After my condemnation of our “banana republic” in a previous essay, a clever commenter remarked pithily, “Last patriot turn out the lights.” I laughed. But the truth is that the light is not dimming; it is getting brighter. We, all of us together, are in the sunshine business. And the more sunshine we bring, the more difficult it becomes for the darkness not to light up!
Case in point: After Facebook’s Zuckerberg recently confessed to censoring the New York Post’s explosive Hunter Biden “laptop from Hell” story (evidencing a compromised and most likely criminally culpable Biden family) before the 2020 election in response to FBI pressure that the social media giant treat real news as “Russian disinformation” (thereby corroborating that the national security Deep State helped rig the presidential election), the FBI superciliously responded with the equivalent of a teenaged shoulder shrug and a haughty “so what?” According to the FBI, our domestic spy agency regularly encourages censorship and secretive control over the free flow of information. No big deal!
Except it is a very big deal. Recent polling shows that nearly 80% of Americans believe that President Trump would have won re-election had voters “known the truth about Hunter Biden’s laptop.” In other words, the Deep State stole an election. This isn’t a huge revelation for most readers here, but it is a huge revelation for those who have stubbornly refused to admit how corrupt and rotten the 2020 election was. Little by little, truth overpowers deceit. Let there be light!
In the sunshine business, our mission is to speak truth to power over and over again, much like a resolute punisher bringing down the lash against those who wound us with their lies. None of us alone must harbor the strength to complete the task at hand, for as long as another rises to give timely support and respite to any one weary arm, the lashings of truth will continue. That is truth’s power and purpose: it cannot be bargained away or buried in the darkness for long. It lives whether its tormentors like it or not, and all we must do is recognize it, protect it, and sing its blessings from one shadow to the next, with courage and conviction, until the brightness it brings becomes glaring.
How do you collapse a corrupt system? By flooding it with oceans of luminous truth.
This is a war between those who embrace cynicism and those who embrace virtue. The cynics are so committed to using fabricated “narratives” to obtain and maintain power that they have discarded even the pretense of seeking universal truths. Whatever aids them in their conquest over others is sufficient justification for defense. Is man-made climate change real? Is Donald Trump a Russian spy? Is America plagued with systemic racism? Is COVID really the deadliest pathogen to afflict humanity? To the cynics, the answers do not matter. Pursuing conclusory “narratives,” devoid of supporting evidence though they be, is valuable in itself. Even the most ugly, monstrous lies are worth protecting if those falsehoods serve their purpose — to comfort the powerful and afflict the powerless.
For those who believe in pursuing truth and virtue, this “ends justify the means” behavior is maddening. It is not easy living in a world where so many around us peddle delusions, malice, and lies. It is not easy to maintain clarity and balance when demonstrable truths are labeled as “misinformation” and outright fantasies are marketed as gospel truth. When even the loudest of truth-speakers, such as Deep State target President Trump, is tormented relentlessly with criminal persecution and media calumny, it is easy for the more reticent among us to lose hope. Yet when those with virtue stand fast and firm, those with no virtue screech and squirm. Resolute defense of truth reveals the cynics’ weakness. The weaker they become, the louder they must be. When the madness around us is deafening, then you can be certain that the cynics are losing all control. So stay true. Don’t bend. Hold the line.
When must a good citizen become a dissident? Is it when the FBI and other Deep State truth-twisters manufacture crises and manipulate elections? Is it when free speech comes under attack under the guise of State-labeled “misinformation”? Perhaps it is when the president-in-name-only reads carefully scripted messages (written by those who control his office from the shadows) attacking half the country’s citizens as “fascists.” Or when government and media “elites” falsely frame political protest as “insurrection” in order to justify criminal persecution and imprisonment of opponents of the ruling regime. Or maybe when the endless declaration of fake “emergencies” is used to justify the steady imposition of extraordinary State power over each citizen’s livelihood. Maybe it’s when the Intelligence Community operates a massive domestic surveillance network targeting Americans who have committed no crimes. Maybe it’s when secretly collected information mined from supposedly independent social media conglomerates and too-big-to-fail private banks is used to track and trace unsuspecting citizens. Maybe it’s when the value of the U.S. dollar is intentionally chipped away by central bank authorities enabling tax-and-spend legislators to expand institutional power at current and future Americans’ expense. Perhaps it is when the same federal government that insists on fighting wars all over the world in defense of other nations’ borders staunchly refuses to protect America’s own borders from invasion. Maybe it is when politicians openly mock freedom and the Bill of Rights as “selfish” relics of a racist past, while implementing race-based policies trumpeted as “progress.” Perhaps it is when the American government declares itself at war with the American system. Yeah, that seems like the right time to become a dissident.
America is a great nation. America’s history is rivaled by none. America’s people remain a melting pot of fighters and patriots yearning to be free. America’s government, however, is rancid. D.C. has become a den of narcissists, liars, and thieves. A lawless Deep State has made itself the enemy of all virtuous people. The bureaucracy’s failing cult of expertise has given rise to the urgent need for a new common sense conservatism grounded in individual liberty. Washington’s wayward class of inveterate liars requires a resurgence of fearless Americans willing to tell the truth.
What makes a good citizen today? A tenacious determination to stand in and help spread truth’s light.
Image via Pxhere.
Starting the Day With a Scripture-Inspired Roast Helps Center Your Thoughts on Eternal Truths Amid Temporal Pressures
The world can seem chaotic, especially right after we wake up. Many believers start their mornings reaching for something familiar — a hot cup of coffee — yet end up settling for mediocre brews that do little more than deliver a caffeine jolt. The daily grind of life, with its endless distractions, news cycles, and responsibilities, can leave even the most faithful feeling spiritually parched alongside their physical fatigue. What if your morning ritual could do more than wake you up? What if it could ground you in truth, nourish your body with exceptional quality, and quietly advance a kingdom purpose at the same time?
That’s the promise — and the reality — behind Promised Grounds Coffee. This Christian-founded company doesn’t just roast beans; it approaches every step as an act of worship and discipleship. By selecting only the top 10% of specialty-grade beans, ethically sourced from dedicated farmers in Central and South America, and small-batch roasting them with reverence in Austin, Texas, Promised Grounds delivers what many describe as the best coffee available — never burnt, never bland, but rich with origin stories and layered flavors that honor God’s creation.
From the vibrant Psalm 27 Roast (a light, bright medium option) to the bold yet peaceful 2 Timothy 1:7 Decaf, each bag carries a Scripture verse that turns your daily pour into a gentle reminder of faith. And through their Ounce Per Ounce Promise, every ounce of coffee you enjoy provides an equal ounce of clean water to families in need via partnership with Filter of Hope — literally brewing hope for body and soul, one cup at a time.
The challenge for today’s Christians runs deeper than finding a decent cup. In an age of convenience-driven consumerism, it’s easy to support companies that dilute values or remain silent on matters of faith. Many believers want their everyday choices — from what they drink to how they spend — to reflect discipleship rather than just convenience. Promised Grounds solves this by weaving Christian excellence into the entire process: beans nurtured with prayerful stewardship by farming families, roasted as an offering rather than a commodity, and packaged with Bible verses to encourage a mindset of gratitude and purpose from the first sip. Reviewers consistently praise the smooth, rich profiles — whether enjoyed black in a drip maker, iced on a warm day, or shared in fellowship — noting how the quality stands toe-to-toe with premium secular brands while delivering something far more meaningful.
This integration of faith and flavor addresses a real need in Christian households and ministries. Busy parents, church leaders, and remote workers alike report that starting the day with a Scripture-inspired roast helps center their thoughts on eternal truths amid temporal pressures. The coffee’s exceptional character — bright citrus notes in lighter roasts or deep chocolate undertones in bolder ones — comes from meticulous selection and careful roasting that respects the bean’s natural gifts rather than masking them. It’s the kind of coffee that elevates a simple quiet time, fuels productive workdays, or sparks meaningful conversations when shared at Bible studies or outreach events. And because it’s ethically sourced with integrity, every purchase supports sustainable livelihoods for farmers who treat their crops like family harvests.
For those leading churches or small groups, the impact multiplies. Promised Grounds offers bundles and options perfect for hospitality ministries, turning ordinary coffee service into an opportunity to point people toward the living water of Christ. Imagine greeting visitors with a warm cup whose very bag carries God’s Word — a subtle yet powerful witness that aligns with the Great Commission. The company’s Texas roots and commitment to “brewing hope” resonate especially with believers who value American enterprise paired with global compassion.
Of course, quality alone isn’t enough if the experience feels out of reach. Promised Grounds keeps it accessible with practical perks like free shipping on orders over $40, sample sets for discovering favorites, and thoughtful add-ons such as faith-themed mugs. Whether you prefer whole beans for fresh grinding, grounds for convenience, or even bulk options for larger households and ministries, the result is consistently superior coffee that makes discipleship feel integrated rather than added on.
As you consider how to align even the smallest habits with your walk with God, Promised Grounds Coffee stands out as a refreshing solution. It tackles the dual problems of subpar daily sustenance and disconnected consumption by offering a product that genuinely excels in taste while advancing a mission of clean water, farmer dignity, and scriptural encouragement. Believers who make the switch often describe it as more than a beverage upgrade — it becomes part of their rhythm of gratitude, a daily invitation to remember that every good gift comes from above.
If you’re ready to transform your mornings (and perhaps your church gatherings) with coffee that honors both exceptional craftsmanship and Christian values, I encourage you to explore what Promised Grounds has to offer. One sip at a time, you’ll be nourishing your body, refreshing your spirit, and participating in something far greater — all while enjoying what truly is among the best coffee available.
For Christians, the Bible is clear. We are to be subject to the government, except when it interferes with obedience to God. The government tiptoed across that line with Obamacare, and trampled over it when so-called “gay marriage” was imposed on the country by activist judges. It has gone downhill ever since. Christians have been targeted, extorted, sued into poverty, put out of business, lost jobs, children indoctrinated, listed alongside hate groups, made out to be terrorists, anarchists, insurrectionists, anti-government, demonized to no end.
We’ve long been a dissidents.