Afleveringen
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So many of the governments, the ruling authorities in this temporal, human world, are controlled and run by dictators. There is no freedom, no individual rights or rule of law, and no constitutions which protect the people, the citizens of that country. No freedoms at all.
Those human beings, God created, have one burning priority, which totally dominates their lives. That is, the prayer, the hope, the wish for:
FREEDOM.
They want to live their lives, pursue their destiny, develop their talents, change without fear, and most importantly, worship as they please or not, and speak as they will without fear of retribution. That simply doesn’t happen, whether in Iran, Iraq, Gaza, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, China, Russia, North Korea, and so many of the African and Central American countries. THERE SIMPLY IS NO FREEDOM!
Not so in America. We The People have, and so often take for granted, what those poor human beings pray for every day. That is, freedom in every facet of our lives, and especially the freedom to:
VOTE.
We American citizens can elect those who would govern, those who would exercise the power of our constitutions, to govern, interpret, and rule. We can vote for anyone we wish; or perhaps tragically so, we are not required to vote at all if we so choose. Perhaps unfortunately, should we choose not to vote, we would still enjoy the freedoms, the lifestyle, the benefits, the protections, and the guarantees which our great and one-of-a-kind America still offers. We can choose not to vote when people the world over are ready to even give their lives if necessary for the rights to choose their governments and their leaders, whatever the cost. I for one think that to be the strongest kind of dereliction of civic duty. That precious right, privilege and opportunity was ours Tuesday, November 5. We had the privilege of electing 537 men and women, leaders who would govern, rule, and make decisions for our lives for the next 2, 4 or 6 years. Those leaders would choose the next Supreme Court justice, determine our military policies and investments, secure our borders or not, protect our incredible rights under the First Amendment of our Constitution, including the freedom to worship, the freedom of speech, press, assembly, and petition, and perhaps most importantly to millions of Americans, determine in moral terms, America’s position on abortion, the murder of the unborn, whether or not we would support Israel, how deep our American debt would be, our policies on taxation, and so much more. I wonder how any individual could watch those policies unfold knowing that he or she never voted. IT IS OUR AMERICA (WE THE PEOPLE) A PRECIOUS REPUBLIC, IF WE CAN KEEP IT! I wonder if we can.
Franklin Graham reminds us that the Bible clearly teaches that governments are ordained by God to restrain evil and enable righteousness to flourish (Romans 13:3-4). Graham believes that it was and is our Christian duty to pray and vote for candidates who best align with and stand for biblical principles. I hope and pray that you did just that.
The Apostle Paul admonishes us, we the Christian people, in I Thessalonians 5 that:
WE SHOULD TEST EVERYTHING; AND HOLD FAST TO WHAT IS GOOD.
I pray we elect leaders at any time who believe just that.
In recent years, the evangelical, the biblical church, has made concessions to the demands of this apparently anti-Christian culture, so much so that the power of the gospel in our society has been watered down, abused, ridiculed, and in so many ways rendered null and void. So many of the once fiery and faithful pulpits have fallen silent, refusing to speak out against the moral decay of this present time, fearing retribution or alienation. It is well past time for those in the pulpits to experience a full-boar revival and return our pulpits to the mission of the real gospel once again.
But, my fellow Americans and my fellow Christians, when the elections are over, when our leaders federal, state, and local have been chosen, it is time for us to put aside partisan differences and to pray for those in office as we are so admonished in scripture:
PRAY FOR EVERY ONE OF THEM!
But then comes the next phase of our civic responsibilities, and as such, we should never neglect our duties as citizens or relinquish our duty as those citizens to make certain that our leaders exercise Godly wisdom in public life. We can not withdraw from public life. The Godly wisdom of biblical Christians is needed now more than ever and it is our duty to make that happen.
But perhaps most importantly, never forget, my fellow Christians, the marvelous admonitions of our Lord in Matthew chapter 6 where we are admonished in verse 25:
THEREFORE, I SAY TO YOU, DDOO NNOOT TT WWOORRRRYY ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT
YOU WILL EAT OR WHAT YOU WILL DRINK.
Or anything else for that matter, and especially the world of politics. We live under governments ordained by God, rulers he allows, and perhaps it is up to us, We The People who cherish the good, to do our very best to make certain that our leaders do what is good. As long as we do everything we can and should, we can rely upon the fact that the will of God, the will of our Lord, is at work, and his will shall be done. So then, whether or not we understand or agree with everything which happens in this world, we can know it is God ordained and we should:
PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW! -
What a privilege it is to be an American citizen, really an unbelievable privilege.
If you study the history of mankind, the rise of nations, the rulership of kings and queens, and dictators, and judges, and you look at the role of common human beings like you and me, in short if you compare America to any other nation in the history of mankind, there is none like her, NONE AT ALL!
We are a nation based on democracy and freedom. We were founded by patriots and forefathers who knew that there was nothing, NOTHING that equaled the fundamental human priority of:
FREEDOM
and the building of a nation to protect, preserve, and defend FREEDOM. Our forefathers, constitutionalists, gave us a nation which they termed a REPUBLIC, a nation with constitutional protections which, no matter who was elected at any level of government, would make certain that every citizen of this great new country would enjoy the rights and freedoms, those inalienable ones divinely determined, no matter who exercised power.
Our forefathers who gave us our beloved constitution and politically structured this great country counted upon the fact that WE THE PEOPLE would be lovers of freedom, even as they were. They believed that anyone who became an American citizen and had the privilege of living in America would have the blood of patriots coursing through their veins, and would do anything and everything, even willing to shed that blood, if necessary, in order to protect this great country and the freedoms which it offered. They believed that we would believe, like Patrick Henry, who said:
“GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH!”
Our forefathers counted upon us to be the ultimate checks and balances holding individuals, departments, and all of government accountable, voting them out, convicting them of high crimes where necessary, and never letting any government or governmental official take away any constitutionally guaranteed freedoms including and especially the precious freedoms of the First Amendment of our Constitution. They believed that real Americans would step up and with all their might, protect the freedom of religion, and protect the freedom of speech, especially the freedom of speech, and the freedom of the press, and the right to petition our government and be heard, and to assemble in lawful groups at any time, especially churches, to discuss, worship, or otherwise socialize. Our forefathers codified that belief in our constitution, believing We The People would never take those previous rights and freedoms for granted, never assume that they would always be there whether or not we were actively involved in their protection. Those real patriots would today be shocked, utterly dismayed, broken in mind and spirit should they be able to see how We The People have put our great country in such danger, such risk of loss of the fundamental pillars of our great society.
Not only is there seemingly a lack of concern among so many citizens regardless of belief, but also Christian citizens who wish no involvement in politics. But, says the Billy Graham organization, you cannot separate politics from the Bible. The Old Testament is immersed in politics. It is about God creating nations, ordaining kings and kingdoms and rulers, and with prophets rebuking kings. That is politics.
And our Lord admonishes us to render under Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to make certain, as citizens, that all governments and rulers work for the good of the nation and its people. It is therefore, so very many believe, the DUTY of every Christian to be involved in politics, to make certain they function for the good, for justice for all, for righteousness, for equality, and to know that God himself created all men and women equal without divine preference or prejudice, and we the people should make certain those intentions and priorities of the creator of our universe, of all things, and of us, are carried out. THAT SURELY INCLUDES OUR FULL INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICS!
The Apostle Paul says in I Thessalonians 5:21:
BUT TEST EVERYTHNG; HOLD FAST TO WHAT IS GOOD!
We should remember that apostolic admonition when we vote. And vote we must, for that is the ultimate act of involvement, political decision making, which is not only our right as citizens and Christians, but our duty as well. It is, in my view, the ultimate betrayal of the privileges we enjoy as citizens and Christians, if for any reason we do not vote. Where there is good to be done, it is our duty to do that good. It is our duty to vote for the very best people who will exercise the power of our governments and do the most good.
Often, the choices we have are limited. The people for whom we can vote may not be to our liking or the policies they espouse may be somewhat different, less perfect than we might require. But hear the words of James Dobson and Family Talk:
“I’M NOT VOTING FOR THE PERSON. I’M VOTING FOR THE PLATFORM!”
That, I do believe, is good advice for we are voting not necessarily for the person. We are however voting for a politician, none of whom is perfect by any means, and we are not voting for a pastor. It should matter not about the personality of the person but the platform, the priorities. The vote we cast should not be on the basis of a like or dislike for an individual, but on past performance, the actual works, deeds, words, of the person to whom we would delegate the power to rule. We should examine carefully, past performance, points of view, the platforms and policies offered, and vote for that person who would do the most good for America and its citizens, WE THE PEOPLE! We should vote for leaders who would protect and preserve America, and our Constitution, and our freedoms, for that is POLITICS.
So, in the words of Franklin Graham, we should first and foremost:
PRAY.
Pray that God would give us the right options in potential rulers. Pray that God would give us wisdom to discern and understand how to vote right. Then, from our Lord’s prayer, comes the ultimate result:
THY WILL BE DONE.
And, having done everything that we could do and should do, the will of our Lord will have been accomplished. What a job, what a privilege, what a blessing to be an American citizen and to live in this great country as millions the world over wish to do. So, as we vote, and our nation reforms its political structure we should say in prayer with all our hearts:
GOD BLESS AMERICA! -
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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There comes, in some two short weeks, the most important and critical elections which our beloved America has ever encountered. Elections 2024 will determine the future, the heart and soul of America for decades to come.
You, American citizen and person of faith, will vote in this election, will you not? If you are Christian, and you wish to protect your faith, the freedom you have to enjoy and practice your religion, and the free speech guaranteed by the Constitution, you have no other choice:
YOU MUST VOTE!
You must.
Troy A. Miller, President and CEO of the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) says unequivocally and emphatically:
“CHRISTIANS HAVE A MORAL AND ETHICAL DUTY TO VOTE NOVEMBER 5!”
Miller says that a Christian really has no choice but to vote. There is no option not to vote for there is a moral, Christian duty to vote. So, my fellow Americans, legal citizens, and Christians:
YOU WILL VOTE NOVEMBER 5, WILL YOU NOT?
Troy Miller goes on to state the following:
“It’s time to get millions of evangelical voters to the polls.”
Is it ever.
In this election, there are seven so-called swing states, the votes in which and the electoral college numbers, pundits say, will determine the election. Listen to this tragic statistic. It was estimated that in Elections 2020, an estimated 7 million evangelicals in those 7 swing states did not participate in the election:
DID NOT VOTE!
That is a shocking, frustrating, and tragic statistic and it is, says Miller, one inexcusable, unpatriotic, uncaring, abandonment of civic duty and concern and love for America, and of course the freedom of the Christian faith we hold so dear.
Dr. James Dobson, he of Family Talk Fame, is greatly concerned for the future of America and the outcomes of Elections 2024. Dobson also agrees fully, as do his cohorts, Michelle Bachman and Gary Bauer, that America is on the path to destruction if evangelical Christians, real Christians, do not vote, and vote right and informed for the very best candidates. So, you will vote, will you not? YOU MUST VOTE!
Hear the words of candidate for President, Donald Trump:
“OUR ENEMIES ARE WAGING WAR ON FREEDOM AND FAITH, ON
SCIENCE AND RELIGION, ON HISTORY AND TRADITION, ON LAW AND
DEMOCRACY, ON THE FAMILY, ON CHILDREN, ON AMERICA ITSELF.”
It is simply tragic to learn how many real Christians, so-called evangelicals, bible-believing and Christian-faith-practicing Christians have not voted and who do not intend to vote 2024. That is absolutely tragic, almost sabotage to our great country and an utter and total disrespect for the freedoms, the lifestyle, and the American way we all enjoy and which so many take for granted. But progressive, liberal thought and activism have contaminated the mainstream of American life and culture, and in the words of Franklin Graham:
“SO MUCH SO THAT ONCE UNTHINKABLE ABOMINATIONS SUCH AS
SAME SEX MARRIAGE, ABORTION ON DEMAND, AND TRANSGENDER
ADVOCACY HAVE BECOME DOGMA IN ONE MAJOR PARTY’S PLATFORM.”
That political party is of course not Republican. I wonder if you can guess which party that would be? Various and considerable strong biblical, God-fearing, evangelical leaders have said unequivocally, that a vote for Harris-Walz, or Democrat senators or congress persons, is indeed a vote for unlimited abortion, transgender advocacy, and the curtailing of freedom of speech and religion, and the growth and power of all governments, and the drift of America towards Socialism and even Marxism itself. More from Franklin Graham:
“The Bible clearly teaches that governments are ordained by God to restrain evil and enable righteousness to flourish.”
And then Franklin Graham states unequivocally:
“That’s why Christians should carefully pray and vote!”
Like Troy Miller of NRB, and James Dobson, and so many other evangelical leaders, Graham really believes it is the moral duty of a Christian to vote, to protect America, and to elect the best possible candidates. So, my fellow Americans, legal citizens, you will vote will you not? YOU MUST VOTE! The senatorial voting and the gubernatorial decision making of Harris and Walz lead so many Christian leaders to state the following:
“CAN ANY THINKING, WELL INFORMED CHRISTIAN VOTE FOR ANY DEMOCRAT?”
Given what this party stands for, its platform, what Harris truly is and what she believes, and what she will inevitably do should she be elected President, will result in the most anti-Christian, religious persons of faith political administration in the history of our country. Christians have a duty to do everything humanly possible to prevent that from happening.
Vote 2024, Christian, VOTE! Protect your constitutional freedoms. Stand up for what is morally right, traditionally American, and biblical truth. STAND UP! YOU and so many other, literally millions, of bible-believing, real Christians can in fact determine the outcome, up and down the ballots, of Elections 2024. YOU CAN DO THAT! So, never forget the admonitions of Troy Miller, Franklin Graham, and James Dobson:
YOU MUST VOTE 2024!
YOU MUST. -
Every four years it seems, we the people are told that we will face the most important election ever held in America, that for the President of the United States, and of course, the 435 representatives of the House in Congress, and as many as 35 U. S. Senators, in addition of course to state and local elections as well. EVERY FOUR YEARS!
But many politicos, and even so very many Christian and evangelical leaders do state unequivocally that elections 2024 are THE MOST IMPORTANT ever held in the history of our great country. Franklin Graham is one of them. And so is Tony Perkins. And so is Brent Bozell of Media Research Council. And very passionately so is Dr. James Dobson, he of Family Talk ministries, along with his very own Gary Bauer and Michelle Bachman. It may very well be, my fellow Americans, the most important election year in the history of our great country and so I ask:
DO YOU INTEND TO VOTE?
And, as you vote, will you really know the candidates, the issues, what will happen if certain individuals are elected and will you render an:
INFORMED VOTE?
Will you?
I for one, and so many others in the Crawford Broadcasting Company, say to you, our faithful and loyal listeners and the Christians who get daily value from our stations that:
YOU MUST VOTE!
I believe it is your duty as a Christian, and in the case of these elections, clearly your duty as an American citizen (a legal American citizen) to:
VOTE.
Again, I say unequivocally:
YOU MUST VOTE! WILL YOU?
America, says Franklin Graham, has drifted far from the biblical values that once stood as our rock-solid foundations. We have turned our back on God and the results have been devastating.
Progressive, liberal thought and activism, says Graham, have so contaminated the mainstream of American life and culture that once unthinkable abominations such as same sex marriage, abortion on demand, and transgender advocacy have become dogma in one major party’s platform! It is not difficult at all to identify to which party Graham refers. That is clearly the Democrat party, and the head of that Democrat ticket, Kamala Harris and indeed every bit as much so Tim Walz, the would-be Vice President, and so many others. That leads to the question, rightly posed:
CAN ANY REAL CHRISTIAN VOTE FOR HARRIS-WALZ AND THE DEMOCRAT PARTY?
The answer of course is a resounding:
NO!
Democrats champion government control, not only through a socialistic (socialism) approach to government, but even in some extreme ways to the brutal Marxism itself. Democrats are by no means persuaded by the realistic and right-on philosophy of Winston Churchill, Great Britain’s great Prime Minister who said:
“SOCIALISM IS THE PHILOSOPHY OF FAILURE, THE CREED OF
IGNORANCE, AND THE GOSPEL OF ENVY.”
And more from Churchill:
“THE INHERENT VIRTUE OF SOCIALISM IS THE EQUAL SHARING OF
MISERIES!”
The socialistic approaches of the Democrats and Harris-Walz will lead America down the path of socialism and worse in the four years to come if they are elected.
Harris is an avowed, open, fully supportive advocate of absolutely no restrictions of any kind by federal, state, or local governments, on:
ABORTION.
Democrats do not want to leave abortion decisions to the states but wish the codification of the old Roe v. Wade so that, as binding federal legislation, it is the law of the land, and applicable in every state, all 50 states! That indeed is more evidence that no thinking, caring, spiritual, born-again Christian can vote for Harris, is it not? As US Senator, Harris was rated by GovTrack as “the most liberal senator, of all 100 senators,” THE MOST LIBERAL! Harris voted in favor of legal infanticide, she vowed to force taxpayers to fund abortion, she believes that a religious test should be applied to judicial and supreme court nominees. She sponsored the unbelievably radical EQUALITY ACT, which in many ways would put an end to religious freedom in America, she promoted legal prostitution. Harris opposed homeschooling and school choice legislation, she fully supported Planned Parenthood, and Harris openly lobbied for girl’s restrooms, locker rooms, showers, sports and even women’s prisons to be open to biological men. So, the question is posed again:
CAN ANY THINKING, CARING, TRULY BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN VOTE FOR HARRIS-WALZ?
So, if we the people, the Christian people, the real Christian people that is, wish to be the SALT AND LIGHT which our Lord tells us we must be, then we cannot vote for Harris. It seems as though our only choice is to vote for Donald Trump and JD Vance as President-Vice President, and republicans who are far more likely to uphold traditional American and Christian values.
Harris and Walz are major proponents of the:
EQUALITY ACT.
This brutal act, if passed, would allow male-bodied transgender women (biological males) to utilize women’s private spaces such as bathrooms, locker rooms, shelters, and participate in women’s sports and sports leagues. Employers would be forced to provide healthcare insurance coverage for hormone treatment and sex-reassignment surgery for individuals with so-called gender dysphoria. Parents would be federally banned from seeking counseling for their children struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction or gender confusion.
If Harris-Walz are elected, this brutal, freedom-extinguishing act may very well become law, and every Christian and Christian family will be subject to its horrible terms and conditions. This is yet another reason why no thinking, caring, real, true-born-again Christian can vote Democrat and absolutely cannot vote for Harris-Walz.
Here the words of the one-of-a-kind BILLY GRAHAM:
“WE WORSHIP THE GODS OF SECULARISM AND MATERIALISM. GOD IS DISPLEASED, AND I WARN YOU THAT HIS ANGER IS BEING KINDLED.”
Boy, is it ever. The forces of secularism, radical, ultra-progressive, socialistic secularism are the leading, driving force in our great country. And, that is so because WE THE CHRISTIAN PEOPLE simply do not step up, STAND FOR THE RIGHT AND TRUE MORALITY, and do everything in our power to elect right thinking men and women who will govern this great country and us with it. We have indeed lost our right to ask:
GOD BLESS AMERICA.
Perhaps our only prayer is:
GOD HELP, GOD SAVE AMERICA!
But if we the people don’t stand for what is right, and for Christian values and morality, no matter the cost, we can not expect the intervention of our God, and we will lose the America we true citizens of this republic and our freedoms have long-since taken for granted.
It is, I and so many others firmly believe, our duty, and especially our duty not only as citizens but Christians, to:
VOTE.
You must vote, and you must vote in an informed, intelligent, issue-oriented way.
If you are a Christian, a real true born-again, God-fearing and believing Christian, can you in good conscience vote for Harris-Walz, can you? -
Are you afraid? Do you fear the future?
Are you afraid or at least deeply concerned about America, the radical changes which are occurring in our once great country, and in fact the world over. Do you fear for the future, for your family and friends, for yourself? Do you fear that America has lost its way, is now in the control and political decision making of those who are anti-American, anti-Christian, and wish fundamental and radical changes in our country in every meaningful respect, are you really deeply concerned and afraid?
Many are, a very many, many perhaps by the millions. That fear, to the extent it exists, can paralyze an individual on the one hand, preventing any kind of action, or it can mobilize an individual to do more, to stand up, to fight the fight of faith, and to do everything possible to prevent those radical changes, satanically influenced, from happening to our great country and then to that extent to the world at large. In which camp do you find yourself, the one who is fearful that you can do little or nothing, or the other so powerful that you will do more than you had believed you were capable of doing? Which camp, which kind of individual are you?
The concern for America is real, but the fear of inevitability, resulting in a powerlessness is not. Hear the words of our Lord through the Apostle Paul:
“GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT OF POWER, LOVE, AND A SOUND MIND.”
Our Lord has put power in your life, POWER! You can fight the fight of faith for both our Lord and America (God and Country). You and I are powerful through HIM and because of HIM. While at the same time we can show Christian love for our enemies, we cannot love, and we must indeed resist, evil and the devil which propagates it, so that real love can abound.
You and I need, now more than ever, a:
SOUND MIND.
We need to be able to think, rationally analyze, understand political issues, candidates, problems and potential, and we act accordingly, VOTE accordingly. We cannot be deceived by false prophets or false advertising. We must know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth for it is only that truth, God inspired, which can make us free and keep us free. That is a sound mind at work, always thinking, discerning, knowing the signs of the times and reacting accordingly. So that, as Christians, even as we KNOW in whom we have believed, so it is in the worldly realm, and the world of politics and government, that we are required to know in whom we can believe and trust to prevent these radical changes from occurring.
I do believe that we cannot ask God to bless America, even to help America, unless WE HIS PEOPLE are doing everything in our power to champion the truth, the right, and Christian principles and values. If we do, in fact, our very best for country, than we can expect our God to hear our prayers when we ask for his help and intervention and to not only help America, but to bless America.
BE NOT AFRAID! In you, there should be no spirit of fear, but only the love, the power of God Almighty! If you are a child of salvation, then you know the reality of that promise.
We, his children, are warned by our Lord that because of our faith in Him, active and uncompromising, we can expect persecution. We can expect hardship. We can expect resistance, separation, disrespect. The more we truly believe and testify of the love of Jesus Christ, the more disrespect and persecution we can expect. But that faith is worth it! In fact, it is more than worth our laying our all on the altar no matter the cost. We do the best we can, but knowing all the while, that God is on the throne, in control, and so very often:
HIS WAYS ARE NOT OUR WAYS.
If in fact we move toward the END TIMES, as scripture predicts, then the road grows more narrow, more difficult to navigate, full of hazards, testing us, our character, and commitment, and that really is the bottom line. How much, say all these terrible events, do you love and trust your Lord? For, it is His will which will be done (on earth as it is in heaven) and when we have given our all, and done our best (two absolute preconditions), then it is our duty to trust in Him for the results as God would will. That is so for America, our world, and even the future of mankind.
We should never forget that God is all wise (omniscient), all powerful, all knowing, and in control of everything:
COMPLETE CONTROL.
The spirit bears witness within us, leading, directing, goading, prodding when we need it, making sure we do our best for Him. That Holy Spirit makes sure we know when we do not do our best. He made us Americans, responsible for America. He gave us the opportunity to live here, to witness for Him, and we owe Him. We owe Him our best to protect what He has given us, the most unique and the finest country, government, and lifestyle in the history of mankind. Unless we completely spiritually shut down, the Holy Spirit of God lets us know that we have let him down. That is a reassuring spiritual check and balance. Knowing that, there is absolutely no reason why we should be afraid, none at all. But rather, we should claim over and again the promise:
FEAR NOT! FOR I AM WITH YOU.
No matter what happens, we should never lose hope. Our hope is in Him and in things to come. The reality is we are citizens of a greater, larger, heavenly, spiritual kingdom. Here, we are temporary dwellers, temporary residents. Our citizenship is there and with Him. How then can we ever be afraid!
Think about David who in his most fearful moments, trusted the Lord, SANG unto the Lord, verbalized his feelings in song, joyfully, rejoicing in:
GOD, HIS (DAVID) SAVIOR.
And the very same for us as Christians, we sing at Christmastime and hopefully all year long:
JOY TO THE WORLD
THE LORD HAS COME.
We sing:
HAPPY AM I
JESUS LOVES ME.
No matter what happens, especially political, God ordained, wills, and is in control and we should rejoice in knowing that. If God is love, and God is love, then we should always rejoice and be glad for IF WE HAVE DONE OUR BEST AS CITIZENS, then the rest, the outcome, the results are up to HIM.
So, my fellow Americans, and fellow Christians, be not afraid and claim the promise of our Lord:
I WILL GUIDE YOU WITH MINE EYE!
Whether here or there, we are SAFE IN THE ARMS. That should be more than enough to make us rejoice and be exceedingly glad, don’t you think? So, no matter politics, government, the things of this world, we must always remember that only three things abide, and only three things last for all eternity. They are:
FAITH
HOPE
LOVE.
Never lose your faith in the God who is in control of everything, EVERYTHING and Everybody!
Never lose hope in Him or the best result for all things as He wills, or hope for a better future with Him or for a better future here as he would will.
And always allow your heart to pour out its love for all things and all people, for no matter what else, the very greatest of everything on this earth and for all humankind is:
LOVE.
SO, BE NOT AFRAID. I AM YOUR GOD AND I WILL GUIDE YOU WITH MINE EYE! -
Owe no man nothing, says the scripture.
The fact remains, however, that every single American is in debt, EVERY ONE OF US. Every day of every month, we owe someone something. That debt could be as normal as a phone bill, electric bill, cell phone or cable bill, or currently repayable credit card bills. But, we always owe something if we wish to live in any reasonable way in this world.
What that debt admonition means is that we ought not to owe anything which we cannot repay in the present in whole or in part. None of us could own a home unless we were able to borrow a mortgage for 10, 20 or 30 years, and make the monthly payments with interest thereon. If we can repay that 30-year debt on a monthly basis and timely so, that is a manageable obligation and not the kind of debt proscribed by scripture.
Debt, unpayable debt, and especially that debt which accumulates with interest, sometimes as much or almost so as the debt principle itself is crushing. It is always there, its presence a constant reminder that so much of the future has been mortgaged and that our present spending endangers and preempts our options for the future. Families are ruined by that kind of debt. So are marriages. Profligate businesses go bankrupt and governments, nations and states which over-borrow and accumulate crushing interest obligations sacrifice the future for the present. They kick the financial can down the road.
And that, my fellow Americans, is the pathway and the financial condition of our beloved America. Our once great country, operating on a current budget, the financial envy of the world, the dollar the hallmark of financial stability, is now the unbelievable debtor in the amount of:
$36 TRILLION DOLLARS.
$36 Trillion Dollars. As incredible, hard to believe, and frightening as that number is, the interest America pays on those $36 trillion dollars of debt is now at or about:
$1.3 TRILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY.
$1.3 Trillion dollars in interest alone!
That means, my fellow Americans, that every American household owes as much as $275,000 of that debt. Or that also means that every tax paying person in America, every citizen, owes the sum of approximately $110,000 to our creditors, foreigners and foreign nations, and American business entities and individuals. $275,000 PER HOUSEHOLD and $110,000 PER PERSON. That is the kind of debt with interest that scripture so aggressively warns against. But we do nothing, our leaders do nothing to stop the bleeding and solve the problem. The overwhelming debt problem. But some day, we will have no choice but to deal with this horrendous financial reckoning.
Economists now believe that the nation’s debt of at or about $36 Trillion Dollars is indeed an existential threat to our great country, and to us, we the people. The fact of the matter is that America does not owe this debt, we do. WE, THE PEOPLE, the citizens of this great country owe that $36 trillion dollars, with its unbelievable annual interest burdens. WE OWE THAT MONEY! And someday, we will have to pay it. What an unbelievable effect that will have on our lifestyles and our future. That existential threat threatens our very existence!
But our Federal Government continues in its profligate way. It spends, and it spends more. It never seems to care because it can postpone the debt, financing even more of its spending, and it always has what it thinks is the fail-safe remedy, and that is:
TAXATION.
More taxation, more taxes, for we the people to pay.
And more bad financial news. Economists estimate that by the year 2034, a decade from now, America will add $20 trillion dollars to its debt of $36 trillion dollars, which would put our country in debt by the staggering sum of $56 trillion dollars, $56 TRILLION DOLLARS! And some economists think those estimates are conservative, believing that the real debt will be as high as $60 trillion dollars or even more if spending continues as is. That would also mean that the annual interest alone on that staggering debt would be somewhere between $2 Trillion and $2.5 Trillion Dollars Annually, and possibly more. In the year 2034, our total debt will be approximately 120% of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). And hear these words carefully:
NO NATION HAS EVER CARRIED THAT KIND OF GOVERNMENT-DRIVEN DEBT AND ESCAPED CALAMITY. NOT ONE GOVERNMENT IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF MANKIND HAS EVER SPENT OR WILL SPEND WHAT WE AMERICANS ARE AND ESCAPED ABSOLUTE AND TOTAL DISASTER AND CALAMITY.
Not to worry, say the Democrats in charge and in power and seeking four more years of spending privileges, assuming the election of Harris-Walz. We will simply tax the rich more and more. Even if there is a sharp rise in the tax rates for the wealthy, that meager amount of additional income would never begin to seriously pay down the debt which our once fiscally responsible America now owes and will owe ten years from now.
But that day of reckoning will come when we the people will pay an unbelievable price for the profligate way our Federal Government spends our money and accumulates this strangling, bankrupting debt.
Regarding the so-called rich, the top 1% of Americans in terms of earnings reported 26.3% of the country’s adjusted gross income and paid accordingly:
Almost 46% of total income taxes!
All the rest of America’s taxpayers, 99% of them, paid the grand total of 54% of all taxes. But there is never any effort to tax more the 54% but only the so-called rich and wealthy 46%. That is fiscal policy which leads to absolute disaster!
Even more interesting, the top 10% of all earners in America provided 76% of the total revenue, tax revenue, and the other 90% of taxpayers provided 24% of tax revenue. If you were not one of the so-called wealthy, you have really gotten off cheap by taxing comparison.
Our great country, We The People, face the ever-present possibility of default in payments to our creditors, now $36 trillion dollars and in 10 years to be some $60 trillion dollars. That default of any serious kind would set off a major depression and fiscal revolution THE WORLD OVER. That economic crisis could well ruin the world.
There would also exist in America HYPERINFLATION. That is what occurred in Germany where the German Mark was absolutely worthless. If those tragic and calamitous conditions arise in America, our dollar will be just like that Mark and virtually worthless itself.
That debt-caused disaster will produce incredible internal instability, even revolution, and the very real potential of the destruction of law and order. It could also occasion the rise of dictatorship, as the very same fiscal problems in Germany gave rise to Adolf Hitler and it would undoubtedly be the end of our great democracy.
But, my fellow Americans, that debt and the problems it causes, are:
OUR FAULT.
Our responsibility. We the People allowed that debt to happen. We continue one election after another to elect a president, a senate, a house of representatives which do nothing, absolutely nothing about the problem, continue to spend, talk the talk but never walk the walk, and again do absolutely nothing about this incredible end-of-America problem, nothing but nothing. But the day of economic reckoning comes, and we will pay, WE WILL PAY! Or, our children and grandchildren will pay. The life and lifestyle which they hope for and work for will never materialize and the America we now know will never be the America they will ever know. What America once was fiscally and economically will be nothing more than an historical footnote.
Wake up, my fellow Americans, please wake up. You vote, you elect these politicians to represent you. You allow them to spend your money, to tax you, to do as they please with YOUR money but the one thing they never do is hold themselves accountable for the way they spend your money, the fiscal problems they are causing, and the insurmountable debt they are creating, which may very well never be repaid. That of course would be the end of the democratic America we now love and enjoy. But again, we have no one to blame but ourselves. We the People allow these reckless economically indifferent or ignorant politicians to do what they please, spend our money as we will, and we continue to do nothing:
NOTHING
about that spending or them. When this disaster, this calamity occurs, we will have no one to blame but:
OURSELVES – WE THE PEOPLE! -
There was a time, in America no less, when true evangelicals, real born-again Christians, were of great moral influence and persuasion numbering perhaps as many as 75-80 million citizens. The Moral Majority was founded by the Rev. Jerry Falwell Sr. and it was indeed a powerful organization, politically, culturally, and spiritually.
immigration and illegal immigration (the border)pro-family policiesreligious freedom (the Constitution and the First Amendment)national securityfederal spending and the incredible American debtthe economy and inflation (pricing)parental rights (in the world of the transgender)conscience protectionsAmerica’s support for Israel
But today, far from constituting a moral majority, the evangelical Christian of today finds little tolerance, much less acceptance, by their fellow citizens, many of whom are anti-Christian to the core. The shared moral ideals of old have indeed deteriorated and no longer have the priorities they once did. That includes FAITH. Real Christianity, biblical Christianity, born-again Christianity is ridiculed or ignored by the IMMORAL MAJORITY of today’s culture. The concept and value of FAMILY are torn apart and the governments of today substitute foreign and often godless concepts and meanings which attack and depreciate traditional values and definitions. Freedom, once a burning priority, now hangs in the balance, watered down by legislation, indifference, and constant attacks on our constitution.
Especially within the last decade, faithful, biblical Christians have witnessed ideological disintegration of trusted religious institutions. That has resulted in an incredible cultural compromise. Conduct and behavior that was once forbidden is now not only allowed but encouraged. So much of the freedoms Americans take for granted was relinquished during the pandemic and even church attendance, the freedom of assembly and religious worship, was also forbidden by government action.
That sense of compromise and indifference even permeated the church pulpits. Church after church, pastor after pastor, seceded to the demands of an anti-Christian culture, accepting compromise and change to traditional and long accepted Christian tenets and the gospel message, once proudly preached, was seldom heard in one denomination after another. So many American pulpits fell silent, fearing retribution or alienation.
Many Christian believers witnessed evangelical leaders’ quart secular acclaim by compromising on conservative Christian values and, like the false prophets predicted, preached a foreign gospel or none at all. Strong Christian values that contributed to American strength and vitality but were recast by these false prophets, outmoded and second class. New concepts, often man-made were formed to water down traditional biblical concepts of salvation, born-again, faith and works, and so much more. Those believers who held fast to strong biblical principles and concepts were often depicted as “violent enemies of democracy” because they failed to recognize, accept, and give credence to the priorities and beliefs of the anti-Christian majority which seemed to be taking place in America.
Consequently, so many Christians abandoned the world of politics in their very own country. In a recent survey by the respected George Barna, more than half of the Christians surveyed reported that they did not pay much attention at all to political news, which would inevitably be essential to understanding the issues most relevant to believers. As a result, an estimated 7 million evangelicals in swing states did not participate in the 2020 presidential election. Had they done so, results would have been entirely different up and down the ballots. Barna estimates as a result of the conclusions of that survey that shockingly:
AN ESTIMATED ONE THIRD OF ALL EVANGELICALS IN AMERICA SAT
ON THE SIDELINES (DID NOT VOTE) IN ELECTIONS 2020.
Even if they did, those evangelicals not paying attention to news and information about politics and government were in so many cases incapable of making informed, educated, voting decisions.
The one presidential candidate who addressed the Christian audiences, spoke to the issues which concerned Christians, and otherwise collaborated with the National Religious Broadcasters was Donald Trump. Trump addressed in positive ways, the issues which really concern Christians including freedom of expression (First Amendment, Speech and Press), prayer in schools, homeschooling, America’s support for Israel, and the role of religion in public life. No other candidate for president did so. In fact, the Left has extended no hand of friendship to born-again believers. The Left has in fact elevated “unlimited abortion” as the non-negotiable priority of their policy agenda. No true Christian can tolerate such a position, and it leads to the question:
CAN ANY TRUE CHRISTIAN VOTE FOR ANY DEMOCRAT?
Further, and disturbingly so, many Christians will not vote for a candidate whose personality they find offensive. Many for example do not personally like Donald Trump and even though his policies are more akin to their beliefs, they will not vote for him. Many will also not vote for a candidate whose private life they do not like. Many use that excuse not to vote for Trump, at least for now a convicted felon. Perhaps even more do not like the way Trump communicates, speaks, and finding his public image objectionable, will not vote for him. What a tragic loss for America, for Trump and the republican party champion values and decision making which is far more akin to Christian values and positions than their democratic counterparts. The withdrawal and non-involvement of Christians and Christian voters is indeed tragic for America. Real Christians, many believe, have no choice but to vote for Trump and the Republican party and its candidates if they wish traditional America and traditional American values to remain.
Real evangelical Christians must thoroughly examine the records of candidates on the critical issues, including:
Christian voters must also consider the regulatory overreach of the Federal Government and the disastrous fiscal policy which the democratic government has adopted and utilized and what some believe is the weaponization of government against private citizens, including and especially people of faith.
Christian radio, and I am proud to say the Crawford Broadcasting Co., devote much of their broadcast time, finances and concerns in programming which seriously address the concerns of Christians today and our beloved America at large. So many of us, who love our America, are deeply concerned with what is happening in all facets of our great country, and we are determined to make a difference, to educate all people including and especially Christian believers, real evangelicals, and encourage them to do their duty as American citizens and become fully involved in government, in politics, in the elections, and to take a stand for what is right, for traditional moral values, and to do everything possible to have America and its citizens return, rethink, and reevaluate the disastrous moral and cultural trends which now affect and radically change our once great country. Said one Christian politician:
“WE ARE THE BLESSED STEWARDS OF A TEMPORAL HOME BUILT
ON A FOUNDATION OF FAITH TO THE BEST OF OUR FOUNDER’S
ABILITIES. WE MUST DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE IN OUR POWER TO
SAVE AMERICA FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.”
Amen. We, the Crawford Broadcasting Co., fully agree, and we are dedicated to that purpose, and we hope and pray you believe and act the same and that you will do so for the glory of God and the salvation of America in Elections 2024. It really is our Christian duty. -
Do you intend to vote in this critical November election, do you?
Are you registered to vote so that, unlike many others, you are a legally qualified voter?
America needs your vote, YOUR VOTE! America needs your informed vote, a vote that is educated in the issues, understands the essential workings of politics and the government, and assuming you are Christian, voting for candidates and issues with the direction and guidance of your Christian conscience.
YOU MUST VOTE!
For many Christians, they seem to find reasons not to vote. If those Christians find the candidates personality, or private life, or public image objectionable, that gives them reasons, really excuses, for non-participation, for not voting. And that, my fellow Americans and fellow Christians, is simply dead wrong. As Troy Miller, President and CEO of NRB, the National Religious Broadcasters Association:
“I urge Christians who are so inclined to pivot from personality and
take a closer look at policy.”
That is a strong message to those conservative Americans and Christian Americans that if, for example, you do not like the personality, or the private life, or the public image of Donald Trump, those are not reasons for you not to vote for Donald Trump. If in fact Trump and his party represent and will champion and defend the policies and political decisions which are consistent with your Christian values.
Dr. George Barna has produced a new survey indicating that:
“Theologically defined evangelicals (are you one?) are no more likely than
anyone else to be attentive to news about politics and government.”
That is a sad, sad indeed conclusion and I do hope that you are not one of those evangelicals who doesn’t care, isn’t involved, and doesn’t intend to vote. You and I have, so many believe, a theological duty to be involved to the extent we can in the political process and most importantly, in every meaningful election:
VOTE!
That Barna survey indicates that an estimated 7 million evangelicals, in swing states no less, did not participate or vote in the 2020 President Election. If those 7 million registered and potential voters actually did vote, the outcomes and elections of candidates up and down the ballot would have been entirely different. And that was in so-called swing states alone.
Generally, across America and in all states, the Barna survey estimates that one third, 33%, of all evangelicals did not vote or participate in the political process in 2020! One third. If there are, as many think, as many as 75 million so-called theologically defined evangelicals in America, that means according to the Barna survey that as many as:
25 MILLION EVANGELICAL AMERICANS DID NOT VOTE IN 2020!
That is a startling and frankly sickening survey conclusion and they discredit and disgrace not only the privilege of American citizenship, but to our very Lord himself! As many as 25 million registered American citizen voters in 2020, says Barna, did not even simply bother to vote. To me, and to so many others, that is just simply unbelievable, UNBELIEVABLE! That led Troy Miller to state in his article:
“WE HAVE A DUAL ISSUE OF TURNOUT (NOT VOTING) AND TUNE OUT (NOT PARTICIPATING IN OR BEING INFORMED OF THE POLITICAL PROCESS AND ITS ISSUES).”
I do hope and pray that you, if in fact you are Christian and Evangelical Christian, are not one of those 25 million. You and I have the unbelievable privilege of being citizens of the greatest country in the history of mankind. At least, it once was. We live in a country where true freedom exists, or at least it used to. We the People, all people, including Christians, all people of faith or not of faith, have freedom of religion, complete unabridged freedom of religion, and the very same total and complete freedom of speech, and press, and no government, including and especially the Federal Government, can in any way interfere with or abridge those precious, inalienable, God-given through the constitution, freedoms we enjoy, and now have begun to assume and take for granted.
We also have freedom of petition. We can say what we want, ask what we feel is right to do, complain, criticize, compliment, and express what we believe to anyone who acts as our political leader at any level of government. They are duty-bound to listen, read, understand, and respond, whether or not they do. That is our constitutional right.
Perhaps most importantly as Christians, we have the constitutional and First Amendment right to assemble. That is, to form, support, attend, and be involved in the functions of a church or any type of religious organization. No one, including and especially the Federal Government, can prevent any American from worshipping as he or she pleases in any venue as he or she may wish and the slightest abridgement of that freedom is constitutionally wrong, illegal, and cannot be tolerated.
WE, THE EVANGELICAL PEOPLE, are free, we have been given these freedoms, we can partake of them without fear of retribution and with those freedoms, those benefits, those assets, we consequently have the duty, the God-required, American citizen-required, duty to protect, defend, and to be involved in the processes (voting) which involves the protection and continuation of those freedoms. Therefore, it seems perfectly clear that we as Christians, and perhaps especially as evangelical Christians, do in fact have the:
DUTY TO VOTE.
Are you registered to vote?
Do you intend to vote?
Will you encourage others, especially other evangelicals, to vote, will you?
If you claim those freedoms as your rights, and I hope and pray you do, than as a result of those rights, you have the duty to protect those freedoms, to be informed, educated in the political process to the extent you can, and most importantly, to participate:
TO VOTE!
None of the freedoms which we enjoy as Americans exist in Russia, or North Korea, or China, or Iran, or many of the other Far Eastern countries, and socialism abounds in many Western countries which were once more democratic and those people in so many parts of the world yearn for the freedoms we enjoy and take for granted as Americans and are probably stunned to learn that so many of us simply do not care, are not engaged, and do not:
VOTE.
So many men and women the world over and in all of history died to either get or protect those freedoms and if this political-voting lethargy, which exists in so many parts of America continues, that day may soon come when the blood of freedom loving individuals, real American freedom patriots, must be shed if those freedoms are to be protected and preserved. That will sagacious vice of former and early U. S. President Thomas Jefferson. He was right, perhaps dead right. America is changing and may radically change, the loss of freedoms expedited depending upon the results of Elections 2024, especially if evangelicals do not participate, do not vote as it is estimated some 25 million did not in 2020.
Please vote my fellow Christians. Protect our constitutional freedoms for yourself, your spouse, your children, your family, your friends, and all Americans. AMERICA NEEDS YOU INVOLVED AND YOUR VOTE NOW 2024 MORE THAN EVER! -
Work is good. Work is necessary for the fulfillment of every human being. Work is required of every person according to his or her capabilities and talents, so sayeth the Scripture. All of us must work to survive, live, grow and profit and be all that we can be and as God intended us to be.
Our very own America was built on hard work, and is in fact itself a work in progress. The progress depends upon us, we the people, how hard we work and how we make things happen. The majority of we the American people are hard workers. And, the harder and the better we work, the better America and all of us are. To be sure, nothing comes easy in this life, nothing. Everything we have or enjoy is the product of hard work by someone, whether you, or me, or someone else. You and I must do our share, accomplish our calling for the very short time we have on this precious earth. Life, said the wisest man of old King Solomon, is but a vapor here today and gone so soon tomorrow. We should make every working day count to the fullest.
Pioneers built our country. They were men and women who did little but work hard morning till night. They farmed land never before productive. They raised animals and used them for work and feed. They built houses, and churches, and City Halls. They built roads and bridges. They built autos and trucks. They built hospitals and invented medicines. They designed and manufactured clothing. They created places for entertainment and worship. They built elaborate and majestic campuses for education and things theological. They built laboratories and science centers and they sent us deep into space. They were then and we are now the workers who made America great, America, the most exciting, creative human and social experiment in all of history. You and I should be proud of them and we should be proud to be workers like they were. The more we work, the better we are, caught up, energized and thrilled by the spirit of America, our exceptional opportunity to pursue our dreams and to build our future. America and those who believe in what it stands for are indeed EXCEPTIONAL and we have been blessed by EQUALLY EXCEPTIONAL opportunity. As we work, we should do everything possible to protect and defend the opportunities, lifestyles and freedoms which America offers.
How wonderful it is that the talent and ability of every individual God-Made is different, unique. It is marvelous indeed that every single person has talent and gifts which are in fact different. That is true divine diversity. None of us are better at least not in the sight of God, but different only. Each of us has our own special CALLING. So, no matter who you are, YOU are special and it is your right but every bit as importantly your duty to utilize those God-given talents to the fullest. It is your duty to fulfill your calling. So then, we should not be concerned with what others think nor should we judge what we do and how we work by the standards of others. Nor should we be inhibited by their criticism. For we need to know ourselves, be true to that special self and soul which God has created and through prayer and meditation, come to a full recognition of those talents and be the very person God intended that you and I be. We can fail, but we can bounce back. The opportunity for growth and change is still available in America, thank God. Ignore rejection and focus on your calling.
So then, my fellow Americans, you may be called to be a mother. Be all that you can be as a mother for the sake of your children and do your God-given calling with all of your might. Or perhaps you are secretary, or babysitter. Perhaps you clean for a living. Recognize all such work as a calling and do your calling with all of your might. Or perhaps you are plumber, electrician, landscaper, restaurant worker. Do your calling with all of your might and as you can, as unto the Lord. Or perhaps you are lawyer, accountant, radio salesperson, financial planner. Do your calling with all of your might. And if you are the President of anything, including the President of our great United States, you perhaps have a calling with higher standards, duties and demands. No one should do a calling better than you WITH ALL OF YOUR MIGHT!
So, we work, we produce and as we do, we should expect return which of course includes money and profit. We work for economic growth and benefit, for the fruit of our labors. We follow the biblical prescription that we can expect even with minimum work product the return of that work one for one. Or perhaps, five to one. Or even as Scripture indicates, perhaps as much as ten to one or more as we diligently develop and exploit those talents and capabilities through hard work. The money return from our work, efforts, creativity and initiative is blessed by Scripture. That money return is right, as we become work men and work women worthy of our hire. We plant, as Scripture says, and Mother Nature waters and it is GOD who gives the increase so the Scriptures say. It is a good thing to make money and to be rewarded for our work. Money supports. Money helps others. Money creates opportunity. The best of us at work, hard work, is exactly what this world of so many ENTITLED needs now more than ever. In fact, hard and productive work is so necessary for this world of entitlements in which we live in order for it to survive and continue. It is well and good indeed to help those all in real need. But all who can, any and all including those receiving entitlements, should work as they can.
But today, unfortunately it seems, there are those supposedly progressive in thinking who wish to tell us that profit is wrong, especially in excess. That profit made is the result of GREED at work. Profit they say is not as a result of hard work or special skills, but rather the exploitation of others. Ignore them. You are worthy of the profit and gain of anything you produce at any level of life. The more you invest as a mother, the better your child, perhaps better than others. Enjoy the fruit, the profit of your labors. When you build something, revel in the fruit of your labors and do it with all of your might, and better than others. For no matter what progressives or others would say, YOU DID IN FACT BUILD IT, and you did build it yourself. In fact, so much of what is built would not have been built without you or me. Revel in, enjoy and profit from anything and everything YOU BUILT!
But work produces much more than money. Those who understand the value of work realize full well that the doing well of anything is the reward itself! The satisfaction, the fulfillment, the full expression of the self among mankind and before God are THE BEST REWARDS. They are indeed more valuable than money for money comes and goes. But the rewards of work well done last a lifetime and are in fact eternal. We create an earthly balance sheet, personal financial and loss statements here and now, but it is the ETERNAL balance sheet which really counts. Nothing goes with you, no matter what you leave behind, but only the heavenly balance sheet you create. For there is always something more, often much more than the work itself or the profit therefrom. There is good, often enormous good in work well done and even very spiritual good. See that clearly as part of the goal of your calling and WORK which only adds to the return and the enjoyment.
So, the work we do can be not only for money, or profit, but for non-profit. For worthy causes. For the good of society in which we live. For all humanity, especially those in need. For the Christian Church and for the Christ we love and serve. For blood drives. For HIV awareness and treatment. For feeding and sheltering the homeless. For carrying the message of the Gospel to forsaken and needy parts of America and the world. Shepherding and guiding children. Tending to the needs of the elderly. Visiting and comforting those in prison.
THE WORK OF THE LORD AT WORK FOR ALL MANKIND, AS WE ARE CALLED.
All of these things make us what we should be before the Lord and our fellow man.
So many of us are people of faith. But our faith, sayeth Scripture, without works is dead. Whatever you believe, whatever your faith, there is no way for anyone to know whether or not it is real except by your works. Talk is cheap. But by the fruits of your labors your fellow human beings will know you. If there is in fact a work of God in you, a CALLING, a life objective, the works that you do will prove to others who you are. What you and I do not do also proves who we are. The great thinking Dietrich Bonhoeffer said that not to act is to act. Negative actions, doing nothing, can be as potent negatively as actual action itself.
Unfortunately, there are those who do deceitful works and works of iniquity. They are known for their fraudulent and deceitful acts. They work not for the good of mankind, but only for themselves, for ego, for elicit gain in a deceitful way. Their works and their lives are in vain. William Shakespeare said that the evil that men do lives after them, the legacy they make and that evil is the only thing remembered here and in eternity.
So, it is our duty to study, to grow ourselves in our career and constantly make ourselves better, so that we can show ourselves approved as work men and women, understanding the objectives, values and priorities which are ours, always growing in our understanding, especially the Scriptures so that we can be approved by God before him as well as man. Learning, whether a trade or in law, or by gaining experience and growing or by learning from others, or the school of hard knocks, and by mistakes, learning standards of excellence to which we can aspire so that we can be all, ALL we can be, working with all of our might knowing in this world that indeed the night is coming where no man can work. Work while you can and the best you can.
In this life, we slow down, age or perhaps lose interest or motivation, and of course energy and our ability to work dissipates or even ends. With that ends opportunity and potential and we may not have finished what we are called to do. Some retire, or quit, or are forced to retire prematurely. Some of us are fortunate enough to finish and accomplish our objectives and purposes, while others can not. For us, we are fortunate that even Jesus of Nazareth said in John’s Gospel that he had in fact finished the work for which the Father had sent him. He had accomplished His objectives, fulfilled His purposes and He did so to His last dying breath. Our goal, like HIS should be to finish our work, the work for which we were sent by God and meant to do. That is the greatest fulfillment this life can offer.
We are called upon by God Almighty to live every day to the fullest. CARPE DIEM my fellow Americans, seize the day. It is the day which the Lord hath made and for you to work and be productive. Worry not about tomorrow, or the criticism, expectations or even the rejections of any man. It has its own problems-evil-which you can not control or do anything about. But, rather think in terms of how precious every minute of every hour of every day is, and rejoice in that. Maximize the opportunity that minute brings and, whatever your hand finds to do, YOUR CALLING, do it with all of your might. Every God-given minute is indeed an opportunity there once never to return. So that everything we do, everything no matter how menial works together for good. The joy of living is so special. We are told by our Lord that He is come that we might have life in its most ABUNDANT form and that our joy, OUR TOTAL JOY may be full. There is joy in every moment, as we work, as we rest, as we play, as we love others and as we understand who we are and:
BE ALL THAT WE CAN BE
Those who love to work and love as much to be productive and make things happen know that the ultimate reward for such work is:
THE VERY WORK ITSELF
No matter the accolades of man, or profit, or any other earthly benefit, the ultimate reward, the ultimate satisfaction is the work itself. Nothing feels better to any right-thinking person than a job well done, having done the best you can with all of your might.
So then, for the Christian, there is something even greater than works. There is GRACE, saving grace. And no manner of works can ever equal that. The grace at God at work trumps the works of any man, but when added to works, leads to the complete fulfillment of that life. We can and should be proud of the works we do, but the work of God in Jesus Christ, saving grace through Him is the greatest work of all. The combination of grace producing work, the right work is the very best thing in life.
So, my fellow Americans, work hard. Work well, with purpose. Know your calling. Do what you were CALLED to do, and do it in each and every minute, hour and day of your life. Do what your Creator would have you do and you will find fulfillment in that work and in your life. It matters not whether you are housewife or President, millionaire or middle class, never forget that:
YOU AND YOUR WORK ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT
YOU AND YOUR WORK ARE UNIQUE, DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHERS
We need not the approval or recognition of mankind however enjoyable that may be. We need to work to be approved by God, who knows us, our every thought and deed. His approval is all that matters.
I and the Crawford Broadcasting Company honor all of the men and women in America who work, and work hard, and make America, family and friends, and all of us so much better and especially those who work as unto the Lord. Find the work you love to do, really love to do and you will never work a day in your life!
God bless you work men and women worthy of your hire and it is because of you that:
GOD WILL BLESS AMERICA -
George Barna, he of the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY, may well be the most respected Christian surveyist in America. In a survey he conducted, released August 6, 2024, on CHRISTIAN EVANGELICALISM and Christianity in America, the Barna survey said the following:
“The cultural awareness sparked by the Covid pandemic and the 2024 Presidential campaign has led millions of Americans to realize just how depraved American society has become. Corrupt politicians, dishonest journalists and media outlets, broken social institutions, immoral religious leaders, unconstitutional government programs and policies, and more, have generated non-stop headlines highlighting the decadence of American society and the demise of the United States.”
That, my fellow Americans and fellow Christians, may be the most damning judgment of our great country in many years. The depth of the depravity in America, says Barna, is shocking. And it really is with no end in sight. The real reason for this satanic cultural decline says Barna:
“is a direct result of the spiritual collapse of Christianity in our nation.”
Barna is right. The once dynamic of Christianity in America does indeed seem gone, tarnished, diminished, of little force and effect, not only nationally and generally, but individually as well.
The survey found that this steep cultural decline emanates from the dramatic transformation in the evangelical community in the United States during the past 30 years. Real evangelicals, however that is defined, seem to be far fewer in number and even more importantly far less biblical in their thinking and beliefs. There has come about the growth of SYNCRETISM, which is a worldview that combines core beliefs and behaviors from a variety of other well-defined worldviews such as Marxism, Secular Humanism, Eastern Mysticism, and Postmodernism. Individuals, in other words, offer their own worldview, belief system, and ultimate values with core beliefs gathered from any number of sources and the Barna survey indicates that as many as 9 out of 10 adults are in fact categorized by this CUT-AND-PASTE approach to their philosophy of life. That also means that any absolute truth claimed by scripture, THE BIBLE, is unacceptable or only acceptable in part, and Christianity, once a dynamic, monolithic force in America and the world, no longer exists. SYNCRETISM has won out over Christianity!
Christians, evangelical Christians, what is left of them, now vote in far fewer numbers than once believed. They are simply far less active in the political process and seem to have little concern for results, so says Barna.
And more, most evangelicals do not possess a biblical worldview with only about one third of so-called evangelicals doing so. In fact, says the Barna survey, evangelicals are more likely to be shaped by the culture around them, than they are to influence that culture or even more importantly, evangelize it.
So then, the ultimate question then becomes:
WHAT IS AN EVANGELICAL?
If the absolute truths of the Bible, the gospel message, the old and new testaments are at best guides and syncretized with other religions and worldviews, and beliefs and values, and that affects evangelicals, what really is an evangelical and what does a real evangelical believe?
Several decades ago, it was thought that there was some 60-70 million adults who were in fact bible believing evangelicals. Barna estimates that today, that figure could be as low as 25-30 million adults. I, for one, do hope and pray that is wrong, for an aggressive, moral, committed, right-thinking and living evangelical is a critical component of the American society.
Barna then goes on to state, as a result of his most recent survey, that the following priorities and beliefs are foundational for the current day evangelical.
First, God is the all-knowing (omniscient), all-powerful, just and perfect creator of the universe.
God is the basis of all truth, and those truths are conveyed to us through the Bible.
The purpose of life is to fully know, love, and serve God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and there is no other besides him.
Satan, representing all evil, truly exists and is the author of the current immoral society.
All humans are born into sin and can only escape the consequences through Jesus Christ.
All such beliefs are incorporated in the Bible, its 66 books, and do in fact comprise basic tenets of belief which a real and true evangelical must embrace and adopt. Do you, as Christian, real Christian, believe in those Christian fundamental and basic tenets, do you?
The Barna survey then concludes that as many as 7 out 10 so-called evangelicals do not believe in all of those tenets and of more concern, reject the idea that truth is absolute and biblically based. Small wonder that Christianity is on the decline and no longer acts as the antidote to the immoral decline in American society.
It is indeed tragic that there are millions of evangelicals who do not vote, so concludes George Barna, are not active in the political process, do not seem to care about political happenings, candidates, or events, and otherwise totally ignore and walk away from their citizenship responsibilities. When these good men and women abandon the political arena, the very bad, immoral men and women take over, exercise power, work to foster things anti-Christian, and further enhance the immoral decay and slide of this once great country. Time, survival time, for all of us, for American democracy, runs out.
More Barna findings. As many as 50% of so-called evangelicals believe that eternal salvation can in fact be earned through good works, something directly contrary to the strong teachings of scripture.
Almost 50% believe, says Barna, that there is no absolute moral truth, again something absolutely contrary to biblical teaching.
And this survey found, shockingly so, that somewhat more than one out of every five so-called evangelicals prefer SOCIALISM TO CAPITALISM! In short, it seems that even the modern-day evangelical has been syncretized, believes something from scripture but otherwise believes whatever they want to believe or whatever they think is right to believe. Small wonder, my fellow Christians, that there is an amazing, considerable, seemingly irreversible immoral decline and slide in America, its culture, politics, and beliefs.
Are you a Christian, and are you an evangelical Christian, and if so, what do you believe, what do you really believe and what is the foundation for those beliefs, the source, the reality of those beliefs? The power of the gospel at work in the lives of individuals, individuals by the millions, is the only real thing which can impact, change, and reverse the immoral slide in this once great country. So that, say many, our motto should not be GOD BLESS AMERICA, but GOD HELP AMERICA! And powerful, moral, people of faith, at work, in control, and dynamic in influence are the only ones who can reverse and save this once great country. I do hope and pray that you are one of those Soldiers of the Cross. That you are ready to put all on the altar and that you will be an active force in politics and culture in America.
And, that you will vote and be active and outspoken in elections 2024! -
What makes a leader?
Is a leader born, born with those natural leadership qualities, or is a leader made, made by experience, trial and error?
A leader surely is one who steps up, steps forward, takes charge, one who recognizes the opportunity to provide direction, encouragement.
A leader is surely one who is not afraid to make decisions, take risks, and in extreme cases, be willing to risk life and limb for what he or she believes is right.
A pastor, for example, takes charge. He speaks with voice strong, courageous, especially when those words come from the Lord who has promised to those who love him:
I WILL GIVE YOU THE WORDS!
A leader should surely have perfected the art of:
LISTENING.
Surely for the Christian, one should listen for the direction, the guidance, the wisdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. The meaning of the words is then magnified, and they contain the wisdom of the Lord rather than that of a man.
A leader is strong, courageous, not afraid. A real leader knows that God has not given him or her the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. That loving, sound mind, divinely created, is perhaps the strongest evidence of a real leader.
A mother is a real leader, the captain of the children which God has given her. She trains them, this female leader does, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. She instructs, disciplines, sets standards and values, and by her words and actions, cultivates love and respect not only for her, but for all women, for all humankind.
The values she conveys are strong Christian values, clear standards of right and wrong, and no one in the household in which she is THE LEADER deviates from those standards. She lives those standards by example. She shows her faith by her deeds
and her words always have value and meaning. No household, no husband or wife relationship, no father or mother at work can be all that they can be without the leadership of a mother, a true, loving, god-fearing mother.
A true leader is creative. A plumber analyzes a problem and fixes a toilet. Every true blue collar person at work is creative, a leader, a problem solver, a fixer, taking charge of that situation and making it right. Fixing a broken toilet is leadership at work and that God-given ability can translate to every part of that man or woman’s life. Plumbers are leaders. Carpenters are leaders. Mechanics are leaders. Daycare workers are leaders. Doctors and nurses are leaders. They possess those God-given qualities which can translate to all of life in so many ways.
It should be the task of every man and woman to understand themselves, to analyze their strengths, capabilities, creativity, and understand all the ways in life, everyday life, how they make decisions, take charge, fix problems, and lead. Every single individual God created possesses significant leadership qualities and no one, no matter their calling, career, or life’s work, should ever be disrespected, and perhaps more importantly, never disrespect themselves.
A true leader is loyal. Faithful is he or she in everything.
A true leader is honest. Integrity rules their every thought, word, and deed.
A true leader is positive, knowing that all things work together for good to those who love the Lord. In a negative, often evil world, the positive, make-it-right attitude, approach and conduct proves to all that this man or woman is in fact a true leader.
We are all born with those characteristics. They are inherent, God-given. Unfortunately, so few are recognized or ever developed. But they can be by the experiences of life, from the challenges, the difficulties, the problems which every human being will face. The true character of every person will be challenged in so many ways as life goes on. Our courage and commitment will be challenged. That is especially so if we are spiritually minded, Christian at heart, standing tall and uncompromising for the Lord Jesus Christ we love. Leaders are always at work in little things not just large. Real leaders make leadership decisions in every aspect of life, every day in every way. They follow the example of their Lord, who promised, as our shepherd, that he would lead us in the paths of righteousness, that we would fear no evil, that goodness and mercy would follow us all the days of our lives, and that we should live by those promises.
That very same leader from Nazareth promised that He would guide us with his eye upon us, and in every life situation, bring out the best in us. Trust that, ask for that, believe in that.
You, everyone, were given these strong leadership qualities. You can be a leader in these paths of righteousness and make every person an opportunity in your life better. Believe in yourself. Bring out the best in you, always. Pray for His wisdom, strength, and courage. And you will be all -
POLITICIANS LIE!
All of them. Do you know of any politician at any level of government who tells the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, all the time, do you? I don’t.
It is as though for one to become a politician is for that candidate or elected official to embrace the lie. To compromise, to sell the soul, or be willing to do so, to play the game, the political game. Politicians deceive. They will do or say virtually anything to get elected, and then again re-elected. So much of WE THE PEOPLE have come to expect that, and worse, accept that. We do our best to determine facts, and truth, and we make our decisions to vote so often on the basis of faulty facts, the best alternatives, knowing that trust, ultimate trust in the candidate, the person, the platform, the promises are anything but certain once that candidate gets in office, takes power, and becomes a member in good standing of the political class, a class of individuals better than us, entitled, and almost always without accountability. It is a sad day in America as we look at anything political.
Nevertheless, now comes politics 2024, elections this November, federal state and local, which will determine the future of America. That future is not decades, or even years away. Change, and radical change is a present possibility, an immediate political dagger in the constitutional heart of WE THE PEOPLE. Our freedoms, our way of life, our constitutional guarantees, our very own Bill of Rights have never been more in danger. What is sad is that, even as these forces of evil, anti-democracy, totalitarian march on, we the people, the citizens, the voters seem unaware, even indifferent, falsely believing that nothing so aggressive, fundamental, and revolutionary could ever happen to our great country, our way of life, and the freedoms not only enjoy but take for granted. We are a citizenry naïve, unsuspecting, accommodating, intimidated, lied to, and ripe as never before to radical change and the end of our democratic way of life.
Words and warnings seem to do little good. The indifference of WE THE PEOPLE, the lack of involvement, real sacrificial involvement, the toleration of the lie and flat out evil is incredibly alarming. We heed not the warning of founding father Benjamin Franklin that this republic, this democracy of America can only last:
IF WE THE PEOPLE CAN KEEP IT!
The sacrifice, the involvement, the constant attention to the political process and the holding of wrong-doers and unfaithful politicians accountable are demanding courses of action which we seem unwilling to take. America teeters on the brink not only of change, radical change, but even outright destruction when those who take power fully exercise that power and reveal who they really are, what they think, and what they intend for our beloved America.
WE THE PEOPLE are much more responsible for commitment well beyond our vote. Our vote 2024 begins the journey. Then comes accountability, follow up, demand, contact, devoting a significant and meaningful portion of one’s life to the protection of the freedoms and citizenship we now take for granted. Look at how many politicians have changed course once elected. They tell us they are evolving in their thinking (compromising), considering different points of view, developing new definitions of fairness, equity, and in fact, learning the full meaning of diversity, and equity, and inclusion so much of which means reversal of position, belief, standards and values, and the beginning of the:
LIVING THE LIFE OF THE POLITICAL LIE.
It is then that so much of America does nothing. It talks, complains, watches and listens to media, most of which is liberal-radical, and vows that things political in 2028 will be different. But the problem is that the America of 2028 will be radically changed from the America of 2024.
These are not words of pessimism or despair only, but reality. They are words of challenge, asking all of us who care about America to stand up for the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, and to hold our elected officials, those who ask for our trust and confidence, to the very highest possible standards as they make critical decisions affecting our lives. Candidate Donald Trump already begins to change his beliefs, positions, and even former promises. Many believe that Trump is the only conservative alternative. But Trump has signaled that he is not the president he once was in 2016, so far without major change but having created enough of political and cultural differences which may be precursors of more aggressive position change to come. Watch what he says and does most carefully.
Kamala Harris is a liberal, in many ways a radical liberal, woke, and already her fawning media begin the cover-up, the reinterpretation of her record as politician, and district attorney, and find ways to compensate for her total inexperience and perhaps considerable inabilities at the presidential level. The democrat lie has already begun and WE THE PEOPLE will be asked to vote for a largely recreated Harris. Whether Trump or Harris, or senate or house candidates, get ready for the lie, so much you will hear and see which is not the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. But vote you must, for this election, like almost all others before it, is a vote for the better candidate, not necessarily the really right one or the best one.
Truth is the truth, the whole truth, leaving nothing out, and nothing but the truth, adding nothing in. Politicians are masters in adding and subtracting fact and theory so as to make up their own version of the truth, anything which accomplishes their ultimate objectives. That is why, say so many political experts, American democracy is ultimately doomed. Will you let that happen? Will you let the forces of evil take over? Will you do what is necessary to protect, preserve, and defend this great country in which you are privileged to live, will you? President Thomas Jefferson said that the preservation of democracy requires the shedding of patriotic blood from time to time. I wonder if that time is now or coming soon. Millions have died protecting America, its democracy and freedoms and now may be the time for more.
As you make incredibly important voting decisions for all of the elections 2024:
WHAT PRICE ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY? -
IT TAKES A LOT TO GET JEWS TO SHUN DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES, so says writer for the New York Post, Adam Brodsky.
It does take a lot, for traditionally, most Jews vote democratic, so say the polls. But that is changing, changing more so every day and finally for the right reasons. Far too many democrats, and democratic candidates for office are anti-Israel and consequently, more or less, antisemitic. No matter what they say, their actions speak louder than words.
So many today are pro-Palestinian, and consequently, anti-Israel, and as a result of that, anti-Jewish, antisemitic. The protestors demand that the United States not support Israel, not provide it with foreign aid, weapons, or justification, or defense of any kind. These protestors have no problem with present day Israel becoming the homeland of the Palestinians, even if Israelis are located or even extinguished. Jihadist radicals have no problem with that, and in fact, that may be their goal, for the motto is:
EVERY JEW IN ISRAEL BURRIED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MEDITERRANEAN!
Israel has a population of approximately 7,250,000 people, which is less than the population of New York City, and a good many of them are not Jewish, but Arab or otherwise. The land of Israel is 8,000 sq. miles. It is 263 miles from north to south, and 71 miles at the very widest part, and only 6.2 miles at the most narrow. Israel, all of it, is approximately the size of the state of New Jersey. By contrast, surrounding nations, mostly Arab and Muslim, are huge in size geographically and in terms of population, and include Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and not far away Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia among others. Strange it is that none of these countries want to welcome the so-called Palestinians and allow them access and living in their very own countries. The Arab hatred for Israel and the Jews is far more important than the wellbeing of the Palestinians, so it seems.
Long ago, well before the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, himself of course a Jew, the God of scripture, THE GREAT GOD JEHOVAH, gave this land, this promised land to his chosen people and if you believe the Bible account of that land gift, said to Abraham, the father of the Jews:
“I GIVE YOU THIS LAND FROM THE GREAT RIVER NILE OF EGYPT TO THE GREAT RIVER OF BABYLON, THE EUPHRATES.”
Interestingly, Israel now occupies but a small part of that God-given gift. But the divine promise continues to exist and one day, in the providence of God, that land inheritance, all of it, will be fulfilled. If you believe the Bible and the promises made in the book of Genesis, Israel, THE PROMISED LAND, belongs to the Jews, to the descendants of Abraham, all of it.
The world ignores October 7, 2023. That was the most horrible day for Jews and antisemitism since the holocaust. Hundreds of innocent Israelis, including women and children, were slaughtered by Hamas, jihadist radicals. It is only natural that for the first time in the lives of so many Jews, they feel nervous about America as a refuge. That fear is fueled by district attorneys, like Alvin Bragg in New York City, who do nothing, do not prosecute those who assault and physically attack Jews, political candidates almost all of whom are Democrats who rail against the Jews, and Israel, champion the protestors, and the insidious movement DEI (Divestiture, Equity and Inclusion) which, at its extreme, encourages antisemitism and hatred of the Jews characterizing them and all Israelis as oppressors and colonizers. It seems as though the radical jihadists, not only Muslims but so many other ignorant individuals, entities, institutions (colleges and others) to foster this hatred of Israel and the Jews. President Biden did nothing, other than a complete about face. When Israel was attacked by Hamas October 7, 2023, Biden aggressively told the world that he and our country would protect and defend Israel and the Jews. Just before his withdrawal as Democratic Presidential Candidate for 2024, Biden showed clearly that he had reversed that position completely, supplying additional arms and aid would be suspended or reduced and he will leave office with his famous quote:
“THE PROTESTORS HAVE A POINT.”
The holy day of the week for Muslims is Friday, and for the Jews Saturday, and for the Christians Sunday. Radical jihadists say the following:
FIRST THE SATURDAY PEOPLE (THE JEWS), AND THEN THE SUNDAY PEOPLE (CHRISTIANS)!
Our world, which now comprises more than 8 billion people, is comprised itself of 1.7 billion Muslims, and adherence to that religion seem to grow daily.
Israel has always had a very special relationship with the United States. There are now some 2,500 US companies which do business with Israel in one form or another and employ some 72,000 Israelis according to the US Chamber of Commerce. This small nation of 7,250,000 people has the highest concentration of engineers, scientists, and technicians per capita and produces more scientific papers per capita than any other nation in the world. The economic and commercial relationship between these two countries includes IT, biotech, life sciences, healthcare solutions, energy, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, defense industries, cyber security, and aviation just to name some. Even our own armed forces benefit greatly from Israel’s innovative
economy with many critical military components invented by this industrious little nation. Again, Sunday Christians, never forget that Jesus of Nazareth was Jewish!
Robert Knight, writer for the Washington Times, said the following:
“THE RADICAL AMERCIAN LEFT HAS MADE COMMON CAUSE WITH THE ANTISEMITIC, PRO-HAMAS MOVEMENT.”
Israel is the only functioning democratic republic in the Middle East, not without problems and difficulties to be sure, but the very best governmental structure in the entire Middle East and far better, more tolerant, and democratic than any other nation in that entire part of the world. Scripture requires that all who believe, all Christians, and all Jews, that the Great God Jehovah, will, as HE so plainly said, will bless those nations and individuals who bless Israel and the Jews, and conversely, curse those who persecute Israel and the Jews. Jerusalem is His holy sitting place. Israel, the land he gave to Abraham, and consequently, the rightful legal and religious heritage and inheritance of the Jewish people. That truism means that a whole lot of radical university professors, politicians, and protestors, and now an ever-growing number of businessmen and wealthy individuals will fall under the curse of Almighty God, a promise which should make them tremble in their boots.
We are urged to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, peace for Israel, America, and the whole world. The great I AM intended Abraham and the Jews to be a blessing to all humankind and all nations, and our Lord and His special emissary, the Apostle Paul, hoped and prayed for grace, peace, and mercy for all humankind, and these promises, these hopes are the only thing which can end war, hatred, killings, and bring a love and understanding to all humankind. May each of us, Jew, Gentile, and all humankind do everything possible to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, and our neighbors as ourselves, and hope and pray for the day when this DIVINE PEACE, the peace of Jerusalem and the world becomes a reality. The way this world is, and the ever growing anti-Judeo-Christian forces at work, we may have to wait until the second coming of our beloved Messiah, who perhaps, all alone, can be the only one to bring the promised:
PEACE OF JERUSALEM
to all of us, to all humankind. -
IT’S THE ECONOMY, STUPID!
Those were the famous words of former president Bill Clinton when asked what the most important issue was in Presidential Election 1992.
Clinton was right, at least about that one thing. Nothing works, everything breaks down if the economy doesn’t work and it breaks down. And the American economy is breaking down, slowly but surely. When an economic crisis occurs, or a collapse occurs, no entity, no family, no individual can function normally, and everything breaks down and even grinds to a halt.
Our scriptures tell us to:
OWE NO MAN NOTHING!
Nothing, that is, that cannot be repaid with current monies. But inflation, the insidious rising of prices, produces a lack of affordability which is even now affecting lower income Americans who cannot purchase, in some cases, even basic necessities. Inflation is the artificial rise of prices without necessarily economic justification. Inflation produces monetary crisis and virtually the end of free nations when it finally produces economic crisis. Said one economist:
“THE NATIONAL DEBT CRISIS IS COMING!”
And perhaps the beginning of that crisis is already here.
No matter, our Federal Government continues to spend, more so every day, with impunity and without consequence. Higher prices occur from regulation, serious regulation. Because of that spending, higher taxes are necessary to raise the revenue needed to pay back debt, old and new.
But, no matter, says our Federal Government, the Biden Administration, America will never run out of money because we will simply print more. The dollar is our currency, we control it, and if we need more money to pay debt, we can and we will make that happen. The result, of course, is even more inflation, less value to the dollar, and more dollars required to buy goods and services. That is inflation and debt run rampant. If we the people were STUPID (Bill Clinton), economically stupid, then our Federal Government is far more stupid as it incurs far more debt, caring little or nothing about repayment. The American debt which WE THE PEOPLE (not the government) owe is now at or about real dollars 35 trillion. That debt is projected to rise in the next decade to 55 trillion dollars which will mean that every American citizen will owe as much as $200,000 for debt repayment. The amount of the debt principal and interest is projected to rise to almost 130%, more than the gross domestic product (GDP) in its entirety. More dollars will be printed, inflation will continue to rise in rampant, uncontrollable ways, and prices of everything, EVERYTHING will rise to absolutely brutal and unaffordable levels. That debt will, as economist Gerald Seib so well said, will indeed:
SINK THE AMERICAN EMPIRE.
Economists warn us that Medicare and Social Security costs and obligations are simply totally out of control. They are now federal debt obligations, massive in size and growing every day. In the next decade, one out of five American citizens will be at retirement age, 65 or older, heavily if not entirely dependent upon Medicare and Social Security and both programs will in real economic terms be bankrupt, without reserve (all reserves have been spent by Congress) and in need of that new paper money which Congress can authorize and print which will raise prices, lifestyle costs, and the standard of living to totally unsustainable levels.
Every individual and household will need to earn more money and depend even more so on Federal and State Governments for economic assistance. But, these economic conditions will actually result in even lower wages, not higher. Employment and the family will be in a state of total disruption and a certain chaos will reign. Unemployment in America, like in 1929 and the Great Depression, will be at an all-time high.
Credit ratings will be worse than ever. Individuals will find it virtually impossible to borrow and credit cards will become obsolete or unusable. There will be, says Seib, massive defaults in mortgages, investments, even such items as automobiles and other kinds of lesser financing now taken for granted. Buying on credit will be almost impossible.
In this coming economic crisis, so many economists say, there will be higher interest rates for everything, not only higher but absolutely unaffordable. There was a time once in the American economy, some 30 years ago, when interest rates rose to almost 20%, but even that ridiculously high interest rate will be far exceeded, say these economists, when the new and perhaps final American debt crisis arises. And again, the only solution will be some cut-back in spending, especially with social programs, including defense and education, the printing of more, cheap, and meaningless money to pay debt, or the insolvency and bankruptcy of virtually everything. These conditions, say these economists, are not scare-tactics, predicted by naysayers, but have already started, and they will become the new reality, THE NEW NORMAL!
Our Federal Government will default on virtually every obligation, every debt and payment it must make. The dollar, now the standard for much of the world’s currency and economic foundation, will be greatly devalued, if not meaningless. We will in fact
default to nations like China who control so much of the American debt, unless we can persuade other nations to refinance, accept payments in wildly inflated American currency, or simply endure the nonpayment and further endure the world chaos that will cause. That will be the end of the American nation, like it was with Rome of old, and France in the late 1700’s, and Germany in the 1930’s, a Germany which eventually produced such civil and economic chaos and unrest, the maniac Hitler, the dictator and world destroyer, was the ultimate outcome. They predict, these economists do, that there will be civil unrest, revolution like never before, chaos and total disruption of lifestyle, and the end of everything, THE END! All or some of that may occur even as soon as the next decade, so they predict.
It seems as though WE THE PEOPLE care little. We seem to do nothing. Unless any or all of these conditions directly affect us, we the People, our families and lifestyles, we seem to do little but talk, vote the best way we can, but watch as our great country sinks every day deeper and deeper in debt. Trump says no new taxes, but they may be necessary to correct the borrowing-spending habits of past governments. Biden says new taxes and especially taxes on the wealthy. Neither approach is the answer. The only answer is to stop spending, cut spending, endure hardships in many areas of our governmental support and do it now or eventually there will be no such support.
Wake up Americans, WAKE UP! No matter who you are, Christian, conservative, atheist, liberal, woke, even anti-American as it now is:
WAKE UP!
Face the realities of this here and now, and coming like a hurricane, economic crisis, which indeed will SINK THE AMERICAN EMPIRE. No matter how we live or how busy we are, we better work now, all of us, to solve these problems or it will be the absolute end of our beloved America. Founding Father Benjamin Franklin told us that we had, as far back as 1776, a new republic, a way of life like nothing else in the world or in history, a new republic:
IF WE CAN KEEP IT!
We now do one terrible economic job in keeping that republic, and the way things are, we will in fact lose it. Perhaps we have one last chance in the next several years to save it, to keep it. But, that depends on:
YOU.
Are you willing to do what is required to save America, are you willing to sacrifice, at least to some extent, will you do what is right and necessary in order to save this beloved country and the lifestyle you enjoy, are you so willing?
NOW OR NEVER! -
OWE NO MAN NOTHING!
So says the scripture. Good advice, not only spiritual wisdom, but secular as well. Debt, unrepayable, with its pressure and tension, ruins everyone and everything.
That makes reference to debt which cannot be repaid in the normal course of business or living. Tens of millions would never own a home, or a car, or be able to afford the extreme cost of education today unless reasonable financing was accomplished. Scripture means don’t incur debt you can’t repay in the normal course of living and in the present.
But, my fellow Americans, we have a debt which we know little about, and which only increases daily, and which cannot be repaid in the normal course of living. That debt is the American Federal Government debt which now exceeds the unfathomable sum of, are you ready for this:
$35 TRILLION DOLLARS.
Not millions, not even billions, but now TRILLIONS of debt dollars, owed by Uncle Sam, that is by:
YOU AND ME.
That means, says one economist and accountant, that you and I, American citizens who elect and foster the decision making of this federal government owe the unbelievable sum of, are you ready for this:
$100 THOUSAND DOLLARS.
$100,000! And if we think that is a problem, that number only increases daily, hourly, for this DEMOCRAT GOVERNMENT, the Biden Administration, just loves to spend your and my money and of course without ever asking.
Biden Administration officials now spend and increase this American debt number by:
ONE TRILLION DOLLARS EVERY ONE HUNDRED DAYS.
That, my fellow Americans, my freedom-loving, freedom-from-debt-loving Americans, is an absolutely staggering financial fact and it is absolutely stunning that such a debt, this unbelievably high number is accepted, if it is even understood, by you and me. WHY?
And another absolutely stunning fact. WE THE PEOPLE must now pay one trillion dollars per year, ONE TRILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR just for interest alone on that debt. ONE TRILLION DOLLARS EVERY YEAR JUST FOR INTEREST ALONE AND THAT NUMBER GROWS EVERY DAY! That interest payment alone is more than we spend as a nation on DEFENSE. It is more than we spend on the ever-declining American infrastructure. One Trillion Dollars in interest is more than WE THE PEOPLE spend on Education and more than we spend on poverty programs. It is the worst kind of debt, really unpayable unless there are mammoth and massive new taxes put in place, and the world at large comes calling for the repayment of that debt, demanding that each American citizen pay the one hundred thousand dollars each would owe if the debt were to be repaid. How in the world did we the people ever let our country, our profligate Federal Government ever get to this point, HOW?
President Bill Clinton knew that we had to deal with this big long-term debt problem, but he and his administration did nothing about it. President Barack Hussein Obama knew such fiscal policy was “irresponsible” but did nothing about it. President Donald J. Trump said we’ve got to get rid of this long-term American debt, but he as well did nothing about it. Then comes President Joe Biden, a man given to the lie whenever expedient, and he tells the American people one of the largest lies he has ever told:
“WE LITERALLY CUT THE FEDERAL DEBT IN HALF.”
And no one, especially his supporters, liberal, woke, radical media cohorts ever challenged one of the greatest and largest lies ever told by any American President. Not only was the American budget not cut in half, but it was and is increased by one trillion dollars every one hundred days, President Biden! We Americans don’t need nuclear warfare with Russia or China or any other nation to destroy us, we have become expert at:
SELF DESTRUCTION – FINANCIAL SELF DESTRUCTION!
Small wonder we have had the inflation problems so recently experienced, in the last four Biden years, where the prices of everything have risen dramatically. We are on the verge as a country, of what is known as hyperinflation, an economy out of control, and a nation virtually bankrupt. It was that very hyperinflation which destroyed Germany, the German economy after World War I and produced perhaps the most evil man in all of human history, Adolf Hitler as dictator, promising to solve the hyperinflation problem and restore Germany to its former greatness. Many think there is some possibility that such a thing could happen in America at some time in the future, the end of course of our great nation and our even greater democracy.
No problem says Biden. We will just tax the rich, the wealthy even more. We will get what we need to manage the debt in the present (not reduce it) from the American rich. That of course, as Biden and his cronies well know, is an absolute impossibility. The Federal Government could confiscate all the wealth, all the assets held by the wealthiest Americans, whoever they are and however many of them there are, and this profligate American debt would never, ever be extinguished or repaid. We are, my fellow Americans, a nation painfully out of financial control and you and I, YOU AND I, are responsible for letting that happen.
In ten short years, or realistically even sooner, the debt held by the American public will reach the staggering sum of:
$50 TRILLION DOLLARS.
If so, that staggering number would represent 136%, 136% of the entire American economy. Our nation would be beyond hyperinflation and would be utterly destroyed financially. Why, my fellow Americans, do our elected officials, our politicians with their heads in the sand, never acknowledge or deal with these problems, why?
This ever increasing debt produces ever increasing interest payment demands, and the payment of interest alone will be one of the most destructive factors ever in the American economy. This profligate Federal Government (Biden) spending will destroy our country, utterly destroy it. Our elected officials, our politicians do not seem to really view these critical and crucial financial matters as real problems, and it matters not whether the politician is Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, or whatever. NO ELECTED WASHINGTON-FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL HAS THE COURAGE TO DEAL WITH THE GREATEST PROBLEM AMERICA HAS EVER FACED!
WE THE PEOPLE know that and we do nothing about it, NOTHING! WHY?
America, the republic, the democracy, is on a path to self-destruct. It will soon be another post-World War I Germany, where hyperinflation destroys the lives, the lifestyle, and the economy of millions upon millions of people. But it seems as though WE THE PEOPLE remain indifferent. We do nothing. We lack courage or demand. We elect and forget. We vote every four years or sooner, and get back to the good life, all the while our beloved America is economically destroyed. Like Nero of old, he fiddles on a balcony while Rome burns, while Rome is destroyed. We just simply don’t seem to care. God help our children and grandchildren, and those young yet to come, for them there will be no America, no nation even close to what we know and in which we have lived.
Instead of owing no man or anyone nothing, WE THE PEOPLE will owe everything we have and that debt will be the end of everything. -
I had three uncles who were Methodist ministers. They so very faithfully served parishes in the state of New Jersey.
They were men who were strong Christians, biblical Christians, born-again Christians, and they were proud to be Methodists when the United Methodist Church was a biblical church to be proud of.
But, like other old line protestant denominations, the UNITED METHODIST CHURCH has gone its own way, departed from the biblical way and brought its own man-made interpretation to scripture and the Christian view, succumbing to the pressure of current culture rather than the scriptural love, admonition, and standards of the Christ.
The United Methodist Church General Conference voted overwhelmingly in May to disavow the once clear ban on clergy who are “self-avowed practicing homosexuals.” Such individuals can now be ordained and become full ministers in the Methodist Church. In addition, individual UMC churches can now decide whether or not to conduct and ordain gay marriages (weddings).
Prior to this new and radical vote, the UNITED METHODIST CHURCH authorized any individual Methodist church to depart from the denomination and become independent. ALMOST EIGHT THOUSAND METHODIST CHURCHES DID SO, Bible believing, real Christians and real Christianity at the core, unwilling to abide by these new woke, current-culture changes.
That led one critic to state:
“The General Conference has as expected rolled back not just decades of United Methodist policies, but centuries of Christian teaching.”
This critic, Mark Tooley, said further:
“Liberal theology and politics displaced orthodox doctrine, evangelism, and exacting spiritual standards.”
Founder of the real Methodists, John Wesley, would turn over in his grave!
One of the nation’s largest protestant religious denominations has gone woke, has gone rogue, and once with more than 5 million members, is now a shell of its former self. When this matter came up for vote, you could say that some 8 thousand congregations, hundreds of thousands of real Christians, voted with their “feet and wallets.” To practice real Methodism, real Christianity, and real biblical teachings. Liberal, woke, protestant denominations continue to do what they have always done, adding a pious blessing and an air of divine sanction to the cultural politics of the day no matter how far left those politics moved. They followed the sexual revolution of the times, they supported abortion, and homosexuality, and transgenderism, all in the name of current and compromised “divine love.”
Now, the United Methodist Church no longer believes that marriage is an inclusive and sacred union between one adult man and one adult woman. Man can marry man, and woman can marry woman. That man-made decision is of course absolutely contrary to biblical teaching and the tradition of the UMC for more than 3 centuries.
Interestingly, in 1970, only some 50 years ago, THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH claimed the following:
“We do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider it incompatible with Christian teaching.”
And in 1984, the following:
“Therefore, self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in the United Methodist Church.”
Forty years ago, the UMC believed, followed, proclaimed, and operated by biblical teachings and standards. Somehow, false teachers, as the Apostle Paul would say, took over, gained control, and corrupted THE WORD OF GOD, reinterpreted that and destroyed, overnight, Christian practice and belief. My three born-again uncles, once proud Methodist ministers, would turn over in their graves.
The Apostle Paul was incensed at such arrogant, prideful, manmade false teaching, and he warned all to stay away from them, have nothing to do with them, and in fact, said of them:
“Let them be accursed!”
What a sad day. Under the great Constitution of America, and the immutable First Amendment, there is absolute freedom of religion, where any American citizen can believe what he or she wishes, and worship as they will. They can adopt any belief, see and understand God as they desire, and worship as they please or not at all. Our constitution allows no man, no government to in any way forbid any human being from worshipping as they please, establishing any religion they wish, no matter whether true or factually based. That freedom is absolute, unconditional, and cannot be abridged by any government authority. THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH can posture any set of beliefs they wish and no one, not even their very own congregations can prevent that from happening.
HOWEVER, it is absolutely untrue, the highest form of falsehood, for the UMC to declare it still remains fully Chrisitan. The UMC cannot declare itself a Christian denomination, following Christian practices, for their conduct clearly indicates they are anything but. They are now some sort of a church man-made, operating as men think, not as the Bible instructs, and surely without the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit. The false teaching which the Apostle Paul feared so very much has not only crept into this church, but become dominant in its thinking, belief, and practice. A small wonder 8,000 congregations left, openly refusing to follow this man-made gospel.
I have from time to time visited the state of New Jersey, travelled through its small towns and large cities. I have seen again as I did years ago, the great churches and strong edifices built by the Methodists to honor our Lord Jesus Christ. Some are absolutely magnificent, wonderful tributes to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. I spent time as a young boy with my uncles and aunts in their parishes and worshipping with them in their real and biblical Methodist churches. I remember those real, biblical, Christ-loving experiences in New Jersey towns like Woodstown, Pleasantville, Salem, Haddonfield, Ocean City, and more. My Methodist uncles and the strong church ministries they established and fostered taught me so much about the Lord Jesus Christ. Their experiences with Him and consequently mine were real, wonderful, and loving. I learned so much about my Lord through their preaching and the strong, loving bible teaching of my aunts. Methodism, real and biblical, real Christian Methodism, was an indispensable part of my life and still is. You can well imagine how sad it is for me to see the compromise, the corruption, and departure of this once great church from real, true, biblical, Christ-filled Christianity.
But I thank you, thank you with all my heart, Revs. Bill Duvall, Bruce Duvall, Tom Eden, and my beloved aunts, Mildred, Jo, and Esther for the real Methodist teachings of our beloved Bible and the love of Christ. You made Him real to me and I am forever indebted.
Both magnificent New Jersey churches, once filled with the love of Jesus Christ, now seem empty, hollow, devoid of real spirituality. But I, and so many others I am sure, will always remember what they once were, the message in word and song, which echoed through those magnificent cathedrals, and the real Christian men and women who once made Methodism a dynamic and passionate Christian witness.
THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH is now the DIVIDED METHODIST CHURCH, splintered, broken, compromised, a spiritual shell of its former self. Perhaps the message should be to those who remain:
“COME YE APART AND BE YE SEPARATE!” -
FREEDOM!
We are, America is, the home, the land of the:
BRAVE AND THE FREE.
We are lovers of freedom. It is, you could say, in our genes. We inherited that love of freedom from those who founded our great country, fought against the oppressors more than two centuries ago and built the foundation for the FREEDOMS we now enjoy today. Give us, we say with that great statesman and our forefather Patrick Henry, give us that LIBERTY or if that is taken away, give us death for there is no real life without freedom.
For us, America is in fact exceptional no matter the indifferent attitude of Barack Hussein Obama who thinks that America is no more exceptional than any other country! But all of America and we the people are exceptional in so many ways, including our way of life and our lifestyle. Everything is okay down to the last sentence and raise and champion our great flag, and wear the American flag pin proudly, especially in the world of academia which thinks the American flag is a symbol for racism and xenophobia rather than exceptionalism.
And now, we should take quality time to honor the founding documents which make us great, namely our Constitution, our Bill of Rights and our Declaration of Independence. We should honor these incredible documents by reading them, studying their content, understanding the values therein and resolving as the authors of these documents did, and honor our forefathers who provided them for us recommitting to them and the world at large that we the people will protect and preserve the freedoms contained therein, even to the laying down of our lives.
In this day, there are so many who would CHANGE what we have, or even more radically so, eliminate it. There seems to be an ever-growing number of those in our very own country with little or no respect for our great founding documents, our freedoms, the principles by which we have lived and built THE GREAT SOCIETY, and especially what America has been, our glorious history. They the un-Americans wish to eliminate or erode so many of our freedoms and move this great country toward socialism. THEY are the enemy inside and they must be stopped. We the people, true Constitutional Americans energized and emboldened by our founding documents and founding fathers must make certain we do what is right for our great country, and as true patriots, protect and defend our freedoms as never before. We should do everything humanly possible to prevent socialism of any kind in thought or deed.
We should remember the words of that great statesman, a founding father himself, Benjamin Franklin, who said, when asked, that he and his fellow revolutionaries have given us, Americans then and now, a Republic. Not a Democracy, but a Republic. Franklin went on to warn us then and now that this Republic was FRAGILE, and needed at all times to be protected with vigilance, vigor and valor. That this Republic of the combined United States could never be taken for granted. Nor could any citizen assume it would go on, and on. For freedom, for Franklin and the fathers, was a precious right that could only be sustained by watchful, involved and proactive citizens. We who would live in this free country and enjoy its immense freedoms must at all times be:
WATCHMEN AND WOMEN ON THE WALLS
Not talk, debate or discussion, but action, actively working to protect our freedoms and our way of life, willing to die in the fray if necessary. Would you be willing to die, to lay all on the altar in the cause of freedom? What would you do if ISIS or jihadists attacked America and threatened harm to your family and you? What would you do? Our forefathers never gave the matter a second thought. They, in Second Amendment fashion, took up arms to defend their country, their freedoms and their family. Would you?
In fact, we AMERICANS should be so proud of our country, and our freedoms, that we as a nation are ready at all times to help others in the cause of freedom. We gave the lives of millions of young American men and women to others in the cause of freedom. Witness World War II. One Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman 83 years young arrived in Paris by airplane. At French customs, it took him several minutes to locate his passport. The Customs Officer with sarcasm and disdain asked Mr. Whiting:
“You have been to France before, Monsieur?”
Mr. Whiting answered, yes he had and the smart aleck French official replied pompously:
“Then you should know enough to have your passport ready!”
Mr. Whiting then stared this official in the eye and said the following:
“The last time I was here I didn’t have to show my passport.”
To which the French Customs Official replied:
“Impossible! Americans always have to show passports on arrival in France!”
Mr. Whiting gave this arrogant Frenchman a long hard look and he proudly stated:
“Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this country, I couldn’t find a single Frenchman to show a passport to!”
You could have heard a pin drop. God bless America and God bless Mr. Whiting.
And yet another instance of a proud American at work. When in England at a fairly large conference, Secretary of State Colin Powell was asked by the Arch Bishop of Canterbury if America’s plans for Iraq were simply a rationalization for empire building or land-grabbing by George Bush as American soldiers went to war. Powell simply answered by saying:
“Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those who did not return.”
All attending that conference were deadly silent. Well said, Mr. Powell, well said as a proud American.
There was once a conference in France when a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. One of the French engineers said the following:
“Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intend to do, bomb them?”
Those in attendance snickered and jeered. That is, until an engineer from the Boeing company in America stood up and proudly stated:
“Our aircraft carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people. They are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities. They have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day. They can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day. They carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and the injured to and from their flight deck. We have eleven such aircraft carriers. How many does France have?”
You could have heard a pin drop.
And again, a U.S. Naval Admiral was attending a naval conference that included admirals from the united states, England, Canada, Australia and France. Every one in attendance was conversing in English. Suddenly a French Admiral complained the Europeans learn many languages but Americans learn only English. This French Admiral arrogantly and pompously said:
“Why is that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?”
The American United States Naval Admiral stood up proudly and replied:
“Maybe it is because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so that you would not have to speak German!”
The room was deadly silent.
So, whether here at home or anywhere abroad, anywhere in the world, it is our privilege, our duty, our passion to protect FREEDOM at every turn. That freedom means for us and all in the world the fundamental rights, the God-given rights to:
LIFE
LIBERTY
THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
It is our right to live life free, with maximum freedom. It is our right to live and champion liberty everywhere. And, it is our right to pursue happiness as we define that, as free individuals, to pursue life legally and lovingly as we choose. May it always be so, but it only can be if we are willing to do anything possible to protect those freedoms. ANYTHING! Are you?
So now, this Independence week, culminating in the great day July 4, Independence Day, we should honor America, this great country in which we are privileged to live. We should honor all things American and we should honor our flag as a symbol of who we are and what we believe. There are those who would desecrate or cause to be irrelevant the great stars and stripes. There was the action of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) which banned the wearing of the American flag as a lapel pin or otherwise in clothing because the flag in their view was controversial and represented the causes of certain conservatives. How tragic, how ridiculous, how un-American the actions of the American Broadcasting Company. There are times when our President, our Congress, our leading citizens simply do not wear or honor the flag or any other symbol of all great things American. We the people should find all such conduct unacceptable and we should protest. The greatest form of protest is to protect, preserve and defend our freedoms and the symbol of those freedoms, the great American flag, the perfect symbol of our independence and the finest possible expression of freedom on the great day July 4, Independence Day. Do just that loudly and proudly my fellow citizens.
Think carefully, my fellow Americans, about the precious freedoms granted by your Constitution and your Bill of Rights. Remember that you are guaranteed the right to freedom of religion, to worship and practice religion as you please. You are guaranteed the right to free speech, to speak as you wish at anytime, anywhere, with any words. You are guaranteed the right to freely assemble, to petition, to print in press or on the Internet. YOU ARE GUARANTEED THOSE RIGHTS! You are guaranteed the right to bear arms, to purchase, own and use them for pleasure or in self-defense. You are guaranteed the right against governmental illegal search and seizure. You are guaranteed the right a trial by a jury of your peers rather than to be summarily convicted by any governmental agency. You are guaranteed the right to counsel if you can not afford one when charged with a crime. You are guaranteed the right to vote.You are guaranteed to pursue life, liberty and happiness as you wish! You are guaranteed by your Constitution and Bill of Rights the highest and best form of living and lifestyle the world has ever known! You should give thanks for America, for all that it was, is and can be in the future if YOU as Benjamin Franklin so well said standup and do everything possible to KEEP IT that is the great experiment in freedom which our founding fathers intended. Please join with me this Independence Week, this Freedom Week and especially on the set-aside day for freedom celebration, namely July 4 in pledging once again our allegiance to this great country. Please join me in these great words which honor America:
I pledge allegiance
to the Flag
of the United States of America
and to the Republic for which it stands
one nation
indivisible
with liberty and justice
for all!
I ask humbly and lovingly that GOD BLESS AMERICA.
And I ask humbly as well that GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!
There is only one America. Keep it that way! -
In Revolutionary times, Thomas Paine said the following:
“These are the times that try men’s souls”.
And indeed these are the times that try women’s souls, some at least now that the United States Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade.
Thomas Jefferson admonished Americans of his time that the blood of patriots must be shed from time to time in order to refresh the Tree of Liberty. In short, the Constitutional America of 1776 (Declaration of Independence) and the Constitutional America of 1787 needed new patriots, new passion, new commitments to liberty and freedom. Now more than ever that is true. The constitutional, rule of law, freedom–liberty America of old is not only under attack but becomes divided, angry and more violent by the day. Freedom and liberty we have always taken for granted are now all the more at risk and at stake.
The patriot Patrick Henry provided a testimony applicable to all of us:
“Give me liberty or give me death”.
Henry was willing to die for freedom. He would live under no form of bondage. Oppression and bondage in his time was English. Today it comes internally from anarchists, that small virulent, violent minority which wishes the destruction of the greatest country on earth.
Our forefathers fought for freedom. They gave their blood then which we can assume made Jefferson proud. They gave us the greatest ruling document in the history of mankind, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. That incredible document contained the First Amendment which gave every American citizen the following rights and freedoms:
1.
Freedom of religion
2.
Freedom of speech
3.
Freedom of press
4.
Freedom of assembly
5.
Freedom of petition
Guaranteed, unconditional, unchanging, FOREVER FREEDOMS. Every one of those sacred, inalienable (God–given) rights and freedoms are at risk today, EVERY ONE! We the People seemed to have lost our vision, our understanding, even in some cases our desire to protect and preserve this incredible country. We have become indifferent to the struggles and problems we face. So many of us are ignorant of our history, and our Constitution, and our rule of law, and how we are governed. So many of us have withdrawn from the political process. As few as 10% will vote in some elections and perhaps no more than 60% of eligible, voting Americans will go to the polls in the most serious of elections. It has become tragic how We the People take democracy for granted. It is as though freedom will always be there no matter what we do. We the People are an easy target for violence and anarchism.
One of the most anti–American Americans was one Saul Alinsky. In essence, Alinsky championed the destruction of everything, every institution, every tradition, anything and everything in America so that the country could be rebuilt and reestablished. The philosophy and beliefs of Alinksy were adopted by George Soros among others and the state of objective of Soros and others was to:
BRING DOWN AMERICA.
Bring it down. Destroy it. Rewrite its history. Do away with its Constitution and its rule of law. Get rid of the moral standards of the country today and especially the Judeo–Christian heritage and morality of the past. Do away with it completely! Beneath the violence, disrupt, and the lack of accountability today is this Alinsky model, the destruction of America, the destruction of everything which America holds dear. WOKE better serve to wake up America, defend itself, its values, morality and principles or all will be lost. WAKE UP AMERICANS, WAKE UP. The time may be near when the blood of real patriots will be required once again in America.
We the People assume that we live in a democracy. We live by democratic principles, the core of which is freedom. That is true but our government is not a democracy. Our forefathers who forged our Constitution were suspicious of democracy. They feared an intolerant majority. They created checks and balances which would prevent as much as possible the potentially crushing majority rule. They created for us a REPUBLIC. That of course consisted of a president, senate and house of representatives. It also consisted of an independent federal judiciary with the Supreme Court of essentially nine justices as final arbitrators of the rule of law. Such a republic respected democratic principles but it guarded so very well against abuse.
Those founding fathers gave us the concept of federalism. That is, that each of the individual states of America, then 13 and now 50, would be protected, have rights not specifically granted to the federal government (Constitution Amendment X), and otherwise make certain that its people were protected, and larger states would have no real advantage over smaller ones. It was and continues to be a brilliant system and check and balance.
The founding fathers gave us an electoral college where leaders were not elected by majority vote but by states according to their population.
They gave us the rule of law, they gave us the Declaration of Independence, they gave us the Constitution, incredible documents with incredible freedoms, fully protected. They gave us all of this as a result of the blood of so many Revolutionary patriots shed in the cause of freedom. How tragic it is that we sit back and take those then given freedoms for granted, watch them whittle away daily, observe the indifference among younger generations and the beginning of the erosion and eventually the elimination of our great Country, its way of life and government. The great destroyers win, Alinsky, Soros, Sanders the socialist. They refuse, those anarchists and anti–Americans to work within the system for reform. They work for radical change and ultimate destruction. And, We the People sit back and watch it happen and in so many ways do nothing. Violence is everywhere. There are threats, intimidation, radicalism everywhere. A senator threatens a supreme court justice. Senator Schumer from New York threatened Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh as follows:
You will pay the price.
It is simply unbelievable how seemingly everything America stands for, believes in, the fundamental structure of our great Country is not only under attack but is being destroyed day by day. History shows us that democracies as the foundation of government cannot last. Democracies in history last at or about 200 years. America is now 246 years young and We the People, our democracy, our great constitutional republic may be near the end. How I for one hope and pray that simply does not happen.
The Constitution and its Amendments of the United States is the finest document, political governing document which mankind can produce. But it cannot last forever. Only one document can. And that is THE WORD OF THE LORD, the Holy Bible which gives us the world’s only reliable ABSOLUTE TRUTH. The Constitution gives us the freedoms of mankind. The Bible gives us heavenly freedoms, eternal freedoms, the ways of the Lord God Almighty, the most important freedom of all and the most important freedom of all, salvation in Jesus Christ. Man’s democracy cannot last, but the democracy of peace and love of Jesus Christ will last forever.
Human leaders, people, men and women, politicians and those in power can never last. The only person, leader, visionary, difference maker who can is Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of Glory. That eternal leader will never fail.
So, now in America violence reigns. Everything is under attack. The spiritual warfare has begun. The:
FIGHT OF FAITH IS HERE AND NOW!
So, my fellow Americans, my fellow Christians, how will you fight this fight of faith? HOW? Put on for sure the armor of the Lord. And the helmet of salvation. And the breastplate of righteousness and be ready for the spiritual war. It is here, IT IS HERE. You will be called upon to defend your faith with everything you have. If you truly believe as a Christian and you will not compromise, you will take on a danger you never have before.
How will you respond? Will you stand up to violence? Would you use any means at your disposal to protect your family, your friends and yourself from violence? You will engage in prayer, more prayer perhaps than ever before. But you will be called upon to ACT, and perhaps act returning violence for violence. Would you do that? We the People, we Christians have choices to make we never have before. In prayer, may our Lord lead us to the right decisions for God, and Country, and family, and all humankind.
Freedom, inalienable rights, God–given rights, are of the most value, the most important to all. Don’t lose them or lose life in the process. May God bless you, my fellow Americans as you energize the courage to stand for Christ, for Christianity and for the greatest Country in the history of mankind.
Always remember. FREEDOM ONCE LOST IS LOST FOREVER! -
It is becoming difficult to know what a man is, that is the definition of a real man in this woke society of ours.
The definition of a man seems to change. Once a man, by both biblical and secular-societal definitions was clear, in biblical terms created by the great G-d Jehovah, the great I AM to be like him, to be the ruler of the planet and to be head of all things. That included Eve, with the creation of the first man’s helpmeet, and the family, the children to follow. Sadly, no more.
The definition of a real man has changed and is constantly in the process of change. HOMO SAPIENS can now be gay, that is homosexual; bisexual, that is having genetic desires for both man and woman; transgender, a man wishing to become a woman (i.e. Bruce Jenner); or simply queer, whatever that means (LGBTQ); or perhaps even intersexual, alternative or anything else which eviscerates the definition of a man, A REAL MAN.
It is just a tragedy what has happened to God’s first man and all men. We the men, the creation, are no longer like HIM, the great creator.
A real man, like a real woman, is called by God and that calling is clear, and a matter of priority. That real man is called upon to be strong, not only in body, physically, but in mind, will, spirit and soul. That real man is possessed of a body which is THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, and the physical body of a real man should be honored, respected, cared for, and kept in the finest physical shape possible as the housing of the triumvirate HOLY SPIRIT.
So, the real man, while like our Lord, may enjoy the fruit of the grape, the wine which Jesus drank, should never be drunken. Drinking to excess is the ruination of the Temple of the Holy Spirit. No real man can function mentally or spiritually under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The real man respects his body, and especially his sexuality, and will not be given to adultery, lascivious living, and fully respects marital intimacy.
The real man constantly strives to learn, educate himself, and in all things, ask for the wisdom for decision making which only God can give. If that man really asks with all his heart, God, pure wisdom, will give that wisdom to that man.
That real man is strong spiritually, learned in the Bible, studying and teaching, always growing in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. That is the only way that man can be a real father and train up his children in the way in which they should go, the way of the Lord.
That real man is politically active, rendering under Caesar oversight, involvement, constructive criticism, and a demand for morality, truth, respect and honesty in all political decisions made. The real man is a watchdog, a watchman on the wall, making certain that Caesar functions in the way that Caesar should.
The real man discharges his duties as HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD. That notion has become most unpopular today. Far too many men abandon their responsibilities, leaving that critical household responsibility to the wife, or others by default, often to the ruination of the family.
The real man loves his wife, and children, really loves her and the relationships, the marriage and the fathering really work. The real wife, and woman, really respects her husband as the Apostle Paul says, and she can only do that if he really loves her.
If the real man is privileged to have a real family, then that man, husband, father, and friend, spends time, quality time, consistent regular and respectful, with every member of that household, lovingly together, and respectfully individually. That man is involved with their training, their growth intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually, and really enjoys the opportunity, the privilege to build relationships with every member of his family-friend circle which God has allowed him to have.
The real man doesn’t lie. Truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, transparency in all things is not only necessary but a way of life. When relationships are intimate, all know and easily sense hypocrisy, the phony, and most certainly the lie of any kind. No relationship can be sustained without trust built on truth.
The real man, with the support of the real wife-woman, never fails to discipline. That discipline is not physical, but confrontational, always ready to say no when necessary. The governance of the household is the joint responsibility of the real man and the real woman, and the right rules and regulations must be followed. In that regard, that real man and woman must be examples, living examples, of the rules, the lifestyle, the values they insist upon.
In the search for strength and wisdom, every real man, and woman, must spend QUIET TIME, time in prayer, meditation, thoughtful evaluation, and in the study of scripture and in constant communion with their maker, their God. No matter the demands of anything else, that quiet time is an absolute priority, cannot be avoided, and must be practiced on a regular, surely daily basis.
Today more than ever, it is really difficult to be a real man or woman. The morality, the values, the standards, the definitions of old are constantly challenged, belittled, changed, and disrespected. But no man can ever be fulfilled, live the life with the full potential he has, leave so much behind unless, with courage, the constant will to be all that he can be, he is prepared to meet the challenges of this world, this society, and the GOD AND FATHER who created him. It is far too easy to compromise, give up, or succumb to the pleasures, lusts, and daily distractions of the flesh. We, who recently celebrated Father’s Day, should count it a privilege to be a man, a real man, a spiritual man, and to never let anyone or anything distract us from that sacred calling and even our reasons for existence. What a privilege and pleasure it is to be a real man, A REAL BIOLOGICAL MAN. To be so, that requires work every day, diligence, growth, prayer, learning, never, ever afraid to admit wrong, to apologize, to shed a tear, to show love, and respect, knowing there is nothing in life, NOTHING which begins to equal the responsibility, the privilege of being:
A REAL MAN. -
Two kinds of fathers are there.
The one Heavenly, the other earthly.
The Lord of Glory, the Carpenter of Nazareth said:
“I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE.”
What a claim. Blasphemy by a human being if it were not true. But they were ONE, and the carpenter from Nazareth told us in unequivocal terms that the CREATOR OF THIS UNIVERSE AND OUR EARTH was indeed among so many other things a:
FATHER
To Him and to us. For otherwise, this Creator would be completely unknown, incapable of being known by us, but HE is. And, the Supreme Creator loves us and cares for us. To me that is a thought incomprehensible were it not for:
HIM
Our Lord Jesus Christ took something remote, obscure and unfathomable and made it known, personal, deeply meaningful and loving so that we, the creatures of His creation, could understand who we are, why we are, and what we should believe.
We are to understand and believe said Jesus, that there is for us an ETERNAL FATHER and not merely a cosmic Creator. We are known as individuals, as sons and daughters by this Father, and we are not mere specks in the universe or dust in the wind. We have meaning. We are in fact SONS AND DAUGHTERS of this Father having claimed our inheritance as such through the SON Jesus Christ. Hard to comprehend but true.
We are also told that God the Father is love. GOD IS LOVE, and that love is the essence of God and so available to us. Love is the greatest says the Scriptures, more so than faith and hope, and to know that God is love incarnate is just incredible.
And we who are fathers should love the very same way. Even as the eternal Father loves us, so should we love our children. If a Heavenly Father loves unconditionally, so an earthly father should do the same, love the child unconditionally. The highest attributes of any earthly father are the embracing, heartfelt and unconditional loving openness to the child even as the Father loves the child:
LOVE NEVER FAILS
But there is another side of love from our Heavenly Father, a TOUGH LOVE. That is, love at work which is ready to:
DISCIPLINE
Love may indeed be meek, warm, gentle and forgiving, kind and open and it should be. But love must also be tough, demanding, disciplined and concerned for all things which are:
RIGHT
For there are indeed prodigal sons and daughters who go astray. As such, they honor not the Heavenly Father nor the earthly. Discipline is required, firm and straight. The rod was used in the old days to accomplish discipline and to carryout punishment. But that has been taken away. Discipline today is more on the order of depriving the child of opportunities and pleasures or requiring the child to make up for the wrong and do what is right. Sometimes it works and sometimes not. But fathers can not SPARE THE ROD however the rod is determined for that is a fatherly duty. No child can grow without discipline for there is nothing worse for a father than a child spoiled and bent upon his own way. Demanding standards, the terms and conditions of sonship, are a father’s duty which can not be delegated or ignored. And the Scriptures make it perfectly clear:
WHOM THE FATHER LOVES HE CHASTENS
Chastening is real love at work. BY THEIR FRUITS, LOVING DISCIPLINE AT WORK, YE SHALL KNOW THE FATHER AND WHO THE FATHER TRULY IS.
The integrity of the father is critical. Dads must do what they say and dads must say what they mean. The father must live by the same standards he requires of the child. The father must be consistent in character, live a life with values and without hypocrisy. Nothing is harder for a child to accept than lectures about right and wrong from a father who lives by neither. So that, a father does not have to explain or justify the demands. The father does not have to negotiate with the child and in the course of discipline ask the child if it is OK.
For it matters not if the child agrees with the father. If a child respects a loving father, that is all that is required. So many families seem to have so little respect for each other and rapidly become dysfunctional. But a true father, a real father is head of household. He is the one in charge, so say the Scriptures, kind, loving, considerate and respectful of all including and especially the wife-mother, but head of the household nonetheless. Discharging all of those functions gives the father the right to discipline and demand. But again, the father has earned that right by the way he lives. When the son is old and ready for his own life, the ways of the father will be his and the son in turn will perpetuate, carryon those values for his family.
It is so very important for the father to incorporate the son into his life. To train up the child is to involve the child in the life, the career, the work of the father. So many sons carry on, inherit and follow the father. Father and son, or daughter, work together,
learn together and the father teaches in practical ways. What the father holds dear and in which he has invested his life becomes part of the child, a very practical and worthy training for the child. The child can learn the way of business, work, industry so that like father, the child can be:
A WORK MAN OR WOMAN WORTHY OF HIS HIRE
That kind of fatherly guidance is so very important and it is the duty of the father to invest the time and effort to train up the child in that way.
And so with hobbies, and fun. There are games, trips, sports, theater, dining and all manners of wonderful vacation which must be shared by father and child. Life is difficult and even as there are the demands of work, there must be the pleasures of play. To laugh and cry together. To enjoy the joys of this world as God has indicated is our right. Lasting moments are created in fun and play.
Father and child are intimate, or should be. Their dialogue, their caring for each other should be totally open, transparent. Nothing should be hidden. The child should have the confidence and the trust in father to openly reveal, discuss hurts, ask questions, confess doubt, challenge beliefs and otherwise make certain that the father fully understands precisely who the child is. For the child develops independently and individually, a special and unique creation by God, and not merely as the earthly father would have him be. The answers to questions should come first from the father, not from peers or school but from DAD. The son should want to talk to father first and be assured that he knows what the father thinks. They can not always agree but father and son can always be open and honest with each other. That seems so lacking today. There is little communication, virtually no dialogue. Father’s preach and lecture but seldom practice one of the most important attributes of good fathering:
LISTENING
Really listening. Patiently allowing the child to open the heart, to question, to express love and anger and to know as a child the father will listen and respect. That more than anything builds character and confidence in the child. Fathers are friends and confidants. The father in the mind of the child is the first GO-TO.
If not, the child seeks FATHER SURROGATES and substitutes. Today’s education can often occur without traditional moral values or the standards of old. No third party education is a substitute for a father’s education. Children who are fatherless in actuality or spiritually seek comfort, guidance and acceptance from their peers which can often be secular and even with immoral influences. They are ready to learn and adapt, to be accepted in so many ways different from what the father might believe or want for the child. The conduct of the child can then become permissive, even unlawful as standards or morality are worn down and compromised. That fatherless child goes a different way and the father has forsaken the most important duty of fatherhood, training up that child. If you have a child, if you are a biological father, then you must, YOU MUST be a spiritual, loving father as God would have it. Don’t send a child to church. Take him. Worship with him. Love together the Lord of Glory. Study Scripture and pray, together. Talk about spiritual things for the child is even more interested in what the father thinks and believes than perhaps a pastor.
Take time for the child’s life, school events, sports. Be there, lovingly and with respect for the child growing to adult. Nothing means more than a father BEING THERE. That child is YOU, dad. You can not ignore or deny YOU. The child wants YOU more than anything else. There came to you that little bundle of joy, your very own son, your very own daughter, YOU IN EVERY WAY! You are privileged to be a father of that child and he or she should be a clear priority, a first priority. There will never be better earthly love, nothing comes close, than the love of a father for his child. However strong the bond, and even if the father-child bond is broken, in some deep primal way, love is always there, or at least the hope of that love. There is no child, or father however old or hardened who does not feel that way. What a joy, what a privilege to be a father.
Even as an adult, well-educated, perhaps successful, father himself, a son will always seek out a father, for fellowship, for advice, for comfort and caring, and for love. That never changes. Even in death, he the father being dead yet speaketh. All he was and all they were together lives on, it is eternal even as the love of God is eternal. The words, the deeds, the loving deeds will never be forgotten. The understanding, the trust and the respect between father and child will never die.
Perhaps a father’s proudest moment is when the child, adult and ready, leaves the father and becomes his own man. That is a biblical requirement, and at that time, the father should be proud, very proud of the INVESTMENT he has made in the child. For a father can think back, reminisce and remember all of those things which forged the bond, the training, the education and growth of the child, an investment far more valuable than anything financial. That, says dad, is my son. That, says dad, is my daughter of whom I am so very proud. He or she was worth everything I gave. The loving bond between father and child will sustain, motivate and guide the child for a lifetime. It is the earthly component of the Heavenly Father. What a privilege it is to be a father.
So, I and my company the Crawford Broadcasting Company salute fathers, real fathers who love, educate, grow and train up their children in the way in which they should go. You are special, dads like that, very special. The world needs real fathers now more than ever. And, what is so wonderful is that it is never too late to be father no matter what has gone before. Fathering may ebb and flow but the opportunity is always there, always. Never quit, never give up on fathering.
So, enjoy your day DAD. Father’s Day can show love and respect for dad one day. But real fathers are honored by their children every day. For the most priceless thing any child can have is:
A LOVING FATHER! - Laat meer zien
