Baby It's Cold Outside

When we think of winter weather what comes to mind? Childhood memories of heads tilted skyward with mouth wide open, and tongue stuck out eagerly trying to catch a chilly snowflake melting as quickly as it landed. Making the perfect snowball to be thrown in a surprise attack may also come to mind or building an any size snowman with mom and dad. Memories of winter can make a smile appear just as magically as the first flurries of winter. But for millions of people at the moment, winter weather is proving to be a beast.

According to the National Weather Service, an arctic air mass will continue to plunge south through the central U.S. this week with widespread record-breaking cold likely. Sub-freezing temperatures are likely to reach as far south as the Gulf Coast. Heavy snow will move from the mid-Mississippi Valley and Ozarks to Tennessee Valley, and North Carolina into the southern Mid-Atlantic states through Wednesday. Icing is possible. This warning is for 30 states. More than 90 million people are under the winter weather advisory with the heaviest snow due for northern Kentucky into West Virginia. It is going to be brutal.

When I think of suffering from one of the four elements, it is fire that comes to mind as being punishing. I guess that is because I was raised in the Bible Belt where the church taught fire and brimstone. If you were a sinner, the Lake of Fire awaited you. In the Bible, the "lake of fire" is a symbolic representation of the final destination of the wicked, often understood as a place of eternal punishment and separation from God, essentially considered equivalent to Hell, primarily mentioned in the Book of Revelation; it is described as a place of burning sulfur and is referred to as the "second death" signifying complete and irreversible destruction. Heat was only associated with suffering, not the cold.

If you are like me, you barely know how dangerous and torturous the cold can be, but people experiencing it now can tell you extreme cold can also be relenting and punishing. What if the eternal punishment was called the "lake of snow"? Would it strike as much fear in individuals to not sin as the "lake of fire" does? Is this why the extremes of winter are such a surprise to us when it has disastrous outcomes? Extreme cold is much more likely to kill than exposure to extreme heat. There is a hint of us being aware of the dark side of winter by how we refer to the word winter in the idiom, "dead of winter". The origin of this idiom dates back to the 16th century when it was used to refer to the period most characterized by the lack of signs of life or activity.

Why is the coldest part of the year called winter? The word "winter" comes from the Germanic word wintar, which means "time of water". This refers to the rain and snow that typically fall during the winter season. Winter is associated with more deaths due to cold temperatures, respiratory illness, and injuries from slipping on ice. The top causes of death in winter weather include heart attacks, hypothermia, car accidents, and respiratory illnesses. Cold temperatures can cause blood vessels to narrow, which can increase blood pressure and lead to heart attacks. Truth be told, winter is a scary time of the year. Winter has long, dark nights, thick blankets of snow, and bitter cold, even if you're in a part of the world where it doesn't snow. Winter is very bleak on its own. Aesthetically, there's not a lot of color and the skies are gloomy. 

The coldest winter on record in the United States was in 1978-1979, when New York recorded a temperature of -52 degrees F in Old Forge. Coldest temperature ever was -80° F in Prospect Creek, Alaska on January 23, 1971. Coldest temperature in the contiguous US was -70° F in Rogers Pass, Montana on January 20, 1954. In North Dakota, temperatures at the Bismarck Airport fell to minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit, which broke the previous record for February 17 by 5 degrees. Before Monday, the daily low record for February 17 was minus 30 degrees, which was set in 1875.

I used to be so thankful I lived in the South where the temperature barely goes below 32 degrees during the winter but even the long arm of winter has reached my neck of the woods. Where I live, we have experienced record-breaking low temperatures also. In the South, as many of you know, the sighting of one snowflake causes a shutdown and a meltdown. We just don't experience what you Northerners are accustomed to.

For the millions hunkering down in this extreme cold, I hope you all remain safe and warm. Please follow all of the safety protocols for cold weather advisories and warnings. If you have electricity, please spend this down time enjoying a read from the many topics I write about on this blog. And remember after winter comes spring where warmer temperatures make you forget the tortures of winter.

I leave you with a few cold weather facts.

The coldest temperature ever recorded in the world was -128 degrees Celsius, in Vostok Station in Antarctica in 1983.

Much of the damage done by winter storms is not from snow, but from the weight of ice.

The shape of each snowflake is determined by temperature, wind, the amount of time it takes to fall to the ground, and the amount of water vapor in the air.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, on January 28, 1887, a 15-inch wide, 8-inch-thick snowflake ever observed fell in Fort Keogh, Montana.

The winter of 1779 – 1780 was so cold that ice was piled 20 feet high along the Delmarva Coast and stayed there until spring.

The all-time world record for the largest snowfall in a single day was set in the United States on December 4, 1913, when Georgetown, Colorado received a staggering 63 inches of snow – more than five feet.

  

Donald Trump Our Savior?

After watching a portion of an ID crime series, The Curious Case of the Doomsday Cult, I began to wonder how people can become deceived by false interpretation of the Bible or leaders. How can people who are seeking God's word, knowledge, and truth, get the Bible twisted in so many crazy and even evil ways? I mean, shouldn't there be some kind of built in protection ensuring true understanding of God's word for those trying to learn about and worship God? 

It is a scary thought knowing there is a possibility someone dedicated to God and Scripture can become a danger to others through a false understanding or interpretation of the Bible. In the series I was watching, preacher Sheryl Ruthven, a self-proclaimed prophet, beguiles her followers into subservience and uses them to settle personal scores. As her beliefs grow increasingly bizarre, she demands her congregation adopt cats, believing the animals’ souls will save them in the impending apocalypse. Her manipulation drives followers into intense isolation, financial ruin, and bizarre rituals, tearing families apart and exploiting loyalty – all under the promise of salvation. Three of the most infamous American cult leaders of the twentieth century were Charles Manson, Jim Jones, and David Koresh. They used the Bible in a perverted way.

In the same vein, I wonder how Christians can view Donald Trump as some kind of SAVIOR? They use the Bible and prominent characters from the Bible who did great things for the Lord and who were also FLAWED like Donald Trump to uphold Trump's questionable behavior and character. This uplifting of a man who to many, is the opposite of how a Christian is to behave, leave many onlookers scratching their heads at the Christian embrace and support of Donald Trump. They wonder is the Christian community reading and understanding their Bible?

Last year, on the Christian show FlashPoint, TV evangelist Hank Kunneman described “a battle between good and evil”, adding: “There's something on President Trump that the enemy fears: it's called the anointing.” Reverend Franklin Graham is one of America’s best-known evangelists and the son of Billy Graham, arguably its most famous preacher. He is one of the Trump believers, convinced there is no doubt that the president-elect was chosen for this mission by God. I ask what mission? Can I see the mission statement? Does the God given mission of Trump include Elon Musk firing federal employees? 

According to the PRRI’s survey (Public Religion Research Institute), of 5,027 adults, white evangelical Protestant voters were the strongest backers of Trump over Harris by 72% to 13%. White Catholic voters also backed Trump, with 55% supporting him and 34% aligned with Harris. White “mainline” non-evangelical Protestants showed a similar split. The results from Michigan showed a clear lurch towards the Republican Party by Muslim voters in the state. Analysis also shows that more Latino Catholics voted for Trump than expected, when previously they have tended to lean Democrat. Will there be rending of clothes and gnashing of teeth of Christians due to their choice?

How can there be one sector of Bible readers believing one thing when it comes to political leanings and another section believing something different even though they both claim to be Christian and use biblical scripture to support their beliefs? Believe it or not, both are truly people seeking to be good Christians faithful in prayer, worship and studying of the Scriptures. How could any of them go off the rails?

During my study of the book of Romans in the Bible I stumbled upon the answer and it is the law of sin. Have you heard of such a law before? It is explained in depth in Romans 7.

Paul, the author of Romans, is saying the Law given to Moses by God that all believers of God had to follow, made the person aware of sin. The Law outlined everything that was bad or evil in God's eyesight and should not be done. Now a person could IDENTIFY sin clearly. It was a SIN because it was NAMED a sin. 

The LAW OF SIN says SIN seizes the opportunity of you becoming aware of what is defined as a sin to produce in the person a DESIRE to do the sin (Romans 7:8). Knowledge of SOMETHING makes you want to do THAT something. Christians have been using this rationale to keep sex education out of schools. If children learn about it, then they will want to do it.  Even knowing all of Trump's lawsuits and felonies, people still voted for him excusing his crimes. One might say, they want to do the same things. They want to be LIKE Trump. UNLEASHED and UNTOUCHABLE. Bulldozing those who dare to make a negative comment. Trump exhibits a long list of vices, sins if you will, defined. Do people desire the same (misogyny, racism, sexual abuse, bullying, lawlessness, compulsive lying, greed, vengeance, calls to violence, threats, boastfulness). All of these adjectives, nouns, and verbs have been attributed to Donald Trump and people still say, "He's, our man."

Romans 7:11 goes on to say that sin DECEIVES the person aware of sin. Paul said then you find the law of sin at work, "When I want to do good, evil is right there with me (Romans 7:21)." It is through Jesus who cleanses a person from their SIN nature that they no longer operate in the law of sin, "when they want to do good, they do evil (Romans 7:24-25)." Accepting Jesus into your life releases the believer from being a slave to sin and allows for the believer to be a slave of God. So, a person can be free from the deceit of sin. But you must be all in for God. Why do I say this? Read on.

The Bible warns that out flesh will always want things that are not good for us. The Bible verse 1 Corinthians 15:31 says, "I die daily". The phrase "die to the flesh" appears in other Bible passages, such as Romans 8:13, Colossians 3:5, and Galatians 5:16. The phrase "die to the flesh" means to deny the selfish desires of the flesh and instead follow the leading of the Spirit. In my opinion, it is to daily self-check, constant monitoring of the desires the flesh can have that keeps misinterpretation of Scripture at bay because the Christian is to want no more or no less than what God wants.

Most misinterpretation of Scripture just comes from lack of studying. Misuse of Scripture happens when people are trying to live as Christians under the Law of Moses (Old Testament) and the New Covenant of Christ (New Testament) at the SAME time. But most often, people misinterpret, misuse, and abuse the Bible due to personal agendas that have more to do with fleshly desires. Religion has always been used as a shield to for evil.

Right now, it seems people are just wanting to be the one who WINS. The Right want to beat the Left and vice versa. MAGA want to beat the Liberals. It is like my grandma used to say, "You're cutting your nose off to spite your face." This RIGHT-FIGHTING is causing all kind of self-harm. First of all, the Christians are one body. Division harms the whole. The Right and Left are all Americans. Division harms the whole. This is the FLESH or SIN becoming the driver, making an opening for DECEPTION on a massive and grand scale.

With most religious leaders gone wrong, there is a GREIVANCE. A primary grievance of religious cult leaders is often the perception of unfair scrutiny and persecution from society, including law enforcement and the media, which they feel unfairly targets their beliefs and practices, often leading to restrictions on their ability to freely exercise their religion, even when not engaging in illegal activities.

I'm not saying people who support Donald Trump are part of a cult. But they have been likened to a cult. If at any time I am involved in something, and the word cult comes up in any way around it - I'm probably going to ease back off it. Because people in a cult NEVER BELIEVE they are in a cult!!!

Individuals define themselves in part by the beliefs they hold and the faiths they share with others and sometimes people CREATE that body of same believers. The power of the Trump Cult (media and others have labeled) should not be underestimated. It is supported by moment by moment contact with other like-minded people. It is fed by these people keeping their faith alive through the wonders of the internet. Social media (Especially X now) have been called an ‘echo chamber’ playing back what any person involved has expressed themselves. But it goes a step further because those repeating the beliefs are regarded as being ‘just like me.’ That reciprocity is one of the key features that makes persuasions authoritative.  An aspect well understood by scammers.

I have been writing that I believe Evangelicals are getting it wrong by supporting Donald Trump. From their pulpits on Sunday mornings, they continue to bring up a Bible verse supporting why they support him as a rescuer from the evils of Democrats/Liberals. Pastors say it is a battle for the family, children, country which we all care deeply about. All I can say is time will tell. But one thing is for sure, a person can be seeking the Lord and striving to do their best to serve Him and still get the Scriptures twisted and lead others astray.

Blessed Is the Peacemaker

Today, February 18,2025, President Trump spoke about the war between Russia and Ukraine and their absence in a meeting held by Russia and the United States to discuss ending the war. Trump said, “But today I heard, ‘Oh, well we [Ukraine] weren’t invited.’ Well, you’ve been there for three years,” Trump continued. “You should’ve ended it in three years. You should have never started it. You could have made a deal. I could have made a deal for Ukraine that would have given them almost all of the land, and no people would have been killed, and no city would have been demolished and not one dome would have been knocked down. But they chose not to do it that way.” I just had to write a blog about this.

"Blessed is the peacemaker." If you are not familiar with these words when grouped together, it's okay. If you watched Donald Trump inauguration as the 47th president these words may ring a bell. “My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier,” President Donald Trump promised the American public in his inaugural address. I myself know this grouping of words from the Christian Bible and they are part of the BEATITUDES. It is number seven out of eight.

The Beatitudes are a series of blessings from the Bible that appears in Matthew 5:1-12. Jesus said these blessings during the Sermon on the Mount.

• "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"
• "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted" 
• "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth" 
• "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" 
• "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" 
• "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" 
• "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" 
• "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness"

When reading the words they seem simple and direct; it's a good thing to be a peacemaker with the reward of being called a child of God. People want peace. But what kind of peace? But with most of the Bible there are levels to understanding to what words and verses means. There is the surface meaning and there is a deeper meaning. For those who do a study of the words, more understanding is obtained.

Take the word PEACE in the Bible. In Hebrew, which the Old Testament is written, the root of peace is slm, which means "to be complete" or "to be sound." The verb conveys both a dynamic and a static meaning" to be complete or whole" or "to live well." The noun had many nuances, but can be grouped into four categories: (1) salom as wholeness of life or body (i.e., health); (2) salom as right relationship or harmony between two parties or people, often established by a covenant (see "covenant of peace" in Num 25:12-13; Isa 54:10; Ezek 34:25-26 and, when related to Yahweh, the covenant was renewed or maintained with a "peace offering"; (3) salom as prosperity, success, or fulfillment (see Lev 26:3-9); and (4) salom as victory over one's enemies or absence of war. Salom was used in both greetings and farewells. It was meant to act as a blessing on the one to whom it was spoken: "May your life be filled with health, prosperity, and victory." As an adjective, it expressed completeness and safety.

This is not how peace is interpreted in modern day English. In the New Testament, The Greek word for "peace" is eirēnē (ay-RAY-nay). It can have multiple meanings, including the absence of war, the state of well-being, and tranquil state of the soul. In the Beatitudes, when Jesus says "peace," he is referring to a deeper concept than just the absence of conflict; it means a state of wholeness, completeness, and well-being, often described by the Hebrew word "Shalom," which signifies a positive harmony and right relationship with God and others, going beyond mere tranquility to include prosperity and fulfillment. 

The word PEACE is used and should be understood to mean complete, whole, and well.

Do Trump want people to be complete, whole, and well?

What about the word BLESSED. Has the meaning of this word also changed in our modern language? 

The word BLESSED as it is used in the New Testament, literally means “happy, fortunate, blissful." Surprised? Most people understand the word blessed to mean to GET a blessing. If you are a peacemaker, you will get blessings from heaven. But here the word blessed is not a material blessing but a sense of being, happy.

Of course, the word peacemaker is direct. In the Beatitudes, "peacemakers" refers to people who work to bring peace to OTHERS. The idea of bringing peace to others is not conditional on the person ensuring peace receive a quid pro quo.

After a breakdown of each word's original meaning, we can come to understand the grouping of words to mean, "Happy are those who help to make others complete, whole, and well for they shall be called a child of God." Helping others to be well causes blissfulness.

In our day and age, it would seem the opposite. People seem to get pleasure from causing the misfortunes of others. We live in an era where there are SCAM alerts for almost everything. Scams do not bring or cause well-being. There was even a scam warning for Valentine's Day where promising admirers were out to woo you and your money apart.

In psychology, "being whole" means to be fully integrated and accepting of all aspects of oneself, including thoughts, emotions, experiences, and behaviors, essentially experiencing a sense of completeness and self-awareness without suppressing or disowning any significant part of your identity; it often involves embracing both positive and negative aspects of yourself and having a healthy connection between mind and body. The key word is HEALTHY. A healthy outlook about who you are.

The Bible also tells you to embrace who you are suggesting you should be proud of who you are. The Bible verse "fearfully and wonderfully made" appears in Psalm 139:14. The full verse reads, "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. The Psalmist is saying he knows God made him just the way he should be. His existence, his makeup, was not a mistake. Who he is cannot be not WRONG.

The Bible, it appears, takes into account that we are ALL different but wonderful. That our differences are not to be looked down upon but accepted as a good thing. Each and every person is a work of art and should be treated as such. We ALL are God's handiwork.

I believe it would be a great legacy for Donald Trump to be known as a PEACEMAKER as far as it concerns the Bible. It would be wonderful to see him helping people to become complete, whole, and well in accepting their own uniqueness. For him to be known as a president who made everyone feel their specialness would be a legacy on par with President Jimmy Carter's. He would be helping others to accept themselves and to accept others even if they are different. We would be complete, whole, well, healthy Americans. This in turn would make Donald Trump a happy and blissful president.

Can you imagine, DONALD TRUMP THE PEACEMAKER? From his mouth to God's ear is all I can say.

Has The Left Gone Too Far Left To U-Turn?

November 5, 2024, left many Americas shocked to witness the United States turn red with a landslide victory for Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States. I was among the shocked. Immediately people began to speculate how such a qualified Democratic candidate for president could have lost to a convicted felon. No matter the answer, it was not enough to soothe those who desperately wanted to keep Donald Trump out of the White House.

Now that I have recovered from the defeat, I am able to add my two cents to the question, "How could Trump have won?" I have two suggestions. One, America was not ready for a woman president and two, the Left has gone too far in their willingness to APPEASE everyone. When you try to satisfy everyone, you end up satisfying no one. 

Today I heard a preacher on TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) say, "President Trump may be flawed, but he has publicly declared there are only two sexes: male and female. He is willing to state the truth and biblical fact." You know what? The preacher was right on both accounts.

It is a fact of SCIENCE. There is only MALE and FEMALE. A person is either born with an XX or XY chromosome identifying them as male or female. The Bible, which is the guidebook for Christians says as much. The Bible verse that says God created humans, male and female is in Genesis 1:27, which reads, "So God created man in his own image. in the image of God, he created him, male and female created he them." Even in the plant and animal kingdom there is male and female. The two sexes were created for REPRODUCTION. Each contributing to the outcome of an offspring. 

This seems to be a simple concept, fact. But it isn't. There are many people who say they do not FEEL like the gender they were biologically assigned and should not have to live within the constraints of their XX or XY chromosomes. The Left recognizes these individual's feelings and supports their right in choosing whether they identify as male or female including their right to physically change their gender identity. Christians believe you cannot change what God has created.

Even in nature it seems gender assignment has exception. Animals with both male and female reproductive organs are called HERMAPHRODITES or BISEXUAL animals. Hermaphrodites can be simultaneous or sequential in their sex., such as earthworms, slugs, snails, Clown Fish, and Parrot Fish. 

Some animals can change their sex, including frogs and cardinals. For example, some European frogs have a race where most tadpoles develop into females, but about half eventually change into males.

Plants such as watermelon, hibiscus, papaya, and mustard are also hermaphrodites.

If you really want an exception to the rule of gender assignment and roles you have to look no further 

than the Seahorse. Yes, male seahorses get pregnant and give birth to their young. This is a unique adaptation in the animal kingdom. 

1. Male and female seahorses perform a courtship dance
2. The female deposits her eggs into the male's brood pouch
3. The male fertilizes the eggs
4. The male incubates the eggs in his pouch
5. After a gestation period, the male gives birth by rhythmically contracting his abdominal muscles

Even in nature, male and female is not a hard and fast rule.

To have a CIVALIZED society, the society has to agree on the rules and laws that govern them and right now society is not agreeing on changing the DEFINITION of male and female. When society cannot agree on the rules and laws of self-governess there is confusion and chaos. The Right is fearful of the rules being taught to children. How can children be told there is no rule or law in determining gender? Adhering to such causes confusion and chaos and I tend to agree. There should be a hard and fast rule in determining gender for reproductive and medical reasons. A man should not be able to declare himself a woman when DNA says differently.

That being said, no one can CHOOSE how a person is to live their lives. I cannot enforce a biological male live as a biological male no more than I can be told not live as a Christian. I do not get to make those choices for others. This is where the sympathy of the Left lies. The Left is not willing to negate individual rights, and this is where society says they draw the line. It has become a question of chaos versus rights. It becomes chaotic when people, no matter their reason, select which gender to identify as. 

Selecting gender assignment goes beyond just being addressed as male or female. The person choosing their gender assignment expect all of the rights that go along with the chosen gender. Access to such things as restrooms and sports are not to be withheld. Access to such things validates their selected gender. Even though I am saying selected gender, I realize it is a deeper issue for those who feel as though they were assigned the wrong gender at birth. I also admit if you are not the person going through this it is hard to understand and sympathize with but the Left tries. 

The Right says they have the Bible and science on their side regarding this issue and the Left only has the strong feelings of individuals. Which is correct? Sooner or later a definitive answer must prevail, or confusion and chaos will reign. As I said, to be a civilized society, rules and laws must be agreed upon. I'm afraid to say, the Left is going to lose on this issue BECAUSE the BIBLE and SCIENCE are strong on this subject even if nature itself shows there are exceptions to rules.

That being said, a whole group of people cannot be dismissed. What they are feeling and living cannot be invalidated. But they cannot expect scientific facts to be thrown out either. It is a curtesy and decency to address people in the way they want to be addressed. In a professional setting it can be against the law to address a person in an unprofessional way. It is simple to EXPLAIN to our children the diversity of people and lifestyles they will encounter in the world that will not be familiar or accepted. It is our duty as parents to explain the world to our children even when it makes us uncomfortable. Heck, I had to explain to my children what it means to be Black in our society. Not a comfortable conversation at all. It is beyond reason that with millions of people in the world they will ALL be LIKE us. The Bible teaches people are different in their beliefs. NO SURPRISE for the Christian. The Bible also gives the Christian instructions on how to live and interact in such a world.

The Christian is to live in and proclaim the truth of God and Jesus. Seed planters. Spreaders of the Good News, but ONLY a Christian has to adhere to the guidelines of the Bible. Trying to force the non-Christian to live biblically is WRONG. The Bible is for Christians. Guidelines, rules, laws the Christian has agreed to adhere to. There will be confusion and chaos if biblical principles are IMPOSED on non-Christians.

Trump is winning and will continue to win addressing the concerns of the Christian and it isn't on its face a bad thing. When individual rights are trampled it becomes a bad thing. It becomes un-Christian. The Left is going to have to make some serious decisions. It is a hard position to be in. Cruelty to others can be the outcome of making the wrong decision. American history has shown what happens when individual rights are taken away. It seems a simple task for society as a whole to agree on gender assignment. But here we are. You can't please everyone all of the time.

January 30, 2025, The Trump administration is ordering federal agencies to bar transgender workers from single-sex facilities that match their gender identity by Friday and fire any employees working on “gender ideology,” part of a sweeping new directive meant to comply with an executive order that the government recognize only two sexes. 

President Donald Trump signed an executive order prohibiting transgender women and girls from competing in female sports. The measure, called the “No Men in Women's Sports Executive Order,” is the fourth executive order targeting transgender people he has signed since he took office Jan. 20.

“The radical left has waged an all-out campaign to erase the very concept of biological sex and replace it with a militant transgender ideology,” Trump said from a podium at the White House, with dozens of women and girls standing behind him. “With this executive order, the war on women’s sports is over.”

In The World of Donald Trump, Don't Be A Judas

If you haven't noticed yet, Donald Trump's name is on the lips of people around the world. The news plays his latest declaration on a loop with the reactions of people in America and other countries. The WORLD knows Donald Trump and it appears he has the world by the tail.

For most, being internationally known is a good thing. Everyone wants their ten minutes of fame. But President Trump doesn't care whether his infamy is of adulation. Favorability is not his inspiration or motivation. He leans more towards shock and awe in his approach to governing. The ENDS to his MEANS justifies his actions. The world is a little afraid of his means (intentions), believing they center around him acquiring more power and wealth. Am I insinuating the president may be a little corrupt? Only time will tell.

So where does the analogy of Judas figure into the Trump presidency? Christians and non-Christians have a general knowledge of the biblical character named Judas Iscariot from the the Christian Bible. He is the one who betrayed Jesus causing Jesus' death. Judas is known as a betrayer of good. But if Donald Trump is not out to do GOOD, then many would advocate for a Judas (betrayer) to enter into the picture. That is because they don't understand Judas or Jesus.

Judas Iscariot, born in Judea and son of Simon and Cyborea Iscariot, was one of Jesus' twelve disciples. He played a role in the apostlic ministry alongside the other disciples. However, in the Gospel of John, Judas's outlook was differentiated—many of Jesus's disciples abandoned him because of the difficulty of accepting his teachings, and Jesus asked the twelve if they would also leave him. Simon Peter spoke for the twelve: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life," but Jesus observed then that although he himself had chosen the twelve, one of them (unnamed by Jesus, but identified by the narrator) was "a devil" who would betray him.

According to the account in the Gospel of John, Judas carried the disciples' money bag or box (γλωσσόκομον, glōssokomon). Matthew directly states that Judas betrayed Jesus for a bribe of "thirty pieces of silver" by identifying him with a kiss—"the kiss of Judas"—to arresting soldiers of the High Priest Caiaphas, who then turned Jesus over to Pontius Pilate's's soldiers. Judas aided in Jesus' demise and not the demise of political corruption and injustices.

What is IMPORTANT to know is WHY Judas BETRAYED Jesus. One suggestion has been that Judas expected Jesus to overthrow Roman rule of Judea. In this view, Judas is a disillusioned disciple betraying Jesus not so much because he loved money, but because he loved his country and thought Jesus had failed it. Judas cared to a FAULT about his country it seems.

The political climate in Judea during Jesus' time was dangerous and volatile. Judea was part of the Roman Empire, which was an occupying force. The Jewish people were subject to Roman law and customs. There were at least five major political groups with different views on how to deal with the Roman occupation. The Zealots, which Judas has been linked to, wanted to KILL the Romans and take back Judea for the Jews. Judas wanted to remove those in charge by any means including violence and Jesus was teaching LOVE. Judas DEMANDED revolution. Jesus COMMANDED love.

Our political atmosphere is contintious. REVOLT is in the air. There are calls for protests for varying causes people feel President Trump is ignoring or damaging. Various individuals are calling for Trump's removal from office due to his overreach of power. 

It is not only Americans voicing their disapproval of Trump's use of power. Other countries are wary of his intentions. Donald Trump has shocked the world by suggesting that the US could "take over" and "own" Gaza, resettling its population in the process. The proposal has drawn condemnation, including from across the Middle East, close US allies and the United Nations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, welcomed the "revolutionary vision" for Gaza. Despite fierce pushback from regional leaders, Trump has pressured Jordan and Egypt to accept Gaza's 2.2 million residents - threatening to withhold aid if they refuse. Both nations have rejected the idea, warning it could destabilise the region. Trump has said that Palestinians would have no right to return to Gaza under his plan.

During a time of poilitcal corruption and overreach of power, Judas wanted an immediate resolution. He wanted ACTION! He would become labled as a ZEALOT, which is defined as a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals. His feelings and actions went against Jesus' teaching. Of course, a person should want CHANGE where change is necessary, but it is HOW you go about change that matters.

Dr. Martin Luther King is a better example of how to address those who are in power not doing the will of the people. Both “morally and practically” committed to nonviolence, King believed that “the Christian doctrine of love operating through the Gandhian method of nonviolence was one of the most potent weapons available to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom.” Christians must remember to act Christlike no matter what is going on around them. Judas' suffering of oppression made him forget about the command to love.

What would become of the man who felt throughout his being that governmental corruption and oppression was wrong and should be stopped by any means? Many different accounts of Judas's death have survived from antiquity, both within and outside the New Testament. Matthew 27:1-10 states that after learning that Jesus was to be crucified, Judas was overcome by remorse and attempted to return the 30 pieces of silver to the priests, but they would not accept them because they were blood money, so he threw them on the ground and left. Afterwards, he committed suicide by hanging himself in accordance with Mosaic law (Deuteronomy 21:22-23). The guilt of his actions became too much of a weight for him to carry.

In the world of Donald Trump, don't become a Judas seeking justice by UNJUST methods. Advocate for change using lawful methods and voice your opposition in love and with votes. Educate yourself on ways to have the outcomes you want to occur. Never give up. But violence, lawlessness, vitriole, and other actions which cause more harm are not acceptable. In advocating for change, be a Jesus instead of a Judas.

Is Your Fight My Fight?

I am a native born American. I don't fear deportation. I am a married heterosexual woman. I do not fear homophobia. I am a law-abiding citizen. I do not fear the law. Why should I care what happens to people who are not like me? Because as a Christian, the Bible tells me to care, even to do more than care. We are to look beyond ourselves.

In the Old Testament of the Bible, the prophet Isaiah frequently speaks about the importance of seeking justice, particularly emphasizing the need to defend the oppressed, plead for the widow, and take up the cause of the fatherless. A prominent verse highlighting this is Isaiah 1:17, which states "Learn to do right; seek justice, defend the oppressed, take up the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.". The group of people the prophet is talking about are the very people we overlook and dismiss for various reasons. Isaiah often condemns the leaders and society when they fail to uphold justice and oppress the poor. We are supposed to care about the plight of people who are not like us.

Isaiah was not the only prophet advocating for justice. The prophet Amos is most notably known for his strong message about social justice, often calling for "justice to roll down like waters" (Amos 5:24). Meaning that justice should be readily available and abundant for all people, especially the poor and oppressed. He heavily criticizes the wealthy and powerful for their exploitation of the vulnerable and lack of concern for true justice. Amos criticizes the religious practices of his time, arguing that mere rituals and offerings are meaningless without genuine commitment to justice and righteousness. 

The New Testament emphasizes justice as a core theme, from Matthew to Revelation. It calls for individuals to do justice by loving their neighbors and helping those in need. America has done this through USAID.

Trump campaigned on an “America First” platform after unsuccessfully trying to slash the foreign assistance budget during his first term in office. The U.S. provides about $60 billion in nonmilitary humanitarian and development aid annually — less than 1% of the federal budget, but far more than any other country. The complex network of organizations who carry out the work is managed by the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

A Chicago Council Survey fielded June 21–July 1, 2024, finds Americans broadly agree when it comes to government spending on domestic programs, including Social Security, healthcare, education, and public infrastructure projects. However, as conflicts escalate overseas, the US public is somewhat divided over how much should be spent on defense and foreign aid. Perhaps influenced by recent congressional debates over continued US assistance to Ukraine and Israel, half of those surveyed in 2024 say the US government should cut back its spending on military (50%) and economic (51%) aid to other nations. We don't want our money and resources going to help our neighbors anymore. Forget the poor, oppressed, fatherless, and injustices that befall them, as long as we (America) are doing fine. Right?

There were prominent people warning what a second Donald Trump presidency would look like. Presidential candidate Kamala Harris said Trump would have a "hit list" of people he would have revenge on. Ultimately, Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States, and fear filled many of its citizens. With him barely into his first 100 days of his presidency, there is disturbing if not shocking undertakings by the president daily.

With the help of Elon Musk, a billionaire many times over, all USAID humanitarian work has effectively stopped, current and former officials say (February 2025). Organizations that provide vital care for desperate and vulnerable people around the world have been forced to halt operations, turn away patients and lay off staff. The staffers at a half dozen U.S.-funded medical facilities in Sudan who care for severely malnourished children had a choice to make: Defy President Donald Trump’s order to immediately stop their operations or let up to 100 babies and toddlers die. Trump is successful this term in stopping aid to those who are not American with the support and cheers of Americans. Trump says it is a waist or misuse of taxpayer's money helping other nations not caring that the reputation of the United States as being a compassionate country will be lost along with important strategic alliances. 

It would be a mistake to believe a person can be callous to the needs of one group but care greatly about your same needs. Injustice unchecked will eventually land on everyone's doorstep. Lack of compassion spills over onto all not in the circle of the person in power. The definition of who is "us" becomes small squeezing almost everyone out. Eventually, anyone needing any sort of help is looked down upon. HELP YOURSELF will reign supreme in hearts and minds. Christians are forgetting, we are the BODY of Christ, not individual parts looking out for itself. Christians can't have the attitude of "It's happening to you and not me" It's not biblical.

That is why the Christian is to take up the cause of those who are thrown away in society for one reason or another. Christians have stood strong for the rights of the unborn. They must also stand strong for the born, in all of their circumstances of life. They must stop the "DISEASE" of injustice at its very beginning, in areas where people tend not to care. In those not looked at areas, the root has time to grow STRONG. A strong root ensures a healthy growth of injustice able to spread and thrive. This spread is when people say it has come to your doorstep. Because it had time to grow strong, it will be HARDER to get rid of. Like an invasive weed, injustice chokes out what is good. 

The Christian is to understand better and to not tolerate any injustice to any individual or group. They are called to come to the aid of those oppressed and suffering, working to find solutions. The problem is most people don't understand or even validate OPPRESSION. Native Americans, African American communities, the LGBTQ community, and so many more have all voiced their feelings of oppression only to be dismissed. Defined, oppression is the unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power, the continued oppression of the underclasses. Something that oppresses especially in being an unjust or excessive exercise of power. It is sad so many people are fearful of President Trump and what he will potentially do while in power. But these fears are also dismissed. Dismissed by those who believe they will not be a part of injustice. Stay tuned. An effective leader would not be feared.

Evangelicals voted for Donald Trump in large numbers because they believe Democrat's platforms do not uphold biblical principles. They feel the Christian way of life is being eroded along with the family unit. Because Democrats do not stand against ABORTION and HOMOSEXUALITY, they are anti-word of God in the eyes of many Christians. The problem with this is, just because a group of people are being treated humanely does not mean you agree with their life choices. Those who do not follow Christian mandates still have rights. Those oppressed still deserve justice. The poor still need compassion. Two wrongs do not make a right. There is a difference between President Trump standing WITH Evangelicals or standing ON Evangelicals.

There is a quote that says "in order for evil to prevail, all that is necessary is for good men to do nothing" attributed to Edmund Burke, and it essentially means that if good people don't actively oppose evil, it will naturally flourish. All Christians should know this and what they are supposed to do for his neighbor.