New Year, New Commitment

In the business of faith, like the business of life, if you aren't moving toward God, you are moving away from Him. It's a choice we make. We can choose to stay where we are, or we can make the decision to move closer to God. The start of the new year is the perfect time to make the decision to press in and go deeper in your walk with God. It's not a decision to take lightly. It takes time, commitment — and a lot of hard work.

 

New year's resolutions are hard to keep and seldom last. Instead of resolutions, I like to start the year by making fresh commitments for moving closer to God. Here are a few things I'm committed to in the new year:

 

I will draw closer to God in prayer. James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." If we're willing to take that first step toward God by spending time in prayer, He will draw near to us. He will make Himself known to us when we begin to pray and seek Him.

 

I will be a stronger disciple of Christ through Bible study. In 2012, I was committed to reading through the entire Bible. In the new year, I want to do more than just read the Bible. I want to study the Scriptures and learn to apply them to the situations in my life. The Bible is a pattern for all of life. If we will follow it, it will change our lives and move us closer to God.

 

I will be a better witness for the Lord. The Bible says there will be false teachers in the last days who will deceive many. Even some believers will be deceived. We're seeing that today. That's why it's important to warn our friends and family not to give in to the ways of the world. 

 

These commitments may seem like small steps, but they're part of the process that takes me closer to God instead of away from Him. Where will I be a year from now? It's up to me and whether I stick to these commitments. God doesn't move. I must make the move toward Him.

 

How about you? Is your life moving toward God? If not, take some time to think about where you are with God and where you want Him to take you in 2013. Then, take the first step toward Him. He will meet you where you are and take you on a great new adventure in the coming year.

News & Views

There's been a lot of big stories in the news this week. Here's the news from my perspective...

'Diplomatic Illness'

Poor Hilary Clinton! She fainted and suffered a concussion, causing her to be confined to her home all week. Well, how convenient! She had been scheduled to testify about what she knew about the attack on Benghazi, which killed four Americans, but, (cough, cough), she was just too sick to testify.

The good news is aides say Hilary is "on the mend," and she will testify next month..... unless, of course, she develops a sudden case of amnesia from the concussion!

Meaning of Life

At a news conference to discuss the Connecticut school shooting, Barack Obama put on quite an act, even feigning a tear. He might have been a little more believable if he didn't still have the blood on his own hands from those four Americans he let die in Benghazi. Or I might have believed him more if he hadn't voted against the Born Alive Act, a bill that requires doctors to give care to babies who survive abortions.

A friend on Facebook put it so well when she wrote, "Spare us the display of sympathy. Life is cheap as far as you are concerned, Mr. President. How can you weep over 20 dead children and ignore the millions you have helped destroy? You are a fraud whose hypocrisy shames your office." Amen!

Where Have You Been?

ABC News' Jake Tapper dared to challenge Obama on the issue of gun control, asking the president "Where have you been" in the last four years? Obama shot back with his snippy answer: "Here’s where I’ve been, Jake – I’ve been President of the United States dealing with the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, an auto industry on the verge of collapse, two wars — I don’t think I’ve been on vacation."

Well, he's actually been on dozens of vacations in the last four years..... and on the golf course...... and on the campaign trail. He hasn't been dealing with the economic crisis.... he made it worse! He didn't save the auto industry..... he interfered in their business! He hasn't fought two wars.... he sat by and let four Americans die in Benghazi and then staged an elaborate cover-up! That's where he's been, Jake.

 

Man of the Year

Time magazine named Obama its "Person of the Year." Why stop there? Why not make him "Person of the Decade" and "Person of the Century," too?

Here's MY pick for "Person of the Year": Dan Cathy, president of Chick-fil-A. In this time of economic turmoil, Mr. Cathy is a model of business success. He bases his life on biblical principles, and his business has thrived. He's a man of great integrity and genuine love for the country. Thank you, Mr. Cathy, for standing by your convictions and showing the nation how a real leader should live by godly example. You are 2012's Person of the Year!

Mayan Calendar vs. God's Calendar

If you believe the Mayans, time is running out! The Mayan calendar predicts the world will end on Dec. 21. Hey, that's next week! Shouldn't we all be panicked right now? No, don't worry, it's not the Mayan calendar we should be concerned about, It's God's calendar that matters.

If the Mayans are right, we won't be around anyway. If they're wrong, it's just one more miscalculation in a manmade prediction.

Remember Harold Camping who predicted the world would end last year — on Oct. 21? He spent $140,000 to put up billboards across the country, warning people to "Save The Date." He said Jesus would return May 21, 2011, and that the world would end five months later on Oct. 21. But he was wrong. Camping previously claimed the world would end in September 1994. He was wrong then, too.

The prophets in the Bible never set dates for the end of the world. Actually, the Bible says the world will never end. It will be remade by holy fire.

 

In 2 Peter 3:12-13, it says, "as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming, that day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth."

 

When talking about the time of His return to earth while He was still here in the flesh, Jesus said, "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Matthew 24:36).

 

Jesus gave this warning to all people, urging them to be spiritually prepared for His sudden return. “Therefore keep watch because you do not know the day or the hour." (Matt. 25:13).

 

Christ’s coming for believers in the rapture is imminent. It can happen at any moment. No calendar — Mayan or otherwise — can predict that glorious event. Jesus IS coming soon!   Be prepared!

The Hand of God

The hand of God is a guiding force in our lives. In times of uncertainty, we can know that God is directing our path. 

Life is more than a sequence of chance happenings. The Bible teaches that the life of a good man is directed, ordered and arranged by the Lord. For the righteous man, his course of life is under divine guidance and control. Psalm 37:23 says, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way."

Author Squire Rushnell calls this kind of divine guidance "godwinks." In his book, he says a godwink is what some people would call an answered prayer or simply a coincidence. For followers of Christ, life — and what happens to us — is much more than coincidence or happenstance. God has laid out a path for our lives, and we must walk by faith.

When we walk by faith, God will "divinely align" us by unfolding godwinks along our path, Rushnell says. God lets us use our free will to aim for our own destiny, but He gives us signs, or godwinks, to look for on our journey. These signs — like signs on a highway — guide us and reassure us that we're on the right path.

I've experienced godwinks in my own life. Time after time, I've clearly felt God's hand guiding me. He has always put the right people in my path at the right time to propel me to the next stage of life.

I remember the high school teacher who encouraged me to start writing. That led me to study journalism in college. I remember when I went off to college and how God opened all the right doors for me.  I remember then trying to find a job. I applied for several internships while in college, but no one would give me a chance.

Even then, I know God was at work behind the scenes. In the summer before my senior year, a new professor was hired to head the journalism department. As I worked closely with him that year, he began to show some of my work to his wife, who happened to be the executive editor of a newspaper in our area. She followed my progress that year and later called and offered me a job after I graduated. That was the beginning of a 17-year career as a copy editor. It never would have happened if God hadn't been directing my path.

It's during the uncertain times in life that we especially need to walk by faith.

As Rushnell put it, "the closer we get to that perspective — by getting closer to God — the more our faith will grow in the promise that there is a grand plan for each of our lives and that every piece fits perfectly together."

If At First You Don't Secede.....

Maybe I should run for president. President of Texas, that is! A petition for Texas secession now has more than 100,000 signatures. Texas isn't the only state with a petition to secede from the United States. Since Obama's re-election, all 57 states have started petitions to secede!

 

It would sure be interesting if Texas did secede, but secession is not the answer to Obama. Instead of states splitting from the United States, we should separate ourselves from Obama's godless worldview.

 

Don't be conformed to this world and its evil ways. When Obama starts pushing abortion and same-sex marriage, remember, God's law will ALWAYS trump man's law.

 

Some people in America seem to forget who the true God is. Here's what actor Jamie Foxx said last week at the Soul Train Awards: "It’s like church in here. First of all, give an honor to God and our lord and savior, Barack Obama.”

 

Jamie Foxx is a "comedian," so maybe he was kidding..... I HOPE he was kidding. But I wonder about people sometimes. There are people who actually believe Obama can save the world. As Bob Siegel joked in a Washington Times online column, "Obama’s procrastination before finally releasing his birth certificate makes people wonder if he too was born of a virgin." 

 

Barack Obama, himself, thinks he's the messiah. After all, Jesus only multiplied two fish and five loaves of bread.... Obama took the $5.8 trillion debt and multiplied it into $16 trillion, Siegel said. And Jesus only calmed a storm on the Sea of Galilee, but Obama calmed Governor Chris Christie after Hurricane Sandy!

 

On second thought, maybe Texas should secede. This country is in big trouble. If Obama's second term isn't the beginning of the Great Tribulation, we must be getting awfully close to it. Jesus' return is near. It pays to be ready at all times!

Giving Thanks

Some of you may have read this before, but this is from my Thanksgiving column in this week's Pampa News.

******

Thanksgiving is my favorite time of year. It's a time for family and friends. It's a time for fellowship and food (especially Mom's famous Italian cream cheese cake). Thanksgiving is also a time for reflection.

 

As we approach another Thanksgiving, I've been reading the Psalms because they remind me of the blessings of God. Psalm 103 lists just a few of His benefits:

 

"O my soul, bless God, don’t forget a single blessing! He forgives your sins — every one. He heals your diseases — every one. He redeems you from hell — saves your life! He crowns you with love and mercy — a paradise crown. He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal. He renews your youth — you’re always young in his presence." (Psalm 103:1-5 The Message)

 

Those are awesome benefits! Only God provides these great blessings. God's benefits plan is all-inclusive. I'm thankful He forgives ALL my sins and heals ALL my diseases. He doesn't hold anything back.

 

Another part of Psalm 103 tells about God's endless love and compassion for all who will come to Him: "God is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he’s rich in love. He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold, nor hold grudges forever. He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is his love to those who fear him."

 

I'm thankful God's love for us never ends. His love for His children is constant through all generations. He will never leave us nor forsake us.

 

The last part of Psalm 103 reminds us again to praise the Lord for His benefits and says: "The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all." We've just come through a divided election and face uncertain times. But in this time of violence and confusion in the world today, we can still be thankful that God rules over all the earth.

 

I encourage you to count your blessings this Thanksgiving. And remember this quote: “If you woke up this morning with more health then illness, you are more blessed than many others who will not survive this week.”

 

God bless and happy Thanksgiving!

Food for Thought

Just in time for Thanksgiving, here's a little "food" for thought:

 

What's the beef against beef? The Los Angeles council passed a resolution urging residents to adopt a personal pledge to have a “meatless Monday.” These California meatheads said they hope it will start a trend, make residents healthier and reduce the impact on the environment. They'll surely have to beef up enforcement at some fast-food restaurants. Another reason why we should eat at Chick-fil-A! I say, if you don't like meat, don't pig out on it. But don't have a cow over it!

******

Last call... for twinkies? It was a close call for that sweet treat we all love. Last week, Hostess announced it was planning to close down operations because it could not come to terms with the union. This sparked consumer frenzy across the nation. Many thought this would mean the death of our beloved twinkies. (Does that mean it would be "cream-ated"?) But there may still be hope for consumers shut out of last week's great Twinkie binge. Hostess and the union have agreed to mediation. Long live the twinkie!

******

Someone sent me this funny food e-mail, so I thought I would share it:

God vs. Satan
In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth and populated the Earth with broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow and red vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.

Then using God’s great gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream and Krispy Creme Donuts. And Satan said, “You want chocolate with that?” And Man said, “Yes!” and Woman said, “and as long as you’re at it, add some sprinkles.” And they gained 10 pounds. And Satan smiled.

And God created the healthful yogurt that Woman might keep the figure that Man found so fair. And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat, and sugar from the cane and combined them. And Woman went from size 6 to size 14.

So God said, “Try my fresh green salad.” And Satan presented Thousand-Island Dressing, buttery croutons and garlic toast on the side. And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast.

God then said, “I have sent you heart healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them.” And Satan brought forth deep fried fish and chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter. And Man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof.

 God then created a light, fluffy white cake, named it “Angel Food Cake,” and said, “It is good.” Satan then created chocolate cake and named it “Devil’s Food.”

God then brought forth running shoes so that His children might lose those extra pounds. And Satan gave cable TV with a remote control so Man would not have to toil changing the channels. And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering blue light and gained pounds.

Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition. And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fried them. And Man gained pounds.

 God then gave lean beef so that Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite. And Satan created McDonald’s and its 99-cent double cheeseburger. Then said, “You want fries with that?” And Man replied, “Yes! And super size them!” And Satan said, “It is good.” And Man went into cardiac arrest.

God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery.

Then Satan created HMOs.

******

Happy Thanksgiving and happy eating!

A Roller Coaster

It's been a wild ride! Last week was an emotional roller coaster of extreme lows and intense highs.

I started the week with confidence about the election. I was sure that voters wouldn't make the same mistake twice by re-electing Obama. On Monday, it looked good for Mitt Romney. Several polls showed him ahead in a number of the swing states. It looked like he had a clear path to victory. I was so excited!

Then came Tuesday night. Early in the evening, I could tell that things weren't going the right way, especially when Obama won both Romney's home state and Paul Ryan's home state. It wasn't looking good for Romney — or for America. Still, I held out hope. The bottom fell out about 10:30 Tuesday night when Ohio was called for Obama. He had won the election. It was a crushing blow to my spirit.

The next two days were nearly unbearable. It was so hard to think about where our country is headed now. I couldn't even bear to listen to the TV news or talk radio. It was just too agonizing to hear them talking about this man, who has ruined our country, now having four more years. I couldn't take listening to it!

But my spirits were lifted Friday when I went to a Veterans' Day program, which is put on each year by Travis Elementary School in Pampa. Several hundred veterans were there, and Kay Pittman, the program's organizer, talked about her passion for teaching the schoolchildren at Travis about freedom. The children, from kindergarten through fifth grade, all sang to honor the veterans. It restored my hope in America.

My friend Keith Roberson sang "God Bless The USA," and Congressman Mac Thornberry spoke about Old Glory. I saw that the American spirit is still alive in these children, despite the hard times ahead. It blessed me to see this on Friday.

Then on Sunday, my pastor preached an inspiring message called "In God We Trust." He reminded us that "In God We Trust" is our national motto. It's printed on our money. It's what this country was founded upon. We must keep putting our trust in God, not in the government or any man. It's God who will see us through the next four years and beyond.

After an agonizing week, I needed to hear that. My hope is in the Lord. Whatever happens in the next four years, I know God will see me through!

What's Next?

We need God today more than ever. Now that half of the country has voted to put the most godless, evil president back in power, we are facing the toughest times America has ever seen. Only the Lord can save us now!

What's next for America? I keep thinking about all the verses in the Bible that warn nations who reject God and continue to do evil. Psalm 9:17: "The wicked will go down to the grave. This is the fate of all the nations who ignore God."

This should cause Americans to go to their knees in prayer and repentance. Instead, half of the nation has chosen to support a heathen president and go along with his endorsements of abortion and gay marriages, which are sins in the eyes of God as it plainly says in the Bible.

And there are many other verses:

Job 8:13: "Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless."

Psalm 49:14: "Like sheep they are destined for the grave, and death will feed on them. The upright will rule over them in the morning; their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions."

Psalm 50:22: "Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue."

Jeremiah 13:25: "This is your lot, the portion I have decreed for you," declares the Lord, "because you have forgotten me and trusted in false gods."

The Bible doesn't lie. God will not be mocked. If God punished the people of Israel and sent them into exile when they turned away from Him with their sin, He will certainly punish other nations, including America, who do the same.

It hurts me to see our great nation being destroyed by a man who cares more about grabbing power for himself than he does about the country. People think Obama is going to take care of them and give them free health care and contraception. He wasn't there to take care of the four Americans who died in Libya. He wasn't there to take care of the victims of Hurricane Sandy, and he won't be there for YOU!

The voters made their decision, rejecting God and common sense, and chasing after the devil. I know I'm going to be all right. My trust is in Jesus, and He's coming for me soon. So I say, Come quickly, Lord Jesus! Come quickly!

Obama: From A to Z

We're coming down to the wire. 'Campaign Chris' has put together this last-minute look at the top reasons NOT to vote for Obama. If you don't remember the references, just Google these phrases:

This is the Obama Presidency, From A to Z:
A. Abortion. Apologies. Arrogance.
B. Budgets. Benghazi. Birth certificate.
C. Cover-up. Czars. Community organizer.
D. Debt. Deficit. Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
E. Economy. Executive orders. Eats dog.
F. Foreign policy failures. Firearms laws. Forerunner to the Anti-Christ.
G. Gay marriage. Gas prices. Godless.
H. Health care. "Horses and bayonets." Hand over heart.
I. Israel. Iran. Incompetence.
J. Jobs. Joe (Biden). Jay Z.
K. Kenyan. Kagan. Kill list.
L. Libya. Lies. Left of Lenin.
M. Marxist. Muslim. Medicare.
N. Netanyahu. No National Day of Prayer. National anthem.
O. Obamacare. OPEC. Open mic.
P. Putin. Planned Parenthood. Pot smoking.
Q. Quran. Quadruples deficit. Queen's toast.
R. Radical associations. Regulations. Russia flexibility.
S. Socialism. Sotomayor. Solyndra.
T. Taxes. Terrorist attack. Traitor.
U. Unemployment. Univision. U.N. treaty.
V. Vacations. Values. Vain.
W. Welfare. War on religion. Wedding ring.
X. Xerxes. Xerox. X-rated.
Y. "You didn't build that." Youtube video. "Yes We Can."
Z. Zero job growth. Zakaria book. Zombies.

If all that still is not enough, here's one more reason not to vote for Obama... If Mitt Romney wins the election, I'll get out of my scooter and do the "Happy Dance" for a Youtube video!

I'm 'Campaign Chris', and I approve this message.

Look Up!

It's all about perspective. If we keep our focus on God, He will do amazing things in our lives!

That's the message Paralympic gold medalist Jeremy Campbell shared Sunday at Briarwood Church. He was in town for Saturday night's Wheel Times, Inc. wheelchair soccer game, which was awesome! Jeremy, who grew up in Perryton, was born with a rare defect and had his right leg amputated when he was a year old. He's the first disabled athlete to break the 60-meter barrier. He won two gold medals and set the world record in the Pentathlon at the 2008 Paralympics.

Jeremy says he's learned to keep the focus on God, and that has made the difference in his life.

"I can look at my limits, or I can look at my limitless God," he said Sunday. Jeremy encouraged us to keep our eyes on Jesus, no matter what obstacles we face in life. We all have tough challenges and difficulties, but God can work through our "disabilities."

As Jeremy put it, "God loves impossible odds because He can show up and He gets the glory."

He quoted 2 Corithians 12:7 (The Message version): "Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations."

That message really inspired me. I've often thought I am limited in life because of my own disability. But what we see as obstacles, God sees as opportunities. God uses our weaknesses to equip us for greater works in His kingdom.

"You may be disqualified in the natural," Jeremy said. "Those disqualifications cannot stop you because if you are disqualified in the natural, you are qualified in the supernatural. God uses those people that are disqualified here in the physical realm to do the things He wants to do in you."

He said most of our problems are not circumstantial; they are perceptual. That's why we must always keep our focus on Jesus. When we do that, our problems and disabilities will seem small.

We may never understand why we have these limitations while we are here on earth, but we can know that God has a plan and purpose for us because He created us, just the way we are. God sees the bigger picture, and some day it will become clear to us. For now, we just need to trust Him.

"Our job is to trust God and believe even when all odds are against us!" Jeremy said.

He ended the message with one of my favorite verses, Philippians 4:13, which says "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." Look to God today. He will do amazing things in your life, just as He has in Jeremy's!

Where's the Outrage?

If Obama doesn't care enough to protect the U.S. ambassador and other brave Americans in Libya, why would you think he will look out for our interests in a second term? He has a ruthless quest for power, and he doesn't care who he has to step on or who gets hurt or killed along the way.

Obama's cover-up of the terrorist attack on Benghazi is outrageous! So where's the outrage? The media has hardly mentioned the lies and cover-up we've been fed by the president.

The questions are simple: what did Obama know? And when did he know it? There are e-mails that prove that Obama knew it was a terrorist attack and lied about it for weeks. He is so preoccupied with his quest for power that he will do or say whatever he has to to get re-elected.

Obama's callous attitude toward the Benghazi attack is shocking. He went on television a day after the attack and called it a "bump in the road." He said the deaths of four Americans was "not optimal." I listened to the father of slain Navy SEAL Tyrone Woods as he described a meeting with Obama, in which he said the president appeared cold, callous and disrespectful to the families of those killed in Libya.

This grief-stricken father wanted to know "Who made the decision not to save my son?" He has a right to demand answers, and so do all Americans. Mitt Romney isn't even pressing for answers anymore. But it's time we DEMAND the truth! Obama's lies must be exposed before the election.

Obama has a way of making you think he's on your side, agreeing with your position, while doing the opposite. Pay no attention to what he SAYS; rather, watch what he DOES!

President Nixon resigned over the Watergate scandal. Benghazi-gate is much worse than Watergate. Shouldn't Obama be forced to resign immediately?

Where is the outrage in America? I'm angry over the lies and cover-up by Obama and his administration. America should be too!

When I say...

It's easy to say, "I'm a Christian," but what does it really mean to be live for Christ? I want to be a witness for Christ and let my life shine for Him. I admit I'm not perfect, and I don't have all the answers. As a believer, I don't want to put anyone down. I only want to point others to Christ because I know HE can make a difference in their lives. He's made a difference in mine!

A friend posted this poem on Facebook. It's called "When I say, 'I Am A Christian'," by Carol Wimmer. This is my confession, and it's how I hope others see me:

When I say, “I am a Christian” / I’m not shouting, “I’ve been saved!” /

I’m whispering, “I get lost! That’s why I chose this Way.”

When I say, “I am a Christian” / I don’t speak with human pride /

I’m confessing that I stumble, needing God to be my guide.

When I say, “I am a Christian” / I’m not trying to be strong /

I’m professing that I’m weak and pray for strength to carry on.

When I say, “I am a Christian” / I’m not bragging of success /

I’m admitting that I’ve failed and cannot ever pay the debt.

When I say, “I am a Christian” / I don’t think I know it all /

I submit to my confusion, asking humbly to be taught.

When I say, “I am a Christian” / I’m not claiming to be perfect /

My flaws are far too visible but God believes I’m worth it.

When I say, “I am a Christian” / I still feel the sting of pain /

I have my share of heartache, which is why I seek His name.

When I say, “I am a Christian” / I do not wish to judge /

I have no authority. I only know I’m loved.

-- Carol Wimmer

This poem reminds me that I don't have it all together... God is still working on me!  We're not called to be perfect, but we're to submit to Him and He will change us.  Life is a journey, and each day is a chance to grow and become more like Christ.  So that's my goal:  To be more like Him and to help others along the way.

Obama's 'Eye Candy'

I almost felt sorry for Obama last night as he got another shellacking from Mitt Romney in the debate. Every time he was in trouble, Obama would look to the moderator to bail him out. It was just too funny. It's like he was crying for his mommy to save him from that Big-Bad-Evil Republican! And, of course, CNN's chief Obama bootlicker, Candy Crowley, was happy to oblige!

I wish I had counted how many times Obama called on her to rescue him. The crybaby! Crowley crossed the line when she stepped in to try to "correct the record" for Obama. Then, she made things worse when she couldn't even get HER facts straight.  Crowley will be eating crow for a long time over this!

Obama looked like he was going to have a good debate, but he lied so much that you didn't know what to believe. He lied on the first question about jobs. After that, his credibility was shot.

Romney was tough and aggressive. He didn't let Obama or Crowley push him around and distort his record. He came out swinging and jumped in anytime the liberal duo tried to pull a fast one. I loved that. That made Romney look presidential. Obama looked like a schoolyard bully who hasn't done his homework for the last four years and now he's trying desperately to keep from flunking out.

Romney's arguments were powerful. He systematically laid out Obama's failed policies and all the damage they've done to the economy. Romney had a great line: "We don't have to settle for this!" He's right. We don't have to settle, and we shouldn't settle for this incompetence for four more years!

The press tried to paint Obama as the comeback kid. They praised him for his performance last night. But Obama's lies and cover-up of the Libyan terrorist attack will come back to haunt him. Next week's final debate is on foreign affairs. Obama has a lot to answer for! He'll probably cook up a whole new story on Libya by next week. Then, Romney can step in and deliver the final knockout blow.

Three weeks to go until the election. Keep praying!

Not A Fan

Are you a fan? Or a follower? We are studying the "not a fan" series in Sunday school right now. It's based on the book by Kyle Idleman. The series has really made me think about my life. Am I a fan of Jesus? Or am I a follower?

In the Gospels, Jesus wasn't looking for mere fans. He said, "Follow me." Twenty times in the New Testament, Jesus gave this compelling challenge: "Follow me." Jesus expected His disciples to leave everything behind, to deny themselves, and to be devoted totally to Him. He expects the same from us!

I've been in church all my life. I read my Bible. I know a lot about Jesus, but I haven't always been totally committed to Him. I'll be honest, I'd held onto things from the past. I hadn't surrendered every part of my life. I had certain habits and hang-ups that I tried to hide. Yes, I loved Jesus. I was a fan of Jesus. But I wasn't a true follower.

Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it."

The "not a fan" series is showing me what it takes to deny one's self and truly follow Jesus. It takes a commitment to dying to self daily. Kyle Idleman made this statement: "It's not enough to 'try' every day; we must 'die' every day."

The Bible makes it clear, "anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me."

Jesus is NOT looking for fans… He’s looking for followers. This series teaches that true followers must understand that:

There is no forgiveness without repentance.
There is no salvation without surrender.
There is no life without death.
There is no believing without following.

We try to put on appearances, but appearances don't impress God. He looks inside our hearts and knows if we are fans or followers. And if we make the commitment to follow Jesus with all our heart, the reward is great! We'll spend eternity with Him in heaven.

That's why I say, "I'm not a fan of Jesus. I'm a follower!"

Reality Check

If you're still thinking about voting for Obama, first, check yourself into a mental hospital immediately! Then, come back and finish reading this post.

America got a reality check at last Wednesday night's debate. We saw the real Barack Obama. For four years, the media has portrayed Obama as a superhero, who can do no wrong. It was a different story Wednesday night. Without his teleprompter and speech writers to make him look "smart," Obama had to do something he hasn't done before. He had to speak for himself. He revealed his true self, and it wasn't a pretty picture.

We shouldn't have been surprised by his inept understanding of the economy. His failed economic policies have led to the conditions we're in -- high unemployment and record debt! He likes to blame Bush, but this is HIS fault. His answers in the debate prove he doesn't have a clue how to run the economy.

Obama won't fare any better in the debate on foreign policy. He's created a mess there, too, and now he's involved in a cover-up over the attacks in Libya.

His campaign advisers are already playing the spin game, predicting Obama will make a big comeback in the debate on foreign policy. Really? I don't think so. Obama's foreign policy has been a disaster. Yes, bin Laden is dead, but al Qaeda is still alive and making a comeback.

Obama has a lot to answer for: He still won't admit that we had a terrorist attack on our embassy in Libya. He failed to raise security on the anniversary of 9/11 because he was in Las Vegas for another fund-raiser. He'd rather go golfing than attend his intelligence meetings. He'll make time for an appearance on "The View" and an interview with The Pimp with a Limp, but he doesn't have time to meet with Benjamin Netanyahu and other world leaders.

These are serious issues, but Obama just ignores them and hopes they'll go away. If you think he's still qualified to be president, you call me on Election Day. I'll come give you a ride..... to the nut farm!

We Can Pray

In this crazy, mixed-up world, I sometimes feel overwhelmed by the corruption and evil I see taking place around us. It makes me ask, "Is there anything we can do to change the world around us?" "Is there anything that I, personally, can do that will make a difference?"

There IS something that we can all do. We can pray!

From now until the Nov. 6 election, people around the country are committing themselves to fasting and praying for our nation. I want to be one of them. I believe our prayers will make a difference in the future of our country.

Throughout history, whenever a nation has turned to God and cried out to Him in prayer and fasting, God took notice!

Remember Nineveh? Jonah went through that city, proclaiming that God was about to destroy it. The Bible says the people of Nineveh believed God, and a fast was proclaimed, "and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth." The entire city fasted and prayed. Jonah 3:10 says, "When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened."

America should follow this example. We need to all come together to fast and pray. We may not be able to do anything to stop the corruption and evil in our nation, but we have the power of prayer. And through prayer, we CAN make a difference!

I hope you will join in this season of prayer for our country from now until the election. The future of the country depends on our prayers!

**********
The Dove Brothers had this powerful song about prayer. This says it so well:

Last Ounce of Courage

If you haven't seen "Last Ounce of Courage," it's worth your time to go see it. It's a very patriotic movie about taking a stand for the Christian faith and for freedom in America.

The story takes place in a small town, where Christmas has been over-commercialized and the town's leaders are afraid to display the traditional Christmas symbols anymore for fear of a lawsuit. It takes the town's mayor standing up and fighting for religious freedom for the town to restore Christmas to its true meaning — a celebration of the birth of Jesus.

The movie is really about every town in America. We're seeing it happen more and more. In schools, Christmas holiday has become "Winter Holiday," and kids can't even sing Christmas carols at school anymore. In stores, employees are told not to say "Merry Christmas," and many towns don't have the courage to put up manger scenes — or even a Christmas tree — because they're afraid of "offending" someone.

"Last Ounce of Courage" shows us we still have a right to celebrate Christmas and to put the focus back where it belongs — on Jesus! It should remind us all to take a stand in support of our beliefs.

Marshall Teague, who plays the town's mayor in the movie, said in an article we should be proud of America's founding values and stand up for our freedoms of expression.

He says, "Brave men and women have unfortunately lost their lives to defend our freedom. You have the right to religious freedom, the freedom to speak your mind. When that is taken away, what have you got?"

Our freedoms are quickly disappearing in America. We must take them back.  Freedom is worth fighting for, even if it takes our "last ounce of courage!"

Psalm 103: God's 401(k) Plan

I like reading the Psalms because they remind me of the blessings of God. Psalm 103 is one of my favorites. It is described as "God's Benefits Plan."

The first part of the psalm reminds us to take time to remember all of God's blessings and lists just a few of His benefits:

"Praise the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits —

who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s".

Those are awesome benefits! You can't get that kind of benefits in any retirement plan or your 401(k). Only God provides these great blessings! God's benefits plan is all-inclusive. It says He forgives ALL your sins and heals ALL your diseases. He doesn't hold anything back. God will supply ALL your needs (Phil. 4:19).

Another part of Psalm 103 tells about God's endless love and compassion for all who will come to Him and surrender their lives:

"But from everlasting to everlasting

the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,

and his righteousness with their children’s children—

with those who keep his covenant

and remember to obey his precepts."

God's love for us never ends. It can't run out or go broke like many companies' 401(k) plans. God's love for His children is constant through all generations. He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

The last part of the psalm reminds us again to praise the Lord for His benefits and says:

                                    "The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
                                                   and his kingdom rules over all."

In this time of violence and confusion around the world today, we are assured that God rules over all the earth. Right now, we see nations fighting other nations and governments on the verge of collapse. But God's kingdom will never fail!

This psalm gives me great assurance and hope for the future. No matter what happens in the world, I know God's benefits are more than enough to see me through. So I say, like the psalmist, "Praise the Lord, O my soul; and all that's within me, praise His holy name."

Heaven's Sounding Sweeter

I've been thinking lately about an old hymn, "Heaven's Sounding Sweeter All The Time." I love that old song. Especially now, with all the chaos and violence erupting in the Middle East this week, heaven is sounding better and better all the time.

I really don't think it will be much longer before we see that blessed hope — when Jesus will return to Earth to take His saved ones back to heaven with Him. Everything — and I mean everything — is lining up perfectly with the prophesies in the Old Testament.

In Zechariah 12:2-3, it says, "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about... And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces."

When Zechariah spoke those words around 520 BC, Jerusalem lay in ruins. But God said it would become the focus of the world's attention! Last week at the Democratic convention, the party platform was amended so that Jerusalem is no longer recognized as the capital of Israel. The world's attention is now focused on Jerusalem and Israel.

In Zechariah, it also says all nations will turn against Israel. We're seeing that happen every day!

One day, the Bible predicts, Israel will have no allies, and all nations shall be gathered against her. The TV news shows you that we are on the road toward that battle.

Even the U.S., which has been Israel's strongest ally for years, seems to be turning its back on Israel. Yesterday, President Obama snubbed Israel again, saying he doesn't have time to meet with Israel's prime minister when he comes to the U.S. later this month.

Some prophesy scholars believe the return of Christ will coincide with the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah. So is it a coincidence that these things are happening right before Rosh Hashanah 2012, which occurs next week?

The timetable has been set, and the events are quickly playing out. It's just a matter of time now until we see Jesus return. I can't wait for that day! Yes, heaven's sounding sweeter all the time!

Are We Becoming A Godless Nation?

The Democratic convention won't be remembered for its speeches — not even Bill Clinton's 50-minute speech aggrandizing Barack Obama. It won't be remembered for the broken promises. It won't even be remembered for Obama's empty rhetoric and Socialist agenda.

This convention will be remembered as the year the Democrats took God out of their party's platform. Party leaders removed all references to God and Jerusalem from the platform. Even though they were forced to reinstate the references a day later to save face, the damage has been done — damage to the Democratic Party and damage to the country.

Obama's minions were quick to say the president wanted to put the references to God back in the platform. Don't believe that for a second! This is a clear example of what we can expect if this godless president is returned to office.

I could not believe the way the delegates cheered every time a speaker mentioned killing babies, calling it "women's right to choose." Or how delegates booed when they voted to reinstate references to God to the platform. I couldn't believe that was happening right here in America!

Americans had better wake up. The Bible warns about nations that forget God. Psalm 9:17: "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."

Remember, this president has already said America is NOT a Christian nation. He ended all National Day of Prayer observances at the White House. He tried to ban Bibles at Walter Reed Medical Center. Can you see where we're headed? If Obama is re-elected, I guarantee he will do everything he can to take God out of America. Don't think it can't happen here. It can!

America was at its best when it was truly a God-fearing nation, and the more ungodly we become, the weaker we have become in every aspect. We're already seeing the curses on America because the country has rejected God.

I read this quote in an article: "When a nation turns from God, all these curses come, and sadly, they are here:

Our food supply is foreign;

Our financial system is foreign;

Our military is stretched to the max;

Our leaders are the tail and not the head;

Our nation has become perverted and corrupt, and God has removed His hand of blessing!"

It's not too late for America yet. If we will return to Him and repent of our sins, because of His great compassion and love, God will forgive us. But time is running out. If you're not right with God, I wouldn't wait another day to make things right! You can't wait! Jesus could return before this election. He could return today. Are you ready? Really ready?

No matter who wins the election, America will never be the same. Our only hope is Christ! THERE IS A CONNECTION BETWEEN GOD AND GOVERNMENT. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.” Psalm 33:12; “The wicked shall be turned into Hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Psalm 9:17.

Think about it. Then go to God in prayer and make sure you know where you're going to spend eternity.

Send in the Clowns!

Let the freak show begin! This week, top Democrats and their delegates (a.k.a. the "Occupiers") will hold their propaganda dog-and-pony show in Charlotte. Strap on your waders! We're about to jump into the cesspool of politics!

Why do Democrats have to be so mean? You know their entire convention will be about attacking Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. Yeah, Republicans did the same to Obama last week, but their attacks were all true. Obama is a failed president. He can't run on his record. He has to run FROM his record.

This week will be quite a contrast from last week's Republican convention. Let's compare:

Last week, we heard the success stories of people like Marco Rubio, Susana Martinez and Kelly Ayotte. This week, they'll have failed politicians like "Jimma Karta" (Jimmy Carter), Dirty Harry Reid and Nazi Pelosi.

Last week, we saw the inspirational video and speech from 30-year-old Saratoga Springs Mayor Mia Love. This week, they'll have 30-year-old grad student Sandra Fluke, who still wants the government to pay for her birth control.

We had men of faith like Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum. They'll have the president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund and a lesbian congresswoman.

We had speeches from powerful women like Condoleeza Rice and Governors Nikki Haley and Mary Fallin. They have speeches from Gwen Moore, Donna Edwards and Rosa DeLauro. Never heard of them? ME EITHER!!

We had the inspiring speech from Ann Romney. They have anti-American first lady Michelle Obama.

We had Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood!! They have Desperate Housewives bimbo Eva Longoria. (They must really be desperate!)

We had budget expert Paul Ryan and successful businessman and CEO Mitt Romney. They have idiot Joe Biden and community organizer Barack Obama, who didn't pass a single budget in the four years he's been in office.

The choice is pretty obvious, don't you think?

Reaching The Promised Land

The devil wants to keep us in the wilderness, but God will lead us on to the Promised Land.

It's hard to imagine that the people of Israel went around and around in the wilderness for 40 years. It's a journey that should have taken only a few days, but their stubbornness and unbelief kept them from entering the Promised Land. They had to keep going around that mountain for 40 years.

Aren't we that way, too, sometimes? I admit that I can be stubborn. (I know that's hard to believe.) It's our stubbornness that can keep us from going forward in our walk with God.

The Bible says we must deny ourselves and take up our cross daily and follow Jesus. It's a decision we must make every day. If we don't, we find ourselves slipping back into our old habits instead of moving toward our Promised Land.

We need to learn from our past mistakes (or sins) or we'll be destined to repeat them. We'll keep going around and around that mountain. The devil has a trap for each of us, and he wants us to keep falling into that same old trap so that we don't move forward in our Christian walk. A friend of mine calls it the "merry-go-round effect," where we seem to keep going around in circles.

For me, I know I have to be careful to make the right choices every day, or I'll end up falling back into my old habits and hang-ups. I'll have to make another lap around the mountain.  I've made quite a few trips around that mountain!

The good news is we don't have to stay in the wilderness. God made a way for us through Jesus. If we will deny ourselves and make the decision daily to follow Him, we will reach the Promised Land.

God will lead us, but we have to be willing to follow. The directions are found by reading His Word daily and by seeking Him with all our hearts. He WILL show us the way.

I don't want to be like the people of Israel, whose stubbornness kept them from entering in. I don't want to stay in the wilderness. I want to be open to listen to God's voice and obey His directions. The journey may be long, but if we won't give up in our walk with God, there's nothing that can stop us. We will reach our destination!

Politicking!

For political news junkies like me, this week is like the Super Bowl of Politics. I've been glued to the TV for the Republican National Convention. It may be boring to most people, but I love it. I love the speeches. I love the commentary by analysts. I love it all.

The speeches have a lot of partisan rhetoric and political baloney, but I was encouraged by the speakers last night. Senator Kelly Ayotte, Ted Cruz and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley fired up the crowd, talking about the power of the American Dream. Rick Santorum had a great speech, too. Then, Ann Romney had a powerful message about love as she talked about her husband, Mitt.

Chris Christie's speech was the highlight of the night. The boisterous governor of New Jersey put on quite a show. I expected him to take more potshots at Obama, though. Christie is often blunt and fiery about Obama's failed presidency. Christie is the perfect person to go after Obama. He hardly even mentioned our incompetent president. I think it was a missed opportunity. You know the Democrats are all going to attack Romney at their convention next week!

The Republicans will have its heavy hitters tonight. Condoleeza Rice, Marco Rubio and Paul Ryan are all speaking tonight. Then, Mitt Romney will accept the nomination and give his speech Thursday night.

When this convention is over, the choice will be clear. Romney and Ryan are the best ones to lead the country. I pray people will wake up and see we only have one chance to turn our country around. It's Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.


******
I hope to get some new readers to my blog posts.... A lot of people read them on Facebook. Now, I will be a contributor on my church's Web blog at http://briarwoodchurch.org .  I'm also contributing some articles to The Pampa News in its religion section. They will be appearing periodically on the church page on Wednesdays. I hope you'll check them out!

Who Are You?

We know about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, but who are Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah?

In my Bible reading this week, I've been stuck in the book of 1 Chronicles. It's a hard book to read. The first nine chapters are long lists of names and genealogies. It's the "Who's Who" list in the history of Israel.

As I read this, I wondered why I needed to read all these names! Why do I need to know the sons of Gomer are Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah?  I can't even pronounce their names. I doubt I'll remember any of their names when I meet up with Gomer on the streets of heaven some day to ask him, "How's your son, Togarmah?"

So why are these lists even in the Bible and what's their relevance to us today?

These lists may be dry and boring to read, but they show us that God cares about us. He knows our names, just as He knows all the people who lived in Bible days. God knows each one of us personally, even down to the number of hairs on our head.

The Bible says God knew us before we were born. Psalm 139:16 says, "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed."

It's amazing to think that who we are and what we do is written forever in God’s book. And if we belong to Him, our names have been recorded in the Lamb’s book of Life!

God knows who YOU are today! He knows where you've been and what you're going through right now. He knows it all. And He loves you and cares about your situation. You can call on Him in your time of need, and He WILL be there.

I'm glad I know God today, and I'm so thankful that He knows me!

Which Candidate Is Smarter Than A Fifth-grader?

The stage is set in the presidential election. "America's Comeback Team" Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan is up against "The Amateurs" Barney Fife Obama and Goober Biden. This race shouldn't even be close, but since so many Americans aren't paying attention to what's happening in the country, Barney and Goober could win another term. What a disaster that would be!

Since most voters don't care enough to watch the debates, we should make the candidates face off on "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth-grader?" The winning team would win the presidency.

The Obama-Biden team might have trouble with some of the quiz questions. For example, the second-grade Geography question: "How many states are in the U.S.?" Thinking back to his 2008 campaign tour, Obama would remember that he traveled to "57 states" and say the answer is "57."

Let's hope Obama doesn't get a grammar question and have to distinguish between "corpsman" and "corpse-man." He'll flunk out for sure!

Math isn't his strong subject either. With a $16 trillion debt in the country, Obama can't even answer a first-grade math question. That might explain why he hasn't been able to pass a budget in the four years he's been in office.

Obama's worst subject, though, is religion. He obviously believes in evolution because he has "evolved" into thinking same-sex marriage should be allowed. His voting record as a senator supported the killing of unborn babies. He has tried to ban Bibles at Walter Reed Military Medical Center and supports gays serving openly in the military. Obama deserves an 'F' in religion.

Obama is definitely NOT smarter than a fifth-grader and therefore not qualified to be president! The Romney-Ryan team can pass the test. If anyone can fix the financial mess in America, it's Paul Ryan.

Romney and Ryan are smarter than a fifth-grader, and they're both smarter than Obama!

'I Didn't Build That'

Our president tries to tell us if you have a successful job or a business or a good life, "you didn't build that" on your own. He wants you to believe the government is responsible for your success. He wants you to be totally dependant on the government.

I can't take credit for anything I've achieved in life, but it's not because I had help from the government. The government didn't provide me with a job or a salary or a place to live. The government doesn't supply all my needs.... GOD DOES!!

God is my source of help, not the government. I am totally dependant on Him. God can do things that the government can't do!

When I graduated college and started looking for a job, it seemed hopeless. Most employers looked at my disability and weren't willing to take a chance. But GOD provided! He put the right people in my life at the right time, while I was still in college, so that I got the right job. I landed my dream job. The government could never orchestrate something like that.

After I got the job, I needed a place to live. I didn't have a car or any way to get around in Amarillo. Again, it was GOD who came through for me. He provided the perfect place to live, just blocks away from my job.

Time after time, I've seen GOD show up and do things for me that seemed impossible. I am where I am today because of Him, and the government had nothing to do with it.

This government will fall some day. I can't rely on it to take care of me, but I can always trust in God to help me. God never changes. He is my source, and He will provide!

What's on My Mind

People think it's a bad thing that Mitt Romney is rich. I'd like to have that problem! It's not a bad thing to be rich. It shows that Romney has worked hard and is successful. Who cares if he releases his tax returns? I'd rather see Obama and Congress release a budget.

****
The word is out... Dirty Harry Reid lives in the land of make-believe. But we already knew that.

****
Everyone wants to know who Romney will pick as his running mate. There are all the usual suspects: Rubio, Christie, Pawlenty, McDonnell, etc. I'll go out on a limb. I hope he picks Congressman Allen West. That would sure shake things up! After the way the media went nuts over Sarah Palin in '08, just imagine their reaction to West!

****
Call it a "Major" mistake. My hometown newspaper is making a lot of changes. In the last few months, it has hired a new publisher, a new editor and at least one new reporter. It's only natural that they would make a few mistakes. But you'd think they could get the mayor's name and title correct. Twice last week, the paper identified Mayor Brad Pingel as "Major Pingle." I sent the new reporter a friendly e-mail about the mistake. Apparently, a lot of other people did too.

****
I can't be too hard on the new reporter. I can relate. As a former copy editor, I made plenty of dumb mistakes, too. I even botched the name of Amarillo's first female mayor. But at least I didn't call her a "major."

****
Best wishes to the new publisher and new editor of our newspaper. He probably doesn't remember me, but the editor, Ben Tinsley, and I worked together at the Globe-News for a short time. In fact, I think we started work there on the same day in June 1992. He was a police reporter, and I was on the copy desk. Welcome to Pampa, Ben!

****
The heat wave continues, causing several area towns to issue water restrictions. This has confused a lot of people. Even-numbered addresses can water on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Odd-numbered houses can water on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Even-numbered houses occupied by odd people are simply out of luck!

Election Antics

It's Election Day in Texas, a.k.a. Run-off Russian Roulette. I've already been to vote. It was a tough choice between Ted Cruz and David Dewhurst in Senate race. Neither is that great, so it really was like a game of Russian Roulette.

At least now the endless phone calls and junk mail will stop.... until they pick up again in time for the presidential election, which is now less than 100 days away! Oh boy!

Both parties are trying to drum up excitement for their conventions, which are sure to be full of boring partisan speeches. The Democrats have added a little spice to their line-up by putting Bill Clinton in prime time on the Wednesday night during the convention. To make Clinton feel at home, the Dems will hide a woman under the podium. Clinton is likely to steal Obama's thunder, but Obama will have the last laugh. Instead of Monica, it will be Nazi Pelosi hiding under the podium. Ewww!

The Dems also were trying to get Anthony Weiner to speak at the convention. But he declined, saying he will be busy taking pictures to send to friends back home.

The Republicans won't be outdone, though. They're planning their own antics. And what could be more fun than four nights of rich white guys talking about the economy? I bet that will draw higher ratings than opening night of the Olympics!

Newt Gingrich is sure to liven things up, though. You can always count on Newt to speak his mind, even when no one is listening. And don't forget Chris Christie. He'll be good for a laugh or two.

If the Republicans really wanted to excite its base at the convention, they would nominate Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy as the V.P. candidate. But they're too chicken to do that!

See what we have to look forward to in the next 100 days? I can hardly wait.... hardly wait for it to be over.

Good and Evil

It's more of calling evil good and good evil. Why is it that Target stores can start selling its new line of gay and lesbian greeting cards and no one, including the media, says a word? But when the president of Chick-fil-A dares to share his personal conviction and speaks out against gay marriage, the whole world goes ballistic!

Things are so backward and turned upside-down in America. People are promoting evil instead of calling it what it is: SIN. I can't believe what's happening in America.

Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy is an honorable businessman who tries to run his company by godly and biblical principles. How often do you see that anymore? Chick-fil-A closes all of its 1,600 restaurants on Sundays so employees can go to church or spend time with their families. The company still has been very successful in spite of only being open six days a week.

Now, Chick-fil-A is the target of boycotts and smear campaigns because Dan Cathy took a biblical stand. He told the Baptist Press last week that his company is "guilty as charged" in support of the biblical definition of the family.

For that, people want to boycott the restaurants. The mayor of Boston is even vowing to block Chick-fil-A from opening a restaurant in the city. Mayor Thomas Menino said he doesn't want a business in the city "that discriminates against a population."

I admire Dan Cathy and his family for their godly example. I saw an interview over the weekend with Chick-fil-A's founder, 91-year-old Truett Cathy. I was so impressed by how he lives and runs his business. He describes the Bible as the guidebook for his life. It's obvious that his family doesn't hate gays or discriminate against anyone.

It's sad that people have started this firestorm of protest against Chick-fil-A because of its biblical world view. Instead of boycotts, we need to support Chick-fil-A. I know I will.

Romney isn't the 'Pitts'

I'm not a fan of Brad Pitt at all, but his mother sounds like a saint.

Jane Pitt wrote a letter to her hometown newspaper, saying Christians, like herself, should not refuse to vote for Mitt Romney just because he is a Mormon. I agree with that. I've heard people say they won't vote for Romney because he's Mormon. Well, I'd rather have a Mormon as president than a moron.

Romney is a good man. Jane Pitt says Romney is "a family man with high morals, business experience, who is against abortion and shares Christian conviction concerning homosexuality."

Her letter says:

"Any Christian who does not vote or writes in a name is casting a vote for Romney's opponent, Barack Hussein Obama — a man who sat in Jeremiah Wright's church for years, did not hold a public ceremony to mark the National Day of Prayer and is a liberal who supports the killing of unborn babies and same-sex marriage."

Right on, Jane! You've got it exactly right!

I wish Romney was a Christian. He is a Christian if he has accepted Jesus Christ as the one and only Lord and savior, but most Mormons never make that profession. Still, we shouldn't refuse to vote for Romney just because he's a Mormon. We should all get out there and vote for him. Look at the alternative!

Jane Pitt's letter ends with "I hope all Christians give their vote prayerful consideration because voting is a sacred privilege and a serious responsibility."

She's exactly right.  Maybe Brad Pitt should listen to his mother. He could learn something!

All or Nothing

It's ALL or Nothing. That's what God requires to live for Him. It can't be a half-hearted decision or effort. He demands our ALL!

I was reading this morning and came across this in 1 Kings 18: Elijah challenged the people: "How long are you going to sit on the fence? If God is the real God, follow him; if it's Baal, follow him. Make up your minds!"

Elijah challenged the people of Israel to make up their minds and CHOOSE who they would follow: God or the pagan idols of Baal. We have the same challenge. Will we serve God or follow the world? The Bible tells us we can't serve two masters. We have to choose who we'll serve.

When I read that in 1 Kings, it was like God was saying, "Have you given me your ALL?" "How long are you going to sit on the fence?"

For me, it was showing me I can't hold on to my "secret sins." I have to surrender every area of my life. I can't hold on to the "white lies" or "bad movies." I have to surrender all.

This reminded me what it says in Ephesians 4: "Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life."

I've got to get rid of everything connected with the old life before I came to God. That's a pretty big order, but it's worth it. In Revelation, it warns us what will happen if we continue to live a lukewarm life toward God. It says He will spew us out!

I've been challenged (or convicted) today to step up and get off the fence in serving God. I will choose to follow Christ. Who are you going to follow?

Obama: The Lawless One

Why are we wasting our time on this silly election? Obama should just issue another Executive Order and declare himself ruler of the universe. He seems to do whatever he wants to do anyway.

It's amazing how Obama has managed to usurp the will of the American people. He arrogantly decides which laws he's going to enforce and which ones he's going to ignore. He has forced the health-care law down our throats, but he has refused to enforce the Defense of Marriage Act.  The recent order that his administration isn't going to enforce the immigration law shows just how lawless Obama is becoming.

He has become a lawless president. If I didn't know better, I might think that Obama is the "lawless one" referred to in the Bible.

I read an article that said, "while the lawless one will have many laws (much like ObamaCare), he is going to be arrogantly and blasphemously disobedient to God. He will claim to be righteous, while committing the worst political and religious evil that humanity has ever known."

Doesn't that sound exactly like Obama? It's almost scary. If Obama isn't the lawless one, I think we're real close to seeing the actual man of lawlessness being revealed.

Revelation describes this lawless one as "the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the Temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God."

This makes you think, doesn't it?  It has opened my eyes.  I believe the lawless one has been prepared and will be revealed soon, if he is not already in power. We need to be praying.... for our country and for this election. And we need to be prepared by making sure our hearts are right with God!  That's the only way we can be prepared for the evil days ahead.

Gone Country

I've been in heaven this past week since an area radio station started playing more classic country. It's the music from the 1980s, '70s, '60s and even earlier.

I grew up listening to this kind of music in the '80s (That tells you how old I am). Waylon, Willie and the boys.... those were the great ones of country music. The new crop of country singers today is so different. I do like some of them. I really like Taylor Swift. I think she's great.... and she's not a bad singer either. But I'm not interested in most of today's country music.

It's great to hear the old stuff again. Since the station in Perryton (98.3 KXDJ) switched to classic country last week, I've heard so many of my old favorites from Don Williams, The Statler Brothers, Anne Murray, George Jones and others.

Music has such a lasting impact. I haven't heard some of these songs in years but the minute a song starts, the words immediately come back to my mind and I know every word. It's strange how the mind works like that.

I like many kinds of music, except rap and hard rock. Country and gospel are my favorites, though. It's been fun re-living old memories through the music.

The station is still experimenting with the format to try to get the right mix of music. I hope it keeps it just like it is with plenty of those great old country songs.

He's Been Faithful

God is faithful! I love the words to the old song, "He's Been Faithful."

He's Been Faithful
Faithful To Me
Looking Back His Love And Mercy I See
Though In My Heart I Have Questioned
And Failed To Believe
He's Been Faithful, Faithful To Me

God has always been faithful to me. Throughout my life, I can look back at all the times He's been there for me. Even when I strayed and was not faithful to Him, He has never left me. I have strayed a lot at different times in my life, but God is always faithful to forgive me and take me back. I don't deserve it. None of us do. That's why God is so amazing. He loves us and forgives us, even when we don't deserve it.

He is faithful to keep His promises, too. The Bible is full of the promises of God. And, unlike us, He keeps every one of them. In Hebrews 13:5, it says, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” That's a promise to us and to all who will call on Him.

I'm thankful that God is faithful, even when I am not. 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

That's a verse I learned a long, long time ago and have learned to rely on when I miss the mark and begin to stray from God. I know that if I confess my sin, God is faithful to forgive me and cleanse me from my sins. That gives me such hope and comfort.

The words of that great old song say it best:

When My Strength Was All Gone
When My Heart Had No Song
Still In Love He's Proved Faithful To Me

Every Word He's Promised Is True
What I Thought Was Impossible
I've Seen My God Do

He's Been Faithful
Faithful To Me

Summer Fun....

The company is all gone. The carnival has packed up and moved on. The car show and rally is over. So what am I going to do the rest of the summer?

Last week was busy. My niece and her family were here from Corpus Christi. They came for my nephew's high school graduation, and Michelle and the baby stayed a few days. It was only the second time I'd seen baby Kayden. We sure had fun passing him around to hold him (when we could steal him away from "Marmie")!

I took my turn holding Kayden. I tried to teach him his first words, but I just couldn't get him to say "President Romney." I'll have to work on him some more....

The Pampa High School band carnival was also in town last week. As usual, it brought the rain with it. It was nice and cool in the evenings, and a lot of people turned out. I can hear the carnival from my front porch, so I rode the scooter over to check things out. I like to people-watch. It's especially fun to watch when they get off rides like the Zipper or Kamikaze and look like they're about to throw up. It's great! How can you beat entertainment like that? Not in Pampa!

Of course, I had to have my usual cotton candy and $4 corndog. I didn't pay $4 for it. I actually got it free, so the calories don't count, right?

Finally, Pampa had its annual Burnin' the Bricks car show and rally on Saturday. The city closed off several streets downtown, and the cars took over the old "drag" while people lined the sidewalks to watch the parade of classic cars. It was a fun way to spend a Saturday night.

That's how I kicked off the summer months, so what's next? Well, the rodeo is coming up soon....

Call the (Food) Police

The government is stealing our freedoms!

The mayor of New York City thinks he IS the police.... the food police. NYC's Mayor Bloomberg wants to ban the sale of soft drinks larger than 16 ounces at convenience stores and movie theaters. He says these big sugary drinks are making people fat. Well, DUH! If you drink 12 Big Gulps a day, you will be fat! But what business is that of the government?

This loony mayor has too much time on his hands. He's also banned smoking, including at parks and other outdoor public places. He's passed regulations to ban the use of trans fat in foods at restaurants, and he's tried to outlaw salt at restaurants.

Salt! What's next: Large pizzas? Pizza is one of my main food groups. I can scarf down the better part of a large pizza all by myself. If they ever ban this cheesy, pepperoni-covered goodness, I'd starve to death!

The food police has gone overboard. The government needs to stay out of our lives.

Instead of being a food monitor, why doesn't the government crack down on things that are really dangerous? The government says you can't drink a Big Gulp or eat French fries, but you can buy all the beer and wine you want. Salt is bad for your health, so let's ban salt but pass a law to legalize marijuana in America. This is so insane!

It's time to take back our freedoms. I headed to McDonald's, so pass the salt and super-size my fries!  Then, I'm off to the carnival, which is in town this week, to eat all the fried food-on-a-stick I want.  Who's with me?

Election Day!

I'll be going to vote today. I've done my homework, and I'm ready to cast my ballot. That's after the endless ads on TV, mail from candidates and robo calls! If you haven't made up your mind yet, http://www.freevotersguide.com/ is a web site with a lot of good information about the candidates and their positions. It's worth a look before you head to the polls.

I'm disappointed Texas didn't have more say in the choice for the Republican candidate for president. Mitt Romney has it locked up. It will be Texas that puts Romney over the top in the delegate count. I would have liked to have had another choice.

The biggest race in Texas is for U.S. senator with nine candidates on the ballot. This was a tough one because I didn't know much about any of the candidates. That's where the online voters' guide was helpful. I have it narrowed down to two and probably won't make my final decision until I get there.

Texas also has important races for state Supreme Court and State Board of Education. People often overlook these offices, but they help shape our laws and the policies in education.

If you're in District 15, I really recommend Marty Rowley for Board of Education. I knew him when I lived in Amarillo, and I know he is a Christian conservative with a lot of experience in law and education. He's a great man.

There are five propositions on the ballot, covering issues on public prayer, repealing Obamacare, balanced budgets, redistricting and school choice. Take time to read them and pray before marking your ballot.

This is our chance to speak out and have our voices heard, so let's get out there and vote, vote, vote!

Advice for Graduates (and all of us)

Graduation season is here. I have a nephew and several cousins who are graduating. Here's a bit of advice to all the graduates as they leave school and start the next chapter in their lives. Most of these were sent to me from a friend who is 98 years old. He has been around and seen a lot. He has some good advice here for all of us. Enjoy!


 Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

When in doubt, just take the next small step of faith.

Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will. Stay in touch.

Pay off your credit cards every month.

You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

Always choose life.

Forgive everyone everything.

However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

Believe in miracles.

God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Put God first.

The best is yet to come!!

How You Live It

I live a pretty dull life... most of the time! We're all busy, but what are we busy doing? Sometimes, it's good to stop and look at how we're living. Are we making the most of every day?

Life can be pretty mundane sometimes. But I've always believed that life is what you make of it. If you sit around and do nothing, that's what you'll end up with: Nothing. I like to get out, go places, do something! Even if it's just getting out and going to the park or taking a ride around the neighborhood, I try to get out a little while every day. I don't always do it, but I feel better when I do.

The good doctor even tells me I should get out and go places. Mom worries about me going places sometimes, but good 'ol Doc keeps telling me: "Go, go, go!" So I keep going.

Life's also about taking chances. Learn to live a little. Order that extra dessert. Splurge sometimes. You're worth it! Have a beer (but make it root beer). And go out there and have some fun. Your easy chair will be there when you get back!

The group Point of Grace has a great song, "How You Live." If you listen to the words, it has a great life message. I love this line: "And Have What You Want / But Want What You Have / And Don't Spend Your Life Looking Back."

The whole song is great, so I posted the video here:



Remember, "it’s not who you knew and it’s not what you did.... it’s how you live!"

'Evolution' of Obama

Barack Obama has "evolved." That's right, he has evolved into a moral midget. First, he lied four years ago when he said he believed that "marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman." He said it only because he knew he couldn't get elected if he openly supported gay "marriage."

Now, when he is desperate to win the support of gay groups and liberals, he is showing his true colors. Because of pressure from the Democratic base and his own vice president, Obama announced that he now supports same-sex marriage.

That's no surprise. Since he took office, Obama has done everything in his power to tear down the sanctity of marriage. He ended the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy for the military, and his administration has stopped enforcing the Defense of Marriage Act.

Obama is kicking America down the road to become like Sodom and Gomorrah. God annihilated them because of their wickedness. The imagination of their hearts was evil, and they set their minds to work to find new, unnatural ways to gratify their lust and abominable passions.

America is "evolving," too. It is headed down that same path of destruction. We must repent. We must take a stand against sin in America.

I don't hate gays. If you know me, you know I don't hate anyone. I'm writing this because I don't want anyone to go to hell, and I don't want to see America headed for destruction.

As the days of Noah were, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be. This is it, folks. We're there. Evil is all around us. People need to get right with God now. If you disagree with me about homosexuality, I just ask you to read and study it in the Bible, in Leviticus 18 and Romans 1. You can ignore me. You can't ignore the Bible.

God made marriage sacred between one man and one woman. Let's keep it that way. As for Obama, in November, he can "evolve" back into a private citizen.

The Plain Truth

Here's something to think about: "It's not in the Bible because it's true; it's true because it's in the Bible."  I've heard that quote before, but it really makes you think, doesn't it?

The Bible is the absolute truth. There are no flaws in it.

People like to treat the Bible like a big buffet, picking and choosing what appeals to their finicky appetites. If they don't like something, they ignore it. If they disagree with it, they say the Bible is out-dated and flawed. The Bible isn't flawed. It's our thinking that is flawed.

Psalm 119:104 says, "Through Thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way."

When I read the Bible, it helps me see how I should be living. Sometimes, it convicts me. Sometimes, I see that I'm not lining up with God's Word. That hurts! But instead of ignoring part of the Bible, I have to take steps to get back in line with it. I have to change. The Bible never changes, so I have to.

That's why God gave us the Bible — to help us. It's not just a bunch of rules. We will have a better life if we follow the Bible. God knows what's best for us, and He's laid out a plan for us. I like the old saying: "BIBLE stands for 'Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth'." He's given us the plan. All we have to do is follow it.

Satan tries to keep us from reading the Bible or, failing that, to prevent us from applying it. The Parable of the Sower demonstrates that some will read God's Word and apply it, causing them to change and line up with it. Others will read but not apply it — and won't change.

The plain truth is the Bible is the answer to all of life's questions. It has never failed, and it never will!

Let Us Pray

This is the National Day of Prayer! I hope people will pray. Prayer does change things. Even when things seem the darkest, prayer can change things. I've seen it happen in my life. I know it works.

Like a lot of people, I will be praying for our country and our leaders today. To me, the greatest need in our country is for us to turn back to God. It starts with individuals, making a commitment to seek the Lord with all their hearts and to serve Him. I make that commitment today. Will you?

In the Bible, the people of Israel turned their backs on God over and over. They broke the covenant. God's anger came down on the nation, and He sent curses on the people and their land. But when the people came back to God and prayed, He heard their prayers and healed their land. He didn't just do it once. He did it EVERY TIME they came to Him in prayer. Every time they prayed for forgiveness, He forgave them. Every time they went to Him with all their hearts, God met them there.

If God did it for them, I know He'll do it for us. No matter how many times we've fallen, if we turn back to Him and seek Him in prayer, He'll hear us and rescue us.

That gives me such hope today because I've fallen many times. I've sinned and turned my back on God. But then when I confessed my sin and prayed for forgiveness, He heard me. He's been faithful to hear my prayers and forgive my sin.

One of my favorite verses is 2 Chronicles 7:14: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

There is hope. It starts with each one of us, praying and making that commitment to God. Take some time today to pray. It really will change your life.