Mere Christianity, LA, and the Danger of Loving “Humanity”

by | Jun 13, 2025 | Founders’ Notes, The Outlaw Files

Mere Christianity, LA, and the Danger of Loving “Humanity”

“If you leave out justice you will find yourself breaking agreements and faking evidence in trials ‘for the sake of humanity,’ and become in the end a cruel and treacherous man.”
— C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Book 3, “The Cardinal Virtues”

We are living through a moment that C.S. Lewis warned about long before most of us were born. His words — written not for politics but for the human heart — now echo through the streets of Los Angeles, through the debate over immigration, and through the growing divide in how Americans understand compassion itself.

At the center of this crisis is one simple question:

Do we love real people — or do we love the idea of “Humanity” so much that we forget the actual humans standing in front of us?

The False Compassion That Always Fails

The modern Left insists it is motivated by compassion. The slogans sound noble:

  • “No human is illegal.”
  • “Sanctuary for all.”
  • “Justice for the oppressed.”

But slogans don’t feed families. They don’t protect neighborhoods. They don’t secure borders. And they don’t uphold the rule of law that keeps real, flesh-and-blood people safe.

When you strip away the bumper stickers, what remains is a pattern of lawlessness justified by abstract love for “Humanity.” It’s not rooted in personal responsibility for actual citizens, legal immigrants, or the families watching their cities decay.

This is what Lewis meant when he warned that loving “Humanity” in the abstract — while ignoring justice — turns men into monsters. In pursuit of utopia, real people suffer.

What Trump Is Trying to Do (Whether You Like Him or Not)

Contrary to what critics shout daily, Trump’s position — and that of many like him — isn’t rooted in hatred. It’s rooted in ordered compassion.

  • Secure borders aren’t cruel — they’re how you create a nation where both citizens and legal immigrants thrive.
  • Deporting those who break the law isn’t heartless — it’s respecting the sacrifices made by legal immigrants who followed the rules.
  • Enforcing laws doesn’t tear families apart — it protects communities from the collapse of law and order that always harms the poorest first.
  • Preserving the rule of law is what keeps the mob from replacing the government.

Justice creates the space where compassion can actually function.

Without it, you’re not left with mercy. You’re left with chaos. And eventually, with tyranny.

History Screams the Warning

What we’re witnessing isn’t new. The human heart has tried this before. And every time, it ends the same way.

🇮🇹 Rome (Late Republic)

  • Rome let its borders weaken and its politics collapse into mob rule.
  • Populist leaders bribed the masses with promises they couldn’t keep.
  • Eventually, order collapsed and dictators like Caesar and Augustus rose — crushing freedom to restore stability.

🇫🇷 The French Revolution

  • The Revolution began with soaring ideals: “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.”
  • But without justice, those ideals produced the Reign of Terror — mass executions in the name of “the people.”
  • It ended with Napoleon’s iron fist.

🇩🇪 Weimar Germany

  • Weak leadership allowed lawlessness, riots, and border failures.
  • Economic and social collapse paved the way for Hitler, who promised “order at any cost.”
  • The world paid dearly.

🇻🇪 Venezuela

  • Populist leaders promised endless compassion for the poor.
  • Lawlessness and corruption destroyed the economy.
  • Today, Venezuelans starve while the government clings to power.

The pattern is always the same:

First, the breakdown of law is tolerated in the name of compassion.
Then comes collapse.
Finally, tyrants emerge to “restore order” — at the cost of liberty.

If Trump (or Any Leader) Does Nothing

If leaders do what the Left demands — ignore borders, legalize lawlessness, tolerate riots — the future is already written.

  • Cities will continue to burn.
  • Lawlessness will spread and harden.
  • Economic and social systems will fracture.
  • Vigilantism will rise to fill the power vacuum.
  • Eventually, Americans will cry out for order — and someone will answer that call. But what they offer may not be freedom.

The Bible saw it long before Lewis did:

“Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”
— Ecclesiastes 8:11

Mercy without justice is not mercy. It’s the seedbed of evil.

The Arguments You’ll Hear — And Why They Fail

1️⃣ â€œYou’re exaggerating. This isn’t Rome or Nazi Germany.”

  • No one said it is — yet.
  • History doesn’t repeat, but it does rhyme.
  • Every failed nation said, “That can’t happen here.” Until it did.

2️⃣ â€œDeportations are cruel. You’re breaking up families.”

  • Enforcing law isn’t cruelty — it’s stability.
  • Real cruelty is incentivizing people to break laws, risk their lives, and then abandoning them when the system collapses.

3️⃣ â€œTrump’s just a racist.”

  • This is an attack on motive, not policy.
  • Every nation has borders. Enforcing them isn’t hate — it’s responsible leadership.

4️⃣ â€œThe system is broken; sometimes you have to break laws to expose injustice.”

  • True civil disobedience accepts consequences for breaking unjust laws.
  • What we see today is not protest — it’s anarchy enabled by cowardly leaders who refuse to enforce any laws at all.

5️⃣ â€œJesus taught us to love and welcome the stranger.”

  • Yes — with wisdom, order, and justice.
  • Even ancient Israel had strict borders and immigration laws.
  • Romans 13 teaches that government exists to enforce law — not erase it.

Lewis’s Warning Has Come to Our Doorstep

Lewis wasn’t writing about immigration. He was writing about human nature. He understood what few today still grasp:

“Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person’s ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.”

Sometimes, the loving thing is the hard thing.

The Simplest Summary

The Left says:
“We must have compassion, even if it destroys justice.”

The Right says (or should say):
“True compassion cannot exist without justice.”

Loving Humanity without justice leads to cruelty.
Loving humans with justice allows mercy to thrive.
Lewis warned us. History confirms it.
And America is standing right on the edge.

— Gentleman Outlaw

💸 Make Your Own Machine Part 3: How to Buy a Stock (Without Screwing It Up)

by | Jun 13, 2025 | FIRE Engine

💸 Make Your Own Machine Part 3: How to Buy a Stock (Without Screwing It Up)

So you’ve got your shiny new brokerage account (hopefully through Robinhood, because hey, free stock).

Now comes the moment of truth:

“How do I actually buy a stock without accidentally spending my rent money?”

Let’s walk through it.

🛒 Step 1: Fund Your Account

Before you buy anything, you need to deposit money into your brokerage account.

In Robinhood, just:

  1. Tap the little person icon in the bottom right
  2. Hit “Transfers”
  3. Link your bank and move money over

💡 Pro Tip: Start small. You’re not trying to YOLO your life savings into penny stocks. Even $25 is enough to get your feet wet.

🔍 Step 2: Search for the Stock

In the app, use the search bar and type in something like:

RUM (that’s Rumble, the company I use for my covered call strategy)

You’ll see the company page pop up with a chart, price, stats — ignore most of that for now. We’re keeping it simple.

🧾 Step 3: Pick Your Order Type

When you tap “Buy,” Robinhood will ask you how you want to buy.

Here’s the difference:

🟢 Market Order (Default)

  • Buys at the current price, instantly
  • Fast, simple
  • Might fill a few cents higher or lower depending on market movement

🔵 Limit Order

  • You choose the max price you’re willing to pay
  • Only buys if the stock hits that price
  • Good if you want more control or if the price is jumping around

For beginners: Use Market Order unless you’re specifically trying to time an entry. It’s fine. You’re not day trading — you’re building.

🛍️ Step 4: Choose How Many Shares

Stocks are sold by the share.

  • If RUM is trading at $7.50 and you want 1 share, that’ll cost you $7.50.
  • Want 10 shares? $75.
  • Robinhood also lets you buy fractional shares, so you could just invest $5 if that’s all you’ve got.

Pick your number. Confirm the trade. Boom — you now own part of a real company.

🔐 Step 5: Chill. You’re an Owner Now.

Congrats. You’re officially an investor.

You don’t need to stare at the app all day. You don’t need to panic when it moves up or down. You’re not here to trade — you’re here to build.

And soon, you’ll learn how to make money from your stock every week by renting it out. Yep. That’s where the FIRE Engine gets fired up.

🧠 Bottom Line

Buying a stock is as simple as transferring money, tapping a few buttons, and not freaking out.

You’re not trying to predict the future. You’re building ownership, one share at a time.

👉 Up Next: [Post 4: What Is a Covered Call? (Plain English Edition)]
Already stacking RUM like I am? See my real-time covered call updates here.

The Audacity of Calling Him God

The Audacity of Calling Him God

by | Jun 12, 2025 | Personal Stories

The Audacity of Calling God “Father”

If I call God “God” I speak truthfully.

If I call God “Lord” I speak submissively.

If I call God “King” I speak servilely.

But if I dare to call God “my Father,” I speak with a brassy audacity, chutzpah, that is shockingly familiar and intimate. So it seems anyway.

You dare to call the Master of the Universe “Father”?

You dare to call the One who controls heaven and hell “Father”?

You call the Omnipotent one “Father”?

Who do you think you are?

It is difficult to imagine a more audacious act than to stand before the Creator of the world and to name him “Daddy.” And mean it. And not only to mean it, but to act and speak as a child acts and speaks before a loving and doting Dad.

It’s shocking. It’s exhilarating.

And it’s beautiful beyond words.

But here’s a secret: it’s not really chutzpah. It’s not some brassy boldness that we work ourselves into, nor it is gained by swallowing a bottle of liquid spiritual courage, as it were.

To call God “Father” is simply to live in the space which Jesus created. To move from residing far from God as his enemy; or on the other side of town from him as a stranger; or down the street as an acquaintance; or in an adjoining house as a servant; and to move into our own bedroom as a child in his family. To wake up in the morning and see our Father sipping a cup of coffee and saying, “Good morning, my child,” as we respond, “Good morning, Father.”

You see, when we live in this house, when we move into the room built by Jesus, we inhabit the home not merely of a Master or Lord or King, but the one who’s given us his name and made us his own, now and forever.

“Our Father”: two of the most amazing words ever uttered.

-Chad Bird

🏦 Make Your Own Machine Part 2: What’s a Brokerage (and How Do I Pick One?)

by | Jun 11, 2025 | FIRE Engine

🏦 Make Your Own Machine Part 2: What’s a Brokerage (and How Do I Pick One?)

Alright, so now you know what a stock is. You’re not buying magic beans — you’re buying a slice of a real business.

But here’s the next question:

“Where do I actually buy stocks? Can I just Venmo Elon Musk or something?”

Not quite. You need a brokerage account â€” and don’t worry, it’s not as intimidating as it sounds.

🧰 What’s a Brokerage?

A brokerage is just a platform that lets you buy and sell stocks.

Think of it like an online vending machine for investing:

  • You put money in
  • You tap what you want (like a share of RUM)
  • Boom — it’s yours

The brokerage handles all the behind-the-scenes stuff with the stock market. You just click buttons.

🤔 Which One Should I Use?

You’ve got options. A few popular names:

  • Robinhood â€“ Super beginner-friendly, no commissions, great mobile app
  • Fidelity â€“ More advanced tools, trusted name, solid customer service
  • Charles Schwab â€“ Also beginner-friendly, more traditional
  • Webull â€“ Great for data nerds, but a little more complex for new users

✅ My Pick: Robinhood

If you’re following my FIRE Engine strategy, I recommend starting with Robinhood for a few reasons:

  • It’s dead simple to use
  • You can sell covered calls directly in the app
  • You get a free stock when you sign up with my link

🎁 https://join.robinhood.com/ryanr886

It’s what I use, and I’ll be walking through screenshots and examples using it throughout this series. So unless you already have a favorite, just start here and keep it easy.

📋 What You’ll Need to Open an Account

You’ll need:

  • Your full name, date of birth, and address
  • Your Social Security Number (required for tax purposes — it’s legit)
  • A U.S. bank account to link for deposits

It usually takes 5–10 minutes to set up, and you can get approved the same day.

🚀 Want to Start Now?

You can sign up here:
🎁 Open your Robinhood account and get a free stock

Once you’re in, you’ll want to connect your bank and deposit something small — even just $20 to get started. Don’t overthink it. Just get your foot in the door.

🧠 Bottom Line

A brokerage is just the tool that lets you buy stocks.
I use Robinhood because it’s easy, free, and works great for covered calls.

In the next post, I’ll show you how to actually buy your first stock (without messing it up or accidentally buying 1,000 shares of Dogecoin).

👉 Up Next: [Post 3: How to Buy a Stock (Without Screwing It Up)]
Want to see this strategy in action? Check out the original FIRE Engine blog.

🔧 Make Your Own Machine: Part 1: What Even Is a Stock?

by | Jun 9, 2025 | FIRE Engine

🔧 Make Your Own Machine: Part 1: What Even Is a Stock?

Let’s start at the very beginning. You’ve heard people say “I bought some stock,” and maybe you nodded like you knew what they meant… but deep down you were thinking:

“Is that like buying a piece of paper? Or betting on something? Or just a grown-up version of Monopoly?”

Here’s the truth:

📈 A Stock Is a Slice of a Real Company

When you buy a stock, you’re literally buying a piece of a real business. Not a lottery ticket. Not a crypto token. A business.

  • Buy one share of Rumble? You own a tiny sliver of the actual Rumble company.
  • They make money? You (kind of) benefit.
  • They go bankrupt? Well… you’re going down with the ship.

It’s ownership, plain and simple.

🥩 Imagine It Like a Steakhouse

Let’s say your buddy owns a steakhouse. He wants to grow, so he offers you the chance to buy a slice of it.

If you do:

  • You now own part of the steakhouse.
  • If business is good, your slice is worth more.
  • If it tanks, your slice gets you some sad leftover sirloin and a paper napkin.

That’s what buying stock is — but instead of a steakhouse, it’s companies like Rumble, Apple, or some sketchy biotech firm promising to cure aging with seaweed (don’t do it).

💡 So Why Do People Buy Stocks?

Because good companies tend to grow over time.

If you buy shares in a strong business:

  • The share price can go up (you make money if you sell higher than you bought).
  • Some companies pay dividends (tiny payouts just for holding the stock).
  • And if you’re like me, you can sell options on your shares to make even more income (we’ll get to that).

🧠 Bottom Line

Buying stock = buying a piece of a business.
Not a gamble. Not a get-rich-quick trick.
You’re investing in something real.

That’s Step 1. In the next post, we’ll talk about how to actually buy a stock You don’t need a fancy suit or a Wall Street advisor. You just need a free app like Robinhood (I’ll even give you a link for a free stock in a sec).

And eventually, I’ll show you how to make money on your stock every single week, even if the price doesn’t move.

Want to add your own personal line here, like “This is the same thing I explained to my buddy last month,” or should I just keep the clean instructional tone moving forward?

👉 Up Next: [Post 2: What’s a Brokerage (and How Do I Pick One)?]
Ready to dip your toes in?
Sign up for Robinhood with my link and we’ll both pick a free stock:
🎁 https://join.robinhood.com/ryanr886

No pressure — but free is free. And I’ll walk you through the setup in the next post.

I’ll walk you through how to set it up in the next post.