Phil Robertson, Unlikely Messenger

Oh. My. Word!  Did A&E have any idea what would happen when they suspended Phil Robertson?  Surely they are not all dummies there.  I realize the gay rights people funnel money to them, but it seems like they have cut off their nose to spite their face!
Here's the deal. Homosexuality is wrong.  No if's, and's or but's.  God says it is wrong.  It is not a gray area.  It is not up for interpretation.  It is wrong.  Our culture is all about "tolerance".  Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but "tolerance" is wrong.  God is not tolerant.  God does not say, "Well, I know you're gay, and I know you have killed a couple of people, but that's OK, don't worry about it."  God says to love the sinner but hate the sin.  We are not to condone wrong behavior.  We ARE to love the people, and pray for the people, and encourage the people to do what's right.  There is a difference between judging someone for their actions and encouraging them to do the right thing. Sin is sin in God's eyes.  None is greater than the other.  Liars are in the same boat with murderers.  We, as humans have made different levels of what we consider to be OK, or worse.  Child molesters are the bottom of the list.  But in God's eyes, it's all the same.  Our minds are not capable of thinking like God.
As for Phil Robertson, thank the Lord that someone in a position of stardom has the guts to speak his mind and stand up for what is right.  I agree with Phil.  Not because he is Phil Robertson, but because the Bible says it.  We are instructed to believe the Bible from cover to cover, not taking anything away, or adding anything to it.  His heart is in exactly the right place.  I feel that God is using him to accomplish what many lesser known people have been trying to do for many years.  He doesn't "look" like an evangelist, but he is certainly being used to spread the Word of God.  And, as foretold in the Bible, persecution will come to those who stand up for God.  I believe there are many more Christians than there are people who support gay rights.  We have been silent far too long.  We have not wanted to appear as a "radical" to match the loud, crazy people asking for gay rights.  But it is time to stand up and shout what we believe.
I am amazed at what is on TV.  It's ok to show children being disrespectful to their parents, boobs, sex scenes, bad language, and a host of other things, but it is not OK to state your personal beliefs?  Really?  Our nation is one of the most blessed in the world.  Because it was founded on Christian principles.  Because our forefathers knew when the hand of God protects you, nothing can harm you.  Well, we have slowly asked God to get out of our lives.  No prayer in schools.  No pledge of allegiance to the flag.  No Ten Commandments.  No Bibles.  The gay rights movement is just one more thing our country is flaunting in God's face.  He will not be tolerant of it.  For all the people who want "peace" and to "get along with each other", that will not come without God.  God is a God of second chances.  Our country could once again be great if our people would repent of their sins and ask for God's forgiveness and help.  Will it happen?  Who knows.
In the meantime, thank you Phil Robertson for standing up for what you believe, no matter the cost.  We pray God's blessings on you and your family.

Merry "Holiday"?????

I am offended by those who wish to say Happy Holidays and not Merry Christmas!  What do you think this holiday is about?  Where do you think it came from?  Why do we have to worry about offending a very few people?  I am sure I have unintentionally offended many people throughout my life.  And by the same token, many have offended me.  But I didn't make a big hooplah about it.  I went on about my way.  If you are offended because I say Merry Christmas, get over it.  Don't say it back to me.  My right to say it is just as important as your right to not want to hear it.  If it weren't for "Christmas", there would be no "Happy Holidays".  Gripes me to hear that entire stores have changed their policy on this. 

I am fed up!

I know I will never get the opportunity, but would love the chance to ask some candid questions of our president and congress members.
Like, what exactly do you do with all the taxpayers' money?  How much money is spent for nonsense, like studying the amount of water that flows out of a spring, or how fast ketchup runs?  How much do we send to other countries for aid?  and why?  Do you know that there are many Americans who are unemployed, homeless and hungry?  If you are going to flitter money away, why not do it here at home?  And where do you get off telling me I must buy health insurance?  And why does the president never say "in God we trust", or "one nation, under God"?  Our country was founded upon Christian principles.  Our forefathers knew that we should live by God's rules.  Because they knew that, our nation is among the  most blessed in the world.  But sadly, we are giving that up little by little. 
I feel like everything out of the president's mouth during campaigning and after being elected was a big fat lie.  There are news clips of him saying one thing and beside it, a few years later him saying the opposite.  We do not want a wishy-washy leader.  We want one who stands his ground and does what is right and good for the American people.  We want a leader who above all else is a patriot.  One with morals and a conscience.  One who loves his wife with all his heart.  One who seeks God's will at every decision.A leader who is not swayed by hard, cold cash.  Is that too much to ask?  I know there are those who didn't care for Ronald Reagan or the Bush's, but by God, at least they were Americans at heart.  They sincerely cared about our country.  I guarantee you if Reagan was in office when the 911 bombing happened, there would no longer have been many countries left over there.  We should have told Afghanistan they had 3 days to produce the responsible parties or we would blow their country off the map.  We should have acted swiftly and decisively.  The Bible says it is not good to have war, but if you must, go to conquer and end it.  I don't understand why we drug that out for months and months. 
And why is it we are afraid of infringing on the Muslims' rights or freedoms?  A true Muslim believes that if you are not a Muslim, you are an infidel and must be killed.  That's the long and short of it.  By golly, if you want to live in our country, more power to you, but you will work and pay taxes just like the rest of us, and if you say or do anything anti-American, you need to be punished, or sent back to your home country.  If you want to carry your koran, great.  But if you try to kill an American for that religion, you should be put to death. 
And why do we spend tax dollars housing violent criminals for years and years and allowing them appeal after appeal?  I realize there are those who think death is too good for some and they want them to suffer, but prison isn't like the chain gang anymore.  I think if you committed a violent crime and there are witnesses to it, and there is no doubt about your guilt, you should be put to death right after your speedy trial.  That would eliminate crowded prisons.  And it would be a great deterrent to those who know that the worst they will get is living in prison. 
I feel like our country is full of people just like me - average citizens.  Average people who work hard while watching those who do nothing be rewarded for it.  If you are going to require us to pay taxes, at least be somewhat frugal with our money, and at the very least, be accountable to us. We elected you - to represent us.  So far, that's not really happening.  And why do you get life-long benefits for serving an elected office for a few years?  When your term is up, it's up.  Go back to whatever you did before.  Get a job.  Pay some taxes.  Buy your own health insurance.  And if we elected you, and you are not representing your district, we should have the right to oust you.  If both congress and the president looked at their positions as an elected job, as a person "hired' by the people, things would be different.  They would try to do a good job.  And why don't we vote with actual votes?  I know electoral votes were instituted because it would have been impossible to tally votes in a timely manner. That is not the case today.  When American Idol can tell you they had 12,000,000 votes last night, I feel we could count everyone's vote in a matter of a few days.  And THAT would be truly representing the people of the United States.
Arrgh!  Just so disgusted with every aspect of our government right now.

Obamacare - For the Good of the People...Really?

I haven't finished my research into what Obamacare will actually entail, but of course, neither did congress when they voted for it.  The best I can figure is that I still won't have healthcare coverage.  I have always fallen in the "gap".  Made too much to qualify for any type of assistance, but not enough to go out and purchase my own health insurance.  Therefore, we only go to the doctor when it is a dire need.  And on the few occasions we have had to visit the hospital, we made monthly payments until it was paid in full.  Last time I was at the doctor, it had been a long time since my last visit, and the receptionist said, "You really need to come more often for checkups."  I said, "I don't have insurance.  I can't afford to just come when there is nothing wrong."  She sneered at me.  What the heck?  I work.  I have always worked. I pay my taxes.  I don't take vacations or have fancy stuff.  Is there something wrong with that?  Why am I being punished for muddling along through life doing the right thing?  I guess my big question to congress and the president is, Do you really think I LIKE not having healthcare coverage?  Do you think I LIKE wondering what that ache or pain is and knowing I can't go have it checked out?  Do you think I LIKE knowing that one medical disaster would ruin me financially for the rest of my life?  NO NO NO NO!  I hate it.  My parents were paying $1500.00 per month before they went on Medicare.  There's no way we can afford that.  My son actually came up with a super-duper plan.  We will create a healthcare insurance company with a $5,000,000 deductible.  It will cost $10.00 per month.  That way, you are in fact insured, so you won't be subject to the tax penalty for not having health insurance.  The penalty is ridiculous.  I keep telling people, "They can't do this.  They can't meddle in our business like this.  They can't force us to buy insurance."  But it's happening.  I feel like collectively there are enough people who disagree with this nonsense, that if we pulled together and vowed not to pay taxes for a year, it would yank the chain of those higher up.  Of course, everyone is afraid to do that.  I am ready to put my money in a coffee can in the back yard.  Our government was not created to administer health care. It can't handle it, as seen by the website malfunction.  I am so mad about this, but feel so totally helpless.  I believe this is just a step further toward government control of every aspect of our lives.  Someone in a position of power HAS to stop this.  All the speeches and promises made by our president were total lies.  Sadly, I think he is just a puppet for others wishing to control our nation.  He doesn't even look honest.  And he doesn't know his stuff.  And he hasn't been in politics long enough to have the wisdom and knowledge he claims to have.  Is he even a US citizen?  I don't know.  I just hope when his term ends, we get someone in there with just a little common sense, and just a little empathy for regular people.  So frustrated!

Racism - Who Is the Minority Here?

I saw a post on facebook by a mother who lives in a military area, and said her daughter came home from school telling that some kids were calling her a "white cracker".  Of course, nothing was said to the name callers.  I feel like if it had been the other way around, and her daughter had used the "n" word, she would have gotten in trouble for it.  A comment on her post stated that white people were never an oppressed race, so no name-calling would make them feel bad. I believe the days of an "oppressed race" have long passed.  If you are black, white, asian, indian, or whatever, and you were born in the United States, you are an American.  NOT an African-American, or Asian-American, or Iranian-American.  The racial slur debate I usually only notice is between black and white.  Or at least it is where I live.  I am white, and I have never had a slave, or known a slave.  My parents didn't have any slaves.  My grandparents didn't have any slaves.  Martin Luther King fought for civil rights, and that is a good thing.  Equality was his wish.  That was achieved a long time ago.  Now that equality has turned into some kind of special privilege.  There is a United Negro College  Association.  If I wanted to make a United White People College Association, there would be a huge uproar.  If you are black, you have never been a slave, and your parents weren't slaves and more than likely your grandparents weren't either.  So be equal.  Don't be a gang member. Pull up your pants.  Be a regular person.  Don't be part of the prison population.  Go to school.  Get a job.  Whatever - just be equal.  If you are white, don't be a gang member.  Pull up your pants. Go to school. Get a job. There are very few 60-year old gangsta's wearing their pants at the bottom of their butt.  That's because eventually, you realize that those things don't improve your earnings, or give you a better life, or make you more popular.
It always irritates me that the news media always has some story about a guy being fired because he was black.  What if it was just because he was a lousy worker?  Color shouldn't make a difference, but it always seems to.  And it seems to me like black people are always claiming their race as the reason for everything - why they got arrested, why they got fired, etc.  And if someone calls you a name, so what?  Not all people are nice.  Sometimes people of all races call names and make fun of others.  Is it right?  No, but not everyone does what is right.  Get over it.  Does someone making fun of you or slamming your race ruin your life?  It shouldn't.  If I don't like what someone has to say, I will probably choose not to hang around with them.  If someone I don't know calls me a name, I will probably ignore it.  It merely shows their insecurities and stupidity. I don't need to sue them or have them arrested for a hate crime.  

Yet Another Sensless School Shooting

How sad - another student shooting people at school - middle school, no less.  This child wasn't even old enough to fully understand the far-reaching effects his actions will have.  I want to run out and shout, "Wake Up Parents! Wake Up!"  If you don't love your children and teach your children, this is what they become.  I don't care what anyone says, kids who feel loved by their families don't do this sort of thing.  I feel the major thing our kids today are lacking in (other than discipline) is empathy.  Knowing how your actions can make someone else feel.  Haven't we all said something mean to another person and then seen how awful it makes them feel, and in turn, how awful it makes us feel, even if they were deserving?  And the government has stepped in and taken discipline away from the adults - first from the schools and also from the parents.  There is a definite difference between a spanking and a beating.  Beating and abuse is wrong, no matter how you look at it.  But spankings are biblical!  Even God says, "Spare the rod, spoil the child."  Children need to be taught from a very early age that their actions have consequences, and that they should respect adults.  Don't have to like them, but do have to show respect.  I see kids today hit, kick and spit and curse at their parents, and the parents stand there like deer in the headlights doing nothing.  That was never an option at my house as a child, and at my house as a parent.
I also think this thing about everybody being a winner and getting a trophy for whatever activity they are doing is a bunch of nonsense.  Healthy competition is a part of life.  In the real world, you don't always win, or get that promotion or raise.  Sometimes you lose.  Sometimes it's your fault, sometimes not.  No one promised life would be "fair" for everyone.  Some people have it all - some don't have enough.  That's just life.  Kids need to learn at an early age that you don't get everything you want, and sometimes you don't even get what you need.  It isn't always someone else's fault.  Sometimes there is no one to blame.  Sometimes you ARE the only one not invited to a part - but it's OK.  Life goes on.  We have to teach our children to take the good with the bad and not obsess over everything.  Some days, I don't feel like getting out of bed, but I do because, well, you just have to.  Maybe if we taught our kids to count their blessings instead of their gripes, they would feel better.  Maybe if we let them be children they would be better adjusted.  Make mud pies. Hit some rocks with a stick.  Build a fort.  All these "old-fashioned" things taught us to entertain ourselves, to be creative and to just enjoy our time as kids.  Of course things weren't fair sometimes and there was always something we wanted but couldn't have.  That's life. 
I don't even think I knew it was possible to shoot another person when I was 12, and I am sure I didn't know what suicide was.  This child that did the middle school shooting must have been very disturbed.  We never even considered something like that because the teachers would have given us a spanking, and we would have gotten another when we got home.  There were "thugs" in my day, and they were ornery and did some unsavory things, but they still had respect for adults.  They wouldn't have shot the older man who questioned what they were doing - they would have run away and hoped he didn't know who their father was.
It is just sickening what goes on in this world today.  And the news media plays it up big.  I think the publicity opens the door for other disgruntled kids to contemplate that as an option.  So, so sad,

Let's plead insanity

So I heard on the news that the movie theater shooter is expected to plead insanity. DUH!! Of course he's insane. People don't just shoot random people when there's nothing wrong with them. But he was sane enough to get a gun, load that gun, sneak into the theater unnoticed and operate that gun. I am not sure what defines an insanity plea, but I don't believe that fellow is entitled to use it. If you commit a violent crime and there are witnesses who saw you do it, and there is no doubt you did it, you should have that speedy trial and be hanged the following day. Publicly. I don't work so my tax dollars can pay to house people like him. I don't care if he has three meals a day, or gets outside time or TV time - he gave up his civil rights when he committed that crime. Our justice system is totally screwed up!