Ducks on Christmas Eve

What, you might ask, do ducks have to do with Christmas?  Well, the cast of A&E network's very popular reality show, "Duck Dynasty", have been all over the news and social media since the Roberson family's patriarch, Phil Robertson, was suspended for stating his biblical beliefs in an interview with GQ.  I have watched and listened, ad nauseam, to the pundits and prognosticators from a plethora of venues.

I am a Christian, and I understand that Phil Robertson was just re-stating what he has read in the bible.  Like the apostle Paul he sometimes states things in very plain language that might offend those who are more given to euphemistic substitutions.  My friend David, who is also from Louisiana, and who has been featured here on several occasions, sent me his take on the situation.  I responded, and I am going to present our banter on the subject in today's post.  I hope you enjoy it.  Most Christians cannot separate the celebrations of Christmas and Easter because they are pivotal in understanding Jesus Christ and his ultimate purpose in coming to this Earth.  So, I think the discussion of Ducks on Christmas Eve is appropriate.

" Phil Robertson, star of A&E hit reality show Duck Dynasty, has been suspended from the show because of “anti-gay” remarks he made in an interview with GQ Magazine.

Explaining Robertson’s suspension, A&E indicated that “A&E Networks…have always been strong supporters and champions of the LGBT community.”

But, as far as I read the interview with Robertson, he wasn’t responding to a question about homosexuality. He was responding to a question about sin.

When asked what he considered sinful, he mentioned homosexuality, bestiality, and promiscuity. Then he quoted from Corinthians that “…the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers. …Won’t inherit the Kingdom of God.”

We must ask why A&E was bothered that Robertson condemned homosexuality, but not everything else? Is it okay that he thinks bestiality, greed, promiscuity, drunkenness, slander, and swindling is wrong?

Is A&E’s problem that there are still Americans who believe there is something called sin? Or is their problem that Robertson includes homosexuality among those behaviors that are considered sinful?

Really, we should understand A&E’s dismissal of Robertson for what it is – the latest episode of left wing tyranny in America, aimed to undermine the legitimacy of religion and Christianity and to render the speech and religious freedom protections of the first amendment meaningless.

Here’s how my Webster’s dictionary defines sin: “The breaking of religious law or a moral principle, especially through a willful act.”

Christians don’t decide what sin is. The Bible does. Christians accept the Bible.

An individual speaking on behalf of homosexual activist organization GLAAD said he was “shocked” that Robertson “compared homosexuality to bestiality.”

But Robertson did not “compare” them. He simply noted behaviors that the Bible says are sinful.

It happens that the prohibition on bestiality appears in the Book of Leviticus in the verse directly following the verse prohibiting homosexual behavior.

Understanding Robertson is not hard. He is a Christian man who accepts the prohibitions which the Bible calls sin.

Understanding this gay spokesperson is a bigger challenge. He wants us to reject one Biblical prohibition – homosexuality – while accepting the Biblical prohibition on bestiality. Why?

If homosexuality is okay, why isn’t bestiality? Surely there are some who like it and would like their behavior legitimized. Why not?

So, again, we should be clear that the real attack is on Christians who take the Bible seriously. The real agenda is the de-legitimization of religion and casting our sense of right and wrong into the business of politics.

It’s pretty astonishing what is viewed as normal and acceptable today as part of the alleged openness of our society.

President Clinton, a very popular former president, who commands hundreds of thousands of dollars for speaking appearances, educated a whole generation of young Americans about oral sex, when it became public knowledge what he was doing with a young intern in the Oval Office of the President of the United States.

Just recently, our current president became the first sitting American president to address the annual meeting in Washington, D.C. of Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider and concluded his remarks saying “God bless you.”

Movies and television are awash with gratuitous violence, promiscuity, and nudity. And homosexuality is now regularly depicted as normal and as acceptable as Apple Pie.

Everything is open and acceptable in America today – except, apparently, being a believing Christian.

There was a time when religious freedom meant tolerance and living your life how you want.

Today religious freedom means open legitimization of whatever the Bible condemns and condemnation of any public statement of Christian conviction.

Maybe A&E is sending Phil Robertson out to pasture at Christmas time to deliver a message to the tens of millions of America’s believing Christians that it’s time to wake up, as our freedom disappears over the horizon."  David

My Response:

Disclaimer: I have watched Duck Dynasty twice.  The first time was because everyone said it was funny and didn’t have the kind of humor I find objectionable.  The second time was to insure myself that I hadn’t missed something.  Both times my “Hokey” meter went off early on in the broadcast and stayed on until I turned it off.  I had no objections to what was happening, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea.  I’m good with that.  I have an interior mechanism that is peculiar to me and I am satisfied that I don’t have to do what everyone else is doing.  I hate Face Book, but I find it a convenient way to communicate quickly with people I would otherwise not communicate with.  I think Phil Robertson has an audience that appreciates his honesty, and his boldness, in proclaiming before millions of viewers that he has been redeemed and is a Christian.  Even though I am not a loyal viewer, I very much appreciate this and think he has a special mission.

The Apostle Paul sent a letter to the Christian Church in Rome.  He did not plant the church, nor had he ever been there in person.  The church had been leaderless for about ten years when he wrote the letter.  The Emperor, Claudius, exiled the leaders of the Jewish Synagogue and the Christian Church (which he considered to be the same) for fighting with each other. The life style of the general population, and especially the elites (to include those in government) mirrored some of what we see today in our own country.  Paul addresses this early in his letter.  These excerpts from the letter are from the Living Bible (a transliteration in modern English).

Romans Chapter One.  Paul explains how God views sin; (Not Phil Robertson, God) verses 16,17 Paul gives us the theme of his letter and in it he says he is not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  In verses 18 and 19 he says; “But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, evil men who push away the truth from them.  For the truth about God is known to them instinctively; God has put this knowledge in their hearts.”  Men know what the truth of God is, but they have pushed it away so, in verse 24, Paul tells them what God has allowed to happen; 24 “So God let them go ahead into every sort of sex sin, and do whatever they wanted to – yes, vile and sinful things with each other’s bodies."  Paul, (Not Phil Robertson) lists sex sin first.  It was very noticeable in Rome in Paul’s day.  The ultimate result of their rebellion to the truth is found in verses 28 through the end of Chapter 1.  Verse 28; ""So it was that when they gave God up and would not even acknowledge him, God gave them up to doing everything their evil minds could think of.” 

The World, those who have refused to accept Jesus Christ as Savior, are still in rebellion to God’s implanted knowledge of what is right and wrong, and therefore subject to his righteous judgment.  The reactions of the executives at the A&E Network are very predictable and should not surprise anyone.  Phil Robertson has admitted that he is only a “sinner” saved by God’s grace.  The apostle Paul points this up the Chapter 3, verse 12; “Every one has turned away; all have gone wrong.  No one anywhere has kept on doing what is right: not one."

Paul then gives God’s solution to our dilemma in Chapter 3 verses 23 and 24.  23 – 24 “Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious ideal; yet now God declares us “not guilty” of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sins.”

We know through reading the scriptures that because we are no longer “of this World” (although physically still in this world) we will not be liked when we shed some light on what is going on here by presenting God’s word.  When the light shines on the things that are going on in darkness, people will try to extinguish the light so their deeds, that they intuitively know are evil, won’t be seen.  As to how we should respond to this rebellion, I think this is answered by Paul in Chapter 12 of Romans verses 14 – 18; “If some one mistreats you because you are a Christian, don’t curse him; pray that God will bless him.  When others are happy, be happy with them.  If they are sad, share their sorrow.  Work happily together.  Don’t try to act big.  Don’t try to get into the good graces of important people, but enjoy the company of ordinary folks.  And, don’t think you know it all!  Never pay back evil for evil.  Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honest clear through.  Don’t quarrel with anyone.  Be at peace with everyone, just as much as possible.”

I think our response here is important.  We have a great opportunity to send the right message, and I hope we do so.   Pappy

Have a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year , Pappy

No Mas Pantalones

My dad told me when I was very young that there is no such thing as "Free".  He went on to explain that someone pays for it.

"Obamacare was sold as simply a refinement of the current system, retaining competition among independent insurers but making things more efficient, fair and generous. Free contraceptives for Sandra Fluke. Free mammograms and checkups for you and me. Free (or subsidized) insurance for some 30 million uninsured. And, mirabile dictu, not costing the government a dime." 

"I don’t care a whit for the insurance companies. They deserve what they get. They collaborated with the White House in concocting this scheme and are now being swallowed by it. But I do care about the citizenry and its access to a functioning, flourishing, choice-driven medical system."
Charles Krauthammer

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/charles-krauthammer-story-of-the-year/2013/12/19/1d862c98-68f9-11e3-ae56-22de072140a2_story.html?wprss=rss_charles-krauthammer

This article also contains numerous other stories about the huge fraud known as the Affordable Care Act, or more correctly, Obama Care.

The Federal Government is constitutionally allowed to legislate in the following four areas, Taxation, National Security, Manufacture of Currency, and Interstate Commerce.  All the rest is left to the States.

My uncle just wrote a letter to president Obama about his concerns for the future of our country if Obama Care is fully implemented.  Here is one quote from the response allegedly drafted by Obama.

"The Affordable Care Act is fulfilling that promise.  Before the law, insurers could discriminate against kids with pre-existing conditions.  They could deny coverage because of a past illness or charge women more than men for the same coverage.  And every day, people who thought they had good insurance were getting dropped from their plans and billed into bankruptcy just because they had the misfortune of getting sick." Barack Hussein Obama.

Folks, in case you didn't know, and obviously our president has no clue, that isn't insurance, it's WELFARE.

If you can name one program that the federal government is in charge of that actually works, I'll eat a bug.

Write your own letter of inquiry and I'm sure you'll get the same form letter in response with no real answers to your questions.  Our system with its built in checks and balances is broken and is being criminally abused by this president.  The current Congress and our Supreme Court are complicit in the illegal activities of this administration and all should be held criminally liable by the various states.  It is time for the individual states to exercise their constitutional rights and get rid of these criminal interlopers.

As you can see from the outset, the proponents of this unconstitutional piece of legislative garbage are incapable of delivering on even the most basic part, the sign up.

Folks, I don't care what your political affiliation is, it is time to seek and destroy this abhorrent piece of legislation.  There is no way that it will work, and it is sure to hit the mark of further destroying not only health care, but the freedoms that we value as United States citizens.  My doctor has already quit and I know of others who have mortgaged their homes just to stay in business.  I know of other peripheral health care providers who are looking at bankruptcy.  The law is in its infancy, and already the entire system of insurance and health care are at serious risk.

Harsh Winter

Dedicated to all those who live far enough north to experience this during the winter months.

               WINTER

Autumn’s colored splendor fades away.

It’s coming; I hear the north wind’s song.

Bare branches stand against a canvas gray.

Days shorten; nights become too long.

Cool, crisp, sharp, raw, blue.

Varied harshness marks its passing here.

Sometimes, weak ones do not make it through.

Occasionally, it makes the strongest fear.

Blinding brightness – Snow is on the ground.

Ice crystals bend the straining bough,

and break the silence with their tinkling sound.

Surreal, it manifests its beauty now.

The rudeness of its entrance dims at last

Warming gentle breezes bathe, heal.

God’s paints upon this dismal scene are cast.

From dormancy, a new life to reveal.

 Dennis Price

Christmas Passage

              CHRISTMAS PASSAGE

When I was young and all was fresh and new,

and Christmas trees were tall and covered up

with fancy balls and bubbling lights that shone

through glittering tinsel hung upon each bough,

I could not seem to tear myself away.

Colored wrappers topped with shiny bows

could hold me in their hypnotizing trance.

I could not sleep at all the night before

so tossed and turned until the morning broke.

With energy I’d never have again,

I peeped around the corner just to see

if Santa had put toys beneath our tree.

Then as I grew, my childhood feelings changed.

Replaced by facts, as notions were debunked.

But I still searched for presents just to see

if Santa had left one or two for me.

The years flew by and I was Santa Claus.

My kids were now where I could only dream.

And once again I shared with them the awe.

But, in that joy, was weariness it seemed.

Brought on by months of gaudy ads and things.

I sat amid the rubble of our fete

and thought on why we give the gifts we do.

And as I did a peace came over me,

Jesus was the reason for our mirth.

Born in the little town of Bethlehem

God’s gift to undeserving men on earth.

Dennis Price

Blue Spruce and Christmas

                    BLUE SPRUCE

With blue spruce tree I mark the season’s start.

Its Christmas smell stirs memories from my heart.

When as a child I marveled at the sight

of tinseled branches hung with colored fare.

Anticipating with each passing night,

the presents that Old Santa would leave there.

Its Christmas smell stirs memories from my heart.

With blue spruce tree I mark the season’s start.

Dennis Price

What do we make of this man?

I, like you, have only a filtered knowledge of the story and actions of Nelson Mandela.  Since his recent death I have listened to the canned praises of various media pundits who, I have come to know by experience, are about as phony as a three dollar bill.  So, I have done a little digging and I have gotten some information from sources outside the main stream and I offer them to you for your consideration.  You can then draw your own conclusions.

The following is the lead in to an article written by Dr. Pieter Moller, a South African historian.

"The Mandela Legend:

Webster defines a legend as “a story generally of a marvellous character, told respecting a saint”.  It has an historical background, but is often padded and tainted by fantasy.  In Mandela’s case, when the facts are viewed realistically and objectively, any sensible person will no longer see a saint, but a fantasy blown up to something supernatural.  It will become clear that a false image of the so-called beloved Madiba is being presented to the world.  He is by no means the peace-loving, gentle daddy he is made out to be, but nothing less than a tyrant.  He did not spend 27 years in jail for no reason, as continuously maintained.  One example of these untruthful presentations appeared in the London Independent, May 1993: “Nelson Mandela is a noble man ... imprisoned for 27 years for his dedication to the cause of Black majority in South Africa”.

How much of such misrepresentation could be ascribed to naive parrot-talk and how much to deliberate communist propaganda cannot easily be determined.  The truth is that he was not imprisoned on Robben Island without reason – not even because he was merely an opponent of apartheid.  He was there because he planned to overthrow a government and in the process, cause the violent deaths of thousands of innocent people (including blacks) – a crime which deserved the death penalty, and he must consider himself fortunate that the so-called apartheid-regime did not press for it.  In his auto-biography Long Walk to Freedom, het admits inter alia that he gave the order to plant the Church Street bomb during the 80's, which killed 11 innocent people and injured many more.

In spite of this he was built up to an icon and held up as “a man of reconciliation”, as “essentially moderate, a man of special discernment, a courageous freedom fighter”.  His international praise singers went as far as comparing him to Moses and George Washington.  Topping them all was the American negro, Jesse Jackson, who blasphemously lifted him to the level of Jesus Christ.  What is equally dumbfounding is that the post-1966 SA government hardly ever tried to unmask the real Mandela or his share in the Rivonia complot or his close bonds with the ANC/SACP, or to enlighten the public as to the aims of this alliance."

The remainder of the article can be read here:
http://hnp.org.za/site/index.php?id=67

Now let's look at an analysis of the history through the eyes of my good friend David, who is also an historian.

"Basically, Mandela was a communist and a terrorist who never renounced either philosophy.  I have heard on the news, ad nauseum, that he was a great "reconciler" when he got out of prison.  Not true.  He guided South Africa to where it is today, so let's take a very quick look at what Mandela has wrought.

When the Dutch, or Boers, first came to South Africa 400 years ago, there were very few blacks in the areas they moved into, mostly Hottentots living in caves.  The Zulus had a primitive, tribal empire to the north which they established after slaughtering the indigenous tribes who lived there.  As the Boers moved northwards and the Zulus moved south, conflict occurred.   Eventually the Boers prevailed and established a modern society for the time based upon agriculture.  When diamonds and gold were discovered in South Africa, the economy was further enhanced.  Thousands and thousands of blacks moved into the area over time and provided labor.

There had always been racial segregation in South Africa, and for that matter in all of colonial Africa, but the system was not given a name until, I believe, the 1940's when it became Apartheid.  So how bad was Apartheid?  Let's judge it this way.  From the 1960's through the end of the 1980's somewhere around 4 million blacks moved to South Africa from recently decolonized and now black governed surrounding countries.  Yes, they couldn't vote and had to ride on separate buses but they didn't care.  They had moved there to escape genocide because they were of the wrong tribe and to find decent jobs because there were none in their "liberated" native countries.

South Africa was a First World country with a booming economy with great educational institutions.  If you remember, I believe it was Dr. De Bakke, a Boer, who perfected heart transplants.  Both blacks and whites, could live there safely without worrying about having one's head cut off with a machete.

Today, South Africa's economy is in shambles, whites are fleeing the country, it has the highest murder rate and AIDS rate in the world, and laws have been passed prohibiting whites from holding most government jobs as well as restricting white employment by private firms.  The country has been reduced to a lawless, Third World jungle.

The cause of this was economic pressure from the US and Europe.  We were offended by South Africa's segregation system.  For unexplainable reasons, we have never been offended by the same thing in reverse in black governed countries, even when those countries seized all white property and forced white people to leave.  We applaud South Africa's new government even though it is corrupt, inefficient, and enacting policies against whites similar to those in force against blacks during Apartheid. 

We make heroes out of people like Mandela who was directly responsible for thousands of deaths, mostly of blacks.  We adore him even though he was a member of the Communist Party, an ideology sworn to overthrow our form of government, for most of his life and which he never, ever renounced.  He was given the Peace Prize even though he was a senior director of the African National Congress, a terrorist organization. 

What fools we are.  We were primarily responsible for the destruction of the only even half way civilized country in sub-Saharan Africa and the only true ally we had on the continent.

I don't know if it is over yet in South Africa.  The Boers are a very tough and stubborn bunch of folks.  The government seems to be leaving those out in the country, on land they have farmed for 400 years, alone for now.  However, talk of seizing the land and giving it to blacks is going around.  I can't see that that will happen peacefully.  Basically, the blacks are scared of the Boers...and they should be.  Those folks have no where to go.  It is my understanding that most of the whites leaving the country are of English extraction, people left over from the colonial days when South Africa was an English colony.  I could be wrong, but I think the Boers will fight.  If left alone and if we don't interfere, there is a very good possibility that they could win.  Unfortunately, we will probably stick our noses into it again to make ourselves feel good and that would result in a terrible tragedy for the Boers."

David