Our mission, as God-fearing and God-loving patriots, is to defend this Constitutional Republic and to increase its greatness, in all good things and ways, by using our voices in free but courteous speech, by discussing the happenings of the world and coming to a profound understanding of those things, and by sharing and promulgating these Truths on both this platform and others.
Are you ready? No rest for the weary! MOAR coffee after a knockout MAGA Rally in PA last night (thank you to all who contributed). Make sure to take your Winnimins this morning. We still have more testimony in the House today and BREXIT votes tomorrow!!!!!!!! How does Flep keep up?
Today is the day Horowitz testifies in the Senate Judiciary Committee with Lindsey Graham presiding. This will be a great chance for us at QTree, and the public in general, to compare and contrast Nadler in the House, with how Senator Graham runs a Judiciary Committee.
Let’s take a look at who is on the Judiciary Committee to get an idea of what to expect.
Republicans
Lindsey Graham – Ranking Chair
Chuck Grassley – Pro Tempore member of the Senate- Papa is VERY angry with James Comey.
John Cornyn-Texas (Beto is NOT running against him)
Mike Lee-Utah (brilliant, but recent love affair with tech companies)
Ted Cruz – Texas (can’t wait – he overperforms in this setting)
Ben Sasse – Nebraska (meh)
Josh Hawley- Missouri (rising star)
Thom Tillis – North Carolina (recently had his “Come to Jesus moment”)
Joni Ernst – Iowa (fickle, concubine for the US Chamber of Commerce)
Mike Crapo – Idaho (also Chair of Foreign Affairs Comm – watch him)
John Kennedy (The Oxford Scholar with the razor wit)
Marsha Blackburn (perennial favorite)
The Democrats
Diane Feinstein – Minority Chair (too old but guided by powerful staff)
Patrick Leahy – Vermont (Fed Judge Beryl Howell, the one who wore Mao uniforms to Congress, was his staffer who helped write the Patriot Act – she was the one who ruled Trump Admin to turn over the Grand Jury testimony to Nadler, immediately overruled)
Dick Durbin, Illinois
Sheldon Whitehouse, CT, (TDS is strong with this one, expect fireworks)
Amy Klobuchar, MN (running for President and lagging in polls)
Chris Koons, Delaware (loves Biden, misses Jeff Flake)
Dick Blumenthal, CT (deeply involved in Ukraine fiasco, taken money, watch him for cues)
Maizo Hirono, Hawaii (hasn’t been in press lately, misses the spotlight)
Cory Booker, NJ (running for Senator and needs to fundraise, expect drama unrelated to subject matter but for effect)
Kamala Harris (running for VEEP stakes)
It would be foolish for us to ignore the Bill Barr interviews from yesterday, in the context of Horowitz Testimony today. Seems as though Bill Barr put his thumb on the scale and gave the Republicans a magical blueprint for testimony today. Let’s see if they take heed.
Note how Barr talks specifically about the timeline, and how the investigations continued into the Presidency of Trump under a false premise. Barr explicitly states these investigations should have never gone forward, and probably should have never started (flimsy, a suggestion of a suggestion from a 28yr old campaign volunteer in a bar – when everyone in the WORLD was talking about who had Hillary’s emails). Barr eviscerates Brennan and Comey. He defends the President and leaves his interviewers ……………. shocked and blubbering.
While Barr and Durham, plot and plan the rollout, grooming their proverbial “staches”……
Hi, folks. You guys are terrific. We’ve been hunting for a “whole interview” video all afternoon. Thank you for pitching in to help! Here’s the whole thing.
And here is the interview with WSJ (YUGE hat tip to FLEP for finding it!)
Watch to the point where he flashes a big grin…. he’s talking about putting people in jail, and… it takes a little time.
You’re going to hear a LOT about these BILL BARR interviews with MSNBC and WSJ. I got a heads up on the MSNBC one, and it only finished about 5 minutes ago. Watched the portion of WSJ interview run by FOX. All I have NOW are my notes, posted below. We will post the full clip and transcript when it becomes available. MSNBC will not release the full video and they’re playing games on the interview – yeah, it was that bad —- for them. We’re piecing the interview together as best as we can. Please pardon typos on my pseudo transcript, I was going as quickly as I could.
Rest assured, Barr just slapped the media, the FBI, the Dems, the Russians, everyone, and completely defended the President. It was epic.
Whole thing started…. how?
Flimsy
A suggestion of a suggestion from a 28yr old campaign worker, that Russians MAY have Hillary’s emails. Well, look what was going on in May of 2016, many reports that Russian hacked her server in 2014. Press accounts were all over the place…….. and they jumped right into a full scale investigation, very intrusive technics, because of a suggestion of a suggestion IN A BAR. Inexplicable that they talked to the RUSSIANS and not to the campaign. Excoriates Brennan who confronted the head of Russian secret service, and OBama talked to Putin, said cut it out.
BUT they never talked to the campaign. Why not?
Talking about the “non-bias” and how it’s really not investigated by the OIG. You have to wait for the full investigation by Durham. He can compel people to testify. Horowitz just asked them if they were biased and if he did not find contradictory testimony, then he was done. Premature to make any judgement now. Question — they opened an investigation but no one was really harmed.
From Barr: We’re going to put people in there and wire them up and then we’ll get the truth. Not ONE piece of incriminatory evidence that came in, in fact it was exculpatory. FBI ignored it withholds it from the court all while it gets more warrants. clear cut evidence that the Dossier was a complete sham from more evidence collected
After January the whole case collapsed. All speculation Zero information to support it What did they do? They kept on investigating the President Not only did they NOT tell the Court, they added OTHER stuff , made up stuff, to bolster their dossier proof.
Opens the possibility to infer BAD FAITH To early to tell (wink), but Durham is working on it.
Question – all kinds of bias, political, institutional, Barr – I don’t want to say. Horowitz focuses on the FBI, but there was a lot going on around the FBI
Question: Do you still maintain….. Was the campaign spied upon From barr: Oh, clearly they were spied upon !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FISA allow to go BACK, emails, months and even years, that’s why they went for a FISA for retroactive accumulating of material
Actually preceded July.
Some things done during the investigating, which Horwitz did not cover. Durham is also exploring what Happened AFTER january, withholding info from court. He’s the President of the USA, what was their motivation? (why did they continue)
Why did you go to three countries with Durham. Answer from Barr: Press reporting on this has been silly. a US Atty does not just show up on the doorstep of a government, have to introduce, ambassadors involved, establish ground rules, perfectly appropriate.
Question: was it appropriate for Durham to issue a statement yesterday Barr: Absolutely, didn’t want the public to think the predication of the FBI investigation was cleared. Durham needed to make it clear. (slams media again)
Are you confident Wray can fix the FBI? In light of Trump’s tweet. practically speaking, i think Wray has worked hard to correct the problems of the past, new team, old tean is not there. Cannot ignore the abuses of the past. Have to focus on getting it right So you have confidence in Wray? Yes
People will think and say you’re just defending Trump I think our nation was turned on it’s head for three years, in large part by an irresponsible press FISA abuses. Protect against the abuse of the FBI That’s my responsibility
Were you ever asked to talk to anyone in Ukraine about a Server? No I haven’t gotten into the Ukraine yet I don’t know I haven’t even looked into it frankly
DOJ Criminal Division career employees said Whistle Blower complaint about campaign finance was looked t and determined to not hold merit
Was it a terrorist act in Pensacola? Not discussing details of investigation….. We are satisfied with cooperation we are getting
Comment on police address – if people don’t support their police, they might find themselves without the protection needed. We’re in a full employment economy.. Every police dept is understaffed. high suicide rate, unless we change we’re not going to have enough police. But you’re not saying people shouldn’t criticize the police when they do something wrong? No.
Talking about patience and the need for answers NOW…… I know, I know, but we cannot cut corners on collection of evidence. You know that. I see us reaching a Reaching a watershed, in lte spring or early summer…….. DURHAMMMMMMMMMM
Daughn’s notes, not perfect transcription but as close as possible
Barr is NOW doing another interview with the WSJ. We will post both interview when available.
From the WSJ interview, tone was much more friendly and Barr was not as cutting and sarcastic. They went over the same topics and similar answers.
One exception: In the WSJ interview, Barr said Brennan (himself) called the head of the FSB in Russia on August 4th, and again later in August (2016). Obama called (himself) in September of 2016 and told Putin, “we know what you’re doing, stop it”
Pack an overnight bag and let’s make a run to Hershey, PA!
We’ve been to Hershey before. Remember? Well, since 2016, PA has changed a little bit!
“Pennsylvania is booming thanks to President Trump and jobs are coming back to the state,” said Michael Glassner, Chief Operating Officer of Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.. “Since President Trump’s election, Pennsylvania has added 157,800 new jobs, including 2,900 manufacturing jobs. President Trump is delivering on his promises, and he looks forward to celebrating those successes with the great men and women of Pennsylvania.”
This will be the president’s 35th visit to Pennsylvania since announcing his candidacy during the 2016 election. He visited the state 19 times as a Republican candidate, once as a president-elect and 14 times as a sitting president.
Trump’s visit with Pence on Tuesday is the first time the president and vice president have appeared together in Hershey since they came for the “Thank You” tour on Dec. 15, 2016. On that trip, he said, “In four years, we’re going to win Pennsylvania by even more.”
He won Pennsylvania by 44,292 votes in 2016, thanks in part to thousands of first-time voters in southcentral Pennsylvania. Analysts say he will need those voters again if he wants to hold on to swing states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Florida.
Trump has drawn some of his largest crowds at Giant Center, which seats more than 10,000 people and has standing room for supporters on the floor. His campaign has previously estimated 13,000 attendees at his Hershey rallies.
While we’re in Hershey, PA, take another evening to explore Hershey Park. It’s a resort and Amusement Park which has been open since 1907. The Christmas light spectacular on Candy Lane is perfect for the kids, with real reindeer, tons of Christmas lights, several worthy roller coasters and vast rides, and of course, your favorite Christmas treats!
Hershey Park has two hotels, the Lodge and Hershey Hotel. There’s a water park and the place is YUGE!!!! Looks like fun to me, and with MORE people working, more families can afford to go and take the kids!
Yes, the Dems did dump thousands of pages of “evidence” Saturday afternoon, for a Monday morning hearing. Yes, The Repubs asked for the “evidence” for over 25days and the Dems ignored them. Every possible dirty trick is being employed. Minority Leader Collins asked for a delay to review the material and Nadler refused. We’re careening towards impeachment and the brakes have failed…..
Chairman Nadler has no choice but to postpone Monday’s hearing in the wake of a last-minute document transmission that shows just how far Democrats have gone to pervert basic fairness.https://t.co/iGBGrgFAYq
“The Inspector General’s report now makes clear that the FBI launched an intrusive investigation of a U.S. presidential campaign on the thinnest of suspicions that, in my view, were insufficient to justify the steps taken.”
Barr again in statement defending Trump: “It is also clear that, from its inception, the evidence produced by the investigation was consistently exculpatory.”
More from Barr in total: “Nothing is more important than the credibility and integrity of the FBI and the Department of Justice. That is why we must hold our investigators and prosecutors to the highest ethical and professional standards. The Inspector General’s investigation has provided critical transparency and accountability, and his work is a credit to the Department of Justice. I would like to thank the Inspector General and his team. The Inspector General’s report now makes clear that the FBI launched an intrusive investigation of a U.S. presidential campaign on the thinnest of suspicions that, in my view, were insufficient to justify the steps taken. It is also clear that, from its inception, the evidence produced by the investigation was consistently exculpatory. Nevertheless, the investigation and surveillance was pushed forward for the duration of the campaign and deep into President Trump’s administration. In the rush to obtain and maintain FISA surveillance of Trump campaign associates, FBI officials misled the FISA court, omitted critical exculpatory facts from their filings, and suppressed or ignored information negating the reliability of their principal source. The Inspector General found the explanations given for these actions unsatisfactory. While most of the misconduct identified by the Inspector General was committed in 2016 and 2017 by a small group of now-former FBI officials, the malfeasance and misfeasance detailed in the Inspector General’s report reflects a clear abuse of the FISA process. FISA is an essential tool for the protection of the safety of the American people. The Department of Justice and the FBI are committed to taking whatever steps are necessary to rectify the abuses that occurred and to ensure the integrity of the FISA process going forward. No one is more dismayed about the handling of these FISA applications than Director Wray. I have full confidence in Director Wray and his team at the FBI, as well as the thousands of dedicated line agents who work tirelessly to protect our country. I thank the Director for the comprehensive set of proposed reforms he is announcing today, and I look forward to working with him to implement these and any other appropriate measures. With respect to DOJ personnel discussed in the report, the Department will follow all appropriate processes and procedures, including as to any potential disciplinary action.”
Here is Durham’s Response:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, December 9, 2019
Statement of U.S. Attorney John H. Durham
“I have the utmost respect for the mission of the Office of Inspector General and the comprehensive work that went into the report prepared by Mr. Horowitz and his staff. However, our investigation is not limited to developing information from within component parts of the Justice Department. Our investigation has included developing information from other persons and entities, both in the U.S. and outside of the U.S. Based on the evidence collected to date, and while our investigation is ongoing, last month we advised the Inspector General that we do not agree with some of the report’s conclusions as to predication and how the FBI case was opened.”
Looks like DOJ IG Report is clear that Republican FISA abuse memo from February 2018 was accurate and actually understated the FISA abuse the dirty cops engaged in. Time for FISA court to take action!
The Honorable Michael Horowitz Inspector General U.S. Department of Justice Washington, D.C. 20530
Dear Inspector General Horowitz:
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Report titled, “Review of Four FISA Applications and Other Aspects of the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane Investigation” (Report).
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) appreciates the OIG’s crucial independent oversight role and the thoroughness and professionalism your office brought to this work. The Report’s findings and recommendations represent constructive criticism that will make us stronger as an organization. We also appreciate the Report’s recognition that the FBI cooperated fully with this review and provided broad and timely access to all information requested by the OIG, including highly classified and sensitive material involving national security.
The Report concludes that the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation and related investigations of certain individuals were opened in 2016 for an authorized purpose and with adequate factual predication. The Report also details instances in which certain FBI personnel, at times during the 2016-2017 period reviewed by the OIG, did not comply with existing policies, neglected to exercise appropriate diligence, or otherwise failed to meet the standard of conduct that the FBI expects of its employees — and that our country expects of the FBI. We are vested with significant authorities, and it is our obligation as public servants to ensure that these authorities are exercised with objectivity and integrity. Anything less falls short of the FBI’s duty to the American people.
Accordingly, the FBI accepts the Report’s findings and embraces the need for thoughtful, meaningful remedial action. I have ordered more than 40 corrective steps to address the Report’s recommendations. Because our credibility and brand are central to fulfilling our mission, we are also making improvements beyond those recommended by the OIG. And where certain individuals have been referred by the OIG for review of their conduct, the FBI will not hesitate to take appropriate disciplinary action if warranted at the completion of the required procedures for disciplinary review.
Below is a summary of the actions we are taking, which we describe in more detail in the attachment to this letter.
First, we are modifying our processes under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), both for initial applications and renewals, to enhance accuracy and completeness. The FBI relies on FISA every day in national security investigations to prevent terrorists and foreign intelligence services from harming the United States. We are making concrete changes to ensure that our FISA protocols, verifications, layers of review, record-keeping requirements, and audits are more stringent and less susceptible to mistake or inaccuracy. These new processes will also ensure that the FISA Court and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are apprised of all information in the FBI’s holdings relevant to a determination of probable cause
Second, we undertook an extensive review of investigative activity based out of FBI Headquarters. The FBI is a field-based law enforcement organization, and the vast majority of our investigations should continue to be worked by our field offices. Moving forward, in the very rare instance when FBI Headquarters runs a sensitive investigation, we are requiring prior approval by the FBI Deputy Director and consultation with the Assistant Director in Charge or Special Agent in Charge of the affected field offices.
Third, we are making significant changes to how the FBI manages its Confidential Human Source (CHS) Program. Many FBI investigations rely on human sources, but the investigative value derived from CHS-provided information rests in part on the CHS’s credibility, which demands rigorous assessment of the source. The modifications we are making to how the FBI collects, documents, and shares information about CHSs will strengthen our assessment of the information these sources are providing.
Fourth, I am establishing new protocols for the FBI’s participation in Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)-led counterintelligence transition briefings (i.e., strategic intelligence briefings) provided to presidential nominees. The FBI’s role in these briefings should be for national security purposes and not for investigative purposes. Continued participation by the FBI in these transition briefings is critical to ensuring continuity in the event of a change in administrations. The new FBI protocols about transition briefings will complement procedures already implemented by the FBI earlier this year to govern the separate category of defensive briefings. The FBI gives defensive briefings, which are based on specific threat information, in a wide variety of contexts and for myriad federal, state, and other public and private individuals and entities. The procedures we recently established for defensive briefings regarding malign foreign influence efforts have brought a new rigor and discipline to whether and how such briefings should proceed.
Fifth, I am mandating a specialized, semiannual training requirement for FBI personnel at all levels who handle FISA and CHS matters. This training will be experience-based, and it will cover specific lessons learned from this Report, along with other new and revised material. Earlier in my tenure as Director, I reinstated an annual ethics training program for all FBI employees, because I learned the training had been discontinued in prior years. While that training was not introduced in response to this Report, all current FBI employees involved in the 2016-2017 events reviewed by the OIG have since completed this additional training in ethics and professional responsibility.
Finally, we will review the performance and conduct of certain FBI employees who were referenced in the Report’s recommendations — including managers, supervisors, and senior officials at the time. The FBI will take appropriate disciplinary action where warranted. Notably, many of the employees described in the report are no longer employed at the FBI.
I want to emphasize that the FBI’s participation in this process was undertaken with my express direction to be as transparent as possible, while honoring our duty to protect sources and methods that, if disclosed, might make Americans less safe. Where protection of certain sensitive information is well-founded, I remain committed to upholding the laws and longstanding policies governing classification and public release. I am just as committed to the principle that possible embarrassment and chagrin to the FBI or its employees is not, and should never be, the basis of a decision not to divulge FBI information. The FBI has worked closely with the OIG and DOJ on the classification issues implicated by the Report. Our joint process with the OIG and DOJ has ensured all material facts could be presented in this Report, with redactions carefully limited and narrowly tailored to specific national security and operational concerns. I am grateful for the mutual assistance of the OIG and DOJ in responsible presentation of this extremely sensitive information.
Since becoming FBI Director in August 2017, I have emphasized to FBI agents, analysts, and staff the importance of doing things the right way, by the book. I am humbled to serve alongside these dedicated men and women, and I am confident that the actions we are taking will strengthen our historic institution, ensure that we continue to discharge our responsibilities objectively and free from political bias, and better position us to protect the American people against threats while upholding the Constitution.
This Merry Warrior Monday Open Thread is VERY OPEN – a place for everybody to post whatever they feel they would like to tell the White Hats, and the rest of the MAGA/KMAG/KAG world (with KMAG being a bit of both).
Yes, it’s Monday…again.
But it’s okay! We’ll get through it.
Free Speech is practiced here at the Q Tree. But please keep it civil.
Discussion of Q is not only allowed but encouraged. Imagine that! We can talk about Q here and not get banned.
Please also consider the Important Guidelines, outlined here. Let’s not give the odious Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven that Wolf has created for us.
With the Storm upon us…please remember to Pray for our President.
Wheatie’s Rules:
No food fights.
No running with scissors.
If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.
……………………………………………………………………………………….
For your listening enjoyment, I offer this composition from Audiomachine, titled ‘Voyage of Dreams’:
We don’t know yet what today’s events will bring…at least, not at the time of this posting. We don’t know if the IG Report will cause splodey heads…or be a big yawn.
Either way, I see this release as a long awaited hurdle to get through.
So many things have been put off until “after the IG Report is released”…so now perhaps we will see some DeClass and see some bigger dominoes start to fall.
Let the dominoes start falling!
Meanwhile, my fellow cultists…let’s be merry warriors and point & laugh at the ongoing clown show that the Dems are putting on.
1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. 3 His delight is in the fear of the Lord, and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears; 4 But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist. 6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, nd the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. 10 “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious.”
Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 Glory and Universality of the Messiah’s Reign
1 Give the king Your judgments, O God, and Your righteousness to the king’s Son. 2 He will judge Your people with righteousness, and Your poor with justice. 3 The mountains will bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. 4 He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, and will break in pieces the oppressor. 5 They shall fear You as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. 6 He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, like showers that water the earth. 7 In His days the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more. 18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who only does wondrous things! 19 And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen.
Romans 15:4-13 Glorify God Together
4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the perserverance and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a minister to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, 9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: “For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, and sing to Your name.” 10 And again he says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!” 11 And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!” 12 And again, Isaiah says: “There shall be a root of Jesse; and He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles shall hope.” 13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 3:1-12 John the Baptist Prepares the Way
3 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.’ ” 4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
This homily is prepared by Reverend Monsignor Russell G. Terra, Pastor Emeritus of Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Redding, CA. http://www.stjosephredding.org/parish-homilies.html
2nd Sunday of Advent December 8, 2019 “Authenticity, or Appearance?”
Is 11:1-10 Rom 15:4-9 Mt 3:1-12
My Brothers and Sisters in the Lord –
We live in a culture of appearances. Far too many today are overly concerned about how they look – and about what people will think of them. Many politicians will say whatever their constituencies want to hear – instead of what is good and best for our country. Many people will believe anything they hear or read especially on social media – only later to regret having been “taken in”.
Moreover, our system is so broken that people are judged, rejected, and even condemned over something that happened long ago in their past – something that in no way defines who or what they are today!
However, worst of all is that those who judge, reject, or condemn others are often self-righteous. They fail to see or can’t admit the truth about themselves and their own faults. Fortunately, the scriptures for today have much to teach us in this regard.
Isaiah speaks of one who is to come who will not judge by appearances. The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him. He will not base his decisions on hearsay. He will stand for justice. He will be faithful to all that God asks – And he will be faithful to all those he has come to serve and liberate.
Of course, Isaiah is speaking of Jesus Christ whom we know has come for our deliverance and salvation. Indeed, Jesus has inaugurated the Kingdom of God which finds root in the hearts of all authentic disciples. It is a kingdom of peace, wherein we can shield ourselves from the duplicity, the dishonesty, and the artificiality of our current culture!
In the Gospel of Matthew, John the Baptist urges us all to repent and to change – especially from the dishonesty within ourselves. Few of us are people of complete integrity. Most of us are hiding something – and most of us want to appear better or more than who we really are.
However, we must become disciples who aspire to honesty and integrity. We cannot be like the Pharisees and the Sadducees of today’s Gospel. They came with everyone else to the Jordan – But their coming was only for the sake of appearances. They were far from the conversion and repentance that John was urging. And, as such, they would not escape the wrath of God. For they would not be able to accept the truths, the gifts, and the salvation that Jesus came to bring!
Furthermore, salvation does not depend upon heredity, position, or the false worship of going through the motions of religious observance!
In his Letter to the Romans, St. Paul reminds us that we have a history. It is the history of our salvation recorded in the Old and New Testaments – all of which was written for our instruction. It is there to encourage us and help us to endure the hardships we face. It also gives us a well-founded hope in what Jesus has promised!
St. Paul also teaches us that we are a community of disciples who live lives of faith. We truly need the support of one another. And we must look beneath the appearances of others and discover the truth that lives within them.
Brothers and Sisters, Jesus came to unleash the fire of God which is the Holy Spirit. That Spirit is the same spirit of which Isaiah spoke and the same Spirit that Jesus, himself, possessed. The Spirit of the Lord can and does rest upon us – and it gives us the power to do that which is beyond us – or what we think might be beyond us.
It is the Spirit that enables us to rise above the surrounding culture, strip away falsehood, and come to the truth that can set us free.
So, as we prepare for the Birth of God’s Son, – may we allow that Spirit to work within us, so that we truly become all that God has created us to be!
This 2nd Sanctuary Sunday of Advent Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.
It is also a place to read, post and discuss news that is worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.
In the QTree, we’re a friendly and civil lot. We encourage free speech and the open exchange and civil discussion of different ideas. Topics aren’t constrained, and sound logic is highly encouraged, all built on a solid foundation of truth and established facts.
We have a policy of mutual respect, shown by civility. Civility encourages discussions, promotes objectivity and rational thought in discourse, and camaraderie in the participants – characteristics we strive toward in our Q Tree community.
Please show respect and consideration for your fellow QTreepers.
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If you feel the need to bare your fangs, we have a companion site – called The U Tree – where you can run wild and free with the Wolfpack where all legal free speech is allowed.
But NOT HERE in The Q Tree. Personal attacks, name calling, ridicule, insults, baiting and other conduct for which a penalty flag would be thrown are VERBOTEN.
In The Q Tree, we’re compatriots, sitting around the campfire, roasting hot dogs, making s’mores and discussing, agreeing, and disagreeing about whatever interests us. This board will remain an abode for those who seek respectful conversations.
Please also consider the Important Guidelines, outlined here. Let’s not give the Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven that Wolf has created for us.
Remember – your greatest gift to President Trump is FIVE WORDS: “I AM PRAYING FOR YOU!“
AND WHAT TIME IS IT? TIME TO….DRAIN THE SWAMP!!!
Our movement is about replacing a failed and CORRUPT political establishment with a new government controlled by you, the American People. ~ Candidate Donald J. Trump
Also remember Wheatie’s Rules:
No food fights.
No running with scissors.
If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.
On this day and every day –
God is in Control . . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . . Keep Looking Up
Hopefully, every Sunday, you can find something here that will build you up a little . . . give you a smile . . . and add some joy, much needed in all our lives.
“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” . . . “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
2nd Sunday of Advent ~ God’s Peace
All around us, in these days, the lack of peace is everywhere; violence, hatred, fear, anxiety, worry and doubt abound: within ourselves and our families, between ethnic groups and religions, and between countries . . . everywhere. Our finances and employment situations rise and fall, the media uses our fears in the news to boost ratings, the entertainment world capitalizes on lack of peace to sell their movies and TV dramas, and political groups either claim or cause unrest to further their agendas.
During the Advent season, we look to the past to recognize and celebrate the effects of Christ’s 1st coming, and we look to the future in anticipation and a peaceful assurance of what Christ’s 2nd coming will bring.
Looking to the past, when Jesus died on the cross at Calvary, He gave us the means to reconcile our inherent sin nature and our sins with the holiness of God, the Father. At the Last Supper, Jesus said ” Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Christ’s peace is real for all who believe and trust in Him.
And when we rely on God, His peace is real also ” Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” And “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is kept on You, because he trusts in You.”
God is in control. Nothing happens that is outside of His will. When we turn to Him in our lives, we gain the greatest remedy for fear, anxiety, worry and doubt. God offers us something the world cannot give us . . . His peace, which surpasses all understanding, and which will fill our minds and hearts.
Peace from God is a state of calmness or quietness of spirit that goes beyond the happenings in our lives. God is the God of peace, Jesus is the Prince of Peace, peace is one of the fruits of the Spirit, and God blesses us with peace.
Looking to the future, when Jesus comes again, we look forward to the fullness of God’s peace, His shalom . . . an unprecedented level of peace that will encompass all life in the world.
“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
This fullness of the shalom of God is more than inner peace or peace within the family, more than the absence of hostilities between ethnic groups, religions and nations. Its meaning encompasses completeness, soundness, welfare, success and peace. It’s even more than the reconciliation between us and God. The fullness of the shalom of God results in a universe governed by God in which all relationships are fully loving and just . . . all in a right relationship with God, and it touches every facet in life.
As we await the fullness of God’s shalom, we can trust God for our welfare. Jesus encouraged His disciples, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world”.
Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.
James 3:18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm; In celestial-like strains it unceasingly falls O’er my soul like an infinite calm. Peace, peace, wonderful peace, Coming down from the Father above! Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray In fathomless billows of love! ~ ‘Wonderful Peace’ Don Moen
As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, may we enjoy the peace we have with God through Christ. And may we be given a foretaste of the peace on earth that is yet to come.
Welcome to the OPEN THREAD! With the decorations up, this weekend, it’s time to wrap the presents. Yes, these are photos from our attic, master-wrap-center, AKA Southern Regional Distribution Center for the North Pole. Grab the scissors and tape!
This Justice Is Coming December open thread is VERY OPEN – a place for everybody to post whatever they feel they would like to tell the White Hats, and the rest of the MAGA / KAG! / KMAG world.
Please feel free to comment. We have a new policy, starting 20191110. Keep it SOMEWHAT civil. Our rules began with the civility of the Old Treehouse, later to become the Wolverinian Empire, except of course that Q discussion is not only allowed but encouraged, and speech is considerably freer in other ways. Please feel free to argue and disagree with the board owner, as nicely as possible.
Please also consider the Important Guidelines, outlined here in the January 1st open thread. Let’s not give the odious Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven.
We have a new board – actually a new SITE – called The U Tree – where people can take each other to the woodshed without fear of censorship or moderation. NOT HERE. This board will remain a REFUGE for those who need civility, either some or all of the time.
Please keep the President, his family and team in your thoughts and prayers. If you run into the President, SPEAK THE FIVE WORDS BOLDLY. “I AM PRAYING FOR YOU!“
In 90 minutes, Nadler will gavel in the Judiciary and begin the next phase of the “Impeachment Inquiry”. We begin with 4 law professors, three of whom are already on record, for years, as pro-impeachment. They’re supposed to tell us, lecture us, why it’s important to impeach the President. Jonathan Turley, often seen as a FOX Pundit, is the other Constitutional Lawyer chosen by the Republicans.
Let’s see what happens.
The hearings will dominate the news today, with cable channels going wall-to-wall coverage. Special pundit panels have been brought in. We can use this thread for comments and I will add details to this thread as we go, to use as a resource for later.
According to Alan Dershowitz, the problem Hamilton addresses is that the accuser of wrongdoing as well as the judge of the accusation are both political bodies. Hamilton warned that the process of impeachment might become political, causing factions to polarize further away from each other in their defense or prosecution of the impeached individual. He rejects the notion that the Supreme Court should judge impeachment due to its small size. His recommendation is for the Senate to conduct impeachment proceedings as apolitically as possible.[1] In the end, Hamilton concedes that this is an imperfect solution, but the best one available.
They are of a nature which may with peculiar propriety be denominated POLITICAL, as they relate chiefly to injuries done immediately to the society itself. The prosecution of them, for this reason, will seldom fail to agitate the passions of the whole community, and to divide it into parties more or less friendly or inimical to the accused. In many cases it will connect itself with the pre-existing factions, and will enlist all their animosities, partialities, influence, and interest on one side or on the other; and in such cases there will always be the greatest danger that the decision will be regulated more by the comparative strength of parties, than by the real demonstrations of innocence or guilt.
Federalist #65 Hamilton Essay (emphasis mine)
Federalist #66 goes on to discuss a trial in the Senate. We’ll review that one at a later date.
We an expect highlights for youtube fundraising from members of the Judiciary Committee. Links for various members of the Judiciary Comm go straight to the Open Secrets website, so you can easily view their primary donors. Have fun!!!
