America, Our 244th Birthday!

[0:00] So I have some things that I want to relate to you, and then we will open it for questions and comments for any that you may have or would like to add to it. There are undeniable realities that have made the United States of America the nation that it is. Our origin and quest for freedom and the price paid to gain it and maintain it is something that we should never lose sight of.

[0:30] And we appreciate something that is called American exceptionalism. That, of course, some might deny, but those of us who have been blessed by the advantages and the privileges of being an American in every way are willing to declare this an exceptional nation. And I realize we're speaking from some point of bias because I would hope that virtually everyone could feel that their nation is a study in exceptionalism as well. Our historic international generosity to others is something that has contributed, I think, to the greatness of America. And it is something that goes back even to the 1800s, the early 1800s. We have developed a reputation for an international generosity to others. I don't know if you're aware of it or not, but we have poured billions. That's with a B. We have poured billions into the welfare of other nations around the world over a couple of hundred years, years, most of which was never, ever repaid and never asked for repayment. The generosity of the American people has been outstanding through the years.

[1:51] And when you consider that the millions of dollars that we have frequently extended to other nations for various reasons often came from money that we had to borrow to give to them and then pay the interest on it.

[2:18] How do you like them apples? If that doesn't speak of a kind of generosity, I don't know what does. Now, some would say it also has a degree of stupidity with it.

[2:31] But who can fault the generosity? And the money has been poured out simply because as Americans, we saw a sore and crying need there in that nation, wherever it was.

[2:48] That we felt we had the ability to meet. And we stepped up and met it many times. Along with that, we have steadfastly refused to engage in imperialism.

[3:04] We have not sought to take over other countries and make them subservient to the United States. Granted, there are places where we have maintained armed forces and troops because of the possibility of difficulty arising there.

[3:20] We still have troops in Europe. We still have troops in Germany. We still have troops in Japan. We still have troops in Korea. But there is no effort to run those countries or dominate those countries or make them somehow utterly dependent upon us.

[3:35] We're there because of the potential that still exists for the safety and the welfare of those countries as well. So we have not engaged in imperialism.

[3:46] Someone has said that the only land that we ever really took from any of these nations was the land that was sufficient to bury our dead who gave their lives in defending that nation.

[4:04] Our efforts to encourage freedom for others, both here, as in the Civil War, and wars abroad.

[4:16] And yet, at the same time, we never tried to dictate terms to other governments, other nations, as to what kind of government they should have. We've tried to make a democracy, a poster boy, if you will, for the world and encourage other nations to follow in our train simply because the benefits and the advantages of what comes from a democratic society is unparalleled throughout the world.

[4:43] And the United States has been a demonstration of that almost from the time that we were founded. Along with that, our innovative and productive capacity for goods and services has been realized only because of the freedoms that we enjoy.

[5:00] Freedom to achieve, freedom to fail, freedom to take risks, and personal industry and responsibility. That's the backbone of this nation.

[5:11] And it has been from the time we were adopted as a nation. Our diversity and strengths are derived from this kind of productivity by way of immigrant contributions since the 1700s.

[5:29] We have prided ourselves on being a nation that welcomes immigrants. And I would venture to say probably everyone in this room is a child of a child, maybe of a child and of a child that was an immigrant.

[5:48] And it goes back a long, long ways. And we are here from Germany and Ireland and Italy and you name it, France and England and all over. And people have come flooding into the United States through Ellis Island, particularly in the 1800s that swelled the population of this young country.

[6:07] And each of them brought all kinds of diversities and talents and capabilities and gifts from their homeland to our land and employed them here.

[6:17] And we benefited from incredible diversity that no other nation in the world has been able to enjoy. And in this we found strengths because each of these, oh yes, they brought weaknesses with them also, but strengths as well.

[6:37] And our whole nation has benefited from it. We really are a blessed nation in so many ways.

[6:48] We here in America are a smattering of everything and everybody in this world. And that's one of the things that I think has contributed to the greatness that we enjoy.

[7:02] Can these critical realities that we've mentioned, can they be maintained? Or even strengthened in light of the present challenges that we face right now from within and without.

[7:25] Apart from World War II, I do not know of any time in our history that has been so threatening to our peace, security, and stability.

[7:39] That's what we are facing right now. And a lot of it is coming from within, not just from without. The question is, can America not only survive, but thrive?

[7:57] Because I know America well enough to know that she is not content simply to survive. She insists on thriving.

[8:11] And that is partly what we have been about since the time of our inception. So, I thought for our 4th of July message, and I want you to be thinking about this because I would appreciate your contributions and your questions when I finish.

[8:29] I thought I ought to list three or four things that I see as necessities for the United States surviving and thriving in this climate.

[8:44] I ought to be able to come up with at least three or four. So, I have ten that I want to share with you. The thoughts just kept coming, and I just kept writing, and this is what I've come up with.

[9:00] But I want you to understand, these are not in any special order of importance. I tried to list them as they came to my mind with their importance, but I'm sure you could probably rearrange the order in which they're written.

[9:14] And of the ten, I know every one of you could add another ten to them without any difficulty at all. So, just let me briefly enumerate them, and then we'll open it for Q&A that you might have.

[9:27] These I have called necessities for national surviving and thriving. And number one is the necessity of a federal official recognition of God.

[9:46] And I think that is really very important. It is a call for our nation to take a stand on the being and existence of God.

[9:57] And I'm not talking about worship. I'm not talking about backing any particular belief or religion. I'm not talking about establishing religion.

[10:07] Because we already have, as our First Amendment, part of it, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibit the free exercise thereof.

[10:23] I'm not talking about Protestants or Catholics or Jews or anything like that. I'm just talking about an official governmental recognition there is a God.

[10:35] There is a supreme being. And he's in charge. I don't think that's asking too much. And this has got nothing to do with the Constitution or making an amendment to it or anything of the kind.

[10:49] It would just be a simple act of Congress to pass. But it would be the law of the land. Now, if we can have a law of the land that makes it legal to kill babies, we ought to be able to have a law of the land that says there is a God.

[11:09] It doesn't mean that you have to believe there is a God. You can be an atheist if you want until the cows come home. That's your privilege. Nobody's going to try to convert you to anything.

[11:19] It's just the government saying what our forefathers stated in our early Constitution and Declaration of Independence, that we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator.

[11:42] So I don't know that that's too much to ask. I don't know. I suspect that some might be able to make a political football out of it. But there is, I believe, great benefit in a national entity, at least acknowledging that there is a God.

[12:07] Secondly, restoration and respect for law enforcement. And we talk about law and order, and you realize why they're always in that order, don't you?

[12:23] You never hear anybody say order and law. It's always law and order. Because you can't have any order if you don't have law. Law has to be the parent of order.

[12:34] It is because there is law that you can have order. It's just like truth and freedom. We've talked about that before. Freedom comes as a result of truth.

[12:49] Truth has to be the parent of freedom. It is, as Jesus said, you shall know the truth. Truth and the truth shall make you free.

[13:02] You don't get the freedom first and then the truth. No, it doesn't work that way. Truth is the parent of freedom. Law is the parent of order.

[13:15] Never in the history of this nation has law enforcement been on the edge like it is today. There have been massive early retirements, resignations of law enforcement authorities throughout the country.

[13:31] And unless things change quickly, we can only expect it to continue. And I'm going to suggest something that I think everybody here is able to do.

[13:43] And I think it could be much appreciated. Don't pass up an opportunity to express your gratitude to any law enforcement personnel in uniform.

[13:57] Just walk up to them and say, I just want you to know that I, for one, am really glad you are on the job. Thank you for putting on that uniform.

[14:10] We really do appreciate it. These men and women have got a morale problem right now that is tied to their humanity that is so low they can walk on it.

[14:22] And God help us if they get to the place of where they are even afraid to make an arrest because of the repercussions that may come from it.

[14:34] We are in a society today where there are those who have uncanny ability to turn the tide on the arresting officer and make him the perpetrator. This is crazy.

[14:46] Never been here before. We have never been here before. And this is what we're dealing with. We cannot, we absolutely cannot afford to be without these men and women behind these badges that wear these uniforms.

[15:01] These people are critical. Absolutely critical. Read Romans 10. And it spells out, Romans 13, it spells out how God has ordained the powers that be for our peace and safety and stability.

[15:19] And without them, without them, you've got nothing more than what you have in a slice of Seattle, Washington, which is nothing but pure and simple anarchy.

[15:30] You know what anarchy is? Comes from the word, Greek word, arkos, arkos, from which we get the word archaeology. Anarchy.

[15:41] Anarchy. Anarchy is the study of first things. Ancient artifacts, stuff like that. And an anarchist is one who is in authority or in a position of power as authority.

[15:59] And when you put the alpha prefix before it and make it ah or anarchy, it means no first ones.

[16:10] No leader. No first ones. Everyone is the first one. Everyone is their own authority. That's anarchy. Where everyone does what is right in his own eyes.

[16:23] And there is no overarching authority to put a stop to anything. That's what countries throughout the world have flirted with in times past, and some are right now.

[16:36] And there are segments in the United States where there are those who would like that to be brought into play. And they're working feverishly at it. Restoration and respect for law enforcement.

[16:49] And I tell you, I remember reading a book one time not long ago. In fact, it was a book that Ron Gannon loaned me. And it was given to him by his son-in-law, who was a police officer in Illinois.

[17:08] And it was just absolutely amazing what this little pamphlet pointed out. And it was something that is given to every police officer in that city.

[17:20] And it dealt with the issues of being a police officer. And the fact that, and this is something that I never, ever considered.

[17:32] The fact that just wearing that badge and uniform and being out in public tends to stimulate one's adrenaline in the body.

[17:51] And we all naturally have our adrenaline stimulated if we are ever put in a position that is referred to as fight or flight.

[18:01] And you don't know whether to put up a fight or whether to turn around and run. But there's one thing that happens in your endocrine system and in your pulse rate.

[18:13] That heart starts thumping and the adrenaline rush comes up. And it kind of takes over the body. And they have done all kinds of tests and experiments with people in uniform who are out among the public all the time.

[18:30] And they came to the alarming discovery that many of these people maintain an abnormally high adrenaline content throughout their whole shift.

[18:43] And then sometimes when they go home at night and take off the uniform, it doesn't disappear. And we have all kinds of behavioral problems in our law enforcement personnel.

[19:00] Because many of them, as a result of this adrenaline that they deal with all the time, many of them resort to alcohol to help them come down.

[19:13] And it's not wise, but I can understand that. That's their way of trying to deal with things, to calm things down. Well, it has that effect, but it also has deleterious effects as well.

[19:26] And the divorce rate among law enforcement personnel is higher. Someone said that, I heard this just recently, and it was a testimony from a lady, the wife of a law enforcement officer.

[19:43] And she said, when her husband comes home off of his shift, the sweetest noise she ever hears is the noise caused by by his taking off his uniform.

[20:02] And it is the separation of Velcro and the noise it makes when he takes off his vest, his bulletproof vest.

[20:13] And she gives a sigh of relief. It ought not to be that way. That ought not to be a price that has to be paid for risking your life to take care of your fellow man.

[20:30] But that's what it's come to in this country. The disrespect that has come upon law enforcement is unparalleled.

[20:46] And it has never been before this way. Never. I can I've been stumbling around this planet for a long enough time to know that it's never been this way.

[20:57] It's never been close to this way. There's always been an admiration and a respect, maybe a little bit of a fear, you know. But it was a healthy thing and it was a respectful thing.

[21:09] And for some reason, we've lost that. Police officers, when they are called in on a situation, and I've had some of them tell me this firsthand, and I have a bit of difficulty believing that, say, you never know, you never know what you're going to roll in on.

[21:34] And sometimes the worst situations they could get involved in are domestic disputes, where husbands and wives are having a big brawl. And very often, very often, alcohol or drugs is involved.

[21:50] And when people get under the influence, the greatest danger is they can behave irrationally. And they often do. You can do really stupid things when you're under the influence.

[22:03] And this is what they have to deal with. And so often, police officers are confronted with the need to make a split-second decision.

[22:14] because if you wait two seconds, it's too long. Too much can happen in two seconds. Think of that. And they deal with this day in and day out.

[22:28] God bless them. And there's no wonder. There is no wonder that the retirement rate has escalated and the resigning rate has escalated.

[22:38] There's no wonder. necessity of equalized justice. I've got to hurry on here. I won't have time for you. Has that ever happened before? I rest my case.

[22:51] The necessity of equalized justice and the vice, and I don't know what else to call it, but a vice, of selective prosecution.

[23:06] Selective prosecution. And the withholding of exculpatory evidence. To me, that is, that's got to be one of the greatest no-nos in all of law.

[23:22] When a prosecutor, when a prosecutor is prosecuting a case against someone accused of a crime, and he has in his presence evidence that points to the innocence of that person for that crime, and does not divulge it, and the jury is never made aware of it, the person may very well be convicted, and who knows how many times this has happened, when evidence that could have cleared him was withheld.

[23:58] And sometimes it's withheld on the rationalization by the prosecutor. Well, yeah, I did withhold exculpatory evidence, and he probably would have beaten a rap if I brought it forth, but this guy's got a record, and he deserves to go up anyway.

[24:15] And you can justify it that way, for you become the law, not the jury. How many times does this happen? Exculpatory evidence withheld, and sometimes by the federal, which in my estimation makes it even more heinous.

[24:40] Maintenance of national borders. Oh, my. And it should be immigration meritocracy. You don't get admitted legally to this country just because you want to come in.

[24:56] There needs to be something that you have going for you. It's called merit. And people should be interviewed and accepted on the basis of merit.

[25:07] And if the only reason they're coming into this country is to sign up for our welfare rolls and live on the dole on the back of the American taxpayer, that ought to be made obvious, and these people should be denied entrance.

[25:20] It should be on the basis of their merit. And this is something that's been in my crawl for a long time and it just seems so irrational.

[25:33] I guess maybe I could understand it way back when our nation was a lot younger. But the idea that all you have to do to be an American citizen is be born in this country. That's it.

[25:44] You're automatically an American citizen just by being born in this country. And there have been people that have flooded in from other nations, women who are eight months pregnant, coming into this country and applying for a visa just to be in this country when their baby's born so that it's automatically an American citizen and automatically entitled to all the rights and privileges, everything, including the welfare and all the rest of it.

[26:14] That's just plain nuts. That should have been changed a long time ago. And I do know that the present administration, if they haven't done something about it already, they're at least talking about it.

[26:26] I don't think anybody else has even talked about it. But that's crazy. It's just plain crazy. All you have to do is be born in this country. The necessity of a revived national morality.

[26:43] Hmm. You won't do that overnight, will you? And the rejection of relativism. I don't know how we could go about that.

[26:53] You can't make Congress do anything about that. But relativism has led to a breakdown in morality because everybody decides for themselves what's moral and what's immoral.

[27:09] and when you have no overarching area that says this is wrong or this is right and you yourself become that authority, then it's back to the period of the judges where everyone did what was right in their own eyes and you become your own authority.

[27:30] You decide what is right and what is wrong. So you set your standards and if you violate them, no problem. Just move it.

[27:41] Move your standard. Simple. So you're no longer in the wrong. That too is crazy. I'll tell you one thing that one place where relativism is soundly rejected is in any court of law.

[27:54] And when someone is being examined for possibly being a juror and they are asked a series of questions, they can come up with some harebrained thing like, well, I saw, I read about the defendant in the newspaper and I'm convinced that he's guilty and how do you know he's guilty?

[28:21] Well, I can tell with a set of his eyes. He's beady-eyed and he's guilty. Now, that is relativism. Relativism is like beauty in the eyes of the beholder and no court of law is going to stand for that.

[28:41] And when someone is asked whether you think somebody is guilty based on the evidence, well, I'm quite convinced he's guilty because he's got a guilty look to me. What is that worth?

[28:52] It's worth absolutely nothing. It's worth zero. That's what relativism does as opposed to absolutism. Absolutism has to deal with the facts and what is and it has nothing to do with your opinion or your preference or anything of the kind.

[29:07] And this is working and operative in so many areas. And here's a biggie. Mmm. Mmm. Mmm. Mmm. Mmm. The necessity of a truthfully informed public.

[29:20] fake. No deliberate fake news. We can deal with accidental fake news because those who delivered it really thought it was true even though it wasn't.

[29:37] But to deliver it when you know it isn't true and you deliver it anyway, that is reprehensible. And that's what we're dealing with today. We have people in our major networks with audiences that number in the millions that crank out information that they know is not true.

[29:58] And truth has got nothing to do with it. What it's got to do with is how many people can they get to believe it or to doubt the other side because of what they say. I have no idea how to go about correcting that.

[30:12] But it's a major problem. the necessity of a truthfully informed public. No deliberate fake news. Here's another biggie.

[30:24] Are there any of these that aren't big? None that I know of. Protection for the sanctity of the ballot box and voter fraud needs to be prosecuted rigorously and well publicized.

[30:40] So and so went to jail. for stealing ballots or for voting illegally. If we cannot have a sacred ballot box we are done.

[30:53] And the idea of the write-ins and all the rest of it it is just rife for potential of corruption. What is wrong with us? How can we do that?

[31:04] How can we allow that? It's crazy. People need to be able to identify who they are when they go to the polling place.

[31:17] And if you can't prove that you are who you say you are with a photo ID a driver's license or something get out of here! Get out of here! You can't vote. Is that too much to ask?

[31:30] And there are those who say to demand that suppresses voters! Oh, come on! To expect people to have a picture ID to be able to demonstrate they are who they say they are suppresses voters?

[31:50] Oh, my word. Necessity of public identification of our international friends and foes.

[32:02] there are a lot of countries across the globe that really like America and envy America and congratulate America but we do have those that have no use for us that are jealous that think we're this or think we're that and we need to know who is who and that ought to help us know who to help or who not to help.

[32:30] there's no reason that we ought to give succor and sustenance to our enemies we ought to recognize those who are our friends and we ought to do business with them and with a totalitarian machine that imprisons political prisoners that takes advantage of their people in the way that some of these countries do we ought to simply tell them look we're not trying to tell you how to run your country you have you have national identity and you can run the country the power the party that is in power you can run the country however you will and we wouldn't change that we wouldn't impose our will on you and we wouldn't make you do this or make you do that but I'll tell you what we're not going to do business with you we're going to do business with those who are more like us and by the way if you change your mind and if you release your political prisoners and if you clean up your act and if you provide some liberty and freedom for your people get back with us and we'll talk about it maybe we can do business but not the way it is now and you know one of the flaws in that ointment is we have greedy

[33:50] Americans who want and insist on doing business with certain other countries no matter who they are or what they are or how they oppress and mistreat their people all they're thinking about is how much money can we make by doing business with them those people should be put on notice too necessity of meritorious privilege privilege not racial privilege I've been hearing a term that I had never even encountered before called white privilege white privilege what does that mean it means that you have privileges and benefits just because you're white and there are those African Americans who resent the fact that you're white and that you have these privileges privileges now a great many of us who are white and Americans have never been convinced that we have those privileges that some say we have because our feeling is that we take a lot of things on the chin just like everybody else does and there needs to be privilege based on meritocracy same thing as what we were talking about before and it has nothing to do with skin color it has everything to do with what you are and what you produce and the contribution that you make to the country that's merit and I would say

[35:24] I would say that LeBron James receives a lot of merit and I would also say I think he really earned it I think he worked for it you have any idea how many hours that man spent on the basketball court to excel like he does to make the contribution that he does to his team he has worked his butt off being what he is and who he is and so did Ben Carson who became a world renowned pediatric neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital when he would take cases when he would take cases that people brought to him from Europe because they were unwilling to perform the surgery that Ben Carson performed at Johns Hopkins that gave this kid six years old a normal life

[36:25] Ben Carson receives a lot of merit and it was all earned I remember reading his book and talking about when he was in medical school quite interesting because I would not have been I would not have been with Ben Carson I probably would have been with the gang that he was talking about and it would become Saturday night and all the other medical students were going to go out and hit the bars and hit this and hit that and relax and take in the shows and everything and what was Ben Carson doing he was in his dorm with his books studying what fun is that not much but when the time came for the exams to be given to these medical students others were dependent on being able to give the right answers because they had memorized what the right answer was and they knew what to put down on the paper he was not content with that and what it was that gave

[37:33] Ben Carson the merit that he so deserves is he said he would study the subject not simply to arrive at the right answer he had to know why that answer was the right answer and when you do that you have mastered the material you're not dependent on just memorizing the right answer which means essentially nothing because that can easily go the next day but when you know that's the right answer and you know why that's the right answer and why the other answers are wrong you've mastered the material and the man produced a caliber of expertise and ability that rose to the surface just like that and the next thing you know he's a world class leader in pediatric neurosurgery all based on merit you know what you call that just plain old gutting it out hard work laborious willing to do what others aren't willing to do to go the extra mile that's meritorious privilege do you think somebody like that receives privilege and merit wherever they sure they do why because people recognize they acknowledge the effort the ability to put out they recognize that the man has earned his stripes and it has nothing to do with the color of his skin and we could say the same thing about a dozen Asians or Caucasian

[39:19] Americans or whatever so last one necessity of prison reformation and the elimination of years and years on death row there are people on death road that have been there for years that should have been dead long ago should have been executed long ago and do you know what the argument is for keeping these people appeal after appeal after appeal and all the rest of it of course some people are just opposed to the death penalty and I can understand that I don't agree with their opinion but I can understand that and they're free to have their own opinion but they say there is always the possibility that you may be executing an innocent person it has happened there's no denying that DNA results have proved that there have been people arrested who were not guilty of the crime for which they were arrested and there were people no doubt who were executed who were really innocent and because that is such a terrible thing we oughtn't to ever execute anybody else that's crazy that's absolutely nuts that's part of the defund the police mentality and the fact that in a fallen society with fallen people there are going to be innocent people found guilty and some of them will be executed you know what you call that life that's the risk that comes with being a human being living in a fallen world and there's no such thing as a perfect justice system and there are people who get the shaft no doubt about it and there are people who get all scot-free that ought to be in prison no doubt about that either what do you call that you call that a flawed a flawed justice system and God knows ours is flawed no doubt about that we ought to do what we can to address it and I spent enough time visiting prisons over the years to know that a lot of the hatred and animosity and proclivity to be a repeat offender and be back in prison a lot of that that gels in the hearts and minds of inmates is put there by the guards there are a lot of guards in uniform that ought not to be on the job at all they ought to be fired because they don't have the right stuff and I'm not talking about namby-pamby and babying the convicts or anything of the kind I'm just talking about decency and honor and respect even for those who are in prison because they are still made in the image and likeness of God and they are still redeemable and they ought not to be treated in such a way that all they do is harbor more and more resentment and revenge and anger over the way they're treated and when they get out very often they can't wait to raise hell and take advantage of somebody else and they are just boiling over with anger and resentment.

[42:44] That ought not to be. I have no idea how to go about fixing that. If I could wave a magic wand, I have no idea how to address that.

[42:56] All I'm saying is something needs to be done and it would have to be by a lot better, more competent minds than mine. But it is a serious grievance. And our prison population throughout the nation is astronomical, ridiculous.

[43:13] Something's going on that needs to be addressed more seriously than what we are. And it's just, well. I'm not finished, but I quit.

[43:35] And I feel so much better. Is there something that you would like to add? Or question? Okay.

[43:50] I bet you knew it. You didn't know it. Okay. It's so, it's just unbelievable that you've gone where you've gone today.

[44:05] I couldn't agree with you anymore. I couldn't possibly agree with you more. in fact, a discussion that I've had with you recently and to Brother Jim, I wanted to make an appointment with him and trying to do my homework in advance.

[44:24] After recent messages you've had about truth, prompted me to have the idea why can't we legislate the requirement for Congress to tell the truth?

[44:40] Why can't we legislate the requirement for the media to tell the truth? Why can't we legislate truth? So I did a little homework.

[44:53] And guess what? Truth is not required, nor can it be legislated. There's only one truth, and we all know where that truth comes from.

[45:03] So we can't impose religion, which is what, of course, the godless are going to claim that we're trying to do.

[45:14] So in my research, I discovered by virtue of asking questions, does a doctor have to tell the truth?

[45:28] Does a lawyer have to tell the truth? does a congressman have to tell the truth? If you actually look all of these things up and do the research, what you'll find is that not even doctors are required to tell the truth.

[45:46] Yeah. What they are required, and they are the only profession that I could find that is required to provide full disclosure.

[45:59] disclosure. Now, that is as close as you're ever going to come to requiring somebody, by law, to tell the truth. They are required full disclosure.

[46:11] In other words, they cannot lie to you about your condition or anything that could affect your condition. So, why can't we require, and this is what I was going to ask Brother Jim, why can't Congress pass law requiring itself full disclosure, to provide full disclosure?

[46:41] In other words, Mr. Adam Schiff could not stand on the floor of the people's house and tell that absolute lie without first providing full disclosure.

[46:54] disclosure. Now, you can lie all you want, but if you tell me up front, hey, look, here's something I'm going to tell you, here's full disclosure, it's all a lie, but I'm going to say it anyway.

[47:08] I'm making all this up, but I'm going to say it anyway. It's up to you to believe it or not. If we can require that, if our government can require itself full disclosure, how can that be harmful?

[47:29] It's not referencing God, it's not referencing good or wrong, it's not referencing truth or a lie, it's just simply disclosure.

[47:40] And if that goes to play, then why can't we not then require full disclosure by the media? I remember once upon a time, an editorial, they had to tell you this is an editorial, and everybody knows what an editorial is.

[48:00] Full disclosure, I think, could be legislated. I hear you, and the idea, the concept sounds great. It would be the application of it that would be very difficult because there's a built-in loophole there, and they would use it.

[48:22] Profusely, they would use it. They would say, well, it's true, I didn't say anything about this and so and this and so, but I didn't know that. I disclosed what I knew, but I didn't know that.

[48:34] And they can always cop out not telling the truth with a lie. I didn't know. I wasn't aware. I can't remember. So the concept and the idea is good, but you'd have to have a degree of, well, not more than a degree, but you'd have to have impeccable honesty on the part of the person.

[48:58] And I don't think we've got any people like that. So, like I said, the idea sounds great, but the implementation of it, I'm afraid they would have a loophole and they would use it.

[49:11] And they would come up with others as well. But I hear what you're saying, and I think you're speaking out of what I'm speaking out of also, is a shared frustration and an inability to fix so many things that appear to need really fixed.

[49:32] And as an American, with the history that I have behind me and know what this country has been and what it's gone through and all the rest and its potential and everything, it's like a kick in the gut to see a lot of these things go on in the name of our country and of our government.

[49:52] And it's just, and I'll just, well, when I was a kid growing up from no more than that, probably the most cherished institution in this country, in my mind, was the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

[50:10] boy, if there is anything and anybody, anything that you can take to the bank, it's the FBI. And I don't feel that way anymore.

[50:23] The compromise and the damage that has been done to that austere institution is sickening as an American.

[50:35] investigation. That within that institution, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, there could have been a cabal so hatched and so bent and so twisted as to set about the task of actually trying, bring about the circumstances that would remove a duly elected president from the Oval Office.

[51:02] That sounds like the stuff of a far-fetched novel. Too crazy to believe. But there it is.

[51:15] All right, someone else and we'll have to close. Yeah. Okay, Joe, and then just a statement for thought. you can't tell the truth if you don't know the truth.

[51:33] Yep. And that would be the comeback that a lot of them would use, of course, to, I have just one verse that I want to close with, and it is a verse that ought to be adopted, in my estimation, ought to be adopted by the law enforcement personnel, because, boy, and all the prosecutors, they ought to be required, ought to be required to memorize it.

[51:57] And it's, it's, well, we had another, one more question. Loretta had a comment or question. Go ahead. Yeah. Pastor Marv, I wish you would really disclose to all of us how you really feel.

[52:12] Well, let me tell you this, my dear. You have no idea what I have held back. you have no idea what I've held back.

[52:25] And I want to, I want to close with this, with this verse, and we'll have a word of prayer. This is from Ecclesiastes, very unlikely kind of book, Ecclesiastes, because all the way through it, he's talking about the futility of everything.

[52:41] This is futility, this is futility, and it's, everything is crazy. And what he's, what he's getting at is, without God at the core of your being, nothing makes sense.

[52:58] Nothing matters. It's all futility. It's all nothing. It's all like a whisk of wind. And it is the very being of God that gives meaning and substance and everything to our very existence.

[53:18] And here in Ecclesiastes 8, and, I think I've got the right passage. I did say Ecclesiastes, didn't I?

[53:44] Hmm. I tell you what, these verses move around. The older I get, the more they move. Well, there it is, it's verse 11.

[53:54] No wonder. Well, I'm looking at the New American Standard too, and that's different from the Bible I was using. And verse 11 says, Ecclesiastes 8, because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, did you get that?

[54:17] Speedily? there's a saying in law that goes something like this, justice delayed is justice denied.

[54:31] And the verse says, because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore, the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil.

[54:52] Wow. That's what's going on right now in the great Northwest called Seattle, Washington, and other places as well.

[55:05] That's the principle that's being violated. And consequences are predictable. So, wow. would you stand with me and we'll be dismissed.

[55:22] Father, with all the flaws that our nation has, still the best place on earth. And there's much about it that we cannot change and we cannot produce a perfect nation because we don't have any perfect people.

[55:39] But there is a lot of room for improvement. improvement. And that's all we're looking for. Improvement. Betterment.

[55:50] We know that can be accomplished because in many areas it has been accomplished in the past. And the future is now open to us. But before any improvements can be made, deficiencies have to be identified.

[56:06] And that's all we've tried to do. So whatever you may be pleased to do to stir up something within us as individuals or as a congregation, we just want to be stirrable.

[56:20] And we want to place ourselves at your disposal to be used in any way that you see fit. Thank you again for an incredible nation that we live in here that is so different than any other nation in the world.

[56:38] And there's so many things that are ingredients that have made it so. Most of all, we believe it's because they recognize you at the birthing of our nation and recognize you as the creator who has created us all equal and given us certain rights like life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

[57:01] We are indeed a blessed people. So we do not want our discontent to morph into criticism, but we want to be free and able to criticize where we know it is needed and improvement is possible.

[57:17] To that end, we commit ourselves and our congregation in Christ's name. We begin to watch and wait, you can