Understandably, some may dismiss my concerns, labeling me as a conspiracy theorist or a religious fanatic. However, I refuse to be deterred from addressing a topic that is rapidly becoming a norm in our technological society.  As a student of the Bible, a follower of Jesus Christ, an American veteran, and a lover of freedom, I share a common concern with many about the potential impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

While I may not possess the technical credentials to speak authoritatively on AI, I can refer to those who do and share their concerns. I can also draw upon biblical texts, which I believe offer valuable insights into the potential implications of AI and today’s technological advancements.

In our current society, the blurring of terms and values has created a breeding ground for the sinister to emerge from the shadows and infiltrate every aspect of life. This could be both beneficial and perilous.  Years ago, during my computer training, there was a saying: GIGO. ‘Garbage in, Garbage out.’ 

The technologues of that day were convinced that the computer wizardry becoming prevalent totally depended upon the programming.  I believe, as do some technological giants in that industry, that idea is no longer exclusively valid. 

We live in a time when everything is being redefined, including ‘intelligence.’  There is a desire to redefine other words or states, such as ‘consciousness.’  We know that today’s technology with ‘drones’ is reshaping many things militarily, educationally, scientifically, and medically, as well as how we conduct business.  Some of them are wonderfully good, and some of them present incredibly dangerous possibilities.

The nations of the world are becoming heavily invested in ‘trans-humanism’ and seeking to create a new species of hybrid humans for military and other purposes.  One contributor to the technological advancements said they envision a time when we will achieve ‘technological Singularity.’  He explained that there would be a point of growth in technology where the technology would become ‘uncontrollable and irreversible.’  He believed that would result in unforeseeable changes in our human civilization through what they deemed an ‘upgrade’ via Artificial Intelligence [AI].

This is being promoted as ‘self-improvement;’ there are those who desire to become immortal and believe that connecting the computer to the human brain would allow their consciousness to live forever via a machine—having billions if not trillions of data available for medical researchers seems to be an incredible advancement.  It can be.  They insist that using AI to predict or develop strategies for economic growth and even warfare is beneficial and benign.  I ask, ‘Is it?”

I read that the head of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Klaus Schwab, declared, “We are at the beginning of a revolution that is fundamentally changing the way we live, work, and relate to one another.”  That is true, but is it good?  He longs for this ‘Great Reset.’

Elon Musk spoke at the MIT Aeronautics and Astronautics Department in 2014 at their Centennial Symposium and said, “With artificial intelligence, we are summoning the demon.”  At least two books discuss AI using that as their title.   Musk used this analogy, “You know all those stories where there’s the guy with a pentagram and the holy water, and he’s like…yeah, he’s sure he can control the demon, [but] it doesn’t work out.”  That’s my point: are we creating a monster we cannot control? 

With the depravity of the human heart and the consuming passion for control and dominance, what is to prevent the nefarious from using technology for genocidal events that would fulfill the desire of the Bill Gates types of the world in population reduction?  Most have seen the Sci-Fi movie “Terminator.”  We scoffed at the prospects and other movies that used AI to predict crimes and arrested people for what they might do rather than what they had done.  

I am aware that more than 350 AI researchers and engineers issued a warning that AI poses risks comparable to “severe pandemics and nuclear war.”  Geoffrey Hinton, often cited as the “godfather of AI,” left Google to sound the alarm.  He said, “This is not science fiction.  A lot of smart people should be putting a lot of effort into figuring out how we deal with the possibility of AI taking over.”  That is concerning, especially when it comes from someone on the ground floor of this technology.

When I read Revelation 13:15, I grow concerned, “The second beast was empowered to give life to the image of the first beast so that it could speak and could cause all those who did not worship the image of the beast to be killed.” 

How many of you have discussed something in your home and been inundated with advertisements for that item?  With the use of AI and the algorithms of Facebook and other social media platforms, we see it making significant inroads.  How much is designed to reshape how we think?  How much is designed to track us for whatever purposes?  How much of it is being used to strategize and implement plans for total control?  I do not know, but I am concerned.

Virtually no politician is willing to touch this except to sing its praises for the ‘betterment of mankind.’  Do we trust those in high-level governmental positions? Do we trust people like Dr. Anthony Fauci and the World Health Organization?  Do we trust the United Nations?  Do we trust the known despots and tyrants in the world who would like nothing better than to create an advantage for their schemes?   Then, maybe we should be concerned.

I have a response that is not technological or scientific.  I believe the best way to protect ourselves is to follow the directive of Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”  And Mark 12:30-31 – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your mind and with your strength. 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no commandment greater than these.”

Additionally, we have Philippians 4:6-7 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”   Then, Ephesians 6:10-18 gives us something we can embrace: the Whole Armor of God. 

I believe that without God’s help, we will be overcome by nefarious forces and people seeking ultimate power. I believe that with God’s help, we can be discerning, and His Holy Spirit will help us navigate the labyrinth of the unknown. We are not smart enough and dare not trust those who are with our lives or our eternal souls. 

That is my rant; do with it what you will. I am concerned. I applaud beneficial advancements in technology, but I cannot help but be concerned about something so potentially threatening.

God bless you, and God bless America!

Deception or ignorance can be intentional or unintentional, but the result is the same. It is gaslighting, smoke and mirrors, and whitewashing history. Is it successful? Often, it is because of personal preference, bias, prejudice, and the presence of hate!

The presumptive or guaranteed Democratic presidential nominee, now that BHO has endorsed her, is Kamala Harris.  Her record is impossible for any reasonable person to support, but when you mix the inordinate hate for Donald J. Trump, her past is inconsequential to millions.

This may get me kicked to the curb by those whose feelings are so sensitive that even the mention of some non-pc things sends them into an uncontrollable rage.  Kamala Harris has had a career of pretending to be marginalized.  Joe Biden promised and fulfilled his promise to have a Black woman as his running mate.  Qualifications were not part of the consideration, only skin color and gender.  However, ascribing to leftist ideological extremism was a plus.

The baleful ideology of racial equality is a key player in her campaign and attempted makeover.  That ideology is the force behind the push for reparations, racial preference, critical race theory being taught in our schools, and the defund-the-police movements.  Harris promoted bail funds for BLM rioters in 2020. 

She was, effectively if not officially, the ‘border czar’ of the Biden administration, which allowed the invasion of over ten million illegals from all over the world.  Unvetted and unhindered access to the USA is a serious national security threat.  But, alas, if you want to expand your voter base (legal or illegal), you do what you must, right?

There is neither time nor space to detail all the incredibly destructive policies she has supported in this blog.  I choose not to discuss the immoral or amoral behavior that enabled her to ascend to the pinnacle of the Democrat party. 

She has made some incredibly ludicrous statements, including her tweet on January 29, 2019, about Jussie Smollett.  “@JussieSmollett is one of the kindest, most gentle human beings I know.  I’m praying for his quick recovery.  This was an attempted modern-day lynching.  No one should have to fear for their life because of their sexuality or the color of their skin.  We must confront this hate.”   I agree with portions of her statement, but this was a rush to judgment not based on facts, which proved it was a fraud, not an actual attack on him.

She has two specific proposals that would complete the destruction of our economy and our republic.  The New Green Deal is one of the most transparent and prolific examples of her Socialist ideology.  This deal championed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) includes a laundry list of collectivists and destructive policies she pines for.  In just ten years, it would end access to gasoline-powered automobiles, oil and gas production, and other reliable energy sources!  Imagine the utter destruction if she were to become the President.

A second equally destructive proposal is the “Medicare-for-all” plan that Bernie Sanders and others of his ilk support.  When she vied for the Democrat Presidential Nomination in 2019, she made that one of the keystone portions of her policy agenda.

What would those two proposals or ideological aspirations do to America and Americans?  Taxes would skyrocket, inflation would become hyper, and most families would be sent to the poor house and possibly lose everything.  Consumer choice and shortages would be the natural result because many are connected to the fossil fuel industry.  It would affect healthcare, transportation, and virtually everything in our republic. 

Kamala Harris is well known for her illogical ‘word salad’ comments. Yet, in the new presentation of her ability and character, she is wiser than Solomon and the second coming of Jesus Christ. In one of her declarations, she attempted to explain her core ideology by saying, “Everyone ends up in the same place.”  That is Communism! 

Her complete statement was, “Americans must have a goal of saying everybody should end up in the same place. And since we didn’t start in the same place, some folks might need more equitable distribution.”  I believe that is the Leftist plan of ‘redistribution of wealth,’ which would destroy free enterprise.

Her support for ‘DEFUND THE POLICE’ was revealed in a video in which she said, “It’s about upending the system. We need to look at police budgets. More safety with more cops is wrong.”  She also said, “We need to reimagine how we are creating safety.”  She also denied that being an ‘illegal alien’ is a violation of our federal laws, saying, “It is not a crime.”  Well, yes, it is! She also has advocated the dissolution of ICE.

You may hate Donald J. Trump enough that you would vote for Lucifer himself.  I hope that is not the case, but some are so filled with hate, bias, and prejudice that they are unwilling to consider the policies, records, and agendas of the candidates.  The choice is easy for me when I consider the four years of the Trump administration and the almost four years of the Biden-Harris administration.

I have not discussed the myriad ideological stances she embraces that directly violate the Bible. That may not be very meaningful to you, but it is paramount to me. I do not care what gender or ethnicity the candidate is. I care about what they plan to do or desire to do and how it affects America, our system of government, our Republic, and me personally. 

I stand for Faith, Family, and Freedom and ask that you join me in prayer for America. Please Vote to keep America, America!

God bless you, and God bless America!

Our founding fathers were men of great wisdom and incredible foresight. They understood how precarious our liberty was and what was required to keep it. They knew that men’s hearts are bent toward evil and constantly warned that we must carefully examine anyone who desires to hold public office and be willing to fight for our liberty. 

Today, in America, we seem to have forgotten that to some degree.  Let me give you several quotes from our founders and ask that you apply them to today:

“A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous, they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue then will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader.” – Samuel Adams

“Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed, as they are in almost every kingdom of Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword because the whole body of the people are armed and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States.” – Noah Webster

“Give me liberty or give me death.” – Patrick Henry

“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined.” – Patrick Henry

“The public cannot be too curious concerning the characters of public men.” – Samuel Adams

Samuel Adams, Noah Webster, and Patrick Henry were among some of the most outspoken of our Founders and have eloquently given us something to consider carefully.  We have lost our “virtue,” at least to a degree, in America and must return to it to survive.  There is an assault on our 2^nd Amendment right, and every tyrant in history first disarmed the populace before they moved to take over totally. 

This is part of the Agenda of the Left and the United Nations, so I echo the warning of our Founders. Patrick Henry and Samuel Adams said it right—we must diligently guard our public liberty and carefully examine everyone seeking public office. We must also be willing to die for our freedom in order to preserve it.

We are in perilous times in America and the world.  If we allow the current administration to have another four years in the Whitehouse, I fear there will be no America to defend. 

Therefore, I once again cry out—please remember what is at stake each time you vote. Please examine the facts, listen to what is said, watch what is and has been done, and Vote! Send the Leftists back to wherever they came from and give this country at least a chance to recover, even if it is a slim one!  

May God bless America, and may God bless you!

My title is an understatement of epic proportions!  We are in a moral mess, a societal mess, an economic mess, a political mess, and a mess in virtually every designation of societal life.  We keep trying to fix the problem using the tools that got us in the mess we are in. 

Messes have causes!  We did not get where we are overnight or by osmosis.  It has been systematic and orgasmic.  We have, in a measure, evolved into the condition over a very long period of time.   The erosion of society has many symptoms but only a few root causes.  I will not attempt to enumerate them; I’m not sure I know them all.

However, I am convinced that our major problem in today’s world is not a political, economic, or ethnic problem per se.  It is a heart problem!  By that, I mean we have devolved into a condition of moral decline that has ushered us to the brink of what the Bible calls the “Last Days.” 

The vitriol being spewed from all sides of the political aisle reflects a condition that cannot be resolved politically.  We may help ourselves and temporarily right the ship at the polls, but that will not fix society’s core issues today.  We need outside help to bring us back to rightness.  That help can only come from God!  

If that statement offends you, I am sorry you are offended.  However, I will stand by my assertion, for I believe it with everything in me.  I am a natural-born American, a Vietnam veteran, a patriot, a parent, and most of all, a Christian.  I believe the Bible!  I believe it is the Inspired Word of God, not some mythological book that contains some words from God.  I believe it “is” God’s Inspired Word and our guide for life.

When I look at the condition of people today globally, I can only conclude that we are on the precipice of what the Bible calls “The Last Days.”  I want to address where we are with that in view.  I am not suggesting that we do not need to be involved politically; we do!  But, if we expect to vote our way to sanity, civility, and freedom, we are being delusional. 

Consider some characteristics the Bible declares will characterize people in the “Last Days.”  Then, after you have reviewed them, you can decide what you think.  I hope my presentation will cause each heart to desire to turn back to God or turn more to God and seek to be right within, not just politically or in an argument.

1. People will be lovers of themselves (2 Timothy 3:2)
2. People will be covetous (2 Timothy 3:2)
3. People will be boasters (2 Timothy 3:2)
4. People will be proud. (2 Timothy 3:2)
5. People will be blasphemers (2 Timothy 3:2)
6. People will be disobedient to parents (2 Timothy 3:2)
7. People will be unthankful (2 Timothy 3:2)
8. People will consider nothing as sacred (2 Timothy 3:2)
9. People will be unloving (2 Timothy 3:3)
10. People will be unforgiving (2 Timothy 3:3)
11. People will slander others (2 Timothy 3:3)
12. People will have no self-control (2 Timothy 3:3)
13. People will be unusually cruel and ruthless (2 Timothy 3:3)
14. People will have no interest in what is good (2 Timothy 3:3)
15. People will betray friends (2 Timothy 3:4)
16. People will be reckless (2 Timothy 3:4)
17. People will be puffed up with pride (2 Timothy 3:4)
18. People will be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:4)
19. People will have a form of godliness but deny God (2 Timothy 3:5)
20. People will take advantage of women, weakened by sin (2 Timothy 3:6)
21. People will always be learning but not coming to the knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 3:7)
22. People will resist the truth (2 Timothy 3:8)
23. People will have corrupt minds (2 Timothy 3:8)
24. People will have a fake faith from a depraved mind (2 Timothy 3:8)
25. People will not progress in fake faith and fail miserably (2 Timothy 3:9)

As I consider the craziness of today’s society and compare that to the characteristics of people in the biblical “Last Days,” I find an explanation for why we are where we are.  The devaluing of human life is too prevalent for comfort.  The confusion of gender is deeply troubling. The frequent attempts to eliminate all mention of God from the public square are revealing.  The governmental attempts to destroy the two-parent family structure are alarming. 

We are becoming a world where everyone is a law to themselves and answerable to no one. We are watching the adoption of the idea that there are no absolute truths, which can only lead to a society without core foundational beliefs that help people navigate life in a civil society.

Hate is so prevalent that political agendas take a back seat to personal preference. Entitlement has become so common that people seem willing to sell their freedom and their souls for a government check. Personal responsibility has evaporated, and the easy road of blaming someone or something is the road most traveled.

I believe we can see a respite in the destruction.  However, I do not believe we can see that without returning to our moral moorings and a reinstitution of biblical precepts in society.  Without a change of heart, we are doomed to continue the downward spiral into the abyss of chaos and anarchy.   That condition invites the tyrants who seek total control to ascend to the throne. 

Unfortunately, the wound our world has is a self-inflicted wound.  If you consider this preachy, so be it!  My life, worldview, politics, and societal views are rooted in the Bible.  As long as I have breath, I will stand for Faith, Family, and Freedom!   I believe there is Hope!  I believe that Hope is in God!

Have a fantastic day!  God bless you, and God bless America!

We hear the age-old cliché that “Freedom Isn’t Free” and readily acknowledge the truth, but have we truly calculated the Cost of Freedom?  This date, July 4^th, is recognized as Independence Day in America and should inspire pride, hope, courage, and determination in the hearts of ALL American Citizens. 

Notice I did not say Legal American Citizens, for there are no other kinds of American Citizens but Legal.  Yes, there are people living here who are illegal occupants, and that, according to our laws, is a Crime, but that is another topic for another time.

America’s Independence was a costly endeavor then, and preserving it is now!   In 1776, the colonists put their lives, families, and fortunes on the line by joining the rebellion and becoming Freedom Fighters in America.   They risked their possessions and lives to pursue an ideal that all should be Free to enjoy “Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness.” 

They bravely joined themselves to the ideal and belief that there should be Freedom to practice one’s religion without government interference.  They believed there was a right to keep and bear arms and that private property was never to be confiscated without due cause and via the courts.   Many lost everything to secure those rights and liberties and did so with the thought that successive generations would valiantly and continuously preserve those for the next generation.

John Adams said: “Posterity, you will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom.  I hope you will make good use of it.  If you do not, I shall repent in heaven that ever I took half the pains to preserve it.” 

With the current state of affairs in this great nation, I fear Mr. Adams must be repenting if he is aware of what is transpiring.   When I think of the host of lives lost and forever altered in the fight for Freedom and to protect our Freedom, I weep.  I am a Vietnam veteran and know the horrors of war and salute the incalculable price paid for Freedom by so many in our history and in the present.   July 4^th is more than a holiday to me. It is a Memorial, a Reminder, and an Objective!

The colonists had to repel the British in more than just the American Revolution.  Whenever a threat presented itself in America, Americans rose to the occasion.   The cost of living has become astronomical.  Admittedly, Congress and Presidents have not always acted wisely, prudently, or effectively, and have cost Americans much in the process. Still, Americans have felt the call of patriotism and risen to the cause.  We saw a glimpse of that spirit after 9/11, but that has abated, and we have largely reverted to the post-Vietnam mindset.

When the world was threatened in WWI, Americans rose to the occasion.  Then, in WWII, the sacrifices of the generation identified as the “Greatest Generation” should grip the hearts of even the most callous individual.  Americans on the battlefield and the home front embraced the sacrifices required and did what had to be done.  They believed freedom was worth the sacrifice and that anything short of complete victory was defeat. 

What happened after WWII is speculative, but that mindset had changed by the time the Korean War emerged.  For the first time in our history, we demonstrated a lack of resolve to finish the job and win a complete victory.  That shift has produced devastating results. 

My generation of Vietnam veterans experienced an even harsher attitude.  We were branded as “baby killers, rapists, murders and terrorists” and placed on watch lists as dangers or menaces to society.  We were and possibly still are feared and viewed as subhuman.

Today, I pray that everyone will pause a moment from their barbeques, fireworks, boating, and beer and consider the price paid to afford you the luxury and privilege to do what you are doing.  I pray that everyone pause and consider what is at stake today in America, how our freedoms are being assaulted, and determine the cost we are willing to pay to preserve our Freedom.   The Freedom you now enjoy was not without cost, and if we fail to remember our heroes and those who sacrificed, we will soon become an afterthought in World History. 

I conclude with this question and thought: “What Does Independence Mean?”  I do not say that rhetorically.  When I look back to the history surrounding 1776 and attempt to envision the mindset of those living in the colonies, I sense an urgency that is largely absent today.  I sense an awareness of what Independence means that does not seem to exist.  Our Liberties have spoiled us and are in danger of losing them due to ignorance and failure to fathom life without liberty.

When I fast forward to the more modern era, I consider the American resolve in WWI and WWII and proudly salute those patriots and citizens.  When I move a bit forward to Korea and Vietnam, I see a visible diminishing of the resolve to win or die.  The American attitude during the World Wars was, “Win!  Finish the Job!”  It was about preserving Freedom and Liberty. 

America can remain free with God’s help, the needed resolve, and the willingness to lay aside petty differences and preferences.  If we are to remain free, everyone must be free!  I stand for Faith, Family, and Freedom and ask you to join me in Prayer for America and the world and to become involved at whatever level and to whatever extent you believe God would have you invest yourself.

God bless you, and God bless America!

Tomorrow, we celebrate a proud day in American History. On July 4, 1776, the American colonists, led by an illustrious group of patriots, declared independence from the Kingdom or Nation of Great Britain! Sadly, the day has become more associated with baseball games, barbecues, fireworks, parades, and even family reunions than with the event we are celebrating. 

That is why, as my title suggests, I do not celebrate the Fourth of July as a holiday; I celebrate INDEPENDENCE DAY!  I make the distinction, and if you consider it hair-splitting, I’m okay with that because it is personal and important to make the distinction.

History records that on July 2, 1776, the actual legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain transpired with the passage of a resolution proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia to declare the United States independent from Great Britain. The resolution was debated and revised by the “Committee of Five,” with Thomas Jefferson being the principal author of the revision and approved on July 4, 1776.

John Adams wrote his wife, Abigail, saying:

“The second day of July 1776 will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”  

He was only off by two days, and from the very beginning, most Americans celebrated Independence Day on July 4th, the date on the Declaration of Independence.

An interesting side note is that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only two of the signers of the infamous documents, who went on to serve as President, and both died on the same day: July 4, 1826, the 50^th anniversary of the Declaration.  Interestingly, James Monroe, although not a signer but one of the Founding Fathers, died on July 4, 1831, becoming the third in a row to die on July 4^th.  Calvin Coolidge, the 30^th President, was born on July 4, 1872.  Although those tidbits mean nothing in the entire scheme of things, they are interesting side notes.

When I think of how much was sacrificed to make America free, I cannot stop the tears that well up in my eyes, the lump that gathers in my throat, and the sense of appreciation and pride that wells up in my heart as I reflect on this special day.   As an American by birth, a combat veteran, and a Christian, I take special pride in what this day means.  I have a difficult time with those who diminish its importance and significance and refuse to allow it to become just a holiday and day off work to me. 

Independence Day is a foundational part of our American history; without it, we would have no history of freedom and liberty.  Like Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day, I enjoy the festivities but strive to keep the integrity of the day elevated to its lofty position in my mind and heart.  I do not want to forget what it means, not even for a nanosecond. 

Tomorrow, as we celebrate this special day, let’s all remember to thank God for our Freedom, which is in dire jeopardy from within.  Let’s remember to pay tribute to the visionaries in the colonies who saw not only the nation but had the courage to organize and implement the plan to bring us this Freedom.  Let’s remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to see it come to life and honor their memories with more than barbecues, parades, fireworks, and other festivities.  Let’s take a moment to verbalize our appreciation and realize that what they gave us is so fragile that we could easily lose it.

The Founding Fathers realized the fragility of Freedom and Liberty and repeatedly warned us about preserving it. We have slumbered far too long, allowing those who would take it from us to entrench themselves in positions of power and allowing laws and regulations to strip away many of our constitutionally guaranteed freedoms. 

As we remember what the day means, we must recommit ourselves to the cause of Constitutional Liberty and dedicate ourselves to removing from office anyone and everyone who would act in such a manner as to jeopardize those Freedoms and Liberties! 

That list should include every Progressive, Left-wing Liberal, Socialist, Marxist, and RINO.  The American Independence and Freedom that were purchased by the blood of patriots is hanging in the balance and threatened by those who have zero appreciation for what we have been given and what it cost.

I urge you to study, examine, evaluate, listen, talk, work, pray, and by all means, Vote in November to take America back from those who would destroy her! 

God bless you, and God bless America!   May Freedom Ring for all future generations!

Several years ago, when the Supreme Court decided not to hear the case brought by Elane Photography, I was concerned.  This was a New Mexico business run by a husband-and-wife team who argued that their First Amendment rights allowed them to refuse service to a woman who sought to hire the company to photograph her commitment ceremony with her partner.  The couple argued that to do so would violate their ‘religious convictions.’   It was a First Amendment Case! 

In 2008, New Mexico declared that the company was ‘guilty of discrimination’ and had to pay the claimant’s attorney fees.  We had already seen the Colorado case, where a cake maker refused a gay couple’s business. I was concerned that the Supreme Court declined to hear the case.  There are many possible reasons, but in my view, it was clearly a constitutional case.  I believe they should have heard it! 

Why am I rehashing old stuff?  Because the case focused exclusively on the company’s ‘freedom of speech.’   The lawyers for the Alliance Defending Freedom said that this case would force the photographer to ‘create expression’ in violation of her beliefs and thus would be ‘compelled speech,’ not ‘free speech.’   In writing the decision, the New Mexico Court, the judge stated that the photographer could not refuse service and that it was okay to violate her 1^st Amendment Right of Freedom of Speech because it was “The Price of Citizenship.”

That statement disturbs me to my core!  I have talked to a number of people who have chosen the lifestyle of the couple wanting their ceremony photographed.  All but one of them said exactly the same thing, “If a business doesn’t want my business, I don’t want to do business with them.”  One argued that it was incumbent upon all homosexuals to be vocal, file lawsuits, and demand their rights.  My question is, “When does one person’s rights trump another?  Where is the line of separation protecting the rights of both parties?” 

That is the Point of Discussion – “Did our Founding Fathers truly envision a country where the ‘Price of Citizenship ’ included the violation of one’s conscience and trumped over ‘freedom of speech’?”  Under the freedom of speech clause, the courts have ruled that someone can ‘burn the flag.’  Yet, somehow, they cannot refuse service based on religious convictions.  What constitutional basis allows the courts to decide that a person’s religious convictions are unimportant and not covered by the Bill of Rights and Constitution of these United States? 

In today’s America, we have morphed into a place where we are being forced to accept every culture with no expectation of assimilation into our society.  Schools, communities, and courts have decided that the flag of another nation can be flown on particular holidays but not the American flag because it might be offensive and be considered ‘hate speech.’ 

My questions are, “Are we still The United States of America?  Do we not still have a Constitution?  Is there no longer a Bill of Rights defining our liberties?”  How is it that it is okay to demand that we be tolerant of all religions other than Christianity?  At the same time, our government takes actions that force people to violate their religious convictions.  Is that what the Founders envisioned?  I think not!

The Price of Citizenship seems to mean that if you are a Christian and have religious convictions, you must abandon them.  If you are like Daniel, who refused to compromise your convictions, you are labeled a hater!  You become one whom the government has decided must be put in your place and taught a lesson.    

Some argue ‘Separation of Church and State’ while ignoring that this is the other side of that coin.  Here, the State dictated what the church could and could not believe. The Constitution and Bill of Rights sought to prevent a National Church, not keep any religion out of government or the influence of the Bible out of political decisions. This war extends to those who hold any view other than the accepted liberal ideology of the Statist! 

The Price of Citizenship seems to be rapidly expanding to mean that we must comply with the ideology of the various vocal activist groups. Under this premise, we seem to have no rights if our rights conflict with theirs. The Rights of those on the Left seem to trump the rights of conservatives, constitutionalists, and those holding to traditional moral and religious values. 

The idea of the Price of Citizenship has become a weapon of the Left.  Those on the Left have no such price, only those holding traditional Christian Religious views or Conservative Constitutional Values.  The values and beliefs of those following Islam, in the eyes of the courts, trump the rights of Christians and Conservatives.  Therefore, the Price of Citizenship seems to mean that if one is a Christian holding deep religious convictions, those convictions are not allowed.  The Constitution in its original form affords us Freedom of Speech and Religion, but not the Leftist government or courts.

I am concerned about the phrasing – ‘The Price of Citizenship.’  I am deeply concerned about where it will lead and what it will encompass in the coming days.  America, if we love the Constitution and value our freedom, we must insist that our constitutional liberties are preserved.  Whether this was a good or bad business decision is irrelevant. It was a stance based on ‘faith,’ ‘religious convictions, and ‘constitutional liberties.’

May God be with you as you go through your day!

I remember a few years ago, there was the saying, “Chivalry is dead.”  Today, we’ve been told that we’ve seen the end of conservatism and are not in the enlightenment of progressivism.  I echo the words of one of our founders, a profoundly religious man, Benjamin Rush: “Patriotism is as much a virtue as justice and is as necessary for the support of societies as natural affection is for the support of families.” 

I ask you to consider his words, and as you do, I believe you will realize that in the minds of our founding fathers, the commitment required in a patriot was considered so vital that they could not envision a successful, free America without it.  Today, we are castigated for standing for liberty and freedom.  Today, preachers are told to remain silent in the pulpits. Churches are barred from participating in the political process. Yet, groups like the New Black Panthers, Media Matters, Society for the American Way, N.O.W, Acorn, BLM, Antifa, and multitudes of other left-wing organizations, including those of a religious nature, are not only given a pass but encouraged to organize, promote, and wage war to push the Progressive, Socialist, Left-Wing Agenda.

The Founders stood in open resistance and rebellion when they faced a comparable situation in the days of this nation’s founding.  We dare not become silenced in fear of reprisal from a tyrannical government.  We dare not allow those who desire the destruction of the core values of the Bible and the American people to be eroded to the point of extinction.  We dare not become intimidated by those who push their anti-American, anti-capitalist, anti-freedom agendas and follow meekly like sheep to the slaughter.  

It is time for us to stand up for Freedom and say No to their agenda!   It is time that we stand and do whatever is necessary to reclaim this great nation, restore her honor, and send a loud and clear message to Washington that we, the people, have had enough!

If you share this view, please become engaged and participate in the reclaiming effort to send every politician home who does not support the Constitution as it is written.  Oust all of those who do not honor the core values and principles that this country was founded upon.  Demand that they respect the will of ‘We the People.’  November is coming, and it is up to you and me to get the vote out and get the message across!  Let me use the cliché – Remember November!

Germane to this discussion is the question, “What Role Did Religion Play in the Founding of Our Republic?”  I cannot enumerate the number of times I’ve been told to keep my faith and politics separate.  I am told that they go together like oil and water.  Yet, the more I study the American Revolution and the role of the ministers, churches, and Christians, I find that argument invalid.  If you have studied Colonial History, you have no doubt seen just how active the preachers and churches were in the process.

I don’t believe that anyone can factually argue that the colonists, patriots, politicians, or ministers of that era believed that religion had no place in the political arena.  Preachers far and wide preached from their pulpits the righteousness of the cause of the revolution.  Today, they’d be told (unless they are on the left) that they would lose their status by doing so. 

There was no Internal Revenue Service then.  There should not be one now, but that is another topic for another debate.  The ministers of the revolutionary era assured the people that resistance to tyranny was a righteous cause and effectively built a fire of patriotism in the hearts and minds of most colonials.  Ministers served as military chaplains, penmen for committees of correspondence, and members of state legislatures, the constitutional convention, and the National Congress.  Some even took up arms and led troops into battle.

• Jonathan Mayhew, pastor of the West Church in Boston, wrote and preached about the Crown’s diabolical nature and God’s desire for all men to be free. 
• Peter Muhlenberg, called “The Fighting Parson,” threw off his clerical robes after a fiery sermon concerning the revolution, donned a military uniform, and led troops into battle. 
• James Caldwell, a Presbyterian minister in Elizabeth, New Jersey, was one of many chaplains in the army. 
• John Witherspoon was possibly the most important “political parson” of that era. He represented New Jersey in the Continental Congress from 1776-1782 and signed the Declaration of Independence while preaching in support of the cause. 
• Even Quakers who called themselves “Free Quakers” took up arms.

Anyone who assumes that the founding fathers and the religious leaders of that day wanted to keep religion out of the political arena is ignoring the facts. It is beyond my comprehension why preachers today shy away from speaking out in support of truth, standing for biblical principles, and standing against those things that directly conflict with the Bible. 

There is only one way to silence me, and unless God tells me to stop speaking out, I will continue to proclaim the message of Christ, the Love of God, and the cause of Liberty and Freedom. I am not a cat, and I do not have a bunch of lives. I have a LIFE, and it is the sum total of everything that touches me, and politics touches me too.

So, I plead for everyone to stand up for the right and biblical principles in this day and join in the fight to restore America and keep those who would destroy her from succeeding.  If we do not unite and stand firm, America, as the founders intended and as we have enjoyed and desired, will be no more!  Never be ashamed of your patriotism; stand for Faith, Family, and Freedom! 

God bless you, and God bless America!