"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both." -- President Dwight D. Eisenhower

Our great-granddaughter is so happy to help take care of
our newest great-grandson. God is good. Amen.

Hello folks and welcome. It has been a while but I am glad to bring you greetings today from my house to yours. It is Friday, July 30, 2021, and, I will just say this about that, I am glad to be feeling a wee bit better than I did before when I wasn't feeling that well. Maybe it has something to do with the vaccine we submitted ourselves to. You know. It is now being reported that perhaps it loses its protective properties after around four months. Really? I'm sure that doesn't have anything to do with the fact that the drug company already has a booster shot waiting. Let me see. Three hundred million plus boosters paid for in full by Uncle Sam. That could cause a rapturous chorus to break out in any board room. The mask mandate is making a return visit even for those who have been fully vaccinated. Really? But, the report used to justify this action by the CDC failed when peer-reviewed. My point is this. No wonder the state of the union is in a state of confusion. And, do not look for clarity of any kind from the President of the United States of America. His best day is filled with thick clouds of misremembered inaccuracies that used to be called bald-faced lies. "I used to drive an 18 wheeler." The White House minions came up with this jewel as a way of explanation. "We have proof that the then-Senator Biden actually rode in an 18 wheeler in 1973." And, as they used to say when I worked for the federal government, "I suppose that's close enough for government work." My point? How can anyone know anything about any critical subject in this world where information is manipulated by all sides? That's my story and at this time I'm sticking to it, and, don't try to fact-check me because it would likely say I need mental health treatments.

Mr. Bentley, wet, dry, before and after. (Yep. That's his little pig.
His favorite toy.)

I am glad to be hearing about many of the parents across the fruited plains who are waking up to what Wokeism is really all about. When they discover the schools they send their kids to are pushing an agenda that teaches kids to hate their country, to see themselves as being victimized by their parents, and, if white, to teach them they are defacto white supremacists, well, enough is enough, and many of them are beginning to cause a ruckus at their local school board meetings. The city administrations who have cut the budgets of their police forces and as a result have seen mass retirements and resignations among police officers, well, they are now begging for help to try and do something about the spiraling out of control crime they are experiencing. And, there's much more, but, let me hit on something that is truly more important than these really critical issues. It is time for those of us who are people of faith to renew our stand for truth. We should not be dismayed by these assaults against the basic principles upon which our nation was founded because our home is in heaven and we have a God that will deal with it all in His own time. Our calling is to stand for truth and The Scriptures simply say, "...having done all, to stand." (Galatians 6:13) I need to do this. You need to do this. We all need to do this. Amen. 

Thanks so much for your support over the years and may our great God give us what we need to honor Him with the lives He has given to us. Amen. ......until next time.

"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him." ~ Psalm 34:8

Bentley loves to follow the advice of Yogi Berra: "You can observe a lot by just watching."

Hello and welcome to a slice of life from my perspective coming to you on this day, Monday, July 19, 2020. I hope this greeting finds y'all doing well. It's really hard to know how to know what's going on in our world today. The stuff happening within our constitutional federal republic is quite perplexing these days. (A 'republic' is a form of government in which the people hold power, but elect representatives to exercise that power.) I say in all fairness, this is true from both the major sides and all the splinter sides that make up our political power base. We have a President who appears to be somewhat challenged in carrying out the very taxing duties associated with the office. We have a left-wing press that has adopted the mantra that says, "There is nothing to see here." This leads us to have to decide for ourselves and as we do what Bentley is doing in the photos, observing, this isn't working out too well for the current regime. We also have what appear to be firsthand reports of chaos within the office of our Vice President. Of course, folks are not allowed to comment on this because she claims special privilege due to her ethnic identity. This too has been glossed over as nothing more than right-wing attacks, but, as I understand it, the folks reporting the unbearable working environment in her office are her own staff. People she selected. Back in the day, when I worked for what was then a Fortune 500 corporation, we had a lot of folks that remind me of those holding these offices today. We had a name for them. Empty suits. I'll let you come to your own conclusion about what was a very well-understood moniker. (Let me give you a little help with that moniker word from Merriam-Webster: 'alias, · byname, · epithet, · handle, · nickname....')

The other day the wife had to go into the downtown corridor in order to see her podiatrist. Our doctors tend to work from different locations and we end up having to get an appointment wherever they happen to be. This office was located in a huge complex called The Shops at Houston Center. There are offices there but the main development is like a downtown mall. I was feeling poorly the day she went, therefore, our Jimmy went with her and as he explored the environs he happened upon the scene depicted in the photo he captured. On the left, you see the sign that some equate as the mark of the beast, but, for me, it's simply a sign designating a place where they sell colored water and call it coffee. On the right you see truth personified. I have no idea if this juxtaposition was intentional, however, it speaks directly to my heart. And, if you are one of those who frequent that other place, it's your choice, because here in America one can even eat Tide Pods if they choose to do so. Take this in the way it was intended. Again, I report, you decide.

Okay. I've stirred the pot enough for one day. And, always remember that a lot of what I write about is tongue in cheek, therefore, don't take it too seriously, except when you should. I do hope you have a blessed day and a wonderful week. May God be with us all. Amen. .....Next time.

"The more corrupt the state, the more laws." – Tacitus, Roman historian, (AD56 - AD118)

Bentley here, "I heard a lady at Church thought I could be magazine material,
perhaps even for a cover. Wow! That got me thinking. They call me a good boy all the time around here.  And this begs the question, would I be a cover-boy, a cover-dog, or maybe even a pup of the month? Asking for a friend. Thanks." 

Hello folks and welcome to my update being sent out from my upstairs bunker here on this Thursday, July 8, 2021. I said bunker because of all the scary news out there. Facebook is now asking individuals to report their friends, family, and others if they think they might be doing something subversive as in anything critical of the current regime. Like I say. Scary. But the good news is how, according to the highest source in the land, none other than the President of the United States of America, the average cost of a backyard barbecue or hot dog cookout went down 16 cents compared to last year. That was big news. Given directly by the President. Never mind the $1 per gallon increase in the cost of gasoline typically required to transport someone to the store to put themselves into the 16 cents saved eligibility bracket. When the President's press secretary was asked about this profoundly ridiculous announcement, she replied those questioning it must not enjoy a backyard cookout. Saturday Night Live has been bad for a long time but even they could not write imbecilic stuff like we see emanating from this White House on a daily basis. Or, maybe, it's just me, and, for the record, I do enjoy the back yard, front yard, and pretty much any and all forms of cookouts. 

I see the President, concerned about the surge in crime around our nation, got himself within 50 miles of where the epicenter is in Chicago by landing in a suburb and giving a speech on his rebuilding America project. While even the leftist fact-checkers are giving thumbs down on the Democrat blaming of Republicans for the Defund the Police movement, the President and his lemming patrol continue to claim had the Republicans jumped on the $6 trillion train, all would be well. These are days in which videotapes of dozens of influential Democrat leaders along with the Democrat mayors of the cities experiencing the unprecedented surge in violent crime show them live and in person committing themselves to use monies allocated to the police for other programs. My point? Even if the troubled cities received a windfall of new money from this preposterous project, they are on record in saying it wouldn't go to the police. What a feeble attempt to try and make the President and his cronies into newly minted law and order proponents. They no longer think we all are stupid, they believe most of us are brain dead. I might be slow, but, even I can channel Marvin Zindler on this one, "Slime in the ice machine!" 

Okay. I will admit that I was in a mood today to let off a wee bit of steam. Maybe next time I will have my feel-good shoes on. I might have a tough time finding them these days. Have a great rest of the day and may God bless each one. Amen. .....More later, next time.

Some Random Images Celebrating the Truth of How Our Freedoms as Americans were not Free!

 

Taps played at Mims Baptist service to Celebrate America.

Bentley here, "I love the 4th of July, Independence Day, and all it means. However, 
as for the fireworks, not so much.

Our great grand Gabriella is shown wearing her great-great paw paw Chavez's straw mowing hat. I now wear it when I mow. Our dad, Jose Chavez, (1930-2017), retired from the US Army as an E-8, having served in Korea, Germany, and Vietnam. His service reminds us all that freedom is not free.