I had an interesting comment posted on my facebook page this a.m. I had posted that I was excited about all the babies being born this year. So many just in my own family–plus many friends having babies too! And I said something about this generation of babies being our future Christian leaders. The responder said I had given her something to think about. They had generally been raising their children to be followers of Christ. Was there Scriptural admonition for developing Christian leaders instead of Christ-followers? This is an excellent topic and I intend to research Scripture for a future post along this line, but I had to post my initial thoughts regarding this subject. Certainly, there are many examples throughout Scripture of men and women who were leaders while at the same time following God.

I think the one can easily go with the other. In the military amphitheater there are generals who lead and a host of other leaders under them. Likewise in Christianity, our boys can grow up to be men who are Christian leaders in the faith while still following their Leader, Christ.

Imagine the mother of Moses. Desperate to save her infant son from certain death, she places him in a reed basket in the water and has his sister stand guard. Of course we know that Pharoah’s daughter discovers him, keeps him, and makes his mother nursemaid to Moses. She only has a few years to instill in him a love for the true and living God, yet she does an incredible job. He did not forsake his people, but rather became their leader.

Daniel was not a young man at the time, but he was a leader among the Jews by refusing to not pray. God came first. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah braved the fiery furnace before they would bow to a false god. They were true leaders among their Jewish slave peers and before their lost captors. Esther was a leader for her people by risking her life and using her wits to preserve her nation and see justice done. Rahab showed daring and bravery, standing in a treasonous position while hiding the Jewish spies, and eventually ending up in the line of Christ.

Joseph, though not often thought of in this manner, was a leader, if only for his immediate family. In our society, where women bare children out of wedlock all the time, it is difficult for us to imagine the stigma that would plague Mary her whole life. Joseph was completely within his legal rights to publicly shame her and give her a writing of divorcement; yet he would not do that to her. And then God sends His angel to him and tells him it’s okay to take Mary for a wife. Who else would believe him? No one. He must stand alone and bear the public “shame” that was to follow Mary. He did not shirk this responsibility, but lovingly cared for Mary and raised Jesus as his own. How many men today could have done that? Joseph indeed showed leadership while following God.

Think of all the martyrs throughout history. They willingly gave their lives in service to Christ. They died for the faith so that Christianity might spread and souls be saved. These were true followers of Christ, yet they were also leaders in their own way. These were not all meek, quiet men and women who quietly believed and were quietly killed. These were people who suffered public humiliations, tortures, and death. How can a man or woman be willing to die for their beliefs and not be considered a leader or hero of the faith?

Are we raising leaders? What do we expect their character traits to be? I have been guilty of misjudging my own children in this area. I have said, “Well, I would love for my sons to be involved in politics and be leaders of the community, or to be called to preach or be evangelists, but…” “They just don’t have that personality,” or, “They don’t like studying that much,” or, “Schooling is difficult for him,” (I have one fine son who has great talents and abilities, yet has dyslexia and it really bothers him.) I am making excuses. I am following the lines I’ve been fed by the media and Washington. Why am I expecting that in order to be a Representative or a Senator that my son must have a law degree? Let’s go back to when this country was first created. The idea was that the COMMON MAN was to be elected for a SHORT TERM of office in which he would go and SERVE THE PEOPLE, and make laws under which HE HIMSELF WOULD LIVE. What if we raised a generation of men who believed this and went to Washington and actually DID this? What kind of tremendous positive things could be seen in this country? We have gotten so far from what our founding fathers envisioned. Career politicians have ruined the greatest form of government man has ever developed.

So yes, I think we can raise our boys to be true followers of Christ while at the same time raising them to be leaders, first in their families, and then in their neighborhoods, their cities, their states, their country. We can and should be raising godly young men to rise up and serve the Lord as leaders who can redirect America back to acknowledging the Creator of the Universe. To turn back the tide of evil that is running rampant through our streets. We can raise men to stand, and having done all, stand.

This was sent to me today…

As there are a few (very few) people I know who think Obama is still a great idea, I would love to hear your response to these questions.

Let me say that I did not approve of everything Bush did while being President. I am most disappointed with the Republican party in general. I’m all for giving some other group, like the Constitutionalists, a chance at running this country. But I’m reprinting this email because I think the point is well taken – SO MANY of the people who were quick to verbally assassinate Bush are equally quick to defend Obama, yet his errors are so much bigger, more embarrassing to us as a nation, and more costly to our freedoms and economy. I find it incredible anyone can still think he’s doing a good job.

If George W. Bush had made a joke at the expense of the Special Olympics, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had given Gordon Brown a set of inexpensive and incorrectly formatted DVDs, when Gordon Brown had given him a thoughtful and historically
significant gift, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had given the Queen of England an iPod containing videos of his speeches, would you have thought this embarrassingly narcissistic and tacky?

If George W. Bush had bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had visited Austria and made reference to the non-existent “Austrian language,” would you have brushed it off as a minor slip?

If George W. Bush had filled his cabinet and circle of advisers with people who cannot seem to keep current on their income taxes, would you have a approved?

If George W. Bush had been so Spanish illiterate as to refer to “Cinco de Cuatro” in front of the Mexican ambassador when it was the fourth of May (Cuatro de Mayo),
and continued to flub it when he tried again, would you have winced in embarrassment?

If George W. Bush had miss-spelled the word advice would you have hammered him for it for years like Dan Quayle and potatoe as “proof” of what a dunce he is?

If George W. Bush had burned 9,000 gallons of jet fuel to go plant a single tree on “Earth Day”, would you have concluded he’s a hypocrite?

If George W. Bush’s administration had okayed Air Force One flying low over millions of people followed by a jet fighter in downtown Manhattan causing widespread panic,
 would you have wondered whether they actually “get” what happened on 9-11?

If George W. Bush had been the first President to need a teleprompter installed to be able to get through a press conference, would you have laughed and said this is more
proof of how inept he is on his own and is really controlled by smarter men behind the scenes?

If George W. Bush had failed to send relief aid to flood victims throughout the Midwest with more people killed or made homeless than in New Orleans, would you want it made into a major ongoing political issue with claims of racism and incompetence?

If George W. Bush had ordered the firing of the CEO of a major corporation, even though he had no constitutional authority to do so, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had proposed to double the national debt, which had taken more than two centuries to accumulate, in one year, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had then proposed to double the debt again 10 times within years, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had reduced your retirement plan’s holdings of GM stock by 90% and given the unions a majority stake in GM, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to take Laura Bush to a play in NYC, would you have approved? 

If George W. Bush had spent months pushing for “health reform”, vowing to spend BILLIONS of dollars .. yet NEVER mention looking  at “medical mis-practice curbs placed on lawyers” (Obama is a lawyer) would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had told the world that a police sergeant in Cambridge acted “stupidly” before knowing the facts, then instead of apologizing termed it a “teachable moment”, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush’s Vice Prez had stated —  the Russians had a “weak hand” including a “withering” economy and needed the Sec of State to quickly ”clarify the statement” would you have approved?

Well, May is starting off to be a politically interesting month!

Montana passed a new gun law which protects the rights of its citizens to own and operate guns which are purchased in Montana – regardless of Federal law!! Go Montana!! They are prepared to consider secession if necessary.

Utah is seriously considering doing the same, according to an article on ksl.com news. One of Utah’s congressmen plans to submit a piece of legislation similar to Montana’s early next year.

Tennessee’s State Senate voted unanimously supporting a resolution which tells the federal government it has “overstepped its Constitutional bounds” and that the fed is violating the 10th Amendment. (www.tenthamendmentcenter.com)

Oklahoma’s House passed HCR-1028 for State Sovereignty 73-22. From www.tenthamendmentcenter.com: “Introduced on April 29, 2009, HCR1028 is “A Concurrent Resolution claiming sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States over certain powers; serving notice to the federal government to cease and desist certain mandates; providing that certain federal legislation be prohibited or repealed; and directing distribution.” (h/t AxXiom for Liberty)”

Other states in various stages of sovereignty resolutions include Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Indiana, Wyoming, Oregon, Minnesota, Arkansas, and Maine. It is estimated at least 25 states will have similar resolutions up for voting this year. Some states are focusing on specific issues, like abortion or gun rights, in a similar manner that Montana did with gun rights.

Governors Mark Sanford (SC) and Rick Perry (TX) have taken a lot of heat for turning down the stimulus money from the Federal government. I think both of them deserve a large round of applause for taking a stand like that – it obviously is a highly controversial issue. However, I think more governors need to have the courage to see beyond their own political picture and see the national picture. This incredible spending is bound to bankrupt the nation, yet so many leaders don’t seem to care. I’m glad to see some leaders stepping out and trying to do something!

Well…I have to sign off – we have severe thunderstorms heading this way, so I’ll have to unplug the computer….

Attend a tea party rally near you, if you can!!! This report from AFA Action Alert:

Mainstream media say TEA Party Day rallies in over 2,014 cities not worthy of coverage!

Take the pledge not to vote for any politician who votes to raise taxes or increase spending.

April 15, 2009

Dear Curt,

The mainstream media have not covered today’s TEA Party rallies because they are fearful that coverage would hurt President Obama and the liberals’ chances of getting a $1 trillion tax increase passed.

Despite the fact that AFA-sponsored TEA Party Day rallies are being held in more than 2,014 cities, the mainstream media have ignored it. Why? Let a member of the media tell you.

Leslie Marshall, a nationally syndicated liberal radio host, said the mainstream media are not covering the rallies because they’re not worthy of coverage.

How about that! Small rallies in 10 cities protesting the war get extensive coverage, but the biggest tax protest in the history of America is ignored! If you are against higher taxes and increased spending, apparently your views are not important! But you can bet your bottom dollar (before taxes get it) that the mainstream will do all they can to get Congress to pass President Obama’s trillion dollar tax raise.

Obama’s ideas are not original to him – see this political cartoon from 1934!

In case you can’t read all the tiny print, here’s what everything says:

The little character of Stalin on the bottom right corner is saying “How red the sunrise is getting!”

The wagon says, “Depleting the resources of the soundest government in the world”

Prominent political figures are dumping dollars out of the wagon as fast as they can shovel.

The little guy in the bottom left is saying, “It worked in Russia!” and he’s writing out the plan of action for the U.S. “Spend! Spend! Spend: Under the guise of recovery – bust the government – blame the capitalists for the failure – junk the Constitution and declare a dictatorship”

The Young Pinkies from Columbia and Harvard are the guys in black graduation gowns and motorboards, getting drunk on a bottle that says “power.”

I realize not everyone reading this post is a gun-enthusiast. However, I think most of you will agree that the Constitution protects our rights to own weapons. Obama obviously disagrees with this opinion. Of course! Why would someone who wants socialism to be the “New Deal” be interested in arming his citizens?! This article came to me today via an email. I have to share it. If you think you might EVER need a gun and ammunition, you better run as fast as you can to buy all you will ever need…at least until we get some conservatives in office to right all these wrongs.

We went to a gun show earlier this year – prices for regular handguns and rifles had already doubled from the previous year. It’s only going to get worse, folks.

*********************************************************

Obama Administration policy to force ammo prices through the roof
Defense Dept. to stop sale of once-fired brass

March 17, 2009 – We have verified through multiple sources that the Department of Defense is suspending the sale of all once-fired brass cartridge cases.

This will drastically reduce the availability of inexpensive ammunition, and is bound to drive up the already rising cost of ammunition.

From Georgia Arms:

“Effective immediately DOD Surplus, LLC, will be implementing new requirements for mutilation of fired shell casings. The new DRMS requirement calls for DOD Surplus personnel to witness the mutilation of the property and sign the Certificate of Destruction. Mutilation of the property can be done at the DRMO, if permitted by the Government, or it may be mutilated at a site chosen by the buyer. Mutilation means that the property will be destroyed to the extent prevents its reuse or reconstruction. DOD Surplus personnel will determine when property has been sufficiently mutilated to meet the requirements of the Government. ”

What’s at stake?
The price of target ammunition is not the only issue at stake. By mutilating once-fired brass cartridge cases, the government will lose 80% of the value of the cartridge cases as a commodity.

According to Denver Bullet, a company that reloads once-fired military brass, a pound of once-fired government brass runs around $2.00, while that same pound of scrap brass sells for $0.35. With international commodity prices falling, the price of scrap brass could fall even lower. In addition to the loss of value of brass cartridge cases as a commodity, the government will pay to ship and melt the mutilated once-fired brass to smelting furnaces in places like Alabama.

This massive mismanagement of taxpayer funds is clearly a policy decision driven by the Obama Administration’s war on gun owners, rather than sound fiscal policy.

What you can do?
Contact your member of congress and members of the Armed Services Committee.

Congressional Democrats are very conscious of their position with gun owners. This makes them even more conscious of the demands and desires of their constituents. Many attribute the 1994 Republican take over of Congress to gun owners outrage over the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban.

From the New York Times:

But there is one issue that retains the power to leave Democrats quivering: gun rights. Gun issues still persistently tie the party in knots and have been used by Republicans to stall two major bills this year, with more likely to come.

“It is a hot-button issue,” said Representative Allen Boyd, Democrat of Florida, a longtime hunter and one of the moderates who typically split from the more liberal wing of the party to support the rights of gun owners. “Some people around here know they can use it as a wedge issue, and they try to do that.”

It is a particularly hot-button topic with veteran Congressional Democrats who believe the party’s strong support for a 1994 assault weapons ban was the real reason they lost control of the House that year — not the House bank scandal, the failed health care initiative, the Contract with America or Newt Gingrich.

When you contact your member of Congress, tell them that taxpayers and gun owners deserve more than platitudes and policy driven grudges from the Obama Administration.

——————————————————————————–

Colorado’s Congressional Delegation

Senators:

Senator Mark Udall
Party: Democrat
Address: B40E Dirksen Senate Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-5941
Fax: (202) 224-6471

Senator Mike Bennett
Party: Democrat
Address: 702 Hart Senate Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-5852
Fax: (202) 224-5036

——————————————————————————-

U.S. House of Representatives:

Representative Diana DeGette
District: 1
Party: Democrat
Address: 2421 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4431
Fax: (202) 225-5657

Representative Jared Polis
District: 2
Party: Democrat
Address: 501 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2161
Fax: (202) 226-7840

Representative John Salazar
District: 3
Party: Democrat
Address: 326 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4761
Fax: (202) 226-9669

Representative Betsy Markey
District: 4
Party: Democrat
Address: 1229 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4676
Fax: (202) 225-5870

Representative Doug Lamborn (a member of Armed Services)
District: 5
Party: Republican
Address: 437 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4422
Fax: (202) 226-2638

Representative Mike Coffman
District: 6
Party: Republican
Address: 1508 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-7882
Fax: (202) 226-4623

Representative Ed Perlmutter
District: 7
Party: Democrat
Address: 415 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2645
Fax: (202) 225-5278

Okay – we had a “Boston” Tea Party in Greenville, SC, a few weeks ago. This is a great uprising of taxpayers who are demanding accountability from our federal government. Rallies were held in dozens of US cities. Now, here’s something more – what a neat idea! I’m doing this! I received this email this week…

For more information on this topic, Google: The New American Tea Party.

On April 1, 2009, all Americans are asked to send ONE TEABAG to Washington, D.C. You do not have to enclose a note or any other information unless you so desire. Just a TEABAG. Your one voice will become a roar when joined with millions of others that feel the same way.

‘New American Tea Pary’ site survey showed over 90% of thousands said they would send the teabag on April 1. Why, April 1?? We want them to reach Washington by April 15. Will you do it? I will. Send it to: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, D.C. 20500.

Ha ha ha – what a great idea. No, I did NOT check this on snopes to see if it was valid – I think it’s a great idea, regardless!

This was a very well presented article. It states both sides of the vaccine issue, yet stresses the point that deciding whether or not to vaccinate should be a PARENTAL choice not a governmental mandate.

Here’s the link: http://www.parentalrights.org/blog/parents/vaccines-autism-and-parents#comment-39749

If you want to take about 6 mintues of your day to read this, it’s a good article.

I’m a firm believer that this is a choice issue. If you feel, (after doing research – not just blindly following what we’ve all been told for 30 years), that vaccinating is a safe and protective procedure for your child, then go for it! If, after doing research, you feel your child may be put at greater risk by receiving the vaccines offered, then you should have the right to decline. It’s as simple as that.

After reading this article, if I lived in NJ and had to use public day cares…I’d move out of state.