Podcast Host, Retired Navy Veteran, and prior Candidate for TN House District 12 (Most of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Pittman Center, Wears Valley and Seymour)
This week we wrap up our discussion with Adam Brandon of the Independent Center (https://www.independentcenter.org). I issue a call to action as well as provide a programming note about the show’s month-long hiatus. Get your tickets for the annual Freedom Fest hosted by Tennessee Constitutional Grassroots Coalition (https://tcgc1776.org) this coming October 4th. Don’t forget to subscribe to the blog at https://libertyleadershipandlies.com
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God made promises to Abraham in Genesis about his lineage, and He gave the Ten Commandments to Moses in Exodus. He made a covenant to David in 2 Samuel, and declared a New Covenant to come in the book of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
All of those stories point to the arrival of Jesus Christ—where all of God’s covenant promises are fulfilled (2 Corinthians 1:20).
These stories remind us of God’s faithfulness (Romans 15:4). We don’t have to look very far to see:
“That the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.” Deuteronomy 7:9
God’s love is faithful; it is constant. It endures through the generations. In a world where love is often conditional and transactional, given and withdrawn based on our actions, God’s love stands apart. It’s not tethered to the ups and downs of our circumstances. It doesn’t waver with our feelings. And it certainly doesn’t hinge on our performance.
God’s love is firmly rooted in His unchanging character.
So even if you’re on the highest mountaintop of success or in the deepest valley of despair—His love remains constant, an ever-present source of strength for those who love Him.
Today, let the words of Deuteronomy 7:9 sink deep into your soul and remember: Our God is not distant or indifferent. He is near, and His love is faithful, enduring through a thousand generations.
One of the most profound Biblical examples of forgiveness is found in a story Jesus told about a king who wanted to settle his debts. One man owed the king a lot of money that he couldn’t repay, but the king had mercy on him and forgave the debt.
Afterward, the forgiven man encountered someone who owed him a small debt. But instead of showing mercy and forgiveness, he sends the man to prison until the debt is repaid. When the king hears about this, he is outraged at the hypocrisy, and has the forgiven man arrested.
If we’re being honest with ourselves, we probably fit into this story somewhere. How often have we chosen not to forgive someone while happily receiving the forgiveness that God offers us?
We’ve all made mistakes. We’ve all rebelled against God. And all wrongdoing is contrary to God’s ways. Some sins have bigger consequences—but every mistake causes us to fall short of God’s perfection.
Forgiveness doesn’t necessarily erase the hurt caused, but it does help us heal and move forward. We will never know someone else’s entire life story. We won’t always understand what experiences impact the decisions someone makes. That’s why empathy matters.
Showing empathy requires placing ourselves in the position of the person who’s offended us, and choosing to understand their burdens. This is what Jesus did when He came to earth, experienced what it was like to be human, and then took our sins on Himself when He died for us. Although we have all wronged Him, He gave up His life to forgive and rescue us.
Scripture isn’t asking us to do something that Jesus hasn’t already done for us. And, Scripture also says that to the extent we forgive, we will be forgiven (Matthew 6:14-15). So if we truly want to experience God’s forgiveness, then we need to extend forgiveness to others—even when we can’t forget what they’ve done.
So is there someone you’re withholding forgiveness from? Ask God to show you who you need to forgive. Then, allow God to shift your perspective and soften your heart toward that person. Let Him give you the strength and empathy you need to forgive.
Just what do those three things have in common you might be asking yourself? Or you might be thinking that Larry has finally lost it. Bear with me and I will explain it. I decided to write this blog post after some back and forth on “X” with a GOP PAC account, in addition to TN State Representative Faison.
Before I get into the meat of this post, I want to remind my followers about what it is that I do professionally at this stage in my life. After retiring from 30 years in the U.S. Navy, I started my own business where I am a leadership, human performance, and safety coach. I work with high risk, high reliability organizations to enhance those three aspects of their workplace cultures. One of the practices that I seek out when coaching these organizations is the prevalence of the normalization of deviance.
So, let’s start the discussion with the normalization of deviance in the workplace. In workplace safety, the concept of ‘normalization of deviance’ is a critical yet often overlooked phenomenon that often leads to catastrophic consequences. The term was coined by sociologist Diane Vaughan in her analysis of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. It refers to the gradual process by which unacceptable practices or standards become acceptable over time. In the context of workplace safety, it describes how small deviations from safety protocols, when repeated without immediate negative consequences, become normalized, eroding safety standards and increasing the risk of accidents.
Breaking it down, just what is ‘normalization of deviance’? Normalization of deviance occurs when individuals or organizations slowly accept risky behaviors or shortcuts as part of their routine operations. Initially, a deviation from a safety protocol, such as skipping a safety check or bypassing a procedure to save time, may seem minor. If no immediate harm results, the behavior is repeated, and over time, it becomes an accepted part of the process. What was once considered unsafe becomes “normal,” even though the underlying risks remain unchanged. For example, imagine a construction site where workers are required to always wear hard hats. If a worker removes their hard hat to cool off and nothing happens, they might do it again. Others may follow suit, and soon, not wearing hard hats in certain situations, becomes an unspoken norm. The absence of immediate consequences reinforces the behavior, but the risk of injury from falling objects persists. Now we must consider the impact. As I wrote earlier, my work is primarily in high risk, high reliability organizations. It is carried over from my career in the Navy, and in particular the Submarine Force where I served on nuclear-power warships alongside the world’s best nuclear power plant operators. Now, normalization of deviance is particularly dangerous in high-risk industries like nuclear power, oil & gas, construction, manufacturing, healthcare, or aviation, where safety protocols are designed to prevent serious injuries or fatalities. Here’s how it undermines workplace safety:
**Erosion of Safety Standards** – Small deviations accumulate, weakening the safety culture. What starts as a one-time shortcut can become standard practice, leaving workers vulnerable to hazards.
**Increased Risk of Accidents** – When deviations are normalized, the safeguards designed to prevent accidents are bypassed. This increases the likelihood of incidents, which may only become apparent when a serious accident occurs.
**Complacency and Reduced Vigilance** – Repeated deviations without consequences foster a false sense of security. Workers and management may underestimate risks, assuming that “nothing has gone wrong before, so it must be fine.”
**Blurring of Accountability** – As unsafe practices become normalized, it becomes harder to hold individuals accountable. The line between acceptable and unacceptable behavior blurs, making it difficult to enforce safety protocols.
The Challenger disaster is a textbook case of normalization of deviance. Engineers repeatedly observed O-ring erosion in previous shuttle launches but, since no catastrophic failures occurred, they accepted it as an acceptable risk. This normalization contributed to the tragic explosion in 1986. In a workplace context, consider a factory where machine guards are occasionally removed to speed up maintenance. If no injuries occur, workers may continue to bypass this safety measure, assuming it’s unnecessary. However, a single misstep could lead to a severe injury, revealing the hidden dangers of this normalized practice.
Now, let’s take the discussion into the second item in the subject, raising children. The concept of ‘normalization of deviance’, as explored in workplace safety, also applies to raising children and maintaining discipline. In this context, it refers to the gradual acceptance of behaviors or practices that deviate from established rules or expectations, which can erode a parent’s disciplinary framework and lead to long-term challenges in child development. Just as in workplace safety, small, seemingly harmless deviations in parenting, when repeated without immediate consequences, can become normalized, undermining authority and healthy boundaries. In parenting, normalization of deviance occurs when parents or caregivers allow minor infractions of rules or expectations to slide, often because addressing them feels unnecessary or inconvenient in the moment. Over time, these deviations become accepted as the new norm, weakening the structure and consistency that children need to thrive. For example, if a child is allowed to ignore a bedtime routine once without consequence, they may push the boundary again. If this becomes a pattern, staying up late may become the default, even though it disrupts the child’s health and behavior.
This process is driven by the absence of immediate negative outcomes, leading parents to underestimate the long-term impact of leniency. Keep that in mind when we discuss politicians in a bit. What starts as a small exception can snowball into a breakdown of discipline, making it harder to enforce rules later. When deviations from rules or expectations are normalized in parenting, it can have significant consequences for a child’s behavior, development, and understanding of boundaries:
**Erosion of Boundaries** – Consistent rules provide children with a sense of security and structure. When deviations are allowed—such as skipping chores or ignoring a curfew—children may perceive rules as optional, leading to defiance or entitlement.
**Undermined Parental Authority** – Allowing small infractions to go unaddressed signals to children that rules are flexible. This can make it harder for parents to enforce discipline when it matters most, as children may challenge authority or negotiate boundaries.
**Behavioral Issues** – Normalized deviations can lead to problematic behaviors over time. For instance, if a child is occasionally allowed to speak disrespectfully without correction, this behavior may become ingrained, leading to conflicts at home or in social settings.
**Inconsistent Expectations** – Children thrive on predictability. When deviations become the norm, they may struggle with understanding consequences or developing self-discipline, as the boundaries keep shifting.
Consider a scenario where a parent sets a rule that screen time is limited to one hour per day. One evening, the parent allows the child an extra 30 minutes to avoid a tantrum. If this happens repeatedly without addressing the rule-breaking, the child may expect extra screen time regularly, and the one-hour limit becomes meaningless. Another example is a parent who asks their child to clean their room but doesn’t follow through when the task is ignored. If the child faces no consequences, they may learn that ignoring requests is acceptable, leading to a pattern of non-compliance in other areas, like homework or helping with household tasks.
Now let’s move on to what is really the main theme of this post and that is the normalization of deviance in voter apathy and holding republican politicians accountable to conservative principles. Bottom Line Up Front – Tennessee State Representative Jeremy Faison believes that the rugged individualism that President Ronald Reagan championed means that he, and others of his ilk currently in the Tennessee General Assembly, can run for office as a Republican yet govern like a Democrat (screenshot of his “X” reply to one of my posts at the bottom of this post). He doesn’t believe that Republicans need to have any loyalty to conservative principles and he considers conservatives, ilk like me, are a small part of Tennessee. The truth is completely different as we will explore.
I’d like to add my own Ronald Reagan quote for the benefit of Representative Faison – “”Government is like a baby: an alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.” Or how P’J. O’Rouke neatly summarized – “”Governments are like diapers. They need to be changed often and for the same reasons.”
The concept of ‘normalization of deviance’, just like in workplace safety and raising children, also applies to the political sphere, particularly in the context of voter apathy and the failure to hold Republican politicians accountable to conservative principles. In this scenario, normalization of deviance describes how Republican voters gradually accept deviations from core conservative values—such as limited government, fiscal responsibility, or traditional social principles—when these deviations occur repeatedly without significant pushback.
Over time, this erodes accountability and allows politicians to drift from the ideals they were elected to uphold, contributing to voter disengagement and apathy. So, what is normalization of deviance in politics? In the political context, normalization of deviance occurs when voters tolerate actions or policies from Republican politicians that stray from conservative principles, often because the deviations seem minor or don’t immediately lead to catastrophic outcomes. For example, a politician might support a bloated spending bill (Bill Lee’s school voucher scam), despite campaigning on fiscal restraint. If voters overlook this because it’s a one-time compromise or because the politician is otherwise popular, the behavior may be repeated. Or maybe the voters were lied to about polling on the question by the politician. Over time, such deviations become accepted as “just how politics works,” weakening the expectation that politicians must adhere to conservative ideals. This process is exacerbated by voter apathy, where disengagement or fatigue leads voters to stop scrutinizing their elected officials. When voters fail to demand accountability, politicians face little pressure to align with conservative principles, and deviations become normalized – resulting in people like Jeremy Faison, William Lamberth, Jack Johnson, Randy McNally, Cameron Sexton and Bill Lee being reelected as “Republicans”.
How Does Normalization of Deviance Affect Voter Accountability? Normalization of deviance in this context has significant consequences for the relationship between Republican politicians and their conservative base:
**Erosion of Conservative Principles** – When deviations from principles like limited government, free-market policies, or traditional values are tolerated, these ideals lose their prominence. We have witnessed that over time, the Tennessee Republican Party has shifted away from its foundational values, leaving voters with candidates who no longer represent their priorities.
**Voter Apathy and Disillusionment** – As deviations become normalized, voters may feel that holding politicians accountable is futile. Especially since local GOP organizations and Political Action Committees continue their support and funding of these “Transpublicans.” This breeds apathy, as supporters disengage from the political process, believing their votes or activism won’t make a difference.
**Weakened Accountability** – When voters overlook deviations—whether due to loyalty to a politician, partisan priorities, or fatigue—politicians face less pressure to adhere to conservative principles. This has led to many election cycles where politicians prioritize personal or party interests over their constituents’ values.
**Polarization and Partisan Loyalty** – Normalization of deviance can deepen partisan divides. Voters may excuse deviations from conservative principles to “support the team” against political opponents, prioritizing party loyalty over ideological consistency, even when their party’s candidate has an ideology similar to their political opponent’s.
Consider a Republican politician who campaigns on reducing government spending but votes for a massive omnibus bill that includes wasteful expenditures. If voters shrug this off as a necessary compromise or because the politician aligns with them on other issues, the behavior may continue. Over time, supporting such bills becomes a norm, and fiscal responsibility—a core conservative principle—takes a backseat. Another example is a politician who softens their stance on a traditional conservative social issue, such as marriage, religious liberty, or pro-life stance, to appeal to a broader electorate. If voters accept this shift without demanding accountability, it signals that deviations from social conservatism are tolerable, potentially reshaping the party’s platform.
In conclusion, normalization of deviance in the context of voter apathy and Republican politics undermines the accountability that ensures politicians uphold conservative principles. That is why we have the least conservative Republican supermajority in the history of the party. When small deviations from ideals like limited government or fiscal responsibility are tolerated, they become normalized, weakening the party’s ideological foundation and fostering voter disillusionment. To counteract this, conservative voters must remain vigilant, actively hold politicians accountable, and reject apathy in favor of engagement. Just as in workplace safety or parenting, maintaining a strong commitment to core principles requires consistent effort and a refusal to accept “small” compromises that erode the bigger picture. By doing so, voters can ensure that Republican politicians represent the values they were elected to champion.
If we’re honest, most of us would rather be served than serve others. We’d rather feel special than ordinary. We’d rather feel important than insignificant.
And though God has made us special, important, and created in His image—His children cannot be above serving, because Jesus was never above serving.
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 NLT
If the King of kings and Lord of lords didn’t come to be served, but to sacrifice His life for the sake and salvation of others, we should pay attention.
Jesus warned against doing impressive things just to be seen, praying extravagant prayers merely to be heard, and taking the highest-ranking positions simply to be known.
Instead, Jesus engaged the outcast, fed the hungry, healed the sick, helped the hurting, stopped for the broken, washed dirty feet, and laid down His life—even though He was innocent—so that even the “worst” of sinners could discover that they are never far from His love.
As you think about what it meant for Jesus to die in your place and erase your mistakes, what does it trigger inside of you? Worship? Gratefulness? Are you compelled to go and tell others? Today, ask God to show you how you can serve others like He has served you.
Psalm 33 is a beautiful chapter of the Bible. The writer’s motivation is clear: praise. Praise God for how powerful He is, how good He is, how righteous He is. Praise Him for His steady plans, His all-knowing faithfulness, His love for His people. Praise God.
Early on in this outpouring of praise, the psalmist says of God, “He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.” (Psalm 33:5) He doesn’t just appreciate, tolerate, or approve of justice and righteousness. He loves them.
If we, like God, love righteousness and justice, that means we cannot also love anything that is unrighteous or unjust. The world is full of dark things that call for our attention and affection. But God, in His steadiness, never stops loving the exact same things: righteousness and justice.
Is the earth full of darkness, evil, and sin? Yes. But don’t forget, this verse reminds us of something else the earth is full of: His unfailing love.
Today, take a moment to read all of Psalm 33. Look for how you can add your praise of God to this psalm of praise. Has God brought justice for you? Has He helped you turn from sin and toward righteousness? How has God been good to you?Let the last three verses put your heart at ease, washing over you and encouraging you today:
“We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.”
Hannah desperately wanted a child, but she wasn’t able to conceive. Year after year, she was mocked, tormented, and left heartbroken because of her infertility.
Have you ever known an unfulfilled longing?
Maybe you have desperately wanted something: a godly marriage, a healthy body, a thriving family, a hard-earned title, a close community, a restored relationship. Maybe you’ve looked around at everyone else’s seemingly full lives and wondered why your arms were empty.
Eventually, after years of waiting, God answered Hannah’s prayer. And because of that, she was filled with wonder and worship, saying:
“No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” 1 Samuel 2:2 NLT
Despite the excruciating years of longing and disappointment, Hannah knew there was no replacement for God. There’s no one else who’s able to create something from nothing. There’s no one else who holds the power of life.
There is no other Rock on which to build our faith.
There’s no one else who sees the worst of us and loves us anyway. There’s no one else who has compassion for our deepest longings. There’s no one else who can be trusted with the most tender part of our dreams. There’s no one else who’s there to guide, teach, and comfort—when it feels like everyone else has left.
There’s no one else who has the power to save.
Because God is holy, He is always good. Most of all, He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Rest assured, there is no one else who’s more worthy of your trust, your respect, and your heart.
On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Tennessee State Representative Fred Atchley (@FredAtchleyTN) took to X with a bold declaration: “Proud to stand with the Second Amendment rights of Tennesseans. Let’s protect our constitutional freedoms and uphold the right to bear arms for law-abiding citizens.” At first glance, this might resonate with those who value gun rights in a state known for its permissive firearms laws. However, a closer look reveals a stark disconnect between Atchley’s rhetoric and his actions—or lack thereof. This post is not just misleading; it’s demonstrably false when held against his record.
The Tennessee Code Contradiction
Atchley’s claim of staunchly defending Second Amendment rights crumbles under scrutiny when we examine Tennessee law. Specifically, Tennessee Code Title 39, Section 39-17-1307 criminalizes carrying a firearm or club with the intent to go armed, a statute that dates back to the 1880s. This law creates a legal gray area, where law-abiding citizens can face misdemeanor charges if their intent is questioned, despite the state’s 2021 permitless carry law. Critics, including myself, have called out this inconsistency in replies to Atchley’s post, asking why he hasn’t moved to repeal or amend this outdated provision. The answer? He hasn’t. Since taking office after his November 2024 victory, Atchley has introduced no legislation to align Tennessee’s laws with the constitutional purity he professes. The 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which mandates that gun laws must align with historical traditions, further exposes this gap—yet Atchley remains silent on the issue.
Silencing Dissent on Social Media
Adding insult to injury, Atchley has reportedly blocked profiles on social media that criticize his inaction. Constituents and activists who question his commitment to the Second Amendment have found themselves muted, a move that stifles open dialogue and accountability. This behavior contradicts the transparency expected of a public servant, especially one representing District 12, which includes Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and other communities reliant on his leadership. Blocking dissenters suggests Atchley is more interested in curating a favorable image than engaging with the tough questions his constituents deserve answered.
Absent from Public Engagement
Perhaps most telling is Atchley’s absence from meaningful public interaction since winning the Republican primary on August 1, 2024. Since that victory over Larry Linton and Christian Brown, and his subsequent general election win against Leslie Braddock, he has not held a single documented public meeting with constituents. His only public appearances appear to be carefully staged photo ops—smiling for cameras at ribbon-cuttings or community events, but offering no substantive dialogue. This pattern raises red flags about his commitment to representing the people who elected him, particularly on an issue as divisive and critical as gun rights.
The Cost of Inaction
Tennessee’s gun death rate, reported at 23.4 per 100,000 by the Giffords Law Center in 2024 (well above the national average of 14.2), underscores the stakes of this debate. Atchley’s failure to address the “intent to go armed” law not only undermines his Second Amendment stance but also leaves unresolved questions about public safety. If he truly stood with Tennesseans, wouldn’t he be leading efforts to clarify and strengthen their rights rather than resting on empty promises?
Conclusion
Representative Fred Atchley’s X post is a veneer of support for the Second Amendment, polished but hollow. His inaction on Tennessee’s contradictory gun laws, his suppression of critical voices, and his avoidance of genuine constituent engagement paint a picture of a politician more concerned with optics than outcomes. Tennesseans deserve better than photo ops and blocked tweets—they deserve a representative who acts on his words. Until Atchley steps up, his proud stance rings false, and his constituents should hold him accountable at every turn.
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments, and let’s keep the conversation going—unless, of course, you get blocked!
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by your circumstances or wondered why you keep fighting the same struggle?
Jesus taught us that life as a Christ-follower will be difficult. Our world is filled with broken people—ourselves included—who do broken things. There will be trials and challenges.
When Adam and Eve decided to pursue something “good” apart from God, their decision allowed evil to enter the world. This means there is a spiritual battle that we cannot see, and it impacts our everyday lives.
When we give our lives to Jesus, we join His team—but this also means we become a target of the devil, our enemy. Every bad thing that happens to us is not necessarily a direct attack from Satan—sometimes it’s just a result of living in a fallen, broken world. But there is a spiritual element to every situation because the devil is always trying to draw the world away from God, and he is looking for people to destroy.
When struggles happen, the devil will try to get you to believe lies about God, your situation, yourself, or other people. He will try to get you to doubt your identity and your God-given authority. But God, who has victory over Satan, is always fighting for you.
Nothing can overcome God, and so when we rely on God—nothing can overcome us.
In every situation, we are more than conquerors because God deeply loves us. This is why we don’t have to be afraid of the spiritual fight—God has already won it. We need to remind ourselves of this truth so that way we can withstand the attacks from Satan when they come.
But attacks will end—because God will win.
So today, fill your mind with truth. Hold fast to your faith and guard your heart. Walk in peace toward everyone, and memorize Scripture so that way you can wield it as a weapon against any spiritual attack that comes your way.
And know that no matter what you face—God is already fighting for you. He is in control, and He will never leave you.
When you belong to God, you have the power to subdue, crush, and overthrow anything the devil throws at you. God’s power makes you more than a conqueror.
Have you ever walked through a desert or been in a desolate area? If you’ve spent much time there, then you know how it feels to begin to grow weary or thirsty in an empty, overwhelming land.
The people of Israel often found themselves in the desert. They found themselves within seasons of desolation and abandonment. Over many years of being in the desert, they became exhausted and tired.
In the midst of one of those seasons, God began to speak promises to them through the prophets. God spoke prophecies about the future. He promised them that He would refresh them and satisfy them in the midst of dry and difficult seasons.
While we may not be Israelites walking through the wilderness, we still follow and walk with the same God who walked with them. And if we’re being honest, our spiritual lives can sometimes feel like walking through a dry desert. Some seasons of life are exhausting and difficult to persevere through.
But in the midst of those seasons, God continues to refresh and satisfy His people. He continues to uphold us when we are tired. He does these things for us because His character never changes. He is the same God who continually refreshes His people.
So if you currently feel tired and exhausted, take a moment today to sit with God in prayer. Tell Him exactly how you feel and what is going on in your life. Ask Him to refresh your soul and satisfy you if you feel weary and weak. Allow Him to refresh you and give you rest, and continue to build a habit of talking with God each and every day.
