Encouragement During the Most Depressing Political/Social Era of my Life

Now that the Indiana results are in, we know who will be on the ballot in November, and I find it extremely ironic (and utterly depressing) that the two candidates chosen to represent each opposing party are actually more alike than candidates within their own parties, even with regard to many political issues. Both are only matched by each other in terms of life long corruption, loose and careless tongues, impropriety, narcissism, greed, deceit, scandals and cover-ups, unfaithfulness, fear mongering, hatred spewing, anger escalating, and utter contempt for the Constitution or anyone who holds them accountable to any standard except their own. Does anyone sense that this upcoming election will be like choosing between the dragon and the beast - in that both are put there to usher in judgment?

These are sad, sorry days in America, but perhaps we should follow the example of a wise old Jewish rabbi and keep stress from the outside world at bay by keeping those within our inside world (loved ones, family, neighbors, friends, students, etc.) close at hand. One person may not be able to undo the mistakes of years of failed leadership, but one person can make a powerful and lasting difference in the lives of those around them.

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My sweet little boy recently hugged/held me as I grieved over:

1. The stronghold of evil in America evidenced by media headlines and blasphemous comments posted to these articles
2. The fact that by doing the right thing in exercising my freedom to vote, I would be forced to do the wrong thing, that is approve of evil (Romans 1:32)
3. The POTUS's threats to withhold education funding for the very children HB2 seeks to protect if NC does not repeal it.

Then the following morning, my son asked me the most profound question:

He asked, "If life was truly fair, would the world be a better place?"
No, I replied, "For then there would be no mercy or grace."

And just like that, through an innocent child's inquiry and an unintentional rhyme, God gave me perspective. Reading Romans 1 and Jude 1 helps, too.

"But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh." (Jude 1: 17-23)

See also this post on Romans 1:

But Why, God? (Perspectives on America's Sorry, Sordid Demise)

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If God is our king and this world is not our home and given that American culture has become so blasphemous and morally bankrupt, should Christians isolate themselves or engage themselves in social issues and government affairs?

Imagine how different history would have unfolded were it not for the faithful and courageous engagement in pagan politics by Mordecai & Esther, Joseph, and Daniel.

"Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:7)

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The conservative leadership in North Carolina is also a source of encouragement for me right now.  They are standing strong for their commonsense bathroom bill (HB2) which protects women, children, and victims of abuse from PTSD triggers, further abuse, humiliation, pedophilia, rape, victimization, voyeurism, indecent exposure, or worse.  There is nothing discriminatory or illegal with this bill which was passed as an emergency measure to stop a Charlotte ordinance from putting the majority of their citizens in great danger through broad, gender neutral, bathroom and shower facility mandates.  The state's bill is logical and necessary to protect basic privacy rights, but modern progressives have ZERO TOLERANCE (oh the irony) for anything that is reasonable, helpful, and good. Since passing this bill, the governor's office and the state in general have faced constant attacks, some of which include:

1. Massive assaults by the mainstream media which is pushing false information and emotional propaganda
2. Refusal by Bruce Springsteen and others popular musicians to perform concerts in the state 
3. Complaints by big businesses threatening not to set up business operations there (or pull out), which is especially ironic given that HB2 is much like their own business policies in place at their places of business and given that the bill gives businesses freedom to accommodate transgenders in accordance to the businesses' own values. Economic freedom is huge with NC's current governor and congress, and that is apparent in this bill.
4. Multiple law-suits by lobby groups, one of which is fueling all the propaganda
5. Federal law suits brought by the Department of Justice claiming the bill violates Title IX with threats to withhold all federal educational funding if the bill is not repealed.  Federal education funding amounts to $1.4 billion dollars in federal funding for North Carolina’s universities, approximately $800 million dollars in federal financial aid to North Carolina’s students, and federal funding provided to all elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the state.  That's a LOT of cash, but if it effectively kicks out all federal manipulation, mandates, and excessive testing requirements, and returns local control to NC schools, perhaps it would be a bargain.

The Department of Justice is grossly overstepping it's reach under the thumb of the king of overreach himself, Obama.  It is also using the very laws "from the 1960s and 70s that were enacted to combat sexual harassment and discrimination by men against women are now being used against women, specifically by letting men use women’s showers and locker rooms against their will.”  More on this subject can be found here.

This video is a must see for anyone thoughtful enough to consider that there could be other ramifications.


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But as Bonhoeffer suggested long ago, you can't argue against stupid and win.  Stupidity is a much bigger threat than evil intent, and liberal progressives are full of both.

But North Carolina is not backing down. That takes courage.

North Carolina is also shining as an example of great outcomes that result from conservative economics.  One of the first moves North Carolina's new conservative leadership made was to cut taxes, both on resident income and on businesses, with the goal of growing the economy, providing more jobs, higher incomes, and more prosperity for everyone even while dealing with recession and all of Obama's fiscal blunders at recovery.  North Carolina cut taxes immediately, but still balanced their budget in the black.  Soon there was enough money to finally increase teacher wages. Granted, oodles more is needed, and it will come as economic liberty attracts business and residents to North Carolina.  As the economy grows, more money is available for education and for everyone.  It's common sense economics 101.


When the government takes a smaller slice of the pie, the pie grows, so EVERYONE, including the government, gets more pie.
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Update as of 5/19/16:
I never imagined I would share an article from the N&O, liberal rat that it is, but this article actually shares some good news. Teacher pay raises will never be enough, but this administration is at least pushing pay in the right direction. 

"NC House backs budget with teacher raises, income tax cut"

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article78496697.html

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Liberal socialists like Bernie or Hillary would say that North Carolina is greedy to support tax cuts for actual tax payers and businesses.  Over 50% of my paychecks is taken by the government.  The biggest chunk of my pay check goes toward wasteful federal spending, giving weapons and funding to terrorists, and supporting illegals.  While I am in favor of ministering to refugees, I am not in favor of being overrun by terrorists, gangs, and drug dealers who take home more money that I do by not working or obeying the law. Some of my money goes toward an illegal (for everyone except the government as usual) pyramid scheme called "Social Security" and "Medicaid".  Thankfully, some of my retired loved ones are getting a piece of that, but when it comes to primary roles of the federal government, national defense, they have punted and surrendered to ISIS.  What a waste.

But by reducing taxes and helping businesses grow, almost everyone wins.  Those businesses invest in state infrastructure, purchase supplies and equipment, pay taxes, create jobs, pay taxes on those jobs, provide income for more people to spend more money in North Carolina.  Even entitlement coffers benefit from business growth because this growth provides more tax income to fuel government programs.  It's a win/win for everyone.

But everyone loses under a progressive socialist economy fueled by greed and laziness. I could argue that point all day long, but liberals do not engage in thinking exercises.  They only feel.  They are headless hearts, stuffed with carnal desires that will never ever satisfy.  They may call me names, use expletives, and dismiss all points as irrelevant while casting me off as an intolerant fundamentalist lacking any compassion, but I dare one of them to compare the time and money donated to help the needy by those who hold Christian conservative principles to any liberal out there.  Look at the most effective organizations meeting practical, life saving needs around the world.  They are predominately faith-based and evangelically funded while refusing a dime from the federal government so they can maintain control over their core values and eliminate all the waste infused by federal fingers.  Sorry, but I refuse to disconnect my brain from my heart as the liberals want me to do because God created mankind in His own image with the ability to think, reason, and make choices out of love for others or love for oneself.  Both must work together to make right choices and to fulfill the purpose God has for each of us.

North Carolina gets this simple principle, and it's working as evidenced by the following:

North Carolina Joins the Magnificent Seven  (and helps lead despite lacking natural advantages other states possess)

CEOS give North Carolina High Marks for Business Climate

Ranked No. 3 consecutively for America's Best States for Business

Thanks To Gov. McCrory, North Carolina Pays Off $2.75 Billion Debt, Saving Taxpayers $280 Million

Update as of 5/26/16:
After flying to Oklahoma and back for a wedding, the following analogy occurred to me.

Over the past 12 years of parenting, we've taken our children on approximately 100 flights, and ~100 times, a flight attendant has told us that in case of cabin depressurization, we should place an oxygen mask on ourselves first and then place a mask on our children.

When my son actually listened to what the attendant was saying for the first time, he said, "That's not right. You should serve us first so we can survive, live longer, and prosper." And yes, God's word is clear that we should put the interests of others, especially the poor and weak, before ourselves. But parents know that the odds of the child surviving are much greater if both the parent and the child survive, so by putting our mask on first, we can better serve the child, not just at that moment but for the rest of our lives.

So when people first hear the principles of capitalism (and democracy) pitted against socialism without any frame of reference, historical data, or big picture understanding of implications and long term outcomes, they respond just like my son did, "That (capitalism) is not right. Let the old, rich, taxpayers die (via taxation or business crippling legislation) so we poor young people can live and prosper." 

But America has proven to the entire world that by serving those who work hard, pay taxes, provide jobs, grow GDP, and build the economy, the odds of both the young and old, the weak and strong, and the poor and rich prospering is greater. But if we raise minimum wages, tax burdens, & entitlement programs to unsustainable levels, everyone will perish. 

The key is finding the right balance. If the parent only puts his mask on first and never puts one on the child, the child will die by suffocation, and the parent will die of guilt and heartache. The greatest outcome is when love for another, not greed or self interest, is what motivates us to work hard, survive, and thrive so we may better serve and more extravagantly and joyfully give to others.

Update as of 5/14/16: 
Shortly after the Obama administration threatened to remove millions of dollars in education and road funding, Obama issued another executive order requiring all public education facilities in America to not only allow transgenders in the bathrooms of their choice but also in locker rooms, shower facilities, and even hotel rooms during school field trips.

For more information, read " Obama’s transgender bathroom mandate is worse than you think"

I loved Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest's statement in response to President Obama's bathroom policy directive:

"North Carolina will not stand by and let our locker rooms and high school showers be used for social experimentation at the expense of the privacy and protection of our young boys and girls. I do not think it is appropriate for teenage boys and girls to share the same bathroom. I don't think it appropriate for teenage boys and girls to shower next to each other. I don't think it is appropriate for male coaches and male teachers to have access to girls' locker rooms and showers while the young girls are naked and exposed. I feel confident, the vast majority of North Carolina parents feel the same.

The President needs a reminder that the United States Constitution grants education decision authority to the states and localities not to the President of the United States. Our current state policy protects our children by maintaining bathrooms and restrooms consistent with the biological sex of the child and already gives schools, should special circumstances arise, the freedom to grant private single stall - single shower bathroom accommodations to individuals who might not otherwise be comfortable using the bathroom of their biological sex or a bathroom shared with other people. This is the only reasonable response to the situation that exists today. Opening all showers and all restrooms to all sexes at all times as the President is suggesting, is not a reasonable solution, but an invitation for violations of privacy and personal safety.

North Carolina public schools in receipt of the President's letter are reminded that there is a binding state law on the books governing bathroom policy and the President's non-binding directive is merely his attempt to push his version of a social policy on our state with no Constitutional authority to do so. It should be rejected as a matter of principle and policy."

Finally and unlike most other states in America, North Carolina has government leaders possessing common sense, virtue, courage, integrity, and a good dose of much needed chutzpah.

I'm SUPER PROUD of North Carolina leadership for standing strong when most would back down after the first instance of bullying or name calling.  Call them "homophobic bigots" all you like, enemies of the God. Nothing you can say can redefine HB2, Title IX, terms like "marriage", or who they are as individuals. The Creator is the definer. Liberal powers are merely manipulators and twisters of words to serve their own selfish motives. Those of us who refuse to separate our heads from our hearts know who we are in Him.  We are Children of God, and nothing can separate us from His love or snatch us out of His hand.  We are His and in Him we will forever stand.

 Update 6/24/2016

I'm so proud of our state's Governor & Lt. Governor, yet again, for their courage, conviction, and integrity as they have repeatedly stood against federal overreaches that are clearly in direct violation of the U.S. Constitution. It is always reassuring (though increasingly rare) when the balance of powers functions as it should. Kudos to the most courageous and Constitution loving leaders we've had in a long time on a job well done. Now let's see more states (and our weak AG) follow their lead! No matter where you stand on the issue of immigration, and I empathize to some extent with either side, the law must be enforced and the US Constitution respected, especially by our country's top leaders!
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Lt. Governor Dan Forest issues the following statement on today's Supreme Court ruling:

“Having authored an Amicus Brief challenging the President's actions, I applaud the Supreme Court's action today affirming what we in North Carolina knew all along... that the President has a Constitutional duty to enforce Federal Immigration law whether he wants to or not. Today's Court action shows that our Governor, along with three other Governors and 23 states around the country were right to challenge the President's affront to the Constitution. This is a victory for those of us who believe in the rule of law and the security of our US borders. I hope today's court action equally reminds the general public which Governors and Attorneys General failed to live up to their oaths of office and defend the Constitution, as there were many. I would like to thank Governor Pat McCrory for his leadership to ensure North Carolina did its part in standing against illegal immigration."

The Amicus Brief Lt. Governor Forest provided in the Supreme Court case: http://www.scotusblog.com/…/final.ltgov_.nc_.amicus.USvTexa…