How the Media Controls Our Thoughts and Emotions

Have you ever considered what the media is doing to us individually and as a nation? 

I've never studied psychology, but I've always had a passion for truth and have observed the powerful effect that believing a lie (verses believing the truth) can have on a person's physical and mental well-being. Some people choose to believe a lie because their false illusion seems easier to handle than the truth, while others continually believe lies that are absolutely destructive because they are being manipulated by powerful forces that benefit when the masses believe those lies.  As the same lies are repeated over and over, like a hypnotic dangling watch, moving back and forth through their minds, they can no longer discern the truth from a lie. They have traded reality for an illusion.

 As propaganda was produced and distributed at record rates during (and after) the Great Depression, George Orwell noted that “useful lies were preferred to harmful truths”. He went on to say, “History stopped in 1936 – after that, there was only propaganda.” Misleading propaganda was used as psychological warfare by Hitler to gain power and to control his subjects.

Orwell’s statement could also be applied to the mainstream media today. A glimpse at leading headlines over the past three and a half years from CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, the NYT, and others have echoed the same destructive themes:

• The sky is falling! Worldwide doom is near.
• It’s all Trump’s fault! 
• The "orange man" is a monster. 
• We must get rid of Trump! 

These themes are all intentional for the purpose of sowing hatred, antagonism, and division.

After three years of lying to the public about collusion with Russia while burying the real collusion story surrounding the fake dossier, after repeatedly insisting that Kavanaugh’s accusers (now discredited) were telling the truth while denying Kavanaugh due process (yet now these same media outlets are discrediting Biden’s accuser without evidence, denying her press coverage, and burying the story), after repeatedly slandering Nicholas Sandman (only for his family to fight back through successful legal actions against mainstream outlets for libel), it should be obvious to all that the media is not telling the truth and will say or hide anything to promote their narrative. Yet, many Americans continue to choose to believe “The Big Lie” by consuming these exaggerated and/or deceptive headlines daily. The seed of hatred has taken root, and it's roots run deep, always hungry for more.

Then when COVID-19 became the focus, the same hate messaging continued, except this time, the hatred was compounded with unjustified fear, panic, and hysteria. The media profits from every click, so the worse the pandemic seems, the more revenues the media earns and the more negative outcomes they can falsely blame on Trump. Furthermore, the more the media exaggerates the threat of this virus, the more people will surrender their liberty to the control of tyrants who "own" the media. No matter what the facts reveal, no matter how contradictory statements may be from one week to the next, the same message has prevailed, “The virus is going to kill the masses, and it's Trump’s fault, so let’s all keep hating Trump.”

There are just too many examples to cite here, but I'll list a few. The media included ER clips from Italy and claimed it was filmed in New York. Other video clips supposedly taken inside emergency rooms showed staged mannequins on “hospital beds” instead of actual patients. Headlines claimed hospitals are facing dire shortages of equipment when the actual data indicated the opposite. Media headlines insisted hospitals did not have enough capacity, while actual resident photos showed empty triage tents. Hospital lay-offs across the nation provide further proof that hospital capacity is way below normal, not at capacity. The trending news story this weekend was the media’s attempt to misconstrue Trump’s off-the-cuff comments regarding the power of UV light to kill the virus into a crazy claim that Trump advised people to inject bleach directly into their bloodstream to kill the virus. This is not the telephone game we played as children. This is intentional deception, which some might call mind control or psychological abuse.

Regardless of our political leanings, the media will manipulate and control us if we let it. If we accept whatever they say as true without fact checking the information ourselves (by looking up source documents, the full transcript, or the full video for context), without considering the credibility of the source, without looking for repeated themes that reveal an agenda, without following the money, without running the calculations ourselves, without expanding the data or timelines for the bigger picture, without reading the entire article, without comparing one source’s information to another source holding the opposite perspective, then the media will control what we think and how we feel.

If the media is feeding negative emotions like hatred, bitterness, fear, anxiety, depression, or panic, turn it off. Odds are you are being lied to and have been programmed to only consume media that feeds those same toxic emotions. It is likely that you have been lied to so much you that you don’t even realize it and have no idea how much those emotions are hurting you and society in general. This often holds true whether your media sources are conservative or progressive, pro-Trump or never-Trump. While some are more honest and forthcoming about it than others, all media is biased. I saw it up close as freelance writer, and yet I have also let the media corrupt my thoughts and impact my emotions.

Let us consider what toxic emotions do to us physically.

Toxic emotions weaken our immune system making us more susceptible to colds and infections. Daily self-care (nutritious diet, sleep, exercise) suffers. Alcohol, drug, and tobacco abuse increases when we are emotionally unhealthy. Blood pressure, headaches, body aches, back pain, insomnia, fatigue, and sweating all increase. Appetite and weight changes are common. Stomach upset, chest pain, constipation, heart palpitations, and difficulty breathing are all symptoms of poor emotional health.

Let us consider what toxic emotions do to us emotionally.

Hatred, turned inward, will consume and distract us so that we cannot focus on meaningful tasks or on our relationships with others. Hatred will eat us up inside and make us miserable and angry. Hatred turned outward becomes destructive behavior, and it may even lead to violent crimes. It will leak out into our relationships with others and damage the relationships that matter most to us. Words and actions spewing from toxic emotions could cost us our job, reputation, marriage, and freedom.

Let us consider what toxic emotions do to us spiritually

Toxic emotions take our focus off God and lead us to obsess over our negative feelings. They lead us away from righteousness and into sin and darkness. They lead us away from wisdom and into folly. They stir up anger and wrath and cause  us to grieve the Holy Spirit. They keep us from God’s good and perfect plan for each of our lives. They rob us of joy. (Reference 1 John 2:11, Leviticus 19:17, James 1:19-20, Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 4: 25-31)

Given how these lies can harm and destroy us, let us throw off deception and cling to the truth. To know and discern the truth, we first must know (as in a personal relationship) the Truth, who is Christ, Savior and Lord.

"And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free!” (John 8:32)

We must reject falsehood and fill our hearts and minds with all that is true and wholesome.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.“ (Philippians 4:8)

We must choose love over hate.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven;" (Matthew 5:43-45a)

When Persecution Backfires: Trump Impeachment Scam

God uses adversity to strengthen us for His good purposes. Clay, molded by a craftsman, is strengthened in a fiery furnace to turn it into strong pottery that can withstand the fire day after day without cracking. Fire-danubing is the process of hardening wood over a fire or bed of coals to make a spear point. In metallurgy, fire is also used to refine or remove all impurities. Turn up the heat, and we only get better.

“Temper us in fire, and we grow stronger. When we suffer, we survive.” - Cassandra Clare

The left, in partnership with the mainstream media, international billionaire globalists, enemy nations, the FBI, etc. has been launching a massive, exorbitantly expensive (paid by taxpayers), coup against Trump since he campaigned for POTUS. The attacks have been brutal and relentless. They have falsely accused him of countless crimes they have already committed, repeatedly without legal consequences. Three years of investigation at the highest levels, illegal spying, and set-ups have delivered no evidence of crimes whatsoever, which is a most surprising for the best of men, for all have fallen (Romans 3:23), much less for someone with Trump's moral history. Yet just like the odds of tiny Israel surviving all these years while surrounded by much larger, powerful enemies unrestrained by common codes of ethics or war rules are nearly impossible were these people not chosen and protected by God, Teflon Don appears to be under similar protection, with each attack backfiring and strengthening his position.

The left fired their most powerful weapon this week through the House impeachment sham, yet Trump is now more popular and stronger than ever with his supporters and his party more unified. While many still question if Trump has any saving faith in God (myself included), God's hand in his work as POTUS is hard to deny. Trump has been a tremendous ally to people of faith and especially to persecuted Christians in America and around the world. He has fought for the right to life for the unborn, defunded the evil power player Planned Parenthood, greatly improved the care given to veterans, helped reduce human trafficking, provided resources to fight and prevent drug addiction, raised income levels for all, especially the poor and the middle class, provided more jobs than any POTUS before him with women and minorities benefiting the most, improved national security for the US and her allies, enabled the USA to become energy independent, won trade wars previously believed to be impossible, initiated peace discussion between North and South Korean for the first time ever, called out the corruption and abuses by the UN and foreign nations while holding corrupt US government entities accountable (I'm still waiting on the DOJ to deliver indictments though), and lifted up the nation of Israel more than any POTUS before him - all while under relentless attack. I pray that as he considers all these things, he comes to true saving faith in the one and only God who is his true strength and shield and who is guiding/equipping/helping him to do great things for America.

The left's greatest weapon made him stronger than ever while greatly weakening and dividing their party and exposing their own corruption. If that didn't take him down, then what hope do they have of undoing the will of the people who elected him? So let us not fear adversity but welcome it and allow it to make us stronger in faith, conviction, courage, and resolve. And let us be faithful to pray for our President and for all our leaders.

Trump Was Not the Real Winner in the Mueller Investigation

Source:  truthfeed.com

Lots of people are calling the Mueller report a win for Trump. I'm certainly glad all the illegal spying and Mueller's part of the ridiculously expensive witch hunt (most comprehensive investigation ever), which was based on pure slander (even the most liberal medial moguls admitted behind closed doors that the Russia collusion story was completely false from the beginning), to overthrow a surprisingly successful POTUS, is finally over and that his innocence has been upheld.

But I don't see how Trump was truly a winner in this investigation. Trump was rightly exonerated, but he has been denied the presumption of innocence by the powerful mainstream media and most Democratic leaders for years. Trump, his family, and hundreds of associates or contacts have suffered more for crimes they did not commit than the political elite before them have ever faced for heinous crimes we know they committed such as Benghazi, Uranium 1, Pay-for-Play, Clinton's emails, rigging the Democratic primary, illegally redirecting DNC contributions into Hillary's campaign and the subsequent DNC buy-out & takeover, etc.

I'm relieved that the mainstream media and both the Democrats and Deep State Republicans who have been conspiring for the past two years to overthrow Trump have been exposed for their repeated slander. They hoped to falsely create a dark shadow over Trump's presidency and to distract from all his achievements for the good of the majority of Americans. I hope those who actually believed all the lies are more discerning now and recognize the hatred and coup attempt behind so much of the media's words and works.

If there is a real winner in all this, it's Russia. Russia has been using social media and hackers to interrupt our elections for many years. That much is no new revelation. They spread lies through these platforms that hurt both political parties because Putin's goal isn't to side with one party or the other, but rather to stir up hatred and dissension which ultimately divides and weakens us. The mainstream media, Democrats, and Trump haters from every political persuasion have thrown our nation under Putin's foot by believing and spreading this slander. Instead of working for the nation's good, they have torn it apart. Visit Democratic led cesspools like Chicago, Seattle, New York, and San Francisco and talk to the homeless and drug addicts living in the excrement covered streets or in the desperate neighborhoods consumed with gang violence for a few ideas of where these leaders should have been spending their time and taxpayer money instead of attacking Trump's family with false accusations and unjustified investigations.

Consider all the lies hurled at Kavanaugh and what he and his family suffered for months during the judicial hearings, not based on any evidence, but purely on political hatred. The Trump family and all associated with them have been through similar persecution for over two years. Some are rotting in prison for lesser crimes that had nothing to do with Russia collusion. When will it end?

Until we can move past our hatred, demand an honest press, and uphold truth over our personal political preferences or vendettas, America will remain the loser. The only way that Americans can truly win is to come together as one nation under God again.

The Vanity and Irony of Progressive "Feminism"

I find it ironic that progressives claim to be pro-woman, yet they continue to so cruelly abuse some of the strongest, most respectable and influential women in our nation, simply because they work for Donald Trump. Few could withstand the daily harassment and vindictive commentary aimed at Sarah Sanders, who sat quietly throughout the White House Correspondents' dinner whiles the news outlets' paid comedian viciously belittled her for her outward appearance (something a misogynist would do) while failing to notice her impeccable character through it all. Sanders could have brilliantly defended herself, launching sly verbal punches that put them all in their place. Instead, she chose the high road and committed to pray for them.

“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)

When vindictive mobs attacked Sanders at a restaurant while she was trying to enjoy a dinner with her in-laws (who are registered Democrats), she left without retaliation.  She hoped by missing out, her family could eat in peace, but the mob still followed them while volleying continued insults.

A progressive mob at a Mexican restaurant acted like wild animals in an effort to shame Kirstjen Nielsen over misinformation spread by the corrupt media, ruining a rare evening out with her husband. Yet, Nielsen exercised self-control, refusing to return evil for evil.

Nikki Haley has boldly confronted the entire United Nations when repeatedly when delegates have ganged up against her. She refused to back down, no matter how many threats they made and without fear of the powerful ties to terrorists they may have. Other nations who may not have had the courage to stand alone as she did, but they have followed America's lead. Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capitol is just one example.  Unlike Clinton and Kerry, she isn’t trading our national security for cash, caving to their pressure, or inventing fake theories to line her own pockets. She is an unstoppable force, driven by American patriotism and love of virtue.

Kellyanne Conway has also exhibited this same level of integrity and tough-mindedness displayed by these other women in Trump’s administration. Such strength, courage, and integrity should make every woman proud, yet progressive feminists hate these conservative women with a vengeance, for progressive feminists are not pro-woman at all. They are loyal only to their political cult, throwing any woman under the bus who does not support their socialistic, oppressive, misguided agenda.

Progressives call Trump a misogynist and a sexist. These terms describe someone who despises, dislikes, disrespects and discriminates against someone based on gender. Even with all of Trump’s past immoral conduct toward women, at least during his tenure as POTUS, he has shown far more respect for women than the progressive feminists who continuously attack him and the courageous women he has chosen.  

He has appointed more women into higher government positions than any POTUS before him. He hasn’t appointed them simply because they are women, so he can check a box to curry favor with voters, as did his predecessor. He appointed them because they are extremely qualified for their respective roles. Kellyanne Conway turned his campaign around delivering a surprising victory. She was the first woman to achieve that milestone. Sarah Sanders may very well be the most gifted press secretary in U.S. history, handling the most ferocious attacks on the president with sound reasoning, calm composure, and skillful rhetoric. Kirstjen Nielsen is holding up well under unprecedented pressure which includes threats of bodily harm and extreme verbal abuse. Nikki Haley's work with the UN is so unprecedented many predict she will become America's first female president.

It is uncharacteristic of a misogynists or a sexist to appoint such strong and accomplished women. If a misogynist were to appoint any woman at all, he would choose a weak woman who would make him look strong in comparison. He would choose women he could easily control. That’s what insecure, weak bullies do, after all, from the kindergarten playground to the White House.  Bullies surround themselves with weak, incompetent people and attack those whom they fear may overshadow them.

Progressives are especially irritated by these conservative women because they aren’t suffering or caving to their harsh criticisms or public abuse. Each arrow progressives shoot at these women has a boomerang effect. Just as fire refines gold and hardens clay, the progressive attacks only make these women stronger. None of this persecution can shake these women, nor can they break any devoted Christian for a crucial reason that secular progressives cannot understand.

Strong Christian women aren’t defined by the opinions or criticisms of others. They never give anyone else that power over them. Their identity and worth are secure in Christ, who treasures them infinitely, having paid the ultimate price for them. And unlike the fickle opinions of others, His love and His truth never ever change. Their lives have eternal significance and great purpose, and they are faithful to their calling. True believers need not fear nor be  dismayed because the Lord is their God. They know He will strengthen and help them by His righteous hand. (Isaiah 41:10). They know He will never leave or forsake them. (Deuteronomy 31:6) They confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6)  Their power comes from an infinite source, so no one can vanquish it or crush their spirits.

They build their lives on the rock, not on shifting sand. Thus, when the storms come, they continue standing tall and secure like a lighthouse giving truth and light to warn and to save the lost. (Matthew 7:24-25)

Godly women are responsible and wise stewards of all God has entrusted into their care. They do not rely on the government for all their needs.  Anyone may need some assistance from time to time, but conservatives do not take advantage of the system. Christian conservatives trust in God who provides and equips His people with everything good that they may need do His will, working in them that which is pleasing in His sight through Christ for His glory. (Hebrews 13:21) Faithful conservative Christian women do not force other people to fund their birth control or make taxpayers pay their preborn baby assassins (aka Planned Parenthood). They take responsibility for themselves and exercise self-control. They are wise enough to avoid an unplanned pregnancy whenever possible. They refuse to let others convince them that they are to too weak to either place a child for adoption or to nurture, protect, provide, and parent anther sacred human life. 

Women of God are free from others' control. They don't let oppressors make decisions for them. They seek truth and wisdom from God so they can make right choices on their own, without allowing the whims of others to enslave them.

Godly women do not tear down others to make themselves look better. Women aren’t lifted up when men are torn town. Women aren’t given value by pretending they are the same as men. Their value is intrinsic and comes from God, but their greatness is most evident when their unique differences are celebrated and both men and women exercise their different qualities in complementary, synergistic ways to build up the community as a whole.

Women don’t earn respect when quotas and EEO laws give them untouchable status in jobs they are unqualified or unwilling to perform well but receive simply because of their gender. Women grow in  self-respect as they achieve without handouts or free passes. Women who respect themselves and clothe themselves with dignity are more likely to gain the respect of others and be treated likewise.

If we want to elevate and esteem women in our culture, let us lift up as role models strong, confident, courageous, women of faith who demonstrate true integrity, service, humility, self-discipline, and respect toward others and themselves. Let's provide them with equal opportunity instead of guaranteeing unmerited equal outcomes to the detriment or our entire society.

Those who refuse to lift others up or who ruthlessly tear down those who intimidate them actually expose the true greatness in those they attack while revealing their own immature, insecure, selfish hearts. Let us leave the childish bullying days behind us and begin strengthening one another, nurturing faithfulness, encouraging personal responsibility, respecting human dignity, and showing mutual respect.

But to those who insist on continuing the bullying, name calling, and childish ways, know that it's all in vain. Your lies and your insults will never to stick to those who are His.  

The State of the Union Address 2018 Reveals Trump's Heart

Before the State of the Union Address, I considered some of the glaring contrasts between Trump's first year in office and Obama's eight.  Here is just a sampling:

• Trump worked to restore America; Obama sought to destroy our great nation.
• Trump's actions helped stimulate the economy while Obama told Americans to just adjust to the economic downturn, for Obama's economy was as good as it would ever get.
• Trump restored relationships with America's allies while taking a firm stand against those who threaten our security.  He freed up our military to defeat most of ISIS. Obama, on the other hand, expressed hatred, disdain, disrespect for America's allies while pretending to negotiate with terrorists. Obama and Hillary armed and illegally funded terrorist groups and built up Iran's nuclear capacity. Meanwhile those same terrorist groups killed and/or raped both our people and our assets.
• Trump defended the right to life for our most precious and innocent children while Obama promoted and significantly expanded federal funding of the murder of millions via abortion.
• Trump sought to shrink the government while Obama grew it far beyond the founding fathers' worst nightmare.
• Trump significantly decreased the deficit within his first year in office; Obama raised the national debt more than all previous presidents combined.
• Trump acknowledges that America was established under God and for His glory and attributes our greatness to God's goodness. Meanwhile, Obama continues to hate and blaspheme the Almighty.
• Trump upholds freedom and the American dream. Obama pushed for a socialist state in which each person depends upon the government for everything, even their own thoughts.
• Trump's leadership helped dramatically decrease unemployment, which especially benefited hard-working minorities and women, resulting in the lowest unemployment rate for blacks in United States history. Conversely, Obama paid states to increase their welfare doles to ensure government dependence while suppressing GDP, job creation, and innovation and crushing the human spirit by depriving gifted Americans of the dignity, self-respect,  and confidence that meaningful work brings.
• Trump put more money back into the pockets of hardworking taxpayers and brought back tremendous investment to the United States. Obama robbed every taxpayer to put money in the pockets of corrupt cronies and into the coffers of those who hate freedom.
• Trump has sought to uphold the Constitution while Obama strove to dismantle it.

After the State of the Union Address (SOTU), there is much that could be said about Trump's awesome speech, which may very well be the most inspiring SOTU in my lifetime (or at least on par with Reagan's), but instead, I just want to point out one key takeaway from his speech that gives me the most hope.

With this speech, Trump revealed his heart. Trump may be rough around the edges and speak his mind without a filter, but there is no longer any doubt now that he loves America. He loves Americans of every economic, social, ethnic/racial, political, and religious background and wants to do whatever brings about the most good for them. He loves the faith and values upon which America was founded and understands that America and all she represents would come crashing down if those foundations are shaken or removed. Trump loves liberty and all who seek it and preserve it. 

Source:  The Federalist https://goo.gl/images/LXHxJ3

All the hatred, vitriol, slander, false accusations, illegal spying, attempted set-ups, and constant, coordinated attacks to bring him down have not hindered his love or stopped him from pursuing that which is good for America. These attacks would be an enormous distraction for anyone else and have surely kept him from accomplishing much more, but none of those assaults ever seem to stick to Trump because they are hurled out of hatred which is no match for love.

We can have hope because our wrecking ball POTUS loves America more than he loves himself. And he is inspiring American dreamers to also overcome hatred with love, to build each other up when the haters try to tear us down, to defeat fear by holding on to faith, to come together when the haters try to tear us apart, to rise to greatness instead of bowing to statists, and to stop obsessing over what others may think of us and simply do what is right.

Trump is a unique and complicated package with traits we like and those we find repulsive, but let us not forget that the greatest of all these qualities is love. Love conquers all.

Examining our own hearts in light of continued racism, hatred, and violance

As hatred, violence, division, and accusations mount (according to plan), perhaps we should first honestly examine our own hearts in light of God's truth before reacting in unhealthy, destructive, volatile ways, fueled by the heightened and irrational emotions evoked by the media's false narratives, angry attacks, distortions, exaggerations, and outright lies. I have written in second person to engage others, but only after asking myself each of the questions below.
_________________________________________________

"Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses." (Proverbs 10:21)

• Is your heart consumed with hatred or with love? 
• Are you praying for God's love to touch and redeem your enemy, or are you praying for him to suffer?

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 "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives..." (James 4:3)

• Do you really expect God to hear your prayers if you pray outside of his will....wishing harm on others instead of good, simply because the media or some well-funded radical group told you that you should hate them? 

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” (Psalm 66:18)

Note:  Regarding iniquity refers to deliberate, habitual, unrepentant sin.  It is placing one's desire to sin over their desire for God.  We all fall short, and God's grace is not dependent upon our works, but a truly repentant heart that receives the grace and redemption of God will hate one's sin and ask for God's help to overcome it instead of shaking one's fist at God and insisting He can't have that area of their life.  Such defiance is rejecting the Lord, not receiving Him.

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2 "For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,
speaking against me with lying tongues.
3 They encircle me with words of hate,
and attack me without cause.
4 In return for my love they accuse me,
but I give myself to prayer.
5 So they reward me evil for good,
and hatred for my love." (Psalm 109:2)

• Are you slandering and attacking others without cause? Whether or not you agree with them is irrelevant. If they have offended you, then that is your problem, not theirs, for we are each individually responsible for how we respond to the words and actions of another. No one has the power to offend us unless we willingly give it to him. 
• How has the subject of your ire legitimately and truthfully (media narratives do not count because they are often unreliable) harmed you to warrant your attacks? 
• Are you returning evil for good or good for evil? 
• Are you seeking vengeance or trusting in the Lord's justice and goodness?

"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'" (Romans 12:19)

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"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves." (Romans 13: 1-2)

• Are you mad at God for allowing Trump to be elected? 
• Or are you a Republican upset over the fact that your state elected a DNC pawn as it's governor?
• Do you really think God makes mistakes? 
• Are you suggesting that you know better than the omniscient One who made you and who is the source of wisdom and truth? (John 14:6, Proverbs 2:6) 
• Are you subjecting yourselves to the authorities God has established or rebelling against them out of selfishness and without Biblical mandate?

"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2: 1-4)

• Are you praying for your leaders and seeking peace with your brethren, or do you wish injury and shame upon him?

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"31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4: 25-32)

"6Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3: 5-17)

• Are you verifying statements before repeating them in slander?
• Are you ready to forgive, or are you storing up resentment?
• Are you choosing to be thankful or bitter?
• Do you view all people, regardless of social class, race, or gender as your brother or sister, worthy of respect, acknowledging that you are nothing without Christ and no better than anyone else?
• Do you strive to obey God in all things, asking Him to help you when you fall short, ever grateful for His mercy and grace?
• Are you opening your entire life, every decision, word, thought, action, and heart's desire to Him so that He can redeem and transform you? Alternatively, do you only obey Him when it is politically correct or convenient? 
• Is He Lord over your life or do you think you have authority over Him and are thus better able judge what is right and wrong, just and unjust? 
• Do you insist that you know better than God does with regard to His word, omitting the parts you find uncomfortable and clinging only to those that fit your narrative and make you feel good? 
• Is your life consistent with the knowledge that we will never experience freedom from sin, lasting joy, or peace until we become so uncomfortable with the reality of our sin that we choose God over our unholy lusts and humbly repent? Until He is Lord over all, He is not your Lord at all.
• Do you do all things to honor Christ or to exalt yourself?
• Are you a peacemaker? Do you put the interests of others before your own? (Philippians 2:4)
• Do you acknowledge that Christ is the only one who can unite us all and give us peace? Is He your only hope and heart's desire, or are you still trusting in earthly powers and fleeting carnal enticements?

The real reason Americans are so angry and divided and what to do about it

Extreme polarization, disunity, anger, rioting, violence and overall civil unrest have escalated in America at an alarming rate over the past decade.  The information age and the rapid rise of social media networks have contributed to these negative trends by increasing the dissemination of information and by facilitating the erosion of credibility among information producers.  Anyone can present himself as an expert and spread false information, "fake news", or misleading opinions without accountability.

Media producers profit more by publishing sensational stories with click-bait titles than they do by publishing thoughtful insights and verified facts.  Smart phones and social media saturate users with so much information 24/7 that few have the time or patience to read media that is more than 500 words or that requires in-depth thought, so the media is mostly dumbed-down to emotional sound bites that make consumers FEEL intense emotions without having to think much at all.  Opinions and talking points are virtually absorbed by osmosis, and once those opinions are established, social media intensifies those opinions through algorithms that feed consumers only what reinforces those opinions. This confirmation bias closes minds and hearts to differing perspectives. This refusal to consider or evaluate opposing opinions has turned some of America's most elite universities, where the marketplace of ideas once fueled innovative thought and mutual understanding, into censorship zones where only the most liberal philosophies are permitted a voice. Polarization is a natural outcome of a refusal to expose oneself to opposing viewpoints.  Since no persuasive arguments or thoughtful defenses are needed to support a common opinion in such censored environments, any attempt by an outsider to engage in meaningful dialogue or respectful debate is immediately shut down by resorting to name calling ("hater", "bigot", "sexist", or any combination of vulgar expletives) or by simply disengaging.  Those who refuse to conform to this herd mentality have been persecuted, whether by exclusion, fines, bullying, or violence. 

Social media has also removed the filter that face-to-face interactions provide, emboldening users to say online what they would never say in person. Sociologists consider social media to be a primary contributor to the problems of isolation, depression, low self-esteem, and the inability of many Millennials and heavy media users to develop meaningful face-to-face relationships with others. Strong interpersonal relationships are the glue that unites a society, so the less we relate to one another in real life, the less peace and unity we will experience overall.

These tensions have especially intensified since the rise of Black Lives Matter which encouraged the killing of police officers simply because of their profession.  Then when Hillary did not win the election as expected, the rioting began again, especially among entitled young people who do not know how to handle disappointment because their hovering parents never let them fail, and their teachers and coaches gave every kid an award or a trophy.  The media certainly paints a grim picture of the current state of the nation with angry, violent, grieving, hysterical Americans acting as though the world has ended.

With sincere concern for the emotionally distraught, I must point out that none of us, regardless of political or religious affiliation, should ever overreact to anything the media presents as emotionally charged click bait, especially when it is void of accurate facts or specifics.  The angrier and more emotional Americans become, the more the media profits. Some media outlets have been caught flat out lying to perpetuate the negative emotions that are so profitable for them.

To those tempted to hysteria, consider how much your heart and blood pressure, your doctors, and everyone around you would thank you if would simply ignore the exaggerated claims until you have the facts and can understand the full context.  Just as wise parents ignore their toddlers when they throw temper tantrums for no reason, those in authority will discount all whining and protesting done in ignorance.  Truly, unjustified anger serves no constructive purpose, but if left unchecked, can easily turn into bitterness that grows to destroy the one who harbors it.  (Ecclesiastes 7:9,  Proverbs 16:32, Ephesians 4:26-31, James 1:19-20, , Colossians 3:8, James 4:1-2)

"Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;  do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land." (Psalm 37:8-9)

The Biblical account of Jacob and Esau points out how quickly anger, even if sparked by legitimate injustice, can grow into hatred that morphs into psychopathic behavior.  Esau went from anger to hatred to plotting to murder his brother in a very short time period. (Genesis 27:41)  Esau is not unlike many Americans.  Ever since Trump's inauguration, the news has been filled with examples of angry insults, violent protests, Madonna's desire to bomb the White House, individual threats to assassinate Trump, over 12,000 tweets calling for Trump's assassination, and an extremely profane speech at a Black Lives Matter protest calling for killings across the White House and beyond.  The anger in America is out of control, and it is completely unjustified.  When have any of these angry protestors had personal interactions with Trump in which Trump hurt them in such a way as to justify the death sentence?  Esau could at least point out that Jacob had tricked him out of his birthright and out of his father's blessing, yet God's complete disapproval of Esau's hatred is clear, for the Hebrew word used to describe Esau's hatred of Jacob is the same root word from which the name Satan is derived.

When we are personally angry and frustrated or when our nation is filled with hostility and division, we must stop reacting emotionally and start thinking critically.  We must carefully consider not only what is true in any situation (instead of what the media wants us to believe), but even more importantly, we need to identify the true source for our anger.  We can probably all agree that the technological age and the rise of social media have made the tensions worse, but most would place the blame on the person at whom their hatred is directed.  Republicans blamed Obama. Obama blamed Bush. Black Lives Matter blamed police officers of any color.   Now the blame for so much division and instability in America is being collectively placed on Trump and his supporters.

While the loudest protestors insist that Trump is the source of their angst, God's word offers a different answer.

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? ² You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. (James 4:1-2a)

People are angry because they did not get what they expected or wanted.  Entitled people do not know how to handle disappointment. They believe all the negative media published to incite fear and cannot bring themselves to accept any other scenario than the one they demand or to hope that their worst fears will not be realized. When Obama was elected, conservatives wrestled with the same feelings of disappointment, fear, and despair for the same reason. They did not get what they wanted, but they had to accept the truth for what it is and move forward with faith in God and without fear of man.

Our refusal to let go of bitterness, fear, and resentment is also rooted within ourselves.  Fear is the absence of faith. We will never be at peace as long as we refuse to trust in the sovereignty and goodness of God.

"I am deeply persuaded that the primary reason we complain, grumble, and accuse is because the sovereignty of God doesn’t rule in our heart."  - Paul David Tripp

In a devotional entitled, "The Sovereignty of Words" (read it here), Paul David Tripp describes the pure, edifying, peaceful speech that flows out of a heart steadfastly ruled by God's sovereignty, no matter what trials may come. I have quoted a portion from Tripp's post below.

"When people frustrate us, when our plans are thwarted, and when suffering enters our door, our lips dispense words laced with anger, bitterness, envy, doubt, confusion, and fear. All of these emotions are given room to grow when there is a void of rich understanding and belief in the sovereignty of God.

We have forgotten that God’s dominion is an eternal dominion and he does as he pleases (Daniel 4:34-35). We don’t remind ourselves that his judgements are unsearchable and his ways inscrutable (Romans 11:33). We have neglected to meditate on the truths that God rules over the specific details of our lives for his glory and our good (Acts 17:26-27, Ephesians 1:4-6, 20-22 and many more)."

Entitlement thinking says, "You owe me.  Give me what I deserve."  God's word, on the other hand, teaches us that none of us is righteous (Romans 3: 9-20), and what we truly deserve is death (Romans 6:23).

Mercy is not getting what we deserve. Grace is getting what we do not deserve.  Jesus died to save us from the eternal death we deserve and to give us what we could never earn or merit on our own (forgiveness, purification, a personal relationship with Him, and eternal life with Him in Heaven).  Through Christ's death on our behalf on the cross, He offers both mercy and grace to all who will believe and put their trust in Him as Lord over their lives. 

²⁰ When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. ²¹ What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! ²² But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Romans 6:20-23).

Entitlement thinking leaves no room for grace, so let us humble ourselves before the Lord, acknowledging how much we have fallen short of His perfect standard.  (Romans 3: 9-20)

 "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." (Romans 12:3)

Fear leaves no room for hope, joy, or peace. Replace fear with faith and love.  (Deuteronomy 1:21, Deuteronomy 3:2, Deuteronomy 3:22, Deuteronomy 10:12, Deuteronomy 20:3, Joshua 8:1, Joshua 10:8, Judges 6:23, Psalm 23:4, Psalm 91:5, Psalm 46:2, Proverbs 19:23, Isaiah 41:10-14, Isaiah 43:5, Isaiah 44:8, Isaiah 54:14, Isaiah 57:11, 1 John 4:18, and more... 

"The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" 
(Psalm 118:6)

Deception leaves no room for truth or peace.  So let us throw off our old ways of thinking and think Biblically with a sound mind and an earnest desire for God's whole truth and perfect wisdom.

Instead of harboring bitterness, we must forgive as Christ forgives His followers.

"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14-15) 

Ephesians 4 provides great instructions on how to curb our anger and fear in such uncertain times, but it requires a willingness and a commitment to growing in maturity and unity.

"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

⁷ But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it....

^...11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work....

^...22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. ²⁵ Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ²⁶ “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold. ²⁸ Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

January 2017 Women's March

What exactly is the women's march protesting?

It couldn't be foul comments Trump made over a decade ago because they didn't seem to mind when Bill Clinton was actually DOING the very same things Trump merely mentioned and worse while still in office.

It couldn't be Trump's foul mouth because Lena Dunham, feminist spokesperson who sexually abused her sister and regularly abuses the public by showing off her privates, says FAR worse to bring out the most carnal nature of both men and women.

It couldn't be a march for women's basic human rights because they celebrate the fact that at least 32,000,000 women have been denied the right to live in an excruciating, barbaric manner through abortion. 

It couldn't be concerns over financial support for moms because the plan Ivanka put forth benefits all mothers in the workplace and those working hard to raise respectable children at home.

It couldn't be suppression of women because they have voiced their support for Islamic extremists who bind and hide their wives in burkas and do not allow them to go out into public, speak out, receive proper education, or live in any way as they please so they can focus only on bowing down to their oppressive masters whose militias take women as sex slaves during their violent conquests.

It couldn't be a march for gay rights because they oppose those who want to to wipe out ISIS - the group that inspired the killing of 49 members of the gay community in just one attack in Orlando.

It couldn't be a march for tolerance because they have little to no tolerance for white males, Christians, or conservatives who are persecuted on a regular basis by groups they support here in America. 

What exactly has them so upset, and what will this march accomplish?  I appreciate the efforts to keep it peaceful, though, so kudos for that.

Presidential Inauguration 2017: A Call for Unity, Patriotism, and Prayers to God

I'd like to commemorate this historic Inauguration Day by sharing a few thoughts I had throughout the day.

Early AM
I've been working through Beth Moore's study, The Patriarchs.

  
This morning's lesson was from Genesis 27 and specifically addressed Esau's hatred of Jacob and the way he consoled himself by plotting to kill his brother (Genesis 27:41). This lesson seemed quite timely given the plots already uncovered by investigative teams to set off bombs during the Inaugural events and the arrest of at least one man (a friend of the Clintons) who pledged to kill the incoming President.  (By 1:00 pm, Fox News was reporting at least 90 arrests made within the vicinity of the Inaugural events.)

Beth Moore explains in the study guide that the Hebrew word used in Genesis 27:41 to describe Esau's feelings toward his brother is "satam" which means to hate, to harass, to nurse hostility and bitterness toward someone or to attack physically. This word shares the same root as the Hebrew verb "satan" which means to accuse, slander, harbor animosity toward another and with the masculine noun "satan" which means "adversary, accuser", from which we get the name Satan. 

Whether one's bitterness and anger flow out of being treated unfairly, not getting what one wants, or out of some false characterization of someone with no evidence or hint of truth, when negative emotions are encouraged by the culture and allowed to swell exponentially to the point that someone is consoling himself with thoughts of murder, that person's behavior has become clinically psychopathic.

Here's my concern. When we live in a culture that tries so desperately to normalize abnormal behavior, emotions go unchecked and psychopathic behaviors increase.

Satan is the father of lies with murderous intentions (John 8:44). He is the arch enemy, the epic accuser, and destroyer of all that is good. The spirit of Satan is what pushes people to attack, accuse, slander, hate, destroy, and plot murder.

Let us pray not just for safety for Trump, his family, and his executive team, but also for Satan's grip on our culture to be loosened and for our hearts to be turned from hatred and fear to love and faith. The battle is the Lord's, but we are commanded to pray, resist the devil, and humble our ourselves in repentance before the Lord. Pence knows that is what we need most, so he chose to take his oath while placing his hands on 2 Chronicles 7:14 which reads, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."


Around Noon
My kids got to watch the Inauguration at school today, and even though many different demographics with very different political views were present in each room, they watched together peacefully and respectfully. I wish more adults could be as mature as those K-12 students, but I sure am grateful their school let them watch history in the making.

I was impressed with Trump's speech. He's learned a lot since his campaign first began and moved considerably toward calmer, more unifying speech.  He's also been listening to a lot of committed Christians who have been teaching him God's word. That's what the evangelical team and Ben Carson have stated anyway, and it seems to show.

What were your favorite quotes from Trump's speech today?
Here are a few I liked (from memory so may not be quoted exactly):
  

• "We aren’t transferring power from one administration to the other or from one party to the other. We are transferring power from Washington, D.C. back to you the people."

(Populist sounding maybe but necessary to swing the pendulum back from tyranny toward a true Republic)

• "When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice." 

(Even more so when we open our hearts to God)

•  "How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!" 

(He was quoting Psalm 133:1.)

• "We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action – constantly complaining but never doing anything about it."

(WITHIN their legal limits - not legislating from the bench or through excessive, far-reaching executive orders, please)

• "Whether we are black, brown, yellow, or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriotism....we all enjoy the same freedoms and salute the same flag."  

(Rough paraphrase here, but it sounded like he was trying to emphasize how we are all equally valuable as human beings and need to unify as Americans)

• "May God Bless America!" 

 (I don't know about you, but I sure have missed that phrase.)

I also greatly appreciate the way he acknowledged that while it is the government's responsibility (and all American's) to build up, support, and respect our military forces and law enforcement officers, ultimately our protection comes from God Almighty. Now may we humble ourselves before the Lord of Grace and pray for His sovereign protection which we most certainly do not deserve. The Bible is filled with promises to protect those who call out to Him.  (A few examples are Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 5:11, 20:1, 36:7, 57:1, 59:1, 63:7, chapter 121, 140:4, Isaiah 41:10, 2 Thessalonians 3:3.)

An Election in Which Truth and Justice Become Bigger Issues than Partisan Politics

My biggest frustration with this entire election season and politics in general is how much voting is based on opinion instead of facts. We should all agree that the media is biased, so the tendency is to pick and choose media outlets that share our bias instead of researching the facts for ourselves to verify that it is true. I try to practice the 5-step validation process I shared in a blog post previously to check what I post here to ensure that it is valid, but it takes time, so I still have plenty of information to verify and fact check before sharing more here.

When the FBI releases their report of findings from the Clinton email and Clinton Foundation investigations, we will have confirmed information (much of which is already available and verified through WikiLeaks's released emails) which NONE OF US (not even Clinton's most vehement opponents) wants to be true. These facts will matter far more than the candidates' personalities or character and  possibly more than their party platform goals. The truth in these cases has the potential to negatively impact every single American regardless of race, gender, sexual preference, religion, or political affiliation. Even though what is on the line crosses all party lines, how we vote in the POTUS race should directly impact the long term outcome.

I would like to hint at those findings by parsing through today's headlines to find a few key facts. (Note:  Facts, not opinions, are what truly matter, so verify everything) The FBI claims they are 99% confident that their findings will result in an indictment of Hillary (and likely Huma, Weiner, Podesta, Lynch, Mills, and others). Emails released by WikiLeaks reveal coordinated collusion between the DOJ and the White House to ensure that Hillary was not indicted even though Comey listed a large number of felonies committed through her careless handling of sensitive email on national television, and it's all summarized in FBI reports found here. So assuming this collusion continues, we can expect repeated interference from Lynch to thwart justice on the reopened email investigation and the Clinton Foundation investigation as well.

Clinton supporters prefer to ignore WikiLeaks despite the growing evidence (Colin Powell, Donna Brazile, Debbie Wasserman-Shultz) that validates the authenticity and accuracy of these leaked emails. They also insist the FBI investigation into the Clinton Foundation, which has been going on for a year now, is a political stunt to impact the elections. They insist the CF does a lot of good work and that all the accusations are both false and politically motivated.

So how do we know who is telling the truth? Can we trust the FBI reports and verified WikiLeaks over defensive comments by the candidates and pundits who have so much at stake? Common sense would say "of course not".  Another way to make an objective assessment is to follow the money. Clinton Foundation financials are available at online. These financials only list the money that goes directly to the Foundation. The $68 million or more of personal contributions channeled to Bill and Hillary privately through the shakedown scandal uncovered by WikiLeaks and reported by the NY Times, MSBNC and others are NOT included in these financials. This is strictly Foundation money. In 2013,  the most recent financials I found, the CF spent 57% of the revenue the took in.  Of the Foundation's total expenditures, they only gave away 10% via grants (6% in the US and 4% overseas). We will not discuss how the money they actually gave away was used (though there is mounting testimony indicating that it went to support friends or donors with associated business interests instead of actually helping people in need). Let's only consider the facts from the financial statements which I have summarized in the image below.

Compare the Clinton Foundation financials to the Trump Foundation financials to get an idea of what we should expect to see from a non-profit charitable foundation used to consolidate and channel contributions to worthy causes.

So who gives money to a charitable organization with operating costs so high that only 10% of their expenses (or 6% of their revenues) actually go toward charitable grants?  The list of CF donors are provided on the CF website and on the financial statement to some extent. Some (or many) of these donors have personal, business, political, or radical Islamic interests that a Secretary of State or POTUS could assist through the use of federal resources and high level government influence. If the money goes directly to the Clintons and bypasses the CF to the tune of the $68M reported, imagine how much of America these donors could buy? Uranium deals for Russia? Executive pardons? Prison closures? Open borders? Weapons for ISIS?  Refusal to send help despite repeated calls for help and insistence from the Pentagon to cover up the arms transfer? that was ready and available despite Immigration papers for known terrorists? A nuclear deal with Iran? Positions of power within the US government?  Removal from the terrorist watch list?   Access to critical persons of interest? Fetal body parts from Planned Parenthood?  Human trafficking assistance? Classified information?

(Side Note: The FBI confirmed that five different foreign intelligent agencies accessed Clinton's emails, some rated at the highest possible security classification, which gives them enough information to do irreparable harm.)

 ¹⁹ Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent. ²⁰ Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you.  (Deuteronomy 16:  19-21)

Please also consider that when a government entity contributes funds to any organization, whether schools, healthcare, banks, car manufacturers, etc., then the government takes ownership interest in it. Common Core forced federal control over our schools.  Obamacare puts our healthcare in the government's hands. Similarly, when foreign countries invest in America by donating to the CF or by paying the the Clinton couple directly, they take ownership of America.  That includes our people, our resources, and our security. Ownership of America by other nations equates to control by other nations. Foreign money and political corruption for personal profit directly contributed to the fall of Rome, by the way.

While the FBI is expected to present scathing and undeniable evidence of numerous, far reaching, and excessive white-collar crimes through the Clinton Foundation, we cannot expect the selling off of America for the personal profit by the Clintons or any other Washington elite to stop or be punished as long as the DOJ continues in collusion with the Clintons, bypassing our nation's laws to forbid indictment. The only ways we can help stop this corruption that I can see (please enlighten me of others as I am no expert) so that justice can be meted and so that America can be reclaimed for everyone (consider again  how CF corruption hurts all Americans, without respect to political party) are as follows:

• Vote against Hillary. Yes that means a vote for Trump, no matter how one may despise his character or the allegations against him, which thankfully, are mostly either unproven or have been retracted (except for the lewd comments he admitted and apologized for) so that Trump can replace Lynch who has consistently demonstrated intent to block prosecution.  Would the quote, "Desperate times call for desperate measures apply here?"

• Support the ACLJ and any other legal firms with the expertise and respect for law and justice to successfully prosecute the DOJ and all guilty parties in court. We must consider, however, that any case that makes it to the Supreme Court could still be thrown out if the new POTUS elects a pro-corruption, Pro-Clinton justice.  See previous bullet point.

• Pray for God's truth and justice to prevail with full confidence in the one true God who can do all things!

"The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them." (Psalm 145:18-19)

A Call For Christian Unity as Political Powers Push for Division

This post is addressed specifically to fellow conservative evangelical Christians.

Since I've suddenly become so vocal about politics and have honestly shared my struggles with this term's presidential campaign, I want to issue an apology and an appeal for the sake of unity. I am sorry if my words and opinions have offended you. I'm not looking to call anyone out but myself as I wrestle, particularly with the choice between two candidates who do not adequately represent my values or what I believe to be in the best long term interests of our nation and the world.

I am persuaded that during the primary campaigns, most of us were in the "Never Trump" camp. He won the Republican nomination as a result of constant media coverage, too many excellent but similar options on the ticket which divided our votes, and record numbers of crossover voters (who I am guessing wanted him as our candidate because they saw him as most divisive, easiest to smear, and least likely to beat Hillary).

We have vocally expressed our commitment to upholding integrity, morality, and especially sexual purity as God designed it (with good reason, for both the Bible and world history show us how sexual immorality so significantly impacts and marks the collapse of families, communities, and nations), and the DNC knows our stance quite well. Christians overall are the largest voter segment, so if we all unite around one candidate (and actually make the effort to vote, although over 25 million of us who are registered to vote didn't even bother), we are very likely to get the leader we want. Thus, the DNC strategy has been to divide us. What better way to divide us than over issues vs. character? The DNC & media could have focused their smear campaign on any number of issues (such as lack of experience), but the media has spent 90% of their time attacking Trump's character, particularly with regard to immoral sexual comments he made many years ago, to keep us conflicted.

I take it as a good sign if we have wrestled with this dilemma because it means we care enough to truly think through the issues while considering Trump's advisors, recent decisions, professed platform (recognizing inconsistencies in his past), trustworthiness, behavior/temperament, history, and accomplishments.  It means we have considered what Trump might do to the Republican party and compared it to what we confidently expect (based on a lifetime of experience in political corruption and undeniably alarming revelations through WikiLeaks and Veritas) Hillary to do the America, her Constitution, liberty, and the entire world.  Surely we can each understand why some of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ would support Trump based on the critical issues at stake any why others wish to abstain.  Let us respect one another without condemnation with regard to disputable matters. (Reference Romans 14.)

Each light represents a crowded theater filled Christians united together in prayer and worship on October 18 at 9:00 p.m.

As (If) the DNC effectively achieves their goal of politically dividing us, we MUST refuse to let them divide us as a body of believers. Believers who are united under the Lordship of Christ can win back America as one nation under God whether the government grants us religious freedom or not.  If God is for us, who can stand against us?

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

However, if we divide as a church, then George Soros and all his secular progressive minions will have won the battle they care about most. But all glory to God, they cannot win the war, for Christ has already won the war! (John 12:30-36)

Love one another with sincere hearts, dear family of faith, and preserve the unity of the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12) No matter how each one of us votes, let's remember that we are members of the same family forever through the blood of Christ. . No matter who rules over us on the earth, we are all under the authority of the perfectly righteous King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and Savior of all the World. Let us fix our eyes on Him and uphold His unchanging truth, and He will unite us.

⁹ Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. ¹⁰ For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! ¹¹ Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? ¹² And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12)