Today, I will not be posting my regular style of posts, but will offer a couple of poems that I wrote reflecting on Thanksgiving! I hope this day is a great day for you!
Thanksgiving Misnomers
Thanksgiving 2025
I am more thankful than ever before.
Do I have the answer to all the questions about which I am concerned?
No, but I trust in the Promises of God, which I have learned.
Is there darkness in the world today?
Yes, possibly more than any other day.
Sometimes, Thanksgiving misnomers, I hear.
Each time, it brings to my eyes a tear.
The incompatibility is off the chart.
Thankfulness, Worry, and Fear cannot live in the same heart.
When human reason takes the stage,
War against truth begins to rage.
Fretful but Thankful, Worried but Thankful
It is like saying the tub is empty but full.
Fretfulness is not Trust; it is fear.
Worry pushes Faith to the rear.
Trust is to completely rely.
It gives reason to hope that does human reason defy.
I have troubles and face battles like everyone else. Some of my life struggles have been overwhelming and difficult, and others, looking back, have been minor skirmishes. My complaints in those, in retrospect, make me ashamed and have nudged me toward the altar of repentance. I am sure that makes me like most everyone else. We all tend to think we are unique, and in truth, we are, but we are also quite similar.
My life has been blessed in more ways than I can enumerate and possibly even know. But the things I do know humble me, and my awe of God grows exponentially with every reflection on His Love, Care, Keeping, and Blessings. Thank You, LORD, for Your incredible Love and Longsuffering. Your Love Continues to Amaze Me!
During the first two years of my life, I was a very sickly child. The doctors gave my parents little encouragement that I would survive but could not truly diagnose my illness or illnesses. They were perplexed, and I can only imagine the heavy weight on my mother and father’s hearts. I have stood beside parents with infants and toddlers who were deathly ill, and some of them did not survive. I have seen their pain, and as much as I could as I stood with them, so I can only imagine the pain of my own parents.
My earthly father’s love and insight saved my life. Through a series of events, it was determined that the atmosphere (air) in Pasadena, Texas, in the late 40s was killing me, and he quit the best job he ever had and moved us to East Texas, where I got well, breathing the country air. I became, and am still, very much a “Country Boy,” and a very grateful man for parents like the ones I had.
I was deployed to Vietnam in 1967. I arrived at the mouth of the Saigon River, en route to Saigon, the ship I was on was ordered to go upriver to deliver some cargo. As we waited our turn, I was standing above the Pilot House, next to the Captain and other personnel, and an amazing thing happened. I heard a voice, probably not audible, but so with such clarity, I could not misunderstand what was said. That voice said, “You are about to die.”
I tried to dismiss it as jitters about being in Vietnam, but I knew it was more than that. Those around me did not hear the voice but observed the change in my countenance. I turned ashen from my internal trauma. The Executive Officer questioned me as to what was wrong. I could not and would not tell him what had just happened. I knew the voice was real and that death was near.
Something amazing happened in just a few minutes after that moment. The orders changed, and rather than going upriver to Saigon, the ship and my unit were ordered to Da Nang, and our billet slot was given to another ship. As we sailed toward Da Nang, one of the Radiomen came to me and said, “You will never guess what just happened.” The ship that took our place had been hit by enemy fire, and everyone in the place where I was standing was killed. Death was incredibly near me, and I knew that the voice I heard was authentic. Later, I realized that God’s providence and my mother’s prayers had turned the tide that day, sparing me.
I have been faced with death too many times to count and have had a sense of destiny all my life. God has chosen to spare my life and has blessed me with the most amazing life anyone could hope for. My family is incredible and has brought more joy to my heart than I could have dreamed possible.
I lost my wife Bonnie in 2021 to a horrific disease that took her life. She suffered from Stage Four Metastatic Breast Cancer, and it became Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis. God has been gracious and given me another wife, Kathy, to share these coming days with. She is an incredible woman who is just what I need. Together we face the future with confidence and hope!
I am rich by no means in material goods, but I am one of the wealthiest men alive in terms of the intrinsic treasures that I have been allowed to enjoy. I have battled Parathyroid Cancer, and even the surgeon gave God credit for healing me. I have been on airplanes in near-miss situations. I was in an automobile when the vehicle went into an uncontrollable spin in traffic on I-35 near Dallas and miraculously straightened out before hitting an overpass.
I have seen God’s provision financially when there was no hope; the money was placed in my hands, averting disaster. I have lived through tornadoes, survived 40-foot swells in the North Atlantic, and stood in places of danger that only the divine protection of God was able to bring me through.
The Grace of God that brought Salvation came to me, transforming my life, on a Saturday night in Palestine, Texas, sitting alone at the kitchen table in my sister’s house. When I think of all that I have to be thankful for, I can do nothing but weep and say, “Lord, Your Love Amazes Me!” God created me as the 2nd son of W.P. and Elva Beaird, parents who taught me the value of life and gave me a foundation upon which God has built the life I now live.
God gave me two precious sons, Paul and Timothy, men of God and sons who warm the heart of their earthly father and their heavenly Father. He has given me a daughter via the blending of two families. She has become as much a daughter to me as if she were my biological child, Kalene. Now, three other children have been added via the blending of two families: a son, Ryan, and two daughters, Rachel and Elisha. I have a brother, Lester, and a sister, Margaret, nieces and nephews, and cousins who are incredibly special to me. I am Blessed! Our blended families have a combined six children and their spouses, sixteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
You now know more about me than before and probably more than you wanted to know, but I could not list all the blessings God has bestowed upon me. I could never enumerate all the things I have to be thankful for. But, on this Thanksgiving Season, I offer this accounting of some of them as a tribute to the Graciousness of My Heavenly Father and My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Lastly, I would be remiss if I failed to mention the many friends who have enriched my life. Some of you I have never met in person, but you are as dear to me as if we had grown up together. Thank God for you!
I offer this prayer for all of you, my friends, “May the LORD bless you and keep you; May He make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; and May He lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.”
I have been concerned about this for several years, and with 2026 on the horizon, my concern has only intensified. No, I am not concerned because Donald J. Trump is President, or that Joe Biden was in the Oval Office for four years. I am concerned because of the mindset of society, the devolution of morals, the abandonment of our biblical foundation, and the moronic state of American politics.
Republics or empires typically last about 250 years before fading into obscurity. Our American Constitutional Republic will reach that milestone in 2026. Is the handwriting on the wall for our republic? That depends on numerous factors and alterations in the direction our political landscape has been taking for several decades.
Are there exceptions to the rule or empires that have defied the statistical odds? Of course, China has survived for almost 5,000 years. I am totally opposed to their system of government, but what is it about China’s culture that has facilitated its odds-defying survival? Is there something in their culture that other societies are missing?
Again, I am not talking about dictatorships versus democratic systems. I am referring to the mindset that unites the Chinese people and enables their empire to thrive. I believe that America was founded on biblical principles, using biblical precepts as the base of our judicial laws. You may totally disagree; that is your privilege.
One concern I have for America is that, over many decades, we have extended our resources to become the benevolent cash cow for many nations of the world, thereby overburdening our citizens with the demands of taxation. We have spread our military assets over such a broad spectrum that it could be argued that we have endangered our national security.
In modern history, when America faced a crisis and threat, our people responded with an unshakeable resolve that arose from a shared ethic and moral commitment. I have lived long enough to watch the rapid retreat of that foundational mindset, both by politicians and society as a whole.
In World Wars I & II, we were in it to win it and were willing to sacrifice everything to claim victory. The Spirit of 1776 was alive and well. We were committed to biblical and moral values, had a strong work ethic, and believed in the value of the family. By the time America was fully invested in the Vietnam War, it had significantly changed.
Regarding the longevity of the Chinese empire, one aspect inherent in their culture is the cohesiveness of the family unit. For centuries, family and their faith have been among the strongest elements that defined who they are. That cohesiveness has created a culture that drives them to survive. In America, we have become so fragmented, and the planned destruction of the two-parent family has facilitated our rush to destruction.
In modern America, we are encouraging the abandonment of the core values that enabled us to become a great republic. The Nation of Israel, as revealed in the Bible, survived, and thrived when it maintained its core values, but declined when it turned away from them. When they followed biblical precepts, they excelled. Our rapid ascension to superpower status was nothing short of miraculous. I find it impossible to attribute it to luck or human ingenuity. I see God in our historic assent.
If we continue to reject God, allow the further devolution of the family unit, embrace values and ideologies that are foreign to biblical precepts, while devaluing any life but our own, we will not survive. As with Israel, when they repented and returned to God, He brought them deliverance and restoration.
If we allow greed, selfishness, and hatred to prevail, we will not survive. If, as 2 Chronicles 7:14 declares, we humble ourselves, pray, seek God, repent, and turn back to moral, ethical, and biblical sanity, God will fulfill His promise to heal and restore.
Yes, my worldview is based on the Bible. No, my confidence is not in any government system or those governing. Our founding fathers sought to establish a republic that could last, but warned against many of the things we are embracing today. Is the 250-year milestone an indicator that we are nearing the end of the road? I hope not!
I love America! Therefore, my commitment is to pray for this republic. We will never fix what is wrong at the ballot box alone; we must address the condition of the human heart. If we see a restoration in our foundational core values, we will see the preservation of the republic. How long can we last?
A few years earlier, I wrote about this question in my blog. I still have the same question. As I look around me, I see people expressing concern about specific things or personal pet peeves. Still, when it comes to America’s overall health, I am not sure I see the level of care that facilitates positive change.
I realize that the demands a more thorough explanation. Do people care? What do they care about? Who are the people being spoken of? What is the context of the discussion? All those are valid and questions deserving of answers. Therefore, if you will give me a few minutes of your precious time, I will try to articulate my question by relating it to the current situation in America and even the Church.
Many things have come to my attention and have not escaped my notice over the past few years, which have led me to question my approach to caring. When I hear the diatribe and rhetoric of leading Leftists and sometimes their witting or unwitting confessions or revealing of their true intent, yet still able to be re-elected, my concern grows. It validates my concern and question, “Do People Really Care?”
Back in 2022, the illustrious Representative from South Carolina, Jim Clyburn, appeared on MSNBC before the election and admitted that the Biden administration and congressional Democrats knew that certain actions they would take — and were taking — would drive inflation up.
Yet, most of the Leftists were re-elected. That made me scratch my head and say, “Wow! Then How?” He said, “Well, let me make it very clear. All of us are concerned about the rising costs, and all of us knew this would be the case when we put in place this recovery program. Any time you put more money into the economy, prices tend to rise.” Basically, admitting that their spending plan would hurt everyone. But people still elected so many of them. “Do People Really Care?”
Have we become so partisan and ideologically divided that no matter what the elected officials of our party do, we will still vote for them because they are members of our party? Do we care more about party affiliation than actions? Do we care more about who is granted the power to run our government than what they are or will do? Do we believe that we are winning when we give up our freedoms and dreams to keep them in power? “Do People Really Care?”
They knew! All of them, all of the Democrats in Congress, KNEW that their plan was going to cost you and me dearly. They knew, and yet they still did what they did. Now, we have Schumer and the Leftists going even further. None of it is necessary. The economy did not and does not have to be shuttered. The Oil and Gas Industry did not have to be decimated. The price of gasoline did not have to go through the roof. The energy did not have to be driven to the point that some have to choose between food and energy. The costs of goods and services, and thereby the cost of jobs, did not have to occur. They knew what they were doing would cripple America’s economy, but they did it anyway. Therefore, “Do People Really Care?”
I would readily acknowledge that I have strong doubts that Joe Biden has a clue where inflation comes from or how the economy works, based on his four-plus decades of cognizant disconnect with reality. However, I do believe there are members of that party who are smart enough to know, and yet they do it anyway. The damage is considered collateral damage, and we suffer because of their insatiable thirst for power and control. Therefore, I ask again, “Do People Really Care?”
When various politicians ditch the Democratic Party, I wonder whether we are witnessing the rats abandoning a sinking ship, seeking survival, or whether they have begun to care. I can honestly say that I do not have a definitive answer. I continue to hope it is a sign that some still have a shred of allegiance to the Constitution and the Republic. Time will tell, but do we have the time to wait for the answer?
Tulsi Gabbard declared, as she switched parties, that she was leaving the Democratic Party because of “cowardly wokeness” that “radicalizes every issue” and divides Americans needlessly. She may have been referring to things such as former President Barack Hussein Obama’s speech at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit behind closed doors, where he sought to radicalize the fact that many Republicans disagree with him. How dare they? Disagree with The One! That is unforgivable to the Donkeys.
He said, “Sometimes it turns out they’re mean, they’re racist, they’re sexist, they’re angry. Your job is to just beat them because they are not persuadable… Sometimes we get filled up with our own self-righteousness. We’re so convinced we’re right that we forget what we are right about.”
That is so full of hubris and self-exaltation that it deserves no comment. But he is right: they are incredibly self-righteous and project their own actions onto their political opponents. Tragically, too many do not seem to care, drink the Kool-Aid, regurgitate the talking points, and vote no matter what negative actions their party takes. It causes me to wonder if People Really Care.
Do the Black and Hispanic Communities care that the Donkeys exhibit incredibly insensitive racism behind closed doors? An example in point would be the Los Angeles Democrat, Nury Martinez, and two others were caught on tape comparing a two-year-old Black child with a monkey, saying in a prima facie call for violence against the child, that he needs to be ‘beat down.’
An example of ‘cowardly wokeness’ is that the Democratic Party has been in control of the White House and both Houses of Congress for two years, and none of them have the gonads to oppose the destruction. Inflation, under this administration and with the Democrats’ approval in Congress, has soared from 1.4% in January 2020 to over 8.5% now. That is a 40-year high and may go even higher before they are evicted from Washington if they are. Will they be? Only if “People Really Care?”
The Border fiasco is bringing chaos to many segments of our Republic and will only grow worse for the next couple of years. Crime is escalating, especially in the Sanctuary Cities and States, and in the Deep Blue Cities run by the Democrats, and will continue into the foreseeable future. Unless? Unless people begin to Really Care!
The inciting of violence, the funding of riots, the demands for no border enforcement, the continuation of sanctuary cities, the gender confusion, the abandonment of moral sanity, and biblical reality all make me ask, “Do People Really Care?” When people are willing to celebrate the murder of someone who disagrees with them, we are in danger of total collapse.
Obama, Biden, and a host of leading Democrats all consistently and continuously insist that the Republicans cause all of our problems. They include Climate Change, COVID, or something, but not the Donkeys. Joe Biden even told the Washington Examiner in 2022, “If the Republicans take control, the prices are going to go up.” Hey, Mr. Biden, where have you been – PRICES WENT UP UNDER YOUR ADMINISTRATION! This was not under Republicans, but you and your fellow Donkeys.
That is beyond idiocy! People who are in the know, such as Milton Friedman, have declared that Inflation is ALWAYS and EVERYWHERE a monetary phenomenon. Friedman was the author of the Regan Revolution’s Economic strategy. The policy helped us claw our way out of the Jimmy Carter-era inflation and stagflation.
A smaller government, not a gargantuan government, is the answer, as any reasoned economist knows. Politicians know it too, but they want the power and control afforded to them by the behemoth that exists now. Buying votes through handouts is probably here to stay. It will remain until “People Really Begin to Care.”
The Left keeps telling us that we can spend our way out of any fiscal mess. I am convinced that a 5th Grader would know better. Their insane spending drives the CPI up, and inflation hurts every American who works for a living and pays taxes. Did you check gas and food prices under Biden? Did you purchase lumber or other building materials? Virtually everything escalated in price! If you did, you know that their spin is malarkey. You know better!
God help us to begin to care and awaken from our political stupor, and as the old cliché goes, “Throw the Bums Out.” Maybe we are not desperate enough, and until a greater degree of desperation occurs, we will likely see the continuation of the lunacy of re-electing the perpetrators of the destruction. I am praying for people to wake up and begin to really care!
From time to time, I revisit the writings of the Founding Fathers to solidify my belief about our system of government and the Constitution. I realize that many Americans do not realize that the First Amendment does not include the phrase “Separation of Church and State.” It reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
The mistaken idea that Christianity cannot be promoted and preached in the public square is not a part of that great document. However, those on the Left and some on the right contend that religion must be excluded from all public facilities. That view cannot be supported by the document or the writings of the Founding Fathers.
I contend that the Founders wanted to ensure that the Government would not establish a State Religion and favor it above any other belief or church. Many of the founders encouraged and actively engaged in preaching, teaching, and promoting the Bible in governmental functions and deliberations. I genuinely wish that Mr. Jefferson, Franklin, Rush, Paine, Washington, and others could speak to us in the flesh today and clear the air on that subject once and for all!
The historical record reveals that the first public school law was passed in 1642. Yes, that predated our Constitution, but it is needful that we realize the view Americans have held for a very long time. For the past 350 years, a biblical worldview has been taught in public schools. That is, until more recent times! Science, Law, History, and Theology all conformed to God’s standard. The beginning of the end for a moral America came in 1963 when God was officially removed from the public schools. I ask, “Would the Founding Fathers of America agree with this? I suggest we first turn to the Bible to see what it says about governments and rulers.
Isaiah, Prophet of God, 700 B.C. – “For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee (God) shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.” Isaiah 60:12
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, A.D. 57 – “Let every soul be subject unto the higher power. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” The epistle of Paul to the Romans.
David, King of Israel, 980 B.C. – “The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.” (2 Samuel 23:3)
Next, we need to consider documents like the Mayflower Compact. That document incorporated God and the Bible into its construction. Christopher Columbus, in 1492, continually referred to God in what he said, and, in the names, he gave to the places he discovered. William Bradford, the governor of the Plymouth colony, said:
“They (the Pilgrims) had a great hope and inward zeal of laying some good foundation or at least to make some way thereunto for the propagating and advancing of the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in those remote parts of the world, yea though they should be but even a stepping stone unto others for the performing of so great a work.” In his later years he wrote with “grief and sorrow” of the growing secularism and the loss of “constant faithfulness”.
But even more compelling is the author of the First Amendment, Fisher Aimes, who wrote an article called “School Books” in the Palladium magazine in January 1801, “We have trouble in the classrooms, we are putting in new textbooks. Nothing wrong with new books, but we are spending more time on them than the Bible; it is drifting to the back of the classroom. We cannot tolerate this in American education. The Bible’s morals are pure; its examples are captivating and noble.”
The list goes on and on with their repeated desire for God to be deeply involved in the lives of the people and in the construction of the government. Our Founding Fathers and the Framers of the American Constitution believed that without God as the foundation, our Republic was doomed to failure. How does that compare with today’s political climate?
Sadly, in modern America, we have allowed the politicians to take God out of the public schools, ban Him from our public institutions and facilities, and make it known that His influence was not welcome in government deliberations. That has ushered us to the brink of losing this country! Does that suggest we made a big mistake and need God restored to every facet of our lives, including government? I don’t think so, I know so!
I want to include a few of the myriad declarations by the Founding Fathers and Early Statesmen regarding Jesus, Christianity, and the Bible. The Founding Fathers clearly believed that the Bible, Religion, and God were indispensable to governmental deliberations, as evidenced by their writings.
Let’s consider some of their declarations:
Josiah Bartlett,Military Officer; Signer of the Declaration of Independence; Judge, Governor of New Hampshire. He called upon the people of New Hampshire to “confess” before God their aggravated transgressions and to implore His pardon and forgiveness through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ. He contended that the knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ may be made known to all nations, pure and undefiled religion universally prevail, and the earth be filled with the glory of the Lord.
Gunning Bedford, Military Officer; Member of the Continental Congress; Signer of the Constitution; Federal Judge. He declared the need to recognize the Triune God – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost and that to God be ascribed all honor and dominion, forevermore – Amen.
Elias Boudinot. President of Congress; Signed the Peace Treaty to End the American Revolution; First Attorney Admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court; Framer of the Bill of Rights; Director of the U.S. Mint, pleaded: “Let us enter on this important business under the idea that we are Christians on whom the eyes of the world are now turned… [L]et us earnestly call and beseech Him, for Christ’s sake, to preside in our councils. . .. We can only depend on the all-powerful influence of the Spirit of God, whose Divine aid and assistance it becomes us as a Christian people most devoutly to implore. Therefore, I move that some minister of the Gospel be requested to attend this Congress every morning . . . in order to open the meeting with prayer.”
I find it interesting that in a letter to his daughter, Boudinot said, “You have been instructed from your childhood in the knowledge of your lost state by nature – the absolute necessity of a change of heart and an entire renovation of the soul to the image of Jesus Christ – of salvation through His meritorious righteousness only – and the indispensable necessity of personal holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.” [Hebrews 12:14]. He continued, “You are well acquainted that the most perfect and consummate doctrinal knowledge is of no avail without it operates on and sincerely affects the heart, changes the practice, and totally influences the will – and that without the almighty power of the Spirit of God enlightening your mind, subduing your will, and continually drawing you to Himself, you can do nothing.”
Still, further, he said, “And may the God of your parents (for many generations past) seal instruction to your soul and lead you to Himself through the blood of His too greatly despised Son, Who, notwithstanding, is still reclaiming the world to God through that blood, not imputing to them their sins. To Him be glory forever!”
In conclusion, he said, “For nearly half a century have I anxiously and critically studied that invaluable treasure [the Bible]; and I still scarcely ever take it up that I do not find something new – that I do not receive some valuable addition to my stock of knowledge or perceive some instructive fact never observed before. In short, were you to ask me to recommend the most valuable book in the world, I should fix on the Bible as the most instructive both to the wise and ignorant. Were you to ask me for one affording the most rational and pleasing entertainment to the inquiring mind, I should repeat, it is the Bible; and should you renew the inquiry for the best philosophy or the most interesting history, I should still urge you to look into your Bible. I would make it, in short, the Alpha and Omega of knowledge.”
Jacob Broom. Legislator: Signer of the Constitution, in a letter to his son, James, attending Princeton University, said: “I flatter myself you will be what I wish, but don’t be so much flatterer as to relax in your application – don’t forget to be a Christian. I have said much to you on this head, and I hope an indelible impression is made.”
Charles Carroll. Signer of the Declaration of Independence; Selected as Delegate to the Constitutional Convention; Framer of the Bill of Rights; U.S. Senator. “On the mercy of my Redeemer, I rely for salvation and on His merits, not on the works I have done in obedience to His precepts. Grateful to Almighty God for the blessings which, through Jesus Christ Our Lord, He had conferred on my beloved country in her emancipation and on myself in permitting me, under circumstances of mercy, to live to the age of 89 years, and to survive the fiftieth year of independence, adopted by Congress on the 4th of July 1776, which I originally subscribed on the 2d day of August of the same year and of which I am now the last surviving signer.
I, Charles Carroll. . .. Give and bequeath my soul to God who gave it, my body to the earth, hoping that through and by the merits, sufferings, and mediation of my only Savior and Jesus Christ, I may be admitted into the Kingdom prepared by God for those who love, fear, and truly serve Him.”
Then, the Congressional Declaration in 1854 declared, “The great, vital, and conservative element in our system is the belief of our people in the pure doctrines and the divine truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Congress, U. S. House Judiciary Committee, 1854, offered this statement, “Had the people, during the Revolution, had a suspicion of any attempt to war against Christianity, that Revolution would have been strangled in its cradle… In this age, there can be no substitute for Christianity… That was the religion of the founders of the republic, and they expected it to remain the religion of their descendants.”
I know this is a lengthy discourse, but I find it incomprehensible and irrational to believe that the vast majority of our founders considered anything more powerful or germane to the development of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the core principles upon which this country was established, and to their vision for perpetuity.
Sadly, we have lost sight of our original founding and the desire of those men, and it may have cost us the Republic.
What is the price of Freedom? I suppose a first question would be, “What is Freedom?“ Freedom is as much a state of mind as a status. If one is not free in mind, they will live in a type of bondage, even if there are no chains. Likewise, if a person is free in mind, even if they wear chains, they experience a liberty that many without chains never know.
Does that mean that Freedom is only a state of mind? No! True Freedom impacts the mental, emotional, physical, political, economic, and spiritual. Most people only know partial freedom, in that they are free in some areas but not in others. For example, one can be free politically but enslaved to debt, a job, or mental anguish.
How much is Freedom worth? Are we willing to fight for it? Are we willing to sacrifice for it? Do we believe in the ideals of Freedom enough to risk everything, even our lives, to achieve it for ourselves and our posterity? Is it a goal that we will invest ourselves in only to the extent that it affects us?
America is a divided nation, and although most consider our system of government a Democracy, it is a direct democracy. It is a Republic. A Republic is similar to a representative. However, the Republic has a written, ratified constitution that provides safeguards to protect the minority from abuse by the majority. The constitution keeps them from being completely unrepresented.
The move to make U.S. Senators elected by voters was an attempt to transform the U.S. into a more representative democracy. It damaged the State’s sovereignty and limited the oversight and control the individual State would have over the Senator’s conduct and votes in Congress. A Senator can make decisions based on their ideology or to enhance their personal power, position, or purse rather than the state’s position.
In a democracy, the majority rules, and out of that can come incredible abuse, and not everyone is afforded representation. In a Republic, if a law is passed, it can be challenged by the Constitution, whereas in a Democracy, it is majority rule. An example would be the Jim Crow laws. They were deemed unconstitutional.
Republics afford representation through legislators proportional to each state as mandated by the Constitution. The Electoral College would not exist under a democracy, and the popular vote, no matter where it came from, would rule.
That would mean that the liberal populace of the East and West Coasts, along with voters from Chicago and a few cities, would make all national decisions, including determining the President and our Freedoms. In our Republic, to ensure that all people, regardless of geographic region, have an equal voice in decision-making, we have the Electoral College.
In a Democracy, if there came a time when the majority of Americans decided that allowing freedom for people of a particular religious belief was unacceptable, they could be incarcerated and possibly eliminated. If the majority were of a particular ethnicity and ideological view that all other ethnicities were a danger to society, the freedom of those would be endangered if not eliminated.
Most think that majority rule is our system and is the best. I suggest that they have not thought through what our Founding Fathers prepared, debated, and risked their lives for. As Benjamin Franklin reported, when asked what kind of government they had produced, he said, “A Republic, if you can keep it.”
What is that Freedom and protection for all citizens worth? Are we so self-centered that we want what we want with no regard for others? If none of us has access to Freedom, none of us is safe!
I desire to have the ideals of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights fully embraced and allowed in America! I do not want those with opposing views silenced and censored. I want to see civil, honest, and open debate. But even more, I want to see what many of our Founders longed for and urged: dependence on God, strong families, legitimate education, and an insistence on personal responsibility and accountability.
I believe, as was expressed by John Adams, that our constitution and system of government is sustainable only by the populace being a ‘moral and religious’ people. I would never want to see religion of any type mandated for the public. I would, however, like to see a return to valuing the spiritual and moral precepts of the Bible restored to value.
The differences and overflow of hate existing in America today will not be resolved at the ballot box. Our issues are not merely matters of political ideology, but the condition of the heart — morally, mentally, and spiritually. For America to enjoy the Freedom our Founders fought and deliberated for will require a return to God, the Bible, and moral sanity.
You may disagree; that is your right! However, if you believe, as do I, that our only hope is God, then I ask you to join me in interceding for our Republic.
I am unashamedly a follower of Jesus Christ and have served in Christian ministry for over 50 years. I have had people within and without the Christian community attack me for speaking out about politics. They often use the flawed view that nothing of God can be involved in politics and nothing of politics can be in the church. After all, they say, “There is an Impenetrable Wall between Church and State.” I disagree!
Usually, I will be asked, “Are you a conservative, liberal, or a progressive?” My typical response is, “In a strict non-political sense, I am all three, but in a political sense, I am a constitutional conservative.” Not surprisingly, my views are not always appreciated. As I stated at the outset, I am unashamedly a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. That fact is often the proverbial fly in the ointment. However, the question has caused me to reflect on America’s political climate and thinking.
Modern definitions are often fluid and modified to accommodate a person’s point of view or desire at any given time. Therefore, I am careful when I attempt to define the three terms I am asked about. Are you a conservative, liberal, or progressive?
When Donald Trump was first elected, some on the political right argued that his election obliterated conservatism. They became part of the ‘Never Trump’ consortium. I contend that Mr. Trump’s elections (1st and 2nd) did not, and will not, destroy conservatism.
The reality is, if conservatism is destroyed or being destroyed, it began long before Mr. Trump’s entrance into the political arena as a candidate. I am convinced that the demise of our Constitutional Republican form of Government has been in the works for over one hundred years. Some key elements have facilitated the move toward Progressivism and destruction.
Agendas dating back to the 1800s, especially the 1900s, have expedited that paradigm shift. I believe that the passage of certain amendments in the early 1900s is a significant factor in our metamorphosis away from Constitutional Republicanism.
The passage and ratification of the 16th and 17th Amendments to our American Constitution are significant. I have heard the argument that, in a very strict and literal sense, conservatism is opposition to drastic change and embraces caution and prudence, two qualities that politicians seem to be devoid of. I contend that conservatism, depending on your country and subject matter, embodies varied and frequently very different definitions.
There are glaring differences between American conservatism and progressivism. American Progressives, at their core, reject the vision our founding fathers had for America and that which the framers of the Constitution fought so diligently to provide.
The Progressives reject the idea that the Constitution is a ‘safeguard’ for personal freedom and liberty.
The Progressives desire an All-Powerful Government that is powerful enough and capable of ‘fundamentally transforming’ America by its control of Americans and our institutions.
The Progressives have evolved from simply wanting Socialized Medicine in America to wanting an America that has socialized medicine, no borders, transgender bathrooms, censorship, mind control, and government-mandated business practices.
The Progressives, as Barack Obama, believe that America must be ‘fundamentally transformed’ because America was NEVER great or good.
The Progressives see the Constitution as a hindrance rather than a safeguard, and therein is a significant difference between Liberals and Progressives compared to Conservatives.
Back to my point: the 16th and 17th Amendments were significant factors in advancing Progressive political ideology and the demise of our Constitutional Republican Form of Government.
I believe that the Sixteenth Amendment opened a door that allowed the federal bureaucracy to grow into a behemoth so insatiable and uncontrollable. That amendment states: “The Congress shall have the power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.”
Daniel Webster and John Marshall understood the gravity of taxation, as Webster argued in McCulloch v. Maryland. He said, “An unlimited power to tax involves, necessarily, a power to destroy.” That warning and revelation went unheeded as this amendment was adopted on February 3, 1913. Both the 16th and 17th Amendments were ratified in 1913, marking the beginning of the end of limited federal government.
In contrast to the bloody revolutions of progressives in other nations, the American progressives have largely resisted the pleas of men such as Bill Ayers, who have called for a bloody revolution to overthrow the system of government they hate. Americans, heretofore, have taken the political approach of slow erosion. Until more recently, the American people have embraced the idea of a Living Constitution, which allows them to modify, misinterpret, misconstrue, and misapply the words of that document as the framers intended.
I believe that conservatism is rooted in the desire to restore the Founders’ and Framers’ vision of America, in which our inalienable rights are protected, and our liberty is preserved in the United States of America.
We conservatives desire limited government. We desire fiduciary integrity and government frugality. We desire a government in which we are afforded all our constitutional and God-given rights and privileges without infringement by the federal government. Government is not the provider of those rights, and we should always warily remember the words commonly attributed to Thomas Jefferson, “A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take away everything that you have.”
I hope you will heed my warning. If we allow the waters of liberalism and progressivism to continue dripping on the rock of our constitution, it will eventually erode it to the point that it is impotent. We dare not let that happen, and if we make our focus and fight personalities rather than America, we will facilitate their attack. I pray we reject that tendency and temptation and Rise to Fight for America!
I want to discuss a problem that has been thriving in America for decades – Anarchy.
Anarchy is defined in many ways, including:
Absence of government
A state of lawlessness or political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority.
A utopian society of individuals who enjoy complete freedom from government.
Absence or denial of any authority or established order.
Absence of order: Disorder.
At the end of Trump’s first term and the Biden term, the accusations hurled at virtually all Trump supporters were that he and we were insurrectionists and anarchists. Was that fair? Hardly. Blanket statements are often misleading and dangerous.
That compels me to revisit Anarchy and the Anarchists of the past and present. I truly believe that our American System of Government is endangered today. No, I do not believe that Donald Trump is a Fascist, Tyrant, or wanna be King. You may, and that is our choice. I do not believe that every person with a (D) behind their name politically is either.
That being said, the actions of those in the Obama, Biden, and the Democrats in Congress are leaning that direction, if not fully embracing them. The threat embodied in their vitriolic political rhetoric and actions is of grave concern.
When I consider Anarchists of the past, one of the first groups that comes to mind is the one identified as “The Weathermen.” They were later identified as “The Weather Underground Organization.” This was an extreme left-wing organization that carried out bombings, jailbreaks, and organized riots in the late 60’s and beyond.
Then we dare not forget the “Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).” They included people such as Bernardine Dohrn, Eleanor Raskin, Dianne Donghi, Peter Clapp, David Millstone, and Diana Oughton. They collaborated with the communist regimes of North Vietnam and Cuba, trying to subvert and attempt to overthrow the U.S. Government. Others involved were Bill Ayers and other prominent figures from the past.
Some of those have and are occupying bureaucratic positions and serve as college professors teaching the youth of today, slanting them toward their liberal, leftist, anarchist point of view. They engaged in riots, looting, and destruction, as well as arming the “New Black Panthers” for war against the government and against whites. They murdered police and gunned down citizens in acts of terror, and tragically, at times, escaped the long arm of the law and were supported by Leftist Politicians.
If any of that sounds familiar, what is happening today and in recent history should not be a surprise to you. The antics and violence of the Black Lives Matter riots and the various protests that followed the 2016 Elections and continue to this day are troubling.
Many of the figures behind the organization of these activities are none other than people like Bill Ayers, George Soros, and other leftist activist HATERS of AMERICA. The hate is multi-generational, and it is rooted in a Communist, Marxist manifesto that desires to destroy our system of government and destroy capitalism, arguing that things are ‘not fair’ and we need to ‘level the playing field’.
Sadly, the playing field they want to level would then be slanted to their advantage, and many of those pulling the strings are becoming incredibly wealthy and powerful, using the pawns of their destruction — the protesters — who are often ill-informed or uninformed.
The preying on emotions, fanning the flames of hate, seeking to divide the nation, destroying property, hampering the normal commerce of America, and even violently attacking detractors is unacceptable! However, it is lauded as commendable, courageous, and justifiable by those on the Left. The forces behind these protests consider this WAR, even if those marching and committing the acts of violence and felonious acts do not.
I think of the infamous Yogi Berra and say, “It’s like deja vu, all over again.” Now that Donald Trump has entered a second term, the Republicans control both Houses of Congress. The margin is slim, and there is no room for error or abandonment of sanity. The Left continues to present half-truths and blatant lies, fan the flames of fear, and spend all their energies on damaging Trump, which harms America.
That makes Yogi’s observation apropos, and we can say, “It is deja vu, all over again.” I personally am not enjoying this distasteful blast from the past. If we ignore it or attempt to compromise with it, we do so to our own harm.
We must expose it for what it is and refuse to be bullied by the tactics. We must insist that when laws are broken, the lawbreakers are prosecuted and held accountable. We must not allow the MSM, the Leftist Democrats, and weak-willed Republicans to force us down the road to destruction and abandonment of our Core Principles found in the Constitution and the Bible.
The vitriol of the Leftists is not only distasteful, but it is also dangerous. You can only push people so far before they push back, and often the pushback is more severe than the initial push. We are on the brink of Civil War in America.
We endured eight years of Barack Obama’s agenda to “Fundamentally Transform America.” We had a brief respite under Trump’s first term, followed by four years of disaster under Biden. In many ways, that was the Obama agenda on steroids. The damage done to our Republic is so extensive that it will take a very long time to recover, if at all.
The Democrats continue to misrepresent Obamacare. Their fabrications have become so entrenched in the minds of the ill-informed and those reacting out of fear and hate that nothing can be said or done to convince them otherwise. Obamacare never did what it was reportedly designed to do.
However, I believe that it has largely accomplished the true agenda and objective. In my view, it was designed to collapse the entire healthcare industry or health insurance industry and create such havoc and chaos through denied or delayed care, and escalate the cost to the point that the public was willing to accept “Universal Health Care” or a “Single-Payer System” where the government pays for healthcare and makes the healthcare decisions for the citizens. Government paying for anything is a misnomer, for if the government pays for it, WE PAY FOR IT.
The Leftists, even before Mr. Trump was inaugurated, were raising money to have him impeached; some have called for his assignation, which has not been attempted twice that we know of. The Democrats continue to take positions to oppose and obstruct everything that President Trump and the Republicans attempt.
I continue to be hopeful that the Republicans will develop a spine and have a willingness to STAND THEIR GROUND and fight for America. If they do, we can see many of the destructive policies of the Obama and Biden administrations reversed or corrected. We can witness the nation begin the process of healing.
I believe that if we enforce the law, when protests turn into riots, and people are arrested. We truly communicate what is happening, most Americans will stand for what is right and resist the false narrative. If we hold all bureaucrats and politicians accountable for their illegal and unconstitutional actions, we can move forward. If we allow those seeking to bully America to go unscathed, we will embolden and encourage them losing our Republic.
Are we willing to allow the Terrorism of the 60’s to become acceptable today? The answer to that will determine the future of America.
Jesus said in Luke 21:28, “But when you see these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Additionally, in 2 Timothy 3:1-13, we find a description of people and events in what the Bible refers to as the Last Days. I am not trying to predict the return of Jesus or the end of the world, but suggest that the condition of this world is a sign of things to come, both good and bad.
The current level of vitriol, rhetoric, and division in this nation suggests to me that we have become the people the Bible predicted. If that is accurate, then we will never solve the problems existing at the ballot box or through armed resistance. Why? Because the problem is a matter of the condition of the human heart, not simply political or philosophical ideology.
There are groups in existence who are fanning the flames of hate and openly attacking everything that has any connection to the Bible and Christianity. Those groups are too numerous to mention, although I will mention one, knowing that I may be attacked by some who esteem them to be wholesome. That view is primarily based on their initial efforts to take down or fight the KKK.
The SPLC (Southern Poverty Law Center) wrote that Turning Point USA is “emblematic” of a shift “toward an authoritarian, patriarchal Christian supremacy” and that it is at the “forefront” of an effort to promote that “Christian values and beliefs should inform the government and wider culture.” They equated Turning Point USA’s promotion of Christian values as ‘racist’ and ‘bigoted.’
They did not stop there, but pressed further, arguing that Turning Point USA embraces and promotes “White Christian Supremacy.” They argue, as do many on the Left, that organizations such as Turning Point USA and Charlie Kirk are racists, spreading hate, and inciting violence. They, like some of their counterparts, insist that Charlie Kirk was killed (murdered) because he spread too much hate. The insinuation was that he had to be stopped for the good of humanity. If that is their view, it is beyond deplorable.
There are efforts, as we have seen in the past, to frighten financial institutions, media outlets, institutions of higher learning, and politicians into submission to the leftist agenda. America is at a crossroads between a return to moral and biblical sanity and embracing Communism, Socialism, or some combined form of those ideologies.
We have reached a place where those who oppose strong families, Christian values, moral civility, and freedom of speech are willing to act out in violence to eliminate any opposition. We are allowing a mentality of hate to so cloud our judgment that many believe silencing the opposition is not only acceptable but laudable.
Life, for some, has become meaningless and valueless, unless, of course, it is their own. Many on the Left consider those on the Right as undeserving of the air they breathe. The hatred for President Trump is so off the charts that any reasonable sanity has vanished.
When this kind of hate-filled philosophical sickness permeates the culture, the culture is doomed. What do we do? Can we do anything to change course nationally? We must individually stop allowing every act of violence to be packaged and presented as a partisan event. They may be deeply rooted in politicians and parties, but again, the focus must be on the human heart first.
We must begin the long and arduous process of teaching our children the value of family, morality, the biblical precepts of life, the sanctity of human life, and the importance of honest debate with civility. We must demand from our politicians that they unite in condemning violence and replace the vitriolic rhetoric with reason.
There is only one hope for America and the world: a return to the principles upon which America was founded. Those principles were formulated not only by careful consideration of forms of government, but also by the value of human life and rights, which were founded on biblical principles. You may disagree, but God is our only hope!
Today, I was reflecting on the condition of the human soul, especially in America. That endeavor has the propensity to leave one helplessly depressed. However, I do not look at the condition of man as a hopeless state, because I have found the answer to the depravity of man. The Anwer? Yes, God or more specifically, Jesus Christ!
I have some acquaintances who almost incessantly complain that they are exhausted all the time. They find virtually everything tiring. I am not surprised. The political wrangling is tiring. The jockeying to get the upper hand in every debate is tiring. Hate is tiring, and we are living in a world where hate is the norm rather than the exception.
I refuse to deify any human being, but have been moved by both sides of the reaction to Charlie Kirk’s murder. I wonder, but believe I know, what Charlie would think of any deification of him. Likewise, as his wife asserted that she had forgiven the murderer of her husband, I believe that Charlie would take the path that Jesus took and forgive.
Please do not understand me to say, forgive as in absolving the one perpetrating this horrific act. Actions have consequences, and his act of evil and hate should justly receive the due penalty for that act. If we succumb to hate, we become a part of the problem rather than offering an alternative.
Jesus said, “Come unto Me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” This life lived without the help and strength of God is incredibly tiring and often abundantly depressing.
Our nation is dangerously near an unbridgeable divide. We cannot resolve the issues existing in America at the ballot box or with bullets or bayonets. We can only resolve by returning to a biblical moral mooring, developing a forgiving heart, and demanding civility for ourselves and others.
I am deeply grieved for the families of all victims of hate! I am praying for America and the world. Someone said recently, “This has to stop.” Let me drift into what some will call doom and gloom and say, “It is not going to.” Hate is going to survive, and we must ensure that Love does as well.
You may or may not agree, but there is only one answer to the problems now existing in our world. That answer is God! We can wear ourselves out trying to fight fire with fire and hate with hate. We can exhaust ourselves trying to gain political supremacy and power, and not resolve the issues. ONLY GOD!
America, my beloved nation, I am pleading with all who love Freedom and desire to see the nation be a place where our children can grow up without fear of violence to join me in interceding for our nation. It begins with us. It is up to you and me to be bigger than the hate.
My faith is not in government but in God! My hope is that enough people will desire civility that we can tone down the hateful rhetoric and pursue a path of peace. I continue to pursue the directive and promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14. I have enough things to tire me without adding to the stress of a life filled with hate.
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