Today, we are governed by another ruling class who, at best, gives lip service to the Creator and, at worst, wants Him banned from public discourse, lest their humanistic lies be exposed. They are the ones who determine who is favored and who is shunned. They decide who deserves the good will of the state and who requires observation.

Here is where we run into the idea of the “protected class” of citizens. These are people who don’t always have an easy time of life. It could be that they have some physical situation, or some lifestyle choice situation that is different than most. However, the common denominator is that the Democrat Party has managed to create a dependency on government in these citizens and, pretty well, takes them for granted at the polling place… sometimes multiple times in a cycle. Foolishly, the other party bought into the compassionate sounding names they gave the laws and embraced them as well.

This is not to say we should ignore our neighbors with physical disabilities. On the contrary, we need to look out for the welfare of our neighbors as we do our own families. However, to make such consideration a mandate from the government opens the door to all sorts of graft, corruption and cronyism.

Consider for a moment the outrageously priced child safety seat for cars. They are a great product and my grandchildren all had them. My kids had this flimsy little thing that hung on the back of the front seat. It would have been useless in a crash. However the mandate did not come until someone had a product they want to sell and the connections to have a law passed. Viola! An instant market of millions of new parents. I want to make clear that just because something is a law does not mean it’s a bad idea – just that we need to be aware of the whole story.

Now consider the whole new industry centered around “compliance”. It encompasses the fastest growing segment of the software industry all the way down to companies that pedal properly worded posters instructing employees how to behave so as not to offend one or more of the ruling party’s constituencies. Those with connections are making multiple millions because of these government regulations, while the rest of us are boxed in more tightly every day by people with no natural authority telling us “you must say this” or “you can’t say that”.

Some of the problems addressed actually had some basis in reality. Sometimes we Americans can behave boorishly, not thinking about the people around us. Yes, even Christians do the same thing. It may not be as overt at times, but we, too, can get caught up in our own concerns and forget the people around us. We are told that true religion is to look out for the least among us, so we are, in deed, our brothers keeper.

It is because we, as a group, have failed to be the salt and light in society, taking care of those in need that we opened the door for opportunists to come in and replace true compassion with the mercantile approach of trading favor for votes. Some of our own number, who claim the name of Christ, have fallen into the trap of attempting to meet their neighbors needs through a political organization that is essentially godless and corrupt.

We cannot escape the blame for allowing this to happen. We have been too wrapped up in our own concerns. These concerns could even include our own church activities. We have not been seeing the needs around us. Not seeing, we have not been responding… and the enemy has moved in with a false solution that takes away freedom and destroys souls.

Recently Allen West has attracted a strong and loyal following.  He has the courage to speak the truth and stand against the prevailing political winds.  Many of you are already fans of what may be a modern day Patrick Henry.  He has been so effective at stirring up the populace that the powers that be in the Florida Republican Party are working at redistricting him out of his seat in congress so he would no longer be the standard by which they are judged.

Using Lt. Col. West as the standard for judging congress is not really a bad idea, yet there are few who would benefit by the comparison.  So for those of you know about the man already… enjoy.  For those who are not familiar with him… enjoy!

Yet this was not the highest achievement of his life. Considered too old for military service, he still joined the army during the dark days of World War II. He and his band traveled around boosting moral and bringing a bit of home to soldiers fighting Hitler’s fascist monster. He lost his life a few days before Christmas of 1944 on a flight across the English Channel on his way to arrange a concert for GIs in France.

He had a lucrative career turning out some of the greatest swing music of his time. He did not have to leave the comfort and safety of his homeland. Unlike many of the moral midgets we see adored by today’s teeny boppers who spend their time bellyaching, whining and complaining, he stepped up to make the soldiers lives in the field a little more tolerable.

His legacy of great music is well known, but the world have continued to spin without out it. The GIs who had an easier time under difficult conditions were even more of a gift to the world… even though it cost him his life.

Most of us won’t have the musical magic of Glenn Miller and most of won’t be called on to entertain the troops or even join them in battle. What kind of legacy will we leave when we are gone? Will it be a huge stock portfolio, a real estate empire or, possibly, a profitable business. All of these things are great, and would probably be a good thing to leave behind. But the point is, it will all be left behind.

It is the people we leave behind that will be our real legacy. It can be anyone we influence in a positive manner. Psalm 127 describes the value of our children:

Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

A friend of mine likes to explain it this way: with a sword or a club, you can only carry the fight to an enemy who is only a few feet away. With an arrow you can reach an enemy across a field or river. That is the value of an arrow in the hands of a skilled archer.

Our offspring are not only given to us to replenish the human race, but to continue to the spread of God’s word – they can continue the fight long after we are gone to our reward. That is, if we are guiding our children and grandchildren in the path they should be going. Not liking the Biblical “train up a child in the way he should go” thinking, modern education tells we should just present children with various choices and allow them to make their choices themselves.

This is what we are paying the public schools to do to our youngsters. As bad as this sounds, from what I’ve seen and conversations I’ve had, it’s plain that the disciples of the NEA aren’t quite so pure when it comes to allowing their students to make unguided choices. This is one of the factors at the heart of our nations’ descent into the secular panacea of moral relativism.

Our children are truly a gift from God. The fact that we didn’t snuff out their lives on an abortionists operating table is a good start. But, bringing them into the world and permitting our culture to lead them to lead them down the path to eternal condemnation is not living up the responsibilities that come along with the gift of a child.

Looking at this responsibility with a long term perspective, some have realized that their child’s education is one of the key elements in guiding them to an accurate world view. A good number of parents work diligently with their children to be instill a Biblical understanding of their place in the world. This is great, but the public schools and their friends influence them for so much more time than the family.

But, you say private schools are expensive. In a way, this is true. However, “expensive” is a relative term. Expensive compared to what? I would suggest that if the child needed some sort of life saving surgery or medication, if was at all possible, money would be found to give to the “healing professions”. I would also suggest that your child’s mind is at least as important as his or her body. For even more hands on approach, home schooling is an option for those so inclined

It may mean keeping our cars a little longer, living in a little smaller house or a smaller bank account, but, if our children grow up to understand that there is a source of all good things, and it isn’t Washington, what price can we put on this.

Some have a hard time thinking this way. After all, isn’t building an inheritance for our family something we want to do. It is, yet it isn’t the most important thing we can do for them. Once we have secured a level of comfort for them, time becomes a commodity more helpful to the children in our homes.

In an age where the financial markets are shaky and people see their retirement plans melting away… in an age where the real estate market has be eviscerated by our government and lenders extorted by less than honest community organizers… in an age when the number of businesses closing their doors increases almost daily… people are looking for an investment that won’t be taxed or regulated into insignificance. Our children are such an investment!

Talking heads, ever looking to reasons to make their learned pronouncements, want to expand on the preferences of a little over a hundred thousand Iowa Hawkeyes, into a national referendum. There is a complete lack of perspective by inflating the importance of this state in the heartland America. However, if we do want to take a sampling to apply to the whole country… Iowa is as good as any… better than most.

Considering the crucial nature of the decision at hand, one has to wonder about the wisdom of permitting any one state, or early sequence of states to do the initial paring of an unwieldy number to the top few who will carry on to the end. The results might well have been different in South Carolina or New York. However this is the process we are dealing with and anyone who wants to be President really needs to be able to work with people from all over the country.

Having said all that, there are a few things we can learn from the evenings proceedings. First is that we see Mitt Romney stuck on his quarter of the votes… and the rest of the voters, those not content with his brand of pseudo-conservatism and who have a vision for a brighter America, really want someone else. Second, is that, at the moment, Rick Santorum is the anti-Romney. What we see is that the former Pennsylvania Senator is the most likely challenger to the establishment candidate.

Ron Paul also did well with his supporters, but seems to also be stuck on his number of supporters. They love him and will volunteer to do an amazing amount of work for their man. Unfortunately for them, they did not convince a lot of others to come along.

Rick Perry has already indicated that his 11% was enough to make him reconsider his his own campaign. He is a good man and may be recognizing that this may not be the best time to pursue the office. He may be realizing that defeating Barack Hussein Obama with a real conservative is much more important than which conservative gets the job done.

Unfortunately, I would think it would be time for Michele Bachmann to reconsider her own candidacy. This is a difficult request, as I believe she would do a great job in the White House. Yet, by staying in the race, she, like Perry, would siphon off votes from the another conservative who people can all get behind and put an end to the establishment’s favorite son.

Rick Santorum, came from almost nowhere after lackluster debate performances. He has created a message that is attuned to the concerns and needs of the average productive American. He is a likable man, sophisticated, yet not too polished. He is not afraid to express his love for his country and his gratitude to our Creator for the gift of life and for the privilege of living in this great country.

Win or loose, Santorum did an amazing job of relating to the people and getting his message out. We can learn from this that it is not that conservatism cannot win. We learned that conservatism cannot win if the message is stifled. If it is explained to people… they will respond.

It’s not that people were not giving gifts. I have not seen “official” figures, but I have done a little observation. Wal-Mart and K-Mart parking lots were packed. Perhaps many people were realizing that they need to get the most for their hard earned or redistributed dollar. Dollar Stores and other discount merchants seemed to be doing well.

Not too far from my home there is an “upscale” shopping area featuring all sorts of stores that people love to show their labels or shopping bags to impress their neighbors who, mostly, don’t care anyway. My wife and I strolled around the area two nights before Christmas. It was easy to find a place to park as the lot was only half full… a big difference from just a few years ago.

When we went into Tiffany’s, we were greeted by a well dressed gentleman. I wondered if they got the idea from Wal-Mart. As we looked around, they had the same beautiful merchandise that built their reputation for years. There was a yuppie couple looking at engagement rings and someone over in a far corner checking out some kind of ear rings. And that was about it. In fact, there were twice as many clerks as there were customers.

As I looked over the diamonds and gold jewelry I got the feeling that this type of conspicuous consumption seemed a bit out of place when 401(K)s were cratering and unemployment numbers were dropping primarily because so many people were just giving up the quest for gainful employment. While our government is more concerned with extending jobless benefits than in actually increasing jobs, such spending seemed foolish, even if the funds were available. Besides, these “benefits” don’t exactly go too far when looking at Tiffany diamonds or Brooks Brothers suits.

This feeling was confirmed as we walked past other stores that already were touting 50% off sales to move merchandise in this Obama economy. And walking by the stores was definitely unChristmasy as the crowds were over at Ollie’s Bargain Outlet where you can get “good stuff cheap”.

In one way, it was kind of sad, seeing the beautifully lit and decorated stores that seemed to be fit for another, happier, more prosperous, era. On the other hand, perhaps this is a lesson we Americans need to learn: that prosperity is not assured. It’s not something that just happens. It’s not something the government can provide for us. It’s something we have to work for.

Another lesson, is that we don’t require $1000 ankle bracelets to be happy. Many families were happy just to be able to get together, even though there were not tons of presents for everyone. Some I know of were looking primarily to get something for the children… which may well be the best way to celebrate the season.

Taking our eyes off ourselves is the key to happiness, at Christmas, and any other time of the year. Stories of people paying off layaways at K-Marts illustrate another way Americans are looking out for each other. We hear about the takers in our world, and their enablers in government, but there is another side of our country. The side that cares about their neighbors… without compulsion from our “betters”.

Valuing time with the family, helping people in distress – that is the American way. Going to church and actually remembering why we celebrate Christmas helps keep things in perspective. These things have been slipping away over many years. Yet, this is what many of us had this year. In spite of, or perhaps because of, the dysfunctional government policies, our values appear to be returning, at least in some quarters. This was our Obama Christmas. For many, it was pretty good, for some it wasn’t. Until we get our country back on track, we just can’t stop seeking better days for all of us.

As we celebrate the birth of the King, we can remember the night long ago when the baby came into the world. One way we can do this with a song…

The next song, while lacking a scriptural basis illustrates the idea that we don’t all have to be preachers or missionaries to server the Lord. However, we each have abilities and skills that can give.

Then we have to classic of all carols that brings back so many memories of Christmases past…

Taking the message to all. Going where the people are. Isn’t that what the Great Commission is all about?

Merry Christmas to all… and to all a good night!

It appears that we don’t really have an economic problem… but a confidence problem. It’s not that we lack cash… the Fed is printing paper just as fast as the virtual presses will run – but it’s not filtering down to the average taxpaying American. We have a president with no lack of confidence in his ability to do everything short of walking on water, although I’m not sure he hasn’t tried. At this point though, his extreme confidence in himself is not shared by Wall St. or Main St. People have begun saving what money they have and stopped buying much that they really don’t need. The economy is slowly winding down.

One would think that all the people who voted for, and supported, Barack Hussein Obama would have the confidence to move the economy forward, yet even they… the bankers who received bailout money… and contributed to his campaign… don’t have the confidence to start the credit flowing again. For the bankers, it’s not a cash shortage, they received billions of our money from the government, but an unwillingness to lend it out. It’s hard blame them too much as they’ve made a habit of bad choices in recent years… it wasn’t all their fault though…some was because of government rules and community organized intimidation.

We are told that the banks are the key to freeing up the credit that keeps our economy moving. Individuals and companies in debt up to their eyeballs don’t necessarily need more debt to get them out of debt. The same could be said for governments. Somehow many in our population know this instinctively, but it somehow escapes the thinkerbrains in Washington who have no other answers for us. They tell us to have confidence in them… however more and more people are out on the streets with no job. The want us to have confidence in their answers… but they cost us money… they cost our children money… they cost our grandchildren money – AND THEY DON’T WORK! Telling us that expanding credit is the key to prosperity when excessive debt is what brought us to our knees is utter foolishness… and the low interest rates they are touting are the death knell to savers. The elites have foreclosed on the solutions to our problems.

The truth of Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s statement, “Who among us would ask our children for a loan, so we could spend money we do not have, on things we do not need? That is precisely what the Democrats in Congress just did. It’s irresponsible…” cannot be overemphasized… and even the progressives understand this, but they will never admit it publicly. Our kids money is the source of their power.

We are in the midst of a crisis of confidence in our financial markets, our businesses, our government, in America… even in ourselves. This may be the worst crime the administration has committed against the American people.

What can we believe in, that will get us moving? Perhaps it is the Christians who have confidence that goes beyond the financial institutions and government to listen to the wisdom of God and lead us forward. We are attempting to follow people who have no idea what they are doing. Watching the current DC drama reminds me of a political consultant who is fond of saying, “Never assume malice when incompetence will do.” Although, I am not completely ready to rule out malice. If ever there was a time for a calm word of common sense, it is now.

The solutions we are offered are massively more of the same thing that got us into this mess. Of course, they won’t listen to us, just like they ignore conservative objections because, “I won!”. Perhaps we can show our fellow Americans the way out by taking care of our families and refusing to take part in the “sky is falling” rhetoric, while still making preparations for the worst. Where there are problems, there are also opportunities. The only way to find them is to lose the panic mode and logically assess the situation. Seeking wisdom could go a long to insuring a happy outcome for us, individually, and for our families in spite of everything going on around us. Psalm 37:25 tells us, “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” This is the confidence we need.

Someone has to lead our country out of the fix we’re in. We are preparing for an election in the coming year, yet in spite of the dire threat to our country we are a fragmented mob more concerned about our parochial interests than winning the big victory. The people in charge don’t have the sense to know that when you find yourself in a hole… STOP DIGGING! And they need to be replaced.

If it was a mom and pop business, it often is the death of a dream. It could also result in major financial loss, family breakdown and evaporation of retirement security. When someone opens a small business, they often put everything they have, financially and emotionally, into it. Then government at all levels comes along and pokes, prods, tweaks and controls them to the point where operating decisions are no longer theirs… and they are still struggling to make a profit to keep things going.

However, perhaps the most damaging thing that governments, particularly the national government, are doing to small businesses is the destruction of the economy where people are loosing jobs and having to cut their spending… with both small and large businesses. It’s difficult to operate a business when your potential customers simply do not have the money to buy your wares.

It’s not just business owners who are feeling the pain of businesses closing their doors. Small retailers also employ local residents. Many of whom are single mothers working to support their families or students trying to work their way through college. In any case, these are not the evil rich, as small business owners are sometimes characterized, but they citizens trying to make their way in this world without the aid of government. Put another way, they would rather work and earn their living rather than have the resources they need, taken from their friends and neighbors.

With the current regime, inside the beltway, that pals around with big business honchos, like GE’s Jeffrey Immelt, who are benefiting from growth in government in various ways. The President has no time for the little guys who believe in themselves and their dreams… not the benevolence goodwill of an overly powerful government.

This is just one indication of the impact of the current administration on our economy we witness every day… and the damage is not just statistical… it’s human. We need to do two things to remedy the situation.

First, these are our friends and neighbors who are hurting, and Christian charity demands that we reach out to help them. This can be done through our churches, local charities and individually. It can be as simple as dropping off a bag of groceries. We cannot just palm them off on the government as the progressives would love us to do. They need to experience the concern of a real person, not the cold hand of a professional do-gooder giving away taxpayer provided funds.

Second, we really need to get government at all levels to lift it’s iron hand off small business and, more importantly, get all businesses hiring and putting money back into local economies. Unemployment “benefits”, welfare payments and EIC  just won’t make our country prosperous. Working people are happier and more productive.

We just can’t continue to follow a president more interested in expanding welfare and in expanding jobs. People are more important than protecting and expanding the power of government. We need to keep this in mind when selecting leaders and planning our own lives.

Join Mat Staver and Natalie Johnson on America’s News HQ: Fox News Channel on Sunday Dec. 11, between noon and 1:00 p.m. to discuss Macy’s policy that allows men to use women’s fitting rooms.

On learning that Macy’s allows men to use women’s fitting rooms, people are outraged. They are cutting up their Macy’s credit cards and refusing to shop there until the policy changes. This bizarre policy came to light during the Christmas shopping season, when Natalie Johnson saw a man entering a women’s fitting room, which was in her department area, at Macy’s in San Antonio, TX. After he came out, Natalie politely approached the young man and told him that he could not use the women’s fitting rooms because they were for women only. Although this young man was wearing lipstick, he still clearly looked like a man. He became upset and used expletives, and the attorney who accompanied him said that Macy’s was LGBT friendly. Natalie politely responded that men cannot use the women’s fitting rooms, to which they demanded to speak with her manager. She was later summoned by her manager, Mary Ellen, and told that “transgender” people can use any fitting room they desire. When Natalie questioned how men could use women’s fitting rooms and asked for a religious accommodation because she could not lie by allowing men to use women’s fitting rooms, she was terminated.

There has been a huge outpouring of support for Natalie. Yet, this policy still stands at Macy’s and its affiliate, Bloomingdale’s. Right now, any kind of sexual predator could put on lipstick and have full access to any of the women’s fitting rooms and the girls of all ages who may be present! This must not continue!

Please sign this petition to Macy’s right now: http://www.libertyaction.org/344/petition.asp

Post on their Facebook page, asking them to please protect the privacy of their female shoppers.

Spread the word on Twitter, and include the hash tag “#macys”.

Email macys_execs@macys.com.

Call their corporate office 800-264-0069 or 513-398-5221.

Fax them at 513-573-2049.

Or write to Terry Lundren, President and CEO, Macy’s Inc, P.O. Box 8220, Mason, OH 45040.

Finally, we urge you to please pass this message along to educate shoppers that their privacy is jeopardized while shopping at Macy’s or Bloomingdale’s department stores.

This is a tantrum by a member of the homosexual community that generally looks to a big brother government that gets it’s resources by confiscating the possessions the taxpayers. We need to compare this to the organization they are attacking, the Salvation Army. It helps kids in the cities. It helps victims of natural disasters. It helps prisoners. In many ways, the Salvation Army performs the task of being God’s hands and feet in our society and works off of the voluntary donations of many Americans.

There is the rub. The same God that tells us that true religion is looking out for the least and hurting in our society, also tells us that it is an abomination for a man to lie with another man as a man lies with a woman. (Leviticus 20:13) This is the thing that Thayer and his friends like blogger Bil (with one “l”) Browning cannot tolerate. It is the light of truth that shows the lie of the secular humanist assertion that same sex relationships are natural and should be accepted by everyone… even if it is against their will and religious convictions.

Browning wrote “As the holidays approach, the Salvation Army bell ringers are out in front of stores dunning shoppers for donations. If you care about gay rights, you’ll skip their bucket in favor of a charity that doesn’t actively discriminate against the LGBT community.”

Christmas is a time of charity and love as we commemorate the birth of our Savior. We give gifts to the ones we love and have the opportunity to help those less fortunate. We see the ubiquitous bell ringers with their red kettles at the malls and along city streets and we feel generous when we drop a dollar in… on the occasions when we don’t avoid them entirely. Even with our lack of enthusiasm and commitment, the Salvation Army raised $142 million during last year’s Christmas campaign… a five percent increase over the past season.

Obviously the American people were not concerned about the gay agenda last year, and it is doubtful they will be this year. In fact, it’s doubtful many even know about the homosexual hostility to these humble servants of God. The whole episode is a tempest in a teapot – a non-event in history of the world.

In spite of their vocal shenanigans, their numbers are small. They like to hear themselves rant, and, for some reason, many politicians tremble before them. But they will not make much of a difference in the income of the Salvation Army. On the other hand, we can make a difference. Hiding behind other shoppers isn’t really fair. Dropping a dollar in the kettle is barely an acknowledgment. A little more generosity will help a lot of people. By the way, you can contribute through their website.