Feel Like Genie?

By Reverend Paul N. Papas II

February 2, 2021

Many feel a little battered right now and the Black and Blues are beginning to show.

I grew to understand that cheating does not pay. At times the cheaters appear to gain the upper hand and appear to have gotten away with their scam.

Bernie Madoff an American former market maker, investment advisor, financier and convicted fraudster who is currently serving a federal prison sentence for offenses related to a massive Ponzi scheme. He is the former non-executive chairman of the NASDAQ stock market, the confessed operator of the largest Ponzi scheme in world history, and the largest financial fraud in U.S. history. Prosecutors estimated the fraud to be worth $64.8 billion based on the amounts in the accounts of Madoff’s 4,800 clients as of November 30, 2008.

Madoff founded a penny stock brokerage in 1960 which eventually grew into Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities. He served as its chairman until his arrest on December 11, 2008. The firm was one of the top market maker businesses on Wall Street, which bypassed “specialist” firms by directly executing orders over the counter from retail brokers. (1)

Madoff thought he had it all, wealth, power, prestige, world recognition and status.  Madoff commanded, bought and sold companies and people to his own advantage for years. Madoff had a secret that he shared with few; the secret was he knew he cheated his way up the ladder. Madoff had to continue to cheat people because the moment he stopped cheating his world would come tumbling down like a house of cards.

On March 12, 2009, Madoff pleaded guilty to 11 federal felonies and admitted to turning his wealth management business into a massive Ponzi scheme. The Madoff investment scandal defrauded thousands of investors of billions of dollars. Madoff said that he began the Ponzi scheme in the early 1990s, but …. may have begun as far back as the 1970s.Those charged with recovering the missing money believe that the investment operation may never have been legitimate. The amount missing from client accounts was almost $65 billion, including fabricated gains. (1)

Madoff figuratively built his house on sand or quicksand by cheating. When the rain and floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it, from a multi-Billionaire to a broke federal prisoner. 

Perhaps Madoff could have expended the same or less energy on a legitimate investment business, done well, and then died a happy and free man. He would have been a great contributor to the economy instead of a drain.

Matthew 7:24-27 ESV

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

In my opinion, Madoff couldn’t understand others’ feelings. He often broke rules or make impulsive decisions without feeling guilty for the harm he caused, just your basic sociopath.

Madoff’s actions resulted in bankruptcies, foreclosures, ruined lives, depression, anxiety and suicides, including his own son. Madoff was a multi-car train wreck.

Perhaps Madoff could have expended the same or less energy on a legitimate investment business, done well, and then died a happy and free man. . He would have been a great contributor to the economy instead of a drain.

Then there is a father, probably another sociopath, who ruined his daughter’s and other people’s lives.

Genie was a girl born in California in 1957 who spent nearly all of the first 13 years of her life locked in her room.  Born to mentally unstable parents, at a very young age Genie was diagnosed as developmentally delayed and her father took that diagnosis and decided on his own treatment for Genie.

Genie spent the next 12 years of her life locked in her bedroom.  During the day, she was tied to a child’s potty chair in diapers; at night, she was bound in a sleeping bag and placed in an enclosed crib with a cover made of metal screening.  Her father beat her every time she vocalized, and he barked and growled at her like a dog in order to keep her quiet. 

He also rarely allowed his wife and son to leave the house or even to speak, and he expressly forbade them to speak to Genie.  By the age of 13, Genie was almost entirely mute, commanding a vocabulary of about 20 words and a few short phrases (nearly all negative), such as “stop it” and “no more”.

Genie was discovered at the age of 13, when her mother ran away from her husband and took her daughter with her. (2)

Would you hazard a guess as to the mental health and financial issues Genie’s father created and how many lives he ruined? Genie’s father certainly was a dictator, a despot with respect to his family. Genie’s father seized power in deed.

It is generally thought that dictators and despots seize power in third world countries by various means. Some are bloodless coups. Some countries are honest enough to announce an official candidate for you to vote.  Then there are some like Venezuela that went out of their way to rig the entire electoral process to install an official candidate who issues one edict after another without use of the legislative body.

Dictators and despots seize power and remain in power by controlling the message, the news, and the means of communication. They only permit the official narrative to be disseminated to the population. In addition to censorship they control population movement. They rule by fear. They want us all to be just as Genie before she escaped.

A true popularly elected leader does not need a fence around the capital city to keep those who gave him consent to govern out of the city.

The story does not end here.   

Reverend Paul N. Papas II is a Pastoral Counselor with Narrow Path Ministries (MA and AZ) and Founder of the Family Renewal Center (AZ) www.narrowpathministries.org  and www.familyrenewalcenteraz.org

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Tucker Carlson Tonight 2/2/21 Full | Tucker Carlson Feb 2, 2021

How the Left tricks Americans into accepting socialism

MY PILLOW GUY MIKE LINDELL’S ‘ABSOLUTE PROOF’ DOCUMENTARY

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(1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Madoff

(2) https://listverse.com/2008/08/28/10-terrible-cases-of-kidnapping-and-abuse/ 

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Stealing isn’t winning.

Even when you circle ⭕️ back.

— Dr. Gina – RAV (@RealAmVoice) (@RealDrGina) February 6, 2021

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The Mountain Is Not Hiding The Finish Line

 

By Reverend Paul N. Papas II

September 29, 2020

 

 

 

It may be tough to lift a mountain and move it out of the way unless you move one stone at a time. Why not just go over, around, or through it.

Anyone who would take the burdens of the world on their own shoulders by themselves, after watching the world is falling apart news, is setting themselves up to make drug companies and psychiatrists  rich.

No runners have ever won the race without crossing the finish line before others. Years ago Rosie Ruiz was stripped of two Marathon Crowns, Boston and New York, because she spent most her ‘winning’ times on the subway.

“Her friend Steve Marek told the Boston Globe that Ruiz had admitted her ruse to him, but that she didn’t intend to be the first woman to cross the finish line”, according to the Post.

“She jumped out of the crowd, not knowing that the first woman hadn’t gone by yet,” Marek said. “Believe me, she was as shocked as anyone when she came in first. But at that point they had put the crown on her, gave her the medal and told her she’s the winner. How could she say, ‘No, I’m not’?”

Ruiz joined race in final half mile.

She jumped into the final stretch of the race to finish ahead of Jacqueline Gareau, who set a course record of 2:34:28 that would not be recognized until days later when Ruiz was disqualified.

Ruiz drew suspicion when she seemed clueless about common marathon jargon in a post-race interview with race commentator Kathrine Switzer.

 

“Have you been doing a lot of heavy intervals?,” Switzer asked Ruiz about a marathon training technique.

“Someone else asked me that,” Ruiz responded. “I’m not sure what intervals are. What are they?”

 

Other runners said that they hadn’t seen her on the course, and her bib number was not recorded at numerous race checkpoints.

A pair of Harvard students later confirmed that they saw Ruiz join the race in its final stage.” (1)

You can win by cheating.

Everything done in secret will be laid bare.

Going underground, sneaking about to gain an edge may grant some momentary advantage but will end badly.

Emerging from the subway or basement for the last half mile does not give you, other participants, or interested parties a clear view of you or the true situation.

Rosie Ruiz’ cheating caused her to change her last name and legal problems. She eventually lost her ten year battle with cancer at 66. For forty years she carried the burdens of her world wide renowned cheating.

When you face the mountain and go over, under, or through the mountain you can be inspired by those cheering you on. That inspiration can assist you in your endeavor. Ask any real athlete how the roar of the crowds made a difference to encourage them to make that extra effort and capture the win.

Go for the fair, clean win, with honor and integrity, something your mother would be proud of.

 

Reverend Paul N. Papas II is a Pastoral Counselor with Narrow Path Ministries (MA and AZ) and Founder of the Family Renewal Center (AZ) www.narrowpathministries.org and www.familyrenewalcenteraz.org

 

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(1) https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/infamous-boston-marathon-cheat-rosie-ruiz-dies-at-66-234559903.html

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You May Have Been Ordered Closed, Not Muted

By Reverend Paul N. Papas II

September 1, 2020

 

 

Since there have been Preachers, there have been local leaders.  Those called to be Preachers know the hours are long and the pay is short and is not the reason for becoming a Preacher. Often times Preachers don’t get to enjoy their days off. Some laugh at the idea of a day off.

The COVID-19 virus has given certain officials an excuse to order churches to shut down or not gather and/or not to sing.  Some churches argue that they must give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and must shut down. Then there are a few, like John MacArthur, who believes that Preachers are called to preach the Gospel to all the world. They believe that they should obey God before man.  I see no written exceptions in the Bible or in history for preaching the Gospel to the world.

If anything, I see that history shows that when times are tough, people need a message of hope delivered by Preachers. During many periods of our history, it was the church which provided community support and it was the church which was the source of information.

The British targeted Preachers, who they called the Black Robe Regiment, during the Revolutionary War to censor the message of Liberty and Freedom.

Over the years, just as today, there are hirelings occupying the position of the Preacher, ready to accommodate Caesar. (1). A true Preacher is a servant of the flock, and a servant leader who is ready to rescue the one in his flock who has needs or goes astray.

The community today may appear be to partially isolated and we’re not, just the opposite: we’re bound in Jesus. “If one member suffers, all the members suffer” (v. 26 nasb). As believers in Jesus, members of God’s family, we move toward one another into the pain and into the sorrow and into those murky places where we would fear to go alone. Thankfully we do not go alone. Preachers are needed now more than ever to help heal the body, and the community, and the country. Hirelings won’t do. They will run in the face of difficulty.  The Gospel supports Law and Order and rebukes chaos. The Gospel teaches that the devil is the author of chaos.

Chaos relies on fear, anxiety, and corruption to control and intimidate people.

No matter what your trouble is, your helps comes from above. The peace that surpasses all understanding comes from above.

Conflict is part of life on earth. Peaceful resolutions come from above. Peacefully resolving conflicts is preferred by most parties.

Unfortunately there are those who have no interest in peaceful resolutions and, in which case, disengagement is warranted and third party assistance may be required. At times self defense may be required.

Let’s all try to be true servant leaders finding peaceful resolutions wherever possible.

 

Reverend Paul N. Papas II is a Pastoral Counselor with Narrow Path Ministries (MA and AZ) and Founder of the Family Renewal Center (AZ) www.narrowpathministries.org and www.familyrenewalcenteraz.org

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(1) https://preacher01704.wordpress.com/on-the-difference-between-a-hireling-and-a-shepherd/

http://www.blackrobereg.org/history.html

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Related

https://narrowpathministries.wordpress.com/2020/09/13/video-california-judge-orders-no-indoor-worship-services-for-john-macarthur-and-grace-community-church/

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/09/13/vatican-urges-catholics-to-return-to-public-sunday-worship/

Ed-u-ma-cation

By Reverend Paul N. Papas II

August 4, 2020

 

The fully gowned graduating class of engineers sat ready to hear from a class leader waiting for an encouraging send off. With his stoic Dad sitting in the front row my cousin opened with: Yesterday I could not spell engmaneer… today I are one.  My uncle led the approving applause.

Educating our children, our future, as we know it today is a far cry from where we started out in our country.  Reading was taught at the mother’s knee and continued in the barns, fields, or shops by the father’s side.

The private system of education in which our forefathers were educated included home, school, church, voluntary associations such as library companies and philosophical societies, circulating libraries, apprenticeships, and private study. It was a system supported primarily by those who bought the services of education, and by private benefactors. All was done without compulsion. Although there was a veneer of government involvement in some colonies, such as in Puritan Massachusetts, early American education was essentially based on the principle of voluntarism.^[1]

Two hundred years in American history, from the mid-1600s to the mid-1800s, public schools as we know them to day were virtually non-existent, and the educational needs of America were met by the free market. In these two centuries, America produced several generations of highly skilled and literate men and women who laid the foundation for a nation dedicated to the principles of freedom and self-government.

The cornerstone of early American education was the belief that “children are a heritage from the Lord.”^[2] Parents believed that it was their responsibility to not only teach them how to make a living, but also how to live. As our forefathers searched their Bibles, they found that the function of government was to protect life and property.^[3] Education was not a responsibility of the civil government.

Home education was so common in America that most children knew how to read before they entered school. As Ralph Walker has pointed out, “Children were often taught to read at home before they were subjected to the rigors of school. In middle-class families, where the mother would be expected to be literate, this was considered part of her duties.^[4]

For many, formal schooling was simply unnecessary. The fine education they received at home and on the farm held them in good stead for the rest of their lives, and was supplemented with Bible reading and almanacs like Franklin’s Poor Richard’s.

Philadelphia also had many fine evening schools. In 1767, there were at least sixteen evening schools, catering mostly to the needs of Philadelphia’s hard-working German population. For the most part, the curriculum of these schools was confined to the teaching of English and vocations.^[5] There were also schools for women, blacks, and the poor. Anthony Benezet, a leader in colonial educational thought, pioneered in the education for women and Negroes. The provision of education for the poor was a favorite Quaker philanthropy. As one historian has pointed out, “the poor, both Quaker and non-Quaker, were allowed to attend without paying fees.”^[6]

A college education is something that very few of our forefathers wanted or needed. As a matter of fact, most of them were unimpressed by degrees or a university accent. They judged men by their character and by their experience. Moreover, many of our founding ‘fathers, such as George Washington, Patrick Henry, and Ben Franklin, did quite well without a college education. Yet for those who so desired it, usually young men aspiring to enter the ministry, university training was available. Unlike England, where the government had given Cambridge and Oxford a monopoly on the granting of degrees,^[7] there were nine colleges from which to choose.

Education is as important today as it has been since the settling of our nation. What a child learns in school at an early age shapes generations to come.

Before the left sought and succeeded in removing God from schools they had the goal of running the education system. With professors and teachers indoctrinating and pushing anti-American socialism and communism the left could take over American. Their plan requires government run public schools as the only option where they control the message. To be successful they must shut down private and charter schools and all homeschooling by any means possible.

The China virus lockdowns have caused a variety of harms according to reports and studies. Hunger, unemployment, Fear, Anxiety, Depression, Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, Suicide, and Homicides have skyrocketed since the China virus lockdowns began.  Indeed Homicide rates have exploded by double digits and experts blame school and church closings alongside the anti-police movement, reports the Wall Street Journal. (8)

It is time to support Homeschooling, Private and Charter schools and leave the socialist and communist indoctrination prevalent in public schools behind.

 

Reverend Paul N. Papas II is a Pastoral Counselor with Narrow Path Ministries (MA and AZ) and Founder of the Family Renewal Center (AZ) www.narrowpathministries.org and www.familyrenewalcenteraz.org

 

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1.   Clarence B. Carson has emphasized this point in his The American Tradition (Irvington- on-Hudson: The Foundation for Economic Education, Inc., 1964).

 

2.   Psalm 127:3.

 

3.   Romans 13.

 

4.   Ralph Walker, “Old Readers,” in Early American Life, October, 1980, p. 54

 

5.   Louis B. Wright, The Cultural Life of the American Colonies (New York: Harper and Row Pub., Inc., 1957), p. 109.

 

6.   Carl and Jessica Bridenbaugh, Rebels and Gentlemen (New York: Oxford University Press, 1982), p. 36.

 

7.   Ibid., p. 39.

 

 

8. https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/08/03/nolte-school-and-church-closings-anti-police-movement-blow-up-u-s-homicide-rate/

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Related

https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2020/08/08/gingrich-were-seeing-the-dumbing-down-of-america-for-three-generations/

 

The American Mind

By Reverend Paul N. Papas II

June 29, 2020

This month we celebrate victory over a hard fought battle against the best military of its time to win independence in order that we may have Life and Liberty, and pursue Happiness.

According to Jefferson: The “the object of the Declaration of Independence,” he wrote, was “not to find out new principles, or new arguments, never before thought of, not merely to say things which had never been said before; but to place before mankind the common sense of the subject, in terms so plain and firm as to command their assent, and to justify ourselves in the independent stand we are compelled to take. Neither aiming at originality of principle or sentiment, nor yet copied from any particular and previous writing, it was intended to be an expression of the American mind.”  

Jefferson restated these noble sentiments in the Declaration of Independence, simplifying the prose: “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.” (1)

Today’s battles include the tyranny of those who are attacking the First Amendment especially Free Speech and the Freedom of Religion. The Second Amendment is also in the attacker’s sights.

To put it mildly, there are some who have strayed from the founding principles of respecting “certain unalienable Rights… [such as] Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” for all.  A certain combination of evil groups have banded together to try to turn our country into a third world nation.

First, there was the China virus attack which caused hurt, pain, and death from cabin fever, domestic violence, fear, anxiety, suicides and the catastrophic illness.

Then there is the invented word which has caused fear, pain, violence, and destruction of property since 1927. The word was invented in 1927 to browbeat dissenters of the communist ideology by Leon Trotsky and is still used today to shut down all nonconformists and businesses; the word is “racist” The destruction caused by and the misuse of the word “racist” is beyond measure and has become increasing vicious.

Since we can identify the perpetrators of this evil, it is incumbent upon us to stand up to these bullies and prosecute them for their appropriate crimes.

Bad apples can be found in many groups and organizations and they must be held accountable and if appropriate prosecuted as well.

Since we are a nation of laws, law and order must be reestablished in rogue areas.

And since we are a nation of laws, due process needs to be afforded to all, by all, without politically motivated knee jerk firings.

A close examination of the tactics of those trying to turn this country into a third world nation will reveal that they are using the communist playbook.

Fortunately we have some leaders, including the White House, who are leading the battle against the evil doers.

Together we will get back to the ‘American Mind’ that Thomas Jefferson wrote about, as we stand together against the bullies.

We know that good triumphs over evil. God is in charge. Let’s follow His lead.

Reverend Paul N. Papas II is a Pastoral Counselor with Narrow Path Ministries (MA and AZ) and Founder of the Family Renewal Center (AZ) www.narrowpathministries.org and www.familyrenewalcenteraz.org

(1) https://allthingsliberty.com/2013/03/thomas-jefferson-and-the-declaration-of-independence/

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Related

https://www.newsmax.com/politics/billbratton-nypd-defundthepolice-crime/2020/06/28/id/974527/

https://narrowpathministries.wordpress.com/2020/06/30/gen-flynn-forces-of-evil-want-to-steal-our-freedom-in-the-dark-of-night-but-god-stands-with-us/

Andrew McCarthy: The rule of law is collapsing Innocent cops will be indicted and sentenced, not due to evidence, but jury intimidation

Catholic Priest Suspended for Sermon Condemning BLM’s Violence, Marxism and Destruction

Scholar forced to resign over study that found police shootings not biased against blacks

Marxist Black Lives Matter opposes democracy

https://cnsnews.com/commentary/l-brent-bozell-iii/bozell-real-story-black-lives-matter-marxist-anti-family-radicals

https://cnsnews.com/commentary/bill-donohue/anti-religion-animus-behind-statue-toppling

https://cnsnews.com/article/national/susan-jones/black-voices-trump-advisor-warns-global-movement-destroy-united-states

Test Failure

By Reverend Paul N. Papas II

May 25, 2020

 

 

 

 

We sure did study for this test and its failure is a welcomed result, now to get out of the twilight zone.

The thirty day free trial of socialism was extended, and for some the free trial was extended even longer. There has been a push to destroy our Republic and install Socialism. During the lockdowns we experienced 24/7 home confinement with restrictions on pretty much everything outside of the home.

The gifts of Socialism gave us more: untreated heart attacks resulting in more deaths; deaths by suicide; prohibited cancer treatments, resulting in more deaths; untreated mental health issues; increased incidents of domestic violence; increased anxiety;drug abuse; and denial of regularly available health care. All this reminds me of the ‘death panels’ often discussed in government-run health care where a bureaucrat behind a desk with a calculator decides whether or not a doctor can treat us.

The gifts of  Socialism also gave us high unemployment with all its devastating affects such as the inability to buy food, pay the rent or mortgages, just to name a few.

Some would argue, and some schools teach, that we have a democracy which is not true. In a democracy the rights of a minority opinion can be denied by a simple vote.

Marvin Simkin said: “Democracy is not freedom. Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to eat for lunch. Freedom comes from the recognition of certain rights which may not be taken, not even by a 99 percent vote.”

True democracy is the tyranny of the majority. True democracy is mob rule. Thankfully, we do not live in a democracy. We live in a republic. Article IV Section 4, of the Constitution: “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of government …”

In a pure democracy, Madison argued, there is no check on the majority to protect the weaker party or individuals and therefore such democracies “have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention,” where rights of personal security and property are always in jeopardy.

In both a republic and a democracy, citizens are empowered to participate in a representational political system. They elect people to represent and protect their interests in how the government functions.

Key Takeaways: Republic vs. Democracy

• Republics and democracies both provide a political system in which citizens are represented by elected officials who are sworn to protect their interests.
• In a pure democracy, laws are made directly by the voting majority leaving the rights of the minority largely unprotected.
• In a republic, laws are made by representatives chosen the people and must comply with a constitution that specifically protects the rights of the minority from the will of the majority.
• The United States, while basically a republic, can be described as a “representative democracy.”

In a republic, an official set of fundamental laws, like the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, prohibits the government from limiting or taking away certain “unalienable” rights of the people, even if that government was freely chosen by a majority of the people. In a pure democracy, the voting majority has almost limitless power over the minority. (1)

Democracy is “a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.” The Greek demokratia is derived from demos, “common people,” and kratos, “strength.”

Basically, in a democracy, the head of state is usually a president, and the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote (which is then exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them).

Capitalism is part of democracies (not communist or socialist countries). The community as a whole does not own all of the property and wealth in a democracy.

Socialism is a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.

Socialism theorizes that a collective cooperation of citizens will make all governmental institutions public. For example, no one will receive a healthcare bill when going to the doctor because they, and everyone else, have paid a hefty amount in government taxes. That’s where the collective cooperation comes in.

What is communism?

Communism, on the other hand, is a branch of Socialism. It’s similar in that it’s still founded on the idea of collective cooperation, but differs in that communists believe that cooperation should be run by a totalitarian government made up of one and only one government.

Marxist theory is the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles.

Socialism and its relatives of Communism and Marxism are big government with big spending and the big taxes to go with it.  Socialism and its relatives of Communism and Marxism control most aspects of our lives.

If you are happy with the gifts of the Socialism: untreated heart attacks resulting in more deaths; deaths by suicide; prohibited cancer treatments, resulting in more deaths; untreated mental health issues; increased incidents of domestic violence; increased anxiety; drug abuse; and denial of regularly available health care, ‘death panels’, government run health care where a bureaucrat behind a desk with a calculator decides whether or not a doctor can treat you; and  with high unemployment with all its devastating affects such as the inability to buy food, pay the rent or mortgages, just to name a few, then perhaps moving to Venezuela would be a panacea for you.

I on the other hand prefer the Republic and its Freedoms. I think I’ll side with the approximate 94 percent of American voters who say they want an economic nationalist overhaul of the United States’ economy in the wake of the Chinese coronavirus crisis (2)

As we emerge from the failed test of Socialism we have a chance to correct mistakes which brought us to that failed test. Let’s heed the lessons and Make America Great Again.

 

Reverend Paul N. Papas II is a Pastoral Counselor with Narrow Path Ministries (MA and AZ) and Founder of the Family Renewal Center (AZ) www.narrowpathministries.org and www.familyrenewalcenteraz.org

 

 

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References

(1) https://www.thoughtco.com/republic-vs-democracy-4169936

(2) https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/05/24/poll-up-94-percent-want-economic-nationalist-agenda/

https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2020/05/26/consumer-confidence-2/

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/05/26/kudlow-american-economy-workers-and-consumers-poised-for-great-american-comeback/

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Turned Tragedy Into Triumph

By Reverend Paul N. Papas II

March 31, 2020

 

 

As a butterfly isn’t made overnight, neither are we what we become. What we are today is not what we were yesterday or will be tomorrow.

It takes four stages to become a butterfly: egg; caterpillar; chrysalis, then an adult butterfly.  To become a butterfly, a caterpillar first digests much of itself. But certain groups of cells survive, turning the soup into eyes, wings, antennae and other adult structures.

The cells in our bodies are dying and are being replaced all the time as our appearance gets older.

“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow.”
― Thomas Paine

On a sweltering day in his small Iowa town, Matt Gage dove into a pool. When he surfaced, his entire left side was useless.

Fortunately, the nine-year-old’s cousin was there to pull him from the water. At the hospital, the doctor diagnosed heat stroke. But after being transferred to the Mayo Clinic, Matt was whisked into emergency surgery with a different diagnosis, the kind usually reserved for the elderly. Matt had suffered not just heatstroke but an actual a stroke.

The prognosis was grim. The neurosurgeon didn’t expect Matt to wake up. If he did, he’d be a vegetable.

But Matt did wake up. The neurosurgeon told Matt he’d never be able to move his left side again. With the young boy’s dream of becoming the next Michael Jordan destroyed, he ignored his father’s urging to try to move his leg. “I can’t,” Matt would say.

Finally, his father confronted him. “Matt, what did ‘can’t’ ever do for you?” his father said. “If you say you can’t do it, you’re not gonna do it. If you don’t start believing in yourself and believing something can happen, that you can get better, then you’re gonna be in a wheelchair.”

He began to make progress. First, he moved his left leg. Then he moved his left arm. He started walking with a brace before leaving the hospital.

Although his left side had a limited range of motion, Matt eventually played basketball, ran a 5K, and even took up skiing. He became a professor and athletic trainer for various universities. He now gives hope to other young stroke victims and their families by showing them that they, too, can get married, have kids, and enjoy successful careers.

Matt believes God used his stroke to help others. If he could relive the moment that changed his life, he says, “Now, today, I would tell you that I wouldn’t want it any different.” (1)

“Somewhere in the world there is a defeat for everyone. Some are destroyed by defeat, and some made small and mean by victory. Greatness lives in one who triumphs equally over defeat and victory.”
― John Steinbeck, The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights

“Have patience with all things but first with yourself. Never confuse your mistakes with your value as a human being. You are perfectly valuable, creative, worthwhile person simply because you exist. And no amount of triumphs or tribulations can ever change that.” ― Saint Frances de Sales

“Whatever troubles we may face, we can trust God to give us strength to triumph.”
― Lailah Gifty Akita

We are living in close quarters now as the wave of coronavirus weaves through different communities around the globe. None of us knows who will be affected next. We are in this together. Over the years we have drifted apart, not even knowing our neighbors. This is a good time to spend with your family, neighbors, and with God becoming our own butterfly.

Let’s call and write those whom we have left to ‘when we get the time’ today. Help everyone you can in anyway you can, making the load a little lighter for all of us.  We can accomplish more together than we can on our own.  Together we will make our community, state, and nation better than when we started this journey. We should see more butterflies as fruits of our labor soon.

 

Reverend Paul N. Papas II is a Pastoral Counselor with Narrow Path Ministries (MA and AZ) and Founder of the Family Renewal Center (AZ) www.narrowpathministries.org and www.familyrenewalcenteraz.org

 

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(1) https://listverse.com/2014/12/23/10-inspiring-stories-of-people-who-turned-tragedy-into-triumph/

 

Team Player Or Blockage

By Reverend Paul N. Papas II

March 2, 2020

 

 

You’ve probably heard me say lead, follow, or get out of the way more than once. Every true leader knows how to follow. Every good leader looks out for, takes care of his team and prepares each team member for leadership.

Then there are those, and you know who they are, who are an intestinal blockages to success.

There are times when all hands on deck are needed address a situation, like in a foxhole when the enemy is coming over the hill.

What if you can not see your enemy and the enemy has overrun your position? I am not specifically addressing spiritual warfare, even though there is a component of the same involved.

At the moment we have two enemies among us: one is a virus; and two, those who are trying to spread fear and incite panic over the virus.  Those spreading fear hope to cause sudden overpowering fright; acute, extreme anxiety; a sudden unreasoning terror that is often accompanied by mass flight resulting in chaos.

The virus, Coronavirus, COVID-19, has attacked all but one continent. At least here we have a high level team, a task-force leading the way to contain and eradicate COVID-19, (1), (2). The success of the task force is vital to not just our safety and security but that of each continent touched by COVID-19.

Then there are those, and you know who they are, who are an intestinal blockages to success.

An insistent group has continued their propaganda campaign to incite panic over the virus, a form of TDS.  Understand this is not a new out of the box strategy. Antonio Gramsci (3) was a model for Saul Alinsky who is famous for his 12 Rules for Radicals (4).  You can watch Saul Alinsky’s 1966 TV interview below and read his 13 Tried-and-True Rules for Creating Meaningful Social Change (5) The Gramsci/ Alinsky program is liberally used by several disruptive groups who clamor for change they do not understand, Socialism. Socialism is a power grab which has failed everywhere.

 

Hillsdale College produced the following video: Rules for Radicals: What Constitutional Conservatives Should Know About Saul Alinsky

 

Then there was Alex Cora who caused division in the team after a World Series Championship, one of those TDS sufferers (6).  It is an honor to be invited to the White House as a guest, an invitation most will not experience. The White House belongs to all Americans. Each occupant is entrusted with its care for a time and adds to the character and history of the White House.

Cora placed a divide so deep in the finely tuned team that set many records including the number of wins that he installed defeat for the next season.  Cora was found to be a cheater as he helped the Houston Astros cheat their way to a World Series Championship. The installed defeatism kept the Red Sox out of the playoffs the next year which partly lead to his firing in January of 2020.  Cheating did not payoff for Cora. Causing division led Cora’s his downfall.

Just as Cora sowed his path for his own destruction Alinsky followers and other an intestinal blockages are sowing their own paths to destruction.

Which path are you on, destruction or healing?

 

 

Reverend Paul N. Papas II is a Pastoral Counselor with Narrow Path Ministries (MA and AZ) and Founder of the Family Renewal Center (AZ) www.narrowpathministries.org and www.familyrenewalcenteraz.org

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References

 

https://preacher01704.wordpress.com/2020/01/30/danger-danger-danger/

 

https://preacher01704.wordpress.com/video-christianity-and-socialism/

 

(1) https://www.breitbart.com/radio/2020/03/01/dr-marc-siegel-on-coronavirus-ive-never-seen-an-emerging-contagion-handled-better/

 

(2) https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/03/02/vp-mike-pence-and-the-coronavirus-task-force-hold-a-press-conference/

 

(3) https://www.britannica.com/biography/Antonio-Gramsci

 

(4) https://bolenreport.com/saul-alinskys-12-rules-radicals/

 

(5) http://www.openculture.com/2017/02/13-rules-for-radicals.html

 

(6) https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/01/trump-curse-red-sox-manager-who-refused-to-visit-president-trump-in-the-white-house-with-his-team-is-fired-for-cheating/

 

https://townhall.com/columnists/kurtschlichter/2017/02/13/shoving-alinskys-rules-for-radicals-right-back-in-the-lefts-ugly-face-n2284892

 

https://townhall.com/columnists/johnhawkins/2012/04/13/12-ways-to-use-saul-alinskys-rules-for-radicals-against-liberals-n917872

 

https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2020/03/03/world-health-organization-fear-and-panic-over-coronavirus-dangerous-calm-down/

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2020/03/coronavirus_codswallop__by_the_numbers.html

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Covid-19 hit during cold/flu season.

Wondering if you might have the virus?

This chart on #covid19 v. cold v. flu is helpful: pic.twitter.com/iDk6eG0cm5

— Julia Belluz (@juliaoftoronto) March 9, 2020

In Defense of Backbone

By Reverend Paul N. Papas II

December 31, 2019

Recent events highlight the great divide between those with and those without a backbone to stand against evil.  Many of those without a backbone to stand against evil are either perpetrating it or enabling evil.

At the time of his death, Major General Smedley Darlington Butler, also known as “The Fighting Quaker”, was the most decorated Marine in US history; he was the only person to be awarded a Marine Corps Brevet Medal and a Medal of Honor for two separate military actions. He had also become an unrelenting voice against the business of war.

General Smedley is quoted as saying: “There are only two things we should fight for. One is the defense of our homes and the other is the Bill of Rights.”

General Smedley:

• Received 16 military medals, 5 for valor. Is one of 19 men to receive the Medal of Honor twice.
• Wrote the 1935 exposé that linked business and the military titled “War Is A Racket.”
• Ran for Senate as a Republican in 1932.

In 1934, Butler went before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) to expose a conspiracy against the government. He had been recruited by a group of wealthy Pro-Fascists who had hoped to use him in a coup against President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He went along, gathering intelligence about the plot, and took it to Congress. Butler’s assertions were not aggressively pursued, and the matter was largely dismissed. However, an internal report to Congress from HUAC confirmed the veracity of the plot. (1)

In the Second World War we had many outstanding civilian and military leaders which worked to win the war against evil. One such Military Leader is General George C. Patton, see the video below:

Plots to over throw governments go back thousands of years in history.  Various groups stated various reasons for their coup or attempted coup.  At this time it appears our country has a group who attempted to subvert the will of the voters. Maybe their methods were different today than the ones General Butler testified to, but the results would have been the same had they been successful, the forced removal of a duly elected sitting president.

Perhaps those participants in the attempted coup are so narcissistic they take no care for fear, anxiety, and despondency they cause in others.  The participants don’t realize they are exposing themselves to be the obnoxious, insecure, morally bankrupt, mental runts of the litter that they are. Those participants were hoping to foment civil unrest; it turns out the general populace saw through and didn’t fall for the participants scam.

The participants would have us not protect ourselves. In six seconds a murder was stopped, much faster than police could arrive. See the graphic video below:

NEW: Video shows man opening fire at Texas church before he is shot by a security guard; 2 dead, 1 critical (blurred to hide victims, viewer discretion is advised) pic.twitter.com/hulXR7MYIy

— BNO News (@BNONews) December 29, 2019

Still one of the participants insists it is irrational that we should be able to protect ourselves. See the video below:

REMEMBER: Joe Biden attacked the Governor of Texas for signing a law allowing people to bring guns into places of worship. pic.twitter.com/xrZw00N2QL

— Benny (@bennyjohnson) December 29, 2019

Schoolyard bullies have a smaller territory than dictators of countries and smaller territories than the coup participants.

Keep your backbone in place, defend your home and your Bill of Rights or you may loose them both and wake up under a ruthless dictator.

West Freeway Church of Christ Senior Minister Britt Farmer: "I’m thankful our government has allowed us the opportunity to protect ourselves" pic.twitter.com/5fLSnSjQzg

— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) December 30, 2019

Reverend Paul N. Papas II is a Pastoral Counselor with Narrow Path Ministries (MA and AZ) and Founder of the Family Renewal Center (AZ) www.narrowpathministries.org and www.familyrenewalcenteraz.org

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References

(1) https://www.americanswhotellthetruth.org/portraits/major-general-smedley-butler

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/01/01/pinkerton-the-attacks-in-new-york-and-texas-move-the-gun-control-debate-in-the-direction-the-founders-wanted/

https://cnsnews.com/blog/michael-w-chapman/digenova-comey-and-brennan-are-coup-leaders-and-obama-knew-all-about

Trump praises Texas gun laws, armed churchgoers for ending shooting in 6 seconds

https://narrowpathministries.wordpress.com/2019/12/30/video-trained-armed-protection-in-church-watch-good-guy-with-a-gun-in-texas-church/

A Christmas Story

By Reverend Paul N. Papas II

December 7, 2019

The Christmas Story is story of a hero. The greatest evil the world has ever known made the greatest hero the world has ever known. Crucifixion was the cruelest form of torture and execution man devised or used.

Not every hero since has given up his life for another. Heroes generally take no concern for their own life while trying to save the lives of others.

The acknowledgement and veneration of heroes has existed for centuries. It was the ancient Greeks who are accredited with first coining the designation.

A very recent tragedy brought to light another hero.  A young graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, whose dream was to become a pilot, is a hero after he reportedly related crucial information about the identity of the Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola shooter to first responders, despite having been shot several times, a family member revealed.

Joshua Kaleb Watson, 23, was confirmed as one of the three victims who were killed Friday morning when Saudi national Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani opened fire on a flight training program for foreign military personnel, Adam Watson revealed in a Facebook post. (1)

“Today has been the worst day of my life. My youngest brother gave his life for his country in a senseless shooting. Joshua Kaleb Watson saved countless lives today with his own. After being shot multiple times he made it outside and told the first response team where the shooter was and those details were invaluable. He died a hero and we are beyond proud but there is a hole in our hearts that can never be filled. When we were little I gave Kaleb the name little poot and it stuck. It eventually evolved into pootis and finally uncle poot. Just wish I could talk to him one more time or wrestle with him one more time even though he could probably take me now. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers in this difficult time. “(2)

Simply put, the key to heroism is a concern for other people in need—a concern to defend a moral cause, knowing there is a personal risk, done without expectation of reward.

Philip Zimbardo: What Makes a Hero?

Christians who helped Jews during the Holocaust were in the same situation as other civilians who helped imprison or kill Jews, or ignored their suffering. The situation provided the impetus to act heroically or malevolently. People choose one path or the other.

Some choose a path to meet the needs of others. For example there is New England Patriots tight end Benjamin Watson will use his custom-made “My Cause, My Cleats” cleats to bring attention to his One More Foundation. H e created the One More Thing Foundation to spread the love and hope of Christ to one more soul.

“And, we do that by following the three charges that are given in Micah 6:8 when it talks about doing justice, loving-kindness, and walking humbly with our God,” he explained.

Watson said that, for the last decade, the foundation has given him the opportunity to meet people with “real needs” and “to know the one who can meet their needs forever and ever.”

“Whether it’s promoting and giving food to those who are hungry, doing events around the holidays, promoting education, standing against injustice — whether that be sex trafficking, abortion, or racial injustice … and also, just bringing kindness to people,” he continued. (3)

Heroes | Restoring Faith in Humanity | 2017

“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” — Arthur Ashe, professional tennis player.

There have been thousands of unnamed and unknown heroes over the centuries. Heroes include those who stood ready, who fought and who died for the cause of freedom, first responders, those who served others, and the many that have helped someone without regard to their personal safety,

The true Christmas Story is an everyday story.

The real reason for the season was born to die and save us all.

Reverend Paul N. Papas II is a Pastoral Counselor with Narrow Path Ministries (MA and AZ) and Founder of the Family Renewal Center (AZ) www.narrowpathministries.org and www.familyrenewalcenteraz.org

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(1) https://www.foxnews.com/us/naval-academy-grad-shot-5-times-hero

(2)  https://www.facebook.com/adam.watson.397/posts/3471855006187806

(3)  https://www.foxnews.com/media/patriots-benjamin-watson-one-more-foundation-my-cause-my-cleats

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Below are a handful of links to heroes

https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/local/2019/11/14/sons-american-revolution-honor-first-responders-heroic-acts/4193217002/

https://www.aol.com/article/news/2019/08/05/soldier-praised-for-heroic-act-at-el-paso-shooting-what-i-did-was-what-i-was-supposed-to-do/23788523/

https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/2019/09/17/hero-westchester-cops-honored/2354177001/

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bradley-plane-crash-heroic-acts-saved-lives-in-deadly-b-17-bomber-crash-official-says/

https://www.usla.org/page/HEROIC

https://publicholidays.la/anguilla/national-heroes-and-heroines-day/