How YOU Can Make a Difference

I get very frustrated by the continued talk of the incompetence of election workers and officials. Probably because I am one. I love working for our election commission on a volunteer basis and being a part of something that is so essentially American that few things compare.

Yes, I remember Florida, Broward County, and "hanging chads." Those were undoubtedly some of the worst examples of our electoral system but not all of us are like that. I have met a great many of our local election volunteers. Most are highly educated professionals and lifelong servants of their community. These people have to train, be educated, and know well enough to communicate everything from election law to machine operations.

I have noticed a rather disturbing trend in my few years as an election official. Most of the workers are retirement age or older. As an Officer of Elections I am the one responsible and accountable for the complete operations of my polling place - the head chick in charge. In that capacity I must oversee everyone else in my precinct most of whom are old enough be my grandparents. The point is not that they are old and I'm in charge, its that election workers are a dying breed.

Has my generation become so apathetic to not care that some day there will be no one to take their ballot? What will we do then? This is why I am putting out this SOS early enough that we can inundate the Davidson County Election Commission with workers.

** If you are any age but especially under 40 please go to http://www.nashville.gov/vote/poll_official.htm and at least entertain the idea of serving your country in this small capacity. It is a volunteer position but it is paid. SO, if you work a job and use a vacation day, you effectively get paid twice for that day!

If you don't live in Nashville check out your local election commission.

Global Warming Giving Me a Chill

I can't express in words how tired I am of hearing about Global Warming. For me it runs in the same vein as the THEORY of Evolution. Lets explore that for a minute: There is a reason that it is still called a theory. Remarkably it is because it hasn't been proven. Anyone with any observation skills can answer this simple question and end the Creation-Evolution debate instantly and for themselves. Are you ready for the question? Really? Is your mind ready to accept the answer? Alright, here we go....

*The basis of evolution is that minute, simplistic organisms, perhaps one could call them just chemical compounds, evolved and developed into more complex organisms and so began the chain until finally those compounds became primates and eventually humans.

Are you still with me? GOOD cause here comes the kicker...

Since evolution is an ongoing process where the simplistic develops into the complex where in this day and age (or for the last 6000 thousand years) has this continued to happen?

You're right! It doesn't. We see only deterioration, that is the complex regressing into the simplistic. Why, yes, I can give you an example..... Does anybody out there compost? Well what we see in the compost bin is regression. Leaves, egg shells, coffee grounds go in and BREAKDOWN! They do not cook in there are suddenly become a new species of animal. Nope, deterioration not advancement.

With that settled can we get back to global warming?

I am thoroughly frustrated by people who are relatively intelligent that just buy into the latest thing that comes out of Katie Couric's or Oprah's mouth. People take the word of some random guy whose only credentials as a series of abbreviations behind his name. As many an out-of-work graduate will tell you, a degree doesn't mean much. That reality, though, doesn't seem to have phased the vocal minority or the silent majority. I find myself in the Vocal Majority.

I couldn't care less what the media says about either topic but the problem is that both are being used to change the face and foundation of our great nation. We were founded for the pursuits of freedoms but if you look around at the warning bells and trends that the prevention of global warming is fueling you will see those freedoms slowly being eroded for the greater good, that of the global community. After all we don't want our children and grandchildren in thirty years to suffer because we drive SUVs or enjoy the innovations of plastic.

I am disgusted by the idea that some gases, chemicals, climate changes, etc will eventually destroy this fantastically balanced planet the God created for us. I know you think I have lost my mind and that I should be listening to all those PhD's also. Well they may be learned men and women but THEY AIN'T GOD! I don't have to believe them. You see, I am a cheater. I read the back of the Book and not only does this planet not get destroyed by th actions of man, the Eternal God of the universe finds it so lovely that He comes here to reside forever. He could choose whatever He wants, even create something new but that's not what it says. The Bible is very clear that this infinite, omnipotent Creator loves us and our Earth. It becomes His headquarters, the government seat of all.

You can imagine how much more frustrating it is for me when some who identifies themselves as a believer in God pulls a Chicken Little and screams not about the sky falling but about a giant hole that's melting everything and causing hurricanes. Do they not know that He is in control and has already told them the answers? Apparently not because some of these people are championing the cause of global warming and thereby eroding our free republic into communism and socialism.

Every time Congress pokes their nose in and legislates the emission of this or the proper use of that we loose freedom. Most of the ideas behind environmentalism are just plain good stewardship. Recycling is good because the opposite of being wasteful not because it wont end up in a landfill and increase the greenhouse gases. But what about the melting polar ice caps? Aren't I worried about flooding and all of the havoc it would wreak because it would be a worldwide event? Nope, not in the least. Check out Genesis chapter 6 and watch for the rainbow. (In case you don't have a Bible here is a synopsis, after the flood that Noah and family escaped by way of the ark, God put a rainbow in the sky as a promise that He would never again destroy the Earth by flooding.)

So in short (to late), global warming and evolution are POPPYCOCK! Don't buy into them. Protect your freedoms if you love them. If not, I hear France has some room left. And lastly, read your Bible. It's the greatest history, adventure, and love story you'll ever read. If you don't have one, let me know. I'll see what I can do. I'll be praying for you.

The Wizard Ain't That Wonderful

I learned something last night. A movie that I loved as a child isn't something that I want my children to learn to love. I had these romanticized memories of The Wizard of Oz that somehow left out major components like witchcraft. I imagined plopping on the couch with my kids and seeing the yellow brick road and the Scarecrow dance, and, my personal favorite, the Cowardly Lion's number. Reality was much more disturbing than my imagination (and what my son saw.)

Within the first 15 minutes we were introduced to a charlatan who tries to convince Dorothy that he is reading a crystal ball. Can you say divination, consulting familiar spirits and a good portion of the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy? Yes, I am fully aware of his intent to trick Dorothy into returning home but that really isn't what a kid sees. A kid sees a guy in a funny hat with the power to see things in a crystal ball. Its very attractive to a young mind.

That was a bad enough beginning that I should have turned it off right away. Needless to say I let it run reminding him that "everything is pretend, none of this is real."

When we actually got to the Land of Oz the first person that Dorothy encounters should have been my next signal to turn it off. Instead I let "Glenda the Good Witch" continue to normalize the concept of witches. (For you non-Pentecostals and non-believers out there, yes, people do actually practice witchcraft - none of which is good.) Just as it is dawning on me that neither of us should be watching this a puff of smoke brings on the hideous green-faced Wicked Witch of the West. I begin to see my precious boy trembling and finally he turns to me as the ruby slippers make their instantaneous journey to Dorothy's feet and says, "Momma this is bothering me. Can we turn it off?"

Relieved that I wouldn't be the bad guy I turned off the TV and instantly felt remorse that I hadn't done it sooner. Why? Well, as a family we are considered pretty weird. We have chosen to stand against many things that the rest of the world adores for much the same reason. The exploitation and glamorization of practices and preferences that God clearly abhors.

We boycott Disney because they promote witchcraft, homosexuality, and broken families. In turn we boycott anyone who partners with them. We boycott Barbie because she promotes promiscuity and an impossible image of beautiful. We boycott Nickelodeon, The Cartoon Network, MTV, VH1, and many more because anything less would be an endorsement. And that would be compromising our stand for God.

Can a believer say they follow God if they support or even turn a blind eye to something that God through His Word says is unacceptable? I don't think so. I know from the witness of the Holy Spirit that once something is revealed as contrary to God's ways or will a believer must cut it off and turn away. Otherwise we are marginalizing and compartmentalizing God. We might as well be saying, "God, I know I read that you hate this habit or behaviour but society says its acceptable and that I should be free to express myself so I'll believe You for everything but this."

How many times do we erase the line in the sand before the ocean overtakes us? All Satan needs is a pinhole in our armor.

This is what I'm going to explain to my son when he gets home - God's way comes first no matter how uncomfortable and witchcraft in any form is most definitely against God's will.

Let's Talk About the Name

I am a traditionalist. I enjoy the idea that I belong to someone. My husband deserves the honor of knowing that I identify myself as his. I often wonder why women choose to separate themselves from their husbands. They'll call themselves "calliesmom32" or "momof three" (those by the way are completely fictional) but they refuse to accept that they are some one's wife. They want to maintain their independence. My question to them is WHY DID YOU GET MARRIED? When the minister said "you are now one flesh" that's what he meant. He did not say "now you are roommates with benefits" or "I now pronounce you a joint venture."

If you cannot join yourself to someone wholly then you should separate yourself from them wholly.

My name is Bea, and I belong to my husband, Thad!