A Modern Woman's Perspective On The Kingdom of God on Earth


Showing posts with label Values. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Values. Show all posts

November 4, 2014

To Vote Or Not to Vote .... What Is Our Christian Duty?

   
      I think it's fair to say that most Americans are having conflicting emotions about voting in the mid-term elections today.  While we acknowledge that we are blessed to live in a country that still allows us to vote for our elected officials, we are rather disillusioned with the process.  We are tired of the false promises, the broken pledges, the voter fraud, the corruption that seems to be inherent in politics, and the fact that most elected office-holders end up not representing us at all!
     In fact, I have heard more disenchanted talk this election cycle from people who take their civic duty seriously.  For the first time in their adult life, they considered not voting.  "It doesn't make an iota of difference", they say.  "The Republicans and Democrats are exactly the same.  It doesn't matter who wins -- nothing will change; we will get the same government."  I cannot dispute their logic.  So, is it important that we vote today?  Will casting a ballot earn us anything more than an "I voted" sticker?   Will we really have a say about what form of leadership we experience?  Or are higher powers really in control, and pulling the lever is inconsequential?
    It may surprise you to learn that voting has been a part of the American experience since the settlement of Jamestown in 1607 -- and nothing much has changed in those 400+ years.  It has been a long, protracted experiment, with periodic changes, both expanding and contracting the enfranchisement of its citizens.  We are still tampering with the process!  Voting fraud has been common from the outset, with votes being bought and sold; and different states enacting their own voting laws, adding to the disorder and capriciousness of elections.
     One could say it's been a messy business from the beginning, and it seems to be inspiring even less confidence today.  So, should we abandon the thought that it is our "duty" to vote?  If it's not going to change a thing, should we even bother?  If I was looking at the situation through the world's lens, I might be convinced to stay home.  But does God have an opinion?  Is the act of voting somehow important to Him, or is it man's effort to make himself seem relevant to a civilized society?
     In the Old Testament we read of the Israelites' desire for an earthly king.  From that first appointment of King Saul, we learn that God is involved in those who rule the nations.  And it is clearly seen that the people usually get the kings/rulers they deserve.  If a people desire and take steps to live their lives according to Godly principles, then their choice of a leader is reflected in the governing of their nation.  But, far too many times, citizens of a country have strayed from the path God would have them follow, and they appoint a leader that, in essence, becomes a figurehead or icon  for their idolatrous ways.
     Down through the centuries, history has shown us the repercussions of godless leaders.  But we only have to look at the last 100 years to get a picture of men who blatantly displayed their disregard for the God of the Universe ... Hitler, Stalin, Mao Tse-Tung, Pol Pot.   Based on how other leaders have performed their duties as heads of state, we can only imagine what they profess in secrecy.  So, with the evidence showing a preponderance of godless leadership, does God still want us to vote?
     First, we need to understand that He is in control, regardless of the actions of sinful leaders.  And I think we need to consider our duty and responsibility to vote as a means of furthering His will by approving men with good Christian values.  We are commanded to pray for our leaders, and clearly directed to obey legitimately elected authorities, unless they specifically defy or contradict the Lord's commands.  (So please do not quote Romans 13 as proof that we are to follow godless leaders, no matter what).  
     So, can you see why it might be important to exercise your right to vote when laws concerning abortion, the establishment of marriage, or persecution of the faithful might offend God?  We, here in America, still have a voice for our Christian faith; unlike those who are being persecuted elsewhere around the globe.  But how much longer will we enjoy that privilege if we become complacent about voting for God-fearing men and women?  How long before it becomes against the law to preach the Gospel message in the public domain?  We still have the right and the opportunity to promote, protect, and preserve a government (and government leaders) that still recognize God as their Source of Power.
     I think we can all agree that those choices are becoming less viable.  I believe that the government leaders we elect in the next two cycles will have profound influence on whether this nation remains touched by God.  That is why it is incumbent upon each of us to pray and to study the candidates and choose wisely.  The effects of our indifference about voting is apparent in the state of our nation.  When Christians stay home and/or remain silent in the political arena, we get the government we deserve; God hands us over to our desires.  If we stand a chance of getting this country back on track, then Christians need to stand up and be counted!

1 Samuel 12:13   "And now behold the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked; behold, the Lord has set a king over you."
   

 

June 6, 2014

Have We Lost The Legacy of D-Day?

     It has been 70 years since Allied forces stepped foot on the beaches of Normandy and changed the course of history.  Known as D-Day, this is a generic military term for the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated.  As detailed in The Atlantic, June 6, 1944 is one of the most famous D-Days, and saw the largest amphibious invasion in history take place. Nearly 200,000 Allied troops boarded 7,000 ships and more than 3,000 aircraft and headed toward Normandy, France.  Some 156,000 troops landed on the French beaches; 24,000 by air and the rest by sea, where they met stiff resistance from well-defended German positions across 50 miles of French coastline.
     Frankly, I was amazed to discover that there are no exact figures for casualties on that momentous day.  The numbers vary and are taken from the rough and approximate estimates made on the ground during the battle.  Conservative calculations have put the total figure at 9,000 casualties, with U.S. forces suffering over half of the casualties; the British, nearly a third; and the Canadians experiencing the balance.  British statistics quote a figure closer to 11,000 dead.
      As this historic day begins to fade in the memory of the American experience, it is my fear that this, and future, generations will lose sight of the significance of the great accomplishments by our brave men on those foreign shores.  For those of us who have seen the movie Saving Private Ryan, we have a taste of what it must have been like to storm the beaches under heavy enemy fire.  I have read about survivors who describe the seas that day as "blood-red and full of floating bodies".
     When you read the first-hand accounts of those who assaulted Utah and Omaha Beaches, you are hard-pressed to see how anyone could have survived.  One narrative described it this way:  "As soldiers struggled, one leader told his men that two types of people would stay on the beach--the dead and those going to die."  They had to storm those beaches and push on --- so they did.  And because of their actions that day, brave American soldiers persisted in their mission to halt Nazi Germany's drive for world domination; and the invasion at Normandy was their first step towards victory in Europe.  Without their participation, a free Europe would no longer have been possible.
     Little did these men know that, in essence, they were part of something even bigger.  The part they played in the war would eventually serve to catapult America on her historical path toward an enduring role in global affairs, a prominent presence in post-war Europe, and its first major alliance with world powers.  Their sacrifice on that historic and devastating day was symbolic of the impact America would have on the world for decades.  It was and is an honorable legacy.
     But, as sad as it makes me, I must ask this question .... Have we squandered that glorious legacy? Are we that same America that embodied freedom to millions of Europeans?  History records that one week shy of her 15th birthday, an excited Jewish girl in Amsterdam named Anne Frank described in the June 6th, 1944 entry to her diary how she and her family huddled around a radio in their attic hideaway to hear details of the invasion.  "This is the day," she wrote. " . . . I have the feeling friends are approaching."
     Are we still seen as "friends" by those who believe in freedom and sovereign nations?  Yes, the legacy still existed when this country helped secure the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe a mere 45 years later.  We were still seen as the bastion of hope and promise.  But do our allies still look upon us with that same optimism and trust?  Have we continued the Greatest Generation's legacy of "exceptionalism" over these last 25 years?
     Those white crosses in the American Cemetery and Memorial at Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France, are a picture of the real meaning of American "exceptionalism".  Don't be fooled ... It is not what was spoken of recently at West Point:  our willingness to affirm international norms.  Americans do not fit a conventional mold .  We never have and it is my sincere hope that we never will.
     And we must never forget that what those men accomplished on those beaches 70 years ago was not "normal"; it was truly exceptional.  And I am afraid that as the last of them leaves this earth, we will lose another signpost of our remarkable and unparalleled American character.  I pray that we can maintain a remnant of their bequest to us; that as long as we nurture their memory, we stand a chance to reproduce the hope they offered the world.  In many ways, 70 years seems so long ago; literally, a lifetime.  But look how quickly we have wasted what cost them so much.  They deserve our efforts to preserve their legacy, and only with God's help can we repay the price.

Psalm 33:12    "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen as His heritage!"
 

May 28, 2014

Tough and Resilient

   
PLW and Judy assess a tree torn out by its roots 
     This post will be short and sweet, but one that I hope will show you the stuff of which we Americans are made.  We woke up yesterday to straight line winds, hail and powerful rain; flooding is imminent.  But we Texans, like our brethren across this land, are not ones to bend to the challenges of Mother Nature.  And we pitch in and help our neighbors where it is needed.
     PLW and I spent the morning helping our friends Judy and Geary begin the arduous task of clearing oak trees off their 100-acre property.  What was once a manicured and tidy yard, with a brick home nestled among towering oaks, has become a picture of chaos.  Some trees have been unearthed; every leaf stripped from others; and a swirling path of green is evident among the piled earth, twigs and mud; a path where a foot of water moved swiftly across the landscape.  
     But this is a story with a good ending.  Only trees and earth were damaged.  The house stood the onslaught of wind and rain, while Judy and Geary took shelter in an interior bathroom.  Both are in their early 70s, and they will do what people of hardy stock do … they count their blessings, roll up their sleeves, and get to work.  They never asked for our help, and it was difficult for them to accept it.  They feel that it is their responsibility to take care of their own property, and believe me, they are quite capable.  In fact, we left after several hours of sawing and hauling limbs, and I'm quite sure Judy is still hard at work, as long as there is light to see by.  She has a spirit that was born and bred into her growing up in Oklahoma, and she knows how to work hard.  I told her that I wish the younger generation could see what it means to accept challenges with a can-do attitude.
     We are currently without internet access (I am writing this post at my mother-in-laws's computer in a nearby town).  We were without electricity off and on all morning.  But as Judy said, "This is nothin'.  We can survive this."  And she is right.  It may be an overused adage, but it is true that what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.  The clean-up will take months, but just picture me and PLW in our boots, work gloves, and with smiles on our faces.  It's a privilege to help your neighbors, it feels good to work hard, and we are definitely thanking God for the rain!

Proverbs 24:10   "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small."

May 24, 2014

The Odd Little Fact About the 2014 Primaries

   
     A few days ago I wrote a post about the National Popular Vote bill that could potentially see the President of the United States elected in a different manner.  It's always fun when I get an internet troll who tries to bait me into a confrontational exchange.  I usually acknowledge their first comment, which is often courteous; but when the followup comment becomes nasty and is an obvious effort to get me to say something controversial, I just delete the comment and let them go harass someone else.  That's the nice thing about being in charge of my own blog.  I am tolerant of differences of opinion, but only as long as we are respectful of each other.
     In this case, the troll tried to get me to admit that my opinion was wrong, or at the very least to say that my idea of unfair elections was absurd.  I wasn't compelled to do either.   Because I don't know if you are aware of this curious little fact, but out of 139 primaries across the country this midterm election cycle, there was not one incumbent unseated --- in spite of Congress having a dismal 11% approval rating!  That's 139 incumbents elected in 139 contests.  Tell me that you don't find that just a tad suspect.
     It seems that everywhere the public showed a favorable inclination to vote for a Tea Party candidate, (or at least for someone outside of the establishment Party), the incumbent ended up winning by a sizable margin.  And that's after pre-election polling showed either very tight races, or the incumbent running behind.  Are you willing to chock that up to 139 "lucky" wins?
     Now, in case you are thinking that I am delusional and paranoid -- as my troll commenter accused me in his unpublished rant -- let me back up my suspicions with a few examples.  Breitbart.com reported that claims were made by at least 12 candidates that there were voting machine irregularities during the Democratic primaries in some counties in Texas.  A letter was received by the County Commissioners  “…that numerous inconsistencies and discrepancies have appeared in our analysis of each candidate’s races. We therefore ask that a forensic expert inspect each voting machine to ensure that they have not malfunctioned or been subjected to fraud or tampering.”
      Elections in Nashville, Tennessee were marred by at least six voters who were allowed to cast ballots twice.  In addition, The Tennessean reported that the Davidson County Election Commission agreed to refer a suit filed by former employee Rollow Mickle, who alleges he was fired for identifying widespread flaws in how the county runs elections.  There were also reports of lost voting histories, double voting and voters being turned away at the polls.
     Watchdogwire reports that in Pennsylvania, voters were suspicious of election results after the Philadelphia City Commissioner identified hundreds of voting irregularities in the 2012 national election.  Controversies over voter photo identification and absentee ballot provisions are leaving voters unconfident that results are fair and honest.
     Through just a casual screening of internet articles, there was concern over voter fraud in Georgia, Mississippi, Texas, New York and Nevada.  And these were only the reported ones.  I would suggest that anyone who thinks that voter fraud is not a major concern in our election process is either naive, or simply uninformed.  It just amazes me that I have not heard any major news outlet make a statement on the incredible odds that all incumbent candidates would actually win their primary contests.  But when you realize that such a small percentage of the population actually bothers to vote anymore, I guess I should not be so surprised and disappointed.  After all, it is becoming a sad fact that we are getting what we deserve -- whether we acquire it legally or illegally.

Proverbs 20:17    "Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel."

May 15, 2014

My Thoughts On The Michael Sam Controversy

   
     I understand that to a growing number of people in the American culture, that any word construed as negative in regards to Michael Sam will be condemned.  Sam, who is the first openly gay man to be drafted in the National Football League added to the controversy by allowing himself to be filmed kissing his partner on live TV.
     Let me start by saying that I know nothing of Mr. Sam's skills as a football player, but I am genuinely happy for anyone who reaches such a respected goal.  If he has the skills, he should be rewarded -- his sexuality has nothing to do with his just reward.  And his emotion was obviously authentic and sincere, as was that of his partner.  I saw two people who really cared for each other.
     But as a Christian, it is my sincere belief that this relationship is not a healthy one for Michael.  He is not engaging in a relationship for which he was designed.  Is it my place to condemn him for that?  No! Only His Creator has the right to judge him.  But neither do I think I should be censured or faulted for my opinion, as long as it is expressed with respect for him as a person.
     You see, my same God who has expressed how He intends for us, whom He has created, to be joined together, also instructs me to love my fellow man.  Loving Michael Sam, means to treat him with kindness, respect and concern.  Loving Michael Sam does not mean agreeing with everything he does or giving my blessings to a lifestyle that my God does not approve --- anymore than I could encourage a heterosexual relationship that my God does not approve.  
     Michael Sam has made his choices and his personal life is his own.  I find it ironic that the PC Culture is OK with him expressing himself, but feels warranted to applaud the fine, suspension and forced "re-education" of Miami Dolphins player Don Jones for expressing himself.  I will admit that Jones' tweet did not convey love or respect; there are kinder ways he could have voiced his opinion ... BUT his opinion was mildly expressed in comparison to the punishment that was meted out.  I have no doubt that it was his opinion that resulted in his retribution -- not the way Jones expressed himself.   The fact that he did not agree with or applaud Michael Sam's actions automatically earned him derision and discipline.  He dared to defy the mandatory acceptance as proscribed by the Official Agenda of anti-Christians.
     So where does that leave those of us of Faith?  Are we to remain silent and not express any opinion that goes against the non-believing culture?  That is surely how they would like us to behave.  But what are we called to do?  I truly believe we are to follow the mandates of God in Scripture ... love Him, love our fellow man, and speak the Truth.  I can love Michael Sam as a fellow human being, while speaking God's truth about his actions.  I can recognize that I, too, am just as guilty of doing things that do not please my Creator, and therefore am not qualified to judge others.  I simply ask for the same love and kindness that I am willing to give.  But I want to make it clear that I will not compromise my Faith for acceptance by society.  Jesus paid too high a price for me ... I do not seek favor with the world, and if my Christian faith costs me, then I am willing to accept that.  And I will pray that Michael Sam's talents bring him success, and that he finds God's purpose for his life.

1 John 3:1    "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him."

May 1, 2014

The Donald Sterling Mess: Moral Relativism In The Spotlight

   
     I do not know of one single person who is not offended at the horrific, racist remarks of LA Clippers owner, Donald Sterling.  He has received a lifetime ban from the sport of basketball, a $2.5 million fine, and the likely forced sale of his ownership in the team.  Does his offensive speech demand the extent of his punishment?  Certainly, his racist and illegal housing policies over the years have violated numerous laws under the Fair Housing Act.  The lawsuits were well-known among the National Basketball Association and African-American players.  So without discounting or dismissing his latest verbal rant, I'd like to know why we heard no League-wide condemnation against him for discriminating against minority tenants?  The lawsuits were publicized and well-known by other NBA owners and the players themselves.  So, how is this current outrage anymore despicable than the former?
     Can it be explained away as degrees of racism?  Is private speech somehow more offensive and racist than publicly breaking housing laws?  It appears to me that the man is a racist .... period!  So, if you are inclined to denounce racism, wouldn't you do it in all its forms?  Why did players, of all races, continue to accept his million dollar contracts?  And why would the current Coach, who must have been aware of his discrimination lawsuits, accept his offer of $21 million to coach the Clippers?
     I think we can all agree that racism is a flaw in one's moral character.  It's not a particularly attractive failing ... but neither is assault and battery, domestic abuse, sexual assault, drug possession, DWI or public urination ... moral defects that have run rampant throughout the NBA.  In fact, according to SportingCharts.com, since 2000 there have been 178 arrests encompassing the above-mentioned crimes; nearly 6 arrests per each of the 30 teams in the NBA.
     Once again, I pose this dilemma ... the crime for which Mr. Sterling is being punished was for detestable and distasteful speech.  Were his words morally wrong?  Absolutely!  Does he deserve to be held accountable?  Yes!  But where was the cry for punishment against those 178 morally wrong physical actions done by the members of the same organization that is disciplining him??
     This just seems to be a blatant case of moral relativism; i.e., all morals are relative to the social group within which they are constructed.  It is not OK for rich, white owners of NBA teams to spew hateful opinions of minorities -- that is deemed unacceptable by all.  However, disgustingly abusive physical behavior by members of that same minority is tolerated and virtually goes unpunished.  No jobs are lost; the fines are considerably less than Mr. Sterling's; and the players are still allowed to play within the League.  Tell me .... which of these morally wrong activities has the more damaging effect?  Offensive language; or rape, beating up your wife, assault with a weapon, or driving while drunk and endangering the lives of innocent victims?
     And why is there no nose-holding over the foul-smelling way in which his so-called girlfriend tricked him into revealing his not-so-hidden racist views?  Does anyone else doubt that money or fame was in the back of her mind, or that a lawyer was waiting in the wings?  This was certainly not a "spontaneous" decision to record him.  Where are her morals?  And does that mean we are all subject to "punishment" anytime anyone wants to nail us for some comments made during a private conversation?  Isn't there some sense of illegality in her actions?
     In the end, everyone in this sordid downfall needs to look in the mirror.  And that is just what Basketball Legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar advocates in this well-written article.  It is perhaps the most sensible opinion I have heard on this whole debacle.  I urge you to read it.
      Consider these thoughts on moral relativism:
     “If you say there is no such thing as morality in absolute terms, then child abuse is not evil, it just may not happen to be your thing.” --- Rebecca Manley Pippert, Author.
     "Truth [or morality] is what your contemporaries let you get away with.” --- Richard M. Rorty, Author.
     “Whether a man is a criminal or a public servant is purely a matter of perspective.” --- Tom Robbins, Author.
      So now ask yourself this:  While Donald Sterling is definitely a despicable person, are we now going to go down the "slippery slope" that fellow NBA team owner Mark Cuban warned about?  Does every word we utter become the means by which our livelihood and property can be confiscated?  A sliding scale of morality ensures that the scales of Justice will be unbalanced and inconsistent.  That's a serious and dangerous threat to our civil liberties.

Ecclesiastes 12:13    "That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty." 

April 28, 2014

OPSEC and the Nation

     If you are doing any kind of self-defense training, then you are certainly aware of the term OPSEC ... Operational Security.  There are several implementations of OPSEC, including keeping valuable information from your adversary, but I want to consider a specific application of this strategy.
     Very simplistically, as a military term, it means identifying critical information to determine if further action is needed to protect the mission or to stop a threat.  But it is easily applied to civilian life as well.  If I'm exiting a mall late at night, am I employing a process of protecting little pieces of information that could be grouped together to give me a bigger picture?  Am I alert and off the phone, so my eyes are scanning the immediate area for any threats?  Is there a van parked next to my car?  Is there anyone hovering in the area between me and my destination?  How is the lighting in the parking light?  Do I have a method to defend myself, and is it readily available?  Is it worth the risk of trying to make it to my car, or am I better off seeking assistance from mall security? There are  many other questions that will provide me with critical data to protect myself, if need be.
     In short, Operational Security requires Awareness, Assessment and Action.  You can see how important it is to personal safety, and many Americans are taking the steps to be more vigilant and alert in terms of defending themselves.  Yet, why haven't we done the same thing when it comes to defending our country?
     The same elements apply.  We need to take our eyes off our phones, iPads and computers and look around us --- we have failed to identify the threats to our nation and way of life.  And now that we are waking up to just how much devastation has been done to our national foundation, how many of us are taking the time to seriously analyze the threats and vulnerabilities that still exist, and forming a plan to recover our national character and distinctiveness?  And what will your part be?
     Because I can tell you that if we stand a chance of defending America or returning her to even a small vestige of her glory, we are all going to have to do our part ... it has to be accomplished by more than the guys/gals who wear the uniform; whether combat veteran or law enforcement.  We all need to take responsibility for what this nation has become!  We fell asleep on the watch, became obsessed with our cell phones, and relegated the OPSEC to someone else.  It may be too late ... we may be too far down the rabbit hole to ever return to who we were.
     This much I know for sure ... I can identify where we're off balance and out of sync.  We have neglected our education, training, mindset, and morals, and now everything is out of alignment.  We don't run straight or true to ourselves.  These 4 things are the pieces of the puzzle, that when fit together, give us the bigger picture of who we were.  But since we didn't protect them, our OPSEC has left us vulnerable, and put our future in jeopardy.  We were supposed to defend our country with each of those pieces of the pie.
     Our military has done a tremendous job of keeping us safe and secure.  But I'm afraid that the foundation upon which they stand is rotting, and our failure to attend to our essential duties of guarding America has left us all in a perilous and deteriorating state.
      As a Believer, I am all too aware that nothing is accomplished on our own.  For 200 years, God Almighty kept His protecting hand on this land; on a nation that recognized we had a unique relationship with a Creator who bestowed Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness upon this blessed republic.  But the last few decades have shown that we failed to recognize the slow disintegration of that relationship -- we weren't aware it was slipping away, we didn't assess the damage that would do to our culture, our society, or our government; and we didn't take the proper action to curb the encroaching decay.  Now we will pay the price, and it is a costly one.
     I'm not one to ever give up; I know that all things are possible; and I believe in miracles.  I'm willing to do my part and with a renewed vigor to protect, not only all those pieces of the pie, but to take my place in providing Operational Security for my country.  I have been born for this time and for a purpose.  It is not to stand with downcast eyes on the latest technological marvel, but to scan my immediate environment and the horizon in order to thwart further perils upon this nation and its people.  But above all else, I will be looking up and praying that God hears my voice as I ask for forgiveness for my part in the deterioration of the land He established.  I promise that my OPSEC will be solid, steady and unyielding.  Will you?

1 Corinthians 16:13     "Remain alert. Keep standing firm in your faith. Keep on being courageous and strong."

   

April 24, 2014

This Empire Will Succeed or Fail Based On Its Moral Foundation ... And It's Not Looking Good

     I ran across a fascinating article on TheTruthWins.com which provided 100 facts about the moral collapse of the United States.  As a Christian, I would dare say that I am not only more aware of our debasement, as well as being bothered by it more.  I won't overwhelm you with all the facts, but here are a few that I have to admit shocked me:
• Approximately one-third of the entire population of the United States (110 million people) currently has a sexually transmitted disease according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
•  The United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the entire industrialized world.
•  There are 106,216 registered sex offenders in the state of California alone.
•   60 percent of male sex abuse victims and 80 percent of female sex abuse victims “are abused by someone known to the child or the child’s family.”
•  70 percent of all men in the 18 to 24-year-old age bracket visit at least one adult website each month.
•  Law enforcement officials estimate that about 600,000 Americans and about 65,000 Canadians are trading dirty child pictures online.
•  It has been estimated that 89 percent of all pornography is produced in the United States.
•  At this point, approximately one out of every three children in the United States lives in a home without a father.
•  The number of American babies killed by abortion each year is roughly equal to the number of U.S. military deaths that have occurred in all of the wars that the United States has ever been involved in combined.
•  During 2012, more than 85,000 military veterans were formally treated for sexual abuse that they suffered while serving in the U.S. military.
•  The number of active members of the U.S. military that kill themselves each year now exceeds the number that are dying on the battlefield.
•  Right now, there are 70 million Americans that are on mind-altering drugs of one form or another.
•  Without strong families, our young people are constantly in search of an identity.  According to the FBI, there are now more than 1.4 million gang members involved in the 33,000 active criminal gangs in the United States.
•   66 percent of all U.S. adults believe that religion is “losing its influence on American life”.
•  According to LifeWay Research, 46 percent of all Americans never even think about whether they will go to heaven or not.
     This was just a random sampling of how we've lost our moral way.  But it doesn't take a genius to see where we have gone astray.  Sex is viewed as convenient, dirty and exploitive.  Human life is disposable and expendable.  Life is not esteemed; our society would rather alter their mind or kill themselves than feel the pain.  The family unit has been decimated and is no longer a strong support system.  Faith in something other than ourselves is not evident.  We have become our own gods.  But how did we get this way?
     First of all, we are not the first nation or empire to suffer this decline.  We all learned about "the fall of the Roman Empire" in school -- that's when our education system actually thought lessons could be learned from studying history.  And we are aware that our nation has recently been compared to this once great world power.  It's not hard to see why.
     Novelguide.com provides an exemplary thesis on Moral Decline and its effect on the collapse of nations.  The site states the obvious ... the citizens of both Rome and the U.S. "somehow ignored the moral fibers that once bound their nations together. They indulged in luxuries best defined as providing themselves an excess of possessions at the expense of the rudimentary needs of others; they allowed crime to abound, and they lost the sense of their responsibilities as citizens."  The premise is enlarged upon when you consider that both nations began losing their morality when they progressed from Affluence to Selfishness.  Greed was a natural by-product.  And what was the propelling force of that greed?  Money!
     Just as in Rome, wealth has divided our society into classes:  "The rich have ignored the lower class's economic problems, or simply detest the poor, because they feel that they are a national burden. The poor detest the rich because they feel that it is the rich that have forced them into poverty."
     But it is not only wealth that has helped us slide into moral decay.  Like Rome, we have become desensitized to crime and violence.  We have become short-sighted, and care only about our own selfish welfare, instead of being a caretaker of the nation for future generations.  And we have failed to adequately protect ourselves against enemies who seek to dethrone us.
     Finally, just like Rome, this nation has become smug in our luxury and comfortable in our apathy.  We no longer have a strong work ethic, revere knowledge, or encourage uniqueness.  When you think about it, what a very short time it took for us to reach extraordinary heights, and how rapidly we are free-falling into collapse.  I fear that future generations will only know how great we once were through legends and stories.  God have mercy on us and pull us from the fire!

1 Timothy 6:9   "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction."

April 23, 2014

"Everybody's A Winner" Is a Losing Proposition

      So, every child at the White House Easter Egg roll was declared a winner by the Leader of the Free World.  The kid that busted his butt patrolling the grounds and worked his plan to collect the most eggs, is declared equal to the kid that was happy to let others do the work for him... after all, there was always the chance that the eggs would be redistributed equally, right?  And if not, he was still held in the same esteem as the over-achiever.  Why sweat it?
      And that's what has landed this country's kids a dismal 36th in the world rankings for education.  A global exam was given last year to 15-year-olds from around the world.  U.S. performance was extremely low, with our kids scoring average test results in reading and science, and well below average in math. We failed to reach the top 20 in any of the subjects tested. America fell notably below the United Kingdom and well behind most of our Asian counterparts.  That's not surprising.  As we approach high school graduation next month, take note of the last names of the Valedictorians and Salutatorians of the Senior class.  I would be willing to bet that a majority of them are Asian names.
     Education Secretary Arne Duncan contributes the poor results to stagnation.  "The problem is not that our 15-year-olds are performing worse today than before...the problem, instead, is that they are simply not making progress. Yet, students in many other nations...are advancing, instead of standing still."  Might I suggest that students in other nations are rewarded for making progress?  Could it be that there is honor, pride, and yes, even encouragement to excel beyond others?  Why would our kids today make the effort to do better, when achievement is not worth your while?  When underperformance is celebrated the same as success?
     I can remember how important it was to me, as an elementary student, to be the winner of the spelling bee.  Do they even have them anymore in school?  Or is there a fear that a child who didn't do the work might be made to feel inferior?  And I worked hard for that National Honor Society sash in high school, and the Dean's List in college.  That's when learning was measured, and superior knowledge was a sought after goal.
     Secretary Duncan just wants to lay the blame on lack of innovation, resources, and good teachers.  How about taking government out of education and returning it to the trusteeship of parents and teachers?  Like everything else, too many people are entrusting the government to do the job that is their responsibility.  The dumbing down of American children is no accident.  An unmotivated, unchallenged, and unrewarded population results in a submissive and unresisting proletariat.  Being a winner doesn't get you anywhere, and everybody's happy with mediocrity.  It's time for a new vision; before it's too late and we find ourselves at the bottom of world creativity and productivity.

1 Corinthians 9:24   "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it." 

April 16, 2014

A Good Old-Fashioned Schoolin' in the Constitution

     I will be away from my computer for the next few days, but will post some passing thoughts, as I view our changing world.  I know I should probably just announce a brief "break", but it's hard not to stay in contact with all of you.  So, please excuse the shorter dialogue and I'll be back in full swing at the end of the week.

     Just some continuing thoughts on the fight for Liberty in Nevada.  I listened to an interview yesterday between Cliven Bundy and a well-known conservative talking head ... I'll just go ahead and reveal who it was -- Glenn Beck.  I was astounded at Beck's lack of knowledge about what was behind Mr. Bundy's protest.
    First of all, he took calls from several ranchers and neighbors of Mr. Bundy before interviewing Cliven himself.  They were well-spoken and able to express the mindset of all those who stood in support of the Bundy family.  They gave eye-witness accounts of the events and tried to convince Beck that at no time did the crowd of supporters get out of hand, and that they had handled themselves lawfully and appropriately.  It soon became clear that Glenn wasn't comfortable with that assessment, nor does he really understand the Western mind.  I do.
     You see, my husband has spent nearly 19 years painting the iconic modern American cowboy.  We have spent many weeks in hot, dusty cattle pens in Arizona and Nevada with these men and women.  As I saw those brave cowboys on their horses approach the BLM and federal agents, tears were in my eyes, because I know they are men of honor, integrity and rock-solid values.  I'm sure that some of them were people who have touched our lives.
     Then I felt Beck demeaned the Nevada rancher by explaining to the audience, prior to hearing Cliven, himself, speak, that we must understand that he is an "old man".  As if somehow, his explanation of what he stood for may not be quite persuasive or eloquent.   But it was obvious to me that Beck doesn't understand a thing about what drives these people to live the hard, noble lives they do.
     Glenn was so worried about what other news outlets were doing; claiming that they were fomenting "conspiracy" and violence by sending their reporters in.  He felt their coverage showed that the Bundy cause was uncooperative with the Feds, and he questioned Cliven about that.  First of all, we all know the "other" news agency is Alex Jones, and InfoWars.  I'm getting a little tired of the ongoing feud between these two -- mostly on Beck's part.  From my perspective, at least Alex had reporters on the scene covering what was happening.  What kept Glenn from sending his own?  How can you throw stones, if you aren't there evaluating the situation yourself?  But that's just my two cents worth on the pettiness.
     Back to the interview with Mr. Bundy.  Glenn tried over and over again to get Cliven to admit that he was wrong in not paying his grazing fees, and to perhaps admit that the conflict with the BLM was at least partially justified on the part of the government.  But "old" Cliven then began to school Glenn on the Constitution and the Tenth Amendment.  It quickly became clear that Cliven knew his stuff and the law, and that Glenn has formed his own uninformed position on this matter.  He had made up his mind what happened and why, and he was hoping to prove his point by getting Bundy to admit to a false argument.  But Mr. Bundy stood his ground and made Glenn look like a fool.
     Maybe I'm a little prejudiced about this interview, but I also know that having 26 cows on some piece of property in the West that you lease to cattlemen for their herds does not make you "a rancher", as Glenn likes to call himself.  I would also like to suggest that he perhaps get out of his comfortable chair in his corporate offices and go meet with these people personally and analyze the situation for himself, instead of casting aspersions from his ivory tower.  OK, I've vented my anger over his insulting interview, and now I feel better.

2 Timothy 2:14    "Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers."

April 11, 2014

The Meaning of "Asparagus" and The Demand for Accountability

   
     By now you have heard of the rancorous exchange between the Attorney General of the United States and a sitting member of Congress.  During a House Judiciary Committee Hearing, Texas Representative Louie Gohmert dared to point out that Attorney General Eric Holder seemed not to take his "held in contempt" status very seriously.  “I realize that contempt is not a big deal to our Attorney General, but it is important that we have proper oversight."
     In case you've forgotten, considerable time has elapsed since Eric Holder was held in contempt of court for not complying with the House's request for documents concerning the Fast and Furious gun debacle --- two years to be exact.  So Gohmert's assertion is not without merit.
     You could almost see the sparks fly from Holders eyes!  “You don’t want to go there, buddy!” Holder responded. “You don’t want to go there, OK?”  Now, I ask you, does this remark sound appropriate coming from the chief law enforcement officer, and chief lawyer, of the United States government?  Or does it sound like someone who views himself above reproach?
     Because I would like to remind Mr. Holder, that while he serves at the discretion of the President, he  is also under the purview of Congress, and subject to impeachment by the House of Representatives and trial in the Senate for "treason, bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors." In other words, he ultimately answers to Mr. Gohmert, and the Representative is due his respect.
     Instead, Holder chided Gohmert for his opinion regarding his lack of attentiveness to the Fast and Furious scandal.  He then proceeded to let Louie know that he thought the contempt charge was both inappropriate and unjust; it was indeed a big deal to him.  (But I think we should consider the reason he thought it was a big deal.  Was it because he held a high opinion of Congress and their oversight?  Or was it because it offended his ego?)
     Gohmert was undeterred.  He reminded the Attorney General that his comment was justified in that the Justice Department has still not produced the documents related to that specific contempt charge.  “I’m just looking for evidence, and normally we [Congress] are known by our fruits and there’s been no indications that it was a big deal because your department still has not been forthcoming in producing the documents that were the subject of the contempt."
     Shortly after, Representative Gohmert's time was up in the hearing, but Holder managed to slide in one more derogatory comment:  "Good luck with your asparagus."  Now, many in the media were only too happy to point out this reference to what they thought was Gohmert's verbal stumble back during the 2013 conflict with Holder, in which he said,  "The attorney general will not cast aspersions on my asparagus!"  That comment got lots of attention on the late night comedy shows and across the MSM.  But the joke is on them ... and the Attorney General.
     Gohmert has since explained that he was quoting a formidable Texas criminal defense attorney, by the name of Percy Foreman.  “Percy was a very, very liberal criminal defense attorney, but he was incredible in the courtroom,” Gohmert said. “When somebody started attacking his integrity, he stood up and said, ‘I object, he’s casting aspersions on my asparagus!’ And people would scratch their heads, but it brought down the level of the rancor.  I was using a Percy Foreman line from criminal trials back probably 50 years ago.”
     In other words, Representative Gohmert was showing that he would not be intimidated or ridiculed; nor would he allow anyone to goad him into an argument that would disgrace or cheapen a Congressional oversight committee hearing.  In effect, he was defusing a potentially explosive situation, and above all, doing his job --- the job that we, here in Texas, sent him to Washington to do.  Yet, AG Holder held on to that comment for a year, waiting to throw it back at the Representative!
      I think it is evident that the AG's response was not only way off the mark, but a sign of his character; his level of anger and desire for revenge; and his lack of respect for anyone but himself.  Appointed officials of the government must be held accountable for their actions.  Yet, in a speech following his dust-up with Gohmert, Holder remained adamant that congressional critics had launched “unprecedented, unwarranted, ugly and divisive” attacks on him and the Obama administration.
     But here is what he doesn't get ... the members of the various committees he has appeared before, and the American people, simply want the truth.  Why won't he provide the documents?  What are they afraid of?  There have been some serious allegations about complicity with known terrorist affiliated groups, and Representative Gohmert and the Judicial Oversight Committee are acting on our behalf in trying to get the answers.
     So the AG can rail about the pressure and the frustration he feels, but that does not excuse him from maintaining his stall tactics and refusing to answer the questions.  He is required and expected to justify his actions as Attorney General!  Yet he has not done that.
     In fact, testifying on the Hill about his prosecutorial duties in upholding the law, Holder said, "There is a vast amount of discretion that a president has - and, more specifically, that an attorney general has."  I would hate to assume that he means he can do whatever he wants, regardless of Congress or the law.
     I applaud Representative Louie Gohmert for his fearlessness and his respect for the American people.  He boldly proclaims that the Executive Branch of the Government must be held accountable, because we are at a "tipping point" in this country. Will we able to keep the republic, as Benjamin Franklin warned us?  When told by Glenn Beck, during a radio interview, that the country is praying for him, he humbly replied, "If anyone is tempted to pray for me ... I don't need courage. My problem is Wisdom.  Pray that I will have wisdom, and know when to fight and when to back off."  Mr. Gohmert, you keep on fighting, and we will keep on praying for you.  Thank you for standing up for us!

Ephesians 5:15-17    "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

   
 





March 15, 2014

Has This Nation Lost Its Virtue?

     VIRTUE .... such an old-fashioned word.  My online dictionary defines it as: a quality considered morally good or desirable in a person.  I think we can all accept that a "virtuous" person is one who has the power and ability to be a morally upright human being; one who seeks to do the right thing in conformity to a standard.  But the real question is, do we still desire this human characteristic in our country?  And why might it be important to a nation?
     Well, I can tell you that nearly a quarter of a century ago, Virtue was deemed the very foundation of our country.  Read what our Founding Fathers had to say about it:
• George Washington:  "Human rights can only be assured among a virtuous people.  The general government... can never be in danger of degenerating into a monarchy, an oligarch, an aristocracy, or any despotic or oppressive form [of government] as long as there is any virtue in the body of the people."
• Ben Franklin:  "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.  As nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters."
• John Adams:  "The only foundation of a free Constitution is pure virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our people in a greater measure than they have it now, they may change their rulers and the forms of government, but they will not obtain a lasting liberty.  They will only exchange tyrants and tyrannies."
     So by these standards, what do you think?  Do we show evidence of being "a virtuous people"?  Do our schools speak of Virtue in the classroom, and do our Churches praise it from the pulpit?  Sadly, I believe that this word has nearly vanished from our national lexicon.  And if we no longer speak of Virtue, then it's pretty safe to assume that it is on the wane in our culture.  To that point, is there a knowledge today of the distinct difference between right and wrong ... or is it all relative?  And by whose standards do we judge something virtuous, or right?
     Because I can tell you, if your standard is God's, there is no question if something falls outside the bounds of "rightness"; His standard has been the same since the beginning of time.  But if you are judging according to man's standards in today's world, then what is "right" depends on who is making the most noise; who can play "the victim"; who is in power; who can control the media; or any other number of manipulative strategies.  Without agreement on what Virtue is, then the definition is subject to great distortion.
     When a nation cannot agree on moral absolutes, then it will suffer the turmoil and upheaval that our Founding Fathers predicted ... loss of human and individual rights; a loss of freedoms and true liberty.  Without a virtuous people, they forecast an oppressive form of government; a desire for a welfare state; and tyrants instead of champions of the people.
     John Adams said we need to inspire "into" our nation's people, the love of Virtue.  We should be clamoring for it; indeed, demanding it!  I, for one, am tired of the viciousness of our leaders -- towards each other and this nation's citizens.  I am sick of the corruption -- and the excuses for its existence.  I am angry at seeing the commandments of my God attacked and reviled -- and the lovers of evil ways defended.  I know in my heart, that Washington, Franklin and Adams were correct in anticipating our demise if we don't return to our Judeo-Christian roots!
     It's not that I'm advocating the exclusion of other faiths that promote the active pursuit of moral and spiritual goodness -- you can't have too much true spiritual Virtue!  I'm just saying that there is a direct correlation between the purposeful elimination of the influence of the God of the Bible's standards and our national decline.  We could stand a little old-fashioned Virtue, wouldn't you say?

My thanks to Marvin J.Rosenthal, Executive Director of Zion's Hope, for the inspiration for this post.

Proverbs 14:34     "Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people."
   

March 6, 2014

Does Texas Represent The Country?

     The Primary Elections are upon us, and none has been pontificated upon more than the Texas Primaries. It didn't matter which side of the political spectrum you found yourself ... all eyes were on Texas.  There has been lots of talk about money pouring into the state in the hopes of turning Texas from a red state to a blue one.  I suppose that those who embrace the Progressive, Socialist ideology would like nothing better than to see this stronghold of Conservatism brought under their control.
     While most of the talking heads have concentrated their focus on the Tea Party influence (which election results proved to be substantial), I was less interested in the candidates.  Don't get me wrong, I was thrilled to see that the candidates endorsed by Ted Cruz were pretty much winners across the board.  But I have been disappointed in candidates before, and I'm not likely to put my trust in elected officials so easily.  No, it was the Ballot Initiatives that caught my eye, and I can truly say that I am proud of what is important to those who wish to represent us.
     Usually, when you get to the bottom of the ballot, there are any number of Propositions that are vague and ill-written; you're not exactly sure how this would affect you and therefore, you have no idea  whether you are "for" it or "against" it.  Not so, this election.  The Republican Party ballot offered six resolutions to be considered for the party's platform and possible legislation.  These were considered important enough to bring to the citizenry and to be placed on the general primary election ballot.  I got more excited with each one that came into view.  Here they are in all their glory:
1.  Texans should be free to express their religious beliefs, including prayer, in public places.  IN FAVOR:  97.2%.
2.  Texas should support Second Amendment liberties by expanding locations where concealed handgun license-holders may legally carry.  IN FAVOR:  86.92%
3.  Texas should abolish the state franchise tax, also known as the margins tax, to encourage business growth.  IN FAVOR:  88.47%
4.  Texas recipients of taxpayer-funded public assistance should be subject to random drug testing as a condition of receiving benefits.  IN FAVOR:  94.9%
5.  All elected officials and their staff should be subject to the same laws, rules, regulations, and ordinances as their constituents.  IN FAVOR:  99.36%
6.  The Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare,” should be repealed.  IN FAVOR:  93%.
     It's fairly obvious that we, here in the Lone Star state, believe in the First and Second Amendments; growing the Economy; holding Welfare recipients accountable; holding the Legislators accountable by making them abide by the same rules as the People; and we don't want anything to do with Obamacare.
     Hmmm .... those ideals don't come anywhere close to coinciding with the Progressive agenda.  In fact, I think it's safe to say there is nothing about these results that will endear us to the Left.  No wonder all the might and power of the Elites is headed our direction!  As we say, here in Texas, "It's fixin' to be one helluva fight!"
     So, I would ask the rest of you across the nation -- and the world -- to pray for us in Texas.  I don't expect this to be a "gentlemanly", fair, or moral campaign.  In fact, it's likely to be an all-out brawl for the soul of this great state.  But let me remind you; if we fail to fight off this incursion, the rest of you will be ripe for the pickin'.  So I ask you to stand with us and fight the good fight.  The heroes of Texas history once drew a line in the sand at the Alamo.  This time, we are using the ballot box to defend our freedoms, and may God be the tip of our spear.

Galatians 5:1    "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."

January 10, 2014

Making Poverty More Acceptable

     You know, it would be easy to skip over this blip on the news radar, and just chalk it up to one more politician doing what they do best ... bloviating about some topic to ingratiate themselves to their constituents.  But the comment by House Representative Sheila Jackson Lee has much more profound ramifications than some random political speech.
     Earlier in the week, on the House Floor, Representative Lee made this statement in regards to what is commonly known as "welfare income":  Maybe the word "welfare" should be changed to something of a "transitional living fund". For that is what it is, for people to be able to live.
     During her comments, she extolled all the wonderful benefits that are extended to the nation's poor; namely the earned income tax credit, supplemental nutrition program, the huge job training and educational investment that President Johnson made on the War on Poverty, and Medicare and Medicaid.  She says these programs combine to afford the poor a huge safety net -- not a handout, mind you -- but a safety net; and one she admittedly calls "huge".
     So she seems to imply that calling it welfare is demeaning; we should call it by another name -- one that elevates the worthy receiver of this reputable "safety net".  But I have a couple of problems with this line of reasoning.  First of all, what she means by "safety net" is laws designed to safeguard or prevent the undesirable state of living in poverty.  These laws usually exist in the form of additional taxes levied against producing individuals, in order to support the non-producers.  
     And since when can you legislate away poverty?  Doesn't it stand to reason, that the easier you make it for the poor to stay in this state of poverty, the harder it is going to be to motivate them to take part in their own revitalization?  And what is the purpose in making welfare and poverty seem less unpleasant?  It is not in man's nature to desire poverty; yet during the last half century our government has lionized the poor and approved the continued state of indigence.  Indeed, those who have managed to avoid becoming poverty-stricken are made to feel guilty for not sharing the rewards of their labor.
     So one has to ask why those who are elected to champion our well-being, would seek to maintain and grow the levels of poverty.  The obvious answer is to maintain their power.  The more they can keep their constituents addicted to the so-called "safety net" (remember, it's not a handout!), the less these people desire to kick the habit.  They need that "fix", and the government is all too happy to be their "supplier".  
     And when you make the "junkie" feel like his condition is adequate, respectable, and normal then where is the incentive to improve upon that state?  True, the Bible says we will always have the poor with us, and when we can meet the needs of someone, we should do it, if it is within our ability to do so.  But Scripture also says, "For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living."  (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12)
      So back to Sheila Jackson Lee's comment.  She states that this "transitional living fund" is necessary for people "to be able to live".  Is that really what they need?  More "assistance" from the government? Or do they need the pride and sense of accomplishment that comes from making their own way?  Can they even imagine what it feels like to possess the dignity and self-respect of knowing you are dependent on no one?  
     But that's a message of hope that Ms. Lee and her Congressional cohorts will never extend to the poor.  And whether you call it "welfare" or the "transitional living fund", it makes no difference.  The addiction remains the same, and the poor remain poor.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12     "And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one."

January 3, 2014

Shades of Heil Hitler? You Decide

NBA star Tony Parker (right) salutes
     You might find this post of little significance, but after watching an old movie depicting the horrors of Auschwitz and the inexplicable evil that can enslave man, I am not inclined to dismiss this story so easily.  Anytime there is a suggestion of anything that mirrors the Nazi regime, I think it deserves further investigation.
      There has been a recent flurry of published photos in which celebrities can be seen displaying a Nazi-like salute; a gesture that has understandably offended Jewish human rights groups, as well as anyone who abhors the actions of those monsters.  The gesture, called the "quenelle" by the French comedian Dieudonné M’bala M’bala (credited with its invention), combines a downward Nazi salute with an obscene gesture meaning "up yours".
     Although the comedian claims there is nothing rascist or anti-semitic about the salute (he says it means "anti-establishment"), there is nothing funny about where Dieudonné's sympathies lie.  According to the Times of Israel,  Dieudonné is a professed anti-Semite, Hamas supporter and Holocaust denier, who was convicted last month for the seventh time of incitement against Jews and slapped with a $36,000 fine.
     But it's not just this one man and his self-invented salute that makes me uneasy.  It is the fact that the gesture has become a hit with European anti-Semites wishing to stay under the radar of France’s strict anti-hate laws.  Add that to the growing number of celebrities who knowingly or unknowingly play into its hidden message, including NBA basketball star Tony Parker (who is French), and French soccer player Nicolas Anelka.
The quenelle is demonstrated in front of Auschwitz
     They are both claiming that their use of the gesture is not meant to fan the flames of anti-semitism, but it is hard to ignore its significance when many Europeans have been posting photos of themselves online posing while making the Nazi-like salute --- especially when doing so at the most inappropriate locations, such as at the Auschwitz concentration camp, the Anne Frank House, the Western Wall, Berlin’s Holocaust memorial, and outside a French Jewish school where an Islamic extremist once murdered a rabbi and three children.  Strange, how that makes me disregard their claims of non-racist sentiments.
     And then there is this.... as part of his act, Dieudonné pokes fun at Jewish journalists of Le Parisien who have condemned the gesture, by saying, "When I hear [journalist] Patrick Cohen speaking, I say to myself, you see, the gas chambers … too bad [they no longer exist]."  Still think his invented salute is meant to be "anti-establishment"?  The problem is that too many people, who are uneducated about the history of the Nazi regime, are easily persuaded to follow this man's irreverence as a badge of being unconventional.
     The barbarity of what was done to the Jewish population throughout Europe is all too real and should never be minimized or underrated.  I recently read a Holocaust survivor's story that was so dark as to be unimaginable--except that she actually lived it.  She was a child in the Ukraine when the Nazis entered her village.  Along with 3,000 fellow Jews from her village, she was lined up naked in the Zazeleviin Forest, in front of a mass grave where their bodies would lie after being shot.  Her mother and brothers were killed in the slaughter, but she survived.  She laid on top of dead bodies, not moving,  through the night in a heavy downpour.  Local volunteer policeman told the Germans no one would be able to escape from the pit alive, and so they were convinced to wait until morning to cover the mass grave.
     Little Polina climbed out of that dark pit of death during the night.  She was soon found lying naked and unconscious and transported to a ghetto, where somehow, by the grace of God, the Nazi authorities forgot to register her.  She managed to escape the ghetto and made her way to a nearby cemetery where she remembered a family friend's tomb was located.  By day, she would hide in the tomb, and by night she would steal the food left by relatives of the deceased at the grave sites.
     When it became too cold to remain at the cemetery, she headed towards a nearby village, taking warm clothes and shoes from fallen soldiers along the way.  Once she came across a scarf to cover her head, and felt as if she had found treasure.  As the Nazi army began retreating, she was discovered by a Soviet soldier, and being desperately sick, was taken to an orphanage.  During her recovery, she heard that there were 147 Jews in a nearby labor camp that had survived the last vestiges of the Nazi regime.  Her father was among them, and they were reunited, the only survivors from their family.
     Polina emigrated to Israel, where today she tries to be a voice for the six million Jews who lost their lives in the Holocaust.  Now, if Monsieur Dieudonné wishes to believe that Polina is lying, then I guess no amount of evidence will ever convince him.  But if he thinks that his gesture/salute can go unchallenged, then he underestimates those of us who abhor the atrocities against the Jewish people.  This is not a case of freedom of expression, but rather a provocative attempt to promote anti-semitism... it is deliberate, calculating, and in the worst possible taste.

Psalm 7:14-16     "Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies. He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made. His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends."

   


December 2, 2013

Fast Food Workers To Strike

     They say that the American public's memory is short-lived; if you've disgraced yourself, just disappear into the shadows for a little while and you can re-emerge with no one the wiser.  Such is the case with the Service Employees International Union ... remember them?  Yes, SEIU is back!
     If you will recall, this labor organization was involved in some pretty shady electioneering efforts during the last presidential campaign.  Furthermore, LaborPains.org reports illegally funneled money from various Locals into the campaign coffers of union-friendly candidates; along with questionable cash withdrawals from bank accounts, lack of documentation for outrageous travel expenses, and lucrative vacation buyouts that were not authorized by union boards.
     So I guess I shouldn't be surprised to see that they are back at it; stirring up trouble and creating havoc among the labor force.  This time they are backing a one-day strike by fast-food employees, who are demanding a $15-an-hour wage.  Union organizers have planned strikes in over 100 cities, including Charleston, South Carolina; Providence, Rhode Island; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  SEIU is also demanding that restaurants allow workers to unionize without the threat of retaliation.
     Here's the thing .... I am all for a worker getting paid a fair wage for what his work is worth.  Currently, the federal minimum wage is $7.25.  Have these workers given serious thought to the burden that doubling their wage will cause on the fast food industry, and what some of the likely results would be, should that wage be met?  If all fast food workers were paid $15 an hour, can you see that the cost of a meal would necessarily have to rise?  And remember, profit is the name of the game, so it makes sense that fast food restaurants would either consider turning to automation for some of their positions; or be forced to lay off workers, causing fewer employees to carry more of the load.  Kind of defeats the purpose, doesn't it?  Add to this, the fact that Fast Food Industry officials say that only a small percentage of fast-food jobs pay the minimum wage, and that those are largely entry-level jobs for workers under 25.  In other words, you may start out at the bottom, but you can climb the ladder in both pay and positions, just as in other industries.
     I personally know of several young people who started out at the entry level in well-known fast food chains, and through steady and reliable work, it didn't take them long to reach management level which came with a good salary and benefits package.  I guess it's all about your perspective ....
     To give a voice to the backers of this movement, they say that studies show that the average age of fast-food workers is 29 and that more than one-fourth are parents raising children.  Take the story of Simon Rojas, who earns $8.07 an hour working at a McDonald’s in South Central Los Angeles, and who said he would join the one-day strike.
      “It’s very difficult to live off $8.07 an hour,” said Mr. Rojas, 23, noting that he is often assigned just 20 or 25 hours of work a week. “I have to live with my parents. I would like to be able to afford a car and an apartment.”  Mr. Rojas said he had studied for a pharmacy technician’s certificate, but he had been unable to save the $100 needed to apply for a license.
     Now, I don't mean to unfairly question Simon's work ethic; there is likely more to his situation than presented here, but I have a couple of questions.  First of all, at $8.07/hr, it would take less than 12.5 hours to earn that $100.  OK, let's take into account the taxes that would be deducted from his paycheck.... it would still take less than one 20-week paycheck to get the money he needed for that pharmacy tech's license.  He's living at home, with no car expenses... maybe it's me, but that doesn't seem insurmountable.
     Secondly, if Simon is only receiving 20-25 hours a week, what's stopping him from getting a second job?  Doesn't it seem logical that another 20-hour week job would greatly increase his income?  I realize that he won't be buying a fancy car, or renting a penthouse on that salary in the near future, but by taking advantage of living with his parents, his options are actually quite good for taking night classes or going to a technical trade school, which would give him a bright future.
     How many of these fast food workers have set their eyes on a goal beyond working in the fast food industry?  Do they see it as a stepping stone, or do they just want to be paid more to stay at this level?  I am not putting down fast food workers... their job is not easy and it's long hours on your feet.  But I recently met an 18-year-old who was working the cash register at a local Burger King who offered the best customer service I'd seen in a long while.... smile, upbeat attitude, courteous and excellent service.  When I commented on his demeanor, he said, "Yes, ma'am, I plan on being a manager at this location in the next 18 months," and he quoted me a rather generous 5-figure salary that would accompany that position.  He then proudly announced that he would soon thereafter buy his first franchise of several he planned on owning.  I had no doubt that he would reach his lofty goal.  Furthermore, that's the spirit that no union can force at the bargaining table!

Proverbs 16:3    "Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established."

November 12, 2013

Building Thinkers Before Shooters

     Several months ago, I wrote a post about my experiences in taking a Travis Haley gun class.  It was here that I was first introduced to the science behind shooting.  That's right.  Travis Haley isn't satisfied with teaching his students the fundamentals of shooting.  He's on a mission to discover the Why's of shooting excellence; the interaction between thoughts and performance.  Because once you figure that out and truly understand it, you've got the edge.  And Travis is all about gaining the edge.
     So, when I signed up for his D5 Reactive Shooting Science class, I was curious as to how he would advance us beyond the incredible improvements I saw in my shooting from the previous class.  So along with PLW (my husband's full name actually means "Peace-Loving Warrior, for those new to my blog) and 24 of my new best friends, we set out on our next journey with the Master... learning the principles behind Biomechanical shooting and then putting them into practice.
     I could write volumes on the information we gained ... Controlling motion, force, momentum, levers and balance; Isometric tension; the Tachypsychia Effect; Target accommodation;  the 90/10 theory of trigger control; the front and back end problems that interfere with our accuracy, including the pre-ignition push, snatching, improper reset, lack of follow through, and double pump, just to name a few .... and all designed to make us better shooters.
     But when you take a class with Travis, you're signing up for so much more than a training class.  I knew what I expected out of the class, but I had no idea how life-changing three days with this man could be.  I believe that life is a series of pivot points, where our decisions lead us to specific events that move us forward on our path through life.  This class was such a pivot point for me, and I think all my classmates would agree.
     First of all, this class is formatted differently than any class I've ever experienced to date.  It is a big picture, big idea thinkers class.  How many other training classes have you taken that discuss the Law of Overcoming Failure, the Law of Just a Little, or the Law of Everything? -- or as he calls them, "Travis's Cheesy Laws".  Or what other firearms trainers recommend books like The Power of Habit or extol the Kolbe A™ Index/Instinct Test, which measures what you WILL or WON'T do?  You see, for Travis, it is about the deliberate practice of analyzing processes to achieve your goal.
     Personally, he was able to isolate and see the imbalance in my trigger pull by observing the tension in the muscles of my hand.  He talked me through the pull and helped me to visualize what I was doing, and then suggested, "Feel that?  Remember how that feels in your mind every time you pull the trigger."  It is that kind of attention to detail, along with the quest for solutions to problems that will lead to success.   And that pertains to not only your gun handling, but your life.
     This class has been built on one man's quest to try and obtain a personal level of perfection, based on a one-word question ... WHY?  It is Travis's unique ability to press for the "why" behind every aspect of his life that has been the impetus for propelling him to the top of whatever he chooses to accomplish.
     Having served as a Force Recon Marine, Travis was a member of a select group of warriors who possessed the highest of standards and a broad skill set.  This has, no doubt, been the foundation of Travis's training and what attracts shooters who want to train with him.  His military experience and knowledge is a huge asset.
     You might think that his obviously effective military skills could provide us all the answers to our performance issues.  But by asking "why" our bodies react the way they do, Travis has looked to a cadre of other disciplines for the solutions to our problems; and that includes yoga, biomechanics , the nature of horses, and the lifespan and characteristics of a dragonfly.  The "artist's curse" of never achieving the perfect painting, along with brain mapping, psychology and many other fields of study all come together to create a better shooter and a better person.
     I realized that all the previous training I have received was based on specific systems of shooting (or as Travis refers to them, "recipes").  The specificity of those systems is inherently limiting, and by accepting these fixed and absolute systems, I am accepting their limitations and I stop growing as a shooter.  Systems, by their very nature, put you in a box--- and we all know that you can't grow inside of a box.
     The bottom line is this:  Travis Haley is changing lives, creating thinkers, and smashing boxes.  In fact, I see the future of training heading in Travis's direction, and perceive the slow death of other "system"-based gun classes (some of which I have personally trained under).  They haven't had a format change in 10 years!  And if they do make a change, it's just a superficial change to the system, like changing the color of the inside of the box to red.  With Travis, I've backed the truck over the box.
     He has shown me how to problem-solve on my own, and I now understand the "why" of fundamentals.  I can use my brain (first) in a dynamic situation, and then use the gun, if I have to, as an effective tool.  It is apparent to me that Travis Haley is playing 50 moves ahead of these system-based trainers.  Their inability to change will be the death of their programs.  Eventually, the shooters who are in search for perfection, rather than a system of shooting, and are willing to learn outside the box, will find his doorway.  And when they do, they will know they're home.
     As with any Travis Haley class, you will not only become a better shooter, the class makes you a better mom, a better CEO, a better spouse, a better thinker, a better YOU.  Alongside Travis, you can step into shooting and thinking, and improve other aspects of your life, as well.  PLW is incorporating aspects of Travis's training into his painting, and the class will undoubtedly have an impact on my writing.
     In the final analysis, Travis Haley's military life and career has let him see behind the curtain.  He is trying to prepare his class members for a tough and trying world; one that is descending upon us rapidly. He has seen the beast that we all know we will have to face.  Our world is changing and Travis is trying to teach us how to survive in that world, by first using the organic computer God has given all of us.  If you simply want to be a good shooter, then by all means, settle for a system of shooting that will meet those needs.  But if you want to be schooled in how to deliberately analyze the processes of your shooting in a never-ending pursuit of perfection, and encounter your own pivot point while experiencing a life-changing adventure, then hitch your wagon to Travis's star.  He'll take you places you've never been.

Ecclesiastes 7:25    "I applied my heart to know, to search and seek out wisdom and the reason of things, to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness."