$700 Billion? That's all you need? No problem...

My grandfather used to tell me, "When you're hip deep in snapping turtles, it's too late to think about draining the pond." He was quite gregarious and most never subtle, and the obvious wisdoms he spewed were often lost in his happy-go-lucky demeanor. I remember this particular colloquial idiom because the words mentally echoed in the midst of a personal crisis which were, at one time, all to frequent in my life. According to my grandfather, "So what do I do now?" is best preceded by "That doesn't sound like a good idea" and can, in fact, lead to the complete unnecessity of the first statement all together.

To the subject at hand...So what do we do now? Since it's obviously and unfortunately moot for the latter of the two statements above, we (read Americans) are left anxious and near panic over the current U.S. financial crisis spirally completely out of control.

(Uncle Sam enters stage right...no left...wait, right) "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help."

There would be a pause here in the production for audience laughter. To bad this scene isn't a line from a comedy, but rather a scene playing out from a tragedy of epic proportion.

I think most of us (again, read Americans) are just plain... mad. Maybe that's not strong enough. How about...angry. The prevailing hover of political apathy in the public air has been whiffed away by a strong high pressure system located over Washington DC that seems to be impacting everyone's local weather. On a global scale.

So, what do we do now? Okay, ignoring the question doesn't seem to make it go away. I don't know the answer, and I'm pretty sure the elected people who helped get us here in the first place don't have the answer either. No, they're too business blaming it on the Bush Administration, the Democratic controlled Congress..heck, they're too business blaming each other! All while floating plans to spend nearly a trillion dollars of our money.

Republicans: "We have a plan."

Democrats: "That might work. We can't vote for that!"

"How about this plan? OUR plan."

Republicans: "That might work too. We can't support that!"

Democrats: "This is your fault!"

Republicans: "No, this is your fault!"

Democrats: "Stop touching me!"

Republican: "You stop touching me!"

Both burst into tears.

Man, I miss my grandfather.

The Hopelessness and Futility of Atheism (Repost)

From the blog of http://contemporarycalvinist.blogspot.com

Good stuff...funny...but also sad that people actually live under this very philosophy.

Base your decision on substance...not tabloid.

The following article in a recent edition of Christianity Today breaks down both party positions on a number of issues. That's not to say that either candidiate for President agrees with the entire party position.

I thought it was presented in a clean, unbiased manner.

Comparing the Platforms
Where the parties stand on abortion, faith-based programs, religious liberty, and other issues.
posted 8/27/2008 11:00AM

At the end of the article is a link to the complete platform of each party as adopted at their respective conventions. The Republican platform is a completed draft not ratified at the time of the article, but an excellent source of information.

Take the time to read each...then decide who to vote for in November. Don't let talk radio or even main stream news media make that decision for you. Both of those sources are in business to SELL ADVERTISING and thus make money. It's about ratings to them...not truth.

SNL nails another one!

Unfortunately, neither one reminds you of Margaret Thatcher...the Governor or Senator... not the comedians.

Dear Senators...thank you both for today.

U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) (R) lays a flower as he and Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) visit a memorial at Ground Zero to mark the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York, September 11, 2008.REUTERS/Pool (UNITED STATES)

September 11 will forever be about more than just a single ideology. The people who died on that dreadful day in 2001 were not Democrats or Republicans, not liberal or conservatives...they were Americans. Much like the calm December 7th morning in 1941 that united another generation, our brothers and sisters were going able their normal routines. Acts of violence, thoughts of malice far from their minds.

I will never forget standing and watching the second plane barrel into the South Tower of the World Trade Center, forever changed, as we all were.

Today is about remembering those nearly 3000. Thank you Mr. Obama and Mr. McCain for demonstrating that and putting the dirty business of politics aside for this day...their day.

Stop, children. What's that sound?

You have to love Red State Update. Jackie and Dunlap manage to expose (through satire) just how ridiculously blasphemous we are at times, especially when it comes to politics.

All of these groups claimed to be God loving. Hmmmm. It's funny yet deeply saddening at the same time.

Sorry for the foul language in the video.

Mt Everest? Sure, I can do that!

This is a repost of a blog I wrote over a year ago for the Stick with Jesus website no longer active. I wanted it to be a part of this blog because the subject matter is so important to me.

Music is such an important part of most people's lives today. It can lift our spirits, mellow us out, fire us up, drag us down…it pretty much always invokes an emotional response when we listen on one level or another.

Today while driving home from work, I experienced one of those emotions in a major way. You see, I was driving along in my own little private world of thoughts and images, where the sky is always Dodger blue and the mailbox is only filled with birthday cards. Yeah, and you always have ice cream in the freezer that has never been opened before…anyway…that's when Josh Groban's tenor voice filled my car with a very familiar song.

When I am down and oh my soul so weary
When troubles come and my heart burdens me
Then I am still and wait here in the silence
Until you come and sit a while with me

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains
You raise me to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be

My eyes filled with tears as I drove along heading directly for the person that embodies that very song for me. She will be waiting for me, glad to see me once again…wait a minute…she? That's a Christian song about Jesus isn't it?

There was a very difficult time in my life when that precise thought, about that very song, confused me. You see, I was separated from her, but she, just like my Savior, stood by me and kept me strong, faithful and focused. I would hear Josh Groban and feel equally emotional about the lyrics that described what both meant to me. So much…so strong.

Guilt would then lead to prayer and study in God's word about why I was confusing the two, when one day in reading I came across Ephesians 5:25:

Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church…

That's when I clearly came to the understanding that I'm supposed to love her, yes my beautiful wife and soul mate, just as strong as Jesus loves me…meaning only He comes before her in my heart and soul. A wonderful peace came over me. I felt that peace today again on the way home to be with her.

Marriage is an important bond to God. He gave us so much in His word about what He expects in our marriages. I'm so glad I have a marriage built on the foundation of God. I'm most appreciative He blessed me with a wonderful woman who is only second to Him. She lifts me up…just like Jesus.

My wish is that God blesses you, as He has me, with an amazing spouse….or maybe He has already. Amen.

Now that we've heard from both sides...

..........

Every Presidential election year, the same talking-head complaint about low voter turn out crops up and how apathy is gripping our nation when it comes to politics. Hmmm. I can't imagine why now nearly two generations of the youngest voters are so uninterested when the subject of politics and elections are raised. Why wouldn't the very fiber that is destined to become the continuation of the greatest concept in the history of governments be ready to pick up the banner and march proudly forward championing the cause of Democracy? How is it a vast majority of Millennials (aka Generation Y) and even some Generation Xers have become so self-absorbed that causes for higher purpose (i.e. freedom, faith and sanctity of human life) have become lesser important talking points than the release of the latest version IPhone or whose baby will be cuter Brad and Angelia's or Tom and Katie's?

What happened to 'Of the people, for the people, by the people' and 'There is no greater sacrifice...'? Why do we tolerate the derogation of honorable men and women aspiring to become leaders of the greatest nation in the history of nations? How did we digress to meaningless, inconsequential finger pointing, name calling and flat out lying about the 'other party' to a debilitating result of ineptitude or incompetence that has left our government in an impassable (yes, impassable) quagmire?

That is a lot of guilt! But, come on, eventually one of two people will become our 44th President, and the two people backing them up will be a last breath away from 45th. Shouldn't there be some dignity associated with such a noble post regardless of party affiliation? Something has happened in our country that has turned the significant and completely relevant task of electing our leader, the arguably most important position (elected or otherwise) on the planet, into a distasteful travesty resembling Roman gladiator games, or still worse, a train wreck.

Here is my challenge, my prayer, to/for Christians. Rise above. Stop the madness. I'm so personally sickened by talk radio, websites and circulating emails that distort the truth to an unrecognizable point of smut and slander. Before Republicans start screaming, 'What about the liberal media?', I'm including them too. How does the liberal media exist? Never forget that the media is a business. One dependant on consumers, with a bottom line. So who do we blame for my initial examples at the top of the page? We are they! (Ouch. He gave an example from both sides didn't he? That means I'm one of them...doesn't it?). If you're having that self-imposed observation...GOOD FOR YOU! Stop the insanity! Don't forward that atrocious email about Obama being the antichrist or McMain be a closet baby killer. Look at the facts. Stick to the facts.

Let's get back to voting for a man or woman based on their politics and the issues...a platform. Who has a better plan (4 letter word) for our health care debacle? Pick a side. Who has a realistic vision of our continued role in the Middle East? Pick a side. What about securing our borders? If that's important to you, pick a side. In my experience, there is no 'One Size Fits All.' At any given time, great ideas originate in both parties. But, the polarized state of the union has resulted in a strategic deadlock that is paralyzing progress on the simplest of issues (read High Gas Prices here) making us the jesters of the world court.

If we can eliminate the Jerry Springer-like quality our political election process has become, get back to focusing on issue-based platforms of meaningful dialogue, and bring a sense of supported dignity back to the Oval Office (even when your candidate doesn't win), our country may see a renewed vigor of interest in the action that effects each of us the most outside our spiritual lives...electing and holding accountable our leaders.

I seriously doubt the Greatest Generation envisioned the America we've become when they suffered through 3 wars (2 World Wars) and the Great Depression. Think about that the next time you're about to forward that obviously fake, nude picture of Palin (wink, wink - you know who you are).

God Bless and Forgive Us All

Is It Just Me? I Kinda Doubt It...

For several years on my website http://www.stickwithjesus.com/ (no longer operating), I've blogged about numerous personal experiences and observations that stayed within 'religiously correct' parameters to avoid confusing or offending any Christian who might read them. I'm a God-fearing, Jesus-loving Christian myself, but I often feel confined by the etiquette Christians are posed to adhere to when discussing personal views on religious theology and modern politics.

No more! I have a personal conviction for young people today who struggle with the normalcy of doubt and confusion surrounding their Christian faith. Or, the non-believer who is repulsed at the splintered factions Christianity has become but still feels the tug of a risen Savior on the heart. The one who loves the beautiful story of promise and hope in the life of Jesus Christ but can't always see the message in His followers today.

How about religion and politics? The perplexed Christian whose political views are far from Republican and feels alienated by a two-party all-or-nothing system of governing that leaves them as well as millions of others struggling to find an identity in the current U.S. political process. Or, the revisionist history of our country that has become nearly as fractured as Christianity and caused several generations now to lose faith in the founding principles our great nation was forged.

Let's discuss them all...and much more. I love God, and I love my country. But, I also understand that God is much, much bigger than any nation, denomination, race or generation. In an open, respectful forum, I hope to bring to light a number of politically and religiously avoided topics that Christians should think about and challenge. In doing so, maybe we can expose the message of Jesus as the truth it was actually meant to be. The true message of love and acceptance the way He practiced it in His life on Earth over 2000 years ago.

Keep an open heart and mind as you read.