


I had the joy of being with family in the Carolinas this past week and enjoyed a brief respite from Facebook, Blogs, and emails. With both the Republican and Democratic Conventions behind us, I am tentatively stepping back into the dirty waters of politics and social media only to discover a debate raging over Donald Trump in “conservative\evangelical” circles (apparently fueled by noted evangelical authors and preachers Wayne Grudem and Albert Mohler).
Wayne Grudem is being eviscerated by some for his article, “Why Voting for Donald Trump is a Morally Good Choice”. On the other hand, Albert Mohler contends he will use his vote to “write-in” the name of a third-party candidate and not vote for either the Republican or Democratic party candidates (many are arguing, and I agree, the effect of voting for a write-in or third-party candidate essentially relegates one’s vote to a “throw away” vote).
I believe it is a mistake to argue that a vote for Trump or Clinton is a “morally good choice” since both are incredibly flawed candidates. If anything, our nation is faced with an unconscionable dilemma of identifying our own character flaws and moral failures as a people in the two candidates put forward by our citizenry to serve in the highest and most influential place of leadership…the President of the United States. We, the American people, have guided this ship of state to the brink of a national disaster and face the reality our leadership is illustrative of our own rejection of God, His Law and Commandments.
Rather than argue who is most capable and qualified to serve as President, I believe the discussion must be which of the two candidates will do the least damage to our Constitutional rights and freedoms. With at least three, if not four, Supreme Court appointments hanging in the balance, our only choice is the candidate who has proposed appointing only those nominees who will honor Constitutional principles. Hillary Clinton has stated unequivocally her intent is to nominate justices to the Supreme Court who will legislate from the bench a liberal ideology that not only fundamentally changes America, but will assault conservative principles that have been the basis of our freedoms for 240 years.
Like it or not, we have two choices for president this fall and only one of the two offers us any hope of remaining a Constitutional Republic–Donald Trump.
Copyright 2016 – Travis D. Smith
I am sickened President Obama used the occasion of the memorial service in Dallas for five of that cities slain police to once again pontificate a distorted view of American history and a deceptive line of reasoning on racial divisions. The president is either entirely self-deluded or is what I believe him to be, a 21st century Pharisaical politician who has used his own racist prejudices and views of the United States to enflame racial tensions.
None of us choose our birth family; however, everyone should understand our choice of friends reflect who and what we are. President Obama’s network of friends and confidants (Al Sharpton, Jeremiah Wright, and too many others to name) are racists, bigoted, provocative race baiters who threaten our communities, cities, and nation with anarchy.
The president’s rhetoric at Tuesday’s memorial service does not hide the reality that, when it comes to a love for this nation and using his platform to bring reconciliation and healing, “The emperor wears no clothes.”
Copyright 2016 – Travis D. Smith
Call me cynical, but I am becoming of the opinion some of the tragedies assailing our nation seem to come on the heels of bad political news for the President and his party (i.e. Hillary Clinton’s email scandals, her shameless, undeniable lies to the American public, the spineless FBI Director’s “investigation”, and the Attorney General’s dereliction of duty).
The Islamist terrorist’s attack on the Pulse, a “gay bar” in Orlando Sunday morning, June 12, 2016, gave rise to an outpouring of mourning, national disbelief, debates among reporters and pundits regarding the murderer’s motive (in spite of his Facebook posts in the midst of the attack confessing allegiance to ISIS), and politicians furthering their own aspirations making political hay of the tragedy.
Rather than focus on the radicalization of Omar Mateen, an American citizen born to Afghan immigrant parents, much of the news coverage has been focused on assailing America’s 2nd Amendment right to bear arms.
Rather than focus on the murderer’s Islamic ideology and his trips to Saudi Arabia, liberals have used the occasion to attack conservatives who are defenders of Constitutional liberties and traditional moral values.
Rather than explore the failure of government agencies like the FBI who not only had Omar Mateen on their radar screen, but we now know dismissed concerns raised by those familiar with his Islamic militancy, media hawks have used the tragedy to push tolerance for homosexuality and assail those who consider homosexuality a sin of moral depravity.
There are many who follow this blog who are suffering “spiritual” PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), a result of the relentless attacks on Judeo-Christian values by President Obama’s administration. I find devout Christians and non-Christians are “shell-shocked” by the rapid dismantling of moral pillars that have not only supported our nation from its conception, but also the majority of humanity for six millennia.
We are witnessing the ascent of an amoral society that, having rejected the historical definitions of morality, sanctity of life, traditional marriage and family, has no interest in defining morality. There is a concerted effort afoot among liberal politicians, media outlets, reporters, social agitators, educators and the majority of religious leaders in America to control the narrative at the sacrifice of a substantive discussion of right and wrong.
In a post-Christian, 21st century world, controlling the narrative is the end game of the grab for power and influence. There is no compromise or middle ground with militant progressives and, if left unchecked, they will dismantle our Constitutional liberties robbing us of our freedoms of speech, religion, the press, right to peaceably assemble, to petition for governmental redress of grievances, and the right to keep and bear arms.
The tragic loss of 49 lives last Sunday morning in Orlando and the scores of lives and families forever scarred by a senseless, barbaric attack of a militant Islamist, pales in comparison to the threat to our citizens and nation should social and political amoralists not only “control the narrative”, but shout down and silence voices of reason and morality.
Your Patriot Parson
Copyright 2016 – Travis D. Smith
Dear Hillsdale family and friends,
I took the opportunity to go to today’s Hillsborough County School Board Meeting and once again voice my opposition to President Obama’s recent edict [i.e. executive order] forcing public schools to incorporate “gender identity” in their policies for restrooms, showers, and locker rooms.
The purpose of the President’s order, combined with the strong-arm tactics of the Department of Justice and Department of Education, is to force public schools to allow “boys who self-identify as girls” and “girls who self-identify as boys” to go to the restrooms, locker rooms and showers of the gender opposite their biological sex [i.e. sex stated on their birth certificate].
The breadth of this policy will force schools that have overnight trips to afford accommodations that will allow boys and girls to share the same room if one or the other “self-identifies” with the opposite sex [let’s be honest, we are all thinking, “What could possibly go wrong”].
The President has threatened to deny federal funds to public schools that do not comply, beginning with financial cuts in meal programs that will primarily hurt students from lower economic households.
The following is the statement I read in front of the school board on behalf of the Hillsdale family [given the a number of pastor’s in attendance, I was brief in my statement].
“I am Travis Smith, the Senior Pastor of Hillsdale Baptist Church in Northwest Tampa’s Citrus Park area.
I am here to voice the concerns and opposition of my congregation to your scheduled “Transgender” vote on June 28 and the moral and spiritual dilemma you are forcing upon our children.
Adding “gender expression” to your nondiscriminatory policy defies the laws of nature, is biologically unscientific, and demands we all set aside common sense. [I confess, I ad-libbed here, “I cannot believe we are even having this discussion.”]
This school board is charged with overseeing the education of our youth and not attacking the sensibilities of parents who expect our school system to be engaged in education and not radical militant social change.
This pastor and the members of Hillsdale Baptist Church will not forget how you vote on June 28.”
I ask two things of my readers in closing:
Your patriot parson,
Copyright 2016 – Travis D. Smith
I am not sure who coined the term, but I have engaged with a few radical, left-wing, immoralists who, after arguing in favor of non-traditional, anti-family, and anti-God morality (i.e. legalized “gay marriage” or the new political lightning rod, “Transgender” rights) attempt to shut down all discussion with the “fait accompli”, “You are on the wrong side of history”.
President Obama, his administration, liberal activists and the media, all purveyors of a “new morality”, have defended their immoralists’ positions arguing conservatives who adhere to Biblical morality and traditional family values are “on the wrong side of history”.
Writer for the New York Post, Jonah Goldberg, observed in a March 21, 2014 article titled, “The pathetic ‘wrong side of history’ plea” that, “In domestic politics, people (mostly liberals) tend to say, ‘You’re on the wrong side of history’ about social issues that are breaking their way. It’s a handy phrase, loosely translated as, ‘You’re going to lose eventually, so why don’t you give up now?’”
Goldberg continued in the same article noting the “wrong side of history” argument is Marxist in origin and was employed by Karl Marx to argue “that opposition to the inevitability of socialism was anti-intellectual and anti-scientific”.
I find Goldberg’s observation insightful because that is exactly the argument purveyors of immorality make as they dare anyone to challenge their campaign for the abnormal under the guise of “civil rights” regardless how depraved or unnatural their cause (i.e. giving a status of normalcy to “boys self-identifying as girls or girls self-identifying as boys).
Who empowered liberals to become arbiters of the right or the wrong side of history? Who appointed the President and his liberal consortium to become authorities in matters of morality?
No, I am not intimidated by a liberal’s assertion, “You are on the wrong side of history”. My concern is not a progressive antagonist’s interpretation of history past, but the history I am living and legacy my generation will inevitably leave as its history lesson.
Christian friend, the author of “His-Story” is the God of Eternity; Sovereign, Righteous, Holy, Just and my Savior. I have no interest in being on the “right side” of an immoralist’s view of history. I am on the side of the Author of “His-Story” Who has said, “I am the Lord, I change not” (Malachi 3:6).
Copyright 2016 – Travis D. Smith
Karen Tumutly, a political correspondent for The Washington Post, evidences in her June 12, 2016 article, “The new norm: When tragedy hits, Americans stand divided” why the media cannot be trusted for honest, objective reporting, even in the midst of tragedy!
Evidencing a bias against the facts, Tumultly writes in the first sentence, “Three of the most contentious questions in American culture and politics — gay rights, gun control and terrorism — collided in a horrific way in an Orlando nightclub early Sunday.”
Tumulty goes on to expose a naiveté that should either have her banned from the newsroom or an act of deceit that should have subscribers to The Washington Post canceling their subscriptions! Tumultly writes, “It is not entirely clear what inspired Omar Mateen to commit the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, or what might have been done to stop it.”
Dear Ms. Tumutly, the violent tragedy in Orlando was not a clash over gay rights, gun control and no-name terrorism! The catalyst and incendiary rhetoric of militant Islam inspired the slaughter of innocent lives. Hiding the cause of the Orlando tragedy behind paper dragons like “gay rights, gun control and terrorism” is cowardly and dishonest. Like the President, your refusal to identify Islamic inspired acts of terrorism only adds to the tragedy.
Patriot Parson
Copyright 2016 – Travis D. Smith
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