The Remnant

The following entry into a contest won an award- I hope you will all enjoy it

THE REMNANT

by Faye Higbee

Amidst the broken walls of allowable love of country stands the tattered remnant of America’s patriots. Reviled as evil, their hearts for a nation once free are now stamped as dangerous and incapable of compassion. Where once a bright future reigned, now dark clouds of fear…or is it anger…shroud the hearts of The Remnant.

Yet they stand, their fingers intertwined with those of their children. They face the future with hope, knowing that the seasons of nations can transform from Light to Dark, or Dark to Light, in an instant.

The sight of “Old Glory” still causes their hearts to cry out. Her unfurled majesty is a moment of wonder for the privilege of citizenship in a land where belief in Freedom lives on in spite of the circumstances. A land where giving up or giving in is not an option. It’s a land where the flag’s symbols drive passion and love of values, a love of life. The patriot is caught in a moment of reflection, a moment of quiet remembrance.

Lest they forget that the flag is not just a flag, her colors call out to them. “My red stripes, my blood, shed to protect your sacred vow. The white of purity is a state of the heart which struggles for release within your human condition. The blue of Heaven, your final hope, the favor of the Almighty sought by the forefathers of America’s Constitution. Do you remember? Will you stand firm? Will you defend me?” The Remnant stands silently, inwardly weeping for the foundations destroyed by human disregard for her meaning.

Benjamin Franklin’s words from the day of the signing of the Declaration of Independence ring through the ages in stark testimony to the plight of the land once called “the colonies.” “We must indeed all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.” The Remnant cannot forget. They know that foundations are built on unity of purpose.

Descendants of the Revolutionary War know well the sacrifices of their ancestors. Frigid nights when inhospitable conditions threaten to destroy the men who call themselves “patriots.” Wearing tattered rags and threadbare shoes, they forge ahead because to give up would mean certain death. With few weapons and even fewer troops, their courage and determination to create a land of liberty pushes them far into the mouth of the English Lion.

Captured, murdered, tortured, but not crushed, a tiny armed militia finally breaks free of the yoke of tyranny. Their hope of freedom is won by sheer inner strength, the heart of The Remnant. It is the heart, after all, that drives mankind.

Through the conflicts of the ages, in battles both foreign and domestic, the fledgling nation grows. The Remnant flourishes, bent upon breathing life into their land. They make mistakes. They falter. Then in a rage that rivals the war in Heaven, brother fights against brother during the pursuit of freedom for all in the Civil War. Differences threaten to rip apart the nation that has been so desperately won.

The Remnant once again emerges, a breed whose hope for healing of their land shines brightly in the darkness of war. Abraham Lincoln speaks their hearts: “If we do not make common cause to save the good ship of the Union on this voyage, nobody will have a chance to pilot her on another voyage.” 1861 through 1865 mark years of savage bloodshed, as America splits itself apart over many issues, not the least of which is freedom for the slaves.

And yet, in the battle for liberty and justice for all, The Remnant triumphs.

As the fight for freedom moves to the world stage, The Remnant’s heart begins to break under the barrage of sorrow. A sense of sadness begins to pervade the nation. The hardships of two World Wars, the Great Depression, broken lives and dreams overwhelm the senses. Victories bring celebration, but by the Korean Conflict and Vietnam War, a jaded and cynical nation emerges. The Remnant watches as men and women no longer fight to win. Now they have learned to give up and give in.

Only brief respites during the years to come gives hope to The Remnant once again. But afterwards, the tide turns, and what was once an honor becomes something to disregard. What was once good is now spoken of as evil. Instead of unity, division now reigns supreme over the land. The definitions of a patriot and the very history of a nation are now subject to the whims of those who do not understand the hearts of The Remnant.

Yet, in the face of ever growing hostility, The Remnant persists. Freedom burns deep in their psyche. The land of the free may be weakened in the reality of current politics, but that hope, that desire for liberty still pervades the hearts of those who love America.

I am part of The Remnant. My family’s forefathers fought and died against overwhelming odds in battles for the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The sight of Old Glory fluttering in the breeze builds a lump in my throat. It is as if her stars have been ripped from the field of blue, and her red stripes swept from the flag. My heart breaks to see angst and division slashing the fabric of what was once a proud nation.

As I reflect on the sacrifices of my ancestors, I grieve for my country’s failure to recognize its own foundations. Whether it’s debt that crushes the hopes and dreams of the citizens, the loss of freedoms once granted under the Constitution, or the lack of vision for the future, this country is on a collision course. And I wonder. Will we, The Remnant, rise once again to right this Ship of State before it runs aground on the shoals of history? Or are we doomed to the tyranny of government that fails to understand the consequences of its actions? Only The Remnant knows its own heart. And the questions? Only The Almighty can answer.

Operation Eternal Light- Duty, Honor, Country

Duty, Honor, Country. Those are not mere words, but ideals that encourage men and women to the highest standard of service. Duty, to obey and follow those who have gone before them into the very belly of hell when necessary...it is also a call to save lives even when it costs them their own. Honor involves respect, integrity of heart, virtue that comes from facing the fires with honesty and truth. Country is about our Faith, our Republic, our America... our way of life. All of those things are engaged in a battle today that will determine whether we fall both as individuals and as a nation. I will not give up, and I will answer that call -we must all stand together.

Individuals in my world are battling, not the forces of evil, but each other. I love you all. God loves you all. I have grown more fond of each and every one of you than you can possibly imagine. Hardened hearts are causing a ripple effect of upheaval and warfare across the board. I'm asking you all as your friend, and as a pastor called to these last days, to stand down from this fight. You are not just hurting your "enemy," you are destroying yourselves. A house divided against itself cannot stand. We cannot win this country back without all of you- no group can do the task alone. You are not just hurting your enemy and yourselves, you are creating collateral damage among those who desperately want to be a part of what you are about.You are leaving a trail of broken hearts and minds that God will inevitably judge. And He will judge the division by leaving us to the tryanny of a government that hates us.

For those who profess to be Christians, I ask you this question: if Christ forgave you, how can you not forgive others? (Matthew 6:14, Luke 17:3) The "Lord's Prayer" states that God will "forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trepass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." How do you suppose we are to be saved from evil if we have not forgiven? You who started this conflagration know exactly who I'm talking to. You backed a man into a corner so of course then, from the defensive position, he came out swinging. God is deeply grieved. The Word says that if we have something against a person, we must go and be reconciled THEN bring our gifts to the Lord. You cannot hate your brother and still be a Christian.(1 John 4:20). We cannot just spout Jesus' words, we must LIVE them.You do not have to like someone, you do have to love them. We "wrestle not against flesh and blood." Period. Man up and walk as Christ commands you to walk.

We have a President who has actively split this nation in pieces. That spirit is having a ball. The ONLY hope we have is to "resist the devil and he will flee."(James 4:7). So resist, gentleman. Resist the temptation to hate, to return evil for evil, resist the war of words. Plant the flag of forgiveness and peace, and the fire will go out. Let it be Operation Eternal Light.

For my friends who are on this internal list- I am sorry you had to hear this. But perhaps you will pray for us all. This has become literally a life and death battle for many. Thanks. Faye- aka "Colonel"

Division- a recipe for failure

Conservatives are deeply divided at this juncture on almost every level. One refuses to vote for whoever, another refuses to vote period, the whole arena is filled with blame and accusations. Everybody is refusing blah blah blah... the whole thing sickens me. We are handing our country over to the enemy on a blood-stained platter.

Groups within America don't fight the enemy, they fight each other. I have been accused of some crazy things by Christians lately. So let me state this in terms everyone can understand:

The enemy we need to fight FIRST is the demonic. Satan's tactics have not changed: he strikes the shepherd and the sheep scatter. How does he do that? 1) By lies. He whispers in people's ears and they listen to him. Witness Chris Christie claiming that the more serious right wing people are "dangerous." It's the division, the name-calling, that is "dangerous."

2)By assumptions. He sets up circumstances so that we can't see the truth through the garbage. Then everyone is at each other's throats without truth in the middle. And by then pride sets in and nobody wants to back down. We MUST learn to know when it's time to heal the rifts or break from them. Just remember- breaking from those may create an election that cannot be won. People will become tired of the fracas and just stay home.

3)By sickness. He loves to set the saints up for illness- he'll wreck your blood pressure, make your head bleed, use anything you're doing against you, and especially if you have an attitude problem--he'll wreak havoc with that one. If you have something against someone else, dump it before the throne fast, or you could be struck with cancer or something else. Bitterness WILL kill you, guaranteed.

The battle is raging for the hearts and minds of America. If we play ball with the demonic forces we will lose. We must stop the bickering, the hate-filled rhetoric, the prideful attitudes that stand in the way of victory. The enemy cannot win this battle IF we follow the principles of the Lord. But that requires us to take the high road, not fall into the trap. The picture posted on this website is from a Facebook post, so I have no clue who took it. But it does reflect the battle we face between the promises of God and the enemy's darkness. Stop the fights. Let's save America.

Weak Kings

Let's discuss Joan of Arc. Her high intelligence and prowess led to her becoming the first and only woman to ever be the Supreme Commander of the armies of a nation at the young age of seventeen. She fought long and hard against their enemies and was fiercely loyal to a weak king. She gave him her all. Never once deciding that Dauphin was unfit for the office of king, she fought on with courage and strength. She fought heavily behind enemy lines. But in the end, she was captured. It was ultimately the king's failure to ransom her from the enemy that caused her to be burned at the stake. She was a courageous young woman with gifts beyond her years. Her life was cut short while fighting for her nation, a nation that was run by a fool who didn't care about much of anyone but himself.

America was born in rebellion. Our first leaders had foresight and wisdom, based upon Judeo-Christian values and thoughts. They cared about their armies, and their people. They were decidedly NOT weak. They knew the stakes, they fought the fight. And they won.

Over the centuries, American leaders have run the gamut between strong and powerful, and weak. But at no time have we had a leadership as weak as the one we have today. They rule by subterfuge, intimidation, and deception. Their minions follow them blindly without forethought. If you think they are strong, you are mistaken, because evil is foolish. They not only make scandals, they are personally so wrapped up in themselves that they could care less about the people. They do not serve us, they serve themselves. When leadership does that, people die.

We can chose to blindly follow these leaders, or we can stand up and and say NO. We can chose to let America be destroyed by their actions, or we can ask for Divine Guidance and believe that we can prevail. I have seen many people on some of the social networks either stick their heads in the sand and pretend all is well, or they sound like they will give up. Personally, I will not give up. This is MY country.Is it yours? Will you jump of the cliff for these leaders who do not care about you? Or will you say no way?

Under the Surface

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/07/30/govt-knows-best-white-house-creates-nudge-squad-to-shape-behavior/

The link today goes to what I'd call a bizarre story of nanny government. They've created a "nudge squad" to try and get people to change their behaviors to the model of the government. While some of it sounds oh so logical (saving money, automatically signing people up for weight loss clinics, etc)there is an insidious tone to it that leaves me feeling creeped out.

It would be nice if this administration would stop trying to alter the citizens (a nasty form of brainwashing) and just stay out of our lives. Big government is far more obese than anyone in America. It's big sloppy reach is so wide by now that we can't do anything without Big Brother snooping around in our lives. So now they want to "nudge" the departments into acting and accomplishing personal things the way "They" want them to. Say, for example, the "nudge squad" demands that you save money according to their guidelines. Suppose you can't pay your mortgage if you have to take that much out. So they're what, going to fire you for not saving? This concept is straight from the pit.

The "squad" says they can "opt out." Yep. I'll bet they can. Opt out of the job and on out the door. The problem with "nudges," as one blogger put it this morning, is that it can quickly become a shove.Especially with a government that operates in evil. They are literally trying to create an army of totally compliant people. And that doesn't work for me.

Freedom is about just that: freedom and personal responsibility. An "offer" is better than a "nudge." This administration's continual interference in our lives has reached epidemic proportions. And the problem is that anger is reaching a boiling point in America. And all of it is caused by the head dude of control freaks, satan himself.

If we could see the demonic realm around us, we would see that there is a plan in place. Satan can't allow freedom, because he is a control freak. He has to have slaves rather than followers. God has friends. Friends who choose to follow Him in love and faith. Satan can't do that, so he attempts to control us on every level. He tries to control us by fomenting anger, by demanding that we comply with the administration's "nudges," and by sacrificing the freedoms that our forefathers fought for. Will you be "nudged?"

Conversion or Pressure?

I was having coffee with a friend the other day and he made this statement: "What is the matter with the Republicans? They've had some sort of religious experience and converted to the Democrat side." And he is correct. Some of those we have staunchly believed in as Conservatives seem to bail on us and support everything from Amnesty to Gun Control. WTH? Are they just believing lies, or are they under some sort of pressure?

Being a suspicious sort, I don't believe in coincidence for any reason. I do believe that the Democrats have been using some underhanded tactics on our erstwhile "Conservative" legislators. Why do I think that? Because this administration has a track record of lies, distortion, and deception. They are power hungry, greedy, and have an agenda not favorable to America in any shape or form. Those kind of behaviors cannot be "compartmentalized" and will always manifest in evil ways.

This morning we hear that Chris Christie, Mr. Conservative Hero, rather obnoxiously told us that Sen. Rand Paul is "dangerous" because he is concerned about the need for probable cause in obtaining permission to spy on people. There is something under the surface here. If you stand up for liberty you are labelled as "dangerous," even by the very party that's supposed to be on the right? So he says the "libertarian streak" is dangerous? The Republican party has been complicit in the conversion experience.This is more than wrong, it will split our nation into so many factions that we'll be guaranteed a disaster in 2014.

Chris Christie is wrong. Obama and his "we know nothing" crowd are the dangerous ones. People who love the nation and stand up for the Constitution are not. I think Mr. Christie has had a conversion experience and needs to step aside. He is not worthy of our votes. Whether it is money-greed at the root of such sellouts, the desire to stay in power, or a simple extortion plot, we are in serious trouble. And we thought it couldn't get any worse? Stay tuned.

The Forces of Chaos

Remember Agent Maxwell Smart and his fight against the evil organization known as "CHAOS?" As silly as he was, it wasn't far from the truth. He followed CHAOS agents around and through his bumbling always managed to come out on top. His bumbling around was funny. Ours is not.

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12

The forces that have been at work in the absolute evil that is occurring in America right now are NOT divided. Let me say that again: satan's house is NOT divided. He has a plan, and that plan is to get the righteous people so angry, so filled with rage that they do stupid things. He's hoping we'll fall for his scheme. He's excited about it.

Whether it's the tide of islamic extremism, the actions of MrO, or the race-baiting, the hatred of Black vs White and vice versa, he's got us where he wants us: at each other's throats.This is not a flesh and blood battle- but it does involve flesh and blood people. Our weapons must be spiritual FIRST, and natural second. "When a well-armed man protects his house, his goods are safe." Luke 11:21 Sounds like my favorite 2nd amendment Scripture. But the next verse reminds me that I can't trust in my own strength: "But whan a man stronger than he comes upon him, and overcomes him, he takes from him all his weapons that he trusted in, and divides his spoils." (vs 22).

The fact is, that no matter how much we prepare in the natural (and we should), we must not forget the Lord, or that the forces of CHAOS- or the demonic realm- are just as real as the gun in our hands.People are used by those forces to create fear, confusion and anger. The Lord admonished us to "Be angry and sin not." Tough right now for many of my friends- we're ALL angry. We're tired of evil governments, we're tired of race baiting, and b.s.spread by liberals who don't know jack about anything they so freely talk about. And they are wrong headed, their ideas create the opposite of what they spout. We're sick of it. But we must not let the sun set on our anger. DAILY we must let that frustration and anger be lifted to the Cross and peace must come flooding back.

It's the heart where this battle will be won. We cannot become like them, the bitter, nasty people we see and hear all day long. Let's not allow our hearts to be fundamentally transformed into the same ilk as our opponents. Let's not let the media bias or any other avenue used by the enemy destroy who we are as a people. We are Americans. We are patriots. This is our country. Let's remember how to fight the battles: pulling down the anger in our own minds and hearts, and THEN fighting in the natural.

"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty though God to the pulling down of strongholds;" 2 Corinthians 10:4

If we don't hang together...

Benjamin Franklin once told his fellow colleagues that "We must indeed hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately." Problem is, in today's polarized world, we are literally being forced to turn on each other. We are so filled with anger that we can't seem to stand together on anything.

Whether it's the right or the left, there are those who literally demand that we believe certain things their way. Example from my life: I don't have to believe in the rampant killing of wolves just because they are wolves, but some on the right think I should. Liberals demand that I believe in never killing one. Wholesale slaughter of any wildlife is disgusting to me, whether it's a wolf or a wild horse. I believe in the right to hunt game animals for food. But trophy hunting is abhorrant to me. Killing for the sake of killing is a spirit of murder, no different than serial killers who kill for the thrill of watching the life drain out of someone. That's why I hate abortion- it's flat out murder. We must be balanced in what we believe in, or we will become that which we have worked so hard to stand against.

I will stand with even the most militant conservatives, many of whom are former military and know what they've sacrificed for freedom. I may not agree with everything they say, but I believe in them and will not turn against them because of intimidation from the left or the right. My Dad brought me up to walk against "peer pressure" and do what is right instead. I frankly don't care what people say to me, I will walk according to my beliefs. My view is decidedly Christian, so I believe in loving my enemy- but love does not mean condoning an action. Sometimes loves requires being held responsible. That goes for everything from a wayward kid who steals or uses drugs to a politician who tries to destroy our freedom. In this country, if we do not exercise our rights, we will lose them to people whose drive for power outweighs the rights that people like Ben Franklin fought so hard to give us. WE MUST hang together.

Too Young to Die

America is too young to die. Even the British (1497-1997) and Roman Empires lasted several centuries(27BC-467AD/610AD). As our founding fathers quarreled among themselves over the rights and promises needed for their fledgling nation, one common thread kept them on track: their background at the hands of a tyrannical government.

This nation was born in rebellion. Rebellion against dictators, against those who would crush the hopes and dreams of the people, against big government that refused the basic human rights of freedom, life, and the pursuit of happiness. It was born in rebellion against control by those who did not understand what it was like to be free. And as a nation of rebels at heart, we have a new fight ahead of us.

Is the sun rising over America, or is it setting? So many people have said we are dying. And as a conservative and a Christian I have to agree that it appears on the surface that we are being led down a path to destruction by those who do not care about our people or our values. But even in sunset there is hope for the sunrise. When any group of pro-abortionists can shout "Hail satan" at us in the midst of the singing of "Amazing Grace," it should be a huge red flag that the polarization of America has reached a fever pitch. It is time to act on our conscience. It is time to rise up and be counted. It is time to stand firm on what we know is the truth and not let intimidation by power hungry people shove us off the land. Because the sunrise is coming.

If we will push back. If we will refuse to be led down the path to oblivion, we will prevail against this tide of darkness. There are some sheep among us, but there are warriors too. We need those warriors now more than ever before in our history. The sunrise will come. And we will once again be free to shout "USA USA" in our schools. We will once again be free to worship the God of our forefathers. We will stand with our weapons, backing down the enemies of our nation. Yes, America is too young to die. Never give up. Let us all stand together, arm in arm, with weapons both natural and supernatural, believing in a bright future for tomorrow's America.

Thug Leadership

America is ruled by a gang of thugs. The media thugs, the White House thugs, the Congressional thugs (for them there are a handful of exceptions- a tiny handful of exceptions).

The media thugs are so far out of whack that they destroy people's lives simply at the thought of a story, even when that story is so old that is doesn't even qualify as a story anymore. Witness Paula Deen, for example. She's not perfect. She's a human being. So the media goes after her tooth and fang for being racist, while ignoring the seething hatred of others. As my friend Bobby Wilhelm says in his book Bobby Convict, School of Hard Knocks:"Even saying the term "Black race" is moronic, since we're all part of the same race - the human race."

We have a group of leadership thugs that care nothing about the citizens of the US- their "caring" is couched in lies, deceptions, selfish motives and personal agendas. They are not Americans at their core- obvious by their actions to date. Why there are ANY Americans who continue to follow them is mind-blowing. I think it's a cult mentality.

I watched a show last night on the ID network about cult murders. The common thread was that the people who both committed the murders and followed the leader were completely mesmerized. They couldn't think for themselves. Whatever he said sounded completely logical, even when he advocated murdering an entire family because they weren't "pure" in heart. AMERICA WAKE UP! Don't be a nation of sheep who blindly follow the thugs in leadership! Stand up and say NO! You can be for the poor, the downtrodden, the broken people of the country and still be against modern day pirates who want to destroy your lives. Don't let the thugs win!

The Horizon

The horizon for America appears bleak. The dark clouds of corruption, incompetance, division and hatred seem to shroud our nation. Our light grows ever dimmer with the loss of common sense and wisdom. Where once Statesman could speak wisely with foresight for all, now politicians speak foolishly with angst toward each other and our citizens. We wonder if the madness can be stopped. Like an out of control ship with no Captain, this ship of state shifts wildly toward the rocks. With no Lighthouse to guide her, the only result can be collision. The Republican party picks its own "good ol' boy" rank and file. They want only those who will move at their command rather than the fresh blood of those who see into the future. They seem to not see the same "handwriting on the wall" that spelled the destruction of King Belshazzar in the book of Daniel. The Democrats are so far gone into the liberal camp that they have become blinded. Judgment has already come to America in the consequences of dropping God from our schools, from our society, from everyday life. We murder the innocent daily in the abortion of children simply because our society has become inherently selfish. We call good evil and evil good. We think that disarming the people is the way to safety, when it is the very pathway to doom. Tyranny will stop at nothing to control its populace. Foreign influences chip away at the sovereignty of the United States. We listen to and believe lies rather than stand up for truth and freedom. Yes, the horizon for America is threatened. Can the Light return to our nation? You decide. Where will you stand?

No End in Sight

The entire US has gone wonky over the scandals breaking through the government. Even Conservatives are acting stupid.I guess you can call them conservatives, because I'm not convinced. Mitch McConnell has spent a lot of time telling us to calm down because the NSA program to scarf up meta data from sources is "legal." If I could look him in the eye, I'd say, "b.s., Mitch, whether it is or it's not, it's still a huge invasion of privacy. Let them look at YOUR meta data and see what it tells us." Oh, wait, I'm pretty sure they've already done that. Which is why he's talking, talking, talking, trying to dig himself out of some surveillance hole.

Meta Data is computer-speak for content information. Where was the information created (location of the computer), the purpose of the information, how was it created, who created it, and when. Personally I have no problem with targeting such data with probable cause behind it. I have a screaming LOUD objection to blanket dragnets for that information. Especially when the government is so deeply hostile to Christianity and Conservatives. They appear to be more interested in labeling us as dangerous while ignoring the danger from Islamic extremists. The mining of information from Tea-Party activists, conservatives, churches, etc instead of looking at the radical muslims among us is just plain stupid. It's no different than the FBI targeting Martin Luther King's activities in the 60's. Misplaced intentions are deadly. I have noted this morning that the ACLU has filed a lawsuit against the NSA- I say good for them. Sic 'em.

The concept of "Probable Cause" was written by our founding fathers because they knew that in the hands of a rogue government, people would begin to target political or religious opponents. They experienced it in England prior to coming to the United States. Without that check in place, a tyrannical government goes too far. It operates in total power and control rather than justice and liberty. Oh, and speaking of, I see this morning from a Conservative website that some producer is accusing Mr O of threatening Chelsea Clinton to make Bill Clinton back down from something he said. Doesn't surprise me. People who love their power can make all sorts of bad things happen in an attempt to keep that power. Even the left is not united, contrary to public views, as their "unity" is based on some self-serving agenda.

There appears to be no end in sight of the scandals, the out of control government garbage that keeps us all up at night. We only have one hope. His Name is above every other name, including Mr.O. Peace, safety, rest, and hope are found in Him. His Name is Jesus.

Privacy and Piracy

If you thought that the Somali pirates were the only pirates out there, you'd be wrong. Our government now takes YOUR private phone records from Verizon. (I doubt that's the only network involved, but that's just suspicious me). It is an indiscriminate power grab that affects the lives of every American. With your phone records they know where you are/were at any given moment. They know who you spoke to. They can track texts, looking for dirt in all the wrong places. This is what happens when the wrong people are in power. They look for ways to destroy those who oppose them. And they don't care how they do it! In the hands of good men, the Patriot Act would have been a tool to stop the terrorists. In the hands of evil, it becomes a danger to all Americans. Everyone should have seen it coming, but no one believed that our leadership would go that bad. Or that it could happen as quickly as it did. This isn't about scandal, this is about your right to privacy and safety. The "big brother" has already broken into the house! Lord, help us!

Scandals

So. Tom Brokaw thinks Abu Ghraib is worse than these lates crop of scandals, does he? He is so wrong it makes my hair frizz. The scandals of Benghazi, Fast and Furious, IRS, etc affect the entire nation. They strike at the very fabric of America. It's not just our freedom being attacked, it's the people themselves. Targeting political rivals is a tactic of dictators. Attempts to disarm the populace is a tactic of dictators. Calling kind-hearted, responsible people evil and dangerous is a tactic of dictators. And though I have always admired Tom Brokaw, he is spreading propoganda. Maybe we should call the media our "Tokyo Rose journalists."

Did you know that Nero was so afraid of Christians that he took one of their own beliefs- the communion- and turned it against them in the public view? He spread the lie that because Christians "drank blood and ate flesh" they should die. Thousands of Christian died horrific deaths because of that lie spread by a maniac.

America absolutely must wake up. The doomsdayers forget that God has a role in our lives, so they aren't entirely correct in their prophecies of destruction, but they are correct in that as a people we MUST stand firm against the foolishness around us. Overwhelming debt, out of control government, all of these things work together to destroy our way of life. It's not about being conservative or liberal, it's about losing the very foundation of all that we have known as Americans. Debt kills. Lies kill. Demand that the government stop the madness.

Memorial Day

Our son has been in the Army National Guard for some years now. We are extremely proud of his service to our nation. While his tour of duty in Iraq was a little nerve-wracking, SKYPE helped us through it until he came home safe and sound 1 year later. Not everyone has been so lucky. I deeply value our men and women in uniform- whether military, police or fire. They put their lives on the line every day. And they do it because they want to. They get tired just like we do. They are often frustrated and constrained. They lose friends and are grieved. They are afraid but rise up and move ahead. On occasion, someone will break down and need help. They are human, after all. And yet, they continue to stand between us and the bad guys every chance they get. They live with memories that would destroy most of us. Row upon row of white headstones bear the names of those who have died in the name of freedom. Memorial plaques and walls across the nation show forth the sacrifices of our sons and daughters, our grandfathers and grandmothers, our husbands and wives. Whether that sacrifice was on foreign soil or native soil, we owe them our gratitude, our respect, our compassion. God bless them.

Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?

As the revelations about big government scandals continue to roll out, one fellow blogger's post this morning hit home. It's not just the left wing Democrats being in charge that is the problem: it's BIG GOVERNMENT in whatever form that takes. We can't just trust that if Obama were gone, the Republicans would do better. It totally depends on who those Republicans are and whether or not they are in favor of big government.If they are, things would still not change for the better.

Traditionally, the Republican party has been the one who stands for LIMITED government. But as this entire big government trend plays before us, even some Republicans have condoned, supported, participated in, and pushed for government widening its control over the American people.

There's an old horror movie from back in 1962 called "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane," starring Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. It was about an older sister who tormented her baby sister, a former child actor. That scenario is occurring in America today. Our history is like that child actor- our current situation like the tormentor. Our congress, our WH, our very fabric is being torn apart- tormented, if you will- by our own people. We are systematically being destroyed from within, not to mention the jihad from without.

Hearing that our government actually targeted AP news agency, nonprofits -me too, by the way, but I was too small o' Idaho potatoes for them to pursue- tea party, churches, and allowed the murders of foreign embassy staff is just the tip of the iceberg of what big government does. Overweight, fat sloppy government torments its people. All we can pray for is that Americans will be shocked and dismayed at the scandals and find the courage to say no to the encroachment of the government in their lives. Let's stop that older sibling from tormenting all of us!

"State" Control

One morning a few years back we all woke up to the kind of "change" that would cause our Founding Fathers to roll over in their graves. But even worse, America rapidly became "state controlled." In the cold war, Communist Countries actively and viciously controlled what people heard on the television. When I visited a "Young Pioneer" youth camp as a high school student, I was appalled to learn that the children of Communist countries never knew what America knew: they were completely under both the mind and body control of their government. Removed from the custody of their parents by the "state" because the government didn't trust the parents, they grew up in a conformist paradise that destroyed individual freedom. Free thought was twisted. New ideas were discouraged unless they fell in line with the government's position. Their press was rigidly encompassed by a fence as real as the fields of land mines surrounding their countries. In the current headlines we find harbingers of the same government control. We have a cover up at a tragedy in Benghazi in which everyone is so busy covering their butts that no one cared a fig for the precious souls lost in that attack. We have an IRS that deliberately targeted political opponents for evil intent and a President who pretends not to know anything about it. The words "pausible deniability" come to mind. In short, I don't believe him. We have the DHS buying up ammunition in a massive effort to control guns and the congress desperately trying to destroy the ability of the people to own them. Then there's the Justice Department confiscating files of the Associated Press- which means that the words "free press" have been obfuscated by a government bent on bringing about the wrong kind of "change" to the nation. We are not only headed in the wrong direction, it's one that will ultimately bring about a division that may not be reversible. When good people rule a nation, it thrives. When evil people rule (or sit around thinking up new ways to control it), darkness floods the lives of the citizenry. As long as most of America remains in deception, believing the lies perpetuated by the government, we are all in jeopardy. I still believe that the vast majority of our military and law enforcement are good people with good intentions. I still believe that the values that made us a great nation are the foundation of our future and hope for our present. But take heed, America, vigilance, prayer, and faith are required to preserve us from this "state" control.

When Every Thought's a Prayer

One of the things I've noted over the years is that our thought life can run amok in the midst of serious situations. You know those, like a government that is desperately trying to destroy the bill of rights by subterfuge..that sort of thing.

When Paul told us to "pray without ceasing," (1 Thess 5:17) I have always maintained that he was talking about staying in constant communication with the Lord. That does NOT mean running off to the prayer closet every time something happens. It means we train our thoughts to become prayers and stay in touch at all times.

There have been some scary moments in my life, and some discouraging ones. In each of those things I am driven to change my thought process so that it allows the Lord to be close at all times. We shouldn't have to work ourselves up into a "spiritual place"- because Jesus already gave us access. We have access by training our thoughts.

In that place, we can know the mind of Christ. In that place we can see truth..which, considering our current situation in America, can cause us some anxiety. But also in that place we can feel and sense His heart. In case you think I do it right all the time, I don't. But when I do stay in contact with Him, things are easier to handle. We probably will never totally "pray without ceasing" while we live on the earth, but we can train ourselves to get as close as possible. The way things are going out there, such an ability might just save our lives in more ways than one!

Strength of Character

It's tough for some Christians and/or Conservatives to read and watch the news without freaking out over the current state of America. Let's just say it's the "calling good evil and evil good" syndrome.It breeds fear and anger, and we must find the strength to confront it.

This morning on Twitter, one gentleman wrote that if someone voted for slavery then they shouldn't expect a patriot to spill his blood over them. I say to all of you- a true patriot will "spill his blood" over anyone because that's who they are. Our troops do it all the time. They die in wars fought over people who wouldn't do the same for them. It's what makes America different than others. Our first responders do it all the time as well- standing in the place of the citizens, dying to keep them safe. Do we have that character and strength?

One day when I was being fitted for my first police uniform, word came that a police officer had been murdered while on a traffic stop in a nearby community. When they gave his name, it shook me to my core: it was a young man that I had gone to high school with. A friend. I went to the funeral with safety pins all up and down my legs, which required me to stand for the entire service. And stand I did, vowing that when tragedy strikes, my response must be running toward it, not away from it.

All of us must find the inner strength to see the problem and move toward it. Whether it is prayer over the sad situation in our nation, or a real disaster that requires us to do something physically. And in all of that we must find wisdom. I see rampant rumors and conspiracy theories spread across the internet...none of which exhibit the kind of wisdom and calm response that we all must have in order to combat the growing darkness in America. As a friend of mine once put it, "believe no one, take everything to the Lord first."

Isaiah 60 states that gross darkness will cover the earth. It's already here. But if we want our light to shine in that darkness, strength of faith, strength of character, strength of love must be our rallying point. Will you be willing? Willing to allow that strength of character to be built in your life? Or will we all fold up into a ball of hatred, anger, and bitterness over the way things are unfolding before us? You choose.

Tragedy and Triumph

Last night, I grieved over a 26 year old security officer who sat innocently in his patrol vehicle as he was "assassinated" by a terrorist. He was totally unaware of impending death. The news reporter said that all he had ever wanted to be was a cop. Having worked with many police officers over the years, the whole thing bothered me greatly. The young man got out of bed, dressed for work, not having any idea that it was his last day on earth. I imagine him pinning his MIT badge on his uniform as he looked in the mirror, then reaching up to straighten his tucked in uniform shirt. It was the last time he would ever do that.

While watching the coverage of the Watertown incident, I ran through the entire Boston bombings and ensuing week's events in my head. Policemen, firemen, EMTS, and civilians fighting to save the lives of those around them in the midst of the chaos of bomb blasts. Police being attacked by explosives as they chased suspects through the streets. And finally a quick phone call by a citizen who amazingly survived after checking his boat and seeing the last suspect...a phone call that caused the entire world to descend on a quiet neighborhood in Massachussetts. The adrenalin, the intensity,the horror, the tragedy and the triumph all rolled into one week.

One thing remains paramount for all of America at this juncture in history: we must work together as well as law enforcement did last night. We must stop polarizing our nation by personal wants and desires,or the need for power and control, and remember that only unity works against evil. We must understand that we have enemies that will stop at nothing to destroy us. America was shaken by the incident in Boston, but it did not destroy us only because the people rose up and refused to be defeated. Cops fought, people fought, and through the tragedy of person loss and broken hearts, they managed to stand hand in hand. We must stand hand in hand as a nation or our enemies win.

Tomorrow's showdown

So word has it that Thursday April 11, is the big day when Congress blasts through new gun control legislation to "Fix" what's "wrong" with gun availability in America. And many Republicans are set to vote for it mostly because they are intimidated by the media and deceived by gun control advocates.

First, I am extremely aware that gun violence is real. I've read enough books and seen enough media controlled TV to understand that America is chock full of wackos. The issue here isn't that there is gun violence, but what CAUSES gun violence? The current crop of gun legislation is like handing an aspirin to a sick person. It treats the symptom for a while (until they take too many and get a brain bleed- speaking from personal experience).

Violence is a symptom of a society in desperate need of help. As fear of the crazy people grows, so too will the desire to restrict, limit, and contain law abiding citizens. Symptoms, not causes. Fear, not faith.

This blog was created because I told everyone that what is unseen influences what is seen with the eyes. Bad guys don't obey laws. Crazy people can't think like "normal" people. The symptom is violence, the cause is a society that hates God and has allowed a different crop of spirits to run it. Selfish, self-centered, without conscience, all of those things breed violence. We've put it on television, in movies, in music, in books, and on video games. We don't spend time with our kids to help them understand such things; we shove them in a corner with their earphones and let them fend for themselves because we're too busy or plain selfish to care. We murder babies by the thousands every day because we're too self-centered to take the time to deal with a child. Hey, it interferes with our lives. So if you're wondering why all the violence? It's by design, the design of the forces of evil. And it's only going to get worse until we repent and change our ways of thinking. Get a clue, America!

Weeble Wobble and Nanny Government

One of the most glaring problems with the current leadership of the world and the United States is their continual use of what I call "weeble wobble" in both treaties and legislation. Whoever the attorneys are that come up with this junk are masters at making something sound like something it's not.
Let's take the UN ARms Treaty for an example: The language seems so logical- regulating the trafficking of tanks, and big monster weapons across country borders. But when it gets to "small arms," suddenly the language goes all weeble wobble. It leaves it open for "interpretation," which means that unscrupulous people who could give a rip less about the Bill of Rights can twist the wording for their own agenda. And with the current crop of liberals who don't have a flippin' clue about what an "assault weapon" really is, that's dangerous.
Make no mistake: this government wants us disarmed and powerless. My dad, an avid gun collector, told me many times growing up that governments run by evil men always try to disarm the populace, and take away property rights. Why? Because citizens who own property and guns have strength. Take those two things away and they have none.
Another example is Obamacare. Hidden taxes, exhorbitant costs, secret things written as weeble wobble within a giant document that no one bothered to read before passage.
A government run by good men sees the value of a strong populace and strives to create an atmosphere where the people can flourish and hold personal responsibility. Without personal responsibility, the people can't thrive. When a government looks like it's thriving rather than its people, it becomes unwieldly and top heavy...ultimately it is destined to fall over like that big statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad.
A government run by evil becomes a bunch of control freak nannies. They use legislation to have power over the people, removing all semblance of personal responsibility. They use weeble wobble language to create a climate of worry rather than one of faith and hope. You can't do this, you can't eat this, you can't blah blah blah, so we have to "control you because you're all stupid." Unfortunately it is past annoying; it creates a nation of sheep who can't think for themselves. And that's what evil likes to do: give their minions power over us. Let's not allow the weeble wobble to create any more nanny government!

Love Covers

Since several of my friends have asked me, I'm going to tackle the current hot button issue in America. No one has ever accused me of being a "hater" because anyone who knows me understands that I love people regardless of who they are. I have always treated all people the same- with respect and love. We should all do that. Jesus commanded us to love, and was pretty emphatic that hatred and disrespect are unacceptable, no matter whether the people are gay, Muslim, Buddhist, pink, purple, or orange. A judgmental attitude does not bring people closer to God, it actually pushes them away. If we push them away, their eternal souls are in jeopardy and it will be our fault for being jerks.
BUT- there is another issue: God's heart. His Word tells us that the gay lifestyle is not what He planned for humanity. We have it because people have hardened their hearts and minds against the Lord. He didn't make a "mistake" when He created people of one gender or another. Everyone has a God-given purpose, a place in His heart. I feel for people who have been hurt by their parents or become confused by society. They simply do not know how much they are loved by the Creator of the Universe. That's our fault for removing the Presence of God from our society. So can we fix it? Not without a move of the Holy Spirit- which is the only way a leopard can change its spots.
Many years ago, one of my co-workers decided to change his gender. It completely freaked out our colleagues, who suddenly became hostile. They Bible-thumped him continually- which only ingrained his hostility. They did it out of FEAR, by the way. Had they operated in love instead of fear, who knows what could have happened?
I did not do that, and I advised my employees to keep their mouths shut and not be disrespectful. They didn't have to condone his action, but they were told to keep their judgments to themselves. In my spirit I felt nothing but terror for him because he basically told God that He made a mistake. So in spite of the fact that he didn't care for me as a person, I treated him with respect and love. When he left our department, "she" gave me a rose in a vase and told me thank you. She also sent me messages that told me his/her heart had been crushed by the animosity of people she had worked with for many years. She put a small plaque on my desk that said "Dear God, there is nothing that happens today that You and I can't handle." While his/her life had been turned upside down by the decision, I could feel the pain in her heart from the turmoil. Caring means feeling the pain of others, and being gentle in the way we handle it. Yes, we can talk about the Word of God, but the WAY we do it, needs to be directly from God, not our personal attitudes.
When we all as Christians begin to operate in love, when we seek the Face of God in every instance, we can change the world one person at a time. No, I do NOT believe that same sex marriage should be the law of the land. I believe that's a mistake in the overall scheme of things. But love covers. It softens hardened hearts. It breeds friendship and hope. And it changes lives.

Courage

"The time to guard against corruption and tyranny is before they have gotten ahold of us. It is better to keep the wolf out of the fold than to trust to drawing his teeth and talons after he shall have entered." Thomas Jefferson 1743-1826.
I believe the wolves have already created their "pack" and are attempting to destroy the flock. Thomas Jefferson was no dummy, and neither were most of our "founding fathers." They didn't always get along, but they were able to unite against the King of England and fight to be free. They all had a sense of duty to the people of their fledgling nation. That duty is sadly missing today. Not only is the duty missing, so is the honesty and integrity they so strongly portrayed by their actions. And take note, Mr. O, they were by and large Christian in character and practice.
The King of England tried to stamp out liberty and dictate every portion of the lives of the people.Their taxes were out of sight expensive for the day, and there were no representatives to stand up for their ivelihood. (The infamous "Boston Tea Party.") They came to the shores of America to be free to worship, to be free of governmental interference. They knew they would have to fight to win those rights. And fight they did. Jefferson once noted that "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God."
An ancestor of mine, Captain Alexander Harper, (brother to Colonel John Harper of Harper's Ferry fame), ended up in an Indian camp as a prisoner during the Revolutionary War. For 3 years he endured difficulties we cannot imagine. Until one day, he was given the chance to go through a gauntlet. A gauntlet allowed the Indians to hit him with tomahawks, rocks, and any other thing until he bled profusely from every portion of his body. He survived.And by his very survival, he won his freedom. He exhibited courage, the will to fight in spite of his circumstances. He could have given up, but he did not.And the Natives honored his courage with freedom.
We must elect men and women of solid character. We must stop electing fools and wolves whose only purpose is to greedily seek power and control over us. We must gather the courage to stand against the assaults on our freedoms by people who do not value the Constitution nor the men who wrote it. It is not an irrelevant document, and neither is the Bible. "The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time." (Also Thomas Jefferson). It takes true courage to stand against the tide of media scrutiny, against the sarcastic and evil comments of legislators who seem to enjoy talking into microphones without wisdom, against the loud and obnoxious screeching of people who know nothing of what they are talking about. It is those demonic powers we must defeat with courage and fortitude.

Conservatives? What Conservatives?

At this writing, a vote was taken in the House of Representatives on a "continuing resolution." If conservatives had voted against it, Obamacare would have been essentially defunded. They didn't. They passed it. Only 16 representatives voted against the resolution,and Idaho's rep was not among them. (Which gives me a headache). Apparently we have forgotten that every vote has repercussions like the ripples on water. Obamacare has repercussions across the board, all because no one bothered to read the entire bill before passage. And now we are stuck with it. My pocket book will suffer, as will yours, you just don't realize it yet. Obamacare contains more than "healthcare" -- it has several sections that affect the lives of every American on every level of their lives.
So let me explain what a "conservative" should be- not what the media says. A Conservative should be someone who values America and our personal liberty above reliance on the government or interference by the government. They should be strong advocates of the entire Constitution and Bill of Rights. They should be individually responsible for their actions, not desire free handouts from either the government or private concerns. Responsibility should be at the core of their belief structure.
They should be strongly in favor of the right to keep and bear arms, understanding that any legislation that tries to regulate "illegal firearms" will result in removal of firearms from those who obey the law, not criminals. The original intent of this right was to prevent tyranny of the government. Criminals do not obey laws, but for some reason our leadership seems to think they'll just cave in and do it. Not.
A Conservative should be fiscally responsible, and not a free spender of the taxpayer's money.
A Conservative should be aware of the Christian roots of America, and understand that freedom to exercise religious beliefs is part of our foundation. The demand that we remove all religious things (especially Christian ones) from our life is a twisted and unconscionable attack on freedom.
A Conservative should be wise enough to see the truth about the issues, and compassionate enough to see the needs of the people. Black, White, Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, whoever, they should see the hearts, not cave in to the principle of entitlement. They should see protection of America as the first rule of government. They should be able to ferret out lies by our enemies, and lies by our own leadership. Rather than be powerless against such lies, they should have the guts to stand up and be the David's against the Goliaths. So where are the conservatives?

Unsolicited Comments on the News

1. Nanci Pelosi has been quoted as telling the press that the government "doesn't have a spending problem." Sure, Nancy. No spending problem. Right. If it's not spending, what is it? Creative bookkeeping? That's illegal in the corporate world, by the way. We've added trillions of dollars to the national debt. We've given away millions to companies in the name of "green jobs" that have only produced a few positions, and many of those companies went out of business anyway. The government gives and gives to people who don't produce. It attacks and belittles those who do. Backwards, if you ask me. "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil." Bible quote. Yeah yeah, I know, even using that kind of quote makes ME a target. Bite me. 2. Pope Benedict resigned as of Feb 28 from his post due to physical concerns. Anyone who has ever been in any kind of ministry knows the heartache of having to pack it in, regardless of the reason. Especially the guy who has been in charge of the largest denomination in the world. I can't imagine his brokenness. I feel bad for him. It has to hurt his heart deeply. 3. Diane Feinstein is not very smart. She recently told Californians to lay down their weapons. What, does she think gangbangers, terrorists, and others will do that? The only people who would do that are "sheeple," as one of my friends put it. The Bill of Rights is the main reason that America is free. Without it, we would be just another still developing nation. It is because of those rights (privileges)that we have been able to maintain our freedoms in spite of world trends and pervasive stupidities. Our current leadership is completely oblivious to the needs of America. They have set us up for a huge destructive crash- not just economically, but ideologically. When a nation is as divided as we are right now, there is only one ultimate outcome- I'll leave it to you to decide what that outcome will be.

Just Guns

The media infuriates me when they get on their anti-gun rants. I have to change the channel. They can't seem to understand that people who commit mass murder are NOT NORMAL PEOPLE! They have no place for conscience...and therein lies the issue. The Obama administration and the media are bent on gun control measures which are aimed at the wrong groups. 1. I agree that mentally ill people should not get guns. They should never have had guns. Rap sheets of bad guys are created from fingerprints and placed in the Federal databse from them. Do we start fingerprinting mentally ill people? What about HIPAA regulations? The government mandates that no one gets access to medical information but the person involved. So how do they suspend those rules? And how do they give anyone access to privileged information to block a gun sale? They do it by making blanket assumptions and removing the freedoms of all Americans.But not because they have to...because they have been planning this for a long time. 2. I read a blog that stated emphatically that this leadership would never get gun control through Congress. I beg to differ. They'll easily win because they cheat- they use Executive Order rather than a vote by legislative body. They suspend all rights to get their agendas through. They do not care about the loss of gun privileges because they can't see past the end of their noses. Much legislation is driven by the media and what happens in the nation. It shouldn't be that way, but it often is. Of course we are all devastated by Newtown CT- it was horrifying. We're "normal people" with a deep moral fiber. However, the person who perpetrated that evil was not normal. Neither was the dude in Aurora, CO. But were they on the radar of social workers and psychiatrists or psychologists? I wonder if they did-- and who kept their mouths shut when a problem showed itself prior to the incident. There are conspiracy theories all over the internet about the relatives of the victims being witnesses against the government in various hearings.Should we believe them? Is this a plan of the ages, a long standing conspiracy of demonic powers? Do we need to monitor the internet like "Big Brother" and find everyone that has a little website somewhere to talk about their evil plans? Should we suspend our freedom of speech, as well as out rights to bear arms? I'll leave that to you to figure out. But banning the so-called "assault weapon" is not the answer, especially since about 99% of the government has no clue what they even are...witness their stupid handling of the gun running operation called "Fast and Furious." This administration won't care, so buck up and decide how you will respond when they come to your door to take away those weapons. And then you will go down as another nut case crazy-assed right winger of the same ilk as Ted Kazinski or Randy Weaver. Just remember to duck.

A Fine and Pleasant Misery

Patrick McManus is a North Idaho author with a twisted sense of humor. His title, "A Fine and Pleasant Misery" seems to reflect just how I feel this morning when I think about America. It's miserable, but I love her. When I reflect on all the fireworks displays from the New Year celebrations (including the neighbors who drive me nuts with all the noise), it's bittersweet to my heart. America is the best country in the world, and in spite of the intents of people to destroy her she has previously weathered them with grace. The attempts by groups to re-write history, the constant barrage of anti-prayer, anti-Christian,anti-everything that matters, the politically correct garbage spewed by different groups...all of these things seek to destroy the foundations of liberty. Jealousy is what drives their penchant to destroy us. We must find a way to stand against these things in a spirit of love and reconcilation, even if it costs us our lives. When the members of Congress fail to stand up for their heart values, it becomes a disease that rapidly kills the strength of the people. When groups such as the Daughters of the American Revolution can't stand for the truth of their own heritage, they don't deserve to be called Daughters of the American Revolution.We should stand for our values with love and purity of heart, but we should not be wishy washy in our beliefs. "Weakness" is not where we are supposed to stand... "meekness" is God's command. There is a significant difference between those two words. I hope that in 2013 the American people will find their guts. Gun control, taxes, the constant imposition of the government on our lives, all chip away at our freedom and our future. America is wonderful. Let's save her!