“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” (Romans 5:8-11 NLT) [1]
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Tuesday, July 9, 2024
Christ is All, and in All
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and
beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and
patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against
another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must
forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together
in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to
which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word
of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all
wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your
hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the
name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:1-17 ESV) [1]
Thursday, July 4, 2024
Fourth of July 2024
America the Beautiful
By Katharine Lee Bates
(1911 Version)
O beautiful
for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness,
And every gain divine!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea! [1]
I have been on the summit of Pikes Peak, and I have seen the view that inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write America the Beautiful. Of course, a lot has changed since her visit in 1893. Nevertheless, it is still an awe-inspiring experience.
Our country has a lot of detractors today, and it is good that we have the Fourth of July holiday to give us a much-needed reminder of what a wonderful place it is. Please take a moment to thank God for our many blessings. Have a happy 4th!
Saturday, June 22, 2024
US Land Owned by Chinese and other Foreign Interests
I saw a map yesterday on my Microsoft Edge browser. It is from a New York Post article by Mary K. Jacob. I do not have permission to reproduce the map, but you can see it using this link: (Map shows Chinese-owned farmland next to 19 US military bases in ‘alarming’ threat to national security: experts (msn.com)
It is alarming that the Chinese own land near so many US Military bases. It is even more alarming to me, however, that the Chinese own so much land. Furthermore, much more of our arable land is controlled by other foreign interests. It is a threat to our national security to allow another country to control our food supply.
I am not a farmer or rancher. I know what I believe a lot of my fellow Idahoans know. Land is one of the few things in this world that has lasting value. Our land is our inheritance, as individuals and as a people. It is an enduring legacy that we leave for our children. People, please stop selling our future to our enemies for a few measly bucks.
The Chinese also control the production of finished goods
that we buy, and we are in a very vulnerable position. Please write your federal and state elected representatives. Ask them to take
immediate action to give the United States control of our arable land and the manufactured
goods needed to assure our continued existence as an independent nation.
Sunday, June 9, 2024
Don't Stop There
According to a report on Fox News today, AOC - a.k.a. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) - has said she will not attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposed address to a joint session of the US Congress. Certainly, that is her prerogative. We should not deny her the freedom to express herself (at the expense of doing her duty by attending).
In all seriousness, and
with all due respect, we might hope that she would not stop there. It would be a service to the country if she
would take it a step further and resign her office in protest.
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
Putin's Bluff
People often use the language of poker to describe life. President George W. Bush used “You play the hand you’re dealt.” to describe his feelings about the economic crash he inherited shortly after taking office. Kenny Rogers recorded a hugely successful song called, The Gambler, that popularized phrases like: “Know when to hold ‘em, and know when to fold ‘em.” “Every hand’s a winner, and every hand’s a loser.”
One of the most commonly used poker terms is to “bluff.” A bluff is a deceptive tactic used when a poker player acts and bets like they have a winning hand when the cards they are holding cannot win. The competing players try to guess whether one or more of the others in the game are bluffing. They are in a bit of a double bind, since they must decide whether to “fold” and forfeit the money they have in the “pot,” or to risk more money to “call.”
I don’t play poker, for a lot of reasons. I am too much of a tightwad to throw away money gambling. I can’t bluff successfully, and I always reveal a “tell” when I try. When I win, other players tend to resent being beaten by a novice. It’s a good way to lose friends. There are too many ways to cheat at cards, and I despise cheating. Finally, Mama hated gambling, and she never passed up an opportunity to show me the folly of it.
Some people think Vladimir Putin is bluffing when he threatens to use nuclear weapons in his war with Ukraine; or against countries that are members of NATO. In an interview with Alicia Acuna on Fox News, Former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he felt Russian President Putin’s bluff should be called. The same sentiments were expressed by Adam Kinzinger in an interview on CNN with Christiane Amanpour. Mr. Kinzinger is a senior political correspondent with CNN, a former Congressman, and a Lt. Col. In the Air National Guard.
Mr. Rasmussen and Mr. Kinzinger have the background and experience needed to warrant giving their opinions serious consideration. We must ask, therefore, with respect, what level of certainty they (and many others) give to their opinion that Mr. Putin is bluffing. Is it 70 percent, or 80 percent? Are we able to say with 95 percent certainty that the Russian Federation will not use at least tactical (low yield, battlefield level) nukes?
Remember, a lot of people thought Putin was bluffing when he threatened to invade Ukraine. When he amassed an army along the Ukrainian border, they still said he was bluffing, and that he wouldn’t dare do it. Well, he did it.
Do you know if Putin is bluffing? I don’t? The question is, how much are we willing to risk to find out. Throughout Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine, U.S. President Joe Biden has been hypercautious and fearful of antagonizing Russia. He is not willing to risk war with Russia, and Vladimir Putin knows it. It has encouraged Mr. Putin to continue the conflict, even in the face of terrible losses of men and material. The shot callers in Russia know that they can win a war of attrition with Ukraine, and they think that NATO and the United States will not have the character to continue their support.
Well, what if Ukraine invades Crimea? The Russians annexed Crimea following a plebiscite (legitimate or not), and they regard Crimea as part of Russia. Or, what if Ukraine slips a hundred drones under Russian radar and bombs Moscow? Vladimir Putin has vowed to use nuclear weapons if the existence of the Russian state is jeopardized. What will it take to make him believe that the Russian homeland must be defended with nuclear weapons?
If Russia uses nuclear weapons against Ukraine, and possibly other countries, this thing could get out of hand. A nuclear exchange between NATO countries, including the United States, and Russia would be a disaster for all concerned, and it could easily escalate into WWIII. Nuclear war involving most of the world’s nuclear powers could result in what would be, for all intents and purposes, an extinction level event.
Nuclear explosions have results. There is a fireball of intense heat, a powerful concussion, and there is radiation. Given the power of today’s nuclear devices, these effects destroy everything for miles.
The heat and updraft from a large nuclear device carry dirt, ash, and debris high into the atmosphere. Prevailing winds blow it away from ground zero, resulting in radioactive fallout for hundreds of miles. Radiation levels around the world may be increased by a nuclear explosion. Some of the debris contaminates upper levels of the atmosphere, which are relatively stable. Therefore, it tends to dissipate slowly. Debris from multiple explosions would block the rays from the sun, creating a “nuclear winter.”
A full-scale nuclear holocaust could kill much of the life on Earth: plant, animal, aquatic, and human. That is what we risk, potentially, if we decide to call Putin’s bluff.
Bullies bluff. Vladimir Putin is a bully. Our parents taught us, “If you stand up to a bully, he or she will leave you alone.” What most of us know, but didn’t say to our parents, is that a bully is often the toughest kid in school. If you stand up to him, you are liable to get your butt kicked.
So, should we stand up to Putin’s bluff? Of course, but let’s do it with a clear understanding of the risks. We shouldn’t do it out of some hairy-chested, macho bravado. We should do it because – if we don’t Putin’s appetite for conquest will only get worse. With a clear understanding of the risks, we should call Putin’s bluff because we must.
Monday, June 3, 2024
An Eyewitness Account
Jesus Christ is God, in a human body. The Twelve He chose to be His inner circle, His closest associates, had the privilege of being with Him for about three years. They saw Him, touched Him, and heard His words. They ate with Him, traveled with Him, and shared His experiences. Please read what the Apostle John wrote about it:
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just to forgive us 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. (1John, Chapter 1 NKJV) [1]
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