Violence in New Zealand

A gunman killed 49 worshipers in two Mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand today, and wounded many others.  It is reported that the wounded may number as many as 87.  The attacker broadcast the shootings at one Mosque live on his Facebook page.  Early reports say that the shooter was an Australian with a history of racist and anti-immigration sentiments. (1)

The worshipers were unarmed civilians who were unable to defend themselves.  As with other mass shootings, we are disgusted by the hate and violence.  Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and the people of New Zealand.  You have our sincere sympathy.

We have a few observations.  Killing and violence are not the answer to religious or political differences.  We hope that the day will come when people will learn to advocate freely for their beliefs in the marketplace of ideas, and then allow others to decide freely which ideas they prefer.  Authentic, heartfelt conversions are real.  Conversions at the tip of the sword are not.

Private citizens in New Zealand must get a license to own firearms.  They may own as many guns as they want under one license.  You must be 16 years of age to own a firearm, or 18 years old to own a “military style” semi-automatic firearm.  A background check, including criminal and medical records, is required to get a firearms license.  A history of addiction, mental health issues, and domestic violence may be taken into consideration in denying a license.  “Military style” semi-automatic weapons have to be registered, while other guns do not. Violent crime involving the use of guns is not common in New Zealand. (2)

Gun laws in the United States are similar to the laws in New Zealand.  However, in most places, licenses or permits are not required to own guns here.  Nationally, the only required  license is to own fully automatic firearms.  Guns do not have to be registered in most parts of our country.  A computerized check of arrests and active warrants is done if a gun sale is commercial, but not between private parties unless it involves an interstate transaction.

A great many people in the US favor licensing and registration in the hope that they will help prevent gun violence, including mass shootings.  They also favor banning “military style assault weapons.”  Licensing and registration, and restrictions on “military style” guns did not prevent the mass shooting today in Christchurch.

Finally, it is time to speak the truth, in love, to peace-loving, moderate Muslims.  That truth is that it is a wonder that more innocent Muslims have not been victimized.  Since the Munich Olympics in 1972, Extremists have perpetrated violence against innocent civilians all over the world in the name of Islam.  Further, they have been funded, trained, armed and equipped by the governments of Muslim countries and contributions by private individuals.  Moderate, mainstream Muslims have not done much to stop it.

We abhor violence and we would never advocate for vengeance or retribution.  This post should not be misinterpreted that way.  The truth is that there are natural and logical consequences to violent terrorism.  In Physics we learn that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.  We are not saying it is right, but it is inevitable.  All we are saying is, ”A man reaps what he sows.” (Gal. 6:7 NIV)

Therefore, we urge that people reject violence as a means of resolving differences. Violence only begets more violence.

(1)  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47578798?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/cz4pr2gd8v2t/new-zealand&link_location=live-reporting-story

(2)  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47584603

US Intervention in Venezuela

There was talk on the TV news tonight about the need for the United States to intervene militarily in Venezuela.  While it is true that the Venezuelan people are suffering, that Nicolás Maduro Moros is a brutal dictator, that the Cubans are propping Maduro up, and that the Russian Republic and Hamas are using the crisis in Venezuela to get a permanent base of operations in the Western Hemisphere, I am against US military intervention there.

There is no consensus among Venezuela’s neighbors supporting a unilateral American military action there.  Even more, there has been no offer of troops or financial support from Venezuela’s more conservative neighbors; countries like Brazil, Argentina, or Columbia.

Tensions between the US and Russia are already high, and Vladimir Putin has done some saber rattling about his willingness to replay the Cuban missile crisis.  If that is what is necessary to prevent further Russian intrusion into Latin America … fine.  However, let’s not go there unless we have to.  We were one misstep away from a nuclear holocaust the last time.  Next time humanity might not be so lucky.

To me, an even more serious concern is whether our troops would have the full and unconditional support of the US Congress if we send them into Venezuela.  Today, the US House of Representatives passed a resolution to deny President Trump National Emergency Funds to build a wall on the border with Mexico.  They did it in spite of the fact that the United States is being invaded along that border.  They set aside the national security of the country because they oppose President Trump.  Indications are that the US Senate will approve the resolution.  In this kind of political atmosphere, there is no reason to believe that Congress would not undermine any military effort we might undertake in Venezuela.  They threw away the sacrifice of over 50,000 Americans killed in action in Viet Nam, and the bloodsucking parasites will do it again.

Although Hamas has infiltrated the Venezuelan refugees making their way here through Central America and Mexico, the United States has not been directly attacked militarily.  If President Trump chooses to send troops to assuage the Venezuelan humanitarian crisis (to get rid of Maduro), he should seek congressional approval.  Troops should not be sent unless Congress nearly unanimously approves it, and unless the wording includes language to the effect that the president is authorized to do whatever it takes to resolve the matter in our favor and ensure that the people of Venezuela can freely elect whomever they chose to lead them.

Whatever it takes would have to include kicking the Cubans out. We must also make it impossible for the Russians and Hamas to conduct operations there.  Whatever it takes means using whatever level of force is needed to do that; with the understanding that it could result in an escalation of hostilities beyond the scope of the current crisis.

US military intervention must only take place at the request of the interim Venezuelan government. It would be best if we can also enlist the cooperation of Venezuela’s neighbors.  The UN is useless, and we do not need them.

Here is what I vehemently oppose.  I never again want to see American service men and women get shot at unless the US Government and people are willing to do WHATEVER IT TAKES resolve the situation in their favor.  I am sick of half-baked schemes that cost the lives of our military personnel for nothing.  I don’t want to hear a lot of crap about rules of engagement.  I want our troops to be free to find, fix, close with and destroy the enemy ... and then to get out.  I don’t want any more lingering involvements as “peacekeepers” or “nation builders.”  The deterrent we leave behind after we clean up somebody-else’s mess should be, “Screw it up again and we will be back.  Then it will go even worse for you.”

Only under the above conditions would I reluctantly agree to a US military intervention in Venezuela.

Rep. Ilhan Omar

Rep. Ilhan Omar is a Democrat, elected to the US House of Representatives in 2018. She is a naturalized American citizen who was born in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1981.  She is a Muslim.  Her employment background is in education and local politics in Minnesota.(1)

She has recently been criticized for making comments on social media that some judged to be anti-Semitic.  She has been critical of President Trump’s policies on immigration.  She is reported to favor strict gun control, expanded health care coverage, and abolishing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.(2)

During a recent House Foreign Relations Committee hearing Rep. Omar verbally attacked the venerable Elliott Abrams, US Special Representative for Venezuela.  She stepped over the line of propriety by personally impuning his truthfulness and integrity.  I would point out that, although Mr. Abrams has made mistakes, he was serving this country before Rep. Omar ever was born or became a citizen.  He deserves to be interviewed about the subject at hand (Venezuela) with dignity and respect.

Regarding personal honesty and integrity, Rep. Omar is reportedly under investigation by the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board for using campaign funds for personal trips not related to her election.  Minnesota Representative Steve Drazkowski has been quoted by the BBC as saying, "She just doesn't respect the law." (3)

Rep. Omar has been compared to other young, female Democrats, elected in 2018, who are challenging the status quo in Washington.  These include Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Talib.  Rep. Ocasio- Cortez is a self-avowed Socialist, and Rep. Tlaib is a Palestinian-American Muslim.(4)

Although I disagree with Rep. Omar about a great many things, I also recognize her for her authenticity.  What she says and does is consistent with who she is.  With that said, I call for a close examination of the circumstances that have allowed her to become a Congresswoman, sitting on the House Foreign Relations Committee.  In short, how could this have been allowed to happen?

It calls into question US immigration policies that allow persons from failed states that are significantly infiltrated by Radical Islamists to enter the country as refugees and then are settled in ways that concentrate them in specific areas.  This in turn, has given them the ability to elect a Congressional Representative, which magnifies their influence in a way that is disproportionate to their numbers.

I would like to urge:

1.    That Rep. Omar be removed from the House Foreign Relations Committee.

2.    That the Democratic Party examine itself, giving careful consideration to which Democratic Candidates it supports and to which positions they serve in, if elected.

3.    That my fellow citizens write, call, or email their Senators and Congressmen and prevail upon them to pass immigration reform along the lines that President Trump is recommending.

4.    That my fellow citizens write, call, or email their state and local governments and advocate that they prohibit the relocation of refugees and immigrants in ways that gerrymander their political and electoral influence.

To the young Democratic firebrands in Congress, I would offer some friendly advice based on my own experience. Those who set out to set the world on fire should consider that, if they are successful, their own house will burn down with it.

Footnotes

1. "Ilhan Omar: Who is Minnesota's Somalia-born congresswoman?" Toby Luckhurst BBC        News, 15 February 2019.

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.
4. Ibid

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47238450

Post Script: I tried for a long time to fix the spacing on the footnotes, but the word processing program wants to go its own way.  So, I am going to bed.

Everybody Sins

Jesus cried out from the cross, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."

Today, in the Church Age, if we are going to be for real, we must admit that Christians know what we are doing, and we sin anyway.  Thanks be to God that He has provided a way for us to be restored to fellowship with Him.  If we repent and turn away from the sins we have committed, then God forgives us:

If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;

and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.

The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;

but whoever keeps His word,

in him the love of God has truly been perfected.

By this we know that we are in Him:

the one who says he abides in Him ought himself

to walk in the same manner as He walked.

(1John 1:8-10, 2:1-6 NASB)

https://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/1-john/2.html

Humility

Humble?  Of course, I’m humble.  I’m the most humble person in the world.

Writing posts for this blog has been a humbling experience.  I have found that there are some things I don’t know very much about.  Learning enough to write about them has been a growth experience.  Likewise, there are other things that I thought I knew a lot about, but when I looked for facts to support my opinions, I found that there is a lot I still need to learn.  There are also things I know about that I have found difficult to explain.  A humbling experience, however, is not a bad thing.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit (humble), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

(Matt 5:3)

https://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/

Humility is easier said than done.  Someone once said that, ‘Attitude is a small thing that affects everything.’  Humility is like that.  In the Holy Bible, you will find one instruction after another that requires humility to obey.

The New Testament was written when the Caesars ruled the Roman Empire.  Simon Peter wrote his epistles at a time when the church had been driven out of Jerusalem by the Jewish authorities and Rome was persecuting Christians, sometimes to the death.  Yet, he urged Christians to obey the government and “honor the king.”  The Apostle Paul also gave similar instructions in his letters. (1 Peter 2:13-17, Romans 13:1-7)  At the time He was arrested, and when He was interrogated by Pilate, Jesus showed clearly that He was not leading an earthly rebellion. (John18:10-11, John 18:36)

Today, as in those days, it is humbling to subordinate ourselves to governmental authority.  Of course, we are obligated to obey God as the supreme authority if the requirements of human governing authorities are in conflict with the Word of God. (Acts 4:19-20)  We must humbly submit to God in all things (James 4:7), and when we do, He “will lift us up.” (James 4:10) If we have the Spirit of Christ, the Christian’s relationship with God is that of a child to their parent.  He is a Daddy to us, (Abba Father). (Romans 8:12-17)

Both the Old Testament and the New Testament instruct children to honor and obey their parents. (Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6:1-3)  Parents have shortcomings, and sometimes their faults make that difficult.  Conversely, a parent may spend a lifetime trying to set a good example, only to have it come undone by one failure of character. The Bible, however, does not say honor and obey your parents if and when they are perfect.  It doesn’t give us that kind of an out.  We must love, honor, and obey our parents in spite of their faults.  Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for teaching people to give money to God that they should be giving their parents to aid in their support. (Mark 7:8-13)

Children are a reward from the Lord; a source of happiness. (Psalms 127:3-5)  Raising them, however, cannot be done without humility.  You may not have it when you start parenting, but you will have acquired it by the time you have finished.  Raising children often teaches us how little we know.

Parents are to avoid being so harsh that their children become bitter and discouraged.  They are to spend time with their children, instructing them about God. (Ephesians 6:4, Colossians 3:21) God disciplines His children, and though we often find it difficult to endure it, we become better for it. (Hebrews 12:5-11)  We are told to be imitators of God, and to walk in love. (Ephesians 5:1-2)  If God did not love us, he would not discipline us.  After the same fashion, when we discipline our children we must do so out of love.

Too many people, Christians and non-Christians alike, use Proverbs 13:24 ( ‘He who spares the rod hates his child.’) as an excuse for child abuse.  Punishment used to correct a child must never injure the child.  Spend time with your kids doing things they like to do, and weave God into the conversation.  Read their bedtime stories from a Children’s Bible.  Catch them when they do things right, not just when they do things wrong.  Reinforce good behavior with praise and privileges, not just with money or things.  

To be clear, everyone is equal in Christ, for we are all “one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)  The Word of God teaches that both women and men are made in God’s image. (Genesis 1:27)  The Bible ascribes different roles for men and women in marriage.  The descriptions of these roles are consistent between the various human authors.

It takes humility on the part of both husband and wife to live out marriage as God tells us to.  Both the husband and the wife must humble themselves to accept God’s plan for marriage, and they must be servants, each to the other … in different ways.  There are a lot of things in the Bible that clash with our modern culture.  To smooth that over, some of our preachers often try to take the edges off the rules for marriage that the Holy Spirit moved the authors of scripture to write down.  The Bible says what it says.  We must submit ourselves in all humility to the Holy Spirit and follow His leading. (See: Ephesians 5:25, Colossians 3:19, 1Peter 3:7, Genesis 2:18, Proverbs 18:22, Proverbs 14:1, Proverbs 31:10-31, Titus 2:3-5, Ephesians 5:22-24 and 33.)

I feel that I have done what I set out to do.  There are so many other examples that I might list: employers and employees, the Christian and others (neighbors and brethren), the Christian and church leaders, and forgiveness to name a few.  I think, however, that the point has been made.  You can’t ‘walk the walk’ without humility.

You may say, ‘I can’t do that!’  You are correct, and neither can I in my own strength.  The only way we can live out God’s plan is by faith.  Then, the result of God’s gift of saving faith in Jesus Christ is that we want to do what he planned in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)  Our desire is no longer to live in sin to please ourselves, but to live according to the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:1-11) You see,  … “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13 NKJV).  Our faith is demonstrated in the way we live our lives. (James 2:14-26).

The Bible says repeatedly uses words like submit, obey, love,  lay down your life for, forgive, and honor or respect.  It cannot be done without humility.  Further, it cannot be done in our own strength.  It can only be done in the power of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 4:13)

Finally, as God promised King Solomon, if “My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chron 7:14 NASB)

https://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/

Superbowl 2019

To those who are watching the Superbowl today, have fun and enjoy the game.  As for myself, I haven’t watched a pro football game or college game in over three years.

It is not a boycott so much as it is a loss of interest.  The NFL has not restrained players from using the huge public forum it provides to make political gestures and statements; which fail to show respect to the American flag and the national anthem.  I have no interest in entertainment that is disrespectful of our country.

Abuse of Power

In the predawn hours of Friday, 26 January 2019, the FBI raided the home of Roger Stone in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  A large group of armed agents in helmets, body armor, and wearing combat fatigues arrested Mr. Stone for a grand jury indictment resulting from the investigation being conducted by Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller.  The agents also searched Mr. Stone’s home.

Roger Stone is described as a “political insider.”  He has been an “adviser” to President Donald Trump, and he is reported to be friends with the president.

Alan Dershowitz is a law professor emeritus at Harvard.  He is a political liberal.  He occasionally takes issue, however, with the political left on issues like human rights, Israel, and the law.  On 26 January 2019, Mr. Dershowitz is reported to have objected to the manner of Roger Stone’s arrest on “Fox and Friends” (a news and commentary television show). Professor Dershowitz is reported to have said, "They should have simply sent his lawyer a notice saying please show up in the federal court … It was just a show. ... They're interested in getting information from him about the real target, and that's Donald Trump."

In an article on the Fox News web site dated 27 January 2019, Greg Re quotes Roger Stone as follows:

"I had no firearm in the house. I don’t have a permit for a firearm. I don’t own a firearm. Only my wife, my two dogs, my three cats were at home," he said.

"I’m not a flight risk, in fact, I think my passport has expired or it will expire in a few days. I have no record of a criminal past. And frankly, they just could have contacted my attorney and I would have voluntarily turned myself in," Stone said.

"The proof of this is that only hours later, the judge granted me a $250,000 surety bond, meaning on my signature with no funds put forward because I’m not a flight risk," he continued.

 https://www.foxnews.com/politics/roger-stone-appears-to-open-door-to-cooperating-with-mueller-after-dramatic-predawn-arrest

Author Jerome Corsi has reported to Fox News interviewers that he was grilled for hours by the FBI in order to coerce him to make false statements that could be used in the prosecution of Roger Stone.  He has said that he was threatened with prosecution and prison if he didn’t cooperate.

Although I have never done police work in which I have personally arrested someone, I have investigated child abuse cases that have resulted in arrests, and I have prepared reports for the court of the results of my investigations.  I have managed the prosecution of Dependency and Neglect cases in civil court, and I have directed a child support enforcement program.  I have managed two community corrections programs, and I worked for a state prison system for 20 years.  I have some idea, therefore, of how arrests are made, and the level of police power that is normally used for various kinds of arrests.

Arrests like that of Roger Stone do not require the use of a large number of special agents at 5:00 AM.  Arrests like this can be made by a few agents to prevent escape and destruction of evidence while contact is being made, make the arrest, and execute the search warrant.  The FBI agents would normally be expected to be in civilian clothes and to have a side arm.

Mr. Stone was not known to be a gang member, drug lord, mafia kingpin, fugitive from justice, or a terrorist.  The FBI had no reasonable cause to believe that he would resist arrest.

It appears to me, on the face of it, that this was a misuse of police power for political purposes.  It looks like an attempt to intimidate, to target people close to the president, to isolate the president, and to coerce people to provide evidence against the president.

I am not passing judgement on the guilt or innocence of Roger Stone.  That is for the courts to decide.  I am not saying that he should not have been arrested.  Law enforcement was acting upon a grand jury indictment.  All I am saying is that the level of police power used to arrest Mr. Stone was grossly excessive.

This is the United States of America.  We are not Cuba or Venezuela.  We are not (yet) a police state.  Abuses of power are what you get with big government.  Officials think that they are answerable to political powers and not to the people.  Politicians think it is permissible to do the wrong thing for the right reasons, “for the greater good.”  People want the government to take care of everything  That way they won’t have to worry about it … so they can watch TV, play video games, and get stoned, and live on government handouts.

Watch out America.  This is how totalitarianism starts.