Jan. 1, 2012- Light up the New Year!

New regulations by our fabulous government might affect the lighting in your home soon.  Starting 1/1/2012 stores will no longer be able to purchase 100 Watt Incandescent Light Bulbs from USA manufacturers, so when they run out, you will have a hard time finding the plain old light bulb. 

If you like the new energy saving bulbs, there is no problem.  But if like me, you don't like that they contain Mercury and you almost have to call a hazmat crew if one breaks, then you will be sad to see this first phase of light bulb restriction go into affect.

The following year (2013) we will see the exit of the 75 Watt bulbs  and the year after that (2014) the remaining 60 Watt and 40 Watt bulbs will go bye bye.

I'm still scratching my head as to why this is a smart idea by our government.  Isn't this putting hundreds of people out of work who make these light bulbs and the little paper containers they come in?  And isn't it a bit crazy to "PUSH" mercury containing bulbs on us when hospitals went away from using Mercury thermometers because they are dangerous if they break?

Also, has anyone taken notice of Spain's unemployment rate since they went Green?  It hoovers around 20% (and yes I am aware that there is more to their unemployment than going Green, but that is one factor).  In America we are upset that ours has stayed around 9%, can you imagine if we get even close to 20%?  

If you have any additional information on this please leave a comment, I am really confused over this move by our government and would appreciate any additional information.  Thanks and Happy New Year! 

Little Red Riding Hood Better Know Her Wolf- Soros

So far we have look at the upbringing, education and political climate Soros grew up in.  We have seen that he was immersed as a child in Esperanto, an invented trans-European language endorsed by those who envision a world free of nationalities. We see he was taught as a child to lie in order to survive and as an adult he does not lament the role he was forced to play in witnessing the confiscation of possessions by those of his own Jewish heritage.   We have talked about his college education at London School of Economics which fosters the Fabian belief in remolding the world closer to their hearts desire by means of dancing in the shadows and hiding in sheep’s clothing.  

Now let’s look at one of his foundations- I’m not going to go into the details of all his organizations.  Open Society Institute, OSI, was established by Soros in 1984 to “help countries make the transition from communism.”- OSI webpage.  That sounds like a really noble organization.  In fact his entire webpage www.soros.org sounds noble and honorable; however one must look behind the curtains, behind the sheep’s clothing in order to unmask the true nature of Soros organizations (of which there are many). 

Before we go into how he funnels money through various organizations, let’s talk briefly about how he has “HELPED” other countries.  

 1989 he helped fund the "Velvet Revolution" that brought Vaclav Havel to power in the Czech Republic.  He did this by using Shadow groups which formed a behind the scenes government waiting to take over when the old government collapsed.  (This should make one wonder “Is he doing this in America now?”)

1992 he was labeled “The Man Who Broke the Bank of England”.  Read up on this- very interesting and enlightening!

1997- Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir bin Mohammad, charges him of bringing down the Malaysian currency via trading activities (this was during the Asian financial crisis).  Thailand identified him an “economic war criminal” who “sucks the blood from the people” AKA “Dracula”. (Note in 2006 Mohammad publicly apologized to Soros and claimed his accusations were false).  

1999- Assisted with the Russiagate scandal, which almost succeeded in collapsing the Russian economy. Described as “one of the greatest social robberies in human history.” (read up on Clintons involvement- or lack of).  I have read reports that he was the master mind behind events that assisted in the fall of Yugoslavia as well as playing a key role in Japan’s, Indonesia’s, Georgia’s, Ukraine’s and Burma’s economies using similar tactics.

2005- convicted of Insider trading in France (charge from late 1980’s), a decision that was upheld in 2011, however that conviction can still be appealed in the EU Grand Courts.  

2006- Accused of having his hand in Turkey since the 90’s.  Recently- Turkish newspaper  Sabah reported Soros’ OSI  supports “pro-AKP”, the Islamist party in Turkey which is pro Sharia law (please be aware of these laws as they are slowly creeping into Western Societies).  

2007- His hand can be found in establishing the unrest in Egypt that we have seen this past year. 

 

2007- Christopher Cox, who was then chairman of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), was pressured by lobbyist to allowed changes to the US financial market.  This lead to U.S. assets being devalued by more than $ 10 trillion in 2008.  George Soros was behind part of this movement (Sound like the Bank of England?).  He along with Hedge fund investors from Managed Funds Association (MFA) helped shape the financial state we are now in.  The two regulations they lobbied to get rid of include the “uptick rule” set in place after the Great Depression (meant to protect the market from being plundered) and the “Mark to Market” rule that made banks have to re-value assets at the present time instead of seeing an assets long term value. 

2008- His money backed Hilary Clinton until finally resting behind Obama- you decide if you like what you see Obama doing to America.

There is much more you can read about this man and his involvement in revolutions and economies throughout the world.  Depending on the articles you read, you will see his involvement either in a white light or in the shades of gray he is comfortable walking.  I urge you to use caution when reading articles.  While there are many who do not like him and paint him in bad light, there are many who are being paid through various funneling (we will get to that soon) and therefore paint his activities in the light of a saint.  You must check the writer’s motives and follow the money when reading most of anything written about this man.  When in doubt, go to his own words:  

“It is a sort of disease when you consider yourself some kind of god, the creator of everything, but I feel comfortable about it now since I began to live it out.”-  George Soros

QUESTION:  Are you starting to see why it is important that we know who this man is and what he is planning?  If you are a Christian I encourage you to pray for him and for our nation’s leaders. 

The Grace Effect: How the Power of One Life Can Reverse the Corruption of Unbelief- Book Review

I finished reading, The Grace Effect:  How the Power of One Life Can Reverse the Corruption of Unbelief by Larry Taunton.  This book not only educated me on the arguments of why a society benefits from Christian influence, but it also enlightened me to the plight of other countries who are not touched by the hand of God’s people.  

Through sharing his experience of adopting a ten year old girl from the Ukraine, Taunton explains the vast differences between American culture/politics/attitudes and those formerly under the control of communist rule.  

His story brought tears to my eyes on more than one occasion as he explains the moral destitute of lives without the benefit of Christ.    He correlates this with a discussion he had with a New Atheists, Christopher Hitchens, regarding how societies benefit from the Grace Effect.  He explains that even if a citizen is not a Christian, they benefit from having Christians in society.  His rational for how true Christianity (not just the appearance/name) influences a society in a positive way, whereas a society void of grace can only bring despair and the eventual down fall of that society.  

His real life examples mixed with historical testaments makes one see the realities of how grace, or the lack thereof, affects us all in some degree.  He articulately demonstrates how Christianity in an environment is essential to growth and how many pervert these truths to suite their own agenda’s while blatantly ignoring countless examples of how graces changes lives and countries.  

The touching story of the extent his family went in order to adopt one child is extraordinary.  Witnessing grace through the life of this child will move even the most stringent in heart.  I highly recommend this reading to anyone, especially those who have adopted or are planning on adopting from abroad.  

I also recommend this book to anyone who, like me, has little knowledge of communism, socialism and atheism.  This book will open your eyes to thoughts and ideas you may have rarely ever encountered.  It will educate you on where our society has been and where it may be headed.  While all of this may sound boring, the way Taunton articulates it will have you on the edge of your seat ready to read the next page.  I know I could hardly put this book aside; I had to know what happened next!  

(Christopher Hitchens passed away-12/15/2011.  My heart aches for him as I wonder if he ever came to know Christ as his savior.  As you read this book, you can see how close he was having faith in something contrary to his core beliefs, it gives me hope that he did not die alone.  It's hard to believe that prior to this book I had never heard of im, there is so much you can Google to learn more!)   

This book was provided complimentary by the publisher, Thomas Nelson, through BookSneeze for the purpose of review. 

Merry CHRISTmas

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  Isaiah 9:6 NIV

Styles of Government: Democracy vs. Republic

There has been increasing talk in the media this year about Democracy.  

Uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya bring shouts of “This is what democracy looks like”.  Yet in the weeks following massive overhauls in leadership, upheaval continues as fear of the Muslim Brotherhood and other nefarious organizations rise to power and threaten a new government frighteningly similar to the old regimes previously overthrown.  

So what is going wrong?  Isn’t a democracy what we want for those oppressed countries?  

All of this can confuse anyone, but especially American’s who think democracy is a “cure all” for the various evils of the world.  What many do not understand, even in America, is that there is a vast difference between a Democracy and a Republic.  

America is a Republic.

So let’s break down the differences:  

Democracy as defined by Merriam Webster Dictionary:

a : government by the people; especially : rule of the majority

b : a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections

Contrast the subtle differences to a Republic: 

(1) : a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them and governing according to law (2) : a political unit (as a nation) having such a form of government

Based off those definitions it can be difficult to understand the difference.  From what I gather, a democracy is a government ruled by the majority.  Therefore, the majority- whoever that power may be- rules OVER the minorities and their wants.  After voting, the majority- 51% rules over the other 49% and there isn’t anything put in place to protect that 49%.  They are allowed to vote, but once they lose, they are at the mercy of the majority.  

A Republic, however, has a set of elected officials who govern the people based on a set of laws- in America that is the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.  The constitution can be modified by amendments when the majority votes, however the majority must make these changes according to law.  It is not the supreme will of the majority that rules the day.  In fact, to ensure no political party becomes oppressive, the constitution that governs our representatives has placed three distinct bodies to oversee the others.  The Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches all provide a set of checks and balances so that on any given day, the majority cannot oppress the minority in our country.  

A Republic protects the individual from an oppressive government, whereas a democracy gives the appearance of freedom but is actually only another form of oppressive government.  Every democracy in history has failed because power corrupts.  America’s founding fathers knew this and took steps to protect individuals from that corruptive power.  

In a Democracy, as long as you are in the majority that is ruling, you wouldn’t mind the subtle distinctions between a democratic government and a republic.  However, if you are in the minority, you will feel the sting of such differences.  

Please note that the political parties of Democrats and Republicans in America have NOTHING to do with defining a democracy or a republic.  They are political parties, not forms of government- though they do have differing ideas on how our nation should operate.  However, when a democratic majority rules in Washington, the United States does not cease to exist as a Republic (same when a republican majority rules, we are still a Republic- the structure of our government doesn’t change when majorities change).  

We are a Republic, at all times the minorities in our country are protected under the Bill of Rights against majority rule.  That does not mean everyone gets what they want, but it means one group cannot oppress another.  We are not a dictatorship.  That is why America’s government works and these other governments are failing.  Assisting other countries to form a democracy isn’t really helping them, we must assist them in establishing a Republic, and only then will ALL its citizen be free!  

There are many websites you can Google related to this topic, I urge you to do your homework but be careful what you read. Not everything is credible.  Here are two websites I found that are fairly concise and appear to be accurate in explaining the differences between a democracy and a republic:

 http://www.1215.org/lawnotes/lawnotes/repvsdem.htm

http://lexrex.com/enlightened/AmericanIdeal/aspects/demrep.html

As we read our pledge, let’s remember what these words really mean.

Pledge of Allegiance

I Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands,
one Nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

---

Questions:  What do the words of the pledge mean to you?  Are you concerned America is losing its identity as a Republic?  Are we in danger of becoming a majority rule democracy?  Can we help (and should we help) other nations form Republics?  What are your thoughts? 

Simply God Book Review

Simply God, God’s Message of Love and Encouragement by Rick Richards has not been an easy book to read.  While there are pearls of wisdom hidden within the pages, I found the overall book not to my personal liking.  It was difficult for me to overlook typos and to get used to some of the nouns/verbs used.  I also tend to be more traditional in the versions of Bible I read and was not comfortable with some of the scriptures being communicated in the GNB version; however this is personal preference on my part so other readers may not take issue.  

I also struggled with some of the interpretations of Bible stories that Richards conveys and am concerned that this book is not entirely Biblically based.  While I believe Richards is a man devoted to God and is sincere in what he believes God has revealed to him, I am not comfortable with everything he accepts as true; therefore I cannot recommend this book.

There are some basic truths communicated, especially for Christians about spending quality time with God. However, I use caution recommending this book to Christians who do not have a solid foundation in Christ established to be able to weave through solid Biblical truths and one man’s interpretation of what he deems God has spoken to him.  

The courage Richards shows in opening up about his journey with God is touching, even if not entirely to my personal belief system.  I hope any who read this book spend time in prayer asking God to reveal truths to them so that they may grow spiritually and not get tangled within the personal understanding Richards expresses throughout this book.  I also encourage the reader to look up scriptures, to read the entire stories of Biblical characters portrayed and to ask God to reveal His wisdom to each individual reader.  

Richards bravery in self publishing and in communicating his devotion to seeking God’s will and growing in knowledge has my admiration and respect.  

This book was provided complimentary by the publisher, WestBow a division of Thomas Nelson, through BookSneeze for the purpose of review. 

 

Jolly Old Saint Who?

People rarely use the word “Jolly” outside of Christmas.  So what does it mean to “Be Jolly”?  

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines Jolly as:  

1.   Full of high spirits: Joyous

2.   Given to conviviality:  Jovial

3.   Expressing, suggesting, or inspiring gaiety: cheerful

4.   Extremely pleasant or agreeable

I think all those definitions describe a “Jolly Santa Clause”, don’t you?  

I think all those definitions identify the “spirit of Christmas”, don’t you?

"Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind.  to cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas."  Calvin Coolidge 

As I read the descriptions of Jolly, I can’t help but wonder why we relegate Jolly to one season of the year?  Isn’t it something so wonderful we should try to “Be Jolly” all year round?  

Why is that such a difficult state of being to maintain?  

Are we scared of staying Jolly?

By limiting Jolly to one season, are we somehow giving ourselves an excuse for occasional (or frequent) bad attitudes the rest of the year?  

Have you ever known someone who exemplified being Jolly all year?  

I have known a few, but I have known far more Scrooges.  I’m not talking about REAL Scrooges, mean people who are selfish and short sighted to the needs of those around them.  I’m talking about good people who get bogged down with the cares of the world and they don’t exhibit Joy or Cheerfulness, they are not agreeable nor do they inspire others by how they handle the stresses of life.  

Being jolly year round doesn’t require a belief in Santa Clause; it requires a belief in Jesus Christ.  Only through him can we maintain an attitude of being Jolly.  Christ changes how we view tough situations, he changes how we respond to worldly pressures and he motivates us to live beyond our circumstances.  Through him we can always be in “high spirits” because we have his Spirit dwelling within, giving us unspeakable joy that overflows for all to see.  

But knowing Christ isn’t enough, we have to be moving forward in our Spiritual growth.  If we are not moving forward, we are going backward.  

Think about when you first fell in love.  You couldn’t wait to spend EVERY moment with that special someone, you went out of your way to please them, and you lost sleep just to be near them. 

A relationship with Christ should be the same.  It shouldn’t be burdensome, it shouldn’t be a chore to spend time with our Savior and it shouldn’t be something we squeeze into our day.

I’m as guilty as the next person of treating my Lord and Savior this way.  

But as I think upon the definition of Jolly, I realize I want to be Jolly year round.  I want people to see the Spirit of Christmas in me 365 days a year. 

After all, I have the Spirit of Christ in me and Christmas is a time of celebrating his life and love.  I want to celebrate him daily, as his Spirit within me burns to shine.  I hope you do too!  

Question:  Do you know anyone who encourages you to be more Jolly and why?