Passiveness...

Some recent encounters with literature recommendations, the news, and discussions with my very enlightening husband have me pondering...

Have you heard about the neighborhoods in the UK with the yellow posters? 

Recently, there were notices put up in some pleasant, tree lined, suburbs of London announcing that shari'a law was in effect and will be enforced.  What?!

Think that can't happen here?  I would suggest you might want to think again.

Sure, the UK authorities are working to take down the signs....but how would you feel about walking those streets in jeans and a tank top with your children in tow? 

How does this happen? 
Satan was given a foothold.  That's how.
Christ's followers became passive.  That's how.

He will try in our country.  Satan is trying in our country.  Did you know that some public schools are now instructing children on observing Ramadan?  These are the hearts and minds of the future of our country.  Those are seeds planted. 

Some may say that kids need a full education of all options.  Really?  Then why don't the public schools teach how God was so instrumental in the founding of our country? Why should Christmas go away?

Teach your children, passionately, moms.  Don't think your vote worthless. Stand up for what is pure and holy, even in church!

And watch out for passiveness being disguised as peace.  Do you know the full history and meaning behind the now absurdly popular 'peace-sign'?  I didn't.

Here it is:
PEACE SYMBOL or NERO'S CROSS: A broken, upside-down cross. To Roman emperor Nero, who hated and persecuted the early Christians, it meant destruction of Christianity. Revived in the sixties by hippies and others who protested nuclear weapons, Western culture, and Christian values, it now symbolizes a utopian hope for a new age of global peace and earth-centered unity. But many of heavy metal rock fans would agree with Nero and use it to mock Christ and His followers. [taken from: http://www.radioliberty.com/Symbolsandtheirmeaning.html ]

Some people argue against the historical validity of the explanation above.  Let's say we give them the benefit of the doubt.  Have you ever seen the peace symbol have a particular significance in the Christian faith?  On the other hand, in the world of wicca they embrace the peace symbol wholeheartedly and it holds special meaning.  Seems to me there should be a distinction here....
Why is this sign all over children's (not to mention adult) sandals, hats, and clothing?  The devil does not usually work in a quick obvious manner.  Be discerning and bold. 

Multi-culturalism is becoming a prevailing trend even in homeschooling.  This can be a slippery slope.  We need to ask ourselves, "does my six year old really  need to read stories validating the Muslim faith or making light of superstition"?  Consider what the state is of the soil of their hearts before you go this route.

Yes, God loves every person in every land.  He does not think America any better than another mass of land He created.  And neither should we. 

However, the ideals our country were founded on are not the same as most others!  The freedoms we have came from our founders' beliefs in The Creator.  We are going to have to fight for them or else we will lose those freedoms.  There is no way around it.

Jesus speaks to His disciples in John 15:18-20,

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.  That is why the world hates you.  Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also."

He continues in 16:1,

"All this I have told you so that you will not go astray.  They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God."

Sobering words.

Sitting by quietly will only pass on a greater struggle to our children.

Having guts!

By: Heather
My, are we glad we moved (sorry, California, no regrets here)! Wisconsin's people have guts and we are proud of it! But before I sound too overly excited, don't get me wrong. I tend to be somewhat cynical about new elections.  I really don't consider myself a supporter of any politician until they have shown who they are under pressure.

But we can celebrate, temporarily, for Wisconsin voters had the nerve to switch the parties which held our governor's office, state senate, state assembly, U.S. Senator, and many congressional seats.  And some of the margins over an incumbent were 10%!.  I believe it takes guts to vote for someone new.  In this day of media elites we are taught, over and over, that politicians must have a loaded resume of experience or else we might be somehow seriously injured by our government. 

Those taking office in January had better be on notice.  I do sometimes feel sorry for someone like Senator elect Ron Johnson (who is a complete newcomer to politics).  Does he really know how hard it will be to resist the lobbyists and numerous backroom deals that are pushed on legislators up on Capitol Hill?  But that is what he was elected to do.  To have backbone, intelligence, integrity, and do what is best for the state of WI.  If he gets comfortable or bends some...he will have to watch out, or he might just end up a flash in the pan.

Forget Washington for now, (I will become optimistic once they make Obama veto at least a few things!) our own state houses have a LOT to do.  Businesses and jobs have been fleeing our state nearly as fast as CA. The newcomers to Madison had better make a bold name for themselves because the people of this state showed that they do not have the stomach for big talkers or those that simply walk the party line.

In closing, here is my very serious first request: Seeing as how we are the dairy state and all: Can we, please, finally legalize the sale of raw milk once and for all, people?

Freedom

By: Heather
As midterm elections approach I have been pondering our country's current political climate.  I enjoy watching and observing politics. The 'game' is intriguing to me.  I am not a fired up activist, but I vote.  I know politics is a touchy subject; I don't mind....it affects all our lives, like it or not.  And I relish the fact that we are free to discuss our leadership in this country.

 

"I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend." -Thomas Jefferson

Why is it that the conservative movement is so 'angry' right now?  Primarily it seems to be that they see their liberties being taken from them.  Conservatives want the government to have less control over their lives, but see the opposite happening. 

So, where have true conservative politicians been the last couple of decades?  And why are they often labeled as the party of 'no'?

I believe that at the foundation of the conservative philosophy is a profound belief in freedom.  Conservatives want the government to exist for the purpose of protecting the citizens' freedoms.  Freedom to practice religion, freedom to speak one's mind, freedom to live, freedom to succeed and even the freedom to fail.  They do not want the government to decide how and where and when these freedoms should apply.  But simply to keep the framework in place for this freedom to exist.  Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

"A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government."-Thomas Jefferson 

It is not that conservatives don't want their country to be a healthier, richer, or smarter place to live.  It is simply that they believe in private citizens promoting, providing, developing, and giving to those causes.  Furthermore, they believe when government becomes more involved in these endeavors it often worsens the situation.

"I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion." -Thomas Jefferson 

It seems to me that the true conservative legislator is one that works himself nearly out of a job.   They would strive toward less regulation, thus typically less legislation.  The conservative congressperson would advocate that money remain in the hands of private individuals for the purpose of citizens making choices for their own families and local communities.  Therefore, the government becomes smaller. 

Conservatives do not want their elected officials to necessarily be creative.  They do not desire for there to be a plethora of 'new laws' on the books, but simply want congress to look out for their safety, freedom and liberty.  This is the essence of why I believe they are referred to as the party of 'no'.

However, there are times in which they need to explain their ideas more clearly.  Let's take the recent healthcare battle of which we are all familiar with.   Some conservatives in congress suggested opening up the health insurance business to cross state lines.  This is a perfect example of a legislative idea which would have allowed for more freedom.  Sure, some smaller, local insurance companies might not have done so well, but then again...who knows.  Until all are allowed to compete and all customers can choose freely, who are we to decide who might or might not survive the competition? That is the essence of what America was founded upon.  The government trying to prop up either the giant corporation or the small guy is not freedom.  But why was this idea and its benefits to us not communicated better?  Conservatives need to be bolder and speak to the idea of freedom and its power.

Sure, conservatives may gain some power in a few weeks.  But to what end?  Will they really communicate what they bring to the table?  Until they are willing to stand strong in simply defending freedom and be as loud about it as their rivals are about 'reform' this wave will eventually roll the other way once again. And down the road to more controlling laws we will head again in the name of 'improving' or 'changing' America.

"Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny."-Thomas Jefferson 

Freedom has to be defended.  It is not created by more ideas.  Freedom does not evolve.  The ways to protect it may need to be adjusted, such as protecting our freedoms against technological advancements or changing threats to our national security.  But once freedom is established in a society it is best primarily left alone.

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."-Thomas Jefferson

Our country needs leaders who are comfortable with constantly saying no, and thus, being unpopular.  We need people in Washington who can articulate why doing less is more important than bringing 'change' and will stand by that conviction. America needs to rediscover why our founders were able to establish this great nation with documents of a few thousand words, not thousands of pages.  This great country desperately needs to once again be satisfied with simply being free.

"I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than those attending too small a degree of it."-Thomas Jefferson