lord, with all your might. You should fight the fight of faith and not quit. You should run the race to the finish and not quit. You should PRESS ON for the prize of that HIGH CALLING. You should be strong in the Lord knowing that no matter how difficult the calling or the problems involved, YOU AND I can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.The great theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer said that we are called, we come to Christianity:TO DIE!And Paul says the same. For him and for us, to live is CHRIST and to:DIE IS GAIN. A true born–again Christian, a man or woman truly called by Jesus Christ is never afraid of dying, much less the lesser problems which this world creates. We who are truly Christian, followers of Jesus Christ, are constantly strengthened, empowered, protected. We are energized, renewed, able to resist the temptations of the Evil One finishing the course, the calling. So, Pastor, or anyone for that matter, if you are truly called by Jesus Christ DON’T QUIT. Don’t join the Great American Resignation. Stay the course, pursue your sacred calling and know in this COVID day and age more than ever:YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO CALLED YOU AND STRENGTHENS YOU!

The Quit or the Call - The Great Resignation - Part 2

To be called of God to the Pastorate may be perhaps the highest calling. It is an honor, a privilege, a leading, a CALL for a lifetime of very special service to Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of Glory. It is a call from which anyone, having put the hand to the plow, should never turn back:SHOULD NEVER QUIT.But then came a disturbing survey conducted by the respected Barna Group and its President David Kinnaman which found through its survey that:HALF OF U.S. PROTESTANT CLERICS CONSIDER LEAVING PULPITIf that survey is accurate, 1 out of 2 Protestant Pastors in the United States, 1 OUT OF 2 are considering resigning from the pulpit. Not the church, but the pulpit itself, the calling to be a Pastor. That is a startingly and disturbing fact, is it not, again assuming it is accurate. 8.7 million Americans resigned their jobs in August and September. If 1 out of 2 Protestant Pastors do in fact actually resign, that would indeed be:THE GREAT SPIRITUAL RESIGNATION.WHY? The survey says that a major contributor is the PANDEMIC. That says President Kinnaman of THE BARNA GROUP became for Pastors a game changer. Congregations wore masks. They were required to comply with Social Distancing requirements and remain six feet apart. Congregations were subject to testing people. In some states, in–person church services were prohibited. Many churches and Pastors were, according to their leaders, persecuted and unfairly treated, such has occurred so often in California, New York, New Jersey and other states. The COVID scare caused many parishioners to avoid church, not to go in–person and be content with things on–line or with other in–person substitutes. It was indeed a dark day for that institution, that place where those who sought to worship Jesus Christ once gathered. As a result, so many Pastors, drawn to personal ministry, experienced a deep and disturbing sense of ISOLATION. The spirit of the live church could never be replicated on–line, never. There was no live singing, no praise. No choirs to thrill the hearts of those in the pews. There were no spiritual hugs. No personal sharing. The internet, said so many Pastors, conveyed mechanical words and pictures only without sensory experiences. It was for them a dark and sterile day for the church. Pastors, who formerly felt the working of the Holy Spirit now found themselves unavoidably becoming ON–LINE CONTENT CREATORS and in addition, VIDEO PRODUCERS for which many were not trained nor motivated by. The content so often was missing spiritual dynamic. The spirit, the soul, the sensory experiences of the live church at work was missing and could never, ever be replicated virtually and on–line. Even as much of the spirituality of the institutional church was missing, so it was in the hearts and souls of so many Pastors. It was not, they felt, the ministry to which they were originally called. That gave rise to this newfound SENSE OF ISOLATION, even in adequacy and led to very tangible feelings of deep desire for resignation. They began to lose the commitment which the original twelve disciples of Jesus Christ had. They began to lose the NEVER QUIT spirit of the DAMASCUS ROAD ENCOUNTER OF APOSTLE PAUL. The virtual world of ministry, according to the Barna survey was not acceptable to as many as 1 out of 2 Protestant Pastors. They were called, they said, to live pulpit ministry and not to become TV–stars and actors. There was also the ever–rising financial requirements of the institutional church. Many Pastors had little business experience and no aptitude FUNDRAISING. But church budgets increased, and did so dramatically. The costs of running the ministries and maintaining the facilities of the institutional church continued to grow to the point where the demand for finances, for fundraising became a major priority of a Pastor’s job description. More demand was made on regular timing. In addition, fundraising occurred for the expansion of church ministries and special projects, especially missionary endeavors. As the church grew, so did the demand for larger and better facilities, current and state of the art. Those financial demands dulled the spiritual vitality of the Pastors. Big was better. Size mattered. The financial changes were radical and in the minds and hearts of so many Pastors, made ministry that much more difficult.There began to develop what the Barna Group surveyed called the:CHURCH CONSUMER CULTURE.Even as in the economic world the consumer ruled, and what the consumer wanted or demanded was the way things work, so it began to be the same with the church. So many congregants came to church to GET MORE THAN GIVE. That parishioner became demanding, requiring catering to wants and needs, much more theologically critical, running the church with proactive Boards of Directors making decisions which so often conflicted with the CALLING of the Pastor. CATERING became more prevalent than CONVICTING. And:ME BECAME MORE IMPORTANT THAN HIM!Divisions came so often. Congregations split. New churches were found and the former church suffered. The leadership of the Pastor, the respect for the Pastor’s credibility, for the Pastor’s CALLING, for the once dynamic SPIRITUAL MINISTRY waned. Many Pastors failed to exercise that leadership or allowed themselves to be subjected to the wishes and whims of an ever–growing demanding congregation. And so began to arise the feeling of frustration and the consideration of:THE GREAT RESIGNATION.The pandemic, the virtual world, all things on–line, slowly but surely produced this change, this sometimes radical change and slowly but surely, these major changes affected the sense of CALLING which these Pastors once had. So many did not have the spiritual muscle of the Apostle Paul, or the twelve disciples or so many others of the old and original church and they were ready for THE GREAT RESIGNATION. So many were unable to take THE STAND, stand up for what they believed was right, what they knew was their calling, what they knew God would have them do and succumb to the pressures of the new consumer culture which began affecting the church in so many ways. The institution dominated the leader. So many Pastors lost the ability to say NO. And in time, a pandemic culture two years old and more ever–growing, 1 out of 2 began to seriously consider becoming a part of:THE GREAT AMERICAN RESIGNATION.The bright flame of the CALL of Jesus Christ began to BURN OUT.

The Call or the Quit - The Great Resignation

FOLLOW ME!That’s all that was said. No more. All HE had to say was:FOLLOW ME!That was indeed one of the most powerful CALLS ever. HE never gave them time to think about it. Or to pray about it. Or to talk to family or spouse about it. HE said follow me and they did. That call went to fishermen Peter and Andrew. They dropped their fishnets and followed HIM immediately. HE told them that they would fish for fish no more. Rather, HE would make them:FISHERS OF MEN.From that point forward, their life’s CALLING was radically different, RADICALLY!That very same call went to James and John. And, like Peter and Andrew, they heard that CALL and they followed Him. The commitment was instantaneous, IMMEDIATELY. They knew, in their heart of hearts, the deepest recesses of their humanity and spirituality, they knew who HE was.They knew what the CALL meant and without the slightest hesitation, they:FOLLOWED HIM!That very same FOLLOW ME, that call of a lifetime went to eight more so the twelve men were radically transformed and all twelve became forevermore:FISHERS OF MEN.They knew instantly who He was. Can you begin to imagine what it would have been like for you, had you been there, to be confronted by Jesus of Nazareth, by the Christ of Glory, in His presence His eyes fixed upon you, the incredible physical presence of His person, His personality, His overwhelming demeanor, the power of the man enveloping you and with all of that, to hear those words:FOLLOW MEWere mentally, emotionally and spiritually transforming, utterly transforming, never were they to be the same again. NEVER. For them, that was indeed the ultimate born again experience. That call would never again to allow them to go back, return to what they were, never allowed them to quit, forever one with Him. Every true servant of the living Christ, Jesus of Nazareth has that kind of call. The circumstances are of course different but the message, the power, the meaning are the very same. If you are called by Jesus Christ, TRULY CALLED, you will never be the same. You will never have any doubt about what HE wants you to do. If you are truly called, especially to the ministry, especially as a Pastor, especially as the leader of HIS people, if you have once put your hand to the plow, and cultivated spirituality as He commands, you can never go back, you can never look back. YOU CANNOT QUIT! And then there were Saul. A committed, zealous even fanatic Pharisee was he. This Saul was about the business of persecuting these radical, newly born so–called Christians, serious threats to Judaism. Saul had no problem persecuting and killing, none at all. Out he went on the DAMASCUS ROAD in pursuit of these newly born heretics. Then came the overwhelming light of the Christ of Glory. And the most convicting words Saul ever heard:SAUL, SAUL, WHY DO YOU PERSECUTE ME?Do so no more. And come and:FOLLOW MESo that my people you once persecuted will now become your new spiritual brothers and sisters. No more Saul! Now was born again PAUL, an apostle, a servant, a bond servant, a slave as he called himself to his newly found Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of Glory. No conversion before or since was ever like that one. NONE. This Pharisee was called, and with a call like that, it would be forevermore impossible for Saul now Paul to ever quit, to go back, FOREVER CHANGED!For Paul, from now on, FOR HIM TO LIVE IS CHRIST! This Christ he met on the Damascus Road was now his whole life. No matter the hardships, or difficulties, or sufferings, this Paul belonged to Him body, mind and spirit. Paul found a new power which produced for him a new perseverance, a new commitment, a new passion. This new person, transformed, born again, committed his whole new life to:THIS ONE THING I DO.One thing and one thing only. From that point forward, everything Paul did was to obey the command:FOLLOW ME.Follow me. There was no call like that. So powerful, transforming and life–changing. Never would Paul be able to think about changing course, or QUIT or give up no matter the suffering. Paul was about the business of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of Glory forevermore. The twelve disciples of Jesus of Nazareth were confronted by His person, His incredibly powerful presence. Their lives were transformed by two words:FOLLOW ME.Paul was confronted by the heavenly light, the bright light of the Christ of Glory and His presence. Those conversions, those incredible spiritual changes were dramatic, clear and convincing. We on the other hand, never having seen but still believing met HIM having heard His STILL SMALL VOICE in many different ways. Even as Paul was all things to all men to reach as many as possible, so today there are so many ways, methodologies, means and persons, especially persons, which present us with the transforming, powerful love of Christ. How grateful we should be for the action and activity of THE HOLY SPIRIT, who continually agitates, convicts and speaks to us in many different ways in that STILL SMALL VOICE. So that, sooner or later, we can find that PEARL OF GREAT PRICE. And when we are called, truly called by HIM, we can never turn back. WE CAN NEVER QUIT. We are HIS and HE is ours forevermore. That conversion is the ultimate in life. May you have experienced it and HIM.

MARTIN LUTHER KING - RACE AND MORE

It was the shot heard round the world.Martin Luther King, Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated on April 4 in 1968 by James Earl Ray, a crazed racist. Dr. King had begun to emerge as the face, and more importantly the voice for America and even the world over for racial equality. King was an eloquent spokesman, learned academically, Christian in belief and determined to make a difference. He would never know the difference he would make.The assassin’s bullet, deadly and accurate, was the beginning in many ways of a new awareness of racial inequalities primarily black and white, but really more than that. It was perhaps the beginning of a new consciousness, a new awareness of differences, diversity where all right-thinking men and women, of good faith, colorblind and Constitutional would begin to learn a new respect for each other and learn how to build different and better relationships. They would learn that the color of one’s skin mattered not, but only the content of one’s character, as Dr. Martin Luther King so eloquently said.The King assassination triggered a new Constitutional awareness of equality. All men and women says this precious document and of course words framed in our Declaration of Independence, are created equal, and each, EACH ONE has the Constitutionally guaranteed right to:LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESSWe the American people have heard those words over and again, perhaps too many times for them to be the living, life-guiding words they were meant to be. Equality between black and white existed on paper only. That was the problem. Frederick Douglass, the former slave in America eloquently stated the real problem:“THERE IS NO NEGRO PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS WHETHER OR NOT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE LOYALTY ENOUGH, HONOR ENOUGH, PATRIOTISM ENOUGH, TO LIVE UP TO THEIR OWN CONSTITUTION.”What we the American people had lost or perhaps never had was a loyalty, a faithfulness to our very own Constitution and Declaration of Independence. We had forsaken Constitutional commands and gone our own way, accepting slavery, injustice and inequality. We had lost our honor, our dignity as human beings and we saw too many people of color as UNEQUAL.We had lost our desire to LIVE UP to our very own Constitution and that disloyalty, dishonor, lack of patriotism and courage to live up to our Constitution was the real problem, the real cause of:RACISMIn fact, we the people had become unspiritual. We had failed to recognize that equality was divinely inspired, required and built as a fundamental precept into our Constitutional rights. The right of equality, and the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness was divine, inalienable, unconditional and it was un-American, un-Christian not to understand and LIVE UP to that great command. We had lost our way. Martin Luther King attempted to point us back, encouraged us to GET BACK to our roots, the fundamentals of America and begin anew to:LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELFWe made progress as a people. We abolished slavery. We began to learn how to live together, work together, forge bonds with one another although the progress was slow, and often painful. So slow, in fact, that it birthed the message of Martin Luther King in 1968. We listened to this eloquent champion of civil rights, equality and we respected not only his oratory, but the core and substance of his message. And, more progress was made even after his assassination. His ways were peaceful but many arose who chose violence as the answer, antidote to anger. We saw the rise of the Black Panthers and other aggressive, militant entities determined to get even and not necessarily get equality. But there were, in the day of Martin Luther King calm, still voices working, hoping, enduring and believing, like the NAACP and perhaps like the church itself. Martin Luther King was pastor, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King. Churches, black and white adopted his message and proclaimed the Constitutional truth of equality. We listened, inched forward, painful progress but real, nonetheless. Churches became mixed, neither black nor white but for all persons regardless of color. Men and women, previously distant, became one in the love of Jesus Christ. That love grew relationships and destroyed the barriers of misunderstanding. It was the dawn of a new day where race relations were BORN AGAIN.Something better was on the way.Jesse Jackson, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, a disciple of Martin Luther King, took over. He soon, however, many thought, lost the King vision of peaceful resistance and progress stalled. Suspicion and untrust ruled when there should have been new understandings. Other leaders, black and white did perhaps some good but it seemed as though the fundamental, underlying animosities continued to exist. It took action by individuals, by right-thinking private entities, by men and women one-on-one to begin to forge new relationships, new understandings, constantly chipping away at racism. It seemed a never-ending battle. Whether cultural, economic or educational, the great divide was always there. It undoubtedly exists today.Many Americans feel that the leadership of the last decade, BLACK AND WHITE, did not do enough to heal, create new understandings. Economic disparities continue to exist. Black youth for example, especially males found real employment almost impossible. Education, whether public or private seemed in many ways to forsake its real responsibilities. Cultures divided and segregated. And the leaders of the past decade, whether political, educational, spiritual or economic failed to further breakdown the great racial divide. It seems as though we continue to live in a day and age tense, separated if not segregated, with lingering suspicions and untrust. We seemingly have not learned that mankind is not about:THE COLOR OF SKINButTHE CONTENT OF ONE’S CHARACTERAll races and ethnicities unfortunately have prejudice. That prejudice can be expressed against other races and even in some cases, among and within one’s very own race. We can in our very own country see misunderstandings between Irish and Italian, North and South, educated and uneducated. Prejudice is everywhere, EVERYWHERE and it is hard to distinguish between:PREJUDICE AND PREFERENCEWe seem to be more concerned with diversity, differences in people rather than to foster the one common bond we should all have:WE ARE ALL AMERICANSFirst and foremost: AMERICANS.We should be a people caught up in our Constitution, concerned with its preservation, living out as Frederick Douglass has so well said our Constitutional beliefs, chief of which is that:ALL MEN AND WOMEN ARE CREATED EQUAL!And religious prejudice goes on. Misunderstandings abound between Christian and Jew. Islam considers all others INFIDELS. Roman Catholics continue deep divides with Protestants. Denominations hunker down but independent churches and religious practice grow. There seems further splintering, divide, even isolation. We seem to grow farther apart from unity, oneness and true Americanism. There is still a long racial road to travel. For in more than one-half century since Martin Luther King, racial understanding and equality still has a long road to travel.Racial prejudice, even hatred, exists among all races. Many African Americans are prejudiced against whites. Racism can be a two-way street. It is wrong either way. Hear the words of a right-thinking African American woman living in the great State of Florida Ilene Yocum who spoke out courageously regarding the tragedy in Ferguson, Missouri and the killing of Michael Brown. Ms. Yocum said the following:“I AM EMBARRASSED BY THE SO-CALLED BLACK LEADERS INCLUDING OUR PRESIDENT FOR NOT TAKING THE HIGH ROAD ON THIS. INSTEAD, THEY PAMPER THE RIOTERS AND IGNORE THE RIGHTS OF THE OFFICER TO PROTECT HIMSELF. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT HAD THIS BEEN A BLACK POLICE OFFICER NONE OF THIS (THE MICHAEL BROWN SHOOTING) WOULD BE HAPPENING. OUR COUNTRY HAS COME A LONG WAY IN RACE RELATIONS BUT BY STOKING THE FIRE, WHO ARE THE REAL RACISTS? YES, RACISM OCCURS IN ALL RACES.”And indeed it does, Ms. Yocum, indeed it does. How interesting that this very right-thinking black lady and mother saw racism in the acts and the heart of even President Barack Hussein Obama himself. If racism does in fact exist at that level, how difficult it is for we the people to unite in love and peace.Ms. Yocum further believes that much of the problem of racism has to do with parents, and in fact the lack of parental teaching. She eloquently says:“AS PARENTS WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN RIGHT FROM WRONG. IN ORDER TO RECEIVE RESPECT, RESPECT MUST BE GIVEN, NOT ONLY TO OTHERS BUT TO ONESELF AND ESPECIALLY TO OUR LAWS AND AUTHORITY.”Courageous and convicting words, and as right as they can be. If parents do not teach, then the law means nothing. Riots, violence, chaos and disrespect reign and there is little hope for racial understanding, racial equality. Perhaps Ilene Yocum is a disciple of Martin Luther King, a 21st century voice for the real message in which he believed. We need more women like her. And finally, wonderful words for all Americans from Ilene Yocum:“WE ARE ALL AMERICANS AND MEMBERS OF THE HUMAN RACE. WE SHOULD BE PROUD TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO WORK FOR THEM, AND OUR FREEDOMS ARE PROTECTED BY OUR LAWS AND THOSE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO CHOOSE TO SERVE.”Brilliant, right on, special words of wisdom.We are or should be all of us Americans and Americans first even as we are members of the human race. Rather than dishonor or complain, we should all be proud to live in this great country. We should recognize that there are abundant opportunities no matter the economy available for all, all men and women regardless of the color of skin who want to work, really want to work, so well said, Ms. Yocum.And, we should be proud of and honor those brave men and women who choose to serve and protect us according to the laws of this great country. If we did that, all of that as Ms. Yocum so eloquently stated, racism would end in short order. We would live out the dream of Martin Luther King and of all men and women of goodwill who really want peace and love between the races. The end of racism can not come from political leaders, or educators, or from the world of economics. It can only come from men and women of goodwill, inspired by faith, truly believing in and living in the ways of the God who created these inalienable rights, reaching out, communicating, understanding and learning how to appreciate the different skin colors God created.A babe was born in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. The angels who announced his birth asked us to glorify God and to proclaim the Godly message from this birth to all mankind:PEACE ON EARTH AND GOODWILL TO ALL MEN AND WOMEN!If men and women really want peace, and the end of racial hatred and prejudice, take a fresh look at the Babe of Bethlehem. HE can show you the way to:LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF!Regardless of race or color.

2022 THOUGHTS - THE GREAT NEW YEAR

We end 2021, a year which so many of WE THE PEOPLE would love to forget. It was a hard year, this COVID year. Information, advice, and of course regulations and requirements seem to change weekly, if not from time to time daily. Our economy, the American economy, suffered greatly 2019. Businesses closed, jobs went away, and unemployment skyrocketed. We witnessed both years the rapid rise of Cancel Culture, Critical Race Theory, the so–called 1619 Project, and a growing trend towards socialism, higher taxes and the curtailment of certain freedoms. 2019–20 was a very difficult time in American history and many of the difficulties remain. America, its freedoms, and democracy were attacked from so many different sources and so many different people. Inevitably, 2022 will be a challenging year but, my fellow Americans and especially my fellow Christians, it will be a great year for patriotism and real Christianity born again, energized meeting every challenge as God would have it. I am ready, my all on the altar for God and Country, for Jesus Christ and for America, privileged and delighted to be alive and in service, and I hope you are too. So, LET US GIVE THANKS. Scripture tells us to give thanks for EVERYTHING. That is especially so for the life that we can live, no matter its hardships, our personal difficulties or economic hardships. In everything, says the Apostle Paul, give thanks, thanks for the good and the bad. No matter what it is the way and the will of God and we should understand and accept that. Most of all, says Scripture, we should give thanks 2022 for the UNSPEAKABLE GIFT which God has given us, namely Jesus Christ. Thanks be unto God for this savior of the world. May He be real to you 2022 like no year before. The Apostle Paul thanks God for you, and so do I. You have listened to and supported the Crawford Broadcasting Company, its stations, its hardworking employees, its dedicated Christians and patriots, and we, all of us, THANK YOU WITH ALL OF OUR HEARTS.Count your blessings and be happy for them. Be grateful to God for health, family, friends, for loved ones and no matter your circumstances, know how blessed you are in sickness and in health, in tribulations and triumphs, in joy and sadness, blessed you are as God works His will in your life. And all things work together for good to them who love God. So, live well 2022. The Christ of Glory told us that HE came that our joy might be full. Therefore, enjoy life and live life joyfully. Be happy. Have fun. Laugh a lot. Rejoice and be exceeding glad. Think positive. Think, says the Apostle Paul on those things which are GOOD. Have FUN. Concentrate on the bright and light side of life. Christ came to give us life MORE ABUNDANTLY. Enjoy the abundance of life in 2022 like no year before.And LOVE. Now says Paul in 1 Corinthians 13 abides faith, and hope, and love. But the greatest of these, the greatest of anything and everything is:LOVE.Enjoy it like never before. Share it. Talk about it. Tell others you love them. The love of Christ transforms. Claim it for your life like never before. Even as the love of Christ transforms, your love can also make a difference in somebody else’s life.Remember the great Commandment, confirmed by Old Testament Prophets and further confirmed by our Lord Jesus Christ himself:THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THY HEART, SOUL, MIND AND STRENGTH AND THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF. That is the first and the greatest Commandment. So the best of life is to love God, then to love your neighbor, but always remember, NEVER FORGET that you should:LOVE YOURSELFAs this great Commandment states. The greatest love is threefold, God, neighbor and self. It is not enough to love God and to love your neighbor only. You must love yourself for God has made you and given you the opportunity to live and serve. Nothing, no matter how bad or negative, can ultimately matter if all three loves are part of your life. YOUR LIFE MATTERS. Make it count for all things good and right more than ever in 2022.BE GRATEFUL FOR AMERICA. No matter our problems, some of which are indeed significant, we are privileged by our God to live in the greatest Country in the history of mankind. We yet remain a democracy, a republic, constitutionally governed even though all are under serious and severe attack. Cherish the freedoms you have including and especially religion, freedom of speech, freedom to worship as you well, freedom of press and the ability to write and publish, freedom of petition to the government, and freedom of assembly anywhere for any purpose. Protect those freedoms 2022 like never before. They are attacked everywhere by so many. And evil, devilish ever–growing number of peoples and entities are determined to erode or eliminate these precious constitutional, American freedoms. DON’T LET IT HAPPEN! Be American citizen–patriot 2022 more than ever before. STUDY THE SCRIPTURE. Really study it. Spend time with it. Take biblical classes. Dialogue with friends, other students of THE WORD. Study to show yourself approved unto God, workmen and workwomen who will never be ashamed of the Gospel for they fully understand it, they rightly divide this word of truth. You can read nothing better, nothing. But don’t just read the Bible, STUDY IT!WORK HARD, work harder 2022. Work is fulfilling, necessary. Nothing will motivate you to work harder than the love of Christ. From Him, in you, will come a greater WORK ETHIC. You will do more, much more IN ALL THINGS, and especially for Him. The Holy Spirit will show you things DIFFERENT, ways to grow and do better 2022. This very same Holy Spirit will show you things BETTER, so that things you may now take for granted will be energized, come alive in new, different and better ways and you will have new EYES TO SEE AND EARS TO HEAR. Your life can be so much better, so greatly different in the great year 2022. MAKE IT SO!PRAY. Paul says pray without ceasing. All the time, everywhere about anything. OUR LORD AWAITS, awaits dialogue, petitions, questions, praise and thanks, especially praise and thanks. Talk to the Lord, SPEAK OFT WITH THY LORD. Sincere prayer is always heard and every prayer answered IN THE WILL OF GOD. DAVID prayed in the morning, first thing, and at noon and then again at night, regularly, formally. So should we. Prayer is the spiritual energy of life.Rejoice in trials and tribulations. Know that all such are tests of your faith, your love, your beliefs. Scripture promises that God will never test you more than you can bear. No matter how difficult, you can bear it and you will as a result become a better person, a better Christian, a better servant of THE MOST HIGH. Welcome them (content in all things) no matter how difficult.SET GOALS. Real goals, achievable goals. Worthwhile goals. And press on, understanding the high calling of God:FOR YOUR LIFE.Not in some esoteric, theoretical way. But goals which are consistent with the high calling which God has for: YOU. And only you. Never forget that you are special, called in God’s plan. That you be all that you can be is essential for the purpose of God, and for the fulfillment of your life. Press on for this high calling, keep trying, work hard. NEVER QUIT, never, never, never quit and never, never, never:GIVE UP.Never. Remember that:A DIAMOND IS A PIECE OF COAL THAT STUCK TO ITS JOB!May you be the diamond in the rough that God wants you to be. BE PATIENT. Wait on the Lord, and again I say:WAIT ON THE LORD.Ask and you will receive, if you are patient. Seek and you will find, if you are patient. Knock and the door will be opened unto you, IF YOU ARE PATIENT. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. You can as Paul reminds us do all things through Christ who strengthens you, walks with you, talks with you, energizes you, leads, guides and directs you. DON’T COMPARE YOURSELF WITH ANYONE ELSE. You are one of a kind in God’s plan, and you must be fully you, doing what God would have you do WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT. Nothing is more fulfilling.RESIST THE DEVIL. There is so much evil in this world. It is everywhere, coming at you daily, challenging, tempting, determined, see it coming and resist it, whether spiritual, political, cultural, and most importantly spiritually where THE WORD OF GOD, real Christianity, are challenged like never before. RESIST IT ALL! Resist the author and originator of this evil, the DEVIL HIMSELF, and if you do, if you stand strong in the Lord, this devil with his evil will FLEE FROM YOU.DON’T LOOK BACK. Forgetting those things which are behind, says Paul, FORGETTING, really forgetting, psychological and spiritual burdens, negative, destructive, emotional weights which do nothing but prevent you from being all that you can be. Forget them. Move on. They bring nothing but GUILT to your life. They are constant satanic reminders of failure, compromise, mistakes, sin and having been forgiven by the Christ of Glory, and having done your best to reconcile:MOVE ON.YOU CAN’T CHANGE THE PAST! But the future, the great year of 2022 provides for you:A CLEAN SLATE.A start over. A new beginning. New opportunities. Fresh outlooks. A brand new chance to do better. Immerse yourself in these new opportunities without carrying the baggage of the past with you. DON’T LOOK BACK!Even as you work hard and cultivate your work ethic 2022, and as you pursue economic gain and profit, remember the advice and the wisdom of the Apostle Paul:WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT A MAN OR WOMAN TO GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD AND LOSE HIS OR HER SOUL?Money is a means, not an end. Earn it for a work man and woman are worthy of their hire. But when you earn, invest in the things of the Lord. Invest in eternal investments. Enjoy any success you have, workman and workwoman worthy of the profit of your efforts. The more profit the more opportunity you have to give and give back. Do lots of that in 2022. Success comes at the end of obstacles which you overcome. In fact, success is measured so often by those very obstacles, difficulties, problems which you solve and overcome. The mark of a true champion, a true hero is a body full of scars. Learn from those incidences. They make you a better person. AND MISTAKES. You will make them all the time, everyday as we all do. Admit them. Confess them. CORRECT THEM. And most importantly:LEARN FROM THEM. And don’t repeat them. Persevere. The harder the task, the greater the success. Stretch yourself. You are, all of us are better than we think we are. We are capable of doing more, much more than we have 2021. And we are capable of doing it better, and different, and more productively. So do it, do it as unto the Lord, do everything as unto the Lord. Be smart. Be wise. Plan, think. Analyze and evaluate. Use your mind, your God–given reason, the mental powers which you have. None of us begin to use all that we have. Organize. Make your life more meaningful. INTEGRITY. Be honest. Always tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Don’t add to the facts or leave out. Jesus complained over and again that there were far too many where THE TRUTH IS NOT IN THEM. Pilot in fact questioned whether or not there was any such thing as truth. But there is and when you know that truth, and you live by that truth:THAT TRUTH WILL MAKE YOU FREE.David reminded us in Psalms that he walks in his integrity. So should we. It is a firm and real characteristic of the righteous man and woman. God has a plan for you 2022. This plan is tailored, individualized: ONLY FOR YOU.Ask Him about that plan. Seek that plan. Knock on the spiritual door and ask for the leading of the Holy Spirit so that you can understand that plan. It can be constantly revised, updated. Know that, and learn from that. RESOLVE that 2022, this great year which Lord hath made, will be the best ever for you. And so, my fellow Americans, my fellow Christians, I and all the wonderful, committed, Christian and patriotic Americans who work for the Crawford Broadcasting Company wish you and yours a very blessed, happy, fulfilled, Christ–centered New Year, a new year filled with love, joy, peace, fulfillment and happiness. Always remember that you are special. You are one of a kind, made by the Lord, here for His purposes. Work for the night is coming. Lift up your eyes but keep your feet on the ground. You are loved, loved most sincerely by your Creator. Relish that love, cherish it and live in it all year long.

2022 Thoughts - The Great New Year

We end 2021, a year which so many of WE THE PEOPLE would love to forget. It was a hard year, this COVID year. Information, advice, and of course regulations and requirements seem to change weekly, if not from time to time daily. Our economy, the American economy, suffered greatly 2019. Businesses closed, jobs went away, and unemployment skyrocketed. We witnessed both years the rapid rise of Cancel Culture, Critical Race Theory, the so–called 1619 Project, and a growing trend towards socialism, higher taxes and the curtailment of certain freedoms. 2019–20 was a very difficult time in American history and many of the difficulties remain. America, its freedoms, and democracy were attacked from so many different sources and so many different people. Inevitably, 2022 will be a challenging year but, my fellow Americans and especially my fellow Christians, it will be a great year for patriotism and real Christianity born again, energized meeting every challenge as God would have it. I am ready, my all on the altar for God and Country, for Jesus Christ and for America, privileged and delighted to be alive and in service, and I hope you are too. So, LET US GIVE THANKS. Scripture tells us to give thanks for EVERYTHING. That is especially so for the life that we can live, no matter its hardships, our personal difficulties or economic hardships. In everything, says the Apostle Paul, give thanks, thanks for the good and the bad. No matter what it is the way and the will of God and we should understand and accept that. Most of all, says Scripture, we should give thanks 2022 for the UNSPEAKABLE GIFT which God has given us, namely Jesus Christ. Thanks be unto God for this savior of the world. May He be real to you 2022 like no year before. The Apostle Paul thanks God for you, and so do I. You have listened to and supported the Crawford Broadcasting Company, its stations, its hardworking employees, its dedicated Christians and patriots, and we, all of us, THANK YOU WITH ALL OF OUR HEARTS.Count your blessings and be happy for them. Be grateful to God for health, family, friends, for loved ones and no matter your circumstances, know how blessed you are in sickness and in health, in tribulations and triumphs, in joy and sadness, blessed you are as God works His will in your life. And all things work together for good to them who love God. So, live well 2022. The Christ of Glory told us that HE came that our joy might be full. Therefore, enjoy life and live life joyfully. Be happy. Have fun. Laugh a lot. Rejoice and be exceeding glad. Think positive. Think, says the Apostle Paul on those things which are GOOD. Have FUN. Concentrate on the bright and light side of life. Christ came to give us life MORE ABUNDANTLY. Enjoy the abundance of life in 2022 like no year before.And LOVE. Now says Paul in 1 Corinthians 13 abides faith, and hope, and love. But the greatest of these, the greatest of anything and everything is:LOVE.Enjoy it like never before. Share it. Talk about it. Tell others you love them. The love of Christ transforms. Claim it for your life like never before. Even as the love of Christ transforms, your love can also make a difference in somebody else’s life.Remember the great Commandment, confirmed by Old Testament Prophets and further confirmed by our Lord Jesus Christ himself:THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THY HEART, SOUL, MIND AND STRENGTH AND THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF. That is the first and the greatest Commandment. So the best of life is to love God, then to love your neighbor, but always remember, NEVER FORGET that you should:LOVE YOURSELFAs this great Commandment states. The greatest love is threefold, God, neighbor and self. It is not enough to love God and to love your neighbor only. You must love yourself for God has made you and given you the opportunity to live and serve. Nothing, no matter how bad or negative, can ultimately matter if all three loves are part of your life. YOUR LIFE MATTERS. Make it count for all things good and right more than ever in 2022.BE GRATEFUL FOR AMERICA. No matter our problems, some of which are indeed significant, we are privileged by our God to live in the greatest Country in the history of mankind. We yet remain a democracy, a republic, constitutionally governed even though all are under serious and severe attack. Cherish the freedoms you have including and especially religion, freedom of speech, freedom to worship as you well, freedom of press and the ability to write and publish, freedom of petition to the government, and freedom of assembly anywhere for any purpose. Protect those freedoms 2022 like never before. They are attacked everywhere by so many. And evil, devilish ever–growing number of peoples and entities are determined to erode or eliminate these precious constitutional, American freedoms. DON’T LET IT HAPPEN! Be American citizen–patriot 2022 more than ever before. STUDY THE SCRIPTURE. Really study it. Spend time with it. Take biblical classes. Dialogue with friends, other students of THE WORD. Study to show yourself approved unto God, workmen and workwomen who will never be ashamed of the Gospel for they fully understand it, they rightly divide this word of truth. You can read nothing better, nothing. But don’t just read the Bible, STUDY IT!WORK HARD, work harder 2022. Work is fulfilling, necessary. Nothing will motivate you to work harder than the love of Christ. From Him, in you, will come a greater WORK ETHIC. You will do more, much more IN ALL THINGS, and especially for Him. The Holy Spirit will show you things DIFFERENT, ways to grow and do better 2022. This very same Holy Spirit will show you things BETTER, so that things you may now take for granted will be energized, come alive in new, different and better ways and you will have new EYES TO SEE AND EARS TO HEAR. Your life can be so much better, so greatly different in the great year 2022. MAKE IT SO!PRAY. Paul says pray without ceasing. All the time, everywhere about anything. OUR LORD AWAITS, awaits dialogue, petitions, questions, praise and thanks, especially praise and thanks. Talk to the Lord, SPEAK OFT WITH THY LORD. Sincere prayer is always heard and every prayer answered IN THE WILL OF GOD. DAVID prayed in the morning, first thing, and at noon and then again at night, regularly, formally. So should we. Prayer is the spiritual energy of life.Rejoice in trials and tribulations. Know that all such are tests of your faith, your love, your beliefs. Scripture promises that God will never test you more than you can bear. No matter how difficult, you can bear it and you will as a result become a better person, a better Christian, a better servant of THE MOST HIGH. Welcome them (content in all things) no matter how difficult.SET GOALS. Real goals, achievable goals. Worthwhile goals. And press on, understanding the high calling of God:FOR YOUR LIFE.Not in some esoteric, theoretical way. But goals which are consistent with the high calling which God has for: YOU. And only you. Never forget that you are special, called in God’s plan. That you be all that you can be is essential for the purpose of God, and for the fulfillment of your life. Press on for this high calling, keep trying, work hard. NEVER QUIT, never, never, never quit and never, never, never:GIVE UP.Never. Remember that:A DIAMOND IS A PIECE OF COAL THAT STUCK TO ITS JOB!May you be the diamond in the rough that God wants you to be. BE PATIENT. Wait on the Lord, and again I say:WAIT ON THE LORD.Ask and you will receive, if you are patient. Seek and you will find, if you are patient. Knock and the door will be opened unto you, IF YOU ARE PATIENT. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. You can as Paul reminds us do all things through Christ who strengthens you, walks with you, talks with you, energizes you, leads, guides and directs you. DON’T COMPARE YOURSELF WITH ANYONE ELSE. You are one of a kind in God’s plan, and you must be fully you, doing what God would have you do WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT. Nothing is more fulfilling.RESIST THE DEVIL. There is so much evil in this world. It is everywhere, coming at you daily, challenging, tempting, determined, see it coming and resist it, whether spiritual, political, cultural, and most importantly spiritually where THE WORD OF GOD, real Christianity, are challenged like never before. RESIST IT ALL! Resist the author and originator of this evil, the DEVIL HIMSELF, and if you do, if you stand strong in the Lord, this devil with his evil will FLEE FROM YOU.DON’T LOOK BACK. Forgetting those things which are behind, says Paul, FORGETTING, really forgetting, psychological and spiritual burdens, negative, destructive, emotional weights which do nothing but prevent you from being all that you can be. Forget them. Move on. They bring nothing but GUILT to your life. They are constant satanic reminders of failure, compromise, mistakes, sin and having been forgiven by the Christ of Glory, and having done your best to reconcile:MOVE ON.YOU CAN’T CHANGE THE PAST! But the future, the great year of 2022 provides for you:A CLEAN SLATE.A start over. A new beginning. New opportunities. Fresh outlooks. A brand new chance to do better. Immerse yourself in these new opportunities without carrying the baggage of the past with you. DON’T LOOK BACK!Even as you work hard and cultivate your work ethic 2022, and as you pursue economic gain and profit, remember the advice and the wisdom of the Apostle Paul:WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT A MAN OR WOMAN TO GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD AND LOSE HIS OR HER SOUL?Money is a means, not an end. Earn it for a work man and woman are worthy of their hire. But when you earn, invest in the things of the Lord. Invest in eternal investments. Enjoy any success you have, workman and workwoman worthy of the profit of your efforts. The more profit the more opportunity you have to give and give back. Do lots of that in 2022. Success comes at the end of obstacles which you overcome. In fact, success is measured so often by those very obstacles, difficulties, problems which you solve and overcome. The mark of a true champion, a true hero is a body full of scars. Learn from those incidences. They make you a better person. AND MISTAKES. You will make them all the time, everyday as we all do. Admit them. Confess them. CORRECT THEM. And most importantly:LEARN FROM THEM. And don’t repeat them. Persevere. The harder the task, the greater the success. Stretch yourself. You are, all of us are better than we think we are. We are capable of doing more, much more than we have 2021. And we are capable of doing it better, and different, and more productively. So do it, do it as unto the Lord, do everything as unto the Lord. Be smart. Be wise. Plan, think. Analyze and evaluate. Use your mind, your God–given reason, the mental powers which you have. None of us begin to use all that we have. Organize. Make your life more meaningful. INTEGRITY. Be honest. Always tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Don’t add to the facts or leave out. Jesus complained over and again that there were far too many where THE TRUTH IS NOT IN THEM. Pilot in fact questioned whether or not there was any such thing as truth. But there is and when you know that truth, and you live by that truth:THAT TRUTH WILL MAKE YOU FREE.David reminded us in Psalms that he walks in his integrity. So should we. It is a firm and real characteristic of the righteous man and woman. God has a plan for you 2022. This plan is tailored, individualized: ONLY FOR YOU.Ask Him about that plan. Seek that plan. Knock on the spiritual door and ask for the leading of the Holy Spirit so that you can understand that plan. It can be constantly revised, updated. Know that, and learn from that. RESOLVE that 2022, this great year which Lord hath made, will be the best ever for you. And so, my fellow Americans, my fellow Christians, I and all the wonderful, committed, Christian and patriotic Americans who work for the Crawford Broadcasting Company wish you and yours a very blessed, happy, fulfilled, Christ–centered New Year, a new year filled with love, joy, peace, fulfillment and happiness. Always remember that you are special. You are one of a kind, made by the Lord, here for His purposes. Work for the night is coming. Lift up your eyes but keep your feet on the ground. You are loved, loved most sincerely by your Creator. Relish that love, cherish it and live in it all year long.

Christmas - The Greatest Old Story Ever Told

With God, all things are possible. ALL THINGS!Even an event like THE VIRGIN BIRTH. Some 2,000 years ago, an angel was sent by God to the tiny town of Nazareth in the Galilee area. The area was small, the inhabitants few and a popular saying of the day was:CAN ANY GOOD THING COME OUT OF NAZARETH?Perhaps not before, but after the visit by the angel Gabriel to an unknown Mary, from Nazareth would come the Savior of the world.Mary the virgin was pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The angel Gabriel said to her:GREETINGS, YOU WHO ARE HIGHLY FAVORED! THE LORD IS WITH YOU.Gabriel went on to say:DO NOT BE AFRAID, MARY. YOU HAVE FOUND FAVOR WITH GOD. YOU WILL BE WITH CHILD AND GIVE BIRTH TO A SON. YOU ARE TO GIVE HIM THE NAME JESUS.HE WILL BE GREAT AND WILL BE CALLED THESON OF THE MOST HIGH.THE LORD GOD WILL GIVE HIM THE THRONE OF HIS FATHER DAVID AND HE WILL REIGN OVER THE HOUSE OF JACOB FOREVER. HIS KINGDOM WILL NEVER END!And, rightly so, Mary was troubled and she said to the angel:“How will this come about since I am a virgin?”To which the angel responded:THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL COME UPON YOU AND THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH WILL OVERSHADOW YOU.So the Holy One to be born would be called the SON OF GOD.The natural man scoffs at angels but the spiritual man knows that with God all things are possible, including angels. Mary, now with child, the Holy Ghost having come upon her, went to the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth, relatives, and when she arrived, Elizabeth knew of this Immaculate Conception and Elizabeth said to Mary:BLESSED ARE YOU AMONG WOMEN, AND BLESSSED IS THE CHILD YOU WILL BEAR!Elizabeth knew that Mary would be the mother of her Lord and ours as well.So, the world was about to change because of that event in Nazareth. Jesus of Nazareth would soon be born in Bethlehem of Judea and this Nazarene, this SON OF THE MOST HIGH would soon be known as THE SAVIOR, the Prince of Peace, the Christ of Glory. When Elizabeth had finished, Mary began her very own song of praise:MY SOUL MAGNIFIES THE LORDAND MY SPIRIT REJOICES IN GOD MY SAVIOR!FOR HE HAS BEEN MINDFUL OF THE HUMBLE STATE OF HIS SERVANT.FROM NOW ON ALL GENERATIONS WILL CALL ME BLESSEDFOR THE MIGHTY ONE HAS DONE GREAT THINGS FOR MEHOLY IS HIS NAME!Such powerful praise and adoration this Magnificat of Mary was. Mary, the virgin, so humble in spirit, thought of herself as the HANDMAIDEN of the Lord, perhaps still puzzled as to why she was chosen to bear the King of Kings, but willing and obedient to do the will of God.And the Babe of Bethlehem grew within her. Fiancé Joseph, of the lineage of David, sought to put her away but again, an angelic message explained to him what had happened, foretold the birth of this Son and the instructions to him that His name would be Jesus. Thereafter, Mary would be wife and mother for Joseph. It is incredibly difficult to imagine how this man 2,000 years ago would react. Nothing like this in human history had ever happened before. He, Joseph was chosen to supervise and support the birth of the Savior of the world. That would be impossible for any man to comprehend but Joseph, obedient like Mary, accepted the angelic explanation and this divine drama proceeded. Surely, Joseph could see the remarkable changes in Mary. For those precious months, Mary’s soul glorified the Lord. She told all that her spirit rejoices in God my Savior. Surely that glorifying and rejoicing was well noticed, even participated in by Joseph. Mary, the humble servant of the Lord knew what great things God had done for her and she was perhaps the first to live in a brand new, revolutionary state of praise and worship. Soon, that would be available to all mankind.Then came the decree from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. Joseph, who belonged to the house and lineage of David therefore went to Bethlehem of Judea to register with Mary, since Bethlehem was the City of David. But the town was full and there was no room in the inn so that Mary and Joseph slept in a manger. And there, in that manger, Mary gave birth to a son and as a proud and loving mother, she wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger. Such were the humble circumstances of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the Babe of Bethlehem, the Prince of Peace and the Savior of the world. AND THAT IS THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS! That birth of the Savior of the world is what we celebrate at Christmas! This rabidly secular world of ours wishes to de–spiritualize this event and take CHRIST OUT OF CHRISTMAS. We who believe must never let that happen but rather band together in glorious praise and worship to the Babe and especially to the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let not, my fellow Christians, the secularists abandon the Christ of Christmas. So, Christ was born and there began the spreading of the Word:AND THERE WERE SHEPHERDS ABIDING IN THE FIELDSKEEPING WATCH OVER THEIR FLOCKS BY NIGHTAND LO THE ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO THEMAND THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHONE ROUND ABOUT THEMAND THEY WERE SORE AFRAIDBUT THE ANGEL SAID TO THEMDO NOT BE AFRAIDI BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY THAT WILL BE FOR ALL PEOPLETHIS DAY IN THE CITY OF DAVIDA SAVIOR HAS BEEN BORN FOR YOUHE IS CHRIST THE LORDTHIS WILL BE A SIGN UNTO YOUYOU WILL FIND THE BABE WRAPPED IN SWADDLING CLOTHESAND LYING IN A MANGERAND SUDDENLY THERE WAS WITH THE ANGELSA HEAVENLY HOST OF ANGELSPRAISING GOD AND SAYINGGLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHESTAND ON EARTH PEACE AND GOODWILL TO ALL MANKINDHow interesting that shepherds were chosen as the first to hear this angelic enunciation. Shepherds were watchmen, observant, especially at night as they made certain to protect their sheep. They knew the heavens, the stars and their movements. They were familiar with the night and they could, like wise men and kings, identify and follow the STAR OF WONDER, the star which shone brightly that night over the City of David, the blessed Bethlehem of Judea, where the Prince of Peace was born.And those shepherds left immediately and they found Mary and Joseph and the Babe lying in the manger. And when they had seen him, they were the very first evangelists, spreading the word of this miraculous and marvelous birth, the message they had been told by the angel about this Babe. And that was the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. From then on, the shepherds glorified and praised God for all the things they had heard and seen even as we who believe do so today. We well say today as the shepherds and angels did then:GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHESTAND ON EARTH PEACE GOODWILL TOWARD ALL MANKINDMen and women search today for truth even as the shepherds did. The search is everywhere but the truth, the ultimate truth was revealed to mankind in a manger in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. Wise men and women, who truly seek him, will find him there. Those who scoff, mock a virgin birth, the concept of angels and the creation of a God–man will never, ever know that:NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GODNothing. But to find HIM is a most joyous, wondrous discovery. It is an epiphany like no other. The finding of the Babe is the finding of the world’s greatest treasure. The power, the love, the understanding which results from finding HIM is life–changing then and forevermore. That finding allows us to become as a little child, open and transparent, filled with love and compassion, fully understanding the GRACE of God and that gracious gift which changed the world 2,000 years ago. That faith in the Babe of Bethlehem is the key to entering the Kingdom of God, humbly trusting and believing even as Mary did of old. Women become handmaidens of the Lord like Mary did. Men become servants of the Lord as the shepherds did. So that, on Christmas Day, we discover the greatest present, the greatest gift one could ever find:THE BABE OF BETHLEHEMThe gifts we give to others at Christmastime can never begin to equal the gift of God to us. We should celebrate that gift FIRST and wherever possible, give the love of that gift to others. That is what Christmas is all about and that should never change.And we, like the shepherds should spread the news, the Good News. That is true evangelism and we who believe must never let that message die not only at Christmas, but every day. The wise men of old found Him and the wise men and women of today, the truly wise who search will find Him. For in Him it is all that God is. And that, as the angels well said, are indeed the glad tidings and the great joy for all.For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son to all humankind, so that those who believe could have life abundant here and life eternal there. For those who received this gift of God, there comes the power of God making them sons of God and daughters, life all brand new. Women praise the Lord like Mary of old. Men glorify the Lord as the shepherds of old. And that, and only that can bring peace to the world. The message of that Babe is the only message which can spread the goodwill of God and transform the lives of all mankind. May it be yours.We the Crawford Broadcasting Company, all of us, wish you a very happy, merry, blessed Christmas centered around the Babe of Bethlehem and may the love of God in Jesus Christ be your very special gift this Christmas season. Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace and goodwill for all.CHRIST IS BORN!

Workers

Where, asks the Wall Street Journal, did all the workers go?Bidenomics has led to a labor shortage that is hurting the economy, the journal concludes. There are five million fewer Americans employed then before the pandemic lock downs. As many as three million have left the work force when closed, when virtual and remote succeeded in person, when radical change occurred almost everywhere in the work force, millions gave up, quit working and in effect retired.Of course, Covid and the new Delta Variant were blamed for almost everything. It seemed as though the mentality of America changed and changed radically in two short years. Some workers refused to work remotely or virtually. Others refused to go back to work, working in person, at offices and retail outlets and in enclosed spaces. That left employers “crying for workers” but they can not be found even when those employers are willing to pay more than before. In addition, those employers are willing to make accommodations not previously offered, such as working from home, more flexible work schedules and more. It seems as though leverage has shifted from the employer to the employee. Some statistics indicate that as many as 51% of all employers, actual or potential have openings they can not fill. It is just simply unbelievable how the world, economically and otherwise, has so radically changed in two short years. Why, ask economists, is this happening. What is causing the worker shortage? One factor is government and employer vaccine mandates. If you want to work, say government, its agencies and many employers, you must be vaccinated and fully vaccinated. Many states and school districts have also imposed vaccine mandates and as a result, ten of thousands of workers refuse to be vaccinated for personal reasons and consequently could not work. Millions continue to refuse vaccination for personal, medical or religious reasons, and employers refuse to hire them back and out of work they stay. The regular vaccination consists of two shots from both Pfizer and Moderna, only one from Johnson and Johnson which many workers refuse to get. Now comes the soft requirement for a booster shot, a third Pfizer or Moderna and a second Johnson which in time may well be mandated by governments federal and state, as well as employers. Any such requirement for a third shot will obviously reduce worker availability even further.And another reason for worker shortage. Says the Wall Street Journal:“Democrats have also made quitting an easier economic option.”Even though pandemic increased unemployment benefits ended in early September, there are still many other federal financed payments that don’t require work, including a $300 monthly allowance per child, food stamps and even rental assistance. Former workers, especially those at state or federal minimum wage levels, claim they really have no economic motivation to return to work. They can live just as well and receive just as much for not working. If there is no economic necessity, why bother.And a third reason why workers are not working. Inflation is on the rise and many think it will be long term and persistent. Fully at work, inflation may “tilt the scale” to leisure instead of work. Compensation, especially hourly earnings seem to be rising fast. But real wage growth AFTER INFLATION has been declining for many Americans. After two years, these former workers now prefer not to work, a life style with much more leisure and almost the same economically in terms of federal and state payments, and the considerable benefits still available. The lack of workers has clearly become a drag on the economy, slowing production and contributing to supply – side strains. Ships are backed up at ports in part because there aren’t enough workers to unload and transport the merchandise and goods. Labor and material shortages are delaying home building. Even so, the economy continues to grow but not nearly as much as it should be as the country emerges from the pandemic’s depths.The Biden White House and the Federal Reserve have deployed the Keynesian policy mix of government spending and easy monetary policy to boost demand which in turn has put considerable pressure on the supply side resulting in the lack of goods and raw materials critical to the economy’s continued growth. And of course, there is the ever – present promise of more regulations and higher taxes. Now, democrats want to add another $5 trillion in spending and more taxes that will do more of the same, exacerbate the existing problems and eventually become an incredibly serious drag on the economy. The American economy is on the one hand hopeful, showing growth signs but on the other hand, fraught with a very real and very negative downside. All of these economic factors will be most interesting as they affect politics 2022. Many predict a democratic rout as a result, while others seem to believe that these continuing government handouts will win the vote. These elections will be fascinating and will foretell the future of the American economy in so many ways.Work is necessary, so says the scripture. No man, no woman can ever be fulfilled unless he or she works, is productive, contributes not only to self and family but to mankind generally. Work to earn, work to eat, work to get profit, all require goals and objectives so says scripture. No matter who you are, what your skills or talents, you can do something and you should. You can work in some way and you must. You simply can not live on the dole at the expense of others with a life of no or little productivity or contribution. Few things in life are as fulfilling as work well done. The sense of satisfaction runs deep.Many respect the rights of an individual to refuse vaccination. Even so, there remains that requirement to be productive, to work. There is, in some cases, opportunity for work and growth like never before. Productive and constructive people should seize that opportunity and do what is right. And you, my Christian friend. May you be led spiritually to make the right decisions. But above all, you should do what is right, what is biblically required and that is:YOU SHOULD WORK!

Inflation

Do you know what inflation is? Actually it’s a word – concept somewhat difficult to define. In Layman’s terms, it means that you and I have to pay more money for the very same goods and services without a similar increase in value. More money, the less or the same goods and services. Inflation means that the dollar has less purchasing power. Goods and services simply cost more money whether or not there’s justification for the price increase. In some cases, there is. Wages are higher. The cost of raw materials to make the goods may also be higher, or very difficult to get. The consumer demand, you and I the buyers, exceeds the supply. It is difficult to get them, there are waiting lists and the leverage for pricing shifts to the seller. Bottom line: you and I simply pay more for the same. A labor department measurement known as the Consumer Price Index (CPI) tells us in broad generalities how pricing occurs. It takes the pricing perimeters for those goods and services, like automobiles, energy, certain foods, tracks their average prices and computes pricing up and down. So far, this year, on an annual basis, prices have increased 6.5%, the largest year–over–year increase since 2008. Inflation, which eviscerates the purchasing power of the dollar is on the rise.Many economists regard inflation as a so – called hidden tax on the American people. The bottom line, again, is less purchasing power for the dollar. Inflation can occur for short periods of time (transitory) or it can be persistent and long–term in nature. The longer it exists, the larger the problem it becomes.Automobiles are one Consumer Price Index (CPI) pricing measurement. Used vehicle prices have increased 24.4% in the last twelve months. That is simply unbelievable. Pricing for new vehicles rose to almost 9% for the year. Renting cars or trucks have had price increases at an average of a whopping 43% in the last twelve months, statistics rather unbelievable.Food and energy prices have increased dramatically. Beef prices for example have increased almost 18% over the last twelve months. Fresh fish and seafood have increased some 11%, major appliances have increased almost 10% while furniture and bedding rose 11%. Therefore, the dollar you earn has decreased in value by those very same percentages.Housing costs have been soaring, up nearly 20% nationwide in the past year. These price increases are caused at least in part by so – called supply – chain shortages. Somewhere along the production line, essentials are missing, hard to get and of course more expensive.Farmland and in fact all raw land has increased in pricing exponentially. In some cases, prices have more than doubled. There seems to be so much money chasing any real and good assets that sellers in some cases can virtually name their price. Interest rates are at an all time low, barely above zero in some cases and in others, actually below zero. There are instances where depositors actually pay banks to hold their money. In addition, the Biden Administration now wants to spend $5.5 trillion dollars of money, none of which the Federal Government has. If that occurs, if that legislation passes, the American debt will skyrocket, taxes will be dramatically increased, and the rules and regulations issued by the Federal Government will produce a new kind of socialistic control in Washington which will be unbelievably detrimental to WE THE PEOPLE, the American economy and the horrendous tax increases we will pay as a result of this new debt. It is indeed an uncertain even frightening day for the American economy.We the American consumers, the American shoppers, face “empty shelves”. Whole sections of goods and merchandise are missing, shelves are empty, and so many normal supply – chains have been disrupted. Recall the unbelievable number of ships docked in West Coast ports, full of merchandise and waiting to be unloaded. There are no workers to do so, so we are told. Governments, Federal and State, fail to take action. Unions and union workers seem not to respond. Now comes the holiday season and consumers clamor for these unloaded goods and it is questionable whether or not some will make it to stores in time for the holidays. Demand greatly exceeds the supply and the bottom line is:UP GO THE PRICES. Recall when the pandemic began at or about March 2020, there was a severe shortage of toilet paper and in fact many other paper products. Hoarding occurred. Consumers bought products when available in massive quantities deeply concerned with future problems. Stores rationed the purchasing of many goods and of course, as they did, up went prices again. That very same economic phenomenon may well be happening today. One severe problem is the lack of so – called chips. They are essential for the manufacturing of so many goods, including and especially automobiles. Workers are scarce. COVID restrictions make necessary workers even scarcer. Raw materials necessary for chip construction are limited or in some cases not available. The manufacturing process is subject to any number of disruptions and difficulties. If you can buy the goods you want now or for the holidays, you the consumer will be fortunate to find them and if you do, you can be sure you will pay more. INFLATION AT WORK. Take today’s pricing of milk and dairy products for example. In some areas, a gallon of milk can cost as much as eight dollars, doubling the pricing of some two years ago.In different times, consumers could boycott, refuse to purchase or otherwise put pressure on sellers and supply – chain providers. But not today. Purchasing leverage exists entirely with the sellers. Sellers can limit purchasing, raise prices at will, even require premiums for the purchase of certain items, above and sometimes well above list price, all legitimate economic tactics however painful producing more and more profit. Fortunately, overall, our American dollar holds strong even though it is weakened in terms of former purchasing power. WE THE PEOPLE have to be aware of what is happening economically, and above all, we must be aware of the insidious taxing nature of INFLATION. Budgets will have to be adjusted. Planning for purchases such as automobiles, appliances, even housing and homes must now take into account the inflationary spiral and the sometimes–dramatic increase in cost. Inflation virtually destroyed the German economy after WWI. We tend to believe that will never happen in America but unless people in power recognize and deal with this problem, it will only get worse. Do your very best to understand inflation. Understand how it occurs, what it is, and how it may apply to your life personally and your budget. We need new life style strategies while this new and dangerous economic phenomenon, this new tax, does continuous hard to our life styles and our budgets.

The Fight For Freedom

Once upon a time, America was a two–party system. There were Democrats and there were Republicans. They differed in philosophy and policy, sometimes significantly. But each was fully American, essentially Constitutional in belief and above all, in freedom, in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness which the Constitution promised. There were, to be sure, other parties, such as Libertarian, even at one time the Communist Party in America (unbelievable), but they amounted to little other than to take votes from either Democrat or Republican. At the bottom line, America was exceptional to all, individually and politically and, whatever our problems, it was a blessing to live here.But not so today. We the People, once indivisible in the pursuit of liberty and justice for all, now are deeply divided, we are angry, defensive, distressful and so often suspicious of anyone who believes differently than we do. There is no common ground, there is no reasonable compromise on issues that can be compromised, and the foundation of our beliefs, once the Judeo–Christian moral foundation, is highly eroded or even nonexistent. We are a Country at risk, of people seemingly becoming unpatriotic by the day with loud leaders moving our Country towards socialism and worse, accumulating massive debt which will in time destroy our economy and doing virtually everything possible to eviscerate law and order. We are a Country ruled by Democrats, the party which controls the Presidency, the House of Representatives and the Senate with a Vice–Presidential vote. The Democratic party controls the media, Hollywood, and academia. The voice of the conservative is hardly heard. The loud liberal voice of today began in 1988, the last year of the Reagan Presidency resulting in the election of Clinton. Even though the Republicans were able to elect George Bush and him for eight years, Bush was never really a true conservative nor Republican and in came Barack Obama, the loudest liberal–progressive voice in American history. America rebelled and elected Trump. Those four Trump years provided a respite from the liberal onslaught. Many feel that Trump would have been reelected in 2020 were it not for his abrasive personality. But, now Biden and back to the progressive, aggressively liberal agenda of the Democrats with socialistic leanings, policy largely formulated by George Soros, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, the so–called squad (four women) in Congress and others like–minded. They run the Country. They are determined to change what America is, or even destroy some or much of it. They seem angry, hateful and of course, there is no political dialogue. What a tragedy for our great Country and WE THE PEOPLE.A truly serious political problem today is the lack of an aggressive Republican Party. The Republicans, once to be counted upon as reasonably conservative, Constitutional to the core, law and order have now become for the most part what many regard as RINO:REPUBLICAN IN NAME ONLY.The party seems to be at best centrist, willing to compromise or at least not willing to fight for real Republican conservative principle. The party seems leaderless in both House and Senate, without a real legislative agenda, the exact opposite of the Democrats. Democrats appear to fight and disagree, but always unite when it matters. Republicans can fight, disagree but seem not to unite when it really matters. There is McConnell in the Senate, McCarthy in the House and Trump seemingly waiting in the shadows for another chance. Otherwise, with the exception of a strong Governor here or there, there is no real conservative, Republican leadership who can unite the party, formulate its policy and platforms and take that aggressive, conservative position to the American people. EXCEPT ONE. And, that one is:RON DESANTIS, GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA.The New York post describes Governor DeSantis, a strong Republican, as AMERICA’S SHADOW PRESIDENT. As Governor of America’s third most populous state, DeSantis has done an excellent job of creating contrasts between his political way, the way he governs the state of Florida and that of the Biden–Harris administration on the federal level. The Governor opposed lockdowns, so much so that the opposition fearing his growing power and influence, actually called DeSantis a “murderer”. But even in the midst of COVID, the SUNSHINE STATE fared so much better than lockdown–heavy states like California and New York. That was so not only economically but also with regard to COVID. So much so that there has been an absolutely unbelievable influx of people from other states as a result of COVID policies, lack of law and order, defunding the police, constantly changing COVID policies and perhaps above all, rising, never–ending taxation policies. Many predict that Florida will become America’s most populous state, largely as a result of its political environment and the governance of Ron DeSantis.The Governor has opposed mandatory masking policies, deferring to leave such requirements to businesses, schools and local authorities. Florida is a very fair state with regard to taxation. There is no income tax. Sales tax rates are reasonable. Law and order is real and enforced. Business and economic growth are fully encouraged. That is especially so with regard to small business encouraged by DeSantis at every turn. Many think that this shadow Republican President shows the spirit and the substance of what a real true Republican President would be and they view him as a very prime candidate for President in 2024. Small wonder that Democrats and the media which this party controls tries harder everyday to take DeSantis down. They do everything possible to smear him, tarnish his reputation and attack his policies.But Ron DeSantis is a man of character, principle and courage. He resists. He will not compromise. His beliefs are firm and he may well be the best conservative representative of any so–called Republican leader in this Country. The Florida economy is exploding. Real estate values have never been higher. People come from every part of this nation to live in this great state. They do so largely because of what Republican Governor DeSantis has created, the new and better Florida, an exciting, opportunistic, reasonably safe place to live without compromise or radical change. DeSantis is young (40s), veteran, openly conservative and a passionate American. Ron DeSantis seems to be the exact kind of candidate for President which the real Republican party needs. Ron DeSantis is the very kind of President which our beloved America desperately needs. He would, like Trump, put an end to the socialist trend. A DeSantis administration would protect our freedoms and our beloved Constitution far more than the Biden administration will. Keep an eye on this man. Watch what he does and how Florida prospers. In 2024, Governor Ron DeSantis may well become President Ron DeSantis.

THE FIRST AMENDMENT: RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS JOHN MACARTHUR: GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH

One tough Christian, this Reverend John MacArthur. Strong and alert, uncompromising, unwilling to bow the knee to Baal, in his case Governor Gavin Newsom, California, who with his radical, progressive (anti-American?) cohorts shut down in-person worship in churches in all of the state of California, with the excuse of COVID. No way, said MacArthur and on to court he went. He sued Newsom and his cronies and won. The Supreme Court of the US ruled in his favor and in-person worship began again.The Supreme Court sent a reminder in their decision that the Constitution and the First Amendment still mean something, still are the law of the land. And, that is especially so with regard to the First Amendment which in addition to is absolute and unconditional guarantee of freedom of speech, press, assembly and petition, guarantees the free exercise of religion without any prohibition on the part of any governmental authority. Newsom and his cronies obviously forgot that. They allowed secular interest in-person privileges, but not religious, not churches. Freedom of religion still means something even at the Supreme Court level. MacArthur and Grace Community Church refused to comply with Governor Gavin Newsom’s order for churches to refrain from indoor services, allegedly because of COVID. Resulting, in a suit by Grace Community Church against Newsom and the state of California, which the church won. MacArthur was so ably represented by THE THOMAS MORE SOCIETY, one great legal authority deeply concerned with the protection of freedom of religion. As a result, the LOS ANGELES COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS voted to authorize a $400,000 payment to the church and the state of California also agreed to pay $400,000, total $800,000. None of that settlement will go to the church or MacArthur. All of it will go to the Thomas More Society for its expenses in its litigation and for the continuation of its great legal work on behalf of non-profit entities. Good for you, John MacArthur, good for you.California and Newsom finally paid attention to the meaning of US Supreme Court decisions. In February, SCOTUS reprimanded California, telling it quite frankly that it could not enforce a ban on indoor worship because of the COVID pandemic. Newsom obviously never got the message but the LA county, where Grace Community Church is located, did. As a result, it modified its health order banning such indoor worship and lifted the restriction after the ruling. To be sure, it was anything but voluntary, but at least, the county complied even if the state did not.One of the ironies of this COVID matter for Grace Community Church was that both John MacArthur and his wife contracted COVID-19. But that was last winter. He also stated that there were individuals in his church, congregation members, who also contracted the disease. Nonetheless, the issue for him and his parishioners was the freedom of worship guaranteed by the Constitution, COVID notwithstanding. They, as mature adults and American citizens, were free to exercise their constitutional rights, which of course unconditionally guarantees the right to worship in-person, in church, or to congregate anywhere with others as the worshipper would see fit. Strong, freedom-loving Christian people, don’t you think? Cesar, in this case, Newsom, would not have any right to exercise any authority to shut down Christian worship (religious freedom at work) no matter the circumstances. Great legal work, Thomas More, and Reverend MacArthur, you have the thanks and the total respect of the Crawford Broadcasting Company and me. You did a great legal service not only for your good church, but for all sincere and uncompromising Christians everywhere in this once great Country.MacArthur won, but not money, but rather the protection of the integrity of his church. Said the Pastor regarding the settlement and its amount ($800,000):“Nothing will come to us (Grace Community Church) except the affirmation that the Lord preserved and protected us through this.”And for sure He did, John. HE saw your stance, your faith, your strength, your willingness to put all on the altar and HE was with you every step of the way. Franklin Graham and so many others congratulated MacArthur and his church on their stand and their legal victory. They with him agreed that this decision and settlement was an “answer from the Lord and to the prayers of his people.” Would other Christian leaders have such courage, and take such stands especially in the radically progressive, seemingly anti-Constitutional state of California and the Governorship of Gavin Newsom. We believe it is the duty of every Pastor and Priest to stand up for religious truth and freedom and to never let Caser, the secular often atheistic authorities prevail when it is clearly the duty of such leaders to:RENDER ONTO GOD THE THINGS WHICH ARE GOD’S.We Christians should be reminded of the admonition in proverbs 19:21 which states clearly:“MANY ARE THE PLANS IN THE MIND OF A MAN, BUT IT IS PURPOSE OF THE LORD THAT WILL STAND.” My people, says the Lord should worship together. In fact, where two or three of you gather to do that:I AM THERE. Says the Lord. Hands off Newsom, stay out of God’s business. You make enough of a mess on your own. How needy California is, and especially Christian California. It seems that far too many churches compromise, kneel, and will not fight the fight of faith. Too many Pastors do not stand strong in the things of the Lord, provide robust, positive and never-yielding leadership and the church of our Lord Jesus Christ suffers. Thank God, however, there are still great Pastors, great churches, great congregations that are on fire, deeply committed and determined that the religious freedoms of the Constitution and its First Amendment, including worship, speech, press, assembly and petition will never be taken away. John MacArthur and Grace Community Church are the epidemy of that!Thank you again, good sir, for your example, your leadership and the aggressive and challenging way in which you and your church have fought the fight of faith. May all who love the Lord as you do follow your example and in the face of an angry, anti-Christian secularism which seems to prevail so often in California and spreading more so:NEVER COMPROMISE, NEVER!

Guns - The Police

TWO TO THE BODY, ONE TO THE HEAD.Sounds like a trainer telling a boxer how to attack his opponent, does it not? Actually, it’s one woman giving instructions as to how to shoot a gun in self-defense, to another woman. It has come to just that, my fellow Americans, in our very own beloved country. Women by the tens of thousands are concerned with their safety, sexual abuse, harassment and domestic abuse as well. If, they say, the police will not protect them, they will have to find a way to protect themselves. Owning and being able to skillfully use a weapon in self-defense is for many the very best way to do just that. Studies show that some 3.5 million women became gun owners from January 2019 through April of 2021. That is an all-time high number of women self-purchasing and in so doing, they make the statement that:ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.Much of this female angst can be attributed to fears driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and the racial protests, so often accompanied by violence. Since the killing of George Floyd, say many, our country has been divided and there is a divisive and dangerous atmosphere which exists in so many parts of America.Among these new women gun owners, 21% were Black and 19% were Hispanic, themselves concerned for their safety and that of their families. Women sought training in the use of firearms and went to places like GIRL AND A GUN, a San Diego chapter of female training in the use of firearms founded by one Judi Wells. She was the altar of that memorable saying: TWO TO THE BODY, ONE TO THE HEAD!Chapters like this advise women as to how to prepare and file background check information, the type and gun most suitable for them to purchase, securing a carrying permit and then most importantly, training in the use of the weapon. It is physical and psychological protection for so many women. One woman, Kanisha Johnson, was shot by her husband and almost killed in the process. Ms. Johnson said the following:“If any type of situation like that ever happens again, I just want to be better protected.” Another woman sought training in firearm usage after she had watched protests against police brutality devolve into looting and burning cars in a neighboring San Diego suburb. She and others like her were greatly concerned that so many aggressive movements nationwide to DEFUND THE POLICE would lessen the ability of law enforcement to render efficient and timely protection when necessary. Said yet another new female gun owner:“You drive into a riot, which we have seen on TV, at least you have a fighting chance.”So many women are intimidated in the purchasing of a weapon for they are usually large and cumbersome for female usage. The gun industry has tried to address that problem by adopting a manufacturing strategy which they termed:SHRINK IT AND PINK ITProducing smaller hand guns in brighter colors. There is indeed anger in many parts of America against the police and law enforcement of all sorts. As a result, police officers resign with regularity and private security seems on the grow. Crime in some cities, like Minneapolis, Philadelphia, and Chicago is on the rise. In Philadelphia for example there are now more than 415 murders in nine months and there are seemingly little that the police can do to prevent more. The problem of the actual crimes themselves is compounded by District Attorneys who are soft on crime, do not prosecute diligently, recommend lenient bail, and early release from prison. If say so many women everywhere, and especially those who are city-dwellers, the police will not protect us, we will protect ourselves. Gun purchases, sometimes more than one per person, are at an all-time high the country over. There is also considerable concern on the part of many that there will be constant attacks on the second amendment of the Constitution which allows the right of any American citizen to purchase, own and use for self-defense, weapons virtually of any kind. The NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION (NRA) now more aggressively than ever defends that second amendment and has been an active participant in encouraging women to purchase guns and to learn how to use them for self-defense. That encouragement, hopefully followed by membership in NRA, has prompted literally millions of women to purchase weapons.Scriptures tell us that, as Christians:THOU SHALT NOT KILL.However, it does not say anything about killing in self-defense. There are men and now an ever-growing number of women who will adopt any means to protect their family, their spouses or children, their homes and possessions. One woman stated that if a criminal entered her home uninvited and intent on harm, she will not hesitate to kill in self-defense. The philosophy of such protection is the saying:TWO TO THE BODY, ONE TO THE HEAD!What is your thinking. Do you or any member of your family own a gun and are you trained in the usage there of? Would you use that weapon in self-defense which would result in the killing of another human-being, would you? Christians shun violence, but would you stand by and allow your young daughter to be abducted or molested, your spouse brutalized? Would you do nothing to defend or protect yourself if you were attacked knowing that you were about to experience serious and physical harm, would you? Most of us would wish to avoid such problems but if we were found in harm’s way, I would suspect most of us would stand up and defend with whatever means necessary especially with family, loved ones and friends, wouldn’t you?I for one on the other hand, do not own a gun and never will. I do not like them, and in fact, I am afraid of them. I could never kill another human-being. And there are many like me. What is your thinking and belief? Would you own a weapon and kill a criminal intent on harm, would you? Even though I would never own a gun, I am a fierce proponent and defender of the second amendment. Owning weapons for self-protection is the very second constitutional right granted to all American citizens. That right should never be taken away, never. The world plummets towards lawlessness and the sanctity and safety of the family is critical.You should think about your position carefully. As the police are defunded, as the military faces steep cuts, as judges and legislation go soft on crime and criminals, the world has changed and radically so. To lay down a life is the greatest sacrifice say the scriptures. But the new women gun owners of today, by the millions, say they may lay down their lives but:NOT WITHOUT A FIGHT AND A GUN!Not without two to the body, one to the head.

BDS Conservatives Fight Back

Boycott-Divestment-Sanctions.We think of these economic measures as applying to Israel by so much of the world at large. And they do. But now comes an aggressive conservative reaction to those companies, American corporations, the stock of which is publicly traded, those WOKE executives and board members asking the conservative American public to boycott the purchase of their products, divest any and all stock or financial holdings, and sanction these companies, spreading the word that by purchasing their products, they are helping finance a radical, progressive woke, corporation and corporate board of directors fully intent on changing America. These investment funds have had enough, especially when these large corporations emphasize social philosophies more so than good business practices. It is most encouraging to see this:ECONOMIC FIGHT BACKOne such company is Gillette. This company has the audacity to lecture its shavers about “toxic masculinity” all the while it asks these masculine men to purchase their razors, razor blades, and shave cream among others. The hypocrisy of this company is just unbelievable. Think about that the next time you are about to purchase a Gillette product.And another and another. Bank of America has hired guest speakers who publicly declare to bank employees and all who will listen that:CAPITALISM IS EVILAnother incredibly hypocritical social and economic stance by a once great bank. Think about that the next time you do any business of any kind with BANK OF AMERICA. Why not shun Gillette and Bank of America and spread the word?There are Wallstreet investment funds which are “taking aim” at the companies that are prioritizing liberal values. Some are offering exchange traded funds (ETF) that exclude left-wing companies. Those companies may be profitable and return good dividends, for now. But if principle matters more than profit, these investment vehicles will provide the investor with other investment options socially acceptable. Good for them! One such exchange traded fund (ETF) is THE AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE VALUES ETF. Their decision-makers search out companies that have not launched ad campaigns or issue bulletins that they think prioritize liberal politics more than profits. These investment funds believe that both companies which focus on profits, which should be their primary objective, will be better investment vehicles than those that focus on social justice. Amen to that.The American Conservative Values ETF has recently sold shares in several companies that have embraced CRITICAL RACE THEORY. That includes the shares of Bank of America, Lowe’s company, American Express, and NASDAQ Inc. These companies and others have liberal, even radical boards of directors and unabashedly pursue their vision of social justice every bit as much as profits. They have required left-wing and progressive training for their employees. Now says William Flaig, CEO of AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE VALUES, let them continue that practice without conservative monies. These companies have instituted employee training based on Critical Race Theory which teaches, says Flaig, that America is an inherently racist and evil country. We will no longer invest in them and in fact we will BDS them, boycott, divest, and sanction. Another such fund is the AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS. This investment fund will only invest in those corporations that hold true to or do not operate against the values of the Roman Catholic Church. Good for them.Leftist and progressive investors have established standards for judging a company’s ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE POSITIONS. They refer to this as ESG acceptable corporations and investment vehicles. On the left side, the radical-liberal side, investments would only be made in corporations which are environmentally, socially, and corporately suitable to radical progressives. Interesting, is it not? Now comes the inevitable investment battle between the left, which demands that a corporation operate under very distinct liberal standards and principles, and the right or conservative investment position which demands corporations do not so operate. Each of course seeks profit for their investors but not of the expense of the environmental and social values they cherish more. Even so, conservative managers of investment funds only go so far. Big tech and Silicone Valley stocks are still included because their returns have been far too large for investors to ignore. They may bristle at big tech censorship but, at least to some extent they will continue to invest. Rather hypocritical, don’t you think?They say, however these investment managers do that FAANG (fang) which include Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google cannot be financially ignored, no matter their censorship policies. Hypocritical on the conservative side don’t you think? Said Mr. Flaig, CEO of the American Conservative Values ETF:“There’s only so much advocacy we can do and still confidently deliver predictable large-cap returns.”Whatever. Why not all or nothing? But the leftist, radical progressive investment beat goes on. Recently, Verizon, Raytheon and other such corporations have mandated Critical Race Theory seminars for executives and staff, clearly reflecting a commitment to leftist outlook. More such companies are Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, Disney (Walt would turn over in his grave), Nike (of course), and BlackRock. Think about what those companies are, what their philosophies are the next time you are about to do business with them. Why not boycott all of them, divest financial interests and sanction them publicly for their radical, anti-American social and environmental stance! The left is determined to win. They are determined to change America if not destroy its free enterprise and capitalistic foundations. The inevitable objective is socialism, which of course can very well lead to Marxism, either one will be the end of America we now know and love. Don’t let it happen my fellow Americans and American investors. Almost everyone, no matter the economic status, has some investments. Put your investment money where it can best serve the financial needs of those corporations which are truly American, truly capitalistic at heart. If you invest in any company, you are a capitalist, large or small. By your economic works and needs, you show what you believe. Even as you pursue certain profits, make certain that you invest in such a way as to protect the America which allows all of us to do business, always with the possibility of economic growth and profit. Put your money where your beliefs are. That kind of investment has its own reward!

Anti-Semitism and the Jews

BLAME IT ON THE JEWS!When anything goes wrong, when any world problem occurs, some individuals, ethnicities or nations will always find the Jews at fault. Jew hatred is as old as civilization itself. Jews were always regarded as a peculiar people, separated and segregated, subject to physical abuse even torture and of course killing with impunity. They were almost never at fault but that never mattered. When in doubt:BLAME IT ON THE JEWSHistory records what happens to the Jews in the period 1937-1945. Nazi Barbarism fed by the maniac Adolf Hitler slaughtered more than 6 million Jews. Gas chambers at Dachau Buchenwald and others ran 24 hours daily killing innocent human beings by the hundreds of thousands. By 1948, when the Jewish state of Israel was established in the historical homeland of the Jews, the Jews vowed the end of Jewish persecution and the motto was adopted:NEVER AGAINNever again. They built the nation of Israel, turn to the nation into a democratic society, a technological leader, built a military with nuclear fire power living side by side with 1.8 million Arabs, and in peace, protecting the rights of all, including every minority whether ethnicity or religion. Israel was known by those objectives as a giving, caring, humanitarian nation and for a time Anti-Semitism was on the wade. Now, unbelievably and unfortunately:IT’S BACKAnd back in a new form and vengeance.Jew haters in London, England produced a placard at a FREE PALISTINE MARCH in London, which pictured an image of Jesus Christ at one of the stations of the cross. Underneath that image were the words:“DON’T LET THEM DO IT AGAIN TODAY.” Them of course refers to the Jews and the alleged ancient killing and crucifixion of Jesus 2,000 years ago. That placard and its message is not atypical but represents Anti-Semitic feeling, even actions and ostracizing the world over, and now perhaps even especially in our own country. Jew haters revived the old notion of blood libel. The haters revived the old notion that Jews secretly control the world. They now begin to refer to the Jews, these haters do as:CHRIST – KILLERS.Its back, Anti-Semitism is and with a vengeance and the message once again to the descendants of Abraham is clear:HERE WE COME AGAIN.Israel, an instinctive and intuitive country, well aware of this newly revived Anti-Semitism continues to strengthen its military might. It has nuclear power and weapons and under the right circumstances will use them. It operates under the motto:AN EYE FOR AN EYEHarm done to Jews or the nation of Israel will result in immediate, forceful and often lethal retribution. Israel is surrounded on every side by enemies including Lebanon, Syria, now Jordan, and Egypt to the south and of course Iran and even Iraq, and Turkey farther north. Other Arab states are openly hostile. They are ready for war but they know war with Israel would produce unbelievably disastrous consequences for their own nation. They wait for now but the day will come when open warfare with Israel will happen. Our very own Bible reminds us in Old Testament Prophecies including and especially the book of Daniel and of course the New Testament Revelation that the battle of Armageddon will come when nations from four corners of the earth will rise up and march on Israel for the purpose of destruction. Many biblical scholars believe that day is near. When it comes, says scripture, there will be a military bloodbath like the world has never seen. That will be part of the END TIMES, the last days. But this so-called final battle will in fact occur and again it will be the most brutal barbaric battle in human history.Interestingly, the progressive left, essentially the democrats now see Anti-Semitism as an “acceptable racism.” They do so by indifference, doing nothing about it and in many cases not even recognizing it exists. Arab activists regard the nation of Israel as a land belonging to them and now occupied illegally by Jews. In fact, they refer openly to Israeli land as OCCUPIED TERRITORY. It is fool hardy to think that Arabs would be interested in an Arab state side-by-side with the nation of Israel, when in fact, the Arabs want every Israeli and Jew buried at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. That is the ultimate goal.There is as well the revival of BDS:BOYCOTT – DIVESTMENT – SANCTIONSAgainst of course the nation of Israel. There should be no investment in the Israeli economy and companies nor should there be any purchasing of Israeli goods and services. That movement now gains traction. Witness BEN AND JERRY’S ice cream company which now refuses to sell products to Israel and the West Bank. Many, right thinking people turn the tables and boycott Ben and Jerry’s, divest stock holdings in that prejudiced company and refuse to purchase their products. Economic turnabout is fair play. But BDS still grows worldwide, and it is an evil force to be reckoned with.But there is some hope, there now comes the ABRAHAM ACCORDS. Gulf states including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia among others now have formal relations with Israel or are beginning talks for cooperation both militarily and economically. There is fear of Iran and even Russia and a new Arab awakening begins to occur which in effect now no longer recognizes the old Anti-Semitism. By the way, Jesus of Nazareth, the man, the centrality of Christianity was a JEW. A real Jew, born, bread and died a Jew. Never forget that as you carry on with Christianity and your worship of JESUS CHRIST.What are your feelings about the Jews? Do you harbor some Anti-Semitism, conscious or latent? As you examine your own beliefs and feelings, you should remember that the Jews were and are:GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLEWhen you think in terms of your reactions to the nation of Israel, you should remember that God promised this land to them even from the Nile River in Egypt to the great Euphrates River in Iraq a mammoth piece of territory. And from a biblical standpoint, ISRAEL BELONGS TO THE JEWS. That historical right began 3,000 years ago. And never forget the biblical promise in Genesis that anyone who curses the Jews will be cursed by God and anyone who blesses the Jews will be blessed by God. To be Anti-Semitic is to be subject to the divine curse but to protect and defend God’s Chosen People is to experience the blessing of God. Blessing or curse which will it be for you? As you decide, we should always remember that this little nation has promised the world that the slaughter, killing and persecution of the Jews will happen:NEVER AGAIN!

Christian

Are you a Christian?I do most sincerely hope that you are.It is for several billion people on this planet:THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFEIf you are a Christian, what kind of Christian are you? Are you the member of a denomination, such as Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist or perhaps Pentecostal. There are many main stream denominations in America and in the world over. Are you one of them? So many individuals say that they are members of a certain denomination because that denomination “believes what I believe.”Then there are independent churches, so called bible believing or fundamentalists and any number of types and kinds of Pentecostal churches. They have their own biblical belief and statements of faith. Are you one of the congregation of these multitudinous independent churches? And then there is Catholic, Roman catholic, Eastern catholic, and others. Perhaps you are a member of one of the different kinds of Catholic churches.Or, you could be an Evangelical. I once thought of myself as Evangelical. Today, I don’t know because I really do not know what an Evangelical is and stands for. It use to be clear. An Evangelical had a strong statement of faith, clear in terms of definition, centered completely on scripture and Jesus the Christ, all good. Evangelicalism professed a belief in the Messiah, his second coming, a loving Christian orthodoxy, and a firm belief in the BIBLE as the:INERRANT INFALABLE INSPIREDWord of the living God. Salvation was a necessary and dynamic process. Forgiveness of SIN through faith in Jesus Christ was a central tenet. Nothing but nothing interfered with any of that and Evangelicals for the most part lived and worshipped indoctrinal harmony knowing what they believed and in whom they believed. Sadly, today much of that firm faith has been eroded and compromise can replace conviction almost anywhere, at any time and with anything.The erosion began with the so-called new awakening of:WOKEThere began new interpretations and new understandings of scripture, Godly commandments and the culture as a result of those once firm Evangelical and fundamental convictions. WOKE began a new emphasis on work in the process of salvation no matter the prohibition of scripture. It deemphasized blood atonement and so much of the deep historical meaning of the crucifixion of the Christ. Born again was something but by no means everything. The bible, once regarded by Evangelicals and so many others as inerrant, infallible and inspired now became more individualized, individual believers in so many ways picking and choosing what they would believe. The claims, even the demand of LGBTQ began to be heeded and even accepted by the newly awakened, no matter the biblical condemnation of the unnatural. New definitions of sexuality, sexual orientation and gender identity began to be carefully considered. CRITICAL RACE THEORY (CRT), whether factual or truthful or not, began to be accepted even emphasized over CRITICAL CHRISTIAN THEORY (CCT) and change, most of it hurtful and so much of it just plain wrong was everywhere. So much of the Protestant Denomination ignored so much of scripture that they became hollow, ineffectual, compromising and in so many cases irrelevant, and so much of Evangelical believed with them. So much of the Christian church forgot the admonition of the Apostle Paul who said that the duty of every Christian was:WE PREACH CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED Sadly, not so much anymore.So again, my fellow Christians WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE? WHAT KIND OF CHRISTIAN ARE YOU? So many Christians really do not understand the issues, the tenets of their faith, or exactly what they believe. They fail to:STUDY TO SHOW THEMSELVES APPROVED UNDER GODWORKMEN AND WORKWOMEN RIGHTLY DIVIDED (INTERPRETING AND UNDERSTANDING) THE WORD OF TRUTHDo you? Do you really study scriptures? The Apostle Paul said it is the duty of everyone who names the name of Christ to really study the bible, seriously, regularly and lovingly. That study, that biblical demand consists of the following: Careful reading A prayerful heart and mind seeking the interpretation of the Holy Spirit Meditation and mulling the precious truths of the Word Communication of those understandings and beliefsThat is required of every Christian. Otherwise, anyone can be influenced by the teachings of: FALSE TEACHERS (PREACHERS)Their beliefs can be tossed aside by every wind of new belief and doctrine. That unlearned, unstudied Christian will never be able to give:A REASON FOR THE FAITH WITHINIn the face of hostile Atheism and the new interpretation of the WOKE generation. No matter the demands of life you must YOU MUST take the time to study to show yourself approved, you must. You must KNOW IN WHOM YOU HAVE BELIEVED! You must never be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. You must be ready to fight the verbal fight of faith. You must be altogether with HIM, fully believing in HIM, loving HIM with all your heart or you are barely Christian if at all.The gospel is FOOLISHNESS to those intellectual and a STUMBLING BLOCK to those non-Christians. If you are a true believer, then you are foolish and you are a stumbling block in the eyes of secular mankind. You must be ready to defend, to fight, to tell the world in whom you have believed and WHY! Otherwise, you will be compromised and as the scriptures states so clearly:YOUR FAITH IS IN VAINPlease don’t let that happen. Christ is all in all for every true believer.The WOKE World of today laughs at the concept of sin. It mocks redemption as result of the blood of the crucifixion. It utterly disbelieves that absolute claim of Jesus Christ:I AM THE WAY THE TRUTHTHE LIFENO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME!Laughable, foolishness, stumbling block. That there is even such a thing as sin and that one man, a humble Jew from Nazareth can forgive them. But, if you are true Christian and you really believe, you will never compromise the fundamental tenets of the Christian faith, NEVER! You will stand firm even until death. You will be willing to put your ALL ON THE ALTAR and defend the Christ who has done so much for you with all you have, even your life. If you truly believe, if you are truly Christian, that will be an easy decision. If the love of Christ permeates your heart, forgives and redeems, and motivates you to witness and serve mankind, all on the altar is an easy decision. How much do you really love Jesus Christ? How much? The more you love, the stronger your beliefs. The more you love Jesus Christ, you have on you the whole armor of God and in terms of your fundamental Christian beliefs:YOU WILL NOT BE MOVED!Never.That was once and must be now the belief system of every real Christian. I pray that is yours that you are with HIM all the way and that you will never, ever hear HIM say to you:HE OR SHE – YOU WHO ARE NOT WITH ME (ALL THE WAY)ARE AGAINST ME!

The Patriot - The Patriot Day

America is the leader of the west.Or at least, it once was.We were born as a marvelous experiment in Democracy, in FREEDOM. We, the 1776ers built our country as THE CITY ON THE HILL, the bright, shining beacon welcoming all to enjoy these precious freedoms with the Pledge of Allegiance to protect, preserve and defend our precious constitution and our way of life. We were built as a nation, one nation, indivisible, UNDER GOD with the promise of liberty and justice for all but America 2021 is nothing more then divided, deeply divided. We the people are polarized in virtually every aspect of our lives and our society. Instead of UNITED WE STAND, our motto should be divided to the core. We are anything but one nation.We are weakened in virtually every aspect of our society. Our economy. Where the dollar once used to be the measure of financial stability, it is no longer. We pile debt upon debt and print money for anything and everything. Our military is nowhere near as strong, threatened as we are by China and Russia. We are culturally far different, Judeo – Christian standards mocked and ignored. Religion wanes, faith in the God of the universe, and especially the God of our Lord Jesus Christ crumbles daily. We are a house divided, and a house divided:CANNOT STAND!No matter the wars of the world, Continental America was never attacked. That was so until September 11, 2001. Then came Bin Laden and his minions and the World Trade Center twin towers were destroyed, as was much of the Pentagon in Washington D.C. We found it unbelievable for these incredible acts of terrorism had never happened to us before, NEVER. But we rallied. We became almost overnight UNITED, ready to defend, to protect and preserve all that we held dear. Some 4,000 of our fellow citizens perished. We rallied to their cause, their families, their aid and support and our President George W. Bush vowed to bring the killers to justice. There was a feeling of PATRIOTISM which America had not experienced in decades. We were ready to do whatever was required. America was the America it should be, the America of old, the America of 1776. In the midst of this incredible disaster, the 9/11 massacres, America was: PATRIOTICALLY BORN AGAIN But that renewed Patriotism did not last long. It gave way to partisanship, ideological differences, deep societal divisions and rather than the patriotic love for country, an ever growing hatred for so much of what America stood for. There came about a more active socialism, something to replace democracy. Marxism reared its ugly head again. China and Russia emerged as ever growing threats to America, more each year in the past two decades. Iran and other terrorist African and Middle East nations flexed their aggressive muscles. Terrorism spread virtually everywhere. The world seemed never to have been more unsafe. There were wars and rumors of wars. America fought such wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and it seemed as though the world we knew in the year 2000 was now dramatically changed. At least America was.But, who are we my fellow Americans? What kind of people are we and what kind of society, civilization and political orientation do we have. What is America today? And how shall we live, HOW? I wonder if we are the descendants the people of 1776 who fought and gave their lives for the freedoms we enjoy today. I wonder whether we are freedom fighters, willing to fight with our lives for our freedoms.I wonder what we really believe, what are our real priorities. I wonder what kind of government we want to have and how active and aggressive we will be in participating in that government. I wonder whether or not our Judeo – Christian values, the moral principles upon which this country was built, will endure and how meaningful they are. Is it not time, with the lessons of 9/11, of Patriot day in mind to ask straight forwardly:WHO ARE WE?We were leaders of the world, world watch dog empower. We were proud to be Americans and citizens the world over respected our country and WE THE PEOPLE. We honored our commitments, our WORD but today, America lives in the error of POST TRUTH where the lie abounds. We can no longer be trusted. We have abandoned Afghanistan and for the most part Iraq, military endeavors we undertook after 9/11. We have left thousands to die as terrorism spreads and rules. It is in many ways embarrassing to be an American for so many. How good it would be for our country if that born again Patriotism were to be revived an become once again our way of life. If only Patriot day could awaken once again the spirit of Patriotism, love of Constitution, and an even deeper love of freedom, all of the freedoms we enjoy. A young American saved hundreds of lives when he and his cohort aboard a plane bent on sabotage and killing said to his fellow passengers:LET’S ROLLHe and they gave their lives as the plane went down, saving hundreds of other lives and perhaps even the very White House of America itself. This man was willing to die for freedom. Are we? Are we willing to give our lives for the incredible life and lifestyle we now enjoy, are we? Patriot day asks that of us. HOW WILL WE RESPOND. What will we tell the world America is and what do we believe.The real America would heed the call of President Thomas Jefferson who said so clearly that:“The tree of liberty needs to refreshed by the blood of Patriots from time to time.”And now is surely the time when that might happen if in fact we are determined to live free. The lesson of 9/11 should be that we the people have a renewed hunger for freedom, that we have a far deeper appreciation of what freedom is, how fragile it is and what we must do to live free. Perhaps 9/11 allows us to once again adopt the slogan, the theme of the great revolutionary state of Vermont:LIVE FREE OR DIEI wonder if we are willing to die for freedom like they were, are we? Are we willing to lay our all on the alter for freedom to protect, preserve and defend our way of life, are we?May it be so. Be willing, my fellow Americans, to do whatever it takes to preserve, protect and defend our beloved America. For these precious freedoms once lost, are lost forever.

Labor Day - Work

Work is good. Work is necessary for the fulfillment of every human being. Work is required of every person according to his or her capabilities and talents, so sayeth the Scripture. All of us must work to survive, live, grow and profit and be all that we can be and as God intended us to be.Our very own America was built on hard work, and is in fact itself a work in progress. The progress depends upon us, we the people, how hard we work and how we make things happen. The majority of we the American people are hard workers. And, the harder and the better we work, the better America and all of us are. To be sure, nothing comes easy in this life, nothing. Everything we have or enjoy is the product of hard work by someone, whether you, or me, or someone else. You and I must do our share, accomplish our calling for the very short time we have on this precious earth. Life, said the wisest man of old King Solomon, is but a vapor here today and gone so soon tomorrow. We should make every working day count to the fullest.Pioneers built our country. They were men and women who did little but work hard morning till night. They farmed land never before productive. They raised animals and used them for work and feed. They built houses, and churches, and City Halls. They built roads and bridges. They built autos and trucks. They built hospitals and invented medicines. They designed and manufactured clothing. They created places for entertainment and worship. They built elaborate and majestic campuses for education and things theological. They built laboratories and science centers and they sent us deep into space. They were then and we are now the workers who made America great, America, the most exciting, creative human and social experiment in all of history. You and I should be proud of them and we should be proud to be workers like they were. The more we work, the better we are, caught up, energized and thrilled by the spirit of America, our exceptional opportunity to pursue our dreams and to build our future. America and those who believe in what it stands for are indeed EXCEPTIONAL and we have been blessed by EQUALLY EXCEPTIONAL opportunity. As we work, we should do everything possible to protect and defend the opportunities, lifestyles and freedoms which America offers.How wonderful it is that the talent and ability of every individual God-Made is different, unique. It is marvelous indeed that every single person has talent and gifts which are in fact different. That is true divine diversity. None of us are better at least not in the sight of God, but different only. Each of us has our own special CALLING. So, no matter who you are, YOU are special and it is your right but every bit as importantly your duty to utilize those God-given talents to the fullest. It is your duty to fulfill your calling. So then, we should not be concerned with what others think nor should we judge what we do and how we work by the standards of others. Nor should we be inhibited by their criticism. For we need to know ourselves, be true to that special self and soul which God has created and through prayer and meditation, come to a full recognition of those talents and be the very person God intended that you and I be. We can fail, but we can bounce back. The opportunity for growth and change is still available in America, thank God. Ignore rejection and focus on your calling. So then, my fellow Americans, you may be called to be a mother. Be all that you can be as a mother for the sake of your children and do your God-given calling with all of your might. Or perhaps you are secretary, or babysitter. Perhaps you clean for a living. Recognize all such work as a calling and do your calling with all of your might. Or perhaps you are plumber, electrician, landscaper, restaurant worker. Do your calling with all of your might and as you can, as unto the Lord. Or perhaps you are lawyer, accountant, radio salesperson, financial planner. Do your calling with all of your might. And if you are the President of anything, including the President of our great United States, you perhaps have a calling with higher standards, duties and demands. No one should do a calling better than you WITH ALL OF YOUR MIGHT!So, we work, we produce and as we do, we should expect return which of course includes money and profit. We work for economic growth and benefit, for the fruit of our labors. We follow the biblical prescription that we can expect even with minimum work product the return of that work one for one. Or perhaps, five to one. Or even as Scripture indicates, perhaps as much as ten to one or more as we diligently develop and exploit those talents and capabilities through hard work. The money return from our work, efforts, creativity and initiative is blessed by Scripture. That money return is right, as we become work men and work women worthy of our hire. We plant, as Scripture says, and Mother Nature waters and it is GOD who gives the increase so the Scriptures say. It is a good thing to make money and to be rewarded for our work. Money supports. Money helps others. Money creates opportunity. The best of us at work, hard work, is exactly what this world of so many ENTITLED needs now more than ever. In fact, hard and productive work is so necessary for this world of entitlements in which we live in order for it to survive and continue. It is well and good indeed to help those all in real need. But all who can, any and all including those receiving entitlements, should work as they can.But today, unfortunately it seems, there are those supposedly progressive in thinking who wish to tell us that profit is wrong, especially in excess. That profit made is the result of GREED at work. Profit they say is not as a result of hard work or special skills, but rather the exploitation of others. Ignore them. You are worthy of the profit and gain of anything you produce at any level of life. The more you invest as a mother, the better your child, perhaps better than others. Enjoy the fruit, the profit of your labors. When you build something, revel in the fruit of your labors and do it with all of your might, and better than others. For no matter what progressives or others would say, YOU DID IN FACT BUILD IT, and you did build it yourself. In fact, so much of what is built would not have been built without you or me. Revel in, enjoy and profit from anything and everything YOU BUILT!But work produces much more than money. Those who understand the value of work realize full well that the doing well of anything is the reward itself! The satisfaction, the fulfillment, the full expression of the self among mankind and before God are THE BEST REWARDS. They are indeed more valuable than money for money comes and goes. But the rewards of work well done last a lifetime and are in fact eternal. We create an earthly balance sheet, personal financial and loss statements here and now, but it is the ETERNAL balance sheet which really counts. Nothing goes with you, no matter what you leave behind, but only the heavenly balance sheet you create. For there is always something more, often much more than the work itself or the profit therefrom. There is good, often enormous good in work well done and even very spiritual good. See that clearly as part of the goal of your calling and WORK which only adds to the return and the enjoyment.So, the work we do can be not only for money, or profit, but for non-profit. For worthy causes. For the good of society in which we live. For all humanity, especially those in need. For the Christian Church and for the Christ we love and serve. For blood drives. For HIV awareness and treatment. For feeding and sheltering the homeless. For carrying the message of the Gospel to forsaken and needy parts of America and the world. Shepherding and guiding children. Tending to the needs of the elderly. Visiting and comforting those in prison. THE WORK OF THE LORD AT WORK FOR ALL MANKIND, AS WE ARE CALLED.All of these things make us what we should be before the Lord and our fellow man.So many of us are people of faith. But our faith, sayeth Scripture, without works is dead. Whatever you believe, whatever your faith, there is no way for anyone to know whether or not it is real except by your works. Talk is cheap. But by the fruits of your labors your fellow human beings will know you. If there is in fact a work of God in you, a CALLING, a life objective, the works that you do will prove to others who you are. What you and I do not do also proves who we are. The great thinking Dietrich Bonhoeffer said that not to act is to act. Negative actions, doing nothing, can be as potent negatively as actual action itself.Unfortunately, there are those who do deceitful works and works of iniquity. They are known for their fraudulent and deceitful acts. They work not for the good of mankind, but only for themselves, for ego, for elicit gain in a deceitful way. Their works and their lives are in vain. William Shakespeare said that the evil that men do lives after them, the legacy they make and that evil is the only thing remembered here and in eternity.So, it is our duty to study, to grow ourselves in our career and constantly make ourselves better, so that we can show ourselves approved as work men and women, understanding the objectives, values and priorities which are ours, always growing in our understanding, especially the Scriptures so that we can be approved by God before him as well as man. Learning, whether a trade or in law, or by gaining experience and growing or by learning from others, or the school of hard knocks, and by mistakes, learning standards of excellence to which we can aspire so that we can be all, ALL we can be, working with all of our might knowing in this world that indeed the night is coming where no man can work. Work while you can and the best you can.In this life, we slow down, age or perhaps lose interest or motivation, and of course energy and our ability to work dissipates or even ends. With that ends opportunity and potential and we may not have finished what we are called to do. Some retire, or quit, or are forced to retire prematurely. Some of us are fortunate enough to finish and accomplish our objectives and purposes, while others can not. For us, we are fortunate that even Jesus of Nazareth said in John’s Gospel that he had in fact finished the work for which the Father had sent him. He had accomplished His objectives, fulfilled His purposes and He did so to His last dying breath. Our goal, like HIS should be to finish our work, the work for which we were sent by God and meant to do. That is the greatest fulfillment this life can offer.We are called upon by God Almighty to live every day to the fullest. CARPE DIEM my fellow Americans, seize the day. It is the day which the Lord hath made and for you to work and be productive. Worry not about tomorrow, or the criticism, expectations or even the rejections of any man. It has its own problems-evil-which you can not control or do anything about. But, rather think in terms of how precious every minute of every hour of every day is, and rejoice in that. Maximize the opportunity that minute brings and, whatever your hand finds to do, YOUR CALLING, do it with all of your might. Every God-given minute is indeed an opportunity there once never to return. So that everything we do, everything no matter how menial works together for good. The joy of living is so special. We are told by our Lord that He is come that we might have life in its most ABUNDANT form and that our joy, OUR TOTAL JOY may be full. There is joy in every moment, as we work, as we rest, as we play, as we love others and as we understand who we are and:BE ALL THAT WE CAN BEThose who love to work and love as much to be productive and make things happen know that the ultimate reward for such work is:THE VERY WORK ITSELFNo matter the accolades of man, or profit, or any other earthly benefit, the ultimate reward, the ultimate satisfaction is the work itself. Nothing feels better to any right-thinking person than a job well done, having done the best you can with all of your might.So then, for the Christian, there is something even greater than works. There is GRACE, saving grace. And no manner of works can ever equal that. The grace at God at work trumps the works of any man, but when added to works, leads to the complete fulfillment of that life. We can and should be proud of the works we do, but the work of God in Jesus Christ, saving grace through Him is the greatest work of all. The combination of grace producing work, the right work is the very best thing in life.So, my fellow Americans, work hard. Work well, with purpose. Know your calling. Do what you were CALLED to do, and do it in each and every minute, hour and day of your life. Do what your Creator would have you do and you will find fulfillment in that work and in your life. It matters not whether you are housewife or President, millionaire or middle class, never forget that:YOU AND YOUR WORK ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANTYOU AND YOUR WORK ARE UNIQUE, DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHERSWe need not the approval or recognition of mankind however enjoyable that may be. We need to work to be approved by God, who knows us, our every thought and deed. His approval is all that matters. I and the Crawford Broadcasting Company honor all of the men and women in America who work, and work hard, and make America, family and friends, and all of us so much better and especially those who work as unto the Lord. Find the work you love to do, really love to do and you will never work a day in your life! God bless you work men and women worthy of your hire and it is because of you that:GOD WILL BLESS AMERICA

America - Democracy or Republic

We think of our great country, we Americans do, as a Democracy. The fact of the matter is that America is really not a democracy but rather a:REPUBLIC.America is a sophisticated system of government, political authority spread about, exercised by different entities and branches of government and most importantly, the governmental system known as Federalism which consists of a federal government on the one hand and state governments, autonomous with considerable independent political authority.The Founding Fathers were very suspicious of human kind, little trust in some cases, with regards to the integrity of men and women who would run the government and the Founding Fathers in the CONSTITUTION divided power four ways creating a Senate, a House of Representatives, a President and a Federal Judiciary. For, they thought, independent and self-functioning branches of government would act as a considerable check and balance and no one entity or person would ever be able to exercise control, real control. But democracy underlay government at every level, Federal and State. Democratic principles center around essential, indispensable and inalienable freedoms such as speech, press, religion, assembly and petition were indeed the most important. The government envisioned by the founders was based on those essential freedoms and in fact had no structure or substance without them. The democratic republic they envisioned for WE THE PEOPLE was however a most fragile concept easily tarnished or done away with in whole or in part by power hungry politicians or by those who very much wanted a different form of government for our country. Democracy, this noble experiment, required a vigilant, pro-active, wary citizenship, ready to protect and defend this governmental form and the essential freedoms it espoused even with the very lives of the citizenry as occurred in revolutionary days. America was founded as a political entity by those who were in fact willing to give their lives for the freedoms they wanted so badly. We the people live today as we do because of them.President Ronald Reagan told us so very clearly that:FREEDOM IS ONLY ONE GENERATION AWAY FROM EXTINCTION!How right he was. It seems as though everywhere, Federal, State and local governments as they are, essential freedoms are eliminated, curtailed or just simply ignored. Men and women once empowered do as they please, so many without regard to the law or the Constitution and the DEMOCRACY, the democratic republic in which we live has never been more in danger of that extinction Reagan warned against. This unique, fragile democracy of ours, this democratic republic may well be on its last legs. The forces of change, radical change, determined to introduce a virulent socialism, or perhaps even a Marxism or at the extreme some form of dictatorship seem to be winning. In 1887, Alexander Tytler, a Scottish history professor at University of Edinburgh said this about Democracy: “A democracy is always temporary in nature. It simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury.From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse over LOOSE FISCAL POLICY, which is always followed by some form of dictatorship.”Scary words are they not? Professor Tytler states emphatically that any democracy, such as the Athenian Republic is always temporary. It simply cannot survive long term. It cannot exist as a permanent form of government! America, therefore, as it is constituted, simply cannot survive and, says Tytler, the cause of our political death will be: MONEY! Loose Fiscal Policy. Rampant spending. Graphed, Bribes, Pork. Deceit and dishonest financial dealings. Incredible inflation. The combination of these Fiscal factors will be the end of the American Democracy we now know and love. That is happening at an unbelievable pace today, TODAY! It is here and now. It isn’t coming sometime in the future. THE BEGINNING OF THE ENDING OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY – REPUBLIC HAS BEGUN!Professor Alexander Tytler of Edinburgh University goes on to state the following:“The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years.”America, THE CITY ON A HILL has been alive and well for:245 YEARSOur great country has existed 45 years longer than the average age of historical democratic governments. Tytler, guided by historical precedent, would see the soon end of our great civilization and our magnificent country. Then Professor Tytler gives us a timeline as to the course of democracy from its beginning to its ending. In those 200 years, the average age of the survival of the democratic form of government, Tytler identifies nine different stages which characterize the government. The first is:BONDAGE. Men and women live politically under the iron hand of others. There is no freedom of any kind. They live under the political yoke of others.But then comes the second stage: SPIRITUAL FAITH. Revival happens. Those enslaved are energized by spirituality. They are ready to do whatever is required to shake off the bondage.And that spiritual faith leads to the next phase:GREAT COURAGE. Men and women become bearing, willing to risk all, putting all on the alter in the hunt and fight for freedom. They will not live under bondage any longer.And this courage and the action which follows produces the next great stage of the newly arriving civilization:LIBERTY!Men and women achieve what they want most in life, LIBERTY AND FREEDOM. They become masters of themselves, forming their own governments, establishing laws and constitutions which protect and defend that liberty. Then, from that liberty comes the next great phase of civilization:ABUNDANCE.Professor Tytler sees the creation of wealth, abundant goods and services, significantly increased lifestyles, the good life virtually everywhere.Then from this state of abundance comes the next phase of the ever–evolving democracy, our democratic way of life:COMPLACENCY.We begin to assume, take for granted. We become lazy in protection. We would rather live the good life than the politically active. Morals loosen. The rule of law is weakened. The Constitution is watered down. Complacency rules. Then, from complacency comes APATHY. We become indifferent, ignoring reality, real problems, real threats and we refuse to respond to the demands of democracy for protection and defense. The conscious adopts a SO WHAT or WHO CARES attitude and democracy wanes. Then, from apathy comes DEPENDENCE. We the people become dependent upon government, upon others, ruled by BIG, whether government, corporations, churches and religious institutions, banks and financial institutions and more. There is at first a gradual loss of freedom, but then rapid. We become immune, indifferent having lost so much spiritual faith, courage and a real concern for the liberty our forefathers fought for. That can happen in one generation, freedoms lost and of course once lost, are lost forever.Finally, says Tytler, that once great democracy, that experiment in freedom, now in a state of DEPENDENCE reverts back into BONDAGE. That is of course a loss of democracy, a loss of freedom. There comes in its place socialism, or Marxism, or an oligarchy, or in a worse case scenario, a dictatorship. We the people lose our desire, courage, spiritual faith so necessary for the protection of our democratic way of life. Our generation could well be the one, as President Reagan so well said, which is responsible for the loss, the extinction of FREEDOM. We now exist, we Americans, Tytler would say in the state of complacency heading toward if not altogether in the state of APATHY. Are we, are we my fellow Americans in a state of apathy? Do we not care about our great country, our democratic way of life, our freedoms, our Constitution, all that America has been or at least stood for for the past 245 years. Are we indeed complacent, apathetic, unconcerned, unwilling to fight the fight of freedom, of democracy, are we? Are you? Are we the proud American people willing to revert back to a state of dependence, dependence upon government which will eventually put us back into the BONDAGE which we fought to throw off 245 years ago? It can easily appear that way. So few of us are willing to put our all on the alter of freedom, unwilling in so many ways to do what is required to really make certain that America remains free, truly and in fact:THE LAND OF THE BRAVE AND THE FREE.We must end, and end now any form of political complacency, any form of political apathy or indifference. We must not allow any form of dependence to occur in our great country, and to us. We must reidentify, protect and defend the freedoms of our great Constitution, the essential staples, the structure, the substance of our way of life. We do that now, we prevent the loss of those freedoms for if they are in fact once lost:THEY ARE LOST FOREVER.Stand up, my fellow Americans, stand up now and do so with all your might. Be energized by spiritual faith. Allow that to turn into great courage to do whatever is required. Reidentify and protect and defend the liberty we now begin to take for granted, with complacency and apathy. Remember the price that has been paid throughout those 245 years to protect, preserve and defend that freedom, that liberty. If we don’t, back into some awful form of bondage we go, for:FREEDOM ONCE LOST IS LOST FOREVER!Your call, your life. WHAT WILL YOU DO?

Christian Education - Part 2

Train up a child in the way in which the child should go. What kind of a training as a child did you have? Were you trained with a quality education, a good school and high school, and college or university, were you? You learn the classics, the three R’s, reading, writing and arithmetic? Were you trained in American history, Western civilization, geometry and chemistry, all the things which are the fundamental basic, necessary for life studies?  I was. There was discipline, real discipline. In those good old days, the rod was used and never spared so that the child would not be spoiled. There were standards, high but fair. You went to the next phase of your life prepared. A degree really meant something. Faculty from kindergarten to graduate school were trained, committed, genuinely educated themselves and would teach and grade a student on realities only, real performance. They were dedicated to their work product. So much of that qualitative education seems long lost today in a world of BLACK LIVES MATTER, THE 1619 PROJECT AND CRITICAL RACE THEORY, does it not? I am eternally grateful that I received a good, qualitative, real education in all things secular and Christian, and I do hope and pray that you did as well. By the way, your children or grandchildren: have they received an education like that, have they?  Perhaps the best education is that which is a Christian education which fully educates and allows the graduate to:          STAND STRONG!         FIGHT THE FIGHT OF CHRISTIAN FAITH         FASTENED WITH THE BELT OF TRUTH. And of course that life – sustaining belt is Christianity, producing a graduate who enters society with a deep, real, loving relationship with Jesus Christ. That kind of education, REAL CHRISTIAN EDUCATION is mocked, frowned upon, ignored with every attempt to eliminate it. So many so called Christian universities and colleges have compromised, given into the rabid secularism of our day. For some reason, many have become WOKE, watering down and reinterpreting the precious BIBLE, THE BELT OF TRUTH and for them Christian Education is not what it used to be. That was of course education BIBLICALLY BASED and unashamedly so. A graduate was a real believer, ready to live and work in society as sons and daughters of the Living God. Today, there are less such Christian educational institutions and consequently less young graduates ready to live and defend the Christian faith. That same Bible, that BELT OF TRUTH tells us to:          STUDY TO SHOW OURSELVES APPROVED          RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH         WORK MEN AND WOMEN WHO NEED NOT BE ASHAMED OF THEIR FAITH. Those truly Christian are anxious to testify to and defend their faith, to show themselves as fully intellectually capable, ready apologetically or otherwise to protect and defend their precious faith. They have studied and CONTINUE TO STUDY the inspired word of God so that they can RIGHTLY DIVIDE, that is interpret and understand the truth of scriptures, intellectually formulate them and communicate them to the world. In many cases, much of that is lost as so much of Christian education goes the secular way. Those truths start with the 39 Books of the Old Testament and the first and greatest commandment therein:          THOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD THY GOD         WITH ALL THY HEART, SOUL, MIND AND STRENGTH          AND THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF.  There it is, the most powerful word in all of scripture, Old and New Testaments:           LOVE. Unfortunately, as hate builds on the secular side, little of that biblical love, THE BELT OF TRUTH is taught and learned. As a result, there is little respect for the biblical admonition that:          THE FEAR OF THE LORD          IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE. So that, standing before the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE, we stand in awe, and amazement, and lovingly so, with the deepest possible human respect for this God of Wonder. Gone from education is so much of that amazement, respect and LOVE in this radical, woke, progressive and angrily secular day and age in which we live. Mankind, to his and her everlasting detriment has replaced the great God Jehovah, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ with:          HIMSELF AND HERSELF!  J. Gresham Machen, a Christian apologist, theologian and educator, a highly respected Christian student and President of theological seminary Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia was deeply concerned with Christian Education. Machen, appalled at the growth of ignorance in the church said the following: “If (Christian ignorance) must be remedied primarily by the renewal of Christian Education in the FAMILY. Otherwise, people cannot know what Christianity really is.” And there, my fellow Christians is the first principle, the key to Christian Education. That is, the training up of the child in the:          HOME. When you decide to become a parent, it is your responsibility, your Christian duty to provide for that child a:          CHRISTIAN HOME. That home, scriptures clearly state must have a man, a biological male, a loving husband and father provider and a Christian woman, loving, educated and capable in the things of the Lord as the head of that HOME. That Christian home should be centered upon the:          LORD JESUS CHRIST. Without that, the radical, aggressive forces of secularism have an unbelievable advantage as the child grows. I thank God I was fortunate enough to come from such an environment and family, where THE BELT OF TRUTH, the Christ was first and foremost. Every human being has intellectual and spiritual difficulties, and doubts, and without that Christian foundation, life can be so difficult, problematic and uncertain. The home where Christ lives, where the Christian heart prevails is absolutely indispensable. If you are a parent, again, scriptures clearly state that your first priority, your DUTY is to train up that child in the way in which he or she should go in the nurture and admonition of Jesus Christ.  In the year 1972, things in education began to change. There came in that year:          TITLE IX – CIVIL RIGHTS.  That legislation banned discrimination of any kind, primarily sex–based discrimination, some of which was contrary to Christian faith. But, there was an EXEMPTION provided which allowed Christian colleges which operate in accordance with the principles of their faith to continue doing so even if their policies and practices conflicted with Title IX. Without that, faith based educational institutions could not receive any federal funding, whether for the college or the student which could well be the financial ruination of those good institutions. That exemption allowed good universities like Cedarville to operate according to Christian principles. Cedarville college, its President Thomas White boldly states, continues to have separate resident halls for male and female, men’s restrooms can only be used by biological males and women’s restrooms can only be used by biological females, there can be no same sex displays of affection on campus and sexual activity outside of heterosexual marriage is forbidden including the use of pornography. White goes on to say that this aggressive Christian stand by the university must be agreed to by its staff and faculty and abide by the principles laid out in the Bible and the Christ of Glory. President Thomas White of Cedarville college goes on to state that: “Years of careless and casual hiring has led some schools to experience internal rebellion (rebellious faculty) against these principles.” In short, these more progressive so called Christian faculty members have become WOKE and do not teach or believe the fundamental tenets of Christianity as of old. Cedarville university is willing to run the risk of even the loss of federal funding including grants to students rather than compromise any part of their mission statement or faith. Good for you President White and Cedarville, good for you and we congratulate you on your aggressive Christian stand. Would that more so called Christian colleges and universities would be like you.  And then there is President Jerry C. Davis, President of COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS, a college which The Wall Street Journal dubbed:          HARD WORK U.  Here the words of President Davis: “We (College of the Ozarks) offer a distinctively Christian education to students with financial need. All students work on campus to defray the cost of their education, graduating debt free!” Davis indicates that the college has a deep and rich historic Christian commitment, guided by a very consistent and uncompromising biblical world view. The college dares to state that human sexuality is a gift from God not to be changed or biologically ignored by mankind. It states unabashedly that there is nothing else in marriage but a strong heterosexual relationship, with sex assigned at birth no matter how the mission statements of the college are challenged, President Davis states boldly:          “WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN!” One of the few remaining Christian colleges and universities with backbone and no backdown. The college presents seminars and courses on the significant issues and questions of the day including Critical Race Theory, the LGBTQ agenda, all things Woke and more. The prospective student knows up front what the college stands for, its mission statement and makes a decision to attend or not on the basis thereof. As a true Christian college offering truly biblical and Christ based education, it makes no apologies for its beliefs and it will not backdown or compromise, one of the remaining few. And then there is Columbia International University. This good university has a ten-point mission statement which is most reassuring.  The university confirms its uncompromising commitment to “teach biblical truth.”  It is called to hire Godly faculty, set apart for God’s service. Columbia International University teaches God’s design of humanity as male and female (biological). It now begins the arduous task of developing alternative revenue streams for funding and student loans, anticipating the possibility that government will restrict religious liberty especially in Christian education. It is committed to growing the scholarship fund so that it can have finances in reserve should the government cut off current funding. It seeks to cultivate donors who will support such education from a Christian worldview. How reassuring to know that Columbia International University is one of the several uncompromising, biblically based, strong Christian education institutions yet functioning in our beloved America. And then there is SOUTHERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY and its President R. Albert Mohler Jr. Mohler was elected President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary some 30 years ago. The institution was large, well respected and in the words of Mohler “very liberal.” He stated emphatically that the Seminary: “Was wildly out of step with the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention, and it had been shifting to the left for decades.” It was his God given mission to change that.  Mohler mobilized the conservative churches of the Southern Baptist Convention to recapture and redirect that good Seminary and “pull them back to conservative biblical doctrine” where they once belonged. Mohler boldly and aggressively adopts for this good Seminary the statement of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:14:          STAND THEREFORE HAVING FASTENED ON THE BELT OF TRUTH. Family Research Council is one good organization with which you should be familiar. It is a Christian based, strongly legal organization which exists to preserve, protect and defend Christian and American values. Meg Kilganno is senior fellow for Education Studies at FRC. She reminds us that the world turns WOKE which world view sweeps across American colleges and universities and which will produce the next generation of teachers, principals and administrators. She identifies the following national organizations that have for so long injected progressive ideology in classrooms: National Education Association (NEA) American Federation of Teachers (AFT)National Association of School Boards (NASB)Chiefs for Change Southern Poverty Law Center The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)  among others. They are intent on having all education, public, private, charter, parochial, completely dominated by the new progressive thinking, including Critical Race Theory, the LGTBQ agenda, the deconstruction of American history and Western civilization, the 1619 Project and so much more. There is also the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and she rather sardonically states:          “Things go from Woke to worse.” Christians, she says, must oppose these destructive ideologies. Gender identity, for example, posits that biological sex is a “social construct” and that gender is an inherent sense of the “true self.” These radical ideas subvert and reject the Christian view that every human is biologically male or female and that cannot be changed. Adopting all such WOKE assertions results in an aggressive attack against anything Christian and targets Christian education at any level as the enemy to be eradicated and eliminated. So that, in Christian education, it raises the question:          WHO SHALL STAND? That is, which universities and colleges, and high schools for that matter, will not compromise and will stand true to Christian convictions and true and real Christian education in every way. We believers must stand, and support, and protect and defend all such educational institutions who stand for a real Christian, biblically based education no matter the cost. The fight is on and we God’s people must:          FIGHT THE FIGHT OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION. Start in the home. Father and mother, husband and wife, son and daughter, male and female. We must emphasize Christian principles with regard to sexuality, true biological sexual orientation, the sanctity of heterosexual marriage, one man and one woman, and above all, a total life, and world view, and educational principles which are based upon and total respective of:          THE BIBLE. Make sure, no matter the cost, that you, your children and grandchildren get the most important thing in life:          A CHRISTIAN EDUCATION. If that kind of training exists in the home and in all education, that is the real hope for mankind. Let us be proud of being:          UNWOKE. WOKE IS WRONG. It will, if victorious, end so much of the Christian Church. It will radically change America and only for the worse. We will in the words of Meg Kilganno, go from:          WOKE TO WORSE. Stand tall my fellow Christians in the strength and love of Jesus Christ. It is the only hope for Christian education, for America, for families and especially children and for YOU. When all else fails, remember the words of our precious Lord Jesus Christ:          I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. No man or woman comes unto the father but by me!  And that in sum is the bottom line mission statement of every true, real and committed CHRISTIAN EDUCATION INSTITUTION. 

Christian Education

Train up a child in the way in which the child should go. What kind of a training as a child did you have? Were you trained with a quality education, a good school and high school, and college or university, were you? You learn the classics, the three R’s, reading, writing and arithmetic? Were you trained in American history, Western civilization, geometry and chemistry, all the things which are the fundamental basic, necessary for life studies?  I was. There was discipline, real discipline. In those good old days, the rod was used and never spared so that the child would not be spoiled. There were standards, high but fair. You went to the next phase of your life prepared. A degree really meant something. Faculty from kindergarten to graduate school were trained, committed, genuinely educated themselves and would teach and grade a student on realities only, real performance. They were dedicated to their work product. So much of that qualitative education seems long lost today in a world of BLACK LIVES MATTER, THE 1619 PROJECT AND CRITICAL RACE THEORY, does it not? I am eternally grateful that I received a good, qualitative, real education in all things secular and Christian, and I do hope and pray that you did as well. By the way, your children or grandchildren: have they received an education like that, have they?  Perhaps the best education is that which is a Christian education which fully educates and allows the graduate to:          STAND STRONG!         FIGHT THE FIGHT OF CHRISTIAN FAITH         FASTENED WITH THE BELT OF TRUTH. And of course that life – sustaining belt is Christianity, producing a graduate who enters society with a deep, real, loving relationship with Jesus Christ. That kind of education, REAL CHRISTIAN EDUCATION is mocked, frowned upon, ignored with every attempt to eliminate it. So many so called Christian universities and colleges have compromised, given into the rabid secularism of our day. For some reason, many have become WOKE, watering down and reinterpreting the precious BIBLE, THE BELT OF TRUTH and for them Christian Education is not what it used to be. That was of course education BIBLICALLY BASED and unashamedly so. A graduate was a real believer, ready to live and work in society as sons and daughters of the Living God. Today, there are less such Christian educational institutions and consequently less young graduates ready to live and defend the Christian faith. That same Bible, that BELT OF TRUTH tells us to:          STUDY TO SHOW OURSELVES APPROVED          RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH         WORK MEN AND WOMEN WHO NEED NOT BE ASHAMED OF THEIR FAITH. Those truly Christian are anxious to testify to and defend their faith, to show themselves as fully intellectually capable, ready apologetically or otherwise to protect and defend their precious faith. They have studied and CONTINUE TO STUDY the inspired word of God so that they can RIGHTLY DIVIDE, that is interpret and understand the truth of scriptures, intellectually formulate them and communicate them to the world. In many cases, much of that is lost as so much of Christian education goes the secular way. Those truths start with the 39 Books of the Old Testament and the first and greatest commandment therein:          THOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD THY GOD         WITH ALL THY HEART, SOUL, MIND AND STRENGTH          AND THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF.  There it is, the most powerful word in all of scripture, Old and New Testaments:           LOVE. Unfortunately, as hate builds on the secular side, little of that biblical love, THE BELT OF TRUTH is taught and learned. As a result, there is little respect for the biblical admonition that:          THE FEAR OF THE LORD          IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE. So that, standing before the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE, we stand in awe, and amazement, and lovingly so, with the deepest possible human respect for this God of Wonder. Gone from education is so much of that amazement, respect and LOVE in this radical, woke, progressive and angrily secular day and age in which we live. Mankind, to his and her everlasting detriment has replaced the great God Jehovah, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ with:          HIMSELF AND HERSELF!  J. Gresham Machen, a Christian apologist, theologian and educator, a highly respected Christian student and President of theological seminary Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia was deeply concerned with Christian Education. Machen, appalled at the growth of ignorance in the church said the following: “If (Christian ignorance) must be remedied primarily by the renewal of Christian Education in the FAMILY. Otherwise, people cannot know what Christianity really is.” And there, my fellow Christians is the first principle, the key to Christian Education. That is, the training up of the child in the:          HOME. When you decide to become a parent, it is your responsibility, your Christian duty to provide for that child a:          CHRISTIAN HOME. That home, scriptures clearly state must have a man, a biological male, a loving husband and father provider and a Christian woman, loving, educated and capable in the things of the Lord as the head of that HOME. That Christian home should be centered upon the:          LORD JESUS CHRIST. Without that, the radical, aggressive forces of secularism have an unbelievable advantage as the child grows. I thank God I was fortunate enough to come from such an environment and family, where THE BELT OF TRUTH, the Christ was first and foremost. Every human being has intellectual and spiritual difficulties, and doubts, and without that Christian foundation, life can be so difficult, problematic and uncertain. The home where Christ lives, where the Christian heart prevails is absolutely indispensable. If you are a parent, again, scriptures clearly state that your first priority, your DUTY is to train up that child in the way in which he or she should go in the nurture and admonition of Jesus Christ.  In the year 1972, things in education began to change. There came in that year:          TITLE IX – CIVIL RIGHTS.  That legislation banned discrimination of any kind, primarily sex–based discrimination, some of which was contrary to Christian faith. But, there was an EXEMPTION provided which allowed Christian colleges which operate in accordance with the principles of their faith to continue doing so even if their policies and practices conflicted with Title IX. Without that, faith based educational institutions could not receive any federal funding, whether for the college or the student which could well be the financial ruination of those good institutions. That exemption allowed good universities like Cedarville to operate according to Christian principles. Cedarville college, its President Thomas White boldly states, continues to have separate resident halls for male and female, men’s restrooms can only be used by biological males and women’s restrooms can only be used by biological females, there can be no same sex displays of affection on campus and sexual activity outside of heterosexual marriage is forbidden including the use of pornography. White goes on to say that this aggressive Christian stand by the university must be agreed to by its staff and faculty and abide by the principles laid out in the Bible and the Christ of Glory. President Thomas White of Cedarville college goes on to state that: “Years of careless and casual hiring has led some schools to experience internal rebellion (rebellious faculty) against these principles.” In short, these more progressive so called Christian faculty members have become WOKE and do not teach or believe the fundamental tenets of Christianity as of old. Cedarville university is willing to run the risk of even the loss of federal funding including grants to students rather than compromise any part of their mission statement or faith. Good for you President White and Cedarville, good for you and we congratulate you on your aggressive Christian stand. Would that more so called Christian colleges and universities would be like you.  And then there is President Jerry C. Davis, President of COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS, a college which The Wall Street Journal dubbed:          HARD WORK U.  Here the words of President Davis: “We (College of the Ozarks) offer a distinctively Christian education to students with financial need. All students work on campus to defray the cost of their education, graduating debt free!” Davis indicates that the college has a deep and rich historic Christian commitment, guided by a very consistent and uncompromising biblical world view. The college dares to state that human sexuality is a gift from God not to be changed or biologically ignored by mankind. It states unabashedly that there is nothing else in marriage but a strong heterosexual relationship, with sex assigned at birth no matter how the mission statements of the college are challenged, President Davis states boldly:          “WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN!” One of the few remaining Christian colleges and universities with backbone and no backdown. The college presents seminars and courses on the significant issues and questions of the day including Critical Race Theory, the LGBTQ agenda, all things Woke and more. The prospective student knows up front what the college stands for, its mission statement and makes a decision to attend or not on the basis thereof. As a true Christian college offering truly biblical and Christ based education, it makes no apologies for its beliefs and it will not backdown or compromise, one of the remaining few. And then there is Columbia International University. This good university has a ten-point mission statement which is most reassuring.  The university confirms its uncompromising commitment to “teach biblical truth.”  It is called to hire Godly faculty, set apart for God’s service. Columbia International University teaches God’s design of humanity as male and female (biological). It now begins the arduous task of developing alternative revenue streams for funding and student loans, anticipating the possibility that government will restrict religious liberty especially in Christian education. It is committed to growing the scholarship fund so that it can have finances in reserve should the government cut off current funding. It seeks to cultivate donors who will support such education from a Christian worldview. How reassuring to know that Columbia International University is one of the several uncompromising, biblically based, strong Christian education institutions yet functioning in our beloved America. And then there is SOUTHERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY and its President R. Albert Mohler Jr. Mohler was elected President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary some 30 years ago. The institution was large, well respected and in the words of Mohler “very liberal.” He stated emphatically that the Seminary: “Was wildly out of step with the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention, and it had been shifting to the left for decades.” It was his God given mission to change that.  Mohler mobilized the conservative churches of the Southern Baptist Convention to recapture and redirect that good Seminary and “pull them back to conservative biblical doctrine” where they once belonged. Mohler boldly and aggressively adopts for this good Seminary the statement of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:14:          STAND THEREFORE HAVING FASTENED ON THE BELT OF TRUTH. Family Research Council is one good organization with which you should be familiar. It is a Christian based, strongly legal organization which exists to preserve, protect and defend Christian and American values. Meg Kilganno is senior fellow for Education Studies at FRC. She reminds us that the world turns WOKE which world view sweeps across American colleges and universities and which will produce the next generation of teachers, principals and administrators. She identifies the following national organizations that have for so long injected progressive ideology in classrooms: National Education Association (NEA) American Federation of Teachers (AFT)National Association of School Boards (NASB)Chiefs for Change Southern Poverty Law Center The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)  among others. They are intent on having all education, public, private, charter, parochial, completely dominated by the new progressive thinking, including Critical Race Theory, the LGTBQ agenda, the deconstruction of American history and Western civilization, the 1619 Project and so much more. There is also the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and she rather sardonically states:          “Things go from Woke to worse.” Christians, she says, must oppose these destructive ideologies. Gender identity, for example, posits that biological sex is a “social construct” and that gender is an inherent sense of the “true self.” These radical ideas subvert and reject the Christian view that every human is biologically male or female and that cannot be changed. Adopting all such WOKE assertions results in an aggressive attack against anything Christian and targets Christian education at any level as the enemy to be eradicated and eliminated. So that, in Christian education, it raises the question:          WHO SHALL STAND? That is, which universities and colleges, and high schools for that matter, will not compromise and will stand true to Christian convictions and true and real Christian education in every way. We believers must stand, and support, and protect and defend all such educational institutions who stand for a real Christian, biblically based education no matter the cost. The fight is on and we God’s people must:          FIGHT THE FIGHT OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION. Start in the home. Father and mother, husband and wife, son and daughter, male and female. We must emphasize Christian principles with regard to sexuality, true biological sexual orientation, the sanctity of heterosexual marriage, one man and one woman, and above all, a total life, and world view, and educational principles which are based upon and total respective of:          THE BIBLE. Make sure, no matter the cost, that you, your children and grandchildren get the most important thing in life:          A CHRISTIAN EDUCATION. If that kind of training exists in the home and in all education, that is the real hope for mankind. Let us be proud of being:          UNWOKE. WOKE IS WRONG. It will, if victorious, end so much of the Christian Church. It will radically change America and only for the worse. We will in the words of Meg Kilganno, go from:          WOKE TO WORSE. Stand tall my fellow Christians in the strength and love of Jesus Christ. It is the only hope for Christian education, for America, for families and especially children and for YOU. When all else fails, remember the words of our precious Lord Jesus Christ:          I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. No man or woman comes unto the father but by me!  And that in sum is the bottom line mission statement of every true, real and committed CHRISTIAN EDUCATION INSTITUTION. 

Hate or Love

THE BIBLE IS HATE SPEECH!  Those were the words of an atheistic, radical, Marxist progressive, deep within the democratic party who has an aggressive hatred for the Bible, for Christianity and for all Christians. The Bible, says this radical – atheist should be banned in every public place, including and especially schools, libraries and especially kept away from the young.  The Bible spews hate especially when it refers to the sinful nature of mankind, the need for forgiveness and redemption, the inability of the individual to live morally and lovingly on his or her own without the forgiveness, companionship and relationship of Jesus Christ. The Bible, says he, is exclusionary, fails to recognize true diversity (other religions), has for far too long dominated culture in America and must be excised from the public square completely and permanently. Thousands, perhaps millions agree. If any of us who believe need motivation to fight the fight of faith, we have it now full-bore. But the Bible is not a compilation of ancient stories, parables and sermons. It is not mythology, magic, but rather morality at its highest.  The primary theme of the 66 Books of our Holy Bible is:          LOVE. It is the Old Testament testimony to the great God Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the father of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible is not hate speech but love speech. The Bible presents the message not of condemnation but redemption. It provides the framework and structure for faith, and for hope and it provides the foundation for love, real love, in the form of:          THE GREATEST LOVE STORY EVER TOLD. It attracts men and women who need something much beyond themselves. They come to the realization that they cannot live a moral life on their own and they require a helping hand, a divine helping hand. They encounter in 27 books of the New Testament the living Christ, the son of the living God and the remedies and relationships He provides. These seekers want what the Christ of Glory alone can offer. Every page of that New Testament and the prophecies of the old point to this Messiah, this savior of the world in an absolutely compelling way, personally and theologically. The Bible message of the New Testaments is not a message of HATE. It is the highest and best form of love available to mankind. It is in the Greek language:          AGAPE, which is the very highest and most noble definition of love unconditional, powerful, never ending, never failing. It is in fact the exact opposite of HATE and that perhaps is why the Bible and the message of Jesus Christ is so hated by those who accuse this precious book of HATE SPEECH and want it banned from the public square. Whether or not that happens, it could never be banned from the heads and hearts of believers, never.  There comes their command from the great God Jehovah that his people, the Jews and Israelites and consequently all believing gentiles should as a matter of first moral priority:          LOVE THE LORD THY GOD          WITH ALL MY HEART, SOUL, MIND AND STRENGTH          AND THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF  That is the great commandment fully endorsed by Jesus Christ. The love of God constrains, is greater than all our sins and is the hope for all humankind. We learn early on as young Christians that:          GOD IS LOVE. Indeed, God is just that, love. He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to a saving knowledge of his son. Have you had that personal encounter with Jesus Christ?  This love of God permeates everything. It is everywhere. It is immediately available, ours for the asking, love without end. It is says scripture an unspeakable love, that is there are no adequate words to describe the breadth, length, height and depth of this love, no words at all. This love motivates us, frees us, inspires and energizes us to live this life with the highest and finest relationship mankind could have. This God of love sent his son to die for us, so that we might be redeemed, forgiven and enter into a new loving relationship with Him. The message for us was that God hates sin but loves the sinner. There is that marked separation between the thing (sin) and the person, the sinner. We are upon acceptance born again, on the way to maturing as a new child, experiencing love like we have never experienced before. It is impossible to explain fully, no words are adequate, nor can we understand this spiritual process in its entirety. It is to the atheist foolishness, mythological, perhaps neurotic even psychotic. But to the believer, it is the most real thing in life, on this earth. This love of Christ at Calvary is the most lasting, enduring thing on this earth which will someday pass away. It won’t and we won’t.  It is easy to love this God, in fact even wonderful. And the love of God allows us to love our neighbors no matter who they are and what they are, even if they are enemies. It allows us to put aside differences, hatreds and provides a loving opportunity for new fellowship, for witness and testimony. It is not mythological, hypocritical, phony but the most real force on the face of the earth. It is the love of the Bible, of Jesus Christ which transforms, does away with HATE and makes the precious scriptures, the Bible, come alive in every single way.  We not only learn to love God, and our neighbor but we learn to love ourselves in this brand new, personally respectful, regenerated and redeemed way. We come to see our true worth and value. We begin to understand our uniqueness. We sense our place in a divine order, why we are here, what really is right living, how we are supposed to interact with our fellow man so as to have maximum human fulfillment. The love of Christ is the pathway to truth, real truth and to the deepest understanding of what life is all about. We are born again with this love, new creations, redeemed by the blood of the lamb. This love of Christ is the exact opposite of HATE, a love which the natural man can never know.  It is the only lasting force which allows us to triumph, conquer and stand tall. When all else fails, and it will, when faith has run its course, and hope turns into face to face reality, all that will remain is:          LOVE. The apostle Paul has stated so clearly that:          NOW ABIDES FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE         BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE There is nothing like it. The Christian life is a heartfelt journey into the depths of love. It brings out the very best of the potential natural attributes of mankind and not the hateful response to life of the natural man, the atheist, the radical, the destroyer. It seeks to preserve life and all of it, the young (abortion) and the old (euthanasia). The Bible, the inspiration of the living God is not hate speech but love. It even shows us the way to love our enemies if we are willing, perhaps one of life’s most difficult tasks. Life is not about religion, church, ritual, but about relationship, a lifechanging confrontation and personal encounter with Jesus Christ. That happened to the apostle Paul and from that experience with the Lord on the Damascus Road, Paul was never the same, never. He was radically transformed by a power he could not initially understand. But when he did, after three years in foreign lands, learning and being taught by the spirit of God, he Paul became one of the most fiery, passionate, loving witnesses of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of Glory who encountered him, commissioned him and made him perhaps the most influential apostle of all time.  Most of us have never experienced an encounter with Christ which is like that of the Damascus Road, salvation experience of Paul. No matter, however we came to saving, redemptive knowledge of Jesus Christ, we are His and He is ours. I pray that relationship for you. We who believe are not radicals and we will not be removed from the public square. We will fight the fight of faith with spiritual weapons and we will defend our faith, our Lord, our salvation experience and our Bible, a precious compilation of LOVE SPEECH with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength as the Lord commands. May you have the courage to do that for this fight is on. In that fight, we who believe have the greatest weapon of any:          THE LOVE AND STRENGTH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. May you walk with Him and grow deeper daily in His love. There just simply is no better way to live, none at all. 

The Positive in a Negative World

BE OF GOOD CHEER.  Are you a cheerful person? Do you tend in personality to the positive rather than the negative? Do you see the glass half full rather than half empty, do you? You should, you know. For BE OF GOOD CHEER is not suggestive but rather a positive, aggressive biblical commandment. A cheerful, happy, joyful expression and more importantly heart, a cheerful heart is every bit required of Christians as any of the SHALT NOTS OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.  Being cheerful, joyful in a negative world, a marvelously positive thing should be no hardship for any Christian. To be happy in the service of the king, and as a result of the sacrifice of that very same king is a natural fruit of the spirit for the Christian. If all is made right, redeemed, forgiven and the full effects of the salvation experience having taken root, there is nothing to be worried about, nothing. Joy reigns and as the Holy Spirit resides, good cheer is the natural byproduct. Are you cheerful or are you a worrier?  More from the scripture:          DON’T BE DISMAL. So many walk through life with frowns on the face, anger in the eyes, jaw tight, lips pursed ready for battle. There is little or no love, joy, rejoicing in their spirit. They have never experienced the joy of Jesus Christ. Have you? If so, the last thing in your life would be DISMAL. You on the other hand, would infect the world with a:          SPIRITUAL SMILE. A joyful spirit, rejoicing in the Lord, thankful for everything. You would be genuinely a person of GOOD CHEER. Are you? The person of good cheer constantly REJOICES. The scriptural command for them to be glad and rejoice no matter the circumstances, including severe difficulties, persecution and more becomes a reality. No matter the negative circumstances, the positive Christian will always rejoice and be GLAD, exceedingly glad for the love of Christ rules. Even when faith is attacked, when Christianity is ridiculed, mocked and Christians persecuted as happens so often today, there is rejoicing, a thankful spirit, one of praise no matter how negative. Because, the love of Christ has permeated heart, soul and mind and the disciple of the risen Lord is a person of:          GOOD CHEER. Are you one, are you glad, exceedingly glad in Christianity no matter the negativity of this world, are you?  Our world is corrupt, full of lies, deceit, conspiracies, the fruits of what is most certainly:          THE POST TRUTH ERA. A true Christian loves the truth and believes wholeheartedly that only the truth will make us free but even in a culture where truth is cancelled, and where Christianity is attacked, and those who believe persecuted, there rings out loud and clear that blessed assurance:          BE OF GOOD CHEER. I, I the Lord have overcome the world. Do you believe that, do you? If you do, there is nothing to worry about, nothing. If you really do believe that, you can never be DISMAL. Frowns replaced by spiritual smiles. You cannot worry, a sin in its own right for you live this day and each day with the problems and potential thereof and the cheer, the joy, the gladness in your spirit will not allow you to worry about tomorrow. Rejoice in that. Be glad about that, exceedingly glad. Be thankful, in all things and especially that. Live positive in a negative world.  Radicals, the evil, Marxists and socialists would destroy our country. They would eviscerate our Constitution, especially our First Amendment freedoms of religion, speech and press, and petition and assembly. They would destroy democracy and eventually install Marxism as a way of life. So, then comes the commandment to resist the devil, RESIST EVIL. But even as you do, even as you take YOUR STAND, you and I should fight the fight of faith persons of good cheer, not looking dismal. Not to worry, to be joyful and rejoice, to be glad and thankful for the opportunity to serve and defend our Lord. And we should be thankful in all things especially the defense of our Christian faith and our love for Jesus Christ. Is that you? Do you live and believe that way, do you? This salvation, the love of the Lord, the reality of true Christianity is yours, you will do, believe and live all of that, a person of:          GOOD CHRISTIAN CHEER. We see the destruction of our educational system. We are told we must become advocates of CRITICAL RACE THEORY, the deconstruction of our American history, the watering down, the compromising or elimination of our Christian faith as America enters the new normal, the radical changes in culture, lifestyle and values. WE THE PEOPLE RESIST! We will not render unto CAESAR allegiance and obedience to all such for it is immoral, unbiblical, satanic and wrong, just plain wrong! We will defend, resist, fight the fight of faith all the while we are thankful in all things, exceedingly glad for the opportunity to stand up for our Lord, and to rejoice, cheerfully rejoice in that defense. Do you, will you resist, stand up, fight the fight of faith, will you? You should, I should because it is our Christian duty. Joyful, rejoicing, thankful Christians never compromise, never give in, stand tall in the face of evil, anything evil. May God encourage and strengthen you to do just that. Then says our Lord:          I AM COME THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE THIS LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY!     Life is precious, abortion is wrong, DEAD WRONG. The surgeons’ scalpels that kill the baby in the womb are just that, a horrible killing. We should resist abortion, evil as it is of the devil, in the fight of faith. Do you, do you fight back against abortion – killing? If you are truly Christian, the full effects of the total salvation experience having revolutionized your life, you must, YOU MUST! And the same with euthanasia. Whether the young unborn or the old in physical disrepair, killing, no matter the terminology is just plain biblically wrong and must be resisted by the true person of faith. Do you resist as a cheerful, joyful Christian, do you in the protection of life abundant? Our society seeks a new morality or none at all. It destroys Judeo – Christian values and morality, the very foundation of our beloved America. We the cheerful resist, fight against, often weary of the battle. Then come the comforting words of our Lord:          COME UNTO ME ALL YOU HEAVY LADEN AND I, I WILL GIVE YOU REST. I will comfort you, strengthen you and restore the resources I have given you, filling you once again with cheer, spiritual smiles, joy, and gladness of heart. Don’t worry, my beloved says the Lord, I will give you rest. I have overcome this world and it will always be that way. You are mine and I am yours and we walk together, arm in arm in this world and we grow together forever in the world to come. Believe that and be comforted by that. Do you, do you really believe that? If you do, no matter what, you will be cheerful, joyful, thankful in all things. Life will always be positive, not negative. Then come wars and rumors of wars. Then come plagues, drought, pestilence and disease, floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters. Then comes persecution of the saints, those loved by the Lord. In all of that and no matter what come the comforting words of Jesus of Nazareth:          FEAR NOT! I AM WITH YOU! Don’t be afraid, don’t worry. Back to basics, cheerful, spiritual smiles, joy, rejoicing, gladness, exceeding gladness of heart, thankful in all things. That is the only way for a Christian to live, THE ONLY WAY NO MATTER WHAT! Do you live that way, do you believe that with all of your heart, do you? If so, then there is nothing, NOTHING to worry about.  Then come the trials and tribulations of life, the personal life, your life and mine. Death, disease, financial hardship, loved one forsaking family and other loved ones, families divided, especially over matters of faith, all so very painful to the core. But the answer, the antidote is there, right there. FEAR NOT. Don’t be afraid of any of these things for:          I AM WITH YOU. Positive, wonderful assurance. Don’t, DON’T says the Lord:          BE AFRAID. Don’t be afraid! When you walk with me, there is nothing to fear, nothing. So, walk with me. Don’t let go, don’t move out on your own. Allow me to strengthen and give you wisdom as you fight the fight of faith, as you resist the devil. I will do that, says the Lord, if you never lose faith and trust in me. I will do that if you walk with me, holding tight. Even though, my beloved son or daughter, you walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will not let you fear any evil. My rod and my staff will comfort you and goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life. So, don’t be afraid, afraid of nothing. Don’t worry. Rejoice and be cheerful, DON’T BE DISMAL! Be of good cheer.  In life, and at the end, may you say proudly, confidently and joyfully, cheerfully:          I KNOW IN WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED!  Do you, do you really know Him, and believe in Him, do you? Even unto death? For the loving, joyful, cheerful Christian says with the Apostle Paul:          FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN. Is that you, is that the way you live and do you know full well and believe unconditionally that death is more, gain, to be with the Lord? Do you?  If so, then we can say with the angels of old who announced the coming, the birth of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ:          GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST         AND ON EARTH          PEACE AND GOODWILL         TO ALL HUMAN KIND. We are people of praise, glory, praising God for his love and mercy and glorifying all that has been done for us. We the believers are thankful in all things, no matter what. That is a task that can only be accomplished by those of good cheer, those not dismal, those who don’t worry, those who are full of joy, rejoicing and thanking all day long. So, this is the day which the Lord hath made. Let us be glad, GLAD and rejoice therein. Let us walk with him this day, all day. Let us walk with him here and to look forward with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength to that blessed day when we will:         LIVE IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER! Forever. 

End Times

Scriptures tell us very clearly, Old and New Testaments that the world in which we live, our beloved planet Earth will END. All we know and experience, all we assume with regard to planet Earth will someday be no more. The Bible does not say when, for only God Almighty knows that. But it is clear that there will be an ending and it even tells us in some ways how this world of ours will end. In the last days, the end times, there will be plagues and disease. How about Killer Covid for starters. There will be lawlessness, men and women doing what they want, living how they will, defying any authority, producing chaos, rebellion, riots and physical violence. How about Portland, Seattle, Philadelphia, the riots and killings in Chicago and New York for starters. Rampant individuality, immorality defying authority. There will be in the last days an immorality such as the world has not seen. We will find the end of moral absolutes like the ten commandments scoffed and mocked and the rights and freedoms of the Constitution, ignored and ridiculed. There will be no moral authority, none whatsoever and what tens of millions of people regard as an ultimate authority, the Holy Bible, will be ridiculed, mocked and ignored. We see my fellow Americans the beginning of that very thing today, do we not?  Even as the Bible is hardly read and virtually ignored, so is the church by so many. The Christian church, so many of them and their Pastors, have become compromised, ignoring Gospel fundamentals, becoming social institutions rather than worship and learning centers about the one true God and our Lord Jesus Christ. So much of the once great and powerful Christian church becomes irrelevant, ignored and compromised. All of that are signs of the end times, the last days and they now exist and grow, do they not? What do you think? Many of us consider ourselves EVANGELICALS. That is, we once did. Today, many wonder exactly what an Evangelical is. Years ago, the statement of belief was clear, biblical and fundamental. Today, whether in writing or practice, EVANGELICAL does not mean what it once meant. Many of us simply refer to ourselves as Bible believing, Christ following, the great God Jehovah worshiping Christians. Perhaps the term EVANGELICAL should be replaced by:          REAL CHRISTIAN         BIBLE BELIEVING CHRISTIAN That may sound simplistic but it is basic, fundamental and real. I for one would prefer to be that rather than to be labeled by a term which may not define who I am or what it is I believe. What do you think? Do you consider yourself an Evangelical and if so, are you satisfied with the current, cultural definition of Evangelical, are you? Former President Barrack Hussein Obama told us clearly that we Americans and Christians lived in the day and age of:          POST TRUTH. That is, that there was no such thing as absolute truth. Nor was there any absolute morality, laws of conduct. That politics itself would become riddled with moral relativism and the truth du jour, meaning of course that anything which advanced the ultimate cause and objectives was the truth at least the truth of the day. The Bible for men like Obama, and so many others was a nice collection of stories, mythologies and suggestions, anything but absolute, anything but TRUTH. When Jesus the Christ said:          I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE such a statement would be ridiculed or at best simply ignored. Today, that very Bible, Christianity itself, its storied history is not just ignored, but attacked. Statues are toppled, churches are vandalized, Christians are killed and there is an all out attack on anything Christian, or for that matter other faiths as well, in politics. If these new radicals, Cancel Culture (and religion and especially Christianity) progressives have their way, we the people will eventually live under a new standard of morality which in fact is no morality at all. We live in a day and age where cultural standards, lifestyles, and morality itself are essentially defined by:          LGBTQIA–U, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersexual, alternate and now the brand new category UNDECIDED. Individuals now determine who and what they are. They decide their sexual orientation (SO) and their gender identity (GI). Science and especially biology mean nothing. Nor do traditional terms like male and female. Politics tries in every way to accommodate. So do so many churches. Even the once great and consistent theological church, the Roman Catholic Church, wrestles with the issues, searches for compromise and watches as a certain schism and rebellion occurs within its own ranks. The immorality, the theological lawlessness of the end times and the last days is here and now.  The church as so much of our new and revolutionary society has become in so many ways:          WOKE. It seeks accommodation rather than confrontation, a moral stand up approach to mankind and society which scripture requires. It distances itself in so many instances from that now hateful word:          SIN. No matter that the scriptures clearly teach that all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God, and are in need of redemption, salvation and repentance, and that through Jesus Christ, that is so often ignored by contemporary Pastors who again, seek compromise and accommodation rather than approaching society and culture with a powerful confrontational and antagonistic message of the Gospel. So much of the church seeks to accommodate the new moral relativism and to get along with modern day society and thinking even though Cancel Culture accommodates and fosters:          ANYTHING GOES, anything. The woke church and its Pastors now become the false prophets of the 21st Century, as the Bible predicts and do more harm to real Christianity than even its enemies. They subvert from within, more or less, and the trusting people, the sheep of their pastures are misled. There is nothing worse than a non–biblical misleading of an open, trusting, searching soul, nothing.  Christianity seeks to accommodate the great issues of the day where it can. Take abortion for example. It is wrong, it is killing, it is biblically anathema and it is condemned by all right thinking churches, including and especially real true Evangelical and Catholic. President Biden for example promotes abortion, including the Hyde and Mexico City agreements, and of course champions vigorously Roe v. Wade and seeks to have that even codified into law. At the same time, he seeks communion, partaking of the eucharist and the blessings of the Catholic church when it vigorously condemns abortion as a moral evil.  Biden and Pelosi promote THE EQUALITY ACT among other legislation which fosters the right of LGBTQIA at the expense of the freedom of religion guaranteed in the First Amendment. Democrats wish to destroy sexual hierarchy and historical understanding championing sexual orientation and gender identity.  Progressive, radical, anti–religion Democrats and others believe in euthanasia, essentially the killing of the elderly.  They promote contraception which the Catholic church abhors. And celibacy and they attack standard biblical principles with regard to female participation in the church. And so often, the church sits back, does little or nothing, debates and discusses how they might accommodate the new thinking and the new morality while the traditional and absolute morality of the past is eroded step by step. Even the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) embraces so much of the new, even at the expense of the Constitution. Interestingly, six of the Justices are Roman Catholic and two are Jewish. No matter their so called private faith, if any, they seem ready to decide against religious freedom, and faith, and the practice of religion in the public square, condoning moral abominations like abortion (Roe v. Wade) and at that judicial level, the old morality gradually disappears and new standards arise.  In the first 100 days so called of the Biden Administration, the President has issued more than 40 public proclamations in the form of executive orders, executive statements of policy, and other executive actions which are in fact anti–religious, anti–Christian and even contrary to his faith, anti–Catholic. Time and again you will hear presidential press secretary Jan Psaki say that the Biden Administration and President Biden:          RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE with the old morality and especially with the thinking and theological beliefs of the Catholic church. All of this, my fellow Americans, is the beginning indeed of THE END TIMES, the last days. So says the scriptures, backed up and supported by what is actually happening in the world today. The freedoms of the First Amendment of the Constitution, all five of them, all of which are synergistic and necessary for the support, practice and continuation of all seem to mean little. For there is no freedom of religion without freedom of speech, and press, and assembly (the church worship itself) and petition, all of which together really make up and are essential parts of: FREEDOM OF RELIGION. TAKE AWAY ONE, OR MORE, AND THE OTHERS FAIL.  So, my fellow Americans, and fellow Christians, the fundamental issues of today are:          WHO ARE YOU?         WHAT ARE YOU?         HOW WILL YOU LIVE AND BELIEVE?  The new world of Cancel Culture, the new WOKE World wants you deconstructed, compromised, part of them, changed not through salvation and redemption but through denial and deconstruction. They the progressives want you and me to be like them. Now, and in days to come, they are ready to do whatever it takes to accomplish those progressive – radical – anti–American – anti–Christian objectives first through education, the political process but eventually, down the road, violence and physical force if necessary. Now more than ever WE THE CHRISTIAN PEOPLE and joined with all people of faith must:          FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH. The time is short, THE END TIMES ARE HERE! They have begun and they are real. The fulfillment of these last days may take months, years or more to fully happen. But the end of all things, so accurately and truthfully predicted by the Bible will occur. I do hope and pray that you are ready, that you have been fully repentant and redeemed, that salvation through Christ is yours and with that power of the Lord, and the armor of scripture, you are ready for the fight. I for one will never compromise my faith, never, no matter what. That is a belief I have even unto death and I hope you are the same way. May God bless you, strengthen you and keep you safe in His love, mercy and protection. But, if you are called upon in this day and age to do so, I hope you like me are ready to put your:          ALL ON THE ALTER. Even unto death. Are you?

The Ultimate Authority

We the Christians believe that the Bible, the Holy Bible is the inspired word of God.  It is for us:          THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY.  All 66 books of this precious Bible, we believe, have been given to us by inspiration, and with this ultimate authority comes the concept of infallibility. It is right, it is truth, every word of it. Do you believe that, do you really believe that? These books contain wonderful stories, histories, biographies, blessings and the attitudes, commandments, ten and more instructing us how to live and what is right and wrong and so much more. Every one of the 66 books adds to the story, the drama, the relationship between God and man. It shows THE WAY, it is the truth and it is the life and life more abundantly. What would life be without it. Do you believe that? Do you believe that the Bible is the infallible, inspired word of the living God, do you? Millions upon millions of human beings passed, present and perhaps even more so in the future do NOT! For them, the Bible is at best a collection of stories, myths, symbols and signs, fiction, made up having nothing to do with God if in fact there is one. This is the reaction of the:          NATURAL MAN. To this natural man and woman, the Bible and its writings are FOOLISHNESS. To believe requires an enormous leap of faith, a denial of reason, the replacement of all things scientific with mythology, silly – foolish in every way. It is, the Bible, the anchor for a weak mind, an overly emotional and needy psyche, exaggeration and even a compilation of lies. The natural man could not be farther from the Bible–believing Christian and Jew. At best, the Bible should and really must be interpreted. Different points of view and understanding should apply. When that happens, one heresy, one human interpretation follows another and in short order, what should have been the way, the truth and the life becomes a multitude of ways, truths and lives to be led.  But worst of all, this natural man and woman regards the Bible as a compilation of:          HATE SPEECH. The Bible refers to every man and woman as SINNER, breaking the laws of God and in need of redemption. Hate speech and writings at their worst, so these Bible – religion haters say. These books, condemn the unnatural man and woman. Those teachings are of course opposed by LGBTQ. These books say it is wrong to kill, and especially to kill innocent babies in the womb, no matter that God may have formed that baby and knew that baby in that womb. This book condemns euthanasia, the killing of the elderly. And all of that and so much more is hate speech and this angry, aggressive, hateful man himself wants this compilation of hateful books banned forevermore, and with that, the banning and shunning of all who believe in this Bible. Further, this Bible calls these Bible haters the son of their father:          THE DEVIL.  More hate speech, another reason why this book and its body of believers should be marginalized, criticized and even ridiculed. If these modern day atheists and God–haters have their way, sooner or later the Bible will be banned everywhere.  They ridicule, these natural men and women do, the concept of salvation and:          BORN AGAIN,  especially the claim in scripture that except a man or woman be born again, he or she cannot see or enter the Kingdom of God. More hate speech. And they are incensed by these words of Jesus Christ:          I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE          NO MAN OR WOMAN COMES TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME.  In short, those words and this book condemn all other religions, proclaim them and their teachings as wrong, and nothing, these critics say, could be more hateful. They produce a counterculture which is anti–religion in every sense, critical of the spiritual man and woman and of the Christian church, the gathering place of believers. Sadly, the church and many believers succumb to this pressure, this criticism and they begin new interpretations of holy scripture as they become:          WOKE, newly enlightened finding new meaning their way, the way of the natural man rather than seeking the enlightenment and interpretation by the Holy Spirit, the one responsible for the original teachings. Current culture, demands, criticisms win out and Bible teachings and the loving and saving message of the Gospel is watered down or even eliminated. When such a man is finished with the Bible, there is hardly anything left.  It is in a way shocking to see the COMPROMISE which exists in the Christian church, its denominations, its Pastors and leaders and laymen and women. It is as though they were ashamed of the Gospel having lost the ability to see the Bible and its messages as:          THE POWER OF THE LIVING GOD. They are so concerned with ridicule, criticism and banishment from current culture that they are ready to compromise, remain silent and in effect deny the message and the life of the living Lord and the truth of 66 books. They have no interest, these current, compromised Christians in:          FIGHTING THE FIGHT OF FAITH. They would not think in terms of defending their faith even unto death. For them, there is no greater love than that a man or woman lay down his or her life for a friend, for their beliefs as long as that is SOMEONE ELSE. And the church weakens, becomes more and more ineffective, the message of the Gospel corrupted and compromised and the devil wins. And the natural man and woman win. And Cancel Culture wins for it effectively cancels Christian truth and the truths of the Bible step by step. What a tragedy that we the Christians, Bible–believing Christians do not stand up, REALLY STAND UP and:          FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH. The church of Jesus Christ was born with the blood of martyrs, men and women who believed so passionately that they would give their lives rather than give up their faith and belief. There seem to be so few of them today as our world grows dark and dangerous, especially to Bible believers, CHRISTIAN AND JEW. Where are, so many wonder, the true, real and Bible–believing Christians of today. Where is their testimony, their stand, their open and outward passion for Jesus Christ, where? Nothing short of that return, that passion, that strong stand will revive the church, the people, the country and even the world if we who believe do not become:          UNWOKE. Returning passionately to biblical fundamentals and principles, living the life of joy, of power, of love, what it really means to be a:          BIBLE–BELIEVING CHRISTIAN. Do you believe that? Are you a true and real and unashamed Bible believer? If you are compromised, afraid and ashamed, then eventually you may hear the words of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, even as you depart from Him today:          DEPART FROM ME         I NEVER KNEW YOU. All on the alter, my fellow Christians. Everything, for Him, including your life if necessary. Are you willing to do that? Are you? It seems to me the day soon comes when you will have to make that decision. Nothing this world has to offer can begin to match what HE has to offer. The choice should be easy, the ramifications hard, very hard. But we, you and I, are either with him, altogether with him without any compromise whatsoever, or we are against him, so he says. What an honor, a privilege it is to be challenged every day to be more like Him and to live the life of a true Christian, A TRUE BIBLE–BELIEVING CHRISTIAN for that is the way, the truth and life more abundantly in every way. May God strengthen and enlighten you in that regard so that your life is lived to the fullest, Bible believing in every way:          FOR HIM!

Uncle Tim

He’s black! That should be a good thing today, but this particular African American also happens to be conservative. I refer to Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, a bright, articulate, intellectually strong and morally equipped, politically astute Senator from the great state of South Carolina. This is a man, a true American, who is on the rise politically in the Republican party and many think he may well be a presidential candidate in the 2024 elections. We the people have had a man half African American as our President for eight years. Perhaps now history completes itself and we have a man fully African American as our President who, unlike Barrack Hussein Obama, liberal – radical, would be a conservative, constitutional President where ALL LIVES MATTER!  The leftist, liberal media of course have come out against Senator Scott, referring to this good man as:          UNCLE TIM analogizing Tim Scott to the old UNCLE TOM character, a term of ridicule for African Americans, so disrespectful and sad in a day and age of supposed diversity and equality. That is especially so for a man like Senator Tim Scott who is a first–class human being. The Media Research Center (MRC) led by one good man Brent Bozell said the following: “There is one thing the leftist media despise more than a conservative, and that is a conservative who happens to be black.” They did the same thing, these radical – leftist media types, to Justice Clarence Thomas of the Supreme Court. When he was nominated, the media viciously attacked Mr. Thomas in every way possible, with lies, fraudulent tactics, phony witnesses and charges never in any way proved. Fortunately for America, African American Clarence Thomas was confirmed as Justice of the Supreme Court and for 30 years, Clarence Thomas has been a constitutional originalist, a true American, rendering one decision after another all for the good of our and his beloved America. It is more than a compliment to say that Senator Tim Scott is cut out of the same cloth as Clarence Thomas. Wherever he goes politically, that would be good for America. Many think that the biggest problem in America today is Big Tech and the control of information sources and resources. That holds true for traditional or old media, liberal to the core and determined to control the narrative and dialogue in America, of course for all things and causes liberal. If you happen to be black and conservative, a lethal combination to these vicious speech radicals, you will be attacked. Not only have they done so with Tim Scott and Clarence Thomas, but they viciously attacked Dr. Ben Carson, a brilliant surgeon, a strong American, a solid Christian and a productive Washington politician for four years. Black is good but black conservative is anything but.  These radical members of the media, many think not only anti–American but perhaps even Marxist, have attacked virtually every prominent black conservative including Candace Owens, a bright, conservative black female, Star Parker the very same, Thomas Sowell, a brilliant thinker, writer and columnist and even Alveda King, no matter that she was related to the revered Dr. Martin Luther King. Ms. King happens to be conservative, totally unacceptable to this radical media.  The hateful, demeaning and racial attacks against Senator Tim Scott by the leftist press surfaced shockingly after he gave the GOP (Republican) response to President Joe Biden’s speech before Congress on April 28. Following his very learned speech, the media attacked. They ridiculed and called him names which if any source conservative did the same, every meaningful and influential news source would viciously attack and smear over and again. Senator Tim Scott said the following after the attacks on his speech: “Intolerance so often comes from the left with words like Uncle Tim and the n- word being used against me. It is stunning in 2021 that those who speak about ending discrimination want to end it by more discrimination.” Senator Scott went on to say the following:          “Hear me clearly. America is not a racist country.” Immediately, the radical – leftist media began labeling Senator Scott as:          UNCLE TIM, a play on words of course referring to the old disrespected UNCLE TOM. Big Tech allowed that to circulate on social media for ELEVEN HOURS, eleven hours before it was blocked. If any conservative source had called a liberal – radical black politician (i.e. Senator Warnock from Georgia) an Uncle Tom, that person – entity and the content produced would have been banned from all large social media platforms forever like Big Tech did to President Donald Trump. Double standards, don’t you think? That’s why so many, including Media Research Center regard Big Tech as the greatest enemy to freedom and American democracy today. I fully agree. What do you think? CNN, a horribly unobjective, radical – liberal news source and its commentator Keith Boykin tweeted the following:          “Tim Scott is a shameless liar. America is and always has been a racist country.” And of course, that was published far and wide no matter the slander involved.  We hear often the term systemic racism. That this so called evil exists in all of America, in all of its institutions, corporations and of course conservative politics like the Republican party. But nowhere is that term defined, nowhere. I can only speak with regard to my company and my personal life. In my company, the Crawford Broadcasting Company, there is not one tiny bit of racism anywhere, nowhere. If that ever occurred, the perpetrators would be fired instantly. No employee of this company would ever be subjected to racial slurs whether coming from white or black. Incidentally, the majority of the employees of the Crawford Broadcasting Company are:          NON–WHITE! Can you say the same for the corporations or businesses you work for, or own?  I know of no individual, male or female, who is racist in my personal life. None. If any were, I would shun them like the plague, and I would expose their racism wherever I could. Can you say that about your personal life?  I firmly believe that all men and all women, all of us created by God Almighty, are created equal, possessed of those inalienable constitutional rights and freedoms, and I will defend those rights for everyone regardless of race, color or even creed. Would you do the same? And, by the same token, I will never apologize for who and what I am. I am a white man and I am proud of my heritage, my ancestors and my WHITENESS. I will never, ever apologize for that. I owe no man or woman nothing, NOTHING anymore than they would owe me. As Martin Luther King so well said, any problem of racism could be solved overnight. All the American people have to do is:          LIVE UP TO THEIR CONSTITUTION. I believe that and I live my life that way. Do you? Senator Tim Scott does and I applaud this good man for his stand, never bending to the liberal nob. The bottom line is that the leftist press hates black conservatives and they will do virtually anything to tear them down. I on the other hand will do virtually anything to support them. Will you? We need to stand up against the liberal media, Big Tech and all those who can say virtually anything, slander and smear, and never ever deal with actual facts, factually verify their allegations like systemic racism and get away with it. DON’T LET THEM! Stand up my fellow Americans, my fellow Christians and presumably conservatives for truth, fact, what is right and what our country, the vast majority of us, really is and stands for. Time is short and liberals – radicals – socialists – Marxists want to cut it shorter. Don’t let them! AMERICA NEEDS YOU NOW MORE THAN EVER!

Freedom

FREEDOM! We are, America is, the home, the land of the: BRAVE AND THE FREE. We are lovers of freedom.  It is, you could say, in our genes. We inherited that love of freedom from those who founded our great country, fought against the oppressors more than two centuries ago and built the foundation for the FREEDOMS we now enjoy today. Give us, we say with that great statesman and our forefather Patrick Henry, give us that LIBERTY or if that is taken away, give us death for there is no real life without freedom. For us, America is in fact exceptional no matter the indifferent attitude of Barack Hussein Obama who thinks that America is no more exceptional than any other country! But all of America and we the people are exceptional in so many ways, including our way of life and our lifestyle. Everything is okay down to the last sentence and raise and champion our great flag, and wear the American flag pin proudly, especially in the world of academia which thinks the American flag is a symbol for racism and xenophobia rather than exceptionalism. And now, we should take quality time to honor the founding documents which make us great, namely our Constitution, our Bill of Rights and our Declaration of Independence. We should honor these incredible documents by reading them, studying their content, understanding the values therein and resolving as the authors of these documents did, and honor our forefathers who provided them for us recommitting to them and the world at large that we the people will protect and preserve the freedoms contained therein, even to the laying down of our lives. In this day, there are so many who would CHANGE what we have, or even more radically so, eliminate it. There seems to be an ever-growing number of those in our very own country with little or no respect for our great founding documents, our freedoms, the principles by which we have lived and built THE GREAT SOCIETY, and especially what America has been, our glorious history. They the un-Americans wish to eliminate or erode so many of our freedoms and move this great country toward socialism. THEY are the enemy inside and they must be stopped. We the people, true Constitutional Americans energized and emboldened by our founding documents and founding fathers must make certain we do what is right for our great country, and as true patriots, protect and defend our freedoms as never before.  We should do everything humanly possible to prevent socialism of any kind in thought or deed. We should remember the words of that great statesman, a founding father himself, Benjamin Franklin, who said, when asked, that he and his fellow revolutionaries have given us, Americans then and now, a Republic.  Not a Democracy, but a Republic.  Franklin went on to warn us then and now that this Republic was FRAGILE, and needed at all times to be protected with vigilance, vigor and valor.That this Republic of the combined United States could never be taken for granted.  Nor could any citizen assume it would go on, and on.  For freedom, for Franklin and the fathers, was a precious right that could only be sustained by watchful, involved and proactive citizens.  We who would live in this free country and enjoy its immense freedoms must at all times be: WATCHMEN AND WOMEN ON THE WALLS Not talk, debate or discussion, but action, actively working to protect our freedoms and our way of life, willing to die in the fray if necessary.  Would you be willing to die, to lay all on the altar in the cause of freedom?  What would you do if ISIS or jihadists attacked America and threatened harm to your family and you?  What would you do?  Our forefathers never gave the matter a second thought.  They, in Second Amendment fashion, took up arms to defend their country, their freedoms and their family.  Would you?  In fact, we AMERICANS should be so proud of our country, and our freedoms, that we as a nation are ready at all times to help others in the cause of freedom.  We gave the lives of millions of young American men and women to others in the cause of freedom.  Witness World War II.  One Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman 83 years young arrived in Paris by airplane.  At French customs, it took him several minutes to locate his passport.  The Customs Officer with sarcasm and disdain asked Mr. Whiting: “You have been to France before, Monsieur?” Mr. Whiting answered, yes he had and the smart aleck French official replied pompously: “Then you should know enough to have your passport ready!” Mr. Whiting then stared this official in the eye and said the following: “The last time I was here I didn’t have to show my passport.” To which the French Customs Official replied: “Impossible!  Americans always have to show passports on arrival in France!” Mr. Whiting gave this arrogant Frenchman a long hard look and he proudly stated: “Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this country, I couldn’t find a single Frenchman to show a passport to!” You could have heard a pin drop.  God bless America and God bless Mr. Whiting. And yet another instance of a proud American at work.  When in England at a fairly large conference, Secretary of State Colin Powell was asked by the Arch Bishop of Canterbury if America’s plans for Iraq were simply a rationalization for empire building or land-grabbing by George Bush as American soldiers went to war.  Powell simply answered by saying: “Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders.  The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those who did not return.” All attending that conference were deadly silent.  Well said, Mr. Powell, well said as a proud American. There was once a conference in France when a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American.  One of the French engineers said the following: “Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done?  He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intend to do, bomb them?” Those in attendance snickered and jeered.  That is, until an engineer from the Boeing company in America stood up and proudly stated: “Our aircraft carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people.They are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities.  They have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day.  They can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day.They carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and the injured to and from their flight deck.We have eleven such aircraft carriers.How many does France have?” You could have heard a pin drop. And again, a U.S. Naval Admiral was attending a naval conference that included admirals from the united states, England, Canada, Australia and France.  Every one in attendance was conversing in English.Suddenly a French Admiral complained the Europeans learn many languages but Americans learn only English.  This French Admiral arrogantly and pompously said: “Why is that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?” The American United States Naval Admiral stood up proudly and replied: “Maybe it is because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so that you would not have to speak German!” The room was deadly silent. So, whether here at home or anywhere abroad, anywhere in the world, it is our privilege, our duty, our passion to protect FREEDOM at every turn.  That freedom means for us and all in the world the fundamental rights, the God-given rights to: LIFELIBERTYTHE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS It is our right to live life free, with maximum freedom.  It is our right to live and champion liberty everywhere.  And, it is our right to pursue happiness as we define that, as free individuals, to pursue life legally and lovingly as we choose.  May it always be so, but it only can be if we are willing to do anything possible to protect those freedoms.  ANYTHING!  Are you? So now, this Independence  week, culminating in the great day July 4, Independence Day, we should honor America, this great country in which we are privileged to live.  We should honor all things American and we should honor our flag as a symbol of who we are and what we believe.  There are those who would desecrate or cause to be irrelevant the great stars and stripes.  There was the action of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) which banned the wearing of the American flag as a lapel pin or otherwise in clothing because the flag in their view was controversial and represented the causes of certain conservatives.  How tragic, how ridiculous, how un-American the actions of the American Broadcasting Company.  There are times when our President, our Congress, our leading citizens simply do not wear or honor the flag or any other symbol of all great things American.We the people should find all such conduct unacceptable and we should protest.  The greatest form of protest is to protect, preserve and defend our freedoms and the symbol of those freedoms, the great American flag, the perfect symbol of our independence and the finest possible expression of freedom on the great day July 4, Independence Day.  Do just that loudly and proudly my fellow citizens. Think carefully, my fellow Americans, about the precious freedoms granted by your Constitution and your Bill of Rights.  Remember that you are guaranteed the right to freedom of religion, to worship and practice religion as you please.  You are guaranteed the right to free speech, to speak as you wish at anytime, anywhere, with any words.  You are guaranteed the right to freely assemble, to petition, to print in press or on the Internet.  YOU ARE GUARANTEED THOSE RIGHTS!  You are guaranteed the right to bear arms, to purchase, own and use them for pleasure or in self-defense.  You are guaranteed the right against governmental illegal search and seizure.You are guaranteed the right a trial by a jury of your peers rather than to be summarily convicted by any governmental agency.  You are guaranteed the right to counsel if you can not afford one when charged with a crime.  You are guaranteed the right to vote.  You are guaranteed to pursue life, liberty and happiness as you wish!  You are guaranteed by your Constitution and Bill of Rights the highest and best form of living and lifestyle the world has ever known!  You should give thanks for America, for all that it was, is and can be in the future if YOU as Benjamin Franklin so well said standup and do everything possible to KEEP IT that is the great experiment in freedom which our founding fathers intended.  Please join with me this Independence Week, this Freedom Week and especially on the set-aside day for freedom celebration, namely July 4 in pledging once again our allegiance to this great country.  Please join me in these great words which honor America: I pledge allegianceto the Flagof the United States of Americaand to the Republic for which it standsone nationindivisiblewith liberty and justicefor all! I ask humbly and lovingly that GOD BLESS AMERICA. And I ask humbly as well that GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY! There is only one America.  Keep it that way!

The Constitution - Article VI

Few know or care about Article VI of the Constitution. But any person of faith, whatever the belief, should know about the content of this very special constitutional provision and be prepared to both understand and defend it. Here the words: “No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.” If you qualify and consequently are nominated to office, federal office of any kind, or federal public trust of any kind, you can be a person of any religious belief you wish without disqualification, or for that matter none at all. Religious belief can not be investigated, vetted, much less required and no test of any kind regarding that religious belief shall ever be given to any qualified candidate for office of the United States of America.  Rather plain, clear and direct words, are they not? But of course, this constitutional prohibition was completely ignored by Democrats, you know those progressive, ultra–liberal – radical individuals who now inhabit and control the democratic party, when Judges Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett were nominated by then President Trump for confirmation as Justices of the United States Supreme Court. The confirmation of those three Judges, all good, incredibly intelligent, well versed and experienced in the law and the Constitution would make the composition of the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) CATHOLIC, with seven out of nine Justices professing such faith. SEVEN OF NINE ROMAN CATHOLIC! Anti–religionists, and perhaps quite clearly anti–Roman Catholic Senators obviously disliked that fact fearful that the:          “Dogma runs deep” in the judicial veins of those Justices and that they would be tempted to vote Supreme Court decisions on the basis of their Catholic faith. That was anathema to Senator Schumer, Feinstein, themselves Jewish of some sort and with Justices Thomas, Alito, Roberts and Sotomayor already in place, three more Catholics on the Supreme Court comprising 80% of all Justices would simply be far too much. They therefore set about in confirmation hearings to expose their Catholicism, sincere as it was for these three, with the hope that there would be enough other Senators, themselves perhaps somewhat anti–Catholic or concerned with an overbalance, who would vote against confirmation. They cared nothing at all, these radical, liberal democratic Senators about the Constitution or the prohibitions against any such attempted qualification under the clear terms of Article VI. They wanted what they wanted and nothing, including and especially the Constitution in this case would get in the way. DOGMA RUN DEEP candidates would simply not be acceptable. By the way, in addition to the seven confirmed Roman Catholic Justices of the Supreme Court, the other two, Justices Kagan and Breyer are Jewish. Ironically, there are no Protestants, none at all even though Protestants are the largest religious grouping in the United States, all Christian people of faith included who are not Roman Catholic. I sometimes wonder whether Senators Schumer and Feinstein ever thought about that.  Regardless of their religious belief, these seven Catholic Justices have voted the law, interpreted correctly the Constitution in virtually every case and decided what is fair and right for America, Catholicism notwithstanding. They are honest, fair minded, hardworking, truly American, constitutionally caring interpreters of the law and we the people are fortunate to have them making ultimate and life–guiding and changing decisions. Biden and company now study the possibility of:          PACKING THE SUPREME COURT. That is, adding Justices as many as six, or four, or at least two, each of whom of course would be liberal if not radical with respect to the Constitution in order to make certain that they, the progressives – socialists – Marxists get the decisions they want. Virtually every one of the nine Justices has publicly stated what a horrible decision that would be, turning the court political, biased, and in many ways unconstitutional in decision making, all of which would utterly destroy any confidence which WE THE PEOPLE might have in this once great court of ultimate justice. Seven Roman Catholics and two Jews making ultimate decisions for Americans is simply repugnant to Biden and the radical Democratic party he comes from, and supports, and which supports him. If that packing happens in any form, what a tragic day it would be for we the people and for the America we love. Democrats have absolutely no regard for Article VI and the prohibition against inquiry into a nominee’s religious views. Politically for them, it is a day and age of:          ANYTHING GOES! Interestingly, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, herself Roman Catholic, may be the most liberal – radical – organic constitutionalist of any of the nine Justices. She professes a strong Roman Catholic faith on the one hand, and is often on the side of radical decision making some of which may be viewed as contrary to the teachings and principles of the Catholic church. And the same with Chief Justice John Roberts, himself Catholic, and nominated as a supposed conservative regardless of his Catholic beliefs. The Chief Justice has voted in irregular patterns with decision making sometimes contrary to Catholic principles or perhaps his own personal beliefs. And, although their time as Supreme Court Justices has been limited, there is really no clear and certain voting patterns and habits which have been displayed by the new Justices Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett. It seems that for some of these Justices, it is one thing to be Catholic and practice the faith in THE PERSONAL LIFE, but quite another thing to go up against Catholicism, the Catholic church and its teachings when it comes to judicial decision making. Many regard that as a supreme case of hypocrisy. Such however is life in America today, politically, judicially and spiritually. Take the most debated Supreme Court decision of all time:          ROE V. WADE,  which legalized abortion on a five – four Supreme Court vote. Five people authorized the killing, the murdering of now approaching 70 million known babies – human beings through the process of abortion. Now comes one case before the Supreme Court this next term, and perhaps even more which will put the issue of abortion and the decision making of Roe before the Supreme Court for elimination or modification. It will be fascinating to see the end results, the votes, especially the votes of those who are Catholic as this matter is decided. There is little doubt that Justices Thomas and Alito will vote against Roe. It cannot be predicted how Chief Justice Robert will vote, and of course, this will be the first opportunity for Justices Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett to evaluate and decide. Many legal scholars think that Roe v. Wade was a clear unconstitutional decision, with no foundation in the Constitution for the so called RIGHT OF ABORTION. These constitutional scholars indicate that the issue of abortion should properly remain with the states and the people, and fall under the terms and conditions of Amendments IX and X which prohibit the Congress or the courts of the United States to expand and add to the Constitution where the power to do so or the ultimate objectives have not been SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED by the Constitution itself. If in fact Roe is overturned or seriously constitutionally modified, the unrest, resistance and protest in America from liberal – radicals will be fearful indeed, no matter how constitutional such a decision might be. Watch carefully, my fellow Americans, what your – our Supreme Court decides in this critical next term. In Article VI of the Constitution, the so called religious test clause and section, the content again deals with the matter of oath upon taking office and the prohibition against religious test clause. At the original constitutional convention, proponents of the OATH CLAUSE wanted public servants to be:          SINCERE FRIENDS TO RELIGION. That so called NOD TO GOD was watered down when oath could be replaced upon confirmation by affirmation. The framers in the First Amendment to the Constitution made FREEDOM OF RELIGION the very first freedom and for so many of those constitutional founders, the most important freedom of all. They knew what would happen in America should the religious wars of Europe occur once again in America. They knew that they must prevent the Congress from establishing any kind of religion, direct or indirect, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof in order to avoid European religious wars. Be a friend, and stay away from establishing or preventing anything RELIGION, direct or indirect. Let it be and let it happen. That was then, and this is now, something entirely different and religion, in so many ways direct and indirect, is on the judicial table and there will be numerous attempts to circumscribe, modify or even eliminate religion, and especially Christianity and perhaps even more especially Roman Catholic Christianity from the public square. The friends of religion in 1776 have turned to the enemies of religion in 2021.  Now it is claimed by Democrats, all of them including the socialist – Marxist side of the Democrat party that Democratic President Joe Biden is a:          DEVOUT CATHOLIC. If that is true, then Biden is perhaps one of the biggest hypocrites in America, professing to believe in and espouse the doctrine, principles and morals of the Catholic church on the one hand personally but working as aggressively and perhaps more so than any President of the United States against those principles in so many ways. Biden and his Administration champion abortion, the expansion of abortion rights and even the codification of Roe, that is turning the decision making of Roe into legislation, aggressively fostering the gay agenda, a proponent of euthanasia, forcing all, including and especially The Little Sisters of the Poor in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to offer abortion and contraceptive coverage in health insurance among any other and many other attempts at legislation or executive orders which fly in the face of Roman Catholic teachings. One Catholic Bishop rightly said that President Joe Biden is a political embarrassment to the Roman Catholic church, an understatement if there ever was one.  Catholic commentator and writer Mary Margaret Olohan writes that what she calls the “fake news media – both secular and Catholic” are going to such great lengths to portray Joe Biden as a “devout Catholic.” Ms. Olohan says that the strategy behind this public posturing by liberal – radical Democrats has one ultimate purpose in mind:          “To make Catholicism indistinguishable from liberal ideology.”  As such, nothing would be a better way to eviscerate Catholicism, water it down and change traditional thinking, principles, and even moral values as liberal – Democrats would want. They want the liberal, often hypocritical Joe Biden to be “the face of what it means to be a Catholic in good standing.” But the orthodox, the traditional, the real Roman Catholics top to bottom will have no part of that, none whatsoever. They know the hypocrisy; they chafe at the tolerance of anything or anyone liberal – radical in the Catholic church – faith who tolerates this and they now begin to take a stand as all men and women of spiritual goodwill should. Our society is deeply secular if not antireligious – Christianity – Catholicism and that cultural – spiritual warfare should be recognized and all good Christians should now be ready and actually involved in:          THE FIGHT OF FAITH. You should know well the contents of Article VI of the Constitution, my fellow Americans. And you should know by heart, by memory all of those very precious terms and conditions, the freedoms and rights granted by the First Amendment to the Constitution. They are the most fundamental, the most necessary, the most indispensable rights and freedoms of a free people. If we wish to stay free, if we wish American democracy to survive, nothing can water down, change much less eliminate the precious protections of Article VI and Amendment I of the finest document ever written, the Constitution of the United States. The war for freedom is on, my fellow Americans. You are in that war, that cancel culture and religion war whether you like it or not. It is time for you to take a stand like we do and with all your might:          FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH.

Father

Two kinds of fathers are there.  The one Heavenly, the other earthly.  The Lord of Glory, the Carpenter of Nazareth said: “I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE.” What a claim.Blasphemy by a human being if it were not true.  But they were ONE, and the carpenter from Nazareth told us in unequivocal terms that the CREATOR OF THIS UNIVERSE AND OUR EARTH was indeed among so many other things a: FATHER To Him and to us.For otherwise, this Creator would be completely unknown, incapable of being known by us, but HE is. And, the Supreme Creator loves us and cares for us.  To me that is a thought incomprehensible were it not for: HIM Our Lord Jesus Christ took something remote, obscure and unfathomable and made it known, personal, deeply meaningful and loving so that we, the creatures of His creation, could understand who we are, why we are, and what we should believe. We are to understand and believe said Jesus, that there is for us an ETERNAL FATHER and not merely a cosmic Creator.  We are known as individuals, as sons and daughters by this Father, and we are not mere specks in the universe or dust in the wind.  We have meaning.  We are in fact SONS AND DAUGHTERS of this Father having claimed our inheritance as such through the SON Jesus Christ.  Hard to comprehend but true.We are also told that God the Father is love.GOD IS LOVE, and that love is the essence of God and so available to us.  Love is the greatest says the Scriptures, more so than faith and hope, and to know that God is love incarnate is just incredible. And we who are fathers should love the very same way.  Even as the eternal Father loves us, so should we love our children.  If a Heavenly Father loves unconditionally, so an earthly father should do the same, love the child unconditionally.  The highest attributes of any earthly father are the embracing, heartfelt and unconditional loving openness to the child even as the Father loves the child: LOVE NEVER FAILS But there is another side of love from our Heavenly Father, a TOUGH LOVE.  That is, love at work which is ready to: DISCIPLINE Love may indeed be meek, warm, gentle and forgiving, kind and open and it should be.But love must also be tough, demanding, disciplined and concerned for all things which are: RIGHT For there are indeed prodigal sons and daughters who go astray.  As such, they honor not the Heavenly Father nor the earthly.Discipline is required, firm and straight.  The rod was used in the old days to accomplish discipline and to carryout punishment.  But that has been taken away.  Discipline today is more on the order of depriving the child of opportunities and pleasures or requiring the child to make up for the wrong and do what is right.Sometimes it works and sometimes not.But fathers can not SPARE THE ROD however the rod is determined for that is a fatherly duty.  No child can grow without discipline for there is nothing worse for a father than a child spoiled and bent upon his own way.Demanding standards, the terms and conditions of sonship, are a father’s duty which can not be delegated or ignored.And the Scriptures make it perfectly clear: WHOM THE FATHER LOVES HE CHASTENS Chastening is real love at work.  BY THEIR FRUITS, LOVING DISCIPLINE AT WORK, YE SHALL KNOW THE FATHER AND WHO THE FATHER TRULY IS. The integrity of the father is critical.  Dads must do what they say and dads must say what they mean.  The father must live by the same standards he requires of the child.The father must be consistent in character, live a life with values and without hypocrisy.  Nothing is harder for a child to accept than lectures about right and wrong from a father who lives by neither.  So that, a father does not have to explain or justify the demands.The father does not have to negotiate with the child and in the course of discipline ask the child if it is OK. For it matters not if the child agrees with the father.  If a child respects a loving father, that is all that is required.  So many families seem to have so little respect for each other and rapidly become dysfunctional.  But a true father, a real father is head of household.  He is the one in charge, so say the Scriptures, kind, loving, considerate and respectful of all including and especially the wife-mother, but head of the household nonetheless.  Discharging all of those functions gives the father the right to discipline and demand.  But again, the father has earned that right by the way he lives.  When the son is old and ready for his own life, the ways of the father will be his and the son in turn will perpetuate, carryon those values for his family.  It is so very important for the father to incorporate the son into his life.  To train up the child is to involve the child in the life, the career, the work of the father.  So many sons carry on, inherit and follow the father.  Father and son, or daughter, work together, learn together and the father teaches in practical ways.  What the father holds dear and in which he has invested his life becomes part of the child, a very practical and worthy training for the child.  The child can learn the way of business, work, industry so that like father, the child can be: A WORK MAN OR WOMAN WORTHY OF HIS HIRE That kind of fatherly guidance is so very important and it is the duty of the father to invest the time and effort to train up the child in that way.  And so with hobbies, and fun.  There are games, trips, sports, theater, dining and all manners of wonderful vacation which must be shared by father and child.  Life is difficult and even as there are the demands of work, there must be the pleasures of play.  To laugh and cry together.  To enjoy the joys of this world as God has indicated is our right.  Lasting moments are created in fun and play.Father and child are intimate, or should be.Their dialogue, their caring for each other should be totally open, transparent.  Nothing should be hidden.  The child should have the confidence and the trust in father to openly reveal, discuss hurts, ask questions, confess doubt, challenge beliefs and otherwise make certain that the father fully understands precisely who the child is.  For the child develops independently and individually, a special and unique creation by God, and not merely as the earthly father would have him be.  The answers to questions should come first from the father, not from peers or school but from DAD.  The son should want to talk to father first and be assured that he knows what the father thinks.  They can not always agree but father and son can always be open and honest with each other.That seems so lacking today.There is little communication, virtually no dialogue.  Father’s preach and lecture but seldom practice one of the most important attributes of good fathering: LISTENING Really listening.Patiently allowing the child to open the heart, to question, to express love and anger and to know as a child the father will listen and respect.  That more than anything builds character and confidence in the child.Fathers are friends and confidants.The father in the mind of the child is the first GO-TO.  If not, the child seeks FATHER SURROGATES and substitutes.  Today’s education can often occur without traditional moral values or the standards of old.  No third party education is a substitute for a father’s education.  Children who are fatherless in actuality or spiritually seek comfort, guidance and acceptance from their peers which can often be secular and even with immoral influences.  They are ready to learn and adapt, to be accepted in so many ways different from what the father might believe or want for the child.  The conduct of the child can then become permissive, even unlawful as standards or morality are worn down and compromised.  That fatherless child goes a different way and the father has forsaken the most important duty of fatherhood, training up that child.If you have a child, if you are a biological father, then you must, YOU MUST be a spiritual, loving father as God would have it.  Don’t send a child to church.  Take him.Worship with him.  Love together the Lord of Glory.  Study Scripture and pray, together.  Talk about spiritual things for the child is even more interested in what the father thinks and believes than perhaps a pastor. Take time for the child’s life, school events, sports.  Be there, lovingly and with respect for the child growing to adult.  Nothing means more than a father BEING THERE.That child is YOU, dad.You can not ignore or deny YOU.The child wants YOU more than anything else.  There came to you that little bundle of joy, your very own son, your very own daughter, YOU IN EVERY WAY!  You are privileged to be a father of that child and he or she should be a clear priority, a first priority.  There will never be better earthly love, nothing comes close, than the love of a father for his child.  However strong the bond, and even if the father-child bond is broken, in some deep primal way, love is always there, or at least the hope of that love.  There is no child, or father however old or hardened who does not feel that way.  What a joy, what a privilege to be a father. Even as an adult, well-educated, perhaps successful, father himself, a son will always seek out a father, for fellowship, for advice, for comfort and caring, and for love.  That never changes.  Even in death, he the father being dead yet speaketh.  All he was and all they were together lives on, it is eternal even as the love of God is eternal.  The words, the deeds, the loving deeds will never be forgotten.  The understanding, the trust and the respect between father and child will never die.  Perhaps a father’s proudest moment is when the child, adult and ready, leaves the father and becomes his own man.  That is a biblical requirement, and at that time, the father should be proud, very proud of the INVESTMENT he has made in the child.  For a father can think back, reminisce and remember all of those things which forged the bond, the training, the education and growth of the child, an investment far more valuable than anything financial.  That, says dad, is my son.  That, says dad, is my daughter of whom I am so very proud.He or she was worth everything I gave.The loving bond between father and child will sustain, motivate and guide the child for a lifetime.  It is the earthly component of the Heavenly Father.What a privilege it is to be a father. So, I and my company the Crawford Broadcasting Company salute fathers, real fathers who love, educate, grow and train up their children in the way in which they should go.  You are special, dads like that, very special.  The world needs real fathers now more than ever.  And, what is so wonderful is that it is never too late to be father no matter what has gone before.  Fathering may ebb and flow but the opportunity is always there, always.Never quit, never give up on fathering. So, enjoy your day DAD.  Father’s Day can show love and respect for dad one day. But real fathers are honored by their children every day.  For the most priceless thing any child can have is: A LOVING FATHER!

THE (IN)EQUALITY ACT

“What is happening in America really scares me!” Those were the words of a listener to The Stand. It should indeed scare this good Christian lady who wrote, and in fact, it should scare all of us, that is all of WE THE PEOPLE who love America, what it is, and what it should be.It is no surprise that there are those by the millions, perhaps even tens of millions, who wish to destroy this great Country. They are Marxists, not socialists, Nihilists, anarchists, willing to use violence, intimidation, ridicule and above all BELIE. There is no such thing for them as truth, or even fact for that matter, but only that which advances the cause, their destructive cause. They regard themselves as champions of the era of:        POST TRUTH.These Marxists are men and women like George Soros, Saul Alinsky and the many who work under the umbrella of Antifa and Black Lives Matter, just to name two such organizations concerned only with getting power, absolute political power, total influence, control of all things financial: the money and the prestige which such power, influence and money allow. To that end, they have hijacked the Democratic Party, they operate somewhat overtly but mostly covertly, patient but powerful knowing that their day will come. As former President Barack Hussein Obama said of them and himself:         “WE are the ones we have been waiting for!”Now comes from this democratically controlled House of Representatives the so called EQUALITY ACT, which is in essence and at its core the INEQUALITY ACT. A writer for the New York Post called this vicious piece of legislation:         AN ORWELLIAN HORROR,and indeed it is. This Equality Act, also known as H.R.5 redefines federal civil rights laws and in particular “updates” the laws which Congress passed to combat racism, namely the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Essentially, the so called EQUALITY ACT adds to the Civil Rights the highly ideological concepts about sex and gender which are revolutionary in every conceivable way. H.R.5 essentially erases SEX as a legal category with all the dire consequences which result. Said one commentator:“For people, for businesses, for churches, and for ministries of faith, the Equality Act is a threat to life as we know it in our nation today. It’s a real game changer!”The radical, progressive, socialistic – Marxist politicians of the Democratic Party are determined that this bill will pass. It now goes to the Senate, having been passed (barely so) by the House for Senate consideration and hopefully passage. Thankfully, for God–fearing Americans, there remains the filibuster in the Senate which when utilized by oppositional Senators, can delay the passage of this legislative monstrosity for some time. Hopefully, that happens. Listen carefully to what this bill proposes.Schools, all schools, churches and hospitals would be forced to accept the governments beliefs and mandates about:         SEXUAL ORIENTATION          GENDER IDENTITY Any person, no matter the biological gender, could identify as any kind of sex so desired and every other person, and all of society would be required to recognize that person as such. Biological men could identify as women and consequently, be given access to women’s privacy areas. Those very biological men could enter what are now women’s restrooms. They could also take showers with them. They could enter, these biological men, homeless shelters and even be put in women’s prisons. These biological males, who now must be recognized as women could enter, participate, compete in and dominate girls and women’s sports as some already have! That, as many have said, would be the end of women’s sports and erase overnight all the tremendous gains which women have made in sports, and in fact, in many other professional fields as well. Suppose you had a high school daughter competing in sports, doing well and in comes a biological man and wins, breaking all biological female records. How would you feel? That, my dear American woman, would happen over and again if this INEQUALITY ACT PASSES. By the way, that biological male masquerading as a female would be showering after the event naked with your high school daughter! Would you stand for that?More. As the terms men and women are redefined, and more importantly, SEX is redefined or better yet for these radicals eliminated as a descriptive term altogether, speech would change and radically so. The use of pronouns would be changed, and to refer to him who has biologically changed to her as he would be forbidden and the use of any such now improper terminology would not only be illegal but potentially criminal in some cases. Schools would be coerced to instruct first, second and third graders that they can choose to be a boy or a girl, or neither, or BOTH! That of course would make biological sex and the science behind it a relic of the past. Can you believe this? But it is there, and here, and with a real potentiality to become the law of the land with incredible criminal and civil penalties for noncompliance. Can you possibly let this happen, Christians and conservatives, can you? These radical – progressive – socialists depend upon intimidation and your lack of involvement. They count upon you and me being afraid to stand up, protest and do everything in our power to make certain that this EQUALITY ACT does not become the law of the land. Will you do that? You must, YOU MUST! In short, this dastardly act erases, utterly eliminates sex as a distinct legal category. A first grader can decide what he or she wants to be. A young child at that age would have the authority to determine sexual orientation and gender identity no matter what the parents say or think. In fact, the freedom of speech of the parents at that level would be taken away, even penalized should the parent wish to exercise control or discipline over the young child. The Equality Act is written in such broad terms and perspectives that virtually any kind of definition can apply. Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden have publicly stated that the passage of THE EQUALITY ACT is their number one priority. This man and woman, unless of course they have decided to change their sexual orientation or gender identity, represent themselves as professing and believing Roman Catholics. They seek the comfort, blessings and benefits of the Catholic Church while at the same time championing this unbelievable, unholy and unchristian legislation, actions of gross hypocrisy if there ever were some. I for one hope the church recognizes this conduct and perhaps excommunication is warranted, don’t you think?That is because, further, this act really fosters abortion. It does away with the Hyde Amendment which forbids the federal government to pay for abortions so that now all abortions can be financed by the federal government. It further exempts itself from any requirements of the RELIGIOUS FREEDOM RESTORATION ACT (RFRA) which exempts religious organizations from these requirements and in fact, takes away the further exemption of the right of religious organizations to hire those who believe as they do. Creative professionals like Jack Phillips and Barronelle Stutzman could be forced to create product and express messages through their art that violate their biblical beliefs about marriage and biological sex. The traditional definition of marriage, of course, that between one man and one woman would be done away with, even forbidden. Students attending bible believing schools would not be eligible for federal loans. And those very same schools could be denied or threatened with the loss of ACCREDITATION because of their biblical beliefs. And of course, the bible, THE HOLY BIBLE, would be labeled and regarded as nothing more than:        HATE SPEECH. Doctors and medical professionals would be required to engage in gender transition treatments, including of course religious based hospitals no matter their beliefs. And, the INEQUALITY ACT regards any refusal to offer abortion as:PREGNANCY DISCRIMINATIONwith severe penalties, not only civil but in some cases criminal as a result. Can you believe this? And these, all of these my fellow Americans are only some of the incredible, dastardly terms and conditions of this vicious bill. Please don’t let it pass. Please contact your representative or Senator, especially your Senator and ask – beg him or her not to allow this incredible and un–American piece of legislation to pass. And one more thing, one more unbelievable thing. Anyone who attempts to secure employment who thinks that he or she has been discriminated against under the terms of the EQUALITY ACT can bring litigation against that employer who failed to hire that person for whatever reason, if in the:         PERCEPTION AND BELIEF that the hire did not occur because of discrimination under the 1964 Civil Rights Act, that person can sue the employer without evidence or proof of any kind of such discrimination. Can you believe that? Without the protection of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Christian employers would be sued over and again. Nothing could be more unconstitutional, radically against the First Amendment, nothing.That, my fellow Americans, epitomizes what the Democratic Party has become. I state boldly that this once great party has become thoroughly un–American, determined to radically change morals, values and lifestyle and totally eviscerate or even eliminate much or all of religion, including and especially Christianity. You and I may have our last chance to stand up, protest, boycott and thoroughly publicize what this party has become and in elections 2022:         VOTE THEM OUT! Vote them out before it is too late. Don’t let this EQUALITY ACT, which is nothing more than the INEQUALITY ACT pass, don’t let that happen! That would be the end of an unbelievable amount of freedoms and, those freedoms once lost:         ARE LOST FOREVER!

Religon

Freedom of Religion is the first freedom in the First Amendment of the very first and most brilliant freedom document ever written by mankind.Nobody and nothing can legally interfere with the practice of religion legitimately practiced, so says the First Amendment, including and especially Congress, House and Senate which is absolutely and unconditionally forbidden to establish a religion or abridge the practice or free speech of religion. No matter this clear, direct and unequivocal prohibition by our beloved Constitution and its First Amendment, there has never been a day and age where RELIGION, including and especially Christianity is abridged, threatened or curtailed like the things which are happening today. Scary times indeed, especially for those who are Christian, who sincerely, genuinely, and unapologetically love the Christ of Glory and unabashedly proclaim that faith and love to all the world. They – we are targets like never before.But the courts, federal and state, continue to apply current thinking, modern day interpretations of the Constitution, treating it as organic and not fundamental, not originalist, not plain and fundamental in language and essentially do what they want especially when liberals, radicals and progressives control the judiciary. We live as our former President Barack Hussein Obama so famously said in the world of post truth, that is the only truth that matters is whatever advances your cause that day, the truth du jour, and in so many ways, the judiciary ignores the fact – truth of the Constitution and the protections of the freedom of religion in the First Amendment and they do what they want, fashioning their own version of the truth. We live in a day and age of legal uncertainty where WE THE PEOPLE never know what will come next, what the rules are, what the rule of law is and in so many ways what we can count on and how we should live our lives. There seems to be little authority, there is hardly any respect for tradition much less history, and American history and there is much chaos, anarchy and revolution happening everywhere even in our very own country. Witness the Antifa – Black Lives Matter driven riots and destruction in Portland, and in Seattle, and at one time in Philadelphia and other cities as well. One homicide can trigger the destruction of hundreds of millions of dollars of property and result in the loss of any number of innocent lives. That same indifference and disrespect carries over in some cases to religionists and the practice of religion itself. So many biblical scholars studying prophecy believe strongly that this is the beginning of the END TIMES. Now more than ever, the once ironclad and predictable authority of the Roman Catholic Church is challenged, and challenged in many different places. That is especially so in the nation of Germany. Catholic clergy in Germany now begin to bless gay couples across Germany, and marry them in defiance of a recent Vatican ban on the practice. This rogue clergy defies the authority of the Church and Catholic Priests and Lay Ministers are planning coordinated ceremonies to bless gay relationships in about 100 Catholic Churches and other venues in Germany now and forevermore. They are performed as a protest against the Vatican declaration in March, approved by Pope Francis prohibiting the blessing of same sex relationships on the grounds that:         GOD CAN NOT BLESS SIN!Real and fundamental Catholic authority regards same sex relationships and especially marriage as:         SIN!Ever since the election of Pope Francis in 2013, his Church has contended with deepening divisions between Church conservatives, many of whom are in the United States and Africa and progressive clergy such as those in Germany and elsewhere in Europe who do not wish Church prohibitions against divorce and homosexuality. These divisions, these rifts which may in time lead to a serious schism in the Catholic Church seem to continue to grow for there are apparently tens of thousands of Catholic laity and clergy who want fundamental change in the Church which is now not happening.There is now underway a national synod of German Catholics which is debating a number of changes in the Catholic Church, including the ordination of women, greater roles for lay people in Church governance and the revision of Church teaching on homosexuality among others. No matter biblical admonition, the teachings of the Catholic Church and its storied spiritual history, these rogue Catholic individuals do not respect the apostolic tradition nor do they care about the majority of faithful believers in the UNIVERSAL CHURCH. They seem to be saying that there is no such thing as moral absolutes nor can the Church as presently constituted be the final authority with regard to these new and changing western morals. The Church, they say, adjusts to and compromises with the secular in order to be current and relevant. Though not Catholic, I find this incomprehensible. These men and women, progressive, rogue and even radical do not have the courage to break away from the Catholic Church, practice their view of religion in some other way but are determined to fundamentally change a church 2,000 years of age in ways which the Pope, the Vatican officials and the vast majority of laymen do not approve. No matter the official proclamation of the Catholic Church and the Pope, taking strong positions regarding homosexuality and the ordination of women among others, Catholic Churches in defiance of Rome hung rainbow pride flags from their facades or belltowers in support of the LGBTQ agenda and homosexual marriage. More than 700 Priests and Deacons signed a petition stating they wouldn’t refuse a Catholic blessing if requested by gay couples. In response to this disobedience to church authority, one conservative Catholic said:“It is an enormous scandal (blessing gay marriage), a terrifying sign of heresy, schism and the collapse of the Church.” Those were the words of retired German Cardinal Walter Brandmuller who lives in the Vatican. Most conservative Catholics if not all feel that way and are deeply concerned with the integrity and hegemony of their church.  Others have said that not only is the authority of the Catholic Church questioned, but so is the underlying biblical admonitions with respect to LGBTQ and homosexuality in both Old and New Testaments. But these radical laity and clergy simply want the Roman Catholic Church to change, adjust to their points of view, to current morality (or the lack thereof), recognize the signs of the times and change traditional Catholic thinking, theology and principle to the way they wish. They have no scriptural basis for what they demand, none whatsoever. There is compromise everywhere in the practice of religion. It is an age of the individual run rampant, the breakdown of religious authority, the interpretation away of direct moral commands and a supreme indifference to tradition, Church history and most especially the Bible, once the unquestioned authority of some four billion people in this world. This new apostasy and false teaching, this new sense of compromise are critical signs of the beginning of the END TIMES, so says the scripture. There are, we are told, more than two billion Roman Catholic believers and worshippers in the world. So that, roughly one in four human beings consider themselves Catholic, including our very own President Joe Biden, a supreme compromiser and the importance of the Catholic Church has never been greater. Pope Francis has never been really firm in his teachings in some of these critical matters and if the Catholic Church is to survive and maintain its position in the world, the Pope and all Catholic clergy must stand up and protect, preserve and defend what has always been true and real CATHOLICISM. There remain critical differences between Roman Catholics and Protestants, true Catholics and Evangelicals. But at a certain point, all who name the name of Christ must stand up, and stand together, and fight the fight of faith, and champion FREEDOM OF RELIGION the world over or eventually there will be no freedom of religion. American radicals and progressives are determined to rid the public square and eventually all of our country of religion, including and especially Christianity. They despise religion of any kind and they are determined to eliminate it. Germany seems well on the way, at least Roman Catholic Germany. So that, the only answer is revival, the renewal of faith and belief in the Lord of Glory, the Jesus Christ of the Bible. It seems as though unless a person is deeply committed to and in love with Jesus Christ:         ANYTHING GOES. Like what is happening in the Roman Catholic Church in Germany. 

Memorial Day

In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated on the last Monday in May, echoing the words and sentiments of the proclamation of General John A. Logan of the grand Army of the Republic in 1868 who stated:“Memorial Day is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion (the Civil War) and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet, church yard in the land.”So it is that the primary purpose of Memorial Day is to strew with flowers literally and figuratively the graves and memories of America’s daring defenders.  They the fallen died for freedom, liberty, for America, for us, for YOU AND ME.  We were asked to remember those who died in the great American Civil War, but the day to remember now incorporates all who have given lives in defense of our country.Far too many wars, my fellow Americans, and far too many fallen defenders by the millions who believed in America, and in its fundamental principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all mankind.  How grateful we should be. We are descendants or contemporaries of patriots, men and women who cherish freedom and were willing to fight and die to defend it if necessary.  These warriors lived by the words of Patrick Henry who said:GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH.Our nation was formed in the fight for freedom for there was no life worthwhile without it.There came our great Constitution and our incredible BILL OF RIGHTS, the rights and freedom amendments which are the finest in the history of mankind.  But no matter the origin, it seems as though in so many ways the passion for freedom may have been lost today as they once had it.  We seem to take for granted what they died for.  And the courage they the fallen had seems lost today in so many ways and the change in our country, produces in so many ways an America in decline, at least politically, philosophically and certainly passionately.  Our ancestors fought for the Constitution, for the Bill of Rights and the freedoms those now 27 Amendments allow us.  They were ready to die for them, but we the current people allow them to be watered down, interpreted away and often ignored without the fight or conviction to protect and defend them.  Perhaps the freedoms of Patrick Henry are giving way to a slow but sure death.Perhaps we have failed to meet the challenge of Ben Franklin who told us that the Republic they created for us was a marvelous way of government IF we could keep it.  I wonder if we can. So, in the midst of barbecues and baseball, it is so healthy to look back and remember.Remember a George Washington, a general, a leader, a President, a warrior, a patriot.  Or a Paul Revere who rode the land warning that the enemy was coming, sounding the alarm.  It seems as though we need more Paul Reveres, warning us that enemies to our Constitution and way of life are coming, and in fact are HERE.  We the people should be ever mindful of the threats and sound the alarm as he did, like those who energized our country once before, THE BOSTON TEA PARTY PATRIOTS and the revolution their courageous acts energized and inspired.  They took a stand against taxes and so must we.  Ours continue to rise, and rise to the point of confiscation and nothing but nothing destroys freedom like taxes.  President John Adams reminded us that the two killers of liberty are slavery and debt.  The debt of confiscatory taxation strangles freedom and that is happening at an incredibly rapid pace today.  Shame on us.It is hard for us to think back and remember the early days in America when slavery, slavery was a way of life in America to our great shame and embarrassment.  We the moderns find that inconceivable, and the practice of slavery of any kind abhorrent, do we not?  Right-thinking men and women fought and fell to rid America of the scourge of slavery, God bless them.And to rid the world of despots like Hitler, evil to the core, Mussolini and those who in war would destroy the freedom and liberty of all.  God bless them.There can hardly be a family anywhere in America which has not laid a son or daughter on the altar of freedom.  So many fought and fell, lives given willingly for us in war after war.  And there were those who supported those who fought.  We honor them.  Many of our warriors and defenders came home hurt and damaged in body or mind perhaps for a lifetime.  On Memorial Day, we honor these veterans of wars, these HEROES, these wounded warriors who gave us our freedom:WE OWE THEM!A debt we can never repay.  To honor them is the least we can do, to thank them as we remember and as we encounter those in our military who follow after them.  We should help and support them.  They lived and died for what they believed.  Whenever I encounter a member of our military, I thank them for what they did and what they do for our great country, for me, and for you, and for my friends and loved ones and all Americans whether I know them or not.But I really do know them for I know what is in their hearts and minds and I know they love America as much as I do.I will salute them as a sign of respect.I wish them to know that I will always be grateful for everything they do for me and the America I love.Perhaps YOU should do the same, not on one Memorial Day, but all days.  They the heroes and defenders are the very best of us. God bless them.Memorial Day is always celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery, a very special place, a burial site for some of America’s bravest.  At 3 PM on that Monday, a very special ceremony occurs and each grave is decorated with a small American flag.  The highlight of the celebration is a speech in honor of these brave men and women from the President or Vice President of the United States honoring their contributions to America and laying a wreath at the tomb of The Unknown Soldier.  That tomb represents tens of thousands of other unknown soldiers who gave their lives in service to our country, but in death never got the recognition and respect they so justly deserved.  Do remember them, my fellow Americans, do remember them as well on Memorial Day as there may be no one else, no loved one, no friend or family to do so.  And as you do remember these American heroes, thank our God, the God who blesses America for all those who gave so much for us.They allowed us to be parents, to have and enjoy family, they allowed us to be workers and fully participate in the great opportunities America offers.  THEY allowed us to be all that we can be because our soldiers, they were determined to be all they could be.  Have a special place in your heart all week for any loved one, family or friend of yours who should be MEMORIALIZED AND REMEMBERED this day and always. And, as we pay tribute and remember, let us become better citizens of this great country, ready more than ever to preserve, protect and defend all it stands for, all of our blessed and precious freedoms which exist like there are nowhere else in the world.  Let us stand for what is right with actions, protests, town meetings, marches, debate, fact and truth at work, counteracting government spin and disinformation.  Let us stand tall for the right, for truth, for all things moral and valuable.  Let us resolve, we the people, we who own and control this country to do our job as citizens far better.  And remember to cherish and exercise the greatest privilege which every American has.That is:THE VOTEThere is no more powerful weapon than the vote of the American citizen.  It is the most precious Constitutional right we have and for which our forefathers fought and died.  Let us make certain that we vote for those to represent us who so passionately believe in these very special freedoms as we do, and they the fallen did.  It is only then, when we do our part, day in and day out, that we would have the right to say with conviction and passion as our forefathers did:GOD BLESS AMERICAFor that can not happen unless we the people do what is right, remembering whom and what went before and committing with conviction to follow in their footsteps.These men and women died for GOD AND COUNTRY and for you and me in the never-ending fight to protect and preserve:FREEDOMMemorialize their memories Memorial Day and every day!God bless America and God bless you.

Adoption – Our Children - LGBTQ

And another one bites the dust!  That is, another so called Christian, Evangelical organization caves in, gives up and surrenders to LGBTQ. And that would be:          BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES (BCS).  This once strong, proud fully Christian organization was one of the nation’s largest Evangelical agencies involved in adoption and foster care. It held strong to Christian principles, including especially the biblical admonition that marriage as sanctioned by God and the real Christian Church was a union between ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN. That definition further extended to the definition of family where there were biblical guidelines for husband and wife, father and mother, family structure, children discipline and behavior from that one man and that one woman. In an incredible act of spiritual compromise, BCS announced they would no longer strictly abide by that biblical admonition. In fact, BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES recently announced that it would now place children in same sex households and with other families identified as LGBTQ, contrary to the direct admonitions of scripture. BCS capitulated, COMPROMISED, and caved in to the angry demands of the NEW NORMAL, the new sexual revolution and its new morality. What a tragedy and what a shame.  It should be clear to every real Christian and conservative that this new sexual orthodoxy, which champions gender identity and sexual orientation in all new ways will never be content until every facet of orthodox Christianity is excised, eradicated, ELIMINATED from the public square. These champions of radical, anti–Christian change will use every means possible to make that happen. The affect on those children, once in the tender loving Christian care of Bethany Christian Services will be life long, dramatic and entirely anti–Christian and anti–biblical requirements for child – parent.  WHY, the real question is, why did BCS compromise and capitulate. WHY! I can only wonder who on the Board of Directors of BCS were responsible and how before God and man that decision could be justified and explained. If in fact BCS continues to represent themselves as a strong Christian, evangelical organization, that decision is:          DEAD WRONG. This new sexual revolution, this new sexual orthodoxy is the heart and soul of the now and once great Democratic Party. Democrats for years have never referred to God whether in party platforms, dialogue, expressed views or political philosophy. In fact, they have not only ignored Christianity but the spiritual in general. Witness the example of House of Representatives Greg Steube, Republican from Florida who stood on the floor of the House of Representatives in late February and read from the bible book of Deuteronomy concerning the difference between male and female. This good man, brave and courageous, withstood a horrendous attack by his Democratic colleagues and in response to the alleged attack on LGBTQ, representative Jerrold Nadler, Democrat from New York, a radical, progressive, anti–Christian man in my view, said the following: “What any religious tradition describes as God’s will is no concern of this Congress.” Or, especially the Democrats. It is just simply amazing to me how many Christians vote Democrat when this party and its representatives are as anti–Christian as any in the entire world. Unbelievable. Shame on Bethany Christian Services. But now stands up:          CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES (CSS). In 2018, the city of Philadelphia (where I was raised and born) issued an urgent call for help. The city announced and pleaded for 300 additional foster families to adopt what Philadelphia regarded as the “rising crisis of orphaned children.” Up stepped Catholic Social Services to meet the need. Good for them. And of course, one would think that the city would wish to partner with CSS in the hunt to find loving homes for these needy and homeless orphaned children. But, not so said Philadelphia. Only days after pleading for help in the adoption process, the city of Philadelphia and its Mayor James Kenney (a radical, progressive Democrat) froze all referrals of such orphaned children and refused to extend any especially to CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES. This good organization was stunned, as were tens of thousands of Catholics, and Protestants, and people of goodwill regardless of religious belief. STUNNED! Why, Philadelphia, why. The answer was easy. CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES is, said Philadelphia, a bible – bigoted organization. CSS dares to believe that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. Such a belief flies in the face of the new sexual revolution and morality, and of course raises the anger and hostility of LGBTQ.  And more. Catholic Social Services dares to believe that children are best served in homes with a:          MARRIED FATHER AND MOTHER, ONE MAN, ONE WOMAN. United in holy biblical matrimony. More of a response from LGBTQ and the radical – progressive haters of Christianity and in this case especially Catholic Christianity and like Bethany Christian Services, Philadelphia caved, capitulated and banned the referral of orphaned children to Catholic institutions and especially CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES. Absolutely unbelievable especially when there are so many Catholic believers and worshippers in the city of Philadelphia itself. Some even thought the Mayor himself was Catholic, even if in name only, much like Joe Biden, partaking of the blessings and the sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church on the one hand, and then living the life of a politician where almost every move, decision and executive order defies, contradicts and compromises not only Catholic but all real Christian doctrine and belief. Would that men like these would be excommunicated and that real Christian and real Christian organizations would: COME YE APART AND BE SEPARATE FROM THEM FOR THEY ARE WOLVES IN SHEEPS CLOTHING.  Bethany Christian Services went the way of all compromisers. But not CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES. This good organization stood up. It refused to capitulate or compromise. But it did not stop there. This ministry challenged the city’s action, and challenged Philadelphia big time. Litigation was immediately instituted and there arose the legal case of FULTON V. CITY OF PHILADELPHIA.  The actions of this once great city were discriminatory, prejudiced and anti–Constitutional, flying in the face of the First Amendment to the Constitution and more. The case was so fundamental that it made its way all the way to the United States Supreme Court (Scotus). May I urge all Christians and conservatives to watch for the result, the Supreme Court decision in the FULTON case. For the outcome of this case would affect not only CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES, but more as well. The ruling in Fulton will affect the case of Barronelle Stutzman, the florist who would not participate in homosexual weddings, and others like that courageous Colorado baker who refuses to decorate cakes for homosexual weddings and others as well who stand for their individual, First Amendment and religious rights no matter the persecution or attack.  And angry attack it is everywhere. In Finland, four thousand miles away, the former Interior Minister and leader of the Christian Democrats Paivi Rasanen dared to post a picture of the bible on the internet, opened to Romans 1: 24-27, a scriptural passage hated by LGBTQ as a warning to the EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH in Finland for both supporting and joining a gay pride event, reminding this once great Evangelical church (no more) through the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans that to do so was anti–biblical. This good lady was subjected to three police interrogations which resulted in her being charged with the criminal charge of:          HATE SPEECH.  Finland’s prosecutor called her actions, free speech only, derogatory and discriminatory. They issued criminal charges against her and she now faces a court hearing and if convicted, a prison sentence. The situation aroused incredible reaction from all of Finland’s citizens and it will be interesting to see how free speech is in Finland as a result of this trial. But congratulations to Ms. Rasanen for her stand not only for biblical truth on the one hand, but for free speech on the other.  It is everywhere, is it not my fellow Americans, this new sexual morality and LGBTQ persecution, and attack, and anger and hatred? Have you experienced it anywhere in your life with family, friends, social organizations, church, politically, or perhaps on your local school board. Have you experienced this kind of unbelievable, hateful attack by these new sexual revolutionaries on you and traditional Christian beliefs, have you? But I do hope and pray that you recognize what is happening to all of America, and in fact much of the world. There is open hostility, and a civil warfare like WE THE PEOPLE and much of the world at large have never seen before. May you have the courage, the conviction to stand for your beliefs, to stand for Christian values, and morals, and biblical principles no matter the cost. For the fight of faith is on, and it is time to find out who is a real Christian and ready as scripture demands to lay:          ALL ON THE ALTER. Are you? Pray for Bethany Christian Services and perhaps they will see the light, the Christian light and reverse their horrendous open adoption decision. And pray for Catholic social services, that they may prevail in the Fultoncase for they, like the Little Sisters of the Poor in Pittsburgh, are one strong example of an uncompromising Christian organization. What a world. Thank you, THANK YOU for standing up. Please do it now more than ever. 

Mother

In our world, love rules.  It is the highest attribute, with fundamental characteristic of all humankind.  Perhaps the finest expression of love is: MOTHER LOVE The definition of mother, a real mother is simply put: LOVE A mother’s love is the ultimate human love.It is said that THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE RULES THE WORLD.  Perhaps so because so much of a child is formed in the early years by mother.  One is in life so much of what a mother was.A real mother is part of the life of a child forever.  What we learn at mother’s knee is so often what we are.  Her values become ours.  We are HER.  The egg of a woman is the source of all life, the fundamental stuff of the universe and when fertilized by the sperm of the male: LIFE The most precious thing of all happens.  The egg and the sperm unite and become one but it is: GOD Who gives life.At that very moment of conception, the life of a HUMAN BEING begins. That life is not a mere collection of cells as one biologist so flippantly said, but in reality the first moments of the life of a human being, a child on the grow in the womb.That fertilized egg is a BABY.So much for abortion which is nothing more than murder of that baby at any stage in the womb. And so the mother begins mothering, and the baby grows.  The enriched womb of the mother nourishes and cherishes the baby, sensitive to every need.The morning sickness is a small price to pay for the life within.  Moods and diets may change as the womb grows large and beautiful.  It is really wondrous to behold the change of mother in the making with that womb at work.  It is marvelous indeed to touch the nine month home of that child.  The ear presses down, hoping to hear any sound from the baby.Touching, hearing, kissing, sensing life at work are really more important than any ultrasound.  God at work through Mother Nature creating life is wondrous, even miraculous. Some today are actually privileged to see the baby born.  Out of the womb comes a bundle of joy, of life and yet another miracle happens.The pain of childbirth is so well worth the end result.  Perhaps it is the most loving moment, the ultimate loving moment when brand new baby lays firm on mother’s breasts.  Having seen that, how I wonder could any potential mother abort, kill her very own child?  To do so is to abort a miracle. Early on, it is the still, small voice of the mother which is perhaps the greatest teacher in life.  We the infants hear that voice and remember what the voice of our mother sounds like and says for a lifetime.  We do so consciously and perhaps even more importantly subconsciously.  That loving voice in many ways is angelic, the early words of love.  They come with touch, and they are spiritual, psychological, character forming and building.The love of a mother is every bit as important as food itself.  So, in a sense, these early words are eternal for they train up the child in the way the mother wishes the child to go and to grow is not to depart from the right ways of the mother.  The words of a mother to her child are melodic, soothing, comforting.  They support, encourage and they make a child feel safe.A mother touches, hugs, strokes, talks and sings to her baby, episodes never to be forgotten.  When all else fails and all others as well, a truly loving mother never does.  She is forever, eternal. A loving mother is kind.  In a world rough and confrontational, the kindness of the mother is a most necessary characteristic. A loving mother is never jealous, never envious, always willing to put the child first, in love.A real loving mother is proud of her child no matter what the child becomes.Motherly love is always positive, not negative.It looks for the best, the good and the right.  But the mother renders discipline when things are wrong.  The love of a real mother is tough love.  That love has standards, clear, straight and simply and lovingly communicated.  Real love is without compromise.  A loving mother never bargains with a child.A mother explains and answers perhaps better than any teacher, helping a child to understand.  A mother stretches but never pushes knowing that her child must be challenged in order to grow.  There is always demand and discipline from the right mother, both easy to implement when the child knows he or she is: LOVED A loving, Godly mother makes certain her child understands her standards and values and those of God as well. A loving Godly mother teaches the child the things of her Lord.  Train up that child in the ways of faith, of Christian faith, the faith of the mother.  There is no better witness for the child than a loving Christian mother, living life by those standards and the child along with her.  That is faith with works, the best kind. A real loving mother gives time, quality time to the child.  There is for mother and child that quality time to talk and much more importantly, and especially for mother, to: LISTEN In an age of cell phones, babysitters, fast foods, carpools and demanding social life, all of that and everything else should never, ever interfere with quality time spent by the mother with child.  Truly listening, and touching, and hugging, and encouraging, respecting the child produces some of life’s finest lessons.  Those bonding moments are, as one psychologist has well said: PEAK MOMENTS Never to be forgotten by either.  Patient, kind and understanding.  Truly interested in the life of a child, not superficially so.  Perhaps that is why so many mothers wished more than ever, so we are told, to stay home, build that home for husband and child and all children and to spend full time training up that child in the way in which he should go.That is what mothers are for and no other job can ever come close to that incredible responsibility and opportunity. No matter the love, child rearing is work, and hard work.  It demands the time of the mother at all times.  The real needs of a young child are great and they demand full time, mother always on the ready.  How beautiful it is for father and husband to watch the baby breastfeed.  How beautiful to see mother and child so intimately and sensitively connected.  There is special nourishment from the milk of the breast but there is also the psychological nourishment, the nourishment of love and bonding, one with each other, the young and often subconscious memories lasting for a lifetime.  A mother’s touch, feel and taste are vitally important to the growth of the child. Some mothers homeschool.  They want to train up that child in the right ways themselves.  Others work to send the child to special schools, private schools or schools of faith.  Loving mothers are more than willing to sacrifice to accomplish the right objectives for the child they love.  And all the while, a mother encourages the love of a father for child and the child for the father.  There is respect, as important as love, between mother and father, husband and wife.There is a sense of equality as both parents love their child in different ways.  Perhaps the love of a father for a child is different but as the child grows and matures, the love, the real love of a real father becomes as important to the child as that of the mother.  Without both loves, something fundamental is missing.  So that, when a child is ready for the world, and independence, and a life for itself, both loving parents have formed the young adult and are ready proudly so to watch a brand new life unfold.  They have earned, these loving parents have, the right to be proud parents.Small wonder that loving children love to give back.  There comes a time when the priorities are reversed and the child becomes the support, the loving support of the parents.  Loving children love to give back to loving parents.  That love which began in the womb is eternal.  It never fails.  It outlasts faith, and hope and all the wisdom and riches of the world.It endures forever even as the love of Christ does.  And so it is with the deepest admiration, respect and love that we, all of us at Crawford Broadcasting Company, salute all real loving mothers on Mother’s Day and all year long.  If you are a loving mother: YOU ARE SPECIAL There is one day set aside to honor loving mothers which in reality should be done every day of the year.  We are admonished, commanded to: HONOR OUR FATHER AND MOTHER It is a commandment that we honor real loving parents with our love and respect.  Give back the love you owe to your mother.Give it back with tears, with laughter and with joy.  With gratitude and thanksgiving for all that she has done for you.  Let her know how much you love and appreciate her, knowing as you do that you can never repay the loving debt you owe.  No child can ever give back all that he or she has gotten.Never. If she is here, make sure she gets what she deserves.  There are so many mothers, like mine, not here.  My mother is with her Lord as she has been for more than a quarter century.  How much I would love the opportunity to give her one more hug.  Do that for yours while you can. We salute you and thank you, mother.  There is really nothing like you in this world: NOTHING!

The Israelis - The Jews

When in doubt, blame it on the Jews.  Nobody did that better, nobody was more anti–Semitic than the insane Adolf Hitler, theman who singlehandedly destroyed – murdered more than six million Jews for thesimple reason they were Jews. Hitler hated the Jews and history cannot ascertain exactly why. So did Stalin. And Marx and Lenin. And of course, most of the Arab world and right next door to the Holy Land, the Palestinians. Following World War II, it was thought that anti–Semitism may not only be on the wane, but perhaps gone forever. The United Nations voted to restore what is now the land of Israel to the Jews as recompense for the horrific slaughter of their kinsmen and to do the right thing as history required. Jews, the 12 tribes, lived in Israel and regarded that special piece of land as theirs as far back as 3,500 years or more. Now, they are home, the Jews are, in the land rightfully theirs. Israel, and especially its holy capital Jerusalem belonged to the Jews. That land, historically and spiritually, isrightfully theirs.  The Lord God Jehovah called Abraham to be special, and from him, a special people would emerge who would be a BLESSING to all nations! They, Abraham seed, would be special, not better but different. They would give to and invest in all humankind, all nations. They would return, go back to and remain forever in THE PROMISED LAND, the land of their fathers. No matter anti–Semitism or its revival, they would never again allow a holocaust to happen. They, true Israelis and Jews would:                   NEVER FORGET what Hitler and any like him did. And they vowed that the slaughter of their people, Jews the world over would happen:                   NEVER AGAIN, never again. I have been to Israel nine times. Each time was better than the last. If you have never gone to THE HOLY LAND, you must go, especially if you are Christian or Jewish. YOU MUST. There is no place on Earth like it, none. You will understand history, the world then and now, the Jewish people and for all Christians, the land and the lanes where Jesus walked like no other way. Go, go if you can. Any reasonablerisk is worth it. The contributions and problem solutions which come from this tiny little land of at most some seven million people are absolutely fascinating. The state of Israel has become a technological wonderland. Israeli scientists are brilliant. They are innovators, problem solvers, and determined that its incredible discoveries, inventions and technological marvels benefit the entire world, every nation whether friend or foe. Listen to the miracles, the scientific and medical miracles which come from Israel. Tel Aviv University is developing a nasal vaccine that will protect people fromAlzheimer’s and stroke. Can you believe that? A simple nasal vaccine. There is no curefor Alzheimer’s, but the scientists of Tel Aviv have found a way to protect human beings from this ravishing disease. Incredible. And stroke! Nothing debilitates a humanbeing more than a stroke, and if there can be protection against this horrible happening, God bless the Israelis. Watch for that nasal vaccine. The Technion, Institute of Technology, in Haifa, Israel has developed a simple blood test capable of detecting different types of cancer. A SIMPLE BLOOD TEST! Howincredible it would be to detect this brutal, satanic disease in its early stages and deal with it then and not after the fact with chemotherapy, radiation and surgery as the only alternatives. Early detection of any cancer provides an incredible opportunity for restoration and cure. The Ichlov Center in Tel Aviv isolated a protein that makes colonoscopy unnecessary to detect colon cancer! That can be done, thanks to the Jews, with a simple blood test. A SIMPLE BLOOD TEST! Colon cancer kills about 500,000 people annually and is very readily cured when detected early. This simple blood test will do just that. Thank you Jewish Ichlov Center scientists, thank you. The Given Imaging Laboratory has developed a tiny camera in the form of swallowed pills which transmit thousands of photos of the digestive track. These high quality photos, two per second for eight hours – unbelievable, can detect polyps, cancers and sources of bleeding. These photos are then sent to a chip that stores them and sendsthem to a computer. When this photographic process is completed, the camera is eliminated via the rectum. That simple, that fast, that accurate, that unbelievable! The Hebrew University in Jerusalem developed an electrical neurostimulator that is implanted in the chest of PARKINSON’S PATIENTS. This neurostimulator is similar inmany ways to the pacemaker for the heart. The emissions from this device block the nerve signals that cause tremors. Just incredible, INCREDIBLE! Thank you, Jews,thank you, Israelis, thank you very much. The simple smell of a patient’s breath can detect if a patient has lung cancer. A mere smell of a patient’s breath and lung cancer can be detected. Can you believe that? The Russell Berrie Institute for Nanotechnology has created sensors capable of sensing and registering 42 biological markers that indicate the presence of lung cancer WITHOUTTHE NEED FOR A BIOPOSY. What an unbelievable medical blessing for humanity. And more Israeli medical miracles. ENDOPAT is a device placed between the indicator fingers which can measure the state of the arteries and predict the possibility of a heart attack in the next seven years. SEVEN YEARS! Absolutely incredible. The University of Bar Ilan is developing a new drug that fights viruses through the bloodstream called VECOY TRAP. It tricks a virus into self–destruction. This drug can be used when perfected to combat hepatitis, and even Aids and Ebola. Remarkable. Israeli scientists (God bless them) at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem may have discovered THE CURE for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. No one the world over, for years and years, has been able to find cure for that horrendous disease, but LEAVE IT TO THE JEWS.  Remarkable, isn’t it? Aren’t they, remarkable as well, these brilliant technologists and scientists, these state–of–the–art medical minds that find these cures, these incredible miracles which can be for the good and the advancement of all humankind? Why, they can also be used by those who hate the Jews, who hate the Israeli scientists who have invented these miraculous medical advances. And that is the way of the Jews. They share, they care and as they work the scientific wonders, they fulfill the promise of the Lord, the great God Jehovah, the great I AM, that the seat of Abraham will be:                   A BLESSING TO ALL NATIONS. Thank you, Jews, thank you so very much for all that you have done for us, the people of the world. Thank you, Israelis, all of you, for all that you have done to relieve the sufferings of this world, for all humanity, for all peoples without discrimination, without regard to race, color, gender or nation. Thank you, and thank you again. Small wonder that Arab nations reach out and form new détente with the little nation of Israel. They are democratic, the Jews are, freedoms abounding. No matter their problems and of course they have them, we should thank them for all that they do for us and for the world. And, so I as a Christian say thank you Lord God for the Israelis, the Jews, my spiritual forefathers and, in addition to all these marvelous medical miracles, I thank you for the greatest Jewish miracle of all, THE CARPENTER FROM NAZARETH!

These People - We the People

“It’s going to take a very long time to deradicalize these people.”Those are the words, a very quote from Alexandria Ocasio–Cortez, the infamous AOC, and THESE PEOPLE are:         WE THE PEOPLE!Also known as the DEPLORABLES, thanks to the also infamous Hillary Clinton.The radicals that need to be deradicalized are those who dared to vote for Trump, and other Republicans, and other conservatives whether federal, state or local. They, more than 75,000,000 of these people, are wrong, radical, hateful, of course hateful, so many of whom are PEOPLE OF FAITH including Christian, Jew and Muslim among others and they – we need to be reprogrammed, deradicalized, subservient to them, our new radical – progressive – democratic rulers and just flat out get out of the way or get out, of America. THESE PEOPLE are also affectionately referred to by these new radical – socialists, many of whom are Marxist as Nazis. Anyone who disagrees with them is like Hitler and his ilk, so they think and say. THESE PEOPLE, so many of them you and me, are also white supremacists. We are all lumped together, more than one hundred million conservative Americans, the clear majority whether they vote or not, as HATING people of color, any person not white. We the people, the loyal Americans, the constitutional and law–abiding Americans are also labeled as domestic terrorists, witness they say the mob attack on the Capitol buildings in early January 2021. By implication, all of us were behind that or at least approved of such violent action. And of course, if you in any way supported or voted for President Donald John Trump in November 2020, you and I were the worst of the worst. Trump for them was the chief radical, domestic terrorist, Nazi, white supremacist, the baddest of the bad. These radical, progressive Democrats hated Trump, hated him with a passion and by extension, all who supported, believed in or voted for him. If, my fellow Americans, you are conservative so called, or an American traditionalist which means a strong belief in the Constitution and the rule of law, and you respect American history, education, and the judicial system and our democratic way of life, and most importantly, our INALIENABLE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS, you (and I) are the enemy. We are to be deradicalized or we are to be eliminated from the political arena. They, these radical, progressive, anti–American socialists and even Marxists are determined to:         RULE US.The Crawford Stand began in 1992. Many said then and do now – today that such political commentary had no place on Christian radio stations. Obviously, we the Crawford Broadcasting Company disagreed. There was perhaps a time in America when there may have been a healthy separation between politics and religion. But not today. Morality, especially in a Christian sense, is challenged more than ever. First Amendment freedoms, especially freedom of religion, is under attack daily. Abortion, the killing of babies, has never been more widespread. The radical gay agenda attacks everywhere it possibly can. Euthanasia spreads. Respect for law and order and with it the Judeo – Christian ten commandments disappears or is ignored. Churches are closed. Governors wreak havoc. The Congress of the United States becomes more impotent by the day. Education is deprogramed and radicalized. The media is fully biased and totally corrupt. Hollywood and sports have morphed into public relations machines for radical and anti–conservatives. So that, there is now no separation between the political and the spiritual, NONE WHATSOEVER. We therefore have no choice, NO CHOICE but to:         FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH.Not with weapons and violence. But with dialogue, stand up, resisting evil and the devil wherever we can, and doing everything peacefully possible to preserve, protect and defend our freedoms and inalienable rights, and especially our right to worship and testify. And that we will do, and that THIS STAND will always do. WOKE is the four–letter word of the day. It really doesn’t mean a new enlightenment, but rather the intellectual, political, cultural and social extinguishing of the old and dear. It is a radical reconstruction of America by any means necessary. It aims for nothing less than complete control of our great country and the end of any political power for the deplorables, the conservatives, the Trump–ites. It is a constitutional disease which spreads like Covid and the freedoms we enjoy are only one generation away from being extinguished, and this generation is upon us. No matter the criticism, and there is more of it than ever, this company, the Crawford Broadcasting Company will stand firm for what our beloved America should be and we will never back down for anyone, no matter the penalty or cost. If you, if we the people, if we the true Americans don’t stand up now, our freedoms will be lost, and lost forever. This company, the Crawford Broadcasting Company will fight that fight now and forevermore. Then comes the mouth of Katie Couric. Listen to her very words:“The question is how are we going to deprogram these people who have signed up for the cult of Trump?”THESE PEOPLE, you and me, conservatives, voting for Trump because of what he did and believed and not because of who he was, must be deprogramed. That sounds like Hitler, who was determined to deprogram Germany, or Stalin, who was determined to deprogram Russia. Does Couric mean that, and when, if these radicals gain complete control, will we who resist be deprogramed that way? That is one scary thought but there it is on the table, out in the open, an unbelievable threat to our freedoms. Think about it the next time you see or hear Couric, a radical, progressive Democrat. Then there is Eugene Robinson, he of the Washington Post. He said the following:“There are millions of Americans, almost all white (really?), almost all Republicans, who somehow need to be deprogramed!”There it is again. We the people, THESE PEOPLE need to be deprogramed so that we can be made to think, believe, act and live like them. Never, NEVER in my lifetime and for me, and I pray the same for you.And something even more radical. Here the words of Michael Beller, former attorney for PBS, the Public Broadcasting System:“We go for all the Republican voters, and Homeland Security will take their children away. And will put them in reeducation camps!”Some would say of course that this is simply an isolated radical comment and doesn’t represent the main, progressive, democratic stream. But it does, IT DOES! They are the enemy of America and its constitution, they are on the attack, THESE PEOPLE are and you and I, if you are conservative, are the targets. If you believe otherwise, you are naïve and deceived. And that is why we boldly STAND UP, and our stand hits hard for we are in the middle of a cultural war to the finish. We have no choice but to fight the fight of faith, to fight back unless we take the way of compromise and as Ronald Reagan well said:“There is only one guaranteed way you can have peace, and you can have it in the next second: SURRENDER!”I and mine will never surrender. Our all is on the alter and we will fight the fight of faith for America, for our constitutional rights and freedoms, for biblical values and morality now and always no matter the cost. And again, I pray that you will do the same. You must do the same. If you want to live in a true democracy, with constitutional protections, with the rights and freedoms which so many of us take for granted, the lifestyle we have come to love and enjoy, and tragically take for granted, you have no choice but to:         STAND UPand fight the fight of faith for God and Country. Do it, DO IT NOW OR IT WILL BE TOO LATE. And please, do remember my fellow Americans, and especially my fellow Christians and people of faith that:         FREEDOMS ONCE LOST ARE LOST FOREVER! 

The Constitution - Federalism

The Founding Fathers of the United States of America, the authors of our beloved and beautiful Constitution of the United States feared the federal government. Greatly feared the potential for power abuse by any newly formed federal government.They were determined, these Founding Fathers were, to preserve the authority, autonomy and integrity of the 13 states responsible for determining how a federal, a central source of governmental power would work. Every delegate to the Philadelphia convention came armed and prepared to defend the sovereignty of that state. They would not give up power lightly nor would they allow any central body, any brand new government to usurp the powers, the freedoms, the rights of any of the 13 sovereign states. This new central governmental body would be restricted in powers. It would only have certain rights which were clearly spelled out. It was not legally allowed, this new government, to go beyond those limits and where the Constitution ended those rights and powers, those of the states would remain unadulterated, inalienable, superseding the powers of the federal government. The formulation of such a document, enumerating, explaining, limiting was even more important than the rights and powers granted. The United States of America was then 13 states only, with more to come. But the 13 states were the supreme check and balance. And that was the heart and soul of Federalism. So the Founders constructed the IX and X amendments to the Constitution to make it very clear to the Clintons, Bush’s, Obamas, Trumps and Bidens of the world, politicians bent on power and the exercise thereof how this balance of rights and powers of states and the federal government would work. The Founders told politicians and the people then in Amendment IX that the rights granted to this new federal government cannot be construed (interpreted), enlarged, added on so as to encroach upon all the other rights which were not specifically granted to the federal government but fully retained by the people, WE THE PEOPLE. In short, federal government, Washington D.C., if we don’t grant you the specific rights, all other inalienable rights belong to us. Don’t go there. And, the Founding Fathers and amendment X dealt with powers not specifically delegated. So, federal government said the Founding Fathers, if we don’t specifically, clearly and in detail delegate certain powers to you, you can’t go there. THOSE POWERS ARE RESERVED FOR THE STATES AND THE PEOPLE!No matter the Constitution, the federal government has become a rights and powers monster. It has little regard for Federalism. Where there were once 13 states, now there are 50. But the federal government tramples on the inalienable rights and powers of those 50 states however it wishes. It encroaches, ignores and daily grabs more and more power, and daily restricts or even eliminates certain rights of the people NO MATTER THE CONSTITUTION! WE THE PEOPLE see that happening every day and for the most part, we do little about it. We watch this power hungry governmental monster and we do little about the fact that our rights, once thought to be inalienable, crumble by the day. States become more impotent, irrelevant, ignored in the power struggle and America changes, radically changes so that 545 people out of 330 million, a House of Representatives, a United States Senate, nine Supreme Court Justices and the President rule, don’t represent, but radically rule WE THE 330 MILLION CITIZENS OF THE ONCE GREAT UNITED STATES. This federal government cements its power day by day. So many of the House of Representatives 435 members are never heard from. They seem powerless. U.S. Senators are beholden to party leaders and are rendered powerless unless they comply. A President comes to office with promises of performance with no intention at all. Supreme Court Justices are appointed essentially with regard to how they would interpret the Constitution and apply the law. Some are faithful but others once appointed change (i.e. Chief Justice John Roberts). Once appointed, in office, it is virtually impossible to remove them. We the people are STUCK with them, the House for two years, the President for four years, the Senate for six, and the nine Justices of the Supreme Court FOR LIFE. So much for democracy, dying by the day. The answer: the return and the revival of power and control to the states and the people. President Ronald Reagan gave us the answer:         GET GOVERNMENT OFF PEOPLE’S BACKS!The answer is to make certain that ultimate powers do not reside in any one form of government but are divided and shared. Here the words of President Thomas Jefferson who said:“It is by dividing and subdividing these republics from the great National one down thru’ all its subordinates, until it ends in the administration of every man’s farm and affairs by himself; by placing under everyone what his own eye may superintend, that all will be done for the best.”Divide, and subdivide and keep on dividing that power until it finally reaches down to the very land itself, to the people, then the farmers, today the blue collar workers, all the people for then power and rights “will be done for the best,” ultimately residing, these inalienable rights with WE THE PEOPLE. But nothing close to that happens today. In fact, WE THE PEOPLE are ignored, disrespected, viewed as DEPLORABLES good only for votes and money. The federal government essentially does exactly what it wants to do and the burden to protest is on the states and the people. So do many of the states, and the Governors who in the AGE OF CORONA now wield executive authority, even arbitrarily so, like never before. Where the power of the federal government leaves off, now in so many ways rogue Governors and defiant states take over. These states and Governors generally do not combat and resist the federal government, but mimic the power grab of Washington D.C. resulting in the further corruption of rights and powers rather than delegation back to the people. More of democracy down the drain. The Founding Fathers wanted every state to have a certain inalienable independence, and become a laboratory for the experiment in democracy. They saw differing laws in different states as a democratic good. But today, sadly, all 50 states are subservient to the federal government and democracy declines. The power of the federal government grows daily. It becomes an all encompassing power monster growing as an administrative state where laws, rules and regulations are made not necessarily by Congress, but by agencies, administrators and bureaucrats unelected but uncontrolled. These unelected federal bureaucrats are the core of a 400–agency administrative state. The Congress has delegated or abandoned its authority to these 400 agencies which do as they please without congressional oversight. The House and Senate have watched while so much power has been usurped by the President, by the Executive branch and it has failed as our elective representatives to protect and preserve our beloved democracy. No matter the constitutional principle of NONDELEGATION, that process goes on, and on daily, Congress becoming even farther removed daily. As a result, the consequence of ignoring the nondelegation doctrine is what is known as:         THE FEDERAL REGISTER.A compilation of Executive branch rules and regulations which now consists of an astonishing:         70,000 PAGESLiterally unbelievable for virtually every page contains a rule or regulation which eviscerates the powers and rights of the states and of course WE THE PEOPLE.Congressional legislation with presidential approval becomes more difficult to accomplish by the day. Therefore, we can expect a continued growth of rules and regulations, and the so called ADMINISTRATIVE STATE will be the real ones controlling our lives. Small wonder that President Trump and so many others call this administrative state:         THE SWAMP.Red tape grows. Rules and regulations abound. President Trump did America one great service when he did away with so many of these administrative strangulations by Executive order. But you can be certain that Biden and his democratic associates will reverse the trend and even increase the process. The answer: a return to real federalism where the autonomy, authority and integrity of the states revive, state borders are protected, states become laboratories for experiments in democracy, conscious of the rights of their people, even dividing state power so that by county, township and as far down local as possible, power is shared and exercised. Then and there, the real voice of the real people will be heard. Actions will matter. People will be far more inclined to participate in democracy, in the protection of their inalienable rights, and exercising the powers which our beloved Constitution, especially in amendments IX and X have reserved inalienably for them. If that process does not revive, if true democracy does not return, the America we know and love will be done and over. So, its up to you and me, my fellow Americans. We need to step up now, more than ever so that we can protect our beloved democracy, and the powers and rights which are inalienable and cannot be taken away from us. Thomas Jefferson warned that the day may come when the tree of liberty must be refreshed by the blood of patriots. May we hope that day doesn’t come but we should be ready for it, the way things are. AMERICA NEEDS YOU AND ME NOW MORE THAN EVER! ANSWER THE CALL!

Easter Again

HE IS RISEN!Haven’t forgotten that, have you? Just because we celebrated Easter and the Easter message of resurrection even though virtual Sunday, April 4, I just can’t let you and me ever forget that. It’s not just April 4, it’s every day of 12 MONTHS. HE is the only man who ever triumphed over death and the grave, none before Him and none since. THE ONLY ONE! That resurrection, that bodily resurrection, that ascension, that VERIFIED – WITNESSED resurrection and ascension is crucial, pivotal, revolutionary, life changing, essential and indispensable to the belief of every Christian. Morning, noon and night, every day of all 365, the living, resurrected Christ LIVES within the hearts of every Christian believer. And every believer, the Christ has promised, will live with Him now, in this life, and in the life WITH HIM to come. Incredible, is it not? Wonderful, glorious, jubilant, to every believer. But to the natural man:         FOOLISHNESS, Absolute and altogether foolishness. It is absolutely ridiculous, says a natural man, an atheist or agnostic, that a mere human being, a carpenter from Nazareth no less, who came from dust and shall return to dust as the scriptures say should rise from the dead. It is just simply not possible. And of course, the myth of the resurrection and the myth of the virgin birth and even for many the myth of the crucifixion all are nothing more than fairytales or as the scriptures say IDLE tales. One can readily see how a natural man, one not drawn by THE HOLY SPIRIT, with eyes closed and ears blocked would scoff, mock and ridicule the EASTER story. If you want, as physicist and astronomer Steven Hawkins would say to believe in a myth of fairytale, that is your right. But the world of science, says Hawkins, astronomy and the so called reason and rationality of the mind dismiss a resurrection possibility out of hand. It didn’t happen, says Hawkins. IT CAN’T HAPPEN!And, to that, the Apostle Paul says if in fact the resurrection did not happen, then:         YOUR FAITH IS IN VAIN.Worthless. No better than any other belief system, if even that. If Christ be not risen, any professing believer is not only deceived but becomes him or herself a DECEIVER. Such a believer testifies to a lie, perhaps the biggest lie in all of human history and consequently, becomes a conspirator in the spread of evil and duplicity. So that, not only is the believer’s faith in vain, but the guilt of the false belief of others lies upon him or her as well. When you or I profess to be Christian, we must therefore champion the resurrection with all of our heart, soul and mind. There can be no doubt. NONE! Perhaps that is why the nonbeliever dislikes, even hates Christianity and as a consequence the Christians who follow it. Nonbelievers hate the concept of sin. They see no need for forgiveness. They deeply resent the demands of Christianity and the Christ who boldly proclaims:         NO MAN OR WOMAN COMES TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME!Nonbelievers hate that demand, that exclusivity. For it rules out everything else, every other form of belief, in fact every other religion. The crucifixion at Golgotha was merely the death of one man, perhaps even justified. The man who died was a revolutionary, a seditionist, constantly conspiring to get THE PEOPLE to resist and rebel against Rome, the political system, Herod and Pilot on the one hand and the religious authorities, the Pharisees and Sadducees on the other. And he even admitted he came to stir up trouble, to turn one family member against another. He called Herod the Tetrarch of Rome a FOX, cunning, deceiving and lying. The religious establishment despised him because he referred to them over and again as nothing more than hypocrites, or whited sepulchers, empty inside. If any mere man deserved to die, and die in an excruciating way, it was this mirror man Jesus of Nazareth. It was with HIM then as it is now love or hate. You embraced him, believed in him, gave him your all. Or you despised, even hated him nothing more than a rebel or rabble rouser, deluded, even perhaps insane a man in no way to be taken seriously. WITH OR AGAINST. And, written off by Him who again boldly even arrogantly stated:         HE THAT IS NOT WITH ME IS AGAINST ME.The world, the secularists, the natural men and women accommodate Christianity one weekend, three days each year. From Good Friday through resurrection Sunday, those who believe in fairytales are allowed their celebration. But then comes Monday and it is back to business as usual, criticizing Christianity, attempting at every hand to get Christians, Christian beliefs and Christianity out of the public square, out of the marketplace, confined if at all possible to the four walls of a church. They are determined, these rabid, progressive secularists to curtail or eliminate Christian witness, any form of evangelism for they the enemy have determined that all Christian speech is:HATE SPEECH. They are determined to destroy, eliminate any form of testimony, any message which states:         CHRIST IS RISEN Even as they scoff at the message:         UP FROM THE GRAVE HE AROSE         WITH THE MIGHTY CHILD O’ER HIS FOESWherever he was buried, there he remains they say. From the time he was laid in a tomb, everything else, EVERYTHING is nothing more than myth, fairytale, idle tale WHY!But, natural man, like it or not, he did in fact rise again. HE WAS SEEN first by the women Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James and Salome, and Joanna, and other women. They first saw the empty tomb as they brought spices, the announcement of the resurrection by the angel and these women were the very first EVANGELISTS. They were the first to go and tell. They told Peter, and the disciples, 11 of them and others that at the tomb.         HE IS NOT THERE!         HE IS RISEN!He was there, back for some 40 days before an ascension. He fellowshipped with his disciples and with others. He was there in the flesh for he was hungry and thirsty. He ate and drank and he showed them his nail pierced body and the wounded side where he was pierced. He returned as a man alive and ascended in glory as the eternal Christ. For Christian believers, it is true, all of it. It is fact. It is the foundation of belief. He was alive in the flesh before and after the crucifixion and now lives eternally and forever with his saints to reign. So, the Christian joyfully proclaims Easter Sunday and every other day:         HALLELUJAH          CHRIST AROSEWe the believers celebrated the Easter weekend, mourning at the remembrance of the crucifixion on Good Friday April 2 but joyfully and jubilantly celebrated HIS Resurrection on Easter Sunday, April 4. That resurrection message was heard that day the world over. The world made time, even priority at least to recognize that incredible message. But now, only mere days later, it is business as usual. Perhaps even we who believe become gradually less open, less aggressive in our testimony, perhaps even unwilling to STAND for what we believe, in Him. Perhaps, gradually, we become more defensive, even withdrawn, unwilling to testify and confront. Perhaps the message of those three potent days becomes a matter of memory, fading, the power of it all dissipating, the courage to fight the fight of faith waning. So, just a few days after the Easter celebration, it is well for us to celebrate again, and again and again, and every day the fact, the most supreme fact in all of human history that:         HE IS RISEN.That, as the old hymn says, Christ the Lord is risen today, and every day. Hallelujah! Let us with all our hearts proclaim that message and live that message. It is the greatest fact in human history!So, from the virgin birth, to a powerful human life symbolist, to the crucifixion offering forgiveness for all mankind through the shed blood, to the resurrection, believe it, proclaim it, and live it every day of the year.And one more thing. There is yet to come the rapture. This, the crucified and resurrected Christ will return again for his church, for us. Perhaps that day is near and we should be ready. The rapture is yet another fairytale, so says the natural man. But for Christians, it is the ultimate event, the culmination of everything. If you are Christian, if you believe, then the Holy Spirit bears witness, fortifies your belief, encourages you and strengthens you and makes certain that you live joyfully in the faith, hope and love of the Christian journey. Easter was celebrated days ago. But Easter is not a day, it is a way of life. Celebrate morning, noon and night:         HE IS RISEN          HALLELUJAH         CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY AND EVERY DAY!

The Resurrection

Do you believe that the Resurrection happened? That a man, Jesus of Nazareth, actually rose from the dead, do you? We celebrate this unnatural, God – motivated event, the greatest in human history next week. But again, do you actually believe that this Resurrection, physically, bodily actually happened.The Apostle Paul says that if you do not believe, then your faith is in vain. That is, if this Resurrection never really happened, Christianity is predicated on a false premise, no better than any other so called religion and in fact maybe worse. Unless Jesus Christ rose from the dead, He was no more than a good moral teacher, and perhaps more magician than miracle worker and by no means the Savior of the World. Again, the words of the Apostle Paul:IF CHRIST BE NOT RISENYOUR FAITH IS IN VAINBut he did. So we believe, and in fact base our lives, our future fortunes on this miraculous event. But Christian faith is based on:            THE EMPTY TOMB.Witnesses saw him. They touched him. They heard him speak. They dined with him, another supper after THE LAST SUPPER. They listened to him, heard his voice and believed. They saw an ascension. They felt the power of God the Father in his person. And if ever there was doubt, it was gone. And all who believed could say with the Apostle Paul:            FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST!The power of this Resurrection consumed them, became them and out they went to testify, to witness, boldly proclaim, never the same again and wishing the same for others. The power of the resurrected Christ, the coming of the Holy Spirit produced a movement among mankind never before and never like it again. They went, these empowered believers:            INTO ALL THE WORLD TO PREACH THIS GOSPELto the Jew first and then to the Gentile. But to all men and women everywhere. But think of this man, this carpenter from Nazareth whose ministry was a short some three years before his Crucifixion. He was a worker of MIRACLES. He, the God – man, was possessed with power over nature. He commanded the seas, he raised the dead, he healed the sick, he restored sight but all of that, miraculous as it may be, was not enough.He was a great teacher, endowed with divine wisdom. His teachings, those parables would live ‘til the end of time. He brought a special divine wisdom. But that was not enough. He introduced a new social order. John the Baptist came fasting but HE came eating and drinking. He came that our joy, the happiness of the new believer should be full. That life in HIM should be merry, abundant for the earth was his and he gave it to us. But that was not enough. Some who came before him did these things. And so, for him to be special, one-of-a-kind, GOD WITH US, there came the trial by heathen men. Then came THE CRUCIFIXION, that horrible, brutal, excruciatingly painful death on the cross and the shedding of all that innocent blood. There had to come that event of NO GREATER LOVE. For we were taught in that Crucifixion that there is no greater love than that a man or a woman should lay down his or her life for someone else, for a friend. THAT WAS NECESSARY, the shedding of the blood of this innocent man for the REMISSION of all sin. The Crucifixion, this supreme redemptive act was absolutely necessary for without it, all that HE was or did was not enough. The blood of a sinless man must be shed in remission of the sins of sinful men.Even he, on that cross, felt forsaken even as we at times do. But this radical, lifechanging event was absolutely necessary in order to change the course of human history, to change the nature of all mankind. Think of all that the next time you partake of the wine and the bread. I often wonder about this man, this carpenter from Nazareth. Sinless was he, so we are told and believe, but a man nonetheless. I wonder about his humanity, what he looked like, how he acted, his personality, his ability to laugh and cry. We know he wept but we can only assume he laughed, because he loved the joy of life. We know his heavy heart and enlightened mind, his teachings serious and weighty. But surely he laughed, saw the humor in life and in mankind for his teaching parables can often be ironic or even sardonic. We can perhaps believe that even as he loved mankind, surely he laughed at their hypocrisy and pretenses. Was he, I wonder, subject to headaches, or on occasion a stomach upset. Surely he was tired. We were told he could be angry which means he ran the gamut of human emotions. I wonder how often he bathed or who may have trimmed his hair. I wonder how he prayed in all those private moments when he was alone with his FATHER. I would trade any of the four gospels for a recording of his thoughts and words in private, with his disciples, in prayer, comments on sunsets, or howling winds, or even the sporting events of the time. How wonderful it would be to know more about this MAN, this carpenter from Nazareth who was crucified for the sins of the world. But then he died. And the earth shook. The sun hid its face. One Joseph of Arimathea took his dead body and laid it in a tomb, over and done for every man before or since. But not this one. For then came the third day:            EASTER.The greatest day in the history of mankind. RESURRECTION DAY. UP FROM THE GRAVE HE AROSE. And so we celebrate Easter and we who believe in the Resurrection say boldly to all mankind:HE IS NOT HEREHE IS RISEN!The natural man receives not these things of the Spirit. They are folly, mythological, just flat out untrue. From dust you came, says this natural man and to dust you will return and there will be no more. Not so, says the carpenter from Nazareth, the resurrected Christ of Glory, NOT SO. Even as I rose up from the grave, SO WILL YOU! Those who believe in me will live with me eternally. You are wrong, natural man, dead wrong for you have failed to understand or believe in the greatest event in human history. But the natural man continues to say that CHRIST IS NOT RISEN, and the natural man laughs at Christians and with a look in the eye boldly says:            YOUR FAITH IS IN VAIN!Ah, but not so says the Christ of Glory. I am by the power of God alive and I have triumphed over death and the grave. And so will you if you believe in the crucified Christ and the resurrected Christ of Glory. It is as the philosopher and theologian Pascal said the supreme wager in all of life:            Do you believe in the resurrected Christ or not? You will make the wager of a natural man or a spiritual man. You will BELIEVE or you will not. Do you believe, do you believe in that Resurrection? If you do, and you should, then your faith is not in vain. 

Woke - Education

Are you a racist? Are you?Think about it. Does any form of racism exist in your life, anywhere? Have you experienced this disease, this hatred at work, in your personal or professional lives, have you? And, has racism of any kind been experienced by your children, or young children you know especially in school, in education, any kind, anywhere? Sadly, for America, for we the people, and for we the people of faith, the vast majority of whom are people of good will, fair minded and believe that all men and women are created equal, we are forced to deal with racism as never before. The concept, the disease now permeates our educational systems, tragically so. BLACK LIVES MATTER has now taken over our constitutional requirement that ALL LIVES MATTER. And the spokespersons for this new, radical Reverse Racism now begin to dominate so much of our culture, our government and most especially, our EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS. Many are aggressive, assertive, angry and make no effort for reconciliation, peace and harmony between the races. They are intent to capture the hearts and minds of the young, and consequently, in due course, change society that way. The young will be the ambassadors of the new culture, the new dogma, the new dictates of angry, Marxist blacks and WOKE WHITES who are determined to rid our society of its WHITENESS and all the evils inherent therein. If you are white, be ready for the attack, especially in the world of education.Marxists like Stalin and Lenin, and dictators like Hitler knew how critical it was to control education. Let me, said Hitler, train the minds of the young and they will be Nazis forever. Give me, said the Russian Marxists, a child at the age of four and that child will be communist – Marxist forever. And that is the goal of the revolutionaries, the radicals, the so called progressives (what a joke) for American education, for our young. The ultimate goal of so many of these radicals is to turn the young and in time, all of America to socialism and Marxism. It is naïve to think about what is happening in America in any other way. You and I, my fellow Americans, conservatives and Christians need to know, and stand up but more importantly:         DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS NEW REVERSE RACISM!The once great state of Illinois has taken the lead among all of the states in indoctrinating public school students in what is termed:         ULTRA–WOKENESS.This new and advanced, extreme form of WOKE is fully grounded in Neo–Marxist:         CRITICAL RACE THEORY, which is spreading nationwide and faster by the day, so says Stanley Kurtz, a strong patriot working and writing for WATCH ILLINOIS. The aim of these new radical educators is to DECONSTRUCT the existing educational systems, priorities, beliefs and values and to reconstruct all things educational on a brand new model, a Neo–Marxist model to be sure. Much of our history, our American history will be rewritten or eliminated. For example, the 1619 PROJECT which claims that America was built on the backs of slave labor now replaces much of real and factual American history and is spreading nationwide. But this and much more is happening in the once great state of Illinois where, writer Kurtz states that in Illinois:         “That is where woke has gone for broke, and America may soon pay the price.”These new educational theories, fostered in large measure by BLACK LIVES MATTER, itself founded in much of Marxism, is forcing third graders to “deconstruct their racial identities” and rank themselves by:         POWER AND PRIVILEGE.In short, this now new ULTRA–WOKENESS goes farther and deeper into systemic racism, fosters this new CRITICAL RACE THEORY and in addition to SYSTEMIC RACISM, focuses in school on the concept of:         MARGINALIZATIONwhere minorities, and especially Blacks, live on the edges of society and never are able to achieve integration or any part of the American Dream. They completely ignore the fact that some of the wealthiest and most influential people in our society are Black, especially in the world of athletics, entertainment and now ever growing at the core of American business itself. But they are determined, these educators radical, ultra–woke and even Marxist to:         GO FOR BROKEespecially in the world of education. Writer Stanley Kurtz of WATCH ILLINOIS states in a most learned article that the state of Illinois is about to mandate that all its licensed teachers adopt:         PROGRESSIVE POLITICAL ORTHODOXY and impart this new ideology to all of its students. And more and perhaps an even greater problem. The state of Illinois has laid the ground work for this assault on our beloved CONSTITUTION by enacting a civics law that forces teachers to discuss current political controversies in class and more, compels them to organize adventures in:ACTION CIVICS. That is, student protests, lobbying for gun control, demanding climate change, working for The Green New Deal and the end of fossil fuels and much more. These new educational requirements are, says Kurtz, transparent attempts to import leftist political activism and indoctrination into Illinois schools. When fully implemented, teachers in the Illinois public school system will be forced into the role of de facto leftist community organizers. If not, they will be subject to negative performance reviews, student, peer or parent complaints or even the possibility of the revocation of the license to teach!The state of Illinois, its Governor and educational leaders are determined to be THE LEADER in the new educational ULTRA–WOKEISM and to spread the Neo–Marxist cultural race theory, more so than any other state and they are well on the way. Kurtz says that these new Illinois educational standards, including the existing Illinois civic laws:“Formalize the conversion of K-12 schools into political indoctrination camps.”By the way, that includes advancing the extreme new rights for transgenders. If you have a daughter in school, or you know of a young girl loved by friend or family in school, you and she better be prepared for biological boys even men sharing bathrooms and locker rooms with her. What, I ask, my fellow Americans and fellow Christians is happening to our beloved country, WHAT? Know the truth and it alone will make you free. There is criticism by Christians that this kind of commentary does not belong on Christian radio stations. How wrong that is. This is precisely where it belongs. It is WE THE CHRISTIANS who must take the lead in standing up, condemning this immoral, even satanic ultra–wokeness, especially in education and as it affects the hearts and minds of our young. This new Marxist secularism is the avowed and hateful enemy of Christianity and all things religious. Any person of faith whether Christian, Jew, Muslim or other must stand up or watch religion be eviscerated by these radical, hateful WOKERS. I grieve for the state of New York and the Buffalo public schools and I grieve every bit as much for the once great state of Illinois and its great cities, especially the special Chicago as they change every day under the influence of this satanic, Marxist new education. Stop it, my fellow Americans, please stop it. Take over the school Boards, impeach the Governors. Support charter schools. Or private schools. Or most especially Christian schools but at the same time, fight to regain the independence, the objectivity and the constitutionality of our once great public schools. If we lose the public schools, we lose America forever!

Racist: Marxist The New Woke Education

Are you a racist? I ask a serious question, are you?If you are white, however you define the color of the skin white, you are according to BLACK LIVES MATTER and millions of others, black and white. Most people, most white people would answer that question with a resounding NO – I AM NOT A RACIST. The vast majority of people, and Americans right thinking, fair minded and honest cannot judge any person by the color of the skin. Rather, as Dr. Martin Luther King would say, by the content of the person’s character. But according to BLACK LIVES MATTER founders, three black ladies Marxist–trained, if you are white, you are racist whether you know it or not! That is, whether or not you practice racism. For, to be born white is to be born genetically SYSTEMIC RACIST, whatever that means. If you are born white, you are born with a systemic, perhaps genetic antipathy for black people. In my view, nothing is more racist than such accusations, NOTHING! It matters not, says BLACK LIVES MATTER members and spokespersons, whether or not you are conscious of your racism. If you are, and you are racist, of course you know that. But even if you think you are not racist, or perhaps never even really think about racism as such, you are still, they say, racist subconsciously. It is there, this hatred of another race whether you know it or not! SYSTEMIC RACISM. What a bunch of poppycock. Those who espouse this hatred, this BLACK LIVES MATTER stuff are themselves HATEFUL RACISTS! Tragically, this thinking, this spread of racial hatred permeates now so much of our educational system. There is what is known as the NEW PEDAGOGIES, new teaching priorities, a new way of educating the young about their inherent, systemic racism especially if they are white. There is the spread across American education from kindergarten through 12th grade, and especially in colleges and universities of what Fatima Morell, she the Director of the Office of CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY RESPONSIBLE INITIATIVES calls the requirement of culturally responsive teaching. No matter reading, writing and arithmetic, racism is priority one and all teachers must culturally respond accordingly. This Morell terms as well the:         PEDAGOGY OF LIBERATION.She claims, for the Buffalo public school systems and hopefully all others, that such instructional strategies are EQUITY BASED and justify a complete revision, THE COMPELTE EMANCIPATION of Buffalo public school curricula. In short, fourth grader, you are racist whether you know it or not and you ought to get about the business of cleansing that racism from your system. Morell like so many others summarizes all of this new racism in one word:         WOKE!Fatima Morell is the architect of the new racism, the attack on whites and perhaps all non–Blacks in Western New York. It is there and at least in some ways, everywhere.Right thinking people, many of whom are Christian including white, Hispanic (so called brown), yellow – Asian or any other non–Black color should be shocked at the accusations of Morell and all like her that all such are RACISTS and in need of recognition of such followed by full atonement for those cultural sins. But the vast majority, VAST MAJORITY of these accused are not the least bit racist. They regard all men, all people no matter the color as equal, especially under our Constitution. They are not prejudiced, hateful, biased against blacks or any other person of different skin color. They believe, unlike much of BLACK LIVES MATTER that all human beings matter and that all human beings are created equal. Christians believe that all men and women are Gods creations, they matter to HIM and all who believe will one day be together, really together and with him no matter the color of the skin. That is fact, truth but that matters not to Morell, or BLACK LIVES MATTER or all other WOKE individuals who have become culturally responsive and champions of:         THE NEW RACISM. The new hatred of the woke Blacks against whites and all like them. In the Buffalo public schools, Fatima Morell and her associates have created a new curriculum promoting BLACK LIVES MATTER, no matter that the organization and the founders have strong Marxist ties. Teachers are required to engage in ANTI RACIST training programs which promotes radical politics and as one anonymous Buffalo public school teacher said:“A series of scoldings, guilt trips and demands to demean oneself simply to make another feel empowered.”This teacher went on to state that these “manipulative mind games” must be adopted by all, expressing support for Morell’s left–wing politics or “risk professional retaliation.” Reverse and hateful racism, black against white, don’t you think? The fundamental assumption is that all Americans are guilty of “implicit racial bias.” What an absolute bunch of nonsense.I AM NOT A RACIST. Not in any way. I state that emphatically and clearly. That is so in my personal and professional life. You may find it interesting that the majority of the employees of the Crawford Broadcasting Company are so called MINORITIES. THE MINORITY IS THE MAJORITY! I suppose I should be proud of that, but in reality, I am only proud of them, those people, the so called discriminated against minority of workers. They have earned their positions; their salaries and they have taken advantage of the opportunities this company affords. They learn, they grow, they produce, all of them, no matter the color of the skin. And they make my company what it is, great in my opinion without favor or prejudice. Even as there is opportunity, there is accountability. We emphasize as scripture does WORK and not WOKE. At the slightest sign of racism of any kind, ANY KIND conscious or subconscious, that individual is terminated immediately. This company has zero tolerance for racism not just as a matter of policy but in actual practice. Discriminate in any way against any person of any skin color, red, yellow, black or white, and you are gone, TERMINATED! We do not think about racism in our company for THERE IS NONE. We proudly serve God and Country, all of us and we will not be diverted by the Morell’s of the world, the BLACK LIVES MATTER movement and all like them, we will not succumb to WOKE thinking or tenets. We do not understand SYSTEMIC RACISM, whatever that means for there is none in my company and to my knowledge none in the lives of the wonderful people with whom I work. We are concerned that it is Director Morell and all like her who fan the flames of racism, and promote the NEW RACISM, fostering hate and at least verbal aggression against all non–Blacks and we resist and deeply resent this movement, its ideals and any impact it may have on this company or the wonderful people who live and work here. But back to the Buffalo public schools and Director Fatima Morell. Morell has designed a curriculum requiring schools to teach the BLACK LIVES MATTER PRINCIPLES which include among other radical and revolutionary demands the “dismantling of cisgender privilege” and creating “queer–affirming networks where heteronormative thinking no longer exists!” Some of this new stuff actually occurs in kindergarten and for the minds of four-year-olds. The new thinking, the new teaching is not about a man and a woman, nothing biological about people, but only the NEWNORMAL where you are what you want to be, a so called New Gender Identity and the new Sexual Orientation. And more, and this should frighten every American parent and citizen. This new curriculum is designed to accelerate:         “The disruption of Western nuclear family dynamics.”Can you believe that?Christopher Rufo, an excellent writer for the New York Post newspaper, obtained lesson plans from the Buffalo public school district (Morell) which promulgate the following as Rufo states:“The lesson plans which I have obtained from the district (Buffalo public schools) are even more divisive. In kindergarten, teachers ask students to compare their skin color with an arrangement of crayons and watch a video that dramatizes dead Black children speaking to them from beyond the grave about the dangers of being killed by racist police and state sanctioned violence.” Can you believe that? Kindergarten, four-year-old children being indoctrinated by this wicked, evil, hateful stuff. Absolutely incredible. And the hateful Buffalo public school curriculum only gets worse as the children get older. In middle and high school grades, students learn that:“All white people play a part in perpetuating systemic racism. Often unconsciously, white elites work to perpetuate racism through politics, law, education and the media.”From four to 18 years old, this hateful, racist curriculum pounds the drumbeat of racial hatred into the hearts and minds of innocent children. Can you believe this? Where are the right thinking, fair minded people who should stand up to this reverse racism, this new cultural hatred and excise this from the Buffalo school curriculum and in fact all of Western New York and the rest of our country. And perhaps the worst of all at least in my thinking. If you are white, born white, you have a very special duty to atone for your:         WHITENESS.The chief attribute of WHITENESS is systemic racism, buried deep whether conscious or unconscious. If you are white, you are racist! And therefore, white man or woman, your first priority is to:         ATONE FOR YOUR WHITE PRIVILEGE.Be sorry, make amends, apologize for the fact that you are WHITE. Absolutely unbelievable. This stuff doesn’t come from a book, or a publication, or the thinking and speech of a few radicals and revolutionaries. This is actual teaching and this, all of this is now happening in the Buffalo public schools and in fact, all across America. This thinking, these tenets, more or less, are happening everywhere, in every state, in every county and city, and, more or less in every educational institution, from kindergarten through college and university. Whether you are aware or care, it is happening where you live, it is happening to your educational systems, more or less. And it will only continue to happen, and grow, and fester, and corrupt American culture in ways almost impossible to understand. This is hard truth. It is difficult as a subject matter to be dealt with by a broadcast company and its media outlets which are Christian at the core, conservative, and deeply concerned with the future of our once great America. YOU should be concerned because YOU have to be concerned. TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY THE CHILD SHOULD GO says our beloved Bible, true words indeed. For if that training and education, which begin at the ages of three, four or five occurs, when that child becomes old, mature, an adult:         THAT CHILD, THAT ADULT WILL NOT DEPART THEREFROM!Get them young and get them forever. I am so deeply concerned, I grieve for the innocent young children in the Buffalo public school system and so many other once great American public school systems who are being brainwashed, indoctrinated, intimidated by this new WOKE, these new racist, cultural imperatives for, Fatima Morell and all like her are determined that these young children will grow and graduate and get going as adult:         ACTIVISTS FOR ANTI RACISM. Goodbye America unless you and I step up, put an end to this, get back to good solid teaching and education and train these young hearts and minds to be fair minded, true Americans with nothing but the highest respect for all men and women who are created equal under God and under our Constitution.Please stand up my fellow Americans and put an end to this stuff. If we don’t put an end to this, it will put an end to us, and our beloved America. 

Prayer

Do you believe in prayer? That is, do you believe that prayer works, and works wonders, do you? If you pray, and make your requests known to God the Father, do you believe that HE will answer, do you? If you pray that President Biden will see the light and turn from his non–scriptural, non–Christian ways as he champions abortion, the gay agenda, euthanasia and more, if you pray that Biden will be convicted and transformed by the Holy Spirit, do you believe, REALLY BELIEVE that will happen, that God will answer and change the mind and heart of perhaps the most powerful man in the world, do you?Of course, God the Father can do anything, ANYTHING. Our God is the Creator of all things, all peoples. The earth is the LORD’S and whatever his will, that you may be sure will be done. His will, his timing and his ways may not be our ways but we can be certain what he wants will happen. Dare we ask that if we ask of God what seems to us to be right and it doesn’t happen, dare we ask that God is not listening, eternally silent and not paying attention to us his creations, his children? Dare we ask that.David did. In the pslams, David became frustrated time and again asking the God of Abraham:         ARE YOU LISTENING?Do you hear me. Why do you not answer me. I am your child and I call upon you time and time again, I wait patiently for your answer and it seems never to come. WHY? Why do you not answer me, oh God, why? What a question, perhaps the most fundamental question any Christian can ask. We pray for evil ways and things to end but they continue. Why? We pray that Democrats like Pelosi, and Schumer, and Tlaib, and AOC will recognize the evil of abortion, become convicted by the Holy Spirit but it never happens. The mystery of EVIL has puzzled, confused and even conflicted the very best of the saints. Billy Graham was once asked why, if God was good, holy, just and right, and LOVING, was there evil in the world and so much of it. WHY? Graham, honest to the core as he was admitted that he did not understand and did not know why. Evil was perhaps for him, and is for us, the most confusing, difficult to accept NON–ANSWER to what we regard as our fervent and sincere prayers.Christians, our brothers and sisters, are slaughtered everyday the world over. Churches are bombed. Children are kidnapped and sold into slavery. Sexual slavery. The world and much of our government turns its back on the problem, this evil at work. Weapons of mass destruction continue to be produced. Armies are modernized and ready for warfare. Nation rises up against nation, and the anti–religionists proliferate and predominate. Poverty and plague increase, evil to the core. And, perhaps this is only the beginning of the end times, ONLY THE BEGINNING. Why, why we ask oh Lord? We ASK, Father God and so often without answer. We SEEK your will, DIVINE ANSWERS and so often they do not come. We KNOCK and even though the door, that spiritual door to YOU for the price of your will and grace is promised by you to be opened, abortion continues and the answer, the divine solution to that problem never seems to occur. WHY, why we ask do you allow that?When divine answers do not come, when the ways of evil politicians continue and only grow worse, many begin to not believe in prayer, the power and efficacy of prayer. It just doesn’t work, the doubters say, for Pelosi will never change her ways and will always champion abortion. The skeptic says that God either is not listening or doesn’t care. That divine silence becomes a serious problem, and a real hindrance to faith, especially the faith of the fragile. And yet, prayer is the only way, our only access, the only medium, the only communication method between us and HIM. Without that, there is nothing but silence, void, and without PRAYER, there is no means to express our joy, our thankfulness, gratitude, our feelings from the deepest recesses of our hearts and souls. We cling as Christians to the promise that:         PRAYER WORKS WONDERS.And we believe that even though so often we do not see that. We pray for America. We pray that God will lead, guide and direct and that our God will:         BLESS AMERICA.We continue to ask for divine favor but so often our prayers for things secular seem to go unanswered. Why, we say with David, why oh Lord? ARE YOU LISTENING? Do you hear me, says David? We see America rotting spiritually, immorality at every turn, destruction of all things religious, and the free speech of Christian testimony gradually done away with. And we ask for divine help, intervention to put a stop to this EVIL and it only seems to increase. And so, as doubt occurs, we are simply left with that most perplexing of questions:         WHY?But there are terms and conditions to answered prayer. We are told in the Old Testament that God will not hear, nor will God answer unless we the people approach him in HUMILITY. Are you humble when you pray? And we are called upon to pray sincerely, earnestly, and continuously. Do we do that? Do we really BELIEVE when we pray that God will both:         HEAR AND ANSWER,do we? We honestly SEEK his will, what is right godly and not what we think is right, do we?And, do we turn from our evil and wicked ways? We pray that the evil of others will be dealt with but often we forget that our own lives need constant cleansing. How can we expect God to deal with a speck in the eye of someone else when there is a beam, a much larger thing in our eye, in our lives. It won’t happen. We his people must humble, seek and turn before God will listen, even listen. But if those conditions exist, God will both hear and answer, otherwise not. Answered prayer depends so much on WHAT we ask. Selfish, self–serving, egotistic prayers and requests get nowhere. We are commanded to pray for those in authority and we should. But if we approach God with the proposition that they are wrong and we are right, if we approach God the Father without asking as his prayer requires that HIS WILL BE DONE, we can’t expect an answer. If prayer is all about self, selfish supplications usually get nowhere. We need to pray for ourselves but not demand. We need to pray for others, and always in love, with true and real hope and faith in that prayer that God will answer. If we pray for America, then we must be about the business of doing all we can for our beloved country as a precondition to asking God’s help for it and us. What we ask of God is so very important.There are any number of ways (how) to ask. Perhaps the most effective, says the Lord of Glory is, prayer alone:         IN THE CLOSET.You in prayer alone with God Almighty, with the intercession of the Holy Spirit. There is no better place or way to pray. Or perhaps when two or three are gathered together, where GOD is there, as with a spouse, or child or children, or friend or employee, that is beautifully effective.Or larger numbers, many in the multitudes. The prayer leadings at church, the corporate prayer of congregations at worship. We have our thoughts, our wants and needs but it is highly effective, says the scripture, to listen to others leading in prayer who express their very own. They are their words, their supplications to God, but they can become ours. Those corporate, congregational prayers like individual, can work wonders.WORDS, their numbers or eloquence doesn’t matter. Jesus told us that the old spiritual hypocrites thought they would be heard “for their many words.” The more the better, they thought but in reality, the words were all about them and without the sincerity which God requires. When you pray alone, thoughts and words are exactly yours, precisely what you think, from the deepest recesses of your heart and we are told those prayerful words work wonders for they are the most sincere, the most real. They are not subject to the criticism or even ridicule of others. IT IS ATTITUDE NOT ELOQUENCE WHICH MATTERS IN PRAYER.I can pray for President Biden because I am required to as a Christian. Such a prayer usually gets nowhere. Or, I can pray for President Biden because I really hope in faith that he will be the right President for America at this critical time in history. The former prayer gets nowhere, the latter works. We should not bother to pray unless we EXPECT God to hear and answer. Those words pro forma get nowhere. We should believe that our prayers will be answered. Not that we will get what we want or even necessarily what we request. But at our request, the HOLY WILL of God will be gone and we will know. There is no point in praying unless you really believe, REALLY BELIEVE that prayer works and WORKS WONDERS.Then, WE WAIT. Wait on the Lord says the scriptures, for his timetable is not ours. His ways are not ours. God will do with Biden, Schumer, Pelosi, McConnell and all others in authority as HE will on his very own timetable and his very own ways. But HE knows where we stand and what we have requested. HE KNOWS. We wait and we accept. Perhaps the real answer to prayer is to watch expectantly for the will of God to be revealed, WHATEVER THAT IS. If we have done our best, worked for the night is coming, and prayed with a sincere and believing heart, that is all we can do. The rest lies in the hands of the one who made us.Jesus spent 40 days and nights in the wilderness, PRAYING, meditating, and fasting. Have you ever tried to pray and fast at the same time? If we did, most of us would hardly endure 40 minutes much less 40 days. Fascinating, isn’t it, that the Son of the living God needed that 40 day experience, that spiritual fine tuning in order to be all that he could be and do the will of his FATHER. How much more should we pray like that, and:         PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.Never stop, always believing, patiently waiting, living in that loving expectancy.The disciples of Jesus asked him to TEACH them to pray. They were not sure they knew how. From the Lord came the Lord’s prayer. And Jesus said to them, as you approach God the Father, the Creator of all things and you, this HOLY GOD, the first thing you ask in prayer is:         THY WILL BE DONE. Not mine, not the will of anyone else, but only the will of God the Father. That all is wonderful, beautiful, just, fair even though it is often beyond our understanding. Prayer works. So, get in that closet, and all alone, with the INTERCESSION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, or:         PRAY WITHOUT CEASING!Prayer works. 

Freedom of Religion

IT IS THE FIRST FREEDOM!The first freedom of the First Amendment to the greatest document ever created by mankind, the American Constitution!So many think that RELIGION in the First Amendment is all about the FREEDOM of religion. Actually, there are two parts, very significant parts to this most important, constitutionally prioritized freedom of religion. The first is the matter of:         ESTABLISHMENT.Congress, these precious First Amendment words say so clearly, “shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” In short, Congress cannot engage in legislation, cannot create any law or part thereof which in any way establishes, orders or legally requires a religion OR ANY PART THEREOF! Nothing Congress, House and Senate, NOTHING! Hands off you 535 elected Representatives of WE THE PEOPLE, STAY OUT OF RELIGION ALTOGETHER! But inevitably, the Congress does in fact get involved and makes laws, direct or indirect, in whole or in part. For example, the Catholic Church and much of the Christian church generally is against the use of contraceptives and in fact birth control. But Congress, in the form of the nefarious OBAMACARE required full coverage of contraceptives by all as any form of insurance, health or medical was formulated. THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR, determined to protect Catholic rights, rituals and principles fought the Congress, and then President Barack Hussein Obama, the author of Obamacare, accusing them of meddling with religious doctrine and principle, and establishing the demand that contraceptives and birth control be covered by insurance. In that limited but important way, Congress made a law which established the religious principle and as such, clearly violated the Constitution, so said the Little Sisters of the Poor. The Supreme Court agreed! But there is more to come as the two sides battle, the aggressive, angry, anti–religionists on the one hand and those who unabashedly stand for what they honestly believe is a sincere and vitally important religious principle. This aggressive, Democrat – progressive controlled Congress, House and Senate will begin, in the next four years to trample upon religious rights and freedoms and establish as much secularity as possible. Don’t let them do it my fellow Americans, DON’T LET THEM DO IT! In their maniacal attempt to do away with as much religion as possible, as a critical part of the new CANCEL CULTURE secular movement, you can be sure that this Congress, aided and abetted by their President will do as much as is constitutionally possible to:         PROHIBIT THE FREE EXERCISE OF RELIGIONand that is the second part of the protections which the First Amendment and our beloved Constitution granted unequivocally and unconditionally to us WE THE PEOPLE in that First Amendment. Obama, when he was President, attempted to do just that. Obama and his ilk fought to interpret the FREE EXERCISE CLAUSE OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT so that what it really meant was that there would be the freedom of WORSHIP but not the broad freedom of exercise which the Founding Fathers envisioned. In short, worship and believe as you will between the four walls of a Church but not in public, not in the public square, not in the marketplace. That of course was a clear violation of the First Amendment and the right of free exercise and so, when litigated, the various courts and even the Supreme Court have found. We the believers, Christians in our case, have the right, the unbridled and unabridged right to testify to our faith anywhere at any time. We can stand on street corners and pass out tracks. We can ticket and boycott abortion clinics. We can gather together publicly for prayer and worship, and singing, and praise to our Lord, ANYWHERE, anywhere in the entire United States of America, ANYWHERE! That freedom of religion and its exercise must be unbridled, unabridged, unfettered, inviable. And only we the people can make sure that happens. This House and Senate and this President will begin to do all they can to rid the public square and eventually, our entire country of the free exercise of religion. DON’T LET IT HAPPEN MY FELLOW AMERICANS! DON’T LET IT HAPPEN.Watch for other ways in which this Congress will attempt to restrict, abridge, and otherwise negatively impact (CANCEL RELIGIOUS CULTURE) through illegal, unconstitutional legislation.There is a strong secular movement to do away with TAX EXEMPTION for religious entities, including and especially Churches. The financial health of any religious organization is built upon the fact that contributions can be made to such a ministry, tax exempt to it, and tax deductible by the giver. Watch, in the next Biden progressive four years, for legislation or legislative movement to accomplish that. Congress and the states now have political experience with so called EMERGENCY RESTRICTIONS on the right to peaceably assemble, another significant part of the First Amendment freedoms. Congregation worship can be shut down or significantly reduced in size, with restrictions for social distancing and other internal church practices. A Governor, or a President, or undoubtedly a Congress can declare some state of emergency and the unlawful, unconstitutional ABRIDGEMENT of the free exercise of religion occurs. Precedent has been set by Covid. It is only the beginning. Watch for that to happen, but don’t let it my fellow Christians. Do not allow that unconstitutional abridgement to happen! Stand up like John MacArthur of Grace Community Church and resist, say no to government of any kind intruding on the free exercise of religion. If you don’t, IT will happen. And, HATE SPEECH. There are already movements federal, state and local to declare much of the Gospel, much of the Bible, much of the precious WORD OF GOD as hate speech. To call a person a sinner, to identify those sins in biblical terms, to testify to any need for forgiveness and repentance, should be labeled as HATE SPEECH and those atheistic, angry and aggressive anti–religionists are determined to make that happen. That will be a major factor in the shut down of religion and limitation, the abridgement of the freedom of religion in terms of testifying with respect to the doctrine in which it believes. The scripture commandment YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN is hate speech. That is hateful, accusatory, even slanderous to individuals and the very same to other religions. To claim that any religion is the only way, the only truth, and the only life as Christianity does is again hateful, hate speech to all other religions. It is the explicit aim of anti–religionists to have all such speech categorized as hate speech so that litigation can ensue both CRIMINAL AND CIVIL. It can be possible, my fellow Americans, that to believe in and testify for Jesus Christ as the Savior of the World could result in criminal charges, fines and even incarceration. It could well lead to civil lawsuits, long and costly litigation and severe financial repercussions for anyone so practicing in the FREE EXERCISE OF RELIGION. Watch for it because it will happen my fellow Christians and when it does you better stand up, stand tall, resist and stand firm upon your incredible freedoms of religion which are more than fragile under the Biden Administration. If THEY have their way, those freedoms once lost are lost forever. And then there is the Johnson Act. That prohibits Pastors, Priests, Rabbis, Iman’s or any other religious leaders from taking political positions and endorsing candidates from the pulpit and within the confines and environment of the place of worship itself. That Johnson Act both restricts and eliminates the rights of religious leaders to express through freedom of speech their political views regarding candidates and issues, a clear constitutional violation. The internal Revenue Service, the IRS is authorized to pursue those religious transgressors civilly, with respect to tax exemption and deductibility on the one hand, and even in extreme cases, criminally on the other. President Trump put a halt to that but you can be certain that Biden and company will, when the time and opportunity is right, reintroduce and reinforce the Johnson Act against religious leaders and religious entities. To speak out as a Pastor, for example, against abortion and politicians who are pro abortion in any church environment would result in civil or criminal liability. Nothing intimidates free speech more, especially the exercise of religious freedoms from the pulpit itself. Don’t let it happen, my fellow Americans, my fellow Christians, DON’T LET IT HAPPEN!The fight for freedom of religion, the free exercise thereof and the prevention of the establishment thereof is on like never before. This fight for us, religionists and believers is:         NON–VIOLENT!The weapons we use to resist and defend are different. They are spiritual. They are commitment and conviction. They are spirit–driven so that we who truly believe will never compromise or quit. We will fight this fight of faith with all of our spiritual might because it is our absolute, unabridged and unconditional right to do so under the First Amendment of our beloved Constitution and more importantly, because it is right to do so as commanded by the Lord of Glory, for us as Christians, Jesus Christ. The American people elected Biden, a democratic Senate and a democratic House at election which many think were fraudulent and unfair. Nonetheless, they have the power and you can be certain they will exercise that power in an aggressive, progressive, socialistic way which will in so many ways, SO MANY WAYS focus on anti–religion and the FREE EXERCISE THEREOF. Don’t let it happen my fellow Americans, don’t let them, our constitutional political enemies, intent upon CANCELLING CULTURE AND RELIGION, from changing those critical American principles and freedoms and your rights along with that. We the Christians are now COUNTER CULTURE. We were the culture, the majority but now, no more. We fight the fight of faith with spiritual weapons or we lose those spiritual freedoms forevermore. Don’t let it happen my fellow Americans, don’t let it happen, for those freedoms once lost, those precious First Amendment freedoms of religion among others once lost are:         LOST FOREVER. 

The Fight of Faith

Ready for the fight, of faith that is? Are you?You better be ready for THE FIGHT IS ON. It is here, now, HAPPENING! The soldiers of the CROSS are now called upon to do battle with the soldiers of SATAN. You have no choice, my fellow Christians, and in fact all people of faith but to become an active participant in:         THE FIGHT OF FAITH.This fight is different. It is spiritual. The weapons are different, completely different in this spiritual warfare. They are not nuclear. The weapons are not guided missiles. They are not the latest guns or ammunition. Or germ warfare. These are the weapons of the satanic, weapons that kill and destroy. The weapons used by Christians and people of faith do not kill. These spiritual weapons are:         NON–VIOLENT.Spiritual weapons do not kill but they are used to foster LIFE, and life more abundantly. They are designed not only to neutralize the enemy, but to restore and return that enemy, the avowed enemy of the Christ of Glory to real life, a life of love and joy. These spiritual weapons are the exact opposite of military killing machines. Non–violent are they, because:         VIOLENCE ONLY BEGETS MORE VIOLENCE!In fact, as the Christian prepares for spiritual warfare, the soldiers of the cross first come humbly before the Lord, seeking the strength, endurance and wisdom of God Almighty.This Christian warrior then prays unceasingly and incessantly that he or she may know the WILL OF GOD and pursue it passionately and lovingly.This Christian soldier is earnest in prayer, determined no matter what the solider encounters to lead a Godly life and respond accordingly in all circumstances. This non–violent, Christian solider of the cross is STRONG IN THE LORD, adopting the power of HIS might. No secular, satanic force can match it, NONE!We the soldiers of the cross then:         PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD.It is only with this armor that we can stand against the wiles of the devil, the hateful, anti–Christian at work. Ordinary military weapons are useless in this battle for the real battle is the weapon against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness and not against:         FLESH AND BLOOD.So says the Apostle Paul.When we adopt and implement this kind of strategic warfare, this spiritual warfare, this non–violent warfare, the captain of our spiritual battalions is none other than THE CHRIST OF GLORY. And if HE is for us, with us, leading us, commanding us what to do:         WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?No one, NO ONE! We then, my fellow Christians, take on and adopt as our primary weapon:         THE SWORD OF THE SPIRITand that is:         THE WORD OF GOD.Scripture, the bible, the inerrant word of the Lord. It is our master plan, our strategy and we follow its directions to the letter of the law. NO NUCLEAR WEAPON CAN STAND AGAINST THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, none. That master military gameplan is laid out brilliantly and beautifully by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians Chapter 6 verses 10 through 20. Read and study these powerful words for no enemy can stand against these spiritual strategies. STAND, says the captain of our spiritual forces, STAND. Don’t back down. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be intimidated. STAND AGAINST THE WILES of the devil. In fact, resist that devil, resist any attempt by anyone to challenge your faith, prevent you from worshipping, testifying and speaking to the glory of the Lord witnessing to others. You have upon you:         THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD.Therefore, resist, rebuke and reply to the spiritual enemy with the truth of the WORD OF GOD. When you do, you win. When you don’t, you lose!Put on, says Paul in Ephesians 6:14 THE BELT OF TRUTH. The belt of the soldier of old was the foundation of his armor, holding his sword and his breastplate. The evil one, the satanic other side are the champions of THE LIE. They foster the new day and age of POST TRUTH. Truth is relevant and only that which is true is that which serves an ultimate, often evil objective and purpose. The Christian warrior wears THE BELT OF TRUTH.  Then, says Paul, we put on:         THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESSthat guards the heart. It protects the spiritual life of the believer. The love of Christ is the only thing that can change that heart, nothing else.Then, our feet are:         PROTECTED BY THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.In olden days, soldiers wore heavy, protective, armored sandals in the heat of battle. Therefore, we the Christians stand strong as the enemy rages, fully protected by the Gospel of peace. Then says Paul, you solider of the cross carry well:         THE SHIELD OF FAITH.That enables the solider of the cross to deflect the wiles, the darts, the weapons of the enemy. And then, we put on:         THE HELMET OF SALVATION.Our head, Christian solider, is well protected, so that nothing enters our thinking of and the knowledge of Christian truth, of its love and compassion for all human kind. So that, we always THINK ON THESE THINGS, Christian truths and the fundamental, basic, authentic things of the Gospel, nothing else.And finally, says the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:17, pick up, take on and be ready to use:THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT.That sword is the word of the living God. It does not kill, but only brings new life, here and hereafter. No weapon no matter how powerful of the enemy, the satanic forces can begin to stand against THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, none. Unbelievable spiritual weapons, are they not? In the throes of this non–violent, spiritual battle, we thank God, our captain and General for his leadership, guidance and strength. These divine attributes allow us to resist the devil, STAND against the wiles of this devil. It strengthens us to REBUKE the enemy, those who would attack the Christian faith and Christians and even testify to the love of Christ to that hateful, destructive enemy. It allows us to be strong in the Lord, strong in the word and in the power of his might. For, if all these weapons are at our disposable, and the Christ of Glory is for us, our captain in this spiritual battle:         WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?No one, but no one!So, then says Paul:         OPEN YOUR MOUTH!         EPHESIANS 6:19Open your mouth and testify, rebuke, confront, and stand, stand strong in the Lord and in the word. Testify boldly, says Paul, of your faith so that you can resist the wiles of the devil including         VIOLENCE         INTIMIDATION         RIDICULE         THE LIE Testify boldly for HE will give you the words. You will be able to say what HE wants you to say. You will then be able by the strength of his spirit to OPEN YOUR MOUTH and boldly state to all:         THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL.No weapon of the enemy can stand against this God–directed OPEN MOUTH which boldly proclaims the mystery, the glory, the absolute and eternal truth, the salvation message of the:         WORD OF GOD. These spiritual weapons, NON–VIOLENT, will not only enable you to resist the devil, but defeat the devil, defeat the evil of this world. What a glorious spiritual victory that will be. Protected head to toe, protected by the WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD. Wielding the sword of the spirit, which is love, peace, truth, and righteousness. There is no way, my Christian brothers and sisters, NO WAY we can lose with this spiritual warfare strategy at work against the enemy. What a glorious time for the testing of our faith. We are called upon to put all on the alter, then ALL! And especially, everything you hold dear. Now more than ever, you and I, soldiers of the cross must:         FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH.Are you ready? Are you? Will you? Get on with it, GO FOR IT! OPEN YOUR MOUTH in the power of the Lord, now and always. Read, study, take to heart, adopt and embrace those incredibly powerful words of the Apostle Paul in:EPHESIANS 6:10–20. You will then stand strong, worry not, for whatever you may lose on this earth, you will gain in the heavens above. For:         ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST         AND TO DIE IS GAIN!

Love - Valentine's Day

The greatest of all things is LOVE.The greatest, confirmed by the Apostle Paul of old, and agreed upon by the world’s greatest thinkers, artists and poets is:LOVELove is the best, even says Paul better than faith or hope.The Bible book 1 Corinthians 13 is Apostle Paul’s finest expressions of love by far, perhaps the finest writings in all of his letters.  But even Paul acknowledges that there is no really complete and definitive definition of love.  But Paul says what real love, ultimate love is, can only occur as a result of a meaningful, experiential, loving relationship with God the Father and the Son Jesus Christ.  The fulfillment of that comes eternally, but here and now, the longer, the deeper the relationship with HIM, the more the meaning of love becomes clear.  That, says Paul, that relational love is ultimate reality.Love is good.  In fact, good is defined by love.  For no mere mortal can do good without love. One may intend, willingly so to live right, perhaps following the Ten Commandments and other great moral precepts. But that mere intention, the act of the will is not enough for it lacks the energy, the conviction, the power of real LOVE, total love.For as one poet has said:GOD SAYS TO US IN LOVE: I HOLD YOU IN MY MIND. I REMEMBER YOU. I HOLD ALL OF THE PIECES OF YOU. THE PAST WOUNDS AND THE PRESENT. AND IN LOVE, I KNIT THEM TOGETHER INTO THE PERSON I LOVE, THE PERSON I CREATED TO GIVE ME JOY:YOUMore. Love says Paul is patient. Love is longsuffering, not easily provoked. Love knows how to wait, fully observe, and listen, perhaps most importantly LISTEN. Love sees and hears the other. As the poet Thomas Merton said:THE BEGINNING OF LOVE IS TO LET THOSE WHO LOVE BE PERFECTLY THEMSELVES, AND NOT TO TWIST THEM TO FIT OUR OWN IMAGE. OTHERWISE, WE LOVE ONLY THE REFLECTION OF OURSELVES WE FIND IN THEM.In a world angry and hateful and growing worse, love is the only antidote, the ONLY! With his heart wide open, the Apostle Paul says love is KIND.  The life of a lover is lived easy, gentle, avoiding confrontation and struggle wherever possible. Said the writer Sydnie Smith:IF YOU HAD NO ONE TO LOVE, YOU WOULD NEVER BE HURT. BUT YOU WOULD NEVER GROW. YOU WOULD NEVER VENTURE OUTSIDE OF YOUR OWN SELF-CENTERED NEEDS AND PERCEPTIONS. YOUR HEART WOULD NEVER BE CRACKED OPEN SO THAT GOD COULD ENTER IT. TO LOVE AND TO LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY IS TO TAKE RISKS, AND ESPECIALLY THE RISK OF REJECTION.  BUT NOTHING ENERGIZES AND CLEANSES LIKE LOVE, NOTHING!Love, says the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13 allows the lover to dwell on good things. The lover avoids gossip and negative language. Love stays silent in the face of false accusations as Jesus did. The communication of a lover is positive as Rod McKuen said:IF YOU LOVE SOMEBODY, TELL THEM!  THE TELLING UNLEASHES THE ENERGY AND THE POWER OF LOVE.Does it ever. It seems difficult for so many to say distinctly, clearly and unconditionally.I LOVE YOUFor that is the ultimate exposure, “a heart cracked open.”  But those three words are perhaps the most powerful in the English language.Love then says Paul does not insist on its own rights or its own way. A loving person gets more out of giving, and caring than getting. To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others. So said the writer Francois Mauriac.  Love is a miracle, miraculous in its absolutely powerful and transforming effect. That kind of giving, other-ness is truly the love of God at work which both constrains and motivates.Love says Paul, never keeps a moral balance sheet.  Lovers take no account of the wrongs or evil done by others.  Love forgives and forgets.  It is difficult to forget but Paul says if you live in love, you can forget. That is so even for the most difficult object of love, an ENEMY. It seems hard to believe that we could love an Islamic terrorist or an angry political opponent or even a hateful family member or friend. We really can’t, but we can do so with the power of a loving God working within us who himself forgave us, forgot what was wrong with us and only in return, asked us to forgive others. The theologian Reinhold Niebuhr said the following:WE ARE SAVED BY THE FINAL FORM OF LOVE, WHICH IS FORGIVENESS.  FORGIVING AND FORGETTING ARE THE HIGHEST ACTS OF LOVE RESULTING IN OUR SALVATION. THERE WAS ONE YEARS AGO DRIVEN TO THE CROSS BY THE LOVE OF MANKIND PROVIDED IN HIS DEATH, THE LIFE AND THE LOVE WE LEAD.  THE CROSS WAS THE FINAL AND FORGIVING FORM OF LOVE. Was it ever. The crucifixion of the Christ on the cross was indeed the ultimate act of love.Love protects and defends.  It guards the hearts and minds of the young.  It trains up children in the way in which they should go. It shows them the way of the Lord, the path of righteousness.  It helps them to resist the devil who in the face of love will flee and not return.Love is loyal and always at work. The great writer St. Augustine said the following:WHAT DOES LOVE LOOK LIKE?  WHY, IT HAS HANDS TO HELP OTHERS. IT HAS FEET TO HASTEN TO THE POOR AND NEEDY. IT HAS EYES TO SEE MISERY AND WANT. IT HAS EARS TO HEAR THE SIGHS AND SORROWS OF HUMANKIND. THAT IS WHAT LOVE LOOKS LIKE!Amen and amen.And then Paul says:LOVE NEVER FAILSIt endures, never-ending here but more importantly FOR ALL ETERNITY. True love, ultimate love can never be destroyed.  The great theologian Paul Tillich said:FOR THOSE WHO LOVE, TIME IS ETERNITY. LOVE IS GOD’S FINGER ON MAN’S SHOULDER. LOVE IS LIKE A RUNNING BROOK THAT SINGS ITS MELODY TO THE NIGHT. TO WAKE AT DAWN WITH A WINGED HEART AND TO GIVE THANKS FOR ANOTHER DAY OF LOVING. LOVE IS A SYMBOL OF ETERNITY. IT WIPES OUT ALL SENSE OF TIME, DESTROYING ALL MEMORY OF A BEGINNING AND ALL FEAR OF AN END.Brilliant and accurate. Paul then tells us that words without love are like sounding brass and tinkling cymbals. Hollow, meaningless, perhaps doing more harm than good. Better by far to LISTEN:THE FIRST BEAUTY OF LOVE IS TO LISTEN. LISTENING, REALLY LISTENING IN A CARING WAY, MAY VERY WELL BE THE HIGHEST ATTRIBUTE OF TRUE LOVE.More brilliant insightful words from theologian Paul Tillich. Real listening really is the highest attribute of true love, real love. We allow the heart of another to crack open, pour out, empty so that there is nothing left but love.Paul then says the act of the will can motivate an individual to give to the poor, to tithe and use money well, or even give your body, to lay down your life for another. But if any or all of that is done without love no matter how good, Paul says without love it means little or nothing.But love indeed is risky. The great writer C.S. Lewis said:TO LOVE AT ALL IS TO BE VULNERABLE. LOVE ANYTHING AND YOUR HEART WILL CERTAINLY BE WRUNG AND POSSIBLY BROKEN.  LOVE BREAKS DOWN ALL BARRIERS, OPENS WIDE THE HEART, EXPOSES TRUE INNOCENCE AND RISKS THE RINGING AND THE BREAKING OF THIS MORE PRIZED POSSESSION. REAL LOVE DEMANDS THIS, CONSTANTLY.Sir Alfred Lord Tennyson said:“Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”Life without love is a life never really lived at all. “If you love until it hurts, really hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love,” said the wonderfully loving Mother Theresa.  The Apostle Paul would fully agree.Love is not jealous, said Paul. It envies no one or nothing. Rather, there is rejoicing when the very best things happen to others. And we in love can help them. The Poet Emily Dickenson said the following:IF I CAN STOP ONE HEART FROM BREAKINGI SHALL NOT LIVE IN VAINIF I CAN EASE ONE LIFE THE ACHINGOR COOL ONE PAINOR HELP ONE FAINTING ROBININTO HIS NEST AGAINI SHALL NOT LIVE IN VAIN!So beautiful, and so true.Love never controls.  Rather, it lets go.  It never holds on and it encourages others to be all they can be. Love is not possessive. If we love, we let those we love be perfectly themselves! We have no fear of hurt because of the actions of others. The more one loves, the less there is of which to be afraid.And love is humble, says Paul. Never boastful or bragging. Love really has no ego.  Love allows us to be about others more than ourselves. Content are we to be immersed in the love of God.That allows us to live modestly, humbly and joyfully.Then, Paul deals with anger and reminds us that love is not easily angered. Not that one never gets angry, for we do. But that anger is slow to occur, slow to wrath. Love allows us to be angry, but only in the extreme. Love allows us to turn the other cheek and move on, pressing on for the high calling. Love more than anything is powerful energy at work, always.So remember, says Paul, that of faith, hope and love, love is the greatest. It is eternal, never-ending:LOVE NEVER FAILSAnd as one poet says:LOVE IS THAT WHICH MAKES THE SKY BLUE, THE SUBSTANCE OF THE SONG OF THE BIRDS IN SUMMER, THE WHISPER OF THE WIND IN THE TREES, THE SILENCE OF THE SNOW AS IT FALLS.  LOVE IS THE VOICE OF GOD CALLING TO US ENDLESSLY AND PASSIONATELY THROUGH ALL HIS MARVELOUS CREATION.Love is everything said the writer Ralph Waldo Emerson, never self-possessed or prudent. LOVE IS ALL ABANDONMENT. Or as the Poet William Wordsworth said:LOVE BETTERS WHAT IS BEST! Does it ever.We the Crawford Broadcasting Company hope for you the best, the greatest, love and especially the love of God. Live in love and share it, my fellow Americans. Open a cracked open heart to it. Feel the miracle, the energy and the power of love.Those who love deeply never grow old. They may die of old age, but they die young at heart said Sir Arthur Pinero. But in death comes the completion of love:KNOWING FACE TO FACEThat ultimate encounter with God the Creator and Jesus Christ:ULTIMATE LOVEWhat a day that will be.Looking back, said one writer, I have this to regret. That too often when I loved, I did not say so. Love uncommunicated is love aborted. It is there but never shared. More time is spent judging people which leaves less time to love them.Don’t be like him. Allow Valentine’s Day and Valentine’s week, the love days to be reminders of what really matters. For in the end, nothing matters but:LOVEFind out how much love your heart can hold!

The Republican Party

Are you a Republican? If you are conservative and Christian, you probably are. Or, at least you vote that way, Republican that is. Why? Because that is really your only choice. The Democrats have turned anti–American, ultra–progressive, radical in so many ways and moving inexorably WE THE PEOPLE and our good country socialistic. Democrats now control House, Senate and Presidency and if they follow through (and they will) on their legislative promises (threats), our beloved country will be more socialistic than capitalistic, more socialistic than democratic and far less constitutional with the loss of so many freedoms everywhere, especially those in the First Amendment. Be careful what you vote for, my fellow Americans, or what others did if you were sensible enough not to do so, for you the Democrats, never Trumpers, anti–conservative and even Christian will live in an America radically different like we all will. But the fight is on, particularly the FIGHT OF FAITH.We are, all of us who are not democratic, radical or progressive, DEPLORABLES. We are deplored by them. A partisan insult once uttered by Hillary Clinton during the 2016 Presidential Election has now become a rallying cry for all good Americans fully insulted by this bitter, dare I say hateful woman. But, my fellow DEPLORABLES, it is now time, our time to rise up, to stand up. It is our time to fully take over the Republican Party. Republican, with few exceptions, has come to mean spinless, weak, non–aggressive, easily intimidated failing time and again to fulfill promises. Hence the term RINO:         REPUBLICAN IN NAME ONLY.This party, for which most of us vote, has done little to advance conservative, constitutional America. It has allowed the cultural agenda to be taken over by radicals, Democrats who wish to change EVERYTHING and destroy so much of American history, tradition, lifestyles, values and priorities. I trust you say with me:         ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.Whatever you think of Donald Trump, gone as President and perhaps gone from the political stage in any effective way, there sits the Republican Party without leader, directionless, reduced to playing a defensive political game, a 2008 redux, ready to be taken over by real conservatives and real Republicans. It is time for the rebirth, reenergizing, recommitment, and reprioritizing of:         THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.There were some 75 million people who voted for Trump, perhaps more. In a fair, open and transparent election like 2016, Trump may have won. So many voted for Trump because he was better than Biden and the Democrats, at least in terms of supporting a conservative agenda. Trump at least fulfilled most of his promises. What the Republican Party needs now in terms of new leadership is a person, male or female (am I allowed to say that?) who has the head like Trump, and the will and strength to carry out conservative priorities and ideas but without, WITHOUT the emotions and irrationalities of the Trump personality.Frustrated and angry, fully understandable, a peaceful protest of right–thinking conservatives descended upon Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, what was intended as a peaceful protest turned into violent, mob action, an occupation of the Capitol Building and tragically, even death itself. That should have never happened, NEVER. VIOLENCE SOLVES NOTHING, NOTHING! Violence only leads to more violence. All that matters is the exercise of the First Amendment rights of peaceful assembly, PEACEFUL and the right to petition, to talk, persuade, even demand that what WE THE PEOPLE, all the people think, believe and demand for our political way of life. That conservative, even Republican frustration with REPUBLICAN RINOS now produces the call for starting a new party. That is fully understandable. But, there sits the Republican Party waiting for new leadership, new strength, a return to the old American priorities and values and now is the time, my fellow conservative Americans, to stand up and take over, TAKE OVER THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. As one conservative leader said so aptly:“An existing party apparatus (Republican) is sitting there and is there for the taking. LET’S DO IT!”So, my fellow DEPLORABLES, you must stand up and now. YOU HAVE NO CHOICE. The very foundations of American traditions and freedoms are crumbling beneath you. Your lifestyle, your opportunities, your freedoms will dramatically change in the next four years. So many conservatives, so many Christians do not do what they must do! They do not fight back. They do not demand to be heard. They do not require leaders who will do what they say and fulfill their political promises. They continue to depend upon others. We the conservatives and Christians never join local political organizations. We never fight for the right people to sit and decide on school boards. Or zoning boards. We sit home and listen, talk and think we have done enough as Americans simply to vote. WE HAVE NOT! And that is why we, THE MAJORITY, the conservatives and Christians lose even if we win. We turn the other political cheek, look the other way, wail and moan at Starbucks while our great nation heads for socialistic hell on earth. We regard such claims as attacks rather than admonitions and warnings. We think of them as apocalyptic, bizarre, extreme and things like that will never happen in America. So we sit back and talk, and talk some more and do hardly anything and in some cases NOTHING. We are like the Roman Emperor Nero of old fiddling and cavorting while Rome burned. My fellow DEPLORABLES, AMERICA IS BURNING, and the fire has only just begun. I find it amazing that so many wonderful Americans know what to do at home, how to run the home, make decisions for the home, interrelate with spouse and children, and family and friends, but have no idea (or interest?) what to do politically. WHAT TO DO! When, right next door in your very own community are political party headquarters. There are organizations like Judicial Watch, Media Research Center, Family Research Council and so many others waiting for men and women, DEPLORABLE MEN AND WOMEN like you and me to rise up, join, help and work – do something. We never show up. We give a $1.00 or $2.00 and think we have done our conservative, Christian, American duty when in fact that is nothing more than a lame substitute for what we can do with our lives, and time, and expertise. A grandmother can be shown what to do dealing with other grandmothers. A man who is, God bless him, a blue–collar worker, can do so much with his fellow workers. Children can be educated. They can be taught the Constitution. They can be encouraged to stand up and explore conservative thought, values and true American ideals. There is so much we the DEPLORABLES can do and we don’t! Goodbye America, GOODBYE. But the DEPLORABLES are nothing close to what the Hateful Hillary describes. We the DEPLORABLES are the decent, hardworking Americans of all classes. We work, we support, we pay taxes while they seek nothing but:         POWER         INFLUENCE          MONEY         PRESTIGE AND FAME  They don’t want to REPRESENT we the people – DEPLORABLES. They want to RULE us. We work – they dictate. We the DEPLORABLES both respect and even revere our democratic republic and our exceptional founding documents. We believe in our Constitution and especially its BILL OF RIGHTS, and even more especially the freedoms of the First Amendment. Now comes the day when we may have to fight to preserve them. Not with violence, but with peaceful action and demand, DEMAND. We the DEPLORABLES deplore the DEEP STATE, the rules and regulations of an anonymous group of political workers buried beneath the service, serving agencies which themselves do not serve America, mostly radical, ultra–progressive and anti–American determined to change our way of life. Like Trump, we deplore them and, we deplore their rulers, our rulers, the power structure of Washington, D.C. They are intent to dominate us and change our way of life and we will have none of it, NONE.We the DEPLORABLES reject bureaucracy. We reject insiders and the hidden, non–transparent individuals who work deep within the state unaccountable even to Congress.Perhaps most importantly, we reject BIG TECH. We know there is no conservative future with Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, Apple and even all the so called LITTLE TECH which has grown up around them in a sort of Orwellian pervasiveness, determined to eradicate conservative and even Christian talk and thought. We reject all social media tentacles replete with ongoing and vicious censorship and thought control and we will fight against them any way we can.The Democrats will move our beloved country socialistic. We seek to preserve liberty and the capitalist system of open markets. We oppose socialism in and of itself knowing at the same time that it is the first step towards COMMUNISM. We reject the influence of China for it is ruled by a vicious, brittle, hateful communist party. We reject and resent our media with a passion. They are biased, hateful and determined to eradicate all things conservative. Even our religious institutions, so many of them have become corrupt and socialistic in nature as have our educational systems, our once fair and free thought, objective educational institutions and of course the entertainment business. Some estimate as much as 94% liberal – radical – progressive. WE THE DEPLORABLES reject it all and we are determined to preserve, protect and defend all that America really is, REALLY IS! Do you agree? Are you ready to stand up and do something, DO SOMETHING? If you care for the future of your family, your friends, your local communities, your state and our great country, and you, you yourself, if you really care about all of that, you have no choice but to:         STAND UP AND DO SOMETHING.There sits, my fellow Americans, the Republican Party, ready for the taking. It’s all yours, if you want it and if you the DEPLORABLES, the former silent majority now loud and vocal, will act, demand and take over locally, statewide and nationally. TAKE OVER THE REPUBLICAN PARTY! That is a better alternative to starting a new party, for with a new party, the old Republican party, RINOs and all will still exist. There are real leaders, real aggressive, conservative leaders ready to really LEAD, ready to act, decide and vote like real conservatives. Find them, support them and let them lead a new and revitalized Republican Party under your careful watch and more importantly, INVOLVEMENT. The times are dangerous, dramatic and deathly. Always remember, ALWAYS:FREEDOMS ARE ONLY ONE GENERATION AWAY FROM EXTINCTION. FREEDOMS ONCE LOST ARE LOST FOREVER! 

Trump - The Donald

Do you love him, that is politically love him? Or, do you hate him? There seems to be no in–between. One or the other.Extreme positions but then again, Trump is a man of extremes. All or nothing with this business man. You are with me or you are against me is the mindset, the position, the psyche of:         THE DONALD. His personality is engaging, energizing and exceptional. Perhaps that is why one half of our country and its adult, legal voting citizens embrace him. But his personality can be abrasive, antagonistic, contradictory and confronting. We the people will, think so many, never have another President like him. Those who hate him shall Amen and those who love him grieve for him and for America. For without him, back to politics as usual. The turn–off side of Trump’s personality cost him the election, so say many. But look at the promises he made in 2016. TRUMP PERFORMED. The vast majority of the political promises candidate Trump made were PERFORMED by President Trump. Contrast that with Joe Biden who presented himself as a political candidate Democrat centrist, shunning the extremists like Sanders, AOC and the radical Muslims Tlaib and Omar, promising to unite America and bring together its factious and diverse elements in a new American unity. There has never been a larger political lie since 2008. Trump promised and performed. Biden promised to get elected. THE DONALD fundamentally changed the Supreme Court of America. In came Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett, Catholics all, joining fellow Catholics Thomas, Alito and Roberts for a total of six Roman Catholics on the Supreme Court:          TWO THIRDS!With the exception of Roberts, in many ways a chameleon and unpredictable in decision making, all are constitutionalists, originalists, rule of law thinking Justices, nothing but good for America. Whatever happens in the political arenas federal and state, we the Christian and conservative people can only hope for the full protection of our beloved Constitution and especially the freedoms of the First and Second Amendments. Thank you President Trump, thank you.And the MILITARY. Trump strengthened the American military, knowing the incredible war–like threats which exist verbally. Military budgets were increased and military aid was provided to America’s friends. Military respect for America increased worldwide.And TAXES. Taxes were generally lowered especially on the Corporate side. The economy grew, even boomed in certain areas. Unemployment was at an all time low. Americans were confident, working, spending, enjoying a lifestyle they had not for years. Then came, according to Trump, THE CHINESE VIRUS. Corona, Covid–19. Destroyed most of those economic gains and probably was the most significant factor in the political defeat of THE DONALD. The oppressive Obama REGULATIONS AND EXECUTIVE ORDERS were done away with. The essential freedoms for business to grow and produce were restored. The SWAMP was identified, attacked and cut back in size and influence. Trump believed and practiced the Reagan philosophy and admonition:         GET GOVERNMENT OFF PEOPLE’S BACKS!And the MEDIA, corrupt to the core, incredibly biased to the point of being un–American or even anti–American was identified for what it is. The media hated Trump and Trump hated the media. Twitter replaced the press conference. No effort, real effort was made by the press to ask and interview, but merely seize an opportunity in person to attack, confront, belittle and reign hostility upon the President of the United States. Trump exposed them for what they are, the three networks, the cable–haters CNN, MSNBC and others, turning to Fox even though at the end of his term, Fox began slowly to turn left which occasioned the rise of NewsMax and One America, most interesting new conservative cable outlets which began to take much of the Fox audience. Biden and the new – old Democrats will now be the darlings of old media and it, negative for four years, will become once again positive and supporting. Donald Trump vigorously supported the essential and fundamental five freedoms of the First Amendment and especially the first and most predominant freedom:         FREEDOM OF RELIGION.No President, said so many African Americans, was more friendly to religion, the church, and Christianity, and Black Christians then Donald Trump. Of course, the media made sure he never got credit for that. Many wise African Americans saw the danger to religion, and especially Christianity as religious freedoms under the First Amendment were eroded, step by step wherever possible. Trump, with Executive Orders, did everything possible to prevent that from happening and to preserve, protect and defend religious liberty. As a Christian, I thank you for that Mr. President. THANK YOU! Trump aggressively attacked the immigration problem. He did everything possible to stem the tide of illegal immigrants entering our country illegally. He championed the wall, the Mexican wall and much of that was built. Democrats aggressively opposed the law then, but now, under Biden and with their full governmental control, the priority of the wall returns. Trump attacked the trade problems America has. He utilized tariffs to protect us against the unfair practices of foreign nations, including and especially CHINA. PRESIDENT TRUMP was PRO–ISRAEL. He in many ways authored and motivated the ABRAHAM ACCORDS. Bitter, hateful enemies became friends. The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, even the Sudan and others became friendly to Israel, restored nations and resumed trade. Trump confronted CHINA, a brutal communist–controlled nation. He exposed China for what it is, a war–like, freedom–oppressing nation determined to be the most important, the very first and most powerful nation in the entire world. Trump exposed China’s unfair trade practices, the governmental support of industry to compete worldwide which of course included the oppression of its own people and asked the world to recognize China for what it was and is. Naturally, Trump had no Democrat or media support. Biden, you can be sure, will undo any good Trump did and China will once again resume its unfair practices and even subterfuge against America and WE THE PEOPLE. That perhaps is something to be feared as much as anything. RUSSIA, the great Bear is on the rise. Russia is equal to or even superior to America militarily. Russia will increase in competition and threat to America under Biden. And IRAN. This war–like, hatred–filled nation is determined to destroy the nation of Israel, the Little Satan and then, find ways to attack and destroy THE GREAT SATAN, namely our beloved America. Iran will resume nuclear production under Biden, of that you can be sure. America will change, CHANGE BACK under Biden. Trump promised to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, and Biden will do everything possible to make America the spineless, even socialistic nation he and his Democrat allies want it to be. Be aware of that my fellow Americans. If Biden and the Democrats have their way, America will be socialistic, A SOCIAL STATE in four years. What a tragedy that would be.Donald Trump THE DONALD was arrogant. His personality was put–off. He showed so many times a significant disrespect for others. He was aloof, even selfish, possessed of an ENORMOUS EGO. He shot from the hip, said what he thought and felt, nothing held back. He at times became UNHINGED, very rarely scripted but always ready with verbal attack. He was strong, tough, independent, one–of–a–kind, probably never to be repeated. Donald Trump was never really a true Republican. Some thought him to be Libertarian but more appropriately INDEPENDENT. He had disdain for Democrats, but as well, so much of the Republican Party. He regarded many Republicans as RINOS, Republicans In Name Only. He worked with them when he could but departed from them perhaps more often. No President was ever like Trump and none to follow will ever be like him. Fox columnist Liz Peeks said this of Trump and his presidency:“It is hard to imagine that President Trump will soon leave office. His presidency has been so big, so full of energy and purpose, that it seems almost impossible that it will come to an end.”Peeks goes on to say that Trump supporters are angry, believe the election was unfair and fraudulent and that Biden and the incoming Democrats will do nothing to protect their interests. Many feel that it will be necessary to “take on” the liberal mob, whatever that means. Trump and his Administration, says Peeks, have faced “unprecedented opposition from the liberal media and dishonest Democrats.” An understatement to be sure. Peeks goes on to say the following:“For his supporters, patriots from all walks of life are fed up with political correctness and the censorious Left, the Trump presidency has been a breath of fresh air.” Indeed, an exceptional it has been in the pursuit, preservation and protection of American EXCEPTIONALISM. No President in our history will have the LEGACY which Donald Trump will have. THE DONALD was indeed a breath of fresh political air. Now we go back to POLITICAL BUSINESS AS USUAL. Four years from now, America will never be the same. I grieve for younger Americans who will never know the America and the lifestyles so many of us have known, and loved, and done our best to protect and defend. But, to live is to choose. America chose Biden, whether fairly or not, as the leader on the pathway to socialism. The day will come when Americans all will come to appreciate what Donald Trump was and did for America in a marvelous attempt to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. At times, Mr. President, you were hard to like and appreciate but I for one thank you for all you did for my country and the true America. I stand with 75–100 million other Americans with the hope that all the PROMISES YOU PERFORMED remain. WE LIKE YOU WILL FIGHT TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! 

Martin Luther King, Race, and More

It was the shot heard round the world.Martin Luther King, Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated on April 4 in 1968 by James Earl Ray, a crazed racist.  Dr. King had begun to emerge as the face, and more importantly the voice for America and even the world over for racial equality.  King was an eloquent spokesman, learned academically, Christian in belief and determined to make a difference.  He would never know the difference he would make.The assassin’s bullet, deadly and accurate, was the beginning in many ways of a new awareness of racial inequalities primarily black and white, but really more than that.  It was perhaps the beginning of a new consciousness, a new awareness of differences, diversity where all right-thinking men and women, of good faith, colorblind and Constitutional would begin to learn a new respect for each other and learn how to build different and better relationships.  They would learn that the color of one’s skin mattered not, but only the content of one’s character, as Dr. Martin Luther King so eloquently said.The King assassination triggered a new Constitutional awareness of equality.  All men and women says this precious document and of course words framed in our Declaration of Independence, are created equal, and each, EACH ONE has the Constitutionally guaranteed right to:LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESSWe the American people have heard those words over and again, perhaps too many times for them to be the living, life-guiding words they were meant to be.  Equality between black and white existed on paper only.That was the problem.  Frederick Douglass, the former slave in America eloquently stated the real problem:“THERE IS NO NEGRO PROBLEM.  THE PROBLEM IS WHETHER OR NOT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE LOYALTY ENOUGH, HONOR ENOUGH, PATRIOTISM ENOUGH, TO LIVE UP TO THEIR OWN CONSTITUTION.”What we the American people had lost or perhaps never had was a loyalty, a faithfulness to our very own Constitution and Declaration of Independence.  We had forsaken Constitutional commands and gone our own way, accepting slavery, injustice and inequality.  We had lost our honor, our dignity as human beings and we saw too many people of color as UNEQUAL.We had lost our desire to LIVE UP to our very own Constitution and that disloyalty, dishonor, lack of patriotism and courage to live up to our Constitution was the real problem, the real cause of:RACISMIn fact, we the people had become unspiritual.  We had failed to recognize that equality was divinely inspired, required and built as a fundamental precept into our Constitutional rights.  The right of equality, and the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness was divine, inalienable, unconditional and it was un-American, un-Christian not to understand and LIVE UP to that great command.  We had lost our way.  Martin Luther King attempted to point us back, encouraged us to GET BACK to our roots, the fundamentals of America and begin anew to:LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELFWe made progress as a people.  We abolished slavery.  We began to learn how to live together, work together, forge bonds with one another although the progress was slow, and often painful.  So slow, in fact, that it birthed the message of Martin Luther King in 1968.  We listened to this eloquent champion of civil rights, equality and we respected not only his oratory, but the core and substance of his message.  And, more progress was made even after his assassination.His ways were peaceful but many arose who chose violence as the answer, antidote to anger.  We saw the rise of the Black Panthers and other aggressive, militant entities determined to get even and not necessarily get equality.But there were, in the day of Martin Luther King calm, still voices working, hoping, enduring and believing, like the NAACP and perhaps like the church itself.  Martin Luther King was pastor, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King.Churches, black and white adopted his message and proclaimed the Constitutional truth of equality.  We listened, inched forward, painful progress but real, nonetheless.  Churches became mixed, neither black nor white but for all persons regardless of color.Men and women, previously distant, became one in the love of Jesus Christ.  That love grew relationships and destroyed the barriers of misunderstanding.  It was the dawn of a new day where race relations were BORN AGAIN.Something better was on the way.Jesse Jackson, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, a disciple of Martin Luther King, took over.He soon, however, many thought, lost the King vision of peaceful resistance and progress stalled.Suspicion and untrust ruled when there should have been new understandings.  Other leaders, black and white did perhaps some good but it seemed as though the fundamental, underlying animosities continued to exist.  It took action by individuals, by right-thinking private entities, by men and women one-on-one to begin to forge new relationships, new understandings, constantly chipping away at racism.  It seemed a never-ending battle.  Whether cultural, economic or educational, the great divide was always there.It undoubtedly exists today.Many Americans feel that the leadership of the last decade, BLACK AND WHITE, did not do enough to heal, create new understandings.  Economic disparities continue to exist.  Black youth for example, especially males found real employment almost impossible.  Education, whether public or private seemed in many ways to forsake its real responsibilities.  Cultures divided and segregated.  And the leaders of the past decade, whether political, educational, spiritual or economic failed to further breakdown the great racial divide.  It seems as though we continue to live in a day and age tense, separated if not segregated, with lingering suspicions and untrust.  We seemingly have not learned that mankind is not about:THE COLOR OF SKINButTHE CONTENT OF ONE’S CHARACTERAll races and ethnicities unfortunately have prejudice.  That prejudice can be expressed against other races and even in some cases, among and within one’s very own race.  We can in our very own country see misunderstandings between Irish and Italian, North and South, educated and uneducated.  Prejudice is everywhere, EVERYWHERE and it is hard to distinguish between:PREJUDICE AND PREFERENCEWe seem to be more concerned with diversity, differences in people rather than to foster the one common bond we should all have:WE ARE ALL AMERICANSFirst and foremost: AMERICANS.We should be a people caught up in our Constitution, concerned with its preservation, living out as Frederick Douglass has so well said our Constitutional beliefs, chief of which is that:ALL MEN AND WOMEN ARE CREATED EQUAL!And religious prejudice goes on.  Misunderstandings abound between Christian and Jew.  Islam considers all others INFIDELS.  Roman Catholics continue deep divides with Protestants.  Denominations hunker down but independent churches and religious practice grow.  There seems further splintering, divide, even isolation.  We seem to grow farther apart from unity, oneness and true Americanism.There is still a long racial road to travel.  For in more than one-half century since Martin Luther King, racial understanding and equality still has a long road to travel.Racial prejudice, even hatred, exists among all races.  Many African Americans are prejudiced against whites.  Racism can be a two-way street.  It is wrong either way.  Hear the words of a right-thinking African American woman living in the great State of Florida Ilene Yocum who spoke out courageously regarding the tragedy in Ferguson, Missouri and the killing of Michael Brown.  Ms. Yocum said the following:“I AM EMBARRASSED BY THE SO-CALLED BLACK LEADERS INCLUDING OUR PRESIDENT FOR NOT TAKING THE HIGH ROAD ON THIS.  INSTEAD, THEY PAMPER THE RIOTERS AND IGNORE THE RIGHTS OF THE OFFICER TO PROTECT HIMSELF.  I TRULY BELIEVE THAT HAD THIS BEEN A BLACK POLICE OFFICER NONE OF THIS (THE MICHAEL BROWN SHOOTING) WOULD BE HAPPENING.  OUR COUNTRY HAS COME A LONG WAY IN RACE RELATIONS BUT BY STOKING THE FIRE, WHO ARE THE REAL RACISTS?  YES, RACISM OCCURS IN ALL RACES.”And indeed it does, Ms. Yocum, indeed it does.  How interesting that this very right-thinking black lady and mother saw racism in the acts and the heart of even President Barack Hussein Obama himself.  If racism does in fact exist at that level, how difficult it is for we the people to unite in love and peace.Ms. Yocum further believes that much of the problem of racism has to do with parents, and in fact the lack of parental teaching.  She eloquently says:“AS PARENTS WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN RIGHT FROM WRONG.  IN ORDER TO RECEIVE RESPECT, RESPECT MUST BE GIVEN, NOT ONLY TO OTHERS BUT TO ONESELF AND ESPECIALLY TO OUR LAWS AND AUTHORITY.”Courageous and convicting words, and as right as they can be.  If parents do not teach, then the law means nothing.  Riots, violence, chaos and disrespect reign and there is little hope for racial understanding, racial equality.  Perhaps Ilene Yocum is a disciple of Martin Luther King, a 21st century voice for the real message in which he believed.  We need more women like her. And finally, wonderful words for all Americans from Ilene Yocum:“WE ARE ALL AMERICANS AND MEMBERS OF THE HUMAN RACE.  WE SHOULD BE PROUD TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO WORK FOR THEM, AND OUR FREEDOMS ARE PROTECTED BY OUR LAWS AND THOSE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO CHOOSE TO SERVE.”Brilliant, right on, special words of wisdom.We are or should be all of us Americans and Americans first even as we are members of the human race. Rather than dishonor or complain, we should all be proud to live in this great country.  We should recognize that there are abundant opportunities no matter the economy available for all, all men and women regardless of the color of skin who want to work, really want to work, so well said, Ms. Yocum.And, we should be proud of and honor those brave men and women who choose to serve and protect us according to the laws of this great country.  If we did that, all of that as Ms. Yocum so eloquently stated, racism would end in short order.  We would live out the dream of Martin Luther King and of all men and women of goodwill who really want peace and love between the races.  The end of racism can not come from political leaders, or educators, or from the world of economics.  It can only come from men and women of goodwill, inspired by faith, truly believing in and living in the ways of the God who created these inalienable rights, reaching out, communicating, understanding and learning how to appreciate the different skin colors God created.A babe was born in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago.  The angels who announced his birth asked us to glorify God and to proclaim the Godly message from this birth to all mankind:PEACE ON EARTH AND GOODWILL TO ALL MEN AND WOMEN!If men and women really want peace, and the end of racial hatred and prejudice, take a fresh look at the Babe of Bethlehem.  HE can show you the way to:LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF!Regardless of race or color.

THE SENATE - FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTROL

They won!The Democrats won and now control Presidency, House and Senate. Sounds like 2008 all over again, does it not my fellow Americans? Remember those times some 12 years ago when Obama, Schumer and Pelosi controlled all three branches of government and how CHANGE, fundamental and substantial change to the America we love began. Get ready, my fellow Americans, for progressive, radical America PHASE II.Fundamental change will occur in America beginning January 20, 2021. There is little doubt that the elections were contaminated with fraud, and negligence and even indifference and absentee voting in America showed its weaknesses, including and especially the propensity for fraud. The issue is not whether or not fraud existed but whether or not fraudulent votes tipped the election of any political race one way or another. We will probably never know that, and since the Supreme Court has indicated it does not intend to review election results unless there is conclusive and clear evidence of fraud, the elections are final. In the Georgia Senatorial races, critical to conservatives and Republicans, Warnock beat Loeffler seemingly by a clear margin but Ossoff defeated Perdue by a razor thin margin and that election may be subject to recount or judicial review. For now, at least, Republicans need to accept the fact that the Senate will be divided 50–50 and to the detriment of conservative and constitutional America, Vice President Kamala Harris will cast the deciding vote in the event of tie. Even though Republicans and conservatives gained in the House of Representatives, Democrats control and will be able to pass virtually any legislation they wish unless, UNLESS there are right thinking centrist Democrats, middle of the road, truly American no matter how liberal (but not radical or progressive) who do not toe the party line. What an interesting two years it will be until we the people have once again an opportunity to elect our House of Representatives. In the first 100 days, Biden has promised to eliminate and change so many of the regulations and executive orders which President Trump issued and put in place. The agencies, the supposed arms of the Congress and the SWAMP which implements and is the real legislative force will once again introduce a choking regulation to America, and especially American business and all things financial and a certain economic paralysis will once again occur. Massive new taxes will happen, count on it. The Green New Deal in some form or perhaps even in the next four years altogether will become law and there will be all out political war against fossil fuels and especially fracking. Biden and the Senate may even resort to the PACKING of the Supreme Court, adding liberal and progressive Justices to the point where liberals once again fully control the decision making of America’s highest legal authority. All would be disasters, fraught with radical change in every conceivable way. We the people better be ready, and even more ready to stand up, resist, fight back against radicalism in any form and be ready with all of our might to protect our beloved Constitution and the rule of law. If we do not, GOODBYE AMERICA.But perhaps the most important and matter of greatest concern will be the passage of the so called EQUALITY ACT, now virtually assured. This is a frightening piece of legislation for Republicans, conservatives, Christians and all people of faith. This Act is anything but EQUAL. In fact, even as it champions the rights and creates preferences for LGBTQIA, it will absolutely eviscerate so much of the religious rights and freedoms, the very first freedom and perhaps the most important one to our Founding Fathers as embodied in the First Amendment of our Constitution. No matter that the Constitution explicitly and clearly states:CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW AFFECTING, ABRIDGING OR PREVENTING THE FREE EXERCISE OF RELIGION,the so called Equality Act does just that. This Act will make it law for our great country, and the new sexual orthodoxy will be required in every aspect of American life including enormous preferences for LGBTQIA, and especially transgenders, establishing the rights of any person to decide their sexual orientation and gender identity. The biological differences between men and women, male and female, will be utterly ignored if not abolished. The new sexual orthodoxy will be taught in all educational institutions, especially and alarmingly to the young from kindergarten through high school. This Act, THE EQUALITY ACT, can be found online or in congressional records and information, my fellow Americans, and you should read it and to the best of your ability, understand what is in it. You must for it will drastically, radically, permanently affect your life and the lives of all Americans. FIND IT AND READ IT!The following are just some of the harmful and horrendous things which this EQUALITY ACT will codify and force you to accept and live by.LGBTQIA will not have an equality in America with all others, but actually any number of preferences and amplified rights which we the ordinary American people do not have. That is especially so with regard to hiring and employment. This Act as now written provides that should a member of the LGBTQIA factions apply for employment, and are denied as employers consider others more qualified and better suited for the job at hand and the business doing the hiring, an applicant so denied can form personally and individually the:            PERCEPTION AND BELIEF that the hiring turned down was in fact discrimination and a violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Based on that mere perception or belief, the individual not hired would have the right to sue the employer, and sue for considerable damages with the legal force of the state providing attorneys and agency clout in behalf of the aggrieved (perceived) gay or transgender employee applicant and of course the employer would be forced to defend with the business attorneys and the finances of the business and the owners themselves. Equally difficult and disastrous, the employer would have the:            BURDEN OF PROOFthat the non–hire was not discriminatory, and that the person actually hired for the job was in fact better, superior, objectively more qualified. Personality, relatability, employee fit, all subjective even though all are important in a hiring process would be irrelevant, subjective and arbitrary so the law would indicate. These principles at work would be disastrous to Christian institutions, businesses, education including colleges, grammar schools, adoption agencies and more. Tragically, the burden of proof would be on the employer to prove that the person hired in preference to the LGBTQIA applicant was better, superior, more fit for the job than the applicant denied. Such a burden of proof would be massive, an enormous amount of work, and an incredible expense. Litigation could go on for months, and months, and the cost to the employer would be enormous and in some cases, financially destructive. The employer would always lose even if the employer wins the litigation. And more. Men identifying as women, redesigning their sexual orientation and gender identity would be allowed to compete with female athletes in any sport or competition. All the rights which women have gained beginning with the 1964 Civil Rights Act would be done away with and biological men would undoubtedly dominate biological female sports. All that person would need to do is identify as a woman and there is nothing any educational or other entity could do to prevent involvement. Adoption agencies which required the adoption of any child to be accomplished by a married couple, father and mother, MALE AND FEMALE, would be shut down and no funding of any kind would be allowed.Christian colleges and educational institutions which do not recognize or honor the new sexual orthodoxy would be denied any funding and students of those institutions would not be allowed student loans from any governmental agency, including and especially the federal government.Even more harmful to all things religion is the provision in THE EQUALITY ACT which makes reference to the:            RELIGIOUS FREEDOM RESTORATION ACT (RFRA)which can no longer provide any defense in any way for the protection of religious rights, beliefs and views as practiced by any educational, cultural or business entity. NONE WHATSOEVER! That wonderful act protecting religious freedoms was passed by the Congress in 1992 with virtual unanimous support. No matter, the EQUALITY ACT (what a farse) would do away with all protections of any kind for anything religious. The first freedom would be gutted and really rendered of no force and effect. And more. Men would have access to female bathrooms and showers and any other private place. Again, all the biological male needs to do is declare that he is now a she and as a newly identified sexual orientation and gender identity. Any biological female, especially the young, should be deeply concerned with this fundamental change and do everything possible to protect against it. What a world.Certain commonly used pronouns and nouns, now taken for granted, like father and mother, and ironically for Christians the word AMEN would be banned. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, hypocrite to the core (don’t forget she is supposedly Roman Catholic) would ban all such and more from House dialogue, legislation and usage generally. Get this Christians. AMEN WOULD NOW BE AWOMEN! Unbelievable, is it not? The new orthodoxy fully and completely establishes the politically correct.Insurance, that is you and I, would pay for all transgender procedures, hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars. Creative professionals like Baker Jack Phillips would be forbidden under penalty of criminal proceedings from refusing to do business with LGBTQIA. And more. Much more. Find it, read it, and understand it. And find a way to talk to your federal Congresspersons, and Senators, and although undoubtedly a waste of time, go after the White House (Biden). It is time now, once and for all, THE LAST TIME my fellow Americans when you can stand up for unbridled, unabridged, uncorrupted freedom of religion and in fact all freedoms granted to us by our Constitution. If you don’t stand up now, those freedoms will be lost forever.Personally, I have concern for so many Christians. They may listen, they may hear the bad news, they may talk about these horrendous progressive, radical things happening in America but for the most part, we the Christian people do:            NOTHING.We don’t act. March. Protest. Support organizations that really go after these radical, hate – America individuals and we lose, we lose time and again. I pray you, all of us are convicted, concerned, even fearful for our families, friends and our beloved countries. That, all of that, is the only thing that will motivate us to:            ACT.Against the so called Equality Act and in fact all things progressive, radical and anti-American which we can expect to happen time after time in the next four years. You have a duty as we do to:            GOD AND COUNTRYif you wish the rights, the freedoms on the one hand then you have the DUTY to stand up and protect those rights. I pray with all my heart that you, that all of us will do just that. 

2021 - Biden, Schumer, Pelosi

Here it comes my fellow Americans, perhaps the most cataclysmic political – cultural – social year in the history of our great country. Progressives are on the prowl and conservatives beware. Change, radical change, can occur overnight or step by step. If our new rulers cannot get what they want by revolution, they will settle for a progressive evolution, but only for now.Some think that Joe Biden will be President for two years, perhaps three at most. Then comes Kamala Harris who would never be content to be a Vice President, White House bound. Vice President Harris, now Senator Harris from California, was the most radical member of the United States Senate, first out of 100 in terms of radical, progressive voting record and policies. If you are a conservative, traditional American, and you care for this great country, you should be frightened at such a prospect.Like all politicians, Biden and Harris are fully affected by POTOMAC FEVER. The allure of Washington D.C., the power point in America is more addictive to these politicos than any of the most powerful drugs. They live for election for it brings:         POWER – ABSOLUTE POWER UNCHECKEDand it brings tremendous influence in every aspect of life including and especially financial.And Potomac Fever brings money, for personal gain and aggrandizement, and the potential to control trillions worldwide. And it brings prestige, fame, once a relative unknown and now a global personality.Power, influence, money and fame are like drugs far too addictive to these politicians, lifelong temptations.Biden and Harris are Democrats. The Democrats control the House of Representatives, but only by the slimmest of margins. Nonetheless, Pelosi and company control. If the Democrats can control the Senate and the Georgia senatorial elections January 5 will determine that, goodbye America. That is, the America we now know and millions upon millions love, cherish and would do whatever is required to protect. If Democrats control Presidency, the Senate, and the House of Representatives, be ready and beware of the following sure to occur. THE GREEN NEW DEAL. Our country will be dotted with windmills. Green renewable energy will occur everywhere and we the people will pay for it. The Green New Deal brought to fruition will cost our country and we the taxpayers TRILLIONS UPON TRILLIONS of dollars. That will destroy our economy and revolutionize our society.THE EQUALITY ACT. This legislation sure to happen with Democrat control should be greatly feared by every conservative and especially every Christian. It does not, this Act, do as it says, that is provide a certain equality for minorities, but rather, it PRIORITIZES the rights of LGBTQIA, and now especially transgenders and it makes any protections for religious organizations watered down or even eliminated with respect to hiring of such individuals. Even the perception of discrimination on the part of one of these protected minorities is apt to occasion a considerable lawsuit, litigation which would be unbelievably expensive and even in some cases bankrupt certain small business owners. The Equality Act would be the most unequal legislation perhaps ever passed by the Congress. SUPREME COURT PACKING. The Supreme Court now, the Roberts Court, is supposedly conservative, either five or six judges viewed as such. In the real world, that does not occur but if the Democrats believe it does or think it will, they intend to pack the Supreme Court, assuming they control the Senate, which now consists of nine justices with as many as 15, six new judges liberal to the core. That would be the end of a fair and a partial supreme judiciary. FOSSIL FUELS. Gone and done away with as soon as the Democrats can. They would target fracking, eliminating that wherever they could. Oil drilling would be seriously reduced, oil pipelines eliminated, coal resources would become virtually nonexistent, and even nuclear power would be severely curtailed. Many think the attack on fossil fuels would result in the loss of as many as several million jobs, directly or indirectly which of course would absolutely destroy our economy. THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE. The Democrats vow to remove that from the Constitution. They are not sure how to accomplish that for it requires a constitutional amendment, difficult to achieve but they will try. They think that the popular vote, the majority of Americans voting, would keep them in power perhaps as long as forever. No matter the justifications, and there are any number for the Electoral College, for a certain equality for the states, preventing a dominance of large states like New York and California, Democrats will do anything possible to rid our country of our present voting and election systems starting with THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE. TAXES. No matter what you make, and especially we the so called middle class, you better be ready to pay more taxes, many, many more of your precious dollars in taxes. PAYROLL PROTECTION PROGRAM (PPP) will have cost our country between five and six trillion dollars all in. The taxes necessary to pay that debt will be astronomical. Of course, we hear the typical Democrat spin of tax the wealthy only (a large bunch of humbug) for everyone, no matter what is earned, will pay more either directly or indirectly. Count on it and be ready for it. Are you?SOCIALISM. Radical Democrats despise capitalism. They want to control the economy and the rest of American life with it. They really want an oligarchy, the rule of a few, they the few. If those few get ultimate power, influence, money control and the prestige to do socialistically as they please, end of America. CORONA: COVID–19. Four vaccines will be available, the products of the good companies Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. If the vast majority and hopefully all Americans take the vaccine, that would not necessarily be the end of Covid, but it would put this satanic disease under control. America cannot recover economically, or resume its social and cultural lifestyles without that vaccine and concomitant medicines to treat those infected. Watch out for these new Democrats. Many are openly anti–American like Talib, AOC, Omar, Pressley and so many others in Washington, House and Senate, NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY. Count on an erosion or an elimination of THE AMERICAN DREAM, the opportunity to live, grow and advance economically we now take for granted. So many freedoms at every turn, the gutting of the five incredible freedoms of the First Amendment and more, much more. If you own a gun, watch for the constant, persistent and never–ending attack on the Second Amendment. If Democrats control all POWER POINTS, your and my life will change dramatically in the next four years.They count, these new radical Democrats do on the fact that you and I will not stand up. That we will not resist, pertest, and certainly not engage in civil disobedience. But we will. If we are Christian and true Americans, if we are disciples and patriots, WE WILL STAND UP. And we will resist and you will have no choice but to be among those who flex your spiritual muscles or your life will radically change, including your now so very precious FREEDOM OF RELIGION. You can count on civil disobedience. We have seen the violence of the radical left, we have experienced what BLACK LIVES MATTER really means and what really matters to them, and what Antifa is all about, radical to the core and so many other groups like them. Many think that conservative, Christian Americans will have no other choice but to engage in civil disobedience which may in extreme cases include a certain measure of violence. Are you ready for that? The concentration of power in a few will be extreme. Look at the power Governors now have to shut down the economy and our social way of life. That may only increase as so called quarantines occur nationwide, which Biden has promised. Freedom in its largest sense can gradually be eliminated or at least fully controlled. Count on it. We will see the erosion of First Amendment rights including Freedom of Religion (radicals hate religion) and Speech, and Press, and Assembly (the right to worship in churches controlled or eliminated) and Petition.We will witness the complete control of our economy. That includes enormous taxes, a very aggressive IRS as it once was under Obama, and the return of so many suffocating and strangling regulations which by executive order or otherwise, will completely control our economy. Education may never be the same. Virtual education simply does not work. The effect of education 2020, and 2021 and perhaps beyond, virtual in so many ways, will have a dramatic effect on the youth of this country. And that effect will be nothing but negative. Youth now, so many perhaps even up to the age of 30–35 are interested in and experiment in socialism. They know little or nothing about socialism or its drastic effects but for whatever reason, they are not averse to a socialistic experiment. Goodbye America. We will see the revival of THE SWAMP. Our country is run and regulated in so many ways by agencies, civil service employees and those who propagate regulations which govern all of us because of the inaction, withdrawal and indifference of the Congress. If Democrats control, the swamp will grow swimmingly.You can count on continued attacks, including defunding of our police departments and other protectors. We can expect the end of law and order or at least its serious curtailment. You can expect the aggressive global advancement and power struggles from the feared nation of China, and the return of the Russian bear in all of its power, and the development and potential utilization of nuclear warfare on the part of Iran, and the growing power of North Korea. Scary times. All the good the Trump Administration accomplished will be done away with.And you will see the complete corruption of the media. Our current media will become full bore a public relations effort for Democrat and radicals.We will witness the defunding of the military in so many ways, neutralizing it wherever Democrats can. And we will see further and real attacks politically, culturally, socially and especially economically on the nation of Israel. Not a good time. But on the other hand, it is a good time, it’s a great time to be alive. You and I can do something, something well worthwhile. We as Christians can much more actively serve the Christ we love, present the light of the Gospel to a dark world, and fight the fight of faith. We as patriots can stand up for our great country, for its inalienable freedoms, even to the point of all on the alter if necessary. I am ready, I am willing, are you? We may have no choice for we may like Patrick Henry be put to the test:         GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH.God is on the throne, to be sure. But you and I now more than ever are required to be his ambassadors. Are you ready, ARE YOU READY?Our beloved country and the cause of Jesus Christ needs you and me now more than ever. 

The New Year

We made it my fellow Americans. We made it through one year and to the next if we were alive at 12:01 am Friday, January 1, the great year 2021. And what a year 2020 has been, has it not? Unbelievable, many think the world turned upside down. Corona, Covid–19. A worldwide medical disaster. And the end of the Trump era and the beginning of a new political era which may usher in radical changes to this great country we love:            SOCIALISM, something I fear more than anything else politically and I hope you do as well. WE THE PEOPLE are freedom loving, democratic–free, in control of our own lives and creating our own opportunities and a new kind of rule, some think a benign dictatorship may well emerge in the next four years. More than ever, we need to be watchmen and watchwomen on the walls of political freedom, of constitutional America, protecting, preserving and defending all that we have held dear for some 245 years. The fight is on.And so it is time traditionally to look back, think through and evaluate the year past, its value and meaning, think through our personal rights and wrongs and resolve to do different and better 2021. That is always a healthy exercise done right, it clarifies and allows us to prioritize. Done right, it can produce new resolve, courage and willingness to face the enormous challenges of 2021. Do it and profit from it. As you think through your personal balance sheet for 2020, take time to meditate, really ponder over the important things that happened to you, and things you did 2020. And you, a person of faith, should pray about them. Discuss their meaning and full effect on your life before the Lord. Ask for courage and wisdom, not to make the same mistakes in the new year, but to develop new strengths and characteristics which will make you a better person, a better Christian, a better PERSON OF FAITH. Then you can set new priorities. Do remember that life is short, so very short. The wiseman King Sullivan told us bluntly that life is no more than a vapor, here today gone tomorrow. Your life is precious, but fragile. The life we lead now more than ever is unpredictable. Change always came slowly in the world, in America but today, change is overnight and we adapt, and adapt quickly or the world moves past lightening speed. There is a new mentality, a new way of thinking, the cell phone – iPad day and age. Distractions are everywhere. It is hard to think, much less meditate or seriously pray without mental interruptions. We have little time alone, uninterrupted and daily it becomes more difficult to think, meditate and pray. We obey the siren call of a cell phone, we are constantly intrigued by the iPad, we are actualized and interrupted by the demands of the latest app and at the end of the day, there may be little left of us, the heart and soul of a real human being having lived one day. Perhaps a new year resolution would be quiet time (under the tree) all alone with Facebook and friends put aside, for hours, or a whole day. The soul, the heart, the mind needs refreshing and reenergizing this year more than ever. Moving on without being dominated by Big Tech would allow us to grow as human beings more than anything else. More time with God, more time alone with HIM is an absolutely critical resolution. Back to Christian basics, my fellow Americans, more time alone in prayer, thought and meditation. The latest cell phones simply can’t reach the heavenly domains. Read the Psalms, the prayers, the wailings of King David. He told us that he and consequently we should seek the Lord God Almighty morning, and then again at noon, and then again at night, a minimum of three quality, real, sincere times every day, EVERY DAY! And, said David, to seek God with all of our hearts, not with simple superficial overt–and–done prayers, but meaningful, qualitative, prayers worthy of the attention of the Creator of the Universe and the father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Pray, says the scripture, without ceasing. NEVER QUIT! If we spent the time we spend in communication on cell phones, communicating with the God of the Universe, our lives would change overnight. Twenty twenty–one would be a year of personal revitalization, priorities born again and personal strength and energy like never before. What a RESOLUTION that would be. Beware of WOKE, spiritually woke. GO BACK TO SLEEP, that is back to the old basic, simple, clear biblical Gospel, the true Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and the true Gospel which the Apostle Paul begged us, challenged us, demanded of us to know and follow. Beware of false Gospels, watered down, compromised and different. Beware of false teachers and leaders who would lead us the sheep astray. Ignore them, walk away from them and resolve, A MAJOR RESOLUTION to study to show yourself approved unto God, workmen and workwomen who know how to:            RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD OF TRUTH!The more you study the word of God, the more the Holy Spirit of God will interpret, lead and direct YOU.Twenty twenty–one brings more things, many more things anti–Christian. In fact, the world turns against all religions and persecution begins. Violence occurs against people of faith. Intimidation seems everywhere, so that so many are ashamed or afraid to testify. When Christian faith appears in the marketplace, there is ridicule and rejection. And, as the satanic agenda moves forward, truth is replaced by the lie as the post–truth era develops and controls. Where once it was safe and easy to proclaim the Gospel, now to do so comes with dangers. More than ever the God of scripture asks that we who believe not be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, knowing it is the power of God unto salvation who everyone believes. And to proclaim that truth loud and long, and everywhere. To do so can be dangerous, but what a joy to RESOLVE to never back down, never miss an opportunity to share faith and proudly proclaim that one is servant of Jesus of Nazareth. All on the alter is no longer hypothetical but reality. All means everything you have even your LIFE. RESOLVE to be willing to give that life, your life and like Abraham with Isaac, even the life of a son or daughter of yours. Faith, real faith 2021 will be tested more than ever.And understand clearly, my fellow believers, that there are conditions to prayer, conditions which must occur before God will hear, and listen, and most importantly answer. We the people must RESOLVE to humble ourselves, to pray without ceasing, to seek the face and the will of God, and to turn from any and all wicked and evil ways, RESOLVE to live a life of righteousness. And all four must occur, preconditions to godly answers, before the Lord God Almighty will hear. That is the only way our great country, the America we love will be DIVINELY HEALED. RESOLVE as II Chronicles tells us to humble, pray, seek and turn so that the power of God will go with you all year long 2021. The spiritual fight is on, like never before. There are those radically Atheistic, progressive in every sense, anti–religious and determined to quash and do away with those critical first five freedoms in the First Amendment of our Constitution. There are those at or near ultimate American power who would severely restrict or eliminate religious freedom, the First Freedom, and with it, Freedom of Speech, already curtailed by hate speech legislations, and Freedom of the Press now more than ever represented by Big Tech, by Facebook, Twitter, Google and so many more. Some are gradually eliminated, step by step process, and others occur immediately and aggressively and overnight. Give me those freedoms, all of them including Freedom of Assembly (church worship) and Freedom to Petition, to go into the marketplace, to the government, anywhere and petition, speak and peacefully protest OR:            GIVE ME DEATH,said one of the great thinkers and patriots of the Founding Fathers era. RESOLVE to have the courage of Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton and so many other great American patriots and fathers. And remember the words of Thomas Jefferson who reminded us the cost of liberty when he warned:THE TREE OF LIBERTY MUST OCCASIONALLY BE REFRESHED BY THE BLOOD OF PATRIOTS!The occasion for that may be upon us and as we fight the fight of faith, there may be the necessity for civil disobedience for there will clash the laws and commands of God on the one hand and of man on the other. We the people of faith will follow the laws of God, not of man, no matter the cost. RESOLVE to be willing to pay that price should the time come. The Church must remain open, the right to assemble and worship sacrosanct. The Church of Jesus Christ must be able to print, to send literature, to be active in social media. The Church and especially its Pastors must be able to speak freely, courageously, without threat or intimidation from government. Pastors now restricted by the Johnson Act from speaking politically from the pulpit must have that freedom. All of us who believe in God must carry the yoke of God only, never of man. The fight for those freedoms is on. You are enlisted like it or not. Be ready to fight, to stand, STAND UP for what you believe no matter the cost. No greater love has a man or a woman than to lay down his life for a friend, for the ultimate friend Jesus Christ. The America in which we live is a house divided, divided like never before. There is little dialogue, and no respect when there are differing opinions. One is right and the other is wrong, dead wrong and ne’er the twain shall meet. America splinters, TRIBALISM reigns. Political or constitutional commonality nowhere exists. There is DANGEROUS DIVERSITY. It is more important to be ethnic than American. There is DISSENTION AND DISAGREEMENT everywhere. There seems to be no real united American effort to make our country better, to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. Trump or not, that must be our common goal if we are to survive. We must RESOLVE to learn all over again how America was founded, what it was founded upon, what it meant, what it’s purpose and objectives were, and to make that the lode star of our lives, becoming once again a thoroughly energized citizenry, recognizing no matter the politicians that:         AMERICA IS EXCEPTIONALand it is a very special, one–of–a–kind human experiment in society formation and freedom building. We are driven as a people by capitalism, the ability to grow, succeed, to identify and create opportunity. To do with our lives as we wish and as we see fit according to our talents and capabilities. We are a free society, not in any way socialistic much less Marxist, but rather DEMOCRATIC. We are a republic, strong, fighting oppression now even in our own country and we should RESOLVE that we will do everything possible to protect, preserve and defend THE AMERICAN DREAM. WE THE PEOPLE are the only ones who can make real American things happen, a real return to patriotic basics, new and energetic commitments to rebuilding THE GREAT AMERICAN SOCIETY. Do it or lose it, DO IT OR LOSE IT! Freedom once lost is lost forever and freedom, as Reagan said, is only one generation away from extinction. DO NOT LET THAT BE OUR GENERATION MY FELLOW AMERICANS WHICH LOSES THE MOST PRECIOUS THING ON EARTH, FREEDOM.What a privilege it is for you and for me to live in this day and age. We are challenged more than ever. The problems America faces are real and serious. They must be dealt with and we must step up. More than ever, we must RESOLVE to educate ourselves, and most importantly educate our children:         TEACH OUR CHILDRENreal history, American history. Teach them about our Constitution. Drill into their heads the First Amendment, require them to give time and effort to America and not simply exploit its assets and possibilities. If not, this may be the generation, the younger generation, Millennials, Gen Z and those coming after which will be responsible for the end of The American Dream and its social experiments. RESOLVE TO NOT LET THAT HAPPEN, MY FELLOW AMERICANS!But through it all, remember that as Christians the Christ of Glory came that our joy, JOY may be full. That we should live life and life abundantly. Even as you meet the challenges that America has, I pray that you my fellow Americans, brothers and sisters in faith, have a joyful and happy life 2021. RESOLVE to do that. May God bless you abundantly and all those you love. GOD IS ON THE THRONE. No matter what happens, always remember that:         GOD IS IN CONTROL,knows all things, and cares, cares deeply for:         YOU AND ME.We the Crawford Broadcasting Company wish you and yours a very happy, joyful and blessed NEW YEAR!

Christmas - The Greatest Old Story Ever Told

With God, all things are possible. ALL THINGS!Even an event like THE VIRGIN BIRTH. Some 2,000 years ago, an angel was sent by God to the tiny town of Nazareth in the Galilee area. The area was small, the inhabitants few and a popular saying of the day was:            CAN ANY GOOD THING COME OUT OF NAZARETH?Perhaps not before, but after the visit by the angel Gabriel to an unknown Mary, from Nazareth would come the Savior of the world.Mary the virgin was pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The angel Gabriel said to her:            GREETINGS, YOU WHO ARE HIGHLY FAVORED! THE LORD IS WITH YOU.Gabriel went on to say:DO NOT BE AFRAID, MARY. YOU HAVE FOUND FAVOR WITH GOD. YOU WILL BE WITH CHILD AND GIVE BIRTH TO A SON. YOU ARE TO GIVE HIM THE NAME JESUS.            HE WILL BE GREAT AND WILL BE CALLED THE            SON OF THE MOST HIGH.THE LORD GOD WILL GIVE HIM THE THRONE OF HIS FATHER DAVID AND HE WILL REIGN OVER THE HOUSE OF JACOB FOREVER. HIS KINGDOM WILL NEVER END!And, rightly so, Mary was troubled and she said to the angel:                                                                 “How will this come about since I am a virgin?”To which the angel responded:THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL COME UPON YOU AND THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH WILL OVERSHADOW YOU.So the Holy One to be born would be called the SON OF GOD.The natural man scoffs at angels but the spiritual man knows that with God all things are possible, including angels. Mary, now with child, the Holy Ghost having come upon her, went to the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth, relatives, and when she arrived, Elizabeth knew of this Immaculate Conception and Elizabeth said to Mary:BLESSED ARE YOU AMONG WOMEN, AND BLESSED IS THE CHILD YOU WILL BEAR!Elizabeth knew that Mary would be the mother of her Lord and ours as well.So, the world was about to change because of that event in Nazareth. Jesus of Nazareth would soon be born in Bethlehem of Judea and this Nazarene, this SON OF THE MOST HIGH would soon be known as THE SAVIOR, the Prince of Peace, the Christ of Glory. When Elizabeth had finished, Mary began her very own song of praise:MY SOUL MAGNIFIES THE LORDAND MY SPIRIT REJOICES IN GOD MY SAVIOR!FOR HE HAS BEEN MINDFUL OF THE HUMBLE STATE OF HIS SERVANT.FROM NOW ON ALL GENERATIONS WILL CALL ME BLESSEDFOR THE MIGHTY ONE HAS DONE GREAT THINGS FOR MEHOLY IS HIS NAME!Such powerful praise and adoration this Magnificat of Mary was. Mary, the virgin, so humble in spirit, thought of herself as the HANDMAIDEN of the Lord, perhaps still puzzled as to why she was chosen to bear the King of Kings, but willing and obedient to do the will of God.And the Babe of Bethlehem grew within her. Fiancé Joseph, of the lineage of David, sought to put her away but again, an angelic message explained to him what had happened, foretold the birth of this Son and the instructions to him that His name would be Jesus. Thereafter, Mary would be wife and mother for Joseph. It is incredibly difficult to imagine how this man 2,000 years ago would react. Nothing like this in human history had ever happened before. He, Joseph was chosen to supervise and support the birth of the Savior of the world. That would be impossible for any man to comprehend but Joseph, obedient like Mary, accepted the angelic explanation and this divine drama proceeded. Surely, Joseph could see the remarkable changes in Mary. For those precious months, Mary’s soul glorified the Lord. She told all that her spirit rejoices in God my Savior.Surely that glorifying and rejoicing was well noticed, even participated in by Joseph.  Mary, the humble servant of the Lord knew what great things God had done for her and she was perhaps the first to live in a brand new, revolutionary state of praise and worship. Soon, that would be available to all mankind.Then came the decree from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. Joseph, who belonged to the house and lineage of David therefore went to Bethlehem of Judea to register with Mary, since Bethlehem was the City of David. But the town was full and there was no room in the inn so that Mary and Joseph slept in a manger. And there, in that manger, Mary gave birth to a son and as a proud and loving mother, she wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger. Such were the humble circumstances of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the Babe of Bethlehem, the Prince of Peace and the Savior of the world. AND THAT IS THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS! That birth of the Savior of the world is what we celebrate at Christmas! This rabidly secular world of ours wishes to de–spiritualize this event and take CHRIST OUT OF CHRISTMAS. We who believe must never let that happen but rather band together in glorious praise and worship to the Babe and especially to the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let not, my fellow Christians, the secularists abandon the Christ of Christmas. So, Christ was born and there began the spreading of the Word:AND THERE WERE SHEPHERDS ABIDING IN THE FIELDSKEEPING WATCH OVER THEIR FLOCKS BY NIGHTAND LO THE ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO THEMAND THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHONE ROUND ABOUT THEMAND THEY WERE SORE AFRAIDBUT THE ANGEL SAID TO THEMDO NOT BE AFRAIDI BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY THAT WILL BE FOR ALL PEOPLETHIS DAY IN THE CITY OF DAVIDA SAVIOR HAS BEEN BORN FOR YOUHE IS CHRIST THE LORDTHIS WILL BE A SIGN UNTO YOUYOU WILL FIND THE BABE WRAPPED IN SWADDLING CLOTHESAND LYING IN A MANGERAND SUDDENLY THERE WAS WITH THE ANGELSA HEAVENLY HOST OF ANGELSPRAISING GOD AND SAYINGGLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHESTAND ON EARTH PEACE AND GOODWILL TO ALL MANKINDHow interesting that shepherds were chosen as the first to hear this angelic enunciation. Shepherds were watchmen, observant, especially at night as they made certain to protect their sheep. They knew the heavens, the stars and their movements.They were familiar with the night and they could, like wise men and kings, identify and follow the STAR OF WONDER, the star which shone brightly that night over the City of David, the blessed Bethlehem of Judea, where the Prince of Peace was born.And those shepherds left immediately and they found Mary and Joseph and the Babe lying in the manger. And when they had seen him, they were the very first evangelists, spreading the word of this miraculous and marvelous birth, the message they had been told by the angel about this Babe. And that was the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. From then on, the shepherds glorified and praised God for all the things they had heard and seen even as we who believe do so today. We well say today as the shepherds and angels did then:            GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST            AND ON EARTH PEACE GOODWILL TOWARD ALL MANKINDMen and women search today for truth even as the shepherds did. The search is everywhere but the truth, the ultimate truth was revealed to mankind in a manger in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. Wise men and women, who truly seek him, will find him there. Those who scoff, mock a virgin birth, the concept of angels and the creation of a God–man will never, ever know that:            NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GODNothing. But to find HIM is a most joyous, wondrous discovery. It is an epiphany like no other.The finding of the Babe is the finding of the world’s greatest treasure. The power, the love, the understanding which results from finding HIM is life–changing then and forevermore. That finding allows us to become as a little child, open and transparent, filled with love and compassion, fully understanding the GRACE of God and that gracious gift which changed the world 2,000 years ago. That faith in the Babe of Bethlehem is the key to entering the Kingdom of God, humbly trusting and believing even as Mary did of old. Women become handmaidens of the Lord like Mary did. Men become servants of the Lord as the shepherds did. So that, on Christmas Day, we discover the greatest present, the greatest gift one could ever find            THE BABE OF BETHLEHEMThe gifts we give to others at Christmastime can never begin to equal the gift of God to us. We should celebrate that gift FIRST and wherever possible, give the love of that gift to others. That is what Christmas is all about and that should never change.And we, like the shepherds should spread the news, the Good News. That is true evangelism and we who believe must never let that message die not only at Christmas, but every day. The wise men of old found Him and the wise men and women of today, the truly wise who search will find Him. For in Him it is all that God is. And that, as the angels well said, are indeed the glad tidings and the great joy for all.For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son to all humankind, so that those who believe could have life abundant here and life eternal there. For those who received this gift of God, there comes the power of God making them sons of God and daughters, life all brand new. Women praise the Lord like Mary of old. Men glorify the Lord as the shepherds of old. And that, and only that can bring peace to the world.  The message of that Babe is the only message which can spread the goodwill of God and transform the lives of all mankind. May it be yours.We the Crawford Broadcasting Company, all of us, wish you a very happy, merry, blessed Christmas centered around the Babe of Bethlehem and may the love of God in Jesus Christ be your very special gift this Christmas season. Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace and goodwill for all.CHRIST IS BORN!

Christmas - The Christ

He was born of a virgin, so we are told. The angel of the Lord visited Mary and divine conception occurred, so we are told.  The virgin birth is difficult for many to believe.It defies nature, biology.  It is simply not the way things happen.Conception and birth are as a result of the very best of female and male.  So, you either believe in the virgin birth or you don’t.  Christians, real Christians do.  And so do I and I hope you.Bethlehem, where once HE was born was then Bethlehem of Judea.  It is now Bethlehem as part of Palestine.  It is so very different even though the place where he was born continues to be celebrated by the Church of the Nativity.  Jesus was Jew, fully Jewish and Bethlehem no longer reflects that.  That is most unfortunate and sad to see. We are told that Jesus as child, teenager and young adult lived a sinless, blameless life.This God-man was able to do that even though so many find that hard to believe.  But Christians do believe that, real Christians do, and I hope you do.We know little of his early years.  The son of a carpenter, the Lord of Glory was a carpenter by trade.  Nazareth where he lived and built has like Bethlehem radically changed.  It is Arab and Islam influenced and in many ways dominated and so much that was Jewish of old is long gone.  It is difficult as the old hymn states to WALK WHERE JESUS WALKED.  Those little lanes have in fact changed and really not for the better. Perhaps the sweet peace that once filled the air was real then, but there is anything but peace as the century’s old hatred between Arab and Jew festers and so often boils over.  Perhaps it is only this carpenter from Nazareth who built so many things could rebuild, restore and reborn peace, real peace between Arab and Jew through his love.  Nazareth, Bethlehem and the world sorely need just that. The Galilee where Jesus of Nazareth conducted so much of his ministry and performed his memorable miracles has also radically changed.  It is modernized in so many ways.  The City of Tiberias which surrounds the Sea of Galilee is modern on the one hand, wealthy and thriving in part but on the other broken, poverty ridden and anxious.  The city seems very much in need of the carpenter from Nazareth who walked on the Sea of Galilee.  How wonderful it would be if those marvelous miracles of old could once again transform, born again the place where he lived and the people that he loved.So often, the carpenter from Nazareth and the CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS went up from to Jerusalem to fellowship and worship at the temple.  Much of the Jerusalem HE knew has changed.  Much is modern, commercial and much is not Jewish as he was.  There is significant Arab and Muslim influence.The Temple Mount where the temple of the great G-d Jehovah once stood is now controlled by Arabs and Muslims.  On that once holy Jewish site stand the mosques Al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock.  To visit the Temple Mount as I recently did is to feel the tension between Muslim and Jew, and in fact Muslim and all others.  The peace which passes all understanding which HE brought is nowhere to be found.  The love of the BABE OF BETHLEHEM has been replaced by war, hatred and vengeance, so much vengeance.  There is, as HE asked, no love for an enemy or even peace.  There is only détente, reluctant acceptance of a temporary truce enforced with tension and military presence.  The joy the three wise men felt as they gave gifts to him in Bethlehem is long gone. Watchmen on the walls watch not for HIM but for the coming of the enemy.  Gold, frankincense and myrrh have been replaced by uranium, chemical warfare and poisonous gas.  Love offerings have been replaced by suicide bombings.  The good tidings of great joy which once emanated from Bethlehem have been replaced by the sirens which trumpet more war at work.Jerusalem, like all of Israel has changed.  Yet Jews and Christians everywhere pray for the:PEACE OF JERUSALEMAnd Israel, and the world.  But THE PRINCE OF PEACE is nowhere to be found in the land or in their hearts.There can be no peace, sayeth the Scriptures, old and new without the Messiah.  Christians believe that Messiah has come, born in Bethlehem in Judea and faithful Jews wait for HIM to come for the first time.  What a different world it would be, and what a different Jerusalem it would be if mankind allowed the Prince of Peace to gather all under His wings, as he prayed and heal the world (Jews call it Tikkun Olam) as only HE can.  Christians, real Christians believe the Messiah has come and will come again.The Babe of Bethlehem, the Christ of Christmas is in fact that Messiah, so Christians believe.Anti-Semitism, as hateful as anything on this earth, is once again on the rise.  It is everywhere, even in our very own open-minded country.  Europe is awash in Anti-Jewish hatred and action.  Jihadist Islam is on the march, to exterminate the Jews once and for all, to finish as one a valid jihadist said the work that Hitler never completed.And of course, with the extermination of the Jews, so would jihadists exterminate Christians and all other religionists who would not convert to Islam and exchange the G-d Jehovah for that of Allah.  And of course, the exchange the Christ of Christmas for the Prophet Mohammad.  For, to exterminate the Jews is to eradicate Jesus of Nazareth, Himself a Jew.  Perhaps because Jesus was in fact Jewish there is now even more hatred and Anti-Christian sentiment the world over.  It is indeed a time for realignment, for standing together, especially for all things Judeo-Christian, so severely attacked and protect and defend the faith.In so much of the world, freedom of religion requires the protection of the military, as in Bethlehem of Judea.The Church of the Nativity and its environs are protected by Bethlehem police, Palestinian soldiers and even the Israeli Defense Force.  Guns protect and allow the giving of alms.  How ironic but a way of life in this day and age, in this Anti-Semitic day and age.  The love and the peace which emanated from Bethlehem 2,000 years ago seems long gone.But it is still there.  It can live among mankind or in their hearts.The power of the peace of the Babe of Bethlehem is still available and can change lives and even whole nations.If only, as little children, we could open our hearts to love and peace and to HIM, the world could in fact be changed.  That is the promise of His birth in Bethlehem.And so we watched the return of the Jews to Israel, so many of them, the great Aliyah.  There is the fulfillment of the words of the Prophet Amos who said:“I WILL BRING MY PEOPLE ISRAEL BACK FROM EXILE.THEY WILL REBUILD THE RUINED CITIES AND LIVE IN THEM.  THEY WILL PLANT VINEYARDS AND DRINK THEIR WINE.  THEY WILL MAKE GARDENS AND EAT THEIR FRUIT.  I WILL PLANT ISRAEL IN THEIR OWN LAND, NEVER AGAIN TO BE UPROOTED FROM THE LAND I HAVE GIVEN THEM, SAYS YAHWEH YOUR GOD.”That is now happening.  We should rejoice as the Scriptures are fulfilled, especially we who are Gentile.In fact, we should be reminded that God intends to use Gentiles to help fulfill that promise and we are reminded of the words of Isaiah who said:“SEE, I WILL BECKON TO THE GENTILES.  I WILL LIFT UP MY BANNER TO THE PEOPLES.  THEY WILL BRING YOUR SONS IN THEIR ARMS AND CARRY YOUR DAUGHTERS ON THEIR SHOULDERS.”What a privilege is ours as Christians and Gentiles to help return the Chosen People to the Promised Land.  The motivating force for the reuniting, the bonding and standing together of Christian and Jew is the love of the Babe of Bethlehem.  It is that love which started in a manger centuries ago which alone can unite and put an end once and for all to Anti-Semitism and in fact all evil and hatred. So, it is the peace of God which passes all understanding and we should never forget the words from the Torah, the Book of Numbers which reminds us that only:YAHWEHCan bless you and keep you.  Only Yahweh can make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.  Only Yahweh can turn his face toward you and give you peace.Only HE can.Love indeed came down at Christmas, love so divine.  Those who believe shout hallelujah, the Lord is come.  Let our hearts be filled with joy and praise at this wonderful season.  No matter the wars and rumors of wars, let us luxuriate in His peace, and His Love and like little children as He once was, open our hearts to that love divine so that we can in fact say with the angels of old:GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOODWILL TOWARD ALL MANKINDPerhaps none on this earth want peace more than Israelis.  They live with the motto NEVER AGAIN.  They will protect and defend against any enemy.  They will never forget, never ever.  But they, like all mankind, should never forget what happened in Bethlehem, 2,000 years ago.  There was a man, a Jew who changed the world then and can do it now.  And that man was and is:THE BABE OF BETHLEHEMGlory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward all mankind at Christmastime and:ALWAYS

Israel - The Abraham Accords

I WILL BLESS THOSE WHO BLESS YOU AND I WILL CURSE THOSE WHO CURSE YOU.Thus saith the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And He means it, he really does. There is no timetable for either the blessing promised, or the cursing. My ways, says the Lord God are not your ways, and my thoughts are not your thoughts. No man knows the divine timetable for anything. What happens and when it does is the will of the Lord. The Almighty states clearly that when it is justified:            VENGEANCE IS MINE!And the vengeance of the Lord is a fearful thing.WE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE should feel blessed, with more to come because of the way in which the Trump Administration has supported Israel. There has been the very best cooperation between America and Israel, we have supplied them with monies and onements and perhaps most importantly, by the move of the US Embassy to Jerusalem, recognized that world–special city as the capital of Israel, the Holy city of God and the Jews. I’ll bet you one shekel that the Biden Administration will move the Embassy back to Tel Aviv. Biden, you will see, is no friend of the Jews.All nations have suffered the Coronavirus and Israel is no exception. But, diplomatically, Israel has profited more in the last several years than in its entire 75 year history. Now comes the Abraham Accords, the incredible making of peace between hardened nations hateful of Israel and the Jews. An Accord, essentially a peace treaty and a normalization of relations has occurred between Israel and Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which make peace and establish friendly relations with two Israeli Arab nation enemies. What a fantastic blow struck for the PEACE OF JERUSALEM. There is now trade between the three countries, and the opening of Jewish owned businesses there and Arab businesses in Israel. Hotels in those two countries are required to offer kosher meals even as Israel offers full accommodation to the citizens of Bahrain and UAE. The Trump Administration, the United States of America acted as broker and witness to those incredible agreements, never, ever thought possible. Said the good writer and thinker Joel C. Rosenberg:            “President Trump deserves enormous credit for brokering those deals.”And that he surely does even though he may not be President to see the full effect of these incredible ABRAHAM ACCORDS. Now, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates join both Egypt and Jordan, nations which had signed peace treaty agreements with Israel after all out war, the one in 1979 and the other in 1994. Those two treaties kept the borders between Israel calm and quiet for 41 years on the one hand and 26 years on the other. Wonderful and incredible and even more to come. All four nations have participated in the economic sanctions and embargos against Israel. They fully supported the so called:            BOYCOTT – DIVESTMENT – SANCTIONS (BDS) against Israel, participated in by so many nations worldwide. Those four nations constantly voted against Israel with the rest of the Arab world at the United Nations. They were full participants in the isolation and delegitimization campaign against Israel, but now, all that has changed. The Abraham Accords and other agreements preceding them provided agreement on civil aviation for one. There will be direct flights between Israel and the UAE and Bahrain. All such flights will fly through Saudi Arabia air space even though the Saudis have not yet participated in the Abraham Accords. But the granting of such flying privileges by Saudi Arabia is a strong indication that this large, wealthy and influential Arab nation will soon follow suit. It is absolutely historic that all the agreements under the general heading Abraham Accords will allow for common banking, private property rights and the setting up of small businesses. And, again, kosher meals will be served in Arab hotels, something unheard of even one year ago. This significant realignment of interest in the Middle East and the foreign policies of Arab nations and Israel has only just begun. The nation of Oman may be next. Even more interesting, the war–like nation of the Sudan now strongly considers making peace with Israel and joining the Abraham Accords. Ironically says Rosenberg, the Sudan seems to figure prominently in the prophecy of Ezekiel 38 and 39 in the so called:            WAR OF GOG AND MAGOG.It will be absolutely fascinating to see what happens in that case, whether any kind of normalization before that prophetic great and final war. But these peace deals, these Abraham Accords, surpass indeed the peace treaties between Egypt and Jordan and establish a new model of what peace and normalization can be in the Middle East. The Peace of Jerusalem now looks possible more so than ever before! There are many who think that an even greater priority is the annexation or at least the application of Israeli sovereign law to large swaths of Judea and Samaria, which we know as the West Bank. That is still an objective of Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu, but perhaps (Rosenberg) the peace treaties, the Abraham Accords with Arab nations are first priorities. Annexation, thinks Rosenberg, in due course. Prophecy at work my fellow Americans, the divine hand of the God of Abraham at work. How exciting that we are privileged to live at this time and see the unfolding of these incredible biblical events.But now comes the Biden Administration, or as she puts it, the Harris – Biden Administration, anti–Israel if not anti–Semitic and aided by the radical – progressives Omar, Tlaib, AOC, Sanders and Warren, will do everything possible to rollback the progress made and to change the course of American diplomacy. The Biden Administration will undoubtedly attempt to influence Kuwait and Saudi Arabia so that neither nation proceeds further to normalize friendly relations with Israel. One of the motivations driving the Abraham Accords is a deep concern and even fear of the militant and warlike IRAN. Iran makes no bones about the fact that it intends to dominate that area of the world, the Middle East. The Obama originated Nuclear Peace Treaty with Iran was little more than a license for Iran who proceed covertly with nuclear arms development. The Biden Administration, led by THE BIG GUY himself could reverse much of that progress made overnight. The Israel and Jew haters who will advise and even to some extent call the shots will do everything possible to make that happen. The Biden foreign policy would undoubtedly increase the prospects of more wars, more American troops in critical Middle East areas, and the undoing of these incredible peace accords wherever possible. Biden has indicated he intends to nominate Antony Blinken as Secretary of State. All such appointments by the Biden Administration will have more authority and power than otherwise, because of Biden’s limited expertise and knowledge. Secretary Blinken will be a powerful force with regard to Middle East affairs and if he follows the hard, radical and progressive party line of the Democrats, nothing but trouble with ensue.But there is no nation on earth like Israel and no people with the will and determination to survive and compete than the Israelis. They are tough, battle hardened, determined to survive and NEVER FORGET and NEVER AGAIN! They come from the stock of former Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. In 1982, in a private session with the American SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE, where then Senator Joe Biden from Delaware was presiding, Biden then all of 39 years old lectured the 68 year old Begin over the Israelis settlements, jabbing his finger at the Prime Minister and banging his fist on the desk. Biden warned that eroding support for Israel threatened US aid, believing that he could cower the tough Israeli Prime Minister. Listen to the words in retort of Prime Minister Begin:“Don’t threaten us with cutting off aid to give up our principles. I’m not a Jew with trembling knees.”What an incredible statement, right on the mark in terms of what a modern day Israeli is, or in this case is not:            “A JEW WITH TREMBLING KNEES.”And there are millions of Israelis who live in Israel, and in fact many worldwide who face anti–Semitism and the hostility of so much of the world every day:            WITHOUT TREMBLING KNEES.Prime Minister Begin went on to state to Biden and others in that Senate Committee the following:“I am a proud Jew with 3,700 years of civilized history. Nobody came to our aid when we were dying in the gas chambers and ovens. Nobody came to our aid when we were striving to create our country. We paid for it. We fought for it. We died for it. We will stand by our principles. We will defend them. And, when necessary, we will die for them again, with or without your aid!”What an unbelievable statement. Perhaps even the younger BIG GUY understood the meaning and more importantly the will and resolve of Begin and his people. But you can be sure that Biden and Blinken will use American foreign aid as a weapon, a negotiating tool to gain Israeli cooperation and compromise. We can only hope that Netanyahu and others now in charge of Israeli politics will have the toughness, the character, the will of former Prime Minister Menachem Begin, the world famous Jew WITHOUT TREMBLING KNEES.Secretary of State Pompeo has been a great friend of Israel. He recently announced that America will recognize the global BOYCOTT – DIVESTMENT – SANCTIONS (BDS) movement as:            ANTI–SEMITIC.Pompeo said:“We want to recognize BDS for the cancer that it is. Anti–Zionism is anti-Semitism.” The Biden Administration will never be the friend and ally of Israel that the Trump Administration has been. Not only will our great country change, and not for the better, under Biden and the radical Democrats, but Israel, and much of the world as well will change, and in some ways fundamentally so. The good that Trump has done, the strengthening of the character of America in dealing head on with rogue nations like China, and Russia, and North Korea, and Iran among others can be done away with overnight and it probably will. What Obama hath wrought, Biden will increase. Some think the new President is somewhat centrist in thinking but those who know the forces behind him, those who are the real decision makers, are anything but. They are radical, hateful, anti–American, and most importantly, so many of them are anti–Israel, ANTI–SEMITES! Israel knows that and they are ready for the consequences. This little nation, so critical to the history of the world and to prophecy, will reach out but at the same time be ready to protect and defend, as they should be. Perhaps the Abraham Accords are just the beginning of the fulfillment of the prophecy and promise of the GOD ABRAHAM and the realization of that divine promise:            AND IN YOU ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH WILL BE BLESSED. May it be so. May the peace of Jerusalem prevail, not only in and for Israel, but for all the Middle East, and perhaps eventually for all the world or at least some good part of it. We live in incredible times my fellow Americans, absolutely prophetically incredible. Be watchmen and watchwomen on the walls. Pay attention to world events for they may well signal the beginning of the:            END TIMES.One thing is for sure. God will bless those who bless Israel and God will curse those who curse Israel. YOU CAN BE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN OF THAT.

Religion

“RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IS IN DANGER OF BECOMING A SECOND–CLASS RIGHT.”Those are the words of United States Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, virtually made at a gathering of the FEDERALIST SOCIETY, a group of conservatives and libertarians dedicated to reforming the legal system. No matter, said Alito, that freedom of religion is the first freedom in the First Amendment, and no matter that the prohibition and restriction upon the Congress and really upon any legal or legislative body, this fundamental right, this first freedom was in danger of being eroded or even eliminated. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito who is Catholic by faith went on to state again:            “Religious liberty is fast becoming a disfavored right.” That was partially because the Corona pandemic, he said, has resulted in “previously unimaginable restrictions on individual liberty.” Most Americans, at least right–thinking Americans would fully agree, wouldn’t you?The Founding Fathers of our beloved Constitution knew full well the importance of religion in the new world, and the dangers and difficulties which religion posed. So many of the original settlers of our great country came to escape religious persecution or otherwise to practice their religion as they wish and without governmental interference. They wished to worship without fear of persecution. They wanted no government to tell them how to worship, what to worship or when to worship. That is why the First Amendment absolutely and unconditionally prohibits Congress or by extension any other legal body from:            ESTABLISHING ANY RELIGION OF ANY KIND.But the Founders went further. They also, in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights unconditionally prevented Congress from PROHIBITING the free exercise thereof, religion that is so that faith, worship and religion could be practiced, exercised and carried out without restrictions of any kind. NONE! But prohibitions, religious prohibitions occur time and again. Witness the well known case which went before the United State Supreme Court known as LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR, protesting the Sisters were the demands, the force of the Obama Administration requiring the Sisters to offer contraceptives and abortive fasciants in their health plans, totally contrary to their sincerely held religious beliefs. And then there was baker Jack Phillips from the once great state of Colorado who was forced to bake for a gay wedding, contrary to his sincerely held religious beliefs, also decided by the Supreme Court. But those, hateful and anti–religious no matter the First Amendment found legal ways for these cases to continue even if both resulted in temporary legal victories for the plaintiffs. With the ever present threat of an ultimate result which would PROHIBIT either plaintiff from practicing and exercising their sincerely held religious beliefs. Justice Alito was right. Unless the Supreme Court provides the protection and the upholding of the FIRST FREEDOM, religious freedom will become a second–class citizen and will eventually be eroded or eliminated. GOD HELP AMERICA! And there is more, much more in that incredible First Amendment. There is not only the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion, but:            FREEDOM OF SPEECH.There is no such thing as freedom of religion unless there is freedom of speech. Religious speech is a critical component of religious freedom. Faith must be expressed. There is testimony and witness required within the church and without. There is prayer, absolutely essential, private and public. There is preaching and sermonizing. There is missionary work and sharing with speech faith and belief. NONE OF THAT CAN BE CURTAILED, NONE! The right to speak freely in all things and especially religion is absolutely guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution. Speech of any kind cannot be:            ABRIDGED.It matters not how speech may be described. It cannot be proscribed! It cannot be abridged in any form, NONE. But it is. There is the nefarious Johnson Act which prohibits Pastors and Christian leaders from using their positions or pulpits to discuss anything political including and especially the endorsement of any candidates or candidate point of view. And that is but one example. The attempt to curtail, ABRIDGE religious speech is an ongoing movement and priority among the liberal, radical, progressive, atheistic crowd which continually seems to get and exercise power and control over such matters. There is always intimidation, and threat, and even violence from time to time. Speech, free religious speech and its component, ARTISTIC EXPRESSION are constantly marginalized, threatened, abridged with impunity. And, says Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, it will only get worse unless the Supreme Court steps in and protects these unconditional and sacrosanct first freedoms.And the abridgement continues most aggressively with regard to the so called:            FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.Witness Big Tech, radical, progressive, anti–conservative and anti–Christian. Amazon, Bezos, Twitter, Dorsey, Apple, Cook, Facebook, Zuckerberg, all four platforms and all four Chief Executives liberal, radical, progressive, indifferent to the requirements of the First Amendment. And in fact, they are actually protected in what they do and how they do their business by congressional legislation, a very direct and aggressive form of legislation which the First Amendment ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITS. Why there is no legal challenge to this Big Tech protective legislation is a matter of great concern. Conservative, Christian and religious thought is circumscribed, edited and even eliminated:            SHADOW BANNED.Witness the banning and elimination of the material published by The New York Post, a strong conservative newspaper by Twitter and the lame, half hearted apology by Chief Executive Jack Dorsey, after the fact and after the damage was done. CENSORSHIP is a way of life with these now absolutely unchecked monopolies. Freedom of the press, print, like speech is being eroded and eliminated by the day. Not only must the Supreme Court step in as Justice Samuel Alito maintains, but Americans must WAKE UP and realize the incredible dangers which now exist and the rapidity with which the erosion or elimination of these basic freedoms in the First Amendment now occur. Are you concerned? You should be. And if you are, you should stand up and do something and do it now. Freedom of religion, and its necessary components freedom of speech and press – print have never been more in danger in our great country. And then, the First Amendment guarantees, the freedom of ASSEMBLY. Meeting together. Worshiping. Gathering to discuss anything and everything. Gatherings of two or three or more. In churches, synagogues, mosques. Without fear or prohibition. But witness, my fellow Americans, the Corona Effect. Religious houses of worship, churches, synagogues and mosques were shut down. The right to assemble, peaceably assemble was taken away. Governors and legislative bodies forbid collective worship. No matter that restaurants, gyms, shopping malls and others where gathering and assembly was necessary were allowed to open in some states without restriction, the ban against churches continued. Real Christian leaders, men and women of Christian courage and conviction refused. Men like John MacArthur of Grace Community Church defied California Governor Newsom, opened the church, continued the worship and challenged the state to bring legal action against him and his congregation. California Governor Newsom, hypocrite that he is, attending a birthday party at a well known California and American restaurant with 12 or more people, not socially distanced and none wearing masks, never really responded to the challenge of MacArthur and in a courageous act of civil disobedience, with spiritual objectives at work, John MacArthur set an example for all Pastors, all Christian leaders, a path of resistance which many will be required to take as the precious First Amendment right to assemble becomes eroded or even eliminated. I can only hope that you as Christian, Jew or Muslim will fully support any of your religious leaders who stand up with this precious First Amendment right and refuse to be intimated or bullied by radical, progressive, anti–constitutional forces and politicians who champion these anti–constitutional measures.The First Amendment of the Constitution also guarantees the right to petition to appeal to any legislative bodies for the redress of grievances, whether by speech, press or print, or by peaceful protest or parades, or by public gatherings where legislators convene. You can be certain that radicals will do everything possible to curtail, prevent and eliminate all such public gatherings, even to the point where petitions may well be ignored or even in extreme cases criminalized.What a world. How America has so radically changed in some 9 months. The words of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito once again:“The pandemic has resulted in previously unimaginable restrictions on individual liberty (The First Amendment).”Has it ever. Radicals would seek to introduce socialism as a way of life politically and personally for our great country. These new brutal radicals would seek to do away with First Amendment freedoms and especially the freedom of religion. Now comes a new administration, Biden – Harris and company. They say that Biden is a moderate Democrat. Perhaps but doubtful. But then there is Harris, Kamala Harris, as liberal and radical as they come, a Senator from California with the most radical voting record of any United States Senator. She may someday be President by default should anything happen to Biden. In any event, she and her ilk, Sanders, Warren, Tlaib, Omar, AOC and the like including of course the insidious BLACK LIVES MATTER entity will exercise considerable influence over presidential decisions and move America direction – left. But, if Harris ever becomes President, there will be in America an incredible:            LURCH TO THE LEFT.And for all intents and purposes, it will be the end of the America we now know and love. I pray that doesn’t happen, don’t you? WE THE PEOPLE must stand alert as watchmen and women on our political walls and now as the war for freedom wages, we must STAND UP, move from mere talk to strong action so that we do everything possible to preserve, protect and defend our basic freedoms especially those five fundamental rights in the First Amendment. If we don’t, gone.Remember the words of President Ronald Reagan:            FREEDOM IS ONLY ONE GENERATION AWAY FROM EXTINCTION.The freedoms we now enjoy and unfortunately take for granted are on the verge of serious erosion or elimination. Only you, only I can prevent that from happening. Will you? Will you stand up and do something, DO SOMETHING? Now or never my fellow Americans. I pray you have the courage and character to stand up for America and the freedoms we all enjoy. PLEASE DO IT! 

Thanksgiving

We the people so privileged to live in America have so much to be thankful for. God has allowed us to live in the greatest nation in human history, in my opinion. How grateful we should be. Thanks be unto God for His incredible gifts to mankind.There are so many things to be thankful for. And we should approach this wonderful time of year with gratitude and Thanksgiving Day, and Thanksgiving week, and in fact all year long, we should:GIVE THANKSAnd you are thankful are you not my fellow Americans, for so much, so much that you have, so many opportunities that you have and the life which God has given you to lead. You are thankful and grateful, are you not?Our forefathers, as they established America one-of-a-kind, the pilgrims and others, did exactly that:THEY GAVE THANKS OVER AND AGAINThose who came first to America brought with them a deeply rooted sense of gratitude for all good things. They were grateful to God for everything, the Great Giver of all things. They thanked their God with works and prayers. And they set aside a day in the fall, after harvest to be especially thankful for all that God’s earth had bestowed.  They set aside Thanksgiving Day to be grateful and to celebrate. The harvest reaped assured them of survival and prosperity during the harsh winter to come and they were grateful. The earth gave and they harvested. The earth bestowed the bounty of God and they reaped the harvest, with gratitude and with thanksgiving. Even as they, the first ones here, thanked the God Creator for these unspeakable, incredible gifts, so should we.So, amidst the fun and fellowship of the Thanksgiving Day and week, we should set aside time to be grateful. We should tell others of our gratitude and in a world so often negative and spiteful, let our attitude be positive and think on those things which are good, for there are so many of them.When households and humans the world over die every day, we should be grateful for life, for living, for the lifestyle we enjoy. Opportunity for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is everywhere, thanks be to God. We can start by serving HIM, and others.  We can work and be productive. We can learn and train. We can earn, and profit, and grow, grow personally and professionally in so many ways. And we can do that every day, EVERY DAY, and especially this day which the Lord hath made. Thanks be to God for opportunity, for the freedom which creates that opportunity.So we celebrate life and we who are pro–life pray that there may be no abortion. That life, man and woman, and family will be governed by Biblical principles. That the elderly will be loved and live as long as possible. That we will educate, train up our young in the right ways so that when they are mature, they will take responsibility for our great country, protect the American way and revive us again with a deep sense of morality. How thankful so many of us would be for such a revival, the revival of love and respect for our Lord and for our great country. We should help them learn the lessons of grateful hearts.And surely, we should be grateful for family and friends, should we not? Those closest to us may be the least appreciated. We should share our love with them and tell them our feelings. We should thank them, love them for all that they do and all that they are. There are those who do so much, give so much to us without thanks. Like a loving spouse. And our children, spreading their love and joy. And for our friends, ready in our time of need, sharing life with us and making it better. We should not only be thankful for all of them, but tell them so, and share the love we feel for them. So that we honor our Lord at Thanksgiving not only with love for HIM, but others as well, our neighbors, even as we love ourselves. If you were to see them, be with them perhaps for the last time, what would you say? Thanksgiving gives you the opportunity to say it. And surely we are thankful for our freedoms, are we not?  For our great Constitution, our Bill of Rights, our Declaration of Independence, our Rule of Law at work and the freedom we enjoy to pursue life, liberty and happiness as we choose. No one, no entity, no government can tell us what to do. We can define our own happiness and pursue it as we wish. We can feel the joy of living as we wish and perhaps as much as anything at this special time, we should be thankful, THANKFUL for this. And, surely Thanksgiving gives us the opportunity to CELEBRATE, and joyfully so.Most of us can enjoy wonderful food, and the aromas of turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce. How good it would be if we could make certain that others less fortunate could enjoy what we enjoy as well. We should be grateful Thanksgiving Day, and week and all year long for the food of the harvest we enjoy as our forefathers did. Even as we partake in the fellowship of family and friends, and the fun and good times of the day, and of course for so many the football, as we eat the bread of the day, we should remember the BREAD OF LIFE, the One who came for us and makes life so worth living. Even as we enjoy the fruits of the plains, so we should rejoice even more so in the fruits of the Spirit. In all things, giving thanks, THANKS to the God who indeed blesses America.As a young boy at Thanksgiving, our family traditionally traveled to a local orphanage.There we sang and witnessed to them in word and song, brought them joy and blessings and provided them with Thanksgiving food. Our family Thanksgiving Day started with that special blessing for them, and even more so for us. Even as we gave, we got more in return. Then, back home where our family tradition included a spirited touch football game on the front lawn, more games, and more fun, and more fellowship, and more laughter, and more joy. The joy of the Lord was abundant in our household and we were grateful, thankful to God for father and mother, for home, for food, for everything we were given. We were safe and secure, wrapped in the arms of love and joy. How wonderful that was.And we think of the world at large. Wars and rumors of wars. ISIS kills without reason.Terrorism abounds, and the threat of that even in our own country. There is North Korea with incredible nuclear capability, seemingly ready to strike even our beloved America. And Iran, and Russia, and China, so that the world is at war or gets ready for it. We have been ordained, privileged to live in these times, perhaps the end times which should cause us to be even more thankful for what we have, never taking for granted or assuming the future but living with thanks for this very day and the opportunities it brings. We who can and will enjoy the spirit of Thanksgiving should do our very best to spread that to a needy world. And the best of that of course is the Bread of Life, the salt and light of Jesus Christ, the first fruits of the spiritual harvest.  We should spread that message the world over and give thanks to God for the opportunity. Only that message, that person can solve the world’s problems, and make all humankind loving and grateful.So often, we sing or recite the words of God Bless America. For it is in fact, OUR HOME SWEET HOME. But God has already blessed America, and all of us. In so many ways, we have had the best of everything. Our lifestyle has been exceptional. America is in fact an exceptional country in so many ways and we should make certain that this, OUR LAND OF PLENTY shares that PLENTY, all that bounty with all of our fellow citizens. Thanksgiving gives us that very special opportunity to share in that way. And as we continue to pray for our great country, we should ask the God of all blessings to STAND BESIDE HER (America) and guide her, through the night and with the bright light of the Gospel at all times. For the moral light of America has been dimmed and we are no longer the beacon on the hill we once were. We should resolve at Thanksgiving to be a part of a new reformation, a new revival, grateful and thankful hearts returning to the very highest spiritual principles. That is real Thanksgiving at work. We should resolve to turn from our wrongful ways, we should pray for God’s help, we should seek His guidance and wisdom and above all, as Second Chronicles tells us, we should humble ourselves before our God and when we do all four, we will be heard and change, fundamental moral and loving change will occur in our great country and in us. Thanksgiving should motivate us to do that. The blessings of God do in fact exist from the mountains, and to the prairies and to the oceans white with foam. God has blessed America with a uniqueness we should never take for granted. And at this wonderful season, we should be especially thankful for:OUR HOME SWEET HOMEAnd for all of those great and brave men and women who have fought and died for our freedoms, and made certain that we who now enjoy can live so abundantly in this our Home Sweet Home. We owe them gratitude this day and in fact at all times.Especially at Thanksgiving time, the words of that great song GOD BLESS AMERICA should ring out with love and gratitude: GOD BLESS AMERICALAND THAT I LOVESTAND BESIDE HERAND GUIDE HERTHROUGH THE NIGHT WITH THE LIGHT FROM ABOVE FROM THE MOUNTAINSTO THE PRAIRIESTO THE OCEANS WHITE WITH FOAM GOD BLESS AMERICAMY HOME SWEET HOME GOD BLESS AMERICAMY HOME SWEET HOME I personally am so thankful for the Christian faith, for the love and salvation of Jesus Christ which is mine. I have experienced that spiritual harvest, and I have so personally enjoyed and partaken of the blessings of THE SALT AND LIGHT OF THE WORLD. Life has, for me, been so much more meaningful and I treasure and am so thankful for such wonderful blessings in my life. And so I personally say, thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift in Jesus Christ and I do hope and pray for the very same for you. May you and all mankind experience that love, and that salvation so that you can say at Thanksgiving time and every day this marvelous prayer: THANK YOU LORD FOR SAVING MY SOULTHANK YOU LORD FOR MAKING ME WHOLE THANK YOU LORD FOR GIVING TO METHY GREAT SALVATION SO FULL AND FREE And as well, gratefully and prayerfully, our grateful hearts should sing these wonderful words: O BEAUTIFUL FOR SPACIOUS SKIESFOR AMBER WAVES OF GRAIN FOR PURPLE MOUNTAIN MAJESTIESABOVE THE FRUITED PLAINS AMERICA, AMERICAGOD SHED HIS GRACE ON THEE AND CROWN THY GOODWITH BROTHERHOODFROM SEA TO SHINING SEAAt Thanksgiving time, my fellow Americans, may God bless America and may:GOD BLESS YOU!

America The Beautiful

OH, BEAUTIFUL FOR SPACIOUS SKIES, this beloved land of the United States of America is. But this land, our land is so divided in so many ways by we the people that it becomes daily far from beautiful. Our recent elections show how divided we are even though, amazingly so, elections for the most part were peaceful. With minor exceptions, riots and violence did not occur. At least for now. But as we are as a people, this American house of ours cannot stand. Unity, common ground, commonality in ideas and values seem long gone. But now comes a President Elect who promises UNITY. Joe Biden as our presumptive leader and President asks us to come together and unite in common causes for the good of America. But, that of course will depend upon what the causes are. Biden promises moderation, announces he eschews the radicalism and ultra liberal progressivism of so much of his party, while at his side as Vice President is the most liberal, radical member of the United States Senate. Having large hands in decision making will be none other than Vermont Senator and radical socialist Bernie Sanders. And of course, Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, liberal as they come. And Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, she the author of the Equality Act as radical as it comes, and Congressmen Schiff and Nadler among many others and of course the Squad, AOC, Tlaib, Omar, and Pressley, again as liberal and radical as four women can be. Along with Kamala Harris, it will be simply amazing if this think tank, this President – Elect by committee does not attempt in every way possible a major LURCH TO THE LEFT which of course would tear America apart. Only the election and confirmation of two Republican Senators from the great state of Georgia can prevent that.What Democrats will do, now in charge of the White House, and the House of Representatives may happen gradually, step by step, but change, and eventually radical change will in fact occur. COUNT ON IT!We are told that our Supreme Court is reasonably conservative. This court, the pundits say will prevent extreme and radical legislation, and congressional and state action from becoming the law of land in defiance of the Constitution. Our Supreme Court is comprised of Chief Justice John Roberts, a supposed conservative, and Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, confirmed constitutional originalists, and Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, also supposed conservatives in thinking and decision making, and now after a brutal confirmation hearing, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, yet another so called constitutional originalist and textualist. That is a total of six supposedly conservative–leaning Justices. But are they? The vote of John Roberts is always unpredictable. Thomas and Alito invariably vote in conservative, originalist fashion. But Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, like Roberts, are unpredictable in decision making, leaning more conservative but always potentially ready for that surprise liberal vote. We can assume that conservative decision making of Justice Barrett but that remains to be seen.But we the people can surely count on virtual unanimity in decision making from the liberal block including Justices Kagan, Breyer and Sotomayor. It takes only two votes from two Justices leaning left to change a decision. That has and will happen, perhaps time and again. For three liberal Justices vote consistently and openly in liberal even progressive fashion, unashamed and consistent. So often, it seems, the conservative Justices so called, including and especially Chief Justice Roberts vote leaning left, perhaps political rather than constitutional and are consequently unpredictable unlike the three liberal Justices. The Supreme Court may be conservative on paper but the legal paper they produce can be anything but. This court, this newly formed group of nine Justices will vote on some of the most crucial issues which have ever faced our great country. Democrats are determined to effectuate THE GREEN NEW DEAL. Biden has indicated clearly and emphatically that he intends to do away with fossil fuels. Natural (green) energy will eventually rule the day, so say Biden and the Democrats, no matter the cost now estimated in the several trillion dollars as a starter, preventing any and all kinds of FRACTURING, and drilling wherever possible, and the construction of new pipelines in an attempt first to curtail the usage of fossil fuels and then to eliminate them. We can just imagine the litigation which will ensue.And taxes. We will see, if Biden and his party have their way, an unbelievable, progressive increase in taxes for every American. It is just simply amazing that these radical politicians continue with the old saw of tax increases for the wealthy only, untrue in every way, for these very same taxes ultimately affect the so called middle class and even those below. The more, the bigger government, the more taxes. The Trump Tax Reforms will be done away with as soon as possible. Everyone and every entity, including and especially corporations will pay more, and in some cases far more taxes. The Democrats are the party of big government and they will tax private enterprise with a vengeance. Unchecked, there will be a continual whittling away of our private economy which pre–Corona had begun to thrive and grow so much so under the Trump–induced economy. There may well be the end of so much opportunity, including large portions of the American Dream. Entrepreneurs will be scarce; venture capital will be difficult to raise. Risk taking will be at a minimum. Our economy will in fact be dominated by large Corporations, by BIG TECH and competition, real economic competition will be extremely limited. Many predict that capitalism will be attacked at every level and that socialism, gradual and perhaps imperceptible will take route step by step until it ultimately dominates our great country.Many economists say that the Biden government will return to far more and oppressive regulations. If legislation, radical in nature, can be blocked by a Republican Senate, executive orders will issue which will increase regulations and eventually suffocate private enterprise. The swamp which the Trump Administration was determined to reduce or eliminate will grow creatures now more than ever. Capitalism is a target, the enemy for these socialists in hiding. The radical, socialistic elements in the Democrat party wish to change the Constitution so as to eliminate the electoral college. They are against federalism. They wish to eliminate or control the power and authority of the various states. But at the same time, they wish to admit two new states to our union, total 52 in the form of Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, states newly formed which Democrats are convinced will allow them further representation and control in the Senate and the House. And, Democrats are determined as well to PACK THE U.S. SUPREME COURT. They want to add Justices, perhaps as many as four or even more who can be appointed by a Democrat President and confirmed by a Democrat Senate so as to control the Supreme Court for liberal purposes. These new Democrats, our new leaders, radical and progressive are determined to change America and to eliminate so very much of our beloved constitutional and free way of life. Watch for this to happen step by step. Watch for what is called:         CANCEL CULTURE.The cancelling of traditional American constitutional rights and freedoms one by one.Elections 2020 had some most interesting results. The House of Representatives, all 435 of them elected every two years, saw some rather significant gains by Republicans. Democrats will in fact control the House but nowhere near as significantly in number as before. We begin already to see challenges to the leadership of Pelosi and the typical Democrat approach to legislation. The more radical elements in the House, like the Squad, will no longer take a backseat to Pelosi and the traditional Democrat way of doing business. The Schumer leadership in the Senate will be challenged by centrist Senators, few as they are, but more importantly, by the more radical Democrats senatorial elements like Bernie Sanders, challenged to champion socialistic and radical legislation. Rather than unity and coming together, many predict WE THE PEOPLE will have more division than ever before. I pray they are wrong but I fear they are right.Joe Biden as President will be pressured to issue executive orders time and again, and especially when legislation, progressive or radical in nature, cannot pass House and Senate. When these executive orders occur, you can count on litigation at every turn. Our federal courts and our Supreme Court will be busier than ever as our once great country continues to fracture. Many will have voted and as is so typical, withdraw from the political arena. But the task of any good American, any real citizen, only just begins. It is our duty, not in any way optional, but a firm duty for every citizen to stay involved in the political process and to make certain that those elected fulfill the promises they have made. WE THE PEOPLE MUST HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. Politicians will do and say anything to get elected. When that happens, who they really are and what they really believe comes out and it is then BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM. Pre–elections had rallies, meetings, marches, the assembly so often of concerned citizens and all of that, ALL OF THAT must continue if America is to survive. We must hold these politicians accountable, WE THE PEOPLE MUST HOLD OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE. We live in a day and age, in our very own country and globally, which absolutely requires all of us, every caring American citizen to be and stay involved politically. We cannot withdraw, WE CANNOT, for if we do, we the good men and women of America, if we withdraw from the political arena, the bad men and women will take over. This is our country, and it is our duty not to mention our privilege to protect and defend the America we love and which has given us so much. Stay involved my fellow Americans, STAY POLITICALLY INVOLVED NOW MORE THAN EVER. HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE! Our future as free citizens depends upon our ability to hold 545 people, citizens like us, including 435 House of Representatives, 100 Senators, 9 Supreme Court Justices and one President, 545 fully and completely:         ACCOUNTABLE!If you want the beautiful America to remain as free and beautiful as it has always been. 

America

A HOUSE DIVIDED CANNOT STAND!So says the scripture. That would be, would it not my fellow Americans, our beloved America. We really are not diversified (true diversity is a myth) but we are divided, deeply and it seems irreparably. Citizen against citizen. Conflicting ideas. Seemingly radically different moral values. And, WE THE PEOPLE in a constant battle over our beloved rule of law and Constitution, which many believe should be done away with all together (shocking), others simply changed and amended, still others kept but organically and currently interpreted while the remaining feel that the Constitution should not only be kept, but enforced with an originalist and textualist approach. Where do you stand my fellow Americans and how do you see the America you wish your family, friends and all of us your fellow citizens to live? LESSONS. What lessons, I ask, have WE THE PEOPLE learned from elections 2020? They are done and over, thankfully but not really, for there will be protests, even riots, and of course the inevitable and seemingly forever LITIGATION. But surely there were lessons learned. Perhaps this is a good time for you and I to take stock, to look hard at what happened and what role (if any) we, you and I played in this the most critical election in American history. What you and I did or did not do will have a lasting effect for years to come.THE VOTE. Did you vote? And did you vote right? Were you convinced about the issues, the parties, the platforms, the principles and did you understand them, evaluate them and vote for candidates and parties which best represented and promised to do what was right for America? In short, are you proud of an informed vote and consequently discharging the privilege and duty you have as a citizen to vote? There is nothing more precious in the political world than a free and independent vote for a country and for the leaders to represent you, NOTHING! Men and women have fought and died for the right to vote and perhaps WE THE PEOPLE maybe for the first time did not take the right to vote for granted. If you truly love America, and you are truly proud to be an American citizen, you would never miss the opportunity to vote. And as you discharged this democratic principle and your civic duty, I do hope that you voted for candidates who believe in:         BIBLICAL VALUES.We the people of faith fight the social issues of:ABORTIONLGBTQIA EUTHANASIAEMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCHHUMAN TRAFFICKINGPORNOGRAPHYamong others. No matter who is elected and where, the fight of faith goes on. We should never forget that. And perhaps this election taught us the lesson that we must be more involved in politics, all of us. We must spend more time in the political arena. We cannot wait for the next election. WE THE PEOPLE must be the leaders, those who make the decisions, those in charge of our states, our counties, our cities, our townships and all local governmental bodies. WE THE PEOPLE must be in charge, and involved, and AT ALL TIMES. Government and its critical decision making never ends. There are those who dedicate their lives to government, to the power it brings and the decision making which can occur. Tens of millions of Americans do not! They leave that to others. But democracy, the republic in which we live demands that we be involved, and involved at all times. Are you? Will you now more than ever? WHEN GOOD MEN AND WOMEN ABANDON THE POLITICAL ARENA, THE BAD TAKE OVER. So said Edmund Burke. We the people cannot vote and then abandon. To be a citizen of this great country means to be involved every day in which we are privileged to live here. I pray that from this point forward, you, presumably a person of faith, will be more involved in government, in politics, in the running of your country and consequently your life now more than ever. It seems as if so many voted on the basis of PERSONALITY in these elections. You could hear across America the loud cry of the NEVER TRUMPSTERS. Many did not like the man personally. Many more were turned off by his personality and no matter what he believed or his performance as President, which was highly beneficial to people of faith, many of those very same people refused to vote for Trump and consequently his party as a result. But the lesson we should learn from elections 2020 is that we vote not on the basis of personality, or likability, but political promise and most importantly PERFORMANCE. To paraphrase Senator Feinstein from California:         THE LIE RUNS DEEP IN ALL POLITICIANS!Never forget that former President Barack Hussein Obama warned us that WE THE PEOPLE now lived in the:         ERA OF POST TRUTH.In short, anything verbally goes according to Obama, and perhaps virtually all politicians and we must, my fellow Americans, find a way to hold our leaders to the truth, to make decisions based on facts and to reestablish the old morality, the old Judeo – Christian morality which was the foundation, the essential pillar of our great country. Without that, we will continue a house divided and:         WE WILL NOT STAND!And our educational system. It has been taken over by progressives, radicals, even foreign interests like China, Saudi Arabia, Iran and others. American history and values are put to the side or eliminated altogether. We must regain control of our colleges and universities. And our high schools. And especially the teaching of our children. Perhaps a lesson we have learned from this election is that we cannot delegate the teaching of our children to others, especially in the realm of politics and civic duty. THAT MUST BEGIN AT HOME! Parents, no matter how busy, need to make quality time for discussion, for learning, for reading the Constitution, and all things about the rule of law, and discuss intelligently and fairly all the social issues of the day. THAT BEGINS AT HOME! If as scripture says the training up of a child begins the right way at home, when that child is old and subjected to anti–American, radical and progressive professors and thinking in college, that child will not depart from the right teaching of the parents. TEACH YOUR CHILDREN! And teach them a love for America with a will and determination to solve its problems and to maximize its potential. This election should have taught us to beware of:         SOCIALISM EVEN COMMUNISM.Both are a threat to our society and there are those by the thousands who wish to take America in that direction. Beware of them, watch for them and make certain they do not lead or control.And now we PRAY. We have done all we can. We have worked knowing the night is coming and we have participated in elections 2020 most hopefully to the very best of our abilities. And now we PRAY. We pray for our leaders. We pray for the influence of God Almighty in their lives and decision making. We pray they our leaders will be sensitive, truthful, determined to follow the oath they take to protect and preserve the Constitution and the America they are privileged to serve. We pray that these politicians, our leaders, will honor truth, fulfill their promises and otherwise make our great country greater! That America would once again be a true leader in the world. That we the people would revive our values and morality so that we can once again be as a nation and a people:         A SHINING CITY ON THE HILL. We pray for the end of division. We pray that we can find a way to be ONE NATION UNDER GOD. We pray that we the American people can once again become INDIVISIBLE no matter our differences. We pray that a new civility may return, that we can dialogue and discuss with each other and seek common ground wherever possible following the biblical admonition that without compromise or sacrifice, we make friends with all mankind.And we pray that we the people will HUMBLE ourselves before each other and before God. We pray that we will seek HIS will now more than ever. And we pray that our great country will turn from any evil way and morally revive and that our leaders, newly elected and reelected, will do the same. Then and only then will GOD BLESS AMERICA. Then and only then will our freedoms be preserved. Then and only then will we appreciate our freedoms, preserve and protect them knowing that once they are lost, they are gone forever.Now we go forward as a nation, my fellow Americans. I do hope you pray as I do that:         GOD WILL BLESS THE AMERICA YOU AND I LOVE! 

AMERICA – THE VOTE

IT IS HERE!Tuesday, November 3, 2020 is here. It calls us to action; it calls us to:         THE VOTE.The most important vote in all of America’s 240–year history. It is your last opportunity, my fellow Americans to vote, whether Monday, November 2 or in person Tuesday, November 3. And, you will vote, citizens of the greatest country in the world, will you not? You must!The future of this great country depends upon your vote. The political choices we have are as clear and as different as they have ever been. You will vote for America as it is, essentially so, or you will vote for a radical America, lurching to the left, employing the incredible weapon of:         CANCEL CULTUREand American history, and its political traditions, and its religious pillars and so many of its freedoms we have held dear since 1776. How will you vote? What do you believe America should be?Will you vote BIBLICAL VALUES? America in so many ways was built upon Judeo – Christian values, the pillars of our society. Its laws and rule of law were taken from the old English Common Law and from the Commandments, the moral principles of scripture. It created for us and for the world to see an EXCEPTIONAL society, men and women building upon essential freedoms, the freedom of religion, and speech, press, assembly and petition. It was a REPUBLIC for all the world to see. But this republic, built upon democratic principles, required hard work over and again. It required diligence, strong protections, passionate adherence to its principles, growth and development day and night. This American experiment and freedom was fragile, difficult and looked upon by the world at large as temporary. Our Founders who gave us this republic knew the dangers and the difficulties, which led Founder Benjamin Franklin to state:         WE GAVE YOU A REPUBLIC IF YOU CAN KEEP IT.Our beloved constitution gave us a republic if we could keep it. Can we? We have done so for 244 years. But will these elections 2020 take it from us? If we vote for and allow radicals, progressives, socialists to take power and rule us, this long–standing republic will be done away with, in part overnight and the rest step by step. The vote you cast will determine our future. And you must vote, my fellow Americans, YOU MUST VOTE! Have you?We and our ancestors built this country. It was the blood, sweat and tears of our ancestors which gave us the America we now enjoy. This BUILDING took leadership, entrepreneurs, men and women with vision, mission and purpose guiding and directing, accumulating capital and financial resources, persuading others to invest and providing jobs, millions of jobs for those who were willing to work. America required the very best of the Captains of Industry and the hard work and diligence of workers white and blue collar. This combined effort made us great. It built a society affluent, opportunistic and abundant especially as compared to the rest of the world. The question for us and for all history is:         CAN WE KEEP IT?Can we? That depends on how you will vote, my fellow Americans and for which party, politician and platform you wish for America. We will continue on as a nation essentially as we are, working to better ourselves, for reform, revival, growth, equality, fairness and justice for all, solving our problems without destroying our country. And as we vote, we pray, and we pray for the blessings of our Lord on our country, our leaders and we the people. We do the best we can and then we trust the will of God Almighty for our country.The results begin Wednesday, November 4. The elections in final form may not be known for days. There will be protests, claims of fraud, legal challenges. There will be protests, civil unrest, even the resumption of riots and perhaps even massive civil disobedience. We may well have a country in turmoil for days to come. We may witness the tearing apart of the Great Society and the resumption of the hatred, animosity, and deep division which characterizes America today. These will be the times, as Founder Thomas Paine well said that:         TRY MEN’S SOUL.But the die is cast and we pray for fair elections, all votes counted and accurately so and the results when final, clear and indisputable. Without that, we will live with civil unrest and even disobedience for weeks and months to come. These are revolutionary days in America and those who are real patriots must stand up, fight the fight of freedom, and fight the fight of faith. We are now in this fight, like it or not, and it will require eternal vigilance, activity and reassertion of the right moral and political principles in order for the America we love to survive. Are you ready? I pray to that end. And I pray for America, and its future, and yours and mine.And as we pray, we seek the blessing of God Almighty. But this God we love and worship has told us that there can be no divine answer to our petitions unless we humble ourselves. America is a prideful nation, our people turn secular and humanistic more than ever, they regard man as the measure of all things with no need of anything divine or spiritual. So much so that no divine blessing can come. And then, our God says, we must turn from wicked ways. Immorality is so deeply imbedded in American society and culture that will be extremely difficult, requiring radical change. That will take revival, a deep sense of culture born again, doubtful it is that America is ready for that. But it must turn if it is to be blessed.And then we are told we must seek God with all of our hearts, to love HIM with all of our strength. That is so little evident in America today and as such, there can be no divine blessing, and then we must pray, and pray without ceasing, pray believing that this God will bless America and us with it. And if those four things occur, if we the people are humble, turn, pray and seek his will, then and only then will the God of our Lord Jesus Christ answer, and not before. It is apparent that we have work to do before that blessing will come. And then we as a people as we contemplate the America we have recreated must:         BE STILL AND KNOW THAT HE IS GOD. Be still, wait patiently, pray for enlightenment and wisdom and wait for the events divinely directed to unfold. We can be still if we know in our hearts that we have done everything possible that we should do as American citizens and voters. If we have done our duty, and if we have voted, and if we have stood tall for the America which has given us so much, then we can wait patiently for the will of God to happen. And as we do, give thanks in everything. Give thanks as God has commanded, for everything, EVERYTHING! And especially for the America we are privileged to live in. And as you do, stand up, stand tall, fight the fight of faith, run the race. Vow to be better, work harder, and be ready at all times to place your:         ALL ON THE ALTER. As millions of Christians and patriots have in times past. Pray my fellow Americans that Pastors, Christian leaders, lawyers, doctors and businessmen, White, Black and Latino will stand up as Christians and defend. America desperately needs that. In so many ways, there has been an America as we are told by Francis A. Schaeffer that in Christendom and its leadership, there has been a:         VAST SILENCE.And that must end, end now and forevermore. Even if America lurches to the left, even if radicals and those anti–American prevail, there is opportunity, different, more challenging and certainly more difficult. But it is there nonetheless to champion the faith, and the freedoms of this great country. We will be called upon as citizens and Christians to respond to a much higher responsibility, with more work, more doing, a harder life in every way. Then, the mettle of our character and our faith will be surely tested and the cost, the true cost of standing for the Gospel will be demanded. Are you ready for that? Are you ready to fight the fight of faith? We the people of THE BOOK and the scriptures can never again take our freedom of religion for granted. I pray for this great country. I pray for you and yours, your family, friends and those you love and for all Americans. We have always been one nation under God, striving to be indivisible, striving as well to provide liberty and justice for all. We have done all of that within the structure of our great republic. Now we say with Ben Franklin of old:         CAN WE KEEP THIS GREAT REPUBLIC?What becomes of America in our hands, with our votes, with our actions. Who are we and will we be as a people and what will become of our great country. Those are questions now eternal, challenges to each of us forevermore. There is much to be done before we can really honestly and sincerely ask that:         GOD BLESS AMERICA.I do hope and pray that you voted and that you voted for an America under God, moral, with character to be led by people who believe the same. We have always been the world’s leader, a shining city on the hilltop. I pray with all my heart we stay that way. 

The VOTE

Are you ready to vote in the most important election in the history of human kind? Are you?There has never been elections like this in all of history, never. Tuesday, November 3, 2020 is not a mere vote for parties, platforms or politicians. Rather, it is a vote:         EXISTENTIALFundamental, one which could change the lives, the EXISTENCE of every American. The way of life, the freedoms, the constitutionality of 330 million people, Americans of one kind or another is at stake. So, again, are you ready to vote? And you will vote, will you not? The Democrat party has turned left, LURCHED to the left. This party, once generally constitutional now has become progressive, radical, and worst of all, socialistic. It has become the:         PARTY OF POST TRUTH.It will lie, deceive, hide and do anything hypocritically necessary in order to win and regain the full power of the federal government. It now controls the House of Representatives and intends to keep that majority, whatever it takes. It needs but a net gain of 3 seats in the United States Senate and it will gain control of that august body. And of course, the Democrats think they have in Joe Biden a winner, one who will be elected by the American people over the supposedly unpopular Donald Trump. If Democrats win the presidency, and the majority in the U.S. Senate, and the House of Representatives:         GOODBYE AMERICA!THE FIRST AMENDMENT. The Democrats will wage all out war on religion. Obama sought to change and reinterpret the constitutional freedom of EXERCISE of religion to the WORSHIP of religion, thankfully to no avail. Democrats will reinforce the Johnson Amendment which forbids public speaking and endorsement from the churches and other religious entities. Democrats will attack the tax exempt status of churches. The Hyde Amendment which forbids the payment for abortions by the federal government will be done away with and you and I will pay for any and every abortion which any woman wants to have. All of that for starters. Religion will be excised from the public square step by step, slowly but surely. You have witnessed the brutal attack on Catholics, no matter how qualified the Catholic may be. Justice Kavanaugh and soon to be Justice Barrett were savaged by the Senate Judiciary Committee. That is only a harbinger of more aggressive things to come for those who believe as people of faith and politics. Are you prepared to vote for Democrats knowing that will happen, are you? I pray not. SPEECH will also be curtailed. We already have hate speech which abridges free speech and more abridgement, restrictions will come.Democrats will do everything possible to limit the freedoms of the press, no matter the First Amendment. There may well be limitations on the right of assembly guaranteed by the First Amendment. Their agenda will be fully protected and endorsed by the media, the current press, and Hollywood, and the sports world, and academia, and most of the unions of our great country, so that the attackers will be formidable and ultimately fully aggressive. A vote for a Democrat candidate is a vote for all of that. Is that what you want for yourself, your family and this great country, is it? I ask you unabashedly to vote Republican.ABORTION. It will be promoted, protected, codified and made the forever law of the land. Do you believe in abortion and will you let Democrats accomplish that macabre objective, will you? Don’t vote for them.Democrats will champion the LGBTQIA agenda, now seemingly constitutional as a result of a Supreme Court decision. A vote for Democrats is a vote for the EQUALITY ACT and the gay agenda in every aggressive way possible. Is that what you want for America, is it? You will get just that if you vote Democrat.EUTHANASIA. No matter the sentiments against by Roman Catholic, Evangelical, Jewish or Muslim true believers and people of faith, Democrats will push and accomplish the agenda and objectives of euthanasia everywhere. Do you want that? THE ECONOMY. Democrats will seek to control the economy as much as possible and move it toward SOCIALISM. There is always the promise to tax, curtail and otherwise control if not redistribute the wealth of the WEALTHY, a canard if there ever was one. TAXES will go through the roof and the middle class will pay indeed no matter the lies of the Democrats. The DEBT of America, now out of control, will spiral downward even further and it may be a decade or more before America can right the ship if Democrats are elected. Is that what you want for America, you and your family, is it? You will get just that if you vote Democrat.THE DEMOCRAT POLITICIANS. If you vote for Joe Biden as President, you will get as Kamala Harris has bluntly stated the HARRIS – BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. Harris will control, and the influence of Bernie Sanders, a radical socialist will prevail in every key decision making. And so will the thinking of Pelosi and Schumer, leaders of the House and Senate. That kind of oligarchy will be a disaster for America. Is that what you want in 2020, the political effects of which may last for decades, is that what you want? Is that what you will vote for? It is if you vote Democrat, it surely is.CONSTITUTIONALITY. If the Democrats control, they may well pack the Supreme Court, adding two, three or four more Justices so that they can control decision making. There is nothing in the Constitution to prevent that. That was tried by Franklin Delano Roosevelt and was an absolute disaster. Is that what you want?Democrats will do everything possible to defund, minimize, or even in some cases eliminate the police and the protection they offer. That will cause major blows to law and order and the rule of law. Is that what you want? If you vote Democrat, that’s what you will get.RACE. Black Lives Matter will run rampant. Black Lives Matter and Antifa, George Soros, the world’s most evil man financed and driven, will foster violence even as they have already done. What happened in Portland and Seattle may well happen again and again. You will get that if you vote Democrat, you surely will. GREEN NEW DEAL. Democrats, and especially Kamala Harris will wage all out war on fossil fuels. That will include fracking in America, offshore oil drilling, Alaskan pipelines and so much more, an end to all of that and as soon as possible. Such an all–out effort will cost American trillions of dollars and the loss of hundreds and hundreds of thousands of jobs. Is that what you want? You will get that if you vote Democrat. THE MEDICAL. You will see the end of our existing medical system, now the best in the world. You will witness the implementation of the SINGLE PAYER SYSTEM, one size fits all. You will no longer have the healthcare you choose or pay for, but only that which the government will offer. That will be an absolute disaster, destructive to millions of Americans. Is that what you want? That is exactly what you will get if you vote Democrat. How can any thinking, America–loving citizen vote for the Democrats and this unbelievably radical, progressive, destructive platform, HOW? EDUCATION. COMMON CORE will rule. American history and educational priorities will be rewritten and taught differently. The LGBTQIA agenda will not only be taught but required in education particularly for the young. Free speech and other rights on college and even high school campuses will be even further restricted. Student debt now approaching 1.7 trillion dollars will be forgiven and you and I will pay for that once again. Is this what you want for education, for your children, grandchildren or yourself, is it? All of that is exactly what will happen if the Democrats control presidency, the Senate and the House. FOREIGN POLICY. The Trump Administration has confronted and controlled more than any other administration CHINA. China is the biggest world threat to America by far, more than even Russia and Iran. China is dangerous, deceiving, manipulative, determined to control and win. Much of that will happen if compromising, hypocritical Democrats are elected. Do you want that? Do you even care about foreign policy and especially China, the nuclear threat of Iran, and the ever growing power and threat of Russia itself. Is that what you want? You will get that and much more if you vote Democrat. If you believe in and love America as it is, and you are willing to work patiently and by the rule of law to solve its problems, whether racism, crime or any other major issue which affects our great country, if you really believe in the Constitution and the rule of law, you have no other choice but to vote:         REPUBLICAN.No other choice.BIG GOVERNMENT. You will get the largest government, federal government with encouragement for the states to do the same, in the history of our country. THE SWAMP, that is agencies, and the tens of thousands of employees who make decisions affecting our daily life will have virtually unlimited power. They will become the defacto fourth branch of government and they as much as the Congress will rule our lives. Democrats will see to that. Is that what you want, and is that what you are willing to vote for, voting Democrat, is it? The results of this election so much depend upon PEOPLE OF FAITH, all faiths standing up, in the case of Christians, Evangelicals and Catholics, voting BIBLICAL VALUES. And Jews, guided by and caring for the Torah. And right thinking Muslims who believe in the real teachings of the Quran. All of them standing up and voting against DEMOCRATS who care nothing at all for anything religious and are determined to destroy it and do away with religion as much as possible. It is hard to believe or justify how any Roman Catholic could vote Democrat, the way the secularists and Democrats in Congress have come out against Catholics and the Catholic faith. And the same for Evangelicals and right thinking Protestants. How is it possible for any person of faith to vote Democrat, HOW?There are those who continue to believe and say that my vote really doesn’t matter for everything happens according to GOD’S WILL. Those in authority are divinely put there. That is true, but they are put there because you put them there. You voted wrongly or you never bothered to vote at all. You and I are responsible, America given to us 240 years ago to preserve, protect and defend and if we don’t, the permissive will of God allows evil to take over when good men and women abandon the political arena. That will happen if you vote Democrat. Do you intend to vote Democrat, and for all the radical change which will occur in our country, do you? I for one, a part of the older generation, grieve for you, your family, your children and grandchildren for all the young will never begin to know and experience the America I and my generation have. We have loved its freedoms, worked hard to take advantage of its opportunities, dealt with its problems as best we can with the strong hope that we would leave this great country as it is intended to be to younger generations. I say candidly and unequivocally that that will never happen if you vote DEMOCRAT. I say aggressively and without apology that if you are a person right thinking, of faith, believing in the Constitution and the rule of law, that you have no other choice but to vote:         REPUBLICAN.It matters not what you think of Donald Trump and his personality. You must look at his platform and performance, PERFORMANCE! He has done what he said he would do, unlike Presidents before him. He is courageous and bold, even if brash and at times inconsistent. Trump as President will prevent this radical Democrat lurch to the left and he is the only one who can do that. Therefore, I say again, and unapologetically that if you are a TRUE PERSON OF FAITH, you have no other choice but to vote:         REPUBLICAN.And you will vote, will you not? If you don’t, and if you don’t vote right, your children, grandchildren and all who are young will pay for the rest of their lives. For the freedoms you and I now enjoy once lost are lost:         FOREVER!

Religion and the Presidents

NO RELIGIOUS TEST SHALL EVER BE REQUIRED AS A QUALIFICATION TO ANY OFFICE OR PUBLIC TRUST UNDER THE UNITED STATES.Such is the unconditional standard of the Constitution of the United States Article VI – Oaths. So that, when any individual runs as candidate for any federal office, or as otherwise appointed to or hired for any federal position or trust, no religious test of any kind can be given to that individual by anyone, including and especially Congress.Obviously, Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat from the once great state of California never read or simply chose to ignore such a constitutional mandate when she and her committee vetted Amy Coney Barrett for qualification on the United States Court of Appeals when Feinstein thought her unqualified for being a strong, committed and convicted Roman Catholic telling her:         THE DOGMA (CATHOLIC DOGMA) RUNS DEEPS IN YOU.And, indeed it did then, last year and it still does in the heart and soul of Mrs. Barrett who now seeks to qualify for the vacant seat on the United States Supreme Court, nominated by President Trump to become the ninth United States Justice of the Supreme Court.Mrs. Barrett is indeed a strong and committed Christian, a practicing Catholic and a member with her husband of the entity PEOPLE OF PRAISE. This movement emphasizes personal conversion and evangelizing the world with the teachings of Christ. The organization is charismatic in nature, emphasizing personal conversion and salvation with millions of members the world over. It is dynamic, effective and especially in South Bend, Indiana, home of the great University of Notre Dame and of the People of Praise local chapter to which Barrett belongs, socially active and effective. You can well imagine how the Godless, anti–religion progressives and radicals have severe apoplexy at the thought of Barrett on the Supreme Court. Of course these bigots, virtually all Democrats in nature care little that Mrs. Barrett is a wife, and a good one, and a mother of seven children, and a very good one, an outstanding citizen of this great country, socially active and caring in every way. Barrett is a highly respected professor at the University of Notre Dame. She is an accomplished legal scholar, always well prepared for every case before her, knows the law and most importantly for we the people, Barrett is a constitutionalist, a textualist, an originalist, and one who will faithfully apply the law of the Constitution and not depart therefrom in decision making as other Supreme Court Justices do. Sounds like a real winner to me, what do you think?Democrats, Schumer and Pelosites, whine and moan that this appointment should be made by the next elected President of the United States. When President Trump heard that, he moved aggressively to nominate Barrett even now, and as quickly as possible, knowing that with the Republican Senate majority, there would be enough votes to confirm Barrett and have her seated on the Supreme Court before the end of the year. You can be certain that professor Amy Coney Barrett will be the ninth Justice of the United States Supreme Court as soon as possible. WE THE PEOPLE will be far better off as she legally decides and participates in the making of the ultimate rules of law (Supreme Court decisions) which effect our great country and all of us.It is so interesting the double standards of Democrats, especially when it comes to Catholics. Democrats would do virtually anything to disqualify Barrett and prevent her from becoming a Justice, because she is TOO CATHOLIC, too real, too practicing, too faithful in her faith. But these very same Democrats have no problem touting the Catholicism of Joe Biden, this Catholic Johnny-come-lately who now tells us after all these years that he goes to Catholic church, carries rosary beads in his pocket wherever he goes, takes Communion or tries to, and attempts to live by the morals and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. And this very same man, now running for President of the United States, good Catholic as he purports to be, champions, aggressively champions abortion, has indicated he will defend the right to an abortion under virtually any circumstances and will do his best to codify, that is put into law the tenets of that bastardly case ROE V. WADE if he is elected. Biden as well openly champions the gay agenda, LGBTQ, and he, along with Senator Schumer and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi have promised that, as a first presidential – congressional act, they will see to the passage of the Equality Act which, as one commentator has stated:“Weaponizes the nation’s civil rights laws against Americans who don’t conform to the LGBTQ agenda.”Such a bill would establish a new sexual orthodoxy and it would characterize the beliefs of people who believe that marriage is between one man and one woman as the equivalent of racist bigotry. Female athletes would be required to compete with men identifying as women. Students attending bible believing colleges and other schools would not be eligible for federal loans. And there is much more in this disastrous bill which may well become the law of the land early in 2021 if Democrats are elected President, Senate and House.And euthanasia, condemned by the Catholic church. Biden is very much for it.Simply looking at the facts, we can readily see the evident and factual hypocrisy of Joe Biden. How, I wonder, can any such man attend church, profess allegiance to that church and its teaching and moral precepts, walk out of that church and do everything possible to defy the teachings of his Catholic church in the most fundamental ways. HOW? And more so, how can we the people vote for such a hypocrite to become our President and do what he is promised to do. The net effect is not only to eviscerate the teachings of the Catholic church, but all of Christianity. Biden as President would effect every non–Catholic Christian church, the Pastors and congregations, and make the practice of religion, guaranteed by our Constitution’s First Amendment virtually impossible. Whether unwittingly or not, Biden then becomes the champion of anti-Catholic sentiment, perhaps somewhat like that prejudice of old and yet seeks to call himself a good practicing Catholic. It seems obvious that Biden is pandering to Catholics in order to secure their votes. I think of this as religious hypocrisy at its height, wrong in every way. What do you think? ONE CRITICAL STANDARD FOR AMY CONEY BARRETT – YET ANOTHER FOR JOE BIDEN. I’ll take Barrett, the real deal, any day over Biden the hypocrite. What do you think? Small wonder that the Rev. Robert Morey of Saint Anthony Catholic church in Florence, South Carolina said that he denied Joe Biden Holy Communion in October because of his stance on abortion. If you wish, said this good Priest, to participate in Catholic Communion, then you disavow abortion in every aspect of your life, personal and political, Mr. Biden. That did not happen. But, you can’t have it both ways. You can’t serve God and mammon. You can’t seek the blessings of the Catholic church and then openly and aggressively defy its teachings. Hypocrisy at its zenith. HE THAT IS NOT WITH ME IS AGAINST ME.Biden has promised with Pelosi and Schumer that the Democrats will do away with the Hyde Amendment which has protected American tax payers from being forced by the federal government to pay for abortions. In short, WE THE PEOPLE will be paying for abortions whoever wishes one no matter the circumstances. And Biden and his fellow Democrats rejoice over the fact, perhaps privately for now, that the so called EQUALITY ACT if in fact passed will obviate and do away with the RELIGIOUS FREEDOM RESTORATION ACT (RFRA) which provides some substantial protections for religious practice and decision making in America. A Biden presidential Administration would have severe and serious impact on the Roman Catholic church. And on Evangelicals. And Protestant churches generally. And the Jewish religion. And right thinking, sincere Muslims, and all people of faith. It seems clear that a vote for Biden is a vote against freedom of religion of our beloved First Amendment. I state unequivocally that I do hope and pray that you, a person of faith, will not vote for Joe Biden as President or for any other Democrat championing these beliefs running for any other office. President John Adams, one great founder of our Constitution and our freedoms stated the following:“OUR CONSTITUTION WAS MADE ONLY FOR A MORAL AND RELIGIOUS PEOPLE. IT IS WHOLLY INADEQUATE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ANY OTHER.”But it seems as though we the people have lost our way. Our morals are in shambles and we seem ready at every turn to compromise RELIGION. We back down, fail in so many ways to resist and seemingly blindly elect people to govern and rule who have no regard for religion or faith. In fact, they seem against it and ready to rid the marketplace, the public square, all of America of that highest freedom which is guaranteed by the First Amendment. Please don’t let that happen my fellow Americans, please. If that freedom is reduced or eliminated, once lost it will be lost forever. So please vote, and vote right, and for candidates who will champion our Constitution and our beloved First Amendment. And you will vote, will you not? YOU MUST VOTE! 

Conservative – Christian Voters To Do List

Patrick Henry, a great American revolutionary, loved freedom, loved freedom more than anything. He penned these everlasting words:         GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH.There was no life without freedom, liberty and for him, there was no living alternative.In revolutionary times, doubtful today, the great state of New Hampshire told all other United States that all who lived within its borders would:         LIVE FREE OR DIE.And the vast majority of Americans, if not all, cherish freedom, true liberty, perhaps more than any other virtue. WE THE PEOPLE believe with all of our hearts that the gift of freedom is DIVINE, that is God–given and therefore UNALIENABLE. It can not be taken away, never. For without freedom, there is no life, none.No greater document has ever been produced by mankind than that of the UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. It is a marvelous document. It should be required reading for every American. It should be even more so required for every immigrant seeking citizenship. In fact, it should be required reading, even testing, for those who would have the privilege of VOTING in this great country. And you, my fellow American, you will vote Tuesday, November 3, 2020 in the most important elections ever held in the history of humanity, will you not? And you are registered and ready to do so, are you not?Required reading should be the First Amendment of the Constitution. In fact, it should be memorized, discussed, researched so that the meaning, the history, the importance and priority of these incredible, unalienable words would be riveted in the minds and hearts of every American citizen, especially the young. Here those words:CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF; OR ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, OR OF THE PRESS; OR THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE PEACEABLY TO ASSEMBLE, AND TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.Some say the Constitution is difficult to understand. But that is NOT so. The words of the First Amendment to the Constitution are plain, simply stated, and straightforward. Congress cannot make any law which establishes any religion (The Establishment Clause). None whatsoever, and a very good thing. Nor, can Congress prohibit the free exercise, the practice of religion, not just worship but religion anywhere and everywhere and especially in the public square. Should that happen in America, that is a fundamental violation of the unalienable rights of WE THE PEOPLE. So many in the Democrat party want nothing to do with, in fact the end of religion. But it is your right and mine to practice religion, to believe as we would be led to do so and to protect that unalienable right at all costs. You can be certain there are those seeking political power in November elections who would do away with these freedoms or severely curtail them. You should know who they are, from which party they come and make certain your EDUCATED VOTE does not include them.Read those great words of the First Amendment again. See how all the freedoms indicated intertwine, the one dependent upon the other. First, freedom of religion, the free exercise thereof. But then, freedom of speech. Freedom to preach, testify, teach, witness and otherwise fully and freely express your faith or for that matter any other idea, thought, feeling or expression you may have. ANYTHING! Exercise your religious beliefs freely and express them with total and complete freedom of speech. OR, of the press. Printed. Put what you believe on the internet. Hand out tracks. Publish newspapers or anything else you wish, freely and without any kind of government restraint. You should know and protect that right with all your might.And, another unalienable right is the right to assemble. The right to get together, congregate as in church. That right cannot be taken away no matter the circumstances. And yet it has most recently where worship has been banned or limited by social distancing, masks and other governmental requirements no matter the Constitution. The Governors of some states have exercised cruel and unusual punishment for religious people and churches, forbidding them to congregate and some have rebelled, some have engaged in CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE. As in the case of John MacArthur and Grace Community Church in California. MacArthur said that no government or political force would ever prevent him and his congregation from worshipping the God of the heavens and the father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He had no other choice. And more of that kind of political strong–arming will occur in the future, of that you can be sure. Some think the day is upon us where civil disobedience for people of faith will be necessary, defying a rabid secular order and preserving the most important freedom offered by our Constitution. That of course would be the supreme method to fight the fight of faith. Are you ready for that fight, my fellow Americans? Are you ready to fight for freedom of religion Christians, Evangelicals and Catholics, Jews, and Muslims and all others, are you ready? That day is not coming. That day is here. You should memorize the First Amendment to the Constitution. You should discuss it, you should have dialogue with as many as you can. And most importantly, you should discuss and dialogue those unalienable rights, those God–given freedoms with your family. Your spouse. And most importantly, your children. It is tragic to see how children grow up, are supposedly educated, and know little or nothing about the Constitution of the United States, their passport to freedom. The current education model seeks to play down, even ignore the Constitution as it rewrites American history and what a tragedy that is. Families must meet, children must engage in dialogue with parents, and spouse with spouse concerning FREEDOM. Families must newly understand and children must be taught concepts of truth, and fact and faith. The heart and soul of America has left the educational system. The only way, real way it can be kept alive is in the HOME. The First Amendment and all of its freedoms must live in the minds and hearts of families. Otherwise, we cannot live free and therefore we DIE. When you know those freedoms, you will be able to study the great issues of the day, understand the positions of the politicians and parties and be able to make informed decisions about voting. All politicians seek power, most will say or do anything to get elected, and most never really reveal what they truly believe or what they will do in power when elected. Knowing and championing those first amendment freedoms will allow you to identify the WOLVES IN SHEEPS CLOTHING. Democracy depends upon the educated vote of its citizens and you will vote and vote right, will you not my fellow Americans? The future of our great country depends upon that, YOUR VOTE. STUDY TO SHOW THYSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD, WORK MEN AND WORK WOMEN RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE CONSTITUTION, THE ISSUES OF THE DAY, AND THE CANDIDATES WHO SEEK TO REPRESENT YOU. READ. Get information where there is fact and truth and not simply editorial opinion. Objective and conservative leaning publications like the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Times, and thankfully THE NEW YORK POST present the other side, more factual and objective than other publications. Read them.There are excellent conservative organizations who publish materials on the internet and send direct mail. Like Judicial Watch. Accuracy In Media. Media Research Center. Young America’s Foundation. And minority voices like Candace Owens, Kim Klacik, David Harris, Johnny Thomas and Reggie Carr and so many others. There are men and women at work Protestant, Catholic and Jewish, like David Horowitz (Freedom Center) and others who seek the truth and protect traditional American freedoms. Read their publications. Study what they produce and support them.And your church, ESPECIALLY YOUR CHURCH. Do anything and everything you can to protect it, support it and make certain its witness continues. You should encourage your Pastor and church leaders to stand up, be heard and really:         FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITHfor they are involved not just simply in politics or dealing with political issues but:         MORAL ISSUES.Pastors and religious leaders must, MUST take the lead, shepherd the sheep, educate, motivate and faithfully protect freedom of religion, and speech, and press, and assembly, and petition. THEY must be the leaders not just Protestant – Evangelical, but Catholic, Jew and all people of faith. It is religion – faith which is under attack and it must be defended, IT MUST! Stand up my fellow Americans. Do not be INTIMIDATED. Speak out. Be heard. Print and publicize. Stand tall for what you believe and for whom you will vote. Protest. Rally. November 3 may be your last chance to have a vote which really matters and if you don’t vote, for whatever wrong reasons you may have, you may well say goodbye to the America, this very special land of freedom, the land of the brave and the free once and for all. DON’T LET THAT HAPPEN!You can boycott ECONOMICALLY. When companies, manufacturers and suppliers cross the line, when it is obvious that they operate with principles that are not based on constitutional or biblical values:         BOYCOTT THEM.Simply put, don’t buy their products. STAND UP! If you don’t, goodbye America.And you will vote, will you not my fellow Americans? YOU MUST VOTE. And vote right, well educated, knowing the issues, and the candidates and especially the parties. For as Democrats veer, even lurch to the left, the radical left, there is a voter’s clear choice between that which is becoming ever more radical, dangerous and anti–American (the Democrat Party) and that which stays reasonably conservative, traditional and true to American values and our beloved Constitution. The Republicans. There are those who call themselves:         NEVER TRUMPSTERS, but voting is not casting a vote for a personality, but for policies. Not just for promises but for PERFORMANCE. So, look at what Trump and his Administration have done and compare that with what Biden has done as Obama’s Vice President and what the Democrats expect of him should he be elected. Understand those differences clearly and vote accordingly, and of course according to your conscience. But, you better take America seriously, my fellow Americans not just for your sake, but your family, friends, your church and all you love. Unalienable freedoms are being attacked everywhere. So many are ignorant or uninvolved today. Let that not be you. Stand up, stand tall, and be ready like the revolutionaries of old to:         LIVE FREE OR DIE. Would you be willing to do that? For America? For the God, the Savior you love, would you? I hope and pray so.And you will vote November 3, my fellow Americans, will you not? You must vote or all of us may say soon after:         GOODBYE AMERICA!

The Catholics

“Nothing can do men of good will more harm than apparent compromises with parties (political) that subscribe to anti–moral and anti–Democratic and anti-God forces. We must have the courage to detach our support from men (and women) who are doing evil. We must bear them no hatred, but we must break with them.”The straightforward, uncompromising words of former Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, no longer among us. Archbishop Sheen had his own television program some decades ago. It was avidly watched by Catholics and indeed some non–Catholics as well. Sheen was powerful, straightforward, deeply concerned with right and truth and a real champion of the Roman Catholic Church. This powerful institution, not really what it once was, needs more men, more leaders, men and women for that matter to truly champion the truth, the right and all things moral. It, like all religious institutions, needs men and women like Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.Here his profound and straightforward words again:“Nothing can do men (and women) of good will more harm than apparent compromises with parties (political) that subscribe to anti–moral and anti–Democratic and anti–God forces.”Sheen was deeply concerned with compromise. If there is truth, absolute truth, it can NOT be compromised. It is what it is, it speaks for itself, it cannot be interpreted and it must be fully observed and respected. And if, said Archbishop Sheen, there comes a political party which “subscribes” to anti–moral, anti–Democratic and anti–God forces, all Roman Catholics, and in fact all people of faith:         “MUST BREAK WITH THEM.”And there has come that time, that party in our beloved America. It is here, and it is now. They are the progressives, the radicals, the anti–Americans who continue to call themselves:         THE DEMOCRAT PARTY.Former Presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Baines Johnson and Jimmy Carter among others would be stunned, shocked and disengaged from the conduct, beliefs, platforms and promises of the current Democrat party. That led one Catholic political pundit to state:          “This (the Democrats) is no longer your daddy’s democratic party.”And is that ever an understatement. It is nothing at all, absolutely nothing like the pro American Democrats of old. Anti–Catholicism existed at the very beginning of the immigration of Catholics to America in the early 1800s. There was, to be sure and unfortunately so, considerable bias against them. Not as people are human beings, but because they were Roman Catholic. Prejudice was everywhere. But, through the decades, it ameliorated and although there were always differences between Protestant and Catholic, and of course people of other religions and faiths, and there are today, a gentle tolerance replaced hostility and animosity and those differences were confronted peacefully, with discourse and dialogue, with charitable conduct and not, NOT with hostility or political attacks. And then came Obama in 2008. Barack Hussein Obama and Joe Biden (remember him?) came to power in 2008 following the lazy years of the George W. Bush Administration with influence and control over the House and Senate, Obamacare, THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT was passed and became the law, the medical law of our great country. Many think and many more know that this law as implemented was an absolute disaster and continues to be so. But the law and its nefarious provisions were aggressively implemented by Obama and company and no matter the effect, forced upon all Americans. It was supported by political untruths (if you like your present medical coverage, you can keep it) and implemented by those who were anti–capitalist and most importantly, anti–religion. They cared little or nothing about the First Amendment and the so called first freedom:         FREEDOM OF RELIGION!Obamacare mandated that employers provide contraceptives to their employees as part of medical insurance. Abortive fasciant – contraceptives were required and the right of all employees who wished to take advantage of them, so said Obama and company. The rules for such were developed by the Departments for Health and Human Services, the Labor Department and the Treasury Department. Contraceptives were required free of charge and abortion–causing drugs were fully legal and to be paid for by insurance. Many millions objected but few if any stood up. EXCEPT, of all things Catholic Nuns. These nuns were known as:         THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR SAINTS PETER AND PAUL HOMEin Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When Pennsylvania tried to force these sweet little ladies, as Joe Biden calls them, to provide contraceptives and abortive fasciants to their employees, the nuns objected and refused, God bless them. They sued the once great state of Pennsylvania. They got to the Supreme Court, which took their case, the landmark case known as:LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR SAINTS PETER AND PAUL HOME v. PENNSYLVANIAThe fight was on for morality, freedom and all things pro Christian. The plaintiff LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR are a group of Catholic nuns who sacrifice all worldly possessions to care for the sick and elderly. This uncompromising Catholic group, began their fight with the government in 2011 when the Affordable Care Act required employees to cover all FDA approved contraceptives in their PRIVATE health plans. Religious groups like THE LITTLE SISTERS were not exempted even as churches were. The Sisters asked the U.S. Supreme Court to respect their right to moral and religious freedom. Again, the Supreme Court took the case. The case was heard in its own right and also as a result of the Trump Administration putting forth regulations in 2017 and 2018 which expanded EXEMPTIONS for employers with good faith objections, religious and moral based objections, founded upon the First Amendment to furnishing and paying for all such. Ministers had been exempt but not other legitimate organizations which had sincerely held moral or religious objections to the Obamacare abortive fasciant – contraceptive mandate. Now, they were under the new Trump Administration regulations. Both the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey objected and aggressively entered in to the litigation, defending their objections that no such exemption was legal or constitutional.Then came the decision from the nine Supreme Court Justices. Seven Justices, joining in an opinion by Justice Clarence Thomas and others, ruled that the exemptions for religious organizations and for businesses with “SINCERE MORAL” objections were in fact exempted from the mandate and could not be forced to provide the coverage required by the Affordable Care Act. With the liberal–skewing current bent of the Supreme Court, it is indeed amazing or perhaps even divinely inspired that the Court came to this conclusion and with such a large majority. Normally predictable liberal-skewing Justices Kagan and Breyer sided with the five other so called Justices Roberts, Thomas, Alito, Kavanaugh and Gorsuch in favor of this exemption for religious organizations and for businesses with “sincere moral objections.” There are two liberal, ultra–liberal Supreme Court Justices who vote virtually 100% of the time for radical liberal results in virtually every case, namely Justices Ginsburg and Sotomayor. They often appear on record as crusaders rather than jurists. They were completely against the opinion, really the opinions of the majority seven. But the LITTLE SISTERS won, a major victory for these sweet little ladies (Biden) who really had more muscle and political clout than old Joe realized. All of us, and all organizations, and all businesses who hold these SINCERE MORAL BELIEFS should be absolutely delighted with the results and we should thank these Catholic Nuns and those who represent them for pursuing this legal victory since 2011 (9 long years), at least for now. If Biden wins the presidency and the Democrats win House and Senate, you can be certain that this exemption will be done away with either by legislation or executive order and back they go, these LITTLE SISTERS to court. The hostility on the part of DEMOCRATS for anything religious, for any beliefs or convictions sincerely and morally held is palpable and will become the full law of the land as the Democrats will. It is hard to believe that any person of faith, especially Catholic, could vote for the Democrats knowing what they stand for and what they feel about and will do to anything RELIGIOUS. These are scary times. If you like we believe in the Constitution and the freedoms of the First Amendment including and especially Freedom of Religion, you should be deeply concerned should the Democrats win. But there is a matter of six weeks to make sure that doesn’t happen and to abide by the pungent and poignant words of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen referring to anti–moral and anti–God parties and politicians, like modern day Democrats:         “WE MUST BREAK WITH THEM!”And we must break with these modern–day Democrats if we wish to preserve our First Amendment rights to Freedom of Religion. WE MUST!Today, the Catholics. Tomorrow, Evangelicals, and Jews, and perhaps finally Muslims although they would be last, and then all people of faith. It is the avowed goal of Democrats to excise religion from the public square, out of politics and out of power. It is happening and it will continue to happen, of that you can be sure. So I say to you my fellow Americans, my fellow Christians, and all people of faith, you cannot and you should not vote:         DEMOCRAT.That of course is a blunt, aggressive, highly opinionated point of view but one which I believe to be extremely accurate, based on current fact, and an understanding of what the democratic party platform will yield and what its aggressive, anti–constitutional politicians and leaders will do if in power, and especially FULL POWER. It would be the end, THE END my fellow Americans of the freedoms we have enjoyed for 240 years and so often taken for granted. THE END!So I reiterate the words of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen with which I most fully agree describing without knowing the current Democrat Party 2020:         WE (THE PEOPLE OF FAITH) MUST BREAK WITH THEM!That means don’t vote for them. That means keep them out of power and let them do no further harm to our Constitution and our religious way of life. For, under their control and power, those freedoms will be lost, and once lost:         GONE FOREVER!

Freedom of Religion - First Amendment Freedoms

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.Perhaps, my fellow Americans, the most important political words ever written, EVER!These are the promises, the rights, unalienable rights of every person, all humankind, and especially, all Americans. These words should be memorized and drilled into the heads and hearts of every single American citizen.Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. That means, House and Senate, don’t go near religion legislatively. Don’t make any law, direct or indirect, which in any way would favor, establish or support ANY RELIGION. For the most part, Congress has abided by that prohibition. In fact, the Congress of the United States at least at this point in time wants nothing to do with religion. In many ways, the Congress wants religion out of the public square, gone from the marketplace and out of public and certainly political life altogether.Which of course means that we the people should be concerned with Congress not establishing religion but:PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF.And they, the House and Senate with often a compliant judiciary are just beginning the legislative acts of PREVENTION which every American person of faith and in fact all Americans should understand and be concerned with.We live in a dramatic, aggressive even anti–religious day and age. Forces hostile to religion are on the march, everywhere. Religious life is threatened, churches are assaulted, Christian leaders and Pastors are threatened with severe fines and even jail time if they confront secular mandates. The fight of faith is on, big time.Recently, there was a spate of vandalism at Catholic churches in various US cities. There were attacks on Catholic institutions from Boston to Florida, church property was vandalized including and especially statues of Jesus and the Virgin Mary so much so that one Catholic Archbishop said the following:“We have to be as vigilant as our Jewish brothers are vigilant against instances of anti–Semitism.”The vandals especially targeted statues of Jesus. That led the church to make yet another statement:“The underlying motive of these sacra religious attacks is clear: to intimidate and instill fear in the hearts of those who worship Christ.”That should not only send a message to the Catholic church, but to all churches, and synagogues, and even mosques. I wonder if these vandals, these terrorists would have the courage to attack the mosques and incur the ire of Muslims. Judeo – Christians by and large do not resort to violent retribution and of course right thinking Muslims the same. But if mosques were attacked by these fanatic, angry terrorists, I wonder how Islam would react. THE FIGHT OF FAITH IS ON, BIG TIME!First President and Constitutional Founder George Washington said the following:“Religion and morality are the essential pillars of civil society.”So that, if these two pillars of society are weakened or destroyed, society comes tumbling down. Lawlessness pervades, as it does even now in many quarters. Morality disappears, and license replaces responsible freedoms. ANYTHING GOES! Much of America is already there and it is time for the people of faith, all of them, every religion, to STAND UP, resist (the devil) and turn the tide back to where America once belonged:BUILT AND REBUILT UPON THE TWIN PILLARS OF RELIGION AND MORALITY.If not, America, its incredible republic and reliance upon democracy is done and over with. And this inconceivable end can come more quickly than anyone can imagine. If the Democrat party wins the presidency, and the House of Representatives, and the United States Senate, there will be a lurch to the left, a secularization of America the likes of which we have never seen nor even imagined.Many people think that a large part of the problem is the failure of the clergy to lead and respond. In a survey conducted by D. James Kennedy Ministries (DJKM), respondents by overwhelming margins want their Pastors to speak out, to lead, to take stands on moral and cultural issues. Federal legislation, including and especially the Johnson Amendment, prohibit Pastors and church leadership from being politically active within the boundaries of the church itself. But the survey found that the respondents want the Pastors to take a stand on so many of the issues of today, including and especially abortion. And, the respondents were deeply concerned with RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. And the role of government, and the role of the church in politics and government. But perhaps the main concern was:RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.The freedom to exercise religious beliefs anywhere, and especially in the public square. Freedom of speech, uninhibited, dealing with any and all issues whether political – secular or religious was indeed a most fundamental concern. Pastors FROM THE PULPIT (including of course Priests and Rabbi’s) must have the unfettered and unabridged right to freedom of speech, the right and privilege of every American citizen anywhere and from any source. If the Pastors and other Christian leaders do not lead, take the initiative and captain the fight of faith:WHO WILL LEAD THE PEOPLE?So, Pastors and Christian leaders, this may be your – our last chance to step up, confront, resist and champion the free speech of religion, of an overactive and legislative threat from our very own Congress, and the right of people of faith to assemble, and to especially worship in church. Pastors must, MUST remember and be guided by the words of constitutional founder Benjamin Rush:“The only foundation for a republic is to be laid in religion. Without this, there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all Republican governments.”Religion, Pastors, is the foundation for our republic and without the right to believe, and practice the faith, and worship, and exercise all facets of that religion anywhere and everywhere including and especially the public square, there will not be any republic, NO AMERICA! Wake up and rise up Pastors, approach this spiritual battlefield with courage, determination and fight, FIGHT this fight of faith, and do it now, NOW!Across our nation, churches have been closed, ordered closed by secular governments everywhere, state by state. One Pastor, a very special servant of Jesus Christ, one John MacArthur with the full support of the elders of GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH in Sun Valley, California has stood up and announced to all that he and his church intended to:“OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN” (ACTS 5:29).In short, Grace Community Church intended to defy the order of California Governor Gavin Newsom which ordered the closing of indoor operations of churches. In a blog prepared by MacArthur and his church, WHICH YOU SHOULD READ, the biblical case for the churches duty to gather was laid out even though county and state officials threatened repercussions, including fines and criminal prosecutions. But MacArthur, soldier, brilliant theologian, and committed Christian refused to back down. In response to those threats and secular intimidation, John MacArthur issued the following statement:“We cannot and will not acquiesce to a government–imposed moratorium on our weekly congregational worship or other regular corporate gatherings.”Amen and amen! Congratulations, very special servant of the Lord for a spiritual stand second to none.In fact, MacArthur went on to warn government officials that when they issue orders regulating worship (or preventing it) (constitutional – prohibiting the free exercise thereof), they step outside the legitimate bounds of permissible authority and invade the sovereignty and authority of Jesus Christ and that cannot be allowed to stand! And that is the leadership of the clergy which America desperately needs, DESPERATELY! Congratulations, and thank you John MacArthur for your STAND and may the courage you have shown in behalf of your Lord, our Lord Jesus Christ be a witness, an inspiration and a model for Pastors and Christian leaders everywhere.And so, I ask of you my fellow Americans, fellow Christians:WHERE DOES YOUR PASTOR STAND?Pastor, Priest, Rabbi, Islamic cleric where does he or she stand, WHERE! Or, do they STAND UP for religious liberty and freedom in any way? It is your duty, our duty to make certain the Pastors stand and stand tall and firm and FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH. And now, NOW! This work protecting freedom of religion must be done for the night is coming when no man, no clergy person, no Christian leader can work and that will not only be the end of the church as we know it, but, since religion and morality are the essential pillars of civil society (George Washington) that will be the end of society as we know it.Challenge your Pastors and religious leaders, my fellow Americans, to stand up and meet this evil, secular force head on so that all people of faith can enjoy unabridged and unconditional the right to the free exercise of religion in any and every way. This freedom is absolutely essential, the very first freedom in the First Amendment to the Constitution. Congress cannot prevent the free exercise of religion in anyway, in any form.IF THIS FREEDOM IS LOST, IT WILL BE, AS PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN SO ELOQUENTLY STATED, BE LOST FOREVER!DON’T LET THAT HAPPEN! 

Labor Day

Work is good.  Work is necessary for the fulfillment of every human being.  Work is required of every person according to his or her capabilities and talents, so sayeth the Scripture.  All of us must work to survive, live, grow and profit and be all that we can be and as God intended us to be.Our very own America was built on hard work, and is in fact itself a work in progress.The progress depends upon us, we the people, how hard we work and how we make things happen.  The majority of we the American people are hard workers.And, the harder and the better we work, the better America and all of us are.  To be sure, nothing comes easy in this life, nothing.  Everything we have or enjoy is the product of hard work by someone, whether you, or me, or someone else.  You and I must do our share, accomplish our calling for the very short time we have on this precious earth.  Life, said the wisest man of old King Solomon, is but a vapor here today and gone so soon tomorrow.  We should make every working day count to the fullest.Pioneers built our country.  They were men and women who did little but work hard morning till night.  They farmed land never before productive.They raised animals and used them for work and feed.  They built houses, and churches, and City Halls.  They built roads and bridges.  They built autos and trucks.  They built hospitals and invented medicines.  They designed and manufactured clothing.  They created places for entertainment and worship.They built elaborate and majestic campuses for education and things theological.  They built laboratories and science centers and they sent us deep into space.  They were then and we are now the workers who made America great, America, the most exciting, creative human and social experiment in all of history.You and I should be proud of them and we should be proud to be workers like they were.  The more we work, the better we are, caught up, energized and thrilled by the spirit of America, our exceptional opportunity to pursue our dreams and to build our future.  America and those who believe in what it stands for are indeed EXCEPTIONAL and we have been blessed by EQUALLY EXCEPTIONAL opportunity.  As we work, we should do everything possible to protect and defend the opportunities, lifestyles and freedoms which America offers.How wonderful it is that the talent and ability of every individual God-Made is different, unique.It is marvelous indeed that every single person has talent and gifts which are in fact different.  That is true divine diversity.  None of us are better at least not in the sight of God, but different only.  Each of us has our own special CALLING.  So, no matter who you are, YOU are special and it is your right but every bit as importantly your duty to utilize those God-given talents to the fullest.It is your duty to fulfill your calling.So then, we should not be concerned with what others think nor should we judge what we do and how we work by the standards of others. Nor should we be inhibited by their criticism.  For we need to know ourselves, be true to that special self and soul which God has created and through prayer and meditation, come to a full recognition of those talents and be the very person God intended that you and I be.  We can fail, but we can bounce back.  The opportunity for growth and change is still available in America, thank God.  Ignore rejection and focus on your calling. So then, my fellow Americans, you may be called to be a mother.  Be all that you can be as a mother for the sake of your children and do your God-given calling with all of your might.  Or perhaps you are secretary, or babysitter.  Perhaps you clean for a living.  Recognize all such work as a calling and do your calling with all of your might.  Or perhaps you are plumber, electrician, landscaper, restaurant worker.  Do your calling with all of your might and as you can, as unto the Lord.  Or perhaps you are lawyer, accountant, radio salesperson, financial planner.  Do your calling with all of your might.  And if you are the President of anything, including the President of our great United States, you perhaps have a calling with higher standards, duties and demands.  No one should do a calling better than you WITH ALL OF YOUR MIGHT!So, we work, we produce and as we do, we should expect return which of course includes money and profit.  We work for economic growth and benefit, for the fruit of our labors.  We follow the biblical prescription that we can expect even with minimum work product the return of that work one for one.  Or perhaps, five to one.  Or even as Scripture indicates, perhaps as much as ten to one or more as we diligently develop and exploit those talents and capabilities through hard work.  The money return from our work, efforts, creativity and initiative is blessed by Scripture.  That money return is right, as we become work men and work women worthy of our hire.  We plant, as Scripture says, and Mother Nature waters and it is GOD who gives the increase so the Scriptures say.It is a good thing to make money and to be rewarded for our work.  Money supports.  Money helps others.  Money creates opportunity.  The best of us at work, hard work, is exactly what this world of so many ENTITLED needs now more than ever.  In fact, hard and productive work is so necessary for this world of entitlements in which we live in order for it to survive and continue.  It is well and good indeed to help those all in real need.  But all who can, any and all including those receiving entitlements, should work as they can.But today, unfortunately it seems, there are those supposedly progressive in thinking who wish to tell us that profit is wrong, especially in excess.  That profit made is the result of GREED at work.Profit they say is not as a result of hard work or special skills, but rather the exploitation of others.Ignore them.  You are worthy of the profit and gain of anything you produce at any level of life.  The more you invest as a mother, the better your child, perhaps better than others.Enjoy the fruit, the profit of your labors.  When you build something, revel in the fruit of your labors and do it with all of your might, and better than others.  For no matter what progressives or others would say, YOU DID IN FACT BUILD IT, and you did build it yourself.  In fact, so much of what is built would not have been built without you or me.  Revel in, enjoy and profit from anything and everything YOU BUILT!But work produces much more than money.  Those who understand the value of work realize full well that the doing well of anything is the reward itself!  The satisfaction, the fulfillment, the full expression of the self among mankind and before God are THE BEST REWARDS.  They are indeed more valuable than money for money comes and goes.  But the rewards of work well done last a lifetime and are in fact eternal.  We create an earthly balance sheet, personal financial and loss statements here and now, but it is the ETERNAL balance sheet which really counts.  Nothing goes with you, no matter what you leave behind, but only the heavenly balance sheet you create.  For there is always something more, often much more than the work itself or the profit therefrom.  There is good, often enormous good in work well done and even very spiritual good.See that clearly as part of the goal of your calling and WORK which only adds to the return and the enjoyment.So, the work we do can be not only for money, or profit, but for non-profit.  For worthy causes.  For the good of society in which we live.  For all humanity, especially those in need.  For the Christian Church and for the Christ we love and serve.For blood drives.  For HIV awareness and treatment.  For feeding and sheltering the homeless.  For carrying the message of the Gospel to forsaken and needy parts of America and the world.  Shepherding and guiding children.  Tending to the needs of the elderly.  Visiting and comforting those in prison. THE WORK OF THE LORD AT WORK FOR ALL MANKIND, AS WE ARE CALLED.All of these things make us what we should be before the Lord and our fellow man.So many of us are people of faith.  But our faith, sayeth Scripture, without works is dead.  Whatever you believe, whatever your faith, there is no way for anyone to know whether or not it is real except by your works.  Talk is cheap.  But by the fruits of your labors your fellow human beings will know you.If there is in fact a work of God in you, a CALLING, a life objective, the works that you do will prove to others who you are.  What you and I do not do also proves who we are.  The great thinking Dietrich Bonhoeffer said that not to act is to act.Negative actions, doing nothing, can be as potent negatively as actual action itself.Unfortunately, there are those who do deceitful works and works of iniquity.  They are known for their fraudulent and deceitful acts.They work not for the good of mankind, but only for themselves, for ego, for elicit gain in a deceitful way.Their works and their lives are in vain.William Shakespeare said that the evil that men do lives after them, the legacy they make and that evil is the only thing remembered here and in eternity.So, it is our duty to study, to grow ourselves in our career and constantly make ourselves better, so that we can show ourselves approved as work men and women, understanding the objectives, values and priorities which are ours, always growing in our understanding, especially the Scriptures so that we can be approved by God before him as well as man.  Learning, whether a trade or in law, or by gaining experience and growing or by learning from others, or the school of hard knocks, and by mistakes, learning standards of excellence to which we can aspire so that we can be all, ALL we can be, working with all of our might knowing in this world that indeed the night is coming where no man can work.  Work while you can and the best you can.In this life, we slow down, age or perhaps lose interest or motivation, and of course energy and our ability to work dissipates or even ends. With that ends opportunity and potential and we may not have finished what we are called to do.  Some retire, or quit, or are forced to retire prematurely.  Some of us are fortunate enough to finish and accomplish our objectives and purposes, while others can not.  For us, we are fortunate that even Jesus of Nazareth said in John’s Gospel that he had in fact finished the work for which the Father had sent him.  He had accomplished His objectives, fulfilled His purposes and He did so to His last dying breath. Our goal, like HIS should be to finish our work, the work for which we were sent by God and meant to do.  That is the greatest fulfillment this life can offer.We are called upon by God Almighty to live every day to the fullest.  CARPE DIEM my fellow Americans, seize the day.  It is the day which the Lord hath made and for you to work and be productive.  Worry not about tomorrow, or the criticism, expectations or even the rejections of any man.It has its own problems-evil-which you can not control or do anything about.  But, rather think in terms of how precious every minute of every hour of every day is, and rejoice in that.  Maximize the opportunity that minute brings and, whatever your hand finds to do, YOUR CALLING, do it with all of your might.  Every God-given minute is indeed an opportunity there once never to return.  So that everything we do, everything no matter how menial works together for good.The joy of living is so special.We are told by our Lord that He is come that we might have life in its most ABUNDANT form and that our joy, OUR TOTAL JOY may be full.  There is joy in every moment, as we work, as we rest, as we play, as we love others and as we understand who we are and:BE ALL THAT WE CAN BEThose who love to work and love as much to be productive and make things happen know that the ultimate reward for such work is:THE VERY WORK ITSELFNo matter the accolades of man, or profit, or any other earthly benefit, the ultimate reward, the ultimate satisfaction is the work itself.  Nothing feels better to any right-thinking person than a job well done, having done the best you can with all of your might.So then, for the Christian, there is something even greater than works.  There is GRACE, saving grace.  And no manner of works can ever equal that.  The grace at God at work trumps the works of any man, but when added to works, leads to the complete fulfillment of that life.  We can and should be proud of the works we do, but the work of God in Jesus Christ, saving grace through Him is the greatest work of all.  The combination of grace producing work, the right work is the very best thing in life.So, my fellow Americans, work hard.  Work well, with purpose.  Know your calling.  Do what you were CALLED to do, and do it in each and every minute, hour and day of your life.  Do what your Creator would have you do and you will find fulfillment in that work and in your life.  It matters not whether you are housewife or President, millionaire or middle class, never forget that:YOU AND YOUR WORK ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANTYOU AND YOUR WORK ARE UNIQUE, DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHERSWe need not the approval or recognition of mankind however enjoyable that may be.  We need to work to be approved by God, who knows us, our every thought and deed.  His approval is all that matters. I and the Crawford Broadcasting Company honor all of the men and women in America who work, and work hard, and make America, family and friends, and all of us so much better and especially those who work as unto the Lord. Find the work you love to do, really love to do and you will never work a day in your life! God bless you work men and women worthy of your hire and it is because of you that:GOD WILL BLESS AMERICA

Education

One Allan Bloom wrote a book entitled:         CLOSING OF THE AMERICAN MIND.Prophetic, realistic, and tragically happening today in America and to some extent around the world. The ability to think and to express thinking freely, thoughts and ideas, whether creative or noxious is the basic pillar of democracy. Its that freedom to think, to express, to engage at all times in free speech, or press, or assembly or especially religion for if that is taken away, democracy dies and all freedoms of humankind with it. That my fellow Americans is happening now, right now in so many of our educational institutions, both university and even high school. Somehow, radical faculty and teachers have gotten control of education and the teaching curriculum and with that, demanded a certain way of thinking, introduced new intellectual standards, and new moral values. The freedom to think differently and exercise the right of free speech no matter how differing from the current orthodoxy has been so largely controlled or even eliminated. Radical, progressive faculty control. The faculty and administration at American universities and colleges has now been determined to be radical – progressive at a ratio of 13:1. In short, there are 13 liberal faculty to one conservative, thirteen Democrat faculty to one Republican. They are there, do what they do to indoctrinate rather than educate. They are determined to radically change America, to aggressively move this country from capitalism to socialism, to ignore our Constitution or reinterpret it, and to challenge the rule of law wherever possible including a failure to condemn riots and violence. That tragically for America today is the AMERICAN MIND, closed and closing at a horrifically rapid pace. How these elites and educational saboteurs gain such power is surprising to many. But they have, and they intend to exercise that power to the detriment of American education and especially to free speech. These educational elites have become pampered, spoiled, fully accustomed to getting their way with virtually full power to discipline any who disagree. So many of these university professors have become arrogant, prideful and totally intolerant of dissent of any kind. The university system of hiring provides for TENURE which when granted, protects these professors for a lifetime, A LIFETIME! So that, absent the most egregious conduct, they can not be fired nor can what and how they teach be censored or monitored. They are EXEMPT, above normalcy with an ever–growing disrespect for the average citizen and especially the young American mind. They are spiritually bereft and determined to change the morals of America. They wish to radically change American history, they condone the destruction of historical property like statutes and they promote the rallying cry of today, namely RACISM everywhere and in everyone, especially every white person. They want control, absolute control, the radical transformation of American society and especially AMERICAN EDUCATION.These radical professors and administrators are, unbelievably, subsidized by federal and state governments. They receive large grants from the governments, furthering the notion the universities and their professors are exempt from any standards, rules or values other than their own. No matter the educational culture, these federal and state subsidies subsist and there is never a financial concern on the part of the professors. So many of the universities have in addition, further financial security in the form of large endowments so much so that they are immune from normal financial regulations and requirements operating and spending as they please without regard to bottom line financial accountability. They operated under the assumption that every successful American had to have a university degree, a higher education imprimatur. As such, they the educators deserved what they had and even more, which in their minds was something guaranteed to them and the university education system, taken for granted and never to be changed. As a result, year by year, tuition and annual expenses were raised to a point now sky high and virtually unaffordable by the average American family. The educational culture and demand was further influenced by the demands and dominance of the American wealthy and especially by rich, foreign students who sought out the very best and most credible American educational institutions and their degrees. Prestigious schools like Harvard, Stanford, University of Chicago, MIT, the Ivy League generally and so many others were in high demand, employed rigid admission standards and with governmental, endowment finances, alumni giving and sky–high tuition, thought little or nothing about financial responsibilities. Students, anxious or even desperate for admission, incurred large loans, serious debt which they carried with them long after graduation. In fact, student debt in America today is at or about the staggering sum of $1.6 trillion dollars, 1.6 TRILLION DOLLARS!Those staggering financial realities do not seem to affect university education or college professors in any real way. That is a problem for someone else, not those elites who are special, above, deserving and guaranteed what they earn and what they have. As long as they are paid large salaries and, in some cases, unbelievable benefits, and they are tenured, fully guaranteed and protected, they really care little about the overall financial structure which makes that happen. As long as they can promote and control radical classrooms, educational life is good. Afterall, they are above American financial normalcy and the radical education continues.So many of these professors teach much less. They turn over classroom instruction, basic education to interns and assistants. They are busy writing, indoctrinating, lecturing, and otherwise building self–reputation.They champion lightweight and trendy curricula. Course electives or even majors now are such that, upon graduation, there is little in the education of four years which is attractive to modern American business. In fact, there are some businesses which refuse to hire university graduates from the most liberal and progressive universities. They know so many would come to change the business culture, effectuate their own wishes and ideas and engage in the transformation process they were taught in college at the business level, to the detriment of that employer. Small wonder that so many of these college graduates simply fail to find placement and a growing number become radicalized, anti–American and more determined than ever to change the so called system. In those cases, the universities and their radical professors have accomplished their radical and transformative objectives to the detriment of the student and the American financial way of life. Higher education is riddled with bias. One pundit has referred to current university teachings as IDEOLOGICAL HECTORING. Indoctrination and intimidation have replaced education and free expression. So many university graduates today come to the marketplace with an inability to think, create, react in spontaneous mental ways, with an inability to problem solve, inept at dialogue and debate, in many ways a mere clone of the university and the indoctrinating professors. They come as young adults, immature and inexperienced, determined to effectuate radical change with no ability or desire to work within the system for that change, but to either radically transform or eliminate that system. They care far more about what they perceive as the need for social justice than financial return. So many are ready to employ any means whatsoever to effectuate that change including intimidation or the possibility of violence. They regard America as it is as evil, wrong, socially unjust, ready to rise up at any time. To be sure, there are thousands who graduate who are not that way, love America for what it is and what it stands for, determined to build successful lives for themselves and their families. They are the real and only hope for America but unfortunately, they seem very much in the minority among today’s graduates. The fight is on for the survival and the continuation of the AMERICAN WAY. There are those seeking election 2020 who will continue and advance this radical transformation, this destructive approach to American traditions and values and if elected, radical things will happen to the delight of the vast majority of university professors. America is at a tipping point, an unbelievable cultural crossroads, her very life and future very much in danger. In some cases, the cost for the CAMPUS EXPERIENCE can now be in excess of $80,000 annually, all in. And now, the results of the Corona pandemic require that some or even all of university education today be virtual, online and ironically and arrogantly so, at the same price of admission! Tens of thousands of students actual and potential, are refusing to pay. Professors are less available. College courses and curricula become trendier and less relevant. Campus social life and extracurricular activities are virtually gone. Sports and athletics of all kinds are eliminated or occur without fan participation. Housing and fraternities can never be the same, temporarily shut down or open with highly restrictive social distancing policies. Under these circumstances, it may become easier than ever to gain admission to HARVARD! Why should any student pay $80,000 annually for the college experience when that is delivered to them by ZOOM, or SKYPE or otherwise online? The worth and value of any university degree under those circumstances is really no better than any other. And, perhaps that will be the seismic shock which these arrogant, elitist universities and their professors need in order to face a real reality and return to some degree of normalcy. PERHAPS! Nonetheless, so many of these arrogant, tenured professors continue on in their ANTI-AMERICAN WAYS. They are determined to rewrite history. They continue, determined to change American standards, values and especially spirituality. They are aggressive champions of the new WOKE and whatever actions this new intellectual, social, cultural and historical awakening takes, they are prepared in almost every case to offer an apology so that the end justifies the means. It is a sad, sad day for American education and the American intellectual. It seems as though the American mind has indeed enclosed, perhaps never to really reopen. Free speech as a result of contrary thinking has never been more endangered. That led one pundit to state that America might very well be far better off to subsidize plumbers, electricians, carpenters, doctors and others, any but the present educational class which would virtually guarantee a far better return for the investment. I wonder if you have any member of your family or friends in such an educational environment. If so, you should rethink the matter. There are still some educational institutions which respect the American way, encourage free and spontaneous thinking, and free speech and press and allow assembly of those like–minded whether or not contrary to the liberal – radical university stance. There are religious and sectarian institutions, those with differing objectives but tolerant of the American way, our beloved Constitution and the rule of law. Those you love would be far better off educated by one such college or university rather than so many others. Even as radicals would transform America, change it or even in some basic ways destroy it, so men and women of goodwill should reenter the educational area, aggressively so, and themselves seek radical change, CHANGE BACK to an open, unbiased educational experience which cultivates spontaneous thinking, different points of view and dialogue, so that the mind can be firm, structured and ready for the challenges of the modern world. Education is a critical factor in today’s society, now more than ever. Right thinking people need to control education as never before. Constitutional principles should fully apply so that the America we love can be preserved, protected and defended. I for one love America, love it with all my heart. There is no society anywhere now or in history perfect including and especially socialism and communism. But, it is our privilege and our duty to work for change, constructive change, peaceful change, growth, understanding, and the reestablishment of traditional American values. We the people do that now or the freedoms we take for granted will be lost and once lost:         LOST FOREVER. Don’t let that happen my fellow Americans. Do the right thing and exercise your voice, your personal beliefs as you vote elections 2020. If radical, progressive, socialistic candidates are elected, they will change America FOREVER. As you vote:         DON’T LET THAT HAPPEN!

The Economy

IT’S THE ECONOMY STUPID!The famous words of then democratic candidate for President Bill Clinton in 1992. It was the economy then, the #1 priority and it is the economy now – today, the #1 priority in the great and critical American election 2020. NUMBER 1!A little virus, not seen with the naked eye which came from Wuhan, China, whether deliberate or not, has sabotaged the economy of America and in fact the economies of so many of the worlds nations. Hundreds of millions of people have contracted this virus. Millions have died from it. And virtually every person in the entire world, some 7 billion human beings, fear the possibility of contracting Covid–19, the painful recovery and even the possibility of death. Many of the world’s and especially American businesses remain closed or out of business permanently. More than 13 million Americans were out of work, unemployed and on welfare, federal and state. The latest unemployment figures shockingly reveal that 10.5% of the viable American workforce is unemployed! So many more are laid off, furloughed, work with serious reductions in compensation and live day to day with the fear that their employment is so very tenuous and could end at any time. It is a tragic economic day and age for our great country. Some believe the worst is yet to come.The next President of the United States who will handle this economic chaos will be either Donald Trump or Joe Biden. Trump is a businessman with at least some understanding of economics, money, employment, and business generally. Biden on the other hand has little or no economic – business experience. Either one elected will rely upon a team of advisors, secretaries, and agencies to handle the money, the real economy of WE THE PEOPLE. You must, my fellow Americans, YOU MUST understand the financial philosophies and the course of action each of these men and their respective Republican and Democrat parties will take when it comes to OUR MONEY – OUR ECONOMY! You must. Many believe as I do that the Democrat party has LURCHED TO THE LEFT. The radical left. Biden and his fellow Democrats have told WE THE PEOPLE that if he is elected, he and his Democrat colleagues will TRANSFORM America. That means radical change. And it starts with the economy. As a result of Corona, our federal government has borrowed trillions, TRILLIONS of dollars, distributed them as a form of STIMULUS to workers and businesses, in an attempt to save some portion of our economy and GET IT GOING AGAIN. That borrowing will require payback. And, the only real means of payback which the federal government has is:         TAXES. And lots more of them. Now come the typical Democrat public relations appeal to WE THE PEOPLE that the taxes will be generated almost entirely from the:         WEALTHY. It is today as it always has been nothing more than a political lie, for new taxes on personal or Corporate incomes affect everyone, EVERYONE! The Democrats and Joe Biden claim that there may well be enough new taxes from the wealthy to pay America’s unbelievable debt. The truth of the matter is that the tax payments and the rates for those payments will increase for every American, everyone. They claim, the Democrats do, that they will spare the middle class. Not so, another political lie. Most Americans fit into the definition of middle class somewhere, whether high up or low down, but somewhere. Most Americans have personal property, homes, cars, retirement funds, perhaps stock holdings or investments in private businesses even if small. They, all of us, will be affected, and some severely by the new taxes proposed by Biden and the Democrats. Get ready for long term financial plans in the way you live, my fellow Americans, much more going to the government and much less for you and your family IF, and so many hope it is a big if, BIDEN AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE ELECTED. A vote for Joe Biden is a vote for massive and mammoth big taxes.Biden and his party propose that the top marginal rate for personal income taxes be increased to almost 40%. And more to come, much more in the four years of his term if Democrats control both House and Senate of the federal government. Biden would repeal the $10,000 cap on the deduction for state and local taxes, giving a much bigger tax break to wealthy enclaves like San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles and the like. The uber wealthy can no longer deduct state and local taxes of any kind over $10,000 which has been unbelievably costly to the wealthy. But if you own a home somewhere, anywhere, no matter its value you can only deduct up to $10,000 as well. Many in the so called middle classes do not have $10,000 worth of deductions and consequently would receive no benefit from this provision. But the wealthy would, contrary to Democrat – Biden promises. More political hypocrisy.The Democrat tax proposal would apply a 12.4% social security tax equally divided between workers and their employers. Such a tax now has a cap but under the Biden proposal, there is no cap so that the 6.2% social security tax you now pay would apply to any and all income you make. So that, my fellow Americans, with Biden’s proposed top income rate at 40%, and with the federal social security tax, the marginal tax on labor would be higher than 50%. Factor in state income taxes such as California’s 13.3% top rate or New Jersey’s 10.75% top rate, and the marginal rate would be in excess of:         SIXTY PERCENT!Sixty percent. And more, an absolutely bizarre proposal from Oregon’s Democrat Senator Ron Wyden. He suggests that the federal government tax:         UNREALIZED GAINS.That is increase in worth and value of any property real or personal which you may own even before you would sell the asset. The government would use what is called a mark–to–market scheme whereby the assets you own would be evaluated each year and any increase in that value would be taxed as though the asset were sold. Unbelievable, don’t you think? You can surely count on the Democrats trying to get such a proposal passed into law if they are elected. Welcome to the new Biden tax–economy.And Estates. When you or I die today, every asset we own would be valued at what is called a step–up basis. In short, what the asset is really worth in today’s market would be the valuation – price for estate – tax purposes and not what an owner would have paid for the asset years ago. Democrats would repeal the step–up basis at death and inheritance taxes would radically increase. And that is so without any adjustment for inflation. The Democrats have not indicated whether or not they would seek to increase the estate tax now at 40% but Bernie Sanders, the new advisor and voice behind the scenes of the Democrat Party has indicated that were he President (God forbid), the top right would be 77%! Goodbye Estate! The Democrats would raise the Corporate income taxes to 28%. When state income taxes on corporations are added in, such as California’s almost 9% and Illinois almost 10%, the effective income tax rate for corporations would be some 40%. Many American corporations, which now headquarter and are taxed in America, would move their company headquarters overseas and keep their earnings out of the grasp of what they regard as confiscatory American Corporate taxing policies. Aware of that, the Democrats have proposed taxes on foreign earnings which would double in amount, increasing from 10% to some 21%. Our federal government, exercising its taxing greed would go after every dollar of income they could find to spend for their profligate purposes and to pay off trillions and trillions and trillions of dollars’ worth of debt. Get ready for financial socialism at the taxing level, my fellow Americans if Biden and his democratic ilk are elected. In addition, the democratic tax proposes would include the granting of any number of CREDITS, tax credits for policies and entities which the Democrats favor. Biden would, as one economist stated “lard the IRS code with spending and subsidies for favored businesses and behavior.” Those policies would be determined by politics and not economics. Democrats know the power of taxation or not, and they will use it to benefit any who support their policies and their party.The reality is that higher corporate taxes are inevitably paid by WE THE PEOPLE. The workers, the heart and soul of our economy would receive lower wages. Share holders would receive lower returns on their investments. When corporations and business entities are taxed, there is the trickle–down effect where the lowest wage earners are the ones who really pay. An increase tax on corporations or the wealthy would eventually be paid by the middle class or lower ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. The Tax Foundation has publicly stated that the tax proposals of Joe Biden would lower after tax incomes for every so called American class and especially for the middle class. You will never hear that from the Democrats, now will you. And more. The AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE indicates that more than 20% of the higher corporate taxes proposed by Biden would fall on workers in the form of lower compensation. And understand this well, my fellow Americans, we the economically stupid as Bill Clinton would say:“Some 25% of the new tax revenue beginning with the year 2021 would come from the bottom 99% of taxpayers!”The bottom, not the top, not the wealthy but from WE THE PEOPLE! The real people, the common people most not even in the so called middle class. The more corporations and the wealthy are taxed, the more the workers, the common man pays. One way or the other, directly or indirectly. You and I pay no matter what. So, economically my fellow Americans, you have a choice, a real choice. Biden and his Democrats will move our country left, slowly but eventually in four years, FAR LEFT. That will include a new economic order, a new ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION! Some think even a mild form of communism like Bernie Sanders would propose, he the new Democrat party guru and advisor. Not only would Biden and his Democrats tax and tax again, but government would begin to control, regulate and intrude on every aspect of our lives, ending what we now know as privacy and running roughshod over the freedoms of our beloved constitution. In reality, I boldly state that the Democrats are anti capitalism. They refer to profit from hard work as greed, selfishness. They would flatten, level and take away economic opportunity which you and I now take for granted. A vote for Biden is a vote for a brand new kind of American socialism and once that becomes invested, that will be the beginning of the end of the American way of life, of our current economic opportunity, the end of:         THE AMERICAN ECONOMIC DREAM.Think about that if you intend to vote for Biden or the Democrats, any democratic candidate and the radical, transformative (?) policies they will propose and implement. If Biden is elected, you will live differently, perhaps even radically differently than you do now. Be aware! 

Education

STUDY TO SHOW THYSELF APPROVED! Unto God, first and then to humankind. Work men and work women, as the scriptures say, who are not ashamed, but proud of what they know and use that knowledge for the good of faith and humanity. The more knowledge the better. In fact, what the world needs now are right thinking people who can RIGHTLY DIVIDE not only the word of truth, the scriptures, but all things happening in this world especially culturally, socially and politically. The issues of today ravage and rampage in so many ways because WE THE PEOPLE are uneducated, often indifferent and consequently ignorant of consequences when we are forced to make decisions or live with those made by others. We do not take the time to STUDY the issues and their ramifications, think them through (THINK ON THESE THINGS), and consequently articulate our conclusions. We earn the disrespect of those who know the issues, control them and utilize them for their benefit no matter the consequences to us. And the consequences are incredibly serious in this day and age of CANCEL CULTURE. So many of our once respected and objective institutions of education have become BASTIONS OF BIAS. Virtually all have come under the control of radical progressives, liberals determined to do away with American history, morals and values and religion, especially religion of the Judeo – Christian kind. Studies show that faculties of universities nationwide are far more Democrat than Republican. In fact, the latest ratio indicated that Democrat – progressive faculty has a 13–1 ratio superiority to Republican – conservative. THIRTEEN – ONE! Not only is that one voice not heard, but this oppressive majority opposition seeks to cancel that voice altogether. It moves aggressively forward to indoctrinate rather than educate. Free or counter speech is cancelled at every turn. Opposing points of view face intimidation, threats and faculty firing and student expulsion. You think the way of the new educational orthodoxy or you will be CANCELLED! That is so in spite of a well–known professional standard for college professors which states the following:“College professors are warned against taking unfair advantage of the students immaturity by indoctrinating him or her with the teachers own opinions before the student has had an opportunity fairly to examine other opinions upon the matters in question and before the student has sufficient knowledge and ripeness of judgement to be entitled to form any definitive opinion of his or her own.”That statement comes from the American Association of University Professors, originated as far back as 1915. But in fact, unfair advantage of the minds of young students is common practice at our colleges and universities which, again, INDOCTRINATE RATHER THAN EDUCATE. Most educational institutions have similar rules of their own. They are however completely ignored by the new progressive academia which has become politicized from top to bottom.And yet another educational standard violated with impunity. The Constitution of California specifically states that the universities of California:“Shall be entirely independent of all political or sectarian influence and kept free there from.”However, politicization is now seemingly routine. Colleges and universities however continue on in the pursuit of their political objectives even though they completely stifle – eliminate free inquiry, promote tribalism, erode or corrupt analytical thought. And perhaps most importantly, the emotionality of social justice, the stated aim, would replace reason, rational thinking! Universities used to be places where the major political and social issues of the day could be researched and debated. But current academia in the words of Professor John M. Ellis of the University of California, Santa Cruz:“Offers not a reasoned corrective to partisan passions, but fears, one–sided advocacy of dangerous and destructive ideas.”Real education, says Professor Ellis, has become academically adrift. A former study found that at least 45% of 2,300 undergraduate students surveyed at 24 universities are progressing through higher education today without measurable gains in general skills like critical thinking, complex reasoning and perhaps as importantly WRITING. In short, to use the title of the book by Allan Bloom THE CLOSING OF THE AMERICAN MIND, free speech, analytical thinking, contrary points of view and the flow of fresh ideas become scarcer by the day at our once glorious and respected educational institutions. Higher education has been replaced with lower political radicalism. That radical lurch to the left was rampant among graduate students who became junior professors, instantly shifting the faculty sharply leftward. The political pressure and demand for female and minority faculty appointments occasioned more young radicals hired as members of the faculty. Even as these radical changes occurred, WE THE PEOPLE continued to pay taxes utilized for education, indifferently passed legislation which fostered this movement, and continued to give generously and abundantly to current education and to endowments. As one professor well stated, it now seems too late to change course and change back academia. The First Amendment of our beloved Constitution guarantees free speech. That is the most important right of any person living in a democratic – free society. Without free speech, there is no freedom. No freedom of religion. No freedom of press and media. No freedom of education. And no freedom of assembly. All fundamental and unalienable rights are gone and tyranny rules. Gerard Baker, a writer for the Wall Street Journal, witnessing these overt and subtle attacks on democracy states that our beloved freedoms and our:         DEMOCRACY DIES IN DARKNESS. In classrooms, says Baker, newsrooms and boardrooms across the country, you can almost hear the silence as people internally check what they say! Newspaper editors are forced to resign or are terminated. Two such at the once great Gray Lady the New York Times, Mr. Bennett and Ms. Weiss. They dared to publish in the Times op-eds which were conservative in thinking as opposed to the constant and consistent liberality of the Times. They were hassled, these editors, intimidated and terminated. And the very same happens with so many professors who dare to be contrary in speech who are hassled and harassed and who well can be fired for challenging the current liberal – radical – progressive orthodoxy.These radicals, determined to cancel conservative thinking have become what Gerard Baker calls:         VIGILANTES OF IDEOLOGICAL PURITY.They have even gone so far, so many of them, to state that the publication of conservative thinking pieces, essays and writings are such that they “put their lives in danger!”Can you believe that? The mere writing of a differing point of view (conservative) threatens the lives of the liberal – radical – progressive crowd. Just incredible. When in fact, so much of what they publish, think and believe has put the lives of millions of American citizens in danger and unleashed the worst violence that America has seen internally in its entire history. And, that is the truth of the matter in this POST TRUTH ERA. And this march toward a leftist utopia continues unabetted and even more aggressively so. Academia continues to pursue so called social justice. They are determined to effectuate political correctness at every turn. And, they believe in and champion identity politics in the name of diversity but in reality nothing more than division. We live in a day and age, my fellow Americans, especially in academia and on campus of the:         WOKE PHILOSOPHY.And its aim is to destroy traditional America any way it can.Writer Mollie Hemingway states the following:“Battle lines are more clearly drawn these days between those who clearly believe America is irredeemably evil and must be violently overthrown (i.e. George Soros) and those who believe America remains the greatest country on earth, based on the rule of law, individual liberty, inalienable rights.”And so, the battle lines are drawn and near the twain shall meet. There is no dialogue, no compromise, no respect but only a WINNER TAKE ALL approach. It is for America today an ideological war where in so many ways we the people are collateral damage. The core, the foundation, the heart and soul of America are all in danger of total destruction. And, we the people do so little or even nothing to prevent that from happening.Joshua T. Katz is a professor of classics at the once renowned Princeton University, where free speech ruled. Professor Katz used the phrase “terrorist organization” to describe a defunct student group called the BLACK JUSTICE LEAGUE, the members of which targeted and smeared fellow undergraduates for disagreeing with them. The President of Princeton publicly stated that Katz had violated his obligation to exercise free speech RESPONSIBLY. In short, you complied with Princeton radical – progressive orthodoxy or you were IRRESPONSIBLE. Fellow faculty members, brainwashed with the new orthodoxy actually stated that the use of that term terrorist organization placed:          “Black colleagues, students and alums at serious risk.”Can you believe that? There came a groundswell of support for Professor Katz, rightly so, so that the inquiry which was promised by Princeton and its President was cancelled, leading Katz to state:          I SURVIVED CANCELLATION AT PRINCETON.And that is a rare occurrence, free speech survival at any Ivy League institution and of course at others the country over.What a world, my fellow Americans. The America so many of us know and love has never been in more danger. The First Amendment of our Constitution and its freedom guarantees is under attack now more than ever. There can be no freedom of religion without freedom of speech. There can be no freedom of press and assembly without freedom of speech. Our Constitution absolutely prohibits ANY ABRIDMENT of free speech no matter how hateful. We can bear the consequences of our speech but we cannot be prevented from making that speech. But we are, time and again, and more and more. We have, many believe one more opportunity, my fellow Americans to make certain that we elect those who will protect our inalienable rights, our special democratic freedoms in elections 2020. If those who hate free speech are in fact elected in House, Senate and in the Presidency, what we now take for granted, the freedoms we do, will be gone, lost forever.And you know the famous Reagan saying:         FREEDOM ONCE LOST IS LOST FOREVER.I hope and pray your son or daughter, or anyone you know and love does not fall prey to current CANCEL CULTURE ACADEMIA. There are strong, right thinking, excellent educational institutions where they can go, like Liberty University. Do not allow those you love to fall prey to today’s ACADEMIA. They are for the most part radical, progressive, socialistic environments bent on the destruction, the take down of America. Please do not support or send (recommend). Because, more than ever:         THE FUTURE OF AMERICA IS AT STAKE! 

Gave Them Over

WE THE PEOPLE, citizens of America privileged to be so, have been a free people in a free country for 244 years.Our freedom journey began in the great year 1776. Our Four Fathers fought for that freedom and so many died in the attempt. In the process, there came about incredible documents, the one our very precious DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. The other, our beloved one–of–a–kind CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Our freedoms embodied in those documents and amendments were given to us divinely so, inalienable rights from our CREATOR, and essential and fundamental rights of all mankind. The creators of those documents and those who verbalized our original and initial freedoms fought for the right to live free. Now it seems in America 2020, 244 years later, that we who believe in those freedoms must fight again to retain them. They are under attack from so many sources and in so many ways, and we now face head on the answer to the question and challenge of Founder Benjamin Franklin who with so many others was so proud of the freedoms we had, and challenged us to:         KEEP THEM!That challenge has never been greater. Our freedoms have never been more in danger. Socialism looms, or more. Rule of law is broken with impunity. Constitutional rights are trampled upon. Healthy and respectful diversity is replaced with an angry, aggressive even militant tribalism. Irreparable division replaces true diversity and violence, physical and verbal is among us at every turn. First of all, freedom of speech, that most important inalienable right in the First Amendment of our Constitution is not only attacked, but curtailed, restricted, ABRIDGED no matter the constitutional prohibition and free speech is no longer tolerated if someone deems it to be hate speech. And without free speech, all other freedoms die, ALL! And that so surely includes:         FREEDOM OF RELIGION.The Romans, rulers of the world in the time of Jesus and Paul had turned completely corrupt morally, politically and culturally. Roman lifestyles were lascivious, depraved and decadent so much so that the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans stated that:         GOD GAVE THEM OVERto that incredibly lascivious and sinful way of life and in essence, withdrew from them. And what they did, how they lived only got worse. It seems they delighted in any form of perversion and the more and the worst the better. They denied the existence of God, even to the point of making CAESAR God. Those early Romans hated the name of Jesus and anything Christian. They were softened, spoiled no longer the robust, aggressive and feared roman empire. They were no longer, like America, the shining light set on a hill, an example for all to see. Rome, the once eternal empire, eroded and eventually disappeared. Many think that is the path of America today, the journey which will end America as we now know it. It seems to many today that God has at least begun the process of:         GIVING US OVER. We the Americans to the perverse and lascivious way of life we seem to have adopted. We have like the Romans of old become a permissive society:         ANYTHING GOES!The cultural structure of old, morality as it was defined, and social assumptions change by the day. Godless, even those who hate the notion of God carry the dialogue and form the new morality (immorality). Our era is characterized by lawlessness, a complete disrespect for law enforcement, for constitutional restrictions and freedoms and a total disregard for the rule of law of any kind. It seems as though men and women of goodwill have abandoned the marketplace of ideas and freedoms to those who would destroy them. The good have abandoned the political arena, or lost control and influence, and the Godless, the immoral have taken over. And this, tragically enough, may only be the beginning. It seems clearly so that the worst is yet to come.Recently, Dr. James Dobson, he formally of Focus on the Family and now the leader, director and speaker of FAMILY TALK issued an open letter in July to fellow believers everywhere. Jim Dobson is an outstanding Christian, scholar and psychologist, having spent 14 years as an Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, and the author of some 30 books. No one questions his credentials. The Crawford Broadcasting Company played a large role in the founding, broadcasting and spreading of Focus on the Family and we have been proud to do so with Dr. Dobson the same for Family Talk. One good man, a real and true servant of our Lord is Dr. James Dobson.He reminds us in that July open letter of examples in history where peoples and societies became so wicked, so irredeemably evil at the core that GOD GAVE THEM OVER. They were like the early Romans, which the Apostle Paul identified in Rome in his time in his letter to the Romans Chapter 1:18-32. The Hearts of the Romans had become so hardened God actually left them to their own devices. He gave them over and HE was gone. They were given over to a depraved mind. Their hearts and minds were filled with every kind of wickedness. They became evil to the core. They were full of deceit and malice, so said Paul. They became arrogant, slanderous and they became:         GOD–HATERS.They were infected with severe pride. And, says Paul, they even began to invent new ways of doing evil in their totally corrupt minds. The old evil was not enough.They became ruthless and faithless these Romans of Paul’s time. These Romans were on a sure course to destruction and, sure enough, that happened. Such a wicked, Godless way of life, immorality run rampant can never survive. Like Paul, Dr. James Dobson poses the hypothetical that America seems to be on the very same Roman path to destruction. He says so poignantly:         “How can we miss the similarity between then and now?” Dr. Dobson goes on to say:“WE CAN HAVE NO IDEA WHERE WE ARE ON THE TIMETABLE OF GOD’S JUDGEMENT, BUT IT IS TERRIFYING TO THINK OF HIM ABANDONING US TO OUR OWN DEGENERACY.”And it surely is for our own degeneracy seems to do nothing but increase.In the day of Noah, so says the Old Testament, mankind died in a flood that covered the earth, that is, all but one, Noah and his family. All the rest, gone. And then there was Sodom and Gomorrah. Again, one survivor, Lot and his daughters. And Jerusalem, utterly destroyed by the Babylonians which marked the beginning of Babylonian captivity for 70 years, no matter the warnings of the WEEPING PROPHET JEREMIAH. America may be next. God seems well on the way to GIVING US OVER to this NEW NORMAL MORALITY where:         ANYTHING GOES. Dr. James Dobson, like the Apostle Paul of old, bewails American PERVERSIONS. Pornography exists everywhere, so that America has become the “pornography capital of the world.” And there is the growth of pedophilia, now even sanctioned to some extent by Godless psychologists. And there is of course rampant infidelity, immorality and new sexual freedoms at every turn. There continues to be the importation of young girls and women who then become sex slaves. What an abomination. And illegal drugs, more addictive and more powerful than ever, are everywhere, readily available and corrupting the bodies of old and young with impunity. And there is lawlessness and a disregard of the law growing by the day. And of course greed, financial greed but also the lust for power and control, substantial enemies to democracy. And violence and more of it at every turn. Old notions of safety in America no longer exist.Our educational systems and institutions rewrite history and the rules of learning with impunity. The history of old is done away with and of course deeply disrespected. And, Paul identifies and bewails what was then and as it is now the UNNATURAL. Paul, like Dr. James Dobson, refers to this sexual conduct as sexual impurity, impurity that degrades their bodies. Says Paul, women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. And men, also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men, says Paul, committed indecent acts with other men so much so that:         GOD GAVE THEM OVER TO A DEPRAVED MIND.And that UNNATURALNESS continues and grows aggressively, even protected by newly found constitutional rights. And then there is abortion, baby killing. That is also constitutional as it has been for almost one half century in the now infamous Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade. Dr. James Dobson reminds us that there have been 60 million babies “whom the creator was knitting together in their mother’s wombs,” slaughtered by the abortionist’s knife. James Dobson so eloquently states the end result:         “Their blood calls out to the creator from the ground in which they lie.”All of this sounds like America has no hope. That, as a free society, morally based, founded on Judeo – Christian principles, constitutional and rule of law abiding, that day and age is over and in the words of the most evil man on the face of the earth George Soros:         AMERICA WILL BE TAKEN DOWN.Destroyed. The wrath of God at work. But, my fellow Americans, there is hope. God can and will bless America once again but there are conditions, firm and strict. If we are the people of the great God Jehovah and the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, then WE THE PEOPLE can only request and receive the blessing of God if we do the following:         HUMBLE OURSELVES         PRAY         SEEK HIS FACE         TURN FROM OUR WICKED WAYSThink about those conditions. We are a most arrogant, prideful nation and people and it is so difficult for us to humble. Perhaps we pray, but will we, the way we are and the way we live, be heard. And seek the face, the love and wisdom of God Almighty. Do we do that with all of our hearts, and minds, and strength as we are required? But the real condition is turn from our wicked ways. Turn. That is up to us. That is our choice to do so or not. So far, we have not! We can continue to commit evil, and we all do or we can be guilty as CONSPIRATORS in the commission of evil by not doing anything, DOING NOTHING to stop it. We cannot expect the blessings of God on us and America unless we proactively and aggressively turn from evil, first ourselves and then our country. We do so little in that regard. But if all four conditions are met, humble, pray, seek and turn, THEN AND ONLY THEN WILL WE BE HEARD IN OUR PRAYERS AND SUPPLICATIONS. Only then will we be forgiven and only then, hear these words carefully will:           GOD HEAL OUR LAND.Then and only then. If we do not heed these warnings and 2 Chronicles 7:14, then surely, God will give us up, GIVE US OVER to our wicked ways and abandon us. So, it is up to US. There is an enormous amount of work to be done, morally, culturally, politically and spiritually if WE THE PEOPLE with the help of Almighty God can expect to turn or rather return America to the shining light on the hill it once was. I for one pray so sincerely that we do that although I know how difficult it will be. We the people of faith seem to be softened, unwilling to FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH. But we must. We have no choice. I pray that you will put on the armor of faith, run the race and fight the fight so that, once again we can expect that in fact:         GOD WILL BLESS AMERICA! 

The Vote: Your Vote

You will vote, won’t you? I refer of course to the critical elections which require your vote:         TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2020. The most critical, important vote EVER in America. No vote for 244 years will be more important, NONE. And you will be a voter, you will participate, YOU WILL VOTE, won’t you?BUT, in order to be eligible to vote, you must:         REGISTER TO VOTE.Have you registered in your state? Every state has different registration qualifications and timelines for doing so. You should check the requirements of your state IMMEDIATELY and make certain, MAKE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN you are registered and qualified to vote. Every year, people, good American citizens, show up in person to vote and cannot do so because they have not REGISTERED. Know the requirements of your state, and get that registration done now. Many think there will be considerable problems election day November 3. Problems with voting machines. Problems with those who attend and monitor the voting. Problems with waiting to vote. Problems with protestors and unruly individuals attempting to disrupt. Problems with those with different beliefs, voting for candidates and issues different from yours, who will attempt some form of INTIMIDATION. Some think there will be any number of attempts to vote illegally since the voting rolls of many states are filled with illegal, unregistered voters, some even dead and gone. Fraud in voting 2003 can be a serious problem and WE THE PEOPLE, we the voters should be aware of those possibilities. Who would have ever thought that in our beloved America, it would actually take courage on the part of citizens to vote. FRAUD can be a serious problem. Thousands, even tens of thousands of votes cast and counted November 3 could in fact be illegal. In fact, some state elections and even the electors from that state for President could be decided by those not legally entitled to vote! Virtually every state must deal with the possibility of illegal immigrants not entitled to vote, actually voting whether fraudulently in person or by absentee ballot. Some may apply for an absentee ballot, vote the ballot and then actually show up at the voting polls to vote in person. FRAUD can and most think will be a serious problem during voting November 3. Watch for that my fellow Americans, as the old saying goes:         IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING! No one should have a voice or vote in American elections except LEGAL AMERICAN CITIZENS! No one. INTIMIDATION. Violence has erupted everywhere in America. Those who are violent, so called protestors, often get away with their illegal actions. Because of their sheer numbers, many who commit criminal acts are not arrested, or charged or brought to trial. Many others are in fact arrested, charged but find that their actions are forgiven and cities, counties and states simply do not bother to prosecute. That is exactly what happened in the once great city of Philadelphia. Mayor Jim Kenney, a progressive Democrat, and his even more progressive District Attorney decided they did not have the resources to prosecute and that Philadelphia time, effort and money would be better spent in other matters and certainly not black lives matter. Protestors, many if not the majority of them violent, destructive of so much real and personal property, and even assaults on innocent citizens went SCOT–FREE, warrants and citations fully dismissed by the Mayor and District Attorney. They got away with criminal behavior and you can be sure that this precedent will encourage many others to commit the same violent, criminal acts knowing the strong possibility of nothing happening. What a tragedy for Philadelphia, the great state of Pennsylvania, and the rule of law.Radical elements control. They are visible. They are loud. They are aggressive. They do what they want, when they want, where they want often in a most intimidating way. There seems always the threat of violence whether to person or property. And that intimidation, actual or threatened, so often prevents good American citizens from political visibility, STANDING OPENLY for what they believe and for whom they will vote and the new normal political marketplace is dominated by radicals, progressives, often anti–America. These violent protestors, seemingly with little or nothing to lose, intimidate so many law–abiding citizens. Consequently, what they believe and the support they will give November 3 to the candidates of their choice is not heard or seen. It is almost as though America, we the people have succumbed to:MOB RULE. For example, many would not put a bumper sticker in support of Donald Trump or the Republican party on their car for fear the car would be vandalized. Many Trump supporters would not wear a cap with the slogan MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, or a t–shirt with similar support language for fear of PHYSICAL ASSAULT! And that show of support and the values it represents is missing from the early political marketplace. It seems therefore that there is more support for the loud, the angry, the violent, the radical, the transformationists and even for those like George Soros who want to:         TAKE DOWN AMERICA,or Ilhan Omar who, an angry, aggressive Democrat would:         DISMANTLE AMERICA AND ITS INSTITUTIONSand especially its economy. These voices, the loud, violent and angry, are the ones heard, and seen and the more conservative, those who will not engage in violence and out of the rule of law, seem nowhere to be found. This involuntary absenteeism is fostered by the media, the corrupt, biased, liberal – radical MEDIA. And even more so by the very same ACADEMIA, liberal – radical to the core (94%). And of course, by the brainless HOLLYWOODERS, with loud voices and tremendous visibility but with little or no knowledge of the issues and for the most part utterly without political wisdom. Now come the sports figures, those poor, struggling athletes who can make up to more than one half billion, BILLION dollars for throwing a football and as a result, become at least in their minds political experts, virtually all of them liberal – radical espousing publicly the party line, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY LINE. Sports becomes a public backing of BLACK LIVES MATTER and other social, liberal issues. Support slogans are everywhere, including the very uniforms of the players themselves. They kneel when the National Anthem is played in total disrespect. They dishonor the flag, the once revered red – white – blue, care not if the flag is trampled or even burned. They fail to salute or honor America even as they are far and away some of the highest paid citizens of our great country. It is as though to be paid ten million, or fifteen or twenty million or more, money utterly wasted and unjustified, entitles these spoiled athletes to take the platform WE THE PEOPLE have allowed them to have and tell us how we should think, believe and consequently act and vote as they, often political ignoramuses would have us do. Football and basketball were once great sports, entertainment, fun, a–political. Rivalries were intense but essentially ended when games were over. Sports were relaxing, easy, an escape. But not today. They have become political forces, active, overly so in the world of politics, values, morality and beliefs, even as they demand and consequently make their tens of millions of dollars in salaries and bonuses. Finally, much of America wakes up. There are those who refuse to watch or support sports any longer. They will not pay to watch an athlete kneel in disrespect of America, still the land of the brave and the free whatever its problems. And the same with movies where so many of the so called Hollywood Stars live corrupt, immoral and even illegal lives, in their minds different and better than the average WE THE PEOPLE. Many now rise up and rebel against ACADEMIA, liberal – radical to the core, often anti–America and curtailing and eliminating free speech, and assembly, and mocking anything and anyone religious. Americans know the MEDIA for what it is. Eighty five percent of Americans know liberal press, television (CNN) for what it is, not at all objective but rather RADICAL PUBLIC RELATIONS MACHINES for liberal and progressive causes. But think of the force, the power exerted in the marketplace, politically, in terms of First Amendment rights, which intimidates Americans by the millions. If you intend to vote conservative and for Donald Trump, where is your bumper sticker and your t–shirt? How often do you enter the public square to champion your beliefs as liberal – radical does. The combination of media, academia, Hollywood, and now the world of sports creates unbelievable and shocking POLITICAL PRESSURE which now with the threat of violence, PHYSICAL – PROPERTY OR VERBAL, weaponizes liberal – radical causes, political intimidation at its worst. It will take courage, enormous bravery and internal fortitude for conservatives and Christians to:         STAND UP, AND ACT. The vast majority of Americans, I do believe, are conservative, constitutionalists, living by the rule of law respecting it, shunning violence, willing to dialogue but now intimidated and threatened by force. If conservatives and Christians do not stand up, and ACT, and protect, preserve and defend the America they love and the future of this great country, it will with its freedoms be lost forever. And that could well begin with elections 2020. If Democrats win the presidency, and take control of the Senate, and keep control of the House of Representatives:                GOODBYE AMERICA.So, my fellow Christians and conservatives, you have no choice but to:         STAND UP,act, and be heard. Your political and religious voice must be heard! And now. Our way of life, our freedoms are at stake and could well be lost. WE THE PEOPLE cannot let that happen. And yet from me another reminder from President Ronald Reagan:         FREEDOMS ONCE LOST ARE LOST FOREVER. And the loss of the freedom we know and love can be taken away in one generation. Don’t let that happen, my fellow American, DON’T LET THAT HAPPEN!And you can prevent that from happening by YOUR VOTE. And you will vote November 3, 2020 in America’s most critical elections, will you not? 

Vote

Are you planning to vote November 3, 2020, are you? If you love America, you better vote. Did you vote in 2018? Did you vote in the critical elections 2016 which pale in comparison to elections 2020? Did you? America needs you and YOUR VOTE now more than ever. There are people of faith, perhaps by the millions, who do not vote. Some think it is not their duty and there is no obligation to do so. Others will not vote for a candidate they deem immoral or even unlikely. Others think they are in the world but not of it. Still others think that their vote matters little or nothing at all so why bother. And the church and all other people of faith lose because of the indifference of legitimate, registered, American – citizen voters. I hope and pray you are not one of them.Scripture tells us to:         RENDER UNTO CAESAR THE THINGS THAT ARE CAESAR’S. But, my fellow Americans, we are Caesar, we the people. God ordains government and Governors and HE sanctioned the creation of a marvelous experiment in democracy some 250 years ago called:         AMERICA          THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Therefore, WE ARE CAESAR, we the people. We elect those among us, like us, believing a democracy to lead us. We do so because they are true representatives, elected, right–thinking, men and women of character who believe sincerely and uncompromisingly in:         DEMOCRACY.Therefore, it seems clear that we the people should VOTE. In fact, that we have a patriotic and even a moral duty to vote. If you don’t vote, we the people like you lose. We abandon the SHIP OF STATE to those diametrically opposed to and very much against the thinking and philosophies of people of faith, and religion, and the practice and even the free exercise thereof, no matter the protections and the freedoms of our beloved FIRST AMENDMENT. We believe that it is perhaps the highest secular and patriotic PRIVILEGE offered any American, that of the vote. Men and women throughout history died by the tens of millions to protect basic human freedoms, among which was the privilege and freedom to choose those who govern. They fought, like our American ancestors, to protect those freedoms. They fought to protect the RIGHT to vote, elect and choose those who would have the privilege of leading. In fact, in early America, it was regarded as a DUTY to vote. If you were an American citizen, a true and real citizen, one who both loved and respected the Constitution and the rule of law, the duty to vote was first priority. But that was then. Fast forward 250 years and in some elections, no more than one out of two eligible voters even bother to vote in any elections. Those critical choices are made by 50% of Americans. ONE OUT OF TWO. How absolutely tragic, the first sign of the end of democracy.A registered, legal American citizen votes for him or herself. They vote their conscience and for whom and for what they think is right. But that vote also is critical for spouse, husband or wife. And for children, and grandchildren especially. And for extended family, and friends, and for all others in county, and state. And of course, for all Americans. Think in terms of the ripple effect of a vote and how necessary that vote, YOUR VOTE is. Without your vote, and if you don’t vote, those you love and care for LOSE. What America is and should be is lessened. YOUR VOTE MATTERS! It matters so very much. What America is and should be is incomplete without you and your voice. You and your vote may be only one out of millions, but it matters, it really, really matters! In the most critical elections America has ever faced, elections November 3, 2020, you must vote, you just must. But you should approach the privilege of voting and provide America with an:         INFORMED VOTE. It is vital that you understand the issues and the positions of the candidates with regard to those issues. ECONOMIC ISSUES are always so very important. A thriving economy, one with jobs and opportunities is so essential to the American way of life. Our economy was thriving and growing under the Trump Administration. But then came CORONA, Covid–19 and that economy ground to a halt. You should know clearly which Presidential candidate would be most likely to revive and further grow the American economy.And taxes. A Trump Administration would work for lower taxes, or the same, while a Biden Administration would increase taxes overnight.And welfare, expanded by one party and not the other. And foreign policy. Do we as voters wish to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN and put AMERICA FIRST, or do we wish to simply become one part of a larger global whole. Elections 2020 will provide clear choices for one or the other.And education, intending to be radically different than it always was. To rewrite history, to introduce new moral standards and human definitions. There are clear choices with regard to these philosophies and you should know what they are so that you can vote what you believe. KNOW THE ISSUES! Demand clarity from the candidates and thoroughly understand what they believe. YOUR INFORMED VOTE IS CRITICAL FOR THE FUTURE OF AMERICA, CRITICAL! KNOW WHAT THE PARTIES STAND FOR. We continue to be a two party nation although there are always attempts to introduce more political options. But there are radical differences between DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN, RADICAL! Democrats move aggressively to the left. They espouse the liberal, the radical, the PROGRESSIVE which means fundamental and permanent change for America. Republicans for the most part are constitutionalists, believe in the rule of law, a growing and thriving free economy, the firm continuance of the American Dream and opportunity in every aspect of life, and perhaps most importantly, LIMITED GOVERNMENT. Democrats, otherwise. More of government and less of the individual, so say the Democrats. So, what do you believe and what do you want America to be? Your party vote is critical. And PLATFORMS. PARTY PLATFORMS. You must know clearly what each party stands for, what they believe in and what they will do if elected. Often, party platforms are general, unclear and sometimes even avoid certain issues. An INFORMED VOTE knows well these platforms and policies of each party so that a clear choice for the vote is possible. They make PROMISES, these would be rulers do. So many have no intention of fulfilling those promises and often operate in a completely different way once they get to Washington D.C. Some even become invisible, unheard and without political voice because of seniority, tenure and the rule of party powerful. You and I, WE THE PEOPLE are forgotten until the next vote, the vote for reelection arrives. So much for democracy.The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association advises us, the people of faith to vote:         BIBLICAL VALUESin elections 2020. Issues of considerable concern include abortion, the gay agenda, euthanasia. And of course, education, now so radically changing. And the freedoms of the First Amendment, including freedom of speech and worship, and of course assembly, among many others. It may indeed be the duty of the Christian to vote BIBLICAL VALUES. What do you think, and how do you intend to vote. And you will vote, wont you? Many think that Pastors will play a key role in this election. Many think that it is time for the church, led by the Pastor to become the church militant protecting the faith and the people of faith. Certainly that would include Evangelical Christians. And, the broader circle of Christian, Protestant denominations. And American Catholics, so numerous and with far more in common with Evangelicals than not. And Jews and those who practice the Jewish faith sincerely and follow its tenets. And in fact, all other people of faith. There are radicals and progressives who wish to eradicate anything religious from the American public square. We the people of faith simply cannot let that happen. The way we make certain of that is through our:         VOTE.Our informed vote. So, stand up Pastors, and Priests, and Rabbi’s and all right–thinking leaders of people of faith, inform the people entrusted to your leadership and guidance and make certain that America remains the land of the brave and the free, and that there continues to be THE UNABRIDGED FIRST AMENDMENT FREEDOM OF SPEECH, AND RELIGION, AND PRESS AND MEDIA, AND ASSEMBLY (THE CHURCH) WITHOUT ANY GOVERNMENTAL RESTRICTIONS OR PROHIBITIONS. Vote for the parties and candidates who believe and promise the very same.We should vote, we the people of faith, for candidates who have performed. We should look carefully at their actions, not just words. We should follow the biblical admonition:         BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM.Judge them by what they do, what they have done prior to election, so that you will surely know what they will do if in fact they are elected. An informed vote never votes on the basis of:PERSONALITY.One should never vote or not for someone because of like or dislike. Politicians are not Pastors. They are leaders, decision makers, men and women with immense power and they should be judged and of course voted for on the basis of:ACTIONS NOT PERSONALITIES.Many come to power who are in reality wolves in sheep’s clothing. They can appear likable, personable, friendly but once in power, totally different in terms of actions. A vote for or against a candidate on the basis of personality is NOT AN INFORMED VOTE. A voter does not need to like a politician if that one elected does the right thing! So my fellow Americans, now come elections 2020. Millions believe these elections federal, state and local are the most important, the most critical, the most far–ranging elections in all of American history. One party intends TRANSFORMATION, radical change. The other, a thriving, creative continuation of America as it was and what it can be. The parties are radically different as are the candidates. Solutions to the issues are themselves radically different. So that, it is critically important that you the voter, and you will vote won’t you, understand those issues, and those candidates, and those parties, and their platforms, and their policies and what they will DO (ACTION) if in fact we the people elect them. They, the rulers 2021 will have the power to radically change our country or continue on a growing, thriving constitutional path. So, I ask:         WHAT PARTY, WHAT PLATFORM, WHAT CANDIDATES WILL YOU CHOOSE?We the people hold the future of America in our voting hands. And, you will vote won’t you? YOU MUST VOTE!

Church School Aid

WE THE PEOPLE so often forget that, in our presumed American democracy, our democratic way of life that we actually live in a republic rather than a true democracy.There are controls everywhere. We presumably live by the wonderful tenets of our beloved Constitution and its 27 amendments. But in reality, our Constitution has been interpreted, reinterpreted, expanded and this original American document, once implemented by ORIGINALISM has now become ORGANIC in so many ways that the principles, language and intentions of the Founding Fathers hardly exist. Courts, many consisting of one man or one woman as judge often do as they please, what they think is right, or follow a path to a desired objective and goal which may or may not be constitutional. Opinions differ widely. In fact, they now go well beyond the old liberal – conservative divide. We have so many in positions of power who may wish to radically change our form of government, now many with deeply held socialistic points of view and philosophies, and even communistic. There are those passionately anti–capitalism, determined to control the economy through taxation and regulation. There is often deep distrust of the individual, the American citizen. The elitists, the politically power hungry and the cultural know–it–alls have growing disrespect for the common man and woman, seeking their vote, support and money at election time and virtually ignoring them thereafter. Two hundred and fifty years ago, in that aggressive revolutionary time, the indifference to any average American citizen would never, ever have been tolerated. The attitude of the early revolutionaries, the 13 states was tough, independent, involved and often highly suspicious of politicians and those in power. The key to the early revolutionary mentality was INVOLVEMENT. Citizens aggressively participated in the political process. They held elected officials accountable. They were intolerant of corruption and they were determined as the old state motto so well said to:         LIVE FREE OR DIE.Having fought the Revolutionary War and won freedom, REAL FREEDOM, these early citizens of our great country, the very first Americans would never, ever give up that freedom.Two things characterize the early Americans which hardly exist in today’s cultural – political American environment. The first was involvement. Life was hard, demanding and time consuming. But these early Americans always had TIME for all things political. They trusted political leaders but only if they were ethical and lived up to their promises, following the lead and direction of the patriotic citizens of their state. Early American citizens were very concerned not only about freedom, but the economy, and of course banking and the control of funds. They were concerned with morality. They had their own views of foreign policy. For the most part, they wanted limited government, especially the federal government seeking to protect state governments and state rights at all times. They were committed to the famous statement of Patrick Henry in everyday life:         GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH.They would not live under any tyranny, bondage, political or even military pressure or control. They were politically involved in order to make certain freedom was never lost. They responded aggressively to the challenge of Founding Father Benjamin Franklin, who challenged the citizenry when asked what the Founding Fathers created in terms of the Constitution and the governmental structure. Franklin stated the Founding Fathers had given the new America a constitutional republic and then echoed his famous challenge to them:         IF YOU CAN KEEP IT. If you can keep it. And what a herculean task it would be to keep that republic, to live under democratic principles and freedoms and never lose them. What an unbelievable challenge it was then and, my fellow Americans, that challenge is even greater today, FAR GREATER! The second fundamental principle demanded and aggressively followed by early citizens was ACCOUNTABILITY. If one became an elected official, that person was held to the highest standards of conduct, required to function as a true fiduciary, a true representative of the people. When that citizen trust was broken, and of course it was from time to time in those early days, that elected official was held accountable. Not only individual citizens, but states and especially the original 13 held the federal government accountable. If that government usurped too much power, and began the trampling of states rights, those states, holding the federal government accountable were ready to resist or secede if necessary. It was an aggressive, action–oriented political environment in those early revolutionary days as the new America evolved. The expectation, the demand for accountability was extremely strong. Fledgling America was an experiment in democracy, a republic at work, trial and error but with involvement by the citizenry which was so special at that time, soon to be taken for granted, and challenged more than ever in every possible way in today’s political climate. If founder Benjamin Franklin could observe America 2020, he would undoubtedly know that WE THE PEOPLE surely would not be able to keep the republic originally founded. Democracy, American style, would be indeed on its last legs. It is really so very interesting, even amazing that in this democracy of ours, power, ultimate political power is so highly concentrated. We the people, some 335 million strong, are ruled by:         545 MEN AND WOMEN.They are all powerful. They control our government, our decision making and our lives. There are 435 Elected Representatives, supposedly so, of we the people, who form THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. They come from 50 states and supposedly represent the will of the people. The Constitution thinks in terms of those Representatives bringing fresh, local, state–driven ideas and political points of view to the federal government. The Constitution was structured in terms of diversity, differences of opinion, men and women who would really express the ideas and political philosophies of their citizen voters, their state for the good of their local citizens on the one hand but also the federal government for the nation as a whole on the other. In theory, that works. But practically and functionally, it doesn’t! The House of Representatives is structured, controlled, influenced by seniority. The longer you have been there, the greater the power. There are heads of committees and committee members who can in so many ways control legislation. Then there is the Speaker of the House, now one Nancy Pelosi, with incredible power in so many ways, dictating and defining, controlling and making certain the prevailing party line is followed no matter the beliefs and commitments of the individual representative or the state he or she represents. In so many ways, the way the House of Representatives functions is anything but democratic. Individual voices are seldom ever heard nor are they of influence in this highly controlled, seniority driven House of Representatives. In reality, these 435 elected officials are really controlled by 15–20 old line, long tenured politicians, elected term after term often without any real competition or opposition and the will of the people, certainly the will of the MAJORITY is often completely ignored. Democracy and the free flow of ideas can be eviscerated, weakened and made irrelevant so easily. The HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES has turned into a political body hardly representative of the American citizens who elected them.Then comes the United States Senate. There are two such members from each of the 50 states, 100 elected by the people for six years, rather than the two–year term of the members of the House of Representatives. These men and women were thought by the founders to be a check and balance with respect to the House of Representatives, a body perhaps more deliberate, more constitutionally protective. But these 100 rulers can function in ways so easily undemocratic, easily avoiding accountability for six full years once elected. The power each possesses in the political process is really unbelievable, often independent with the potential to ignore political promises made to get elected, often ignoring the very citizens who elected them. The Senate Majority Leader has unbelievable power. That leader can control the votes, the political actions of so many Senators who surrender political autonomy, independent thinking and promises to their Electorate for the good of the party and at the will of the Majority Leader. So much for democracy at work.Four hundred and thirty–five House of Representatives. One hundred Senators. Five hundred and thirty–five governing political figures. Add to that nine Supreme Court Justices, NINE! Ultimately, we the 335 million American citizens are ruled by nine people! The decisions they make in the majority control our lives, set our laws and determine how we should and must legally live. Often, critical life decisions are made by a mere majority, that is five Justices deciding THE LAW OF THE LAND. FIVE! That, at the bottom line, is anything but democracy at work. So that, a mere 218 Representatives in the House can decide on legislation. Fifty–one Senators can do the same. And five Justices of the Supreme Court can decide the law of the land. So that, in reality our rulers are not as many as 545 but even fewer at 274! So much for our democracy. And then of course there is THE PRESIDENT. This person, only men to this point, is undoubtedly the most powerful person in the United States. The power of the President expands over and again, expanding considerably so it appears with each new President. The power to veto, the power to rule our military, the power to appoint judges just to name some is simply unbelievable. There are indeed some checks and balances but so much of the presidential power through executive orders and the like goes unchecked. This one American individual seems all powerful for four years. Democracy, the democratic way of life is built on trust. We elect political Representatives presumably of the highest character, morality and nobility. We elect true Americans who believe in and protect the Constitution and the rule of law. We elect those who would represent us as citizens of one of the 50 great states, and concerned with commonality through our federal government for all Americans. But a close inspection of the House of Representatives, and the Senate and perhaps even the Supreme Court Justice, and of course the President would indicate that fiduciary standards and morality are at an all time low. In fact, a recent survey indicated that a mere 12% of Americans, one in eight, have respect for the integrity and morality of any of our political figures. Sad, and tragic, and undoubtedly the beginning of the end of the great American experiment in democracy. I firmly believe it is our fault, this political American mess. We the people have ignored the two most important factors which democracy requires:InvolvementAccountabilityWe have lives to live and the vast majority of us simply do not do what we are required to do as citizens. We do not make the time to study, learn, and stay involved in the political processes. In some elections, more than half of Americans do not even bother to vote. Small wonder 545 people can rule us. We have little respect for the political process and those who are elected consequently have little respect for us. Perhaps even more importantly, we do not hold those officials accountable. They often break the law, and with impunity. They act independently, ignore their political promises and often care so little what the American think, believe or want. What a tragedy, anything but democracy at work. We can lose what we have in the way of freedoms to socialism, even communism and perhaps even some form of dictatorship in the future. All of that was thought impossible some years ago but now very possible in today’s culture. Now comes elections 2020. We will vote for the President of the United States. The political system we have, the parties we condone or put up with, give us two choices, Donald Trump or Joe Biden, none other. Which will you choose? And will you even bother to vote? And we have 435 choices to make for election to the House of Representatives from our 50 states. For whom will you vote, and why. The entire House of Representatives could be changed that election day. Of the 100 Senators, there are 34 who will be reelected or newly elected. For whom will you vote? And you will vote, will you not? Political power is predicated on the indifference, the lack of involvement, the inability to hold accountable elected officials by we the people. There is always the hope that we will rise up, become involved and hold the ELECTED accountable. America can turn socialistic overnight if certain individuals are elected. Fundamental freedoms can be lost, and lost forever. If either happens, we have no one to blame but ourselves. We so presumptively ask GOD TO BLESS AMERICA. But there is no way we will ever get that blessing because of the way we live, and act, and govern ourselves. But that can change. But only if you, and I, and all right–thinking Americans stand up, and vote, and become and stay involved in the politics of our country, and hold our elected officials accountable. Otherwise, as President Ronald Reagan has well said, the freedoms we enjoy and unfortunately take for granted once lost will in fact be:         LOST FOREVER!

Violence in America

THOU SHALT NOT KILL!So say the scriptures and so say I, don’t you? The thou means you, my fellow American. And the thou means me, everybody! Nobody should kill, NOBODY!No matter, violence, including killing or the ever-present possibility thereof, runs rampant in America. The George Floyd era has unleashed a license in behavior, allowing if not condoning violence and that violence can well include:         MURDER – KILLING!I for one despise violence of any kind, physical or verbal for that matter. I could never, ever kill another human being even if my own life was at stake, could you? I know well the arguments of defending family, friends and especially children. But I could not do that with guns and knives. I take the biblical admonitions seriously and for me, there has to be another way. What do you think, how do you act, and how do you live? But violence seems commonplace in some parts of America, expected, killing happening often with impunity. In a recent weekend, nine human beings were killed in Chicago, NINE! Four of those nine, African American, were children, innocent children. No one it seems outside of that Chicago neighborhood, Austin west of Chicago, seems to care. The country is obsessed with the killing of George Floyd but could care less about the killing of four, four innocent children in a suburb of Chicago. Three year old Mekhi James, an African American child living in Austin – Chicago, Illinois was shot in the back, killed when someone fired several rounds into the SUV his father was driving. Three years old! Where is the outrage, and where is the proactive response of Chicago’s Mayor, an American herself, African American and female. Where is the response, the caring, and the promise of justice for those four children and the five adults killed with them that weekend. WHERE IS IT? Two hours after Mekhi James was brutally murdered, that same weekend, Amaria Jones, 13 years of age was fatally shot in the neck as she sat, get this clearly now:         INSIDE HER HOME!Thirteen years old, dead and gone and does anybody care about Amaria J. Jones, anybody, including Chicago’s African American Mayor. Does anybody care and will anybody do anything about it?Then killed was Jasean Francis 17 years old, a resident of Austin – Chicago, innocent but slaughtered by butchers, murderers who could care less about the biblical commandment:         THOU SHALL NOT KILL!Five adults were killed in addition to the children. Violence, killing, black killing black and does anybody care, ANYBODY? I do and I have asked my Chicago stations to do something about it. ACTION NOT WORDS. All those lives matter, they matter every bit as much as George Floyd, brutally murdered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and they matter every bit as much as the killing of Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta. Floyd and Brooks were shot and killed by police officers and Mekhi James was shot and killed by black criminals, thugs, hoodlums, killers and murderers, the bottom line is the same. Floyd and Brooks could and should be alive, but so should four young African American children as well. THEY SHOULD BE ALIVE! Does anybody care, ANYBODY about these four innocent black children murdered in Austin – Chicago?In Philadelphia, the so called city of Brotherly Love (now vandals and hoodlums), gangs of rioters rolled through several neighborhoods burning businesses and cars. There was only a tepid, lackluster response from the Philadelphia Police Department as so many minorities vandalized, and violently destroyed the property of good people including any number of businesses owned by minorities. Many wondered why there was not a more aggressive response from Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw herself an African American as so many violently vandalized. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, a considerable liberal Democrat sheepishly condemned the violence on the one hand, but immediately seriously questioned the use of his police force to stem the violence with non–lethal tear gas. Every liberal politician must toe the line, the party line, condemning the police and police forces even though the vast majority of those civil servants are good men and women, concerned with the rule of law and determined to uphold the law and to prevent violence. They get lost in the shuffle by these radical police condemnations. These, my fellow law abiding Americans, are frightening days in our beloved country and the rule of law has never been more disrespected or ignored. Scary times indeed for we the people who love America, believe in our Constitution and the rule of law and even as we LOVE OUR COUNTRY:         WE DESPISE VIOLENCE AND KILLING!We believe firmly and unequivocally that any civilized person, and especially any person of faith lives by the biblical admonition:         THOU SHALL NOT KILL! New York City releases criminals charged as such without bail. The city also releases convicted prisoners because of CORONA. For the first three weeks of June, New York City, the five boroughs thereof, witnessed:         125 SHOOTING INCIDENTS.ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY–FIVE!Mayor de Blasio self-righteously proclaimed:         “We are not going to allow gun violence to continue to grow in this city.”Talk, nothing but talk because the talk was backed by no action of any kind, virtually none. The Mayor declared the shootings, the killings and the violence a “troubling trend,” and then went back to his usual liberal, progressive, non–support of the New York Police Department. And the violence and the killings continue! In downtown St. Louis, four police officers were shot by “some coward randomly shooting at police lines,” said Police Chief John Hayden. To add insult to injury, now comes Black Lives Matter and they demand this great city change its name because St. Louis somehow someway has some kind of racist history attached. What a world, WHAT A PLACE AMERICA HAS BECOME as the rule of law crumbles in so many locations.And the violence continues. VIOLENCE BEGETS MORE VIOLENCE! Radical groups like ANTIFA exploit violent opportunities. These groups foster protest which may start peacefully but invariably end up violently. The VIOLENT know that so much of the resistance is mere talk. Presumptive Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden gave a 20–minute speech in Philadelphia on the topic of:         SYSTEMIC RACISM.Whatever that is. Biden devoted all of 20 or so seconds to the violence stating that:“There is no place (no place?) for looting or destroying property or burning churches or destroying businesses, many of them built by the very people of color who for the first time in their lives are beginning to realize their dreams and build wealth for their families.”End of Biden response. No recommended action. No support of the local Police Departments, or the National Guard or any other FIRST RESPONDERS who risk lives to protect and defend. NOTHING! More talk, and little more than a further contribution to the sense of license for the violent, and seemingly fostering the notion that in this Floyd – Brooks era:         ANYTHING GOES. If Biden happens to be elected President of our country, watch out for law and order. John Wood Jr., a national leader of BRAVER ANGELS notes the so called boiling over of minority pain and the violence which accompanies alleged remedies for that pain and he, a 33 year old biracial African American with a white father and a black mother asks the following question:“The pain is real. But so is the progress that our ancestors (African Americans) fought for and realized. Do we conserve and build on it in search of Martin Luther King Jr.’s beloved community? Or do we reject an American project for which our own people have sacrificed so much?”This is indeed the real issue for all African Americans. It is a conversation, a critical conversation as Wood Jr. states that all black Americans must address. Perhaps, Wood Jr. wonders, right thinking, law abiding, peace loving Americans of all colors would be more turned off by the violence and the illegal activities than they would the recognition of anything really racist or anti–African American. I believe that the vast majority of African Americans are good, law abiding citizens, so many strong people of faith and determined to effectuate any necessary change by peaceful means, by dialogue, with discussion and with mutual respect one for another and for ALL people no matter the color. They are the ones that must stand up, start and pursue the peaceful dialogue for change and condemn, PASSIONATELY CONDEMN the violence, the killings of any kind! Without that, America is doomed to civil disobedience and unrest perhaps forever.The common concern seems to be:         SYSTEMIC RACISM.But I ask the following questions:         WHAT EXACTLY IS SYSTEMIC RACISM?         WHO IS GUILTY OF THE PRACTICE?         HOW IS THIS PERPETUATED?         WHAT ARE ACTUAL, PRACTICAL, ACHIEVABLE REMEDIES?There is no racism, systemic or otherwise in my life, in my company. I know of no racist in my family or among my friends, none whatsoever. If there were such an one, I would confront him or her, demand change or move on from that individual. There is not one tiny bit of racism in my company, the Crawford Broadcasting Company, anywhere by anyone. If there were, I would deal with it and eradicate it overnight. If any employee of this company committed any kind of racist act, I would terminate that employee immediately without a second chance. You may find it interesting that 52% of the employees of the Crawford Broadcasting Company are so called minorities, 41% of whom are:         AFRICAN AMERICANS!That was not planned, nor was it forced upon us (affirmative action). These were the right people for the right jobs at the right time with the right skills and the right attitudes and the right determinations to be successful and to achieve THE AMERICAN DREAM! What a pleasure it is for me to know and work with them.Racism surely exists and where it does, it must be dealt with as forcefully as possible. It is wrong, DEAD WRONG! It is hate at work and that has no place in America or anywhere. There are racists of all colors, red, yellow, brown, white and black. Whoever is racist, no matter the color of the skin, he or she is wrong, DEAD WRONG! All men and women are created equal, creations and creatures of God Almighty and none are better than any other, different perhaps but NOT BETTER! Only men and women of goodwill can solve the problem of racism. Violence never will. Violence will worsen racism. And, in the final analysis, there really is only one, ONLY ONE who can bring peace and goodwill to mankind and ONLY ONE who can end racism. That man was a CARPENTER FROM NAZARETH. That man was Jesus the Christ whose birth 2,000 years ago was intended as a gift to mankind for PEACE AND GOODWILL. The rule of love he would bring is the only real and permanent solution to racism. That divine help is available even now if we ask. So, ask HIM for his help, and now. And then, go to work and do what you can do to end racism, and effectuate peace and goodwill for all. At the bottom line, my fellow Americans:         BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM!

FREEDOM

FREEDOM!We are, America is, the home, the land of the:BRAVE AND THE FREE.We are lovers of freedom.  It is, you could say, in our genes. We inherited that love of freedom from those who founded our great country, fought against the oppressors more than two centuries ago and built the foundation for the FREEDOMS we now enjoy today. Give us, we say with that great statesman and our forefather Patrick Henry, give us that LIBERTY or if that is taken away, give us death for there is no real life without freedom.For us, America is in fact exceptional no matter the indifferent attitude of Barack Hussein Obama who thinks that America is no more exceptional than any other country! But all of America and we the people are exceptional in so many ways, including our way of life and our lifestyle. Everything is okay down to the last sentence and raise and champion our great flag, and wear the American flag pin proudly, especially in the world of academia which thinks the American flag is a symbol for racism and xenophobia rather than exceptionalism.And now, we should take quality time to honor the founding documents which make us great, namely our Constitution, our Bill of Rights and our Declaration of Independence. We should honor these incredible documents by reading them, studying their content, understanding the values therein and resolving as the authors of these documents did, and honor our forefathers who provided them for us recommitting to them and the world at large that we the people will protect and preserve the freedoms contained therein, even to the laying down of our lives.In this day, there are so many who would CHANGE what we have, or even more radically so, eliminate it. There seems to be an ever-growing number of those in our very own country with little or no respect for our great founding documents, our freedoms, the principles by which we have lived and built THE GREAT SOCIETY, and especially what America has been, our glorious history. They the un-Americans wish to eliminate or erode so many of our freedoms and move this great country toward socialism. THEY are the enemy inside and they must be stopped. We the people, true Constitutional Americans energized and emboldened by our founding documents and founding fathers must make certain we do what is right for our great country, and as true patriots, protect and defend our freedoms as never before.  We should do everything humanly possible to prevent socialism of any kind in thought or deed.We should remember the words of that great statesman, a founding father himself, Benjamin Franklin, who said, when asked, that he and his fellow revolutionaries have given us, Americans then and now, a Republic.  Not a Democracy, but a Republic.  Franklin went on to warn us then and now that this Republic was FRAGILE, and needed at all times to be protected with vigilance, vigor and valor.That this Republic of the combined United States could never be taken for granted.  Nor could any citizen assume it would go on, and on.  For freedom, for Franklin and the fathers, was a precious right that could only be sustained by watchful, involved and proactive citizens.  We who would live in this free country and enjoy its immense freedoms must at all times be:WATCHMEN AND WOMEN ON THE WALLSNot talk, debate or discussion, but action, actively working to protect our freedoms and our way of life, willing to die in the fray if necessary.  Would you be willing to die, to lay all on the altar in the cause of freedom?  What would you do if ISIS or jihadists attacked America and threatened harm to your family and you?  What would you do?  Our forefathers never gave the matter a second thought.  They, in Second Amendment fashion, took up arms to defend their country, their freedoms and their family.  Would you? In fact, we AMERICANS should be so proud of our country, and our freedoms, that we as a nation are ready at all times to help others in the cause of freedom.  We gave the lives of millions of young American men and women to others in the cause of freedom.  Witness World War II.  One Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman 83 years young arrived in Paris by airplane.  At French customs, it took him several minutes to locate his passport.  The Customs Officer with sarcasm and disdain asked Mr. Whiting:“You have been to France before, Monsieur?”Mr. Whiting answered, yes he had and the smart aleck French official replied pompously:“Then you should know enough to have your passport ready!”Mr. Whiting then stared this official in the eye and said the following:“The last time I was here I didn’t have to show my passport.”To which the French Customs Official replied:“Impossible!  Americans always have to show passports on arrival in France!”Mr. Whiting gave this arrogant Frenchman a long hard look and he proudly stated:“Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this country, I couldn’t find a single Frenchman to show a passport to!”You could have heard a pin drop.  God bless America and God bless Mr. Whiting.And yet another instance of a proud American at work.  When in England at a fairly large conference, Secretary of State Colin Powell was asked by the Arch Bishop of Canterbury if America’s plans for Iraq were simply a rationalization for empire building or land-grabbing by George Bush as American soldiers went to war.  Powell simply answered by saying:“Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders.  The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those who did not return.”All attending that conference were deadly silent.  Well said, Mr. Powell, well said as a proud American.There was once a conference in France when a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American.  One of the French engineers said the following:“Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done?  He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intend to do, bomb them?”Those in attendance snickered and jeered.  That is, until an engineer from the Boeing company in America stood up and proudly stated:“Our aircraft carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people.They are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities.  They have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day.  They can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day.They carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and the injured to and from their flight deck.We have eleven such aircraft carriers.How many does France have?”You could have heard a pin drop.And again, a U.S. Naval Admiral was attending a naval conference that included admirals from the united states, England, Canada, Australia and France.  Every one in attendance was conversing in English.Suddenly a French Admiral complained the Europeans learn many languages but Americans learn only English.  This French Admiral arrogantly and pompously said:“Why is that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?”The American United States Naval Admiral stood up proudly and replied:“Maybe it is because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so that you would not have to speak German!”The room was deadly silent.So, whether here at home or anywhere abroad, anywhere in the world, it is our privilege, our duty, our passion to protect FREEDOM at every turn.  That freedom means for us and all in the world the fundamental rights, the God-given rights to:LIFELIBERTYTHE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESSIt is our right to live life free, with maximum freedom.  It is our right to live and champion liberty everywhere.  And, it is our right to pursue happiness as we define that, as free individuals, to pursue life legally and lovingly as we choose.  May it always be so, but it only can be if we are willing to do anything possible to protect those freedoms.  ANYTHING!  Are you?So now, this Independence  week, culminating in the great day July 4, Independence Day, we should honor America, this great country in which we are privileged to live.  We should honor all things American and we should honor our flag as a symbol of who we are and what we believe.  There are those who would desecrate or cause to be irrelevant the great stars and stripes.  There was the action of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) which banned the wearing of the American flag as a lapel pin or otherwise in clothing because the flag in their view was controversial and represented the causes of certain conservatives.  How tragic, how ridiculous, how un-American the actions of the American Broadcasting Company.  There are times when our President, our Congress, our leading citizens simply do not wear or honor the flag or any other symbol of all great things American.We the people should find all such conduct unacceptable and we should protest.  The greatest form of protest is to protect, preserve and defend our freedoms and the symbol of those freedoms, the great American flag, the perfect symbol of our independence and the finest possible expression of freedom on the great day July 4, Independence Day.  Do just that loudly and proudly my fellow citizens.Think carefully, my fellow Americans, about the precious freedoms granted by your Constitution and your Bill of Rights.  Remember that you are guaranteed the right to freedom of religion, to worship and practice religion as you please.  You are guaranteed the right to free speech, to speak as you wish at anytime, anywhere, with any words.  You are guaranteed the right to freely assemble, to petition, to print in press or on the Internet.  YOU ARE GUARANTEED THOSE RIGHTS!  You are guaranteed the right to bear arms, to purchase, own and use them for pleasure or in self-defense.  You are guaranteed the right against governmental illegal search and seizure.You are guaranteed the right a trial by a jury of your peers rather than to be summarily convicted by any governmental agency.  You are guaranteed the right to counsel if you can not afford one when charged with a crime.  You are guaranteed the right to vote.  You are guaranteed to pursue life, liberty and happiness as you wish!  You are guaranteed by your Constitution and Bill of Rights the highest and best form of living and lifestyle the world has ever known!  You should give thanks for America, for all that it was, is and can be in the future if YOU as Benjamin Franklin so well said standup and do everything possible to KEEP IT that is the great experiment in freedom which our founding fathers intended.  Please join with me this Independence Week, this Freedom Week and especially on the set-aside day for freedom celebration, namely July 4 in pledging once again our allegiance to this great country.  Please join me in these great words which honor America:I pledge allegianceto the Flagof the United States of Americaand to the Republic for which it standsone nationindivisiblewith liberty and justicefor all!I ask humbly and lovingly that GOD BLESS AMERICA.And I ask humbly as well that GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!There is only one America.  Keep it that way!

Social Justice and Lament - a commentary from Brett Larson

There is a silent enemy of the grace of the Gospel that is creeping through the American church. Pulpits are filled with those who in the name of “love” and out of fear, stay silent about, or even endorse, socialist ideology under the guise of “social justice.” The enemy is sneaky, full of slight twists and deception. Christians everywhere are taking the bait and virtue signaling their Christian family to shame them into compliance. Christian leaders and organizations are pressed more and more to continually interact with such or face economic challenges as cancel–culture not so subtly suggests… agree or be canceled. The bottom line is that the more Christians are focused on identity politics, post-modernism, and human perspectives of rightness, the more the absolute truth of the Gospel is squelched. This results in a failure to focus on individual responsibility and the personal mandate for repentance, confession, and God’s grace. Modern ideas of social justice (which is a completely subjective and arbitrary term) and the like are nothing more than legalism repackaged in a much more palatable form. Effectively proposing that “you’re only a good Christian if you act and support what they deem important.” There is also an inherent greed that perpetuates throughout the social justice movement. The idea that one has something another does not and therefore, is obliged to tip the scales to a more equitable situation, is problematic. Not only does it not rely on God as the giver of all things, but it also causes an “I deserve what you have” mentality. That is not biblical living. Again, this creates tribes and divisions that are not of biblical Christianity. I would propose a different term for those who truly have hearts for the less–fortunate, the widow, and the orphan…that is “biblical citizenship.” No true believer in Jesus would say that we are to ignore those in need. However, there is a big difference between living out one’s faith through generosity and making social justice an end in itself, which it has become.Thank God, there are some who continue to speak the truth and that we are doing whatever we can to refocus on things right. It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ that can stamp out racism, hate, and injustice…and only He can right all wrongs. Any message that claims anything different than that as its goal is a false Gospel and is empty. Right thinking, biblical, Christians across North America need to stand up, be heard, and refocus on spiritual message of the Gospel, individual responsibility, and our calling to speak truth no matter the consequences.LAMENTING THE FIRST.Recently my Pastor preached a sermon on lament. I began to think about the things I lament and how to approach those things while living in a fallen world. But, before we talk about how to biblically approach the things that weigh heavily on our hearts, let me tell you what I’m most concerned about, and it might surprise you.I am lamenting the loss of our American constitution, specifically the First Amendment. It’s gone, perhaps never to return. Yes, I know, it’s still there on paper, but in practice, its value has been eroded to nothing more than a suggestion.The First Amendment was first for very good reason. THE core principle of a free society is open, honest, and challenging debate. Benjamin Franklin rightly said, “freedom of speech is a principal pillar of a free government; When this support is taken away, the constitution of a free society is dissolved.” My friends, free speech is gone! It began on college campuses and in our education systems. The issue grew with the politically correct movement. In the name of “love”, so many bought in to squelching any type of speech that seemed to offend or hurt. You’ll see this play out in so many problems…the idea that we Christians should go along with something because it is “loving.” That’s a whole different topic for the future, but love is so much more than feel–good placation. It’s Satan’s greatest tool; to twist something good just ever so much to destroy what is right.So, the politically correct movement led to many other phenomena such as cancel culture and now, people lose careers, jobs, friends, and family over what they SAY!Now, we have a social media generation who has been educated in the politically correct cancel culture, and everyone has a platform. I’ve tried respectfully debating issues on social media. I get frustrated, not at the ideas but at the inability of people to rationally debate their position. I can honestly say, I have never been bothered by a position or an individual, it’s more that logical debate is dead. Just challenge a left–leaning assumption and watch the vitriol and hate. There is no rational and logical back and forth that is separated from emotion, which leads to logical fallacy. Every time it ends in ad hominem, straw–man, and false dichotomies…among other fallacies. The left has very effectively silenced all debate; because leftist policies rarely hold up to rational scrutiny. Therefore, they must shut down debate through identity politics, personal attacks, and name calling. The bottom line is that the First Amendment protects all speech, even speech none of us like. ALL SPEECH!I could go on and on about the why’s and how we got to this point, but the bottom line is, free speech and the First Amendment will never be the same again. I lament that.Now…to what to do with our lament. Well, it’s easy to be overwhelmed and frustrated. But the Bible tells us to bring our laments to the Lord. He is Sovereign, He is in control, and free speech or not, His plans are established. We can run to Him for comfort and we can trust that whatever He has purposed will come to pass. Praise God that His ways are higher than ours and our most clever deliberations pale in comparison to His most basic thoughts. In lament, look to the heavens. 

Father

Two kinds of fathers are there. The one Heavenly, the other earthly. The Lord of Glory, the Carpenter of Nazareth said:“I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE.”What a claim.Blasphemy by a human being if it were not true.  But they were ONE, and the carpenter from Nazareth told us in unequivocal terms that the CREATOR OF THIS UNIVERSE AND OUR EARTH was indeed among so many other things a:FATHERTo Him and to us.For otherwise, this Creator would be completely unknown, incapable of being known by us, but HE is. And, the Supreme Creator loves us and cares for us.  To me that is a thought incomprehensible were it not for:HIMOur Lord Jesus Christ took something remote, obscure and unfathomable and made it known, personal, deeply meaningful and loving so that we, the creatures of His creation, could understand who we are, why we are, and what we should believe.We are to understand and believe said Jesus, that there is for us an ETERNAL FATHER and not merely a cosmic Creator.  We are known as individuals, as sons and daughters by this Father, and we are not mere specks in the universe or dust in the wind.  We have meaning.  We are in fact SONS AND DAUGHTERS of this Father having claimed our inheritance as such through the SON Jesus Christ.  Hard to comprehend but true.We are also told that God the Father is love.GOD IS LOVE, and that love is the essence of God and so available to us.  Love is the greatest says the Scriptures, more so than faith and hope, and to know that God is love incarnate is just incredible.And we who are fathers should love the very same way.  Even as the eternal Father loves us, so should we love our children.  If a Heavenly Father loves unconditionally, so an earthly father should do the same, love the child unconditionally.  The highest attributes of any earthly father are the embracing, heartfelt and unconditional loving openness to the child even as the Father loves the child:LOVE NEVER FAILSBut there is another side of love from our Heavenly Father, a TOUGH LOVE.  That is, love at work which is ready to:DISCIPLINELove may indeed be meek, warm, gentle and forgiving, kind and open and it should be.But love must also be tough, demanding, disciplined and concerned for all things which are:RIGHTFor there are indeed prodigal sons and daughters who go astray.  As such, they honor not the Heavenly Father nor the earthly.Discipline is required, firm and straight.  The rod was used in the old days to accomplish discipline and to carryout punishment.  But that has been taken away.  Discipline today is more on the order of depriving the child of opportunities and pleasures or requiring the child to make up for the wrong and do what is right.Sometimes it works and sometimes not.But fathers can not SPARE THE ROD however the rod is determined for that is a fatherly duty.  No child can grow without discipline for there is nothing worse for a father than a child spoiled and bent upon his own way.Demanding standards, the terms and conditions of sonship, are a father’s duty which can not be delegated or ignored.And the Scriptures make it perfectly clear:WHOM THE FATHER LOVES HE CHASTENSChastening is real love at work.  BY THEIR FRUITS, LOVING DISCIPLINE AT WORK, YE SHALL KNOW THE FATHER AND WHO THE FATHER TRULY IS.The integrity of the father is critical.  Dads must do what they say and dads must say what they mean.  The father must live by the same standards he requires of the child.The father must be consistent in character, live a life with values and without hypocrisy.  Nothing is harder for a child to accept than lectures about right and wrong from a father who lives by neither.  So that, a father does not have to explain or justify the demands.The father does not have to negotiate with the child and in the course of discipline ask the child if it is OK.For it matters not if the child agrees with the father.  If a child respects a loving father, that is all that is required.  So many families seem to have so little respect for each other and rapidly become dysfunctional.  But a true father, a real father is head of household.  He is the one in charge, so say the Scriptures, kind, loving, considerate and respectful of all including and especially the wife-mother, but head of the household nonetheless.  Discharging all of those functions gives the father the right to discipline and demand.  But again, the father has earned that right by the way he lives.  When the son is old and ready for his own life, the ways of the father will be his and the son in turn will perpetuate, carryon those values for his family. It is so very important for the father to incorporate the son into his life.  To train up the child is to involve the child in the life, the career, the work of the father.  So many sons carry on, inherit and follow the father.  Father and son, or daughter, work together, learn together and the father teaches in practical ways.  What the father holds dear and in which he has invested his life becomes part of the child, a very practical and worthy training for the child.  The child can learn the way of business, work, industry so that like father, the child can be:A WORK MAN OR WOMAN WORTHY OF HIS HIREThat kind of fatherly guidance is so very important and it is the duty of the father to invest the time and effort to train up the child in that way. And so with hobbies, and fun.  There are games, trips, sports, theater, dining and all manners of wonderful vacation which must be shared by father and child.  Life is difficult and even as there are the demands of work, there must be the pleasures of play.  To laugh and cry together.  To enjoy the joys of this world as God has indicated is our right.  Lasting moments are created in fun and play.Father and child are intimate, or should be.Their dialogue, their caring for each other should be totally open, transparent.  Nothing should be hidden.  The child should have the confidence and the trust in father to openly reveal, discuss hurts, ask questions, confess doubt, challenge beliefs and otherwise make certain that the father fully understands precisely who the child is.  For the child develops independently and individually, a special and unique creation by God, and not merely as the earthly father would have him be.  The answers to questions should come first from the father, not from peers or school but from DAD.  The son should want to talk to father first and be assured that he knows what the father thinks.  They can not always agree but father and son can always be open and honest with each other.That seems so lacking today.There is little communication, virtually no dialogue.  Father’s preach and lecture but seldom practice one of the most important attributes of good fathering:LISTENINGReally listening.Patiently allowing the child to open the heart, to question, to express love and anger and to know as a child the father will listen and respect.  That more than anything builds character and confidence in the child.Fathers are friends and confidants.The father in the mind of the child is the first GO-TO. If not, the child seeks FATHER SURROGATES and substitutes.  Today’s education can often occur without traditional moral values or the standards of old.  No third party education is a substitute for a father’s education.  Children who are fatherless in actuality or spiritually seek comfort, guidance and acceptance from their peers which can often be secular and even with immoral influences.  They are ready to learn and adapt, to be accepted in so many ways different from what the father might believe or want for the child.  The conduct of the child can then become permissive, even unlawful as standards or morality are worn down and compromised.  That fatherless child goes a different way and the father has forsaken the most important duty of fatherhood, training up that child.If you have a child, if you are a biological father, then you must, YOU MUST be a spiritual, loving father as God would have it.  Don’t send a child to church.  Take him.Worship with him.  Love together the Lord of Glory.  Study Scripture and pray, together.  Talk about spiritual things for the child is even more interested in what the father thinks and believes than perhaps a pastor.Take time for the child’s life, school events, sports.  Be there, lovingly and with respect for the child growing to adult.  Nothing means more than a father BEING THERE.That child is YOU, dad.You can not ignore or deny YOU.The child wants YOU more than anything else.  There came to you that little bundle of joy, your very own son, your very own daughter, YOU IN EVERY WAY!  You are privileged to be a father of that child and he or she should be a clear priority, a first priority.  There will never be better earthly love, nothing comes close, than the love of a father for his child.  However strong the bond, and even if the father-child bond is broken, in some deep primal way, love is always there, or at least the hope of that love.  There is no child, or father however old or hardened who does not feel that way.  What a joy, what a privilege to be a father.Even as an adult, well-educated, perhaps successful, father himself, a son will always seek out a father, for fellowship, for advice, for comfort and caring, and for love.  That never changes.  Even in death, he the father being dead yet speaketh.  All he was and all they were together lives on, it is eternal even as the love of God is eternal.  The words, the deeds, the loving deeds will never be forgotten.  The understanding, the trust and the respect between father and child will never die. Perhaps a father’s proudest moment is when the child, adult and ready, leaves the father and becomes his own man.  That is a biblical requirement, and at that time, the father should be proud, very proud of the INVESTMENT he has made in the child.  For a father can think back, reminisce and remember all of those things which forged the bond, the training, the education and growth of the child, an investment far more valuable than anything financial.  That, says dad, is my son.  That, says dad, is my daughter of whom I am so very proud.He or she was worth everything I gave.The loving bond between father and child will sustain, motivate and guide the child for a lifetime.  It is the earthly component of the Heavenly Father.What a privilege it is to be a father.So, I and my company the Crawford Broadcasting Company salute fathers, real fathers who love, educate, grow and train up their children in the way in which they should go.  You are special, dads like that, very special.  The world needs real fathers now more than ever.  And, what is so wonderful is that it is never too late to be father no matter what has gone before.  Fathering may ebb and flow but the opportunity is always there, always.Never quit, never give up on fathering.So, enjoy your day DAD.  Father’s Day can show love and respect for dad one day. But real fathers are honored by their children every day.  For the most priceless thing any child can have is:A LOVING FATHER! 

Obamacare and the Nuns

When we think of nuns, there comes to mind the vision of good ladies in habits, easily identified as special members of the Roman Catholic Church, and of course doing good deeds of mercy and kindness to others, and especially to the poor. Perhaps we also think in stereotypic terms that nuns are passive, always ready to turn the other cheek, even nonconfrontational and certainly not political. Perhaps a nun is best represented by that very special one MOTHER TERESA. What she did in her life achieved worldwide notoriety, well deserved. But by no means all of them fit this stereotype. There came the AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, which we know as OBAMACARE which required all medical insurance to cover women’s “preventive care.” The anti–religion Barack Hussein Obama and the Obama Administration immediately and progressively defined preventive care as all manner of birth control. That meant that any insurance plan, whether private or governmental was required, forced to offer and pay for birth control no matter any religious ramifications. There were indeed exemptions, such as churches, granted a full exemption. But ironically so called employers like the LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR were not. That organization, to be sure, was indeed religious in nature but the LITTLE SISTERS were required to offer and pay for birth control items in any medical insurance offered. They stood up and fought back. And they took on the government yet a second time.In 2017 and 2018, the Trump Administration expanded the exemption to employers who sincerely objected to paying for contraceptives. Good for you, Mr. Donald John Trump, good for you. But then, as the Wall Street Journal so well states, “in a dreary example of liberal intolerance, Pennsylvania and New Jersey sued to have the Trump exemption declared invalid, illegal and unconstitutional.” Not to be intimidated by the liberal, legal moves of these two states, the Little Sisters of the Poor, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania moved to intervene. The case made its way through the lower courts, including the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and it was finally recognized by the Supreme Court as a supreme legal example of constitutional importance, and a Supreme Court recognized and consolidated with other cases for review and decision:         THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR V. PENNSYLVANIAThis case is one excellent example of the conflict which now exists between competing rights of the First Amendment of the Constitution, namely the CLASH between FREEDOM OF RELIGION and the extent of the power and control of the federal government. Can, this case argues, religious organizations not churches, which again are exempt, which have sincerely held religious beliefs that the use of contraceptives and birth control measures are immoral and against their religion and conscience be required to offer such and even pay for these items as medical insurances offered. Can the government? Pennsylvania and New Jersey argue that the Trump Administration exceeded its power when it granted this broad exemption to private employers. The states claim that the RELIGIOUS FREEDOM RESTORATION ACT (RFRA) and Obamacare do not authorize the creation of these exemptions to the birth control mandate. The Little Sisters of the Poor, God bless them, fought back and forcefully reminded the Supreme Court that the RFRA clearly states that if the government wants to “substantially burden” religion against its conscience, which the birth control requirement would clearly do, the government must have a compelling interest in doing such and it must also do so by the least restrictive means. Is it, the nuns ask, governmentally COMPELLING that the government require and be so involved with the enforcement of birth control no matter the unconscionable burden to religious organizations and, is requiring all such organizations to offer and pay for such the least restrictive way the government can enforce this COMPELLING INTEREST as a national requirement. The nuns say no way and so do thousands of other such organizations and entities and so many private business owners as well.By the way, the government tried to avoid the matter, the lawsuit by offering the Little Sisters a fig leaf. That is, an opt–out for them as a compromise. That might indeed solve the problem for the nuns and their organization, but it would leave undecided the much larger issue of governmental interference to religion generally and the constitutional rights of freedom of religion of so many other entities, paving the way for more litigation. Up they stood, these strong defenders of and believers in the constitution and freedom of religion and refused to be bribed. They did then and do now intend to FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH. And all of us who are religious – Christian and otherwise applaud them and stand with them.The states Pennsylvania and New Jersey responded to the Supreme Court that the nuns were unreasonable, guilty of OBSTINACY. Their attorneys immediately responded saying it is not obstinacy on their part but:         CONSTANCY OF BELIEF. Good for them. It is such a pleasure to witness a religious organization standing firm, unintimidated by government and willing to do whatever is required to protect their constitutional rights and especially freedom of religion. All of us religionists, whether Catholic or not, should support this effort and watch with great expectancy the actions and critical decision making of the United States Supreme Court, which will occur this year 2020. Pay attention to this case my fellow Americans, and especially my fellow Christians:         LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR V. PENNSYLVANIA.You know which side to root for!The Supreme Court stated in the landmark case BURWELL V. HOBBY LOBBY that the burden of proof rests with government which must show that it lacks other means of achieving its desired goal without imposing a substantial burden on the exercise of religion. In so many cases, whichever party has the BURDEN OF PROOF has the more difficult duty to produce such evidence in order to win the case. In the Hobby Lobby case the Supreme Court held that the government had not shown that it lacks other means of achieving its desired goal without imposing a substantial burden on the exercise of religion. In short, it lost. In that ruling, and perhaps facetiously, the court suggested that the “feds” could “assume the cost of the insurance as an alternative means to achieve the governmental end which would be a FEDERAL BURDEN of billions of dollars.” Obviously, that went nowhere with the Obama Administration and the governmental agencies supporting his policies. The Hobby Lobby case unfortunately left any number of serious and critical constitutional issues undecided and now, THE LITTLE SISTERS, bless them, and their judicial fortitude will require the Supreme Court to decide the issue once and for all. And that is, the extent to which the government has a compelling interest in requiring “all manner of birth control” for any and all medical insurance plans, including and especially those offered by employers. We should all hope and pray that these stand–up nuns win the case. And of course, enter groups like PLANNED PARENTHOOD. This aggressive and essentially government–funded organization, federal and state, say that all women would be harmed if their employers can object to paying for contraceptives – birth control. But such an argument is really specious indeed. Surely, if a man or a woman engaging in sexual acts wishes to utilize any form of contraception, he or she can personally pay for that protection. Any form of government, federal, state or local should not have the arbitrary power to require anyone or any entity to do so. In the hearts and minds of tens of millions, that is governmental overreach, abuse of authority and power, and most clearly UNCONSTITUTIONAL.The Wall Street Journal reminds us that our great country America and WE THE PEOPLE have long been a beacon of light and hope for:         RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.Move on, governments, and fight the fight of the CORONAVIRUS and other things medical that really matter and affect all of us equally. We have always accommodated, we American’s religion and religious freedom whether Christian, Jewish or Muslim, or any other for that matter, whether or not we agree with such others. We understand no matter our beliefs that religious freedom applies to every American citizen, EVERY ONE! Any differences are settled or debated with words and deeds, but not FORCE, especially governmental. We the people accommodate the Amish so that they are exempt from social security. We accommodate pacifists like Quakers and Brethren who will not go to war. Not only are we not intolerant to religion and the free exercise of religion as the constitution guarantees, but we the people encourage real religion in every way we can. When there are those who have SINCERELY HELD RELIGIOUS BELIEFS that something is wrong, and inconsistent with and compromising of their legitimate faith, those deeply held religious convictions should be honored. THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR do not believe in and are against contraceptives and the use of birth control. They and all like them should be exempt from offering and paying for such in the health plans they offer. That is our belief and that is what the constitution requires in our opinion. WHAT DO YOU THINK?Whether Catholic or not, all of us should applaud the courage, the STAND–UP of THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR. They and their attorneys take on the great states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey who at least in this matter have lost their way. It is really so interesting, so American that ladies of mercy and charity take on the constitutional fight when other organizations have not. Let us who believe in religious freedom support them, and watch anxiously, hopefully and prayerfully that the Supreme Court will do the right thing, make the right decision and authenticate and prioritize freedom of religion and freedom of religious conscience. THE FREE EXERCISE CLAUSE AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION DEMAND THAT.

Corona and the Church

Closed because of Corona.Covid–19 shut our doors, say the Pastors of our land. Governors of all 50 states ordered that there be no gatherings of the believers, the worshipers. Stay home, said the Governors, and get the religious things you need from the digital world. You never know, said the Governors, whether or not the person sitting in the pew next to you has the virus, no matter the symptoms. You just never know. Closure was probably the right thing to do, at least from a medical standpoint. Perhaps the virus was a clear and present danger and at least to some extent, it still is. But it was fairly UNCONSTITUTIONAL, violated the First Amendment and at least temporarily took away the very first and perhaps the most important freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution:         FREEDOM OF RELIGION.That is, 50 men and women, Governors all, violated the First Amendment by:         PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE OF RELIGION.It was not the United States Congress which did that, but the individual states. No matter, the states violated the Constitution, undoubtedly set a precedent and we the people got a taste of what America would be like without the ability to worship in mass gatherings, in churches, synagogues and mosques if and when that satanic time comes. Scriptures tell us that where as few as two or three are gathered together, the Lord is there and among them. I, said Jesus of Nazareth, am there. So that a HOUSE OF WORSHIP may not be necessary for true spirituality but it has always been and should be THE PLACE for worship as a matter of choice. And:         THE PLACE SHOULD NOT BE REPLACEDby the individual and potentially arbitrary action of any Governor, much less a Congress, Senate and House. So, we the people turn to the digital world for our worship. The church goes online. And it does so without the congregation. No people, live human beings interacting, nothing personal or one on one. All of that may be helpful but IT IS NOT THE SAME, not close. There may be coming a so called NEW NORMAL, whatever that may be. But there should not be any new normal for THE CHURCH, not the church. The old model is critical and must be preserved, IT MUST. There was 2000 years ago one man, the Nazarene, a miracle worker and the world’s greatest teacher. He preached, and they came, one by one. And then there were 12. He called them disciples and they gave their all and themselves to Him, gladly, willingly, lovingly. And the fellowship began. They were together as believers. They have loving commonality. They had a very special spiritual communion. They became, those 12, one in HIM. They were the founders, the pioneers of fellowship and togetherness. And the gatherings grew, the multitudes came. Believers were added and the Gospel began to spread, beyond Jerusalem, nation after nation, and then the world. The church of Jesus Christ became a living, vibrant REALITY possessed of real people. The early church was conducted in homes. People gathered at the homes of other believers to worship. Even then, without churches or formal buildings in which to worship, believers hungered for fellowship, for association, for the AMBIANCE of worship. More than one, and more than two or three. All were welcome, invited even and a sense of communion and commonality was critical, indispensable and in today’s terminology:         ESSENTIAL.ESSENTIAL to that early form of worship was the sense of:         TOUCH.The touch of the brothers and the sisters in Christ was the supreme act of human love. That perhaps was the beginning of the holy hug. The Christian love among believers expressed itself with that special touch. It was undoubtedly fostered and approved by the HOLY SPIRIT working, ever working in the hearts of believers. The love they had for Jesus of Nazareth grew to the point where it had to be expressed and shared with others. In person, touch, feel was assumed to be essential and those on the front line of Christianity, as it spread among so many dangers and difficulties were the very first lovers in the church, set precedent and became the examples for all believers to follow. The men and women of that day sought to touch Jesus, whenever they could. His feet were washed with an expensive oil by an adoring woman. Zacchaeus could not touch him but climbed the tree to see him. The sick and the frail wanted only to touch the hem of his garment so as to be healed. One can only imagine how often and lovingly the 12 disciples touched their Lord. And, even today, we who believe long for:         THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER’S HAND.Nothing can ever replace the personal, the interpersonal, the gatherings, the togetherness, NOTHING. We need the touch of the master’s hand. We need to taste and see that the Lord is good. We need the scent, the ambiance of the church and worship. We need to see the church in action, its people, its believers working to spread the fruits of the Gospel. And we need to hear in person from the actual believers, Pastors and Christian leaders the Gospel lovingly poured forth. Those experiences are critical, constitutional and cannot be replicated online. The church of Jesus Christ is alive, organic, a growing organism and it must always remain as such. Virtual, the digital world can only be for those who cannot be part of the living church. All that a Pastor is, the leader of the people, cannot be experienced online. The person of the Pastor, the touch of the Pastor, the handshake or hug can be every bit as important as the message itself. Communion, the partaking of the flesh and blood of our Lord with bread and wine can be accomplished anywhere. But there is nothing like sharing that communion with other believers and receiving pastoral blessing with that very special bread and wine. Nothing online, nothing virtual can replicate that. And, baptism the same. One can be baptized virtually anywhere by anyone. But there is special spirituality when done in a church environment and with the participation and fellowship of other believers. Nothing online can compensate for that. And the choir. Music comes from a multitude of sources but only in church can one both hear and see real people making real music. Online is a partial experience but never the whole.And the same with prayer, and prayer meetings. To hear, see, feel prayer from others, prayer with different thoughts, spiritual needs, words, expressions and feelings can never, ever be replicated online. The digital world should be for those only who cannot participate in the real world, the real life of the real church in all of its facets. And the spontaneity of interaction. So much happens with the gathering and fellowship of the believers that can only be experienced in person, never online. Some of the most meaningful moments are OFF–CAMERA. The spontaneity of touch. The unexpected can be very special spiritual blessings. One hears in person the total sounds of the church at work and its people – believers involved. The total sound. The total message not captured online. Those sounds spontaneous and unexpected can be far more spiritually lasting than a formal message from the pulpit itself.And marriage. Today, two can be married anywhere by virtually anyone. But there is nothing like what the spirituality of the church can offer. Marriage can participate in the ambiance of the sacred, the holy. If marriage consists of holy vows between two people, then the church is the proper, really the only venue for such. When a lover engaged becomes a spouse, nothing can replace sharing and reciting those vows before a minister of the Lord. Nothing. And the same for revivals. Nothing can replace the feel, the touch, the dynamic in person energy of the revival itself. Nothing. The Gospel now goes to the ends of the earth online. A good thing indeed for there are those multitudes who have no other way to see and hear. But nothing can replace a missionary, a man or woman CALLED by the Holy Spirit to GO YE into all the world and preach this Gospel. That messenger can be every bit as important as the message itself, if not more so. BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM.The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. The highest power comes from people energized, led and inspired by the Holy Spirit. They become people, messengers, ambassadors of:         HI TOUCH There is a powerful presence about their personality, their person. They are living examples of the power of the Gospel within them. They become ambassadors of TOUCH, even to some extent like Jesus of Nazareth of Old. What he was is in them and they become like him with others. The spiritual touch of that person can be as or more powerful than the message itself.The digital world indeed has value. Things virtual are better than nothing. So much can be shared and all can be good. But, there is nothing like in person, nothing like the gathering of believers, of personal fellowship, of commonality and communion, nothing. That is the stuff, the heart and soul of the real church and no one, no President, no Congress, no Governor should ever shut it down. None should ever shut the doors of the church, perhaps no matter the circumstances. Perhaps. And, nothing online can ever replace anything in person, no matter the value. Nothing but nothing can ever replace:         TOUCH.Touch is essential to worship, to interpersonal relationships. One can see and hear in the digital world, online and that is of value. But, nothing, NOTHING can ever replace the real church with real people. NOT EVEN THE CORONAVIRUS!

Memorial Day

In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated on the last Monday in May, echoing the words and sentiments of the proclamation of General John A. Logan of the grand Army of the Republic in 1868 who stated:“Memorial Day is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion (the Civil War) and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet, church yard in the land.”So it is that the primary purpose of Memorial Day is to strew with flowers literally and figuratively the graves and memories of America’s daring defenders.  They the fallen died for freedom, liberty, for America, for us, for YOU AND ME.  We were asked to remember those who died in the great American Civil War, but the day to remember now incorporates all who have given lives in defense of our country.Far too many wars, my fellow Americans, and far too many fallen defenders by the millions who believed in America, and in its fundamental principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all mankind.  How grateful we should be. We are descendants or contemporaries of patriots, men and women who cherish freedom and were willing to fight and die to defend it if necessary.  These warriors lived by the words of Patrick Henry who said:GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH.Our nation was formed in the fight for freedom for there was no life worthwhile without it.There came our great Constitution and our incredible BILL OF RIGHTS, the rights and freedom amendments which are the finest in the history of mankind.  But no matter the origin, it seems as though in so many ways the passion for freedom may have been lost today as they once had it.  We seem to take for granted what they died for.  And the courage they the fallen had seems lost today in so many ways and the change in our country, produces in so many ways an America in decline, at least politically, philosophically and certainly passionately.  Our ancestors fought for the Constitution, for the Bill of Rights and the freedoms those now 27 Amendments allow us.  They were ready to die for them, but we the current people allow them to be watered down, interpreted away and often ignored without the fight or conviction to protect and defend them.  Perhaps the freedoms of Patrick Henry are giving way to a slow but sure death.Perhaps we have failed to meet the challenge of Ben Franklin who told us that the Republic they created for us was a marvelous way of government IF we could keep it.  I wonder if we can. So, in the midst of barbecues and baseball, it is so healthy to look back and remember.Remember a George Washington, a general, a leader, a President, a warrior, a patriot.  Or a Paul Revere who rode the land warning that the enemy was coming, sounding the alarm.  It seems as though we need more Paul Reveres, warning us that enemies to our Constitution and way of life are coming, and in fact are HERE.  We the people should be ever mindful of the threats and sound the alarm as he did, like those who energized our country once before, THE BOSTON TEA PARTY PATRIOTS and the revolution their courageous acts energized and inspired.  They took a stand against taxes and so must we.  Ours continue to rise, and rise to the point of confiscation and nothing but nothing destroys freedom like taxes.  President John Adams reminded us that the two killers of liberty are slavery and debt.  The debt of confiscatory taxation strangles freedom and that is happening at an incredibly rapid pace today.  Shame on us.It is hard for us to think back and remember the early days in America when slavery, slavery was a way of life in America to our great shame and embarrassment.  We the moderns find that inconceivable, and the practice of slavery of any kind abhorrent, do we not?  Right-thinking men and women fought and fell to rid America of the scourge of slavery, God bless them.And to rid the world of despots like Hitler, evil to the core, Mussolini and those who in war would destroy the freedom and liberty of all.  God bless them.There can hardly be a family anywhere in America which has not laid a son or daughter on the altar of freedom.  So many fought and fell, lives given willingly for us in war after war.  And there were those who supported those who fought.  We honor them.  Many of our warriors and defenders came home hurt and damaged in body or mind perhaps for a lifetime.  On Memorial Day, we honor these veterans of wars, these HEROES, these wounded warriors who gave us our freedom:WE OWE THEM!A debt we can never repay.  To honor them is the least we can do, to thank them as we remember and as we encounter those in our military who follow after them.  We should help and support them.  They lived and died for what they believed.  Whenever I encounter a member of our military, I thank them for what they did and what they do for our great country, for me, and for you, and for my friends and loved ones and all Americans whether I know them or not.But I really do know them for I know what is in their hearts and minds and I know they love America as much as I do.I will salute them as a sign of respect.I wish them to know that I will always be grateful for everything they do for me and the America I love.Perhaps YOU should do the same, not on one Memorial Day, but all days.  They the heroes and defenders are the very best of us. God bless them.Memorial Day is always celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery, a very special place, a burial site for some of America’s bravest.  At 3 PM on that Monday, a very special ceremony occurs and each grave is decorated with a small American flag.  The highlight of the celebration is a speech in honor of these brave men and women from the President or Vice President of the United States honoring their contributions to America and laying a wreath at the tomb of The Unknown Soldier.  That tomb represents tens of thousands of other unknown soldiers who gave their lives in service to our country, but in death never got the recognition and respect they so justly deserved.  Do remember them, my fellow Americans, do remember them as well on Memorial Day as there may be no one else, no loved one, no friend or family to do so.  And as you do remember these American heroes, thank our God, the God who blesses America for all those who gave so much for us.They allowed us to be parents, to have and enjoy family, they allowed us to be workers and fully participate in the great opportunities America offers.  THEY allowed us to be all that we can be because our soldiers, they were determined to be all they could be.  Have a special place in your heart all week for any loved one, family or friend of yours who should be MEMORIALIZED AND REMEMBERED this day and always. And, as we pay tribute and remember, let us become better citizens of this great country, ready more than ever to preserve, protect and defend all it stands for, all of our blessed and precious freedoms which exist like there are nowhere else in the world.  Let us stand for what is right with actions, protests, town meetings, marches, debate, fact and truth at work, counteracting government spin and disinformation.  Let us stand tall for the right, for truth, for all things moral and valuable.  Let us resolve, we the people, we who own and control this country to do our job as citizens far better.  And remember to cherish and exercise the greatest privilege which every American has.That is:THE VOTEThere is no more powerful weapon than the vote of the American citizen.  It is the most precious Constitutional right we have and for which our forefathers fought and died.  Let us make certain that we vote for those to represent us who so passionately believe in these very special freedoms as we do, and they the fallen did.  It is only then, when we do our part, day in and day out, that we would have the right to say with conviction and passion as our forefathers did:GOD BLESS AMERICAFor that can not happen unless we the people do what is right, remembering whom and what went before and committing with conviction to follow in their footsteps.These men and women died for GOD AND COUNTRY and for you and me in the never-ending fight to protect and preserve:FREEDOMMemorialize their memories Memorial Day and every day!God bless America and God bless you.

President Donald J Trump, Israel, and More

I HATE DONALD TRUMP!We the people heard that over and again in 2016, did we not? I may disagree with them, sometimes passionately so, but I never hated any politician, did you? To be sure, President Trump has a most unique personality. He is straightforward to a fault, confrontational, argumentative, interruptive, always on the ready for a verbal fight. He sometimes has that turn–off look on his face. He drinks no alcohol but he sure loves his food. You can predict the way he will dress, especially those long red ties, and his hair can often look like something not his own!He won the Republican nomination for President in 2016 even though he was by no means any kind of traditional Republican. He was then, is now and always will be:         HIS OWN MAN.Perhaps more a libertarian than a Republican. It is difficult at times to figure out what he is but you can judge the man by what he does. TRUMP IS A MAN OF HIS WORD! He does what he says he will do. Especially when it comes to Israel. The organization THE REPUBLICAN JEWISH COALITION (RJC) calls Trump “the most pro–Israel American President ever.” If the RJC comes to that conclusion as a result of what Trump has promised and what Trump has done, President Trump is indeed the most pro–Israel, pro–Jewish President ever.Mr. Trump has an unwavering commitment to defend the state of Israel. He understands that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, a strong ally of America, a buffer to radical and warlike Islamic states like Iran, and even a thorn in the side to Russia. Trump knows that it is for the good of America that Israel needs to survive and thrive. So, from the Trump Administration there comes a long litany of pro–Israel policies. In December 2017, President Trump declared Jerusalem the capital of the Jewish state. It was the capital when modern day Israel, then the land of Canaan, was occupied by the Jews and the twelve tribes. It was the capital city of David, Solomon and any number of kings thereafter. Jerusalem is steeped in Jewish history, tradition, occupancy, culture and lifestyle. It is in fact the ETERNAL CAPITAL OF THE JEWISH STATE AND RIGHT–THINKING PEOPLE. Such a declaration would never have been made by the Democrats and certainly not by Barack Hussein Obama.In May 2018, President Trump moved the United States Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. At that time, Trump publicly declared in presidential fashion that Jerusalem was:         THE ETERNAL CAPITAL OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE.As such, the American embassy should be there, and not in Tel Aviv. Another bold move but the right move. Trump was loudly criticized by Democrats but for this President, the hateful harangues of critics and especially the Democrats are water off a duck’s back. That is one great strength of Trump. He ignores hateful criticism and may even welcome that. Again, in May 2018, President Trump withdrew the United States of America from the IRAN NUCLEAR TREATY. In many ways, Trump knew that this treaty was trumped up, unenforceable, a sham and one which would eventually allow the participating nations and the world to see Iran with nuclear warfare capability. It was a treaty Iran could ignore, and it did, and even while professing adherence, all the while pursue the development of nuclear capability. Trump withdrew America from that sham of a treaty much to the consternation of America’s European allies. Trumps response to that criticism was that those nations like America should also withdraw from this sham of a treaty. In November 2018, President Trump reinstituted crippling sanctions against Israel’s main geopolitical enemy Iran. Most were economic and the full effects of this bold and audacious action rippled through the Iranian economy and culture. Not only did such presidential actions and sanctions have their intended geopolitical effects, but as well the sanctions caused unrest, dissent and even a certain kind of protest and rebellion on the part of right–thinking Iranian citizens. Trump knew the effect on the entire world which Iranian nuclear capability would have. He with Israel was determined to not allow that to happen.In March 2019, the United States recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. This is a territory once Syrian but captured in war by the Israelis and kept by them ever since. Syrians and their allies would camp on the Heights and fire indiscriminately on the Israelis and their territory below, an incredible military advantage. Israelis knew they had to maintain possession of the Golan Heights for their safety and security. They were of course loudly criticized by Palestinians and by Arab nations. To this day, Israelis maintain full possession of that unique and special territory. I have been there three times. It is well fortified. The Israelis keep watch 24/7 for any Syrian military activity even as they do for Lebanon with the militant, hateful Iranian–sponsored group military activity of Hamas and Hezbollah. Israeli soldiers, the IDF charged with the defense of that territory know how serious that task is and the guard is never down. These trained soldiers are tough, kill or be killed defenders of their precious PROMISED LAND. In November 2019, in a major reversal of prior US policy, the Trump Administration declared that Israelis settlement activity on so called Palestinian land is not necessarily illegal. In fact, all that land was historically Israeli and Jewish. I often wonder how real, true Jewish citizens could ever cede one inch of that precious historical and biblical territory which was always theirs. Current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes the same, and has pursued a reasonably aggressive settlement policy to his credit. We can be certain that more such settlements will occur or at least the attempt made to do so. If Trump is President, such moves will be sanctioned and supported. If Biden is elected, you can be certain there will be no such support and in fact, Israel will be sanctioned even punished if they do so. In January, Trump released his plan for peace in that war–like territory termed:         PEACE TO PROSPERITY.Such a plan gave the Palestinians the power to govern themselves which they have always sought but NOT the power to threaten Israel. This proposal, no matter how fair and realistic, was promptly rejected by Palestinian leaders as every such plan has been. It is time wasting, futile and DEAD ON ARRIVAL (DOA) to propose any plan of compromise to the Palestinians, other than one which would call for the elimination and removal of all Jews from that territory which the Palestinians regard as their own. As one Palestinian leader declared:PALESTINIANS WILL NEVER REST UNTIL EVERY JEW IN ISRAEL IS BURIED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA! And that, so it seems is the real attitude and thinking of the Palestinians which prevents any compromise or even negotiations for peace. Israelis know that and PRESIDENT TRUMP KNOWS THAT!President Trump has also pledged that the bond between the United States and Israel is “absolutely, totally unbreakable.” It should be. The United Nations, after World War II and the horrific Holocaust, reestablished Israel as the homeland for the Jewish people. Arab nations immediately went to war, any number of them only to lose every one of them. In the process, Israel was able to recapture much of the territory to which it was entitled and especially, their beloved capital city Jerusalem. There is no way any of that territory will be returned or given up. Right thinking Israelis resent to this day the unworkable compromise which occurred as the result of the disastrous plan:         LAND FOR PEACE.All that accomplished was the surrender of Jewish land, Israeli territory and Israel got nothing, absolutely nothing in return.Donald J. Trump is not a true Republican and he would probably admit that. He chafes at the spineless, compromising, often wishy–washy conduct of Republicans in Congress. Nor is he a Christian. But Trump, unlike Obama before him, or our current group of politicians:         DOES WHAT HE SAYS HE WILL DO.And that starts with the full defense and support of Israel and the Jews. It is as though Trump believes in the promises of the great GOD JEHOVAH in Genesis 12 which states the promise of the G–d of the Jews:I WILL BLESS THEM THAT BLESS YOU AND I WILL CURSE THEM THAT CURSE YOU. It is good that America, WE THE PEOPLE, are on the side of blessing rather than cursing. No right–thinking person, including the not – right–thinking politicians should ever want to incur the wrath of this powerful and almighty G–d of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and our Lord Jesus Christ. So, I for one am with you President Donald John Trump and I say exactly what you have said and promised:THE BOND BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL IS ABSOLUTELY, TOTALLY UNBREAKABLE.The majority of American Jews vote Democrat and will not vote for Mr. Trump this year. In so doing, they show what they really think and feel about the Promised Land, the eternal home of all Jews. Such a vote seems to indicate that they really don’t care what happens to Israel. What a shame. There are far more Evangelicals and gentiles who are much more pro–Israel than these seemingly non–caring Jews. And they, we will vote for Trump for there really is no alternative for those of us who believe in and love the land of Israel, the Promised Land. I will enthusiastically vote for Mr. Trump. It matters not his personal personality, but what matters are his policies, his political platforms and his promises. He has shown us that he will KEEP THEM. And that is more than good enough for me. I hope it is the same for you.

The First Amendment - The Indispensable Freedoms

CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF; OR ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, OR OF THE PRESS; OR THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE PEACABLY TO ASSEMBLE, AND TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.These are perhaps the most important freedom words ever authored by any government. They were crafted December 15, 1791, some 229 years ago. They are the INDISPENSABLE words of the First Amendment of our beloved Constitution. It is the first emphatic, unconditional, fundamental First Amendment, the First of Ten in what we call THE BILL OF RIGHTS. Hear these incredible words clearly. First, Congress shall make no law. That is, House and Senate of our federal government shall make NO law, none whatsoever, none of any kind, none which in any way abridges freedom of religion, speech, press, peaceful assembly and petition for government redress of grievances. NONE!But it does, our Congress House and Senate. It does make laws which abridge, qualify, condition or otherwise water down that absolutely unconditional requirement that there be no law, or any abridgement, not even the slightest qualification to those fundamental freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition. NONE. One example. The so–called HATE SPEECH LEGISLATION. Radical, progressive, anti-constitutional and anti–American progressives have found a way to convince Congress that so–called hate speech is not free speech. That has been determined as a qualification (an abridgement) to the absolute and unconditional demand of the First Amendment. And there is more, and more to come. Our country is built upon the most fundamental of freedoms, and that is free speech. We are absolutely free to state our opinions, to say whatever we wish whenever we wish wherever we wish. We the speakers, the free speechers are indeed responsible for our words but we the speakers cannot be prevented from SPEAKING! But, it is just incredible how this progressive, in so many ways anti–American day and age attacks the First Amendment and especially freedom of speech and seeks to curtail it or at least control it any way possible.That happens perhaps more often in the world of education, shockingly so. Our colleges and universities block the use on the internet of:         1,800 UNIQUE TERMSon social media pages. ONE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED words no longer considered to be free speech by these learned educational institutions. And more. Secret filters automatically remove comments mentioning political figures, Corporate partners, sports teams and faculty members just to name some. Almost every college and university in our beloved country employs a certain kind of SPEECH POLICE who do nothing more than monitor, control and render null and void any speech they do not like. And more. EIGHTY SEVEN PERCENT OF COLLEGES BLOCK USERS ON FACEBOOK OR TWITTER, 87%! Don’t you find that unbelievable? College administrators abuse social platform tools to secretly and illegally censor posts and users. Eighty seven percent! The majority of top public colleges and universities use a blacklist of secret words created by no less than FACEBOOK to automatically censor comments on university social media pages. That was so when colleges were alive and active. But today, when so much of student life moves online, such censorship is even more alarming, radical and of course UNCONSTITUTIONAL. That led the FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND EUCATION (FIRE) to conclude that the vast majority of educational institutions are “impermissibly censoring public dialogue.” Are they ever. Many believe that these educational speech police are radical, progressive, even anti–American and anti–Constitutional individuals who somehow have obtained these positions of power and importance and are determined to control the dialogue with regard to local and national issues, campus controversies, criticism of the Corporate partners of the universities, and the sport teams and anyone or anything else they deem to be undesirable. And this comedy educational environment is where any and all speech, free to be sure and any and every point of view and the thinking behind it should be encouraged and fostered to grow the understanding and maturity of the young college individuals. In so many cases at so many universities, it is exactly the opposite! “There is no social media exception to the First Amendment. Government or university actors cannot sanitize public discourse, which includes American colleges filtering dissent on their social media accounts. By selectively eliminating particular viewpoints, universities are violating the First Amendment.” So said Adam Steinbaugh, a strong defender of the First Amendment and free speech. It is absolutely illegal and unlawful for colleges to ban more than 1,800 words and phrases from any kind of public use and to curtail speech in that fashion. Many of these educational institutions use the so–called profanity filter of FACEBOOK. Facebook has what it calls a strong, and a medium, and a light PROFANITY FILTER which contains a list of words and phrases which are prohibited and which are not known by the public which uses Facebook. Zuckerberg and his cohorts engage aggressively and often openly in this illegal and anti–Constitutional prohibition of free speech and by and large he and Facebook get away with it. But there are, thankfully, excellent organizations well aware of these banning, blacklisting policies of Facebook, Twitter, Google and the like and they are demanding accountability, and change, and they take legal and congressional action against them in order to hold them accountable to the First Amendment. Organizations like FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights and Education), AIM (Accuracy In Media), and MRC (Media Research Center), organizations which stand tall for the First Amendment, for freedom of speech and aggressively so. They stand with author Adam Steinbaugh who states the following:         “Government actors cannot sanitize public discourse!”Freedom of speech is fundamental not only to our country but to any and every educational environment. And, three in ten colleges and universities use their very own “CUSTOM BLACKLIST.” It is simply unbelievable the types and kinds of words and phrases which are blacklisted and forbidden. Aiding this illegal censorship, Facebook and its automated content FILTERS allows educational institutions to automatically hide user comments which allow public colleges and certain governmental agencies to quietly remove critical posts, transforming their Facebook pages from public forums into vehicles for their own publicity and points of view. In short, these social media behemoths like Facebook and Twitter do not consider themselves subject to the First Amendment even though courts have held they are. The free speech organization FIRE discovered that 87% of colleges blocked particular users on Facebook and Twitter, a shocking percentage don’t you think? Zuckerberg and other leaders and decision makers of social media defend their policies, and hypocritically state that they are believers in and stand for free expression, free speech and free and full access to their social media sites, even though the facts of the matter are exactly the opposite. Facebook in fact provides the tools to these state and public universities which allow them to censor large swaths of speech which of course alters the public discourse with just a few clicks of the mouse! These Facebook, Twitter and Google policies make it easier than ever to silence Americans and stifle their opinions and ideas. Many Americans use these social media sites to express their ideas or to publish other content they deem valuable, thinking such content has full access to the worldwide exposure and reach offered. But in fact, if what is published is contrary to the philosophy, thinking or priorities of the social media entity or run afoul of the secret blacklist, the content goes nowhere. Most users and publishers have no idea that what they posted is seen by no one. And as the entity FIRE has well said:“Protecting freedom of expression online is all the more important as the Coronavirus pandemic drives our communities online.”Is it ever. In the post Coronavirus age and economy, online activities will become more important than ever, trumping much of what has normally occurred in the real world with real time and the interaction of real people never to be the same again.Imagine if you can the effect this kind of blacklisting and censorship will have on freedom of religion, and especially freedom of religious speech. For example, the concept of sin, that as the Bible, scriptures plainly state is applicable to all humankind can be readily viewed by these social media entities as HATE SPEECH and consequently banned. And, any criticism or disagreement with the agenda and priorities of LGBTQ. And even anti–abortion speech. And so much more. It is a day and age when entities like Facebook would either ignore or eviscerate the precious freedoms of the First Amendment. These are not possibilities. THEY ARE ACTUALITIES! They are actually happening today and WE THE PEOPLE are either unaware or unresponsive to these incredible threats to our freedoms. It is absolutely critical that we stand up for our rights to free speech, and press, and assembly, and perhaps most importantly to those of us who are Christians:         FREEDOM OF RELIGION.The entire American concept is built on the core principle of FREE SPEECH. We must be free to dialogue, state our opinions, argue and persuade, all peacefully and without violence or physicality. But without free speech, if Americans are muzzled by radical anti–Americans, the only remedy would be civil disobedience or in worst cases violence as a result. I pray that will never happen, but it will if there is no longer or the continued attacks on freedom of religion and freedom of speech. Stand up to Facebook, my fellow Americans, and Twitter, and Google, and Apple and the dozens of other entities which are determined to control speech not only in the marketplace but most especially ONLINE. Online speech is First Amendment speech and fully protected. Please, don’t ever lose that precious online freedom.For, if you and I lose those online freedoms, once lost, those freedoms are:         LOST FOREVER. 

Mother

In our world, love rules. It is the highest attribute, with fundamental characteristic of all humankind. Perhaps the finest expression of love is:MOTHER LOVEThe definition of mother, a real mother is simply put:LOVEA mother’s love is the ultimate human love.It is said that THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE RULES THE WORLD.  Perhaps so because so much of a child is formed in the early years by mother.  One is in life so much of what a mother was.A real mother is part of the life of a child forever.  What we learn at mother’s knee is so often what we are.  Her values become ours.  We are HER. The egg of a woman is the source of all life, the fundamental stuff of the universe and when fertilized by the sperm of the male:LIFEThe most precious thing of all happens.  The egg and the sperm unite and become one but it is:GODWho gives life.At that very moment of conception, the life of a HUMAN BEING begins.That life is not a mere collection of cells as one biologist so flippantly said, but in reality the first moments of the life of a human being, a child on the grow in the womb.That fertilized egg is a BABY.So much for abortion which is nothing more than murder of that baby at any stage in the womb. And so the mother begins mothering, and the baby grows.  The enriched womb of the mother nourishes and cherishes the baby, sensitive to every need.The morning sickness is a small price to pay for the life within.  Moods and diets may change as the womb grows large and beautiful.  It is really wondrous to behold the change of mother in the making with that womb at work. It is marvelous indeed to touch the nine month home of that child.  The ear presses down, hoping to hear any sound from the baby.Touching, hearing, kissing, sensing life at work are really more important than any ultrasound.  God at work through Mother Nature creating life is wondrous, even miraculous. Some today are actually privileged to see the baby born.  Out of the womb comes a bundle of joy, of life and yet another miracle happens.The pain of childbirth is so well worth the end result.  Perhaps it is the most loving moment, the ultimate loving moment when brand new baby lays firm on mother’s breasts.  Having seen that, how I wonder could any potential mother abort, kill her very own child?  To do so is to abort a miracle.Early on, it is the still, small voice of the mother which is perhaps the greatest teacher in life.  We the infants hear that voice and remember what the voice of our mother sounds like and says for a lifetime.  We do so consciously and perhaps even more importantly subconsciously.  That loving voice in many ways is angelic, the early words of love.  They come with touch, and they are spiritual, psychological, character forming and building.The love of a mother is every bit as important as food itself.  So, in a sense, these early words are eternal for they train up the child in the way the mother wishes the child to go and to grow is not to depart from the right ways of the mother. The words of a mother to her child are melodic, soothing, comforting.  They support, encourage and they make a child feel safe.A mother touches, hugs, strokes, talks and sings to her baby, episodes never to be forgotten.  When all else fails and all others as well, a truly loving mother never does.  She is forever, eternal.A loving mother is kind.  In a world rough and confrontational, the kindness of the mother is a most necessary characteristic.A loving mother is never jealous, never envious, always willing to put the child first, in love.A real loving mother is proud of her child no matter what the child becomes.Motherly love is always positive, not negative.It looks for the best, the good and the right.  But the mother renders discipline when things are wrong.  The love of a real mother is tough love.  That love has standards, clear, straight and simply and lovingly communicated.  Real love is without compromise.  A loving mother never bargains with a child.A mother explains and answers perhaps better than any teacher, helping a child to understand.  A mother stretches but never pushes knowing that her child must be challenged in order to grow.  There is always demand and discipline from the right mother, both easy to implement when the child knows he or she is:LOVEDA loving, Godly mother makes certain her child understands her standards and values and those of God as well.A loving Godly mother teaches the child the things of her Lord.  Train up that child in the ways of faith, of Christian faith, the faith of the mother.  There is no better witness for the child than a loving Christian mother, living life by those standards and the child along with her.  That is faith with works, the best kind. A real loving mother gives time, quality time to the child.  There is for mother and child that quality time to talk and much more importantly, and especially for mother, to:LISTENIn an age of cell phones, babysitters, fast foods, carpools and demanding social life, all of that and everything else should never, ever interfere with quality time spent by the mother with child.  Truly listening, and touching, and hugging, and encouraging, respecting the child produces some of life’s finest lessons.  Those bonding moments are, as one psychologist has well said:PEAK MOMENTSNever to be forgotten by either.  Patient, kind and understanding.  Truly interested in the life of a child, not superficially so.  Perhaps that is why so many mothers wished more than ever, so we are told, to stay home, build that home for husband and child and all children and to spend full time training up that child in the way in which he should go.That is what mothers are for and no other job can ever come close to that incredible responsibility and opportunity.No matter the love, child rearing is work, and hard work.  It demands the time of the mother at all times.  The real needs of a young child are great and they demand full time, mother always on the ready.  How beautiful it is for father and husband to watch the baby breastfeed.  How beautiful to see mother and child so intimately and sensitively connected.  There is special nourishment from the milk of the breast but there is also the psychological nourishment, the nourishment of love and bonding, one with each other, the young and often subconscious memories lasting for a lifetime.  A mother’s touch, feel and taste are vitally important to the growth of the child.Some mothers homeschool.  They want to train up that child in the right ways themselves.  Others work to send the child to special schools, private schools or schools of faith.  Loving mothers are more than willing to sacrifice to accomplish the right objectives for the child they love. And all the while, a mother encourages the love of a father for child and the child for the father.  There is respect, as important as love, between mother and father, husband and wife.There is a sense of equality as both parents love their child in different ways.  Perhaps the love of a father for a child is different but as the child grows and matures, the love, the real love of a real father becomes as important to the child as that of the mother.  Without both loves, something fundamental is missing.  So that, when a child is ready for the world, and independence, and a life for itself, both loving parents have formed the young adult and are ready proudly so to watch a brand new life unfold.  They have earned, these loving parents have, the right to be proud parents.Small wonder that loving children love to give back.  There comes a time when the priorities are reversed and the child becomes the support, the loving support of the parents.  Loving children love to give back to loving parents.  That love which began in the womb is eternal.  It never fails.  It outlasts faith, and hope and all the wisdom and riches of the world.It endures forever even as the love of Christ does. And so it is with the deepest admiration, respect and love that we, all of us at Crawford Broadcasting Company, salute all real loving mothers on Mother’s Day and all year long.  If you are a loving mother:YOU ARE SPECIALThere is one day set aside to honor loving mothers which in reality should be done every day of the year.  We are admonished, commanded to:HONOR OUR FATHER AND MOTHERIt is a commandment that we honor real loving parents with our love and respect.  Give back the love you owe to your mother.Give it back with tears, with laughter and with joy.  With gratitude and thanksgiving for all that she has done for you.  Let her know how much you love and appreciate her, knowing as you do that you can never repay the loving debt you owe.  No child can ever give back all that he or she has gotten.Never.If she is here, make sure she gets what she deserves.  There are so many mothers, like mine, not here.  My mother is with her Lord as she has been for more than a quarter century.  How much I would love the opportunity to give her one more hug.  Do that for yours while you can.We salute you and thank you, mother.  There is really nothing like you in this world:NOTHING!

Zoom

Things in our beloved USA will never be the same, so say the pundits. The Coronavirus, the so called Covid-19 will, when it is finally over and done with, usher in a new age, a new technological era. This change was already happening, step by step, slowly, manageable, understandable and beneficial. Corona however has made this new technology king of the road. There will be a NEW NORMAL. We who have always had our feet on the ground will now have our:         HEAD IN THE CLOUD. Virtual will become the priority over real. The internet with all of its incredible number of products will rule. It will be in many ways Americas first priority. Social media will expand faster than ever. Facebook so it seems is now the new American bread and butter. REAL TIME will never again have the meaning it once had. The changes in how we do business, our lifestyles and our persons will be more comprehensive, faster and dominating. The Coronavirus has ushered in a new day and age virtually overnight. There comes a new normal for the world of business. A goodly portion of our business world will change, some of it radically, others more the methodology than the substance, that is how business does business rather than a fundamental change in the nature of the business. And, the new technology will take the weak, the aging, the overly expensive part of our business model and do away with it once and for all. There were businesses which were able to function pre–Coronavirus, now shut down never to return. We the people will need to adapt to those changes and in fact become part of them.So much of the business world is under lockdown. If it is not ESSENTIAL (I wonder who defines what is essential), the business, its owners and employees are quarantined, forbidden. So many of our businesses struggle even now to be deemed essential so that they can operate. The federal government and every one of our 50 states have considerable regulations and requirements, tougher by the day and everyone non–essential is continuously urged and admonished to:         STAY HOME.We are allowed to travel, drive our cars if we are essential but otherwise, unless we go to the grocery stores or pharmacies, we are required by Presidential or Governor mandate to STAY HOME. Whenever we venture out in public, virtually every state requires us to wear a mask and gloves where possible. The mask seems to protect others from any bacteria or virus we may have but seems to have little effect, very little protection against the mask wearer contracting the virus. But the mask does help so wear it. And of course, wash our hands. Wash them thoroughly, learn how to really wash your hands and as importantly, dry them. It seems as though the virus has a liking for the wet. So wash, and use disinfectants wherever you can. GOOD ADVICE! But, restrictive and often times difficult.This little virus, the Coronavirus, invisible to the human eye has not only changed the world in so many ways, but done unbelievable harm to the economies of the world and our very own country. Federal and state governments have had no choice but to provide financial aid and support to businesses and individuals as the economy virtually shuts down. There has never been an unemployment situation in America like the one today, not even The Great Depression of 1929. As of Friday, April 17, 23 million people, 23 MILLION PEOPLE had filed for unemployment insurance. That staggering number crashed computers, overloaded states and the federal government agencies dealing with labor and unemployment and made it impossible to stay current with the demands and needs of the people. America, we the people were totally unprepared for this little flu–like virus and it radically impacted every aspect of our lives and lifestyles politically, socially, spiritually and perhaps long run most importantly ECONOMICALLY. It will probably take months for our economy to begin to open and return, and literally years before there is any kind of normalcy. The word Corona will live in infamy the world over. A lasting phenomenon from Covid–19 is the new business model:         WORK AT HOME.That was a phenomenon growing gradually pre–Corona. But when the virus required business lockdowns, literally millions more began to work from home. Businesses and corporations, once lukewarm to working at home and remotely, offered the opportunity gladly so that the business could be done at least to some extent. A new flexibility for working became the new business model. So many could now do their work at home, on their schedule, as long as they did what was required. Actual hours worked became secondary. Everything about the business was accessible by computer, laptop, iPads and even iPhones. There was little need to go to the office. And, it seemed that Americans embraced the opportunity to work at home.It gave them, so many said, better balance, the balance of time between their personal and professional lives. There was more time for family, for sharing, for loving. There was less pressure and perhaps very important, gone was the daily commute to and fro the business. That commute time saved became so valuable, whether the hours were used for business or personal matters. One could work at home whether at 5:00 am or 10:00 am in the morning, and at night if that was more convenient or even on the weekends. Work flexibility was the new normal. In fact, it was so well received by millions of Americans that one survey of workers indicated that 82 PERCENT of those workers had no intention of ever again returning to THE OFFICE! Work at home was the normal and work at the office was occasional. FLEX HOURS AND FLEXIBILITY WERE THE NEW NORM. Working remote was king!That of course assumed that the work required could be done outside the office. There were and are some businesses where work at the office and with others is required and cannot be changed. For them, the old normal, the old way of doing business remains. But where there are options, and with the permission and approval of the employer, work at home is highly preferred.Employers were concerned about accountability, and still are. Working at home provides many distractions, and temptations, and changes in mood, energy and perhaps even will power. Where working accountability could be measured, requirements could be sent and productivity evaluated. But, said the employer, where work product was more subjective, it was and would be difficult to measure productivity, and working discipline, and number of hours and the requirements of the job. Working at home or working remotely would only be offered to truly responsible employees. But working differently and outside the office has in fact become the new normal and it is often the first question asked in employment interviews, perhaps as important as compensation itself.Business and employers were concerned about the long–term effect of THE IN–PERSON. Interaction of employees in person produced benefits and results not available in any other way. Issues could be thoroughly dealt with, problems and potential not solvable by artificial intelligence could be dealt with by real people working in real time. Meetings, employee interaction could be accomplished by ZOOM where the participants could be seen, or by conference calls but the human in–person factors often so critical to business would be missing. That would certainly affect training of new employees. And face-to-face encounters with clients and patrons of the business. The business assets would change. The equity of the business once so largely made up of human equity, human resources, the employees who made the business happen would change if not decline. Business owners were concerned that without the human factor, a new avenue for competition would open, less dependent upon quality workers and more so dependent upon the skills and capabilities of the competitor in the new digital world. That of course would affect investments, bank loans and credits, shareholder investment and share prices and of course compensation. All of that and more is now in play and will be even more so post–Corona and the American economy, not only struggling to return and pay for itself, will experience a new wave of change, growth, competition with serious displacement of perhaps millions of workers. Corona has ushered in an economic revolution. CORONA HAS USHERED IN A SEA CHANGE virtually overnight and the economic shockwaves may take years to fully understand and digest, and incorporate into new business models. We the people are resilient, resistant, realistic and ready I do believe for these changes once they are fully understood. The American ingenuity, resolve and concern for doing things right will triumph. We the people are adaptable and accountable. When we understand the full effects of Corona, we will respond and we will embrace the new normal however long it takes. As America defines the new ESSENTIAL, we will call upon our character and courage which we have always regarded as EXCEPTIONAL and we will indeed recreate our lifestyles, change them for the better and in due course, resume our position as economic leader of the world. But the challenge will be significant. There is hurt and difficulty to come. The new normal will not be easy. It will not happen gradually as it might have if there had been no Corona. It is here, it is now, it is pervasive and demanding and there is no other choice, NO OTHER OPTION but to respond. AND WE WILL! That I firmly believe. There is no quit in we the people. In fact, it may toughen us, produce a new resolve, a more positive character and hopefully not a further and weak dependence upon governments to bail us out and solve our problems. The most damaging effect of Corona would be the advancement of socialism in America. If that happens, Corona wins and wins big time. If we can control even eradicate the virus, then we must control and prevent its most negative effects like socialism. Time will tell. But, knowing this country and my fellow Americans, and having lived through the after effects of The Great Depression, and the Second World War, and post World War II America and the Korean and Vietnam wars, and the assassination of Kennedy and the corruption of Nixon, and the tremendous economic crash of 2008:         I BELIEVE IN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.Whatever challenge, whatever change Corona demands:         WE THE PEOPLE WILL RESPOND.Do you agree? Will the American people, our brothers and sisters, and you and I respond and:         MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN?

Easter Again

HE IS RISEN!Haven’t forgotten that, have you? Just because we celebrated Easter and the Easter message of resurrection even though virtual Sunday, April 12, just can’t let you and me ever forget that. It’s not just April 12, it’s every day of 12 MONTHS.HE is the only man who ever triumphed over death and the grave, none before Him and none since. THE ONLY ONE! That resurrection, that bodily resurrection, that ascension, that VERIFIED – WITNESSED resurrection and ascension is crucial, pivotal, revolutionary, life changing, essential and indispensable to the belief of every Christian. Morning, noon and night, every day of all 365, the living, resurrected Christ LIVES within the hearts of every Christian believer. And every believer, the Christ has promised, will live with Him now, in this life, and in the life WITH HIM to come. Incredible, is it not?Wonderful, glorious, jubilant, to every believer. But to the natural man:FOOLISHNESS, Absolute and altogether foolishness. It is absolutely ridiculous, says a natural man, an atheist or agnostic, that a mere human being, a carpenter from Nazareth no less, who came from dust and shall return to dust as the scriptures say should rise from the dead. It is just simply not possible. And of course, the myth of the resurrection and the myth of the virgin birth and even for many the myth of the crucifixion all are nothing more than fairytales or as the scriptures say IDLE tales. One can readily see how a natural man, one not drawn by THE HOLY SPIRIT, with eyes closed and ears blocked would scoff, mock and ridicule the EASTER story. If you want, as physicist and astronomer Steven Hawkins would say to believe in a myth of fairytale, that is your right. But the world of science, says Hawkins, astronomy and the so called reason and rationality of the mind dismiss a resurrection possibility out of hand. It didn’t happen, says Hawkins. IT CAN’T HAPPEN!And, to that, the Apostle Paul says if in fact the resurrection did not happen, then:YOUR FAITH IS IN VAIN.Worthless. No better than any other belief system, if even that. If Christ be not risen, any professing believer is not only deceived but becomes him or herself a DECEIVER. Such a believer testifies to a lie, perhaps the biggest lie in all of human history and consequently, becomes a conspirator in the spread of evil and duplicity. So that, not only is the believer’s faith in vain, but the guilt of the false belief of others lies upon him or her as well. When you or I profess to be Christian, we must therefore champion the resurrection with all of our heart, soul and mind. There can be no doubt. NONE!Perhaps that is why the nonbeliever dislikes, even hates Christianity and as a consequence the Christians who follow it. Nonbelievers hate the concept of sin. They see no need for forgiveness. They deeply resent the demands of Christianity and the Christ who boldly proclaims:NO MAN OR WOMAN COMES TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME!Nonbelievers hate that demand, that exclusivity. For it rules out everything else, every other form of belief, in fact every other religion. The crucifixion at Golgotha was merely the death of one man, perhaps even justified. The man who died was a revolutionary, a seditionist, constantly conspiring to get THE PEOPLE to resist and rebel against Rome, the political system, Herod and Pilot on the one hand and the religious authorities, the Pharisees and Sadducees on the other. And he even admitted he came to stir up trouble, to turn one family member against another. He called Herod the Tetrarch of Rome a FOX, cunning, deceiving and lying. The religious establishment despised him because he referred to them over and again as nothing more than hypocrites, or whited sepulchers, empty inside. If any mere man deserved to die, and die in an excruciating way, it was this mirror man Jesus of Nazareth. It was with HIM then as it is now love or hate. You embraced him, believed in him, gave him your all. Or you despised, even hated him nothing more than a rebel or rabble rouser, deluded, even perhaps insane a man in no way to be taken seriously. WITH OR AGAINST. And, written off by Him who again boldly even arrogantly stated:HE THAT IS NOT WITH ME IS AGAINST ME.The world, the secularists, the natural men and women accommodate Christianity one weekend, three days each year. From Good Friday through resurrection Sunday, those who believe in fairytales are allowed their celebration. But then comes Monday and it is back to business as usual, criticizing Christianity, attempting at every hand to get Christians, Christian beliefs and Christianity out of the public square, out of the marketplace, confined if at all possible to the four walls of a church. They are determined, these rabid, progressive secularists to curtail or eliminate Christian witness, any form of evangelism for they the enemy have determined that all Christian speech is:HATE SPEECH.They are determined to destroy, eliminate any form of testimony, any message which states:CHRIST IS RISEN Even as they scoff at the message:UP FROM THE GRAVE HE AROSEWITH THE MIGHTY CHILD O’ER HIS FOESWherever he was buried, there he remains they say. From the time he was laid in a tomb, everything else, EVERYTHING is nothing more than myth, fairytale, idle tale WHY!But, natural man, like it or not, he did in fact rise again. HE WAS SEEN first by the women Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James and Salome, and Joanna, and other women. They first saw the empty tomb as they brought spices, the announcement of the resurrection by the angel and these women were the very first EVANGELISTS. They were the first to go and tell. They told Peter, and the disciples, 11 of them and others that at the tomb:HE IS NOT THERE!HE IS RISEN!He was there, back for some 40 days before an ascension. He fellowshipped with his disciples and with others. He was there in the flesh for he was hungry and thirsty. He ate and drank and he showed them his nail pierced body and the wounded side where he was pierced. He returned as a man alive and ascended in glory as the eternal Christ. For Christian believers, it is true, all of it. It is fact. It is the foundation of belief. He was alive in the flesh before and after the crucifixion and now lives eternally and forever with his saints to reign. So, the Christian joyfully proclaims Easter Sunday and every other day:HALLELUJAHCHRIST AROSEWe the believers celebrated the Easter weekend, mourning at the remembrance of the crucifixion on Good Friday April 10 but joyfully and jubilantly celebrating HIS resurrection on Easter Sunday April 12. That resurrection message was heard that day the world over. The world made time, even priority at least to recognize that incredible message. But now, only mere days later, it is business as usual. Perhaps even we who believe become gradually less open, less aggressive in our testimony, perhaps even unwilling to STAND for what we believe, in Him. Perhaps, gradually, we become more defensive, even withdrawn, unwilling to testify and confront. Perhaps the message of those three potent days becomes a matter of memory, fading, the power of it all dissipating, the courage to fight the fight of faith waning.So, just a few days after the Easter celebration, it is well for us to celebrate again, and again and again, and every day the fact, the most supreme fact in all of human history that:HE IS RISEN.That, as the old hymn says, Christ the Lord is risen today, and every day. Hallelujah! Let us with all our hearts proclaim that message and live that message. It is the greatest fact in human history!So, from the virgin birth, to a powerful human life symbolist, to the crucifixion offering forgiveness for all mankind through the shed blood, to the resurrection, believe it, proclaim it, and live it every day of the year.And one more thing. There is yet to come the rapture. This, the crucified and resurrected Christ will return again for his church, for us. Perhaps that day is near and we should be ready. The rapture is yet another fairytale, so says the natural man. But for Christians, it is the ultimate event, the culmination of everything. If you are Christian, if you believe, then the Holy Spirit bears witness, fortifies your belief, encourages you and strengthens you and makes certain that you live joyfully in the faith, hope and love of the Christian journey. Easter was celebrated days ago. But Easter is not a day, it is a way of life. Celebrate morning, noon and night:HE IS RISEN HALLELUJAHCHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY AND EVERY DAY!

Congregational Demise

That is a polite way of saying that far few go to church these days. FAR FEW!Thousands of churches close across the United States. Most of them are large, old, traditional, historic:DENOMINATIONS.Like Methodist. Like Baptist. Like Presbyterian. There has even been a steady and regular decline in the Roman Catholic Church. It’s not a good time for the old folk, and that term is used by any number of writers deliberately who patronize and continue to believe in the old denominations. They have little or no attraction to the younger generations and especially the Millennials. WHY? Many reasons to be sure. One writer proclaimed that people seek to live faithfully and WORSHIP IN A LESS STRUCTURED WAY, whatever that means. There is one sure way to do that. That is, become part of a non–structured, newly formed, non-denominational church which is now springing up virtually everywhere.Those who search for more meaningful worship should realize that non–denominational evangelical churches are growing in number and are they ever. Those numbers were 54,000, FIFTY–FOUR THOUSAND in 1998. That alone is a staggering number. But, in only 14 years, by 2012 there were:EIGHTY–FOUR THOUSANDnon–denominational churches in America and counting, according to the Pew Research Foundation. And, equally unbelievable, almost half of all those churches, some 26,000 of them, reported that they were:ON THE GROW!When these churches felt the fire of the real Gospel, they grew. They called that growth:CHURCH MULTIPLICATION.That is, a new church would commit to start several smaller churches. In 2015 some 4% of all these new non–denominational churches were multiplying. But last year, 2019, 7% were in fact multiplying, starting smaller churches. That percentage sounds small but each percentage point upward represents some:THREE THOUSAND CHURCHES,so that there is a total new church multiplication number of NINE THOUSAND! Such numbers and such evangelical growth are changing worship in America, changing the core, even the heart and soul of the church itself. That led Ed Stetzer of Wheaton College to state in 2008:“Sometimes churches die and sometimes they should. A new church, not a reboot of the old, should be started in its place.”And that seems to be exactly what is happening. New churches, Evangelical and non-denominational, can design and form their missions to cater to the specific needs of the people they intend to serve. For example, there is a church formed exclusively for employees of Disney World. There are any number of Spanish–language services in many churches, not just those dedicated to Hispanics. There are special church services for athletes before sport activities on Sundays. And, more than ever, there are:HOUSE CHURCHES,which are comprised of neighbors meeting for informal services in homes living rooms. Such “congregations” are small in number but they worship in highly individualistic ways so as to get the very best of REAL CHRISTIANITY. If the denominations won’t bring the Gospel to the congregation, the individuals in the congregations will find a different and better way to get the Gospel on Sundays and every day of the week!Writer Ericka Andersen in the Wall Street Journal states the following:“The success of new models (non–denominational evangelical churches) shows significant groups of people looking for ways to live faithfully albeit in a less structured way.”True indeed for there must be much more to religion in a real, vital and life changing way. Mere tradition, formality and practice are not enough, especially for the Millennials. Studies seem to show that Millennials are significantly less religious than previous younger generations. Even though Millennials comprise the majority of the NONES, those who do not believe in any kind of religion or have any faith for that matter, such Millennials are still young, and many have yet to mature, marry, have children and families, settle down and then make a permanent decision regarding faith and church, often to return to the so called religious fold. What a welcome addition – return that would be. Experts believe that those who return will not return in any significant numbers to the denominations. Rather, they will be much more attracted to the life and vitality of the new non–denominational evangelical churches.Both evangelical Protestants and Muslims are increasing in number. One, Protestant, is far less structured than a denomination. Islam is more structured and formal. Both ends, both extremes of the religious spectrum seem attractive, one or the other, in this day and age. Interesting phenomenon, don’t you think?THE BILLY GRAHAM CENTER INSTITUTE found that those who do not attend church are receptive to the invitation of a friend to attend the church of the friend. Perhaps that is so because most people believe that faith is “good for society.” So many of the NONES, and the Millennials, and those with no religious affiliation or belief are at least OPEN to invitations to attend church and to experience the reality and dynamic of REAL RELIGION, the power of the Gospel at work in a congregation. That is a hopeful sign for the church generally but more especially so for those non–denominational evangelical churches now already on the grow.Much of the religious growth in America also stems from:IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS.There is a certain power, as some acknowledge in the HISPANIC CHURCH. The Hispanic share of the US population is on the grow and many believe that the same will occur with the Hispanic church and the ever–growing number of practicing Hispanics.And the same with the African American church. Congregations which are primarily black are DEEPLY AND SINCERELY GOSPEL BASED and themselves offer a viable alternative to what many term DEAD DENOMINATIONS. There are any number of small or storefront African American churches, and there are many incredibly large independent, non–denominational churches. So many of them deeply possessed and believing in THE REAL SPIRIT OF THE GOSPEL. Small wonder they are alive and well in this anti–religious day and age.RELIGION IN AMERICA IS FAR FROM DEAD. In fact, there is a vibrant new church landscape. And, there are no shortage of options. Any reasonable search will lead to a church where the full expression of the person, the true FREEDOM OF RELIGION can occur, and the full impact, power and truth of the Gospel can be heard, witnessed and personally experienced. Anyone who has lost religious zeal can FIND THEIR FOOTING IN FAITH in one of the many new non–denominational evangelical churches springing up. There is now already a REVIVAL. The fire of revival is yet to come but little sparks, church by church, community by community are born and born again (multipliers) in America and across the world. Sooner or later many believe, those sparks will start a REVIVAL FIRE, a spiritual conflagration perhaps something predicted and certain in the END DAYS. It will not only be a pleasure to see but to participate in.So called experts continue to analyze the reasons why the decline of denominations. They analyze fact, detail and any data from which they can extract some meaning. But they are always reluctant, always to identify the real and perhaps the only reason why this occurs. That is because these old, hoary, traditional denominations have lost:THE POWER OF THE REAL GOSPEL.Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of Glory no longer lives there. The power of the Gospel has been intellectualized. The power of the Gospel has been lost in tradition. The mind has replaced the heart. Works has replaced love. The FAITH – HOPE – LOVE of the Gospel, the power of I Corinthians 13 has been long lost. Nothing short of a dramatic revival could ever revive the church of old. That revival has been preempted, coopted by the new non–denominational evangelical churches. That is a pleasure to see!It is a pleasure to see the Christ of Glory once more return to HIS own church. To see him, front and center. The object of worship, adoration and love. Those churches, denominational or non–denominational which have done that prosper. They receive His blessing, over and again. Where they are gathered together, even two or three, Jesus of Nazareth, THE CHRIST OF GLORY is there with them, their master, teacher, friend, brother and all things he has promised to be. Those are the churches which prosper, those which honor HIM, his word, his love, and his constant leading and direction. THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST IS NOT DEAD. THE CHURCH WITHOUT JESUS CHRIST IS IN FACT DEAD! No matter whether one is African American, Hispanic, Caucasian, no matter the color, ethnicity or race, any who search for the Christ of Glory will find HIM and upon that rock, these new non–denominational –evangelical churches will be built.WHERE HE IS, I WANT TO BE. And millions upon millions of people the world over want and feel the same way. Let religion die if it must. The Christ who rose again LIVES even as manmade churches die. Let religion die. True believers worship:THE LIVING CHRIST!

Easter - The Lord is Risen

Up the carpenter went to Jerusalem, knowing full well why.  It was time, HIS time, the time, the eternal time as appointed when a world changing event would happen.It was to be the end of his earthly journey, a time for the transition between the Jesus of history and the Christ of Glory.There came that time in the Garden of Gethsemane where he went to pray.  He asked his disciples to participate, to watch with him, to stay awake with him.  Not knowing the incredible events about to happen, they slept.  But the Master prayed, communed with the Father. How wonderful the humanity of Jesus the Christ in Gethsemane. As man, he knew the incredible suffering and agony to come, the crucifixion which would happen and he prayed to the Father:LET THIS CUP PASS FROM MELet there be another way to introduce your love and saving grace rather than crucifixion. But the answer was clear, the plan in place. There would be no change.Perhaps that was the greatest expression and revelation of the WILL of God at work.  The plan of salvation would begin with Him, Jesus of Nazareth so that all men might know that He was indeed the SON OF GOD.And so, in blessed surrender, the soon to be Christ of Glory uttered this incredible prayer:NOT MY WILL BUT THY WILL BE DONEOn earth even as it is in heaven. He was ready, and willing.Jesus of Nazareth loved Jerusalem as all Jews do. There stood the temple, the holiest place on earth to the Jews, the earthly abiding place of the HOLY OF HOLIES. It was ordained so by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and it was the place, the center for the longing, the love and the passion of all Jews. Jerusalem, the one and only Jerusalem, the City of David.Jesus of Nazareth poured out His love on the city and its people so very special to him.  He passionately lamented how he would love to take the city and its people under his wing and to show them what he firmly believed was the way, the truth, and the life, all new things. There would be from God through him a new creation possible, all things and people born again, a fresh and vital spirituality. But before these new gifts from God could become universal, a tragic and horrific event must occur followed by the most miraculous and wonderful event in the history of mankind.HE had dined in Jerusalem with his disciples, a loving Last Supper to commemorate the event to come, the celebration of his body and his blood. That communion of the disciples and the Lord, that spiritual fellowship celebrated vicariously with bread and wine, was the end event for them but only the beginning of a lifelong celebration for us.Roman soldiers found him in Gethsemane. There came the mockery of trial and interrogation before Pilate and Herod. The world knows of the hands–washing, the refusal to make the decision of death for a just and innocent man and the offering to the people of a choice between Jesus of Nazareth and a convicted criminal. The crowd of course chose the criminal.Then came the walk to the cross, the VIA DOLOROSA, the way of sorrow still today commemorated in Jerusalem by the 12 Stations of the Cross. When His cross became too heavy to bear, another carried it for him. Crowds lined the way, watching and listening, some mocking, some wailing, all perhaps sensing this was no ordinary man nor would there be any ordinary crucifixion. But none could know that the world could change.And so, the cruelest and most brutal death possible occurred for an innocent man, a public crucifixion. Roman soldiers nailed Jesus of Nazareth to that wooden cross.It seems ironic indeed, does it not, that a man who lived and worked with wood died a brutal death on wood itself.He hung on that cross for hours, a criminal on each side. The sky grew dark and it was as though the earth and all in it mourned. The Christ of Glory hung in utter agony, and the horrific pain he experienced caused Him to utter these unforgettable words:MY GOD, MY GOD WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN MEWHY?So alone, in utter agony, feeling even that the FATHER had forsaken Him. It is impossible to know how He felt, how awful that death must have been for Him. But He was man, human. We as humans like him can understand the cruelty of man and the suffering and agony he suffered in death as many of us have. HE took on the suffering of mankind on that Golgotha Hill. So many who loved him watched, mourned and prayed, never really knowing that this tragic crucifixion would turn into a glorious Resurrection.It seemed indeed that in that darkest moment, God Himself had departed, forsaken.  Perhaps it was, as some scholars think that this Holy God could not look upon the ultimate and tragic event as they were laid on him the sins of the world. On that cross, in the blood and tortured flesh of the body of the Son of God, in that death unto sin were in fact the sins of the world, all of them and all of ours.  That final bloody act of remission and propitiation had to be finished. There had to be that tumultuous and cataclysmic collision of worlds, when heaven and earth became one through Him. For hours, He suffered in agony and pain. His precious body was exposed, mutilated and mocked. He was crowned in the ultimate sarcasm with a crown of thorns to mock the claim of:KING OF THE JEWS.Roman soldiers taunted him, challenging him to use His miraculous powers to come down from the cross, laughing all the while. They cast lots for his garments and treated in cavalier style this world changing event as ordinary, the crucifixion and death of yet another fanatic, yet another would be Messiah as there were so many of them in that day. Never could these men know what would happen on the third day.And so He died and as He was removed from the cross, there came mercifully and lovingly Joseph of Arimathea to claim the body, something which rarely happened in early Roman times, so that Jesus of Nazareth could be buried in His very own tomb.  And there He lay as all who knew him, loved, followed and believed in Him mourned.  There was perhaps that day a sense of no hope, the law so tragic that HE would never be replaced. Like doubting Thomas, none really believed what would happen that third day.But on that third day, they hurried, they ran to the tomb, the women did. They were so anxious lovingly to attend His body. Instead, they found in the tomb the Angel of the Lord. The stone which had covered the tomb had been rolled back. The event was so terrifying it overwhelmed the Roman guards. The women announced that they had come looking for Jesus of Nazareth, He who had been crucified, buried and laid in this tomb. They demanded to know who took His body. But the Angel of the Lord said to them, words which would change the world:HE IS NOT HEREHE IS RISENHE IS ALIVE. Death as we know it had no power over Him. For millions, that is impossible for us to believe. But for us who do and especially those of us never having seen, heard or been in His physical presence, we who believe the truth and reality of the Resurrection are entitled to the power and the eternal victory over death even as it was with Him. Even as He returned to the Father, so shall we at our appointed time be with Him and the Father as well. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is not a myth, not symbolic, but the most real event in all of human history.The Apostle Paul states that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most fundamental event, the crux of Christianity. If, says Paul, there was no Resurrection, then Christianity is a farce and more importantly our FAITH is in vain. If the Resurrection was myth, or symbolic and not real, actual, factual, a bodily resurrection, then our faith is in vain. But thank the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, as Paul did, that the Resurrection was real, it endures with everlasting power even now and for all eternity. OUR FAITH IS NOT IN VAIN. The tomb was empty and the empty lives of all mankind could now be filled with the power of this incredible resurrection. The words again which changed the world:HE IS NOT HERE!HE IS RISEN!And so came the Resurrection witness. The resurrected and risen Christ was seen, heard, touched, and otherwise fully experienced as living once again. There were those who doubted, demanding proof. They touched the nail pierced hands and the side pierced with that Roman spear. And they said with the words of doubting Thomas:MY LORD AND MY GODTheir eyes were opened and they recognized Him.  They fellowshipped with Him and ate with Him. And He said to them “why are you disturbed and troubled.”  Why do such doubts and questionings arise in your hearts? He told them to see His hands and feet and know that it is I MYSELF. No mere spirit, He said, has flesh and bones as I have. His disciples were filled with sheer joy and marvel. Their minds were open to understand Him and the Scriptures. Now said the Resurrected Christ, you are witnesses of these things. Go and preach this wonderful event and our message to all nations. He blessed them and sent them.GO YE, He said, into all of the world and preach the Gospel to everyman, to the Jew first but then to the Gentiles. TO ALL MANKIND. The saving power of the Resurrection was for everyone. So many of us doubt in some ways even today. We see through a glass darkly, said Paul. Our understanding of these things is limited, human here and now. But hereafter, we will know, really know when we see HIM:FACE TO FACEBlessed are those who have never seen and believe!There is nothing in this world like this belief, the outpouring of the saving grace of the Resurrection. The power of life and life eternal through Him is the most powerful force on earth. It comes by acceptance and an open heart, the outpouring of this transforming love. It has been my blessing and I hope and pray that you have had such an encounter with THE LIVING CHRIST, that you have experienced the forgiveness of the cross and that you have accepted and believed in the power of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is Easter, that is what Easter means. It is life anew, one born again. A decision to encounter is the most important decision any person can make. It changes life here and it creates life hereafter. It allows the unfolding of the Kingdom of God now and fellowship in that Kingdom for eternity. We become ONE WITH HIM now, and then forevermore.And so, we who believe sing on Easter Sunday and all year long:CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAYHALLELUJAH!Let the heavens and the earth sing with joy and praise and fill the mind and heart with the power and love of the Resurrection. May the meaning of Easter be with you always, and firmly fasten in your mind the words of the angel, the Messenger of God who stated to those women so many years ago and consequently to all mankind:HE IS NOT HERE!HE IS RISEN!Christ the Lord is in fact risen and our faith is not only NOT in vain but the greatest thing in life. As He was with them in those days following His Resurrection, so He will be with us. His words to that effect are unforgettable.HEAR ME!I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS!EVEN UNTO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH!Christ is Risen! HALLELUJAH!

The STAND

It has been my privilege my fellow Americans and my fellow Christians to have done THE STAND now for some 28 years.The purpose of the Stand has been to honor:GOD AND COUNTRYThe Stand represents, of course, my personal beliefs, values and convictions and as well, my company the Crawford Broadcasting Company and its employees. Although we may differ politically and culturally to some extent, we are AS ONE in the service of the God of the universe and our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. We are traditional Americans, believing very much so in the foundation and founding of our country based as it has been for some 245 years on Judeo–Christian values. All that matters has been based on those values and the vast majority if not all of our Founding Fathers who gave us our Declaration of Independence and the worlds greatest document the Constitution of the United States believed the same way. Today, 245 years later, not so much.As Americans, we took for granted that we the people and our elective leaders would follow the Constitution, its precious and vital amendments, and the rule of law, and the values which have characterized the fabric and structure of America from the beginning. We so often took for granted the freedoms especially granted by the First Amendment of the Constitution. That would include unabridged FREEDOM OF SPEECH, unabridged FREEDOM OF RELIGION, unabridged freedom of publication, print and media and FREEDOM OF RELIGION. Ironically, 245 years later, all such freedoms are under attack, at times simply ignored, or ABRIDGED no matter the constitutional prohibition of any kind of ABRIDGEMENT. And the worst is yet to come.We live in an era which drifts toward socialism, a failed political, social and cultural way of life but for some obscure reasons, attractive to the younger generation including and especially the so called Millennials. The culture of today can be described as anti–religion, perhaps such feelings well stated by Bill Maher who hollered in shrill fashion DEATH TO RELIGION, or at least a–religion, that is where religion of any kind and perhaps especially Christianity is viewed as irrelevant and without social or personal meaning. Witness the NONES who today just simply ignore religion and have nothing to do with it. Such indifference really is anti–religion for, in the words of Jesus of Nazareth:HE THAT IS NOT WITH ME IS AGAINST ME.In other words, you are for something or if not, you are in fact against it. There is no middle ground. Neutral you cannot be.The bottom line is that Christianity and perhaps all religions as well are on the defensive. There is now Christian persecution the world over, and even in America, every attempt is made to neutralize Christianity, churches and Pastors and above all:TO GET CHRISTIANITY OUT OF POLITICS AND THE MARKETPLACE.There is every attempt to squelch free speech, especially free religious speech, much of which today is characterized as HATE SPEECH. There is at work a vicious and hateful secularism which is determined, as secularist and communications influencer Ted Turner said, to rid the world of religion so as to make it a better place. But the world continues its incredible moral decline and in terms of personal conduct, ANYTHING GOES replaces anything moral. Freedoms are replaced by license and selfish and self-centered individualism runs amuck. That produces devastating effects on the rule of law and our Constitution, gradually and essentially permanently compromised. It is a day and age where more than ever, in politics, education, and personal lifestyles, the influence of Christians and all people of faith must be revived, a true political revival so that America can continue to remain:THE LAND OF THE BRAVE AND THE FREE.More than ever, Christians and people of faith must STAND up. That is the purpose of THE STAND and the constant and continuous message of our company. People of faith must experience a revival, a reenergizing, a renewal of commitment to traditional and constitutional America. People of faith must:INFLUENCE THE CULTURE.They must enter, control and redirect the course of politics no matter the vicious, verbal onslaught of the rabid secularists. People of faith must, as one apologist said:REDEEM THE VOTE.That is enter the voting process any and every time the vote, the voice of the people can be heard. That is, a Christian vote for the candidate who best will champion values and morality, and honor the Judeo–Christian foundation of this country. THAT RELIGIOUS VOICE MUST BE HEARD POLITICALLY THROUGHOUT AMERICA AND EVEN THE WORLD.When asked about loyalty and allegiance, Jesus of Nazareth said:RENDER UNTO CAESAR THE THINGS THAT ARE CAESAR’S AND TO GOD THE THINGS THAT ARE GOD’S!But today, it seems like virtually every issue and matter of importance is that of God and not Caesar. Education turns secularist and anti–Christian. Pornography becomes more and more accepted. The young are taught the new morality and encouraged to believe and even experience that which not so long ago was deeply immoral and forbidden. Abortion, the killing of young human beings is encouraged and fought for by radical progressives. And so is the gay agenda no matter the admonitions of scripture, Old and New Testaments. Euthanasia is fostered. Human trafficking runs rampant. Pornography, especially child pornography which was once absolutely forbidden becomes more and more accepted or even if illegal ignored. CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE which once ruled the day is missing in so many ways. Christians and people of faith are labeled as bigots, hateful and intimidated by the radical progressives. They, these rabid progressives rule the day in so many ways. They are angry, confrontational, without dialogue and determined to radically change America and do away with Christianity. They are the new CAESAR. There is no way that a Christian or a person of faith today can render under this NEW CAESAR the things that it demands. To do so would violate scripture and the moral standards, admonitions and requirements of God Almighty and our Lord Jesus Christ. The battle of faith is on and it appears quite clearly that people of faith are losing that battle.God has put you where you are, my fellow Americans. You are a citizen of the greatest country in history. You have been given a Constitution, a lifestyle under the rule of law and the most incredible freedoms granted to any human beings and you are called upon, A RELIGIOUS CALLING to protect and defend all that God has given you. You are required to be politically active, and active socially and in education, especially education to train up the younger generations and to make certain that CAESAR in no way enters the realm of God Almighty or seeks to usurp what belongs to HIM and him only. And TODAY’S CAESAR intends to do just that. You are called upon to prevent that, to STAND UP like we at the Crawford Broadcasting Company do. We are His voice, often crying in the wilderness, but we will stand for GOD AND COUNTRY no matter the cost. And that has been the purpose, my purpose for THE STAND for the past 28 years.The Stand, and the powerful voices of men and women like Bob Dutko, Neil Boron, John Rush, Roger Marsh continuously champion constitutional America. Men and women like Roxanne, Russell Wall, Justin Brown, Ace McKay, Chris Stevenson and so many others champion the God of the Universe and our Lord Jesus Christ. We will never compromise nor will we back down no matter the secular onslaught. We will continue to do everything in our power to activate and energize Christians so that they can:REDEEM THE VOTEand control and influence politics with the goal of protecting and defending our Declaration of Independence, our Constitution, our Bill of Rights and the freedoms in our constitutional amendments, and the rule of law which is so critical to the character and constitution of our society. We will urge and admonish you to:KNOW THE ISSUES OF THE DAY.They are critical. You should know the radical differences between Republican and Democrat, between Biden and Trump, between the traditionalists and the progressives with respect to education.We would urge you to know the position of the parties, Democrat and Republican. They are radically different and the vote 2020 for President, House and Senate will either bring to office and power those who would preserve, protect and defend traditional America or radical progressives who would intend to radically change the greatest country in human history.Thinking and caring Americans should make rational decisions as they vote and not vote for:PERSONALITIES.It matters not whom you like, irrelevant to the world of politics but who will champion, implement and enforce the rule of law and the Constitution. That is the urgent admonition of this Stand, and me personally, and the vast majority of the wonderful, dedicated, hardworking people of the Crawford Broadcasting Company. The fight is on my fellow Americans, for:CHRIST AND THE CONSTITUTION.You are in that fight like it or not. More than ever, we must STAND UP and protect and defend. Old or young, it is your Christian and civic duty. Welcome the opportunities that duty offers and requires.This is the day and age which demands the return of:THE CHURCH MILITANT. That is, the church armed, spiritually armed, passionate and energetic, true to the real Gospel in every way and without compromise. This secular age demands Pastors and Christian leaders who are passionate about their calling, and in defense of the Gospel, and true to the Gospel and unashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation. Pastors must be renewed and reenergized with regard to their calling and what the Christ they serve demands. This age demands that now more than ever. So much of the church is compromised, having lost its way and without it seems the presence, the power and the energy of the HOLY SPIRIT. The church seems ashamed, apologetic, unwilling to confront, to stand up UNASHAMED. It is lukewarm, and a front to the miraculous Christ who died and rose again. That is, the real Christ of EASTER and the redemptive message he brought. The cross and the grave could not hold Him. HE LIVES. And WE HIS PEOPLE must be free to proclaim and testify to that fact, unashamed and unembarrassed as we celebrate all HE means at this Easter season.Therefore, we should follow his commands to:GO YEDO YEStand up, redeem the vote, take back a culture and in the process, produce REVIVAL for America in both civic and Christian terms. We really have no choice. WE HIS PEOPLE must be:SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS!

Multiculturalism versus Melting Pot

There was an old song which so well described the purpose of America. That song invited anyone anywhere to come to America and BECOME AMERICANS. The most pungent line in that song so beautifully identified WHY. That is, whoever they were, they were human beings who were:YEARNING TO BE FREE.That was why anyone would want to come to America. So that they could live free and enjoy the freedoms which America offered to all no matter who you were.My own father was an immigrant, naturalized, passionate about living in America and himself yearning to be free. He gladly and willingly ASSIMILATED. He adopted American ideals. He honored and cherished the Declaration of Independence and The Constitution, and when he became a citizen, he swore allegiance to the greatest country in the history of mankind. He came out of the melting pot a born again American. He willingly and gladly adopted the American slogan:E PLURIBUS UNUM.From many, out of many, ONE. One nation with all citizens together, and indivisible living under freedoms guaranteed and with justice for all. That was the highest ideal to which any individual could pledge allegiance.But then came multiculturalism. It came as a direct threat and challenge to the American ideal of assimilation and oneness. Multiculturalism came as a concept, a philosophy, and a false idea that America should be nothing more than a fragmented collection of groups. We the people were at the bottom line groups defined and divided by race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, specific political philosophies and of course, religion. Religion or no religion at all (NONES). Multiculturalism defined and popularized TRIBALISM, fragmentation with the hope that so much of traditional America would be ignored or better yet destroyed. Why this new progressivism happened and how it gained traction is difficult to understand. Fragmentation replaced unity. This new destructive progressivism attempted to pit Americans against each other. And perhaps worst of all, this new, destructive progressive ideology became the dominating political and philosophical force of the new LEFT, that which seems to have virtually taken over the democratic party. Nothing could be worse for America, nothing.This new multiculturalism was the same as identity politics. Politics, and the core of America should be shaped to the individual, to groups, to tribes and the good of all is replaced by the beliefs and desires of the individual. Central to this new belief was OPEN BORDERS. Anyone anywhere should be permitted to enter America no matter who they were or why they came. Each new entrant brought a different kind of tribalism, beliefs, and added to more and different group identity. Open borders and illegal immigration only increased the power and scope of multiculturalism providing further and additional attacks on our Constitution, way of life, standards, beliefs and ideals.This new progressivism, this new multiculturalism arose, the proponents stated, as a result of the dominance, the discrimination, the sexism of WHITE MALES. They were the cause of all of the problems in America and any influence in power they had must be done away with. This new progressivism saw the Founding Fathers of our great country as chief of those oppressive white males and even now the multiculturalists would do everything possible to water down, eviscerate or even do away with the constitution these white males so brilliantly created and constructed. The Declaration and the Constitution were deemed to be racist and sexist at the core and therefore must be destroyed. The full implementation of constitutional principles produced the oppressed and victim groups rather than individual citizens, yearning to be free, and in fact living with freedoms and inalienable rights never before available in the history of mankind. That was America, its promise, its guarantee and its deep and passionate concern for the individual and governments everywhere which would exist for the purpose of assuring life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And that was for all, all assimilated Americans, ALL OF THEM. That has been what America essentially was, and still is.But now comes a new radicalized LEFT which seeks to divide us along racial, ethnic and gender lines rather than unite us around common principles and natural rights. These new radicals see America as a society of victim groups instead of self–reliant individuals. They have no belief in the AMERICAN IDEA. They care little or nothing, this new Left, about the Constitution or its freedoms. They promote and foster a cultural civil war, encouraging hatred and aggression, and of course division. They know that a HOUSE DIVIDED CANNOT STAND and they wish the traditional America of 250 years to be destroyed. This new multiculturalism, this hateful tribalism conceives of society as a collection of cultural identity groups, again:ALL OPPRESSED BY WHITE MALES.And this new hatred, political and cultural, will in fact UNCHECKED eventually destroy America. It will, my fellow Americans and we cannot let that happen. It is heartbreaking to see how divided America is and Americans are. States wish to secede. Even one wishes to divide itself into two or three new political entities (California) because the political views and cultural responses are so radically different. Parts of states wish to merge in other states where there is far more commonality. Split, fragmentation, division of geographical entities and individuals rule the day. These new Progressives and progressive thinking are bound and determined to “decouple America from its foundational principles.”The premises of these new political and cultural doctrines and their establishment and adoption require the destruction and discrediting of the American way of life. And these anti–Americans are doing such a good job in that regard.Even worse, this new radical progressivism requires the SILENCING OF ALL OPPOSITION. Any differing speech is labeled as HATE SPEECH. The priority of SENSITIVITIES runs amuck. So much of speech and belief once viewed as traditional and acceptable now is labeled hate speech, which includes so much of religious doctrine, especially Christian where, for example, the concept of sin and sinners is easily identified as hate speech. Progressives would like nothing more than to see the ban of religion and religious speech. In fact, for the new radical Progressives to prevail, religion must end. In that regard, the words of television personality Bill Mahr are relevant:DEATH TO RELIGION!President Donald Trump announced to the world that his mission was to:MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAINand that is exactly what the new multiculturalists do not want. They want America to be one of many, no different or better than any other nation. They believe in a new globalism where, for example, a world court would make decisions which affect every human being on earth including all Americans. They believe in and preach a new and radical socialism – Marxism. So much of the democratic party has adopted that philosophy (i.e. witness Bernie Sanders). Whether the Democrats nominate Biden, Sanders or a different candidate from a brokered convention, socialism and all its negative aspects will strongly influence the thinking, the philosophy and the politics of the democratic candidate for President.It is fair to say that this new radical LEFT has strong hatred for America. This movement and its adherents openly promote rancor, division, enmity between people, and a balkanization which, again if left unchecked and defeated, will result in a destruction of America. We are in a fight for our lives, my fellow Americans, our freedoms, our way of life and our BELOVED CONSTITUTION. If we allow multiculturalism and identity politics to prevail, America as we know it will be destroyed once and for all. Now, more than ever, we must understand the issues, the politics, the parties, the platforms. And most importantly, we must thoroughly know and understand:SOCIALISMand Marxist socialism, a far worse kind. And for now, it is alive and well in the democratic party. Moderate Democrats seem nowhere to be found, if in fact there are any. So much of this new progressivism counts upon the indifference or ignorance of the American public. It is just incredible how many Americans never bother to vote, indifferent to the political process or the effects of elections. Even those that do, so many of them do not really understand the issues but rather for the most part, vote on broad and general philosophies, and even more tragically personalities. The like or dislike of a candidate often sways the vote, whether or not the favored candidate is right for America. The well functioning of the American system and its political and cultural foundations depends upon the active and accurate understanding of the voters, WE THE PEOPLE of the critical issues of the parties and their platforms and not personalities. The radical Left would deconstruct, reeducate and move the American citizenry away from a real and fully educated understanding. So that the vote can be swayed and political influence accomplished whether or not based on fact or truth. We live, my fellow Americans, in perhaps the most dangerous and difficult time in American history.America will change as a result of elections 2020 if we the people do not stand up, protect and defend our freedoms, our way of life, and our Constitution and do not allow those who would fundamentally change it to take power. We cannot elect any who would be multiculturalists at heart, none whatsoever.Rather we must vote for those true Americans who love our Declaration of Independence and Constitution and the freedoms it provides and we enjoy. Time and again we should refer to the words of Ronald Reagan:FREEDOMS ONCE LOST ARE LOST FOREVER.The radical, progressive Left, the Marxist socialists would have that happen. DON’T LET IT HAPPEN!Vote for those in 2020 who love America like we do.

The Electoral College - part 2

Do you know what that is, the Electoral College? And, perhaps more importantly, do you know how fundamental the Electoral College and the function it performs is to the American political process and the election of the President of the United States?It is, my fellow Americans absolutely necessary that you understand for this extremely important political mechanism is under severe attack. There are many who wish to eliminate the Electoral College in favor of a popular vote as the main election procedure. And, you can be certain that those who are against the EC are:          THE DEMOCRATS          THE PROGRESSIVES          THE RADICALS who wish to do virtually anything to get and retain power, absolute power over the political process in America.Each of our 50 states has its own voting procedures. And, that includes not only the popular vote, but the Electoral Vote which follows thereafter. ARTICLE II of our beloved Constitution provides as follows:“Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the legislature thereof may direct, a number of Electors, equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which the state may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or person holding the office of trust or profit under the United States shall be appointed an Elector.”So, if a state has two federal Senators, and it does, and thirteen Representatives for the House, that state would have a total of fifteen Electors who would cast their votes for President presumably based on the outcome of the popular vote IN THAT STATE (not our country at large). Such total votes in this case fifteen would be the Electoral Votes of that state which would be counted toward denomination of the candidate for President of that political party. So that, every serious candidate for President must take into account every one of the 50 states and the Electoral Votes it offers for the nomination of any individual as party candidate for President of the United States. No state can be ignored. That puts the smallest states on a par, at least procedurally with the largest states and it prevents states like California and New York from dominating the political process with their sheer number of citizens and residents removing the political voice of the smaller states. In essence, the Electoral College procedure is a true democratic mechanism, ensuring that the political voice and opinion of the smallest states and its citizens will be heard at the national level, and will be counted, and will matter in terms of formulating the thinking of denominating party and its final candidate. THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE POLITIAL PROCESS really works and has worked most efficiently and effectively since 1787. It is a fundamental principle of our Constitution, and represents the clear and clairvoyant thinking of our Founding Fathers who were concerned that there not be any sectional or special interest majority domination, but rather all things fair and equitable across the county. In terms of sheer numbers, America could be dominated by the populous states of California, New York, Texas, Florida and others without any real representation or political expression from smaller states like North and South Dakota, New Mexico, Montana and others. In a constitutional way, Wyoming can be every bit as important in electing the candidate for President of any party as New York or California.Radical, progressive Democrats, many of them socialists wish to replace the Electoral College, what they term the “18th century anachronism” with a straight popular vote. They claim that in a true democracy, it is only the majority that counts. But, no democracy functions well or is in fact fair unless the political voice of all is heard. Progressives decry the fact that Democrats achieved a larger popular vote than Republicans in 2016, but the Electoral College saw to the election of the Republican candidate Donald Trump who won the Electoral Vote in the right number of states. That election and its results were exactly what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they established the Electoral College as a fundamental part of our Constitutional political process. The Electoral College works, it is good, it is protective, it is fair, it is democratic and it is right for America and its 50 states. IT SHOULD NOT BE CHANGED! In reality, it would be almost impossible to eliminate the Electoral College. The Constitution requires for any amendment that three quarters, 75% of the states approve the amendment or the elimination of an existing constitutional provision and that would mean that some THIRTY–EIGHT STATES would have to approve such a constitutional change. That would never happen. The smaller states would never vote for such a change for they would then be completely dominated politically by the larger states. The popular vote of United States citizens is contained within the state in which the voter lives and no matter how many voters, a state like California only has so many Electoral Votes which does not allow it to be dominant in the political process. And that is good for democracy and a democratic result. The Founding Fathers were concerned with an unchecked democracy. An aggressive, even militant majority could completely eviscerate the rights of the minorities and control, even dominate the country. The Electoral College would prevent that. It puts a premium on moderation. When candidates, such as a Bernie Sanders with his socialistic – Marxist philosophies presents radical political and economic ideas, 50 states, each one of them, can moderate the political platforms and ideas of radical candidates, or fundamentally change them, or eliminate them. The Electoral College process requires reason, moderation and compromise, characteristics sadly lacking in our political process today. A so called radical idea goes through, what Steve Forbes of Forbes Magazine calls “a marinating process” which is healthy, even critical for the American political process. The values and priorities of every state matter and no candidate with radical propositions can ever prevail. Thank the Electoral College for that.Essentially, a nationwide coalition is essential for any candidate to gain a majority in the Electoral College. Hear the numbers. The House of Representatives of our federal government contains 435 members. The Senate of the United States contains 100 members. That is a total of 535 men and women who exercise incredible power over WE THE PEOPLE. Each state no matter the size has two Senators. Each state then has a certain number of Representatives in the House based on population. That changes every 10 years. But every state has no less than one Representative no matter what. Each state therefore has a minimum of three Electoral Votes and perhaps four or five no matter how small the population. Those five votes really matter because they are five of 535 Electoral College Votes and they can often make the difference. A Bernie Sanders or a Donald Trump cannot ignore WYOMING. Or Montana. The Electoral College Votes of every state are important and can make the ULTIMATE DIFFERENCE. America’s political parties are collections of many diverse interests at the state levels. There are different backgrounds, a wide array of cultures and beliefs. But America politically has always been structured around the:          MELTING POT THEORY.That is, that those who come to America seeking citizenship would be assimilated and become true Americans, committed to and united by our Constitution and its Bill of Rights, its fundamental amendments with respect to freedoms no matter the heritage or personal beliefs of the individuals. That process worked for some two centuries. But then came diversity, and multiculturalism and all things politically correct. And, rather than assimilation, TRIBALISM began where America was divided into groups by culture, ethnicity, gender or any other number of special interests. Political parties saw that tribal influence at work. Witnessed the differences, the rancor and the animosity of the candidates of the democratic party for President. They attack each other bitterly. They disagree with each other, most aggressively. They proclaim their differences and the fact that each is the true representative, thinker and political force of the democratic party. The others, the antagonists are simply DEAD WRONG. Each candidate wishes his or her own thinking to dominate the democratic party and to forge its political beliefs and policies. There is no compromise. Eventually, the Democrats will unite behind one candidate because they have no other choice. But you can be certain there will be an angry, aggressive, contentious convention, and that the process of following the dictates and procedures of the Electoral College will be challenged wherever possible. The Democrats, for example, have unbelievable strife within as the heart and soul of the party is battled for. There is an extreme element who wishes the party to stand tall for socialism and even a certain kind of Marxism. That of course is represented by a Bernie Sanders, but others as well at least in terms of policy and priorities. Moderate Democrats are nowhere to be found for now even if they may ultimately prevail. Sanders is a candidate to be reckoned with especially since so many of our voters, including and especially the younger ones, really do not understand socialism – Marxism and cannot begin to comprehend the lethal effect the election of a candidate like Bernie Sanders would have upon the America of some 250 years. The freedoms America has always stood for can be lost in one generation, as President Ronald Reagan reminded us and those freedoms once lost are gone forever, FOREVER! So many voters simply do not understand that. The Democrats, ever LUNGING TO THE LEFT would radically change America never to be the same again.  The political parties of today, Republican and Democrat are essentially state and local organizations. Each such state organization has its own priorities and in some ways its very own political procedures. Each state determines what is right for that state regardless of what happens in any of the other 49. That is precisely what the Founding Fathers intended. There are to be sure national political committees but they are essentially fundraising entities. They can attempt to influence state elections and decision making but only to a certain point. States become more independent, confident in their internal political power and determined to be more influential no matter its size. State Representatives are determined to champion its citizens and for its political voice to be heard. And, that is exactly what the ELECTORAL COLLEGE is meant to do. The choice of the President of the United States, and the two candidates who will run for that office is perhaps the most important decision Americans can make. Such a decision is made every four years. The man or woman who occupies the Oval Office of The White House is THE most important and powerful person in the world. The powers vested in the President by the Constitution are incredibly large and vital. In addition, the President issues executive orders which can change American priorities overnight. The President has the incredible power of veto of legislation which can be passed by House and Senate with a majority. But the Presidential veto requires a two thirds majority of both Senate and House to override and pass the legislation, something extremely politically difficult if not impossible. The President appoints cabinet members like the Attorney General. And Ambassadors to foreign countries. And, negotiates treaties with foreign countries subject to approval of the Senate. And much more. It is impossible to imagine the effect on the American way of life and this critical presidential decision making if a radical – progressive candidate like Bernie Sanders became that President. Not only would America be fundamentally altered top to bottom, and probably forever, but so much of the world would change for America is in so many ways a dominate world force. A Sanders or any candidate like him would move America and the world aggressively towards socialism and Marxism. Those freedoms we once had and enjoyed would be lost, and lost forever. Benjamin Franklin, a key Founding Father was asked following the completion of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 what kind of government the Founders had constructed and we had been given. Franklin’s answer and the condition to that answer were critical then and even more so today. He said:           “A REPUBLIC, IF YOU CAN KEEP IT!” Now come elections 2020. They are indeed the most critical, the most important, the most fundamental elections America has ever had. Never in our history have there been elections which will wrestle with such fundamental issues, and so much proposed change. The candidates for office, House of Representatives, Senate and President have never been more diverse, different in thinking and political philosophy, individualistic and strong agents for change, and so many either indifferent to our Constitution or fundamentally desiring its overhaul or at least fundamental change. It seems as though traditional America and the REPUBLIC under which we now live rests in the hands of the Republican Party and the reelection of Donald Trump. Every viable candidate the Democrats have put forth champion radical and fundamental change to America and to our beloved and consistent Constitution. If you want a different America, American voter, the Democrats will offer you the candidate to accomplish that. If you believe in the existing America, our way of life, our freedoms, our constitutional protections and rule of law, then it seems you have no choice but to vote republican and for Trump. More than ever, WE THE PEOPLE must be active in the political process. We must understand the issues, the parties and the platforms. We must be proactive in our duties as citizens and work to protect and defend the greatest country in the history of mankind. We the voters, the doers must do that for our children, grandchildren, our families and friends. There is only one America and there never will be another. I for one hope and pray that we keep this America, and make it stronger, and reinforce its values and priorities and stand up to the challenge of Founder Benjamin Franklin and say to him and the world.          WE LOVE OUR AMERICAN REPUBLIC AND WE WILL KEEP IT! 

The Electoral College

Do you know what that is, the Electoral College? And, perhaps more importantly, do you know how fundamental the Electoral College and the function it performs is to the American political process and the election of the President of the United States?It is, my fellow Americans absolutely necessary that you understand for this extremely important political mechanism is under severe attack. There are many who wish to eliminate the Electoral College in favor of a popular vote as the main election procedure. And, you can be certain that those who are against the EC are:THE DEMOCRATSTHE PROGRESSIVESTHE RADICALSwho wish to do virtually anything to get and retain power, absolute power over the political process in America.Each of our 50 states has its own voting procedures. And, that includes not only the popular vote, but the Electoral Vote which follows thereafter. ARTICLE II of our beloved Constitution provides as follows:“Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the legislature thereof may direct, a number of Electors, equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which the state may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or person holding the office of trust or profit under the United States shall be appointed an Elector.”So, if a state has two federal Senators, and it does, and thirteen Representatives for the House, that state would have a total of fifteen Electors who would cast their votes for President presumably based on the outcome of the popular vote IN THAT STATE (not our country at large). Such total votes in this case fifteen would be the Electoral Votes of that state which would be counted toward denomination of the candidate for President of that political party. So that, every serious candidate for President must take into account every one of the 50 states and the Electoral Votes it offers for the nomination of any individual as party candidate for President of the United States. No state can be ignored. That puts the smallest states on a par, at least procedurally with the largest states and it prevents states like California and New York from dominating the political process with their sheer number of citizens and residents removing the political voice of the smaller states. In essence, the Electoral College procedure is a true democratic mechanism, ensuring that the political voice and opinion of the smallest states and its citizens will be heard at the national level, and will be counted, and will matter in terms of formulating the thinking of denominating party and its final candidate. THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE POLITIAL PROCESS really works and has worked most efficiently and effectively since 1787. It is a fundamental principle of our Constitution, and represents the clear and clairvoyant thinking of our Founding Fathers who were concerned that there not be any sectional or special interest majority domination, but rather all things fair and equitable across the county. In terms of sheer numbers, America could be dominated by the populous states of California, New York, Texas, Florida and others without any real representation or political expression from smaller states like North and South Dakota, New Mexico, Montana and others. In a constitutional way, Wyoming can be every bit as important in electing the candidate for President of any party as New York or California.Radical, progressive Democrats, many of them socialists wish to replace the Electoral College, what they term the “18th century anachronism” with a straight popular vote. They claim that in a true democracy, it is only the majority that counts. But, no democracy functions well or is in fact fair unless the political voice of all is heard. Progressives decry the fact that Democrats achieved a larger popular vote than Republicans in 2016, but the Electoral College saw to the election of the Republican candidate Donald Trump who won the Electoral Vote in the right number of states. That election and its results were exactly what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they established the Electoral College as a fundamental part of our Constitutional political process. The Electoral College works, it is good, it is protective, it is fair, it is democratic and it is right for America and its 50 states. IT SHOULD NOT BE CHANGED!In reality, it would be almost impossible to eliminate the Electoral College. The Constitution requires for any amendment that three quarters, 75% of the states approve the amendment or the elimination of an existing constitutional provision and that would mean that some THIRTY–EIGHT STATES would have to approve such a constitutional change. That would never happen. The smaller states would never vote for such a change for they would then be completely dominated politically by the larger states. The popular vote of United States citizens is contained within the state in which the voter lives and no matter how many voters, a state like California only has so many Electoral Votes which does not allow it to be dominant in the political process. And that is good for democracy and a democratic result. The Founding Fathers were concerned with an unchecked democracy. An aggressive, even militant majority could completely eviscerate the rights of the minorities and control, even dominate the country. The Electoral College would prevent that. It puts a premium on moderation. When candidates, such as a Bernie Sanders with his socialistic – Marxist philosophies presents radical political and economic ideas, 50 states, each one of them, can moderate the political platforms and ideas of radical candidates, or fundamentally change them, or eliminate them. The Electoral College process requires reason, moderation and compromise, characteristics sadly lacking in our political process today. A so called radical idea goes through, what Steve Forbes of Forbes Magazine calls “a marinating process” which is healthy, even critical for the American political process. The values and priorities of every state matter and no candidate with radical propositions can ever prevail. Thank the Electoral College for that.Essentially, a nationwide coalition is essential for any candidate to gain a majority in the Electoral College. Hear the numbers. The House of Representatives of our federal government contains 435 members. The Senate of the United States contains 100 members. That is a total of 535 men and women who exercise incredible power over WE THE PEOPLE. Each state no matter the size has two Senators. Each state then has a certain number of Representatives in the House based on population. That changes every 10 years. But every state has no less than one Representative no matter what. Each state therefore has a minimum of three Electoral Votes and perhaps four or five no matter how small the population. Those five votes really matter because they are five of 535 Electoral College Votes and they can often make the difference. A Bernie Sanders or a Donald Trump cannot ignore WYOMING. Or Montana. The Electoral College Votes of every state are important and can make the ULTIMATE DIFFERENCE.America’s political parties are collections of many diverse interests at the state levels. There are different backgrounds, a wide array of cultures and beliefs. But America politically has always been structured around the:MELTING POT THEORY.That is, that those who come to America seeking citizenship would be assimilated and become true Americans, committed to and united by our Constitution and its Bill of Rights, its fundamental amendments with respect to freedoms no matter the heritage or personal beliefs of the individuals. That process worked for some two centuries. But then came diversity, and multiculturalism and all things politically correct. And, rather than assimilation, TRIBALISM began where America was divided into groups by culture, ethnicity, gender or any other number of special interests. Political parties saw that tribal influence at work. Witnessed the differences, the rancor and the animosity of the candidates of the democratic party for President. They attack each other bitterly. They disagree with each other, most aggressively. They proclaim their differences and the fact that each is the true representative, thinker and political force of the democratic party. The others, the antagonists are simply DEAD WRONG. Each candidate wishes his or her own thinking to dominate the democratic party and to forge its political beliefs and policies. There is no compromise. Eventually, the Democrats will unite behind one candidate because they have no other choice. But you can be certain there will be an angry, aggressive, contentious convention, and that the process of following the dictates and procedures of the Electoral College will be challenged wherever possible. The Democrats, for example, have unbelievable strife within as the heart and soul of the party is battled for. There is an extreme element who wishes the party to stand tall for socialism and even a certain kind of Marxism. That of course is represented by a Bernie Sanders, but others as well at least in terms of policy and priorities. Moderate Democrats are nowhere to be found for now even if they may ultimately prevail. Sanders is a candidate to be reckoned with especially since so many of our voters, including and especially the younger ones, really do not understand socialism – Marxism and cannot begin to comprehend the lethal effect the election of a candidate like Bernie Sanders would have upon the America of some 250 years. The freedoms America has always stood for can be lost in one generation, as President Ronald Reagan reminded us and those freedoms once lost are gone forever, FOREVER! So many voters simply do not understand that. The Democrats, ever LUNGING TO THE LEFT would radically change America never to be the same again.The political parties of today, Republican and Democrat are essentially state and local organizations. Each such state organization has its own priorities and in some ways its very own political procedures. Each state determines what is right for that state regardless of what happens in any of the other 49. That is precisely what the Founding Fathers intended. There are to be sure national political committees but they are essentially fundraising entities. They can attempt to influence state elections and decision making but only to a certain point. States become more independent, confident in their internal political power and determined to be more influential no matter its size. State Representatives are determined to champion its citizens and for its political voice to be heard. And, that is exactly what the ELECTORAL COLLEGE is meant to do.The choice of the President of the United States, and the two candidates who will run for that office is perhaps the most important decision Americans can make. Such a decision is made every four years. The man or woman who occupies the Oval Office of The White House is THE most important and powerful person in the world. The powers vested in the President by the Constitution are incredibly large and vital. In addition, the President issues executive orders which can change American priorities overnight. The President has the incredible power of veto of legislation which can be passed by House and Senate with a majority. But the Presidential veto requires a two thirds majority of both Senate and House to override and pass the legislation, something extremely politically difficult if not impossible. The President appoints cabinet members like the Attorney General. And Ambassadors to foreign countries. And, negotiates treaties with foreign countries subject to approval of the Senate. And much more. It is impossible to imagine the effect on the American way of life and this critical presidential decision making if a radical – progressive candidate like Bernie Sanders became that President. Not only would America be fundamentally altered top to bottom, and probably forever, but so much of the world would change for America is in so many ways a dominate world force. A Sanders or any candidate like him would move America and the world aggressively towards socialism and Marxism. Those freedoms we once had and enjoyed would be lost, and lost forever.Benjamin Franklin, a key Founding Father was asked following the completion of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 what kind of government the Founders had constructed and we had been given. Franklin’s answer and the condition to that answer were critical then and even more so today. He said:“A REPUBLIC, IF YOU CAN KEEP IT!”Now come elections 2020. They are indeed the most critical, the most important, the most fundamental elections America has ever had. Never in our history have there been elections which will wrestle with such fundamental issues, and so much proposed change. The candidates for office, House of Representatives, Senate and President have never been more diverse, different in thinking and political philosophy, individualistic and strong agents for change, and so many either indifferent to our Constitution or fundamentally desiring its overhaul or at least fundamental change. It seems as though traditional America and the REPUBLIC under which we now live rests in the hands of the Republican Party and the reelection of Donald Trump. Every viable candidate the Democrats have put forth champion radical and fundamental change to America and to our beloved and consistent Constitution. If you want a different America, American voter, the Democrats will offer you the candidate to accomplish that. If you believe in the existing America, our way of life, our freedoms, our constitutional protections and rule of law, then it seems you have no choice but to vote republican and for Trump. More than ever, WE THE PEOPLE must be active in the political process. We must understand the issues, the parties and the platforms. We must be proactive in our duties as citizens and work to protect and defend the greatest country in the history of mankind. We the voters, the doers must do that for our children, grandchildren, our families and friends. There is only one America and there never will be another. I for one hope and pray that we keep this America, and make it stronger, and reinforce its values and priorities and stand up to the challenge of Founder Benjamin Franklin and say to him and the world:WE LOVE OUR AMERICAN REPUBLIC AND WE WILL KEEP IT!

Wealth - part 2

Wealth tax legislation would give government, its bureaucrats and agencies (the swamp) the right to invade your privacy. Government would have the right to examine your home, storage facilities, brokerage accounts, bank accounts and anything and everything else you may own to determine if you have:CROSSED THE WEALTH–TAX THRESHOLD.The information you would be required to file would allow the government to access the records of everything you have bought or sold. In short, EVERYTHING YOU OWN. The net result of this kind of democratic produced socialism would in fact, in the words of Steve Forbes of Forbes Magazine:PRODUCE THE ROAD TO SERFDOM!Unfortunately for we the people, Democrats and even some Republicans (RINOS) do not understand the crucial role that PROFIT plays in a vibrant economy. That is an economy with real opportunity, growth possibilities, choices and reasonable risk to riches. Profit for Democrats is essentially evil. Democrats, especially radical socialists like Sanders, think of profit as:GREED.Democrats cannot envision profit as the REWARD for hard work, smart work, creativity, the creation of things different and better for our country and the world at large. Profit is not stored under the mattress of Jeff Bezos. Virtually every dollar is reinvested, grows the economy and opportunity and:CREATES JOBS.The current American employment is vibrant, profitable and opportunity exists everywhere. PROFIT PRODUCES THAT! Profit creates resources. Builds equity. Grows corporations and business entities. Without profit and the ability to make it, the economy not only does not grow but inevitably there come recession and then depression and so much of EVERYTHING is destroyed. That includes the spirit, creativity and positive attitudes about life and lifestyle for so many. A Sanders or Warren Administration would produce higher taxes everywhere. Higher income taxes of course, not just for the wealthy but as far down the economic ladder as the plundering politicians could go. There would of course be higher business taxes, higher taxes on corporate earnings and corporate assets, especially liquid assets. There would be higher payroll taxes. Both employer and employee would pay more. Those higher taxes would include social security payments, now a disaster, retirement and disability and any other way the government could get its money even to the point of double taxation. And of course, estate taxes would increase, the so called death tax and the exemptions now afforded especially to certain individuals now with an estate at or about $5 million and family businesses under similar circumstances would be reduced or eliminated. Where this newfound money would go no one really knows. The Democrats promise so much FREE. Free college, room, board and tuition, FREE. As though it were the right of high school graduates to get some quarter million dollars so that they could learn. And, says Sanders and company, FREE HEALTH CARE. Medicare and Medicaid would be greatly extended (MEDICARE FOR ALL) and the new cost would be astronomical, perhaps more than $2 trillion. And free daycare. And of course, guaranteed huge and ever–growing MINIMUM WAGES no matter the economic effects. The socialist government proposed by the Democrats would give, and give even more of your and my hard–earned money all the while it takes more and more of what we earn and produce. If a Democrat is elected President, and Democrats control the House and Senate of our federal government, America will not only change, but America will never be the same and capitalism, constitutionalism and the rule of law as we now know it will be gone forever. Small wonder the millennials and Gen Z should be concerned about the future, their economic future. It is indeed surprising, even shocking that so many of them seem to think so favorably of socialism, and especially the radical socialists (Marxist) candidate Bernie Sanders. Nothing could be worse for America than a Sanders presidency, NOTHING! Plundering politicians would have free economic reign. Tax rates which once approached 90% of income, NINETY PERCENT would be a real possibility. And a new depression, a new 1929 depression would be an ever present possibility indeed. But back to profit. We the people work with the expectation that we will not only keep our jobs but grow in compensation. That is, make more as we earn more and deserve more. We the people at every level are concerned with growth, with PROFIT. Profit is not only necessary for expansion and growth in existing businesses. But profit must be made in order to replace the capital lost by failed businesses, especially those which are destroyed by new technology (creative destruction). Take for example the wealth once held by legacy newspapers and magazines. Along comes the internet and with its incredible successes, destroyed tens and tens of billions of dollars in such print wealth. The same so called creative destruction occurs in the automobile business where old models are removed and the new produced. Even old legacy manufacturers like Oldsmobile, and Packard, and Mercury fall by the wayside and billions of capital dollars are lost. Those monies must be replaced and the only replacement is:PROFIT.Businesses and individuals must make a profit or the economy withers and dies.Americans expect profit. We the people desire profit. We want the wealth which profit produces, the advancement of our lifestyles which can only be achieved through profit. We the people believe in profit. We can accept as a natural consequence a certain amount of greed, unethical even criminal behavior by some provided that the vast majority of individuals and businesses are in fact ethical, law abiding and making the right economic decisions. We assume that business and the profit it makes will reinvest, make certain their business entities are state of the art, operating with the latest technologies and producing new, different and better products and services that will indeed enhance future living standards. That of course is upward economic mobility and it is nothing but the highest good for the average man and woman, for the working man and woman, for the American man and woman who seeks a better life. ONLY PROFIT CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT.We the people need to think through so very thoroughly who we are and in what we believe. We have always been capitalists. We believe in opportunity. We believe in economic risk and reward. We want to live and work in a vibrant economy. We want economic mobility, the ability to change and move in different directions. We believe in the purist form of economic freedom and we are not socialist at heart much less Marxist. We believe that hard work produces its own rewards, its own PROFIT. We set goals and we work to realize them. We have our own definitions of THE AMERICAN DREAM and we will not give it up and find ourselves under the control of a Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren or any socialistic democratic Presidential candidate like them.But there is some real possibility that one like them will be nominated by the democratic party for President and even some possibility that such a non–American could be elected. With such President, and a democratic controlled House of Representatives and even a possibility of a control of the US Senate, the America we have known for more than 240 years will be gone. I for one do hope and pray that never happens. As a traditional, constitutional, freedom–driven American, I have no choice but to vote Republican and that for me means to work as hard as I can for the reelection of Trump and all candidates who believe as he does in traditional America. November 2020 comes soon, my fellow Americans, very soon. The political process has been at work since early 2019. You should even now know the issues, the candidates, the parties and platforms so that you can make intelligent voting decisions at all levels. There are those bent on changing, fundamentally changing America like Sanders and there are those who would fundamentally destroy everything that America has been and is, like George Soros. I for one do hope and pray that you are different, that you will become involved, that you will do what you can to keep MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. America is more than Donald Trump, or Republican or Democrat. America is a way of life, a vision, a DREAM. It is the land of the brave and the free and we must keep it that way. It is a republic, where democracy reigns and we cannot allow democratic socialists to extinguish our freedoms, water down our constitution and its amendments and change the very fabric of our country. We are a republic only, as Benjamin Franklin warned us, if we can keep it. If we the people understand the issues and preserve and protect those freedoms.Ronald Reagan warned us that freedoms once lost are lost, GONE FOREVER! If we elect a President who is socialist, we elect a plundering politician who will destroy so much. Don’t let it happen, my fellow Americans. DON’T LET IT HAPPEN! We live in the greatest land in all of history. Let us preserve, protect and defend the one of a kind:AMERICA.

Wealth

Are you wealthy?Are you rich?What really is wealth and what really are riches? There are any number of definitions of WEALTH. When we think of wealth and the wealthy, we Americans think of Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and now the richest man in the world, the whole wide world Jeff Bezos he of Amazon, we think of men who are worth billions upon billions of dollars. If we compare ourselves, mere, average working Americans to them, obviously we do not think of ourselves as wealthy. The standard for UBER–WEALTH used to be millions of dollars. Today however, it is billions of dollars. Individuals and corporate entities can easily be worth many billions of dollars and we have come to take that for granted, we Americans.Forbes Magazine has compiled what is called the RICH LIST. That list, believe it or not, lists over 400 individuals who are:BILLIONAIRES.FOUR HUNDRED! Years ago, only men were billionaires. Today, there are any number of women who are themselves billionaires. The American economy and the opportunity it creates has become fully diverse and equity, equal opportunity rules. The so called glass ceiling which limited the opportunities for women hardly exists anymore anywhere for any woman, bright and hardworking can rise the economic ladder and do so rapidly, a good thing. Wealth, well produced is a good thing, a very good thing for the opportunities it creates for all men and women is what makes AMERICA GREAT.But, what really is wealth? The dictionary says wealth is AFFLUENCE. That means that an individual or a corporate entity is loaded with money and much of it excess. It also defines wealth as riches. We the people have a common man and woman definition of riches, often our own way but often unclear and without explicit standards. But perhaps one of the most useful definitions of wealth is:EXCESS BEYOND NEED: LUXURY.EXCESS. That means when all bills are paid for necessities in any given month, anything left over (excess) can be considered wealth. No matter what you make or your household produces, all income produces as such, anything you have left over can be considered wealth whether you do or not. In short, you have capital, money, liquidity beyond need and you can engage in luxury spending or savings as you wish. To that extent, you are wealthy, or at least you have a certain kind of wealth whether you think so or not. The irony is that most people who may only think of Gates, Buffet and Bezos as wealthy have a certain low–level wealth themselves. And that is good. Now comes a better and newer automobile to the family. Or the latest flat screen television set. Or new clothes, or that special vacation, or dining out, or off to the movies. Almost every American family has some luxuries, some excess beyond need and to that extent, that family is:WEALTHY.Many families and individuals buy property. Real estate. Or personal property like stock market investments. Or have certificates of deposit with banks. Or insurance. And they hope for the appreciation and growth of those property assets, those real assets. Any growth produces wealth and more of it. The Trump economy for the last three years has produced considerable wealth for tens of millions of Americans. What wealth you may enjoy cannot be produced nor survive unless it is nurtured and nourished by a healthy, vibrant, growing economy. America and we the people have that now thanks to the Trump economy and the economic decisions Donald J. Trump has made.But now come the democratic PLUNDERING POLITICIANS as Steve Forbes of Forbes Magazine calls them. It is standard fare for democratic politicians to attack wealth and the wealthy. That message, old, seriously abused and hackneyed somehow continues to resonate with many Americans who do not believe they share in the American wealth to the extent they think they should. To attack wealth of any kind seems just. If a Jeff Bezos of Amazon is worth $130 billion as the richest man in the world, that is far too much for any individual no matter how hard the man worked, or smart he is, or even how much benefit he may have produced for so many Americans. Too much is simply too much especially for the plundering politicians and somehow, that wealth must be redistributed, no matter the effect on the economy or the affected individuals. That of course is done by taxation, and the democratic party is the master of taxation and the more the better. So many of these democratic candidates propose new taxes, higher and even higher than that taxes and especially taxes on the rich. They propose serious and seriously harmful WEALTH TAXES in their effort to SOAK THE RICH in the words of Steve Forbes. But a tax on the wealthy, whoever they are, never ends there. The tax man eventually goes after the so called middle class, and seeks to identify wealth wherever he can find it and tax it. If Bill Gates pays a wealth tax, sooner or later the union worker will pay the same tax at the same rate, less money but the same tax. The so called middle class never escapes. Sooner or later, this class of millions upon millions of Americans pays proportionately as much taxes as the so called wealthy. That of course is the aim of socialism and so many of the existing democratic politicians are in fact socialists or have adopted and fully believe in socialist principles. In short, they are really against capitalism and the opportunities it creates. They want to create a highly controlling government, a ruling class which makes all the fundamental economic decisions including and especially taxation, and determine who and what should prosper and the extent thereof. Nothing is more foreign to American capitalism and opportunity, and nothing would do more to utterly destroy:THE AMERICAN DREAM.If the current democratic party is elected and controls, and the legislation they wish is passed, YOU WILL PAY MORE TAXES NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE OR HOW MUCH YOU MAKE. You will. And you will get less for your money, in some cases far less. Money in the hands of government is abused and misused so often. Government is irresponsible, cares nothing about debt (our government owes $120 trillion which it could never repay) and simply goes about its business of:TAX AND SPEND.Budgets are formed every year and governmental spending increases every year. There is always the promise of more offsetting revenue, increase in tax revenues as a result of a growing economy but for some reason, that never happens. In fact, American debt increases every year as it has year after year for years. Our government economically just KICKS THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD and dumps those economic problems on the young and future generations of Americans. The millennials and Gen Z can have no conception whatsoever of the disastrous economic climate in which they will live and work, and we the older generations who have amassed this debt do little or nothing to educate or warn them about these economic dangers sure to come. They will never know or experience the America we have known nor will they have the lifestyle we the older have enjoyed. This economic reckoning will come in the next decade, come for sure. The results will be drastic and revolutionary.So much of wealth in America is in property. Very little is in cash itself. Wealth is invested and reinvested, always active, moving and finding safe places to grow, like property, stocks, corporate investments, general business investments and new ideas, new ideas for business, for products and services which advance the lifestyle of every American. But if you have equity in a home or other property no matter how much you owe, or you own a car, or stocks for example, to the extent you do not have debt you have wealth and that you can be sure, that wealth will be taxed. And, any wealth tax would mean less wealth to tax. Taxing the mere possession and equity of property and securities makes them less valuable. If such a tax is levied, so many people especially the so called middle class would have to sell those assets at least in part to pay for the wealth tax levied on what they own. Wealth would be destroyed not redistributed as the Democrats claim. The wealth tax proposed by Sanders, Warren, Buttigieg and even Biden would slow the economy to a crawl. Ironically, this in turn would cause tax revenues to fall far below expectations. Capital would find lodging overseas, out of America as it has by the billions upon billions of dollars in the last 20 years, safe from the long reach of the IRS. Wealth tax corollaries would produce burdensome rules and regulations which themselves have a seriously negative effect economically and otherwise on our economy. Complying with often unnecessary rules and regulations as imposed costs and burdens the American economy by billions upon billions of dollars which could be far better utilized and invested. Such regulations, often issued by the WASHINGTON SWAMP and the run amuck agencies which often function independent of Congress would seriously affect every person’s ability to do business, cease opportunity and take risks. In short, if Democrats are fully elected, capitalism would give way to socialism. That would be the end of the America we now know and love, THE END.

Valentine's Day - part 2

 The great theologian Paul Tillich said:FOR THOSE WHO LOVE, TIME IS ETERNITY. LOVE IS GOD’S FINGER ON MAN’S SHOULDER. LOVE IS LIKE A RUNNING BROOK THAT SINGS ITS MELODY TO THE NIGHT. TO WAKE AT DAWN WITH A WINGED HEART AND TO GIVE THANKS FOR ANOTHER DAY OF LOVING. LOVE IS A SYMBOL OF ETERNITY. IT WIPES OUT ALL SENSE OF TIME, DESTROYING ALL MEMORY OF A BEGINNING AND ALL FEAR OF AN END.Brilliant and accurate. Paul then tells us that words without love are like sounding brass and tinkling cymbals. Hollow, meaningless, perhaps doing more harm than good. Better by far to LISTEN:THE FIRST BEAUTY OF LOVE IS TO LISTEN. LISTENING, REALLY LISTENING IN A CARING WAY, MAY VERY WELL BE THE HIGHEST ATTRIBUTE OF TRUE LOVE.More brilliant insightful words from theologian Paul Tillich. Real listening really is the highest attribute of true love, real love. We allow the heart of another to crack open, pour out, empty so that there is nothing left but love.Paul then says the act of the will can motivate an individual to give to the poor, to tithe and use money well, or even give your body, to lay down your life for another. But if any or all of that is done without love no matter how good, Paul says without love it means little or nothing.But love indeed is risky. The great writer C.S. Lewis said:TO LOVE AT ALL IS TO BE VULNERABLE. LOVE ANYTHING AND YOUR HEART WILL CERTAINLY BE WRUNG AND POSSIBLY BROKEN.  LOVE BREAKS DOWN ALL BARRIERS, OPENS WIDE THE HEART, EXPOSES TRUE INNOCENCE AND RISKS THE RINGING AND THE BREAKING OF THIS MORE PRIZED POSSESSION. REAL LOVE DEMANDS THIS, CONSTANTLY.Sir Alfred Lord Tennyson said:“Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”Life without love is a life never really lived at all. “If you love until it hurts, really hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love,” said the wonderfully loving Mother Theresa.  The Apostle Paul would fully agree.Love is not jealous, said Paul. It envies no one or nothing. Rather, there is rejoicing when the very best things happen to others. And we in love can help them. The Poet Emily Dickenson said the following:IF I CAN STOP ONE HEART FROM BREAKINGI SHALL NOT LIVE IN VAINIF I CAN EASE ONE LIFE THE ACHINGOR COOL ONE PAINOR HELP ONE FAINTING ROBININTO HIS NEST AGAINI SHALL NOT LIVE IN VAIN!So beautiful, and so true.Love never controls.  Rather, it lets go.  It never holds on and it encourages others to be all they can be. Love is not possessive. If we love, we let those we love be perfectly themselves! We have no fear of hurt because of the actions of others. The more one loves, the less there is of which to be afraid.And love is humble, says Paul. Never boastful or bragging. Love really has no ego.  Love allows us to be about others more than ourselves. Content are we to be immersed in the love of God.That allows us to live modestly, humbly and joyfully.Then, Paul deals with anger and reminds us that love is not easily angered. Not that one never gets angry, for we do. But that anger is slow to occur, slow to wrath. Love allows us to be angry, but only in the extreme. Love allows us to turn the other cheek and move on, pressing on for the high calling. Love more than anything is powerful energy at work, always.So remember, says Paul, that of faith, hope and love, love is the greatest. It is eternal, never-ending:LOVE NEVER FAILSAnd as one poet says:LOVE IS THAT WHICH MAKES THE SKY BLUE, THE SUBSTANCE OF THE SONG OF THE BIRDS IN SUMMER, THE WHISPER OF THE WIND IN THE TREES, THE SILENCE OF THE SNOW AS IT FALLS.  LOVE IS THE VOICE OF GOD CALLING TO US ENDLESSLY AND PASSIONATELY THROUGH ALL HIS MARVELOUS CREATION.Love is everything said the writer Ralph Waldo Emerson, never self-possessed or prudent. LOVE IS ALL ABANDONMENT. Or as the Poet William Wordsworth said:LOVE BETTERS WHAT IS BEST!Does it ever.We the Crawford Broadcasting Company hope for you the best, the greatest, love and especially the love of God. Live in love and share it, my fellow Americans. Open a cracked open heart to it. Feel the miracle, the energy and the power of love.Those who love deeply never grow old. They may die of old age, but they die young at heart said Sir Arthur Pinero. But in death comes the completion of love:KNOWING FACE TO FACEThat ultimate encounter with God the Creator and Jesus Christ:ULTIMATE LOVEWhat a day that will be.Looking back, said one writer, I have this to regret. That too often when I loved, I did not say so. Love uncommunicated is love aborted. It is there but never shared. More time is spent judging people which leaves less time to love them.Don’t be like him. Allow Valentine’s Day and Valentine’s week, the love days to be reminders of what really matters. For in the end, nothing matters but:LOVEFind out how much love your heart can hold!

The Nones - part 2

Pundits ask the question, almost sardonically:WHAT HAPPENED TO FAITH IN AMERICA?Why the rise, they ask of the NONES, the APATHETICS. What happened to Religion? And the church? And tradition, and religious holidays and meanings – WHAT HAPPENED!One reason they offer is that America is following the economic grow taken by Europe centuries ago. The Industrial Revolution in Europe, if not before, brought about the increase in wealth and economic prosperity. Lifestyles increased. Goods were readily available and luxury goods became more prevalent. Basic needs were met and the human population had time, leisure time to ENJOY LIFE. It seemed that the more secular enjoyment the less religious participation. The more pleasure, the less Religion. The more pleasure, the less the NEED for Religion. Money, too much of it corrupted the church in some significant ways. That was not lost on those who eventually became the unaffiliated, the APATHETICS. Religion was used only when it was useful. But it became less and less necessary and it seemed to become more ritual rather than faith based. It began to have less substance, less meaning, becoming what the new NONES now think of as irrelevant or at least not compelling and necessary. Why go to church Sunday when there was a good football game to be had.Other studies have shown that:“The practice of Religion and affiliation was always tenuous!”That is, the lack of value and necessity were never fully expressed by those either apathetic or in part or altogether unaffiliated. It was simply socially convenient to acknowledge continued affiliation no matter how real or vital. Consequently, so called statistics were doctored and consequently failed to disclose the true facts. That of course continues to exist today where hypocrisy reins and so many simply do not state the truth and the whole truth about their religious beliefs or the lack thereof.And yet another reason is that the Christian church has become polarized. Liberals and progressives have left in droves which means that in so many cases only conservatives remain. Protestant denominations continue to splinter and divide, and small groups band together united behind their own theological versions of truth. There is in some cases some very significant division and disagreement within the Catholic Church itself. It seems not fully unified as it once was and of course ridden by the scandal of pedophile Priests. Some of Judaism has become highly secularized and at least some of the religious practice has become obsolete or abandoned. What remains in these once great Religions becomes all the more unappealing and irrelevant to the new NONES and APATHETICS. The secular culture constantly and consistently criticizes and mocks the miraculous. That is especially so with regard to Christian tenets such as the Resurrection, the virgin birth and much more. Much of the Old Testament seems to be regarded in many circles as stories only, old fashioned perhaps even fictional and in today’s modern and secular society, irrelevant. As this polarization continues, theological camps harden, positions become more extreme so that to the moderate or even the searcher, there comes a constant wave of theological put–off and off they go, confirmed in their belief that Religion, the church becomes more irrelevant and meaningless by the day.Listen to these staggering facts. In 1976, mainline Protestants made up 30% of the country. Now they represent:TEN PERCENT.And, predict the pollsters, within a decade, before the year 2030, mainline Protestants will represent FIVE PERCENT of the total American population. Can you believe that?
This polarization which so deeply affects Religion in America perhaps comes at least in part from the American world of politics. We are indeed, America is, one deeply polarized and divided country. There is little or no dialogue but only argumentation, put–down. We do not discuss issues but we pontificate on right and wrong. We care nothing about political compromise even where it is justifiable but only the self-interest of political parties and political philosophies. Politics seems to be a matter of winning or losing and never compromising. And so with the churches. Some matters of course cannot be compromised and never should be. But other issues, theological and otherwise can and should be discussed in order to make certain that truth, all of it occurs for the benefit of all. That seems to happen nowhere in American politics or theology. And especially RELIGION!  One factor is certainly part of the equation. People are spending less time connected to, affiliated with or attending their churches and the services offered. Much less time. In the American past, a congregant would buy and large worship Sunday morning, perhaps even Sunday school before, and perhaps attend a Sunday evening service, attend very special services during the week and perhaps even a prayer meeting or Bible study on a Wednesday night. Now it seems that churches are fortunate in so many cases if worshipers attend even a traditional Sunday morning service.Studies also show that the young who begin their lives without Religion very often do not turn to it. Statistics seem to show that about two thirds of those who grow up in homes without a religious affiliation remain unaffiliated perhaps for the rest of their lives. It is as though if Religion is irrelevant at home, then it is irrelevant for any and all purposes. Therefore, there is another addition to the NONES.And more alarming statistics about RELIGION IN AMERICA. Church leaders say that even in the last decade they’ve seen a startling drop in the involvement and engagement of people in the life of Religion. People, they say and especially their congregations, are spending less time reading the Bible. This once sacred and central book now becomes itself marginalized, and often irrelevant and by no means the repository of absolute and eternal truth. So, say the NONES, why bother to read it?And, people are spending less time even PRAYING. That is, except of course when there is an urgent need which requires the help and intervention of the Almighty, if even then. Prayer itself seems unanswered, itself irrelevant to the Almighty so why bother. There really is for the APATHETIC no reason to pray and no result to be obtained. The concept of divine fellowship is foreign. Prayer seems to be more and more for the weak and the intellectually incapable. So that, there exists yet another hurdle for Religion and the church with regard to any kind of accommodation with the NONES.And the competition for time and attention goes on. The activities available to children and teens in schools and in society generally are staggering. They are fun, entertaining and attractive. The young and even their parents would rather participate in social activities including and especially sports than in any church activities. It seems difficult and dull to sit in a pew for one hour or more when one could be tailgating in preparation for an NFL football game. That places an additional burden upon the church to offer more services and move outside the faith and Religion to get and keep attention. Consequently, what they are and what they offer is watered down and becomes even more irrelevant. But even so, those who have abandoned Religion and the church seem to indicate that they’ve merely stopped following the rituals that make up Religion but have retained their spirituality, whatever that is and whatever that means.But the answer to these problems seems to me to be rather clear. It is not now and never has been about Religion. It is about relationship. Faith is not a matter of ritual but the realization of the reality of the person of Jesus Christ. The answer is not a thing, more and better ritual but the confrontation with the person:THE CARPENTER OF NAZARETHTHE CHRIST OF GLORYThe church today, Religion today continues to move away from that PERSON and more into a program. IT tries to convert when only the Holy Spirit can. It attempts to draw men and women to it when only the power of the living Christ can do that. It attempts to increase the influence of CULTURE while at the same time withdrawing step by step from the CHRIST. Small wonder it is doomed to failure.It is all about the MAN and the MESSAGE. It is about confrontation and conversion. It is NOT about ritual, services, secular involvement with the community but involvement with every person at the deepest possible human and emotional level. The answer for the Christian church, Protestant, Catholic and any and all denominations is simply:JESUS CHRIST.You don’t hear that today. The witness of the real Gospel, the true Gospel becomes less and less. But where it is to be found, it continues to be powerful. Those churches, that RELIGION which emphasizes the love of Christ, the forgiveness of sins, and a pardoned life more abundant are thriving, growing by leaps and bounds because they understand the true nature and purpose of the Gospel and they offer that to all who seek. The power of that Gospel attracts like no other Religion or ritual can. And that, and that alone is THE ANSWER.The NONES, the APATHETICS simply do not hear that message as they should. If I were they, I would have little or no interest in Religion as well. For it seems empty, shallow, riddled with inconsistencies and compromises. There is nothing of power or dynamic, there is nothing life changing, there seems little or nothing worth giving time, effort much less money to. The NONES are winning because Jesus is losing. So, back to basics church if you want to survive. Or perhaps better stated, back to basics if you would intend to fulfill your mission, your purpose and your God–given calling to present the true and unadulterated Gospel of Jesus Christ. Otherwise, down and down she continues to go, this church does, RELIGION does and up and up come the NONES and the APATHETICS and perhaps rightly so. The church may come and go, Religion may come and go but Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of Glory LIVES FOREVER!

Valentine's Day

The greatest of all things is LOVE.The greatest, confirmed by the Apostle Paul of old, and agreed upon by the world’s greatest thinkers, artists and poets is:LOVELove is the best, even says Paul better than faith or hopeThe Bible book 1 Corinthians 13 is Apostle Paul’s finest expressions of love by far, perhaps the finest writings in all of his letters.  But even Paul acknowledges that there is no really complete and definitive definition of love.  But Paul says what real love, ultimate love is, can only occur as a result of a meaningful, experiential, loving relationship with God the Father and the Son Jesus Christ.  The fulfillment of that comes eternally, but here and now, the longer, the deeper the relationship with HIM, the more the meaning of love becomes clear.  That, says Paul, that relational love is ultimate reality.Love is good.  In fact, good is defined by love.  For no mere mortal can do good without love. One may intend, willingly so to live right, perhaps following the Ten Commandments and other great moral precepts. But that mere intention, the act of the will is not enough for it lacks the energy, the conviction, the power of real LOVE, total love.For as one poet has said:GOD SAYS TO US IN LOVE: I HOLD YOU IN MY MIND. I REMEMBER YOU. I HOLD ALL OF THE PIECES OF YOU. THE PAST WOUNDS AND THE PRESENT. AND IN LOVE, I KNIT THEM TOGETHER INTO THE PERSON I LOVE, THE PERSON I CREATED TO GIVE ME JOY:YOUMore. Love says Paul is patient. Love is longsuffering, not easily provoked. Love knows how to wait, fully observe, and listen, perhaps most importantly LISTEN. Love sees and hears the other. As the poet Thomas Merton said:THE BEGINNING OF LOVE IS TO LET THOSE WHO LOVE BE PERFECTLY THEMSELVES, AND NOT TO TWIST THEM TO FIT OUR OWN IMAGE. OTHERWISE, WE LOVE ONLY THE REFLECTION OF OURSELVES WE FIND IN THEM.In a world angry and hateful and growing worse, love is the only antidote, the ONLY!  With his heart wide open, the Apostle Paul says love is KIND.  The life of a lover is lived easy, gentle, avoiding confrontation and struggle wherever possible. Said the writer Sydnie Smith:IF YOU HAD NO ONE TO LOVE, YOU WOULD NEVER BE HURT. BUT YOU WOULD NEVER GROW. YOU WOULD NEVER VENTURE OUTSIDE OF YOUR OWN SELF-CENTERED NEEDS AND PERCEPTIONS. YOUR HEART WOULD NEVER BE CRACKED OPEN SO THAT GOD COULD ENTER IT. TO LOVE AND TO LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY IS TO TAKE RISKS, AND ESPECIALLY THE RISK OF REJECTION.  BUT NOTHING ENERGIZES AND CLEANSES LIKE LOVE, NOTHING!Love, says the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13 allows the lover to dwell on good things. The lover avoids gossip and negative language. Love stays silent in the face of false accusations as Jesus did. The communication of a lover is positive as Rod McKuen said:IF YOU LOVE SOMEBODY, TELL THEM!  THE TELLING UNLEASHES THE ENERGY AND THE POWER OF LOVE.Does it ever.  It seems difficult for so many to say distinctly, clearly and unconditionally:I LOVE YOUFor that is the ultimate exposure, “a heart cracked open.”  But those three words are perhaps the most powerful in the English language.Love then says Paul does not insist on its own rights or its own way. A loving person gets more out of giving, and caring than getting. To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others. So said the writer Francois Mauriac.  Love is a miracle, miraculous in its absolutely powerful and transforming effect. That kind of giving, other-ness is truly the love of God at work which both constrains and motivates.Love says Paul, never keeps a moral balance sheet.  Lovers take no account of the wrongs or evil done by others.  Love forgives and forgets.  It is difficult to forget but Paul says if you live in love, you can forget. That is so even for the most difficult object of love, an ENEMY.  It seems hard to believe that we could love an Islamic terrorist or an angry political opponent or even a hateful family member or friend. We really can’t, but we can do so with the power of a loving God working within us who himself forgave us, forgot what was wrong with us and only in return, asked us to forgive others.The theologian Reinhold Niebuhr said the following:WE ARE SAVED BY THE FINAL FORM OF LOVE, WHICH IS FORGIVENESS.  FORGIVING AND FORGETTING ARE THE HIGHEST ACTS OF LOVE RESULTING IN OUR SALVATION. THERE WAS ONE YEARS AGO DRIVEN TO THE CROSS BY THE LOVE OF MANKIND PROVIDED IN HIS DEATH, THE LIFE AND THE LOVE WE LEAD.  THE CROSS WAS THE FINAL AND FORGIVING FORM OF LOVE.Was it ever. The crucifixion of the Christ on the cross was indeed the ultimate act of love.Love protects and defends.  It guards the hearts and minds of the young.  It trains up children in the way in which they should go.  It shows them the way of the Lord, the path of righteousness.  It helps them to resist the devil who in the face of love will flee and not return.Love is loyal and always at work. The great writer St. Augustine said the following:WHAT DOES LOVE LOOK LIKE?  WHY, IT HAS HANDS TO HELP OTHERS. IT HAS FEET TO HASTEN TO THE POOR AND NEEDY. IT HAS EYES TO SEE MISERY AND WANT. IT HAS EARS TO HEAR THE SIGHS AND SORROWS OF HUMANKIND. THAT IS WHAT LOVE LOOKS LIKE!Amen and amen.And then Paul says:LOVE NEVER FAILSIt endures, never-ending here but more importantly FOR ALL ETERNITY. True love, ultimate love can never be destroyed.  

The Nones

Do you know what a NONE is?No, it is not a female member of a Roman Catholic Order. In fact, just the opposite. A NONE is:AN INDIVIDUAL WITH NO RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION WHATSOEVERNone!  A NONE is someone who is either totally indifferent to anything religious or even antagonistic to it. A NONE is different from an Atheist or an Agnostic, an individual who at least wrestles with Religion, the one denying there is a God and the other claiming not to know. A NONE doesn’t care either way.A Catholic Priest, one Rev. Stephen M. Koeth believes in many ways that modern day NONES are pagans. They have, says Koeth, “no knowledge, no practice, no anything.” He goes on to say that for most if not all of them:“Religion just has no meaning whatsoever.”No meaning. No relevancy. Nothing real about Religion for them or their lives. NOTHING FOR THE NONES.Recent surveys, if you believe them, have shown that for the first time ever in 2019, the NONES are the largest demographic in the United States, representing 23% of the population. TWENTY THREE PERCENT! The NONES, again the largest religious demographic in the United States have overtaken the Catholics and the Evangelicals. In short, there are more NONES in the United States than there are Catholics or Evangelicals. If that is true, doesn’t that shock you? It does me. We the Americans have always assumed that our country is populated with people of faith, of all faiths and that those who were Atheist, Agnostic or no Religion at all were simply the small minority. Well, guess what. THE NONES ARE NOW THE MAJORITY AND THE LARGEST DEMOGRAPHIC WITH REGARD TO RELIGION IN AMERICA! The largest. Unbelievable.The NONES are made up largely of millennials and especially the so called GEN Z young Americans. Apparently, they have seen the underbelly of RELIGION and they want no part of it. They see no reason whatsoever to bother with Religion. That led one writer to call them:THE APATHETICS.The apathetic does not attend church services. They ascribe to and believe in NO creed, doctrine or statement of faith and they have virtually no familiarity with the FAITH WORLD. Even more startling, perhaps even scary is the fact that their numbers seem to be growing by millions every year. Small wonder that the church is in disrepair, especially old–line Protestant denominations. Attendance and perhaps even commitment to the Catholic church is also on the decline while other forms of belief seem to be stagnant in terms of growth.THEY ARE TERRIFYING. Those the words of Ryan Burge, a political scientist at Eastern Illinois University (EIU) and a Baptist Pastor. Burge says of the NONES:“They have very low levels of income; low levels of education and they have sort of checked out from modern society. THEY ARE SCARY! They are the people who are isolated.”Religion and church worship have been such a vital and integral part of all that is America now for almost 250 years, more or less. But such history and tradition means little or nothing to the NONES, the APATHETICS where there is nothing about Religion which is of any interest to them. The church, formal worship, religious tradition and standard need and commitment are all severely challenged as far as they are concerned. The NONES want no part of any of it.Part of the reason is the intrusion of CULTURE. The American cultural scene has moved more liberal and progressive, far less conservative and of course with that far less religious and in fact, in many ways, the culture attacks Christianity especially encouraging all to abandon Religion directly or indirectly and live life in every way without it. In Hollywood, Christianity is often portrayed somewhere between a comedy and a disease (so said one pundit). Nothing is sacred, the person responsible for Christianity is mocked, even blasphemed and the name taken in vein with impunity. It is as though there is something wrong with any person who adopts and practices any religious faith, especially Christianity no matter the benefits. Perhaps that is partially because Christianity is so far flung, with so many different sub–faiths and therefore without any religious corporate muscle to fight back, resist and challenge any such cultural attacks. Roman Catholics, more church corporate and with larger clout as a result and perhaps Jews and Judaism fare better if and when the Hollywood culture comes after them. The NONES, the APATHETICS are well aware of this clash and constant attack and it simply fortifies their belief that Religion is irrelevant and meaningless. It is a day of change, perhaps even a fundamental religious revolution in America. The NONES are now the MAJORITY with all of the implications thereof for politics, policy, culture and especially RELIGION. Laws are changing. The Constitution is reinterpreted. Fundamental freedoms are in danger of being lost. All the more reasons for the NONES, the APATHETICS to withdraw, to become isolated from the fundamental democratic processes which govern our country. They are isolated. They simply don’t care in so many ways, care about really anything of value.The Catholic Priest, the Reverend Koeth said the following, a profound even scary statement:“Religion isn’t even in the cultural air and water that used to be breathed and drank by everyone.”There are obvious signs of that everywhere. For centuries, the Bible was the one cultural continuum. But now, the culture is so fragmented and visual media and the internet are far more likely to be the sources of knowledge and shared information. So that, this new cultural and religious phenomenon in America not only affects the Religion which was once the foundation of this country, but also the very fundamental structure of western culture itself. Shakespeare, like the Bible means little or nothing to the APATHETICS. American history is disrespected or ignored, or radically changed and rewritten. The NONES could care less. It seems as though all they wish is to be left alone. They refuse to be part of the typical GROW–UP cycle upon which America and the church counted.For decades, churches counted on a cycle. Young people would be raised in a family which respected the church and western culture. The teens would go to college, then get married, have children and adopt the activities and practices of the church, western culture, political traditions and moral values. THAT IS NOT HAPPENING ANYMORE. In the words of one religious observer:“Now they drift away and don’t come back.”It is just incredible the growth rate of the NONES. In 2010, the APATHETICS accounted for some 18% of the population. By 2012 they were 20% and most startling, this now majority American demographic has grown by ONE PERCENT each year ever since! Religion, however you define that, seems to be in deep trouble, and the church with it. More importantly, the church, RELIGION, seems to have no real answer:NONE FOR THE NONES!The Pew Research Center for Religion and Public Life however provides some interesting counter–facts. Those proclaiming to be unaffiliated with a Religion are actually shrinking as a share of THE WORLDWIDE POPULATION. That is so worldwide but not in America. The exact sources of those newly found religious affiliations are not fully identified, but such religious activity seems to indicate that there is a hunger on the part of millions in the worldwide population for a religious affiliation. Perhaps that is because worldwide there are not the options which we have in America. There are so many ways to be entertained, to be temporarily fulfilled, to have needs met day to day without regard for the long term. Entertainment exists everywhere. Social welfare is always available, from food stamps, to shelters, to kindly acts by neighbors so that basic needs can be met. And then there are drugs, and alcohol ever on the rise and readily available almost everywhere to anyone. Even the church and religious entities shunned and ignored by the NONES offer help and assistance where necessary. It seems rather easy to live and live reasonably well in America no matter your feelings about Religion. And the NONES do just that. They live as they please, responding to the pressure of none. They often are politically indifferent as well, many not voting at all and others simply voting for someone they may like. They are politically uneducated for the most part, do not know or understand the large issues of the day especially economic and for them, all such are largely irrelevant just like Religion. Small wonder that some religious demographic analysts regard the NONES, the APATHETICS as:SCARY.Scary for America and its future. If it rests in the hands of this new majority, America is indeed in deep trouble.Christianity worldwide will hold stable at or about 32%, one out of three of the world’s population. That is the prediction of the Pew Foundation as it looks at trends for the next 30 years through and including 2050. Hindus, they say, will maintain their numbers and Buddhists and Folk Religions however defined will decline slightly. And worldwide, the NONES should represent about one out of seven even as these APATHETICS grow at a much more accelerated pace in America.But the big growth globally is with regard to the:  MUSLIMS.  One of the most strict and demanding Religions, the Muslim population will rise, so Pew predicts, from approximately 23% to 29%, almost matching the number of Christians in the world. So that, in time, the world population will be comprised of one out of three of the Muslim faith, and one out of three of the Christian faith. Then, or even before, the Muslims will have incredible power politically and religiously the world over, and even in our very own America. The practice of the Muslim Religion and the implementation of Sharia Law may well become some kind of reality not only in America, but the world over. If and when that happens, the world will be a totally different place, TOTALLY!

Martin Luther King, Race, and More

It was the shot heard round the world.Martin Luther King, Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated on April 4 in 1968 by James Earl Ray, a crazed racist. Dr. King had begun to emerge as the face, and more importantly the voice for America and even the world over for racial equality. King was an eloquent spokesman, learned academically, Christian in belief and determined to make a difference. He would never know the difference he would make.The assassin’s bullet, deadly and accurate, was the beginning in many ways of a new awareness of racial inequalities primarily black and white, but really more than that. It was perhaps the beginning of a new consciousness, a new awareness of differences, diversity where all right-thinking men and women, of good faith, colorblind and Constitutional would begin to learn a new respect for each other and learn how to build different and better relationships. They would learn that the color of one’s skin mattered not, but only the content of one’s character, as Dr. Martin Luther King so eloquently said.The King assassination triggered a new Constitutional awareness of equality. All men and women says this precious document and of course words framed in our Declaration of Independence, are created equal, and each, EACH ONE has the Constitutionally guaranteed right to:LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESSWe the American people have heard those words over and again, perhaps too many times for them to be the living, life-guiding words they were meant to be. Equality between black and white existed on paper only. That was the problem. Frederick Douglass, the former slave in America eloquently stated the real problem:“THERE IS NO NEGRO PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS WHETHER OR NOT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE LOYALTY ENOUGH, HONOR ENOUGH, PATRIOTISM ENOUGH, TO LIVE UP TO THEIR OWN CONSTITUTION.”What we the American people had lost or perhaps never had was a loyalty, a faithfulness to our very own Constitution and Declaration of Independence. We had forsaken Constitutional commands and gone our own way, accepting slavery, injustice and inequality. We had lost our honor, our dignity as human beings and we saw too many people of color as UNEQUAL.We had lost our desire to LIVE UP to our very own Constitution and that disloyalty, dishonor, lack of patriotism and courage to live up to our Constitution was the real problem, the real cause of:RACISMIn fact, we the people had become unspiritual. We had failed to recognize that equality was divinely inspired, required and built as a fundamental precept into our Constitutional rights. The right of equality, and the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness was divine, inalienable, unconditional and it was un-American, un-Christian not to understand and LIVE UP to that great command. We had lost our way. Martin Luther King attempted to point us back, encouraged us to GET BACK to our roots, the fundamentals of America and begin anew to:LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELFWe made progress as a people. We abolished slavery. We began to learn how to live together, work together, forge bonds with one another although the progress was slow, and often painful. So slow, in fact, that it birthed the message of Martin Luther King in 1968. We listened to this eloquent champion of civil rights, equality and we respected not only his oratory, but the core and substance of his message. And, more progress was made even after his assassination. His ways were peaceful but many arose who chose violence as the answer, antidote to anger. We saw the rise of the Black Panthers and other aggressive, militant entities determined to get even and not necessarily get equality. But there were, in the day of Martin Luther King calm, still voices working, hoping, enduring and believing, like the NAACP and perhaps like the church itself. Martin Luther King was pastor, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King. Churches, black and white adopted his message and proclaimed the Constitutional truth of equality. We listened, inched forward, painful progress but real, nonetheless. Churches became mixed, neither black nor white but for all persons regardless of color. Men and women, previously distant, became one in the love of Jesus Christ. That love grew relationships and destroyed the barriers of misunderstanding. It was the dawn of a new day where race relations were BORN AGAIN.Something better was on the way.Jesse Jackson, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, a disciple of Martin Luther King, took over. He soon, however, many thought, lost the King vision of peaceful resistance and progress stalled. Suspicion and untrust ruled when there should have been new understandings. Other leaders, black and white did perhaps some good but it seemed as though the fundamental, underlying animosities continued to exist. It took action by individuals, by right-thinking private entities, by men and women one-on-one to begin to forge new relationships, new understandings, constantly chipping away at racism. It seemed a never-ending battle. Whether cultural, economic or educational, the great divide was always there. It undoubtedly exists today.Many Americans feel that the leadership of the last decade, BLACK AND WHITE, did not do enough to heal, create new understandings. Economic disparities continue to exist. Black youth for example, especially males found real employment almost impossible. Education, whether public or private seemed in many ways to forsake its real responsibilities. Cultures divided and segregated. And the leaders of the past decade, whether political, educational, spiritual or economic failed to further breakdown the great racial divide. It seems as though we continue to live in a day and age tense, separated if not segregated, with lingering suspicions and untrust. We seemingly have not learned that mankind is not about:THE COLOR OF SKINButTHE CONTENT OF ONE’S CHARACTERAll races and ethnicities unfortunately have prejudice. That prejudice can be expressed against other races and even in some cases, among and within one’s very own race. We can in our very own country see misunderstandings between Irish and Italian, North and South, educated and uneducated. Prejudice is everywhere, EVERYWHERE and it is hard to distinguish between:PREJUDICE AND PREFERENCEWe seem to be more concerned with diversity, differences in people rather than to foster the one common bond we should all have:WE ARE ALL AMERICANSFirst and foremost: AMERICANS.We should be a people caught up in our Constitution, concerned with its preservation, living out as Frederick Douglass has so well said our Constitutional beliefs, chief of which is that:ALL MEN AND WOMEN ARE CREATED EQUAL!And religious prejudice goes on. Misunderstandings abound between Christian and Jew. Islam considers all others INFIDELS. Roman Catholics continue deep divides with Protestants. Denominations hunker down but independent churches and religious practice grow. There seems further splintering, divide, even isolation. We seem to grow farther apart from unity, oneness and true Americanism. There is still a long racial road to travel. For in more than one-half century since Martin Luther King, racial understanding and equality still has a long road to travel.Racial prejudice, even hatred, exists among all races. Many African Americans are prejudiced against whites. Racism can be a two-way street. It is wrong either way. Hear the words of a right-thinking African American woman living in the great State of Florida Ilene Yocum who spoke out courageously regarding the tragedy in Ferguson, Missouri and the killing of Michael Brown. Ms. Yocum said the following:“I AM EMBARRASSED BY THE SO-CALLED BLACK LEADERS INCLUDING OUR PRESIDENT FOR NOT TAKING THE HIGH ROAD ON THIS. INSTEAD, THEY PAMPER THE RIOTERS AND IGNORE THE RIGHTS OF THE OFFICER TO PROTECT HIMSELF. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT HAD THIS BEEN A BLACK POLICE OFFICER NONE OF THIS (THE MICHAEL BROWN SHOOTING) WOULD BE HAPPENING. OUR COUNTRY HAS COME A LONG WAY IN RACE RELATIONS BUT BY STOKING THE FIRE, WHO ARE THE REAL RACISTS? YES, RACISM OCCURS IN ALL RACES.”And indeed it does, Ms. Yocum, indeed it does. How interesting that this very right-thinking black lady and mother saw racism in the acts and the heart of even President Barack Hussein Obama himself. If racism does in fact exist at that level, how difficult it is for we the people to unite in love and peace.Ms. Yocum further believes that much of the problem of racism has to do with parents, and in fact the lack of parental teaching. She eloquently says:“AS PARENTS WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN RIGHT FROM WRONG. IN ORDER TO RECEIVE RESPECT, RESPECT MUST BE GIVEN, NOT ONLY TO OTHERS BUT TO ONESELF AND ESPECIALLY TO OUR LAWS AND AUTHORITY.”Courageous and convicting words, and as right as they can be. If parents do not teach, then the law means nothing. Riots, violence, chaos and disrespect reign and there is little hope for racial understanding, racial equality. Perhaps Ilene Yocum is a disciple of Martin Luther King, a 21st century voice for the real message in which he believed. We need more women like her.And finally, wonderful words for all Americans from Ilene Yocum:“WE ARE ALL AMERICANS AND MEMBERS OF THE HUMAN RACE. WE SHOULD BE PROUD TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO WORK FOR THEM, AND OUR FREEDOMS ARE PROTECTED BY OUR LAWS AND THOSE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO CHOOSE TO SERVE.”Brilliant, right on, special words of wisdom.We are or should be all of us Americans and Americans first even as we are members of the human race.Rather than dishonor or complain, we should all be proud to live in this great country. We should recognize that there are abundant opportunities no matter the economy available for all, all men and women regardless of the color of skin who want to work, really want to work, so well said, Ms. Yocum.And, we should be proud of and honor those brave men and women who choose to serve and protect us according to the laws of this great country. If we did that, all of that as Ms. Yocum so eloquently stated, racism would end in short order. We would live out the dream of Martin Luther King and of all men and women of goodwill who really want peace and love between the races. The end of racism can not come from political leaders, or educators, or from the world of economics. It can only come from men and women of goodwill, inspired by faith, truly believing in and living in the ways of the God who created these inalienable rights, reaching out, communicating, understanding and learning how to appreciate the different skin colors God created.A babe was born in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. The angels who announced his birth asked us to glorify God and to proclaim the Godly message from this birth to all mankind:PEACE ON EARTH AND GOODWILL TO ALL MEN AND WOMEN!If men and women really want peace, and the end of racial hatred and prejudice, take a fresh look at the Babe of Bethlehem. HE can show you the way to:LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF!Regardless of race or color.

Woke

Do you know what WOKE means?I thought it meant a state of being after a good night sleep. But this new four letter word WOKE is now the new buzz word of the progressive, liberal Protestant, even evangelical theologians who wish to put a new take and interpretation on the 2000 year writings of the Apostle Paul. This great Apostle, confronted by the Christ on the Damascus Road and converted perhaps like no other seemed to have made it clear to all who wish the salvation experience, in his very special epistle to the Ephesians the following:FOR BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH, AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD, NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN (OR WOMAN) SHOULD BOAST. Seems rather clear, does it not that salvation in the real Christian sense comes as a result of the grace of God, through the faith of the one accepting the saving grace, and not as a result of anything that man or woman does but only, salvation is, as the result of the GIFT of God and Paul then makes it very clear that salvation is:                   NOT OF WORKS.So that, good works like prayers, sacraments, pilgrimages, rituals, sabbath observances, food laws and even circumcision may be good but they are irrelevant to salvation. They are good deeds and worthy from a religious standpoint, but they contribute nothing to the attainment of salvation. All such good works are the proper response, the natural spiritual reaction to that gift of God, the saving grace bestowed upon the accepting individual. That seems quite clear to me, does it not to you?But beginning in the late 1970s and early 1980s, a small group of Protestant biblical scholars have indicated that such an interpretation of the writings of Paul is wrong and they began to develop what they called:                THE NEW PERSPECTIVE ON PAULSuch liberal and progressive thinkers were led by men like D.G. Dunn, E.P. Sanders and N.T. Wright. They were the ones who championed the new definitions for salvation, and for the seemingly dichotomy between grace and works. They essentially argued, these scholars, that Paul was trying to show how Jesus Christ broke down CULTURAL BARRIERS especially between Jew and gentile and that inclusion in the new church was a salvation message for ALL and that the doing of good works, as was typical in early Judaism was not necessary to salvation. In short, THE NEW PERSPECTIVE interpretation seeks to make Paul’s message of oneness and inclusion the whole Christian Gospel, equal components of grace and works. The so called sinner is justified (salvation) simply by being included in the new church. This new theological perspective began to gain rapid acceptance among a significant number of divinity faculty and seminarians in the 1990s and the early 2000s.But then came the inevitable push back. Those who deeply believed in the traditional Protestant definition of salvation (grace – faith – gift – not works) began to champion once again the clear theology of Paul with regard to salvation:NOT OF WORKS,so that no man or woman could boast or brag. They resisted the tendencies of young Protestant Ministers who would rather preach inclusion and breaking barriers than dare to challenge the individual with the concept of sin. It was pointless, they pointed out, to try to erase sin by a regimen of good works. In fact, Paul said elsewhere that all of our righteousness, all of our good works is as:                   FILTHY RAGSin the sight of God. All such good works, they pointed out with strong scriptural backup, were the fruits of the spirit, the natural reactions of a spirit – born man or a woman who wished to work out the wonderful salvation by grace and gift by giving back, by doing. All such good works were the result of salvation and not as a means of attaining it.And the battle goes on. Even as culture, politics and society at large turn more permissive, materialistic, nontraditional and radical and progressive, so the same thinking occurs in the church, Protestant and Catholic. The times demand change, and often radical change not only in political thinking, but religious as well. The Apostle Paul warned over and again about those who would pervert the Gospel, preach it their way and by their interpretation, leading many astray. You could say that Paul was warning against this new progressive, social justice known as WOKEISM, continually reminding us that there is no other way, none whatsoever for salvation other than by grace and by the gift of God through Jesus Christ.Listen to those words and Ephesians again my fellow Christians:FOR BY GRACE ARE YOU SAVED THROUGH FAITHAND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVESIT IS THE GIFT OF GODNOT OF WORKSLEST ANY MAN OR WOMAN SHOULD BOASTThe larger concept is the grace of God at work, the unmerited, undeserving favor of God. Salvation, should you choose to claim it, comes to you through faith and faith alone, NOT WORKS. Salvation is a GIFT of God, free, unmerited, unworked for. And therefore, clearly as Paul states, nothing about salvation is of works. It is:                   NOT OF WORKSso that you cannot boast or brag or claim any part in your salvation. That seems absolutely clear to me, does it not to you? So, therefore I urge you to retain the traditional definition and understanding of salvation and claim this incredible gift of God in Jesus Christ through faith and faith alone. And then, let the natural fruits of that salvation, the new passion, desire and energy to serve THE LORD take over and motivate your life to do the good works which flow naturally from that salvation.Hear the words of one of the great preachers of our day, one who believes deeply in the words and theology of the Apostle Paul, ALISTAIR BEGG who said the following:Our world is full of “good people who do their best who believe they will be rewarded in eternity for their good works in our world.”Not so says Alistair Begg and here his answer to that:THE REALITY IS SALVATION BY GRACE ALONE, THROUGH FAITH ALONE, IN CHRIST ALONE!Amen.It is our prayer that you may experience this overwhelming grace of God which offers you salvation through Jesus Christ attained by faith and by faith alone, knowing that there is nothing you can do to attain it, this precious gift in Jesus Christ and that salvation is not achieved by any works you may do, none at all. This eternal gift is there for the taking. Take it in faith and claim that gift, the most important thing you can do in this life.

The Great Year 2020

We made it my fellow Americas.We made it alive and living in the greatest country ever in the history of mankind as we begin the third decade of the 21st century. God is good even though humankind is another story.No year in the world at large and in our great country has ever been more challenging, would you not agree? Or more divisive. America has seen anger and angst more so every day. We the people are divided down the middle politically, culturally and spiritually and:NE’ER THE TWAIN SHALL MEET!So it seems.But we had opportunities perhaps as never before. Technology exploded. New media, like social media dominated and the FACEBOOK of a young Harvard student became perhaps the most dynamic communication vehicle of all time. We saw the impeachment of President Donald Trump by a rabid, radical democratic party (House of Representatives) with the circus of a trial yet to come. History was rewritten in so many ways and education changed dramatically. Traditional America was excised at every opportunity.But through it all, so many of us heard the clarion words:MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.That process began elections 2016 and still continues today. The House, Democratic and the Senate, Republican did virtually nothing, other than bicker, argue and seemingly do anything to get and keep power. America politically is a laughing stock worldwide.We fought with North Korea. They do have the missile capability of destroying America but we get nowhere with negotiations. And China, ever more militaristic stands against us in every way. President Trump finally stood up to them and made the demands which should have been made years ago with regard to fair trade, tariffs and taxes. A price had to be paid but if not now, when? China may be the most troubling political force in the entire world.And the great Black Bear woke from a long winters nap and once again became a dominant military and political force in the world. Russia allied with Iran, and is now a force to be reckoned with in the Middle East even as it waits for the right time to become dominant in the Syrian conflict. In some ways, either Russia or China is supplanting America as the worlds most dominant force.And socialism was on the rise as never before. It becomes increasingly dominant in European politics. It raises its ugly head even in our beloved America, threatens our traditions and has captured the political and cultural hearts of the democratic party. We have seen the rise of politicians like Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and even a less radical socialist like Joe Biden thirstily compete to become the democratic candidate of choice and then the ultimate step, our very own President. We are told that if democrats capture White House and Senate, America will never be the same again. Elections 2020 bring choices for WE THE PEOPLE like never before.And we have seen one assault after another on our beloved Constitution. And that is especially so with regard to our First Amendment. Radical organizations, like the ones funded by the billions of men like George Soros attacked freedom of speech. The constitutional ramrod was the mantra HATE SPEECH, and the attacks for the use of hate speech were directed primarily against Judeo – Christian organizations which stood for marriage between a man and a woman and biological gender rather than gender by choice. For Christian organizations to ask a man or woman to wrestle with the concept of sin was hate speech at its highest and so many attempts were made to muzzle Pastors and shut down the pulpit. Those assaults continue unabated and will so no matter the elections.Our once objective press became blatantly biased, prejudiced to the core. Publications, television and cable and so much of our news content took one side or the other. The New York Times battled The Wall Street Journal and The WashingtonPost did the same verbal battles with The Washington Times. We the people so often turn to alternative media for any objective news, including and especially our beloved radio. Thank you for listening to radio and particularly to the radio stations of the Crawford Broadcasting Company. We are grateful to you for that even as we go forward with our difficult but inspirational mission to serve:GOD AND COUNTRYWe saw the further weakening of Christianity, especially conservative Christianity. The Gospel and its basic concepts were watered down and we battled with those who would delegitimize Israel and the Jews as God’s favored nation and people. We saw the incredible rise of anti–Semitism once again, the slaughter of Jews hardly seen since the Holocaust and much more to come. We are called upon as never before to bless Israel and the Jews as we are instructed in the Book of Genesis. These for them are most dangerous of times.And we saw the emergence of a thing called:WOKEEssentially a lethal mixture of works and grace as a new formula for salvation, with even an emphasis upon works. This new form of heresy even blasphemy seems to be gaining traction, anything to water down, compromise or directly attack the precious Gospel of real Christians. The attack on Christianity comes not only from outside, from political forces, but inside the church from compromising forces. Anti–Semitism and anti–Christianity will be forces to contend with like never before in the great year 2020. Are you ready for these battles?So, count on the following 2020 my fellow Americans:DIVISIONDANGEROUS DIVERSITYDISSENTION EVERYWHEREDISAPPOINTMENT AND DISAGREEMENTDIVIDING DIFFERENCESMore and more. It now becomes more critical than ever that we take on, with passion and energy, new and demanding:CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIESWe must do for America and we must make the time to do so for our beloved country with priority. We the people of faith must engage the secular culture. We must stand up for religious rights and freedoms. We must invest like never before with:TIMETALENTMONEYWe must give back to America for all it has given to us. Every single person of faith no matter gender, education, station in life or occupation can give something meaningful to the political process. If we wish to keep America as it is and continue to make it great again, we must step up, stand up, and do everything possible to preserve, protect and defend what we may have learned to so take for granted even after 244 years of freedoms. Otherwise, we the people, your friends and family and mine may well live in a different America beginning 2021.Younger generations have little regard for politics. They hardly understand the constitutional process, even voting. The great political and economic issues of the day seem either irrelevant or not understandable. America is as good as its children, its future generations and the passionate concerns for our way of life, our freedoms and our future seem secondary, often irrelevant. It is our duty as caring citizens to educate the young so that they can make informed, intelligent and well–educated choices. Elections otherwise are a mere exercise in likability without any real substantive choice–making. So, no matter who you are, or what you do, or where you live, you can do:SOMETHING.Think about your talents. Think about where your heart takes you. Think about the issues of the day and what may be the most pressing of concern to you. Follow that leading, identify with others with the same interests and passions, join organizations which can help you understand the issues and help you do your share to keep America great. There is no such thing as an average American citizen but only Americans who care and those who don’t. God made you:YOU.Be all that you can be as God would have you be and that includes, now especially includes doing your civic duties as an American. DO THEM!Be wary of the media, all of them. Learn how to recognize bias and shun prejudice at every turn. Media by and large are public relations machines for political and cultural points of view, most either deeply and radically liberal or passionately conservative. In this era of post–truth, do your best to discern facts. The liberal has one set of facts and the conservative another. Search for the truth without either bias.And beware of academia. More than 90% of educators and administrators are liberal – radical, socialistic or even communistic. So many are anti–American and anti–capitalism. Beware, and make certain you support or send to those educational entities which stand for religious freedoms, freedom of speech, constitutional America and all things which truly make America great.And beware of Hollywood, corrupt to the core in so many ways. There are thankfully on the rise new Christian media, movies, shows and otherwise family friendly. Support them.And beware of the deep state, an ever present and looming serious danger to America, so well identified by President Trump as he and his administration to this day continue to have as a political objective:DRAIN THAT SWAMPSo we now encounter the once great democratic party which has become deeply socialistic and at the fringe, perhaps even communistic. The party has been radicalized by radicals, often extremely wealthy and billionaire radicals like Soros. They are determined to take over, even destroy traditional America. You should carefully consider what Democrats and the democratic party stand for when you vote in the great elections November 2020. America, our beloved America is at stake now more than ever.Watch what happens with the Supreme Court and their decision making this term (June). They will decide certain cases which will perhaps forever define basic freedoms and constitutional rights. Nine men and women, Supreme Court Justices will determine how 330 million WE THE PEOPLE will live and what our priorities will be. That is a frightening thought in one way, but perhaps comforting that there may be rational, careful, thoughtful thinking with regard to these issues and the right decisions beyond anger and dissention made. Pray to that end.And may there be an end or at least a greater awareness and protection against terrorism. It is a serious problem worldwide and becoming ever more so in America. Watch for it, even the potentiality of it and stand up against it.And let us first be thankful for all of God’s blessings 2019. No matter the dangers and difficulties, there were blessings and they abound. Remember and live by the spiritual admonition:IN ALL THINGS GIVE THANKSAll things.And pray, pray 2020 as never before. God waits and God listens to you. God will hear your prayer and will answer according to HIS will. You may not get what you ask for but you will get his will in return. Be grateful for that. PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.American culture is nothing but hectic, demanding, intruding. Get away, get out as they say:UNDER THE TREESpend quiet time, spiritual quiet time and:WAIT ON THE LORDHis love he will unfold. Be patient, humble of self. But be ready to:FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITHThe fight is on like never before whether spiritually or politically. Do your part as God directs.Witness by word or deed in all that you do, and especially with family and friends. And no matter how dark the times, live a joyful life, yours to claim as a Christian, remembering:I AM COME THAT YOUR JOY MIGHT BE FULLRevel in that joy and in HIS love. Be a strong person of faith, real faith without compromise. Maintain your hope for things unseen but real. But above all, remember that which abides when all else fails:LOVE.May you know in the great year 2020 that:GOD LOVES YOU.Love him back with all your heart. Then you will be fully ready, fully equipped to meet the challenges and opportunities, great as they will be in perhaps the greatest year ever:2020.We the Crawford Broadcasting Company, all of us wish you our beloved listeners a very joyful, happy and prosperous New Year and may you be well and healthy so that you can live and serve better than ever.And one more reminder. Do everything you possibly can to:MAKE AND KEEP AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!