Our Books

If you enjoy this site, please consider purchasing one of our books (as low as $2.99). Click here to visit our Amazon page.

Our Books

Our Books
Books by Trevor Grant Thomas and Michelle Fitzpatrick Thomas

E-Mail Me:

NOTE: MY EMAIL ADDRESS HAS CHANGED! Trevor's new email address: trevorgrantthomas@gmail.com

Latest News/Commentary

Latest News/Commentary:

News/Commentary Archives:

News/Commentary Archives (for the current year; links to previous years archives at the bottom of each page)---PLUS: Trevor's Columns Archived (page linked at the bottom of the table below):

Sunday, December 24, 2023

Christmas: “The Rightful King Has Landed”

During this season it is often said that the Christmas Story, the story of the birth of Jesus, is “the greatest story ever told.” I believe that the Christmas Story, the story of the birth of Jesus, is a beginning of the greatest story ever told.

We must never forget that at this time of year, we celebrate much more than a birthday. As the great Christian apologist C.S. Lewis put it, Christmas is the story of how “the rightful King has landed.” When Jesus stood before the Roman governor Pilate, just prior to going to His execution, Pilate asked Him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” After some discussion Pilate concluded to Jesus, “You are a king, then!” Jesus answered him, saying, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world…”

Of course, Jesus was not just any king; He was a king with a holy mission. He was a king who was born to die. “Amazing love, how can it be, that you my king would die for me.” Jesus was, and is, our Savior King. As author Charles Sell put it,

If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.

The “good news of great joy” that no less than the angel of the Lord reported to the shepherds was that, “today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you…” The late-great Charles Schultz was right. The heart and soul of the Christmas story is, as Linus perfectly recited, “[B]ehold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”

Of course, as did the CBS executives during Schultz’s time, those fearful of the true meaning of Christmas go to great lengths to hide the truth. Today children (and adults) are bombarded with deceptive (but alluring) messages about “Christmas Spirit” and how Christmas is about “spreading joy throughout the world” and “a time for warmth and brotherly love” (as a recent TV cartoon declared). Even Dickens’ iconic A Christmas Carol is bereft of the complete message of Christmas.

One author I encountered a few years ago foolishly described the “hidden meaning” of Christmas as a:

festival of the human heart. It is a time of year when all the universe conspires to raise the vibratory level of consciousness on earth to one of peace and love toward ourselves and one another. This season resonates to the sweet, childlike innocence that resides in all of us; A time when the heavenly forces inspire us to shift our focus away from fear and toward one of joy, and healing.

Of course, peace, brotherly love, and spreading joy are not bad things, but they are far from the “heart and soul” of Christmas. “Hark! The herald angels sing; glory to the newborn King!” So Christmas is a celebration of the birth of our Savior King. This is the reason for the conflict and contention that we sometimes encounter at Christmas time. This is why so many fear a Nativity scene, a Christmas tree, or even a meek “Merry Christmas.”

Who wants to be confronted with the idea that maybe they are ignoring the most significant event in human history? Who wants to be reminded that perhaps Jesus Christ really was (and is) our Savior King? Of course, God sending His Son as a Savior implies that we need “saving.” The most quoted verse in the Bible, John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Less well known, but just as important, is the very next verse. John 3:17 says, “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” This begs the question, “From what or whom do we need to be saved?”

In John chapter 8, Jesus says, “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.” What does it mean to “die in your sins?” Romans chapter 6 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” In other words, we need to be “saved” from the eternal consequences of our sin. There is eternal life with Jesus, and apart from Him, death and eternal separation from God.

This is why so many Christians are so celebratory at Christmas time. Yes, there are presents and parties and time off from work, but for Christians who truly understand what was done for them on that first Christmas day, nothing compares to the gift of eternal life through Jesus. Christmas is a celebration of God’s greatest gift meeting humanity’s most desperate need. Those who reject the need for salvation, or reject the miracle of Jesus, or reject their sin for what it really is, are “offended” by Christmas.

Such people don’t want to hear that Jesus came to die for their sins. They don’t want to hear of the many miracles that surround the birth of the Savior. They don’t want to hear that their greed, lust, or pride is sin. They want to go their own way; thus, they display perverse “Gay Pride Festivus Poles” or Satanic Baphomet statues (which was justly destroyed). And again, we’ve all been there. May God empower those of us who see Christmas for what it truly is, who see Jesus for who He really is, to spread His message of hope, love, peace, and salvation to all we encounter, all year-round. Merry Christmas!

(See this column at American Thinker.)

Trevor Grant Thomas
At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason.
www.TrevorGrantThomas.com
Trevor is the author of the The Miracle and Magnificence of America
trevorgrantthomas@gmail.com


Friday, December 8, 2023

Bidenflation Right Before Your Eyes: December 2023 Kroger Prices vs. December 2019 Kroger Prices

The economy is the single most concerning political issue for Americans. If you are honest and are simply paying decent attention to what is going on in America, you already know this. If you need a source other than your eyes and ears, there are multiple polling agencies, including Gallup and Pew, that reveal this to be the case.

More specifically, inflation is the most cited political issue by a plurality of Americans. Thanks to the foolish economic policies of the Biden administration, the price increases that have plagued the U.S. the past few years have hit most Americans quite hard. In other words, “Bidenomics” is best described as “Bidenflation.”

Of course, Joe Biden, his Democrat colleagues, and his nefarious media apologists are working overtime to attempt to gaslight as many Americans as possible when it comes to the U.S. economy. Biden and his ilk have gone so far as to claim that Americans’ concerns on inflation are due to “disinformation” spread via social media. As Joy Pullmann at The Federalist recently put it, “It’s not social media making inflation top of Americans’ minds, it’s every trip to every store.”

Like tens-of-millions of other Americans, my wife and I know this all too well. And like most Americans dismayed by inflation, the grocery store is where we are most frequently reminded of “Bidenflation.” With this in mind, I took it upon myself to do a bit of research.

We have a large Kroger grocery store very near our house and shop there often, usually multiple times a week. Using a current Kroger weekly ad and a Kroger weekly ad from early December of 2019, for multiple popular grocery store items, I compared prices. The results were telling.

I chose December because that is the current month, and I chose 2019 because this is just prior to the Covid economy and the Biden economy, when inflation really took off. Finding old Kroger weekly ads proved more difficult than I thought, so I went with what I found most quickly. Thus, I used the December 4-10, 2019 weekly ad from a Kroger in Russellville, Arkansas.

For accuracy, I used last week’s weekly ad (11/29-12/5) from Russellville, Arkansas. However, after a same-day (as my online research) visit to the Kroger near our home (in GA), I noticed that the current Russellville ad was nearly identical to our current weekly Kroger ad.

Due to the Kroger weekly being copyrighted (even though it is a free item), I cannot show images directly from each ad here. (Go to the links above for those.) Thus, to provide a visual for the grocery items described throughout the rest of this piece, I replicated the ads using photos that I took.

The table below contains items from several different ads within each Kroger weekly with accurate pricing information below each image. The left-hand column contains items from the 2019 Kroger weekly. The right-hand column contains items from the 2023 Kroger weekly or from inside a Kroger store. Each row of the table shows the exact same, or very similar, items.

2019 (Kroger)

2023 (Kroger)


Final Cost (With Card) When You Buy 4: 4/$10 (Coke or Pepsi)


Final Cost (With Card) When You Buy 4: 4/$12 (Coke or Pepsi)

 

Final Cost (With Card) When You Buy 4: 99₵ (Coke, Pepsi, or 7UP) Otherwise Price is $1.67


Final Cost (With Card) When You Buy 5: 5/$5 (Pepsi 2L, Gatorade 28oz,…) Otherwise Price is $2.99

 

Dr. Pepper, Select Varieties of 24-Pack, 12 fl oz Cans, $4.77 Each With Card and Digital Coupon (Without Coupon and With Card, $6.99 each.) 

 

Coca-Cola or Pepsi, Select Varieties of 24-Pack, 12 fl oz Cans, $7.99 Each With Card and Digital Coupon (Without Coupon and With Card, $13.99 each.)  

 

Final Cost 9.25-11.25 oz., Select Varieties, With Card:$1.88 (Without Card Cost: $2.88) 

 

Final Cost, 6-10.75oz., Select Varieties, When You Buy 4 With Card: $2.29 (Less Than 4 With Card Cost: Up to $5.49)

 

Boneless English Roast: $2.99/LB
With Card 

 

Boneless Beef Chuck Roast: $5.99/LB With Card

 

Boneless Ribeye Steaks: $9.99/LB
 With Card

 

Boneless Ribeye Steaks: $15.99/LB
With Card

 

Kroger Ground Turkey, 93% Lean,
16oz, $2.99 With Card

 

Kroger Ground Turkey, 93% Lean,
16oz, $4.99 With Card

 

Kellogg’s Large Size Cereal, 14.6 to 19.2 oz.,
Select Varieties, $2.49 Each
(Original Price: $3.49)

 

Kellogg’s Large Size Cereal, 7.8 to 18 oz., Select Varieties, $2.99 Each
(Original Price: $4.49 to $5.69) 


“With card” means that the customer contains a “Kroger card.” This is free and is obtained by merely applying for it. It must be scanned at the register to obtain the “with card” price.

These price comparisons are not perfect, but they’re close enough to reveal the real story when it comes to inflation in America. As “shrinkflation” (reduced product size in an attempt to hide even higher costs to the consumer) is also part of the story here, let me give row by row details from the table above and provide more information to what the ads above reveal.

  • Row 1 (Coke/Pepsi six-pack of bottles): The product size (16.9 fl oz) here has not changed, but the regular sale price is almost always at least 20% (as is shown) higher in 2023 than in 2019. The four six-packs for $12 deal shown (2023 column) is often four-for-$13 or four-for-$15. Four-for-$15 is a 50% increase from the 2019 price.

  • Row 2 (Pepsi two liter): The sale price here is virtually identical, but the two-liter Coke or Pepsi for $1 deal is very rare these days. Also, note the original prices. A two-liter Pepsi in 2019 cost $1.67. Today it costs $2.99. (The same is true for Coke.) This is a 79% increase.

  • Row 3 (24-pack of soda): Though the comparison here is between two different brands (Dr. Pepper vs. Coke/Pepsi), these prices were and are typical for name-brand 24-pack sodas. The $4.77 to $7.99 is a 67.5% increase. Also, again note the original price. The 2019 24-pack cost $6.99. The 2023 24-pack costs $13.99. This is a 100% increase!

  • Row 4 (Doritos): This type of product is where the “shrinkflation” is typical. Doritos and other chip brands have significantly reduced the size of their products, and the prices are still significantly higher. The increase in the “without card” cost is 90.6%.

  • Row 5 (English roast vs. Chuck roast): These two cuts of meat are very similar and thus are often priced the same. The 2019 to 2023 comparison shows the cost per-pound of this type of beef has essentially doubled. Again, this is a 100% increase! This steep level of inflation is common throughout the U.S. when it comes to the price of beef. The dramatic rise in the cost of beef is one of the most notable increases in the Bidenflation era.

  • Row 6 (boneless ribeye steaks): There was no ribeye steak ad in the 2023 Kroger weekly, so the 2023 information here is a current price from in the store. Again, we see a steep increase in the price of beef, from $9.99 a pound to $15.99 a pound. This is a 60% increase.

  • Row 7 (ground turkey): Again, there was not a ground turkey ad in the 2023 Kroger weekly, so the information in the 2023 column is from inside our Kroger store. The jump from $2.99 to $4.99 per pound is a 67% increase. Bidenflation has hit meat prices in general quite hard.

  • Row 8 (Kellogg’s breakfast cereals): Breakfast cereals are another product where “shrinkflation” is common. (Again, the information in the 2023 column is from inside our Kroger store.) So, though the sale price “with card” increase is “only” 20% ($2.49 to $2.99) and the original price increase—$3.49 to $4.49 (and up)—is at least a 28.7% increase, the actual price increase is larger due to less cereal in each 2023 box. The “large cereal size” in 2019 was from 14.6 to 19.2 oz. The comparable Frosted Flakes boxes today are 13.5 oz. The comparable 2023 Fruit Loop and Apple Jacks boxes are each only 10.1 oz. The current price (images not shown) for “large size” Kellogg’s Corn Pops (13.1 oz) and Apple Jacks (13.2 oz) is $5.79. Without taking into account the shrinkflation, this is a 65.9% increase.

Though this is just a handful of items—there are many more I could’ve mentioned—this small sample size is well representative of the large and widespread inflation throughout the U.S. food industry. Also, Kroger prices are well representative of American grocery stores in general. After Walmart and Costco, Kroger is the largest supermarket retail chain in the U.S.

In spite of the attempted spin by Biden and his apologists, Bidenflation is all too real, and it is devastating to millions of American families.  

Copyright 2023, Trevor Grant Thomas
At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason.
www.trevorgrantthomas.com
Trevor is the author of the 
The Miracle and Magnificence of America
trevorgrantthomas@gmail.com

"Derek Chauvin Did Not Murder George Floyd"

The above headline is from a recent piece by Glenn Loury (a black man) with John McWhorter (a black man). The column makes much use of the recent documentary film, The Fall of Minneapolis, and like the film, is well worth your time. The video below is a discussion between Mr. Loury and Mr. McWhorter on how "New Evidence on George Floyd's Death Changes Everything." In the words of Mr. McWhorter, "Once again, we've been lied to...Derek Chauvin didn't kill that man." 

Don't be scared by YouTube's foolish and deceitful declaration that "This video is age-restricted and only available on YouTube." There's nothing here but a discussion between two very smart men on what really happened to George Floyd and Derek Chauvin. The only thing that could be deemed controversial in the video is the use of one "f-bomb." YouTube doesn't want this video widely seen because they don't want the prevailing narrative surrounding the death of George Floyd--namely, that Floyd was murdered by a racist white cop--to change. 



Trevor Grant Thomas
At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason.
www.trevorgrantthomas.com
Trevor is the author of the 
The Miracle and Magnificence of America
trevorgrantthomas@gmail.com


Thursday, November 23, 2023

A History of Thanksgiving (Taken from The Miracle and Magnificence of America)

Sir Walter Raleigh’s first attempts at settling the New World were disastrous. The English, who were now trying to gain a foothold in the New World, were succumbing to the same greed that had earlier blinded the Spaniards. Starvation, disease, hostile Indians, and other hardships, including a whole colony lost (the Lost Colony of Roanoke), led to dampened enthusiasm for New World expeditions.

It would be nearly 20 years after Raleigh’s initial ventures before enough English interest could again be sparked for more New World adventure. Despite recruiting “sermons” that contained messages of evangelical outreach, and the preamble of the Company’s charter, written by King James I, which contained the words, “…propagating of Christian religion to such people as yet live in darkness and miserable ignorance of the true knowledge and worship of God, and may in time bring the infidels and savages, living in these parts, to human civility and to a settled and quiet government,” the lust for gold was, again, what drove European men across the Atlantic.

On May 14, 1607, headed by a seven-man council, which included John Smith, 144 men settled Jamestown. Because of their misguided efforts it was a disaster from the beginning. These men battled the elements, disease, Indians, starvation, and one another. The lone minister on the adventure, Robert Hunt, did his best to keep the others focused on God. His sermons went mostly unheeded; however, he persevered. By February of 1608 only 38 of the 144 remained alive.

The death rate did not abate with time. As Peter Marshall and David Manuel note,
For example, of the 1,200 people who went out to Virginia in 1619, only 200 were left alive by 1620. Why this horrible continuing death rate? There is no logical explanation, except one: year after year they steadfastly refused to trust God—or indeed to include Him in any of their deliberations.
The next settlers to cross the Atlantic would not make the same mistakes. They were not seeking wealth and prosperity, but a new home. They believed that America was their spiritual destiny. The Pilgrims (dubbed “Separatists” by the Church of England), and the Puritans who followed them, knew better than to undertake anything without God.

Aboard the Mayflower were 102 passengers, less than half of whom were of Pastor John Robinson’s Separatist flock. After a grueling two-month voyage, on November 11, 1620, they dropped anchor in Cape Cod, and heeding the advice and wisdom of their pastor, the Pilgrims drafted a compact that would embody the same principles of government upon which American democracy would rest. It read,
In the name of God, amen. We whose names are under-written…Having undertaken, for the glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith and honor of our King and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic…constitute and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony…the 11th of November…Anno Domini 1620.
John Carver, who had chartered the Mayflower, was chosen as the first governor of the colony. His was the first signature on the Mayflower Compact, which is considered by many to be the world’s first written constitution. William Bradford would soon replace Carver as governor and would serve in that capacity for 31 years. On December 21, 1620, the Pilgrims settled at what would become known as Plymouth.

A replica model of the Mayflower. Created by Norbert Schnitzler.

Though their efforts were “for the glory of God,” the Pilgrims were not immune to the many hardships of an untamed America. Before long, many started dying. William Bradford’s wife Dorothy was among the casualties as she fell overboard and drowned. (Initially, while dwellings were being built, the Pilgrims lived mostly aboard the Mayflower.) Due in part to a brutal winter, dozens would die in those first few months, including 13 of 18 wives. In spite of hardships, the Pilgrims were undeterred and drew ever closer to God.
The First Thanksgiving, by Jean-Léon Gérôme.

The months turned into years and saw the Pilgrims develop good relations with the local natives including Massasoit, a wise and welcoming chief of the local tribes, Samoset, and especially Tisquantum, or Squanto.

In the middle of March 1621, just as the Pilgrims were coming out of the devastatingly harsh winter, a guard alerted his comrades with the cry of “Indian coming!” Wearing only a loincloth as he walked into the Pilgrims’ camp, Samoset astonished the English onlookers with a hearty “Welcome!” Then speaking surprisingly clear English, he followed his friendly greeting with a request, “Have you got any beer?”

The Pilgrims informed their friendly guest that they were out of beer, and offered him brandy instead. After a hearty snack of brandy, biscuit, butter, cheese, pudding, and roast duck, Samoset was ready to answer questions. In spite of their difficult and deadly plight, Samoset’s words gave the Pilgrims great cause to thank God.

On March 22, 1621, Samoset returned to the Pilgrims with Squanto, who spoke even better English. Squanto’s life is an amazing tale of God’s provision that very closely resembles the account of Joseph from Genesis, chapter 37. Soon after Samoset introduced Squanto to the Pilgrims, a meeting with Massasoit, chief of the Wampanoag people, was arranged. Massasoit, Samoset, Squanto, and dozens of Wampanoag warriors traveled to Plymouth to meet the Pilgrims. With Samoset serving as the interpreter for Massasoit, the meeting was extremely fruitful. A peace treaty and a treaty of mutual aid were struck with Massasoit that would last for decades.

Massasoit and his party returned home, but Squanto remained with the Pilgrims. Being a man without a tribe, personally witnessing the desperation of the Pilgrims, and already having adopted their faith, Squanto took pity upon his new-found English friends and wanted to help them succeed in their New World. He taught them how to fish for eels and alewives, plant corn and pumpkins, refine maple syrup, trap beavers, hunt deer, and other skills essential to their survival.

Squanto was instrumental in the survival of the Pilgrims—so much so that, according to William Bradford, the Pilgrims considered Squanto “a special instrument sent of God for their good, beyond their expectation.” Massasoit also was an amazing example of God’s providential care for the Pilgrims. Like Powhatan had been at Jamestown, Massasoit was probably the only other native chief on the northeast coast of America who would have welcomed the white man as a friend.

In early April of 1621, with supplies running dangerously low, the Captain of the Mayflower, Christopher Jones, decided he could remain in America no longer. On April 5, 1621, the Mayflower returned to England. As the ship disappeared over the horizon, almost certainly a nervous uneasiness came upon more than a few Pilgrims who remained in the New World. Their last ties to their former home were gone. They, perhaps, felt more alone than at any point of their amazing journey.

The summer of 1621 was beautiful and, thanks in no small measure to the help of Squanto, bountiful. Governor Bradford declared a day of public Thanksgiving to be held in October. Massasoit was invited. Surprising the Pilgrims, he showed up a day early with 90 of his tribe. To feed such a crowd, the Pilgrims would have to go deep into their food supply. However, Massasoit did not show up empty handed. He had instructed his braves to hunt for the occasion, and they came with several dressed dear and fat turkeys. The Thanksgiving turned into a three-day celebration filled with feasting and games.


A few weeks after the first Thanksgiving and about a year after the Pilgrims arrived in the New World, the Fortune sailed into Plymouth on its way to Virginia. The main cargo was an additional 35 colonists and a charter granted from the New England Company. There was tremendous celebration over the new charter; however, unlike the Indians, the new colonists arrived virtually empty handed. They had no extra clothing, food, or tools. The Pilgrims would have to adjust their winter food rationing plan severely.

The winter of 1621-1622 was as difficult as feared. The Pilgrims entered what has been described as their “starving time.” Some reports reveal that at times, food rations for each person were a mere five kernels of corn per day. Miraculously, that winter not one Pilgrim died of starvation.

There was no Thanksgiving celebration in 1622. When the spring planting season of 1623 rolled around, the Pilgrims realized that to fend off further hunger and rationing, a corn harvest at least twice as large as last season was necessary. However, a lackluster work ethic prevailed among them. This was mainly because the contract entered into with their merchant sponsors in London required everything the Pilgrims produced was to go into a common store and be shared. As Rush Limbaugh has often pointed out on his radio broadcast that celebrates Thanksgiving Day, the Pilgrims were languishing under socialism.

The leaders of the colony then decreed that for the additional planting, individual plots of land would be split, and the yield could be used at the planters’ discretion. Thus, as the concept of private property was introduced, the Pilgrims seemed infused and invigorated with new hope and purpose. As Marshall and Manuel point out, “The yield that year was so abundant that the Pilgrims ended up with a surplus of corn, which they were able to use in trading that winter with northern Indians, who had not had a good growing season.”

On November 29, 1623, two years after the first Thanksgiving, Governor William Bradford made an official proclamation for a second day of Thanksgiving. In it Governor Bradford thanked God for their abundant harvest, bountiful game, protection from “the ravages of savages…and disease,” and for the “freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience.” Well over a hundred Natives attended, bringing plenty of turkey and venison along with them.

The Pilgrims, and the Puritans who followed them, had the proper perspective. As Bradford would so discernibly note, “As one small candle may light a thousand, so the light kindled here has shown unto many, yea in some sort to our whole nation…We have noted these things so that you might see their worth and not negligently lose what your fathers have obtained with so much hardship.”

May the light of those first Thanksgivings never be extinguished.

Copyright 2017, Trevor Grant Thomas
At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason.
www.trevorgrantthomas.com
Trevor is the author of The Miracle and Magnificence of America
TrevorGrantThomas@gmail.com

Friday, November 17, 2023

The Death of George Floyd and "The Fall of Minneapolis"

The Fall of Minneapolis is a new, crowdfunded film that details the death of George Floyd and the horrific aftermath, including the trial of Derek Chauvin. The film is based on Alpha News journalist Liz Collin’s Amazon bestseller They’re Lying: The Media, The Left, and The Death of George Floyd

The film features numerous interviews with those directly involved with the infamous George Floyd saga, including former Minneapolis police officers Derek Chauvin and Alexander Kueng, both of whom spoke to Liz Collin from prison. The families of Chauvin and Kueng also speak out publicly for the first time. 

This is a magnificently important work, and by all accounts, very well done. I believe one of the biggest, most destructive lies that has infected our culture is the prevailing narrative surrounding the death of George Floyd. I believe Chauvin and Kueng were railroaded and were, and continue to be, scapegoats for most everything the American left and the Democrat Party holds against U.S. law enforcement. Lord, let there be truth and justice for all of those involved in this tragic event! 

Thanks to the generosity of those supporting the film, it is available for free in full at Rumble and other locations, including below. To support this important work, go here.


Trevor Grant Thomas
At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason.
www.trevorgrantthomas.com
Trevor is the author of the 
The Miracle and Magnificence of America
trevorgrantthomas@gmail.com


 

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Skillet's John Cooper on Drag Queens at the Dove Awards and the Shameful Silence of Christians

I've been a fan of the Christian rock group Skillet for some time now. However, I have to confess that I had no idea that Christian rocker John Cooper--the lead singer of Skillet--was doing such an AMAZING job when it comes to speaking out on the significant moral issues of our time! In other words, John Cooper is not only an excellent musician, he's a powerful and welcomed voice within the church today! 

With a website, an X (Twitter) page (over 200k Followers), a YouTube channel (over 58k subscribers), and the like, Cooper has a significant online presence. This, combined with the reach of Skillet, gives Mr. Copper an amazing opportunity when it comes to communicating the truth to the world and the church. Unlike so many others Christians who are similarly blessed, he seems to be making the most of this opportunity. 

Mr. Cooper recently took issue with the disgusting and evil display that took place at this year's Dove Awards. The Dove Awards are presented by Gospel Music Association and have existed since 1969. The awards ceremony has been televised since 1984. This year, several heretics decided to attend the awards show "in drag." Copper was aghast and lambasted the display. Mr. Cooper also rightly blasted the deafening silence from most in the Christian community who directly witnessed the display, or, even worse, the downright complicitness of Christians who, in the name of "tolerance," encouraged or excused the display. NEWS FLASH, CHURCH: WE NEED MORE OF JOHN COOPER'S BOLDNESS!!!

Here's Mr. Cooper's full commentary on this important issue:

Trevor Grant Thomas
At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason.
www.trevorgrantthomas.com
Trevor is the author of the 
The Miracle and Magnificence of America
trevorgrantthomas@gmail.com


Monday, October 16, 2023

Israel and Palestine: The Facts

A recent video by Ben Shapiro revealing the truth and the many lies surrounding the Israel, Palestinian (SEE: There is No Such Thing as "Palestinians") conflict.

Trevor Grant Thomas
At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason.
www.trevorgrantthomas.com
Trevor is the author of the 
The Miracle and Magnificence of America
trevorgrantthomas@gmail.com



Monday, September 25, 2023

Calvin Robinson: Progressive Christianity is Fake Christianity

Anglican deacon and British commentator Calvin Robinson gets to the heart of the matter--and does an EXCELLENT job--when discussing what he believes is "the greatest threat" (liberalism) to the Western Church today:

 

Trevor Grant Thomas
At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason.
www.trevorgrantthomas.com
Trevor is the author of the 
The Miracle and Magnificence of America
trevorgrantthomas@gmail.com


Monday, September 11, 2023

Does Marriage Equal Happiness?

New research on marriage has drawn significant attention recently, leading to several widely read articles on the matter. Early last month, at UnHerd, in a piece entitled The best predictor of happiness in America? Marriage, authors W. Bradford Wilcox and David Bass write,

Americans who are married with children are now leading happier and more prosperous lives, on average, than men and women who are single and childless.

Is that statement surprising? In an age that prizes individualism, workism, and a host of other self-centric “isms” above marriage and family, it may well be. But the reality is that nothing currently predicts happiness in life better than a good marriage. 

The UnHerd authors base their conclusions on marriage and happiness on new research out of the University of Chicago. Looking at “The Socio Political Demography of Happiness,” the research concluded, “Being married is the most important differentiator with a 30-percentage point happy-unhappy gap over the unmarried.”

On the results of the study, the researcher, Sam Peltzman declared,

Marital status is and has been a very important marker for happiness. The happiness landslide comes entirely from the married. Low happiness characterizes all types of non-married. No subsequent population categorization will yield so large a difference in happiness across so many people.

With countless amounts of anecdotal evidence, and with decades of social science research that shows the same, there’s little doubt that marriage is indeed an important “predictor” or “marker” for happiness. However, this shouldn’t be confused with the idea that marriage is the cause of happiness. In other words, if you’re miserably unhappy, or even moderately so, don’t simply look to marriage to change this.

The latter conclusion is my own, based on my experiences, knowledge, and observations of the world. However, there is research that supports my conclusions as well. Additionally, another article on the recent University of Chicago study—whether it means to or not—supports my take on marriage and happiness. Ironically, this article is written by what seems to be a rather liberal author—Olga Khazan—at the leftist publication The Atlantic.

Miss Khazan begins her piece by citing the University of Chicago study and concluding,

Married people are much happier than the unmarried, according to these data. Looking at those same 100 people, 40 married people will say they’re happy, and 10 will say they’re not happy. But single people are about evenly split between happy and not happy. It doesn’t really matter if you are divorced, are widowed, or have never married: If you’re not married, you’re less likely to be happy. “The only happy people for 50 years have been married people,” Peltzman told me.

This puzzles Miss Kahzan because, in her own words, “[A]fter 13 years of cohabitation, I’m currently trying to get married, and it’s not making me very happy at all.” I have news for Miss Kahzan and all of those like her: It is quite unlikely that marriage will do anything to increase your happiness.

Miss Kahzan’s scenario is quite telling and is a perfect example to illustrate my conclusion on marriage and happiness. It is not the mere act of marriage that brings, or increases, happiness. Perhaps this was once the case in our culture, when there was a widespread, proper understanding of what is marriage. However, in these times, where we have so perverted the meaning of marriage, sex, and the like, almost certainly many of those who are looking to marriage to increase their happiness will be sadly disappointed.

In other words, it’s those—whether they are married or not—with the proper understanding of what is marriage who are most likely to be happy before and after marriage. As Miss Kahzan herself admits, “marriage doesn’t make you happy; rather, happy people get married.” She continues,

One 15-year study of more than 24,000 Germans, for instance, found that those who got married and stayed married were happier than the unmarried ones to begin with, and any happiness boost they got from the marriage was short-lived. “Most of the research indicates that the happiest couples marry, not that marriage causes happiness,” Brienna Perelli-Harris, a demography professor at the University of Southampton, in the United Kingdom, told me over email. 

So, who are these happy people? Most likely, they’re Christians, or at least the “religious.” Again, there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence that proves this true. As we live out our daily lives, typically those who have a measure of faith in the One who made us are the most pleasant to encounter and seem most content with the world around them. This is in spite of whatever difficult circumstances they might find themselves in.

And yes, there is research that shows Christians, or at least those who are “religious,” to be the happiest among us. In April of this year, Christian Headlines declared “Americans Who Believe in God Are the Happiest People in the U.S.” They based this conclusion on a Wall Street Journal-NORC survey and report,

A handful of strong beliefs separate those who are “very happy” from the rest of Americans. An overwhelming majority of “very happy” people – 68 percent – say belief in God is very important to them. That’s a significantly higher percentage than among the “pretty happy” group (47 percent) and the “not too happy” group (42 percent).

“They tend to say belief in God is important,” The Wall Street Journal reported of the very happy group. “Two-thirds describe themselves as very or moderately religious, compared with less than half of adults overall.”

A 2019 Pew Research Center study found “regular participation in a religious community [emphasis by Pew] clearly is linked with higher levels of happiness and civic engagement (specifically, voting in elections and joining community groups or other voluntary organizations).” 2016 Pew research found similar results, noting that “highly religious” people were happier than others. The “highly religious” are “overwhelmingly (95 percent) Protestant, Catholic or other Christians.”

In 2016, using data from a study by Great Britain’s Office for National Statistics, The Christian Post reported that, among all faith groups, Christians were the happiest. The article declared, “Statistics from Britain's national happiness index have suggested that Christians are among the happiest people in the nation, while those who don’t identify with any particular religion generally scored the lowest life satisfaction numbers.”

Christians are among the happiest people in the world, not simply because of who we are—and not simply because we are more likely to marry, or because of our view on what is marriage—but because of who God is and because of all that He’s done and will do. We’re generally a happy people because of the faith, hope, and love, and all the other good “fruit” that permeates Christianity. Won’t you join us?!

(See this column at American Thinker.)

Copyright 2023, Trevor Grant Thomas
At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason.
www.trevorgrantthomas.com
Trevor is the author of the 
The Miracle and Magnificence of America
trevorgrantthomas@gmail.com 


Thursday, August 31, 2023

The "Rigged Election" Video Democrats and YouTube Don't Want You to See

The "election denying" hypocrisy in the American media and the Democrat Party is blatant, widespread, and downright embarrassing! The video below--which YouTube has demonitized--well illustrates why this is the case: 

Trevor Grant Thomas
At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason.
www.trevorgrantthomas.com
Trevor is the author of the 
The Miracle and Magnificence of America
trevorgrantthomas@gmail.com

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

The Astounding Ignorance and Hypocrisy of the Idaho Statesman

The editorial board of the Idaho Statesman—Scott McIntosh, Bryan Clark, Chadd Cripe, Dana Oland, Jim Keyser and Mary Rohlfing—recently published an opinion piece condemning the actions of Christian organizations Hold the Line and Turning Point USA Faith. The Statesman editorial board doesn’t like the fact that the “Kingdom to the Capitol” tour has made its way to Boise, Idaho.

The Kingdom to the Capitol is a Christian “revival tour” that holds prayer and worship events across the U.S. Their goal is to bring praise and worship music and prayer to every state capitol in the U.S. By my count, they’ve reached 23 so far. Kingdom to the Capitol is the result of a partnership between Turning Point USA Faith and Let Us Worship (a sister organization to Hold the Line).

The title of the Idaho Statesman foolish opinion piece begins with the old and overused leftist edict, “Keep your religion out of our government.” The title concludes with the “scary” conclusion that “Dangerous activists [are] coming to [the] Idaho Capitol.”

What’s so “dangerous” about the Kingdom to the Capitol event? Statesman editorialists believe that the Christians behind the event want to “inject their brand of Christianity into government.”

Similarly, later in the opinion piece, the authors declare, “It’s no accident the rallies are being held at state Capitol buildings, as these charlatans increasingly want to inject their brand of religion into politics.” According to the editorialists, examples of injecting “religion into politics” includes restrictions on abortions as well as restrictions on so-called “gender-affirming care for transgender youth.”

In other words, it seems that the Statesman doesn’t want the law in America to protect the most innocent and helpless among us from death or permanent mutilation. Additionally, in an attempt to smear the event and its attendees, the Statesman editorialists also use the familiar “Christian nationalist” label.

Sean Feucht, a Christian singer, song writer, worship leader, and former congressional candidate, is one of the event organizers. Attacking Feucht directly, the Statesman editorialists write,

Feucht and his group are playing on the same, tired, worn-out, BS, far-right “fears” that evildoers on the Left are coming for your children, through the schools, through the libraries, at Pride festivals and drag shows. They frame the issue as a fight between good and evil, light vs. dark. Predictably, they clutch their pearls at transgender apparel at Target or popular music videos.

The last two sentences of the editorial declare, “No one is telling these groups to abandon their religious beliefs. We’re just telling them to keep their religion in their church and out of our government.”

This garbage opinion piece by the “Secular Nationalists” at the Idaho Statesman is a perfect example of why so many in America hate newspapers, and why so many newspapers across the U.S. are dying. (The McClatchy Company, which owns the Idaho Statesman declared bankruptcy in 2020.) Given that Idaho is a solidly conservative state, it’s almost certain that this opinion piece is quite unpopular with a significant majority of Idaho’s residents, and just another reason for them not to give their time or money to the Idaho Statesman.

Of course, being unpopular doesn’t mean that one is wrong. However, as most conservatives well know, including the conservatives in Idaho, like so many opinion writers in America, the Idaho Statesman editorialists are indeed on the wrong side of the truth in some of the most important moral issues of our time.

Few things in the moral realm of the universe are more clear than what is life, and what is a male and a female. Thus, of course any society governed by the rule of law should have laws that reflect the long-known truth on these grave matters.

What’s more, the Stateman editorial writers are seemingly blind to their moral and political hypocrisy here. It seems they are fine with injecting their leftist worldview into America’s politics and laws, but don’t like the idea of Christians doing the same.

As I have long said, all law the world over is rooted in someone’s idea of morality. In other words, we either write our own moral code—which almost certainly will be grossly flawed—and have our laws reflect this moral code, or, when living our lives and when legislating, we adhere to the laws of the Law Giver.

“Keep your religion out of our government” is much like the leftist complaint of “Stop forcing your morality on me!” The proper retort to the latter is, “Stop forcing your immorality on me!” Thus, to the Idaho Statesman editorial board, I say, keep your irreligious, godless, and profane ideas out of our government!

(See this column at American Thinker.) 

Copyright 2023, Trevor Grant Thomas
At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason.
www.trevorgrantthomas.com
Trevor is the author of the 
The Miracle and Magnificence of America
trevorgrantthomas@gmail.com

 

Monday, July 31, 2023

Voddie Baucham on Biblical Manhood, Justice, and Woke Ideology

Dr. Voddie Baucham is the Dean of Theology at African Christian University in Lusaka, Zambia. He is also a former pastor, an accomplished Martial Artist, celebrated author, a devoted husband to Bridget, and the father of nine children. The video below is the latest episode of "The Sunday Special" from The Daily Wire

Trevor Grant Thomas
At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason.
www.trevorgrantthomas.com
Trevor is the author of the 
The Miracle and Magnificence of America
trevorgrantthomas@gmail.com 


Friday, July 21, 2023

Matt Walsh Has the Right Take on "Try That in a Small Town" and Violence in Music

Jason Aldean's latest song, "Try That in a Small Town" has the left aghast. Supposedly Aldean's song is--of course--"raaaaacist!" and promotes violence. Of course, almost nothing is further from the truth. Along with lying about Aldean's song, the left also again demonstrates magnificent hypocrisy. The left has LONG looked the other way on a mountain of music that promotes, among many other evils, violence and sexual immorality. This especially includes "rap music." The hip-hop industry is littered with music and artists who promote violence, celebrate crime, degrade women, and attack police. Yet we're supposed to believe Aldean and his song are the problem. Again, the left is on the wrong side of the truth. Matt Walsh does an excellent job of explaining why:

For good measure, here's the full video of Aldean's song: 

Trevor Grant Thomas
At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason.
www.trevorgrantthomas.com
Trevor is the author of the 
The Miracle and Magnificence of America
trevorgrantthomas@gmail.com