January 2024 Commercial Vessel Profile

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Looking Way Back, To Reduce Possible Stumbling When Advancing

During the Civil War, the city of Knoxville was considered an important and militarily strategic geographic as well as human-factor point for both the Union and Confederate forces and the river was a key component.  This was no fluke.  Beyond the water benefits, there was embedded in the hearts of each Believer's soul, an edible and actionable principle shortened to NAY. 

Then again in the 20th century we were again called upon to help end several horrific overseas global conflicts and in all cases we were 100% successful.  This again is no fluke.

Way before our state's founding, volunteering was a principle blatantly taught & modeled by Christ and throughout history the elevation of your neighbor's interest to that of your own is way beyond brilliant, it is divine.  For example, thousands of years ago a follower, medical doctor & then a revered Apostle of Christ wrote in his eye-witness account (think court reporter) which was included in the four inspired Biblical Gospels: Luke 10:27 "Jesus taught us: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind' and 'Your neighbor as yourself." " Let's call it NAY for short.

 This is no less true today.

When an individual, a company, a doctor, a local or federal government & a police force premeditatedly & thoughtfully invokes NAY then intentionally treats their neighbor / customer & employees / patient / tax-payer, as themselves then prosperity may be allowed to more freely & non-restrictively thrive (no guarantees), as designed in God's Biblical Economy which is firmly hanked-on in a full & virtuous circle of honesty.  Anything short of that gets us... well it gets us what we have now; an unmoored secular focus on self-interest, ethical compromise and sneaking around to see what you can get away with.  Check the U.S. crime stats and find that this is a great place to run a business, as you may (or may not) understand the timeless Christian formula; neighbor as yourself.

Volunteer = NAY / Neighbor As Yourself

The term Tennessee "volunteers" refers to a "non-fluke" multi-century-reputation of the state's Bible-Belt Christian residents to- in the absence of duress- fully offer themselves for a greater good; sacrificially just as Christ modeled.  In one early example of this "volunteerism," it has been historically passed down that regarding the Battle of Kings Mountain in 1780, so many East Tennesseans volunteered to fight with John Sevier that straws had to be drawn to see who would have to return home.  That is a documented Luke 10:27 example with skin-in-the-game and legacy decedents of those past residents are still prevalent and unwavering in their beliefs.  Beneficially, all of society enjoys the vast fruit-bounty of those individual examples of good trees; then, now and hopefully into our exciting future.

Fast-forward to today and growth here in a "morally strict place" or "conservative Christian area", is clearly abounding due to a strong ethical Bible-Belt neighbor as self priority, that figuratively spills into our waterways which continue to thrive as an important part of both a commercial and recreational "place to be".  This invisible spiritual foundation is reflected in a strong wholesome lifestyle lived out by many locals which remain staunchly undeterred by efforts of blatantly divisive, harmful and selfish cultural change trying to be forced by some and onto others.  That effort is neither Christian or even American.  Proponents of traditional Judeo-Christian ethics including a strong & honest work ethic will feel very much at home... for example on neighbor-up-rafting meetups on our waterways. For their own and their kid's sake, droves of souls are making a beeline to the Bible-Belt.

If only the total of residents and their local leaders would wake-up and fix the strong flow of various pollutants allowed to chemically molest & free flow into our high valued aqua-assets...

Commercial Newcomers Beware: So that you don't become disillusioned, you may not want to- for even a nano-second- misjudge our nice, patient, polite & volunteer-spirit for weakness as we are all well aware of how things may have "been done back home", from where you are now fleeing, post haste-

Just sayin'.

https://www.knoxvilletennessee.com/riverfront.html