"It's Not Over Yet!"

It's strange how much things can change within a week. Last week, I was composing a post that was full of optimism and hope. I had just been to a Cruz rally with my family and felt good about what the Indiana primary results would yield the next day. My heart was so full!

Needless to say, I was shocked, ashamed, and disappointed by the end of Tuesday evening. I guess the one consolation is, the counties I grew up in were both won by Cruz and the county that I currently reside in only went to trump by 1,100 votes. I was also proud of Fort Wayne (Allen county) that was won by Cruz. Maybe that's why I had so much faith in my beautiful conservative Indiana. I was raised in areas that were (and are) Christian and conservative. The people I knew/know were mainly against Trump, so I thought that things would go well. I figured the Indy and South Bend areas might be different, but I still thought that everything would work out.

The shock, anger, and sadness of the loss weighed heavily on the hearts of my family and I. The emotions were magnified when Cruz suspended his campaign so soon after the results were final. I don't know who cried more; me or the kids. Paige asked when we were moving to Canada, and Gianna bawled and said over and over again that she didn't want Trump and begged for Jesus to return within seconds to take her away. She also voiced something that was lingering in my own heart: "How will we ever stop abortion now? It will never end!" Though, as my good friend Cathie reminded me, we just have to keep saving them one by one. Even if legalized murder continues to go on, we have to keep caring and educating so that hearts and minds can be changed and people will choose life instead of of death.

The next morning, I kept thinking about King David in 2 Samuel 12:15-23. He fasted and prayed for his sick child until the child died. Then, he got up. He pulled himself together, cleaned himself up, ate, and carried on as normal. In my heart, I also felt that this was what I must do. I had fasted, prayed, and hoped for the best. During that time, I felt that God gave me the following words to prepare me for whatever was to come. Here is what I shared on Facebook that Tuesday afternoon before the results:

Fellow Hoosiers, PLEASE vote today! Your vote DOES matter because YOU matter. Your FAMILY matters. Your JOB matters. Your BELIEFS matter. ANYTHING and everything that matters to you WILL be affected (for good or for bad) depending on how you vote or if you neglect to vote at all. It's not only your right and honor to vote, but it is your duty as a patriot of this great land that we live in called "America"! I urge you, brothers and sisters, VOTE.....and vote WISELY! Do it for you, your family, and your children! Don't undervalue what your voice means just because you think you're only speaking for yourself (because you're not!). 

It's no secret for whom my votes were cast (‪‎Ted Cruz‬, ‪Jim Banks‬, ‪Marlin Stutzman‬). They got my vote because GOD gets my vote. I vote for the ones who follow His ways, not their own way. If we keep voting out of our own selfishness and ignorance, we will reap the fruit of it. We will continue to have a nation that is vulnerable to our enemies and be stripped of the right to protect ourselves when our right to bear arms is ripped away from us. We will also continue to see our taxes raised and wasted senselessly; and Planned Parenthood will still keep robbing us of our money as they continue to rob our nation of innocent human life to sell for profit. 

If evil continues to thrive, it's not because God allows it....it's because WE do! It isn't the will of God for us to hurt and suffer. He longs to heal us and give us life abundantly. However, how can He give it if we won't accept it? How can we receive it if we don't choose it? We all have free-will. Our choices determine whether we live in victory or defeat; live and thrive, or decay. It is imperative that we elect people that share our worldview because we are CHOOSING them to make crucial decisions on OUR behalf! YOU are picking who gets to sit in that congressional/senate seat, or oval office chair. Whose hand do you want signing important legislation? Whose mind do you want making life and death decisions? What kind of heart do you want deciding how to use and spend your hard earned money? It SHOULD be a person who is a servant of the Lord because He who serves the Lord knows how to best serve others and have your interest at heart over his own. He will govern with godly wisdom, common sense, and character. 

I'm pleading with you one last time......allow God to speak to your heart and give you the wisdom, discernment, and conviction to make the right choice! May God bless you and may ‪God bless America!

I asked myself (and I'm asking you, brothers and sisters): Is God still good, unfailing, and worthy of our praise? Yes, yes, yes....He is...and His love endures forever!!! It made me think of "Praise You in This Storm" by Casting Crowns and the old song "I Will Praise The Lord" by Ray Boltz. PEOPLE have failed, but God has not. In fact, in the midst of my stages of grief, God comforted me in an amazing way! I had not intended to listen to the radio on the way to work that morning, but it was already on when I started the car. The very first song that played for me was "It's Not Over Yet" by For King & Country. I had heard it countless times before (and had actually been feeling burned out on it). However, it was like I was listening to it for the first time because the words seemed to be so clear and profound:

They are inside your head
You got a voice that says
You won't get past this one
You won't win your freedom
It's like a constant war
And you want to settle that score
But you're bruised and beaten
And you feel defeated
This goes out to the heaviest heart
Oh, to everyone who's hit their limit
It's not over yet
It's not over ye-et
And even when you think you're finished
It's not over yet
It's not over ye-et
Keep on fighting
Out of the dark
Into the light
It's not over
Hope is rising
Never give in
Never give up
It's not over

Can I just say, "Wow!"?!! My heavy heart felt like it had hit its limit; fighting the good fight in this political war while being told by opposing forces in my head (and in the world) that there's no winning this one. There's no hope for freedom. The American ideals and "one nation under God" is gone. Yet, I am encouraged to "keep on fighting"! It's NOT over! "Out of the dark...into the light...it's not over....hope is rising....never give in...never give up...it's not over!"  

If there's anything we know about God, it's that He likes to show up and show off at the last minute, doesn't He? ;) Everyone thought it was over when Jesus died on the cross, and the disciples went back to their "normal" lives. But....what happened next?! That's why I feel that God was reminding me that this fight isn't over! Even Ted Cruz said that he was going to continue fighting. This whole thing could be a big strategic move (Reagan did this same thing). Or, it could just mean that he's still going to fight the good fight in the senate. Cruz or no Cruz, God is still God and He gets the last word no matter what does or doesn't happen with politics or all the drama in the world. He is with us....always!

As if this song weren't enough, there were four more songs that played right after the first one that spoke to my heart: 

"Blessings" by Laura Story 

"Tell Your Heart To Beat Again" by Danny Gokey 

"The River" by Jordan Feliz

"Press On" by Building 429

I have put these songs (as well as the other songs I mentioned) into a YouTube playlist so you can hear the music, see the lyrics, and allow the words and common themes to speak to you as well. Each and every song spoke to me as if God was having a whole conversation/pep talk with me! It all fit together perfectly! I was renewed with fresh hope and faith as well as the desire to persevere and praise Him no matter what! 

I'd like to think that we could still have a godly leader if people in the remaining states will still vote for Cruz and prevent Trump from getting to 1237 delegates (which will obviously get Cruz the nomination on a second ballot at the convention). But, even if that (or some other miracle) doesn't happen, it's all going to be ok. No matter what catastrophe Obama, Hillary, Trump, or anyone brings about in America, we will persevere. We will fight the good fight until the day we die or until Jesus comes back; whichever comes first. If our nation truly has become so godless as to vote for its own destruction, God will let us have what we asked for. We'll be like the Israelites wandering around in the desert; moaning and complaining when we could be in the Promised Land if we would only shut up and listen. History doesn't HAVE TO repeat itself, but if we refuse to learn from history, we will most certainly keep repeating it. 

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I truly hope that things can miraculously turn around for the better in these next few months before the nominations are official. No matter what happens, though, I will not give my vote of consent to Trump, Hillary, or anyone that goes against my faith in Christ. I will not be a part of that. If that means voting for a third party, write-in, or not getting to vote at all, I'll do it. I don't answer to people. I answer to God; and my aim is to always be on the same side as Him! May God bless you and may God bless America as we fight the good fight and press on in faith! It's not over yet!!! :)

Come What May....TOMORROW!!!

Tonight, I watched my girls in a Spring Program at school. The grade below them sang classic songs from the musical "Annie" (which I adored because I used to watch the 1982 movie all the time and LOVED the songs!). When they started singing "Tomorrow", I got the same chills that I always do. Does anyone else tear up when they hear it?! It's so filled with hope, optimism, and perseverance. It's inspiring!

Car Selfie On The Way To The Rally!

The song made me think of how my family and I had spent the day. We got the rare and unique opportunity to experience a political rally. It isn't very often that Indiana's vote matters so much! It's VERY exciting! Therefore, we made sure to go to the Ted Cruz rally in Fort Wayne.

It was a wonderful experience! We greatly enjoyed gathering with 2,000 fellow patriots who are firm believers in our constitution and faith in God. The speakers were all fantastic! There was a local pastor that encouraged us with these two verses from the Bible; describing how it was easy to discern who to vote for. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:5-7) and you can't serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24). He said there's been one candidate that constantly boasts and is always talking about his wealth (HINT: It's NOT Ted Cruz!). So, if he's opposing the "proud" one who is boasting about his riches (and it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven), don't we want to be on GOD'S side? I know I do! That's why we have been supporting Ted Cruz because not only has he been fighting for our constitutional rights (and will continue to do so), but he has the character and humility needed to be a SERVANT for God and country!

That same pastor that shared those verses also shared with us that he had gotten a personal call from Cruz's father. They talked for 20 minutes or more and he said that he was amazed at his knowledge of the scriptures and could tell he was a brother in the Lord and that his family had been immersed in the Christian faith all their lives. The pastor asked him if he could count on the fact that when Cruz is president, he will be on his knees in prayer in that oval office depending on God and asking him what to do (and especially in the toughest decisions when it's hard to know what to do). He assured him with confidence that he would absolutely be doing that because that is the way they have always lived their faith in their family.

I think that that part of the rally really resonated with me the most. Of course, I also enjoyed Glen Beck and how he re-told the story of George Washington's leadership, hardships, and service to the country (and that that's what our country needs to remember and fight for right now). I was also energized and thrilled to hear Ted Cruz speak. However, the words from that pastor gave a new insight into Ted's heart and faith foundation. It cemented into my mind the fact that Ted Cruz is the right, best, and only choice!

When the rally was over, we pushed forward to the front to see if we could meet with Cruz for a few moments. My daughter, Gianna, had written a letter of encouragement for him that we gave to WOWO's Pat Miller to give to him (he assured us he would make sure he got it!). Gianna kept calling out for him in the crowd, and he smiled and waved to her. I was able to capture his attention when I said, "Make sure you stick it to Planned Parenthood!" The crowd affirmed my statement as I stretched out my hand toward Ted Cruz. He grasped my hand, and in those several seconds, it was like he communicated to me more than words ever could. I felt a peace, calm, and relief that I haven't felt in this election in a while (or probably at all!). In his strong but gentle hand, I felt a sense of promise, reassurance, and understanding. It was like when a parent, family member, or close friend squeezes your hand to let you know, "It's going to be alright. I'm here for you!" It was a hand I felt good about placing mine in! In that moment, he was saying "We're going to get it done! We will fight to the end for all we hold dear!" I didn't want to let go lol ("I'll never let go, Ted.....I'll never let go!!"). ;)

The reason all of this reminds me of that little orphan Annie song is because "Tomorrow" is such a big day (and LESS than a day away now!). As I write this, there is a little over an hour until midnight. The morning will come, the sun will come out, and the day will be new. It will be a turning point for America (and the world) as Indiana steps out and votes on whose "hands" we decide to put our trust in. Ultimately, it's all in God's hands; our hope and trust is in the Lord. We need to SEEK the Lord and vote for the one that translates into a "vote" for God; a vote for HIS side and HIS ways. God will bless America again if we put our faith into His hands and vote for the servant that He has risen up to defend faith and values.

Ted Cruz & Governor Mike Pence

Hoosiers, your vote DOES matter! The fate of America is on the line and it matters GREATLY whose hands it's in (and that includes your state and local reps)!! Ted Cruz is the only candidate who has always stood CONSISTENTLY for the faith and hope we have in God and on the foundation our forefathers built this nation upon. He has a servant's heart and the drive/perseverance to never quit on America! Make those headlines say what they were saying at the rally: "Trump failed. Kasich bailed. Cruz prevailed!"

Grace and peace to you, my friends! Please, feel free to share this post with fellow Hoosiers (or anyone that has yet to vote in the primaries). We can't have a godly president if we don't vote for a godly nominee! Do your duty, my fellow Americans! Fast. Pray. VOTE!! Don't sit this one out! Find your polling place here! Come what may!!! Tomorrow,...tomorrow....I love ya! Stick out your chin, and grin, and vote TED CRUZ!!! :) May God bless you and may God bless America!

The Words...They Don't Mean What You Think They Mean!

The new popular political terminology these days involve words like "career politician", "establishment", "political insider", and the ever so popular buzz word "outsider." I'm getting fed up with these words and here's why:

Today, we received two mailers from those running for Congress: Jim Banks and Kip Tom. While I understand WHY those around here are voting for Kip (given that he's a local, a farmer, and the "outsider") I am casting my vote for Jim Banks. 
 

Kip's mailer condemned Pam Galloway, Liz Brown, and Jim Banks for being state senators; labeling them those oh so terrible words of "career politicians" and "political outsiders". I think the only trendy word he forgot to throw in there was "establishment." In probably every instance in which these words and phrases are used, it is meant to be an insult and encourage voters to think that it makes a person corrupt and that they should be voted out of office. Generally speaking, I think that would probably be a fair generalization for many politicians (like Nancy Pelosi, for example). Indeed, there are many politicians that have been in the government for far too long and have used and abused their power; all the while accomplishing NOTHING for the American people. They most definitely deserve the the negative meaning of the label and their days of "service" should be over.

However......

Like many words, there is more than one meaning. I think it is tasteless and unfair for Kip Tom to try and use these labels in its negative connotation to describe these decent conservative senators who have served Indiana well. I'm particularly turned off by the fact that he would like to slap a label like that on Jim Banks who has earned a few more "labels" that far removes him from the negative picture that Kip is trying to paint of him.

Jim Banks is a U.S. Navy Reserve veteran who took a leave of absence from the Indiana Sate Senate and his business to deploy to Afghanistan. I don't think he had much time to be a "political insider" because he was busy defending our freedom and doing more than just standing around talking about what America should be doing overseas. He actually went over there and DID something! Furthermore, this "career politician" has the endorsements of Allen County Right to Life, Indiana Right to Life, Gun Owners of America, The Senate Conservatives Fund, Dr. James Dobson, and MANY many more! WHY? Well, that's because in his "career" as a "politician" he has been taking action! He's not in this for himself. He's SERVING and getting things done and standing up for Hoosier values!

Meanwhile, Mr. "Outsider" has only one claim to fame: that he has no political experience and that because of that, we should vote him straight into Congress. Now, I don't know about you, but I am very confused as to WHY it is now a BAD thing to have experience, know what you're doing, and  serve as an elected representative for the people of the state/country that you love! I can't imagine running for office, but if I did, I would obviously start small and work my way up. That's how it typically goes, right? I mean, my own "career" in customer service type jobs didn't start with me being an Administrative Assistant at 14 years old. No, I started as a waitress and then a cashier at the local grocery store. I moved on to a local Christian bookstore, did some factory work for a short time, was a stay-at-home-mom for many years, and then reentered the workforce again as I went from retail superstore to small business bookstore once again. Each time, my experience got me better pay, a better position, and more experience to take into my next role...all leading up to the wonderful job I have now as an Administrative Assistant for the Salvation Army. Each employer gave me my job based on my experience as a "customer service insider" and my "career" in customer service lol. The retail "establishment" world hasn't soured my character or my passion for people. Rather, it has given me the opportunity to gain more insight and knowledge into how big businesses AND small businesses work and how to relate to people in different work environments. Experience makes you valuable!

It is our job, as voters, to look at a candidate's resume and see if his experience and accomplishments fit the job. Kip Tom "says" he's pro-life and for the 2nd amendment, but I see nothing on his mailer (or on his website) that tells me more than just those phrases. Compare that to Jim Banks' website where he gives details and insight into what he believes, what he fights for, HOW he has already fought for it, and WHAT he is going to do to CONTINUE that fight. Basically, the only thing Kip Tom is saying is that he's a farmer, has created jobs, and believes in our values. I'm sorry, sir, but just because vagueness works for Donald Trump doesn't mean that it's going to work for you (and it certainly doesn't work for me!).

Bottom line is, don't condemn a politician just because that's his title. It's not fair and accurate to apply a job stereotype to every person and situation. There are good and bad seeds in every profession. Some mechanics are fair; others rip you off. Most doctors are excellent, but some should have their licenses revoked. Most cops serve and protect the way they should; some abuse their power. Politicians are the same way. There ARE some good ones who really do care and serve the way our forefathers intended (like Rand Paul, for example). Don't let the corrupt ones sour it for you! Additionally, no one (no matter how good they are at their job) will be free from mistakes or be perfect in what they do. We're all human.  

I do not condemn Jim Banks for his experience or his career. It is BECAUSE of those things that he has been able to serve well (and will continue to do so). As for Kip Tom, I'm not doubting that he possibly has the potential to do well in Congress even though he has no political experience. After all, I have no degree or "real" experience as an Administrative Assistant but was still given a chance to prove myself, show off my skills and natural abilities, and serve my bosses, coworkers, and clients with all my heart. Kip may be worth a chance, but having no political experience doesn't automatically make you a good choice just because you're an "outsider". Experience IS good and it DOES matter! Kip's tagline on the other side of his mailer says, "He isn't like the other candidates." I agree. He's not, and that may not be such a good thing; just as having experience isn't such a bad thing. After all, the "career politician" isn't wasting space on his mailer to label Kip and try to make HIM look bad. ;)
 

My family & I with Marlin Stutzman at the Walk for Life.

Grace and peace to you, my friends! No matter what state you live in, I hope that you research the candidates and vote for those with the character, integrity, and experience to serve your state (and our country) well! I also endorse Marlin Stutzman for Senate and Ted Cruz for president! God bless you all and may God bless America!! 

The Panera Bread Jesus Party

My kids dread dental appointments; as most kids do. However, the one thing that they look forward to is going to Panera Bread for lunch. It's become sort of a tradition. It doesn't even matter that the place is packed and insanely busy. The food is awesome and the staff and atmosphere is exceptionally terrific; which is why I'm composing this post. 

Contrary to what the media likes for you to believe, there is an abundance of Christian believers living their faith out loud (and unashamedly in the public). The first thing I noticed when I walked in the door was a man, wearing a Christian t-shirt, sitting at a table with another man having lunch. Ironically, my kids picked a tiny table close to these men and sat down. I told them shortly after we got our food that we probably should have sat at a bigger table for the three of us, but we decided to stay there anyways. I'm glad we did! 

It wasn't long before I noticed just how thick the place was with fellow believers in Christ. All around me, I heard mentions of God, faith, and a guy who was even mentioning the well-known Christian financial advisor Dave Ramsey. The Spirit was very strong in the room because the kids soon started having faith conversations with me too. 

As we were talking, I could hear the man in the Christian t-shirt talking about the Republican candidates for president. He mentioned that he liked Ben Carson and Scott Walker. I also heard him correctly identify the fact that Trump is getting all the publicity and the hype because he just tells it like it is and is resonating with some people because of their own frustration with the government. I agree. Who doesn't just want to run their mouth sometimes like Trump does no matter what comes out? 

I felt stirred by the Spirit to say something to this man as he went to leave. I barely had time to tell him how much I appreciated and agreed with his remarks because my kids immediately started telling him that they liked his shirt and the "More Jesus" words on the front. We learned that we both had recently married and were on the same journey of being blended families. He also shared that he is the proud father of a ten month old son and that his heart and desire for his son is for him to grow to know Christ. Amen! I couldn't agree more! I showed him the photo of Casey's baptism and Casey shared one of the verses he has memorized:  

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. - James 1:19-20 (NIV)

Gianna also shared a verse she knows (because she's had to write often when she disobeys and gets in trouble):

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" --which is the first commandment with a promise --"so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." - Ephesians 6:1-3 (NIV)

I was very delighted to learn that this man is Doug from the WFRN morning show. In fact, a Panera Bread employee recognized him as she was collecting dishes and heard our conversation. She had the brightest smile on her face and the light of Jesus in her eyes as she told him how excited she was to hear people talking about Christ and that she listened to his show every morning coming into work. I told her we were having a Jesus party at Panera Bread. ;) It's always an encouragement to me to encounter other strong and passionate believers like her (especially younger people her age which makes me feel hopeful about God's gospel continuing for many more generations). His love and His Word endures FOREVER! 

Taking time for a photo with Casey & Gianna

Before Doug left, he knelt down and put his hands on us to pray. I felt incredibly blessed because public boldness is something that I love to witness as well as be a part of. It is uplifting to me because even though I'm not a shy person when it comes to faith and prayer in public, some people are (I've had people say to me, at times, when I've offered them prayer: "Right now?! HERE?"). 

I know that every single one of us was blessed by this God ordained encounter. I have no doubt that the Holy Spirit touched and blessed many hearts; and in a mighty and public way! God's Spirit is STILL alive and at work, everyone! My hope is that every believer was encouraged and that every non-believer was stirred with the kind of curiosity that will compel them to start seeking Jesus. The more we live out loud and share our God stories, the more we will witness the life-changing power of God in our lives, in others, and in the world around us. It is absolutely essential that we do this so love doesn't grow cold (Matthew 24:12-13) and our brothers and sisters in the faith are especially encouraged in these last days (Hebrews 10:24-25).

I am incredibly proud of my bold, enthusiastic, and loud children who don't know how to use their indoor voices no matter how often I remind them lol. Their testimonies about God (as well as random comments about Transformers and My Little Pony lol) was likely overheard by many who were blessed by it as a result. Maybe that's another reason why that verse from James is so important. When we take more time to listen, we have more time to learn and be blessed by what we may hear. When we are quick to speak, we can sometimes be less self-controlled and our emotions can burst like a dam (not just anger, but other things as well). It can often lead to uttering words we later regret. It makes me think of Mr. Trump because even though it feels great to speak our mind, it's not always very kind or wise (Proverbs 12:18). Doug and I agreed that a good-hearted, wise, and faith driven Christian man like Mike Huckabee would be a GREAT president. He's another guy that is bold and unashamed of his faith. Just like we've witnessed today, that's something that this world needs more of! I think it MIGHT have been in a Beth Moore Bible study that I once did where she said that God won't just change your life, He'll change your day (I found this old post in the process of looking for it and wow...do I need to re-read and apply this right now! This was no accident!). Yes, Lord, please! Change our lives, change America, but also change our days! Abundant, joyful, encouraging, and blessed days are for TODAY as well as tomorrow and every day after! 

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I encourage you to pass this story along to others, as well as your own God stories too (some of Casey's is in the video below if you want to watch his testimony from church!). Please, feel free to share this post on social media for others to read. Perhaps it may refresh a fellow brother or sister who feels that there's nothing good happening in the world and they feel weakened in their faith. Share your own stories in the comments below and/or post a link to your own God story from your blog! Maybe we can compile them into a future post or start a new blog where we're all sharing what God is doing! Giving praise and glory to God is POWERFUL, my friends! Spreading the truth of His power and goodness strikes mighty blows to the kingdom of darkness, so let's do some damage! Comment with an "Amen" if you agree and let's keep the Jesus party going! God bless you!

Ignite: Children's Sunday from Vineyard Community Church on Vimeo.

Truth Serum Anyone??

Sorting Good Fruit From The Bad Apples

Don't you just wish that an injection of truth serum were a mandatory requirement before being allowed to engage in a presidential debate in front of the American people? Wouldn't it be GREAT if they were unable to lie to our faces, for at least ninety minutes, so we wouldn't have to guess and discern the lies from the truth (if, in fact, any truth is present)? I think I speak for the majority of Americans when I ask, when are we going to get some honest clean cut answers?!!

It's so hard to figure out who is really being straight up. As you all know, I don't favor McCain very highly, but I certainly don't sing the praises of Obama. Many may say that supporting McCain is the lesser of the two evils and that even the lesser of the two evils is still an evil. While this may be true, we must remember that, in fact, there is no perfect or "good" candidate because there is no perfect person. Consider Mark 10:18 which says: "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone." Additionally, Romans 3:10 says: "As it is written: 'There is no one righteous, not even one;'" So, if you are looking for a perfect role model in a politician (or in anyone for that matter!) you will not find it because we all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Even if the rightful nominee (Mike Huckabee) had won, he would still be no more "righteous" than anyone else. As wonderful as he is (and considerably more favorable when it comes to qualities we would want in a president) he is still just as human, imperfect, and naturally evil because of our sinful nature that we inherited from our forefather Adam. However, the only thing that distinguishes one sinful human being from another is whether or not they are saved, sealed, and led by the Holy Spirit or not. Those that are on God's side of things are more apt to do what's in the best interest of everyone, versus a person who only follows their own natural human desires.

This is the fundamental difference between Obama/Biden and McCain/Palin. In Matthew 7:15-23, Jesus tells us that we will know a person by their fruit. "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit" (v. 18). And, verse 21 says: "Not everyone that says 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." So, when looking at the "fruitful" evidence of Obama/Biden and McCain/Palin, what kind of fruit do we see?? Well, with McCain/Palin, we see lives characterized by morality and faith. They are people who are going to look out for us because they don't neglect to look out for even the smallest and defenseless of people; such as those with disabilities and the unborn (and who exemplifies that better than Palin?!). We don't have to worry about where they stand on the issue of human life. They will value our lives because they don't demean and dismiss the lives of the most special, innocent, and vulnerable of Americans.

The "Inconvenient Truth" About Obama's Views On Life

Unfortunately, Obama/Biden don't share this same view. To them, lives are only valuable if they are "wanted." They believe in the "choice" to dispose of humans if they are an inconvenience to someone else. If you would like to see proof of this mentality, check out the video in which, among other statements, Obama tells us that "if they make a mistake…I don't want them punished with a baby." Excuse me…..life is punishment? A human life is punishment?? Barack, you have been hanging around Planned Parenthood too long!! (By the way, in that same video, he asserts: "I will not yield and Planned Parenthood will not yield." Gee, how comforting!).

So, do we want someone who puts his stamp of approval on murder to be running our country? Do we really believe that the same man who spoke in the latest presidential debate (and talked about providing for kids with special needs as well as doing what's in the best interest of our children's education) is really going to deliver when he turns around and tells Planned Parenthood and their zombified cronies that life is a "choice" and that if you make a "mistake" you can kill it? I don't believe for one second that he's going to look out for children, like my hearing impaired son, when he promotes KILLING those who are "imperfect" and "unworthy" of life because they are not physically or mentally flawless when one uses an ultrasound to peek into a mother's womb. I don't believe the hypocrisy of Barack Obama who claims he values children like my son, but would have fully supported my "choice" to kill him if I deemed his life unworthy for any reason and didn't want to be burdened or "punished" by giving birth to him. You know what, Mr. Obama? It's a real pity that you haven't been "punished" with such a blessing as I have. If you had, the heart of love and compassion that dwells within the being of my child might just melt your heart of stone!!!!

For this reason, and many others, I side with McCain/Palin who practice what they preach and fully recognize, as McCain asserted in the last debate, that "we have to change the culture of America" and use "courage and compassion" to reach out to those who are facing difficult and unplanned pregnancies. McCain also hit the issue right on the head when he pointed out that Obama's views are "in direct contradiction to the feelings and views of mainstream America." Amen to that!! The majority of Americans know deep down in their souls that life is LIFE!! McCain affirmed (when asked by Rick Warren) that a baby acquires human rights "at the moment of conception." In contrast, Obama's statement was: "answering that question with specificity…is above my pay grade" (See the provided link to watch him answer).

Barack Obama's Double Talk

Is all this enough information for you? Well, in case you need some more solid evidence of Obama's contradictions, let's look at a few statements that he made in the last debate (hopefully, the video link will work so you can see the segment for yourself). He said: "if it sounds incredible that I would vote to withhold life-saving treatment from an infant that's because…it's….not true……." It's not true?!! Are you kidding me?!! Then how do you explain voting against it four times? (For more on this, check out http://www.bornalivetruth.org/ and be sure to watch the videos of abortion survivor Gianna Jessen; whom I named my daughter after). And, in addition to that, he also voted "present" on critical abortion decisions (such as partial birth abortion) just because it didn't provide a "health" exception for the mother. He said: "I am completely supportive of a ban on late term abortions, partial birth or otherwise, as long as there is an exception for the mother's health and life." Though, if he TRULY knew what abortion does to a woman's "health and life" he would think differently. He should talk to the women who tell me their "health and life" stories. Having abortions never benefited their "health and life" one bit!! In fact, it is very much the opposite; having effects on either their physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual health (or all of the above in most cases!). Their risks for complications, future infertility, breast cancer, depression, and even suicide increase dramatically!! And yet, Obama wants a PROVISION for all of this??? If it was REALLY about protecting a woman's health, he wouldn't promote something that destroys it!!!

Barack Obama and Planned Parenthood

One last factor we must be aware of is his emphatic support of Planned Parenthood. It's very telling when he says about unplanned pregnancies that "we should try to reduce these circumstances" ("reducing" human life is something Planned Parenthood loves!!) and that "we should try to prevent unintended pregnancies…by providing appropriate education to our youth; communicating that sexuality is sacred and that they should not be engaged in cavalier activity…and providing options for adoption and helping single mothers if they want to choose to keep the baby….." It sounds so heart-warming until you consider that his mother-ship is Planned Parenthood; the ones who market sexuality to our children (which is FAR FROM "appropriate education")!! They "educate" and indoctrinate our young little minds with perverse and pornographic material such as the book "It's Perfectly Normal" which graphically displays all sorts of immoral and outrageous sexual acts (whether hetero or homosexual, and whether with or without a person to do it with!). This is also the organization that actively pushes "responsible" sexual activity by promoting contraception and condoms to our kids!! If Barack Obama believes that sexuality is "sacred" then why is he aligned with this perverse and vulgar organization that treats this special bond as anything but? Planned Parenthood is the champion of "cavalier activity"!! Not only that, but they demean and mock abstinence and never bother to hinder anyone from denying their bodies the pleasure that they have every "right" to!

Listen Up, Wake Up, Wise Up!!

"He who has ears, let him hear" - Matthew 13:9. Are you listening America? Are you watching? Are you seeing the hearts and the fruit that comes forth from those hearts? If we value our lives, we best be voting for the ones who value them too!! And, as you can see, life is most definitely NOT a priority for Obama. Strange isn't? Life is….well…..LIFE!! Without life, what existence would there be? Life is the foundation for everything!! And yet, he despises and destroys it!! Will we elect someone with this mentality into the white house? May God help us all if we do!! Pray, people, PRAY!!! Grace and peace to all of you!!

Truth: Do You Know It? Will You Stand For It?

FYI to everyone who has the guts to VOTE in November…..

You’ll want to see this video that one of my friends sent me on myspace. It concerns Barack Obama and his approval of infanticide (also, please note the name of the organization, that proudly endorses him, on the background behind him). If you’re not familiar with what infanticide is, you will be after you watch this video in which blogger/nurse Jill Stanek describes the infanticide she witnessed; how babies are discarded and left to suffer and die (ALIVE and ALONE)!!! How could anyone support this??? I don‘t know…..would someone ask Osama Obama please??? It’s the ultimate terrorism and crime against humanity to proudly support the deaths of your own countrymen - no matter how small!! (For more information, check out http://www.bornalivetruth.org/ ).

Likewise, I have the same questions reeling in my mind about our Democratic candidate for governor, Jill Long Thompson. WHY on earth is she such a radical supporter of abortion? And, aside from her horrible and distasteful position on life, who would even want to vote for her (especially after Mitch Daniels has done SO MUCH to better our state - and is also hailed as the most pro-life governor EVER)? Thanks but no thanks, Jill. We just got back on the right road after years of substandard Democratic leadership by the late Frank O’Bannon and Evan Bayh (who is now demonstrating his so-called “Hoosier values“ by choosing to sit on his hands in the senate; refusing to defend life and traditional marriage - among other things). Indiana will choose to stand by our man Mitch!! We REFUSE to backtrack on progress!!

We have so many of these power-hungry-leftist-psychos wanting to take over our lives, kill our children (but saving “mother earth“), and ruin our country in more ways that I can begin to name. That’s why it’s all the more imperative that we VOTE so that these crazies don’t end up calling the shots! Sorry if I’m being a little too blunt for you, but it’s important to speak up and tell people like it is sometimes. We need not be fooled into voting for someone that we have no clue about!! These people have blood on their hands; don’t stain your own by shaking theirs! We all should know better - especially if we call ourselves Christians. We should NOT vote for people who support things that violate the Word of God!! If we do, how truly “Christian” are we if we refuse to stand up for the faith we claim to believe? To quote one of my friends: “Liberal Christians completely creep me out.”

Please let your voice be heard!! Keeping silent and refusing to stand up against those that shed innocent blood will only add more to the pain this nation already bears!! Please, America, NO MORE!! No more innocent lives lost. No more wounded and victimized women of “choice.” No more needless pain, regret, and even medical complications, infertility, and miscarriages that women often go through afterwards. Let the lies and deceptions end with our generation!! Let‘s help put an end to the suffering!!

To wrap it up, I am encouraging you all to participate in the next pro-life memorial day, which is on October 6th. (Please click on the link for more!) Let us honor the lives lost through abortion, as well as reaching out to the broken hearted who mourn the losses of their children. Let us have compassion for their scars, and walk with them through their grief. In fact, if you are reading this and have had an abortion, there is help for you. I would be glad to hear your story, and to offer my sympathy and compassion (and I have information links for you if you want additional help).

Grace and peace be with you all!! Stay informed and aware!! God bless you!!

Dont' Let A Rock Do Your Job!!

I have a confession to make…..I’m stubborn. Does this shock you? For those of you that know me best, I’m sure it doesn’t. Though, what would make me bring up the issue of my tenacity right now? Well, it’s because the time has come to put my determined and immovable will to better use. By that I mean that I changed from a stubborn “I’m not sure if I can vote for McCain” mindset, to a “I will vote for no one other than McCain” stance after watching the Republican convention last night. This despite the fact that I said I would NEVER vote for McCain. Well, like the saying goes, “Never say never!” After all, if Dr. Dobson can change his mind, so can I; and especially since we have good reason to!

Of course, many of you probably recall just how “Huckafied” I was during the first part of this year when I began supporting and advocating for Mike Huckabee when he was fighting for the presidential nomination. I was determined and unwavering in my commitment to his passion, conviction, and vision for this country. Everything was paying off too, that is, until he started losing momentum (which I attribute to spoiler Fred Thompson and the S.C. primary - but I won‘t get into that now). And, when Mike Huckabee was forced to withdraw, I bawled and bawled and just couldn’t accept the fact that the best man for the job was out of the running. This also led me to resist accepting McCain right away because of the obvious difference in the level of true conservatism. So, yes, I was very stubborn and resistant when it came to jumping on the McCain bandwagon because it felt like such a step backward and I didn’t want to settle for second best.

So, for months, I have had thought and prayed about the whole thing. McCain had never shown himself to be a solid conservative; and yes, I know that Obama is far worse than McCain, but I just didn’t know if I could vote for him in good conscience. I thought if he picked Huckabee for his running mate, I would compromise. Otherwise, I would just write-in Huckabee and be done with it.

My stalemate continued for a while as I waited to see who McCain would choose for a running mate. We all knew that his pick would be crucial and says a lot about how conservative he really is. It would be the deciding factor. I hoped and prayed hard for Huckabee, but instead, I (and the rest of the world) was pleasantly surprised when he picked Alaska governor Sara Palin. I must say that I would have been more disappointed in the fact that he didn’t pick my man Mike if it weren’t for the fact that his choice was so perfect for a varied number of reasons. For one, this was a BRILLIANT strategy and a huge slam to the democrats. Obama neglected to pick Hillary as a running mate; which would have made even more political history. Yet, McCain chose to pull the rug out from under him by doing what Obama wouldn’t (I’ll bet Obama is kicking himself now!! LOL). McCain might very well pick up the many female votes that would have gone to Hillary had she still been in this race (and Palin is a steak compared to hamburger Hillary anyways! There‘s no question as to who the better woman/leader is! This should be a no-brainer for all those who want to vote for a truly worthy female candidate!!).

Though, bigger than the shock value or clever political tactics is the fact that McCain picked a conservative more solid than he is. Beyond the fact that she is a woman of faith, she is also a mother of five as well as a brilliant, tough, and capable woman who fights for truth and justice. Her small-town background and values are what shaped her. Before she was governor, she was mayor of her small town, and her experience alone (and the LACK of experience that Obama has) makes a world of difference!!

I was taken in by her as I watched her speak last night. Her speech was PHENOMENAL!! She spoke with courage, strength, faith, and heart. She was warm, funny, charming, and TRUTHFUL! And, when she spoke to all of us who have children with special needs, I became teary eyed. Her commitment to the well-being and protection of life is what riveted me the most. She said that we will have an “advocate” in the white house for our children. That was the probably the one thing that resonated most with me, and that was when I said “they get my vote.” Not only will children, like my hearing-impaired son, have someone who will protect and encourage them in their lives, but ALL CHILDREN (born and pre-born) will have the hope of protection and life if McCain/Palin are the next residents of the White House.

So, there you have it. This is my new and improved stubbornness. LOL I will now be supporting McCain/Palin and encouraging others to do the same. And, for those of you that may still have qualms, let me tell you about something God reminded me of. This may surprise you, but I was somewhat reluctant to accept a woman as a vice-presidential candidate. Having women in a position of high leadership, to me, undermines the dynamics of things. Men are supposed to be the ones in a position of headship and authority (just as men are supposed to be head of their household and the spiritual leader of their families). However, as I wrestled with this in my mind before she left the stage, Queen Esther came to mind. I thought of her courage and faith and how she had to be willing to possibly sacrifice her life in order to try and save her people. In the latter part of verse 4:14 in the book of Esther, Mordecai says to her: “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

Indeed, we NEED just the right people to lead in “such a time as this.” God purposed Esther to serve and to reign in a crucial time for her people, and God has done the same for us with John McCain and Sara Palin. Women in ministry and leadership are just as crucial as the men; and especially imperative when God’s army lacks male volunteers. I’m not meaning to slam men here, though I’m sure I’m not the only one who has noticed that this world is running short on 100% passionate, sold out, die-hard Christian men who are eager to love Jesus with their whole heart and serve His people. You can even ask my step-father (who is also a pastor) if he agrees, because he has been criticized for putting women in leadership in his own church. Though, his response to them is that when men start stepping up, he won’t have to put women in charge of the shoes that the men are supposed to be filling. God has a purpose, and if we reject it, He’ll rise up someone else that is willing to accept it. Much like how Jesus said the rocks would cry out if His people ceased to praise Him (Luke 19:40). If we don’t do what we are meant to do, someone else will have to pick up the slack. And, like a good pastor I know once said “I don’t want a rock doing my job.”

I applaud Sara Palin for stepping up in “such a time as this.” She’s done a good job as mayor, governor, and by the grace of God, will do wonderfully as a vice president. Though, she can only fulfill her purpose if we fulfill ours by VOTING!!! Don’t let a bunch of “rocks” do your job!!! Don’t let this country fall to pieces by failing to fulfill your role in this election!! STAND on the rock, Jesus, and we won’t have people with only rocks in their heads running this country!!

Grace and peace to all of you as we pray for these elections and support those who hold God’s principles dear to their hearts!!

Pray hard; stand strong; and BELIEVE!!!

Dear Friends,

I was made aware of this blog composed by Lou Engle; who is the one who organizes and leads “The Call.” As many of you may remember, I was at “The Call” in Nashville on 07/07/07 - which was also my 25th birthday. ;) It was a day that I will never forget!!

To refresh your memory, we were in prayer all day. We prayed, among many things, for an end to abortion and for God to forgive us for allowing this to happen and to heal our people and our land. Not one more woman or child should have to suffer!!

That is one of the many reasons I endorse Mike Huckabee. This is also why Lou Engle endorses him as well and why Dr. Dobson has too (though I wish he would have done so a looooooong time ago!!!).

Anyways, I am posting Lou Engle‘s statements. I totally agree with him!! I will write-in my vote for Huckabee if it comes to that!!! (Or, if Mike Huckabee is forced to run independently, I pray that we will all back him up in that case. No matter what, he gets my vote and no one else. PERIOD!!) I will NEVER vote for McCain!!!

I will keep believing for miracles!! It isn’t over yet!! Mike Huckabee is going to keep going on in this race!! He isn’t giving up and neither are we!!! In fact, Mike Huckabee said in his e-mail today: “I am truly humbled by the faith you have placed in me and reinvigorated for the race ahead. I have heard you clearly and we will not stop. We will keep fighting for our ideas and we will push our Party to do better.”

AMEN!!! Don’t stop believing everyone!!! And please, if you can, PLEASE donate to his campaign!! My offer still stands; I will write a limerick as a tribute to anyone who donates when they use my ranger code to do so at www.mikehuckabee.com R10165. God bless you everyone!! KEEP PRAYING HARD FOR MIKE!!!!

In his own words - Lou Engle:

I am speaking now for my own personal perspective and not from any ministry I lead.

This past several weeks I posted a video stating that I could never voted for John McCain because he had voted for the funding of embryonic stem cell research. I have made a vow that I would not be a participant in either the shedding of innocent blood or in the taking of any life at any stage. It is my conviction that fertilized embryos are living cells. As we know, today there are walking living human beings that were once embryonic stem cells that could have been killed for research purposes. I have received some excellent feedback both for and against concerning my video. One of the arguments against my stand is that science has now found a procedure that makes embryonic stem cell research a moot point. Therefore they say McCain will not have to face this issue according to this argument. Major Catholic leaders have come out and now endorse John McCain because of this supposedly closed issue. Because of this, I have withdrawn the video because I don’t believe that I could lay my convictions on others who will be faced with a major decision on whether their conscience could allow them to vote for McCain.

As for me, and not my ministry, I remain steadfast in my earlier conviction that I cannot vote for John McCain. I would like to include a part of James Dobson’s statement concerning McCain because there are obviously other issues involved. You may ask me, “Shouldn’t we vote for McCain because he is certainly better than Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama?” My answer is maybe you should, but I have been praying that God would drive the abortion issue like a wedge into this nation. Why should I take the wedge out by softening my stand? If the church came out in mass and united behind a true pro-life candidate, like Mike Huckabee, it would forever make a statement to the Republican Party that we are not yours we are God’s. Maybe it would be better to lose an election than to have another Missouri Compromise that keeps dumbing down the issue and will eventually bring us to divine judgment because we have ceased to become the conscience of the nation. What is better, a compromising Zedekiah, or a hostile Nebuchadnezzer? God was able to do more with the pagan king Nebuchadnezzer than he could with the compromising king of Judah. Maybe our thinking is all humanistic and we believe in politics more than the power of prayer.

Many of you have read my article on the five loaves and two fish candidate. You can read it again on my blog. I believe that the sudden surge of Huckabee and his confession that it was because of the prayers of the saints, could have been a sign and a test for the body of Christ to see whether or not we had eyes to see what we have been praying for, for so long. The brown bag container may have been just too much for us, and we stumbled over the simplicity of the voice. Here is a man, Mike Huckabee, that has stood for both a federal human life amendment and a federal marriage amendment arguing the brilliant case that to drive the issues to the states like John McCain would want to, is to make morality geographical. That is what slavery was! But no- we opted out and took the lie of elect-ability. There was no clear prophetic clarity in the body of Christ and so we settle for that which can neither give us a true plumb line of righteousness or a measuring line of justice and we perpetrate the ongoing moral confusion that threatens to drown this nation and bring about a complete collapse of character. (I am deeply concerned about the immigration issue and am praying that Huckabee would take much more of a compassionate stand for illegal immigrants. Still my stand of conscience is upon the foundations of life and marriage.)

But it is not over; the word was that if the church would pray the next president would come in a brown bag and his five loaves and two fish would be more than enough. Mitt Romney has dropped out of the race. If the church would rise up with one voice in prayer and in voting a Godly man whom I have had the privilege to personally spend time with now and who stands on the values of marriage and life upon which civilizations rise and fall could still be elected. And even yet if we pray God may do other things that no one could have expected. For He raises up kings and He brings them down. So I lay before you my convictions but I don’t lay them upon you. But here I stand I can do no other.

For America,

Lou Engle

Statement made by James Dobson on February 5, 2008:

"I'm deeply disappointed the Republican Party seems poised to select a nominee who did not support a constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage, who voted for embryonic stem cell research to kill nascent human beings, who opposed tax cuts that ended the marriage penalty, and who has little regard for freedom of speech, who organized the Gang of 14 to preserve filibusters, and has a legendary temper and often uses foul and obscene language… I cannot, and will not, vote for Sen. John McCain, as a matter of conscience.”

"But what a sad and melancholy decision this is for me and many other conservatives. Should Sen. McCain capture the nomination as many assume, I believe this general election will offer the worst choices for president in my lifetime. I certainly can't vote for Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama based on their virulently anti-family policy positions. If these are the nominees in November, I simply will not cast a ballot for president for the first time in my life. These decisions are my personal views and do not represent the organization with which I am affiliated. They do reflect my deeply held convictions about the institution of the family, about moral and spiritual beliefs, and about the welfare of our country."

James Dobson’s endorsement of Huckabee on February 7, 2008:

“The remaining candidate for whom I could vote is Governor Huckabee,” Dobson said. “His unwavering positions on the social issues, notably the institution of marriage, the importance of faith and the sanctity of human life, resonate deeply with me and with many others … Obviously, the governor faces an uphill struggle, given the delegates already committed to Senator McCain. Nevertheless, I believe he is our best remaining choice for president of the United States.”

Lou Engle’s final statement:

“I have heard such scathing comments against James Dobson from the body of Christ for his stand. Be careful you may be among those who stone the prophets. The great abolitionist heroes of the past were not known nor are now heralded by history for their political equivocation.”

A Weekend To Remember: Day 2

Saturday began day two of my eventful weekend. Mitch and I went to a legislative action forum at Concordia Theological Seminary early in the morning. Indiana state senator David Long and representatives Randy Borror and Matt Bell were in attendance as well as Congressman Mark Souder. Senator Dennis Kruse arrived late to the forum where he made a few comments before he had to leave again.

The purpose of the forum was to educate and inform those in attendance about the pro-life legislation in Indiana as well as updates on progress. I won’t go into deep detail, but I will say we have some very fine men representing pro-life values!! Praise God for their dedication and commitment!! And, even though these men aren’t my personal local representatives, I sure do appreciate their leadership!! I appreciate that they took the time to meet with so many of us and that they take the time to assist in the mission of the Allen County Right to Life. Keep them in your prayers!

And, speaking of prayer, it is worth mentioning that my own state senator, David Ford, is currently battling cancer. It doesn’t look good, but he is doing much better than expected. Your prayers for yet another wonderful pro-life representative are needed!!

This meeting was a call to action. And, as evidenced here, being involved at a local level is vitally important!! If progress can be made at a local and state level, it paves the way for changes nationally. Therefore, it’s imperative that we get involved!! The men at the forum made it very clear that they want to hear from us and that they want our input and encouragement as well. So, make your voices heard!! That is what they are there for!! We need to let our strong convictions be a motivating force that leads us to action; and pray that our witness will inspire others to get involved as well!!

After the forum, I had a few other events of the day. Though, one in particular, I cannot publicly disclose at this point. Though, I will ask if I could please have your prayers for a certain unnamed request. It’s of great importance. When the time is right, I will be sure to share what this is all about, but I won’t be able to do so without your prayers!! The more you pray, the sooner the answers will come and when they do, THEN I will be able to share what the fruit of your prayers have done!!

Aside from my unnamed event, I have a couple more eventful things that I want to share. One being that I met one of the members of the Fort Wayne Sparkpeople group!! We met at the Olive Garden and had a great time talking and fellowshipping!! I look forward to meeting her again and to meeting others in the group!!

Well, day two rounded out well with a quick swim at the hotel pool (and I mean REALLY quick because the water was fairly cold!! LOL). Then, we went back to our room to watch the results of the primary voting. I was pleasantly unsurprised by Mike Huckabee’s victories. The media still didn’t see that one coming; even after all this time. LOL It’s rather humorous. Ha ha. Although, the way things are turning out so far, it still has people scoffing about Huckabee’s chances. Even Mark Souder sounded rather pessimistic at the forum earlier in the day when the election came up. He even said that he and others “can’t stand Huckabee.” I was surprised and disappointed by that, but what can you expect from a Washington politician? Regardless, however, Mark Souder has my respect. And, it motivated me all the more to support Huckabee no matter what!! My faith is stronger than their politics!! I’m a huck of a believer!! In fact, when I was getting my hair done for the banquet, there was a fellow who came in asking who’s “Huckabee Van” was out there (our van has bumper stickers and chalk paint all over it!). I proudly raised my hand and said, “MINE!“ I asked him if he was a supporter too and he said he was not. He said he was actually a supporter of Ron Paul and thought he was rather supportive; but after seeing my van, he realized what a true supporter was. Wow!! What a compliment!! It made me feel a little bad for laughing at him; though I had apologized for doing so. LOL Sorry, I couldn‘t help it. The very mention of Ron Paul makes me laugh. (Ok, I know there are people reading that may support Ron Paul - or some other candidate - and that’s ok. If you hate me for my political views, that’s fine. We are all entitled to believe what we want to and respectfully disagree without any harsh words or foul language. You all know how die-hard I am about Huckabee, by now).

Anyways, no one even thought Mike Huckabee would get this far; but he has!! And, there are those that still think that he doesn’t have a chance; but he DOES!! He is proving that time after time - especially now that Romney is out and Dr. Dobson has finally endorsed Mike Huckabee. These are HUGE answers to prayer that I had been praying for, as a matter of fact, and seeing God’s answers to my prayers is very encouraging to me!! God is great and He can make anything happen!! I believe in miracles and if that makes me naïve and foolish then so be it!! I’ll believe even when things don’t make sense!! After all, we know that God uses the foolish to shame the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27). So, if Mark Souder and others in the forum think I am a young naïve little “kid” so be it. I’m going to believe and support Mike Huckabee anyways; because it’s the right thing to do as a Christian.

Anyways, that was the end of the day on Saturday. I was disappointed by the fact that even though Mike Huckabee won Louisiana, he doesn’t even get the delegates since he didn’t get a 50% or better majority. (Yeah, and we all know why!! Same situation as was in South Carolina!!). They go “uncommitted” to the convention. Bummer! Well, at least he gets Kansas!!

I’ll remain hopeful and a die-hard Huckagirl no matter what!! There is always hope!!

This Just Keeps Getting Better!!! :)

Some of you may know by now that Mitt Romney has now dropped out of the race!! Praise God!!! When I heard the news, I screamed with glee and gave praise to God!! It’s yet another answer to prayer!!

But wait!! It gets better…….

The next best possible thing that could have happened finally did!! DR. DOBSON OF FOCUS ON THE FAMILY IS NOW ENDORSING MIKE HUCKABEE!!!! OH YEAH!!! WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONE!!!!!!! PRAISE GOD!! The only thing I’m thinking, though, is “Yeah, it’s about time!!! If only he could have endorsed him sooner!! If he had, Huckabee could have had a lot better momentum and support and would have won a lot more delegates, I’m sure! Well, better late than never, right?? Of course, I think given the fact that Dr. Dobson has long since said he would never vote for John McCain, and the fact that Romney is a Mormon, that would have made it a no-brainer for him to support Huckabee and endorse him right from the start. Anyways, ’m just thankful that he has finally done so!!!

So, aside from the Biblical reasons to vote and support godly leadership - as emphasized perfectly in one of my friend’s blogs - Christians have more assurance and motivation to back Huckabee. Given that Dr. Dobson’s wisdom and influence is so powerful, this will be a great boost to the campaign and a big help for those that look to Dr. Dobson for guidance in making up their minds.

Also, here’s a heads up from another one of my friend’s blogs that clearly articulates some interesting points about the media, their agenda, and their role in the whole election scheme. ;) I think you will find it very enlightening!! Kudos to my new friend, fellow Hoosier, and Huckabee supporter for writing it!! ;)

Well, that’s the scoop for now!! I got to get going. I have a big weekend ahead of me (as explained in my earlier blog!). I pray you all have a blessed weekend!! I will have lots to talk about on Monday and plenty of pictures etc. to share!! Oh, and don’t forget to vote for Mike Huckabee if you are in one of the states having a primary tomorrow!!! Be a “Huck” of a believer!! ;) This Huckagirl has always believed, and will continue believing and praying for Huckabee to be our next commander in chief!! KEEP ON PRAYING AND KEEPING THE FAITH!! GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS MIKE HUCKABEE!!!

Celebrating This Year And Anticipating The Next!!

So………are you ready for the new year? I am!! I LOVE celebrating the new year!! I love the optimism and the newness of it all. I love how everything seems fresh and new!!

I sure have a lot to look forward this upcoming year. Let’s see,….tomorrow is new year’s eve, followed by the next call for life on Friday (and sanctity of life week later on this month!) Then, in a couple weeks, the new Veggie Tales movie comes out. Also, Horton Hears a Who will be coming out and so will the next Chronicle of Narnia Movie - Prince Caspian!! But, aside from all the positive and enlightening entertainment, this is also an election year. Yeah, some people view politics as a headache, but I see great opportunity. I especially see that in Mike Huckabee - and his chances of winning the republican nomination (and the presidency) look very good to me!! I’m praying for him and advocating him the best I can and I can only hope other true Christians will do the same.

In addition to all of those things, I have another very important thing to look forward to…..Steve, Susan, and their family are going to be moving up here in a few weeks!!! OH YEAH!! SO EXCITED!!! God blessed them with a house in a town close to us and they will be moving into it very soon!! I am beyond grateful that God would bring our family and their family together and that He would bless us so intensely with their friendship!! He knew that we all needed each other!! I look forward to all the great times that we will have together, and also to all the things that Another Chance Ministries will accomplish once the ministry gets started here in Indiana. We love you guys and we are praying for you!! We hope that God brings you here safely and that He will provide for all your needs as you prepare to make your journey. We pray that God will give you the strength and endurance that you’ll need to make it through it all!! May you be abundantly blessed!! We can’t wait to welcome you HOME!!!!!!!! OXOXOXO

Thinking about those who are so much a part of our family (and ARE family to us!) makes me think about what Chad talked about at church today. There wasn’t a long sermon today. It was just simply a day of remembrance, reflection, and thanks for all the people who serve and help out in the church.

Every servant of Christ does their part to be make up the body of Christ. It’s all about people reaching people; meeting them where they are and making disciples - not simply “converts.” People encounter Christ through those of us that exemplify His love and goodness. We need to be good ambassadors for Christ so others can be brought to Him. And, that doesn’t just mean “going to church” and going through the motions either. Chad reiterated that point by saying, “we don’t ‘go to church’ we ARE the church!” Yeah…..THAT’S RIGHT!!

So, with that in mind, our church’s personal mission is to make disciples who Reach Up to experience a life of faith; Reach Out to share the hope of Jesus; and Reach Around people with the love of Jesus. We certainly have a LOT of people at Life Church who do that!! They had people from various ministries within the church say a few words, and they posted names of those who serve on those teams on the screen. WOW!! There are a lot of great servants!! My kudos and thanks to everyone that shares their heart, time, and talents in order to help other people take their next step towards God!! Thanks to all the obedient people who serve really do have the “Love God; love others” mentality at heart!

I try to do that very thing as well - and not just solely through involvement with other brothers and sisters in Christ at church, but on a daily basis!! Of course, anyone that reads these blogs knows that. And so, I want to thank all of you who continue to read these entries. I pray that you are blessed and that your heart it touched by God. It’s why I do what I do. It’s all about building His Kingdom, being a part of it, and getting others to know the joy of it as well! I always feel like if my experiences and what I learn from them can help someone, then it is so worth it! It’s like what Karen (the counselor at Life Church) said today when it was her turn to share….she said that we’re always the leader of someone, as well as the leader of ourselves. So, we ought to be a good leader and be led by Christ so we can lead others to Him as well!

Another thing that she said (which I just loved!) was that when you’re broken, you’re teachable. No doubt about it!! More often than not, a person learns the most when they are vulnerable and in their darkest of moments because we are more receptive.

Another couple sayings that I like are ones that Kent always says: “Life isn’t fair. People are weird. Love’s the bottom line” as well as “Feel the heat. Face the fire. Find the gold!” All of that adds up to persevering through the tough stuff to find the silver lining to it all. Go through the test to get to the testimony so you can share your story with others!!

Well, happy new year everyone! Just remember, when that “ball drops” pick it up and run with it!! It’s just like Chad talked about last year…..don’t start off the year by dropping the ball. Take that ball and run with it! Make the most of your opportunities and make a difference this coming year and always!! May God bless you all and keep you safe!! See you next year!!

We Can't Let This Go Unnoticed!

Last week, I posted some news alerts from American Life League about the “It’s Perfectly Normal” book, which is a graphic and sexually explicit book endorsed by Planned Parenthood (and is marketed to children!). Today, when I was on mommytalk.com, I noticed a featured article about it. Reviews of the book, from some readers at amazon.com, were also included; one of which will particularly shock you and break your heart - which is why this book should never be in the hands of children!!

So, I encourage you to read this article. And please, start talking about this!! We need to shine the spotlight on stuff like this and expose it for the trash that it is!! Social and parental awareness is what’s needed in order to keep our morality intact, and to keep this book out of the hands of children so that they are not corrupted with a godless agenda!! And, as one of my good friends pointed out, this book needs media exposure so people are aware of this. It would also be interested to see where our presidential candidates stand on this: especially the “if it feels good, do it” democrats. What do you think they would say if they were asked if this book was suitable for young children to see in order to learn about sex? I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Mike Huckabee wouldn’t support this. Do you think Hillary Clinton would? Hmmmm, I wonder……..it sure would wake up the nation to see what kind of integrity, or lack thereof, their political leaders have!!

Going Green Has Me Seeing RED!!

I don’t know about all of you, but I am soooooooo tired of all the “green” talk lately. It especially been thrown into our faces this week on television - namely NBC’S “green week.” Ohhhhhhh, it just makes me SO SICK!! So, that’s ONE WAY of making me green!! LOL In all actuality, the only thing greener than my queasy face is the money trail supporting this agenda!! :p

Don’t get me wrong. I am all for conservation; or, more simply put, common sense. I think we should recycle and try to reduce our waste. I think we should all do our part to reduce the amount of energy we consume and just try to play it smart and not be so wasteful. However, I don’t think it warrants an all out “save the earth” campaign as if “mother Earth” were somehow a bigger priority than life itself. First of all, it’s not even “mother Earth” at all, it’s GOD’S Earth; the Earth HE created. Yes, we should be good stewards of the place He created for us to live on, but when that becomes more important that so many other things in this world, we’ve got a real problem.

I guess my biggest complaint is this: when was the last time they had a whole week devoted to something TRULY important? When was the last time they had a “save the babies” campaign? Um…….never!! Nope. You won’t see a “save our children and society from abortion and the evil Planned Parenthood” or “chastity” week on television. That’s “controversial.” Is it now? Would someone tell me WHY protecting and valuing our very LIVES that LIVE on the very planet we are so busy saving is not worth our time? Would someone tell me WHY a TREE is protected MORE than an unborn child? Would someone tell me WHY there are lunatic celebrities crying over a dying whale or dolphin, and yet, no one is crying over the loss of a baby that is dismembered in its own mother’s womb? While we are all out saving the world from the farce of an agenda like global warming, a REAL agenda to exterminate our offspring and population of America is going on right underneath our noses!! AND NOBODY CARES!!!!! MILLIONS OF BABIES HAVE DIED BECAUSE WE ARE OUT SAVING TREES INSTEAD OF CHILDREN!! What good will saving the world do if there are no people left to live in it?

Well, at least we do have a glimmer of hope for change. That change resides within us. We have the power to make a difference and start caring. WE can stand up and say, “YES, WE CARE!” I have no doubt that a revolution is beginning to break out, and it will only get stronger as we march forward into 2008. Next year, as many of you know, the movie “Horton Hears a Who” is coming out in theaters. This movie carries the vital message of “a person’s a person, no matter how small.” I have no doubt that will plant seeds as we get ready for the all-important presidential election.

Speaking of the election, the primaries are getting closer and closer. And, the tension is building!! It’s truly getting exciting!! In the past few days, we have seen and heard some amazing (and even perplexing) news stories come to light. Most of you probably know what I am talking about…….ahem, the shocking and disgusting endorsement of Rudy Giuliani by Pat Robertson (WHICH IS INSANE!!!). But, I don’t think I’ll rant about him. I would rather talk about the REAL news which is the fact that Donald E. Wildmon, of the American Family Association, has endorsed (you guessed it!!) MIKE HUCKABEE!!!!!!! Talk about a much needed boost!! And, combine that with the endorsement of Chuck Norris and the “almost” endorsement from Rick Warren, and you have got what I would like to call “the liberals worst nightmare.” That’s because now, the “evangelicals” that they so wish would drop off the face of the Earth, are going to become aware of who the best choice for the Republican nominee is and support him all the way. I’ll bet they are just wringing their hands in fear and wondering how in the world they can possibly keep the “evangelicals” from being informed about this man of character and principle. It would TOTALLY ruin their plans if Huckabee were to be our next president. That would mean that baby killing would soon come to an end, our freedoms and our faith wouldn’t be jeopardized, and the world would be a much better place with a godly man like Mike Huckabee as our leader. So, if you’re thinking, “Well, what’s so bad about that? Isn’t that what we want; to be safe and protect ourselves and our children? Why wouldn’t the liberals want this world to be a better place.” Well, my friends, I have those very same thoughts and to be honest, I cannot answer those questions. There’s no way I will understand the twisted mind of the liberal agenda that wants to strip us of everything we hold dear.

There is also speculation that Dr. Dobson is going to endorse Mike Huckabee; but those rumors have been recently denied. However, it has made for some good discussion and suspense in the blogging world!! So, let’s hope that Dr. Dobson will, in fact, endorse Mike Huckabee. People heed the words of Dr. Dobson, and his endorsement will be a steak in the heart for the liberal vampires! LOL Mike Huckabee would then skyrocket into the spotlight and quickly become the man to beat!!

So, if you haven’t already, spread the word about Mike!! Check out his website, and if you are a myspacer, add him to your friends list and make him a top friend!!! Also, check out my links on this page!

Let’s keep fighting the good fight!! Don’t worry about going “green.” Rather, go “red!” Get mad!! Get passionate!! Stand up and fight for what’s right!! Don’t be pushed around!! Let’s fight for faith and morality in America!! Stand with me as I stand for Mike Huckabee. He’s our only hope!! God bless you and may God bless America!!

Politics Really Can Be Funny!! LOL

After watching the republican debate tonight, I am becoming more and more encouraged that Mike Huckabee is gaining ground and popularity. He REALLY did well tonight; as he always does!! He made several insightful points tonight. One of which is when he said that all joking aside, there was nothing funny about having Hillary Clinton for president. Amen to that!! That wouldn’t be funny at all!! That would be a tragedy for all of America to weep for as we watch our nation be destroyed before our very eyes! I pray that that will never have to happen and that America still has enough common sense not to vote for a power hungry dictator who will strip us of our freedoms and our faith.

Huckabee was incredibly well prepared and articulate and he totally dominated!! I think he blew away the competition, and he totally read my mind when he said that Rudy and Romney and the rest of them could duke it out all they wanted. And, after their whole bloody fight was over with, he would still be the one standing there and could be the one to run for president. Ha ha. You just gotta love Mike Huckabee!!

He also wowed the crowd with his tremendously intelligent answers and commanding stage presence and personality. He is really a guy you can connect and feel comfortable with.

The same can’t be said of many of the other candidates, however. Ron Paul got booed a few times when he went on a spiel about how the troops need to get out of there and that people are tired of the war, etc. Granted, we are tired of the war and wish the troops could come home, but the American people are smart enough to realize that just jumping ship totally would be a bad idea. It’s like an exterminator leaving a job only half done. If you don’t get rid of all the bugs, you’ll just have to go back to a situation that is ten times worse the next time and it won’t be as easily contained.

Romney also fudged up big time. It was mind-blowing and laughable to see how he continually contradicted himself in such a John Kerry manner. He was always talking out of both sides of his mouth. It was astounding!! Hopefully, people will see through his hypocrisy the same way I hope they will see through Hillary’s. He doesn’t have a lot of room to talk about her lies when he does the very same thing. He caters and panders to the crowd just as much as she does. Never mind the fact that he probably doesn’t even know he’s being so ridiculous because he doesn’t even know what he believes himself. Just today, I saw him on television answering a question about how he believes in God but also in evolution and that he thinks God used the “tools of science” in order to create human beings. Oh my gosh, is he serious??? Evolution isn’t “science” anyways!! It’s nothing more than a ridiculous theory that has a religion all its own!! You have to be a special kind of stupid to believe that we “evolved” from apes!! And how insulting to say that he believes that GOD would use that kind of “tool” to create!! That’s like saying he couldn’t make us right in the first place, and we just “improved” upon ourselves over time. Well, first of all, the Bible says we are made in his image and that God never changes. So, that totally nullifies the evolution theory for you if you say that you believe in God. In order to have been made in his image, and be who we are today, we couldn’t have possibly come from apes. Otherwise, we would STILL be apes because God would have had to been a monkey to start with and a monkey now - since He never changes. But, since we are obviously NOT monkeys now (well, in the case of Romney, Clinton, and other monkey-brained people, there could be an exception! LOL) the evolution theory does not add up; especially if you claim that you have faith in the God that created you. Gee, Mr. Romney, what a slap in the face to Almighty God!! Maybe, in time, the mass of nothingness in your brain will have a big explosion and “evolve” into something out of nothing and you will miraculously have a brain!! Let us hope that you are just grossly misinformed and deceived and that when confronted with the truth of the matter, your eyes will be opened and you will see clearly. It’s like Kent Hovind always says, “Ignorance can be fixed, but stupid is forever.”

Well, I hope you got a good laugh out of that, because I sure did!! I find Mitt Romney’s ridiculous contradictions outrageously funny!! I don’t think he even realizes just how stupid and contradictory he sounds!! If he could only hear himself!! Oh boy!! We got to seriously pray for him to see the truth in so many ways - including the fact that he is also brainwashed by the false doctrine of the Mormon church.

Anyways, that’s all I have to say about Romney. Most of the debate was just bombastic falder-rah and an endless stream of circumventing the questions and pointing fingers at the other candidates - as well as the democratic candidates who weren’t present. In other words, just another typical debate. LOL Although, it was so refreshing to see that Huckabee had enough class and character not to act so immature and ridiculous. He knew his facts. He conducted himself respectfully and he was even rather humorous. I’ll even credit John McCain for that too. In fact, he got a standing ovation when he criticized Hillary for her wasteful spending (in regards to some ridiculous Woodstock museum or something like that). McCain said that he didn’t know how valuable or important something like that was considering that he was “tied up” at that moment in history. ;) LOL

Another moment of pure comic genius came from the mouth of Giuliani when he provided and actual quote from Hillary. “I’m not making this up,” he said. Hillary actually said, "I have a million ideas. The country can’t afford them all.” Giuliani went on to describe that she’s absolutely right. We CANNOT afford all of her millions of ideas!! Finally!! She actually said something truthful!! America cannot afford Hillary!!

Ok. I think I am done laughing for tonight. But, all joking aside, if you want a real winner who isn’t going to embarrass the country with their double-talk and lack of true insight and understanding, stand with Mike Huckabee. This guy truly knows what he’s doing, and he’s no imbecile!! He won’t turn this country into a three ring circus full of chaos and misery. He wouldn’t let us down! He wouldn’t turn us into the biggest laughingstock on the planet. Huckabee would actually restore our integrity and credibility that our nation was founded on and has been known for. Isn’t that how we want people to think of America? Isn’t it time that we show the world that we are honest, dependable, and worthy of the world’s respect by electing someone with true leadership into the white house? Yes, I think it’s time. It’s time for MIKE HUCKABEE!!!

And, before you laugh at this one, read this article about Chuck Norris’s endorsement of Mike Huckabee!! Hey, if he’s good enough for tough old Chuck, he’s good enough for us all!! ;) Mike, we love you and we’re praying for you!! Don’t give up!! Keep fighting the good fight!! God bless you!!