Redneck Values

As I was perusing my morning reading material, I happened on a few items that connected in a strange way. A.C.K. had a commentary on the Gibbons vs Haslam message and then I received an email from my local militant friend that I am posting below.

As the party searches their souls to redefine what it means to be a Republican, I can't help but appreciate what makes life in small town America so appealing.

YOU MIGHT BE A REDNECK:

You might be a redneck if: It never occurred to you to be offended by the phrase, 'One nation, under God.'

You might be a redneck if: You've never protested about seeing the 10 Commandments posted in public places.

You might be a redneck if: You still say ' Christmas' instead of 'Winter Festival.'

You might be a redneck if: You bow your head when someone prays.

You might be a redneck if: You stand and place your hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem.

You might be a redneck if: You treat our armed forces veterans with great respect, and always have.

You might be a redneck if: You've never burned an American flag, nor intend to.

You might be a redneck if: You know what you believe and you aren't afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.

You might be a redneck if: You respect your elders and raised your kids to do the same.

You might be a redneck if: You'd give your last dollar to a friend.

If you got this email from me, it is because I believe that you, like me, have just enough Red Neck in you to have the same beliefs as those talked about in this email.

God Bless the USA !

God and the World Theatre

Ron Paul has a point. We really need to stop telling the world how to run their lives. I know it ticks me off beyond belief to have my own government trying to run my life, can you imagine how it would feel to have another country try to do it? I think Jihad (as-sayf type) would be a calm movement compared to what some of my local brethren would do if such a situation happened here.

In bible study today, we took an entire class period to discuss God's will in history. Are the prophets writing it as it happens or are they recounting it after the fact? I know when things happen in the world today, it takes a great deal of thought and prayer to find the hand of God in it. If I wrote about it several years later, I might be able to find the lesson and the message. It certainly does make a difference in perspective.

When we as a nation get involved in other world conflicts, is it because we are trying to be good Christians or are we doing it to further our own interests (which goes back to my issues with the lamentation of Tyre in Ezekiel)? We think about Hitler when we think about moral "intervention" but Genocide is not a new concept in world history. Who are we to say that we know best? Inflicting our own morality into world politics is a slippery slope. Where do we draw the line. I think it is our job as Christians to give others the ability to choose a better way of life, but it is not the government's job to do so...nor it is the government's (or Christians) right to force it on them.

So if we were writing recent history from a God's will point of view...what do you think it would say?

God's Little Nudges

As mentioned in previous posts, I am a newly "surrendered" Christian (Jan. 13 08). My path towards awareness of His plan for me since then has been a very enlightening one. What this surrender has done for me is to make me sit back quietly and listen. It is getting easier and easier to do so. And usually, He makes His point in the must subtle of ways because He doesn't need a hammer on my head anymore to get my attention. It's kinda cool.

Today, was one of those days. Every Sunday during the service, our children's ministry leader will lead the children in a "life lesson for the day" segment before they head off to Sunday School. We get to listen. Usually, Linda will tell a personal story from her week's events and weave it into a life lesson point. Today she gave me a life lesson point.

Yesterday, I was cruising around on a beautiful day, feeling alive and full of good spirit. On every corner around town were the Shriners. Typically, I begrudgingly give to these efforts but I truly hate the concept of "highway robbery". Yesterday was one of those days that I just didn't give. I even made a point of avoiding them. What do they really do for our people here in the community. Yes, I thought that and said that out loud to my friend riding with me.

Yep, wouldn't you know it, Linda's lesson to the kids today wove in her story of giving to Shriners and other "parking lot" type efforts even if you question their motives (she went even further with the story and talked about helping others in so many little ways). She remembered when her nephew was born with a club foot and the Shriners helped his family with the surgery because they didn't have the money to do so. He is 17 now and will be joining the military as soon as he turns 18 so that he can proudly serve his country. No hammer necessary here, but boy it felt like one.

Yes God, I am listening. Thanks for the nudge.

Warm & Fuzzy

I am finally finishing up my catch-up list from my long weekend away from the command center I call my desk. I forget how much I juggle on any given day. I have also had a chance to catch-up on my news reading and if I wasn't a pretty centered person looking at this mess as an opportunity not a catastrophe, I would be heading to the bars or the nearest ledge. In a strange way, the economic situation reminds me of a three stooges skit. But then again, there is humor in most things political.

Again, I am glad I am clinging to my guns and my bible. Many thanks to Kathy for sending this timely tidbit. Love you gal!

Rules from God for 2009

1. Wake Up !! Decide to have a good day.
"Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" Psalms 118:24


2. Dress Up !! The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart."
I Samuel 16:7

3. Shut Up!! Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. "He who guards his lips guards his soul." Proverbs 13:3

4. Stand Up!!... For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything.. "Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..." Galatians 6:9-10

5. Look Up !!... To the Lord.
"I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me."
Philippians 4:13

6. Reach Up !!... For something higher. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, And He will direct your path."
Proverbs 3:5-6

7. Lift Up !!... Your Prayers.
"Do not worry about anything;
Instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING."
Philippians 4:6

Cheerful Persistance

I had to lead a discussion today in our adult sunday school class on the chapters of Jeremiah that went over the time when Jeruselem finally fell to the Babylonians. 605-606 BC. Now we had been studying this Jeremiah fellow for 35 chapters already. He was doom and gloom, no wonder no one wanted to listen to him. The other "prophets" were just telling everyone what they wanted to hear, so they were welcomed and heralded by the people. Everyone was sinning all over the place, unrepentent, and God was pretty dang mad. Jeremiah stayed true to the message that he was sent to deliver, and he suffered greatly for it. And eventually, so did everyone else, because they refused to change their ways laid out in God's message to them.

But sometimes in history, there comes along a man who gives us hope and instead of telling us what we want to hear, he tells us that things will get better if we pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and start making decisions that have moral and ethical underpinnings. Sound eerily familiar?

But of course, we are talking about religion, aren't we?

Cheerful Persistence
Jackie Gingrich Cushman
Sunday, January 25, 2009

I rarely quote my dad, Newt Gingrich, but I do find his 1994 reflection published in “The Weekly Standard” regarding Ronald Reagan’s persona to be pertinent today. “Cheerfulness can get almost anything done. One of President Reagan's great strengths was his commitment to big ideas and his willingness to remain cheerful no matter what the difficulties were. It made him likable and approachable and easy to support. Despite being the son of an alcoholic father, entering the job market in the Great Depression, and watching his career in movies fade out, Reagan remained a steadfast optimist. That disposition was a tremendous, politically potent change from the angry pessimism of traditional conservatism.”

In many ways the Republicans have returned to the angry pessimism that Dad was referring to. This is neither helpful or smart.

History was made last week when Barack Obama was inaugurated president. Sixty percent of Americans watched it live. And according to Gallup, the inauguration made 62 percent of them more hopeful about the next four years. For those who believe in policies different from those of Obama, his current overwhelming popularity--an 83 percent approval rating in the transition is a fact, not a problem.

After Obama’s historic victory--winning on the theme of hope and change, rather than accomplishments, voting record or experience there are a few takeaways that should be learned. Language matters – hope and inspiration win over fear and desperation – especially in the long run. People want to be inspired to be better, to work together, to leave the world a better place due to their efforts. Inspiration drives positive activity and effort.

Again, Obama’s high approval rating is a fact not a problem. If you agree with him, either his public statements or his policy proposals, then agree with him publicly and loudly. It’s not anti-Republican or anti-conservative to agree with someone else regarding a proposed solution. Nor is it anti-conservative to be upbeat even about policy disagreements.

The Congress, on the other hand, is in a position different from that of Obama. Recent polls show that Congress has a 23 percent approval and 68 percent disapproval rating. What does this mean? The conservative focus should be on the Congress, the state and local political levels where the next races will be run. This year, local races; in two years, the U.S. House of Representatives and a third of the U.S. Senate will be involved in races.

Dad began to use the phrase “Cheerful Persistence” in an ongoing manner while building a Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives in the early 1980’s.

“We coined the phrase, when we were first building a majority in the House in the 1980s, and we were very obedient. Remember,” Dad wrote in The Weekly Standard Article “ I thought we could be a majority. The Democrats didn't want us to be a majority, and most of the Republicans didn't want us to be a majority. We had a whole bunch of Republicans that said, ‘Hey, we're going along. We're getting along. I like my chairman. We go golfing together. We're good friends.’”

Republicans should not be confused by Obama’s high approval ratings, and should not try once again to “get along,” but instead they should keep in mind the nation’s view of the Congress – that it just isn’t working.

More than simple opposition is required. Solutions are needed. Big, bold, clearly articulated solutions that reflect the core values of the Republican Party: hard work, free enterprise, fiscal conservatism, personal responsibility and free speech.

As Dad mentioned this past week in a conference call, Republican’s have the opportunity to play Sam Rayburn and Lyndon Johnson—constructive congressional opposition-- to Obama’s Dwight Eisenhower.

The building process worked before, when the Republicans took control of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994. Maybe it is time to begin again working on cheerful persistence.

Pay it Forward

I love it when a plan comes together, especially when the hand of God is so very apparent.

Last week I got a phone call from our city councilwoman Marilyn Campbell Nixon, who had gotten a call from the Appalachian Women's Guild who had gotten a call from Hampton's Tax Service about a young, newly homeless couple needing help (I love living in a small county). It seems this couple walked from Monteagle to Tracy City in the freezing temps to see if they could get a Rapid Refund to pay for their bus tickets back to Oklahoma where they had jobs waiting for them.

I put them on the bus this morning, one week later, but the story behind the story is worth telling.

Dean Owenby takes charge. Dean was the person the couple happened to see last Wednesday at Hampton's (also called Jackson Hewitt). Who knows why or how the good Lord operates, but this couple's story touched something in Dean and put her into action. The rest of story just miraculously unfolded from there. Dean, Dean's officemate April Fults and customers Carrie Castro and family all pitched in to get the couple someplace warm for the night and food in their belly. Somehow thru all of Dean's phone calls, the situation became known to Stephanie Gibbs who jumped into action as well. With the help of her church, Lords House of Faith in Altamont, they came up with the funds to house the couple at Regency Inn until their bus left the following week and funds could be raised to purchase the tickets.

Marilyn problem solves the bus ticket situation. A sign of a good leader is someone who assesses a situation and finds the means to get it solved. Monteagle doesn't have a budget line item or a "community chest" set up for situations like the one this couple was in. Her next line of thinking was dead-on, find someone who is involved with a local church. That is where my phone call came in. Because we are both results-oriented people, she knew this kind of project was right up my alley. She was right. I contacted my church elders (Morton Memorial UMC) who jumped right in without question, JoAnn Sargent (who works at City Hall and whom I love dearly) contacted her church (Cumberland Bible Church) and they jumped in without question as well. Then a surreal Facebook moment happened when Chip Ramsey from the Saturday Independent gave me a name of an organization who helped Middle Tennesseans like the couple in question and they immediately agreed to round out the final funds needed to purchase the tickets. It really, truly was an amazing series of events. Things clicked.

Fishes and loaves. What made this story even more compelling was the other missing pieces of the puzzle that came together like fishes and loaves. Monteagle Church of Christ helped feed the couple this past week, New Hope Community Church and Ed & Nola Fults donated funds to help house and feed them too. My Kiwanis/Chamber friend and all around great gal Sue Herrick donated funds for their food during the trip to Oklahoma. Our needs were so fulfilled that I even had to turn away an offer from my Republican compadre and Christ Church elder Matt Pilcher. Now that is a rare moment indeed!

Pay it forward. As I paid for the tickets with the raised funds and handed the couple a card with food money enclosed, I echoed the request that came from the lips of all who helped: "Please pay it forward. Your time to help others will come, so make good choices along the way and be ready. You will never know how, or when or why, but the good Lord works thru all of us at different times and different capacities. You just have to open up your heart and listen."

Safe journeys Patricia and Michael!

Silent Night, Holy Night

I was asked to intro Silent Night at our Christmas Eve service. My pastor gave me the story of this historic song and told me to make it my own. Little did I know it was the closing song of the evening and the song used for the lighting of the Christmas candles by the entire church. It really is a cool story. My stately, old stone church never looked so beautiful.

Bill, I am posting this for you...

For many of us, music is very spiritual in nature. Music speaks to our souls in loud words or soft whispers. Music tells the story of our lives, our loves, our sadness and our joys. Songwriters and music makers have a very special gift and sometimes inspiration comes in many interesting forms. One of the most beloved Christmas Carols of all time has such a story. It truly gives a new meaning to divine providence.

The story begins on Christmas Eve, 1818 in Oberndorf Austria. A priest discovers that the church organ is broken. As any good leader would do, he came up with Plan B. He hurriedly wrote an appropriate poem and asked his friend to compose a tune for it. The two friends sang it together that Christmas Eve service with just a guitar as accompaniment. It was simple. It was gorgeous. Kind of reminds me of something Gail and Kaylene would do.

But the story doesn’t end here. From a tiny village that night, an unknown Christmas Carol began its worldwide journey. When an organ repairman came to the church a few days later, he discovered the song jotted down on a piece of paper. Asking if he could share it with others, it eventually got into the hands of a well-known singing family who included it in their concerts.

In 1849, 31 years after it was written and sang in that little Austrian church, Silent Night, Holy Night was published in English for the first time. And yes, it was in a Methodist hymnal. And tonight, 190 years later, we are still singing it. And that, as Paul Harvey says, is the rest of the story.

So this Christmas Eve let’s enjoy this beautiful song and remember that there are no coincidences in life and there are no small or insignificant efforts. We all make a difference in this world by being God’s servants. You just never know how much!

Why Christmas Matters

Bill is on a rant about the recent bs in Washington state. He definitely has a point.


Why Christmas Matters
Bill O'Reilly
Saturday, December 20, 2008

In 1870, President Grant signed a law making Christmas Day a federal holiday, a national day of celebration. Congress overwhelmingly voted to make that happen, and Grant understood that this was not a trivial gesture. The nation remained deeply divided in the aftermath of the Civil War, and the federal government was looking for ways to reunite the people. Since Christmas was loved by almost everyone, the national holiday became a symbol of healing and unity.

Now America is divided again, this time over social behavior. Traditional Americans want to hold on to the beliefs and institutions that, they believe, have made this country great; while secular-progressives lobby for aggressive change -- things like redefining marriage to include homosexuals and other redefinitions of tradition.

Thus, deep divisions are growing in the United States, and somewhat shockingly, Christmas is right in the middle of it.

A few years ago some retail companies ordered their employees not to say the words "Merry Christmas" because they might offend people who do not celebrate the national holiday. That was insane. These companies were marketing the gift-giving season that accompanies Christmas, but refusing to utter the word. Please.

Once I and some other media people exposed this, millions of Americans decided not to spend money in the offending quarters and the banishment of Christmas quickly ceased. I guess making money trumps offending people all day long.

This year there is another Christmas controversy, this one engineered by some atheists who want to display signs on public property where Christmas or Hanukkah symbols are present. So far, only Illinois, Wisconsin and Washington State have caved in to the atheists, but it is just a matter of time before the nonbelievers come to a State House near you.

The problem with the atheistic displays in Washington and Wisconsin is that the message is hateful, an attack on religion rather than a positive message. In Madison, then-Gov. Tommy Thompson allowed an anti-religion sign, but posted it far away from the Nativity scene and the menorah.

But in Olympia, Gov. Christine Gregoire, a secular-progressive politician, has allowed a sign in the Capitol rotunda that says religion enslaves people -- among other not nice things -- to be placed within a few feet of Jesus in the manger. And peace on earth to you, too, Governor.

Gregoire did not have to do that. The legal settlement in Washington clearly states that any holiday display must be appropriate and reflect the decorum of the state Capitol building.

The atheist's anti-religion sign could have easily been rejected as being inappropriate. If the nonbelievers want a seasonal display, make it a positive thing. Put a picture of Charles Darwin and Bill Maher up there with the words: "These are our guys -- happy winter solstice!"

But no, the atheists have to attack the baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the wise men and whoever else dropped by the Bethlehem birthplace.

Atheists well understand that Christmas is the most visible display of religion in the world, and any diminishment of it is a good thing to militant secularists. But it is inconceivable that Grant, believing he finally had a slam-dunk issue with which to unite a fractured country, could have foreseen the social civil war we have today.

Sadly, we are no longer one nation under God. But those of us who truly understand the spirit of Christmas -- the simple message of good will toward all mankind -- know that Grant was on to something. Christmas should be a time of peace and understanding. It's sad that we now have to defend that.

Familiar Tune

Jan sent this to me and it is eerily beautiful. Israel Kamakawiwo'ole died in 1997 of weight related respiratory problems (he weighed over 700 lbs when he died). Sarah and I had a discussion the other day about extraordinary musicians who died way to young but left behind a timeless body of work. Karen Carpenter, Janis Joplin, Elvis Presley etc. They are like the beautiful butterfly. There life is so short but so poetic in nature.

God vs Science

This was a "Joke of the Week" listed on Stacey Campfield's blog, but let me tell you, if a joke explains things this well then maybe laughter is the best medicine for what ails us all.

God vs Science
A science professor begins his school year with a lecture to the
students, "Let me explain the problem science has with religion." The
atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks
one of his new students to stand.

"You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"

"Yes sir," the student says.

"So you believe in God?"

"Absolutely."

"Is God good?"

"Sure! God's good."

"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"

"Yes."

"Are you good or evil?"

"The Bible says I'm evil."

The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!" He considers for a
moment. "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over
here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would
you try?"

"Yes sir, I would."

"So you're good...!"

"I wouldn't say that."

"But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you
could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. "He doesn't,
does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though
he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you
answer that one?"

The student remains silent.

"No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of water
from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.
"Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"

"Er...yes," the student says.

"Is Satan good?"

The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No."

"Then where does Satan come from?"

The student falters. "From God"

"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil
in this world?"

"Yes, sir."

"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?"

"Yes."

"So who created evil?" The professor continued, "If God created
everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according
to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."

Again, the student has no answer. "Is there sickness? Immorality?
Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this
world?"

The student squirms on his feet. "Yes."

"So who created them?"

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his
question. "Who created them?" There is still no answer. Suddenly the
lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is
mesmerized. "Tell me," he continues onto another student. "Do you
believe in Jesus Christ, son?"

The student's voice betrays him and cracks. "Yes, professor, I do."

The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have five senses you use
to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen
Jesus?"

"No sir. I've never seen Him."

"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"

"No, sir, I have not."

"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your
Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or
God for that matter?"

"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."

"Yet you still believe in him?"

"Yes."

"According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable
protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to
that, son?"

"Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith."

"Yes, faith," the professor repeats. "And that is the problem science
has with God. There is no evidence, only faith."

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of
His own. "Professor, is there such thing as heat?"

"Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat."

"And is there such a thing as cold?"

"Yes, son, there's cold too."

"No sir, there isn't."

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The
room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. "You
can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat,
unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't
have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero,
which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no
such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the
lowest -458 degrees."

"Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or
transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or
transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat.
You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of
heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units
because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just
the absence of it."

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom,
sounding like a hammer.

"What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?"

"Yes," the professor replies without hesitation. "What is night if it
isn't darkness?"

"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the
absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright
light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have
nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use
to define the word."

"In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make
darkness darker, wouldn't you?"

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This
will be a good semester. "So what point are you making, young man?"

"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to
start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed."

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed? Can
you explain how?"

"You are working on the premise of duality," the student
explains. "You argue that there is life and then there's death; a
good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as
something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even
explain a thought."

"It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less
fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is
to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive
thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it."

"Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved
from a monkey?"

"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man,
yes, of course I do."

"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes
where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

"Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and
cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you
not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a
preacher?"

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the
commotion has subsided.

"To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student,
let me give you an example of what I mean."

The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who
has ever seen the professor's brain?" The class breaks out into
laughter.

"Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt
the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one
appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of
empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have
no brain, with all due respect, sir."

"So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your
lectures, sir?"

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his
face unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. "I guess
you'll have to take them on faith."

"Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with
life," the student continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as
evil?"

Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course, there is. We see
it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man.
It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world.
These manifestations are nothing else but evil."

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it
does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is
just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe
the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of
what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart.
It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness
that comes when there is no light."

The professor sat down.

Faith

For all my best intentions, I have usually been a curmudgeon around the holidays. The travel, the forced expectations, the "not getting work done" attitude that permeates the air from mid November to mid January. All of it used to create heartburn and unhappiness so I just endured the season and embraced the positives as best I could. My children never knew this and I kept it from them pretty well. But I think on some level they felt the uneasiness.

This year is a different ballgame and I am really enjoying the change. And yes, my newly found Faith is the reason for this new attitude. January 13th, 2008 I "surrendered" to the good Lord above. I fell to my knees and I surrendered to him my pain, my questions, my heart and my soul. I surrendered everything and I finally found the freedom I had searched for my entire life. Now that is irony at its best.

So this holiday season, I am thankful for the fresh outlook on life God has given me.

I am thankful for the people in my life

I am thankful for the church that fills me up

I am thankful that my children have turned out so well against the greatest of odds

I am thankful for the kindness in people's souls who reach out to others

I am thankful for the warriors who protect us

I am thankful for the public servants who govern with their honor and ethics still intact

I am thankful for the business owners who treat their employees with respect and dignity

I am thankful for employees who give business owners a full days work and a job well done

I am thankful for the creatives who give us so many things to think about

I am thankful for the environmentalists who can balance public good and public use

And finally, I am thankful for the people with backbone and gumption for a good cause. They are my heroes in life.

Sometimes it just takes Faith to see all of this clearly. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Battle Hymn of the Republic

This version sent chills down my spine and a tear to my eye. Thanks for sharing Claudia!

http://www.greatdanepromilitary.com/Battle Hymn/index.htm

God and Tolstoy

I have been hitting our local library lately to check out some historical video/dvd nuggets. The most recent one was War and Peace, starring the darling Audrey Hepburn and a young, dorky Henry Fonda. This brilliant epic reminded me of a Gone with the Wind or a Doctor Zhivago type storytelling with one notable exception...War and Peace was an unashamedly Christian movie. In fact, so much so, that I feared the ACLU or Diversity police would storm my house and rip the dvd out of my machine and fine me for watching it.

And then I laughed, this is America isn't it? That kind of thing could never happen here, could it?

Then I read the Tennessean today and find that Wilson County has bowed to the athesists and the ACLU and allowed discounts for all believers and non believers for their "God and Country" fair. There was even a quote from the ACLU saying they don't believe that giving discounts to people with Church bulletins is legal. What the heck?!

But I digress. War and Peace was such a pleasure to watch. It goes thru the whole drama of life. A life that is good and a life that survives great suffering and hardship and then becoming a life that is good again. Their belief in God during each segment of this cycle was inspirational to say the least. I just wish we had more blockbuster movies like that on the market today. But I fear that those days may be over unless we grow some cajones and start challenging the challengers.

Carpe Diem!