Will Rogers quote for today summarized why we need a strong military. Most people can’t explain in in 20 minutes what Rogers expresses in just a few words. Additionally, Rogers’ humor drives the point home.
The debate still rages today over military power. Does cutting back our strength bring peace?
I took this picture at the Will Rogers Ranch in Oolagah, OK. They’ve done a great job restoring the house and furnishing it with period pieces as the picture shows. It’s a wonderful place to visit, right on the lake – very peaceful.
I hope you have enjoyed this quote from Will Rogers and the accompanying image taken from the Will Rogers iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that might enjoy a bit of wisdom from Will Rogers.

“I never met a man I didn’t like.” This was perhaps one of Will Rogers’ most famous quotes. He could call presidents, senators, congressmen and many famous people friends. Rogers was extremely generous in raising money for the Red Cross to aid families in distress from natural disasters. He even traveled to other countries to help bring relief.
Image Info: The image of Rogers is from his 1921 silent film Guile of Women. Rogers plays a Swede named Yal who travels with a friend to America to seek his fortune. After misfortunes in love and business, his girlfriend finally arrives from Sweden.
The image was taken directly from movie stills at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum archive. I apologize for the quality of the image, but this is exactly what the 1920s photo looked like when I scanned it. In the hundreds of images contained in this iPhone application, I wanted to share as many different Will Rogers photos as possible from as wide a variety of times and situations – movies, cowboy, vaudeville, with famous people, and family scenes.
Will Rogers is a man worth remembering, and quoting. His wit, humor and insight into life will amaze and astonish you. His life will inspire you. Watch for new blog posts from my Will Rogers quotes collection.
I hope you have enjoyed this quote from Will Rogers and the accompanying image taken from the Will Rogers iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that might enjoy a bit of wisdom from Will Rogers.

There are so many great opportunities in government employment these days. With the great pay and benefits, who wants to work in the private sector any more. In fact, government employment is so good, why have a private sector at all?
Recently I learned that there were over 80 jobs available in the Federal Government as tanning salon inspectors. What could be more exciting than examining the books and customers at tanning salons across the country?
If you love to read, you can get a job as a regulator in the EPA. The new EPA regulations required for monitoring green house gasses (GHG) requires lengthy reports from small businesses across the fruited plain. Even if a small business doesn’t need to monitor their GHG emissions, they still need to submit a lengthy report explaining why not. Not only do they need an army of report readers, they need an army of new inspectors to visit every business that has a gas powered engine or storage tank of fluid that might belch out dangerous gasses.
If you love animals you could become a member of the elite bovine flatulation research team. Your mission is to put a cork in the emission of deadly gasses into the atmosphere. Applicants must be vegan, and are required to wear protective clothing, hard hat, hearing protection, respirator and face shield.
If you love to dream, then OSHA is the place for you. Dreaming up new ways people can hurt themselves with common everyday items and then writing new business regulations can be exciting. Oil workers are now safer in their white coveralls that must be changed when soiled by a drop of oil. Day care centers now deploy haz-mat teams in the changing areas to better handle toxic waste.
Applying for a government job is easy. Just sign up at your local unemployment offices. The 12 language 200 page application form is designed to prepare you for your new career as a government employee.
Image Info At the time of his death in 1935, Will Rogers was a major box office draw, second only to a very young Shirley Temple. Movies were only one of the reasons for Will Rogers’ popularity. He was a daily syndicated columnist, radio commentator, humorist and political mover and shaker. If you look closely at the images, you will faintly see the words: “The most beloved man of the masses.” Will Rogers was a great man, an inspiring personality, and is worth remembering even today.
The image was taken directly from pictures at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum archive. I apologize for the quality of the image, but this is exactly what the 1920s photo looked like when I scanned it. In the hundreds of images contained in this iPhone application, I wanted to share as many different Will Rogers photos as possible from as wide a variety of times and situations – movies, cowboy, vaudeville, with famous people, and family scenes.
Will Rogers is a man worth remembering, and quoting. His wit, humor and insight into life will amaze and astonish you. His life will inspire you. Watch for new blog posts from my Will Rogers quotes collection.
I hope you have enjoyed this quote from Will Rogers and the accompanying image taken from the Will Rogers iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that might enjoy a bit of wisdom from Will Rogers.

It makes you feel good when someone remembers you. My wife is great about that! She remembers what foods I like and don’t like. She knows the right words to say to encourage me. It’s a great blessing and I try to remember to say “thank you” often.
Spurgeon reminds us that if God remembers the sparrow, can he forget about us. God remembers to care about the big and small things in our lives – even things we don’t know about. The most important thing is that Jesus remembered us when he went to the cross for our salvation.
If God remembers us then he knows about our burdens, and he can sustain us. For all these remembrances we should try to remember to say “thank you” often!
I hope you have been blessed by this quote and the accompanying image taken from the Spurgeon Daily Quotes iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.

Will RogersAccording to this Will Rogers quote, folks were concerned about the honest and fair counting of votes back in 1930. We’ve seen our share of vote fraud and suspicious recounts in recent years. It is well known that dead people regularly vote in Chicago, and in many places when votes are tallied, more votes than voters are found. For some reason, in recounts, more votes seem to mysteriously turn up only for one candidate.
Honest folks are offended to think that there are organizations and people that purposely try to throw an election toward their candidate. It’s as unfair as putting grease on the bathroom doorknob.
There is an unintended effect of voter fraud. It tends to energize the opposition. The tactics only work when an election is close and an energized opposition can overwhelm the unfair efforts.
Most folks believe in fair elections, and even though the fraudsters might win a few, in the end, truth will prevail and triumph.
The image was taken directly from pictures at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum archive. I apologize for the quality of the image, but this is exactly what the 1920s photo looked like when I scanned it. In the hundreds of images contained in this iPhone application, I wanted to share as many different Will Rogers photos as possible from as wide a variety of times and situations – movies, cowboy, vaudeville, with famous people, and family scenes.
Will Rogers is a man worth remembering, and quoting. His wit, humor and insight into life will amaze and astonish you. His life will inspire you. Watch for new blog posts from my Will Rogers quotes collection.
I hope you have enjoyed this quote from Will Rogers and the accompanying image taken from the Will Rogers iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that might enjoy a bit of wisdom from Will Rogers.
Will Rogers
I’m always interested in contests where we are asked to guess the number of jelly beans in a jar. I might make an attempt to count some of them through the glass, but soon give up in frustration. Usually I make a wild guess, which turns out to be nowhere the real number.
I’ve never seen a contest where the challenge was to guess the number of grains of sand in a jar. Somebody has to actually count all the grains, and even a small jar of sand has a huge number of individual grains.
As we read the scripture and listen to God’s word preached we can begin to understand some of God’s precious thoughts toward us.
There’s a lot of sand in this world, and even trying to number the grains of sand in this image is an impossible task, for the number is too great for us to comprehend.
Consider our infinite God who would bend his thoughts toward us in infinite detail. Our only response can be worship and praise!
I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 139 and the accompanying image taken from the Psalm Daily Quotes NASB iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.

There are so many things that cause us to be proud, even as Christians – possessions, accomplishments, position in the company, abilities, etc. This recession has been difficult for me. When I’m out of work and can’t find enough money to pay the bills, I get upset at God. I know I could make a good wage if only someone would hire me. In fact, I deserve to be hired!
On the other hand, when I’m doing well, my tendency is to think that it’s all because of my own efforts and abilities. In fact, I deserve to do even better!
Humility before God and man is the better way. If I can acknowledge that all that I have, and all that I am are gifts from God, it will be easier to trust Him for my needs. If I can humble myself and acknowledge that I need God to save me from my sins, He will hear me.
Recently I’ve been reading the first six chapters of the book of Daniel in the Bible. Read the chapters if you will, and consider the deep humility and faith of Daniel. God reveals the king’s dream to Daniel in chapter 2 and Daniel could have taken credit for it before the king, but instead he says “there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.” As a result the king responds to the interpretation by praising God, saying: “Truly, your God is God of gods, and Lord of kings…”
On the other hand, in chapter 4, we find that the king is humiliated for seven years because he didn’t give credit to God. When the king’s mind was restored he lifted his eyes toward heaven and “blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever.”
Dear Lord, Help me to acknowledge my need for you in everything I do. I humbly ask you for salvation through Jesus Chirst, who humbled himself for me on the cross and died for my sins. Amen.
I hope you have been blessed by this quote and the accompanying image taken from the Spurgeon Daily Quotes iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.

I saw an interesting quote the other day:
Nietzsche is dead. – God
Of course Nietzsche is the 19th century philosopher who famously proclaimed that “God is dead.” His life was a sad life, and those who embraced his philosophy left hope behind. Those who lose hope will be “overwhelmed by dread,” as the Psalmist says.
If I ever saw an arrogant look, it is Mr. Seal in the picture! Nose in the air, looking down on everyone else as less than himself. He believes his ideas are superior, but in fact, he is a fool.
Sometimes I am a fool, when I become proud and feel superior to others around me. As the song says: “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love.” A former pastor would remind me: “But for the grace of God, go I.”
It is God’s grace that saves us from corruption. Grace leaves no room for pride, because it is God’s work, not mine.
Dear Lord, If I have said in my heart: “There is no God,” help me to lay aside these foolish thoughts and turn to you with my whole heart. I need your saving grace, and I need Christ as my Savior. Amen.
If you were blessed by Psalm 14 and the image of Mr. Seal, look below for an extra treat. The Sons of Korah have put Psalm 14 to music. Listen to the sample and get your own copy at the iTunes store.
I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 14 and the accompanying image taken from the Psalm Daily Quotes NIV iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.

EXTRA!
The Sons of Korah have put Psalm 14 to music. Listen to a sample below and purchase your own copy at the iTunes store by clicking on the button.
All my information about quicksand comes from watching old western movies years ago, but if I remember, the more you struggle to get out, the faster you will sink.
Imagine the patience and fortitude it would take to remain completely still while waiting for a friend to fetch a rope or tree limb to pull you to safety. Any struggle whatsoever would send you deeper into the sand.
There is one thing you can do, however. You can call out to your friend and tell him your troubles. You can tell him your fears and urge him to quickly bring relief.
Suddenly, you feel the rope in your hand, and the steady pull to safety. The only feeling better than that is the placing of your feet back on solid ground. Next is the gasp of relief and a shout of thanks to your friend!
How many times have I struggled through a situation, and emerged bruised and battered. I might even say: “Boy that was a lucky break!”
But wait. Have I been patient? Have I cried out to the Lord for rescue? Have I praised him with a song of praise? Have I encouraged others to put their trust in the Lord as Psalm 40 admonishes us?
Dear Lord, I’ve failed to be patient and pray for help so many times. In your mercy, teach me to trust you more, that you might be glorified. Put a new song in my mouth, that I might sing your praises. Amen.
I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 40 and the accompanying image taken from the Psalm Daily Quotes ESV iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.


I remember a politician who famously proclaimed: “I feel your pain.” Where are the champions of the “little guy” now. Does anybody feel our pain? Oh, I forgot! The administration told us a while back that this higher level of pain and unemployment rate is the “new normal.”
And now that gas and food prices are going through the roof, these “statesman,” according to Will Rogers, want to raise our taxes to pay for the huge deficit they created in the first place.
“Long-sighted” politicians claim that they want to raise taxes only on the rich as if that’s going to help the rest of us. It’s like the government raising the rich man’s feed price, forcing him to sell his cattle and lay off his workers to pay the increased cost. The rich man looses business, and the “little guys” loose their jobs.
Talk of raising taxes in the midst of a recession has got to be the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard of. Common sense would tell you that, but common sense and this administration go together like rednecks and bathwater.
If the administration really did feel our pain, they would understand that we are over taxed, over regulated, over burdened and over governed. Next election, perhaps these “long-sighted” statesmen will feel some pain of their own.
Image Information: This is an image of Will Rogers on the fateful August, 1935 Alaska trip. Within just a few days he would die in a plane crash with famous aviator Wiley Post at Point Barrow, Alaska. The entire nation would mourn his loss.
The image was taken directly from pictures at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum archive. I apologize for the quality of the image, but this is exactly what the 1920s photo looked like when I scanned it. In the hundreds of images contained in this iPhone application, I wanted to share as many different Will Rogers photos as possible from as wide a variety of times and situations – movies, cowboy, vaudeville, with famous people, and family scenes.
Will Rogers is a man worth remembering, and quoting. His wit, humor and insight into life will amaze and astonish you. His life will inspire you. Watch for new blog posts from my Will Rogers quotes collection.
I hope you have enjoyed this quote from Will Rogers and the accompanying image taken from the Will Rogers iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that might enjoy a bit of wisdom from Will Rogers.

Have you ever listened to a political speech and wondered what in the world was that guy talking about? Perhaps you fell asleep during a speech and woke up to find out you didn’t miss anything.
Will Rogers had heard his share of political speeches. He regularly attended the conventions of both parties and reported the results to his readers with his characteristic humor.
Image Information. Will was a skilled horseman and he loved to ride. When he first started his own stage act, a live horse was part of the act as he demonstrated his skill with the lasso. He even had a polo field built at his California ranch.
The equestrian statue at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum is a fitting tribute to Will, since horses were such an important part of his life. I took this picture at sunset, and you can see some of the glow in the clouds as they passed over this magnificent statue. It is the focal point of the beautiful walkway and gardens at the museum.
I hope you have enjoyed this quote from Will Rogers and the accompanying image taken from the Will Rogers iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that might enjoy a bit of wisdom from Will Rogers.

Dear Friends,
There have been quite a number of posts from Systems of Merritt, Inc. over the past few months, and unlike many posts in the blogosphere, these have more of a timeless quality. Please feel free to browse back through the older posts, and share them with your friends and family. With the variety of topics, there is sure to be something that will bring a smile to someones face, or be an encouragement in a time of need.
Will RogersThe diplomats sure have been busy lately. From Will Rogers’ quote, I can only assume that if diplomats are busy there are two possibilities.
First is the possibility of war, revolution or some other sort of geopolitical instability. I remember that prior to the Second Gulf War, the entire UN got into the act along with our Congress. More diplomats came out of the woodwork, that termites in floor joists.
Second is the staging of global disarmament treaties and peace conferences. In this case, the work of diplomats is great for humor purposes, as we have seen in numerous Will Rogers’ quotes in this blog.
It seems that this administration and its foreign policy are completely devoid of common sense. They seem to view weakness, excuses, photo ops, bowing to foreign leaders, and soaring rhetoric as the tools of peaceful relations. Giving away all our bargaining chips doesn’t make the diplomat’s job any easier.
How about “Peace through Strength” as a guiding principle? That would give diplomats something to work with, and perhaps bring a little common sense and stability back to this crazy world. One can only hope, and vote!
Image Information: This picture is a still from Will Rogers movie “The Ropin’ Fool.” Will is getting read to do some lasso tricks.
The image was taken directly from movie stills at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum archive. I apologize for the quality of the image, but this is exactly what the 1920s photo looked like when I scanned it. In the hundreds of images contained in this iPhone application, I wanted to share as many different Will Rogers photos as possible from as wide a variety of times and situations – movies, cowboy, vaudeville, with famous people, and family scenes.
Will Rogers is a man worth remembering, and quoting. His wit, humor and insight into life will amaze and astonish you. His life will inspire you. Watch for new blog posts from my Will Rogers quotes collection.
I hope you have enjoyed this quote from Will Rogers and the accompanying image taken from the Will Rogers iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that might enjoy a bit of wisdom from Will Rogers.
Will Rogers
Gentle Reader,
I have a special treat for you today. Below is an article from the Will Rogers Memorial Museum website about Will Rogers and his passion for Christmas.
Here is the original link for the article: Will Rogers Christmas. Enjoy!
Will Never Outgrew Passion for Christmas

CLAREMORE — Will Rogers never outgrew the child’s passion for the Christmas holiday. Traveling the world as an actor or cowboy or at home in California with his children, the season took on a special sense, one of joy and sharing with family and friends.
It’s been 80 years, but one Christmas remains vivid for Coke Meyer of Bartlesville, Will’s great-niece. One of Coke’s earliest memories of Christmas was made special by her Uncle Will. She was six and living with her ailing grandmother Maude Rogers Lane in Chelsea.
“I’ll never forget he sent electric lights from New York … No one in Chelsea had ever even heard of lights on trees, except candles and then with care,” she said.
Her father, Chelsea pharmacist Cap Lane, and Monday, a preacher for a black church and the man “who helped Granny in her dairy,” decorated a tree at the end of the lane at the gracious Lane home on Chelsea’s east side.
Coke remembers spending two days moving the mechanical hospital bed Will had sent for Mrs. Lane, relocating her to the “tower room” where she could see the tree. The grandchildren helped fill sacks with and an orange and candy to be distributed to those who stood beneath the window and sang Christmas carols. Mrs. Lane died five months later.
While Will never came home for the holiday after she was born, Coke and her cousin Tim Milam remember his generous Christmas checks. Checks were made personally to the older ones. “He could never remember the last name of cousin Lasca, so he just wrote Lasca on a check and sent it to Dad, who would forward it,” Coke reminisced.
“We always took our money and bought a new pair of shoes, then pooled the rest for a summer vacation.”
Like many men, Will was a last minute shopper. In a book written by his wife, Betty, she tells how he did his own shopping, “usually the day before Christmas.” Remembering everyone who worked for or with him, he would come home with “mountains of toys and clothing” and spend Christmas Eve wrapping gifts.
Often on Christmas Day, the family would retreat to a little log cabin on their property, where they could spend the day in seclusion. The children took turns at being Santa. Once when it was Mary’s turn, she fixed her pony with Christmas trappings, packed a sack and rode the pony into the house.
Only once after his marriage was Will away from home. He sent gifts home in 1931, then spent a lonely Christmas in Shanghai.
His first Christmas gift to Betty was a “little lace handkerchief” sent the winter after he had taken her to Chelsea to meet his family. He was away from home, but sent her the gift he had carried with him since purchasing it in Africa years before while buying lace and needlework for his sisters.
He had been saving it for a special time. The old Indian lady he bought the lace from gave him the handkerchief and asked if he was married. When he said no, she told him to give it to his wife when he married.
He carried it with him through Africa, through Australia, and then home, always intending to do as the old woman said. That year, just a few years before he and Betty were married in 1908, he decided it was for her.
I hope you have enjoyed this article from the Will Rogers Memorial Museum website. Please visit the Systems of Merritt blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that might enjoy a bit of wisdom from Will Rogers.
Will Rogers