Month: July 2015

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Our Daily Thread 7-9-15

Good Morning!

On this day in 1755 General Edward Braddock was mortally wounded when French and Indian troops ambushed his force of British regulars and colonial militia. He died on July 13.

In 1776 The American Declaration of Independence was read aloud to Gen. George Washington’s troops in New York.

In 1868 the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. The amendment was designed to grant citizenship to and protect the civil liberties of recently freed slaves. 

In 1878 the corncob pipe was patented by Henry Tibbe.

And in 1968 the first All-Star baseball game to be played indoors took place at the Astrodome in Houston, TX.

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Quote of the Day

“Any child knows that history can only be a reduced representation of reality, but it must be a true one, not distorted by queer lenses.”

Samuel E. Morison

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Today is Roy Acuff’s birthday. 

https://youtu.be/onRUfsZFhCU

And here’s another.

https://youtu.be/wFISpOSYGPY

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Anyone have a QoD?

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Prayer Requests 7-9-15

It’s Thursday, so please remember to pray for the folks in PNG.

Anyone else?

Psalm 38

¹O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.

3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.

4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.

6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.

8 I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

9 Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.

10 My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.

11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.

12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.

13 But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.

14 Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.

15 For in thee, O Lord, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.

16 For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.

17 For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.

18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

19 But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.

21 Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me.

22 Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

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News/Politics 7-9-15

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open Thread

1. Caving to the whiny minority. 

From TheAP  “The South Carolina House approved a bill removing the Confederate flag from the Capitol grounds, a stunning reversal in a state that was the first to leave the Union in 1860 and raised the flag again at its Statehouse more than 50 years ago to protest the civil rights movement.

The move early Thursday came after more than 13 hours of passionate and contentious debate, and just weeks after the fatal shootings of nine black church members, including a state senator, at a Bible study in Charleston.

“South Carolina can remove the stain from our lives,” said 64-year-old Rep. Joe Neal, a black Democrat first elected in 1992. “I never thought in my lifetime I would see this.”

The House approved the Senate bill by a two-thirds margin, and the bill now goes to Republican Gov. Nikki Haley’s desk. She supports the measure, which calls for the banner to come down within 24 hours of her signature. It’s not clear exactly when that will be.”

The majority of Americans disagree.

From TheHill  “Most Americans continue to think of the Confederate flag as emblematic of Southern pride and not inherently racist, according to a new Gallup poll, though views are divided along party lines.

Some 54 percent of Americans say the flag represents not racism but Southern heritage, but Democratic support for the Confederate battle banner has dropped precipitously, according to the survey.

About a third of Democrats, 32 percent, view the flag as symbolic of Southern pride, almost half of the 61 percent who held that view when surveyed in 1992.

Meanwhile, views among Republicans have remained relatively consistent, ticking upward 3 points to 78 percent since 1992, when a full three-quarters of Republicans viewed the flag as a Southern symbol.”

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2. Trump’s only in trouble for speaking the truth. 

From MRCTV  “Donald Trump has been under fire for remarks he made on illegal immigrants during the announcement of his candidacy. “The U.S. has become a dumping ground for everybody else’s problems,” He said. “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”

While the remarks are certainly blunt, they’re not inherently wrong. Border Patrol seized just under $3.5M worth of marijuana from Mexican nationals in Arizona this past Thursday alone.  There’s also  been 40 cases of sex abuse by illegal aliens this year, and that’s just from what Border Patrol has posted as media releases on their website. A staggering amount of those cases involve children and minors.”

There’s a long list of offenders at the link.

Here’s more. From TheWashingtonExaminer  “Of the more than 2,200 people who received federal sentences for drug possession in fiscal year 2014, almost three-quarters of them were illegal immigrants, according to new data from the United States Sentencing Commission.

Illegal immigrants also made up more than one-third of all federal sentences, that data said.

The commission’s data showed a slight decline in the total number of illegal alien sentences from 2013 to 2014, but still showed that the illegal population is a major contributor to federal crimes in America.

But the sentencing of illegal immigrants for drug possession jumped significantly. In 2013, 1,123 illegal immigrants were sentenced on convictions of simple possession, and made up 55.8 percent of those cases.

In 2014, 1,681 illegal aliens were sentenced, and they made up 74.1 percent of the total. Illegal immigrants were also 16.9 percent of all federal drug trafficking sentences.”

And 63% of polled voters agree with Trump.

From Rasmussen  “During his announcement that he is running for the Republican presidential nomination, Trump called for tougher border control, saying Mexico and Central America are not sending their best people here but are exporting a lot of criminals instead. In surveys dating back to 2008, as many as 69% of voters have agreed with the billionaire businessman that gaining control of the border is more important than legalizing the status of those who are here illegally. In seven years, that number has never dipped below 53%, and in April it hit a four-year high of 63%.

Most voters for years also have complained that the policies and practices of the federal government encourage rather than discourage illegal immigration. They don’t like President Obama’s plan to protect up to five million illegal immigrants from deportation either and think it will just encourage more to come here illegally. Interestingly, Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton says the president’s plan doesn’t go far enough.

Yet, voters remain overwhelmingly positive about immigrants who come to the United States to work hard, support their families and pursue the American Dream. The problem is just 54% now believe that is what most immigrants have in mind.“

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Our Daily Thread 7+8=15

Good Morning!

On this day in 1608 the first French settlement at Quebec was established by Samuel de Champlain.

In 1755 Britain broke off diplomatic relations with France as their disputes in the New World intensified.

In 1776 Col. John Nixon gave the first public reading of the U.S. Declaration of Independence to a crowd at Independence Square in Philadelphia.

In 1889 The Wall Street Journal was first published.

And in 1969 The U.S. Patent Office issued a patent for the game “Twister.”

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Quote of the Day

“By the work one knows the workman.”

Jean de La Fontaine

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Today is Steve Mason’s birthday. 

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Anyone have a QoD?

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Prayer Requests 7-8-15

It’s Wednesday, so don’t forget to pray for The Gambia.

Anyone else?

Psalm 37:21-40

21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.

24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

28 For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

33 The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

34 Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

40 And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

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Our Daily Thread 7-7-15

Good Morning!

Here’s a shot of the bird above catching bugs. 

6-27-15 026

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On this day in 1862 the first railroad post office was tested on the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad in Missouri.

In 1930 construction began on Boulder Dam, later Hoover Dam, on the Colorado River.

In 1949 “Dragnet” was first heard on NBC radio.

And in 1987 public testimony at the Iran-Contra hearing began.

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Quote of the Day

“Truth is mighty and will prevail.”

Thomas Brooks

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Today is Gustav Mahler’s birthday.  From Gewandhausorchester

And it’s the birthday of one of the greatest blues pianists ever, Pinetop Perkins.

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Anyone have a QoD?

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Prayer Requests 7-7-15

Anyone have a request or a praise they’d like to share?

Psalm 37:1-20

¹Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.

15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous.

18 The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

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Our Daily Thread 7-6-15

Good Morning!

7-4-15 0087-4-15 009

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On this day in 1699 Captain William Kidd, the pirate, was captured in Boston, MA, and deported back to England.

In 1777 British forces captured Fort Ticonderoga.

In 1885 Louis Pasteur successfully tested his anti-rabies vaccine. The child used in the test later became the director of the Pasteur Institute.

In 1923 The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was established.

And in 1985 the submarine Nautilus arrived in Groton, Connecticut. The vessel had been towed from Mare Island Naval Shipyard.

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Quote of the Day

“I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm’s way.”

John Paul Jones

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Today is LaVerne Andrews’ birthday. 

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Anyone have a QoD?