Shame on Conservatives

I've never seen anything like this.  As an avid political watcher, I've seen a lot of crazy and unpredictable things in presidential politics but nothing like this year's Republican primaries.  On Tuesday, Donald Trump once again captured the most delegates, pushing him closer and closer to winning the GOP nomination, and I have to ask: Where are all the conservatives?

When the 2016 race began last year, analysts were asking whether Jeb Bush or Marco Rubio would win Florida's primary.  Then, Trump swept in and handily won the state.

I don't get it.  How has Trump managed to pull the wool over the eyes of so many "conservatives"? 

Trump is not a conservative.  He never has been, and he never will be.   But many conservatives in the Republican party are touting Trump as savior of the world!  It reminds me of the way Barack Obama was idolized in the 2008 election.  The liberal media was fawning all over Obama.  MSNBC host Chris Matthews infamously said that one of Barack Obama's campaign speeches sent a "thrill up his leg,"  It was pathetic.

Now, many of the right-wing analysts, including some of my beloved Fox News hosts, are giving the same treatment to Trump.  I'm used to bias reporting on CNN and NBC, but Fox is supposed to be "fair and balanced."  Several Fox hosts have readily admitted that they are personal friends with Trump.  That's OK until they start giving Trump special favors, such as hours and hours of air time.  That's what's happening right now.

Fox's Sean Hannity brands himself not as a Republican, but as a registered conservative.  Yet, Hannity relentlessly fawns over Trump and refuses to challenge him on any of his endless lies and inconsistencies.  Bill O'Reilly pretends to be tough and objective, but he even gives Trump a pass on policy issues.  Ann Coulter and Laura Ingraham have buddied up with Trump, too.  Ingraham is OK with Trump becoming the GOP nominee because he “captures the imagination of the people.”

It's not just the media types who have gone ga-ga (or should I say gag-gag) over Trump.  Some of Trump's former rivals have gone over to the dark side.  As Matt Walsh wrote in The Blaze, Chris Christie "went from hugging Obama to licking Trump’s boots, all for political gain." 

Ben Carson, whom Walsh describes as "a  man embraced by millions because he supposedly stood for Christian virtue, civility, moral courage and the Constitution — until he endorsed the one guy who defies all of those principles more aggressively than probably any Republican presidential candidate in history."

Let's not forget Jerry Falwell Jr. and Robert Jeffress.  Both men — along with plenty of other prominent Christian figures — seem to have abandoned their faith and hitched a ride on the Trump Bandwagon. 

I just don't get it.  It's like they've all lost their minds to follow a cultural icon.  It didn't turn out well when liberals did it with Obama, and it won't turn out any better for conservatives this time.

All I can say is this: Shame on conservatives!

Every Day Counts

Pampa has seen more than its share of tragedies in the last two weeks.  Between a shooting in town, a fatal car-train collision and a stabbing incident, four young men, ranging in age from early 20s to mid-30s, left this life far too early.

I've also attended two funerals in the last month.  My cousin Carla died suddenly, apparently from a massive heart attack.  She was 54.  A friend from church also passed away after a brief bout with cancer.  She lived to be 80.

All of this has made me start thinking. How can I make each day count?

Psalm 90:10 says "Seventy years are given us! And some may even live to eighty. But even the best of these years are often empty and filled with pain; soon they disappear, and we are gone."

 

The truth is we don't know how long we'll have on this earth.  But whether it's a few years or many, it's such a brief time compared to the eternity we face after this life.  I've always believed we have to make the most of every moment.  Make every day count and even take a few risks along the way.  Dare to take a chance on something.

 

When I was working on my book, someone asked me why I was writing my story while I was still so young.  (I was still in my 20s when Through Eyes of Faith was published.)  I told them I wanted to write the book while I was able to do it, physically and financially.  You just never know how fast things can change in life.

 

In one of my favorite songs, The River, Garth Brooks sings: 

 

"Too many times we stand aside
And let the waters slip away
'Til what we put off 'til tomorrow
Has now become today
So don't you sit upon the shoreline
And say you're satisfied
Choose to chance the rapids
And dare to dance the tide."

 

That's how I try to live my life every day.  This life can change in an instant.  One event can change our course forever.  I've learned that firsthand.  I never expected to be living in a nursing facility at the age of 47.  I'm thankful for the help I have here, but I'm not content to just sit around and let life slip away around me.  I want to get out and live the life I have to the full (John 10:10).  That's why it's important for me to be able to ride around town on my scooter the way I do.  It's liberating.  So when the Head Honcho tells me not to ride too far, I only smile and continue on my way.

 

Most of my family is gone to a family gathering near Austin this weekend, but I wasn't able to go with them.  Of course, I was disappointed and a little sad, but I'm happy that they all have a chance to get together.  I'm especially glad my mom can still travel and can enjoy this weekend, and I'm thankful for all the memories of the trips Mom and I took together.  We will always remember that cruise to the Bahamas!

 

And I'm going to keep living my life the best I can and make every day count.  So if you have things on your bucket list that you've always wanted to do, don't put them off until later in life.  That may be too late.  Do it now and you'll be able to make every day count.

Super Tuesday?

In past elections, voters said it was like voting for "the lesser of two evils."  In the case of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, it's really hard to say which one is the most evil. They're both wicked to the core.

Trump and Hillary dominated the Super Tuesday races, and the question I have to ask is 'why?'  Why would so many people support either one of these two heathens?

This is America, and, yes, I know people have the right to vote for anyone they want.  But at what cost?

Cal Thomas put it this way, "It's a democracy and people have the right to select their leaders.  That's what they did with President Obama, who has been a disaster.  Are we about to exchange one disaster for another?"

When this election season started (which seems like an eternity ago), there were 17 Republican candidates.  Out of those 16 men and one woman, 15 of them would make a pretty good president.  I could have even supported Rand Paul.  The only two I could never vote for are Trump and John Kasich.

The thing I really can't understand is how so many "Christians" could vote for someone like Trump?  Even some prominent Christian leaders like Jerry Falwell Jr. and Pastor Robert Jeffress have lined up behind Trump.  It's crazy!

Writer Ben Shapiro asks, “Have evangelicals ever supported an unrepentant, pro-Planned Parenthood, adulterous strip club owner before?”
  
And don't even get me started on Hillary's evils.   Between the Benghazi cover-up and her e-mail scandal, it's one lie after another with Hillary Clinton.  It doesn't make sense.  How can a Christian vote for either Trump or Clinton?

The only way I can explain it is to say this is what the Bible warns us about in Matthew 24:24, where it says, "Their impressive credentials and dazzling performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better. But I’ve given you fair warning." (The Message version)

I can only hope that people will come to their senses before the November election.  If not, America is going to be in a heap of trouble.

Debating the Debate

Petty.  That's the only word I can find to describe Thursday night's GOP debate.  The constant back-and-forth name-calling and accusations dominated the nearly two-and-a-half hour event.  I didn't learn anything new about the candidates and their positions, but I learned plenty about Donald Trump's tax audits.

It made for great TV.  It was even funny at times.  Marco Rubio seemed to be enjoying himself, taking one jab after another at Trump.  He repeatedly called on Trump to give details on his health-care plan.  Trump appeared to get flustered and failed to provide any real answers.  He kept giving his usual pat answers, saying "it's going to be huge.  Huge, I tell you!"  As usual, Trump insulted the debate moderators when they pressed him on how he would get Mexico to pay to build a wall on the border.

The slugfest between Trump and Ted Cruz was heated at times.  Cruz made some strong arguments while all Trump could muster up was his standard response calling Cruz a liar.  Trump looked out of place and not presidential at all.  He interrupted his opponents and talked over the moderators.  It was a circus atmosphere with the CNN hosts failing to keep the candidates on topic.

I felt sorry for Ben Carson and John Kasich.  They just stood there most of the debate, hoping they would get an occasional question.  Carson could be heard in the background saying, "someone mentioned my name. I want to respond."  Poor guy.  He doesn't have much of a chance, but he's hanging in there.  I admire him for that.  Kasich just needs to go away.  He's so annoying.

This was the 10th GOP debate with another one scheduled for next Thursday.  With a debate nearly every week, it's like a reality TV show.  I only wish we could vote to send one candidate home each week.  The debates have become more like an entertainment program to see who has the best sound bite instead of a serious discussion of the issues.

At least next week's debate is on Fox.  I'd rather look at Megyn Kelly than Wolf Blitzer any day!

Don't Follow The Crowd

I'm usually an optimistic person.  I try to look on the bright side of things.  No matter how bad things seem sometimes, there's always a silver lining.

I have to say, though, the future of our country doesn't look very bright right now.  In fact, it looks pretty grim.  The choices we make this year will determine whether we turn this country around or we send it completely over the cliff.

We are one Supreme Court justice away from losing some of our fundamental rights.  Gun rights, religious freedom and even our First Amendment right to free speech all hang in the balance.  Whether the next justice is nominated by Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump, we will see dramatic changes to our country's values system.  If you don't believe it, just look at how the high court went around the will of the people to legalize same-sex marriage.  The next justice will help shape the direction of the country for decades to come.  We can't afford to have another liberal judge on the court.  We need a Supreme Court justice who will uphold the rights in the Constitution. 

The next president will chart the course of the country.  If we elect the wrong person, we may reach the point of no return.

A lot of voters and even some of the candidates themselves are treating this election like it's a reality TV show.  We have a cocky billionaire TV star on one side and a lawless compulsive liar on the other side.  Neither has the best interests of the country in mind.  It's all a power grab for them.

Yet people are flocking to Trump and Clinton in record number.  Even socialist Bernie Sanders has attracted an unbelievable number of supporters.  What wrong with people?  This isn't a game.  The future of the country is in our hands.  We can continue to follow the crowd and elect another pop culture icon, or we can stand firm in our convictions and pick someone who will restore law and order.

There are some good and worthy candidates running for president.  We just have to take the time to look and see what they really stand for. 

When Obama came on the national scene in 2007, the crowds flocked to him because he was new and different, and he promised hope and change.  The crowds are now lining up behind Trump and Clinton.  Don't follow the crowd.  Stand with the candidates who most closely reflect your values.

There's still hope for America, but it's not in a man.  Our hope is found only in God.  We must remember to do three things: Pray, research the candidates and their positions (with the Internet, there's no excuse for not being informed about the candidates) and, finally, we must get out and vote!  The Texas primary and Super Tuesday is a week from today.  We have one week to do these three simple things.  Will you do it?  Or will you sit back and let others make these important decisions?  The future of our country depends on you!

Circle of Life

Life is a funny thing.  It can take you 'round and 'round in this world, but you often end up right where you started.  As I sit here typing, I can look out my window and down the street I see a bank building.  That bank building was once a hospital.... the hospital where I was born.  Now, I find myself in a nursing home less than half a mile from where I was born.  Interesting, isn't it?

I've also discovered that some people come into and out of your life, and some of them reappear in your life years later.  It's the circle of life.

Since I've been in the nursing home, I have reconnected with several friends from the past.  One of them, Mildred, was my Sunday school teacher when I was in about the third grade.  She had an influence on my life when I was young.  Now, she's in a room just down the hall, and we eat breakfast together at the same table.

Another dear lady, whom we all call 'Little Granny,' worked in the children's church ministry for more than 50 years.  She's now nearly 90 and is a resident here at the nursing home.  She may be nearly 90, but she still has some pep in her step.  She even dances!  They evaluated her recently, and the therapist asked her if she could walk across the room.  She jumped up and started dancing across the room.  She spreads a lot of cheer around here and is an inspiration to all.

Then, there's Johnnie, who has been a friend of my mom's and our family for many years.  Johnnie's family and my grandparents were neighbors when Mom was just a little girl.  They went to church together for years.  Johnnie is now 95 and was recently honored for her service and faithfulness to attend the same church for almost 85 years.

It's neat to get to be around these special ladies along with other longtime friends Maxine and Carolyn, the mother of one of my schoolmates.  I'm glad they are all part of my circle of life.

There Is Hope

Happy new year!  There's something about the start of a new year that brings a renewed hope for good things to happen.  The past and its failures and disappointments are behind us.  The new year brings a fresh start.

My Bible reading for today reminded me of all the benefits we have in serving God.  It is in Psalm 103, and I wanted to share part of it here:

^{Psalm 103}

¹ Praise the Lord, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
² Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—
³ who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,
⁴ who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,
⁵ who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

 

⁶ The Lord works righteousness
    and justice for all the oppressed.

⁷ He made known his ways to Moses,
    his deeds to the people of Israel:

⁸ The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
⁹ He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;
¹⁰ he does not treat us as our sins deserve
    or repay us according to our iniquities.

¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;
¹² as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

 

¹³ As a father has compassion on his children,
    so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
¹⁴ for he knows how we are formed,
    he remembers that we are dust.

¹⁵ The life of mortals is like grass,
    they flourish like a flower of the field;
¹⁶ the wind blows over it and it is gone,
    and its place remembers it no more.

¹⁷ But from everlasting to everlasting
    the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
    and his righteousness with their children’s children—
¹⁸ with those who keep his covenant
    and remember to obey his precepts.

 

What great promises!  When I read that, it gives me such hope for the future.  I hope it gives you hope, too.  If we don't know the Lord, our past brings regrets, our future brings fear, and our present is filled with turmoil.  But if we do know Him, our past brings forgiveness, our future brings hope, and our present is filled with peace.