Daylight Savings to End? 

     No doubt you know the House of Representatives passed a bill 308-117 to end Daylight Savings time. 

     Republicans and Democrats found something to agree about. Now it's the Senate's turn to - what's that word again? - oh yeah, agree. 

Second Chance 

     Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania readies for restart. America's largest nuclear energy company is working to restart one of the reactors at the site of the 1979 accident...to help meet a growing demand for electricity. My cousin, an electrician, spent some time there following the accident.

     There are 95 nuclear power plants operating in the US. They generate about 20 percent of the nation's electricity.  

Approved Again 

     As for oil's contribution to electric power, the Dakota Access Pipeline can remain in place. The 1,200-mile pipeline transports up to 570,000 barrels of oil a day from North Dakota to Illinois refineries. Native Americans and environmentalists fought the pipeline's 1-mile route under Lake Oahe. The decision follows a 2020 court order to assess natural factors more completely than originally done in 2016. 

     For us to benefit from any of this oil, Dakota Access must develop procedures to supply clean water, food and compensation in case of a spill, add more groundwater monitoring wells, and allow independent review of leak-detection systems. 

     Native Indians have their day - years - in courts, as they should.

           Jimmy

War on U.S. and Israel  

     On Sunday we wrote about Islamists and the secular left joined in "war" against America and Israel, the Judeo-Christian civilization, Western freedom. We ended Sunday with apostle Paul's teaching that a Christian's real enemy is Satan's angels...in heavenly places. 

     Of course, we trust the Bible, but could it be that Satan's work is behind movements that hate each other, but hate us first? Michael Youssef wrote a book, AN UNHOLY ALLIANCE. A summary:

     Rainbow flags wave at Hamas rallies. A liberal feminist marches alongside men who believe a woman's testimony is worth half a man's in a court of law. LGBTQ people chant with an ideology that throws gay men from rooftops and stones women for adultery. The secular left and radical Islamists bond in hatred. Not merely disagreement, but a deep, motivating hatred of Christianity and Judaism. Freedom.

     Youssef says this hatred makes these opponents willing to ignore their vast differences. He says, 'When the object of your loathing is the same, you can march together regardless of what you plan to do to each other afterward.' The book is eye-opening and heartbreaking, the writer says. 

     Hamas invaded Israel in 2023 and Western progressives celebrated it. The election of Zohran Mamdani as New York mayor. Muslim scholars calling for Sharia friendly enclaves. Suspicious influence in Minnesota and Michigan. Qatari money flowing into American universities. Qatar deals with any nation they please, whatever works for them. 

     Hey! Didn't Qatar give America a $400 million Boeing 747-S for Air Force One? 

         Jimmy 

PS. Socialists have taken over the Democratic party. 

 Dual Citizenship 

     "Make no mistake about it, there is a truth war right now in our culture. God's truth is under attack. Nothing in all the world is more important than the truth of Jesus Christ. Solomon's wise advice in Proverbs 23:23 has never been timelier: Buy truth and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction and understanding. 

Jack Graham, Dallas pastor

     "This spiritual war between truth and lies is being waged in the hearts and minds of people, particularly in the church. Many Christians are being shaped by the culture rather than shaped by the Savior and Scripture. Many churches are throwing in the towel when it comes to culture wars and social issues. 

    "Too many pastors are compromising their calling in the pulpit, watering down their messages from the infallible Word of God for fear of offending. Two problems with that. One, people are offended too easily these days; and two, the Bible is offensive because it speaks absolute truth for all generations. 

     "There is not much wrong in our country that cannot be made right if the spiritual leadership in God's churches rises to the challenges and crises of our times. It is our responsibility to disciple people. If the church doesn't disciple them, the world will...and the world is good at it.

     "More than ever, we must not relent. We must be bold, courageous and stand strong for the Lord Jesus, our King. God has called us to fight the good fight of faith - to take up the sword of the Sprit." 

Thursday: The war all around us

Christian Turned Communist 

     A missionary went to Korea in 1889. Many Koreans adopted the new religion, and the largest Presbyterian compound in the world excited the missionaries. In 1910 Japan annexed Korea, but evangelism and church planting continued. Koreans hoped America would rescue them. Not to be...yet.

Korean Messiah, by Jonathan Cheng

     They were disillusioned with the West and looked to communism for help. Japanese occupation ended in 1945, and the Soviets and Americans divided the peninsula at the 38th parallel. Kim Il Sung came from a family of believers. He was a Sunday school teacher...then he became dictator of an atheistic state. 

     When the Soviets put Kim in power in North Korea, the North had more Christians than the South. And the South had more communists. The disruptions of the Korean War and communist persecution shifted that balance. 

     The author says Kim's ideology turned into a secular religion, something similar to Stalinism, and turning the Great Leader into a god. The typical communist cult of personality became a religious cult. 

     Kim's grandson carries on, with nuclear bombs, and oversight by China. South Korea offers freedom. Our son and nephew each had tours there with our military...73 years and counting.  

        Jimmy

USA: 1776 to 2026 

     So, we return to our history and who we are today. From information available.

     In 1790 95% of Americans were farmers or lived in rural areas. In 2020, 20% (coincidence) remained rural. In 1940, only 5% were farmers. Urban residents were 5% of the country in 1790, and they grew to 80% by 2020, more than any other group. Next in numbers are city residents, followed by those in suburbs. 

     About 9% of Americans were foreign born in 1850. By 2024 that became 15%. Immigration from Europe grew 92% from 1850 to 1970. Mexican immigrants rose from 200,000 in 1970 to 12 million in 2010. 

     The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act resulted in a worldwide incoming. By 2010, immigrants from Latin countries were half of the total. From Asia, 28%, and from Europe, 12%. 

     In 1800, half the population was age 16 or under. In that century, the average mother had 7 children. Their likelihood of growing up was not guaranteed, as my great grandmother would tell you, if she could. Maybe similar to African children today. 

     The year 1945, with Germany and Japan put down, they called it a "golden era." Yours truly was age 6, and I didn't see any gold, but the USA was on the upswing. Black Americans (many) had to wait a few more years to gain...protest for...inclusion. 

     WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among them are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness...

1776

We Are at War 

     What a topic to start the new week. Iran? No, not them. 

     Our headline might better read, "in a war." And what might that be?

     Two groups that hate each other are joined in battle against Christians and Jews: 1. Islam. Their "certainty" (not faith) is based on Mohammad, who died in 632 A.D., and 2. communists, Marxists and socialists (any or all of these). When and if America crumbles and Christians and Jews cannot survive, the millions of Muslims and Marxists will duke it out for total control.

     Of course, Satan is their sponsor, but they don't know it. God threw Satan and other angels out of heaven. And He could end this war today, but He has great plans still to come. (See the New Testament).

     Christians might attend church, while we have other matters today and throughout the week. But we are in God's war. He wants our prayers. Then his Spirit will work. It will matter to each of us now and when/if we enter heaven.  

Ephesians chapter 6. 

     Our war is not against Muslims or communists, but against spiritual forces in the heavenly realms. Paul lists the "full armor of God: Belt of truth. Breastplate of righteousness. Feet fitted with readiness. Shield of faith. Helmet of salvation, and Sword of the Spirit." 

 A Decaying Culture 

     "Make no mistake about it; there is a truth war in our culture. God's truth is under attack. Nothing in all the world is more important or more valuable than the truth of Jesus Christ. 

Jack Graham, Texas pastor

     "Solomon's wise advice in Proverbs 23:23 has never been timelier. Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding. This spiritual war between truth and lies is being waged in the hearts and minds of people, particularly in the church. Too many Christians are being shaped by the culture rather than being shaped by the Savior and the Scripture. 

     "They are compromised when it comes to the core teaching of the Christian faith. Many churches are throwing in the towel when it comes to the culture wars and social issues. Too many pastors compromise their calling in the pulpit, watering down their messages from the infallible Word of God, for fear of offending. 

     "People are offended too easily these days. The Bible speaks absolute truth for all generations. There is not much wrong in our country that cannot be made right if spiritual leadership would rise to the challenges and crises of our times. It is our responsibility as the church of the Lord Jesus Christ to disciple people, because if the church doesn't disciple them, the world will...and the world is good at it.

     "Now more than ever in our country, we must not relent. We must be bold and courageous and stand strong for the Lord Jesus, our King. God has called us to fight the good fight of faith." 

 Sunday: we are at war right here