“When a true genius appears in the world you may know him by this sign: that all the dunces are in a confederacy against him.” – Jonathan Swift

I support Operation Iraqi Freedom, our troops and President Bush. Without the brave men and women of America willingly following leaders capable of making tough and painful decisions this country would have fallen long ago. Today, President Bush realizes if he and our military do not stand in the gap to defend our nation, and the defenseless in other countries, then it truly will be the end of the world as we know it. We all owe a debt of gratitude to every man and woman who have served, especially those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. God bless our troops and bring them home as soon as possible. God bless President Bush and give him strength and wisdom to win this war. God bless America, the best and greatest nation He ever gave man.

I celebrated Earth Day 2004 right--I test drove 2 SUV's!! VROOOOM! UPDATE: On June 18, 2005 I bought a Chevy Colorado Crew Cab Pickup in Victory Red!!!

The American Flag, Author Unknown

I hope you have noticed the honor guard pays meticulous attention to correctly folding the American flag 13 times? You probably thought it was to symbolize the original 13 colonies, but we learn something new every day! Be surprised at the following only because "they" quit teaching this around 1955 in public schools...some of you out there might remember.

The 1st fold of our flag is a symbol of life.

The 2nd fold is a symbol of our belief in eternal life.

The 3rd fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans Departing our ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the world.

The 4th fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in time of war for His divine guidance.

The 5th fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur , "Our Country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong."

The 6th fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our hearts that, "We pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States Of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all."

The 7th fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.

The 8th fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of The shadow of death, that we might see the light of day.

The 9th fold is a tribute to womanhood, and Mothers. For it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded.

The 10th fold is a tribute to the fathers, for they, too, have given Their sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were First born.

The 11th fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David And King Solomon and glorifies in the Hebrews' eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The 12th fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in the Christians' eyes, God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.

The 13th fold, or when the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding us of our nation's motto, "In God We Trust."

After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington, and the sailors and marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for us the rights, privileges and freedoms we enjoy today.

There are some traditions and ways of doing things that have deep meaning. In the future, you'll see flags folded and now you will know why.

Printing this out and handing a copy to those who would distribute it to school children and/or congregations is appropriate at a time such as we face today. Please share this with the children you love and all Others who love what this symbol stands for... by God's grace it will continue to stand thusly... for and by "Liberty and Freedom".

"I had been looking at my father’s chosen profession and goals as a type of larceny; they were stealing him from me...All the while I thought my father had abandoned me. The truth was that I had abandoned him...I returned as he was starting to leave—pulled away not by his duty or his country, but by a disease. I have returned with a reverence for the life he lived: for the persistence of his dreams and the unfailing faith that let him burn past his history as a poor kid from a dusty Midwest town, past those who scoffed about an actor becoming President, past those who said his passion was just pretense. He proved them all wrong, and his absence will leave a hole in the world when he is gone." --Patti Davis, daughter of President Ronald Reagan from "Tearing Down The Wall" in Ladies' Home Journal "Daughters of Greatness" Sept. '02, page 126.

[LHJ is not something I typically read but I thought Davis' section of the article was noteworthy.]

Forsaken Roots in the United States

> Did you know that 52 of the 55 signers of the Declaration of Independence were orthodox, deeply committed Christians? The other three all believed in the Bible as the divine truth, the God of scripture, and in His personal intervention.

> It is the same Congress that formed the American Bible Society. Immediately after creating the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Congress voted to purchase and import 20,000 copies of scripture for the people of this nation.

> Patrick Henry, who is called the firebrand of the American Revolution, is still remembered for his words, "Give me liberty or give me death." But in current textbooks the context of these words is deleted. Here is what he actually said: "An appeal to arms and the God of hosts is all that is left us. But we shall not fight our battle alone. There is a just God that presides over the destinies of nations. The battle sir, is not to the strong alone. Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it almighty God. I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death."

[The above shows Patrick Henry to be an avid student of God's word because his comment is almost a direct quotation of the subject and context Joshua 24 : 14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.]

> These sentences have been erased from our textbooks. Was Patrick Henry a Christian? You be the judge. The following year, 1776, he wrote this: "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great Nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here."

> Consider these words that Thomas Jefferson wrote on the front of his well-worn Bible: "I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus. I have little doubt that our whole country will soon be rallied to the unity of our Creator "

> He was also the chairman of the American Bible Society, which he considered his highest and most important role.

> On July 4, 1821, President Adams said, "The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity."

Calvin Coolidge, our 30th President of the United States reaffirmed this truth when he wrote, "The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country."

>In 1782, the United States Congress voted this resolution: "The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools."

> William Holmes McGuffey is the author of the McGuffey Reader, which was used for over 100 years in our public schools with over 125 million copies sold until it was stopped in 1963. President Lincoln called him the "Schoolmaster of the Nation." Listen to these words of Mr. McGuffey: "The Christian religion is the religion of our country. From it are derived our notions on the character of God, on the great moral Governor of the universe. On its doctrines are founded the peculiarities of our free institutions. From no source has the author drawn more conspicuously than from the sacred Scriptures. For all these extracts from the Bible I make no apology."

> Of the first 108 universities founded in America, 106 were distinctly Christian, including the first, Harvard University, chartered in 1636. In the original Harvard Student Handbook, rule number 1 was that students seeking entrance must know Latin and Greek so that they could study the scriptures:

> "Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ, which is eternal life, John 17:3; and therefore to lay Jesus Christ as the only foundation for our children to follow the moral principles of the Ten Commandments."

> James Madison, the primary author of the Constitution of the United States, said this: "We have staked the whole future of our new nation not upon the power of government; far from it. We have staked the future of all our political constitutions upon the capacity of each of ourselves to govern ourselves according to the moral principles of the Ten Commandments."

> So much for the so-called "separation of church and state."

> Today, we are asking God to bless America. But, how can He bless a Nation that has departed so far from Him? Prior to September 11, He was not welcome in America and is still unwelcome in all of our public schools.

> Most of what you read in this article has been erased from our textbooks. Revisionists have rewritten history to remove the truth about our country's Christian roots.

> "I tremble for my country when I recall that God is just, and that His justice will not sleep forever." -- Thomas Jefferson