The World And Media Have Gone Mad

The news today and yesterday and the day before was just full of shocking stories, most were Twisted a half-truth and sensationalism, but still as a blogger I don't even know what to begin to write about CBS and CNN and the rest of the mainstream media have exploited grief and our children.

My heart hurts. This is so very painful to watch. It's hard enough to watch children looking evil in the eye and die, as in Florida. But to hear CBS reporting and encouraging children to say things like, " this will be the last school shooting" as they push for gun control, and say we don't want your thoughts and prayers we want gun control. And we will get it done, hurts my heart. Do they really not know the mental health illnesses displayed by every shooting, every act of domestic terrorism is to blame? Do they really not know that school systems have failed, do they really not know that law enforcement failed? Do they really not know that social media and bullying are not blameless? Do they really not know that all these failures WILL NOT MIRACULOUSLY DISSAPEAR AFTER GUNS ARE GONE? Shame on the left and the Lame Stream media for exploiting grief and naivety in this manner.

Next CBS had a story about a sex teacher model, from Russia whatever they called her, who was in prison in Thailand. She wanted out of there, so she claims to have proof positive that Trump colluded with the Russians. I don't even know if I have words for that story, except I can see now why Trump screams fake news every chance he gets. It's like Saturday Night Live has taken over the mainstream media. Then there's the me-too movement I don't even know what to say about that, except lives are being destroyed by the hundreds because of an accusation. What happened to our country's constitutional right of innocent until proven guilty by a trial in a courtroom, not a trial on social media or the internet or on the news media.

Then there's a story about the mayor in California who held a news conference and warned all of the illegals there, since it's a sanctuary City, that Ice was going to raid the city and they should hide and not answer their door. I have not commented on this because I am so torn. I speak out regularly for Christians from Pakistan who have entered Thailand seeking Asylum and the UN has denied this, even in America. So they are pursued heavily by the Thailand police and thrown into prison which I might add is a death sentence for them so I haven't spoken out much against this, but let me say this; there's a difference between entering our country illegally with no ID under the cover of darkness through a porous border, and entering from a foreign country with a Visa and applying for UN Asylum and seeking citizenship in the United States. Most of these are from persecuted groups like Christians across the Middle East, Yazidis across the middle east or other minorities being persecuted and killed. There's a big difference here that I just wish everyone would stop and think about. In my humble opinion what the mayor of California did was nothing short of government-sanctioned Anarchy. Telling people that they don't have to answer to our Constitution or our Police will only lead to chaos and Anarchy. That's what I feel and don't even start because I have prayed long and hard about this. God will judge her heart but I can judge her actions and her actions are leading to illegal activities and an outright Defiance of our laws and Constitution. IT seems as if not only our country but the world has been turned upside down and that's the truth. Every day I shake my head. I don't even recognize our country, yes number one in our country should be the killing of our children and domestic terrorism but look at what's happening. There are countries in the Middle East and the East that are just waiting for the opportunity to destroy America and the West. North Korea, we know for decades has been sending Iran nuclear technology. Now they've been accused of sending Syria chemical technology. The battle in Syria is killing children women and innocent civilians, it's a proxy war and it has to end. Iran and turkey have denied the UN mandated ceasefire in order to deliver Aid to a town in Syria and nothing is done.

I don't know I just know that you're going to have to learn how to cut through the white noise and go directly to our understanding and that is God. "Lean not on your own understanding." This is all prophesied it's all in the Book of Revelation the chaos and Anarchy the crumbling of government, Society, morals and even the denial of God and Christ. It's all in there and it's happening now. This is what it looks like in real life! And unless we respond by turning back to God, it's going to get worse. Read Revelation!

Prepare Or Blame:Some Think It's Easier To Blame

I have written for at keast 8 years its time to prepare.  Days are growing darker with one disaster after another.  And what are people doing?  They blame everyone, they blame the government, they blame others, they blame guns, they blame God.  But what have you learned?  Have you learned nothing? 
I mean really, your not helping if your playing the blame game.  Your only hurting, and causing pain.  If your seeking attention by threatening I have information and Im exposong your not helping. 
Have you not realized that we have to take our own responsibility?  An emergency system can not possibly protect each and every person, the fires of Gatlinburg, Nov 28th 2016 and subsequent disasters of 2017 should have shown us all to prepare. 
Be aware of your surroundings, have a plan in place for emergencies, whether it be fire,floods, or an active shooter.  Know what you would do! 
I was taught this in grade school!
Businesses should also plan for disasters and know how to survive a disaster.  It takes a community as a whole! 
If your blaming those businesses or people that prepared and foresaw danger, and took action that you didnt see or take, than you can blame no one but yourself. 
Learn from the past and emerge stronger, blaming, besmirching, threatening and hatred are signs of WEAKNESS not strength.  Get it right your life and the lives of your family depend on it. 
And if disaster strikes and takes those that you love know in your heart that did all you could do.  We can not know the will of God, but we can lean on His understanding and not our own shortcomings.

Symbols Of Freedom Turned Into Symbols Of Hate

Symbols of our History and Freedom are being turned into symbols of hate by those on the left wishing to erase our values, and freedoms thrusting us back hundreds of years into tyranical rule under the guise of socialism. 

For decades our schools have changed history and indoctrinated thousands of young minds into liberal ideology.  Thats fact.

Prayer is condemned in school and public  sports and even goes as far as to say its a foul to kneel after a touchdown, or point to heaven and thank God. 

But now that kneeling is a protest against our American  flag and National anthem its ok??

But I want to go deeper, and farther into history.  I want to go back to 1775.  The Revolutionary war.  To the Gadsden Flag, the first flag used.

The Gadsden flag, first used at the beginning of the revolution, used to portray American colonies strength, resolve and unity in breaking free from tyranny.
Its yellow background portrayed a rattlesnack with the words : "Don't tread on me".  The rattlesnake held a particular view of strength,  cunning and relove also.  Here is the History of this first flag:

[Quoted text WP] "As the American Revolution grew, the snake began to see more use as a symbol of the colonies. In 1774, Paul Revere added Franklin's iconic cartoon to the nameplate of his paper, the Massachusetts Spy, depicted there as fighting a British dragon.  In December 1775, Benjamin Franklin published an essay in the Pennsylvania Journal under the pseudonym American Guesser in which he suggested that the rattlesnake was a good symbol for the American spirit:

I recollected that her eye excelled in brightness, that of any other animal, and that she has no eye-lids—She may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance.—She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage.—As if anxious to prevent all pretensions of quarreling with her, the weapons with which nature has furnished her, she conceals in the roof of her mouth, so that, to those who are unacquainted with her, she appears to be a most defenseless animal; and even when those weapons are shown and extended for her defense, they appear weak and contemptible; but their wounds however small, are decisive and fatal:—Conscious of this, she never wounds till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of stepping on her.—Was I wrong, Sir, in thinking this a strong picture of the temper and conduct of America?

The rattlesnake symbol was first officially adopted by the Continental Congress in 1778 when it approved the design for the official Seal of the War Office (at that time and for many years thereafter, the War Office was a term associated with the Headquarters of the Army). At the top center of the Seal is a rattlesnake holding a banner which says: "This We'll Defend". According to the US Army's Institute of Heraldry, "'This We'll Defend,' on a scroll held by the rattlesnake is a symbol depicted on some American colonial flags and signifies the Army's constant readiness to defend and preserve the United States.' This design of the War Office Seal was carried forward—with some minor modifications—into the subsequent designs for the War Department's Seal, and the Department of the Army's Seal, Emblem and Flag. As such, the rattlesnake symbol has been in continuous official use by the US Army for over 236 years.

The Second Continental Congress authorized the mustering of five companies of Marines to accompany the Navy on their first mission. The first Marines enlisted in the city of Philadelphia, and they carried drums painted yellow, depicting a coiled rattlesnake with thirteen rattles, and the motto "Don't Tread on Me." This is the first recorded mention of the future Gadsden flag's symbolism.[citation needed]
Considered one of the first flags of the United States, the flag was later replaced by the current Stars and Stripes (or Old Glory) flag. Since the Revolution, the flag has seen resurgences as a symbol of American patriotism, disagreement with government, or support for civil liberties.

The First Navy Jack, which was not directly related to the Gadsden flag, has been in use by the United States Navy since its beginnings. "[end of quoted text]

Ok so you see the rich history this symbol of strength and freedom has had on our Country.  So why then is the flag labeled by liberals as racist and oppressive?? It portrays civil liberties.  It has even reached local communities.  Someone close to me wore a hat one day that portrayed this flag.  Someone said, you know thats offensive, I love everyone regardless of the gender, color or religion, that offends me.  Really??? A symbol used to fight for equal rights and freedom is now offensive.  Im shocked more every day at the way liberals are erasing our history.  Erasing the sacrifices Americans made with their very lives, is a abomination in itself.  And this logic offends me, but when I say that, Im the one labeled as racist.
Time to wake up America!

Credit to Wikipedia

Why Have We Not Learned From Our Past?

As a Christian we know that our sins and past mistakes are forgiven and metaphorically thrown into the deepest part of the ocean never to be remembered again.  But we also know that without learning and striving to not repeat the past we cant have a meaningful life with God or eternity with him. 

So why is the greatest Nation on earth, a Christian Nation in upheaval and rebellion repeating mistakes of the past? 

The generation that survived WWll, is described as "The greatest Generation."  But the world has turned away from never again, turning to the same mistakes.  Those in power have conspired to cause havoc, chaos and destruction, while turning from genocide of Christians even allowing persecution in whole coyntries like Pakistan and Iran, and North Korea.  The Nazi mind set is alive and well in a country that sent hundreds of thousands of men to die eradicating this evil spirit.  And sadly once again churches turn up the music so they cant hear the screams.  This time its across the globe, not just in one country.  Israel is under constant attack and threats of eradication.  Jews are punished for wanting to pray on their holiest site.  And its getting worse.  Watchmen everywhere are sounding the alarm and yet we just turn the music up.

America is indeed on the precipice of civil war.  Our lawmakers are dead in the water unable to decide even what to have for lunch.  Spewing nonsensical rhetoric even vile and reprehensible as one Missouri lawmaker called for assassination of our President.  And defiantly refuses to step down.  And congress turns up the music so as not to hear.
One comdiec news celebrity hit the nail on the head, as he watched protestors destroying monuments, he said "the taliban destroys monuments and history, not American citizens."

This spirit of evil unleashed on our country and world has been around a long time.  But as good people remain complicitly silent bad things will happen.  And before you know it everyone regardless of race, gender or religious belief will be destroyed for a New Order.  It happened 70 years ago and its happening again.  This poem by Martin Niemöller rings just as true today as it did 70 years ago.

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— 
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— 
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

This is the first time in history that man has the capability to destroy the entire earth.  Again Satan is elated.  Look up and wake up.
#WakeupAmerica

Revelation 22:20
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Looking Past Hatred That Divides (Part 2)

It's been 1 month since I wrote "Looking Past Hatred That Divides."  In that post I pleaded the case for calm, forgiveness and compassion instead of rage, hatred and anger.  And sadly it's gotten much worse.

After I posted that,  one person lamblasted me for it.  How dare I say this was a faith based community and call them out for showing a Lynch Mob mentality.  I left the group.

Well it started out with one person who wanted to make a difference. She wanted a group where survivors could come and talk about their experience,  and comfort one another.   Until a handful of radicals, that's all I can say about them, took over and turned it into a raging angry mob. That's the only way I can describe it.  I'm sorry but it is, I once took up for that group when someone else suggested they were an angry mob,  but that's exactly what it's turned out to be.  Now the group has splintered,  and they formed their own little group that they say is only for helping people.  But yet they have totally and completely tried to ruin the founders reputation of the original group, they have called her all sorts of names and attempted to ruin her completely this is not helping people.

They've been to  City Council meetings  nastily accusing city council members and the mayor of deceiving purposely the people. So much so that they accused the mayor of moving his furniture out of his house the day of the fire early in the morning,  and leaving town and leaving everyone to die. Yes they did, the mayor was out of town that day he had gone to Knoxville with most of his family.   Anyway he was very distraught over the fires growing into the town,  and this group, like I said has not missed one opportunity, with news media in tow, to accuse him of these things.  In fact one stood up in front of the news media and said "they left us all to die."   There were so many people trapped in this fire trying to get out trying to get down the mountain to safety, so much so that the roads became so dangerous that First Responders couldn't get to them. There was winds 90 miles an hour, Flames everywhere, downed electrical lines, and the emergency crews couldn't make it up some of the mountain roads, so the dispatchers from 911 were trying to calm people and tell them to get out the best way you could, don't give up keep moving forward or find a safe spot, and that was twisted and said that they told them no one was coming, keep driving get out on your own, you're on your own.  Leaving them to die.   That's not exactly true.  I can only imagine the desperation dispatchers felt that night knowing someone could die, and only helplessness resounding in their mind.    Our First Responders and firemen have to live with the things that they witnessed that night.   The fire alone was described as the gates of hell, and I know this to be true , I was here I experienced 90 mile an hour winds.   I watch the glow of the fire above the trees.   I didn't have to go through the fire because I stayed in my home and my home was spared, but to accuse officials of purposely leaving people to die is unconscionable.  The Mayor, City Manager, a council member and first responders also lost their homes.  The Mayor lost his business.

Then they decided that their freedom of speech was being denied, because this media circus they brought,  with all of the bashing so to speak of officials, (my words)  was disrupting their meetings so they changed their rules to match the county rules. Where you must submit your questions to the city 5 days in advance, and of course if there were multiple questions the same, or the questions had already been answered,the city could deny your speaking.  But instead of waiting to see if actual rights were violated,  they filed a petition, titled We the People and obtain 2500 signatures or something to that effect.  Some of the people that signed that petition do not even live in this state, that's sad. They delivered the petition along with their questions, 40 of them to the City Hall 5 days in advance.   Since this group has received so much publicity and they have ranted and raved with anger on social media, it was asked that police be present while they were there.   They had also threatened to protest and other things in front of City Hall.   Police presence in such instances is not an unusual request, but they took it as an infringement on their rights.   Then they showed up to the city meeting.   The city had already answered their questions in  written form, and they passed it out to them and everyone in the audience.   They included the initial public government form that they use to fill out, which gave their name and address, which was public knowledge.   But they say they are suing the city because they gave out their address.  Of the 40 questions, some were not questions but personal attacks asking them if they felt responsible for the deaths, and why the Mayor left his dog at a shelter for a month.  Only about 3 were directly related to the fire.  And in reality they had already been answered.  At the same meeting they wore white t-shirts with black lettering and Silhouettes the silhouette on the back was of the mayor, and it also had a gavel up next to his head saying remove the mayor.   The front of the shirt had a picture of a woman who they say was demeaned by the mayor with a piece of tape over her mouth and it said I am..... with the woman's name.  This was  very distasteful, disrespectful and frankly awful.   The woman portrayed on the shirt angrily asked the Mayor why would he say that the fire made lives better, more than once.  And how could he not lead his sheep, the Mayor asked her to sit down, which she did not, so he told her to sit down or be removed, as she was asking the City manager about FEMA trailers that had been answered via email.   The County also does this for disrupting behavior.  Before the meeting,  which went very well,  the mayor gave a heartfelt statement of why he wasn't infringing on their rights and why they had to change the rules to maintain some sort of Civility in, their meetings and a program that didn't get out of hand.   He also talked about his sorrow and his pain and his grief and how he chose not to let it Define him but to make him stronger, and he wanted us to come together.   It was a very heartfelt speech and it was applauded.   Before his speech we all stood as we always do and we turned to the American  flag and recited our Pledge of Allegiance. Then we had a prayer, as they always do before every meeting.  They got to speak and ask their questions.   So after the meeting this group only a handful, starting screaming answer our questions, why won't you answer our questions.  Then they  held a press conference in which they told the media that they had invited the ACLU because their rights were infringed upon, their freedom of speech had been denied and they asked the ACLU to address the prayer before the meeting because  it broke the law.   These were Christians or they say they're Christians.   They say they pray, they say they're not against prayer but at the same time they called the ACLU to address the issue of prayer before City meetings.   In Anger they struck out at a peaceful, sleepy little community that had just suffered great Devastation in a natural disaster.  A faith-based community that's very close to God.   So in their anger and rage and wanting a pound of Flesh so to speak,  somebody to pay for what they had been through, they've hurt a whole community and divided it right down the middle.   I can't imagine what the mayor's family has gone through with all of this negativity, it's really gotten vile at times.  It really has,  one comment on the social media post was that he and the city manager needed to be tarred and feathered and taken out of town, and that was a mild one.   I can't understand why people who showed so much love to each other the days after the fire show so much hatred and anger for each other now.   And the ones who dare to speak out and call them out on the ACLU  and their anger, hatred and rage are raked over the coals on social media.   It's like a civil war basically played out on a social media platform.   It's a very dangerous game it causes a lot of pain and a lot of suffering more than you can imagine.   I begged for this to stop because this did nothing to honor the memories of those who lost their lives in the fire.   This does nothing to honor those who tried to save us that night, this does nothing to honor God.  In fact it mocks God.  I have no more words except please stop this, stop this hatred and rage and anger and show some forgiveness and love if you really are Christian.  Promote healing and positive change not vengeance.

In my opinion a town was overwhelmed.  A system was overwhelmed.  We had multiple wildfires raging all around us that summer due to the drought and some possibly by arson.  So we all had grown accustomed to heavy smoke.  I'm sure if we had it to do again, things would be different.  Changes are being made, but it takes time.  I wouldn't want to go through future disasters with anyone else other than those who were on the ground that night.  As one official told me, experience and knowledge was gained.  We will mourn forever the date of November 28, and the precious souls lost that night.  But let's not make their memory made of rage and anger.
(Click here for part 1)
#MountainTough
#SmokyMountainstrong

The Fight Over Freedom Of Speech

Recently locally and nationally there has been much crying about Freedom of Speech violations.
From what I understand,  freedom of speech means just  that, that we are free to speak our emotions our political views, and our religious views in public,  without interference from the government.

In  other words, they cannot arrest us for saying that we believe in Christ,  or our voicing of political opinions.   If we think that our choice of leaders are wrong we can voice that,  and ask them to be replaced.  Not like some countries,  even Iran has signed on to the United Nations International chapter of freedoms but yet they arrest you if you voice your opinions about their government or speak of another religion besides the Shiite twelver religion that they abide by.
That said here's what it actually says about are freedom of speech:

The version of Article 19 in the ICCPR states the exercise of these rights carries "special duties and responsibilities" and may "therefore be subject to certain restrictions" when necessary "or respect of the rights or reputation of others" or " or the protection of national security or of public order (order public), or of public health or morals".  Therefore, freedom of speech and expression may not be recognized as being absolute, and common limitations to freedom of speech relate to libel, slander, obscenity, pornography, sedition, incitement, fighting words, classified information, copyright violation, trade secrets, non-disclosure agreements, the right to privacy, the right to be forgotten, public security, and perjury. Justifications for such include the harm principle, proposed by John Stuart Mill in On Liberty, which suggests that: "the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others." The idea of the "offense principle" is also used in the justification of speech limitations, describing the restriction on forms of expression deemed offensive to society, considering factors such as extent, duration, motives of the speaker, and ease with which it could be avoided.  End quote.

With our freedoms come responsibility.   It is our responsibility to make sure that we are not relaying false claims, because it's our right to say things,  we're not using sensationalism, we're not guilty of slander or liable and we're not ruining another person's reputation just because it's our right to do so.

Freedom of speech does not give you the right to infringe on someone else's right whether it be a right to privacy or a right to expect honesty, our freedom of speech is precious here.   Men have died to give that right to us,  which means that we have a certain Freedom that other countries do not , like Iran Pakistan ,China, and North Korea.   We're not allowed though,  to slander and freely throw out opinions that are based on slander or gossip. Or anger or hatred.   It means that we have a certain responsibility to tell the truth and to abide by these truths given us from God.  We can't just say whatever we want to say on public platforms,  for instance I heard a woman tell another woman she wasn't fit to be a mother and she should be sterilized, just because she said something that this woman didn't agree with that's wrong that is not a freedom of speech I'm sorry but it's not.  You don't have the right to ruin someone else's reputation.

I don't like smear campaigns on the national level during elections and I don't like smear campaigns on a local level simply because you're angry. 

We have such a precious freedom in that there are lots of ways to use this freedom to speak out and to engage even on a political platform and healthy debates and ask questions, but bullying sensationalism and twisting the truth is never, should never be acceptable yet it is.  It's widely practiced due to the increase of platforms like social media it's very sad.

So use your freedom wisely and remember that there are hundreds of thousands, even millions of people in the world that would give anything to live in our great country, our great land,  where we can voice our opinion without fear of being killed or arrested by our government.

One last thing it's okay to call out corruption or something that you see as wrong, it's okay to call that out but what is not okay is to hate that person that you're calling out or act in anger even the Bible says that.

2 Corinthians 12:20

For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances;

Ties That Bind: Blessing or Prison?

The Phrase the "ties that bind" means "the shared belief or other factor that links people together."

We've all experienced this at one time in our lives.  Whether it be in a relationship personal or work related.  Sometimes circumstances even disaster brings a tie that binds even to those unknown to each other prior to the event.  Even our world wars have tied whole populations together.  Bringing peoples together who never knew each other existed beforehand.  Ask a combat veteran, they will tell you of a tie that binds making brothers and sisters of each other.

Christians share a tie that binds in the love Christ placed in our hearts.

I've had many ties in my life, some from unexpected sources.  Like the disastrous fires that claimed lives and property in Tennessee.  This claimed and held hostage peoples peace and feeling of safety.  Material things are just that, material.  The memories from these things that are precious will live on forever in hearts.  But the bittnerness, rage and hatred for the blaming of this loss lives forever too.  I have met some wonderful people, strong people, who have looked to love and God to see them through.  Then I have seen the bitterness and hatred dividing.  I've heard name calling, I've heard the age old arguments from grade school, "mine is bigger than yours" "mine hurts worse"  to be specific one of the most bitter responses is you didn't lose everything so your ignorant. 

That couldn't be farther from the truth.  You see that disaster and other disasters like Katrina, affected everyone in the immediate area and even people across the world, as they watched it unfold.  I sit everyday and I watch the pain and the suffering. Especially from those who lost loved ones, and I go through that with them so they can't really say your loss nothing, so you're ignorant, that's bitterness and hatred and that has to go.   I know this because bitterness, rage and blaming others almost ruined me, years ago.

That has to go,  blaming someone is the first thing that humans want to do.   That  happened to Adam and Eve in the garden, the blame game started when Eve believed Satan.  But it has to stop. Somewhere at some point we have to say enough we have to stop attacking each other especially.   We have to stop attacking personally, officials.   At some point we have to say how can we fix this?  How can we make this a better place?   How can we make everyone prepared? The Ties That Bind, when they turn to bitterness and hatred it becomes a prison.   And that's what I see our community becoming instead of a loving community that came together to support each other we have become a prison of hatred and bitterness.

Not everyone,  but bitterness, hatred and rage spreads like cancer, fast and furious infecting the whole body if not stopped.

Religious leaders are calling for forgiveness and peace.  But sadly it falls on deaf ears.  But with prayer, love and forgiveness we can save one tie at a time.  Unless you give bitterness to God there's nothing He can do, if you hang onto it, He can't help.  Let's make the ties That Bind us a blessing not a prison.

"Blest Be the Tie that Binds"
by John Fawcett, 1740-1817
1. Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.
2. Before our Father's throne
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our alms, are one,
Our comforts and our cares.
3. We share our mutual woes,
Our mutual burdens bear,
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.
4. When here our pathways part,
We suffer bitter pain;
Yet, one in Christ and one in heart,
We hope to meet again.
5. This glorious hope revives
Our courage by the way,
While each in expectation lives
And longs to see the day.
6. From sorrow, toil, and pain,
And sin we shall be free
And perfect love and friendship reign
Through all eternity.