2024 election

Will He Find Fruit?

By: Denny-

I started my day today as I usually do with my morning coffee. I was a little hungry, so I had a piece of hot cornbread leftover from supper last night. It is a rainy gloomy Fall day as I sit looking out the dining room window. The high today will be 48 and raining off and on all day. Most of the trees have shed their leaves, but there are some that are still vibrant yellow including one in our front yard. I went outside and swept the wet leaves away from the front door and off the deck. It is Election Day, and I hung out our flag. The voting place for our precinct is one block away at the golf course clubhouse. I noticed the official “Vote Here” sign with the arrow pointing that direction is planted near the curb on the corner of our yard. There isn’t much traffic yet, but those who work may vote during the noon hour or after work. In talking with people I know, they like many others already voted earlier, as we also did. I’m optimistic that Donald Trump will win the election, but I wonder if Republicans will have the needed majority in the House and Senate to help him fulfill his promised agenda. The fate and direction of America hinges on that happening, and it all lies in the hands of “We the People”. The concern I have is that many people will not recognize or discern the times we are living in.

There are two times mentioned in the Bible where Jesus wept. One is found in John 11:35 at the tomb of Lazarus prior to Him raising him from the dead. The other is found in Luke 19:41. Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it. This took place as He was entering Jerusalem in what Christianity celebrates as Palm Sunday. All four gospels record how Jesus entered the temple and drove out those who basically had turned it into a flea market for buying and selling, something it was never meant to be. Matthew 23 goes into detail recording how Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of the religious Pharisees and pulled no punches and showed them no mercy in rebuking them sharply. So why does only Luke record that Jesus wept and why? Matthew gives us a clue to it in chapter 23:37  “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” However, Luke 19 verses 42- 44 make it very clear. “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”  What does this event that took place then have to do with the election today in 2024. I say everything. America as a nation has been unwilling to turn to God despite the ones He has sent to prevent its destruction. In fact, many have thumbed their nose at God declaring, “We don’t need you!” Why, because America has failed to recognize and know the time of its visitation. We have been blessed and favored by God as a nation, but that visitation will soon be removed if we don’t repent and turn back to him. Quite frankly, I don’t see that happening if the radical left agenda continues under a Kamala Harris presidency. I think it is entirely possible that God is giving America one last chance to change by electing Donald Trump. I see Donald Trump not as the savior, but as one with the whip in his hand driving out the political corruption in Washington DC. Just examine and compare the differences in their policies and track records and see which ones most closely align with the Word of God, and you may come to the same conclusion. The economic issues of inflation, lost jobs, taxes, higher prices, the crisis of the illegal invasion at the borders, the national debt, wars, crime, gangs and drugs, and many others are important to us, but are they equally important to God. I’m not saying that he doesn’t care about these things, however, I think they are a result of a nation that has lost its way and whose god is not the Lord Jesus Christ. As if that weren’t enough, history and the Bible records that no nation who has killed their babies and children, sold them into slavery, or approved and sanctioned homosexual behaviors, has ever survived. I think God is giving America one last chance to repent based on Luke 13:6-9 “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ “But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’”

There have been multiple events in our recent history that tragedy has struck our nation. It was at those times we were unified under a common cause. For a brief moment we prayed, but before long it was back to business as usual. In other words, no true repentance. Instead of being unified we are a nation divided. I have to wonder if America is already at the point now where if Harris wins, we are in danger of being cut down by God. I’m not saying He will wipe out America immediately, but He will just allow us to self- destruct. Repentance, like voting, is a matter of choice. Perhaps if Trump is elected, God will give us an extended four years to repent and bear good fruit. Who knows. God is watching. Will He find Fruit?

They Stood From Afar

By: Denny-

There were many who followed Jesus when He began to perform miracles of healing and deliverance. The crowds became so large it was often difficult for Him to get away and rest, but He never avoided people or told them to disperse. On one occasion His disciples tried to prevent certain people from coming near Jesus, but He stopped them. After a while there were some who quit following Him because the messages He preached begin to step on their toes. It’s easy to follow Jesus when the miracles happen and things are exciting, but will you still follow Him when His words begin to deal with the condition of your heart. After the Last Supper the remaining eleven disciples followed Him to the Garden of Gethsemane where He told them to watch and pray. He left them and went to pray alone. He returned to them three times and found them sleeping, to which He said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! Rise up, let us go, see my betrayer is at hand.” (Mark 14: 41- 42) They all fled as Judas betrayed Jesus and He was arrested. At His trial Peter stood from afar hoping not to be recognized, but when he was, he denied that he knew Jesus. At His crucifixion, His mother Mary and John stood close while all the other disciples were absent or stood from afar because of fear.

To those who claim to be Christian and a follower of Jesus, I must ask, “Are you standing afar off?” It’s easy to be a follower of Jesus in church on Sunday, but what happens the rest of the week. Do you avoid situations, conversations, and opportunities for fear you may be recognized as a Christian? Do you possess a value system based on the truths of the Bible that is reflected in your actions and speech? Are you being the salt and light that the world and more specifically America so desperately needs in this moment of time? Pastors are you speaking out from the pulpit on the moral issues facing our nation this election, or are you standing afar off and fearful of losing your precious 503 tax exemption.  (Matthew 5:13-16) “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven.“ Salt is used to change the flavor of whatever it is added to or put on. When you add salt to salt you only get more salt volume and nothing changes. I wonder how many self-proclaimed Christians only add or apply salt to each other, never changing the flavor of anything outside the four walls of their church or selected inner circle. Their light also has become as selective and ineffective as a flashlight with dying batteries. When you turn on a light in a dark room you expect it to light up everything, including the political corner, because light is not selective. If that sounds harsh, condescending, and offensive to you then it’s time to put on your “Big Boy” pants because that’s exactly what Jesus was saying in the above verses.

We are at a critical pivotal point in our nation’s history. The election results on November 5th  will decide if Donald Trump backs up the garbage truck or if Kamala Harris continues to lead us down the slippery slope to oblivion. The Democrat party along with their political operatives and their ungodly policies and tactics have incrementally set America on a path of destruction for the last 50 plus years. Just as in the parable of the wheat and tares (Matthew 13:24-25) it happened under the cover of darkness while men (Christians) slept. Where have those who possess the salt and light been? Many have compromised and turned their backs on truth, just as did so many who quit following Jesus. Others have stood watching from afar not wanting to get involved out of cowardliness or fear of being recognized and persecuted as a believer in Jesus Christ. When I hear statistics that millions of Christians don’t vote it boggles my mind. Their absence from the election process and apathy made the difference which gave us the Biden-Harris debacle. Why?  I can’t answer that question other than to say they will give an account to God for burying in the ground, as it were, the one talent (vote) that was given to them. The parable of the talents found in Matthew 25:14-30 is a stark reality that should motivate every Christian to participate in this election. When someone shouted out “Jesus is Lord” at a Kamala Harris event, she told them they were in the wrong rally. When asked what she would do different from the past four years if elected she replied, “Nothing comes to my mind.” What about President Biden lashing out and calling Trump supporters “garbage”. Christian, what else do you need to know to make up your mind and vote, short of a swift kick in the pants by God.

God isn’t interested in lame King Saul-like excuses, only results. Some may say, “I don’t like either candidate” or “It’s like voting for the lesser of two evils.” That’s a big excuse that the uninformed use all the time, but it won’t hold water any longer. It’s time for people to put on their common sense thinking and stop letting emotions and past party loyalty guide their vote. This is bigger than Trump or Harris. This is about the failed policies of the radical left that are intent on dismantling America and rebuilding it into an image that we must bow down to and worship. How can anyone calling themselves a Christian, with any Bible knowledge, discernment, and convictions whatsoever, vote for this continued wicked insanity or not vote at all. This is a battle between good and evil, and all it takes for evil to win is for good moral people to stick their heads in the sand and do nothing. Yes, God is sovereign; however, He chooses to work with and through those who participate with Him. Open your Bible and read the stories of the great men and women of old such as Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Esther, Nehemiah, David, Daniel, Elijah, Noah and countless others who God used to accomplish His will. Guess what, none of them were without faults and perfect, so stop withholding your vote waiting for the perfect presidential candidate. Inflation is killing our economy, taxes, crime, and the price of groceries and gas are high and rising. Innocent lives are lost daily through abortion, human trafficking, gangs and the drugs they bring with them. The Biden-Harris administration is indifferent towards Isreal, and we are on the verge of WW3. Millions of people have illegally crossed our borders and are occupying our country on your dollar, but are you more upset and irate that someone else has occupied your guarded precious place you always sit in at church. Your silence by not voting is the same as approving and agreeing with all the above. To quote the words of Jesus again, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! Rise up, let us go, see my betrayer is at hand.” I don’t think it is wrong to apply this scripture to our current conditions in America. It is time to awake from sleep, rise up, and go vote because many are they who are betraying America. America needs a spiritual awakening, but Christians need a heart shaking rival of their call to be salt and light. May we all rise up with courage, confidence, determination, and trust in the Lord that we will be the generation of salt and light that turned this nation back to God so those who come after us won’t be able to say, “They stood from afar”
 

Top Dawg

By: Denny-

The winner of this year’s Top Dawg award is . . . . . . . . I felt like I could have done a back flip when they called my name. The year was 2014. I was driving for a company called Bay & Bay Transfer based in Burnsville, Minnesota. I worked out of the Mason City, Iowa bulk tanker division hauling powder cement from the Lehigh and Holcim cement plants there to highway paving projects and ready-mix plants in Iowa and Minnesota. I started driving for them in 2007. Bay & Bay has a van and reefer division, but the bulk tank division employed over 75 drivers. Some were long haul, but I was a short haul driver and returned home every day. Anyway, Top Dawg was the highest and most prestigious annual award given by Bay & Bay. In order to be a contender for the Top Dawg award there were five criteria that had to be met, and the award would go to the driver who scored the highest. The winner would get decals on each side of his truck, a T-shirt, a personalized hat, and a nice wall plaque all saying, “Top Dawg 2014”. However, the best part was a two week all-expense paid trip anywhere in the world. I was surprised when they told me I was one of the five finalists a week earlier, because it wasn’t even a goal that I had set out to accomplish. I’ve always believed in just giving my best to whoever I drove for, regardless and separate from any awards. The awards banquet and ceremony took place at a hotel convention center in Minneapolis and included all the wives. Before they announced the Top Dawg award there were other prizes given. All the drivers’ names were put in a bucket and names were drawn for various cash gifts, dinners for two, jackets, and other smaller prizes.  From a separate bucket, one name was drawn out also for an all-expense paid trip. Lastly, they had us five Top Dawg finalists come forward to the stage. When they announced that I had won Top Dawg, I gave my wife a thumbs up as if to say we’re going on a trip. Little did I know that they had changed the rules. They decided to put the five finalist names in a hat and drew out one to get the trip. It wasn’t mine, but happened to be the same guy whose name had just been drawn out of the bucket for the previous trip. So basically all I got was a hat and a plaque. No decals on my truck, no T-shirt and no trip. I, along with my dispatcher and many of the other drivers, were very upset about the whole deal. Afterward, I pulled the terminal manager aside and asked him why he changed the rules. He said he just wanted it to be fair so that each of the top five finalists had a chance to get the trip. I felt like telling him they had their chance and didn’t earn it by scoring higher than me. What’s the point of getting the title without the full reward. Was it fair for me to be awarded Top Dawg only to see one of the Runners Up get two trips simply by having his name drawn out of a hat? When my dispatcher called me with my load on Monday, I told him I wasn’t sure I wanted to work for a company that acted like this. He must have talked to the terminal manager because he tried calling me several times. I stayed home for two days and never answered my phone because I had nothing further to say to him. Finally, the owner of Bay & Bay called and apologized and asked me not to quit. He said he was sending me a check for $4000. It wasn’t as much as the trip, but I told him it was the principle of the whole thing and about the ridiculous nonsense of trying to be fair to everyone. I stayed driving for them for another three years, but it was never the same. I didn’t change my work ethic and still gave 100%, but it left me with a sense that my best wasn’t good enough. That was so long ago, and I’ve gotten over the hurt and rarely even think about it. Though my best didn’t earn me a trip, it was good enough for God, and that’s what counts and matters most to me.

I think that whole experience made me aware and realize how subtly the doctrine of “Fairness” is a part of all this new Woke religion that has infiltrated our society. Why strive to be your best and successful if you know the rewards can randomly be taken and given to those who have not earned it or put forth the same effort. That will kill self-worth, ambition, and entrepreneurship quicker than anything. Our government dictates that you must hire based on D. E. I. (diversity, equity, inclusion) not on who is the most qualified, because we must be fair! Public schools are graduating kids who have not put forth the effort to learn basic skills. And why should they, when they can earn $15 to $20 an hour minimum wage, doing menial jobs. Students take out loans for college, but it’s not fair that they should have to pay them off. Let’s be fair and just forgive their debt. Confused little Johnny wants to be a girl, use their bathroom, and play in their sports. We must be fair and let him/her/it do so, otherwise face a lawsuit or be stamped with another derogatory label by the radical lefties. And now, millions of foreigners have entered our country illegally, but we must be fair and provide them with jobs, money, cell phones, free housing, medical care, education, and whatever else they have not earned especially and including the right to vote. Meanwhile, many of our own deserving citizens, including brave veterans and seniors are homeless or live in poverty. All of this fairness B.S. is nothing more than Marxist ideology and communistic socialism originating from the pit of hell. Every election cycle the Democrats open their playbook and drag out the same old worn-out mantra that they’ve used for decades saying, “The rich aren’t paying their fair share.” How much is a fair share, and who are the rich anyway? Aren’t they the ones who have worked hard using their talents, resources, knowledge, and God-given freedoms that has made us a great nation. They are the ones who started small businesses and grew them into large companies and factories that employ millions of people. They are the ones who seized the same opportunity we all have to become more than waifs and serfs who depend solely on government handouts. Who and what gives these pompous political bureaucratic windbags the right to say who is rich anyway. They claim to identify with and represent the poor and middle class, yet most of them have never worked hard enough their entire lives to produce even a thimble full of sweat. They themselves have become rich and acquired more than their fair share on the backs of all those who work hard and pay taxes. They own multiple houses, take lavish vacations, and have portfolios worth millions. They proclaim to be the purveyors of fairness, but all they’ve ever accomplished is division, envy, and class warfare. They lie, deceive, steal, and change the rules at will to maintain and satisfy their greed for power and control. They falsely accuse their opponents of what they themselves do. Those who dare challenge them and their hypocrisy will pay a high price, because they use the courts to unjustly persecute, prosecute, punish, and imprison innocent patriots. I say it’s time to drain the swamp from the top down and that they all be held accountable and fired November 5th at the voting booth.

Discovering Jesus in Everyday Life is the subtitle I’ve chosen for my blog. I think we often overlook those opportunities to discover Him by not taking the time to recognize them in the moment. Likewise, though they be “unfair”,  we allow the pain of past circumstances and disappointments to prevent us from truly discovering Jesus in them. Much of that is because we don’t understand or discern the workings of God which only comes by knowing Him through His word, the Bible. Discovering Jesus is to know what pleases Him and what doesn’t. Anything contrary to scriptural truth does not. Also, as written in Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. The rewards you will or won’t receive are in direct proportion to your faith and diligent seeking. God doesn’t operate in the realm of fairness as society so often defines it. He is righteous and just, showing favoritism to no one. Neither does God change His rules to accommodate anyone, whether they think He is fair or not. Malachi 3:6 For I am the Lord, I do not change. There is a distinct difference between the gift of grace leading to salvation and earned rewards for serving Jesus. The rewards you receive from Him are not a result of an angel drawing your name randomly out of a golden bucket or hat. Salvation is obtained by accepting Jesus Christ as the only one who can give us right standing without sin before God the Father. He accomplished this by living a sinless life, then taking our sins upon Himself and dying on the cross in our place. It was a sacrificial act of grace freely given, and all your good works cannot earn it. In other words, your best will never be good enough to open Heaven’s door to you. Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Everyone who has been saved will be rewarded when they stand before God according to what they did in this life with their giftings and the call of God that He has entrusted to them. Jesus used the parable of the talents to explain this in Matthew 25:14-30. Those who have rejected Jesus and the free gift of salvation in this life will also have their reward, and it won’t be anything to do a back flip over.

Friend, if you have not yet discovered Jesus, it may be that you are looking for Him in the wrong places. Look for Him in the struggles, disappointments, and unfairness of life when you feel like giving up, are discouraged, alone, and feel that life has ripped you off. I can honestly say from experience it was in those hard times that when I truly called out to Him, He showed up. Actually, He was always there just waiting for me to ask for His help. God gets wrongly blamed for much of what we call and consider as unfair. However, instead of rejecting Him, try to see it as an opportunity to discover Jesus and learn who He is as well as who He is not.  

Send Someone Else (part 2)

By: Denny-

(Before reading this blog I encourage you to scroll down or select Send Someone Else part 1 from the menu and read it first to understand this one better.) Please share them both with your friends. Thank you!

She stands on the side of the road, disheveled, broken, beat up, and abused. She seems dazed and confused about where she is, how she got there, or the way back home. She recalls her former beauty and with tear filled eyes whispers, “Look what they’ve done to me.” No longer respected, those who pass by ridicule and mock her, taking delight in her condition and adding to her misery. Still others likewise treat her who was once loved with disdain and contempt. She struggles to push forward down the road, but time and again finds it difficult to even catch her breath, wondering who, if any, will stop to help her. She feels robbed of her very soul, and contemplates if this could be the end as her lifeblood is drained from her. Many pass by her with sarcastic, indifferent, and arrogant smiles that appear to be taunting. Some don’t even notice her pleas for help being focused and distracted by their own problems. Sadly, many more are those who just don’t want to get involved saying, “Send someone else.”

She is Lady Liberty, America, land of the free and home of the brave. The mother of democracy. A city once set on a hill as a shining beacon of a God-fearing and God-honoring nation that gave light, hope, and served as a guide to the rest of the world whose freedom was being suppressed. A place where parents were able to raise their children without fear of government intervention. Where schools and colleges actually educated people in the basics needed to become functioning adults, not indoctrination centers for the latest socially accepted and politically correct perversion. A time when Disney produced family friendly G rated movies, not R rated Woke garbage, and story hour at the local library was told by grandmas, not drag queens. Where the most innocent and vulnerable among us were protected and not murdered before they were born or shortly afterwards. Boys were boys, girls were girls, men were men, and women were women, and everyone knew the difference. You knew which bathroom you belonged in, what clothes to wear, and what sport to play in. When you attended a wedding, you expected it to be between one man and one woman, performed by a legitimate clergy who at least quoted scripture and mentioned God’s plan for marriage, not someone self-ordained by the First Lesbyterian Church. Inflation was nonexistent, people could afford to buy a house, a car and gas for it, put good food on their tables, pay the bills, and still have a little money left over to spend on leisure. The only people who wore masks were crooks and thieves. Taxes were low, wages were high, and the Social Security Trust Fund was not at risk. You didn’t have to lock your doors, you knew your neighbors, and everyone looked after each other. You didn’t have to arrive hours before your flight. “Made in the USA” was the dominant label, not “Made in China”. We controlled the Panama Canal, owned our own farmland, drilled and produced our oil, gas, and diesel. The National Strategic Petroleum Reserve was full, and we didn’t have to buy it from foreign countries. Where the news media were actually unbiased journalists, not vomiting out a bunch of propaganda and calling it truth. The president was a genuine leader, not a puppet manipulated by the rich and powerful elitists behind closed doors. Our military was the greatest, a fighting force to be reckoned with that projected peace through strength not to be messed with. Instead, no thanks to the liberals, it has become just another LGBTQ failed social experiment. Churches stood for righteousness and those behind the pulpits preached the whole gospel, not watered down, half-truth, milk-toast, feel-good sermons absent of the Holy Spirit’s anointing and conviction. The police were respected and honored, and you had no reason to fear them if you were doing good and not breaking the law. Hardened criminals were put in prison and stayed there. Parents raised us to know right from wrong, good from bad, and there was such a thing as absolute truth. The American dream was alive and well and the opportunity to achieve your definition of it was there if you applied yourself. Everybody pulled their own weight, and we weren’t dependent on government handouts to meet our needs. If you took out a loan, you paid it off. People were hired, promoted, and elected because they were the most qualified, not a result of all this diversity, equity, and inclusion nonsense. Elections were trusted and secure, and people had enough common sense and discernment to see past all the lies, rhetoric, and gas lighting. Votes could not be bought or earned by opening the flood gates of our borders to those illegals who do not have the right to any benefits paid for on the backs of hard-working citizens, much less the right to vote. The Constitution didn’t need to be reinvented or reinterpreted by politically correct judges ruling from the bench. We aren’t stupid or illiterate, we know what it says. Democracy was defined by our founding fathers who wrote the Constitution, not by godless politicians, judges, and their Marxist buddies, facilitating their own misguided version of it, rewriting history, and destroying America. For what reason? It’s nothing less than their unquenchable thirst for power, control, and their own selfish gain regardless of the cost. These all are the ones who have cast America on the side of the road, and it is by design, because they hate her and what she stands for. Welcome to the new normal, or so they tell us.

The two most powerful words in the Bible are: “But God”. Meaning, He always gets the last and final word on everything, no matter how impossible and hopeless it may look to us on this side of Heaven. If America is to ever be restored to her former glory, it will be by His hand. However, He’s not going to just snap his finger and make it happen. He’s looking for some courageous people with a backbone to partner with Him. People like David, who was a teenager, yet single-handedly defeated Goliath the giant when everyone else cowered in fear. Daniel prayed even though the government made it a law not to. His friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego refused to bow down to the political mandates of their time. Elijah confronted evil and wickedness and saw God do the miraculous. Women like Esther who risked her life, and Deborah who led the men into battle. Gideon was just an average guy when God called him to defeat the Midianite army with only 300 men. And then there was Abraham, Noah, Moses, Nehemiah, Josiah, and so many others of faith who just believed God and didn’t waver or draw back. These all were not without their faults and failures, but God isn’t looking for perfect people, only for those who will say, “Yes” and avail themselves to be used by Him. You aren’t perfect, but are you available? You have a voice and a vote.

Statistics show that those who claim to be Christians are the largest group that doesn’t vote. They have the power to sway every election, but choose not to get involved. They are like those who see the tragic condition and hear the pleas of America as she cries out for help on the side of the road, yet passively drive by saying, “Send someone else”. My word to them is you are either a part of the problem because of your apathy, or a part of the solution because of your integrity. Gone are the days when you can afford to sit at the family table with friends or relatives in your own little bubble and say, “We don’t talk about religion or politics”. Maybe if you had, America wouldn’t be in the mess she’s in. Now is the time to let your voice be heard, because if the Democrats win this one, guess who they’re coming after first with a vengeance. If you truly are a Christian, know God and believe His word, how can you in good conscience support the Democrat party and their agenda? They aren’t the same party you, your parents, and grandparents have always voted for. Make America Great Again is Donald Trump’s call to arms to Fight! Fight! Fight! and it reflects the hearts and sentiments of millions across this nation who say, “We’ve had enough”. We must Win! Win! Win! The battle lines have been drawn and it’s about to get intense. Don’t listen to the lying Fake News or believe the skewed polls. From now until the election the current administration will perform some sleight of hand tricks and act like they are conservatives. This is right out of their playbook in order to appear more moderate and draw those in the middle off-sides. Don’t fall for it, they are radical leftist communists. If it looks, walks and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck. Stay the course, stand your ground. It’s no coincidence or by luck that President Trump’s life was spared on July 13th, narrowly missing an assassin’s bullet. It was a huge “But God” moment and should serve to remind us that He always gets the last and final word. Romans 8:31 What shall we say to these things? If God is for us who can be against us. Pray and vote on November 5th. Be that “Someone Else” who helps save America. She needs you now more than ever before.  

Stir the Coffee

By: Denny-

It has been nearly midnight when we’ve crawled into bed the last four nights. We have watched the entire RNC convention every night. It was like a breath of fresh air to listen to all the various speakers and to see the excitement, enthusiasm, and unity of the delegates and crowd. Finally, the voice and views of “We the People” were expressed by a newly inspired and united Republican Party, who overwhelmingly nominated Donald J Trump and JD Vance to be the ticket to defeat the Democrats in November. We witnessed speaker after speaker giving tribute and testimony to Donald Trump, and reveal unknown positive attributes about his true character. Things you won’t hear from the news media, nor do they want you to know. So here it is Friday 6:30 AM and I’m about to sit down and enjoy my morning coffee, the best cup of the day. I filled the cup to within an inch of the top with coffee, then I got the hazelnut creamer from the fridge and poured in a good dose. Of course, the coffee being hot, and the creamer cold, the sweet creamer went to the bottom of the cup and settled there, according to the law of physics. The coffee still looked dark black until I stirred it with a spoon and suddenly the dormant creamer on the bottom seemed to come to life. What was dark was transformed into a golden light brown which emitted the aroma of hazelnut. Aaahhh. I went to the dining room and opened the windows to let in the cool morning air. As I sat and sipped my coffee, I began to ponder the events of the RNC convention which seemed to replay in my mind. There were many needed changes and goals spelled out as part of the platform, which mostly involved undoing and turning back the disastrous policies of previous liberal administrations. I think the most urgent was that we need to build the wall and close our southern border, to protect us and to stop the flow of illegal aliens, drugs, gangs, and terrorists from entering the United States. President Trump in his speech promised he would do that and many other things quickly, very quickly, saying, “You’ll be amazed how quickly things get done.” We all  know there is sure to be opposition. Nevertheless, it is time to stir the coffee and transform America from the darkness all around us, so that the aroma of prosperity, security, and freedom will rise up from the bottom and “Make America Great Again”.

That analogy motivated me to open my Bible and read the book of Nehemiah. It’s the recounting of how the Jews had turned away from following God and became a nation much like America is today. I encourage you to read the first six chapters for yourself to fully understand the details involved in this analogy. Many times God sent His prophets to warn them to turn them from their wickedness, but they refused, and their hearts became hardened and indifferent towards Him. God saw that, so He caused the Babylonian army to invade them. They completely decimated Jerusalem by setting it on fire and tearing down the wall that protected them. (need I mention Sept. 11, 2001) They took the nation captive and carried them away to Babylon, leaving only a small remnant of Jews behind. Nehemiah was one of those who was taken captive. He became cupbearer to the king and God had given him favor with him. Years later Nehemiah learned the condition of his homeland and the suffering of his fellow Jews living there. The king granted him permission to go back to Jerusalem and to rebuild. He gave him finances, written letters giving him passage, as well as an armed guard to protect him. When he arrived in Jerusalem, Nehemiah told nobody about his intentions until he had surveyed the situation at night undercover. He then gathered together the leaders and spoke to them about his intentions to rebuild the wall and restore Jerusalem. MJGA–Make Jerusalem Great Again. The task seemed overwhelming and impossible, but the people said, “Let us rise up and build.” (Nehemiah2:18) The opposition came immediately from the ruling non-Jewish officials, namely Sanballat and Tobiah. Nevertheless, the work began as told throughout chapter 3. This is key to notice: Each one built and made repairs to the wall in front of their own house. The responsibility was put on each individual and family, not on Nehemiah alone, even though he was out front leading and overseeing. They all worked together in unity, being of the same mind and vision. Chapters 4-6 go into detail how Sanballat opposed Nehemiah and the work through ridicule, threat of attack, discouragement, extortion, compromise, slander, and outright treachery in which they plotted to kill him. (that sounds familiar) By the way, if you take the middle letters [ball] out of the name Sanballat and insert the remaining [at] after the S, you spell Satan. Going further, if you put a hyphen between the [n] and the [b] and replace the last [a] with an [o] you have San-ballot. The dictionary says ‘sans’ means; deprived, without, or destitute of. Do you suppose there could be any connection, correlation, or stretch of the imagination between that and the possibility of rigged elections and ballot tampering? You decide. There are two verses that really stand out and should empower the vision, goals, and commitment of every American patriot to reelect Donald Trump to implement the promises he’s made to Make America Great Again. Nehemiah 4:14-15 And I (Nehemiah speaking) looked, and rose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and FIGHT for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses. And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their counsel to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work. Nehemiah 6:15 So the wall was finished on the 25th day of the month of Elul, in 52 days. (It is amazing how quickly it got done, isn’t it?) And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.  

I see President Trump as a modern-day Nehemiah. If not him, then who? If not now, then when? It’s no coincidence that after the failed attempted assassination of President Trump, that he stood up with blood running down his face, raised his fist and shouted, “Fight!”, “Fight!”, “Fight!”. Yes, it’s time to bring back to the top the values, freedoms, and God-given rights, that our nation was founded upon, because they have become cold and settled to the bottom of the cup. The future of our nation is at stake. Are you ready and willing to grab a spoon and help stir the coffee? It starts with voting for the Republican candidates in every election this November.

Close, But No Cigar

By: Denny –

Unless you’re a baby-boomer or a member of the previous generation, you may not have heard this expression or understand its meaning. Its origins date back to England in the 1800s when circuses were popular. At first, they involved acrobats performing daring feats on horses, the high wire, or trapezes. Clowns, juggling, and wild animal acts became popular and drew bigger crowds. For further entertainment gaming booths were added and the circus began to evolve into a carnival. The games were simple games of chance and skill much like the ring toss, shooting galleries, ball, and dart throwing and others that we see these days at county and state fairs. The person operating the booth was called a “Barker”, and they would call out loudly to passersby to entice them to play their game. They eventually became known as “Carneys”. In those days the games were reserved for adult males and the prize for winning was a cigar, because they were relatively inexpensive and easy to store. However, though appearing simple and easy to win, the games favored the Carney over the player. The player might come close to winning yet not achieve the required task to win the prize. Whereby the Carney would declare, “Close, but no cigar”, and encourage them to lay down some more money and try again, which often led to more failure and money in the pocket for the Carney. As people immigrated to America so did the circus and carnivals. Coney Island and other places grew in popularity as rides were added. Carnival booths transitioned into offering prizes and rewards other than cigars which enticed men, women, and children to try their luck at winning. The phrase “Close, but no cigar” became more popular beginning in the 1920s even up to the 1970s as people began to use and apply it to other life situations concerning not achieving a planned goal, a near miss, or hoped for expectation. For instance: You were one number off from winning the Powerball lottery. You almost got the job, but they hired someone else. You overslept and missed your bus, train, or plane by one minute and it left without you. You were outbid by $500 on your dream home by another buyer. Your team missed winning the big game by one point. You lost the election by 10 votes. The list of circumstances and “Close, but no cigar” moments continues, but I’m sure you understand my point.

Life also has those “Close, but no cigar” instances which involve narrowly escaping tragedy and a brush with death. As a retired truck driver with a 50-year career, I’ve had many such instances. I recall the night I was driving across Nebraska on I-80. I was tired and had dozed off and had drifted from the right lane onto the left lane shoulder. I was awakened by a huge bang and the realization that I had hit a bridge. I immediately pulled back to the right shoulder and stopped to investigate the damage, expecting to find parts missing and fuel leaking. To my surprise the only things missing were some chrome lug nut covers from the steer tire, a small step on the fuel tank strap which I had left in the down position, and some scuff marks on the drive tires. If my reaction had been to turn the steering wheel even a fraction to the left when I hit the bridge, the outcome would have been tragically different. God had intervened and spared my life as He had done so many times before and since, because He had greater plans for my life and a purpose for me yet to discover and fulfill. Psalm 31:14-15a But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, you are my God.” My times are in Your hand.

On Saturday, July 13th, 2024, former President Donald Trump was giving a campaign rally speech in Pennsylvania. A lone gunman perched on a rooftop a mere 50 yards away opened fire. At the very instant the gunman pulled the trigger, Donald Trump had inadvertently and unknowingly slightly turned his head, and the bullet only grazed his right ear. Whether or not you believe in God or miracles, there is no doubt in my mind we all witnessed one that day. God supernaturally intervened and spared Donald Trump and the nation from an otherwise tragic outcome. “Close, but no cigar!” Never in the history of our country has there been such vicious and blatant attempts by a current administration, fake news media, and members of a political party to discredit, hinder, remove, or destroy a candidate of an opposition party. They will stop at nothing to assure they remain in power to implement their ungodly, anti-American, twisted and perverted woke ideology and agendas. The devil and the forces of evil have become their puppet masters manipulating their minds and controlling their actions. Whether it be through importing millions of illegals to gain votes, engineering election results in their favor because they cannot win in honest debate. They weaponize the FBI and CIA and use the courts, liberal prosecutors, and judges to turn simple misdemeanors into felonies against anyone who opposes or tries to expose their unlawful deeds. Not to mention all the just plain irrational and stupid stuff they do which lacks any common sense. The mainstream news media is a poor excuse for any kind of legitimate unbiased journalism. They have no credibility because lying is their native language. All to which I and millions of other God-fearing homegrown American patriots say, “Enough is enough.” There is a line in a song that we used to sing in church in the 1990’s: “I went to the enemy’s camp, and I took back what he stole from me.” We will take our country back. Know this you self-proclaimed wizards of smart on the Left; I believe God’s hand and anointing is upon Donald Trump to win the presidency in 2024 and to begin to turn this nation back from the disastrous self-destructive course you’ve put us on. Therefore, no demon or Democrat can stop Him (God), and you try at your own peril. Psalm 37:12-15 The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming. The wicked have drawn the sword and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to slay those who are of upright conduct. Their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. Psalm 105:15 Do not touch My anointed ones and do My prophets no harm. The uninformed will say, “I can’t vote for Trump given his past.” A skeptic may ask, “How can God who is Holy, anoint and use a person like Donald Trump with all his faults and past failures?” The answer is quite simple for both, “You don’t know God, the Bible, and how He often uses imperfect people to accomplish His will”.

The Bible is full of “Close, but no cigar” instances when God miraculously intervened so that His plan would be accomplished. He delivered his chosen people from their bondage as slaves in Egypt through many miracles. Moses, an imperfect man, led them out by way of the wilderness until they came to the Red Sea. As Pharaoh and his army pursued, God sent a pillar of fire to come between them and the Israelites. God told Moses to lift his staff and the Red Sea parted before them, so they were able to cross on dry ground. God removed the pillar of fire and Pharaoh continued his chase. When the Egyptians were in the middle of the Red Sea, God brought the waters back upon them and they all drowned. Sorry Pharaoh, “Close, but no cigar!” In the book of Esther there was this guy named Haman. He was a close advisor to King Ahasuerus, and he hated the Jews. He schemed up a plan to have them all killed on a certain day, especially Mordecai, who wouldn’t bow down to him. Haman had actually built some gallows on which he planned to hang him. Through a series of events God intervened through Queen Esther and the plot was thwarted. It was said to Queen Esther that she was “born for such a time as this”. The king ordered that Haman, and his sons were to be hung on his own gallows. Too bad Haman, “Close, but no cigar”, and you reap what you sow. Many times the religious leaders tried to kill Jesus. On one occasion they led him to a cliff to throw him off, but the Bible says he passed through the midst of them. Luke 4:28-30 Then all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way. John 10: 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. (vs 39) Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand. Sorry guys, “Close, but no cigar”. As Jesus stood before Pontius Pilot on trial, Pilot boasted of his power and authority to either crucify or release Him. (John19:10) Vs. 11 Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above.” God’s plan for Jesus was yet to be accomplished. Even as Jesus hung on the cross and died, the devil, his demons, and the religious leaders thought they had won. “Close, but no cigar!” Three days later Jesus came back to life defeating sin, death, and the devil, as was God’s plan since the beginning when sin entered the world through the fall of Adam and Eve.

Jesus through His shed blood and by dying on the cross for our sins in our place, became the only way for us to be saved and have eternal life. All you need to do is believe that and receive Him into your heart by repenting and asking Him for forgiveness and to save you. You can’t earn it, religious ceremonies and good works are useless, so stop trying and start believing. Someday you will die and stand before God and must give an account of your life and what you did about Jesus. Which would you rather hear? “Well done good and faithful servant, enter into heaven” or “Close, but no cigar”. The choice is yours to make or miss, but don’t wait until it’s too late, because the devil has a plan to take you out. 1 Peter 4:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.