A Cleansing Breath...Ahhh

Have you ever been under water for almost too long? And when you surface, that single breath seems like it was sent from God himself? I felt that way last night watching the Convention. I did not realize how much I felt scared, or how unsure about the future Obama has made everyone in this country until I heard the stories of hope and REAL change we have ahead of us if we elect Mitt Romney. Let me set this straight, there is nothing good that would come from a second term for Obama. He did nothing right, he set us on a path of destruction and has no redeeming political qualities and those are facts folks! Last night I heard common sense from those like Clint Eastwood, who said what needed saying in a tone reserved for a backporch, sipping tea and watching fireflys(which is a good thing)! I felt so at ease with what he said I took that breath and felt a small bit of what it used to feel like in this country when we could relax and not worry that some mad man is trying to destroy, in a few years, what took many generations to create. Then came others like Marco Rubio, that so eloquently spoke of dreams and aspirations of an immigrant family that came to this country not to live under a socialist regime, but to live free unabashed lives of liberty and honor, not the type of life Obama wants us to live. And then came Mitt Romney, he teared up when speaking of America and his devotion to God and family. He spoke of a need to focus on the right things, to get this country working again, to remove the obstacles of tyranny and repression and replace them with goals to be the best again and to honor those who came before us! He gave me the willingness again for the first time in a long time to hope, and to dream. Not to dream his dream, but to dream the dreams of many Americans, the dreams which are filled with hope and contentment. The ability to once again feel as though we matter, that our voices will be heard, and to once again feel as though WE are in charge, and that those in Washington work for us not us for them. This is the time folks, time to rally around our principles, act on our passions and be heard! We need to circle the wagons, be solidly behind Mitt Romney, give him the mandate to take back America for US! It is OUR time to tell the current folks in Washington, NO MORE! We are done being told we don't matter or we can not take credit for our success! It is time to show them what we think of thier failed politics and send them packing. I am so thankful for the feeling of that clean, clear breath....it made me realize that we CAN and WILL do this, so breathe America, Breathe....it is our time once again to be Americans!! Take hold of that feeling, do not let it go....

We are Called

I have seen this posted on social media many times. It is a good example of folks in the bible who came from less that great backgrounds but rose to prominence, or had failings along the way. They were normal folks for the most part, some were worse than others as far as their deeds. And others were like us when it comes to not being totally bought in Christians. God looks into our soul, he knows what we are capable of and he equips us to plow through our shortcomings to accomplish great things if we let him. Saying David had an affair dies not quite cover the fact that he had a man killed by placing him at the head of a fierce battle to cover his affair. Jonah ran, but the sin was his disobedience. Paul murdered or had killed those who were preaching the good news of Christ, the same Christ he would later meet on that lonely stretch of dusty road. They call Thomas a doubter, however he was just the first one to wonder how this could be. Zacheaus, well, he just wanted a better view and by doing so got Jesus attention and was able to have dinner with him. Abraham, was old but faithful. The faith of Lazarus and Jesus' compassion for his family brought him back to life. The others are also examples of God's intervention in the lives and hearts of people in the bible. But dig a little deeper and you will see that even though we too have shortcomings and commit sin, Jesus still asks us to turn from those sins and follow him. Nobody in the bible whom Jesus talked to that were sinners were allowed to walk their Journey with Jesus until they got their heart straight first. Paul ceased to be a Murderer. David lamented many times and asked for forgiveness from the one true God. Moses acknowledged his shortcomings but still gave God the glory. Do you see a pattern here? Today all too often, I hear non Christians saying things like, If Jesus were here he would be on our side. Or Jesus didn't judge.....really?? He loved/Loves always has always will. He always called/calls the sinner to service after he called/calls them to himself. You are called unto him first then sent to do his will in your life for him. We are not perfect, but that fact does in no way give us the right to willfully sin and call ourselves Christians. Do not think the above named individuals were given a pass due purely to their acknowledgement of Jesus, even the Devil knows the scriptures and knows who Jesus is. We were born spiritual creatures to serve God, but with sin in the world we have sinful desires and must overcome them by Faith in Jesus and surrender to his will in our lives. Anything short of that and we are only using his name as a way to get others to shut up and go away. God can use a flawed person, because we all are flawed. But what he can not use is an unrepentant person. So do not get caught up in the talk of tolerance, tolerance is another way of saying, it is OK to sin. Today, too many Christians buy into the notion that to be a good Christian is to be tolerant of others and what they do, however our example, Jesus, did not tolerate sin in any form, however loved the sinner unto himself. I have beat this drum many times, but it needs to be ingrained into our everyday lives, until sinners no longer can use that as an excuse but rather hear the good news, and that good news is that life with Jesus is much better than any life without him, and that an unrepentant heart really will seperate them from God for all eternity, what part of that is hard to understand? Know God...Know Peace...No God....No Peace....It really is just.....that....simple....

Get back to our hearts

We are still the wealthiest nation in the world despite Obama. We create, and distribute more wealth hourly then any 2 other countries combined, but we still don't use our prosperity well. In my city there is a monstrosity of a convention center being shoe horned into a half dead downtown that the people did not want to the tune of 20 million dollars....but every day I see mentally challenged homeless sleeping behind an air conditioning unit at our church. I know of small children going without food or having proper clothing. Now I am NOT a social liberal nor even a person bent on saving everyone. But what I think all of us should be is compassionate, and leaving any human who is unable to take care of themselves to die is somehow cruel. I read in the paper today where a local community is all excited about a grant that will give them a park! Yea for them....really? The economy is in the tank and grants come from tax money folks!! Do we really need another basketball court or splash pad right now? It seems we in this country have lost sight of things, we are looking with blinders on. Our indifference to everything has become a lethal dose of what can you do for me. We build walking trails, splash pads, basketball courts etc......they did that in our town too, and the biggest turn out at the basketball court is on Tuesday night when a local group comes and feeds and ministers to the people there, what does that say for our priorities. I do not believe in a Robin Hood society, I don't think Obama's idea to take from the rich to give to the poor is the way to go, I just think those who can help, should. I also believe a community has the obligation to encourage and enable anything that can help people find a job and be a fit parent. In this country we build billion dollar skyscrapers, sell 100,000 dollar cars, we pay athletes an insane and frankly appalling amount of money to play a GAME! All the while not helping the guy next door pay a light bill while he is out of work or offering to watch the kids of the single mom so she can go job hunting. Or invite a family over for dinner that has little. We start programs in our churches that nobody follows through on. We make up excuses for our lack of compassion. The spirit of which I speak used to be ever present in America. Small communities especially would gather together for a gathering of food for a needy family, programs were started and ran for free by neighbors and church members. When a man said he would help he showed up. When people said they were committed to something they actually were and they followed through. You can blame everything in this country on others and sometimes I am guilty of that, but it really does start with you. Do something, anything, if you say you will do something follow through. Give encouragement, give of your time, be the person you would want around if you were hurting. Watch the neighbors kids so they can go out for an evening. As a country we sit around with our hands out instead of giving a hand up. Don't just say that is the governments responsibility because it is not... it is ours. And I think that when we once again become a compassionate nation, then government will become smaller and we will become who we once were. Greed has nothing to do with it, but insistent self reliance and self isolation does. We hide behind the doors of our houses to shield us from the world. We drive our fancy cars right by the homeless shelter where people we went to school with are staying. We sit in church and watch the offering plate pass by because we have too many bills this month to give. We drive by the small children sitting outside on the porch to escape the heat inside as we go to the drive in for Happy Hour Soda pops. When did we become so disconnected folks?? What's wrong here???? And how do we get back to our hearts? Beacause we must if we want this country to survive.

Slow Down

The problem with being a passionate person is that sometimes you get so wrapped up in whats going on, you feel like everyone should be informed just like you, afterall your position is one of common sense...right?. That is why I write this blog. But sometimes that desire gets in the way and I miss the quiet solitude of other things going on around me. I don't pay as much attention to my wife as I should, I don't listen to my girls, and I sure don't spend as much time with God as I should when I get wrapped up in a whirlwind of emotions. Its those times I need to just slow down, step back and look at what I have. Reflect on the blessings, put aside the outside distractions and reel in some of that fire that fuels my other passions. It is In those times where I do that that I feel most content. It is when the world slows, the sky seems brighter, the air smells cleaner, the flowers smell better and my attitude is more even-tempered. Politics is important especially right now, but we can't forsake our own well being and those around us, for they are the reason for that passion. I am sure at times I rub people the wrong way. I may even hurt some feelings without intentionally doing so and for that I am sorry. But I also know people who live their life with no purpose, no direction, no passionate flow of ideas and I find that sad. Discourse is a human conundrum, it allows for the free exchange of ideas but on the flipside it can manifest itself into hatred and discontent if we let it. I know it is just August but resolutions need not be made only on Jan 1st, so I resolve to slow Down, check my passions and make sure they are guided by the right things. Examine my motives for purpose and clarity. Make sure my direction is clear. If not I will be like so many others whose passion has led them to sound irrational and trite and downrite mean. The ones who can not defend their position without calling others names are misguided and usually don't really know where their beleifs are rooted. So when you have a day where you feel like everything is against you and you must speak up, Slow Down, look around, take control, be intentional about your actions not reactionary. All of this is speaking to me as well. Sometimes we all need to just Slow Down....because the world is going nowhere, it will still be there when we get back.

Passion-revisited

Watching the Olympics I am struck with a type of awe. These folks have a dedication to their sport that far exceeds the ordinary dedicaton that us as spectators will ever act upon. We sit back and revel in their glory, we watch as they consume the furor that lies inside of them to force a little bit more energy into their mind and body to finish, or to win. We don't see the years of training and sacrifice they all give to be the best, and yes they are the best. Some are driven to succeed by passion, some are helped along the way by their coaches and family, and some based on their country live a long life away from their loved ones in training almost 24/7. I don't don't agree at all with the last one, but it is still a sacrifice. Why don't we have the passion shown by these athletes in our everyday life? Instead we look for excuses to not eat right. We make ways to circumvent exercise. We go out of our way to criticize others who choose to better themselves and not perpetuate poverty and non self reliance. We need to look closely during the olympians and draw on their passion. We need to suck it up, see the truth and act upon it. And the truth is we are made to be the best we can be. We are not made to pass the buck, blame others or shirk responsibility. We should not be nor allow someone to be a thought controller, a race baiter, a sub group howler or any other name that fits that does nothing constructive for themselves and this country. I am sick and tired of people throwing a fit when one person voices an opinion like the president of Chick Fi let did.... get over it, it is HIS opinion, we are all entitled to our opinion! I am also tired of carrying the burden for the thousands upon thousands that refuse to work! WE USED TO BE A NATION PREDICATED ON THE NOTION THAT WE HAD PASSION FOR OTHERS, FOR OURSELVES, FOR THE WORLD AND OUR COUNTRY! That day has long passed. We have become lazy, easily coerced, we beleive lies....we used to think for ourselves... Today we are governed by a President that does not want that day to return. His policies are such that he will not get reelected if he can't convince the country that the government is the answer. If we return to our passion, then regardless of who gets elected we will stand tall and bring this nation back to itself, and once again be a place other nations look to for guidance. So I emplore you that while you watch the olympics that you look inside of your soul and see where you should be. Examine the heart of your motives to make sure they are pure. Check your Integrity, put it more into practice. Taking away our Liberty and giving it to the government will never restore this country and the passion it was founded upon. As PAtrick Henry said, Give us Liberty, or Give us Death! That old mantra holds more true today than ever. And Benjamin Franklin said, " A country who sacrifices Liberty for Security has neither." Today, examine yourself, right the ship before it is too late....Bring back the Passion....But it starts with you!