There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true. —Soren Kierkegaard. "…truth is true even if nobody believes it, and falsehood is false even if everybody believes it. That is why truth does not yield to opinion, fashion, numbers, office, or sincerity–it is simply true and that is the end of it" – Os Guinness, Time for Truth, pg.39. “He that takes truth for his guide, and duty for his end, may safely trust to God’s providence to lead him aright.” – Blaise Pascal. "There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily" – George Washington letter to Edmund Randolph — 1795. We live in a “post-truth” world. According to the dictionary, “post-truth” means, “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” Simply put, we now live in a culture that seems to value experience and emotion more than truth. Truth will never go away no matter how hard one might wish. Going beyond the MSM idealogical opinion/bias and their low information tabloid reality show news with a distractional superficial focus on entertainment, sensationalism, emotionalism and activist reporting – this blogs goal is to, in some small way, put a plug in the broken dam of truth and save as many as possible from the consequences—temporal and eternal. "The further a society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those who speak it." – George Orwell “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.” ― Soren Kierkegaard
The article reflects on the significance of precious stones in the Bible, contrasting earthly value with heavenly worth. It emphasizes that while gems like rubies symbolize beauty and rarity, they are mere construction materials in the heavenly city. Ultimately, Jesus is portrayed as the true jewel, surpassing all earthly treasures.
The Bible makes mention of many precious and semi-precious stones. I mean, who isn’t curious about the giant pearl as a gate to the heavenly city, said to be over 200 feet high? (Revelation 21:21). Or the foundation of the heavenly city studded with these:
The foundation stones of the city wall were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. (Revelation 21:19-20).
It’s glorious to try and imagine. The things we considered precious and sought after on earth, will simply be construction materials of the heavenly city! The REAL jewel of surpassing value is Jesus. Rubies are nothing compared to Him.
But in earthly economy, we do love jewels. They are beautiful and charming, and we seek after them. So, how often does the Bible talk about rubies, and in what manner?
In Exodus, the High Priest’s breastplate is studded with rows of gems. The top row is described as having a ruby. The gems were engraved with the names of the 12 tribes. Each gem represented a tribe. (Exodus 28:21, 39:14).
Did you know that before his fall, Lucifer was covered with every gemstone, including the ruby?
“You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald; And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, Was in you. On the day that you were created They were prepared.” (Ezekiel 28:13).
No gemstone can make the corrupt and the evil look any better. For God knows the heart. It is too bad the gems were wasted on Lucifer, his ugliness showed through soon after when he defied God.
The Bible describes “agates” which can be transparent, and “carbuncles”, which literally means sparkling gem. If a carbuncle is held up to the sunlight, it glows like a burning coal. The Bible also mentions jewel-like items such as coral and pearls. As for rubies,
“A comparison is made between the value of wisdom and rubies (Job 28:18; Prov. 3:15; 8:11). The price of a virtuous woman is said to be “far above rubies” (Prov. 31:10).” Easton, M. G. (1893). In Illustrated Bible Dictionary
The King James Version & NIV mention that wisdom obtained is more precious than rubies, though other translations use pearls for the jewel, or just the word jewel.
EPrata photo
She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. (Proverbs 3:15)
The same with Proverbs 31:10, describing an excellent wife-
An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels (rubies)
The Hebrew and Greek use different words for the various jewels, including ruby. And the words change meaning so it’s hard to get a handle on which verse exactly mans ruby and which doesn’t.
“The exact meaning of the Hebrew word for ruby is uncertain. Some render it “red coral;” others, “pearl” or “mother-of-pearl” says Easton’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature.
As symbols used to compare various concepts, though, using jewels for the comparison is something to which we can all relate. We know that rubies are expensive, rare, and beautiful. To compare wisdom to it is a notion we can intuitively understand.
Do we seek wisdom as much as we seek a ruby for Christmas?
And the idea that gold will be street pavement and rubies are just one of many jewels studding the walls of new Jerusalem, is remarkable. Earth’s economy isn’t heaven’s economy. What is precious here will not be precious there. And why would it? Jesus is the MOST precious in the universe. His beauty the most astonishing. His rarity, the rarest.
God’s Purpose for Suffering in the Lives of Christians (Part 2/2) – Pastor Patrick Hines Sermon (Hosea 5:15)
15 I will return again to My place Till they acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”
1 Come, and let us return to the LORD; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. [Hosea 5:15-6:1 NKJV]
▶️Pastor Patrick Hines has recently had a brand new book published, called, “Earth’s Foundational History – Part 1: Genesis Chapters 1 Through 5.” (Paperback – May 4, 2023) https://cutt.ly/16RCeZ0
These two books are also available on Amazon. All proceeds go directly to Pastor Hines:
▶️Am I Right With God?: The Gospel, Justification, Saving Faith, Repentance, Assurance, & The New Birth https://cutt.ly/S6RCbuM
▶️Redrawing the Battle Lines: 23 Sermons on Critical Issues Facing the Church https://cutt.ly/m6RCTi0
We subscribe to the Westminster Standards as our doctrinal statement. It consists of the following documents:
The Westminster Confession of Faith
The Westminster Larger Catechism
The Westminster Shorter Catechism
We also believe that Christian Worship is to be regulated and defined by God’s Word, the Bible.
Our worship services are designed to please and honor the Triune God of the Bible. We place Scripture reading and the preaching of the word of God at the center of worship along with Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These are God’s gifts to His church and ought to always be at the center of Christian worship. We are a congregation that loves to sing God’s praises, recite His Word back to Him, and actively engage in hearing and learning from God’s Word.
We embrace and promote a comprehensive Christian world and life view.
There is no area of life which is not under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. It is to God and His law which all people, including governments and civil rulers, will answer. The Word of God embraces and informs the way we view marriage, the family, children, education, politics, worship, law, government, war, the church, missions, evangelism, and worship. In the world today there is a battle of opposing worldviews. There are basically only two positions: God’s Word and man’s ideas. We stand positively for Biblical truth and negatively against man’s ideas which are opposed to Biblical truth.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only hope for mankind.
Because all men fall short of obeying God’s law, all men everywhere are in need of divine grace and salvation from God. This salvation is found only in the Lord Jesus Christ who died for sinners, was buried, rose again, and is alive today seated at God the Father’s right hand.
We Worship God Together as Families.
We offer nursery during the morning worship service for newborns and infants but encourage people to keep as many of their children as they can with them for morning worship. The audio of the service is in the nursery via speakers. There is also a crying room with a video screen and audio of the sermon. We offer Sunday school classes for all ages, but worship together as families. We do not offer “children’s” church.
All who profess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and are members of an evangelical church are cordially invited to participate with us in the Lord’s Supper.
Christianity Today just questioned whether Jesus was nailed to the cross. Join us as we break down how this article got published and how far the magazine has drifted from the foundation Billy Graham built it on. Wretched TV and Radio are hosted by Todd Friel.
The Presbyterian Church (USA) is the old mother Kirk of American Presbyterianism. In her lie all the treasures of the great names and institutions that made up American Presbyterianism and its powerful influence on the world in which we live.
Witherspoon, Miller, Hodge, Warfield, Machen.
Davies, Thornwell, Girardeau.
Princeton, Union, Columbia (GA).
Wooster, Westminster, Muskingum.
Great names. Great institutions.
Fifteen signers of the Declaration of Independence were mainline Presbyterians.
The old mother kirk of American Presbyterianism holds treasures of the mind and heart that few have ever seen. She has lived through a Revolution with England; divided over Black slavery only to be united again; welcomed seceding (Associate and United) Presbyterians into her bosom. Fought for truth. Fought for justice. Shaped the American experience in thought life, high culture, and even pop-culture. “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood,” because of Mr. Rogers’s worldview.
She has sent missionaries abroad, conquered nations through discipleship rather than the sword; she has changed hearts and minds.
She has also been on a century-plus decline. She has tripped, she has harmed her witness, and in many ways she has stumbled over her own candlestick causing not only offense… but its snuffing.
In the 1933 denominational magazine, The Presbyterian, J Gresham Machen wrote: “In foreign lands, as at home, what the modern Church offers is not Christ but a program. It is not Christianity, but a diluted substitute. If the Church desires to maintain a real missionary enterprise, it must first of all return to the faith.”
Earlier, in 1925, he wrote, “Christianity is a missionary religion. It cannot be kept to ourselves. We must tell the world—not about our ideals, but about the acts of God in history, culminating in the resurrection of Christ.” (What Is Faith?)
Machen was right.
As he watched, what at one time was the old faithful mother, stepping into liberal theology, he sounded warning.
“The shift appears to reflect the denomination’s sensitivity about criticism of paternalistic colonial-style mission work by U.S. missionaries in foreign countries, reflected in its 2003 document, “Presbyterians Do Ministry in Partnership,” which emphasized the self-reliance and self-determination of mission partners. “We’ve done a fabulous job along with other denominations and other faiths in spreading faith traditions around the globe.”’
Some former missionaries will go back on the field with another message—not one of the gospel, but under their new title:
Global Ecumenical Advisors.
Global. Ecumenical. Advisors.
Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973) was a Presbyterian missionary in the first half of the 20th century. Mrs. Buck denied central truths of the Christian faith: original sin, substitutionary atonement, the deity of Christ—and other things.
Machen, who openly opposed Mrs. Buck being on the mission field, wrote, “Miss Pearl Buck… does not believe that Jesus is God. She does not believe that he was raised from the dead. She does not believe in any real sense that he is our Savior. She is in the foreign field representing, not the gospel of Christ, but another gospel which is no gospel at all.” (Modernism and the Board of Foreign Missions)
Many believed that Machen was unkind concerning these missionaries. They were doing good work, some said.
Machen was right.
And a century later, we bid adieu to the PC(USA)’s missionaries and welcome their global ecumenical advisors.
Truthxchange exists to (1) Inform the Public; (2) Equip the Church; and (3) Protect the Next Generation. Sometimes accomplishing No. 2 requires taking a candid inventory – warts and all – of what Christians, particularly evangelicals, actually believe, as opposed to what their paper statements of faith profess to affirm. We must look in the mirror honestly if we are serious about addressing and redressing the pressing paganism which threatens the Gospel.
For the past decade, Ligonier Ministries in conjunction with LifeWay Research has conducted a “State of Theology” survey of the US Population, including a segment of American Evangelicalism.[1] The most recent results (compiled in 2022) reflect vast swatches of error and paganism within evangelicalism. Because “it is time for judgment to begin with the house of God,”[2]Christians need to soberly be aware of – and remedy – the plague of paganism in the pew, correcting errant brethren with gentleness.[3] Let’s get to the gist.
The Heresies in Our Midst
These survey results are troubling. They reflect an increasing and corrosive trend in our churches. Many churches tend erect a mere formalism – they look orthodox on paper (or their websites[4]) – but in actual belief and practice parishioners in staggering numbers embrace gross theological and ethical error. In other words, while the evangelical responders affirm – not unanimously(!) – biblical authority, a final judgment, and Hell itself, they embrace theological and ethical errors utterly incompatible with orthodox Christian convictions.
Make no mistake. The errors affirmed and embraced by professing evangelicals do not comprise small or inconsequential matters. They are not like choosing between arcane hair-splitting doctrines like infra or supra-lapsarianism. These doctrinal errors are not about debating preferred millennial positions or the proper modes of baptism. Evangelicals are instead denying in record numbers cardinal theological doctrines and ethical mandates. They are therefore becoming saltless before our very eyes; their lights are being occluded and shrouded. In many cases evangelicals are becoming Christian in name, but pagan in precept and practice.
Large swaths of evangelicals are embracing paganism – and they may not even know it. Why does this matter? Because: One cannot live a faithful and impactful Christian life if one believes the wrong things and behaves the wrong way. Holding heretical beliefs weakens the church’s overall theological immune system. Unaddressed error begets greater error. Let’s consider several of these startling results.
As to Jesus
Christianity revolves around, well, Christ. Jesus of Nazareth is the central figure of Scripture, history, and the Cosmos. And, He is the “founder and perfecter of our faith.”[5] Evangelicals profess Jesus a lot on t-shirts and PowerPoints, but what do they profess about Him?
Jesus: The Only Way??
87% of evangelicals agree or strongly agree[6] that Jesus is the only way of salvation. But wait. Let’s not celebrate yet because this means 13% hold otherwise. In other words they believe that trust in Jesus alone is not necessary for eternal life. Over 10% of evangelicals embrace a view that enervates a hallmark of being evangelical: evangelism.
But wait. There’s more, more heretical views.
Jesus: The First and Greatest Creation of God??
61% of evangelicals hold that Jesus is a createdbeing – this is the same position of the Jehovah Witnesses cult which embraces the ancient Arian heresy.[7] This position denies basic Nicene orthodoxy[8] – and of course, the Bible’s teaching as well.[9]
Jesus: Great Teacher; Not God??
Similarly, and equally sadly, 44% of evangelicals contend that Jesus, while a great teacher, is notGod.[10] This too conflicts with fundamental Christian orthodoxy. Jesus is not created in any sense, but rather, is “true God from true God.”[11] Denying that Jesus is God and labeling Him as only a teacher, albeit a “great” one, places Him on an equal morally equivalent plane with other teachers, gurus, and holy men – hardly someone who is to be preeminent in all things,[12] and one to whom every knee shall bow and every tongue confess.[13] Confess what? That “Jesus Christ is Lord.”[14]
As implied above, errors beget more errors. A defective Christology precipitates a mistaken pneumatology, or theology of the Holy Spirit. And, yes, swaths of evangelicals fall here too.
The Holy Spirit: A Force, Not a Person??
Concerning the Holy Spirit, evangelicals seem more influenced by Star Wars than by Scripture.[15] 55% of evangelicals hold that the Holy Spirit is simply a force – an “it”– nota person. This again apes the Arian heresy professed by the Jehovah Witnesses cult.[16] And, this position necessarily denies the Holy Trinity.[17]
The basics of the Faith teach that the Holy Spirit is “the Lord and giver of life” who with the Father and the Son, “he [not “it”] is to be worshipped and glorified.”[18] One doesn’t coherently worship a force. Evangelicals who deny the Spirit’s personhood stand outside Christian orthodoxy, despite “doing daily quiet times,” listening to Spotify “praise song” compilations, planting churches, or sponsoring an African orphan.
Holy Spirit: Can Command Action Forbidden in the Bible??
18% of evangelicals claim that the Holy Spirit can command things contrary to or forbidden by Scripture. Yet these same evangelicals hold – by a vast majority (87%) – that the Bible comprises the highest authority for forming one’s beliefs. Incoherence reigns.
Recall that the Spirit Himself “breathed out” the Scripture itself.[19] Scripture is a transcript of God’s character and holiness. If God the Spirit commanded something contrary to His Word, which He breathed out, He would in effect be denying Himself, which He cannot do.[20]
What about the Big Problem, Sin?
One would think that evangelicals, with their commendable zeal of “getting people saved” would embrace a clear and cogent view of sin and its impact. Sadly, many do not.
In God’s Eyes, Everyone is Born Innocent??
While evangelicals pay lip service to sin, a clear super-majority (66%) holds that everyone is born innocent. This too is a pagan view, popularized in the early church by Augustine’s foe, Pelagius. This view erroneously teaches that we humans are “sinners because we sin” rather than the actual reality Scripture teaches: “We sin because we are sinners.”[21] A majority of evangelicals conceive of man’s big problem exactly backwards.
Sure, Everyone sins, but Man is by Nature Good??
Another evangelical majority (55%) holds that mankind by nature is good.[22] While this was true before the Fall, it is utterly mistaken after the Fall. But no matter because 40% evangelicals also say that minor sins do not deserve eternal damnation. God evidently grades on a curve, which would make God partial, which He is not.[23] In sum, large clusters of evangelicals – and in some cases a majority of them – claim that mankind is good, innocent, and that “minor sins” certainly will not receive damnation. This means that many in the pews lack a biblical understanding of hamartiology, that is, sin.[24] And, failing to understand sin means they will not have a robust understanding of and gratefulness for redemption.
God Accepts the Worship of All Religions??
And, God, according to 61% of evangelicals is simply not “up tight” about religion and exclusive devotion to Him. You know, that narrow judgmental 1st Commandment is so legalistic and non-inclusive. These evangelicals believe that God accepts the worship of all religions, including Islam. This erroneous notion rests on a decidedly pagan premise: all religions are essentially one. This is known as The Perennial Philosophy and it is the foundation of paganism.[25] This sort of fuzzy thinking stems from holding that religious beliefs are purely subjective, instead of being objective and objectively true.
Religious Belief: What’s True for You??
Evangelicals – at least 39% of them – believe that religious belief consists of “what’s true for you.” In other words, they have functionally adopted a pagan’s view of truth – just like Pontius Pilate.[26] This again is pagan because it centers reality in the Self, an inherently idolatrous move. Man becomes the measure of all things; he’s the “master of [his] fate, the captain of [his] soul.”[27]
Ethical Particulars: Pagan Sexuality in the Pew
As TxC has explained for decades, when the Truth is exchanged for the Lie, idolatry results: the creation instead of the Creator is worshipped. Yet, idols are not idle. False worship precipitates unrighteous behavior, particularly sexual deviance.[28] So, how do evangelicals fare here? Not well. Their paganism is palpable. Their errant theology correlates with errant sexual ethics and standards
Evangelicals and the LGBTQ Agenda
While evangelicals pay lip service to biblical sexual mores – 77% say sex outside of marriage is sinful and 74% say abortion is sinful – they incoherently claim – 25% – that the Bible’s condemnation of homosexual behavior “does not apply today.” Moreover, a significant swath – 33% – imbibes the Trans narrative, saying that gender identity is a matter of personal choice – in other words that men can become women and vice versa.[29] Why?
There may be several reasons for these stark departures from orthodoxy (theology) and orthopraxis (ethics). I suspect most of them stem from a diluted orthopathos[30] – having diminished, as did the church in Ephesus, their first love.[31] How so? Is there evidence for this?
The survey informs us that evangelicals overwhelmingly profess (89%) that the Bible remains their highest authority, and that the Bible is 100% accurate in all that it teaches (77%). Yet, these same evangelicals also claim that “science disproves the Bible” (21%) and nearly half of them (47%) assert that God Himself “learns and adapts to circumstances.”[32] This means that evangelicals have embraced a pagan epistemology; they rely upon multiple standards that compete and trump the true God and His Word: science and self, since God “changes.” If God changes, then neither He nor his Word can be relied upon. This means in effect – just like the ancient pagan religions – that the evangelicals’ god is increasingly dependent upon and derives from man and his desires, imaginations, and whims. It is a god who is not the true and living God, but a deity remade in man’s image and likeness. This is decidedly mistaken and decidedly foolish, as Isaiah explained, foreshadowing Paul’s teaching about the Lie and the consequences of worshipping the creation instead of the Creator. Ponder the prophet’s point:
All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame. Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing? Behold, all his companions shall be put to shame, and the craftsmen are only human. Let them all assemble, let them stand forth. They shall be terrified; they shall be put to shame together.
The ironsmith takes a cutting tool and works it over the coals. He fashions it with hammers and works it with his strong arm. He becomes hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water and is faint. The carpenter stretches a line; he marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes and marks it with a compass. He shapes it into the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house. He cuts down cedars, or he chooses a cypress tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it. Then it becomes fuel for a man. He takes a part of it and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Also he makes a god and worships it; he makes it an idol and falls down before it. Half of it he burns in the fire. Over the half he eats meat; he roasts it and is satisfied. Also he warms himself and says, “Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire!” And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!”
They know not, nor do they discern, for he has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand. No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say, “Half of it I burned in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and have eaten. And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?” He feeds on ashes; a deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”[33]
A Way Forward: Purging Pockets of Paganism
What can Christ’s congregations do to ameliorate this situation? How can the pockets of paganism be purged? First, the church’s leaders must recognize that a problem exists. Second, they must recognize embedded paganism cannot be remedied by a retreat, conference, rebrand, or other quick fix. Rather, leaders must implement strategies and tactics that supplant paganism with the beauty of orthodoxy writ large. Here are some ways of doing so.
Every worshipping congregation possesses a liturgy, whether formal or informal. How about introducing an element with the gathered people of God connecting them to the Church universal by having them recite and confess together – every week – the core Christian truths that are true at all times, in all places, for all peoples. This could be done with the Apostles Creed, Nicene Creed, Chalcedon formula, etc. Moreover, why not offer classes that expound these foundational Christian creeds?
Next, why not offer classes that survey doctrinal history and why it matters?[34] One could then offer classes that explain and expound one’s denominational standards. For example, in the Reformed tradition accessible resources exist that probe and explain the Westminster Confession as well as the Heidelburg Catechism.[35]
Concerning ethical standards, consider incorporating into the weekly service a reading of God’s law: The Greatest Commandment, the Decalogue, from the Proverbs, from the epistles, etc. Then the congregation could study an exposition of the law of God as set forth in the church’s doctrinal standards.[36]
One way to jump start a corrective course would be to invite TxC to your church for a TruthxChange Intensive. TxC can customize presentations in an accessible and interesting way to alert the congregation to these issues and equip them to combat them – graciously and effectively. Contact TxC for more information.
Finally, at the end of the day we need to remind ourselves that surveys are not saviors. Taking a poll may be diagnostic, but will not correct the problems. Only a sinless savior – a God who became man, the second Adam – can redeem us, including from our doctrinal and ethical sins. He is the One to whom we must cling:
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.[37]
[4] In another website trend, it is becoming increasingly difficult to locate a congregation’s doctrinal statement amid the flashy pitches for coffee cafes, young energetic attendees with bright smiles, and lavish facilities.
[6] All the survey results reported here combine the “agree” or “strongly agree” responses. The reader should understand that evangelicals manifest less conviction than the combined numbers indicate regarding core beliefs, such as biblical authority or pre-marital sexual activity.
[8]https://www.anglicancommunion.org/media/109020/Nicene-Creed.pdf – this foundational creed includes relative to Jesus that He “is the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father.”
[10] The Sadducees sect – who denied the resurrection – acknowledged Jesus as “teacher” (Matt. 22:23, 24) as did the Herodians and Pharisees, the latter group accusing Jesus of blasphemy because He forgave sins, a prerogative reserved for God alone. (Luke 5:21)
[14] Phil 2:11 – and note, we also bow before the Father (Eph 3:14). If we bow (worship) the Father AND the Son, they are equal in majesty – that is, both are equally divine, which the Arian heresy denies.
[15] George Lucas’ Star Wars project intended to introduce and inject a popularized pagan cosmology to the Western world, using Joseph Campbell’s theories about myth. Peter Jones noted this decades ago. See, Peter Jones, The Gnostic Empire Strikes Back: An Old Heresy for a New Age (1992) and Peter Jones, Spirit Wars: Pagan Revival in Christian America (1997)
[21] R.C Sproul made this point repeatedly. See, e.g.,https://x.com/RCSproul/status/915249707974365184. See also the 1995 film, The Addiction, which explores this theme – even quoting Sproul – in the context of a modern vampire horror narrative.
[23] Romans 2:11, especially when it comes to sin and justice.
[24]See, e.g., G. C. Berkouwer, Studies in Dogmatics: Sin (1971)
[25] For an accurate – and seductive – explication of this, consider: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA2ZEM4T-vo – and note: this view denies the uniqueness of Jesus as the “only begotten” Son of God and instead equates Him on the same plane as Rumi, Mohammed, Buddha, et al.
[32] This notion reflects process theology or perhaps the heresy known as open theism. For a scholarly and accessible refutation of this error, see, John M. Frame, No Other God: A Response to Open Theism (2001, 2022)
[34] Excellent “starter texts” include Louis Berkhof, The History of Christian Doctrine (1991) and C. Fitzsimmons Allison, The Cruelty of Heresy (1994)
[35] See, G.I. Williamson, The Westminster Confession of Faith: For Study Classes (1964); G. I. Williamson, The Heidelburg Catechism: A Study Guide (1994); and Gordan H. Clark, What Presbyterians Believe: A Exposition of the Westminster Confession (1965)
[36] For example, the Westminster Catechisms (Shorter and Larger) expound each of the 10 Commandments. Just hearing these explications over time would buttress one’s ethical understanding. Then, for further development, one could craft a class expounding upon these particular catechism questions.
“Measures which serve to abridge the free competition of foreign Articles, have a tendency to occasion an enhancement of prices.” —Alexander Hamilton (1791)
U.S. economy shrinks: For the first time since 2022, the U.S. economy has shrunk. First-quarter numbers show a decrease in GDP of 0.3%, reversing the 2.4% rise from the fourth quarter of 2024. The drop was unexpected, as some economists anticipated a 0.4% increase. They argue that the biggest culprit is uncertainty caused by Donald Trump’s tariffs. It’s “Biden’s Stock Market, not Trump’s,” the president responded on Truth Social. “Tariffs will soon start kicking in, and companies are starting to move into the USA in record numbers. Our Country will boom, but we have to get rid of the Biden ‘Overhang.’ This will take a while, has NOTHING TO DO WITH TARIFFS, only that he left us with bad numbers, but when the boom begins, it will be like no other. BE PATIENT!!!”
Judge Dugan suspended: Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan is learning the hard way that blatantly defying the law will get one in trouble quickly. Apparently upset by the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, Dugan’s actions to protect a criminal alien from detention by federal officials not only got her arrested but may end her career as a judge. On Tuesday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended Dugan. The court ordered Dugan “temporarily prohibited from exercising the powers of a circuit court judge in the state of Wisconsin, effective the date of this order and until further order of the court.” This decision is telling because Wisconsin’s Supreme Court has a 4-3 liberal majority, and it appears even they aren’t comfortable with Dugan’s lawless actions.
Trump’s 100-day rally: To celebrate the 100-day mark of his second term, Donald Trump held a rally on Tuesday in Michigan, where he laid out his actions and successes. “We’ve accomplished more in three months than most administrations accomplish in four years or even eight years — and we’re just getting started, believe me,” Trump told the crowd. He then called on Congress to pass a “big, beautiful” tax bill that includes his plan to eliminate taxes on tips and overtime. Trump also highlighted his securing of the border, saying he was delivering on “mass deportation.” He pointed to his actions to eliminate DEI in the federal government and to protect kids from the “transgender” agenda. “Trillions of dollars are now pouring into the United States because of common sense,” Trump stated with regard to his trade policies.
Trump runs interview gauntlet: The U.S. president is one of the biggest celebrities on earth, but Donald Trump doesn’t just embrace the spotlight; he revels in it. In just over a week, he has done three high-profile interviews with “fake news” organizations. TIME, The Atlantic, and ABC News are openly hostile to the Trump administration, but they got backstage passes to tour the White House and generous amounts of time for the interviews. Trump also recently met with anti-woke lefty Bill Maher. These interviews with hard-hitting questions and contentious moments are a studied contrast to the Biden administration’s attempt to keep the 46th president from appearing in public more than once a week. Getting a close look at the mind of the most powerful man in the world is fascinating; perhaps the adversarial approach is the best way to do that.
Senate to vote to retake tariff authority: Congress doesn’t work the way that it should. It has ceded power to the executive branch for decades, usually by delegating lawmaking authority to unelected agencies. Going the other direction, the Senate is expected to vote as soon as today to end the state of “national emergency” that Trump claims gives him the power to decide U.S. tariff policy unilaterally. The votes may be there to pass the resolution in the Senate, but the House has no plan to take up the measure. In the unlikely event this resolution passes in both chambers, Trump promises a veto that will not be overridden. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is among the few Republicans expected to vote for the measure. Without movement in the House or the votes to override a veto, this is a symbolic gesture.
David Hogg sparks Democrat infighting: David Hogg was elected the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee two months ago. Shortly thereafter, the 25-year-old promised to primary “ineffective” House Democrats to replace them with younger, more responsive representatives. This caused more blowback than he might’ve expected. DNC Chair Ken Martin introduced a proposal last week to keep DNC officials from participating in primaries. More recently, Kalyn Free, Hogg’s opponent in the race for vice chair, is filing a complaint that the election unfairly discriminated against women by “failing to distinguish between gender categories.” The DNC will meet virtually on May 12 to consider the complaint. Republicans may be unsure who to root for in this miniature Democrat civil war, so it’s best to get the popcorn and enjoy the show.
Trump’s deportation averages 650 illegals a day: So far, 66,463 illegal immigrants have been arrested and 65,682 removed. Those are the stats for the first 100 days of Trump’s second term in office. Border crossings have fallen to almost nothing, meaning deportees stay deported. ICE says 75% of arrestees’ criminal records are in keeping with Trump’s priority of deporting the most dangerous illegals first. More than 2,200 were members of Tren de Aragua, MS-13, or other gangs, while 1,329 were accused or convicted of sex offenses, and another 498 were accused or convicted of murder. These deportations are undoubtedly just the beginning and a good start. Still, if Trump wants to deport the millions who crossed Biden’s open border, the average will need to climb quickly; 650 deportations a day only add up to about one million across four years.
Florida to ban “chemtrails”: Florida will soon join Tennessee in banning so-called “chemtrails.” The Sunshine State’s Republican legislature isn’t interested in the ridiculous mind-control conspiracy but intends to prohibit geoengineering experiments that aim to combat climate change. The bill, which passed the state Senate, prohibits the “injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of a chemical, a chemical compound, a substance or apparatus into the atmosphere within the borders of Florida for the express purposes of affecting the temperature, weather, climate, or intensity of sunlight.” Gov. Ron DeSantis explained, “People have a lot of kooky ideas that they can … put things in the atmosphere to block the sun and save us from climate change. We’re not playing that game in Florida.” The United Kingdom just approved a geoengineering plan to spew sulfur dioxide, a literal pollutant, into the atmosphere in the hopes of generating more clouds to dim the sun.
David Horowitz, RIP: David Horowitz, conservative commentator and founder of the conservative think tank known as the David Horowitz Freedom Center, has died at the age of 86 after a long battle with cancer. Horowitz was a sharp and tenacious advocate for freedom. In his younger days, Horowitz was a Marxist before having an epiphany and becoming a stalwart defender of America and Liberty. As his obituary states, “In the end, David helped countless people and expended every fiber of his being pushing society towards freedom. He may not have saved the world, but he most certainly made it a better place, especially for us. He was our superhero, and we will love him forever.”
Headlines
David Perdue confirmed as Trump’s top China diplomat (Fox News)
Authors of National Climate Assessment dismissed by Trump administration (Washington Examiner)
Ukraine ready to sign landmark minerals deal (NY Post)
China quietly exempts key U.S. goods from tariffs (Newsweek)
ISIS suspect arrested in New Orleans Bourbon Street terror attack that killed 14 (Fox News)
Male sweeps women’s events at U.S. Masters Swim National Championships (Daily Wire)
Fifty years after Vietnam, our troops remain demoralized by defeat (The Federalist)
Satire: Nine changes new prime minister will bring to Canada (Babylon Bee)
Amazon planned to display the cost of tariffs on its products until Donald Trump called Jeff Bezos. Except Amazon did not have plans to do any such thing. It’s the supposed tariff outrage of the day for the Leftmedia.
It started Tuesday morning when Punchbowl News — a “membership-based news community” named after the Secret Service nickname for the Capitol — reported that “the e-commerce giant will soon show how much Trump’s tariffs are adding to the price of each product.”
It wasn’t long before White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt denounced the “hostile and political act by Amazon.” Trump then called Bezos, the billionaire socialist inauguration donor and special guest with whom he has developed a rapport. Bezos has not been Amazon’s CEO since 2021, but he’s still executive chairman. “Jeff Bezos was very nice,” Trump said. “He was terrific. He solved the problem very quickly, and he did the right thing. He’s a good guy.”
The “solution” was that Amazon was never going to display the cost of tariffs in the first place. “The team that runs our ultra low cost Amazon Haul store considered the idea of listing import charges on certain products,” Amazon spokesperson Tim Doyle said in a statement. “This was never approved and is not going to happen.”
Haul is a more direct competitor to Temu, which is basically a consumer portal that connects consumers with manufacturers in China. Temu now includes a line item at checkout to show the “import charge.”
Amazon may be lying about whether this idea was ever in the works, but the company’s explanation is believable for a couple of reasons. Calculating the specific tariffs on goods depending on the country of origin and product category would require a significant programming overhaul, and Trump has, by design, made this an ever-moving target, so the calculation would frequently have to change. Far more importantly, Amazon doesn’t want to tell you how many products it sells now cost 145% more because they are made in China — even on a direct-from-China site like Haul. On the contrary, Amazon goes to great lengths to hide the country of origin for many products.
Amazon trails only Walmart in retail sales in America, and both companies sell gobs of products (sometimes cheap knockoffs otherwise known as stolen intellectual property) made (sometimes by slave labor) in China. Before China joined the World Trade Organization under Bill Clinton — and long before Amazon existed — Walmart heavily marketed the fact that its products were “Made in the USA.” Those days are long gone. As for Amazon, The Daily Wire says the retail giant “sources over 70% of its products from China.”
That’s hardly surprising. If you’re one of the millions of Americans who’ve shopped for gadgets at Amazon, you know that identical products are often sold by random companies you’ve never heard of. PJ Media’s Steve Green tells of one scenario involving companies like RayCue, GIISSMO, and PULWTOP, explaining:
There’s a factory somewhere in China, maybe using Uighur slave labor, probably using stolen intellectual property (IP), and certainly with a CCP stamp of approval. It churns out jillions of identical consumer goods, but it doesn’t export them. Export companies wink in and out of existence, set up shop on Amazon with some semi-random name, selling identical goods at near-identical prices.
Good luck getting customer service from Ubangiwangi when your widget dies before the warranty is up because the owner, the mysterious Mr. Chow, went out of business. He set up a new shop — BICHENCAMARO, this time — in the same offices, exporting the same garbage from the same factory.
Back to tariffs, the Bezos-owned Washington Post reported on its own poll, saying, “Nearly 2 out of 3 Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the tariffs.” Well, Trump’s tariffs aim to rectify some terrible imbalances in recent decades. That doesn’t come free, and not imposing tariffs is costly, too.
Regardless of Trump’s goals or the merits of his plan, tariffs are taxes, and consumers bear the cost. “In April,” Newsweek reports, “the Treasury Department reported $15.9 billion in tariff collections, compared to $9.6 billion the previous month.” Who paid for that? We did.
No wonder Trump doesn’t want that fee displayed, even if he also argues the goal is worth the price.
Few companies want to deter customers with a lengthy list itemizing all the specific reasons a product costs $X. Materials, machinery, transportation, wages, benefits, union dues, other nations’ taxes and tariffs, etc. all factor into a product’s retail price. Yet there are also plenty of instances where tolls, taxes, and fees are separately listed on your receipt. It’s a good reminder that government costs a lot of money, not just the service or product you’re buying.
Leavitt asked rhetorically, “Why didn’t Amazon do this when the Biden administration hiked inflation to the highest level in 40 years?” On the one hand, that’s a bit of a non sequitur, but on the other hand, there’s no way Trump’s tariffs add anything remotely as much to the price of goods and services as Joe Biden’s massive inflation bomb did. There’s also no chance that U.S. tariffs are as costly as the policies and, yes, tariffs other countries impose upon American companies and consumers.
And Amazon doesn’t seem to mind helping China do it.
Thomas Gallatin: Trump Wants More American Lumber and Steel — After decades of foreign-sourced steel and lumber gutting the U.S. industries, Donald Trump is seeking to revive them.
Linda Moss Mines: Controversy and Compromise: The Election of 1876 — Republicans felt confident that Rutherford B. Hayes was the perfect compromise candidate, but the Democrats weren’t going to step aside without a fight.
Canada Has Chosen — Will Canada be able to survive another four years of Liberal rule?
White House Press Secretary ‘Stunned’ — Winston Marshall asks about free speech, the U.S.-UK trade deal, and proposing political asylum for Brits who are prosecuted for their speech.
Something Strange Is Happening in China — China’s citizens save 40% of their income, whereas in the U.S. it’s less than 10%. This is the main source of tension between China and the rest of the world.
‘The Coming Civil War’ — Professor David Betz discusses the alarming potential for civil war in Western societies, emphasizing that the primary threat is internal rather than external.
NRA Annual Meeting 2025 — The Patriot Post attended the NRA Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. All kinds of great folks were at this event.
“I would say 80% of the time I feel glad I don’t have kids, and I feel free and really good about it. … I do think it’s awesome now that more women are expressing their desire to not have kids.” —actress Heather Graham
Denialism
“This is not a media failure. This is a failure of the Democratic Party.” —Chuck Todd regarding the Leftmedia’s cover-up of brain-dead Joe Biden
Demagogues
“The Trump team has tried to go on a firing spree at the IRS, targeting staff who go after wealthy people dodging their taxes. … You don’t save money by firing the people who save money.” —Sen. Elizabeth Warren
“Only 11% of Americans feel better off since the election.” —Rep. Ilhan Omar
Leftist Lunacy
“There are but two parties in America right now — patriots and traitors.” —House Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries hilariously asserting Democrats are patriots
Re: The Left
“The America our Founding Fathers fought and died for was built on ordered liberty under God. That America has provided more freedom and opportunity to more people than any nation on earth. The Left wants to erase all of that and replace it with a country built on Marxist ideas.” —Gary Bauer
For the Record
“I worked for six presidents, starting with Ronald Reagan. Every president I ever worked for took more [border] security seriously. Because you can’t have national security if you don’t have strong border security… Joe Biden was the first president in the history of this nation who came into office and unsecured the border on purpose. That’s just a fact.” —Border Czar Tom Homan
“Here we are 100 days in, and we have the lowest border crossings in American history. … We went from an open border to a sealed border. That surely ranks as not only one of the greatest achievements of this president but any president.” —Stephen Miller
“Make sure you understand this: The legal controversy is over which country Abrego Garcia was deported to, but the U.S. government had every right to deport him.” —Victor Joecks
Political Futures
“I think it’s bad that Trump basically nuked the conservatives in the Canadian election, but it’s also pretty pathetic that comments from a foreign leader would swing their election that much.” —Frank J. Fleming
Right Idea, Wrong Prescription
“President Trump’s suggestion that $5,000 payments would help produce more children reduces the value of a child to materialistic levels. An appeal made on the level of more important things … might work better, producing not only more babies, but even good parents and a healthier society.” —Cal Thomas
And Last…
“Friendly reminder that it your poll said Trump CAN’T WIN nobody cares what you say about his popularity 100 days after he DID” —Jimmy Failla
ON THIS DAY in 1789, George Washington took office as the first and still greatest American president. He began with a prayer of thanks, offering “fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe” and “who presides in the councils of nations.” He remains the model for presidential character.
Please join us in prayer for our nation — that righteous leaders would rise and prevail and we would be united as Americans. Pray also for the protection of our Military Patriots, Veterans, First Responders, and their families. Please lift up your Patriot team and our mission to support and defend our Republic’s Founding Principle of Liberty, that the fires of freedom would be ignited in the hearts and minds of our countrymen.
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, looks back on President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office and previews the next steps for Republicans on ‘Hannity.’ #news #foxnews #politics #trump #hannity
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NEWS: Young Men Returning to Faith – Easter 2025 saw a surge in professions of faith, especially among Gen Z men, with churches like Harvest and movements like The Chosen credited for inspiring revival.
• Trump’s First 100 Days – President Trump touts border security and faith initiatives, while facing criticism over tariffs and executive overreach; marks milestone with Michigan rally.
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FOCUS STORY: Former U.S. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann shares her perspective on the Oct. 7 attacks, Israel’s prophetic role in the end times, and her urgent message to Christians about standing with Israel.
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THE MAIN THING: Entrepreneur Mark Gerson, though Jewish, has become the largest donor to Christian medical missions, giving $18 million to fund life-saving work. He joins Billy Hallowell to share why.
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TODAY’S VERSE: Genesis 12:3 – “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Israel begins its Memorial Day with a special meaning this year, honoring the soldiers who have fallen during the wars with Hamas and Hezbollah, with the opening ceremony at the Western Wall, as Israel’s military chief of staff says they will prevail against their enemies; Chris Mitchell talks about the experience of Memorial Day in Israel, why the holiday has a deeper meaning for Israelis after the war with Hamas, what happens in the upcoming time of transition from Memorial Day to Independence Day, and if the Israeli leadership is hoping to essentially finish off Hamas soon and end the war in Gaza; President Trump marks his 100th day in office with a rally before a crowd of supporters in Michigan, despite concerns over his tariff policies; churches and faith leaders are opposing a controversial transgender protection bill in Colorado, calling in “Godless” and a threat to the rights of parents; and our Studio 5 interview with Nick Shakoour of “The Chosen,” as he writes about his unexpected encounter with God in his new book, “Transformer: Awakening from a Spiritual Coma”
(Worthy News) – In true trolling fashion, the White House released “100 Days of Hoaxes,” cutting through the media’s distortions and exposing what it calls a relentless flood of misinformation, spin, and outright fabrications aimed at President Donald J. Trump during the first 100 days of his second term—driven, critics say, by a chronic case of Trump Derangement Syndrome.
From the absurd to the dangerous, here are some of the most egregious falsehoods debunked in recent weeks:
CNN’s Transgender Mice “Fact Check” Backfires
CNN attempted to discredit President Trump’s claim that the Biden administration spent millions on “making mice transgender.” After being thoroughly debunked, the network quietly updated its article—admitting the spending indeed took place.
Colin Powell at Arlington: A Manufactured Outrage
Multiple media outlets falsely accused the Department of Defense of erasing Gen. Colin Powell’s name from a burial roster at Arlington. The truth? His name never left the list.
Airplane Crash Statistics Twisted for Political Gain
Rep. Eric Swalwell falsely claimed Trump oversaw a record number of aviation incidents early in his term. In fact, Trump’s numbers were significantly lower than Biden’s during the same timeframe.
ICE “Raid” That Wasn’t
Illinois officials, echoed by media outlets, claimed ICE raided a Chicago elementary school. It was actually the U.S. Secret Service investigating a threat—completely unrelated to immigration.
DOGE and Musk Smeared Over Entitlement Reform
Far-left voices falsely alleged plans to cut Social Security. In reality, Elon Musk criticized government inefficiency—not vital services—and DOGE is composed of proven industry leaders, not “young amateurs” as some claimed.
Media Hysteria Over Budget Cuts
News outlets portrayed protests against Trump’s waste-cutting efforts as organic. They were, in fact, staged by well-funded far-left groups.
NASA Astronauts “Not Stranded”?
NPR flip-flopped on terminology, calling two astronauts “not stranded” only after President Trump prioritized their rescue—despite previously describing them as exactly that.
Foreign Policy Lies Pile Up
A fake story about Trump calling European nations “parasites” was swiftly denied by both Trump and Italy’s prime minister. A similar fabrication about removing Canada from the “Five Eyes” alliance was debunked by Peter Navarro.
Immigration Smears Fall Flat
Illegal gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia was falsely portrayed as an innocent father by the media. Records show a violent criminal history and deportation supported by his own spouse’s testimony.
Disinformation on Gaza Plan and Abortion Policy
Tara Palmeri falsely attributed Trump’s Gaza proposal to Jared Kushner, while others pushed the lie that Trump would unilaterally ban abortion. The administration reaffirmed that abortion policy remains with the states.
RFK Jr. and HHS: A Case Study in Smear Tactics
Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. was repeatedly misrepresented as anti-vaccine and anti-public health, despite his clarification during confirmation hearings and documented defense of major health programs.
Veterans and Safety Programs Targeted by Lies
Claims that Trump cut firefighter and veterans’ programs were flatly denied by officials and even corrected by other mainstream outlets.
Cries of Censorship and Bigotry Backfire
Whether it was claims of anti-immigrant bias from Kristi Noem or fluoride conspiracies tied to RFK Jr., each was exposed as a distortion or fabrication, often contradicted by the same sources who initially reported them.
Hoaxes Built on AI and Misquotes
AI-generated audio targeting Vice President JD Vance was quickly debunked, while the AP was forced to retract a story misquoting DNI Tulsi Gabbard.
Conclusion: A Pattern of Manufactured Outrage
As President Trump continues to fulfill his campaign promises—slashing waste, strengthening borders, restoring American leadership, and returning power to the people—he remains the media’s favorite target for distortion. But the facts are catching up with the fiction.
The first 100 days of Trump’s second term have not only highlighted the administration’s aggressive push for reform but also revealed a media and political class increasingly reliant on disinformation. And for every hoax exposed, the credibility of the so-called “watchdogs” continues to erode.
President Trump at the White House. Source: The Trump White House / Twitter. Used under fair use for illustrative purposes.
President Donald J. Trump’s first 100 days back in the Oval Office have drawn heavy criticism from Democrats and foreign governments—particularly those that no longer benefit from massive trade imbalances, free military protection, and one-sided tariffs and trade barriers.
But despite the backlash, President Trump has kept his promises to the American people, especially when it comes to cutting China out of U.S. supply chains, securing the southern border, and demanding fairer deals from Europe and other partners.
The sheer volume of executive action and policy change in this short period is unprecedented. Love him or hate him, the past 100 days mark the most impactful start to a presidency in U.S. history.
Speaker Mike Johnson put it plainly: “President Trump has accomplished more in the first 100 days than most presidents do in their entire careers.”
Trump’s agenda has spanned from cutting government waste and reevaluating foreign aid and the Department of Education, to restoring border security, jumpstarting economic growth, and taking on cultural battles and globalist institutions.
By putting American interests above those of foreign governments, coalitions, or global organizations like NATO, the UN, or the WTO, Trump has reshaped the direction of U.S. policy.
As Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted, the Trump agenda is built on “interlocking parts of an engine designed to drive economic growth and domestic manufacturing.
The middle class, of course, is deeply concerned about how the president’s policies are affecting them. Since January, 345,000 jobs have been added—228,000 in March alone, with 92% of those in the private sector.
Unemployment remains low at 4.15%, even as labor force participation has climbed to 62.5%. Real wages are up 1.4% year-over-year, restoring some of the middle class’s lost purchasing power.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described Trump’s overall strategy as “reprivatizing the economy” while delivering real income gains through a mix of tax relief, deregulation, and inflation control.
This stands in sharp contrast to President Biden’s administration, where 11% of job gains were in the public sector, and in 2023 alone, government employment rose by 709,000—the largest annual increase in government employment since 1968.
Border Security and Immigration Enforcement is one of President Trump’s most significant achievements—though it remains one of the most ignored or vilified by the mainstream media.
According to House GOP leadership, illegal crossings are down by 99.9%. Over 10,000 U.S. military personnel have been deployed to the southern border to observe and report illegal crossings to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a move fully compliant with U.S. law and difficult for Democrats or the media to challenge.
Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell stated in March, “Their deployment underscores the department’s unwavering dedication to working alongside the Department of Homeland Security to secure our southern border and maintain the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of the United States under President Trump’s leadership.”
The administration has ended catch and release, reinstated Remain in Mexico, and shut down the CBP One app. In just 100 days, over 151,000 illegal aliens have been arrested and 135,000 deported, including members of dangerous gangs.
The signing of the Laken Riley Act has made the detention of criminal illegal aliens mandatory. Speaker Mike Johnson remarked, “Groups of migrants are actually turning around… We got a new sheriff in town.”
Combined, Trump’s harsh stance on illegal immigration will disincentivize new illegals from attempting to enter the U.S. The decrease in new attempts will save taxpayers billions, while avoiding harsh media attacks and legal challenges to enforcement and deportation actions.
Despite mainstream media claims that Trump is causing inflation, his policies have led to energy independence and a decrease in the prices of many domestic goods.
The National Energy Emergency declaration lifted restrictions on fossil fuel production. Gas prices fell by 6.3%, egg prices dropped 56%, and CPI inflation is at a post-COVID low of 2.4%.
Over $5 trillion in private investment has been announced in American energy, manufacturing, and trade infrastructure. This will create jobs while rebuilding America’s industrial base. Coal production has surged, and natural gas exports have expanded—again creating jobs and bringing revenue into the country.
The Department of Government Efficiency claimed $160 billion in savings, while the Treasury Department independently cut $2 billion from the IRS IT budget. Wasteful contracts, redundant software licenses, and layers of bureaucracy have been eliminated across multiple agencies.
At Treasury, non-technical staff were removed from technical leadership roles to improve decision-making and cybersecurity at the IRS.
Secretary Scott Bessent promoted whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler to leadership roles, signaling a culture change and a crackdown on politically motivated mismanagement.
As Bessent put it, “Tariffs, tax cuts, and deregulation are not standalone policies… they work together to reindustrialize America and benefit both Wall Street and Main Street.”
The tax cuts he referred to are specifically targeted at incentivizing domestic industry. At the end of the day, tariffs discourage Americans from buying imported goods.
But as demand remains strong, this opens the door for American manufacturers and producers to fill the gap. Tax cuts, deregulation, and private investment lower setup and operating costs, helping entrepreneurs build and expand factories right here in the United States.
Right out of the gate, President Trump’s second term began with a flurry of actions aimed at breaking from the inefficiency and waste of the past, disrupting both the domestic system and the international order.
His agenda directly challenged the idea that America doesn’t make things anymore, that there are jobs Americans won’t do, that illegal immigration is necessary, that forced diversity is a strength, or that the U.S. must accept terrible trade terms from countries that benefit from American military protection.
From securing the border to demanding a better deal from trading partners around the world, the Trump administration’s first 100 days delivered, in Speaker Johnson’s words: “Promises made, promises kept.”
Secretary Bessent echoed that sentiment, stating, “We are laying the economic and moral foundation for America’s next great century.”
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem hold press conference after government dropped all criminal charges against the Maude family. The South Dakota ranchers were charged in 2024 in a case involving use of federal land. #foxnews #trump #maude #live #news
If I were the devil, If I were the Prince of Darkness,
I’d use progress as my disguise.
I wouldn’t rage against you—I’d seduce you.
I’d trade horns for hashtags, and flames for fluorescent screens.
And I wouldn’t rest until I’d infiltrated every corner of society,
But my prize—the one I’d sink my fangs deepest into—would still be Thee: America.
I’d begin by rebranding sin as self-expression.
I’d whisper into children’s ears,
“You were born in the wrong body,” and into their phones,
“Your feelings define your truth.”
I’d twist compassion into compromise,
and tolerance into tyranny.
I’d use the rainbow—not as a sign of God’s covenant,
but as a banner of rebellion waved proudly in My parade.
If I were the devil, I’d digitize deception.
I’d replace pastors with influencers, and pulpits with platforms.
I’d fill minds with artificial intelligence, while emptying souls of eternal wisdom.
I’d preach salvation through science, immortality through machines, and unity through global governance.
And I’d call it progress.
If I were the devil, I’d get your children addicted—Not to pills and powders alone,
but to pixels and porn.
I’d keep them scrolling while their Bibles collected dust.
I’d sell them virtual pleasure in exchange for real purpose.
I’d make sure they never heard the name of Jesus—unless as a curse word or a myth.
I’d infiltrate your schools with gender confusion, your churches with false teachers, your governments with globalists, and your nations with division.
I’d convince pastors to trade prophecy for popularity, and sermons for psychology.
And then, once I’d silenced the watchmen, I’d move in for the kill.
If I were the devil, I’d make morality relative, history revisionist, and truth a hate crime.
I’d turn fathers passive, mothers prideful, and children rebellious and entitled.
I’d destroy the family, redefine the sacred, and laugh as society crumbled beneath the weight of its own pride.
If I were the devil, I’d build a digital Beast.
One that sees all, tracks all, and eventually marks all.
I’d call it convenience.
Cashless, wireless, contactless, soulless.
I’d build a world where no one can buy or sell unless they bow to Me—and they won’t even realize it, because I’ve already trained them to scan their palm and scan their soul.
If I were the devil, I wouldn’t need to roar—I’d only need to whisper:
“Trust the system.”
“Love is love.”
“You’re your own god.”
And I’d smile, because you’d believe me.
Yes, if I were the devil…I’d keep right on doing exactly what I’m doing.
President Donald Trump had quite a day on Tuesday, from saying it’d be fun to be pope to holding a rally in Michigan to eating an ABC News reporter alive.
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