First Principles: My Life Has Been Devoted To Arms, Yet I Look Upon War At All Times, and Under All Circumstances, As A National Calamity To Be Avoided If Compatible With National Honor

“My life has been devoted to arms, yet I look upon war at all times, and under all circumstances, as a national calamity to be avoided if compatible with national honor.” – Zachary Taylor

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Since the Garden

Since the Garden
by Michael Doyle

In the beginning, the serpent in the garden
Arrive to induce sin without pardon.
The fruit of one tree was clearly seen
But was forbidden to every human being.

The Devil came as man's defiant adversary,
While God speaks truth, Lucifer is contrary.
Setting up mesmerizing traps and snares
To trap man, however much, it feels unfair.

Man was created with full free will.
It's from this that our decisions are kept real.
The bright light of God creates shadow.
It's a matter of our choice, as we know.

Our eyes are open, but we do not see,
Walking on our decisions based on curiosity.
It comes down to the issue of moral authority,
And the evil gained costs human dignity.

Everywhere we look, we find brokenness.
I say this without fear of outspokenness.
The evil that we find, comes as a matter of our choice.
In the absence of God, we find darkness in our voice.

Blame or credit, the fallen one leads the way.
But in the evil, it is we who have the final say.
The pillars of God only shine so far,
If we refuse to follow Bethlehem's star.

Satan sows the subtle seeds of indecision,
And the Devil comes at us with exacting precision.
Instead of trusting in God's trustworthiness,
We choose to do things that lead to our mess.

On the Cross, Jesus dealt with mankind's sin
Putting Lucifer in his place again and again.
Keeping the Biblical ball in its play,
Crucially, we study every word along our way.

The more familiar we are with God's ways,
The better we'll live out our living days.
Keeping in time with God's wise Word,
We'll be more ready when evil has occurred.

The world around us is fractured and broken.
The person in our mirror is simply one token.
We need to steward the truth with humility,
And to treat those around u with love and digniity.

(c) January 18, 2026 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved
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Thought For the Day: The Devil Divides the World Between Atheism and Superstition

“The devil divides the world between atheism and superstition.” – George Herbert

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First Principles: Be Sober-Minded; Be Watchful. Your Adversary the Devil Prowls Around Like A Roaring Lion, Seeking Someone To Devour

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

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An American Paradox

An American Paradox
by Michael Doyle

It's always been so much the American way
That we do as we do not as we often say.
An example is found in our national bird,
Until recently, we revered it only in words.

While we drove to the edge of extinction,
We played up Bald Eagle's image with distinction.
While our bird's fate was almost a done deal,
We made it the central figure of our Great Seal.

Majestic and efficient in their agility,
The eagle rules the air with its great ability.
Its powerful wings catch the air with might,
Gliding with minimal effort as if just right.

Our society nearly destroyed its nesting sites,
Even as we admired its survivors in its flight.
We encroached on the areas of their nesting needs
Until we became wise enough to leave these freed.

Still, we would talk about how the eagle would soar,
At the same time, their losses we would ignore.
In one instance, we praised their splendid majesty,
In the other, we would not give them any sanctuary.

Between DDT and the unwashed sea of humanity,
It seemed we would not allow them to live in dignity.
Until at last our wisdom's circle was chased around.
Nearly at total loss, common sense was found.

Clinging today from a lofty perch with a focused gaze
The Bald Eagle lives a hundred years' worth of days.
Blissfully, it seems unaware of our grave paradox.
America finally learns to live as it simply talks.

Soaring above in the wide and windy open skies,
Our bald eagle remains the symbol of us as it flies.
With a wingspan of up to nearly seven feet,
Long may the bald eagle symbolize freedom without defeat.

(c) January 17, 2026 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved
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Thought For the Day: A Time Is Coming When Men Will Go Mad, and When They See Someone Who Is Not Mad, They Will Attack Him, saying,”You Are Mad; Your Are Not Like Us.”

“A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him, saying, ‘You are mad; you are not like us.'” – Anthony the Great

Quite the sage, he was able to see the coming of The Woke from way back in his days…. 😉

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First Principles: Common Sense Without Education Is Better Than Education Without Common Sense

“Common sense without education, is better than education without common sense.” – Benjamin Franklin

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Darkness Fallen

Darkness Fallen
by Michael Doyle

Stretching my day past midnight,
I'm grasping toward the morning light.
There's just one more thing to do,
Planting dreams to know what can be true.

Living my freedom in the moment's truth,
I think back on the days of my youth.
Outside the window, the stars burn bright above,
And I find myself thinking about love.

It seems the morning comes around too soon.
I stop and pause, taking in the moon.
Half the universe's truth is still just a lie.
Darkness has fallen with the angels in the sky.

The ticking sound of my neighbor's clock
Tells me the wall is too thin to rock.
But I can whisper a melody across my strings,
And hear what is that my muse brings.

Outside my window, I watch silent stars collide,
And so it is with my earthly stride.
There is so much that I've taken in,
And so much that I'd love to see again.

It seems the morning comes around too soon.
I stop and pause, taking in the moon.
Half the universe's truth is still just a lie.
Darkness has fallen with the angels in the sky.

Ivory towers were built to fall.
It's in the ancient wisdom that we recall.
We find comfort in knowing God's love,
And hope to arrive at death in Heaven above.

Where do broken souls like mine go?
That's a thing I truly need to know.
If you ask, I'll pretend that it's not sorrow
That keeps me awake into each new tomorrow.

It seems the morning comes around too soon.
I stop and pause, taking in the moon.
Half the universe's truth is still just a lie.
Darkness has fallen with the angels in the sky.

(c) January 16, 2026 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved
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Thought For the Day: If Somehow, I Can, Before I Leave This Earth, Combine My Absolutely Mad Freedom and Excitement With Truth, Then I Will Have Done Something

“If somehow I can, before I leave this earth, combine my absolutely mad freedom and excitement with truth, then I will have done something.” – Robert Wyeth

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First Principles: In A Time of Peace There Can, At All Events, Be No Justification For the Creation of A Permanent Debt By the Federal Government

“In time of peace there can, at all events, be no justification for the creation of a permanent debt by the Federal Government. Its limited range of constitutional duties may certainly under such circumstances be performed without such a resort. – Martin Van Buren

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