What If...

Do you ever play "What if...?" What if you had made different choices in life? What if you had gone a different direction?

I watched a movie on TV last night that looks at the 'what ifs' of life. The movie follows an investment banker who gets a second chance at the life he could've had as a small-town preacher. The movie's main character, Ben Walker, believed he was called to preach and planned to go to seminary. Along the way, he became sidetracked and ended up in the business world as a very successful banking tycoon. He then takes a look back at 'what if' he had gone the other direction.

I guess we all have 'what if'' moments. I have. I've often wondered what I might have been if I hadn't been born with cerebral palsy. How would my life be different? I've also wondered what if I hadn't gone into journalism. With my passion for politics, maybe I would've been a congressman or senator... or maybe.... president! OK, maybe not.

It's natural to wonder 'what if' sometimes. But God doesn't make mistakes. He has a plan and a purpose for each of us.

Still, God's plan always involves choice. He gives us freewill to make choices in life and sometimes we choose to go our own way, like the man in the movie. Even when we walk away from God, He can turn it around for our good. He never gives up on us.

It's real easy to get sidetracked from what God wants for our lives. In the Bible, we see men and women say "no" to God's call — and then we see God work his will in their lives and lead them back. He goes on to do great things in their lives. He will do the same in us. No matter what we've done or where we've been, God will take us just as we are and put us on the right path.

When I have missed the mark in my life, I sometimes wish I could have a "do-over." But God doesn't want us to hold on to our mistakes or live in the past. Instead, He wants us to come to Him. If we have sinned, we should repent. If we have gone our own way, we should surrender to Him. He'll make all things right and give us a new start.

In Philippians, Paul says, "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Instead of asking "What if...," ask "What now?" Then allow God to lead you onward to the prize, which is heaven and an eternity with Him.

Merry CHRISTmas!

Merry Christmas to all you good little boys and girls.... and to you liberals, too!

I hope you all have a special Christmas and remember to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. I read it again this morning in Matthew: Jesus came to save His people from their sin. It's always so amazing to stop and think about that.

While you're with your family and friends this weekend, take some time to thank God for sending His Son.

This will be a special Christmas for my family. We're anxiously waiting for my niece and her family to arrive. They drove most of the night from Corpus Christi and should be here this afternoon. I'm excited about meeting my new great-nephew, Kayden, who was born in November. I like all the food and, of course, the gifts, but for me, one of the best things about Christmas is being with family.

I took Mom to look at Christmas lights last night. Downtown Pampa is all lit up with new lights this year. It's good to see downtown coming alive at Christmastime again. It used to be that way every year.

I think we'll still have some snow on the ground to technically have a 'white' Christmas. We may even get a little new snow overnight! There's just something special about waking up to snow on Christmas morning. I love playing in it, too, but don't tell Mom.... she'd just worry.

So I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and hope you have a happy and blessed new year!

Tebow Mania

Tim Tebow is one of my new heroes.... and I don't even like football. Tebow is the Denver Broncos quarterback who's been criticized for kneeling on the field after a touchdown to give thanks to God. People criticize him for being too open with his faith, but I think it shows courage.

The Bible says, "In everything, give thanks." And that's just what Tim Tebow is doing. He's thanking God for helping him on the football field. What's so wrong about that?

"Saturday Night Live" did a despicable skit, mocking Tebow and Jesus. It was shameful.

Tebow is an example of a positive role model in the sports world. With so many bad role models in sports, it's great to finally have someone like Tim Tebow for kids to look up to. He's an example for all of us really.

The "tebowing" craze is catching on among some athletes, including Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn. Several high school students showed their support for Tebow by staging a tribute to him. During an entire week, the students would jam the hallway and kneel Tebow-style for about a minute. School officials found the act unacceptable and penalized several students by giving them one day suspension each.

That is unbelievable to me. In a day when kids need good role models, the school punished the students for their tribute to Tebow.

This is just another example of intolerance toward Christianity. Society thinks it's all right for atheists and other nuts to speak out, but it wants Christians to remain silent. We need to stand up and be bold for Christ in our world!

Matthew 10:32 says, "Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven." That should inspire all of us to share our faith in Christ wherever we can and whenever we have a chance.

I heard this saying the other day, and it really sums everything up: "I'm just a Nobody, trying to tell Everybody about Somebody who can save Anybody!"

Words of Wisdom

The Bible tells us to "think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth." I was looking back over some notes I'd jotted down this year of sayings that have helped me. I didn't come up with most of these sayings. I read them on Facebook or got them from sermons or books. I hope these thoughts will bless you, too, if you will stop and think on them:

"We see who we are; God sees who He wants us to become."

"God put his very best gift on the tree, not under it."

The Christian life is more than simply giving up bad habits. It is acquiring a newness of mind which comes from setting your heart and mind on Jesus and having the mind of Christ.

"Salvation is a blend of faith and grace."

No matter how bad we were before we were saved, and no matter how bad we've been after we're saved, HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT!

If you have God, you have everything. Me + GOD = Success.

God accepts us before we accept Him.

We do what we can; God does what we CANNOT.

No matter what cards I'm dealt in life, God will see me through.

God doesn't always change our circumstances; sometimes He changes us.

"Don't give up; Go to God!"

Keeping the Faith

TV news commentators are saying Rick Perry's latest ad, touting his faith, is a last-ditch effort to revive his campaign. They say he is desperate, so he has resorted to talking about faith and God. These pinhead liberals are so wrong.

Rick Perry is talking about faith because that's who he is: A man of faith. He should talk about it. I wish more politicians weren't afraid to speak out like Perry has.

In the ad, Perry says, "I'm not ashamed to talk about my faith." He's never been ashamed of sharing his faith. Remember the prayer rally he organized in Houston earlier this year? That was before he even decided to run for president. He didn't do that as a "show" to attract voters. He did it because America is in need of prayer, and he believes in the power of prayer.

Perry didn't come out with this ad as a "show" either. He really believes, "Faith made America strong, and it can make her strong again." I believe it, too... IF this country will repent and turn back to God. Then, God will bless us and heal our land.

The ad angered a lot of people because Perry dared to tell the truth when he said, "you don't need to be in the pew every Sunday to know there’s something wrong in this country when gays can serve openly in the military but our kids can’t openly celebrate Christmas or pray in school."

That may not be a popular stand these days, but it's the truth.

Rick Perry may not gain a lot of popularity with this ad. He probably won't even win this race. But at the end of this life, he'll be able to say what the apostle Paul said: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

And that should be what life is all about...keeping the faith!

'Tis the Season

This weekend put me in the CHRISTmas spirit. Pampa had its parade on Saturday, where if you blink you'll miss the whole parade. The parade was good, just short. But it was fun to get out and watch the crowd. Afterward, we got soup and chili from Mrs. Claus.

On Sunday, American Idol star Phil Stacey sang in our morning church service and then entertained at the CHRISTmas banquet last night. I hadn't heard of him before (I'm not much of an American Idol fan), but he can really sing! He sang several of the Christian songs that he wrote and did some CHRISTmas music, too.

I got home in time to watch most of a great new CHRISTmas movie. "The Heart of Christmas" is inspired by the true story of a family's quest for their terminally-ill 2-year-old son to experience an early Christmas, and how an entire community came together to make it possible, before the child dies. One of the messages in the movie is "cherish every moment" and encourages people to make the most of every day you have with your family. Life is short, and you never know when a loved one could be taken from you so cherish the time you have.

It's a really great movie. You should try to catch it if you can. It will be on several more times before CHRISTmas on the GMC cable network. Just make sure you have a box of Kleenex when you watch it. It's a real tear-jerker.

Finally, to really put me in the CHRISTmas spirit, I woke up this morning to SNOW!! It's not very heavy, but it was really coming down. I love to watch it snow.

I hope all of you have a good CHRISTmas and are enjoying this wonderful season. Merry CHRISTmas, everyone!

Playing Politics

Politics are like a soap opera, especially these days with money scams and alleged affairs. I guess that's why I like politics so much. Someone said the Herman "Cain Train" needs less steam on the windows and more in the engine!

A lot has been happening in the Republican race, with Newt Gingrich now leading in the polls. Who could have ever imagined that just two months ago? Things can turn around so fast.

I think any of the Republican candidates would be infinitely better than Barack Obama. But it's going to be a tough fight for whoever wins the GOP nomination.

I pray that he's wrong, but I read an article by conservative economist Walter Williams, who predicts that Obama CANNOT lose the 2012 election. Don't let this scare you, but here's what Williams says:

Blacks will vote for Obama blindly. Period. Doesn't matter what he does.

Liberals will vote for Obama. He is their great hope.

Democrats will vote for Obama. He is the leader of their party, and his coattails will carry them to victory.

Hispanics will vote for Obama. He is the path to citizenship for those who are illegal and Hispanic leaders recognize the political clout they carry in the Democratic Party.

Most other minorities and special interest groups will vote for him. Oddly, the overwhelming majority of Jews and Muslims will support him because they won't vote Republican. American Indians will support him. Obviously, homosexuals tend to vote Democratic.

Nearly half of independents will vote for Obama. And he doesn't need anywhere near that number because he has all of the groups previously mentioned.

The media love him. They may attack the people who work for him, but they love him. After all, to not love him would be racist.

I hope Walter Williams is wrong. It shouldn't even be a close election, but because some voting groups have always voted Democratic, Republicans face a tough fight in 2012. Conservatives and Christians need to come together to pray for the outcome of this election. America depends on it!

Time Out

It's easy to get caught up in so many things, especially at this time of year. I love Christmas time! I love the food, the lights, the food, the presents, the food. . . well, you get the idea. It's a great and fun season, but a lot of people get so busy and anxious about everything that they forget what Christmas is really about. They don't take time out to enjoy the holiday.

I saw those crazy shoppers on Black Friday, running around just to try to save a few dollars on the latest gadget. A lady actually used pepper spray at Walmart because someone was about to get the item she wanted. Another woman left her five kids, including a 1-year-old, in the car for three hours while she waited in line for a store to open. Those people are crazy!

I wonder what God thinks when we do crazy things like that? And why don't people get that fired up about the real meaning of Christmas: The birth of Jesus.

Christmas should be about celebrating Him. Really, we should do that every day. I like the way The Message Bible says it in Philippians: "Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, REVEL in Him!"

That's what it's all about. Revel in God and what He means to us. Instead of worrying about finding the perfect Christmas gift, turn the focus back on God. You'll be amazed how much better the holiday will be when you focus on the right things.

The Message puts it like this: "Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life" (Philippians 4:6-7).

Take a timeout and think about the things that really matter. For me, that's God and being together with family and the ones I love. What's most important to you? Think on those things, and this can be the best Christmas ever!

Lots to be Thankful for

It's hard to believe it's Thanksgiving week! The year has gone by so fast. Everyone says that, but it's true. And I have so much to be thankful for!

Today, I'm thankful that our family is growing. My niece, Michelle, and her husband had their "little man" over the weekend. Kayden Bryce Millikan was born Saturday. He arrived a few weeks early, but I don't think Michelle and Nick minded that at all. They have been so excited. Kayden weighed 5 pounds, 8 ounces.

I'm glad that "Grandma" (my sister Karen) and "Gramps" got to be there for the delivery in Corpus Christi. We're taking Ty to the airport tomorrow so he can be there, too. I know it will be a special Thanksgiving for them.

I'm thankful for e-mail and Facebook so the rest of us can see pictures of Kayden...

We have another newborn in the family. My cousin and his wife had a baby boy last month. He came early, too. But the baby and parents are doing well. They named him Miles after our Granddad Ely.

It will be a little different around the Thanksgiving table this year. While the whole family won't get to be all together on Thanksgiving, we'll be thankful for these two additions to the family. Maybe they will even be here at Christmas, and we can meet the new little ones in person.

Until then... more food for me! Pass the dressing! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Survey Says...

I've always wondered how pollsters pick the people for their presidential polls and surveys. I've always thought it would be fun to take part in a poll. So I was excited when I got a survey in the mail last week from the Republican National Committee in Washington.

I have plenty of opinions on the issues, so I thought this could be fun. Here are a few of the questions and some of my responses (or how I would have responded):

The first section is on General Issues, and one question asks, "How do you rate the Obama administration thus far in dealing with America's major issues?" Since there wasn't a box to check for "Totally Incompetent," I had to settle for "Strongly Disapprove."

The next few questions were on rating the actions of the Democrat-controlled Senate and the GOP-controlled House. Again, the lowest rating was "Strongly Disapprove," so I scored both the House and the Senate with poor ratings. I wish there had been a place to write in comments. I would have said we need to throw out everyone in Congress and start all over.

The next section dealt with Domestic Issues, such as "Do you support repealing ObamaCare?" Of course I want it repealed!! "Do you trust the Obama administration to better secure America's borders?" Are you kidding me? "Do you support efforts to grant amnesty and American citizenship to illegal immigrants living within our borders?" I answered a big "NO" on that one, too.

Then, the survey asks our opinion on Social Issues. I gave "Strong Support" for school prayer, faith-based initiatives and for a ban on flag burning. I also "Strongly Disapproved" same-sex marriage and abortion.

Finally, the survey asks for a donation to the Republican National Committee. That's the only question I left blank! Once you get on their donor list, you can never get off of it. My grandmother sent the RNC a donation ONE TIME, and she was on their mailing list forever. They continued to send her mail for at least a year after she passed away.

Maybe I'll get a survey from the Democrat Party, too. I could really have some fun with that!

Don't Be Stupid

If common sense prevails, Obama will be a one-term president. His support has really fallen off among most groups of people. But he still could be re-elected if he holds on to support from one particular group. That group: Stupid people!

Stupid people are everywhere. It was stupid people who helped elect Obama in 2008, and it will take the support of stupid people to get him re-elected.

I'm not saying if you voted for Obama the first time that you're stupid. I'll be nice. I'll just say you were terribly "misguided." But anyone who would consider voting for him AGAIN seriously needs to have their head examined. That would be really stupid.

Some people will vote for Obama only because he's a Democrat. I know a lot of really smart people who vote 'Democrat' no matter who the candidate is. They've always voted for the Democrats, so they think they have to keep supporting the Democrat ticket. People need to wise up. We all need to examine the candidates carefully and vote for the best one, regardless of party affiliation.

I'd consider voting for a Democrat if he's the best candidate. It's not likely, but I'd consider it!

******

And speaking of stupid, Obama made a very stupid remark to French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the G20 Summit last week. The two were talking about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and didn't know their mics were still on. Sarkozy called Netanyahu "a liar" and said "I can't stand him." Obama then responded, saying, "You are sick of him, but I have to work with him every day."

That's not only stupid. It's insulting to Israel. I think Obama should just stick to the teleprompter...

Beware of the Times

As I watch the "Occupy Wall Street" protests on TV, it looks more like something in a third-world country than America. I never thought I'd see street protests like that here. The chaos is spreading, and violence continues to grow the longer these protests go on.

I have a theory about the protests. I think they are leading up to the new world order, and Barack Obama is behind this effort. Obama supports and agrees with the "Occupy Wall Street" movement through his class warfare mantra. As a puppet of the new world order, Obama is working to bring about anarchy in America and eventually usher in a new economic system.

I've been reading articles by prophecy teacher / evangelist Jonathan Hansen. He believes there's about to be an escalation in the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, leading to the new world order. He warns about a total stock market collapse, Social Security collapse, natural disasters, civil unrest, earthquakes and other disasters across the United States.

Hansen writes, "the stock market and economy have already crashed. . . but they have been propped up again. The New World Order is determined to cause them to have an irreparable collapse, pushing us into the New World Economic Order. . . which will eventually include the Mark of the Beast. There will be a New World Order politically, a New World Economic Order and a New World Religious Order."

That's pretty deep stuff, I know. But it should make us realize the times we're living in. Whether we want to believe it or not, America is headed in that direction. We can see it all around us in the recent earthquakes, floods, fires and now in the protests and financial upheaval.

Dark days are ahead, but we don't have to be afraid. If we have put our hope and trust in Jesus Christ and made Him the lord of our lives, we have the promise that God is with us. Matthew 28:20 says, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

We are very near the end of this age. Jesus is coming soon! Are you ready to meet Him in the air? Don't wait until it's too late. Get ready now. Then, you can be confident that whatever happens in the coming days, God will be with you!

Fair and Balanced

People say I pick on Democrats too much. Well, they deserve it! But to show you that I am fair and balanced, I decided to poke a little fun at some Republicans in the current field of presidential candidates. Here goes:

Herman Cain had a bad week after Politico reported that two women made sexual harassment claims against him in the '90s. Cain denies the accusations.... and says he will personally spank any women who claim otherwise!

If Mitt Romney wins the GOP nomination, I think he should consider Donald Trump for his vice president. Not because Trump is an expert in economics or foreign policy..... but compared to Trump, Mitt can never be accused of having a bad hair day.

My man Rick Perry let his hair down and was having a good 'ol time during a speech he gave this week in New Hampshire. Some say he looked a little tipsy and called the governor a hypocrite for taking a drink after all his talk about being a Christian..... but it's OK, though, he's a Baptist.

Jon Huntsman hasn't been seen or heard from since the last GOP debate. Some wonder what kind of president he would make. I say that's exactly the kind of president we need.... one who knows how to keep quiet and stay out of the way.

Newt Gingrich has come out with his 21st Century Contract With America. It's a 10-point plan to revive America, which he says would take eight years in office to accomplish. Eight years? At his age, I'd be worried that Newt would expire before the contract does.

Rick Santorum has complained that he doesn't get enough camera time at the debates. He should be grateful for that. If people begin to hear some of the things he's proposing, he could soon be out of the debates altogether. He'll be better off if he just stands there and looks pretty.

Some have questioned Michele Bachmann's ability to be president because she suffers from migraine headaches. They may have a point. Just imagine what would happen if the phone rings at the White House at 3 o'clock in the morning and she picks it up and says.... "Not tonight. I have a headache!"

That's it for the Republicans..... now back to my regularly scheduled liberal bashing!

Don't Worry 'Bout Nothin'

That's a line from a song by Gordon Mote: "Don't worry 'bout nothin'; Pray about everything." I love that! We worry about so many things that don't even matter. Isn't it better to pray about it and leave it in God's hands? It's not easy to do sometimes, but God is bigger than all our problems. He can handle it. Trust Him!

I'm always saying, "Don't worry about it." Mom gets tired of hearing me say it. But it's true. We can't change anything by worrying about it, so why worry?

I was blessed when I heard that song again yesterday. Gordon Mote was in Pampa yesterday and sang the song. He even sells T-shirts that say, "Don't worry 'bout nothin'; Pray about everything." I had to get one! Maybe I'll give it to Mom.... or maybe I'll wear it myself.

I've written about Gordon Mote before on this blog, but he really amazes and inspires me. He's best known for playing the piano on the Gaither music videos and tours. He also plays keyboard for many country music stars in the studios in Nashville. He's been named Best Studio Musician by the CMA several times.

The amazing thing about him is that he's blind. At age 3, he sat down at the piano and started playing. Gordon gives glory to God by sharing his testimony and using his amazing talent to play and sing Christian music. Every time I hear his testimony on TV or in a concert, it inspires me.

He's been in Pampa several times, and I love hearing him. He's also very funny. As you can imagine, he has experienced many things as he travels around the world with the Gaithers, and he tells about his experiences in such a funny way.

His songs are uplifting and he encourages people to focus on God, in songs like "Don't Let Me Miss the Glory" and "Pray About Everything." I was so blessed by the concert yesterday, and it reminded me, "Don't worry 'bout nothin'."

Here We Go Again...

This is the time of the year when the crazies start coming out of the woodwork. You have ghosts and ghouls, witches and goblins, and, of course, P.C. liberals.

The politically correct crowd appears about this time every year, trying to take "Christ" out of Christmas and attempting to rid all holidays of their true meanings. This year, the barrage is starting even earlier. An elementary school principal in Massachusetts wants to ban celebrations of fall holidays, such as Columbus Day, because they may be offensive to some.

Here's what the nutty principal had to say: "When we were young, we might have been able to claim ignorance of the atrocities that Christopher Columbus committed against the indigenous peoples. We can no longer do so.... celebrating this particular person is an insult and a slight to the people he annihilated."

I thought this had to be a joke when I read it. But this is real. There are actually warped people who think this way. I just have to laugh at people like that.

I love Columbus Day. But, personally, I think it should be celebrated on Oct. 19 because that's the day this Christopher discovered America! That should be a national holiday, don't you think?

This crazy principal goes on to say we need to ban celebrating Halloween and Thanksgiving, too. I understand the concern about Halloween because of its connection to witchcraft, but when did it become offensive to give thanks? The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 to give thanks for the harvest reaped by the Plymouth colony after a harsh winter. It became a national holiday in 1863. It's just as important for the country to give thanks now as it was back then. We are a blessed nation.

People need to lighten up, especially with all this political correctness. If a holiday "offends" you, don't celebrate it. But don't ruin it for the rest of us. I'm going to celebrate anyway! So Happy Columbus Day, Happy Halloween and Merry CHRISTmas!!

So Long, Mac!

I said goodbye to a good friend this week. Mac and I spent a lot of time together, especially in the last couple of years. I will miss spending time with Mac.

Mac was very smart. Whenever I had a question about anything, I could always turn to Mac to find the answer. Mac helped me in so many ways over the years. We did nearly everything together. We played games together; we listened to music; Mac even helped me with my writing.

I noticed Mac starting to slow down in the last couple of years. There just wasn't the same zip as there used to be. Mac's memory wasn't what it used to be either. It wasn't Mac's fault. Mac was getting really old.

Mac had several procedures in recent years, and that seemed to help for a while. But, over time, Mac started to slow down again. Some days, it seems that all Mac wanted to do was sleep. And, after so many years of working hard and doing so many things, Mac deserved the rest.

It was really hard to let go of Mac, but I knew the time had finally come. Yes, it was time to pull the plug.

So, with great sadness, I bid farewell to my Apple iMac G3 Bondi blue computer! I loved you, iMac!

And though I got another computer several years ago, it can never replace you, Mac. Sure, it has a flat screen and more speed, but it's not the same. It will never be the same again.

So long, Mac!

The Great Debate

We had an interesting discussion in Sunday school yesterday. The teacher told us last week that we'd be talking about a controversial subject, and he was right. Using a lesson from Max Lucado's book "3:16," we talked about the "Once saved, Always saved" debate. Once you give your life to God, are you always saved? Or can you do something to lose your salvation?

This debate has been around as long as I can remember. Like the church in general, our Sunday school class was split on the subject.

Lucado's book uses John 10:27-30 to argue for eternal security. It says, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand."

Some say, based on that Scripture, that once you are saved, you can never do anything to be "snatched" out of God's hand and lose your eternal salvation.

I believe it's possible to lose your salvation IF you deliberately continue to sin once you've come to the truth. We all make mistakes. Thank God, the Lord is patient and gives us chance after chance to come to Him and be forgiven. But if we continue to stubbornly go our own way after we know the right way, there comes a point when we're in danger of losing our salvation.

I've struggled with this issue in my life. Growing up, I thought every time I told a lie or said a bad word, I needed to go to the altar to get "saved again." I was haunted with fear as a child because I was afraid Jesus would come back before I got right again.

I realize now that God is not waiting to zap me the minute I do something wrong. He is a kind and loving God, and He's full of compassion and forgiveness. I love Lamentations 3:22-23, which says, "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Still, we can't live any way we want to and expect to make it to heaven. The Bible has some clear warnings for believers. In Revelation 2-3, Jesus had some strong words for the seven churches. To the church in Ephesus, He said they had forsaken their first love. He tells them to repent or He would remove their lampstand from its place.

God, in His love, gives us warnings. In the Old Testament, He sent the prophets to warn His people to turn from their sin. If they refused, God's judgment came upon them. The New Testament says that some will fall away in the last days.

In 1 Timothy 4:1, it says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits.

To me, the "Once saved, Always saved" debate comes down to a matter of the heart. God knows what's in a man's heart. Our class had differing opinions on this debate, but I think we all agreed that God rewards those who earnestly seek Him, as it says in Hebrews 11:6. We may fall sometimes, but if we serve the Lord with all our heart, He will see us through to the day of salvation.

I love debates like this, so I enjoyed yesterday's class. There are arguments that can be made on both sides. It's up to each of us to weigh all the arguments and then let the Bible and our hearts guide us on what we believe.

So I wonder what we'll debate next Sunday....

New Adventures

Some call it a nightmare. I prefer to think of it as an adventure. Either way, I'm sure it's no fun and a lot of frustration.

I'm talking about Medicare. I got the packet in the mail this week to sign up for Medicare. I will be eligible for coverage starting in February. No, I'm not turning 65. I'm not that old yet. I'm eligible for Medicare because I've been on Social Security Disability nearly two years. I'm still think it's silly that you have to wait two years to qualify for Medicare if you're already getting Social Security. It should come at the same time. But that's another rant.

I got the packet and began reading the mountain of information, describing the options and decisions you have to make to start Medicare. It's a lot of government mumbo jumbo. How do you know which option is best?

Thank God for the Internet! I went to the Internet, where you can find the answers to almost anything.

I started searching to try to find the right prescription drug plan. There are hundreds of companies to choose from. By the way, why don't prescription plans come with Medicare? That's the government for you! Why make things easy?

I printed out a long list of companies that offer drug plans in this area. I've been studying it to try to find the best deal. It may actually take until February to figure out all the paperwork! Of course, by then, Medicare could be bankrupt.

I'm sure it will all work out... eventually! The secret is to never put your trust in the government. Put your trust and hope in God, and He will never fail you. He is the answer to all our problems. Just trust in Him!

Be Bold

Finally, some good news in the war on Christianity in America. A Christian business owner is stepping out to try to spread the Gospel at his shop. The Kwik Kar Lube & Service in Plano is offering customers a discount on oil changes if they recite John 3:16 when they bring their cars in.

Other than the fact that the shop owner obviously can't spell (Kwik Kar?), I think he's doing a great thing. He has taken a stand by showing he's not afraid to share his faith.

Charlie Whittington came up with the deal to give customers an oil change for $19.99 if they will recite a Bible verse. He says it is a way to get people started talking about the things of God. Of course, some customers have complained. When one customer refused to say the verse, his bill went up to $46.

Whittington is standing firm on his faith and says he will continue to offer the deal, despite a few complaints. Good for him!

He believes he has every right to offer the special discount, and, for once, the law agrees. The district attorney has said that as a private business Whittington's Bible-based discount is within the law. But the D.A. added, “The study of the Bible has many rewards. I’m not sure that God intended a lube discount to be among its many riches.”

It's great to see the law on the side of Christians for once. After seeing so many stories where the law tries to limit our rights as believers, this is good news. It should encourage others to step out and take a stand for what they believe in. Of course, some people will always complain and try to shut us up, but we should speak up anyway.

I'm glad to see there are business owners like Whittington who are spreading the light of God in the workplace in a bold way. I only wish there were more like him!

Ins and Outs

He's in; he's out; he's in. Now, Chris Christie is definitely out of the race for president. Ask me if I care. I don't.

Chris Christie may be a good governor for New Jersey, but he's not a true conservative. I don't see why so many people were pushing him to get into the race. I want a true conservative as our next president, and Christie doesn't fill the bill. His views on gun control, civil unions for gays, immigration and global warming are all wrong. I'm glad he's finally ended the charade and made it clear that he won't run.

Sarah Palin has finally decided that she won't run either. It's about time. I was getting tired of watching her race around the country in her bus acting like she was already a candidate. I think she knew all along that she wasn't going to run. She just likes all the attention.

Palin is a true conservative, and I like her and what she stands for. But she's too polarizing to get elected. She's the Hilary Clinton of the Republican party. You either love her or hate her.

My man, Rick Perry, took a hit in the last debate, but he's still in the race. He made some mistakes in the debate, but so what? He'll be all right; he's a Texan. Unlike the Dallas Cowboys, Perry can still make a comeback. (Come on, Cowboy fans, you know it's true.) It will be fun to watch Perry claw his way back to the top of the polls.

You can't count Herman Cain out either. He's been on a roll lately. I like Cain but wonder if he has enough experience in foreign affairs. Then again, he has to be better than Obama. Anyone is better than Obama!

After the next debate, I think we'll see several of the candidates drop out, such as Jon Huntsman and Gary Johnson. They don't have much of a shot of winning the nomination. Michele Bachmann is fading fast, too. Newt and Santorum need to hustle if they want to stay competitive.

I think it will come down to a three-way race between Romney, Perry and Cain. Whoever comes out on top will take on Obama to make him a one-term president, and that's really all that matters.

Stay Off The Sidewalks

Those folks at the DPS office have no sense of humor. I went to renew my driver's license. You know what that means... Stay off the sidewalks! I guess they've heard that one before. They didn't think that was very funny.

I'm always a little nervous when I have to go renew my license. The DPS wasn't too keen on the idea of giving me a license in the first place. It took quite a bit of persuasion to get them to give me a chance, but they finally agreed. I passed my driving test on the first try, and I've had my freedom ever since.

The crew at Pampa's DPS office is much friendlier than Amarillo's office. The clerk was very helpful in getting things set up for me, and I didn't even have to wait in a long line like Amarillo's DPS usually has.

I hate trying to look into that machine for the eye test. I read the numbers just fine with my right eye, but some of the numbers looked smaller with my left eye. It worked out all right, though. The clerk couldn't understand me anyway. I just mumbled some numbers, and she said, "OK, that's good enough!"

Then, it was time to take the picture. It probably didn't help that I backed into the wall with my scooter when I was lining up in front of the camera. She said, "I hope you drive better than that." My picture looks like one of those scary celebrity mug shots you see on TV. I think DPS takes bad pictures on purpose.

I try to be a careful driver. I've had only one accident in the 15 years that I've been on the road, and I've never had a speeding ticket. On my way to work in Amarillo, I used to see Kojak with his Kodak sitting on the side of the road trying to catch speeders headed into downtown. He pulled me over once, but he just gave me a warning.

That reminds me of something that happened to my cousin. He was stopped on the highway for speeding one time. The officer walked up to the car and said, "Son, I've been waiting on you all day." Then, my cousin replied, "Well, I got here as fast as I could!" The officer laughed and let him go with a warning.

I'm relieved that my license was renewed, and I got my new one in the mail last week. Next time, I'll be able to renew it online. That means I won't have to go back to the DPS to renew it in person for 12 years. So, until then, stay off the sidewalks!

Keep Holding On

Just when I thought I'd heard everything.... I thought the dumbest thing I could hear this week was Obama saying that all of the wildfires in Texas are the result of global warming. How stupid is that! I thought that had to be the dumbest thing of the week. But wait.... now I've heard something even dumber.

A California teacher banned students from saying "God bless you" when a classmate sneezes in his classroom, claiming the blessing is "disruptive" and "disrespectful." Say what?

The teacher knocked 25 points off a student's grade to deter other students from saying "bless you" and other religious phrases that offend the teacher's sensibility. Parents were outraged, and they should be. The parents protested, saying the teacher doesn't have the right to impose his beliefs on others. The school agreed.

This nut isn't smart enough to be a teacher. He claimed the ban had nothing to do with religion. But this is really just another assault on Christianity in America. First, prayer is removed from school; then, they try to ban the Pledge of Allegiance. Now, some want to take all mention of God out of the public arena.

It's sad but really not surprising. The Bible says persecution will grow against believers in the last days.

I never thought America could become a country where Christians could face persecution and even danger because of their beliefs. We're not to that point yet, but America is headed in that direction. Could it become illegal to read our Bibles and worship God in the United States? I pray that never happens here, but the truth is that it could happen.

We must be diligent and pray for our country; we must hold on to our Christian beliefs, and we must stand for God and never back down. God is faithful. He will see us through if we take our stand and persevere until the end. We're almost there. So just hold on to God!

Eternity

If you knew this would be your last day, would you live it differently? Most people don't know the day they will die. No one likes to think about it.

In the last few weeks, two of my friends have passed away. Both died unexpectedly. This has made me think about how brief our lives really are. The truth is that we don't know when our last day will come.

We often get so caught up in the busyness of everyday life that we don't think much about the future. Besides, it's depressing to think about death all the time. But we should stop and think about what happens to us after we die. This life is just a vapor and then we go into eternity.

We don't automatically go to heaven when we die. We must have a real relationship with Jesus.

For those who have made Jesus their Lord and savior, our future is secure. We know we have a home in heaven when we die. But those who don't know the Lord don't have this promise. Sadly, many people die every day, and the majority do not go to heaven.

Matthew 7 says, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

FEW will find it. I want to be one of the few. I want YOU to be one of the few. I want to see all of my family and friends in heaven some day. That's why I write these blogs. I hope someone will read this and stop to think about their life and where they will spend eternity.

None of us is guaranteed a tomorrow, but we can be sure we will go to heaven if we surrender our lives to God and begin to live one day at a time for Him. Don't wait until it's too late. God loves you and wants you to come to Him! Trust your life to Him, and He will give you a secure future in heaven.

Attack Watch

When Barack Obama was a boy, I imagine he was one of those whiney brats. You know the type. He's the kid at recess who always ran to the playground monitor to tell on other kids. Most kids grow out of that stage. Not Barack Obama.

"Attack Watch" is a Web site started by Obama's re-election campaign to let his supporters report "attacks" on Obama or on his record. So you better watch out!

If you send an e-mail with an Obama joke, you could end up on his "Attack Watch" list. If you post a disparaging remark about Obama on Facebook -- I don't know anyone who does that -- you could be on the list.

And if you talk about him on your blog all the time and call him a "lying, ultra-liberal, pro-baby killing, Socialist, forerunner to the anti-Christ," you could really be in trouble!

In the first 24 hours after the launch of the Web site, more than 100,000 people had signed on to be snitches for the site. They immediately began tweeting in comments made by conservatives like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham and others.

This Web site is just a second-rate version of previous "Big Brother" sites created by Team Obama. It's actually the fourth such site since Obama took office attempting to respond to political attacks on the president's record. Obama is either really paranoid or really childish.

Gee, I wonder if anyone has reported me to "Attack Watch." That would be so awesome! But if you're going to turn me in, I have one request: Please spell my name correctly. I just HATE it when people misspell my name!

Faith & Politics

Talk-show host Laura Ingraham posted this question on her Facebook page: "When choosing a candidate, what role does the candidate's faith have in your decision to vote for him?" The question drew a lot of responses. While some said a candidate's faith (or lack of) doesn't influence their decision, many others said it is important to them.

In the media, candidates who talk about their faith are usually ridiculed. The media did it to George Bush and Sarah Palin, and now they're doing it to Rick Perry.

Faith matters to me. It does play a part when I am considering voting for a candidate. Perry was hammered when he said he believes he is "called" to run for president. But I believe God really does call people to be leaders. That is their assignment in life. I want leaders who are called by the Lord. In fact, I wish we had more leaders who look to God to guide them.

I'm thankful for men like Perry and others who are willing to step up and run for office. It is a calling.

Last night, I got to hear Pampa's new mayor speak at a men's fellowship. He is very eager to do what's best for the city and to work to make Pampa better now and for the generations after us. That was one reason I voted for him in our last election. I also voted for him because I know he is a Christian and a godly man.

That's also one reason I'm supporting Perry for president. He's done a good job as our governor for 10 years, and he's not afraid to talk about his faith, regardless of how the media and others may go after him.

The apostle Paul was bold in preaching the Gospel, and he was persecuted for it. That didn't stop him, though. He was even willing to die for the Gospel. Thankfully, candidates today are not persecuted to that extent, but they are often ridiculed for their Christian beliefs.

We should pray for them. We should pray that we have godly leaders in office, and we should pray that they will be bold in taking a stand for God while in office. Faith does matter, even in politics.

Stand Up For Patriotism

I never thought I'd see a day when saying the Pledge of Allegiance or singing the National Anthem would offend people. What's happened to patriotism in America?

A group in Massachusetts is calling on schools in one town to ban students from saying the Pledge of Allegiance, saying it has no educational value. These morons say reciting the pledge may put kids in an "uncomfortable situation" by pressuring them to participate in the pledge. The group wants voters in the town to ban the pledge from its schools.

The school district had already limited saying the pledge to once a week, and it was completely voluntary.

This is so unbelievable to me. Do people really hate America that much? Or is it just because the pledge has the words "under God" in it?

In another case, a fan at last week's Cowboys-Jets game started a fight in the stands when other fans asked him to take off his hat and stand during the National Anthem. The man refused. He then responded by using a Taser on others in the group, including one Marine.

The man with the Taser was arrested. He later said he is a Jehovah's Witness and doesn't believe in standing for the Pledge of Allegiance or the National Anthem.

Is this what our country is coming to? Violence? I respect people's rights, but people should have more respect for their country. Things may be bad in America right now, but this is still the greatest country God has ever created. I'm proud to be an American, and I'll proudly continue to show my patriotism. If that offends some, maybe they need to move. They may not be proud to be an American, but I am!

Remembering...

For decades, Dennis Spies worked to make sure the Amarillo Globe-News got out -- on time, every day. He was managing editor of the newspaper when I went to work there in 1992, and he helped me a lot as I was starting out in the business. Dennis passed away on Saturday, so I wanted to share a few memories.

Dennis interviewed me for an internship at the paper while I was still in college. I didn't get that job.

Then, when I was hired as a copy editor two years later, Dennis helped me become a better editor. It wasn't always fun when you saw him walking toward your desk with a marked-up tear sheet in his hand. It usually meant he had found a mistake. But sometimes, he just wanted to show us how we could have made the page better. I learned so much from him, and it made me a better copy editor.

Dennis was an old-school editor who saw many changes in the newspaper industry, like the change from hot metal to electronic type. He started at the Globe-News as a reporter in 1966 and worked his way up through the newsroom to managing editor.

He retired from the paper in 2001 only to return a few years later. This time, he was the editor who was directly over the copy desk. I was excited to get to work with him again. And again, he tried to share his years of experience with us. He had weekly staff meetings for the copy editors. We weren't always thrilled to see him walk in with his stack of marked-up newspapers, but it paid off in helping us make the paper better.

When he left the Globe-News again, he took a position as editor of The Pampa News. He drove back and forth from Amarillo to Pampa for a couple of years. I really enjoyed reading the folksy columns that he wrote for the paper. I'm sure he improved the Pampa paper in the time he was there.

******

The Pampa News sure could have used Dennis' eagle eye last week. It had a doozy of a mistake in the obituaries! Of all the sections in the paper, the obituaries are the worst place to make a mistake. But, not surprisingly, The Pampa News managed to do it again. There were three obituaries with pictures, and somehow, the paper had the same name under all three photos. Ooops! That's why you NEVER use "copy and paste" on namelines. I noticed the paper re-ran all three obituaries the next day.

If only Dennis had been there! He was a great editor and an even better friend. He will be greatly missed.

In The News

I'm sure my readers want to know what I thought about Obama's dog-and-pony-show jobs speech last night. So, after much thought and careful analysis, I have been able to sum up the speech for you with one word: YAWN!

A commentator on Fox said it this way, "Obama doubled-down on stupid." That pretty much says it all. The jobs plan may have had a few good ideas, but if the country can't pay for the programs, what's the point? Obama didn't say how he plans to pay for these things. Once again, he wants Congress to "pass the bill now" and pay for it later. Just like he did with the health-care bill.

This wasn't a speech on economics. This was a campaign speech. It was about Obama making more empty promises so he can get re-elected. The only job he cares about is his own! He doesn't care about the thousands of Americans who are without jobs and struggling in this economy. He just wants their votes, and he'll say anything to get them.

But the tide is turning against Obama. His approval rating gets lower every week. Maybe Americans are finally waking up and seeing the truth about him. His Socialist ideas won't work. That's why Obama will be a one-term president just like his pal Jimmy Carter!

******

Sunday is the 10th anniversary of the 9-11 terror attacks. There will be events this weekend in New York City to remember the victims and their families. But New York City's mayor is not allowing any clergy to speak at the event. It will instead focus simply on the families of the 9-11 victims.

This is sad. In the days after the attacks in 2001, people didn't turn to politicians; they turned to God for answers. The clergy was there to comfort families and help them deal with this tragedy. Ministers helped point people to God and were an important part of the recovery process.

Why would Mayor Bloomberg ban clergy from this important event? His critics say it shows a prejudice against religion in America.

I think it's another attempt to keep God out of our nation. Some of the country's leaders simply do not want God to be involved in any part of our society. That's a huge mistake. If we ever needed God, we need Him now.

We shouldn't just look to God in times of need. We should look to Him at all times. God is still in control whether we want to acknowledge Him or not. I hope people will come together to pray and seek God for our country this weekend. And then keep seeking Him long after this weekend's memorial events. God is the only hope for America.

Goodbye, Summer

It looks like summer's extreme heat wave has finally given up the ghost, and signs of fall are in the air. It couldn't come too soon for me. I'm definitely ready for fall!

It was in the 70s yesterday, which made for perfect weather for the annual Chautauqua festival that Pampa has on Labor Day. I went early in the day, and there was a nice cool breeze in the park. Some people even had jackets on. Those crazy people! I don't even get my jacket out until it hits 32 degrees.

I enjoyed riding through the park looking at the crafts booths. Some groups were giving out free food like watermelon and popsicles. I went for the cotton candy and a corn dog. (Those weren't free but sure hit the spot.)

I was surprised how many people I knew there. I hadn't seen some of them since last year's Chautauqua. I also met up with some friends from college who I hadn't seen in nearly 20 years. We were in classes together at Clarendon College-Pampa. That seems like so long ago now. We had so much fun at that little campus that used to be an elementary school. I had forgotten some of the things we did there until I talked to this couple yesterday. They reminded me how much fun we had. It was great to see them after all these years.

The festival also had plenty of music yesterday. Area musicians and school choirs performed on the bandstand throughout the day. I heard several good groups while I was there.

And now, with Labor Day and another Chautauqua finished, fall must surely be on the way. We can hope so anyway. Summer has definitely outstayed its welcome. So I will say goodbye to this long, hot summer and.... bring on the snow!

News & Views

In addition to a failing grade for his handling of the economy, Obama has now earned a "Does not play well with others" on his report card. I think it's so funny -- and stupid -- that he tried to upstage the Republicans by planning to give his big "jobs speech" on the same night as the GOP debate. Then, he caved and moved his speech to another night.

This makes Obama look like such an amateur. He thought he could get the upper hand by stealing the spotlight from the Republicans. I have to hand it to the speaker of the House for telling Obama that his speech would have to wait. Obama looks so small and petty now.

Obama's "big speech" will probably be nothing more than regurgitation of the same old failed ideas he's tried for three years. His policies don't work. That's why the country is in the mess it's in. His stimulus plan has been a big flop.

Now, the speech will be the same night as the first game of the NFL season. I think a lot more people will be watching football than the speech. I'd rather watch the game, and I don't even like football!

******

The president should have planned his speech for the opening night of "Dancing With the Stars." That show will have a lot fewer viewers this season.

Fans of the show are upset that it has cast gender-confused Chastity Bono to be on the show. I won't get on my soapbox, but I'll say this... God gives us free will to make many choices in life, but He does NOT give us a choice about what gender we are. He decided that when He formed us in the womb. Whatever parts you're born with, you're stuck with. God is much wiser than we are, so quit trying to change what He created.

OK, maybe I did get on my soapbox. So I won't go into the ridiculous notion that the show's execs also "thought about" having Carson Kressley dance with a man on this season's shows.

Again, I'd rather watch football!

Give Thanks

It's been a long, hot record-setting summer. The Texas Panhandle has seen more triple-digit temperatures this year than any other year as a severe drought continues in this area.

It's been crazy, and we've all complained about the heat. But it could be a lot worse. I read that in Africa nearly 11 million people are facing a hunger crisis, caused by the deadly drought there. It's Africa's worst drought in 60 years. Thousands have died in countries like Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, and many more continue to be at risk.

As dry as it has been here, we can be thankful that we have food and water, and we are not facing famine conditions in our country.

As bad as things seem sometimes, we can still be thankful that things aren't worse. Hurricane Irene did a lot of damage over the weekend. I pray for those who lost loved ones and others whose homes were destroyed. Irene was a terrible storm, but it could have been much worse. If the storm hadn't veered a little to the west when it made landfall near New York City, it could have gone right through the heart of the city. The damage and loss of lives could have been much more widespread than it was.

When bad things happen to us, we should try to look for the good in it. It takes a long time sometimes to find the good in a bad situation, but if we look long enough we can find something to be thankful for.

Last week, my truck was broken into along with several other cars in the parking lot of my apartment complex. The dirty thieves took some change from the ashtray, some papers and, most importantly, the remote that controls the lift for my scooter. It was frustrating to be left without use of my lift, but I was very thankful the thieves didn't rip out the whole control box for the lift. The thieves unplugged and took the remote but left the control box and all the wiring intact. Thank God!

I'm also thankful the repair shop had the remote in stock and I was able to get it so quickly. After a trip to Amarillo to get the new remote, I was back in business.

What are you thankful for? Take some time to count your blessings and give thanks!

Changing Times

I have always been a newshound. Even when I was young, I would beg to stay up and watch the 10 o'clock news. When I worked for the newspaper, I had to stay up on current events. Now, it's especially important to follow world events because things are getting verrrry interesting.

I've been watching the fighting that's happening right now in Libya. It looks like Libyan dictator Qaddafi's reign is about to come to an end after nearly 40 years.

That's just one example of world leaders who have been toppled in the last year. Since December, there have been revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, which led to the overthrow of their leaders. Protests in Jordan also have caused the resignation of the government there, and several other world leaders have said they will step down at the end of their current terms.

It seems that this is setting the stage for the anti-Christ to emerge and a one-world government to follow. It's going to happen, and it's getting closer every day. That means the return of Jesus must be very near.

I look at other events happening now and know that something big is about to take place. The financial system in the U.S. is ready to collapse. We've seen earthquakes this week on the East Coast, and a monster hurricane is headed toward the Coast. Do you think God is trying to get our attention?

God has given us all the signs. He's told us what to watch for. How will we respond?

Luke 21:28 says, "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." And Mark 13:29 says, "Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door."

Things are changing fast. For believers, it's a very exciting time because we know our Savior is coming soon to take us home! For others, this may be a scary time. But it doesn't have to be scary. You can come to Jesus right now and ask Him to be Lord of your life. That's the only way to escape the tribulation period that's coming to the earth after the rapture of the church.

Don't wait if you aren't right with God. The time to act is now. Tomorrow may be too late...

The Obama Vacation Diaries

I have received exclusive access to Barack Obama's vacation diary while he's in Martha's Vineyard.... It's very interesting! Here's a look at one entry from the diary:

Dear Diary:

After my grueling bus tour across America, I'd say I've earned a vacation. I had to get away from those pesky reporters! All they do is ask me questions about the economy. Don't they know by now that I know absolutely nothing about economics?

It's great to be here at Martha's Vineyard. Michelle and I had to take separate planes to get here. She wanted to come early. It cost a little more, but, hey, it's only money! Besides, I just got an increase in the debt limit... Let's paaaarty!!

I had a round of golf this morning. I shot a 39 on the front nine, matching my approval rating. Later, I'm hoping to shoot some hoops. Gotta sharpen my skills for the next ESPN match.

The girls and I went for a swim last night. The water felt great, so I took a double dip. It was so nice at the beach... but why did that lifeguard keep calling me Mr. Carter? I don't get it.

There was a mix-up on our rooms here on the Vineyard. They downgraded us. Michelle was NOT happy! Oh well, what do you expect for $50,000 a week?

I have to take some time this week to work on that silly jobs plan I promised to have by September. How am I supposed to come up with a plan? The great thing about vacations... you don't need a plan!

I haven't got to be out on the golf course as much as I wanted because it's been raining here. It just seems like a black cloud is following me wherever I go. Must be Bush's fault!

Hope everything is all right back home at the White House. I left Joe in charge. That might have been a mistake. I sure hope he doesn't screw up my stellar record while I'm gone. I have to get re-elected next year!

Yep, I sure needed this vacation. I've had so much on my mind lately. With low poll numbers and high unemployment, life's a beach!

Political Prognosticating

One jumped in, one dropped out, and one moved up. It was a very big weekend for Republicans and a very bad weekend for President Downgrade.

After a lively debate in Iowa on Thursday night, GOP presidential candidates headed into the Ames Straw Poll to fight it out for the top spot. It's always interesting to see who wins this poll. Four years ago, Mike Huckabee came out on top. This time, it was Michele Bachmann who came in at first place.

That's good news for her, I guess. I like Michele Bachmann. I think she'll make someone a good V.P. candidate. Ron Paul, "the crazy uncle in the basement" candidate, took second place in the poll, and Tim Pawlenty was third. Pawlenty spent all his money on Iowa, though, so now he's out of money and out of the race.

The really big news of the weekend, though, was that Rick Perry finally made his candidacy official. He didn't even take part in the straw poll, but he had enough write-in votes to put him at sixth place, ahead of Mitt Romney.

Like Donald Trump, Perry has a lot of gumption. But Perry has better hair than Trump! I think Perry is going to give Romney a real run for his money... on economic issues and on hair. Perry hit the ground running, kicking off a bus tour in Iowa.

Meanwhile, President "Downgrade" Obama is on his own bus tour today. It should be dubbed the "Throw America Under The Bus" tour because that's exactly what Obama's economic policies have done. If he thinks he has a chance of winning re-election with his record, he's even dumber than I thought he was. Right now, I think anyone can beat him if they just changed their name to "Not Obama."

It's going to be an interesting campaign, so let the mudslinging begin! We have 450 days to show America what a disaster the Obama presidency has been. I'm sure going to do my part to make sure we elect "Not Obama" in 2012...

Response

I've been getting more responses about my blog since I started posting it on my Facebook page, too. More people see it there and leave comments. Most of the comments have even been good, although some of my favorite liberal FB friends like to debate my politics. That's OK, though. I like hearing from readers.

I enjoy doing the blog. It lets me spout off about whatever's on my mind.

I have to be careful what I write, though. I have to use good grammar because one of my junior high English teachers is a regular reader of the blog. I have to keep it clean because the preacher's wife sometimes reads it. And I can't write about my love life because Mom reads it. HA! HA!

That leaves religion and politics to write about. Some people may find the political ones boring. But, the most read post is the Anthony "Weiner Roast" column. It's had nearly 100 hits since I posted it. I guess I know where your minds are!

Another popular post is the one about my encounter with the hooker at the McDonald's drive-thru. It's one of my earliest posts from February of last year, but I still get comments about it. If you missed it, you can find it in the archives for February 2010.

I also get comments about the religious posts. Some people may think I'm trying to "preach" at them. Well, I am, but I'm mostly preaching to myself. I write about things I learn or think about during my Bible study time or hear at church. By writing them down, it helps ME remember them. Along the way, maybe it will help someone else, too. I hope so. I hope it encourages people to think a little more about their lives and makes them want to get closer to God.

That's really my goal in writing this blog. I like to write anyway, and if it can help and encourage someone, then I'm glad for that, too. Thanks for reading, everyone. And keep those comments coming... even if you are one of those wacky liberals!

Claim Your True Identity

There's a new reality TV show, "Who Do You Think You Are?", that takes celebrities on a quest to trace their family trees. Along the way, they learn some surprising facts about their ancestors. Sometimes, they find out they're not who they thought they were.

Before we come to God, we all may struggle to "find ourself" and discover our purpose in life. It can be a lifelong journey discovering your true identity — trying to learn who you are and what you were put on this earth to do.

For those who commit their lives to Jesus, we can be secure in who we are. The Bible is clear about who we are once we decide to follow God. It’s comforting to know exactly who God intends us to be:

I am forgiven. Before I accepted Jesus as my savior, I wasn’t proud of “who I was” or some of the things I did. But when I turned to God, I found forgiveness. Jesus came into my life and forgave my sins.

I am a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone; the new has come!” Those who accept Jesus are made a new creation and become a part of God’s family. No matter what you have done in the past, you have a new start when you come to Christ.

I am a child of God. When we put out trust in God, we become children of God. “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12).” I know that God will take care of me because He is my heavenly Father and will never leave me.

I am more than a conqueror. The world is full of trials and tribulations, but God’s Word says, “in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37).” We can't do it on our own, but it is through God’s power that we will overcome this world and become victorious.

I'm also an heir. Romans 8:17 says, “Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.”

What a promise! God has so many good things for His children, and when this life is over, we can know that we will spend eternity in heaven with Him!

Happy Birthday, Mr. President

Barack Obama is so out of touch with middle America that it's hard to imagine. After weeks of bickering with Congress over the national debt, Obama jets off to Chicago for a lavish 50th birthday celebration.

He invited about 1,000 of his closest donors. . . I mean, friends, to a huge birthday bash / campaign fund-raiser. It's kind of sad that his "friends" had to pay to go to the party. Some paid nearly $40,000 to attend the extravaganza! The highlights of the night were when Joe Biden made a toast after having a little too much to drink and then Nazi Pelosi popped out of a cake.

Now that the debt dilemma is behind him (for now, anyway), Obama can concentrate on doing his job. In other words, it means he will be campaigning full time for his re-election. He's already well on his way to raising $1 billion for his campaign.

Did you get that -- $1 BILLION!! That's more than any other presidential candidate has ever raised for an election campaign. Meanwhile, the country's economy is still spiraling downhill fast.

I have an idea. If politicians can raise all this money for their campaign war chests, why don't we have a fund-raiser to save the economy? I'm sure that billionaires like George Soros and Donald Trump would be glad to kick in a couple of million dollars. We could wipe out the debt in no time.

Instead, Obama and the other candidates are too focused on their political futures to try to come up with a real solution to the debt problem. They're out of touch with reality. When will they start doing what's best for the country instead of trying to save their own skin in the next election? Sigh....

Well, happy birthday, Little Barack. I have a gift for you, but it won't arrive until next year. It's a personally engraved eviction notice from the White House. It's from the whole country, and it's something we can all use!

God's Hand of Protection

My friend, Greg, came over this weekend, and we had one of our movie nights. It's a miracle that he's here at all, though. A fire that started behind his house last week caught his backyard shed on fire and quickly spread to the house while he slept. Greg woke up and saw a glow outside his window and managed to get out of the house safely.

A Globe-News carrier saw the flames from the road and ran to the door to help him get out. By the grace of God, Greg wasn't hurt. But he lost almost everything in the house.

Greg said everything in the bedroom where he was sleeping was burned up.... except his Bible! He said the Bible was near the outside wall, but for some reason it wasn't touched by the fire. Greg said himself that it's a miracle that he got out alive, and I believe it was.

God surely had His hand on Greg that night and protected him. It could have turned out much different.

This made me think. How many times do we go about our daily lives and God protects us without us even knowing it? Many times, we are unaware of danger around us. And if God hadn't been watching over us, we might have been hurt or even died. I can remember several times when God protected me from danger. Who knows how many other times the Lord kept me from harm and I didn't even realize it? I'm sure there have been many times!

God is such a great God! As believers, we are under His protection. We can feel safe and secure, knowing He is watching over us and will keep us from dangers.

I thank God that Greg wasn't hurt in the fire that night. And I thank God for protecting me all those times when I faced danger and was unaware of it. I'm sure He's done the same for you, too. Each day we wake up, we can praise Him for another day. Our lives truly are in His hands, and He is watching over us, so let's praise Him for it today.

The Clock Is Ticking

Will Aug. 2 be another "Harold Camping moment?" Harold Camping is the goofball who said the world would end on May 21. Obviously, it didn't. Now, we have a goofball in the White House who is predicting a financial doomsday on Aug. 2 if he doesn't get his way to increase the debt limit.

Obama has been using scare tactics, saying the economy is going to implode if Congress doesn't come to an agreement on the debt limit by next Tuesday.

I wasn't alarmed in May when Harold Camping made his predictions that the world was coming to an end. And I'm not worried that the economy will shut down on Tuesday. Obama's fear-mongering is just more partisan politics. It's the same game he's been playing since he took office.

Sure, it will be bad news if a deal isn't reached by the Aug. 2 deadline. It will definitely hurt the economy. It will spook Wall Street, and stocks are sure to take a huge dive. (Is it too late for me to convert my IRA into an indexed-equity annuity?) The stock market is likely to tank if it thinks the U.S. is going to default on its loans, and a lot of hard-working people will lose a lot of money. And it will be Obama's fault.

There was a deal on the table last week, and Obama killed it. Since then, Republicans have presented two other plans. Obama promised to veto them before he even knew what was in them. He still hasn't presented any kind of deal himself. If he was smart, Obama would take the GOP's deal because he's too ignorant on economics to come up with a deal himself.

It looks like Obama is purposely trying to torpedo the economy so he can set up a socialist system. That's been his plan all along.

I'm not worried about an economic disaster next week, as Obama has predicted. The real economic collapse will come when Jesus returns and millions of Christians are evacuated from the planet. That will throw the entire world system into a tailspin for those who are left to try to run things.

Just as Harold Camping's timing was off about the return of Christ, Obama's timing is off now. All of this will come in God's timing, and the clock is ticking. Time is running out, so don't be caught unprepared for the day of the Lord!

Faith Under Fire

The Bible tells us to pray for our leaders. We need to pray especially for our Christian leaders because they are coming under attack more and more.

The media and other liberal groups came down hard on President Bush because he's a born-again Christian. They've done the same to Sarah Palin. Now, an atheist group is targeting Gov. Rick Perry to try to keep him from taking part in a prayer event next month in Houston.

Perry helped organize "The Response," a day of fasting and prayer. He's invited members of the Obama administration, governors and other state leaders to the event Aug. 6 at Houston's Reliant Stadium. But the atheist group filed a lawsuit, claiming Perry would be violating the separation of church and state if he takes part in it. The same group has tried unsuccessfully to block the National Day of Prayer.

You would think that even atheists would welcome prayers for our state and country. If atheists choose not to believe in God, that's their right. It's stupid and foolish, but it's their right. But why would anyone object to praying?

Perry is not backing down. Nor should he. He continues to stress the gathering's spiritual importance, saying he wants God's will to be done.

The press has had a field day with this and over other comments Perry made about wanting God's will in his own life. While considering a run for president, Perry said he believes this is what he's "called" to do. The media jumped all over him, mocking him for suggesting that God "called" him to run for office. I don't know about you, but I want leaders who have been called by God.

We need more leaders like Rick Perry. He is an unabashed conservative who clearly has no problem being public about his faith. I only wish we had more leaders like him in office.

I hope believers will stand up and show their support for the prayer event and for Perry. If we don't speak up now while we have the freedom to speak out, what will we do when this freedom is taken away? And if our heathen Muslim president is re-elected, I can almost guarantee that we will lose a lot of our religious freedoms.

Act now. Pray for our leaders, all of them. They need it, and America needs it, too!

Now We're Talking!

First, there was "The View," Barbara Walters' brainchild where five pushy, overbearing, opinionated women sit around a table discussing hot topics of the day. They debate, argue and get into catfights over the silliest things. Then, CBS came out with a copycat show, "The Talk." It has five other cackling hens, also sitting around a table, bloviating over the latest gossip out of Hollywood. Both shows are heavily slanted with liberal views.

Now, finally, there's a show for conservatives like me. Fox News Channel has started a new show, appropriately called "The Five." It uses a format similar to the other two talk shows, with five commentators at a table debating political and pop culture topics.

But unlike "The View" and "The Talk," the Fox program has men and women around the table, and it gives conservative and liberal viewpoints. A libertarian was also thrown into the mix for good measure. All I can say is, it's about time!

On the conservative end, former Bush press secretary Dana Perino gives the view from the right. On the left, USA Today columnist and my favorite liberal Bob Beckel argues the other side. I like Beckel. I don't agree with anything he says, but he's usually fair. He worked in the Carter administration. But, hey, we all make mistakes. One thing about Beckel, he sure can get riled up when he's debating conservatives! Sometimes, I think he must have a case of male PMS. Don't get so worked up, Bob!

The zany Greg Gutfeld is the libertarian on the panel. He's a political satirist and humorist who's good for a little comic relief when the debate gets a little too heated on the show. His blog, The Daily Gut, is always interesting. The other two hosts, Andrea Tantaros and Eric Bolling, fall somewhere in the middle and help keep the discussion fair and balanced.

Fox News made a good move when it put "The Five" on in the timeslot where Glenn Beck's show aired. I miss Glenn Beck's rants, and Beckel is certainly no Beck, but "The Five" promises to be a great show with fair debates. Not like the drivel on "The View!" I hope "The Five" does well in ratings and becomes a prominent show on Fox's already popular lineup. Catch it if you can, I think you'll like it!

Take Heed

What will it take for some people to wake up? My Bible reading this morning was in Isaiah, where the prophet is warning the Israelites to forsake their sins and return to the Lord. God gave the Israelites warning after warning through the prophets, yet the people persisted in doing evil and worshipping idols.

Isaiah 65:11-12 really caught my attention. It says, "I called but you did not answer. I spoke but you did not listen. You did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me.”

In every age and nation, the Lord leaves those who persist in doing evil and despise the call of the Gospel. It's our choice, whether we are going to ignore God's warnings or whether we will turn away from our sins and return to the Lord.

We are all in a battle. I heard one preacher say, "the devil has a trap specifically designed to fit your foot." Satan knows our weaknesses, and he wants to bring us down. It's a constant battle that we fight all our lives. Sometimes, we fall. I fail to live up to God's standard more times than I care to admit, but God's grace is there in those times to lead us back. When we get off track, it's His love that calls us to come back and make things right.

We must answer the call. Isaiah 66 says there will be judgment for those who don't heed the warnings. It says, "They have chosen their own ways, and they delight in their abominations; so I also will choose harsh treatment for them and will bring on them what they dread."

Even with such stern warnings, the Israelites still would not turn back to God and repent. They continued to worship their idols. Many of them were taken into exile because they didn't listen to the warnings.

What's it going to take for people today to wake up and see the warning signs? God is so merciful and compassionate, and He gives us so many chances. He even sent His Son to show us the way. Now, it's up to us whether we're going to follow Him. The judgment is coming to the earth one day, but if we have surrendered our lives to God we have nothing to fear.

Will you heed the warnings? Remember, if you stay ready, you never have to get ready!

Deal or No Deal

Obama is up to his tricks again. Dirty tricks. Republicans and Democrats have been locked into a battle over the debt limit for weeks. Now, Obama is trying to scare senior citizens, saying they may not get their Social Security checks in August if the debt ceiling isn't raised. He's hoping seniors will flood their congressmen with calls urging them to vote to raise the debt.

It may be working. Some senior citizens are really afraid they won't get their check next month. Many of them rely on these checks just to survive. I want to get my Social Security check, too, but I'm not falling for Obama's scare tactics.

First, it's just not true that Social Security checks will be withheld in August. Obama lied. There is enough money coming into the government to cover Social Security and the salaries of our military servicemen.

Second, I'm not relying on the government for my living. If something happens to stop my check, God will provide! He has always met my needs, and I know He is faithful.

Shame on Obama for trying to scare people and hold seniors hostage in the debt dilemma! If anything has to be cut because the government can't pay its bills, it should be Obama's salary and the pay of congressmen.

After paying into Social Security all their working lives, senior citizens have a right to expect their checks. It's THEIR money.

I hope a deal can be reached by the Aug, 2 deadline to keep the government from shutting down, but it must be the right deal. Republicans should stand their ground on no new taxes and balancing the budget. A deal can be reached if Obama would get off his high horse and do what's best for the country. If he doesn't, he will pay a high price for it in the next election!

Mini-makeover

I love watching "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," especially when the team is building a house to make things easier on the family of someone with a disability. I'm amazed at some of the conveniences the team builds into a house to help people with disabilities become more independent in their own homes. I've often wished they would come to my house!

Now, we're getting our own mini-makeover of sorts. A Missions team is in Pampa this week, building ramps for several elderly and disabled families. My mom will be getting one of those ramps at her house.

Volunteers are here from all around Texas to build the ramps as part of a Missions project of the Methodist churches. There's about 100 youths and sponsors working here this week with the R.O.T.C. (Reaching Others Through Christ) program. We met some of the volunteers at a cookout last night before the workers begin construction on the ramps today.

The ramp is really going to help both Mom and me! I'm not saying Mom is getting old, but it's been getting a little harder for her to climb the steps on her porch. She's even fallen on the steps, so I'm glad she's getting a ramp. It will help me, too, when I go to her house with my scooter.

I've written before about the portable ramp I use now to get into her house. It's not very safe because it doesn't have handrails, and it is pretty steep. I have to get up enough speed to get over the bump at the threshold. It's fine going into the house, but coming out I can almost go airborne if I hit the bump just right! The metal ramp makes quite a racket, too, when I come flying out the door and hit the metal. Almost sounds like a plane taking off.

So no more "Dukes of Hazzard" dare-devil stunts once we get the new ramp.

I'm thankful to the youth volunteers of these churches who are giving their time and labor to build it. And thanks to the friend who submitted our name. You all are a big blessing to Mom and me, and the ramp is really going to make a difference in our lives!

Where's The Justice?

The hot topic this week has been the Casey Anthony trial. The jury's verdict of 'Not Guilty' of first-degree murder or manslaughter shocked the country. I think she's guilty of killing her 2-year-old daughter, but who knows for sure.

TV commentators say there wasn't enough evidence to convict her. So, today, the judge sentenced her on the charges of lying to the police, and Casey Anthony will walk free within months. How sad!

This case is a tragedy on many levels. It's a tragedy that a beautiful 2-year-old girl was murdered and her body thrown away. It's an even bigger tragedy that the killer will never be punished, not in this life anyway. This verdict is a travesty of justice. The jury acquitted her because there wasn't enough physical evidence. But there was certainly enough circumstantial evidence to connect Casey to the killing. The jury just needed to use common sense to connect the dots.

The justice system worked in one way. Casey was tried by a jury of her peers. We had one nutcase being judged by 12 other nuts!

The verdict in this case points to another problem in our society. Today, people are afraid to judge anyone else because "it might make someone feel bad." It's called hate speech or intolerance if a preacher speaks out against sins like drinking and homosexuality. I hear it all the time. People say, "Don't judge me!" or "You're intolerant!"

We're not to judge hypocritically or self-righteously, but as believers, we ARE to test everything to see if it lines up with God's standards. The Bible repeatedly tells believers to evaluate carefully and choose between good and evil. We can love our brother but not his sins. We should be intolerant when it comes to sin, whether it's in our own lives or someone else's.

Ephesians 5:3 says, "But among you there must not be even a hint of immorality... for this is improper for God's people." Verse 5 warns that "no immoral or impure person has any inheritance in the kingdom of God."

So we are called to judge between good and evil. One day, all will stand before God, the ultimate judge, and give an account for how we lived our lives. On that day, there will be justice because God is the one true and just judge over all.

For Heaven's Sake

This is my article from this month's church newsletter...

*****

There's a saying, "Too heavenly minded to be any earthly good." But if you turn that phrase around, you could ask, "What on earth are you doing for Heaven's sake?" I think God asks that about us sometimes. As believers, what are we doing to spread the Gospel?

God gave us the Great Commission and commanded us to “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation. ... and make disciples of all the nations.”

I wondered how I, a believer in Jesus Christ, can fulfill this commandment. I likely will never travel the world. I have difficulty even speaking. So what can I do to take the Gospel into the world? What can any of us do?

There's a lot we can do if we just let God use us. God has given each of us an assignment in life, and He's given us the gifts and abilities to complete our assignment. But we have to be willing to do the work. We have to step out and do what He's called us to do.

Romans 12:6 says, "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us." The Bible then says if your gift is teaching, then teach. If it is serving, then serve. If it is encouraging, encourage. If it is helping to meet the needs of others, then give generously. If it is leadership, then govern diligently. If it is showing mercy, do it cheerfully.

Every believer has at least one gift, but ALL believers are called to be a witness.

God wants to use His people to touch the lives of our friends, our family, our co-workers. He wants to use us to change our generation. This means stepping out to do what God has called us to do.

For me, it might be sharing the Gospel by writing in the newsletter or in a blog. For someone else, it might be witnessing to someone in the aisles of the grocery store. And for someone else, it might be visiting a sick friend in the hospital.

The point is, we must be busy using the talents and abilities God gave us instead of being idle and hoping someone else will witness to that friend. We have opportunities every day to reach out to others. If we fail to do our assigned tasks, not only will we miss out on a blessing but someone else might miss out on heaven.

Only you can complete the assignment God has for you, so let's get busy to make a difference for Heaven's sake!

The Gaffe Wars

Let's face it, some politicians just aren't that bright. If they were, they would have picked another profession. Every politician makes a gaffe occasionally during a speech or an interview (For Joe Biden, "the Gaffe Machine," it's more than occasionally).

Liberals in the media love to ridicule conservatives for their little slip-ups. Remember Dan Quayle and the whole potato / potatoe issue? The media has hammered Sarah Palin for some of her mistakes, and now liberals are going after Michele Bachmann for her recent string of snafus... like when she said John Wayne was from Waterloo, Iowa. (It was actually John Wayne Gacy. Ooops!)

Sure, conservatives make their share of slip-ups. But there is a double standard in the media in pointing out the gaffes of conservatives vs. liberals.

Why does the media always portray Barack Obama as a genius despite his inability to talk without a teleprompter but constantly portray conservatives as dummies? The bias in the media is obvious.

So, in the spirit of fair and balanced reporting, I've taken it upon myself to point out just a few of our president's bone-headed gaffes. Here are a few of Obama's quotes, straight from the horse's mouth:

"Over the last 15 months, we've traveled to every corner of the United States. I've now been in 57 states? I think one left to go."

"...I've got two daughters. 9 years old and 6 years old. I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby."

"The point I was making was not that Grandmother harbors any racial animosity. She doesn't. But she is a typical white person..."

"...I inhaled frequently. That was the point."

"Let's not play games. I was suggesting - you're absolutely right that John McCain has not talked about my Muslim faith."

"You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig."

And my favorite Barack Obama quote: "...answering that question with specificity, you know, is above my pay grade."

I'm afraid it's all above your pay grade, Mr. President. But, hey, at least you're smarter than Joe Biden!

Have Faith

“Faith defies reason, transcends feeling and gets results every time.” I read that in a devotion, and it really challenged me to trust in God even more.

Many times, we want a reason for everything. We want to know why we are facing hard times . . . why we must go through trials . . . why we struggle with pain and sickness. I know I have asked these questions at times in my life.

God cannot be proven or explained. He’s known only by faith. As believers, we are called to live by faith. Our entire Christian experience is based on faith. Even salvation is through faith in Jesus.

Romans 3:22 says, “The righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” And in Romans 5:1, it says, “we have been justified through faith.”

One of my hardest struggles sometimes comes from wanting explanations and reasons. But Paul says, “to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life.” God is looking for people who will simply take him at his word.

The good news is that it only takes a little faith for God to begin to work miracles in our lives. In Matthew, it says “if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Abraham was not perfect. Twice he lied, saying his wife was his sister. And when God told Abraham to move from his homeland, leaving his family behind, he decided to take his nephew and father-in-law with him. But God called Abraham his friend. God considered him righteous because of his faith.

Hebrews 11:1 sums it up, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

God has challenged me to stretch my faith and see if he won’t “move mountains” in my life. Start stretching your faith today and see if you don’t start seeing results, too.