I will sing to the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord!
GOD has made my life a testimony, a praiseworthy deed of the Lord,
That we might Hope in HIM; that we might hope in Him,
And in the day of battle we will fight Knowing we stand in His might …
Armed and ready, armed and ready, armed and ready for war!
Armed and ready, armed and ready, armed and ready for war!
Inspired by Psalm 78
Are YOU a “praiseworthy deed of the Lord? For those who have known you for some time, is there any evidence of change for the better?
If we want to see a change in our nation, in our government, in our own lives, we must first admit our need for help.To my mind, that means admitting it to the only one significantly bigger than me – GOD! Then asking Him to make the necessary changes as HE sees fit … not as I see fit!
Become a Praiseworthy Deed of the Lord, so our kids and grandkids can HOPE in GOD …
Have you heard the sounds of battle in the distance? Have you heard the call to arms? Listen! The cry has sounded to confiscate arms even as it did in 1770’s. But where are the Minutemen? They should be ready! Armed and ready!
“Although the terms militia and minutemen are sometimes used interchangeably today, in the 18th century there was a decided difference between the two. Militia were men in arms formed to protect their towns from foreign invasion and ravages of war. Minutemen were a small hand-picked elite force which were required to be highly mobile and able to assemble quickly. Minutemen were selected from militia muster rolls by their commanding officers. Typically 25 years of age or younger, they were chosen for their enthusiasm, reliability, and physical strength. Usually about one quarter of the militia served as Minutemen, performing additional duties as such. The Minutemen were the first armed militia to arrive or await a battle.”
The “mission” of the Minutemen was evident in their selection. They were the elite, the best trained of all the militia. “Militia were men in arms formed to protect their towns from foreign invasion and ravages of war. Minutemen were a small hand-picked elite force which were required to be highly mobile and able to assemble quickly. Minutemen were selected from militia muster rolls by their commanding officers. Typically 25 years of age or younger, they were chosen for their enthusiasm, reliability, and physical strength. Usually about one quarter of the militia served as Minutemen, performing additional duties as such. The Minutemen were the first armed militia to arrive or await a battle.”
By the time the Revolutionary War began, these Minutemen had several years experience. During the French and Indian War and other local conflicts, these ready-in-a-minute soldiers played a crucial role.
“On the morning of April 19, 1775, Captain John Parker was 46 years old as he stood beside 76 other colonists and opposed 700 British Regulars. At the time he was terminally sick with tuberculosis. His illness forced him to bed early the night before (April 18, 1975). It was around 1:00AM when a messenger arrived informing him that the Regulars were marching to Concord. Parker and his men assembled on the Lexington Green and around 5:30AM three advance companies of British Regulars burst on the scene commanded by Major Pitcairn.
“Many, many times historians have debated how the events unfolded that morning, but several things are indisputable… Parker lined his men in two ranks, a proud stance for freedom challenging the world’s most dominant superpower… and the captain and his brave men weren’t looking for fight that morning, but they weren’t going to back down if one came …and it did.
“Here is the text of Captain John Parker’s actual deposition given several days after the battle:
Lexington, April 25, 1775.
I, John Parker, of lawful age, and commander of the Militia in Lexington, do testify and declare, that on the nineteenth instant, in the morning, about one of the clock, being informed that there were a number of Regular Officers riding up and down the road, stopping and insulting people as they passed the road, and was also informed that a number of Regular Troops were on their march from Boston, in order to take the Province Stores at Concord, ordered our Militia to meet on the common in said Lexington, to consult what to do, and concluded not to be discovered, nor meddle or make with said Regular Troops (if they should approach) unless they should insult us; and upon their sudden approach, I immediately ordered our Militia to disperse and not to fire. Immediately said Troops made their appearance, and rushed furiously, fired upon and killed eight of our party, without receiving any provocation therefor from us.
The Colonies in the 1770’s were ruled by King George III from Britain. All was fine until he started to see the PEOPLE of the Colonies as a source of INCOME. He raised taxes and treatment of the Colonial people declined.
While there were many causes for the war, the events listed here are agreed as the most volatile issues that sparked the flame of Revolt!
French and Indian War (1754-1763): This war started between Britain and France and ended with the victorious British deeply in debt, so they demanded more revenue from the colonies. The French were defeated, but the Native Americans that fought alongside the French merged tensions among the Native American tribes of the New World with a new collection of allies and rivals that developed as the political battles of Europe continued.
Proclamation of 1763: This prohibited settlement beyond the Appalachian Mountains. While Britain did not intend to harm the colonists, many colonists took offense at this order and understood it as unnecessary restriction and intrusion into their lives.
Sugar Act of 1764: This act raised revenue by increasing duties on sugar imported from the West Indies for American colonists who enjoyed sweetness in the tea along with sweet cakes. Again, the Colonists perceived the hand of tyranny reaching further into their private lives.
Currency Act of 1764: Parliament argued that colonial currency had caused a devaluation harmful to British trade. They banned American assemblies from issuing paper bills or bills of credit.
Committees of Correspondence (1764): Organized by Samuel Adams, these helped spread propaganda and information through letters. This was a letter-writing campaign meant to do two things: to inform the people, and to unite the people. Thus the rallying cry, “No taxation without representation.”
Quartering Act of 1765: Britain ordered that colonists were to house and feed British soldiers if necessary. This was seen as yet another intrusion into the private lives of citizens of the Crown, supposedly under the protection of the Crown.
Stamp Act (1765): This required tax stamps on many items and documents including playing cards, newspapers, and marriage licenses. Prime Minister George Grenville stated that this direct tax was intended for the colonies to pay for defense. Previous taxes imposed by Britain had been indirect, or hidden.
1765 – Stamp Act Congress – In 1765, 27 delegates from nine colonies met in New York City and drew up a statement of rights and grievances thereby bringing colonies together in opposition to Britain.
Sons and Daughters of Liberty (1765) – Colonists tried to fight back by imposing non-importation agreements. The Sons of Liberty often took the law into their own hands enforcing these ‘agreements’ by methods such as tar and feathering.
Townshend Acts (1767): These taxes were imposed to help make the colonial officials independent of the colonists and included duties on glass, paper, and tea. Smugglers increased their activities to avoid the tax leading to more troops in Boston.
Boston Massacre (1770): The colonists and British soldiers openly clashed in Boston. This event was used as an example of British cruelty despite questions about how it actually occurred.
Tea Act of 1773): To assist the failing British East India Company, the Company was given a monopoly to trade tea in America.
Boston Tea Party – In 1773, a group of colonists disguised as Indians dumped tea overboard from three ships in Boston Harbor.
Intolerable Acts (or Coercive Acts; 1774): These were passed in response to the Boston Tea Party and placed restrictions on the colonists including outlawing town meetings and the closing of Boston Harbor. Furious at the December 1773 Boston Tea Party, Parliament in 1774 passed the Coercive Acts. The particular provisions of the Coercive Acts were offensive to Americans, but it was the possibility that the British might deploy the army to enforce them that primed many colonists for armed resistance. The Patriots of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, resolved: “That in the event of Great Britain attempting to force unjust laws upon us by the strength of arms, our cause we leave to heaven and our rifles.” A South Carolina newspaper essay, reprinted in Virginia, urged that any law that had to be enforced by the military was necessarily illegitimate.
First Continental Congress (1774): In response to the Intolerable Acts, 12 of the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia from September-October, 1774. One of the main results of this was the creation of The Association calling for a boycott of British goods.
Lexington and Concord (1775) In April, British troops were ordered to Lexington and Concord to seize stores of colonial gunpowder and to capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock. At Lexington, open conflict occurred and eight Americans were killed. At Concord, the British troops were forced to retreat with the loss of 70 men. This was the first instance of open warfare.
Second Continental Congress (1775): All 13 colonies were represented at this meeting in Philadelphia beginning May. The colonists still hoped that their grievances would be met by King George III. George Washington was named head of the Continental Army.
Bunker Hill (1775): This major victory for the Colonists resulted in George III proclaiming the colonies in rebellion.
In the end, the American Revolution grew out of increasing restrictions placed upon the colonies by the British. One interesting side note: It is estimated that only one-third of the colonists were in favor of rebellion. One-third continued to side with the British. The last third were neutral concerning the rebellion and break from Great Britain.
Any of these reasons strike a cord of similarity to where we are today?
It becomes more and more clear that President Obama’s strategy to implement as much of his Socialist agenda as possible involves an acting role for him. Rather than acting like a genuine leader, and leading our nation back from the economic slump, he has chosen the role of defiant savior warding off the evil effects of HIS OWN POLICIES, but blaming them on … Bush, the Republicans, Rush Limbaugh … anyone will do.
The pathetic part is,
It’s WORKING!
His opposition doesn’t quite know how to attack it, either. TRUTH doesn’t work, because the pieces don’t fit. The media & Hollywood (for reasons I may go into later) have assumed the supporting roles affirming and confirming anything and everything the President does. no matter what it is, they twist it and turn it until it FITs the script. Truth is irrelevant. That’s why he can get away with …
Benghazi: 4 Americans dead on 9/11/12 in Libya, 30 something survivors bound by Federal Law to SILENCE, Suspected Al-Qaeda terrorists running AMERICAN weapons through Libya, to Turkey, to Syrian rebels who are also for the most part Al Qaeda.
Gun Control: Fear is a powerful motivator, and President Obama and the liberals are taking full advantage of the fear many people quietly harbor about weapons, in general. We fear what we do not know or understand. That is normal. We look at people swimming in the ocean and feel some fear … until we step slowly into the salty water and feel it, experience it for ourselves. Many Americans have never been around weapons and are unfamiliar with them, so there is a natural fear of them … until there is some personal experience with a weapon.“If the liberals currently in control of the federal government were really concerned about saving lives by banning things we don’t “need”, there are a number of areas that would have a much greater effect.”So Do You Really Need an AR-15?
Fast & Furious: Border Agent Brian Terry dead along with many Mexican civilians with American weapons smuggled INTO Mexico via FBI agents and Mexican drug cartel members to increase crime along the Mexico/America border to further President Obama’s “Gun Control” agenda
SEAL6: There is naturally a lot of confusion involved with SEAL6 and the other Special Forces assets involving the mysterious Chinook crash and subsequent deaths of these assets. This article might help clarify. SEAL Team Six Helicopter Crash: Let’s Debunk a Myth
A Crushed economy: “The multiplication of public offices, increase of expense beyond income, growth and entailment of a public debt, are indications soliciting the employment of the pruning knife.” –Thomas Jefferson
Unemployment up, more jobs lost, more regulations, our government borrowing nearly40 cents on every dollar it spends. We haven’t even begun to realize the additional regulations, fees and taxes hidden within the 2000 pages of OBAMACARE or “Omamageddon!”
Education: First, every educator knows (and most parents, too) that the “formative years” where most vital learning occurs are ages 0 – 5, or more conservatively, 0 – 3. Yet, every administration – EVERY administration has focused federal monies on HIGH SCHOOL age programs. Preschool teachers are NOT standardly certified, nor are they unionized or well compensated. In spite of the President’s NEW emphasis on a Preschool program for EVERY 4 yr old, the MONEY still goes to secondary school programs. RE: American Education: Rotting the Country from the Inside
Sequester BS: “We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt.” –Thomas Jefferson
No amount of conversation or public outcry seems to have any positive affect on the liberal legislators in office. They are hell-bent on the continued ruination of America via outrageous and uncontrolled spending. The Sequester? Well, it is a case of the proverbial, “Much ado about nothing!” It is NOT a CUT, as you and I think of cut, as in what WE must do to compensate for the rise in fuel prices. We have to CUT spending in some area to cover the Spending for Fuel. No, the government sequester “cuts” are simply cuts in proposed spending! My budget says I will spend $3500 on groceries in 2013. However in 2014, I expect to spend, say, $5000. That is an increase in spending of $1500, right? It is STILL an increase. Now, if, I find, I can only increase my grocery budget in 2014 to $4500, I have CUT the INCREASE. It is STILL an increase in spending, but less so than anticipated.
While President Obama has clearly polished his acting skills at the expense of AMERICA, he is unable to ACT like a leader strong enough to lead this great nation toward prosperity. Instead, hes busy campaigning against the very effects HIS POLICIES have or will create: falling employment, rising prices, growing unrest … etc. I present all this to you, fellow Patriots, as a concise case for IMPEACHMENT. After all, we DESERVE, a President! The world NEEDS an American President! The Founders would be horrified by what I see … How about you?
We don’t hear much news about the men and women serving abroad whether in Iraq, Afghanistan or Kosovo or Germany. We just don’t hear anything. I guess the military is only important to the media when it’s about to be SLASHED by a President/Actor who wants us to believe he really cares. [gag]
This is a TRIBUTE, a loving, respectful tribute to those still fighting and dying for the cause of FREEDOM even though many Americans don’t appreciate the liberties we have nor the men and women throughout history that have sacrificed to preserve them for us.
Our brave and dutiful young men and women sacrifice their lives, their families, and their comfort to fight for AMERICA in places similar to our nation and as different as one could possibly imagine. Their family and friends also sacrifice their loved one to our nation’s service. I don’t know if you understand what they give up, that they endure many discomforts we take for granted … running hot & cold water, healthy food, toiletries, shelter, entertainment options … But perhaps the biggest thing they sacrifice is … HOME.
These men and women are gone for a year or more. When they have done their service and return HOME, THIS is what they find? FEMA training our children, making them into … into WHAT???
They return to see our government, lead by the President, with uninformed Americans in tow, trashing the US CONSTITUTION they swore to support and defend. “Shall not be infringed” means … what?
In previous decades, Hollywood helped foster support for our Military members by offering their entertainment abilities and in some cases, even joined. Elvis Presley, even, as popular and “cool” as he was, saw it his duty to pay his dues in service to the nation. Now, Hollywood does everything it can to mock or ridicule, or at the very least, portray the military in an unflattering light.
Might we not demonstrate a little curiosity about what our Military members are doing in, say, AFRICA? Might we not pressure our legislators to push for answers on Benghazi? Might we not demand the media keep us informed about where our soldiers are sent and why? Might we not push for Hollywood to support our TROOPS just a little in exchange for their lavish lifestyles.
There are other issues that concern VETS returning Home … Homelessness among Vets is outrageous. Many, many Vets are not receiving the mental and physical support they were promised. Why do we not hear about these issues?
“I repent of ever having recorded one single song and ever having performed one concert if my music, and more importantly — my life — has not provoked you into godly jealousy, or to sell out more completely to Jesus!”
Keith Green
If you were accused …
If you were accused … of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you in a court of Law? In the 1970’s, this was a question made popular within the “Jesus Movement!” Yes, there was actually, a movement among young people in high schools and colleges that swept across the country proclaiming JESUS CHRIST is LORD. Some were even labeled “Jesus Freaks!” They looked and dressed very similar to the Hippies of the time, but there was a marked difference in their behavior. They read their Bibles often, in public, out loud. They laughed and talked about how to LOVE one another the way Jesus loves us. They created a new genre of music that incorporated Christian values and even Bible verses into the lyrics. They weren’t perfect, of course, but they tried to live what they read in the Bible.
The JESUS MOVEMENT spawned a new genre of music that was a hybrid of rock & roll sound, but with Gospel friendly lyrics.
“In order to proclaim the message of the gospel, hippie Christianssimply adopted existing forms of communication. Mirroring the development of underground newspapers such as the Berkeley Barb, in 1969 evangelist Duane Pederson began publishing the Hollywood Free Paper as an evangelistic tool. Jesus papers with names like Right On!, The Fish, Street Level, and Cornerstone became a fundamental component of each street Christian community.
“Another development was Jesus Music, the controversial combination of rock music and the gospel as one of the most effective (and subsequently lasting) institutions of the revival. Artists and groups such as Ron Moore, Love Song, John Fischer, Larry Norman, Randy Matthews, Agape, and the All Saved Freak Band are just a few of the performers that felt the need to communicate spiritual truths through a popular medium. Christian coffeehouses and Jesus rock festivals emerged as the music gained momentum as a popular alternative to the mainstream industry. Contemporary Christian radio shows sprang up as did magazines devoted solely to monitoring the fledgling Jesus Music scene. While many conservative church-goers lamented that Jesus Music was a spiritual compromise, these pioneers maintained that they were combating the negative influence of mainstream rock music. In an attempt to develop an apologetic for their evangelistic efforts they echoed the sentiments of reformer Martin Luther when he asked “why should the devil have all the best tunes.”
Perhaps the most radical idea of the JESUS MOVEMENT was that following Jesus was more than just going to church on Sundays. In fact, another thing Keith Green (and others) said often was that “going to church on Sundays doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald’s makes you a hamburger!” He’s right! In fact, Jesus said, ““If you love me, you will obey my commands.” (John 14:15) How do we know what Jesus/God commands? We must become well acquainted with the WORD of GOD – the Bible. This is true whether we are Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, or 7th Day Adventist. If we WANT to serve God, if we want to be found pleasing in HIS sight, we must acquaint ourselves with who HE is. Right? Even if it’s … uncomfortable? Even if it’s not politically correct?
The JESUS MOVEMENT was also about FREEDOM. For too long, the organized Church had kept God locked up inside the building, the local brick and mortar assembly. While hippies and militant radicals protested society’s ills and the Vietnam war, the JESUS MOVEMENT broke down the walls of the established Christian church and took it to the streets. What William Tyndale did for the Bible, the JESUS MOVEMENT did for the people, for the CHURCH of Christ. It took Jesus from the closed doors of the religious, organized Church to the everyday lives of everyday people. It helped strip away the false piety and religious pretense so common among church-going people. We were given permission to be REAL, to be imperfect followers of Jesus.
“But now you know the true God. Really, it is God who knows you. So why do you turn back to those weak and useless rules you followed before? Do you want to be slaves to those things again?”
Galatians 4:9
This brings us back to the title question: If you were accused … of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you in a court of Law?
I don’t know the originator of the title question, but I first heard it from a man named Keith Green, who became a popular singer during the 1970’s until his death in a plane crash. He was 28. His life message can be seen in the title of one of his albums, “No Compromise!” – released in 1978.
“In a world where following Christ is decreed to be a subversive and illegal activity you have been accused of being a believer, arrested, and dragged before a court.
“You have been under clandestine surveillance for some time now, and so the prosecution has been able to build up quite a case against you. They begin the trial by offering the judge dozens of photographs that show you attending church meetings, speaking at religious events, and participating in various prayer and worship services. After this, they present a selection of items that have been confiscated from your home: religious books that you own, worship CDs, and other Christian artifacts. Then they step up the pace by displaying your many poems, pieces of prose, and journal entries that you had lovingly written concerning your faith. Finally, in closing, the prosecution offers your Bible to the judge. This is a well-worn book with scribbles, notes, drawings, and underlings throughout, evidence, if it were needed, that you had read and re-read this sacred text many times.
“Throughout the case you have been sitting silently in fear and trembling. You know deep in your heart that with the large body of evidence that has been amassed by the prosecution you face the possibility of long imprisonment or even execution. At various times throughout the proceedings you have lost all confidence and been on the verge of standing up and denying Christ. But while this thought has plagued your mind throughout the trial, you resist the temptation and remain focused.”
So the question becomes what evidence ought be present to condemn me as a Christian? What is God after? How do we LIVE to please God? To answer these questions, I will simply post some verses from the Bible. YOU DECIDE!
“If you love me, you will obey my commands.”John 14:15
“I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other as I have loved you. 35 All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other.”John 13: 34-35
“The Lord God has told us what is right and what he demands: “See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern, and humbly obey your God.”Micah 6:8
This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.
So do you think you can build a house for me? Do I need a place to rest? My hand made all things. All things are here because I made them,” says the Lord. “These are the people I am pleased with: those who are not proud or stubborn and who fear my word.Isaiah 66: 1-2
“All that the Law says can be summed up in the command to love others as much as you love yourself.”Galatians 5:14
A third time he said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” Peter said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!”
He said to him, “Feed my sheep.John 21: 15-17
“Don’t judge others, or you will be judged. 2 You will be judged in the same way that you judge others, and the amount you give to others will be given to you.Matthew 7: 1-2
The bottom line is, to “reflect” the One we love, Jesus, we need cultivate a relationship with Him. We must spend TIME with Him. Familiarize ourselves not only with His WORD, but with His character as revealed throughout His WORD, Old and New Covenants!
The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 Our faces, then, are not covered. We all show the Lord’s glory, and we are being changed to be like him. This change in us brings ever greater glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 CORINTHIANS 3:17-18
“If you were accused of being a Christian, would there be sufficient evidence to convict you?”
Similarly, if you were accused of being an AMERICAN, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Do you know our Founding documents: the Declaration of Independence? The Bill of Rights or the Constitution? Can you name a handful of the Signers?
Do you know America’s form of government? Democracy, you say? NO! We are a CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC!!! Do we understand the VALUES behind the CONSTITUTION? Well … is there enough evidence to convict you? American? Christian? Person of independent faith?
The Constitution of the United States has a uniquely defining role in American life. It serves as a sort of “blueprint” for the US government, as the foundation of Law in the US, and as a symbol of the enduring strength of our nation.
Our Constitution defines the basic structure of the government, and determines how the three branches function. The three branches, Executive (president), legislative (Congress), and judicial (Supreme Court) are designed to balance each other, to check the power balance, and to share the responsibility of governing in accordance with their specified duties. It also establishes the separation of power as a watch-guard between these three branches and between the federal and state governments. The Constitution does more than just outline the structure, it sets up a standard against which all other laws are to be judged. Article VI states that the Constitution, together with the other laws and treaties of the United States, “shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby.”
“The Obama Administration is developing a new socialist constitution for America to replace the original Constitution written by our Founders. Every single one of these huge bills being rammed through congress is simply another article of the Obama constitution which allows no amendments by Republicans.
The people need to understand that these huge 1000 to 2000 page bills – the 111 Congress agenda – are all parts of one master blueprint for a new socialist government. The master plan has been split up into different component pieces so that the people won’t notice how they will all fit back together until after they become law.
In a building blueprint for example, you have a page for the foundation, a page for the framework, a page for the plumbing, a page for the electrical system, etc. It doesn’t become a building until all of the drawings and diagrams are built and integrated together.”
in Order to form a more perfect Union, (improve government) establish justice, (define a national court system) insure domestic Tranquility, (maintain order) provide for the common defense, (defend the country against enemies, both foreign and domestic) promote the general Welfare, (create a good climate for commerce and industry)
and Secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity …
“Several reports are coming in of voter fraud by the Democratic Party, particularly in key states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Colorado, and Florida where in St. Lucie County, the unofficial vote count showed 175,554 registered voters but 247,713 vote cards were cast coming to 141.10% .
At one particular polling place in the same county, they recorded 158.85% voter turnout which turned out to be the highest in the county.”
In the wake of the 2012 General Election, not only were the results of the Presidential race questionable, but many of the other races as well. Reports came from several places with 100% district votes for President Obama … 100%? Why did the Election Commission make no challenges in the light of the many inconsistencies?
Obama Telling Federal Court To Go To Hell!
“Obama appointees who were appointed ILLEGALLY according to a federal court still sit and are still making MANY decisions that will effect all of us.
THE PRESIDENT IS RENOMINATING THESE CANDIDATES FOR THE NLRB! NO CONSITUTIONAL POWER GIVES THESE PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO CONTINUE!
Lou Dobbs says it’s starting to look like the President doesn’t have much regard for that co-equal branches of government stuff or checks and balances.”
President Barack Obama has nominated two of the recess appointees he installed on the National Labor Relations Board last year, setting the stage for a likely battle with Senate Republicans over their confirmations.
The White House said Mr. Obama nominated former Democratic Labor Department official Sharon Block and former Democratic union lawyer Richard Griffin Jr. to the NLRB. In January 2012, Mr. Obama installed them on the board while Congress was on a holiday break in a move that sidestepped the Senate, angered Republicans and led to legal challenges.
“A few days ago, the Blaze reported on the low-key plans of the Obama administration to increase the penalties for certain gun law violations, and add steps to the background checks for legal gun ownership.
Today the administration’s plans are beginning to come into effect. Through an Executive Order, the Obama administration is implementing new restrictions on the sale of certain weapons in border states, and increasing the penalties for violating certain firearms laws.”
Some Americans are aware that President Obama has proposed 23 Executive Orders outlining his objectives for Gun Control. This is nothing less than Constitutional rewrite.
President Obama understands the power of a well-armed citizenry. He knows if there is any hope of achieving his goal – the destruction (or Socialization) of America – he must disarm as many Americans as possible. He also knows actual door to door confiscation is impracticable, but “terrorization” of Americans, playing our emotions with high profile events that fit (or are manufactured to fit) into the prescribed agenda (Aurora, Sandy Hook, and even Gabby Gifford’s near fatal injury,) events used to inspire the voluntary surrender of weapons is well within his skill set even though the evidence refutes is conclusion. He is, after all, a community organizer!
The Second Amendment says: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State,
the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. (emphasis mine)
Seems pretty clear to me. SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED is self-explanatory to most of us. Apparently, it is only confusing to those with little or no acquaintance with weapons,or with those with little understanding of human nature. It’s natural for people to be afraid of what they don’t know or understand, so a lack of familiarity with weapons produces a superficial fear. The media and the administration feed into that fear with sensationalized – and even fabricated media blitz completely distorting the meaning and intent of the 2nd Amendment. It’s not about safety or the protection of privacy, but about self-defense against tyranny.
“Once again we have Obama and his fellow travelers attempting to interfere with law-abiding citizens and their God-Given rights to self-defense — and their Constitutional Second Amendment rights to own and bear firearms.
Most progressives follow the socialist/communist dictum that individuals in the United States must be disarmed in order to bring about a change in core political ideology. At stake is the promotion of socialism/communism and the defeat of capitalism. Many believe, and rightly so if one follows historical precedent, that gun registration is a prelude to taxation and then confiscation.”
CONCLUSION: This is FORWARD? It may mean progress to a few ideologues, people who don’t have to make a living in the REAL world, but America can do better. We blew a very good opportunity to define our future last November, but it’s not too late. Not yet. There is, however, a bullet we must swallow if we are to preserve Liberty, as we have known it:
we must realize that our gaudy, lascivious lifestyles, as evidenced by the top viewed TV shows and films, must change, and we must learn gratitude.
We must once again admit that selfishness and self-indulgence, while pleasant in the short term, are not healthy in the long run and learn honest service and sacrifice.
We must realize that we can enjoy life without abusing it, we can aspire to greatness by fostering humility and honor in our own character and demanding it in those who seek to represent us in government.
In short, we must decide what kind of nation, what kind of people we want to be: greedy and selfish or kind and compassionate. We must choose because they cannot coexist!
If you agree, please share.
“The aggregate happiness of the society,
which is best promoted by the practice of a virtuous policy,
is, or ought to be, the end of all government . . . .”
George Washington
George Washington ably parries Barack Obama’s thrust in “Washington’s Sword” by Barbara Allen, an original painting entered in the Power Line Prize competition.
Liberals have worked very hard to rewrite history. They know if hard-working Americans understand America’s past and how America became so prosperous, the lies, twists and distractions they present will not be enough to bury America’s greatness.
The men we call “Founders” were, each and every one, brilliant, eloquent, and worldly men well-read in the Ancients and particularly the writers and thinkers of the Enlightenment that lauded Reason over all. They were men of science and intelligence, but also men of faith. They were not all Christians, but even in their religious disagreement, they agreed that for our Experiment in Self-governance to succeed, men and women must be committed to self-betterment. They understood that liberty can only be upheld by men and women of character.
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity,
religion and morality are indispensable supports.
In vain would that man claim tribute to patriotism
who should labor to subvert these
great pillars of human happiness.”
George Washington
By age sixteen, Washington had copied out by hand, 110 Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation. They are based on a set of rules composed by French Jesuits in 1595. He sought to memorize them and make them a part of himself. If you browse them today, some seem strange, yet the majority of them are still worth working toward.
General Washington counted himself inadequate as a military leader. He counted himself modestly as a businessman, so it isn’t surprising he saw himself inadequate to assume the Presidency of our fledgling nation. It was Washington’s humility that drove him to his knees to seek the help of Providence!
Contrast this with the arrogance of President Obama. His entire philosophy, the beliefs behind his policies and overall agenda, is that he and his elite sympathizers know better than We-the-People what is the duty or responsibility of government. Faced with the Benghazi incident, 6 months of investigations have not yet uncovered exactly where President Obama was wile Americans called repeatedly for help. Two Russian bombers, capable of carrying nuclear cruise missiles, circled the US island of Guam in the Western Pacific this week. U.S. Air Force F-15 jets scrambled from Andersen Air Force Base on Guam to intercept the bombers while President Obama went golfing.
General Washington, and the Congress elected with him, wanted only to fascilitate our individual pursuit of happiness, to serve the needs of the public, not the wants. They understood the essence of tyranny is government reaching into the daily lives of the people in an attempt to exert control.
You might remember that after the brilliant leadership during the long, agonizing years of the Revolutionary War, both the public and the sitting Congress attempted to crown General Washington King of the infant nation.
“He gave up power not once but twice – at the end of the revolutionary war, when he resigned his military commission and returned to Mount Vernon, and again at the end of his second term as president, when he refused entreaties to seek a third term. In doing so, he set a standard for American presidents that lasted until the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose taste for power was stronger than the 150 years of precedent set by Washington.”
It is extraordinarily difficult for us today to relate to such humility in a true public servant. For the most part, those WE have sent to Washington DC as our Representatives are anything but humble, and certainly not Public Servants. It is a foreign concept. In fact, the whole idea of ” service” has been trompled and trampled, twisted and redefined with a self-serving theme.
Audacity of hope, or arrogance of power? “Webster’s defines arrogance as the “offensive exhibition of assumed or real superiority,” an “overbearing pride,” an “imperious” nature. One only has to look to our government to find the embodiment of arrogance — in our elected officials, our Congress and our president.
“Arrogance is not exclusive to liberals, moderates or conservatives. Arrogance is usually accompanied by one form of superiority or another. The arrogance of the ignorant “nobody” is as dangerous as that of the intellectual “somebody.” Both deserve each other’s company. The difference is the decisions of the “some bodies” can affect all the other “nobodies.”
“Being George Washington means looking out for our families, our neighbors, and our countrymen–standing for them when they can’t stand for themselves. Washington wrote: How pitiful, in the eye of reason and religion, is that false ambition which desolates the world with fire and sword for the purpose of conquest and fame when compared to the milder virtues of making our neighbors and our fellow men as happy as their frail conditions and perishable natures will permit them.” George Washington’s letter To REVEREND JOHN LATHROP, June 22, 1788
Can you imagine General George Washington coming on the scene, riding into DC to address Congress today? None loved him more than the men who served under him in the unimaginable years of war. Yet, with great grace and humility, General Washington reminded Congress of the reasons for the War they had endured. He reminded them of the tyranny they had experienced and the lives sown for Liberty’s cause. How does this compare with the reports from those who have worked with President Obama?
OK, so is this PROGRESS? Evolution? Or is it moral decay that has brought us to the eve of destruction?
How quickly would President Obama
take the throne General Washington refused?
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King George III asked his American painter, Benjamin West, what Washington would do after winning independence. West replied, “They say he will return to his farm.”
“If he does that,” the incredulous monarch said, “he will be the greatest man in the world.”
US President Barack Obama applauds outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta during an Armed Forces Farewell Tribute in honor of Panetta at Joint Base Myer-Henderson in Arlington, Virginia, February 8, 2013. Panetta will retire once his likely successor, former Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel, is confirmed by the US Senate. Credit: AFP/Getty Images
An All-Over-the-Board Conservative Rant
The conservative is concerned, first of all, for the regeneration of spirit and character — with the perennial problem of the inner order of the soul, the restoration of the ethical understanding,
and the religious sanction upon which any life worth living is founded.
This is conservatism at its highest. Russell Kirk
So, are we all holding our breath to hear the President’s speech? Yea, that’s what I thought. We’ve heard it all before, several times, in fact. Yes, we know JOBS is this administrations #1 Priority … so where are they? Unemployment is a big issue, so why hasn’t it changed much? In fact, among minorities and women, unemployment is higher now than when Obama took office! Oh, and then there’s the war and how’s he’s going to end the war in Afghanistan. How about the war throughout AFRICA that no one ever talks about?
I cannot well express the deep seated angst that broils within me as I hear the daily resounding drum beats of destruction echoing across the airways: “Look how the mighty America is falling!” Though some still wave the flag and recite tales of heroism from our illustrious past, these few are spat upon and ridiculed in thought, word, and deed. So we hang our heads. We mope. We gripe. We kick the dirt not realizing, not grasping the absolute truth that WE are the MAJORITY!
Yes, WE are the MAJORITY
What we aren’t is the “squeaky wheel.” You remember, “it’s the squeaky wheel that gets the oil!” We’re not the squeaky wheel. It’s the “It’s not fair!” folks, the “I need more,” folks, and the “I can’t do that” folks that get the oil, the attention, and the pandering arm of the government.
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There’s a woman that swims at the same pool as me. We became friends but all we do now is smile and nod an understanding nod in acknowledgement of our shared conservatism. We’re there, after all, to swim, not to gab. But we share a camaraderie in hoping for a positive turn each day only to hear more and more lies, more and more bad policy, and more and more evil motivated actions (not just other party-ness) on the part of this administration. She is a paralegal in a major law firm in Pittsburgh. I need say no more.
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I received the popular memo from my place of employment as follows:
Dear Barbara,
As of January 1, 2013 paid vacation time will be based on 30 average hours per week after eligibility achieved. Vacation pay can be received once in a twelve month period, and is calculated on your current hourly rate. This change is a result of the Affordable Care Act.
These are Marines from Marine Barracks 8th and I marching in the 2013 Immaculation of The One. Notice anything missing? Yup, the bolts have been removed from the rifles. This isn’t just removing firing pins or some other manner of rendering them inoperable, which is a prudent move for a perfumed potentate hell bent on destroying everything these warriors are sworn to defend. To me this is a blatant, deliberate and public emasculation of those whom the pretend emperor knows he can not [or ought not] trust. This goes hand in hand with the purge of the senior leadership of the military, and is a clear message to the Corps, following hard on the heels of the disgraceful way in which Gen. Mattis was sacked from CentCom.
This slap was matched by the slap that came with the death of Chief Chris Kyle, the most highly decorated military sniper shot while hanging out with a fellow vet suffering from PTSD. Now I love the music of Whitney Houston, and certainly her voice is unmatchable, but for the nation to memorialize her drug-induced death and NOT the heroic life and death of Chief Kyle is inexcusable. With the various cuts and threats of cuts aimed squarely at the military, President Obama leaves little doubt about his feelings toward them as they “serve” him as CIC!
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I happened upon a facebook page yesterday called The Imaginative Conservative and a whole new world opened up for me. I was welcomed by the quote to the top of this post by Russell Kirk. I had never heard to Russell Kirk before nor known he was a foremost thinker and writer of Conservative thought. His thoughts, at least those initially found on his site, confirm my gut yearning, my overwhelming urgent cry to ring in the rebirth of our nation by cleaning up our own lives: MORALITY!
My heart cries for this nation. I’m ashamed to be part of the generation that stood by and watched our nation go down in the flames of immorality. Unless we, as Americans, can throw off the shackles of perverted, pseudo-freedom we see around our nation today … Oh God, unless we can take a righteous stand and usher in the mercy of God, we have seen the end of government sanctioned FREEDOM. Freedom, however, is an eternal longing built into every man, woman, and child. FREEDOM, itself, cries to be released among the peoples of the earth.
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This I know:
There is no freedom without responsibility.
There is no freedom without morality.
There is no freedom without the Source of Freedom: GOD
Man cannot take away what God has given. If we believe our Rights, our freedoms are unalienable, bestowed on us by our Creator, then no matter the Laws of men, our Freedoms remain untouched!
Can morality exist without religion, YES! Can morality exist without GOD, NO! Morality cannot be a changeable thing. What is right is right, and what is wrong is wrong, and these are written on our hearts and minds. It’s called Natural Law. Look it up!
“The poorest Americans today live a better life
than all but the richest persons a hundred years ago.”
James Q. Wilson, an American academic, political scientist, and an authority on public administration.
In today’s “fairness” political arena, there is a language that has developed. It is a PC language – politically correct. It is a despicable thing, because it limits FREEDOM in the name of “tolerance!” There is a horrible irony in the politically correct language that is supposed to reflect tolerance, it instead is bullying incarnate! It rewards agreement and punishes disagreement! It is defined by whatever position of power exists – and changes with the wind of political change. The sobering thing is that it’s a relatively new development in America. It’s virtually impossible to speak these days without “offending” someone about something, so our response is to remove the object of offense from our language whether it is Christmas, abstinence, or Islam.
We’ve been made afraid. We’ve been made afraid to speak up, to speak our mind on any number of issues we face today, if our opinion differs from those in positions of power. If we do not speak our mind, the argument SEEMS to be solved, but it really just simmers below the surface until the threat is lifted. The abortion argument is a perfect case in point. It never really went away like it was supposed to, it just went “underground” for a time.
Fear, my friends, is VERY telling!
We’re supposed to avoid talk of religion and politics, right? Why? Usually, the answer revolves around ruffling someone else’s feathers, upsetting the balance, the quiet, the calm. Right? Religion (or our personal belief system) and politics are our most personal thoughts, feelings, and ideals. We might even call them intimate.
If I say I am opposed to gay-marriage, it is ASSUMED I hate gays.
If I say I am opposed to “Obamacare,” it is ASSUMED I am unsympathetic to the needs of the poor.
Neither is accurate. I AM poor, for pete’s sake! But I am also rich! FAMILY makes us rich. FAITH makes us rich. WORK makes us rich. STRUGGLE makes us rich. HARDSHIP makes us rich in compassion. ACHIEVEMENT makes us rich. FAILURE makes us rich. INTEGRITY makes us rich. SELF-RELIANCE makes us rich.
In between the liberal position on the LEFT which is allegedly “fairness,” and their accusation of “hate-mongering” directed at certain people-groups, there is a wide expanse of options.
The REAL issue isn’t “fairness” or “equality,”
but the issue is unanimity, conformity, the making of clones!
Think about it.
If you have a home you wish to sell, one of the first things a Realtor will tell you is … NEUTRAL COLORS, right? Whites, creams, beiges … nondescript colors with occasional “splashes” of color. CONFORM!
The same applies to autos. If you look at the cars on the road, most are white, gold, silver … no color. CONFORM!
More seriously, in spite of educational research, curricula is designed to “fit” only a small percentage of our students. Teachers are taught how to present materiel and then assess the student’s grasp of it by narrow questions with specific answers. No critical thought, no independent thought is encouraged. If a student offers an idea, a response different than the one asked for, it is wrong. Sometimes it is word-specific, so that even if a different WORD is used than the one issued, it is wrong. CONFORM!
We are told Religion is fine, but only within certain perimeters.
Fifty years ago, all children were given the tools necessary to mature into responsible, productive citizens. Children with hearing or vision impairment were put into “special” schools where they were given tools to enable them to co-exist in society. Blind children were taught Braille and perhaps the use of a cane or aid-dog. Deaf children were taught sign language and often, lip-reading. Children with other different learning disabilities or mental illness were also given skills to help them be self-sufficient. That was the goal: self-sufficiency. This was the goal for ALL schools and students, to become responsible, productive citizens.
What are the goals today? We have children even graduating from the most prestigious universities with no literacy in world or American history, with sketchy reading skills, and most importantly, with little or no ability to THINK for themselves. Percent of high school graduates who can’t read in 2012 is 19%!!! But they are encouraged to participate in the “Occupy” movement! They are taught a “state ideology” (generally, Secular Humanism, which translates politically into Socialism) from Preschool through any ivy league school you choose while simultaneously, they are taught that “independent thought” is bad. But the goal is … exactly what? When 44% of college freshman don’t make it to graduation, what does that say? With a population gravitating toward government handouts instead of jobs and the benefits inherent in work, with schools that look more like high security prisons, and with a culture that is learning to FEAR freedom, what is the goal of education, of government “social justice” programs, of unanimity?
To encourage able-bodied Americans to become unwittingly enslaved to a system that encourages deeper dependence on government programs rather than encouraging independence is outrageous! THIS is a “unanimity” problem. If I can’t afford what my neighbors have, it’s “not fair! This becomes a moral problem AND a fiscal problem.
Unanimity (conformity) is NOT liberty!
Homosexual lifestyle is now introduced to children of kindergarten age. Instead of working on academic skills, pre-reading skills, early math skills, teachers are mandated to talk about “sexual orientation” with children too young to have ever had a sexual thought! This is NOT responsible education!
In reference to gay marriage, the Bible clearly opposes homosexuality. The fact that it is ISSUE is indication that homosexuality is NOT the norm. (Gal 5: 16-21; Genesis 19:1-13) Now, here’s the rub. We, as Christians, are COMMANDED to LOVE one another, not just those with whom we agree.
We often hear the phrase, “Hate the sin, but love the sinner!” Sadly, most Americans, believers or not, have not learned how to separate a lifestyle from a person. Matthew 7 has some very specific instruction, though, for how we should interact with one another. There is NO HATE directed at the person, only any “unholy” behavior, but is homosexuality worse than gossip? or adultery? or gluttony? Perhaps harder to conquer, but sin is sin. It is NOT for us to judge, but to love! Period!
The same applies to the poor. I believe free handouts to the poor do not serve them in any way. Jesus declared, “For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.” (Mt 26: 11; Jn 12: 8; Mk 14:7) There will always be some people that are unable due to physical or mental challenges to maintain a job. This does not necessarily mean there isn’t something they can do to help on occasion. Our self worth as humans is determined, built, or maintained by our ability to contribute to a family, a community, or a specific situation. WORK is not an evil thing. It is a beneficial thing for humans. The Bible teaches the individual believer to share, John (the Baptist) said, Luke 3: 11-14
“11 If you have two shirts, share with the person who does not have one. If you have food, share that also.”
12 Even tax collectors came to John to be baptized. They said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?”
13 John said to them, “Don’t take more taxes from people than you have been ordered to take.
14 The soldiers asked John, “What about us? What should we do?”
John said to them, “Don’t force people to give you money, and don’t lie about them. Be satisfied with the pay you get.”
No place in there do we see anything about government or mandates. It is not government’s job or responsibility to oversee charitable donations of substance or time & talent. “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” (2 Thes 3:10)
Which brings me, finally, to abortion-on-demand as paid for by public funds via Federally sponsored programs including, but not limited to Planned Parenthood. It’s OUTRAGEOUS! It has been for 40 years since the decision was rendered that was supposed to silence the opposition! Clearly, it hasn’t as over 500,000 Americans gathered in DC for the 40th Anniversary March on one of the coldest days this winter. The President’s HHS mandate has stirred up more anguish and dissension than ever. Nothing is settled because, as reminded by the Founders, any law that is not in agreement with the “Law of Nature and Nature’s God” will not stand by virtue of the very definition of Natural Law.
No one is debating the instances of rape, incest, or medical emergency. Those are NOT the procedures in debate! As a Conservative, the promiscuity that has taken over our culture via the media blitz is maddening. Our young people can’t get away from the images and ideas of sex, even if they are inclined to try to avoid them. The tools that COULD be used to bring about so much positive change are misused by those wielding liberal, unhealthy ideas of sexuality and relationship, among other things.
CONCLUSION: Though we’re not crazy, we can, as wise humans, recognize the benefits of hardship, if we trust God. We know that God uses everything that happens (there are no accidents) for our benefit but also for the benefit of others around us. We are promised “tribulations!” (Rom 8:28)
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10
If the CHURCH (the organized institution of all Christian & Catholic congregations) was doing its job correctly, there wouldn’t be the need for any government programs to tend the needs of the poor. Even so, the job of helping those in need falls on We-the-People, the neighbors, the community … NOT the Federal government via need-oriented programs like food stamps, welfare, and medicaid! EVERYONE has something they can contribute, some talent to share, some richness to give no matter how old or young, how rich or poor, how strong or weak. Allowing each person to contribute, allows each one the blessing of giving, as well as receiving. Though it may not always FEEL like it, work and even hardship are beneficial to our human condition!
While political correctness has made huge changes within our society, we can still – that’s WE-the-PEOPLE – can still turn our great ship of state toward a more humane greatness simply with a restoration of a solid moral code that resists PC language. Political correctness comes and goes, but true moral standards stand against the tides of political debate.
“Do you have a BRAIN?
Yes? Then THINK your way out of your mess!”
There is help available, but it’s the responsibility of each individual to grow and become responsible, productive, self-reliant, and contributing Americans!
Further reading:
blogsense-by-barb 