Makes me sick at my stomach just thinking about how gutless society has become when the question of what to do with murderers, thieves, and evil men rear its many-tentacled head.”
              –J. Lee Butts (Ambushed)

       “And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.  But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
              –Joshua 24:15 (NKJV)
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              “I Pledge Allegiance, to the Flag of the United States
               of America, and to the Republic for which it Stands,
               One Nation under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and
               Justice for All.”

I will sing loudly and proudly the National Anthem of this great nation, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”  It represents the sacrifice of so many.  It is not racist by any means, it is honoring this great nation, despite what Eric Holder and others may say.
    This is a major tactic of Postmodernism (deconstruction) and it is called Revisionism.  As a historian I have seen revisionist history poke up its ugly head since the 1970s.  It seeks to destroy, to confuse, to obliterate the foundation of this country, or any country.  One facet of revisionism is to look at history with the eyes of a person in the 21st century.  This cannot be done accurately or fairly.  To properly study history, one must attempt to look at the events through the eyes of those experiencing it, those living at the time.  We have not become more enlightened, we have become more cynical.  If it were not so deadly and evil, revisionism would be funny.
    I saw some of the stupidity brought in by revisionism when in San Antonio, a statue of Christopher Columbus was torn down, and read where Columbus, Ohio is changing its name.  First of all, where would the Hispanics be if not for the exploration by Columbus?  In regard to Columbus, OH it is now claimed that he does not represent the values of the people.  Hmmm, courage, fortitude, determination, adventure have gone out of style.  Oh, and seldom do we hear of the positive aspects of the Columbian Exchange.
    Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben, Uncle Tom and others, the poor souls.  Have you read Uncle Tom’s Cabin?  The young man comes to Tom, laying there beaten by Simon Legree, to take him home.  Tom’s answer was that he was too late, the Lord had called him home.  See, revisionism must do away with God and Christianity.  Slavery was bad, no doubt about it, however, because he was a slave Tom had found Christ.
    The idea that Christianity has brought about white supremacy, another falsehood of revisionism.  Why was Christianity developed primarily in Europe.   “…they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia” (Acts 16:6).  Paul had wanted to go into Asia, but the Holy Spirit directed him to Europe.  It was from Europe that the Gospel would be spread throughout the world.  Today some of the largest churches in the world are in Asia because missionaries were sent from “white” Europe and America.
    Postmodernism, in the form of revisionist history, would have you believe the negative, become cynical.  Man is flawed, that is because he has a sin nature, which the Postmodernist would reject.  Part of the whole problem being projected is that man has a fallen nature and must be regenerated by the blood of Christ.
    You do what you will.  You bow and forget the heritage of this great country.  The nation that stopped the menace of fascism.  The nation that contained and stopped the progress of communism.  Now, through revisionism and the power of the elite socialism is thrusting up its ugly head.  Listen, socialism hates Christianity.  A dedicated socialist must be an atheist.  Just a glance at Marx and Lenin will show that.
    I for one will stand and salute the flag.  I for one will remember the sacrifice of those gone before.  On this 4th of July I invite you to remember what the flag stands for and that America was and is indeed great.

This is a young land, its people love freedom, and by and large they are tolerant; but we must not become tolerant of evil, simply because it exists.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (Callaghen)

    “But know this that in the last days perilous times will come:  For men will be lovers of themselves…  And from such people turn away!”
              –2 Timothy 3:1,2,5 (NKJV)
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I must be living in the “Twilight Zone” or some bizarre universe.  The 4th of July is now racist?!?  Independence Day is racist, what in the world?  Anything for publicity!  Anything to push through an agenda of hate!  Tear down the statues!  Destroy what is good and erect what is evil!  Folks, things have gotten out of hand.
    It brings me to the campfire.  I remember many times watching it late at night when I’ve already crawled into my bedding.  The flames flickering, the sounds of the night are off in the distance, then all of a sudden the fire is not so bright.  The flames have dwindled down into coals that seem to breathe–bright, then they darken, then brighten again, over and over until there are only a few coals left–the campfire has gone out.
    Reminds me of a song put out by Don Edwards.  No one knows for sure who wrote it; perhaps Eugene Manlove Rhodes or Ben Arnold Connor.  That’s of no matter for it could have been written by any number of people who have lived the life, worked hard, and now are watching the campfire go out.

         “When I think about them good old days my eyes with tears do fill,
          I think of the tin can by the fire and the coyote on the hill,
          I think of riding night guard while the stars were shining bright,
          But now instead the wire fence guards the herd tonight.”

No matter what happens with the outcome of the racist arguments, there has already been much loss.  Protesting?  Nah, hatred and evil, the showing of man’s heart.  You’re seeing the heart of man, for out of the heart comes his actions.  Shame really that so few can get the attention of so many and push through their agenda.  The minority rules, and the majority continues to belly-down and remain quiet.  Hmmm, the campfire has gone out.
    I’d never thought I’d see the day, no, I could not even imagine the day when America would have gone berserk.  The bastion of freedom is wavering and there are those happy to see that, not only in this country but in others.  With the fall of America, torn apart from within, there is then the open door for globalism.  America, the lighthouse that has shone forth the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world is now being darkened by the forces of evil.
    It is a sad song, things will never return to “normal.”  Blame the pandemic, nah, it was only part of the cause.  The blame lies within the heart of the people; people who have chosen evil rather than good.  People who are choosing the lie over the truth.  People who are filled with hate and are living in delusion.

         “Bid ’em all adieu, we can’t turn the world about,
          The cowboy left the country, the campfire has gone out.
          Bid ’em all adieu, we can hear the angels shout,
          ‘Oh here they come to heaven,’ the campfire has gone out.”

    My friend, stay true to God’s word, guard it with your whole heart, and continue to look up for your redemption draweth nigh.

The good book never promised us rockin’ chairs, but it says we’re gonna have trials and tribulations…  I just like to shut down those trials before they start up all that tribulatin’.”
              –Lou Bradshaw  (Palouse)

    “And indeed, as your life was valued much this day in my eyes, so let my life be valued much in the eyes of the Lord, and let Him deliver me out of all tribulation.”
              –1 Samuel 26:24 (NKJV)
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I was reading the other day and Psalm 2 was mentioned.  I want to take a minute this morning to ponder the first three verses.  With the pandemic and how the media is using it to breed panic, plus all the things that are happening behind closed doors, the agenda of the liberals–look at these verses.

         2.1, “Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing?
         2.2, The kings of earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
         2.3, ‘Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.'” (NKJV)

The time is coming soon, no, the time is at hand.  There is a rebellion rising against the Lord.  It is taking the guise of Antifa, BLM, and other leftist agendas.  It is not just happening in our country either, but it is more pronounced here.  The nations are raging; the leaders are plotting against God.
    I sit, get angry though I try not to, but there is a move to destroy America.  With America’s conservative base gone the way is paved for a one-world system.  I would like nothing better than to see the smug look on their faces wiped off.  However, a voice comes to me–that they face an eternity in hell, and I go on to read verse 4-5, and it should make all of us tremble.

         2.4, “He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision.
         2.5, Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure.” (NKJV)

God is serious, and this is one of the few times that Scripture states that He laughs.  But it is not a happy, joyous laugh; it is one of “the day of mocking is about over.”  The time of His patience is about to cease.  I don’t know how long mankind can mock and push God.  He withholds wrath and judgment upon the earth because of His mercy, kindness, and longsuffering.
    There will be a time when the Father will send His Son to earth:  first, for Him to bring His Bride to heaven, and second, to bring destruction upon the earth and set up His earthly kingdom.

         2.6, “You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

Ponder those verses as you ponder the times in which we live.  Don’t spend too much time looking and reading about all the evil that is taking place, but be ready for the Lord to return.  With that being said, contemplate on the following:

         “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”
                           –Galatians 6:7 (NKJV)

         “I would also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes.”
                           –Proverbs 1:26(NKJV)

In fact, it would be good to read Proverbs 1:20-33.  God is loving and longsuffering, but there is a limit.  When are the scales tipped?  When is enough–enough?  When that takes place, and it will surely happen unless there is a great revival; be sure you are on the Lord’s side.