Harold Brooks

@TheWatchersCry @SpeakerJohnson Romans 13, written at a time when they expected Christ to return soon, addresses dealing with the Romans at the time. If you believe all governments are servants for good, you must be appalled at the Speaker's criticism of Biden because the government is a servant for good.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for clearly laying this out. Romans 13 makes it unmistakable: God ordained civil government to be His servant for our good—bearing the sword, punishing evil, and maintaining order. Loving the stranger (Lev. 19:34) is absolutely our personal calling as believers, but it was never a directive for the state to ignore its own laws or leave the nation vulnerable. Borders and nations are not man-made accidents; Scripture shows God Himself setting boundaries (Acts 17:26, Deut. 32:8). Secure borders allow us to be both just and merciful—welcoming the sojourner who comes lawfully while protecting our citizens from cartels, fentanyl, and chaos. This isn’t about lacking compassion; it’s about rightly dividing the Word and fulfilling the distinct roles God assigned. Appreciate you standing firm on this biblical foundation. Praying for wisdom and resolve as you lead.

In the press gaggle following today's vote, I was asked to defend the Biblical case for border security and immigration enforcement. I did so, and then promised to post a longer explanation that I drafted during the Biden Administration. Here it is, and I hope it's helpful: Despite the insistence of the progressive Left, people of all religious faiths should support a strong national border—and Christians CERTAINLY should. Critics are fond of citing particular Bible verses out of context to claim that Christians and Jews are being “unfaithful” if we oppose their radical open borders agenda. It has become increasingly important for us to set this record straight. Perhaps the verse most often cited by the Left is Leviticus 19:34. Whether they know it or not, that passage happens to be from the instructions Moses delivered to the Israelites when they were on their journey through the wilderness in Sinai, before they reached their own Promised Land. The verse reads as follows: “But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.” (KJV) CONTEXT IS CRITICAL It is, of course, a central premise of Judeo-Christian teaching that strangers should be treated with kindness and hospitality. We are each called to love God first and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Deut. 6:5, Lev. 19:18, Matt. 22:36-40, KJV). However, that “Greatest Commandment” was never directed to the government, but to INDIVIDUAL believers. The Bible teaches that God ordained and created four distinct spheres of authority— (1) the individual, (2) the family, (3) the church, and (4) civil government—and each of these spheres is given different responsibilities. For example, while each INDIVIDUAL is accountable for his or her own behavior (e.g., Exodus 20), the FAMILY is commanded to “bring up children in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4) and “provide for their relatives” (1 Tim. 5:8). The CHURCH is commanded to make disciples and equip people for the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:11-13), and the CIVIL GOVERNMENT is established to faithfully uphold and enforce the law so that order can be maintained in this fallen world, crime can be kept at bay, and people can live peacefully (Rom. 13, 1 Tim. 2:1-2). To be properly understood, anytime a command is given in Scripture, one must first determine to WHOM that command is directed. For example, when Jesus taught us as His followers to practice mercy and forgiveness and to “turn the other cheek” (Matt. 5:38-40, KJV), He was not giving that command to the government. To the contrary, when government officials ignore crime, they are directly VIOLATING their responsibilities before God. Indeed, the civil authorities are specifically charged to do justice, to ”bear the sword,” and to serve as “the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil” (Rom. 13:1-4, KJV). As the Bible warns: “When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong.” (Ecc. 8:11, TLB) Read in its context, the passage in Leviticus 19 makes perfect sense. Showing love and kindness to a stranger was not a command given to civil government, but instead to individual believers. That same principle is emphasized in the New Testament. When Jesus spoke of embracing, caring, and providing for “the least of these” (E.g., Matt. 25:31-40), His instruction was given to His disciples, and not the local authorities. The Bible is clear that Christians should practice personal charity—but also insist upon the enforcement of laws (like our federal immigration statutes) so that “every person is subject to the governing authorities” and “those who resist incur judgment” (Rom. 13:1-2). BORDERS ARE BIBLICAL Many on the Left today, and even some at the highest levels of our government, consider themselves “globalists” who envision a utopian world order where there are no borders between countries at all. Their fantasy will simply never be realized, and their basic premise (that man is inherently good and perfectible on his own) is the opposite of the Biblical truth that man is fallen and in need of redemption that is available only through salvation in Jesus Christ. The Bible speaks favorably and consistently about distinct nations of people (see, e.g., Gen. 18:18, Num. 32:17, Psalm 67:2, Matt. 28:19, Rev. 5:9, 7:9, NIV), and about borders and walls that are built to guard and secure people, property, and jurisdictions (see, e.g., Deut. 19:14, 27:17, 32:8, Acts 17:26, NIV). When Nehemiah heroically led the Jewish remnant to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem after their enemies had destroyed those walls, he was doing the noble work of God (Neh. 1-6, NIV). Maintaining a secure border is not an offensive measure, but a wise, defensive one to prevent chaos and safeguard innocent life. As Rev. Franklin Graham once summarized, “Why do you lock your doors at night? Not because you hate the people on the outside, but because you love the people on the inside so much.” THE CURRENT CATASTROPHE Right now, because of 64 deliberate policy choices and executive orders of the Biden Administration, America is facing an unprecedented humanitarian and national security catastrophe at our open southern border. More than 10 million illegal aliens from around the world have entered the U.S. since Joe Biden became President, the majority of whom are single, military-aged men. Among them are countless violent criminals and more than 300 suspects on the terrorist watchlist. Cartels are making billions trafficking young women and unaccompanied minors, and many are suffering unspeakable abuses along the way. The Fentanyl that China and the cartels have pushed into the U.S. has become the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45. As the peril increases and communities across our country become more and more overwhelmed with the crushing financial burdens of managing the influx of illegals, American citizens (and even a few Democratic governors and mayors) are finally demanding a return to sanity. America has always been a haven for people legitimately seeking asylum from danger in their home country, but we must insist they pursue a course of legal immigration and not simply ignore our laws. Of course, the President of the United States must be the first to uphold our laws. Every citizen should insist that President Biden immediately use the eight broad statutory authorities he has right now to secure our borders and stop incentivizing illegal immigration. Among his most important executive authorities is 8 U.S.C. 1182(f), which empowers a President to “suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate” if he “finds that the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States.” AN AUTHENTIC CHRISTIAN RESPONSE Due in large part to our Judeo-Christian foundations and the deep religious heritage we enjoy in this country, America is the most benevolent nation in the world—by far. However, we cannot maintain that strength and generosity if we surrender our own safety and sovereignty. Preserving law and order and securing our borders should not be partisan issues, but matters of common sense. These are certainly responsibilities fully authorized by the Bible—and expected of us by God. Any time liberals attempt to bolster their “open borders” agenda by citing Scripture out of context, they should be kindly corrected with the facts (2 Tim. 2:24-25). Christians are called to love unconditionally, serve selflessly, and defend the defenseless. We are also called to stand for, and work to ensure, just government. Justice and mercy are not mutually exclusive pursuits. To the contrary, God specifically requires His people to practice both (Micah 6:8). Despite the unfounded claims of the Left, supporting a strong national border is a very Christian thing to do. The Bible tells us so.

@SpeakerJohnson What a hypocritical interpretation that doesn't even address the Pope's concerns, which were not about borders or immigration, but the way people are being treated. Justice isn't about punishment, it's about ensuring people are treated well. That is clear throughout the Bible.

@TheSkippersView @JeffPassan Since the rule sets have different consequences for actions, you might be right. Both ejections were textbook from the NCAA rulebook. Could have been ejected quicker.

@JeffPassan Would never happen in MLB....

There are very few combinations of words in the English language that warrant ejecting a coach from an elimination game in the Men's College World Series finals. And yet Coastal Carolina's Kevin Schnall -- and first-base coach Matt Schilling -- just got run in the first inning.

@JimVandeHei There's nothing in the letter about a buyout. Employees can choose by 6 Feb to resign at some point by 30 Sept. They'll still have to work the whole time. In the early 90s, the Canadians offered staff 1.5 yrs of salary as a buyout and you were done working immediately.

🚨🚨🚨Scoop: Trump offering buyouts to all federal workers, source says axios.com/2025/01/28/tru…

At 7 PM Central Time tonight (20 Jan), I'll be joining WeatherBrains to talk about the life and legacy of Chuck Doswell. It'll be live on their YouTube channel. @WeatherBrains" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">youtube.com/@WeatherBrains

@GaddieWindage How does the timing compare to when Athletic Department ended free admission to Fred Jones Art Museum?

I'd like to observe, humbly, that the OU football program has been in steady decline since OU cut back on its commitment to National Merit Scholar recruiting.

@joewertz So you think they're more criminal than other people do?

Alice In Chains is criminally underrated.

@VetBruce @mattgaetz It smoked out Gaetz, so yes.

@GaddieWindage Why don't games against Idle use the overtime rule?

Well, Hail Alma Mater FSU managed to hold on against Idle today. That's something.

@GaddieWindage It took you long enough.

So, if I agree with you, I'm an expert. If you disagree with me, I'm biased. Got it. 🙃

@mifarmgirl @tornatrix The top of my ballot was effectively uncontested.

@tornatrix The only votes that mattered on my ballot were on retaining state Supreme Court judges.

@mattlanza @TxWomenRock Of course it isn't. Rafael stays away from Texas in a crisis.

@TxWomenRock No need to worry about Rafael. It should not be a threat to Houston.

@skyking72 @mass_ave Big difference is that rarely have Democrats held the majority in the House and a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate during that time. Texas Republicans have had all state-wide positions and both houses of the legislature for the whole period.

@mass_ave Apply the same logic to the Presidential election. Democrats have been in charge for 12 of the last 16 years.

Sound familiar Indiana?

Update on OKC precip for November. As of 7 AM on the 4th, Will Rogers has had 4.83 inches of rain this month, 9th most for any November back through 1891. The top 8: 1931 9.63 1899 7.80 1902 7.25 1895 5.79 1994 5.72 2004 5.66 1964 5.46 1909 5.29 #okwx @NWSNorman

@DefiyantlyFree Thanks to the Republican Party since 1980 and concentrating wealth via tax cuts for the richest people.

@GaddieWindage @USC From your lips to God's ears.

@hebrooks87 @USC Imagine if they are stuck with each other until 2032, in a spiral of mediocrity. Too expensive for USC to fire, too mediocre to pay the payout to USC to hire him away.

Last year @USC has $5.12B in revenue and $5.08B in expenses. Eating Lincoln Riley's buyout is a rounding error. projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/org…

@wxjay Not sure if this is what you're asking, but official daily rainfall is midnight-midnight standard time all year.

So, which hour of rain will NOT count tomorrow for Oklahoma City?

@Climatologist49 $2.99 for the box?