The Hamilton Minute

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20 (ESV)

The ACLU has released new national case selection guidelines.

The guidelines state: though they’ve formally functioned as a fighter for the 1st Amendment and other civil rights, from now on they will only defend cases that are consistent with their organizational values.

Translation: they aren’t a principled defender of Constitutional rights. They’re a partisan regressive ideologically driven hack outfit confirming in writing what we’ve really known for quite some time now based on their actions.

“So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” Ephesians 4:14 (ESV)

According to the Independent Journal Review, President Trump’s approval rating is only 2 percentage points lower than President Obama’s at this point in his presidency and is the same as President Reagan at this point in his administration.

Perhaps reality is setting in that the over-hyped midterm big blue wave won’t be as big, blue or wavy as they’d hoped. Maybe this explains the sudden faux rage over illegal immigration.

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”  James 1:22 (ESV)

The Trump administration has announced a rule to cut funding to abortionists like Planned Parenthood under Title X, a program that provides $280 million annually for “family planning” initiatives.

The rule requires a bright line of physical and financial separation between Title X programs and any program or facility where abortion is performed, supported, or referred as a method of family planning.

This forces Planned Parenthood and others like them to disentangle themselves from abortion if they want to continue receiving these funds.

They have to choose: money or murder.

“And He awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39 (ESV)

In this portion of Scripture Jesus announced, at the onset, that He and His disciples were going to the other side.

Yet, when the storm arose, the disciples feared… but Jesus slept.

It's a perfect picture of the peace available to us when we realize we are not alone. Jesus is on board.

Though storms may rage externally, we don’t have to allow the storms to rage internally. Besides, Jesus has already assured us of our destination.

“Sin is pleasurable for a season but the end is destruction.”  Paraphrased from Hebrews 11:25 (ESV)

The show “Sex and the City” premiered on HBO 20 years ago.  The show celebrated women living extremely promiscuous lives.  One night stands were glamorized as the ultimate feminist statement.

20 years later real life "Carrie Bradshaws" are coming forward to express their regret as they are left to deal with the wreckage their lives became after trying to live out what was portrayed on the television screen.

Sin is pleasurable for a season, but its end is destruction.  Veggie Tales said it well, God’s way is the best way.

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” Mark 4:39 (ESV)

During an interview with NBC News’ Craig Melvin, former President Bill Clinton became demonstrably flustered when asked to address his extramarital relationship with Monica Lewinsky under the lens of the “Me Too” movement.

When asked whether he owed Lewinsky a personal apology, Clinton responded by saying he left the White House in debt.

That was an amazing moment.  When questioned about moral responsibility, Bill Clinton chose to talk money.  I guess it really is all about the money after all for the Clintons.

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance.”  Proverbs 21:5 (ESV)

The American economy is experiencing something right now that is hasn’t experienced before… EVER!

There are more jobs available than people out of work. The largest areas with job availability are engineering, architecture and healthcare.

The high number of available jobs sets the stage for the next phase of this labor market tipping point. That phase is higher wages.

Working people win where companies have to compete for employees.

2% GDP growth was proclaimed as the new normal by Barack Obama

Now we have more jobs than unemployed people.  Someone was really wrong!!!

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (ESV)

If we have an electrical device, that is well-crafted, sleek, built to accomplish a task, yet the device remains unplugged from the power socket you may be able to do a lot with it, but it won’t function as designed.

That describes much of the Church today.  Busyness is not synonymous with effectiveness.  The Church’s effectiveness will only come as we abide in the vine.

“…we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.” 2 Corinthians 2:11 (ESV)

Early secular Progressives were candid about their objectives.  They rejected God and replaced Him with humanism.  They sought to perfect mankind, civilization and the world through the institution that is sacrosanct to humanists: government.

But not just any government would do.  Charles Merriam, former adviser to FDR, opined in 1903 in order for mankind and civilization to be elevated perfectly “it required a universal state,” a world-government.

When discussion about open borders and universal healthcare are introduced, the issue is never the issue. It's always the globalist agenda.

“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.” Psalm 127:3 (ESV)

Iowa lawmakers approved what is now the nation’s strictest abortion law in a move that clearly puts a Roe v. Wade challenge on the table.

Iowa has now outlawed abortion once the babies heartbeat is detectable.

Doctors can typically detect a baby’s heartbeat six weeks into a woman’s pregnancy, which is why Planned Parenthood of the Heartland has admitted most abortions in Iowa would be illegal under the measure.

There’s a mounting wave of willingness to protect the most vulnerable among us.

Praise be to God.

“And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.” Luke 22:36 (ESV)

70-year-old great-grandmother Maxine Thompson was asleep when she was abruptly awakened in the early morning hours by what sounded like banging noises outside of her Philadelphia home.

Then, a 43-year-old male intruder shattered her dining room window and invaded her home through it.

Thompson immediately grabbed her mother’s handgun, shot at the intruder, chased him, and shot several more times.

A bullet struck the intruder, he fled, but was subsequently apprehended by the Philadelphia police.

Great-granny Thompson and her gun stopped the criminal.

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Luke 1:37 (ESV)

A new study examined tenured professorships at 51 of the top 60 liberal arts colleges listed in the U.S. News and World Report rankings.

It found, save for the two military colleges, Democrat professors outnumber Republicans nearly 13 to 1.

40% of the surveyed colleges have zero Republican faculty.

Higher academia has become monolithic ideologically.

Perhaps this explains why young people often go to college with one worldview, only to return as card-carrying socialist leaning Regressives.

“A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.”  Proverbs 24:33-34 (ESV)

Recently, tech titans have sought to minimize the access people have to conservative content, but what we’ve seen so far is just the beginning.

At an “Off The Record” event where the usual Regressive media suspects were gathered, Mark Zuckerberg announced Facebook will “dial up the intensity” of its efforts to minimize access to “controversial political content.”

Huh, any wonder as to what type of content Zuckerberg deems to be “controversial?”

“And who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.” Esther 4:14

Esther, a young girl became Queen of the Persian Empire when Israel was subject to Persian rule. A wicked man named Haman tried to get the King to exterminate all Jews. Esther, a Jew herself, was Queen when this genocidal conspiracy was brought to bear. But her uncle Mordecai put her royal position in perspective.

“Perhaps God made you Queen for this very moment, to intervene on behalf of the Jewish people.”

Like Esther, perhaps God gave you the platform, position and influence you have for this very moment, to stand against darkness. Perhaps you were born for such a time as this.

David, the son of Jesse, was just an ordinary giant slayer.

David’s battle with Goliath is an epic drama where the little boy stands in God’s power to conquer the Philistine giant.

David didn’t awaken that morning expecting to slay a giant. He didn’t stroll in with an entourage after a rugged mountain range training camp like Rocky in Rocky IV. He was just a regular kid bringing his brothers’ lunch. But fully confident in God’s immeasurable power, though he saw Goliath, David never acknowledged him as a giant, saying, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine who dares defy the Lord of hosts?”

When regular people are fully persuaded, fully confident in God’s power, giant’s fall.

“And this day shall be unto you for a memorial.” Exodus 12:14 (KJV)

Three years after the Civil War ended, the head of an organization of Union veterans established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers.

Decoration Day has now come to be known as Memorial Day, the day we honor those military members who have given their lives to secure our nation’s freedoms.

As we honor them, let’s pray for our military members.  In addition to their physical safety let us also pray for their spiritual and eternal well-being.

“And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” Matthew 15:14 (ESV)

Ten states and the District of Columbia are now poised to commit their electoral votes to whichever presidential candidate wins the nation’s popular vote—regardless of who wins the state.

Connecticut is the latest state to join the national popular vote pledge pool.

The mechanism for electing the head of the federal government, the president, was the most debated issue during the Constitutional Convention.

The Electoral College is a feature of the Constitutional Republican form of government.

Ignorance of or disdain for our Constitutional Republican form of government is dangerous.

“A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.” Proverbs 10:4 (ESV)

Ashley Lamothe got her first job with Chick-fil-A when she was 15 years old.  She used her earnings there to buy her first car.

She continued working for the company while attending Spelman College.

At 26, Ashley has now moved to L.A. to become the franchise owner of the restaurant’s first ever downtown Los Angeles location making her one of the franchise’s youngest owners in history.

Her new 6,500 square-foot restaurant will occupy two stories.

From employee to business owner.  Diligence pays.

“Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.”  Proverbs 26:1 (ESV)

Within weeks of announcing its decision to pull certain rifles from its stores and impose a 21 year old age requirement for all gun purchasers, Dick’s Sporting Goods saw its stock price plummet alongside a reduction of same store sales.

Dick’s has now hired lobbyists to advance its anti-gun agenda on Capitol Hill and three key gun manufacturers have cut ties with the store.  O.F. Mossberg and Sons, Inc., Springfield Armory and Hi-Point Firearms Manufacturers' MKS Supply will not abide Dick’s assault on the Second Amendment.

“Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil.” Matthew 5:37 (ESV)

While announcing the U.S.’ withdrawal from the JCPOA, commonly known as the Iran Deal, President Trump correctly explained, “the Iranian regime is the leading state sponsor of terror.  It exports dangerous missiles, fuels conflicts across the Middle East, and supports terrorist proxies and militias such as Hezbollah, Hamas, the Taliban and Al Qaeda.”

Iran’s military budget exploded by almost 40% and the mullahs used the new money to build its nuclear capable missiles.

Thankfully, President Trump has withdrawn the U.S. from the deal.