Oh I long for the day when the lamb will lie down with the lion, but we are not there yet! Here is a look at history from the perspective of before the age of American imperialism to now. I found the article to be insightful and hope you do to! Blessings/sc
The Pivot Back to Liberty
By Chris Rossini
Sincere advocates of liberty need to travel a tough and rugged path. Surrounded by the darkness of empire and its draconian reach into all aspects of our lives, champions of liberty must keep their eyes on the prize without becoming despondent.
This can be challenging in a society that has come to rely so heavily on the state. The ideas of liberty are hardly ever considered an option. Often they’re even frowned upon.
How does one deal with such a situation? Once you understand the principles of liberty, you can’t just give up on them and pretend they don’t exist. So how does one grapple with times that are so deleterious to liberty?
The easiest way is to contemplate the big picture. If there’s one thing about life, it’s that it hardly ever moves in one direction for very long. Pivots and reversals regularly occur and often when they’re least expected.
In fact, prior to the formation of the American empire, it was the warmongers themselves who were despondent. They were the ones who had to live with the reality that their ideas were not an option.
The last annual letter that I did was in 2005 so I think today would be a good day to write one and update everyone on recent years also. I do hope this letter finds you doing well and serving the Lord and walking in your calling. I would love to hear from you whenever that is possible~
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In 2013 some very sad news with the loss of Peaches, my female green eyed calico rescue cat. I miss her terribly as she was my main talker and surveillance/security monitor. She loved running water to drink. A real delight! Ivory, my female Siamesish blue eyed cat, is hanging in there with me and is a lot of entertainment too.
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Paula, my sister, and Tim, her husband, came to visit recently and I loved every minute of having them here including some redecorating ideas and some very clever suggestions to make my life a little easier!
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I have been publishing some books for lifetime friend and mentor, Jesse Jones and also sharing some of my own documents online via Scribd. You can find them here: http://scribd.com/scrosnoe
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The latest book released there is about how my folks and Jesse met Jesus and the special bible teacher sent their way many years ago. Some of you will remember Brother Earle Frid. The story is here: A Man of God by Jesse C. Jones
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In April of 2012, Paula gave me an awesome 60th birthday party at Sterlings in Bartlesville. For that event I prepared an online presentation of life events for those able to be there in person. It is available here: Celebration Birthday for Sandra Crosnoe — April 2012
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Another highlight of the year (and a lowlight all in one) was being an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention in Tampa Florida. It was the partial fulfillment of a lifetime dream to get to attend with delegate status, but the shattering of the dream of a party operating in any sense according to the rules. My observation is that the grassroots are not really wanted until time to go vote for the media manufactured darling. The Ron Paul party & events for his delegates were a lot of fun and some great networking opportunities as well. The pool/beach time on the way with Ryan and Julia made it all worthwhile. We stayed beachfront at the Margueritaville Hotel and had a marvelous time and some great food too.
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In 2011 the most wonderful memorable event of the year was a trip to Las Vegas with my sister Paula and my good friend Donna. Paula arranged a birthday trip for us where we stayed at the Bellagio with the dancing fountains, went to not one not two, but THREE shows, had fabulous meals and a spa day and a helicopter ride over Hoover Dam! Great pics from the trip here (probably more than you want to see but suffice it to say we had a great time. I have a video of the helicopter ride somewhere if you ever want to see it!): sandiec99’s photosets on Flickr
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Saddest event of the year was the loss of my good friend David Hall. Shelli Dawdy wrote an article for me while I made the trip to Texas with Donna Gustafson, to be with family and friends there. Here is her tribute online to David Hall our belladier http://grassrootsne.com/on-loss-of-belladier-david-hall-bells-must-be-ringing-in-heaven/ I also lost Ebony my golden eyed black male cat this year. He was a love bug for sure. It was a sad sudden event and I miss him dearly!
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In 2010 I helped a bit with Nathan Dahm’s race for Congress and although he did not win, he laid the groundwork then for his election to the Oklahoma Senate subsequently where he is now serving. I believe that he busted up the turf for Jim Bridenstine’s subsequent election to Congress in District 1. A real win/win and progress! Senator Dahm and Congressman Bridenstine are both bright spots on our Oklahoma political landscape in my opinion. I created a book for my family of recipe treasures and ultimately shared it online here: Recipe Treasures – Crosnoe to Caswell
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2009 – Somewhere in this time I started blogging and social networking and did some radio broadcasts with Shelli called the Constitutional Liberty Coalition Gets Grizzly. We also worked with a team of people on the original Tea Party efforts. It is worth more than a paragraph, but suffice it to say it was grassroots and co-opted almost all in the same breath. My blogging began as https://scrosnoe.wordpress.com Finding Gems & Sharing Them (but it began on blogger if you ever want to explore the old archives (for a good laugh I am sure). Out of these early efforts some networks grew and prospered (online websites and on facebook and twitter):
CLibertyC – Constitutional Liberty Coalition (syndicated multi-state) http://clibertyc.com
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In November, my nephew, Byron married his sweetheart Tracy. They had a marvelous wedding and I was glad to be able to attend and be a part of the festivities. They are now all settled in their own home in DC.
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In 2008 I made the trip to Minneapolis with Deborah and some of my Okie buddies for the RNC and the parallel Ron Paul Convention which was way ‘funner’ than the other one and well attended too! That was the first time I ever heard the ‘END the FED’ cheer by thousands of people. It was inspiring to say the least! Special thanks to Matt for getting me a guest pass for the other convention. It was the first time to hear Sarah Palin in person and observe the police state at conventions too (again experienced in 2012 – ask me about it sometime for details!).
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In 2007 I began working with a few others to create the Ron Paul network and convince him to run for President. He did and although he lost, I believe we made a difference and opened many eyes in the process. We tried! This work was the foundation for many things that transpired later in teaparty efforts and communications networks and campaigns on issues and on leadership too. Shared a wonderful New Year’s Eve Cruise with my good friend Jim Boulet and awfully glad for the good memories as he went to be with the Lord just a few years after that.
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In 2006 for part of the year, Hannah Dudkiewicz, a foreign exchange student from Germany, lived with me. We traveled a great deal and I had a wonderful time showing her a little bit of our way of life. Last I heard she was in college in Berlin. She certainly was artistically gifted and she remains in my prayers.
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That should bring you up to date with the highlights, but YOU are in the details or you would not be reading this. I thank you for your part in making my life rich and full. Thank you for your prayers and your presence online and in person making a difference wherever and whenever possible. I look forward to seeing you in person as the Lord leads our paths to cross again. Let us keep blessing as many as we can as we learn to walk in His ways as we go. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Some scriptures about Thanksgiving to share and proclaim:
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
—Psalm 9:1
The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
to one who orders his way rightly
I will show the salvation of God!”
—Psalm 50:23
It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
—Psalm 92:1
Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!
—Psalm 97:12
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
—Psalm 100:4
Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
—Psalm 105:1-2
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Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
This week, I will campaign for Gov. Mitt Romney. I believe this election will and should be about moving America back from the edge of the abyss on which we stand, where our debt and spending threaten to overwhelm and drown us. Romney’s belief in free markets, limited government and trade make him the clear choice to lead our country come January.
I do not, however, support a call for intervention in Syria. And, if such intervention were being contemplated, it is absolutely necessary that Congress give any such authority to the president. No president, Republican or Democrat, has the unilateral power to take our nation to war without the authority of the legislature.
At times, I have been encouraged by Romney’s foreign policy. I agree with his call to end the war in Afghanistan sooner rather than later and with his skepticism of, and call for reform in, foreign aid, but I am a bit dismayed by his foreign policy speech Monday, titled “Mantle of Leadership.”
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Some ideas for ways to raise $$$ from real Republicans (or my reply to RNC fundraiser request) 1) fire Ben Ginsberg 2) announce Ron Paul as a frontrunner for Secretary of Treasury 3) then resend this request
TAMPA, Fla. — Top Republicans are fighting one another over what one party leader called “one of the biggest power grabs” in the party’s history.
Senior GOP officials are accusing the Romney campaign’s chief attorney, Ben Ginsberg, of pushing through a rules change for delegate selection that would give Mitt Romney enormous power over the primary process should he win the White House and seek re-election in 2016.
“It shifts the power to select delegates from the state party to the [party’s presidential] candidate,” Republican National Committee Vice Chairman Jim Bopp told The Washington Times on Sunday. “And it would make the Republican Party a top-down, not bottom-up, party.”
A room with a view (unlike the one we have in Tampa)
The road to Tampa went through Gulf Breeze this year where Julia Albath and I spent some heavy duty beach and pool time. We had a blast amid luxury accommodations and ate some great sea food while there too. Then we picked up just a little too much sun and headed on into Tampa. We arrived yesterday. Last night I had dinner with Tiana Wallace and caught up on several years of adventures. She is such a lovely young lady; God is using her ministry and continuing to grow her in Him!
Then we spent today at the Ron Paul Rally “We Are the Future” at the Sun Dome. It was a huge crowd — my estimate is somewhere around 10,000. I had special seating with delegates and alternates and lots of amenities while we listed to Doug Wead, Jack Hunter (Southern Avenger), Lew Rockwell, Barry Goldwater Jr., Jordan Page, John Popper, Aimee Allen, Rand Paul, Carol Paul and last but not leastRon Paul himself. It was a star studded cast with one new name on the list, Maine’s new National Committeewoman Ashley Ryan who I am sure we will see more of in the future.
We are picking up reports from people who worked with the committee process all week. Amidst on again / off again announcements for the convention (creating confusion for all) the delegates are busy networking and getting ready to meet the rest of the week.
I’ll give you more of a report later in the week, but suffice it to say there are those who think the consultants for the RNC and the executive committee should make all the decisions and those like Morton Blackwell and the rest of us ‘grassroots’ types who don’t think that is such a good idea. Of course if you aren’t going to follow the rules anyway, it makes very little difference what the rules say, but then most of us respect the rule of law and want to keep the rules and abide by the Constitution. The Republican Party really needs to at least look like it is trying to represent the people — especially if we want our people to continue to contribute time and money. At least that is the way I view matters and I’ve only been viewing matters since the Reagan years. More on the committee process here >>>
By the way, I’ll be wearing a pin this week that goes back to the Goldwater era which was a gift from my cousin Melinda this year when she knew I would be making this trip. It once belonged to my Aunt Alta.
Tonight, we had a dinner at Whiskey Joe’s on the bay near our hotel with Ron Paul and Carol Paul and all of his delegates and alternates tonight. It was very well attended and very crowded, but wonderful to be with everyone. I got to visit with Carol briefly and convey my love for her and the entire family. I had seen Robert Paul earlier and got to visit briefly also. I gave up the photo op with Ron because the line was too long but he looked good and spoke brilliantly and certainly thrilled the crowd all day!
Many are covering this convention and our nation in prayer. Many have been standing on principles for many years. Please join them and let us ask God for His guidance in all that we do and say this week. May we unite in standing for life and for liberty in our land!
Finding Gems and Sharing Them 