I Should Apologize?

Why do Christians, with a well-defined, Biblically-based world view, feel compelled to apologize for standing up for what we believe and for what we know is true?  Is the corrupted culture’s world-view superior, equal to, or inferior to God’s revealed will from the pages of Holy Scripture and His Creation?  Why should we apologize for choosing to live by virtues and values, which have been time-tested as historically and factually correct, morally sound, and intellectually honest? 

Those who have rejected God’s truth follow a feelings-based world view that ignores or re-writes history, demonstrates moral bankruptcy, and shuns honest debate.  Liberal Progressivism corrupts the mind with the lie – “The ends justify the means.”  Progressivism hardens a person’s heart and transforms the individual into an emotional, illogical, and intolerant, “I know what’s best,” tyrant.  If progressives do not like something, or someone, they demand to control the thinking and behavior of all others – specifically, with those they disagree. 

For example, they hate guns.  They refuse to own a gun; therefore, they would prevent others from possessing one.  Unfortunately, their adopted mindset degenerates into a terminal, malignant cancer of the soul, for which there is no scientific cure. 

Why should I kowtow to such as these?  I refuse to apologize for following Jesus Christ.  I will speak His truth and declare that people should repent and believe in Him for His Kingdom is at Hand. 

When a sewer-minded progressive challenges with the mantra, “Are you holier than me?” 

My answer is, “Yes – not by anything I’ve done.  I’ve been redeemed by the choice of the Sovereign King of the Universe.  If you change your mind and submit your life to His governance, you can be redeemed too, be healed of your terminal condition, and know an excellent way to live.  If not, good luck with your, ‘Progress-to-nowhere,’ philosophy and have a nice day.  And by the way, I will make no apology for the fact that Jesus Christ is Lord.”

Can Government Control Get Any Worse?

Yes It Can!

Do you want your local Tax Assessor coming into your private home to perform an inspection of your personal property?  Well, that is exactly what the citizens, or should we call them, “Subjects,” of the Town of Mansfield, Massachusetts must do.

In a letter from the Board of Assessors (redacted picture enclosed to protect those brave folks willing to disclose the letter) dated October 23, 2013, the Assistant Assessor, Nancy L. Hinote, states, “… the assessment process requires that all dwellings within the town be measured and inspected.”  Can’t they obtain the measurements from building constructions records?  The letter continues, “The Town has hired the appraisal firm of Vision Government Solutions to assist in this task.”  Who or what is Vision Government Solutions (VGS)?

At its website, Vision Government Solutions claims to be a leading supplier of land-parcel management, software technology, and services to local government organizations, enabling efficient assessment, billing, collections, mapping, and permitting.  It is a private company that does not appear to be regulated by any government agency, including the one that hired it to perform legalized home invasions.  I wonder if the contract to perform the inspections resulted from, “Crony Capitalism,” or an open-bid competition, which is the best way to ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent equitably and prudently, not for political payback.

After letting the recipient know they have five days from the date of the letter to schedule an inspection of, “the interior of your property,” Ms. Hinote informs the owners that, “The data collectors will carry photo identification…”  In addition, she suggests that, “…homeowners request identification before granting anyone permission to enter their home.”  How nice?

If the, “Surfs,” of Mansfield do not cooperate, their property will receive the maximum assessment, which translates into higher property taxes.  To avoid this abuse, one must submit to the inspection.  Once in, if personal property is discovered in your back yard, like a clothesline, they will add it to the assessment for taxation purposes.

Totalitarian tyranny is easy to identify when it comes from the point of a gun.  It is more subtle when it is disguised as, “The Rule of Law.”  It is only a matter of time before this constitutional violation of privacy comes to your neighborhood.  These progressive polices have mastered the evil of using the power of persuasion and when that doesn’t work to their satisfaction, or fails on its merits, they resort to the persuasion of power.  The power to tax is the power to destroy.

150th Anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

The Gettysburg Address

Thursday, November 19, 1863

“Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us–that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion–that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.”

Why are Abraham Lincoln’s words immortalized – literally etched in stone – for following generations to read, consider and internalize? What deep, possible eternal, truth resides in his 267 words? If we take the time to unpack his phrases, I offer the following explanations for your consideration.  Let’s begin at the beginning:

“Fourscore and seven years ago…”  At that time, the Constitutional Republic had existed for 87 years.  This year, we remember what took place 150 years thereafter.  Altogether, the United States of America has survived 237 years.

“…our fathers brought forth…”  After 87 years, the creation of the Constitution had not yet become a faded memory.  November 22, 2013 marks the 50^th year since JFK was assassinated.  I remember where I was and what I was doing when the news reached my school.  Although, Robert E. Lee fought on the side of the Confederacy, his grandfather signed the Declaration of Independence.

“…on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty…”  When was this new nation conceived in liberty?  In 1620, the Pilgrims were blown off course and landed at what we know today as Plymouth Rock.  Before the Pilgrims stepped off the Mayflower, they became the first group of people to bind themselves together and govern themselves under their own body politic; because they were not certain that the charter they received from the king had any authority where they landed.  We know their three-paragraph legislation as the Mayflower Compact.  To my knowledge, not one king desiring to exploit this land stepped one foot on American soil until long after it had established itself.  The first recorded royal visit occurred on June 7, 1939 by King George IV and Queen Elizabeth of England.

“…and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”  Our Constitutional Republic is an experiment based on the idea that God created all corruptible people equal.  He does not guarantee equal outcomes for anyone, but under His governance, we can govern ourselves and be treated equally under the law.  Does any other nation on this planet claim this concept as its foundational cornerstone?

“Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure.”  It is my opinion; Abraham Lincoln understood that the founders’ experiment of a Constitutional Republic recognized the value of each human life.  They ordained a government of expressed limited powers to combat the natural-man tendency to gravitate toward totalitarian governments, which control the behavior of their subjects, by the point of a gun and/or the force of law.  150 years later, we face a similar test.  Which truth will we accept?  If the conception and proposition – that all men are created equal – is true, we the people must have courage to embrace our privileges and responsibilities as citizens and resist any government that erodes freedom under the false promise that it will take care of the people.  Throughout all recorded history, even the most benevolent governments have turned against their own, whether kings or a self-proclaimed ruling class.  History tells us that uncountable millions suffered execution believing that their government would do them no harm.  If our foundational cornerstone – all men are created equal – is a fancy notion, or worse, a lie, then we should surrender our citizenship and become subjects to the ruling class elites and do what we’re told because they know what is best for the collective good.  I am fully persuaded that our founding fathers declared the self-evident truth – that all men are created equal – and it is true.

“We are met on a great battlefield of that war.”  The Battle of Gettysburg has been studied by historians and military tacticians for over a century.  It covered and immense amount of territory, over 11,500 acres, surrounding the town of approximately 2,500 citizens.  Between the contesting armies, roughly 165,000 combatants invaded this sleepy, little college town (2 Schools – Lutheran Seminary & Gettysburg College) and farm community.  Most of the fighting consumed the first 3 days of July 1863.

By the time Lincoln visited and toured the field four months later (for us 150 years ago), many areas had yet to be cleared.  We in Colorado just witnessed the destruction wrought by a natural disaster – the flood of September 2013 (9^th – 15^th), where some 19,000 homes suffered damage.  Even with modern construction equipment and trained manpower, areas effected remain devastated.  When my wife, Mary, and I visited Gettysburg for the 150^th Anniversary of the battle, we learned that the body of a Confederate soldier was recovered northwest of the town during the summer of 2009 in the area referred to as the, “Railroad Cut.”

Mary noted that the town’s people couldn’t open their windows for months after the battle due to the odor of death.  When we have an upslope wind, we often deal with interesting aromas coming from the eastern plains.  Abraham Lincoln faced the blighted land first hand.  He had drafted his speech before arriving.  In his own words, he never fully committed his life to Christ until that night after he toured the field.  That night he completed writing his speech.  With that in mind, we can continue through it.

“We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live.”  Again, he reminds his listeners what is at stake.  He referred to our Constitutional Republic as the last best hope for freedom on the earth.

“It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.”  Abraham Lincoln had a clear sense of right verses wrong.  This is a sentence he used more than once.  He states it in his second inaugural address, which is etched in the south wing of the Lincoln Memorial.

“But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground.”  He recognizes human and government limitations.  He seems to express genuine humility.  I have often begged God to grant us leadership like this today.  Unfortunately, our leaders today believe the grand lie that more government and more taxes will solve every problem.

“The brave men, living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract.”  He seems to apply the Biblical standard to give honor to those who deserve honor.  He is just giving a speech to a crowd of well-meaning listeners.  If Lincoln were alive today, I don’t think he would include someone who happened to look at the current president’s prized web site (that doesn’t work very well), yet he claims, “It’s really good.”  Really?

“The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.”  I find this phrase almost ironic.  Most Americans are aware of Lincoln’s speech.  Some know about the battle and a few understand its significance in American history to preserve liberty for all.  However, I had the opportunity to discuss with a family from Germany key points regarding, “Pickett’s Charge,” on July 3, 2013, during the commemoration of that 150 year old event.

“It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.”  What was that, “unfinished work?”  Did the war finish it?  Or, does the struggle to maintain liberty go on today?  To maintain liberty, we must reject a government that exercises dominion over the people.  We must have government, but limited in scope by the people so that under government control it does not transform citizens into subjects under a new form of bondage.

Now we come to Lincoln’s conclusion and plea for national reconciliation.

“It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.”  What was the cause?  Was he asking for more government control over the lives of the American people?  Or is he pleading with us, the people, to ensure liberty for ourselves and our posterity?  How does surrendering control over our lives to the Federal government guarantee God’s wondrous gift of freedom to anyone?

President Abraham Lincoln kept faith with his vision to set four million slaves free.  As Believers committed  to advance the Kingdom of God, we should ask what can we do to use our New Birth of Freedom and help set even more people free.

Is The President Corrupt?

Is Barack Hussein Obama the most corrupt president in the history of the United States?  In my lifetime, I’ve never feared what a president might do to American citizens.  By comparison, he makes Richard Nixon look like an angel of mercy.  When the media exposed Nixon’s Watergate involvement, the former executive accused of covering up criminal actions and abusing presidential power had the decency to resign from office and do no additional harm to the American people.  The current dictator-in-chief ordered closed our national parks, projects blame on others for his failed leadership, and accuses any who oppose him for closing government offices, which are under his direct control.  His propaganda team – the American press – covers up for him.  They tell the American public he is doing nothing wrong.  They declare him, “Innocent,” as a new-born baby.  When truth dies, corruption prevails.

I have often wondered how a people who represent, “Liberty,” to the rest of the world, can remain a beacon of freedom if we do not know that almost all of the Federal government departments report directly to the White House.  His propagandists complain about a government shutdown.  How is this possible when 75% of all Federal employees continue to perform their, “Essential,” functions?  At worst, this is a slowdown.  At best, we have learned we can survive without the manipulating Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the business stifling Department of Commerce, or the anti-America indoctrinating Department of Education.

Yet, to prevent American citizens from visiting our World War II memorial (and hundreds of other places he wants barred), he found available funds to erect barricades and deploy more armed guards than he allowed our consulate in Benghazi.  Why doesn’t the press ask why?  What are his motives?  What can we learn from his behavior over the last five years?

I offer some examples.  He has demonstrated consistent:

• Vengefulness against all who dare criticize him,
• Distain for our Constitution and the rule of law (unless it is his beloved, “Un” Affordable Care Act (ACA)),
• Projected blame against others for his repeated failures (again ACA),
• Rejection of personal responsibility for any wrongdoing, and
• Preeminence – like some kind of god (or devil).

As all tyrants, he now demonstrates a willingness to use the Federal government’s might to physically suppress and possibly attack his opponents.  Will he unleash his leaching wrath against objecting American taxpayers?  He has nudged, prodded, and poked us to provoke a violent response so he can crush it.  Now, he is shoving, or barring us.  Next, will he shoot us?  One thing is true regarding all recorded history – sooner or later tyrants turn on their own people.

Why am I pleased with the, “Total Recall,” results?

I went to sleep the night of September 10, 2013 leery, not weary, of war because the Liar-in-Chief failed to convince me that Americans must throw away more of our resources and strike Syria.  I’m offended that he chose to make his, “Sales pitch,” on the eve of the twelfth and first anniversary of Muslim attacks on the USA.  He said nothing about what happened to the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and a quiet field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and I believe he wants us all to forget about Benghazi, where he failed to help our embattled citizens.

Anyway, when I crawled into bed, the two Colorado State Senate recall elections were too close to project their respective outcomes.  I woke up September 11^th remembering those who have fallen in our never ending clash of western civilization with barbaric, bloodthirsty Islam.

While driving to work, I learned that I had cause for rejoicing. My fellow citizens of Colorado recalled both State Senators who promoted and passed strict gun-control laws removing our fundamental-individual rights to defend ourselves. Coloradans held these Progressive Plants accountable and fired their respective tyrannical behinds.

I am pleased with the results because they prove:
1. The Progressive Left with its almost unlimited financial resources and near 100% media control failed to manipulate their desired outcome,
2. God fearing, Liberty-Loving Americans can beat demonic-statist tyranny, and
3. Committed-Constitution defenders can repeat this victory in 2014, 2016, and beyond, sending the radical rats back into their respective holes.

We know that billionaire New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg poured $350,000 into the Colorado Democrat Party to fight the grassroots motivated recall election and keep his gun control advocates secure in the seats of political power. We learned that the Colorado Progressives spent eight times the amount of money to hold their cronies in place, all the while lying that they were being outspent by outside interests like the National Rifle Association (NRA). And, we confirmed they used their deep pockets to bus in and pay people to take advantage of Colorado’s easy to tamper with, “Same-Day Voter Registration,” laws (promoted and approved by the same two pretended-public servants) to pad the vote. All of their evil scheming went for naught because; for one of the recalled charlatans, the margin of victory was two percent (2%), and the other twelve percent (12% - a landslide by any measurement).

For all those progressive useful idiots who think they control the hearts and minds of the majority of Americans, pay close attention to the results of this election.  Continue to ignore us and, “We the People of the United States of America,” will take our country back from your mindless control.  We will educate our children that your practices are deceptive and evil.  We will make sure that your time is over for declaring the mantra, “The Constitution is no longer relevant to a modern, technologically-advanced society.”  We will use the Constitution and defeat you by our open and honest deeds.  With that, I think I’ll clean up my 9mm and take her out for a date on the range.

 

Will Cynicism Kill Me?

In church the other night, I heard a clear word from my Lord, Jesus.  He stated, “Stop your cynical attitude.  It is wearing you out.”

I believe it is killing me, eating away at my spiritual strength like a malignant cancer.  It is destroying my trust in God.  It is tainting my relationship with my Savior.  It is robbing me of His peace and drowning His joy.  Jesus is not a corrupt politician who exchanges favors for votes.  Jesus is the King of Universe.  He is 100% trustworthy.  If ever I faced a moment when I needed to come to a place of deep and true repentance for possessing an attitude grieving to His Holy Spirit, it is now.

Sin makes me stupid – of this I am certain.  Providing a safe harbor for a cynical attitude is like committing high treason against God’s Holy Spirit who dwells in me.  I choose to cast this evil attitude out of my life and banish it from my thinking.  Cynicism puffed up my pride keeping me from praying fervently for the leadership of my nation.  Worse, I never thought to pray for the leadership of Israel – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  I held the cynical attitude thinking he’s not an authority over my country, over my life.  He’s Israel’s problem – not mine.

Then, God’s Holy Spirit revealed that this one man is wrestling with decisions right now that will impact the entire world.  If ever I need to pray that he will get on his knees before Almighty God, seek His face, and beg Him to impart wise direction, it is now.  Dangers surround his country and they grow stronger each day.  He cannot ignore these – He cannot allow the Islamic world to incinerate his people.  Will you, my readers, join with me in prayer asking the King of Israel – Jesus of Nazareth – to reveal His direction for Israel to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu?