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REFLECTIONS
American Patriot Series – Haym Salomon – The Financier Who Helped Buy American Independence
When Washington was unable to pay troops he said, "Send for Haym Salomon" In the closing months of the Revolutionary War, George Washington faced a crisis more dangerous than any British army. His troops were unpaid, hungry, and edging toward mutiny. The Continental Congress had no money. Robert Morris, the Superintendent of Finance, had none either. Washington’s reply was sharp and immediate: “Send for Haym Salomon.” That summons brought forward one of the most consequential
Rex Ballard
3 days ago3 min read
American Patriot Series – Haym Salomon – The Financier Who Helped Buy American Independence
When Washington was unable to pay troops he said, "Send for Haym Salomon" In the closing months of the Revolutionary War, George Washington faced a crisis more dangerous than any British army. His troops were unpaid, hungry, and edging toward mutiny. The Continental Congress had no money. Robert Morris, the Superintendent of Finance, had none either. Washington’s reply was sharp and immediate: “Send for Haym Salomon.” That summons brought forward one of the most consequential
Rex Ballard
3 days ago3 min read
Gospel Moment: “We’re Here to Love You”
A man stood on the edge of Nashville’s Victory Memorial Bridge above the Cumberland River, livestreaming what he intended to be his final moments. Officers arrived. Traffic stopped. The situation was tense and fragile. Lieutenant Mike Hotz, a combat veteran and crisis negotiator, did not rush the man with commands or force. He simply approached and said, “Hey man, my name’s Mike… Can I just holler at you?” What followed was not a high-pressure negotiation. It was a conversati
Rex Ballard
Aug 153 min read
American Patriot - James Armistead Lafayette
The Double Agent Who Helped Win Yorktown In the critical summer of 1781, as the fate of the American Revolution hung in the balance, a quiet, determined man moved freely between enemy lines. He carried no commission, wore no uniform, and risked certain death if discovered. His name was James — later known as James Armistead Lafayette — and the intelligence he delivered helped trap British General Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown and secure American independence. A young James Armi
Rex Ballard
Aug 43 min read
Gospel Moment: The Grip That Will Never Let Go
Sixteen-year-old Ryder Williams was working his first season as a California State Parks lifeguard at Seabright State Beach in Santa Cruz last Saturday. The ocean looked ordinary enough until a sudden set of powerful waves—some reported near ten feet—swept a 10-year-old boy off his feet and farther from shore. Ryder radioed the emergency, dropped his radio and sunglasses at the base of the tower, and ran. He put his fins on his wrist, inflated his buoy, and entered the water.
Rex Ballard
Jul 313 min read
Gospel Moment: Protected for a Purpose
Through God's Providence, a young George Washington miraculously survived the Battle of the Monongahela. In the summer of 1755, a 23-year-old colonial officer named George Washington rode into the deadly chaos of the Battle of the Monongahela. British General Edward Braddock’s forces were ambushed by French and Native American warriors in the dense Pennsylvania wilderness. Officers fell all around him. Two horses were shot out from under Washington. Four bullets tore through
Rex Ballard
Jul 193 min read
Gospel Moment: 250 Years of Liberty Under God - A Reflection on America’s Freedom
Photo Credit: shastaunfiltered.com As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we remember the foundational truth of our founding: true liberty flows from our Creator. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The founders pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred hono
Rex Ballard
Jul 72 min read
Gospel Moment: John's Letter from Seoul
A Korean Brother's Grateful Reminder of America's Gospel Legacy and the Bond of Christian Brotherhood In a time when ingratitude and division often dominate headlines, a simple, heartfelt letter from a husband and father of three in Seoul, South Korea, cuts straight to the heart of what really matters. Shared recently through Dr. Douglas Frank, the letter was read aloud by a man named John. It is not a political statement or a demand. It is a testimony of salvation, sacrifice
Rex Ballard
Jun 264 min read
Gospel Moment: The Hand of God Protects the Unselfish Heart
In the jungles of Vietnam, a Marine leader named Major James Capers faced an impossible moment during a desperate evacuation. His team had been ambushed. He was gravely wounded—shot and struck by shrapnel, with a broken leg—yet he had fought and led his men to the helicopter landing zone. When the overloaded chopper struggled to lift off under enemy fire and with no fuel remaining, Major Capers did something extraordinary: he tried to step off the aircraft. He was willing to
Rex Ballard
Jun 213 min read
Patrick Henry – “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!”
American Patriot Series “Give me liberty, or give me death!” The words thundered through St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia, on March 23, 1775. A fiery young orator named Patrick Henry stood before the Second Virginia Convention, his voice rising like a storm. With clenched fists and blazing eyes, he painted a vivid picture of British chains closing around the colonies. The hall fell silent as he delivered one of the most electrifying speeches in American history — a cal
Rex Ballard
Jun 123 min read
This is Shasta County
"Conservative Republicans especially value property rights, individual freedoms, and the beauty of being left alone. They don’t want government to handle everything." Seth Ketshel
The Homey Sage
Jun 81 min read
Shasta Unfiltered Launches New Video Podcast Series: Stories of Faith, Courage, and Legacy in Action
Imagine arriving in the remote jungles of Gabon in 1977 with little more than faith and determination. Dr. Thompson, a skilled surgeon, and Becky, a trained nurse, faced overwhelming odds from day one. They inherited a basic dispensary at Bongolo Hospital. They transformed it into a full-fledged hospital and surgical center capable of handling complex cases in one of the most challenging environments on Earth.
Rex Ballard
Jun 73 min read
Gospel Moment: Honoring the Ultimate Sacrifice on Memorial Day
This Memorial Day, as we gather around grills, parades, and quiet cemetery visits across the North State and our nation, we pause to remember. We honor the men and women in uniform who paid the highest price—not for conquest, but for the preservation of freedom. They gave their lives so that we might live in a land where we can openly worship our God, speak truth, raise our families, and pursue the liberty that flows from the recognition that all men are created equal, endowe
Rex Ballard
May 253 min read
Gospel Moment: When Forgiveness Feels Impossible
The candidates will come and go. Policies will shift. But the heart of the matter is not ultimately left or right—it is above. Proverbs 21:1 reminds us, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” God is not pacing the heavens worried about November.
Rex Ballard
May 113 min read
Gospel Moment: The Piano Playing in Heaven
A few days back, I was driving along a quiet stretch of highway when the opening piano notes of “Blueberry Hill” drifted from the oldies radio station. That unmistakable voice — warm, rolling, full of joy — filled the car, and suddenly I was transported back to New Orleans in 2006. Memories came flooding in like the waters of Hurricane Katrina itself: I can still remember the devastated streets, the smell of rebuilding, and one unforgettable evening that I will carry with me
Rex Ballard
Apr 293 min read
President Trump Leads Historic Call for National Unity and Reformation Under God from the Oval Office
In one of the most powerful moments of his second term, President Donald J. Trump stood in the Oval Office and recited 2 Chronicles 7:11-22 — delivering a clear and bold call for national repentance, unity, and reformation under God. The President’s reading was part of the landmark “America Reads the Bible” marathon, a week-long national event leading up to America’s 250th anniversary. Nearly 500 leaders from faith, government, business, and entertainment participated.
Rex Ballard
Apr 223 min read
Gospel Moment: Trusting God’s Plans When Life Doesn’t Go Our Way
Have you ever made careful plans—only to watch them crumble? Maybe a job fell through, a relationship ended, or health news arrived that left you reeling. In moments like these, the words of Scripture become an anchor for the soul.
The Lord declares in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Notice that God doesn’t say He might have plans—He knows them.
Elisa Ballard
Apr 142 min read
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