Author: shadowwarrior

Each month, year after year, citizens of our great Nation are expected, and dutifully respond, by paying all the debts owed on time and in full. Many will pay the debts owed using a check similar to the one shown above. For those who may have never written a check in your life, maybe because you use on-line banking and payments exclusively, the example above tells you what you would write on each and every line. The purpose of our blog today is to share THE SECRET which may have escaped many of you. You may have heard that our Nation is currently carrying a rather large debt that we as citizens must continually pay, not only the face value of the debt eventually, but we must pay interest on that debt as you would for any credit card you may hold that carries a balance from one month to the next. Now you may have regular bills that carry interest payments which you are personally accountable for, like maybe a car or mortgage payment, or as we mentioned in the previous sentence, the accrued balance on the unpaid portion of the debt on your one credit card, or maybe the debts on many of your credit cards. We are pretty sure you are aware of what may happen if you fail to make your required payments on your debts. Not only will your credit be trashed, but you could be evicted from your residence, or have your car repossessed, or be the subject of scrutiny from one of a multitude of credit collection agencies. This is not the preferable way of paying your bills, living beyond your means, and leaving yourself, and potentially your children, financially ruined. It does occasionally happen, and unfortunately many lives and livelihoods are destroyed each and every year from trying to live as a king or queen on a pauper’s salary.

It is now time for us to reveal THE SECRET that you, and potentially everyone else in your family, for which you are responsible. You did not sign any agreement for this debt. No one asked for your permission to add your name to the list of those accountable for payment of this debt. For the most part, no one has really even told you about it, and sadly enough, no one has even made an attempt at trying to figure out a way to resolve this growing debt. You are making payments, and you currently are making payments on the accrued interest, but sadly the amount of this debt grows larger and larger with each passing month. “How am I responsible for this debt”, you may ask, “and who signed my name making this debt a responsibility of mine?”

Surprise! You voted for representatives in Congress, both in the House of Representatives and the Senate, who have taken it upon themselves to assign this debt to you. You may be enjoying some of the benefits of this growing debt, but at some point, one has to pay the piper. So, get your pen and get ready to write a check to Uncle Sam for the amount of the debt for which you alone are accountable. Are you ready to write the amount? Do you think you have enough in your bank account to cover the bill? You had better check for cash under your mattress, or maybe it is finally time to look for all that loose change between the cushions on you couch or recliner.

We have a question you need to ask your Representatives. We are fairly confident that they will be unable to answer this question, and if they cannot, you need to be prepared to replace them in Congress with your next vote. Here is the question. “How many zeros in one Trillion Dollars?” Are you ready for the answer? Do you know the answer? If not, here is the answer. There are 12 zeros in one Trillion Dollars. One Thousand Dollars has 3 zeros. One Million Dollars has 6 zeros. One Billion Dollars has 9 zeros. Do you know how many Trillion Dollars our Nation is now in debt? Even most Congressmen and women will know this number, but like we said before, they have no idea how to reduce this growing number. In fact, thanks to a Congress that is adept at spending other people’s money, they will now be adding another 4 Trillion Dollars to the current amount over the next one and one-half years. The current debt our Nation is responsible for is 32.4 Trillion Dollars!

Let’s break down this rather very large number into something to which we can actually relate. First, let’s recognize that there are approximately 33 Million citizens in our Nation. Yes, it is true that more and more are being added each and every day due to the surge of illegal aliens crossing over our southern border, but they will not be accountable for paying any of this debt. The reason? Because they have no money, no job, and NGOs, mostly funded by our National Government and interests outside our Nation, are providing them with free phones, free transportation, and in many states, they will be receiving free education, free housing, free healthcare, and may even be getting free cash-cards to spend for food or other luxury items. Oh, by the way, some of your contributions to charities, and of course some of your tax dollars, are being used to support these folks.

Okay, now for the math part of our blog. Here THE SECRET is revealed. How much of this 32.4 Trillion Dollars are you responsible for? It’s easy, just divide,31.4 Trillion Dollars by 330 Million. The answer . . . . . . drum roll please . . . . . . Your share of the National debt is $95, 152.00. Can you now please write that number on your check. Oh, but before you do, remember that a large number of the 330 Million people in our Nation are below the age of 18, or maybe below the age of 30 and still live at home with nothing in their bank accounts from which to draw, so that means you are also responsible for making their portion of the payment as well. Approximately 22% of the Nation’s population is under the age of 18, so we’ll let you do the math on that one as to how much your portion of the National debt will increase. Without getting into statistics about the difference between “average” and “mean”, we will just state that each citizen has an “average” or “mean” net worth balance around $41,600, while the average bank account balance is around $5,300. So, what this means is that for a vast majority of citizens, you must not make any more payments for anything for over the next two years, and instead send any money you may be making directly to the IRS, Uncle Sam, so that we can pay off our National debt. You will not be able to pay any house, car, or credit card bills. You cannot buy gas, food, or pay any of your utility bills. Stop shopping at all stores, do not go to restaurants or burger joints, and no more paying for any services that currently make your life manageable. Can you do all that for us?

If not, what will you do to pay your share of our National debt? Maybe it is time to say “NO!” to our Congress! If they do not respond in a positive manner, it will be time to put responsible people in charge of our National Government. Our FREEDOM and LIBERTY as a Nation is at stake. Our children and grandchildren deserve more from us. They deserve responsible spending principles. They deserve the adults in the room to do the right thing and spend no more than we make. They deserve grownups to make wise, reasoned decisions when it comes to money and debt. What will you do to help put a stop to irresponsible spending by our current National Government?

“FOR UNTO WHOSOEVER MUCH IS GIVEN, OF HIM SHALL BE MUCH REQUIRED.” (Luke 12:48 KJV)

Light is a marvelous thing. It draws our attention. It highlights things that need to be seen. It is faster than a speeding bullet, in fact it travels at the speed of 186,282 miles per second (in a vacuum). Our society would have a horrible time trying to live normal lives without the aid of light. There would be no driving in the dark, no movies at the theaters, and most of us would have to go to bed when the sun goes down, but wait, without light, there would be no sun to provide light, or a moon to reflect the suns light. Christmas decorations would be an absolute bore. Most of us have probably seen those wonderful, colorful Christmas displays on homes during the holidays. Some even had light choreographed to music, not unlike the one pictured above. But without light, none of this would exist. In fact, we would not exist, because unless you can live without eating, nothing would be available to eat. Have you ever been in the deep recesses of a cave and have the guide turn out the light? The darkness is oppressive. So why all the hullaballoo about the value of light? Well, we do have a point to make, but first let us consider the value of salt. Have you ever used it? Most recipes call for the use of salt, because it adds flavor to nearly everything to which it is applied. “Salt, also known as sodium chloride, is about 40% sodium and 60% chloride It flavors food and is used as a binder and stabilizer. It is also a food preservative as bacteria can’t thrive in the presence of a high amount of salt. The human body requires a small amount of sodium to conduct nerve impulses, contract and relax muscles, and maintain the proper balance of water and minerals.” (hsph.harvard.edu; T.H. Chan.) The human body cannot thrive without the presence of salt. Light and salt are vital for the continuation of the human race. But our task in our blog today is not to interfere with your “Biology 101” course of study. We have a completely different take on what “light” and “salt” mean to us in a different context.

For those who are Christians, or even those familiar with this faith, you are undoubtedly familiar with how the Biblical New Testament uses the words “light” and “salt”. Let’s do a quick review for those who may not be familiar. In the book of Matthew, chapter 5, we find probably one of the most important series of statements made by Jesus. It is known as the “Sermon on the Mount”. It begins with the very famous list of “beatitudes”, best describes as characteristics to pursue in life. Listed are attitudes to aspire to, or as one person once said, they are “Be” “Attitudes”. Immediately following the list of attitudes to have, Jesus has the following to say in verses 13 through 16. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (NAS version.)

Now to the point of today’s blog. We really do mean to step on some toes today, and we will not apologize if it hurts or is uncomfortable for you. Sometimes we all need a two-by-four whacked up the side or our head to get our attention. We hope we have it. Many Christians are satisfied to live life in a religious bubble, mostly encountered on Sundays or maybe even a day or two during the week. Many are living a “BEDROOM CHRISTIANITY”, where we dare not speak what is on our hearts outside these four walls. During those times when you are with the “like-minded” you dis-associate yourselves from the world around you, and become pious, speaking only issues about your faith. In this cocoon of isolation, we all recognize our sinfulness, our need for constant healing, our need to improve ourselves, and the desire to share the Gospel message with those we may come in contact with during our “normal” daily lives. There is nothing wrong with these endeavors, we just happen to believe it is not enough. “What more might we do?”, you might ask. For decades the churches in our Nation, particularly those of conservative values, have been sold a bill of goods telling us that we had better not talk politics, because if we do, we could lose our tax-exempt status, or we might upset some visitors that walk in our doors, or we might be accused of preaching a “political gospel”, not a lot unlike “The Health and Wealth Gospel” we blogged about just last month. If you are a Christian, do you not understand your reason for living in this Nation at this time? Do you not recognize that YOU are the salt and light? YOU flavor the lives around you. YOU shed light upon the dark places, and YOUR light draws others to you and to God. Rick Warren wrote a book published in 2002 titled, The Purpose Driven Life. Have you not considered that God, the Creator of all, has placed you in this time and place for His Glory? What is your purpose? While we watch Satan encroach upon our children through phone apps, media, advertisements, wayward council members, representatives wooed by the promise of money and power, you silently sit in your pews, minding your “Ps” and “Qs”, considering that God is in charge, and all you may have to do is sit back and watch Him wreak havoc upon the ungodly. Have you not read the Old Testament Book of Esther, and do you not remember the story where Queen Esther has the power in her hand to spare the people of her nation from slaughter, when Mordecai said these words, “And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” Do you not recognize that YOU are the change-agent God has placed in this Nation at this time? You can pray until you are blue in the face, but until you are ready to put your feet to your prayers, you are not fulfilling your purpose, and you must recognize that you will not only be held accountable for the actions you have taken, but you will also be held accountable for actions you have failed to take.

Look around you. Rome is on fire! If you enjoy our FREEDOM and LIBERTY in this Nation, it is time to pick up your firehose and do something about it! As we honor those this weekend who have sacrificed their lives for our Nation, may we be found worthy in their eyes to follow their example, to find our purpose, to fulfill our destiny, to fight back against tyranny, faithlessness, corruption, greed, and the father of all lies, Satan himself. It is way past time to get out of our “Bedroom Christianity”, and get in the fight for truth, honest, integrity, accountability, righteousness, and justice.

We have a “bone to pick” with a few voters out there. We selected the above picture simply as a representative view of what many election workers have to deal with each and every election day. We are speaking from personal experience and will attempt to shed some light on issues that election board workers must deal with in trying to resolve ballot issues that may arise in nearly every election. Are you complaining about how long it takes to get election results? Do you have any idea of what election board workers are faced with while attempting to come up with accurate vote counts and results? You may think that counting votes is a simple process, but unfortunately it is often compounded by some voter methods.

There are several facts that need to be explored. Some of them are obvious, and some are not. Some voters have a DISCONNECT either between their ears, or with reality, or maybe both. When the blank space on a ballot says “Write-in”, that does NOT mean to sign a name in cursive that only a professional signature verifier can resolve. For the most part, those signatures are the ONLY signature that a signature verifier has available to decipher. Unlike the signature verification process on the ballot envelopes, “Write-in” signatures will not have access to the other potential voter signatures to compare and resolve spelling, shape, size, and other technics used to read accurately a signature. Most election board workers only receive about two hours of instruction as to how to verify a voter signature. If you want to be a professional signature verifier, then you had better be ready to enroll in about a two-year course of instruction. You see one of the major challenges right away. Ballot signature verifiers are for the most part neophytes to signature verification. It is true that if a person has done it for several years, even with limited instruction, one does get better at the process each progressive year, but this is the exception, not the rule. So, please PRINT the name of the “Write-in” candidate.

If you are 18 years of age and are making your first foray into the voting world, you may want to sign a name without ever having had the proper education in cursive writing. So, don’t bother signing a name. Please just PRINT the name. It is a fact that most young voters do not really finalize their formal signature until their mid-twenties. Anything signed until then is basically just a new experiment. Election board workers are not mind readers, and it is not their job to follow your evolving signature style.

Finally, voting is not a joke! It is a demonstration of the FREEDOM and LIBERTY we enjoy in this great Nation. It is sad that many choose to not vote. In choosing not to vote, you are throwing away your right to complain about results. Some elections may see 80% turnouts, but those are the exceptions. Many local elections may only see a 25% turnout on issues directly affecting how your local community functions. Fire, water, and school district board votes have a direct impact on livability standards within your community. Local bond issues have the potential to provide advancements and improvements in the performance of policing and emergency services. Some day you may need those services that may not be approved, and you may suffer the consequences. Some issues may be pushed by a minority within your community and may not be something worthy or in line with the wishes of the majority. Failure to vote can leave you with a burden you did not want and could impact generations to come.

When those on an election board see “Write-ins”, like the one in the example above, they are dismayed in the disrespectful and infantile display some voters show to our Nation’s voting process. Not only are you proving yourself to be the jerk you really are, but you are burdening the election board workers with additional work to clean up the mess you made on isle two. Election board workers are obligated to record those childish votes even though we all know they are spurious. There are other ways that silly voters can mess up the voting system, causing election board worker consternation and frustration, sometimes even fouling up the sorting and tabulation of ballot machines and processes, but we will not name them as there is always the potential of arming nefarious actors with new schemes and devious methods. Unless your real name is “Micky Mouse”, he will NEVER be awarded a victory, so stop your infantile gestures, and take voting seriously! Grow up and be a responsible voter. Our Nation is dependent upon you so that we can improve our Nation and retain our FREEDOM and LIBERTY we are so fortunate to enjoy, not only for ourselves, but for our posterity as well. Thank you for letting us “pick a bone” with a few voters out there.

We will start our blog today by stating the obvious. It takes a woman to be a mother. Some might want to argue with us about connecting the word “mother” with the word “woman”, but that is a topic for another time. Some might baulk at us using the word “VIRTUOUS”. However, we believe this to be the ultimate pinnacle of success when it comes to being the best a woman can aspire to become. Merriam-Webster defines the word “VIRTUOUS” as “honorable, ethical, honest, nice, true, good, moral, noble.” It would seem a lofty goal indeed to aspire to inculcate these attributes into one’s character. Already, we can begin to see cracks and flaws in many women within our Nation. Lest we claim to be perfect, which we are not, we understand that attaining the purest sense of each of these attributes is difficult, if not impossible, for the duration of one’s life. The word “VIRTUOUS” does not, by itself, establish the core of our blog today. We also aim to connect the word “WOMAN” to “VIRTUOUS”. The reason we are drawn to this topic is because today we celebrate our mothers by wishing them all a very HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY. If you are alive, then you have or had a mother. You should be thankful to your mother for if she had aborted you, you would not be in existence. Let us state that again, especially for all those who desire to terminate pregnancies in the womb. If you are marching under the drum beat of “freedom of choice” when it comes to pregnancies, had it not been for your mother deciding against abortion, YOU WOULD NOT EXIST! Now, everyone who is alive can extend our thanks to our mothers regardless of any convergent or divergent relationship that has taken place through the years between you and your mother.

So, is being a “mother” such a great thing? Some might argue that a “VIRTUOUS WOMAN” does not really exist in today’s world. Maybe at one point it did, but as it is with all fading glories, the “VIRTUOUS WOMAN” became history, and maybe over time turned into legend, and ultimately as the ages roll on by, has become accepted only as myth. In our society today it is plain to see that the value a mother holds has been diminishing. We will not blame this alone on the mother, for unless you are an absolute moron, you will understand that it takes the seed of a man (loosely translated as a “father”), to make another human life. Many “fathers” have become absent in the nurturing years of a child’s life. Some women choose to bypass a “father’s” involvement all together by utilizing sperm donor clinics. The absolute denial that both mother and father bring important roles in the rearing of a child often leaves the child missing certain examples suited to a holistic development. The mother may emphasize faith, love, and a nurturing spirit, while the father may emphasize discipline, responsibility, strength, and protection. We are not saying that these qualities belong only to one sex but not the other, but we are stating that each sex brings something to the table of value in the development of a growing human. In our society today we see many young people having escaped the nurturing environments needed for proper societal development. Violence, robberies, thefts, carjackings, unprovoked attacks, disrespect, hurtful and foul language, denial of authority, self-absorption in personal desires, non-productivity, faithlessness, anger and malice run amuck in our youth in our society today. Many adult parents have not been the greatest of examples. We believe the ugly characteristics mentioned before are due largely to the failure of many to truly appreciate and honor those among us who are mothers. Broken homes too often lead to broken lives. The lack of appreciation shown to our mothers is a cancer eating away at the core of our Nation.

For many decades now we have been sold a bill of goods that produces anything but good. The Greatest Generation, who gave so much to give FREEDOM and LIBERTY to many through their sacrifices in World War 1 and 2, has faded from view, and in many classrooms today has become more legend than history. Some, even now, would claim those National sacrifices as simply myth, denying historical truth, choosing to re-write history to asway their ideological persuasions. The destruction of the core family in our Nation has been exasperated by careless speech and faulty logic. Hillary Clinton wrote a book in 1996 called, “It Takes a Village”. We stand today to say, “It takes a family to make a village!” No non-parent, or government, has the right or obligation to parent the children born or adopted into a family unit. In our Nation today, we see government trying to squeeze out the family unit, giving non-parental authorities dictum over legitimate parents and their God given rights and responsibilities, even to the point of incarceration for objecting to governmental influence in the lives of their children. Are there any “VIRTUOUS WOMEN” in government?

We believe there ARE “VIRTUOUS WOMEN” in our society today. For those women who appreciate FREEDOM and LIBERY, and the right to raise their own children as they see fit, we call them MOTHERS. They birth, nurture, teach and train their young to appreciate and enjoy life, to build respectable characteristics to weave into a social structure beneficial to all. Mothers do not wain in their pursuit of these lofty goals, nor do they fail to be concerned for their child for the entirety of their child’s life. We call these mothers, “VIRTUOUS WOMEN”. They are not fictitious. They are ever present. They have existed for ages, and will exist for ages to come, should this world continue to exist. We can trace the “VIRTUOUS WOMAN” back thousands of years. For our benefit, we have historical writings describing the characteristics of “THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN”. They are found in the Bible’s Old Testament book of Proverbs, Chapter 31, verses 10 through 31. For length of our blog, we will only review two of those verses for contextual proof in our blog today. In verse 28, we find that she, the woman, is a mother, for it says, “Her children arise up, and call her blessed . . .” We also find that she has faith in the Lord. Verse 30 says, “Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.” Have you “praised” your mother today? Have you wished her a “HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY”? Have you thanked her for your very life? If you haven’t, maybe it is time to do so before the opportunity passes you by.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, MOM!

The year was 1993. What you are seeing in the short video clip above is the end of the 51-day FBI siege at a compound near Waco, Texas. A religious group, called the Branch Davidians, under the leadership of David Koresh, ended in tragedy as federal agents conducted a botched operation that resulted with the death of nearly 80 people, including 20 children. While we do not agree with the religious philosophy of the Branch Davidians, what we witnessed on live TV that day was the use of governmental force to deny a measure of FREEDOM and LIBERTY to many of our Nation’s citizens, allowing them to believe what they chose to believe, and live as they chose to live. The result of a decision made by then U.S. Attorney General, Janet Reno, with the approval of then President Bill Clinton, authorized the officials “. . . to harass the Davidians out of the compound by blaring music and recordings of the screams of rabbits being slaughtered into Mount Carmel throughout the night. Experts later suggested that federal agents didn’t comprehend the extent of the sect’s religious zeal, or the fact that violence from authorities only confirmed their belief in an impending apocalypse.” (esquire.com, Gabrielle Bruney and Bria McNeal; March 24, 2023.) An armada was arrayed against the Branch Davidians. “According to the New Yorker, law enforcement brought in ‘ten Bradley tanks, two Abrams tanks, four combat engineering vehicles, six hundred and sixty-eight agents in addition to six U.S. Customs officers, fifteen U.S. Army personnel, thirteen members of the Texas National Guard, thirty-one Texas Rangers, a hundred and thirty-one officers from the Texas Department of Public Safety, seventeen from the McLennan County sheriff’s office, and eighteen Waco police, for a total of eight hundred and ninety-nine people’.” (Same reference as before.) The point of all this short review of the events in 1993 in our blog today is to draw a comparison between what happened at Waco, and what is happening today. However, we have renamed the event and are calling today’s actions, W. A. C. O. We define the acronym as War Against Conservative Organisms.

Before we get into the nuts and bolts of what is occurring today in our society, let’s briefly define “Conservative” and “Organisms”. “Conservative” harkens back to a time in our Nation when all things beginning with the word “Conserve” were things to be pursued and were widely accepted as the right or correct way to function, regardless of anything to which the word was applied. Conserve your energy. Conserve your water resource. Conserve your earth. Conserve all natural resources. “Conservation” was the “in” thing to do, for it meant the preservation, management, restoration, and the protection of our wildlife and of nature’s forests, soils, and waters. “Conservatories” became prolific. Glass sunrooms, skylights, solariums, and greenhouses were all the rage, and no one seemed to mind the word “conservatory”. They became the location of botanical gardens, museums, and schools for instruction in music and art, and still, no one complained about the use of the word “conservatory”. Why did the word “conservative” become anathema? Was it because it countered liberalism? Was it because it had its early roots in religious circles, and preached a “gospel” of stability, traditions, and peace? Something happened in our National society that made “conservative” a four-letter word. Subcultures had already existed within our Nation for years, and were content to live within the mainstream, but the 60’s grew counter-culture movements, like Woodstock, civil rights, and the Vietnam War protests, all being open about their resistance to the mainstream culture. Hippies, punks, and Transcendentalism became more mainstream. Not all counter-culture movements are bad, in fact the civil rights movement became a part of mainstream culture, and even way before that, the counter-culture movement of Christianity became a part of mainstream culture during the Roman rule and in fact was given full legal rights in 313 AD by emperors Constantine and Licinius. As far as our definition of “Organism” goes, we will use “An individual form of life . . . “ (Wordnik) and “A system with many parts that depend on each other and work together . . . as a complex social/political/economic organism.” (britannica.com). You, personally, are an “organism”, and the group you are a part of is also considered to be an “organism”. Now that we have made our definitions clear, let’s delve into the War Against Conservative Organisms (W. A. C. O.).

Consider the rise of public education. “As early as the 17th century, the need for public education was recognized by the Puritans living on American shores at the time. This population determined education was essential both for teaching basic academic skills and core religious values.” (publicschoolreview.com.) We wonder what was one of their textbooks? The Puritans sought to purify the Church of England and were looking for religious FREEDOM in the new world. Many of the first schools used Bibles as the basic textbook. The Protestant Reformation brought about the ability to read the scriptures. The Puritans were a conservative group of individuals. How many public schools use the Bible for instruction today? Private and religious schools might, but public schools have been wooed away from using the Biblical texts, most likely because of mistaking what the First Amendment of our Constitution actually states. It indicates “freedom OF religion”, not “freedom FROM religion”. The Bill of Rights also prevents the establishment of laws “. . . prohibiting the free exercise thereof [of religion] . . . “. Our Nation has turned its back on the public use of the Bible. Is it any wonder why violence is rampant within many or our cities today? The conservative morals and values are no longer taught in our schools, and sadly not in many homes as well.

The rise of social media has created a space where filth can be shared and spread. The scope of what is acceptable has been expanded beyond the borders of respectable values. The concept of “Mass Formation” has made it easy to go along with the crowd, whether in foul speech, or even to the extent of raiding and stealing from legitimate retailers. Many believe, “If the group does it, it must be okay for me to do it as well.” The societal push to go beyond established boundaries continues to expand, and the conservative approach to life morphs into unbridled liberalism, where the concept of LIBERTY is polluted into selfish pursuits and interests.

At one time, in the not-too-distant past, criminals were incarcerated, and an attempt was made to make victims whole. Restorative Justice, however, has been squashed in the pursuit for criminal leniency. Feminism and the emasculation of the male species makes it risky to compliment a woman on her dress, or even hold the door open for her. If a conservative practices the right of freedom of speech, as guarantied in our Nation’s founding documents, or also uses the freedom to peacefully protest, also protected in our Nation’s founding documents, one might find themself facing prosecution and even potential incarceration by rouge elements of our current National government. If a conservative speaks the truth, as perceived by that individual, lawfare can be used to stymie speech and bury the individual under the weight of financial judgements. Simply the threat of such action squashes speech opposing the chosen agenda of the powerful, those in charge of government or corporate entities. If one dresses conservatively, or limit their exposure to certain forms of entertainment, one could be shunned by society, called prudish in the process, and feel isolated from supportive contacts.

If you, as an individual, or if you are part of an organization, like a church or business, and you can relate to anything we have written so far, then you have experienced what we have described in our blog today. We could go on with many other examples, but we think what we have described is enough to prove our point that there is certainly a “WAR AGAINST CONSERVATIVE ORGANISMS (W. A. C. O.)”. Our current National government, including many of the subservient “alphabet organizations” that have metastasized over the last several decades, have all become out of control and must be reined in. If this is not done, we could be looking at another blundered operation that could burn our Nation to the ground, just like what our inept government leaders did at Waco, Texas, in 1993. FREEDOM and LIBERTY have been given to us by our Creator. Our Nation’s founding documents only reflect what we already know to be true. If you treasure these eternal values, then you must be a part of the on-going efforts to reverse the course our Nation is currently on, to help re-establish the proper course of our Nation, and then defend and protect our Nation. How are you doing that today? How will you do that tomorrow?

When one hears of the “Health and Wealth Gospel”, one usually is drawn to the ideology where one’s spirituality is determined by how healthy and wealthy that person may be. Greater “Sainthood” is believed to be directly correlated to one’s health and wealth. The healthier and wealthier a person is, the higher is one’s rung on the ladder of religiosity. The short video clip above is of the greatly esteemed Mr. Spock of the original Star Trek TV series of the 1960’s. As a “Vulcan”, their usual parting gesture is to bestow a cordial goodwill message by saying “Live long and prosper”, in other words, wishing the other party health and wealth. In our blog today, we intend to flip “The Health and Wealth Gospel” out of the religious realm and into the socialistic environment that is ever encroaching upon the FREEDOM and LIBERTY of our Nation’s citizens. We will endeavor to draw the sharp contrast between those who are truly citizens of the Kingdom of God, and those who believe themselves to be in pursuit of the eternal singularity, the merger of man and machine’s Artificial Intelligence, designed to exist far beyond the human lifespan. First, let’s consider how the Bible views the “Health and Wealth Gospel”.

Note that Jesus never healed all he came in contact with. Only those who believed through faith that Jesus could heal them were healed, often in simple obedience to His command. Those even today who have great faith, still suffer the ravages of disease, for the true test of faithfulness lies not in perfect health, but in the pursuit of a Christ-like life. The Great Apostle Paul was never healed by God of his “thorn in the flesh”, as it was left as a reminder of his human frailty and dependence upon God as Paul looked forward to a perfection beyond his mortality (II Corinthians 12:7-9), where Paul claimed his “. . . strength was made perfect in weakness.” Jesus said, “The poor you will always have with you . . .” (Matthew 26:11.) Riches were not the Christian’s hope for salvation. Paul knew that true Christianity was not dependent upon social stature, in fact in I Corinthians 7:21-24 Paul, speaking to slaves, remarked “Brethren, let each man remain with God in that condition in which he was called.” The Kingdom of Heaven was never about a change in social structure, but about a change in one’s heart. This was the message that the Roman leadership, and the Sadducees and Pharisees, the religious leadership of the day, never understood. The eternal Kingdom of God was a Spiritual Kingdom, dwelling in the hearts of men and women. Now, let’s look to those who may claim a spiritual heritage, but who in fact practice a life filled with godless pursuits and pleasures, where god to them is held in their belief that personal advancement up the ladder of health and wealth is the determinant factor of their “spirituality”, but what we call “their quest for superiority”.

Many in our society today walk to a drum beat often opposite to those who share a Jewish/Christian heritage. Their sense of morality is warped. The concept of ultimate truth evades them. They cling to sociopathy like static to nylon. For them, there is only one place to reside, that being at the very top of anything, having all the power, all the prestige, in their vain attempt to garnish accolades, often exchanging them only among their ideological peers. For them, “The Health and Wealth Gospel” is achieved when wealth, that which is most coveted, and often un-earned or gained through nefarious schemes, brings with it the preeminent access to all things health related. They alone have access to the best of care, the newest treatments and methodologies. They may tell the poor to eat bugs, while they feast on the finest stakes. They may eschew hours of arduous highway driving opting for private jet travel, often seen as the right of those in power, even if only in their own minds. They believe “The Gospel” is according to them, for they write their own narratives, act in their own convoluted, sometimes even perverted and lured, ways. They contrive and manipulate agendas, policies, and methods to achieve their purposes, caring not for humanity at large, or for obedience to any ultimate authority or truth. For most, they see no life beyond death, and believe mortality is an obstacle to overcome. Many seek an eventual merger with technology where Artificial Intelligence is implanted within them, while robotics provides an enduring frame in which to carry their consciousness. For them, death is something to be feared and avoided. For the unbelieving, they actually have only one thing correct. For them, they should do everything they can to avoid death, and they should fear it, as to face the God of the created is truly a fearful thing without believing the redemptive power of Jesus the Christ.

Perfection in this life cannot be achieved, only pursued. Man and woman were cursed because of their sinful act in the Garden of Eden. The earth itself was cursed (Genesis 3:15-19). One’s health or wealth has no bearing upon the value of an individual. One’s health or wealth does not determine one’s eventual salvation. FREEDOM and LIBERTY are a gift of spiritual redemption, and they are also ideals to be pursued and claimed in our temporal existence. These ideals allow the righteous to mature, and the opportunity to share “The Gospel”, the only Gospel of significance. The one that proclaims, “He is risen!” Set not your heart on things below, but on things above (Colossians 3:2).

“Dear Lord and Father of mankind, forgive our foolish ways; Reclothe us in our rightful mind, In purer lives Thy service find, In deeper rev’rence, praise.”

“O Sabbath rest by Galilee, O calm of hills above, Where Jesus knelt to share with Thee The silence of eternity, Interpreted by love!”

“Drop Thy still dews of quietness, Till all our strivings cease; Take from our souls the strain and stress, And let our ordered lives confess The beauty of Thy peace.”

“In simple trust like theirs who heard Beside the Syrian sea The gracious calling of the Lord, Let us, like them, without a word, rise up and follow Thee.”

John G. Whittier (1872)

Laurence J. Peter (1919-1990) was a Canadian educator and “hierarchiologist” who is best known to the general public for the formulation of “THE PETER PRINCIPLE”. While we generally subscribe to the validity of this axiom, we do take the occasional diversion to admit that not all employees become incompetent as they are promoted. In fact, we believe a larger majority of promotions are given to those who actually can achieve success in higher positions of authority. However, we have witnessed and been subjected to many who are elevated into positions they are not prepared for, or have talent for, and soon find themselves way in over their head making multiple mistakes, often leading to increasing ineffectiveness of the organization. Take for example the individual in the lower portion of the picture above. Bob Gates, the former Defense Secretary in the Obama administration, once said of this person, a former Vice President of the United States, “I think he has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue of the last four decades.” (theatlantic.com.) It was even reported by a Democrat who spoke with Obama that he once said, “Don’t underestimate Joe’s ability to f . . . things up.” (cbs19news.com.) Ben Rhodes (former Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Speechwriting under Obama) said, “In the Situation Room, Biden could be something of an unguided missile.” (Wikipedia.) While the current occupant of the White House is obviously in over his head, he is only the tip of the ice burg when it comes to the cabinet of the current administration, and those who have found favor because of similar ideologies and agendas. But while we are on the subject of the current occupant of the White House, consider the continuing level of incompetence exhibited in the destruction of our Nation’s energy independence, and the ripple effects of our Nation’s retreat from Afghanistan, waving the flag of surrender encouraging the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In addition, consider Iran’s continued push for nuclear weapon systems, North Korea’s recent infatuation with missile launches, and the growing threat of China thirsting to swallow up Tiawan, all of this occurring as the current administration remains flat-footed, and in fact curiously ambivalent to these threats. Let’s add the failure to stop the illegal aliens pouring across our borders and the fentanyl killing our citizens coming from China through Mexican cartels and the rapes and sex trafficking the cartels promulgate while ravaging these people. Lastly, but certainly not finally, the current administration, under the incompetent tutelage of the current occupant of the White House, has spent our tax dollars in a reckless push to incentivize citizen laziness. The woke ideologies have thrust our Nation into a financial crisis where inflation is still over three-times higher than when they took control of our Nation’s levers of power over two years ago. The printing of money to pay for the felonious agendas in a futile effort to reduce the “non-rising” sea levels and stop the climatic changes that have been routine for centuries, leave less cash in your pockets while increasing trillions of dollars of debt for which the average American citizen is ultimately responsible. Incompetence exemplified. The ultimate proof that “THE PETER PRINCIPLE” is alive and well at the highest level in Washington D.C. The current occupant of the White House has proven he has no business being anywhere near the center of our National government, but unfortunately, he is.

Let’s for a moment consider other individuals near the power levers within our National government. The Vice President – proof that word salads really do exist. The U. S. Treasure Secretary – proved that the definition of “transitory inflation” really means inflation is long-term. The Secretary of Transportation – proved being the “Pothole Pete” mayor of a small town really doesn’t prepare someone to be responsible for the vast transportation infrastructure of our Nation. The Secretary of Homeland Security – proved that holding down a position effecting the security of our Nation doesn’t mean you actually have to control what is going on at our Nation’s borders. The Attorney General of the United States – proved that it’s possible to not be fit for the Supreme Court when attacking the opposing conservative national party is more important than attacking actual lawbreakers. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – proved that going behind a President’s back to let your enemy know of any potential action against them is the same as leaking Top Secret Compartmented Information. The Secretary of State – proved that taking a tongue lashing from China is an acceptable form of negotiation. The Secretary of Energy – proved that laughing about rising gas prices only applies to you. We could go on, but we think this partial list is enough to prove that many of the current government’s cabinet is filled with many who have proved that “THE PETER PRINCIPLE” is certainly alive and well in the center of our Nation’s government.

Now, we desire to move to a more general application of “THE PETER PRINCIPLE” being enforced upon our Nation’s citizens. We began our blog wanting to show a MERGER between “THE PETER PRINCIPLE” and “EQUITY”. The latter is a divergent application of policy that threatens the very fabric of our Nation. Nowhere in our Nation’s founding documents will you find a guaranty of “EQUITY”, which is defined as providing “equal outcomes”. Our Nation’s founding documents pursue the ideology of “EQUALITY”, which is defined as providing “equal opportunities”. When a government forces “equal outcomes”, the desire for personal achievement, advancement or progress is diminished. When all get “participation trophies”, there is no inherent desire to be the best or first, or to better one’s personal achievements. When “EQUITY” is pursued, many who are elevated to higher levels of responsibility and authority only succumb to “THE PETER PRINCIPLE”. “Under the laws enforced by EEOC [Equal Employment Opportunity Commission], it is illegal to discriminate against someone because of that person’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information.” (eeoc.gov.) Note that the underlying principle is defined by using the words “illegal to discriminate”. You will find that the law does not state that it is “legal to elevate or appoint” anyone because of the same identifying characteristics. Those currently in control of our National government have flipped this law on its head, and the result is evidenced in that positions of power are not awarded based upon an individual’s history, training, or capabilities, but based on an ideology that pursues EQUITY leading to the inevitable outcome as set forth in “THE PETER PRINCIPLE”.

Our Nation became a world power by giving EQUAL opportunity for citizens to achieve elevated social and financial status. There was the pursuit for improvement, perfection, and a drive to invent, develop, and produce. The FREEDOM and LIBERTY provided by this Nation to its citizens allowed for the rapid advancement of our Nation in nearly every area. Unfortunately, with our current leadership, and the executive orders thrust upon us, the incentives once available no longer exist. If you desire to continue to live in a nation that treasures FREEDOM and LIBERTY, then you must resist the absurd forces that elevate the weak and unprepared, who claim the false right of EQUITY, who will only in the end, once again, prove the disastrous effects and the eventual MERGER with “THE PETER PRINCIPLE”.

Contagion: “The communication of disease by direct or indirect contact.” (dictionary.com.) Disease: “A condition or tendency, as of society, regarded as abnormal and harmful.” (Wordnik.com.) These are not the only definitions of these two words, but they are the ones we have selected today to emphasize the state of our Nation. When one hears the word CONTAGION, we are immediately drawn to thinking about something like a pandemic, COVID-19 for example with its associated mandates for closures and restrictions, masks and injections. Yes, that certainly was a CONTAGION, and we have spent multiple previous blogs dealing with the errors, fraud, misinformation, and outright tyranny that took place during the last two-plus years. However, we will set that huge CONTAGION aside for this blog. One might even be drawn to think about the movie of the same name which came out in 2011 where the CDC strives to find a cure to a pandemic. However, we will not be dealing with that form of a disease in this blog today. We will spend a few minutes reviewing the many forms of “Disease” having direct impacts upon or Nation. There is a CONTAGION spreading across the face of our Nation, and it is neither benign nor limited. It has taken on many forms, and is evolving and spreading each and every day. The short video above attempts to show how one person’s appearance or action seems often duplicated by another. Such it is with a CONTAGION. Maybe another short video will show how CONTAGION is transmitted from one to another.

Without people being even cognizant of what may be going on around them, they often succumb to the subtle influence of another. This NATIONAL CONTAGION can be passed from person to person, from group to group, from one entity to another. So, what is the CONTAGION infecting our Nation today? More generally, what are the CONTAGIONS?

FINANCIALISM: The CONTAGION of inflation has been rampant. Gas, food, rent, utility prices, and loan and mortgage rates have all gone up to unusually higher levels, and for the most part, will be there to stay at those higher levels for many months or even years to come. Supposed “transitory” inflation promises from current government entities have been found to be worthy of challenge, refute and rebuke. The value of the dollar as the accepted world currency is being challenged, as the more dollars being created subsequently reduces the value of each dollar in possession. Many banks have been found over-extended by offering loans without adequate collateral and have brought our entire financial system to the brink of collapse. The current government has bailed out their favored entities while allowing community banks to wonder about their future solvency. Will the current government push for a government-backed digital currency, one where they hold all the cards, where nothing is private to you and everything you spend is seen by the government, where buying and selling power can be manipulated according to woke ideologies.

SOCIALISM: The CONTAGION of Marxism has been on the rise in our Nation for years. It would seem many use that word inappropriately, ignorantly, most likely because of a lack of historical knowledge. We can also define it as communism, collectivism, leftism, radicalism, bolshevism, progressivism, Maoism or Leninism, totalitarianism, or liberalism. The emphasis has been on equity, not equality, where the desire for an individual to achieve, develop, and produce more becomes a futile effort. There is a desire to rob from the rich to give to the poor. There has been an attack on capitalism, demeaning its value in providing anyone with the opportunity to improve one’s economic and social standing in life, all the while promoting victimhood and racism across all functions and structures of our Nation.

SECULARISM: The CONTAGION of atheism and nihilism has supplanted more traditional religious values and principles. The morality of conscience and the dissolution of a one truth has been replaced with a philosophy that all things are permitted to achieve one’s personal agendas. Churches and synagogues have been attacked with little enforcement or accountability. Those who attend such facilities and organizations have been arrested and prosecuted. Lured and despotic teachings, writings, depictions, promotions, and visual presentations have been glorified in an attempt to mainstream all things counter to righteousness and purity. God is being replaced in our classrooms and institutions with satanism and other worldly, philosophical concepts. The core family, the base structure of our Nation, has been attacked and is being depleted. Babies are being killed in the womb, and the reason for procreation is being assailed. The emphasis on the individual has overshadowed the importance of community, where the dictum to “love one another” applies only if it will allow you can get what you want.

ILLEGALISM: The CONTAGION of corruption, dishonesty and falsehood has replaced integrity, honesty, and due process. “Lawfare” has been used to undermine our legal system of “justice for all”. What happened to the right to a fair, speedy trial, and a judgement by a jury of “peers”, one not chosen or selected based on potential favorable outcomes for the prosecutor. Lady Justice is no longer blind but weighs the outcomes of justice based on those in charge of the process. Laws are ignored and enforcement demanded is routinely curtailed in line with the agenda of those in power. Anarchists and criminals roam seemingly unafraid and are rarely held accountable. Incarcerations are deemed inappropriate, and many are released increasing recidivism. There is not a two-tier justice system, there in NO justice system as set forth in our Nation’s founding documents. Entities, established to protect our citizens, set up years after our Nation’s founding, have been maniacally turned on our own innocent citizens. The threat of legal action and prosecution drives opposing views and beliefs underground, and in many cases, silences them all together.

DEPRIVATIZATION: The CONTAGION of government control over private entities, processes, and the decision-making process has eroded the individual’s right to ownership of current and historical private information. Executive orders have forced commerce into chosen larger entities while forcing the closure of smaller proprietorships, creating a form of oligopolies. Website, phone and computer use applications are gathered routinely, scanned and culled with algorithmic and AI (Artificial Intelligence) systems to glean advantages that can be used to alter or terminate a user’s progress, even to the point of censorship, cancellation, or even to levy potential fines and incarceration. Not unlike ILLEGALISM, the actions of the powerful often force the under-advantaged into silence, fearing reprisal and underlying consequences.

ENVIRONMENTALISM: The CONTAGION of emphasis upon what we call “the sky is falling” hysteria is nothing more than a scare tactic being used to bring about an agenda favoring the powerful, those seeking ultimate control over all peoples and the governments that serve them. When “global warming” was proven to be a cyclical function of the world that has evolved for thousands of years, those seeking control changed the mantra to “climate change”. Of course the climate changes! Ever heard of “seasons’, like Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer? Being pompous enough to think that mankind has a greater impact upon our earth than volcanoes, earthquakes, tornados, or even forest fires only prove their ignorance and arrogance and reveals that their ultimate goal is to achieve personal agendas like obtaining ultimate power and wealth. Only those people void of a moral base, denying recognizing a Creator, will pursue such agendas.

Electric vehicles will not “save” us. Getting rid of fossil fuels will not “save” us. Turning our lives over to computers and those that program them will not “save” us. Believing that our National “elections” are not “selections” manipulated by nefarious actors, institutions, and contrivances will not “save” us. There is only one Savior, Jesus Christ, the King of King and Lord of Lords, raised from the dead by the power of God. If that last statement offends you, then you have a hole in your heart, and a CONTAGION in your mind. If we treasure our FREEDOM and LIBERTY in our Nation, then we need to recognize where those concepts come from. They certainly don’t come from any form of “NATIONAL CONTAGION” we have addressed in this blog. Recognize these CONTAGIONS and resist them. Inoculate yourself with knowledge and patriotism, to prove yourself worthy to be held in high esteem with those who founded our Nation, and with those who sacrificed their lives to keep it. Be proud of the foundations of our Nation and be ready to defend, preserve and protect them.

LAZARUS, COME FORTH!

We have come to the time of year when those of the Christian faith have chosen to celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The event this Sunday is often, unfortunately, buried beneath the fake green grass in baskets holding Easter bunnies, candy eggs, Peeps, and chocolate treats. We will not be emphasizing the egg hunts and sugar highs in our blog today. We will be emphasizing the more important event and attempting to draw some parallels to this demonstration of God’s power in giving hope to life beyond death.

The picture above is one artist’s conception of the event recorded in John, chapter 11, of the Bible. Lazarus had been dead and buried several days, but so witnesses would know that Jesus and God have the power over death, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth” (verse 43). “And he that was dead came forth . . .” (verse 44). This was most likely the primary event that thrust the Pharisees and chief priests into a joint operation to have the Roman government put Jesus to death, as He threatened their rule over the religious masses. Jesus had claimed a new kingdom was coming, and they feared the Roman government would see this claim as a threat to them and take away both the Pharisees and chief priest’s place and nation (verses 47-48). So, Jesus was crucified and buried John chapter 19). But this was not the end of the story. On Sunday, the power of God raised Jesus from the dead (John chapter 20). We do not follow a lie about Jesus’s resurrection, for over 500 people saw him at one time after his resurrection (I Corinthians 15:1-11). If we, as Christians today, were to put our faith, trust, and hope in a fictional event, then as Paul stated in I Corinthians 15:19, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.” For our hope lies in a resurrection from mortal death to an eternal spiritual life with our resurrected Lord. So, this ends our sermon today, but what does this have to do with our blog title today, “The Resurrection of Our Nation”?

As we discussed in our blog last week, we see that only God alone can breathe life into a Valley of Dry Bones. We, as a Nation, have become the Valley of Dry Bones today. We have lost our way, turned aside from our Creator by relying upon our own strength and cunning, by resting comfortably in a mortal life of ease, filled with our lust for the fulfillment of our wants and desires. Many of us have given up, succumbing to the pressures and dictates of a tyrannical government void of morality and Godly wisdom. We have started to wallow in self-pity and remorse, throwing our hands up in defeat and despair, believing all is lost and naught can be found. We have allowed ourselves to lay down in the Valley and the sinews and flesh on our bones has been torn from us leaving only Dry Bones. We have allowed this to happen to us, because we relied upon our own frail abilities, rather than having relied upon the power of our Creator, and we have turned our backs upon Him, the only one who has the ultimate power and wisdom to set our course and direct our steps. How pathetic many of us have become in our faith. So, what is the solution?

Well, it lies not within our power or might. We need to stand before the cave, next to Jesus, and witness the resurrection of Lazarus, hearing the words Jesus spoke to the Father before Lazarus came out of the cave (John 11: 41-42). Can you hear the words shouted, “LAZARUS, COME FORTH!” Do you recognize the power of the living God working through His Son, Jesus the Christ? We need to stand with the more than 500 who saw the resurrected Christ following His crucifixion. What we have is not a weak faith in a fairy-tale, but we have a witness that makes our faith a personal reality. The solution to our state of affairs is to recognize the power of our Creator and Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Make “AN APPEAL TO HEAVEN”, see our blog on August 8, 2022.

“The Resurrection of Our Nation” will happen by the power of our God, if we turn our hearts back to Him, and put our hope and trust in Him alone. Do we have a part to play? Of course. We must put our feet to our prayers, and our hands to the tasks before us. As Jesus sent out the twelve to share the news of the coming kingdom, we must take the same advice he gave to them and be “. . . wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16.) We know we are being sent out “. . . as sheep in the midst of wolves.” We will encounter trouble, resistance, and persecution, but we will not be alone or without aid, as long as we put our trust in Him who is able to sustain us. Our Nation’s FREEDOM and LIBERTY depend upon our resolve. If we want to see “The Resurrection of Our Nation”, we must all do our part as members of His army, The Valley of Dry Bones now alive with the breath of God to His glory.

HE IS RISEN!

We are going to take a slight diversion from our normal political commentaries, and for a moment delve into a more spiritual aspect of the status in which our Nation finds itself. We are going to transport the reader back some 2,600 years and recount some Biblical history. We find our subject today, a 25-year-old man named Ezekiel, a member of the tribe of Israel, being found now in the captivity of the Babylonian Empire. The once great nation of Israel, who by the power of God escaped the grasp of Egypt, is now captive once again. “Israel ” . . . was ‘dead’ as a nation, deprived of her land, her king, and her temple.” “She had been divided and dispersed for so long that unification and restoration seemed impossible. So, God gave Ezekiel THE VISION OF THE [VALLEY OF] DRY BONES as a sign.” (gotquestions.org; updated February 28, 2022; Bold print added for emphasis.) Ezekiel had suffered in despair for 5 years when God then called him to prophesy to Israel about her failures, but also to give her hope for the future.

The Old Testament of the Bible recounts the story of Ezekiel. Scholars believe most of the 48 chapters of the book of Ezekiel, considered to be one of the books of the Major Prophets, was written by him. The book is historical, prophetical, and apocryphal, written around the year 571 B.C. As a Priest and Prophet of God, the book recounts Ezekiel’s announcement of judgement upon Israel, calling them to repentance, to clean God’s nation of sins, but also foretelling of their coming deliverance and restoration. God’s people were obstinate and stubborn. They exhibited lewdness and abominations. They worshipped foreign idols and defiled themselves with moral and ceremonial transgressions. God denounced Israel’s leaders as false shepherds, caring not for their people, but only for themselves. This runs counter to the life of Jesus Christ who is depicted as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11), who gave his life for His sheep, healed as the Great Physician our spiritual wounds, who seeks and saves the lost (Luke 5:27-32). Ezekiel reveals that “The highest official will no longer be the king but rather the high priest, this indicating that political affairs shall always be made subordinate to religious considerations.” (cliffnotes.com.) Upon the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, He became our High Priest (Hebrews 2:17; 4:14-16). A few major themes are presented in the book of Ezekiel. “(1) God works through human messengers; (2) Even in defeat and despair God’s people need to affirm God’s sovereignty; (3) God’s word never fails; (4) God is present and can be worshipped anywhere; (5) People must obey God if they expect to receive blessings; and (6) God’s kingdom will come.” “Ezekiel challenged us to experience a life changing vision of God’s power, knowledge, eternal presence and holiness; to let God direct us; to comprehend the depth of and commitment to evil that lodges in each human heart; to recognize that God holds His servants responsible for warning wicked men of their peril; to experience a living relationship with Jesus Christ, who said that the new covenant is to be found in His blood.” (gotquestions.org; updated January 4, 2022.) The book of Ezekiel calls us to be overcomers, or we will be overcome.

More specifically in this blog, we want to focus in on “The Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones”, found in the book of Ezekiel, chapter 37. “God transported Ezekiel—probably not literally, but in a vision—to a valley full of dry bones and directed him to speak to the bones. Ezekiel was to tell the bones that God would make breath enter the bones and they would come to life, just as in the creation of man when He breathed life into Adam (Genesis 2:7). Ezekiel obeyed, the bones came together, flesh developed, skin covered the flesh, breath entered the bodies, and they stood up in a vast army. This vision symbolized the whole house of Israel that was then in captivity. Like unburied skeletons, the people were in a state of living death, pining away with no end to their judgment in sight. They thought their hope was gone and they were cut off forever. The surviving Israelites felt their national hopes had been dashed and the nation had died in the flames of Babylon’s attack with no hope of resurrection. The reviving of the dry bones signified God’s plan for Israel’s future national restoration. The vision also, and most importantly, showed that Israel’s new life depended on God’s power and not the circumstances of the people. Putting “breath” by God’s Spirit into the bones showed that God would not only restore them physically but also spiritually.” (gotquestions.org.)

So, how does this apply to us today in our Nation? Our Nation was first occupied with people seeking religious freedom. Our Nation was founded upon the principles of Judaism and Christianity. Prayers are said to open the activities of our congress. Secularists will fume at these declarative statements, but that is just too bad. We are “One Nation Under God”. “In God We Trust” is emblazoned on our currency. We are a religious Nation recognizing our Creator. Look at the carved edifices adorning our Supreme Court building where you will find Moses holding two tablets (what do you think they represent?). Carvings are also found inside, even showing Moses holding a tablet with numbers six through ten carved into it, those are the commandments having to do with human rather than divine relations. Our history and heritage is undeniable and inescapable.

Unfortunately, we have become a Nation who, as a whole, has lost our way. We have succumbed to the siren call of ease and comfort and been desensitized to reality. While we have lived in wanton filled pleasures and desires, we have allowed ourselves to avoid the call to be our better, more moral selves. We have been inundated with violence, even in movies and video games where it is considered acceptable to use violence to overcome evil. We have found it easy to fill our lives with phone and computer applications allowing us to avoid interpersonal relationships, while at the same time being able to broadcast sometimes our vilest thoughts, intentions, feelings and beliefs. We have allowed our children to run wild fearing that parental restraints would be met with ridicule, ostracism, conflict, and even incarceration by ungodly actors wielding unrighteous dictates from scheming authoritarian dictum-pushing dictators. We have even become fearful of what our children might say if we simply say “NO” to their demands. We have allowed the sinews and flesh on our spiritual bones to be torn from us, and the very breath of our God has been removed from many of us. We seem alive to our view, but in fact we ourselves are laying with others in a Valley of Dry Bones. The prophet Ezekial is calling out to us from ages past, declaring our state in relation to our Creator, but he is also showing us the path to the way home to our God.

We need to be refilled with the breath of our God. His Spirit needs to be infused into our skinless bones for us to be once again alive, an army for good, His created beings now once again His family and possession. If we truly desire FREEDOM and LIBERTY to reign in our lives and in our Nation, we must first turn our eyes toward He who created us, maintains us, and lifts us up to His glory and purposes. Only then can we as a Nation once again claim we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Are you now ready to lift up your hands in humble obedience and submission to His Will?