In our sin-plagued world, the bent of civil government is to trend towards tyranny. This is especially true of a society that has cast off God’s total claim as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords – a society that has become post-Christian. In such a country, the state picks up the claim to total authority seeking to control more and more of its citizen’s lives. Rod Dreher, in his book Live Not by Lies, illustrates this truth by recounting the struggles Christians faced behind the Iron Curtain. He draws parallels from the Soviet era to our modern … Read More
The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates by Pastor Matthew Trewhella
During this time of Covid lock-downs and restrictions, you may have read stories about or even seen firsthand local leaders such as sheriffs or city leaders ignoring and refusing to enforce those orders. What you may not know is that this course of action is born out of Christian doctrine. More specifically, it is called the “doctrine of the lesser magistrates” or the “doctrine of interposition.” Pastor Matthew Trewhella in his book (now available at the IPS bookstore), The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates, does a tremendous job of clearly explaining the principles of Christian resistance that once were widely known … Read More
The Myth of the Robber Barons by Burt Folsom
Looking for entertainment in a history book? You’ve found it! Watch the political charades unfold as entrepreneurs face off against one another in the industries of steamboats, railroads, iron, steel, and oil. However, not all entrepreneurs were the same… and this is where the myth of the robber barons is exposed. Political vs. Market Entrepreneurs In The Myth of the Robber Barons: A New Look at the Rise of Big Business in America by Burton W. Folsom, Jr., Folsom differentiates entrepreneurs into two categories during the 19th and early 20th centuries: political entrepreneurs (who lobby government for subsidies and monopoly … Read More
The Creature from Jekyll Island by G. Edward Griffin
From the back cover of the book: “Where does money come from? Where does it go? Who makes it? The money magicians’ secrets are unveiled. Here is a close look at their mirrors and smoke machines, the pulleys, cogs, and wheels that create the grand illusion called money. A boring subject? Just wait! You’ll be hooked in 5 minutes. Reads like a detective story – which it really is. But it’s all true. This book is about the most blatant scam of history. It’s all here: the cause of wars, boom-bust cycles, inflation, depression, prosperity. Your world view definitely will … Read More
The 5,000 Year Leap by W. Cleon Skousen
The 5,000 Year Leap: A Miracle that Changed the World Why does our government work? Were the founding fathers the one group of people that got everything right or is the United States just a magnificent fluke? In The 5,000 Year Leap, author, W. Cleon Skousen, argues that there was a model used by the founders that can be replicated and practiced to bring about world changing results. The 5,000 Year Leap is an engaging, very readable 310 pages that details the foundational principles that, although less prevalent today, have been the key to the success of the great American … Read More
Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? by Richard J. Maybury
Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? I am thoroughly convinced that every American—and certainly every American leader—should read Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? by Richard Maybury, part of his series of “Uncle Eric” books. Penny Candy is formatted as a series of letters from economist “Uncle Eric” to his nephew Chris, and the result is a fast-paced, highly engaging book that covers the fundamentals of economic theory. Maybury’s goal in the Uncle Eric book series is to present material on a variety of topics in a way that is understandable and enjoyable to the lay person, without an excess of technical … Read More
Liberty and Tyranny by Mark Levin
Liberty & Tyranny Liberty and Tyranny is a recent bestselling book by radio talk show host Mark Levin. It is an easy, interesting, and entertaining read. As I read Liberty and Tyranny, I couldn’t help but notice that this book was a great case study on the battle over labels and identities in our current political landscape. Most of my readers are well aware that there is a battle over labels in America today. What do we call ourselves? What do we call our opponents? What do our opponents call us? Are we republicans, democrats, conservatives, liberals, libertarians, or progressives? … Read More
The Revolution by Ron Paul
The Revolution: A Manifesto Dr. Ron Paul, Texas congressman and candidate for the Republican nomination in the 2008 presidential race, has been hailed by Judge Andrew Napolitano as “the Thomas Jefferson of our day.” Nicknamed “Dr. No” in Congress due to his willingness to stand alone in opposing legislation that he believes is illegitimate, Ron Paul has demonstrated that he is one of the few politicians left who acts on principle, not on political expediency. His recent book, The Revolution, is proof of his straight-talk belief in sound policies in every aspect of government. Full of common sense and frighteningly … Read More