United 93

I went to the premier of United 93 this evening. It was one of the BEST movies I have EVER seen!

Watching it, was like being brought back in time. Even though I knew the outcome of the whole thing, it seemed as though it had happened for the first time in history.

It brought back so many memories and it also showed the side of 9/11 that not many people see. How many people get an inside glimps of what went on behind the scenes at the FAA, ad all the local and state airport authorities?

I'm having a hard time expressing exactly what watching it was like, but I basically feel the same way I did right after watching the towers fall 4 years ago. The shock, awe, and anger towards those cowards that did this to us. But at the same time the American Pride that wells up inside.....the knowing that We ARE doing the right thing, and that we WILL NEVER forget, and that THE TERRORISTS WILL PAY the consquences of attacking us.

United 93 was not some movie you could go watch and not be impacted in some way or another. I left the theater in respect of those on flight 93 and a passion, to support those who have died and are fighting for us today.

Every True American should watch United 93 out of support for those who risked thier lives for others.

Let the world know, We Will Never Forget!

Kp

A Step of Faith...

You know, its so amazing how God works through people to convict you of something.I've experienced that in my own life these past few weeks. Most recently and most challenging was last weekend.I was talking to a friend of mine and *somehow* we started talking about Headcoverings.

Before I go into a bunch of detail its important to know some backround:
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1. I used to homechurch when I was little
2. I've heard the headcovering arguments before
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So anyway, we were talking about Headcoverings, and I always thought that:
1Cr 11:15
But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for [her] hair is given her for a covering.

meant that a woman's HAIR is her covering. BOY was I proved wrong!!! So the argument I THOUGHT I had was like wiped out in about 5 minutes when we went to the Greek definitions.

The Key Word in this verse is "covering" which means:
1) a covering thrown around, a wrapper

a) a mantle

b) a veil
(peribolaion {per-ib-ol'-ah-yon}Strong's 4018 )

So there went my whole argument....alot more transpired but thats the basics.

Needlass to say, all last week I felt convicted and curious as to why we didn't do it anymore. So Saturday, I asked my mom about it.

I said " you know how we say we believe everything in the Bible is true, and how we follow through on it?"

Mom" yes"

me " well then, how come we don't wear headcoverings anymore? I mean, isn't it a little hypocritical to say, 'yes, we believe everything in the bible is true' and follow through on that, but then when it comes to headcoverings we don't do it? I don't know but to me it just looks a little hypocritcal to like not do or believe what paul said while saying we believe everything in there"

Mom "yeah, thats true and thats actually been bugging me for the last few weeks"

Me "really?"

Mom "Yeah, I've been looking for some kindo of hat or something but haven't found one yet. Anyway the reason we don't do it anymore is because when we stopped homechuching and went to a conventional church, there was a lot of peer pressure on us not to do it, because it made them uncomfortable and we were called legalisic"

Me "thats a kinda petty reason"

Mom" yes it is, but peer pressure is hard to stand against"

Me "well its been bugging me too, since last week. I looked up all the words and stuff and it was really cool. but my argument was flawed!"

So anyway, the conversation continued and we decided we'd wear headcoverings :). However the story doesn't end there (that would be too simple and not worth writing about).

So my mom warned me, "the people we homechurch with don't wear headcoverings and we could make them very uncomfortable"

Me " Since when have we ever made people feel comfortable? we're polarizing...they either hate us or like us, its just how it is. "

I was a little worried about that, but what was so AWESOME was that through it all God gave me the strength to follow through on my decision to obey His word. Finally, we go to our homechurch today...and God was so AWESOME, nothing bad happened! in fact, I even get quite a few compliments on it. :)Anyway, thats my story.....isn't God AWESOME?

Kp

The Role of Government

this article will be featured in David Ketter's Christian Homeschooling Youths Gazzette-kp

What is the biblical role of government?

I talked a lot about the role of government in my previous article concerning welfare. In that we saw how it is not the role of government to provide for the poor. Which leads us to a question, what exactly is the biblical role of government?

If we go back and read Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy we can see the original form of Government and laws that God ordained and out in place. If we continue to read on up to the point where Kings were established, we can see that in their reigns they still followed the basic principles and laws already established. Of course, most of the kings became corrupt at some point in their reigns; however that still doesn’t negate the fact that the role of government is in the Old Testament as well as New.
A few examples of the biblical role of government include:

Lev 24:22Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I [am] the LORD your God.
Deu 16:18Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.
Deu 16:19Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
Jer 22:3Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.

According to those verses, a government should have a set of laws that everyone has to obey, a just court system, and authority to punish evil.
The Hebrew word for Law in Lev. 24:22 and Judgment in Jer. 22:3 is the word mishpat {mish-pawt'} which comes from the root word shaphat {shaw-fat'}. Shaphat means:

1) to judge, govern, vindicate, punish
a) (Qal) 1) to act as law-giver or judge or governor (of God, man)
1) to rule, govern, judge
2) to decide controversy (of God, man)
3) to execute judgment
a) discriminating (of man)
b) vindicating
c) condemning and punishing
d) at theophanic advent for final judgment
(to find the blue letter bible definitions, click here )

And Mishpat means:

1) judgment, justice, ordinance

a) judgment

1) act of deciding a case

2) place, court, seat of judgment

3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges)

4) case, cause (presented for judgment)

5) sentence, decision (of judgment)

6) execution (of judgment)

7) time (of judgment)

So those definitions are talking primarily about judging and law enforcement. The question may arise, HOW does this relate to government’s role?

In Leviticus, God was laying the framework for the government system, and gave the Israelites instructions on what things to do, how to do it, and how everything will work. Even though Israel did not stay a Theocracy, those principles established, such as making laws and having judges, were still in place.

In Jeremiah, the prophet was telling the king of Israel to execute judgment and righteousness but not to harm certain types of people. That word Judgment is the same as the word law (mishpat) in Leviticus. The principles established there for executing judgment are don’t kill innocent blood, take away the goods from the oppressor (or let the oppressed go free), have compassion on the fatherless and widows, and do no wrong.

These principles are still seen active in wars today, depending on what side you’re on. I know that in America these principles are held dear to almost everyone. The last thing we want to see is innocent blood shed because it is unjust, we want to see the oppressor suffer and the oppressed go free, we can’t stand it when someone harms the orphans and helpless, and we strive to do right.


God set the basis of laws that almost everyone knows as the 10 commandments. Most societies have some of these laws as well. For instance, don’t steal, don’t murder, and don’t lie are rules that can be found almost any where in the world. Not all people follow those laws, but the governments that have them established usually punish the violators.

This brings us to Romans 13: 3-4 which states:

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to [execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil.

One thing that is very interesting is how each of the different aspects are intertwined. If you don’t have a set of laws, you cannot effectively punish evil, without a just “court system” you cannot effectively enforce laws OR punish evil. All three elements are needed in order for the system to be effective and just.
Now the question is: has America effectively put those principles into practice? Or haven't we?

Operation Impact

I am proud to announce that the first ever podcast of Operation Impact was sucessfully launched and recorded last night.

We covered Immigration, Iran, Moussoui, and closed with our hopes for an 08 ticket.

It was a lot of fun to do and I hope just as much fun to listen to. Operation Impact's podcast is going to be featured on SquareTalk radio, the official podcast of Regenerate Our Culture this weekend or Monday (hopefully).

so.......a major THANK YOU to Tim Sweetman of SquareTalk radio and AgentTim Online for the opportunity for us to guest podcast on SquareTalk, we really appreciate it!

unfortunately, we didn't start podcasting till 12:30 am, so I don't have the link yet, but as soon as everything is setup (with Operation Impact and SquareTalk) I'll link to it.

That said, I'll leave you with this:

"If you want to make sure crime doesn't pay, let the government run it." (reagan)

Have a good one!
kp

Interesting Event :)

I usually don't update about things I do unless its worth updating about. This time it is.

Last night I met my State Senator and 2 of my State Representatives at a meeting that my County Republican Party opened to the public.
It started off with a dinner and then the officials spoke. The first speaker was the State Senator followed by the Representatives. They spoke on what had been accomplished this legislative season before they adjourned. Turns out that in 2 years 681 Senate Bills were introduced and 1668 House Bills introduced. Thankfully, not all of them got passed or made it out of committee.

What struck me was how each official governed by a philosophy. My senator said that they voted down quite a few bills because it didn't fit with the Republcan philosphy of "limited government and tax cuts". He proceeded to show us what they had passed and didn't pass int he budget and how those items that were passed fit with priorities of the people in our district. Each of the Representatives built upon that and gave us listeners an idea on how they were furthering our agenda and the things that really matter to us.

Listening to them speak gave me a deeper appreciation and understanding of what had been done in the State government and why. You can sit and read bills/first readers all you want online but when you have an opportunity to hear your representative speak about and clarify the issues that had been presented that legislateive term, it means a whole lot more.

Not to mention that they took time out of their busy schedule to come and give you a deeper understanding of what exactly took place at the Capitol, it is much more personal and as the night went on you felt as if you had known them forever rather than a few minutes.

They opened up for questions and people asked about legislation, when my turn came I asked about Illegal Immigration. That stumped them, however they answered it quite well. They didn't shy away from the question like you normally see them do when they're on the news. Rather, they gave me an honest answer.

Interacting with my government officials last night really helped me see that they are normal people after all. Like Reagan said " I'm just a citizen temporarily in public service", that is finally how I see my electd officials. Citizens temporarily in public service, and I am thankful for that.

KP

Amature Homeland Security Policy

Department of Homeland Security
Policy by the Secretary of Homeland Security: Kierstyn P. (American Patriot)

One of the highest priorities of governments is the well being of their nation. This includes homeland security, for if your homeland is not secure you are more vulnerable to attacks from the inside as well as outside. Our domestic policy is just as important as foreign. If we are weak on the outside yet strong on the inside we are put at risk. If we are strong on the outside and weak on the inside we are still at risk. For a nation to remain sovereign we need not only to be strong internationally, but we need especially to be strong in keeping the homeland secure. In order to do that I propose the following plan:

*this is just the initial plan, it is subject to updates and revisions as deemed necessary*

Border Patrol:
Construct a wall between the Mexico Border.
Design will be a replica of the Israeli wall (trenches, barbed wire, and electric fence).
The wall will go about 20 feet under ground.

Any US citizen within 20 miles of the border should have authenticated proof of citizenship.

Cost
The Cost of construction should be 9 billion
The Cost of Labor will be none since the builders will be convicts.
Efficiency
The wall will serve as a deterrent against illegal immigrants and will keep our borders secure.
If for some reason an illegal makes it across the fence, and does not stop when called upon. The border security (or minutemen) already in place will have the authority to use any means necessary to get that individual to stop.


Nuclear, radiological, counter attacks:

Raise terrorist alert standards to “extreme”.
Work with D.o.D. and S.o.S
Check with Governors to make sure their respective States are able to handle the situation.
Be sure that the Governor’s have a plan of action etc...


Biological Attacks
Set up a system (if there isn’t one already) so that mail/packages can be scanned for biological chemicals.
Estimated cost
2 billion

Airport security

Keep the “status quo” but allow profiling of suspects.
Cost: should be the same amount that is currently spent on airport security.

A Few Public Awareness Announcements.

* begin public awareness announcements*

For the few of you that read my other blog you already know about the podcast. But for those of you that don't...

I'm doing a podacst with NeoFacist? and Joe. We all got on Thursday night to see if it worked, only to realize that Macs and Windows have some major compatability issues. However, around midnight we figured out a way to overcome those "technical difficulties"; all we have to do now is record (hopefully).

All that goes to say: look out for a new podcast comming soon!


Also, do you support our troops?
If you do, please check out Operation Completion. It is a series of student ran pro-military rallies, and we could really use your help! All the information is on the website, so go check it out!

*end public awareness announcements*

Welfare: the case for elimination.

(note: this is being published in the Christian Homeschooling youth's gazette, and has stirred quite a controversy on my xanga.)

Welfare: the case for elimination.

One of the controversial issues of today is Welfare. This is constantly argued and debated on each side of the political spectrum and even within each party. Some people advocate eliminating it altogether, others think that it should be reduced, and yet others seem to think that it’s a good program and needs to stay.

Welfare programs were created during the great depression, to “help” the economy and poor Americans. As Reagan once said “the 10 most dangerous words in the English language are: hi, I’m from the government and I’m here to help”. That is definitely true in this case.

The Welfare system and the way it works can be summed up in this phrase: redistribution of wealth. The Redistribution of wealth has been tried and failed in many nations, even our own.

In 1620 when the pilgrims came from England on the May-Flower, we used that concept and this is what Governor Bradford had to say about it “it was found to breed much confusion and discontent, and retard much employment...for the young men that were most able and fit for labor and service did repine that they should spend their time and strength to work for other men’s wives and children without any recompense. The strong or man of parts, had no more in division of victuals and clothes, than he that was weak and not able to do a quarter the other could; this was thought injustice.” As we can see, the redistribution of wealth deters people from working.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 Says: While we were yet with you, we gave you this rule and charge: If anyone will not work, neither let him eat.

By providing for people no matter how much or little they work you are taking away any incentive they had to work. In the biblical illustration, the incentive to work would be food. In modern times it would still be food, but could also include going to the mall, or the movies, or parties, etc...

Margaret Thatcher once stated “"I think we've been through a period where too many people have been given to understand that if they have a problem, it's the government's job to cope with it. 'I have a problem, I'll get a grant.' 'I'm homeless, the government must house me.' They're casting their problem on society. And you know, there is no such thing as society. There are individual men and women, and there are families. And no government can do anything except through people, and people must look to themselves first. It's our duty to look after ourselves and then, also, to look after our neighbor. People have got the entitlements too much in mind, without the obligations. There's no such thing as entitlement, unless someone has first met an obligation."

That is so true of today’s “society”, people have the tendency to say “well, I’ll just apply for government aid” and give little or no thought as to whether or not it is the Government’s role to look after the poor.

The real question we have to face, before we can determine whether or not Welfare is wrong, should be: is this the role of government both Biblically and Constitutionally?

Let’s look first at the US Constitution. Article 1 section 8 is where all the powers of the federal government lie. It states:

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

To borrow money on the credit of the United States;

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;

To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;

To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;

To establish Post Offices and Post Roads;

To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations;

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

To provide and maintain a Navy;

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings; And

To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof. (this was taken from: http://www.usconstitution.net )

NO where in that article did it say something about providing for the poor. Oh, but Kierstyn, it mentioned the “general welfare”.

According to the American Heritage Dictionary “Welfare” means: health, happiness, or prosperity; well-being. So in other words, that first clause means that congress, or the federal government, is supposed to look after the prosperity of the nation; no where did it mention that the impoverished is the responsibility of the government.

Also, one other place in the Constitution that we need to look at is our 10^th Amendment. “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively or to the people.”

Since it was not provided for in Article 1 Section 8 of the US constitution, it overrides the 10^th amendment; which means that the welfare system in place is Un-Constitutional.

More importantly however, we need to look at the biblical aspect of this issue.

Romans 13:3-4 says:

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to [execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil.

No where in that verse does it say anything about the government helping the needy. If you read Acts 4:35 and 6:1-3, and James 1:27 you'll find no mention of THE GOVERNMENT in the provision of those in need. Rather, you will see the Church and Family stepping up and doing it. Even in the Old Testament, you never saw the government taking care of the poor people or prophets, the Family always rose to the occasion. That is how God ordained it to be.

Acts 4:35 and 6: 1-3 are just a few examples of when the church or family or community rose to the occasion. James 1:27 states: Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world. Therefore, it is OUR responsibility to take care of those in need.

The argument has been made in previous debates that I’ve had with this issue that “we as the church don’t do it now...why would we later?” The answer I have is simple, and can be applied anywhere. We don’t do it, because that responsibility has been taken away from us, un biblically and unconstitutionally by the federal government.

Let’s say that doing the dishes is your chore around the house, its your responsibility to make sure they get done and taken care of. You’ve done it ever since you can remember and are quite good and used to it. Then all of sudden your mom takes over. She has more money and sometimes gets it done faster, but as a result you become lazy and lose your incentive to take care of them.

That is how it’s been with welfare. The Family, Church, and Community used to be the ones to take care of the needy. Then the Federal government intervened and we have become lazy. That is why we haven’t been on top of helping the needy outside of natural disasters.

However, I have come to believe judging by precedent, that when given the responsibility once again, we will rise up to the challenge.

The American Society is an amazing thing. Whenever something bad happens, such as a natural disaster, the people have always risen to the challenge.

For example, with Hurricane Katrina much of the gulf coast was in ruins for quite some time. Yet, it wasn’t long after the storm before we started seeing people from all over the United States helping us with search and rescue, restoring power, and cleanup. Some States even offered housing and education scholarships to the Katrina refugees.

Much of this was done OUTSIDE of Federal intervention. When Hurricane Charley came in 2004, the Port Charlotte area was without power for a long time, however people from my community and surrounding areas went up to Charlotte County to help with cleanup efforts and handing out ice. Some people even put together gift baskets for the families with children still in shelters.

Not too long ago there was a snow storm in North Dakota, and at least one community lost power. As a result the community came together and aided one another. The State didn’t even declare a State of emergency because the people were taking care of it. All of this happened without FEMA ’s involvement.

We as Americans have always risen to meet the challenge, which is why I believe we should give the responsibility back to the American people to take care of the needy, and eliminate the welfare system completely.

Until the day that we are completely off of government aid, there are ways to take our responsibility back. Such as working at a soup kitchen, holding a fundraiser for a pregnancy resource center, visiting a nursing home and bringing in supplies to their office, even local missions are all ways we can take back our role!

I have an optimistic view of America and America’s future; I believe that it will be our generation that turns the tide for the better. I believe that my generation realize, or will realize that providing welfare is not the Government’s role Biblically or Constitutionally and that in order to effectively change for the better, we must give the responsibility back to the Church. The Church will rise to the challenge, it always has. We as the church cannot afford to become lazy, we need to take back our responsibility entirely in order to become stronger.

Terri Schiavo

Today marks the one year anniversery of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube removal. That story was a huge controversy. The Right to Die phrase was used over and over by the euthenasia group that was supporting Michael Schiavo. It is interesting to note however, that Mr. Schiavo was living in Indianna with his GIRLFRIEND and 2 KIDS at the time of this, and just flew to Florida for the "event". It was and is sad to see that so many people bought into the unfounded "right to die" talking points.

God said " I have put life and death before you, Choose Life"

In the Declaration of Independence it states " We hold these triths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator certain unalienable Rights, that amoung these are LIFE, liberty, the pursuit of happiness".

Not only was this whole thing un-American, it was Murder. This group slaughtered an innocent person.
I was in Florida the whole time this was going on, and I believe that being there for that gave me some more insight and information as to what was going on. More so than other parts of the Nation.

I know that Michael Schiavo was given money to take care of Terri, but instead he spent it elsewhere. I know that the euthenasia people told Michael to move Terri to a hospice, which is where she was for 3 years. I know that, from the Affidavits and records, if the recovery money was spent on recovery Terri would have been better. I Know that Michael stopped therapy. I know that terri was respnsive. I know that she tried to talk. I know that she died a painful death.
(because when your eyes and toungue are bleeding.....its hard NOT to be in pain).
I also know that it wasn't Governor Bush's fault. Yes, he COULD have done more...but so could the US congress.

The US congress wanted Terri as a witness, which meant that she would 1. have been protected and 2. would have her feeding tube, and therefore would stay alive. However, the Judge in Fl ignored it, and ruled that the feedin tube be removed. He told Gov. Bush, that if he did anything he would be held in contempt of court.

Yet, the Judge was in contempt of congress! nothing came out of that.......no one acted. Then, Terri's tube was removed. She died a few weeks after. Euthenasia had its victory.....and we our loss. All because people didn't act.

Regenerate Our Culture.....has begun!

Hey everyone,

I'm excited to announce that Regenerate our Culture has officially started!

We have articles in there from Agent Tim, SecDef, and many other homeschoolers in the blogsphere. These articles are written by some amazingly intellegent people in America! So go check it out: www.regenerateourculture.com

-A young skull not so full of mush as people want to believe,
Kierstyn

Discussion.....

Hey everyone,

I would do a "real" post, BUT I have to prepare for some midterm stuff. So instead I thought some discussion on a what could be considered "hot topic" would be edifying. I will follow up with a "real" post on this topic later. However, first things first :

What do you think of Welfare?
-Is it a necessary evil? is it good? is it bad?
Why do you believe that?

(note-these answers MAY be used in an article I'm writing)

-a young skull not so full of mush as some people would like to believe,
Kierstyn P.

Regenerate our culture, and the abortion ban

Hey everyone,

I wanted to introduce you to something called "Regenerate Our Culture" its mission is to change America for the better and go back to the Bible. you can find out more here. Some of these names may or may not be familiar to you, but this group of people is amazing!

Regenerate our culture's message is something that I have been saying for a long time. We need to get Christians involved and Change for the better, go back to our roots! I encourage all of you to go check out the site, its amazing! I'm not the only person with the same goals!


Also, there is a petition to ban abortion, more info can be found here: http://travis17blog.blogspot.com/

We have an opportunity to make out voice heard in more than voting! lets not waste it!!!

-Kp

Wake up America!

Well there have been a few things that have just been sitting around in my mind and just bugging me to the point that I NEED to get it out!!!! So for starters.....

America you need to WAKE UP!!!! I know I said this earlier but LOOK AROUND and PAY ATTENTION! things are happening RIGHT UNDER OUR NOSES and WE are not doing ANYTHING about it!

CHURCH! WAKE UP AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE! We as Christians are NOT suposed to be inactive in the world around us! we are supposed to STAND up for what we believe, NOT SIT and watch our right to worship God be taken away!! CHRIST did not sit and let things be, he was ACTIVE HE changed the world, and we are supposed to follow Christ! HE made a difference, its time for us to make a difference too!

We as Americans...As CHRISTAINS especially need to stand up for what we believe, even if it means we get ridiculed for it!
One of the amazing things about being an American is that we have the PRIVELEDGE of VOTING and making our voices heard! yet SO many of us don't even go to the polls!

Do we as americans understand that this gift, this "right to vote" is NOT had by most nations in the world? do we understand that not everyone has the "right" to make their voice heard? This is a precious gift, but FEW use it! WHY?!

"well you know kierstyn, politics and christianity don't always intersect"
"Politics is all one corrupt organization"
" you know, its hard to be a christian and be in politics"
"well my vote won't count"
Those are some of the many general responses I get from people I meet when I answer the questions " what are you going to be when you grow up?" or "what college are you going to?" or "you're really into politics aren't you?"

and THOSE responses make me mad. because first of all, while politics and Christianity don't always intersect NOW, they CAN IF we let it.

Really, the base of ANY party is what keeps it going, and if the base is largely Christian, we are going to see more Christian candidates in politics. Christian candidates DO run for election. Take Alan keyes, -he ran in the 2000 primaries- he is a devout Christian, and very pro life, yet he didn't make it out of the primaries. Why? I would venture to say, that while Christains held the same beliefs that he did, the Christian voters did not go out to the polls in the primaries to vote for him.

"Politics is all one corrupt organization" -this comming from a "christain rapper" friend of mine while we were geting the word out about a concert. I was in the car with a bunch of other people and didn't feel like starting an argument. But look, while it CAN be corrput, and with some politicians it is, it doesn't HAVE to be! It doesn't have to be corrupt if we would stand up and make a diference!

"you know, its hard to be a Christain and be in politics" WHY? why is it hard? because its challenging, is that what makes it hard? where have we come as a society, if it a challenge is what should make someone re-think the call that God has placed on his/her life? Yes, I know it will be hard, it is hard just to be a Christain. But that doesn't stop me from being one, where have we come as a society to believe that something being hard to accomplish is not a good thing? how come eveything has to be easy? why is hard bad? Why am I and the few others like me being discouraged to do something that we know God has called us to do........JUST because its hard?
Not doing something becuase it is hard shows a lack of character. Where wouild we be today, if our founding fathers gave up the war for independence because it was hard?
WE WOULDN"T BE A NATION!!!! and get this, WAR is HARD, yet we had the GUTS to fight, and because it was hard and they perservered they had a character quality inside themselves called perserverence. Even though the task was dautning (going to war against the worlds super power, with a rag tag militia) they overcame that obstacle, and won the war.

"My vote won't count" That is one of the MOST ANNOYING things anyone can say to me. If everyone had that SAME attitude, NO ONE would vote. which means whatever guy was in office would stay there for a really really really long time. YOUR vote DOES count, when you vote it is YOUR voice being heard. YOU are contributing to the person you support being elected, and THAT matters!

You know, soemtimes the willingness of people to conform to whatever others want them to confrom to REALLY irritates me. we need to be Impervious, which means unable to penetrate, we need to take a stand for what we believe, before we lose the "right" to stand up.

/rant
Kp

Man On The Street.........Tuesday?

Yes, today was man on the Street Tuesday for me. Although, I wasn't on the street, so I guess it would be "Man In The Class Tuesday".

It was an interesting Man In The Class Tuesday, the first one that I have ever hosted, and it was actually an accident. I didn't realize that's what I was doing till I got home, then I decided that I have to bring my camera next time. ;)

The question for this tuesday was "what do you think about the war?" The responses I recieved were........well, amazing in my oppinion. I only got to "poll" 3 people but the reactions were sad, to say the least. The first person I asked responded " Oh, um, hm, I don't really know". Okay, so thats kinda your typical American teen that doesn't pay a whole lot of attention and is more pre-occupied with the upcomming prom than anything.

The second person I saked responded this way " well, I thought it was necessary at the time, but now its kinda drawn out" (yes, the First person I asked agreed with this statement after it was made).
Now those type of responses are enough to get me on a rant; which I did. My response was "Well, the Iraq war started 3 years ago. When we went in March 3 years ago, it was a poverty stricken tyrannical dictatorship ran by a terrorist who gassed his own people to death. In the course of 3 years, Iraq is now getting to be a democracy, they have had elections, voted people into the parliamentary offices, and Now we are working on a constitution. In 3 years. Now, if you look at it in relation to America. it took us a LOT longer than 3 years to be free of great Britian, and we were under the articles of confederation for 8 years before we came up with a constitution. So if you put it in the Right perspective: a lot of progress has been made, and it hasn't dragged on, its just reported that way."

After hearing my rant she nodded and changed the subject......typical. I kinda felt sorry for her though, I think she watched too much CNN.

The third person I asked was well.........typical..again. "so what do you think of the war?" "what?" she asked. "the war....Iraq?" I said. "Oh" was her response. so i stood there, waiting for a further response.....and she just smiled and continued on with her previous conversation about shoes.

So I guess thats a look at your typical American Teenagers. Haha, its very sad really, but I was enjoying myself and realizing, for the millionth time, how weird I really am. Oh well, hey The few..the Proud..STAND! and I'm proud to be one of those few!
-Kp

And the State of the Union is..........

The State of the Union is Strong, and together we will make it stronger!-Bush

Yes that is the state of the Union.

The President's speech was awesome! He NAILED the arguments that have been thrown at him for the past couple months, re-iterated WHY we are in Iraq, WHY we are staying the course, told us the progress we have made there, adn reminded us that freedom is NOT free, but is worth the cost. He showed us how, contrary to popular belief from talking points and so on, our economy is THRIVING!

It was an excellent speech that connected to every American, if you didn't see it, you really missed out.

-kierstyn

The Few...Stand!

God brings the answers where we least expect, sometimes its just better to simply be direct and Stand while the world is laughing stand on crooked feet, stand up and be counted, Stand or you might get beat, when you're too tired to retreat just stand... ["Stand" by eLi]

One thing that we lack in this awesome country is people with the ability to stand up for their beliefs even if they get ridiculed for them. Why don't people want to stand?

As far as I can tell it all boils down to one thing, Acceptance. Acceptance is something that everyone wants, we all want to be loved and accepted by someone: either by our parents, our friends, our colleagues, teachers, pastors, even the media. The question that we are faced with is: are our beliefs worth giving up in order to maintain our acceptance?

When its put like that, the answer should be obvious. The problem is, thats easier said than done. How many people like to talk about how their beliefs, but when the time comes to defend them, they back down?


How many people say that they're going to do something, then after being pressured change their mind and don't follow through?


How come people are afraid of being ridiculed and persecuted?


Oh, and I'm not denying that its hard to go through, but why are we putting what OTHERS think about us before what our beliefs are, and wether or not our beleifs line up with God's word?


Margaret Thatcher said that " If you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing."

That comming from the Iron Lady, She accomplished MANY things, primarily because SHE DIDN'T BACK DOWN.
You will find that many people in history that accomplished great things were also great leaders, they knew how to stand up for thier beliefs even in the midst of being ridiculed. They didin't care about popularity, they cared about accomplishing something that they believed was important.

Lets imagine for a minute, what would happen if our founding fathers only TALKED about their beliefs but when they were under pressure backed down?
(and they WERE under pressure, if we lost the war they would have been guilty of treason and been killed in horrifying ways)

What would have happened if George Washington went into his first battle and after that decided that this war isn't worth it?

Chances are, that we wouldn't exist as a nation today if they had backed down.

but they didn't, why?
Because they believed that the Freedom to worship God, and that every man has certain unalienable rights endowed by thier CREATOR, were so important that they were willing to DIE for these beliefs. Imagine what it must have been like for them to realize, that upon signing the declaration of independence they were going to war with the world's superpower, and all they had to combat it was a rag tag militia and a cause.

What would have happened if when Christ came down and he saw how sinful we were, decided: you know what, they're not worth scrificing and dying for, I'm leaving?

We wouldn't have the free gift of slavation today. yet he did, and HE was persecuted and sacrificed MORE than our founding fathers did, He paid the highest sacrifice of all for what He knew God had called him to do, and not backing down on that. He sacrificed his LIFE, so that WE can be free in Him!

Today we need leaders like that, people who are wiling to stand up for their beliefs in God no matter what.
There are a few people today who do, and THOSE are the people that you will be hearing about in the near future. They're the few who will stand up for what is right, and will not conform to the world.

It is the few that stand and make a difference, What we need is for Christians to act on their beliefs and CHANGE America for the better!

-Kp

Domestic Spying justified?

got to hear FOX yesterady!!!! so now to the domestic spying issue.

Its been a very controversial topic recently. Here is my take on it.

I believe that Bush IS justified in using it, He has shown congress what he has seen, and he has other people supervisng his use of it. NOT to mention that unlike the Clinton administration's use, this is LEGAL!
He is using the program to intercept INTERNATIONAL phone calls comming from people affiliated with terrorist organizations overseas that are contacting US citizens. it is illegal when you tap into a domestic phone call between other citizens (your phone call to your grandma) with out a court order.

My question is now, and has been, and will be, how come when the opposite party does something illegal you never hear a peep, yet when Bush does it the media makes a scandal out of it? *shakes head*

Well there is my commentary, maybe if I find time I'll add to it!
Have a good one!
Kp

Let us never forget...:)

Ok, on the subject of Freedom.*drumroll* a shorter version compared to the last entry, this may be kind of redundant...(but David, if you're reading this, this is the edited article...I'm not sure if I need to edit it any more or not)But anyway, this one isn't a speech, its an article which explains the difference in the way its formatted and written....
-------------------------------------------------------
We Stand here, on the only island of freedom that is left in the whole world. There is no place to flee to...no place to escape to. We defend our freedom here, or it is gone. There is no place for us to run. Only make a stand, and if we fail, I think we face telling our children, and our children's children, what it is we found more precious than freedom. Because I am sure that someday-if we fail- there will be a generation that will ask. Ronald Reagan.

Freedom is one of the many things that we have a tendency to take for granted in this country. We use it each and every day. Yet how many of us take the time to really think about the cost of Freedom? How much did it cost us to obtain and continues to cost us to keep? Why is our freedom valuable?
How many of us fully understand that our freedom can and is being taken away?


First and foremost, how much does freedom cost?
Freedom's cost consists mainly of 2 parts: Lives and money.
To obtain freedom (in 1775) 25,324 lives were lost. Today we can hardly imagine what that must have been like to fight England; The World's super power at the time, with a rag tag militia. That same spirit, the yearning for freedom and defense of it, is evident throughout these next wars from 1775 until October of 2005, 1,298,391 soldiers have died defending our Country and our freedom. Over one million lives lost in defense of our freedom, and our national sovereignty. The millions of American lives lost prove that people believe that freedom is worth fighting and dying for! Those numbers alone show that Freedom is valuable. Especially because soldiers are still putting their lives on the line, so that you and I can live in a country where we have the Freedom to worship any way we see fit, to stand up and be counted...or choose not to!

Freedom, while the cost can be measured in lives lost, also has a large monetary cost. The following chart from the American War Library has the numbers on how much money has been spent in wars, to gain and protect our freedom.

• American Revolution: $3.2 billion.
• War of 1812: $1 billion.
• Mexican War: $1.8 billion.
• Civil War: $50 billion Union, $21.8 billion Confederacy.
• Spanish-American War: $6.5 billion.
• World War I: $588 billion.
• World War II: $4.8 trillion.
• Korean War: $408 billion.
• Vietnam War: $584 billion.
• Persian Gulf War of 1991: $82 billion. Contributions from U.S. allies ended up covering more than 90 percent of this war's costs.
• Operation Iraqi Freedom: $159 billion, as of 10 Sept 2003.

Billions, even trillions of dollars have been spent just to ensure our freedom!

Now, we can make the logical assumption, that if Freedom costs that many lives, and that much money to obtain and to keep, than it must be important.
People don't volunteer to be put in a position where they could die, for something that they don't think is important enough to protect. Yet, over one million Soldiers have died, and those numbers don't even include the ones that were taken as Prisoners or War, Missing in Action, wounded, or still fighting!

Ronald Reagan once said that "Freedom is a fragile thing and is only one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation for it only comes once to a people. Those who have known freedom and lost it have never known it again." I thank God that we have always had a generation ready and willing to defend that freedom, and I pray that we will continue to have those brave Americans ready and willing to defend it.

Our freedom is so valuable not only because of the money spent, not only because it is less than one generation away from being lost. It is so valuable because we have always had a generation willing to pay the price.
That is what makes the following so grievous; they have protected our freedoms on the foreign front. However, our freedoms are slowly but surely being taken away on our domestic front.

While we have the US Military protecting us on the foreign front, we have groups like the ACLU trying to undermine our rights on the domestic front.
In past and recent history, the first amendment has been one issue in which certain organizations have tried to take away the freedom of religion and our freedom of speech.

The first amendment reads: Congress shall make no law Respecting Establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

So in other words, congress isn't allowed to dictate that you are only allowed to worship whatever god they deem appropriate, and you can only do so in a certain way, and in certain areas.

This Freedom however, has constantly been attacked over the last few decades. Not only by foreign threats, but by our own United States Supreme Court! This is also happening in our own public schools!

In "Syracuse, New York,(1999) Antonio Pecks' kindergarten teacher at Catherine McNamara Elementary School gave Antonio the assignment of creating a poster that would depict what could be done to save the environment. Antonio drew a picture of Jesus praying in the captioned drawing, "The only way to save the world" and "loves changes things". The teacher refused to display the picture saying that it promoted one religion over another. (Of course Anthony [Antonio] was promoting his religion over others, but it was Anthony doing the promoting, not the school.) Anthony went back to the drawing board and sketched people picking up garbage with a robed man beside them kneeling with his hands raised to heaven. The robed man was not identified as Jesus. The teacher agreed to display the second poster but on the condition that the part showing the robed man was folded over so it could not be seen. The Pecks have sued the school for religious discrimination and denial of free speech" ("Persecution" by David Limbaugh Pg. 38 paragraph 2)

There are many more instances like this in the book "Persecution" by David Limbaugh. But it doesn't end there, things like this are still happening today!

The fact that this actually happened to a KINDERGARTENER in AMERICA is amazing! Our First Amendment rights are slowly, but surely being usurped. And this is just one of many evidences of it.

You might say...well it is only the first amendment, it's not like we're going to have our right to a trial by jury taken away or the right to vote or anything like that.
Not only is the 1st amendment being taken away, our 10th amendment is constantly being overridden by the federal government. The 10 th Amendment reads: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

That means that if the rights were not granted to the federal government specifically in the constitution, or if the rights were not prohibited to the States by the Constitution then those rights belong to each of the 50 States or to the Citizens.

Constantly the government has tried to, and has overridden this amendment. I consider this amendment to be one of, if the not THE most important amendment to our Constitution because that amendment preserves the sovereignty of the States to govern themselves. Yet, the federal government is overstepping its Constitutional bounds and interfering with decisions that should be made by the states individually.

In a recent Supreme Court decision, we passed something called "Eminent Domain". Eminent Domain means that if a Developer like Wal-Mart wanted your land so they could build, they are allowed to do so WITHOUT your consent, if they can prove that it will benefit the county.

Not only does this take away you're constitutional right to own property, but ALSO overrides the 10 th amendment. It is not the federal Government's job to say that if someone comes along that wants to develop your land than you must give it to them.

What we need in this country is a generation that is willing to stand up for what we believe and fight on the domestic front as well as the foreign front. We need a generation that remembers what freedom Costs. We need a generation that has the courage and the perseverance to take a stand and make a difference. Ronald Reagan said that " Freedom is a fragile thing and is only one generation away from extinction" don't let our generation be the one that loses it by forgetting how important our freedom is, Let our generation be the one that impacts society and preserves it.

The Obtaining, Cost, and Loss, of Freedom

Here in America we have been attacked almost constantly.

Attacks on our Economy and Government and the American way of life have occurred numerous times in history.

While those were the specifics of the attacks, they were mainly attacking our Freedom.

Defending our freedom is a choice we make, yet so many Americans take it for granted and seem to forget the high cost we have paid, and that while our Freedoms are being fought for and preserved on the foreign front, they are being gradually taken away on the domestic front.

Attacks on America...

The 9/11 attacks were not just mere attacks on some buildings, they were attacks on the American way of Life.

The terrorists tried to do so by instilling a fear in the American people, a fear of flying.

This in turn, affected our economy negatively.

Our economy plays a vital role in the American way of life.

We can see that throughout history.

One of the most common analogies would be the great depression. Our economy collapsed which resulted in unemployment for many of the American people, which negatively affected the American way of life.

While we didn't go into a Depression after 9/11, our economy did suffer. Not only did it suffer, it was attacked.

The World Trade Centers stood for free trade and capitalism, which is Part of the fiscal American culture.

By hitting those buildings they temporarily shut down our economy.

However, free trade and capitalism were not the only things that were attacked. Our government was too.

The investigative office was attacked, and there was believed to have been an attempted attack on our Legislative branch.

Had both gotten hit, it would have been detrimental to our society.

Both of those offices are important to the American culture.

The investigative department was a key attack because they gather intelligence to help counter terrorist attacks.

The legislative branch-had the terrorists gone unstopped-would also have been a key attack because that branch helps to keep the Executive branch in check by:

Making sure that it isn't overstepping its bounds, or by keeping pieces of legislation that shouldn't be considered, from reaching the Executive branch.

Choices

Ronald Reagan truthfully said "Freedom is a fragile thing and is only one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation for it only comes once to a people. Those who have known freedom and lost it have never known it again."

Which means, each generation has a choice to make. Do we defend our Freedom-even if it means acting unilaterally- or do we back down?

That is the question each generation has been faced with, and has answered.

We ourselves were faced with that decision most recently in the 9/11 attacks. We could have done one of two things.

We could have acted in fear (like Spain did after the Madrid bombings) and responded how the terrorists wanted us to.

While clinging on to whatever promise the terrorists made in order to satisfy us, while they proceeded to cripple the country.

However, instead of backing down like Spain, we took the initiative, and went on the offense.

The only course of action we could have taken-besides cowardice- was war.

A few days after 9/11 President Bush went to ground zero and gave the 30 second pep talk that made Americans proud.

" I hear you, the rest of the world hears you, and the people that attacked these buildings are going to hear from all of us soon"

That speech united a Nation –well for a little while anyway- On that day, our generation chose, once again to defend our freedom.

Our freedom is not even close to being free! Millions of American soldiers have died just so you and I can have the freedom to say what we want to.

From the American war for independence, to Afghanistan, to Iraq, our military has always remembered that freedom costs us millions of lives to obtain, and we can't let those hero's lives be lost in vain.

Our military are not the only ones who have risked their lives for others.

On September 11^th 2001, United Airlines flight 93 originally destined to San-Francisco was merely an hour on its way when Hijackers-armed with box cutters decided to take over the cockpit.

Then several strong young men decided to rush the Hijackers. The plane crashed killing those on board, but those heroes saved many other lives that day.

They sacrificed their lives, so that others could live free.

While freedom is mainly measured in lives lost, there is also a very distinct financial cost.

Trillions of dollars has been spent on defending our freedom abroad.

The fact that to THIS DAY people are STILL fighting, and there are more preparing to defend our freedom makes, this already priceless gift, even more valuable.

Though we do have people defending our freedom abroad, we have to remember that it can be taken away.

Historically, when we believed that something couldn't possibly happen, it did.

For example:

Everyone declared the titanic unsinkable, and it sunk.

After the war to end all wars-world war one- there was another.

We saw the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as our barriers which no man would cross, and Japan crossed the Pacific in World War 2, and the Terrorists crossed the Atlantic on 9/11.

Now, many Americans have the tendency to think that our freedom is something that can not be taken away.

But unless we're ready to defend it, it can.

The sad thing is, that while our freedoms ARE being preserved and fought for on our foreign front, they are slowly but surely being taken away on the domestic front.

There have been many attacks on our freedom, not only by terrorists, but by our own public schools and Supreme Court!

In the book Persecution by David Limbaugh, there was a true story in there about a kindergartener named Antonio Pecks.

He was working on a school assignment, which was to draw a picture on how we can help the environment.

The first picture he had was a picture of Jesus saying "the only way to save the world" and "love changes things".

Of course, he wasn't allowed to use THAT picture because it had Christ in it. So the teacher had him draw another one, in the second one he had a picture of people picking up trash and an unidentified figure in the middle with his arms raised to heaven.

The teacher agreed to put this picture on display ONLY IF the figure in the middle was folded over.

The family sued for religious discrimination and denial of free speech.

Not only are our 1^st amendment rights (the freedom of religion and freedom of speech) being attacked, but our 10^th amendment is constantly being usurped by the federal government.

The tenth amendment says: those rights not delegated to federal government, nor prohibited by it to the state, are reserved to the States respectively or to the people.

Recently the US Supreme Court passed something called eminent domain.

Eminent domain basically means that if a developer wanted to build on your private property they can, WITHOUT your consent, if they can prove it will benefit the county.

That particular ruling not only undermines the 10^th amendment (because that issue should be decided on a State by State basis) it also undermines your right to own property, and keep it.

This is happening right under our noses, and we don't even NOTICE IT!!!!!!!

So what, the federal government is overstepping its bounds, but that's nothing new, it does it all the time, it hasn't hurt me, why should we care?

Lets focus for a minute, on the 2^nd amendment, the right to own and bear arms.

Imagine that one day a criminal came to YOUR house.

You both are armed, he –not wanting to risk being identified, takes out his gun to shoot- you're faster and shoot in self defense.

Then YOU are the one that ends up being arrested, because the court just ruled that the 2^nd amendment is no longer constitutional.

Now lets move on the 7^th amendment, the right to a trial by jury.

Lets say, that your grandma had to go to the Dr. because she had a stroke. The Doctor knows this, but doesn't acknowledge it.

Instead of treating her for the stroke, he gives her blood thinner, which causes hemorrhages in the brain, and she ends up dying.

You and the Dr. BOTH know that blood thinner causes a hemorrhage, so you go to sue, but you can't because the dr. is federally protected.

You lost your right to a trial by jury.

I already brought up a story about our first amendment, but to really touch base. What if something similar happened to you?

Imagine that one day you go to Church, and right in the middle of the worship service, the police came and arrested your pastor because what he was preaching did not line up with what the government believed.

Now our first re-action should be, wait! That's COMMUNIST!!!!!!! That can't happen in America! We defeated communism in the cold war!

But it IS happening in America.

Slowly and steadily, Our freedoms are being taken away by Supreme Court decisions, right under the nose of the American people.

Ronald Reagan once said that "We stand here, on the only island of freedom that is left in the whole world. There is no place to flee to...no place to escape to. We defend our freedom here, or it is gone. There is no place for us to run. Only make a stand, and if we fail, I think we face telling our children, and our children's children, what it is we found more precious than freedom. Because I am sure that someday-if we fail- there will be a generation that will ask"

What we need is the next generation to rise up and fill the voids in our government, State, Local, and Federal, to change for the better.

Don't let this generation be the one that loses our freedom by forgetting. Let our generation be the one that remembers, we are the only island of freedom left in the world, if we lose it here, it is gone.

Let us never forget!

One of the topics that I believe God has put on my heart to talk about recently has been freedom (Re: America's freedom). Why is it important, what makes it valuable, and why we can't forget it. Like a wake up call. Hello America! your freedom is being taken away, but you have been so caught up in Hollywood that you don't even realize it! One day you're gonna wake up and all your freedoms will be gone, and you'll be asking WHAT HAPPENED? Then you'll find that, while you were being swept away with the tide, following the crowd, talking about who your favorite actor was...that the government slowly started taking away your rights.

I'll go into more detail later.......

~Semper Fi!
Kp