In Matthew 23, the Bible speaks of the “most important aspects of the law”, referencing God’s Law. These values, as outlined in the New Testament are “Justice, Mercy and Faith”.
I’m very careful to whom I apply these values so deeply rooted in the correct dispensation of our judicial system, but I’m confident that Dwayne Gue, Division 1 candidate for Cabell County magistrate, will leverage these values as he supports the people in his jurisdiction.
I grew up with Dwayne. We’ve served together in ministry and in business our entire lives. Dwayne is a resident of Cabell County and loves this area. He’s a business owner and has invested in his community his entire life, working tirelessly to see it flourish. By doing so, he has proven his dedication to the residents of Cabell County.
Constitutionally, Dwayne is a fundamentalist, with his faith guiding every step of the way. I believe his desire is to take his service to the community to another level by helping pave the way for personal freedoms and the pursuit of happiness, while not infringing upon the freedoms nor happiness of others.
In talking with Dwayne I know he has an understanding of this role and is prepared to take on the responsibility associated with being a Cabell County magistrate. Dwayne is also not above counsel and will be judiciously inclined to hear all sides of an issue and seek counsel from others as well as the wisdom of God in his determinations.
I trust and believe in Dwayne Gue. His is family by blood and by the Cross. But as always, do your due diligence by reviewing this candidate’s qualifications as you should all others!
Don’t be tempted to vote for ANYONE because “they have more political signs and name recognition than others”!
Pray, engage and vote! I have. That’s why Dwayne has my support.
Blessings and wisdom to all!
If you feel led to do so, please share. Let’s take action to improve our area of influence in society. We need all the help we can get.
Mark Caserta has been writing opinion columns for nearly 25 years and is editor for Free State Patriot
Got your attention? Good.
We nearly had to take out a loan to purchase this chuck roast I’m preparing to put on the oven. I know prices tend to rise, but this is out of control.
We live in a Republic, which means we are supposed to have representatives who represent the will of the people. Many people don’t know what that looks like. Many politicians don’t care – as long as they remain in power.
There are still good people out there who want to do the right thing as our representatives. Find out who they are and vote for them. If you don’t vote, don’t complain about what you permit.
Families are hurting. People are wandering grocery store aisles looking at items on the shelves they can no longer afford. It’s truly heartbreaking if you understand what’s happening in government.
There are those who will swear government isn’t the problem. Well, to a point they’re right. The people who sit on the sidelines and allow progressive liberals to control their lives are the problem!
The government should not control the people. People should control the government. It’s time, no, it’s past time that we re-engage and take back our lives and the futures of our children and grandchildren.
Corrupt politicians believe we are defeated. They believe they’ve beaten us down and taken away our spirit to fight. They want everyone subservient to their governing hypocrisy. They are relentless in their ideology to dominate, not serve their constituents.
Are we beaten? Is this the way we want it? Is this the environment we want for our children?
It starts with a single, persistent voice in the wilderness. It begins with you and me. Being angry isn’t enough. Put some action behind that anger.
For just a few moments, I would like to bring you along with me through some of my most fond memories with my grandfather, David Lee Armstrong. It is my hope that you will get to be where I was, see what I saw, and experience a man who was as strong, as vibrant, as…
— Read on jamescaserta.wordpress.com/2023/12/28/a-tribute-to-a-real-life-man-of-steel/
For just a few moments, I would like to bring you along with me through some of my most fond memories with my grandfather, David Lee Armstrong. It is my hope that you will get to be where I was, see what I saw, and experience a man who was as strong, as vibrant, as…
— Read on jamescaserta.wordpress.com/2023/12/28/a-tribute-to-a-real-life-man-of-steel/
Mark Caserta has been an opinion columnist since 2000 and is editor for FreeStatePatriot.
Since the founding of our nation, Christianity has been the most prevalent religion in the United States. Multiple sources estimate about 63% of the entire U.S. population, or around 210 million people, identify as Christians. Our nation’s Founding Fathers risked their very lives to ensure citizens of the United States were free to live and worship as they pleased without interference from an oppressive government.
Documents like the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, as evidenced in their content, were clearly inspired of God and offered a foundation on which our nation could continue to grow and prosper. Simply put, the Bible was the foundation on which our nation was built.
But what has Christianity become in today’s world?
Around the turn into the 19th century, our nation entered a period of widespread social activism and political reform which appeared to focus on addressing many worthwhile matters such as monopoly, corruption and social imbalance. Over the years, this “progressive movement” evolved into a “dark state” of sorts with an underlying goal of removing the Biblical standards and principles on which our country was built and becoming the enabler for morality to be measured on a sliding scale. The premise was that man should be unrestrained or “gods” within themselves and not bound by a higher authority.
Understand, this progressive movement is exactly as its name suggests! It is a perpetual movement, of sorts, that constantly applies pressure to the standards provided by God’s Word using the oldest trick known to man as employed by Satan in the Garden of Eden.
In Genesis 3:1, the serpent asked Eve, “Did God actually say, “You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?” The intent as to cast doubt on God’s Word and to make God appear strict and restrictive on His creation. Adam and Eve, for all intents and purposes, were as children, today. They were in a formative stage and not grounded in Truth. The enemy used their ignorance at their point of development against them and filled the void with exciting thoughts and ideas that “seem right unto man, but the end thereof is death”. (Proverbs 14:12)
The progressive movement began and continues with our children in the exact same way!
In 1943, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that student in the classroom could not be forced to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in school preemptively removing any instructional guidance on allegiance to our nation’s Flag, the Republic for which it stands, or the belief that we are a nation, under God, indivisible, espousing liberty and justice for all.
In 1963, the same liberal court ruled the reading of the Holy Bible was unconstitutional, essentially leveraging the “Establishment Clause” of the Constitution against the Founding Father’s intent of protecting U.S. citizens from government imposed religion.
In 1973, a landmark decision of the Supreme Court mistakenly ruled, once again, that the Constitution of the United States protected the right of a woman to have an abortion. The decision struck down many abortion laws and created ongoing debate in the United States.
And the progressive movement has never been stronger and more proficient than it is today.
Abe Lincoln was quoted as saying, “The philosophy of the schoolroom one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next”.
And that’s exactly what the progressive movement does! It employs the ideology of creating doubt and debate until the needle of morality moves further to the left. And the foresight of the movement is incredible, thinking and planning decades into the future with a fierce fervency and tenaciousness.
Look around you. Today’s generation is replete with individuals who grew up indoctrinated (by many venues, but primarily by public schools and the liberal media) by thoughts and ideas contrary to God’s Word.
When I was a younger man, foul language was not allowed on television. Now, it is increasingly becoming common place. Nudity and promiscuity were once hidden behind X-rated theater doors, but now are not only on prime time television. The horrors of blood and the darkest of evil intent are no longer hidden in the shadows but are on video games and in theme parks.
Society, through the exposure and desensitization to acts of immorality, violence and poor behavior propagated by the liberal progressive movement, has become devastatingly apathetic to the world around them. Christians, called to keep the Word of God relevant among us, have hidden in the shadows, rarely raising their voice above the fray as Jesus required of His disciples.
So, where are you in your Christian walk? Have you become apathetic to the lost and dying world around you? Are you hiding in the shadows, afraid of being labeled a follower of the Christ? Have you succumb to the ideology that if we don’t condone poor behaviors around us that we must be led by hatred and exclusion?
Have you resolved not to get involved in politics because “your vote doesn’t matter anyway”? Are you comfortable with the violence and acts of immorality that have seemingly become part of our culture? Do you identify as a Christian, yet stand for nothing in the public eye?
Don’t you realize that if even half of the true Christians became engaged and voted God’s principles, we would never lose an election?
Jesus took 12 men and shook the world. They made themselves heard. They believed in the cause, so much so, that most lost their lives defending The Way.
Throughout the Bible, God makes it known He is strongest during our weakness. Folks, we’ve never been in a weaker position than we are now. Progressive liberals are defeating Christians on nearly every front – and we’re allowing it to happen. That’s not what we’re called to do.
What would you attempt to do, in life, if you knew it were impossible to fail? With God, all things are possible. But we are his instruments.
It’s past time for Christians to get informed and engaged and stop progressivism and darkness from destroying our nation.
Mark Caserta has been an Opinion columnist for over 22 years and is Editor for Free State Patriot.
Heading into the 2024 presidential election, this is a republication of a 2023 column.
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“Two years ago, the economy was reeling. I stand here tonight, after we’ve created, with the help of many people in this room, 12 million new jobs — more jobs created in two years than any President has created in four years — because of you all, because of the American people” – President Joe Biden
Stunned. That’s the only word I have to describe my feelings about Joe Biden’s State of the Union address to the nation.
There are two possibilities: Either Biden can’t recall what was actually happening two years ago, or his integrity as president means nothing to him or his staff – potentially both. The only thing “reeling” is Joe Biden’s memory.
Two years ago, gasoline was below $2.00. The employment rate was at its lowest rate since the 1970’s. Our country was energy independent. We had regained respect from nations around the world. The Obamacare individual mandate had been negated. Americans were regaining their pride as a nation. Our country was literally recovering from 8 years of a failed liberal experiment under Barack Obama, the “Liar-in-Chief”, who promised everyone they could keep their healthcare and doctor if they wanted. Politifact declared that to be the Politifact “Lie of the year” – FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!
But liberal Democrats were miserable. President Donald Trump’s tweeting and demeanor was simply not worth the price of a healthy nation. And it certainly wasn’t worth losing all of their power and government control!
On day one of Trump’s presidency, Democrats began putting together a plan to win back the White House – at any cost.
This plan was multi-faceted and supported by every liberal media outlet in the country. It involved a conspiracy to exercise the most massive pre-planned voter fraud ever inflicted upon the American people!
Just look at the number of votes Joe Biden and Kamala Harris supposedly garnered in 2020! Really? According to the Census Bureau, there are approximately 168 million registered voters in the United States. Are we to believe that 81 million of those voters voted for Joe Biden during the 2020 election when our nation was at its peak of prosperity in years$
Presidential ticket
Year
Popular Vote
Obama / Biden
2012
65,915,795
Romney / Ryan
2012
60,933,504
Trump / Pence
2016
62,984,828
Trump / Pence
2020
74,223,975
Biden / Harris
2020
81,283,501
After months of research and contemplating the facts, these are the steps I believe liberal Democrats employed to win the 2020 presidential election.
They moved to remove any proof of U.S. citizenship or identity to vote in the U.S. and encouraged illegal immigration to bolster a predictable voter base.
They inundated the nation with voter “drop boxes” in heavily liberal populated cities.
Democrats employed “dark voters” to encourage and execute multiple illegal votes on every liberal front possible.
Dems bombarded liberal mailboxes with write-in ballots which could be submitted as often as possible.
They leveraged computer hacking technology designed to interrupt, skew and even change votes.
Democrats grew a network of conspirators at the state and federal level strategically planted to be “boots on the ground” to identify Trump voting tendencies and reverse them at every opportunity.
They partnered with a complicit media willing to report information not to inform, but to influence results.
Liberal Dems utilized a “war room” approach to delegitimize anything and everything in Donald Trump’s favor and divert attention away from massive voter fraud.
Finally, liberal Democrats had a plan to insert votes, electronically or physically, as often as needed and where logistically possible right under our noses.
Folks, unless Republicans figure out a way to either diminish the Democrat fraudulent voter conspiracy or devise their own plan to legally match their efforts, the GOP will never win another election.
It doesn’t matter who runs or what they promise. Liberal Democrats simply do not care about you or our nation. They will do or say anything to keep control. And the longer they are in control, the weaker our nation will become.
And the more emboldened other nations will be to attack us on the most obvious fronts.
Perhaps they may even fly a huge information gathering balloon over our country, if they believe we are truly without leadership.
Don’t complain about what you permit. Fix this GOP!
Why do we allow the loudest voices in the crowd to prevail?
Mark Caserta has been an opinion columnist for over 22 years and is editor for Free State Patriot.
January 14, 2023
“Reproductive rights are human rights! Border security is discrimination! Mankind is responsible for climate change! New gun laws will save lives! The U.S. Constitution is antiquated in today’s world!”
“Crucify Him!”
Why do we allow the loudest voice in the crowd to prevail???
Now, it was customary before the Passover feast for the Roman Governor to release to the people any one prisoner they chose. At the time, two of the prisoners they were holding were Jesus of Nazareth and Barabbas.
Jesus was the Christ, son of the living God, He had been arrested under the guise of treason. Jesus had done no wrong, committed no sin. In fact, He drew crowds by the thousands because of His compassion, His ability to heal the sick, restore sight to the blind and raise the dead. The Bible depicts numerous stories of how enormous crowds followed Jesus, the Messiah for whom they had waited for years. He emerged as the prophesied arrival of the Son of Man of whom John the Baptist had foretold and ultimately lost his life defending.
Jesus’ arrival had stirred the hearts of the people and caused them to gather in masses! They believed in Him. They followed Him. He gave them hope.
Barabbas was a notorious criminal, deserving of imprisonment. He has been arrested and imprisoned for being a murderer, an insurrectionist who wanted to overthrow the Roman government. Barabbas was deserving of imprisonment.
But Jesus was a threat to the religious status quo. His popularity threatened the power of few, self-serving, individuals who sought only to exalt themselves above others. He must be stopped. The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd congregating to see the “judicial” reality show, to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death.
“Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” Pilate asked the crowd.
“Barabbas”, the crowd yelled.
“Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Again, they all said, “Crucify Him!”
“Why, what evil has He done?” Pilate asked the people. But the few who had gathered had no legitimate reason for their response. They kept yelling and yelling, “Crucify Him!”
Rather than starting a riot, Pilate took water and metaphorically washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.”
And the mob which had gathered, ignorantly yelled, “His blood shall be on us and our children”.
Barabbas was released and Jesus, the Son of God, was put to death because of a few people who had been purchased by the leaders of the day to be the loudest, most vocal people in the crowd.
I’ve often wondered, where were the thousands of people who supported Jesus during his 3 years of ministry? Surely, once they heard of this travesty of a trial they would rise to Jesus’ defense.
Surely thousands of Jesus’ followers would be heard above the few who had been lawlessly influenced to yell, “Crucify Him” at the trial! Where were these people when Jesus needed them???
Can’t you see how this story is meant for us, today? Look around you! Can’t you see that the voices of only a persistent few are being heard above the righteous – above Christians who follow Jesus!
Surely, these thousands of Jesus’ followers will be heard above the few who have been purchased and compelled to espouse anti-Christian beliefs among society!
Surely, they won’t allow the children to be murdered! Surely, they’ll help uphold the laws of the land! Surely, they’ll stand for Jesus, the one who willingly gave His life so that we can have life more abundantly!
Brothers and sisters, we are as guilty as those who hid in the shadows during Jesus’ crucifixion if we allow the minority of evil voices around us to control the events that unfold.
Our society is rapidly declining at a rate I never thought possible. And I refuse to believe it is the will of the majority of the people! It is a result of the minority, albeit loudest voices among us!
Are you hiding among the shadows? Are you raising your voice in protest of the wrongs surrounding your children?
Would you be one of those who allowed Jesus the Christ to be crucified?Or would you have risen to His defense? What is justice worth to you?
It’s the same scenario! This story is meant for our day!
Willing or unwilling, this blood shall be on us and our children if we stay silent. Just as it was on that sorrowful day, this blood will be on our hands and our children will pay the price.
Mark Caserta has been an opinion columnist for 22 years and is editor for Free State Patriot
January 3, 2023
Have you ever wondered how our nation got so upside-down? Well, it didn’t happen overnight.
And that’s what made it possible.
The most concerning dynamic in this dilemma is we have a nation comprised of a generation (or two) which frankly have never experienced the beauty and success of government of the people, by the people and for the people. They have no frame of reference to understand a viable, flourishing Democracy. And we’ve allowed it to happen.
The only reference they have is what they’ve been exposed to in their lifetime. And sadly, Christian conservatives haven’t been as fervent and determined in the fight. Don’t get mad at me. It’s the truth.
But it’s time we at least begin educating anyone who will listen to the reality that our nation is being destroyed by individuals who are willing to sacrifice our nation’s constitutional core to gain power.
It’s called the progressive movement and is driven by progressive, far left liberals.
In short, progressive liberalism is the perpetual attempt to undermine every pre-conceived notion of right and wrong. Values, principles or morality are predefined standards of behavior and have no place in the progressive vocabulary or playbook.
Liberalism is an ideology (Some say religion) that perverts and confounds every fact and precedent heretofore accepted as the norm. It leverages the process of “desensitization”, or the constant exposure to standards outside the norm in a relentless fashion.
Morality, if even considered, is on a sliding scale, variable to one’s passion and personal belief system.
For example, In the 1970’s one had to visit what was termed an “X-rated” theater to see many of the behaviors or hear some of the language to which we are now exposed on television – in prime time! Constant exposure is integral to the desensitization process. You get “used” to hearing or seeing it and it becomes less offensive in nature and more readily accepted as the norm.
Another example would be abortion. When Roe v. Wade was initially passed in 1973, it was done so with conditions involving the viability of the baby and the health of the mother. Now, abortions are performed with very few limitations, the least of which is the viability of the baby!
It may be simpler now to get an abortion, than it is to get a root canal. The murder of millions a babies every year isn’t even addressed by some politicians anymore.
I’m on a roll, so here’s another example.
Politicians used to hide their socialist tendencies. Now they run campaigns on them! Did you ever think you would see a day when U.S. politicians would openly run on socialist platforms and expect people to buy in? But over the years, the government has forced more and more people into government dependency, hence socialism sprouts from the seeds of addiction to government.
Campaigning on the premise “we will make your wildest dreams come true” has become the liberal Democrat mantra! It’s no longer restricted to Pedro’s campaign promise in Napoleon Dynamite, “If you vote for me, all your wildest dreams will come true.” Democrats have genuinely embraced that platform!
These current quandaries represent only a fraction of the present liberal state and are the result of individuals persistently applying pressure to expose the nation to more and more behaviors previously considered inappropriate.
This liberal attack is also omnidirectional, in nature. The tentacles of progressivism are regularly employed by corrupt politicians and right-wing media outlets who are espoused to the left and pledged to serve and protect this ideology.
Liberalism defiantly asks the question, “Who are you to define the norm?” And any person attempting to define “normal” behavior in society is accused of being racist, a bigot, or homophobe, and is obviously filled with hatred.
It’s the progressive theory of, “morality + conviction + common sense = discrimination”.
Consider a pre-meditated plan for creating a sociological environment where children, as young as elementary age, are exposed to extreme violence, sex, foul language, gender “choices” and anti-capitalistic content in the classroom. What if this methodology was employed years ago at a point in history where it would produce a generation or generations indoctrinated and desensitized to aberrations of these behaviors?
Do you know what we would have? Of course, you do! You’re living in it! Progressives had a plan to create a generation of followers and they’ve executed it perfectly!
Folks, this is progressive liberalism 101! Liberals began infiltrating the classroom and brain-washing your children under your very noses!
Why do you think liberal politicians have been profoundly against private schools and homeschooling? They can’t control the content! They can’t re-write history in their favor. Progressives would never allow a good classical education to stand in the way of progressivism!
Liberalism can only be promoted in a world replete with historical revisions and lies! It’s never worked and never will!
Remember,Progressive liberals and government hate anything or anyone they can’t control. And their agenda involves controlling everything – including you and your family!
Abe Lincoln said, “The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.”
Apparently, liberals were listening, while many of us were not. The fact is, Liberals work harder, are more united and more determined than conservatives.
And we have got to change that!
Haven’t you ever wondered why the Bible and its principles have become so terrifying to liberals? It’s simply because Biblical principles are the antithesis of liberal principles.
Even though our nation was built upon Biblical standards which can be found throughout all of our historical documents, progressives would be stopped dead in their tracks if “people who are called by His (God’s) name will humble themselves, seek Him in prayer and turn from their wicked ways”. The Bible says, “God would forgive our sins and heal our land”.
But this “healing” calls for repentance. Liberal progressives feel that they are gods within themselves and have nothing for which to repent. Hence the prerequisite of eliminating God’s Word in every venue in our nation – especially the schools!
The Bible is God’s law and liberals don’t want law defined for them, by anyone – even God. The Bible isn’t “inclusive” enough to suit their inclusive agenda, which ironically includes everyone except those who disagree!
The Bible offers a narrow gate passable only by the penitent. Liberal progressives don’t want gates, walls, fences, borders or anything that holds them to a behavioral standard. Their job is to question and redefine the standards – all of them!
So, now that you understand liberal progressivism, what are you going to do differently to prevent its advancement in society?
Whatever you do, don’t expect things to change rapidly. We must be as fervent and as patient as liberals were in our gameplan.
Where would you begin and when do you start? I’ll be sharing some answers in upcoming columns.
But imagine this: What would you attempt to do in life if you knew it were impossible to fail? (Read Philippians 4:13)
Mark Caserta is an opinion columnist and editor for Free State Patriot
Judge Alfred E. Ferguson has served Cabell County in the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court for over 47 yearsand is the longest sitting circuit court judge in WV history.
It was a superb day for the first day of doe hunting season! My friends and I had decided to take advantage of this unseasonably warm day in December in a tree stand in the woods of Wayne County, WV.
Now, being a rookie huntsman, I don’t claim to know much about deer hunting, but I do know they have an amazing auditory range. I’m sure the fact I couldn’t stop asking questions of my hunting partner was a contributing factor in us leaving the tree stand empty-handed. But only empty-handed in terms of harvesting a deer! I certainly didn’t leave empty-handed considering the memorable experience of conversing with a legendary defender of truth and justice for over 60 years, Judge Alfred E. Ferguson.
Born and raised in Cabell County, Judge Ferguson graduated from Marshall University in 1959 with a bachelor’s degree in political science, subsequently earning a law degree from West Virginia College of Law in 1962. Prior to being appointed to the bench, Judge Ferguson served 1 year as Assistant Cabell County Prosecuting Attorney and 2 years as Divorce Commissioner. Judge Ferguson was also a lawyer in a private practice for fifteen years.
In 1977, then Governor John D. Rockefeller IV appointed him to the bench in the Sixth Judicial Court from which he has served the people of Cabell County for more than 46 years.
Judge Ferguson has also served his community as a part-time instructor at his alma mater, Marshall University, teaching criminal, juvenile, civil and divorce law for more than 20 years. He is a former member of the Judicial Investigation Commission and was the first presiding judge on the first Juvenile Drug Court established in West Virginia. Additionally, Judge Ferguson has often been appointed to serve on the Supreme Court in place of a justice who was recused from a case.
In a campaign questionnaire, Judge Ferguson described the competencies required for his job. “A fair temperament, along with open-mindedness, courtesy, courage, firmness, compassion, ethics, and plain common sense are the most important traits a judge must have,” Judge said, “It’s essential a judge must be able to communicate with counsel, jurors, witnesses and all parties involved in a proceeding.”
One would think that years of experience in the judicial system would desensitize anyone to a degree, inadvertently, if not subliminally, causing them to become a bit callous in the face of seemingly increasing, often repeated transgressions. But nothing could be further from the truth, with Judge Ferguson.
While adhering to the letter of the law, Judge Ferguson’s goal is to be the catalyst for positive change. He seeks to mentor, if not minister, to those who face judgement in his courtroom. To the degree applicable, he seeks to guide defendants toward making better life choices, despite their past behaviors.
I personally know individuals who, after receiving a fair sentence in Judge Ferguson’s courtroom, were able to transcend their past iniquities and become contributing individuals in society as a result of his circumspect, sensical approach in the courtroom.
I listened to Judge Ferguson as he described how he wanted repeat offenders to understand their purpose in life and that their calling is to be much more than they have chosen to be. They need only make better choices.
Over the years, Judge Ferguson has proven his determination to make decisions within the boundaries of the law while doing everything within his power to serve the best interest of the community AND the individual.
He is, in my humble opinion, a judicial hero.
Many ask Judge Ferguson if he intends to retire at the end of his term, in 2 years. I humbly believe if any member of the judiciary deserved a lifetime appointment, Judge Ferguson does.
I suppose it’s a moot point, considering voters have opted to issue the judge his lifetime appointment at the polls.
Government, by the people, at its finest!
Thank you, Judge Ferguson for your service and the judicial legacy you are still building from behind the bench.
Free State Patriot 