Category Archives: Political

LET’S CONSIDER THE OCCUPY – 99%’s TRUMPED UP ANGER…..


After watching the “Occupy” bunch, listening to Barack Obama’s incessant divisiveness, race baiting, misrepresentations and distortions of the facts, and the left’s willingness to attack the very industries and people who can turn this economy around I realized something. Their entire hope of success, lies in enough people who are “angry”, “envious”, “jealous”, “bigoted”, “racist”, and “uninformed” to buy into what they are saying to give them a majority at the polls. They know that what they are saying is “untrue” but they also know that they cannot run on “their records.”

Let me take the issue of “hating” and stirring up “anger” towards BIG OIL as an example. I keep hearing people complain about how much the various Big Oil Companies made in profits last year but I don’t hear any of those complaining about how much Big Government is spending and charging us in taxes including taxes at the pump. I have researched numerous reports and earnings statements of the various Oil Companies and found that the average profit they made was 6.7 cents per dollar in sales and that compared to 9.2 cents per dollar for all other manufacturing. The cost of crude accounts for more than 70% of the price of gasoline at the pump then you must add federal, state, and local taxes to it for another 15%-18%. Why isn’t anyone screaming about the massive profit that the government gets from each gallon of gasoline sold? Instead Obama and his left-wing ideologues harp on the “evil oil companies” but fail to mention how deeply their own hands are in the till. I wonder why? No I don’t, because if they focused on that you’d be mad at them as much or more than you are at the “evil oil companies.”

When compared to other industries we find that the ranking of profit per dollar is as follows: Pharmaceuticals & Medicines, Computers & Peripherals, Beverages & Tobacco, Electric Equipment & Appliances, All other Manufacturing, and then Oil & Gas. Interesting isn’t it? Yet, Obama and his crowd fight with determination to destroy the Oil & Gas Industry and in doing so make the cost of EVERYTHING for the consumer skyrocket. That does not even take into account the locking us into dependence on those countries that want to destroy America for our Oil & Gas. Why would any President or Political Party support that when by the testimony of experts in the field and some of which formerly supported Obama tell us that in ten years we could not only virtually pay down the deficit, balance the budget, reduce the national debt and see the price of gasoline under $2.50 per gallon? Those experts also tell us that we could be free of dependence on oil from countries that are not our friends. We could stop the insane enslavement through debt to China and other countries. But that is not something they want and one has to ask why? I guess it really doesn’t matter why, the fact that they do and their actions scream at us that they are willing to prevent exploration of our own natural resources is enough to tell them “Good Riddance.” It certainly is for me!

Let’s look a little deeper at this picture. We hear the screams from the left and the Occupy crowd of how utterly evil the corporate executives are especially in Big Oil, but are they? Let’s look at a breakdown of where their profits go.

1. 31% goes to Pension Funds. [Pension Funds for millions of Americans depend heavily on the financial performance of oil and gas companies.]
2. 20% invested in Mutual Funds.
3. 21% goes to Individual Investors. [Individual investors who manage their own portfolios and are not company insiders account for more than 20% of all industry ownership and that includes a significant number of “middle-class” households.]
4. 18% is placed in IRA’s.
5. 7% to Other Institutions.
6. 3% to Corporate Executives. [Yes they are well paid but for leading the development and expansion of such massive corporations should they not be?]

The ownership of America’s oil companies is dispersed among a wide variety of individuals and institutions. Those include Individual IRA accounts, Teacher’s pension funds, as well as “mom & pop” investors. In other words, “middle-class” America is the beneficiary of the success of the Oil and Gas Industry. But who is trying to put them out of business? Barack Obama and the left!

In an Obama interview in San Francisco in 2008 the question arose regarding his views and plans for “Coal” and he said: “I will institute a Cap & Trade System that if anyone wants to open a coal plant they can but they will go bankrupt because the punitive levies, fines, and fees that we place on them will prevent them from succeeding.” In his home state of Illinois “Coal Fired Plants” are closing. He only wants America to produce so-called “Green Energy” that is not yet technologically available and the cost is prohibitive. He even declared that if his policies went through the cost of electricity would naturally “skyrocket” and he thought that was a good thing. Really? How do you feel about it?

Can I ask one simple question? “If you open a business what is your hope?” Is it not to make a profit, make your life better, achieve your dream, and leave an inheritance to your children as well as possible help others? If in starting a business you succeed and hire thousands of people making it possible for them to earn a living and provide for their families, why is it a bad thing that you get wealthy as a result? Also, why is it the government’s or anyone else’s business or responsibility to come in and demand that you give up your share or tell you what your share of the profits is allowable? Why should they be allowed to take what you have earned as a result of your willingness to “risk” capital and effort to achieve? You could have failed and been bankrupt but you succeeded so why should you not be rewarded and reap the fruit of your labors?

I guess I just don’t get it why so many are willing to “hate” those who succeed and want them punished for their success. The truth is that in doing so we reduce the willingness of those who can to “risk”, “invest”, and “produce”, then we have people left with NO JOBS, NO HOMES, NO MONEY thus requiring the Federal Government to issue subsidies making them slaves to the system and dependents of the Federal Government. I know why this is the desire of Obama and the left – VOTES! How many people are going to vote no on money coming to them? If your boss came to you and said, “I’m going to give you a 25% salary increase, would you turn it down?” Why not? That is more than the vast majority get as a raise so why should you benefit when they don’t? You need to take care how you respond so as to remain consistent in your argument and anger at the so-called 1%.

I do not live in fear because I’m a Christian, but I am very concerned about the state of this country under the leadership (or lack thereof) of Barack Obama and the left. I am not overly thrilled with many of the candidates the Republicans are running but most of them afford at least the opportunity to put a halt to this runaway train of spending and destruction that is happening under Obama. I want to see all in every party put out to pasture who do not support the Constitution, the Rule of Law, the Rights of the American People, and won’t stand firm on principle and do the right thing. I know for that to happen we must begin at the local level and work our way to Washington. Some of us may have to bite the bullet, throw our hats in the ring, and run for elected office to set an example. We will, no doubt, be crucified and vilified as we do and may lose everything in the process but if we as a people do not –

1. Pray as if everything depends on God – – (It truly does).
2. Work as if everything depends on us – – (In a sense it does).
3. Research, Expose, Educate, Inform, and VOTE.

America is a goner! What price are you willing to pay to see a Restored America functioning as the Constitutional Republic that our Founding Fathers established? You actions between now and November will answer that question as will your appearance at the polls and your vote.

May God bless America and may God bless each of you!

THE FOUNDERS UNDERSTOOD ECONOMICS OBAMA DOES NOT……


I am completely convinced that Barack Obama and most of the politicians in Washington, D.C. have no clue about economics nor do they understand the Constitutional restrictions on the Federal Government. Maybe they do and just do not want to follow the Constitution or rational thought and do what is right and the best for America and the American people. Creation of a “welfare state” is clearly Barack Obama’s objective through which the populace will become enslaved by the Federal Government. This ideology was something that the founders abhorred and sounded multiple warnings for all then and now to hear.

Listen to what they had to say:

“If Congress can employ money indefinitely to the general welfare… they may appoint teachers in every state… The powers of Congress would subvert the very foundation, the very nature of the limited government established by the people of America.” – James Madison

Wow! Mr. Madison you understood, your contemporaries understood, but our present day politicians and current President can’t seem to get their heads around this principle. Wait, maybe they can and what you have warned against is exactly what they want to happen! They clearly do not want “limited government” so instead of giving them the benefit of the doubt I must call into question their motives, plans, objectives, and agenda. If the destruction of America and growing an all-encompassing and all-consuming Central Government is the goal, then the direction you are taking us is the one to accomplish that. However, let it be known that the majority of the American people DO NOT WANT THAT!

Listen to the following:

“The principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale.” – Thomas Jefferson

Mr. Jefferson clearly understood that the insane spending of money that one does not have as our present government is doing or any government does is nothing more than “swindling” the people. It is “theft” on a grand scale and felonious larceny. Acts of Congress may make it legal but morally it is criminal. Yet, the left, progressive, socialist, and professional political elitist have, no other desire than to pursue this with their all.

Once more in the following quote we find a keen understanding of what is important regarding government and economics and the Constitutional restraints placed on the Federal Government. Yet we seem to have been so passive that we allowed our liberties stripped from us and are now in a dire crisis.

Listen to this:

“I place economy among the first and most important virtues, and public debt as the greatest of dangers to be feared. To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. If we run into such debts, we must be taxed in our meat and drink, in our necessities and in our comforts, in our labor and in our amusements. If we can prevent the government from wasting the labor of the people, under the pretense of caring for them, they will be happy.” – Thomas Jefferson

My firm conviction is we know what needs to be done. Therefore, the only question is: “Will We Do It?” November is the turning point for America and the Free World. Our vote in November will determine the fate of America and will have a major impact on the rest of the Free World as we know it. A vote for Obama will be a vote to end America. A vote for the Republican candidate will be a vote to seek the opportunity to see America restored. Again, that candidate may not be perfect or ideal but he or she will be infinitely better than what we now have and will give us the opportunity to take steps to salvage what is left of this beloved Republic. So, I call upon you to REMEMBER NOVEMBER and VOTE!

God bless you and God bless America!

WHY NOT A RESTORED AMERICA?


What is it that we need to do to see America restored to her former state of Constitutional greatness? What do we require to bring this nation back into compliance with the guidelines of the Constitution and bring the three branches of government into compliance? What do we require to rid ourselves of the elitist, professional political class who pass laws that do not apply to them and place burdens on the backs of the citizenry that are too heavy to bear?

I believe there are several things that must happen. These are my views and you may or may not share them but consider them:

1. We must return to God as did the founders and allow His influence upon the policies and practices of this nation. We have banned God from much of public society, allowed the murder of innocent unborn babies, restricted religious freedom and liberty, and taken numerous other actions that move us away from being a “Christian Nation.”
2. We must determine that we will not allow an elitist, professional political class to exist. That would mean possibly term limits or a concerted effort when we go to the polls to vote out anyone who demonstrates that propensity. Once they have been there a term or two it is time for them to go back to private live and earn a living like the rest of us.
3. We must, now, vote out Barack Obama to give us even the remote possibility of a nation to restore.
4. We must vote out every liberal, progressive, socialist who demonstrates a willingness to further causes such as the United Nations Agenda 21 and Sustainable Development Imitative.
5. We must find, through prayer, research, investigation, questions, and every other means available the most fiscally responsible, national defense conscious, and constitutionally minded individuals we can and back them with our finances, labors, and votes as well as our prayers.
6. We must not become weary in this effort and must remain united and strong willing to pay whatever cost to achieve this goal.

If we are willing to do those six things then we will see God move to help us have a restored America and buy us time. For those of us who want to see the lost brought into the kingdom that is important. For all who want to see the individual liberty and freedom that the Constitution and Bill of Rights affords us that is imperative. American hangs in the balance today and it is up to WE THE PEOPLE to rise above the rhetoric and lies perpetrated by the left-wing, progressive, socialist and labor tirelessly educating all who are educatable and present the truth so we can say that we have “sounded the warning.” It is my hope and prayer that you will REMEMBER NOVEMBER and fulfill your right, privilege, and duty and VOTE! God bless you and God bless America!

ENTITLEMENT IS THE DOORWAY TO SLAVERY…..


Some may take immediate offense to what I am going to say beginning with my title to this blog post but I believe that what I am going to say is both factual and a glaring truth begging for thought and discussion. I believe that the “Entitlement Mentality” cultivated in this country via “government handout programs” is enslaving millions and locking them in a system where they cannot succeed and become nothing more than slaves to the politicians in power, namely the Federal Government.

With my heritage, personal pride, desire for self-sufficient (that does not mean absence of God’s keeping, care, and provision), and to enjoy the self-esteem that comes from actually working to provide for those of my household and then hopefully have extra to help others, I reject this mentality. That sense of pride and accomplishment can only be realized through “work”, “ingenuity”, “enterprise”, and “venture” knowing there are risks and rewards involved in the process. It is, without question, an undermining of the psyche of any individual and their self-esteem always being on the dole with the government being your sole source of subsistence. It breeds a mentality that says, “I am entitled because ______________.” Over time it produces a generational curse that passed from generation to generation that presents the normal lifestyle as one that is always standing with a hand out rather than reaching for a hand up. It develops a mentality that seeks for ways to exploit, utilize, and milk the system for all it is worth to get what you believe you are “entitled to” for whatever reason. It doesn’t matter if it is racial, ideological, political, or something else but it destroys an entrepreneurial spirit, creativity, ingenuity, and a work ethic that says, “I want to carry my own weight and provide for my household, even if that provision is just the basics.”

I long to see a rekindling of the spirit that made America great in the beginning and has held her strong for over two centuries against continual assault of those who would destroy her. I long to see a rebirth of parents instilling in their children the philosophy that “life is not free” and “no one owes you anything”. Respect is an earned commodity. Success is an earned commodity. A willingness to roll up one’s sleeves and get your hands dirty, so to speak, is essential to a strong family, community, and nation. Had we not had that spirit during both World Wars who knows what language would be the, predominate one in America today and what dictatorial government we would be under. We have dug our way out of recessions and even depressions because of a willingness to work.

When government becomes our source they also become our masters. Government never gives anything without strings attached and with the current administration the strings are more stringent than ever and will become even more so if allowed to continue. Debt enslaves, and those to whom we are in debt literally “own” a part of us. Our founding fathers wanted to see an America where the Federal Government had a limited role in the lives of the people not a controlling, overreaching, over regulating dominance. They put in place checks and balances to make this possible but somehow as we sat silently in our slumber the politicians have undermined this process and violated the very principles and spirit of the founders setting in place the means to control us. We allowed it to happen! I blame them but I also blame us. We became too complacent and did not stay informed or engaged in demanding accountability from our elected officials. That gave power, greed, and corruption the opportunity to tempt and seduce them leading to a system where much of our liberty and many of our rights were lost. We can get them back but not without great effort and sacrifice.

If we could somehow convince people the “Entitlement Mentality” is nothing more than a political tool to “enslave people” we could easily clean house. Unfortunately, when people become accustomed to receiving a handout without having to work for it something happens inside and there is apprehension to kill the “goose” that is providing “golden eggs” for them. Many have blatantly told me, “Why would I work when I can make this amount from government entitlement programs without having to.” I have had them tell me, “I may never be rich this way but I don’t have to work and get a free ride.” History has informed and warned us that when people realize that they can vote themselves money, democracy is dead or will die. We are almost there, if we are not already.

My plea is pray like never before for this nation, and the leaders to see the light, return to the constitution and rule of law, and honor God. Additionally, I plead for active involvement in every political campaign from the lowest local office to the highest in the land by every citizen. If we do not become involved and make our voices and wishes known in a powerful way, the professional political class will continue ignoring us. We will move from a Constitutional Republican Democracy to a Tyrannical Government where Big Brother controls us in every aspect and dimension of life.

What do you want? What are you willing to give to see America restored? How much are you willing to tolerate? What freedoms do you feel you can afford to give up? Answer those questions and you will know what to do in November 2012 when election time rolls around. Then by all means VOTE!

May God bless you and may God bless America!

IGNORING THE FACT WILL NOT MAKE THEM GO AWAY….


With gas, food, and many other goods and services soaring in price, one would think that this President would at least listen to the desires of the American people, but he doesn’t. He has an agenda and his determination to carry it out regardless of what Congress says, the Courts rule, the Constitution details, and the American people desire is more than a little troubling. It is as if he has such tunnel vision and believes that he is actually smarter than all of us combined thus ignoring the facts.

He has ignored the warnings of European nations that have voiced their concern regarding our economic direction and is taking us down the path that caused chaos in many of those nations. He has ignored history and is pressing us toward socialism with the repeated examples of the failure of that policy. He has ignored the wishes of the American people regarding Obamacare, oil production, taxes, and spending. With the help of the Democrat controlled Congress rammed Obamacare down our throats and the bill passed with Ms. Pelosi saying, “Pass it and then we’ll find out what is in it.” Excuse me, but I would never conduct personal business that way and am highly offended when the federal government takes that approach. It was a slap in the face of the working, tax paying, voting, American citizens virtually telling us that we were not intelligent enough to understand the bill even if we were able to read it before it passed. Instead we are finding out as time passes the ominous things that are in the so-called Health Care Bill that have nothing to do with health care but designed to “control.” The ramifications of that bill alone are so far-reaching that it will destroy small business and the American way of life if allowed full implementation.

His own Energy Secretary has publicly stated that they do not want to drive down prices but drive us from fossil fuels and into alternative energy vehicles and sources. He has stated and now backtracked because of the political winds, that gas prices consistent with those of Europe would be what they desired. The President stated that “supply” was not the solution and then urged the Arab world and Brazil to increase production. Sorry, Mr. Obama but you cannot have it both ways. Either supply helps or it doesn’t and if it doesn’t then we do not need more imported oil, but you and everyone else knows we need the oil. For decades we have been hearing from the left-wing liberals and environmentalist that it would take ten years if we drilled for it to do any good. Imagine that, we could be reaping the benefits now had we drilled a decade or more ago. In fact, if we had begun drilling three years ago we would be that much closer to not being dependent on foreign oil. A glaring display of radical ideology is the Keystone pipeline that this President opposes which would bring immediate help but no, instead if we get that oil it will come via his buddy Warren Buffet’s railroad making him billions in the process.

History has demonstrated that raising taxes does not stimulate the economy it does the opposite but this President has engaged in playing the race and class envy cards to pit Americans against Americans for his personal political gain. Why should success be punished? I do not want to punish successful people. The very people who create the jobs that we so desperately need find themselves targets and demonized by this administration calling them the 1% and taking actions which will drive their business ventures from our shores to foreign lands. The progressive tax system is not only, not following the design of the Founding Fathers it is so counter-productive that anyone with a simple understanding of the Constitution and history can clearly see. Ignoring the facts won’t change it.

This Administration has ignored the real unemployment numbers by playing with the elements used to create the statistics. Why don’t we just stop counting people after a period of time and that way the percentage will be more favorable. It doesn’t help those needing a job but makes the President’s numbers look better. Additionally, why not seek to have more and more people dependent upon the federal government for their livelihood so they dare not vote out the present administration for fear that they might lose their gravy train. Please understand I am not opposed to helping someone who is truly needy but opposed to a lifestyle of dependency with no desire to break that cycle.

This would be the most transparent administration in American history according to candidate Obama but has proven otherwise. It has become the most secretive and deceptive of any in the past. Their approach would be like ignoring the check engine light on the dash of the car thinking if we ignore it no problem exists. Probably more accurate would be to disable the light entirely so you don’t see it and if you don’t see it then there surely is no problem. I’ve known people treat who their health that way saying, “What I don’t know won’t hurt me.” Wrong, it could kill you and this President and his cohorts are killing America. It is time that we, the American people who are God-fearing, hard-working, tax-paying citizens to say ENOUGH! It is time that we send a great many of the present political occupants of offices in Washington, DC to the unemployment line. Well, at least send them back home and prevent them from using Congress or the Whitehouse to do further damage to America. I really don’t care what party the culprits are in, if they are voting for things that bring harm to this great nation, then I want them shown the highway!

Mr. President, members of Congress, jurist on the Supreme Court, and judges across the land WE THE PEOPLE have had enough. We want our country restored to the Constitutional Republic our founders envisioned and enacted, with WE THE PEOPLE having the power. We are becoming involved again and hopefully it is not too late to put the brakes on this runaway spending socialism train that you have put us on and move it off the tracks and replace it with American exceptionalism and ingenuity. We want to return to our roots and allow God his rightful place in society and put the Constitution back in its rightful place as a pillar upon which our government will operate. So I urge each of you to REMEMBER NOVEMBER and vote to restore America and stop the madness.

AMERICA IS IN TROUBLE, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?


I could take the attitude that no action is necessary because God is Sovereign and controls all things. I do believe that God is Sovereign! That being said I also believe that God expects us to “do what is right” in every area of life, including the political. If I were to sit idly by and watch America, a nation founded on principles so friendly to individual liberties and the teachings of Scripture, I would feel I had betrayed the trust God gave me. Throughout human history we have records of nation after nation attempting to ensure those “inalienable rights” that God has given every person. Repeatedly those nations fell, prey to power-hungry ambitious people who plunged them into tyranny. A quote from George Santayana is applicable, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” That defines my passion to see as many people “informed”, regarding our government, true history, and the perils of continuing on the path that restricts, limits, and even abolishes our freedoms.

We live in a “Free Society” and all “Free Societies” seek to establish governments designed to protect the rights of individuals, especially the inalienable rights of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” James Madison was right when he declared, “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.” Sadly, we are not and some government is necessary, otherwise we would have total anarchy and none of us want that. History is replete with examples of how governments acted to restrict or disallow private ownership of land, redistribute the wealth, and censor speech, and expression. Each of those resulted in the collapse of that nation’s economy, the loss of freedom, and ultimately the end of that nation as a Free Society!

The permanent professional political class, has demonstrated a uniform desire to “grow government” regardless of party. Why? Because it perpetuates their way of life; and gives them an incredible amount of power frequently increasing their personal wealth. When government expands to the point of controlling the lives of every individual directly or indirectly by deciding what we eat, what we drive, where we live, work, how much we can earn or keep of those earnings, it is “out of control.” I believe that is a time when the public MUST take whatever measures are necessary to “rein it in”, and “reduce its size” to a manageable and constitutional level. We know from history there is a point of no return in supporting an endless number of so-called “good causes”. History has demonstrated that when any society follows that path it becomes collectivist, then tyrannical. Upton Sinclair, author of “The Jungle”, a socialist, and founder of the consumer protection movement, wrote to six-time presidential candidate Norman Thomas of the Socialist Party of America in 1951: “The American People will take Socialism, but they won’t take the label… Running on the Socialist ticket I got 60,000 votes, and running on the slogan to “End Poverty in California” I got 879,000… There is no use attacking it by a frontal attack, it is much better to out-flank them.” In the past few decades, we have realized just how true those words are.

In Ancient Greece, Polybius said, “democracy in its turn is abolished and changes into a rule of force and violence as the people grow more accustomed to feed at the expense of others and to depend for their livelihood on the property of others.” The U.S. Government under Barack Obama is taking us down the path of a “total welfare society” with “complete dependence” on the Federal Government for our livelihood. He and many politicians are calling “rights” things that are not “rights”; such as “the right to high quality education, the right to free or affordable health care and housing, etc.” They promise to provide those things, telling us that it will actually reduce the overall cost. Yet, ANYONE in their right mind and with an elementary knowledge of economics knows that the exact opposite is true.

If you study Ancient Greece, you find interesting clues as to this country’s fate. Aristotle described the characteristics of a tyrant and speaks so profoundly to our current situation it is frightening. He said, “Another mark of a tyrant is that he likes foreigners better than citizens, and lives with them and invites them to his table; for the one are enemies, but the others enter into no rivalry with him.” Additionally, “From democracy tyrants have borrowed the art of making war upon the notables and destroying them secretly or openly, or exiling them because they are rivals and stand in the way of their power; and also because plots against them are contrived by men of this class, who either want to rule or to escape subjection.” Does that sound familiar? The use of class warfare by this President is a perfect example. Today, we see politicians using class envy, race, gender, sexual preference, and a host of other things as tools to divide people and thereby enlarge their bases of support. Frequently, they tell one group one thing and another something dramatically different. The disturbing thing is if the mass media supports those candidates and their ideologies they are able commit those inconsistencies with impunity. On the other hand, their opponents doing the same face vilification as vile, evil, and mean-spirited liars. Aristotle also taught that a tyrant maintains power in three distinct ways:

1. Humiliation of his subjects. (Wow, is that ever-present today!)
2. Creating mistrust among and between people. (Divide and conqueror)
3. Relegating his subjects to a status where they are incapable of resisting. (Does making one totally dependent on government for their livelihood fall into this category? Would disarming the citizens meet this qualification?)

The history of Ancient Rome also gives us clear warning signs. Yet, for decades we have chosen to ignore those warnings. Julius Caesar was a skilled politician and orator. In order to gain the support of the masses, especially the poor, he promised to distribute food and money to them. He would become their source by providing the things they needed to live. His plan was to “redistribute the wealth” creating class warfare against those who had become affluent and prosperous through ingenuity and work. The Roman Empire fell, among other reasons, due to their increasing “tax burden, confiscation of wealth, devaluation of the currency, attempts to control prices, and regulate virtually every dimension of business and personal life.” Once the rich had either fled or been destroyed, the burden to feed the insatiable hunger of the government and this tyrant fell upon the poor who could not satisfy the demands, thus destroying the Empire.

Ancient Israel had one of the most efficient systems known to man. Most of the Western world’s legal and moral code comes from the Judeo-Christian philosophy, values, and beliefs. They operated with extremely limited government per se and yet had an incredible system of checks and balances. Private property was supremely protected by their laws. This has been a cornerstone in every free society. Our founders understood that this was a critical right whose defense was of utmost importance. In fact, Israel’s tax system remained constant for a period of over four hundred years. Somebody, explain that to Washington please!

Winston Churchill said of Russia and their system of government, “it is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” The Soviet Union that emerged was an advocate for totalitarianism, Marxist socialism, or communism. Their system is a proven failure. Alexis de Tocqueville said in 1848, “Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word, equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.” Winston Churchill characterized it in this manner, “The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings. The inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.” Today, we have lunatics and tyrants such as Hugo Chavez whose outlandish statements such as the following are beyond comprehension, “I am a socialist and I follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, who was the first socialist, just as Judas was the first capitalist.”

I do not have time to go into the many other countries which followed the path to totalitarianism and tyranny such as Italy or Germany under the Nazis and Hitler. Hitler was frequently lauded by well-meaning people and usurpers of power that he was a god. Eventually he believed it himself. He envisioned himself as a savior of a “super race” and believed that his ideology was the only acceptable approach. In many ways, that reminds me of someone in Washington today; at least the god and ideology part. The ultimate demise of Italy’s Fascist Government was, in part, fueled by their efforts to support the economy through increased spending and continually expanding the public works programs. This only served to increase the deficit making it unsustainable and resulted in the crumbling of the nation’s economy and political system.

That brings me to the United States of America in the year 2012. Our founder’s intent was to create a system that encouraged “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” They hoped to promote freedom, give national stability and unrestrained free enterprise. Their vision held that this would result in America becoming the world’s greatest economy and military superpower, spreading liberty and freedom across the globe. Politicians in their quest for power have sought to grow a much larger and centralized government. This action has transformed the representative government envisioned by the founders into an incredibly large interventionist organism that seeks to control every aspect of people’s lives. Who is to blame? WE ARE! We allowed it to happen. Thomas Jefferson said, “It is the people who are the ultimate guardians of their own liberty.” Alexander Hamilton said, “We are now forming a republican government. Real liberty is neither found in despotism, nor in the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments.” John Locke said it most eloquently as he identified the role of government as that of protecting the “natural rights of life, liberty, and estate.” In Federalist No. 47 James Madison warned, “The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.” How we need to heed that warning in today’s America! The use of czars, federal agencies, courts, and circumventing the Constitution frequently by Barack Obama, meets this definition. His determined desire is implementation of his ideology, bypassing the constitutionally designed and defined system of “checks and balances.” He does this unapologetically and if given four more years will proceed with much more boldness and determination in total disregard for the will or welfare of the American people.

So what do we do? For me there are several things that I MUST do!

1. Engage in intercessory prayer for the nation, the leaders, and the people. That is the first order of business in my view, but I understand that the order may differ for others.
2. Diligently work through writing, speaking, praying, and working to convince as many as possible of the dangers inherent in the current path being taken.
3. Attempt to expose the falsehoods told to the American people by this Administration and the left.
4. Attempt to articulate the Constitutional ideology the founder’s clearly defined in the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, their numerous writings, papers, and books.
5. Contribute and seek to raise funds for those candidates whom I believe most nearly embody the principles of liberty that God and the founders envisioned.
6. Go to the polls, exercise my right, privilege, and duty and vote. It is my view, that if I do not vote I am voting, by abstention, to continue the current path.

I realize that this is a brief synopsis of where we are today, although not a short post. I hope that as you take the time to read this you will find inspiration to join the effort to get the message out in support of freedom and liberty! It is my firm conviction that God will take care of His children. I also believe that it is our responsibility to labor for our fellow-man and future generations. It is our responsibility to endeavor to ensure they have the privilege of living in freedom and liberty. If you desire to use any or all of this post please feel free to do so. If you know anyone it might benefit, please forward it to them. I would consider it an honor should you decide to follow my future posts. May God bless you in your efforts for America and His Kingdom and may the blessings and favor of God be upon America and the Free World!

CAN AMERICA SURVIE?


We have never been at this juncture in the history of America! We are living in uncharted waters politically, economically, individually, nationally, and even spiritually. I have often wondered what our Founding Fathers would think if they were able to step on the scene of American politics today. We have allowed our nation to drift far from their expressed and intended purpose and design for this great nation. We can blame the left, the liberals, the socialist, the Democrats, and Republicans; but if we are honest, the ultimate blame comes back to us. We allowed it to happen! We have been the proverbial frog in the pan where the water was gradually heated and instead of leaping out of the pan the poor frog sat there until he died. We have watched a slow erosion of our liberties, the dismantling and circumventing of the Constitution; and possibly because it did not directly impact us or did not impact us too severely we did nothing. We watched and sent the same politicians back to Washington again and again to create this untenable situation and unsustainable debt that our great-grandchildren will be unable to pay. The question is frequently posed to and asked by me, “Can America Survive?” Can we survive if we do not put the brakes on this runaway train and reign in the abuse of our Constitutional liberties and freedoms? I believe it is time to bring Washington to its knees and boot out those who will not truly be “Servants of the People” and “Represent We the People.”

Although it is not a new thought I have been contemplating the last Presidential election and I saw how the candidate Barack Hussein Obama, Barry Sorento or whoever he really is, the left, and the media conspired to elect an individual who was completely unqualified for the job. They hid relevant personal information that no other has been able to hide. They labeled anyone who questioned him or anything he had done or not done as a racist. There was such infatuation with the idea of the first black President that they overlooked that he is half white and completely disconnected from the black man or woman of this country whose lineage is traceable to slavery. Yet the black community overwhelmingly voted for him not based on policy or ideology but because of the color of his skin. I know this was true for many, because I questioned numerous people, raising particular issues without identifying them as Republican or Democrat issues and almost 100% of the time they would state that they opposed it. Yet, when I would identify that the issue we were discussing were views held by Mr. Obama himself, they would tell me, “I don’t care, I’m voting for him because he is black.” If I stated publicly that I was voting for anyone because they were white, I’d be branded a racist; so, please tell me how their action is not? I do not vote for a candidate based on skin color but ideology, philosophy, record, and what platform they embrace.

We are now facing another Presidential election with this same individual seeking a second term. Sadly many are still adopting the same stance they had during the first election. Admittedly, many are voting to stay on the dole; they do not want to kill the goose that laid the golden egg for them. They want to keep receiving from the government, so they do not have to do what the rest of us do, work to earn a living and live within their means. They are willing to give up their liberties and allow the government to make life decisions for them. They expect this President and his party redistribute the nations wealth (although taking from the middle class could hardly be described as wealth, because the middle class are not wealthy). They want anyone who has invested themselves and accomplished success punished and forced to support them without having to spend the energy, develop the ideas, and run the risk of losing everything themselves.

We have a President that has openly stated in his book, that “if the political winds turn sour he would side with the Muslims.” He has alienated our friends and embraced those who would destroy this country and even vow to do so. We have a President who openly laments that the Constitution restricts him from being able to do all he desires to do to bring this country into a state of tyrannical rule and socialism. We have a President who is so narcissistic; he either cannot or will not open his eyes and see the price the American people are paying and will pay for generations for his policies and actions. We have a President who wants to not just punish but obliterate anyone who opposes him. He goes out of his way to put in place Czars and use agencies of the Federal Government to take punitive action against businesses and individuals that he does not like and that are vocal in their opposition to his policies and ideology.

He has openly stated that he wants to change the National Anthem to something that does not inspire the patriotic spirit that our current one does. He wants something less offensive to those in nations that hate us and for what we stand. He wants to eliminate any reference to bombs bursting in air or our military might. He has expressed that for those reasons both he and his wife have disdain and they even harbor hatred for the flag of this great nation. He did that in a 60 Minutes interview that the network conveniently edited out so the public would find it difficult to know how he really views this nation. (Imagine that! They spent 20 years in the Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s Church, where that type of thought was regularly preached from the pulpit. His mentors were domestic terrorist, and those who would destroy our system of Capitalism. His father was an avowed hater of both the British & Americans and espoused the ideology of anti-capitalism and was anti-globalist, wanting to bring down the Western world.)

We have a President who continues to live the life of extravagance while most Americans are struggling to keep their heads above water economically. I do not begrudge any President a vacation but the number of vacations, the entourage that follows him, and the expense to the American taxpayer troubles my sensibilities. It is beyond rational comprehension, considering the economic times we are experiencing. He spends like money grows on trees and seems to give no thought to how future generations will pay the tab. He claims that he wants us to become less dependent on foreign oil but refuses to allow us to tap our natural resources here in this country which would more than offset our need for foreign oil. We could have the oil, natural gas, and develop alternative energy sources at the same time, but his hatred for the oil companies and desire to totally control prevents him from allowing us to glean that which God has provided under our soil to keep us free and whole. He told us before his election that he would fundamentally change America. He has, and is in the process of dismantling the very framework of this Nation. He is putting people in the judiciary who will trash the Constitution that is so precious and vital to our continued liberty and freedom.

I have had people tell me that America deserves him and that it is God’s judgment upon us for our sinfulness. To that I have to protest and say “nobody deserves this.” I do not believe that God’s desire is to see America destroyed while allowing nations such as China, Iran, and other totalitarian governments to flourish and survive. I know the Biblical prophecies regarding the “End Times.” I know that for many of the prophecies to come to pass America and Britain as free nations cannot continue and will ultimately fall. Yet, will it be God’s judgment on these nations or our slothfulness that brings it to pass? You might argue that they are the same but I challenge you to think that through.

If you hold your freedom precious and love this Nation then you face a critical decision in November 2012. You can support someone with a legitimate chance of unseating this current President and give us a chance to recover or you can vote for Obama or someone who will effectively take votes away from a viable candidate and consequently cast a ballot for the current President. Some will not like that statement and probably no longer want to hear what I have to say; but, I know it is the truth. I do not like voting for the lesser of two evils or having to settle, but I can see no future in this President having a second term. I too am a man of principle and hold my faith very dear. That is why I have said repeatedly that I will diligently seek the face of God to find out for whom I am to cast my ballot. I believe the Spirit of God’s direction, at this time, is for me to vote for the Republican candidate and endeavor to get as many others to do the same as I possibly can. If God directs me differently I will obey His direction.

Until the decision is final I will continue to pray that God moves on the hearts of voters to select the individual He desires as the nominee. Once the process of nomination is complete, I pray that God moves on the heart of that nominee to align himself or herself with His purposes and desires of the Kingdom of God. I pray that the nominee puts the nation ahead of any personal agenda. I pray that God moves on the hearts of men and women throughout this nation to vote as He desires and to seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness. I love God and love this country. I fought under her flag and will do so again if necessary to preserve her.

I pray that this next year brings you everything that you need, and that you walk in health and wholeness. I pray that God directs your path and opens the doors He wants you to go through and closes the ones that are not His purpose for your life. I pray that you prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers. May God bless you richly and may God bless America! Whatever you do, please stay energized and active in securing for America a Hope that is real and a Future filled with continued Liberty and Justice for All as One Nation under God! Thank you for reading this post. If you wish to share it please feel at complete liberty to do so!

WHAT WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO DIE FOR?


That is a question I’ve been asked and asked on numerous occasions and it is something I have given a great deal of thought to. The reason that I am writing about it now is the current condition of the world, the state of affairs in the United States of America, and my belief as to the time in which we are now living. I fully believe that the time will come when a very literal challenge with regard to this question will confront us. I have no desire to appear morbid or a doomsday prophet but from a biblical perspective I truly believe we are living in what the Bible calls “The Last Days.” Thus, according to the Book of Revelation and other passages in Scripture, it is entirely possible that some, if not many of us, will face this challenge.

From a purely political standpoint we could well be living in “The Last Days of America” as we have known it. I am completely convinced that the elections of November 2012 will be the most crucial that we have faced in our lifetime and the outcome could bring this country to a precipice that could plunge it into a very violent and dangerous condition. I am not advocating armed resistance, just stating what appears obvious; America is heading rapidly down the path of “Socialism” and the loss of our Constitutionally, guaranteed “Individual Liberties & Freedoms.” When and if that day comes, as our Founding Fathers before us, the commitment of our very lives to save this country from those who would enslave the populace with governmental regulation and control, literally making each of us wards of the State against our wills and in violation to the Constitution of these United States could be asked. I do not want to see that happen and my commitment to prayer, educating the voting public, and encouraging everyone to exercise their right, privilege, and duty to VOTE is unwavering.

But, back to my question for a moment please. In the mid to late 1960’s I entered the military and the following Oath of Enlistment was administered:

I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

If your commission was as an officer your Oath was as follows:

“I, (state your name), having been appointed a (rank) in the United States (branch of service), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the office upon which I am about to enter. So help me God.”

The President of the United States has a less demanding Oath but still one that is quite solemn and demanding. It is as follows:

I (state your name) do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.

In my mind, each of these oaths requires the individual to commit themselves to that pledge to the point of death, if necessary, to fulfill the promise made. Also, at my discharge they did not have me recite nullification of that pledge so I consider it a lifetime pledge to my country. For the President not only is he/she to execute the office but pledges to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. We have a President today that believes the Constitution outdated and obsolete. He sees it as a hindrance rather than protection of individual rights, freedoms, and liberties. He would suspend, by-pass, or abolish it and replace it was something that would allow him to operate as an Imperial Dictator, which to some degree he is now through various agencies, departments, executive orders, and his Czars. We are at a cross-road and unless the designed checks and balances provided by the Constitution properly function we will lose this country to an ideology that detests the American Flag, the American Constitution, the American Ideal, the Free Market, and a Free Society. I for one do not want to see this continue and am diligently working and committed to prayer for this nation and her people. I do pray for our leaders. I pray that they become obedient to God, turn their hearts to Him and any efforts they plan or devise to bring down this nation fails. I pray for their souls but do not pray for success in efforts to destroy the very foundational principles of this nation. It matters not to me which party they are in, if they plan schemes of destruction I pray to God that they be exposed to the light of truth and their efforts fail.

I recall, in Scripture, when Jesus was preparing to go to the Cross, He informed His disciples of His upcoming fate and Peter made his bold claim in Matthew 26:35 that even if he had to die he would not deny Jesus. However, we all know the account that Peter did deny the Lord and only after the resurrection was he restored and became a stalwart for God even in death in later years. It is not only possible but probable that the ultimate decision of “bowing the knee to Baal” or as the Hebrew Children “choosing the fiery furnace” will confront us. America needs her patriots to rise up and stand tall and firm, the like of which has not been known since the Revolutionary War. We may have differences in preference of political candidates and ideology but one thing, hopefully, we can all agree on is AMERICA IS WORTH PRESERVING! That effort will require sacrifice, labor, funds, and an enormous amount of intercessory prayer on the part of every believer and every citizen. Of course, I do not live in an Ivory Tower so I know that all will not heed this call, but if we can find a few that will become “watchmen on the walls” we can turn the tide that has swept this country and brought her to the brink of destruction. I encourage you to join me and countless thousands if not millions of others who have committed to seeing AMERICA RESTORED to the Greatness she has known through the years.

OUR OBJECTIVE:

1. A Federal Government reigned in and LIMITED as the Founders envisioned and laid the foundation and framework for.
2. All career politicians defeated and people sent to Washington that truly believe that their reason for being there is to represent WE THE PEOPLE!
3. FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY restored at every level of government and the JUDICIARY brought back to the position that the Constitution and our Founding Fathers desired and we need.

This task will neither be easy or quick. It may take decades to fully see it take place, if we have that long but it is worth the effort! My children and grandchildren deserve better than what they are being given and I am willing to sacrifice even my life to see them given back an America that is “One Nation under God with Liberty and Justice for all.”

Back to my original question: “What are you willing to give your life for?” I will give mine for my faith, my family, and my country! I hope that we see this transpire through efforts of education of the masses and at the polls. I hope that cooler heads prevail and hearts become open to the direction and leadership of God. I hope that we NEVER reach the place that the founders declared was our duty should the government become tyrannical and move completely outside the bounds established by the Constitution. I ask you to join me in prayer for America. If you, as I, believe she is worth saving then this will be a commitment you can readily make and a sacrifice though burdensome worthy of commitment to.

As we celebrate Christmas tomorrow, in peace, it is my prayer that the Peace of God rule our hearts and lives through Christ Jesus our Lord and that America is kept free from tyrannical ideologies that would destroy her! So I conclude by saying God Bless America and God Bless you. May you have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and an incredibly PROSPEROUS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

SIMPLE QUESTIONS REGARDING THE INTENT OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS FOR AMERICA….


What did they really want for this nation when they labored to secure our liberty from King George’s tyranny? What did they have in mind when they labored, debated, deliberated, and collaborated to put into print the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights? What did they want to avoid and what did they want to secure and ensure would be preserved for posterity into perpetuity?

I fully believe that if more Americans truly pondered those questions we would come to a better understanding of what their intent was and would become more involved in the political process of this nation rather than allowing the professional politicians to destroy the very fabric of our founding principles and take away our individual liberties and freedoms.

It is my firm conviction that when Thomas Jefferson penned the following it sent political shock waves around the world and resonated with virtually every person desiring liberty and freedom:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

This was a direct challenge to the “divine right of kings” and an acknowledgement of “God’s supreme authority” and that there were certain rights that could only come from God and were the rights of every living man, woman, and child. It put in place the realistic possibility of establishing the “Proper Role of Government” and limited it in its scope and sphere. I fully believe that the founding fathers would “weep” if they saw what is happening today in this great land. It is my belief that if we as Americans truly want our “Republic”, the dream that the founding fathers held restored, we must educate ourselves in their vision and be willing to fight to the death for its reestablishment. We must demand that those in power in all three branches of government strictly adhere to and respect the Constitution of these United States of America.

We must:

1. Stop trading liberty for security or pseudo-security.
2. Stop thinking the role of government is active involvement in all aspects of our lives.
3. Take a good look at the proper role of government.
4. Understand that as government expands liberty contracts.
5. Understand that Government is best, when it governs least.

Mr. Jefferson, a true patriot, and lover of an America that was Free, made a most powerful statement:

“I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.”

They wrote the Bill of Rights to insure the liberty and freedom of every American citizen and provided the platform upon which the fledgling nation could grow rapidly with a solid foundation. The Bill of Rights is something that every American citizen should know by heart and treasure. It is something that we, hopefully, are willing to defend at all costs against those from any political party or faction that would diminish, set it aside, or destroy it.

We have been seeing a gradual erosion of our American Freedom for decades and now are on the fast track to total elimination of all individual rights and freedoms. We are moving from a Republican Democracy to a Socialistic Soft Tyranny at best and a Hard Tyranny at worst. We are presently regulated to the brink of extinction and every act of government seems to move us closer and closer to the point of no return where the “Centralized Federal Government” will be in TOTAL CONTROL. The founding fathers defended and demanded protection of “States Rights” and we are seeing that assaulted at a level never seen before, by the current administration.

So, what did the Founding Fathers want for America? They wanted Pure American liberty. They wanted a properly limited government and designed one. It is up to us as individual citizens to fight to see that restored. What is freedom worth to you? That is a question that only you can answer and your answer will determine your involvement and how you vote in ALL ELECTIONS!

I dare not conclude in any other way than say that it is my firm conviction that “until” we RETURN TO GOD with a whole heart we will not enjoy the Freedom and Liberty that the Founders designed and desired and God purposed for this nation. We have been a beacon shining into a darkened world for a long time and can continue being just that if we “turn our hearts” to God fully, pray fervently, and work diligently. It is my sincere desire that God guide your footsteps, guard and protect you and your family in all things, and provide you with the needs of your life spiritually, materially, physically, emotionally, and relationally. This country is worth spending our all to protect and our faith is worth dying for!

May God’s richest and best be yours in all things!

FREE THINKING OR INDEPENDENT THINKING…..


Someone said in a Face Book post the other day that they were a “free thinker” to explain their negativity and cynicism. I found that most interesting and somewhat disturbing. I’ve known many people through the years that claim this title of either being a “Free Thinker” or an “Independent Thinker” and yet frequently the analysis of their thought process and conclusions begs to counter that self-labeling. Frequently, they are simply negative, pessimistic, and cynical. Many times it appears that they are attempting to hide behind the mask of “Free Thinking” or “Independent Thinking” to cover their own “self-doubts” and “confusion”.

If we look at an accepted definition of both we find the following:

1. Free-Thinking: Being unwilling to accept authority or dogma (especially in religion).
2. Independent Thinking: This differs from critical thinking, which is the process used to collect and process information to arrive at a logical conclusion. In other words, independent thinking has more to do with the desire to think for oneself and critical thinking is the process used to deal with information.

Free-thought is a philosophical viewpoint which holds that opinions should be formed on the basis of science, logic, and reason, and should not be influenced by authority, tradition, or other dogmas. The cognitive application of free-thought is known as “free-thinking” and practitioners of “free-thought” are known as “free-thinkers.”

Free-thought holds that individuals should not accept ideas proposed as truth without recourse to knowledge and reason. Thus, free-thinkers strive to build their opinions on the basis of facts, scientific inquiry, and logical principles, independent of any logical fallacies or intellectually limiting effects of authority, confirmation of bias, cognitive bias, conventional wisdom, popular culture, prejudice, sectarianism, tradition, urban legend, and all other dogmas. Regarding religion, free-thinkers hold that there is insufficient evidence to support the existence of supernatural phenomena. So, if you self-describe yourself as a “free-thinker”, especially in matters of faith you dismiss God’s existence and would therefore either be an agnostic or an atheist. In the Christian faith there are some things that we cannot prove scientifically, yet for those of us who believe, there is overwhelming indication that the Bible is true, God created the world, and Jesus is the Son of God who came in the form of man, lived a sinless life, and gave His life as a ransom for our eternal salvation. In that light I am most assuredly not a “free-thinker”. [I’m not sure whom to give credit for part of this paragraph]

What do we find when we examine the idea of “independent-thinking?” Typically the accepted idea is that “independent-thinkers” are analytical and witty persons. They are normally “self-confident” and do not let themselves get worked up by “conflicts” and “criticism”. They are very much aware of their own strengths and have no doubts as to their abilities. People of this personality type are often very successful in their career as they have both “competence” and “purposefulness”. Independent Thinkers are frequently specialists in their field or sphere. Development of their ideas and visions is important to them; they love being as flexible as possible, and ideally, of being able to work alone because they often find it a strain having to make their complex trains of thought understandable to other people. Independent Thinkers cannot stand routine. Once they consider an idea a good one it is difficult to make them give it up; they pursue implementation of that idea obstinately and persistently, also in the face of external opposition.

I would suggest that many confuse being a “free-thinker” with being a “free-spirit”, defined as “one who is not restrained, as by convention or obligation; a nonconformist.” I suppose that could be both good and bad but taken to its extreme would be anarchy and render the person incapable of melding into society in a productive manner and trying to make it better from within. In its extreme it is basically “lawlessness”.

We see many today who self-describe themselves as “free-thinkers”, “independent-thinkers”, or “free-spirits” when they are nothing more than cynical, skeptics who live in the squalor of their anger at “the establishment” living with their “victim mentality”, and believing that “society owes them something”. They see no reason to become productive members of society and labor for their reward. They are perfectly content to sit idly and spout ideological theories about anyone who is a productive part of society. They give little consideration to how their attitude and actions affect others and the drain that they place on those who do strive for success, productivity, and being cooperative members of society as a whole.

Therefore, before you label yourself a “free-thinker”, “independent-thinker” or “free-spirit” consider what that means in the big picture. How does that affect your ability to develop a “committed faith” in God and His Word? How does that affect your ability to live as a contributing member of society as a whole? Also, please examine the potential “selfishness” of your attitude and the lack of “otherness”, which is one of the key tenets of the Bible. I believe that the Bible teaches us that we should have as our first allegiance and focus “God”, then we should consider “others”, and finally turn the focus to “ourselves.” If we have an “upward look”, then an “outward look”, our “inward look” will be healthy and wholesome free of “selfishness” and “self-centeredness”. The philosophy that “I have to look out for number one, because no one else will” is foreign to the teachings of our Lord!

I see this in society. I see it in the church and I see it in the political world. The good of the whole finds itself on the back burner and becomes subservient to the desires of the individual. “What’s in it for me?” is too frequently the guide by which many live, and vote. I served in Vietnam and my question was not “what’s in it for me?” My question was, “what do I need to do?” I’ve served in the ministry and my question was not “what’s in it for me?” My question was “how can I serve?” I am a parent and grandparent and my question cannot be and has not been, “what’s in it for me?” It is and always has been, “what are the needs of my family?” If that means I must sacrifice then so be it. I quote from John 3:30 – “He must increase, but I must decrease.” If Jesus becomes NUMBER ONE in my life my “thinking” will align itself with His thoughts and will NEVER be “independent” of the Holy Spirit’s guidance. I will ALWAYS find myself seeking to work in harmony with Him rather than following my own individualistic desires, goals, ambitions, and plans. So, I guess I cannot call myself a “free-thinker” though I seek for all the truth. I cannot call myself an “independent-thinker” consumed with my own ideas. Nor can I call myself a “free-spirit” because I have no desire to live life separate from the guidance and leadership of the Holy Spirit. I do believe that I practice “Critical Thinking” because I do desire to know “truth” and all aspects of “truth”. That is why I reject sectarianism and am willing to listen to other ideas, thoughts, philosophies, and beliefs. I “know whom and what I believe” and am not “easily tossed about by every wind of doctrine” that comes my way. Yet, I also know that NONE OF US have a corner on truth and NONE OF US know everything there is to know about the Bible, God, or Life itself.

In politics I am of the conservative mind-set because I believe it espouses what the Bible teaches more than the liberal, progressive, socialist movements. I have compassion for my fellow-man, love my country, love my family, and more importantly love my God. It is my conviction that there is “HOPE” because God is our hope and His promises are sure! I believe we can become slothful and neglect our responsibility to God, Country, and Family. That is the primary driving force behind my becoming involved in political things as well as continually striving to communicate what I believe is the truth of God’s Word to whomever, will listen.

You may not agree with my analysis in this post and that is most assuredly your right and prerogative. I welcome your comments, criticisms, expansions upon my thoughts, and any differing points of view. I want to broaden my understanding in all areas of life and yet I do not want to become as Paul described in 2 Timothy 3:7 as someone who is “ever learning but never able to come to a knowledge or understanding of the truth.” We have a great country that is worth defending and I applaud your efforts to stand for what you believe whether that agrees with my beliefs or not. With that I say, God bless you and God bless America!