First I’ll give you my Christian answer which is pretty obvious: Forgiveness. Newt has asked for it and I’d NOT be a Christian if I couldn’t give it to him. Matthew 6:15 says, “But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Newt is a politician and he could be lying, but to me with regards to this particular issue, he seems quite genuine. Every interview that I’ve heard him talking about this topic he seems genuinely sorry.

It is also important from a Christian perspective to remember that we are all sinners. Every other candidate who has ever run for President was also a sinner. However, I definitely prefer my candidate to realize this and have a personal relationship with Christ and realize HE is the ONLY means to true forgiveness and total annihilation of those sins as if he or she had never committed them!

Aside from my Christianity is my love for America. I believe that Barrack Obama has harmed America and if left at the helm will drive us into depths we may not be able to dig out of. We need a Republican candidate that can beat Obama.

Ron Paul has some great economic points but his foreign policy is ludicrous and quite honestly scary. The entire Ron Paul package is weak in my opinion. From his essential belief that abortion is ok if the states decided it was ok, to his belief that Iran should have nukes to feel legitimate, to his poor debating skills, he is out for me. Also we are looking at a possibility of three vacancies in the Supreme Court in the next few years and I would be scared to see who Ron Paul would appoint. Would they be sympathetic to his legalize drugs and prostitution stance? Also his 56% rating by NRLC is very scary for me.<

Mitt Romney has always struck me as a snake from the first time I heard him talk. I haven’t trusted him and I just can’t shake it. And those feelings came prior to me knowing that he has flip-flopped on my key social issues. He is definitely allowed to change positions as long as it is true and real and not for political gain. I’d be willing to give him a pass on that if it weren’t for the snake feeling. His Romneycare is also a HUGE negative to me. How can he try to repeal Obamacare if it was molded after Romneycare? I don’t think he could or would. I also think he is a little weak on debating. He is improving as he goes but how many times does he need to run for President before he can master it? Romney has proven by his judicial appointments in Massachusetts that he can’t be trusted to do that either.

Rick Santorum would be my #2 but lately he has appeared to be a bit whiny. He has done pretty well in the debates in my opinion and he is right on when it comes to social issues. But he also has had some “Lindsey Graham” type of moments as a Senator which to me isn’t acceptable. With regards to judges I think Santorum would do great. I wouldn’t worry about that at all. Like I said he is my # 2 and I’d be “OK” with him. Maybe his time is in 4 or 8 or even 12 years.

Newt has always struck me as a very brilliant and articulate man. I was not happy when he decided not to run 4 years ago because I thought he’d be great. At that time I didn’t know about a lot of his “baggage”. I think Newt has the ability to take great ideas and explain them in ways most people can understand. I think Newt has shown in the past that he can achieve great things for America while he was speaker under a democrat President. I think if he is in the #1 position he’d be able to achieve even greater things by working with a Republican congress. Newt also would do great appointing judges in my opinion. His 98% rating by NRLC and the fact that he helped bring about the largest coalition of prolife congressmen/women in 2010 gives me great hope for our unborn.

The bottom line is I am not asking Newt to be President of my marriage…or of my church or of my daily life. I’m asking Newt to lead this country, put it first, and get it back on the right course. I believe those are things he can do and do well.

I’ll leave you with a great endorsement by a San Diego Pastor and Prop 8 organizer.

While we are here taking a day off of work, or maybe even working (and angry that we can’t be off), let us remember that many have risked there lives and, at this very moment, many are still risking their lives for us to do so. Also let us remember that many families never saw their loved ones again after sending them off to war.  And many families now long to be sharing a “day off” with their loved ones but can’t because their loved ones are currently in other countries selflessly serving their first, second, or third + tours of duty.

I am always amazed when I read stories of courage…and they are everywhere. I am sure you’ve read them to. Stories such as: A Marine is wounded in battle, even with missing limbs, only to beg to go back on the front lines to be shoulder to shoulder with his brothers. They are countless…the stories and the heroes. They are not just stories on a page. They are real life and we owe these true heroes a debt of gratitude. Don’t only thank a veteran today. Thank many! Go out of your way to find one or many and thank them! Find a Veteran’s Day service near you and go there. And thank God that He created people who would put their very lives on the line for us to grumble about having to work or grumble that we didn’t get enough sleep.

If you are a Veteran and reading this, thank you!  From my family to you, we will never be able to repay you!  But we will always be in your debt!

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Please check out this tribute that my good friend Kevin Hawes of Ability Mortgage made for Veteran’s Day!

Truly it is Independence Day that we celebrate.  4^th of July is just a day.  But Independence Day is a thing…something we celebrate that actually means something! What is it and what does it mean?  Should I even have to explain it? Unfortunately yes, in this day and age where most people attribute fireworks, BBQs, and swimming in the pool to July 4, I do.

On July 4, 1776 our founder’s officially adopted the Declaration of Independence which essentially told Great Britain to “bite off” stating that Great Britain had violated the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God (yes we are a country founded on the God of the Bible).  It went on to say, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator (there is that whole unavoidable religious thing again…sorry revisionists/libs) with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Two days prior to the signing, the Second Continental Congress voted that the thirteen colonies be legally separated from Great Britain and it took a lot of negotiating but finally was signed on the 4^th.  From that moment on, American’s have celebrated our independence on the 4^th of July.

One of our founders, John Adams, made the false assumption that July 2 would be celebrated for all time rather than July 4.  He did this in a letter to his wife Abigail,

“The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”

He had the celebration correct!  Just not the exact day!  He also had it correct that it should be “commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.”

As we dive deeper and deeper into tyranny, it is easier to appreciate what our founders did and sacrificed for us.  It is also easier to understand why they did what they did.

Have a fun and safe Independence Day on Monday!  And don’t forget what we are truly celebrating.

Bachmann, a Congresswoman from Minnesota, is an impressive woman who has good looks to match her brains! She has true conservative values and mirrors what my ideal candidate would be.

After participating in a few GOP debates, Bachmann officially entered the race near her childhood home in Iowa.

“My name is Michele Bachmann and I stand here among many friends to announce that I am formally running for the president of the United States. Together, once again, we can secure the promise of the future for America. I want to bring a voice, your voice, to the White House, just as I brought your voice to the halls of the United States Congress.”

Bachmann is a solid defender of the innocent unborn and that is one reason why I love her! She has a 100% pro-life voting record according to the National Right to Life committee! She not only preaches pro-life but lives it each day with 23 adopted foster children! Compare that to the wishy-washy Mitt Romney who has flip-flopped several times on the abortion issue depending on the political winds of the office he is seeking at any given time. My opinion is if you flip-flop on something as important as human life, what else will you flip-flop on?

Bachmann is a solid choice for Americans who are tired of the current administration moving us so far into socialism that it appears there may be no return. Bachmann may be the only one who has the “balls” to move us back to where we need to be, “As a constitutional conservative, I believe in the Founding Father’s vision of a limited government that trusts in and preserves the unlimited potential of the American people. I don’t believe that the solutions to our problems come from Washington: more than ever, Washington IS the problem, and the real solutions will come from our businesses, our communities, our schools and the most basic and powerful unit of all-our families,” Bachmann added. “My voice is part of a movement to take back our country, and now I want to take that voice to the White House.”

With a recent Gallup poll showing 20% of Americans WILL NOT vote for a Mormon, Romney and Huntsman stand little chance winning in 2012 even if either squeaks by in the primaries.

Bachmann has also fought Obamacare completely throughout the Democrat’s ramrodding process and still calls for complete repeal of it. Conversely, Romney passed his version of Obamacare in his state of Massachusetts and still stands behind it even as it is draining the state. 68% of the insured since 2006 receive coverage that is heavily or completely subsidized by taxpayers.

As for me? I’m excited for the potential of having a candidate who has not only READ the U.S. Constitution, but takes our founding documents literally and seriously.
“They wrote that ‘Among those rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness… life; that’s the first right,” she said. “And the incredible thing about this statement is inalienable rights are ones that man cannot give … and not only are inalienable rights ones that man cannot give that right, nor can government give it, the opposite is that government is without authority or power to take that right away.”

All in all I’m delighted she has officially announced and that she is a frontrunner. We do not need another RINO like McCain to be the GOP nominee! But I will withhold fully supporting one candidate until all candidates announce.

Often we get caught up in taking holiday breaks and we often forget what the holiday is all about. There are several holidays throughout the year that I could care less about but Memorial Day and Veterans Day are definitely two that I think we need to remember for more than just spending time with friends and family.

So what does Memorial Day mean to me?

Memorial Day is a day where I can remember all of the many blessings that have been poured down on me by God that have been protected by countless deaths of our armed forces. Today I remember all of the fallen heroes and their families that have sacrificed so much for me to do what I do each and every day.

Most of us cannot even begin to understand what it takes to be one of those heroes. I am not sure that I could be one. It takes a special person. It takes a person willing to die for his or her country. We cannot fathom what those fallen heroes went through in their sacrifice for us. It’s not just a movie or a story. It’s something that really happened to each of our fallen.

Memorial Day is a day where we can remember the countless heroes that fought for our freedoms somewhere…fought to preserve our God-given blessings and never came home to be able to enjoy those freedoms themselves.

Memorial Day is also a day where we MUST remember that our freedom isn’t free. It came and continues to come at a high price. The price is the blood of our fallen, the blood of our heroes. But this Memorial Day let’s not forget the families of our fallen. Also let us not forget the heroes who did come back but maybe with limbs missing or scars on their bodies.

And let us not forget the heroes who continue to fight for our freedoms heroically each and every day!

If Memorial Day has been a day off for you or a day to get together with friends and family, that’s great! That is what our fallen have fought for. But fly your flag proudly and know why you are doing it. Also remember that the fun you experience on Memorial Day came at a price! Let’s appreciate that price! Let’s remember our armed forces and show them our love for them and for our great Country that they gave so much to protect!

John Heida – May 23, 2009

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.”

There are multiple verses like this one but apparently he was too busy with his “mathematical equation” to see the rest of the Bible.

You may already know that Harold Camping isn’t a stranger to failed predictions.  Back in 1992 he wrote a book called “1994?”.  In it, Camping predicted that the world would end on September 6, 1994.  After 9/6/1994 came and went he admitted to calculating wrong but said it wouldn’t happen again.  The May 21, 2011 prediction was the real deal.

So since May 21, 2011 ended up not being the beginning of the end of the world, will it prove to be the beginning of the end for Camping?  No doubt Camping made a lot of money from the build up of this false prediction.  I doubt he’ll be giving that back…and in the meantime he gives yet another black eye to the Christians out there that actually do read the Bible in its entirety and trust God when He says that nobody will know the time or the hour…but we better be ready because:

^“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” – Matthew 24:37-44

Since that decision in 1973, it is estimated that over 52 million babies have been killed because of the sins of their parents. They were given the death sentence for merely being “inconvenient.”

Since 1973, science has determined that life indeed begins at conception yet abortions still are not only performed all around the United States, but some organizations such as Planned Parenthood, and certain politicians seem to salivate at the prospect of more and more abortions…all under the veil of “my body my choice.”

At the very moment of conception a unique human being’s DNA is created. It is a mind boggling thought to think that very DNA has never existed before…and will never be repeated again. At that very moment, all of that human being’s traits have been defined: eye color, hair color, and sex. When did a unique DNA become part of a woman’s body? And before most moms know they are pregnant their baby’s heart is already beating. When did stopping a beating heart become a choice? Who made us God? A bunch of black robes? Just because we can’t hear them scream doesn’t mean they don’t scream or don’t have an awful amount of pain.

It is hard for me to believe that there are people out there who still think preborn children are not “living” or are not “human” yet. So the question is, do people push abortion because they don’t know, don’t care, or have ill intentions?

Many people have different ways of celebrating life. Some talk to young women who may be contemplating abortion and show them love and understanding. Many heroes adopt “unwanted” babies. Some people protest peacefully outside of abortion clinics with signs with clever slogans and other protest holding posters of horrific photos of aborted babies. A lot of people think that those posters should not be displayed…but I say that if those posters are so horrifying that we don’t want to see them, maybe abortion is something we shouldn’t be tolerating anymore.

Regardless of how people try to make a difference during the Sanctity of Life month, or throughout their life, I think it is important for those of us who profess to be followers of Christ to let those know who have had abortions that Christ’s blood is all encompassing and covers their abortion as well.

Whatever you think is right, do it! Babies can’t save themselves. They need us to fight for them…and life is worth fighting for!

Today at Ripon High School in Ripon, California, multiple juniors refused to say the Pledge of Allegiance while others stood proud to recite it.

One student in a social science classroom said that several students not only refused to say the pledge but some also mocked those standing and reciting the pledge while others made disrespectful rhymes. A mother (who I will not name for the sake of her child) was told by her child who happened to be in this classroom, “Out of a class of about 40 only a few kids stood and did the pledge, and the rest stayed seated and many mocked the kids doing the pledge. He said they made up stupid rhymes and were laughing. The teacher yelled at them, but that didn’t stop them.”

Obviously those students have a right to not recite the pledge and a right to act like disrespectful idiots but I also have a right to be extremely angry at this. I think they need a major history lesson! Maybe if they actually grasped the fact that many have died across this world for their right to act idiotic they may think twice next time.

I remember the occasional stupid act being performed by yours truly when i was in high school but I do know that I always respected our flag, our country, and those who gave their all for them!

I have requested a statement from each school board member and the Superintendent of Ripon High.

You can bet that more will be coming when I know more.

UPDATE:

Here is a letter I received today hand delivered by Superintendent Louise Nan

http://rtamerican.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/riponhigh_response.pdf