Dear Beachside Family and Friends,

"We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our Sacred Honor" So reads the final sentence of the Declaration of Independence. Initially signed by John Hancock on July 4, 1776, 55 more men were to add their signatures by November 4th of that same year. Each signature on this document was an act of treason against the crown of Great Britain, and marked every signer for imprisonment and death. 

These men were not poor, insecure malcontents. They did not participate in rebellion against the most powerful nation on earth for personal gain. Every revolution before or since has been led by men who had nothing to lose, but the signers of the Declaretion were of a different mold. From a position of power, wealth, and authority, they gave everything they had in order to guarantee freedom for all. Many of these man lost their businesses, their homes, their families, and even their lives so that every person in the colonies could enjoy liberty in the new United States of America. They were faithful to the pledge they made to each other and to all their fellow citizens. They gave their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

In contrast, the elites in politics and media of out present day, enriched by the intoxicants of fame or elected office, seem interested only in retaining what is theirs. They are not willing to yield their fortunes or risk their positions in the establishment for the betterment of our nation. They advertise themselves as champions of the downtrodden, yet use those whom they claim to represent as electoral pawns in order to insure the continuance of their power.  Jesus identified these individuals in Matthew 23:3-4 "...But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them."

An example of this behavior can be found in the alleged "Affordable Care Act", which president Obama promised would allow everyone to keep the Doctors of their choice, and substantially cut the cost of premiums. The reverse was immediately obvious: people were forced to change doctors, and premiums skyrocketed. This law was passed over the objections of a majority of Americans, and has resulted in deductibles so high that most families cannot make use of their policies. In effect, they have no health insurance. They are required by law to buy Obamacare, or to pay a tax penalty. A burden has been laid upon the shoulders of our citizens, and those in power declare they cannot remove it. In addition, the elites in government always exempt themselves from the legislative disasters they foist upon the citizens. They always take care of themselves first.

The leaders of communist and socialist nations always declare that the laws and policies they brutally enforce exist to benefit "the people". They mesmerize the populace with promises of a utopia that cannot exist. They promise government will provide, fully knowing that government does not make money, it only takes money. When government runs out of money, it's leaders always take care of themselves first. These corrupt political philosophies do not benefit the people: they only benefit those who desire to preserve their power and control over the people. 

The inability of Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare and move forward with our current President's agenda is a reflection of the leaders that Jesus described. They do not practice what they preach, and they continue to allow the burden of a failed and punitive healthcare law to remain on the backs of the people. This is so unlike the attitudes of the men who met in Philadelphia in the summer of 1776 and produced the Declaration of Independence. They were willing to give their all that others may be free. It appears that some in today's Congress are willing for the people to continue in bondage if it means they remain free in their positions of power and influence.

Our unique form of government, revealed by God to James Madison, has endured for 241 years. America was created to be a land of freedom. We should resist to our last breath the desires of those in authority who want to change our way of life and reliance upon the Constitution as written. Government derives its power and authority from the consent of the governed. We do not exist to enrich those in power in politics and the media at the expense of the soul of our nation. We were not created by God to be dominated by those who reject His authority and desire to move our nation from its foundation upon the truth of His Word.

We should expect those in elected office to have the same commitment as those who founded our nation. Serving in government is a privilege, not an entitlement. Let us encourage those who hold office and demonstrate a spirit of service and sacrifice to stand their ground and hold to the truth. Let us vote out of office those who occupy them for the sole benefit of themselves. Let us declare once again that we live in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Let us all commit once again to give our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor in the defense of our freedom. Happy Independence Day, and may God Bless America!

Pastor Ramon

Dear Beachside Family and Friends,

If you read the Washington Post. New York Times, Los Angeles Tim es, or other papers; or watch ABC, CBS,NBC, CNN, or MSNBC, you will be constantly informed that our nation is in crisis because our President is an uninformed, ignorant, racist, homophobic, misogynistic, manipulative, unbalanced, insane liar who is a grave danger to our very existence. The level of vitriol and hatred from these media sources is so far beyond that directed toward any other President in my lifetime that it is difficult for me to believe they have any objectivity whatsoever in their reporting.

As a Christian and citizen of our great nation, I had sincere concerns about our past President and his policies. That did not stop me from praying for President Obama or accepting him as my President. When he won two elections, I did not make up stories about how he didn't win fairly, protest in the streets over imagined wrongs, or live in a state of perpetual hatred and denial of his authority. I did not do these things because I believe in respect for authority. Regardless of what our previous President did or said, I respected his office and his legitimacy. I did this because it is the right thing to do, it is what the Bible teaches, and what God expects of me. 

Those who refuse to accept President Trump as legitimate, or willfully work to undermine his office are a danger to our nation, and operating in an alternative  reality of their own making. Acting in ways totally contrary to the scripture, they allow hatred to consume them and empower Satan to manipulate them. Paul wrote to Timothy these sobering words: "And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, a good teacher, and patient. The Lord’s servant must gently teach those who disagree. Then maybe God will let them change their minds so they can accept the truth. And they may wake up and escape from the trap of the devil, who catches them to do what he wants." (2 Tim 2:24-26)

Leaders do not always do what we want them to do. Sometimes we believe that they treat us unfairly. How are we to respond to such situations? Are we to get involved in quarrels and arguments? Are we to personally denigrate those in authority? Should we attack them because they do not agree with us politically? If we do, what are the consequences for our own lives? Paul was clear and unambiguous. If we do these things, we are doing what the devil wants.

Paul was often attacked by those in authority and had legitimate grievances with them, especially the religious rulers of his day. When questioning him about his activities in ministry, the high priest ordered Paul struck on the mouth. This incensed the great apostle, who knew that such actions by those in authority were forbidden by the law. The Bible tells us in Acts 23:2-5 "Instantly Ananias the high priest commanded those close to Paul to slap him on the mouth. But Paul said to him, “God will slap you, you corrupt hypocrite! What kind of judge are you to break the law yourself by ordering me struck like that?” Those standing near Paul said to him, “Do you dare to insult God’s high priest?” “I’m sorry, brothers. I didn’t realize he was the high priest,” Paul replied, “for the Scriptures say, ‘You must not speak evil of any of your rulers.’” 

Paul was justified in feeling abused and hurt by the high priest's actions. He responded quickly and pointed out the hypocrisy displayed by Ananias. Not realizing he was addressing the high priest, Paul apologized for his words, respecting the authority of the office that  Ananias held. Paul had a legitimate beef with the high priest. It was personal, yet he apologized and continued to honor the office of the high priest. In Paul's time, respect for those in authority was not violated without consequence. Until recent times, that was also true in the United States of America

I do not know if President Trump has willingly hurt or chosen to personally defame the reporters and editors who publish anonymously sourced disparaging stories about him in the mainstream media. He certainly does not display hatred towards them. Perhaps calling them "fake news" hurts their feelings. The President is not perfect, and he does not always choose to use the words that I would choose in his communications. I don't agree with everything he says, but I respect the office he holds and his right to say what he believes - even on Twitter!. It is time for his critics in the media and elsewhere to do the same. They clearly do not hold themselves accountable to the same standard they apply to President Trump. 

It is important for all of us to tell the truth, including those who identify themselves as "objective" journalists. Not the truth as we believe it to be, but the truth as it actually is. There are those in media and politics who desire to destroy our President simply because they do not like him and even personally hate him. This unfortunate truth means that we cannot rely on these individuals to accurately report events about the President, his policies, and his goals for our nation. Their desire to destroy him and his presidency makes them totally unreliable and devoid of accuracy and truth. This is not my personal observation, but the truth as stated in Scripture: " If we do these things, we are doing what the devil wants." Jesus said of the religious leaders who attacked Him "You belong to your father the devil, and you want to do what he wants. He was a murderer from the beginning and was against the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he shows what he is really like, because he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44)

What we are seeing in our nation is the death of respect. We must arrest this trend, and insist upon respect for the President and the office he holds. We must pray for him and ask the Lord to grant him wisdom as he leads our nation, and strength to deal with and forgive those who attack and undermine him. This plan of Satan to destroy the President is not about him personally, but about preventing the success of our nation and the gospel. Donald Trump has done more to advance the cause of the church, Christianity, and traditional values in a few short months in office than any president in the past 30 years. He has brought respect for God's role in our nation back into public discourse. This is why Satan hates him, and uses his tools in media and politics to try to stop his agenda. I know that the plan of God for the United States of America does not depend on one man, but on all of us as believers. Let's not allow ourselves to be caught up in strife and become the prisoners of Satan's agenda. Let's show respect for our President and the office he holds. Stop listening to the disrespectful and perverse mainstream media! Get your news from the Holy Spirit. Stand with me in prayer for the plan of God to be manifest in our great country: Revival is coming!

Pastor Ramon