In Case You Were Curious…

I have often wondered why the conservatives are called the “right” and the liberals are called the “left.”

By “chance,” I stumbled upon this verse in the Bible:
“ The heart of the wise inclines to the right,
but the heart of the fool to the left .”
Ecclesiastes 10:2 (NIV)

Hmmm, I guess that sums it up pretty well…
YOU CAN’T HAVE A BETTER REFERENCE SOURCE THAN TEXT STRAIGHT  FROM THE BIBLE!

After two years of Obama…Here’s Your Change

We were promised Hope and Change.  The change is in the chart below and the hope is that it does not get any worse.  Forget about Hope.  It is going to get much worse.

After two years of Obama …

Here’s your change!

	January 2009	TODAY	% chg	Source
Avg.. Retail price/gallon gas in U.S.	$1.83	$3.44	84%	1
Crude oil, European Brent (barrel)	$43.48	$99.02	127.7%	2
Crude oil, West TX Inter. (barrel)	$38.74	$91.38	135.9%	2
Gold: London (per troy oz.)	$853.25	$1,369.50	60.5%	2
Corn, No.2 yellow, Central IL	$3.56	$6.33	78.1%	2
Soybeans, No. 1 yellow, IL	$9.66	$13.75	42.3%	2
Sugar, cane, raw, world, lb. Fob	$13.37	$35.39	164.7%	2
Unemployment rate, non-farm, overall	7.6%	9.4%	23.7%	3
Unemployment rate, blacks	12.6%	15.8%	25.4%	3
Number of unemployed	11,616,000	14,485,000	24.7%	3
Number of fed. Employees	2,779,000	2,840,000	2.2%	3
Real median household income	$50,112	$49,777	-0.7%	4
Number of food stamp recipients	31,983,716	43,200,878	35.1%	5
Number of unemployment benefit recipients	7,526,598	9,193,838	22.2%	6
Number of long-term unemployed	2,600,000	6,400,000	146.2%	3
Poverty rate, individuals	13.2%	14.3%	8..3%	4
People in poverty in U.S.	39,800,000	43,600,000	9.5%	4
U.S.. Rank in Economic Freedom World Rankings	5	9	n/a	10
Present Situation Index	29.9	23.5	-21.4%	11
Failed banks	140	164	17.1%	12
U.S… Dollar versus Japanese yen exchange rate	89.76	82.03	-8.6%	2
U.S.. Money supply, M1, in billions	1,575.1	1,865.7	18.4%	13
U.S.. Money supply, M2, in billions	8,310.9	8,852.3	6.5%	13
National debt, in trillions	$10.627	$14.052	32.2%	14

Just take this last item: In the last two years we have accumulated national debt at a rate more than 27 times as fast as during the rest of our entire nation’s history.  Over 27 times as fast. Metaphorically speaking, if you are driving in the right lane doing 65 MPH and a car rockets past you in the left lane.   27 times faster, it would be doing 1,755 MPH!

Sources:(1) U.S. Energy Information Administration; (2) Wall Street Journal; (3) Bureau of Labor Statistics; (4) Census Bureau; (5) USDA; (6) U.S. Dept. Of Labor; (7) FHFA; (8) Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller; (9) RealtyTrac; (10) Heritage Foundation and WSJ; (11) The Conference Board; (12) FDIC; (13) Federal Reserve; (14) U.S. Treasury

THE PRESIDENCY

 SOME WILL APPRECIATE THIS AND SOME WILL NOT.

 HOWEVER, ALL OF IT IS TRUE. 

 So, tell me again, what is it about Obama that makes him so brilliant and impressive? Can’t think of anything? Don’t worry. He’s done all this in 24 months — so you’ll have one year and ten months to come up with an answer.

 Every statement in this email is factual and directly attributable to Barrack Hussein Obama. Every bumble is a matter of record and completely verifiable.

I am NOT the originator of this content, but have verified the sources of the information. I wish I knew who to credit for this, but have been unable to locate him or her.

Must Read for Leaders

I have been reading “Cracking Your Church’s Culture Code” by Dr. Sam Chand for the last week. It’s one of those books that you can’t just read in one sitting and walk away.

For me, I have had to read about ten pages at a time and then digest it. If you are involved in ministry at any level, you need to read this book.

If you are on staff at a church or are pastoring a church, YOU NEED THIS BOOK! It will wreck you…I promise!

You can order it,  get more info about it, and read a sample chapter here.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Great Uniform Debate (Part 3 of 3)

For the past couple of days, I have attempted to provide an objective viewpoint that presents the arguments both for and against public school uniform dress codes. I am pleased to have seen so many people sharing their perspective and helping me write the content for both this blog and the posts on my Facebook wall. I have received many messages and was even interviewed for an article that ran in The Greenville News and mentioned during Round 2 of The Main Event of TV station WSPA’s Scene on 7. Today, I share my position on this hotly debated topic.

Source Unknown

It isn’t difficult to tell from the picture above that I am adamantly opposed to school uniforms. And it isn’t so much the fact that I enjoy being on the unpopular side of a debate. I feel very passionate about this issue.

At the heart of the issue is the basic premise that we live in a country established for the express purpose of protecting the rights and freedoms of individuals. Throughout history, governments and tyrants intent on exerting greater control on their people have used discrete and sometimes blatant measures to erode the rights of the people.

Founding father Thomas Jefferson said, “A free people claim their rights as derived from the laws of nature, and not as the gift of their magistrate.”

More and more, it seems that government institutions are trying to dictate what people can or cannot do; seat belt and helmet laws, CFL light bulb requirements, “national security issues” and on and on. Ultimately, for me the uniform issue is a matter of personal freedom.

If I allow the government or its institutions to tell me what my kids can wear and tell my kids that the best way to resolve potential conflict is to conform with the rest of society, I fail as a parent to give my children a proper perspective and understanding of their rights under the Constitution.

I know that there will be some who claim that I am a conspiracy theorist or some right-wing wacko who is out of touch with reality. I mean, after all, it’s just a simple school uniform, right? But consider what French philosopher Jean-Jacque Rousseau said, “Free people, remember this maxim: We may acquire liberty, but it is never recovered if it is once lost.”

In China, the Red Guards were young revolutionary activists – a powerful and destructive political force during the Cultural Revolution. They wore army-style uniforms, red armbands and carried a book of Mao’s quotations.

Between 1966 and 1968, under the guidance of Mao Zedong, they were dedicated to eliminating people who were perceived to deviate from his teachings. Many people were imprisoned or killed because they refused to comply with the Communist party’s ideology.

In Eastern Europe, Hitler Youth, a paramilitary organization that consisted of 10-18 year old children, was created with the purpose of recruiting and training future members of the “Storm Regiment” and integrated into the Nazi movement. Benito Mussolini had a similar group in Italy called the “fascist youth” and they ranged in age from 1-18!

All of these groups had one unique attribute in common, young impressionable children who were forced to conform during a time when they didn’t know any better. If their minds could be molded at an early age they would make dedicated soldiers for life.

The Bible says in Proverbs 22:6 (KJV), “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”  The fact is that what children learn at a young age, they carry with them into adulthood and it is the responsibility of THE PARENT, not the government or its institutions, to instill in them these values.

I am not comfortable communicating to my kids that they should give up their individual rights and freedoms all in the name of conformity. Think about the freedoms taken away from Americans after the 9/11 tragedy…those freedoms were taken in the name of “security” and will never again be regained. We all know that “those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.” As for me and my family, that is not a risk I’m willing to take.

What about you? Are you willing to sit idly by as one-by-one, your freedoms are stripped from you? What do you think about my position? Fire away…I can take it!

The Great School Uniform Debate (Part 2 of 3)

As the debate for school uniforms rages on, those in favor of this type of dress code present some fairly convincing evidence that schools should adopt such policies. Yesterday, I highlighted a number of bullet points often used in the pro-uniform argument. As promised, today, I am taking a look at the opposing viewpoint.

The 1st and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution provide “governance” for the legality of public school dress codes. The First Amendment expressly provides that “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech.”

Many who argue against school uniforms express their concern that by instituting a dress code, the rights of the students to freely express themselves is subjugated.

However, the Supreme Court of the United States has held that freedom of expression is not an absolute right and as such, the government can restrict speech at certain times and in certain contexts.

Although students retain constitutional rights to freedom of speech and expression while in public schools, the Supreme Court has held that these rights are limited. Courts, therefore, examine the necessity of the regulation for maintaining the classroom environment and school officials may prohibit expression if it is inconsistent or disruptive to this mission.

Once we move past the legal aspects, there are many other considerations that are raised, including the following:

1. Uniforms are an unnecessary expense and can create an economic hardship themselves.
2. Uniforms are an unnecessary exertion of power by administrators who don’t know how to exercise responsible authority.
3. The wearing of uniforms does not prevent the formation of cliques or gangs.
4. The wearing of uniforms does not prevent students from expressing unpopular or inappropriate views in other ways.
5. School uniforms can be ugly and/or unflattering, and having to wear something unattractive or unflattering is not good for students’ self-image.
6. The wearing of uniforms may prevent students from having to learn how to get along with people whose personal taste differs from their own.
7. The wearing of school uniforms may give students the impression that conformity is the way to prevent conflict.

One person who commented on my Facebook page stated this argument,

“Sounds like another way for the government to control your kids. They will force you to by (sic) there clothes. Better parenting is what’s needed, not the teachers or faculty doing their job. I was the smallest kid in class, so I was bullied. My mom taught me to grow a pair and stand up for myself, she didn’t try and make me a wooss (sic) by keeping my hands clean. I was taught to stand up brush the dirt off and make my way.”

Another parent had this to say,

the more little rights they take away might lead to bigger ones… don’t know if schools should dictate what we can or can not wear.

So where are you on this debate? Do you agree with those who oppose uniforms? Can a legitimate argument be made on these merits? I’d love to hear from you! Tomorrow,  I will share how I feel about the debate and support it with the facts as I see them. Tune in then!

****UPDATE****

This blog got a surprising mention tonight on local CBS affiliate WSPA. The show, Scene on Seven, with Kimberly Kelly mentioned my position and said you could read more about the debate here. Thanks Kimberly! Now check out the Round 2 of The Main Event. (NOTE: You can fast forward to 2:29 for round 2)

Scene on 7

The Great School Uniform Debate (Part 1 of 3)

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a passionate person. I don’t ride the fence or walk thin lines. I’m very cut and dry; black or white. I don’t call myself by a particular political party because quite frankly, neither party has done a very good job of running this country and neither represents my views or opinions. So why would the issue of school uniforms prove any differently?

  Last evening, I asked a simple question on my Facebook page, “What do you think about public school uniforms?”

To my delight, there were 31 responses from friends, colleagues, relatives and co-workers. And interestingly, the comments varied, but most leaned in favor of school uniforms.

I promised to refrain from giving my opinion until I felt a good number of responses had been received and since this morning, I feel like I have heard a fair and honest debate, I decided I would begin to weigh-in with my perspective.

Uniforms in school is not a new concept. In fact, in a great majority of private institutions, a uniform of some type has been worn for centuries, but for public schools, the requirement of a uniform didn’t really take off until about 1987 when Cherry Hill Academy in Baltimore, MD instituted a uniform dress code policy. Of course, this was an individual school, but less than a decade later, the Long Beach Unified School District in California implemented the first district-wide uniform policy.

Since that time, many schools and school districts have wrestled with school uniform and dress code issues. Recently, the middle school where my oldest daughter attends decided to move from a dress code policy to a uniform policy. Prior to that time, I had given little thought to the debate because it really had no impact on my family and me.

Over the last several weeks, I have done quite a bit of reading about the topic. I have scoured the internet for information that I felt would help me, as a parent, make an informed decision and lend credible insight to the discussion. I even read an article in our local newspaper that directly addressed the issue at the middle school in question.

The debate in favor of a uniform policy includes the following points:

1. School administrators face the challenge of setting and enforcing a dress code that provides adequate coverage. A uniform policy would make it easier to enforce than a dress code allowing for individual choice.
2. Fashion & peer pressure force families to feel obligated to spend money on clothing they really can’t afford.
3. Wearing a uniform creates an “esprit de corps” environment and fosters a “community environment.”
4. Crimes involving the stealing of apparel would “likely” be curtailed since everyone is dressed the same.
5. If students are in uniforms, “intruders” could quickly be identified and students on field trips could be “easily” accounted.
6. The wearing of a uniform helps students recognize that each person is unique, not because of the clothes they wear, but because of talents and abilities each person possess.

In your opinion, is the argument in favor of school uniforms valid? Do these six points make a legitimate argument? Why not submit your opinion and let your voice be heard. Tomorrow, I’ll highlight the converse opinion and follow-up on Thursday with my personal stance. I look forward to your input!

A Letter to Tech Support

Dear Tech Support,

Last year I upgraded from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 and noticed a
distinct slow down in overall system performance, particularly in the
flower and jewelry applications, which operated flawlessly under
Boyfriend 5.0 .

In addition, Husband 1.0 uninstalled many other valuable programs,
such as Romance 9.5 and Personal Attention 6.5 , and then installed
undesirable programs such as NBA 5.0 , NFL 3.0 and Golf Clubs 4.1 .

Conversation 8.0 no longer runs, and Housecleaning 2.6 simply crashes
the system.

Please note that I have tried running Nagging 5.3 to fix these
problems, but to no avail..

What can I do?

Signed,
Desperate.

——————————————————————————————————————————–
DEAR DESPERATE ,

First, keep in mind that Boyfriend 5.0 is an Entertainment Package,
while Husband 1.0 is an operating system.

Please enter command: ithoughtyoulovedme. html and try to download
Tears 6.2 and do not forget to install the Guilt 3.0 update. If that
application works as designed, Husband 1.0 should then automatically
run the applications Jewelry 2.0 and Flowers 3.5.

However, remember, overuse of the above application can cause Husband
1.0 to default to Grumpy Silence 2.5, Happy Hour 7.0 or Beer 6.1 .
Please note that Beer 6.1 is a very bad program that will download the
Snoring Loudly Beta .

Whatever you do, DO NOT under any circumstances install Mother-In-Law
1.0 (it runs a virus in the background that will eventually seize
control of all your system resources).

In addition, please do not attempt to reinstall the Boyfriend 5.0
program. These are unsupported applications and will crash Husband1.0.

In summary, Husband 1.0 is a great program, but it does have limited
memory and cannot accommodate new applications quickly. You might
consider buying additional software to improve memory and performance.
We recommend Cooking 3.0

Good Luck!

Tech Support

(NOTE: I am not the originator of this content, but couldn’t help but share! Hope you enjoy.)

Why All the Fuss?

Like Christmas, Valentine’s Day has become synonymous with a HUGE commercial gift-giving push. Believe it or not, there are some estimates that upwards of one BILLION cards are given on February 14th all around the world. But my question is, “What’s all the fuss?”

Do we actually need one day a year to tell the person or people we love how much we care? I mean honestly, does a card with a cute little picture and words written by someone else REALLY express how much we love someone? Okay, I admit that I have succumbed to the commercialism and bought one of the lame cards, but RARELY can I find a card that truly expresses my own sentiments.

Valentine’s Day is big for retailers. In fact, this year’s estimate is that the average person will spend $116 on their special someone. That is just over $13 BILLION for retailers and that doesn’t include the $3.27 on the family pet or the $2.84 spent on co-workers.

The vast majority of spenders will opt for that all too easily obtained greeting card, but let’s face it, if the only time you tell your mate how much you love and appreciate them is on February 14th, your relationship would be a wreck. How could any relationship endure the test of time with a once-a-year acknowledgment of affection.

Why not make EVERY DAY a Valentine’s celebration? Every day is a new opportunity to tell the one or ones who are near and dear to you just how much they are loved. It can be a really simple task, but one that will return untold rewards. Why not try leaving a little note in a place that your special someone will find unexpectedly during his or her daily routine. Slip one in his or her jacket pocket or inside a cabinet they frequently open.

You might also consider shooting them a quick text message just to let them know you are thinking about them. If you are REALLY DARING, maybe you’ll use that camera on your phone to let them know what’s waiting for them when they get home…of course, I’m not just talking about a sirloin steak, if you catch my drift. Just be sure to use the delete button if you have kids…you wouldn’t want to scar them for life! =)

No matter what method you choose to express your emotions, make it an everyday event not just a single-day event. It will have more meaning and leave a longer lasting impression than that $4.98 bundle of wilted roses you picked up at Wal-Mart on the way home from the office!

I’d like to hear from you. What are some ideas you have that may help others as they try to express their love every day of the year?

What Are the Signs?

On a recent visit to a local establishment, I passed the restroom and noticed a sign. I had been there MANY times and had never seen the sign before. After reading the sign, I had such belly laugh that I cried and had to use my asthma inhaler to restore my breathing. Maybe it won’t be as funny to you, but I’d love to get your thoughts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another trip to a local restaurant over the weekend with my family brought some laughs. This sign was hanging in the ordering area. My family and I had an disagreement over what the sign read. My kids thought it said “toots” as in “to pass gas,” but I tried to explain that it said “toots” as in “a slang term for “babe” or “sweetie” or “honey.” Regardless, we all got a good laugh and I promised to post it in a blog or on Facebook. So what do you think???

Best Commercial EVER

Okay, maybe there have been better commercials about better products, but having grown up a fan of Star Wars, it would take an awful lot to top this one in my book. The only two questions I have…Why did it take so long for someone to think of it? AND, maybe more importantly, why a GERMAN car manufacturer not an American manufacturer? After all, Star Wars IS an American inspiration!

What do you think is the “best commercial” you have ever seen? If you have a link, feel free to share as well!