Take A Look At All Of This

Concentration of power in bureaucracies, control of news apparatus, control of technology, surveillance, spying, and vote-rigging are now facts of life in the United States Of America. This is all aimed at the same goal. This is not just politics as usual. This is a revolution! The radical left is making a coordinated, sustained, powerful, illegal, immoral effort to seize power over the United States! This is easy to forget while there is still food in the refrigerator and a game to watch on TV, but strong nations do decline. Revolutions do occur. And in America it is becoming increasingly obvious, every week that it is not immune. - S. Flurry

The Lie As Violence

     "The lie is the father of violence. It is the word, act, sign of cunning or silence which makes use of wiles to deceive whoever has a right to know the truth. Consider the position of the listener who, in simplicity and ingenuousness, is eagerly expecting the truth. Then consider the attitude of the liar who, full of subtlety, audacity and, at times cruel cynicism, misleads his neighbor into the quicksands of falsity. The use of the lie reveals the liar as a person of evil intentions. ~ He who tells lies as a way of getting ahead lacks a love of truth. Now truth is an objective social good meant to be shared by all mankind through the activity, pleasant or even at times not so pleasant, of communication. 'The truth,' Christ tells us, 'will make you free.' And this freedom is the freedom of the children of God who is Truth itself. What the liar lacks is not only frankness, honesty, uprightness in his shady pronouncements, but also a love of his neighbor whom he deliberately defrauds of a needed good - the truth - which is necessary for binding in closer communion of  justice and trust the community of mankind. The liar is a self-centered dissimulator, cunningly manipulating his fellowman for his own evil purposes. He or she cannot be trusted. And herein lies the psychological violence which is the evil fruit of violence. The clue to the mentality of the liar, in his hatred of truth, is his hatred of God. And this hatred of God floods over into hatred of those whom God loves, the innumerable millions for whom his divine son died. At other times the hatred of the liar begins with hatred of his fellowman and then inevitably expands to hatred of God. But in both cases the liar's animosity is visually cloaked under the facade of friendship. Shakespeare condemned this tactic of the liar's cunning when he wrote: 'O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face!' ~ What does the lie do to interpersonal relations? It becomes the self-poisoning of the 'I' of the liar and at the same time the spiritual abductor of the 'Thou' of the deceived. When the deceived realizes that he has been taken advantage of, while he remained open in good faith to receive the truth, a variety of hostile reactions blaze up into the relationship. Immediately the healthy, interpersonal in dwelling of  persons in communion and community begins to disintegrate. Intellectual harmony is shattered as storms of distrust beget the turbulence of aggravation. Suspicion now of all that the liar says and does reigns supreme." - V. Miceli

To My Very Reclusive Sister

     This is yours so you are free to use it as you please. Save it for the future or spend it on yourself on nothing but your own comfort and pleasure. Do not give it away. I don't want it to be of any benefit to anybody but you. I have been collecting this money for you for a long time. You have a large bank account waiting for you - a considerable sum. I am holding it in your name and will turn it over to you when the time comes. - Anonymous

The Many Mansions

     "In my Father's house are many mansions." - John 14:2  ... "It is very little worth the while for us to pursue after honor in this world, when the greatest honor is but a bubble, and will soon vanish away. And death will level all. Some have more stately houses than others; some are in higher offices than others; and some are richer than others and have higher seats in the meetinghouse than others. But all graves are upon a level. One rotting, putrefying corpse is as ignoble as another. The worms are as bold with one carcass as another. But the mansions in God's house above are everlasting mansions. Those that have seats allotted them there, whether of greater or lesser dignity, whether nearer or further from the throne, will hold them to all eternity. This is promised.

     If it be worth the while to desire and seek high seats in the meetinghouse, where you are one day in a week, and where you shall never come but a few days in all; if it be worth the while to prize one seat before another in the house of worship, only because it is the pew or seat that is reckoned first in number, and to be seen here for a few days; how well it is worth the while to seek a high mansion in God's temple above, and in that glorious palace that is the everlasting habitation of God and all His children. You that are pleased with your seats in this house, because you are seated high; or in a place that is looked upon as honorable by those that sit around about, and because many sit behind you; consider how short a time you will enjoy this pleasure.

     And if there be any that be not seated in their seats, because they are too low for them, let them consider that it is but a very little while before it will be all one to you, whether you have sat high or low here. But it will be of infinite and everlasting concern to you, where your seat is in another world. Let your great concern be while in this world, so to improve your opportunity in God's house in that world, whether you sit high or low, as that you may have a glorious and distinguished mansion in God's house in heaven, where you may be fixed in your place in that eternal assembly in everlasting rest. Let the main thing that you prize in God's house be not the outward ornaments of it, or a high seat in it, but the word of Christ, and God's ordinance in it. And spend your time here in seeking Christ, that He may prepare a place for you in His Father's house; that so, when He comes again to this world, He may take you to Him; that where He is, there you may be also."  -  Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)

America First

     "In a new term as president, we will again build the greatest economy in history, quickly returning to full employment, soaring incomes, and record prosperity. ... We will defeat the virus and the pandemic and emerge stronger than ever before. ... At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between the parties, two visions, two philosophies or two agendas. This election will decide whether we save the American dream or whether we allow a socialist agenda to demolish our cherished destiny ... whether we desire to defend the American way of life or whether we allow a radical movement to completely dismantle and destroy it. America is a country blessed by God and has a special purpose in this world. In the left's backward view, they do not see America as the most free, just, and exceptional nation on Earth. Instead, they see a wicked nation that must be punished for its sins."  -  President Donald Trump

The Fixation Of Belief

      "When an ostrich buries its head in the sand as danger approaches, it very likely takes the happiest course. It hides the danger, and then calmly says there is no danger; and, if it feels perfectly sure there is none, why should it raise its head to see? A man may go through life, systematically keeping out of view all that might cause a change in his opinions, and if he only succeeds — basing his method, as he does, on two fundamental psychological laws — I do not see what can be said against his doing so. It would be an egotistical impertinence to object that his procedure is irrational, for that only amounts to saying that his method of settling belief is not ours. He does not propose to himself to be rational, and, indeed, will often talk with scorn of man’s weak and illusive reason. So let him think as he pleases."  - Charles Peirce, 1877

On November 3, 2020 ...

"I’m deeply concerned. Donald Trump poses an existential threat to our standing in the world and continues to threaten the decades of diplomatic progress we had made. It is easy to forget from the comfort of our homes that for many people, America is a beacon of hope and opportunity. We're known as a country that keeps our promises and upholds justice and democracy, and that didn’t just happen overnight. We’ve spent decades building our nation's reputation on the world stage through careful, strategic diplomacy -- but in just under four years, Trump has done unspeakable damage to those relationships and has insulted even our closest allies. Our only hope for reversing this damage is to elect Democrats nationwide in November, and that requires significant support from people like you. I know that Joe Biden has what it takes to restore our country's standing in the world because I've seen him do it. I’ve been in public service for decades. This moment in our country is among the most troubling I've lived through, but I’m confident that Democratic leaders at every level will make significant progress in undoing the damage done by Trump and his reckless appointees abroad. The situation we find ourselves in demands a complete reckoning with our current political leadership. We must elect Democrats from the top of the ticket to the bottom in November. Thank you." - Madeleine Albright, 64th United States Secretary of State & 20th United States Ambassador To the United Nations

The Presidential Election 2020

    The election of Donald Trump has been an utter disaster for our nation. He is both a symptom and a cause of many of the most pressing issues we’re facing today, and we cannot afford four more years of a president who fans the flames of racism, devastates our economy, and amplifies conspiracy theories over Twitter. We need Joe Biden in the White House and Democrats in control of the House and Senate.

    If we come together in support of a strong Democratic Party, we have a chance to take back the White House, flip the Senate, and expand our Democratic majority in the House. But that’s only possible if we get to work now. It’s the support of Democrats like you and I that will translate directly to training organizers, hiring voter protection directors in vulnerable states, and upgrading our tech and data infrastructure. There’s still so much work to be done, and it’s going to require early commitments from all of us. We have a chance to get America back on track. - Barbara Streisand

Behold

   "Your soul, which formerly was dry, now ripens from suffering.  Once upon a time you were sharply intolerant. You were constantly in a rush. You were constantly short of time. And now you have time with interest. You are surfeited with it, with its months and years, behind you and ahead of you - and a beneficial calming fluid pours through your blood vessels - patience. You are ascending.  Formerly you never forgave anyone. You judged people without mercy. And you praised people with equal lack of moderation. And now an understanding mildness has become the basis of your uncategorized judgments. You have come to realize your own weakness - and you can therefore understand the weakness of others. And be astonished at another's strength."                 - Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Morning Silence

"Morning silence with a sense of freshness
lying lightly on the lawn.
A hushed anticipation and a listening on tiptoe
to the greeting trill of birds. 

Silence of noon heavy with drowsy contentment
as sculptured clouds sit placidly above unmoving trees
staccato sounds of labour puncture the stillness. 
Sluggishly it flows again and settles sleepily. 

Evening silence with its sense of relaxation
in the quiet friendly circle while the flames murmur softly 
to the logs as they crumble and the dog breathes a sigh in his dreams
Silence of night like a blanket of mystery wraps the earth in cool, damp folds.

Familiar shapes are subtly changed
and crouch in secret stillness
under rhinestone-studded skies." 
 - Daphne Roberts

A Spiritual Parable

     "Sinners are in bondage to Satan, deaf to God's truth, dumb in utterance to His praise, and no human power can emancipate them from their depravity. When, however, they are stirred to realize their appalling need and pray, 'Lord, I believe,' then the miracle of grace takes place in their heart." - H. Lockyear

Time To Study History

   The situation in America, Britain and across the globe is now a slow-motion world crisis ready to explode. And for that reason, I submit to you that you no longer have time not to read history. When Winston Churchill faced his world crisis, he had to muster every ounce of knowledge, wisdom and courage he had accumulated over his lifetime to try to save his people, their nation and its virtues. Imagine if that lifetime had been spent absorbing frivolous content. He could have never become the one statesman alive whom God could use to save Western civilization. ...

    To him, history was more than a subject or a hobby. It was his identity. He did not simply observe the historical continuum; he made himself part of it. He did not live in the past; the past lived on in him. History became his personal memory. … Churchill dove into history. He wrote his four-volume, million-word masterpiece, Marlborough between 1933 and 1938, while his colleagues disarmed Britain. He was the lone, almost powerless voice, warning against it. This deep dive into history helped prepare him for Britain's darkest hour. ...

    Like Churchill, we are living in historic times. It is time to drop the distracting smart-phone apps, the gaming, the frivolity and dissipation. It's time to devote your precious hours to serious pursuits that could very well be life-saving pursuits. It is time to become part of something bigger than yourself. It is time to become part of history.  - S. Flurry

America Faces An Epic Choice

    These are perilous times. Over the last three years, much of what the Guardian holds dear has been threatened – democracy, civility, truth. This US administration is establishing new norms of behaviour. Anger and cruelty disfigure public discourse and lying is commonplace. Truth is being chased away. But with rampant disinformation, partisan news sources and social media's tsunami of fake news is no basis on which to inform the American public in 2020. The need for a robust, independent press has never been greater, and with your support we can continue to provide fact-based reporting that offers public scrutiny and oversight. Our journalism is free and open for all, but it's made possible thanks to the support we receive from readers like you across America in all 50 states. With your help we can continue to put it center stage.

"America is at a tipping point, finely balanced between truth and lies, hope and hate, civility and nastiness. Many vital aspects of American public life are in play – the Supreme Court, abortion rights, climate policy, wealth inequality, Big Tech and much more. The stakes could hardly be higher. As that choice nears, the Guardian, as it has done for 200 years, and with your continued support, will continue to argue for the values we hold dear – facts, science, diversity, equality and fairness." – US Editor, John Mulholland

On the occasion of its 100th birthday in 1921 the editor of the Guardian said, "Perhaps the chief virtue of a newspaper is its independence. It should have a soul of its own." That is more true than ever. Freed from the influence of an owner or shareholders, the Guardian's editorial independence is our unique driving force and guiding principle.  - Helen P.