Even though I am a conservative evangelical Christian – portrayed by some as the scourge of civilized society – I think that when it comes to winning my vote, my concerns aren’t very different from any sensible American.

First I want someone who is knowledgeable. When asked a question on the important issues of the day, I want them to know at least what they are talking about even if their opinion on the subject isn’t well-formed yet. I know that Voinovich isn’t running for president, but his interview with Sean Hannity demonstrates this point. When asked about the fairness doctrine, he had an opinion although he didn’t have a clue what the fairness doctrine was.

Secondly, they have to have common sense. I want someone to be able to look at a situation and almost instinctively – without polls – have an idea of what needs to be done. I don’t want someone who analyzes the public reaction before they take action. Like it or not, the public is fickle. The Iraq war is a great illustration of that. When faced with a decision to go into Iraq, the overwhelming majority of America believed we should. As time went on, opinions changed. The president doesn’t have the luxury that we have of second guessing his actions.

Third and probably the most important, they have to be genuine. This seems to be lacking in every candidate that is currently running for office. If it isn’t a thirst for power, it is thirst for recognition and fame. There doesn’t seem to be a genuine love for this country. Instead, there seems to be apathy towards the ideals that made her strong.

If Fred Thompson throws his hat in the ring, I will be supporting him. From the little I have seen, he knows America and what makes her great, he has common sense and above all he seems more genuine than the entire field of current candidates. I look forward to following his potential run.

The Christian Politico

 

Even as a Christian, my opinion of war in general is the same as it is for most people who are not Christians. War is only acceptable if it is a just war. After all, Paul said in Romans 12:18, “If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.” If the war is a just war, I will wholeheartedly support the men and women who fight it.

For a war to be just there must be just cause. In the case of Iraq, hindsight is 20/20 and based on the information that everyone had at the time, the course of action was clear. I will grant anyone that President Bush might have been looking for a fight in Iraq, but that doesn’t change the threat that everyone saw at the time.

Secondly, we cannot be aggressors and maintain a just war. One of the problems seen in Iraq is that it is taking so long. There is a reason. We could easily go in with guns blazing, taking out anyone who stands in our way. We have not done that. Sometimes it takes patience to play fair.

There have been injustices on both sides. That is what happens in war. When you take a horrible thing – as I’m sure we all agree that war is – and add the depraved human condition, such things happen. 1 Timothy says:

If anyone teaches other doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness, he is conceited, understanding nothing, but having a sick interest in disputes and arguments over words. From these come envy, quarreling, slanders, evil suspicions, and constant disagreement among men whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain. 1 Timothy 3-5

I do not dismiss them lightly, but war itself is neither moral nor immoral and will never be judged as such. Rather it is the heart of every man and woman who engages in the battle that will face judgment.

The Christian Politico

 

The outrage that I am seeing Since President Bush’s commutation of “Scooter” Libby’s sentence is overwhelming - though not surprising in the least. There is such a hatred for President Bush that the people are literally grasping at straws for something to be outraged about.

Ever since the commutation, people have forgotten history. They act as if this is the first time any president has granted clemency. The power of the pardon circumvents the legal system in cases deemed proper by the president and the president alone. That is the nature of the beast. No one is going to be happy with every pardon.

I could list here the criminal actions of all those pardoned under Clinton’s presidency, and you might be appalled. After all, they were crimes. But I could do the same for President Bush. Again I say, that is the nature of the beast. Regardless of the motivation and regardless of the crime, the President has that right.

However, I will point out that President Clinton lied under oath and was given a slap on the wrist. At this time, President Bush has only granted Libby with a commutation of his sentence so that he can pursue his appeal. He still has to pay $250,000 fine. President Bush could have given him a full pardon and eliminated the need for appeal, the fine, and the prison sentence. He could have, and it would have been his right to do so.

The Christian Politico

I’ve heard the ramblings of the hate filled liberals this morning. Spouting off about the rule of law, etc, etc… But the fact is that the President has the right by law to outright pardon or as in this case, to commute the sentence of anyone he chooses. Scooter Libby lied under oath and for that he was fined $250,000 and sentenced to a 2 1/2 year prison term. In contrast, Sandy Berger was caught stealing highly classified documents from the National Archives with the intention of destroying them. He was fined a mere $50,000 and sentenced to community service. So, not only did Bush have the right by law, he was fully justified.

I knew it. Deep down in my gut, I knew it. Solar power is not a good thing. If you don’t believe me, maybe you’ll believe Chee Chee Leung of the Sydney Morning Herald.

Humans are just one of the millions of species on Earth, but we use up almost a quarter of the sun’s energy captured by plants - the most of any species.

The human dominance of this natural resource is affecting other species, reducing the amount of energy available to them by almost 10 per cent, scientists report.

Source
Human greed takes lion’s share of solar energy


The Christian Politico

There is a quote that is often attributed to Patrick Henry: “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but Christians, not on religions but on the gospel of Jesus Christ! For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.” Although it is often argued that these words do not show up in any of Patrick Henry’s writings, I don’t think that makes them any less true. America was founded on Christian principles, but to truly understand what that means, you have to understand what those principles are.

If you have prejudices against Christianity, set them aside for the moment and consider this. When God created the world, He did not impose His will on the people. Instead, He gave them choice. They could love Him, or they could reject Him. They chose to reject Him. Yet, He still loved them. Now, think of this country.  It was founded because people were being subjected to the will of the king. They wanted freedom.

One of the fundamental beliefs of Christianity is that we should strive to be like God. In their pursuit of that goal, the founders put in writing in the Constitution of the United States of America the same principles of creation. Everyone here has the choice to believe in God or not. It was never their desire to impose Christianity on America. Instead, it was their desire that every American had the freedom to choose.

“America was not founded on religions,” as the quote says, “but on the gospel of Jesus Christ!” Religions dictate, but there is freedom in Christ. Why then is the freedom that is clearly given through that gospel being used to destroy it? America is great because God is great lest we forget.

The Christian Politico

It seems that people are longing for heroes as if there are no real ones to be found. Perhaps it is that the superheroes of comics and television have warped our view of what a hero really is.  They swoop in with no regard for their safety and save the day. Well, that is not entirely true. Everyone knows a superhero can’t get hurt. But what I know to be true is real heroes bleed, real heroes die and sometimes they just die trying.

In March of 2003, in the city of An Nasiriyah in Iraq, a convoy was attacked and prisoners were taken. On April 1st a successful rescue attempt liberated Private Jessica Lynch. The media was awash with stories of Private Lynch going down with guns blazing. But according to Jessica, this never happened.

Jessica was invited to speak before Congress in April of 2007 about how the military creates myths exaggerating the heroics of its soldiers. As a result of her testimony Jessica receives hate mail with some angry at her and some claiming she did nothing heroic. I strongly disagree. Regardless of the hype after her capture and subsequent rescue, she put her life on the line for this country. As Jessica herself said during her testimony, “The truth is always more heroic than the hype.”*

Why does the military feel the obligation to exaggerate? It’s because the American public demands it. V.A. hospitals across this country have been filled with heroes who may not have been the fastest or the strongest. Many never made it home.  It wasn’t a single act of bravery. It wasn’t exaggerated stories. Heroes are not made from these.  Being a hero is a condition of the heart.

There is no need to long for heroes. Heroes are everywhere. We don’t need to create them in our fantasies. They are the soldiers who lay down their lives for us. And if the heart is truly the indicator, they are the fire fighters, the police officers, the moms and the dads. They are the ones who cannot help but to selflessly give of themselves. They bleed, they die and sometimes they just die trying.

* Quote taken from “I’m Jessica Lynch-and here’s my real story”, by Abigail Pesta; Glamour, July 2007

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