My Thoughts

“Our country was founded ON a belief in God.”

That’s a statement that I hear so often in the debate/argument about growing efforts to silence Christians and render God ineffective in our country. It’s not, however, a statement that I myself make. While I do feel that there is some truth to the statement, the truth to it is within and not overt in the wording of the founding documents. Yes, God is mentioned, but not placed in a position as the foundation of our country. That is obvious to many by the things our society has deemed “okay”, “normal”, and “acceptable”.

“Our country was founded WITH a belief in God.”

This, I believe, is a much more accurate statement. You see, our country was clearly founded on the desire for freedom. Freedom from the ownership of a country on the other side of the Atlantic. A country that only wanted to profit from ownership of others. We wanted all sorts of freedom. Freedom from taxation. (That kind of seems like a joke these days.)  Freedom from religious oppression. Freedom to make our own place on the planet, in our own way.

The freedom from religious oppression is what seems to spark the debate/argument. I have heard many say that they are oppressed by Christians trying to make everyone else live by their beliefs. I don’t see it. People complained about God being in the schools. So they removed Him from the schools. School violence has been on the rise. The system quit focusing on abstinence and started handing out contraception. Legislation was even passed to keep the schools from informing parents that their teenage children were being given contraceptives.  There is an attempt to remove God from all our public places and even our currency. But who is offended by the public display of other beliefs? Or the the lack of belief?  Well, it seems that if the Christians are offended, that is okay. They are the ones who initially cried out for the freedom from religious oppression, yet more and more, they are the ones being oppressed. I don’t mock non-believers for their lack of faith. Nor do I insist that they believe as I do. I share the truth with them when given the chance, but I don’t force it on them. However, I do get mocked for my faith. That’s okay. I don’t hold any hard feelings toward those who mock me. It is their freedom to do so.

“We are a Christian nation.”

Another statement that I hear argued on a regular basis. I believe that Barack Obama made it clear that we are not! Our society has made it politically incorrect to be a Christian and certainly to be a Christian nation. I AM POLITICALLY INCORRECT. I wish that we were a Christian nation, but saying that we are does no more to make it true than saying that the sky is green makes that true. To be a Christian nation, we would have to believe as a nation.

In case you haven’t noticed, there really is an effort taking place to silence the Christian populous. There are those who wish to outlaw Christmas because offends them. They even try to hide what it is about by calling it “X-MAS”. The “X” is still a cross, and we all know happened at the cross. There was attempt at passing legislation to prevent clergy from teaching or preaching from certain parts of the Bible because is spoke against homosexuality. They wanted to call that a hate crime and enforce severe punishments for it. Many work places do not allow employees to speak about Jesus or their Christian faith. It might offend someone. Never mind that the Christian might be offended by not being allowed to speak. You may say that the work place is no place for a religious discussion, but everything else gets discussed there. Besides, I’m not talking about religion, I’m talking about relationship. Relationship, after all, is the foundation of everything we know.

Just my thoughts…

So the health care bill passed. I am more than a little disappointed. I am actually awe-struck that our country has allowed this to happen. Are we just stupid?!?

One analyst said that this was a victory for those who wanted to expand government. I completely agree! I mean, the government basically “bought” a large portion of the private sector with all the bail-outs, and now they are simply “taking” the health care industry.

I, and many others, see this as a big step toward social health care and socialism. That said, has anyone looked at Canada? Yes, all Canadians get health care, but at what cost? They are paying a much higher percentage in income taxes than we are now. You may argue that ours won’t go up much, but are you taking into account the government mandate that we will have to pay in addition to taxes? Furthermore, take a look at the quality and availability of care in Canada. (I don’t mean to pick on Canada, it’s a beautiful country with a lot to offer) Notice the waiting list to see your doctor, and the leechers that won’t get a job because they don’t have to. We already have that here. How much worse are we willing to let it get?

Has anyone considered what effect this will have on health care workers? We should!

Now, the bigger picture. Government health care undercuts the rates of the private sector, the private sector has to sell out to the government, then the government has total control over health care. They can decide what doctors we can or can’t see. What treatments we can or can’t receive. They decide who can and can’t receive treatment. So, ultimately, they decide who lives and who dies.

Yes. We will all have affordable health care, but at what cost!

Just My Thoughts…

Well, I have kept my mouth shut for awhile now, but I just can’t do it anymore! I’m back at the keyboard and probably going to offend someone! OH WELL!!!

I’m back on soapbox about Obama. This time, as you know, he has won the Nobel Peace Prize. And for what? Was it the record high budget deficit we hit this year of $1.4 trillion? Was it because he still hasn’t closed Guantanamo Bay? Was it because he still hasn’t brought our troops home from Iraq? Was it because he spent $787 billion on bailouts and stimulus packages that most of us never saw any results from? Was it his lack of support for Israel and his insistence that they give up Jerusalem? No, I don’t think so. I believe that all of this and more was overlooked! I believe it was simply because he made some speeches that sounded good with a lot of great promises that he still hasn’t kept! I also believe that it was because he is “black”, the first “black” president of the United States of America!

Go ahead, call me a racist! You won’t be the first! But let me assure you that I am no racist! Unlike the majority that elected this guy, I don’t see color as a problem or a validation. None of us chose what color we were going to be, so what does it matter what color someone is? It doesn’t. A person’s color doesn’t make them any better or any worse than another person. What they believe in and stand for is what makes the person. I don’t see that Obama believes in or stands for anything but himself!

I read some comments on a popular social network today. I just want to share them with you. I find some of this to be really troubling:

“Can you people be proud for once that we have a great leader? He is not perfect, nobody is, but  for god’s sake he is rebuilding what Bush ruined, and Bush ruined A LOT.”

A great leader? Really? Where has he lead us? What has he done?

“We are finally doing things we can be proud of, yet the American people have tried everything in the book against him: he’s a commy, a muslim, or a fascist. He wasn’t born here. He is hiding his grades from school. He is a liar. Did I miss anything?”

What have we done that we can be proud of? Have we never done anything else that we can be proud of?

“I think Obama becoming president is a great thing to have happened for americans”

“Congratulations Obama!!! He is a messiah !”

This one really bothers me! There is only one messiah! His name is Jesus!

“Congrats to the American people for having this great leader as their President”

“I must live in an alternative reality.  What exactly has President Obama done to receive a  Nobel Peace Prize?

What conflict did he end?  For what historic issue has his leadership provided a breakthrough?

Congratulations to him, but I thought prizes of this significance were awarded for high achievements.  His presidency has promise & potential, but at this early juncture, I fail to see any milestone to justify this honor.

If talking nice & playing well with others is what now constitutes the criteria for a Nobel Peace Prize, then I  nominate Big Bird or Burt & Ernie.”

They call him messiah, but will he die for your sins?

Yes, these people are serious. Some of them are not even from the U.S.! I hope you all get the point that I am trying to make. Obama cannot be the messiah! But, he can be something else. Remember this, he is also the same one that said that the Bible was just not appropriate to try to live by in this day and time. I cannot support anyone that holds this view. The Bible is the most appropriate thing to try to live by today or any other day! If you don’t believe in it that’s your choice. Realize that just because you don’t believe in something, doesn’t mean it isn’t real. When Colombus sailed around the world for the first, no one believed it was round. Their disbelief didn’t change what was real.

I hope that I have not offended anyone, but if I did, then you probably needed to be offended!

Just my thoughts…

After my last post, it was pointed out to me that I was being intolerant of non-believers. I reread my post and I can see that it would seem that way. The comment that was made to me was that tolerance, not intolerance is the key.

Realize, tolerance makes it easier to accept things that are unacceptable.

I agree with this some extent. I think that we all have the right to believe or not believe as we see fit. Obviously we all need to live here together peacefully. That is where the tolerance comes in. The problem with tolerance is that a line has to be drawn or we will be tolerating everything! I’m sorry, but there are some things that I just can’t tolerate!

I will tolerate the Foundation For Freedom From Religion, their views, their beliefs, and their lack of belief. However, I have a hard time justifying tolerance of anyone trying to steal part of my country’s heritage!

You see, whether any of us likes it or not, “In God We Trust” and the Pledge of Allegiance are a part of our Country’s heritage. It’s not just a Christian thing. It is part of the history and heritage of the United States of America. If you don’t believe in God, surely, as a reasonable human being, you can still appreciate the historical aspects of this. If not, then you are just being intolerant, ignorant, and selfish.

Furthermore, let me say that I believe the desire to remove “In God We Trust” comes out conviction.

I hope this post clears up what I was trying to say, and I thank you for reading.

Just My Thoughts…

This is getting a little absurd!

There is a new three story underground visitor center in our nation’s capitol. Pretty cool! On the entrance there is an engraving that reads “In God We Trust” and also the Pledge of Allegiance. Any one have a problem with that? Well, the Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation does!

Isn't praising Darwin a religion of it's own? Oh yeah, Darwinism!

The group has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in western Wisconsin, claiming the taxpayer-funded engravings would be an unconstitutional endorsement of religion.

“The House and Senate passed identical resolutions this month directing the Architect of the Capitol to engrave “In God We Trust” and the pledge in prominent places at the entrance for 3 million tourists who visit the Capitol each year.”

“The resolution came in response to critics who complained Congress spent $621 million on the new three-story underground center without paying respect to the nation’s religious heritage. The center opened in December after years of construction.”

The foundation is claiming that the engravings would discriminate against people who do not practice religion and unfairly promote Christianity.

Seriously, do these people need a history lesson? These engravings are a big part of our nation’s history! You can pick up any history text book and read that in simple English that even the lesser educated can understand! I mean, what would they have the evgraving say? “In Nothing We Trust”, “In the Lack of A Higher Power or Any Resemblance There Of We Trust”, or ” There is Nothing to Trust In”.

To this foundation: “GET A GRIP!!!” This is America. We were founded on Christian principles. If you don’t like it, leave it! I challenge you to go to a Muslim nation and try to voice an anti-religious opinion that conflicted with their belief in Allah. You would likely be killed immediately and your family told: “It was Allah’s will”. At least here you are safe when you say or do something STUPID like this.  I find it quite ridiculous that anyone would spend money on a such a crybaby lawsuit! This country was trusting in God long before you, what makes you think you have the right to change that!?!

Just My Thoughts…