AS 2011 BEGINS, LEARN TO RECOGNIZE THE ENEMY

++ AGENDA FOR THIS WEEK’S MEETING
++ ANNOUNCEMENTS
++ AS 2011 BEGINS, LEARN TO RECOGNIZE THE ENEMY
++ TIDBITS

++ AGENDA FOR THIS WEEK’S MEETING

Our 12 noon luncheon for Wednesday, January 5th will be held at
Italiano’s restaurant, 4801 North Lincoln in OKC. We are finally going
to get to show the DVD: AMERICAN TYRANNY STEP BY STEP - SAVING OUR
REPUBLIC. I wanted to show this 21 minute DVD a few weeks ago and we
just ran out of time during our meeting. In addition, we will show the
short video called Big Park. As we were first settling the country,
our founders wanted to get land into the hands of the people. For some
time now we have seen this idea reversed, with government at various
levels acquiring or controlling more and more property. One of the
disturbing trends is the rise of land placed into conservancy
programs. Norman may be the worst offender of this practice in
Oklahoma, but of course Norman may be the most liberal community in
Oklahoma, so that shouldn’t be too surprising. Liberal tree huggers or
animal rights extremists can place their property into such a program
and avoid having to pay property taxes. At the time of their death,
the land is permanently locked into a conservancy, never to be sold or
used for productive purposes for the rest of time.

++ ANNOUNCEMENTS

* MONDAY EVENING - DURANT AREA - I have been asked to speak to
the Bryan County Republicans & Conservatives Club in Durant, 6:30 p.m.
on Monday, January the 3rd. The location will be the First Nazarene
Church, which is at intersection of 9th and Texas Street. I have been
asked to talk about holding elected officials accountable and what to
watch for during the next legislative session.

* THURSDAY EVENING - OKC AREA - The Oklahoma Second Amendment
organization (OK2A) will hold their monthly meeting for the OKC area
this Thursday, January the 6th at 6:30 p.m. The location will be H&H
Range which is on the North side of I-40 and just East of Meridian. If
you would like to eat, the 4U Café will stay open until 6, so get
there a little early. Speaking will be Amanda Teegarden, with
Oklahomans for Sovereignty and Free Enterprise
www.ok-safe.org She will present a 1 hour long program on how to
effect legislation at the Capitol. Just because Republicans are in
control, don’t think they will support efforts to re-claim our 2nd
Amendment rights from excessive government controls.

* FRIDAY AT NOON - OKC AREA - The High Noon Club will have an
very special speaker this Friday at “high noon”. The location will
again be at H&H Range, just North of I-40 and East of Meridian.
Speaking will be Rick Green. Mr. Green is David Barton’s right hand
man, filling in for him when necessary. He is a former State Senator
from Texas and recently ran unsuccessfully for the Texas Supreme
Court. That will be Texas’ loss and the nation’s gain as he will
continue to have time for travel and speaking. I believe he spoke at
the 2nd or 3rd Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ conferences, where it
became apparent he has one serious flaw. He is a die hard University
of Texas fan and reminded us of their victories over Oklahoma’s
schools that year. THEREFORE, someone maybe everyone, please ask him
how things are with Mack Brown and his boys this year.

++ AS 2011 BEGINS LEARN TO RECOGNIZE THE ENEMY

I rarely paste an article from other sources, but the recent article
by Chuck Baldwin is exceptional, accurate and relevant to 2011 and our
more distant future. You will be far better informed if you will take
the time to read this.

Enemy Within The Gates
By Chuck Baldwin
December 30, 2010

As surely as William Barret Travis drew a line in the sand at the
Alamo, a line is being drawn in the hearts of men today. By the time
it is over, every man and woman in America will have to choose which
side of the line they are on. Neutrality will not be an option.
Furthermore, this line is separating, not only political and cultural
adversaries, it is dividing friends and families as well. In fact, it
is no hyperbole to say that the enemy is not only AT the gates; the
enemy is WITHIN the gates. Then again, I suppose that during any
momentous turning point of history, it has always been this way. And
make no mistake about it: we are at a momentous turning point of
history.

Consider what our Lord told us: “Think not that I am come to send
peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come
to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against
her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a
man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” (Matthew 10:34-36
KJV)

It’s happened before in America. It happened during our War for
Independence. It happened again during the War for Southern
Independence: father against son and brother against brother. And so
it is now.

The enemy has always done its best and most efficient work from
within. At this point, I am reminded of what America’s most
celebrated jurist, Daniel Webster, once said, “There is no nation on
earth powerful enough to accomplish our overthrow. Our destruction,
should it come at all, will be from another quarter: from the
inattention of the people to the concerns of their government, from
their carelessness and negligence. I must confess that I do apprehend
some danger. I fear that they may place too implicit a confidence in
their public servants and fail properly to scrutinize their conduct;
that in this way they may be made the dupes of designing men and
become the instruments of their own undoing.”

I am often asked, “From whence comes our greatest threat: Iraq,
Iran, Afghanistan, North Korea, Russia, China, etc.?” And my
response is the same as Webster’s: our greatest threat is within the
gates of our own country. Our greatest threat is Washington, D.C. I
will even go further than that. Many times, our greatest threat is
within the gates of our own churches, and within the walls of our own
homes!

Remember, the Lord Jesus was betrayed by one of his own apostles.
King David was betrayed by his own son. Samson was betrayed by a
lover. Noah was betrayed by a grandson. Joseph was betrayed by his own
brothers. Moses was betrayed by the ten trusted scouts. The list is
endless.

I remind you that during our War for Independence, the colonial army
had far more to fear from Benedict Arnold than it did from King
George! And so it is today. The enemy at the gates at least looks like
the enemy. It dresses like the enemy; it talks like the enemy; it acts
like the enemy. But the enemy within the gates looks like a friend. It
dresses like a friend; it talks like a friend; it acts like a friend.
But it is still the enemy!

The enemies of freedom are ubiquitous today. They are in our State
legislatures; they sit on the benches of our judiciary; they teach in
our colleges and universities; they preach in our pulpits; they teach
in our Sunday School classrooms; they sit across our dining room
tables; they even sleep in our own beds! And, for the most part, they
are in charge of most things going on in Washington, D.C.

These enemies of whom I speak are those who would rather protect
government (even illegitimate government) than protect freedom; they
would rather please the powers that be than please the Power that is;
and they would rather promote their own success and prosperity than
the success and prosperity of their country. They are
self-aggrandizing statists who suck at the teat of Big Government.
They might be Democrats or Republicans: at the national level, both
have a large welfare-addicted constituency. They might be Christians
or unbelievers. In fact, many of today’s Christians, churches, and
pastors are proving themselves to be the enemies of freedom to an even
greater extent than many unbelievers.

For the last several years, the absence of Christians (and especially
pastors) from the freedom fight is glaring! The vast majority of them
show little interest in whether or not their State defends itself from
ever-increasing federal encroachments; they show little attention to
the exponential growth of a Fascist-style police state that is taking
shape in front of their very eyes; and they seem little concerned over
the demise of constitutional government.

Beyond that, I have discovered firsthand that not only do many
Christians seem to revel in apathy and indifference to the
aforementioned attacks against our liberties, they will often unleash
vehement resistance and hatred to the brother that stands in
opposition to these attacks. It is no wonder Jesus said, “A man’s
foes shall be they of his own household.”

Some of these enemies and false brethren are motivated by jealousy.
Some are motivated by greed or ambition. Still, others suffer from
extreme character deficiencies, such as egomania, pride, laziness, or
intense feelings of insecurity. Regardless of the motivation, they set
their sights and whet their arrows against those who would dare take a
bold and courageous stand for liberty.

My fellow patriots, watch your back, because your greatest enemy is
probably behind you! Remember, Jesus “came unto his own, and his own
received him not.” (John 1:11) And of Christ does the prophet not
say, “And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine
hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the
house of my friends”? (Zechariah 13:6 KJV)

I can personally identify with Zechariah’s prophecy. The wounds my
wife and I (and our entire family) carry today were inflicted “in
the house of my friends.”

Perhaps the patriot’s courage convicts the statist of his own
laziness or greed. Perhaps the statist truly despises liberty in his
own heart, because, in his soul, he is either a tyrant or slave--or
even both. In fact, when the discussion of liberty is broached in
today’s Churchianity, I fear this is a major part of the problem.

I have witnessed firsthand the effects that legalism,
denominationalism, and corporatism have caused within the Church. Many
Christians are so enslaved by legalistic churches and institutions
that they wouldn’t know freedom if it came up and bit them on their
blessed assurance! They are told what kind of music to listen to, how
to wear their hair, what kind of clothes to put on, who can and
can’t be their friends--even how husbands and wives should express
their love to each other. Their entire lives are lived as subjects and
servants to the all-powerful institution (read: church, school,
college, etc.). What, pray tell, does the subject of liberty mean to
them? They are already enslaved!

Likewise, many professing pastors and Christians are as enslaved to a
denomination as any political subject in Russia or China. To them,
there is no truth worth defending but the truth proclaimed by the
almighty denomination. There is no battle worth fighting unless it is
sanctioned by the all-wise denomination. And there is no enemy worth
resisting who is not identified by the all-knowing denomination. What,
pray tell, does the subject of liberty mean to them? Are they not
slaves already?

Then there is the corporate slave! This is the so-called Christian
statist who recognizes no church that the IRS does not recognize--or
approve. This is the Christian, who, if he lived in communist China,
would attend the state-approved church, with a state-approved
minister, preaching state-approved sermons to state-enslaved subjects.
But as almost anyone knows, the real Church in oppressed countries is
never the one you see in state-sponsored
“we-have-freedom-of-religion-here” propaganda photo ops.

The real Church in oppressed countries meets in private living rooms,
back rooms, barns, sheds, or even in the backwoods. In all likelihood,
their gatherings are illegal, their ministers unlicensed, and their
worship politically incorrect. This has been the history of the real
Church since the Book of Acts. And it is fast becoming the experience
of the real Church in America!

Yes, a line is being drawn in the sand in this country. One will
either be a statist, who is devoted to the supremacy of the State, or
he or she will be a freedomist, who is devoted to the spirit and
principles of liberty. And just like at Travis’ Alamo, there can be
no neutrality.

I personally believe that God Himself is drawing this line in the
sand. I also believe that many professing Christians are quickly
lining up on the wrong side of that line and have made themselves the
enemies of truth and freedom (and those who love them). I further
believe that because so many Christians are holding their peace, the
“stones” are crying out for truth and liberty (Luke 19:40),
meaning God is often using strangers of the covenant to advance His
truth.

I also believe that God is preparing a robust and righteous remnant
from among those who love liberty (and are willing to guard and defend
it), while the traditional church (read: organized, incorporated,
state-sanctioned) is being given over to servitude and judgment. And
as I’ve also learned (and said before), patriots must watch their
backs, because the enemy is not AT the gates, it is WITHIN them!

© Chuck Baldwin

NOTE TO THE READER:

Chuck Baldwin is a syndicated columnist, radio broadcaster, author,
and
pastor dedicated to preserving the historic principles upon which
America
was founded. He was the 2008 Presidential candidate for the
Constitution
Party. He and his wife, Connie, have been married for 37 years and
have 3
children and 7 grandchildren.

Chuck Baldwin's commentaries are copyrighted and may be republished,
reposted, or emailed providing the person or organization doing so
does not
charge for subscriptions or advertising and that the column is copied
intact and that full credit is given and that Chuck's web site address
is
included.

Please visit Chuck's web site at http://chuckbaldwinlive.com

++ TIDBITS

* Oklahoma’s Judicial Nominating Commission (JDC) put the pedal to
the metal and rushed 3 names to Governor Henry so he could make a last
minute appointment to the State Supreme Court. I predict Jari Askins
will be his pick. Suits have been filed over the un-constitutional
make up of the JDC, but the suits will probably have to be heard
before the Supreme Court, which will have 5 members added to the Court
by this illegitimate JDC. Justice Taylor, improperly put on the Court
has already indicated he will not excuse himself from hearing the
suit. Maybe the time has come to create a special PAC for the purpose
of removing bad Justices each general election cycle when we have
those judges, that no-one ever knows anything about, on the ballot to
retain or reject.

* One of the Democrat Web-sites know for being confused and getting
things wrong, lists the top 10 stories for 2010. Number 4 and 6 are
laughable, while the rest are actually valid listings. I have to say,
8 out of 10 for this web-site ain’t so bad.

1. Oklahoma elects first woman governor
2. Oklahoma Democrats lose every state office
3. Randy Terrill arrested for Bribery (notice they didn’t mention
Democrat Debbie Leftwich)
4. Obama ends up being a moderate after all (Obama, never has been, is
not and never will be a moderate. He has had to moderate his positions
because he lacks full dictatorial powers)
5. Tulsa in gridlock with Mayor Bartlett
6. John Birch group takes over the Oklahoma House (oh, if this were
only true. If there is an entity controlling the House, it is the
State Chamber and their central planning buddies.)
7. OKC Thunder gives LA Lakers a run for their money during playoffs
8. OKC passes new MAPS which includes new parks and light rail
9. Earthquake swarms rattle central Oklahoma
10. Oklahoman leaks classified documents to Wekileaks

* Oklahoma’s most liberal State Senator Jim Wilson (D-Tahlequah
lifetime conservative index score is a 14) is planning on introducing
5 or 6 bills dealing with health care. I would say he is trying to
implement as much of Obama Care as possible from a State standpoint.
One of the more crazy ideas, is that Hospitals can’t claim visits to
the ER cost them more than a visit to a clinic. Sorry Jim, you can’t
legislate away reality. Wilson ran against Dan Boren in the Democrat
primary because he believed Boren was too conservative. Oh that Jim
would have beat Boren as Boren’s conservative votes were the only
thing that saved his hide from the charging Charles Thompson.

* Representative Eric Proctor (D-Tulsa) will introduce legislation to
allow independents to vote in a Republican or Democrat Presidential
primary race. Not only is this a really bad idea, Proctor shows his
ignorance as to the definition of a political party. A political party
is a private organization, a club if you will. It can establish its
own rules and procedures for membership and what it stands for, how it
selects its leaders and yes its own candidates. Independents or other
political parties have the right to select a candidate of their
choosing. If you live in a neighborhood association, would you want
non residents or non property owners to elect your officers? Would you
want non dues paying members of OCPAC to select our officers,
determine how to spend our money or set our agenda? Of course not and
neither should Republicans want independents or others to run the
Republican party or pick our candidates. Can anyone tell me why a
person registers as an independent? What do they stand for? This is
allowed in many other states and it can reek havoc. The most damaging
effects are usually done when independents join with liberal
Republicans (Sometimes even Democrats are allowed to cross party
lines) in primaries to defeat a principled conservative. Both
Proctor’s legislation as well as all of Senator Wilson’s should die a
swift and decisive death by no votes in committee. Don’t ignore these
bills, defeat them.

* Governor elect Fallin has said she is in favor of allowing the
trigger to occur to reduce the state income tax rate to 5.25% from its
current 5.5%, that is if state revenue predictions grow by 4% or more
over what was budgeted last year. She has also indicated she is
opposed to any tax increases or revenue enhancements. Speaker elect
Steele and Senate President Pro-Tem Bingman have both concurred. While
the budget hole is not going to be a large as predicted, this is
really good news and important as it will allow for further trimming
of government waste, inefficiencies, and hopefully programs which
simply aren’t a proper function of government.

* An official in the office of outgoing Attorney General Drew Edmond
issued an opinion last week that the bidding process was not
compromised nor did the immoral affair of Senator Coates and a female
lobbyist have any adverse affect on the process. However, officials
representing the interests of those losing out on the bid for a new
juvenile detention center disagree. It appears to me their beef is the
belief that the AG’s efforts were lame and a white wash. To me, it
appears that the state put out a Request For Proposal (RFP) for a
certain facility and the winning bid was for something very different.
If the state wants to change its mind from what it first wanted to
something different, then they should have put out a request for an
altered facility. It appears to me, the competitors, who met the
requirements of the RFP were at a disadvantage and were never really
going to be considered. The Oklahoman indicated that Senator Coates
has said that no one has asked him to step down as a Senator because
of the affair and as such he is going about his business of filing
bills. I would suggest, the honorable citizens of Senate District 28
should circulate a petition to ask him to step down since he has
become a huge embarrassment to them.

I look forward to seeing everyone this Wednesday.

Charlie Meadows
Charliemeadows7@gmail.com