The Sacrificial Tweet

I’ve been mulling over the topic of this article for the past few months.  The topic seems particularly timely today – Trump’s tweet this morning about Mika and Morning Joe has triggered the left.  They are absolutely unhinged when it comes to him, as usual.  But they’re not the intended audience for this piece.

I have always enjoyed sailing.  I’ve owned several boats and spent countless weekends sailing the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, the Chesapeake Bay, and numerous other beautiful bodies of water.  Frankly, there’s nothing like it.  It’s America’s original green pastime – driven by a fuel that makes a frugal conservative delighted. 

One of the most interesting things I recall from my time spent in various boatyards, boat stores and marinas was a metal block called a sacrificial anode which was typically affixed to the bottom of the boat.  This nondescript device plays a part far more important than its simplicity suggests. Like a lightning rod in a thunder storm, this thing is essential. 

Neil Young (no relation), had a highly successful album entitled, “Rust Never Sleeps.” There is unequivocal consensus that the current political climate is corrosive and that Trump has garnered more than the lion’s share of the mainstream media’s (MSM) caustic coverage.

  

A recent report from the Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy analyzed the news coverage of President Trump’s first 100 days in office. This report effectively and objectively exposes the MSM’s animus.  The report explains, “CNN and NBC’s coverage was the most unrelenting—negative stories about Trump outpaced positive ones by 13-to-1 on the two networks. Trump’s coverage on CBS also exceeded the 90 percent mark. Trump’s coverage exceeded the 80 percent level in The New York Times (87 percent negative) and The Washington Post (83 percent negative).”  

Accuracy aside, that’s a lot to overcome.  Even Fox was predominately negative; however, it, “was the only outlet where Trump’s overall coverage nearly crept into positive territory—52 percent of Fox’s reports with a clear tone were negative, while 48 percent were positive.”  At least Fox, which was formerly self-described as “Fair and Balanced,” was.

Given the uninhibited and unrestrained assaults by the MSM, what’s the answer to Trump’s tribulation?  A website called “corrosionpedia.com” contains the answer.  (Who knew there was an entire website devoted to this problem right?)  The solution is none other than a “sacrificial anode.”  As the site dedicated to defeating and delaying corrosion explains it:

Sacrificial anodes are easily corroded materials deliberately installed to be sacrificed to corrosion, leaving the rest of the system relatively corrosion free… In sacrificial anodes, the protected metal is placed on the cathode side and then a more reactive metal or alloy (having a larger potential difference than the protected metal) is chosen and connected to the protected metal as an anode. The redox reaction will proceed spontaneously. An oxidation reaction occurs at the anode, which means that the sacrificial metal will be consumed. At the same time, the reduction reaction occurs on the cathodic side, preventing the protected metal from erosion. Thus, corrosion on the protected metal is successfully shifted to the anode, protecting the metal.”

Whether Trump’s employment of the “sacrificial tweet” is deliberate, devious, or destructive is not completely clear.  He has discovered the most successful defensive measure available given the deceitful and disproportionate corrosiveness he faces. 

Like unrelenting rust, the media has shown they will not slumber. As Don Casey, one of the most consulted experts on boat care puts it, “It would be hard to overstate the importance of maintaining the anodes on your boat. When an anode is missing or largely wasted away, the metal component it was installed to protect begins to dissolve--guaranteed.”

So, who is the intended audience for this treatise?  It is aimed squarely at my conservative friends.  There is no debate, Trump’s tweets are disconcerting.  And the demurer my friends are, the more they dislike it.  My simple message to you is, like a simple sacrificial anode prevents rust, trust Trump when it comes to tweeting. 

The left and the MSM (I repeat myself) want Trump to stop – they know the power is in his tweeting.  They simply can’t stand not being the clearinghouse to filter what reaches the American mind.  (Owning the public school and university system notwithstanding.)

To paraphrase Mr. Casey, “When a tweet is missing or largely wasted away, the man it was installed to protect begins to dissolve--guaranteed.”  

Tweet away President Trump – it’s a matter of survival.

The Fool in his heart says there is no God

Saw this article on Drudge today: 

Scientists use mathematical calculations to PROVE the existence of God

If it is ever possible to "prove" the existence of God the program will be over.  Why?

Because it is by faith that one is saved.  If it doesn't take faith it's a new covenant.

Because without faith, it is impossible to please God.  Without faith there can be no rewards.  "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6

Because He hates what faith-less people do:  "I will not look with approval on anything that is vile. I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it."   Psalm 101:3

Because faith is the prescription for the antidote to sin - When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” Luke 5:20

Because faith brings healing.    By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.   Acts 3:16

Because it is faith that enables one to receive the work of Christ.  "God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith." Romans 3:25  No faith - no atonement.

Because faith justifies the ungodly.  "However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness." Romans 4:5   

Because faith is needed to have peace with God.  "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God."    Romans 5:1-2
Because if it was by sight, and not by faith, we would not how to live.  "For we live by faith, not by sight."   2 Corinthians 5:7

Because faith is the currency that pays the toll to get on the highway to heaven. "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."   Galatians 5:6

 Because faith is the only thing that enables one to even understand the most basic things or know their creator.  "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible."  Hebrews 11:3

Thank God we live in a time where faith is required to please Him.  There is a day coming soon when it will no longer take faith.  On that day every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  On that day faith is no longer necessary or possible.

Lord, give me child-like faith!   And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."   Matthew 18:3

"Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?"

I’m a boomer.  Not the Cold War submarine or Islamic terrorist type, but a post–World War II baby boom person -- born between the years 1946 and 1964 according to the U.S. Census Bureau.  Growing up as a boomer, the adults in our lives used the assassination of JFK as an event that no one could forget where they were when they first got the news.

For boomers, that unforgettable event was 9/11.  Sadly, many of the boomers saw the second plane slam into the second tower on live TV.  Of course, that wasn’t the end of it -- the twin towers were followed by the Pentagon and Flight 93 plowing into that Pennsylvania field.

Georgia-native and country music artist, Alan Jackson wrote a great song shortly after the tragic events of that day – musically asking the question, “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?"

Well, it’s been 15 years and I’m certain that for those of us of a “certain age” we can still clearly recall the answer to Alan’s question.  Yes, the incidents of that day, brought to our shores by Islamic terrorists were terrible, but what makes the day so memorable?  Why can we remember where we were?

Was it the fact that well-educated, Muslim men, most from Saudi Arabia, took objects of America’s global prominence, i.e. large passenger aircraft, turned them into flying torpedoes, and used them to destroy other objects of our global prominence, the World Trade Center and the Pentagon?  What kind of sick religion can produce adherents that attain martyrdom in destroying buildings packed with peaceful employees?  

Was it the sheer senselessness of the events of that day?  People forced to decide between leaping to their death and being incinerated in their own office.  Massive buildings reduced to rubble. 

Was it the courage of the first-responders that selflessly went into those burning buildings to try to help?  They took their training and their chances as they went to the aid of their fellow man.  Compare that to the terrorists who took flight training so they could visit tragedy on the twin towers.   

It has been 15 years since the events of that day and our Nation’s ability to attain moral clarity is more muddled than ever.  We now have a president who sees us (conservatives and this country) as the problem.  There is confusion about the meaning of marriage and the inability to distinguish between man and woman.  When it comes to college, our dear leaders think illegal aliens deserve in-state tuition rates – charging a fellow citizen from a neighboring state more than a student that illegally came from another country.  No wonder they hate us – we’re stupid.

Let’s quickly take stock of the last 15 years and look forward to the next 15 years.  Our nation is at a crossroads.  Fifteen years of war and nothing to show for it but monuments of marble, mentally and physically scarred veterans, a mountain of debt, and a bitterly divided nation.  Most recently, we’ve seen multi-million dollar football players who will not even stand for the national anthem.

Twenty-five percent of Americans alive today aren’t even old enough to remember the events of 9/11.  The liberals aren’t smart enough to remember what happened on 9/11.  Obama may want to empty GTMO, bail from Afghanistan and blame America, but the ideology of radical Islam is anything but done.  

If the radical Islamic terrorists had complete freedom, there’d be one-hundred more 9/11s.  If ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab or countless other radical Islamic groups had their way, there’d be dirty bombs and disaster delivered on our nation daily.  If Islam had its way, every American infidel would be forced to convert, pay tribute (jizya), or die.

What if Jesus Christ had His way?  His desire is for people to find salvation and eternal life in Him.  In the Gospel of John Jesus put it this way, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…”  Jesus offers an entirely different program than jizya or jihad.

That Alan Jackson song that asked, “Where were you” eventually topped the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart for five weeks and earned Jackson a Grammy Award for Best Country Song.  The chorus to that song reminds us of the only enduring hope there is:  

“I'm just a singer of simple songs.  I'm not a real political man.

 I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you the difference in Iraq and Iran.  

But I know Jesus and I talk to God, and I remember this from when I was young. 

Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us, and the greatest is love.”

What Nerve -- Part Two

The last column addressed three things that struck a nerve.  This is about some people who’ve got some nerve.  The past week, I dutifully listened to the Democratic National Convention – being water boarded would’ve been better. The parade of military members to bolster the party’s patriotic bona fides was unbearable.  Perhaps it is time to create a new Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) entitled “useful idiot.”  

Just before retired USMC General John Allen began ranting about what an awesome and macho warmonger Hillary Clinton would be, we were treated to a sickening display of numerical absurdity.  The mathematical misleading made use of two Muslims – tokenism to try to discredit the Republican nominee’s plan to ban temporarily migration from terrorist plagued nations.  I’ll get to the abhorrent math in a minute.

In a duel of retired General officers, LTG Michael Flynn commented the next day on Allen’s rant, providing some perspective.  “General Allen, as a retired officer, was in charge of our current strategy for well over a year, maybe closer to two years, and during that period of time the rise of radical Islamism and ISIS, you know, it exponentially grew…frankly, I honestly don't know how General Allen can look at himself in the mirror and say that he supports an individual who placed our national security at high risk.”  

Allen’s ringing endorsement of Hillary had a “hope and change” theme that displayed the thoughtlessness reminiscent of the mistake that brought us Obamacare.  In what can only be described as a, you’ve got to elect her "to find out what’s in it” moment, Allen provided personal testimony to the powers in Hillary: 

“With Hillary Clinton as our commander-in-chief, the United States will continue to be that indispensable, transformational power in the world.  To our allies, our friends, and our partners, listen closely.  We are with you.  America will not abandon you…And to our enemies – to our enemies – we will pursue you as only America can.  You will fear us.  And to ISIS and others: We will defeat you.”

Allow me to summarize General Allen’s foray into the world of political endorsements.  “If you like your national military strategy – you can keep your national military strategy.”

Now to the misleading math.  American Muslim and former basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar told us about “Captain Humayan Khan who was one of 14 American Muslim soldiers who have died in combat serving the United States since 9/11.”  The point was later made that Khan’s “family immigrated to the United States from the United Arab Emirates, where Captain Khan was born” and that if Donald Trump had his way, Khan (and presumably the others), would not have been allowed to serve at all.   

Newsflash for Kareem and the DNC – first, those 14 American Muslim soldiers were all killed by Muslims, and secondly, but more to the point, the number of American servicemen killed by fellow US soldiers who are Muslim is even greater than the 14 cited by Abdul-Jabbar.  In 2003, US Army Sergeant Hasan Karim Akbar threw four hand grenades and fired his rifle at fellow soldiers, killing Air Force Major Gregory Stone with a grenade and Army Captain Christopher Seifert who was fatally shot in the back.  Then there was US Army Major Nidal Hasan who killed 13 at Fort Hood, Texas.  By my math, they’re ahead by one. Not to mention that virtually all of the 6,800 American service members that have been killed since 9/11, have been killed by Muslims.  

Finally, Kareem told us that the first place the Khan family visited upon coming to America was the Jefferson Memorial.  In the carefully choreographed convention, Kareem was followed by the father of the fallen soldier, lecturing us that Jefferson’s views on religious liberty and the Constitution do not comport with Trump’s position. 

 

Perhaps Kareem and Khan’s father should read Thomas Jefferson’s 1786 letter written after he and John Adams met with Tripoli’s ambassador to Great Britain.  They asked the Muslim ambassador why the Muslim Barbary Pirates, “make war upon Nations who had done them no Injury?” 

The letter records, “The Ambassador answered us that it was founded on the Laws of their Prophet, that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as Prisoners, and that every Muslim who should be slain in battle was sure to go to Paradise.”

Jefferson knew what the problem is.