I decided I don't have to vote for who I think can win back the white house. Today I will vote my conscience. Rick Santorum. There may be time to compromise values at a later time. But tonight, I will sleep. This is what my Face Book status is today. Then I starting thinking...what if? What if we all voted our conscience. What if our votes reflected our value system? What if we paid more attention to what and how they answer the questions on the issues that matter most to us? What if money, media, and popularity didn't enter into the mix? I know people that don't have an opinion on anything until they check in with ABC and FOX news. Really? We are going to trust the ultra left and ultra right? This fall I decided I need to start paying attention. I started rooting for Herman Cain. I liked the whole 9-9-9, tax plan. Well, we know how that worked out. Not the first time I had been disappointed with a man in power. But I still like a flat tax idea. So I kept looking...Michelle Bachman, I like her then she dropped out. My brother in-law had tried to reason with me about Ron Paul. Although I'm liking getting rid of many wasteful government programs, the military is not one of them. Do you remember 911? I do. I was listening to a podcast the other day where a retired general was the speaker, General Jerry Boykin. What I got from that is the danger of Islamic terrorism is not over. Side note, 80% of the non -Mexicans coming over our boarders, illegally in the south are from the middle east. I don't think we can afford to have the arrogance in the White House. I hope that whoever is sits in the oval office actually listens to military advisers, and the leaders of our troops. Pulling back, and becoming complacent will be an invitation to more violent acts against the United States. So the search continued. I then started hearing about Rick Santorum. He grew up in the mid west, and served in the house and senate for the state of Pennsylvania. He is Pro Life. I found that we had gone through a similar situation which we responded to the situation in the same way. I was pregnant with my last child at 35. The Dr. I was seeing at the time kept pushing for me to have an amniocentesis, because of my age. I kept saying no, they kept pushing. I found another Dr's office. I, like the Santorum's, didn't see how endangering my baby to see if he was 'perfect' would be of any benefit. The result wouldn't change our mind on having a child. Babies shouldn't be disposable. I had a healthy child, they didn't. He got a A+ from the NRA. Usually, if those two issues line with whom I can support, everything else works out.
It is human nature to want to be on the winning team. Sporting games are most watched when it's the Superbowl, World Series and the NBA finals. Even none sports fans stop and pay attention during these events. Church is most attended at Christmas and Easter. Team Jesus, is gonna win! Most of us know that. During elections, people, I have noticed will go out and vote for who ever they believe can beat the opposing party. Can you imagine if everyone voted for whom they really wanted and not who the media predicts ahead of time? I may pick up some fast food later today and have to settle on Coke instead of Pepsi, but today I am not gonna settle at the polls...Just Saying.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Friday, January 6, 2012
Beyond The Gate
Beyond The Gate
When I learned a while back that my friend Dan was writing a novel, I was elated. I have known Dan and his family for several years now. Our family had gone to a coffee house to hear a band from New York; a band named True Witness. The band was a family. Two brothers, the lead vocalist Tim and the bassist, Dan, married the two sisters Kim the flutist and Heather, on keyboards. Guitarist Tom, is married to Chris a procutionist, who is mother to the girls. The talent was amazazing, and the lyrics and message to the music was up beat and inspirational. After the concert, we spent some time getting to know them all and there was an instant connection. From that time on, anytime they came anywhere within a few hours of us on tour, we were there, and they would often stay with us for weekends. The adult children in the band started calling us Uncle Rick, and Aunt Kathy. That was cool, because we don't actually have a close relationship with our nieces or nephews that call us anything. They included us and our 2 youngest kids in a few promotional videos that were a blast to be part of. The True Witness family became our family. And we knew that it would happen, they got bigger and more well known all over the country, especially on the east coast. Opportunites poured in for them from all directions. This opened the doors for them to continue to spread their message in even more fantastic ways. They moved to the Atlanta Georgia area, and now we don't see them much at all. Our loss, is a Blessing to the south as they deeply touch everyone with whom they come into contact. We are thrilled with their journey and the part that we were able to watch up close.
So when I found out that Dan was writing a book, I could not wait. The book is called Beyond The Gate. The author is Daniel T. Adams. This book is not like the concerts they playout. It's not an up beat, Love Is Enough, polyanna view on life. It is a work of fiction that shows how hurts and fears take on a life of there own, if there is no healing power, from the Lord. It speaks to how circumstance and life, become who we are and how we handle what is handed to us affects us and those around us. There are parts woven into the novel that are very dark. The character development is so deep that I have never read anything like this before. Move over Stephen King and Ted Dekker. Clyde, the main character in the story had an unbelievably difficult childhood. And therefore lives his life in darkness. He is stunted and never expects his life to change. I think we all know people like this. In fact, I believe as you read this book, you will see parts of yourself or someone you know in every character. To say that I am not an intellectual is an understatement. I like word pictures, concepts to be spelled out in RED crayon. (When you read this story, you will get the pun.) Dan paints a picture so clear and so true of how our fears, drive us in our lives. And as important how we choose to react and live with ours fears affect others, innocent others. I know that I can not truly give this book the justice it deserves in anything that I write here. I am not going to give away plot, or the truth folded within, or the ending. I HIGHLY recommend this book. And no, even if you know me, you cannot borrow it...Justsaying. Get your own copy. For more information on how to order this book or the music of TW, visit: www.truewitness.com .
When I learned a while back that my friend Dan was writing a novel, I was elated. I have known Dan and his family for several years now. Our family had gone to a coffee house to hear a band from New York; a band named True Witness. The band was a family. Two brothers, the lead vocalist Tim and the bassist, Dan, married the two sisters Kim the flutist and Heather, on keyboards. Guitarist Tom, is married to Chris a procutionist, who is mother to the girls. The talent was amazazing, and the lyrics and message to the music was up beat and inspirational. After the concert, we spent some time getting to know them all and there was an instant connection. From that time on, anytime they came anywhere within a few hours of us on tour, we were there, and they would often stay with us for weekends. The adult children in the band started calling us Uncle Rick, and Aunt Kathy. That was cool, because we don't actually have a close relationship with our nieces or nephews that call us anything. They included us and our 2 youngest kids in a few promotional videos that were a blast to be part of. The True Witness family became our family. And we knew that it would happen, they got bigger and more well known all over the country, especially on the east coast. Opportunites poured in for them from all directions. This opened the doors for them to continue to spread their message in even more fantastic ways. They moved to the Atlanta Georgia area, and now we don't see them much at all. Our loss, is a Blessing to the south as they deeply touch everyone with whom they come into contact. We are thrilled with their journey and the part that we were able to watch up close.
So when I found out that Dan was writing a book, I could not wait. The book is called Beyond The Gate. The author is Daniel T. Adams. This book is not like the concerts they playout. It's not an up beat, Love Is Enough, polyanna view on life. It is a work of fiction that shows how hurts and fears take on a life of there own, if there is no healing power, from the Lord. It speaks to how circumstance and life, become who we are and how we handle what is handed to us affects us and those around us. There are parts woven into the novel that are very dark. The character development is so deep that I have never read anything like this before. Move over Stephen King and Ted Dekker. Clyde, the main character in the story had an unbelievably difficult childhood. And therefore lives his life in darkness. He is stunted and never expects his life to change. I think we all know people like this. In fact, I believe as you read this book, you will see parts of yourself or someone you know in every character. To say that I am not an intellectual is an understatement. I like word pictures, concepts to be spelled out in RED crayon. (When you read this story, you will get the pun.) Dan paints a picture so clear and so true of how our fears, drive us in our lives. And as important how we choose to react and live with ours fears affect others, innocent others. I know that I can not truly give this book the justice it deserves in anything that I write here. I am not going to give away plot, or the truth folded within, or the ending. I HIGHLY recommend this book. And no, even if you know me, you cannot borrow it...Justsaying. Get your own copy. For more information on how to order this book or the music of TW, visit: www.truewitness.com .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)