Friday Thoughts

 We see articles practically everywhere, warning that BLM/Antifa/whomever plans to have riots, arson, looting, and mayhem across the nation to "protest the election". Regardless of who wins, it would seem.

What they mean is, they intend to tear the USA down so that Communism can rise in its stead.

Alrighty, then.

It's Upon Us Now

The Time Is Now

A decade or so ago, I wrote a piece entitled “Righting the Wrongs”, publishing it here and on another blog. The response was ... well, underwhelming. The lack of comments at the time made me think that it did not inspire many folks.

I republished it a couple of years later, and received a much greater response.

Regarding the elections in 2008, 2012, and 2016, I preached, cajoled, and practically begged folks to think – think! – about who (and what) they were voting for – and then about what they had received.

But none of that matters now. 

I’ve said all that to say this: ladies and gentlemen, we are being raped. Viciously, maliciously, and with great pleasure by those in the government whose goal is the pure-and-simple gathering of power and control. They don’t care what they have to say, what lies they must tell, what lands they must grab, or what new (and usually unconstitutional) laws and regulations they pass.

It’s all about gaining power and control – and then keeping it. And it’s obvious now that the progressive crew in D.C. is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve that goal.

If you think not, remember that Bobby Francis O'Rourke literally just said, "Hell yes, we're going to take away your AR-15" to thunderous applause.

In the last few years, the vast silent majority has awakened, and risen up like some colossus of old. We have carried signs, written letters, sent e-mails, run ads, and made phone calls until the very switchboards in the Nation’s capital have overheated and shut down.

Did it do any good? Any number of radical, "Progressive" gun registration/confiscation bills have been silently pulled and put away for a later date.

The bad news is, now appears to be that later date.

So, my blogger friends, we have battled, persuaded, cajoled, argued, and typed our fingers sore, and have we convinced any? Sure we have … but not enough. Not enough.

So what more can we do?

If you’re of a Christian persuasion, I’m sure you’ve been praying, right? Right? Even if you’re not, I’ll bet some of you have been praying anyway.

But it comes down to trusting in God – however you approach Him – and not in ourselves. With His help, we are MIGHTY. Even if we can’t see what He’s doing, we have the assurance that He is involved, and will not let His people down.

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

“But Reverend Paul," (you may ask), "isn’t there something else we can do?”

I’m glad you asked. Alan Caruba wrote a piece for “Insight on Freedom” (sadly, no longer available) which compared our times with those of the mid-1770s, leading up to Lexington and Concord.

Are we at the point of civil disobedience? Some think so, and there have been sporadic outbreaks of that. And didn’t the progressive crowd huddle together and bleat for a cessation? Yes, just those few incidents got their attention. But then they gathered themselves and carried on, harder and faster than before.

So what, then? Armed rebellion? Please, God, no; that time is not yet (and I hope it does NOT come) although I dare say it’s a darn sight closer than any of us thought it would ever be, in our times. In fact, I will predict right now that if gun confiscation begins in earnest, there WILL be a civil war. And the gun owners (civilians, not paid thugs) will win.

Let me repeat that: we will win. But it will be messy, bloody, and too horrible to contemplate here.

Stand your ground, my friends. Refuse to back up another inch. As is stated in the header over at Western Rifle Shooters, “Do not give in to Evil, but proceed ever more boldly against it.”

They can only take that which you allow them to take. They know we outnumber them, but for decades they have managed to lull most of us to sleep. And today, we're told, they will probably pass a bill in the House to more-or-less trick the Puerto Ricans into voting for Statehood, which those folks have always opposed in the past. This will garner some 4 million voters who will be eligible for welfare and other forms of Big Government largesse, as well as putting two more Senators and six Representatives on Capitol Hill.

And don't you just know which party those will belong to?

Well, no more.

Get active, stay involved, and DO NOT BACK DOWN. They are trying to steal your freedom, folks, and have managed to get most of the way there.

No more.

It’s time to take this Nation back from those who have unlawfully usurped authority. It is they who are "clinging bitterly" to the reins of power, defying all who rise up in opposition.

Take it back; it’s yours to win or lose. But now; get involved now, because we're running out of time. Get involved at your level, city, county or state, but make it count. Let your voices be heard; insist on changes that are Constitutionally-sound and aimed at making things right.

Remember that power flows upward, from the people to their representatives in government. In fact, insist on it. Remind your local officials, who tend to be more responsive, that there's an election soon. Make sure they hear that message, loud and clear.

We've been asleep - and that's our fault. But we won't be, anymore. We know what America is supposed to be, and we insist that it be restored. No more nanny-statist, power-grabbing politics.

NO MORE.

This is Why We Home-Schooled Our Daughters

This is precisely what is being taught to America's youth today.

Orcas Fight Back

In the Bering Sea, near the edge the continental shelf, fishermen are trying to escape a predator that seems to outwit them at every turn, stripping their fishing lines and lurking behind their vessels.

 

The predators are pods of killer whales chasing down the halibut and black cod caught by longline fishermen. Fishermen say the whales are becoming a common sight — and problem — in recent years, as they've gone from an occasional pest to apparently targeting the fishermen's lines.

Fishermen say they can harvest 20,000 to 30,000 pounds of halibut in a single day, only to harvest next to nothing the next when a pod of killer whales recognizes their boat. The hooks will be stripped clean, longtime Bering Sea longliner Jay Hebert said in a phone interview this week.

Click on the link to see the video and read the rest of the article.

The Plan of the Day: Axe-Wielding Man Edition

My days, especially the mornings, are fairly routine.

1. Check the mail.
2. Open and process invoices and payments.
3. Check e-mail.
4. Check HVAC settings.

Things like that. But then, every once in awhile, Life throws us a curve-ball.

Today's list included:

   14. Talk down the angry, belligerent homeless man with a double-bitted hatchet*.

Fortunately, I was able to enlist the help of a guy who bench-presses small cars for fun. That didn't hurt. And did I mention it took the police nearly an hour to show up? I called them 15 or 20 minutes before confronting the homeless guy, and he'd been gone for 8 or 10 minutes when they came to see me.

I wonder if it's too late for a career change?



* Seriously, it had large blades and an 18" handle; was nearly a small axe.

The American Character: An Important Question

The American who emerges from these pages is already - as St. John de Crevecoeur wrote at the time - a new man. He is independent; he is impatient of discipline; he hopelessly mixes up military, economic and social activities. He is equalitarian, and has little patience with those who claim to be his superiors. He is ambitious and avaricious, and much given to speculation and to getting ahead. He is literate, takes an active part in the business of politics, and carries into camp the habits of self-government. He does not like fighting for its own sake, but fights well when he has to; he has little use for the military hierarchy, and bucks like a colt against taking orders.

He is ingenious and practical; prefers a stone wall to an open field, and a timely retreat to a foolhardy advance. He is young and tough, survives hardships and diseases that would wipe out his more vulnerable descendants; he lives simply and unaffectedly. He is on the whole cheerful and good-humored, decent and honest; commits few crimes against person (unless they are Indians [native Americans in this context - Ed.]) and, unless our sources deceive us by prudish silence, has a relatively high standard of sexual morality. He is vaguely religious, and already certain that there is a benign Providence whose chief concern is with him and his country.

~ Introduction, The Spirit of 'Seventy-Six, Commager and Morris, referring to writings, letters and pamphlets of the pre-Revolutionary War period.

Remarkably similar, in many respects, to contemporary conservative Americans, although an unbiased observer might also note that they were ahead of us in a couple of areas. Certainly they endured hardship that most of us would not like to face.

They were also familiar with the classic writings, popular during the Age of Enlightenment, about
life, liberty (the real thing, not the cliche' that it has become in modern parlance), and self-governance. Those who were paying attention weren't about to endure any further depredation from a distant king.

They resolved that the interference from an uncaring, nearly-foreign government was insufferable, and that they would do whatever it took, to remove the shackles (as they perceived them) and govern themselves.

Meanwhile, in 21st Century America, many of the sheeple don't even realize they're carrying a ponderous chain of restrictions, with links forged little by little, over a long period of time (and with apologies to Charles Dickens for the inevitable comparison).

We have a chance, perhaps just this one last chance, to cast some of the weight off, and turn some things around. As with any great undertaking, it will take resolve, and strength of character. And it won't happen all at once. There will likely be push-back from the entitlement class, as well as government workers who feel their high-paying jobs are threatened.

What say you?

Wild Bill: The American Redoubt

What Does Jesus Teach About Violence?

One of the most revolutionary of Jesus’ teachings is that human violence begins in a deeper place. The sin of violence has already begun before blood is spilled or words wound. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said: “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.” (Matt. 5.21-22).

We cannot talk about murder without talking about rage. We cannot talk about shootings in schools and movie theaters without talking about the infections of hatred, malice, and anger in our culture.
And then there is this important teaching, again from the Sermon on the Mount:

“Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, ‘Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them…. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person’ (Mark 7.14-23).

Here is the bad news of the human condition: violence—like all sin—comes out of the human heart. Adultery is not caused externally by someone else’s good looks, greed is not caused externally by money, envy is not caused externally by Mercedes dealerships, and violence is not caused externally by video games or movies. External stimuli certainly affect people, and deep psychological wounding certainly conditions people, and a culture of violence gives permission to be violent, or to be desensitized, but the instinct and choice to act out in violence comes out of the heart.

Jesus encourages us to live bravely in the face of violence.

Jesus clearly taught that the world is a sinful and violent place. But he challenged his followers not to live in fear and trepidation: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (Matt. 10.28). He also said: “I have told you all this so that you may find peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but be brave: I have conquered the world” (John 16.33).

Source here.

The Twilight Zone

Not this:

but this:

What's Going to Happen Next?

I get asked that question more frequently than you might think. Watching the news reports - assuming you can find one you trust to be reasonably accurate - can leave an intelligent person curled in a fetal position, wondering when it will all be over.

Jesus' followers asked Him the same question, although for slightly different reasons. Let me set the scene for you:

a) Israel was occupied by Roman troops, which were everywhere;

b) The Romans allowed the Jews the illusion of self-rule, but only the religious council - and they only had authority in spiritual matters; political guidance came from Rome; and

c) Many Jews were agitated by the Roman occupation, and wanted to mount a revolt for Israel's freedom - especially the Zealot movement, which could be loosely compared to the III% movement of today.

From the book of Matthew, chapter 24 –

Jesus then left the Temple. As he walked away, his disciples pointed out how very impressive the Temple architecture was. Jesus said, "You're not impressed by all this sheer size, are you? The truth of the matter is that there's not a stone in that building that is not going to end up in a pile of rubble." 

Later as he was sitting on Mount Olives, his disciples approached and asked him, "Tell us, when are these things going to happen? What will be the sign of your coming, that the time's up?" 

Jesus said, "Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities, claiming, 'I am The Anointed One, the Messiah.' They will deceive a lot of people. When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don't panic. This is routine history; this is no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. This is nothing compared to what is coming.

(Leaders with forged identities, called "The One"? Nah, couldn't be.)

"They are going to throw you to the wolves and kill you, everyone hating you because you carry my name. And then, going from bad to worse, it will be dog-eat-dog, everyone at each other's throat, everyone hating each other. In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people. For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in—nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes.

Christians being put to death, around the world? Check. Overwhelming spread of evil? Check. People hating Christians and Christianity? Check. Lying preachers, deceivers? Check. People at each other's throats? Check. People hating anyone and everyone? Check.

"Staying with it—that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved. All during this time, the good news—the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come. 

~ snip ~

"If anyone tries to flag you down, calling out, 'Here's the Messiah!' or points, 'There he is!' don't fall for it. Fake Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up everywhere. Their impressive credentials and dazzling performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better. But I've given you fair warning. 

"So if they say, 'Run to the country and see him arrive!' or, 'Quick, get downtown, see him come!' don't give them the time of day. The arrival of the Son of Man* isn't something you go to see. He comes like swift lightning to you! Whenever you see crowds gathering, think of carrion vultures circling, moving in, hovering over a rotting carcass. You can be quite sure that it's not the living Son of Man pulling in those crowds.

~ snip ~

"Then, the arrival of the Son of Man! It will fill the skies—no one will miss it.

Cable/satellite TV broadcasts? Probably.

"Unready people all over the world, outsiders to the splendor and power, will raise a huge lament as they watch the Son of Man blazing out of heaven. At that same moment, he'll dispatch his angels with a trumpet-blast summons, pulling in God's chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole.

Again, he's promising a world-wide audience, presumably watching a "live" broadcast. But for all I know, he may be talking about the event being visible everywhere at once. How? How should I know? A god so small that I could figure out his methods wouldn't be worth serving.

"Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer's just around the corner. So it is with you: When you see all these things, you'll know he's at the door. Don't take this lightly. I'm not just saying this for some future generation, but for all of you. This age continues until all these things take place. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out.

"But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows. The arrival of the Son of Man will take place in times like Noah's. Before the great flood everyone was carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ark. They knew nothing—until the flood hit and swept everything away.

"The Son of Man's arrival will be like that..."

* * * * *

So are we in the end times? Yes, I believe we are entering the times Jesus described as "the beginning of sorrows" in the King James translation (the version most folks are familiar with). But, he added, "the end is not yet."

It's not over yet, folks, not by a long shot. Don't give up; I believe there's still time to pull America back from the brink of whatever it's doing now. America can be great and good again.

"But Paul, what if you're wrong?"

Then we get to go to Heaven even sooner, along with all of God's faithful followers. Ain't nothing bad about that!

* Jesus most often referred to himself as "the Son of Man" - this is a reference to the Messiah as described in the Old Testament book of Daniel, chapter 7, verses 13-14:  "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." 

   By this, He was reasserting his identity as the Son of God and the Savior of mankind.

What REALLY Kills Alaskans?

In an effort to hype its phony reality TV show "Ultimate Survival Alaska,'' the National Geographic Channel has come up with a nifty list of nine of the 10 accidents least likely to kill people in the 49th state.
 
Only it isn't packaging these minimal risk dangers in that way. Oh no. The channel's website is hyping "10 Ways to Die in Alaska,'' noting the state's tragically high accidental death rate.
"Alaska's rate of 49 accidental deaths per 100,000 inhabitants is 20 percent higher than the national average,'' says its website. "That's not too surprising, considering that the northernmost state has so many natural hazards — steep mountain gorges, icy rivers and streams, sometimes treacherous roads, hungry bears and massive moose, and remote areas where it's hard to get help if you’re injured or run out of food and water. And if those risks aren't intimidating enough, there’s the danger of an avalanche, or the remote chance of a volcanic eruption or a massive earthquake."

The first sentence is true. The second is a crazy mixture of facts and make-believe.

Follow this link to read the whole story.

Valdez: Lake Formed by Avalanche in the River Has Drained

Alaska highway officials say the lake behind the "Damalanche" that has cut Valdez off from the state's road system since last week has drained and the area should soon be safe enough for crews to begin removing a huge avalanche debris field.

Alaska Department of Transportation workers finished clearing an avalanche on the north end of the Richardson Highway closure, at around Mile 39, on Wednesday.

The road remains closed from Mile 12 to 18, where a massive slide blocked the highway and dammed the Lowe River, creating a large lake that has now apparently drained.

"It looks like the water is back within its normal river channel," said DOT maintenance engineer Jason Sakalaskas.

A Nation in Crisis & "The Spirit of Seventy-Six"

(Note: this is a follow-up to two previous posts: When a Nation Disobeys God, and Turning the Nation Back to God.)

I've just begun reading the titular book, linked below, first published in 1958. This statement in the introduction caught my eye:

John Adams saw "the real American Revolution" as a "radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments and affections of the people," and thought it was, above all, "in the minds and hearts of the people."

Indeed.

Proverbs 23:7 says, "for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he..." The New American Standard Bible translates it this way: "For as he thinks within himself, so he is."

You can't expect the so-called low-information voter to see the problems with an unConstitutional program as long as that voter is happy with the freebies that the program gives away. 

People on welfare for life ... for multiple generations ... food stamps as a way of life* ... EBT cards which can be used for far more than food ... it goes on and on.

We've all seen how hard it is to convince the abusers of the system that it's wrong to do so, and wrong of the programs to not only turn a blind eye to those who do, but to (in many cases) encourage it. Those who get the free stuff are more than happy to vote for those who authorize the giveaway.

It could be said that the Progressives/nanny-statists have been lying well, while we've been telling the truth poorly.

This country is dangerously divided, as has perhaps not been seen since prior to the War Between the States. That was, as much as anything, a war for States' rights versus Federalism. 

And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand..." (Matthew 12:25)

This is a war for individual rights and freedoms (but I repeat myself) versus subservience to an all-encompassing nanny state. 

So, what say you? Is what we're doing now effective? Are we winning the hearts and minds of the people? Are they being convinced of the historic view of individual rights and responsibilities?

If not, perhaps a different approach is warranted. What do you think it should be?



* I'm speaking of those who habitually abuse the system, not those in genuine need.

30 Seconds From Calling the Bomb Squad

Tenants just reported to me that someone left a full-sized, black duffel bag on top of the Coke machine.

Sure enough, there it sat ... and not a soul in sight. I decided not to move it, and had cell phone in hand, when the owner came hobbling down the hall from his doctor appointment. Seems he tossed it up there when getting a drink, and then went off without remembering that he left it behind.

Now that my heart rate is back to normal, I decided it would make a good short for the blog.

But ... seriously, dude? NOT a good idea.

Fascism vs. Socialism

In as good an explanation of fascism as I've ever read, my friend PolyKahr clearly lays it out for us.  Excerpt:

That is the distinction I have made as well between a Socialist and a Fascist.  The fact that Fascist want to leave business in private hands, but to call the shots led to the term "Thugocracy."  I have likened this administration as being like a Mafia boss who comes into a restaurant, takes a look around, and says to the owner "Hey, Bub, you got a new silent partner, me."  What can the owner do but acquiesce.  If he refuses, he knows he will be shot.

But of course, it is more than just the economy. He wants control of everything.

You owe it to yourself and your children to read the whole thing.

Alan Caruba: The World is Having a Nervous Breakdown

By Alan Caruba

If one has been in the habit of reading history then the events of the past and of the present inform each other. For this reason, it occurred to me that the world is once again having a nervous breakdown.

It’s not just about money, though surely the nations of Europe along with the U.S. have spent themselves into the poorhouse in ways that defy the imagination. If it weren’t so serious, it would be comical to see the desperation that has led our Federal Reserve to print money backed by nothing and to watch the central bankers of Europe move gobs of euros around between the new mother church, Germany, and the banks of Greece, Spain, Ireland, and Italy so that they can pay their bills.

They’re all broke. We have individual States that have a higher GDP than Greece that have balanced their budgets. Those are usually the States whose constitutions require they balance their budget. The rest are run by governors torn between taking the federal largess intended to deprive them of more sovereignty and hoping that the next natural disaster hits the State above or below them instead.

Few arrive at a nervous breakdown overnight. It takes time and a variety of bad decisions or bad luck or both. After blaming George W. Bush and Republicans for his problems, Obama has taken to blaming bad luck. Does he even know that people have concluded the economy is now officially and completely his fault?

When he proposed Obamacare, a million Americans showed up in Washington, D.C. to tell them not to do it. He should have listened to them. Now we call them the Tea Party.

Obama cannot explain away having increased government spending by 50% between 2008 and 2010 while calling for higher taxes on everyone at the same time there are an estimated 14 million Americans out of work, stopped looking for work, or can’t get a job because Obamacare has so screwed up the near future that businesses are reluctant to hire anyone.

The 2008 financial crisis was 100% a government creation dating back to the establishment of Fannie Mae in 1938 to purchase mortgages from banks in order to encourage more lending, more home building, more home ownership. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but it ignored the timeless role of greed in banking.

Rule Number One: Almost everything the government touches, it ruins in some fashion. At the very least, it increases its cost of operation.

Rule Number Two: The government’s primary function is the defense of the nation against attack. As Ronald Reagan said, “Nobody ever started a war with us because we were too strong.”

Rule Number Three: Government exists due to its ability to tax and spend other people’s money. Spending always needs to be restrained.

Rule Number Four. Government will always produce more laws and regulations than are needed. It should be restrained. (See the U.S. Constitution).

Globally, we are just emerging from a bout of total insanity called “global warming.” This was a theory that said that something that represented 0.038% of the Earth’s atmosphere was trapping all the heat and would kill us unless massively reduced. That “something” is carbon dioxide, a gas on which—along with oxygen—all life depends. It is plant food; the less carbon dioxide, the less vegetation. Herbivores eat vegetation and carnivores eat herbivores. Humans, being omnivores, eat both.

The other craziness afflicting the planet is “radical” Islam. The truth is that it has been just plain old Islam for about 1400 years. There are a billion Muslims, most located in the Middle East, Africa, India, and Indonesia. Wherever they are, their non-Muslim neighbors cordially hate them because Islam teaches that all other religions are false and that those who believe them—infidels—can be killed for not being Muslims. The strange part of this is, depending on whether you’re a Shiite or Sunni, it is perfectly okay to kill other Muslims, too. Christianity went through this during the Reformation, 1517 to 1648.

When I was a child, the world went crazy and held a great big war. It involved Germany, Japan, and Italy as the “Axis” powers and just about everyone else did their best to destroy their military in every way possible. The Axis was defeated first and then, still holding out, the Empire of Japan had not one, but two, atomic bombs dropped on them before they quit.

World War Two was the direct result of Europe’s World War One. The surrender terms were so awful the Germans embraced a lunatic called Hitler and the Italians fell in love with Mussolini.

The Soviet Union came out of World War One when the Germans permitted Vladimir Lenin, a Communist, into Russia. He started a revolution and the Russians swapped a czar for a new dictator. Stalin took over from Lenin, but because communism has never worked anywhere it was tried, the Soviet Union eventually fell apart in 1991. Now a republic, the new dictator is named Vladimir Putin.

As the French say, “Plus les choses changent, ils plus elles restent les memes.” The more things change, they more they stay the same.

The world is having a nervous breakdown because institutions, religions, and political ideologies are having difficulty adjusting to the migration and growth of populations. Modern communications technologies are playing a role as well.

The chimera haunting everyone is the military capacity to inflict massive devastation and death has increased beyond the confidence of governments and people that it can be controlled without having to kill a lot of people, i.e., Iranians, in the process..

Capitalism, despite an abundance of communism still around, has triumphed, but like any system, has been subjected to a great deal of abuse, rocking the economies of the U.S., Europe, and making most other nations nervous, too.

And, finally, there are six-going-on-seven billion people on a planet that is probably not intended to have that many. It puts intense strain on everything from water to food to the sources of energy that fuel modern and developing nations.

So everyone’s on edge. Nations and continents are on edge. The world is having a nervous breakdown.

© Alan Caruba, 2011

Watchmen Asleep?

In my day, I've lived through the build-up for Viet Nam, was on active duty during those final years, and during the reduction in force that took place afterward. I watched the military be re-built under Ronald Reagan, and then torn down again during the Clinton years. We have not recovered from that time.

When I enlisted in the Navy, we had three times as many surface warships as there are now. That's only one example, I know, but you know I'm right.


The enemies which we faced down during the Cold War era are rebuilding now, while our recent leaders haven't seemed to care. I grant you that our modern fighting forces are the best we've ever had, and they have superior weaponry ... but watching our foes re-arm themselves would leave me in great apprehension if I didn't know Him who is the Author of history and of my redemption.



My increasingly-close friend DR over at The Maritime Sentry has linked to a report which puts much of this in perspective. Head on over and take a look.

American Thinker: Reaping the Whirlwind

There is a sense of foreboding rising in this country. It is not the usual pessimism fueled by a sensational press, nor is it surfacing because of the political crisis machine that generates one drama after another by which to manipulate the electorate. It is a feeling of imminent danger fueled by a realization based on evidence so obvious and so startling that the citizenry cannot help but take notice. Our prosperity, our security, and even our safety are fast fading away. Our own president and his party are facilitating our demise.

Agree? Disagree? RTWT, then discuss.

h/t Polykahr

The Time Is Now

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a piece entitled “Righting the Wrongs” and published it here and on another blog. The response was ... well, underwhelming. I accept that I don’t reach that many people, and although the site had roughly the same number of hits as on any other day when The Liberty Sphere links to it (that is to say, around a hundred), the lack of comments made me think that it did not inspire many folks.

Regardless, I’ve tried to keep this blog going – and Heaven literally knows I poured my heart into it from mid-2008, prior to the last national election, through last year's protests and Tea Parties. I preached, I cajoled, and practically begged folks to think – think! – about who (and what) they were voting for – and then about what they had received.

Sure enough, I have followers – and for them I am grateful – but there’s a magic number of hits (that 100 that I mentioned) above which I have rarely reached. But none of that matters now.

I’ve said all that to say this: ladies and gentlemen, we are being raped. Viciously, maliciously, and with great pleasure by those in the government whose goal is the pure-and-simple gathering of power and control. They don’t care what they have to say, what lies they must tell, what lands they must grab, or what new (and usually unconstitutional) laws and regulations they pass.

It’s all about gaining power and control – and then keeping it. And it’s obvious now that the progressive crew in D.C. is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve that goal.

In the last year, the vast silent majority has awakened, and risen up like some colossus of old. We have carried signs, written letters, sent e-mails, run ads, and made phone calls until the very switchboards in the Nation’s capital have overheated & shut down.

So, my blogger friends, we have battled, persuaded, cajoled, argued, and typed our fingers sore, and have we convinced any? Sure we have … but not enough. Not enough.

So what more can we do?

If you’re of a Christian persuasion, I’m sure you’ve been praying, right? Right? Even if you’re not, I’ll bet some of you have been praying anyway.

But it comes down to trusting in God – however you approach Him – and not in ourselves. With His help, we are MIGHTY. Even if we can’t see what He’s doing, we have the assurance that He is involved, and will not let His people down.

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

“But Reverend Paul," (you may ask), "isn’t there something else we can do?”

I’m glad you asked. Alan Caruba wrote a piece for yesterday’s “Insight on Freedom” which compares our times with those of the mid-1770s, leading up to Lexington and Concord.

Are we at the point of civil disobedience? Some think so, and there have been sporadic outbreaks of that. And didn’t the progressive crowd huddle together and bleat for a cessation? Yes, just those few incidents got their attention. But then they gathered themselves and carried on, harder and faster than before.

So what, then? Armed rebellion? Please, God, no; that time is not yet (and I hope it does NOT come) although I dare say it’s a darn sight closer than any of us thought it would ever be, in our times.

Stand your ground, my friends. Refuse to back up another inch. As is stated in the header over at Western Rifle Shooters, “Do not give in to Evil, but proceed ever more boldly against it.”

They can only take that which you allow them to take. They know we outnumber them, but for decades they have managed to lull most of us to sleep. And today, we're told, they will probably pass a bill in the House to more-or-less trick the Puerto Ricans into voting for Statehood, which those folks have always opposed in the past. This will garner some 4 million voters who will be eligible for welfare and other forms of Big Government largesse, as well as putting two more Senators and six Representatives on Capitol Hill.

And don't you just know which party those will belong to?

Well, no more.

Get active, stay involved, and DO NOT BACK DOWN. They are trying to steal your freedom, folks, and have managed to get most of the way there.

No more.

It’s time to take this Nation back from those who have unlawfully usurped authority. It is they who are "clinging bitterly" to the reins of power, defying all who rise up in opposition.

Take it back; it’s yours to win or lose. But now; get involved now, because we're running out of time. Get involved at your level, city, county or state, but make it count. Let your voices be heard; insist on changes that are Constitutionally-sound and aimed at making things right.

Remember that power flows upward, from the people to their representatives in government. In fact, insist on it. Remind your local officials, who tend to be more responsive, that there's an election soon. Make sure they hear that message, loud and clear.

We've been asleep - and that's our fault. But we won't be, anymore. We know what America is supposed to be, and we insist that it be restored. No more nanny-statist, power-grabbing politics.

NO MORE.

Taking Your Life in Your Hands

The temps in Anchorage have been fairly steady for the last couple of days. Although it was supposed to reach near 29 yesterday, it stayed around 20. It's 19 here this morning.

But here's the problem: the humidity has gone up. Way up.

Anchorage has been described by at least one weather writer as a "sub-arctic desert" because we typically get little rain in the summers, and not that much snow in winter. Average snowfall is about 65". Wisconsin, upstate New York, Michigan (and places like those) all receive much more snow than we do.

But yesterday, our humidity was 81% at 7 p.m. It seems to have stayed high all night, and is at 90% this morning. Since the ground is frozen, the moisture condensed and froze on the main roads, which have been mostly cleared of snow.

This morning we have black ice. There are diagonal skid marks in that layer, visible only when headlights illuminate them. There were two vehicles in the median along my drive to work; emergency vehicles hadn't even responded to the second one yet.

So what to do? Most Anchorage drivers use studded tires, although some still scoff at the notion. One such fellow wrote in the local paper that if we knew how to drive, we wouldn't need studded tires at all.

I've driven on icy roads most of my life. Growing up in the Midwest, I was accustomed to seeing more ice than snow, and had long since learned to drive on ice, most of which is readily apparent. But Anchorage's roads are something else again, what with mostly black ice on very cold streets.

Our first winter here, I had good "mud & snow" rated tires ... and my 6,000 truck slid through the same major intersection twice. Yes, I have anti-lock brakes; yes, I began slowing a full block before the red light. It made no difference, as there was no traction whatsoever. All I could so was sit helpless behind the wheel, anti-lock brakes fluttering madly, as I slid at a barely-reduced speed right through the red light. That big rig had become a three-ton bobsled.

The second winter was worse; we had more ice, and the tires were more worn.

I have studded snow tires now, like most local drivers, and when combined with the weight of the truck, have little trouble. I typically only realize the roads are slippery when I notice others having problems.

This morning, I did notice the truck getting a little loose in one or two places. It's slick out there, wherever there's bare pavement. The streets with some snow still on them aren't so bad. But having the proper equipment for the conditions makes all the difference - the op-ed writer's piece notwithstanding. It just makes sense to be prepared.

* * * * *

It occurs to me that folks who opt to carry a firearm have the same mindset. There are varying types of predators and other critters - and some have more than two legs. We have some 800 moose living inside the city limits, and there are black, brown, and grizzly bears here, too. Last winter, there were apparently two packs of wolves roaming the northeastern parts of the city, where a couple of dogs were killed and eaten while on a morning walk with their owners. A wolf pack chased one jogger, but she got away & called for help.

Although I didn't see see any reports of maulings in 2009, there were three people injured by bears in city parks in 2008. There have been bears hanging around the dumpsters at the property I manage, although those are too tall for the bears to get into, now.

I carry two types of ammo when I go out; one for large animals, and another for the two-legged variety. Proper equipment for the conditions, you see.

It just makes sense to be prepared.