"How a politician stands on the Second Amendment tells you how he or she views you as an individual... as a trustworthy and productive citizen, or as part of an unruly crowd that needs to be lorded, controlled, supervised, and taken care of." - Rep. Suzanna Gratia Hupp (Texas)
My love for America being so great, even it's haters won't leave. I just calculated I've been around for 31.6% of the U.S.A.'s 250 years and it's been a great ride.
Me too. .. 31.2% Proud American 🇺🇸 even though raised a Jehovah’s Witnesses and never allowed to salute the flag or sing the national anthem while in school. Odd, I do both now!
Yep, by 20 I was disfellowshipped and shunned by all my former friends whom I have never seen again. Thankfully my dad was no longer a part and funded my college education. It took a long time to understand how the social world really works. In spite of that not being the right religion for me, it did build a very strong sense of faith in God and right from wrong and a backbone to stand for what you truly believed it. So net gain in spite of the pain.
Loved the funnies! “ Good Morning ! I’m still your president” made me laugh out loud!
Watching “ Young Washington” yesterday helped remind me why America is such a wonderful country.
We don’t have a class system. Anyone can strive to achieve his life’s goal and not be held back by what family you were born into. The wonderful gift of capitalism. Free enterprise!
We are truly blessed to live in the wonderful country. Now if we can hold on to our beloved Bill of Rights .
Have a great day and remember “there’s no place like home!”
Mike Rowe did a great interview with Jon Erwin, who created "Young Washington." We learned a lot about Rowe, Erwin, Washington, and Erwin's grandfather. Check it out:
492: Jon Erwin—Young Washington. Aka How George Washington Became George Washington | Jon Erwin #492 | The Way I Heard It
Agreed! It was nice seeing the good doctor relaxing and enjoying the evening holding that little chihuahua. Our 4 year old chihuahua is the same color.
There are many reasons why I have faith as a Christian. One powerful reason is that afterJesus was crucified the closest people to him, the Apostles, who witnessed most all or at least the majority of what He did and what He went through, including his resurrection, went on to spread the word of Jesus even knowing they would be persecuted. It is understood that all of them suffering horrific executions and or certainly extreme hardships which showed their undying loyalty to Jesus. So why would they have put themselves through this if they themselves did not believe what they saw and what they heard with their own eyes and ears?
Many question the American founders belief in God and in Jesus. I wanted to post some shortened writings of just a few of the major founders to show their faith and how this country is based in Christian beliefs.
Let’s start with,
George Washington;
“You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are.
While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.
The blessing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary but especially so in times of public distress and danger. The General hopes and trusts that every officer and man will endeavor to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier, defending the dearest rights and liberties of his country”.
Thomas Jefferson;
The doctrines of Jesus are simple, and tend all to the happiness of man.
The practice of morality being necessary for the well being of society, He [God] has taken care to impress its precepts so indelibly on our hearts that they shall not be effaced by the subtleties of our brain. We all agree in the obligation of the moral principles of Jesus and nowhere will they be found delivered in greater purity than in His discourses.64
I am a Christian in the only sense in which He wished anyone to be: sincerely attached to His doctrines in preference to all others
John Adam’s;
The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.
Without religion, this world would be something not fit to be mentioned in polite company: I mean hell.
The Christian religion is, above all the religions that ever prevailed or existed in ancient or modern times, the religion of wisdom, virtue, equity and humanity.
Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law book and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited. . . . What a Eutopia – what a Paradise would this region be!
John Quincy Adams;
My hopes of a future life are all founded upon the Gospel of Christ and I cannot cavil or quibble away [evade or object to]. . . . the whole tenor of His conduct by which He sometimes positively asserted and at others countenances [permits] His disciples in asserting that He was God.
The hope of a Christian is inseparable from his faith. Whoever believes in the Divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures must hope that the religion of Jesus shall prevail throughout the earth. Never since the foundation of the world have the prospects of mankind been more encouraging to that hope than they appear to be at the present time. And may the associated distribution of the Bible proceed and prosper till the Lord shall have made “bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God” [Isaiah 52:10].
Samuel Adams
I . . . [rely] upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins.
The name of the Lord (says the Scripture) is a strong tower; thither the righteous flee and are safe [Proverbs 18:10]. Let us secure His favor and He will lead us through the journey of this life and at length receive us to a better
I conceive we cannot better express ourselves than by humbly supplicating the Supreme Ruler of the world . . . that the confusions that are and have been among the nations may be overruled by the promoting and speedily bringing in the holy and happy period when the kingdoms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may be everywhere established, and the people willingly bow to the scepter of Him who is the Prince of Peace.
Benjamin Franklin;
As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of morals and His religion as He left them to us, the best the world ever saw or is likely to see.
The body of Benjamin Franklin, printer, like the cover of an old book, its contents torn out and stripped of its lettering and guilding, lies here, food for worms. Yet the work itself shall not be lost; for it will, as he believed, appear once more in a new and more beatiful edition, corrected and amended by the Author. (FRANKLIN’S EULOGY THAT HE WROTE FOR HIMSELF)
Alexander Hamilton;
Following his duel with Aaron Burr, in those final twenty four hours while life still remained in him, Hamilton called for two ministers, the Rev. J. M. Mason and the Rev. Benjamin Moore, to pray with him and administer Communion to him. Each of those two ministers reported what transpired. The Rev. Mason recounted:
(General Hamilton said] “I went to the field determined not to take his life.” He repeated his disavowal of all intention to hurt Mr. Burr; the anguish of his mind in recollecting what had passed; and his humble hope of forgiveness from his God. I recurred to the topic of the Divine compassion; the freedom of pardon in the Redeemer Jesus to perishing sinners. “That grace, my dear General, which brings salvation, is rich, rich” – “Yes,” interrupted he, “it is rich grace.” “And on that grace,” continued I, “a sinner has the highest encouragement to repose his confidence, because it is tendered to him upon the surest foundation; the Scrip¬ture testifying that we have redemption through the blood of Jesus, the forgiveness of sins according to the richness of His grace.” Here the General, letting go my hand, which he had held from the moment I sat down at his bed side, clasped his hands together, and, looking up towards Heaven, said, with emphasis, “I have a tender reliance on the mercy of the Al¬mighty, through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
John Hancock;
Sensible of the importance of Christian piety and virtue to the order and happiness of a state, I cannot but earnestly commend to you every measure for their support and encouragement.
He called on the entire state to pray “that universal happiness may be established in the world [and] that all may bow to the scepter of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the whole earth be filled with His glory.”
Patrick Henry;
Being a Christian… is a character which I prize far above all this world has or can boast.
The Bible… is a book worth more than all the other books that were ever printed.
Righteousness alone can exalt [America] as a nation…Whoever thou art, remember this; and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself, and encourage it in others.
The great pillars of all government and of social life [are] virtue, morality, and religion. This is the armor, my friend, and this alone, that renders us invincible.
This is all the inheritance I can give to my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed.
Francis Scott Key;
Being a Christian… is a character which I prize far above all this world has or can boast.
The Bible… is a book worth more than all the other books that were ever printed.
Righteousness alone can exalt [America] as a nation…Whoever thou art, remember this; and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself, and encourage it in others.
The great pillars of all government and of social life [are] virtue, morality, and religion. This is the armor, my friend, and this alone, that renders us invincible.
This is all the inheritance I can give to my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed.
I could have easily doubled these founders with similar quotes or writings but I don’t want peoples eyes to glaze over. Being the Sunday after America’s 250th birthday I thought it interesting and appropriate to share. Maybe with such a strong lineup of brilliance some doubting Thomas’s will think more deeply. Happy Sunday! J.Goodrich
If you would please say a prayer for my dog Sandy. After a swim last weekend she began limping. This morning she couldn’t walk. On my way to Tufts animal hospital extremely depressed… I believe in prayer.
Dear James, I am praying for Sandy's complete healing. Thank you for sharing these writings that highlight the Christian faith of our founders, who also believed in prayer.
James, I think it is comforting to add, "For the highest good". We don't know the destiny of even our pets, let alone ourselves. Sometimes Illness or death is a heart breaker and yet our attachment can get in the way. Some people can linger too long when family doesn't give permission to leave the body. Thy Will not mine... Strength and comfort to you and Sandy.
It does seem that some people are determined to "prove" that the Founders were not Christian, but even those who are called Deists (Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Paine, for example), still believe in Christian values and believed that Providence would intervene when necessary. Benjamin stated that Providence had directed the Constitutional Convention, yet is commonly thought of as a Deist.
Please let us know how Sandy is doing. She's is my prayers.
The "funnies" we're very good this morning. I praise God for another God bless America day!
The three that I laughed out loud at, were the Mark Twain " saying, the baby's fist getting ready to smack Hillary, and Thomas Jefferson and Company saying we "already got rid of KINGS"----which, of course, is absolutely perfectly true!!
HA! HA! HA! Could not stop laughing! The baby wanting to punch out Hillary. He doesn't want a village (socialism) to raise him. He wants his parents to responsible. Hillary graduated from my high school and embraced Republican values until she meet Billy boy. I asked AI the following:
Is the definition of a social democrat and a democratic socialist the same?
No—though they can overlap, they’re usually not the same.
Social democrat: Typically supports democracy plus a capitalist economy, but wants to reduce inequality through things like stronger labor protections, universal public services, and extensive social safety nets. The “how” is generally reform through elections rather than revolution.
Democratic socialist: Typically supports socialism (often meaning public/collective ownership or strong worker control of key parts of the economy) but wants to achieve it through democratic, electoral processes rather than authoritarian one-party rule.
Because language is used differently across countries and parties, you’ll sometimes see people describe themselves with these labels in ways that blur the distinction—but in general, the main difference is that democratic socialism implies a more direct move toward socialism, while social democracy is more often reform within capitalism.
Does that mean a democratic socialist can also be defined as being a communist?
Not necessarily.
Communist usually means aiming for a communist end state (often a classless society with collective ownership) and, in many traditions, a specific revolutionary politics.
Democratic socialist generally means aiming for socialism through democratic politics (elections, civil liberties, pluralism), without requiring the communist end goal or the communist-style revolutionary method.
That said, some people use “democratic socialist” and “communist” interchangeably, and some democratic socialists may end up supporting communism. So the labels can overlap, but one doesn’t automatically imply the other.
My view: New York is an experiment that has moved from social democrat to democratic socialism and is moving further further left and sinking. I doubt the New Yorkers that voted have a clue.
PS: My book coming this fall has all the clues to solve the 1982 Tylenol murders for the FBI.
www seveninnocents com
PPS: I wonder where China is on this continuum? Left moving right?
China is breeding their communist babies in America with the permission of SCOTUS, to eventually take over local, State and ultimately, Fed governments 🤬
They have their heads in their historical law books and do not have a clue about the geopolitics! We have a DC that is sleeping. President Trump understands, and needs to be MORE direct with the American public.
The Collectivist founding date for America is 1883 when a fundraising group affixed dingbat Marxist Emma Lazarus’ third-rate poem “The New Colossus” to the base of the Statue of Liberty. “From her beacon hand glows world-wide welcome”.
The Hell it does! Of course the collectivist smooth-brains consider it an ad for “Lotsa free stuff for parasites!!!!” but is anything but.
The great Statue faces outward and her name is “Liberty Enlightening the World” and so it does and we do.
Think about this, too. The Pledge of Allegiance was penned by Christian Socialist Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister who believed that in order to follow Christian principles we must have a socialist society.
Interesting tidbit, thanks. Within The Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27) we are to establish a personal not a collective, economic relationship with Divine.
But socialism is purely an academic point - there are no - as in zero - socialists as no one who advocates for it is willing to give up 90% of their stuff to the group of advocates who have similarly all given up 90% of their stuff.
I've seen some Christians argue that "Jesus was a socialist", but socialism is a political system, not a moral system. Jesus preached voluntary assistance and personal responsibility; socialism is about enforced redistribution. You are absolutely right about no one being willing to give up 90% to others, and I've met and talked with people who preached socialism and made sure that everyone knew that what was theirs was only theirs--yet couldn't see the dichotomy.
Just this AM, prior to me reading the Sunday funnies, my friend & I were lamenting the disconnect between ‘us’ & ‘them’. There are the usual suspects (the 7 deadly sins), but even still there is a void that cannot be explained, as illustrated by so many of the funnies today. We determined we had more in common with John Fetterman than with John Thune.
Strip was great. I own a sawzall and I can attest that everything is possible, but not necessarily smart.
I loved the wilted state flower.
We also stayed home last night because it was still pretty hot all day. But, I did get to watch the National Fireworks, the speech, the presentation of the veterans in front of the flags, and the great music done to accompany the fireworks. That meant I got to bed after 2AM central time. I'm a bit sleep deprived. I guess I am glad a show like that only comes around every 250 years. Happy Independence Day + 1 everybody.
Hoping everyone enjoyed our 250th Fourth of July yesterday, & today as well! We were low-key, stay-at-home & chillaxing all day. We had lightening strike our property on Friday, 7/3/26, at 5:05 pm. I was resting at home when I heard the loudest-CRACKING, lightening strike, & my heart just about stopped beating! My home is a new metal building we had constructed in 2021-2024. The noise sounded like glass shattering; so, I texted my daughter & son-in-law, as they were at a friends for dinner- close by- & let them know I was sure we had been hit.
Yup! My garage door motor was fried; but nothing else was damaged. But, the hardest hit, was my daughter’s home, which is about 30 yards from my place. They lost power to outside cameras, & a few indoor TV’s. That was it, or so we thought. We share one well, & one pressure tank for both houses, & at 12:30 am, I get a knock on my door & there stands my daughter, in her “moo-moo”, crying her eyes out, & walked into my house & said, “I need to show you something”; she turned on my kitchen faucet, & nothing came out. We lost our access to the well/pressure tank. NO WATER! That woke us all up, & had to figure out why.
All night long, my son-in-law got on his phone & began calling every person he knew that could help us on Saturday, July 4th! A holiday weekend of course. He contacted a friend that drills wells; his initial well drilling experience was on oil/gas rigs in Texas. But, now he drills water wells, has a successful business in Colorado now, & by 10:30 am, was at my daughter’s place, under the crawl space, & found the reason for not getting water: the pressure switch didn’t have any contact’s on it- it was completely fried! As he told me, “the contacts were fried like a chicken wing. Gone like a freight train.”
Mikey’s drilling buddy & the Technician fixed the switch (replaced it); checked the breakers on the electrical panel, & made sure that was ok. We Have Water now. Mikey stated “it was a Godsend that his buddy Nick was here with the pump Tech”!!! We have a good pump , & we have pressure now on all faucets, & our level & location of the pump is in good condition, & a good location in the formation.
So, my Faith in Prayers to God, & from my “kids”, is strong & we are very Blessed.
Thank you for taking a few minutes to read my long post, I appreciate it. Have a very Blessed Sunday & week everyone:).
We have been there on the " well getting hit by lightning" and other malfunctions. We also have a horse that needs about 10 gallons of water per day. And for some perverse reason, these things tend to occur on holidays and weekends!
Oh, absolutely these types of problems occur on holiday weekends! That was the first comment out of my son-in-law’s mouth: “of course this happened on the holiday”!!! But, we were so fortunate that it was not due to lack of water! Just an old contact switch. This Drill Tech is coming back out this next week, & going to replace the electric panel/box because it has to be replaced! Mikey told the guy to go home & enjoy the holiday- We have Water…Amen.
Two quick observations, It doesn’t surprise me that Dr. Malone gravitated to the elderly dog and cared enough to pick him up and the fact that he carries a pocket knife. There are signs of character and I would expect nothing less.
Y'all have outdone yourself with this Sunday Strip ... BRAVO! I laughed through the whole thing. Can't pick a favorite, but love the Reason video!!! 😂 Also LOVE the pic of Mr. Dr. M with the watermelon slice and the aging Chihuahua! I have a slightly smaller (and possibly older) one he can hold if he's ever in Las Vegas! ❤️
"How a politician stands on the Second Amendment tells you how he or she views you as an individual... as a trustworthy and productive citizen, or as part of an unruly crowd that needs to be lorded, controlled, supervised, and taken care of." - Rep. Suzanna Gratia Hupp (Texas)
A government that doesn’t trust its citizens with guns is a government that cannot be trusted.
Cases in point Canada and UK
Pure truth! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Panels for posterity
Went to bed dreaming I was FS Key last night - yeah, bombs bursting in air.
America250, y’all
My love for America being so great, even it's haters won't leave. I just calculated I've been around for 31.6% of the U.S.A.'s 250 years and it's been a great ride.
Me too. .. 31.2% Proud American 🇺🇸 even though raised a Jehovah’s Witnesses and never allowed to salute the flag or sing the national anthem while in school. Odd, I do both now!
My empathy for the J.W. background. I painfully watched it destroy the family of my only sibling.
Yep, by 20 I was disfellowshipped and shunned by all my former friends whom I have never seen again. Thankfully my dad was no longer a part and funded my college education. It took a long time to understand how the social world really works. In spite of that not being the right religion for me, it did build a very strong sense of faith in God and right from wrong and a backbone to stand for what you truly believed it. So net gain in spite of the pain.
Loved the funnies! “ Good Morning ! I’m still your president” made me laugh out loud!
Watching “ Young Washington” yesterday helped remind me why America is such a wonderful country.
We don’t have a class system. Anyone can strive to achieve his life’s goal and not be held back by what family you were born into. The wonderful gift of capitalism. Free enterprise!
We are truly blessed to live in the wonderful country. Now if we can hold on to our beloved Bill of Rights .
Have a great day and remember “there’s no place like home!”
Mike Rowe did a great interview with Jon Erwin, who created "Young Washington." We learned a lot about Rowe, Erwin, Washington, and Erwin's grandfather. Check it out:
492: Jon Erwin—Young Washington. Aka How George Washington Became George Washington | Jon Erwin #492 | The Way I Heard It
Apple Podcast (1 hr 41 min): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/492-jon-erwin-young-washington/id1087110764?i=1000774849250
YouTube Video (01:30:21): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LohltL4pHTM
Amen…:), I so agree! Thank you.
These were all so good, but my favorite was seeing Robert enjoying himself. Thanks for sharing!
But was it he who got the bite of watermelon?
Agreed! It was nice seeing the good doctor relaxing and enjoying the evening holding that little chihuahua. Our 4 year old chihuahua is the same color.
😂the wilted flower.. you guys are the Best!
Totally relatable to wilted traffic cone in Pennsylvania, where we say the state motto should be: “Prepare to Stop”
There are many reasons why I have faith as a Christian. One powerful reason is that afterJesus was crucified the closest people to him, the Apostles, who witnessed most all or at least the majority of what He did and what He went through, including his resurrection, went on to spread the word of Jesus even knowing they would be persecuted. It is understood that all of them suffering horrific executions and or certainly extreme hardships which showed their undying loyalty to Jesus. So why would they have put themselves through this if they themselves did not believe what they saw and what they heard with their own eyes and ears?
Many question the American founders belief in God and in Jesus. I wanted to post some shortened writings of just a few of the major founders to show their faith and how this country is based in Christian beliefs.
Let’s start with,
George Washington;
“You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are.
While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.
The blessing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary but especially so in times of public distress and danger. The General hopes and trusts that every officer and man will endeavor to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier, defending the dearest rights and liberties of his country”.
Thomas Jefferson;
The doctrines of Jesus are simple, and tend all to the happiness of man.
The practice of morality being necessary for the well being of society, He [God] has taken care to impress its precepts so indelibly on our hearts that they shall not be effaced by the subtleties of our brain. We all agree in the obligation of the moral principles of Jesus and nowhere will they be found delivered in greater purity than in His discourses.64
I am a Christian in the only sense in which He wished anyone to be: sincerely attached to His doctrines in preference to all others
John Adam’s;
The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.
Without religion, this world would be something not fit to be mentioned in polite company: I mean hell.
The Christian religion is, above all the religions that ever prevailed or existed in ancient or modern times, the religion of wisdom, virtue, equity and humanity.
Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law book and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited. . . . What a Eutopia – what a Paradise would this region be!
John Quincy Adams;
My hopes of a future life are all founded upon the Gospel of Christ and I cannot cavil or quibble away [evade or object to]. . . . the whole tenor of His conduct by which He sometimes positively asserted and at others countenances [permits] His disciples in asserting that He was God.
The hope of a Christian is inseparable from his faith. Whoever believes in the Divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures must hope that the religion of Jesus shall prevail throughout the earth. Never since the foundation of the world have the prospects of mankind been more encouraging to that hope than they appear to be at the present time. And may the associated distribution of the Bible proceed and prosper till the Lord shall have made “bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God” [Isaiah 52:10].
Samuel Adams
I . . . [rely] upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins.
The name of the Lord (says the Scripture) is a strong tower; thither the righteous flee and are safe [Proverbs 18:10]. Let us secure His favor and He will lead us through the journey of this life and at length receive us to a better
I conceive we cannot better express ourselves than by humbly supplicating the Supreme Ruler of the world . . . that the confusions that are and have been among the nations may be overruled by the promoting and speedily bringing in the holy and happy period when the kingdoms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may be everywhere established, and the people willingly bow to the scepter of Him who is the Prince of Peace.
Benjamin Franklin;
As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of morals and His religion as He left them to us, the best the world ever saw or is likely to see.
The body of Benjamin Franklin, printer, like the cover of an old book, its contents torn out and stripped of its lettering and guilding, lies here, food for worms. Yet the work itself shall not be lost; for it will, as he believed, appear once more in a new and more beatiful edition, corrected and amended by the Author. (FRANKLIN’S EULOGY THAT HE WROTE FOR HIMSELF)
Alexander Hamilton;
Following his duel with Aaron Burr, in those final twenty four hours while life still remained in him, Hamilton called for two ministers, the Rev. J. M. Mason and the Rev. Benjamin Moore, to pray with him and administer Communion to him. Each of those two ministers reported what transpired. The Rev. Mason recounted:
(General Hamilton said] “I went to the field determined not to take his life.” He repeated his disavowal of all intention to hurt Mr. Burr; the anguish of his mind in recollecting what had passed; and his humble hope of forgiveness from his God. I recurred to the topic of the Divine compassion; the freedom of pardon in the Redeemer Jesus to perishing sinners. “That grace, my dear General, which brings salvation, is rich, rich” – “Yes,” interrupted he, “it is rich grace.” “And on that grace,” continued I, “a sinner has the highest encouragement to repose his confidence, because it is tendered to him upon the surest foundation; the Scrip¬ture testifying that we have redemption through the blood of Jesus, the forgiveness of sins according to the richness of His grace.” Here the General, letting go my hand, which he had held from the moment I sat down at his bed side, clasped his hands together, and, looking up towards Heaven, said, with emphasis, “I have a tender reliance on the mercy of the Al¬mighty, through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
John Hancock;
Sensible of the importance of Christian piety and virtue to the order and happiness of a state, I cannot but earnestly commend to you every measure for their support and encouragement.
He called on the entire state to pray “that universal happiness may be established in the world [and] that all may bow to the scepter of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the whole earth be filled with His glory.”
Patrick Henry;
Being a Christian… is a character which I prize far above all this world has or can boast.
The Bible… is a book worth more than all the other books that were ever printed.
Righteousness alone can exalt [America] as a nation…Whoever thou art, remember this; and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself, and encourage it in others.
The great pillars of all government and of social life [are] virtue, morality, and religion. This is the armor, my friend, and this alone, that renders us invincible.
This is all the inheritance I can give to my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed.
Francis Scott Key;
Being a Christian… is a character which I prize far above all this world has or can boast.
The Bible… is a book worth more than all the other books that were ever printed.
Righteousness alone can exalt [America] as a nation…Whoever thou art, remember this; and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself, and encourage it in others.
The great pillars of all government and of social life [are] virtue, morality, and religion. This is the armor, my friend, and this alone, that renders us invincible.
This is all the inheritance I can give to my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed.
I could have easily doubled these founders with similar quotes or writings but I don’t want peoples eyes to glaze over. Being the Sunday after America’s 250th birthday I thought it interesting and appropriate to share. Maybe with such a strong lineup of brilliance some doubting Thomas’s will think more deeply. Happy Sunday! J.Goodrich
If you would please say a prayer for my dog Sandy. After a swim last weekend she began limping. This morning she couldn’t walk. On my way to Tufts animal hospital extremely depressed… I believe in prayer.
Dear James, I am praying for Sandy's complete healing. Thank you for sharing these writings that highlight the Christian faith of our founders, who also believed in prayer.
Thank You MrsMc!!
Praying for Sandy🙏
Thank You Jane, just got home.
Again the good Father Goodrich has provided my bit of church-going for this Sunday . ..
Thanks man!
Praying for Sandy.
James, I think it is comforting to add, "For the highest good". We don't know the destiny of even our pets, let alone ourselves. Sometimes Illness or death is a heart breaker and yet our attachment can get in the way. Some people can linger too long when family doesn't give permission to leave the body. Thy Will not mine... Strength and comfort to you and Sandy.
I agree, D D, but not necessarily in the case of Sandy.
Thank You DD!!
Done!!!!
It does seem that some people are determined to "prove" that the Founders were not Christian, but even those who are called Deists (Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Paine, for example), still believe in Christian values and believed that Providence would intervene when necessary. Benjamin stated that Providence had directed the Constitutional Convention, yet is commonly thought of as a Deist.
Please let us know how Sandy is doing. She's is my prayers.
Thank You Joy!!
Sandy may have cut a Paw on broken glass.
Done
The "funnies" we're very good this morning. I praise God for another God bless America day!
The three that I laughed out loud at, were the Mark Twain " saying, the baby's fist getting ready to smack Hillary, and Thomas Jefferson and Company saying we "already got rid of KINGS"----which, of course, is absolutely perfectly true!!
HA! HA! HA! Could not stop laughing! The baby wanting to punch out Hillary. He doesn't want a village (socialism) to raise him. He wants his parents to responsible. Hillary graduated from my high school and embraced Republican values until she meet Billy boy. I asked AI the following:
Is the definition of a social democrat and a democratic socialist the same?
No—though they can overlap, they’re usually not the same.
Social democrat: Typically supports democracy plus a capitalist economy, but wants to reduce inequality through things like stronger labor protections, universal public services, and extensive social safety nets. The “how” is generally reform through elections rather than revolution.
Democratic socialist: Typically supports socialism (often meaning public/collective ownership or strong worker control of key parts of the economy) but wants to achieve it through democratic, electoral processes rather than authoritarian one-party rule.
Because language is used differently across countries and parties, you’ll sometimes see people describe themselves with these labels in ways that blur the distinction—but in general, the main difference is that democratic socialism implies a more direct move toward socialism, while social democracy is more often reform within capitalism.
Does that mean a democratic socialist can also be defined as being a communist?
Not necessarily.
Communist usually means aiming for a communist end state (often a classless society with collective ownership) and, in many traditions, a specific revolutionary politics.
Democratic socialist generally means aiming for socialism through democratic politics (elections, civil liberties, pluralism), without requiring the communist end goal or the communist-style revolutionary method.
That said, some people use “democratic socialist” and “communist” interchangeably, and some democratic socialists may end up supporting communism. So the labels can overlap, but one doesn’t automatically imply the other.
My view: New York is an experiment that has moved from social democrat to democratic socialism and is moving further further left and sinking. I doubt the New Yorkers that voted have a clue.
PS: My book coming this fall has all the clues to solve the 1982 Tylenol murders for the FBI.
www seveninnocents com
PPS: I wonder where China is on this continuum? Left moving right?
China is breeding their communist babies in America with the permission of SCOTUS, to eventually take over local, State and ultimately, Fed governments 🤬
They have their heads in their historical law books and do not have a clue about the geopolitics! We have a DC that is sleeping. President Trump understands, and needs to be MORE direct with the American public.
It seems to me that Justice Thomas pointed to Congress to fix the mess.
You'll learn even more about this whole scheme in the book, "The Red Tsunami", by T. Casey Fleming.
The Collectivist founding date for America is 1883 when a fundraising group affixed dingbat Marxist Emma Lazarus’ third-rate poem “The New Colossus” to the base of the Statue of Liberty. “From her beacon hand glows world-wide welcome”.
The Hell it does! Of course the collectivist smooth-brains consider it an ad for “Lotsa free stuff for parasites!!!!” but is anything but.
The great Statue faces outward and her name is “Liberty Enlightening the World” and so it does and we do.
Think about this, too. The Pledge of Allegiance was penned by Christian Socialist Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister who believed that in order to follow Christian principles we must have a socialist society.
Interesting tidbit, thanks. Within The Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27) we are to establish a personal not a collective, economic relationship with Divine.
But socialism is purely an academic point - there are no - as in zero - socialists as no one who advocates for it is willing to give up 90% of their stuff to the group of advocates who have similarly all given up 90% of their stuff.
I've seen some Christians argue that "Jesus was a socialist", but socialism is a political system, not a moral system. Jesus preached voluntary assistance and personal responsibility; socialism is about enforced redistribution. You are absolutely right about no one being willing to give up 90% to others, and I've met and talked with people who preached socialism and made sure that everyone knew that what was theirs was only theirs--yet couldn't see the dichotomy.
When I saw the one with the baby and Hilary, I truly thought the baby looked like he was about to puke on her...JS...
Just this AM, prior to me reading the Sunday funnies, my friend & I were lamenting the disconnect between ‘us’ & ‘them’. There are the usual suspects (the 7 deadly sins), but even still there is a void that cannot be explained, as illustrated by so many of the funnies today. We determined we had more in common with John Fetterman than with John Thune.
Strip was great. I own a sawzall and I can attest that everything is possible, but not necessarily smart.
I loved the wilted state flower.
We also stayed home last night because it was still pretty hot all day. But, I did get to watch the National Fireworks, the speech, the presentation of the veterans in front of the flags, and the great music done to accompany the fireworks. That meant I got to bed after 2AM central time. I'm a bit sleep deprived. I guess I am glad a show like that only comes around every 250 years. Happy Independence Day + 1 everybody.
JGM You are a gem. Thank you.
That was an epic batch of chuckles for me!.....Thanks so much for another brilliant compilation!
Hoping everyone enjoyed our 250th Fourth of July yesterday, & today as well! We were low-key, stay-at-home & chillaxing all day. We had lightening strike our property on Friday, 7/3/26, at 5:05 pm. I was resting at home when I heard the loudest-CRACKING, lightening strike, & my heart just about stopped beating! My home is a new metal building we had constructed in 2021-2024. The noise sounded like glass shattering; so, I texted my daughter & son-in-law, as they were at a friends for dinner- close by- & let them know I was sure we had been hit.
Yup! My garage door motor was fried; but nothing else was damaged. But, the hardest hit, was my daughter’s home, which is about 30 yards from my place. They lost power to outside cameras, & a few indoor TV’s. That was it, or so we thought. We share one well, & one pressure tank for both houses, & at 12:30 am, I get a knock on my door & there stands my daughter, in her “moo-moo”, crying her eyes out, & walked into my house & said, “I need to show you something”; she turned on my kitchen faucet, & nothing came out. We lost our access to the well/pressure tank. NO WATER! That woke us all up, & had to figure out why.
All night long, my son-in-law got on his phone & began calling every person he knew that could help us on Saturday, July 4th! A holiday weekend of course. He contacted a friend that drills wells; his initial well drilling experience was on oil/gas rigs in Texas. But, now he drills water wells, has a successful business in Colorado now, & by 10:30 am, was at my daughter’s place, under the crawl space, & found the reason for not getting water: the pressure switch didn’t have any contact’s on it- it was completely fried! As he told me, “the contacts were fried like a chicken wing. Gone like a freight train.”
Mikey’s drilling buddy & the Technician fixed the switch (replaced it); checked the breakers on the electrical panel, & made sure that was ok. We Have Water now. Mikey stated “it was a Godsend that his buddy Nick was here with the pump Tech”!!! We have a good pump , & we have pressure now on all faucets, & our level & location of the pump is in good condition, & a good location in the formation.
So, my Faith in Prayers to God, & from my “kids”, is strong & we are very Blessed.
Thank you for taking a few minutes to read my long post, I appreciate it. Have a very Blessed Sunday & week everyone:).
We have been there on the " well getting hit by lightning" and other malfunctions. We also have a horse that needs about 10 gallons of water per day. And for some perverse reason, these things tend to occur on holidays and weekends!
Oh, absolutely these types of problems occur on holiday weekends! That was the first comment out of my son-in-law’s mouth: “of course this happened on the holiday”!!! But, we were so fortunate that it was not due to lack of water! Just an old contact switch. This Drill Tech is coming back out this next week, & going to replace the electric panel/box because it has to be replaced! Mikey told the guy to go home & enjoy the holiday- We have Water…Amen.
Two quick observations, It doesn’t surprise me that Dr. Malone gravitated to the elderly dog and cared enough to pick him up and the fact that he carries a pocket knife. There are signs of character and I would expect nothing less.
Y'all have outdone yourself with this Sunday Strip ... BRAVO! I laughed through the whole thing. Can't pick a favorite, but love the Reason video!!! 😂 Also LOVE the pic of Mr. Dr. M with the watermelon slice and the aging Chihuahua! I have a slightly smaller (and possibly older) one he can hold if he's ever in Las Vegas! ❤️