Absolutely Not

Absolutely not ... is any form of abortion okay for any certain reason.

Absolutely not... is extramarital affairs justified.

Absolutely not... is dishonesty acceptable, regardless of its size.

Absolutely not... is impurity satisfactory before a Pure and Holy God.

Absolutely not ... is everything permissable and beneficial.

Absolutely not ... is faithfulness impossible.

Absolutely not... is government worthy of entry into every part of our lives.

Absolutely not... shall we take the shed blood of others for granted as we throw away our freedom.

Absolutely not... will we be a people enjoying God's blessings if we misuse and blashpheme His name.

Absolutely not ... does our own happiness qualify for higher importance than anything else it affects.

Absolutely not... is our complaining and whining defend-able due to someone else's action (or lack thereof).

Absolutely not... is it okay for parents to fill the role primarily as friends and not principals in children's lives who train, discipline, mentor and love.

Absolutely not ... is it okay for us to deflect our individual responsibilities on someone else.

Absolutely not ... is it okay to disregard the consequences when contemplating a serious decision. And absolutely not is it okay to assume our decisions and actions do not affect others.

Absolutely not... is stealing acceptable because we are "worthy" in our own minds.

Absolutely not ... is truth relative.

Absolutely not... is it okay for instructors, professors and teachers to take advantage of their profession and not teach students how to be objective thinkers.

Absolutely not... shall we expect the blessings of Providence, Divine wisdom and help by His hand if we continue to mock, ignore and shun His guidelines.

We can do better than this, America. The journey to excellence as a nation and as individuals is not easy. But the place of true freedom, happiness and blessing starts with absolutes, absolutely defined by an un-compromising, forgiving and very good God.

Our Words are Backwards

"But I didn't actually mean what I said!!!"

What do your words mean?

Not only have I heard this general phrase too often, I am sure I've voiced it myself one too many times.

The general category of "words" has fascinated me for a long time. Things like what a name really means, that God created the world with words, that the root of their meaning has substance greater than our own perception, and that our words cause life and they cause death are examples of what has captured my attention. The coining of words is like art; their relationship like a dance; their rhythm like a bubbling brook. The author can pen them how they please, create images and understandings in powerful ways, and potentially influence with lasting impact.

Words are meant to mean something. The art of language was not designed  by God to be used to blaspheme His name, to curse one another with slander, complaints or disdain. They were designed to deliver truth.

But what happens if these tools have been completely morphed from their original intent and design? If they have little value among us anymore, can we fully appreciate and utilize them for the use they are meant to provide us in our own journey? If their poignancy is irrelevant both from our lips and to our ears, why do we even bother seeking wisdom, asking questions, or listening or speaking at all? If the thing you ask for means something only when you want it to do so, is it really operating in its intended use?

There are people in the world, even outside of our own American culture, who say what they mean and mean what they say. But if in our own personal lives, the value of words has been so diluted, how are we to be properly aware of the intention of these voices of danger?

My hope is that my words will be honoring to The Creator of The Word. If we are going to have the full quality of life God intended for us, and part of that includes appreciating His tool by valuing it appropriately, we must change our standards.

And please, fellow Americans, wake up. Pay attention to the words that are being used with the hope of destroying us before it's too late. May we utilize words intentionally and awaken to the intentional meanings from others. May we not be like the people laced through history who  had they only spoken up, had they only listened, had they only heeded the warning their destiny would have been a different story.

And may our words count for more than an depiction of debase humanity but instead, may they accurately reflect a honest, trustworthy, truth-loving and very good God.

An Old Poem Worth Sharing

IF.....by Rudyard Kipling

"IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

"If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

"If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

"If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!"

From Darkness Into Light

Did you know that light travels at over 186,000 miles per second? One of its definitions is something that makes things visible or affords illumination. And have you ever noticed what happens with darkness when you turn on the lamp, light the candle or the sun awakens? The darkness runs away and cannot stay. Its presence is only because of the absence of the light. 


Those in the conservative movement right now are overwhelmed with what feels like the crumbling of our nation. The list of grievances being performed by our own government and its leaders are too many to count. It seems the news highlights one negative story after another and some of them are beat to a pulp. To some the burden of the darkness is an ever growing weight.

Unspoken fears culminate around common threads: is it too late to preserve our freedom, dignity and virtue as a nation? Have we gone way too far, to never get back to how the founders framed our nation? And if it's not too late, what can we do to make sure something like this never happens again?

This post is to encourage you and hopefully put things in perspective as I think we are seeing fruit of our/your labors. I propose your consideration of three things.

For point one, we must always keep perspective.

The World English Dictionary defines "perspective" as a way of regarding situations, facts, etc, and judging their relative importance. We must be consistent students of history. We must reflect on scenarios we have faced and consider: have they happened before? How have leaders dealt with mega crossroads? How did they determine an answer for the conflict? What did they learn from it?

Accounts of history provide us context to the situation and scenarios we face, both as a red flag of what could be coming or perhaps an indicator of encouragement: If they lived through it, we can keep going in our effort too! 


And in our quest for perspective, we must be asking questions of the older generations. How silly of us to take an extensive and potentially dangerous trip, and not be prepared. If you decide to take a safari into the jungle and you've never even been outside your back yard before, don't you think it best to have an experienced tour guide instruct you? Someone aware of the dangerous pitfalls and beasts, or of the beautiful havens of safety? You could try tackling the wild and awesome jungle on your own  but don't be surprised if the lions eat you for lunch.

If the older generations experienced Nazi Germany, the Holocaust, the riots in LA, the adjustments of culture when God was ousted from the schools, the discovery of new lands, the persecution of different groups in our nation, the conflict of political parties, the descecration of our freedoms - and yet they survived, it seems best to me to ask them how they would have done things differently. Our trip through the jungle would be much more enjoyable and successful if we would only have asked the experienced tourist how to do things so our trip is as safe, secure and prosperous as possible.

I want to know from our Grandparents and parents era things like: What would you have done differently? What were the indicators of this conflict your nation experienced that you wish leaders had heeded? What is missing from our set up right now as a people that is causing us to lose our way? What is your advise to us? What was life like when you lived with the looming presence of this or that atrocity? And what do you wish someone had told you, when you were in our shoes? 

But of crucial importance right now is the question What is your wisdom for us in this hour of our culture so to save it as a beacon of truth and light for future generations?

Onto the point two. I think it imperative for us to recognize what has been in the darkness but has now been exposed. To consider this point benefits us for our own gratefulness, our acknowledgement of how God is answering our prayers, and our own alertness to how things are shifting. How childish of us if we keep praying, asking God for answers, to improve things, to appoint certain leaders, to expose different truths - without realizing he's already given us x, y, and z!! It's like being the needy and desperate child who keeps begging for a snack, never realizing it's right in front of them. They keep stomping and crying and wringing their hands, and begging - and their mom says "Honey, I have now put 5 snacks in front of you. What else can I do before you notice I am listening to you!!!"

Here, let's try it realtime. Consider these stories and tell me that God has NOT been answering prayers:

• Rod Blagojevich: he's gone to jail! Remember him? Oh the drama that caused a few years ago when it became exposed that he had been trying to sell President Obama's US Senate seat. He is one of many leaders whose "dirty laundry", including affairs, sexual addictions, distasteful business deals and more, are being exposed. And this is a very good thing. Some of our country's guilty leaders are being vetted and exposed for their lack of integrity.
• Terrorist attacks thwarted! The Heritage Foundation released a piece in September of 2011, in honor of the 10 year anniversary of our horrid 9/11 attack, discussing forty foiled attacks since that fateful day. But how many of these did you hear about in the media? How many knew what our heroes behind the scenes were accomplishing? How many of us knew and experienced God's Divine Protection because of the exposure of these plots?
• Fast and Furious: Facts being exposed. Everything has not been brought to justice yet but there is enough offensive smell to the situation that leaders are pushing to find the answers! This is good! There could be no notice at all! Our Attorney General, Eric Holder, thinks his department can gracefully dance through this "trial" but just because he can talk his way out of one scrutiny does not mean the conversation is over.
• President Obama says No to Christians but Yes to Muslims? Perhaps we never realized all the times, scenarios and situations that have indicated President Obama's religious allegiances. But thanks to this report by David Barton, we now see in full (or 'more' in full) where the President stands. (Note: It is critical that these facts are put in front of every person of faith in America, for their serious scrutiny before the November 2012 elections.)
• Ever heard of Peter Schweizer? He wrote Throw Them All Out, a book exposing insider trading among our government leaders in Washington DC. It was an "ouch" book for those who have been flying below the radar screen on how they play the financial game in DC, on our dime and time, to increase their own personal account. The result of this book? New legislation was put into play to start the process towards extinguishing this corruption. Read the report from Mr. Schweizer himself on the legislative efforts, the media outlets that have helped him, and the persecution he has experienced. Truth is exposing the darkness. 

I know there are more stories to record of leaders that are being exposed, disasters that are being thwarted, solutions that are being discovered and miracles that are manifesting in magnificent ways. I'm telling you, friends what is in the darkness is coming into the light!! 

We must take regular moments to say thank you to the news sources out there that are doing their job in the right way!! There are most definitely sources worthy of consideration. Never take one news source at it's full word but compare it to others to balance the perspective. Sites like CNS News or Family Research Council, Gary Bauer with American Values, Citizen Link, Christian Broadcast Network; or World Net Daily; The Blaze or GBTV; or the Drudge report are sources worth following.

My third and final point is this: we must continue to take action and proactively turn on the light! When the light (or truth) comes on the scene, the darkness has no choice but to be impacted by it. But the light does not always appear on its own. Oftentimes it needs "warriors" who will take initiative and light the candle, shine a light on what's hiding in the corner, ask the right questions to discover what is not being seen and be conduits that the light - or truth - can be conveyed through.

This hour in America is very discouraging at times. But we have only the choice of sitting down and giving up or continuing to do what we can to turn on the light, and expose the darkness. If light travels forward - into the darkness - at 186,000 miles per second that means the darkness disappears that quickly. And when the light comes onto the scene, everything changes.

I have recently discovered this poem that provides a whimsical yet roaring charge, and will serve as the end to this post. Do not grow weary my friend. Faith combined with action will accomplish many things.


Where There's a Will There's A Way


We have faith in old proverbs full surely,
For Wisdom has traced what they tell,
And Truth may be drawn up as purely
From them, as it may from "a well."
Let us question the thinkers and doers,
And hear what they honestly say;
And you'll find they believe, like bold wooers,
In "Where there's a will there's a way."

The hills have been high for man's mounting,
The woods have been dense for his axe,
The stars have been thick for his counting,
The sands have been wide for his tracks.
The sea has been deep for his diving,
The poles have been broad for his sway,
But bravely he's proved in his striving,
That "Where there's a will there's a way."

Have ye vices that ask a destroyer?
Or passions that need your control?
Let Reason become your employer,
And your body be ruled by your soul.
Fight on, though ye bleed in the trial,
Resist with all strength that ye may;
Ye may conquer Sin's host by denial;
For "Where there's a will there's a way."

Have ye Poverty's pinching to cope with?
Does Suffering weigh down your might?
Only call up a spirit to hope with,
And dawn may come out of the night.
Oh! much may be done by defying
The ghosts of Despair and Dismay;
And much may be gained by relying
On "Where there's a will there's' a way."

Should ye see afar off that worth winning,
Set out on the journey with trust;
And ne'er heed if your path at beginning
Should be among brambles and dust.
Though it is but by footsteps ye do it.
And hardships may hinder and stay,
Walk with faith, and be sure you'll get through it;
For "Where there's a will there's a way."
 - Eliza Cook

A Must Read: His Blatant Attack on Christianity

I think I may start posting certain pieces that are absolutely must reads. Of course there are always items that are interesting but there are key messages that are, from my opinion, truths that need to be acknowledged and shared among our networks.

I think this piece by David Barton with Wallbuilders is one of them. Please read and share. May this well documented piece cause angst to our spirits and minds as we acknowledge the truth of President Obama's blatant stands. But most importantly may it open the door for us to know God's heart for this President who is very much mis-led. May pieces like this be catalysts for convictions of our own heart: we must be faithful followers of God, stand for his truth, and pray for our leaders.

God's heart for people is more important than my bias or opinion. I was once in darkness, but now I'm in the light. But by the grace of God... go I.

Please wake up, Mr. President! Standing against God is not a good thing for our nation, or for you. 


Respectfully submitted,
Amy


WallBuilders - Issues and Articles - America’s Most Biblically-Hostile U. S. President

Amy's Items to Know (3.22.12)

A few prayer and conversation worthy items ... 



KILL ONE LIFE TO SAVE ANOTHER? And we laud this as development in the world of science?? I would rather use the word barbaric. Tell me what you think though.

Post-Abortion Baby Parts Now a Booming Business


MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THIS END OF LIFE CONFERENCE CALL - FLINT, MI: In case you're interested ... you might like to listen in on this teleconference call on April 24. This is a good time to make this point: we must know what the other side is doing, saying, teaching, pleading, planning and - well, you get my drift. Make sure you are tracking what is happening in your own local communities. Are there agendas afoot on the city council, in the teacher unions, on the road commission to do anything that goes against our core-principles as Americans, and as people committed to following God?

If you feel so led, this really could be a good call to listen in on. The beginning of life and the end of life, and all the days in between matter oh so much. Now we just need to ensure those that are making these decisions agree with us - and God! - on the dignity of life at all stages!


HIGHLIGHTING A HERO: Enter New York Congressman and Homeland Security Committee Chair Peter King. He has been raising awareness to Americans for months that there is danger afoot when it comes to Hezbollah and radical Islam. Word to the wise: PAY ATTENTION. Or don't blame him later when you find out he was right. This is a man with a backbone. And oh how America and America's families need more of them.


SUGGESTED RESOURCE FOR TODAY IS STAKELBECK ON TERROR! Please Meet Erick Stakelbeck! He offers a dynamic news program with CBN on radical Islam. Why should it be on your top 10 credible sources to pay attention to? Because the subject matter threatens  our freedom and safety as a people, a nation and the family of Almighty God. Pay attention - and pass it on.