Further. Every. Day.

#0179 John and Abigail Adams' Letters, Government Shutdown, Xenophobic Nationalist Apologetics, Ben & Jerry's: Abortion Ice Cream, Nicki Knows Facts, and The Great Divorce Chapter 5 Introduction Government Shutdown Avoided Cut 1 Narrowly avoided a shutdown Senate passes GOP-led bill to avoid government shutdown Cut 2 Do you remember these moments? https://youtu.be/KPQScyuH-QE?si=LZ8wV2GmMB1H3pXe Cut 3 See where Dems are now? https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IqLxHd9GbSA They do not believe what they said, they are liars. Remember this when discussing abortion, LGBT issues, and government shutdowns. Xenophobic Nationalist Apologist Moment Cut 4 https://youtu.be/Js15xgK4LIE?t=2429 From here until about 44:14 Cut 5 The issue with the Left not understanding Ethics vs Morality and being totally clueless as to what they believe: https://youtu.be/Js15xgK4LIE?t=1531 - 31:10 Cut 6 This immigrant aptly dealt with the Social Security Issue: https://youtu.be/Js15xgK4LIE?t=3375 - 1:04:15 Love is NOT Blind Here we see encapsulated in a horrible show, a horrible bride, a horrible groom, and perhaps a horrible church, why the West is dying: Cut 7 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0WD82ZmpJU Where was this man's Church? Was he ever confronted on this? Has he never thought about it? Was he so spineless he couldn't stand up to her or did he just not have a strong enough opinion. More: https://www.reddit.com/r/LoveIsBlindNetflix/comments/1jah81z/bens_tiktok_response_part_2_ben_brings_the/ A Culture Flavored in Abortion With footage from the Women's March on 030825 has been flooding our screens this past week, I'm led to ask: what exactly does this day mean at this point? Cut 8 https://www.instagram.com/benandjerrys/reel/DG8xxaSvwKK/ Cut 9-14 Ben and Jerry's Political Statement on Abortion We see this idea that abortion is inextricably intertwined with women's rights, to the point where we're back to debating the right of Churches to abstain for paying for abortions: Cut 15 https://washingtonstand.com/news/shocking-court-rules-church-must-include-abortion-in-employee-health-care-plan- Cut 16 For International Women's Day, Dylan Mulvaney was on the View, and here is what Whoopi had to say: https://youtu.be/_hEldny3f74?t=467 What is the agenda truly here? How does confusing and separating Gender Roles divorce us from our understanding of God? John Adams' Letter to Abigail Adams 1776 Summary of each Paragraph: Cut 17-18: Paragraph 1: If we had declared independence 7 months ago, we could have taken Canada, but the fractious nature of the Convention and the Tories ultimately stymied our best shot of winning Quebec. This loss of opportunity provides Britain with a foothold on our northern border, disadvantages us. Cut 19 Paragraph 2: None of that truly matters, however, because of the terrible epidemic of Smallpox that broke out amongst our troops. God is aware of this, and we should be looking to Him to see why these events have turned out the way they have. Cut 20 Paragraph 3: The bright side of the delay is this: The idea of Reconciliation between Britain and America is dead. Everyone knows what must be done now. We all understand what is ahead and have a sober mind to that end. The Union is formed and strong in a manner not possible 6 months ago. Cut 21 Paragraph 4: July 2nd , 1776 will always live in memory as a beautiful day for liberty and of God's Providence. Cut 22 Paragraph 5: You may think me silly with joy, but I understand how dark the coming days and years will be. God will carry us through. https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-02-02-0016 Nicki Knows Facts Time Zone Trouble: Why were they first conceived and what is Daylight Savings Time? Cut 23-25 The Great Divorce Chapter 5 Cut 26-33 Closing What's your bucket list trip PNGs of the cuts (NOT the real ones, *my png isn't playing….lol*)

#0177 Federalist 51: Overreach of the Branches, Trump vs the Judicial, Tate vs Florida, Trade Wars, and more

Cut 1:

Paragraph 1

How shall we run a government with compartmentalized, equally powerful, and co-regulating branches which we see in the new proposed Constitution? These branches of government must be contrived so that they maintain each other in a sense of authority, duty, and honesty towards the people. Allow me to elaborate.

Paragraph 2:

To best protect the interests of the people and the institution of this government, each branch should be formed, elected, and run independently of the other two. These should hold checks and balances over each other, but with as much independence as possible in election of the office holders.

Cut 2 and 3:

Paragraph 3:

The members of each branch should also be free to act, even incentivized to act, with the authority of each's own office. If each branch is staged to seek its own interests, while maintaining alignment with the interests of the people, the different branches will hold each other accountable. Man is basically evil so we must set the selfish interests of politicians against each other for the sake of the people.

Paragraph 4:

The people and elections are the ultimate regulator on the vices of politicians, but organizing the branches so that their individual interests check each other is crucial. We need to even separate the legislature into two houses to protect the rights of the people and the rights of the states, while making the election of each as isolated from the other as possible.

Paragraph 5:

The power of the veto in the hands of the Executive Branch is a wise implementation of policy. However, as such a thing could be abused, the veto of the Executive Branch will only be allowed to be executed after a vote in the House of Congress has brought a vote to the Senate. This will allow some dissent in the voice of the Legislative from the Executive.

Cut 4:

Paragraph 6:

This government, with competing interests, will provide protection from mob rule and should guide the nation towards justice, and away from corruption.

Cut 5:

Paragraph 7:

For this to work, we will need to build a government that is incapable of turning against a minority by building this set of checks and balances, which will render the many factions powerless to act to the harm of the smaller ones. This is a reliance on the chaotic nature of man and his evil to prevent evil.

Cut 6:

Paragraph 8:

By designing the government in light of human nature and our propensity to divide ourselves, while maintaining the human rights of the minority, it will be very difficult for a majority to pervert the laws to oppress the minority.

Paragraph 9:

If Rhode Island broke off into a democracy, it is clear that it would fall into the tyranny of the majority. This new Constitution is designed to appeal to our common understanding of Godliness over our independent needs. This design should prevent the tyranny of the majority.

Cut 8

https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5177420-supreme-court-blocks-trump-funding/

And here we see the overreach that Madison was concerned with in Federalist 51.

Cut 9

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/03/biden-judges-fishy-order-that-led-supreme-courts/

As we all know, Zelensky had a bad day at the White House where he engaged in self destructive behavior:

Cut 10

Sorry, wrong clip, some would say right clip…

Cut 11

Again, some would say wrong clip, but other right clip. No, it was worse than that.

Cut 12

https://youtu.be/v_kTNIYsFnQ?si=x_ZdWgC2EdR4-R2W

Now, we know how this ended, but I wanted to focus on what JD Vance said here. How is Zelensky recruiting soldiers these days?

Cut 13

Wrong clip, I wish it was this but it's actually quite tragic

Cut 14

Cut 15

Cut 16

Trump said Zelensky would be back

Cut 17

https://youtu.be/6QKwSuJswQk?si=2UL4CB7oUIO1W_rs

And what do you know, he's back

Cut 18

https://youtu.be/a7ziSd1QFrg?si=2BC6LefPLErs1n9p

China threatens war with the US

Cut 19
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gmd3g2nzqo

Canada continues to threatens to pull the plug:

Cut 20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHDoZoqZt4E

Andrew Tate is being prosecuted by Florida Gov Ron DeSantis, Candace Owens interviews Tate:

Cut 21

https://youtu.be/BG8mb9I5qeU?t=181 from here to 7:29

Question: Love or hate Tate, is this a precedent that we want to set?

The woman who had the most children…

Cut 22-25

Cut 26-31

If you could only eat one thing until the day that you die, what would it be?

List of Life Principles Cut 1: (Nicki's #1) Start every day with daily prayer and Bible reading. Nicki - explain how that works for you. Cut 2: (Nicki's #2) Stay in a right relationship with God no matter the cost (peace of mind). Nicki - why is this important? Cut 3: (Nicki's #3) Know who you are in Christ - my life has a purpose! Nicki - what does it mean to know who you are in Christ? Cut 4: (Nicki's #4) Invest in family relationships. The only thing you can take into eternity with you is your family. Nicki - how do people that have very little or no family deal with this? Cut 5: (Nicki's #5) Walk in truth (no deception or lying). Nicki - why is this important? Cut 6: (Nicki's #6) Work hard and keep improving. Nicki - what would this look like? Cut 7: (Nicki's #7) Think and pray before you speak or act. Words and actions have long term affects. Nicki - how has this impacted you over the course of your life. Cut 8: (Nicki's #8) Tithe with the spiritual impact in mind. Nicki - what kind of spiritual impact should we be looking for? Cut 9: (Nicki's #9) Control my anger - don't let it control me? Nicki - what do you see as the biggest reasons for this? Cut 10: ((Nicki's #10) Make it a priority to laugh every day. Nicki - why should laughing be a priority. Cut 11: (Steve's #1) Make sure God is first and foremost in your life. Steve - why is this a priority for you? Cut 12: (Steves #2) Be a truth teller - not a liar. Steve - what do you see as some of the biggest hurdles to doing this? Cut 13: (Steve's #3) Treat folks like you would like to be treated. Steve - How has this impacted you personally? Cut 14: (Steve's #4) Learn a trade or get an education and work for a living. Steve - how important are trades to our society right now? Cut 15: (Steve's #5) Treat your parents with respect. Steve - tell us a little bit about your parents. Cut 16: (Steve's #6) Don't expect respect. Respect is earned, not given. Steve - what are some ways that respect can be earned? Cut 17: (Steve's #7) Learn to shoot a gun. Steve - why is this important? Cut 18: (Steve's #8) Learn to camp, fish, hunt, and farm. Cut 19: (Steve's #9) If you're married, love your wife and stay married. Steve - why is this such a challenge for people today? Cut 20: (Steve's #10) Learn to become a good father and grandfather (or mother and grandmother). Steve - what are some of the most valuable results for being a good parent and grandparent? Cut 21: (Charlie's #1) Love God and make Him known. Cut 22: (Charlie's #2) Truth is the greatest asset you will ever possess. Always run toward truth. Cut 23: (Charlie's #3) If you don't have peace, then don't do it. Cut 24: (Charlie's #4) If you don't want to fall into the Grand Canyon then stay away from the edge! Cut 25: (Charlie's #5) Help and serve others. Cut 26: (Charlie's #6) Try to always think with the end in mind. Cut 27: (Charlie's #7) You only get one life. Know your purpose in what you're doing. Cut 28: (Charlie's #8) Failure is a great teacher. Never be afraid to go to school. Cut 29: (Charlie's #9) Forgiveness is the great vaccine of anger and resentment. Cut 30: (Charlie's #10) On time is late. Never be late. Nicki Knows Facts: Cuts Bucket List Items: Cut : Would love to purchase a large piece of land (good for camping, fishing, hunting, and farming) and have my kids and grandkids move there. Cut : Take an Alaskan cruise with my wonderful wife. Cut : Take a Hawaiian cruise with my wonderful wife. Cut : Do a 7 - 10 day mountain hike. Cut : Purchase an old school bus and convert it into an RV. The Book Corner (NEXT WEEK): The Great Divorce, Chapters 5-6 Cuts

I want to let you know that I will not be running for re-election.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve, but I need to step down, and let me tell you why I've resolved to do so.

I have served two terms, and that is enough for anyone—I will retire now.

Be wary of the forces that seek to weaken the national unity essential to defense—both internal and external, ideologically and materially. The only means for continued freedom is national unity and individual solidarity in the bonds of blood, creed, and nationality.

Your nation has the right to your allegiance because it provides for your safety, and your duty to fellow citizens extends from civic charity to the defense of the nation. We all hold the same general beliefs, religion, and goals—national identity is key to maintaining the liberty so many have fought and died for.

The esoteric considerations aside, we must also address the conflicting interests of the States, which are outweighed by the interest of the whole. You must learn to consider the individual interests of the States within the context of the whole of the United States.

Your individual States will have their own autonomy, only within the value and benefit of the whole of the United States. The balance between States' rights and federal oversight has been laid out in our new Constitution, ratified by all. Each authority has its sphere of jurisdiction, subject to change only by the ratification of amendments.

The purpose of the checks and balances between the States and the branches of the federal government is to ensure a level playing field for all factions present in political debate. The violation or manipulation of these checks and balances is inevitably harmful, no matter how noble or ignoble the pursuit.

Be aware that popular factions can misuse the system of checks and balances to create tyrants, who will then seek to dismantle the very system they used to claim power.

It's important to avoid altering the basic structure of the Constitution through violations or amendments, as this will dilute the purpose of the checks and balances and eventually break a perfectly serviceable constitution.

Commentary: What did we see with the threat of packing the Supreme Court, removing the Electoral College, or now with the attempts from the legislative and judicial branches to hinder reform of the executive branch?

The more control you give political parties, the more autocratic they will become.

This stems from the darker impulses of human nature, existent in any nation, but partially mitigated within the design of the American Constitution.

It's natural for political parties to become entrenched within the body politic, their interests gaining greater bearing than the actual interests of the people.

It is natural, then, for political parties to act in retaliation and revenge against each other between elections, formulating a bizarre despotism and oligarchy.

You must be aware of this tendency of political parties and prevent it if you wish to avoid a permanent political ruling class levying autocratic policies upon the people.

If you allow this sort of political party structure to arise, you'll live to witness ill-founded rivalries that fester into political riots, insurrection, and corruption.

Now, on the issue of foreign influence—avoid becoming so entrenched in the quarrels of other nations that you lose sight of the needs of your own country. Otherwise, nationalists will eventually be dubbed "uncaring" when asked to give their own necessities to governments that have no obligation to America or her citizens.

Keep our interests in Europe as economically centered as possible, because Europe is a political tinderbox—frequently aflame—and will drag America into endless wars for nations that have proved to hold little interest in our well-being.

Why should Americans die on foreign soil for people who care so little for us and consistently start conflicts?

Avoid permanent alliances. Keep the alliances we do make, and remain out of other countries' disputes as often as possible.

Trump and Zelensky have had a falling out. Upon looking at the first draft of President Trump's proposal, Zelensky had this reaction:
Watch here

How did that get in there?

No, Zelensky was even more self-destructive than that…
Watch here

Trump responded accordingly:
Watch here

It's important to remember that Russia and Ukraine have been contesting the border for decades, and the atrocities committed by Kiev—shelling civilian targets—predate the current war:
Read more

The war also hasn't stopped Zelensky from engaging in collective punishment on citizens in the Donetsk region (supposedly a region he wishes to have back under Ukrainian rule).
Read more

The exchange between Trump and Zelensky comes after Zelensky sanctioned his main political opposition in any future election, former president Petro Poroshenko.
Read more

"I don't care, Margaret... if you think free speech enabled Hitler, that's nonsense."—Margaret vs. Rubio

Rubio on JD Vance's speech on the decline of free speech in Germany and Europe:
Watch here

LGBT actor Cynthia Erivo will be playing our Lord in Jesus Christ Superstar.

What does this say about our culture's view on gender, cultural revisionism, and our Lord?

Tom Hanks plays an "icky racist white man" on SNL 50.

What does this say about our culture's view on race, cultural revisionism, and Christianity?

Proper apologetics for each?

NIH-funded research controversy

What are they looking for? What are they doing? Is this the first actual medical study for the long-term effects on transgender humans via monkeys?

But what about chemsex? What about HIV susceptibility? Monkeys cannot be infected with HIV—so are we looking at more gain-of-function research? What was happening here?

Final Question:
If you could get only one item of furniture for your wedding/anniversary, and the price was no issue, what would you ask for?

#0175 Articles of Confederation, An End To The Ukraine War?, Vance vs The Pope on Ordo Amori, The First Female Congresswoman, TBC: The Great Divorce, and Apologetics 101 - Further. Every. Day.

The Articles of Confederation, ratified in 1781, served as the first governing document of the United States. However, it soon proved inadequate, leading to widespread calls for reform. The Founding Fathers—especially George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton—expressed serious concerns about its weaknesses. Many of these concerns were articulated in their letters, speeches, and debates, culminating in the drafting of the U.S. Constitution in 1787.

One of the most significant weaknesses of the Articles was Congress's inability to levy taxes. The federal government had to rely on voluntary contributions from the states, leading to financial instability and an inability to pay off war debts.

Cut 2#: James Madison, “Vices of the Political System” (April 1787):
"It is no longer doubted that a unanimous and punctual obedience of 13 independent bodies, to the acts of the federal Government, ought not be calculated on. Even during the war, when external danger supplied in some degree the defect of legal & coercive sanctions, how imperfectly did the States fulfil their obligations to the Union? In time of peace, we see already what is to be expected."

Cut 3&4#: Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 30 (December 28, 1787):
"The present Confederation, feeble as it is intended to repose in the United States, an unlimited power of providing for the pecuniary wants of the Union. But proceeding upon an erroneous principle, it has been done in such a manner as entirely to have frustrated the intention. Congress, by the articles which compose that compact (as has already been stated), are authorized to ascertain and call for any sums of money necessary, in their judgment, to the service of the United States; and their requisitions, if conformable to the rule of apportionment, are in every constitutional sense obligatory upon the States. These have no right to question the propriety of the demand; no discretion beyond that of devising the ways and means of furnishing the sums demanded. But though this be strictly and truly the case; though the assumption of such a right would be an infringement of the articles of Union; though it may seldom or never have been avowedly claimed, yet in practice it has been constantly exercised, and would continue to be so, as long as the revenues of the Confederacy should remain dependent on the intermediate agency of its members."

Cut 5#: George Washington's letter to John Jay (August 15, 1786):
"Requisitions are actually little better than a jest and a bye word throughout the Land. If you tell the Legislatures they have violated the treaty of peace and invaded the prerogatives of the confederacy they will laugh in your face."

Comparison to the Constitution:

Articles of Confederation: Congress could not impose taxes and had to request funds from the states.

U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 8): Congress gains the power to “lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises.”

Under the Articles, there was no executive branch to enforce laws and no national judiciary to settle disputes, leading to inefficiency and legal conflicts among states.

Cut 6#: James Madison at the Constitutional Convention (June 19, 1787):
"The existing Confederacy does not sufficiently provide against this evil. The proposed amendment to it does not supply the omission. It leaves the will of the States as uncontrolled as ever."

Cut 7#: Alexander Hamilton, Federalist NO. 22 (December 14, 1787):
"Several States have endeavored, by separate prohibitions, restrictions, and exclusions, to influence the conduct of that kingdom in this particular, but the want of concert, arising from the want of a general authority and from clashing and dissimilar views in the State, has hitherto frustrated every experiment of the kind, and will continue to do so as long as the same obstacles to a uniformity of measures continue to exist."

And later in Fed 22:

Cut 8#: “A circumstance which crowns the defects of the Confederation remains yet to be mentioned, the want of a judiciary power. Laws are a dead letter without courts to expound and define their true meaning and operation. The treaties of the United States, to have any force at all, must be considered as part of the law of the land. Their true import, as far as respects individuals, must, like all other laws, be ascertained by judicial determinations. To produce uniformity in these determinations, they ought to be submitted, in the last resort, to one SUPREME TRIBUNAL. And this tribunal ought to be instituted under the same authority which forms the treaties themselves. These ingredients are both indispensable.”

Comparison to the Constitution:

Articles of Confederation: No executive or judiciary, making enforcement and dispute resolution nearly impossible.

U.S. Constitution: Establishes three co-equal branches with checks and balances.

With no power to regulate trade, states imposed tariffs on each other, creating economic discord and weakening national unity.

Cut 9#: George Washington's letter to James Madison (November 30, 1785):
"I hope the resolutions which were published for the consideration of the House, respecting the reference to Congress for the regulation of a Commercial system will have passed. The proposition in my opinion is so self evident that I confess I am at a loss to discover wherein lyes the weight of the objection to the measure. We are either a United people, or we are not. If the former, let us, in all matters of general concern act as a nation, which have national objects to promote, and a National character to support—If we are not, let us no longer act a farce by pretending to it. for whilst we are playing a dble game, or playing a game between the two we never shall be consistent or respectable—but may be the dupes of some powers and, most assuredly, the contempt of all."

Comparison to the Constitution:

Articles of Confederation: No power to regulate interstate or international trade.

U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 8): Grants Congress the power to “regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states.”

The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was largely a response to the Articles' failings. Many Founders voiced concerns about its weaknesses and emphasized the necessity of a new framework.

Cut 10#: George Washington's Address at the Constitutional Convention (1787):
"It is too probable that no plan we propose will be adopted. Perhaps another dreadful conflict is to be sustained. If to please the people, we offer what we ourselves disapprove, how can we afterwards defend our work? Let us raise a standard to which the wise and the honest can repair. The event is in the hand of God."

Cut 11#: James Madison at the Convention (June 6, 1787):
"The confederation was founded on temporary principles. It cannot last: it cannot be amended. If we do not establish a good Govt. on new principles, we must either go to ruin, or have the work to do over again. The people at large are wrongly suspected of being averse to a Genl. Govt. The aversion lies among interested men who possess their confidence."

The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation were widely recognized by the Founders, who sought a stronger federal government through the U.S. Constitution. By granting the national government taxation authority, an executive branch, a judiciary, and regulatory power over commerce, the new Constitution directly addressed the Articles' failings.

Cut 12#: Benjamin Franklin on the new Constitution (1787):
"Thus I consent, Sir, to this Constitution because I expect no better, and because I am not sure, that it is not the best."

This new government would not only survive but become one of the most enduring political systems in history.

Hegseth addressed NATO in Brussels this week:

Cut 14#: No, we're not leaving Ukraine behind, negotiations are just starting

Cut 15#: NATO needs to step up, the German reporter asks if the US will raise spending from 3.4% to 5% as Hegseth suggests the EU does

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOzzVfhkwn4

Cut 17#: This may be why Trump is so focused on peace with Russia and China

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70Gr2eAYORI

Much ink and discussion has been spilled on this, but let's hear a surrogate from the Pope speak to this:

Now let's open God's Word in a very Augustine way, looking at the nature of affections as laid out in scripture:

Cut 18#:

https://x.com/TaylorRMarshall/status/1890437635883086485

Cut 19# Matthew 22:37-38 – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.”

Cut 20# Deuteronomy 6:5 – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

Cut 21# Luke 14:26 – “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” (Jesus is not commanding literal hatred but is emphasizing that love for God must come first.)

Cut 22# Exodus 20:3 – “You shall have no other gods before me.”

Cut 23# Ephesians 5:25 – “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”

Cut 24# Ephesians 6:1-2 – “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother' (this is the first commandment with a promise).”

Cut 25# 1 Timothy 5:8 – “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Cut 26# Genesis 2:24 – “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

Cut 27# Leviticus 19:18 – “You shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”

Cut 28# Luke 10:27-37 (Parable of the Good Samaritan) – Demonstrates love for one's neighbor beyond ethnic or social boundaries.

Cut 29# Jeremiah 29:7 – “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”

Cut 30# Romans 13:1-7 – “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”

Cut 31# 1 Peter 2:13-17 – “Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution… Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”

Now, how does allowing an invasion of Military Aged Men into our country fit into this rubric? How does the Vatican deal with threats against his excellency?

Cut 32#

Oh…

Cut 33#

Cut 34#-37

C.S. Lewis explains that The Great Divorce is an allegory, not a theological treatise, and should not be taken as a literal depiction of the afterlife. He argues against the idea that good and evil can be reconciled, emphasizing that one must fully choose either Heaven or Hell—there is no blending of the two. He also mentions his inspiration from William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell but clarifies that his book is meant to show their absolute separation rather than their unity.

The narrator finds himself in a grim, joyless city (Hell or “the Grey Town”) on a rainy evening. He joins a line for a bus that promises to take people away from the city. As he waits, he observes the other passengers arguing, bickering, and expressing general dissatisfaction. These people, it seems, are unhappy but reluctant to leave, preferring their own grievances and pride over change. When the bus arrives, it appears unusual—bright and floating above the ground.

As the bus takes off, it begins to ascend, moving higher and higher into the sky. The narrator notices that the interior of the bus seems to grow larger than its exterior, a hint at the supernatural nature of the journey. The other passengers continue arguing, revealing their selfishness, resentment, and attachment to their past sins. Some complain about the rules of the Grey Town, while others insist they deserve better treatment.

The chapter ends with the bus flying toward an unfamiliar, beautifully radiant land, which we later understand to be the foothills of Heaven.

The 3 Rules of Apologetics

1. Define Terms

2. Answer the Questioner, not the Question

3. Remember who wins the person's soul, hint it's not you.

https://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/a7s3.html

https://www.bartleby.com/lit-hub/respectfully-quoted/george-washington-173299-2/

https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/04-03-02-0357

https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/fed22.asp

https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/fed30.asp

https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/debates_619.asp

Did our Founding Fathers warn us about the human condition? Did Washington experience the same pressures that we see exerted on our current God-Fearing leadership? Is DOGE illegal and unprecedented? Is Trump invading Gaza? When was the last Guillotine Execution and which country used it last? That and your theological questions today on Further. Every. Day.

Cut 1: Who was Henry Knox?

Cut 2: Knox's raid of Fort Ticonderoga and the Noble Train

Cut 3: Knox's military career

Cut 4: Knox to Washington: The Thirteen-Headed Monster needs one head

Cut 5: Knox to Washington: It's not high taxes but man's dark heart and communistic leanings

Cut 6: Knox to Washington: Justification for uprisings such as Shays' Rebellion

Cut 7: Washington to Knox: “Good God!” We look like a reprobate nation

Cut 8: Democrats decrying DOGE

Which branch is DOGE under?

To which branch do these Senators and Congressmen belong? Hmm…

Cut 9: Is DOGE unprecedented?

Cuts 10-16: No…

Cuts 17-18: What has USAID been spent on?

Cut 19: Is Trump taking over Gaza a betrayal of MAGA?

Trump and Netanyahu

Cut 20: Not a betrayal. Some wildly out-of-the-box thinking and negotiation may be in play.

Let the man cook.

Cut 21: When was the last execution by guillotine, and which country used it?

Cut 22: Answer

Cut 23: Last man executed

Cut 24: Last woman executed

Cut 25: Biblical examples

Your Questions:

Did Judas go to Heaven or Hell?

Is Sunday or Saturday the day of worship?

What really happened to Jephthah's daughter?

Final question: Best state in the Union?

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/1969/08/10/archives/foe-of-pollution-sees-lack-of-time-asserts-environmental-ills.html

https://www.thetorah.com/article/did-jephthah-actually-kill-his-daughter

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/eop

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_Management_and_Budget

https://www.britannica.com/summary/Franklin-D-Roosevelts-Achievements

Cut 1 Madison was the smallest U.S. president at 5'4” and 100 lbs.

Cut 2 War of 1812

Architect of the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution.

Studied Hebrew, Locke, Witherspoon, and other Biblical and Enlightenment thinkers at Princeton.

Opening Question: Why did Madison see factions as the greatest threat to a free republic?

Let's see: Cut 3

Cut 4: Special Interests are already present.

Cut 5 Faction Definition

Cut 6 Methods for dismantling faction

Cut 7

Historical & Biblical Context:

Human nature and governance (Jeremiah 17:9 Cut 8, Cut 9 Romans 13:1-4).

Founders' rejection of pure democracy for a constitutional republic.

Key Quote: "If men were angels, no government would be necessary." (Federalist No. 51)

Modern Parallels:

How well does Madison's system function today?

Have we drifted into oligarchy or mob rule?

Definition: A group united by passion or interest against the rights of others.

Cut 10 The Human Condition

Historical Examples:

Biblical: Pharisees & Sadducees, Korah's Rebellion, Moses vs. Aaron & Miriam.

Early America: Shays' Rebellion, Newburgh Conspiracy.

Modern Examples:

Political factions influencing laws for self-benefit (Big Pharma, Wall Street, political elites).

Radical ideologies reshaping government, media, and education.

Question: Did Madison underestimate the power of mob mentality in parties?

Madison's Key Safeguards:

Representative government filters public passions.

Checks and balances prevent faction dominance.

Rule of law ensures stability.

Biblical & Historical Parallels:

Moses' system of judges (Cut 12 Exodus 18:21-22) – decentralized authority.

Electoral College & Senate as safeguards against mob rule.

Critique: Does the Republic still function as intended?

Congress members profiting from insider stock trading.

Bureaucracies serving corporate interests over public welfare.

Judiciary increasingly partisan.

Question: Is the republic still preserving liberty, or has it become an oligarchy?

Key Quote: “No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause.”

Internet Clip 1:

Modern Example: RFK Jr. vs. Big Pharma—legitimate accountability or political opposition?

Question: Does the electorate still have power, or is it manipulated by media and money?

Key Quote: “Every shilling with which they overburden the inferior number, is a shilling saved to their own pockets.”

Tariffs & Protectionism:

Madison's warnings on self-interested legislators.

Trump's new tariffs (Feb 2025) – protecting American jobs or empowering another faction?

Radical Economic Shifts:

Paper money, debt abolition, wealth redistribution are now mainstream.

Federal Reserve policies, student loan forgiveness, universal basic income.

Question: Did Madison underestimate the ability of factions to nationalize radical policies?

Madison's System Depends On:

✅ A moral electorate.

✅ Functioning checks and balances.

✅ Decentralized power.

Reality Check:

❌ Misinformed & manipulated electorate.

❌ Government officials profiting from policies.

❌ Radical policies nationalized instead of local.

Final Question: How do we restore Madison's vision?

Restoring biblical morality in leadership.

Reasserting state sovereignty.

Educating and activating an informed electorate.

Unsinkable Sam: Cut 14 then 15 The cat that survived the sinking of three warships.

Elon Musk's salute controversy:

Media scrutiny and backlash.

Cut 16 Reference: Guardian article

Bryce Mitchell's extreme counterpoint:

Cut 16Twitter clip

His bizarre past incident: MMA Junkie

Cut 18 Meme

Historical reality check:

Cut 19

Cut 20 a

Hitler's atrocities: Aktion T4, Mengele's experiments, genocide of millions.

Reference: Wikipedia - Aktion T4

Takeaway: Best to avoid invoking Hitler in any context.

Core Themes & Arguments:

Biblical Prioritization of Family & Nation

1 Timothy 5:8: Family first, then community, then nation.

Critique of USCCB's financial incentives.

Settlers vs. Immigrants

Settlers built America; immigrants benefited from it.

John Adams: "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people."

Law Enforcement & Government's Role

Romans 13:3 – Enforcing law isn't cruelty; it's justice.

Birthright Citizenship & National Sovereignty

14th Amendment wasn't intended for illegal immigrants' children.

Citizenship is a privilege, not an accident of birth location.

The Refugee Vetting Debate

National security must come before indiscriminate refugee acceptance.

Aquinas' Just War Theory – nations have a right to defend themselves.

Chinese National Loses Her Visa

Chinese UCLA Student's Visa Revoked – Does a foreigner aligning with anti-American rhetoric have constitutional rights?

Final Takeaways:

Vance upholds biblical and constitutional principles.

Christian ethics align with national security concerns.

America must prioritize its founding values over globalist ideals.

Reference Links for Further Research: [Federalist No. 10 – Avalon Project] [Federalist No. 51 – Avalon Project] [Jeremiah 17:9 – Bible Gateway] [Romans 13:1-4 – Bible Gateway] [Exodus 18:21-22 – Bible Gateway] [RFK Jr. vs. Big Pharma – YouTube] [Trump's Tariff Policy (Feb 2025) – Fox Business] [Congress Stock Trading – CBS News] [Electoral College Explained – National Archives]

Brief overview of topics:

Federalist 2#: Historical analysis and implications.

Controversy around the Alien Act and recent deportation events.

Trump's first week in office, pardons, and early policy impacts.

Recap of Federalist 1#: Key themes and setup for Federalist 2#.

Federalist 2# Talking Points:

John Jay's Background

Birth: 1745; Death: 1829.

Roles:

First Chief Justice (1789-1795).

President of the Continental Congress (1778-1779).

Treaty of Paris Negotiator (1783).

Governor of New York (1795-1801).

Themes of Federalist 2#:

Importance of a united federal government.

Biblical justification for governance (Genesis 9:3-6, Romans 13).

Challenges posed by the weak Articles of Confederation.

Key Insights:

Conflicts of interests under the Confederation.

The necessity of a unified American identity rooted in shared values, including Christianity.

God's providence in the formation of the nation.

Video Clip Reference: YouTube Link.

Discussion Points:

Historical Context of the Alien Act:

Passed in 1798 to address foreign threats during the Quasi-War.

Modern-day parallels and controversies over deportations.

Recent Deportation Headlines:

NBC's coverage (Link).

Resistance at the border (Link).

Notable Clips:

ICE head Tom Homan speaks with deportees (Link).

Border updates (Link, Link).

Trivia Question:

How many times was the State of Texas' Capitol purchased?

Discussion Points:

Quick historical insight into Texas' Capitol, its history, and notable trivia.

Panelists' guesses and reactions to the correct answer.

Key Highlights:

Pardons:

Proud Boys and pro-lifers (YouTube Link).

March for Life reflections (YouTube Link).

Planned Parenthood & Cultural Shifts:

Threats to defund Planned Parenthood (Link).

Reaction to Cecile Richards' passing.

Memes & Public Reactions:

Highlighted by @GigaBasedDad (Link).

Trump's silent strategizing (Link).

Panelists' favorite Trump win this week.

Closing reflections on Federalist 2# and the Alien Act parallels.

Federalist 1#: A Call for a New Constitution
The inefficiency of the current government led to the need for a new U.S. Constitution. The government struggled to pay its debts to soldiers and couldn't manage internal threats like Shay's Rebellion. These challenges, including a lack of trade protection and the failure to fund the government, highlighted the need for a stronger federal system.

The United States' Struggles Post-Revolution
After the War for Independence, the U.S. faced internal economic crises and external challenges, such as Spain blocking the Mississippi River. Failed attempts to fund the government, like the Impost Amendment of 1781, demonstrated the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
Newburgh Conspiracy (1783)
Shays' Rebellion (1786–1787)

The Need for a Stronger Government
Hamilton's Federalist 1 stresses the importance of a rational, unified government to ensure the safety and welfare of the union. He argues for a government built on reason, free from accidents or force, to safeguard the nation's future.

Opposition to the New Constitution
The new Constitution faced resistance from those who feared losing their power. Opponents included individuals seeking to maintain slavery or revert to British rule, making ratification a difficult process.

The External Revenue Service & Tariffs
Originally, the U.S. was funded through tariffs. The debate between free trade and protectionism plays a critical role in shaping economic policy today. China's unfair trade practices and exploitation make it increasingly difficult for American workers to compete.
The Core Arguments of Tariffs

The 32-Hour Work Week Proposal
A bill to reduce the U.S. workweek to 32 hours over four years promises increased worker satisfaction without a pay cut. Pilot programs have shown higher satisfaction and revenue growth. There are concerns about the impact on companies maintaining the 40-hour workweek.
32-Hour Workweek Bill Overview

Red Note vs. TikTok
With TikTok facing a potential ban due to Chinese propaganda influence, millions of American users flock to Red Note, a new platform named after Mao's Little Red Book. Security concerns and cultural clashes emerge as Red Note replaces TikTok.
Nick Fuentes Banned Before He Starts
Security Risk Concerns
Chinese Reaction to Red Note
Gender War Started
What Really Happens on Red Note
What Zoomers Think
The Native Response

Christmas Is Not A Pagan Holiday

Today, let's look at the common arguments for a Pagan Origin of Christmas. Let's put them into 3 categories:

1. The 25th Date coincides with other pagan holidays like Saturnalia and Sol Invictus

2. The gods who were born on the 25th make Christ look like a copycat in a long line of copycats.

3. The Christmas Tree appears to be the Asherah Pole from Jeremiah 10:1-5.

So let's start with the date of the 25th. Where did the date come from?

Some sources attribute Theophilus of Antioch circa 171-183 AD as the first to use the 25th of December date as the date of Christ's birth, due to the notion that prophets are conceived on the day they die (Christ's death being attributed here as the 25th of March). Some even attribute Pope St. Telesphorus in circa 125-136 AD as having ascribed the December 25th date decades earlier. The dates of Saturnalia were the 17th-23rd , never on the 25th. A Pre-Christ Sol Invictus is only referenced in 1 manuscript, the Chronography of 354. This manuscript was written over 100 years after Hippolytus of Rome's Commentary on Daniel (circa 202~211 AD), which references the December 25th Birth of Christ. It is entirely possible that the observance of Sol Invictus's birthdate may have even been a mimicry of the December 25th date! There go those two points, showing a crippling lack of scholarship on the part of the proponents of a Pagan Origin of Christmas.

As for other gods who have held or picked up the 25th, some of these have resurrection stories and other vague similarities to Christ's story. I'll have to quote Lewis here on this general contention as Lewis said it better than I could: “And what did God do? …He sent the human race what I call good dreams: I mean those queer stories scattered all through the heathen religions about a god who dies and comes to life again and, by his death, has somehow given new life to men.” If one takes the proposition that man came from Noah, and Noah expected the redeemer of the Genesis 3 covenant, would not man expect such a redeemer? Also, would not the Devil himself love to abuse this desire for a Savior and propagate such false religions for the Devil's own gain? This view, even if you believe it to be wrong, is at least consistent.

On a side note, I do not believe, like many, that Christ's birth was on the 25th of December. It was likely on the feast of First Fruits in April. This would better fit the prophetic timeline and The Christ Comet is a theory of the Star of Bethlehem that plots the activities of a specific comet to that time frame. This comet would have behaved in such a way as to lead the Magi to Jerusalem and then to Bethlehem, but this is neither here nor there for this discussion.

On the note of the Christmas Tree, the Asherah Pole of Pre-Christ Iran is often connoted with the Tradition of the Christmas Tree, which was started around the 1500s by the French and Germanic Christians, the better part of two millennia separated from Jeremiah's words in Jeremiah 10:1-5:

"1 Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: 2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good."

On that note, how would uncarved trees have anything to do with carved wooden idols? Just because heathens used trees in false worship, does not mean that trees are somehow pagan. If pagans doing something or celebrating in a certain way makes any association with the item or practice anathema, stop singing, stop praying, and while you're at it, stop breathing! This extreme is almost a strawman, but the point of this should be why are we doing what we do? Some traditions are valueless, granted. Some are even dangerous, agreed. But let's base our critiques, if we have them, on facts and not unsupported nonsense. (For example, find an actual ancient source on the use of Christmas Trees for Saturnalia. Few if any exist, and none that we are aware of.)

Santa Clause, on the other hand, is a different story. St. Nicholas (Born circa 280 AD) is the oldest reference of the Jolly Man who gave aid to the poor and powerless. Tales of St. Nicholas include him giving dowries to girls being sold into prostitution, thereby saving them from such a life, and giving gifts to the poor. Others are more fantastic. However, all of these stories should be celebrated, in the context of what the Love of God can do through one man. St. Nicholas wasn't magical, he was transformed through his relationship to Christ. Santa Claus, as we have him today, came from numerous accretions and other legends, some even pagan in origin (think Krampus).

All of that aside, however we got Santa Claus is not necessarily important. What is concerning is that some have taken the caricature of St. Nicholas and turned him into a god who rewards good works and the sacrament of milk and cookies. We tell children Santa and Jesus are both real and then wonder why they no longer believe in Christ only a few short years of their belief in Santa being shattered. Where is our consistency? Have we been guilty of worshiping a false god that satisfies our own paganistic desires for self fulfillment in America? Has Consumerism consumed the message of Christmas?

So, is Christmas a pagan holiday root and branch? Not in the root, but maybe for some, the branch. We should ask ourselves: Is Christ still on the throne of Christmas, or have we erected our own god of self-actualization with a fat bearded man who gives gifts with little effort from us, a caricature of God the Father Himself? Do we spend nearly as much time worshiping the King of Heaven as we do ourselves, and even our children and families?

https://www.learnreligions.com/why-is-christmas-on-december-25-700439

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2017/12/december-25th-birth-jesus-interesting-considerations.html

https://talesoftimesforgotten.com/2019/12/08/just-how-pagan-is-christmas-really/

https://talesoftimesforgotten.com/2018/12/05/the-origins-of-the-christmas-tree/

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/great-christ-comet-revealing-star-bethlehem/