DAY #11: Freedom

Today, on Veteran’s Day, I am thankful for the Freedom we enjoy in America and for those who defend it.

I am one of those Americans who cries during the National Anthem at sporting events. I am one who stops mid-sentence any time someone in uniform walks into a restaurant and I look at them in awe. I don’t care what rank they have. They have volunteered to serve and protect our Great Nation. I bring a boom box with patriot music to the fire works display on the 4th of July and I weep. And I’ve never seen a battle field. But I know how unique and incredible America is, more than most Americans. Why?

Because I have traveled to fourteen different countries on three different continents and despite those here who criticize our country, they ought to get out more. This Land is Amazing, from sea to shining sea. I have seen the fear in the eyes of people who lived with a citadel on the hillside pointing massive guns at their homes ready to blow up their house if they criticized the government. I have seen land torn by war. I have seen the poor living in cardboard boxes and digging through the garbage for a meal and relieving themselves in a hole in the ground. I have seen the poor, the hungry and the politically disadvantaged. Those who whine and complain here about “injustice” so they can live immoral or sinful lives or demonstrate to have “rights” to not work, not repay debt or not be responsible, have no idea what poverty, injustice or inequality is. They drive a car to rallies, use a cell phone to text complaints and video tape it all on expensive cam corders while celebrities, part of their hated 1%, ironically, cheer them on.

All while our soldiers are overseas giving their lives to protect those very rights. We live in a country were you are free to be a spoiled rotten selfish moron with out a clue what makes America Great – OR you are free to pursue the American Dream, by working work hard, failing, trying again, and succeeding to provide for your failing and loved ones.

All because men and women and fought and died all as volunteers time and time again on battlefields all over the world to protect the Grand Idea that it is individuals, not government, that makes this Nation Great!

We are FREE because we choose to be unshackled by the restraints of oppressive governments that hold individuals back from pursuing their God-given dreams.

That is under attack and at risk in our nation… let’s hope it changes in the next election, but in the meantime, enjoy the freedom you have, and be THANKFUL for the military we have, and those who serve and who have protected it against evil threats against our ideals from without for generations.

May we never lose those ideals from within.

It’s really just something I need to DO MYSELF – but I thought maybe others might want to join me, and I’d enjoy reading/seeing what others are thankful for. So you are welcome to use the Word doc, or just post in the forum what YOU are thankful for! So let me begin today, with my first post. These are NOT going to be in priority order, otherwise I’d have to go God, Family, etc. and then later on, people might judge me for putting one thing “above” or “before” another – so right out of the gate let me say, these posts will be in RANDOM ORDER of things I am THANKFUL FOR!

DAY 2 – God’s Word

DAY 3 – My Mom

DAY 4 – Photography

DAY 5 – Pandora

DAY 6 – George Lucas

DAY 7 – Breckenridge

DAY 8 – Barq’s

DAY 9 – Mercy & Grace

DAY 10 – Steves

DAY 11 – Freedom

DAY 12 – Luke

DAY 13 – Sara

DAY 14 – My Bookkeeper

DAY 15 – Science

DAY 16 – Da Cloud

DAY 17 – Awana & Sunday School

DAY 18 – My Dad

DAY 19 – True Friends

DAY 20 – Scottevest

DAY 21 – My Customers

DAY 22 – Tennis Balls

DAY 23 – Flight

DAY 24 – Jesus

This was the first Memorial Day I got to hang the American Flag with my son’s help and explain to him the meaning of “Memory Day.” He asked very thoughtful questions like, “Why do we celebrate when none of our family has died?” and “Why would people die for us when they don’t even know us?”

Then we stood and recited the Pledge to the American Flag which he as learned at school. We surprised me by asking me to explain it phrase by phrase – and my tears surprised even me as I explained in language a five year old could understand:

“I pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America…”

“Luke, that means that while we love all nations and God created all nations, I am feel blessed and proud to be an American and live in this country because of how wonderful it is – and this flag is the symbol of this nation. A symbol is something that stands for something – just like you recognize cars by their symbols, people recognize our nation by this flag at world-wide sporting events, on rocket ships, and even by the flag on the moon that shows we were the first to land a space this there and have a man walk there three months after I was born. That’s why we respect this flag. Some say it is only cloth and you can do anything to it – they fail to see that it was only cloth until it was formed into the symbol or our country. Just as two sticks were just two sticks until we form them into a Cross and suddenly they remind us of what Jesus did when He died for us. Of course you can break the sticks and you don’t hurt Jesus, and you can hurt the flag without hurting our country, but we try our best to show respect to the flag to show how thankful we are for our country. Those who are mean to the flag are not reflecting a thankful heart for the blessings of this land.”

“…and to the Republic for which it stands,”

“Luke, a Republic is a land that is ruled by the people instead of the government. We have a government, but unlike most of the world, and unlike most of human history – we the people ARE the government, and we CHOOSE our leaders. You won’t understand who wonderful this is until you are older, but it means every four years we get to choose our President. If we don’t him or her, we can pick a new one. We pick the leader of our city, our state, and even our neighborhood. That is why we love our flag so much, because each of those stars stands for one of those states that all are part of the One Republic for which it stands.”

“…one nation under God,”

“Luke, under God means that our nation, when it was started was planned as a nation that would follow God’s Laws – in a minute we’ll talk about Liberty and Justice – but those needed limits, and they needed to be limited by God’s Laws, otherwise anyone could do anything they wanted and the world would be a crazy place. Someone has to decide what is right and wrong, and there is no better Person to do that than God. So our founders (the men and women who started our nation) said all our laws would be based on God’s Laws so things would never get too crazy. Anything in our culture that is crazy, is usually because our laws are going against God’s Laws – you remember that.”

“…indivisible,”

“Luke, I’m sad to say, our nation tried to split once. It was a long and terrible battle you will learn about in school someday called the Civil War. We weren’t at war with another country, but with ourselves. It was a war between the North of America and the South of America and whether we would divide and become two countries or one, and whether all people would have Freedom and Liberty and Justice for all, but you’ll more about that too when you get older. But we have decided to be One Nation from now on.”

“…with Liberty and Justice for all.”

“Luke, I’ve been to fourteen different countries around the world, and while every country has wonderful and beautiful things and the people are special and love their land and are equally loved by God – every time I came back to America I could tell how blessed and lucky I was to have been born and live here. Liberty is the freedom to live your own life the way you want to without anyone (especially the government) telling you how to live your life. It is something constantly under attack, and something we need to defend always, even here in America. But Liberty is something that is rare around the world. For many people around the world what they will do, how much money they will make, who they will marry or other things are determined the day they are born – but in America we have something we call The American Dream. Some think the American Dream is that if you are an American you should get this or that – nope. The American Dream means if you are willing to work hard, you have the opportunity to have whatever you dream. There is no one telling you “no” except you. Dream it – and work toward it!

Justice means that no matter who you are, the Justice System is available to you. In many places around the world, only the rich or famous or powerful get Justice, the unknown, poor or unconnected can only hope for justice. Here, if you can’t afford a lawyer, one is given to you. You are assumed innocent until proven guilty, not the other way around!”

(I was starting to lose him by now, he is only five, after all! But he was listening intently!)

“But Luke, a nation like America isn’t just something that happens easily – it has to be fought for. There have been evil nations that have sought to destroy us – and while many nations make their young men become soldiers, our soldier are all volunteers! That means they all sign up on their own! They just love America so much, they sign up so go and fight for America. They go to far away places to defend our Liberties, to free people who are in trouble – America is the Super Hero of the world, and our flag is like the S on Superman’s chest – when people in trouble see the USA is coming they know help is on the way. And when we win, we don’t conquer or take over, we help rebuilt and leave!

And Luke, we even help rebuilt our enemies and become their friends. Many of our friends today, Japan, Germany, Russia – were once mortal enemies – but we are a Good Nation, we stand for what is Good, so we win, and then we hold out our hand and help those who were trying to kill us, unlike any nation in World History.

That is why your dad is proud to be an American, and that is why I want to raise you to be a Patriot and why today we Remember those who died so that we might be free.”

Your Patriot Dad,

Karl

Judy Wallman, a professional genealogy researcher in southern California , was doing some personal work on her own family tree. She discovered that Congressman Harry Reid’s great-great uncle, Remus Reid, was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in  Montana  in 1889. Both Judy and Harry Reid share this common ancestor.

The only known photograph of Remus shows him standing on the gallows  in  Montana  territory:

On the back of the picture Judy obtained during her research is this inscription: ‘Remus Reid, horse thief, sent to Montana Territorial Prison 1885, escaped 1887, robbed the Montana Flyer six times. Caught by Pinkerton detectives, convicted and hanged in 1889.’

So Judy recently e-mailed Congressman Harry Reid for information about their great-great uncle.

Harry Reid:

Believe it or not, Harry Reid’s staff sent back the following biographical sketch for her genealogy research:

“Remus Reid was a famous cowboy in the Montana Territory . His business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Montana railroad. Beginning in 1883, he devoted several years of his life to government service, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the railroad. In 1887, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency. In 1889, Remus passed away during an important civic function held in his honor when the platform upon which he was standing collapsed.”

NOW THAT’s how it’s done, Folks! That’s real POLITICAL SPIN!

I consider myself the most patriot person I know. I love this country passionately. Today my emotions are a mixture of deep sadness and anger – I don’t even know where to put them. Sadness for the families impacted today. My heart and prayers go out to everyone who is personally touched by the tragic events that unfolded in Arizona – I am simply stunned.

And anger at the way so many are politicizing this event. While politically I may have disagreed with Rep. Gifford on some issues, I had never heard her name before today, and I applaud her for being a politician who was holding a “Congress on the Corner” event. Being one who was desiring to listen to the people. I hope this doesn’t discourage our public officials from being accessible. Regardless of where anyone is on the political spectrum, what makes America Great is that we fight our political battles at the polls and not with guns. Whether it be the dramatic shift of 2008 that brought us Obama and his gang and the swing to the Left or the big swing back that just occurred with past November to the Right. Either way – we’ll swing back and forth again as we are a diverse nation and hopefully get some things done in the meantime.

What makes me angry is the people who politicize this horrible tragedy even before the blood of the victims has even dried and we even know the motives of this shooter. Too many are quick to be blaming Sarah Palin of all people instead of the young man with the gun when there were uses of the words “target” and “cross-hairs” and “reload” on both sides of the political spectrum during the election. (Already clearly documented today before websites were purged, which I researched and saw myself.) In hindsight, of course, everyone regrets this, and I’m sure in light of this, such language will be avoided in the future for sure. I was disgusted and shocked to read the tweets and comments on facebook and blogs!

In our shock and agony, why people jump to try and exploit this for political gain is both sad and sickening. Instead, we ought to be simply praying for the families involved and seeking justice against those who perpetrated it not attacking those who had nothing to do with it and are equally outraged by it. I’m sure many of those making such outrageous claims, had a Republican been shot, they would not be making the same claims about their own leaders being at fault. This blame game in America needs to stop.

It starts with us no longer blaming others for our own mistakes and failures. This disease of pointing the figure away from the one who did it to anyone else other than the one who did it has escalated to a national level and was on full display today in our nation.

Let’s make sure its not on display in our own life and homes too. It’s contagious.

Too funny! 

GM’s New Signature Car!

“The new GM (Government Motors) proudly introduces the 2010 Obama! This car runs on hot air and broken promises. It has three wheels that speed the vehicle through nauseating left turns.  It comes complete with two Teleprompters programmed to help the occupants talk their way out of any taxes. The transparent canopy reveals the naive smiles still on the faces of all the happy owners.” (shamelessly copied from an e-mail forward)

Hope you enjoyed the laugh. Don’t take it too seriously people, but do think seriously about the impact of one president spending more in 100 days than ALL previous presidents combined. You can’t blame that on your predecessor.

In case you missed it, here is Rick Warren’s prayer followed by a video:

Let us pray.

Almighty God — our Father. Everything we see, and everything we can’t see, exists because of you alone. It all comes from you. It all belongs to you. It all exists for your glory. History is your story. The Scripture tells us, ‘Hear, Oh Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one.’ And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made.

Now today we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time, we celebrate a hinge-point of history with the inauguration of our first African-American president of the United States. We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where the son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King, and a great cloud of witnesses, are shouting in heaven.

Give to our new president, Barack Obama, the wisdom to lead us with humility, the courage to lead us with integrity, the compassion to lead us with generosity. Bless and protect him, his family, Vice-President Biden, the cabinet, and every one of our freely elected leaders.

Help us, oh God, to remember that we are Americans, united not by race, or religion, or blood, but to our commitment to freedom, and justice for all.

When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you, forgive us. When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone, forgive us. When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve, forgive us.

And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes — even when we differ.

Help us to share, to serve, and to seek the common good of all. May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy, and a more prosperous nation, and a peaceful planet. And may we never forget that one day, all nations and all people will stand accountable before you.

We now commit our new president, and his wife Michelle, and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care.

I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life — Yeshua, Isa, Jesús, Jesus — who taught us to pray:

Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. – Amen.

(source)

I won’t even pretend to imagine the significance and impact of Obama’s election to my African American friends and all those who never thought they’d see the election of an African American to the highest political office in world. It is a great testimony to the progress of America and especially to the color blindness of young Americans who, if they do consider race, lean more toward supporting minorities than fearing or resisting the progress of fellow Americans who are different than they are. I sincerely am happy for our nation in the sense that the election of Barack Obama proves that indeed any one can become President of the United States no matter their race or background, and that, in and of itself, is a good thing – and I am proud to live in a country where the People choose their leader and the transfer of power, even in a fiercely fought election, is peaceful. America continues to be the grandest experiment in human history.

Indeed, Obama was unstopable in this election. While I never gave up hope, and did my little part to support Senator McCain, I felt in my gut that Obama’s election was inevitable. His combination of his political skill, the nations appetite for “change” and the fear brought on by the financial crisis came together to bring about not only a historic election because of his race, but an incredible rise to power of a very unknown man whose many weakness were largely considered irrelvant by a nation blinded by a message they wanted to hear. The reasons Obama won are varied. On one hand, I think race was a huge factor. For a some what positive reason: America was eager to ease its collective conscience by electing a black president. On the negative side, Obama out-spent McCain and that was possible in large part due to him breaking his promise to accept public funds, but I’m not sure that really made the difference. There are many reasons and explanations, but I think at the end Obama won for ONE REASON: His Message of Change. That message was more important than the facts. The concept of “Change” was more important than even the details of what kind of change he would bring. Our nation wanted change at any cost. No one knows what they cost will be, or whether it will be a welcome cost or not.

For all the things that concern me about Obama, what he did best was set himself up as the American Hero – the Right Man at the Right Time. He was eloquent. His sweeping themes and wonderful sounding generalities were music to American ears. Unfortunately, he was never specific, but ironically, even when he was, no one cared. When he slipped and alluded to “spreading the wealth” people didn’t care. When he admitted he wants energy costs to “skyrocket” people didn’t care. When his associations and mentors were shown to be radical and even anti-American, people didn’t care. They liked the Message of Change without little consideration of what that “change” would be. It’s actually quite puzzling or impressive depending on how you look at it.

What I like about Barack Obama is his claim to be open to new ideas and to working with both parties to find solutions. I will pray it is true. I live in his home state of Illinois which is riddled with coruption. Our last goverenor is in jail, and our current one appears to be headed toward being in the next cell over. Obama has never even spoken against Illinois coruption, let alone done anything about it. He has never gone “across the aisle” to accomplish anything, and voted “present” often when a bill was contraversial. He has no executive experience, and now has the highest executive office in the country. It’s really rather amazing. I have to admit, as a campaign “executive”, he got it done. But I do hope that he has painted himself into a corner where he has to live up to the retoric and perhaps he actually will do some of the things he has so eloquently promised. If he does, he’ll earn my respect as a leader. Right now, my respect is limited to what he accomplished for his race and his party. As President, there is much more to accomplish.

One of the things that concerns me about Obama is that no one seems to know this guy. Even Democratic political pundits are now saying they have no idea how he will lead. Will he lead as the most liberal President ever? (He was the most liberal senator.) Will he lead center-left since he has a democratic majority who will want to finally push its agenda. Or will he lead center-right, which is how he campaigned stealing many Repiblican themes – many of which he and his party were against before he was a presidential candidate. I find it amazing that even those who supported him, don’t know how he will lead. Yet they voted for him. Even Obama, in his own book, described himself as a “blank page” upon which people can write whatever they want to believe about him. You got to hand it to him, he is a master of being, not whatever he thinks people want to be, but being vague enough that you can think of him being whatever YOU want. Only time will tell what he actually does. You can’t vote “present” when you are President. He will have to take some stands.

Another thing I do like about him, is that he does seem to move slowly. Hopefully very slowly. But he has really painted himself as a centralist while his opponents have created a lot of fear around him. (and I think the fear is fair) I already think he is smart, if he is wise he will realize that his opponents are eager for some “I told you so” moments, and the best thing he can do for long term success is rob them of those moments, and live up to his retoric and promises to work together, to lower taxes, to reduce energy dependance, to win the war in Iraq, etc. If he does that, it will be good for America. If those were campaign talk and he leads as he used to vote (or not vote) and as his Democratic party used to vote, it will hurt our country.

Obama revealed a lot about America. His election shows just how badly our country wants change – and a lot of that desired change is change away from Christian ideals. How are we going to deal with that? In a godly way? I think this election, and how we deal with defeat, will tell a lot about us to a watching world.

Let’s be godly in how we handle the fears that Obama stirs up in Christians. Let’s be honest, when we’ve had Presidents we liked, it has never helped the cause of Christ as much as we hoped or thought it would. Lives are only changed when they encounter Jesus Christ, and that can happen in any country, in any political climate, and under any President. Amen?

SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN?

A lot of people “believe” in Obama… or believe in the “Change” he promises to bring. My biggest concern with Obama is not his belief babies born alive in a failed abortion should be killed or left to die. (and he does, don’t buy the rewriting of history going on). It isn’t his economic philosophies, though they are scary. It isn’t his anti-American statements and associations. (I think being President will cure him of his anti-American setiments.) It isn’t higher taxes, even though they are coming. (I won’t enjoy saying ‘I told you so’ but its inevitable now.)

My greatest concern is actually a secret hope. The concern is that too many people are looking to government to solve their personal issues so they will give too much power and control to the government that in turn will end up choking our economy and undermining our freedom even as it sincerely tries to help Americans. In the end, Democratic policies tend to hurt the very ones they are seeking to help by creating dependency, stiffling freedom, frustrating entrepreneurial spirit, burdening small business, and growing bureaucracy and with it taxes.

Why is this concern also a secret hope? Because I hope that more and more people (Christians included) will finally realize that our hope can’t be in government, it must be in God. Government can’t create the security it so often promises, God can. Govenment can’t create opportunity, God can. Govenment can’t solve the problems that ail our world, God can. Government can’t meet our needs, God can. Government can’t provide our financial needs, God can. Government can’t give us purpose, God can. Government can’t give us Hope, but God can.

And finally, no government or president can bring Real Change, or “Change you can Believe in” but God can.

While I still believe that Christians MUST stay engaged and ought to be the voice of Truth, morality and for the unborn, our energies most be primarily engaged in building the Kingdom, not our nation. Christians ought to vote – and I know many did. Now we must vote with our feet by going where God calls us to go. Vote with are hands by helping our neighbors. Vote with our mouths by sharing the Gospel. Vote with our wallets by financially supporting our church, missionaries and any ministry we can that is helping to reach the lost or further the Cause of Christ.

Best case scenario – Obama surprises those of us who opposed him, and things get better and the resulting econompic growth will help churches and the Great Commission.

Worst case scenario – things get worse, but as a result more people turn to God. After all, the Church has always grown more during times of distress and persecution.

Anything in the middle – keep your main focus on your walk with God, your family, being a light for Truth in our world, and praying for our nation.

Obama will soon be walking into the White House. As Christians we will need to stay engaged to seek to protect our freedom and help keep America a place where God is honored and glorified and where “In God we Trust” still rings true.

But more important is who sits in the ‘Oval Office’ our our heart and our homes.

Does OUR LIFE reflect, “In God We Trust?” Does our life honor God, honor life, and reflect the Truth we claim to believe in?

Let’s pray for our nation and pray for President Obama. He certainly needs it.

May God Bless America… but may we bless God in how we live for Him.

But first, the story:

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that’s what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. ‘Since you are all such good customers,’ he said, ‘I’m going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20. ‘Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes, so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men – the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his ‘fair share’?

They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody’s share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man’s bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so -

The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 ( 22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.

‘I only got a dollar out of the $20,’declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,’ but he got $10!’

‘Yeah, that’s right,’ exclaimed the fifth man. ‘I only saved a dollar,
too. It’s unfair that he got ten times more than I!’

‘That’s true!!’ shouted the seventh man. ‘Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!’

‘Wait a minute,’ yelled the first four men in unison. ‘We didn’t get
anything at all. The system exploits the poor!’

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up. The next night the tenth man didn’t show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn’t have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.
Professor of Economics
University of Georgia

For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not, or will not understand, no explanation is possible.

I am amazed at how many people are for Obama IF they understand his position on taxes and what he will do to our economy with a most-likely liberal Congress and House. It will be the first time in over 40 years that the White House and Congress/House will be controlled by the same party, and the anti-business / pro-high taxes / bigger government party. His rhetoric not only doesn’t match his record (never once voting for a tax cut and 94 times for a tax increase or against a tax cut) but his math doesn’t add up, or results in socialism. Again, for those willing to look beyond the eloquent rhetoric and look at the man’s real record, writing and the philosophies of those who he names as his influences and mentors in his extremely short political carreer.

FACTS:

• Obama will effectively raise taxes on all Americans (except those not paying any) when he allows the Bush tax cuts to expire. He can say he didn’t raise taxes, but that’s like a fireman refusing to turn on the hose saying he didn’t burn the house down. Obama can raise taxes by doing nothing.
• 40% of Americans pay no income tax. A “tax credit” to them is a hand out or welfare check, essentially buying future voters, as to reverse that would be nearly politically impossible.
• The bottom 50% of Americans pay only 2.9% of the federal tax burden. The top 10% pay 70% of the tax burden. We already have redistribution of wealth – more will only hurt our economy more.
• The government does not create jobs. (Other than federal employees, but the tax payers pay 100% of all their salaries, benefits and retirement.) “Evil” businesses and corporations create jobs. The more the government takes from companies, the less jobs they can create and the government takes in less money, and then they take more, and the downward spiral is devastating to the economy. Companies exist to make more money and every dime they get to keep is spent growing the company which results in new jobs and… more income for the government as a result.
• Every single time taxes are lowered, economic growth results. The Bush tax cuts brought in unprecedented income to the federal government. Record cash into the government cophers!
• The deficit was not created by the Bush tax cuts, it was created by Republicans and Demoncrats spending MORE than taxes brought it.
• Bush’s greatest failure was not the tax cuts, it was his inability (or willingness) to curb spending. Out of control federal spending on shaky credit created our current government fiscal crisis. Lower taxes actually brings in more money to the government. Democrats do not raise taxes so much as to get more income, but as a means of control and vote collection.
• Raising taxes is the WORST POSSIBLE THING for our nation and economy. The BEST THING IS NO NEW TAXES and CONTROLLING SPENDING. I only hear one candidate and VP talking about less taxes and less spending.

There is a lot to like about Obama – but his economic plans for our country are disasterous. Imagine if you ran your home the way Obama wants to run the country. The government can try to “bail out” others, but who bails out or “rescues” the governemnt when it goes awry? YOU. The taxpayer.

You now work from January into July just for all the taxes you pay, income tax, state taxes, property taxes, sales taxes and taxes included in the products you buy and services you use. And Obama wants you to pay even more. Your “fair share.”

Anyone who votes for him can’t complain later when the tax man comes and the economy suffers – your vote is surrendering your wallet to more government control and more of your hard earned money going into the sink hole of the US government.

A vote for McCain/Palin isn’t the solution to everything – but it is the best way to hold the greed of the federal government and keep more taxes at bay for at least four more years.

Please vote, and vote Republican.

Sincerely, your fellow tax paying American.

(Click image to see full size)

I am tired of hearing Christians say they aren’t going to vote for one reason or another. ANY REASON NOT TO VOTE IS A LAME REASON. Hey, I’m in Illinois, voting Republican is a “waste” of my vote, but I vote because I am an American and many have died to give me that freedom.

Be American and VOTE. I don’t even mind if you vote for the man I think is the worst possible leader for our nation. I will still applaud you for voting. We are both Americans after all.

While suturing a cut on the hand of a 75 year old rancher, who’s hand was caught in the gate while working cattle, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man. Eventually the topic got around to Obama and his bid to be our president.

The old rancher said, “Well, ya know, Obama is a ‘Post Turtle’”.

Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him what a ‘post turtle’ was.
The old rancher said, “When your driving down a country road you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that’s a ‘post turtle”.

The old rancher saw the puzzled look on the doctor’s face so he continued to explain. “You know he didn’t get up there by himself, he doesn’t belong up there, and he doesn’t know what to do while he’s up there, and you just wonder what kind of dummy put him up there to begin with”.

Tony Snow’s last televised briefing. Photo by Getty Images

This is an outstanding testimony from Tony Snow, President Bush’s former Press Secretary, and his fight with cancer. Commentator and broadcaster, Tony Snow, announced that he had colon cancer in 2005. Following surgery and chemo-therapy, Snow joined the Bush Administration in April, 2006 as press secretary. Unfortunately, on March 23, 2007, Snow, 51, a husband and father of three, announced the cancer had recurred, with tumors found in his abdomen, – leading to surgery in April, followed by more chemotherapy. Snow went back to work in the White House Briefing Room on May 30, but later resigned, ‘for economic reasons,’ and to pursue ‘ other interests.’

Tony Snow’s Testimony
(prior to his death July 12, 2008)

‘Blessings arrive in unexpected packages – in my case, cancer. Those of us with potentially fatal diseases – and there are millions in America today – find ourselves in the odd position of coping with our mortality while trying to fathom God’s will. Although it would be the height of presumption to declare with confidence ‘What It All Means,’ Scripture provides powerful hints and consolations. The first is that we shouldn’t spend too much time trying to answer the ‘why’ questions: Why me? Why must people suffer? Why can’t someone else get sick? We can’t answer such things, and the questions themselves often are designed more to express our anguish than to solicit an answer.

I don’t know why I have cancer, and I don’t much care. It is what it is, a plain and indisputable fact. Yet even while staring into a mirror darkly, great and stunning truths begin to take shape. Our maladies define a central feature of our existence: We are fallen. We are imperfect. Our bodies give out. But despite this, – or because of it, – God offers the possibility of salvation and grace. We don’t know how the narrative of our lives will end, but we get to choose how to use the interval between now and the moment we meet our Creator face-to-face.

Second, we need to get past the anxiety. The mere thought of dying can send adrenaline flooding through your system. A dizzy, unfocused panic seizes you. Your heart thumps; your head swims. You think of nothingness and swoon. You fear partings; you worry about the impact on family and friends. You fidget and get nowhere. To regain footing, remember that we were born not into death, but into life, – and that the journey continues after we have finished our days on this earth. We accept this on faith, but that faith is nourished by a conviction that stirs even within many non believing hearts – an intuition that the gift of life, once given, cannot be taken away. Those who have been stricken enjoy the special privilege of being able to fight with their might, main, and faith to live fully, richly and exuberantly – no matter how their days may be numbered.

Third, we can open our eyes and hearts. God relishes surprise. We want lives of simple, predictable ease, – smooth, even trails as far as the eye can see, but God likes to go off-road. He provokes us with twists and turns. He places us in predicaments that seem to defy our endurance; and comprehension – and yet don’t. By His love and grace, we persevere. The challenges that make our hearts leap and stomachs churn invariably strengthen our faith and grant measures of wisdom and joy we would not experience otherwise.

‘You Have Been Called’. Picture yourself in a hospital bed. The fog of anesthesia has begun to wear away. A doctor stands at your feet; a loved one holds your hand at the side. ‘It’s cancer,’ the healer announces. The natural reaction is to turn to God and ask him to serve as a cosmic Santa. ‘Dear God, make it all go away. Make everything simpler.’ But another voice whispers: ‘You have been called.’ Your quandary has drawn you closer to God, closer to those you love, closer to the issues that matter, – and has dragged into insignificance the banal concerns that occupy our ‘normal time.’ There’s another kind of response, although usually short-lived an inexplicable shudder of excitement, as if a clarifying moment of calamity has swept away everything trivial and tiny, and placed before us the challenge of important questions.

The moment you enter the Valley of the Shadow of Death, things change. You discover that Christianity is not something doughy, passive, pious, and soft. Faith may be the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. But it also draws you into a world shorn of fearful caution. The life of belief teems with thrills, boldness, danger, shocks, reversals, triumphs, and epiphanies. Think of Paul, traipsing through the known world and contemplating trips to what must have seemed the antipodes (Spain), shaking the dust from his sandals, worrying not about the morrow, but only about the moment.

There’s nothing wilder than a life of humble virtue, – for it is through selflessness and service that God wrings from our bodies and spirits the most we ever could give, the most we ever could offer, and the most we ever could do. Finally, we can let love change everything. When Jesus was faced with the prospect of crucifixion, he grieved not for himself, but for us. He cried for Jerusalem before entering the holy city. From the Cross, he took on the cumulative burden of human sin and weakness, and begged for forgiveness on our behalf.

We get repeated chances to learn that life is not about us, that we acquire purpose and satisfaction by sharing in God’s love for others. Sickness gets us part way there. It reminds us of our limitations and dependence. But it also gives us a chance to serve the healthy. A minister friend of mine observes that people suffering grave afflictions often acquire the faith of two people, while loved ones accept the burden of two peoples’ worries and fears.

‘Learning How to Live’. Most of us have watched friends as they drifted toward God’s arms, not with resignation, but with peace and hope. In so doing, they have taught us not how to die, but how to live. They have emulated Christ by transmitting the power and authority of love. I sat by my best friend’s bedside a few years ago as a wasting cancer took him away. He kept at his table a worn Bible and a 1928 edition of the Book of Common Prayer. A shattering grief disabled his family, many of his old friends, and at least one priest. Here was a humble and very good guy, someone who apologized when he winced with pain because he thought it made his guest uncomfortable. He retained his equanimity and good humor literally until his last conscious moment. ‘I’m going to try to beat [this cancer],’ he told me several months before he died. ‘But if I don’t, I’ll see you on the other side. ‘His gift was to remind everyone around him that even though God doesn’t promise us tomorrow, he does promise us eternity, – filled with life and love we cannot comprehend,  and that one can in the  throes of sickness point the rest of us toward timeless truths that will help us weather future storms. Through such trials, God bids us to choose: Do we believe, or do we not? Will we be bold enough to love, daring enough to serve, humble enough to submit, and strong enough to acknowledge our limitations? Can we surrender our concern in things that don’t matter so that we might devote our remaining days to things that do?

When our faith flags, he throws reminders in our way. Think of the prayer warriors in our midst. They change things, and those of us who have been on the receiving end of their petitions and intercessions know it. It is hard to describe, but there are times when suddenly the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, and you feel a surge of the Spirit. Somehow you just know: Others have chosen, when talking to the Author of all creation, to lift us up, – to speak of us! This is love of a very special order. But so is the ability to sit back and appreciate the wonder of every created thing. The mere thought of death somehow makes every blessing vivid, every happiness more luminous and intense. We may not know how our contest with sickness will end, but we have felt the ineluctable touch of God.

What is man that Thou art mindful of him? We don’t know much, but we know this: No matter where we are, no matter what we do, no matter  how bleak or frightening our prospects, each and every one of us who believe, each and every day, lies in the same safe and impregnable place, in the hollow of God’s hand.’

T. Snow

Watch this video, Newt’s got a smart plan that actually makes sense:

There is a follow up one here:

He mentions over 25,000 signers, it is now over 1.2 million. Americans are tired of the backwards thinking that is control

GOD BLESS AMERICA… ALL OF US! (even the weirdos) HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Thanks to Tannerman on Twitter for the link!

Why are Christians afraid of politics? Getting Christians to discuss politics is harder than getting non-Christians to discuss Religion. I know the old saying, “Don’t discuss politics and religion,” but that saying comes out of the fear that we shouldn’t talk about things of which we might disagree.

But Christians, of all people, are the very ones who OUGHT to MODEL talking about what we disagree about. I mean, don’t we celebrate how well different denominations can get along and often work together even though they have very sharp differences when it comes to theology?

So why can’t we discuss politics nicely? Every time I do a post about politics I get e-mails about them – and very few comments on the post. No one ever e-mails me in response to my blog posts (except a few relatives that don’t know how to do the comments – I love you guys, and its ok!) But when it comes to politics, I get e-mails. And I don’t mean all the e-mails are negative, most aren’t – but I find it interesting that they are sent privately via e-mail instead of posted live on the blog. If Christians stay silent, we surrender our voice!

I wish more Christians would be willing to talk about politics. And disagreeing is ok. If you didn’t like my last post, and want to vote for Obama – it’s really OK with me – that what makes America AMERICA. But the best thing FOR America is to talk about why we like or dislike the policies of those who make the decisions that effect our nation. Notice, it is the policies that concern me, not the people. I’d have lunch with Bill Clinton or Obama and probably enjoy it! But I’d also enjoy talking with them about their ideas for what is best for America. I’d hope to change their minds, but I’d also learn a few things too I’m sure.

Then there is the old attitude that the Hope of America isn’t Politics, it’s Jesus. Absolutely. Amen! But we do have to live here. And while I’m all for giving unto Caesar what is Caesar’s – it’s not bad to want Caesar to ask for less and regulate less and take over less of what the people can do better than bureaucracy.

Anyway – just wanted to ask a favor of my readers. You don’t have to agree with me. But don’t email me your comments, post them with your name and stand up for what you believe.

I’m not excited about John McCain. But as an American, I take seriously my role of learning about the candidates and making my vote count, as little good as a Republican vote does in Illinois, especially being Obama’s home town! But that is what America is – and it is the SUM of every American doing their small part that makes the grand experiment of Democracy work. Everyone must do their part responsibly, or they really can’t complain. I’m very very concerned with what the voting record of Obama reflects that he would do as President despite what all the wonderful speeches say and with his lack of understanding on how the economy truly works. I’m sure he is a nice guy and I’m proud that America has finally nominated an African American as a Presidencial candidtate – that we can be proud of.

But we vote for ideas and policies and philosophy – none of which seem to make the news or even campaign ads. Do your homework and VOTE.

And don’t be afraid to be part of the arena of ideas… that is what made our nation great! This is a critical election that will have a LONG LASTING IMPACT ON OUR NATION… I ought to have lots of comments on this post….

if you dare. (but be nice, I’ll approve disagreeing comments, but I don’t have to put mean ones live, its still my blog after all.)

Comment away…. it’s your country too.

“Yes, the Cookie Jar is broken. There are far too many broken cookie jars in America today! Something must be done about the lack of cookies in this house. Who is going to clean up the broken the glass? And what about the kids who never had a cookie jar to begin with? We must change how cookie jars are made and make new guidelines for where they are placed in kitchens!” (Um, yeah, but who broke the cookie jar?) “Um, well, I did.”

Liberals made most the messes we are struggling with, or they are simply results of a fallen world and things government can’t fix anyway. Some know this, and so are vague, others sincerely think they are the hope of the nation, and think taxes and programs will someday create utopia and can’t see how often these things make matters worse. And so much of the population seems to miss this obvious fact caught up in the sweet sounding substanceless speeches.

I want to help Obama clear up his message about what he is for, so I came up with a slogan that might work for Obama and you are welcome to print and use this to help spread his message of despair and gloom and doom for America, the country that his wife is only recently proud of now that her husband might be President. I sincerely hope this might help him get his message out:

I’m thinking of having these printed and selling them. Now THIS sticker would honestly describe what an Obama Presidency would be about! Defeat in national security, Decline in the economy by trying what fails everywhere it is tried and over taxing the economy and creating a a Dependency on foreign energy and a voting block that is dependent on the government for all its needs.

I’d much rather have a President who understands what made our nation great and who understands the true nature of freedom. Of course, I don’t agree with every position of any candidate, but I DO understand what it means to be a Republican. (On a side note, I’ve only met two Democrats who can even tell me what it means to be a Demoncrat, other than they hate George Bush, yeah, we get that already.)

Being a Republican means you believe in: Limited government, free trade, strong national defense, lower taxes, sanctity of human life, power to the states, and that the hope of our country is not found in government, but in the citizens who make up this great country. Republicans believe that government can’t solve problems, it creates them. It’s job isn’t to solve social issues, it is to protect us, preserve our natural resources, build and sustain infrastructure and provide public education. It isn’t to guarantee or redistribute wealth, it is to guarantee and spread freedom. That’s about it.

WATCH THIS INSPIRING VIDEO, Reagan had it right about what makes America great! Given our options this fall, I must say John McCain is currently our best hope to get American back on track.

UP-DATE: By popular demand (and a little bit just for fun) I did it:

www.cafepress.com/obama3d

]]> http://kidologist.com/2008/06/23/my-new-obama-logo-i-hope-he-likes-it/feed/ 12 http://kidologist.com/2008/06/22/play-pork-invaders/ http://kidologist.com/2008/06/22/play-pork-invaders/#comments Sun, 22 Jun 2008 07:51:00 +0000 kidologist http://kidologist.com/?p=1227 Was checking out John McCain’s Website and enjoyed playing Pork Invaders! I thought this was a pretty creative way to get a message out – especially the fact that John McCain has a record of $0 in ear marked pork compared to over $740 million to Obama. That’s a slight difference.

Play it here on my site: (my score was 13,030. Put your score in comments!)

OR CHECK IT OUT ON JOHN’S SITE

And now, could it be? They might get another chance?

There is a reason Hillary doesn’t use her last name campaigning. but make no mistake, a vote for Hillary is a vote for lies and corruption even bolder than before. Let’s hope the People wise up before it is too late! Obama is the master at saying nothing very well, but Hillary knows exactly what she wants to do and that is what scares me.

But I don’t hate liberals. I feel sorry for them. For hope is in government, that is their flaw. They think, er, let me rephrase that, they feel that government and money can solve human social issues – even though no government program has ever solved ONE human social issue, and in fact, have only made things worse in the effort to help. Government does best what it was designed to do – protect citizens, defend the nation, prosecute criminals, preserve wilderness and build infrastructure. I applaud government whenever it does what it was created to do – but whenever it attempts to “fix” issues that stem from the flaws of the nature of man – look out, those very flaws corupt the very ones attempting to do the fixing and things only get worse.

As a conservative I believe in limited government, lower taxes, personal responsibility, a strong military and the sanctity of human life. I always fine it fascinating when I talk to a liberal friend (or foe) and ask what they stand for, and all they can tell me is what they are against. I say, “OK, I get you hate our President, but what are you FOR?” And I never have gotten a coherant answer. Either don’t know that liberals for for massive government, higher taxes, victim mentality mixed with a right to have what someone else earned, a weak military, the disposal of human life - or they don’t want to admit it. Instead, they tell me what they feel.

I feel too, but I allow my feelings to be tempered by thought. Not the other way around. Every person I’ve heard asked why they like Obama or H. Clinton who answer because they want “change” or because they feel they can do a “better job” when asked what they will actually DO always answer they don’t know. And that, my friend, is downright scary. Change is not automatically better. Change can be far worse. Especially ignorant change.

Please don’t get mad at me if you are a liberal and send me insulting e-mails – that will only prove my case. Instead, give me a calm reasoned argument for what liberals are FOR and my respect will grow up a notch from its current low position. You can be passionate without being insulting. But tell m, please, what liberals like Obama and H. Clinton are FOR without general platudes or adjectives that could mean anything. I dare you. If you can, you should run for President because the two leading Democrat candidates are apparently incapable of doing so.

Over on Kidology.org there is a hot discussion that was started by a brother “down under” who asked:

Why do American Christians see the need to teach patriotism? Doesn’t God love all nations equally? (see full question and discussion here)

I’ve been watching the conversation, discussing it with family and friends, and waiting to post my answer until I could really give it some thought, and decided to answer it here on my blog rather than just in the Kidology forum. I’d love your feedback here or there.

My short answer would be, I have never taught “Patriotism” to kids in church, but I certainly have modeled it. What I have taught is gratitude to God for our blessings, many of which are being American, and civil responsibility, both which are not USA dependent.

I can go on and on about what a good and amazing country this is, but that is beside the point (and I think the Kidology discussion got off on that rabbit trail, which is easy for Americans to do. We LOVE our country.) I certainly have blogged about how wonderful America is before, so you may read those if you need to. The question posed by our Australian brother was not is American worthy of patriotism, but should we be teaching patriotism in our children’s ministry. That is a good question even if we weren’t worthy of it. Patriotism (or nationalism as it is usually called in other countries) is certainly taught to kids even in countries we would not think worthy of it.

The best definition of Patriotism I found was:

Patriotism is your conviction that this country
is superior to all other countries
because you were born in it.
– George Bernard Shaw

Because it illustrates the point that Patriotism has nothing to do with how good a nation is, it has to do with our feelings toward a nation. Americans have a hard time separating how good we are from thinking we are best. America is great in a long list of ways… but as our critics abroad are quick to point out, with our prosperity and freedom has come a moral cost as well. We have some serious issues not seen in other countries, so it is difficult to give an overall “fair” or objective evaluation of a country. In the end, people will focus on the aspects that support how they already feel, rather than base their feelings on facts. We who love this country will quickly say our good outweighs are bad (and I’ll admit, that’s me!) but our enemies or critics who already hate or dislike us will say that the bad outweighs the good. (and I’m resisting defending how wrong this is!)

I do believe that America has enjoyed God’s blessing and I will say I can’t think of another nation that has done as much for the rest of the world despite it’s shortcomings, and I do think our heritage is why – but no guarentee of lasting power or impact. For those who doubt or don’t realize the Christian heritage (it certainly isn’t taught anymore, or is glossed over or minimized) should watch these online videos, they are powerful:

IN GOD WE TRUST

ONE NATION UNDER GOD

So we as Americans have plenty of reasons to be proud of our country – but teaching pride for country misses the point. We shouldn’t teach kids to simply love and be proud of their country. What about when the country violates Scripture? What about abortion? Do we love that? Are we proud of the innocent we kill? What about racism? Do we love that? Are we proud of it? What about high levels of crime, drug use, and immorality? Love it? Proud of it? Of course not!

Instead, we ought to teach our kids to appreciate our blessings and to recognize that “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17) But we also need to teach them what God hates, and the role God’s people should play in correcting those wrongs. We need to teach kids to be a light in a dark world, and there are dark places in America that need that light!

Having said that, however, there is a place for Patriotism/Nationalism. The quote above is holds a nugget of truth – we are in the country we are in, because God placed us there. Even on the mission field American missionaries will teach the locals to honor and support their country. My father in law founded a mega church in Manila, Philippines, and when Filipinos would come to the USA for education he would encourage them not to just stay in America but to return to their own country and help there. America is a wonderful land of opportunity but if everyone came here the problems in other countries wouldn’t be helped. It isn’t un-American for an American to encourage someone in another country to love their country and be a part of making it a better place. America is not heaven on earth – but it is our country, and therefore we love it, even if we don’t love everything in it.

What I teach kids in my church is the same thing kids can be taught in every country. NOT “America is Best”, but love your country, be thankful for the blessings of your country, and be a part of making our country better.

That applies down under as well as up top, and all the sides.

There were 39 combat related killings in Iraq in January. In the fair city of Detroit there were 35 murders in the month of January. That’s just one American city, about as deadly as the entire war-torn country of Iraq .

Many people say that President Bush shouldn’t have started this war, but they fail to realize that:

1) FDR led us into World War II. While Japan did attack us, Germany never attacked did. From 1941-1945, 450,000 lives were lost … an average of 112,500 per year.

2) Truman finished that war and started one in Korea, even though North Korea never attacked us. From 1950-1953, 55,000 lives were lost … an average of 18,334 per year.

3) John F. Kennedy started the Vietnam conflict in 1962. But guess what? Vietnam never attacked us.

4) Johnson turned Vietnam into a quagmire. From 1965-1975, 58,000 lives were lost an average of 5,800 per year.

5) Clinton went to war in Bosnia without UN or French consent. What? Bosnia never attacked us? Nope. He was offered Osama bin Laden’s head on a platter three times by Sudan and did nothing. Osama has attacked us on multiple occasions.

In the years since terrorists attacked us , President Bush has liberated two countries, crushed the Taliban, crippled al-Qaida, put nuclear inspectors in Libya , Iran , and North Korea without firing a shot, and captured a terrorist who slaughtered 300,000 of his own people.

The Democrats are complaining about how long the war is taking. But:

It took less time to take Iraq than it took Janet Reno to take the Branch Davidian compound.
That was a 51-day operation.

We’ve been looking for evidence for chemical weapons in Iraq for less time than it took Hillary Clinton to find the Rose Law Firm billing records.

It took less time for the 3rd Infantry Division and the Marines to destroy the Medina Republican Guard
than it took Ted Kennedy to call the police after his Oldsmobile sank at Chappaquiddick

It took less time to take Iraq than it took to count the votes in Florida !!!!

Our Commander-In-Chief is doing a GREAT JOB!
The Military morale is high!
The biased media hopes we are too ignorant to realize the facts.

Hillary Clinton recently admitted that as President she would NOT pull the troops out… she goofed and showed her cards… the Democrats want to pain the war as a failure to get into power, so they can continue and win the war, and claim the credit. They won’t let the USA lose when they are in power, but right now they are rooting for the enemy… for political gain. Pathetic. How patriotic is a candidate that roots and assists the enemy in order to gain power? I will never vote for a candidate that needs American soliders to lose and die in order to further their political ambitions, but that is EXACTLY what is happening right now.

I watched a congressional hearing today on CSPAN2 and was shocked at the ignorance and right out lies stated by elected officials. How they got elected I have no idea.

War is ugly. Lost lives are tragic and heart breaking. But we didn’t start this war. But we will finish it.

And I will feel much better and our nation will be much safer, if someone supporting our President and our Troops is in power the next four years.

If you do not support the troops mission, you do NOT support the troops. it is UnAmerican to undermine our mission and troops. It’s a sad day in American when those fighting to keep us safe and undermined by the very ones they serving to protect.

God Bless America.

Could that be Chuck?

Did you know Chuck Norris is a presidential body guard?

He has served every president since George Washington.

(Except Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley and Kennedy, of course!)

Anyway, I’m happy that Mike won the primary – its cool that someone who spent 1/15th the money of others still won. I do find it interesting (and frustrating) that the news has to use the word “Christian” or “evangelical” or “religious” in every sentence as though they are bad words that are poison to a campaign. Ironically, they may actually be helping rather than hurting his campaign.

I haven’t chosen “my guy” yet, but I do like a lot of what Gov. Huckabee is saying. I love following politics – it is crazy the stuff that the media pulls when you know the truth and when you understand politics. But I won’t get into that her and now. But as the election gains pace, I’ll start getting political! You’ve been warned.

CHUCK NORRIS FOR PRESIDENT!

UP-DATE!!! It IS Chuck Norris standing behind Mike, NOT an look-a-like, here is the Chuck Norris Commercial Huckabee ran in Iowa:

and here is a long rambling explanation of why Chuck is backing Mike:

Just wanted to let you know you can order this free book HERE!

The title seems interesting. TIME.com writes, “It used to be, says David Kinnaman, that Christianity was both big and beloved in the U.S. — even among its non-adherents. Back in 1996, a poll taken by Kinnaman’s organization, the Barna Group, found that 83% of Americans identified themselves as Christians, and that fewer than 20% of non-Christians held an unfavorable view of Christianity. But, as Kinnaman puts it in his new book (co-authored with Gabe Lyons) UnChristian, “That was then.”

140/37 got some work to do!