what's a girl gonna do?

Wintertime Getaway

2011-01-12T09:00:00.010-05:00

On New Year's Day, Nathan & I, along with his best friend & his wife, headed up to Chincoteague Island, VA. If you're not familiar with CI, here is a little information. If you've ever read Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry, you already know a little about it, & if you know me, then you know my love of horses & won't be a bit surprised by my love for CI. :) We first visited CI in the summer of 2008 with the same dear friends, who had been there once before as a stop on their cross-country honeymoon. The island connects to Assateague Island, which is a wildlife refuge. We rode bikes all over the refuge that summer & saw lots of wildlife & wild ponies. It was heaven for me. ;) After that trip, the guys learned that each fall, a drawing is held for hunting on the refuge. This year, they each applied & were both drawn for different dates & zones, so they had their choice. They chose a date & we made our plans. Now, CI is very much a summer place (think BEACH!), so we knew that things were very likely going to be pretty dead in the middle of winter, but we didn't mind. :)

It was about a 10 hour drive, which is nothing when in the company of good friends. :) We drove Rachel's brother's Suburban so that we could take out the 3rd row of seats to fit all of our stuff, & so the big engine would have no trouble pulling Adam's little Isuzu Pup behind it. The reason for this was because since the guys were going to be hunting for 2 of the days we were there, Rachel & I didn't want to be stranded if there was somewhere we wanted to go. We got to our hotel just after 9 pm, and we drove around looking for a restaurant, since we hadn't stopped for supper. We saw just a few & finally stopped at one called AJ's Seafood. This was to be the first of many wonderful experiences with the locals. We asked if they were still serving, & the hostess checked with the kitchen. She said they had already closed down, so we said thanks & turned to leave. Then another lady walked over & told us to wait, that we could still eat. Turns out she was the owner, & she told the kitchen to open back up for us! She & our server were both very sweet & we had a delicious meal. We were so grateful for the owner's generosity! The hotel was probably the MOST wonderful experience of the trip. It was a Hampton Inn, so nothing really fancy, BUT it IS rated the #1 Hampton Inn in the country, & we quickly found out why. Every single staff member we came in contact with during our stay was incredibly friendly & helpful. They went out of their way to make sure we were enjoying our stay & that we had everything we needed. The breakfast area was always spotless; food choices were different each day; & they even served a complimentary supper of BBQ and soup one night for their guests! It was also a beautiful hotel, with an inviting lobby area past the check-in desk where there were couches, chairs & a tv, as well as games. We took advantage of those games a couple of nights, sitting at a table & playing for several hours. They also had an indoor pool & hot tub, which Rachel & I took advantage of one morning for a couple of hours while the guys were out hunting. :)

Both days the guys were hunting, Rachel & I drove out to the refuge & took long walks. It was very cold & the wind was not kind, but we got some good exercise & enjoyed being out there. One of the days, we took lunch to our men & met them out at the beach to eat. We ate in the car, since the wind was so bad, but we met there because their hunting zone was close to the beach. We all took a walk on the beach after eating & I got a few good pictures. I so love the ocean...it's one of my favorites of God's handiwork. I am in awe of it...in awe of Him.

There were 2 places we hoped would be open on the island. One was Sugarbaker's, which has the BEST cinnamon buns I've ever tasted in my entire life! Unfortunately, they weren't open. That was a huge disappointment, since they were just a block or so from our hotel, but it may be better for my waistline that they weren't. ;) The other place was The Island Creamery, which has the BEST ice cream I've ever tasted in my entire life! No, seriously! :) We didn't really think they'd be open in the winter, but thankfully they are (cold weather doesn't stop me from eating ice cream!) & they also serve lots of coffee drinks & hot chocolate, so each day after our walks, Rachel & I went there for hot chocolate. The 4 of us also went there every single evening for ice cream. :) My favorites: Snickers Cheesecake, & Peanut Butter Cup. Yum!

There were a few other things we did/saw, but those are all the highlights, I think. It was an absolutely WONDERFUL trip. Rachel & I both said that even though we didn't really do much of anything, it was truly a great vacation...& you know, maybe that's WHY it was a great vacation...we actually took a vacation from "doing" things! We needed to relax & that's exactly what we did.

I'm so incredibly thankful for good friends...there are very few other couples (outside family) that we would really enjoy spending 6 entire days with! :) Here are a few pictures from the trip.

View from the porch of our hotel.

Assateague Island Lighthouse.

Group of wild ponies on the refuge.

Lone wild pony on the refuge.

Nathan & me on the beach.

My favorite shot. To me, it just exudes...peace.

Crazy Dogs

2010-12-28T09:37:00.003-05:00

Our dogs love to chew on rawhide bones (what dog doesn't?) & they go through them pretty quickly. So quickly, in fact, that earlier this year, we bought them in bulk - a box of 100 - & they're already gone. We need to buy another bulk box, but until we find one (eBay!) we're just buying the smaller bags at Wal-Mart. The dogs have such different personalities, it's really funny. Hunter will usually just lay down & chew on a bone until it's almost gone. Scout, on the other hand, wants to hide every bone we give him. The ones that are actually bone-shaped, he doesn't have much success in hiding, but the small squares of rawhide, we'll find all over the house...between the couch cushions, inside shoes, under rugs, etc. It's especially funny to watch him do this because he's OCD about it...he'll try to put one in the corner & he'll work & work at it, pushing it around, trying to make it fit perfectly. If he's not satisfied, he'll pick it back up & search for a new place. If he realizes we've seen where he put it, he'll go back, pick it up & start searching for a new place again. Seriously - the dog is nuts (but we love him ;)). Hunter couldn't care less about hiding them...he's too ready to chew on them! Scout would rather sit there with nothing to do, knowing his rawhide is safely hidden from his brother. Also, it never fails that if we give them each a bone, they want the other's. Or they both want the same one. Which results in one dog pouting. Yes, pouting. It's ridiculous how dogs can pout! Don't even get me started on how Hunter refuses to let Scout up on the couch when he's there. If I insist on letting Scout up there, Hunter will get down & go pout - which means, he curls up in a way so that his back is to me. *rolling my eyes* SO SPOILED! ;) ANYWAY, back to the point of this post, and explanation of this video. Nathan has always wanted to buy one of those huge, oversized rawhide bones just to see what the dogs would do with it. He finally did, yesterday. Shortly after he said, "I bet Scout will try to carry it around." we saw this:

The camera is shaking at the end because I was laughing. :) Our dogs are nuts, but they're very entertaining! :)

Joy Has Dawned Upon the World

2010-12-26T18:02:00.002-05:00

This has been one of my favorite Christmas songs ever since the first time I heard it. We sing it a lot at our church around this time of year & I wanted to share the lyrics.

Joy has dawned upon the world,
Promised from creation—
God's salvation now unfurled,
Hope for ev'ry nation.
Not with fanfares from above,
Not with scenes of glory,
But a humble gift of love—
Jesus born of Mary.

Sounds of wonder fill the sky
With the songs of angels
As the mighty Prince of Life
Shelters in a stable.
Hands that set each star in place,
Shaped the earth in darkness,
Cling now to a mother's breast,
Vuln'rable and helpless.

Shepherds bow before the Lamb,
Gazing at the glory;
Gifts of men from distant lands
Prophesy the story.
Gold—a King is born today,
Incense—God is with us,
Myrrh—His death will make a way,
And by His blood He'll win us.

Son of Adam, Son of heaven,
Given as a ransom;
Reconciling God and man,
Christ, our mighty champion!
What a Savior! What a Friend!
What a glorious myst'ry!
Once a babe in Bethlehem,
Now the Lord of hist'ry.

Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2004 Thankyou Music

Discernment...Twilight

2010-12-21T15:06:00.007-05:00

I've never had the slightest interest in these books or movies, but because they have become something of a cult phenomenon in America, I think it's good to hear what Christian leaders have to say about them. I love Pastor Mark's approach.

Lady A

2010-11-22T14:23:00.008-05:00

A couple of friends & I went to see Lady Antebellum recently. It was, seriously, an amazing concert. For me, it ranked right up there with the two Tim & Faith concerts I've been to, and anyone that knows me will know how much that's saying! I have a new camera, and (of course) I haven't taken the time to read the manual to learn what the best settings are for taking pictures at a concert, so the ones I did take turned out, well, badly. But I'm attaching them anyway. ;)
David Nail opened for Lady A. He has an incredible voice. I had actually seen him just a few months ago, and this second performance was even better than the first. Lady A, however, was downright phenomenal. Really. Hillary's voice blows me away, and Charles...well, I could listen to Charles sing absolutely ANYthing. And, Dave is pretty great, too. I'd never heard him sing a solo before, but he sat at the piano & played & sang "Do I", which was recorded by Luke Bryan, but written by the members of Lady A along with Luke.
The best songs of the evening, though, were "Need You Now" (which is no surprise, I'm sure, since it has stayed at the top of the charts for AGES) and the encore, "Hello World". Both songs give me chills just hearing them on the radio/cd, but in person...wow. Tears! It was a wonderful 2 hours & I did NOT want it to end! I can't wait until their next tour!

Me, Michelle and Dara

David Nail

Lady Antebellum

Peace

2010-10-28T08:54:00.003-04:00

"God has appointed this whole life to be all as a race or a battle; the state of rest, wherein we shall be so out of danger as to have no need of watching and fighting, is for another world."

--Jonathan Edwards

It's almost discouraging to think of my entire life as a race or battle, but the second part reminds me it's all worth it.

One day...one day, there will be no more watching or fighting. No more battles against the flesh.

One day there will be true...

Peace.

He Cares.

2010-10-20T11:35:00.006-04:00

I don't know why I'm always amazed at God's timing, but I literally sat in amazement for a few minutes this morning when I saw today's daily reading. What an awesome reminder that He knows not only that I am anxious today, but He knows what I'm anxious about and He's reminding me that He's got it covered. No matter what the outcome is, He is in control.

I can't change it, but He can handle it. He cares.

I PETER 5:7

Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

You know what? God personally cares about the things that worry us. He cares more about them than we care about them: those things that hang in our minds as nagging, aching, worrisome thoughts. First Peter 5:7 invites you to cast "all your anxiety on Him, because He has a care for you." He cares. You are His personal concern. He cares about those aching thoughts that are like heavy anchors dragging you down.

--Charles Swindoll

Bedside Blessings

An Open Door

2010-09-14T08:51:00.001-04:00

Now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away from God are brought near.

Ephesians 2:13

Nothing remains between you and God but an open door.

Something happened in the death of Christ that opened the door for you and me. And that something is described by the writer of Hebrews.

"So, brothers and sisters, we are completely free to enter the Most Holy Place without fear because of the blood of Jesus' death. We can enter through a new and living way that Jesus opened for us. It leads through the curtain—Christ's body" (Heb. 10:19-20).

To the original readers, those last four words were explosive: "the curtain—Christ's body."

According to the writer, the curtain equals Jesus. Hence, whatever happened to the flesh of Jesus happened to the curtain. What happened to his flesh? It was torn. Torn by the whips, torn by the thorns. Torn by the weight of the cross and the point of the nails. But in the horror of his torn flesh, we find the splendor of the open door.

He Chose the Nails

Max Lucado

Grace for the Moment, Volume II

This isn't 'Separate but Equal.' They're One.

2010-08-30T12:18:00.003-04:00

I read this today and found it to be thought-provoking.

This Isn’t ‘Separate but Equal.’ They’re One.
by Pastor Mark Driscoll on Friday, August 27th, 2010 12:40 pm

There is one God and that this God exists as three persons – Father, Son, and Spirit – that are absolutely equal in every way, sharing all attributes and qualities. Scripture is clear here. And yet there is a difference of role and function between them: We see this in Genesis where God, the Father, speaks. Jesus Christ is the Word of God, the agent of creation. And the Holy Spirit hovers above the water, bringing order out of chaos, but the Holy Spirit is not birthed out of the womb of Mary. There is a difference between the Father, Son, and Spirit. And they have particular functions that they accomplish, but they are, in a very real sense, in every real sense, one. There is one God.

The Equality of Echad

And so, it is possible for there to be difference, yet equality and oneness, even though there are more than one persons. What is true – and God’s image is true in the image of the man and the woman – that as God is one, the man and the woman in marriage are supposed to echad, one, Genesis says. They are to be one as God is one.

Continue reading here.

2 in 1 day?!

2010-08-04T11:54:00.003-04:00

Six months of absence, & now 2 posts in 1 day! ;) I just read this blog post by Rev. Voddie Baucham & thought it was too good not to share. It's talking about John Piper's announced leave of absence, & I think there are some excellent points to be considered.

10 Things I Hope We Learn from John Piper’s Leave of Absence

John Piper has taught me much over the years. I consider it an honor to count him as a friend, and I am deeply saddened by his recent announcement that he will be taking a leave of absence for the remainder of 2010. In explaining his leave of absence, he writes:

The difference between this leave and the sabbatical I took four years ago is that I wrote a book on that sabbatical (What Jesus Demands from the World). In 30 years, I have never let go of the passion for public productivity. In this leave, I intend to let go of all of it. No book-writing. No sermon preparation or preaching. No blogging. No Twitter. No articles. No reports. No papers. And no speaking engagements. There is one stateside exception—the weekend devoted to the Desiring God National Conference combined with the inaugural convocation of Bethlehem College and Seminary in October. Noël thought I should keep three international commitments. Our reasoning is that if she could go along, and if we plan it right, these could be very special times of refreshment together.

As I contemplated Dr. Piper’s words, I could not help but realize that even in what must be a devastating moment for him, he is still teaching those of us who are listening. Here are a few things I hope we all learn:

1.I hope we learn that no man is indispensable, and that that it is the Lord, and not man who can proclaim, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt 16:18).

To read the rest of Rev. Baucham's post, go here.

Guilty!

2010-08-04T11:27:00.004-04:00

I'm feeling more than a little guilty lately that I have virtually ignored my blog for the last 6 months! I think I just lost interest for a while but I hope to start posting more regularly again, even if it's just sharing daily devotionals I've come across, like before. Here's one for today that a friend sent me.

Psalm 142:3

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path.

Hoping in God is hoping when there is no hope. Hoping in God is to trust that He will be there with us when we put our feet in places so godforsaken that He will be there holding us up when we are falling over the edge. Leading us through our private darkness. Being there--ahead of us, behind us, above us, under us, for us, and even in us.

--Lewis Smedes

Keeping Hope Alive

Sole Provider, Sole Comforter

2010-01-25T10:24:00.003-05:00

Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest.

As long as Jesus is one of many options, He is no option.
As long as you can carry your burdens alone, you don't need a burden bearer.
As long as your situation brings you no grief, you will receive no comfort.
And as long as you can take Him or leave Him, you might as well leave Him, because He won't be taken half-heartedly.
But when you mourn, when you get to the point of sorrow for your sins, when you admit that you have no other option but to cast all your cares on Him, and when there is truly no other name that you can call, then cast all your cares on Him, for He is waiting in the midst of the storm.

Max Lucado......The Applause of Heaven

Snow Plow

2010-01-15T08:26:00.000-05:00

This email made me laugh, so I just thought I would share. :)

One winter morning a husband and wife in central South Dakota were listening to the radio during breakfast. They heard the announcer say, "We are going to have 8 to 10 inches of snow today. You must park your car on the even-numbered side of the street, so the Snowplows can get through." So the good wife went out and moved her car.

A week later while they are eating breakfast again, the radio announcer said, "We are expecting 10 to12 inches of snow today. You must park your car on the odd-numbered side of the street, so the Snowplows can get through." The good wife went out and moved her car again.

The next week they are again having breakfast, when the radio announcer says, "We are expecting 12 to 14 inches of snow today. You must park...." Then the electric power went out. The good wife was very upset, and with a worried look on her face she said, "Honey, I don't know what to do. Which side of the street do I need to park on so the Snowplows can get through?"

With the love and understanding in his voice that all men who are married to blondes' exhibit, the husband replied, "Why don't you just leave it in the garage this time?"

Another State Introduces Firearms Freedom Act

2009-11-06T20:44:00.004-05:00

by Chuck Baldwin
November 6, 2009

According to a report published on the Tenth Amendment Center's web site, "Introduced in the Ohio House on October 16, 2009, the 'Firearms Freedom Act' (HB-315) seeks 'To enact section 2923.26 of the Revised Code to provide that ammunition, firearms, and firearm accessories that are manufactured and remain in Ohio are not subject to federal laws and regulations derived under Congress' authority to regulate interstate commerce and to require the words "Made in Ohio" be stamped on a central metallic part of any firearm manufactured and sold in Ohio.'"

The report went on to say, "While the HB315's title focuses on federal gun regulations, it has far more to do with the 10th Amendment's limit on the power of the federal government. It specifically states:

"'The regulation of intrastate commerce is vested in the states under the Ninth and Tenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, particularly if not expressly preempted by federal law. The congress of the United States has not expressly preempted state regulation of intrastate commerce pertaining to the manufacture on an intrastate basis of firearms, firearm accessories, and ammunition.'

"Some supporters of the legislation say that a successful application of such a state-law would set a strong precedent and open the door for states to take their own positions on a wide range of activities that they see as
not being authorized to the Federal Government by the Constitution."

See the report at:
http://tinyurl.com/10amdmt-ffa-ohio

Two states have already passed their own Firearms Freedom Acts: Montana and Tennessee. And, along with Ohio, at least 7 other states have introduced similar bills. Those states are Alaska, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas.

More information regarding the status of these State bills can be seen at:
http://tinyurl.com/10amdmt-ffa

As you might suspect, the federal government doesn't take too kindly to these State laws. In fact, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) sent an open letter to all Montana and Tennessee firearms dealers denouncing the State laws. ATF assistant director Carson Carroll wrote that "Federal law supersedes the Act."

The Tenth Amendment Center quotes constitutional historian Kevin Gutzman as correctly stating, "Their [ATF's] view is that the states exist for the administrative convenience of the Federal Government, and so of course any conflict between state and federal policy must be resolved in favor of the latter.

"This is another way of saying that the Tenth Amendment is not binding on the Federal Government. Of course, that amounts to saying that federal officials have decided to ignore the Constitution when it doesn't suit them."

Ah! But that's just the problem: the federal government has been ignoring the Constitution for decades--so much so that if there is going to be any restoration of genuine liberty in the country, the states are going to have to stand up to this out-of-control national leviathan and say, "No." And they are going to have to say it loudly enough for Washington to get the message. And I cannot think of a freedom issue that is better to "draw a line in the sand" for than the issue of the right of the people to keep and bear arms.

At the end of the day, the Second Amendment was never about hunting or target shooting. It has always been about protecting the people and states against federal tyranny.

The Second Amendment itself states, "A well regulated Militia, BEING NECESSARY TO THE SECURITY OF A FREE STATE, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed." (Emphasis added.) Note that the purpose of the right to keep and bear arms was to insure "the security of a FREE STATE." (Emphasis added.) "Free from what?" you ask. Free from federal tyranny. Free from an overbearing, encroaching, heavy-handed, would-be national government.

The founders--even the Centralists of the day--all acknowledged that the right to keep and bear arms was, first of all, for the protection of the people against government tyranny. Observe:

"[I]f circumstances should at any time oblige the government to form an army of any magnitude that army can never be formidable to the liberties of the people while there is a large body of citizens, little, if at all, inferior to them in discipline and the use of arms, who stand ready to defend their own rights and those of their fellow-citizens." (Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist Papers, Number 29)

"While the people have property, arms in their hands, and only a spark of noble spirit, the most corrupt Congress must be mad to form any project of tyranny." (Rev. Nicholas Collin, Fayetteville [NC] Gazette, October 12, 1789)

"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government." (Thomas Jefferson)

"Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? . . . Congress has no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an American . . . [T]he unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people." (Tench Coxe, ally of James Madison and member of the Continental Congress, Freeman's Journal, February 20, 1778)

Coxe also said, "As civil rulers, not having their duty to the people duly before them, may attempt to tyrannize, and as the military forces which must be occasionally raised to defend our country, might pervert their power to the injury of their fellow-citizens, the people are confirmed by the next article [the Second Amendment] in their right to keep and bear their private arms." (Remarks on the First Part of the Amendments to the Federal Constitution, Philadelphia Federal Gazette, June 18, 1789)

So, for now, 10 states have proposed--and 2 have passed--a Firearms Freedom Act, properly declaring that federal authority granted in the Constitution regarding interstate commerce cannot apply to products (firearms, in this case) that are manufactured and sold within the territory of each respective State. In other words, 10 States are serving notice to Washington, D.C., that they are going to insist that the federal government stop ignoring the Constitution of the United States.

In the same vein, Tennessee State legislator Susan Lynn recently sent an open letter to the State legislative bodies of the other 49 states stating:

"On June 23, 2009, House Joint Resolution 108, the State Sovereignty Resolution, was signed by Governor Phil Bredesen. The Resolution created a committee which has as its charge to:

*Communicate the resolution to the legislatures of the several states,
*Assure them that this State continues in the same esteem of their friendship,
*Call for a joint working group between the states to enumerate the abuses of authority by the federal government, and
*Seek repeal of the assumption of the powers and the imposed mandates."

In the body of her letter, Rep. Lynn states, "The role of our American government has been blurred, bent, and breached. The rights endowed to us by our creator must be restored."

The Tennessee State representative continued by saying, "The Constitution does not include a congressional power to override state laws. It does not give the judicial branch unlimited jurisdiction over all matters. It does not provide Congress with the power to legislate over everything. This is verified by the simple fact that attempts to make these principles part of the Constitution were soundly rejected by its signers.

"With this in mind, any federal attempt to legislate beyond the Constitutional limits of Congress' authority is a usurpation of state sovereignty--and unconstitutional."

See Rep. Lynn's letter at:
http://tinyurl.com/10amdmt-ffa-rep-lynn

This is a battle that is just beginning to heat up, but promises to get red-hot in the not-too-distant future. As for me and my house, we believe this showdown is long overdue. To quote Patrick Henry, "Let it come! I repeat it, Sir, let it come!"

(c) Chuck Baldwin

encouragement

2009-10-29T10:28:00.001-04:00

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,

even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:4-10

Serving the Purpose of God

2009-10-13T09:35:00.001-04:00

II Corinthians 5:9-10

Church members sometimes get the mistaken idea that service to God must be an "up front" kind of activity. To their way of thinking, the preacher and the choir soloist serve God, but the rest of us are just trying to get through the day—and maybe in the future we'll get a chance to do some great thing for the Lord.

The truth is that much of our daily life is spent serving God's purpose. In fact, our greatest impact might come out of a small act of faithfulness. When I was 17 years of age, my grandfather spent one week with me. He likely did not think there was much eternal significance to sitting on the back porch swing talking with his teenage grandson. But the spiritual principles he shared changed my life. I've used them in almost every sermon, which means that my grandfather has blessed millions of people.

God's followers shouldn't underestimate the scope of ministry. If we limit our service to special "church tasks," we'll miss everyday opportunities to make a difference.

The Scriptures are full of ordinary but necessary things for believers to do: care for the less fortunate (Ex. 22:22); train children (Prov. 22:6); use Christian liberty wisely (1 Cor. 8:7-13); "admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak" (1 Thess. 5:14); and so on.

Believers make up Jesus' body on earth. We are His hands to reach out, His feet to go where the need is, and His mouth to give comfort and share the gospel. What role are you meant to fulfill today? Prayerfully commit to serve the Lord in everything you do.

--In Touch Ministries

It Is Going To Be A Rocky Road

2009-09-22T11:55:00.001-04:00

By Chuck Baldwin
September 22, 2009

Let's face it: most Americans live in a world of false security. This is somewhat understandable, given the fact that the majority of the U.S. population was born after 1945. Few remember the dangers and hardships of World War II; fewer still remember the Great Depression. Few Americans know what it's like to not have some sort of "supercenter" nearby with shelves stocked with every kind of food imaginable, twenty-four hours a day. Few know what life was like before there were restaurants of all sizes and types on virtually every street corner in America. And only a handful remembers when most roads were unpaved, or when sports were truly a pastime and not a megabuck obsession.

Modern living within the world's only "superpower" has created a giant unsuspecting, soft, lackadaisical, and lethargic society. We expect the government to keep our streets safe, our roads paved, our stores stocked, our jobs secure, and our enemies at bay. However, in the desire to make government the panacea for all our problems, we have sold not only our independence, but also our virtue.

Where the federal government was contracted (via the U.S. Constitution) to accept limited power for the overall good of both states and people, it has become a monster of gargantuan proportions, claiming authority over virtually every liberty and right known to man. And in the process, it decided it didn't need God, either.

It is no hyperbole to say that the U.S. federal government has been on a "Ban God" bandwagon for the past 50 years. Whether it kicks prayer and Bible reading out of school, bars military chaplains from praying in Jesus' name, burns Bibles in Iraq, removes state supreme court chief justices from their positions for posting the Ten Commandments, or threatens high school principals with jail for asking the blessing, the federal government has invoked the judgment of Heaven upon our country as surely as did Old Testament Israel.

Although the comfortable, sports-crazed, TV addicts probably aren't paying attention, this country is on the verge of an implosion like you cannot believe. For anyone who cares to notice, the signs are everywhere.

First of all, Israel and Iran are on the verge of war. And right now, I'm not concentrating on the "why" or "who's right or wrong" of the equation. I'm simply telling you, war between Israel and Iran could break out at any time. And when it does, the chances that it will not become nuclear and not become global are miniscule. Yes, I am saying it: the prospects for nuclear war have never been greater. The CBS-canceled TV show, JERICHO, could become a reality in these United States in the very near future. (I strongly urge readers to purchase both seasons of JERICHO and watch them, because this could be our future.)

Secondly, America is on the verge of total financial collapse. By the end of this year, America's budget deficit will stand at around $2 trillion. The debt gap is many trillions more than that. But the nail in the coffin for America's fiscal health will be the decision by China to dump the U.S.
dollar. Ladies and gentlemen, this will be the death knell for our financial stability (and a painful lesson in sowing and reaping).

It is estimated that China owns around one-third of all U.S. debt. If and when China dumps the U.S. dollar, there would be nothing left to stabilize it, and Weimar Republic/Zimbabwe-style inflation will ensue. America will be thrust into financial chaos. (If one doubts that China is planning to dump the dollar, consider that China is currently purchasing and stockpiling gold at an unprecedented level. This is why gold has suddenly surged to over $1,000 per ounce and why it will continue to rise.)

Third, the paranoia regarding the Swine Flu being demonstrated by both government and media spokesmen begs a giant push for some type of "government solution." If they keep hyping this "pandemic," mass hysteria and fear (created by the government and its lackeys in the media) will result. This would, no doubt, necessitate some form of forced vaccination, quarantine (maybe this is what all those internment camps will be used for), and martial law.

Exactly how and when all of the above will actually materialize is yet to be seen. There is no doubt in my mind, however, that within the next few months, the world that we know today is going to vanish. And most Americans are totally unprepared for what's coming.

If you are able to get out of debt, do it. If you need to scale down your lifestyle in order to be better prepared for difficult days, do it. If you don't have guns and ammo, buy them. If you have not prepared some sort of preserved food pantry, do it. If you don't have some kind of survival plan in place for you and your family, get one. If you are not physically fit, get in shape. If you are able to move to a more secure, out-of-harm's-way location, do it. (During any kind of financial or societal meltdown, urban areas will quickly turn into war zones. Can anyone say, "New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina"?) In other words, get your nose out of the boob tube, get your bottom off the easy chair, and get busy.

Am I worried or discouraged? Absolutely not! (But I am preparing.) The potential good that may result from all of the above is that perhaps God will protect and raise up a remnant of people who would be willing to rebuild a place where Natural Law is respected, constitutional government is revered, and where a ubiquitous, loathsome, overbearing federal government is far, far away. You know, like America's Founding Fathers did 233 years ago.

In the meantime, get ready. It's going to be a rocky road.

(c) Chuck Baldwin

Never forget.

2009-09-11T10:21:00.014-04:00

9.11.01

Always remember.

my sweet boys

2009-09-09T16:33:00.005-04:00

well, sweet in photo, anyway. ;) they are very energetic lil pups, but can be very sweet when they want to be. :) we had a mini photo session last week & these are my faves of them.

hunter, 16 wks

scout, 16 wks

funnyness

2009-09-02T15:26:00.006-04:00

so, this is a new favorite show for nate & me. we have borrowed seasons 1 & 2 on dvd from friends & are working on getting caught up while watching the current season (4) on friday nights. so far we've watched all of season 1 & are starting season 2 tonight. it's actually a really clean show, which is obviously great, & since i'm a rather sarcastic person (who knew?!), i love all the great one-liners from the hilarious detectives, shawn & gus! shawn is constantly referencing things from the 80s, too, so it's really fun to try to pick up on all of that. it's rare that nate & i actually find a show that we both really enjoy (aside from the real life stuff on discovery, tru tv, etc.), so we're having a lot of fun doing this together. i think the puppies are starting to get used to the random bursts of laughter when we watch this show. :)

This Moment

2009-08-31T10:46:00.007-04:00

Steven Curtis Chapman put out a new cd in 2007 called This Moment. I intended to buy it, but for some reason never got around to it. I recently found a special edition of it for only $5, so I bought it & I'm so glad I did. I love all the songs, but the words to these two really stand out to me & I want to share them. (My favorite parts are bold.)

You Are Being Loved

So you think love is only for the good enough
And one thing you’re never gonna be worthy of
But there’s a song being sung over you
By the One who breathes life into you

You are being loved
You are being loved
Right now at this very moment
You are being loved
You are being loved
Right now you are being loved, loved, loved
You are being loved, loved
You are

You ought to see the smile
you’re bringing to your Father’s face
You ought to hear Him sing His version of Amazing Grace
‘cause that’s the song being sung over you
By the God who breathes life into you

You are being loved
You are being loved
Right now at this very moment
You are being loved
You are being loved
Right now you are being loved, loved, loved
You are being loved, loved
You are

With every breath that you’re taking
And every beat of your heart
Even while this song is playing
Whatever you do
Wherever you are
There’s a song being sung over you

You are being loved
You are being loved
Right now at this very moment
You are being loved
You are being loved
Right now you are being loved, loved, loved
You are being loved, loved
You are

You are loved, loved, loved
You are being loved, loved,
You are
You are being, you are being, you are being loved
You are being, you are being, you are being loved right now

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Definition of Me

Here come those words again
I run for cover, I’m dodging them.
But still they seem to find their way
around my best defense
Here come those little thoughts
of all I ought to be but I’m not
I try talking to myself
but I’m still not convinced
I’m good, I’m bad, I’m everything in between oh
I’m this, I’m that, but really God we both know

It is Your love that defines me
and Your love that reminds me
it’s not what I do
This life I live, You have given
and in You I am hidden
This is what I know is true
that the definition of me is You

This ladder never ends
I climb up then we slide down again
Still they say you’ve not arrived
until you reach the top
But Your kingdom’s upside down
it is the servant who wears the crown
First is last and last is first
and You’re all that I’m not
‘Cause I’m weak, You’re strong, I’m empty ‘til You fill me
I sing this song to keep myself remembering

It is Your love that defines me
and Your love that reminds me
it’s not what I do
This life I live, You have given
and in You I am hidden
This is what I know is true
that the definition of me is You

I have been made by You
I have been saved by You
All that I am is all because of You
I’m weak, You’re strong, I’m empty but You fill me
I’m singing this song to keep myself remembering

It is Your love that defines
and Your love that reminds me
it’s not what I do
This life I live You have given
and in You, I am hidden
This is what I know is true
that the definition of me is You

(both written by SCC)

The Yellow Prison Bus and the Future of American Healthcare

2009-08-27T08:36:00.003-04:00

This is the last paragraph of a blog post by Pastor Voddie Baucham of TX. The entire post is very much worth reading, so just click on my blog post title to go to it.

If you want to know what type of government-run healthcare system Americans will be willing to settle for in the next generation, just walk outside tomorrow morning and watch the yellow prison busses take the next generation of Americans to the taxpayer-funded, government-run, indoctrination center to which they are assigned and ask yourself this question: Are they learning anything today that will give them an aversion to a government takeover of healthcare? Then ask yourself another question: If their parents do teach them to oppose socialism, read and follow the Constitution, cherish freedom of choice, shun government intervention and hold government accountable for ethical use of their tax dollars, how long will it be before they’re standing at the corner waiting on the yellow prison bus and think to themselves, “Hey, if mom and dad really believe these things... why am I standing here?”

VB

God's Ways: Ordinary and Miraculous

2009-08-24T15:11:00.005-04:00

I Kings 17: 2-7

God declared, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," (Isa. 55:8). And in fact, one of the biggest frustrations of the Christian life has to do with a lack of understanding about God's ways. There are times when we could really use a miracle, and yet He does not come through for us. Unmet expectations lead to confusion, disappointment, and even anger. Why did God let me down?

There are two schools of thought regarding the miraculous. Some people don't believe God works miracles at all, while others are convinced that if He's not doing the miraculous every day, then something is wrong with their faith. We need a balanced perspective, which we find in the Bible.

God works in both supernatural and ordinary ways, and He determines the method. Elijah ate food miraculously delivered by ravens, but his water supply from a brook was completely natural. When the water dried up, the Lord could have made more spring from the ground, but He didn't.

Sometimes God uses ordinary means to move us in a new direction. The curtailment of his water supply opened the door for Elijah's next "assignment." When the Lord withholds miraculous intervention and lets your brook dry up, He has something else planned for you.

Seeing the work of God in the miraculous is easy, but He's just as involved in the commonplace aspects of life as He is in any supernatural event. Look for His "fingerprint" in the day's mundane activities. He is there, opening and closing doors, drying up one opportunity but initiating another.

--In Touch Ministries

The way I feel lately......

2009-08-19T16:06:00.008-04:00

pretty sure there's no need for explanation here.

Happiness.

2009-08-17T12:38:00.009-04:00

Well, we did it. Just over a week ago, we brought home 2 new (absolutely precious) 12-wk old Beagle puppies. My husband's boss has 2 full-blood Beagles that he bred, & there was a litter of 5 pups. 3 went to their forever homes once they were old enough, & there were just 2 left. One of the 2 was bought by a couple in NC who already had a couple of dogs. They kept him less than 2 weeks, & brought him back, saying he wouldn't obey, wouldn't stop jumping on things, etc. (Who does that?! Who expects an 8 wk old puppy to know any better?! These things take time!! People like that infuriate me, BUT, for the pup's sake, I guess it's better that they didn't keep him.)

Anyway, back to the story. The last pup was bought by a man working for BMW. His fiancee was still in Germany with plans to move over here, or something like that. It was eventually decided that getting a puppy was not a good idea, so suddenly, there was another pup without a home. (By the way, both of these people paid in full for the pups, & did not get refunds when they changed their minds. This means that we only paid to reimburse the boss for what he had spent on vet visits & food. A very good deal for us.)

Even though he did NOT plan to get them, Nate told me about it, & I admit that I wouldn't let it go. I pestered him about it until he gave in. (That was not the right thing to do, I know! I am ashamed of myself. Really.) After some initial shock at suddenly having puppies in the house again, my sweet husband has (thankfully) adjusted, & gets as big a kick out of them as I do. :) Puppies are so much fun (despite the work)! We weren't crazy about their names & wanted to choose names ourselves, so we each picked one. I chose the name Scout, and Nate chose the name Hunter. Very fitting names for them, we think! It's been so much fun to learn their (very different) personalities, & I'm pretty sure they already think of us as their forever home.

Hunter got sick last week (it was incredibly pitiful!) & had to go to the vet...it was actually very scary for a little while, but thanks to a wonderful veterinarian, he got some meds & is now back to his usual sweet, playful self. Scout is sweet as well, but can be a little terror when he wants to be, so we're working on some things with him. It will take time, but once he grasps the fact that he is NOT the pack leader (WE are!), I think everything will be great. They already walk well on their leashes, which I'm excited about, because I really look forward to taking them on walks at nearby parks; & they do well in the car (I put them in the very back of my Xterra) after some occasional crying at being all the way back there while I'm way up front! As much work as they require, I'm SO glad we adopted them!

Here are some pics of our new babies. :)This is Scout. He's got more energy than he knows what to do with, but once he starts getting tired, he's the first one to want a lap to climb into. :)

This is Hunter. He's gentle & always ready for some good ear-scratching. :)
Happiness.

Oklahoma

2009-08-14T20:29:00.003-04:00

I received this in an email & thought it was interesting.

An update from Oklahoma:

Oklahoma law passed, 37 to 9, had a few liberals in the mix, an amendment to place the Ten Commandments on the front entrance to the state capitol.

The feds in D.C., along with the ACLU, said it would be a mistake.

Guess what........Oklahoma did it anyway.

Oklahoma recently passed a law in the state to incarcerate all illegal immigrants, and ship them back to where they came from unless they want to get a green card and become an American citizen. They all scattered. HB 1804. Hope we didn't send any of them to your state. This was against the advice of the Federal Government, and the ACLU, they said it would be a mistake.

Guess what.........Oklahoma did it anyway.

Recently we passed a law to include DNA samples from any and all illegal’s to the Oklahoma database, for criminal investigative purposes. Pelosi said it was unconstitutional. SB 1102

Guess what.......Oklahoma did it anyway.

Several weeks ago, we passed a law, declaring Oklahoma as a Sovereign state, not under the Federal Government directives. Joining Texas, Montana and Utah as the only states to do so. More states are likely to follow: Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, West Virginia, Mississippi, Florida. Save your confederate money, it appears the South is about to rise up once again. HJR 1003

Guess what ..........Oklahoma did it anyway.

The federal Government has made bold steps to take away our guns. Oklahoma, a week ago, passed a law confirming people in this state have the right to bear arms and transport them in their vehicles. I'm sure that was a setback for the criminals (and Obamaites). Liberals didn't like it.

Guess what........Oklahoma did it anyway.

By the way, Obama does not like any of this.

Guess what………Oklahoma is doing it anyway.

(Click on title to verify)

A Modern-Day Daniel

2009-08-04T11:27:00.008-04:00

By Chuck Baldwin
August 4, 2009

The Biblical story of Daniel in the lion's den is one of the more famous stories of the Old Testament. In the story, Daniel is commanded to not pray by a decree from King Darius.

Imagine that! Can you imagine any government forbidding its people to pray? What kind of totalitarian state would do such a thing? OK, perhaps Red China or North Korea, but that's about it, right?

Oh, did I mention that Daniel was a government employee? (I guess the ACLU has been around a lot longer than everyone thought.)

Well, friends, think again. The nation that is resurrecting the totalitarian policies of old King Darius is none other than the good old United States of America.

For example, in an adjoining county to my hometown in Florida, a federal district judge by the name of Casey Rodgers has instigated criminal charges against a high school principal by the name of Frank Lay and his athletic director, Robert Freeman. Their crime: praying. Their possible sentence: jail. Darius' prosecutors are federal attorneys Randy Hensel and Dixie Morrow.

According to court records, Lay is accused of asking Freeman to offer a blessing before a January 28 luncheon at Pace (Florida) High School for people who helped with the school's new fieldhouse.

And guess what? The documents in which the judge sought the criminal charges are sealed, meaning they are not open to public view. Why they are sealed, an unusual step, could not immediately be determined. (Source: Pensacola News Journal)

Egad! A school employee asked to offer a blessing at a luncheon! Jail is not enough: to the lion's den with him! Or maybe even the burning fiery furnace!

What's that, you say, about religious liberty, the First Amendment, state sovereignty, and the Tenth Amendment? Those things are but relics from the "old republic." They are but memories of a bygone era. This is a new day, a new Amerika.

In today's Amerika, federal dictates are tantamount to the Law of the Medes and Persians. Federal judges have the authority of Caesars. Federal courts rule over states and local communities, as did Britain's royal governors in the original 13 Colonies. Federal police agencies use force and intimidation not unlike Hitler's SS. In short, this monstrosity known as the federal government has become a ubiquitous, gargantuan, out-of-control leviathan that is eating up the liberties (not to mention the tax dollars) of the American people faster than Elizabeth Taylor went through husbands.

Of course, since the feds are now jailing people who pray, there are other candidates they must consider worthy of the lion's den: those antiquated preachers who still quote the Bible's condemnation of homosexuality should also be cast into their pit. And, surely, the feds will want to add people who yet read (and believe) the words of George Washington, Patrick Henry, and Thomas Jefferson to the list of condemned.

And what about all those deluded souls out there who still believe in the right of the people to keep and bear arms? The feds must surely believe that they belong in the furnaces. Then there are the misguided simpletons who believe that free markets are superior to socialized medicine. Maybe they are the ones who will inhabit all these empty prison compounds we see the feds putting up all over the country.

Well, why not? People who believe in the right to life; who believe illegal immigration must stop; who oppose the United Nations, the New World Order, and gun control; and who voted for Ron Paul or Chuck Baldwin have already made it to the feds' "potential terrorists" list. What's next? The lion's den?

Let's face it: the America our forefathers bequeathed to us is dead and dying! All that is left are vestiges of a once-proud and free republic. As the Scripture says, "Woe be unto them that call evil good, and good evil."

And there is another verse of Scripture that applies here: "For rulers are not a terror to good works."

But in Pace, Florida, a good man who is doing a good work (Frank Lay) is being terrorized by an oppressive federal government that is behaving as badly as did old King Darius. Therefore, from an historic, constitutional, and Biblical perspective, it is both an illegitimate and unlawful power.

Only when the various "free and independent states" begin reclaiming their sovereignty and standing up to this tyrannical federal leviathan in defense of their God-given liberties will the rights and freedoms of the American people begin to reemerge. Until then, Frank Lay faces jail for PRAYING.

Yes, America has a modern-day Daniel.

(c) Chuck Baldwin

(linked in title)

Sunday at home

2009-08-02T22:19:00.004-04:00

I started getting sick on Friday, so I went home at lunch time & spent the rest of the day on the couch. I felt tons better on Saturday, but still took it easy, until about 5:30 when we went over to some friends' house for supper, a movie & some Wii games. I still felt ok the whole time. I woke up this morning feeling sick again & my stomach soon showed me that I would not be going to church. Nathan gets headaches pretty frequently, including migraines now & then, & he'd had one since Thursday evening. The bright lights at church make the headaches worse, so he didn't much feel like going this morning either. But, he's opening the class in Sunday school this month, so he needed to be there regardless. So he went without me & I stayed here reading a little more of "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper. Nathan came back home after SS & we watched Dr. Charles Stanley. We have spent the rest of the day taking it easy, reading (me) & surfing the web (him). A couple of hours ago, I was getting very antsy, since I hadn't left the house all day, & I was starting to get a little irritable about the whole situation (being sick & stuck inside all day). Then I realized that, even though neither of us felt well, we still got to spend the whole day together, uninterrupted by anyone or anything else. Now that I am looking at it from that perspective, I'm suddenly very sorry to see the day coming to a close! I'm so thankful for my husband!

Better Believer

2009-07-30T16:00:00.004-04:00

Life is seen more clearly through our tears
Cause we all find some faith
When we face our fears
When my life's goin like I want
God becomes an after thought
And I start trying to build my Heaven here

A Better Believer would look to the skies
And shout "hallelujah" with tears in his eyes
Open his heart and start givin it all away
When I take a hard look at myself
And count my blessings I can't but help
But wonder if there's been some kind of mistake
This life of mine should belong to a better believer

All we really need in life is love
And in my time I've had more than enough
But some days I'm not satisfied
It happens to me everytime
I look around instead of looking up

A Better Believer would look to the skies
And shout "hallelujah" with tears in his eyes
Open his heart and start givin it all away
When I take a hard look at myself
And count my blessings I can't but help
But wonder if there's been some kind of mistake
This life of mine should belong to a better believer

With all I've got to be thankful for
I should be doing so much more
I know

A Better Believer would look to the skies
And shout "hallelujah" with tears in his eyes
Open his heart and start givin it all away
When I take a hard look at myself
And count my blessings I can't but help
But wonder if there's been some kind of mistake
This life of mine should belong to a better believer

written by Dierks Bentley and Rivers Rutherford

The Land Mine of Insecurity

2009-07-27T21:36:00.007-04:00

Romans 8:33-39

If someone were to ask, "Do you feel good about yourself?" what would you say? Would your thoughts be filled with all sorts of self-doubt and second-guessing, or would you be able to stand tall and say, "Yes, I do feel good about myself"?

Many people, including believers, cannot say that. They have become so crippled with insecurity that they've surrendered practically every ounce of usefulness in the kingdom of God. This is one of the deadliest dangers in the Christian life, and it can creep into our hearts and minds without our knowing--until it's too late.

You see, there are many landmines that explode dramatically, such as sexual sin, unforgiveness, and fear. But insecurity is different. It's more like a slow-burning flame sitting just beneath the surface, affecting everything about your life and subtly destroying you from the inside. This issue may be harder to identify, but it's as dangerous a landmine as any other we could discuss.

What do we mean by "insecurity"? It's a feeling of inadequacy, compounded by a sense of complete helplessness, purposelessness, disapproval, or rejection. All of these things can add up and weigh us down terribly if we do not learn how to identify insecurity and then filter it out of our lives.

Spend time today in earnest prayer and honest self-discovery. Ask the heavenly Father to shine His light on any area of insecurity that may be lurking in your heart. Then, request that He remind you in a powerful, glorious way just how special you are in His eyes.

--In Touch Ministries

Michael Jackson: The REAL Cause of Death

2009-07-24T07:06:00.007-04:00

This is a video of Ray Comfort (Way of the Master) talking with people about death, & eternal life. Please take the time to watch...it's worth it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOxSAnnoI3E

How to Do the Job You Don't Really Want to Do

2009-07-09T19:38:00.003-04:00

"Certain aspects of the job the Lord has given me to do are very easy to postpone. I make excuses, find other things that take precedence, and, when I finally get down to business to do it, it is not always with much grace. A new perspective has helped me recently:

This job has been given to me to do.
Therefore it is a gift.
Therefore it is a privilege.
Therefore it is an offering I may make to God.
Therefore it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him.
Therefore it is the route to sanctity.

Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God's way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness. The discipline of this job is, in fact, the chisel God has chosen to shape me with--into the image of Christ.

Thank you, Lord, for the work You have assigned me. I take it as your gift; I offer it back to you. With your help I will do it gladly, faithfully, and I will trust You to make me holy."

Elisabeth Elliott

Happy Freedom Day

2009-07-04T10:17:00.004-04:00

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms:

Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

— John Hancock

New Hampshire:Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton/Massachusetts:John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry /Rhode Island:Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery/Connecticut:Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott/New York:William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris/New Jersey:Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark/Pennsylvania:Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross/Delaware:Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean/Maryland:Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton/Virginia:George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton/North Carolina:William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn/South Carolina:Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton/Georgia:Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton/

Words & Actions

2009-06-21T16:46:00.003-04:00

Our youth pastor preached at our church this morning, & something he said has stayed with me all day. It's something I've heard plenty of times throughout my life, but for some reason, today it really stuck. I don't have an exact quote, but he was talking about how we need to be careful of what we're teaching our kids (& anyone else around us) through our actions. He was talking about how we may say all the right things to our kids, but if we're not living what we say, which message do we think is really getting through to them? My actions speak a lot louder than my words. Even though we don't have children of our own yet, I do want to be a good example to those around me, both kids & peers alike. I'm guilty of not putting a lot of thought into how my actions look to others, assuming that if I say the right words, that's all that matters. And that's so far from the truth. In fact, it's so ridiculous, I don't even like to admit it. I've been a Christian for 26 of my 31 years. I've been in church all of my life. So I know better. Yet I'm still guilty of that line of thinking. Or rather, a lack of thinking. Actually thinking about things like that means my conscience is pricked, & come on, who enjoys that? Well, today, my conscience was pricked, & I'm glad. I don't want to be someone who says the right thing but doesn't live it. I want people to see that my words & my actions are the same, & I want those words & actions to speak only of Christ.

2009-06-17T16:58:00.008-04:00

A letter sent to Glenn Beck that he read on-air on his radio show.

I'm a home grown American citizen, 53, registered Democrat all my life. Before the last presidential election I registered as a Republican because I no longer felt the Democratic Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. Now I no longer feel the Republican Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. The fact is I no longer feel any political party or representative in Washington represents my views or works to pursue the issues important to me. There must be someone. Please tell me who you are. Please stand up and tell me that you are there and that you're willing to fight for our Constitution as it was written. Please stand up now. You might ask yourself what my views and issues are that I would horribly feel so disenfranchised by both major political parties. What kind of nut job am I? Will you please tell me?

Well, these are briefly my views and issues for which I seek representation:

One, illegal immigration. I want you to stop coddling illegal immigrants and secure our borders. Close the underground tunnels. Stop the violence and the trafficking in drugs and people. No amnesty, not again. Been there, done that, no resolution. P.S., I'm not a racist. This isn't to be confused with legal immigration.

Two, the TARP bill, I want it repealed and I want no further funding supplied to it. We told you no, but you did it anyway. I want the remaining unfunded 95% repealed. Freeze, repeal.

Three: Czars, I want the circumvention of our checks and balances stopped immediately. Fire the czars. No more czars. Government officials answer to the process, not to the president. Stop trampling on our Constitution and honor it.

Four, cap and trade. The debate on global warming is not over. There is more to say.

Five, universal healthcare. I will not be rushed into another expensive decision. Don't you dare try to pass this in the middle of the night and then go on break. Slow down!

Six, growing government control. I want states rights and sovereignty fully restored. I want less government in my life, not more. Shrink it down. Mind your own business. You have enough to take care of with your real obligations. Why don't you start there.

Read the rest of the letter here.

Trusting, Day by Day

2009-06-16T13:41:00.009-04:00

Today I went to the memorial service for a 5 week old baby boy who died suddenly on Thursday. It was the first (and, Lord willing, only) service for a baby I've ever had to go to. It was absolutely heart-wrenching to walk into the lobby of my church and see the baby's mom, dad and family crying. The song we sang at the opening of the service was the wonderful old hymn, "Day by Day".

Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find, to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best—
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day, the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He Whose Name is Counselor and Power;
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then in every tribulation
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
Ever to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.

I couldn't even get through the opening song without crying, because all I could think was that here were two parents who just lost their precious son, yet they are showing such evidence of God's grace even in the song they chose for the baby's memorial service. What a powerful reminder, under any circumstances: we have a loving and almighty Father who wants us to turn to Him for strength & shelter. He will give us the strength we need to make it through even the biggest trials.

I went into the service with a feeling of dread, as I always do, but after the beautiful music and message from the Word of God, I walked out rejoicing with the reminder that God makes no mistakes.

Once again, I am so thankful for HOPE.

Be Slow to Anger

2009-06-05T09:39:00.007-04:00

"Let everyone be . . . slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God" (James 1:19-20).

Have you ever started reading your Bible, thinking everything was fine between you and the Lord, only to have the Word suddenly cut deep into your soul to expose some sin you had neglected or tried to hide? That commonly happens because God seeks to purge sin in His children. The Holy Spirit uses the Word to penetrate the hidden recesses of the heart to do His convicting and purifying work. How you respond to that process is an indicator of the genuineness of your faith.

"Anger" in James 1:19-20 refers to a negative response to that process. It is a deep internal resentment accompanied by an attitude of rejection. Sometimes that resentment can be subtle. Paul described those who "will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires" (2 Tim. 4:3). They're the people who drift from church to church in search of someone who will tell them what they want to hear--or a congregation that wants a pastor who will make them feel good about themselves instead of preaching the Word and setting a high standard of holiness.

Sometimes resentment toward the Word ceases to be subtle and turns to open hostility. That happened when the crowd Stephen confronted covered their ears, drove him out of the city, and stoned him to death (Acts 7:57-60). Countless others throughout history have felt the fatal blows of those whose resentment of God's truth turned to hatred for His people.

Receiving the Word includes being quick to hear what it says and slow to anger when it disagrees with your opinions or confronts your sin. Is that your attitude? Do you welcome its reproof and heed its warnings, or do you secretly resent it? When a Christian brother or sister confronts a sin in your life, do you accept or reject their counsel?

Drawing Near
by John MacArthur
© 1993

Thy Way, Not Mine, O Lord

2009-05-26T21:45:00.008-04:00

Thy way, not mine, O Lord,
however dark it be;
lead me by thine own hand,
choose out the path for me.

Smooth let it be or rough,
it will be still the best;
winding or straight, it leads
right onward to thy rest.

I dare not choose my lot;
I would not, if I might;
choose thou for me, my God,
so I shall walk aright.

The kingdom that I seek
is thine; so let the way
that leads to it be thine,
else I must surely stray.

Take thou my cup, and it
with joy or sorrow fill,
as best to thee may seem;
choose thou my good and ill.

Choose thou for me my friends,
my sickness or my health;
choose thou my cares for me
my poverty or wealth.

Not mine, not mine the choice
in things or great or small;
be thou my Guide, my Strength
my wisdom and my all.

Horatius Bonar, 1857

Rejoicing in Suffering

2009-05-19T09:31:00.007-04:00

“But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation.”
- 1 Peter 4:13

We should rejoice in trials and persecutions, not for their own sake, but for the benefits that result.

The late D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, in his classic book Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, made the following careful distinction on what it means to rejoice in persecution: “The Christian is, in a sense, one who must feel his heart breaking at the effect of sin in others that makes them do this [persecute believers]. So he never rejoices in the fact of persecution as such.” We can draw from this, then, that 1 Peter 4:13 and other verses (notably Matt. 5:11-12), while they encourage the positive attitude of rejoicing in trials, do not mean we should have a masochistic or elitist view of suffering. The joy we are to have should go beyond the pain and heartache of the suffering itself and focus on the ramifications of what God is doing in our life.

Peter begins our verse by asserting that one of those ramifications is enjoying the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings. That means we can share, for His sake, in the same kind of suffering and rejection He endured. We should be ready for such persecution whenever we share the gospel or generally identify with Him. The apostles learned this lesson soon after Jesus departed— “rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41). We will increasingly embrace such suffering as a privilege if we heed Peter’s exhortation.

The apostle goes on to give us more motivation for rejoicing. “The revelation of His glory” is a reference to Jesus’ second coming, which in itself ought to bring tremendous joy to all believers. If we have faithfully endured all the persecutions, sufferings, trials, and problems of this life, when our Lord returns we will have genuine reason to rejoice all the more. And it will be with an intense and joyous outburst that exceeds any we’ve had before (see Luke 6:22-23).

Strength for Today
by John MacArthur
© 1997

Day is at Hand

2009-05-13T09:37:00.002-04:00

And I will give him the morning star.
Revelation 2:28

Until the day break and the shadows flee away, what a blessing it is to see in Jesus "the morning star"! I remember when we read in the newspapers the idle tale that the star of Bethlehem had again appeared. On inquiry we found that it was only "the morning star"; but no great mistake had been made after all.

It is best to see Jesus as the sun; but when we cannot do so, the next best thing is to see Him as that star which prophesies the day and shows that the eternal light is near at hand. If I am not today all that I hope to be, yet I see Jesus, and that assures me that I shall one day be like Him. A sight of Jesus by faith is the pledge of beholding Him in His glory and being transformed into His image. If I have not at this hour all the light and joy I could desire, yet I shall have it; for as surely as I see the morning star I shall see the day. The morning star is never far from the sun.

Come, my soul, has the Lord given thee the morning star? Dost thou hold fast that truth, grace, hope, and love which the Lord has given thee? Then in this thou hast the dawn of coming glory. He that makes thee overcome evil, and persevere in righteousness, has therein given thee the morning star.

C. H. Spurgeon
Faith's Check Book

Back Door Gun Control?

2009-04-24T14:09:00.005-04:00

by Chuck Baldwin
April 24, 2009

On his recent trip to Central America, President Barack Obama did more than cozy up to Marxist dictators; he also signed onto an international treaty that could, in effect, be used as backdoor gun control. It appears that Obama wants to use international treaties to do what congressional legislation is not able to do: further restrict the right of the American people to keep and bear arms.

Obama is using the oft-disproved contention that "90% of the guns recovered in Mexico come from the United States" as the stated basis of his support for the international treaty he is promoting. The treaty is formally known as the Inter-American Convention Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Materials (CIFTA) treaty. The Bill Clinton administration signed the treaty back in 1997, but the U.S. Senate has never ratified the treaty. Obama intends to change that.

To date, 33 nations in the western hemisphere have signed the treaty. The U.S. is one of four nations that have yet to ratify it. According to one senior Obama administration official, passing the treaty is a "high priority" for the President.

If ratified, the treaty would require the United States to adopt "strict licensing requirements, mark firearms when they are made and imported to make them easier to trace, and establish a process for sharing information between national law enforcement agencies investigating [gun] smuggling."

Senator John Kerry, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee promises to "work for its [the CIFTA treaty's] approval by the Senate."

Should the Senate ratify CIFTA, Americans who reload ammunition would be required to get a license from the government, and factory guns and ammunition would be priced almost out of existence due to governmental requirements to "mark" each one manufactured. Even the simple act of adding an after-market piece of equipment to a firearm, such as a scope or bipod, or reassembling a gun after cleaning it could fall into the category of "illicit manufacturing" of firearms and require government license and oversight.

In addition, CIFTA would authorize the U.S. federal government (and open the door to international entities) to supervise and regulate virtually the entire American firearms industry. Making matters worse is the fact that, as a treaty, this Act does not have to be passed by both houses of Congress, nor is it subject to judicial oversight. All Obama needs to do in order to enact this unconstitutional and egregious form of gun control is convince a Democratic-controlled Senate to pass it.

Obviously, the United Nations, from its very inception, has been one of the world's most ardent gun control proponents. As anyone who has ever driven by the U.N. building in New York City knows, a huge statue of an American-made revolver with its barrel twisted in the shape of a pretzel greets every visitor. The CIFTA treaty is one of the U.N.'s pet projects in order to achieve this long-held ambition.

Of course, Obama is a longtime liberal radical when it comes to the Second Amendment. As a senator, he voted against the Second Amendment at every opportunity. He has never seen a piece of gun control legislation that he did not support. And as I have said before in this column, gun control is high on the list of priorities for the newly elected President Barack Obama.

For Obama to intimate that 90% of the firearms used by Mexican drug cartels come from the United States reveals either a truly dishonest and deceptive mind or a totally misinformed and naïve one. Many studies have thoroughly debunked the 90% myth, including one by William La Jeunesse and Maxim Lott in a recent Fox News report. According to these researchers, the real number is closer to 17%.

According to La Jeunesse and Lott, Mexican drug cartels, which control billions of dollars, obtain the overwhelming majority of their guns from the Black Market, Russian crime syndicates, South America, China, Guatemala, and even from the Mexican army.

In fact, Mexico is a virtual arms bazaar: AK-47s from China; fragmentation grenades from South Korea; shoulder-fired rocket launchers from Spain, Israel and former Soviet bloc dealers; assault weapons from China; and explosives from Korea--just to name a few sources.

In addition, according to Mexican Congressman Robert Badillo, more than 150,000 Mexican soldiers have deserted in just the last six years. The vast majority of them took their weapons with them, including the standard issue M-16 assault rifle made in Belgium.

And please do not forget that corruption within the Mexican government is rampant. Many news sources have covered stories of how drug cartels bribe Mexican officials. An article in the New York Times last year reported, "One of Mexico's most notorious drug cartels made huge cash payments to officials in the Mexican attorney general's office in exchange for confidential information on anti-drug operations . . . the cartel might have had an informant inside the American embassy."

The Mexican drug cartels control a multi-billion dollar enterprise that has more than enough resources to obtain planeloads of weapons from all over the world. For Obama to assert that 90% of the Mexican drug cartels' firearms come from the United States is a bald-faced lie! Again, either Obama is stupid and naïve or he is deliberately lying to the American people in order to "sell" the CIFTA treaty to the U.S. Senate. I think we all know that Mr. Obama is anything but stupid and naïve.

Read more about the CIFTA treaty at

http://gunowners.org/a042109.htm

In addition to the CIFTA treaty, liberal Chicago Democrat Congressman Bobby Rush has introduced H.R. 45 in the House of Representatives. This bill is anything but subtle. It is an in-your-face gun control bill that would make "Mr. Gun Control," the late Senator Howard Metzenbaum, shout Hallelujah.

H.R. 45 would require a federal license for all handguns and semiautomatics, including the ones you already possess. It would require handgun and semi-auto owners to be thumbprinted at a police station and sign a certificate that the gun will not be kept in a place where it could be used for the defense of the gun owner's family.

Read more about H.R. 45 at

http://gunowners.org/hr45ana.htm

In all likelihood, H.R. 45 is probably a long shot at passing both houses of Congress, albeit gun owners should never take any proposed gun control bill for granted. The CIFTA treaty, however, is much more dangerous due to its subtlety and subterfuge, the less cumbersome process of passage, and the fact that it makes U.S. gun owners subject to international gun control laws.

All in all, freedom in America is on the Obama White House chopping block. And this much is certain: if the American people do not retain the right to keep and bear arms, every other freedom we hold dear will quickly disappear as well. Moreover, if we do retain the right to keep and bear arms, it will only be because enough of us--and our state and federal legislators--resist the tyrannical gun control machinations of Barack Obama. And that means defeating the CIFTA treaty and H.R. 45.

(c) Chuck Baldwin

This column is archived at
http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2009/cbarchive_20090424.html

Love Never Fails

2009-04-21T17:58:00.006-04:00

Love is not proud
Love does not boast
Love after all
Matters the most

Love does not run
Love does not hide
Love does not keep
Locked inside

Love is the river that flows through
Love never fails you

Love will sustain
Love will provide
Love will not cease
At the end of time

Love will protect
Love always hopes
Love still believes
When you don’t

Love is the arms that are holding you
Love never fails you

When my heart won’t make a sound
When I can’t turn back around
When the sky is falling down
Nothing is greater than this
Greater than this

Love is right here
Love is alive
Love is the way
The truth the life

Love is the river than flows through
Love is the arms that are holding you
Love is the place you will fly to
Love never fails you

Brandon Heath

TEA Parties

2009-04-16T16:42:00.004-04:00

Mr. President, Don't Mess With Texas

2009-04-15T09:53:00.005-04:00

by Ted Nugent
03/18/2009

You may have noticed I am a big fan of rugged individualism, self-reliance, individual freedoms, liberty, self-determination and defiance -- heavy on the defiance.

These are all uniquely American characteristics that are hard-wired into our genes thanks to our amazing, defiant forefathers. You must never forget that our forefathers courageously sailed across an unknown ocean, to an unknown land to establish a country free of tyranny, kings and emperors. They risked their lives, fortunes and families to create America, a radical experiment in self government.

In gaining our freedom, they wrote our Constitution that limited the power and authorities of the federal government. They were smart enough even back then to know that absolute power corrupts absolutely, and that unless government is fenced it, it’ll roam all over individual liberty.

When writing the Bill of Rights they wrote the Tenth Amendment. Now I am no lawyer or windbag law maker, but I find the words of the Tenth Amendment easy to understand: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved for the States respectively, or simply put, by We the People.

You need not be a constitutional scholar to know the Tenth Amendment was clearly written to limit the abusive growth of power by the federal government. As Thomas Jefferson stated, "The States should be left to do whatever they can do as well as the federal government." The current gang of political punks, scoundrels and crooks in Washington DC are not worthy to stand in the shadow of the statue of Thomas Jefferson at the Jefferson Memorial in DC.

In an attempt to weaken the roles and responsibilities of the states, Fedzilla has worked tirelessly over the years to destroy the Tenth Amendment by arguing the Commerce Clause of the Constitution is more important and relevant than the Tenth Amendment. As we have witnessed, Fedzilla has grown exponentially and has become a repressive force in every facet of our lives.

But there is hope for freedom, liberty and the rights of states to determine their own destinies. Even though it is on life support, there is a faint heart beat left in the Tenth Amendment. And the Great Republic of Texas, under the leadership of the good Governor Rick Perry, is joining the sixteen other states that have already made their defiant, sovereign statement of autonomy in the right way.

These states have now evoked the Tenth Amendment and declared their sovereignty to put the brakes on Emperor Obama's mob-like fiscal mandates in a dangerous attempt to strangle the liberty out of states by forcing states to accept the so-called stimulus money and thereby become slaves to Fedzilla control.

A very fundamental grasp of economics is all that is required to know that in times of economic slow downs the very last thing that should be done is to increase government spending and to raise taxes on the producers, which is the exact course Emperor Obama has taken--and it is killing the economy, eliminating jobs, and will dramatically slow down our economic recovery.

Atlas is shrugging even more under the weight of the largest federal spending orgy in modern times. This immoral spending spree has wiped out 30 percent of the stock market since Emperor Obama's inauguration. With this unprecedented gluttony, Emperor Obama is bankrupting the future of our children and grandchildren. Nice change, Emperor. By the way, you have no clothes and it hurts to look at you.

Perry is doing the right thing, for of all the states, Texas must never allow itself to become a slave to Washington, D.C. Instead, we must chart our own economic destiny and recovery by refusing the stimulus money, freezing state spending, cutting state taxes across the board, and offering tax incentives to existing and new businesses.

Additionally, I urge Perry to immediately call a conference of Texas business leaders and request they develop a Texas Economic Roadmap for Recovery. Let Texas lead the way.

Like a flooded river that has left its banks, Fedzilla has trampled on the Constitution by ignoring the Tenth Amendment. Texas is reminding Fedzilla that our founding fathers wrote the Tenth Amendment for the very ugly reasons we are witnessing today. Emperor Obama's economic tyranny must be stopped. We must tell Emperor Obama to not mess with Texas. Don't tread on me or any of us.

In the spirit of the brave defenders who gave birth to Texas by giving their lives at the Alamo, I say, "Remember the Tenth Amendment!"

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=31104

He is Risen

2009-04-07T13:31:00.002-04:00

By Chuck Baldwin
April 7, 2009

As we approach Resurrection Sunday, it behooves us to remind ourselves (Christians should need no reminder) of the significance of this season.

Along with the virgin birth, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ form the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Indeed, the resurrection of Jesus separates Christianity from all the world's religions.

Furthermore, the overwhelming number of America's founders understood the connection between the Christian faith and the rise of these United States. John Quincy Adams said, "The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected, in one indissoluble bond, the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity."

Adams also said, "From the day of the Declaration . . . They [the American people] were bound by the laws of God, which they all, and by the laws of the Gospel, which they nearly all, acknowledged as the rules of their conduct."

Then, on July 4, 1837, Adams said these words, "Why is it that, next to the birthday of the Savior of the World, your most joyous and most venerated festival returns on this day? . . . Is it not that, in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? That it forms a leading event in the progress of the gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer's mission upon earth? That it laid the corner stone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity, and gave to the world the first irrevocable pledge of the fulfillment of the prophecies, announced directly from Heaven at the birth of the Savior and predicted by the greatest of the Hebrew prophets six hundred years before?"

Daniel Webster also acknowledged the relationship between our founders' Christian faith and America's creation. He said, "Finally, let us not forget the religious character of our origin. Our fathers were brought hither by their high veneration for the Christian religion. They journeyed by its light, and labored in its hope. They sought to incorporate its principles with the elements of their society, and to diffuse its influence through all their institutions, civil, political, or literary."

Noah Webster, the man who is called the Father of American Education, said, "Education is useless without the Bible." He also said, "The Bible was America's basic textbook in all fields."

Noah Webster went on to say, "In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government, ought to be instructed. . . . No truth is more evident to my mind, than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people."

One more quotation from Noah Webster is necessary at this point. He said, "The religion which has introduced civil liberty, is the religion of Christ and his apostles, which enjoins humility, piety, and benevolence; which acknowledges in every person a brother, or a sister, and a citizen with equal rights. This is genuine Christianity, and to this we owe our free constitutions of government."

These sentiments were the sentiments of America from the inception of our great country. Remember, the voyagers of the Mayflower made a covenant between themselves and Almighty God. It is called the Mayflower Compact, and in it they said the reason they had made the voyage and determined to plant a colony in the new world was "for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith."

It was only in the last half of the 20th Century that America began trying to distance itself from its Christian heritage. Yet today, educators, entertainers, chief executives, and politicians are in the process of supplanting our Christian heritage with the pseudo-religions of secularism, multiculturalism, and universalism.

What many people do not understand is that when America abandons its dependence upon the God of the Bible, it will--at the same time--surrender the very foundation of our liberty and independence. As Thomas Jefferson said, "And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath?"
Patrick Henry agreed with Jefferson. He said, "It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains."

As we celebrate the vicarious death and victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ, let us remember the importance of preserving liberty within these United States of America. And this commitment involves much more than attending church once a week or repeating an occasional catechism. It means we must seek to incorporate the principles of liberty and independence into the very fabric of our lives and work. It means we will offer eternal vigilance to the fundamental principles upon which America was built.

Liberty has no guarantees or assurances. Each generation must work to preserve, protect, and defend the principles of constitutional government, or else liberty will be lost.
The angel spoke of Christ, declaring, "He is risen." And so He is. And because Christ lives, liberty and freedom may also live. Why? Because "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

HAPPY EASTER!

This column is archived at
http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2009/cbarchive_20090407.html

(c) Chuck Baldwin

Remembering the Alamo

2009-03-12T13:44:00.001-04:00

By Chuck Baldwin
March 10, 2009

March 6 marks the anniversary of the fall of the Alamo back in 1836. For more than 13 days, 186 brave and determined patriots withstood Santa Anna's seasoned army of over 4,000 troops. To a man, the defenders of that mission fort knew they would never leave those ramparts alive. They had several opportunities to leave and live. Yet, they chose to fight and die. How foolish they must look to this generation of spoiled Americans.

It is difficult to recall that stouthearted men such as Davy Crockett (a nationally known frontiersman and former Congressman), Will Travis (only 23 years old with a little baby at home), and Jim Bowie (a wealthy landowner with properties on both sides of the Rio Grande) really existed. These were real men with real dreams and real desires. Real blood flowed through their veins. They loved their families and enjoyed life as much as any of us.
There was something different about them, however. They possessed a commitment to liberty that transcended personal safety and comfort.

Liberty is an easy word to say, but it is a hard word to live up to. Freedom has little to do with financial gain or personal pleasure. Accompanying Freedom is her constant and unattractive companion, Responsibility. Neither is she an only child. Patriotism and Morality are her sisters. They are inseparable; destroy one and all will die.

Early in the siege, Travis wrote these words to the people of Texas: "Fellow Citizens & Compatriots: I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna. . . . The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise the garrison are to be put to the sword . . . I have answered the demand with a cannon shot & our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat. . . . VICTORY OR DEATH! P.S. The Lord is on our side. . . ."

As you read those words, remember that Travis and the others did not have the A.C.L.U., P.E.T.A., People for the un-American Way, and the National Education Association telling them how intolerant and narrow-minded their notions of honor and patriotism were. A hostile media did not constantly castigate them as a bunch of wild-eyed extremists. As school children, they were not taught that their forefathers were nothing more than racist jerks.

The brave men at the Alamo labored under the belief that America (and Texas) really was "the land of the free and the home of the brave." They believed God was on their side and that the freedom of future generations depended on their courage and resolve. They further believed their posterity would remember their sacrifice as an act of love and devotion. It all looks pale now.

By today's standards, the gallant men of the Alamo appear rather foolish.
After all, they had no chance of winning--none. However, the call for pragmatism and practicality was never sounded. Instead, they answered the clarion call, "Victory or death!"

Please try to remember the heroes of the Alamo as you watch our gutless political and religious leaders surrender to compromise and political correctness. Try to recall the time in this country when ordinary men and women had the courage of their convictions and were willing to sacrifice their lives for freedom and independence.

One thing is certain: those courageous champions at the Alamo did not die for a political party or for some "lesser of two evils" mantra. They fought and died for a principle, and that principle was liberty and independence.
So did the men at Lexington and Concord. That is our heritage.

Today, however, our national leaders are in the process of turning America over to the very forces that the Alamo defenders gave their lives resisting.
On second thought, do they look foolish, or do we?

Beyond that, how much longer do we have before it will become necessary for freedom-loving States such as Texas (and maybe Oklahoma, Montana, Wyoming, New Hampshire, Vermont or South Carolina) to declare their independence one more time? An argument could be made that Washington, D.C., is considerably more brutish and tyrannical than old Santa Anna ever was. I'm not so sure that it isn't already time to again hoist the "Don't Tread On Me" flags, shout "Remember The Alamo," and renew the faith and courage of William Travis and Patrick Henry.

(c) Chuck Baldwin

A simple...

2009-03-06T16:17:00.003-05:00

yet powerful reminder.

EXODUS 12:13
When I see the blood, I will pass over you.

The blood on the doorpost reminds us....that it wasn't Moses who set the Hebrews free. It was God. The blood on the doorpost reminds us of blood smeared on another post.
Blood of another lamb.
The Lamb of God.
Because of his blood, we, too, are free.

--Max Lucado
Everyday Blessings

Communication with God

2009-03-01T14:38:00.002-05:00

"Pray at all times in the Spirit"
(Eph. 6:18).

Prayer is communication with God, and like all communication, it can be developed to maximum efficiency or allowed to languish. Which you choose will determine the quality of your spiritual life.

Ironically, the freedom of worship we enjoy in our society and our high standard of living make it easy to become complacent about prayer and presume on God's grace. Consequently, many who say they trust in God actually live as if they don't need Him at all. Such neglect is sinful and leads to spiritual disaster.

Jesus taught that "men ought always to pray, and not to faint" (Luke 18:1, KJV). "Faint" speaks of giving in to evil or becoming weary or cowardly. Paul added that we should pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and petition, and "be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints" (Eph. 6:18).

First Thessalonians 5:17 says, "Pray without ceasing." That doesn't mean to do nothing but pray. It simply means living in a constant state of God-consciousness. If you see a beautiful sunrise or a bouquet of flowers, your first response is to thank God for the beauty of His creation. If you see someone in distress, you intercede on his or her behalf. You see every experience of life in relation to God.

God wants you to be diligent and faithful in prayer. With that goal in mind we will devote this month to a study of prayer from two texts: Daniel's prayer in Daniel 9:1-19, and the disciples' prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. Both are models of majestic, effective prayer.

As we study those passages together, be aware of your own pattern of prayer. Examine it carefully for strengths and weaknesses. Be prepared to make any necessary changes.

From Drawing Near
by John MacArthur
Copyright © 1993.

Walk Worthy

2009-02-25T11:14:00.001-05:00

"So that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects"
(Col. 1:10).

In Colossians 1:9 Paul speaks of being controlled by the knowledge of God's will. In verse 10 he speaks of walking in a manner worthy of the Lord. There is a direct cause-and-effect relationship between those verses. When you are controlled by the knowledge of God's will, you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.

The Greek word translated "walk" means "to order one's behavior." It's a common New Testament metaphor for one's lifestyle. Paul made a similar plea to the Thessalonians: "Walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory" (1 Thess. 2:12).

The thought of being worthy of the Lord might raise some eyebrows because we usually relate worthiness to merit or something deserved. But that isn't Paul's point at all. The Greek word translated "worthy" in Colossians 1:10 speaks of something that weighs as much or carries the same value as something else. He isn't saying we deserve Christ, but that our conduct should be consistent with His.

That is Peter's point in 1 Peter 2:21: "You have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps." John said, "The one who says he abides in [Christ] ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked" (1 John 2:6). He added in 2 John 6, "Walk according to His commandments." That's how you demonstrate your love for Christ (John 14:15) and please Him in every respect.

As a word of encouragement, a worthy walk is not a walk of sinless perfection. That won't happen until you are fully glorified. But each day you are growing in godliness as a result of the Spirit's transforming work in you (2 Cor. 3:18). Be faithful to that process. Set your affections on Christ, look to His Word, and rejoice in the privilege of becoming more like Him today.

From Drawing Near
by John MacArthur
Copyright © 1993

Prayer

2009-02-24T09:41:00.000-05:00

"We have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding" (Col. 1:9).

Paul's prayer for the Philippians (Phil. 1:9-11) is closely paralleled by his prayer for the Colossians (Col. 1:9-12). Both epistles were written from the same Roman prison at about the same time in Paul's life. Both prayers focus on godly living, but each approaches it from a slightly different perspective.

The Philippians were gracious people who needed to exercise greater knowledge and discernment in their love. The Colossians also were gracious but their devotion to Christ was being challenged by heretics who taught that Christ is insufficient for salvation and godly living. True spirituality, the false teachers said, is found in Christ plus human philosophy, religious legalism, mysticism, or asceticism. Paul encouraged the Colossian believers and refuted the false teachers by showing the utter sufficiency of Christ.

At the outset of his prayer Paul stressed the importance of being controlled by the knowledge of God's will (which is revealed in His Word). That's the meaning of the Greek word translated "filled" in verse 9. "Knowledge" translates a word that speaks of a deep, penetrating knowledge that results in behavioral change. "Spiritual wisdom and understanding" refers to knowledge that cannot be known through human reasoning or philosophy. It is imparted by the Holy Spirit Himself.

In effect Paul was saying, "I pray that you will be continually controlled by the life-transforming knowledge of God's will, which the Holy Spirit imparts as you prayerfully study and meditate on God's Word."

Scripture supplies the principles you need to live a godly life. The Spirit gives you the power to do so. Many false teachers will try to divert you from the simplicity of devotion to Christ by offering you philosophy, psychology, and a myriad of other hopeless alternatives. Don't be victimized. In Christ you have everything you need!

From Drawing Near
by John MacArthur
Copyright © 1993

In memory

2009-02-23T14:04:00.002-05:00

Sunday, February 22, 2008 marked 7 years since the death of my brother, Shawn. People say that "it gets easier with time", but I'm not so sure. In some ways, it has gotten easier...I don't cry myself to sleep at night; I can talk about Shawn - & even his death - without completely breaking down (most of the time). But, in other ways, it's actually gotten harder. With each passing year, it's been even longer since I've seen his smile, heard his laugh, felt his hug, gotten a goofy voicemail from him, been mocked by him for something "blonde" I said or did. And so, with each passing year, my heart aches to see him even more.
Life made more sense to me with Shawn in it. There was someone else in this world whose mind seemed to work just like mine; who had the same sense of humor; who understood my heartfelt love for country music...yes, it may seem dumb to anyone else, but there's a feeling there that is hard to explain, and...he got it. Life just doesn't make as much sense to me anymore, and sometimes that makes me really sad.
But I've realized that while life is different now, it's still good. Through losing Shawn, I've learned what is truly important to me, & to let go of what isn't. I've learned to be more careful with the feelings of the people I love; to spend as much time with my family as possible; to be open to possibilities.
And most importantly, I know that my precious brother is in heaven, and my heart rejoices to know I'll see him again.

Citizen/Soldier

2009-02-20T08:54:00.000-05:00

Beyond the boundaries of your city's lights,
Stand the heroes waiting for your cries.
So many times you did not bring this on yourself,
When that moment finally comes,
I'll be there to help.

On that day when you need your brothers and sisters to care,
I'll be right here.
Citizen soldiers holding the light for the ones that we guide from the dark of despair.
Standing on guard for the ones that we sheltered,
We'll always be ready because we will always be there..

When there are people crying in the streets,
When they're starving for a meal to eat,
When they simply need a place to make their beds,
Right here underneath my wing,
You can rest your head.

On that day when you need your brothers and sisters to care,
I'll be right here.
Citizen soldiers holding the light for the ones that we guide from the dark of despair.
Standing on guard for the ones that we sheltered,
We'll always be ready because we will always be there

Hope and pray that you'll never need me,
But rest assured I will not let you down.
I'll walk beside you but you may not see me,
The strongest among you may not wear a crown.

On that day when you need your brothers and sisters to care,
I'll be right here.
On that day when you don't have the strength for the burden you bear,
I'll be right here.
Citizen soldiers holding the light for the ones that we guide from the dark of despair.
(Citizen soldiers)
Standing on guard for the ones that we sheltered,
We'll always be ready because we will always be there.

Written by Brad Arnold, Chris Henderson, Matt Roberts, Todd Harrell

An Update on Our Hero

2009-02-17T08:25:00.001-05:00

A while back, I posted an update from Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch about a little horse named Hero, who had been badly abused & left for dead. CPYR rescued him in hopes of nursing him back to health. (Read the beginning of Hero's story here). Below is an update I received yesterday...it will do your heart good to read it, I promise you that!

By Kim Meeder

"God is so amazing. Only He can take what should be the end of us . . . and have that same hardship be the axis by which our entire life rotates toward greater depth and fulfillment in Him.

We have discovered that Hero's rescue was not the 'happy ending' of his story but, instead, it has become the very beginning.

Now we know that 'avalanches' are not only restricted to falling snow! Since the release of the 'Hero Story,' we have been BURIED under a wave of pure, white compassion. In response to your kindhearted encouragements and inquiries, we wish to give you an update on how our little Hero is progressing.

After four weeks in the intensive care unit at Bend Equine Medical Center, the devoted veterinary team that was caring for Hero determined that his blood volume had finally reached a safe level for them to remove his destroyed left eye. Once Hero was sedated, Dr. Wayne worked on his eye and head, while Dr. Wendy attempted an aggressive skin stretching procedure to help close the wound on his leg.

Our little Hero has since come home to a real hero's welcome. His story of undying hope reached across the Northwest and beyond. While pulling up the ranch driveway with my sweet boy in tow, I could hardly believe the sight that greeted us! Tears streamed down my cheeks as I drove through a cheering hallway of waving arms all reaching out to welcome us. Over 300 people had gathered from all over the Northwest and Canada to hail this once abandoned horse into his new family. A large contingent of media was also waiting to cover this inspiring story. Hero was finally home.

While slowly maneuvering through the applauding crowd, I was so deeply moved by every bright and cheering face. Amongst the crush, Hero backed out of the trailer and turned around to survey the scene with his one remaining eye. He was not afraid, he was not nervous. His only expression was one of pure awe. I wondered if he might be contemplating if this is what it feels like to finally enter Heaven. Surrounded by your beloved, many clothed in tears of joy at your long awaited arrival, cheering, clapping, and embracing . . . because you've finally come home.

Within these past months, we have seen a tremendous amount of healing that has taken place. As this restorative season continues, we are learning more every day that only a small portion of this renewal has actually occurred within our little horse, the majority has taken place within your hearts, lives and families. Individuals across the nation have been profoundly moved by this brave horse that just kept choosing to never quit. The mountain of cards, letters, emails and phone calls all give unique testimony to this fact.

In an effort to help Hero, a small group of children from Paisley Middle School participated in a student-led 'walk-a-thon' and raised $1,200 to help buy the expensive bandages his leg wound requires. A young man sent his sincere encouragement - from Holland. A five year old boy opted to forgo his birthday right of receiving presents and chose instead to give his 'birthday money' to Hero. Held within a brown paper sack, was delivered his winsome gift of several bandages and fifteen dollars. News of Hero's story made headlines in nearly every local newspaper and to our incredulous surprise, even made the front page of The Oregonian on Christmas Day! Within the stir of publicity around this kind, little horse, hundreds have contacted us with their own beautiful story of renewed hope inspired by Hero. One envelope came to the ranch containing nothing but a Post-It note. The message was simple, but earnest. Without name or identification, it merely said, "I was thinking of ending it all, until I read about Hero. I have decided to change my mind . . . thank you."

The message of Hero's life is straightforward, 'If I can make it . . . YOU can make it. If I can survive miraculous odds . . . so can you.' His life is a testimony to the fact that we have a Miraculous Lord. Like a great scale, it is often out of our deepest tragedies that our greatest hope, our greatest joys arise. 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4 gives testimony to this truth. Our suffering isn't something that happens because God isn't paying attention. On the contrary, our suffering has great purpose. The all-encompassing comfort that the Lord gives us in our time of need is powerful enough to not only heal our heart - but also those around us who are suffering in a similar way. God's comfort in our time of distress is so prevailing, that His healing hope not only fills our heart, it overflows to all in need.

Amongst a steady steam of visitors, our sweet boy is settling in very well. His leg wound, though severe, is slowly closing. He is making new friends within our herd and is enjoying life simply as a horse, never again to be confined to a stall or sequestered away from his own kind. At the sound of my voice, he answers with a high pitched call in return. While changing his large bandage, I have learned to feed him a small amount of grain to quell his curiosity and keep him from licking the back of my coat, chewing on my hair, or stealing my hat. He doesn't seem to know that he should be depressed, sad or full of rage at the injustice he has endured. Hero just never has a bad day. Instead, he is bright. He is joyful. He is incredibly playful. Yet, most of all, he has clearly chosen to simply be . . . happy.

By his example, he inspires me, along with countless others - to do the same."

Thomas Jefferson...a prophet?

2009-02-11T12:24:00.001-05:00

Thomas Jefferson in some cases could be called a prophet.

"When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe."

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world."

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."

"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government."

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."

"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."

Very Interesting Quote

In light of the present financial crisis, it's interesting to read what Thomas Jefferson said in 1802:

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."

Home Is Where the Heart Is

2009-02-09T20:59:00.000-05:00

I felt I was spinning my wheels
Before too long the road was calling
I packed everything I own
So sure that I was leaving this small town life behind for good
And not a single tear was falling
It took leaving for me to understand
Sometimes your dreams just aren’t what life has planned

Mama said home is where the heart is
When I left that town
I made it all the way to West Virginia
And that’s where my heart found
Exactly where I’m supposed to be
It didn’t take much time
It’s just south of the Mason Dixon line
It’s just south of the Mason Dixon line

I worked third shift at an all night diner
Only stayed to save a little money for
Enough gas to make it to the east coast
That’s when I saw the brightest pair of
Deep blue eyes walking straight into my life
And every night we talked till it became so clear
And I could feel those dreams inside shifting gears
Cause love brought me here

Mama said home is where the heart is
When I left that town
I made it all the way to West Virginia
And that’s where my heart found
Exactly where I’m supposed to be
It didn’t take much time
It’s just south of the Mason Dixon line
It’s just south of the Mason Dixon line

And I’m standing in my veil about to say I do
As mama smiles with tear drops in her eyes
And then I realize there’s something mama always knew
Love is what I really left to find

Mama said home is where the heart is
When I left that town
I made it all the way to West Virginia
And that’s where my heart found
Exactly where I’m supposed to be
It didn’t take much time
It’s just south of the Mason Dixon line
It’s just south of the Mason Dixon line

written by Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Victoria Shaw

Thief

2009-02-07T17:37:00.000-05:00

I am a thief, I am a murderer
Walking up this lonely hill
What have I done? I don't remember
No one knows just how I feel
and I know that my time is coming soon.
It's been so long. Oh, such a long time
Since I've lived with peace and rest
Now I am here, my destination
guess things work for the best
and I know that my time is coming soon
Who is this man? This man beside me
They call the King of the Jews
They don't believe that He's the Messiah
But, somehow I know it's true.
And they laugh at Him in mockery,
and beat Him till he bleeds
They nail Him to the rugged cross,
and raise Him, they raise Him up next to me
My time has come, I'm slowly fading
I deserve what I receive
Jesus when You are in Your kingdom
Could You please remember me
and He looks at me still holding on
the tears fall from His eyes
He says I tell the truth
Today, you will live with Me in paradise
and I know that my time is coming soon
and I know paradise is coming soon

written by Mac Powell

2009-02-04T10:23:00.001-05:00

Isaiah 63:16
You, O Lord, are our Father; Our Redeemer from Everlasting.

If I am willing to be still in my Master's hand, can I not be still in everything? He's got the whole world in His hands! Never mind whether things come from God Himself or from people--everything comes by His ordination or permission. If I mean to be obedient and submissive to the Lord because He is my Lord, I must not forget that whatever He allows to happen becomes, for me, His will at that moment.

--Elisabeth Elliot
Keep A Quiet Heart

Rejoice in the Lord

2009-02-02T15:52:00.001-05:00

Rejoice in the Lord.
--Phil. 3:1

Not long ago it was common to see bumper stickers proclaiming every conceivable source for happiness. One said, "Happiness is being married." Another countered, "Happiness is being single." One cynical sticker read, "Happiness is impossible!"

For most people happiness is possible but it's also fickle, shallow, and fleeting. As the word itself implies, happiness is associated with happenings, happenstance, luck, and fortune. If circumstances are favorable, you're happy. If not, you're unhappy.

Christian joy, however, is directly related to God and is the firm confidence that all is well, regardless of your circumstances.

In Philippians 3:1 Paul says, "Rejoice in the Lord" (emphasis added). The Lord is both the source and object of Christian joy. Knowing Him brings joy that transcends temporal circumstances. Obeying Him brings peace and assurance.

Joy is God's gift to every believer. It is the fruit that His Spirit produces within you (Gal. 5:22) from the moment you receive the gospel (John 15:11). It increases as you study and obey God's Word (1 John 1:4).

Even severe trials needn't rob your joy. James 1:2 says you should be joyful when you encounter various trials because trials produce spiritual endurance and maturity. They also prove that your faith is genuine, and a proven faith is the source of great joy (1 Pet. 1:6-8).

You live in a world corrupted by sin. But your hope is in a living God, not a dying world. He is able to keep you from stumbling and make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy (Jude 24). That's your assurance of future glory and eternal joy! Until that time, don't neglect His Word, despise trials, or lose sight of your eternal reward. They are key ingredients of your present joy.

From Drawing Near
by John MacArthur
http://www.gty.org/Resources/Devotionals
Copyright © 1993
Used by permission of Crossway Books
a division of Good News Publishers
Wheaton, IL 60187
www.crossway.com

Death by firing squad possible in U.S. state...

2009-01-29T16:46:00.001-05:00

...Persons convicted of capital murder would be executed by 5-officer team

Posted: January 28, 2009
9:35 pm Eastern
By Chelsea Schilling
© 2009 WorldNetDaily

One state lawmaker is proposing a bill to expand the death penalty and force people convicted of homicide to face execution by a five-officer firing squad.

New Hampshire State Rep. Delmar Burridge, D-Keene, is sponsoring H.B. 37, a bill providing for execution by firing squad for anyone who causes the death of another person by use of a firearm while engaged in the commission of a felony – an offense that would be considered capital murder under Burridge's plan.

According to the bill, the commissioner of the department of corrections will be required to select five peace officers to carry out the execution of defendants convicted of capital murder.

"The commissioner or designee shall ensure that the method of judgment of death specified in the warrant is carried out at a secure correctional facility operated by the department at an hour determined by the department on the date specified in the warrant," it states.

Current law includes murder of judges, law enforcement personnel, murder for hire, some drug-related homicides and rape-murders as capital offenses, but Burridge is seeking to add homicide during an armed robbery, or other felonies committed with a weapon, to the list – excluding such criminals from the standard death by lethal injection.

"A firing squad is more humane, reliable and quick. And perfectly matches the crime with the punishment," Burridge said last week.

However, New England Cable News reports the bill has received little support so far.

"It provides for what we consider to be an unconstitutional cruel and unusual type of punishment," death penalty opponent Ryan Marvin said.

A New Hampshire man, Michael Addison, is currently on death row after he was convicted of slaying a Manchester police officer in 2006. His is scheduled to be the first execution carried out by the state since 1939.

Only two states – Idaho and Oklahoma – currently allow execution by a team of riflemen as an alternative to lethal injection. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, John Albert Taylor was the last U.S. citizen to face death by firing squad in Utah before the state eliminated the practice in 2004. He was put to death on Jan 27, 1996.

Burridge acknowledged his proposal is a long shot. Nonetheless, he believes it could act as a deterrent for potential offenders.

"I think that will thwart or frustrate or just get someone to pause, just for a minute. And that's sometimes all it takes," he said.

This WorldNetDaily article can be found here.
--jp

L O V E .

2009-01-28T13:58:00.001-05:00

these are a few of my favorite quotes about horses. as i find more, i'll edit & add to this post.

The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears.
~ Arabian proverb

In riding a horse, we borrow freedom.
~ Helen Thompson

There is no secret so close as that between a rider and his horse.
~ Robert Smith Surtees

I heard a neigh, Oh, such a brisk and melodious neigh it was. My very heart leaped with the sound.
~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

I have seen things so beautiful they have brought tears to my eyes. Yet none of them can match the gracefulness and beauty of a horse running free.
~ Author Unknown

When I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk. He trots the air, the earth sings when he touches it.
~ William Shakespeare

The horse. Here is nobility without conceit, friendship without envy, beauty without vanity. A willing servant, yet never a slave.
~ Ronald Duncan

Ask me to show you poetry in motion and I will show you a horse.
~ Author Unknown

In the steady gaze of the horse shines a silent eloquence that speaks of love and loyalty, strength and courage. It is the window that reveals to us how willing is his spirit, how generous his heart.
~ Author Unknown

Look Again and Think

2009-01-27T11:58:00.000-05:00

Do not worry about your life . . .
Matthew 6:25

A warning which needs to be repeated is that "the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches," and the lust for other things, will choke out the life of God in us (Matthew 13:22). We are never free from the recurring waves of this invasion. If the frontline of attack is not about clothes and food, it may be about money or the lack of money; or friends or lack of friends; or the line may be drawn over difficult circumstances. It is one steady invasion, and these things will come in like a flood, unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the banner against it.

"I say to you, do not worry about your life . . ." Our Lord says to be careful only about one thing-our relationship to Him. But our common sense shouts loudly and says, "That is absurd, I must consider how I am going to live, and I must consider what I am going to eat and drink." Jesus says you must not. Beware of allowing yourself to think that He says this while not understanding your circumstances. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things to the point where they become the primary concern of our life. Whenever there are competing concerns in your life, be sure you always put your relationship to God first.

"Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:34). How much trouble has begun to threaten you today? What kind of mean little demons have been looking into your life and saying, "What are your plans for next month— or next summer?" Jesus tells us not to worry about any of these things. Look again and think. Keep your mind on the "much more" of your heavenly Father (Matthew 6:30).

Our Daily Bread/My Utmost for His Highest

and so it begins

2009-01-23T08:56:00.001-05:00

Pastor Voddie Baucham in Texas posted this on his blog yesterday (Thursday) & I wanted to share it. We, as Christians, need to be praying for our president & for our country more than ever.

"Whitehouse.gov is a very helpful site for those interested in what’s going on in the Executive branch. The “most transparent administration” in history is now online (though I’d still like to see an official Birth Certificate... but I digress). Since President Obama took over the White House, the site has now been revamped to include his Presidential Agenda. While some hoped President Obama would begin his presidency as a centrist (I have no idea where that fantasy came from), his agenda (see here) reads like a leftist wish list. Our new President wants to do everything from “Zero-to-Five” education (that’s right, the government not only wants to indoctrinate your children, they want to start the moment they are born), to “improv[ing] the energy efficiency of... American homes.” (whatever will we do for ourselves?) However, the area that has my interest piqued is his Civil Rights Agenda.

"While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender] rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect." -- Barack Obama, June 1, 2007

While this statement alone could be fodder for several blogs, it is not my intention to parse everything the President does and/or says. I do, however, think his LGBT agenda is an issue of great concern for those of us committed to biblical truth. We need to be aware of what’s ahead. We must be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves. With that in mind, here’s the President’s Civil Rights Agenda (note: this is the second half under the heading, “Support for the LGBT Community.”

Read the rest of Pastor Baucham's post here, where he lists some of the points on President Obama's agenda.

James Dobson/Glenn Beck

2009-01-22T20:52:00.000-05:00

Dear Friend,

Friday, January 23, is a historic day for Focus on the Family®--and for me personally. It will be 20 years ago that I sat down across from convicted serial killer Ted Bundy for his final interview before he was executed in a Florida state prison.

I will be sharing my recollections of that interview this Friday on the new Fox News Channel® series "Glenn Beck®," which airs at 5 p.m. EST.

My purpose in going on Glenn's show is to discuss the reason why Bundy chose me for his final interview when every major news anchor at every TV network was jostling for an exclusive conversation. Bundy wanted to talk about the role media violence and particularly violent, hard-core pornography had played in his years-long killing spree, and he knew the mainstream media wouldn't report that story.

He chose to tell his story to me because he knew of my work in the mid-'80s on the Attorney General's Commission on Pornography, which studied its harmful effects on individuals and society. During our hour-long conversation, Bundy took care not to blame his murderous actions on his addiction to pornography--but made clear it played a significant role in his crimes.

"Pornography can reach out and snatch a kid out of any house today. It snatched me out of my home 20, 30 years ago," he told me on January 23, 1989. "I'll tell you, there are lots of other kids playing in streets around the country who are going to be dead tomorrow and the next day and the next day and next month, because other young people are reading the kinds of things and seeing the kinds of things that are available in the media today."

Sadly, Bundy was right. Pornography has been found in the possession of almost every killer where sex has been the motivation, including two of the most notorious serial killers of the last two decades: Green River Killer Gary Leon Ridgway and BTK Killer Dennis Rader. No, not everyone who uses pornography becomes a murderer, but there are serious consequences to pornography addiction. Studies done since my conversation with Bundy have documented corrosive effects on marriages and families, such as increased marital distress and risk of separation and divorce; decreased marital intimacy and sexual satisfaction; and a devaluation of monogamy, marriage and child-rearing.

Consider also that Bundy's comments were made before the Internet age and the easy availability of the most sickening kinds of pornography on the Web. He also spoke at a time when hotel porn and even cell-phone porn were not the problems they are today. The future predicted by Ted Bundy is worse than he ever could have imagined--and that's the main message I hope to get across in my time with Glenn Beck this Friday.

I do hope you will tune into the show--and will continue to partner with Focus on the Family in fighting the scourge that is pornography.

Sincerely,
James C. Dobson, Ph.D.
Founder and Chairman

P.S. Don't forget to tune into our daily Focus on the Family radio program on Monday, January 26, when we'll rebroadcast some of my interview with Ted Bundy. You can find a station in your area or listen online by visiting FocusOnTheFamily.com.

Praise for Lee and Jackson

2009-01-21T16:41:00.000-05:00

By Chuck Baldwin
January 16, 2009

January is often referred to as "Generals Month" since no less than four famous Confederate Generals claimed January as their birth month: James Longstreet (Jan. 8, 1821), Robert E. Lee (Jan. 19, 1807), Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (Jan. 21, 1824), and George Pickett (Jan. 28, 1825). Two of these men, Lee and Jackson, are particularly noteworthy.

Without question, Robert E. Lee and "Stonewall" Jackson were two of the greatest military leaders of all time. Even more, many military historians regard the Lee and Jackson tandem as perhaps the greatest battlefield duo in the history of warfare. If Jackson had survived the battle of Chancellorsville, it is very possible that the South would have prevailed at Gettysburg and perhaps would even have won the War Between the States.

In fact, it was Lord Roberts, commander-in-chief of the British armies in the early twentieth century, who said, "In my opinion, Stonewall Jackson was one of the greatest natural military geniuses the world ever saw. I will go even further than that--as a campaigner in the field, he never had a superior. In some respects, I doubt whether he ever had an equal." While the strategies and circumstances of the War of Northern Aggression can (and will) be debated by professionals and laymen alike, one fact is undeniable: Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. Jackson were two of the finest Christian gentlemen this country has ever produced. Both their character and their conduct were beyond reproach.

Unlike his northern counterpart, Ulysses S. Grant, General Lee never sanctioned or condoned slavery. Upon inheriting slaves from his deceased father-in-law, Lee immediately freed them. And according to historians, Jackson enjoyed a familial relationship with those few slaves that were in his home. In addition, unlike Abraham Lincoln and U.S. Grant, there is no record of either Lee or Jackson ever speaking disparagingly of the black race.

As those who are familiar with history know, General Grant and his wife held personal slaves before and during the War Between the States, and, contrary to popular opinion, even Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation did not free the slaves of the North. They were not freed until the Thirteenth Amendment was passed after the conclusion of the war. Grant's excuse for not freeing his slaves was that "good help is so hard to come by these days."

Furthermore, it is well established that Jackson regularly conducted a Sunday School class for black children. This was a ministry he took very seriously. As a result, he was dearly loved and appreciated by the children and their parents.

In addition, both Jackson and Lee emphatically supported the abolition of slavery. In fact, Lee called slavery "a moral and political evil." He also said "the best men in the South" opposed it and welcomed its demise. Jackson said he wished to see "the shackles struck from every slave."
To think that Lee and Jackson (and the vast majority of Confederate soldiers) would fight and die to preserve an institution they considered evil and abhorrent--and that they were already working to dismantle--is the height of absurdity. It is equally repugnant to impugn and denigrate the memory of these remarkable Christian gentlemen.

In fact, after refusing Abraham Lincoln's offer to command the Union Army in 1861, Robert E. Lee wrote to his sister on April 20 of that year to explain his decision. In the letter he wrote, "With all my devotion to the Union and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an American citizen, I have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand against my relatives, my children, my home. I have therefore resigned my commission in the army and save in defense of my native state, with the sincere hope that my poor services may never be needed . . ."

Lee's decision to resign his commission with the Union Army must have been the most difficult decision of his life. Remember that Lee's direct ancestors had fought in America's War For Independence. His father, "Light Horse Harry" Henry Lee, was a Revolutionary War hero, Governor of Virginia, and member of Congress. In addition, members of his family were signatories to the Declaration of Independence.

Remember, too, that not only did Robert E. Lee graduate from West Point "at the head of his class" (according to Benjamin Hallowell), he is yet today one of only six cadets to graduate from that prestigious academy without a single demerit.

However, Lee knew that Lincoln's decision to invade the South in order to prevent its secession was both immoral and unconstitutional. As a man of honor and integrity, the only thing Lee could do was that which his father had done: fight for freedom and independence. And that is exactly what he did.

Instead of allowing a politically correct culture to sully the memory of Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. Jackson, all Americans should hold them in a place of highest honor and respect. Anything less is a disservice to history and a disgrace to the principles of truth and integrity.

Accordingly, it was more than appropriate that the late President Gerald Ford, on August 5, 1975, signed Senate Joint Resolution 23, "restoring posthumously the long overdue, full rights of citizenship to General Robert E. Lee." According to President Ford, "This legislation corrects a 110-year oversight of American history." He further said, "General Lee's character has been an example to succeeding generations . . ."

The significance of the lives of Generals Lee and Jackson cannot be overvalued. While the character and influence of most of us will barely be remembered two hundred days after our departure, the sterling character of these men has endured for two hundred years. What a shame that so many of America's youth are being robbed of knowing and studying the virtue and integrity of the great General Robert E. Lee and General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson.

(c) Chuck Baldwin

This column is archived at
http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2009/cbarchive_20090116.html

Christ our Covenant

2009-01-21T10:03:00.001-05:00

Isaiah 49:8
I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people.

Jesus Christ is the sum and substance of the covenant. As a gift of the covenant, He is the property of every believer. All that Christ, as God and Man, ever had or will have is yours--from God's free favor, to be your inheritance forever.

Our blessed Jesus, as God, is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent. All that Jesus has as perfect man is yours. As a perfect man, Jesus enjoyed the Father's perfect delight. He stood accepted by the Most High God. Believer, God's acceptance of Christ is your acceptance. Don't you know that the love the Father bestowed on Christ He is bestowing on you now? For all that Christ did is yours. That perfect righteousness that Jesus worked out through His stainless life is yours; it is credited to your account.

--Charles Spurgeon
Morning By Morning

Ramos and Compean are Going Home

2009-01-20T13:12:00.000-05:00

By Chuck Baldwin
January 20, 2009

After tens of thousands of phone calls and emails, after the combined efforts of columnists such as myself and radio and television talk show hosts such as Lou Dobbs, and even after persistent appeals by congressmen such as Dana Rohrabacher, former Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean finally received a commutation of their 10-plus year prison sentences from outgoing President George W. Bush and will soon be going home. It's about time! What took Mr. Bush so long?

Ramos and Compean were victimized by an out-of-control U.S. Attorney by the name of Johnny Sutton (who should be fired for his despicable conduct), and by a White House that cared more about appeasing the Mexican government than it did about protecting the American border and the Border Patrol agents who were trying to do their jobs.

I won't rehash the details of this unbelievable miscarriage of justice, as I have already covered this atrocity in past columns. See two of these columns at:

http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2007/cbarchive_20070731.html

http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2007/cbarchive_20070131.html

I was also privileged to appear with Agent Ramos' wife, Monica, on the Lou Dobbs show last year. As such, I was the only Presidential candidate in 2008 who publicly promised to fully pardon (not just grant commutation to) Ramos and Compean. See the video at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-DyfFa0tZg

According to press reports, now that President Bush has commuted the sentences of Ramos and Compean, they should be released from prison "within the next two months." In issuing the commutation, it was made clear that "Bush didn't pardon the men for their crimes, but decided instead to commute their prison sentences because he believed they were excessive and that they had already suffered the loss of their jobs, freedom and reputations."

The senior administration official quoted also said, "The action by the president, who believes the border agents received fair trials and that the verdicts were just, does not diminish the seriousness of their crimes."

Ramos and Compean have served about two years of their sentences.

And, as far as what the Bush administration official said, let's set the record straight. First of all, while Ramos and Compean have lost their jobs and more than two years of freedom (not to mention untold grief and agony by their family members), they have not lost their reputations. If anyone has lost their reputation, it is Johnny Sutton and George W. Bush, his act of clemency notwithstanding.

Secondly, if the trial and conviction of Ramos and Compean is an example of a "fair trial," everyone in the country better pray they never have to go to trial. The truth is, if there ever was an example of a Kangaroo Court in these United States, it was the trial of Ramos and Compean.

Thirdly, the "crimes" that were committed were perpetrated by a serial drug-smuggling illegal alien, and then by a groveling, grotesque U.S. Attorney's office under the leadership of Johnny Sutton.

And lest readers think that Ramos and Compean were alone in the wake of a Presidential administration bent on sacrificing American law enforcement personnel on the altar of appeasement to the Mexican government, please familiarize yourself with the case of the brave Texas Sheriff's Deputy, Gilmer Hernandez; and with the case of the heinous Mexican murderer, Jose Ernesto Medellin. It is incomprehensible what the Bush administration has done to facilitate illegal immigration. See the story at:

http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2007/cbarchive_20070413.html

Am I happy that President Bush has at least commuted the sentences of Ramos and Compean? Of course I am. I am happy for the two agents; I am happy for their families. They deserve to be together. I pray it will not take months to release them. And I also pray that both of these gentlemen will find gainful employment sufficient to adequately meet the needs of their wives and children.

It is shameful that the country agents Ramos and Compean were so proud and diligent to serve treated them (and their families) so disgracefully. Furthermore, it is totally disgusting to realize that the Bush administration treated a serial drug-smuggling illegal alien better than two Border Patrol agents who were simply trying to enforce our country's immigration laws. Bush's commutation of sentence does nothing to erase that humiliation.

(c) Chuck Baldwin

This column is archived at
http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2009/cbarchive_20090120.html

a new era

2009-01-16T16:14:00.001-05:00

I've been thinking about President Bush's exit from office, and the new era this country is about to enter. It's daunting to think about, in a way, as President Elect Obama appears to be the most liberal man to ever sit in the White House; although, as a Christian, I can honestly say I have no cause for worry. I was reading an article on Political Derby, and came across this clip from the HBO miniseries John Adams. It's a good reminder of how our founding fathers saw our country & how they wanted things to be. Watch it if you have time, & I'd love to hear your thoughts.

(Nathan & I watched the miniseries a while back on DVD & really enjoyed it, for the most part...just beware that there are a few awkward scenes scattered throughout the series.)

Remain in Jesus

2009-01-15T09:55:00.000-05:00

Jonah 2:9
Salvation comes from the Lord.

Salvation is the work of God. Only He can bring life to the soul that is "dead in...transgressions and sins" (Eph. 2:1). Only He can maintain the soul in its spiritual life.

If I have faith or hope or love, they are God's gifts to me. If my life is steady and consistent, that's because God upholds me with His hand. I can do nothing to preserve myself, except what God does first inside of me.

Whatever I have, all my goodness comes from God. Without Jesus I can do nothing. As a branch cannot bear fruit unless it remains in the vine (Jn. 15:4), neither can I, unless I remain in Jesus.

--Charles Spurgeon
Morning By Morning

love story

2009-01-14T11:32:00.001-05:00

i can't get enough of taylor swift's current single, "love story". it's a great song...if you haven't heard it, you can watch the official video here.

and here are the lyrics if you don't want/don't have time to watch the video. :)

We were both young when I first saw you.
I close my eyes and the flashback starts:
I'm standing there on a balcony in summer air.
See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns.
See you make your way through the crowd and say hello;
Little did I know..

That you were Romeo; you were throwing pebbles,
And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet."
And I was crying on the staircase,
Begging you, 'Please, don't go.'

And I said,"Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone.
I'll be waiting; all there's left to do is run.
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess
It's a love story; Baby, just say 'Yes.'"

So I sneak out to the garden to see you.
We keep quiet 'cause we're dead if they knew.
So close your eyes; escape this town for a little while.
'Cause you were Romeo, I was a scarlet letter,
And my daddy said "Stay away from Juliet."
But you were everything to me;
I was begging you, "Please, don't go."

And I said,"Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone.
I'll be waiting; all there's left to do is run.
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess;
It's a love story; Baby, just say 'Yes.'"

Romeo, save me; they're tryin' to tell me how to feel.
This love is difficult, but it's real.
Don't be afraid; we'll make it out of this mess.
It's a love story; Baby, just say 'Yes.'"

I got tired of waiting,
Wondering if you were ever comin' around.
My faith in you was fading
When I met you on the outskirts of town.

And I said,"Romeo save me, I've been feeling so alone.
I keep waiting for you but you never come.
Is this in my head? I don't know what to think."
He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring and said,

"Marry me, Juliet. You'll never have to be alone.
I love you, and that's all I really know.
I talked to your dad, go pick out a white dress;
It's a love story; Baby, just say 'Yes.'"

We were both young when I first saw you...

Written by Taylor Swift

new chairs

2009-01-14T08:39:00.001-05:00

nathan & i have decided to get rid of the old, ugly (but free!) love seat that has been in our "reading area" for the last few years. we want to replace it with a couple of chairs, to make the area more conducive to conversation...& comfort. i've been looking around online to see what's out there, to try to get an idea of what i want, & here are a few ideas i've come across so far. i really like this & this from target, but they aren't carried in the store, so i can't try them out to see if they're comfy or not. bummer. i also like this by broyhill, & this by ashley, but oh my! the prices! i think we're going to end up seeing what we can find at big lots, since that would be more in our price range!
i am planning to check out unclaimed furniture after work today, though, to see what kind of deals they have going on. we got money for christmas from nathan's parents & grandpa, which will hopefully pay for one chair. we'll see! i'm excited about looking, though...it's always fun to shop!

I See Love

2009-01-12T21:35:00.000-05:00

Some see a teacher
Standing on a hill
Speaking words of wisdom.
Some see a healer
Reaching out his hand
To give sight to a blind man.
Some see a dreamer
Wasting his life
On what can never be.
Some see a fool
Dying for his dreams.

But I see love (I see love)
I see love (I see love)
Light of heaven breaking through
Well, I see grace (I see grace)
I see God's face (I see God's face)
Shining pure and perfect love
When I see You
I see love

Some see a prisoner
Alone before his judge
With no one to defend him.
Some see a victim
Beaten and abused
With all the world against him.
Some see a martyr
Carrying his cross
For what he believes.
Some see a hero
Who set his people free.

But I see love (I see love)
I see love (I see love)
Light of heaven breaking through
Well, I see grace (I see grace)
I see God's face (I see Gods face)
Shining pure and perfect love
When I see You

With your last breath
I see love.
Through your death
I see life.
I see peace in the eyes of the King
I see hope in your suffering (I see love)
I see a calm in the center of the storm
I see a Saviour

I see love.
I see love.
Light of heaven breaking through (heaven breaking through)
I see grace.
I see God's face
Shining pure and perfect love
When I see you
I see love
When I see you
I see heaven breaking through
See Gods face
Shining pure and perfect love
When I see you
When I see you
When I see you
I see love
I see love
When I see
Some see Him walking from an empty grave.

Written by: Steven Curtis Chapman, Mark Lee, Bart Millard & Mac Powell

The Shepherd Leads

2009-01-12T09:35:00.000-05:00

Psalm 23:2 NKJV
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.

In the second verse of the Twenty-third Psalm, David the poet becomes David the artist. His quill becomes a brush, his parchment a canvas, and his words paint a picture. A flock of sheep on folded legs, encircling a shepherd. Bellies nestled deep in the long shoots of grass. A still pond on one side, the watching shepherd on the other. "He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters."

Note the two pronouns preceding the two verbs. He makes me...He leads me...

Who is the active one? Who is in charge? The shepherd. The shepherd selects the trail and prepares the pasture. The sheep's job--our job--is to watch the Shepherd.

--Max Lucado
Traveling Light

YOU

2009-01-07T13:54:00.000-05:00

I Peter 2:9
You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people.

I'd like to deliver a beautiful message to you, my friend. God's hand on your life may be just beginning to make its mark. That steep hill you've been climbing for such a long time may be the ramp to a destiny beyond your dreams. I do not believe there is any such thing as an accidental or ill-timed birth. You may have arrived in a home that was financially strapped. You may have known brokeness, hurt, and insecurity since your earliest days--but please hear me on this:

You were not an accident.

--Charles Swindoll

starting the year the right way...

2009-01-04T21:29:00.001-05:00

Nathan & I decided to officially end the holiday season with a weekend away. Saturday morning we headed up to Chimney Rock, NC. We spent a few hours enjoying the Park, then spent a couple more visiting the shops in the area & having a late lunch. We drove into Hendersonville & walked around downtown for a while, then spent the night. Sunday morning, we headed toward Asheville, where we spent a couple of hours driving around exploring, then went back to Hendersonville to go to a couple of antique stores that weren't open yet when we left in the morning. Then, we went back downtown & had lunch at Mike's on Main, & finished off the weekend with some ice cream at Kilwin's. We had absolutely beautiful weather both days...we couldn't have picked a better weekend to go! Now, we're back home, relaxing & getting ready to move back into the real world tomorrow.

Slow Fade

2008-12-30T09:34:00.000-05:00

I first heard this song when Nathan & I went to see Fireproof with some friends. I was convicted then, & every time I've heard it since then...I tend to just go along with my life, not really giving much thought to what I'm allowing into my mind & heart. This song is a good reminder to me that my eyes, my feet, my ears & my lips all belong to my Father, not to me, & I need to be careful with what He has given me to use for a time.

Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade

Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see

Casting Crowns

Hope

2008-12-26T16:54:00.000-05:00

Today, the day after Christmas, we went to a funeral. Ever since my brother died - almost 7 years ago (actually, exactly 2 months from today will be the 7th anniversary of the day we buried Shawn) - funerals have been especially hard for me, so I hate going to them, but unfortunately, I have had to attend 3 since then. Today, I have to admit, I was filled with dread as we walked into our church. Even though it was a different church from where we had my brother's service, my stomach was in knots & I literally had to force myself not to relive that day, or I would have been in tears before the service even started. Plus, of course, I wanted to focus on the reason we were there. To remember and honor a very sweet lady, a member of our church and the mother of a friend of Nathan's. The service was beautiful, as I expected it would be. There were tributes from friends & family, a Christ-centered message, and beautiful music.

As I listened to the music and the message preached by Pastor Conley, I was filled with gratefulness, because I know that I have Hope. As I cried while thinking of the children that sweet lady left behind, I was also rebuked, because while they no longer have a parent left in this world, they know without a doubt that their parents have been reunited in the presence of our Savior, and their beloved mother is no longer suffering, but instead she is dancing with Jesus!

I have peace in my heart, because I have Hope.

A Baby Changes Everything

2008-12-25T14:48:00.000-05:00

Teenage girl, much too young
Unprepared for what's to come
A baby changes everything

Not a ring on her hand
All her dreams and all her plans
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything

The man she loves she's never touched
How will she keep his trust?
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything

And she cries, ooh, she cries
Ooh, oh

She has to leave, go far away
Heaven knows she can't stay
A baby changes everything

She can feel it's coming soon
There's no place, there's no room
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything

And she cries, and she cries
Oh, she cries

Shepherds all gather 'round
(Shepherds all they gather 'round)
Up above the star shines down
(Star shines down)
A baby changes everything

Choir of angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything

Everything, everything, everything
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

My whole life has turned around

I was lost, but now I'm found
A baby changes everything, yeah
A baby changes everything

Faith Hill

Christmas Like a Child

2008-12-24T09:11:00.000-05:00

I want to feel Christmas, how it used to be
With all of its wonder falling on me
This season has felt so empty, oh for quite a while
I want to feel Christmas like a child

I want to see snowflakes fall to the ground
My brothers and sisters all gathered around
Singing "Away In A Manager" as we sit by the fire
I want to feel Christmas like a child

It's been so long now, I can't say
Just when I lost my way
But I'm going back to how it was
When this day meant everything
And we spent our time remembering
The baby Child born for us

It's all about Jesus, asleep in the straw
This infant, this King, this Savior for all
So I don't need bells to be ringing
'Cause I'll join with angels singing
Gloria
And I can feel Christmas like a child

I want to feel Christmas like a child

Third Day

The Birth Of Christ And The Birth of America Are Linked

2008-12-23T13:59:00.000-05:00

By Chuck Baldwin
December 23, 2008

As we approach the celebration of Christ's birth, I am reminded of the words of John Quincy Adams. On July 4, 1837, he spoke these words:

"Why is it that, next to the birthday of the Savior of the world, your most joyous and most venerated festival returns on this day? ... Is it not that, in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? That it forms a leading event in the progress of the Gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer's mission upon earth. That it laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity, and gave to the world the first irrevocable pledge of the fulfillment of the prophecies announced directly from Heaven at the birth of the Savior and predicted by the greatest of the Hebrew prophets six hundred years before?"

Adams was exactly right: America's birth is directly linked to the birth of our Savior. In fact, the United States of America is the only nation established by Christian people, upon Biblical principles, and dedicated to the purpose of religious liberty. This truth is easily observed within America's earliest history.

America's forebears first established a written covenant with God as early as November 11, 1620, when they penned The Mayflower Compact. It states inpart:"In the name of God, Amen. ... Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia; do by these presents, solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the General good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience."The sentiments and statements of America's founders make it clear that this nation has enjoyed a love and appreciation for the rights and freedoms recognized in Natural Law that is unique in the annals of human history. No other people have such a heritage.One thing America's founders could not envision was--after they had paid so terrible a price to purchase our liberties--that the time would come when their posterity would be denied the basic freedoms to publicly express their reverence for God. Never could they have imagined that the day would come when citizens of the sovereign states (each with a state constitution protecting religious liberty) would be denied their right to pray in school, or place Nativity scenes on public property, or hang copies of the Ten Commandments on courthouse walls.

I am also confident that America's founders would be completely repulsed by the way the United States has jumped headlong into corporatism, socialism, and globalism. Democrats and Republicans alike have created a central government so large that it would be unrecognizable by any Founding Father. In addition, both Big Business and Big Religion have sold our great country down the proverbial river, as surely as there is a sun in the sky. Truly, our Founding Fathers must be rolling over in their graves.

Therefore, at this Christmas season, let us remember well the founding principles of these United States of America. Furthermore, let us renew with vigor the fight for freedom before our liberties and our heritage are gone altogether.

Merry Christmas!

http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/

Glorious Light

2008-12-23T09:53:00.001-05:00

Glorious light! See the dawn of salvation: Angels in white fill the skies with their wondrous song, awakening earth with news of his birth; Join the hymn of the highest heavens.

Long has the world fought the song of the angels; heavenly music is drowned by a warring world. Yet hope burns a light that shatters the night; Turn your heart to the call of glory.

Glory to God in the highest! Peace to men on earth. Come and adore him with wonder. Christ, Lord of heaven and earth.

There is a day all creation has longed for, when all of time has been spent and the Lord returns. His song we’ll repeat, as Heaven completes promised peace that will fill the nation.

Glory to God in the highest! Peace to men on earth. Come and adore him with wonder. Christ, Lord of heaven and earth.

Keith & Kristyn Getty, Ian Hannah/Thankyou Music

Christmas in Dixie

2008-12-22T14:00:00.000-05:00

this is my absolute favorite non-sacred Christmas song :)

By now in New York City
There's snow on the ground
And out in California
The sunshine's falling down
And maybe down in Memphis
Graceland's all in lights
And in Atlanta, Georgia
There's peace on earth tonight

Christmas in Dixie
It's snowing in the pines
Merry Christmas from Dixie
To everyone tonight

Its windy in Chicago
The kids are out of school
There's magic in Motown
The city's on the move
In Jackson, Mississippi
To Charlotte, Caroline
And all across the Nation
It's a peaceful Christmas time

Christmas in Dixie
It's snowing in the pines
Merry Christmas from Dixie
To everyone tonight

And from Fort Payne, Alabama
Merry Christmas tonight

Teddy Gentry, Randy Owen, Jeff Cook, and Mark Herndon

Joy Has Dawned Upon the World

2008-12-21T19:30:00.000-05:00

Joy has dawned upon the world,
Promised from creation—
God's salvation now unfurled,
Hope for ev'ry nation.
Not with fanfares from above,
Not with scenes of glory,
But a humble gift of love—
Jesus born of Mary.

Sounds of wonder fill the sky
With the songs of angels
As the mighty Prince of Life
Shelters in a stable.
Hands that set each star in place,
Shaped the earth in darkness,
Cling now to a mother's breast,
Vuln'rable and helpless.

Shepherds bow before the Lamb,
Gazing at the glory;
Gifts of men from distant lands
Prophesy the story.
Gold—a King is born today,
Incense—God is with us,
Myrrh—His death will make a way,
And by His blood He'll win us.

Son of Adam, Son of heaven,
Given as a ransom;
Reconciling God and man,
Christ, our mighty champion!
What a Savior! What a Friend!
What a glorious myst'ry!
Once a babe in Bethlehem,
Now the Lord of hist'ry.

Keith Getty & Stuart Townend/ThankYou Music

Song for the Hopeful

2008-12-19T12:10:00.000-05:00

People with hope
Have a special prayer
A louder drum
A brighter flare
This is a song for the hopeful
May God hear it sung

People with faith
Are the lucky kind
They'll be the ones
With peace of mind
This is a song for the faithful
May God hear it sung

There's a song for the doubtful
There's a song for the lost
There's a song for the desert
Barren, but crossed
But for those who are strong of spirit
Maybe they don't need to hear it
But still, a song for them
A simple song for them

Nothing can shade
A seasoned soul
It's all the loss
That makes it whole
This is a song for the hopeful
This is a song for the faithful

This is a song for the hopeful
May God hear it sung

Harry Connick, Jr.

The Night Before Christmas

2008-12-17T13:11:00.000-05:00

It was the night before Christmas
And all through the world
Everything looked like business as usual
Shepherds sat on a hillside
Looking up at the stars
While the world fell asleep
Unaware just how deep
Was the darkness the night before Christmas

And the night before Christmas
It seemed to be just a night
But the wind blew like something was coming
And like children with secrets
That they're bursting to tell
The cedars danced in the breeze
While all of nature it seemed
Held its breath on the night before Christmas

And hope, hope long awaited
The Hope of the ages
Would break with the dawn
And the song that all of creation was anticipating
Would start with a baby's first cry

And on the night before Christmas
Mary lay down to rest
While Joseph, he paced the floor praying
And in an everyday stable
In an everyday town
In the hours to come
God would wrap Himself up
And come down from heaven
And the world would forever be changed
After the night before Christmas

Steven Curtis Chapman

While You Were Sleeping (Original Christmas Version)

2008-12-16T11:41:00.000-05:00

Oh little town of Bethlehem
Looks like another silent night
Above your deep and dreamless sleep
A giant star lights up the sky
And while you're lying in the dark
There shines an everlasting light
For the King has left His throne
And is sleeping in a manger tonight, tonight

Oh Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
For God became a man
And stepped into your world today
Oh Bethlehem, you will go down in history
As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping

Mary shivers in the cold
Trying to keep the Savior warm
Born among the animals wrapped in dirty rags
Because there was no room for Him in the world He came to save

United States of America
Looks like another silent night
As we're sung to sleep by philosophies
That save the trees and kill the children
And while we're lying in the dark
There's a shout heard 'cross the eastern sky
For the Bridegroom has returned
And has carried His bride away in the night

America, what will we miss while we are sleeping
Will Jesus come again
And leave us slumbering where we lay
America, will we go down in history
As a nation with no room for its King
Will we be sleeping
Will we be sleeping

United States of America
Looks like another silent night

Casting Crowns

Jesus, Light of the World

2008-12-14T17:32:00.000-05:00

The most beautiful night of the year
All the stars light up the sky
And the city is sparkling with silver and gold
From a million points of light
A reflection of something that’s deeper within
Just a flicker of something more

Jesus, Light of the World
Shine through the darkness
Bright as the day
Jesus, Light of the World
Shine in our hearts
Show us the way tonight

Who is this child in a manger?
Kings bow down and angels sing
The Lord of the Universe
Has come here to save us
A precious Offering
All the heavens above and the earth below
Are filled with the light of Your love

Jesus, Light of the World
Shine through the darkness
Bright as the day
Jesus, Light of the World
Shine in our hearts
Show us the way tonight

Jesus, Light of the World
Shine through the darkness
Bright as the day
Jesus, Light of the World
Shine in our hearts
Show us the way
Jesus, shine, shine
Show us the way

Light of the world
Shine in our hearts
Show us the way tonight,
Oh, Show us the way tonight

Third Day

The Son of God Came Down

2008-12-12T08:54:00.000-05:00

The Son of God came down and laid aside His crown
Born without great renown, this Sovereign One
All holiness and might, all glory shining bright
Have come to earth this night in Mary’s son
O come, let us adore

O Christ the Lord, our hope and Savior
Son of God yet made like us
O Christ the Lord, our King adored
Born a child, our Lord Jesus

Messiah born so small, asleep in cattle stall
Come to redeem our fall, nailed to a tree
This tiny, helpless child through death would reconcile
The holy God and vile, His grace so free
O come, let us adore

© 2004 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP).

O Come All Ye Faithful

2008-12-11T09:43:00.000-05:00

O Come All Ye Faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye O come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the King of Angels

O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

O Sing choirs of angels
Sing in exultation
Sing all ye citizens of Heaven above
Glory to God all glory in the Highest

O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

Yea Lord we greet Thee
Born this happy morning
Jesus to Thee be all glory given
Word of the Father
Now in flesh appearing

O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore him
Christ the Lord

John Wade

Born in Bethlehem

2008-12-10T08:35:00.000-05:00

Baby Jesus, born in a stable, humble Savior’s birth.
You left Your throne in Heaven above, to live here on the earth.

Baby Jesus, lying in a manger, crying for the world.
The Angels told the Shepherds of the Good News for us all.

Hallelujah, the King is here, given for all men.
For today, the Holy Son of God is born in Bethlehem.

Come now sinners and you saints, all peasants and all kings.
And bow before the earth’s Redeemer, let all voices sing.

Hallelujah, the King is here, given for all men.
For today the Holy Son of God, is born in Bethlehem.

Hallelujah, the King is here, given for all men.
For today the Holy Son of God, is born in Bethlehem.

Baby Jesus, do You know You’ll die for all our sins?
Don’t be afraid, for in 3 days, You will rise again.

You will rise again.

Hallelujah, the King is here, given for all men.
For today, the Holy Son of God is born in Bethlehem.

Hallelujah, the King is here, given for all men.
For today, the Holy Son of God is born in Bethlehem.

For today, the Holy Son of God is born in Bethlehem.

Born in Bethlehem.

Third Day

I Pray on Christmas

2008-12-09T09:16:00.000-05:00

I pray on Christmas
That the Lord will see me through
I pray on Christmas
He'll show me what to do

I pray on Christmas
He'll help me understand
And I pray on Christmas
He'll take me by the hand

I pray on Christmas
That the sick will soon be strong
I pray on Christmas
The Lord will hear my song

I pray on Christmas
That God will lead the way
And I pray on Christmas
He'll get me through another day

I pray on Christmas
I pray on Christmas
I pray on Christmas
He'll get me through another day

I pray on Christmas
All our problems gonna be worked out
I pray on Christmas
God'll show us what love's about

I pray on Christmas
To do your will each day
And I pray on Christmas
That I'll be with you in heaven some day

I pray on Christmas
Oh, the sick will soon be strong
I pray on Christmas
The Lord will hear my song

I pray on Christmas
That God will lead the way
And I pray, I really pray on Christmas
He'll get me through another day
He'll get me through another day...

Harry Connick, Jr.

PEACE ON EARTH?

2008-12-08T10:33:00.000-05:00

Luke 2:14, NASB
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.

As we hear so often at Christmas, the beginning of Christ's earthly life was heralded by angels who announced peace on earth (Luke 2:14).

There never really has been peace on earth, in the sense we think of it. Wars and rumors of wars have characterized the entire two millennia since that first Christmas, and all the time before it.

That announcement of peace on earth was a two-pronged proclamation. First, it declared the arrival of the only One who ultimately can bring lasting peace on earth (which He will do when He returns to bring about the final establishment of His earthly kingdom).

But more important, it was a proclamation that God's peace is available to men and women. Read the words of Luke 2:14 carefully: "'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.'

"Who are those with whom He is pleased? The ones who have yielded their lives to the authority of His government.

--John MacArthur
Truth For Today

What Child is This

2008-12-08T09:31:00.000-05:00

What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary

William Chatterton Dix

Salvation is Born

2008-12-07T17:01:00.000-05:00

Come let us worship, come let us adore
Jesus, Messiah, our Savior is born
Carol His glory and sing His sweet Name
Offer a life of thanksgiving and praise

Join with the angels proclaiming to earth
Join with the shepherds in awe of His birth
Join all creation rejoicing this morn
The glory of God-become-man has been born

Come, let us adore Him
Jesus, the hope of the world
Come, worship before Him
Christ, the Messiah has come
Salvation is born

Prophets foretold Him, the Promise of God
The hope of Salvation and light of the world
Born in a stable and born as a man
Born to fulfill God’s redeeming plan

© 2005 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP).

The Miracle of Christmas

2008-12-06T10:56:00.000-05:00

A Child is born tonight in Bethlehem
His mother holds Him close and sings a sweet lullaby
All the world is sleeping unaware that God himself has come in the night

The shepherds tremble as the angels sing
And in their song the voice of God speaks peace to the world
A Miracle has happened, God has come and God has spoken
But the Miracle has only just begun

And the God Who spoke is speaking still
And the God Who came still comes
And the Miracle that happened still happens in the heart that will believe
And we see the Miracle of Christmas

So come to Bethlehem again and see
The One Who's come to rescue us, our Saviour and King
Bring your past, the joy, the sorrow, all your hope to find tomorrow

And hear the words again, fear not and know that God is near

For the God Who spoke is speaking still
And the God Who came still comes
And the Miracle that happened still happens in the heart that will believe
And receive the Miracle of Christmas

Believe the Miracle of Christmas

Will you believe?

Steven Curtis Chapman

Joseph's Lullaby

2008-12-05T08:17:00.000-05:00

Go to sleep my Son
This manger for Your bed
You have a long road before You
Rest Your little head

Can You feel the weight of Your glory?
Do You understand the price?
Does the Father guard Your heart for now
So You can sleep tonight?

Go to sleep my Son
Go and chase Your dreams
This world can wait for one more moment
Go and sleep in peace

I believe the Glory of Heaven
Is lying in my arms tonight
Lord, I ask that He for just this moment
Simply be my child

Go to sleep, my Son
Baby, close Your eyes
Soon enough You'll save the day
But for now, dear Child of mine
Oh my Jesus,
Sleep tight

Mercy Me

A small goal...

2008-12-04T09:16:00.000-05:00

I've decided that, from now until Christmas, I'm going to attempt to post lyrics to a different Christmas song every day. I'm not saying I'll actually make it, since I forget really easily! But I'm going to try. Today's song is one of my absolute favorites...

My Heart is Bethlehem

Eternity stepped into time
And drew a mortal breath
Mystery so clearly seen
The world could not forget
That in the town of Bethlehem
In the most unlikely place
God the Father wore
A child's face

There's something in the heart of God
So purely meek and mild
That finds its best expression in
The longings of a child
For every child's heart is hungry
To be found and loved and known
By someone who would make their heart a home

My heart is Bethlehem
I will make room for Him
This humble dwelling place
Made worthy by His grace
This Child is still adored
Because He still is born
Deep in the hearts of men
My heart is Bethlehem

I wish for you this Christmas Eve
That you would find true peace
That silent nights are holy nights
And wonders never cease
There's no remembering
The ghost of Christmas past
For God's forgiveness finds your heart at last

My heart is Bethlehem
I will make room for Him
This humble dwelling place
Made worthy by His grace
This child is still adored
Because he still is born
Deep in the hearts of men
To love and not condemn
My heart is Bethlehem

John Berry

How Sweet the Day

2008-12-03T14:34:00.000-05:00

How sweet the day when Christ was born
When God Himself took human form
He came to wash our sins away
Our death to die, our debt to pay

How sweet the day when Hope appeared
The One who frees us from our fears
He came to break the power of sin
And give us power to follow Him

Oh sing for joy, lift up your voice
Let us sing for joy, the whole earth rejoice
Let us sing for joy to the Son
For Jesus our Savior has come

How sweet the day when Christ returns
We’ll see the One for whom we yearn
Then we’ll look full upon His face
Our hearts will burst with songs of praise

Come, Lord Jesus, come

© 2006 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI).

New Preamble to the Constitution

2008-12-02T11:48:00.000-05:00

A friend forwarded an email to me & it's too good not to share.

This is probably the best e-mail I've seen in a long, long time. The following has been attributed to State Representative Mitchell Kaye from GA. This guy should run for President one day.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional. We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights.'

ARTICLE I:
You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.

ARTICLE II:
You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.

ARTICLE III:
You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful; do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.

ARTICLE IV:
You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes.

ARTICLE V:
You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public health care.

ARTICLE VI:
You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.

ARTICLE VII:
You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.

ARTICLE VIII:
You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful.

ARTICLE IX:
You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.

ARTICLE X:
This is an English speaking country. We don't care where you are from, English is our language. Learn it or go back to wherever you came from!

(Lastly...)

ARTICLE XI:
You do not have the right to change our country's history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution.The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!

2008-12-01T16:38:00.000-05:00

i'm a bit obsessed with lily pottery at the moment. lily's work is amazing! i love the not-quite-perfect designs, the styles, the angles, everything. i'm thinking some of these might be perfect christmas gifts...let's hope my husband takes notice. ;) and if he has a hard time choosing...a gift certificate is always a good idea! :)

Top 24 Things You'll Never See On 24

2008-11-30T19:29:00.001-05:00

an old one i had forgotten about & came across again the other day. i love it! :)

24. A terrorist threat occurs that has nothing to do with Los Angeles.

23. Jack Bauer gets fired for killing too many suspects and CTU personnel.

22. Kim Bauer stops getting into trouble and puts her helmet back on.

21. Division comes to CTU and actually improves the situation.

20. Everyone does what Jack Bauer says, and after the threat is subdued, the remaining 12 hours are used for a party, apologies for cranky behavior, and catching up on sleep.

19. Jack Bauer explains to everyone at CTU that he is the reason why there has not been an Employee of the Month for the last 7 years. He's simply the best employee CTU ever had.

18. Jack Bauer grabs a bite to eat.

17. He gets stuck in LA traffic.

16. His car runs out of gas.

15. His cell phone dies.

14. He takes a pit stop.

13. Someone says, "Why do all these terrorist threats take 24 hours to subdue? I'm beginning to see a pattern."

12. Someone goes to an unfamiliar part of CTU and isn't jumped or questioned.

11. A non field agent goes outside of CTU on assignment and doesn't kill someone.

10. Jack Bauer goes 24 hours without killing at least one person.

9. Jack Bauer goes 24 hours without firing one shot.

8. Chloe checks into a hospital after a nervous breakdown.

7. Jack Bauer finally convinces Division that his way is better.

6. CTU orders pizza for their hardworking employees.

5. Jack Bauer gets vital information without the means of brutal interrogation.

4. Jack Bauer decides to quit CTU and run for President.

3. The Middle East leaves the U.S. alone after having enough of Jack Bauer.

2. Russia leaves the U.S. alone after having enough of Jack Bauer.

And the number one thing you'll never see happen on 24...

1. Jack Bauer dies and isn't resurrected.

only 42 more days till jack is back again! :)

what's a girl gonna do?

Wintertime Getaway

Crazy Dogs

Joy Has Dawned Upon the World

Discernment...Twilight

Lady A

Peace

He Cares.

An Open Door

This isn't 'Separate but Equal.' They're One.

This Isn’t ‘Separate but Equal.’ They’re One.by Pastor Mark Driscoll on Friday, August 27th, 2010 12:40 pm

The Equality of Echad

2 in 1 day?!

Guilty!

Sole Provider, Sole Comforter

Snow Plow

Another State Introduces Firearms Freedom Act

encouragement

Serving the Purpose of God

It Is Going To Be A Rocky Road

Never forget.

my sweet boys

funnyness

This Moment

The Yellow Prison Bus and the Future of American Healthcare

God's Ways: Ordinary and Miraculous

The way I feel lately......

Happiness.

Oklahoma

A Modern-Day Daniel

Sunday at home

Better Believer

The Land Mine of Insecurity

Michael Jackson: The REAL Cause of Death

How to Do the Job You Don't Really Want to Do

Happy Freedom Day

Words & Actions

Trusting, Day by Day

Be Slow to Anger

Thy Way, Not Mine, O Lord

Rejoicing in Suffering

Day is at Hand

Back Door Gun Control?

Love Never Fails

TEA Parties

Mr. President, Don't Mess With Texas

He is Risen

Remembering the Alamo

A simple...

Communication with God

Walk Worthy

Prayer

In memory

Citizen/Soldier

An Update on Our Hero

Thomas Jefferson...a prophet?

Home Is Where the Heart Is

Thief

Rejoice in the Lord

Death by firing squad possible in U.S. state...

L O V E .

Look Again and Think

and so it begins

James Dobson/Glenn Beck

Praise for Lee and Jackson

Christ our Covenant

Ramos and Compean are Going Home

a new era

Remain in Jesus

love story

new chairs

I See Love

The Shepherd Leads

YOU

starting the year the right way...

Slow Fade

Hope

A Baby Changes Everything

Christmas Like a Child

The Birth Of Christ And The Birth of America Are Linked

This Isn’t ‘Separate but Equal.’ They’re One.
by Pastor Mark Driscoll on Friday, August 27th, 2010 12:40 pm