Sunday, July 26, 2026

Casualties

When I was a young US Army Lieutenant, I was privileged to be stationed in what was then West Germany.  During that time, I dated a German woman, and we visited a lot of historic places. 

One day, she took me to the war memorial at Hartmannsweilerkopf (German), or Vieil Armand (French), that is maintained by France and Germany in the Alsace country on their shared border near the Black Forest.  It honors the fallen on both sides in a battle that took place there in 1915.  The fighting was typical of WW I.  Each side gained ground in assaults, only to lose it to counteroffensives.  It devolved into trench warfare between the peak periods of fighting.  Reports vary, but it is safe to say that about 30,000 men died there in several major engagements, during 1915. [1] 

The battle of Hartmannsweilerkopf was fought for control of high ground that dominates access to the Alsace Plain, the Rhine River, and the Black Forrest. [2] Eventually, it became a stalemate between the entrenched German and French forces. 

The Alsace region is extraordinarily beautiful; so much so that it is hard to remember that it has been contested ground many times historically.  People in the surrounding area say jokingly that it has changed hands so many times that the people there speak both French and German because they can’t tell which one they are. 

As I remember it, some 53 years later, there is a war memorial, military cemetery, and small museum at Hartmannsweilerkopf, and about a mile of the trenches have been preserved to show what life was like for the soldiers who fought there.  When I saw it I was filled with a profound sense of sadness.  It did not escape me that so many lives were cut short, and that this is often the fate of the soldier. 

There are many war memorials in Europe.  The people there have a deep sense of reverence for their war dead.  In Austria, many small villages have markers with the names and pictures of the men from the village who were killed in action. 

Therefore, it came as a surprise to my girlfriend when my reaction was to mourn the senseless loss of life, rather than to be inspired by the sacrifice of the fallen.  She told me that she thought I would like visiting the battlefield because I was a soldier.  I couldn’t find the words to express to her how I felt. 

Pershing missile units were a “big red X” on the Soviet Union’s war map, but I never had anyone actually shoot at me during my tour of duty.  I am not speaking from combat experience.  However, if I had known of this quote from General Douglas MacArthur at the time, it might have helped me to tell my girlfriend how I felt that day at the war memorial.

“The soldier above all others prays for peace,
for it is the soldier who must suffer
and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.” Douglas MacArthur [3]

Of course, I honor the fallen, and I am truly grateful for their sacrifice.  Better men than I have died for their country.  The mixed feelings come from an intense regret that it was necessary to call upon them to do so.  There are always new bad guys whose Satan-inspired evil deeds make it necessary for the good guys to fight them.  Jesus said: 

“And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.  Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.  But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.” (Matthew 24:6-8 NLT) [4] 

The following is not intended to diminish in any way the pain that comes with the loss of American lives in Operation Epic Fury.  Their sacrifice, and that of their families, friends, and comrades in arms deserve our greatest respect and honor.  It is hoped that this information may help us to put things in perspective, because it is truly a miracle that we have been able to significantly reduce the ability of the outlaw regime in Iran to wage offensive war while suffering so few casualties. 

Estimates vary, but one source indicates that between 15 and 22 million military and civilian deaths occurred because of World War I. [5]  In World War II, there were about 28.6 million military personnel killed, and about 38 million civilian deaths have been attributed to military actions.  Another 22.9 million civilian WW II deaths have been attributed to the disease and famine that always accompany war. [6] (Revelation 6:1-8)

During the Korean War, it is believed that 33,652 Americans were killed in action and another 3,262 died of “non-battle” causes. [7]  In Vietnam, 58,202 lost their lives; 47,378 combat deaths and 10,800 “non-hostile” deaths.  Several of my high school classmates were killed in Vietnam.  It is reported that 9,087,000 Americans served in the military during the Vietnam war (including myself). [8]  When we came home we did not hear the words “Thank you for your service.” … although they did come much, much later. 

It is reported that the Russian Federation is estimated to have brought 450,000 combat deaths upon itself in the Russia/Ukraine war.  Their total casualties (killed and wounded) may number as many as 1.4 million.  Ukraine is estimated to have suffered between 125,000 to 150,000 killed in action and about 400,000 to 475,000 wounded. [9] 

The data indicate that war can come at a terrible cost in human lives.  We can see that casualties are an integral part of war – you can’t have one without the other. 

It is also apparent that the United States has become more casualty averse.  Our President is chief among those who hate the loss of life that comes through war.  We have increased the monetary cost of war by developing expensive weapons that limit civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure.  Nevertheless, where there is war there will always be casualties. 

Adolph Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and Hideki Tojo were defeated, but they were replaced by Josef Stalin, Mao Zedong, and Kim Il Sung.  In turn, we are now dealing with Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong-Un, and the IRGC.  These people share common traits.  They are totalitarians who use threat, intimidation and force to compel other people to bend to their will.  They murder their own people and viciously suppress any and all opposition.  They seek to project power beyond their borders, and they do not respect those who oppose them with anything except force or the threat of force. 

Free people who want to stay free will always be forced by monsters like these to defend their freedom.  Our friends, family and fellow countrymen will get killed and wounded in the process.  President Ronald Reagan got it right: 

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”  Ronald Reagan [10] 

I hate war more than many of my fellow Conservatives.  In November, however, I urge you to join me by voting for candidates who understand that it will be necessary, when diplomacy fails, for Americans to defend our freedom and the freedom of other friendly nations. “Freedom isn’t free.” It will come at a cost in lives and treasure, but it must be done. 

 

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Saturday, July 18, 2026

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act

Noncitizens cannot vote in in Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Austria, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Croatia.  Any legal resident can vote in Ireland. In Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Belgium, and the Netherlands the ability of foreigners to vote is governed by the length of legal residence. [1] In France, foreign residents who are citizens of European Union member states have the right to vote in municipal elections and hold municipal elected office. [2] 

Foreign citizens do not have the right to vote in Japan, however, 42 municipalities allow foreigners to vote in referendums but not general elections. [3]  Voting is allowed in Communist China, but the rules are complicated and restrictive.  Not all governmental positions are elective offices. Non-citizens are not allowed to vote in China.  In General, Chinese citizens who are at least 18 years old are allowed to vote in at least some of their elections. [4] 

Not all Americans are in favor of considering what other countries do when deciding how things should be done in the Unites States.  I agree.  It is sometimes helpful, however, to be aware of how others are dealing with the same issue. 

The attitude Americans have toward the right to vote varies.  Some are quite cavalier.  Others doubt that their vote matters.  Many want the right to vote to be manipulated in order that their candidates or causes will prevail in our elections.  Others believe that the integrity of the vote is foundational to democracy. 

In the United States the right to vote has always been subject to qualifications.  Its history is long and a little confusing.  The following is borrowed from the University of Northern Texas because of its clarity and completeness. However, some entries were left out for the sake of brevity out of respect to our reader’s time: 

This timeline shows milestones of voting laws in U.S. history. This timeline also offers information about the U.S. government denying and granting citizenship to groups of U.S. residents. Citizenship is a requirement of voting in the United States. 

1789: The U.S. constitution did not establish any specific voting rights, instead states were given the power to regulate voting laws. As a result, most states limited voting to white male landowners.

Representatives were elected by the people, Senators were selected by state legislatures, and the President was elected by state legislature appointed electors. 

… 1856: All white men can vote—the requirement for property ownership was eliminated. This was a state-by-state change. North Carolina was the last state to remove this requirement in 1856. 

1866: Civil Rights Act of 1866 granted citizenship to all persons born in the United States, regardless of color or previous enslavement. This act allowed all citizens of the U.S. equal protection under the law. This act excluded the rights of citizenship to indigenous people who did not pay taxes. 

1868: The 14th Amendment extends citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States.” The 14th Amendment enshrined the Civil Rights Act of 1866 as part of the Constitution, protecting it from being overturned by the Supreme Court. The 14th Amendment secured citizenship for freed slaves and black folks but did not include rights of political participation, including voting. 

1870: The 15th Amendment granted black men the right to vote -- “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States of any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” Some Suffragists opposed the 15th Amendment because it did not extend voting rights to women. 

1876: The Supreme Court ruled Native Americans are not citizens as defined by the 14th Amendment, even those that are "tax paying." The decision was offered in Elk v. Wilkins. 

1882: Chinese Exclusion Act denies people of Chinese ancestry from naturalizing as American citizens. 

1887: The Dawes Act grants citizenship to Native Americans who disassociate from their Nations. 

1890: Indian Naturalization Act required some indigenous peoples to apply for U.S. citizenship. In spite of being granted citizenship, indigenous peoples were still denied the right to vote until 1924. 

1890: Wyoming becomes a state and the first allowing women the right to vote. Wyoming originally granted women the right to vote in 1873, when it was still a territory. Women's right to vote was not extended to federal elections, only state and local elections. Between 1890 and 1920, several other states extended suffrage to women. 

1913: The 17th Amendment gives the power of selecting Senators to the (male) people. Prior to the 17th Amendment Senators were selected by state legislatures. 

1920: The 19th Amendment gives women the right to vote. 

1922: Supreme Court rules that people of Japanese heritage are ineligible to become naturalized citizens. The same is ruled for Asian Indians in 1923.

1924: The Indian Citizenship Act, also known as the Snyder Act, grants indigenous peoples citizenship regardless of nation affiliation. Previously, indigenous peoples were expect to renounce their tribal affiliations to gain U.S. citizenship. 

1943: The Magnuson Act repeals the Chinese Exclusion Act, giving Chinese immigrants citizenship and the right to vote. 

1952: The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, or the McCarran-Walter Act, granted all Asian-Americans the right to citizenship and to vote. This act also granted citizenship to residents of U.S. territories though not the right to vote in federal elections. 

1961: The 23rd Amendment gives residents of the District of Columbia the right to vote for president, but not Congressional representation. 

1965: Voting Rights Act is passed. 

1971: The 26th Amendment made the minimum voting age 18, previously the minimum voting age was 21. 

1986: The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act granted U.S. Military, Uniformed Services, Merchant Marines, and other U.S. citizens living abroad right to vote. 

1993: National Voter Registration Act passes, making registering to vote at DMVs and other public assistance centers easier. 

2002: The Help America Vote Act requires voter ID for all new voters in federal elections who registered by mail and who did not provide a driver's license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number that was matched against government records. Many states have voter ID requirements. The National Council of State Legislatures (NCSL) provides state by state voter ID laws and requirements. … [5]

 

The argument that the Save American Voter Eligibility Act, that is currently being vigorously debated in Congress, is without historical precedent, and is an effort to limit the right to vote is spurious.  It is clear that Americans have striven to improve the fundamental fairness of our elections.  It is also clear that suffrage has always been set aside for citizens. 

The provisions of the Save American Voter Eligibility Act include: 

The bill defines "documentary proof of United States citizenship". 

Valid documents for verifying citizenship, as stated by the bill, are one of the following: 

1.    A form of identification issued consistent with the requirements of the REAL ID law that indicates citizenship;

1.    A valid U.S. passport;

2.    An official US military identification card together with a service record indicating a place of birth in the United States;

3.    A valid government-issued photo ID card that lists a place of birth in the United States;

4.    Any other valid government-issued photo ID card together with evidence of birth as a US citizen or naturalization, such as a US-issued birth certificate, a naturalization certificate, or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA). [6] 

Opponents argue that existing law prohibits non-citizens from voting.  They believe that the law acts to prevent some eligible Americans from voting. They believe that the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) already requires registrars to verify voter citizenship through databases maintained by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Social Security Administration, and the U.S. Postal Service. [7] They say that the Save America Act would increase the cost of elections. 

Concerns about non-citizens being allowed to vote have been elevated by the policies of the Biden Administration which allowed an estimated 15 million people to enter and remain in the United States illegally.  In some states like California attempts have been made to allow non-citizens to vote in state and local elections. 

Photo IDs are required for everything from buying beer to airline travel.  You can’t buy a gun without a picture ID.  Voting in both houses of Congress is limited to elected and approved members.  Voting is limited to members or shareholders in the governance of churches, corporations, private organizations, and many other groups.  Disadvantaged persons must show proof of identification and residence to obtain public assistance.  If they want to smoke cigarettes, they have to show a picture ID to by them.  If disadvantaged persons can obtain a picture ID for these and other activities, they can obtain the identification necessary to vote if they really want to. 

Conclusion 

I think that the integrity of our elections is fundamental to the preservation of democracy in our Constitutional Republic.  Unlike Parliamentary Democracies, Americans are stuck with the results of an election for from two, four, or six years until the next election cycle.  Free, fair, and legal elections are essential to maintaining the ability of American Citizens to have faith in their representative government.  Although recent voter turnout has been higher than in the past, it is clear that many Americans feel disenfranchised – that their vote does not count.  Although recent national elections have been very close, it is evident that a lot of our fellow citizens have lost faith in our elections - and whether their vote matters. 

Attempts by the Democrats to pay people to vote more than once, to manipulate voter turnout through absentee ballots, and to discourage others by intimidation by Black Panthers at the polling places have indicated a need for more stringent voting laws.  The Obama Administration weaponized the IRS to crush the Tea Party, in blatant violation of their First Amendment Rights. Voters have good cause to be cynical. 

Therefore, any legislation that strengthens the belief in the integrity of our elections is justified.  I urge you to telephone, email, and write your Senators and Congressional Representatives to vote for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act immediately. Time is critical as a vote on the bill is imminent. 

Learn how your Senators and Congressional Representatives voted on this one.  Remember it when you “get out and vote” in November.  Thanks.  We need to win this time.

 

 

 

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Monday, July 6, 2026

Freedom of Religion

When the US Constitution was presented to the 13 states for ratification, not everybody was happy with it.  The general public was concerned because the Constitution did not contain enough specific language guaranteeing the protection of the rights of citizens, and several states refused to ratify until they were promised that a Bill of Rights would be included.  The first 10 Amendments; the Bill of Rights was added to fulfill that promise.  The first constitutional right in the First Amendment protects the freedom of worship for American citizens. Somebody must have thought it was important. 

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof …” 

The “establishment clause” prohibits instituting an official state religion.  For instance, Islam is the state religion of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, and Tunisia.  In the United Kingdom, Anglicanism is the official religion of England, while Calvinism is the state religion of Scottland.  China is atheist, and Thailand is Buddhist. [1] 

Many of the original 13 Colonies, were settled by various Christian groups that fled war and persecution in their native lands.  Consequently, people in the 13 States feared that the government might choose one of those faiths as an official religion and then persecute the others.  Hence, the establishment clause. 

By prohibiting interference by the government in the free exercise of a citizen’s religion the First Amendment guarantees that every American will have the freedom to worship as they please.  As with any other constitutional right, no American is allowed to practice their religion in ways that interfere with the constitutional rights of other citizens, and as William Shakespeare put it, “… ay, there’s the rub.” (Hamlet’s Soliloquy, Act 3, Scene 1) [2] 

By safeguarding the rights of one group the government may need to interfere in the with another group’s constitutional rights.  These disputes sometimes result in court battles that make the lawyers rich, or they give Congress an excuse to write more laws.  More recently, each successive President has issued executive orders that nullify the executive orders of the previous President. 

Although the number of American’s who say they “adhere” or “identify” with Christianity has declined in recent years, a majority (68 percent) [3] still say they are Christians.  Consequently, many people regard America as a Christian nation.  There was a considerable uproar, therefore, when in a speech to Middle Eastern leaders President Obama announced that the United States was not a Christian country.  Although, he was technically correct in the sense that Christianity is not our official religion, the remark was not well received at home. 

President Obama’s statement may reveal a Post Colonial bias.  The context of his remarks indicates that under his presidency the United States would give up dominating other countries and become more considerate of their needs.  Yet, like Critical Race Theory, Post Colonialism teaches that colonizing by European countries is responsible for much of the strife we see in the former colonies today.  Further, it claims to show that the exportation of Christianity to these countries by Christian missionaries was destructive to native cultures and ways of life.  This point of view has been taught in our schools and universities for years, and I believe it is responsible, in part, for the growth in anti-Christian bias and Antisemitism in American society today. 

So much has been said about the separation of church and state that some people have gotten the mistaken impression that it is in the Constitution.  It is not.  However, some pastors and church leaders have refrained from making political statements from the pulpit for fear of losing tax exempt status for their organizations. 

Atheist organizations have sued to have the Ten Commandments, the Cross, and other religious symbols like the Menorah removed from schools and parks; or even private property if they are in public view.  Their claim is that they are entitled to freedom from religion, and that this takes precedence over the freedom of speech or religious expression.  We "people of faith" disagree. 

In spite of some reports to the contrary, in recent years the incidence of acts of religious persecution is growing more frequent.  Recently, Anti-ICE demonstrators invaded and occupied Cities Church in St. Paul, MN, and other Evangelical Protestant churches have been firebombed or set on fire.  Two children were killed and 17 were wounded in a Catholic church in Minneapolis when a shooter fired through a window last August. Traditional Protestant churches have been burglarized or vandalized in Denver, CO, Billings, MT, and Boston, MA. [4] Black churches have been vandalized and burned for years. Reports vary, but several sources reported over 400 acts of vandalism against churches in the United States in 2023, and again in 2024. [5] 

For at least 70 years, American Jewish synagogues have been attacked with hand grenades, bombs, gunfire, and arson. There have been incidents of Jews being beaten up on our streets. People have been killed, wounded, and taken hostage. [6] 

Freedom isn’t free.  If one civil right can be violated, they all can.  A constitutional right not used is forfeit. Some of our fellow Christians, and our Jewish friends, are paying a dear price for the freedom to worship as they choose. 

In the USA, you are free to follow Islam, the Budda, Krishna, Jesus Christ or any other of the many religious faiths – as long as you let others worship as they choose in peace.  In the end, God will decide if you got it right … not other people.  Be sure you have got it right. (John 14:6) We are free to talk with others who are willing to listen about the reasons we believe as we do.  We are not free to burn, beat, or kill other people who do not agree with us. 

The midterm elections will be here before we know it.  Let’s not get so lost in worrying about the economy, foreign policy, or immigration that we lose sight of other important issues.  Get out and vote for candidates who will protect our freedom of religion - from each other and from government interference. *

* In the interest of brevity, I didn't go into the many ways our government has tried to interfere with our ability to worship as we please.  Let's just say that we do not need politicians like James Talarico of Texas interpreting (erroneously) what the Holy Bible says.  We need elected officials who will protect us from government interference in matters of faith and practice.

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Friday, July 3, 2026

Independence Day 2026

The results of opinion polls vary, depending on the bias of those conducting the poll. However, the findings of various recent opinion polls tend to show a decline in the numbers of our people who say that they are proud to be Americans. The polls reveal that many of our fellow citizens who are disaffected no longer believe in our country.  The majority of American Conservatives remain proud of the USA, while large numbers of Liberals and Independents and young people are not. [1] 

To paraphrase a comment by Author and Historian Victor Davis Hanson in the documentary program, The Fight of Our Lives, (Produced and Directed by Gloria Z. Greenfield): 

Just because we are not perfect, doesn’t mean we are no good at all. 

We concede that America is not perfect, and it is the duty of our citizens to work toward improving our country. However, we must understand that since the 1960’s there has been a concerted effort by the educational system, the liberal press, well-funded radical extremist groups, and power-hungry leftist politicians to convince us that our culture and our economic and political system need to be torn down and rebuilt from the ground up. 

Ronald Reagan is reported to have said, “The trouble with our Liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.” 

If people take the trouble to inform themselves, they will find that on the balance scales of History the good our country has done far outweighs the bad.  Therefore, let’s celebrate America’s birthday with a mindset that she has been a force for good more than a force for evil. 

Please pray for the United States of America.  We must not become so divided that we enter into conflict with one another.  We have only to look at the tragedy of our Civil War to understand that we need to work together to carry on the continuous improvement that has happened in the USA over the last 250 years.

 

The Gettysburg Address

Delivered at Gettysburg, Pa. on Nov. 19th, 1863 

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

 Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. 

But in a larger sense we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion, that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. [2]

 

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Thursday, July 2, 2026

Overcoming Temptation

Everyone has sin problems. (Romans 3:23)  It is part of the Christian life to have to deal with the struggle between our old sinful nature and the new nature we have in Christ Jesus.  If we deny it, we are only fooling ourselves. (1John 1:8-9) Usually, the Christian finds that several sins are more difficult to resist than others. 

My most difficult sins to control are lust and alcohol abuse.  There are fine lines that get crossed.  Appreciation of a woman’s beauty gives way to carnal thoughts and desires.  Having a beer or two turns into downing a sixpack.  There are others, but focusing on these two will suffice. 

What can we do when tempted?  The Holy Bible tells us how to overcome. 

“… The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.  And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.  Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!  Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.”  But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.  Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.  Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1Corinthians 6:13-20 ESV) [1] 

When we give way to sin it is putting our desires ahead of how God wants us to live.  That is idolatry, and idolatry is committing spiritual adultery against the God who loves us and died to pay the price for our sins – which is death. 

“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” (1Corinthians 10:12-14 ESV) [2] 

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:16-25 ESV) [3] 

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." (James 4:7-8 ESV) [4] 

Praise the Lord.  We are nothing without Him.  Jesus said: 

 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 ESV) [5] 

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5 ESV) [6]

 

 

 

 

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Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Let go and Let God

We may wonder “What’s the use?”  The more we try to do good, the more opposition we face.  We pour our lives into trying to make things better, but nothing seems to change.

 Take heart. God is in control.  The seeds we sow today can grow into a bountiful harvest tomorrow, even if we may not be around to see it.  If we let go of our striving, our Almighty God will empower us to keep us from getting tired, and He will bring about the good results we so earnestly desire.        (Psalm 46:10) 

 

“Have you never heard?
Have you never understood?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.”
(Isaiah 40:28-31 NLT) [1]

  

“Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.  Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.  So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.  Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.” (Galatians 6:7-10 ESV) [2]

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Saturday, June 27, 2026

They Left Everything and Followed Jesus

Don’t be afraid.  Jesus paid the price for our sins.  Follow Him, and He will make you more than you are and more than you could ever be on your own. 

On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.  Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.  And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”  And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”  And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.  They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.  But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”  For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:1-11 ESV) [1]

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