Contrary to what a fellow Christian blogger noted, I don't see evangelicals as "advancing a Christian agenda at the federal level," per se--if agenda means "change." I see them as on the defensive to preserve the best Christian-influenced traditions and moral views of our nation --none of which are new or radical.
E.G. we never had to fight with the American Library Ass'n in the past to keep out of the library, away from children, porn, huge sections of gay porn, found now on library computers and shelves. I remember the Monroe, MI library battle to make the Madonna "SEX" book available to kids. The library said they weren't going to protect the children from anything in their library.
Good grief! This is new and radical view of library freedom. Since then, I believe some sensible people have restored some restrictions and responsibilites toward children in the library --because they were attracting perverts --and the women librarians knew it and felt the threat to themselves and kids.
As for library censorship which the ALA doesn't want, they nevertheless take public monies and "make choices" in their purchases. Same with school libraries. Is it not a form of censorship when they choose NOT to buy some books in favor of others?? Where does choice end and censorship begin? They aren't going to buy EVERYTHING. I think libraries can rightly choose not to spend our money on filth that corrupts, as there are better options for public money.
I remember the AW teacher who put a book title, featuring father-daughter incest in a humorous vein on the opening pages, on his supplementary reading list for 9th graders. This is the kind of thing that Christians notice and protest --and rightly so. It was brought to my attention by the mother of a student--who said, "Mom, this is a dirty book!" Why should school libraries make dirty books accessible? or spend money on them? or approve them as donations?
The hard-core liberal would say the same about religious books. That's what we are up against in this cultural war and the fight to retain decency in the public square --not an agenda to enforce Christianity --but simple morals and decency--which the liberal says is indefensible because Christianity is the source.
That's why Obama's K-12 comprehensive sex ed for which he voted in Illinois is more scary than Halloween. We don't want our kindergartners thinking about any sex, much less gay sex --which is what liberal sex ed now encourages --that, and books about boys wearing Mommy's high heels and skirts.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Palin's Wardrobe
Definitely a stupid thing for the RNC to do --to take her to nieman marcus and saks to buy a wardrobe for her whole family --you can't buy a handkerchief there for a reasonable amount. that's what my Dad bought for me from there when he made a Texas trip. It is a store for the ultra rich.
But think of all those employees who work there --and the designers and manufactureres who make the high-end clothing. They spend money too --and they pay taxes. So think of all the income tax resulting from those purchases --and the sales tax.
Think of all the millions spent by and for the candidates. Obama opted to not be limited by the gov't campaign coffers so he is outspending McCain terrifically. The clothes and hairdos on the Alaskan family were just more ADVERTISEMENT! of her and her family, of her as a candidate.
I see her as inexperienced in debate --not being a lawyer--but successful in many ways that are unusual for a woman with a family. She is a first timer to the national spotlight -- but her success record demonstrates her to be VERY sharp. and her recent speeches/interviews have been good enough for me.
I'm voting for Sarah!
All this nit-picking about her is just so much snobbery by the party that claims to champion common folks--like soccer moms and plumbers --but they really belittle such people as stupid and unsophisticated if they jump the democrats' ship!
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
But think of all those employees who work there --and the designers and manufactureres who make the high-end clothing. They spend money too --and they pay taxes. So think of all the income tax resulting from those purchases --and the sales tax.
Think of all the millions spent by and for the candidates. Obama opted to not be limited by the gov't campaign coffers so he is outspending McCain terrifically. The clothes and hairdos on the Alaskan family were just more ADVERTISEMENT! of her and her family, of her as a candidate.
I see her as inexperienced in debate --not being a lawyer--but successful in many ways that are unusual for a woman with a family. She is a first timer to the national spotlight -- but her success record demonstrates her to be VERY sharp. and her recent speeches/interviews have been good enough for me.
I'm voting for Sarah!
All this nit-picking about her is just so much snobbery by the party that claims to champion common folks--like soccer moms and plumbers --but they really belittle such people as stupid and unsophisticated if they jump the democrats' ship!
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Friday, October 24, 2008
THE GOP CAMPAIGN COULD BE BETTER ON LIFE AND THE COURTS
I agree that the GOP campaign has been lacking. Because there is so much more to be said and better ways to say it than the campaign has been doing. They needed Karl Rove, I guess. Or is he helping now?
No one in this campaign is appealing to noble ideals of Respect for Life in a thorough way. E.G. GW Bush had the "snowflakes" come to the White House. They should be a campaign issue. Children adopted as frozen embryos who are now happy, full, human beings. That should put the brakes on the embryo experiments --we should be promoting embryo adoption. Then there is at least one girl who survived abortion --whose life (through BAIPA) was voted against 4 times by Obama --SHE should be a campaign issue. Commercials should be made of these examples of GOP policy on the value of human life. And on our need for children to support the future. Our younger generation doesn't realize that they will NEED the children some day! I hear so many say they don't want to parent.
The fact that Obama will stack the Supreme Court with ACLU proponents/members should really scare the bejevers out of average Americans --who do believe in parental consent laws, better monitoring and standards for abortion clinics (like other clinics), who do believe in BAIPA (born alive infant protection act) and the ban on partial birth abortions --when the babies could be saved if they must be delivered (aborted) early for life or health of mother. Let them live! Someone will adopt!
Average Americans don't agree with the ACLU about removing "under God" from the pledge, and removing religious mottos from states and coins, and forbidding prayer in public places and removing crosses that were erected as war memorials on public property and removing Ten Commandment displays that our ancestors cherished as reminders of the historical importance and source of LAW.
We're going to see "change" alright --through Obama's judges. He will wash his hands as he so often does (as in voting "present") --and the legislators' will have to change the constitution to put a halt to these activist ACLU judges we are going to get from Obama. Meanwhile, Obama's "change" and its damage may be irreversible, as it will teach the masses that religious expression is forbidden outside church walls, that students attending religious colleges or becoming ministers shouldn't have access to the same gov't aid as other students. That church groups shouldn't have access to public parks for their events, nor equal access to public funds and facilities for their campus groups. All these are things we have had to fight for to win with conservative legislators and judges in the last 3 decades. The ACLU has brought such suits --and Obama will staff the Supreme Court with the ACLU.
The principle at stake is: A religious group should have the same access to public buildings and student funds as the gay group or any other liberal secular group --and the same right to free expression--but we've already seen the federal muzzle at our high school graduation ceremonies where we can't even pray in public for the safety and future success of our students. Where the majority can't even acknowledge faith in a Supreme Being --because of the minority who doesn't think He exists.
With Obama's courts, we will begin to see the greatest repression of the religious --particularly the majority religious group, the Christians --and it will result in the "gaying of America" --Obama says he's not for gay marriage, because he knows the majority of people have voted against it. But he will put ACLU on the Supreme Court and THEY will legalize gay marriage, and gayness will become more prevalent with high visibility and promotion. We will see more benefits for the "shacked up," and even polygamy. It will be a heyday for lawyers trying to figure out whose partner should get what benefits. If we think gov't dependency is excessive now, wait until the polygamists make demands for their families --which teach girls they have no choice but to marry some old gink if God so wills it. We will engineer our own complete national collapse at the hands of enemies from within and without. Mark these words.
So open-minded are liberals --that all common sense has left them.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
No one in this campaign is appealing to noble ideals of Respect for Life in a thorough way. E.G. GW Bush had the "snowflakes" come to the White House. They should be a campaign issue. Children adopted as frozen embryos who are now happy, full, human beings. That should put the brakes on the embryo experiments --we should be promoting embryo adoption. Then there is at least one girl who survived abortion --whose life (through BAIPA) was voted against 4 times by Obama --SHE should be a campaign issue. Commercials should be made of these examples of GOP policy on the value of human life. And on our need for children to support the future. Our younger generation doesn't realize that they will NEED the children some day! I hear so many say they don't want to parent.
The fact that Obama will stack the Supreme Court with ACLU proponents/members should really scare the bejevers out of average Americans --who do believe in parental consent laws, better monitoring and standards for abortion clinics (like other clinics), who do believe in BAIPA (born alive infant protection act) and the ban on partial birth abortions --when the babies could be saved if they must be delivered (aborted) early for life or health of mother. Let them live! Someone will adopt!
Average Americans don't agree with the ACLU about removing "under God" from the pledge, and removing religious mottos from states and coins, and forbidding prayer in public places and removing crosses that were erected as war memorials on public property and removing Ten Commandment displays that our ancestors cherished as reminders of the historical importance and source of LAW.
We're going to see "change" alright --through Obama's judges. He will wash his hands as he so often does (as in voting "present") --and the legislators' will have to change the constitution to put a halt to these activist ACLU judges we are going to get from Obama. Meanwhile, Obama's "change" and its damage may be irreversible, as it will teach the masses that religious expression is forbidden outside church walls, that students attending religious colleges or becoming ministers shouldn't have access to the same gov't aid as other students. That church groups shouldn't have access to public parks for their events, nor equal access to public funds and facilities for their campus groups. All these are things we have had to fight for to win with conservative legislators and judges in the last 3 decades. The ACLU has brought such suits --and Obama will staff the Supreme Court with the ACLU.
The principle at stake is: A religious group should have the same access to public buildings and student funds as the gay group or any other liberal secular group --and the same right to free expression--but we've already seen the federal muzzle at our high school graduation ceremonies where we can't even pray in public for the safety and future success of our students. Where the majority can't even acknowledge faith in a Supreme Being --because of the minority who doesn't think He exists.
With Obama's courts, we will begin to see the greatest repression of the religious --particularly the majority religious group, the Christians --and it will result in the "gaying of America" --Obama says he's not for gay marriage, because he knows the majority of people have voted against it. But he will put ACLU on the Supreme Court and THEY will legalize gay marriage, and gayness will become more prevalent with high visibility and promotion. We will see more benefits for the "shacked up," and even polygamy. It will be a heyday for lawyers trying to figure out whose partner should get what benefits. If we think gov't dependency is excessive now, wait until the polygamists make demands for their families --which teach girls they have no choice but to marry some old gink if God so wills it. We will engineer our own complete national collapse at the hands of enemies from within and without. Mark these words.
So open-minded are liberals --that all common sense has left them.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Obama's Ayres Connection
If Ayres and Dohrn (sp?) gave me a kick-off campaign party for one of my earlier political races in his living room (parsed away as untrue by Obama (untrue for the pres. race--but it is true re: another campaign of Obama's) --and if my supporter so recently said he wished he had bombed more --and he so recently had himself photographed standing on the American flag --I would question why this man thought I would be a good candidate. And I hope I'd have the good sense to refuse his official help.
It's natural for a discerning public to assume that these two men, Ayres and Obama, think alike at some point --are mutually critical of our nation--have shared conversation to that effect. Michelle said it when she said she was proud for the first time of AMerica because they were supporting her husband. One wonders about her past lack of pride in America if this is her first time of pride.
Obama's minister said "God damn America." Was that a prayer?? That's a poor way to say America needs to repent, which it does --regarding our pornography, abortion, remnants of racism, drugs, gambling, casinos, and general immorality as a people --as well as the corporate greed that would cause Enron's disgrace and the Freddie Mac corruption (and all the other) (headed by Obama's friend who got 90 million as the CEO of the unregulated Freddie mac--whose advice Obama sought concerning housing policy recently) --note that Obama was one of two biggest recipients of campaign support from Freddie Mac and its CEO, Raines.
We should know that Obama is not a successful change agent --considering that the progress he attempted to achieve in So. Chicago did not come to fruition in the long run.
And why not? Because politics and gov't spending are not the solution to the so. side of Chicago. They could help --but the real change needed in blighted areas of the nation is moral and spiritual.
The people who get ahead in America (on average) are the ones who take school seriously, have a good work ethic, marry one woman and support her children, and stay away from extra-marital sex, alcohol, drugs, nicotine, gambling and gangs. And even these people are experiencing much divorce and disfunction if their lives are not founded on the Lord.
The real change has to be inner --and it starts with the wisdom of the Bible: "Be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds." "If any man is in Christ He is a new creation." "ye must be born again --born of the Spirit of God."
That's the change that can transform a nation.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
It's natural for a discerning public to assume that these two men, Ayres and Obama, think alike at some point --are mutually critical of our nation--have shared conversation to that effect. Michelle said it when she said she was proud for the first time of AMerica because they were supporting her husband. One wonders about her past lack of pride in America if this is her first time of pride.
Obama's minister said "God damn America." Was that a prayer?? That's a poor way to say America needs to repent, which it does --regarding our pornography, abortion, remnants of racism, drugs, gambling, casinos, and general immorality as a people --as well as the corporate greed that would cause Enron's disgrace and the Freddie Mac corruption (and all the other) (headed by Obama's friend who got 90 million as the CEO of the unregulated Freddie mac--whose advice Obama sought concerning housing policy recently) --note that Obama was one of two biggest recipients of campaign support from Freddie Mac and its CEO, Raines.
We should know that Obama is not a successful change agent --considering that the progress he attempted to achieve in So. Chicago did not come to fruition in the long run.
And why not? Because politics and gov't spending are not the solution to the so. side of Chicago. They could help --but the real change needed in blighted areas of the nation is moral and spiritual.
The people who get ahead in America (on average) are the ones who take school seriously, have a good work ethic, marry one woman and support her children, and stay away from extra-marital sex, alcohol, drugs, nicotine, gambling and gangs. And even these people are experiencing much divorce and disfunction if their lives are not founded on the Lord.
The real change has to be inner --and it starts with the wisdom of the Bible: "Be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds." "If any man is in Christ He is a new creation." "ye must be born again --born of the Spirit of God."
That's the change that can transform a nation.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Monday, October 20, 2008
Did Obama Really Say This on "Meet the Press"? If so, he should be toast as a candidate.
NO, ACCORDING TO SNOPES http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/stance.asp
he did not say the following--and he did not appear on Meet the Press on this particular day as described below. Political columnist John Semmens of The Arizona Conservative supposedly wrote Obama's quotation below as satire.
I think this is just what Lindsborg THINKS Obama is really thinking --and his wife. A satirical piece, but it will be taken as truth the way it is presented.
In light of my Snopes research, I don't know if Lindsborg had anything to do with this email.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
he did not say the following--and he did not appear on Meet the Press on this particular day as described below. Political columnist John Semmens of The Arizona Conservative supposedly wrote Obama's quotation below as satire.
The following is a narrative taken from Sunday Morning's televised "Meet The Press'. and the author is employed by none other than the Washington Post!! Yeah...the Washington Post of New York and Los Angeles Times fame!! Must say that I'm duly impressed...[I don't know who "I" is --the one who sent it to me, or another.]
From Sunday's Televised "Meet the Press," Senator Obama was asked about his stance on the American Flag. Obama Explains National Anthem Stance
"Sun, 07 Sept. 2008 11:48:04 EST, General Bill Ginn' USAF (ret.) asked Obama to explain why he doesn't follow protocol when the National Anthem is played.
The General also stated to the Senator that according to the United States Code,
Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171...During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. At the very least, "Stand and Face It"
Senator Obama Live on Sunday states, "As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides, Obama said. 'There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression. And the anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all. It should be swapped for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song 'I'd Like To Teach the World To Sing.' If that were our anthem, then I might salute it."We should consider to reinvent our National Anthem as well as to redesign our Flag to better offer our enemies hope and love. It's my intention, if elected, to disarm America to the level of acceptance to our Middle East Brethren. If we as a Nation of warring people, should conduct ourselves as the nations of Islam, whereas peace prevails. Perhaps a state or period of mutual concord between our governments. When I become President, I will seek a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity, and a freedom from disquieting oppressive thoughts. We as a Nation have placed upon the nations of Islam an unfair injustice. My wife disrespects the Flag for many personal reasons. Together she and I have attended several flag burning ceremonies in the past, many years ago. She has her views and I have mine". Of course now, I have found myself about to become the President of the United States and I have put aside my hatred. I will use my power to bring CHANGE to this Nation, and offer the people a new path of hope. My wife and I look forward to becoming our Country's First Family. Indeed, CHANGE is about to overw helm the United States of America ."
[expletive] Yes, ladies and gentlemen, you heard it right. This could possibly be our next President.
I, for one, am speechless.
Dale Lindsborg ,
Washington Post
I think this is just what Lindsborg THINKS Obama is really thinking --and his wife. A satirical piece, but it will be taken as truth the way it is presented.
In light of my Snopes research, I don't know if Lindsborg had anything to do with this email.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Sunday, October 19, 2008
ELMWOOD SCHOOL FALL CONCERT --Shine the Light!
Miss Rohrs of the Elmwood school district has a concert at 7 pm this Thursday night and she predicts it will be really fine. A trademark of her concerts is a joint choir number for her 200 or so students as a finale, which gives even the youngest the experience of harmony singing with the other choirs.
The choirs perform in the older building auditorium, just east of the new school. The Elmwood schools are in the country, SW of BG and due east of Jerry City on the Jerry City Road.
She is thrilled with the quality of her high school groups this year.
Elmwood choirs and musicals are always entertaining.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
The choirs perform in the older building auditorium, just east of the new school. The Elmwood schools are in the country, SW of BG and due east of Jerry City on the Jerry City Road.
She is thrilled with the quality of her high school groups this year.
Elmwood choirs and musicals are always entertaining.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Why One Christian Man Won't Vote for Obama
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/huntleybrown.asp
This is an excellent email that the musician Huntley Brown sent to all his friends. It was verified as his and he responded to Snopes' verification.
I see where the ACLU wants to outlaw a tradition of prayer by a chaplain before lunch in one of our military academies.
We are going to see religious expression and freedom greatly curtailed in public by an Obama Supreme court which WILL be composed of ACLU members, radical liberals.
Polite and reasonable as Obama presents himself, he has been surrounded by radical liberals and WAS voted the most liberal senator in 2007.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
This is an excellent email that the musician Huntley Brown sent to all his friends. It was verified as his and he responded to Snopes' verification.
I see where the ACLU wants to outlaw a tradition of prayer by a chaplain before lunch in one of our military academies.
We are going to see religious expression and freedom greatly curtailed in public by an Obama Supreme court which WILL be composed of ACLU members, radical liberals.
Polite and reasonable as Obama presents himself, he has been surrounded by radical liberals and WAS voted the most liberal senator in 2007.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Friday, October 17, 2008
CAN'T BELIEVE THE BIGOTRY AGAINST JOE, THE PLUMBER!
WOW! MUDRAKE SLIPS --AND ONCE AGAIN REVEALS HIS BIGOTRY TOWARD THE BLUE COLLAR WORKING CLASS IN THIS RANT: (You can skip down to my response --I'd recommend it.)
posted by mud_rake at 8:38 AM on Oct 17, 2008
__________________
Barb said...
Yes, Mudrake, you showed your disdain for the common working man here. What a snob! Just like when you picture Toledo's most humble homes here to ridicule those who live within.
I have a plumber who bought the business from his partner --so who are you to say that Joe and his partner haven't talked about such a transaction??
And so what if he hopes to build a business that NETS him a quarter million a year --after which he will pay --what? at least 1/3 of it to taxes now and probably more? Why should he welcome a 50% or higher tax by Obama so Obama can "spread the wealth around?"
The American dream motivates us to work to get ahead of ourselves. Why should we give more than a third of our earnings to gov't? I agree with McCain, however, who said he was all for raising the taxes of the super rich like Letterman! Those people won't miss it. But small business folks --which include blue and white collar folks, even professionals like physicians, don't like paying over 1/3 of their taxable income to Uncle Sam for "spreading the wealth." Some small businesses are million dollar businesses --with the owner's salary being 1/5 or less of the revenue generated as it is --after taxes, salaries, raises, insurances, paid vacations for all. No one knows the hard work of the business owners in many businesses --take my brother's restaurant business or my husband's medical practice. They are very hands on, the ones who work the 16 hour days at least -- and responsible for incomes of many other people. Don't penalize the job-generators in this country.
If they're smart, these people are not voting for a Democrat --no matter how eloquent.
HOwever, my main reason for not voting for Obama is that he will put the ACLU on the Supreme Court --and we will once again see Christians having to fight for equal rights to public property, parks, schools, for their ideology-based meetings, while the secularists/humanists/atheists will be advantaged as the "irreligious." We will also see loss of parental rights and advancement of UN ideologies in our policies. We will see more of "Jesse's Skirt" and other transgender and gay story books taught to our kdgtn. children. Christian schools will be required to admit practicing homoesexuals and transgenders on faculties and to student body -- despite their religious beliefs against such lifestyles --or lose any gov't funding for their students.
Look at the history of court cases that conservatives have managed to win --like equal access and parental consent laws, BAIPA and Partial Birth Abortion ban--they won't be won anymore with the ACLU on the Supreme Court. War memorials with crosses on them will be disallowed. Christian elements of our heritage will be erased. Polygamy and gay marriage and benefits for the "shacked up" will be commonplace. Soon, you won't recognize America as a moral and decent nation. We will look like cold, unfriendly, childless, unfathered,divorced, immoral Europe --with Islamic majority promoting sharia law taking them over.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
He's gotten quite the media attention, Toledo's Joe [Samuel] Wurzelbacher, ever since he 'confronted' Barack Obama walking down his street last Sunday. My wife thinks that Joe wanted to show the black guy who's boss of this neighborhood, thus the confrontation.
From several reports on the man, and from his talk radio interviews, it is clear that he really wasn't interested in 'buying the plumbing business' at all, but rather, he wanted to stop Obama's momentum on that warm October afternoon.
Joe makes about 40 grand, owes $1200 in 2007 taxes, but wants to 'know' how Obama's tax plan would affect his taxes 'if'' he bought the non-union plumbing business that, in fact, is not for sale. Wurzelbacher told reporters that the company he works for, Newell Plumbing & Heating, has two full-time employees: himself and the owner, Al Newell. By the way, the business is estimated to be worth about $100k, not $250k.
Joe said that his encounter with Mr. Obama had been prompted by his desire “to ask one of these guys a question, and really corner them and get them to answer a question for once instead of tap dancing around it. And unfortunately I asked the question, but I still got a tap dance.”
No, Joe, it wasn't a tap dance, it was the loose brain matter under that shaved head of yours that was rattling. You really didn't want to ask Obama about his tax plan at all. No, you were angry at a black man moving way ahead of you and your dopey $40k scab plumbing jobs. You typify the angry white male who thinks that you deserve something just because your skin is white. After all, doors were always open to you ever since you were born.
You are in a dead-end job, no license, no apprenticeship, no hope for much more than $40k. So, you have become the typical angry redneck, looking to blame somebody else for your misery. That cocky black guy walking down your street did it, right, Joe? You are a white guy stuck in an economic dead-end, but you have to knock the black guy who obviously out-did you, And, grit your teeth, Joe, he did it all on his own, no hand-out, no affirmative action, just brains, guts and perseverance.
On talk radio, Joe was spewing the usual right-wing, aka 'libertarian' garbage talking points, looking for sympathy among that ugly knot of ideologues who want everything but aren't willing to give anything back in return. You don't think that paying taxes is 'the American way.' Your non-payment of Ohio State Tax proves that you love being a 'libertarian' but hate having to pay for that luxury. Who should pay for our 'freedoms' and our 'way of life,' Joe? Are you really so illiterate, so ignorant of American history and the duties and obligations of being an American citizen?
You want it all, Joe, but aren't willing to pay your fair share. Sounds a lot like those 'welfare mothers' whom right-wingers love to condemn. Dead from your red neck up, Joe.
update:
That 'business' that Joe wishes to 'buy' turns out to be a home in a residential neighborhood of Toledo. The address of A W Newell Inc (Newell Plumbing) is listed as 5665 Cowan Street, Toledo, OH 43613-2071. It is a 4-bedroom brick ranch home. Apparently Joe and his buddy AW work out of a house. Some 'business!'
posted by mud_rake at 8:38 AM on Oct 17, 2008
__________________
Barb said...
Yes, Mudrake, you showed your disdain for the common working man here. What a snob! Just like when you picture Toledo's most humble homes here to ridicule those who live within.
I have a plumber who bought the business from his partner --so who are you to say that Joe and his partner haven't talked about such a transaction??
And so what if he hopes to build a business that NETS him a quarter million a year --after which he will pay --what? at least 1/3 of it to taxes now and probably more? Why should he welcome a 50% or higher tax by Obama so Obama can "spread the wealth around?"
The American dream motivates us to work to get ahead of ourselves. Why should we give more than a third of our earnings to gov't? I agree with McCain, however, who said he was all for raising the taxes of the super rich like Letterman! Those people won't miss it. But small business folks --which include blue and white collar folks, even professionals like physicians, don't like paying over 1/3 of their taxable income to Uncle Sam for "spreading the wealth." Some small businesses are million dollar businesses --with the owner's salary being 1/5 or less of the revenue generated as it is --after taxes, salaries, raises, insurances, paid vacations for all. No one knows the hard work of the business owners in many businesses --take my brother's restaurant business or my husband's medical practice. They are very hands on, the ones who work the 16 hour days at least -- and responsible for incomes of many other people. Don't penalize the job-generators in this country.
If they're smart, these people are not voting for a Democrat --no matter how eloquent.
HOwever, my main reason for not voting for Obama is that he will put the ACLU on the Supreme Court --and we will once again see Christians having to fight for equal rights to public property, parks, schools, for their ideology-based meetings, while the secularists/humanists/atheists will be advantaged as the "irreligious." We will also see loss of parental rights and advancement of UN ideologies in our policies. We will see more of "Jesse's Skirt" and other transgender and gay story books taught to our kdgtn. children. Christian schools will be required to admit practicing homoesexuals and transgenders on faculties and to student body -- despite their religious beliefs against such lifestyles --or lose any gov't funding for their students.
Look at the history of court cases that conservatives have managed to win --like equal access and parental consent laws, BAIPA and Partial Birth Abortion ban--they won't be won anymore with the ACLU on the Supreme Court. War memorials with crosses on them will be disallowed. Christian elements of our heritage will be erased. Polygamy and gay marriage and benefits for the "shacked up" will be commonplace. Soon, you won't recognize America as a moral and decent nation. We will look like cold, unfriendly, childless, unfathered,divorced, immoral Europe --with Islamic majority promoting sharia law taking them over.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Monday, October 13, 2008
LEST I GET DELETED -- WHY FUNDAMENTALISTS/EVANGELICALS AREN'T JUST "OLD TESTAMENT THUMPERS" AS MUD-RAKE SAYS
In case Mud-rake removes me from discussion on his fundamentalist muck-raking blog (his name for it), I am re-posting here.
Mudrake, I just mentioned that we are not under the Old Testament Law but under New Testament grace, and you come back talking about your notion of "fundamentalists" as "O.T. Thumpers." Why is that? Didn't you read my comment above?
There isn't anything that evangelicals believe that isn't reinforced in both testaments --including our pro-life position and our view of marriage and sexuality. Both are defensible by both testaments. Orthodox Jews and Bible-believing Christians would agree on these family matters. So a person can be a "New Testament thumper" --and still come to the same conclusions about right and wrong as what Mudrake calls an "O.T. Thumper."
To the Christian blogger, Dawg-doc, a Mississippi professor of American politics, I take issue with his statement that fundamentalists want to legislate morality.
We, whom Mudrake calls "fundamentalists," are just concerned that there are radical liberals who HAVE changed abortion law, thus legislating their view of morality through the activist court --and now they want to change marriage law --which they will do once they take the Supreme Court majority again for many decades to come. Hillary, e.g., will likely be put on the court if Obama wins.
We so-called "fundamentalists" are not the "changers" wanting to legislate some new restrictions on a free society.
We believe the LAW teaches. After Roe, promiscuity rate shot through the roof and that era was called "the sexual revolution." The new law taught the American public that abortion was ok. What did we get? MUCH more unwed teen pregnancy, more men refusing to marry these girls because they contended the girls should have aborted, more teen moms keeping babies and parenting inadequately, and less adoption --and new-to-us incurable STD's.
Now the liberal people want new law to teach the masses that homosexuality, cross-dressing, etc. are normal and new and equal "rights." They want this taught in the schools, K-12. You will send your kids to home school or Christian school --and abandon the public school kids, who can't afford private ed, whose parents don't know what's going on, --you would allow these children to be exposed to books like "My 2 dads" and "Jesse's Skirt" --or whatever --books promoting crossdressing and homosexual marriage to young children. That's why Christians should favor vouchers for ALL children to afford the choice of a moral education --to break that monopoly of the secular liberal viewpoint on our schools.
Homosexual relations and cross-dressing are "allowed" and not prosecuted by law --but liberal folks want to CHANGE the law to recognize homosexuality as equal to heterosexuality in marriage and employment laws --to make us hire cross-dressers and homosexuals in any job, accommodate their financial costs for sex-changes, adoption, surrogacy, etc. Already, schools are advised to let children cross-dress, despite the disruption it causes among children.
We will then also be asked to turn a blind eye, as we almost do already, to polygamy --and to support their huge numbers of children with medicaid and foodstamps, etc. --and overlook that they teach the young girls under their fathers' authority that God wants them to marry these over-the-hill husbands of many other women. Not exactly equal rights for girls.
I'm no change-agent re: the law; I'm concerned about those who succeeded in changing abortion law in 73, who, like Mud-rake here, go so far as to say that Bible-believers are, in his words, "un-American and dangerous" because they oppose these recent and pending legal changes.
He said elsewhere that "American democracy cannot abide such a sub-group in this nation" --referring to fundamentalist or right wing Christians--even evangelicals. I don't think he sees much distinction between the two groups, but he hasn't said lately just what it is he thinks should be done with us. I think he suggested prison once, like GITMO, but I probably can't find that in his archives, as every now and then, he seems to have an attack of conscience or embarrassment and deletes whole blogs of his.
I think this new wave of evangelicals saying we should ignore the law and politics and just evangelize are missing the salt and light function of the Church in a free society--our responsibility to other people's children and not just our own. The Church has always put our money into missions, the needy, evangelization --and also into para-church groups being salt and light in the halls of Congress --slowing down abortion, retarding the nation's slide into a moral abyss, proclaiming the moral truths of our God to a nation whose faith is eroding, under the onslaught of unbelievers filling our university faculties.
We are missing how important a free society with righteous law is to the church when evangelicals become pacifists and say we should not participate in the wars for democracy. Our freedom has enabled us to prosper and to send missionaries around the world. Totalitarian governments give no room for the Gospel to be proclaimed.
Democracy with freedom of both speech and religion is essential to the spread of the Gospel --and I think we are supposed to help restrain the bullies of the world --when it comes to the eternal battle between truth and deception, good and evil.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Mudrake, I just mentioned that we are not under the Old Testament Law but under New Testament grace, and you come back talking about your notion of "fundamentalists" as "O.T. Thumpers." Why is that? Didn't you read my comment above?
There isn't anything that evangelicals believe that isn't reinforced in both testaments --including our pro-life position and our view of marriage and sexuality. Both are defensible by both testaments. Orthodox Jews and Bible-believing Christians would agree on these family matters. So a person can be a "New Testament thumper" --and still come to the same conclusions about right and wrong as what Mudrake calls an "O.T. Thumper."
To the Christian blogger, Dawg-doc, a Mississippi professor of American politics, I take issue with his statement that fundamentalists want to legislate morality.
We, whom Mudrake calls "fundamentalists," are just concerned that there are radical liberals who HAVE changed abortion law, thus legislating their view of morality through the activist court --and now they want to change marriage law --which they will do once they take the Supreme Court majority again for many decades to come. Hillary, e.g., will likely be put on the court if Obama wins.
We so-called "fundamentalists" are not the "changers" wanting to legislate some new restrictions on a free society.
We believe the LAW teaches. After Roe, promiscuity rate shot through the roof and that era was called "the sexual revolution." The new law taught the American public that abortion was ok. What did we get? MUCH more unwed teen pregnancy, more men refusing to marry these girls because they contended the girls should have aborted, more teen moms keeping babies and parenting inadequately, and less adoption --and new-to-us incurable STD's.
Now the liberal people want new law to teach the masses that homosexuality, cross-dressing, etc. are normal and new and equal "rights." They want this taught in the schools, K-12. You will send your kids to home school or Christian school --and abandon the public school kids, who can't afford private ed, whose parents don't know what's going on, --you would allow these children to be exposed to books like "My 2 dads" and "Jesse's Skirt" --or whatever --books promoting crossdressing and homosexual marriage to young children. That's why Christians should favor vouchers for ALL children to afford the choice of a moral education --to break that monopoly of the secular liberal viewpoint on our schools.
Homosexual relations and cross-dressing are "allowed" and not prosecuted by law --but liberal folks want to CHANGE the law to recognize homosexuality as equal to heterosexuality in marriage and employment laws --to make us hire cross-dressers and homosexuals in any job, accommodate their financial costs for sex-changes, adoption, surrogacy, etc. Already, schools are advised to let children cross-dress, despite the disruption it causes among children.
We will then also be asked to turn a blind eye, as we almost do already, to polygamy --and to support their huge numbers of children with medicaid and foodstamps, etc. --and overlook that they teach the young girls under their fathers' authority that God wants them to marry these over-the-hill husbands of many other women. Not exactly equal rights for girls.
I'm no change-agent re: the law; I'm concerned about those who succeeded in changing abortion law in 73, who, like Mud-rake here, go so far as to say that Bible-believers are, in his words, "un-American and dangerous" because they oppose these recent and pending legal changes.
He said elsewhere that "American democracy cannot abide such a sub-group in this nation" --referring to fundamentalist or right wing Christians--even evangelicals. I don't think he sees much distinction between the two groups, but he hasn't said lately just what it is he thinks should be done with us. I think he suggested prison once, like GITMO, but I probably can't find that in his archives, as every now and then, he seems to have an attack of conscience or embarrassment and deletes whole blogs of his.
I think this new wave of evangelicals saying we should ignore the law and politics and just evangelize are missing the salt and light function of the Church in a free society--our responsibility to other people's children and not just our own. The Church has always put our money into missions, the needy, evangelization --and also into para-church groups being salt and light in the halls of Congress --slowing down abortion, retarding the nation's slide into a moral abyss, proclaiming the moral truths of our God to a nation whose faith is eroding, under the onslaught of unbelievers filling our university faculties.
We are missing how important a free society with righteous law is to the church when evangelicals become pacifists and say we should not participate in the wars for democracy. Our freedom has enabled us to prosper and to send missionaries around the world. Totalitarian governments give no room for the Gospel to be proclaimed.
Democracy with freedom of both speech and religion is essential to the spread of the Gospel --and I think we are supposed to help restrain the bullies of the world --when it comes to the eternal battle between truth and deception, good and evil.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
ALARM BELLS! HERE'S WHAT WE ARE UP AGAINST AS BIBLE-BELIEVING AMERICANS
Bruce Lawrence writes in his book, excerpted by the blogger Mudrake, Defenders of God: The Fundamentalist Revolt Against the Modern Age:
Exactly right. We don't believe all sets of values are equally as good or equally as functional nor something to promote in public education and policy. E.G. polygamy, female circumcision and the Planned Parenthood theme: "sexual exploration is OK for unwed teens as long as they use condoms." The proof that all values are not equal is abundant in the results in peoples' lives. In the character of individuals and nations.
Christianity cultivates humaneness --compassion--kindness --responsibility --ethical behavior--morality--and CIVILITY in discourse. When we lapse, or sin, we know better and have repenting to do and amends to make. Yes, Chrsitians are blind sometimes, by the beam in their eyes --and they are known to yield to temptation same as unbelievers --but we believe there is a standard, the Word of God, to challenge us and to remind us of the right path. We know we must not justify our own sins.
But here follows the most dangerous conclusion for Christians stated by Mudrake himself:
ANd what do you propose, Mudrake, that you true democracy lovers should do to the religious right??? if you cannot abide them? Kill them? Imprison them? deport them? What is your solution for this intolerable sub-group?
The point of democracy was that majority would rule --while minority rights would have leeway.
You prove what I've always suspected with this article/book quotation -- that you and your democrat party are MOSTLY concerned about the Religious Right and their stands on gay rights and abortion --PERIOD. End of your concern. As long as we think public policy should restrain evil as defined in the Bible, we are the evil. And yet, this view that gov't should restrain evil has made America the best of nations--an exceptional nation.
The tactic of the left, to win public support, is to accuse the Religious Right of lacking compassion for the poor. Of being mere self-interested Capitalists. This is just a lie, to obstruct the fact that your real concern is our promotion of traditional moral values.
I assume this is your writing here, Mudrake:
A democracy is obligated to reward the lazy? Hmmmmm. I don't think we are obligated --except by the rule of compassion.
Out of Christian compassion, we believe in taking care of all the dysfunctional people, seems to me, whether they are just unfortunate, handicapped by their generations of dysfunctional upbringing, or by physical disability--or even if they are just lazy (which is a difficult judgment to make --it's only when you work one on one to help a lazy person keep a job that you realize that there ARE SOME lazy people.) And we really don't believe in letting anybody starve in our country --no matter what caused their hunger.
And these disadvantaged people can all vote too --so what's your gripe about democracy here, as it pertains to the Religious Right? I don't get your conclusion.
But I hear your message --we of the Christian Right must not be tolerated.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
"Many, perhaps most members of the Christian Right feel that it is one thing to permit dissidents to live in peace, quite another to say that any set of values is just as good, or just as functional, as any other set."
Exactly right. We don't believe all sets of values are equally as good or equally as functional nor something to promote in public education and policy. E.G. polygamy, female circumcision and the Planned Parenthood theme: "sexual exploration is OK for unwed teens as long as they use condoms." The proof that all values are not equal is abundant in the results in peoples' lives. In the character of individuals and nations.
Christianity cultivates humaneness --compassion--kindness --responsibility --ethical behavior--morality--and CIVILITY in discourse. When we lapse, or sin, we know better and have repenting to do and amends to make. Yes, Chrsitians are blind sometimes, by the beam in their eyes --and they are known to yield to temptation same as unbelievers --but we believe there is a standard, the Word of God, to challenge us and to remind us of the right path. We know we must not justify our own sins.
But here follows the most dangerous conclusion for Christians stated by Mudrake himself:
"If Bruce Lawrence's expression is widely held, then indeed American democracy cannot abide such a sub-group in this nation.
ANd what do you propose, Mudrake, that you true democracy lovers should do to the religious right??? if you cannot abide them? Kill them? Imprison them? deport them? What is your solution for this intolerable sub-group?
The point of democracy was that majority would rule --while minority rights would have leeway.
You prove what I've always suspected with this article/book quotation -- that you and your democrat party are MOSTLY concerned about the Religious Right and their stands on gay rights and abortion --PERIOD. End of your concern. As long as we think public policy should restrain evil as defined in the Bible, we are the evil. And yet, this view that gov't should restrain evil has made America the best of nations--an exceptional nation.
The tactic of the left, to win public support, is to accuse the Religious Right of lacking compassion for the poor. Of being mere self-interested Capitalists. This is just a lie, to obstruct the fact that your real concern is our promotion of traditional moral values.
I assume this is your writing here, Mudrake:
"Cornerstone #3 sets Fundamental Christians into direct conflict with our democracy. This sentence [Lawrences' interp of a religious right attitude] is especially egregious: "Why should the irresponsible, the lazy, and the unpatriotic be rewarded by those same public institutions?" Why? Because it is a democracy."
A democracy is obligated to reward the lazy? Hmmmmm. I don't think we are obligated --except by the rule of compassion.
Out of Christian compassion, we believe in taking care of all the dysfunctional people, seems to me, whether they are just unfortunate, handicapped by their generations of dysfunctional upbringing, or by physical disability--or even if they are just lazy (which is a difficult judgment to make --it's only when you work one on one to help a lazy person keep a job that you realize that there ARE SOME lazy people.) And we really don't believe in letting anybody starve in our country --no matter what caused their hunger.
And these disadvantaged people can all vote too --so what's your gripe about democracy here, as it pertains to the Religious Right? I don't get your conclusion.
But I hear your message --we of the Christian Right must not be tolerated.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Saturday, October 11, 2008
THOMAS SOWELL ON THE ECONOMY --DEMS AT FAULT
Do Facts Matter?
by Thomas Sowell
Friday, October 03, 2008
Sowell is a syndicated columnist, a black conservative, with impeccable credentials and reputation.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
by Thomas Sowell
Friday, October 03, 2008
Abraham Lincoln said, "You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you can't fool all the people all the time."
Unfortunately, the future of this country, as well as the fate of the Western world, depends on how many people can be fooled on election day, just a few weeks from now. Right now, the polls indicate that a whole lot of the people are being fooled a whole lot of the time.
The current financial bailout crisis has propelled Barack Obama back into a substantial lead over John McCain-- which is astonishing in view of which man and which party has had the most to do with bringing on this crisis.
It raises the question: Do facts matter? Or is Obama's rhetoric and the media's spin enough to make facts irrelevant?
Fact Number One: It was liberal Democrats, led by Senator Christopher Dodd and Congressman Barney Frank, who for years-- including the present year-- denied that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were taking big risks that could lead to a financial crisis.
It was Senator Dodd, Congressman Frank and other liberal Democrats who for years refused requests from the Bush administration to set up an agency to regulate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
It was liberal Democrats, again led by Dodd and Frank, who for years pushed for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to go even further in promoting subprime mortgage loans, which are at the heart of today's financial crisis.
Alan Greenspan warned them four years ago. So did the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers to the President. So did Bush's Secretary of the Treasury, five years ago.
Yet, today, what are we hearing? That it was the Bush administration "right-wing ideology" of "de-regulation" that set the stage for the financial crisis. Do facts matter?
We also hear that it is the free market that is to blame. But the facts show that it was the government that pressured financial institutions in general to lend to subprime borrowers, with such things as the Community Reinvestment Act and, later, threats of legal action by then Attorney General Janet Reno if the feds did not like the statistics on who was getting loans and who wasn't.
Is that the free market? Or do facts not matter?
Then there is the question of being against the "greed" of CEOs and for "the people." Franklin Raines made $90 million while he was head of Fannie Mae and mismanaging that institution into crisis.
Who in Congress defended Franklin Raines? Liberal Democrats, including Maxine Waters and the Congressional Black Caucus, at least one of whom referred to the "lynching" of Raines, as if it was racist to hold him to the same standard as white CEOs.
Even after he was deposed as head of Fannie Mae, Franklin Raines was consulted this year by the Obama campaign for his advice on housing!
The Washington Post criticized the McCain campaign for calling Raines an adviser to Obama, even though that fact was reported in the Washington Post itself on July 16th. The technicality and the spin here is that Raines is not officially listed as an adviser. But someone who advises is an adviser, whether or not his name appears on a letterhead.
The tie between Barack Obama and Franklin Raines is not all one-way. Obama has been the second-largest recipient of Fannie Mae's financial contributions, right after Senator Christopher Dodd.
But ties between Obama and Raines? Not if you read the mainstream media.
Facts don't matter much politically if they are not reported.
The media alone are not alone in keeping the facts from the public. Republicans, for reasons unknown, don't seem to know what it is to counter-attack. They deserve to lose.
But the country does not deserve to be put in the hands of a glib and cocky know-it-all, who has accomplished absolutely nothing beyond the advancement of his own career with rhetoric, and who has for years allied himself with a succession of people who have openly expressed their hatred of America.
Sowell is a syndicated columnist, a black conservative, with impeccable credentials and reputation.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
SHORT IMPORTANT VIDEO CLIP ON PRES. RACE
HERE IS A MOST IMPORTANT VIDEO CLIP THAT YOU MUST SEE --ON THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE!
A Great Man for President
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
A Great Man for President
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
BACON,EGG AND CHEESE BISCUIT, PLEASE! AFA DROPS McDONALD'S BOYCOTT
AFA ends boycott: McDonald's agrees to changes
They must've felt the effects of the boycott --as did Levi and Disney before them.
If people think such boycotts aren't "right," they are mistaken. I don't need to support a company with my dollars who is actively supporting groups that want gay marriage, undermining the traditional family.
I still maintain that homosexual temptation is no different, no more compelling and inevitable and immutable, than pedophilia, adultery, incest, rape, or any other temptation involving sexual libido --temptations which start with a first thought. AT that point, we are at a crossroads with choice. We need to fortify that mental and spiritual FILTER that refuses to allow illicit thoughts into the brain to gain a stronghold. "Just don't go there!" in one's "vain imaginations." (A Biblical phrase.)
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
October 9, 2008
Dear Jonathan & Barbara,
Great news! Because of AFA supporters like you, McDonald’s has told AFA they will remain neutral in the culture war regarding homosexual marriage. AFA is ending the boycott of McDonald’s. As you know, AFA called for the boycott in May after McDonald’s joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).
McDonald’s said McDonald’s Vice President Richard Ellis has resigned his position on the board of NGLCC and that his seat on the board will not be replaced. McDonald’s also said that the company has no plans to renew their membership in NGLCC when it expires in December.
In an e-mail to McDonald’s franchised owners the company said, “It is our policy to not be involved in political and social issues. McDonald’s remains neutral on same sex marriage or any ‘homosexual agenda’ as defined by the American Family Association.”
We appreciate the decision by McDonald’s to no longer support political activity by homosexual activist organizations. You might want to thank your local McDonald’s manager.
They must've felt the effects of the boycott --as did Levi and Disney before them.
If people think such boycotts aren't "right," they are mistaken. I don't need to support a company with my dollars who is actively supporting groups that want gay marriage, undermining the traditional family.
I still maintain that homosexual temptation is no different, no more compelling and inevitable and immutable, than pedophilia, adultery, incest, rape, or any other temptation involving sexual libido --temptations which start with a first thought. AT that point, we are at a crossroads with choice. We need to fortify that mental and spiritual FILTER that refuses to allow illicit thoughts into the brain to gain a stronghold. "Just don't go there!" in one's "vain imaginations." (A Biblical phrase.)
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Obama's Birthplace and other Questionables
This is interesting --but I'd like to find a better source. I hear that his Kenyan grandmother says he was born in Kenya.
LINK
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
LINK
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Friday, October 10, 2008
MUDRAKE SAYS PALIN WANTS THEOCRACY
Have we had a theocracy up to this point? I don't know anyone who is wanting more of a theocracy than we have now--not even Palin. We have a few theocratic elements in our gov't from the beginning--on the coins, in the Declaration of Independence, in the pledge (since the 50's --to highlight and teach our difference from atheistic communism), in our national songs, on our public buildings, in displays of Moses as Law-giver with the Ten C's, in state mottos, in some town seals when they were founded by religious groups, religious war memorials. We have many quotes from presidents and supreme court justices and other forebearers which suggest that the nation's history and character are "Christian."
Of course, the ACLU and other left-leaning folks want to erase all these vestiges of our Bible-respecting history --in the name of church-state separation --so they say.
However, we never had a theocracy, meaning a state-church as the gov't. We aren't advocating any such thing now. But right and wrong, encoded into laws, are determined by majority rule, whether or not religious beliefs --OR humanistic/atheistic beliefs --shape people's views of right and wrong. The culture war is about whose worldview will determine the laws.
Religious people have as much right as the irreligious to try to influence policy and law --based on their convictions and beliefs. Separation of church and state does not preclude such influence by the religious --or the irreligious.
We have been a Judeo-Christian nation because most of the citizens of the U.S. were at least nominal Christians and believers in the Bible --or at least believers in a Supreme Being. The corporate belief in the God of the Bible has shaped our national character such that we are the best place in the world to live. If you don't think so, you are welcome to go where things are more to your liking --maybe Siberia, Cuba, No. Korea or China.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Of course, the ACLU and other left-leaning folks want to erase all these vestiges of our Bible-respecting history --in the name of church-state separation --so they say.
However, we never had a theocracy, meaning a state-church as the gov't. We aren't advocating any such thing now. But right and wrong, encoded into laws, are determined by majority rule, whether or not religious beliefs --OR humanistic/atheistic beliefs --shape people's views of right and wrong. The culture war is about whose worldview will determine the laws.
Religious people have as much right as the irreligious to try to influence policy and law --based on their convictions and beliefs. Separation of church and state does not preclude such influence by the religious --or the irreligious.
We have been a Judeo-Christian nation because most of the citizens of the U.S. were at least nominal Christians and believers in the Bible --or at least believers in a Supreme Being. The corporate belief in the God of the Bible has shaped our national character such that we are the best place in the world to live. If you don't think so, you are welcome to go where things are more to your liking --maybe Siberia, Cuba, No. Korea or China.
The 3rd verse of our national anthem:
O thus be it ever
When free men shall stand
Between their loved homes
and the war's desolation;
Blest with victory and peace,
May the Heav'n-rescued land
Praise the power that hath made
And preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must,
When our cause it is just!
And this be our motto,
"In God is our Trust!"
And the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free --and the home of the brave!
by Francis Scott Key, 1814
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Thursday, October 9, 2008
LOOKING FOR A CHURCH HOME???
JOIN US AT HOLLAND FREE METHODIST CHURCH
AN EVANGELICAL, WORSHIPING BODY OF ABOUT 200-PLUS WHO WORSHIP WITH BEAUTIFUL MUSIC, CONTEMPORARY AND TRADITIONAL.
9:30 AM ~Sunday School for all ages ~
Dialogue Series for college-age and grad students, et al
10:45 AM ~ Worship Service
Pastor Keith Simpson presiding
6:30 PM, Sundays –Dobson video series for parents of young children ~ a fellowship group with Pastor & Mrs. Simpson at their home
THE TRUTH PROJECT:
Sunday Nights ~ HOME AWAY FROM HOME MINISTRY for adult singles and young couples (college age, 20’s and 30’s plus) that will participate in
video series by Focus on the Family,
starting on October 12, 2008, 7:00 PM
This group will be meeting in Rob's home at 7 p.m. Sundays with refreshments.
For information about these groups, call the church at 865-4640 in the mornings, M-F, or come to the Sunday AM church service. Or ask this website in comment below
We are an out-reaching and discipling body with opportunities for children (Wednesday night Christian Life Club, K - 6) , youth and musicians –and opportunities to minister in the community, through the Cherry Street Mission, Angel Food Ministries, short-term missions, Christian Life Club for children, Bible quizzing, bell-ringing for the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity help, Operation Christmas Child and YFC Campus Life
CHRISTIAN MUSICIANS WELCOME!
We have a Christmas Choir to join for a December 19~ 21 Concert, with pageantry, costuming, dance –optional rehearsal dates on Sundays or Thursdays. (Our 2 directors are music teacher/graduates of the Wheaton Conservatory of Music)
Choir rehearses at 5 pm Sundays and 7 pm Thursdays; you need not attend both days.
The church is located north of (behind) the Spring Meadows Shopping Mall, at 6605 Angola Road. Take Airport Highway west to McCord Road; North on McCord and right on Angola, to 6605 Angola, the brick colonial church with the white steeple
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
AN EVANGELICAL, WORSHIPING BODY OF ABOUT 200-PLUS WHO WORSHIP WITH BEAUTIFUL MUSIC, CONTEMPORARY AND TRADITIONAL.
9:30 AM ~Sunday School for all ages ~
Dialogue Series for college-age and grad students, et al
10:45 AM ~ Worship Service
Pastor Keith Simpson presiding
6:30 PM, Sundays –Dobson video series for parents of young children ~ a fellowship group with Pastor & Mrs. Simpson at their home
THE TRUTH PROJECT:
Sunday Nights ~ HOME AWAY FROM HOME MINISTRY for adult singles and young couples (college age, 20’s and 30’s plus) that will participate in
video series by Focus on the Family,
starting on October 12, 2008, 7:00 PM
This group will be meeting in Rob's home at 7 p.m. Sundays with refreshments.
For information about these groups, call the church at 865-4640 in the mornings, M-F, or come to the Sunday AM church service. Or ask this website in comment below
We are an out-reaching and discipling body with opportunities for children (Wednesday night Christian Life Club, K - 6) , youth and musicians –and opportunities to minister in the community, through the Cherry Street Mission, Angel Food Ministries, short-term missions, Christian Life Club for children, Bible quizzing, bell-ringing for the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity help, Operation Christmas Child and YFC Campus Life
CHRISTIAN MUSICIANS WELCOME!
We have a Christmas Choir to join for a December 19~ 21 Concert, with pageantry, costuming, dance –optional rehearsal dates on Sundays or Thursdays. (Our 2 directors are music teacher/graduates of the Wheaton Conservatory of Music)
Choir rehearses at 5 pm Sundays and 7 pm Thursdays; you need not attend both days.
The church is located north of (behind) the Spring Meadows Shopping Mall, at 6605 Angola Road. Take Airport Highway west to McCord Road; North on McCord and right on Angola, to 6605 Angola, the brick colonial church with the white steeple
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
GOD VISITS CLC
Christian Life Club was tonight. I almost have laryngitis coming off of some virus or other. Noelle was my helper and I thought I lost my clipboard with my music sheets, my scriptures for the magnetic board for a lesson, and some notes. So Noelle went to my car --I had to tell her, "Don't close my gas cap door --or it will take 2 people to open it. My husband and I opened it as I was almost on E. I have to press the electic button, while he hits it --and then it pops open. I was afraid somebody would close it before I got to the gas station. O the hardships of the needy!
Anyway, she finally found my clipboard. And we started our song by the Gaithers, "I am a Promise." For this month's badge to earn is about our uniqueness in the Lord. Our specialness to God. His purposes for our lives.
They sing so well--15 of them tonight. We were missing a few. A diverse group, 3 AFr. Am. boys, 1 from India, 3 white boys (one adopted from Romania), 3 white girls, and 5 black girls. And they do tend to all sit with their race--but they mix it up some --during the larger song times --and the main division is between the new kids bused in vs. the kids who have been together since nursery days whose parents bring them. They are open to each other, however, and not cliqueish. The black girls probably seem the tightest together. The 3 white girls are independents more than buddies of each other.
Then we went to our classroom and they were so quiet --and my notes had gotten out of order. I didn't start the way I intended --but there they were, all so attentive! It was miraculous as though the Lord were truly among us and I believe He was. I talked about CHARACTER --what we are like. Talked about how we may not all be the fastest, best ball players, strongest, prettiest, handsomest, smartest -- (and I told them they were a truly good looking group --and they are --and always clean and nicely dressed) and we may not all be musical or the best singers --but they do sound good --BUT NEVERTHELESS, while we may not all excel in various activities and talents, we can all be EXCELLENT in the qualities that matter to God. Excellent in loving, forgiving, kindness, honesty, unselfishness, moral purity (which I defined quickly as waiting for marriage before making babies --I have 3rd and 4th graders, some of whose parents may not have waited and may not be married now for all I know --my obligation is to the truth--I didn't linger there --I know some know how babies come and some don't--and my concern is for those who will start sexual activity too young). We could also be excellent in practicing the Golden Rule, which we discussed, and in loving God, family, neighbor, and enemy. We could all be excellent in humility --not thinking more highly of ourselves than of others --that God hates arrogance and thinking we are better or more important than others.
I stressed that we were a Christian Life Club and that we needed to show these good character traits to each other if we were to be called Christians. Christians are to be known by their love for each other --no matter what differences they have.
And then we got to the issue of how does one become a Christian. And they were still so reverent. It was a God-moment as we went through the scriptures on believing in Jesus as the resurrected Savior --how sin separates us from Him -- but Jesus died to give us eternal life --and to buy us back, redeem us from Satan who wants people to fail. And they closed their eyes and many raised their hands indicating they wanted to receive Christ and commit to follow Him "for the first time" in their lives. I led them in a prayer of repentance and faith --and you could have heard a pin drop.
--and then we finished up --making posters about us.
There are a few problem kids, one girl whom I know nothing about --who complains often that someone is being mean to her --and she wanted to call her mother. There was only a half hour left. She said her mother told her to call if anyone was mean to her. I showed her the phone in our classroom, but not how to dial 9 first as it was too close to closing time to have her mother start out early--or whatever she hoped she'd do. I don't always hear or see everything --and it's hard to know what to believe when they complain about each other --but it points out how the emphasis on honesty and kindness is so important for this age --or any age, for that matter.
We open and close with joint sessions with great music. "Rejoice in the Lord Always" --a delightful round. A swing version of Swing Low. "In My Father's House." Jehovah Jirah. Lift Jesus Higher --the Wotota choir song ending in What a Friend we Have in Jesus. I can Do all things through Christ who STrengthens Me. which is one of our memory verses.
And the Cartoon Song --"if cartoons could praise God...." Steph made a video for that with pictures of people from the church inserted. It's delightful.
I can't over-recommend our CLC program or the heart of the leadership (Inga) to see kids come to faith in Christ.
It's nice to be once more in a church (like i was in 2 such churches until 1974) which isn't fussing over worship music/style/Pentecostalism or issues of women's roles --but focusing on evangelism and the needs of the poor! It's really our basic mission! And we are focused.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Anyway, she finally found my clipboard. And we started our song by the Gaithers, "I am a Promise." For this month's badge to earn is about our uniqueness in the Lord. Our specialness to God. His purposes for our lives.
They sing so well--15 of them tonight. We were missing a few. A diverse group, 3 AFr. Am. boys, 1 from India, 3 white boys (one adopted from Romania), 3 white girls, and 5 black girls. And they do tend to all sit with their race--but they mix it up some --during the larger song times --and the main division is between the new kids bused in vs. the kids who have been together since nursery days whose parents bring them. They are open to each other, however, and not cliqueish. The black girls probably seem the tightest together. The 3 white girls are independents more than buddies of each other.
Then we went to our classroom and they were so quiet --and my notes had gotten out of order. I didn't start the way I intended --but there they were, all so attentive! It was miraculous as though the Lord were truly among us and I believe He was. I talked about CHARACTER --what we are like. Talked about how we may not all be the fastest, best ball players, strongest, prettiest, handsomest, smartest -- (and I told them they were a truly good looking group --and they are --and always clean and nicely dressed) and we may not all be musical or the best singers --but they do sound good --BUT NEVERTHELESS, while we may not all excel in various activities and talents, we can all be EXCELLENT in the qualities that matter to God. Excellent in loving, forgiving, kindness, honesty, unselfishness, moral purity (which I defined quickly as waiting for marriage before making babies --I have 3rd and 4th graders, some of whose parents may not have waited and may not be married now for all I know --my obligation is to the truth--I didn't linger there --I know some know how babies come and some don't--and my concern is for those who will start sexual activity too young). We could also be excellent in practicing the Golden Rule, which we discussed, and in loving God, family, neighbor, and enemy. We could all be excellent in humility --not thinking more highly of ourselves than of others --that God hates arrogance and thinking we are better or more important than others.
I stressed that we were a Christian Life Club and that we needed to show these good character traits to each other if we were to be called Christians. Christians are to be known by their love for each other --no matter what differences they have.
And then we got to the issue of how does one become a Christian. And they were still so reverent. It was a God-moment as we went through the scriptures on believing in Jesus as the resurrected Savior --how sin separates us from Him -- but Jesus died to give us eternal life --and to buy us back, redeem us from Satan who wants people to fail. And they closed their eyes and many raised their hands indicating they wanted to receive Christ and commit to follow Him "for the first time" in their lives. I led them in a prayer of repentance and faith --and you could have heard a pin drop.
--and then we finished up --making posters about us.
There are a few problem kids, one girl whom I know nothing about --who complains often that someone is being mean to her --and she wanted to call her mother. There was only a half hour left. She said her mother told her to call if anyone was mean to her. I showed her the phone in our classroom, but not how to dial 9 first as it was too close to closing time to have her mother start out early--or whatever she hoped she'd do. I don't always hear or see everything --and it's hard to know what to believe when they complain about each other --but it points out how the emphasis on honesty and kindness is so important for this age --or any age, for that matter.
We open and close with joint sessions with great music. "Rejoice in the Lord Always" --a delightful round. A swing version of Swing Low. "In My Father's House." Jehovah Jirah. Lift Jesus Higher --the Wotota choir song ending in What a Friend we Have in Jesus. I can Do all things through Christ who STrengthens Me. which is one of our memory verses.
And the Cartoon Song --"if cartoons could praise God...." Steph made a video for that with pictures of people from the church inserted. It's delightful.
I can't over-recommend our CLC program or the heart of the leadership (Inga) to see kids come to faith in Christ.
It's nice to be once more in a church (like i was in 2 such churches until 1974) which isn't fussing over worship music/style/Pentecostalism or issues of women's roles --but focusing on evangelism and the needs of the poor! It's really our basic mission! And we are focused.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
MUDRAKE WROTE TODAY:
Poor Cindy McCain- now she's been dragged into this ugly mess called the McCain Campaign. Reading each word slowly form the teleprompter, without much emotion, she said, "
"I'm proud of my sons, but let me tell you, the day that Senator Obama decided to cast a vote to not fund my son when he was serving sent a cold chill through my body," she said, drawing a chorus of boos."Let me tell you: I would suggest that Senator Obama change shoes with me for just one day, and see what it means, and see what it means to have a loved one serving in the armed forces, and more importantly, serving in harm's way."Sadly for Mrs. McCain, she stopped there. Had she continued with the rest of the facts, she may have exhonorated herself. Yet, not surprisingly, she didn't say the rest.The rest is that her husband, John McCain, also "decided to cast a vote to not fund my son when he was serving." Foolish woman- as if nobody in America knew that fact. How despirate the McCain Campaign has become.
posted by mud_rake at 9:36 PM on Oct 8, 2008
Barb said...
You are such a prevaricator --or stupid --surely not that--yes, mcCain voted against the aid --ONLY BECAUSE YOU DEMS TIED IN A WITHDRAWAL TIMETABLE. He favored the aid --but not the timetable, so he couldn't vote for the aid until the timetable was taken off the table --which it eventually was because the public was getting disgusted with the attempted manipulation of military strategy by the democrats in Congress.
but surely you knew this?
Announcing a military departure in Iraq is guaranteeing collapse in Iraq after we leave. We need to stay there like we did in Germany.
October 8, 2008 9:55 PM
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
THE FACES AND BODIES OF ABORTION
Democrats, stop kidding yourselves. Abortion is murder --not a difficult choice that a woman sadly makes. I'm not for criminalizing those who have done it, but we need to to stop doing it.
http://www.priestsforlife.org/resources/photosassorted/
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
http://www.priestsforlife.org/resources/photosassorted/
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
DOES THE GOP USE/ABUSE EVANGELICALS? --(amended 10/8)
Mudrake said that evangelicals are "pimped" by the GOP --meaning, I guess, that we are "used" just for our votes and that the GOP could care less about our issues.
My answer to that was as follows: Professional party big wigs may "pimp" the prolife Catholics and evangelicals, as he says, knowing this is a large voting bloc they need. BUT they gave us born again Condi Rice, more than 2 pro-life Supreme Court justices, an evangelical presidential speech writer for awhile, several sincerely pro-life senators and representatives and Christians in Congress. (Read Chuck Colson's Born Again--and how a group of Congressmen prayed for him and led him to faith in Christ by giving him C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity to read.)
By the way, I believe Geo Bush's Christianity is real. He ALSO gave us the faith-based initiative possibility, which has helped poor churches have programs for needy people, though there were too many strings attached for evangelicals. He compassionately tried to rescue all the AIDS victims in Africa --which is money down a rat hole if they don't change their promiscuous ways via abstinence education which has reduced new AIDS cases in one nation where they use it. And finally, Geo Bush started out with regular Bible studies and prayer optional for staff in the White House --as a Jewish biographer of the Bush White House pointed out.
I still say, history will reveal that he wasn't wrong about Iraq and not the cause of our economic woes. But he was not able to shrink entitlements --or say no to any group with its hand out because of their own choices (the mortgage and wall street bail-outs.)
Bush vetoed tax- supported stem cell research on abortion victims. Pro-life folks prevented abortions funded by the military health system; the party gave us equal access legislation in the schools, some conservative and God-fearing judges at various levels, SOME successful resistance to the ACLU's war on national monuments, Ten Commandments, religious mottos, etc. and some restrictions on abortion at state and federal level.
The GOP stands for parental rights and vouchers for educational choice, very important to evangelicals.
Because the other party is strong in opposition, it's hard for GOP leaders, sincere or not, pimping or not, to accomplish much re the social issues. GOP majorities have never been that great in Congress that they could reverse Roe, e.g.
It doesn't help when the young evangelical voters are weak on worldview, and unaware of the history of the battle between conservatives and liberals, the conservative gains and losses, having been steeped in liberalness at the secular u's.
Of course, many religious folks have been democrats by family history --believing the democrat party to be the party of the common man, the laborer, the poor. But talk about pimped, the Democratic party really is the party of liberal elites, atheists, God-haters, Christian -haters, and leftwing radicals --THEY lead that party more than evangelicals lead the GOP.
Evangelicals are so busy with family and church; political involvement is difficult. It's hard to find good candidates among these people --because they do prioritize family and church and that keeps them 100 per cent occupied, in addition to their jobs. But there are evangelical republicans who have made our voice heard so loudly, that Mudrake thinks we are the biggest threat to the planet, advocating fundamentalist theocracy. He's wrong, of course.
He thinks we should be denied free speech in the name of separation of church and state and by his view of "hate speech" --which is any speech that says some behaviors are sins; i.e. preaching the Bible on moral matters. HIS is the dangerous thinking, contrary to the First Amendment, threatening to religious freedom.
I swear he would throw me in a North Korean prison for daily beatings --as this one dear Christian lady experienced (Voice of the Martyrs' latest magazine.)
So vitriolic he gets.
Whether or not all the GOP leadership agrees with evangelicals, I will vote for them because they are the pro-life party. I can't vote for people who think abortion is a woman's right and want to fight for that right. It tells me a lot about their respect for God -- that their respect for Him is not enough that I should want them heading our country.
I prefer a president who might actually pray and be heard by the ruler of the universe. As we are going to need the help of God to keep our ship of state afloat.
As for the budget crisis --the greed of the CEO's --often democrats --and the greed and corruption of the lenders (so many grads of liberal education), the decline of ethics in business, the careless spending of the whole nation resulting in credit card debt, I blame the liberals who have wanted our people to lack faith in God --which lack of faith allows for corruption everywhere. Christianity is salt and light --we ought not erode it by public policies nor engender hostility toward Christendom, as Mudrake does. Does he want to live next door to people who determine right and wrong based on their personal desires? instead of eternal truths? I guess he does.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
My answer to that was as follows: Professional party big wigs may "pimp" the prolife Catholics and evangelicals, as he says, knowing this is a large voting bloc they need. BUT they gave us born again Condi Rice, more than 2 pro-life Supreme Court justices, an evangelical presidential speech writer for awhile, several sincerely pro-life senators and representatives and Christians in Congress. (Read Chuck Colson's Born Again--and how a group of Congressmen prayed for him and led him to faith in Christ by giving him C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity to read.)
By the way, I believe Geo Bush's Christianity is real. He ALSO gave us the faith-based initiative possibility, which has helped poor churches have programs for needy people, though there were too many strings attached for evangelicals. He compassionately tried to rescue all the AIDS victims in Africa --which is money down a rat hole if they don't change their promiscuous ways via abstinence education which has reduced new AIDS cases in one nation where they use it. And finally, Geo Bush started out with regular Bible studies and prayer optional for staff in the White House --as a Jewish biographer of the Bush White House pointed out.
I still say, history will reveal that he wasn't wrong about Iraq and not the cause of our economic woes. But he was not able to shrink entitlements --or say no to any group with its hand out because of their own choices (the mortgage and wall street bail-outs.)
Bush vetoed tax- supported stem cell research on abortion victims. Pro-life folks prevented abortions funded by the military health system; the party gave us equal access legislation in the schools, some conservative and God-fearing judges at various levels, SOME successful resistance to the ACLU's war on national monuments, Ten Commandments, religious mottos, etc. and some restrictions on abortion at state and federal level.
The GOP stands for parental rights and vouchers for educational choice, very important to evangelicals.
Because the other party is strong in opposition, it's hard for GOP leaders, sincere or not, pimping or not, to accomplish much re the social issues. GOP majorities have never been that great in Congress that they could reverse Roe, e.g.
It doesn't help when the young evangelical voters are weak on worldview, and unaware of the history of the battle between conservatives and liberals, the conservative gains and losses, having been steeped in liberalness at the secular u's.
Of course, many religious folks have been democrats by family history --believing the democrat party to be the party of the common man, the laborer, the poor. But talk about pimped, the Democratic party really is the party of liberal elites, atheists, God-haters, Christian -haters, and leftwing radicals --THEY lead that party more than evangelicals lead the GOP.
Evangelicals are so busy with family and church; political involvement is difficult. It's hard to find good candidates among these people --because they do prioritize family and church and that keeps them 100 per cent occupied, in addition to their jobs. But there are evangelical republicans who have made our voice heard so loudly, that Mudrake thinks we are the biggest threat to the planet, advocating fundamentalist theocracy. He's wrong, of course.
He thinks we should be denied free speech in the name of separation of church and state and by his view of "hate speech" --which is any speech that says some behaviors are sins; i.e. preaching the Bible on moral matters. HIS is the dangerous thinking, contrary to the First Amendment, threatening to religious freedom.
I swear he would throw me in a North Korean prison for daily beatings --as this one dear Christian lady experienced (Voice of the Martyrs' latest magazine.)
So vitriolic he gets.
Whether or not all the GOP leadership agrees with evangelicals, I will vote for them because they are the pro-life party. I can't vote for people who think abortion is a woman's right and want to fight for that right. It tells me a lot about their respect for God -- that their respect for Him is not enough that I should want them heading our country.
I prefer a president who might actually pray and be heard by the ruler of the universe. As we are going to need the help of God to keep our ship of state afloat.
As for the budget crisis --the greed of the CEO's --often democrats --and the greed and corruption of the lenders (so many grads of liberal education), the decline of ethics in business, the careless spending of the whole nation resulting in credit card debt, I blame the liberals who have wanted our people to lack faith in God --which lack of faith allows for corruption everywhere. Christianity is salt and light --we ought not erode it by public policies nor engender hostility toward Christendom, as Mudrake does. Does he want to live next door to people who determine right and wrong based on their personal desires? instead of eternal truths? I guess he does.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
McCain WON!
I really thought McCain was smooth and did the best. It was surprising to hear the pundits on Fox say differently--but Karl Rove,Shawn Hannity and Fred Thompson played up his strengths. Perhaps the other panel (with Hume, Kristol, Barnes, et al) has been accused of being too one-sided--so they all ganged up on McCain tonight --and will probably swing the other way on the next debates. I always think the media does that --they try to be even-handed until the heat turns up and election day draws nigh!
There was conservative concern about McCain's new proposal of a bail-out of the other poorly advised group of mortgage losers. Where will this bail-out business end??? I think his point would be that ordinary americans are losing their homes --and they should be bailed out if the wall street fat cats are. AS for the latter, I wish they could be made to give up their excessive personal profits from their defunct business.
On Sept. 29, there was a letter to the editor in the Blade that is worth looking up --a man wrote bulleted items about the Wall Street bail-out and noted that the corruption was started and lack of oversight signed by Clinton in 1999. That McCain and Bush tried to get the democrats to see the impending disaster later (McCain alluded to a senators' letter about this tonight.) Democrat senator Barney Franks argued that we want all people to be able to own homes. The writer said that leading democrats, Senator Dodds and upstart Senator Obama, were THE two biggest beneficiaries of the corrupt lending organizations. (If I had that article in the room with me, my info would be better--sorry --just go to Blade website and look up the readers' forum for Sept. 29.)
I want to hear Obama defend his position on FOCA (freedom of choice act regarding abortion.) He is so far left on that topic.
Bill Clinton ALSO said he thought we should reduce the need for abortions, the number of abortions, while keeping it available. He did nothing to keep that campaign promise --and did a lot to demonstrate womanizing before the world. One of his girlfriends, Gennifer Flowers, said he made her get an abortion of their child conceived when he was governor.
Liberal, pro-abortion democrats have no intention of limiting the numbers of abortion when they, like Pelosi and Obama, advocate passage of FOCA--which will nullify any progress made by the states to regulate abortuaries, abortionists, and to limit late-term abortions, prohibit killing the survivors of abortions (Obama voted 4 times to let those survivors die--as though the mother's choice is absolute.) Parental consent laws will be affected. All the gains of the pro-life movement will be eliminated under Obama --because he is philosophically as far left on the subject as one can possibly be.
He will give us leftists on the Supreme Court --and they will uphold unlimited abortion, give us gay marriage, hate crime law that prohibits free speech, especially biblical speech against homosexual activity, in particular. We will see churches and religious schools lose tax deductions if they don't approve homosexuality and hire and admit homosexuals --even though their religious belief says homosexuality is a sin. Schools accepting vouchers will not be allowed to discriminate in hiring or admissions on basis of homosexuality, transgendering. The only way to get a teacher to leave who comes dressed as a man one day and a woman the next day, will be to settle out of court and give them a fortune (as already happened at a Free Methodist college.)
The new national religion will be moral relativity/atheistic secular humanism --or maybe Oprah's new age spirituality. Judeo-Christian values will no longer pre-dominate as the ethical system of our country. Entertainment media will be even more indecent, and porn more prevalent (if possible --like European tv) --and it won't be long before ages of consent are lowered for sexual activity. Sex ed in schools won't be anything decent people want for their children. The benighted leftists won't see any reason not to sanctify polygamy as a rightful choice --completely missing the harms to the young girls, the inability of most men to afford multiple families without welfare. Leftist judges won't acknowledge the inherent inequality in a closed system that teaches women that God wants them to be one of many wives. Muslims will feel free to practice their polygamy here.
I predict we will sink under even greater debt, family alienation, more single parenting, natural disasters as God's judgments, terrorist invasion --as more and more people forget who God is and what He wants from us.
"If america ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great"--French philosopher Alexis de Toqueville, 19th C.
We're already there --if we elect this ardent pro-abortionist.
I was reminded of the movie "Swingvote" where both candidates promised anything to get elected. I think McCain's appeal tonight was to all those who are losing their homes because of their bad loans --who were not helped by the Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac bail-out.
Obama's appeal was to those conservatives who believe America should go and stop genocide. McCain should've jumped in there to say that's what we did by going to Iraq --and what we do by opposing abortion.
Both men had grand plans for spending money while claiming they would cut spending.
If we can't tighten the national belt and curb our usual spending habits, and get out of personal and national debt, we are doomed. Sorry to be so pessimistic.
I do think a McCain-Palin vote is a step in the right direction.
We're going to see how bitterly divided this nation is, once again, by this election. The two parties just do NOT share the same worldview, the same view of good and evil.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
There was conservative concern about McCain's new proposal of a bail-out of the other poorly advised group of mortgage losers. Where will this bail-out business end??? I think his point would be that ordinary americans are losing their homes --and they should be bailed out if the wall street fat cats are. AS for the latter, I wish they could be made to give up their excessive personal profits from their defunct business.
On Sept. 29, there was a letter to the editor in the Blade that is worth looking up --a man wrote bulleted items about the Wall Street bail-out and noted that the corruption was started and lack of oversight signed by Clinton in 1999. That McCain and Bush tried to get the democrats to see the impending disaster later (McCain alluded to a senators' letter about this tonight.) Democrat senator Barney Franks argued that we want all people to be able to own homes. The writer said that leading democrats, Senator Dodds and upstart Senator Obama, were THE two biggest beneficiaries of the corrupt lending organizations. (If I had that article in the room with me, my info would be better--sorry --just go to Blade website and look up the readers' forum for Sept. 29.)
I want to hear Obama defend his position on FOCA (freedom of choice act regarding abortion.) He is so far left on that topic.
Bill Clinton ALSO said he thought we should reduce the need for abortions, the number of abortions, while keeping it available. He did nothing to keep that campaign promise --and did a lot to demonstrate womanizing before the world. One of his girlfriends, Gennifer Flowers, said he made her get an abortion of their child conceived when he was governor.
Liberal, pro-abortion democrats have no intention of limiting the numbers of abortion when they, like Pelosi and Obama, advocate passage of FOCA--which will nullify any progress made by the states to regulate abortuaries, abortionists, and to limit late-term abortions, prohibit killing the survivors of abortions (Obama voted 4 times to let those survivors die--as though the mother's choice is absolute.) Parental consent laws will be affected. All the gains of the pro-life movement will be eliminated under Obama --because he is philosophically as far left on the subject as one can possibly be.
He will give us leftists on the Supreme Court --and they will uphold unlimited abortion, give us gay marriage, hate crime law that prohibits free speech, especially biblical speech against homosexual activity, in particular. We will see churches and religious schools lose tax deductions if they don't approve homosexuality and hire and admit homosexuals --even though their religious belief says homosexuality is a sin. Schools accepting vouchers will not be allowed to discriminate in hiring or admissions on basis of homosexuality, transgendering. The only way to get a teacher to leave who comes dressed as a man one day and a woman the next day, will be to settle out of court and give them a fortune (as already happened at a Free Methodist college.)
The new national religion will be moral relativity/atheistic secular humanism --or maybe Oprah's new age spirituality. Judeo-Christian values will no longer pre-dominate as the ethical system of our country. Entertainment media will be even more indecent, and porn more prevalent (if possible --like European tv) --and it won't be long before ages of consent are lowered for sexual activity. Sex ed in schools won't be anything decent people want for their children. The benighted leftists won't see any reason not to sanctify polygamy as a rightful choice --completely missing the harms to the young girls, the inability of most men to afford multiple families without welfare. Leftist judges won't acknowledge the inherent inequality in a closed system that teaches women that God wants them to be one of many wives. Muslims will feel free to practice their polygamy here.
I predict we will sink under even greater debt, family alienation, more single parenting, natural disasters as God's judgments, terrorist invasion --as more and more people forget who God is and what He wants from us.
"If america ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great"--French philosopher Alexis de Toqueville, 19th C.
We're already there --if we elect this ardent pro-abortionist.
I was reminded of the movie "Swingvote" where both candidates promised anything to get elected. I think McCain's appeal tonight was to all those who are losing their homes because of their bad loans --who were not helped by the Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac bail-out.
Obama's appeal was to those conservatives who believe America should go and stop genocide. McCain should've jumped in there to say that's what we did by going to Iraq --and what we do by opposing abortion.
Both men had grand plans for spending money while claiming they would cut spending.
If we can't tighten the national belt and curb our usual spending habits, and get out of personal and national debt, we are doomed. Sorry to be so pessimistic.
I do think a McCain-Palin vote is a step in the right direction.
We're going to see how bitterly divided this nation is, once again, by this election. The two parties just do NOT share the same worldview, the same view of good and evil.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Monday, October 6, 2008
DO YOU AGREE WITH OBAMA? TAKE THIS TEST!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
RESPECT LIFE SUNDAY AGAINST OBAMA???
Blogger Mudrake wrote today: "Many children in the U.S. go to bed hungry and are dying needlessly because of stupied fundamentalist Republican policies.
But, Respect Life Sunday is nothing but a single attack on
Obama."
Respect Life Sunday has been observed for years and thus can't be called an attack on Obama--I and people from my church used to join the Catholics along Monroe Street to hold up the distributed posters that say "abortion kills children" --and "Jesus heals and forgives."
Since the demonstration is annual, it has nothing to do with Obama, per se --except that he doesn't believe abortion kills children --and apparently doesn't care what God thinks about the issue. Says he hasn't the "paygrade" to know when human life begins --even though any scientist could tell him. He is very radical on the issue --not even wanting to save kids who survive the abortions --but letting them die in a nurse's arms. He heard all the nurses' and survivor's testimonies about these kids being left to die after surviving the procedure to kill them -- and how the survivors were glad they survived--and yet still maintains his lonely vote against BAIPA. (Born alive infants' protection Act.)
Now, Mudrake, just which Republican policies are sending children to bed hungry at night and causing them to die needlessly??? The gov't has free and reduced-price lunch programs at school, plus the food stamp program -- so why are the kids hungry at night? Have you any idea how much food these poor, hungry kids throw away at school every day? --barrels of food. If they are going to bed hungry, it's probably because Mom spent all the foodstamps on potato chips and pop the first week she got them --instead of planning menus and buying sensibly. I don't know if needy school kids still get school breakfasts; they used to in Toledo. Maybe they found that not enough used that program though they were elegible. They may have had to come early.
I'm not aware of children that don't get enough health care or food to prevent their deaths, if their parents function in their behalf. But no question about it, divorce and single parenting do deprive the children economically--because the most advantaged families typically have a married mother and father in their homes --instead of an absentee dad splitting monies between multiple households in child support. Our moral choices effect poverty even more than gov't. does.
Granted, failing businesses hurt families, too, and gov't can affect business. However, my theory on that is that we should've been building cars Americans needed instead of these gas guzzlers Detroit kept turning out --and more durable cars --as we lost that business to the Asians instead of being the top car producers. That has impacted MUCH industry --especially in our city. This was the fault of CEO leadership --and I saw somewhere that most CEO's are democrats and the corporations tend to be very leftist in their social views and support? So is it really the GOP's fault that the U.S. auto industry has tanked along with much of corporate America?
But, Respect Life Sunday is nothing but a single attack on
Obama."
Respect Life Sunday has been observed for years and thus can't be called an attack on Obama--I and people from my church used to join the Catholics along Monroe Street to hold up the distributed posters that say "abortion kills children" --and "Jesus heals and forgives."
Since the demonstration is annual, it has nothing to do with Obama, per se --except that he doesn't believe abortion kills children --and apparently doesn't care what God thinks about the issue. Says he hasn't the "paygrade" to know when human life begins --even though any scientist could tell him. He is very radical on the issue --not even wanting to save kids who survive the abortions --but letting them die in a nurse's arms. He heard all the nurses' and survivor's testimonies about these kids being left to die after surviving the procedure to kill them -- and how the survivors were glad they survived--and yet still maintains his lonely vote against BAIPA. (Born alive infants' protection Act.)
Now, Mudrake, just which Republican policies are sending children to bed hungry at night and causing them to die needlessly??? The gov't has free and reduced-price lunch programs at school, plus the food stamp program -- so why are the kids hungry at night? Have you any idea how much food these poor, hungry kids throw away at school every day? --barrels of food. If they are going to bed hungry, it's probably because Mom spent all the foodstamps on potato chips and pop the first week she got them --instead of planning menus and buying sensibly. I don't know if needy school kids still get school breakfasts; they used to in Toledo. Maybe they found that not enough used that program though they were elegible. They may have had to come early.
I'm not aware of children that don't get enough health care or food to prevent their deaths, if their parents function in their behalf. But no question about it, divorce and single parenting do deprive the children economically--because the most advantaged families typically have a married mother and father in their homes --instead of an absentee dad splitting monies between multiple households in child support. Our moral choices effect poverty even more than gov't. does.
Granted, failing businesses hurt families, too, and gov't can affect business. However, my theory on that is that we should've been building cars Americans needed instead of these gas guzzlers Detroit kept turning out --and more durable cars --as we lost that business to the Asians instead of being the top car producers. That has impacted MUCH industry --especially in our city. This was the fault of CEO leadership --and I saw somewhere that most CEO's are democrats and the corporations tend to be very leftist in their social views and support? So is it really the GOP's fault that the U.S. auto industry has tanked along with much of corporate America?
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Friday, October 3, 2008
Sarah Palin ~ Admirable Woman in Debate
I was pleased with our girl during the debate. She was self-possessed, confident, poised, spoke well, not shrill or twangy but quite beautifully. I had been praying for her through the day and during the debate and I bet that her faith was the source of her calm and her confidence.
She did miss an opportunity to point out how obstructionist and wrong the dems were when they tried to tie a troop pull-out to aid for protective gear for the troops. Biden was using that fact to demonstrate that McCain sometimes voted against aid for the troops --YES HE DID --when the democrats tied in their pull-out plan.
She also seemed to miss that she was asked to tell about any Achille's heel she might have. But Biden called his passion his Achilles' heel, not admitting to any fault himself. HIs fault was his strength, he seemed to be saying.
Her Achilles heel is her youth upon a national stage --and the fact that she is not used to the cutthroats of D.C. and isn't a slick-talkin' Ivy League lawyer who knows how to lie out of both sides of the mouth.
Geo. Bush also campaigned that he was a uniter and not a divider --but he couldn't crack the pure evil of Democrats who champion abortion, gay behaviors, and big gov't. socialism and Robin Hood economics --who wanted us to bail out of Iraq and let that nation fall to its evil factions.
Bush warned us about the mortgage crisis to come through Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac (however you spell 'em) and Obama himself was an attorney for one of the community organizer loan procurers who were part of the problem --loaning to people who could not keep up with payments. (Jeanette, help me out here --what was the name of his agency?)
McCain warned us 2 years ago, according to Sarah about the mortgage problem. As for him saying that our economy was sound --she referred to the American workers. I believe McCain was referring to the unemployment rate and other economic indicators that were stronger than times past. It's not good to scare people needlessly, causing panic.
But it's to the democrats advantage now to say "the sky is falling," suggesting that this wouldn't happen if they were in charge. Yeah, right! They WERE in charge of the Congress for 2 years now and have done nothing to earn respect.
Nothing scares me more than a totally democrat party gov't. I guess it will fire up the conservatives for the next go around if we get Democrats in office...that is, if we survive God's wrath for choosing people who don't revere His standards regarding the right to life and the necessity of morality. Our days as a free nation may be numbered, as we can't afford our entitlement programs, our natural disasters, our global involvements, and the corruption of the world that has access to our credit card numbers and bank accounts!
She did miss an opportunity to point out how obstructionist and wrong the dems were when they tried to tie a troop pull-out to aid for protective gear for the troops. Biden was using that fact to demonstrate that McCain sometimes voted against aid for the troops --YES HE DID --when the democrats tied in their pull-out plan.
She also seemed to miss that she was asked to tell about any Achille's heel she might have. But Biden called his passion his Achilles' heel, not admitting to any fault himself. HIs fault was his strength, he seemed to be saying.
Her Achilles heel is her youth upon a national stage --and the fact that she is not used to the cutthroats of D.C. and isn't a slick-talkin' Ivy League lawyer who knows how to lie out of both sides of the mouth.
Geo. Bush also campaigned that he was a uniter and not a divider --but he couldn't crack the pure evil of Democrats who champion abortion, gay behaviors, and big gov't. socialism and Robin Hood economics --who wanted us to bail out of Iraq and let that nation fall to its evil factions.
Bush warned us about the mortgage crisis to come through Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac (however you spell 'em) and Obama himself was an attorney for one of the community organizer loan procurers who were part of the problem --loaning to people who could not keep up with payments. (Jeanette, help me out here --what was the name of his agency?)
McCain warned us 2 years ago, according to Sarah about the mortgage problem. As for him saying that our economy was sound --she referred to the American workers. I believe McCain was referring to the unemployment rate and other economic indicators that were stronger than times past. It's not good to scare people needlessly, causing panic.
But it's to the democrats advantage now to say "the sky is falling," suggesting that this wouldn't happen if they were in charge. Yeah, right! They WERE in charge of the Congress for 2 years now and have done nothing to earn respect.
Nothing scares me more than a totally democrat party gov't. I guess it will fire up the conservatives for the next go around if we get Democrats in office...that is, if we survive God's wrath for choosing people who don't revere His standards regarding the right to life and the necessity of morality. Our days as a free nation may be numbered, as we can't afford our entitlement programs, our natural disasters, our global involvements, and the corruption of the world that has access to our credit card numbers and bank accounts!
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
My Little Mommy
I wouldn't write this if I thought she'd see it. But I doubt that she will. Mom had her 89th birthday this month, and my brother and I have known she was failing mentally for 5 years perhaps.
We managed (with helpers Courtney and Inga) to get the house cleaned up for a birthday party that started here and ended up at Stephanie's. It was a lovely fall evening lit by candles, with service of simple appetizers at this house. Uncle Rex (who still looks like Paul Newman in his 70's) and Aunt Ruth (Mom's sister) came along and my brother and wife brought Mother. They all drove 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours to get here. Steph and Charlotte prepared good food and served cider at Steph's where her house also was decorated for fall and glowing red and orange with candles here and there.
Fifteen of us altogether. 8 of us owed our existance to the fact that Mother married my father around 1940. It was still daylight when the night began and a perfect evening --with Glenn Miller-style orchestra music at STeph's --music of my mother's youth --very festive atmosphere.
When we sang happy birthday, Mom sang, too --surprised that it was to her that we were singing and she smiled and laughed at the surprise to herself. Uncle Rex gave her a pink geranium for her birthday, and she was delighted all over again everytime she asked about them and I told her the flowers were for her.
A week earlier, she called to thank me for flowers delivered the day before her actual birthday, but I had not sent them. My brother's family did. I suggested she read the card. I wanted to take credit, but thought better of it.
The others went home leaving her to stay with me a few days. "What? they left me here?" "Yes, Mom, don't you remember, you're staying with me a few days. You brought your things." Next day, "Now who's taking me home today?" I said, "Monday, Mom, Monday." And she'd say, "well, nobody told me I'd be here that long." And we had this conversation several times.
When I took her home, she got so energized about me being there that she insisted on carrying out the lightweight cushions for the front porch glider. They were in my bedroom, not in my way, and I told her to just leave them be. But she wouldn't hear of it. She hauled them out the room and stuck them on the glider on the porch, a Herculean task seeming easy to her this day. And then watered her pink geranium.
She was pacing and picking up invisible dirt on the floor --and offering me things to eat, all at once.
Next morning, she asked me, "who was the girl who drove us home?" "That was just me, Mom." "OH! I thought there were some girls. Well, are the others upstairs?" No, Mom, nobody came; just you and me." "OH, I though we had the girls with us while we were riding in the back seat." "No, Mom, just you and me in the front seat. The back seat had all our stuff and the pink geranium, remember?" "O yes..well, I thought..."
During the weekend at our house, she literally ferreted about in her purse and her duffle bag and train case --over and over again --looking for this and that, sighing in frustration, but she didn't seem to know why or what for. And she ferreted around in her purse constantly, in pursuit of her keys and her glasses. Takes everything out and puts it back in again. This is a little familiar to me as I have a hard time finding my keys or cell phone in my purse which does seem to be a black hole to me already.
I have an idea for an invention--a purse with pockets and label windows sewn on each pocket, where we can slide in a label for keys, glasses, wallets, toiletries, etc. A File-purse.
Her house was very orderly; she made her bed at her house and mine. She recycles newspapers but for some unknown reason bags them in little bundles in plastic grocery bags --which don't belong in the paper bin. She has snacks, cookies, and pop, crackers, eggs, juice, and toast in her kitchen. She faithfully makes an egg for herself every day. But we don't think she eats well or much, otherwise. She had no cottage cheese to eat with her favorite tomatoes and Western dressing. Said she didn't remember that she liked cottage cheese. Guessed she didn't like it anymore. Guessed she'd have to try it, so I put it on her grocery list.
I said, "Looks like you need a new microwave." "A what?" "microwave" "What's that?" I show her. "OOOOH THAT. Well I don't bother with the name of it --I just use it when I need it."
I suggested she turn on her window AC as I was hot Monday night --and she said, "I don't have an air conditioner." "Yes, you do, Mom." "No, I never had an air conditioner." "It's there behind you, Mom, in the window." " O THAT. Is that what that is? Well, that's Ronnie's." "It's yours, Mom. He puts it in for you."
"Well, I never use it." (She knew how to use it last year.)
So I showed her how to turn it on --and made a simple label with the on and off buttons and said "that's all you need to know to run it, Mom." And she worked it for us.
Next thing, she tells me, it ought to be warming up as she turned on the electric baseboard heaters. "You what!? Mom, don't turn the heat on! The air conditioner is on and I'm hot!" She had turned the heat on in my bedroom, too, and we got that rectified.
Jon put her through an informal mental status test over the weekend. One of the test items is to ask a person to remember a simple statement with 4 parts --and he asked her to repeat it several times for him --which she could do. But 5 minutes later, she had no recollection of the statement, even when given clues. Had no memory that she had been asked to remember a statement. He asked her to make a clock face and mark a certain time on it with clock hands drawn on it. She found this very perplexing and couldn't do it right. Had the numbers in right order, but not in the right places. She couldn't tell us who the present president --or the candidates were. But she said she sure was tired of hearing about those people running for office. She had trouble recalling the year, 2008, but did get it. She knew the day was Saturday --but that's not always so, as she often calls the church during the Sunday service to ask when services will start tomorrow --as she thinks it is Saturday. It is a small church and the phone is heard in the service when she calls. We know this, because the minister told my brother.
Church and neighbors notice her decline and occasional problems and call my brother to suggest that she ought not be alone. We agree, but haven't got a solution yet for a lady who thinks she's doing just fine --and wants to be "left alone!"
She was able to give the right meaning for two old sayings, "People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones" --and "A stitch in Time saves nine." She at first said she had no clue --and then thought about each one a little and gave good, correct answers.
She smiles and chuckles when she is caught in a mistake involving memory, and then makes some excuse for why she thought what she did.
She is adamant that she is doing fine. She does not want to leave her home. She is functioning.
I tell her to move our way --as she can hang around with her 10 Toledo relatives at their houses and church. She says she will go to a nice place in her town when she has to go --but it isn't now. I tell her I would feel bad that I couldn't get away to visit her a lot if she stays in her present town, any more than I do now --and I think she will feel more lonely there than here.
She may surprise us both, being real social in a group home, but she really doesn't want to go. And we've never been good at getting Mommy to do something she doesn't want to do. She won't go happily. This is a phase in life I'd like to avoid. I'd almost rather make a place for her in our garage --which my dear husband suggested, a remodeling job. But she would still be near our stove. I'd rather get her into assisted living at Elizabeth Scott's nearby --and have her just hang out at our house during the day. Because I do fear a loss of patience on my part as my mother "ferrets" about my house, trying to organize, and feeling this need to do stuff all the time --with my stuff. Groan. She saw a letter for Rob and wanted to do something with it. She took one of his papers to her house with us and I brought it back.
She was always so sure of what she thought --sound familiar? So precise in her thinking and expression, with attention to details. Probably one of the smartest girls in her class, president of the PTA, S.S. Superintendent for children, churchnewsletter founder/editor. We ran it off with stencils --primitive days. She made me edit an issue my Senior year in h.s. She would always clean the church cupboards and ran the VBS many years. As a senior in h.s. and a college girl, she was a beauty, black hair, dark eyes, and very petite --resembling Chrissy, actually.
She met Dad when his father, president of Huntington College during the Depression, introduced her to him. She was secretary to the president and then joined Dad as a reporter on the college paper which he edited. She thought she wanted to be a journalist. But in those days, marriage WAS a primary goal, and the only paper she worked on after college was the church paper. She did help Prof. Mae Tenney type and prepare her book for publication at Greenville College, where Mom and Dad went together for Dad's senior year. I think they wanted to get away from his parents' watchful eye!
She chose a great daddy for me in Wendell D. Mason --a chemist once honored by the American Chemical Society. He also taught chemistry at IU/PU extension in Ft. Wayne. He was a singer. She played violin and piano. Most importantly, they were real Christians --and they passed the baton of faith.
One thing about Mom --there IS somebody home when you talk with her. She likes to talk about stories of the past, things she remembers. She knows us. She remembers some things short term. It's just sad to take her out of her home where she is content --and put her with strangers when she is so reluctant to go.
If we move her in with us, it will either make or break me, I suspect! It may be the last phase of my maturing before I have to face being alone in a new place myself. But even if I bring her here, she will think it was unnecessary.
Unfortunately, there is no place like home! She likes her routines and her own bed. I understand, Mom, I understand.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
We managed (with helpers Courtney and Inga) to get the house cleaned up for a birthday party that started here and ended up at Stephanie's. It was a lovely fall evening lit by candles, with service of simple appetizers at this house. Uncle Rex (who still looks like Paul Newman in his 70's) and Aunt Ruth (Mom's sister) came along and my brother and wife brought Mother. They all drove 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours to get here. Steph and Charlotte prepared good food and served cider at Steph's where her house also was decorated for fall and glowing red and orange with candles here and there.
Fifteen of us altogether. 8 of us owed our existance to the fact that Mother married my father around 1940. It was still daylight when the night began and a perfect evening --with Glenn Miller-style orchestra music at STeph's --music of my mother's youth --very festive atmosphere.
When we sang happy birthday, Mom sang, too --surprised that it was to her that we were singing and she smiled and laughed at the surprise to herself. Uncle Rex gave her a pink geranium for her birthday, and she was delighted all over again everytime she asked about them and I told her the flowers were for her.
A week earlier, she called to thank me for flowers delivered the day before her actual birthday, but I had not sent them. My brother's family did. I suggested she read the card. I wanted to take credit, but thought better of it.
The others went home leaving her to stay with me a few days. "What? they left me here?" "Yes, Mom, don't you remember, you're staying with me a few days. You brought your things." Next day, "Now who's taking me home today?" I said, "Monday, Mom, Monday." And she'd say, "well, nobody told me I'd be here that long." And we had this conversation several times.
When I took her home, she got so energized about me being there that she insisted on carrying out the lightweight cushions for the front porch glider. They were in my bedroom, not in my way, and I told her to just leave them be. But she wouldn't hear of it. She hauled them out the room and stuck them on the glider on the porch, a Herculean task seeming easy to her this day. And then watered her pink geranium.
She was pacing and picking up invisible dirt on the floor --and offering me things to eat, all at once.
Next morning, she asked me, "who was the girl who drove us home?" "That was just me, Mom." "OH! I thought there were some girls. Well, are the others upstairs?" No, Mom, nobody came; just you and me." "OH, I though we had the girls with us while we were riding in the back seat." "No, Mom, just you and me in the front seat. The back seat had all our stuff and the pink geranium, remember?" "O yes..well, I thought..."
During the weekend at our house, she literally ferreted about in her purse and her duffle bag and train case --over and over again --looking for this and that, sighing in frustration, but she didn't seem to know why or what for. And she ferreted around in her purse constantly, in pursuit of her keys and her glasses. Takes everything out and puts it back in again. This is a little familiar to me as I have a hard time finding my keys or cell phone in my purse which does seem to be a black hole to me already.
I have an idea for an invention--a purse with pockets and label windows sewn on each pocket, where we can slide in a label for keys, glasses, wallets, toiletries, etc. A File-purse.
Her house was very orderly; she made her bed at her house and mine. She recycles newspapers but for some unknown reason bags them in little bundles in plastic grocery bags --which don't belong in the paper bin. She has snacks, cookies, and pop, crackers, eggs, juice, and toast in her kitchen. She faithfully makes an egg for herself every day. But we don't think she eats well or much, otherwise. She had no cottage cheese to eat with her favorite tomatoes and Western dressing. Said she didn't remember that she liked cottage cheese. Guessed she didn't like it anymore. Guessed she'd have to try it, so I put it on her grocery list.
I said, "Looks like you need a new microwave." "A what?" "microwave" "What's that?" I show her. "OOOOH THAT. Well I don't bother with the name of it --I just use it when I need it."
I suggested she turn on her window AC as I was hot Monday night --and she said, "I don't have an air conditioner." "Yes, you do, Mom." "No, I never had an air conditioner." "It's there behind you, Mom, in the window." " O THAT. Is that what that is? Well, that's Ronnie's." "It's yours, Mom. He puts it in for you."
"Well, I never use it." (She knew how to use it last year.)
So I showed her how to turn it on --and made a simple label with the on and off buttons and said "that's all you need to know to run it, Mom." And she worked it for us.
Next thing, she tells me, it ought to be warming up as she turned on the electric baseboard heaters. "You what!? Mom, don't turn the heat on! The air conditioner is on and I'm hot!" She had turned the heat on in my bedroom, too, and we got that rectified.
Jon put her through an informal mental status test over the weekend. One of the test items is to ask a person to remember a simple statement with 4 parts --and he asked her to repeat it several times for him --which she could do. But 5 minutes later, she had no recollection of the statement, even when given clues. Had no memory that she had been asked to remember a statement. He asked her to make a clock face and mark a certain time on it with clock hands drawn on it. She found this very perplexing and couldn't do it right. Had the numbers in right order, but not in the right places. She couldn't tell us who the present president --or the candidates were. But she said she sure was tired of hearing about those people running for office. She had trouble recalling the year, 2008, but did get it. She knew the day was Saturday --but that's not always so, as she often calls the church during the Sunday service to ask when services will start tomorrow --as she thinks it is Saturday. It is a small church and the phone is heard in the service when she calls. We know this, because the minister told my brother.
Church and neighbors notice her decline and occasional problems and call my brother to suggest that she ought not be alone. We agree, but haven't got a solution yet for a lady who thinks she's doing just fine --and wants to be "left alone!"
She was able to give the right meaning for two old sayings, "People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones" --and "A stitch in Time saves nine." She at first said she had no clue --and then thought about each one a little and gave good, correct answers.
She smiles and chuckles when she is caught in a mistake involving memory, and then makes some excuse for why she thought what she did.
She is adamant that she is doing fine. She does not want to leave her home. She is functioning.
I tell her to move our way --as she can hang around with her 10 Toledo relatives at their houses and church. She says she will go to a nice place in her town when she has to go --but it isn't now. I tell her I would feel bad that I couldn't get away to visit her a lot if she stays in her present town, any more than I do now --and I think she will feel more lonely there than here.
She may surprise us both, being real social in a group home, but she really doesn't want to go. And we've never been good at getting Mommy to do something she doesn't want to do. She won't go happily. This is a phase in life I'd like to avoid. I'd almost rather make a place for her in our garage --which my dear husband suggested, a remodeling job. But she would still be near our stove. I'd rather get her into assisted living at Elizabeth Scott's nearby --and have her just hang out at our house during the day. Because I do fear a loss of patience on my part as my mother "ferrets" about my house, trying to organize, and feeling this need to do stuff all the time --with my stuff. Groan. She saw a letter for Rob and wanted to do something with it. She took one of his papers to her house with us and I brought it back.
She was always so sure of what she thought --sound familiar? So precise in her thinking and expression, with attention to details. Probably one of the smartest girls in her class, president of the PTA, S.S. Superintendent for children, churchnewsletter founder/editor. We ran it off with stencils --primitive days. She made me edit an issue my Senior year in h.s. She would always clean the church cupboards and ran the VBS many years. As a senior in h.s. and a college girl, she was a beauty, black hair, dark eyes, and very petite --resembling Chrissy, actually.
She met Dad when his father, president of Huntington College during the Depression, introduced her to him. She was secretary to the president and then joined Dad as a reporter on the college paper which he edited. She thought she wanted to be a journalist. But in those days, marriage WAS a primary goal, and the only paper she worked on after college was the church paper. She did help Prof. Mae Tenney type and prepare her book for publication at Greenville College, where Mom and Dad went together for Dad's senior year. I think they wanted to get away from his parents' watchful eye!
She chose a great daddy for me in Wendell D. Mason --a chemist once honored by the American Chemical Society. He also taught chemistry at IU/PU extension in Ft. Wayne. He was a singer. She played violin and piano. Most importantly, they were real Christians --and they passed the baton of faith.
One thing about Mom --there IS somebody home when you talk with her. She likes to talk about stories of the past, things she remembers. She knows us. She remembers some things short term. It's just sad to take her out of her home where she is content --and put her with strangers when she is so reluctant to go.
If we move her in with us, it will either make or break me, I suspect! It may be the last phase of my maturing before I have to face being alone in a new place myself. But even if I bring her here, she will think it was unnecessary.
Unfortunately, there is no place like home! She likes her routines and her own bed. I understand, Mom, I understand.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
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