Thanksgiving Message from Bishop Jerry Ogles, Anglican Orthodox Church

November 2010 Anno Domini (THANKSGIVING)

Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. Deut 8:11-14,18

America is a special land, a land that literally flows with milk and honey, and a land blessed beyond all other nations in recorded history. Why do you suppose the invader has never been able to set foot in America’s heartland or drink from the Ohio’s waters? Is it because we are a people superior to all other peoples of the world? Is it because we are more cunning and wise than all civilizations past and present? Is it because our labors and employments merit our abundance in material and resources?

Nothing could be further from the truth. Our land is not blessed by what we do, or the wisdom of our administration of government, or the innate goodness of our citizens as a national people – it is owing to the faith of our Founding Fathers in seeking out that Solid Rock and Foundation for our National Character and Government. Never intending to exclude either God the Father, or God the Son, from being intrinsically woven into the fiber of our National Will and Faith, they drafted founding documents which they hoped would insure the perpetuation of that faith that has propelled us to our state of blessedness and security. They have passed the burning torch of freedom down through generation after generation of heroic and self-sacrificing Americans until, at the present moment, it has fallen upon us to hold aloft and to keep the fires of liberty alight. This is our ensign on the present battlefield. These are the colors around which we must rally or fall.

The storms of doubt and decadence are sweeping the plains and prairies of America fueled by powers and forces that are not representative of the nature of the America our fathers knew. They threaten to extinguish the flame atop our torch of Freedom. How can this be? It can never happen unless we permit it. A freedom-loving people are incapable of defeat so long as they adhere to the faith and principles that made them free in the first instance. That faith is centered on the great liberator of all peoples – the Lord Jesus Christ.

I appeal to each of you, as well as my own household, to petition the Lord God of Heaven to allow His Holy Spirit once again to move upon the face of the darkened waters of America and speak with all the force and majesty as that first utterance at Creation – “Let there be Light!” Let us thank the offended Sovereign of all Nations for the freedom with which He has blessed us, and pray for a renewal and reformation of our souls and hearts to Christ, lest we perish.

In Christ Alone,

JERRY L. OGLES

Presiding Bishop & Metropolitan

Submit or Stay - Show us your …

Where we are now is that you may not have the freedom to travel unless you agree to provide a current photograph of your and your wife nude, you must agree to allow both of you to be molested by "government" agents. Apparently we now have a protected class of sexual criminal who is allowed to grope at will.

Then consider that muslims who will not go through the full frontal (and rear) nudity camera are not to be "enhanced patdown screened", they may only be felt up on their head and neck. Makes sense? NOT

There have been various TSA agents recorded (no possibility of misconstruction) saying in effect, "If you don't go through the full nudity scanner, we will molest you sufficiently that next time you will." Where is the ACLU now?

Clearly this is an absolute abrogation of our rights. Our founding fathers were clear on this, note the various quotes attributed to Franklin:

• They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.

• They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

• Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither.

• He who would trade liberty for some temporary security, deserves neither liberty nor security.

• He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither.

• People willing to trade their freedom for temporary security deserve neither and will lose both.

• If we restrict liberty to attain security we will lose them both.

• Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.

• He who gives up freedom for safety deserves neither.

• Those who would trade in their freedom for their protection deserve neither.

• Those who give up their liberty for more security neither deserve liberty nor security.

The head of the TSA has said publicly that no amount of pressure from the public (I might add the citizens of the country of whom he is a servant) will cause him to change "MY rules." HIS rules? Who the heck is he that he has his own rules? I thought we had the Rule of Law. Clearly that is in the rearview mirror at this time. Change? Yes, we need change. Let's do a 180 and get out of here.

I've written my congressman and told him that unless he sponsors legislation to eliminate completely this police state system that I will vote for any candidate that will. I fully understand that would mean voting for a third party candidate who "cannot get elected." So be it. I will not vote for someone who backs a police state.

BUDGET CUTS mean Hard Choices

So reads the headline on a MOAA article. MOAA, the Military Officers Association of America, the fraternal organization for officers of all the Armed Services. MOAA was realistically discussing the effects of the massive budget shortfall on its members. With the various armed conflicts in Southwest Asia winding down, the politicians in Washington feel comfortable in reneging on promises made to military members. They feel the country will not notice a promise or two or ten broken to those who put their lives on the line for our country. No problem. The four stars are right in line with them, after all what do you expect from political appointees whose primary qualification for promotion to flag rank is suction. Suction, unctuousness and a handsome appearance, what more could you expect from four stars?

It is true! The budget is in sad shape. Our government has committed trillions of dollars they have no idea where to find to projects they have no idea of for reasons clear only to the other hogs at the trough.

Where to find that money? Simple, start cutting Veterans' Benefits, those old tired war dogs, then cut Active Duty pay and benefits. Let them live like the rest of the country. Why should they get the special privileges they did not earn. After all, they are not important to the country like the exalted congress. The pay for privates can be more effectively used by the Congressman's home and office visiting doctor or his barber or the masseuse in the basement.

Plus, the poor need money. They have lots of kids to feed and things to buy and all that sort of thing. Don't forget the undocumented Democrats, formerly known as ILLEGAL ALIENS. Some of them even have aunts! The AUNT OF THE YEAR How about starting by taking a look at the Constitution and if you cannot find a government program there, quit funding it.

By the way, Dear Leader has a new life long medical care plan for Veterans. Call him when you are SHOVEL READY.

One minor question, if the illegal alien aunt is owed a living by the country, then everyone is, so the question: Who is going to work to pay for all this?

Memorial Day

Almost all of us get the day off tomorrow.  Many will have a BBQ or a picnic or just spend the day relaxing.

But, tomorrow is more than just a Bank Holiday.  Tomorrow is Memorial Day; that day set aside to remember those who have given their lives to gain our freedom and defend it from those who would enslave our country.  To those men and women and the families they left behind we owe an un-payable debt.  It will suffice to remember why we take the day off.

Our country is free because when she called many stepped forward to sign a blank check to pay her freedom debt.  They signed knowing the check could be filled in with any figure, up to and including their lives.  When they signed, they signed not only for their future, but that of their family.  Some of those blank checks were filled in for little.  Some were filled in for the entire amount.  

They put their lives on the line that you might be free.  Some never came home.

Many of us signed one of those blank checks or a family member did.  I think each of us knows how fortunate we were that the check we signed got filled in for just a little.  We all have friends whose check was filled in for the full amount.

Remember them on Memorial Day; remember their families.  Remember the sacrifice every time you vote.  Freedom is not free.  It never was, it never will be.

God -  Honor - Country