Joy

In a televised news program yesterday Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-California) announced that she would not seek reelection. With no disrespect intended, her announcement filled the hearts of many Americans with joy and a profound sense of relief. 

There is, however, a fly in the ointment. Given the results of the mayoral election in New York City a few days ago, we should be concerned about who to the liberals in San Francisco might elect to replace her. Instead of a far-left liberal, we could end up with a far-left radical. Please pray it does not happen. 

Caution should be used when interpreting the results of the recent elections in New York City, New Jersey, and Virginia. These are places where the Democrats usually win. Furthermore, the Republican candidates made a stronger showing than they usually do there. In the same vein, we can expect the people of San Francisco to elect a Democrat to replace Mrs. Pelosi. 

Chances are the voters in San Francisco will not elect a centrist to replace Rep. Pelosi. Therefore, it is incumbent upon Republicans, independent conservatives, and other good people with common sense to get out and vote in the 2026 midterm elections. We can't sit back on our laurels and expect conservatism to prevail in that election. Indeed, we must redouble our efforts.  From the current deadlock in Congress, it is plain for everyone to see that conservative presidents need a strong conservative majority in both houses of Congress to get anything permanent accomplished.  Please elect conservative candidates in 2026.

 

Spiritual Discernment

“Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.  This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God.  But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here. 

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.  Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them.  But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.” (1John 4:1-6 NLT) [1]

 

---

[1] https://biblehub.com/nlt/1_john/4.htm

SOS?

Morse code is an internationally recognized cipher used around the world as a method of communication. SOS is recognized worldwide as a distress signal. In Morse code it looks like this:

 …   ---   …  [1]

Here in Idaho, there is a strongly held conviction among many that SOS stands for “shoot on site” when applied to wolves, (erroneous material removed 11/02/2025).   People who feel differently about that have often migrated here from blue states and are trying to bring their liberal politics along with them. They continue in this effort despite the fact that liberalism has ruined the states they came from - like California.  But I digress. 

President Donald Trump seems to have employed “shoot on sight” against drug traffickers trying to bring illegal drugs into the United States. Politicians who sit on the left side in both houses of Congress have raised objections about the administration's use of lethal military force to interdict vessels in international waters that may be bringing illegal drugs into our homeland. They are alleging that the actions of President Trump, (by blowing them out of the water), are illegal and unconstitutional. 

Those who support the president site the horrific number of deaths in the US resulting from illegal drug overdose.  They point out that more Americans die each year from illegal drug overdose than have been killed in combat around the world since the Korean War. Good point. The American people have a right to self-defense. Further, there are strong arguments that the constitution and the law give the president the right to use military force to defend our people. 

I am not a legal scholar, and I have not had the “benefit” of a legal education. Therefore, I will let the courts decide the legality of the president's actions. Until then, I will give qualified support to the president and agree in principle that his actions are legal. Furthermore, it seems that self-defense makes common sense. 

There is, however, a 500-pound gorilla in the room. That gorilla is the blatant fact that there would be no cartels, or terrorists if you will, trafficking drugs and human beings into the United States of America if there was no market for it. 

I am definitely not a liberal, and I do not blame all of the world's problems on the United States. Unlike former President Obama, post-colonialism is not part of my worldview. Nevertheless, the truth is the truth. The fact is that the criminal activity bringing illegal drugs and trafficking human beings into our country is funded by American dollars spent by some of the American people who refuse to obey the law. 

Within the constraints of the rule of law, we should do everything possible to stop those who are smuggling illegal drugs and trafficking in human beings. Illegal drugs are killing our people. During the Biden administration, illegal migration resulted in the deaths of thousands of illegal migrants each year.

However, in a land with a representative government the people bear a corporate responsibility for the actions of the government we elect.  Therefore, we must do what we can, within the limits of the law, to accept the responsibility to act to ensure the legality of our government’s efforts to end the sale and use of illegal drugs and the rewards our society offers to people for illegally entering the United States. 

We must also elect government officials who oppose illegal entry and who wholeheartedly support law enforcement. This means fully funding the police, the courts, and the infrastructure necessary to secure our borders, end illegal migration, interdict illegal drug trafficking, and to destroy those who refuse to stop poisoning our people. 

The struggle is not between conservative and liberal.  It is not between those who have and those who have not.  The struggle is between good and evil.  As a people, we must do everything we can to make the United States of America a force for good in the world. 

I am asking our elected officials to set aside partisan politics and to act in the best interest of the American people first; with fundamental fairness to the rest of the world. The first duty of government as described in the constitution is to defend our people. It is time, and well past time, for positive action to be taken.

---

[1] https://morsecode.world/international/morse2.html

 

Fruit Inspectors

In today's world, it seems that it's getting harder and harder to tell the good guys from the bad guys. Often, we find ourselves having to choose between the lesser of two evils.

What are we to do, then? Sometimes we sit and shake our heads, and we bemoan the current state of affairs that we find ourselves in. 

Jesus told us not to judge others. Some commentators that I have read interpret that to mean that we shouldn't pass sentence on others or condemn them out of self-righteousness. Jesus himself provided the answer: 

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.  A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15-20 ESV) 

It is by a person's actions, and the outcomes of those actions, that we may know whether a person's motives are good or evil. We are not required to suspend all critical thinking or discernment.  We can choose whether to associate with a person socially, do business with them, enter into marriage with them, or to defend against them. (2Corinthians 6:14)  However, it is for the Lord to decide whether people have served God or the Devil. 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’  And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:21-23 ESV) 

How can we usurp the prerogative of Christ by judging others to the point of condemnation?  We must not.  Some people may appear to escape justice now, but we must trust in God’s justice.  We must remember that we all have fallen short of God’s righteous standard.  Those who are saved escape God’s just punishment for our sins because Jesus paid “a debt He did not owe by paying a price we could not pay,” and our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Revelation 20:11-15) That is why with hearts filled with love for Him, in the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we do the things He has planned in advance for us to do. 

“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.  You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.  All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)  For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.  So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. 

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:1-10 NLT)

 

 

 

Acknowledgement:  The Bible verses shown were copied from https://biblehub.com/

 

Life Through the Holy Spirit

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.  The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.  So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.  He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. 

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.  So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.  For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.  That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. 

But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)   And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God.  The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. 

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.  For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.  For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”  For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. (Romans 8:1-16 NLT) [1]

 

---

[1] https://biblehub.com/nlt/romans/8.htm

 

Happy Hunting

Hunting season is here again.  To my fellow hunters, I wish you good hunting and pray that God will protect you and keep you safe. 

As with any sport, it is useful to review the basics from time to time.  Here are a few suggestions that will help you have a safe and successful season. 

Review the information published by your state’s Game and Fish department.  Familiarize yourself with the laws and regulations that apply to hunting in your state.  Make sure that you follow all laws and regulations. 

Some states do not require blaze orange clothing.  Wear it anyway, whether it is required or not.  You may live longer, and the deer will see it as gray. 

Hunt ethically.  Good hunters respect their game and follow the principles of fair chase. 

Be sure that any shot you take will result in a clean kill if you hit the target.  If you think you missed, go to the place where your game was when you shot at it.  Conduct a thorough search of the area to be sure that you didn’t accidentally wound it.  Remember that animals may run for quite a distance, even though they are fatally wounded. 

Obtain permission from the landowner before you hunt on private property.  Ask the landowner how they want you to leave any gates you may pass through.  Don’t shoot near their residence or outbuildings.  Be careful not to disturb or harm their livestock. 

Stay current with weather forecasts for the area where you are hunting.  Take tire chains and cold weather clothing.  The Forrest Service, Bureau of Land Management, County Sheriff's Department, and others have better things to do, and don’t need to spend their limited resources extracting you and your vehicle if you get stuck in bad weather.  Getting towed out by a recovery vehicle can cost you a lot of money.  If the weather goes bad, everything else can get bad in a big hurry.  Take enough gas, food, and water to last a few days longer than you intend to stay. 

The same thing is true about getting lost.  Be familiar with your hunt area.  Get some good maps.  Remember, you may not have cell phone coverage.  Take a polished metal signal mirror and an emergency whistle with you.  A tourniquet and emergency first aid supplies are a good thing, too. 

If you are in rugged terrain, be sure you have an exit strategy before you climb steep, precipitous slopes, boulders, cliffs, rockslides, ice and snow fields, and the like.  Others will have to risk their necks to recover you, whether you are alive, broken, or dead. 

Make sure you put your fires dead out. 

Always obey the rules of gun safety.  Treat every gun as if it were loaded.  Always unload your gun before setting it aside or storing it.  Never carry a loaded gun in your vehicle.  Never point any weapon at anything you do not wish to destroy.  Be sure of your target before you shoot.  Be sure that the round will not kill another animal after it passes through your intended kill.  Never shoot without a backstop.  Always be sure the area around your target is clear before you shoot.  Don’t shoot across roadways.  Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to discharge a round.  Do not use alcohol and drugs when handling guns and other weapons.  Leave your distracting thoughts and worries behind and concentrate on using your weapon safely.  Always keep your weapon pointed in a safe direction.  Clear your firearm before handing it to someone else or field dressing your game.  If you shoot someone accidentally, you will wish to be able to undo it over and over again for the rest of your life, but you can’t. 

Call home when you can.  Your loved one will be worried about you.  Keep someone at home informed of the area where you will be hunting and your vehicle license plate number and description. 

Leave God’s country the way you found it.  Pack out your trash.  Pack out the trash others have left behind if you can.  Please don’t rut out wet, muddy roads with your vehicle.  You don’t need to get to that promising hunting spot so bad that you contribute to erosion and ruin the roads for everybody else. 

The anti-hunters are going to complain about us anyway. Please don’t give them additional material to slander us with.  Hunting has a prominent place in the management of wildlife, the economy, and conservation.  We can hold our heads high if we hunt the right way.  Let’s all do our best to mentor and encourage new hunters. 

If I missed anything, do that, too. 

Good luck.  God Bless.

 

Why do Terrorists Take Hostages?

On October 7, 2023, Hamas loosed armed insurgents into Israel from the Gaza Strip.  They murdered about 1,200 Israelis and others in the most brutal ways imaginable.  The dead were mostly civilians, and they included men, women, children, infants, and the elderly.  During the attacks, Hamas took 251 persons of various nationalities hostage. [1] 

Why do terrorists take hostages?  There may be any number of reasons.  These present themselves to be obvious to any observer with a brain that works.

Terrorists take hostages to use as a bargaining chip.  The families of the hostages are desperate.  They want their loved ones released at any cost.  Humanitarian groups, the press, the UN, organized protest groups – you name it – all pressure Israel to agree to anything in order to bring about the release of the hostages.  While the desire to bring the hostages home is understandable, giving in to the demands of the terrorists only plays into their hands.  It motivates the terrorists to take more hostages in the future. 

Terrorists like Hamas commit atrocities and take hostages to terrorize their enemies.  It is what they do.  They are TERRORISTS.  Now that some of the hostages have been released, we are learning that Hamas brutalized them while they were in captivity. 

The BBC reports that the female hostages were starved, intimidated, kept in underground tunnels without outside contact, and used as forced labor. [2] 

CBS states that medical examination of the released hostages found that they were suffering from PTSD, kept from knowing about their loved ones who were also being held hostage, starved, physically abused, psychologically abused, sexually abused, denied medical care, branded, and kept in restraints. [3] 

Reuters relates that the hostages, including minors, were burned and branded.  Female hostages were sexually abused. The hostages were tortured, physically and psychologically abused, starved and medically neglected. [4] 

The knowledge that the hostages are being mistreated and dying in captivity increases the pressure to agree to concessions to obtain their immediate release – regardless of the long-term adverse consequences to the safety of the Israeli people.  Hamas mistreats their prisoners because terrorists are vile, immoral criminals. 

Hamas is a terrorist organization.  They want to divide and discourage Israel.  They want to make Israel’s government appear to be heartlessly ignoring the plight of the hostages and their families.  They want to do everything they can to turn the nations of the world against Israel. 

They are TERRORISTS. It is what they do.  They know they don’t stand a chance in a stand-up fight with the IDF, so they hit below the belt – in ways that are the epitome of evil. 

The charter of Hamas calls for the destruction of Israel.  It is their ultimate goal, and they will not stop – will not stop – until they have achieved it.  Or, until they die trying. 

It is a humanitarian tragedy, for the Palestinian people, for Israel, and for the entire world.  We support President Donald J. Trump’s efforts to end this mess.  Let us pray that he can get it done without allowing Hamas to continue in its terrible barbarity. 

---

[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxnwnz1ldko

[2] Ibid.

[3] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doctor-who-treated-freed-hamas-hostages-describes-physical-sexual-and-psychological-abuse/

[4] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gaza-captors-tortured-hostages-including-minors-israeli-report-says-2024-12-29/