Author Archives: pricelessliadmin

 

Hey, there, Can you see?

By the Dems’ early night

What we solemnly spied

At the “wokeness” last beaming

 

 With great theft and great harm

They unleashed all their charm –

And our factories and jobs

Disappeared with great alarm;

      

And the airplanes’ red glare

And the cars everywhere…

Like a thief in the night

Were not found anywhere.

 

     Hey, Hey does our country’s

     torn flag ever wave?

     O’er the Socialists’ land

     And the home of the slave? 

 

By William Figley

4/27/21

U.S. Navy Veteran – WWII

 

faith, family, country

Only Jesus Poem

 

O, Jesus is the Cornerstone

The most important building Stone

The Rock on which we build our life

The life which may be full of strife

 

 

 

Jesus is our Friend, indeed

The only one the sinner needs

Jesus knows our every care

He, our anxious grief will share.

 

Jesus is our dwelling place

His love can fill our empty space.

He understands the human cry

He’s there to mind each earthly sigh.

He’s the Bright and Morning Star

He comforts you where e’er you are

 

This life is but a stepping stone

For those who want a real home

A place where love is all around

Where life is on the solid ground.

 

And Jesus is our answer still

Amongst the strife of human will

For Jesus died upon the tree

That sinners’ lives could then be free

We cannot even know the cost

That Jesus paid upon that cross.

 

Jesus is the great “I AM”

He always is the One Who can –

Can lift our spirits from within

Spirits that are freed from sin.

 

Godly life or earthly life

One is good, one is strife

Live for self, you die alone

You could have a heavenly home!

Home where everything is right

Home where there is no more night

Home where Jesus is the Light

And where sin is out of sight.

 

Did I explain about God’s plan…

To deal with all the sins of man?

Jesus came and died, alone

For all man’s sin, He did atone

Here’s the choice God gave to all;

Believe in Christ… Answer the call.

Give your life to Christ alone

And welcome to your heavenly home.

 

When you chose Christ, you chose it all…

You answered God’s forgiving call.

If you chose your own life and way

Then God above must have His say.

Heaven’s doors are open wide

To all who choose the Savior’s side,

Should not the universe be shown

Who is in charge and on the Throne?

 

Could God let just one sinner in

And the heavenly home be touched with sin?

No… God left His Gift intact

For all those who by their act

Received the Christ, Who died for all

Who made themselves sinful and small…

And took the Christ into their life

And ended sin’s eternal strife.

 

So earthly-minded, listen clear…

The moment of your choice is here,

Take God’s gift – the Gift is free

For all who believe – eternity.

For heaven’s for those who have believed –

And Christ Jesus, they received.

 

by William Figley

12/8/2021

 

Individual Liberty and Its Results – Part II

For Part I of Individual Liberty and Its Results, click here.

Consequences of the Loss of Individual Liberty

Let’s take a look now at something obvious, but often overlooked. If you do not have individual liberty, you will not have any of the extra, spillover benefits that individual liberty provides – and you won’t have a United States of America any longer in that case, either.

Loss of individual liberty changes the kind of country you have into some form of dictatorship – ALWAYS, not maybe. (Just ask Australia, Canada, France, Germany and folks in the states of NY and CA if you wonder if that’s really taking place right now)

What is Lost and Who Loses?

Moving on now – it seems difficult for many people to realize what is lost – and who loses it, when actions against individual liberty are taken. And the corrupt elites are hoping we don’t comprehend it fully until it’s too late!

 1. Illegal Aliens entering our country through our unsecured southern border. They were not invited to enter illegally under President Trump – they were welcome to come in legally and lawfully. Under Biden’s socialist policies, thousands and thousands of illegals are coming into our country as we speak!

Who are these people? What are they bringing in with them? (diseases? drugs? children to traffic?) And how will we – as a people, take care of them?  Whose individual liberty is being taken away by this? Border control agents have been told by government not to arrest these people. Citizens’ rights are being violated, tax-payers in the U.S. will foot the bill.

Where are all the rights of the U.S. citizens? Any and all U.S. citizens lose their law and order, their peace and safety, and their God-given rights!! All citizens’ right are gone!!

2. The Green New Deal

Socialists are trying to set up a throw-back to the Stone Age! They are attempting to ban the combustion engine, oil and gas, cows, cars, trucks and airplanes. Yes, from our own country!

There is no way that our economy, our dollar, our external and internal security can survive under their proposed “New Deal.” It’s actually not new at all. It’s their decades old playbook to crash the economy, force citizens to depend on government handouts to survive, mercilessly raise taxes, and then restrict their freedoms every which way but loose. They want to bring us into their “Great Reset” and run every iota of our lives. Oh, and depopulation is a part of it – easier to control the sheep when the herds are not so large (this is how they view us!!)

Our only hope now, under socialism, is that it can’t happen overnight!

Who Is Affected?

Everyone who lives in our country (and yours). No more country under their “new” ideas. Oh, maybe a bonfire and an empty food plate, but no hope, no dreams, no means to do anything but to die!! How long will it take China to come into our country and claim everything? Are they already buying up U.S. land and controlling large U.S. corporations?  It’s worth doing some research (but don’t accept the mainstream ‘fake news’ to tell you the truth).

No one’s individual rights and means to life can be saved by this horrendous scheme!

3. Raising Taxes

This is certainly one of Biden’s proposals, and a sure thing. It won’t be long before businesses will close or shrink in size, new businesses are discouraged from taking a chance, and more factories will leave the country (again). The standard of living in the U.S.A. will go to zero. Raising taxes on any class of our people, whether lower class, middle class, or wealthy class cannot accomplish anything but dictatorship and loss of life.  (By the way, are income taxes even legal? Now that question is worth some further research!)

Can God in heaven possibly support this?

When individual liberty is gone for all but the ruling few, then life itself is gone for most of us. It is a disaster waiting to happen. Any group or leader who raises taxes, or who talks of doing so is not capable of being in charge of a doghouse in a rainstorm!!

Although some of the rich may survive in such a system, our country will be ruined, as individual liberty is crushed! Virtually all citizens will be losers.

4. Empty Promises

There are two types of empty promises: those that the promisers never intend to keep, and those promises that are impossible to keep. Socialists will give you BOTH of these types!

All dictators make empty promises. They have done so for centuries, somewhere in our world. Socialism promises a utopia for everyone – a country that will be nearly perfect – as long as the dictators are obeyed.

If I may digress a bit – remember the old nursery rhyme – “Simple Simon met a Pie-man going to the Fair.” According to the progression of the rhyme, the Pie-man essentially said: “Show me the color of your money!!”  Remember?

Empty promises produce no money and they take away all that you have, as a citizen. Dear people, socialism doesn’t even recognize what an individual IS, let alone a free individual! Socialism views mankind as “groups” – pleasant little peasant groups who can get along just fine with leadership – AS LONG AS  THEY OBEY.

Here’s a Challenge – Show Me if You Can!

Show me, if you can, how any individual can benefit from empty promises.

If someone says, “Wait a minute!” We don’t know for sure that the kind of government that socialists advocate won’t be better.

My response? Look at history!!

Where in the history of the world has socialism ever produced anything but misery? Give me chapter and verse!

Oddly enough, there is silence – and a squeaky voice that whispers – “Trust me.”

Venezuela did, and look at that country!

(Venezuela used to be one of the richest nations in the world before the socialist takeover of their government in recent years. Now you can find citizens digging through trash trucks looking for a morsel to eat).

When individual liberty is gone, you will have nothing but wreck and ruin, make no mistake. You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear! 

The very essence of socialism is that it hates individual liberty for anyone but its rulers. 

The Standard of Individual Liberty

Let me finish by saying that individual liberty is the one single thing you MUST have if you are to have a free country. Individual liberty is the only standard you will ever need to judge a law, an amendment to a law, a legal position, or anything important to your life.

So you, as a citizen, a good citizen – must judge everything that appears in your life by one thing only:

How does this thing – this one action – this one thought – affect my individual liberty? 

If you do not have individual liberty guaranteed to you by your government, then you have nothing – you have no country, no personal freedom, and little hope.

God Himself authorized individual liberty through His Holy Word, the Bible, which was then pronounced in the Declaration of Independence and in the Constitution of the United States of America.

Without a loving God, you cannot have anything of importance or value.

Postscript: 

Perhaps seeing the world through the filter of individual liberty more clearly has made you aware of your restrictions and the potential corruption of your own government.

I encourage you to embrace the facts, yes. But the TRUTH is that God created you to know Him and be FREE, so that is what you stand for, pray for and speak up for.

The world is waking up. I welcome you to the tribe of the Awakened Warriors. Godspeed.

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.”

(John 8:36)

Why Believe in Jesus Christ? 

The Middle Class: Who, What, Why?

This is Part II of our discussion of the Middle Class . Click here for Part I.

The most important class of any country is the middle class of that country. Here’s where history becomes very interesting. Did you know that most countries do not have a middle class? Well what classes of people DO they have? And what does this tell you about such countries?

Almost, if not all countries without a middle class have 2 classes of people. Of course, there are many countries in the world and many variations in government style. The rich and the poor are the 2 classes of people you will find in many other nations besides ours, in the U.S.A.

Unfortunately, classes of people are usually made on the basis of the money they make and have acquired. This is not a very good system. But it has been used for decades. Most countries have a poor class and a rich class – the rich class, of course, is also the ruling class. There is very little in between.

What Kind of Country Has No Middle Class?

Why, every authoritarian country, be it socialist, communist, marxist, absolutist, or whatever. There is no middle class, only the poor. In such an arrangement, the rulers have little to fear regarding uprisings against the government elite – the high and lofty self-anointed ones!!  The poor class is pretty much reigned in by the ruling class. There is very little chance for advancement in money, prestige, or opportunity.

Anytime you are told of a country without a middle class, you should know immediately that you are dealing with some form of dictatorship. No exceptions.

Middle Class America

The middle class is the most important class in the country of the U.S.A. Why? Because it is by far the largest segment of the population and so it follows, it should be the most important.

I observe the USA to have 3 classes of people (financially). The poor, who could be subdivided perhaps, the middle class, and the rich and famous!

If I may speculate as to the earnings of the poor, I would say $20,000 per year in income, and for many, much less. The normally accepted earnings of the middle class would perhaps go up to $800,000 – pretty high for most in this range. Then the rich class would increase in earnings to the millions or more – from about the $800,000 range.

Which Class in the U.S.A. has the Largest Voting Bloc?

Which class garners the most votes cast?  You guessed it – the middle class.

Which class thinks they know more about running the country than the middle class? (The elite ruling class – of course!)

And where do many great ideas come from that benefit everyone – where but from the middle class?

Now please understand my point:

Which class must be controlled at all costs by the country’s rulers (in our country currently, the socialists)?

Why, the middle class of the country must be controlled by the corrupt elites, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT!

A class of people that is severely and harshly ruled over, always has fewer freedoms. ALWAYS!!

Do you have more or less freedom than you did even a year ago? They don’t want you to realize they are targeting the middle class to move them to the poor class so they can clamp down even more on their unconstitutional power grab. Awake yet?

YET – the middle class has enough people to cause dictators some serious trouble – should they decide to stand together against the tyranny!  Let Freedom Ring!

Middle Class America: What Do They Want?

This blog post will refer specifically, to the middle class of the U.S.A.  Few other countries can even claim a middle class. This is how and why mankind has seen dictator after dictator in his or her country.

The goal of every would-be dictator is to take over the middle class of his or her particular country. Because, if the middle class is not controlled, their leadership will soon be over.

The Desires of the Middle Class

The middle class of America is a very broad and comprehensive group. They are also an understanding group, and sharp as well. It is by FAR the largest segment of the U.S. population.

Here are their needs and desires:

  • A government that operates in, and promotes, individual liberty, and will see to it that the people have the same liberty
  • A caring attitude by elected officials towards its people in all things
  • Lower taxes
  • Booming economy
  • Good jobs and good wages
  • Expansion of varieties of opportunities
  • Observation of the Rule of Law, which ensures law and order, peace and safety
  • Sensible immigration policy (currently nonexistent under Biden)
  • Fairness toward all
  • Religious freedom
  • 2nd Amendment rights (not nibbling towards confiscation as Biden is doing)
  • Reigning in of unfair advantages of large corporations and entities which currently exercise too many rights that are denied to the common American citizen

Part II of this topic will dive more into what and who the Middle Class is, and why they are essential to a country with a thriving economy and why, in the case of the U.S.A., they are the essential Guardians of Freedom.

Middle Class Part II: Who, What, Why?

Individual Liberty and Its Results – Part I

We don’t hear the term “individual liberty” tossed around much these days, but this term is foundational to our country (as originally founded). If you are undecided or unsure about certain “goings on” in recent days, please read on. Perhaps you will see things in a different light by the end of your time here.

Firstly, let’s review. When the U.S.A was founded in 1776, the laws of the new country (called the Constitution) guaranteed individual liberty for each person. This was a new concept in government, and unheard of in the annuls of history.

Countries primarily operated with Kings, potentates, rulers or dictators who had absolute authority. In all of these cases, their “rulership” completely opposed the new laws that birthed the United States of America. We have leaders, but no king. We have lawmakers whose decisions are not absolute.

Born To Be Free

The power that lawmakers have (those elected with free and fair elections) come from our U.S citizens. Men and women in Congress are elected, not appointed by any king or overseer. (And, I might add, a few appointed leaders who assume authority are not any guarantee of correctness when it comes to their decision making.) These many offices are filled by people whom we elect (at least that is the way it was intended)! Free and fair elections are for the purpose of those in authority TRULY BEING ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE, not appointed by kings, and not cronies of the people at the top of the authority structure.

World Leadership Factors

World leadership has often fallen to the U.S.A through the years. Why? Because our country and our leaders represent the best form of government that can be found. Our country has more freedom and more opportunities than any country in the world. The USA has been a world leader in times past because of the ability to “get things done” and not cave to the intimidation and threats of other rogue nations who want to control the rest of the world.

Other countries have looked up to us in the past, as a beacon of freedom. We have had world stature in many countries – people admire our accomplishments and strengths, as well as our freedoms.

You might be surprised to learn the number of other countries that have had U.S. troops residing there. Many smaller countries are threatened by rogue nations, and are easily threatened with domination by stronger empires. Until President Trump came along, the countries gladly accepting our troops were – for the most part – not paying a red cent for their protection from U.S soldiers.

Do We Realize What We Really Have?

I’m sorry to say that too many Americans do not realize the astounding benefits that our country offers them. Add to that, too many in the U.S.A have been duped by anti-American rhetoric and actions that are in process of cancelling this individual liberty that our forefathers fought for that we might enjoy. This is exactly why we have, and are now seeing all kinds of actions taken in the name of “good government,” which are wrong and deadly; actions that deny citizens their rights under the Constitution.

You must remember this: Without the Constitution and its guarantees (based on the freedoms given to us by God when He created the world), no citizen has any guarantee of anything. Without the Constitution, we would be like any other country – whose authoritarian leaders pick and choose which “benefits” to grant their slave-subjects. We see more and more in the last several months how our Constitution is being trampled on by socialistic and marxist ideas. Yes, these are dictatorial rule as well as kings, potentates and superiors! This is where we end up if we allow corrupt “rulers” to create “laws” and “mandates” at every turn, which bear no resemblance whatsoever to “government by the people and for the people.”

The Importance of Individual Liberty

We are told in our founding documents that citizens in the U.S. have certain unalienable rights. Among these rights, according to the Declaration of Independence are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

If you can prove that any other nation has this system, please go right ahead. Now notice, the pursuit of happiness. It is called the pursuit because it cannot be guaranteed by any person or government. But it does show the great extent of the liberty we have.

How Individual Liberty Impacts Others

Individual liberty is guaranteed to each person, which makes the guarantee self-limiting – because each person has it rightfully. Under our system of government, you cannot infringe upon or negate the liberty of another as you are pursuing your own individual liberty. (Please keep in mind that this is the beauty of how we were founded as a nation – the trampling of freedoms we have seen recently – particularly of those who disagree with the mainstream narrative – is neither Constitutional nor lawful.) This is why it is imperative that we see the truth unveiled, and hold our government leaders accountable to “we the people.” 

Individual Liberty – A Beacon of Hope to the World

Other Benefits of Individual Liberty

Think of a prisoner or jailed person for a moment. What are they not permitted to do? He/she not only cannot do many things physically, he or she is also unable to do many things legally as well.

Here’s where individual liberty shines brightly and shows its true colors.  Please note: If you don’t enjoy the benefits listed below, it could well be that others are attempting to steal your liberty from you. Bear this in mind as you read:

* Opportunity

Opportunity is given – the chance to go anywhere, to work anywhere, to like something different from what others do, to climb the social and financial ladder and best of all, to supply to the person the dignity and the self-worth of positive accomplishment. Socialism, Marxism, dictatorship, etc. can NEVER accomplish this.

* Capitalism (or free markets)

Our free market system is not appreciated by most people possibly because it doesn’t even register with many. Capitalism gives us freedom of choice in what we buy and in the services we receive. There is competition (in many sectors) that inspire better and more affordable goods and services. This system makes the world go ’round and propels U.S. citizens far above the people of some other dictatorial, “you don’t have a choice” societies. DON’T EVER FORGET THIS. It is the reason our country has historically been ahead of all others, and this system has created an enormous amount of wealth.

* Private Property

Let’s add this to the list of add-ons to individual liberty, the right to own something that cannot lawfully be denied. This would include ownership of homes, business buildings, land, etc.; all lift up individual liberty to where it belongs. In most countries, private property does not exist.

* Privacy

Privacy is the right – the special right to own something, some secret, some history, something of value, that government cannot lawfully change. Government was not founded to pry into your personal affairs. Government must respect what is personally yours. 

A well-known man’s personal privacy is being violated today by the Biden administration, by illegally and unlawfully breaking into a citizen’s private property without just cause. This is inexcusable conduct by government.

I sincerely hope that the actors and instigators pay very dearly for this breach of individual liberty.

We will continue to explore, in Part II, what consequences we will pay as a nation and people for allowing a loss of individual liberties.

Individual Liberty and Its Results – Part II

Importance of Ideology – (Skin Color Has Nothing to Do With it!)

Ideology is a most important part of one’s personal philosophy, both as an individual and as part of a group. Ideology is perhaps the most DEFINING part of a person’s nature or being. And skin color has NOTHING to do with it!

Ideology and Influence

Ideology may be defined as the deeply held belief of any person. This belief is part and parcel of that person during his entire existence. It can include faith, thoughts, ideals, dreams, likes and dislikes, money and influence – yes, everything about that person that they hold on the inside.

What is inside a person must, at some point, be shown on the outside, or many times their true beliefs or intentions are mistaken by others.

Now, let me be very clear – Ideology has nothing to do with skin color! This is a socialistic lie, that should be thrown out even before it is uttered! Let me explain. Each person has a right to deeply held personal beliefs, which can change or be solidified over time by upbringing, current society, absolute truth (such as the Word of God), or other influences. But the wise person should not allow past experience to necessarily alter their ideology.

Ideology has everything to do with your personal, deeply-held beliefs; your ideology reflects the best in you, past experience or training being only a part of the whole.

People of many racial backgrounds and experiences may have pretty much the same ideology and thoughts about life as you do, and their skin color and past experience is only part of their experience to the present time. As a conservative, I would and do relate strongly to a person with a similar ideology as mine, regardless of skin color.

In fact, I am especially thrilled when a black or brown-skinned person agrees with my thoughts on our country, and the individual liberty that our country’s laws provide. It is certainly not skin color, or even background, that puts a person in any certain category or place in life. It is their ideology (personal beliefs)  that I value. Their skin color does not matter – it is not a negative!

I am not like the socialists, who delight in redefining the meaning of well-established words in order to gain political advantage.

Would I vote for a person of color, regardless of color? ABSOLUTELY! If their ideology aligns with my own, and many do, I would support people of color who run for high office. I can think of a number of people of color right now who would rank high on my list for very high office.

No, dear readers, skin color has no relationship whatsoever to personal ideology. And I am by no means the only person declaring this truth from the beginning.

Socialists are great dividers of people and government, for the purpose of creating chaos in people’s thinking.

Please don’t fall for it. We have a country to save, and the “divide and conquer” mentality is trying to drag us in the wrong direction to destruction. We can refuse to go along for the ride!

Faith, Family, and Country

Faith, family, and country. In that order? Yes, in that order.

If you are a citizen, and believe in the Constitution of the U.S. and in conservatism and common sense, you are a beloved citizen who can coach others and you can strengthen your country!

faith, family, country

FAITH in God through Jesus Christ, and owning Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the first priority.

FAMILY is next. Honor the family. Protect the family. Revere the family as the backbone of your society, and the backbone of any society. I consider husband and wife to be a family. Surely children are welcome, and are both a delight and bring a solemn obligation to teach, coach and provide example.

Next is COUNTRY. Follow the Constitution. Be informed about your leaders, and elect those you have checked out and approved, and see that they perform as they were voted in to do.

You are no doubt wondering about the world as a whole. You are a citizen of the world because you are a human. The physical world should never come before FAITH, FAMILY AND COUNTRY. Your country’s leaders will take care of the world, by first taking care of the country they have vowed to protect.

If you see signs of election fraud, and decisions being made to undermine the Constitution and the freedoms God gave to us as citizens, go back to the first priority. Ask God what you can do to turn things around. Find like-minded people and do what you can,  and above all, pray.

Our actions (or lack of them) will determine the kind of  country and freedoms our children and grandchildren will inherit from us.

Simon, A Tanner

Who is Simon? What is a tanner?

And what does it possibly have to do with life in the 21st century?

I’m glad you asked. Walk with me through the halls of ancient history and discover valuable lessons and observations that will help you navigate through life’s mysteries today.

There are two scripture (Bible) verses about Simon, a tanner, and to all appearances, they pertain to the same time period – one event.

In Acts 9:43, we find these words about the Apostle Peter: “And it came to pass that he (Peter) tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon, a tanner.”

Then in Acts 10:6, which seems to be a short time after, God instructed Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian band, to seek out Peter.  Cornelius was a man who worshipped God. Many men sought after God’s direction who were not Jews.

Cornelius was told by God to seek out a man called Simon, in Joppa (city), and there he, Cornelius, would find Peter.

So in Acts 10:6, we find the following:

(He), Peter lodgeth with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea side; He shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

So – what does this mean? The Bible verse seems to be telling us that Peter has a message for Cornelius. And Cornelius is directed to where Peter is. Is there any significance here concerning Simon the tanner? Yes, indeed!!

Who was Simon, anyway, and what was this all about? 

Now this Simon was a tanner by trade. A tanner was a tradesman who processed animal hides, treated them, and made them into leather. We all know about leather. Today we highly prize articles crafted from leather. We have leather boots, sandals, wallets and purses, and many items of utility in addition to apparel, shoes and personal items. Leather boots remain very popular today, although rather expensive. Leather as a finished product is beautiful, pliable and more durable than many other materials in use today.

Let’s now dig into the treasures beneath the surface of these two brief references of Scripture.

Simon was evidently a follower of God, a Christian (Christ-follower), and he had a successful trade. He dwelt by the seaside.

Why there? Because the foul odor of his trade made Simon (and every other tanner of hides) quite unwelcome anywhere in the city.  By the sea, most of the odor from Simon’s trade would be carried out to sea and dissipated.  Simon was not welcome anywhere in the city. I’m not blaming anyone for that, these were just the facts in those old days.

What can be said about Simon and his trade? His product resulted in good.

      His work was rather thankless and dirty, but the end result was exceptionally useful and highly prized. 

Now, compare Simon as a Christian and God-follower to those of like faith today. The odor of a Christian (meaning the beliefs of the Christian) in today’s society often makes us, the believers, unwelcome in the halls of science, politics, government or philosophy. Out bodies, as believers, do not stink, but our dearly held beliefs certainly stink in the eyes of many.

The weak Christian who says or does little to disrupt the elitist, humanist philosophers of society, the promoters of authoritarian government, are not so likely to be despised as the committed Christian. In their eyes, better that we be neither seen nor heard!

So, we Christians are “Simon the Tanners” in the eyes of the Left – Socialists, Communists, Marxists, and radicals of all stripes.

You may be wondering, just how, in detail, are Christians of today thought of and treated by those who don’t believe as we do? I’m speaking here of committed believers, and even more so about conservative and Constitution-loving Christians.

Why are we hated by the left? Those who aim (even as we speak) to enslave us, along with anyone who disagrees with them?

I propose that those who do NOT believe in radicalism, socialism, communism, etc. are the “TRUE” Simon the Tanners of today.

If You Could Look Through Their Worldview Lens…

We are considered to be dumb and ignorant and incapable of governing ourselves.

We are the smelly Wal-Mart people, the “basket of Deplorables” (Hillary Clinton says). There is no hope for us, because the only people who can rule us (they say) are the people of “science,” understanding, leadership and intelligence (all defined to promote only themselves and their views of the world).

They say the rest of society doesn’t have any of these skills and qualities, so they are incapable  of understanding and knowing what is good for them.

In other words, “You all are dumb sheep!”

A Recurring Biblical Theme? 

I can take you through dozens and dozens of Bible illustrations that mirror Simon the Tanner!

If you miss them, you will miss the many ways in which God operates, and the many lessons in life that you could learn from them to apply to your NOW.

Simon’s Attitude

I don’t see any evidence that Simon the Tanner whined and howled about where he had to live and conduct his trade. I see nothing except his welcoming of the Apostle Peter, who was certainly about the business of God and the spreading of the Gospel.

Simon evidently trusted in God.  He was to tell Peter what to do next.

Note that God didn’t tell a KING to give His message to Peter. He told a TRADESMAN – a man whose very trade was despised by the city people.

David’s Dad

Do you remember Jesse, the father of David? He had 8 sons.

David, the youngest, was assigned the lowest position possible, a shepherd of sheep.  Shepherding was considered (although essential) to be the lowest of the low as far as career paths go. When Samuel, the prophet, came to anoint one of the boys to be the King over Israel, Jesse didn’t even bother to call David from the field! It was only after Samuel asked if he had any more sons, that David was brought before him.  And the rest (as they say) is history!

Now the question is – did any of David’s brothers get to be a King, or ascend to any other position of great importance? If so, the Bible doesn’t record it.

But David’s great faithfulness in doing the task before him with excellence, while loving his sheep and his God, literally promoted him to a Kingship that is considered by many to be the most distinguished in the history of the world!

Job Description of a Shepherd: Would You Apply?

There are many factors involved in caring for sheep that few know about or would even consider (After all, I highly doubt you’ve seen a job advertisement for a shepherd with an enticing benefits package).

Those who kept sheep in the old Bible days, walked with the sheep, slept beside the sheep, were in pastures with the sheep (whether good or bad pastures). And I’m told that shepherds also smelled like the sheep. Literally.

And yet there are still other reasons to downgrade the lowly shepherds of the Bible. They endured heat and cold, they chased after sheep that wandered around aimlessly at times, and had to have the shepherd’s hand of protection lest they get lost and become victims of wolves, bears and lions. David killed his share of ravenous, vicious animals who intended to fleece him of his flock!

Shepherds were not only looked down upon; they often didn’t even have proper home care or even a home environment most of the time. Today, their jobs would be classified as “dirty jobs.”

Are You Unwelcome? Misunderstood?

I believe, quite sadly, that many Christians, as well as those who may not yet be believers in Christ, are living in a world where their beliefs and actions in regards to their fellowman are not welcomed. Their actions are often misunderstood, because too many people live selfish lives.  They fail to recognize truth and those who speak truth.

Of course, we are discovering that many do not want to understand any belief other than their own (even if their belief is authoritarian and makes slaves of all but the ruling elite).

                                 God often conducts His business and His desires for mankind                                           through people of lowly station in this earthly life. 

He does not always trust those with the importance of Kings, etc. God looks on the heart, not the position or the degree. He sees who can be trusted with His plan. His business is entrusted to those who love Him and follow Him.

Are you one of life’s “lowlies?”

You may not be a Simon the Tanner or a Lowly Shepherd Boy, or an overlooked member of society.

But are you reliable and faithful?

If you are, God can use you – perhaps to accomplish great things for His kingdom!

What is the Constitution for the United States of America? (Part I)

This might sound like a simple question – but the answer is that, apart from the living Word of God, this may be the most important document on earth.

The Constitution is the body of laws of our USA country. In simple language, it gives legal authority to all citizens of the United States of America to possess certain rights that cannot be ignored, changed or modified. It gives a citizen the right to pursue anything within the law of the land… so long as this does not interfere with these same rights for any other citizen.

This is not a blank check. Its limitations are its checks and balances.

Our Constitution is Unique and Sacred

Yes, our Constitution, although often not correctly interpreted, is both sacred and unique.

Its origin came from the Declaration of Independence, which states that all men are created equal. This declared fact is authorized by GOD HIMSELF, as natural law, which came from God, the Creator of us all.

Without a doubt, this Declaration stresses that ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL (meaning equal in the eyes of God and of government). It also states that we, as people, are endowed by God  with certain unalienable rightsthat among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

The Declaration goes on to say that… to ensure these rights, governments are instituted among men… deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

It is obvious from the above statement that citizens under the Constitution are not to be governed by whim, or by any authoritarian actions of our leaders (elected or unelected). Those who represent us are to be cautious that they have our best interests at heart, AND that they are following our Founding Documents and preserving our freedoms, as outlined therein.

What Part Does Individual Liberty  Play?

If or when measures are put into process (or “laws” passed) which dilute the individual liberty, or individual rights of a citizen – whether one or many – these actions are AGAINST our Constitution, and take us, the people, away from our Constitutional guarantee of individual liberty.

Throughout the course of many years – and especially the last 12 years or so, we have seen a serious drift away from our Constitution which is – to this day – creating a climate of restricted liberty for each citizen.

Although much progress was made in the past 4 years to restore individual liberty (particularly compared to the previous 8+ years of losses), we still have a long way to go. Under the current “administration”, the country appears to be headed, sadly, to authoritarian socialism at BEST.

It only takes a brief look at history to see that too much power in the hands of a central government always shrinks the scope of individual freedom. 

We need to return to the way our Founding Fathers set up our nation and adhere to our original governing principles. Only then will we have a government operating which is “by the people and for the people”, “under God”, and “with liberty and justice for all.” 

Part II: Individual Liberty

Part III: Classic Examples of Socialists’ Follies

Part IV: Middle Class Vs Socialist Agenda