<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Not to Speak is to Speak]]></title><description><![CDATA[Speaking up for moral and biblical truths in a world where Christian silence often prevails.]]></description><link>https://www.not2speak.com</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!N_6G!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd68bf522-bbe8-4c38-8e89-b8a9a8a4ed6b_724x724.png</url><title>Not to Speak is to Speak</title><link>https://www.not2speak.com</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 12:02:27 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.not2speak.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Phil Ayres]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[revphilayres@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[revphilayres@substack.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Pastor Phil Ayres]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Pastor Phil Ayres]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[revphilayres@substack.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[revphilayres@substack.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Pastor Phil Ayres]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[When a Tragedy Becomes a Test of Our Soul]]></title><description><![CDATA[Grief Is Not a Political Tool]]></description><link>https://www.not2speak.com/p/when-a-tragedy-becomes-a-test-of</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.not2speak.com/p/when-a-tragedy-becomes-a-test-of</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Pastor Phil Ayres]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2025 14:26:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Bwmv!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb6370dda-1cd0-4dee-a9b6-7d4b25a4c88e_681x383.heic" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Bwmv!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb6370dda-1cd0-4dee-a9b6-7d4b25a4c88e_681x383.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Bwmv!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb6370dda-1cd0-4dee-a9b6-7d4b25a4c88e_681x383.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Bwmv!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb6370dda-1cd0-4dee-a9b6-7d4b25a4c88e_681x383.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Bwmv!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb6370dda-1cd0-4dee-a9b6-7d4b25a4c88e_681x383.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Bwmv!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb6370dda-1cd0-4dee-a9b6-7d4b25a4c88e_681x383.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Bwmv!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb6370dda-1cd0-4dee-a9b6-7d4b25a4c88e_681x383.heic" width="681" height="383" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/b6370dda-1cd0-4dee-a9b6-7d4b25a4c88e_681x383.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:383,&quot;width&quot;:681,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:38101,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/i/181756459?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb6370dda-1cd0-4dee-a9b6-7d4b25a4c88e_681x383.heic&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Bwmv!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb6370dda-1cd0-4dee-a9b6-7d4b25a4c88e_681x383.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Bwmv!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb6370dda-1cd0-4dee-a9b6-7d4b25a4c88e_681x383.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Bwmv!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb6370dda-1cd0-4dee-a9b6-7d4b25a4c88e_681x383.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Bwmv!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb6370dda-1cd0-4dee-a9b6-7d4b25a4c88e_681x383.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>The news of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele being found murdered in their Los Angeles home is a heartbreak that should unite us in sorrow, not sharpen our divisions. Reports indicate both were tragically killed in what law enforcement is investigating as a double homicide. The details are still unfolding, but the loss is real and deeply human.</p><p>Rob Reiner was a towering figure in American cinema. He was the actor who first made us laugh as Michael &#8220;Meathead&#8221; Stivic on <em>All in the Family</em>, the director of <em>Stand By Me, When Harry Met Sally&#8230;, </em>and my absolute favorite, <em>A Few Good Men</em>. Michele Reiner was his wife of three decades and was remembered by many for her warmth and steadiness. Whatever one thinks of Rob Reiner&#8217;s politics, two human lives have been violently taken, and that alone should stop us in our tracks.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>In moments like this, something should happen instinctively in our public discourse. We should lower the temperature. We should show restraint. We should acknowledge the dignity of life, even when the person involved held views radically different from our own.</p><p>Instead, President Trump chose to post a message that many, including people who agree with his policies, found deeply distasteful. To mock a man hours after his death, to suggest that his murder was somehow the result of his political criticism, crosses a line. It turns a family&#8217;s tragedy into a political punchline. It tramples a grave that has not even settled.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!n2Tb!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6394e46e-63a3-40b6-bb4a-ce04380f12fd_1162x912.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!n2Tb!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6394e46e-63a3-40b6-bb4a-ce04380f12fd_1162x912.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!n2Tb!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6394e46e-63a3-40b6-bb4a-ce04380f12fd_1162x912.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!n2Tb!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6394e46e-63a3-40b6-bb4a-ce04380f12fd_1162x912.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!n2Tb!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6394e46e-63a3-40b6-bb4a-ce04380f12fd_1162x912.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!n2Tb!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6394e46e-63a3-40b6-bb4a-ce04380f12fd_1162x912.heic" width="1162" height="912" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/6394e46e-63a3-40b6-bb4a-ce04380f12fd_1162x912.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:912,&quot;width&quot;:1162,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:135565,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/i/181756459?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6394e46e-63a3-40b6-bb4a-ce04380f12fd_1162x912.heic&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!n2Tb!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6394e46e-63a3-40b6-bb4a-ce04380f12fd_1162x912.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!n2Tb!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6394e46e-63a3-40b6-bb4a-ce04380f12fd_1162x912.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!n2Tb!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6394e46e-63a3-40b6-bb4a-ce04380f12fd_1162x912.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!n2Tb!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6394e46e-63a3-40b6-bb4a-ce04380f12fd_1162x912.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Mr. President, you make it so hard to be supportive of you.</p><p>Yes, I agree with most of your policies. Yes, I think critics on the Left often engage in hysterical and disgusting rhetoric. But none of that justifies using a violent death as an opportunity to score points or settle grudges. Regardless of what Reiner said about you or MAGA, there is no need to dishonor a man at the moment of his death.</p><p>To those who applauded the presidents post, I would ask a simple question. What does this moment reveal about us? What does it say about our hearts when we can hear of a husband and wife being murdered and our first response is laughter, applause, or justification? At what point did outrage replace empathy as our default setting?</p><p>And to my fellow conservatives who are tempted to excuse this because &#8220;he fights&#8221; or &#8220;he says what others won&#8217;t,&#8221; I would say this: We don&#8217;t get to suspend moral standards when it benefits our side. You cannot claim to care about truth, life, and virtue while cheering the degradation of human dignity. Consistency matters.</p><p>I have said it before and I will say it again. Trump is not a Messiah. He never has been. There is only one person worthy of our worship, our ultimate allegiance, and our moral submission. When loyalty to a political figure begins to override basic decency, something has gone wrong. How we speak about people, especially in death, reveals far more about the condition of our soul than any policy position ever could.</p><p>This was a moment for silence, prayer, and restraint. It was a moment to mourn with those who mourn. It was a moment to show that disagreement does not require dehumanization.</p><p><em>Trump failed that test. </em></p><p>As scripture reminds us, </p><blockquote><p><em>&#8220;Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles&#8221;</em> (Proverbs 24:17). </p></blockquote><p>That verse does not come with a partisan exemption clause. It does not ask who someone voted for, how annoying they were online, or whether they deserved our sympathy. It simply calls us to restraint, humility, and moral clarity.</p><p>Jesus said we would be known not by our volume, our cleverness, or our ability to dominate the moment, but by our love. That love does not require agreement. It does require humanity.</p><p>There was nothing to gain here by speaking. There was much to lose by doing so.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Modern Martyr and the Need for Courage]]></title><description><![CDATA[What Charlie Kirk&#8217;s Death Demands from the Rest of Us]]></description><link>https://www.not2speak.com/p/a-modern-martyr-and-the-need-for</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.not2speak.com/p/a-modern-martyr-and-the-need-for</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Pastor Phil Ayres]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 12 Sep 2025 12:51:49 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!STes!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F485e7d98-977a-4647-a9c6-a49eaba40153_1202x801.heic" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!STes!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F485e7d98-977a-4647-a9c6-a49eaba40153_1202x801.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!STes!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F485e7d98-977a-4647-a9c6-a49eaba40153_1202x801.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!STes!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F485e7d98-977a-4647-a9c6-a49eaba40153_1202x801.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!STes!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F485e7d98-977a-4647-a9c6-a49eaba40153_1202x801.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!STes!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F485e7d98-977a-4647-a9c6-a49eaba40153_1202x801.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!STes!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F485e7d98-977a-4647-a9c6-a49eaba40153_1202x801.heic" width="1202" height="801" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/485e7d98-977a-4647-a9c6-a49eaba40153_1202x801.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:801,&quot;width&quot;:1202,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:178409,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/i/173411823?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F485e7d98-977a-4647-a9c6-a49eaba40153_1202x801.heic&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!STes!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F485e7d98-977a-4647-a9c6-a49eaba40153_1202x801.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!STes!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F485e7d98-977a-4647-a9c6-a49eaba40153_1202x801.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!STes!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F485e7d98-977a-4647-a9c6-a49eaba40153_1202x801.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!STes!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F485e7d98-977a-4647-a9c6-a49eaba40153_1202x801.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University  (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News/AP)</figcaption></figure></div><p>In reflecting on the death of Charlie Kirk, I&#8217;ve been carrying a heavy heart. No, I didn&#8217;t know Charlie personally, but for some reason his assassination hit me in the gut. It wasn&#8217;t just shocking&#8212;it felt personal. Like many of you, I have watched many of his videos, followed his career online, and even attended a few of his Turning Point USA events. But I wasn&#8217;t prepared for the stomach-turning effect of seeing him murdered in 4K on X.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>For the last day or so, I&#8217;ve been trying to make sense of my feelings. I know we all have. After all, we&#8217;re not living in a war-torn region of Europe or the Middle East. We&#8217;re here. In America. And somehow, on a sunny day in Utah, a 31-year-old father of two was professionally assassinated in front of thousands of people, including his wife and children.</p><p>In a haunting interview just 2 months ago, Charlie was asked, &#8220;How do you want to be remembered?&#8221; His answer was simple: <em>&#8220;I want to be remembered for courage in my faith.&#8221;</em> Now, he could&#8217;ve said &#8220;building an organization&#8221; or &#8220;winning political debates,&#8221; or &#8220;being friends with the president.&#8221; All of that would have been true. But instead he said <em>courage</em>. And specifically courage tied to <em>his faith.</em></p><p>Wow.</p><p>When I heard that I couldn&#8217;t help but think of the heroes mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11&#8212;the chapter we call the &#8220;Hall of Faith&#8221; chapter. These were men and women who trusted God in impossible situations. People who endured mocking, torture, prison, and death&#8212;all because they refused to stay silent about what they believed. The writer of Hebrews even says, &#8220;the world was not worthy of them.&#8221;</p><p>I believe Charlie Kirk now stands in that long line. Not as a perfect man. Not as a saint. But as a modern martyr. Like Jim Elliot, who died on the mission field in Ecuador. Like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, executed for resisting the evil of Nazi Germany. Like Cassie Bernall, the teenage girl in Columbine who reportedly said &#8220;yes&#8221; when asked if she believed in God&#8212;and was killed for it.</p><div class="pullquote"><p>When faced with the choice between life or truth, they all chose truth.<br>Even if truth meant death.</p></div><p>In July 2024, my wife and I attended Charlie&#8217;s TPUSA Believers Summit in West Palm Beach. We saw Charlie interview several guests and deliver a phenomenal speech, eventually introducing Donald Trump as a special guest speaker&#8212;just months before he would become our 47th president. But what we saw wasn&#8217;t just a political pundit or an activist. We saw a strong Christian. Charlie&#8217;s faith wasn&#8217;t a side note; it was central. He didn&#8217;t wrap the gospel in political slogans or hide it behind clever branding. He led with it&#8212;over and over again.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8bSp!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc131bb87-a501-4d47-b9e2-77a7e26fbafc_2471x3295.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8bSp!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc131bb87-a501-4d47-b9e2-77a7e26fbafc_2471x3295.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8bSp!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc131bb87-a501-4d47-b9e2-77a7e26fbafc_2471x3295.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8bSp!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc131bb87-a501-4d47-b9e2-77a7e26fbafc_2471x3295.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8bSp!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc131bb87-a501-4d47-b9e2-77a7e26fbafc_2471x3295.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8bSp!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc131bb87-a501-4d47-b9e2-77a7e26fbafc_2471x3295.heic" width="466" height="621.5467032967033" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/c131bb87-a501-4d47-b9e2-77a7e26fbafc_2471x3295.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1942,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:466,&quot;bytes&quot;:1631670,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/i/173411823?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc131bb87-a501-4d47-b9e2-77a7e26fbafc_2471x3295.heic&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8bSp!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc131bb87-a501-4d47-b9e2-77a7e26fbafc_2471x3295.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8bSp!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc131bb87-a501-4d47-b9e2-77a7e26fbafc_2471x3295.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8bSp!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc131bb87-a501-4d47-b9e2-77a7e26fbafc_2471x3295.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8bSp!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc131bb87-a501-4d47-b9e2-77a7e26fbafc_2471x3295.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">July 2024 at Turning Point Action Believer&#8217;s Conference</figcaption></figure></div><p>He believed politics had a place&#8212;but that Christ must reign over all. And that&#8217;s what makes this loss so difficult. We didn&#8217;t just lose a voice. We lost a <em>witness.</em></p><p>There&#8217;s an memorable line in <em>Star Wars: A New Hope</em>. It&#8217;s one I can&#8217;t stop thinking about. Ben Kenobi faces Darth Vader in a light saber duel and says to him, <em>&#8220;If you strike me down, I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.&#8221;</em> Strange how true that&#8217;s becoming of Charlie Kirk. His voice, momentarily silenced by a bullet, is now echoing louder than ever, and especially among young people.</p><p>I'm seeing it everywhere. Students, leaders, even quiet Christians who&#8217;ve been watching from the sidelines are stepping up and speaking out. They are picking up the mic Charlie dropped and saying, <em>&#8220;It&#8217;s my turn now.&#8221;</em> And it&#8217;s not just to argue politics, but to speak boldly across enemy lines, with the truth of Christ.</p><p>Let&#8217;s be honest. We&#8217;ve been a generation that expects faith to feel good all the time. We&#8217;re shocked when it costs us something. But Christianity has never been comfortable. It&#8217;s always been costly.</p><p>Right now, we need more believers willing to say, <em>&#8220;Even if it costs me everything, I will not back down.&#8221;</em> Think of John the Baptist, who lost his head for telling the truth. Or 11 out of 12 apostles who were martyred because they couldn&#8217;t keep quiet about the gospel.</p><p>Remember, Charlie Kirk didn&#8217;t die because he was chasing influence, fame or money. He died because he refused to trade truth for safety.</p><p>So yes, I&#8217;m grieving. But I&#8217;m also resolved. I want to honor Charlie&#8217;s legacy and I can&#8217;t do that by softening my message or retreating into silence. We honor him by living the way he died: unashamed of Christ, willing to speak the truth with boldness, confidence, and grace. Not with anger or vengeance, but with clarity and conviction. </p><p>If Charlie&#8217;s death teaches us anything, it&#8217;s that courage may cost us everything, but silence costs even more.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Epstein Coverup and the Death of Trust]]></title><description><![CDATA[Explain it to me.]]></description><link>https://www.not2speak.com/p/the-epstein-coverup-and-the-death</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.not2speak.com/p/the-epstein-coverup-and-the-death</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Pastor Phil Ayres]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2025 13:55:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!298a!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe2bfaf3-e21b-44a7-b13c-7b5c7f28f4e0_1536x1024.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!298a!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe2bfaf3-e21b-44a7-b13c-7b5c7f28f4e0_1536x1024.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!298a!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe2bfaf3-e21b-44a7-b13c-7b5c7f28f4e0_1536x1024.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!298a!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe2bfaf3-e21b-44a7-b13c-7b5c7f28f4e0_1536x1024.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!298a!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe2bfaf3-e21b-44a7-b13c-7b5c7f28f4e0_1536x1024.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!298a!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe2bfaf3-e21b-44a7-b13c-7b5c7f28f4e0_1536x1024.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!298a!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe2bfaf3-e21b-44a7-b13c-7b5c7f28f4e0_1536x1024.png" width="1456" height="971" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/be2bfaf3-e21b-44a7-b13c-7b5c7f28f4e0_1536x1024.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:971,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3497851,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/i/167858025?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe2bfaf3-e21b-44a7-b13c-7b5c7f28f4e0_1536x1024.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!298a!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe2bfaf3-e21b-44a7-b13c-7b5c7f28f4e0_1536x1024.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!298a!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe2bfaf3-e21b-44a7-b13c-7b5c7f28f4e0_1536x1024.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!298a!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe2bfaf3-e21b-44a7-b13c-7b5c7f28f4e0_1536x1024.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!298a!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe2bfaf3-e21b-44a7-b13c-7b5c7f28f4e0_1536x1024.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Explain it to me. Please&#8212;somebody.</p><p>We&#8217;ve known for years that Jeffrey Epstein ran some kind of sex trafficking operation. He was convicted in 2008, did a joke of a prison sentence, and somehow came back more powerful, flying young girls around the world on his private jet, the &#8220;Lolita Express.&#8221; Survivors came forward, sworn affidavits were filed, names were named&#8212;Prince Andrew, Alan Dershowitz and several other high profile individuals. Additionally, photos of underage girls alongside high-profile figures like Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew have been online for years.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Not to Speak is to Speak is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>Then in 2019, Epstein was arrested again. We were told justice was coming.</p><p>But before he could stand trial, he &#8220;killed himself&#8221; in one of the most secure federal jails in the country. A place where the guards mysteriously fell asleep. The cameras mysteriously stopped working. All at the same time.</p><p>We were told this was a coincidence.</p><p>Then in 2023 Donald J. Trump ran a campaign on transparency. He said he would end the coverups. He promised to release the JFK files&#8212;and the Epstein client list. People around him backed this up. Pam Bondi, Dan Bongino, Kash Patel, and others swore that the Epstein investigation would see daylight. They said there <em>was</em> a list. They said the public <em>would</em> see it. Even Vice President J.D. Vance said as much.</p><p>But now? This week? The Department of Justice says not only will there be no list&#8212;they claim no list <em>ever existed</em>. And that Epstein, conveniently dead, was the lone perpetrator. No accomplices. No clients. Case closed.</p><p>We are supposed to believe that one man created a global sex trafficking operation for the world&#8217;s elite&#8230; and no one else participated.</p><p><em>Do they think we&#8217;re stupid?</em></p><p>It&#8217;s insulting. Not just because of the audacity of the lie, but because of who&#8217;s telling it. These are the very people who <em>said</em> they would tell the truth. Who campaigned on the promise that they were different. That they&#8217;d tear down the system. Drain the swamp.</p><p>But now, when it really matters&#8212;when the victims are waiting, and the public is watching&#8212;they fold. Or worse, they cover it up.</p><p>I believed them. A lot of people did. We put faith in these promises because we wanted to believe that someone, finally, would take on the machine. Now, we&#8217;re being told to forget it ever happened. That there&#8217;s nothing more to see. Trump himself was asked this week about Epstein. His answer? &#8220;We have more important things to focus on.&#8221;</p><p>That scares me.</p><p>Because when someone changes their tune <em>this</em> abruptly, it&#8217;s not just suspicious&#8212;it reeks of fear. As Shakespeare put it: &#8220;The lady doth protest too much.&#8221; Except now it&#8217;s the President and his allies, shutting down questions, dismissing concerns, and pretending they never promised us anything.</p><p><em>So what changed?</em></p><p>Maybe the people in power are being threatened. Maybe they&#8217;ve been absorbed into the very system they claimed to oppose. Either way, it&#8217;s betrayal. Whether through weakness or complicity, they&#8217;ve abandoned the truth.</p><p>The truth is this: If Epstein was trafficking girls to the rich and powerful, how is it that none of those clients have been held accountable? Our justice system appears to be protecting them. It&#8217;s especially baffling given that Ghislaine Maxwell&#8212;Epstein&#8217;s right-hand in the operation&#8212;is serving a 20-year sentence for recruiting and grooming those same girls. Who exactly was she procuring them for?</p><p>That should concern <em>everyone</em>, regardless of your party, your politics, or your preferred cable network.</p><p>I didn&#8217;t write this to score points. I wrote this because I&#8217;m angry. I feel duped. And I think a lot of you do, too. Because silence in the face of injustice isn&#8217;t neutrality&#8212;it&#8217;s complicity.</p><p>Not to speak is to speak.</p><p>And I won&#8217;t be silent.</p><p></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Not to Speak is to Speak is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stripping Justice Bare]]></title><description><![CDATA[United Kingdom Set To Allow Men To Strip-Search Women]]></description><link>https://www.not2speak.com/p/stripping-justice-bare</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.not2speak.com/p/stripping-justice-bare</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Pastor Phil Ayres]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 27 Nov 2024 14:03:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2-Mb!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fed34791b-1887-4b81-8c04-58000bc765cb_1280x720.heic" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2-Mb!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fed34791b-1887-4b81-8c04-58000bc765cb_1280x720.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2-Mb!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fed34791b-1887-4b81-8c04-58000bc765cb_1280x720.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2-Mb!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fed34791b-1887-4b81-8c04-58000bc765cb_1280x720.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2-Mb!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fed34791b-1887-4b81-8c04-58000bc765cb_1280x720.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2-Mb!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fed34791b-1887-4b81-8c04-58000bc765cb_1280x720.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2-Mb!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fed34791b-1887-4b81-8c04-58000bc765cb_1280x720.heic" width="1280" height="720" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/ed34791b-1887-4b81-8c04-58000bc765cb_1280x720.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:720,&quot;width&quot;:1280,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:147852,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2-Mb!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fed34791b-1887-4b81-8c04-58000bc765cb_1280x720.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2-Mb!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fed34791b-1887-4b81-8c04-58000bc765cb_1280x720.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2-Mb!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fed34791b-1887-4b81-8c04-58000bc765cb_1280x720.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2-Mb!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fed34791b-1887-4b81-8c04-58000bc765cb_1280x720.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><blockquote><p><strong>Isaiah 5:20</strong><br><em>Woe to those who call evil good<br>and good evil,<br>who put darkness for light<br>and light for darkness,<br>who put bitter for sweet<br>and sweet for bitter!</em></p></blockquote><p>Let&#8217;s be honest: Isaiah&#8217;s warning feels like it was written for today. We&#8217;re living in a world where justice has been flipped on its head and common sense is thrown out the window. What used to be clear&#8212;like the difference between right and wrong&#8212;has been completely muddled by a culture that&#8217;s more concerned with feelings than facts. And nowhere is this more obvious than in the UK&#8217;s latest move to let biological men strip-search women.</p><h3>The Madness of Modern Justice</h3><p>For years now, the UK has been heading down this road. <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/uk-preacher-arrested-free-speech-corner-while-debating-islam-wins-damages-from-police">Street preachers arrested for sharing their beliefs?</a> Check. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cyvpp0j9q1ro">People raided by police for posting their opinions online?</a> Of course. So it&#8217;s no surprise that they&#8217;ve now gone all-in on the transgender agenda, even to the point of putting women at risk.</p><p>Case in point: &#8220;Skye&#8221; Morden. Skye is a biological man who says he&#8217;s a woman. He&#8217;s been a police officer for over 20 years and now leads an organization called <em>Trans in the City</em>, which promotes transgender and non-binary rights. That&#8217;s all well and good, but here&#8217;s where things get problematic.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4Em8!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff0950b69-9a01-46e6-bd38-83c46606c95d_1482x960.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4Em8!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff0950b69-9a01-46e6-bd38-83c46606c95d_1482x960.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4Em8!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff0950b69-9a01-46e6-bd38-83c46606c95d_1482x960.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4Em8!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff0950b69-9a01-46e6-bd38-83c46606c95d_1482x960.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4Em8!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff0950b69-9a01-46e6-bd38-83c46606c95d_1482x960.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4Em8!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff0950b69-9a01-46e6-bd38-83c46606c95d_1482x960.png" width="1456" height="943" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f0950b69-9a01-46e6-bd38-83c46606c95d_1482x960.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:943,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:978011,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4Em8!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff0950b69-9a01-46e6-bd38-83c46606c95d_1482x960.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4Em8!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff0950b69-9a01-46e6-bd38-83c46606c95d_1482x960.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4Em8!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff0950b69-9a01-46e6-bd38-83c46606c95d_1482x960.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4Em8!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff0950b69-9a01-46e6-bd38-83c46606c95d_1482x960.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">&#8220;Skye&#8221; Morden</figcaption></figure></div><p>New rules from the British Transport Police (BTP) allow biological men who claim to be women to conduct intimate searches on female detainees, as long as they have a gender recognition certificate (GRC). It doesn&#8217;t matter if they still have male anatomy&#8212;what matters is their paperwork. So now, officers like Skye, who is clearly a man, can legally perform strip searches on women</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!t0AA!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2253aa30-e535-466d-829d-f1d7bc918119_634x888.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!t0AA!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2253aa30-e535-466d-829d-f1d7bc918119_634x888.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!t0AA!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2253aa30-e535-466d-829d-f1d7bc918119_634x888.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!t0AA!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2253aa30-e535-466d-829d-f1d7bc918119_634x888.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!t0AA!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2253aa30-e535-466d-829d-f1d7bc918119_634x888.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!t0AA!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2253aa30-e535-466d-829d-f1d7bc918119_634x888.heic" width="310" height="434.19558359621453" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/2253aa30-e535-466d-829d-f1d7bc918119_634x888.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:888,&quot;width&quot;:634,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:310,&quot;bytes&quot;:57854,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!t0AA!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2253aa30-e535-466d-829d-f1d7bc918119_634x888.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!t0AA!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2253aa30-e535-466d-829d-f1d7bc918119_634x888.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!t0AA!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2253aa30-e535-466d-829d-f1d7bc918119_634x888.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!t0AA!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2253aa30-e535-466d-829d-f1d7bc918119_634x888.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Morden 10 years ago</figcaption></figure></div><p>.Think about that for a second. A woman in custody might have to endure an intimate search from a biological man. Sure, the rules say she can object, but let&#8217;s be real&#8212;who&#8217;s going to risk being labeled &#8220;transphobic&#8221; in that situation? The pressure to stay silent is enormous, and the system knows it</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BnQj!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc2a8e491-e405-42ba-87d4-a8816cc00f15_1920x1080.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BnQj!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc2a8e491-e405-42ba-87d4-a8816cc00f15_1920x1080.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BnQj!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc2a8e491-e405-42ba-87d4-a8816cc00f15_1920x1080.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BnQj!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc2a8e491-e405-42ba-87d4-a8816cc00f15_1920x1080.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BnQj!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc2a8e491-e405-42ba-87d4-a8816cc00f15_1920x1080.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BnQj!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc2a8e491-e405-42ba-87d4-a8816cc00f15_1920x1080.heic" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/c2a8e491-e405-42ba-87d4-a8816cc00f15_1920x1080.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:195827,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BnQj!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc2a8e491-e405-42ba-87d4-a8816cc00f15_1920x1080.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BnQj!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc2a8e491-e405-42ba-87d4-a8816cc00f15_1920x1080.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BnQj!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc2a8e491-e405-42ba-87d4-a8816cc00f15_1920x1080.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BnQj!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc2a8e491-e405-42ba-87d4-a8816cc00f15_1920x1080.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">&#8220;Skye&#8221; Morden</figcaption></figure></div><p>.This isn&#8217;t just a bad policy. It&#8217;s a slap in the face to women everywhere. For decades, women have fought for their rights and safety. Now, all of that is being erased in the name of inclusivity. The lines meant to protect women&#8212;lines that should be non-negotiable&#8212;are being blurred or outright ignored.</p><p>Isaiah&#8217;s words hit the nail on the head: &#8220;Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.&#8221; That&#8217;s exactly what&#8217;s happening. Policies like this aren&#8217;t progressive; they&#8217;re regressive. They don&#8217;t protect women&#8212;they put them in harm&#8217;s way.</p><p>For now, the U.S. hasn&#8217;t gone this far, but let&#8217;s not kid ourselves. These ideas have a way of crossing borders, especially when no one speaks up. If we stay silent, this kind of madness will make its way here, too.</p><p>The time to push back is now. We can&#8217;t just sit on the sidelines, shaking our heads. We need to say, clearly and boldly, that this isn&#8217;t right.</p><p>This isn&#8217;t just about bad laws or misguided policies. It&#8217;s about a culture that&#8217;s turned away from God&#8217;s design for humanity. When you reject the Creator, chaos is the natural result. The confusion we&#8217;re seeing about gender, justice, and morality is a symptom of something much deeper&#8212;a spiritual rebellion against God.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>But while it&#8217;s tempting to focus our anger on people like Skye Morden, we have to remember that he&#8217;s not the real enemy. He&#8217;s a person made in God&#8217;s image, just like you and me, who&#8217;s caught up in a cultural storm of confusion. My hope for him&#8212;and for everyone like him&#8212;is that he would see the truth, turn to Christ, and find the freedom that only God can give.</p><p>We can&#8217;t afford to sit back and hope someone else speaks up. It&#8217;s up to us&#8212;parents, pastors, teachers, and everyday people&#8212;to push back against this cultural confusion. We need to stand firm, not out of hate, but out of love for truth and love for our neighbors.</p><p>And as we do, we need to pray. Pray for our leaders to have wisdom. Pray for our culture to wake up. And pray for people like Skye Morden to find the hope and healing they need in Jesus.</p><p>At the end of the day, the solution to this mess isn&#8217;t more outrage or better policies (though those help). The real solution is the gospel. Jesus is the only one who can cut through the darkness and bring true clarity.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/p/stripping-justice-bare?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/p/stripping-justice-bare?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cecile Richards and the Medal of Freedom]]></title><description><![CDATA[Honoring a Legacy of Death]]></description><link>https://www.not2speak.com/p/cecile-richards-and-the-medal-of</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.not2speak.com/p/cecile-richards-and-the-medal-of</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Pastor Phil Ayres]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 21 Nov 2024 18:16:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gIR9!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F72eb8e48-685c-4e7f-84d0-79e6eccecac5_1920x1080.heic" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gIR9!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F72eb8e48-685c-4e7f-84d0-79e6eccecac5_1920x1080.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gIR9!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F72eb8e48-685c-4e7f-84d0-79e6eccecac5_1920x1080.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gIR9!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F72eb8e48-685c-4e7f-84d0-79e6eccecac5_1920x1080.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gIR9!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F72eb8e48-685c-4e7f-84d0-79e6eccecac5_1920x1080.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gIR9!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F72eb8e48-685c-4e7f-84d0-79e6eccecac5_1920x1080.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gIR9!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F72eb8e48-685c-4e7f-84d0-79e6eccecac5_1920x1080.heic" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/72eb8e48-685c-4e7f-84d0-79e6eccecac5_1920x1080.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:609420,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gIR9!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F72eb8e48-685c-4e7f-84d0-79e6eccecac5_1920x1080.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gIR9!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F72eb8e48-685c-4e7f-84d0-79e6eccecac5_1920x1080.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gIR9!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F72eb8e48-685c-4e7f-84d0-79e6eccecac5_1920x1080.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gIR9!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F72eb8e48-685c-4e7f-84d0-79e6eccecac5_1920x1080.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>If you want to understand what the Biden administration values most, look no further than the most recent Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. This week, President Joe Biden will pin our nation's highest civilian honor on Cecile Richards. She&#8217;s the former president of Planned Parenthood and an unapologetic advocate for abortion. According to Biden, Richards will be remembered as a champion of &#8220;women&#8217;s reproductive rights and equality.&#8221; But the reality is darker&#8212;far darker. During her 12-year tenure, the organization she led was responsible for ending the lives of an estimated (very conservatively) 2.5 million unborn children. Let that sink in.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>Richards isn&#8217;t just an administrator in the abortion debate. She&#8217;s a figurehead, a symbol of a movement that celebrates "choice" without confronting its cost. In a 2014 interview, she shared a deeply revealing comment about her own abortion, saying, <em>&#8220;It was the right decision for me and my husband, and it wasn&#8217;t a difficult decision.&#8221;</em> Not a difficult decision? It&#8217;s as though the moral weight of ending a life has been sanitized to the point of triviality&#8212;a harsh reality indeed.</p><p>But Richards&#8217; legacy isn&#8217;t just about abortion statistics. Her leadership at Planned Parenthood was marred by scandal and controversy that most people would rather ignore. The organization has been repeatedly accused of covering up child sexual abuse,<a class="footnote-anchor" data-component-name="FootnoteAnchorToDOM" id="footnote-anchor-1" href="#footnote-1" target="_self">1</a> committing Medicaid fraud<a class="footnote-anchor" data-component-name="FootnoteAnchorToDOM" id="footnote-anchor-2" href="#footnote-2" target="_self">2</a>, and even profiting from the sale of fetal body parts.<a class="footnote-anchor" data-component-name="FootnoteAnchorToDOM" id="footnote-anchor-3" href="#footnote-3" target="_self">3</a> These aren&#8217;t conspiracy theories; they&#8217;re documented scandals, with undercover videos exposing the callous and disturbing practices that occurred under her watch. One particularly chilling clip shows Planned Parenthood representatives laughing and joking about the sale of aborted babies' organs&#8212;a moment that feels more dystopian than real. (You can watch it, if you dare, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9EU_02c5bM">here</a>).</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lxZ1!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F20274840-342a-4ad9-8b2e-5950e63ebf89_1100x575.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lxZ1!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F20274840-342a-4ad9-8b2e-5950e63ebf89_1100x575.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lxZ1!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F20274840-342a-4ad9-8b2e-5950e63ebf89_1100x575.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lxZ1!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F20274840-342a-4ad9-8b2e-5950e63ebf89_1100x575.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lxZ1!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F20274840-342a-4ad9-8b2e-5950e63ebf89_1100x575.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lxZ1!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F20274840-342a-4ad9-8b2e-5950e63ebf89_1100x575.heic" width="1100" height="575" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/20274840-342a-4ad9-8b2e-5950e63ebf89_1100x575.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:575,&quot;width&quot;:1100,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:99109,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lxZ1!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F20274840-342a-4ad9-8b2e-5950e63ebf89_1100x575.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lxZ1!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F20274840-342a-4ad9-8b2e-5950e63ebf89_1100x575.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lxZ1!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F20274840-342a-4ad9-8b2e-5950e63ebf89_1100x575.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lxZ1!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F20274840-342a-4ad9-8b2e-5950e63ebf89_1100x575.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>The irony here is almost unbearable. A medal meant to celebrate freedom is being awarded to someone whose life&#8217;s work has been defined by a denial of it. And while the world cheers, I can&#8217;t help but feel a profound sadness. For Richards. For our country. For the more than 2.5 million tiny humans who never had a chance.</p><p>There&#8217;s an added layer of tragedy to this story. Cecile Richards has been diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive and often terminal form of brain cancer. I don&#8217;t bring this up to gloat or wish her harm&#8212;far from it. Life and death are realities that we all must face. And in Richards&#8217; case, I can only hope that this diagnosis gives her an opportunity to reflect on her life, her legacy, and the millions of lives taken during her time at Planned Parenthood.&nbsp;</p><p>Because one day soon, like all of us, Cecile Richards will stand before the ultimate Judge. And when she does, no political accolade or presidential medal will matter. What will matter is whether she found forgiveness in Christ and turned to Him in repentance. That hope isn&#8217;t just for her; it&#8217;s for all of us, no matter how dark our past may be.</p><div class="captioned-button-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/p/cecile-richards-and-the-medal-of?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;}" data-component-name="CaptionedButtonToDOM"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading Not to Speak is to Speak! This post is public so feel free to share it.</p></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/p/cecile-richards-and-the-medal-of?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/p/cecile-richards-and-the-medal-of?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p></div><p></p><div class="footnote" data-component-name="FootnoteToDOM"><a id="footnote-1" href="#footnote-anchor-1" class="footnote-number" contenteditable="false" target="_self">1</a><div class="footnote-content"><p>https://x.com/WallStreetApes/status/1687639219043450880</p><p></p></div></div><div class="footnote" data-component-name="FootnoteToDOM"><a id="footnote-2" href="#footnote-anchor-2" class="footnote-number" contenteditable="false" target="_self">2</a><div class="footnote-content"><p>https://x.com/LilaGraceRose/status/1740819889856623074</p><p></p></div></div><div class="footnote" data-component-name="FootnoteToDOM"><a id="footnote-3" href="#footnote-anchor-3" class="footnote-number" contenteditable="false" target="_self">3</a><div class="footnote-content"><div id="youtube2-c9EU_02c5bM" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;c9EU_02c5bM&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/c9EU_02c5bM?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Time for Grace, Not Gloating]]></title><description><![CDATA[Reflecting Christ&#8217;s Love Through Humility]]></description><link>https://www.not2speak.com/p/a-time-for-grace-not-gloating</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.not2speak.com/p/a-time-for-grace-not-gloating</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Pastor Phil Ayres]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 06 Nov 2024 14:12:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fzJO!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff8f62115-1298-49a2-aeef-09875f27c560_1920x1080.heic" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fzJO!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff8f62115-1298-49a2-aeef-09875f27c560_1920x1080.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fzJO!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff8f62115-1298-49a2-aeef-09875f27c560_1920x1080.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fzJO!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff8f62115-1298-49a2-aeef-09875f27c560_1920x1080.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fzJO!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff8f62115-1298-49a2-aeef-09875f27c560_1920x1080.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fzJO!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff8f62115-1298-49a2-aeef-09875f27c560_1920x1080.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fzJO!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff8f62115-1298-49a2-aeef-09875f27c560_1920x1080.heic" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f8f62115-1298-49a2-aeef-09875f27c560_1920x1080.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:147806,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fzJO!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff8f62115-1298-49a2-aeef-09875f27c560_1920x1080.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fzJO!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff8f62115-1298-49a2-aeef-09875f27c560_1920x1080.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fzJO!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff8f62115-1298-49a2-aeef-09875f27c560_1920x1080.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fzJO!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff8f62115-1298-49a2-aeef-09875f27c560_1920x1080.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>It looks like Donald Trump is on his way back to the White House. That&#8217;s a good thing but to be honest&#8212;I&#8217;m surprised. I didn&#8217;t think the election would turn out this way considering how hard so many mainstream news outlets were propping up Kamala Harris as the future of America. The rhetoric was fierce (on both sides) and I was sure the democrats would keep the presidency for another 4 years.</p><p><strong>But in the end, the people voted, and their decision now stands.</strong></p><p>I&#8217;ve been open about this: <a href="https://www.not2speak.com/p/im-not-voting-for-trump?r=r6ay9&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web">Trump isn&#8217;t a perfect leader&#8212;far from it</a>. But he stands for many things that I believe could make our country better. Even so, as Christians, it&#8217;s important to remember that how we handle this moment matters, especially around those who voted differently. The Bible gives us some wise advice here.</p><blockquote><p><em>Proverbs 24:17-18 says, &#8220;Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.&#8221; </em></p></blockquote><p>This verse reminds us not to celebrate someone else&#8217;s loss or rub it in when we win. Instead, we&#8217;re called to show humility, grace, and respect.</p><p>If you voted for Trump, take this victory with humility. There&#8217;s no need to put others down or act like this win means we&#8217;re somehow better. And while Trump might align more with our values, he&#8217;s far from the perfect role model for Christians. It&#8217;s likely that his response in this victory will be less than a humble one. We must continue to pray for him, asking that he would encounter the true light of Christ, opening his heart fully to God and becoming a true follower.</p><p>For the next days and months, you&#8217;ll encounter some very pointed and angry words from those whose candidate lost. And those words might tempt you to respond in anger or pettiness. But another proverb from God&#8217;s Word offers us wisdom for moments just like this:</p><blockquote><p><em>Proverbs 15:1 says, &#8220;A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.&#8221;</em></p></blockquote><p>When it comes to conversations at home, at work, and especially on social media, let&#8217;s avoid the urge to return fire with fire. Instead, let&#8217;s commit to speaking the truth humbly and in love. If we truly want to make a difference, we&#8217;ll do it by being a light in a divided world, showing respect to everyone&#8212;even those who didn&#8217;t vote the same way.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/p/a-time-for-grace-not-gloating?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/p/a-time-for-grace-not-gloating?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Abortion and the Lost Natural Order]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Call To Reason]]></description><link>https://www.not2speak.com/p/abortion-and-the-lost-natural-order</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.not2speak.com/p/abortion-and-the-lost-natural-order</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer F.]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 01 Nov 2024 16:27:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rIrP!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3797b575-c238-4936-ad1a-b0d7fd41abb5_1792x1024.heic" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rIrP!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3797b575-c238-4936-ad1a-b0d7fd41abb5_1792x1024.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rIrP!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3797b575-c238-4936-ad1a-b0d7fd41abb5_1792x1024.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rIrP!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3797b575-c238-4936-ad1a-b0d7fd41abb5_1792x1024.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rIrP!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3797b575-c238-4936-ad1a-b0d7fd41abb5_1792x1024.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rIrP!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3797b575-c238-4936-ad1a-b0d7fd41abb5_1792x1024.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rIrP!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3797b575-c238-4936-ad1a-b0d7fd41abb5_1792x1024.heic" width="1456" height="832" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/3797b575-c238-4936-ad1a-b0d7fd41abb5_1792x1024.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:832,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:641161,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rIrP!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3797b575-c238-4936-ad1a-b0d7fd41abb5_1792x1024.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rIrP!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3797b575-c238-4936-ad1a-b0d7fd41abb5_1792x1024.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rIrP!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3797b575-c238-4936-ad1a-b0d7fd41abb5_1792x1024.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rIrP!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3797b575-c238-4936-ad1a-b0d7fd41abb5_1792x1024.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Those who study this world come quickly to realize that the natural world, outside of the influence of humanity, is a world of supreme order.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a world of infinitely intricate systems and processes that work together seamlessly to create balance and function, for a purpose.&nbsp; Among the myriad ways humans have found to create chaos out of order, the issue of Abortion is once again playing its role in dividing our great nation.</p><p>In a time when proposed ballot measures across the country are calling for &#8220;love&#8221; to the exclusion of reason, rationally-minded voters must take a step back and consider our role in either endorsing or opposing chaos.&nbsp; Rationally-minded voters must accept that abortion subverts the natural order.&nbsp; Nowhere else in the animal kingdom do we see mothers ending, or attempting to end the lives of their offspring in utero purely on the basis of convenience, mental health, physical health, perceived health or lack thereof of the preborn baby, on the basis of who contributed the other half of the DNA, or the perceived available resources.&nbsp; Unfettered access to abortion is not a societal &#8220;advancement&#8221;.&nbsp; It is an age-old illustration of societal decline.&nbsp; Human mothers championing their right to kill their own babies at will is not an indicator of how far humans have come.&nbsp; It is an image of how far humans have fallen from the natural order, and, dare I say it, from God&#8217;s original plan.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Now before you go educating me on the fact that mother birds are known, at times, to evict hatchlings from the nest because of a food shortage or deformity, or that rats sometimes eat their own babies, or that fish will consume their own eggs, or any other anomaly of the sort we may witness within the wilds of the animal kingdom at large, these occurrences are the exception, and not the rule.&nbsp; Science will tell us that it&#8217;s quite the opposite in the entirety of the animal kingdom, with mothers willing to endure incredible pain and suffering protecting the lives of their babies, even to the point of death.&nbsp; And, the more advanced the animal, the greater likelihood it would be willing to die for it&#8217;s offspring.&nbsp;</p><p>&#8220;But you say we are part of the natural order, are we not? And in the natural world there are reasons animals kill their young.&#8221;&nbsp; Absolutely, we are.&nbsp; But are we not&nbsp;also unquestionably set apart?&nbsp; While some rats and birds, and fish of the animal kingdom may indeed have no recourse by which to survive and thrive in certain situations of stress or hardship, and therefore resort to killing their babies, can we really lump ourselves in with those examples and call it natural?&nbsp; No sane person would say so. It is obvious that humankind is indeed set apart from the rest of the animal kingdom, whether you believe it is through the process of evolution, or that of creation.&nbsp; We have been created as part of the natural world, and yet, we are set apart&#8230; special.&nbsp; Historians will tell you that, in so many areas of human life, the advancement and evolution of humanity usually signals an increase of compassion, not the other way around.&nbsp;</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>So then where does this idea come from, that ending the life of our own children could benefit us?&nbsp; Well, when something is not of the&nbsp;NATURAL world, reason suggests it would have to be influenced by factors outside of the world we see around us, or, the SUPERnatural. There is nothing new under the sun, and abortion had its rise in virtually every ancient society of the past just like its having its rise in the world right now.&nbsp; It echoes the Judean child sacrifices to Baal that we read about in the bible (Jeremiah 19), the sacrifices made to the god Moloch by the Caananites, and many others.&nbsp; As a matter of fact, the barbaric practice of child sacrifice found its way into virtually every major ancient civilization, from the Babylonians and Carthaginians of biblical times, to the Aztec and Incan empires, to the Celtic Druids on the other side of the world.&nbsp; The age-old formula went like this:&nbsp; If I give up my child to appease (whatever god), my life will be better in some way.&nbsp; It will rain more.&nbsp; It will rain less.&nbsp; My harvest will be bountiful. The community will become prosperous. And on and on and on.&nbsp;</p><div class="pullquote"><p>We tout ourselves today to be more advanced than any civilization that has come before us.&nbsp; Why then are we still laying our unborn at the foot of the altar?&nbsp; Remember, as civilizations advance, we grow in our humanity, and in our compassion.</p></div><p>But the abortion industry does not reflect that same curve.&nbsp; It may not be made of gold, but there is no doubt that the abortionist&#8217;s table is an altar to the gods we make of convenience, pleasure, money, things, time, and above all, SELF. &nbsp; The gods of our age have evolved beyond golden calves but they are here among us nonetheless, demanding our attention and basking in our worship. Abortion is a sacrifice on the altar of the evil one, who has deceived us into believing it is GOOD for us.&nbsp; The sacrificer is hoping for a favorable outcome, but any perceived benefit is fleeting, just as it was for the Babylonians, because their hope has been misplaced. Their God-given role as mother-protector has been traded for murderer.&nbsp; Order has become chaos.&nbsp; Loving women means pointing them to THE perfect healer, our savior, the one who wipes away all tears and makes all things whole, and to the ONLY God deserving of our worship.&nbsp; It means pointing them away from the wiles of the deceiver and toward the only true source of living hope, Jesus Christ.&nbsp;<br></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/p/abortion-and-the-lost-natural-order?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/p/abortion-and-the-lost-natural-order?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sadly, The Joke's on Us]]></title><description><![CDATA[Trump Rally Roast Comic Misfires In A Big Way]]></description><link>https://www.not2speak.com/p/sadly-the-jokes-on-us</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.not2speak.com/p/sadly-the-jokes-on-us</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Pastor Phil Ayres]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 29 Oct 2024 12:31:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CVhW!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Feaf939c0-6633-440f-b591-891b80d6d548_1600x900.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CVhW!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Feaf939c0-6633-440f-b591-891b80d6d548_1600x900.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CVhW!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Feaf939c0-6633-440f-b591-891b80d6d548_1600x900.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CVhW!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Feaf939c0-6633-440f-b591-891b80d6d548_1600x900.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CVhW!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Feaf939c0-6633-440f-b591-891b80d6d548_1600x900.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CVhW!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Feaf939c0-6633-440f-b591-891b80d6d548_1600x900.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CVhW!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Feaf939c0-6633-440f-b591-891b80d6d548_1600x900.png" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/eaf939c0-6633-440f-b591-891b80d6d548_1600x900.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:861861,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CVhW!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Feaf939c0-6633-440f-b591-891b80d6d548_1600x900.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CVhW!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Feaf939c0-6633-440f-b591-891b80d6d548_1600x900.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CVhW!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Feaf939c0-6633-440f-b591-891b80d6d548_1600x900.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CVhW!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Feaf939c0-6633-440f-b591-891b80d6d548_1600x900.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>In the past I&#8217;ve made this clear. My support for Trump has always been <em>somewhat complicated. </em></p><p>As a Christian and a pastor, I&#8217;m not naive about the man's imperfections. But I recognize that Trump is not auditioning for Sunday school teacher or even head Boy Scout&#8212;he&#8217;s vying to take the helm of a country in desperate need of reform. I get that he&#8217;s an instigator and agitator, shaking up a political system that is in desperate need of change. That&#8217;s one of the reasons I support him.</p><div class="pullquote"><p><em>But why does he make it so hard to root for him? Every time I think I can lean in a bit, there&#8217;s another reason to question the logic of it all.</em></p></div><p>On Sunday night at Madison Square Garden, Trump&#8217;s team assembled a host of speakers in front of a packed audience, a lineup meant to stir up excitement. Names like J.D. Vance, Vivek Ramaswamy, Elon Musk, and Tucker Carlson&#8212;people with serious clout, no matter your stance on their politics. But first, the stage was taken by Tony Hinchcliffe, a comedian known for &#8220;Kill Tony,&#8221; a notoriously crass and confrontational show at Joe Rogan&#8217;s comedy club, The Mothership in Austin, Texas. </p><p>Hinchcliffe&#8217;s brand of humor is edgy, blunt, and frequently offensive&#8212;everything you&#8217;d expect from a roast comic who made waves &#8220;roasting&#8221; Tom Brady on Comedy Central just months ago. But during the RNC rally on Sunday he called Puerto Rico a &#8220;floating island of garbage&#8221; and joked about African Americans carving watermelons instead of pumpkins. He also made a terribly crass joke about the sexual habits of Hispanic people. His jokes landed poorly at best. It seemed like the audience didn&#8217;t know if they were allowed to laugh. </p><p>Roast humor has been around for a while and is even utilized by the Washington elite. Just a couple weeks ago Jim Gaffigan roasted the audience at the yearly and prestigious Al Smith dinner, poking fun at both sides of the political divide. However, the jokes weren&#8217;t tinged with racist undertones, nor were they sexual in nature. </p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>So, here&#8217;s the question: why on earth did Trump&#8217;s campaign think a roast comic would resonate with this audience? We conservative Christians are already holding our breath when it comes to Trump, frequently having to justify our support for a guy who often leaves us wincing (remember Arnold Palmer? Google it). More critically, Trump has softened his stance on one of the most defining issues for conservatives: abortion. </p><p>This rally wasn&#8217;t the moment for a comedian whose entire act is about pushing boundaries and poking nerves. The people didn&#8217;t show up for edgy humor or cheap shots; they came for inspiration, for strength, and maybe, just maybe, a reminder of why we&#8217;re still standing behind this campaign at all.</p><p>Maybe Trump wasn&#8217;t aware of what was planned for that night. But somebody had to know. Somebody on his team approved of having Hinchcliffe on stage and either didn&#8217;t care or didn&#8217;t consider how poorly it would land with a conservative crowd. Whoever on Trump&#8217;s campaign thought this would be a good idea needs a serious wake-up call&#8212;or a new job.&nbsp;</p><p>A rally isn&#8217;t a comedy showcase or late-night talk show. It&#8217;s supposed to be a statement of resolve and vision, a gathering meant to rally Americans who feel their voices and values are slipping away in a chaotic, shifting world. Instead, it ended up embodying the very accusations the media&#8217;s been lobbing at Trump for years&#8212;vulgar, crass, even hostile. The rally could have been a defining moment of strength; instead, it is becoming a public relations nightmare.</p><p>To those saying, &#8220;Hey, lighten up; it&#8217;s just humor!&#8221; I&#8217;d say this: there&#8217;s a time and a place for that kind of humor. A presidential rally, just over a week before the election, is not it. Humor can bridge gaps, but it can also divide&#8212;and in this case, it was like using a match to defuse a bomb.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption"></p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/p/sadly-the-jokes-on-us?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/p/sadly-the-jokes-on-us?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption"></p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[I’m Not Voting for Trump]]></title><description><![CDATA[I'm Voting for the Policies He Represents]]></description><link>https://www.not2speak.com/p/im-not-voting-for-trump</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.not2speak.com/p/im-not-voting-for-trump</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Pastor Phil Ayres]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 28 Oct 2024 13:02:29 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K0mX!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc2036b94-306e-4e09-b720-050aa341660b_1024x768.heic" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K0mX!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc2036b94-306e-4e09-b720-050aa341660b_1024x768.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K0mX!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc2036b94-306e-4e09-b720-050aa341660b_1024x768.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K0mX!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc2036b94-306e-4e09-b720-050aa341660b_1024x768.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K0mX!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc2036b94-306e-4e09-b720-050aa341660b_1024x768.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K0mX!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc2036b94-306e-4e09-b720-050aa341660b_1024x768.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K0mX!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc2036b94-306e-4e09-b720-050aa341660b_1024x768.heic" width="1024" height="768" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/c2036b94-306e-4e09-b720-050aa341660b_1024x768.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:768,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:180150,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K0mX!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc2036b94-306e-4e09-b720-050aa341660b_1024x768.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K0mX!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc2036b94-306e-4e09-b720-050aa341660b_1024x768.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K0mX!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc2036b94-306e-4e09-b720-050aa341660b_1024x768.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K0mX!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc2036b94-306e-4e09-b720-050aa341660b_1024x768.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p><strong>This election is a big deal.</strong> The stakes are high, but the weight of the decision is even higher. And yet, I&#8217;ve made up my mind: I am <em>not</em> voting for Donald Trump. </p><p><em>Surprised? </em>Let me explain. </p><p>I&#8217;m NOT casting my vote for a <em>person</em>. I&#8217;m voting for a set of <em>ideals</em>, a moral standpoint that reflects where I think our country should be heading.</p><p>Here&#8217;s the problem with how we approach elections today: we get bogged down in personalities rather than principles. In a two-party system, the real choice is between the values those parties stand for, not necessarily the individual who becomes the figurehead. So, let&#8217;s dive into what these values look like&#8212;and why I&#8217;ve chosen to align myself with one side over the other.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>On the one hand, we have Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, who represent the Democratic Party. Now, let&#8217;s be clear: they aren&#8217;t just figureheads. They lead a movement that pushes policies I find deeply concerning. For instance, they advocate for what is <a href="https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/jun/28/kamala-harris/fact-check-did-kamala-harris-really-disagree-obama/">essentially an open-border policy</a>. What does this mean in practice? It means unchecked immigration, which leads to dangerous outcomes&#8212;human trafficking, the spread of fentanyl, and insufficient vetting of individuals entering the country, some of whom have clear criminal intentions.</p><p>And then there&#8217;s their stance on abortion. Kamala Harris, along with almost every Democrat, has openly supported unrestricted access to abortion, even when the fetus is viable outside the womb. They often frame this as a matter of "reproductive rights," but the reality is what it is. The left is determined to expand access to abortion nationwide, with no limits or restrictions whatsoever. In one case, every Democrat <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1162/vote_116_2_00058.htm">voted against providing life-saving care to infants who survive failed abortions</a>. To me, this is the destruction of human life at its most vulnerable, and I simply cannot support that.</p><p>Tim Walz is no different when it comes to pushing an agenda I don&#8217;t agree with. He&#8217;s been outspoken in his <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/tim-walz-policy-transgender-minors-explained-1937598">support for the LGBTQ movement</a>, including policies that allow biological males access to female-only spaces, like locker rooms and bathrooms. He even backs initiatives like putting tampons in boys&#8217; bathrooms for biological girls who identify as boys. </p><p>But wait, there&#8217;s more. <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/3142667/harris-banana-republic-free-speech/">Harris</a> and <a href="https://reason.com/volokh/2024/08/08/vp-candidate-tim-walz-on-theres-no-guarantee-to-free-speech-on-misinformation-or-hate-speech-and-especially-around-our-democracy/">Walz</a> have also signaled that they don&#8217;t exactly see free speech as a priority. Both have supported efforts to combat so-called "misinformation." Sounds good on the surface, right? Who wants lies and confusion running wild? The problem is, "misinformation" in their world seems to mean "anything they don&#8217;t agree with." This opens a very dangerous door. When the government&#8212;or those in power&#8212;start deciding what can and cannot be said, we&#8217;re walking down a path toward censorship. Free speech, one of the core principles that America was built on, is at risk here. Who gets to decide what&#8217;s true or false? The same people who promote policies I fundamentally disagree with?</p><p>The slippery slope toward censorship is one we can't afford to slide down. The Harris-Walz platform, with its stance on regulating speech, suggests that the government should have a greater hand in deciding what information is allowed to circulate in public discourse. This might start with "misinformation," but where does it end? The freedom to speak, question, and criticize is central to a functioning democracy, and when those in power start filtering out voices they don&#8217;t want to hear, we all lose.</p><p>Now, let me be clear&#8212;I&#8217;m not voting for Donald Trump because of his personality. Frankly, there are aspects of his demeanor that don&#8217;t sit well with me. His rhetoric is clumsy at best and he can be petty&#8212;that&#8217;s true.</p><p>This election isn&#8217;t about whether a candidate is likable or charming. It&#8217;s about the beliefs he stands for and the team he&#8217;ll build to support policies that fit with my Christian values. He&#8217;s not running to be our pastor, Bible study leader, or even someone who greets people on Sunday mornings. He&#8217;s running to be the commander in chief, a job that needs a tough and steady leader. In this role, what matters most is his commitment to stand firm on issues of right and wrong, fairness, and freedom, even when the choices are hard. His job is to lead with both strength and honesty, qualities that are more important than personality and connect to values I believe in.</p><p>First and foremost, Trump stands for <a href="https://www.piie.com/blogs/realtime-economics/2024/trump-vs-harris-immigration-future-policy-proposals">securing our borders</a>. He&#8217;s committed to ensuring that people entering the U.S. are properly vetted, and that we aren&#8217;t allowing dangerous individuals or child traffickers to slip through the cracks. This is crucial to me. Protecting innocent children from harm should be a top priority for any administration. Besides the fact that any sovereign nation has borders and rules for coming across them. Trump simply wants to put people in place who will enforce the laws that ALREADY EXIST in the United States.</p><p>I also support Trump&#8217;s stance on limiting gender reassignment procedures for minors. At a bare minimum, <a href="https://www.donaldjtrump.com/agenda47/president-trumps-plan-to-protect-children-from-left-wing-gender-insanity">parental consent should be required before life-altering surgeries take place</a>. But beyond that, the Republican platform aims to protect children from the growing gender ideology that&#8217;s taking hold, and I believe this is vital for the well-being of future generations.</p><p>Now, is Trump perfect on every issue? No. For example, his position on abortion could be a lot stronger. I hate that he is unwilling to take a 100% pro-life position. Still, it&#8217;s a significant improvement over the alternative. Under Trump, <a href="https://www.ajmc.com/view/abortion-in-the-presidential-debate-trump-defends-state-bans-harris-vows-national-protections">there are limits on abortion,</a> at least after the first trimester, which is far more pro-life than the extreme stance of the Democratic Party.</p><p>So here&#8217;s where I land: I&#8217;m voting for Trump, <em>the policy position, not the person</em>. I&#8217;m voting for what he represents. This, I believe, is the way we should approach every election. Let&#8217;s stop getting caught up in the personalities of the candidates and start focusing on the principles they stand for and the policies they&#8217;re going to implement.</p><p>Because at the end of the day, it&#8217;s not about liking or disliking a candidate personally. It&#8217;s about the future we want to shape. And for me, that future aligns more closely with what Trump&#8217;s administration represents.</p><p>This is how I see it, anyway. Your vote is your voice, and how you use it is up to you.</p><div class="captioned-button-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/p/im-not-voting-for-trump?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;}" data-component-name="CaptionedButtonToDOM"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading Not to Speak is to Speak! This post is public so feel free to share it.</p></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/p/im-not-voting-for-trump?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/p/im-not-voting-for-trump?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Little Lemonade and a Lot of Heart]]></title><description><![CDATA[A 6-Year-Old Entrepreneur Impacted The Whole Town]]></description><link>https://www.not2speak.com/p/a-little-lemonade-and-a-lot-of-heart</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.not2speak.com/p/a-little-lemonade-and-a-lot-of-heart</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Pastor Phil Ayres]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 16 Sep 2024 13:01:58 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MgLE!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57e526c9-9be1-42de-ac03-a85f2ee79bee_3360x2100.heic" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MgLE!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57e526c9-9be1-42de-ac03-a85f2ee79bee_3360x2100.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MgLE!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57e526c9-9be1-42de-ac03-a85f2ee79bee_3360x2100.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MgLE!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57e526c9-9be1-42de-ac03-a85f2ee79bee_3360x2100.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MgLE!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57e526c9-9be1-42de-ac03-a85f2ee79bee_3360x2100.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MgLE!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57e526c9-9be1-42de-ac03-a85f2ee79bee_3360x2100.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MgLE!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57e526c9-9be1-42de-ac03-a85f2ee79bee_3360x2100.heic" width="1456" height="910" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/57e526c9-9be1-42de-ac03-a85f2ee79bee_3360x2100.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:910,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:1087554,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MgLE!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57e526c9-9be1-42de-ac03-a85f2ee79bee_3360x2100.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MgLE!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57e526c9-9be1-42de-ac03-a85f2ee79bee_3360x2100.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MgLE!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57e526c9-9be1-42de-ac03-a85f2ee79bee_3360x2100.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MgLE!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57e526c9-9be1-42de-ac03-a85f2ee79bee_3360x2100.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>How about some good news for a change?</p><p>A few weeks ago, right here in my neighborhood in Longwood, Florida, a young 6-year-old girl named Jayana decided to set up a lemonade stand. With the help of her mom and brother, she got a table, an umbrella for shade, and three large canisters of lemonade: strawberry, blueberry, and classic plain. </p><p>I drove past her stand but didn&#8217;t have any cash on me. So, I turned around, went home to grab some, and returned for some refreshing lemonade. Her price? Just a free-will donation. I gave her $5, happy to support a little entrepreneur on a hot day.</p><p>Fast forward to about a week later. Someone in the neighborhood apparently felt that Jayana&#8217;s lemonade stand was a public menace and decided to call the police. Yes, you read that right&#8212;a kid selling lemonade &#8220;without a permit&#8221; and supposedly causing a traffic jam. </p><p>So, three Longwood police officers showed up. Now, here&#8217;s where the story gets good. Instead of citing her or shutting down the stand, they did what any freedom-loving American would do&#8212;they bought lemonade! The officers snapped a picture with Jayana and posted it on their department&#8217;s Facebook page.</p><p>That&#8217;s when things really took off. Comments started pouring in from the community, praising the police for doing the right thing and Jayana for being such a great example of entrepreneurial spirit. Her little lemonade stand suddenly became a symbol of positivity and goodwill in the community.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>Soon after, the local news picked up the story. Jayana and the three officers were featured in a heartwarming segment, which then sparked even more attention. People all over the greater Orlando area began hearing about Jayana&#8217;s lemonade stand, and many were eager to find her and support her small business.</p><p>Watching all of this unfold from the sidelines, I got a call at the church from Jayana&#8217;s dad, Jorge. He explained that with the influx of new customers expected over the weekend, they needed a bigger space. He asked if Jayana could set up her lemonade stand on our church property to handle the extra traffic. </p><p>&#8220;Absolutely!&#8221; I told him. What an incredible opportunity!</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DCfX!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3e4e6915-a75b-4739-9c45-e6fad1424bdf_1152x864.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DCfX!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3e4e6915-a75b-4739-9c45-e6fad1424bdf_1152x864.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DCfX!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3e4e6915-a75b-4739-9c45-e6fad1424bdf_1152x864.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DCfX!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3e4e6915-a75b-4739-9c45-e6fad1424bdf_1152x864.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DCfX!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3e4e6915-a75b-4739-9c45-e6fad1424bdf_1152x864.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DCfX!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3e4e6915-a75b-4739-9c45-e6fad1424bdf_1152x864.heic" width="1152" height="864" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/3e4e6915-a75b-4739-9c45-e6fad1424bdf_1152x864.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:864,&quot;width&quot;:1152,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:321297,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DCfX!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3e4e6915-a75b-4739-9c45-e6fad1424bdf_1152x864.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DCfX!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3e4e6915-a75b-4739-9c45-e6fad1424bdf_1152x864.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DCfX!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3e4e6915-a75b-4739-9c45-e6fad1424bdf_1152x864.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DCfX!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3e4e6915-a75b-4739-9c45-e6fad1424bdf_1152x864.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Me, Jayana, and her mother Shayna</figcaption></figure></div><p>So, this past weekend, our little church played a dual role. We held our regular worship service AND helped keep the dream of a young entrepreneur alive. And the best part? Jayana isn&#8217;t just any random kid&#8212;she&#8217;s a part of our church! She&#8217;s a regular in our children&#8217;s ministry and an absolute delight to have in class. Talk about a proud pastor moment!</p><p>But the story doesn&#8217;t end there. In a move that would soften even the hardest heart, Jayana gave 10% of her earnings to the church as a thank-you. If you could have seen the look on her face when she dropped that money into the offering box&#8212;it was pure joy.</p><p>In times like these, when the world feels more divided than ever, leave it to a 6-year-old girl to remind us of what really matters. A simple act of selling lemonade brought a community together, showcased the kindness of our local police, and highlighted the values of self-reliance and generosity being passed down to the next generation.</p><p>And thank God for these little moments that remind us, even in a world full of chaos, there&#8217;s still plenty of good to be found.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/p/a-little-lemonade-and-a-lot-of-heart?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/p/a-little-lemonade-and-a-lot-of-heart?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Free Speech on Trial]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Enoch Burke Case and What It Means for America]]></description><link>https://www.not2speak.com/p/free-speech-on-trial</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.not2speak.com/p/free-speech-on-trial</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Pastor Phil Ayres]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 05 Sep 2024 16:52:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!U4aG!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e1846ec-6cfa-493e-b23c-f178f5842626_1200x675.heic" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!U4aG!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e1846ec-6cfa-493e-b23c-f178f5842626_1200x675.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!U4aG!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e1846ec-6cfa-493e-b23c-f178f5842626_1200x675.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!U4aG!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e1846ec-6cfa-493e-b23c-f178f5842626_1200x675.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!U4aG!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e1846ec-6cfa-493e-b23c-f178f5842626_1200x675.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!U4aG!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e1846ec-6cfa-493e-b23c-f178f5842626_1200x675.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!U4aG!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e1846ec-6cfa-493e-b23c-f178f5842626_1200x675.heic" width="1200" height="675" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/6e1846ec-6cfa-493e-b23c-f178f5842626_1200x675.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:675,&quot;width&quot;:1200,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:528369,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!U4aG!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e1846ec-6cfa-493e-b23c-f178f5842626_1200x675.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!U4aG!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e1846ec-6cfa-493e-b23c-f178f5842626_1200x675.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!U4aG!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e1846ec-6cfa-493e-b23c-f178f5842626_1200x675.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!U4aG!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e1846ec-6cfa-493e-b23c-f178f5842626_1200x675.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Welcome to the next chapter in our unfolding dystopian saga. No, this isn't the plot of a new Netflix series. Instead, it's the real-life story of Enoch Burke, an Irish teacher whose crime was refusing to conform. Not conforming to the whims of a school administration. Not conforming to a court's orders. Not even conforming to the current trend of progressive values. You probably haven't heard of him. And why would you? Stories like his don't make the front pages; they're not the kind of tales the mainstream media is keen on spotlighting. After all, when someone stands up against the tide of governmental tyranny, the media machine would rather you see them as a pariah, not a hero.</p><p>But here's the thing: Enoch Burke <em>is</em> a hero&#8212;or at least he could be if we're willing to look at him through the correct lens. He's a devout Christian, a dedicated teacher, and a martyr for the cause of free speech. His story is one that Americans should heed; otherwise, we may find ourselves walking down a similar path.</p><p>Enoch Burke was a history and German teacher at Wilson's Hospital School in County Westmeath, Ireland. Two years ago, a transgender student complained when Burke refused to use the student's preferred pronouns and newly adopted name. The school dismissed him in a move that many argue has become all too common today. But Burke continued to show up at his post. It wasn't about the paycheck for him. It wasn't even about the job. It was about principle.</p><p>When the school, rattled by Burke's audacity, secured a court injunction ordering him to stay away, he refused. As a result, he was arrested and jailed. You might say, "Well, he broke the law." And you wouldn't be wrong. But what law? A law that mandates compliance with what one might consider an infringement on his conscience? Burke himself put it succinctly: </p><div class="pullquote"><p>"I have a right to my job. I have a right to work here. I have a right to be here and not to tell students they need to take puberty blockers."</p></div><p>After spending 90 days in jail, he was released&#8212;only to return to the school and be jailed again. The cycle continues. And for Burke, it's a matter of conscience. He cannot, in good faith, follow an order he believes is immoral.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!687V!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6bf543c-8ed2-440e-be63-02bc3bbd61ba_2048x1152.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!687V!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6bf543c-8ed2-440e-be63-02bc3bbd61ba_2048x1152.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!687V!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6bf543c-8ed2-440e-be63-02bc3bbd61ba_2048x1152.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!687V!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6bf543c-8ed2-440e-be63-02bc3bbd61ba_2048x1152.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!687V!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6bf543c-8ed2-440e-be63-02bc3bbd61ba_2048x1152.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!687V!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6bf543c-8ed2-440e-be63-02bc3bbd61ba_2048x1152.heic" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f6bf543c-8ed2-440e-be63-02bc3bbd61ba_2048x1152.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:251403,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!687V!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6bf543c-8ed2-440e-be63-02bc3bbd61ba_2048x1152.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!687V!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6bf543c-8ed2-440e-be63-02bc3bbd61ba_2048x1152.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!687V!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6bf543c-8ed2-440e-be63-02bc3bbd61ba_2048x1152.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!687V!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6bf543c-8ed2-440e-be63-02bc3bbd61ba_2048x1152.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Now, you might be thinking, "Well, that's Ireland for you. They don't have the same free speech protections we have in the United States." True enough. But where are we headed? The writing is on the wall.&nbsp;</p><p>Look at Minnesota Governor and Vice Presidential hopeful Tim Walz, who recently remarked, "<a href="https://reason.com/volokh/2024/08/08/vp-candidate-tim-walz-on-theres-no-guarantee-to-free-speech-on-misinformation-or-hate-speech-and-especially-around-our-democracy/">There's no guarantee to free speech on misinformation or hate speech.</a>" Granted, he was talking about voting, but the slippery slope begins with just a few carefully selected words. The First Amendment exists precisely to prevent such erosion of freedoms. It clearly states that we cannot be compelled to change our language even if someone else considers it "rude" or even "hateful."</p><p>Yet, our government seems all too eager to bend these rules to serve its narratives. Earlier this year, the <a href="https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/supreme-court-ruling-underscores-importance-of-free-speech-online">Supreme Court sent two crucial free speech cases back to lower courts</a>, subtly reminding us that the government does not have the authority to control social media to enforce its version of acceptable speech. This move was a free speech victory, but the battle is far from over.</p><p>The case of Enoch Burke should serve as a cautionary tale, a canary in the coal mine for what might be coming if we're not vigilant. The road to losing our cherished freedoms is paved with "reasonable" restrictions that eventually turn into shackles.</p><p>We can laugh at the absurdity of jailing a man for refusing to follow what he believes is a morally compromised order, but how far are we from seeing something similar happen here? Will we soon be silencing teachers, journalists, or even everyday citizens for speaking out of turn?</p><p>As we head into another election season, let&#8217;s remind ourselves of what's truly at stake. The First Amendment isn't just a quaint relic from a bygone era; it's a living, breathing shield against tyranny. But it requires constant vigilance. <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4756788-democrats-supreme-court-november/">The Democrats have made no secret of their desire to pack the court, impose term limits,</a> and appoint more progressive or liberal judges who might be all too happy to reinterpret the Constitution in ways that could limit our freedoms.</p><p>Let's hope America never reaches the point where a teacher like Enoch Burke could find himself behind bars for simply speaking his mind. Our votes this fall could very well determine whether we maintain the robust free speech protections that have made America a beacon of liberty&#8212;or whether we take a step closer to the kind of state censorship we've seen play out across the Atlantic.</p><p>Don't let Enoch Burke's fight be in vain. Let it be a warning&#8212;a loud, clear, and unmistakable warning&#8212;that in America, we still value the freedom to speak, to think, and to be. Because once we lose that, there's no telling what we'll lose next.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Devil's Dictionary]]></title><description><![CDATA[How Our Language is Being Weaponized by The Left]]></description><link>https://www.not2speak.com/p/the-devils-dictionary</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.not2speak.com/p/the-devils-dictionary</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Pastor Phil Ayres]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 29 Aug 2024 12:11:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1ORY!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8af101b7-3ddd-40c4-9e55-4496029f7255_1792x1024.heic" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1ORY!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8af101b7-3ddd-40c4-9e55-4496029f7255_1792x1024.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1ORY!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8af101b7-3ddd-40c4-9e55-4496029f7255_1792x1024.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1ORY!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8af101b7-3ddd-40c4-9e55-4496029f7255_1792x1024.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1ORY!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8af101b7-3ddd-40c4-9e55-4496029f7255_1792x1024.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1ORY!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8af101b7-3ddd-40c4-9e55-4496029f7255_1792x1024.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1ORY!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8af101b7-3ddd-40c4-9e55-4496029f7255_1792x1024.heic" width="1456" height="832" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/8af101b7-3ddd-40c4-9e55-4496029f7255_1792x1024.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:832,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:947774,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1ORY!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8af101b7-3ddd-40c4-9e55-4496029f7255_1792x1024.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1ORY!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8af101b7-3ddd-40c4-9e55-4496029f7255_1792x1024.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1ORY!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8af101b7-3ddd-40c4-9e55-4496029f7255_1792x1024.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1ORY!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8af101b7-3ddd-40c4-9e55-4496029f7255_1792x1024.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><div class="pullquote"><p>"The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter&#8212;it&#8217;s the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning." - Mark Twain</p></div><p>Words matter. We all know that. They&#8217;re how we communicate, how we share our thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. But lately, it seems some people are more interested in twisting those words around than in telling the truth. Sure, words and their meanings evolve over time. But let&#8217;s not kid ourselves: there&#8217;s a big difference between the natural evolution of language and the deliberate redefinition of words to manipulate a gullible public.</p><p>Take the latest advice from the <a href="https://www.healthvermont.gov/about/our-vision-mission-values/health-equity?fbclid=IwY2xjawE9P2NleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHbeR9_SaCmA9Zy8rLCAnJ7M2-uma3jZQnLwjz3GjO-goClULZX20ZPX-Ng_aem_2ijWDdIFjh9f6wM9FB3nDw">Vermont Department of Health</a>. In a Facebook post dated August 28, 2024, they encouraged everyone to &#8220;use terms that cover the many versions of what family can look like.&#8221; Sounds harmless enough, right? A little bit of feel-good, inclusive language. But dig a little deeper, and it turns out their advice is for families&#8212;yes, like Mom and Dad&#8212;to avoid using gender-specific terms like &#8220;son&#8221; or &#8220;daughter.&#8221; Instead, they suggest using neutral terms like &#8220;kid&#8221; or &#8220;child.&#8221;</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RN36!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd0547fbb-3204-45a0-ad80-4f2396bfc0e6_1080x1080.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RN36!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd0547fbb-3204-45a0-ad80-4f2396bfc0e6_1080x1080.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RN36!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd0547fbb-3204-45a0-ad80-4f2396bfc0e6_1080x1080.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RN36!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd0547fbb-3204-45a0-ad80-4f2396bfc0e6_1080x1080.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RN36!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd0547fbb-3204-45a0-ad80-4f2396bfc0e6_1080x1080.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RN36!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd0547fbb-3204-45a0-ad80-4f2396bfc0e6_1080x1080.heic" width="432" height="432" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d0547fbb-3204-45a0-ad80-4f2396bfc0e6_1080x1080.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1080,&quot;width&quot;:1080,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:432,&quot;bytes&quot;:122376,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RN36!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd0547fbb-3204-45a0-ad80-4f2396bfc0e6_1080x1080.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RN36!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd0547fbb-3204-45a0-ad80-4f2396bfc0e6_1080x1080.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RN36!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd0547fbb-3204-45a0-ad80-4f2396bfc0e6_1080x1080.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RN36!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd0547fbb-3204-45a0-ad80-4f2396bfc0e6_1080x1080.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Words are powerful. They shape our reality. They tell us what&#8217;s true and what&#8217;s not. When used properly, words reveal the truth. But when they&#8217;re twisted, stretched, or replaced, they can create an alternate reality&#8212;a false reality. Or, as it&#8217;s usually known, a lie.</p><p>This is nothing new. The devil&#8217;s been playing this game from the very beginning. Remember the Garden of Eden? Satan&#8217;s first act of temptation wasn&#8217;t offering Eve a shiny new apple&#8212;it was redefining God&#8217;s words. When Eve told the serpent that God had forbidden them from eating the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, warning that &#8220;they would die,&#8221; Satan responded with a lie: &#8220;You will not surely die.&#8221;</p><p>What&#8217;s happening here? A redefinition of the word &#8220;die.&#8221; Satan tried to paint it as something desirable&#8212;&#8220;your eyes will be opened,&#8221; he promised. &#8220;You&#8217;ll be like God.&#8221; But we all know how that turned out. Death wasn&#8217;t some metaphorical eye-opening experience. It was literal. By twisting the meaning of &#8220;die,&#8221; Satan lured Eve into disobeying God, and the rest, as they say, is history.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>Fast forward to today, and it seems Satan is still at it. Through the influence of people who stand against God and all He represents, there&#8217;s a movement to redefine our language and strip it of its original meaning. </p><blockquote><p>Jesus said, &#8220;<em>Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female?&#8221;</em> (Matthew 19:4). </p></blockquote><p>Yet today, our culture insists there&#8217;s no such thing as male or female&#8212;or, if there is, they&#8217;re just two of an endless number of genders on a broad spectrum.</p><p>Remember when President Biden&#8217;s 2021 budget request <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/woke-liberals-push-replace-mother-birthing-parent-appease-transgender">replaced the word &#8220;Mother&#8221; with &#8220;birthing person&#8221;</a>? That wasn&#8217;t just a harmless change. It matters. Words like &#8220;mother&#8221; and &#8220;woman&#8221; have specific meanings. Only women can get pregnant. And when they do, they&#8217;re called mothers. And instead of calling an adult human female a &#8220;woman,&#8221; they now want us to say &#8220;people with uteruses.&#8221; And there are countless other terms that have been rebranded to sound more palatable while also being more misleading. Here are a few, for example:</p><ul><li><p>Abortion = &#8220;reproductive rights&#8221;</p></li><li><p>Sex change surgery = &#8220;gender affirming care&#8221;</p></li><li><p>Illegal alien = &#8220;undocumented citizen&#8221;</p></li><li><p>Prostitute = &#8220;sex worker&#8221;</p></li><li><p>Fat = &#8220;plus-sized&#8221; or &#8220;body positive&#8221;</p></li><li><p>Riot = &#8220;<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/cnn-panned-for-on-air-graphic-reading-fiery-but-mostly-peaceful-protest-in-front-of-kenosha-fire">fiery, but mostly peaceful</a>&#8221;</p></li></ul><p>And don&#8217;t even get me started on the pronoun police. &#8220;He&#8221; and &#8220;she&#8221; have been around forever, but now we&#8217;re being told to use &#8220;they,&#8221; or &#8220;ze,&#8221; or &#8220;zim,&#8221; or &#8220;zir,&#8221; or any other concoction that sounds made up. It&#8217;s like someone&#8217;s launched a word missile straight into the heart of our language, creating a chaos of words that suggest, in the end, there is no truth.</p><p>And that&#8217;s exactly what Satan wants. Jesus warned us about this. He said that Satan is a &#8220;liar and the father of lies,&#8221; and those who lie are his children. </p><blockquote><p>In John 8:44, Jesus laid it out plainly: &#8220;<em>You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.&#8221;</em></p></blockquote><p>So, what are we to do in the face of this onslaught against truth? Hold fast to what is true! Stand firm against the language police and their followers. Refuse to be bullied into abandoning the truth for the sake of some politically correct nonsense. Don&#8217;t let yourself become a victim of their linguistic game of Twister. Stand up and say, &#8220;No thank you, I&#8217;m not doing it.&#8221; I will call my boys, &#8220;sons&#8221; and my girls &#8220;daughters.&#8221; I will call pregnant women &#8220;mothers&#8221; and fathers &#8220;dad&#8221; and every other word that so accurately describes actual reality.</p><p>As Jesus said, it&#8217;s the truth that sets us free&#8212;spiritually, physically, and maybe even politically.</p><div class="captioned-button-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/p/the-devils-dictionary?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;}" data-component-name="CaptionedButtonToDOM"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading Not to Speak is to Speak! This post is public so feel free to share it.</p></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/p/the-devils-dictionary?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/p/the-devils-dictionary?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Open Letter: To My Christian Friends Who Don’t Vote]]></title><description><![CDATA[Why Your Voice Is Needed Now More Than Ever]]></description><link>https://www.not2speak.com/p/to-my-christian-friend-who-doesnt</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.not2speak.com/p/to-my-christian-friend-who-doesnt</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Pastor Phil Ayres]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 27 Aug 2024 13:00:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ga4U!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2fec8e79-83d4-4982-ad72-f239329f758d_2652x1492.heic" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ga4U!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2fec8e79-83d4-4982-ad72-f239329f758d_2652x1492.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ga4U!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2fec8e79-83d4-4982-ad72-f239329f758d_2652x1492.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ga4U!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2fec8e79-83d4-4982-ad72-f239329f758d_2652x1492.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ga4U!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2fec8e79-83d4-4982-ad72-f239329f758d_2652x1492.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ga4U!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2fec8e79-83d4-4982-ad72-f239329f758d_2652x1492.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ga4U!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2fec8e79-83d4-4982-ad72-f239329f758d_2652x1492.heic" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/2fec8e79-83d4-4982-ad72-f239329f758d_2652x1492.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2777948,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ga4U!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2fec8e79-83d4-4982-ad72-f239329f758d_2652x1492.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ga4U!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2fec8e79-83d4-4982-ad72-f239329f758d_2652x1492.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ga4U!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2fec8e79-83d4-4982-ad72-f239329f758d_2652x1492.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ga4U!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2fec8e79-83d4-4982-ad72-f239329f758d_2652x1492.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><div class="pullquote"><p>&#8220;<strong>BAD politicians are elected by GOOD people who don&#8217;t vote&#8221;</strong></p></div><p>I get it. Politics can feel like a dirty game. It&#8217;s frustrating. You look at the ballot and see a choice between two candidates who seem, at best, mediocre. You hear the endless debates filled with half-truths, name-calling, and empty promises designed to win votes rather than serve the people.</p><p>I hear you.</p><p>Yes, one glorious day, we won't have to deal with this mess anymore. One day, we will live in a kingdom where our True King, Jesus, reigns with perfect justice and love. No more lies, no more division&#8212;just eternal bliss and love.</p><p>But until that day comes, we have a country to care for. If you're thinking about skipping the vote this November because politics feels too messy, too corrupt, or somehow beneath your Christian dignity, let me remind you of something important.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>God placed you here, in this time and place, as an American citizen. And with that citizenship comes a sacred responsibility&#8212;a privilege paid for by countless men and women who fought and died for the freedoms we enjoy today. </p><p>The Apostle Paul, writing to the Galatians, reminded them, "Do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another" (Galatians 5:13). While Paul was talking about spiritual freedom, I believe the principle applies to our civic freedom as well. We have been given this freedom not just to enjoy, but to use for the good of others. Voting is one way we serve our neighbors&#8212;by choosing leaders who uphold justice, protect the vulnerable, and seek the common good.</p><p>For all its flaws, America still stands as a beacon of hope and freedom in a troubled world. It's a country that, despite its imperfections, was founded on principles that reflect God's truth&#8212;justice, liberty, and the dignity of every human being. Our votes have a real impact on issues that matter deeply: protecting the unborn, ensuring fair treatment for immigrants, defending the rights of women and girls, and resisting ideologies that undermine biblical truths about human identity and purpose.</p><p>Now, I know some might say I&#8217;m being dramatic, but let's be clear: these issues are on the ballot. No, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz might not spell it out directly, but their policies point toward an America where unborn children are at far greater risk, where biological men are free to compete in women&#8217;s sports and even enter their locker rooms. And where children are encouraged toward irreversible gender surgeries. They may not campaign openly on these points, but their records speak for themselves.</p><p>After Paul&#8217;s call to use our freedom to serve, he reminded the Galatians&#8212;and us&#8212;of Jesus&#8217; command: &#8220;Love your neighbor as yourself.&#8221; So, if you love your unborn neighbor, vote to protect them. If you love your young female neighbor, vote to defend their rights. If you care about your neighbor who dreams of becoming a legal American citizen, use your voice.</p><p>Don&#8217;t let the messiness of politics keep you on the sidelines. Don&#8217;t buy into the lie that Christians should avoid the political arena. We have not just a right, but a God-given responsibility to engage. Your vote is one way to use your freedom to serve and make a difference. It&#8217;s time to step up, speak out, and do your part to preserve the blessings of liberty.</p><div class="captioned-button-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/p/to-my-christian-friend-who-doesnt?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;}" data-component-name="CaptionedButtonToDOM"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Do you have a friend that doesn&#8217;t vote? Share this with them!</p></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/p/to-my-christian-friend-who-doesnt?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/p/to-my-christian-friend-who-doesnt?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Culture of Death & Sterility]]></title><description><![CDATA[Why the DNC&#8217;s Free Abortions & Vasectomies Should Terrify Us All]]></description><link>https://www.not2speak.com/p/a-culture-of-death-and-sterility</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.not2speak.com/p/a-culture-of-death-and-sterility</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Pastor Phil Ayres]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 21 Aug 2024 13:01:45 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!yOEh!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb81d4b13-8edc-499c-9843-edec98df085b_3360x2100.heic" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!yOEh!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb81d4b13-8edc-499c-9843-edec98df085b_3360x2100.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!yOEh!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb81d4b13-8edc-499c-9843-edec98df085b_3360x2100.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!yOEh!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb81d4b13-8edc-499c-9843-edec98df085b_3360x2100.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!yOEh!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb81d4b13-8edc-499c-9843-edec98df085b_3360x2100.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!yOEh!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb81d4b13-8edc-499c-9843-edec98df085b_3360x2100.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!yOEh!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb81d4b13-8edc-499c-9843-edec98df085b_3360x2100.heic" width="1456" height="910" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/b81d4b13-8edc-499c-9843-edec98df085b_3360x2100.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:910,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:452213,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!yOEh!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb81d4b13-8edc-499c-9843-edec98df085b_3360x2100.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!yOEh!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb81d4b13-8edc-499c-9843-edec98df085b_3360x2100.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!yOEh!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb81d4b13-8edc-499c-9843-edec98df085b_3360x2100.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!yOEh!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb81d4b13-8edc-499c-9843-edec98df085b_3360x2100.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>This week, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) is hosting its quadrennial convention in Chicago, Illinois. Typically, attendees at such events walk away with bags full of free swag&#8212;pens, stickers, buttons, the usual. But this year? This year, you can also walk away with a free abortion or vasectomy. Yes, you read that right. </p><p><strong>Free. Abortions. And. Vasectomies.</strong></p><p>It&#8217;s almost too unbelievable to be true, but alas, it is. Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the United States, has rolled out its mobile abortion clinic&#8212;a bus designed to snuff out human life on the go&#8212;right ahead of the convention. Remember when abortion was supposed to be "safe, legal, and rare"? Now, it seems we're living in an era where it&#8217;s "unsafe, ghastly, and celebrated." Welcome to the culture of death and sterilization.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qHwM!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7b3a1be0-52d9-44d7-80ef-5a91f87c7736_862x1200.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qHwM!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7b3a1be0-52d9-44d7-80ef-5a91f87c7736_862x1200.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qHwM!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7b3a1be0-52d9-44d7-80ef-5a91f87c7736_862x1200.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qHwM!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7b3a1be0-52d9-44d7-80ef-5a91f87c7736_862x1200.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qHwM!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7b3a1be0-52d9-44d7-80ef-5a91f87c7736_862x1200.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qHwM!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7b3a1be0-52d9-44d7-80ef-5a91f87c7736_862x1200.heic" width="862" height="1200" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/7b3a1be0-52d9-44d7-80ef-5a91f87c7736_862x1200.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1200,&quot;width&quot;:862,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:110812,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qHwM!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7b3a1be0-52d9-44d7-80ef-5a91f87c7736_862x1200.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qHwM!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7b3a1be0-52d9-44d7-80ef-5a91f87c7736_862x1200.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qHwM!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7b3a1be0-52d9-44d7-80ef-5a91f87c7736_862x1200.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qHwM!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7b3a1be0-52d9-44d7-80ef-5a91f87c7736_862x1200.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>But wait, there's more! If ending a pregnancy isn&#8217;t your style, you can always opt for a vasectomy, also at no cost. Because what&#8217;s more fitting than sterilizing yourself right next to a famous hot dog stand called "The Wiener&#8217;s Circle"? The irony is so thick, you could slice it with a scalpel.</p><p>Now, I&#8217;m not saying a vasectomy isn&#8217;t preferable to an abortion. It certainly is. But this circus act speaks to a much deeper issue within the Democratic Party. This isn&#8217;t just about choice. This is about a party that seems to loathe babies and children. It&#8217;s a culture that elevates selfishness above the value of family, a culture that seems to celebrate the idea of wiping out future generations in the name of convenience.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>Let&#8217;s talk about Kamala Harris and Tim Walz for a moment. These aren&#8217;t just your garden-variety &#8220;pro-choice&#8221; politicians. No, they are actively "pro-abortion" with a level of enthusiasm that is frankly chilling. Their agenda isn&#8217;t just hidden between the lines; it&#8217;s shouted from the rooftops.</p><p>Take Harris&#8217;s recent visit to a Planned Parenthood clinic in Minnesota, where she proudly proclaimed, &#8220;I&#8217;m here at this health care clinic to uplift the work that is happening in Minnesota as an example of what true leadership looks like.&#8221; True leadership? Just months earlier, Tim Walz, the governor of the same state, signed a law allowing abortion for any reason, right up until the day of birth. This is what they&#8217;re celebrating.</p><p>These are the people who want to lead this country. They celebrate death. They value sterilization. They detest the very idea of families. And don&#8217;t forget, this is the same party that once &#8216;booed&#8217; God at their own convention a dozen years ago.</p><p>Here&#8217;s what truly terrifies me. The Bible reserves its harshest words for those who harm or exploit children. In the book of Ezekiel, chapter 16, God is angered with His people for worshiping other gods and sacrificing their children to these false idols. He warns them that if they continue, they&#8217;ll face destruction at the hands of foreign nations&#8212;and that&#8217;s exactly what happened. Jerusalem fell, the temple was destroyed, and the Israelites were taken into captivity. That was in 586 BC. How much longer will God allow America to remain a free nation if we continue down this path? Are we inviting His judgment upon our land because we&#8217;ve become too wicked?</p><p>Even Jesus, who is often seen as the embodiment of love and peace, had a stern warning for those who would harm a child. He said that anyone who causes a child to sin would be better off being drowned in the sea (Mark 9, Matthew 18). I shudder to think what He would say to someone who dismembers an innocent child in the womb. Lord, have mercy on us.</p><p>The situation is utterly insane, and yet people still struggle to decide which side to take. On one side, you have those who want to limit abortion, to protect the innocent. On the other, you have a party that not only supports abortion but seems to revel in it. One side values children and family, while the other despises both. One side offers free abortions and vasectomies; the other offers counseling and pregnancy resource centers. One side celebrates death and the other celebrates life.</p><p>So, I ask you, whose side are you on?</p><div class="captioned-button-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/p/a-culture-of-death-and-sterility?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;}" data-component-name="CaptionedButtonToDOM"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading Not to Speak is to Speak!</p></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/p/a-culture-of-death-and-sterility?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/p/a-culture-of-death-and-sterility?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p></div><p><br></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Harris’s Price-Fixing Plan Will Backfire]]></title><description><![CDATA[Exposing the Hidden Costs of Government-Controlled Groceries]]></description><link>https://www.not2speak.com/p/why-harriss-price-fixing-plan-will</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.not2speak.com/p/why-harriss-price-fixing-plan-will</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Pastor Phil Ayres]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 19 Aug 2024 13:03:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hB3C!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff4271aea-7b34-4dd3-bed6-81f707b49491_1024x768.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hB3C!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff4271aea-7b34-4dd3-bed6-81f707b49491_1024x768.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hB3C!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff4271aea-7b34-4dd3-bed6-81f707b49491_1024x768.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hB3C!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff4271aea-7b34-4dd3-bed6-81f707b49491_1024x768.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hB3C!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff4271aea-7b34-4dd3-bed6-81f707b49491_1024x768.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hB3C!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff4271aea-7b34-4dd3-bed6-81f707b49491_1024x768.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hB3C!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff4271aea-7b34-4dd3-bed6-81f707b49491_1024x768.png" width="1024" height="768" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f4271aea-7b34-4dd3-bed6-81f707b49491_1024x768.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:768,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:1387949,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hB3C!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff4271aea-7b34-4dd3-bed6-81f707b49491_1024x768.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hB3C!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff4271aea-7b34-4dd3-bed6-81f707b49491_1024x768.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hB3C!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff4271aea-7b34-4dd3-bed6-81f707b49491_1024x768.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hB3C!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff4271aea-7b34-4dd3-bed6-81f707b49491_1024x768.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>When it comes to basic economics, it doesn&#8217;t take a PhD to figure out that price-fixing groceries isn&#8217;t going to solve the problems in the U.S. economy. The root cause isn&#8217;t greedy capitalists with some sinister plot to gouge consumers. No, the real issue was created by flooding the economy with cash&#8212;cash that came with strings attached and consequences that we&#8217;re all feeling today.</p><p>Let&#8217;s rewind to where it all began: the CARES Act of 2020, the American Rescue Plan of 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, and the ironically named &#8220;Inflation Reduction Act&#8221; from 2022. These bills pumped nearly $7 trillion into the economy, with little thought given to the runaway inflation that would follow. Any high school economics teacher could have told you what would be bound to happen. You can&#8217;t just flood the market with money and expect everything to stay the same. Instead prices go up, savings get diluted, and suddenly, that dollar in your pocket isn&#8217;t worth what it used to be.</p><div class="pullquote"><p>This latest move by the DNC and the Harris/Walz ticket to fix grocery prices is nothing more than a weak attempt to distance themselves from the fiscal disaster they helped create, and it will be like using gasoline to put out a fire.</p></div><p>You can&#8217;t solve a problem unless you address its root cause. The issues we&#8217;re facing today stem from those ill-advised policies that sounded great on paper but were disastrous in practice. So now, in a desperate bid to appear like the saviors of the American family, Harris and her team want to dictate how much manufacturers can charge for basic necessities. Sounds noble, right? Well, a quick Google search will show you just how badly this strategy has failed in the past.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>Not even a decade ago, in 2015, the darling of the left, NPR, <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/10/29/452636462/the-nightmare-of-grocery-shopping-in-venezuela#:~:text=Kyodo%2FLandov-,Empty%20shelves%2C%20like%20these%20at%20a%20supermarket%20in%20Caracas%2C%20are,scanning%20to%20prove%20their%20identity">published an expos&#233; on the Venezuelan government&#8217;s attempt at price-fixing groceries</a>. The result? Food shortages, rationing, and a booming black market. Inflation soared to 100% per year. So much for helping the average citizen. </p><p>But maybe that&#8217;s what they want&#8211;control of what you can buy, when you can buy it, and how much you can buy it for. Reminds me of the time when avowed &#8220;democratic&#8221; socialist Bernie Sanders told a reporter that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL7L9ZEodP8">&#8220;bread lines were a good thing.&#8221;</a> No Bernie, waiting in line to buy groceries is <em>not</em> a good thing. Why do you think so many people are flooding our border? <br><br>Friends, we need to be smarter than this, and here&#8217;s how: First, recognize the deception for what it is&#8211;an attempt to buy votes. Second, do your own research on the cause and the solution. You may have to look beyond the reporting of CNN and MSNBC, although, in a strange turn of events, even the Washington Post wrote a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/16/harris-economy-plan-gimmicks/?_pml=1">negative opinion piece</a> (first time?) on Harris price fixing idea. Perhaps Jeff Bezos, owner of Amazon and the WP, doesn&#8217;t want to be told how much he should charge for certain products!</p><p><strong>The solution? I know many of you don&#8217;t want to hear it: Donald J. Trump</strong></p><p>Let&#8217;s face it&#8212;<a href="https://www.not2speak.com/p/bloodsport-and-belief?r=r6ay9">Donald Trump is no saint</a>, but at least he understands basic economic principles. He knows that energy independence is one key to driving down the cost of fuel, which in turn lowers the cost of transporting goods, which then starts to bring prices down. It&#8217;s a domino effect that actually works.</p><p>Balancing interest rates is also crucial to controlling inflation. The Fed can&#8217;t just run wild, raising rates without considering their impact on economic growth. Just ask anyone in their 70s or 80s&#8212;they&#8217;ll tell you what it was like under Jimmy Carter, when interest rates soared into double digits. It wasn&#8217;t pretty.</p><p>Trump also believes that a strong U.S. dollar is vital for controlling inflation. When the U.S. dollar is strong relative to other currencies, it means that each dollar can buy more foreign goods and services. This makes imports cheaper. It&#8217;s basic economics 101.</p><p>And lastly&#8212;obviously&#8212;the government needs to control its spending. Ronald Reagan nailed it back in 1981, just after Carter&#8217;s disastrous term: "In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem."</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/p/why-harriss-price-fixing-plan-will?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/p/why-harriss-price-fixing-plan-will?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vote NO on 4!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Why Christians Must Vote Their Values in November]]></description><link>https://www.not2speak.com/p/vote-no-on-4</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.not2speak.com/p/vote-no-on-4</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Pastor Phil Ayres]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 13 Aug 2024 12:47:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ex4z!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd228c35a-565e-48a3-afcb-c11435f6f4eb_1200x628.heic" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="pullquote"><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ex4z!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd228c35a-565e-48a3-afcb-c11435f6f4eb_1200x628.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ex4z!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd228c35a-565e-48a3-afcb-c11435f6f4eb_1200x628.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ex4z!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd228c35a-565e-48a3-afcb-c11435f6f4eb_1200x628.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ex4z!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd228c35a-565e-48a3-afcb-c11435f6f4eb_1200x628.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ex4z!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd228c35a-565e-48a3-afcb-c11435f6f4eb_1200x628.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ex4z!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd228c35a-565e-48a3-afcb-c11435f6f4eb_1200x628.heic" width="1200" height="628" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d228c35a-565e-48a3-afcb-c11435f6f4eb_1200x628.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:628,&quot;width&quot;:1200,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:192364,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ex4z!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd228c35a-565e-48a3-afcb-c11435f6f4eb_1200x628.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ex4z!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd228c35a-565e-48a3-afcb-c11435f6f4eb_1200x628.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ex4z!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd228c35a-565e-48a3-afcb-c11435f6f4eb_1200x628.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ex4z!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd228c35a-565e-48a3-afcb-c11435f6f4eb_1200x628.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>"Abortion is the largest holocaust in human history. The womb has become the most dangerous place for a child in America." &#8211; Randall Terry, Operation Rescue</p></div><p>It's no secret that many Christians are weary of politics. The endless bickering, name-calling, and gaslighting by the media have driven many of us away from the polls. More than 90 million Christians in America are eligible to vote but almost half never do. Plus, as of 2019, <a href="https://www2.cbn.com/news/politics/15m-christians-arent-registered-vote-churches-across-us-participating-voter">15 million are not even registered to vote</a>.</p><p><strong>That&#8217;s a shame&#8212;and it's time to change it.</strong></p><p>This November, an important amendment measure is on the ballot in Florida, and (as usual) it&#8217;s deceptively simple and worded in a way to confuse voters into passing the measure without fully understanding its implications. We cannot afford to sit this one out.</p><h4>What&#8217;s at Stake</h4><p><a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Florida_Amendment_4,_Right_to_Abortion_Initiative_(2024)">Florida Amendment 4</a>, also known as the <em>Right to Abortion Initiative</em>, aims to enshrine the right to abortion directly into the Florida Constitution, effectively removing nearly all existing restrictions on abortion. It&#8217;s a direct attack on the pro-life progress that has been made in Florida, thanks in large part to Governor DeSantis&#8217;s leadership.</p><p>Under current law, Florida prohibits abortion after six weeks, with exceptions for cases of rape, incest, and fetal abnormality. It&#8217;s one of the strongest pro-life stances in the country, protecting innocent life while still allowing for compassion in some extreme circumstances.</p><p>But a group calling themselves &#8220;Floridians Protecting Freedom&#8221; wants to dismantle these protections and expand abortion access in Florida.&nbsp;</p><p>Their proposed amendment states:</p><blockquote><p>No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient&#8217;s health, as determined by the patient&#8217;s healthcare provider. This amendment does not change the Legislature&#8217;s constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion.</p></blockquote><p>At first glance, this statement might seem simple enough, but it&#8217;s deceptively vague on purpose.</p><h4>The Dangers of Vague Language</h4><p>Viability is a key term in this amendment, but who decides what "viability" means? Currently, viability is around 24 weeks, but advances in medical technology have shown that fetuses as young as 21 weeks can survive outside the womb. As a matter of fact, a young lady in our church just delivered a baby at 23 weeks. Significant medical intervention (and LOTS of prayer!) have been required. But the little boy is expected to live a reasonably healthy life.</p><p>We should be uncomfortable allowing a healthcare provider to decide when life is viable and when it is not. But by keeping the definition vague, the amendment opens the door for continuous redefinition.</p><p>Moreover, the amendment subtly undermines parental rights. While it mentions that the legislature can require parental notification, it removes the crucial safeguard of parental consent. This means that abortion&#8212;an inherently serious and potentially dangerous procedure&#8212;would be the only medical decision a minor could make without their parent&#8217;s direct approval. Consider the gravity of this: parents wouldn&#8217;t have a say if their underage daughter decides to have an abortion, even though they would need permission to receive something as simple as an ear piercing.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/p/vote-no-on-4?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/p/vote-no-on-4?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><h4>The Healthcare Loophole</h4><p>The amendment also creates a massive loophole in healthcare regulations. It states that an abortion would be permissible at any stage, including up to birth, if the mother&#8217;s health is deemed at risk by her &#8220;healthcare provider.&#8221; But who qualifies as a healthcare provider? The language is so broad that it could include anyone from a doctor or nurse, and insurance provider or worse, the staff working at an abortion clinic.</p><p>And what does &#8220;health&#8221; mean in this context? The amendment leaves it wide open to interpretation, allowing even the ambiguous notion of &#8220;emotional health&#8221; to be considered a sufficient risk. This loophole effectively permits abortion for almost any reason, right up until the moment of birth!</p><h4>Who Supports This Amendment?</h4><p>A quick glance at the supporters of Amendment 4 tells you just about all you need to know. The only politicians backing it are Democrats&#8212;no conservatives, no Republicans. And, of course, organizations like the League of Women Voters, ACLU, and Planned Parenthood are championing the amendment too. It&#8217;s clear that this isn&#8217;t about protecting women&#8217;s health; it&#8217;s about advancing a pro-abortion agenda at any cost.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>I understand the frustration many Christians feel with the political climate in America. The antics, the personal attacks, the circus of the presidential race&#8212;it&#8217;s enough to make anyone want to stay home on Election Day. But I urge you, do not stay home.</p><p>Your vote is a powerful expression of your values. It&#8217;s a stand for justice and righteousness in a world that often seems to have lost both. As Micah 6:8 reminds us:</p><blockquote><p>"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"</p></blockquote><p>There are many issues of injustice in the world, but the sanctity of life is paramount to a just civilization. By voting against Amendment 4, you are standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves&#8212;the unborn children whose lives are on the line.</p><p>Let&#8217;s share this important information with our friends, our family, and our church communities. Together, we can protect life and uphold the values that we hold dear. This November, vote against Amendment 4. </p><p>Make your voice heard. Share this important message with friends. Register to vote!</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://registertovoteflorida.gov&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Register To Vote!&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://registertovoteflorida.gov"><span>Register To Vote!</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bloodsport & Belief]]></title><description><![CDATA[Why Christians Can&#8217;t Sit Out the Election]]></description><link>https://www.not2speak.com/p/bloodsport-and-belief</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.not2speak.com/p/bloodsport-and-belief</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Pastor Phil Ayres]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 06 Aug 2024 12:37:19 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ltMI!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F220d614f-841b-402e-8792-a8c0888cf589_3840x2160.heic" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ltMI!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F220d614f-841b-402e-8792-a8c0888cf589_3840x2160.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ltMI!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F220d614f-841b-402e-8792-a8c0888cf589_3840x2160.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ltMI!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F220d614f-841b-402e-8792-a8c0888cf589_3840x2160.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ltMI!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F220d614f-841b-402e-8792-a8c0888cf589_3840x2160.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ltMI!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F220d614f-841b-402e-8792-a8c0888cf589_3840x2160.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ltMI!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F220d614f-841b-402e-8792-a8c0888cf589_3840x2160.heic" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/220d614f-841b-402e-8792-a8c0888cf589_3840x2160.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:419233,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ltMI!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F220d614f-841b-402e-8792-a8c0888cf589_3840x2160.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ltMI!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F220d614f-841b-402e-8792-a8c0888cf589_3840x2160.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ltMI!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F220d614f-841b-402e-8792-a8c0888cf589_3840x2160.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ltMI!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F220d614f-841b-402e-8792-a8c0888cf589_3840x2160.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><h4>Let's be real: politics is a blood sport. </h4><p>That&#8217;s the cold, hard truth. Politics is not the rosy, civil debate that we wish it could be. We would all prefer candidates who respect each other, focus on their platforms, and avoid blaming each other for the effects of bad policy from years past. But sadly, that&#8217;s not the reality in America.</p><p>Because of this, many Christians are completely turned off by voting. To us, the whole thing feels "dirty." We&#8217;d rather stay in our peaceful, well-bubbled worlds, away from the mudslinging, name-calling, and endless arguing. It&#8217;s not exactly a spiritual retreat watching politicians behave like kids squabbling over the last piece of candy.</p><p>But here&#8217;s the thing&#8212;I think this is exactly what Satan has wanted all along. You see, if Christians stay out of politics, the devil wins (in the short term). He can push his agenda without resistance, doing everything from promoting the sacrifice of unborn children on the altar of convenience to eliminating safe spaces for women in sports. He might even convince people that reassigning gender and removing young people's genitals is the ultimate expression of freedom. The devil&#8217;s clever, and he knows how to play the game.&nbsp;</p><p>So, what are we supposed to do? As Christians, we can&#8217;t just sit back and stay silent. Yes, I know it&#8217;s difficult because when you look at the candidates, they both talk about helping people and being kind to the marginalized. But there&#8217;s only one who remotely takes a stand for the biblical value of the unborn. And there&#8217;s only one who has taken a stand against gender reassignment for youth&#8211;that&#8217;s Donald Trump.</p><p>Sure, I know&#8212;he&#8217;s crass, unfiltered, and rough around the edges. Okay, maybe more than a bit. But here&#8217;s the thing: he doesn&#8217;t mind getting his hands dirty in the political arena, and sometimes, that&#8217;s what it takes.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>This puts us in a tough spot, doesn&#8217;t it? We&#8217;re left with two options. Option A: avoid politics altogether, focusing solely on our Christian perspective, while letting the progressives run wild with our freedoms. Or, Option B: support a man who, let&#8217;s be honest, might be asked to leave most churches for his behavior. It&#8217;s a real conundrum.</p><p>This whole situation reminds me of Samson in the Bible (Judges 13-16). Samson was one of the judges sent by God to deliver the Israelites from the Philistines. But frankly&#8212;Samson was a mess. He was uncouth, impulsive, and downright rebellious. He was violent and narcissistic. He frequented prostitutes and regularly broke his Nazarite vow. Plus, he married a woman from among his enemies and it cost him both his eyes and his strength. Not exactly a role model. Yet, against all odds, God used him to deliver His people from their enemies.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EJsL!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd2544018-a104-4113-867a-7e5c66199bdf_612x519.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EJsL!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd2544018-a104-4113-867a-7e5c66199bdf_612x519.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EJsL!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd2544018-a104-4113-867a-7e5c66199bdf_612x519.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EJsL!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd2544018-a104-4113-867a-7e5c66199bdf_612x519.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EJsL!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd2544018-a104-4113-867a-7e5c66199bdf_612x519.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EJsL!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd2544018-a104-4113-867a-7e5c66199bdf_612x519.jpeg" width="612" height="519" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d2544018-a104-4113-867a-7e5c66199bdf_612x519.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:519,&quot;width&quot;:612,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:140386,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EJsL!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd2544018-a104-4113-867a-7e5c66199bdf_612x519.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EJsL!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd2544018-a104-4113-867a-7e5c66199bdf_612x519.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EJsL!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd2544018-a104-4113-867a-7e5c66199bdf_612x519.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EJsL!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd2544018-a104-4113-867a-7e5c66199bdf_612x519.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I&#8217;m not saying Donald Trump is Samson reincarnated&#8212;let&#8217;s not get carried away. But I am pointing out that sometimes God uses people who are far from perfect, people who are not exactly above reproach.</p><div class="pullquote"><p>This fall, Christians need to face the reality that we&#8217;re not going to get a perfect candidate. </p></div><p>We might wish for someone who checks all the moral and ethical boxes, but that&#8217;s not what&#8217;s on the ballot. Instead, we&#8217;re left to choose the lesser of two evils. And like it or not, sometimes that&#8217;s just what we have to do.</p><p>I&#8217;m not entirely sure what God is up to, but I do know that we&#8217;re at a tipping point. The past three years have made it abundantly clear that what the Democrats and progressives are after is the destruction of the foundational values that built this nation.</p><p>Your vote is not an endorsement of everything a candidate has ever said or done. If that were the case, we wouldn&#8217;t be able to vote for anyone. I think Satan knows that, and I believe the other side knows it too. That&#8217;s exactly why they&#8217;ve tried to convince Christians to believe that voting is a moral compromise.</p><p>Christian, your vote is crucial this fall. You can&#8217;t stay on the sidelines, singing hymns and hoping that things will work out. Yes, God is in control, but you&#8217;ve been given a precious responsibility&#8212;a sacred opportunity&#8212;as a free American. This fall, vote your values. Even if it means casting a vote for a Samson-like character, remember that God has used imperfect people to fulfill His plans before. Your vote can be part of His work to uphold the values we cherish.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/p/bloodsport-and-belief?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/p/bloodsport-and-belief?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><p></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Christian's Voting Dilemma]]></title><description><![CDATA[Faith over Politics]]></description><link>https://www.not2speak.com/p/a-christians-voting-dilemma</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.not2speak.com/p/a-christians-voting-dilemma</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Pastor Phil Ayres]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 26 Jul 2024 14:38:58 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!F3wS!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e31248f-0ddf-4428-b9a7-1019f44141c1_1673x941.heic" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!F3wS!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e31248f-0ddf-4428-b9a7-1019f44141c1_1673x941.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!F3wS!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e31248f-0ddf-4428-b9a7-1019f44141c1_1673x941.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!F3wS!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e31248f-0ddf-4428-b9a7-1019f44141c1_1673x941.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!F3wS!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e31248f-0ddf-4428-b9a7-1019f44141c1_1673x941.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!F3wS!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e31248f-0ddf-4428-b9a7-1019f44141c1_1673x941.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!F3wS!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e31248f-0ddf-4428-b9a7-1019f44141c1_1673x941.heic" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/6e31248f-0ddf-4428-b9a7-1019f44141c1_1673x941.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:484578,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!F3wS!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e31248f-0ddf-4428-b9a7-1019f44141c1_1673x941.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!F3wS!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e31248f-0ddf-4428-b9a7-1019f44141c1_1673x941.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!F3wS!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e31248f-0ddf-4428-b9a7-1019f44141c1_1673x941.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!F3wS!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e31248f-0ddf-4428-b9a7-1019f44141c1_1673x941.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Sometimes I feel like voting for a Republican or a Democrat is like choosing between two hair-sandwiches. One is made with regular bread, the other on a bun. Both are gross and almost inedible, but the alternative is hunger.</p><p>That&#8217;s what modern politics feels like. As a Christian, I find myself in a particularly difficult spot at times. The problem I see is we think we should be voting for a person, when in fact, we are voting for a set of ideas; ideas that will lead to policies and have an impact on the world.</p><h3>Navigating Political Choices as a Christian</h3><p>The challenge with our current political landscape is that it often feels like we are choosing the lesser of two evils rather than a truly good option. When we look at the candidates, we should remember that they are human and fallible. Romans 3:23 reminds us, <em>"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."</em> No candidate will perfectly embody Christian values because no person is perfect.</p><p>As Christians, we should be focused on the policies and principles that align closest with biblical teachings. For instance, we can look at how each party addresses issues of justice, compassion, and responsibility. Micah 6:8 tells us, <em>"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." </em>We can also assess the need for government to protect unborn, prosecute criminals, and protect the God-given freedoms that we enjoy in America. </p><blockquote><p><em>1 Peter 2:13-17, &#8220;Submit yourselves for the Lord&#8217;s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God&#8217;s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God&#8217;s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor."</em></p></blockquote><h3>The Bigger Picture: Jesus is Lord</h3><p>No single party has all the answers. As Christians, we have the right and duty to vote, but overall, Jesus is Lord and His kingdom should take priority. We must remember Matthew 6:33, "<em>But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."</em></p><p>While we participate in our civic duties, we should never lose sight of our ultimate allegiance. Philippians 3:20 reminds us, <em>"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ."</em> Our decisions on earth should reflect our heavenly values.</p><p>As we navigate the complexities of voting, it's essential to stay grounded in our faith. Colossians 3:17 says, <em>"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."</em> Our votes should be an expression of our faith and our commitment to God's principles.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><h3>Voting with Wisdom and Faith</h3><p>We should pray for our leaders, regardless of our political preferences, as instructed in 1 Timothy 2:1-2, <em>"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people&#8212;for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."</em> Our ultimate goal is to live out our faith in every aspect of life, including how we engage with politics.</p><p>In conclusion, while I am choosing to vote for Trump, it does not mean I see him as a perfect leader or a figure to be idolized. My vote is based on the policies that I believe align more closely with biblical values. However, my ultimate trust and hope remain in Jesus Christ, the true King. Let us remember that no political party can fully encapsulate the kingdom of God. We are called to be faithful citizens of heaven first, letting that guide our earthly decisions.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share Not to Speak is to Speak&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share Not to Speak is to Speak</span></a></p><p></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Puritan Politician Who Shaped America]]></title><description><![CDATA[Thomas Hooker Is The Father of American Democracy]]></description><link>https://www.not2speak.com/p/the-puritan-politician-who-shaped</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.not2speak.com/p/the-puritan-politician-who-shaped</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Pastor Phil Ayres]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 19 Mar 2024 21:02:51 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!inO3!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfacb169-5257-4cdd-94c1-498a6a2fa1d5.heic" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!inO3!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfacb169-5257-4cdd-94c1-498a6a2fa1d5.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!inO3!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfacb169-5257-4cdd-94c1-498a6a2fa1d5.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!inO3!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfacb169-5257-4cdd-94c1-498a6a2fa1d5.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!inO3!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfacb169-5257-4cdd-94c1-498a6a2fa1d5.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!inO3!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfacb169-5257-4cdd-94c1-498a6a2fa1d5.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!inO3!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfacb169-5257-4cdd-94c1-498a6a2fa1d5.heic" width="647" height="363" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/dfacb169-5257-4cdd-94c1-498a6a2fa1d5.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:363,&quot;width&quot;:647,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:98009,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!inO3!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfacb169-5257-4cdd-94c1-498a6a2fa1d5.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!inO3!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfacb169-5257-4cdd-94c1-498a6a2fa1d5.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!inO3!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfacb169-5257-4cdd-94c1-498a6a2fa1d5.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!inO3!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfacb169-5257-4cdd-94c1-498a6a2fa1d5.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>In the tapestry of American history, where heroes and visionaries are often lionized for their contributions to the nation's founding ideals, one name tends to fly under the radar: <em>Thomas Hooker</em>. Often overshadowed by his more famous contemporaries, Hooker's profound influence on the political DNA of the United States is a story worth telling. Hooker was a preacher and his groundbreaking influence in politics both in, and out of, the pulpit helped lay the foundation for modern American democracy.</p><p>Born in 1586, Hooker quickly grew wary of the rigid constraints imposed by the Church of England. His quest for religious freedom led him across the Atlantic to the Massachusetts Bay Colony, but Hooker was not one to settle.</p><p>Dissatisfied with the colony's authoritarian leanings, Hooker, in a bold move, led a group of like-minded settlers to establish what would become the state of Connecticut in 1636. This became a revolutionary experiment in creating a community where governance mirrored the congregational church's democratic principles. Hooker's version of Connecticut was a beacon of religious freedom and self-governance, a testament to his unyielding quest for a society that mirrored his Puritan ideals.</p><h3>A Constitution Born of Faith</h3><p>If Hooker's establishment of Connecticut was groundbreaking, his next feat was revolutionary. In 1639, under his guidance, Connecticut adopted the Fundamental Orders, a document that can be seen as America's first constitution. This wasn't just a set of laws; it was a manifesto that redefined governance, emphasizing the radical notion that authority derived from the consent of the governed, not the divine right of kings.</p><p>Hooker's most famous sermon, based largely on the book of Deuteronomy, laid the groundwork for the Fundamental Orders, was a clear call for a government to be accountable to its citizens. It championed the idea that people, regardless of their social status, had the inherent right to shape their governance. This document wasn't merely a set of rules; it was a blueprint for a society where freedom and faith walked hand in hand.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!L3oV!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F66d9d03a-e3a6-483b-907a-de9a4cd89868_960x538.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!L3oV!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F66d9d03a-e3a6-483b-907a-de9a4cd89868_960x538.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!L3oV!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F66d9d03a-e3a6-483b-907a-de9a4cd89868_960x538.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!L3oV!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F66d9d03a-e3a6-483b-907a-de9a4cd89868_960x538.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!L3oV!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F66d9d03a-e3a6-483b-907a-de9a4cd89868_960x538.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!L3oV!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F66d9d03a-e3a6-483b-907a-de9a4cd89868_960x538.png" width="960" height="538" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/66d9d03a-e3a6-483b-907a-de9a4cd89868_960x538.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:538,&quot;width&quot;:960,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:906340,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!L3oV!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F66d9d03a-e3a6-483b-907a-de9a4cd89868_960x538.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!L3oV!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F66d9d03a-e3a6-483b-907a-de9a4cd89868_960x538.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!L3oV!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F66d9d03a-e3a6-483b-907a-de9a4cd89868_960x538.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!L3oV!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F66d9d03a-e3a6-483b-907a-de9a4cd89868_960x538.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><h3>An Enduring Legacy</h3><p>While Hooker didn't live to see the American Revolution or the drafting of the U.S. Constitution, his fingerprints are all over the foundational principles that define the United States. His advocacy for popular sovereignty, representative government, and the separation of powers were revolutionary ideas that found their way into the heart of American governance.</p><p>The Founding Fathers, well-versed in the political experiments of their predecessors, drew inspiration from Hooker's Connecticut. The Fundamental Orders' emphasis on a government that answers to its people became a cornerstone of the U.S. Constitution, echoing Hooker's vision across the centuries.</p><h3>A Call to Action</h3><p>Thomas Hooker's story is a powerful reminder of the positive impact that faith-driven individuals can have on politics and society. In a time when the intersection of religion and politics often sparks controversy, Hooker's legacy offers a different narrative. His life challenges the modern reticence among some Christians to engage in political matters, showcasing how faith and governance can work together in order to promote justice, liberty, and the common good.</p><p>Hooker's political theology, deeply rooted in his Puritan beliefs, demonstrates that faith need not be a barrier to political involvement; instead, it can be a catalyst for positive change. His example should encourage Christians today to embrace our civic responsibilities, not as a means of imposing our will, but as an opportunity to contribute to a more just and equitable society.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/p/the-puritan-politician-who-shaped?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/p/the-puritan-politician-who-shaped?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><p></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[France Legalizes Murder, Is America Next?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Why Christians Can No Longer Stay Silent On Abortion]]></description><link>https://www.not2speak.com/p/france-legalizes-murder-is-america</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.not2speak.com/p/france-legalizes-murder-is-america</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Pastor Phil Ayres]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 11 Mar 2024 13:03:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GqyY!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5c4a6343-0dc6-4ef3-93ca-21c4df11ca01_1280x720.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GqyY!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5c4a6343-0dc6-4ef3-93ca-21c4df11ca01_1280x720.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GqyY!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5c4a6343-0dc6-4ef3-93ca-21c4df11ca01_1280x720.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GqyY!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5c4a6343-0dc6-4ef3-93ca-21c4df11ca01_1280x720.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GqyY!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5c4a6343-0dc6-4ef3-93ca-21c4df11ca01_1280x720.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GqyY!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5c4a6343-0dc6-4ef3-93ca-21c4df11ca01_1280x720.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GqyY!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5c4a6343-0dc6-4ef3-93ca-21c4df11ca01_1280x720.png" width="1280" height="720" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/5c4a6343-0dc6-4ef3-93ca-21c4df11ca01_1280x720.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:720,&quot;width&quot;:1280,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:1648147,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GqyY!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5c4a6343-0dc6-4ef3-93ca-21c4df11ca01_1280x720.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GqyY!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5c4a6343-0dc6-4ef3-93ca-21c4df11ca01_1280x720.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GqyY!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5c4a6343-0dc6-4ef3-93ca-21c4df11ca01_1280x720.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GqyY!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5c4a6343-0dc6-4ef3-93ca-21c4df11ca01_1280x720.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Those familiar with history understand its tendency to repeat itself. This adage rings alarmingly true as we witness France enshrining the right to abortion in its constitution, a groundbreaking yet controversial move. The recent parliamentary vote in France has not just guaranteed this right statutorily but has <a href="https://bbc.com/news/world-europe-68471568">woven it into the nation's core legal framework</a>, setting a global precedent.</p><p>Reflecting on this, one cannot help but draw parallels to the Old Testament, where God's people were strictly commanded not to follow in the footsteps of surrounding nations who sacrificed their children to Moloch. Such acts were deemed abominable. In Leviticus, God warns the Israelites against offering their offspring to this deity, under penalty of death.</p><blockquote><p><em>&#8220;Say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death.&#8221; Leviticus 20:2</em></p></blockquote><p>Children are described in the Bible as a blessing from God, a sentiment that seems increasingly counter-cultural in today's world. Not only were God's people instructed to value their children, but they were also commanded to actively oppose practices that devalued human life. For God, it wasn&#8217;t enough to simply avoid sacrificing children. They were called to oppose it.</p><blockquote><p><em>&#8220;And if the people of the land do at all close their eyes to that man when he gives one of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death, then I will set my face against that man and against his clan and will cut them off from among their people, him and all who follow him in whoring after Molech.&#8221; Leviticus 20:4-5</em></p></blockquote><p>In America, Joe Biden promised to guarantee abortion by codifying it as federal law &#8211; even up to the moment of birth. In October 2022, he said, &#8220;I promise you, we&#8217;ll do our part. I&#8217;ll do my part. And with your support, I&#8217;ll sign a law codifying Roe in January.&#8221;</p><div class="pullquote"><p><strong>As believers, can we afford to sit on the sidelines, worried about the possibility of being branded 'political,' or worse, tagged with unkind labels for simply upholding our convictions? </strong></p></div><p>We cannot allow the fear of public censure or the threat of cancel culture to muzzle the truth we carry in our hearts. As citizens in God&#8217;s Kingdom and the United States, we&#8217;re called to speak with love, stand with courage, and serve with humility, no matter the earthly cost.</p><p>This moment is a call for Christians to embody the values they profess, advocating for the sanctity of life and not just being bystanders but vocal opponents of actions they believe undermine this principle. It is a time for courage, for speaking out against what is perceived as an atrocity, echoing the proactive stance God commanded of His people.</p><p>In a world where the value of life is increasingly debated, let us be reminded of our call to be different, to be a voice for the voiceless, and to stand firm in our convictions, motivated by love and a profound respect for the divine gift of life.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/p/france-legalizes-murder-is-america?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/p/france-legalizes-murder-is-america?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.not2speak.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>