Author Archives: Editor

F.R.E.E.

By Andy Myers

As the saying goes, “nothing worthwhile in life is free.” But on the other hand, the information I’m sharing with you today, just may be worth it’s weight in gold and silver, or as many of us like to refer to as “sound money.” F.R.E.E. stands for Federal Reserve Education Effort.
We aim to take the mystery and intimidation out of learning basic economics so the American people are no longer at the mercy of the Federal Reserves manipulation of “funny money.” Every day that passes, we are one day closer to economic collapse. The time to educate is NOW!

Despite silent and misleading causes of our financial mess, every day it becomes more apparent that the #1 issue in our country is the economy and the falling dollar. Who is to blame for this? Who is printing all the money that drives down the value of our dollar? Who controls the interest rates upon which the fate of the banks, credit cards, loans, mortgages, and lives depend? Are these officials elected by the people? How are they held accountable for their actions? Who is gaining from their inflationary policies? How long has this been going on? These are very important questions to ask yourself.

One need not be an economist to understand that Fed is neither federal, nor do they have any reserves. Our dollars are no longer backed by gold or silver. It is a “fiat” currency, and every economy that has used fiat currency in the past has ultimately collapsed.

We interact with money every day of our lives. Understanding the American financial system is KEY to gaining true freedom and prosperity. Please go to www.abolishthefed.net to learn more. Also don’t miss the FREE showing of “Dollars and Sense” by John F. McManus, President of the John Birch Society Thursday January 29th at the Xenia Library. Your children and grand children will thank you for it someday.

Christmas Yesterday, Today and Forever

The last post was about a soldier and missionary of Jesus Christ. John Birch’s life exemplified the reason Christ was born.

In a recent Human Events article, Newt Gingrich shares why Americans have great cause to celebrate the freedom that the babe in the manger grew up to achieve for us all. On Christmas Eve 1776, General George Washington, a devout follower of Jesus, stayed on mission to win a battle that led to our independence.

On Christmas Day, 1776, nearly all thought the Revolution was lost, except for a valiant few who still believed in “The Cause.” We owe our liberty today to those valiant few.

Led by George Washington, most of his army, dressed in rags and barefoot, faced a winter gale of rain, sleet, ice and snow. This band of patriots braved a midnight river crossing and a nine mile march over frozen roads to win a spectacular victory at Trenton, New Jersey, the following morning. Those were indeed times, as Thomas Paine would write, that “try men’s souls.”

In a season that has become too commercialized and — worse yet — had much of its religious meaning driven from the public square, Washington’s Christmas crossing is a story that should be remembered and celebrated, this Christmas and every Christmas.

Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Christ, to be with family and friends, and, I would add, to give thanks to God for those who endured so much on that Christmas night, 232 years ago.

While wise men still seek and venerate Jesus, God’s Son, the likes of Herod still attempt to eradicate any and every hindrance to their agendas including mass infanticide like abortion as well as rob the public of their liberties and prosperity to build empires enshrining their corrupt but magnificent egos.

Christmas is forever the victory of God and man over the darkness of injustice and death. It is the perpetual celebration of the Creator of life and humanity. Christmas is heaven’s song celebrating both God’s reality and His good will toward all mankind. It is the hope of nature–redemption and renewal. Christmas is a feast of light when old souls begin to consume a new born hope of eternal life. It is the star from East shining even as far as the West that promises a King actually capable of saving us all from every form of death concocted by modern elites global secularism. Christmas is the birth of majestic tradition of Western culture, art and music. Just image Christmas without Francis of Assi’s living crèche of the virgin born Jesus lying in a manger or of George Frideric Handel’s awesome oratorio Messiah. It is what Satan and secularists hate the most—the birth of the beauty of the fullness of pure life and holiness that is only accomplish by the masterful work of God and His Messiah, Jesus.

Captain John Birch: Wise as a Serpent, Harmless as a Dove

By Reverend Steven L. Craft

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10: 16)

The words of Jesus Christ to his disciples were an exhortation to be prepared to face persecution and death in carrying out their mission to evangelize the nations. This charge exemplified the life and death of Captain John Morrison Birch, an ambassador of Christ to the Chinese people.

Birch was a Baptist missionary and U.S. military intelligence officer who was murdered by the Chinese Communists in August, 1945. He was born in India and grew up in Macon, Georgia. As the flames of World War II were bursting fourth in both Europe and the Far East, he went to China and served as a Christian Missionary, preaching in territories occupied by enemy Japanese forces. In April 1942, he helped rescue American pilots in the bombing raid led by Major Jimmy Doolittle. He was commissioned and served as an intelligence analyst for the Office of Strategic Services. Promoted to Captain, he was awarded the Legion of Merit in 1944 and worked in China spreading the Gospel. After the war ended and while he was on an official mission, he was taken prisoner by Chinese Communists on August 25, 1945 and brutally executed.

At the young age of seven, John Birch experienced the call of God to the mission field. Upon learning of the suffering inflicted upon missionaries in China, he sensed God’s Spirit beckoning him to go there. His pastor warned him of the danger involved, but John replied: “I know the enemy is communism, but the Lord Jesus Christ has called me. My life is in His hands, and I am not turning back.”

Birch’s missionary ministry in China commenced in 1940 during the perilous time of war with the Japanese military. After Pearl Harbor, he dyed his hair black, wore Chinese clothing and learned the language. He truly became “one” with the people in order that he might win them to Christ. The fact that John Birch was a member of the Army and also a missionary added to his prestige and gave him great favor and influence among the Chinese people.

When the story of John Birch’s death as a martyr was uncovered by Robert Welch, he noted in his biography entitled The Life of John Birch: “If we can discover spiritual values and principles in the life of John Birch and recharge from the spark of his courage, while learning essential truths about the viciousness of our enemy, then his death was not in vain.”

He set an example for us today to follow Christ fully, even unto death. He expressed it this way in a letter to his sister: “Often, I feel that the barren years I spent were my God-given apprenticeship. A message of freedom is being formed within me, that will one day burn its way out and across man-made barriers, and into the very souls of men. I believe God is preparing me to withstand privation, pain, isolation, fatigue, and physical danger. To what end? That I might learn to trust Him fully in life and in death.”

God is faithful to keep His promises. John Birch went to China to preach the Gospel of Grace to the Chinese people. He was a true ambassador for Christ and gave his life as a martyr to serve God and the Chinese people. He was truly “wise as a serpent in respect to his military career, yet harmless as a dove in his calling as a missionary.

Christ declared: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” (John 12: 24).

John Birch was that “grain of wheat” that fell to the ground and died, but in so doing, he inspired our founder Robert Welch, who started in 1958 the John Birch Society which to this very day has produced the greatest fighters for liberty, justice, and freedom in America!

Therefore, patriots, let us stand strong in the fight against tyranny, slavery, racism, and hatred and the false allegations heaped upon our great John Birch Society, knowing that our hero gave not only his life but his sacrificial death in the fight against communism in America and around the world.

_______________

Reverend Steven L. Craft holds a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is a Doctoral candidate at Palmer Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He is the founder of Christian Citizenship Ministries, Inc. and is a motivational and inspirational speaker and author. He is co-author of the book Virtue and Vice: A Fascinating Journey Into Spiritual Transformation. He speaks on issues involving faith and culture, alcohol and drug prevention, crime, youth development and morality.

Hurricane Ike survivors welcome donated Christmas decorations

When Hurricane Ike swept across parts of the Gulf Coast in September, it destroyed many possessions, including Christmas decorations. Soon after, Jill Krone arrived with a disaster relief team and decided she wanted Ike survivors to enjoy some holiday cheer—as best they could. She began to solicit donations of Christmas ornaments and other decorations to give families. It was something, she figured, no one else would think to do. With the help of her church, Emory United Methodist in North Texas, word spread. “People instantly understood the meaning of what was lost,” says Krone. The church gave up counting when they passed 18,000 ornaments. In the end, Krone figures close to 30,000 items were donated. Go here for the full story.

Source: United Methodist News Service, December 19, 2008.

Ohio Dept. of Agriculture raids organic farmer, Buckeye Institute files charges against ODA

The Buckeye Institute’s 1851 Center for Constitutional Law today took legal action against the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) and the Lorain County Health Department for violating the constitutional rights of John and Jacqueline Stowers of LaGrange, Ohio. The Stowers operate an organic food cooperative called Manna Storehouse. ODA and Lorain County Health Department agents forcefully raided their home and unlawfully seized the family’s personal food supply, cell phones and personal computers. The legal center seeks to halt future similar raids. The complaint was filed in Lorain County Court of Common Pleas.

“The use of these police state tactics on a peaceful family is simply unacceptable,” Buckeye Institute President David Hansen said. “Officers rushed into the Stowers’ home with guns drawn and held the family – including ten young children – captive for six hours. This outrageous case of bureaucratic overreach must be addressed.”

The Buckeye Institute argues the right to buy food directly from local farmers; distribute locally-grown food to neighbors; and pool resources to purchase food in bulk are rights that do not require a license. In addition, the right of peaceful citizens to be free from paramilitary police raids, searches and seizures is guaranteed under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Section 14, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution.

“The Stowers’ constitutional rights were violated over grass-fed cattle, pastured chickens and pesticide-free produce,” Buckeye Institute 1851 Center of Constitutional Law Director Maurice Thompson said. “Ohioans do not need a government permission slip to run a family farm and co-op, and should not be subjected to raids when they do not have one. This legal action will ensure the ODA understands and respects Ohioans’ rights.”

On the morning of December 1, 2008, law enforcement officers forcefully entered the Stowers’ residence, without first announcing they were police or stating the purpose of the visit. With guns drawn, officers swiftly and immediately moved to the upstairs of the home, finding ten children in the middle of a home-schooling lesson. Officers then moved Jacqueline Stowers and her children to their living room where they were held for more than six hours. Such raids are beyond the scope of the purely administrative authority delegated to ODA and county health departments.

In enforcing licensure laws, these agencies are only permitted to contract for routine enforcement services. Forceful raids and sweeping searches and seizures are not routine, and exceed the authority granted to ODA and county health departments.

The Buckeye Institute seeks an injunction against similar future raids, and a declaration that such licensure laws are unconstitutional as applied the Stowers and individuals like them. There has never been a complaint filed against Manna Storehouse or the Stowers related to the quality or healthfulness of the food distributed through the co-op.

The Buckeye Institute’s legal center will defend the Stowers against any criminal charges related to the raid. A copy of the complaint is available at http://www.buckeyeinstitute.org/stowers.pdf.

But what is NAIS?

The USDA’s proposed National Animal Identification System (NAIS) was originally designed to give the big beef producers help in getting export markets which required disease controls. The idea is that every single livestock animal in the United States will be identified and tagged. All livestock animal movements will be tracked, logged and reported to the government. The benefit is to the big factory farms who probably do need this type of regulation. They get to do single ID’s for large groups of animals. Small farmers, pet owners and homesteaders will have to tag and track every single animal.

There are no exceptions – even small farms that sell direct to local consumers will be required to pay the fees and file all the paper work on all their animals. Even horse, llama and other pet owners will be required to participate in NAIS. Homesteaders who raise their own meat and grandma with her one egg hen will also have to register their homes as ‘farm premises’ and obtain a Premise ID, tag all their animals and submit all the paperwork and fees. Absurd? Yes – There are no exceptions under the current NAIS plan. The USDA has slipped this plan in the back door without any legislation. This is going to be very expensive and guess who is going to pay for it in higher food prices… You!

Source: NoNAIS.com

Fitch lowers Ohio’s rating, but its a great time to buy a business

Fitch Rating lowered its financial outlook of Ohio from stable to negative. Fitch said the negative outlook was based on the long-term decline of Ohio’s economic performance, exacerbated by the national recession, and the likelihood of continued economic erosion.

Factors contributing to Fitch’s negative outlook include the decline in manufacturing, a slowing service sector, and the severe economic downturn affecting the housing market, auto assembly plants, plus the state’s negative economic and revenue forecasts.

“Since the last recession, employment growth had been limited, rising a total of 0.5% from 2004 to 2007, compared to U.S. growth of 5.9% over the same period. October 2008 employment is down 0.3% year-over-year, compared to 0.9% losses for the U.S. overall. Personal income, though growing, continues to underperform comparable national figures: personal income rose 4.7% in Ohio in 2007, versus 6% nationally; second quarter 2008 personal income rose 4.2%, versus 5.2% nationally,” according the Fitch report.
In spite of the bad news, Fitch rates Ohio’s bonds at AA+. For Greene County, it gets even better. Fitch rating of the county is AAA.

Fitch’s rating of Greene County as a good investment helps explain why writers for business journals like Entrepreneur say now is a good time to buy a business.

“In the past few recessions, franchises fared well–even thrived–as ex-corporate workers sought more autonomy and personal reward than their previous jobs offered. But this downturn feels markedly different, and prospective franchisees like you are understandably cautious about rushing into a long-term investment, according to Janean Chun.

She says franchisers are responding by reducing franchise fees, reducing or eliminating mandatory marketing expenses, and lowering the costs of products supplied.

What is true of franchises may be relevant of other types of businesses.

Countering the current negative outlook is the continued increase of personal income reported by both Fitch and the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Another promising trend is the retail sales. U.S. Census Bureau reports 3rd quarter retail sales increased 0.5% over 3rd quarter sales last year. The increase of e-commerce sales was 5.7%.

Being part of Greene County, Xenia may also benefit from these positive trends. That’s the hope.

The Naught and Nice List of Christmas Retailers

American Family Association conducted research into retailers who take a politically correct (secular) approach to Christmas and those who acknowledge Christmas—well, as Christmas—and not as a mere holiday.

Naughty retailers located in the Xenia include CVS Pharmacy, Kroger, Radio Shack, and Super Value. Regionally, those naughty corporate retailers who would sterilize Christ from the Christmas holiday include Barnes & Nobles, Costco, The Gap, Old Navy, Office Depot, Olive Garden, and Staples.

Local retailers on the good or nice list include Big Lots, Family Dollar, Dollar General, Kmart, Lowe’s, Rite Aid, Walgreens, and Wal-mart. I noticed Fulmers is another retailer officially for Christmas. Other regional retailers who are for Christmas include Bass Pro Shops, Bed Bath & Beyond, Belk, Best Buy, Home Depot, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Menard’s, Petsmart, Sears, Super D Drugs Store, and Target.

If you know of other naughty or nice retailers, send me an email.

You can also show your support of the good guys both by shopping at their stores and by sending them a note of good Christmas cheer. You can also express your sentiments concerning those naughty anti-Christmas retailers by not shopping at their stores and by communicating your thought to them. To do so, go to http://www.afa.net/christmaslist.asp and follow the links.

After all, Christmas has a long history in the United States and around the world. Christmas is a special time of joyful giving and receiving. Yes, God so loved the world that He gave us the babe in the manger. Jesus Christ has not only benefited the world but He (the law-fulfilling gospel covenant) is also at the heart of all originally principles of our freedom. Why let those who hate God and morality rob us of the beautiful historical heritage? Why allow those same people and those businesses supporting them rob us of the source of our liberty and rights?

Concerning an atheistic yultide holiday, I say, “Bah! Humbug.” This is the season for a Merry Christmas!

John Mitchel Asks County Commissioners About $1.9 Million Missing In Budget Enactment

On December 11, John Mitchel presented testimony before the newly elected Greene County Commissioners about previous the commission’s oversight of the Wright Patterson AFB BRAC Initiative Agreement and a corresponding unaccounted for $1.9 million deficit in that commission’s budget enactment.

The following are excerpts from Mitchel’s testimony:

There are two elements of the BRAC Initiative Agreement that cause me grave concern. First, during recent and past campaigns, many politicians including Commissioner Perales, Commissioner-elect Reid, State Senator Austria and Congressman Hobson, took significant credit for BRAC success by implying their opponent was less-equipped to address the issue. Rarely, if ever do we hear about the diligent professionals at Wright Patt who go to work every day quietly doing their jobs serving our courageous war-fighters. I would say their hard work and professionalism warrant recognition for Wright Patt’s success infinitely more than the self-directed praise from elected officials who are paid well to serve their constituents, not take undeserved credit for their success. Second, Greene County taxpayers are never recognized for their role in funding the BRAC Initiative Agreement, although I still doubt its value added to the process. In the Economic Development Note dated October 3rd, 2003, County Auditor Delaney describes a “non-interest bearing” loan to the Dayton Development Coalition from Fund 0207-0101 in the amount of $900,000 to partially fund the $1.9 million BRAC Initiative Agreement. In essence, the Greene County Commissioners authorized an interest free loan to the Dayton Development Coalition for $900,000 and then sold the note to Fifth Third Bank with Greene County taxpayers picking up the interest. To add insult to injury, in documents acquired through Ohio’s open records statute, there’s evidence that the Dayton Development Coalition deposited their interest free loan from Greene County taxpayers in an interest bearing account, not to mention that Fifth Third Bank did not pay federal or state corporate income taxes on over $17,000 they collected in interest paid by Greene County taxpayers. Contrast that to the hapless Greene County taxpayer who is late in paying his or her property taxes. If even one day late, a Greene County taxpayer is charged an immediate 10 percent penalty on the unpaid balance and 8 percent annual interest if the tax bill continues to be delinquent. My first question is, “Does it concern you that your constituents paid the interest on a loan to the Dayton Development Coalition who in turn non-competitively awarded contracts to Greentree and The PMA Group, a Washington lobbyist? Does it concern you that your constituents are also hit for a 10 percent penalty plus 8 percent interest if they are late paying their property taxes?

Now let’s take a look at what Greene County taxpayers got for that $1,900,000 the Commission sent to the Dayton Development Coalition by way of the BRAC Initiative Agreement. Here I have Dayton Development Coalition’s 2005 IRS Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. The Form 990 shows that in 2005, the last full year of the BRAC Initiative Agreement, on revenues of $1,747,719, the Dayton Development Coalition lost $337,325. On page 6 of the Form 990, it shows that the Coalition paid $74,402 to former officer Ron Wine. Page 12 shows that the Coalition paid $285,854 to the Coalition’s President and CEO, J P Nauseef. Those two expenditures alone account for almost $30,000 more than the Coalition lost in 2005. Let me ask the same question. Does it concern you that in 2005 your constituents helped pay over $72,000 to a former Coalition employee and over $285,000 to the President and CEO when the Coalition lost over $300,000 under his leadership.

My next question goes back to the $1.9 million to fund the BRAC Initiative Agreement. Nowhere in the Greene County 2003 budget enactment could I find that this money was legally appropriated. In fact, the entire enactment in 2003 for “Economic Development” was less than $450,000. Fund 0207-0101 does authorize a $900,000 interest-free loan to the Dayton Development Commission, but that does not address my concern that it was legally appropriated in the 2003 budget. And that still doesn’t account for the other $1,000,000 in the BRAC Initiative Agreement including the $100,000 grant. Could the Commission address those concerns and report back to me in January?

Mitchel continued by bring to the attention of the commission about pertinent information that was withheld or suppressed by various officials that could have resolved the valid legal issues.

I wonder what will be the outcome in January?

Hometown Christmas, Yummy Steak, and Little Carolers

Saturday, December 13, I made a pilgrimage to downtown Xenia. Having lived in Xenia most of my life, it is easy to remember the good ole’ days. The place where hip-hop caroling was happening is near the old Singers store. Today, it’s a pharmacy across from city hall. Singers was a woman’s clothing store visited by people from as far away as Columbus and Cincinnati.

It was very cold at 4:15 PM. I stood there a short time listening to a modern rendition of Jingle Bells and watching the backbreaking but choreographed dance by a group of young people dress is elfish red. I caught a glimpse of one of Xenia’s honorable public officials, I think. If I am not mistaken, Councilman Louderback was watching over the good elfish dancers and probably the city’s sound system.

Beginning to shiver, I briskly walked down Detroit Street to my favorite (if only) used bookstore hoping to find a book recommended by John Birch Society’s field representative, Tom Rice, who presented many reasons why we should demand of our politicians the immediate repeal of NAFTA and an end to any discussions of a North American Community or Union. I hope that we value our national sovereignty and individual freedom more than national and state official want to trade them away on the global competitive market. Andy Meyers organized the interesting meeting, which was held at the Xenia Library.

Blue Jacket Books didn’t have the book. Consequently, I braved the cold once again making my way across Detroit towards East Main. I noticed that the Xenia Shoe store was open. Not only was this continually expanding and remolded store open but they were offering a 25% discount on their merchandise. Not being in the market for new shoes—my warm boots are still in good condition—I continued down the sidewalk. The only other establishments open on that block beside the clothing store and Oasis Café was Express Yourself Coffeehouse. I imagine many of others closed before 4:30pm. Besides being as old as dirt, I can still see. I could see a number of those store fronts that I was briskly passing has been open earlier. Even though I was beginning to shiver again, I stopped at a little shop to see some really cool pictures displayed in the window. One picture up for auction appeared to be a painting of Xenia downtown many years ago. Had the shop been open, I would have likely place my bid. I think the auction was to raise money for the Xenia Area Community Theater.

Getting colder by the minute, I beat it to the Oasis Café. It has been my intention to find out how good their food really is. This was the big day. Oasis not only smelled deliciously warm but it was warm. I have to admit though that at this very moment I am puzzled. I’m looking at the on-line menu and I don’t see the meal I purchased while there. Nevertheless, the meal I purchased consisted on a delicious lemon-something steak with rice and a roll. I discovered it was truly yummy after I was in front of my TV watching Ben Stein’s documentary Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, an excellent work. So was the thick and juicy hunk of steak that would have cost at least $12 at any other restaurant. What do you think it cost me? $10 bucks? No! $8 dollars? No! $7.50? No, try $6.95. I guess the Sonja and Mike Pershing were into the Hometown Christmas spirit, and I’m glad they were too.

I think it’s unfortunate that the Christmas grinch seems to be plaguing Xenia residents. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I was there at the wrong time. Yes, downtown lacks the good ole stores it once was famous for. They were run out of town by a tornado, big attractive malls, and blurry-eyed policy-makers. Yet, establishments like Oasis carry on the Xenia tradition. I remember eating there when it was Frisch’s.

As I was returning to my car with my food, I noticed a band playing Christmas music on stage where I had witness choreographed hip-hop caroling. (If such a thing can actually exist.) My car was waiting for me in the Towne Square Shopping Center parking lot. (All stores were still open there.) I didn’t see many people enjoying the band though.

What I will never forget is the stream of excited and cute children caroling all over downtown spreading a little joy to their world. Yes, I received a priceless gift this Christmas. Too bad you missed it.