Je ne suis pas d'accord

When a teacher catches two kids passing notes back and forth, he/she does not send the whole class to detention study hall.  Only the two kids who broke the rules are punished. 

If a supervisor finds out that three employees have called in sick so they can go play golf, the three employees get disciplined or fired, not the whole unit where they work.  It is a matter of fair treatment. 

Investigations are uncovering fraud in welfare programs that help pay for child care.  It is not fair to cut off federal funding for child care in all 50 states as a result.  The temporary suspension of funding to the offending states or counties involved is justified until the offenders are caught and punished.  It is reasonable and fair. 

I usually agree with President Trump.  Not this time.  Poor people sometimes do not actively seek employment because the jobs they have the skills for do not pay enough to offset the cost of child care.  They actually can get more money every month from public assistance programs and getting their medical expenses paid for by Medicaid than they can by going to work.  Sometimes help with child care can enable the poor to afford gainful employment. 

By threatening to withhold federal funds for child care programs in all 50 states, President Trump is overreacting.  Let’s not “throw the baby out with the bathwater.”

The 13th Annual Potato Drop in Boise, ID

The new year was ushered in by the 13^th Annual Potato Drop in front of the state capital in Boise, Idaho last night.  You can view it on KTVB.com. 

A huge model of a potato is lowered from a crane and is accompanied by fireworks and the national anthem.  If you get tired of watching huge, ostentatious celebrations in the big cities of the world, the Potato Drop is a refreshing chance to experience a taste of Middle America.  It's the real deal.  It is one of the reasons why I enjoy Idaho so much.

Try it.  You will like it.

 

The Cost of the Minnesota Fraud Scandal

The estimated population of the United States was 343,050,600 as of 12:59 am on New Year’s Day, 2026. [1]

The Heritage Foundation reports that the annual expenditure for US welfare programs exceeds $1 trillion annually. [2] 

The amount of fraud being reported in the current Minnesota fraud scandal varies. It has been estimated at $9 billion. [3]  A number of other states have also had significant welfare fraud. [4] 

According to the American way of reconning, one billion is 1,000 million. Now, please forgive me because math is probably my weakest subject, and story problems drive me nuts.  The way the math comes out for me, if you distribute $9 billion evenly to every person in America, each man, woman, and child would get about $26.24. (revised)

The investigations are still in progress, and $9 billion may only be the tip of the iceberg. 

Please “do the math,” and crunch some numbers for yourself.  See what you come up with. 

We hear about millions, billions, and trillions of dollars being spent by the government all the time.  We have become inured to it.  The numbers lose their meaning.  The purpose of this exercise is to give some sort of meaning to the average American of what $9 billion in stolen public money means.  I support providing help to the poor, and that is why I vehemently oppose the abuse of those funds. 

If the cashier at the grocery store shortchanged you by $26 and kept the money, would you object?  Would you demand to see the manager?

By the way, please understand that I sincerely wish everyone a Happy New Year.

 

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[1] https://www.census.gov/popclock/

[2] https://www.heritage.org/welfare/commentary/taxpayer-cash-zero-accountability-minnesota-fraud-proves-welfare-broken

[3] https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/12/18/u-s-attorney-fraud-likely-exceeds-9-billion-in-minnesota-run-medicaid-services/

[4] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/minnesota-fraud-case-biggest-pandemic-scams/

 

Toward a Happy New Year in 2026

It is the time of year when lots of people make New Year’s resolutions.  I normally don’t, however, this year has been a difficult one, and I am hopeful that 2026 will be better.  The best path to happiness is to try to be more like Jesus (Romans 8:28-30, 35-37), so I hope that this old hymn will help to keep me mindful of that: 

Just a Closer Walk With Thee

(Anonymous)

 

1.    I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee. 

Refrain:
Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

 

2.    Through this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee 

                        Refrain 

3.    When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore. [1]

 

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[1] https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Just_a_Closer_Walk_with_Thee/

 

Blessed are Those Who Have Not Seen, Yet Have Believed

And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord  (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”)  and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”  Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.  And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.” 

And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.  And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” 

And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.  And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:22-38 ESV) [1]

Anna and Simeon saw Jesus, and they believed.  After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to His followers, but His disciple, Thomas, was not there.  Thomas refused to believe until he saw the Lord himself and could touch Him.  Jesus gave Thomas the opportunity to do so, and then Thomas believed.  Then, Jesus blessed us who have not seen Him, and yet believe. 

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.  So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”  Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”  Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”  Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”                               (John 20:24-29 ESV) [2] 

Anna, Thomas, and Simeon saw and believed.  Be blessed of the Lord because you have not seen, and yet have believed.

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[1] https://biblehub.com/esv/luke/2.htm

[2] https://biblehub.com/esv/john/20.htm

 

The Birth of Jesus

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.  And all went to be registered, each to his own town.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,  to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.  And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.  And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 

“Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”  And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.  And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.  And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.  But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.  And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 

And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.                  (Luke2:1-21 ESV) [1]

When Jesus was born there was no room for Him in the inn.  Is there room for Him in your heart?  Please give Jesus a birthday present.  Believe and be saved.

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[1] https://biblehub.com/esv/luke/2.htm

 

Please Pray

Please take a moment to pray for all those who must be away from home, away from family and friends on Christmas, in the service of our country.  Our military personnel, contractors, embassy staff, intelligence people, and others make a special kind of sacrifice to serve us, during the Holidays.  May God bless them all.