“Never forget what Jesus did for you. Never take lightly what it cost Him. And never assume that if it cost Him His very life, that it won't also cost you yours.” ~Rich Mullins
Gratitude has the ability to change my entire outlook on life.......
I have found that a grateful heart can't be angry....it can't be discontent or sad....and it definitely can't be self centered.
No, a grateful heart forces my eyes off of myself, and onto the One I am grateful to. It puts my situation into perspective and my attitude in place.
And it most certainly makes me joyful......because it makes the little sweet things the important things, and the big scary things, well, not so scary.
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Conservatism. What does the word make you think of? A strong holding to the traditional values that made America great....... The complete antithesis to everything being pushed by The Regime (to quote my favorite talk show host!)..... Staunch Constitution worshipers...... Blind followers of the ideologies of the Tea Party.....
The list goes on and on and changes radically depending on who you're talking to.
For me personally, my definition has changed over the years. I used to think that conservatives where the "good guys" in our modern battle of right and wrong.....the last men standing against the tide of liberalism and socialism that threatens to overtake the west....the heroes....the smart ones.....and boy was I proud to call myself one!
Over time, I read and learned more, and changed my opinion. Republicans, conservatives, and the whole GOP lost my esteem as they continually voted for more liberal policies, compromised on principles, and slowly but surely became not-that-different than the leftists. The only difference was that they still called themselves "the right".
Everyone on the "good side" seemed to be striving to fix symptoms.....not problems.
But today, Conservatives gained back my respect a little bit. Michelle Malkin, after speaking at length about the ways that young people are being indoctrinated through our public school system, announced that she has recently started homeschooling her own children!
Jonah Goldberg, author and host on Fox News, made the statement that the reason American civil society is crumbling is due to a "father crisis", and a "destruction of the nuclear family".
Wow! Am I hearing this right? Conservatives are saying that the main problem, and as such - the solution, lies not in government or more regulations, but in a healing and reconstruction of the family.
The other surprising thing, and something that is relatively new, is that conservatives are starting to really revolt against the GOP. They have seen that "Republicans" are really no better than "Democrats" at this point, and are much more open to the idea of a third party or other alternatives.
They still have issues that I would disagree with, but on the whole, I was encouraged and slightly hopeful again.
Now I'm off to go watch some more Michelle Malkin videos......... :) :) :)
So how many of you have ever heard of the Battle of Athens? This is an amazing event that happened in Tennessee in 1946 that I'd never heard of. An armed revolt of WWII vets....amazing.
Flying on Air Force One, Obama look at Oprah, chuckled and said, "You know, I could throw a $1,000 bill out of the window right now and make somebody very happy."
Oprah shrugged her shoulders and replied, "I could throw ten $100 bills out of the window and make ten people very happy."
Michelle added, "That being the case, I could throw one hundred $10 bills out of the window and make a hundred people very happy.
Hearing their exchange, the pilot rolled his eyes and said to his co-pilot, "Such big-shots back there. I could throw all three of them out of the window and make 256 million people very happy."
* **Post Edited*** I had to go back and add this on. A friend of mine just emailed me this story of his Chick-fil-A experience. So neat!!
"I went to Chick-Fil-A yesterday to get dinner for everyone. I went to the one in
Peoria at 83rd Ave & Bell Rd. It was PACKED! I waited in the drive-thru line
for an hour and a half! It was so neat to see the support! The police were out
directing traffic and patrolling the lines. It probably wasn't necessary for them
to patrol the lines since everyone seemed happy and friendly! When I had finally
made it to the drive-thru window, the worker informed me that the person in
front me had paid for our entire order! I was like, "Wow! Thank you Lord!" The
drive-thru line was backed up down 83rd Ave and the line for inside was wrapped
all through out the parking lot. It was so cool to see everyone have fun waiting
in line and not complain. It's crazy to think that they would run out of food!
But it's a good thing!"
Did you have your Chick-fil-A today??? We sure did!!
Ever since the owner of Chick-fil-A stated that the company supported traditional marriage, gays and leftists everywhere have gone crazy! But so have the Christians :)
If you are on Facebook, go check out the page "Reclaim America" by Kimber Chitwood. He has been asking people all day to send him pictures and stories of their experience at Chick-fil-A today, and it has been amazing!!!
People all over the country have waited in line for hours today to show their support for Chick-fil-A!!
In Florence, Alabama, there's two Chick-fil-A's. Both had to close down half way through today because they ran out of food!! Stay hungry, people!
My dad tried to go at lunch to one out by his work, but the place was jam packed
with cars, the line was out the door, and he only had an hour, so he decided to
leave and try again on his way home. This evening, he stopped at one in
Surprise, and when he pulled up, there were a couple protestors, but it was
pretty empty. “Hmm,” he thought, “that’s strange.” Just then, a young man
dressed in a Chick-fil-A shirt walked up to his car and said, “I am very very
sorry, sir, but due to customer support...um...we’ve run out of food.” Dad threw
his hands up and said, “Praise the Lord!” The kid gave him a coupon and told him
to come again :)
This is way past being an issue over homosexuality. This is now an issue of free speech.
One of the neatest things has been that in all these masses of people, traffic jams, policemen directing traffic, stores closing, the people have been so polite. One person put it really well: "Columbia, TN. Traffic backed up for miles.... 3 police officers
directing traffic.... 2 lines feeding into one drive through line...
waited 90 min. once standing in line... NO fighting, cussing,
protesters... Just people supporting the Constitution.... Peacefully!!!"
Here's what some of the people have been saying......
Alcoa TN: People were wrapped around the building and both
drive-thru lanes were packed. Traffics was backed up in both directions.
So glad to see the support!
Elkton, MD Chick-fil-A. The lines were out the door and a LONG line for
the drive-thru. The employees said it was like this all day. While we
were eating, we saw a MD State Trooper going through the drive thru
picking up dinner.
There is hope fore America yet. Not "Hope and Change" but real HOPE that this great nation was founded on!
Florence Alabama has two Chick-fil-a locations,both had to close today because they ran out of food!
Phoenix Arizona Chick-Fil-A, I waited 2.5 hours to support... great sandwich! WAIT TILL NOVEMBER..... WE'RE COMING !
Our troops do not fight and die for socialism. Stand up for FREEDOM and stay hungry til November!
Mechanicsburg, PA: Unreal! Hundreds of cars people all over the parking lot. 4 news vans and 3 cop cars! It's a beautiful site!
Phoenix, AZ: Went with the kiddos to support Chick-fil-a today. You can't tell too
good from the picture but the line of people were wrapped around the
outside of the building and cars lined up out to the main street. It
warms my heart that so many people are standing up with this great
company for God's Word :) :)
Olive Branch, MS location. We waited
until about 1:30 to go and it was still packed. What was amazing was
that there was no cussing, fighting, shoving, cutting in line or
disgruntled people because their order was wrong. THIS, is the America
that I love.
Think about it. You've just escaped from the tyrannical rule of Great Britain and you're now on your own in a brand new country...with the daunting task of figuring out how to rule all the people looming over your head. What would you do? Where would you start?
There is a general mold for a Republican government. An executive power (be it a president, a king, etc.) with one or more other powers put in place to act as checks and balances. Obviously, in America, we have the judicial and legislative powers consisting of the Supreme Court, House of Representatives, and the Senate.
But is this the right way?
Most of us in the "Christian, conservative, homeschooled" circle are trying to go back to the Bible in everything we do. We ask ourselves, "if all we have is the Bible, how would we parent?", "if all we had was the Bible, how would we do church?" etc.
So...if all you had was the Bible, how would you set up a government?
My thoughts are in no way settled on this subject, but it has been something that has been consuming my thoughts lately as I read through the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers for school and talk to a friend who is doing the same thing for school.
In the Bible, the government that we see set up is a series of judges. Judges of tens, fifties, hundreds and thousands. Yes, Israel dissolved into a monarchy, but that was plainly because they turned away from God.
While reading through the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers, I have been really surprised at how little they refer to God as the basis for their government. Of course, I know these men were so Godly, and so Biblically literate, but this struck me as odd. They refer to a Creator and the like off and on, but when they are arguing whether or not an idea will work, it is all based on temporal and pragmatic reasons.
In the Anti-Federalist Papers, Patrick Henry (my newest hero) makes a very interesting point. Before this point in time (about 1788), there had been a very minimalistic government. But the group of men who came together to write the constitution, came together because they believed the existing government was weak and not active enough. Henry's point was:
"The Confederation; this same despised Government, merits, in my opinion, the highest encomium: It carried us through a long and dangerous war: It rendered us victorious in that bloody conflict with a powerful nation: It has secured us a territory greater than any European Monarch possesses: And shall a Government which has been thus strong and vigorous, be accused of imbecility and abandoned for want of energy? Consider what you are about to do before you part with this Government. Take longer time in reckoning things..."
Later, he literally claims that the Constitution could prove a fatal threat to liberty.
That's serious!!
So did "big government" get its foot firmly in the door when the North won the Civil War, or when the Federalists won and ratified the Constitution?
It's a scary question. Especially when many Christians cry "It's Un-Constitutional!"
What if the Constitution is Un-Biblical and a threat to liberty?
"For
he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman:
likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men." 1 Cor 7:22-23
As usual, I've been staying quite busy! These hawks built a nest in a tree a few miles from our house, so I drove over there to take some pictures of them the other day. It was ridiculously hot, so I didn't stay long, but it was fun!!
The babies!!!!
Honestly, I have been doing a much better job at updating my photo blog. (www.atruefocus.blogspot.com) There are lots of pictures from our church's camp out on there, as well as the rest of this shoot I just did of my gorgeous sisters!
Also, *conspiratorial whisper* for those of you who loved our "Surfin' Arizona Style" video, there's a "Surfin' Arizona Style, Part II" in the works. More horses + more people + more surfboards + more falls = more FUN!! Stay tuned!
“The
fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of
leadership failure. It is a sign that the US Government cannot pay its own
bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from
foreign countries to finance our Government's reckless fiscal policies.
Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and internationally.
Leadership means that, "the buck stops here.' Instead, Washington is shifting
the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and
grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans
deserve better.”
John Adams said that today "will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to
believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the
great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of
deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be
solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells,
bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the
other, from this time forward forever more."
Never take our liberty for granted.....it is on the edge of being taken away from us again.
I don't know if any of you awesome blog people are from Wisconsin, but if you are, you GO!!!
"In selecting men for office, let principle be your guide. Regard not
the particular sect or denomination of the candidate -- look to his
character." --Noah Webster
"The year-long saga of the Wisconsin recall is, at long last, over,
and Scott Walker is still standing. ... Walker's enemies did everything
but release the kraken. And yet, he won. ... Walker won because his
reform program is popular, and because it is working. ... Walker won
because he represented the taxpayer, while his opponent represented the
groups whose livelihoods depend on bilking the taxpayer. Milwaukee mayor
Tom Barrett served as less of an alternative than a vessel for Big
Labor's unmoored wrath. ... And, most of all, Scott Walker saved his job
by being the adult in the room. While Democrats in Washington seem to
be relying on their belief that the United States government is 'too big
to fail' to justify a program of taxing and spending our way out of debt,
the states don't have such a luxury. And so, across the country, in
states red, blue, and purple, they have turned to men like Scott Walker
-- and Chris Christie, and Mitch Daniels, and others -- to close
structural deficits, stabilize out-of-control spending, and break the
death embrace between Big Labor and Big Government. In taking this toxic
partnership head on, in a state with a rich progressive history no
less, Walker became its biggest target. His enemies spent a year and a
half preparing to take their best shot at him. And a combined total of
$100 million or so later, they missed. They missed because voters are
starting to understand that governing through crisis requires someone
willing to make unpopular choices, stand up to entrenched interests, and
hold the line against loud and determined opposition. Quite simply,
Wisconsin voters realized that if they no longer had Scott Walker, they
would have to invent him." --National Review
"[T]he political left were trying to demonstrate that power and
privileges once granted are eternal. They wanted to run Mr. Walker out
of Madison as an object lesson that trying to limit collective
bargaining and mandatory dues collection for government unions will end
your political career.
... Public unions are never going to cede their dominance over
taxpayers without a fight. And it's worth recalling how brutally they
fought. They occupied the state capital for weeks. They harassed GOP
lawmakers and their families, tried to recall state Senators and defeat a
conservative Supreme Court judge, while Democratic lawmakers abdicated
their legislative duty by fleeing the state. They lost in the end
because Mr. Walker and Republicans rode out the storm, passed their
reforms, and are now able to show Wisconsin voters the beneficial
results. The longer-term impact of Mr. Walker's vindication will depend
on the lesson other political leaders take from it." --The Wall Street
Journal
"Scott Walker never lacked courage. It took steely determination not
to buckle in the face of militant unions who 'occupied' the stately
Wisconsin capitol in Madison when Walker's reforms were first voted on.
For two years, leftists have been howling. One of their speakers at a
get out the (union) vote rally actually compared Scott Walker's reforms
to the 9/11 attacks on our country. And this is the crowd that is
forever lecturing us on civility." --columnist Ken Blackwell
A structural budget deficit of $3.6 billion has been turned to a $425
million surplus without raising taxes, gutting programs, or laying off
large numbers of public employees. Townships, cities, counties, and
school boards have saved well over $1 billion - and counting - of
taxpayer money in less than a year since Act 10 went into effect;
property taxes actually declined state-wide for the first time this
century. Wisconsin’s business climate has risen from the bottom of the rankings
to 20th in just two years, an historic turnaround. Employers’ right
track/wrong track surveys have gone from 90% wrong in 2010 to 90% right
in 2012. Tens of thousands of jobs have already been added in a
rejuvenated private sector and another 30,000 openings exist due to a
shortage of qualified candidates. Did you catch that? We went from a
budget deficit to a deficit of skilled workers for high-paying jobs. ---- Dr. Tim from Moment of Clarity
My grandma sent this to me the other day. Makes me scared!! And makes me think of this verse...
"If the foundations are destroyed,What can the righteous do?" Ps. 11:3
The rest of the chapter is encouraging, though! "The Lord is in His holy temple,The Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold,His eyelids test the sons of men.The Lord tests the righteous,But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. Upon the wicked He will rain coals;Fire and brimstone and a burning wind Shall be the portion of their cup.For the Lord is righteous,He loves righteousness;His countenance beholds the upright."
This was the email she sent me...and this is coming to America!!
"This is
from a friend who lives in Paris & is an expert on the growing menace posed
by Muslims in France & in Western Europe. It is a tragic & dismal
report.
Hello to my American friends,
as you
know, the Socialist François Hollande won the presidential elections in France,
last Sunday.
It is a
catastrophy for France Hollande
was elected by the Muslisms.A survey
(of 10,000 Muslims) shows that 93% of the Muslims voted for
him.
As 2
million Muslims participated in this election, Hollande got 1,720,000 Muslim
votes more than Sarkozy did: (0.93-0.07) x 2,000,000 = 1,720,000
But at the
end, in the whole population, he got only 1,139,316 votes more than
Sarkozy.
So,
without the Muslims' votes, Sarkozy would have been re-elected.
All the
Muslim criminals feel now empowered. Criminality
is already on the rise (1,700 cars were burnt in France for the first night).
Muslims are screaming anti-French and anti-Jews watchwords in our
streets.Veiled
women, wearing the illegal burqa, are strolling in our
streets.And, as if
this wasn't enough, Hollande wants to giveto all the
foreignersthe right
to vote in our elections !!! France
will face a very hard situation. We are heading for civil war in a few
years.
