God is not dead, nor doth He sleep

Last week when I posted my previous offering on this blog, TG and I were preparing to go out of town to visit two of our children.

Throughout a long and very enjoyable weekend resplendent with autumn color and balmy weather, we four talked a great deal about politics.

As you may have guessed, each of us were upset about the outcome of the 2012 presidential election.

Any red-blooded patriotic American would be, and if you weren't, we haven't got much in common on either a secular or a spiritual plane.

I make that statement unequivocally and with no apology and I wouldn't dream of taking it back.

Not even if you made me watch YouTubes of Barack Obama lying talking, a punishment less humane than waterboarding.

So anyway it was much on our minds and I admit in contemplative moments to wondering how well I'd gotten my point across in my blog post.

I read it again and was most unhappy with how it sounded. I decided to get the opinion of our daughter Erica, whose judgment I value greatly and who never minces words.

Come to think of it, none of my kids do.

Does this look like someone who would smarm around?

No. You don't want to go there unless you're armed with facts. Trust me.

I haven't the slightest notion how my children acquired the belief that plain talk is most easily understood.

I'll thank you not to snicker.

At any rate what I was worrying about with regard to my blog post was whether it could be perceived as unduly braggadocious, especially when it came to my family.

Erica opined that my post did indeed have about it a whiff of self-righteous conceit.

Thanks, Little Booyah!

However, she was quick to concede that every word of it needed to be said, and in exactly the way I said it. She confirmed that she knew precisely what I meant and she believed others would too.

Still, I would like to elaborate. I hope you have about twenty minutes free and the inclination to read it all because now that I've started it's not likely I'll turn back.

First let me address the only negative comment left on that post: a hit-and-run by a quasi-anonymous lib troll.

"Bobbie" offered the stale, tired trope that Christianity would be just peachy if it weren't for Christians, paraphrasing that oft-misquoted all-knowing malodorous anorexic peacenik, Mahatma Gandhi.

He apparently would be swinging on gates of pearl today, skipping in naught but diaper and diadem down streets of purest gold, if it weren't for the egregious hypocrisy of every Christian he ever met.

But see, Gandhi had an interesting pastime involving the young female members of his ashram.

When he wasn't engaged in dispensing societal palliatives and worldly wisdom and soapless philosophy, Gandhi was into the giving and receiving of enemas.

The diminutive Hindu's imprimatur is not something I would aspire to secure, or hold in high esteem if I did.

It's a non-issue however, because unless he got over the shortcomings of Christians and trusted in the shed blood and finished work of Christ as his only hope for heaven, Mahatma Gandhi is in hell today.

When I die, by faith (not works) I am going in the other direction.

As the Scriptures admonish, let God be true but every man a liar. Liberals, you stand with Mahatma Gandhi and good luck with that. I'll stand over here with God, inadequate (and nobody knows it like me) though I may be to interpret and share His message.

There were other noteworthy reactions to the election.

One that seemed popular among Christians and non-Christians alike was the cavalier approach. As in, oh, come on! It doesn't matter who is elected leader of the free world!

While I would like to state once and for all that I do not place my faith or hope in any politician of any stripe, I would be ashamed of myself if I were ever enough of a dolt to assert that we'll end up in the same place no matter who's driving the car.

"The sun still rose [the day after the election]" is a refrain as often heard as it is stupid.

As my daughter Audrey pointed out, the sun still rose the day after Hitler invaded Poland in September of 1939. But if you think the Polish Jews -- not to mention millions of other people around the globe -- had the same happy outlook on that day, and for all the days after, you are not much of a student of history. 

Or of anything else, for that matter.

Christians like to give it this: "You know what I think? I think it just means we're that much closer to the Lord coming back."

Well duh. Every day the Lord does not return is one day closer to the Lord's return.

And yet if by saying that, you are saying that you have some inside information about the timing of the Second Coming of Christ, I may (as TG says) be in danger of getting my bulls and my amens mixed up.

Every Christian since Christ's ascension has believed they live in the end times. But according to the Bible, no man knows the day or the hour of the Lord's return. In fact He tells us it will occur at an hour when we think not.

Cemeteries the world over swell with the remains of Christians who believed they'd cheat death by being caught up with the Lord when He comes in the clouds for His bride.

Surely some Christians will have that incredible experience, and I hope I'm one of them. But a thousand years is as a single day to God. If the Lord tarries fifty more years, I'll have been the guest of honor at a funeral and I'll be collected out of a grave.

My children and grandchildren -- and yours -- will most likely have to live those years.

So it matters very much to me that they have a free country to live in, and this country won't be free for much longer if we don't do something to reverse its current trajectory.

Among the several positive comments offered on the blog post in question was one by Laura, who made some excellent points and typed them in all caps to convey her level of frustration.

I'm right there with her. I'm tired of people who claim to be Christians acting like it doesn't matter where you stand on crucial moral issues. 

I'm tired of hearing Christians defend preachers (and their children) who use vulgar language and victimize church members and even commit adultery.

I'm tired of hearing how "evolved" you think you've become that you can see clearly what's so far escaped the rest of us: i.e. that there's nothing wrong with a Christian drinking alcohol and cussing and getting tattooed and listening to rock music and having sex outside of marriage and voting Democrat and having nothing in their closet but a stack of blue jeans and old Rolling Stones teeshirts.

I do not know who Laura is. If she's the same Laura who wrote me a very encouraging email last May, however, I know she reads this blog faithfully and claims to be helped by it.

If it's a different Laura, I stand corrected but that's all the information I've got.

It's interesting to me however, in light of the content of Laura's recent comment, that several months back I began receiving hate mail (the paper kind) from someone claiming to be a Christian.

In particular -- although they do not limit themselves -- this individual objects to my open and public stand (through the vehicle of this, my personal blog) on the homosexual issue.

Of course the hate mail in question is always anonymous! Which is synonymous with cowardly. Gutless. Craven.

Whatever I believe and feel the need to put in writing, I will always stand behind with my name and, if possible, my picture.

And just as I won't hide, I won't be muzzled.

But someone who thinks they're a fine example (as opposed to me) of a Christian fires up their computer and printer and chooses an old-person looking font and writes what they no doubt think is a doozy of a poison-pen letter.

Then they type my name and address real big, locate their scissors and tape, cut out a crooked rectangle, and mash it onto the front of a rumpled envelope.

Then they add a stamp and mail it, proud and satisfied in the self-righteous assumption that they've told me in no uncertain terms the way a Christian ought to think and behave.

But see, what they don't understand is that their hate missives only goad me to further express my conservative beliefs. Not to tone my message down, but to ratchet it up.

It reminds me of when I visit Erica and my Chihuahua, Javier, goes outside to check his messages.

Invariably he starts flapping and yapping around the ankles of Cooper (a/k/a T-Rex), the neighbor's Doberman.

Cooper stands unperturbed, ears slightly back, gazing around unflinching, unyielding, and you can tell he's thinking: Why in the name of sanity is that mosquito-sized canine unit jumping and growling and yipping down there on the ground near my paws?

I cop to being a rock-ribbed conservative in every way you can imagine: fiscally, socially, morally, economically, ecclesiastically, grammatically ... you get the picture. I won't cave. Try your worst.

You don't notice the liberals backing down, do you?

If I am required to be a martyr for either my faith or my country (many much finer people than me have been asked to), I pray God for the grace to go to my death with courage. No sniveling.

Because if my life were taken from me tomorrow by a God-hating despot, I would still be among the most fortunate people to have ever had the opportunity to draw breath.

I am an American and I am a Capitalist and I am a Christian. If you can't guess by my pictures of my husband, my children, and my grandchildren, I am all about the traditional family. 

Abortion is wrong. The homosexuals are wrong. I vehemently dislike big government, labor unions, and the welfare mentality. I have no use whatsoever for either the public schools or the state universities. I believe fervently in our Second Amendment rights and indeed, all our God-given and Constitutionally-protected rights.

If you don't like any or all of the above, I suggest you find a way to lump it.

I've often said that I would rather be dead than a liberal, because liberalism tends to death. Only it's the slow, agonizing kind. Liberals get no clean breaks. They get no breaks at all. The way of the transgressor is hard.

Conservatism in all its iterations tends to life, as does morality and personal accountability.

And yes, Laura, I agree with you that Christians who refuse to step up to the plate in this day and age, are not helping our cause. They -- all the way from the preacher who won't speak the truth because he fears the gravy train may screech to a halt, down to the spineless liberal lurking in the back (or front) pew -- will pay a high price for their poltroonery.

I stand with you, Laura. Until providentially hindered, I'll be here and I promise I will neither alter my beliefs nor take counsel of my fears. Like anonymous mail, it's just not my style.

In conclusion I share two links that I wish you'd read, even though I know if you've gotten this far, fortunes have been made and squandered in the time it took you to slog through this post and it's possible you have other fish to fry.

The first is an article written by the great Erik Rush entitled Yes ... I'm a Hater.

The second is an article written by the erudite Arnold Ahlert entitled Changing Demographics? More Like Enduring Ignorance.

When you have time and are able, please read them and pass the links along.

Also let me say thank you to my daughter Erica, who called and told me to listen on YouTube to the Gaither Vocal Band singing I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.

Christmas is six weeks from today y'all! It's not too early to appreciate the heart-rending message of this wonderful song. I cried and cried when I heard it. God is so good.

Thanks to my wonderful family for posing so patiently.

If you would like for me to take pictures of your beautiful family, shoot me an email or give me a call. I am sure I'd be honored.

=0=0=0=

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

=0=0=0=

=0=0=0=

Happy Tuesday! Happy Week!

Comments

[Mari]

You've done it again! First - I loved the pictures. You did a good job on them, although you have very photogenic subjects! I had to go back to the other post and read Laura's comment and she is right on. I also think your last post was perfectly fine. You are proud of your family and you have every right to be and I for one, think this country would be in a much better place if there were more families like the Weber family!
I was reading sections of this post to my family and they appreciated it.
Someday I really need to meet you in person!

[irene]

WOW! You go girl!. Love Ya.

[glenda]

Well gir, your last post was absolutely something that needed to be said, and you know I don't like whose driving my car right now.Your liberal troll made me laugh. I couldn't wait for your comeback. Sic em gir......And furthermore, if we, as parents and grandparents say wonderful things about our children and grandchildren, I personally don't take that as being braggadocious. No worries dear friend. And I think you know my thoughts on traditional marriage, and families. And I love Erik Rush, and the other article by Arnold Ahlert was right on the button. So now let me do some bragging about you. My friend tells it like it is which I love. She is a true blue Christ follower..my kind of person. She is loved by family and friends. Being a target of hate mail only means she's doing something right, and certain people don't like to hear the truth. I will stand beside her any day and defend her right to do just that. Now J., does this sound braggadocious? Truth gir, TRUTH............G.

[Glenda]

To add to my thoughts.... The song made me cry too...the message it sends is so heart-rending!...........G.

[Donna (Texas)]

LOVE the Photos!!!! And it Wasn't me that sent those naysayers to your blog, I Swear Girl!!!
My FB friends are wonderful people.....I Swear!!!!Hahaaa
Great post once again!
hughugs

[Jennifer]

@Mari ... I'd love to meet you too! You'll never know how much. I believe someday we will have some time together!

@Irene ... Love ya right back, dear lady! You're a great inspiration to me.

@Glenda ... Gir you're a great American and an even greater friend. And I've listened to the song so many times, I may wear it out.

@Donna ... Oh honey, I know you didn't send me the naysayer! I think she saw a tweet on Twitter! But hey ... I wish the libs'd come in droves. I can argue truth and right all day long. Thanks for your support! As a photographer and a patriot you have inspired me!

[Skunkfeathers]

The occasional lib troll is useful. It reminds the rest of us how lucky we are that we didn't wind up as sandpoundingly stupid as the lib troll.

Your prodigy are every bit as insightful and plain spoken as you are. To sound like some lib trolls think all of us conservatives sound, "ya dun good, Missy". Yeah, I did throw a bone to a sandpoundingly stupid lib troll. Albeit a meager one ;-)

You keep sayin' it how you say it, Jenny the Pirate. Your rapier wit outduels the best the lib trolls have, which is akin to a plastic butter knife.

[Jennifer]

@Skunkfeathers ... Agreed! I love staring down the occasional lib troll. I wish more would drop by ... but unfortunately, they're usually too scared to show their faces for very long. It's like vampires, only worse. And you are a great conservative American and I appreciate your kind words, especially the ones about my rapier wit.

[Sue the Hobbit]

There is an element of the Mormon church which is very liberal and pro-Obama. I know, hard to believe, right? Things get contentious sometimes. I can't understand how one could believe as we do and ignore the egregious and immoral policies of the Democrat party. And the thing I REALLY don't get is, if they believe we as a church are led by a prophet of God, which we (as a church) do believe, then how can they think that they know better than the prophet, ergo - God. Do they think they are going to change the mind of God? How egotistical is that?
I do not understand this world in which we are living.