Bible Thumper’s Needed

One popular muddled thinking nightly news pundit has taken to blaming “Bible Thumpers”, those who call sin sin, for our growing cultural degeneracy. According to him, all could be solved if those Thumper’s kept quiet or used logical political arguments, particularly his.

His arguments might be both logical and right, but to stop our plunge into cultural degeneracy, moral restoration and change of heart must come first. It always has and it always will.


Where are those Bible Thumpers we are warned against? Those in the pulpit, political arena, or public square who are willing to call sin sin—to call individuals and a nation to repentance. Where are today’s soldiers of the faith?

“To win any war, the three most necessary things to know are: (1) that you are at war. (2) who your enemy is. (3) what weapons or strategies can defeat him.” ____ Dr. Peter Kreeft

The Church, individually or collectively, must not withdraw into cultural isolation. America needs moral restoration. That will require more than 45 minutes of Christian diversion every Sunday or going through life waving peace banners and singing “Kum ba yah.”

Our battle is against powers of darkness and evil spiritual forces who do not fear defeat by logical political arguments.

The spirit of darkness over our public institutions grows stronger each day as does the cost to those who stand against those same forces. We are becoming a nation of self centered individuals who lack a moral compass, individuals with spiritually deaf ears. Logical political arguments will not change their destructive behavior.


Will moral decline cause America’s fall as it did the greatest empire the world had ever known, the Roman Empire? Is it too late? No. But it will not be easy. We can take heart from the spiritual resurrection of a far worse morally corrupt England of 1700' into early1800's. But we are on an accelerating pace to get there.

The Proclamation For the Encouragement of Piety and Virtue

Moral restoration and change of heart must come first to America as it did to England. William Wilberforce knew to politically suppress and eventually end the slave trade, Britain’s morals needed to be reformed first. No easy matter.

On a Sunday in October 1787, William Wilberforce wrote in his diary: ‘God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the Slave Trade and the Reformation of Manners’, the reform of Britain’s morals.

In Wilberforce’s England of 1700' into early1800's the wealthy and noble class wallowed in extreme decadence, the poor in bestial debauchery. Both wealthy and poor embraced daily drunkenness. Parliament became a house of incredible intoxication, the poor wallowed in gin and brutal debauchery.


Stealing got one hanged. Murders were publicly dissected. Publically burning women alive stopped in 1776. They hung the woman first.

Public hangings continued into the mid1800s as did public displays of the most repulsive acts of animal cruelty, including Bull Baiting. Tied to an iron stake— to amuse both young and old—specially bred bull dogs tore the bull to shreds. In1835, England outlawed Bull Baiting, not due to animal cruelty, it had become a public nuisance.

Fellow Bible Thumper’s William Wilberforce and Bishop Porteous solicited King George III for a Royal Proclamation such as earlier sovereigns used in times of moral crisis.
King George III issued his Royal Proclamation For the Encouragement of Piety and Virtue, and for the Preventing and Punishing of Vice, Profaneness and Immorality on June1, 1787.

The Act of Parliament for Abolition of trading in humans finally received Royal Assent and became law on March 25, 1807. The abolition of trading in human beings the first step toward Wilberforce’s ultimate goal to outlaw slavery itself. The final objective attained in1833. By then Wilberforce had been retired from Westminster politics for eight years. He lived long enough to see the Bill for the Abolition of Slavery passed. Then died two days later.

In the battle against slavery William Wilberforce understood the fight was both political and moral. America desperately needs men and women in both arenas who understand that, and stand with the Church not against it.

Our nation is suffering a moral sickness. Healing will only come by prayer, repentance, and our loving God’s mercy.

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Be Informed Be Involved ___ Michael E. Odell

After Election Blues?

After election blues? Feeling defeated?

"...until Christians really practice their faith, study the issues and vote based upon faith instead of secular values, we are in danger of subjugation to the same practitioners of tolerance that we have seen in Cambodia, Spain in the 1930's, Russia and China in the first half of the 20th century, and France in the 1780's." ____ Robert Herness

Been watching the news and feeling a little defeated lately? Don’t be. Ours is still a great Nation. But, can we keep it? Changing political parties can’t do it. Marching and rioting in the street won’t do it. Looking to false messiahs and ignoring our growing financial and moral problems make it worse.

For good or bad, our Nation is the sum total of each individual’s behavior. Unfortunately many Americans not only tolerate today’s popular sins, but shamelessly embrace them. Willing victims of those who seek to prove sin is normal and acceptable. Nowhere is it more apparent than in the area of sexual perversion and so called "Gay Marriage."

There is nothing gay about political leaders and news media championing the sin of homosexuality—or any sin. Well-known church leaders who go on national TV and are reluctant to call sin sin, shame the Body of Christ in particular and nourish the secular public’s moral corruption in general.

"The drive for same sex marriage is not simply about same sex marriage or the moral legitimization of homosexual behavior; it is also about the de-legitimizing of Christian morality. But the Christian moral system is no minor part of Christianity, any more than the heart or lungs are minor parts of the human body. Overthrow the Christian moral system and you will have overthrown Christianity itself. Therefore, those who are pushing for the institution of same sex marriage are ipso facto pushing for the elimination of the Christian religion." ____ David R. Carlin, Jr., sociologist and author

As a nation, we have excluded God from our homes, from our schools, from our public and private institutions. Those actions have consequences. And now we suffer a self induced judgement.

Since adopting the secular values of "go ahead you deserve it" a majority of our governing bodies: city, state, federal, along with many individuals are basically financially bankrupt. "If it feels good do it" values of secular morality have given us a high divorce rate, shattered families, millions of abortions, growing drug and alcohol abuse, and a sexually transmitted disease pandemic.

The seeds of secular morality have produced a growing crop of fear, despair, loss of hope, and anger. Although overall U.S. crime has trended down 20 percent, violent crimes have increased 25 percent. Like a fourteenth century plague, the spirit of anger now spreads across our nation and the world.

All and all, not encouraging. Is there no hope for our children, grandchildren, for us? How does America get back on the right path? Whom shall we follow? Where are we to put our trust? Who shall rule in our lives? Who will be king?

"Jesus, as Lord and King of the Universe calls us to the realization that He should have absolute dominion over our lives. He should be Lord of our physical, emotional and spiritual being.
"...He should be the Lord of our family, friends and relationships. He should be the Lord of our learning and education, our recreation and reading, our Face book page and Internet use. He should be the King of our Sunday, we coming into His presence, gathering at His throne. He should also be the King of our Mondays through Saturdays as well." ___ Father Jim Lee, St. Michael’s Parish, Olympia, Washington

We can reverse the path of destruction we are on. That is the good news. It is up to us. As Christians we need to practice our faith, to publically acknowledge there is right and wrong, good and evil. Politically we must study issues and candidates. Educate others. Vote our faith-based values not secular values.

America needs men and women with strong Judeo-Christian convictions and the intestinal fortitude to stand up and speak out for those convictions. But never in anger nor resentment. It is our heart condition that is important. It is our attitude toward one another as well as those holding positions of authority. Not everyone, however, may be in a position nor be called to be active in the public arena. But we are all called to pray, to be an example.

With all the 24 hours a day distractions in today’s world our Christian faith and daily life can become two separate things. Church and worship on Sunday, the rest of the week our mind can become preoccupied as though God doesn't exist. It does not have to be. That too is the good news.

We need to develop an ongoing awareness of our Lord’s presence. To come to God each morning and ask for His encouragement and direction. Then heed St. Paul’s call in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to pray without ceasing. We don't need to drop to our knees or close our eyes. It can involve a formal prayer or quiet meditation as brief as a few seconds, but consistently throughout the day.

Secular values did not get America through an agonizing civil war. Secular values did not give hope to struggling families during economic depressions and financial panics. Secular values did not sustain earlier Americans through death dealing epidemics and two major world wars. Prayer, Christian values, and spiritual strength did. And it will again. It is, however, up to us.

"The potency of prayer hath subdued the strength of fire; it hath bridled the rage of lions, hushed anarchy to rest, extinguished wars, appeased the elements, expelled demons, burst the chains of death, expanded the gates of heaven, assuaged diseases, repelled frauds, rescued cities from destruction, stayed the sun in its course, and arrested the progress of the thunderbolt." ___ St.John Chrysostom (347-407), Archbishop of Constantinople

___ Michael E. Odell

Let’s Legalize Drugs

Let’s Legalize Drugs and Baby Steps

The only ones previously advocating illicit drug legalization were pseudo-intellectuals seeking attention at university cocktail parties. That was a decade ago. But, a baby step.

Legalizing abortion only in rare circumstances started with heart breaking stories. Today, abortion-on-demand with some states allowing late term abortions—killing the baby as it is being born. Attention seeking pseudo-intellectuals now claim a newborn is not really human until age of two years. “Baby Steps”

Death with Dignity in only in rare circumstances started with many heart-rendering stories of people moved by compassion for loved ones. Today, government sanctioned suicide. “Baby Steps”

Basing human worth on materialistic value, the relative ethics of secularism are rapidly replacing the moral absolutes of Judeo-Christian values—that life is worth living and human life has value.

The homosexual movement started by asking for fair treatment under the law. Today, homosexual activists demand special treatment, and that society embrace their sin. And those opposing their sins be legally prevented and publicly maligned. “Baby Steps”

Let’s Legalize Drugs—More “Baby Steps”

First step, Marijuana legalization for medical purposes, a proven Trojan Horse. We even have some Christian and conservative leaders joining in the call for the legalization of marijuana. Political leaders call for surrender. The drug war is too expensive. Their battle cry “Lets legalize and tax illicit drugs like any other product or commodity.” “Baby Steps”

Drugs are not the problem. The fact so many Americans' demand drugs is. Drug demand is not caused by a virus, but by a moral disorder festering in the soul of our nation. Legalizing illicit drugs will increase the problem.

Legalizing drug addiction removes the incentive to stop. All the physical, psychological, and family problems connected with drug addiction remain. We need to stop drug abuse, not increase drug use.

Proponents believe drug related crimes will all-but disappear with drug legalization. They believe if drugs of the addict’s choice are supplied and without question, it would replace the need to steal. Drug addicts, however, unable to work need to steal to pay for their nondrug needs. Many drug addicts are already thieves—stealing to support an easy lifestyle. Addicts will still burglarize your home and mug your grandmother.

Teenage and pre teenage habitual drug users or first time experimenters would need to receive drugs of their choice—including meth or crack cocaine—available without parental consent, further eroding parental authority. If not, back to purchasing drugs from the corner dealer.

Who Will Take Moral and Legal Responsibility?

Will drug addiction become another legally protected "lifestyle" with insurance companies and employers not allowed to discriminate against drug-impaired employees?

Who will insure the increased number of drug impaired drivers? Will politicians force private insurance companies to provide insurance or call for government provided insurance?
Who will be responsible for the families of those who die of a drug overdose? Increased drug use means increased cost to care for adults who no longer are able or desire to care for themselves. The care for the children of drug impaired parents will increase with increase drug abuse as will the need to provide long-term care for the physical and emotionally impaired newborn children of drug-addicted mothers. The further cost in dollars and human tragedy will far exceed any tax colleted.

We will certainly see an escalation of drug-addicted immigrants from countries who do not embrace drug use. Further increasing legal, financial, and moral problems.
The unanswered questions are endless. One question we already know the answer, the question of who will pay the bill—the taxpayer.

Who Uses Drugs and Why

Drug abuse in America is already an epidemic. Like any epidemic we must take steps to restrict its spread—to quarantine abusers and dealers. Continue trying to contain illicit drug production and distribution. We must do what we can for the drug afflicted, even if traditional treatment programs have had only minimal success.
Up to the 1950s, drug abuse in America was minimal. Today, the rich and successful, the middle-class, those living in impoverished rural areas and inner-city ghettoes, all classes abuse drugs. They risk their life, health, and future prospects. Why?

Drug Demand Falls Into Three Categories

First: Those unable to face the immediate day to day problems. They see current problems so trying they cannot be faced without drugs. They can't take it. People unable to cope with daily problems range from ghetto teenagers to Wall Street brokers. These people demand drugs.
Secondly: Those who believe their future holds no hope for a successful and prosperous life—they believe life is not worth living. These people demand drugs.
Third: This group is present oriented. They live in the now. They make irrational decisions based on impulse. Many are victims of the “If it feels good do it” now-generation. These people demand drugs.

These are the three groups who demand drugs:
1. Those who can't cope with day to day problems.
2. Those who believe life holds no future for them.
3. Those who are present oriented; the impulsive do it now.

Legalizing drugs will not decrease drug demand and all the costs in dollars and human tragedy that go with it. Spiritual renewal and a return to Judeo-Christian values will.

People with hope believe in the future. They have the courage to meet their daily problems. They have faith in a God who takes a hand in their daily lives. People with hope have neither the need nor the desire for drugs.

Be Informed Be Involved  ____ Michael E. Odell

"Nothing in this world but God ……can fill our heart or fully satisfy our desires. A fire cannot be put out with brushwood and oil, because only water will put it out. In exactly the same way, the desires of the human heart cannot be satisfied with the goods of this world, because only the Grace of God can quench the thirst of our desires.” ___St. Innocent of Alaska, 1797-1879

Pass the Salt Please

Americans are experiencing the use of envy, anger, financial fears, and bigotry against Judeo-Christian values and beliefs not seen since the 1930s. Putting us on the brink of suffering the same world-wide tragic results of that decade.

Yet, the White House to city governments across our country are obsessed with what we eat—or are not to eat, including salt. Well, what we need is more salt.

"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."____ Matthew 5:13

The 1920's was called Americas’ Golden Age of Prosperity, also an age of America’s turning from Judeo/Christian values. It needed salt.

Prosperity ended with the 1929 crash—so did political moderation. To get votes, politicians preached envy and greed. Others preached racial hate, religious bigotry, and extremism. Seeking votes and power, all feasted on and helped feed the growing number of angry and frightened Americans. Home-grown fascists, communists, and other anarchist malcontents took to the streets and shouted for a violent socialist revolution.

Roosevelt’s financial interventionist policy and bigger government turned Hoover’s frightening recession into Roosevelt’s disastrous1930's depression—a social and financial affliction persisting for eight years. Unemployment in 1931 continued to climb, reaching 20% in1939. Our National debt more than doubled. And like today, divorce, suicide, venereal disease, drug and alcohol abuse, all reached epidemic proportions. America needed more salt.

In Europe and Asia, economic chaos altered political thought and national borders. The world changed. Religious freedom was extinguished. Socialistic systems replaced church and family with the dehumanizing state. Eastern Europe came under Soviet terror and despair. Military costs and Communism’s economic failure drove the Soviet Union into moral and financial bankruptcy. In Germany, the humiliation of losing World War l, the ravages of postwar inflation, moral collapse, turning to Adolph Hitler as savior, all resulted in National Socialism and a second world war.

Darwin's theory of evolution and survival of the fittest undergirded the Marxist concept of class warfare and Hitler’s anti-Semitism with its "Final Solution." At the same time, Japan's economic needs and a belief in racial destiny fed the expansionist policies of Japan's military establishment. World War ll and the Pacific clash led to Japan’s military defeat and their eventual economic invasion of America.

"Politics may shape economics in the short run, but economics will shape politics in the long run." In the 1930's—like today—political opportunists offered up scapegoats and share-the-wealth government programs. Those who lost faith in our inherited Judeo-Christian beliefs and values willingly turned to the collectivist state for answers and security. Many middle-Americans, however, returned to Church and traditional Judeo-Christian values. They depended on God to supply their material needs and spiritual strength. Salt had been added. America survived the aftermath of World War One, the 1930's depression, and World War Two far better than the rest of the world. Not because we are smarter nor more deserving, because of our faith—salt.

"I want my way or else."

Today, political opportunists offer up scapegoats and share-the-wealth government programs. Know-Nothing 99 percenters, government workers led by union toughs, and other neo-Marxist and secular socialist malcontents angrily take to the streets demanding, "My way or else."

From our White House on down, envy, anger, financial fears, and Marxist concepts are used to get votes, power, and political control over every aspect of our life.

Hope, new ideas, hard work, and freedom to succeed created a free and prosperous America. True prosperity does not come from massive government spending and federal debt. Nor does true prosperity come from lowering everyone’s living standard by taking from the haves and dividing it amongst the have nots.

We must stop following secular Europe’s socialistic policies of ever more debt, bigger government, and massive government spending based on borrowing and/or creating fiat money—a sure road to chaos and destruction.

To turn from that road, America needs moral restoration—salt. This can only be accomplished through the prayers and stand-up actions of those rooted in Judeo-Christian truths. Unless we do so, we will continue to descend into the social and economic chaos and resulting authoritarianism of the 1930's—or worse.

Never in our history have we faced so many, in positions of such power and influence, who vigorously seek to abolish our political, financial, and religious freedom as we face today.

We have a choice to end the corrupting influence of self-indulgence and moral decay. To replace the spiritually bankrupts who rule our public and private institutions. To fill our judicial system, public institutions, corporate boardrooms, and legislative halls with those who understand the truth of moral absolutes. Or we can remain silent.

By influencing public opinion or being involved in the political process you can replace a judge, change a school director, or elect a legislator. Through prayer you can change a nation.

"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."____ Matthew 5:13

 

We are called to be the salt. To avoid being called "... good for nothing, cast out, and trodden under foot of men." will require more than casting a presidential vote every four years and an hour of Christian diversion every Sunday.

Be Informed Be Involved
　 ____ Michael E. Odell

Libertarian or Libertine Party?

I agree with 80 percent or more of their party platform. In question is their embracing individualistic secularism as the answer to our most devastating domestic problems.

In the late 1950's and early 1960's, many individualists who stood for limited government and embraced Judeo/Christian values and truth, often took the title libertarian. I being one. That changed following the Libertarian Party’s birth on December 11, 1971, and their increasingly championing individualistic secularism.

Too many post 1971 libertarians believe in the moral equivalency of an individual’s ‘conscientious consideration’. Knowingly or unknowingly they side with the Politically Correct Enforcers and Christianphobics, those who desire to force Judeo/Christian values out of both the public and private arena.

“As Libertarians, we seek a world of liberty; a world in which all individuals are sovereign over their own lives and no one is forced to sacrifice his or her values for the benefit of others.”
___ Preamble Libertarian Party 2010 Platform

It is a question of who is sovereign. Who is in charge of our values, our decisions, our actions?

We have three choices:
Numerous Americans now put their faith in government succor for life’s comforts. Doing so, they willingly accept the values, decisions, and actions of the hand that feeds them. The old saying is so true, “Whose bread you eat his song you shall sing.”

The Libertarian Party’s platform and others put their faith in the moral equivalency of each individual’s ‘conscientious consideration’—moral anarchy.

Others put their faith in a sovereign, loving, and caring God who takes a hand in their daily lives. Judeo/Christian values and truths built a free and prosperous America—including, an individual’s right to life, liberty, and property is God given.

“Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, we believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration.”____ Libertarian Party 2010 Platform

I suppose one lacking Judeo/Christian values can say the same thing about pedophiles, euthanasia, or bestiality—depending on their own ‘conscientious consideration’. Refusing to take a stand on abortion may be good for not antagonizing voters. It does nothing to protect the individual to-be-born’s right to life, liberty, and property.

“We favor the repeal of all laws creating ‘crimes’ without victims, such as the use of drugs for medicinal or recreational purposes.”____ Libertarian Party 2010 Platform

Except in the minds of pseudo-intellectuals seeking attention at university cocktail parties and the secular self indulgent, prostitution, alcohol abuse, and drug addiction are far from victimless.

Sexually transmitted diseases are epidemic. The Libertarian Party’s only idea to cure, control, or stop the STD epidemic is leave it to the individual’s ‘conscientious consideration’. If you think it’s right, go ahead and do it. How is it working for us?

Today, an estimated 10 million or more Americans each year contract a sexually transmitted disease. Futures ruined. Families destroyed. New born babies infected face potential mental and physical afflictions, even death. For others the results are fatal. Thousands are dying from AIDS. During AIDs first thirty years our Nation's health care cost escalated more than 2,600 percent—and costs to the taxpayer continue to mount. The result of the secular individual’s ‘conscientious consideration’ in choices of sexual gratification,

"Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie"
___ Rom. 1:24-25

The question, who is sovereign in your life? Who is in charge of determining your values, your desires, your actions?

Without any ideas on how to cure, control, or stop our nation’s drug epidemic, the Libertarian Party’s answer, leave it to the individual’s ‘conscientious consideration’. Legalize it.

A victimless crime? The cost in human misery uncountable. Mothers without husbands must raise their children alone. Children with drug-addicted parents struggle to survive. Thousands of babies addicted to meth, cocaine, or other drugs are born each day, many with lifelong mental and physical disabilities. Cost in human life from shooting-up or being shot-down equals an all-out war. Cost in medical and custodial care for the survivors continues to escalate. During coming decades, yearly costs to taxpayer to care for the drug afflicted will continue to increase.

Legalizing addiction will increase the problem—the demand for drugs. Legalizing drug addiction removes the incentive to stop. All the financial, physical, psychological, and family problems connected with drug addiction not only remain, they will escalate.

New and tougher anti-drug laws have not stopped the distribution of illegal drugs. Education programs have not. Traditional treatment programs have only minimal success in curing hard-core abusers. Anti-drug tactics are necessary and should continue. But drugs are not the problem, why a large number of American's use illegal drugs is.

People with hope believe in the future. They have faith in a God who takes a hand in their daily lives. They know they have the opportunity to live a successful and prosperous life. People with hope have no need nor desire for drugs. Drug addiction is a moral problem. It is a question of who is sovereign over the individual’s life? Who is in charge of values, desires, actions?

“A man's worst difficulties begin when he is able to do as he likes.” ___ T.H. Huxley

Only a nation and its people who choose a sovereign loving God to take a hand in their daily lives are truly free. Choose this day.

___ Michael E. Odell

COMMENTS: Your thoughts and comments are welcome. E-mail: odellmike@comcast.net

Tea Party Has It Backwards

Tea Party activists, Conservative Democrats, and Fiscal Republicans have it backwards.

Don’t talk about cutting government. It is not what should be cut from our federal budget. It is what should be left in to support our federal government’s constitutional functions—to protect the individual’s right to their life, liberty, and property. This means a strong military to protect the Americans abroad and to protect and secure our home borders from all external threats, and a judiciary to guarantee equal administration of law and contracts.

And why not government guaranteed food, housing, education, and healthcare for everyone? It did not work well for those living under Joseph Stalin. Stalin’s government controlled production and distribution of food, farming, housing, and healthcare. The result, death, starvation, and poverty for millions.

Past experience shows it does not work out well for those under any socialist system. Communism, Fascism, and all other forms of secular socialism go against the self interest of human nature. Force is needed, requiring a transfer of increasing power from the many to the few and ending in oligarchy. Certainly not a direction America should be going, but we are.

“President George Bush the younger sought to build a one world based on democracy at a cost in wealth and American life. The result, a President Obama oligarchy at a cost of the freedoms and financial blessing of America’s middle class.”

Greed and envy against our nation’s well off can not solve our financial difficulties. As history has proven, taking from the haves—using taxes or other forms of force—to give to the have nots will not solve the problem, only compound it.

“Forrest Gump’s momma’s ‘stupid is as stupid does’ simply means an intelligent person who does stupid things is still stupid.”

It is irrefutable, the more federal government gets into housing, education, and health care, the more it costs and the poorer a product it produces—and the bigger our national debt.

To balance our federal budget, where to start?

1st What should be left in? The federal government’s constitutional functions—to protect the individual’s right to their life, liberty, and property. A strong military to protect the safety of Americans abroad and secure our home borders from all external threats, and a judiciary to guarantee equal administration of law and contracts. All else left to individual states.

2nd then what?
1. Pay interest on federal debt instruments. Start paying down the debt. And, instead of raising the debt ceiling, start lowering it.

2. Insure military personnel health care and other promised costs are paid. Stop getting involved in no-win ongoing nation-building wars.

3. Honor past Social Security and Medicare entitlement obligations. Do not add to unfunded obligations. Raise Social Security age eligibilities. Start with those now 30 or 40 years of age. Give them private options as well.

We are at war. But, “ . . . we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places . . . ” Prayer is our most powerful weapon.

Our prayers can end the corrupting influence of self-indulgence and moral decay, replace spiritually bankrupts who rule our public and private institutions. And finally fill our judicial system, public institutions, corporate boardrooms, and legislative halls with those who understand and stand on the truth of moral absolutes.

“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” ___ G.K. Chesterton

It is not too late. Be Informed Be Involved ___ Michael E. Odell

COMMENTS:
Your thoughts and comments are welcome. E-mail: odellmike@comcast.net

No You Can’t

Yes I Can - I Expect The Best

When it comes to the daily challenges, negative news, political and financial chaos, most of us—at different times—may suffer some form of fear or self-doubt of not being good enough for whatever task the future may bring.

A fear and self-doubt often fed by those more than willing to criticize, to discourage, to tear down. They camp out with the why-you-can’ters the negative thinkers, those always willing to tell us why we can’t, why it can’t be done, how bad things are. They may even cause us to suffer uneasiness when things are going well.

It is difficult to maintain a positive view in today’s negative atmosphere. And what are our children and grandchildren hearing? “Blame America Firsters” dominate our halls of higher education. Politically correct sycophants dominate the media, and our elected leaders ensnared by the spirit of confusion.

Yet, if we continually look at the present negatively and fret about the future we become trapped in a cycle of non-productive worry and self-doubt. Worse yet, join the why-you-can’ters.

True, denying, ignoring, or trying to suppress our negative feelings or the magnitude of today’s problems will not solve anything. We can, however, stop mentally embracing our doubts and fears. Most of our personal fears about today and our doubts about tomorrow are not based on fact, but on our feelings.

Although it takes self-discipline, we can control what we say, what we think, and what we do. It means recognizing and changing negative actions and negative attitudes—dwelling on the what if this, what if that.

We may not be able to control what happens to us but we can control our reaction. I know, it is not easy. I realize some circumstance may be intolerable, even dangerous. If we can, we need to leave such a situation. Often, changing our attitude—how we look at things and how we act—will change our situation or how we perceive the situation. The most important thing we can do, pray we be changed in the situation, changed to the person our Creator would have us be.

For good or bad, our choices today help determine where we will be tomorrow. The choice is ours to choose how we think, how we speak, how we act. We need to be mindful of what we read and what we allow our eyes to watch and ears to hear. And, although far easier to say than do, resist worrying about those things we can do nothing about, and focus on those things we can.

“Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” _____ Charles Dickens

A wealthy, powerful, righteous, and generous America was not built by the share-the-wealthers, why-you-can’ters, and other negative thinkers. Our Nation was built by the positive-thinkers, the yes-I-canners.

We are a blend of choices we made. Yesterday’s choices helped determine where we are today. But that was yesterday. No sense wasting our time and energy thinking about, “What should have been.” Instead focus on, “What can be.” Raise every morning expecting God’s best. And teach our children and grandchildren to do same.

Be Informed Be Involved ___ Michael E. Odell

Write your Senators and Representative in Washington, D.C. Tell them: No to government sanctioned envy, greed, and sexual immorality. No to political correctness. Yes to supporting self discipline and personal responsibility.

You may follow this format:

Senator Donna Arrogant
Senate Office Building,
Washington, D.C., 20510
Senator Arrogant,

Rep. Bill Spender
House Office Building,
Washington, D.C., 20515
Congressman Spender,

COMMENTS: Your thoughts and comments are welcome.
E-mail: odellmike@comcast.net