Florida

April 23, 2016

“The Coming Storm”

Sign of the EndThis Sunday morning Hillsdale Baptist Church will begin an eschatological series titled “The Signs of the Second Coming of Christ and the End of the World”.  Our focus for the next several weeks will be Matthew 24-25, a passage of scripture traditionally referred to as “The Olivet Discourse”.  This Sunday morning’s message is titled, “The Coming Storm” and is an introduction for our prophetic study of the last days.

My friend, the parallel between the LORD’s prophetic description of the signs that would mark His Second Coming and end of the world and world events unfolding in our day is undeniable. There is a revolution underway in our world, a growing spirit of rebellion, a hatred of law and authority, a vacuum of leadership, and an abandonment of moral principles that precipitates the cry of the world for peace.coming storm

Sadly, the church, the very institution God entrusted with the one and only answer for sin and guilt, Jesus Christ, is compromised, tainted by sin and its testimony marred by eroding convictions.  My friend, the Bible still has the answer for hope and God’s call to His people to be holy is unchanged.

I invite you to join us at Hillsdale this Sunday as we look at our world through the prism of God’s revelation!

March 1, 2016

Marco Rubio’s Betrayal and the Gang of 8

Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. pauses while speaking during a technology roundtable at the Switch Innovation Center, Friday, May 29, 2015, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. pauses while speaking during a technology roundtable at the Switch Innovation Center, Friday, May 29, 2015, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

He lied!  There is no other way to describe Marco Rubio’s betrayal of the conservative cause in America.  I had an opportunity of having dinner with Marco Rubio several years ago when he was running for the US Senate against Rhino, former FL governor, Charlie Crist (who has since declared himself to be a Democrat).  Rubio is in person what he appears to be on TV, smart, charming, and passionate in his speeches on American exceptionalism and patriotism.  The stump speech you hear him deliver today in his political rallies was already polished and ready for PrimeTime.

That night, every point of his speech was right on target for courting the conservatives who would propel him to the US Senate and ultimately the national spotlight, including our shared views on illegal immigration.  We trusted him.  We backed him. We set our hopes on his promises; after all, he was one of the darlings of the Tea Party movement.

However, Marco Rubio lied!  I called his Washington and local office the day his participation and sponsorship of the “Gang of 8” bill was announced and left the message, “I hope Marco enjoys his tenure in Washington, DC, because I will do everything I can to oppose him going to Washington for a second term.” [I have wondered if that is the reason he is running for president, because he may well not have won a second term for the Senate after he betrayed FL conservatives].

Someone might object and say, “Aren’t Christians suppose to be willing to forgive?”  Absolutely, but Marco has never confessed to the conservatives who put him in office that he was WRONG…that he BETRAYED us…that he put his political future ahead of those who sent him to Washington and, in his words, “Restore American Exceptionalism”!Marco Rubio and the Gang of 8

If Marco Rubio wants to know why his moment to be President is being lost to one he calls a “Con Artist”, he need only look into his heart and the “Gang of 8” who surround him in his betrayal of American conservatives.

Marco, do something radical for yourself and the conservatives who believed you…be a man and stand up and say, “I WAS WRONG!”  It may be too late to salvage your run for president, but not too late to restore your honor.

Patriot Parson

Copyright 2016 – Travis D. Smith

April 30, 2014

2nd Amendment Right-to-Bear Arms Bill during a declared emergency

Dear fellow patriots,

FL SenateI just learned that the Florida Senate is considering a bill [HB-209] that would permit citizens to be armed in the case of a declared emergency. The Senate also has their own bill proposal [SB-296]; however, it is the House Bill, without amendments, that would be most favorable to law-abiding citizens.

 As disconcerting as it sounds, the reality is that the current law allows local officials to declare an emergency and in effect, make it illegal for citizens, even those like myself who have concealed permits, to transport and bear arms.  Of all times to be prevented from exercising the right to bear arms guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment, surely an emergency like a hurricane and forced evacuation would not be the hour citizens should be told you have no right to leave your home with a firearm.  As it currently stands, a citizen legally bearing or transporting a firearm during a declared emergency could be arrested!

Add to the above concern, the Florida Sheriffs Association is a major proponent and player in denying the rights of citizens to bear arms in a declared emergency. Please refer to this site for additional information: http://www.nraila.org/legislation/state-legislation/2014/4/florida-critical-alert-sheriffs-still-attacking-second-amendment-rights.aspxright to bear arms

Today is the day you must contact Florida Senators…HB-209 is under consideration this day, April 30.

The following is my personal letter to Florida Senators and you are welcome to use it as a pattern for your own email:

Dear Florida Senators,

The purpose of this email is to request that you and your peers would take up and pass House Bill HB-209 allowing law-abiding citizens to keep and have in their possession their personal firearms in the case of a declared emergency by local officials.

My wife and I are both concealed permit holders and I am appalled that the current status of the law is that I would be denied my 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms. This is especially egregious if that Constitutional right would be denied me or my family in an emergency when law and order might be at risk and law enforcement detained by criminal activities preventing them from a timely response to pleas for help.

Please pass HB-209 with no amendments.

The following are email addresses for Florida Senators that you may copy and paste into your email:

abruzzo.joseph.web@flsenate.gov,
altman.thad.web@flsenate.gov,
bean.aaron.web@flsenate.gov,
benacquisto.lizbeth.web@flsenate.gov,
bradley.rob.web@flsenate.gov,
brandes.jeff.web@flsenate.gov,
detert.nancy.web@flsenate.gov,
portilla.miguel.web@flsenate.gov,
evers.greg.web@flsenate.gov,
flores.anitere.web@flsenate.gov,
gaetz.don.web@flsenate.gov,
galvano.bill.web@flsenate.gov,
garcia.rene.web@flsenate.gov,
gardiner.andy.web@flsenate.gov,
grimsley.denise.web@flsenate.gov,
hays.alan.web@flsenate.gov,
hukill.dorothy.web@flsenate.gov,
lee.tom.web@flsenate.gov,
legg.john.web@flsenate.gov,
negron.joe.web@flsenate.gov,
richter.garrett.web@flsenate.gov,
simmons.david.web@flsenate.gov,
simpson.wilton.web@flsenate.gov,
stargel.kelli.web@flsenate.gov,
thrasher.john.web@flsenate.gov

With a patriot’s heart,

Travis D. Smith