This is a "life" investment site. I will never ask anything of you. God does not need anything you have and neither do I. My desire, here, is to help people in trouble, lost, guilty, desperate, lonely, fearful,or simply seeking the truths of God.I have been a seeker of truth for sixty three years since I was nineteen and I am still learning and seeking God's will for what is left of my life. I will answer questions and write commentary on most subjects. Psm.115:1, Pastor Blair
Born on Christmas Eve 1930. Retired Pastor whose ministry began in winter of 1950 as a 19 year old Marine in North Korea in Hell Fire Valley.
We were fighting our way into the Battle of Chosin Reservoir where HQ 1stMarDiv was surrounded by 150,000 Chinese Communist Forces. I Pastored 36 yrs. Sweet wife and I have 6 children and 83 grand, great, and great great grand children and it has not stopped yet. I am a happy, old, Preacher who loves Jesus and people. People...only because God so loved the world. We are an unlovely lot.
It was a dangerous job, at any age, but almost all the riders were very young.
One was 11 years old. This was before everybody had birth certificates. They were recruited with this newspaper ad....
“Wanted: Young, skinny, wiry fellows. Not over 18. Must be expert riders. Willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred.”
Young men I would love to have known ... The Pony Express Riders...Boys Who Were Men
Rayburn Blair
He took this job cause he was bored with plowin
And he wanted to prove he was much of a man
He was tired of "Yes Sirin" and scrapin and bowin
So he would show them all that he had sand.
His Grandpa's rifle hung from his Dad's old saddle
His hand-me-down pistol in his calloused right hand
He rode day and night in a desperate skedaddle
Just barely ahead of a scalp huntin band.
They had run him for miles, his mustang a tirin
But he had given his word and he had it to do
His pony worn down was stumblin ... expirin
Still runnin for his life and for his rider's too
They were the Pony Express carryin mail on the fly
From rider to rider day and night to the Coast
Eighteen hundred miles in ten days live or die
"We rode the West down" was their pride and boast.
Rayburn Blair at 85
I was born a little too late to make the cut.
This year is the 155th anniversary of the Pony Express which ran continuously, day and night, rain, heat, snow, ice and Indians, from Missouri to California, in ten days. Each rider rode about 75 miles a day and changed horses about seven times. They were very young, but almost men, tough as leather, adventurous survivors. These boys played their part in opening the west by carrying the latest news and saddle-bags of mail. RB
Common Sense Commentary: God's word about the illegitimate, other son of Abraham, Ishmael, founding father of the Middle Eastern bloodline. "And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren." Genesis 16:12.
The ISIS (Islamic States of Iraq and Syria) is composed of Sunnis who believe in forced conversions, and will either convert the whole world to Islam or kill those who refuse... if they can. That includes the Shia (Shiite) Muslims who compose the other 12% of Islam. The Sunnis and Shias also hate each other about as much as they hate Jews and Christians. Saddam Hussein, who ruled Iraq with a dictator's iron fist, until his death, was a Sunni though Iraq was mostly Shia. He managed that by shear brutality and force of will. Don't be too sympathetic for the Shi'a (Shiites). Freedom's arch enemy in the Middle East is Iran, which is 95% She'a... not Sunni or ISIS.
The ISIS and ISIL are basically the same except ISIL covers more geography. The "L" stands for "Levant" which includes not only Syria, but the entire eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea... Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel and Jordan. All of that plus the second "I" Iraq.
There has never been a more mixed up war. Sunnis and Shiites hate each other. Both hate Jews and the whole world they call "Infidels", especially Christians and America. The US and Europe felt they just had to get rid of Saddam Hussein. We did but destabilized Iraq into a never ending war, with the US and NATO in and out of it, on one side then the other. Russia sided with Iran off and on. Then we destabilized Libya, got old Gaddafi raped and killed by Muslims who hate us worse than Gaddafi did. We proceeded to agitate them into doing the same to our Ambassador and the inexcusable tragedy of Benghazi. Then we just had to get rid of Syria's Assad who was bad enough, but destabilizing Syria brought in the ISIS (ISIL) and unified several terrorist organizations even stronger than the Taliban or any of the others, alone, with recruits from around the world. Dictators are bad ... but not as bad as the Devil himself. We call them ISIS or ISIL. They have shortened it to "Islamic State". They are killing off the Shia minority, Christians and Jews anywhere they can find them. The "Islamic State's" goal is to unite all the Muslim states under one black flag, all converted to Sunni Muslims which will then simply be Muslims. One Religion, one god, one State, One people ... kinda like the goal of Babel in that same part of the world. (Gen.11:1-5).
During the Nazi atrocities against Jews and dissidents in the Death Camps of WWII, the Muslim nations sympathized and supported the Nazis primarily because of their common hatred of all Jews. 95% of them still do not like Jews, but it doesn't stop there. One out of every 4.56 people on earth is now a Muslim (1.6 Billion of them out of the total world population of 7.3 Billion).
The key to the conflict between Islam and the rest of the world is it's spear head ... ISIL ISIS, which is now growing in numbers of fighters far faster than they can be killed off, while they are slaughtering vast numbers of their awe struck, immobile enemies. They are funded by other Sunni Arabs, world-wide fund raising arms, captured oil and gas fields, and a new source of income, human body parts from their prisoners, sold to the "civilized" world ... for money. Here is a recent discovery by US troops in syria, as reported by Reuters. RB
ISIS sanctions organ
harvesting
From The Hill News Outlet
The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has decided to sanction the harvesting of human organs, Reuters reported Friday.
The terror group’s ruling, which was made in January, is giving rise to fears that they could be trafficking in human organs.
U.S. officials found the ruling amid a trove of information unearthed during a May raid in Syria, Reuters said.
“The apostate's life and organs don't have to be respected and may be taken with impunity,” the document from ISIS’ Research and Fatwa Committee says.
“Organs that end the captive's life if removed: The removal of that type is also not prohibited.”
Though the document only allows for taking organs from a living captive to save a Muslim’s life, Iraqi officials have accused ISIS of trafficking in body parts for profit.
______________________________________
Who can imagine the next uncovered , unthinkable, ungodly revelation of this "Devil we don't know" who claims supreme authority and power from their god, Allah, to conquer the world? RB
Common Sense Commentary: For many, many years, in America, most storekeepers chose to celebrate Christmas by putting out nativity scenes, wise men, angels and the star of Bethlehem or "Merry Christmas" in the window. Others, who didn't want to look too "religious", put out a Santa Clause or a Christmas tree, but even they put up a "Merry Christmas" greeting. The same was true of "Christmas" music. Those who put out Nativity scenes played "Silent Night, Holy Night","Hark, The Herald Angels Sing", "Away In A Manger" or "Joy To The World". Those who put up a Santa usually played "Jingle Bells", "White Christmas" or "Sleigh Bells Ring, Are You Listening". Most Christians enjoyed it all and 95% of all other Americans did too... even Jews. Those who didn't, knew this was a professing Christian nation, and didn't complain much. But the Atheists did. Then came the Muslims who hated Jews and Christians and went to work with the Atheists to pressure politicians, store owners and corporations to stop offending them by publicly celebrating the Birth of Christ ... whether it happened on Dec.25 or not. Many Liberal Churches joined in with the atheists, Muslims and voter obsessed politicians to demand "Political Correctness". Universities picked up the hew and cry and made "Political Correctness" fit every insult, compliment, disagreement, sex difference, religion and hurt feeling. Political Correctness has now become the be all, end all and fix all in every question and answer in business, education, government and religion. It is a curse upon this once greatest nation on earth and hamstrings action, progress and the Bill Of Rights.
But some storekeepers still put up a sign or say, "Merry Christmas" regardless of who it offends or drives away. They do so because they would have to "willfully" not do so and thereby "willfully" ignore Christ, which they dare not do. Those who no longer acknowledge "The reason for the season", put up a "Happy Holidays" sign and warn employees not to say "Merry Christmas" lest they offend an Atheist, Muslim or brain-washed citizen, and lose a sale. These storekeepers do not unknowingly say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". It is a conscious choice they make to be Politically Correct and intentionally ignore the only reason for CHRISTmas ... Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. It doesn't matter the actual date of His birth. It is a world-wide acknowledgment of the miracle and meaning of His birth, not the date, which matters. So how should Christians respond? Well, God's word says in Eph. 5:11 "... Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." Here is a song with that message of Christian grace at Christmas
Common Sense Commentary: God revealed our true worth when He gave Jesus to redeem us. I have never felt either inferior or superior to any man ... "...for God so loved the world ....". Since He loves me, I must be as important as any other, and since He loves all the others, I must not be more important than they.
So, we are all equal in value to our Creator who created us all "...in His image and likeness....". The difference is, some accept God's remedy, Jesus, for His redemption of our sinful selves and some do not. Those who do not know this, need to be told, and those who know it need to do the telling.... "Go ye therefore into all the world...." and tell them, beginning now, where you are.
Life in this world is slowly winding down for all of us. But when one reaches my age they cannot avoid the reality that their remaining time here is very limited. I am thankful to our Lord for another year of life to bless you or bore you with this blog. Of course, the day will come when my last thought and comment will be done. My life and ministry has already far exceeded the average lifespan so I have no complaints if God sees fit to call me home. Those who study such things say I might live another 5.8 years, but He who created us makes those decisions without benefit of statistics.
Whatever the accomplishments, mistakes, successes or failures "this little light of mine" has had, God has certainly given me an exciting and interesting journey. If anything I have done or said has blessed you, please give Jesus the credit, and if I have hurt you, the blame is mine. Please forgive me.
Looking back over the years, God has blessed me so far beyond myself, my ability or intelligence, that there is no way I can take any credit for it. I am just thankful he let me be there .... in the middle of what He was doing all around me.
I will not stir the ashes of a campfire long burned down to coals, a fire which I did not build and still do not need, to keep my personal importance warm. I have more recognition still, than I deserve or want. So I am content to know that God determines my true worth, or lack of it, which neither I nor my friends or detractors have any idea of, with accuracy. So, again, I conclude another year of precious life with the verse God gave me many years ago, as a young pastor, under which I have signed my name in every outgoing letter .... Psalms 115:1 "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake." If the New Year is not a "Happy" one, then let it at least be one of prayer and at peace with God. Rayburn Blair 12-31-15
Common Sense Commentary: This is what I love about Brother Graham. With all he has to lose, as an international figure, by going public with his disgust at the establishment members of the Republican Party, he still does the right thing and dumps his membership. This does not mean he will not continue to vote and support the Republican candidate if that candidate is honest, moral, Conservative and a Constitutionalist. Even if that candidate is not an obvious Christian. He will support him if he has those Christian characteristics and is a true Patriot. But, he can no longer identify himself with the Republican Party, of which the majority of its leaders might as well be Democrats ... by the way they vote and conduct themselves. Those "Demopublicans" have become so corrupt they seem to think is it their right to manipulate who becomes the Party Candidate, for any public office, instead of leaving it to the grassroots voters to make the choice.
This elitist flaw grows, like a cancer, as flesh and blood rulers gain in power and prestige. Almost inevitably, long term politicians drift into this illusion of all tyrants.
Billy Graham's son Evangelist Franklin Graham slams, quits GOP
May 24, 2009: Franklin Graham prepares to give the invocation before the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 auto race at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. (AP)
Evangelist Franklin Graham announced Tuesday
he is leaving the Republican Party over the GOP-led
spending bill passed last week, calling it “wasteful”
and likening funding of Planned Parenthood to Nazi
concentration camps.
“Shame on the Republicans and the Democrats for
passing such a wasteful spending bill last week,” he
said. “And to top it off, funding Planned Parenthood!”
Graham, who had previously slammed both political
parties, let his frustration flow on a Facebook posting.
“Seeing and hearing Planned Parenthood talk non
chalantly about selling baby parts from aborted
fetuses with utter disregard for human life is
reminiscent of Joseph Mengele and the Nazi
concentration camps!,” he wrote. “That should’ve
been all that was needed to turn off the faucet for
their funding. Nothing was done to trim this 2,000
page, $1.1 trillion budget.”
Graham, who has supported GOP White House
hopeful Donald Trump as well as embraced his
controversial call to ban Muslims from the U.S.,
said he’s lost faith in the political system.
“I have no hope in the Republican Party, the
Democratic Party, or Tea Party to do what is
best for America,” he wrote. “Unless more godly
men and women get in this process and change
this wicked system, our country is in for trouble.”
Common Sense Commentary: The "Global Warming" religious heresy, composed of the world's Left Wing , Socialists, Atheists, Theoretical Scientists, Presidenta Obama, and 95% of Democrats seem always to put their big left foot in Bear Traps they thought were just Bear sign. They did it again when they ran across the stage and down the isles of the national News Media theater screaming "Fire, fire, fire, we are all gonna die of Global Warming". When they failed to stampede the audience with plan #1, they re-huddled in the lobby for plan #2, and made another run down the isles screaming, "Smoke, smoke smoke, we are all gonna die of Climate Change". Global Warming is "free falling" from the plane hoping to hit a trampoline..... Climate Change is jumping out with a parachute so you are right, whether the weather gets warmer, cooler, rains or shines. Since NASA has just concluded its study, without the thumbs of the Carbon Credit heretics on the scientific scale, we now know what we thought we knew all along.... Men don't change global weather. The world is not getting warmer, its just constantly varying or even getting cooler. This from the U.K Daily Express(Where is the U.S. press on this news?) Climate change shock: Burning fossil fuels 'COOLS planet', says NASA
BURNING fossil fuels and cutting down trees causes global COOLING, a shocking new NASA study has found.
Major theories about what causes temperatures to rise have been thrown into doubt after NASA found the Earth has cooled in areas of heavy industrialization where more trees have been lost and more fossil fuel burning takes place.
Environmentalists have long argued the burning of fossil fuels in power stations and for other uses is responsible for global warming and predicted temperature increases because of the high levels of carbon dioxide produced - which causes the global greenhouse effect.
While the findings did not dispute the effects of carbon dioxide on global warming, they found aerosols - also given off by burning fossil fuels - actually cool the local environment, at least temporarily.
The research was carried out to see if current climate change models for calculating future temperatures were taking into account all factors and were accurate.
A NASA spokesman said: "To quantify climate change, researchers need to know the Transient Climate Response (TCR) and Equilibrium Climate Sensitivity (ECS) of Earth.
"TCR is characteristic of short-term predictions, up to a century out, while ECS looks centuries further into the future, when the entire climate system has reached equilibrium and temperatures have stabilised."
The spokesman said it was "well known" that aerosols such as those emitted in volcanic eruptions and power stations, act to cool Earth, at least temporarily, by reflecting solar radiation away from the planet.
He added: "In a similar fashion, land use changes such as deforestation in northern latitudes result in bare land that increases reflected sunlight."
Kate Marvel, a climatologist at GISS and the paper’s lead author, said the results showed the "complexity" of estimating future global temperatures.
She said: “Take sulfate aerosols, which are created from burning fossil fuels and contribute to atmospheric cooling.
“They are more or less confined to the northern hemisphere, where most of us live and emit pollution.
NASA found a net cooling in the northern hemisphere due to industrial activity. Earth’s thermostat found: ‘Iron dust’ made by global warming then... Take sulfate aerosols, which are created from burning fossil fuels and contribute to atmospheric cooling. They are more or less confined to the northern hemisphere, where most of us live and emit pollution Kate Marvel, a climatologist at GISS and the paper’s lead author "There’s more land in the northern hemisphere, and land reacts quicker than the ocean does to these atmospheric changes.
"Because earlier studies do not account for what amounts to a net cooling effect for parts of the northern hemisphere, predictions for TCR and ECS have been lower than they should be."
The study found existing models for climate change had been too simplistic and did not account for these factors.
The spokesman said: "There have been many attempts to determine TCR and ECS values based on the history of temperature changes over the last 150 years and the measurements of important climate drivers, such as carbon dioxide.
"As part of that calculation, researchers have relied on simplifying assumptions when accounting for the temperature impacts of climate drivers other than carbon dioxide, such as tiny particles in the atmosphere known as aerosols, for example.
Climate scientist Gavin Schmidt, the director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York and a co-author on the study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, said: "The assumptions made to account for these drivers are too simplistic and result in incorrect estimates of TCR and ECS.
“The problem with that approach is that it falls way short of capturing the individual regional impacts of each of those variables,” he said, adding that only within the last ten years has there been enough available data on aerosols to abandon the simple assumption and instead attempt detailed calculations.
But, rather than being good news, NASA has concluded the lack of taking these factors into account means existing climate change models have underestimated at the future impact on global temperatures will be.
NASA looked at climate changing activities across the globe for the study Climate change rally Sun, September 21, 2014 The worldwide march is part of an international day of action to fight climate change ahead of a United Nations summit in New York on 23 September, which calls for drastic political and economic changes to slow global warming, has been organised by a coalition of unions, activists, politicians and scientists from around the globe.
Is climate change real? NASA gives verdict on global... WATCH: Storm Desmond seen from space as NASA maps how much rain... NASA researchers at GISS accomplished a first ever feat by calculating the temperature impact of each of these variables—greenhouse gases, natural and manmade aerosols, ozone concentrations, and land use changes—based on historical observations from 1850 to 2005 using a massive ensemble of computer simulations.
The spokesman said: "Analysis of the results showed that these climate drivers do not necessarily behave like carbon dioxide, which is uniformly spread throughout the globe and produces a consistent temperature response; rather, each climate driver has a particular set of conditions that affects the temperature response of Earth.
"Because earlier studies do not account for what amounts to a net cooling effect for parts of the northern hemisphere, predictions for TCR and ECS have been lower than they should be. "
While surrounded by a persistent, angry mob of old age liabilities ....
Common Sense Commentary: A reader asked me if I was not afraid of what this tyrannical government might do to me for taking them to task on this blog. At 85, Dec.24, I do not relish the inconvenience of an IRS audit or some other intrusion of the feds into my life. However, at 85, how much of my life can it cost an old coot like me if they drain out my last few months or years like burned out old motor oil? My viscosity effectiveness is down to about 3% and my sand content up to 97%. So I don't stand to lose much if I lost it all.... except my sand.
Anyway, at 85, I really don't give two West Texas hoots in hades what the jackal Liberals and hyena sociopaths in Washington think of me if they think of me at all. But, then, Politically Correct human bureaucrats don't have to think anything of their enemies, anymore; they can keep track of them with computers, like digital dollars. A computer program can filter out any particular group they choose to deal with, be it Christians and Patriots for punishment or Muslims and Perverts for support. It is obvious our government is doing something similar to the way they keep up with terrorists, which means my name and maybe yours is being sequestered in an enemies file somewhere for future action. Any "future" I have left to give, in this world, is minuscule, and that is an "old age advantage". I can say anything I wish without fear of long-term retribution from Eric Holder type Attorneys General. I don't even care much, at this age, what anybody thinks of me except God. Not that He approves of everything I do or say. But my most important ministry, at this point in life, is to do my best to please my Lord, take care of Bettie, and try to say what needs to be said to whoever will hear it or read it.
What would really grieve me is, if the Left Wing Socialists and Political Correctness muggers thought of me as one of them.
Someone put my wife on the Democrat's fundraising mail outs list. When she gets something from Hillary or the DNC, she is insulted they think she is one of them. I count their reproach an honor to be treasured. It could be that who a person chooses as enemies tells as much about their character as who they choose as friends. RB
Common Sense Commentary: No "Peace Keeper", law officer or soldier is perfect ... without fault, or even close to it... as is true of you and me. But that is far better to say of them than, as some seem to believe, that no Peace Keeper is worthy of his badge or uniform. It is those who hate all Peace Keepers who are the real threat to a peaceful society and unworthy of being called Americans.
I have known hundreds of law officers and military men; a few not worthy of the holy calling (Rom.13:1-6), their badge or uniform . Those few will not last in the spotlight of public scrutiny. But 95% of the others are worthy of their enormous responsibilities and do their jobs well and according to the book. I cannot even say as much about preachers, priests, rabies or politicians.
In every vocation and organization there is a percentage of rotten apples ... including churches ... but you don't judge all of Texas by the Lee Harvey Oswalds or Lyndon Johnsons. So let us all judge ourselves, try to reach those lost souls and neutralize the hypocrites. But do not tolerate blanket criticism of peace keepers who are just ordinary people ... except for the uniform and their willingness to put their lives on the line for low pay, and lots of criticism and accusations from the most unworthy and imperfect of our citizens. RB
Raymond Chandler said it this way concerning peacekeepers and the best of ordinary men ...
“Down these mean streets a man must go who is
not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor
afraid. He is the hero; ...
he is everything. He must be a complete man and a common man and yet
an unusual man. He must be, to use a rather weathered phrase, a man of
honor—by instinct, by inevitability, without thought of it, and certainly
without saying it. He must be the best man in his world and a good
enough man for any world. “He will take no man’s money dishonestly
and no man’s insolence without a due and dispassionate revenge. He is a
lonely man and his pride is that you will treat him as a proud man or be
very sorry you ever saw him.“The story is this man’s adventure in search
of a hidden truth, and it would be no adventure if it did not happen to a
man fit for adventure. If there were enough like him, the world would be
a very safe place to live in, without becoming too dull to be worth living
An old man said it in the land of the free
That America is our national family tree
With roots, a trunk and branches three.
Those roots are our heritage and history
The great trunk our strength and unity
Three branches guarantee us opportunity
To produce oxygen, fruit and a family.
Now elitists swear the purpose of our tree
Is to control, tax and "protect" you and me,
But truth be known from sea to shining sea
Our protection is their second responsibility
But the first is to step aside and let us be.
Common Sense Commentary: Ten or twelve years after Jim's death, and after I had returned home and was pastoring my first of two churches, I finally got the grace and courage to write his family, send them Jim's extra dog tag, which I had kept in my pocket ever since, and tell them how it happened. His mother had my letter published in the local newspaper, as a news story about Jim. The family contacted me and asked if I could visit them in Indiana. Bettie and I drove to their home soon after and they took us up to the cemetery where Jim was buried, overlooking the Ohio river, if I remember correctly. I have been in contact with the family off and on ever since, mostly with his sister Darlene, by email.
Jim's brother, Robert, Robert's son Rob, and I, communicate regularly now, mostly on Conservative political issues, by email. Below is Brother Robert's response to my blog post this week concerning The Battle Of Chosin and Jim's death. RB
From: Bob Storey To: Rayburn Blair Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 7:41 PM Subject: Re: Battle Of Chosin: 17 Day's When I Became A Man 65 Years Ago In North Korean Winter
Thank you and our son, Rob, for reminding your blog audience of this forgotten war. It was in late November of 1950 that I responded to a knock at the door at Dad's farm in a small community in Indiana. There stood a police officer, his left hand holding his cap, his right hand holding a yellow Western Union envelope. I asked him to come in as he handed me the envelope. Mother, Dad, and siblings who were home that night came into the living room as I opened and slowly read the brief message over the tape signature of President Harry S. Truman telling our family that Jim, a brave Marine, had made the supreme sacrifice for his country. A lot of good things came about as a result of what happened that terrible night. Jim went home to be the Lord, and you, Rayburn, answered God's call to serve him as a minister of the gospel. You obeyed and He used you in a mighty way in Tallahassee. God moves in ways we mere mortals don't understand to accomplish his will. Thank you for recognizing Jim in your blog. Means a lot to his remaining family. Bob
___________________________________
Thanks, Bob, it is one of the greatest blessings of my life to have had Jim, and now the Storey family, as friends. God's best to all of you. Rayburn
Common Sense Commentary: Since I am a Christian I do not curse. I have said "damn" a few times and "hell" even more often ... in sermons, but that was in Biblical terms. I cringe to hear God's name used in vain and am repulsed at nasty four letter words. But "damn" and "hell", used as curse words, are simply inappropriate ... especially for a preacher. So, I guess I need to hire a staff cusser.
Not a dyed in the wool, hard rock type of cusser, but one just out of grade school ... not a fluent, "like a sailor" high-schooler or a University graduate or highly experienced with seniority cusser, you understand. It will have to be a trainee, limited cuss vocabulary, maximum "damn it to hell", novice type applicant. If you qualify and can live in a barn, you may want to apply. Your first assignment will be expressing your Boss's (me) frustration at this stupid, stinking, (allowed) political injustice. RB
More Benefits than Permanently Disabled Combat Vets and Still Not Happy
From Freedom Outpost 2013
Right now in America, there are approximately 3.5 million disabled veterans drawing, on average, $1,000 in VA disability. Many of these veterans suffer from permanent disabilities that have greatly reduced their ability to earn an income, if not snuffed that ability out entirely, and many of them do not function as well with regular life skills and capabilities as they did before becoming injured in service to their country.
Many of these veterans are missing limbs, have severe back and joint pain and other issues as a result of the heavy body armor they wore in the wars in the Middle East, and an even larger number suffer from invisible wounds, such as PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), the root cause in 22 veterans a day taking their own lives in the mass veteran suicide epidemic we are now seeing in America.
However, most of the veterans who suffer from disabilities will tell you that they would proudly serve their country again if given the opportunity.
There is a different group of people in America who are also receiving benefits from the government. However, this group of people have not served their country in war, and even more amazing, they are receiving more in benefits than our disabled combat veterans! And on top of that? They are still complaining and demanding more!
Look at this Facebook comment that has gone viral from one welfare recipient in America who receives more in food aid alone than the average disabled American veteran receives in disability compensation.
So there you have it folks. Brave men and women who put their lives on the line for this great nation and who ended up losing a part of themselves through physical or mental/psychological disabilities, and their ne'er do well counter parts who have never served, but are getting a free ride regardless, and who are screaming for more and more free stuff from our blankedy blank government. RB
Common Sense Commentary: The pictures, in the link below, tell the story of the 17 day Battle Of Chosin Reservoir between the U.S. Marine 1st Division and several Chinese divisions during the winter (Nov/Dec) of 1950. This week is the 65th anniversary of the end of that battle. The battle was fought day and night in temperatures between -25 and -40 degrees below zero. My best friend, Leroy (Jim) Story, who was killed in Hell Fire Valley, in this battle, and I were members of Col. Chesty Puller's 1st Regiment. The pictures tell the story. I thank Jim's Nephew, Rob Storey, for sending this link to me today... in memory of Jim. RB
From: Bob Storey To: Rayburn Blair Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 7:41 PM Subject: Re: Battle Of Chosin: 17 Day's When I Became A Man 65 Years Ago In North Korean Winter
Thank you and our son, Rob, for reminding your blog audience of this forgotten war. It was in late November of 1950 that I responded to a knock at the door at Dad's farm in a small community in Indiana. There stood a police officer, his left hand holding his cap, his right hand holding a yellow Western Union envelope. I asked him to come in as he handed me the envelope. Mother, Dad, and siblings who were home that night came into the living room as I opened and slowly read the brief message over the tape signature of President Harry S. Truman telling our family that Jim, a brave Marine, had made the supreme sacrifice for his country. A lot of good things came about as a result of what happened that terrible night. Jim went home to be the Lord, and you, Rayburn, answered God's call to serve him as a minister of the gospel. You obeyed and He used you in a mighty way in Tallahassee. God moves in ways we mere mortals don't understand to accomplish his will. Thank you for recognizing Jim in your blog. Means a lot to his remaining family. Bob
Common Sense Commentary: How ironic is it, when a nation runs out of courageous and competent men, that a woman steps into the breach and puts her pointy finger on the nose of the cowardly masculine leadership, and publicly exposes their idiocy and tells them off like Momma dealing with Junior. She twists his nose and tells him where his dumb actions will dump him. How could this much insanity get so deep rooted in America's Presidency, Congress, Supreme Court and the Federal Reserve System? Simple ... when you have a treasonous President, a cowardly Congress, senile Senator Mcconnell, inept Senator Reid, silly, pompous Pelosi and a power hungry Federal Reserve Bank, its easy. Its a natural, automatic self destructive formula for ruin that evidently none of them can see... but up steps a woman with clear vision like Debbora of the Bible. She was the best man in the nation at a time of crisis, and led the way out of the cowardly craziness of God's people at that time. "And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time." Judges 4:4
‘Crazy’?
Editorial of The New York Sun 2015
“We dare to talk about the gold standard and its relative merits, knowing that the merest whisper of a gold standard is enough to elicit the guffaws of the central bankers down the road. Because they say ‘that’s just crazy.’ And I think, really? Crazier than negative interest rates? Crazier than paying banks to keep loanable funds in sterile depository accounts at the Fed? Crazier than having the Fed buy up trillions in government debt, remit the interest payments back to treasury, and then count that as revenue to the federal budget?
WHO'S CRAZY NOW? That's the question economist Judy Shelton of the Atlas Network pressed at the conference convened at Jackson Hole by the American Principles Project — is it the advocates of a classical gold standard favored by the American Founders or the partisans of fiat money that has handed the monetary powers to a runaway central bank?
“Is it crazier than having hordes of financial market analysts parsing every word uttered by a monetary official, obsessing over the minutes of the latest Fed meeting trying to glean clues about what might happen next? It’s almost as if we’ve forgotten how to engage in free enterprise, because we’re waiting for marching orders from a central planning agency. I think we’re the rational ones. They like to brand us as ideologues, but in truth we’re the realists. And that sobering fact is becoming clearer every day as reality continues to whipsaw global markets.”
Those are the words with which the economist Judy Shelton wrapped up her remarks at Jackson Hole, and let us just say, Patsy Cline herself couldn’t have put it better. Ms. Shelton’s remarks were, our sources report, one, if only one, highlight of the counter-conference that the American Principles Project convened to put into sharp relief the question of whether the Federal Reserve and America’s regime of fiat money are the cause of our national travail during what has come to be called the Great Recession.
What happened at Jackson Hole marks an important moment. For more than 30 years, the Fed has been meeting there annually for a symposium that routinely took place with hardly a peep from the public. This year its arriving delegates were met by representatives of two counter-conferences. One, called Fed Up, was a gathering of Marxists and other left-of-center figures who want to make money (even) easier than it’s been. They reckon that the failure of zero interest rates to create jobs will be rectified by even more easy fiat money...... (But).... the group asking the new and hard questions was the American Principles Project. It mounted a counter-conference that viewed the monetary question through free-market, constitutionalist principles, like those Ms. Shelton sketched above....
Both the Senate and House committees that oversee the Fed are now taking an look at strategic monetary questions. Their review includes what kind of oversight to give our central bank, what kind of mandates it should have, what rules ought to govern its formation of monetary policy. The House has already twice passed Audit the Fed, the second time but a year ago and by a vote of 333 to 92. This effort has been resisted by the Federal Reserve, and public counter-conferences are inevitable.
Call it a case of the public offering its own forward guidance. Both sides of the debate see a Federal Reserve that has lost touch not only with Congress but with the public. They see a Federal Reserve that is guiding the economy through the exercise of the judgment of Ph.D.s, as James Grant of the Interest Rate Observer often notes. The American Founders would have understood the error of the Ph.D. standard. They gave us a Constitution that granted to Congress monetary powers that our Revolution had wrested from George III, who really was — not to put too fine a point on it — crazy.
Common Sense Commentary: This is a major world news story. Such news cannot have been overlooked by the U.S. Press. We Americans have not heard
or read about it from our Left-Wing, Main Street Media because it is Politically Incorrect and the Obama Justice Department is putting pressure on all news outlets to avoid such news coverage. France is finally waking up, but not us. RB
In the wake of Islamic attacks in Paris France Is Shutting Down Up To 160 Mosques
by Christine Niles • ChurchMilitant.com
Raids reveal large stashes of weapons and ammunition PARIS (ChurchMilitant.com) - In the wake of the November 13 Paris terrorist attacks that claimed more than 130 lives, the French government is ordering up to 160 mosques to be shut down in the coming months. Raids have revealed large stashes of weapons and ammunition. The government's emergency powers grant it the right to take this extraordinary measure, and mosques that are unlicensed or have a history of "preaching hatred" are being singled out. One of France's chief imams, Hassan El Alaoui, said last Wednesday, "According to official figures and our discussions with the interior ministry, between 100 and 160 more mosques will be closed because they are run illegally without proper licenses, they preach hatred, or use takfiri speech." Takfiri speech involves sectarian slurs leveled by one Muslim against fellow Muslims. "This kind of speech shouldn't even be allowed in Islamic countries, let alone secure countries like France," El Alaoui said. Image Weapons and ammunition seized from a mosque. Meanwhile, several of these mosques have been raided, revealing a "staggering" number of weapons and ammunition. Sunday, authorities conducted a raid on a mosque in Lagny-sur-Marne, 18 miles east of Paris, and uncovered 334 weapons and a large quantity of 7.62mm Kalashnikov ammunition, along with ISIS propaganda videos. Police also turned up recordings of chants "glorifying the martyrs of jihad linked to the terrorist organization Jabhat al-Nusra," the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda. The chants were found among teaching materials for youth in a madrassa, or private religious school for boys, connected to the mosque. According to the prefecture of police, "No request was made to open a private school." Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said, "In 15 days we have seized one third of the quantity of war-grade weapons that are normally seized in a year." As a result, 232 Muslims have been taken into custody and nine placed on house arrest. It's the third mosque since the November 13 attacks to be shut down, with many more expected in the future. Muslim-owned businesses and homes are also being searched, with 2,235 raided so far. France currently has the largest Muslim population in Western Europe, with about 2,600 mosques total in the country. The Schengen Agreement, which abolished border checks among the 26 member states, allows residents of the European Union — more than 400 million — to travel freely throughout Europe without showing identification or being screened. The border policy may be reconsidered, as it gives easy access to undocumented migrants — including radical Muslims — to infiltrate the country and stage future terrorist attacks.
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America's Left-Wing Politicians and Social Planners Have been quietly working, behind the scenes for 35 years, following Europe's formula for bringing Islamic immigrants into our country. The vultures impersonating chickens have come home to roost and it is not too late, here, to change our immigration policies. RB
Here is a video on the problem... RB
Common Sense Commentary: Brother Falwell and Liberty officials know that their huge, patriotic, American, Christian university, named "Liberty", is bound to be a prime target for Muslims who hate of each of those qualities. You can be sure they have a very tight control on who, what, when, where and how these, adults only, students carry and handle guns on campus. There will be no show and tell or trigger happy show offs, qualified by the University, to carry... even with a license. Liberty has 14,500 on campus students plus 95,000 online students. Though there are potential risks, as in everything we do, their decision is correct. This would increase my likelihood of sending a student to Liberty, not decrease it. RB
Liberty U. President: No more 'gun-free zones'; let students carry
OneNewsNow - Lynchburg, Va. (December 10, 2015)
Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. told students at the Christian school they could bring concealed weapons into their dorms, ending a "gun-free" zone on campus.
guns on Liberty Univ. campus The announcement followed his encouragement on Friday that students and other members of the campus community seek permits to carry concealed weapons to counter any possible armed assault on the campus.
"Let's teach them a lesson if they ever show up here," Falwell told a convocation crowd of thousands.
Falwell said the recommendation followed the mass shooting days earlier in San Bernardino, California, that left 14 dead. He also mentioned Muslims in his call-to-arms but insisted he was referring specifically to the California killers, Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik.
In an interview, Falwell said the guns-in-dorms decision was in response to students who had requested it. Since Friday, he said, about 240 students had sought free gun-safety lessons offered by campus police required for a concealed-carry permit.
Falwell said the proposal would have a limited impact because most students who are old enough to get a permit live off campus. In Virginia, 21 is the minimum age to get a concealed-carry permit.
The school's governing board must approve the change.
About 950 people on the Liberty campus — students, faculty and staff — already have concealed-carry permits, Falwell said.
Philip Van Cleave, president of the pro-gun Virginia Citizens Defense League, says it is just common sense.
"Anytime you have a gun-free zone, you've got a dangerous area — especially if criminals or terrorists are aware of it," he said.
Having armed people around improves the chances of thwarting an attack and saving lives, he said.
Hypothecation is the practice where a debtor pledges collateral to secure a debt, or a third party (News Media) pledges collateral for the debtor (Democrats)
Common Sense Commentary: In today's America, the Liberal Media Loves Socialism and Agnosticism. Most (not all) Democrats are Socialists and Agnostics. Hillary is a Democrat ... So the Liberal Media loves her, hide, hair, warts and all. Nothing else matters to them; she is one of them. "Freedom of the press", in original constitutional terms meant, "freedom to print or broadcast all of the truth" whomever it hurt. But since there is no "truth judge", except Him who said, "I am the truth", and the "News" Media give Him no credibility, they print the news through the prism of their own flawed ideology ... not truth. Then they expect all of us to blindly accept it and believe what they say we should ... It is called "Political Correctness", according to them. NowTrump, whatever else he believes or says, does not bow to the Golden Calf of News Media ... That is why so many Republicans support him. He says what he really thinks, which is "Freedom of Speech", even if he is wrong on some of it. He is the quintessential example of "Political Incorrectness". He goes even farther than I ... and that's hard to do. But anyone who is turned off by Rosie O'Donnell, Hillary and Pelosi can't be all bad, so I would vote for him before any Democrat, though I am an Independent.
I defend Trump's right to be critical of nearly everybody on the stage, but I don't really care for that personality characteristic. At 70 miles per hour, swerving in and out, I hope he shifts into second gear soon before even his most loyal supporters get sea-sick and jump for their lives. But, at least he is living up to his normal loose cannon reputation and says what he thinks... much of it right... as opposed to at least half of the other candidates
On the other hand, probably because it has served Trump so well in the polls, for Ben Carson and Marco Rubio to take up that double edged sword, is totally opposite to their modus operandi. Sarcasm, insinuation and insult just do not fit good ole Ben and nice young Marco. I like them both, but they would be wise to use more positive methods than they are drifting into. There is room for only one New York street fighter in the GOP bandwagon. They are already in the top four in the polls and they didn't get there street fighting .... Trump did. Even though I like them both. I like Trump for his anger... not his attitude ... because I'm angry too and wonder why every American isn't. But, Ben and Marco would be better served to take the tact of Ted Cruz and stick to the issues. Ted has set himself up to be either President or everybody's Vice-Presidential choice by not making any of the other candidate's supporters resent him. By criticising Ted, Marco and Ben lose Ted's supporters if the final fight is between Trump and either of them. I think Ben may be out of the running for the top spot, but would likely be a vice presidential choice by one of the other three. Marco is still a possibile #1, but his team wants to draw support away from Cruz by criticising him falsely. It won't work. All true Conservatives know that Cruz is the strongest Conservative up there. For Marco to accuse Cruz of being weak on immigration, national security, and anti-Israel is just not true and hurts Marco more for saying it than it does Cruz. Cruz is on the rise...just as he planned the timing and place.
As for the abortionist, same sex marriage, left wing, anti-Constitution, so called Democrats .... well ... I had better not use MY freedom of speech by saying what I really think about anybody who would align themselves with that bunch of ........ (You can write the last word of this post)
Click here for interview with Cruz on Muslim "immigrants":
Common Sense Commentary: This is a prophecy of Religious Rebellion, Responsibility, Accountability and Judgement ... followed by God's Grace....
Jeremiah 19 and 20 "Hear ye the word of the LORD .... O kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem .... 19:3. "Because they have forsaken meand they have estranged this place, and they have burned incense in it unto strange gods .... and they have filled this place with the blood of innocents; They have built also high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind." 19:4-5. Therefore I willmake void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem ... and I will cause them to fall by the sword ... 19:6.
From this "I will" verse for the next 15 verses, God expresses His perfect "I will" twelve times against the people's rebellious self-will. After God defined the sins of Judah and Jerusalem, following His "Because they have forsaken me",
he then made His astounding refutation, opposition and rejection of their wicked deviancy, and he concluded with this Holy Response ... "Therefore" followed by 12 "I wills" of terrible judgement. Those judgement, concluded with the final one in Jer.20:5 in which God said he would give them "into the hand of their enemies, which shall carry them to Babylon".
This is a very revealing event in the history of the Jews. It is a one sided battle of wills between God's chosen people and Himself, in which only they were fighting... by their rebellion. God does not need to fight, he simply drops overwhelming judgement on the self-willed rebels against His perfect will.
Finally, 15 chapters later, to emphasize the Jews' sin of a perverted self-will against His perfect will, God repeats his refutation, opposition and rejection of their perverse, false worship by the sacrificing of their children to a false god. In Jer.35:32, He reiterates ... "And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin." It was not God's perfect will, but they had a permissive will and they did it anyway of their own self-will.
One last observation .... One verse after this second mention, God's grace, for the rebellious Jews, is promised to them ...."Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely: And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever...." Jeremiah 32:37-39
Don't underestimate the importance of giving of your money. You are giving of yourself.
Common Sense Commentary: The charities listed below do not include churches which are also composed of terrible, bad, good better and best. You, as a giver are responsible, as a Steward, to God who gave you the resources or the ability to gain resources. With that responsibility is included the necessity to be wise, prudent, practical and to learn how your donations and tithes are spent by the charity or church you give to. Giving money is, in fact, giving that part of your life which was required to gain that money, including your time, your talents, your labor and the personal sacrifice you invested in it. So when you give it or spend it, you are giving and spending yourself which is all you have to give. If your parents left you the money as an inheritance, you are giving their time, talents, labor, sacrifices. Ask God's leadership in your giving. He knows all the unknown details, good or bad. RB
A TIMELY REMINDER BEFORE YOUR GENEROUS SPIRITS OPEN YOUR WALLETS.
The following two lists of worst and best charities are only the most nationally known ones who give the least percentage, who give the most, and the level of compensation for their CEO's.
Worst offenders are listed first followed by the the best of the best ....
Worst Offenders The American Red Cross President and CEO Marsha J. Evans' Salary for the year was $651,957 Plus expenses
MARCH OF DIMES Only a dime for Every 1 dollar is given to the Needy.
The United Way President Brian Gallagher Receives a $375,000 base salary Along with numerous expense benefits.
UNICEF CEO Caryl M. Stern Receives $1,200,000 per year (100k Per month) plus all expenses including a ROLLS ROYCE. Less than 5 Cents of your donated dollar goes to the Cause.
GOODWILL CEO and owner Mark Curran Profits $2.3 million a year. Goodwill is a Very catchy name for his business. You donate to his business And then he sells the items for PROFIT. He pays nothing For his products and pays his workers minimum wage! Nice Guy. $0.00 goes to Help anyone! Stop giving to this Man.
Best of the best
The Salvation Army - Commissioner, Todd Bassett Receives a small salary of only $13,000 per year(plus housing) for Managing this $2 billion dollar Organization. 96 percent of donated dollars go To the cause.
The American Legion - National Commander receives A $0.00 zero Salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!
The Veterans of Foreign Wars - National Commander receives A $0.00 zero Salary. Your donations go To help Veterans and their families and youth!
The Disabled American Veterans - National Commander receives A $0.00 zero Salary. Your donations go To help Veterans and their families and youth!
The Military Order of Purple Hearts - National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go To help Veterans and their families and youth!
The Vietnam Veterans Association - National Commander receives A $0.00 zero Salary. Your donations go To help Veterans and their families and youth!
Make a Wish: For children's last Wishes - 100% goes to funding trips or Special wishes for a dying child.
St. Jude Research Hospital -100% goes towards funding and Helping Children with Cancer who have no insurance and Cannot afford to pay.
Ronald McDonald Houses - All monies go to running The houses for parents who have critically ill Children in the hospital. 100% goes to housing, and feeding The families.
Lions Club International - 100% OF DONATIONS GO TO HELP THE BLIND, BUY HEARING AIDES, SUPPORT MEDICAL MISSIONS AROUND THE WORLD.THEIR LATEST UNDERTAKING IS MEASLES VACCINATIONS (ONLY $1.00 PER SHOT).
Common Sense Commentary: "...Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things arehonest, whatsoever things arejust, whatsoever things arepure, whatsoever things arelovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Phil.4:8.
When God created Adam and Eve, He gave them the ability to think and imagine. Imagination is a vital part of the thinking process. When we think, we can visualize or picture the things we are thinking about. Imagination is a good thing ... if our thoughts are of good things. God's word challenges us to think and visualise and even imagine good things. Of course we must be aware of and face the bad things which happen, but we can deal with evil, cruelty, sin and sickness best by a positive approach. There is a time to war, fight, even kill an evil enemy, and do those things with positive and even good thoughts, and still be in God's will. God often sent out the armies of Israel or a single "David" to fight and kill an evil Giant or an evil army. And God's word alludes to such times in all of our lives. "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up...A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace." Ecc.3:1-8.
You see, if our hearts are right with God and we are intent upon obeying Him and serving Him to the greatest of our ability, we can even go out and fight the Hitlers, Stalins, Castros, Ayatollah Khomeinis, Nazis, Communists, Religious Fanatics and terrorists of this world...not to mention rapists, thieves, drug pushers and corrupt politicians. They are all the representatives of Satan. Jesus said of such evil men and causes ...."Ye are of yourfather the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him...." Jn.8:44.
The people, in the pre-flood days of Noah, had yielded to their wicked thoughts so completely that their every thought and imagination was corrupted to the point they were hopeless before God.... "And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart wasonly evil continually". Gen.6:5. So He destroyed them all except a small remnant of believers. After the flood it wasn't long before the descendants of the flood survivors were letting their evil imaginations take control of their minds as did their forefathers. "And the LORD said .... "and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do." Gen.11:6.
In our thoughts of accomplishment, vacations, new cars and infatuations, the reality of the fulfillment of a thing is seldom as satisfying as the imagination and anticipation of it. Even sin may be satisfying for a few seconds, but long term peace and satisfaction only results from good thoughts, good actions and good accomplishments.
Every important action and accomplishment whether good or bad, begins as a seed of thought which grows into an imagination, and then a preoccupation of anticipation. No man can prevent bad thoughts entirely, but every man can prevent the thought from becoming an evil fantasy of imagination ... by yielding those sinful thoughts into the hands of God ... in prayer. Only God can neutralize evil thoughts. But if not dealt with in the thought stage, they will soon grow, like a cancer, into a preoccupation fantasy, and that into a sinful action, and that into a habit, and that into a life-time, and that into a grave and beyond into eternity.
I once heard an old preacher say, You may not be able to stop an evil bird of sinful thought from flying through your mind, but you can stop it from building a nest there.... with God's help. To allow ourselves to "dwell" on evil thoughts leads to destruction and death. You may not be what you think you are, but what you "think" .... you are. RB
