Wounded Warriors & The First Commander-in-Chief

     Yesterday was the first day of serving our heroes at the Fisher House in San Antonio.  The day started off slow, because it takes the Wounded Warriors and their families a day or two for the word to spread that the Angel Chefs are on Post.
     It was wonderful to see old friends that I had met the last time I served them, and meeting new folks who have arrived at Brook Army Medical Center within the last six months.  Perhaps the most poignant story came from a soldier named Bo, who is a triple amputee.  His dad is here in San Antonio supporting him, and had just received a phone call that pipes back home in Idaho had burst and there was extensive flooding.  He was going to have to fly home to see to repairs.  With no one to help care for Bo, he would be forced to give up his spot at Fisher House and move back to the barracks.
     After a phone call or two, a family friend who happened to be in Texas to go hunting, offered to stay with Bo so that his dad could take care of business.  Bo is understandably dealing with a lot of issues, as are many of these young soldiers, but giving up his position at Fisher House would have been a huge setback.

     The highlight of my day was getting to observe a Purple Heart ceremony.  A combat award, the original Purple Heart, designated as the Badge of Military Merit, was established by George Washington—then the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army – by order from his Newburgh, New York headquarters on August 7, 1782.
     So you can image the thrill of wounded soldiers to see President George Washington approach them  to shake their hand.
     Mark Collins, a Baptist preacher from Yorktown, TX has made it his calling to represent the honor and patriotism of the first President and Commander-in-Chief.  He has appeared in the History Channel's "Revolution" series, depicting the founding of our nation, and is often called upon to portray our Founding Father in various presentations.
      As you can see by the following photos, his appearance at Fort Sam Houston was met with much surprise and excitement.   Matching General Washington's height of 6'4", he is a commanding presence, and loves the opportunity to thank the troops for their service.

     But the biggest coincidence of the day was the tattoo that Dan, one of our favorite residents at Fisher House showed off.  The last time I was here, Dan had suffered a setback, re-injuring himself which forced him to lose the use of his prosthetic and return to a wheelchair.  This visit, Dan had reacquired his new leg, and was sporting a new tattoo ..... one of his own design of George Washington.  It was only fitting that he showed it to us on the day that the First President visited Fort Sam Houston.

     It's late, my feet are tired, and I can barely keep my eyes open.  But I can't wait to go back tomorrow and be inspired by these true heroes.  We owe them so much and it's my privilege to thank them in this small way.

2 Corinthians 4:15     "All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God."

It's Our Time To Serve

     This will be a fairly short post today, because I am preparing for a worthy mission.  For the next several days, I will be involved in giving back to those who sacrifice and serve our nation.  If you will recall, last Spring I went to Fort Sam Houston with a ministry group called Angel Chefs.  We cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner for our Wounded Warriors who reside at three Fisher House complexes on the Post.

     Brooke Army Medical Center is located at Fort Sam and provides exceptional care and rehabilitation for these heroes.  Our group will seek to bring encouragement and gratitude to all these young men and women, for their service to our country.  In addition, our cooking efforts give wives and mothers a break for a week from preparing meals for their loved ones.
     And we don't just make peanut butter sandwiches!  I am responsible for providing one meal for the 7 days that Angel Chefs will be serving at Fisher House.  I chose a lasagna dinner, and will be providing fourteen 9 x 13 pans of lasagna, along with the requisite garlic bread and Italian salad.  Now, before you give me more credit than I deserve, you need to understand that I have been blessed with an incredible support system in my little town.
     I enlisted the help of a local church, who enthusiastically offered their assistance in providing multiple sources of comfort and aid for this project.  Ladies signed up to make pans of lasagna; people donated Walmart gift cards for the families; and I have boxes of shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap and other personal items.  Friends and family generously donated cash that can be used for additional gift cards as well as supplementing our menus throughout the week.  And what a meal plan!  I talked to the Angel Chef administrator and we will have barbecued brisket, spaghetti, a shrimp boil; a Mexican food extravaganza; along with home-made desserts galore:  cookies, brownies, bundt cakes, cheesecake.  There goes my diet!
     Perhaps the most touching offering I will be taking with me, are the dozens of cards that were arranged by my mother-in-law at her church, and made by young children in their Sunday School classes.  "You are our heroes" is the template for each card, and the individual hearts, American flags, crosses and "I love you's" are testimony that these young children know the meaning of service and appreciate the sacrifice on their behalf.
     So I wanted you to know what I will be doing for the next few days, and I want to give you a running commentary of my experience.  So every day I will post some photos along with my thoughts from that day.  I warn you ---- I have to be up and preparing breakfast every morning at 5:30 and don't return to my hotel room until around 8 at night, so I will be exhausted!  I'll try to make sense when I report back to you.  But I want you to get a first-hand view of these heroes and my personal, spontaneous thoughts.  I want you to feel what I feel, see what I see, and then perhaps find a Fisher House close to you to volunteer.  I promise you that you will be changed forever!

Philippians 2:3-4    "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

Pre-Election Thoughts On This Saturday Morning

     I have debated a long time about whether to voice my opinion on the upcoming election and the choice between our two candidates.  But after prayer and considerable angst, I felt that this time in our nation's history, as well as the condition of the world, requires that we take a hard look at the consequences of this election.  
     I  know there are those who ask, "Why vote?  We are so far over the Fiscal Cliff, that a change in the White House cannot save us.  Our death as a World Leader is imminent.  Romney can't change it and Obama will just take us down the inevitable path quicker.  Why suffer a 'death by a thousand cuts'?  Let's just get it over with and start rebuilding."
     While I cannot disagree with this opinion, my faith dictates that I do the right thing.  I thought long and hard about this quandary and how to express my thoughts, when this following article appeared in my email box.  Paul McGuire, who is a radio talk show host, professor and Bible prophecy scholar, has written the following essay, which echoes my opinion and expresses it better than I could.  
     His view is frank, honest and what the American people need to hear.  I hope you will seriously contemplate his words and share them with others who need to hear this excellent commentary.

     It matters who you vote for.  Voting is not a choice for the Christian; it is a mandate from God.  If we are truly in submission to our government in America, then we must vote, because our government requires that we are to be good citizens and good citizens vote.  True Christian love is expressed by the commandment, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as themselves."   True Christians understand that by voting for the candidate, who is most Biblical in their positions, your vote can empower government to help people and that is love in action.  In addition, a Christian who is walking under the Lordship of Christ takes the time to study the issues, examine the candidates and make the right choice.  If you are the kind of Christian who gives your mind over to a secular media, to do your thinking for you, you probably should not vote, because that is not being a good steward.  How can a media or politicians, who do not have the Spirit of God in them, be able to discern what the will of the Lord is?
     Despite what you have been told, moral and social sins in America cost our nation countless billions of dollars a year and destroy people's lives!
     This is the most important election in the history of America, because our very future is at stake.  We are being presented with two very different worldviews, which will take us in two different directions.
     Neither candidate or party is perfect, that will not happen until the Second Coming.  But, one party is leading us down the path towards godless socialism, Third World poverty and a totalitarian government which is destroying the family, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom to worship publicly and freedom in general.  This party is destroying what our Founding Fathers gave us in the Declaration of Independence, which is "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."  The Founding Fathers made it very clear that these were inalienable rights granted to every man by their Creator, or God.  The party which seeks to destroy freedom states that all freedoms come from Government and not God.  The majority of the people who support that party, including Christians, act as if Government is God!  They look to Government and God to be our final source.  This party is actively working to destroy America as we know it, and make it part of a United Nations-style global government, where all of our Constitutional rights will be destroyed and replaced by a set of humanistic and New Age rights, that emphatically do not protect our freedoms!
      The reality is that both the first party and second party are controlled by the same invisible elite.  Yet, there are enough significant choices between them, so that it is our duty to vote.  You do not become President of the United States, without selling part of your soul to the devil or this global elite!  But, through the one party, there is an opportunity to protect some of our rights, preserve freedom, especially freedom of religion and rebuild our economy, so that we can fulfill our role as a light to the nations!  If America falls, there will be great darkness upon the earth.  America is not perfect, but to one degree or another, it is still a light upon a hill.

Isaiah 9:6    "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

A Hero's Honor: USS Michael Murphy

 This past Saturday, the U.S. Navy put into commission its newest guided missile destroyer, the USS Michael Murphy.  In case you don't know his story, he was immortalized in the best-selling book Lone Survivor, the account of Seal Team 10 and Operation Redwing.  According to the official statement by the Department of Defense, "The ship honors Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan. He was killed by enemy forces during a reconnaissance mission, Operation Red Wing, June 28, 2005, while leading a four-man team tasked with finding a key Taliban leader in the mountainous terrain near Asadabad, Afghanistan. The team came under fire from a much larger enemy force with superior tactical position. Murphy knowingly left his position of cover to get a clear signal in order to communicate with his headquarters and was mortally wounded while exposing himself to enemy fire. While continuing to shoot, and being shot at, Murphy provided his unit's location and requested immediate support for his element. He returned to his cover position to continue the fight until finally succumbing to his wounds."  

     HERO is not a big enough word for the valiant actions and sacrifice of this man.  While the Medal of Honor is the United States of America's highest military honor, the Navy bestowed its own honor of equal significance.  It is only fitting that the motto of the USS Michael Murphy is "Lead the Fight."  From all the personal and professional testimonies offered at the commissioning of this ship, we received a portrait of a young man that was nicknamed "the Protector" during his growing-up years, for his unwavering defense of those being criticized or unfairly treated.  In his final moments, he maintained that protective mindset, sacrificing his life to save his teammates.  He truly "led the fight."
     One of his favorite books was Stephen Pressfield's Gates of Fire, the epic story of 300 Spartan soldiers battling a two-million strong Persian army. The author captures the spirit of such warriors like Lt. Murphy with this statement: "When a warrior fights not for himself, but for his brothers, when his most passionately sought goal is neither glory nor his own life's preservation, but to spend his substance for them, his comrades, not to abandon them, not to prove unworthy of them, then his heart truly has achieved contempt for death, and with that he transcends himself and his actions touch the sublime....".
     It's as if Stephen Pressfield wrote those words with Michael Murphy in mind.  And these same sentiments were echoed by those that spoke on this grand occasion.  The Commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command, Bill McRaven said, "Michael Murphy represents all that is good about our Special Operations Warriors, and he earned the greatest compliment one Navy Seal could give to another .... Teammate.  That word represents the bond among those who wear the trident, and it is the driving force behind everything they train for; it's unconditional and unending.  They are committed to be battle-ready at all times; to bond together and go forth to protect their country.  That's what Michael Murphy's life was about --- serving others and protecting others.  His spirit will live on in this ship."

     That sentiment was echoed by Jeffrey Geiger, the President of Bath Iron Works, the builder of the USS Michael Murphy.  "The strength and spirit of Michael Murphy run deep in every plank and deck plate of this ship.  Building this ship was a personal endeavor for us, and we were proud to do it.  In this ship, you have 509 feet of American power."
     But I think it was the Commander of the USS Michael Murphy that expressed the essence of both the ship and the hero.  "This ship is different," he said.  "We take our mission from the story of Lt. Michael Murphy and Operation Red Wing, and the 18 others who lost their lives with him on that day. There was no hesitation; they were going.  This ship is different: We take our inspiration from the families and friends of these heroes.  They give us the strength we did not have.  This ship is different:  We take our commitment from the Builders and the 290 Officers and Sailors who serve as Crew of this Destroyer.  We will continue to uphold the legacy of Michael Murphy and his teammates... This ship is different."
     With that promise, the Naval band played "Anchors Aweigh" as the crew ran up the gangplank to take their places on board the ship.  What a magnificent sight!

    But I cannot end this post without a reminder that Lt. Murphy was not the only one that died that day.  And even though I never met him, the affirmations spoken about his character on this special day, lead me to believe he would not want any tribute to be about him.  He would want us to honor the lives of those who died with him on that mountain in Afghanistan, along with the lives lost in the rescue mission that he called in.  On that fateful day in 2005, nineteen of our bravest warriors died, and their heroism is represented by the commissioning of this greatest of American warships.  We need to know their names and recognize their sacrifice:  Michael Murphy, Matthew Axelson, Danny Dietz, Jacques Fontan, Daniel Healy, Erik Kristensen, Jeffery Lucas, Michael McGreevy, James Suh, Jeffrey Taylor, Shane Patton (all Navy SEALS); and Shamus Goare, Corey Goodnature, Kip Jacoby, Marcus Muralles, James Ponder, Stephen Reich, Michael Russell, and Chris Scherkenback (all members of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment - the famed Night Stalkers).
     Ray Mavis, the Secretary of the Navy, summed the ceremony up best, "As you consider Michael Murphy, and this ship, his namesake, you know that American Exceptionalism, in all its forms, will not only survive, but prevail."  And when I looked upon the American flag whipping in the wind, I knew he was right.
     So it is with a humble and reverent heart, that I join America in wishing the crew of the USS Michael Murphy this nautical blessing .... "Fair Winds and a Following Sea." Long live the spirit of Michael Murphy!
   
John 15:13     "Greater love has no man than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."

Consider These Things

     I wanted to share with you an email that I received from a Godly couple that are friends of PLW and mine.  I think it shows the seriousness and the single-mindedness of Americans who believe it is time to take a bold stand.  Like our friends, people are no longer afraid to voice their fears for our country and our future.  They are no longer shy about proclaiming their faith in relation to what we see in the world.

     For us Christians, the time is NOW to change the course of this nation.  Religious Freedom is at stake along with the Freedom of Speech, and these may be the last days that either will be tolerated by the enemies of Liberty.  I applaud our friends for having the courage to send this email.
     If you have someone that needs to hear this message, please forward this post on to them.  Don't worry if you will be mocked, ridiculed, or called "crazy".  It's too late to worry about what people think of you.  Time is running out to save our beloved country for future generations.  And lest you fool yourself, I'm talking about the very "next" generation; our children and grandchildren will most likely live a very different life than we've experienced.  Their future will change dramatically.
     So if you've felt you didn't have the right words, or didn't know how to approach a loved one or family member, let the words of this heartfelt memo spread across the land, and let's pray that it's message will be well-received.


 Dear Friends,

     Our country is in crisis.  Its' future is up to us.  We can choose to sit on our hands and say we don’t like our options; we can say we don’t like all the controversy; or we can do all we can.  We can vote for a man who seems to actively dislike the USA; or we can vote for a man who, (although he seems to have questionable judgement where his religious views are concerned), seems to care about our country.  I think we can safely say he won’t mess with our religious freedoms.  I want to ask you to vote and definitely to pray.  Pray for our country and pray for our leaders.

     Consider this.  In 1977 President Carter signed into law the “International Emergency Powers Act”  Look it up!  The current President has already used it several times in regards to other countries.  It can be used against us as well.  It gives the President TOTAL control over everything.  It gives him control over our banking, our travel, and all commodities including food.  It also gives him the authority to suspend the Constitution and disband Congress at a moment's  notice.  

    How then should we prepare?  We are exposing ourselves by sending this email out, but we think we have a responsibility to you all to do so.  The things that we expect to see are in line with what the Bible talks about in the End Times.  GET READY!!!  We must be spiritually prepared, financially prepared, and physically prepared.  Physically prepared means to store up the food and things you will need should the time come you have no bank account, have no electricity, have no grocery store around the corner, and don’t have the ability to travel.  

     This is not a Forwarded Email!  This is written to you in love and with MUCH prayer.  Our trust in Jesus is complete.   He says,  "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”  (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

My Perspective: Looking Back on September 11, 2001

     As I listen to a radio broadcast of the sounds of THAT DAY, it takes me back to all the things I felt that morning.  My husband and I were starting a new phase of our life; we were putting our complete trust in the Lord as we started our new business and moved out of a major city to a small piece of land in the country.  We no longer had the security of twice-a-month paychecks, and had taken that leap of faith of relying on God for our provision.
     We had just made a sizable purchase at Lowe's to help us remodel a fixer-upper farmhouse, and were excited about the possibilities of a bright new future.  As we got into our pickup truck and turned on the radio, it was about 8:20 CST.  We heard the announcer say something like, "We don't know what's going on, but it has been reported that a second plane has hit the World Trade Center."  PLW and I looked at each other, and instantly knew that something was very wrong.  Then just a few minutes later, that same announcer said, "We -- we are hearing -- right now that another explosion that -- has taken place. At the Pentagon."

     We immediately knew ---- our nation was under attack.  And the re-broadcast of that morning, now eleven years later, elicits the same intensity of both fear and resolve.  I hear the sounds of the police sirens and the horns of the fire trucks.  I hear the voices of the witnesses and the survivors as they describe the smell of jet fuel; the intense heat inside the building; the impenetrable dust that made it nearly impossible to breath; the shouts for help; the falling debris; and most horrific of all, the sight of human beings who felt they had no other choice but to jump to their death.
     The radio broadcast this morning replays the phone messages left for families as their loved ones inside those burning Towers knew they would never get out alive.  I hear survivors in the Pentagon recount what it was like to be buried under the rubble and see their fellow workers dead and injured. I hear the stories of the brave heroes on Flight 93; people like you and me, who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.  I  hear a moment in history that will forever define my life and the narrative of this country.
     And I remember realizing that from this moment on, my future lay in the hands of God.  All of this was out of my control and I knew my life and my country would never be the same again.  I remember what it was like when we had to decide whether to make that cross-country trip for our new business, just three days after 9-11.  We discussed it with our business associate and made the decision to proceed with our trip; we weren't going to let the terrorists win.
     I remember making our way to a 300 year-old church in Santa Fe on that Friday, a day of National Prayer.  People from all faiths and ethnic groups came together to give thanks to God and ask for strength and understanding.  We resolved to be one Nation under God, and to come together in our sorrow, our pain, and our resilience.  In the midst of our national suffering, we forgot our differences and were proud of who we were ..... Americans.  It felt like a new beginning; as if a new Spirit had come to our land.
     So where are we today, September 11, 2012?  What happened to us?  I can honestly say that we are not where I thought we would be.  I feel we are more divided and more spiritually empty than we were the day before those terrible attacks.  I expected so much more.  I expected that we would bond together and renew our commitment to the principles of America.  We seemed to know who we were that day .... the heirs of a legacy.  We weren't a people who easily admitted defeat in spite of difficulties or opposition.  We got knocked down and came back stronger.
     I thought we would once again embrace the "Goodness of America" that everyone so confidently and ebulliently proclaimed in those following days.  I thought we would return to a kinder, more empathetic, and charitable nation.  The things that made us self-absorbed would evaporate as we once again became the UNITED States of America.
     After all, we turned to God as our source of strength, and as our Unifier, in the aftermath of that terrible tragedy.  Now He has become an idea that is divisive in our national conversation.  And that conversation has become a barely disguised contempt for each other.
     What I see is a rising conflict.  There are those who want us to return to our roots; to the solidarity we welcomed that day.   Then there are those who would denounce that notion of America, and would take us in a direction that my grandparents, just 50 years ago, would not recognize.   There are Americans that still mourn for the loss of that day; and those who say we deserved it.
     It saddens me to realize that my sorrow for what this day represents has compounded.  I mourn the loss of so much on that beautiful Fall day.  We lost the precious lives of nearly 3,000 innocent moms, dads, children, sisters, brothers, wives and husbands.  We lost our invincibility that day.  Since then, we've lost our united identity, and a shared faith in our leaders and our God.   It's eleven years later, and we need healing now, more than ever.

UPDATE:  As I read our President's proclamation this morning, I am disappointed.  There is no mention of God or prayer, which have always sustained this country in times of sorrow and national tragedy.  Instead, apparently what we need to focus on is "community service." It is just one more indication of the slide toward Godlessness that will be our ruin.  God save us from such irreverence!

Matthew 13:15     "For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them."

The End Of An Era: Tribute to Neil Armstrong

     Forgive me for ignoring the fact that it is Labor Day, but I think it is much more important to honor a man whose bravery and humility represent American virtues, than to give you an exposé on a holiday that has its origin in the union and labor movement.
     I would venture to guess that any Baby Boomer can tell you exactly where they were on July 20th, 1969.  I know I can.  I remember sitting in the back seat of our family station wagon, as my father drove us to our habitual Sunday afternoon trip to the ice cream shoppe.  We were discussing the seriousness of what would happen later that evening; the magnitude of this event for the United States.  And then, with millions around the world, we watched Neil Alden Armstrong take that momentous and historic step on the moon.

     And with Mr. Armstrong's passing last week, we have seen the end of an era.  He symbolized so much of what America stands for.  And he accomplished so much more than what is attributed to him.  He rightfully deserves all the accolades for being the first man to walk on the moon.  No one can take that away from him, and all that it represents.  America had answered the challenge of President John F. Kennedy, who stated in 1961, that by the end of the decade America should strive to put a man on the moon.  The Soviets already had a head start, but JFK urged the U.S. to work diligently to lead the achievements of space travel because "in many ways [it] may hold the key to our future on earth."
     That was a time when America was bold and wanted to be a leader.  And there were men like Neil Armstrong who had the courage and the spirit to take us there.  He never saw himself as a hero; in fact, he shunned that title.  But after I did some research on his life story, I can call him nothing less.
     He was always a team player, where other men might have capitalized on their fame.  Never one to take all the glory, he often said that he "merely piloted a mission made possible by thousands of others." What he was really proud of was the inspiration that the space program and NASA gave to young children.  In a recent interview he stated, ""NASA has been one of the most successful public investments in motivating students to do well and achieve all they can achieve."  And he lamented that the federal government had gutted NASA's budget.  He always felt that NASA contributed so much more than rockets flying to the moon.  As evidence of that, 14-year-old Shane DiGiovanna, an aspiring aerospace engineer with a rare skin tissue disease, and a recipient of a Neil Armstrong New Frontiers Initiative at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, was invited to the private funeral service.  Shane is able to hear with a cochlear implant, a device developed by a NASA scientist.
     Always interested in encouraging the youth of our nation, Armstrong wrote a 4-page letter to the child of a friend in the summer of 2008.  Among his inspiring words are the following:

     There is much uncertainty to life.  Good health may be taken away from you without warning.  Material possessions may be lost due to circumstances beyond your control.  The one thing that cannot be taken from you without your consent, is your character, which includes your beliefs, your ethics and your principles.  So guard them with care.  They are your most valuable possessions.
     The 21st century has much promise.  Remarkable things may be created and achieved.  And each of you will have the opportunity to play a role in achieving and creating a better world.  I know you will try.  Good luck!!  I wish I had your future.

Sincerely,
Neil A. Armstrong

     These are the words of an exceptional human being who was so much more than the iconic First Man To Walk On The Moon. As a young man, he became an Eagle Scout and secured his pilot's license at the age of 15, even before getting his drivers license. He was a first-rate Navy pilot, completing nearly 80 combat missions in the Korean War, all before he was 22.  He was among the best of the famous Navy test pilots, and over his career, he flew more than 200 different models of aircraft.  But, for me, Neil Armstrong's legacy is significantly more than that of a pilot.

     He was a man of conviction and honor.  And he was a man of faith.  Among his transmissions from the moon is the following:  "This is the Lunar Module pilot. I'd like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way."  What many did not know, until years later, was that Armstrong then took communion privately.
     During these years, NASA was still fighting a lawsuit brought by atheist Madalyn Murray O'Hair (who had objected to the Apollo 8 crew reading from the Book of Genesis) demanding that their astronauts refrain from religious activities while in space.  (Can you imagine the nerve of this offensive woman?  Wasn't the earth enough for her?  Now she wanted to force her godless philosophy on the heavens, as well?)  So, Aldrin, in his usual unassuming manner, just chose to refrain from mentioning his plan.  He kept his objective quiet (not even mentioning it to his wife) and did not reveal it publicly for several years.  Being an elder at his Presbyterian Church, Communion was an important event in his faith life, and he chose to glorify his Lord among the heavens He created.   Picturing that event in my mind is almost too emotional to contemplate.  God must have been so pleased with this man!  And now the Presbyterian Church in Webster, Texas possesses the chalice used on the Moon and commemorates the event each year on the Sunday closest to July 20.
     When Neil Armstrong took his leave of the moon, he left behind a plaque with this inscription: Here Men From The Planet Earth First Set Foot Upon the Moon, July 1969 A.D.  We Came in Peace For All Mankind.  No other exploration team in the history of the world can make the claim that peace for all mankind was their goal.
     And when Neil Armstrong took his leave of this earth, he left behind a legacy of reaching for the stars.  In a 1994 speech, he said, "There are places to go beyond belief."  And now, over 40 years later, Mr. Armstrong, your journey still inspires every man, woman and child on earth.  Because of your belief in your God, your belief in the ingenuity of your fellow man, and your belief in the adventurous spirit of America, your last flight has taken you into the very presence of the Creator of the Universe.  We, here on earth, mourn heaven's gain, and the stars shine just a little brighter.

Psalm 8:3-4       "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?"
   
   
   

Wolverines!!!

     I want to share a bit of personal trivia with you and then ask you for some serious contemplation.  First of all, I have been married to Peace-Loving Warrior for 25 years and I had forgotten this bit of detail from his adolescence until we heard the trailer for the remake of one of our favorite movies, Red Dawn.  In case you're unfamiliar with this classic movie, it's the story of a group of country kids who fight invading foreign troops on U.S. soil.  Wolverines is the name of their high school mascot, and the name they adopt for their Resistance Force.
     PLW worked summers at the local skeet range, (and in fact became a Junior Olympian skeet shooter) and often befriended many of the regulars who frequented the range.  They were interesting characters, and he enjoyed many interesting conversations while he worked the stations.  One in particular stands out.  He is not very good at remembering dates, but thinks it was around 1980, and he struck up a conversation with John Milius, the director who had become famous for the film Conan the Barbarian.  Naturally, people were crowding around him as he shot skeet, asking what projects he was working on.  PLW remembers, very distinctly, Milius saying that he was co-writing a screenplay that was a picture of what might happen to America in the near future, called "Red Dawn."  

     I must confess that when that movie came out in 1984, PLW and I must have seen it a dozen times.  We were impressed with the bravery and patriotism of the young heroes in the movie, and viewed it as an example of this country's invincibility.  We felt pride and thought, "Yeah, we'd do the same thing! America will never be defeated!"
     But since that time, nearly 30 years ago, I have become aware of a strange phenomenon.  I'm not the first to make the observation, and I know of people that are obsessed with looking for the clues.  But have you noticed that our movies and TV shows seem to predict, in advance, some of the scenarios that play out in our national and international experience?
     Just last week, I pointed out that the Terminator movies seemed to come awfully close to showing us what our world would be like when computers managed our lives; everything from scheduling our day to operating military exercises.  There was also Will Smith's thriller, Enemy of the State, where we were introduced to the possibility of drones listening in to our conversations and following our every move.  And remember the 2006 television series Jericho, where Americans experience first, nuclear attacks, and then an EMP, and must learn to survive in a whole new world?  And who could forget X-files?  The leading characters fought government conspiracies and cover-ups every single week for 9 years!
     At the time, we think how clever these writers and directors are; how are they able to think up such far-fetched plots ..... yet they have a sense of reality to them.  It's not until we look back, that we wonder.  Were they trying to tell us something?
      And with the reawakened memory of a short conversation with John Milius, PLW and I decided to revisit Red Dawn.  It was with a mixture of nostalgia and anticipation that we began the film.  Instantly, I was amazed at the accuracy of the setting of the movie, which is explained in the first seconds and blazed across the screen in bold type:
---  Soviet Union suffers worst wheat harvest in 55 years
---  Labor and food riots in Poland. Soviets invade.
---  Cuba and Nicaragua reach troop strategic goals of 500,000.  El Salvador and Honduras fall.
---  Green Party gains control of West German Parliament.  Dictates withdrawal of nuclear weapons from European soil
---   Mexico plunged into revolution
---  Nato dissolves, US stands alone

      The names of the countries don't really matter.  In fact, I have read that the new version of Red Dawn has been delayed because China was originally depicted as the invading country, but being politically correct, (and sensitive to the fact that they own our biggest debt load) the film had to be reshot to depict North Korea as the aggressor.  Like I said, it doesn't matter which country launches the military offensive, it is the conditions of the world that should catch our attention.  NOTE:  food shortages, labor riots, environmental Green Parties dictating policy, reducing strength through downsizing nuclear weapons arsenals, Mexico in chaos and revolution, Nato inconsequential.  Kinda sounds like headlines from 2012, doesn't it?
     As we watched the rest of the movie, so much came into focus; things I never paid attention to and things that didn't have any significance 28 years ago.  As the teenage heroes escape the early stages of the invasion by foreign troops, they stop by a friend's general store who instructs them to clean out the store: "take sleeping bags and food, arrows, lanterns, toilet paper, ammo, knives, batteries and down jackets."  Pretty much a prepper's dream, right?
     Scenes that seemed unfamiliar and impossible at the time are now openly talked about in some circles.  Remember the scene where the boys steal back into town to find out what is happening, and the girl in the store warns Jed..... They took a lot of people away; those who were going to cause trouble; those who had guns.  They took them to re-education camps.

     In the movie, if you were found to have hidden guns, you were arrested or shot for aiding "guerillas", which I suspect in the new version of the movie, will be called "domestic terrorists."  And when they happen upon a downed US pilot, he informs our heroes that "we first became aware of the attacks when they came in on commercial airliners."  Was this a prediction for what would happen 17 years later on 911?  If so, perhaps we should pay attention to the rest of the information the pilot gave them ..... "They took out the silos in the Dakotas, the key communication centers, the SAC bases in Texas and the Midwest; they opened up the doors in the south and came up through Mexico."  He goes on, "The cities are under siege.  There's no food.  It's medieval.  People are eating rats and each other."  
     But perhaps the most disturbing scenes are when the Spetsnaz (Russian special forces) are brought in to quell "the insurgents."  Did you know that Russian special forces are currently training with our military at Fort Carson, Colorado?  Does that make you feel just a little uneasy?
     At the end of the movie, America survives.  A Colonel of the invading Cuban forces recognizes the bravery of his young adversaries and allows them the dignity to die on their home soil, unmolested.  "Go with God," are his parting words.   I dare say that our enemies today will not give us the same decency.   Finally, the movie fades with an image of a monument to the American brave who "in the early days of WWIII ...... gave up their lives so that this nation shall not perish form the earth."
     As the credits rolled up the screen, I reflected on how different this movie affects me today.  Back then, I was able to wipe the thoughts of any actual invasion or combat on American soil from my mind as inconceivable.  But at this time, the film is much more disturbing and realistic.  I urge you to rent it on Netflix and watch it in context of today's political climate; and then compare your reaction to the movie with how you felt the first time you saw it.   For me, gone is the super-pride in American butt-kicking, and left in its' place is a sense of apprehension and recognition.  I am anxious to see the new version, only to see if they do justice to the old.  I'm pretty sure it will be more politically correct, and not as honest.  One thing I know for sure ..... We are not the same country as we were in 1984, and I pray that the movie was more fiction than truth.

Ecclesiastes 9:12       "Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so people are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them. "

DVD Recommendation: "Behold A Pale Horse"

     Rarely do I come across a presentation of any kind that I recommend as highly as this DVD.  Behold A Pale Horse: America's Last Chance unveils the stealth with which the sovereignty of this country has been eroded, and it does it in a bold, captivating manner.  This movie/documentary is the first of a planned three-part series, and it combines historical perspective, Biblical principles, and an outspoken disclosure of the forces aligning themselves against America; the last stronghold of individual freedom and liberty.

     You will hear the voices of retired military experts, noted economists, political commentators, Privacy experts, best-selling authors, medical experts, grassroots activists and one plain-spoken country western performer named Charlie Daniels ---- all sounding the alarm against the organized and intentional takeover of America.
     What you hear goes beyond the watered down warnings we've received from other news outlets.  These people know what they are talking about, know what is at risk, and know that the wolf is at the door.
     You will learn that what has occurred in our country over the last couple of decades has been a systematic eradication of the American Constitution, and that it has followed the classic pattern of Marxism.  The steps toward Marxism are clearly delineated:  1)  The Leadership nationalizes major sectors of the economy (they accomplished that with the 2008 Bailouts of the auto and banking industries)  2)  Redistribution of Wealth (accomplished through multiple - and as yet unrevealed to the public - segments of Obamacare legislation)  3)  Discredit the Opposition - they can't let the Tea Party gain any traction; only the elites know what is best for the common man  4)  Censor the Pastors -  Keep the pastors from talking about moral and social issues through threats of pulling their 501(c)3 status and the passing of Hate Crimes legislation  5)  UN Small Arms Treaty is just one of the backdoor methods to erode our Second Amendment rights.  We are the last nation on earth who has not surrendered our arms.  Do you really trust our government not to try to take away that right by means of the UN?  And last but not least, 6)  The Leadership establishes a constabulary force, designed to control the people.  Does anyone remember our President stating that he is establishing a "civilian national security force" that reports directly to him during times of national emergency?  Can you honestly look at these hallmarks of Marxism and not see the writing on the wall?
     This DVD goes on to bring expert after expert to educate us about the disastrous effects of "Sustainable Development", the chief goal of the UN and its Agenda 21 program.  Bottom line?  It is a program to restructure the world .... countries and boundaries will be abolished, private property confiscated, and the population of the world will be dramatically limited.  Did you know that it is part of the Agenda 21 plan to restrict the world's population by 85%!?!?  And how will they do that?  It would be easy through war, diseases and famine.  Just read Revelation 6:8 .... it's all there.
     But this DVD doesn't just point a spotlight on all the underhanded schemes of the forces against America.  It also calls on each and every American to return to our heritage.  The movie showcases a credible and heartfelt performance by Mark Collins as General George Washington, who exhorts us to defend the country he gave us.  He tells us to put on "the full armor of God" as we fight this spiritual battle for the the soul of America.
     How did we go from a nation of craftsmen, entrepreneurs, manufacturers and inventors to a country of clerks, cashiers and home health aid workers?  I agree wholeheartedly with Charlie Daniels, who challenges all Patriots .... "Let's ride, boys!.... We need a thousand Paul Reveres."  Spread the word about this DVD! And it won't just be this country that will be saved.  It will be the world!  Because you see, the rest of the world needs America to stand up against this Evil.   Our freedom depends on it.... and so does the world's.  We are the last chance.
     I have given you just a small portion of the valuable information that is within this presentation.  I consider myself pretty informed on what the country is up against, but I have never seen such a scholarly, knowledgeable and significant production.  So I would urge not only Americans, but freedom lovers throughout the world to buy this DVD.  The curtain has been pulled back and you will clearly see what is at hand.  And if Parts 2 and 3 of this series are as good as Part 1, this film series should sweep the land!

Ephesians 6:13     "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."

FreePAC 2012: A Breath of Fresh Air

     In case you are unfamiliar with this new political action committee, I want to tell you about one of the most exciting and dynamic assemblies to appear on the US political scene in quite some time.  FreePAC is a national grassroots gathering of Americans interested in restoring freedom from the bottom up: in their neighborhood, in their state, and in their country.
     The gathering was sponsored by FreedomWorks, an organization founded by former U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey.  But the man out front of this network of hundreds of thousands of grassroot volunteers is President Matt Kibbe.  Mr. Kibbe is an economist and well-respected national policy expect, and he is recognized as one of the masterminds of Tea Party politics.

     And on Thursday evening of last week, he assembled a group of honest, hard-hitting, liberty-loving leaders of the Tea party movement to speak to over 14,000 Americans in Dallas, Texas.  Now, normally, I'm not a fan of PACs and their partisan shenanigans.  But this group of speakers are newcomers on the scene; not entrenched politicians --- folks like you and me who got tired of seeing our country go down the tubes and are standing up, speaking their minds, and fighting in the trenches to return us to our Founding principles.  And they are fighting as Conservatives and Libertarians; sick and tired of the political machines of both Democrats and Republicans.  They are finding their feet as citizen activists and becoming established as leaders in a growing grassroot movement.  Here are some highlights of the real, honest-to-goodness, from-the-heart speeches that excited me:
Dana Loesch - a former Liberal, Dana began re-evaluating her political views after the September 11th attacks.  She is currently a conservative talk show host and blogger, recently hired by CNN to represent the Tea Party perspective.  Dana took the stage like a caged lion.  Bold in her comments,  she called out the media for their poor journalism in reporting the Colorado and Tucson shootings.  She berated them for immediately concluding that both crimes "must have been committed by a Tea Party member."  She taunted them by proclaiming that the internet has liberated us from mainstream media.  "We own talk radio," she shouted, "and we dominate cable news and the blogosphere.  And we're now ready to capture entertainment and Hollywood!"  One gets the feeling that the "America bashers" on the airwaves have just met their match!
John Fund - John has been on the scene for awhile as a political journalist, columnist and writer for the Wall Street Journal.  But this particular evening, he took the gloves off.  He spoke about something no one in the mainstream media, or on either side of the aisle wants to confront .... election fraud.  He wasn't afraid to point out the tactics that have been used in the past by Acorn and other organizations that President Obama has trained in his role as community organizer.  He warned that there are thousands of lawyers sitting on the sidelines, ready to throw this upcoming election into chaos if the results are close.  He urged everyone to get involved on the grassroots level to monitor each polling place to make sure that this election is as clean as possible.  Because, he warned, the stakes are high and there are powers that want to win at any cost.
Deneen Borelli - a member of Project 21, a network of black conservatives, Deneen was courageous in her speech.  She bravely called out black leaders like Jesse Jackson, Maxine Waters and Eric Holder for  misleading the black communities, even confronting Holder on attacking white Americans for being "cowards".  A slight, quiet-spoken woman, Deneen stood stall, head erect and shouted to the audience, "Who's the coward, now?  Where are the records on 'Fast and Furious'?"  She then challenged the audience by asking, "Who is going to stand with me and hold the line for liberty?"  She left the stage to thunderous applause.
Reverend C.L. Bryant - This man is an outspoken Baptist preacher, radio host, and former NAACP Chapter President.  And I believe he was my favorite speaker of the night.  He commanded that auditorium and delivered a speech that gave me chills.  He wasn't afraid to say that the reach and the scope of Big Government is the new plantation, enslaving Americans to entitlements and government handouts.  With a fiery delivery, he pronounced, "My great-grandfather fought in the Spanish American War; my grandfather fought in WWI, and my father fought in WWII.  They didn't give us this country, bought with the blood of their brothers on the battlefield so that we could be divided!  They gave us this country so we could be FREE! ..... IF we will not surrender it!"  He went on to say, "We are Americans and we will not bow down to any earthly king; we derive our power from our Creator!"  I was on my feet shouting at the TV, "Amen, Brother!"
     As I watched the rest of the FreePAC presentation, there were the obligatory speeches by politicians.  But they generally paled in comparison to these grassroots activists, with the exception of Senator Mike Lee of Utah, and Indiana Senate candidate Richard Murdock.
     But as I sat and watched these people, I found myself gaining some hope.   Four years ago, they were normal citizens and then became energized by the deterioration of our country.  I am encouraged by the energy and the commitment and the determination they have.  They are outspoken patriots, and they come from 200 years of American tradition; of citizen activists who are willing to fight for our freedoms.  They love God and they recognize His part in the founding of this country.  They will not sit idly by while this land is destroyed.  They will do their part and they will do it with the pen, and with the microphone, and until their last breath.
     That night I saw America as we truly are; lovers and defenders of freedom.  And to give you an idea of how inspirational our love of liberty is, there were representatives of Tea Partys from Japan, Austria, Australia, Greece and Italy.  They don't even have the Tea Party as part of their history, but what it stands for is a beacon to all men.  Thank you, God, for giving us hope!

Psalm 37:9     "For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land."
 divided by gender, race, or c

Book Review: "Founders" by James Wesley Rawles

     I am extremely honored to have the privilege of providing you with an early review of James Wesley Rawles' latest book, Founders, A Novel of the Coming Collapse.   As you are well aware, I am an avid fan of his writing, and from the moment I read his first book, I must credit him with giving me my wake-up call in a style that was meant to inform, not panic; to educate, not radicalize; and to give sound instruction on how to prepare for the impending disintegration of our country.  And he has done it all in compelling stories that capture your imagination.
     As I began this final novel in the Collapse trilogy, it dawned on me how the idea of "The Group" and a survival retreat in remote Idaho was such a foreign idea back in 2008.  When we were introduced to Ken and Terry Layton in Patriots, they seemed on the fringes of the "Survival" movement.  Were they visionaries, or merely extremists?  Time has proven that both Rawles and his characters possessed clairvoyance.
     In Founders, we now find the Laytons in the midst of the full-blown "Crunch", and executing their plan to reach the Idaho retreat.  What I loved about reading this book was how skillfully Rawles has woven "teachable" moments into the riveting storyline.  Through Ken and Terry's cross-country trek we are introduced to countless survival tips that we should consider and implement.  If your circumstances could find you traveling long distance on foot, you would do well to pay attention to what they include in their backpacks; their methods of travel and how to avoid "refugees" on the road; and the way they barter their security services for room and board during the non-travelable winter months.
     And true to form, the book abounds with other fascinating characters.  There is Sheila Randall, the innovative owner of a microstore during the Crunch; Maynard Hutchings, who abdicates the sovereignty of America to become the head of the Provisional Government; Ben Fielding, a Messianic Jew and member of the Resistance; and Captain Andy Laine, our hero from Survivors, who agrees, along with his wife, Kaylee, to work undercover for the Resistance.
     There are countless other personalities that contribute to the story, and demonstrate the mindset and skills that will be necessary to survive the very real collapse we are facing.  For me, perhaps the most beneficial element of Founders, is the mental picture Rawles paints of just how this country might change when the economic collapse finally occurs.  It helps me to visualize what that could look like; how the structure of this country might be reshaped and how we are most likely to respond.  He vividly portrays what hyperinflation will look like with empty store shelves, a rush to buy tangibles; and a race to pay off mortgages with inflated dollars before the reset button is activated.
     At first, there will be a "benevolent" new administration; a seemingly well-intentioned "Provisional Government" (PROVGOV).  Then we begin to see controls gradually increase, and key industries and utilities "nationalized".  Wage, price, currency and credit controls are instituted and the PROVGOV establishes a "New Army" to maintain domestic tranquility; only to find out that they are a foreign occupational force and the UN is calling the shots.  This may be a novel of fiction, but it reads like the real world.
     There will be Christians who planned on being raptured before this SHTF, and thought that prepping showed a lack of faith in God's providence.  This is the same mindset that the people of Stalingrad held during WWII, and just like those poor souls, millions will starve and freeze during the first winter of the Crunch.  And then there is the looting of America by the foreign UN-sponsored troops who are hired to "pacify" the "terrorist sympathizers" who don't agree to be taxed at 40%.  The New Army then helps themselves to the priceless inventory of jewelers, coin dealers and gun shops across the U.S.  All those that resist will be shot or arrested.
      But don't think that Rawles leaves us without hope.  There is the Resistance, and the author makes it quite plain that this type of totalitarian regime will fail in America for a multitude of reasons, including  the spirit of liberty that resides in the bosom of every patriot.  Never count us out, and never think you've defeated us.  Like the patriots of '76, we know how to fight against foreign tyranny on our home soil.  Rawles is able to capture that uniquely American resolve and you'll be proud of how we acquit ourselves.  In the end, his novel leaves you with a portrait of our country in the far future-off that will both surprise you and confound you.  And that's the goal of any good novel.  Well done!

(The release date for Founders, A Novel of the Coming Collapse, is September 25, 2012.  Wait until that day and order your copy at Amazon and Barnes & Noble!) 

Numbers 10:9     "When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the LORD your God and rescued from your enemies."
      

Home, Sweet Home

     Lately, I have noticed more and more of my fellow Americans discussing the possibility of leaving this great land of ours, should tyranny reign.  John Price, in his book The End of America, offers biblical warnings of why you should flee America.  A local Republican Committee Chairwoman has stated she and her family have plans to relocate to Costa Rica, if things deteriorate.  And still others across the blogosphere enthusiastically extoll the virtues of becoming an expatriate.

     Before you decide to jump ship, you might want to read the following article that appeared on Survivalblog.com.   This well-written and researched post cites several different scenarios where people, who thought things were getting too restrictive here in the U.S., decided to pick up roots and move to another country, where they thought they could live a more free life.
     Inevitably, they found otherwise.  Don't get me wrong, there are lots of things about the direction this country is headed which I find troubling, if not downright terrifying.  But I still maintain that it is the best place on earth to make your stand.
     I often hear Canada, Singapore and Belize mentioned as possible destinations.  But in each of those countries, it is far too easy to find yourself running afoul of their restrictive gun laws.  And if you're even thinking that relocating diminishes your need to own firearms, well...... let's just say you probably don't understand the real concept of why you should be a firearms owner in the first place.
    But back to this excellent article --- it gives several good examples of people who thought they would live better lives outside the reach of the United States Government.  But they found otherwise.  Canada's gun laws are actually more restrictive than ours; and while it may seem confusing to keep up with the different gun laws in each of the 50 states, if you don't like the statutes where you live --- just move.  At least you're not subject to an overall national regulation; you do have choices.
     There are other liberties to consider besides the right to own firearms.  Take economic liberties.  The foundations of economic freedom are personal choice, voluntary exchange, and open markets.  While it's true that the U.S. has fallen into 10th place of the countries that offer the most economic freedom, according to the Cato Institute --- Hong is first, followed by Singapore, New Zealand, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Chile, the United Kingdom, and Mauritius --- there are still trade-offs, most importantly to me being the aforementioned right to bear arms.  And yes, our exorbitant government spending and borrowing have helped our decline in the standings, along with concerns over assaults on legal and property rights issues.  You might be able to make millions in Singapore, and avoid our tax situation, but it seems to me that a rich American immigrant would be an easy target.  And their strict gun laws would make me more than a little nervous about defending my wealth.
     So, as you can see, it still comes back to the Second Amendment for me.  These other nations might be doing better economically than we are, but don't think for a minute that they are immune from the global economic ramifications of our financial problems.  The world's economy is a house of cards, and we are at the center of it.  When it all falls apart, which citizenry stands the best chance of defending itself from a global tyranny?   Your preservation of wealth in a foreign country will not be as easy as you think.  Just consider the story of John MacAfee, the anti-virus software pioneer.  He recently found out that donating $1.2 million to the Belize Coast Guard, among other charitable "donations", did not keep him from being charged with gun violations after local police raided his fortified compound.

     Like I said, if you're an American in a foreign country, I think it's going to be assumed you have emigrated to protect your wealth, which puts a big, fat target on your forehead.  And if their gun laws are stricter than ours, how do you think you're going to protect that wealth, or not become a victim of some government scam?
     Nope, as for me, I'm staying right here.  The way I figure it, God placed me where he wanted me.  There's a reason I was born an American, and a purpose to my being here.  He has work for me to do right here, where I stand.  This country may not be all it used to be, but it won't stand a chance to return to its greatness if I don't stand and fight for her.  She deserves my loyalty and my unwavering commitment.

Revelation 3:2        "Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God."

Can You Imagine July 4, 1776?

     I am unabashedly proud of the patriotic spirit I feel every July 4th.  I love the fireworks and the parades and the flag-waving --- all of it!  And I love the history of this momentous day.  But, as we are gathered for family BBQs or enjoying a long holiday, I wonder how many Americans stop to consider what that first July 4th truly meant.  Considering that in a recent poll, 74% of Americans could not name the country we fought to gain our independence, I would venture that many never give its significance a passing thought.
     So I'll be glad to educate the oblivious masses.  Let me tell you a story ..... it was in June of 1776 that Richard Henry Lee of Virginia proposed a resolution on the floor of the Second Continental Congress that would amount to a legal separation of 13 independent colonies from their mother country, Great Britain.  It was decided that a vote would take place on the 1st of July and the ensuing three weeks would be occupied with drafting a document explaining why such a separation was being sought.

"Spirit of '76"

     A Committee of five, consisting of John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Robert Livingston of New York, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia began the arduous task of compiling their list of grievances.  They presented the final copy of their draft to the Congress on June 28th.  
     Throughout the Monday of July 1st, the Congress debated the question of whether or not to declare independence. The debates resulted in a favorable vote 9 to 2 (with two abstentions) on the afternoon of July 2nd.  Having voted to declare independence, it would take them two more days to approve the final official document of the Declaration of Independence.
     Now that you have the timeline down, here are some interesting facts that add to the historical lore:
---  The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence did not sign at the same time, nor did they sign on July 4, 1776. The official event occurred on August 2, 1776, when 50 men signed it.
---  The names of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were withheld from the public for more than six months to protect the signers. If independence had not been achieved, the treasonable act of the signers would have, by law, resulted in their deaths.
---  Full support of the Declaration of Independence was not supported by all members of the Continental Congress and a representative of Congress rode horseback 80 miles to reach Philadelphia and break a tie in support of independence.
---  John Hancock, as President of the Continental Congress, was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence; Thomas McKean was the last to sign in January, 1777.
---  In 1777, thirteen gunshots were fired in salute, once at morning and once again as evening fell, on July 4 in Bristol, Rhode Island. Philadelphia celebrated the first anniversary in a manner a modern American would find quite familiar: an official dinner for the Continental Congress, toasts, 13-gun salutes, speeches, prayers, music, parades, troop reviews, and fireworks. Ships were decked with red, white, and blue bunting.
---  In 1778, General George Washington marked July 4 with a double ration of rum for his soldiers and an artillery salute. Across the Atlantic Ocean, ambassadors John Adams and Benjamin Franklin held a dinner for their fellow Americans in Paris, France.
---  Three of our Founding Fathers (all Presidents) died on July 4th;  Thomas Jefferson and John Adams on the same day, July 4, 1826 (the 50th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence); and James Monroe on July 4, 1831.
     And you know something else that is interesting?  The reasons for the Declaration of Independence haven't changed in these last 236 years.  It still comes down to taxation without representation, religious freedom, property rights and individual liberty.  Those are still important ideals to the American people.  They are still values worth upholding and fighting for.
     So as you celebrate today and watch the fireworks light the night sky, think back to the first celebrations in 1776.... the ringing of the Liberty Bell on July 8th to summon citizens to hear a public reading of the document that declared their independence, and the artillery salutes that General George Washington ordered from the troops.  Those were days of far-reaching consequences; just as these days are.  We are faced with no less a serious choice.  Will we continue to labor under repressive directives from a governing body that pays no mind to our concerns?  Or will we decide that our liberties are precious and worth standing up for?  I contend that there is not much difference between the significance of that July 4th and this one.  The only question is are we as brave and committed as they were?

Galations 5:1         "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. "

Are We Willing To Pay The Price? History Revisited

     I know that I am a hopeless romantic when it comes to this country.  You see, it was placed within me at a very young age to hunger and thirst for knowledge on our founding.  I have told you repeatedly that I read everything I could get my hands on regarding our early heritage... I especially remember a book on Virginia Dare, who was the first child of English parents born in the New World.  She was born on August 18, 1587, in Roanoke, Virginia; on the same day I was, only more than three-and-a-half centuries earlier.  She was symbolic of the high cost that was paid for establishing the new colony of Virginia.  Along with her parents and 116 other colonists, she vanished sometime between her birth and 1590.  There were no signs of what happened to them.  Known as the "Lost Colony," these brave settlers were the first in a long line who would be willing to pay the price for what this land offered.
     For the next two hundred years, more brave souls would cross the Atlantic and forge a new breed of people.  They were willing to risk their lives for this bold experiment called America, where no man limited the potential of another; where, as George Washington stated in his First Inaugural address, "The foundation of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality; ...the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained..." 
     And that brings me to this brief history that I want to revisit.  You may all be familiar with what happened to the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence.  But I dare say that it is time we take another look at what price they were willing to pay to protect the liberties and freedoms for their fellow countrymen.  Take a moment and reflect .....

     Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.  What kind of men were they?
     Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.
     Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags. Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward. 
     Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton. At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr. noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire.  The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt. 
     Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months. John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later, he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates. 
     Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more.


     So what about us? ..... which do we value more -- security or liberty?  Have we (you and I) become so comfortable in our indulgences, in our complacency, in our safety as Americans, that we cannot even imagine being willing to pay this price?  Notice that a good number of them died penniless.  Are you willing to take that chance to save our Republic?  They lost their homes, their families, their lives.  Because they knew what they were fighting for!  Do we?  Do we even know anymore what is at stake?

     As I've gotten older, I think I understand why, as a child, I had that burning desire to absorb every fact and story on the settlement of this country and our Revolutionary years.  I think God implanted that  yearning in my soul, (and in others like me) because we would need to remind ourselves of what we could lose.  We would need to occasionally revisit what it is all about, and it is those stories, the passions of those life histories, that we must reclaim and remind the present generations.
     I'm not sure we still have it.  I'm worried that we've lost sight of who we came from.  In this world's eagerness to become "one with the universe", we may have lost the ability to suffer inconveniences and hardships to retain our uniqueness; our American spirit.
     But of one thing, I am clear.  I will honor the sacrifice these brave men made; I will make my choice about where I stand.  I will do my very best to make them proud, and take my place alongside them.  And I know I'm not alone.  With God's help, we can be assured of victory.  Because without Him, our liberties will be lost.  It is just as Thomas Jefferson said, "Can the liberties of a nation be sure when we remove their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people, that these liberties are a gift from God? "   


Leviticus 25:51     "If many years remain, they must pay for their redemption, a larger share of the price paid for them."