Isaiah Knew Him First 

     "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter." - Isaiah 53:7. 

     Jesus was falsely accused, unjustly beaten, publicly mocked - and He stayed silent. Not because He was weak, but because He knew who and what He was fighting for. He trusted the Father who led him from birth, especially his last three years. 

     Hanging on the horrible cross, He said, Father, forgive them. 

     Forgiveness is not an emotion; it's a decision to obey. We're still human. We can't erase our own memories. 

     What do we do? We pray to God, "Help my emotions catch up to my obedience." We can forgive (like Erika Kirk) despite the emotion we don't feel yet. Silence is not weakness; it aligns with the Lamb who was silent while taking the punishment that saves those who trust and obey.  

Mostly provided by our pastor

Did You Know?

Treasury secretary Scott Bessent blocked $99 million that had been sent to deceased people year after year. 

* 

Communist Cuba runs a global ideological campaign to turn people against the United States. Seeding into our radical left, subversive narratives, and terror. We thought Cuba had forgotten communism. 

*

Mrs. Donut celebrated her birthday this week, with best wishes from two friends here in Florida, two in New York (where she lived long ago), two in South Carolina (where we lived long ago), one in Colorado (another old friend), and one in Israel (an old friend once in Pennsylvania) and an unexpected greeting from Pennsylvania. Of course, women can talk endlessly, but Mrs. Donut made time for me take her out to dinner. 

*

New language: infrastructure, computational, footprint, usage and hyperscale. Whatever. You won't find such language here.  

         Jimmy

 

Power for a Poor Nation

     On Tuesday we wrote about loving others, caring for our neighbors. 

     How about caring for people on the other side of America who have no electricity? Our power company sent 18 employees to "Light Up Navajo 7" 1,800 miles from Florida. A nationwide effort, the Florida crew energized 18 homes in two weeks. They worked in challenging conditions, often spending hours digging through rocky terrain to install power infrastructure.

     For many families, this is life changing. Among them is an 86-year-old. "Seeing the smiles and gratitude from families is something that stays with you forever," said the team leader, a district manager in our county. We take our electricity for granted - except for occasional outages. We appreciate crews who work into the night when a storm cuts off power to a whole neighborhood.  

     Crews considered it a privilege to provide electricity to the Navajos who have lived without power for generations. Electricity enhances safety, educational opportunities, and improves quality of life. 

     My dad and two uncles had degrees in electrical engineering. During the depression, dad and a crew provided electricity to farmers. It wasn't that long ago. Thank George Westinghouse and an employee who learned how to provide electric power over thousands of miles. Well, electricity doesn't go anywhere, except lightning, and rapid back and forth when a power plant "excites" it. Thomas Edison created the light bulb. Westinghouse put it to use, for the whole world.   

        Jimmy

 Wednesday

Proof - God Exists 

     He made the antelope, beaver, bear, beetle, bison, chinchilla, centipede and the cheetah which can race 60 mph. He made the calf, caribou, cat, crusado, cow, deer, elk, fox, frog, goat, grizzly, gorilla, gazelle, guanaco and the gila monster. 

     God also made the human, horse, hare, jaguar, kangaroo, lion, lynk, lamb, longhorn beetle, leopard, mole, monkey, mouse, okapi, ox, penguin, porcupine, rat, red squirrel and red lechwe. There is the snake, snow leopard, spider, tiger, toad, wolf, woodland deer, wild boar and zebra. 

     We might have included the alligator and crocodile, but they spend too much time under water. So, we'll stop at 54 including humans...we creatures who often act like animals, or worse. Humans can't run 60 mph, or bite like a gorilla, but we can invent things that harm others, out of hatred, or financial gain.  

     There is a lake with 1,400 animal species, but we can't fit all that in a blog. Sorry. Nor can we list some 500 different birds, or unknown numbers of creatures living in the ocean. 

     What's with the Bold animals, above? 

     In the book of Isaiah, 11:6-8, God tells us the wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, cow with bear, calf and lion together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. This, and a child can play next to the hole of a cobra, when Jesus takes over the world for a millennium of grace and teaching.   

 Return to Our Founding Ideals?

   Part 3

     It begins with the church, Senator Lankford says. "The church and what God is doing is still the hope of the earth. Washington D.C. doesn't change the country. Washington is just a mirror of our culture. The country changes Washington."

     "The first responsibility is what the church is doing in communities, made up of families and individuals. The church was ablaze 250 years ago for what was true and righteous. The Great Awakening occurred right before the revolution. Preachers were traveling around the colonies challenging people of faith."

     "So, the influence of the church (or lack of) has been central from the very beginning. We need churches that are vibrant and alive, loving people and caring for their neighbors and setting an example. I never want to see a church that excludes people based on political beliefs."

     "God cares about government. But the hope of the earth is not government. It's the hope found in Jesus of Scripture. He alone can transform people - and nations." 

Wednesday: 54 proofs of our Creator

 Monday

Working on a More Perfect Union

  Part 2 

     Sen. James Landford says, "Division is driving us away from each other. People who disagree with us are also people loved by Jesus. They are created in the image of God. Christians have a right and responsibility to speak out. But for some reason there is a belief that if I yell loudly enough, they'll be persuaded." 

     "That doesn't work for me and most others. Our culture idolizes the angriest, most bitter, divisive person. You get the most likes if you say the snarkiest things. As Christians, we don't gleefully attack. We speak the truth in love and in compassion to persuade, to convince."

     "There are Bible studies all over Capitol Hill every week with staff members, and people in both House and Senate. There are gatherings of people coming together for prayer all over the Hill. There are multiple churches in Washington, D.C. that are seeing a tremendous number of baptisms right now for people who are coming to Christ. Many are coming in from all over the country, to work, and while they're here, they're actually encountering Christ." 

     "God is still sending people into Washington, D.C. That tells me He's not done here. By no means a majority of people, but God has not left us without a witness."

Tomorrow, conclusion

How would we begin to live up to our founding ideals? 

 Toward a 'more perfect union' 

     We think our nation is about to break up. Along comes Senator James Lankford from Oklahoma with an ongoing hope for our republic. 

     A few blogs ago we wrote about Christian preachers who rallied Americans to fight for freedom. Lankford spent 22 years in Christian ministry before God called him into public service, in 2011. He reveals hope for us all. 

     Asked what concerns him most about our republic after 250 years, he replied: "Right now, we're trying to out-anger each other. Our adversaries globally would love to see Americans fighting each other rather than contending for the values of our founding. I hope all Christians would pray about this." 

     "We have to protect the rights we've inherited, especially our religious freedom. We did something no government on earth has ever done. It was this enormous experiment - civilian leadership of the military, separation of powers and government, co-equal branches with checks and balances. With that, also the freedom for people of faith to live their faith, change their faith, or have no faith. That has never been done in world history." 

     Asked what warnings our founders would give, Lankford said, "Some of the founders are speaking from the grave on this still. George Washington challenged us not to break into factions and parties, saying they would separate us and we would become more loyal to parties than to the nation. The very next election we did break into parties." 

     "Men are not angels. We are still learning how to be better as a people and function with our differences. We have the means to live out our faith and hear God's voice and learn to be better. This challenge toward a more perfect union really is a challenge." 

Continued tomorrow

       Jimmy 

 Ditch Democracy? 

     Earlier this week we wrote of political extremes, Islamists and communists. Here is another look at political trends that young people think should replace democracy. We need to understand them before we can sway them. There are socialists and there are monarchists (praise the king). 

     Emma Freire writes, "These movements are by young people who look at the future with despair. They believe the American dream is dead. Socialism and monarchy appeal to human nature. A poll in 2025 found only 13% of 18-29 year-olds feel the nation is headed in the right direction. 

     "Nearly half of them live with their parents. And 41% of recent college grads suffer underemployment. The high cost of housing is one of their biggest concerns. In 2025 only 12% of 30-year-olds were married. The American dream? A stake in society? 

     "Congress is considering the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. A controversial provision bans large investors from buying up single family homes. Experts say this will help, but supply must also increase. 

     "Some younger Americans feel like elected officials don't represent them. Baby boomers were the largest generation for a long time, and they still vote consistently. So, elected officials attend to their concerns. Leaders are staying in office long past traditional retirement age. Younger Americans may have a sense there is no path for them to rise." 

Views: Okay. And who is going to convince them a king or socialism or outright communism is NOT going to work better than Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness? Freedom! There are ways to improve. Limit years politicians can serve. Don't watch or listen to news sources controlled by Democrats. Fire all liars. 😖

          Jimmy

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

Fight for Freedom 

     The Declaration says "all men are equal" in their claim to justice, that governments exist to give them that justice, and that their authority is for that reason just. Those rights are being threatened by a culture increasingly anti-God and anti-Christian. 

Gary Hamrick, pastor in Virginia

     "Pastors were at the center of the American Revolution. They led the fight for religious freedom and recruited men from their churches to join the fight. Several pastors made up the 'Black Robed Regiment,' the most feared by the British because of their influence. The British placed bounties on their heads, burned their homes and churches, and would execute wounded ministers rather than take them prisoners of war." 

     "We've witnessed government overreach with mandates to close churches during COVID, while liquor stores and hardware stores were called 'essential' and remained open. We've witnessed school boards stripping parental rights. Churches, Christian schools and Jewish synagogues have been the target of violent attacks, ranging from arson to mass shootings." 

     "We must not allow the slow creep of an anti-Judeo-Christian bias in our culture to smother religious freedoms we have enjoyed for 250 years. It is still a battle worth fighting. It will only be won if pastors are courageous, and Christians are engaged. Jesus said in John 8:36, 'So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.' Freedom is a gift - both spiritual freedom from sin, and religious freedom to worship the Lord and live fearlessly for Jesus." 

     Pastor Hamrick urges, "Let us do all we can to keep that light of religious freedom shining brightly in America." 

                                                                                                              Thursday

Our Challenges Today

     A message about America from then to now to beyond, by Jason Thomson, Utah house of representatives. 

     "Our challenges differ from those of 1776, but the fundamental question is similar. Can free people govern themselves? The answer will come not solely by leaders and the wealthy. It will come from citizens who do the quiet necessary work of self-government." 

     "That responsibility is where the founders intended it to be...the people. For 250 years the explosion of human progress has been unlike anything the world has known. The average person today carries more information in a smart phone than heads of state possessed only decades ago."

     "America has not always lived up to its highest ideals. There has been injustice and achievements, failures and triumphs. Our story is way beyond Mount Rushmore. From our beginning, unknown people accomplished the amazing and the necessary to make our nation and even the world a better place."

Search 'Mount Rushmore' for Thomson's message.

If you can find it, he names ordinary people who provided 

success that leaders like those on Rushmore get the credit.  

Opinions Then and Now

George Washington 

     "Be courteous to all but intimate with few and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence."

Elizabeth Powel, Philadelphia, 1787

     "Self-government requires ongoing vigilance and civic responsibility, virtue and moral character." 

Dr. Ben Carson 

     "Our 250th year is an extraordinary milestone, worthy of celebration, reflection and gratitude. We are not perfect. We have made mistakes, faced decisions and endured great challenges." 

     "Despite our imperfections, there remains something exceptional about this nation that continues to inspire people around the world." 

Tomorrow: more about our 250th

American Revolution 

  Continued

     "Thomas Jefferson received the same invitation to celebrate the 50th anniversary of American independence. Like John Adams, he was too ill. In his last letter of record, he wrote from Monticello a reflection on the Declaration, of which he was the famous author. He wrote, May it be to the world. 

     Both men died on the Fourth of July. 

     Webster wrote, "No age will come in which the American Revolution will appear less than it is, one of the great events in human history." He believed, "The highest attainment of all future generations would be to understand and live up to the greatness of the American Revolution. The essence of that greatness - was the idea of independence itself - the idea of political freedom.

     During the 200th-year celebration, Harry Jaffa wrote, "Nothing threatens the future of human freedom more than the failure to keep alive the understanding of and attachment to its principles."       

     John Adams made the same point, "Fellow citizens," he said after telling the biblical story of the children of Israel's entry into the promised land, "the ark of your covenant is the Declaration of Independence." 

     "All their blessings," Adams continued, "would come from adherence to the Declaration's principles, and all of their curses would come from departure from those principles."   

     Then he charged the people with a flurry of actions that reminds us of God's charge to the Israelites on their long march to freedom. There is a reward for obedience to the law of God.

PS. Democrats want to destroy our Constitution and start over with communism. Forgetting our history will help them do it. 

  

The American Revolution 

     John Adams, 40 plus years after the Declaration of Independence, knew that the risky choices, acts of daring and heroism would long be remembered and deserve serious study. 

     In 1818 he wrote, the Revolution took place "in the Minds and Hearts of the People"...the real American Revolution. "In the 1760s and 1770s, a revolutionary generation learned to think and act like the Americans they were becoming." 

Christopher Flannery, Claremont Institute

     "All the actions and documents leading to the Declaration express the American idea of political freedom. Returning to such again and again is a way by which succeeding generations can continue to experience the Revolution for themselves. The Virginia Declaration of Rights in 1776 proclaimed, 'a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality and virtue, and a frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.' 

     "So abundant is this gift that to live up to it is the most fulfilling thing we can do. The daily activity of free people is the 'pursuit of happiness,' being good sons and daughters, good parents, neighbors, secretaries, teachers, artists, farmers, plumbers, mechanics, business owners and citizens. Benjamin Franklin put it: 'Pitch upon that course of life which is most excellent, and Custom will make it the most delightful.' 

     "As we celebrated America's 250th, John Adams was invited to attend the 50th anniversary celebration. He wasn't well enough. Later, with the committee visiting, he was asked to make a toast. Adams proposed, I give you 'Independence Forever!' Asked if he would like to add anything, he replied: "Not a word." 

Continued Tuesday

The America God Can Bless 

     "Such an America would look radically different than it looks today. Premarital sex, divorce and out-of-wedlock births would be rare. Our national sin of abortion would become unimaginable. America would assume its crucial role in speaking for basic human rights and would see its worldwide Christian evangelization rejuvenated.

     "In spite of all our short comings and failures, God has blessed America. However, if America does not turn back to the God of our Founding Fathers, I fear the blessings will cease. We are already under God's judgment, having aborted over 75 million children. 

Richard Land, Southern Evangelical Seminary

     "I believe there are two major reasons God has not judged America more harshly. First is our strong national support for God's chosen people, the Jews, and the state of Israel. God has promised to bless those who bless His people and to judge those who do not (Genesis 12).* 

     "Second, we still provide a substantial proportion of support for worldwide missions and evangelism. God has revealed to us the model of national blessing - repentance, humility and obedience. Let us all pray that each of us will embrace the path to blessing, and that it will bring about revival, spiritual awakening and reformation we desperately need. 

     "What better way to honor our nation's 250th birthday than by repentance, obedience and dedication to help usher in blessings for our country."

* Views: Americans are being deceived, tricked into thinking Israel should be eliminated, turning (all) the land turned over to Palestine. The border is contested. When Jesus returns, will He arrive in Jerusalem, or Palestine? 

 Battle Hymn of the Republic 

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord, 

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; 

He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword - 

His truth is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never sound retreat, 

He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat; 

O be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet! 

Our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,

With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me;

As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free,

  While God is marching on. 

Glory! glory, hallelujah! 

His truth is marching on. 

                                              Julia Ward Howe

The Unstoppable Work

     "The first slaves entered America at Jamestown in 1619. The very next year, 1620, the first Christians arrived from England aboard the Mayflower. These Puritans despised slavery and established a foundation for religious and political freedom. 

Robert Morgan, Tennessee pastor 

     "A hundred years went by. Puritanism and Christianity were waning. A remarkable revival erupted. The awakening spread through all 13 colonies. This set the stage for the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War. John Adams wrote, Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. 

     "The Lord sent the second Great Awakening in the early 1800s. Thousands came to Christ in a revival that birthed the mission movement, Sunday schools, and sent hundreds of evangelists into untamed frontiers. 

     "The work of Jesus Christ is unstoppable. We his people should be unconquerable. Even with its sinful moments and failure, America is a miracle by God's grace. When I see how God has been our help in ages past, I realize He can be our home for years to come.

     "When Dwight Eisenhower ran for president, he asked Billy Graham for a verse of Scripture. When he took the oath of office, he laid his hand on 2 Chronicles 7:14...If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."  

July 4th - Battle Hymn

     

The Real Revolution 

     President John Adams argued that the "real American revolution" had already occurred before a single shot was fired. He wrote: "The Revolution was in the Minds and Hearts of the People. A change in their Religious Sentiments of their Duties and Obligations."  

Tony Perkins, Family Research Council

     Adams: "This produced in 1760 and 1761 An Awakening and a Revival of American Principles and Feelings. In 1775 it burst out in open Violence, Hostility and Fury. Adams mentioned seven patriots who took the lead, two of whom were pastors in Boston. One of them explained what the Bible has to say about government, and how we are to respond, be it (government) good or bad."

     "The influence of patriot pastors cannot be overstated. The basic form of regular public communication for many colonists was a Bible-based sermon. Historian Harry Stout says, 'A New England sermon...was so powerful in shaping cultural values, and a sense of corporate purpose that even television pales by comparison.' When the British cracked down on Boston in 1774...patriot pastors took to their pulpits, painting the conflict in Biblical terms, portraying King George III as Pharaoh and the American colonies as the Israelites."

     "Adams wrote to his wife, 'The clergy of every denomination... thunder and lightning every Sabbath...' General Percy declared, 'No body of men are so injurious to peace and tranquility as the clergy." 

     Perkins: "Through their preaching, patriot pastors helped bring about what Adams described, a change in religious sentiments. When war came, the same Biblical conviction fueled the courage to stand against tyranny. These pastors not only made the case for independence; they also strengthened the peoples' resolve to secure it."  

     "If we are to preserve our liberty 250 years later, we need that kind of Revolution again. We must return to the same source of the founders' courage and confidence: the Word of God." 

  Friday: the unstoppable work

Who Has the Promise?                                      Wednesday

     America approaches its 250th year of independence. Our history includes approximately 168 years that England ruled Americans. The total is about 418 years. 

     Human history began with Moses' account of God's creation of "man," Adam and Eve. Of course, Moses wasn't living yet, so we'll go with historians who agree that Moses was the author. How could he know, except that God revealed the beginnings. There were no calendars. Moses began writing history in 1,445 B.C. Our search found an agreeable guess of 4,000 B.C. for Adam and Eve. 

     In Genesis 12 - the "call of Abraham," who lived around 2100 B.C. Let's consider him the beginning of the Jewish people, although there was much up and down, back and forth yet to come. 

God so loved the world

     Romans evicted Jews from Israel in 70 A.D., while believing Jews (later called Christians), were going into the known world, delivering the "gospel." 2100 + 2026 = 4126 years for God's "chosen" people. And 418 years for faith in God, in America (not Christianity worldwide, 2026). 

     One Sunday sermon called on Christians to take a stand, vote, support but not worship government, and gather in church to worship. Key scriptures include 1 Timothy 2:1-2, and 2 Chronicles 7:14. 

     While we learn of hatred toward Israel, even among Americans, remember that Satan hates God's people. This explains world support even for Hamas, while wishing Israel destruction, only 78 years since they recovered from WWII. Hitler hated Jews, and Iran hates Israel. And America. Trouble may come, but so will Jesus. And He will descend to the same place he departed around A.D. 33. Not New York or Washington. Israel's return after 1,956 years is a clear sign God's plan is unfolding as Scripture reveals it. 

 

                                                                                                                                 Tuesday

Liberty Impossible Without Faith in God 

     Adding to Sunday's blog, Eric Metaxas wrote, "All the men of the Revolution understood" it was possible to be a nation without kings or bishops. 

     "Even the least religious of our founders knew that in creating a new nation, they were doing what the Israelites did when they left Egypt and made a covenant directly with God at Sinai. Both Jefferson and Franklin - when asked to provide a seal (see Monday's blog) - came up with images of the Israelites in the wilderness of Sinai."

     "The new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal, marked the first time since Sinai that a people would look directly to God. Samuel Adams, before signing the Declaration of Independence, said they had 'restored the Sovereign,' meaning God. The Lord would be our only king." 

     "No matter how vital faith was, it could not be forced. Religious freedom would have to be at the heart of America. And it is. The men who risked everything to form America had no guarantee of success. If people could not choose to live by faith, freedoms would evaporate." 

     "By the grace of God our liberties are still alive," Metaxas writes. "For liberty to continue, faith must be at the heart of American culture. May the Lord bring revival to our land, that we might spread our faith and our freedoms to the whole world." 

Tomorrow: Who has the promise?

 Before you read,                                        Monday

Get a Dollar Bill

     The back of a $1 bill can teach us about the meaning of the Revolution we have inherited and are meant to pass on to the next generation. (This blog thanks to Christopher Flannery). 

     "On the right side is the front of the Great Seal. An American bald eagle bears a shield with 13 vertical stripes, clutching 13 arrows and an olive branch. The eagle's head is turned right toward the olive branch, the symbol of peace and war (we fight wars for the sake of peace) exclusively vested in Congress. A scroll in the eagle's beak reads E Pluribus Unum (out of many, one), and a crest contains 13 stars from which a "glory" emanates through a cloud."

     "On the left of the dollar bill is the backside of the Seal, a pyramid unfinished. In the Zenith an Eye in a triangle surrounded with a glory proper. Over the Eye - Annuit Coeptis (He approves of what has been started). On the base of the pyramid, numerical letters for 1776, and the motto, Novus Ordo Seclorum, meaning 'New Order of the Ages.' The pyramid signifies strength and duration. The Eye over it and the Motto allude to providence in favor of the American cause." 

     "The date is that of the Declaration of Independence and words under it mean the beginning of the new American Era. America had to win the war with England before leaders could concentrate on the Great Seal."

     "Flannery writes, 'We still live in that new American era. The early work of freedom aspiring to be worthy of divine approval is always unfinished. So long as we appeal, as in the beginning, 'to the Supreme Judge of the world, we may, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, with good hearts, pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.'" 

     Note how intelligent some of those founders were. 

  

   Liberty Is Impossible                                        Sunday

         Without Faith in God 

     Are we worshiping God today? He is the "King of Kings" and there is no earthly leader to compare. What makes America special? Eric Metaxas asks, "Would it surprise you that virtue and faith are at the heart of it all?"

     He wrote If You Can Keep It and is a member of the White House Religious Liberty Commission. Views will offer Metaxas and others as we approach our 250th year of liberty. He wrote another book after his research told him "it is simply inescapable. Faith in God really is the secret at the heart of American liberty." 

     He quotes John Adams: "Public virtue is the only foundation of the republic." And George Washington: "Virtue is the necessary spring of popular government." Eric: "To be governed by a monarch (see yesterday's Views) or anyone else - simply meant obeying those authorities."

     Virtue. "To govern ourselves means doing the right thing when no one is looking, where there is no authority enforcing that behavior. Why behave virtuously? Faith. If you believe in God and want to serve him, you don't need a government to threaten you. You will do it out of love, repentance and fear of God. This was the secret." 

     Metaxas wrote, "Long before the Revolution, Pilgrams and Puritans fled England for the chance to worship God freely. Many Americans at the time of the Revolution were descendants of those devout Christians. In the 18th century there was a Great Awakening, one of the greatest revivals in history. The main figure was George Whitefield, who said we need not look to kings or bishops, but to God himself. Even kings and bishops would be judged by God.

Tomorrow: What's on a dollar bill?

 

CCP Reimagines Wealth

     A small village in 1045 B.C. became a very large but very poor city in the 20th Century A.D. Then in 1970 (give or take) President Richard Nixon - on behalf of U.S. industries - went to China to convince the communists to join the world. Wealth replaces communism. Ho ho. 

     We share what we read this week. "For decades the CCP sold the people a false promise: 'Leave the power to us, ask no questions, and we will make you richer than your parents could have imagined.' Who could have imagined Beijing, 22 million residents and about every modern activity known to man." 

     "Living standards did rise - not by central planning - but because the Party loosened its grip on the economy. Western capital, technology and markets resulted in more wealth - and the Party took the credit. Even as business - not government - brought more wealth, the Party has jailed critics, crushed dissent, and persecuted communities not interested in politics. Those with rising living standards consent."

Then Comes a Depression

     "Money is running short. Growth is fading, prices are falling, jobs for the young are scarce, and the wealthy are quietly moving their savings abroad." Views read that many young people are leaving Beijing. 

     "So, Xi Jinping is rewriting the deal, analysts have said. Instead of rich, he offers the promise of getting even: the assurance that China has risen equal of the United States, and that the 'rejuvenation of the nation, and the absorption of Taiwan, is within reach.'"  

PS. Let's not be fooled by communists running in our elections.

       Jimmy

 The Practical Justice 

     Mollie Hemingway, no relation to Ernest, we guess, is an author, columnist (not communist) and political commentator. She could write a good book about Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. So, she did.

     It's title: Alito: The Justice Who Reshaped the Supreme Court and Restored the Constitution.

     Hemingway interviewed about 100 people and joked that her reporting became "a little boring" because nearly everyone praised him. Nick Eicher wrote, "The book is a serious account of how character, conviction and prudence shape institutions." 

     A colleague of Nick's (try to keep up) describes Alito as "pragmatic, skeptical of government, skeptical of the expert class, and attentive to ordinary people." An Alito clerk found him in his office on a weekend. The justice told him, "That 30 minutes the litigant has before this court is likely one of the most important 30 minutes of his life. It's worth a little bit of my time on the weekend." 

     Hemingway said, "He is committed to constitutional text and original meaning but deeply concerned with how a ruling will work in real life. This could be dangerous. But Alito's moral seriousness binds him more tightly to the judicial role. He does not believe courts should invent rights or policies and hide them in constitutional language." 

     Eicher: "Some care only about being right. Others care only about winning." Hemingway sees Alito as "a rebuke to both errors. Values and principles are meant to benefit people. In any vocation, the question is how to serve God by serving others." 

     Sounds supreme to me.    Jimmy

 

 The Better States 

     Tuesday, we passed along what observers considered the 10 least desirable states for opportunity, education, cost of living, housing, lifestyle flexibility, etc. Today, they give us nine "better states to move to."

     Ohio is not in either group. 

     In no particular order, the better states are Georgia, Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. 

     Minnesota??? After all that scandal we heard about? Guess we didn't get the full story. We're a little surprised South Carolina isn't on this list. We lived in Aiken for eight years on my final job and might have retired there had not close relatives drawn us to Florida. 

     You might want to avoid states where healthcare fraud schemes rise up to $6.5 billion, where voters choose communists, and where anti-Trump people mar the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Oh, wait, that's Washington, D.C., not a state. 

     As we approach our 250th birthday, our founders would not be surprised at our troubles. The 13 colonies were all Christ oriented. Today, no state claims such. 

"You can have no dominion greater or less than that over yourself."

- Leonardo da Vinci 

Is that true today? 

20 Winners from Ohio 

     We understand you don't care about most of these Ohio people who excelled in life. Come back tomorrow.            Now...still with us? 

     Neil Armstrong was the first person to land on the moon. Maybe you have eaten at Bob Evans, whose name is still on his restaurants. Steven Spielberg was a great filmmaker. 

     I grew up in Pennsylvania and went to Ohio State where Woody Hayes won five national football championships (by vote, not playoffs). I saw him in his tantrums. Urban Meyer is another national champion coach, first at Florida, then at Ohio State. 

     Halle Berry, outstanding actress, was Miss Ohio in 1988, and runner up for Miss America. Orville and Wilbur Wright were brothers from Dayton who built and flew the first airplane. Simone Biles was a champion gymnast. Labron James is an all-time great basketball player.

     Joe Burrow, voted best in the nation in college (LSU), now quarterbacks the NFL Cincinnati Bengals. Jim Harbaugh, a Michigan star, also won a championship at his alma mater, "that team up north," as Woody referred to Michigan. He has been a winner in the NFL. Ben Roethlisberger won NFL championships with the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

     Other specials include John Legend, Yvette Brown, Toni Morrison, Sherred Brown, R.L. Stein and Sheree Whitfield. 

     Thanks for...wait a minute. The article left someone out. There was a boy in the same high school as my dad. He was small but so determined to play football his dad shrugged and turned him over to the coach. He became a winning quarterback, and a college player north of Cincinnati.

     He returned to coach his hometown Massillon Tigers, winning numerous state championships, winning a national championship at Ohio State, more championships with the Cleveland Browns, got fired and retired in California, returning in five years to coach the new Cincinnati Bengals (Bengal tigers), whose stadium is named Paul Brown. My late Cincinnati uncle took me to the first home game. 

10 Worst States 

     What? All 50 states participate in the best nation ever. 

     Well, there is good and not so good in all 50. Important are healthcare, behavior, economics, housing and food security. And there is education, incomes/poverty and infrastructure.

     We all live under the same Constitution, but state by state we are diverse. Not all of us think quite the same. Not all of us like our Constitution. Right, Democrats? Our founders purposely gave states freedom, except for issues that require unity, such as war. We even had a civil war - if wars can be civil - not unity - but not all states participated. 

     Who are the 10? Suprise. According to scholars who ranked the states, our home state of Pennsylvania is the 10th worst. The two large cities are known for crime, and if we can blame nature somewhat, mountains largely separate the west and the east. 

     Would you blame the "sooners," the settlers in 1889 who rushed to claim the unassigned land before the starter gun? Oklahoma is the ninth worst, not quite as troubled as Nevada, in eighth place. 

     Welcome to the story, seven Southern states, in order from less difficulty to more: Mississippi, New Mexico, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana and...

     West Virginia is the most troubled. Maybe they should have remained part of Virginia, Civil War and all. Okay, they did right, in 1860. 

              Jimmy

A Thousand Years

     Where are we going? Drugs. Crime. Illegals. American students are moving further left. Russia's foreign minister is hinting of a nuclear exchange with Ukraine. Just a scare?  

     Mrs. Donut and I have been reading the book of Revelation again. Tough go, but the final five chapters are illuminating. God will have had enough with human sin. Believers - who don't let the antichrist's mark put on them - are taken to heaven, and God sends an angel to deal with the dragon - serpent - devil, that is, Satan. There would be no more deception for a thousand years. 

     Christ will reign for all those years...in Jerusalem, and as King of the world. 

     In commentary on a hymn written in the 1800s: "External peace may not come, despite our efforts and our prayers. But internal peace can be a reality because our rest and trust are in a God who is omnipotent, all merciful, all righteous and all wise. Our God is greater than the armies of the nations, though He allows them victories, and He permits hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes and more. When you get to heaven ask him why.   

God remains, and reigns. 

 

Father's Day

     "Fathers, do not embitter your children or they will become discouraged." So advised Paul in a letter to the Colossians 3:21. 

     This future blogger didn't embitter my three children. In fact, I was too lenient, concentrating on my job and church responsibilities, while my wife raised the kids. That seemed to be working, until the wife wanted a divorce. Wow! I had been transferred to work 80 miles from home. My father drove 90 miles or so to check on me, concerned I might harm myself. 

     Years later, my adult "kids" now respect me. I had been guilty of putting other activity, important as it was, ahead of their path to salvation. All of us live in different states. Boo. I became the only man in my extended family to be divorced. Boo again. At age 52, God gave me a faithful second wife, Mrs. Donut. Yea! 😄

     So, fathers, if you are raising children, they come first, as does your marriage. Other scriptures: Genesis 18:19, Deuteronomy 6:7, Psalm 78:5 and 127:3, Ephesians 6:4, Colossians 3:12-14, 21, Luke 1:27 and Matthew 19:14. There are more verses. No favoritism. Encouragement. Kindness. Humility. Gentleness. Patience. 

              Jimmy  

And Saturday 

Nature Rewires Brains

     Perhaps you didn't know this. My brain certainly needed something... all my life. We're not going to give you the neurological details. 😀 

     Yes, we are. Nature rewires brains, so say those who do imaging studies. In nature, a cascade of changes that quiet the brain take over. This effect doesn't occur with those watching sports events or attend big concerts. 😉 It does occur on the former - now quiet - fairway #4 behind our house. You've heard of stress circuity? And the replenishment of depleted attention?  

     Forgive me if I'm going too fast. The brain produces neural states... resembling meditation, if that helps. Immersive virtual reality is another way of understanding this. 😏 Even indoor greenery can produce neuroimaging techniques. 

      A man in Chile, of all places, gives me the chills, says, "nature's effects on the brain unfolds in a cascade across several interconnected levels." These levels interact dynamically, he says. 😕 Well, of course. 

     If this helps, sensory features of nature imitate the cascade, which propagates through stress regulation. Attention, he says, this is ultimately how we experience ourselves. 😒

     Oh, how I wish I had known this during school years. My teachers - and the girls - would have been so expressed, I mean impressed. 

Jimmy 😎

     

Our War Within 

     Oh, we don't mean political. Many of us thinking of the 250th birthday, while anarchy takes place across the nation. 

     In Orlando, tourists normally see families, live music, roller coasters, water parks and other entertainment. In minutes, a park turned from colorful to chaotic. This called for firefighters, police, ambulances. 

     An employee said "There were a bunch of people fighting, crying, trying to steal. More than 1,000 teenagers swarmed the park during a 'teen takeover.'" It underscores the anarchy in towns and cities across the U.S., says The Epoch Times. 

     "Since summer 2024, cities including Chicago have seen gatherings with hundreds of minors converging on malls, beaches, parks or restaurants. These often end in fights, vandalism, destruction of property, conflicts with law enforcement, arrests, and even shootings." 

     "In Florida there have been several takeovers, shootings and arrests." Yes, Florida, where adults are blessed with the economy and law enforcement. 

     "In Detroit, a 14-year-old was shot at a takeover. A Chipotle restaurant in Washington was vandalized by masked teens. Youths descended on a quiet New Jersey beach town, fighting and jumping on cars, forcing law enforcement to respond with riot shields."

     "Teen takeovers first gained notoriety in Chicago. It evolved into a nationwide occurrence in 2025 and has remained a regular event in 2026. Participants range in age from 12 to 20." 

     "Takeovers put city officials, law enforcement and businesses on edge due to their unpredictable nature."  

     Views is aware of thefts, gang violence and riots, such as Antifa. But this is the first we've learned of teenage violence - without a name, political connection or any other source. Parents: Do your job!

Tomorrow: Nature rewires brains  

 What About Israel?  

1. God's covenants with Israel were literal and eternal 

     In the Old Testament God made unconditional promises to Israel that were in His character, not Israel's obedience. He promised Abraham a nation and blessing; and he promised David an everlasting throne and kingdom. 

2. Paul explicitly rejected the idea that God had cast Israel aside

     Paul addressed Israel's unbelief directly. In Romans 9:11, he confronted the painful reality that many of his fellow Jews had rejected Christ. Paul's conclusion: "Hath God cast away his people? God forbid." (Romans 11:1). Paul described Israel's unbelief as real, tragic and serious - but not final. He taught that God still intends to bring about a future turning of the Jewish people to their Messiah.

3. Israel's restoration and the church's mission are complementary, not conflicting

     The New Testament never presents the church as a replacement for Israel. Instead, it presents the church as a distinct body with a distinct mission. After his resurrection, Jesus' disciples asked, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" Acts 1:6. Jesus spoke not of cancellation, but of timing: "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons." 

     The church was not given the task of establishing the kingdom. It was given responsibility for proclaiming the Gospel. That mission includes Jewish and Gentiles alike.   - Pastor Paul Chappell

Friday: Teenagers on the loose

Cambrian Explosion 

     Darwin didn't have all the facts when he assumed evolution is the answer. 

     Paleontologists determined that an "explosion" of life happened around 540 million years ago. There appeared many characterizes of modern animal life. Over a period of a few million years, about 70 different animals appeared. The New York Times reported in 1991, "Spectacular Fossils Record Early Riot of Creation." Yes, the NYT headlined the word "creation." Scientists called this the "biological big bang." 

     Our book: "The evidence shows a top-down pattern, wherein animal body designs appear first, followed by variations. This is the opposite of the bottom-up Darwin model. The Cambrian explosion reveals the sudden appearance of all basic designs, so distinct that they have to be categorized in different phyla. A leading Darwinist, Richard Dawkins, admitted, 'It is as though they were just planted there, without any evolutionary history.'"  

     "After the explosion, almost no new animals appear in the fossil record...for the last half-billion years." 

     Views: Darwin was on the fence about Christianity. We guess, had he lived long enough to know about the Cambrian discovery, he would have attended the next church service. As for today's Darwinists, their self-importance will destroy them.

Evidence of Truth 

  Found on our computer.

     Historians Josephus, Tacitus and Celsus did not believe Jesus was the Son of God. But one wrote that "James was the brother of Jesus." And that "their leader was put to death by Pontious Pilate." And they "did not deny Jesus was a real person. A Roman official and Jewish historian both talked about the same 'rebel.'"

     "Gospel stories line up with 1st Century Palestine: economics, politics, architecture and names. Outsiders get things wrong. Bible authors knew the region. It is not possible to start a movement founded on a non-existent person in a small community. Judean community was closeknit. Rumors spread. Records were kept. If the Jesus story was fraudulent, critics had every means to prove it." 

     While we believe God provided Matthew, Mark, Luke and John with Jesus' words years after He ascended to heaven, there are a few inconsistencies. So, the gospels were not edited.

     "Most humans lie to avoid trouble. Christ's earliest followers were tortured and mocked. If they were making up a story, it would have ended when Romans invaded Israel (Judea). Myths don't create martyrs."

     As for martyrs, there were more in the 20th century than ever before. The Lord calls us to believe and follow him, with faith, hope and love.       

Tomorrow: The Cambrian Explosion 

         Jimmy