Human Nature

Power ultimately corrupts

Humans were created by a perfect God. Unfortunately, humans are far from that perfection. God created a paradise for Adam and Eve to live and walk with Him for eternity. God gave them full autonomy in the garden with only one single prohibition, to not eat the fruit of the tree of life. But Adam and Eve disobeyed, leading to the fall. Ever since that fall, humans have engaged in all manner of depravity. Creation was once perfect and humans defiled it, and to this day we continue to corrupt our world with our ever-increasing immorality. Money, power, and sex is what drive far too many of us human beings, especially those who rise to positions of authority. The framers of this once great nation created a Constitutional Republic ruled by “We the people,” not by royals who ruled by fiat. Today, “public servants” are far too concerned with their self-interests, their benefactors, and advancing their personal agendas, while disregarding the needs of their constituents. The “Swamp,” which consists of lobbyists, Deep State bureaucrats, and corporate interests is pervasive. Elected politicians enrich themselves and their families when they toe the company line and do as they are told.

Do you really think that the Bidens are the only politicians that are or have engaged in unethical and illegal schemes? Corruption by our “leaders” is so pervasive and so many, elected and unelected, are so deeply involved, that should their illicit activities be brought to light, many would be facing jail time. (see Senator Robert Menendez D-NJ) There is good reason that anytime an outsider is elected, every effort is made to turn them to the dark side. Everyone must be on the same page for this to work. Should those efforts fail to convince, the swamp mobilizes and attacks, using the media and deep state to delegitimize with lies and false accusations. (see Representatives Madison Cawthorn R-NC, George Santos R-NY, and any other representative shining a light on the darkness of the swamp) There is good reason that Democrats and Republicans have employed every tool to prevent Donald Trump from regaining the White House. Should he return to the Oval Office, he would begin to expose the rot in our government. Heads would roll. The gravy train is running much too smoothly for it to be run off the rails by a President who already has accumulated more than enough wealth, leaving him impervious to the lure of easy money. In fact, President Trump saw his net worth decrease by more than $I billion during his term. I’m sorry, but if you want a kinder and gentler President, you will only get what you deserve, another swamp dweller with more of the same.

Whistleblower laws were enacted to protect those who expose corruption in government, yet Democrats in Congress attempt to discredit them and partisan bureaucrats persecute them. Two separate impeachment hearings and trials take place targeting President Trump, bypassing any impeachment inquiry to discover all facts. While neither impeachment attempts were later found to have any credibility, the damage was done. president Biden’s son, Hunter, and brother, James, spearhead a convoluted influence-peddling scheme. Nothing to see here according to the Democrats and an impeachment inquiry is partisanship run amok. Evidence from the January 6^th committee is destroyed, even though a myriad of federal laws are broken. Cue the crickets from the mainstream media. Hunter Biden defies a Congressional subpoena, abetted by Representative Eric Swalwell, D-CA and Democrats cheer. Circle the wagons and deflect blame is the Democrat way. Dick Durbin (D-IL) refuses to release the names of those who took the “Lolita Express” to Jeffrey Epstein’s Island paradise. Gotta protect their own you know. Loose lips will sink ships and far too many of your elected officials have engaged in inappropriate behavior. As each misdeed is exposed, the risk is that more and more will be exposed for the liars and cheats that they are.

Serving on the Washington County, WI Board of Supervisors for ten years, the last four as Chairman, I know from where I speak. There are too few, even in local government, that gain office without a personal agenda. There are too few who retain the humility that facilitated their election victories. There are too few that do not look to use their “power” to their advantage. Human nature far too often rears its ugly head and those public servants begin to think that they are better than the great unwashed masses they are called to represent. If our government continues on this path, we are doomed to ruin. Unengaged citizens who mindlessly vote “D” or “R” are exactly what the deep state depends upon. Uninformed voters and those citizens who fail to cast their ballots signal that they are willing to let the swamp do as they please. Apathy breeds corruption, and far too many of us are satisfied with ceding authority to those who exploit our trust and use authority to their own benefit. It’s always easier to stand by idly and let others do the heavy lifting. After all, we are all much too busy with our own lives. Your nation is falling down the rat hole and if you think protecting your quality of life in a free and fair country is too much to ask, you will get what you deserve.

“Elections have consequences.” Barack Obama

“You have a republic, if you can keep it!” Benjamin Franklin

Just Sayin'

One is often judged, fairly or unfairly, by the company they keep. Hang with someone who is a thief and it may be assumed that you are also a thief. Affiliate with an organization and those values espoused by that organization are assumed to be yours. Fair or not, it is what it is. While our Lord and Savior hung around with those judged not acceptable by society, He came to heal their spiritual shortcomings. Jesus healed the sick, both physically and spiritually. So, when Jesus sat down with prostitutes and tax collectors, He did so to heal their hearts and lead them back to righteousness. Unfortunately, in this new enlightened age, the leaders of the ELCA conspire with the world and enlist the law to enforce their idea of justice.

The leadership of Grace Lutheran Church in Eau Claire, Wisconsin was troubled by the doctrinal shifts of the ELCA. Discerning their role in a denomination that no longer held fast to traditional Lutheran doctrine, they chose to allow their congregation to decide if they wanted to remain affiliated with the ELCA. Their first vote passed, but the second failed to reach the required two thirds majority. After the vote, the leadership of Grace decided to affiliate jointly with the LCMC and ELCA, since the majority of the congregation had voted to leave the ELCA. Now, the plot thickens. About 70 disgruntled ELCA supporters left Grace and began to do whatever they could to disrupt the congregation that they once worshipped with. Anonymous complaints made against a council member at their place of employment. An unauthorized Facebook page purporting to be the official Grace Lutheran worship community was set up announcing that worship services would no longer be held at the church. Some would call this persistent troublemaking, but the all welcoming, all inclusive and tolerant ELCA not only allowed this behavior, they encouraged it.

Out of a few angry congregants, "Amazing Grace" was born and dubbed the “synodically authorized worship community”, to be led by none other than Bishop Duane Peterson, himself embroiled in a messy divorce. Now the ELCA specifically and strongly recommends that clergy involved in divorce refrain from ministering to congregations, since they may be negatively affected by the stress and proceedings of their divorce. Not this champion of the ELCA. Peterson filled the void in his life by leading the small break away congregation out into the world of legal proceedings. Not satisfied with the daunting task of beginning a new mission church, Peterson, the "Amazing Grace" malcontents, and the ELCA decided to take Grace to court. New territory here, but as you know, the ELCA has been claiming to be hearing God saying all kinds of new things, so they deem it is best to avail themselves of worldly laws and to use them against the people of God in spiritual matters.

The first court proceeding ordered Grace to end its affiliation with LCMC, of which Grace complied. The ever forgiving ELCA then decided to judge the pastors at Grace harshly, and removed them from the ELCA roster. It gets even more convoluted. The final court proceeding ordered the leadership of Grace to step down, turn over the keys and assets to the 70 malcontents, and removed the other 1700 members, (no, this is not a typo) from the active membership roll, making them associate members with no voting rights. Judge Molly GaleWyrick, one of the lowest rated judges in the state of Wisconsin, presided over one of the most illogical judgments ever rendered in a Wisconsin court. To make matters even worse, an appellate court refused to issue a stay, giving the ELCA free rein to dispose of the ample assets of Grace. Justice is truly blind and in this case, the best friend of the court was none other than the evil one himself.

Now, this case mirrors another instance of the un-evenhandedness of the ELCA. Although many ELCA churches are dual affiliated, only a few are challenged by the ELCA and not allowed to leave. Some are allowed to dual affiliate, others are removed from the ELCA roster as discipline for violating the ELCA constitution, such as St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Marion, IA. St. Peter Lutheran Church in Fort Pierce, FL, like Grace Lutheran, had ample assets, with property holdings worth some $5.5 million. The ELCA challenged their two unanimous votes to leave and the synod council prohibited them from leaving and taking their valuable property with them. Eventually, St. Peter Lutheran Church did leave and is now a LCMC congregation. Just my humble opinion here, but these actions seem more like those a devious and unethical organization would choose to use to swindle good and trusting people.

For those who choose to remain in this apostate denomination, hear this. While Jesus sat with sinners, those sinners were led to repentance. The ELCA is scrambling to maintain their power and refuses to repent of their sinful actions. Sit in the pew of an ELCA church and turn over the gifts God has blessed you with is the equivalent of funding the evil one’s mischief in the world. These tax collectors will not only fail to apologize for their actions and make amends, they will continue to take money and resources from the willing and the unknowing, not using it to further God’s Kingdom, but to build up and maintain their own earthly wealth and status. By choosing to remain in unity with this errant church, you choose to hold on to the things of this world, rather than being united in Christ. Ephesians 5:5-7, “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.”
Just sayin’.