http://specials.msn.com/A-List/Lifestyle/Obama-nominates-openly-gay-lawyer-as-U.S.-Judge.aspx?cp-documentid=27452582
I clicked on the link above from my internet home page...the title of the link 'Fed Judge Nominee Openly Gay'. According the story, Obama has nominated an openly gay judge to the sit on the federal bench of the United States. Let me state this before I go on in order to get a good foundation...if you believe the Bible to be true, then you know that God is clear about the sin of homosexuality. Once we've established that foundational truth, then we move to the next part...
It is a fact that Obama has appointed more homosexuals to key positions than any other previous administration. (Click Here for more information regarding that statement.)
It makes me sick at my stomach to think we have a professing Christian as President, whose actions continue to go against what the Bible says. (Before you get mad about that comment, you have to look at the facts...) I do take issue with these homosexual appointees...especially from the judge role. We have already seen what homosexual activist judges can do...think back to the Proposition 8 issue in California...a gay judge overturned the people's vote in California and allowed homosexual marriage, although the citizens of California voted against it. If you are homosexual, then you will let that factor play into your decision making when ruling on cases regarding homosexuality...and let's face it, there is going to be more and more issues regarding this in the future. Heck, Obama alone has furthered this agenda in more ways than one...
Don't ask Don't tell (although the commanders of the different military divisions asked him not to overturn this), the Department of Education leader Kevin Jennings (who if you will remember, helped found GLSEN...Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network.
Whether you agree or disagree with Obama's economic policies, military policies, etc...his social and cultural policies are wrong (that's according to God's word, not my own). As I have stated before, elections have consequences...these decisions are all on Obama, and he needs to be held responsible for them. Obama and his appointees are homosexual activist...and honestly, I am tired of it.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
New energy???
I didn't watch Obama's State of the Union speech...and to be fair, I have never really watched those things. Why...they are simply words. Let's face it...actions speak louder than words. From parts that I have heard, Obama once again mentioned how oil is bad and how clean energy, like windmills and solar energy are good. He also keeps referring to these as new energy...but there is nothing new about them. In fact, the first patent on a solar panel was in 1888. Windmills were patented in the 1800's also. Do you consider anything that has been around over 100 hundred years new?
We, Americans, use massive amounts of energy...therefore we have to get it in bulk, and get it cheap. Think about this...over the last 100 years or more...solar panels and windmills have never made mass amounts of energy to divert our dependence on oil. This just seems so idealistic. Here's the other thing...if these "new" energy types were so efficient and productive, there wouldn't be a need for the government to subsidize them. If it were that good of a deal, the private sector would take the idea and run with it for business. So, my advice...sift through what's going on. What's the goal of our current administration when it comes to energy? Sounds fishy...
We, Americans, use massive amounts of energy...therefore we have to get it in bulk, and get it cheap. Think about this...over the last 100 years or more...solar panels and windmills have never made mass amounts of energy to divert our dependence on oil. This just seems so idealistic. Here's the other thing...if these "new" energy types were so efficient and productive, there wouldn't be a need for the government to subsidize them. If it were that good of a deal, the private sector would take the idea and run with it for business. So, my advice...sift through what's going on. What's the goal of our current administration when it comes to energy? Sounds fishy...
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
At the root of it...
I challenge you...think deeper, think through the layers upon layers. What am I talking about? Although the government is a HUGE part of our economic situation, let's think further through the process...and think of WHY government over the years has felt like it has had to play a god-like roll and come to the rescue. My goal here, to show you how our religious beliefs, self-control, sin, economy, and government are all intertwined. Let's start with what you see on the surface: medicaid, welfare, WIC, SNAP (food stamps), etc...are there legitimate people on these programs, yes. Are there people working, struggling, and need help in order to make it...yes. Although there are in tact families using these programs, there are a lot of broken families relying on these entitlement programs. A lot of those who rely on these programs are single mothers, along with their children. I see it all of the time with my job...but here's the deal. Where's the male figure in these households?
In a recent conversation, I was told how years ago there was shame associated with pregnancy out of wed-lock. Back then the pregnant females either married the male responsible for getting them pregnant or they were sent off to have the baby and give it up for adoption. Although shame can be hard and difficult, it often held people accountable. Fast-forward to today...having children out of wed-lock has become the norm, and doesn't have the stigma like it used to. Instead of having a male figure (which should be the husband) provide and work for the family, he isn't in the picture anymore. So who provides for these women and children...the government. The government is doing the man's job. Here's my point...sex outside of marriage is sin. God calls us to have self-control...in fact, it is one of the fruits of the spirit the Bible mentions in Galatians. Basically in summary...people have sex outside of marriage (which means there isn't the commitment to each other, let alone a family), the girl gets pregnant as a result of having sex, the girl has to raise the child alone and needs support, so who does she turn to...the government, whose money comes from taxpayers who have to have jobs in order to have income...to pay taxes with. The Bible is clear on sex outside of marriage...although children are blessings, there are still consequences of going against the will of God. Our economy and financial crisis and struggle are prime example. Hope this makes sense. While this lack of self-control is not the only example of how religion (atleast in Christianity sex outside of marriage is considered sin) and politics are intertwined...this issue is a huge part of what's going on in America.
In a recent conversation, I was told how years ago there was shame associated with pregnancy out of wed-lock. Back then the pregnant females either married the male responsible for getting them pregnant or they were sent off to have the baby and give it up for adoption. Although shame can be hard and difficult, it often held people accountable. Fast-forward to today...having children out of wed-lock has become the norm, and doesn't have the stigma like it used to. Instead of having a male figure (which should be the husband) provide and work for the family, he isn't in the picture anymore. So who provides for these women and children...the government. The government is doing the man's job. Here's my point...sex outside of marriage is sin. God calls us to have self-control...in fact, it is one of the fruits of the spirit the Bible mentions in Galatians. Basically in summary...people have sex outside of marriage (which means there isn't the commitment to each other, let alone a family), the girl gets pregnant as a result of having sex, the girl has to raise the child alone and needs support, so who does she turn to...the government, whose money comes from taxpayers who have to have jobs in order to have income...to pay taxes with. The Bible is clear on sex outside of marriage...although children are blessings, there are still consequences of going against the will of God. Our economy and financial crisis and struggle are prime example. Hope this makes sense. While this lack of self-control is not the only example of how religion (atleast in Christianity sex outside of marriage is considered sin) and politics are intertwined...this issue is a huge part of what's going on in America.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Sanctity of Life Sunday
http://www.nrlc.org/...this is the website for the National Right to Life
There is all kinds of information on LIFE issues...especially abortion in regards to what the procedures do to babies, abortion in legislation and government, and so on...check it out.
My heart was heavy in church this morning...and before I go on, how cleansing it was to sing to our Lord and Savior. Literally, I was in tears and it was refreshing. That being said, so many thoughts are still filling my head. As an update and for starters, I attended the funeral of my friend's 4-5 day old baby. I had never seen a baby in an open casket viewing...heartbreaking and difficult. Keep them in your prayers as they have been through a sad whirlwind over the last week.
In church this morning it was mentioned that today is the Sanctity of Life Sunday...which takes on many aspects. However, it hit me again...the urge to adopt. We (my husband and I) are luckily on the same page...that we would love to adopt locally from Memphis one day. With two kids in daycare...we truly couldn't afford it now. But I am truly hopeful that God will continue to bless us, so we can in turn bless another/others. There are so many reasons we want to adopt from around here in Memphis: being able to take a child from an environment of sheer dysfunction and brokenness...and being able to show them that love doesn't look like the norm around here. Not only that (and this was also mentioned in church too)...the national media attention given to the local highschool where 20% of the girls are becoming mothers. Let's be honest, what kind of life do you think those children are going to have? Not only those issues, but I am growing to despise abortion more and more. Yes, I know people who've had them or been associated with them...I can't help but think those people still think about their unborn baby from time to time. Even in this circumstance, God heals and forgives. The map below shows the 3 abortion clinics that came up when I googled Memphis...the fact that Memphis would need 3 abortion clinics a few miles from one another is terrible...and backs up the need for Christians to prayerfully consider adoption.
There is all kinds of information on LIFE issues...especially abortion in regards to what the procedures do to babies, abortion in legislation and government, and so on...check it out.
My heart was heavy in church this morning...and before I go on, how cleansing it was to sing to our Lord and Savior. Literally, I was in tears and it was refreshing. That being said, so many thoughts are still filling my head. As an update and for starters, I attended the funeral of my friend's 4-5 day old baby. I had never seen a baby in an open casket viewing...heartbreaking and difficult. Keep them in your prayers as they have been through a sad whirlwind over the last week.
In church this morning it was mentioned that today is the Sanctity of Life Sunday...which takes on many aspects. However, it hit me again...the urge to adopt. We (my husband and I) are luckily on the same page...that we would love to adopt locally from Memphis one day. With two kids in daycare...we truly couldn't afford it now. But I am truly hopeful that God will continue to bless us, so we can in turn bless another/others. There are so many reasons we want to adopt from around here in Memphis: being able to take a child from an environment of sheer dysfunction and brokenness...and being able to show them that love doesn't look like the norm around here. Not only that (and this was also mentioned in church too)...the national media attention given to the local highschool where 20% of the girls are becoming mothers. Let's be honest, what kind of life do you think those children are going to have? Not only those issues, but I am growing to despise abortion more and more. Yes, I know people who've had them or been associated with them...I can't help but think those people still think about their unborn baby from time to time. Even in this circumstance, God heals and forgives. The map below shows the 3 abortion clinics that came up when I googled Memphis...the fact that Memphis would need 3 abortion clinics a few miles from one another is terrible...and backs up the need for Christians to prayerfully consider adoption.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Vulnerable...and I don't like it
I have too much on my mind to go to sleep right now, so as always...this is my outlet. I came to a reality about myself today...I am a control freak and I hate being vulnerable (aka...not in control).
There are so many things in this life that we can control, but it's the things that you can't control that have gotten to me these past couple of days. Sometimes I want to play God of my little universe, but could you really imagine getting things your way all of the time? We wouldn't have anything to learn and grow from and more importantly, we wouldn't see how small we really are and how big God really is. We wouldn't be dependent on him, and a lot of times we don't see that until we are vulnerable.
So, a few things that got me to this thought process...my friend and her husband are grieving over the loss of their first baby. Their little girl passed away this evening, and it truly breaks my heart. I know this similar story is all too common these days, but it is one situation that if I could play God it would never happen. Unfortunately from the outside looking in, it scares you too death to think how you aren't able to protect your children all of the time.
Secondly, work has put me in a frizzy this week. Once again, it's the things that I nor my company can control that has pushed me into this frustrating state of mind. Without boring you there, not being able to control outcomes stinks...I'm used to working my tail off and seeing results. I can control the work ethic part...so I will keep on keeping on.
I will end with this...thank the good Lord for his promise of eternity to those of us who have a relationship with him. We may not be able to control our earthly circumstances, but we can control where we spend eternity. We also know that when we are vulnerable, our true character and dependence on God shows. I pray that God is molding me and shaping me into a better person through this process, and I pray He does the same for you when you are vulnerable and fearful. There are a lot of unknowns in our world and it isn't perfect...but perfection is heaven and spending eternity with our Lord and Savior.
There are so many things in this life that we can control, but it's the things that you can't control that have gotten to me these past couple of days. Sometimes I want to play God of my little universe, but could you really imagine getting things your way all of the time? We wouldn't have anything to learn and grow from and more importantly, we wouldn't see how small we really are and how big God really is. We wouldn't be dependent on him, and a lot of times we don't see that until we are vulnerable.
So, a few things that got me to this thought process...my friend and her husband are grieving over the loss of their first baby. Their little girl passed away this evening, and it truly breaks my heart. I know this similar story is all too common these days, but it is one situation that if I could play God it would never happen. Unfortunately from the outside looking in, it scares you too death to think how you aren't able to protect your children all of the time.
Secondly, work has put me in a frizzy this week. Once again, it's the things that I nor my company can control that has pushed me into this frustrating state of mind. Without boring you there, not being able to control outcomes stinks...I'm used to working my tail off and seeing results. I can control the work ethic part...so I will keep on keeping on.
I will end with this...thank the good Lord for his promise of eternity to those of us who have a relationship with him. We may not be able to control our earthly circumstances, but we can control where we spend eternity. We also know that when we are vulnerable, our true character and dependence on God shows. I pray that God is molding me and shaping me into a better person through this process, and I pray He does the same for you when you are vulnerable and fearful. There are a lot of unknowns in our world and it isn't perfect...but perfection is heaven and spending eternity with our Lord and Savior.
Print your own money...
The crappy economy is hitting home...a dear friend made a comment to me yesterday about how much debt he was in and because of that fact, he was having to leave a job he loves for a better paying job. Obviously I don't blame him, but the thought that came to mind..."don't ya wish you could just print extra money for when you need it?" Then today I was in a conversation with a business person...the summary of that conversation was money, or the lack there of. Once again, the same thought came to mind.
Here you have individuals, families, and businesses struggling to survive...cutting back where they can, but still currently struggling. Now for the transition into government talk...if American families have to answer for their finances and cut back, if solid businesses have to cut back, then why does parts of our government think they aren't required to do the same? A business or company wouldn't be able to survive if it were in the financial debt that our federally owned operations are in. It's gonna take major guts to cut back on government costs...but it has to be done.
Here you have individuals, families, and businesses struggling to survive...cutting back where they can, but still currently struggling. Now for the transition into government talk...if American families have to answer for their finances and cut back, if solid businesses have to cut back, then why does parts of our government think they aren't required to do the same? A business or company wouldn't be able to survive if it were in the financial debt that our federally owned operations are in. It's gonna take major guts to cut back on government costs...but it has to be done.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Life is fragile...prayers needed
We all know it, but LIFE IS FRAGILE...I have been heart broken all day for one of my friends and her husband. Over the weekend, doctors had to preform an emergency c-section at 31 weeks. The little girl was breathing okay and her lungs looked good, but they soon realized that there was no kidney function for this baby. Tough decisions had to be made, and although this baby girl is currently living...she will not make it much longer without her kidneys. PLEASE pray over this family...it has been a nightmare for them.
I know life is not perfect, but there are so many stories like this lately...I don't write this to scare you, but our circumstances can literally change in the blink of an eye. I could go on and on, but I am emotionally drained on their behalf. I hate seeing what this does to family and friends...I had a cousin who went through a similar situation over a year ago, and I hate to think about the pain involved. For the children we do have, please love on them. I will say this, all of these situations puts things in perspective...we have to cherish and soak up every moment we have with our loved ones! The only good news in all of this is that all of our lives are temporary...and for those of us who profess Christ as our Savior, eternity with Him will be painless, peaceful, and full of God's glory! I have to hang my hat on that one fact alone...as one of my favorite songs says, "Better is one day in His court than a thousands else where"...that is soooo true.
I know life is not perfect, but there are so many stories like this lately...I don't write this to scare you, but our circumstances can literally change in the blink of an eye. I could go on and on, but I am emotionally drained on their behalf. I hate seeing what this does to family and friends...I had a cousin who went through a similar situation over a year ago, and I hate to think about the pain involved. For the children we do have, please love on them. I will say this, all of these situations puts things in perspective...we have to cherish and soak up every moment we have with our loved ones! The only good news in all of this is that all of our lives are temporary...and for those of us who profess Christ as our Savior, eternity with Him will be painless, peaceful, and full of God's glory! I have to hang my hat on that one fact alone...as one of my favorite songs says, "Better is one day in His court than a thousands else where"...that is soooo true.
Monday, January 17, 2011
My Confession...
Confession time...what's the most important book to us Christians? Assuming your answer is correct...the Bible. That being said...I've never read the whole thing. That's my confession. I've read different parts of it, listened to numerous sermons on it, but never read the entire thing for myself. So, that has been my New Year's resolution this year...to read the entire thing. There doesn't have to be a certain way necessarily. I started reading in Genesis, then after a recent sermon went ahead and knocked out Titus and Philemon. So, that's my plan...to read the entire Bible. My plan so far has been to put a dot literally beside each chapter that I finish, and to read a minimum of one chapter...but when given the time and focus, to read until I feel I'm through.
So, I want to encourage you in doing the same with me. As Christians, we should be a student of God's word...how else are we able to learn about Him and His teachings.
I will close with this analogy: I am fortunate to know a lot of people. However, that does not mean I have a personal friendship/relationship with them. Even at my church, there are good people I see every Sunday...but I've never gone out of my way to talk with them and get to know them. That's essentially what I've been doing to my God and Savior...I know He's good, I know He's there, and I know if push came to shove He would be there for me...but I haven't given God the opportunity to speak to me through His word and His teachings. The cool thing, I've really enjoyed reading the Old Testament so far (I would have never said that years ago). Just because you know God exists, doesn't mean you know Him. Get to know Him...you will be mesmerized by what you find out! Take this challenge with me and take your relationship and knowledge of God deeper!
So, I want to encourage you in doing the same with me. As Christians, we should be a student of God's word...how else are we able to learn about Him and His teachings.
I will close with this analogy: I am fortunate to know a lot of people. However, that does not mean I have a personal friendship/relationship with them. Even at my church, there are good people I see every Sunday...but I've never gone out of my way to talk with them and get to know them. That's essentially what I've been doing to my God and Savior...I know He's good, I know He's there, and I know if push came to shove He would be there for me...but I haven't given God the opportunity to speak to me through His word and His teachings. The cool thing, I've really enjoyed reading the Old Testament so far (I would have never said that years ago). Just because you know God exists, doesn't mean you know Him. Get to know Him...you will be mesmerized by what you find out! Take this challenge with me and take your relationship and knowledge of God deeper!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Texas vs Illinois (R vs D)
Which way is better? Which state will have better results?
If you don't know what I am referring to, then let me fill you in...both the Texas and Illinois state budgets are in the whole. Governors of both states have announced their way to address the deficit issue...and truthfully, both are prime examples of their party affiliations.
Illinois has a Democratic Governor...they plan to INCREASE income taxes by 66% (that isn't a misprint either). Not only that, but the corporate tax rate is set to go up by 46% too. It will be interesting to see what happens in Illinois...neighboring states have already welcomed businesses from Illinois to venture over state lines for less taxes. Let's just be honest, it doesn't seem like good business to increase taxes on the very corporations that employee your citizens.
As for Texas, the Governor there has announced SPENDING CUTS in order to avoid increasing taxes.
In summary...Texas (Republican)=CUT SPENDING
Illinois (Democrat)=INCREASE TAXES
I've attached a couple of links if you want to see more or want to read for yourself:
Texas part...click HERE (from businessweek.com)
Illinois part...click HERE (from NYtimes.com)
I truly am curious to see what happens with these 2 very different economic approaches.
If you don't know what I am referring to, then let me fill you in...both the Texas and Illinois state budgets are in the whole. Governors of both states have announced their way to address the deficit issue...and truthfully, both are prime examples of their party affiliations.
Illinois has a Democratic Governor...they plan to INCREASE income taxes by 66% (that isn't a misprint either). Not only that, but the corporate tax rate is set to go up by 46% too. It will be interesting to see what happens in Illinois...neighboring states have already welcomed businesses from Illinois to venture over state lines for less taxes. Let's just be honest, it doesn't seem like good business to increase taxes on the very corporations that employee your citizens.
As for Texas, the Governor there has announced SPENDING CUTS in order to avoid increasing taxes.
In summary...Texas (Republican)=CUT SPENDING
Illinois (Democrat)=INCREASE TAXES
I've attached a couple of links if you want to see more or want to read for yourself:
Texas part...click HERE (from businessweek.com)
Illinois part...click HERE (from NYtimes.com)
I truly am curious to see what happens with these 2 very different economic approaches.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
20% of females pregnant in ONE highschool
http://www.wmctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13833438
Click on the link above to see the local Memphis news coverage on this story...sad enough, word spread pretty quickly on this story. I actually got the link emailed to me from a great friend in Austin, TX...not exactly the way you want Memphis represented. However, let me continue...
Frayser High-school in Memphis has approximately 90 females who have either already had babies this school year, or are currently pregnant. This school has about 800 students...so assume about 1/2 of the students are female =400...which means almost 20% of the girls in that school are pregnant (not to mention that some guy had to cause this too...so perhaps 20% of all students in this school are becoming parents?)
Is this not crazy? I had my first child at 28...I CAN NOT imagine being in their shoes! There are so many different aspects to this. If you watch the video, the girl interviewed makes a statement basically saying that the school should educate students about sex, protection, etc... IT IS A PARENT'S RESPONSIBILITY to PRIMARILY educate your child, not the schools. Because these KIDS were out having sex, which they aren't old enough to understand all that goes along with these actions, they are having babies. Although I am truly glad they are choosing to deliver these babies, how do they plan to financially take care of them? (Because of the area/neighborhood...my guess, Tenncare...WIC...Foodstamps...etc.) This is such a hard issue...
my heart goes out to these kids having kids...but honestly, there is a need for abstinence to be taught. Let's be honest...if you are willing to have sex, you are willing to get pregnant. Yes, there are precautions...but nothing is 100%. We all know someone who got pregnant in highschool, but 20% reached a whole new realm....it's crazy!
Click on the link above to see the local Memphis news coverage on this story...sad enough, word spread pretty quickly on this story. I actually got the link emailed to me from a great friend in Austin, TX...not exactly the way you want Memphis represented. However, let me continue...
Frayser High-school in Memphis has approximately 90 females who have either already had babies this school year, or are currently pregnant. This school has about 800 students...so assume about 1/2 of the students are female =400...which means almost 20% of the girls in that school are pregnant (not to mention that some guy had to cause this too...so perhaps 20% of all students in this school are becoming parents?)
Is this not crazy? I had my first child at 28...I CAN NOT imagine being in their shoes! There are so many different aspects to this. If you watch the video, the girl interviewed makes a statement basically saying that the school should educate students about sex, protection, etc... IT IS A PARENT'S RESPONSIBILITY to PRIMARILY educate your child, not the schools. Because these KIDS were out having sex, which they aren't old enough to understand all that goes along with these actions, they are having babies. Although I am truly glad they are choosing to deliver these babies, how do they plan to financially take care of them? (Because of the area/neighborhood...my guess, Tenncare...WIC...Foodstamps...etc.) This is such a hard issue...
my heart goes out to these kids having kids...but honestly, there is a need for abstinence to be taught. Let's be honest...if you are willing to have sex, you are willing to get pregnant. Yes, there are precautions...but nothing is 100%. We all know someone who got pregnant in highschool, but 20% reached a whole new realm....it's crazy!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Kudos to God's word...
I'm sitting here on my couch, watching the memorial service to those killed in Arizona:
honestly, it is ALWAYS a good thing when God's word is spoken...even under sad circumstances. I will give Obama, Attorney General Holder, and Homeland Security Secretary credit. Thanks for reading the great word of God on national television! They could have said a number of things, but they read from the Bible.
I wanna say a little extra on this topic...if it is okay for our President to read from God's word on national television, it should be okay for valedictorians to read from God's word at graduation events, or for students to read from God's word during speeches, for banks to display God's word in their buildings, for government buildings to display the 10 commandments, etc. I was comforted at the President's words from our Lord...and that is how he and the others commented after reading their selected scripture..."and this is the word of our Lord." Let us not forget that, and not only return to it when tragedy strikes...God and His word is always relevant!
honestly, it is ALWAYS a good thing when God's word is spoken...even under sad circumstances. I will give Obama, Attorney General Holder, and Homeland Security Secretary credit. Thanks for reading the great word of God on national television! They could have said a number of things, but they read from the Bible.
I wanna say a little extra on this topic...if it is okay for our President to read from God's word on national television, it should be okay for valedictorians to read from God's word at graduation events, or for students to read from God's word during speeches, for banks to display God's word in their buildings, for government buildings to display the 10 commandments, etc. I was comforted at the President's words from our Lord...and that is how he and the others commented after reading their selected scripture..."and this is the word of our Lord." Let us not forget that, and not only return to it when tragedy strikes...God and His word is always relevant!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Submit to authorities
Church yesterday focused on Titus...and spoke loud and clear to me in regards to submitting to our authorities (government). If you read this blog at all, there is no doubt I can be super critical of what is going on in Washington DC. In the past, I never really paid attention to legislation and didn't realize what that meant to me, how it would effect us, and so forth. That being said, let me be clear...as Christians, I personally feel we are to submit to our government, bosses, authorities, etc...except when it goes against God's word. Our alliance is with God and his teachings first and foremost...so, I truly feel we can advocate for biblical principles while submitting to authority. Yes, there has to be balance there...at the end of the day, we are to exemplify Christ in every aspect of our life. So, my apologies when I have failed to exemplify Christ on here and when I have gotten too harsh or critical. That being said, please try to look through the emotion used, and to the facts stated (especially when the blogs are political).
On a last note, we need to keep our government officials in our prayers...we have seen in the last few days how regardless of D or R, they are all human. They are public servants who subject their life into the spotlight, and often in harms way because of that spotlight. Pray for Congresswoman Giffords of Arizona and her recovery...
On a last note, we need to keep our government officials in our prayers...we have seen in the last few days how regardless of D or R, they are all human. They are public servants who subject their life into the spotlight, and often in harms way because of that spotlight. Pray for Congresswoman Giffords of Arizona and her recovery...
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Adios Nancy!!!!!!!
The following makes me want to throw up...I know that is a harsh statement, but here's the deal. How can someone that makes laws in our country be allowed to flat out LIE like that? I'm not being sarcastic...I'm being serious. Pelosi's final remarks when handing over the gavel as Speaker of the House was a lie...if you don't want to call it a lie, then call her delusional. It truly has to be one of the two AND the facts back it up.
Nancy Pelosi stated, "We have no regrets. This House has sent, over and over again, sent to the Senate legislation for job creation which the Republicans in the Senate held up. "Deficit reduction has been a high priority for us. It is our mantra, pay-as-you-go. Unfortunately, that will be changed now. ah, This administration and this Congress, inherited a near depression and so the initiatives that we took were positive for the American people."
SEE THE NUMBERS FOR YOURSELF:
When the Pelosi Democrats took control of Congress on January 4, 2007, the national debt stood at $8,670,596,242,973.04. The last day of the 111th Congress and Pelosi’s Speakership on December 22, 2010 the national debt was $13,858,529,371,601.09 – a roughly $5.2 trillion increase in just four years. Furthermore, the year over year federal deficit has roughly quadrupled during Pelosi’s four years as speaker, from $342 billion in fiscal year 2007 to an estimated $1.6 trillion at the end of fiscal year 2010.
Here's my closing remarks...first let's take the "No regrets" comment-no regrets means she is proud of her leadership and proud of all of the crazy legislation that she helped push through. I wonder if all of the Democrats that took the beat down on election day have No regrets. She doesn't care that she has helped the moral, social, economic, and financial decline of our Country. What a great leader!
"Deficit reduction has been a high priority"...bull crap. Check the numbers...they have gone up 5.2 trillion dollars since she took her position as Speaker. To have the largest increase in debt ever under her watch and make a statement like that...ridiculous.
"our mantra...pay as you go"...bull crap. Pay as you go mean no additional debt. What planet is she living on? Pay as you go is like paying cash, and not racking up debt. This is completely the opposite of what Congress has done under her watch. Your debt doesn't increase 5.2 trillion dollars if you pay as you go.
Please let this be a lesson for the future...and this applies to Democrats and Republicans. Hold them accountable. Politicians in general make generalized statements, hoping us ordinary citizens won't follow up on them and that we will just take them at their word. Let this be a huge lesson learned...ADIOS NANCY...AMERICA WILL NOT MISS YOU AND WILL BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT YOU, atleast in the position of Speaker!
Nancy Pelosi stated, "We have no regrets. This House has sent, over and over again, sent to the Senate legislation for job creation which the Republicans in the Senate held up. "Deficit reduction has been a high priority for us. It is our mantra, pay-as-you-go. Unfortunately, that will be changed now. ah, This administration and this Congress, inherited a near depression and so the initiatives that we took were positive for the American people."
SEE THE NUMBERS FOR YOURSELF:
When the Pelosi Democrats took control of Congress on January 4, 2007, the national debt stood at $8,670,596,242,973.04. The last day of the 111th Congress and Pelosi’s Speakership on December 22, 2010 the national debt was $13,858,529,371,601.09 – a roughly $5.2 trillion increase in just four years. Furthermore, the year over year federal deficit has roughly quadrupled during Pelosi’s four years as speaker, from $342 billion in fiscal year 2007 to an estimated $1.6 trillion at the end of fiscal year 2010.
Here's my closing remarks...first let's take the "No regrets" comment-no regrets means she is proud of her leadership and proud of all of the crazy legislation that she helped push through. I wonder if all of the Democrats that took the beat down on election day have No regrets. She doesn't care that she has helped the moral, social, economic, and financial decline of our Country. What a great leader!
"Deficit reduction has been a high priority"...bull crap. Check the numbers...they have gone up 5.2 trillion dollars since she took her position as Speaker. To have the largest increase in debt ever under her watch and make a statement like that...ridiculous.
"our mantra...pay as you go"...bull crap. Pay as you go mean no additional debt. What planet is she living on? Pay as you go is like paying cash, and not racking up debt. This is completely the opposite of what Congress has done under her watch. Your debt doesn't increase 5.2 trillion dollars if you pay as you go.
Please let this be a lesson for the future...and this applies to Democrats and Republicans. Hold them accountable. Politicians in general make generalized statements, hoping us ordinary citizens won't follow up on them and that we will just take them at their word. Let this be a huge lesson learned...ADIOS NANCY...AMERICA WILL NOT MISS YOU AND WILL BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT YOU, atleast in the position of Speaker!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Government Shouldn't Do It All (Even If It Could)
I just saw this article that one of my super good friends wrote...to say the least, I value this friend's opinion on government and politics in the highest regards. To simply put it...I want him to run for President! That being said, I wanted to pass this article he wrote along to you...
http://www.ocpathink.org/research-ideas/taxes-and-spending/?module=news&id=2499
http://www.ocpathink.org/research-ideas/taxes-and-spending/?module=news&id=2499
Government Shouldn’t Do It All (Even If It Could)
December 16, 2010
By Drew Thornley
These days, government is everywhere. Big. Burdensome. Pervasive. Lines for standing, regulations for following, taxes for paying. Though this is our reality, it wasn’t what our country’s forefathers had in mind. In fact, they wanted something entirely different.
Having fled England to escape tyranny, our country’s founders set out to craft a government whose purposes and reach were limited. As stated in the U.S. Declaration of Independence, each person possesses a natural right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The purpose of government, then, is to secure these inalienable rights -- and nothing more. Indeed, each of the goals listed in the Preamble to the Constitution is meant to serve the purpose of securing these basic rights.
The Founders sought to create a nation of limited government, a nation of personal liberty and personal responsibility. They did not intend to create a behemoth, a nanny state, another government of tyranny. To do this, they fashioned the government around the concept of federalism: limited, central authority, with specific (a.k.a. enumerated) powers. Everything else was left to the states (i.e., the people).
Fast forward to the present day: We have central authority, but it’s anything but limited. I wonder if our founders imagined their circumscribed government would someday be made up of almost 2.15 million full-time federal employees. (That’s full time and federal, folks. It doesn’t count the military or the roughly 600,000 employees of the United States Postal Service.) Did they think that the government would become the largest national employer? Did they imagine a cabinet with 15 executive departments or that there would be so many federal agencies that most of them were unheard of by the average citizen? What would they think of the fact that federal employees (i.e., civil servants) earned an average of $123,000 in 2009, more than double the private average of $61,000?
Regardless of whether any of our founders imagined a government this expansive, is today’s government justifiable? In other words, just because the government can do something, does that mean it should do something? Shouldn’t the private sector handle all of the jobs that are not the ones that serve the most basic purposes of government? (Even some of those might be better suited for the private sector.)
One could highlight the immensity of government from a number of angles, such as focusing on the number and amount of taxes collected, the number and demands of myriad government regulations (local, state, and national), or the amount of government spending. For my purposes, however, a focus on the range of jobs that the government performs is instructive. The alphabet soup of (taxpayer-funded) government agencies is dizzying, but a look at a few is illustrative of our overgrown public sector.
Do we really need the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (a group of volunteers that “listens to taxpayers, identifies taxpayers’ issues, and makes suggestions for improving IRS service and customer satisfaction”)? Seems like the best advocacy for taxpayers is just to tax them less, but that’s for another day. Or if taxpayers need help, there are plentiful private options: accountants, tax lawyers, the internet, consumer-advocacy groups, and non-profits. Or just call American Tax Relief, and “tell them Pat Summerall sent you.” Don’t miss the irony: Our tax dollars (just under $3.5 million per year) fund a group that helps us work through problems we have with the tax-collecting arm of our government. Go figure.
We also fund the Commission on Fine Arts, “a permanent body to advise the government on matters pertaining to the arts,” to the tune of $10 million per year, and we dole out $167.5 million annually for the National Endowment for the Arts “to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities.” Isn’t that what artists, galleries, and museums do? Likewise, $167.5 million per year to the National Endowment for the Humanities, which “serves and strengthens our Republic by promoting excellence in the humanities and conveying the lessons of history to all Americans.” Don’t teachers (public and private), historians, and writers have that covered?
One of my personal favorites: the Federal Consulting Group, an operation of the Department of the Interior, “made up of career (emphasis added) federal executives who have extensive experience in managing major programs and working with senior agency leaders in areas such as process improvement, strategic planning, creative approaches to problem solving, executive coaching, leadership development, and customer and employee satisfaction.” Last I checked, consulting is a pretty popular private-sector occupation that is not suffering from a lack of supply. And private consultants must produce results, or they’ll no longer be consulted (i.e., paid). My guess is that FCG employees keep earning their taxpayer-funded paychecks, regardless of how their advisees fare.
Would there be a vacuum of people willing to serve in other countries without the federally funded Peace Corps? Philanthropists, church mission trips, and alternative spring breaks serve causes overseas, with no government funding, so why do twentysomethings need $400 million each year to lend a hand?
Should the government be in the business of providing international broadcasting services? Should we be doling out almost $770 million per year to the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees the international news outlets Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, Alhurra, Radio Sawa, and Radio Marti? Putting aside the question of whether our government should be in this business, do we really need to hand over three-quarters of a billion dollars each year to fund it? Surely private media, social media, non-profits, and non-governmental organizations -- or even just people with internet connections -- could fill at least some of this niche, without feeding from the government trough.
And last but not least, our U.S. Postal Service. The USPS traces its roots to the Postal Clause of the U.S. Constitution, so there is no doubt the U.S. can be in the postal business, but should they be? They lost $3.8 billion last year and, according to United Press International, “could lose $238 billion over the next decade.” If UPS, FedEx, or DHL saw those numbers, we would, unlike the USPS, no longer see those companies. If their customers had to endure snail-pace lines, those customers would eventually stop getting in those lines. Private employees might take their 15-minute breaks when the lines died down, instead of at the appointed time, no matter what. Taxpayers would no longer be paying the tab for cushy government retirements and offices in the communities throughout the country that can’t justify them, financially. In big cities and unincorporated towns alike, private mail carriers would compete for customers, and the race would help everyone’s bottom line.
Though the private sector could perform some jobs currently handled by the government, many will ask what’s the harm of having the government perform them? Plenty. What is lost by government’s handling what could be handled in the private marketplace? All of the things the private sector seeks, in order to turn a profit: cost savings, innovation, and efficiency, to name a few. The government is not accountable to the market, never needing to turn a profit to survive. Business decisions are not determined by supply and demand, and competition is not there to breed success.
If a private employer isn’t profitable, his days are numbered. Again, results matter. If the government doesn’t turn a profit, taxpayers are their safety net. Built-in pay raises, more programs, more initiatives, annual appropriations. The nature of private enterprise is to economize, to streamline, to maximize efficiency; while the nature of government is to expand, to drum up business. On its current course, government will continue to aggrandize.
The legitimate government functions and many dedicated, talented government workers notwithstanding, today’s government in no way resembles the government our Founding Fathers intended for us. They laid the foundation for a government to serve minimally, to protect our natural rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The government should stick to the basics, and leave the rest to the people. We the People deserve no less.
A graduate of the Harvard Law School, Drew Thornley is an independent public-policy analyst, adjunct and part-time university lecturer, and licensed attorney.
Marriage is a priority
Happy New Year...hard to believe it is 2011.
I know my title sounds obvious, but how often is it true? How often do those of us in serious relationships, in marriages make it a priority?
What spurred this blog on today was a phone conversation with a friend...a friend whose marriage has been a rollercoaster for different reasons and whose marriage is fragile.
I hate this, because in every marriage...the devil is at work. He is at work to destroy something that God ordains, that God considers a priority, and that God is in favor of. Let's face it, our own selfishness and personal desires get in the way...and when you are in a marriage, you HAVE to be selfless. Then, you add kids in the mix...and marriage takes on a different focus and different dynamic.
I truly do understand how these adjustments rock marriages. But that being said, marriage and family are the foundation...reading Genesis 1 and 2 today proves it. God created Adam and Eve for eachother to work together and have help. He ordained marriage between man and woman in the first two chapters of the Bible. That's powerful stuff!
So, make your marriage a priority. To the couple's credit mentioned above...they are in counseling, for which I am ever so proud of. If you have the privilege of being in a marriage, cherish it, value it, and know that we have to be selfless...which is the opposite of selfish.
I know my title sounds obvious, but how often is it true? How often do those of us in serious relationships, in marriages make it a priority?
What spurred this blog on today was a phone conversation with a friend...a friend whose marriage has been a rollercoaster for different reasons and whose marriage is fragile.
I hate this, because in every marriage...the devil is at work. He is at work to destroy something that God ordains, that God considers a priority, and that God is in favor of. Let's face it, our own selfishness and personal desires get in the way...and when you are in a marriage, you HAVE to be selfless. Then, you add kids in the mix...and marriage takes on a different focus and different dynamic.
I truly do understand how these adjustments rock marriages. But that being said, marriage and family are the foundation...reading Genesis 1 and 2 today proves it. God created Adam and Eve for eachother to work together and have help. He ordained marriage between man and woman in the first two chapters of the Bible. That's powerful stuff!
So, make your marriage a priority. To the couple's credit mentioned above...they are in counseling, for which I am ever so proud of. If you have the privilege of being in a marriage, cherish it, value it, and know that we have to be selfless...which is the opposite of selfish.
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