Chic on the Right

Say this isn't Goodbye

2010-12-26T15:24:00.000-05:00

This is not good-bye.

I have been maintaining two blogs, this one and the one at http://www.sheepfeeder.wordpress.com/. I have an interest in writing about my Savior, but I also desired to write about politics too. I realize now that my love for Jesus and my politics are so closely related that it's too difficult to separate the two. I love my country so much because I believe my Savior is the one who has blessed us and given us our rights. Therefore, I have come to the decision that I will write from that one site, and I hope that you will continue to follow me there. Thank you to those that have read my posts, I really do appreciate you and I hope that you will come over and comment on my other site. Thanks again, and God bless you!

Uncle Sam Needs You

2010-12-12T21:35:00.000-05:00

The Lame Duck session is almost over. Christmas will soon be over and I'm all about celebrating the true reason for the season, the birth of our Savior. But, after you get the Christmas decorations put away, it will truly be time to get to work.

It's time to put some thought into those pesky resolutions. Here are some great ideas to think about and see if you can add them to your checklist:

1. I resolve to be a responsible citizen by taking care of my family, practicing my faith, joining organizations and volunteering in my community! I may even go above and beyond by starting a business and investing in America's future!

2. I resolve to speak up! I will be sure to vote and contact my local officials on areas I disagree with them about and on those that I agree with them on, to let them know when they do something right. I will write letters and comment on my social networks, call radio shows, participate in town hall meetings.

3. I resolve to encourage discussion! I will start a blog or website or use my social networks to challenge the left with facts, challenge the media to represent conservative principles, encourage candidates and our elected representatives to learn more about conservative ideas. I will write my local paper and I will support conservative teachers, educational programs and schools that teach the truth.

4. I resolve to spread the message of truth to my family and friends! I will be open to questions and bring important conservative issues to the attention of civic, social, church or business groups and I will celebrate our heritage and distribute pocket constitutions.

5. I resolve to join think tanks and institutions fighting for conservative principles! Tea Parties, 9/12 groups, and other liberty organizations need my help. I will stay informed, review pending legislation, track local issues, follow different organizations and do my own research to stay up to date on all sides of the issues.

I'm not against the usual resolutions, such as quitting smoking or losing weight, but there's a whole bunch more that we can be doing for the future of our country and for our grandchildren and great nieces and nephews. They will one day ask you what you did in 2010-2012 to help our country, and wouldn't you love to tell them about your adventures in saving our great Republic?

The Future has a Way of Arriving Unannounced

2010-12-06T06:32:00.002-05:00

A pandemic is defined as an outbreak of a particular infection or disease that is geographically widespread, occurring throughout a region or even globally. This can occur at any time, though it is considered to be rare.

The American Red Cross suggests that every family prepare an Emergency Kit, in case of such a pandemic. I think it is wise, and we should even consider beefing up the amounts of the list below, just because of the current economic and financial status of our country.

George Will said, "The future has a way of arriving unannounced". So I hope you will choose to be prepared and if so, I hope the following list will help:

Food and Water. Store at least enough for two weeks. You may not be able to get to a store or stores may be out of supplies. Store at least one gallon of water per day for each person, including pets. Good foods to store would be ready-to-eat canned meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, beans and soups; protein or fruit bars; dry cereal, granola, nuts or dried fruit; canned or jarred baby food and formula; pet food and supplies; manual can opener.
Medical/Health Supplies. Prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs such as pain relievers, stomach remedies, cough and cold medications, fluids with electrolytes, vitamins and a thermometer; tissues, toilet paper, disposable diapers, wet wipes, soap and cleaning supplies.
Emergency Supplies. Flashlight with batteries; crank radio; garbage bags; cellular phone and charger.
If you use a wheelchair or scooter: Patch kit (can of seal-in-air product) and extra inner tubes; pair of heavy gloves; extra battery and charger; lightweight manual wheelchair for backup.
If you are blind or have visual disability: at least one extra white cane; talking or Braille clock or large print time-piece with extra batteries; eye care supplies such as extra glasses, contact lenses, lens solution, and magnifiers; mark your disaster supply items with fluorescent tape, large print or Braille.
If you are deaf or have hearing loss: extra hearing aid and batteries; pads of paper with pencils or pens; flashlight; whistle or other noise-maker; a card stating you are deaf including any other appropriate communication information such as "I do (or do not) know American Sign Language.
If you have a speech-related or communication disability: Pads of paper, pens or pencils, keep electronic communication devices and chargers close by, store copies of word or letter boards and pre-printed phrases you might use during an emergency.
If you have a service animal: Remember necessary equipment such as food, water, leash/harness/collar, identification tags, copy of current license and vaccinations.

During a pandemic, you and your family may need to stay home for several days or weeks. Make a plan to communicate and get assistance should you need additional supplies or resources. Keep these numbers in your emergency kit: 1) local personal emergency contact(s), 2) Out-of-town personal emergency contact, 3) Hospitals near work, home and school, 4) family physician(s), 5) State or local health department, 6) Pharmacy, 7) Employer contact information, 8) School contact and emergency information, 9) Religious/spiritual organization and 10) Veterinarian/Kennel.

Knowing the facts is the best preparation for pandemics. Identify sources that you can count on for reliable information. Having accurate and reliable information can be critical if a pandemic occurs.

Kentucky Department for Public Health: www.chfs.ky.gov/dph; http://www.healthalerts.ky.gov/; 502-564-3970
Kentucky Division of ER Mgmt: http://kyem.ky.gov/; 502-607-1611; 800-255-2587
Kentucky Office of Homeland Security: http://www.homelandsecurity.ky.gov/; 502-564-2081
US Dept. of Health & Human Services: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention: www.cdc.gov/flu ; 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)
Ky Commission on the Deaf & Hard of Hearing: 502-573-2604; 800-372-2907 http://www.kcdhh.ky.gov/
Ky Relay Service: 800-648-6057; 800-648-6056
Ky Office for Blind: 800-321-6668 http://www.blind.ky.gov/

Remember to pray America, our future and blessings depend on it!

5 Reasons You Make a Difference

2010-11-26T15:54:00.000-05:00

It's getting to be that time of year again....You are still regretting all the food you ate yesterday, you don't have all your Christmas presents purchased, you have a list of things to do a mile-long, and you don't even want to think about the resolutions that you need to make for next year.

You may be on the verge of chuckin' it all, the country is going to hell in a hand basket and nothing you did really made any difference. You found out politicians are still making money off of the citizens' fears, and you are wondering why you 'wasted' all the time you have in trying to urge all those around you to do the patriotic, like voting, educating themselves on the candidates, researching what's going on, etc.

But, there's five reasons you need to stop thinking those things right now!

First, you have learned your lesson. No longer will you be caught with your head in the sand, while those in public office steal from you and use your money to buy favorites for constituents in other states or any other corruption without you screaming from the rooftops. You have been shedding light on the evil and evil can't prevail in the light.

Secondly, you didn't keep the truth to yourself. It's one thing to just call up your neighbor to complain and whine. It's a different story to show up in groups to discuss action that can be taken and then putting that action into place, by contacting representatives, writing letters and making phone calls.

You don't waste your time. You know, as many of us do, that there's some people that you won't be able to reach. Some people don't see the connection of what's going on with the government and how it effects them at all. Some feel there's nothing that they can do and unfortunately, unless they feel the pinch or see their children in imminent danger, they won't do anything at all. But, you haven't wasted your time, and you've moved on to those who are listening.

You know how to test the water. How open people are to listening to you will be a key to how much information they buy. If people don't trust you or respect you, the odds of them believing anything you say will be slim. But, you haven't forced information on to anyone. You have approached those that know and trust you and you have given them the reasons why they should look into what it is that you are telling them.

You know how to pick your battles. You know that you cannot fight every battle. This is a war and there are many soldiers. You can't fight every issue and there are some issues that will have to be taken up by someone else. And you know that's okay because it allows you to reserve your strength for the battles that you are in. And, this gives you a greater chance of success.

You are making a difference, even though it's hard to believe sometimes. And, I am sure you can think of at least five reasons why it's too important to give up now. This election proved that some are listening. This is an encouragement to me and I hope this post has encouraged you to keep doing what you've been doing. Keep praying for strength from our generous Creator, and encourage a patriot you know this week, let them know that they make a difference to you.

When the Foundations are Being Destroyed

2010-10-30T23:01:00.000-04:00

Psalm 11:3 says, "The foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do?"

I read that in a devotional today, and it's applicable to our present time. A lot of things seem as if they are beginning to collapse...economy, healthcare as we knew it, small businesses, education, families, relationships, friendships, human rights, political rights, freedom of speech...

On the upside, I know that I am more informed and focused than I ever been and I know others are as well. When I first started learning more about our history as a country and researching individuals that were part of the administration in our country or were in a position to influence it in some way, I was truly convicted for not taking my civic duties more seriously in the past. But, things started moving so fast that I really didn't have the luxury of dwelling on the past. I became as involved as I could, and like many of you, there were times I could barely keep my head above water.

But, I've noticed lately that I've been thinking and longing for November 2nd...like a hot tub of soapy bubbles after a long day at work. And, I had to go to the sink and splash cold water on my face. November 2nd isn't Calgon. Even if our candidates win, Nov. 3rd is not the time to go to sleep. There will be other elections, there will be those still in office that don't need to be there, there will be candidates that need to be supported in future elections, and there will still be legislative issues in this country that will need to be dealt with and fought for.

The damage that has been done by this, and past, administrations will not be fixed no matter how this election goes. The American people still have a lot of work to do. The Psalmist's question is our question, "When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

What are your plans for 2011 and 2012? What can you learn about our country and those in leadership positions? What local offices will be opening up for re-election? Are you qualified for any of them? How are you preparing your children for their future civic duties? Have you limited God in the political realm of your life? Have you prayed about your political aspirations or decisions?

When the foundations are being destroyed, the righteous turn to God and the righteous have to decide what to do.

Math Lesson from 8/28

2010-09-04T14:31:00.000-04:00

If I learned anything from the Restoring Honor Rally on 8/28, it was a lesson in multiplying and dividing.

Politicians, political parties, the majority of civil rights activists, and the mainstream media, along with lots of others I'm not thinking of at the moment, are the dividers. They have to divide because it is their life's blood. Without division, they have no chance to pocket money from those they have deluded into thinking they will work for/serve them. Without division there is no reason for press.

The multipliers include our faith, our hope, and our charity. Our belief that the dividers are not in control, our belief that we can do better, our belief that we make a difference. Our hope is defined by our faith, what we believe is the catalyst for our hope in the future. Without these beliefs, we have no hope. Our charity is the result of our faith and our hope. Without both, there is no reason to be charitable. When we believe and have faith, we multiply hope for others. When we have hope, we endure and it multiplies the faith of those around us. When we give, we heal hearts and minds. The healing of hearts and minds multiplies their hope and faith. And so the cycle goes.

Division isn't without positive reaction, however. Division can cause faith and hope to be tested and strengthened, and it can cause those who were never charitable to dig deeper. What the dividers don't know can hurt them. Faith, Hope and Charity are not alone, they have back up. It's name is Love. Love for God, love for country, and love for freedom.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy. Love is never boastful, nor conceited, nor rude; It is not self-seeking, nor easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongdoing. It does not delight in evil, But rejoices in the truth. It always protects, trusts, hopes, and preserves. There is nothing love cannot face; There is no limit to its faith, hope, and endurance. In a word, there are three things that last forever: Faith, hope, and love; But the greatest of them all is love.- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

It's Really All About Shutting You Up

2010-08-23T21:30:00.001-04:00

In June, I wrote about the Disclose Act, in a post titled "It's Really All About Accountability".

Team Obama is back, just like the Progressive machine that it is, to try and silence you. The Disclose Act failed to pass last month because of Senators' Brown, Collins & Snowe. I can only imagine what they are being offered or how they are being threatened for the next vote, but don't be discouraged. The administration is obviously afraid of your voice and your power, and that's why they keep trying to pass this Act of Disgrace. We must continue to push back! We will not be silenced!

Even the Sierra Club believes this Act to be "unfair and undemocratic" and that smaller grass-roots organizations would be at a disadvantage because they don't have the ability to deal with "the additional disclosure burdens." Free speech for big non-profits and unions was maintained by the Supreme Court decision in January, but small corporations and small non-profits and grassroots organizations could lose theirs if we don't demand that these Senators continue to vote No.

President Obama and his crew have stated that the Court's decision would "open the floodgates for special interest, including foreign corporations, to spend without limit in our elections." But guess what? Our current federal law and Federal Election Commission regulations already ban foreign corporations from participating directly or indirectly in American elections. (see 2 U.S.C. § 441e and 2 U.S.C. 437g).

Contact the Senators, thank them for their previous vote of "NO" and tell them to do like you are, and to keep on keepin' on! God bless you! (Clicking on each Senator's name should take you to their website where you can email them if you choose.)

Scott Brown (R-NH)
Washington DC: (T) (202) 224-4543, (F) (202) 228-2646

Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
Washington DC: (T) (202) 224-5344, Toll free (800) 432-1599, (F) (202) 224-1946

Susan Collins (R-ME)
Washington DC: (T) (202) 224-2523, (F) (202) 224-2693

8/28

2010-08-20T07:40:00.000-04:00

Honor, derived from the Latin word honoris, is the evaluation of a person's trustworthiness and social status based on that individual's actions to support their beliefs. Honor is what determines a person's character as to whether or not they reflect honesty, respect, integrity, and fairness. Does the rubber meet the road? Do I behave according to the way I believe? Do I allow outside influences determine my behavior, or do I stand on principle regardless?

As a veteran, I appreciate the sacrifices that our men and women make everyday, particularly while surrounded by a hell I can only imagine. Even on the homefront, it is exhausting to go about the work we do as patriots while surrounded by disheartening and discouraging news every day. The code is sometimes all that can keep your feet and honor firmly planted. Regardless of the ideologies and missteps of our current administration and our wayward politicians, we must always remember:

We are Americans, fighting in the forces which guard our country and our way of life. We must be prepared to give our lives in their defense.

We must never surrender of our own free will. If we are in charge, we will never surrender while we still have the means to resist.

If we are captured, we will continue to resist by all means available. We will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. We will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.

If we become prisoners of war, we will keep faith with our fellow prisoners. We will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to our comrades.

We will make no oral or written statements disloyal to our country and its allies or harmful to their cause.

We will never forget that we are Americans, fighting for freedom, responsible for our actions, and dedicated to the principles which made our
country free. We will trust in God and in the United States of America.

Honor is never tested like it is during war. And, this is war. A war against an ideology, one that says that the government knows better than you, a government that believes they can take care of you better than you can, a government that believes in redistribution, a government that is doing all it can to divide us, a government that is not listening...a government that believes that we are sheep.

Will you join me on 8/28, as we stand to show our government that we have been here before, that we have not forgotten the men and women who have sacrificed all to give us our freedom and that are still giving all to ensure that freedom? Remember the code and stand together on 8/28, whether in DC or in your community. Gather with your liberty-minded buddies, put your arm around them, ensure them that they are not alone, we stand together friends. United in the cause of freedom and we have not forgotten...we are one nation under God, indivisible.

A Soldier Finally Comes Home

2010-08-02T17:59:00.000-04:00

Army Corporal Harry J. Reeve has been missing in action since 1950 during the Korean War, but he will be laid to rest on Wednesday in Radcliff, near Fort Knox. Radcliff was chosen by Cpl Reeve's closest relative, James Hughes of Louisville. It appears that Reeve was executed by enemy troops after being captured in combat in 1950, the U.S. Defense Department said.

Reeve was one of seven soldiers recovered from a mass grave near Unsan, North Korea, in May 2004 by a joint U.S.-North Korean team. The US military's Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command used mitochondrial DNA tests and dental records to identify Reeve's remains. James Hughes, a distant cousin of Reeve, advised that he and one of his brothers provided DNA samples that were used in the identification. Hughes said that he and Cpl. Reeve played football and basketball together when they were growing up in Philadelphia.

According to the Defense Department, Reeve was assigned to the Army's 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. In early November 1950, the regiment occupied a defensive position near the North Korean town of Unsan, in a bend of the Kuryong River known as the "camel's head." Around the 1st of November, 1950, US troops came under attack from the Communist Chinese People's Volunteer Army, soldiers in Reeve's regiment fell back to their command post, fighting the enemy in hand to hand combat, but were overwhelmed. Almost 400 soldiers of their regiment were reported killed or missing in action, according to the Defense Department.

In the Defense Department release, Reeve and 9 more US soldiers captured during the fighting were moved to a house near the battlefield. James Hughes said Monday the Americans were turned over to North Korean soldiers, who then marched them to a nearby field and shot them. Three soldiers survived, and 2 of them later confirmed the executions. Military officials said they have identified 7 soldiers from the mass burial site.

I thank Cpl. Reeve and his comrades, living and dead, for their service in the cause of freedom.

My First Blog and My First Love

2010-08-01T22:52:00.000-04:00

This blog is actually my second. I began my first blog almost two years ago upon being led by the Lord to write about Him. I felt very strongly that this was His leading, but I had many excuses for not doing it. First of all, I didn't feel prepared or qualified. Although I've always wanted to write, I couldn't bring myself to start a blog and tell people that the contents of it were things that God wanted me to tell people about. What would people think?

Then time, as usual, became an obstacle and the blog just faded into the background. Honestly, I almost forgot it altogether. Then, in an effort to support a local candidate, I decided to start this blog and as a compromise, I decided I would base the blog on politics and religion and how they both shaped the world we live in. I told myself that I could justify the contents easily with what would most likely be an audience like me, politically interested and Christian.

It's ironic that I began my first blog on WordPress and then when I began this one, I used Blogger. Distancing myself from Lord, like Jonah maybe? Ugh! Then a few days ago, I wanted to access something on WordPress and it asked me to sign up for an account. When I tried, it showed that I already had one and sent my identification information to my email address. When I checked it, I realized it was my forgotten blog, my Ninevah! Oh the shame! Luke 20:25 played in my head, "Jesus said to them, 'Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and give to God the things that are God's.'"

Now, before you judge me, please note that I don't think there is anything wrong with a blog that discusses politics and religion combined, not at all. I just have access to my motivations and intent, and so does my Father. So, from now on, my first blog will be about my first love and my first love only, like I was told. And, I will keep this blog, and will indulge my interests in politics and current events. I know that with my time constraints that this won't be easy, but living in a fish isn't easy either I imagine.

So, please come back for some political chitchat and if you are interested, and I hope you are, in the messages God gives to me so willingly, please check out my new, old blog at http://sheepfeeder.wordpress.com. Thanks for reading and know that we all get misguided, none of us ever put God first all the time, but it's never too late to correct your mistakes and open your ears to what God is trying to tell you. Don't worry if you forget, He will remind you.

Are you successful?

2010-07-31T14:33:00.001-04:00

Most of us want to be successful. And, we want the material and emotional benefits that come with it. That's all well and good, and I hope it happens for us, because there's nothing wrong with it. But success, just for the sake of being successful doesn't really work.

Your definition of success today may not be what it meant for you when you graduated from high school or college. It's not the same today as what it might mean to you next month, next year, or five years from now. And, your idea of success is probably not the same as mine. Do you define success by creating or re-selling a product and getting lots of people to buy it? Do you define it by the sales you made this month? Is it about having many friends and associates that all respect you? Is it about doing what you love, and being able to do this to provide for your family?

Many people don't even think about what it means to be successful. They usually borrow their definition of success from books, movies, or what others are striving to accomplish. If you're like me, there has been a point in your life, or maybe more than one, when you have realized that you've been striving and/or struggling to get to what you had termed "success", when suddenly, you realize that it's not really your idea of success at all. The perception of outward "success" is an illusion. Who wants to only appear "successful", and then wish that you were as successful as people thought you were?

Success is shady. It promises you benefits based on the external, you imagine that certain benefits will come along with your "success". It could be material objects, the awesome feeling you get when you succeed, and maybe total freedom from anxiety and concern. All this is yours, for the low, low price of "success". But, if your decisions and your motivations are made internally, then you will be less likely to doubt yourself and your convictions toward success will be more powerful and real.

Success has to be based in reality, and we have to live in the present. We all have high expectations of the future. We build the future goal up in our minds through fantasy and dreaming, but it isn’t here, and chances are, the real deal will never match our imaginations. So, if you’re working hard to make something happen, start focusing on areas where you are already successful. We have all slayed a giant in our lives, whether it's losing a few pounds, making a good grade, or doing something we previously didn't think we would be able to do. Be flexible with your definition of success.

Being successful doesn't intrinsically change you, so if you are a worry wart now, you will still be a worried, anxious person after you reach your "success". Some of us will have increased anxiety, because we realize we've set a new standard for ourselves, how long will we be able to maintain it? To eliminate those feelings, we have to change our pattern of thinking that automatically entitles us to super-human power just because we have reached our idea of "success".

Danger Will Robinson! You must be aware that a lack of confidence has the potential of killing your idea of "success". Any true success is gained by taking action step after action step. If you are too anxious to take the next step, then you have already lost. Unexpected issues always come up, and your lack of confidence could cause you to retreat from the next step.

Bottom line: There really aren't "successful people". Successes are events. All true wisdom advises us to forget expectations, and to live in the present. The best that any of us can do is to make intentional steps, steps in principle and strength using our skills to support our decisions and our actions. Trust ourselves to take the next step, no matter what happened in the past. Listen to your instincts. Our mistakes are only as big as we make them. Crucifying yourself over it, will not take you any closer to your goals.

Thomas Edison said, "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." Once again, I don't agree that people are failures, I believe failure happens to good people. But, I do agree with him in that many of us give up at what we perceive is failure when success is just available to us on the next try.

Interested in taking a breather from political activity?

2010-07-05T12:46:00.000-04:00

Everyone can suffer from burn-out. If you are like me and you are inundated with the political world, take a break! Refresh your mind with other activity for a day, it will keep you from losing it and help you come back fighting strong later.

Watch an early morning workout at Keeneland Race Course or the Red Mile Harness Track. You can even take a self-guided track tour. Keeneland: (859-254-3412 or 800-456-3412) The Red Mile: (859-255-0752)

Check out a new kind of Kentucky horsepower at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, Inc., in Georgetown. (800-866-4485)

Snap a pic at the Lexington’s Thoroughbred Park, Main and Midland streets, where realistic bronze horse statues race and graze.

Schedule a tour of the Lexington Herald-Leader newspaper plant at Main and Midland. (859-231-3100)

Meander or exercise at the 470-acre Raven Run Nature Sanctuary, where hiking trails wind through meadows, woodlands and along streams in the scenic
Kentucky River Palisades area. (859-272-6105)

Admire Old Masters, American and Kentucky masterpieces and some of the nation’s best art exhibits at the UK Art Museum. (859-257-5716)

Take a memorable stroll through Lexington Cemetery, nationally recognized for its arboretum and gardens, and final resting place of Henry Clay, Confederate General John Hunt Morgan, basketball coach Adolph Rupp and other famous Lexingtonians. (859-255-5522)

Do some water watching in front of the cascading wall of fountains at downtown’s Triangle Park, corner of Main and Broadway. Or stop at the fountains in front of the courthouses on N. Limestone for water wonders.

Sneak a peak through a special viewing window into Rupp Arena, home court of national basketball champs, the UK Wildcats. (859-233-4567)

Explore the area at your own pace using the Lexington Walk and Bluegrass Country Driving Tour available at the Convention and Visitors Bureau, 301 E. Vine Street. (859-233-7299 or 800-845-3959)

Act like a kid again at one of Lexington’s incredible Creative Playground structures, in Jacobson and Shillito parks. (859-288-2900)

Learn all about “Big Blue” traditions (in education and sports) with free guided tours Monday-Friday at 10 and 2:15 of the Lexington campus of UK. (859-257-3595)

Visit Kentucky Derby winners and other famous equine residents of the Bluegrass at area horse farms; the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau can tell you which farms allow visitors. (No admission charge, but tipping is recommended.) (859-233-7299 or 800-845-3959)

Share the visions of Lexington artists at Loudon House, 209 Castlewood Dr., the home of the Lexington Art League. The house, a Gothic villa built in 1852, is itself a work of art. (859-254-7024)

Stroll back in time in Gratz Park, Lexington’s poshest neighborhood of the early 1800s and still a scenic and charming place to live. (N. Mill and Market streets between Second and Third.)

Go to the source of Lexington, McConnell Springs, where in 1775, frontier explorers got word of the first battle of the American Revolution at Lexington, Massachusetts, and decided to name their campsite in its honor. On Rebman Lane, off Old Frankfort Pike. (859-225-4073)

Drive or bike along Old Frankfort Pike (1681), officially designated one of America’s Scenic Byways.

Dig into Kentucky’s “prehistory” and view arrowheads, tools, early pottery and other artifacts at the Museum of Anthropology, Lafferty Hall on the University of Kentucky campus. (859-257-8208)

Take a “plant walk across Kentucky” and view other gardens at the Arboretum, Alumni Drive in Lexington. (859-257-9339)

Promenade through a formal English parterre garden, or stroll grounds once walked by the “Great Compromiser” himself, Henry Clay, at Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate, 120 Sycamore Road in Lexington. (859-266-8581)

Jog or walk through Masterson Station Park, or follow the fitness trail at Shillito Park, both in Lexington. (859-288-2900)

Picnic where pioneer Daniel Boone once lived at Boone Station State Historic Site, Gentry Rd. (I-75 exit 104) near Athens.

Rub elbows with sheiks, movie stars and the horse set at horse sales at Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton. (But don’t bid or you could spend millions!) Major sales in July, September, November and January. Keeneland: 859-254-3412; Fasig Tipton: 859-255-1555

Sample the sweets and see how candy is made at Old Kentucky Chocolates in Lexington (859-278-4444) and Rebecca-Ruth Candy in Frankfort. (800-444-3766)

See a pioneer cabin, outstanding Greek Revival architecture and a collection of early medical instruments — plus learn about a legendary curse — on the campus of Transylvania University, first college west of the Alleghenies. By appointment only. 300 North Broadway in Lexington. (859-233-8120)

Cast your line in the lake or go for a boat ride at Lexington’s Jacobson Park off Richmond Road. (No charge to fish, but state fishing license required.) (859-288-2900)

Ponder Lexington’s Civil War-era history on the grounds of the Fayette County Courthouse, where you’ll find Cheapside Park, site of one of the South’s largest slave markets, and a statue of Confederate General John Hunt Morgan, who lived in Lexington.

Enjoy one of Lexington’s most interesting interior views— a five-story atrium with the world’s largest ceiling clock at the Lexington Public Library, 140 East Main Street. (The view of downtown out the upper floor windows isn’t bad either.) (859-231-5500)

Sample the latest CDs on the private headsets, browse to your heart’s content, ride the escalators, or relax by the fireplace at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, one of the region’s largest bookstores— and one of Lexingtonians’ favorite places to meet and mingle. The Mall at Lexington Green, Nicholasville Road. (859-273-2911)

The beautiful Romanesque stone building in the center of downtown Lexington is now home to the Lexington History Museum. Once the county courthouse, it now houses the city’s newest attraction, and plans are underway for its complete restoration. Open Monday through Friday. (859-254-0530)

Need some quiet time? Lose yourself in the outdoor labyrinth at the Old Episcopal Burying Ground, 3rd and Elm Tree Lane. Open 24 hours.

Tour Kentucky’s 1810 Beaux Arts Style Capitol and see murals of historic figures, a collection of dolls dressed in replicas of Kentucky First Lady inaugural gowns, and, if your timing’s right, Kentucky legislators in action. Groups of ten or more must make a reservation. 700 Capital Avenue, Frankfort. (502-564-3449)

Take in a panoramic view of Frankfort and the Capitol rotunda from the scenic overlook off US 60 west of downtown Frankfort.

Have a blooming good time at one of the nation’s most unusual gardens, the Floral Clock on the lawn of the Capitol grounds in Frankfort. (502-564-3449)

Tour Kentucky’s Governor’s Mansion, modeled after Petit Trianon, Marie Antoinette’s summer villa. Located next to the Capitol in Frankfort. Call for days and times. (502-564-3449)

Tour Kentucky’s Old Governor’s Mansion, built in 1798 and the oldest official executive residence in the United States until renovations began in 2003. 420 High Street, Frankfort. (502-564-3449)

Visit the gravesites of Kentucky pioneers Daniel and Rebecca Boone and other notables, overlooking the Kentucky River in Frankfort Cemetery. 215 East Main Street, Frankfort. (502-227-2403)

View military history in a more personal light at the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a sundial memorial to Kentuckians killed in Vietnam. The point of the gnomen’s shadow touches each veteran’s name on the anniversary of his death. Coffee Tree Lane, Frankfort.

Are you game? Visit the fishing lakes and picnic areas of the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Game Farm, off US 60 three mile west of Frankfort. Be sure to tour the on-site Salato Wildlife Education Center. (502-564-4336)

Visit the Vest-Lindsey House, a 19th-century Federal-style house and boyhood home of dog’s best friend, U.S. Senator George Graham Vest, who coined the phrase “dog is man’s best friend.” 401 Wapping Street, Frankfort. (502-564-6980)

Discover bridges to the past: Drive across one of Kentucky’s 12 remaining covered bridges, the Colville Covered Bridge, on KY 3118 northwest of Millersburg. In Fleming County, northeast of Lexington, you can admire not just one, but three, lovely old covered bridges.

Thrill to Berry Hill Mansion, with its elaborate music room featuring a massive cathedral organ and intricately carved wood ornamentation. 700 Louisville Road, Frankfort. (502-564-3000)

Visit one of the region’s largest art galleries, a Kentucky native plants arboretum and antebellum buildings on the campus of Georgetown College, oldest Baptist College west of the Alleghenies. (502-863-8009)

Sample local history and see all kinds of interesting stuff at the Georgetown & Scott County Museum (in the old Post Office on Main St., Georgetown, 502-863-6201); the Woodford County Historical Society Museum (121 Rose Hill, Versailles, 859-873-6786); the Cynthiana/Harrison County Museum (13 South Walnut Street, Cynthiana, 859-234-7179); and the Harvey Helm Historical Museum (Temporarily closed for renovation. 325 Main Street, Stanford, 606-365-7513).

See one of the world’s largest private collections of locks: The Harry C. Miller Lock Collection at the Lockmasters Education Center, 1014 South Main Street, Nicholasville, includes locks going back to the 1300s. (859-887-9633)

Call ahead to see the collection of telephones, old phone books, cables and phone worker tools at the Pioneer Telephone Museum located in the BellSouth building in Winchester. (859-745-5108)

Make your own pilgrimage to Old Cane Ridge Meeting House in Bourbon County, site of the famous Cane Ridge revival of 1801, when 30,000 people assembled leading to the birth of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Donations appreciated. (859-987-5350)

Visit a big backyard you’re sure to envy: The Nannine Clay Wallis Arboretum, 616 Pleasant Street, Paris, is a four-acre display of landscaping at the headquarters of the Garden Club of Kentucky. Donations appreciated. (859-987-6158 or 859-987-3643)

Wander amid woods, wildflowers and wildlife at the 100-acre Jim Beam Nature Preserve, off US 27 south of Nicholasville. (859-259-9655)

Honor veterans of the Civil War and other wars at Camp Nelson National Cemetery and Civil War site, off US 27 south of Nicholasville. (859-885-5727)

Escape the same old grind with a country drive to Weisenberger Mill, off Leestown Pike near Midway. There are no tours, but the original 1862 grindstone is on display out front, and across the road grindstones help create one of Central Kentucky’s most unusual stone fences. (859-254-5282)

Stop by and visit for a while at America’s oldest continuously operated country store, Penn’s Store, on KY 243 near Gravel Switch in Boyle County. (859-332-7715)

Zip down to Danville to see the first post office west of the Alleghenies, plus replicas of an early meetinghouse and jail at Constitution Square State Historic Site, 134 S. 2nd Street. (859-239-7089)

Take a walking tour of Carlisle and be charmed by more than 350 National Register buildings packed into one of Kentucky’s smallest county seats. (859-289-5174)

Visit the house that Jack built— Jack Jouett, that is. He was a Revolutionary War hero who rode all night to save Thomas Jefferson from the British. The Jack Jouett House is on Craig’s Creek Pike in Woodford County. Donations accepted. (859-873-7902)

Stroll down one of Kentucky’s few intact 19th century commercial districts, along Main Street in Winchester. (859-744-0556)

Tour Berea College, founded in 1855 as the first school in the South dedicated to equal education for all races, and today dedicated to educating the youth of Kentucky’s mountains. (859-985-3018)

Tour the loomhouse at Berea’s Churchill Weavers, founded in 1922 and today one of the nation’s top handweaving studios. (859-986-3127)

“Re-enact” a Civil War battle in your car. Pick up a driving tour map of the Battle of Richmond from the Richmond Visitor Center, 345 Lancaster Ave. (800-866-3705). A driving guide to the Battles of Cynthiana is available at 203 W. Pike Street, Cynthiana. (859-234-5236)

Call ahead and tour the kiln works at the oldest pottery company west of the Alleghenies, Bybee Pottery, KY 52 in Madison County. (859-369-5350)

Take a 250-year-old shortcut. Follow Tates Creek road of Lexington and you’ll end up on the banks of the Kentucky River. If you want to go any further, you’ll have to take the Valley View Ferry. The schedule can be affected by weather, so call ahead to make sure it’s running. (859-258-3611)

Open the Word of God and read about men and women of courage and rejuvenate in the comfort and mercy of our Father.

Do something for someone that has less than you, or forgive a grudge. We have so much weight to carry in today's world and it will make the load lighter.

Have a wonderful summer everyone, Hope is still alive and you are part for that hope. God bless you!

America, America, God shed His grace on Thee

2010-07-04T10:50:00.000-04:00

We are blessed by God to live in the most wonderful country on earth. When America is at its worst, she still ranks far above all other nations.

In the past 50 years we have seen a huge increase in crime, drug use, teenage pregnancy, abortion and divorce. We have also seen God taken out of our schools and our courtrooms. The sins of our nation are many. Pornography, adultery, and homosexuality have become accepted. Rape, murder, and rage fill our streets and our schools. Our country has left God to follow her own path.

In spite of this, I am proud to call myself an American. America has the greatest resources on the planet for helping those in need, and we do. We are feeding starving families in Africa, Asia, India, Haiti and many others. We have freed those who were once captive. We promote freedom and peace. We have restrained the use of our might by seeking not to conquer people, but to liberate them. We have been the only country to befriend Israel, the land God gave to His chosen people. We have sacrificed our sons and daughters so that the world can know peace. Our Founders were led by God Almighty to accomplish the establishment of a nation unlike none have ever seen before, and will never see again. In a few short years, young America stunned the world with productivity, education, and technology, and continues to lead the world in prosperity.

I praise Jesus for dying for all of us, and moving in the hearts of Christian men and women, to establish this nation that I live in today. Despite all our sins, there is still hope. Our God is a merciful God and is slow to anger, always abounding in love and faithfulness. If we will but seek Him, we can be greater than we are today. I will never take for granted those who have sacrificed lives, liberty, their reputations, their families and gave all so that I could have the great privilege of calling myself an American! God Bless America!!

It's Really All About Accountability

2010-06-26T21:13:00.000-04:00

The White House statement regarding the Disclose Act, HR 5175, included these words: "The Administration would have preferred no exemptions," the statement says. "But by providing for unprecedented transparency, this bill takes great strides to hold corporations who participate in the Nation's elections accountable to the American people. As this is a matter of urgent importance, the Administration urges prompt passage of the DISCLOSE Act."

The Administration wants corporations who participate in the Nation's elections accountable to the American people. Do you think, after this, they will require the Administration to be accountable to the American people?

HR 5175 is a piece of legislation known as the Disclose Act that would require the heads of companies, unions and nonprofit groups to personally appear in any sponsored political ads and endorse the message. It also requires them to reveal the names of their top five donors. The President and his posse see the measure as a response to the Supreme Court decision in Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission, which removed limits on political spending by corporations.

The House Democrats have bowed to one of Washington's most powerful lobbies, however, and have agreed to exempt from the new rules, a small but highly influential group of organizations, most notably, the NRA. This deal has backfired badly after members of both sides of the aisle protested the NRA exemption, threatening to stonewall passage of the bill.

"The focus shouldn't be protecting one organization over another but rather protecting the U.S. Constitution," said Tom McClusky of the conservative Family Research Council. "The Second Amendment, Third Amendment, Fourth Amendment and so on mean nothing if not for the protections guaranteed in the First Amendment."

This is actually about progressives getting to pick who speaks and who doesn't. The Diclosure Act isn't about disclosure, it's about shutting down certain companies, unions and nonprofit groups. Oh, but, certain companies and unions have been excluded. So, really it's about them shutting down nonprofit groups. Wonder who that could be? Tea, anyone?

Everyone loves a win win!

2010-06-15T20:05:00.001-04:00

II Chronicles 32:31 says, "God left him, to try him".

Could it be that the ordeals that we now face, the problems we all carry, is actually God at work testing us?

"Take now thy son…and offer him there for a burnt offering" (Genesis 22:1–2).

"The Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or not" (Deuteronomy 8:2).

Even those that feel they are doing everything they can to pursue God and His work, sometimes find themselves abandoned—at the end of their endurance and alone in the battle of what seemingly are the forces of hell. All Christians have been or will be tested.

Winning is always preferable and victory is always desired, but sometimes, if not usually, we fail. When this happens, we must remember that what remains in our hearts and the shape of our character is what God is interested in. Where is your heart, after you have won or lost a lonely battle? What is the temperature of your faithfulness in God in spite of failure?

Jesus promised never to forsake us, but the Word also warns that there are times when the Father withdraws to prove us. Even Christ experienced abandonment on the cross. He says we are to take up our cross and follow him (Matt 16:24). Our cross is our flesh and weakness. But we must move on in faith, so his strength will find glory. If your cross is too heavy, keep moving in faith, He understands and will lift you at just the right time. Your faith will be strengthened and He will be glorified. It's a win win.

Thank you Jesus.

Lessons from Corinth on Current Politics

2010-06-10T19:06:00.000-04:00

Please read 1 Corinthians 3:18-23

The Christians in first-century Corinth were immature believers that were so preoccupied with their favorite Christian leader that they were threatening the unity of the Corinthian church. In the first part of 1 Corinthians 3, Paul explains to his converts how their perceptions were wrong, and they needed to see their leaders as God’s servants. What really mattered was God’s work in the church, and even his presence among them that made them his own temple.

Later, Paul seeks to expand their minds and tells them they are being trapped in the idea of “I belong to Paul” or “I belong to Peter.” Paul reverses the formula: “So don’t boast about following a particular human leader. For everything belongs to you—whether Paul or Peter, or the world, or life or death, or the present and the future. Everything belongs to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God." (3:21-23).

In what sense does everything belong to the believers in Corinth . . . and to us? Are you caught up in the fact that you are a Democrat or a Republican or an Independent or a Libertarian or a Constitutionalist? Has that title blurred your vision of what is true and righteous in our Father's eyes? Have your standards for what is best for this country and it's children been lowered to voting against the worst of two bad choices?

We do belong to the God who ultimately owns all things. And we are not only his children, but also his heirs, those who will someday share with him in sovereignty over all creation. The more we see ourselves in terms of our relationship with the King of kings and Lord of lords, the less we’ll be inclined to view ourselves in ways that trivialize our existence, and that of others. Most importantly, we’ll not let things that aren’t truly important divide us from our sisters and brothers in Christ, or allow fear to bully us into a decision that is not parallel to our decision to live holy lives.

What would you do differently in your life if you really believed that you are an heir of God, and that the whole universe ultimately belongs to you? Would you stand with your fellow sisters and brothers, shining a light on the dark areas while speaking up for righteousness, regardless of what "everyone else" is doing? Would you live each day as though you belong to Christ and recognize that he has the final say in all your decisions? Or, would you cave to the flesh, do the easy thing and vote against what the crowd says is the worst-case scenario?

218 Years Old

2010-06-01T05:52:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday Kentucky! We are 218 years old today! On June 1, 1792, Kentucky was admitted as the 15th U.S. state.

Kentucky’s first historian, John Filson, said, “The first white man we have certain accounts of, who discovered this province, was one James M'Bride, who, in company with some others, in the year 1754, passing down the Ohio in Canoes, landed at the mouth of Kentucke river, and there marked a tree, with the first letters of his name, and the date, which remain to this day. These men reconnoitered the country, and returned home with the pleasing news of their discovery of the best tract of land in North-America, and probably in the world.”

All of us have heard of Daniel Boone. He was an early explorer from North Carolina who came to Kentucky first as a hunter. He returned many times, blazing the trail, so settlers could follow and claim the land. He encountered many natives, not friendly towards strangers coming to hunt and settle their land. Even though some of the encounters were violent, the Bluegrass region was rich in fertile land and wildlife, and too attractive to let this risk stop them.

In 1773, Virginia’s Captain Thomas Bullitt came down the Ohio to settle, and James Harrod surveyed the Frankfort area and established Harrodsburg. Simon Kenton founded another early settlement and they set up forts, where newcomers could be safe. Eventually, farms were set up outside the forts.

Kentucky was originally part of the state of Virginia. In 1776, the year of America's independence, when Virginia became a state, it made Kentucky a separate county, with Harrodsburg as its capital.

The Ohio River was the lifeblood of central Kentucky, the broad highway from Pittsburgh to New Orleans, from the eastern settlements to the Mississippi Valley. The Falls of the Ohio were an obstacle to boats trying to go up or down the river. They had to unload at Louisville, carry their cargo or passengers overland, and reload at Shippingport or Portland for the rest of the journey west. It was expensive and inconvenient for travelers, but provided work for many people.

A company was formed to build a canal to bypass the Falls in 1805, and finally, in 1830 the Portland-Louisville Canal opened. The economy of Louisville struggled for awhile, because the city was no longer needed for the shipment of goods by land past the Falls. However, the Louisville & Nashville railroad helped to make the city a center for transport, and shipping the state's farm products was much cheaper.

Kentucky finally became dissatisfied being just a county of Virginia. The Virginia capital, Richmond, was miles away, over high mountains. A series of conventions were called to discuss becoming a state. In 1792, Kentucky’s citizens asked to be free of Virginia. A Constitution was written, and Congress made Kentucky the 15th state. Isaac Shelby was elected as the first governor.

Many people in Kentucky thought that the 1792 Constitution did not represent them, and they asked for a new Convention to change it. In 1799, a new Constitution was written, but it didn't fix the problem, was less democratic and led to corruption. The government still had too much control and many people were still unhappy, and in 1849 they changed it again. This time it was made fairer, but the new laws still allowed slavery.

Kentucky was slow to set up schools to educate its children. It was only in 1853 that all the counties had public schools. Louisville’s first public school was established in 1830, Dr. Mann Butler’s Academy, at 5th and Walnut. The older students taught the younger ones, and included about 250 boys and girls. Even though it was a public school, parents still had to pay a tuition of about $4-6 per year. Dr. Butler’s school was only for white children. The first schools to enroll African-American students were private schools, beginning in 1841.

Because of the fear of a war with France, the Federalist Party backed the passage of the Alien & Sedition Acts in 1789. This limited the freedom of non-citizens and threatened imprisonment to Americans who criticized the government. Most Kentuckians were anti-Federalists, and supported the Jeffersonian Republican party, so they responded with a declaration known as the Kentucky Resolves, which were written by Thomas Jefferson, and said that states did not have to support Federal laws that were not constitutional. The Acts were repealed and the Federalists lost power. Amen?

In 1812, the United States went to war with England, and one of the many reasons included the forced service of American sailors on British ships. The war was fought primarily by the Navy, with great battles off the Atlantic Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. The battle of New Orleans ended the war, which was then settled by treaty. Kentucky supported the war, by sending troops and by encouraging people to make their own homespun clothing and boycotting imported goods from Britain.

Kentucky grew so fast that by 1820 it was the 6th largest state in America. Settlers wanted land, and banks were set up to loan them money to start farms and businesses. But the banks were not careful in their loans, and in 1819 and again in 1837 the banks failed, and the people who had money in them lost everything. Those were periods of great suffering, when there was very little work in the region. But the brave people of Kentucky pushed through, just like they always do.

Kentucky boasts of many heroes, including Henry Clay, who lived from 1777 to 1852. He had come to the state in 1797, and was soon elected to serve in the House of Representatives. He was a big supporter of the War of 1812 against England, one of the “War Hawks.” He was in the Whig political party, and famous for his ability to craft agreements that brought together different factions. He was called the “Great Pacificator,” and he drafted the Compromise of 1850 that temporarily kept the nation from splitting apart into slave states and free states.

Another statesman, John Speed Smith, of Lexington, was a lawyer that served in the War of 1812 as an aide to General William Henry Harrison. His wife was related to the prominent Clay family (sister of Cassius and cousin of Henry). He served six terms in the Kentucky House of Representatives and as U.S. Attorney for Kentucky.

George Rogers Clark, founder of Louisville, defended the Kentucky territories from British and Indian raiders during the American Revolution. He lived in Indiana, but after being injured in an accident, he moved to his sister’s home near Louisville. Lucy Clark Croghan and her husband William, gave the warrior a home at Locust Grove plantation until his death in 1818. William Clark, their brother, was one of the leaders of the Lewis and Clark expedition to explore the lands of the West for the Louisiana Purchase.

Kentucky’s most famous citizen, of course, was our sixteenth President, Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was born into a poor, pioneer family in 1809 in Hodgenville. His parents struggled to earn a living, and later moved to Indiana in search of a better life. Lincoln educated himself and succeeded in going to law school, and became a lawyer in Springfield, Illinois. He later married a Lexington native, Mary Todd, from a very prominent family. He helped to found the Republican Party, which opposed the expansion of slavery, and was their candidate for President in 1860. In a four-way race Lincoln defeated the other candidates, including Kentucky’s John Breckinridge, and won the election. This caused South Carolina to secede from the United States because they feared he would try to end slavery. When other southern states joined them to form the Confederacy, the Civil War began.

Kentucky was a “border” state in the War. Its citizens were divided in their feelings. Most Kentuckians wanted to stay in the Union, but also wanted to keep slavery. Lincoln thought it was very important to keep Kentucky in the Union, and sent Federal troops to secure the state. Many Kentuckians volunteered for the Union Army, while others joined regiments that fought for the Confederacy. Only minor battles and skirmishes occurred in the state, but Federal troops occupied the region for most of the War.

Kentucky has a rich history, and I encourage you to learn about it. We are a state that has faced diversity and pulled through. We have challenged bad laws, and gotten them changed. We have been loyal to our country and supported our citizens and our military. We have birthed and been home to many heroes and will be the mother of many more. We are a proud state with good reason, and I challenge you to stand with the rest of her citizens in facing the new test we have today...ensuring we are resolved not to allow our state's rights to be trampled upon by federal tyranny...United We Stand, Divided We Fall!

The Most Important Memorial Day Ever

2010-05-31T09:21:00.000-04:00

Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, was first observed on May 30, 1868. It was first known as Decoration Day because they decorated the graves of the nation's Civil War dead, by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former sailors and soldiers.

During this first Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery. Then, 5,000 participants helped decorate graves of more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers.

This inspired local observances in several towns throughout America and several Northern and Southern cities claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, including Columbus, Miss.; Macon, Ga.; Richmond, Va.; Boalsburg, Pa.; and Carbondale, Ill.

In 1966, the federal government, declared Waterloo, N.Y., the official birthplace of Memorial Day, because on May 5, 1866, the town had made Memorial Day an annual, community-wide event during which businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers.

By the late 1800s, many communities across the country had begun to celebrate Memorial Day and, after World War I, observances also began to honor those who had died in all of America's wars. In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated the last Monday in May.

Today, Memorial Day is celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery with a ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave. Also, it is customary for the president or vice-president to give a speech honoring the contributions of the dead and lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. However, our current president doesn't see fit to do that this year.

That's one of the reasons that this is the most important Memorial Day. Our country's leadership have seen fit to disrespect our country at every turn. We must remember today how especially important it is to be grateful for those that have given all so that we could experience the freedoms we do today. And, how especially important it is that we remember all those who will now have died in vain, if we continue to allow this current president and his administration continue to erode our freedom.

The men and women who fought, were wounded, and died for us and those that continue to fight for us deserve better America! We deserve better! Are we going to allow this administration to erode our Constitution and bully us into submission? Was the blood of our boys and girls spilled for nothing? Are we just going to let them run roughshod all over our laws and make a mockery of liberty?

Please educate yourself and your friends and family. Stay up-to-date on the laws that they are passing right before our eyes. Write, call, shout at your elected leaders. Don't get tired now, we have just begun to fight.

God bless you!

Jeremiah's message applicable to us?

2010-05-27T08:14:00.000-04:00

I was up at 1:00 am this morning, yes, there's one of them in the morning too. I was led to this chapter by my Lord. I feel I have to share it. I will leave the interpretation of how this applies to us up to you. Please read and share if you think it's applicable to our country today.

Ch. 5
v.1 The Lord says, "Walk up and down the streets of Jerusalem. Look around and discover these things. Search the public squares of the city. If you can find one person who does honest things, who searches for the truth, I will forgive this city.
v. 2 Although the people say, 'As surely as the Lord lives!' they don't really mean it."
v. 3 Lord, don't you look for truth in people? You struck the people of Judah, but they didn't feel any pain. You crushed them, but they refused to learn what is right. They became more stubborn than a rock; they refused to turn back to God.
v. 4 But I thought, "These are only the poor, foolish people. They have not learned the way of the Lord and what their God wants them to do.
v. 5 So I will go to the leaders of Judah and talk to them. Surely they understand the way of the Lord and know what God wants them to do." But even the leaders had all joined together to break away from the Lord; they had broken their ties with him.
v. 6 So a lion from the forest will attack them. A wolf from the desert will kill them. A leopard is waiting for them near their towns. It will tear to pieces anyone who comes out of the city, because the people of Judah have sinned greatly. They have wandered away from the Lord many times.
v. 7 The Lord said, "Tell me why I should forgive you. Your children have left me and have made promises to idols that are not gods at all. I gave your children everything they needed, but they still were like an unfaithful wife to me. They spent much time in houses of prostitutes.
v. 8 They are like well-fed horses filled with sexual desire; each one wants another man's wife.
v. 9 Shouldn't I punish the people of Judah for doing these things?" says the Lord. "Shouldn't I give a nation such as this the punishment it deserves?
v. 10 Go along and cut down Judah's vineyards, but do not completely destroy them. Cut off all her people as if they were branches, because they do not belong to the Lord.
v. 11 The families of Israel and Judah have been completely unfaithful to me," says the Lord.
v. 12 Those people have lied about the Lord and said, "He will not do anything to us! Nothing bad will happen to us! We will never see war or hunger!
v. 13 The prophets are like an empty wind; the word of God is not in them. Let the bad things they say happen to them."
v. 14 So this is what the Lord God All-Powerful says: "The people said I would not punish them. So, the words I give you will be like fire, and these people will be like wood that it burns up.
v. 15 Listen, family of Israel," says the Lord, "I will soon bring a nation from far away to attack you. It is an old nation that has lasted a long time. The people there speak a language you do not know; you cannot understand what they say.
v. 16 Their arrows bring death. All their people are strong warriors.
v. 17 They will eat your crops and your food. They will eat your sons and daughters. They will eat your flocks and herds. They will eat your grapes and figs. They will destroy with their swords, the strong, walled cities you trust.
v. 18 Yet even then," says the Lord, "I will not destroy you completely.
v. 19 When the people of Judah ask, 'Why has the Lord our God done all these terrible things to us?' then give them this answer: 'You have left the Lord and served foreign idols in your own land. So now you will serve foreigners in a land that does not belong to you.'
v. 20 Announce this message to the family of Jacob, and tell it to the nation of Judah:
v. 21 Hear this message, you foolish people who have no sense. They have eyes, but they don't really see. They have ears, but they don't really listen.
v. 22 Surely you are afraid of me," says the Lord. "You should shake with fear in my presence. I am the one who made the beaches to be a border for the sea, a border the water can never go past. The waves may pound the beach, but they can't win over it. They may roar, but they cannot go beyond it.
v. 23 But the people of Judah are stubborn and have turned against me. They have turned aside and gone away from me.
v. 24 They do not say to themselves, 'We should fear the Lord our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in their seasons, who makes sure we have the harvest at the right time.
v. 25 But your evil has kept away both rain and harvest. Your sins have kept you from enjoying good things.
v. 26 There are wicked men among my people. Like those who make nets for catching birds, they set their traps to catch people.
v. 27 Like cages full of birds, their houses are full of lies. They have become rich and powerful.
v. 28 They have grown big and fat. There is no end to the evil things they do. They won't plead the case of the orphan or help the poor be judged fairly.
v. 29 Shouldn't I punish the people of Judah for doing these things?" says the Lord. "Shouldn't I give a nation such as this the punishment it deserves?
v. 30 A terrible and shocking thing has happened in the land of Judah:
v. 31 The prophets speak lies, and the priests take power into their own hands, and my people love it this way. But what will you do when the end comes?"

Abra cadabra! Israel's weapons are gone....or are they?

2010-05-11T19:11:00.000-04:00

With everyone concerned about their 2nd amendment rights, and about whether or not someone could take your guns away, wouldn't it be nice to just make them disppear so the "enemy" can't find them? Maybe, in the future, we can.

Eltics Ltd., an Israeli start-up company that develops electronic warfare systems, has announced it has created technology whereby they will eventually have a system that can make tanks, naval vessels and armored personnel carriers invisible. That's right, invisible! At least not detectable by night vision or heat-seeking technology.

Eltics revealed their Black Fox Active Adaptive IR Stealth System, for the first time Sunday on Israeli TV. The Black Fox system can equip any tank, helicopter or ship with an FLIR camera. This camera photographs the surroundings they are in and analyzes the area's thermal signature. It places this exact signature onto plates on the machine, and this allows it to disappear from sight.

Eltics CEO, Ronen Meir, explained, "A tank, armored personnel carrier or ship, equipped with this system, become invisible to thermal night vision systems, guided missiles and a missile's sight."

According to the Hebrew website, Fresh.co.il, the Danish military, has fitted its Leopard tanks in Afghanistan with Barracuda, a mobile camouflage suit that reduces the heat signature. Bluecher Systems have developed Ghost, special anti-thermal fatigues, for combat troops, which are part of the German Army's Infanterist der Zukunft ("soldiers of the future") program. But, nothing like Black Fox has ever been done.

Black Fox will revolutionize battlefields of the future and is currently at the advanced prototype level. Eltics' CEO declined to comment too much due to high secrecy, but did go on to say that it is financed by private investors and is now awaiting 5 million U.S. dollars, and he believes that Israel will be their first customers.

Go Israel! God will always bless you!

Conservative Freshmen Coalition will be presented on Fox & Friends!

2010-04-28T18:01:00.000-04:00

Click here to view the press release for the Conservative Freshmen Coalition. Since that time, 17 other members have joined and pledged to fight for the Constitution of the United States, to support the passage of an amendment to the Constitution to pass a balanced and fiscally responsible federal budget, to support lower taxes for small businesses, to support the repeal of harmful and excessive taxes that limit these small businesses from creating wealth, to support an amendment to the Constitution that requires term limits on all members of Congress, and to support real immigration reform that will require immigrants to embrace America’s civic and political institutions by learning our founding documents and learning the English language.

Matt Lockett, co-founder of the Conservative Freshmen Coalition, and congressional candidate for our 6th District, stated, "It is the duty of our federal government to enforce our nation’s preexisting immigration laws and continue to heighten the security surrounding our borders to ensure the legal entry of immigrants into our country. I will not, under any circumstance, support amnesty for illegal aliens".

The Conservative Freshmen Coalition members also must pledge to support the repeal of H.R. 3590, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and replace it with common sense solutions to lower the cost of health care including tort reform and insurance portability across state lines.

The members must pledge to work towards these principles, and they will be held accountable by the other members. And, these principles will preserve the institution of Congress and preserve the intentions of our founders, as written in the Constitution.

Matt Lockett and Lee Bias will both appear on Fox & Friends at 6:15 a.m. tomorrow morning to present this wonderful opportunity we have to take our country back!

Are you campaigning in the Spirit?

2010-04-27T07:22:00.001-04:00

Did you know you can touch people while on your knees? Your prayer closet may become the starting point for a movement of God’s Spirit over an entire nation.

Abraham prayed for godless Sodom. The Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes” (Genesis 18:26).

When Abraham heard this, he began to negotiate. He asked, “If there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five?” (18:28). Abraham was asking, “Lord, what if there are forty-five righteous people among those fifty believers? What if only that many are praying seekers? Or, what if there are only ten upright people who seek you? If only ten call on you, will you spare the city?” God answered Abraham, “I will not destroy it for ten’s sake” (18:32).

This tells me the Lord is willing to save entire societies if he can find a band of righteous people within them. This is about people who seek his face for the sake of their nation.

Look at Ezekiel 22, when God speaks of finding just one praying believer who will stand in the gap: “I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none” (Ezekiel 22:30).

Israel was spiritually polluted, the prophets were violating God’s law left and right, and the people were full of lust and robbing one another. Not one person among them cried out to the Lord. Nobody stood in the gap to intercede. Yet God would have saved the entire nation for the sake of just one intercessor.

When you are busy supporting your chosen candidate, standing up against bad legislation, or getting the word out about what the current administration is doing to our Constitution, don't forget to pray. Don't forget to cry out to God for your country, because we can't do this without Him.

Check out the Conservative Freshmen Coalition

2010-04-26T07:13:00.003-04:00

When I recently posted the following candidates for U.S. House of Representatives had joined the CFC, the Conservative Freshmen Coalition, I had no idea how fast it was growing, I can't keep up! When you vote for one of these great conservative candidates and help give them a strong voice for us in Washington, you are also voting for the others, and now there are 32! Please check out the Conservative Freshmen Coalition for yourself!

These members have signed a pledge to work on the principles of upholding, supporting, defending, and advocating the Constitution; supporting an amendment to pass a balanced and fiscally responsible federal budget; supporting lower taxes and repealing harmful and excessive taxes for small businesses; supporting term limits and true immigration reform.

The CFC was created by Matt Lockett from the Sixth District of Kentucky and Lee Bias from the Third District of West Virginia. They both have heard our demand for real change and realize the necessary changes in our federal government cannot be accomplished by one. They, along with these other brave candidates are stepping up as leaders to become a part of something larger to effect true change. Not only have they pledged to work toward the principles listed above, but have agreed to be accountable to the voters and to each other.

Please stand with them, do what you can to support those candidates in your area, and if they are not willing to be a part of this effort, ask them why! These candidates have realized they can't change Washington alone and we as voters can't do it either, we must all do what we can to take our country back!

The Coalition is growing!

2010-04-22T21:03:00.000-04:00

I recently posted that the following candidates for U.S. House of Representatives have joined the CFC, the Conservative Freshmen Coalition. When you vote for one of these great conservative candidates and help give them a strong voice for us in Washington, you are also voting for the others, and two more have been added:

Stephanie Bell - Alabama 2nd District
Mark Spinks - Arizona 5th District
Glenn Gallas - Arkansas 4th District
Pete Stiglich - California 2nd District
Paul Smith - California 5th District
Ronny Santana - California 14th District
Don Barich - California 15th District
Serafin Quintanar - California 20th District
Michael Yost - Florida 3rd District
Thomas Castellano - Florida 11th District
Michael Frisbee - Georgia 13th District
Matt Lockett - Kentucky 6th District (Co-Founder)
Dan Benishek - Michigan 1st District
Bill Marcy - Mississippi 3rd District
Chuck Flume - Nevada 1st District
John Carter - North Carolina 1st District
Scott Keadle - North Carolina 10th District
Doc Gillenwater - North Carolina 12th District
Jaynee Germond - Oregon 4th District
Rex Rice - South Carolina 3rd District
Don Strong - Tennessee 4th District
Donn Janes - Tennessee 8th District
Jim McKelvey - Virginia 5th District
Dan Mielke* - Wisconsin 7th District
Cindy Hall - West Virginia 1st District
Lee Bias - West Virginia 3rd District (Co-Founder)
Dave Funk - Iowa 3rd District
David Moore - Virginia 9th District

These members have signed a pledge to work on the principles of upholding, supporting, defending, and advocating the Constitution; supporting an amendment to pass a balanced and fiscally responsible federal budget; supporting lower taxes and repealing harmful and excessive taxes for small businesses; supporting term limits and true immigration reform.

The CFC was created by Matt Lockett from the Sixth District of Kentucky and Lee Bias from the Third District of West Virginia. They both have heard our demand for real change and realize the necessary changes in our federal government cannot be accomplished by one. They, along with these other brave candidates are stepping up as leaders to become a part of something larger to effect true change. Not only have they pledged to work toward the principles listed above, but have agreed to be accountable to the voters and to each other.

Please stand with them, do what you can to support those candidates in your area, and if they are not willing to be a part of this effort, ask them why! These candidates have realized they can't change Washington alone and we as voters can't do it either, we must all do what we can to take our country back!

Conservative Freshmen Coalition

2010-04-22T06:35:00.000-04:00

Don't you wish that you could vote for the person you believed in, not only in your district, but also in the districts of other areas or states? You just knew that the person you would vote for is the best candidate? I know that's illegal, but now there's a way we can.

The following candidates for U.S. House of Representatives have joined the CFC, the Conservative Freshmen Coalition. When you vote for one of these great conservative candidates and help give them a strong voice for us in Washington, you are also voting for the others:

Stephanie Bell - Alabama 2nd District
Mark Spinks - Arizona 5th District
Glenn Gallas - Arkansas 4th District
Pete Stiglich - California 2nd District
Paul Smith - California 5th District
Ronny Santana - California 14th District
Don Barich - California 15th District
Serafin Quintanar - California 20th District
Michael Yost - Florida 3rd District
Thomas Castellano - Florida 11th District
Michael Frisbee - Georgia 13th District
Matt Lockett - Kentucky 6th District (Co-Founder)
Dan Benishek - Michigan 1st District
Bill Marcy - Mississippi 3rd District
Chuck Flume - Nevada 1st District
John Carter - North Carolina 1st District
Scott Keadle - North Carolina 10th District
Doc Gillenwater - North Carolina 12th District
Jaynee Germond - Oregon 4th District
Rex Rice - South Carolina 3rd District
Don Strong - Tennessee 4th District
Donn Janes - Tennessee 8th District
Jim McKelvey - Virginia 5th District
Dan Mielke* - Wisconsin 7th District
Cindy Hall - West Virginia 1st District
Lee Bias - West Virginia 3rd District (Co-Founder)

The reason why is that each and every one of these members has signed a pledge to work on these principles:

-Upholding, supporting, defending, and advocating the Constitution.
-Supporting the passage of an amendment to pass a balanced and fiscally responsible federal budget.
-Supporting lower taxes for small businesses and fighting to repeal harmful and excessive taxes.
-Supporting an amendment that requires term limits.
-Supporting authentic immigration reform in which immigrants will embrace America’s civic and political institutions by learning our founding documents and the English language.

They believe that these five principles will preserve the institution of Congress as it was originally intended by our founders.

The CFC was created by two candidates: Matt Lockett from the Sixth District of Kentucky and Lee Bias from the Third District of West Virginia. They both recognized the growing grassroots momentum from the conservative people in their districts, and that the necessary changes in our federal government would not be accomplished by one person. These changes will only come from candidates that are willing to be leaders in their respective district and become a part of a larger group that has the power to turn our nation around. They will act as a compass in Congress and they believe the principles on which the coalition was founded will guide Congress in the future.

Thankfully, the coalition exists to enact conservative principles and issues in Congress, not to make a political career for anyone involved. The coalition views Congress only as a mechanism to represent the American people, and they realize they can do more together than they ever could alone. They have chosen to align themselves with other conservative candidates with the same desire to turn our country around. I hope and pray that we can form our own coalition of voters and get these conservative representatives to Washington for REAL change!

Iran Who?

2010-04-15T15:26:00.000-04:00

If I were holding a Nuclear Security Summit, a huge topic on the agenda would be Iran. They were barely mentioned. President Obama dodged Iran in his press conference. Sanctions talks with Russia and China, both with military, political and industrial ties with Iran, will be nonproductive. History has shown they will agree to any measures against Iran that do not work.

Bush and Clinton both tried this with North Korea. Since then, North Korea has tested two nuclear weapons, built a nuclear reactor in the Syrian desert, and they are still a leading supplier to rogue states. Obama admits his efforts may end up with the same failed results, but he's gonna give it the ol' college try anyway, bless his heart.

Is the President committed to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons? Should a major part of this week's Nuclear Security Summit been about Iran?

I Want to Pray Like David

2010-04-04T09:30:00.000-04:00

David's prayer in Psalms 27:7-8 goes, "Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice, And be gracious to me and answer me. When Thou didst say, "Seek My face," my heart said to Thee, "Thy face, O Lord, I shall seek."

I want to pray that way, today. But if I did, would I? Seek His face, I mean? I could say that, but prior history tells a different story...

He tries to talk to me before I loose my temper, and I ignore Him. He tries to talk to me when I'm afraid, and I worry anyway. He tries to talk to me when I'm consoling a friend, but I just have to express myself, so I don't always listen. He wants me to consider Him and what He wants for my life, before I make big decisions, but I usually make my decision and then ask Him to make it work out.

I used to justify my non-relationship with our Lord with the worthless card. I was not worthy enough for Him to want to have a relationship with me. Now, I know that to be a lie, and I know He died for me because He wanted that relationship and it's not for me to ask why. But, now my excuses vary like Baskin Robbins ice cream flavors. I'm busy. I'm tired. I'm distracted. I'm sick. I'm doing the best I can.

Thank God His mercies are new every morning. Thank God He loves me the way I am and is only trying to make me better. Thank God He lives, my Savior lives today and He defeated death forever.

Thank You Lord Jesus, for your life, death and resurrection. Thank You that You prayed before Your decision and Thank You for Your obedience to Our Father. I praise Your precious, holy name...Name above All Names! I love You and I ask You to please help me seek Your face! Amen.

Please Read this Before It's Too Late

2010-03-21T08:20:00.001-04:00

Politics is nasty, isn't it? No matter what side you are on, you've probably witnessed an attack or been attacked by the other side. If you are a patriot, you've been demonized by the left for believing in the original intent of our Constitution. But, the right has said that you are too extreme in your views on the sanctity of marriage and the protection of unborn life.

We, the people, have failed. We have allowed our nation to disintegrate, we have lost our world stature and our problems are only escalating. If we don't turn back to God, it will only continue to get worse. Our country was founded on Christian principles, and we have allowed tolerance, political correctness, government interference, subversion of the family, indoctrination of our children, sexual deviancy, and the murder of the unborn to bring us where we are today. We have repeatedly re-elected people to public office who are liars, cheaters, and thieves simply because there was no one else to vote for, and now the pestilence have built bunkers with special interest bricks and mortar, paid for with our tax dollars. This has all happened with the blessings of the media, who, for generations, have been silent. We are awake now and the enemy is strong and they have many friends.

The slow destruction of our Republic was warned about during the Kennedy administration and included in the Congressional Record, Appendix, pgs. A34-A35, Thursday, January 10, 1963, under unanimous consent. The following is an excerpt, and was identified as the Current Communist Goals from the book, "The Naked Communist," by Cleon Skousen:

CURRENT COMMUNIST GOALS (I've only listed a few, please research and read them in their entirety at your leisure.)

Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.

Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.

Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination.

Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party.

Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.

Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.

Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks.

Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions.

Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.

Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press.

Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.

Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy."

Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state."

Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.

Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man."

Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over.

Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.

Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI.

Infiltrate and gain control of more unions.

Infiltrate and gain control of big business.

Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand [or treat].

Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.

Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.

Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use "united force" to solve economic, political or social problems.

Are you awake yet? Now we face a crisis in our Republic that has never been witnessed before. Our founding fathers went to war against England for far less. None of us are innocent. Check out Romans 3:10-18.

There is still time! We can reverse the course of our Republic for the sake of our children and their children so they may live out their God given right to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”.

I am begging you to please support, donate to and vote true conservatives into office. Don't refuse to support someone because you think they don't have enough money to win. If someone's war chest is full, you know it is because they are being bought by special interests already and they are not even in office yet! We have to stop this now before it's too late!

What will be next?

2010-03-20T09:57:00.003-04:00

Our current administration wants to control, not to govern or lead. The healtcare bill is a tool, and one of many, that they will implement to ensure that this happens.

They have demonized our conservative opposition instead of listening. Our media, with few exceptions, gives them a free pass. They are under the illusion that they are smarter, more educated than we are and that they do not have any obligation to the American voter. They have bullied, bribed and threatened members of both parties that have challenged them on their irresponsible spending. They are using extortion tactics against certain banks and other businesses. They are dismantling capitalism one brick at a time, and let me remind you that capitalism has provided the highest standard of living in the world.

Even after all of the exposure that our current president has had, we still do not know anything about him. How did he pay for his education? Why has he, for more than half his life, aligned himself with radical extremists who hate America and refuse to publicly denounce them? How is it possible that our president is more confident in making military strategy decisions on his own instead of listening to his appointed general on the ground, even though he has never served in the military? Why does he continue to apologize for our country?

But, a bigger and more important question would remain even if all those were answered. Our government has already been given control of the educational system and the environment. After this administration gains control of even more banks, businesses, healthcare, and auto industries, what will be next?

And one last question remains...what are you doing about it? I am currently supporting and contributing to the Matt Lockett campaign and on May 18th, I will be voting for him. I hope you will join me in electing true conservatives to office. http://mattlockett.net

Cleaning House, One Room at a Time!

2010-03-12T22:34:00.000-05:00

Our elected officials on Capitol Hill are out of touch with the average American. Our founders envisioned a government composed of farmers and tradesmen who put aside their plow, went to Washington for a few years to represent their neighbors, and then they returned to their communities. They knew career politicians would lose touch with the average person and then not be able to represent their interests.

Matt Lockett, candidate for Congress in the 6th District, believes in our Constitution and the ideals of those who wrote it. Matt wants to return our government to the people. Matt believes we can get back to a common sense approach to government based on core American values such as decreased government spending, lower taxes, a strong national defense, secure borders and energy independence.

Matt wants to fight to end government intrusion into our lives. Right now, our government is trying to choose our health care, decide how we can heat our homes, require what kind of lightbulbs we can use, what kinds of cars we can drive, and they are planning to redistribute our money.

Matt will fight to make our elected officials accountable to the voters. Matt will fight to keep the government's deliberations open and transparent. Matt will fight to make economic development and job creation possible through tax incentives for small businesses. And Matt will never apologize for this great nation.

Our government's only job is to preserve, protect and defend our God-given gift of freedom. Matt Lockett gets it, he understands that we are tired of the government micromanaging our lives. Matt Lockett understands that it is time to clean house, and he wants to start with Ben Chandler's office. Join me at the voting booth on May 18th, and lets help Matt Lockett take out the trash!

A Special Thank You to All Female Veterans

2010-03-07T06:27:00.000-05:00

I am very proud of my military service and although I didn't personally serve during war-time, I believe those who have are true heroes. Even during peace-time, being in the military is hard work. It can be even more difficult as a woman in what is still seen as a "man's job". I wanted to share this post in honor of all those women who served before me, for those that continue to serve and will serve in the future. We owe you so much as a country and you get so little recognition.

There is a long history of women in some form of military service, even when it wasn't in uniform. For the early pioneer woman, defending her home was routine. In the Revolutionary War, Margaret Corbin fought alongside her husband at Fort Washington and in 1779, she became the first known woman to serve. She was also awarded the first pension given to a female for her service. Congress voted her a disability pension of one half a soldiers pay and one suit of clothes or the cash equivalent.

Another Revolutionary heroine, Deborah Samson, was granted a pension by the Massachussettes legislature in 1804 and in 1822, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania awarded Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley a pension of forty dollars a year for services rendered during the war.

It took an act of Congress to pay Elizabeth Newcume who received a land warrant of 160 acres and full payment for ten months service, plus three months extra pay, as provided in the 5th section of the act of July 19, 1848. Wearing male attire, she served at Ft. Leavenworth for 10 months during the Mexican War, including fighting indians at Dodge City, until it was discoverd that she was a woman.

The first, and only, woman to receive The Medal of Honor was Dr. Mary E. Walker, a contract surgeon during the Civil War.

Loretta Walsh, from Philadelphia, enlisted in March of 1917 and became the first Yeoman in the Navy.

In August 1918, Opha M. Johnson enlisted as the first woman in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.

Annie Fox was the first woman to receive The Purple Heart. She served at Hickam Field during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

The first woman to receive The Bronze Star was 1st Lt. Cordelia E. Cook, of the Army Nurse Corps, during WWII in Italy. Lt. Cook was also awarded The Purple Heart, becoming the first woman to receive two awards.

In 1940, the American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) petitioned the American Medical Association (AMA) for support in changing the law excluding women from the military reserves. It wasn't until 1943, when the physician supply could not keep up with the demand as the Army increased, that the AMA and the Army and Navy Surgeon General withdrew their objections. The law was signed on April 16, 1943, and the first woman to be commissioned into the Army Medical Corps, Dr. Margaret D. Craighill, was given the rank of major.

Lt. Edith Greenwood was the first woman to be awarded The Soldiers Medal, for her heroism in 1943, during a fire at a military hospital in Yuma, Arizona.

The first woman to receive The Air Medal was Lt. Elsie S. Ott awarded for her actions in 1943 as an air evac nurse.

Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby was the first Director of the Women's Army Corps (WAC), and she became the first woman to receive The U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal in 1945.

Sgt. Esther M. Blake was the first woman in the Air Force, enlisting in the first minute of the first hour of the first day the regular Air Force was authorized. It was July 8, 1948 at Ft McPhearson, Georgia, where she was already stationed as a member of the WAC. By enlisting in the Air Force she became the first WAF. (Note: The terms WAC, Women's Army Corps; WAVE, Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service; WAF, Women in the Air Force, were used until the separate women's branches were eliminated in the mid 1970s.)

Barbara Olive Barnwell was the first woman awarded the Navy-Marine Corps Medal for heroism in 1953. Barbara, a Staff Sargeant from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and a member of the Marine Reserve, saved a soldier from drowning in 1952.

In 1967, Master Sergeant Barbara J. Dulinsky, a volunteer for duty in Vietnam, reported to the Military Assistance Command in Saigon. She was the first woman Marine ordered to a combat zone.

Lt. Kara Hultgreen, the Navy's first fully qualified female fleet fighter pilot, was 29 years old, when her Tomcat slammed into the Pacific Ocean in 1994, making her the first woman combat pilot to die in service. Although 31 male pilots have died in Tomcat accidents, controversy ensued because of her accident.

In 1995, Air Force Academy graduate Lt. Kelly Flinn became the first woman B-52 Bomber Pilot. She was a Distinguished Graduate, but she faced a court-martial on May 20, 1997 for military charges of adultery, conduct unbecoming an officer, disobeying a lawful order, and making a false official statement. Due to her high visibility in Air Force recruitment advertisements, as well as the number of her accomplishments during her four years of active-duty service, the case drew national attention. She was allowed to resign from the Air Force with a general discharge to avoid a court-martial.

You can find out more about these women and many others by contacting the Women In Military Service for America Memorial (WIMSA), located at the gates of the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA., and through their website at www.womensmemorial.org.

Women in the U.S. military have always had a tough job, and we owe a lot to those women who opened doors and made the choice of military service easier for those who followed. Thank you!

Effective and Godly Leaders

2010-03-03T07:19:00.001-05:00

Please pray with me: Lord God, Your Word tells us of the leaders you promise to give to your people, and we desire leaders that are faithful to you. We want their decisions to reflect Your love, Your character and integrity, Your mercy and justice.

Please guide Your people into knowledge and understanding, and may the leaders we elect reflect Your truth and wisdom. As Your Word states in Jeremiah 3:15, "Then I will give you new rulers who will be faithful to me, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding".

In Your precious, heavenly name, Amen.

When King Solomon died in 931 B.C., Israel was divided into two kingdoms, in the north there was Israel and in the south, there was Judah. Both kingdoms failed in faithfulness to God, and Israel had even more idols than Judah. So, God allowed Israel to be destroyed in 722 B.C., by Assyria. Thousands were taken captive, and there was no longer a northern kingdom. (For perspective, the original city of Assyria, was located on the western bank of the Tigris, in Mesopotamia, or modern-day Iraq. To the north is modern-day Mosul, but it used to be known as Nineveh.)

But God did not give up on the faithfulness of His people. He pleaded with them through his servant Jeremiah, “my faithless people, come home to me again, for I am merciful” (3:12). The Lord promised to give them back their country, if they would return to Him. And He also said He would give them new leaders that would not ignore His word or turn against Him.

A leader can be anyone. In church, our leaders are our pastors. In the time of Jeremiah, the leaders were kings. Leaders are anyone who has any position of authority, in church or government, in your family, in your business, in your clubs or in your city. It can include many of you.

Effective and godly leaders, no matter what they are the leader of, will be those people whose inner lives have been shaped by God's Word and Spirit. And we must be effective leaders in our lives, homes and communities, so we recognize and can choose leaders for our cities, counties, states and country.

REFLECTION: Do you have a heart like God? Why or why not? How did it get this way? How can your heart be transformed? Are we responsible for the integrity of our leaders?

Choose Conservative Ideals and Decreased Spending on May 18th

2010-02-27T14:39:00.001-05:00

Born and raised in Paducah, KY, a Murray State University graduate with Bachelors degree in Political Science, a minor in Business Administration, a member of the National Honor Society, holding a Master of Divinity degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary....yes, it's Matt Lockett, our next 6th District Representative!

Matt Lockett loves people, and while on staff serving in a church in St. Louis, MO, he had the opportunity to travel and speak in many different states and foreign countries, and has an even greater appreciation for the Constitution of the United States because it gives importance to every citizen and should be defended every day.

In his current sales position, Matt talks to 6th District families every day. He hears, cares, and prays about their struggles, stories, and triumphs. Matt, having been in ministry, knows what it's like to struggle financially and desires to serve the people of Central Kentucky. He has always been a true conservative, standing up for conservative ideals.

Matt believes in smaller federal government and less spending. He believes that capitalist ideas have made us the greatest nation in the world. Matt believes in a strong national defense, and that we have no reason to apologize to other nations. He believes in protecting our unborn.

Matt Lockett and his wife, Beth, have been married for twelve years and live in Nicholasville, Ky with their children, Courtney, 6, and Jacob, 4.

Please join me in supporting decreased spending and true conservative ideals on May 18th and vote for Matt Lockett as our next 6th District Representative!

Our President is a Rule Follower

2010-02-27T00:23:00.000-05:00

The rules of Alinsky, that is.

"Obama learned his lesson well. I am proud to see that my father's model for organizing is being applied successfully beyond local community organizing to affect the Democratic campaign in 2008. It is a fine tribute to Saul Alinsky as we approach his 100th birthday." --Letter from L. DAVID ALINSKY, son of Neo-Marxist Saul Alinsky

"True revolutionaries do not flaunt their radicalism," Alinsky taught. They cut their hair, wear suits and infiltrate from the inside. Alinsky knew that revolution would be a slow process. His idea was for revolutionists to work inside existing areas like political parties, unions, churches, schools, and how about existing policies like healthcare reform, climate change, and so on, and do whatever it takes to gain power.

"A Marxist begins with his prime truth that all evils are caused by the exploitation of the proletariat by the capitalists. From this he proceeds to the revolution of ending capitalism, then into reorganization of a new social order of the dictatorship of the proletariat, and finally the political paradise of communism."

Alinsky wasn't a leader, but a follower of the Marxist strategies of Antonio Gramsci, an Italian Communist. Their tactics would not be a revolution of blood and guts, but it would be so subtle that nobody would notice.

Alinsky believed in Means and Ends, not morality or ethics. "The end is what you want, the means is how you get it. Whenever we think about social change, the question of means and ends arises. The man of action views the issue of means and ends in pragmatic and strategic terms. He has no other problem; he thinks only of his actual resources and the possibilities of various choices of action. He asks of ends only whether they are achievable and worth the cost; of means, only whether they will work.... The real arena is corrupt and bloody."

Remember Michelle Obama's Democratic National Convention speech:

"Barack stood up that day," talking about a visit to Chicago neighborhoods, "and spoke words that have stayed with me ever since. He talked about 'The world as it is' and 'The world as it should be…' And, 'All of us driven by a simple belief that the world as it is just won't do – that we have an obligation to, fight for the world as it should be."

Who is determining what the world, as it should be, looks like, our politicians, our president, or us?

Alinsky, like our president, believed in organization. "To the organizer, imagination...is the dynamism that starts and sustains him in his whole life of action as an organizer. It ignites and feeds the force that drives him to organize for change....

Alinsky believed in communication with big emphasis on conflict, relationships, and teamwork. He wrote, "Every weakness of every proposed tactic is probed by questions.... Is this manipulation? Certainly...."

"One of the factors that changes what you can and can't communicate is relationships. There are sensitive areas that one does not touch until there is a strong personal relationship based on common involvements. Otherwise the other party turns off and literally does not hear....

"Conversely, if you have a good relationship, he is very receptive.... For example, I have always believed that birth control and abortion are personal rights to be exercised by the individual. If, in my early days when I organized... neighborhood in Chicago, which was 95 per cent Roman Catholic, I had tried to communicate this, even through the experience of the residents, whose economic plight was aggravated by large families, that would have been the end of my relationship with the community. That instant I would have been stamped as an enemy of the church and all communication would have ceased".

"Some years later, after establishing solid relationships, I was free to talk about anything....Until he has developed that mass power base, he confronts no major issues.... Until he has those means and power instruments, his 'tactics' are very different from power tactics. Therefore, every move revolves around one central point: how many recruits will this bring into the organization, whether by means of local organizations, churches, service groups, labor Unions, corner gangs, or as individuals."

"Change comes from power, and power comes from organization."

Alinsky must have felt he was Robin Hood when he wrote, "Tactics are those conscious deliberate acts by which human beings live with each other and deal with the world around them. ... Here our concern is with the tactic of taking; how the Have-Nots can take power away from the Haves."

Alinsky's rules for power tactics:

1. "Power is not only what you have, but what the enemy thinks you have."

2. "Never go outside the expertise of your people. When an action or tactic is outside the experience of the people, the result is confusion, fear and retreat....the collapse of communication.

3. "Whenever possible, go outside the expertise of the enemy. Look for ways to increase insecurity, anxiety and uncertainty.

4. "Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules. You can kill them with this, for they can no more obey their own rules than the Christian church can live up to Christianity."

5. "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon. It is almost impossible to counteract ridicule. Also it infuriates the opposition, which then reacts to your advantage."

6. "A good tactic is one your people enjoy."

7. "A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag. Man can sustain militant interest in any issue for only a limited time...."

8. "Keep the pressure on, with different tactics and actions, and utilize all events of the period for your purpose."

9. "The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself."

10. "The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition. It is this unceasing pressure that results in the reactions from the opposition that are essential for the success of the campaign."

11. "If you push a negative hard and deep enough, it will break through into its counterside... every positive has its negative."

12. "The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative."

13. Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it. In conflict tactics there are certain rules that should be regarded as universalities. One is that the opposition must be singled out as the target and 'frozen.'...

"...any target can always say, 'Why do you center on me when there are others to blame as well?' When you 'freeze the target,' you disregard these arguments...."

Alinsky believed that a good organizer's qualities would be ego, curiosity, irreverence, imagination, a sense of humor, and an organized personality with confidence in presenting the right reason for his actions only "as a moral rationalization after the right end has been achieved".

"'The organizer's first job is to create the issues or problems,' and 'organizations must be based on many issues.' The organizer 'must first rub raw the resentments of the people of the community; fan the latent hostilities of many of the people to the point of overt expression. He must search out controversy and issues, rather than avoid them, for unless there is controversy people are not concerned enough to act. . . . An organizer must stir up dissatisfaction and discontent.'"

Anyone else dissatisfied or discontent? Be aware, and don't be distracted, because this president follows the rules and so does this administration.

Undivided

2010-02-23T22:59:00.000-05:00

Check out the New Kings James Version of Psalms 86:1-11:
1 Bow down Your ear, O LORD, hear me; For I am poor and needy.
2 Preserve my life, for I am holy; You are my God; Save Your servant who trusts in You!
3 Be merciful to me, O Lord, For I cry to You all day long.
4 Rejoice the soul of Your servant, For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.
6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; And attend to the voice of my supplications.
7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me.
8 Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Your works.
9 All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And shall glorify Your name.
10 For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God.
11 Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.

David prayed this prayer asking God for help. He asked for protection and mercy and praised God for how wonderful He is and recognized that He is the only God.

David also asked God to help him live right. “Teach me Your way, O LORD;", and then David said, “I will walk in Your truth.” I believe this means that we are not only to believe God, but we are suppose to let Him direct our lives.

The second half of Psalm 86:11 adds, “Unite my heart to fear Your name.” The NRSV version is "Give me an undivided heart to revere your name." What I took away from this is that we can't be hypocrites. We can't say we honor, love, worship God and then act and live however we want, without His direction.

I certainly know what that feels like, to have a divided heart. Sometimes I trust God with some things, while doubting Him in other areas. There are times I sin against him or go my own way, even though I know I am doing something, deciding something, saying something that would not honor Him. Sometimes I feel like I can do what I want as long as I go to church, go to bible study, serve here, or serve there, like it makes it okay to disobey in other areas of my life. I want God to unite my heart, like David did. I want my thoughts, words, and plans to honor God.

Being involved in supporting two political candidates can be disheartening, ugly business as anyone who is involved knows. That is, if you take your focus off of what would honor our Savior. It is possible to be patriotic, serve our country and be a good American without resorting to name-calling, back-biting, and being mean-spirited. None of these things honors our God. It is human to be provoked, but we have a Rock to lean on and to help us during these times.

In what ways do you ever feel like you have a divided heart? What activities make you feel more united with God's heart and desire for you?

Dear Lord, Teach me your ways, so I may live according to your truth!” Help me know Your way so I can walk with You. Give me a pure heart, one that is not divided. I want my way to be Your way. Fix me Lord and keep my focus on what honors You.

In Your precious name Jesus, Amen.

Hire a New Representative

2010-02-22T00:30:00.000-05:00

Ben Chandler and his fellow democrats are not only using unions as a way to recycle your hard-earned tax dollars for campaign funds. The other political enablers are trial attorneys. This money isn't withheld from your check, so it isn't obvious, but you're paying for it all the same. It's gobbling up 2% of our country's gross domestic product, and this doesn't even calculate the cost of defensive medicine. This adds to the cost of your healthcare and insurance premiums. This money you're paying would normally be put toward other investments that would boost our economy. The cost is exponential and our "leaders" are counting on you not to notice.

I realize that some litigation does help to compensate some victims that are truly injured. It happens slowly and at least 40% of the award goes to the attorney. I also realize that bad behavior is deterred, but we get far less than what we spend. James R. Copeland, at TrialLawyersInc.com, writes that our tort tax is three times that of Britain and France and double that of Germany. Do you feel safer?

In the last ten years, lawyers and their PACs gave $780 million to federal politicians and $725 million to the state-level, most of it has went to the Democratic Party. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., collects twice as much from lawyers as he does from any other industry, and most of his donors are out-of-state law firms that work in litigation. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., collects three times as much from lawyers as from any other industry. Law firms are his top two, and seven of his top twenty contributors.

They have gotten what they have paid for, just check out recent legislation that has passed: Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, and the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009. This is just a start. They are currently planning to limit consumer arbitration agreements and they are going to expand securities litigation.

We are getting closer to the November 2010 elections, and the winds are threatening their plans. Don't be shocked to see the current administration slipping some swag to their political benefactors.

Are we finished electing politicians to represent unions and trial lawyers? Are we tired yet?

Join me in supporting Matt Lockett to represent our 6th District in Congress. He's not going to Washington to work for unions or attorneys, he's going there to work for you and me.

Let's Cling to Our Guns

2010-02-18T10:32:00.001-05:00

I'm sure you know that the NRA is a major political force and America's biggest defender of our 2nd Amendment rights, but did you also know that it has been the best firearms education organization in the world. George Stephanopoulos said this about the NRA, "Let me make one small vote for the NRA. They're good citizens. They call their congressmen. They write. They vote. They contribute. And they get what they want over time."

During the Civil War, Confederate soldiers, many of whom had grown up on farms, were better than the Union army in firearm proficiency. In 1864, Winfield Scott Hancock discovered that a third of the soldiers under his command had never shot their musket. So, former Union officers, General George Wingate and Colonel William C. Church, decided to do something about this and in order to promote marksmanship, they co-founded the National Rifle Association (NRA) in 1871.

The NRA was granted a charter from NY on Nov. 17, 1871. Ambrose Burnside, a Civil War general, the former governor of Rhode Island, and a U.S. Senator became the first president. Unfortunately, Alonzo Cornell was elected governor of New York in 1880, and he predicted, "There will be no war in my time or in the time of my children. The only need for a National Guard is to show itself in parades and ceremonies. I see no reason for them to learn to shoot if their only function will be to march a little through the streets. Rifle practice...is a waste of money." Due to this lack of support and poor economic times, the NRA suspended operations in June 1892. By December 1900, however, there was increased national interest, and the NRA was reactivated. The new NRA swore to never again depend on a single state for its survival.

In 1903, NRA Secretary Albert Jones promoted the creation of rifle clubs at major colleges, universities and military schools and by 1906, the NRA had created a youth program and more than 200 boys were participating. Today, more than one million youth participate in NRA shooting events and programs with 4-H, the Boy Scouts of America, the American Legion, and U.S. Jaycees.

Due to repeated attacks on the 2nd Amendment, the NRA formed the Legislative Affairs Division in 1934. They did not lobby directly at this time, but they did mail out legislative facts to members, so they could take action on their own if they wanted to and in 1975, the NRA formed the Institute for Legislative Action, or ILA.

During World War II, the NRA developed training materials for national security, encouraged members to serve and offered its ranges to the government. NRA members even reloaded ammunition for those guarding war plants. Britain had almost disarmed itself with gun-control laws enacted between World War I and II, and the NRA's encouragement to help arm Britain in 1940 caused the collection of more than 6,000 firearms for Britain's defense against invasion by Germany.

In 1949, the NRA, along with the state of New York, established the first hunter education program, and it continues today with the Youth Hunter Education Challenge, that helps youngsters build on skills learned in basic education courses. This program is now held in 43 states and three Canadian provinces, with an estimated 40,000 young hunters.

The NRA became the only national trainer of law enforcement officers with its introduction of its Police Firearms Instructor certification program in 1960. Today, there are more than 10,000 NRA-certified police and security firearms instructors.

The NRA continues to be the leader in firearms education. Over 55,000 certified instructors now train about 750,000 gun owners per year. Also, over 2,500 certified coaches are trained to work with students. Since the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program in 1988, more than 21 million children have learned that if they see a firearm in an unsupervised situation, they should "STOP. DON'T TOUCH. LEAVE THE AREA. TELL AN ADULT."

In 1990, the NRA established the NRA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, that provides a way to raise millions of dollars to fund gun safety and education projects for the general public. Contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible and benefit youth, women, hunters, competitive shooters, gun collectors, law enforcement agents and persons with physical disabilities.

The NRA is not just a lobby, they are a true American organization, leading the way in education, gun safety and protection of our 2nd Amendment Rights. However, they cannot do it alone. The American people must stand up to protect their rights. Join with me on Saturday, March 27th, in Frankfort and let's remind our government that we know it is our right to keep and bear arms, and that right shall not be infringed.

"The right of the people to keep and bear...arms shall not be infringed. A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the best and most natural defense of a free country..." (James Madison, I Annals of Congress 434 [June 8, 1789])

And everything I think I see...becomes a tootsie roll to me

2010-02-09T23:45:00.007-05:00

Remember the song for the Tootsie Roll sucker commercials...I am reminded of that tonight since everything seems political to me now.

When I bought my car, they multiplied on the road around me. Everyone had the same car as me. My husband told me that's just because I notice them more. We tend to see ourselves in the people and things around us.

Well, it's happened to me politically now. Everything I hear, read, talk about is over-shadowed by politics.

My husband and I are scheduling our time, events, etc. in such a way as to have time for politics. My 9 year old niece, who lives with us, knows more about politics than other 9 year olds and is on the look-out for any form of indoctrination at school.

Driving through the slush to get to work makes me think about climate change and how I wish the climate would change. I'm more cold now than ever before and I blame Al Gore.

I can't get away with not thinking about politics at work either. I work for a large company and they are not immune to our sagging economy. We are now fighting over two printers, I'm buying my own Post-It Notes and the quality of tissues we are using makes me secretly want to use my sleeve.

Eating lunch makes me think of farm subsidies.

Church-sponsored activities are a forum to "get out the vote", along with after-school activities. I know more people running for office now than I can sling a dead cat at, hey wait...that's political too.

How is politics effecting your life? Are you more political now than you used to be, or is this the same ol' same ol'?

There is a season

2010-02-07T08:22:00.015-05:00

Check out Mark 14:53-62

When Jesus was arrested, he was interrogated by Jewish leaders and many witnesses spoke against him, but it wasn't enough to convict him. As he was being accused, Jesus said nothing.

After a while, the high priest asked Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” (14:60). Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest asked, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” (14:61). Jesus then said, “I AM. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven” (14:62).

I wonder why Jesus didn't say anything at first and then chose to speak at the time he did. Was it because he felt no need to defend himself when he had accepted the outcome of his trial? It reminds me that there is a time to speak and a time to be quiet.

It seems there's very little quiet anymore. Social networking and the blogosphere allows us every opportunity to speak our minds. I confess to doing that all too often without considering that I should wait upon the Lord, and learn to be quick to listen as well as to speak.

Are you a quiet person? Or are you more like me and all too ready to give your opinion on every situation? Why? What helps you to listen better or to think before you speak? Please share your comments about this.

Lord, we don’t know why you chose not to speak during your trial. But we know that you more than anyone, has the wisdom to know when to be quiet and when to talk. Help us know when to be quiet and when to speak up. Help us to listen more and when we speak, to speak words of truth and words that honor you. It's in your name I pray, Amen.

For now we see through a glass, darkly

2010-02-04T20:57:00.023-05:00

I registered to vote when I was 18, mostly because it was the only thing that I was newly allowed to do. I registered independent because I wasn't sure if I wanted to be a democrat or a republican. Lincoln was a republican and Kennedy was a democrat. They were my favorite presidents, so I was confused and didn't understand the difference. Not long after, I realized I couldn't vote in a primary election unless I registered as either a republican or a democrat, so I registered as a democrat. Democrats were for the poor, and I was poor, so that was good. Democrats believed in civil rights and I liked having equal rights, so that was good. Democrats believed in social justice and I felt justice was fair, so that was good.

I should mention now that when I registered to vote I had already given birth to my daughter via an unplanned pregnancy. I went to college full-time and worked part-time until she was born, with my mother's help and support. After she was born, I quit school and when my daughter was about six months old, I went to work full-time. During the six months that I stayed at home with her, I was eligible for welfare, food stamps, a medical card for me and my baby and WIC (Women, Infants and Children, a government program for pregnant women and children that provides milk, juice and other food items). This program is regulated and at that time, appointments were made with the Department of Social Services so that you could go and prove that you were still eligible for the government benefits. When I decided to go back to work, I reported to my "worker" to let her know.

The reason I have told you all that, is so that I can make this point: what happened during this appointment would stay with me forever and it put the first chink in my democratic beliefs. When I told my "worker" that I was going back to work full-time, she said, "You can't do that". When I asked why, she told me that I would lose almost all of my benefits. I asked her to clarify what she meant by "almost all", and she explained that I would lose the ADC check (Americans with Dependent Children), almost all of the food stamps and my medical card. The only thing that I would still be eligible for would be my daughter's medical card, a very small amount of food stamps and the WIC. I told her that would be fine as I would be working. She then went on to explain that the money that I would make at what she implied was a 'dead-end job' would not be near enough to match the benefits that I would be losing. I ignored her insult, as I had long ago become accustomed to her condescending tone. I rallied and explained that I didn't intend to make the same amount of money for very long, that I was sure that I would get raises and that I would eventually make more money and hopefully would be back in college soon with the expectation that I would make even more later. She brushed all of that away, and advised knowingly that it wouldn't be long before I had another baby and that I would get even more benefits. She went on to say that I should stay at home and raise my children and the government was more than willing to pay for it. She told me that I owed it to my children (remember, in her mind, I already had two) to stay at home and take care of them with the government's help and that maybe, just maybe, they might be some benefit to society. It's an understatement to say that I left there very upset, but it was probably one of the best things that ever happened to me.

I learned that because I was an unwed, young mother, not much was expected of me. I learned that the government was more than willing to give me just enough money to keep me home with my kid(s) and I would get a raise if I had more babies. For the first time, I became suspicious of my government, and although I don't think I actually conceptualized it at the time, I was face-to-face with the liberal elite. This was my first taste of the government that knew what was best for me, one of the unwashed masses.

I did take that job, and my welfare benefits were decreased and they eventually expired. By God's grace, I was never again a welfare recipient. I didn't immediately leave the liberal ideas that I was indoctrinated with in school or by my peers. However, I became more educated and there were many more experiences and life events that shaped and formed the beliefs and values I have today and this is some of the things that I learned along the way:

1. Democrats blame poverty on the wealthy, conservatives and those who work to better themselves. Their aim is to convince the poor to believe it is alright not to work to better themselves and seek all the handouts they can because "big business" is in cahoots with conservatives to keep them down. They want to be the only ones who have control of the money because they believe they are the only ones that have good intentions for it.

2. Democrats are socially progressive even though history shows that socialism has failed over and over again. They want to model our health care system after nations who have the worst health care records. Ignoring the fact that these same nations often have the worst civil rights records and have high oppressive tax systems to pay for their programs.

3. Democrats blame our nation for all the problems of the world: the September 11th attacks, the failure of the levies during Katrina, our military is blamed for the innocent people that are attacked by bombs set up by their own people, for all the pollution in the world even though much of the pollution in our country has been reversed and other countries continue to pollute at the same or higher rates than in the past, and they deny the truth about global warming and blame our nation for this natural occurrence. The only way our nation can do right is if we follow their anti-American agenda and accept and pay for all the injustice of the world.

4. Democrats blame our society for criminal behavior, yet they still assert it is okay to kill the unborn. They believe there should be no death penalty because they victimize the murderers and make excuses for why they can't control themselves.

5. Democrats believe that those who illegally enter this country are not criminals, they are victims of poverty and have a right to better their situations even though they have broken the laws of our nation. They are doing what they can to allow illegal aliens the ability to vote, by fighting any requirements of proving identity or citizenship. They believe they have the same constitutional rights as we do and in some cases even more because they are "victims" of our nations prosperity. If a lie helps to further their position it is justified because the ends always justify the means.

6. A democrat controlled White House appointed Supreme Court Justices who breached their oath and having no regard for due constitutional process, they made abortion legal in our country.

7. Democrats believe the government is and should be more powerful than the people. They continue to prove they want to decide the power and freedom of the electorate. They keep taxes high so that they can distribute it to people and groups that they choose.

8. Democrats continue to attempt the undermining of our right to bear arms, denying that the Constitution absolutely gives us this right.

9. Democrats continually attempt to undermine our freedom of religion if we are Christian. Only other religions are protected. If you are Christian, you are a fundamental radical. Christians cannot pray in school, but Muslims are allowed this right.

10. Democrats try to convince you that the minority has just as much right to make decisions as the majority. But if they are in the majority, they insist that you keep your mouth shut.

The time has come and is way overdue, to be honest about progressive democrats. They preach share the wealth. But this doesn't include their wealth. Their wealth and power will only grow at the expense of those who they claim to be helping. When there is no personal gain allowed, except for those in power, it is called socialism. In a free enterprise, everyone can gain, workers can be become owners, and anyone can run for political office. Progressive democrats understand that the only way to destroy our government is to create people that are totally dependent upon the government, an ever-growing welfare state. Private business is portrayed as the enemy of the poor, the ones who are keeping them down. They are attempting to break these businesses with high taxation and extreme regulation. They continue to create crisis after crisis to justify deficit spending in an attempt to break the financial system.

They will never share their power and once they remove their enemy, capitalism, their power and control will only increase until they have ultimate control. This is known as communism.

40 Years in the Wilderness

2010-02-03T00:57:00.004-05:00

I'm not 40 yet, but it won't be long. As I was pondering my birthday this year, and comparing how I feel about it compared to how I was feeling when I turned 30, it made me think of a quote by Winston Churchill. He said, “Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has not heart; and any man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains.”

That pretty much sums it up for me I guess. The last 10 years of my life haven't been the easiest, but I can easily say they have been the best. I've learned so much about myself, my beliefs, my values, the people around me, my country and the world we live in. I have grown both spiritually and intellectually and everyday I understand this quote by Mr. Churchill more and more.

I mainly wanted to start this blog to write about my take on religion and politics and how they shape the world we live in, but snippets of my journey from being a self-loving, arrogant liberal to a conservative Christ-follower will be included as well. It's my hope that people will read, learn some things, teach me some things, and that the world might be slightly better because of it.