Heart Thoughts...

Is Obamacare the answer? Let's look at socialized medicine.

2009-05-17T21:19:00.000-07:00

So many people have been mesmerized by the 'concept' of "Health Care for Everyone". But these people aren't actually looking at what that means. Oh it certainly sounds wonderful to think that with the wave of his pen, President Obama will deliver quality health care to all Americans...but is that what we'll really get?

Let's listen to some folks who live with just such a health care system, and see what their experiences have been.

In Canada, people who can afford to do so, make plans to find their health care in the United States. If Obama institutes nationalized health care in this country, not only will Canadians have nowhere else to turn, neither will we.

If medications and procedures are limited based on how much they cost, then what will happen to all the research being done on 'cures' for various conditions? Even if someone discovers a cure for breast cancer, or juvenile diabetes, or a myriad of other afflictions and illnesses, what difference will it make when the "system" cannot afford them?

England isn't any better than Canada. Obamacare will be anything but 'free', people will be paying for it with their health, and their lives!

For lots of great information on this issue, check out "Conservatives for Patient's Rights"

We Need More Honesty Like This....

2009-05-01T14:42:00.000-07:00

Andrew McCarthy's Letter to Attorney General Holder
May 1, 2009
By email (to the Counterterrorism Division) and by regular mail:

The Honorable Eric H. Holder, Jr.
Attorney General of the United States
United States Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20530-0001

Dear Attorney General Holder:

This letter is respectfully submitted to inform you that I must decline the invitation to participate in the May 4 roundtable meeting the President’s Task Force on Detention Policy is convening with current and former prosecutors involved in international terrorism cases. An invitation was extended to me by trial lawyers from the Counterterrorism Section, who are members of the Task Force, which you are leading.

The invitation email (of April 14) indicates that the meeting is part of an ongoing effort to identify lawful policies on the detention and disposition of alien enemy combatants -- or what the Department now calls “individuals captured or apprehended in connection with armed conflicts and counterterrorism operations.” I admire the lawyers of the Counterterrorism Division, and I do not question their good faith. Nevertheless, it is quite clear -- most recently, from your provocative remarks on Wednesday in Germany -- that the Obama administration has already settled on a policy of releasing trained jihadists (including releasing some of them into the United States). Whatever the good intentions of the organizers, the meeting will obviously be used by the administration to claim that its policy was arrived at in consultation with current and former government officials experienced in terrorism cases and national security issues. I deeply disagree with this policy, which I believe is a violation of federal law and a betrayal of the president’s first obligation to protect the American people. Under the circumstances, I think the better course is to register my dissent, rather than be used as a prop.

Moreover, in light of public statements by both you and the President, it is dismayingly clear that, under your leadership, the Justice Department takes the position that a lawyer who in good faith offers legal advice to government policy makers—like the government lawyers who offered good faith advice on interrogation policy—may be subject to investigation and prosecution for the content of that advice, in addition to empty but professionally damaging accusations of ethical misconduct. Given that stance, any prudent lawyer would have to hesitate before offering advice to the government.

Beyond that, as elucidated in my writing (including my proposal for a new national security court, which I understand the Task Force has perused), I believe alien enemy combatants should be detained at Guantanamo Bay (or a facility like it) until the conclusion of hostilities. This national defense measure is deeply rooted in the venerable laws of war and was reaffirmed by the Supreme Court in the 2004 Hamdi case. Yet, as recently as Wednesday, you asserted that, in your considered judgment, such notions violate America’s “commitment to the rule of law.” Indeed, you elaborated, “Nothing symbolizes our [administration’s] new course more than our decision to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay…. President Obama believes, and I strongly agree, that Guantanamo has come to represent a time and an approach that we want to put behind us: a disregard for our centuries-long respect for the rule of law[.]” (Emphasis added.)

Given your policy of conducting ruinous criminal and ethics investigations of lawyers over the advice they offer the government, and your specific position that the wartime detention I would endorse is tantamount to a violation of law, it makes little sense for me to attend the Task Force meeting. After all, my choice would be to remain silent or risk jeopardizing myself.

For what it may be worth, I will say this much. For eight years, we have had a robust debate in the United States about how to handle alien terrorists captured during a defensive war authorized by Congress after nearly 3000 of our fellow Americans were annihilated. Essentially, there have been two camps. One calls for prosecution in the civilian criminal justice system, the strategy used throughout the 1990s. The other calls for a military justice approach of combatant detention and war-crimes prosecutions by military commission. Because each theory has its downsides, many commentators, myself included, have proposed a third way: a hybrid system, designed for the realities of modern international terrorism—a new system that would address the needs to protect our classified defense secrets and to assure Americans, as well as our allies, that we are detaining the right people.

There are differences in these various proposals. But their proponents, and adherents to both the military and civilian justice approaches, have all agreed on at least one thing: Foreign terrorists trained to execute mass-murder attacks cannot simply be released while the war ensues and Americans are still being targeted. We have already released too many jihadists who, as night follows day, have resumed plotting to kill Americans. Indeed, according to recent reports, a released Guantanamo detainee is now leading Taliban combat operations in Afghanistan, where President Obama has just sent additional American forces.

The Obama campaign smeared Guantanamo Bay as a human rights blight. Consistent with that hyperbolic rhetoric, the President began his administration by promising to close the detention camp within a year. The President did this even though he and you (a) agree Gitmo is a top-flight prison facility, (b) acknowledge that our nation is still at war, and (c) concede that many Gitmo detainees are extremely dangerous terrorists who cannot be tried under civilian court rules. Patently, the commitment to close Guantanamo Bay within a year was made without a plan for what to do with these detainees who cannot be tried. Consequently, the Detention Policy Task Force is not an effort to arrive at the best policy. It is an effort to justify a bad policy that has already been adopted: to wit, the Obama administration policy to release trained terrorists outright if that’s what it takes to close Gitmo by January.

Obviously, I am powerless to stop the administration from releasing top al Qaeda operatives who planned mass-murder attacks against American cities—like Binyam Mohammed (the accomplice of “Dirty Bomber” Jose Padilla) whom the administration recently transferred to Britain, where he is now at liberty and living on public assistance. I am similarly powerless to stop the administration from admitting into the United States such alien jihadists as the 17 remaining Uighur detainees. According to National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair, the Uighurs will apparently live freely, on American taxpayer assistance, despite the facts that they are affiliated with a terrorist organization and have received terrorist paramilitary training. Under federal immigration law (the 2005 REAL ID Act), those facts render them excludable from theUnited States. The Uighurs’ impending release is thus a remarkable development given the Obama administration’s propensity to deride its predecessor’s purported insensitivity to the rule of law.

I am, in addition, powerless to stop the President, as he takes these reckless steps, from touting his Detention Policy Task Force as a demonstration of his national security seriousness. But I can decline to participate in the charade.

Finally, let me repeat that I respect and admire the dedication of Justice Department lawyers, whom I have tirelessly defended since I retired in 2003 as a chief assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York. It was a unique honor to serve for nearly twenty years as a federal prosecutor, under administrations of both parties. It was as proud a day as I have ever had when the trial team I led was awarded the Attorney General’s Exceptional Service Award in 1996, after we secured the convictions of Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman and his underlings for waging a terrorist war against the United States. I particularly appreciated receiving the award from Attorney General Reno—as I recounted in Willful Blindness, my book about the case, without her steadfastness against opposition from short-sighted government officials who wanted to release him, the “blind sheikh” would never have been indicted, much less convicted and so deservedly sentenced to life-imprisonment.

In any event, I’ve always believed defending our nation is a duty of citizenship, not ideology. Thus, my conservative political views aside, I’ve made myself available to liberal and conservative groups, to Democrats and Republicans, who’ve thought tapping my experience would be beneficial. It pains me to decline your invitation, but the attendant circumstances leave no other option.

Very truly yours,

/S/

Andrew C. McCarthy
cc: Sylvia T. Kaser and John DePue
National Security Division, Counterterrorism Section

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!

2009-02-24T11:36:00.000-08:00

I seriously don't think there is anything that bugs me more than when someone is trying to deceive me. It also makes me crazy to see deception going on and it is not exposed for what it is. I want to jump up and down and start yelling, "Hey, Hey, that's not right!!! That's not true!!"

Over the last couple of weeks I've been stewing in a pot of "crazy soup" as I watch Barack Obama blatantly contradict himself, and all the while the main stream media says nothing. They are so complicit in this great deception going on that all they can do is smile and gush and put a good spin on all he does.

Last week, after just signing the BIGGEST pork laden spending bill in the history of pigs, Obama announced that he was legislating a bail-out for mortgage owners who were facing foreclosure. And this money isn't ear marked for home owners who followed the rules, saved for their homes, bought within their financial means...this money is going to people who should never have gotten home loans to begin with! Thanks to the Carter and Clinton administrations, sub-prime mortgages were "required" to be made available to people who could not otherwise afford a home. It was a recipe for disaster from the get go, and rife with opportunities for abuse.

In spite of his promises to allow the "people" have an opportunity to view legislation before it was passed and to comment on it, he has made no attempt to be "transparent" and approachable. So when he made his housing bail-out announcement last week I was boiling to say the least! Not a word of dismay or rebuke was mentioned in the nightly news about this latest 'serving' on our collective plate of debt. Then surprisingly I saw a clip of a reporter for CNBC on the evening news, ranting about the topic. I believe they included the clip because they were trying to marginalize the guy, when in fact it revealed him to a larger audience. After watching the clip, I just had to watch it again, and then again. It was so cathartic to actually hear someone in the news anywhere be honest about Obama. Here's the clip:

Ironically, yesterday Obama held a "Fiscal Responsibility Summit" at the White House. Uh, a little late to do that wouldn't you say? Do husbands and wives face a financial crisis and rush out to spend up their debt even further and then consider how to be responsible? I don't think so. I believe the summit was a PR attempt to counter Rick Santelli's rant. A rant, that thousands of Americans say a hearty Amen to!

Obama's "Fiscal Responsibility Summit" was for show. It's smoke and mirrors. He's trying to do one thing and look like he's doing something else. Tonight the words will continue, as he addresses the nation on our economy. I promise you that he will do all he can to cast the blame on the last administration. He'll paint the worst possible picture of what we face, and imply that we are all just victims of the last 8 years. Pointing blame and not taking any fiscal responsibility for his own rash decisions in the last month. He'll point out that it will "take a long time", so as to assuage expectations for a time table, while probably announcing more bail-out measures. Just like the experienced illusionist, his words will paint a picture for hearts and minds to embrace...while behind the curtain, he works a more insidious plan for "hope" of "change".

Thou Shall Not Lie...

2009-02-13T18:32:00.000-08:00

“Too often bills are rushed through Congress and to the president before the public has the opportunity to review them,” the Obama-Biden campaign website states. “As president, Obama will not sign any non-emergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House website for five days.”

I don't recall being allowed the opportunity to look over the Stimulus Bill before it was passed by the House, do you? And it doesn't look like "We the People" will have 5 days to look at the bill before it's signed into law. In fact there has been a full court press going on to keep any and all information about it's content to a minimum until it was safely passed. While waiting on the "signed, sealed and delivered" to get to his desk, Obama has been schmoozing it up, campaigning for the merits of this bill. But apparently his trip to the Caterpillar Co. in Peoria the other day didn't have the intended outcome. Take a look:

OOPS!! Aparently Obama is much more comfortable in glossing over the truth with reporters than is the CEO of Caterpillar, who is interviewed after Obama's speach. He went on to say, "There's only $46 billion in heavy construction in this thing, that's not going to help us at all."

Another interesting aside to this story...Obama was speaking to 1,400 workers. He was smiling and and making hopeful noises and then he mentions that the local congressman from Peoria would be hanging around the plant to talk with anyone there who wanted to lobby for this wonderful stimulus plan. ~ Not one person spoke to him.

"... be sure your sin will find you out." Numbers 32:23.

Sow to yourselves in righteousness....Hosea10:12

2008-12-03T20:46:00.000-08:00

Kay Arthur discusses her new books, "Lord, Teach Me to Pray in 28" and "Youniquly Woman." Find more information at www.precept.org

"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy, break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you."
-- Hosea 10:12

Pressing on...

2008-11-22T16:50:00.000-08:00

Like the sun, breaking through a thick fog, I've finally had a break in my post election funk! Praise God!! I feel like I've been in a pit for a couple of weeks, plotting an escape, but God in His mercy just reminded me to re-focus my heart on Him. Once I did that, the rest of my mind followed. I have peace and I'm back on course and pressing on.

In my blog today I want to introduce you to Anastasia, who is a dear sister in Christ. She sells her handmade crocheted items on Etsy, in her shop named Mattscraftywife.

Anastasia is a busy wife and stay at home mom of five children, two of them with special needs. Her items aren't just beautiful, they are practical too. Here is a picture of one of her favorite items that she has listed now. Isn't this an adorable set?

I asked Anastasia some questions about her craft and here is what she said...

What led you to start creating your art/craft? "I have been an avid cross stitcher since my teens, and wanted to learn a new craft. My mom taught herself how to crochet and I realized I wanted her to teach me too! So, 4 years ago, she taught me the basics and I just took off from there.

If you had to choose one other medium in which to display your “creativity”, what would that be, and why? "Knitting, which I learned to do but haven't done much with yet."

What message, if any, do you want to convey with your art/craft? "That handmade items can be more beautiful than store bought cookie cutter items. Love and care goes into every item I create."

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters? "Enjoy what you do. If you don't enjoy it, what's the point?"

Here is my favorite item in her shop now. It looks especially warm on this unusually cold November day....BRrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

You can find a nice variety of items at Mattscraftywife. Recently she was selling these great items, which I found in her 'feedback'. Anastasia welcomes custom orders too, so if you don't see it in her shop contact her with a request.

Thank you Anastasia for sharing with us about your lovely store. Visit her today, by clicking on the link below.

You can also see more of her photos and check out her blog at the following links.

http://mattscraftywife.blogspot.com/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattscraftywife

Look up....

2008-11-15T19:34:00.001-08:00

Colosians 3...
1 If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.

2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth.

3 For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him
be manifested in glory.

5 Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication,
uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;

6 for which things' sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience:

7 wherein ye also once walked, when ye lived in these things;

8 but now do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful
speaking out of your mouth:

9 lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings,
10 and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11 where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering;

13 forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye:

14 and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God.

17 And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

18 Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord.

21 Fathers, provoke not your children, that they be not discouraged.

22 Servants, obey in all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord:

23 whatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men;

24 knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ.

Reconsidered

2008-11-12T09:28:00.000-08:00

Moot point now

2008-11-05T01:08:00.000-08:00

Setting our minds on things above....

2008-10-27T19:18:00.000-07:00

2008-10-26T20:46:00.000-07:00

On a lighter note....

2008-10-26T12:26:00.000-07:00

It's been a beautiful day in central Kentucky. Blue skies, and the air is cool and clear. I love Fall!! Today I'm praising God for His Grace and guidance, His provision and love.

My bedridden Mom, who is slipping away with dementia is "with us" today, and it's been such a joy and sweet blessing to giggle and tease with her like we have always done. The blank stare and wordless hours could be back tomorrow, but I have learned to relish each glimmer of the Mom I used to have. Each moment with her like this is a precious gift.

I received another gift of a different sort last week. A wonderful lady that I encountered on line presented this award to me. She and I "met" when we were both featured Etsy artists on a blog by DZfantasy. My friend is Nina, and she and I are both Christians and not ashamed to say so. We have both been diagnosed with neuro-muscular diseases that limit us, but doesn't defeat us because we trust the Lord.

Nina's artistic ability is something that she only discovered after she became ill, and it is a true testament to the gracious provision of God. Nina has painted the most captivatingly beautiful watercolor pictures that I have seen. Please check out Nina's blog:http://www.ninaswindow.blogspot.com/ There you'll find links to her stores on Etsy. Take some time to OOOooooo and Ahhhh!

Now about the award. It's called the "Uber Amazing Blog" award, and here is the description: Uber (synonym to Super) Amazing Blog Award is a blog award given to sites who:~ inspires you~ makes you smile and laugh~ or maybe gives amazing information~ a great read~ has an amazing design~ and any other reasons you can think of that makes them uber amazing!The rules of this award are:* Put the logo on your blog or post.* Nominate at least 5 blogs (can be more) that for you are Uber Amazing!* Let them know that they have received this Uber Amazing award by commenting on their blog.* Share the love and link to this post and to the person you received your award from.

So without further adoo, I display my "Uber Amazing Blog" award...tah dah!!Thanks to sweet and lovely Nina for nominating me to receive it!!
Outside of Nina's personal "Uber Blog", here are my personal pics for this award....

http://dzfantasy.blogspot.com/ is where Nina and I wereboth featured on the same day. Donna's blog is truly amazing! It's colorful and cheery and full of loads of good information. She has monthy give aways and you can see her gorgeous soft sculpted fantasy figures, that she sells on Etsy!
The next blog is: http://www.mamaslittleditty.blogspot.com/ written by my friend Melody, who I "met" on the Christian Artist's forum on Etsy. Melody stitches the prettiest blankies for little ones of all ages. Check out her 'little ditty' and follow the links to her store too.
Jane Grafton is a very special person. Her devotion to God, family and young people is evident in her blog. Jane also makes stylish necklaces, bracelets and earrings out of high quality beads and findings. Check out:http://janegraftondesigns.blogspot.com/ to read all about her work mentoring young women.

Another gal I met on the Christian Artists Forum is Gina, and she authors: http://ginabees.blogspot.com/ She always features other artists and she has a very generous spirit. She also monitors a thread she started on Etsy forums where CAST members can share their blogs. Visit Gina's blog and follow the links to her Etsy shop. The precious angel earrings are one of her creations.

Last, but not least is lovely Lily, author of: http://everydaylily.blogspot.com/ Lily has many talents. Lily is a captivating writer, and has an Uber blog. She is a pastors wife, and a mom, who makes sublime beaded necklaces and bracelets and earrings. Isn't this design stunning?

So there you have them, my Uber Blog favorites! And if you have time, please check out my two posts below...I think they're Uber important!!

Who are the elite in America?

2008-10-23T19:25:00.000-07:00

In his interview with John McCain and Sarah Palin, Brian Williams asked them "Who do you consider the 'elite' in America?" ~ An ironic question from one of the Main Stream Hollywood Media elitists, who daily fashion and skew the information that they use to brainwash the masses!

Today I post chapter 2 of my rant against the biased media, as it scrounges into every crack and cranny to find something to discredit the McCain campaign and distract Americans from real issues.

I am insulted to listen to reports on the cost of Sarah Palin's wardrobe. Insulted, because I am a woman, and I can plainly see the double standard reflected by these reports. We don't hear disparaging reports on the cost of the suits the men are wearing, or their cost of cosmetic dentistry, or hair plugs! Hollywood critiques the way women look daily, and now this same media machine wants to single this woman out to disparage. It's crazy, and a despicable thing to do.

I was thinking today about 2004 election when the Hollywood Media really took a beating...

That year the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth showed how to beat the media’s rigged game.

They took their testimony about John Kerry’s past directly to the public, bypassing the outraged old media “gatekeepers.” And the public found their charges to be credible.

A key reason for their success was the rise of a new American media. A host of bloggers, talk radio hosts and cable network interviewers stepped up to investigate the Swift Vets’ remarkable array of charges against Kerry. They did the real journalism that old media organizations had largely abandoned in their zeal to support the Democratic candidate.

The political movement the Swift Vets spearheaded was the key factor in Kerry’s defeat.

After failing to silence or discredit the veterans, the old media adopted the smear phrase “swift boating” to discourage others from following the Swift Vets’ example. Barack Obama also uses the term, to attack anyone who criticizes his actions and associations.

Sadly, there aren't enough people willing to hold Obama and the Democratic Hollywood Media accountable for his past record. Obama went back on his promise not to take private funding for his campaign, and as a result more money has been spent on his Purchase of the Presidency than seems imaginable!Here's a guy who has purchased an entire channel on Dish Network to influence you!! No expense has been spared to mesmerize and hypnotize the masses. All with the fervent support of America's elite: from the super rich Hollywood famous, to the Democratic Party's own biased Network News.
So here we are, less than 12 days from the election, watching while Obama buys his way into office. Why aren't we getting investigative reports that connect the dots on the following points, instead of the cost of Sarah Palin's wardrobe?

-Barack Obama’s mentor and long-time minister Jeremiah Wright called upon God to “damn America.” Wright also preached that America deserved the 9/11 attacks, and claimed that the US government created AIDS in order to kill black people.

-Obama worked closely for several years with the former Weather Underground bomber Bill Ayers. Ayers hosted the fundraiser that launched Obama’s political career with his wife Bernardine Dohrn, also a communist and a former terrorist.

-As an attorney in Illinois, Obama represented ACORN, the radical community organizing group that set the stage for the 2008 financial crisis by pressuring banks to make high-risk mortgage loans. Obama later sent millions of dollars to ACORN while working with Bill Ayers at the Chicago Annenberg Challenge. In 2007 Obama promised ACORN members that if elected, he would be “calling all of you in” during the post-election transition “to help us shape the agenda.” His presidential campaign paid the group more than $800,000 in 2008. ACORN is currently being investigated for election fraud in more than a dozen states.

-Obama’s primary financial backer in Chicago, political fixer Tony Rezko, was convicted of 16 felonies including fraud, money laundering and abetting bribery.

-Archived documents of the Marxist Chicago “New Party” show that Obama was a member in the 1990’s. His campaign had previously denied any connection.

-In 2006, Obama spent six days in Kenya campaigning for Marxist presidential candidate Raila Odinga. His Senate staff coordinated donations to Odinga’s campaign totaling nearly $1 million. Obama declared at numerous rallies that Kenyans “are now yearning for change.” Meanwhile, Odinga signed a declaration of understanding with Muslim leaders recognizing Islam as Kenya’s “only true religion.” After Odinga’s defeat, his thugs started riots that killed at least 1,000 people and destroyed or damaged 800 Christian churches. More than 50 people, mostly women and children, were burned to death in a single church while men with machetes attacked anyone who tried to escape. Kenya’s elected government was then forced to accept a “power-sharing” agreement with Odinga’s party.

-Obama has been praised by Fidel Castro, Daniel Ortega, and the terrorist group Hamas. Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan says Obama is “the Messiah.” (No small endorsement to be sure!) America’s “mainstream” media organizations have gone out of their way to ignore or dismiss these disturbing facts, protecting the flawed candidate they favor – a man who could not pass the background check required to obtain a basic security clearance.

Instead, they spend their time investigating the life of “Joe the Plumber”, and how much Sarah spent on her clothes to deflect attention away from Barack Obama’s revealing promise to “spread the wealth around.”

The sound you may hear is Democracy collapsing in America and the moans of every soul that died defending it.

Oh....I meant to point out that the polls showing Obama in the lead are taken by the same biased media that wants to herd us all to the same conclusion on Nov. 4th. Just something else to think about.

Just an average Joe...

2008-10-20T21:09:00.000-07:00

Jeremiah 7: 28 "But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth."

I was watching television last week, just after the Hollywood media (ABC,CBS,NBC,CNN,et al) began reporting on Obama's encounter with Joe the plumber. I saw a tiny clip of Katie Couric making a comment that implied she seriously believed that this Joe was somehow planted by the Republicans.

I was absolutely astounded! To realize that there are people like Couric who believe that the Republican party could actually find out which street Obama would be walking down that day, and then move this man into the neighborhood years before Obama arrived was beyond bizarre! Are all liberals wearing their aluminium foil hats too tight?!

Joe asked a perfectly reasonable question, one we would all do well to ask. And he received a very telling answer. If it hadn't been for Fox News and Neil Cavuto, nobody would have ever heard the question or the answer. But once McCain mentioned Joe in the last debate, all of Hollywood News descended on him. Not to analyse his question, but to discredit him as an intelligent human being with a good question. Like a rabid pack of wolves they clamored to tear Joe's life apart, searching for a morsel to show to the whole world that 'such a person' could never speak for other average Joe's.

This is a Hollywood election, more than at any other time in our Nation's history. The Hollywood elite have footed the bill for Obama's campaign, and the Hollywood News has positioned itself as his full time spin master. The Hollywood News is an industry that thrives on the lurid, and depraved, both in reporting it, in building it up, and then tearing down the same people that they praised the day before. Truth isn't important, unless it can be used to make their point. That's why Joe's personal life was picked apart and posted for all the world to see, the hope being to detract attention from that question he asked.

It's an important question because it's rooted in business and 'jobs'. Jobs are the backbone of our society, and jobs are created in capitalism, not socialism. "Spreading the wealth around" sounds good, but it doesn't work. When success is penalized there is no incentive to succeed. If no one succeeds and grows a business that hires people, then jobs evaporate everywhere. And then what you have "spread around" is poverty, and welfare for everyone. But when no one is succeeding and running a business that pays taxes...who pays for the welfare programs? Hmmmmmm......

Seasons of change....

2008-09-28T16:11:00.000-07:00

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven..." Ecclesiastes 3:1

I live in Kentucky, and Fall is floating in the air at night now. You know those rich earthy smells that seem to float up from the ground, stimulating your senses and memories of brisk cold days, and falling leaves?

Summer's harvest has been gathered in, and the final seed pods open and send their bounty out to burrow in for the winter. The season changes.

Americans are also facing changes, and some of them will be difficult. We are getting ready to vote a new man into the land's highest office, and the financial institutions of our land are facing a catastrophe that will ripple out and down to everyone of us. There's a sense of panic in the nightly news reports and folks are feeling unsure. But whatever may come in our land, I am sure that the seasons will continue on in their appointed procession.

There are "seasons" for each of us, individually, and collectively. Changes are natural, sometimes unexpected, but hardly unusual. When changes come, the tendency is to stiffen in fear, or quake in confussion. But those who recognise that we can't be sure of anything staying the same, except the Lord God; are the ones who will most likely weather any storm. For it was God who set the times of the seasons, and He is the "same yesterday, today and forever" Heb.13:8. He is our constant, our comfort, our guide, and Lord.

God never promised that there would be no pain, or loss, or trouble for those who believe in Christ, but He did promise that He would never leave us. No matter what we are going through, whatever challenge we're facing He is right in there with us, strengthening our "inner man" in order to carry on. I'm not implying that life will be easy. I'm saying that in the middle of the storm, we can find refuge and strength until the season changes again. And they always do, in their time.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowlege Him, and He will direct your path." Proverbs 3:5,6
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I want to take this opportunity to feature a dear friend of mine. She's someone I've never met face to face, but she and I have met in Etsy's Christian Artist Team and we've therefore met heart to heart.

Catherine's user name on Etsy is Abbasgirl. Abba is mentioned 3 times in the New Testament. It is an Aramaic word, the language Jesus spoke, and is translated Father. Some believe it to be an even more intimate term of endearment, similar to 'daddy'.

Catherine makes and sells "Art to the Glory of God" as her store banner says. Her items are varied and beautiful. Her store is chocked full of beautiful decorated boxes, wall art, tiles, pendants and more.

Please check out Catherine's shop, Abbasgirl to find wonderful ideas for Christmas! You'll be so glad you did.

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Just a note: With the election just weeks away, and so many difficult days ahead of this nation, please take time to vote. And please educate yourself on the issues. There are plenty of non-partisan sources of information available. If you aren't clear on how the banks/wall street and the government got us into our current financial delima, this is a good article with just the facts: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122212948811465427.html?mod=googlenews_wsj#printMode

Also, you should search for reports regarding Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2003

Ebb and flow....

2008-08-26T10:15:00.000-07:00

Anyone who's been blessed enough to visit the ocean, comes away with an awesome memory. When I hear the surf rolling in and out, I get the sense that I'm listening to the breath of God. The ocean is vast, it is ever moving and it is alive.

I am overcome with the presence of the Creator of all things. He, Who spoke the world into being reminds me that His Majesty is reflected in His work. As the tides rush in and out, and the smell of salt spray and water-creatures fills the air, I am reminded of Luke 19:40. The Lord's disciples were praising God, and the Pharisees wanted them to pipe down. Jesus said, "I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!" And stones are inanimate, imagine what the ocean is shouting!!

I got to thinking about the ocean, because the artist I am featuring today mentioned that she and her family are going to the Outer Banks for a few days. It brought back some sunny memories for me. ~ Today's artist is Lily, busy pastor's wife, stay at home mom, writer, singer and maker of sparkling things.

Lily, sells her artwork at her Etsy shop: Lily's Creations It's obvious that she is an ocean person like me, because she uses a picture of the surf in her banner, and notice how she showcases this beautiful necklace!

Visit Lily's shop today to see all of her items...

Children are a gift from God...Psalms 127:3

2008-08-24T09:58:00.000-07:00

♥I remember when I was a little girl, I loved to stroke the satin edges of the blanket on my bed. It was smooth and soft, and I enjoyed how it felt beneath my finger tips. Do you have a "blankie" memory too?

Today I'd like to introduce you to a sweet young mom, with a passion for children, not only her own, but all children. The wee one in the picture above is one of her little ones.

Melody is a stay at home mom, who not only homeschools her little brood of 'gifts', but manages to be a loving wife and homemaker. And if that were not enough Melody has a shop on Etsy where she sells wonderful blankies, named:Sewmelody.♥

She lovingly crafts beautiful blankets from the softest chennile, satin and flannel fabrics. Here's one of my favorites:

Could there be a sweeter sentiment to give as a shower gift? The mom-to-be can swaddle her babe in this snugly blanket that proclaims a wonderful truth!

Christmas is approaching, and these beautiful blankets would make such wonderul gifts for grandchildren, Moms-to-be, or for your own little one today. Melody has such a lovely selection of themes and colors, that you are sure to find something to please your taste. She's very sweet, a pleasure to work with.

All Creatures Great and Small

2008-08-23T21:22:00.000-07:00

♥Well, after hours and hours of adding and editing, I've finally come to the place where I can post and enter the "blogosphere". All the cats and I are pretty excited. In fact the cats are so excited they've fallen asleep. :) Oh well, that's not going to cancel the blog party for me!

Above is a picture of Brute, or I should say it is a picture of a sculpture of Brute, which I made for a customer last year. ~ For about 5 years I have been sculpting companion pets in polymer clay and selling them on feepay and through my website.

About a month ago...maybe more now that I think of it, I ran into a mention of Etsy.com on a search. The article said that it was a site designed for the sale of all things "hand made". I decided to check it out, and since that night I've been setting up shop over there as well. Of course I am still pretty new in Etsy hours, so I'm learnin' the ropes, editing my shop for content, etc. and also "networking". So I suppose I have Etsy to thank for this blog, because otherwise it would never have occurred to me try it out.

I'm sure I'll muse a bit about my experiences, etc., but I mainly want to show everyone the beautiful artworks I've found at Etsy. It's a wonderful spot to stimulate your creativity and imagination. High on the 'OOOoooooo and Ahhhhhhh' scale!! If you haven't been there...go, you'll be glad you checked it out.

So visit again, and stay tuned to see some pretty terrific things!