Jesus was crucified next to two thieves. To the one who acknowledged his kingship, Jesus said, "today you will be with me in Paradise." Was Jesus "soft on crime?" Trump is like the rich man in another parable. Ultimately, he ends up in Hades, begging for a drop of water. 

Throughout the Bible God has chastened those potentates who made golden images of themselves and decried the humble servants of God. We do well to remember His message to us and pray for mercy and forgiveness.

This is taken from GOOGLE April 1, 2026: (first paragraph only)

 "U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth sparked controversy by leading a Christian prayer at the Pentagon on March 25, 2026, requesting "overwhelming violence" and that "every round find its mark" against enemies in the Iran war. The prayer, which also asked for "righteous targets," has been criticized for mixing religious rhetoric with military doctrine, raising concerns about the separation of church and state, and violating norms of military neutrality.."

On November 27, 1095 Pope Urban II made an impassioned speech, calling upon Christian Europe to take back land conquered by Muslims in the East. "God wills it," was his cry. It was the start of the first Crusade. 

This is no different from Current American Christian Nationalists like War Secretary Hegseth, who also identifies with the order of Knights Templar. This fascination extends to his tattoos, one of which states, "Deus Vult," meaning God will's it. He dares to invoke Jesus even as he prays for American bullets to hit their mark. 

Folks like Pete Hegseth do more wrong in the feeble and blind attempt to deliver a Crusade than projecting any Christian message of hope and redemption. This is not the "shining example" John Winthrop challenged the early Americans in 1630 to exemplify. They were to be a "city on a hill," a phrase often used afterward by leading Americans Like President Ronald Reagan.

The phrase came from Winthrop's sermon, "A model of Christian Charity." Is this really the Christian focus people like Hegseth want America to stand for? This Easter, can we celebrate the Risen Lord who conquered death as well as all the evils of the world? This is a direct contrast to the War Secretary's invoking of Jesus to justify his Crusade.

Winthrop's "city on a hill" borrowed from, Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and projected the idea of light shining through the darkness. The city was an example of Christian Charity. Individually, it was a call to live righteously, by example.

Fixed Income Lifestyle

Living on a Fixed Income and unable to work. When I first moved to this quiet complex in 2003, my rent was $500 for a two-bedroom, two-bath unit. I lived next door to my mother. It was at her insisting that I moved here even though I was not old enough Per the complex rules. But they made an exception. Now those rules have changed, my beloved mother died in 2012, and I am still living here, albeit paying a much higher rate - nearly $800.

I was put on Social Security disability in 2011 after spending nearly four weeks in the hospital battling esophageal varices, another heart attack, and weakened kidneys and liver. My cardiologist blamed it on stress. 

I am 73 now and still receiving Social Security as well as a very meager teaching pension (i taught for 11 years at a Catholic High School) but afterwards taught at several university campuses as an adjunct professor. Although they paid well, there were no benefits. It was the stress, I am told, of teaching 7-8 classes per semester and driving to and from three different campuses that did me in. Don't misunderstand: I loved teaching and still do. 

But now I am on Social Security and blog. My costs go up every year. Utilities follow higher rent. I no longer have a car. That dear little Cavalier broke down - a broken timing chain. The service shop wanted more money than I could afford, even with a Car Shield policy offering to pay $5000 for a new engine. All those months paying them $140 in vain. Advice: read the fine print and trust no promises.

So I have to order groceries and have them delivered. I tried several stores but Walmart seems to be the cheapest and most consistent. I also order certain things in Bulk: things I would normally have picked up on a weekly shopping trip.

Medications also have spiraled upwards, especially my inhalers. I've tried mail order pharmacies but even with no deductibles, the time from processing to date delivered can be long. And mail order pharmacies will not handle medications you must sign for such as Zolpidem. 

I've told family and friends I am no longer sending greeting or holiday cards. I like my cousin's idea: she sends animated e-cards and they are lovely. 

But even though I have tried to shed some monthly recurring costs, I still have credit card debt that used to be manageable. It will take me years to eliminate this debt and I've considered selling some assets such as art works I've inherited that I've priced on-line. I sold my substantial book collection in 2012, the same year my mother passed, for a pittance. My sister-in-law said "don't do it" but I didn't listen.

I have dozens and dozens of VHS tapes but no machine to play them on. Both my TV's crashed. I used my laptop and stream. I remember when I still had a car and had the freedom to go places. Now I am confined and depend upon "the kindness of strangers..."

But I hope this is not the final act of a long running show. I hope there is an epilogue That will be a bit more of a rainbow experience. 

Does anyone remember the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (August 1964)?  It was a document used by the Lyndon Johnson administration to fool Congress into giving the president a virtual blank check to flood Vietnam with thousands of American men and women in an effort to stop the spread of Communism (Containment theory). In the end, Vietnam was a disaster for America in many ways. 

Then there was Colin Powell At the United Nations trying to convince the world that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Again a lie that cost thousands of American lives. It might have been a start of what Donald Trump called "forever wars." Now he has begun his own forever war in the Middle East. But, not to worry, according to him, we have won and his will all be over soon - as thousands of Marines, boots on the ground, depart for the area.

But we love "splendid little wars" (John Hay). Too bad Mr. Trump is no Teddy, charging up San Juan Hill. Rather, he can be found on some golf course. 

Trump joked about Pearl Harbor but history has shown that 1941 was not a big surprise and that people like Winston Churchill, due to good intelligence, knew the hour and the day but chose to keep it to themselves. True or not, most wars in our history could have been avoided. Some were manufactured. Others relied on phony provocations. "Remember the Maine!"

Trump wants to walk away from Hormuz and let the Europeans pull his chestnuts out of the fire. Then why the Marines? Will the occupation of Kharg Island be the prelude for a march on Teheran? 

All of this is another example of tossing history to the waste bin of time. We do not learn. We will always repeat the catastrophes of the past.