The writings here are in the nature of a blog. Unlike most blogs, the most recent post is under this pinned post. There is no specific topic; I like to write occasionally. Be advised, though, that my writing is often in the form of a stream of consciousness. I know the overall theme. Then, I start writing until I get to what I believe is the end. Sidetrips are inevitable, but I get back to the point.
I write about the law because I’ve spent over 40 years in it. I write about things that interest me, like politics, history, current events, God, people, family, observations, and reflections. I avoid the names of people because ethically, sometimes I have to or to avoid embarrassment to others. It wouldn’t be fair because no one can defend themselves here.
But I say what I believe, and sometimes words offend. It’s not because I’m offensive; it’s because we live in a time when people need to feel offended by every perceived slight. There will be nothing here I wouldn’t speak to another person.
There won’t be the opportunity to leave comments, good or bad. I don’t fear comments but can’t always get back promptly. But, if you want to comment, you can do so from the contact page via email. [NOTE: AS OF JANUARY 10, 2026, COMMENTS CAN BE SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL]
On June 4, 1919, the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was approved by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. About 14 months later, on August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the proposed addition to the U.S. Constitution, giving it the three-fourths of the states necessary to become law. Does this mean women could only vote after August 18, 1920? Nope. Some states,15 in all,had already approved women’s right to vote, primarily in western states. For example, Jeannette Rankin, a Montana Republican, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1916. Just thinking to myself here, but it really shouldn’t have been necessary for a separate amendment. The 15th Amendment gave Black Americans the right to vote, and perhaps it wasn’t the proper place to put it, but around the same time, in the 14th Amendment, the first clause begins by referring to “all citizens,” while the second clause, which has to do with voting, uses the word “male.”
Who knows, it could have been taken care of in 1868. It’s important because the 14th Amendment, including the equal protection clause, addresses aspects of citizenship and the rights of citizens. In Wyoming, the right of women to vote was approved.
But it wasn’t. In 1916, Woodrow Wilson ran on a platform of voting for women, yet he had personally opposed it before. The final opposition, including from President Wilson, was overcome in 1918 when Wilson agreed to it, and New York granted the right to women that year.
There are moments when we fear our lives are already scripted, that God’s knowledge of the future somehow locks us into a path we didn’t choose. Some even wonder why our choices matter at all if God already knows what we’ll do. It’s a quiet worry, but a real one: are we truly free, or just moving through a story already decided.
Me: God, I’ve been thinking about something someone asked. If You already know everything we’re going to do, how can we have free will. It feels like a contradiction.
God: It only feels that way from where you stand. Knowing is not the same as controlling.
Me: But if You know every choice I’ll ever make, doesn’t that mean I’m just acting out a script You already wrote.
God: No. You choose your steps. I simply see the path clearly. My knowledge does not force your decisions. It only means I am never surprised by them.
Me: So, You’re saying You know the whole story, but I still write my part.
God: You write it freely. I see it fully. Those two truths do not cancel each other. They complete each other.
Me: But then why do You call people to speak up, to act, to confront wrong, to stand for truth. If You already know what we’ll do, why involve us at all.
God: Because obedience is not for My benefit. It is for yours. I invite you into My work so your faith grows, your courage strengthens, and your heart becomes more like Mine.
Me: So, when we see corruption or injustice, we’re not supposed to stand back and say, “Well, God already knows what will happen.”
God: No. Knowing the outcome does not excuse inaction. I call My people to be salt and light, not spectators. Salt preserves what is good. Light reveals what is hidden. Neither role is passive.
Me: But not everyone confronts the same way.
God: Nor should they. Some speak boldly. Some work quietly. Some pray. Some comfort. Some expose wrongdoing. Some rebuild what is broken. I do not give everyone the same assignment, but I give everyone a place in My work.
Me: So free will means I still have to choose obedience, even though You already know whether I will.
God: Yes. My foreknowledge does not remove your responsibility. It simply means that when you choose what is right, I have already prepared the strength you will need to walk it out.
Me: That actually helps. It means You’re not controlling me… You’re guiding me.
God: And I guide without forcing. I lead without pushing. I call without coercing. Love never removes freedom.
This Conversation is not meant as God’s literal speech, it simply reflects how Scripture shows His heart toward those who struggle with questions of sovereignty and free will.
Reflection
Many believers struggle with the idea that God’s foreknowledge might erase their freedom. Some understand the balance easily, and some don’t, and that’s alright. Scripture never presents God’s sovereignty as a cage or His knowledge as a form of control. Instead, it shows a God who sees fully yet allows us to choose freely. His foreknowledge doesn’t diminish our responsibility, it simply means He is never surprised by our steps.
Some people assume that if God knows everything, then our choices don’t matter. But the truth is the opposite, our choices matter precisely because God doesn’t force them. His knowledge is perfect, but His love never removes freedom. Yes, He knows our decisions before we make them, the good ones and the bad ones, but His knowing is not His causing. Our relationship with Him is real, not scripted.
Jesus called His followers to act, to speak truth in love, to confront what harms others, and to walk in obedience, not because He forces our choices, but because He invites us into His work. Being salt and light is not passive. It means preserving what is good, revealing what is hidden, and living in a way that reflects His heart.
Paul speaks to this in Romans 8:29–30. He says God “predestined” those who are in Christ, not that He preprogrammed every action, but that He already knows the destiny of those who belong to Him. His foreknowledge is perfect, but His love is never coercive. He guides without forcing, leads without pushing, and calls without removing freedom. Our choices matter because our relationship with Him is real.
“It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.” — Father Dennis Edward O’Brien, USMC
I have always personally observed Memorial Day. When I was a kid, we followed the parade down Main Street, went right up a hill, and eventually arrived at the cemetery. Those organizing it or playing a pivotal role were veterans not far removed from WWII, discharged less than fifteen years earlier.
Some people spoke, but at that age, less than ten, I knew the program. After the speeches and before Taps, there would be a twenty‑one gun salute. When the men firing broke away, it was the signal for little boys to move quickly, trying to grab at least one of the twenty‑one spent shells scattered about. That was then; not today.
Memorial Day was always observed on May 30 until Congress changed the date to a Monday to create a three‑day weekend. Decoration Day, as it was initially known, could fall on any day of the week, but that changed decades ago, in 1971, to give Americans a long weekend, not to remember those who died, but for cookouts and sales, it seems. The latter is fine, provided you remember the first.
Since the law changed, it has fallen on May 30 fewer than ten times. I mean, it is a day to celebrate in a sense, though what we are celebrating are those who stared at and accepted death so that others would not have to. Think of it in terms of a celebration of life, perhaps, which seems to have replaced the more somber funeral. I think it is important we remember this vital point, that others died so you may live to do the things we do on Memorial Day with family and friends.
One of the most moving pieces of music ever written is “Taps.” It is linked here with America the Beautiful, and I hope you will listen to it. Taps does not have words, but there are versions of it. My dad taught me them as a kid. It begins with, “Day is done, gone the sun…” While you listen, think about the 1.6 million men and women who died in times of war, and take a moment to say thank you for their sacrifice.
So, what can you do? Somewhere toward the beginning of this, I said to live life. The old saying “Many gave some, and some gave all” truly holds meaning. To not live in freedom is to dishonor those who gave all. Freedom carries a responsibility. Freedom is maintained by us, the people, through eternal vigilance.
Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” That is not a political statement; it is a fact. Freedom means holding the government accountable to the Constitution. Returning to Chamberlain, “peace in our time,” and the sixty million killed as a result of his appeasement — freedom means being willing to stand and fight for what is right.
As an aside, I do not say Happy Memorial Day. It is a personal choice. It is a somber day of remembrance when we pause to express our gratitude. I fail to see how death can be a happy event. I listened to some Gold Star spouses actively say, “Be happy, that is what they fought for.” I cannot though. Perhaps, “Have a good Memorial Day remembering and honoring those who gave all.” Or maybe, “Have a meaningful Memorial Day.”
Link: Taps Across America Memorial Day Tribute – America the Beautiful and Taps
The path to independence and liberty has been paved with the blood and sacrifice of countless patriots who stood for our nation at great personal cost. We honor their courage, their devotion, and their unwavering commitment to freedom. Their legacy lives on in the heart of America, and we must never forget the cost, one we can never begin to repay, except by living the principles they no longer can, as their gift to us.
Me : God, Memorial Day is coming, and I’m not sure how to approach it. I want to honor the fallen, but part of me wonders if doing that somehow glorifies war.
God: Honoring sacrifice is not the same as celebrating war.
Me : But people died. Young men, young women. Some are barely adults. Some never came home. I don’t want to treat their deaths lightly, or turn their sacrifice into something political.
God: Remembering them is an act of gratitude, not an endorsement of conflict.
Me : Still, the commandment says, “Thou shalt not kill.” What do I do with that? Did they do wrong? Did the ones who fought carry guilt they never talked about?
God: The commandment forbids murder, not the defense of others. There is a difference between shedding innocent blood and standing in the place of danger to protect those who cannot protect themselves.
Me : So, You don’t condemn them for what they had to do?
God: I do not condemn sacrifice made in defense of others. I see it. I honor it.
Me : But what about the ones who struggled with what they saw… or what they had to do? Some came home with wounds no one could see. Some carried questions they never voiced. Some wondered if You were disappointed in them.
God: I know the weight they carried. I know the fear, the duty, the conflict inside their hearts. I know the moments they wished had gone differently. I know the things they could not speak. And I do not judge them by the burdens war placed upon them.
Me : Then what does remembering really mean?
God: It means acknowledging the cost. It means recognizing that freedom is never free. It means honoring those who stepped forward when others stepped back. It means refusing to let their sacrifice fade into silence.
Me : So taking a moment to honor them… that’s something You approve of?
God: Gratitude is never misplaced. Honor is never wasted. Remembering the fallen is an act of humility, not glorification.
Me : I guess people worry about different things on Memorial Day. Some wonder if their loved one died in vain. Some wonder if You saw their sacrifice. Some wonder if You remember them even when the world forgets.
God: I remember every name. Every life. Every sacrifice. None of them are forgotten by Me.
Me : Then Memorial Day isn’t about celebrating war. It’s about acknowledging the cost of peace.
God: Yes. And giving thanks for those who bore that cost.
This Conversation is not meant as God’s literal speech. It reflects how Scripture portrays God’s heart toward those who grieve, those who remember, and those who carry the weight of sacrifice.
Reflection
This reminds us that honoring the fallen is not glorifying war. It is gratitude for those who stepped forward when others stepped back. Jesus said that the greatest love is shown when someone lays down their life for others (John 15:13), and Memorial Day brings that truth into sharp focus. Scripture teaches us to give honor to whom honor is due (Romans 13:7), and remembering those who served is one way we do that. We also know there is a time for war and a time for peace (Ecclesiastes 3:8), and some answered a call they did not choose but did not run from. Like Isaiah, who said, “Here am I; send me” (Isaiah 6:8), many stepped into danger so others could live in safety. Memorial Day invites us to pause, to acknowledge the cost of that willingness, and to remember that God
sees every act of courage and every life laid down in service. He honors their sacrifice, and He comforts those who still carry the weight of their absence.
When I was young, my dad, a WWII veteran, taught me the words to Taps. I still hear them every Memorial Day. For anyone who has never heard them, they’re simple, but they stay with you, it’s linked below:
The writings here are in the nature of a blog. Unlike most blogs, the most recent post is under this pinned post. There is no specific topic; I like to write occasionally. Be advised, though, that my writing is often in the form of a stream of consciousness. I know the overall theme. Then, I start writing until I get to what I believe is the end. Sidetrips are inevitable, but I get back to the point.
