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Christian Community Connect
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Wednesday, February 28th 2024
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Just asking the question?
In today's culture how would you define what a Patriot is and would you consider yourself one?
Here's how Thesaurus.com and Google defined it but what is it to you. I believe that is an important question.
Thesaurus.com :
patriot
[ pey-tree-uht, -ot or, especially British, pa-tree-uht ]SHOW IPA
noun
1. a person who loves, supports, and defends their country and its interests with devotion.
2. a person who values individual rights, especially one who attempts to defend those rights against presumed interference by the federal government.
patriotism
[ pey-tree-uh-tiz-uhm or, especially British, pa- ]SHOW IPA
noun
1. devoted love, support, and defense of one's country; national loyalty.
Google:
A patriot is someone who loves and demonstrates devotion to their country. This can take many forms, including:
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Supporting their country's interests and values: This could involve participating in democratic processes, voting in elections, or advocating for policies they believe benefit their country.
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Defending their country: Traditionally, this has been associated with military service, but it can also encompass other forms of defense, such as working for national security or civil service.
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Promoting their country's culture and heritage: This can involve participating in cultural events, learning about their country's history, or simply appreciating its unique aspects.
From Google:
It's important to note that the definition of "patriotism" can be complex and nuanced. There can be disagreement about what constitutes true patriotism, and what actions or beliefs are truly in the best interests of a country. However, the core idea of a patriot being someone who loves and supports their country remains constant.
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IS AMERICA WORTH FIGHTING FOR?
by Joe Markiewicz
Founder of Defender Gear
My name is Joe Markiewicz, and I am a husband, a father, a businessman, and a man who has surrendered his life to Jesus Christ to be my savior.
My first dream was to play professional baseball. However, injuries prevented those aspirations from coming to fruition. Instead, I completed my engineering degree and moved to North Carolina. I began my professional career, married my college sweetheart, and began to settle down.
But God had different plans in store for me.
While still in my twenties, I began looking for alternative income streams, and I went into business for myself. Initially, my business was only part-time. But I took it very seriously and diligently sought people who could teach me the necessary skill sets to be successful. Some of those mentors are still in my life today and are my most trusted advisors.
My business and the pursuit of knowledge changed my life forever. While at a business conference, I attended a meeting where a successful businessman gave his testimony. It was that morning where I gave my life to Christ and a new journey began.
As I grew in my faith, God gave me a vision and hunger - to help people live better lives. I wanted to learn more about the connection between capitalism and freedom, and what makes this country unique and exceptional. My faith and business fueled my passion for studying American history.
In my studies I realized that the freedom we have in America is unparalleled. The Founding Fathers understood that neither liberty nor freedom was man-made. They knew that it was God's design and intent for mankind to be free and never live their lives under the bonds of another man.
This freedom and liberty was not an accident and has never been free. The Framers were directed by Judeo- Christian principles in establishing our Constitution. Our freedom over the generations has been protected by all the patriots who went before us. They are heroes in my eyes, and we stand on their shoulders.
Today I have the freedom to raise and educate my children as I see fit. I am free to start my own business, work hard, sacrifice, and prosper. I am free to think independently without penalty or threat. I am grateful to be able to worship God in the manner I choose.
With resources like Peter Marshall & David Manuel's book The Light and The Glory and David Barton's videos “America's Godly Heritage” I studied the Founders' intent for the US Constitution and the motivation behind the authors of our founding documents. I am convinced that a limited government where the people are in charge is the most effective form of government available to mankind.
"Nevertheless, to the persecution & tyranny of his cruel ministry we will not tamely submit - appealing to Heaven for the justice of our cause, we determine to die or be free." Joseph Warren. I recognize the great risk that those early colonists invited when they mutually pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor so the United States could become a reality. Many of those signers of the Declaration against tyranny lost their lives and fortunes for a just cause. Their sacrifice is something I won't forget.
I chose to boldly and fearlessly become a Freedom Fighter and a Defender of the Republic. I know my greatest weapon against tyranny is to educate this generation and the next about the blessings of liberty and why freedom must be preserved. Freedom and liberty are fragile, and once we lose it, we will never get it back.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction… It must be fought for, protected, & handed on for them to do the same." - Ronald Reagan, 40th US President. In a free society, we have the hope that our children will live better lives than us. The opportunity has no guaranteed outcomes. The only guarantee is a chance to improve my life conditions on a level playing field. Free markets, competition, self-determination, self-reliance, and reward from hard work are all elements of capitalism. Capitalism has lifted more people out of poverty than any government program could ever dream of. The ideological battle of our time is capitalism (freedom) vs. socialism. A redistri- bution of wealth promoted by the progressive movement never creates prosperity.
Politicians who promote this ideology aim to give the people just enough amenities (income, health care, education, food, etc.) to stay dependent on the government. The aim is dependence on the government. This is not freedom.
Our Founders were wary of pure Democracy, mob rule, and an intrusive government. A heavy-handed central government is built on the premise that its citizens are not capable of managing and directing their own lives.
Our Founders believed that even though mankind is imperfect, we could still peacefully co-exist with our neighbor. How? Through fear from an authoritarian government? Not in America! Rather, we are capable of self-determination and civility because of virtue, morality, personal responsibility, and the rule of law.
Our rights do not come from man or government, but they come from God. They can never be taken away. However, if we are not vigilant, then we can surrender them. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty & the pursuit of Happiness.” - Declaration of Independence.
Our rights and freedoms must be protected at all costs. Freedom of speech, religious freedom, freedom from fear, the right to bear arms, the right to peaceful assembly, right to own property, and the right to vote for our elected leaders are all protected by the US Constitution.
Our Constitution gives American citizens the boundaries to their behavior and defines the size and scope of government. Our Founders warned future generations that our children must be educated in civics, morality, and our nation’s history else our republic will end.
Today, it is academia that has become largely anti-America. Our universities have become breeding grounds for radical leftist philosophy. Our Founders have been made to be villains rather than heroes. Religious liberty is being attacked like never before. The left is making it unacceptable for anyone to hold conservative values based on Judeo-Christian principles. Any attack or censorship of traditional American values is perfectly acceptable, justifiable, and necessary. This is just unsustainable for our country.
This is a dangerous time. Never before has the original intent of America's forefathers been more at risk. The battle for the hearts and minds of all Americans is at stake. The role of the nuclear family, strong marriages, fatherhood, and manhood is being re-defined before our eyes. Will God's people sit back and do nothing because of fear?
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Edmund Burke
Will we promote civil discourse when we disagree? Or has our society decayed so much that all we are left with is shouting, division, identity politics, class warfare, disparaging, shaming, canceling, threatening, and violence? Will we still defend those who are defending us? Our military, our law enforcement, and our first responders deserve our respect and appreciation. They put their lives at risk every day.
Are freedom and liberty worth defending? Is America worth fighting for? Will the church take its rightful place and start praying?
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, & pray, and seek my face, & turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, & will forgive their sin & will heal their land." - 2 Chronicles 7:14
God has given me a new vision: fighting for America, our heritage and our freedom. I believe that we can be that shining city on a hill again. Despite all its imperfections and challenges, there is no other place on earth like America. If we lose freedom, then all is lost.
What will our descendants say about us? Did we keep the lamp of liberty lit for them? Will we, God's people who love our nation, stand beside her and guide her with the light from above? I am giving you a call to action.
If passion for freedom burns in your heart, it's time to stand proudly and boldly defend the rights that so many men and women laid down their lives for. Join me in fighting for America.
"Live Free or Die!"
Joe Markiewicz, Creator of Defender Gear
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We Have a Nation Like No Other
If We Can Keep it.
by Rick Green and Patriot Academy
The Honorable Rick Green is a former Texas State Representative, a lawyer, and a successful entrepreneur who has built several businesses from the ground up.
His goal is to help America become salt and light in every area of life and to understand America’s Godly history and foundation. He currently travels the nation speaking for WallBuilders, teaching on the U.S. Constitution, and founded the Torch of Freedom Foundation and Patriot Academy. He resides in Dripping Springs, TX with his wife, Kara, and their entire family.
America truly has been blessed more than any other nation in history. Americans have enjoyed an unprecedented level of freedom, prosperity, opportunity, and stability. America has had only one Constitution since 1789. For Americans who are used to living in this kind of stability, this may not seem very impressive. However, when you realize that throughout history, the average length of a nation’s constitution’s lifespan is only 17 years, you begin to get the sense that there is something special about this 230+ year-old American Constitution. In fact, it has outlasted every other national written constitution in history. America’s uniqueness doesn’t stop there. With only 4% of the world’s population, every year America produces more inventions, medical cures, and technological discoveries than the other 96% of the world combined.
In 1831, Frenchman Alexis de Tocqueville traveled to the United States to discover what made America so different. After traveling across America for several months, he wrote of how the condition of America was the “exception” to the rule. This became known as American Exceptionalism, which is simply to say that America is not like other nations. She truly is extraordinary, meaning EXTRA-ordinary, or not ordinary, not the norm. But why? If we are to study the American system of government, we must study what made this system so unique and produce such unique results. What caused the United States of America to become the freest, most powerful, and most benevolent nation in the history of the world? In this course, you will learn the secrets to America’s founding formula, the way our government works, and your role as a citizen in this nation.
Patriot Academy has a Bold Mission:
To equip and educate a generation of citizen leaders to champion the cause of freedom and truth in every sector of society, as we help restore our Constitutional Republic and the Biblical principles that cause a Nation to thrive.
Every generation of Americans has the duty and privilege of standing guard at the watchtower of freedom. Some have held their ground against all attacks; others have slept or quarreled while enemies stormed the gates. History and the world are waiting to see what you will make of your hour. God has blessed America with a strong Biblical foundation. Our Founding Fathers’ revolutionary strategies led to the most successful nation in the history of the world. We have survived attacks from without and within, but never at the same time. Now we are simultaneously defending America from external enemies determined to destroy us and defending American principles in the cultural battle here at home. This is the hour in which your generation must answer the call to leadership. This call to leadership is not for the faint of heart. This is not the time to seek fame. We do not need more self-serving politicians; we need more self-sacrificing patriot leaders. If you are prepared to raise your standard, leave mediocrity behind, and join our Founding Fathers in a pledge of lives, fortunes, and sacred honor, then you can help your generation ensure the Torch of Freedom burns ever brighter. I salute your courage and look forward to seeing you at the next Patriot Academy-Capitol Boot Camp!
By His Grace,
Rick Green
Texas State Representative, 1999-2003
Founder and President of The Torch of Freedom Foundation
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Defender Gear Blog Post
Sons of Liberty Dispatches
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2024.. READY, SET, GO!
February 5, 2024
As 2024 kicks off I want to be clear about alerting the Defender Gear Patriots about what lies before us. We have an election looming largely on the horizon and the circus is definitely coming to town. Do you remember the last one?
The year of 2020 gave us COVID, George Floyd, riots, BLM, ballot-counting integrity, and one of the nastiest presidential elections we have ever seen.
The snowball of 2024 has been rolling around getting bigger and bigger. In fact, Catherine Herridge, Senior Investigative Reporter at CBS News, has officially predicted 2024 to be a “Black Swan Event”, which is an unpredictable event that is beyond what is normally expected of a situation and has potentially severe consequences. In other words, we are staring down the barrel of potential catastrophe – contested elections, civil war, terrorist threats, other world powers taking up arms together, or a myriad of other alternatives.
One incident that has started the ball rolling is in recent weeks we have seen former President Donald Trump removed from the ballot in Colorado and Maine. Likewise, other Blue States are attempting to find ways to twist statutes to remove the leading Republican candidate off of ballots so that millions of voters will lose their opportunity to vote their will. Meanwhile, in Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas, democrats have forbidden additional democratic candidates from running against President Biden. It has gotten so bad that Robert F. Kennedy, a traditional democrat, was forced by the DNC to become an Independent because his presence on the Democratic primary ballot presents a significant problem to President Biden being the Democrat candidate for President. Democratic primary debates have been canceled to protect the incumbent from any challenges to his policies.
The issue we have as we head toward November is that many Americans are gullible and thrive on soundbites instead of listening to the entirety of the arguments, stances and platforms that those who work to rule America make.
On September 2, 2022, President Biden made a speech at Independence Hall in Philadelphia where the Declaration of Independence was signed. In that speech he coined the phrase “Threats to Democracy” and makes false claims about political violence. The reality is that in today’s democratic leftist worldview, anyone who opposes them are “Threats to Democracy.” The push is to censor, demolish and remove the voice of their opposition. The tone and optics of this speech were chilling. The leader of the most powerful nation on Earth effectively labels millions of patriotic Americans as extreme and a danger to society. I fully expected to hear President Biden order his DHS to go get the MAGA crowd and send them out to re-education camps. The FBI went after Catholic Churches and Pro-Lifers considering them domestic terrorists and threats to democracy. The rhetoric had clearly become much more hostile against anyone who opposes the approved policies of the current regime. So, what does this mean to you and me?
It’s a question I ask a lot these days. We all are trying to figure out if we actually matter to the constituency and if they view America in the same honorable reverence we do.
Do you remember Joe the Plumber from the 2008 election? His name is Samuel Wurzelbacher and he stood up and challenged President Obama’s tax policy as it would hurt small business owners. In that small window of history, we saw that well-spoken Americans can make solid waves against the political machine. The big draw was that “Joe” represented each of us. Once that connection was made, President Obama had to chart a different course. In 2024, who is the next “Joe the Plumber”? Is it you? Do you have the ability to articulate where America has been and where we need to go? Do you know the candidates’ positions enough where you could have a solid dialogue? The point here is that we do not need to focus on President Biden’s propaganda regarding “Threats to Democracy.”
Instead, I want to spend 2024 focusing on "Saving Democracy"!
The sad thing is that too many Americans have no idea what a democracy is. They do not know we are a democratic republic.
Instead, they skim off the top and think, “Well, if President Biden says we’re a democracy, then we must be. It sounds right.” WRONG. Our next post will focus on defining democracy.
What is it? What is it not. How is it supposed to work? The point here is that we have to start educating not just our children but our family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and those we come in contact with. We cannot let the media educate them because that’s not what the media does.
Therefore, I want to encourage you to join Defender Gear in 2024 as we focus on “Saving Democracy”. Watch our series here!
More to come…
Sources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoO914FGQ5Y
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/blackswan.asp
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/09/01/remarks-by-president-bidenon-the-continued-battle-for-the-soul-of-the-nation/
https://www.c-span.org/video/?522563-1/president-biden-remarks-democracy
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SAVING DEMOCRACY - DEMOCRACY DEFINED
February 13, 2024
In the last post we discussed that there is significant misinformation being intentionally spread when it comes to the term “democracy”, what it means, and how it is used from politicians, especially those on the far left.
If we were to poll people in major metropolitan areas and ask them if the United States is a democracy, I am confident most would say we are. The reality is that democracy is not a form a government, it is an ideology that governments are organized with. Democracy stems from two Greek words:
Demos (PEOPLE) Kratos (POWER)
It is about giving the power to the people. You may think that is exactly what we have but the reality is that it isn’t.
The idea of democracy scared the Founders so much, in fact that that the word is not found in any of the key documents of our country – the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, etc.
Why is it scary? Because at its core it is based on majority rule. Every single historic nation who tried to have a purely democratic government failed or ended up falling into a dictatorship or fascist regime because the majority always rules and the minority does not. Think about Nazi Germany, Iraq, North Korea, Ghana, Venezuela, Uganda, and Libya – they all claimed to be democracies and everyone turned into a disaster. Of the five countries that we have full trade embargoes with, three of them are on the aforementioned failed democracy list.
If the United States is not a democracy, then what is it? Good question!
It is a constitutional republic. Merriam-Webster defines, a republic as a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officials and representatives responsible to them and governing according to law. We elect our officials in a democratic way; however, it is not in a purely majority ruled situation. This is where the Electoral College comes into play. If you would like to know more about that, I encourage you to reference an earlier blog post entitled Why the Electoral College Matters.
There are two components that are paramount to understanding how our government was set up by the Founders. The first is in the famous words in the 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 with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”. It is self-evident that we are all created equal, but that’s not all.
We all have rights (Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness) and they are unalienable, or in other words absolute, indisputable, or undeniable. The Founders believed this was God’s idea and His gift to us. The second component was simply that it was the government’s a.k.a., the constitutional republic’s job to protect those rights of the citizens…and that is all. Small, simple government was the goal. Big government was the enemy. When you add all of this together and hear the far left cry, complain, and make false claims about the fact that people who espouse the ideas of the Founders are “threats to democracy”, you can see how ludicrous and preposterous this argument is. Simply, there are people who do not agree with them and their arguments are propped up by their own large population of straw men. Unfortunately, we have a general population that does not fully understand who we are, where we came from, and the real definitions of what we are talking about.
The left has done a fabulous job of dumbing down our society so that it is easy to control. Please take this blog and forward it to everyone on your contact list.
We have to start getting the word out and educating our population so that we do not become another nation that disappears into the ether of time. The United States is a special country that has the most unique history in our formation, influence, and legacy. Let’s work together to help others understand the messages that are being sent out in order to miseducate, manipulate, and mislead. Stay tuned. There is more to come as we continue to work to Save Democracy.
Posted in The Liberty Dispatch Blog By Defender Gear
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