The insanity in Washington D.C. is beyond the ability of a rational person to understand. So, I’m going to spend the week fishing. I will post again next week.
God bless the American
people, and may He continue to protect our country. Given what we are seeing coming out of our nation’s
capital, we are going to need it.
Jesus told two parables that teach us about the conditions of the heart that please God in those that seek Him. God loves a humble and contrite spirit and child-like faith.
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Let the Children Come to Me
Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (Luke 18:9-17 ESV) [1]
May the Lord bless the reading and hearing of His Word.
The Trinity is in the Bible:
"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love
of God,
and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
(2Corinthians 13:14 NIV) [1]
The 120th Congress will be seated on 3 January 2027. The Democratic Party will have a voting majority in both the US Senate and House of Representatives.
In a story in “Finance Buzz Money” dated 5 November 2026, Josh Koebert reported that the following states have the highest taxes:
1) Oregon - Total Effective Tax Rate 24.41%
2) Massachusetts - Total Effective Tax Rate: 23.52%
3) Maryland – Total Effective Tax Rate: 22.40%
4) New York - Total Effective Tax Rate: 22.09%
5) New Jersey - Total Effective Tax Rate: 21.46%
6) Virginia – Total Effective Tax Rate: 21.43%
7) Minnesota - Total Effective Tax Rate: 21.43%
8) Illinois - Total Effective Tax Rate: 21.29%
9) Hawaii - Total Effective Tax Rate: 21.21%
10) Colorado - Total Effective Tax Rate: 21.16%
Mr. Koebert adds that, “… median incomes range from $60,531 in Hawaii to $78,811 in Massachusetts, with residents paying thousands annually in combined federal and state taxes.” [1] Everybody’s taxes pay for big government – not just the rich.
Please take note of the fact that the ten states with the highest taxes are all “Blue” states. [2] That is, they are all states that have consistently voted for Democratic candidates, and states where the Democratic party controls the state and local governments.
Lower taxes contribute to more economic activity which generates more revenue. Higher taxes suppress economic activity which generates less revenue.
Less economic activity means fewer jobs. Those who are not able to find work must rely on government assistance programs. Therefore, they become dependent on the government to meet their needs. That dependency creates a power base for the Liberal Democrats and Democratic Socialists. People are afraid to vote away what little they are getting in government benefits.
Bigger government and its social assistance programs create more opportunities for fraud. Recently, we have been made aware of individuals and special interest groups that have defrauded the taxpayers out of billions of dollars. Matters are still under investigation, but some government officials may have turned a blind eye to the fraud because those individuals or groups may have contributed to their election campaigns.
Although President Trump can veto the spending bills passed by Congress, the Congress has the power to override the President’s veto. It is rare for Congress to override a veto, but it has happened. The vitriol coming from the Democrats right now seems to make veto overrides more likely.
It takes a vote of two thirds of the House and two thirds of the Senate to override a veto. The Supreme Court has ruled that two thirds of a quorum, (when a simple majority of members are present), is sufficient. A recorded roll call vote is conducted in the case of an override. [3]
Please be aware that increased government spending can temporarily stimulate the economy and mask the economic damage done by higher taxes. Certain economists believe that deficit spending adds wealth to the economy, but they ignore the fact that it creates inflation. There is more money in circulation, but it has less and less buying power.
Past behavior is predictive of future behavior. In the past, the Democrats have raised our taxes, and their spending has vastly exceeded the government’s revenue. Furthermore, taxes are higher in the states where the state and local governments are controlled by the Democrats.
Get ready. We may not have voted for higher taxes and
spending, but we all are going to have to live with them.
[1] “These 10 states have the highest tax burden in America” https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/these-10-states-have-the-highest-tax-burden- in-america/ar-AA2gPnDR?uxmode=ruby&ocid=edgdhpruby&pc=HCTS&cvid=6aed79d838f4439c94ad0292a63ae907&ei=90
It appears that the political pendulum has swung to the left. It is disappointing, but it comes as no surprise. In a democracy we accept the results of legitimate elections, whether we agree with them or not. Sometimes it's a challenge. We may disagree, but we must accept the results of the 2026 midterm elections.
We are obliged to cooperate with the will of the people as expressed in this election. We are free, however, to continue to advocate for our own point of view. Hopefully, the best ideas will prevail.
Please pray with me that
the government will act in the best interests of the people, rather than the
people in charge. Please pray that God's will be done.
Rejoyce in the Lord. Take all your cares to Him. Thank God for the good things He has done. Be thankful for what you have, rather than troubled about what you don't have. God will give you peace that transcends your circumstances if you stay in vital union with Jesus.
“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again - rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me - everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:4-9 NLT) [1]
Every person in the world is free to choose what they will do. We have that freedom as long as we are willing to pay the price for the choices we make.
People in North Korea can opt to openly oppose the government of Kim Jong Un … if they are willing to spend the rest of their life in a prison camp - or maybe get shot. Christians in Somalia, Iran, Ethiopia and Nigeria know that they may forfeit their lives for their testimony about Jesus. They witness for Jesus anyway.
In America, people can vote for the candidates we want. If we make mistakes, we will have to live with the problems we have created. If our citizens vote for candidates that promise a “free lunch,” they will find that “there is no such thing as a free lunch.” Please pray with me that our people will not vote away their freedom by choosing radical Democratic Socialist candidates who promise a nanny state that will take care of them from the cradle to the grave.
Whether we make good choices or bad, we must live with the consequences of those choices. That is the point where the strong are separated from the weak. The strong understand that they must accept responsibility for the outcomes of their choices and actions. The weak whine, complain, and blame others for their misfortunes. Then they look to the government to rescue them; and dig the hole deeper by doing so.
In the 2026 midterm election, the American people are faced with consequential choices. If we choose well, our nation will prosper. If we choose poorly, the United States will again fall into decline the way it did under Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Remember how glad you felt when they left office? Let’s not go back there again.
Please be aware, fellow Americans, that if we choose to follow the path of the Democratic Socialist wing (that is in control) of the Democratic party, we will have no one to blame but ourselves when they tear our country apart. We must not choose to salve the pain of the temporary economic squeeze many of us are feeling right now with solutions that will have long-term negative consequences. If we do not vote for the proven economic policies of President Trump and the Republicans we, our children, and their children will suffer for it, and the responsibility will be ours to bear. Our obligation to them, to ourselves, and to our country is to choose tried and true economic policy for the long-term.
Ask yourselves, “Why did Communist China, the Russian Republic, and Vietnam get rid of their Socialist economies and adopt Capitalist, market driven economic systems?” You will find that it is because Socialism was failing. Look at the “successful” Socialist countries of Europe. Their economies are fundamentally Capitalist. The only way they can afford their expensive social welfare programs is to gut their defense spending. Now that the Russian Bear is on the prowl again, they are scrambling to find ways to protect themselves.
Please go to the polls and
vote for conservative candidates. We can
still turn this election into a victory for common sense … and a defeat for those
who hate America and everything we stand for.
