Headlines & History – Page 2

What’s A Citizen, Christian To Do?

Posted on February 26, 2021 by Robin House

Did you know that when you call your senator, at least mine in LA, no one answers the phone for two days now and the mailbox for the line in D C is full, so no messages can be left and no comments can be made?

Did you know that the White House comment line will not take comments because the comments office is closed due to covid. It has been closed at least since the 46th president began his term?

Did you know that the White House comment line staff are all volunteers?

Did you know that the White House switchboard will not transfer you to any White House staff member unless you have an appointment or been approved to talk to them? AND please tell me how does one get an appointment with someone at the White House without contacting them in advance – which can not, evidently, be done by phone call or letter?

Did you know that you can write a letter to the White House, but it will take 6-8 weeks to process and get a reply back? I was informed that this is the standard time frame.

Do you know who is answering emails for our elected representatives in the legislative and executive branches?

Did you know that most Senators and Representatives will not give you their position or tell you how they plan to vote on a particular bill often up until the time of the vote and sometimes not then?

Did you know that you can’t call the Secretary of “whatever’s” offices and speak to them about concerns on school policy, healthcare, national security, the environment, or anything else you may want to discuss or give your opinion on in our government?

Did you know that the White House switchboard says that a citizen’s only way to contact the White House is through their elected State Representative or Senator? Did I tell you that my Senator isn’t answering the phone? Can you see the cycle of craziness many are dealing with in trying to have their voices heard?

DID YOU KNOW THAT ‘WE THE PEOPLE’ CAN NO LONGER TALK, INFORM, OR COMMUNICATE WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN AN EFFICIENT, TIMELY, AND CLEAR WAY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA?

WE ARE CONSTANTLY BLOCKED FROM COMMUNICATING WITH OUR “ELECTED” OFFICIALS. IN ADDITION, THE CAPITAL CONTINUES TO BE SURROUNDED BY TALL SECURITY FENCES WITH RAZOR WIRE ON TOP TO KEEP THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FROM THE PEOPLE’S HOUSE AND ACCESSING MUCH OF WASHINGTON, D. C. UNLESS THEY HAVE SPECIAL PERMISSIONS AND PAPERS, AS THEY SWING WIDE OPEN THE BORDERS TO ANY WHO ILLEGALLY WANT TO ENTER OUR COUNTRY, CITIES, AND COMMUNITIES BRINGING CRIME AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES THAT ARE KILLING OUR KIDS.

IS THIS REALLY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ANYMORE? IS THIS WHAT ‘WE THE PEOPLE’ WANT?

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE AMERICAN CITIZEN TO DO WHEN THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE ‘OF BY AND FOR THE PEOPLE’ LOCKS DOWN THE LEGISLATURE AND SEATS OF GOVERNMENT AND POWER? WHAT ARE THE LOYAL AND LAW ABIDING AMERICAN CITIZENS TO DO WHEN THEIR REPRESENTATIVES REFUSE TO HEAR THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE THEY WORK FOR? WHAT SHALL WE DO WHEN OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS REFUSE TO LISTEN OR TAKE DIRECTIONS ABOUT THE LAWS AND EXPENDITURES ‘WE THE PEOPLE’ SHOULD DETERMINE, — ESPECIALLY WHEN THE “FREE PRESS” MEDIA WILL NOT REPORT ABOUT WHAT‘WE THE PEOPLE’ SAY AND DO AS WE EXPRESS OUR WILL FOR OUR NATION AND ITS POLICIES? ARE ‘WE THE PEOPLE’ GOOD WITH A 30 TRILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT AND OBLIGATING OUR CITIZENS TO DEBTS BEYOND OUR YEARLY SALARIES.

DO ANY ‘ELECTED OFFICIALS’ HAVE A COMMENT? ANYONE HAVE AN ANSWER?

HELLO???????

I’M LISTENING…

‘WE THE PEOPLE’ ARE OUT HERE IN THE HEARTLAND DESPERATE TO BE HEARD. WE ARE HERE WITH A LOYALTY TO OUR HOMELAND WHILE SEEKING WHAT IS RIGHT AND BEST TO SUPPORT OUR HOUSEHOLDS IN THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS GUARANTEED IN OUR CONSTITUTION WHILE HOLDING TIGHTLY TO THE FREEDOMS GUARANTEED IN OUR BILL OF RIGHTS.

THE SYSTEM MUST BE REALLY BROKEN, BEAUSE IT IS NOT WORKING FOR THE LAW ABIDING CITIZENS OF OUR NATION TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING FOR OUR FAMILIES. IT IS NOT BROKEN BECAUSE THE PLAN OF A REPRESENTATIVE REPUBLIC ESTABLISHED BY OUR FOUNDERS WAS FLAWED. IT IS BROKEN BECAUSE OF THE INCREASING NUMBER OF SELFISH AND POWER HUNGRY PEOPLE PLACED AT THE PINNACLE POLITICAL POWER COUPLED WITH AN INCREASING NUMBER OF CITIZEN AND NON CITIZEN CONSUMERS WHO WANT TO AND WILL TAKE WITHOUT GIVING AND ARE HAPPY TO RECEIVE SOMETHING FOR NOTHING.

Alexis de Tocqueville around 1840 said, “The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public’s money.”

Ronald Reagan said, “If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.”

Are we there yet?

So the call I make now is to those who claim and profess Jesus Christ as Lord and have committed their allegiance to the One, True and Almighty God. Will you answer the call?

Each and every Christian is an ambassador of the Most High God. (II Corinthians 5:20-21) Are we on the job? Are we about our Father’s business? Are we ‘representing’ and do we represent our King faithfully and loyally? Do we speak what He wants us to say?

Whether free or imprisoned, are we, as the Apostle Paul, carrying out our mission. (Ephesians 6:20)

Be brave my fellow followers of Christ. Don’t be ashamed of the gospel. Paul says in Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

There is nothing to fear in this world when we are in Christ. Stand up, you men and women of God. Stand UP! Romans 8:31-39 is a powerful confirmation of what Christians know. It reads, “What, then, shall we say in response to these things, If God is for us, who can be against us; He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies; Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

A famous talk show host in one of his last interviews confirmed what we read in Romans 8:28. It says, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Christians, listen. We are called according to His purpose (not ours). We are ambassadors in His service (not our own). If we love God, HE causes ALL THINGS to WORK TOGETHER for GOOD for US! How wonderfully amazing is that? Rise up my brothers and sisters. Get to work and be diligent to do your Father’s will as His ambassadors in this world. It matters for you, and it matters to each and every soul you meet from day to day in your walk through this life.

The great commission from Jesus Christ is clear. Matthew 28:18 and following says, “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Think on these things…

Posts, links, and lessons learned

Posted on February 1, 2021February 1, 2021 by Robin House

Some of you may not know why you don’t regularly see posts from some of your friends. They just never come up in the feed. Some of us see things posted and wonder – Why is this in my news feed? or I wish I never saw that post. FB has intricate mathematical programs that use data from many sources to share, market, and place ads in your news feed.

For those of us with blogs and trying to share a message, FB gives a higher priority to our posts when people actually comment – even if it is a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or a ‘How about that.’ comment. It also gives some weight to clicks for ‘likes, cares, hearts, sad, and angry’ emoji symbols, though not as much as for actual comments. Sharing a post is another way to spread the word, and posts shared over and over can “go viral” spreading all over the internet. Some posts do not have a share button, often because the person posting only wants to send the message to their group of friends and family. Some posts can be copied and pasted into your post to share. One important thing to remember is that you must not ‘do a Biden’ and plagiarize their work posting it as your own. You must give proper attribution to the person who wrote or made the post. It is stealing otherwise. Another thing to consider is that some people may only share their posts with specific friends and family and do not want their posts made public because the public at large may not be interested or may not understand the perspective of the post. Some readers ‘turn in’ posts they don’t like or disagree with causing additional issues for the author. This is something to consider. Just ask the author/writer before copying and sharing their post into the public domain to make sure that they don’t mind.

BIG, BIG TIP OF THE DAY – Assume everything you write, say, and do may be repeated, published on the front page of the paper, placed at the top of a fb or twitter feed, and shared with the world. If you don’t want it to be potentially read, repeated, or put on display for anyone in the world to see, don’t write it, say it, or do it. This bit of advice came from my momma before the founders of facebook and other social media platforms were born. This advice has served me well over the years.

All that being said, most bloggers want their posts shared. Blog posts are easy to share by copying the article link in the address bar and pasting it. Blog post authors usually have their name associated with the post and are fine with sharing as long as proper credit is given to them. If you aren’t sure, ask.

Some posts are suppressed by fb and other social media platforms based on their unspecified and somewhat arbitrary determination of what is ‘fit’ or ‘true’ in their estimation. This restriction of free speech is biased and controlled by unknown fact checkers among a few powerful companies led by a handful of tech oligarchs. We have seen the removal of a whole social platform and posts of Bible verses while requests specifically for twitter to remove images of a 12 year old minor child in a sexually explicit situation who was being blackmailed did not violate twitters terms of service and had over 160,000 views as examples. There seems to be no standard of right, equity, or fairness in the censorship seen today. However, we can still advocate for and demand what is true, right, equitable, and fair.

I have been blogging on my own website at robinwrites.net for some time now to share my thoughts and ideas on Hope, Hearth and Home, Health, Humor, and things I find interesting in the Headlines and about our History. I plan to write regularly going forward with the goal of having a positive impact through interesting content that will be useful and encouraging for my readers along their journey through this life to be the best person they can be and prepared for the next life. Some of you have already been reading my work and have been so kind and encouraging. Thank you.

As I go forward, I would like to ask for your prayers and good wishes that I will say, write, and do what is pleasing to my Master (God) and be successful in being helpful to others as we walk through this life together.

Second, please comment, like, share and/or communicate in some way your thoughts on the topics I write about in the articles, even if you disagree. I believe people can disagree without being disagreeable. I want to be encouraging and helpful, and your thoughts and comments can help me in this mission. All I ask is that comments be constructive, kind, and clean in language.

If you prefer not to comment on the facebook platform, my website (robinwrites.net) offers a comment section for you to send me your comments on each article posted. With your comments, we can have a ‘conversation’ of sorts together and among my readers to grow in our wisdom and knowledge together. Sometimes, my articles come from thoughts about conversations with you, my friends. I love to learn from your stories, ideas, and experiences. I don’t use anyone’s actual name unless I have their approval as well as permission to use their story. I think most of us have something very wonderful to share that can be of great service to one another – if we will communicate and share our ideas and thoughts.

If you prefer to comment privately, just let me know within your comment notes, and your comments will not be posted publicly on the blog comments section. I take your wishes and privacy seriously. Your email address is never shared by me with anyone.

Lastly, thank you for taking the time to read and share what I write on my blog. If something is helpful for you, it will likely be helpful to others, so copy the blog link and share away. I hope God will guide and bless you greatly. Always remember that God loves us now and forever more than we can ever comprehend.

Robin House ©️ 02/01/2021

Who can you trust?

Posted on January 26, 2021January 26, 2021 by Robin House

I heard that I should never trust an atom, because they make everything up.

In today’s society, it is important to know who and what to trust for truth. I used to warn people to check the sources and references for the information they might read on the internet. There were no censors of information on the internet. The world wide web was a pool of information and misinformation. This was a difference from the times when publishers would assess, fact check, and even not publish a non fiction work unless the information was verified and met the publisher’s standards for truth.

As I search the internet (with its vast stores of knowledge) now, I am seeing more and more restriction of information and a sameness of information on the internet. I see more and more search sites restating and reinforcing the exact same information. Finding facts and actual video and reports of things that happen in a timely fashion is restricted. Removing information from the body of knowledge is reminiscent of the book burnings of old. When information is restricted to what a specific group allows to be seen and discussed, it is easy to manipulate a group or people since the complete body of information and facts are missing. Definitions of words and facts are being changed and updated to fit a political narrative or cultural change and given a new ‘context.’ Whose context? Well, that’s a secret. The common man is not allowed to know the reasons, nor should they ask about the reasons why the powers on high do and say what they do.

Free speech is clearly under attack. Opinions that are not along the reigning groups line of thinking or agenda are being excluded and censored. Active efforts are in process to insure that some people can not obtain a job, publish a book, or even eat peacefully with their family in a restaurant. These censored ones are put into the category of unworthy of existence through a cancel culture that says, they don’t matter and aren’t allowed to have specific thoughts, ideas, perspectives, and opinions.

In the beginning of our nation, the citizens of America would not ratify the Constitution of the United States. Why? It was because many had recently left a tyrannical government that restricted speech, worship, and self determination among other things. They didn’t want more of the same. They left a land they loved and dear family they would often never have the chance to see again for something better. What did it take to ratify the Constitution? It took the Bill of Rights which guaranteed individual rights and the limitation of the powers of both the federal and state governments on its citizens.

John Adams said, “Liberty must at all hazards be supported. We have a right to it, derived from our Maker. But if we had not, our fathers have earned and bought it for us, at the expense of their ease, their estates, their pleasure, and their blood.”

Benjamin Franklin said, “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

Be careful my friends what we allow governments, big tech companies, NGOs, social media platforms, and even family, friends, and others we come in contact with to do to and to restrict our liberties. Our liberties are dear and must be held dear, or they will be destroyed.

Ronald Reagan said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”

Galatians 5:1 says, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”

Think on these things…

©️ Robin House 1/25/2021

You, be You!

Posted on January 23, 2021 by Robin House

Someone once said that teen agers are the only group that expresses their individuality by dressing and acting just like all the other teens. In our political system today, one party votes in lock step for something while the other party votes in lock step in opposition. Many of us too have sought to ‘look’ and ‘act’ like others because we are not confident in who we are and what we think ourselves. We want to ‘fit in’ and ‘get along,’ so we will often ‘go along’ with whatever the crowd says.

In a historic study on influence, it was found that people will actually deny what they see and know to be true because of peer pressure and other group dynamics. You can watch the video of the historic study at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyDDyT1lDhA&feature=emb_title

In today’s culture, where so many have been told and taught that there is no absolute truth or right or wrong, we see a type of group think that has no basis in reality or ability to discern the facts or obtain the truth. People are moved along to a way of thinking and acting by a trend established by a single popular figure, who may or may not have any real knowledge of the subject on which they speak, teach, and lead others to follow.

Critical thinking and the ability to see reality and analyze facts is missing for many in our society today. Often children in classrooms are subject to group think methods instead of critical thinking and reasoning skills. So many today ‘go along to get along,’ and have absolutely no concept of why they do what they do from day to day. Those who preach anarchy have many who follow them ‘just for the H*** of it.’ Their moral compass is missing, and their values have vanished, if they were ever developed or existed in the first place. There are large groups that value no one and nothing at all, including themselves. They have no concept that they are a divine eternal soul wrapped in a physical body and made in the very image of God Almighty. Romans 8:7 says, “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.”

Romans 12:2 teaches Christians, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Christians are called to think, to reason, and to renew our minds to understand God’s good, right and perfect will for our lives. We are called to “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:2), and we must. When we set our minds on things above, I believe the things on the earth will work out too. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Does this mean we won’t have troubles or struggles? No, but it does mean that when our thoughts are right and our priorities are straight, God will take care of us to provide for us and protect us.

So how are we to “be” in this world of divisiveness we see today? How do we handle the group think and cancel culture? What do we say to those who tell us our thoughts and ideas are not allowed or unacceptable? What do we say when we are told to be silent?

Perhaps we need to do a little homework and figure out what we truly believe and what we will stand for and what we won’t stand for.

Is our faith our own, or something our parents or the church told us to believe?

Is our faith something we could and would defend?

Do we have the words ready to give an answer for the hope within us? (I Peter 3:15)

How far would be go to live for the Christ who died for us?

Perhaps we need to do a gut check as Christians to see if we really have the guts to stand for what is true and right in spite of what “everyone else” thinks or says.

Paul said in II Corinthians 10:1-5, “By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,”

Can we do this?

Are we prepared to take every thought captive as a soldier of Christ?

Are we the masters of our minds or simply going along with the mores of the day?

II Timothy 2:22-3 is a great read on this subject. It says, “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom[a] you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God[b] may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (ESV)

Each of us will stand or fall before our Master. I hope we will all stand faithfully. Each of us is a unique individual (just like everyone else), so I encourage you to be the best you that you can be, and don’t worry about following the crowds. Each Christian is an essential part of the body of Christ with specific skills and talents. Use them! Oscar Wilde said, “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” We don’t need to imitate others or ‘go along to get along.’ We need to each go along and spread the gospel. (Matthew 28:19) Some will plant, and some will water. Some will weed, and some will fertilize. (I Corinthians 3:6-7) Whatever you do and whatever your skill or talent, you – be you, as you seek and serve the Lord. And lastly, don’t worry about anything – God will give the increase.

©️ Robin House 01/22/2021

Additional references to the Asch study https://www.simplypsychology.org/asch-conformity.html

The Secularization of Society

Posted on January 13, 2021January 23, 2021 by Robin House

The secularization of America has been implemented in and through the public school system where most of us send or have sent our children to learn and obtain an education Unfortunately, it is the indoctrination of children to a belief system and not the education of them that the NEA and those in power in the public education system seeks.

Some say that content creates culture. Control the content and you can control the culture. This is what is being done and has been being done in public education, the media, society and even some churches to change our faith, beliefs, values, morals and social norms. Check out the quotes below about the public education system in America and decide for yourselves what you think about the leaders of our modern public school system. Then – decide what you will believe and do going forward for yourself and your families.

1845 —Horace Mann the father of the modern American Public School Education System in 1845 said “We who are involved in the sacred cause of education are entitled to look upon all parents as having given hostages to our cause.”

1930 —Charles Francis Potter, who signed the first Humanist Manifesto and wrote a book published by Simon and Schuster in 1930 that says on page 128 “Education is just the most powerful ally of humanism and every American public school is a school of humanism. What can theistic Sunday schools meeting for an hour once a week and teaching only a fraction of the children do to stem the tide of a five day program of humanistic teaching.”

1935 — Willard Givens at the 1935 NEA annual meeting said “The major function of the school is the social orientation of the individual. It must seek to give him understanding of the transition to a new social order.”

1970 — George Fisher, President of the National Education Association, said when speaking at an NEA Assembly National Convention the following, “A good deal of work has been done to begin to bring about uniform certification, controlled by the unified profession in each state. A model Professional Practices Act has been developed, and work has begun To secure passage of the Act in each state where such legislation is needed. With these new laws we will finally realize our 113-year-old dream of controlling who enters, who stays, and who leaves the profession. Once this is done, we can also control the teacher training institutions.”

Reference for next quote is https://famguardian.org/Subjects/Spirituality/Research/MitchelQuotations/letter_n.htm
“In 1971, “Rules for Radicals” by socialist Sol Alensky is published. According to Suzanne Clark, in “Blackboard Blackmail,” John Lloyd, Executive Director of the Kansas National Education Association, an NEA affiliate, from February 1, 1980 to June 1984, will say that this book by Alensky will become the “NEA’s Bible.” In Alensky’s book, which has an acknowledgment to Lucifer at the front, he asserts that “Any revolutionary change must be preceded by a passive, affirmative, non-challenging attitude toward change among the masses of our people.” He continues to say that the radical organizer, dedicated to changing the life of a particular community, must first rub raw the resentments of the people of the community, ban the latent hostilities of many of the people to the point of overt expression. He must search out controversy and issues. An organizer must stir up dissatisfaction and discontent. He knows that all values are relative. Truth to him is relative and changing.”

1972 —Dr. Chester Pearce Professor of Education at Harvard University said at The Association of Childhood Education International to people all over the world in 1972, “Every child in America entering school at the age of five is mentally ill, because he comes to school with certain allegiances to our founding fathers, toward our elected officials, toward his parents, and towards a belief in a supernatural being and toward the sovereignty of this nation as a separate entity. It is up to you as teachers to make all of these sick children well by creating the international child of the future.”

So how are we to train our children? Of course they need education. But what education. What is paramount for a child to learn. I believe the answers are found in Deuteronomy chapter 6. Yes, we need math, reading, history, science, and many other things, but the most important thing to teach our children in my view is who God is and how to relate to Him as the Sovereign Lord of lords. God tells his people to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.” (Deuteronomy 6) God wants us obey and follow him. And not just us. God tells parents to teach their children to obey and respect the Lord God, too. This is so important that God commands parents to impress (That means leave an impression or mark on something that you can see.) these things on our children. God wants His commands to be on their hearts as well. How are they told to do it? God said in Deuteronomy 6 for parents to talk to their children about God and His commands “when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” This is all the time and throughout the day that parents are to be teaching their children from day to day. The Bible goes on to say to “tie them (His commands) as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Orthodox Jews do this still today. God’s Word says, “Write them on the doorframes of your house and on your gates.” This is easy to do. Just check out the decorative Bible verse plaques at Hobby Lobby or do like we did and get some index cards to write down verses and put them on the microwave or refrigerator with a magnet. It’s not hard to do. This is how we get the Word in our hearts. We read it, we talk about it, we think about it in the various day to day situations considering how God’s Word gives us everything for life and godliness. See II Peter 1:2-3 and II Timothy 3:16-17. Wisdom is promised to us as well in James 1:5. We must simply ask God who gives generously to all.

Each one of us is a unique, individual, immortal soul with a mortal body made by and in the image of the invisible, Almighty God. Our time in this physical life is limited, but our eternal life is endless. As parents, we must prepare our children for their eternal destiny as well as their time physically on this earth. Sometimes I think we don’t see the contrast between the tiny span of our physical time on earth as compared to eternity. Where will we spend eternity? Where will our children spend eternity? It will either be with or without God. I choose a home with God in heaven. I hope you and all your children will choose that too. It will be wonderful and glorious with no more pain or problems. No death or decay will be in Heaven with God, and a love without measure will be ours forever in the presence of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Don’t you want to go? God is calling all to redemption and a relationship where we are adopted as His own children.

The education system will do what it does. We should be aware of their agendas, but we should not be distracted or derailed from our mission by them. Each Christian must do their part to ensure the salvation of themselves and their children. Romans 12:1-2 says, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Let us as it says in Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Commit as it says in Colossians 3:2 to “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

Remember II Corinthians 10:4-5 which says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,”

AND as Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

May God guide and bless you as you “think on these things.”

Article references and additional information

https://www.crossroad.to/Excerpts/chronologies/nea.htm

https://www.worldviewweekend.com/worldviewpedia/transcript/worldview-agenda-national-education-association

https://famguardian.org/Subjects/Spirituality/Research/MitchelQuotations/letter_n.htm

Colossians 3 Read all of it. It is excellent.

Note: There are many excellent educators in the public school system in America past and present who do and have done wonderful jobs educating children. This article does not refer to them. Many educators working in the public school systems in America also do not support the NEA agenda or the agendas referenced by many public school leaders quoted in this article.

Robin House 1/13/2021

Censorship and cultural chaos: What’s next?

Posted on January 12, 2021 by Robin House

FB says it is not an editorial group, yet they edit. FB says it is not responsible and has no liability for people’s posts, yet they take responsibility without any liability by deleting, suppressing, banning, censoring, putting up warnings, and limiting the reach/spread and comments of certain posts. FB says certain people, thoughts, ideas, words, and specific phrases are unacceptable and not allowed in our society as determined by their own unknown, unaccountable censors and mathematical algorithms, but other people, thoughts, ideas, words and phrases are acceptable and promoted by these oligarch, tyrannical, tech titans.

Perhaps these Goliaths are pure as the driven snow in their motives and actions – or maybe they are not. Why did T (twit) leave up a post calling for the VP to be hurt? Why are illegal activities including the sale and harming of precious children tolerated on these platforms while Bible verses, godly ideas, ethics, morality, and political opinions that do not call for harm to anyone at anytime or anywhere banned? Why can leaders of other countries call for the elimination of Israel and the death of all her people on their platforms without constraint? These are critical questions that demand an answer. Who decides what is allowed or not, what is right or wrong, and what is truth or a lie? Who is the true arbiter? Who today thinks and acts as if they are the arbiter for our society?

How can liberty, free speech, independence, and peace be preserved, protected and safeguarded in our nation? It will not be on or through these Goliath sites. Shut downs of certain people as well as billion dollar corporations and multiple mom and pop small businesses on A, G, T, and F show clearly that the ‘thought police’ are serious about suppression of truth, prevention of equal and fair trade, and the limiting and elimination of the exchange of ideas. They seem to want to “adjust” what is ‘right’ in their minds and ours including reality.

The removal and revision of actual historical facts, documentation, and evidences has been clearly seen over the past year in the anarchist movements to destroy monuments, buildings, cities, people, and ideas. George Santayana is quoted to have said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” When we do not learn from our past including the mistakes, we will be destined to revisit the same issues and problems again and again. Why is it that some leaders are speaking of and promising a “dark” winter and “dark” times ahead? Must we leave the enlightenment of truth and knowledge including learning the lessons of our past to go back into the dark ages of the past? Why, when there is so much knowledge and information available, do we see a limitation of information and repetitive articles of only one viewpoint? Why are current events on the news not current?

There is a serious movement in our nation by some to “deprogram” and “reprogram” those who do not think like “they” think some should. This is serious. Communist China has almost complete censorship of its society including the ability to cut off one’s ability to buy food and travel. They send citizens to thought reprograming camps. There is censorship of and the elimination of churches throughout the country as Christians are terrorized and tortured by the powers that be. There is even evidence that China is harvesting organs from live political dissidents and prisoners. Is that where we are going?

Reports on the news this day are calling some U S Senators terrorists for their opposing political opinions. Businesses are being called upon by Forbes to never hire anyone with certain ideas or thoughts. Media companies are cancelling people and businesses in political vendettas. The blame game continues. When party “a” in power says we need to get back to work in our economy, it is atrocious, but once party “b” comes to power, it is suddenly a great idea to get the economy back to work. Really?

What is happening in our United States? Over a million Americans have given so much for our freedoms up to and including their last drops of blood. Have we taken these freedoms for granted too long? Perhaps we haven’t held it dear enough and that is why it is almost extinguished and extinct. Abraham Lincoln said, “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” Are we destroying ourselves from within today? If freedom in America is not defended and protected, it will be lost.

I know many that read this post will be just like a child warned by a parent or authority figure in a crystal store to only “look and not touch.” Many who read my words will not touch this post with a ten foot pole much less a comment, ‘like’ or any other such expression of feeling for fear of retaliation or being singled out and cancelled out. That’s sad. So many are living in fear today and have no faith. They have believed the rampant fomenting of fear through the media reports from the pandemic to the political and cultural unrest.

I’d like to encourage you to look to the Lord for answers. Read the Word of God. Learn His will for your life. He wrote the book on us. His Word is of peace, reconciliation, love, freedom, and a bright and wonderful eternal future. Cast all your anxieties upon God. Seek your rest in the salvation freely offered through Jesus Christ. Give yourself fully and completely into his service and care. God loves and cares for you and is the only true and real and complete answer to all the ills in our lives and in this world. Don’t live in fear. Live in faith.

Put on the full armor of the Lord like it says in Ephesians 6:10-18. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

For those that want in this earthly life and in this country freedom, peace, and a real “united” states in America again, I have this to offer. Spread the “gospel of peace.” Stand up for truth. Speak clearly what is right. Do right and be ethical in your businesses and personal dealings. Conduct yourself as the Lord would want. Be honest. Be faithful. Be better not bitter. Be holy as the Lord is holy. Love your family. Raise your children to know and love the Lord. If we don’t raise our children to be godly, then they will be ungodly. That’s just how it is. We will be either a godly or an ungodly people. We cannot be both. Love your neighbors as yourself. Pray for your enemies. Show kindness and courtesy to all. I don’t like to say it, but be patient. I know it is hard to be patient. I want things fixed now and before now would have been better in my mind. In fact, why did America have to go down this road? I think it is because we, as a nation, have rejected the Redeemer to make our own rules and self-righteousness. This is idolatry, and God won’t stand for it.

To those who are Christians, remember that Christians will be hated and persecuted. No surprise here. Jesus, the holy, sinless Son of God, was hated, reviled, rejected, and relegated to death on a cross. All Christ’s followers should not be surprised that they may be persecuted. Don’t fear. Don’t give up. God was willing to save even Sodom and Gomorrah if only 10 righteous were found in its midst. Don’t back down. Be peaceful not pugnacious. Never run away, for your Father in Heaven is Sovereign and we are in His army. Walk in the Light. Live confidently in your faith. Supplant every fear with faith. Have joy in the Lord. Pray without ceasing. Let the Spirit work in you and through you for His will and way. Always move forward in the power of His might and not your own.

Remember that the ‘world’ will not understand or ‘get’ you. God still uses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. (I Cor. 1:27) Do what you are called by God to do, and then — be still and KNOW that GOD is GOD. God’s got all this. May God bless our nation and you in His will. RRH 1/12/2021

Protests: Our Rights and Responsibilities

Posted on May 31, 2020June 20, 2020 by Robin House

The right to peacefully protest is protected and an important right for all citizens of the United States. Many nations and people do not have this right, so it would be good if we, as American citizens, could appreciate this great freedom while acting responsibly when exercising our rights. This freedom is not anytime, anywhere, and any how someone wants to protest. Communities and duly elected authorities have the right and the responsibility to properly permit and protect all citizens and their possessions during protests.

Our rights to protest do not give us the right to trample on the rights of others. The right to non peacefully (violently) protest is not protected, legal or allowed in our country. It is not okay to threaten, assault, commit battery, injure, maim, or kill people in protest. This is not peaceful and is a civil and criminal action. It is not okay to burn someone’s car, business, and possessions. This is arson. It is not okay to loot, steal and take someone else’s property. This is stealing and against the law. It is not okay to vandalize. This, too, is criminal behavior.

Peaceful protests should be recognized and accepted. Those involved in violent, criminal, and illegal behavior need to be stopped, fined, arrested and/or prosecuted as appropriate and within the rules of law that are in place. Authorities, peaceful protesters, and all law abiding Americans must stand together to address destructive, malicious, lawbreaking anarchists who have mingled into the groups of peaceful protesters. These anarchists have no desire for good, positive and peaceful change. They simply want to tear down society and destroy. I watch the images on my television of people bent on destruction, and it grieves my spirit. So many people are completely lawless and ungodly in their behavior. I wonder how anarchists and others can feel entitled and empowered to bully, terrorize, steal, vandalize, and destroy. (Ephesians 5:7-14) I don’t understand why our leaders and law enforcement allow this to go on and on for days now. I’m sure it is a tough problem to dissect these anarchists from those seeking peaceful redress of important issues and concerns.

I hope my Christian friends will join me to pray for our people, our nation, our leaders, and those charged to enforce the laws of our land. Pray for all of our people to come together in peace, love, and genuine care for one another. Let us be as our national motto says “E pluribus unum” which means “Out of many – one.” Let us turn back to God and in God we trust. Let us love like our Lord did on the cross and still loves today. (John 13:35) Let us love our neighbors as ourselves. Let us not give the devil a foothold to be deceiving, dividing, and destructive in our lives and relationships with one another. Let us stand for what is true and right. Let us reject evil. Let us keep our hope and faith in the Lord and His promises. Let us share our hope with those without hope. The battle against evil is tough, but for Christians our victory in Jesus is sure and secure. Let us keep the faith and stand firm focused on the Father and His will for our lives. Be the light. (Ephesians 5:7-14, Romans 13:11-14, I John 1:7, Philippians 2:14-16) Let us step up and into our role as ambassadors for Christ. (II Corinthians 5:14-21). Let us think on these things…

Perspective on the Pandemic

Posted on May 3, 2020June 20, 2020 by Robin House

Over 100 years ago in 1918, the Spanish flu swept the globe killing an estimated 50 million people. According to the CDC, 675,000 of those deaths were in the United States. Today we are experiencing the effects of the Chinese Coronavirus pandemic. Over 180 countries have recorded infections among their people. The NY Times’ official counts reveal almost 3 million people infected by the Chinese Coronavirus with a reported 204,000 deaths worldwide.

In the United States, as of April 27, 2020, there were 50,787 deaths attributed to this virus. Unprecedented steps to mitigate the spread of the virus have been put in place and most remain, including the virtual shut down of the entire United States economy as well as the economies of most other countries around the world. Almost everyone in the United States has been ordered or mandated to shelter in place during this pandemic resulting in massive unemployment. We haven’t seen unemployment rates like this since The Great Depression. In addition, have you heard about the plans for our people to need papers for permission to go from place to place and even a permit to go back to work? I have. Does this remind you of anything? Does it remind you of another time and and another country? Does the word tyranny come to mind?

Some states are beginning to open back up, but many are hesitant and fearful of “getting back to normal.” Political forces are at odds as to the best course of action. I believe many of our rights and freedoms are being unconstitutionally removed and restricted. This is of great concern. Our way of life and the very fabric of our Republic is at stake now like never before. Taking advantage of public fear and uncertainty, some are pushing forward with agendas to remove our autonomy and freedoms.

To be free, we must be informed and willing to stand up for our rights as well as accept our responsibilities as a self-governed people. We must look at the research, examine the studies, and interpret the statistics to see what is true and what is false. We need to make informed decisions and understand what is and what should be. We need to understand the risks and sometimes take them.

Most of us understand that we will die one day. But how? This is a critical question to understand, and it can give perspective to the pandemic. According to healthline.com, the following is a list of the top 12 primary causes of death including the number of deaths per year of our citizens in the United States.

CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE USA NUMBER OF DEATHS/YEAR

1. Heart Disease 635,260 (23.1%)
2. Cancer 598,038 (21.7%)
3. Accidents (unintentional injuries) 161,374 (5.9%)
4. Chronic lower respiratory diseases 154,596 (5.6%)
5. Stroke 142,142 (5.18%)
6. Alzheimer’s disease 116,103 (4.23%)
7. Diabetes 80,058 (2.9%)
8. Influenza and pneumonia 51,537 (1.88%)
9. Kidney disease 50,046 (1.8%)
10.Suicide 44,965 (1.64%)
11.Septicemia 38,940 (1.42%)
12.Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis 38,170 (1.39%)

These top 12 causes of death account for approximately 77% of all deaths in the United States each year.

We expect more coronavirus deaths, but at this point the Chinese Coronavirus was said to cause 50,797 deaths and would rank 9th in the list of top 12 causes of death in the United States. Eight other causes of death have more deaths than the Chineses coronavirus, and yet we have never closed our country or economy for the top eight yearly causes of death.

Now for a bit more perspective. The governor of the state of New York said this week that he was glad to keep his whole state closed if it could save even one life. But in January of 2019, this same governor signed a bill allowing the abortion of a child up until and at the moment of birth, expanded the ability to perform abortions from physicians only to a range of medical professionals, and removed abortion from the criminal law code. To celebrate, this governor directed the One World Trade Center and other landmarks in New York to be lit with pink lights. So what is the impact of this decision? More deaths. What about each of these lives? Where are they in the list? What about the children?

According to CBS news, the CDC reported 623,471 abortions in the United States in 2016. So what – you may ask. The fact is that more babies have died from abortion in our country each year than those who died for any one of 11 of the top 12 causes of death in America. Second only to death by heart disease (by approximately 12,000 children), abortion is the second leading cause of death in the United States. The CDC also reported that 59% of those who obtained an abortion in 2016 already had at least one child. Reports by lifenews.com say that “abortion was the leading cause of death world wide in 2019, killing 42 million people.” Can you imagine? In a single year – last year, 42 million babies died by abortion. Just for perspective— compare those 42 million children to the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 where over a 36 months period (3 years), 50 million people died of the flu.

Mr. governor of New York, you can’t really care about every single person in your state. Keeping your economy shut down to save just one person seems hypocritical while you and fellow politicians decriminalized the killing of healthy viable infants ready to be born. The health department reported that during 2012-2014, women in New York aborted 400 babies for every 1000 live births. Those are the numbers.

It appears that there are forces at work to control our procreation, our population, our productivity, our passage from place to place, and our potential to pursue provision for our families and to even access food produced to feed our nation. My cousin’s family are cattle ranchers. They have been fighting for years for country of origin labels on our produce and meats. Politicians won’t pass or reinstate the requirement for country of origin on products. Why? Who gains from making sure we don’t know from where our food comes? Have you seen the way Asian countries have injected meats and sea foods with fillers so that they look bigger and weigh more? I have. In light of all we know and don’t know about China, do you trust them for our food supply? What about Brazil, Russia, Mexico, or any of dozens of other third world nations.

Today in America, we have the ability to feed the world, but because of politics, packers, and this pandemic, our farmers and ranchers are now dumping and plowing under crops ready to harvest. They are pouring out good milk that could feed our children. Ranchers are having to euthanize (put down) chickens, pigs, and cattle ready for market because there is no place for them to be processed. As this pandemic goes on, meats from other countries with less quality control and standards are being imported, and no one knows where it comes from because there is no requirement for country of origin labeling. Why? What is the reason for this? Do you understand what is going on? Do you care? Does it really matter? I say, “Yes!”

Youtube, facebook, and major news outlets are consorting, censoring and selecting the information you can and can’t see and hear. They openly admit that they know better, and they will tell you what to think and feel also. They have the power and the platforms and will to decide what news you can and can’t have including how it will be served and slanted. And you free thinkers out there, you’d better not question their motives or machinations or you’ll be banned, blackballed and labelled a hater or some other malevolent term. Political bias, disrespect and disdain for differing opinions, and a culture of group think today disallows anyone who is not politically correct (PC). I’m sure you have heard that about half of our citizens are a “basket of deplorables.” As a child, my parents taught me that when someone resorts to name calling and character assassination to win an argument, they have revealed the inadequacy of their point of view and the bankruptcy of their position. When name calling and character assassination don’t work, censorship and isolation are the next steps to curbing independent thought and behavior. Are you, like me, seeing this?

So what is the point? Why am I writing about the Spanish flu and the current causes of death in our country and worldwide. What do heart disease, abortion, and the coronavirus have in common. What does all this mean? I challenge you to look at all the facts. I encourage you to seek the truth, just as I am trying to do. I have searched multiple sources to find reliable data from which to compile accurate information for this writing. I hope you will do your research as well, and then will stand with the remaining patriots of this country to fight for things that are right, true and just.

I believe there is a reason why this pandemic is different. Look at the numbers. Ask the questions. I understood the need to socially isolate to prepare for the expected surge of coronavirus cases. I think our nation did a great job with what they had to work with and quickly made up for deficiencies in our preparedness and prevention measures. But now—What about now?

Why does this Chinese Coronavirus continue to shut down economies worldwide and in our nation where heart disease has over 12 times the number of deaths each year, yet no one closes their business for heart disease deaths?

Why have we closed our country for a coronavirus when each year we have 12 times more people die of abortion year after year? How can political leaders say that every person matters while making sure that some don’t?

Just look at the numbers. We have never shut down our nation and economy for any other pandemic or any of the top 12 causes of death in America. Why not? Why now?

Why, when less that 1% of those who get coronavirus die, do we lock down our whole nation? Why do we need to shelter in place when over 99% of the people who get the virus will recover?

Why do we need to close down hospitals from caring for heart disease, cancer, accidents, respiratory infections, flu, Alzheimers’ disease, joint replacement surgeries, etc., when only 15% of people with the virus will even need to be hospitalized for care?

Why do we still have problems finding toilet paper, household cleaners, and basic food products in our stores two months into this pandemic?

Do we not make enough products for our daily lives to be self-sufficient as a country? If not, why not?

Why are we dependent on other countries for our 95% of our antibiotics?

Why are our farmers plowing under their crops and ranchers euthanizing their animals?

Why won’t major news outlets and networks carry administrative daily updates and briefings after these same companies and reporters complained that they needed more access to the administration and more information on what is going on during the pandemic? Why when the administration gives them the data they require, will they not report that data?

What is really going on? What are the facts? How do these facts add up? Are our leaders and politicians doing their jobs to work for our best interests or for someone or something else?

Congress won’t come back into session, but has mandated many of our citizens must go to work. Does this make sense? If our congressional representatives are not essential personnel, why are they still being paid? Should they be fired for not working on what we “the people” hired them to do?

Does our citizenry even care about governmental representatives not doing their jobs? Do our citizens care about the future of our nation, culture, and freedoms, or are we so selfish that we care only for ourselves and our families. Do we give no regard to the big picture?

Today in American 50% of those furloughed from their jobs due to the mandated closures can make more on unemployment than they were making in their jobs. Employees all over the country are resigning or simply not returning to work because they can make more sitting on their backside at home than working their job. Why?

In Louisiana unemployment benefits are $247/week. The federal government is paying $600/week in addition to state unemployment. Why? Do you remember the push for a national minimum wade of $15 per hour? What is $600 divided by 40 hours? You guessed it. The answer is $15/hour. When you add in the $247/week from the state, what is the hourly rate the government is paying citizens NOT to go work all the way through July 2020? The answer is $21.18 per hour! The current minimum wage in Louisiana is $8.50 per hour. Getting on unemployment benefits now is 2 1/2 times more profitable than working a minimum wage job 40 hours a week. This federal and state pay out of unemployment money comes from money the government doesn’t have. The United States is over 23 trillion dollars in debt already. Where will we find the money to pay for all the government benefits during this time? You guessed it. It will come from higher taxes on businesses (which means increased costs for goods and services) and higher taxes on your paycheck, properties, and purchases. Who wants the government to take a bigger bite out of their paychecks? Can you raise your hands high so that I can see them? I understand why people want to stay home, but is this what is best for our economy, our people, our national security, and our sovereignty? Is this fiscally responsible?

Explain to me how small businesses, who don’t have deep pockets or cash cushions can continue to pay employees, themselves, their mortgages, utilities, and other costs for operating and production supplies and whose workers won’t work can survive? Most small businesses can not survive a two month closure or loss of production. Many small businesses will be in bankruptcy before May ends.

Is this a plan to put small businesses in America out of business? If not, why are only the big box stores allowed open with hundreds of people strolling their aisles, when hometown local small businesses can often provide the same products? What will it mean for our nation, if most small businesses are out of business? Small businesses make up about 50% of our economy and tax base. If small businesses can’t operate, we will see over time, fewer choices and higher costs for goods and services. Do you know what happens in one horse towns?

When government officials and legislation rewards Americans to be unproductive, won’t these same Americans become dependent on the government for their sustenance? Will we, the citizens, become slaves to the state? Are you willing to dance to when the government plays their tunes of tax and spend more and more?

So what is the answer? How do we move forward? Will the government dictate our every move? Will we allow the government to do so? Will we, like sheep, forgo most or all of our freedoms because of fear and for a promise of safety?

I plan on continuing to learn the facts and try to share the truth. I challenge each you to personally step forward, stand out, and speak up for what is right and true as well. Our futures, both individually and collectively, depend on what we will and won’t do, who we elect to represent us, and how we choose to live. We can live in fear or in freedom. I choose freedom. So…..now, I ask you, what will you do with what you know? How will you make a difference in your world and for those around you?

Football, Politics, Polls and Fair Play

Posted on January 19, 2017June 20, 2020 by Robin House

angry voters

Do you know who won the football game last Sunday? Did you see it? Though the Dallas Cowboys are not “my” team, no one can dispute the successes and quality of the Dallas Cowboy team play since Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott and others banded their team together to complete one of the best Cowboys football seasons in recent history. Since Dak Prescott is from my hometown, I have enjoyed seeing his success. Watching a great athlete compete with skill and perseverance while calling his mind and body to perform at an elite level is a beautiful thing – no matter what team a player is on. I saw only the last seconds of the game Sunday night, but it was in those final moments that it became clear that Green Bay’s kicker, by the narrowest of margins, kicked the football between the uprights to give the Green Bay Packers a winning score of 34 to 31 over Dallas. The scoreboard numbers and the celebrations by the Packers team and fans showed the television audience that Green Bay would move on to the final playoff game before the Superbowl. Dallas Cowboy fans were stunned, shaken, and sad. What happened?

What happened was that the Packers won and the Cowboys lost. But wait just a minute. On Monday I heard a story that said Green Bay won the scoring vote but that the Cowboys won the popular vote. The Cowboys had been ahead during the game and let’s face it — the Cowboys are America’s team. According to the story, the Cowboys deserved to win. The final score just couldn’t be the “be all and end all” outcome of the competition. Could it? Should someone send a note to the Green Bay Packers and fans to tell them that the final scoreboard score just didn’t count? Would someone actually say that a popular vote of public sentiment and rankings trumped the actual game played and score?

Of course not! Green Bay just like Clemson in the College Championship game beat Alabama in the final seconds because they scored more points than the other team. Yes, Alabama like Dallas, was favored to win, but they didn’t. They didn’t win because they didn’t score more points than the other team. That’s the way the game is played. Yes, some will be disappointed that their team did not win, but that is what happens in a contest. One wins, and one looses. The contest and the rules are clear to all before the competition begins, and then the game is played. For 60 minutes the football teams competed and each did their best to win.

In the recent presidential election, the candidates entered the contest, knew the rules, and competed fiercely for victory. One won, and one lost. Since the infancy of our nation and for over 240 years, we have held the same system of electing a president. On several occasions the presidential candidate that won the popular vote did not win the majority vote in the electoral college. The first incident of this kind was in 1824 with Andrew Jackson winning the popular vote by over 10% but losing to John Quincy Adams in the electoral college. Yet in the 193 years since that first contentious election where John Quincy Adams became our sixth President, our citizens, and as a result our elected officials, have not voted to change the electoral college system or rules by which U S Presidents are elected each and every 4 years. I’m not giving an opinion on the electoral college system, but simply stating that it is the current system and provides the rules for the election of all of our presidents.

Our government is not a true democracy, but a representative republic by which each citizen (unless they are a felon or live in a U S territory) has the right to vote to elect representatives to vote their will. Unlike most governments in our world, the United States of America has a system of government that is of, by and for the people. Too often I think our citizens have abdicated their rights to control the government by being inattentive, ignorant and apathetic. In most elections only a small percentage of citizens even show up to the polls to cast their votes. As a result, the small majority that do vote or do push their agenda in the halls of our state legislatures and in Congress often get their way in a manner that is many times not “fair” or good for the citizenry as a whole.

Like the Clemson/Alabama game the week before and the Cowboys/Packers game this past Sunday, the presidential team with the popular vote, poles and rankings did not win. The final score was Hillary Clinton 232 and Donald Trump 306. Mr. Trump seemed to trail most of the game, and the popular opinion and poles were not favorable for him. But, in the end and at the end of the election, Donald Trump had the winning score.

In less than 24 hours, our nation is set to inaugurate the 45th President of the United States. This man was elected by the rules of candidacy and competition set forth in our laws to serve our nation and its people. Like the 44 Presidents before him and as required by the U S Constitution in Article II, Section One, Clause 8, Donald J. Trump is scheduled to take the same oath his 44 predecessors did. The oath says “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” George Washington, our first President, was recorded to have concluded his oath of office with the statement, “So help me God.” requesting the help of the Almighty as he served. Washington set a precedent that has continued for over 200 years, including both swearing in ceremonies for Barak Obama.

Our national motto says “In God we trust.” But do we? Our Pledge of Allegiance says “… One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” But is it? I see a great rift in our nation today. What once was clearly an indivisible citizenry is divisive. Those promoting freedom and tolerance are often the most restrictive and intolerant. Justice seems to apply to some more equally than others. Have you read Animal Farm? Any look at our history, its monuments and the words engraved on many of our government buildings clearly shows that our nation was based and built on Christian values and freedoms. Alexis de Tocqueville, the French political thinker and historian who came to America in 1831 and wrote Democracy in America, said, “Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.” Revisionist historians and teachers are working diligently to rewrite, revise and remove all semblance of this truth from our documents, monuments, buildings and culture. As a result, many today have no knowledge or appreciation for the work done and the price paid by our founding fathers for the freedoms we enjoy. In no other country in the world are people dying to “break in” to join our society. In no other country in the world do its citizens hold as many rights and freedoms. No other country has the opportunity and the great responsibility to self-govern as we, the citizens of the United States, do.

In watching the recent events and outbursts designed to disrupt, dismantle, and delegitimize our society and government, I am sad to see the disunity in these United States. This is not good for our nation. The spirit of anarchy should not be allowed to fester and grow. I hope that you will join me to pray and to work for our nation’s best interests and unity. I believe the answer to what ails us lies in developing a more godly, patriotic, informed, critical thinking and intentional voting citizenry that seeks not their own good, but the good of the nation as a whole. A citizenry that loves their neighbor as their self. Towards that end, here are some lessons that I learned as a child from my parents, teachers, and mentors about sportsmanship and life. Some in the younger generations may not have seen these teachings before, so I hope you will enjoy them, take note and let them guide and enrich your life.

LESSONS OF SPORTSMANSHIP AND LIFE FROM A LOUISIANA LADY

1. Life isn’t always fair. I just hated hearing my mom tell me that over and over, but it’s true.

2. You have to play the game to have a chance to win. Get in the game.

3. In almost every case, the more skilled or competitive player or team will win.

4. You won’t always win, even if you work and try hard.

5. There are no awards for just showing up and participating.

6. Opponents will often work and fight just as hard, or harder, to win as you did. Life’s tough.

7. When you give your best efforts and still lose, there’s no shame in that.

8. Competing by the rules with integrity and fairness is expected.

9. Cheating is wrong.

10. It is important to be a “good sport.” Otherwise, you are a bad loser.

11. You don’t argue about the rules of the game after the game is over.

12. You may not have a hissy fit if you lose. You’ll be disciplined if you do.

13. Be gracious in loss and victory. Learn to sincerely show respect and congratulate an opponent.

14. Learn to “follow the leader” elected or selected even when he/she wasn’t your preference.

15. Know that there might be a next time, or there might not be a next time for a rematch. Sometimes you just get one chance at something.

16. Remember that President Abraham Lincoln quoted Jesus when he said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” from Matthew 12:25 (NIV)

17. It is often beneficial if you can get along with those with which you disagree. We know that Galatians 5:15 (ESV) says, “But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.” So, don’t burn your bridges and boats.

18. “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” I John 4:20-21 (NIV) Love is the greatest commandment.

19. About authority, remember Romans 13:1-7 (NIV) which says “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgement. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience…” Respect those in authority, whether you like them or not because they are under authority too.

20. Don’t forget that “The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.” Proverbs 16:4 (ESV)

21. Winning doesn’t make us better than others.

22. Losing is not the end of the world, and God is in charge of the end of the world too. (See Matthew 24:36 and Mark 13:32)

Thanks for reading. I appreciate you. May God bless you and yours.

Robin House