The biggest surprise for me in last night's debate was that CNN did a respectable job. I read the name Jake Tapper often but until last night I couldn't pick him out of a line-up. I watched from the opening bell to the comedy routine at the end....no pre-game show and no wrap-up commentary. I've been familiar with Hugh Hewitt for a couple of decades and.......was that blond on the right Megyn Kelly?
Here's my rundown on the players from a purely political point of view.....left to right on the dais:
Rand Paul certainly held his own with the Libertarians. He's a smart man but I wish that he was a little wiser.
Mike Huckabee is a wise man but I wish he was a little smarter.
Marco Rubio did a fair job informing the viewers on the foreign dangers to America....with one exception.....illegal immigration.
Ted Cruz is far and away the truest statesman of the group.
Ben Carson is a true gentleman.
Donald Trump remains the only one that cuts through the politically correct straight jacket.
Jeb Bush is a very nice......member of the Republican establishment elite....as opposed to say a John McCain.
Scott Walker needs a few more years....which we do not have.
Carly Fiorina is no outsider as she is portrayed but was well versed on what is happening to our military and was the most serious candidate on the stage but what happens when Hillary is eliminated?
Did I miss anyone? No, I don't think so.
No one on the dais came close to yelling....Mayday....and that is what is needed right now in America. As an exercise, try reading the first four chapters from the book of Jeremiah. Picture God speaking to us in it instead of Israel for we are a carbon copy of God's rebellious people in this book. The following is an older post:
I'm an army veteran, not navy, but I think I can describe a series of events that happen on a United States warship on occasion. At one moment the ship sails peaceably yet vigilantly and then in either a drill or the real thing a call to General Quarters is given.....also known as Battle Stations. Huge deck guns are quickly filled with men turning valves and bulkhead doors are shut. The bridge becomes alive with orders being called out and bells and horns blaring. The poker games are over, the radios are off and every man is decked out in battle gear from head to toe. I submit to you that the enemy is well within striking distance of our country and a General Quarters should be sounded. Battle Stations for the Christian begins by leaving the games and the entertainments behind. Put on that protective gear, be sober-minded, alert and to use a trusted but well-worn quote attributed to Oliver Cromwell....."Trust in God and keep your powder dry."
Mayday! December, 2014
Some news sources picked up on a commentary that Billy Graham recently published. In it he wrote "America is just as wicked as Sodom and Gomorrah ever were." He wrote also that today prayer has become just a formality in our nation. If you read the news with more then just casual interest you are familiar with what is transpiring in the Vatican on the issue of homosexuality, you would also be aware of the mayor of Houston, Texas and what is going on there. If you are not aware of these news reports then maybe you have a very good reason. If not you may be one of who Billy Graham was alluding to when he also wrote that "We (America) have no sense of coming to grips with God."
I have used a fair amount of naval terminology in these posts over the years, "all hands on deck" would be one..."battle stations" would be another." I did a whole post on 'Don't give up the ship,' the words of James Lawrence as he was dying aboard the USS Chesapeake in the Battle of Lake Erie and the words that Oliver Hazard Perry had stitched on the battle flag of the USS Niagara in the same battle. I have never used the phrase 'abandon ship' but this ship of state is indeed going down.
Have you even pondered for more than a few moments the inaction of this our 'stand-down president' on issues of national security as he fritters the days away on the golf course, or his usurping powers not enumerated in our Constitution when he does act, or his seeming ambivalence towards the people of Iraq or the Kurds or the Israelis, or Christians anywhere, or even Americans
or really anybody outside of those who support him for their own private gain? Have you noticed how many people he appointed to important positions because of some perceived political advantage irregardless of whether they have any ability or experience? And have you noticed the ensuing disasters from these appointments? I'll choose a different naval distress signal today.....'MAYDAY!'
Whether you are in college or working tons of overtime to secure your family's financial future.....MAYDAY! Whether you are 65 years old and trying to retire or 25 years old and buying your first house.....MAYDAY! Whether you are Republican or Democrat.....MAYDAY! Whether you are black or white or brown or yellow or red.....MAYDAY! Whether you are union or supervision.....MAYDAY! Whether you are male or female.....MAYDAY! And whether you are American or not.....MAYDAY!
Prayer is our only answer.....intense, perspiratory, humble, pleading prayer!:
Franklin Graham, son of Evangelist Billy Graham, made some comments on the deteriorating conditions of this world and the possible nearness of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, comments that made the Drudge Report because of their extreme candor. He said in part "As I read the news, I can't help but wonder if we are in the last... hours... before our Lord Jesus Christ returns......"
Have you ever been involved in some activity or exercise that was so robust that you felt the immediate need to rest for a few minutes just to get your bearings? Well, that is what it feels like to me as I read the news of the day. Fifteen years ago I and many others recognized that America was beginning to spiral out of control. Five years ago I wrote about the imminent dangers we faced as a nation and a free people and within the last few years my words became warnings on the incipient collapse in just about every area of our society and the world.
There is a big difference between resting for a few minutes to regain one's bearings and sticking one's head in the sand to temporarily eliminate the clamor of the crowd as they search for exits from this horror movie being played out on the front pages of our news sources.
Martin Luther once answered when asked what he would do if he knew that the Lord was coming back the next day, "I would plant a tree." That indeed is what we must do but even there we need tranquility enough to guide our hands.
Franklin Graham knows it, other Christians know it, and I know it.....the only true peace of mind that comes amidst the howlings of the tempests that are shaking every pillar of justice in our country, damming up every fount of blessings and ripping asunder every document holding any truths that limit our own self-autonomy is at the foot of the Cross on Calvary, the empty tomb and the mount upon which Jesus ascended and will one day return, whether it be, as Graham added, hours, days, months or years.
Here's my rundown on the players from a purely political point of view.....left to right on the dais:
Rand Paul certainly held his own with the Libertarians. He's a smart man but I wish that he was a little wiser.
Mike Huckabee is a wise man but I wish he was a little smarter.
Marco Rubio did a fair job informing the viewers on the foreign dangers to America....with one exception.....illegal immigration.
Ted Cruz is far and away the truest statesman of the group.
Ben Carson is a true gentleman.
Donald Trump remains the only one that cuts through the politically correct straight jacket.
Jeb Bush is a very nice......member of the Republican establishment elite....as opposed to say a John McCain.
Scott Walker needs a few more years....which we do not have.
Carly Fiorina is no outsider as she is portrayed but was well versed on what is happening to our military and was the most serious candidate on the stage but what happens when Hillary is eliminated?
Did I miss anyone? No, I don't think so.
No one on the dais came close to yelling....Mayday....and that is what is needed right now in America. As an exercise, try reading the first four chapters from the book of Jeremiah. Picture God speaking to us in it instead of Israel for we are a carbon copy of God's rebellious people in this book. The following is an older post:
I'm an army veteran, not navy, but I think I can describe a series of events that happen on a United States warship on occasion. At one moment the ship sails peaceably yet vigilantly and then in either a drill or the real thing a call to General Quarters is given.....also known as Battle Stations. Huge deck guns are quickly filled with men turning valves and bulkhead doors are shut. The bridge becomes alive with orders being called out and bells and horns blaring. The poker games are over, the radios are off and every man is decked out in battle gear from head to toe. I submit to you that the enemy is well within striking distance of our country and a General Quarters should be sounded. Battle Stations for the Christian begins by leaving the games and the entertainments behind. Put on that protective gear, be sober-minded, alert and to use a trusted but well-worn quote attributed to Oliver Cromwell....."Trust in God and keep your powder dry."
Mayday! December, 2014
Some news sources picked up on a commentary that Billy Graham recently published. In it he wrote "America is just as wicked as Sodom and Gomorrah ever were." He wrote also that today prayer has become just a formality in our nation. If you read the news with more then just casual interest you are familiar with what is transpiring in the Vatican on the issue of homosexuality, you would also be aware of the mayor of Houston, Texas and what is going on there. If you are not aware of these news reports then maybe you have a very good reason. If not you may be one of who Billy Graham was alluding to when he also wrote that "We (America) have no sense of coming to grips with God."
I have used a fair amount of naval terminology in these posts over the years, "all hands on deck" would be one..."battle stations" would be another." I did a whole post on 'Don't give up the ship,' the words of James Lawrence as he was dying aboard the USS Chesapeake in the Battle of Lake Erie and the words that Oliver Hazard Perry had stitched on the battle flag of the USS Niagara in the same battle. I have never used the phrase 'abandon ship' but this ship of state is indeed going down.
Have you even pondered for more than a few moments the inaction of this our 'stand-down president' on issues of national security as he fritters the days away on the golf course, or his usurping powers not enumerated in our Constitution when he does act, or his seeming ambivalence towards the people of Iraq or the Kurds or the Israelis, or Christians anywhere, or even Americans
or really anybody outside of those who support him for their own private gain? Have you noticed how many people he appointed to important positions because of some perceived political advantage irregardless of whether they have any ability or experience? And have you noticed the ensuing disasters from these appointments? I'll choose a different naval distress signal today.....'MAYDAY!'
Whether you are in college or working tons of overtime to secure your family's financial future.....MAYDAY! Whether you are 65 years old and trying to retire or 25 years old and buying your first house.....MAYDAY! Whether you are Republican or Democrat.....MAYDAY! Whether you are black or white or brown or yellow or red.....MAYDAY! Whether you are union or supervision.....MAYDAY! Whether you are male or female.....MAYDAY! And whether you are American or not.....MAYDAY!
Prayer is our only answer.....intense, perspiratory, humble, pleading prayer!:
Franklin Graham, son of Evangelist Billy Graham, made some comments on the deteriorating conditions of this world and the possible nearness of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, comments that made the Drudge Report because of their extreme candor. He said in part "As I read the news, I can't help but wonder if we are in the last... hours... before our Lord Jesus Christ returns......"
Have you ever been involved in some activity or exercise that was so robust that you felt the immediate need to rest for a few minutes just to get your bearings? Well, that is what it feels like to me as I read the news of the day. Fifteen years ago I and many others recognized that America was beginning to spiral out of control. Five years ago I wrote about the imminent dangers we faced as a nation and a free people and within the last few years my words became warnings on the incipient collapse in just about every area of our society and the world.
There is a big difference between resting for a few minutes to regain one's bearings and sticking one's head in the sand to temporarily eliminate the clamor of the crowd as they search for exits from this horror movie being played out on the front pages of our news sources.
Martin Luther once answered when asked what he would do if he knew that the Lord was coming back the next day, "I would plant a tree." That indeed is what we must do but even there we need tranquility enough to guide our hands.
Franklin Graham knows it, other Christians know it, and I know it.....the only true peace of mind that comes amidst the howlings of the tempests that are shaking every pillar of justice in our country, damming up every fount of blessings and ripping asunder every document holding any truths that limit our own self-autonomy is at the foot of the Cross on Calvary, the empty tomb and the mount upon which Jesus ascended and will one day return, whether it be, as Graham added, hours, days, months or years.
