Headliner Award for Inauguration Day

Today I was inspired by the idea of rewarding blogs that reward others --- AND -- since I am up in the middle of the night reading blogs, thankfully finding myself  WORDLESS for once, I had to share with you a blog that perfectly exemplified my thoughts about this historic inauguration day.   Since I feel nothing I say could be more poignant than this post, I am initiating a new award.  

This award is presented to a blog that interpreted today's news in a far-reaching, life-changing way... It has truly gone "Beyond the chatter to what really matters!"

My first award recipient is Deanna's Diary

As we welcome Barack Obama into the presidency, many of us who did NOT vote for him are moving in a new direction.   As life-loving Christians, a great woe is Obama's address to Planned Parenthood on the Freedom Of Choice Act. (See my earlier blog post on this for a video of his presentation.)   So, while there are monumental achievements recognized on the part our country's views on African-Americans shown today, there are also concerns that go beyond race to life and death.  Diana's post shows a great balance between these heavy issues.

If you know a blog that has posted something "Beyond the Chatter",  one that reflects life living as a Christian in a country that uses the words "Separation of church and state" as if they were actually in the Constitution, then pass this award to them on my behalf.  Good news travels fast and worthy views need encouragement.

Did you know that the words "separation of church and state" are NOT in any of of the founding documents of our country?  As now President Obama said, we are going to recreate America!  Let's do it upon the principles it was truly founded on, not the later atheistic principles that have been adopted by our courts, who have the privilege of passing laws we don't get to vote on. 

We may know the next president on October 29, 2008

Most people know or have heard what's happening the the polls, but when it comes to accuracy, where do you turn? Those who REALLY want to know whether Obama or McCain will run our country have a highly accurate predictor available to them. It is not a poll of highly educated, politically motivated media manipulators, but rather a group who is manipulated, or rather mentored, by voters themselves, their parents. Capitalization on this unique resource made Bill Cosby rich and famous, Elmo a household name, and it could very well tell us on Wednesday (Oct. 29) who will sit in the Oval office next term. They picked George W. Bush in 2004 and, prior to that, picked who our next president would be in 12 of the 13 elections that preceded.

Using your great powers of intuition and my mediocre skill at foreshadowing, you may know the genius behind this highly accurate poll. It's your children! The Weekly Reader poll taken in schools across America has the highest accuracy of any poll in the nation.

If you are a McCain supporter, what hope do we have when Obama seems to be in the lead? Perhaps we hold out hope for the Bradley effect? The Bradley effect is a theory that may account for poll errors when a white candidate and a non-white candidate run against each other. No matter who you're supporting for president, the sad fact is, that many Americans trust in men before God. Some vote on a moral line. Some vote on the economy. Should we be fearful?

The Bible says that God is sovereign. In fact, the Bible addresses God as "sovereign" 297 times! What does sovereign mean? Websters defines sovereign as a supreme ruler or authority, preeminent, indisputable, and being above all others in character, importance and excellence. Will God override your vote? No, God gave us freedom to make our own choices. There is also no doubt that we, as a nation, are held accountable for our choices. We are responsible for "bringing every thought into the obedience of God." We can pray for the hearts of people to hear God's direction and call for a just and righteous leader. While it is important to show love in our ministries, we are also directed by God to speak up for truth instead of hiding behind a fear of offending others.

I hope that you will not take MY advice on who to vote for. I don't presume to be sovereign. I do challenge you to closely examine each candidate and decide which one is "erecting barriers against the truth of God." (see 2 Corinthians 10:5 below) If we seek first the kingdom of God, He promises that all these things will be added unto you. Question this? Track the Israelites throughout their history. With God all things are possible. Change the emphasis on the "with" instead of the more common "all" and you'll find the impact of this verse changes dramatically. Who is our god if we choose to put money first? The economy first? Who are we putting our trust in?

How many people care to know the "truth of God?" I hope you are one of them. While America will have to face the consequences of electing either candidate, personally, we are accountable for our thoughts and actions... therefore have a stake in working for or against God's purposes in this world.

Verses to ponder....

2 Corintians 10:3-6 (The Message)

3-6The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.

or , if you prefer, the New International Version

2 Corinthians 10:3-6

3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

Update with the full story and details of the results in different states... Obama won, but it was very close in many states.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/The-Nations-Students-Pick-Barack/story.aspx?guid=%7BBFCBCCF9-9DD6-4215-B1FE-B2368CCF72FD%7D

Obama - Your Tax Dollars at Work!

Every once in a while I get the Jimmy Buffet craze. My favorite song is "Fruitcakes." Jimmy Buffet and Obama have something in common, a cult-like following. Buffet appeals to people who just need more vacation time and sometimes, a little Buffet fix can restore them before they have to face the seriousness of the world.

Now, Obama, he's got a following too. In fact, if you listen to people polled in the streets on NPR, you'll hear things like, "I know he's going to be a terrible president, but I'm probably going to vote for him anyway." When God made man, he gave us many gifts. One of them was passion and vision. Barack Obama has a vision, but what is it? It seems to attract people like flies to sticky paper. (Doesn't that say it all?)

Back to Buffet, there's a bit of wisdom about the world gone wrong in the world of Fruitcakes. Jimmy Buffet talks about some things we really value in America, like freedom of choice.

"I don't want other people thinking for me!"

and on government....

"speakin' of fruitcakes, how 'bout the government? Your tax dollars at work."

This is a close race for President and until now, I was down on Obama and up on McCain, but now I'm downright terrified of Obama (and still up on McCain). There are no words to better explain the reason for this fear than Senator Obama's words as he addressed the Planned Parenthood organization, and I quote, "Well, the first thing I'd do as president would be to sign the Freedom of Choice act." If you've never heard of it, here's the view from the horse's mouth with a few facts added in.





I know there are many on-the-fence Americans when it comes to the topic of "Freedom of Choice". It's called abortion by those less "politically correct" and more truthful, but when it comes to "our tax dollars at work", I certainly don't want to be guilty of funding this American catastrophe. Even if you're a "waffler", not sure whether abortion should be considered in some circumstances, do you want government deciding whose abortions YOU FUND! Do you want them deciding whether you are informed when your little girl makes a decision before she's even old enough to vote for Obama?

If you read this before election day, please help bring to light the incredible "audacity" of this man so he has no "hope" of winning this election. Send the link to your family, friends and people who don't want these types of decisions made for YOU by the government.

Good night, and have a pleasant tomorrow.

McCain or Obama to Address Homeschooling?

Hello ?? Is anybody listening? Is Mike Huckabee the last person in this election to mention homeschooling rights? I've checked with the official websites, with the blogs and heard the speeches, but nowhere do I find reassurance that we can count on either one of these candidates to respect the rights of parents to homeschool their children.

I've emailed John McCain and will next email Mr. Obama. A fellow blogger "spunkyhomeschool" wondered with me. Where is our representation? Perhaps they don't want to add one more issue to an already crowded debate, but I can't pity them for that. How many homeschoolers would it take to have an affect on an election? It is not easy to count the number of homeschooling families in America. The Institute for Educational Sciences estimated there were 1.1 million children homeschooled in 2003, five years ago. The numbers grow continually as parents' choices of curriculum and options increase and their wariness of public, institutional indoctrination in our schools grows stronger. Could that change the outcome of an election? Perhaps the popular vote.. I remember a close call in the last election. Can you say "recount"?

Comments welcome and information would be appreciated. Leave me a link if you find an answer. Who will be the first to commit to voting for homeschooling in America, McCain or Obama?

Update: 10/22/08

Here's an article telling what an Obama education looks like. The title of the article "Homeschooling Will Explode Under Obama" simply meant that if this is what education looks like under Obama, homeschooling will greatly increase. Connect to the article to see what a "social justice school" is and more interesting views on education mixed with social issues.