The Party of Less Has My Vote!

The party of less has my vote.
I don’t care what they call themselves.
The people of America have a right to expect less of government than we are currently getting.

We want:

Less Taxation
Less government regulations and control
Less government intrusion into our lives

Now what is so hard to understand about that? The platform that we want as the basis for the conservative party is LESS! Less of everything related to government!

Less taxes. The government gets far too much of our hard earned money and spends it on programs that do not benefit us. In fact, most of the government spending is meant to make people dependent on the government for their basic necessities. In a very real sense, it causes people to look to the government to supply their needs instead of to God. What a poor exchange this is for everyone involved.

Less regulation! The best way to stimulate the economy is for the government to get their noses out of business. How many of the people who are unemployed would like to begin a small mom and pop business? They might like to begin with no employees at all. They just want a way to make enough to support their families.

Less government intrusion into our lives.
Government – get out of our business.
Citizens of the United States do not need our government to tell us how to live our lives.
We don’t need you to force us to get health insurance. We can get insurance cheaper than your program anyway. We are intelligent enough to make the decision that we cannot afford insurance and live with the risks involved. How dare you – Democrat congress and president – tell me – I will force you to buy health insurance? That is none of your business. Get your nose out of it! The government has quoted that 50,000 people a year die from lack of health insurance. They don’t make it clear that 50,000 people a year with insurance die from infections they get while they are in the hospital! http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,587357,00.html
The TRUTH is that people without insurance CAN go to the hospital and get treatment when they need it. The TRUTH is that people with insurance will still be overwhelmed with debt if they have a serious illness. We do not need government regulations to solve the problem. We need LESS government regulation to improve the situation.

Hate crimes? What sort of baloney is that? This nothing more than a direct assault on freedom of speech. People will have evil passions until the end of history. You can’t tell people what to think, and for you to punish people for saying what they want to say is infringing on free speech. Who are you to determine what is hate speech anyway? I think it is hate speech when you condemn free speech. Do you hate freedom of speech? Or do you fear freedom of speech?
Will you now propose legislation that condemns certain questions as ‘hate questions’ because they might cause people to think for themselves?

Currently, there is legislation supported by John McCain to regulate vitamin supplements. This is nothing but excessive government control. And, he of all people, should know the end result of extreme government control, having spent years in a prison of regime who advocates government control of every aspect of life. Where would such legislation lead? Would be limited to how much orange juice we could drink in one day – lest we get too much vitamin c?
( http://www.smallgovtimes.com/2010/02/mccain-wants-feds-to-regulate-vitamins-and-supplements/ ) This proposed legislation proves that the problem of too much government is not limited to any political party. It is a mindset prevalent in both parties that
believes that the government should control exactly how you live your life.

There are still many private citizens who love the freedoms on which this nation was founded. There are others who may not love all the freedoms determined by the founders of this nation to be inalienable rights given by our Creator. Maybe some of these lovers of freedom don’t even believe in the Creator worshiped by the founders of this nation. But, there is one uniting factor. They (we) all hate government intrusion.

It is time to demand less of our elected officials. We want you out of our lives.
That is what the Tea Party is all about.
That is what the Republican party should concern itself with now.
To the Republican’s in office, clearly write and publish in all avenues of media that you are now the Party of Less. The Republican party, in its efforts to get along and engage in bipartisanship, is destroying their own foundation. Currently it appears they stand for nothing except to kiss the behinds of the majority.

The political parties and the news media are going to have to accept the fact that those who are cheering for the Tea Party are not a fringe element of society. They are people who are willing to speak out against the status quo in order to preserve the freedoms we have left, and to restore freedoms that have been and are being taken from us.

To those of you on the fence, think about this. We currently have the right to speak out and to vote and to vote as we choose. But, do you see our freedom of speech being limited and even stifled? If we are willing to give up freedom of speech, then what other freedoms will be required to give up?

If we do not elect officials who support less government, then we will continue to find that every citizen winds up with less of everything!

Barbara Henderson

Do You Want a Good View

You’re Blocking My View!
By Barbara Henderson

Eve was walking through the garden the Lord had provided for Eve and her husband Adam. It was a beautiful garden full of delightful things to see and eat. Then – suddenly – in the path just ahead – a serpent reared its head and began to speak to Eve!

Eve sternly said to the serpent, ‘MOVE – YOU ARE BLOCKING MY VIEW!’ Then Eve continued on her way, keeping her eyes firmly on the Lord and His provisions for her and Adam. The serpent turned and slithered out of the garden; he never bothered Eve or her family again. Ever. They lived happily ever after. The End

Well, that isn’t exactly what happened. OK, it isn’t anywhere close to what really happened. We all know Eve let the evil serpent block her view of God. She took her eyes off God and focused instead on the evil that had slithered into her path. (I don’t think serpents actually ‘slithered’ at that time, but I suppose evil has always ‘slithered’ figuratively.) Anyway, the consequences are history. Eve lived with the consequences of her sin the rest of her life. We live with the consequences of her sin. While we continue to live with the consequences of Eve’s sin, we also live with the same choice that Eve had.

We can either focus on distractions such as deceitful serpents singing a new song, problems, temptations, frustrations, debts, disappointments, sorrows, trials, weariness of body and spirit, and a million other obstacles in our individual paths; or, we can say to the obstacle,

‘MOVE! YOU ARE BLOCKING MY VIEW! I want a clear view of God more than I want anything else in my life. Now get out of my way, or I will run you over, or crawl right over the top of you!’

These mountains that spring up in our path can be removed and sunk in the sea if we only have the faith of a mustard seed! Now THAT is cool! I often wondered why people would want a mountain to move. I decided that I could see the point for the American pioneers who crossed the continent in covered wagons. We have driven across the continent many times. From Texas to the Pacific coast, there are two fierce mountain ranges that must be crossed,; not to mention the great plains, and the desert between the Rockies and the Cascades/Sierra Madre’s. I don’t even see how we get across in a motor vehicle, much less how they made it in covered wagons.

Of course, God can move real mountains, but he can also move obstacles in our paths that can figuratively be compared to mountains.




Mountains that may be blocking your view of God are:

• Debt

• Financial need

• Illness

• Sorrow

• Loneliness

• Real hunger

• Fatigue

• Weariness of spirit

• Delay

• Disappointment

• Fear of failure (that’s a good one)

• Past failure

• Personal shyness

• Personal inadequacies

• Anger

• Roots of bitterness

• Hard heartedness

• Pride

• Self-righteousness

And a million more things that are common to mortal man.

These mountains that rise up to block your view may start small and grow so gradually that you don’t realize what has happened.

I suppose we are sort of like Peter who briefly walked on water. We aren’t exactly walking on water; I think it is more like walking through sinking sand or miry clay. If we keep moving forward, then we are fine. If our path is blocked by a mountain, then our feet begin to sink. Pretty soon we are stuck in the sand. We begin to feel like we are being pulled down into the pit, and that we have no way of escape unless a miracle occurs.

Of course, it is obviously hard to keep walking when a mountain rises up in your path. The mountain blocks your view of God. In stead of living under the shadow of His wings, you find yourself living in the shadow of that mountain sized problem in your life. Or, you may be living in the shadow of what seems like an entire mountain range of insurmountable obstacles.

I will not make light of your problems. I will not pretend they don’t exist, or that you can just ‘wish’ them away. I will take them seriously. Plus, I have problems of my own that certainly appear to have no solution. In fact, short of divine intervention, they really don’t have a solution. I will be doomed to live with them the rest of my life. And they do block my view of God sometimes. But, by faith, I have a glimmer of hope. I don’t know what to do to solve the problems, or even provide some relief, but I do know the One who CAN help me. I know the One who is ‘Our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble’. (Psalm 46:1)

Bewilderment regarding a solution to a desperate problem, or even a small problem, is not uncommon. It happens to everyone no matter what their personal social, political, and economic level. In 2 Chronicles chapter 20, mighty armies came against King Jehoshaphat. The king did not know what to so; so, he proclaimed a fast. All Judah came together to ask the Lord for help. He said to the Lord, ‘We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on thee.’

Now, you and I don’t have the authority to proclaim a fast or call all the people together to seek the Lord and ask His help. But, we can call our own heart to put our focus on the Lord, who has power to help us with our individual problems. You can say to the Lord, ‘I don’t know what to do. My eyes are looking to you Lord for help. Help me to remember that my help comes for the Lord, the same Lord who made heaven and earth.’

This does require faith. If you feel as though you don’t have any faith, or that you don’t have enough faith, be of good cheer. Romans 12:3 tells us that God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Matthew 13:32-33 tells the parable of planting mustard seeds, which are tiny, but grow so large that the birds can nest in the plants that grow from them

Matthew 17:20 tells us that if we have faith like a tiny grain of mustard seed, that we can move mountains and that nothing will be impossible.

I personally interpret this to mean that we all have a speck of faith. We should plant that faith firmly in Jesus Christ. It will grow into a much greater faith as we continue to abide in Christ.

Romans 10:17 says, ‘Now faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.’ Christians should continue in ‘hearing the word of God’. This is more than physically ‘hearing’ the word of God. That means you hear it and obey it, or take it to your heart. Then you actually DO what the Bible says to do. Become a ‘Practicing Christian’. That means you practice what the Bible preaches. To properly care for YOUR grain of mustard seed – or the beginning of YOUR faith, you must hear and do what the Bible tells you to do. As your faith grows, it will become easier to at least shrink mountains.

Your level of faith is not really relevant to your chronological age. There are very old Christians and very young Christians who are still carrying their measure of faith, or grain of mustard seed, around in their shirt pocket. They have never planted it in Christ. Sometimes it takes a crisis to get that seed of faith even close to being planted. Others plant their faith in Christ, but then do not hear and do the things Christ tells belivers to do.

This is the exact moment to do a reality check.

Is something blocking your view of Christ? Is it hard to see His face? Do the mountains in your path overshadow His power to help you move those mountains? Set your mind to practice Psalm 85:8 which says, ‘I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.’

James 1:25 tells us, ‘But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.’

Hearing and doing the teachings of Christ will give you a better view of the future. In fact, it will give you a better future entirely. The more you practice hearing and doing the things of Christ, the better you will understand His love and mercy. Your faith will grow as well. You may still have to time to grow your measure of faith into a mighty tree.

The best view you will ever have is the one you have of Christ when there is nothing between your soul and your Savior. Don’t let the cares of this world, or the pleasures of sin block your view. Keep your eye on the prize – a well done from Jesus Christ Himself. Remember, in keeping your eyes on Christ, you have a very present help in time of trouble. You are not running away from your problems. You are facing the One who has power to actually solve your personal problems.

Of course the song for this article is ‘Nothing Between My Soul and My Savior’.

Thank you for reading my article.

Barbara Henderson

 

Nothing Between My Soul and My Savior

http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/n/b/nbetween.htm
Nothing between my soul and my Savior,
Naught of this world’s delusive dream;
I have renounced all sinful pleasure;
Jesus is mine, there’s nothing between.
Nothing between, like worldly pleasure;
Habits of life, though harmless they seem;
Must not my heart from Him ever sever;
He is my all, there’s nothing between.
Nothing between, like pride or station;
Self or friends shall not intervene;
Though it may cost me much tribulation,
I am resolved, there’s nothing between.
Nothing between, e’en many hard trials,
Though the whole world against me convene;
Watching with prayer and much self denial,
I’ll triumph at last, there’s nothing between.

This is the Day to Be Thankful

The Commandment to be Thankful
By Barbara Henderson


Who should receive a ‘second helping’? The one who gave heartfelt thanks for the first helping - or the one who gave no thanks at all?

Thanking someone for a gift is considered to be good manners. If we are willing to thank our friends and peers for gifts, why would we neglect the God of our salvation? Thanksgiving with God is more than good manners. It is the beginning of blessings as well as an acknowledgement of the blessings already received. Actually, being thankful to God is probably THE smartest thing you will ever do in your entire life. Thanksgiving is the proper way for a believer to approach God.

Psalms 95:2 tells us, ‘Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.’

That clearly states that we are to come into His presence with thanksgiving. The second part of that verse says we are to approach Him with Psalms - or joyful singing. For that reason, we should consider seriously the songs with which we approach God. Do not fall into the trap of approaching God with inane repetitions of the same line. Follow the guidelines for songs in the Psalms. Anyway - back to the subject of this article - Thanksgiving.

Psalms 50 really gives us a picture of how important thanksgiving is to God. In this Psalm God tells us of His glory and power. Then He goes on to say that the people have given Him sacrifices a’ plenty. Then God says He doesn’t want their bulls, or their goats, because HE owns all that anyway. Verse 14 tells us, ‘Offer unto God thanksgiving’ and pay thy vows unto the most High”! God wants what only we can give Him - a thankful heart. The next thing God wants from us is that we take our commitment to God seriously. When you became a Christian, you chose the path of God as your own path. Take this commitment seriously. The path that follows Christ is the path of the greatest success and the least sorrow possible.

But wait - there’s more. Verse 15 tells us the reward of those who follow the instructions in verse 14. It says, ‘And call upon me in the day of trouble” I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.’ OK!!! Anyone with a heart truly seeking God can do this. Thanksgiving is the preferred offering to God. That doesn’t cost you anything. (Well - it does cost a little pride if you think you have provided the blessings in your life for yourself.)

Don’t forget to follow the instructions at the end of that verse - after God has delivered you from whatever problem you were facing - be certain to give the glory for your deliverance to God. Thank God. In everything give thanks.

One of the greatest success stories of all time is that of Nehemiah. He set out to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. In Nehemiah 11:17 we are told that thanksgiving was so important a group of men were appointed to begin the thanksgiving part of the service in prayer - with Mattaniah as the leader. Mattaniah is mentioned again in chapter 12: 8 as being over ‘the thanksgiving’. The way the verse refers to ‘the thanksgiving’ sounds like it was a normal part of the service. I actually have a friend who is a native of India - and a great Christian leader. He said that in their service the first hour is dedicated to thanksgiving alone. That sounds good to me. Maybe we should try that here. Oh wait - that would be hard to get done and still get out by noon wouldn’t it?

Thanksgiving is not always easy. I am not talking about thanksgiving during sorrow, but thanksgiving in the midst of pride. True thankfulness requires that we sacrifice our pride in our accomplishments. It requires that we sacrifice our fear in the midst of turmoil. It requires that we sacrifice our desires and our ways for the way God has for us, and the purpose for which He created us. It even requires that we sacrifice our grief and disappointment to His hands and His ways. Psalms 116:17 says, ‘I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.’ Are you able to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord? Is the church of today able to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord?’ Is it not arrogance to forego thanksgiving as the first order of the day? If we want a second helping of God’s blessings - let us give heartfelt thanks for the first blessings of God.

Through thanksgiving, our faith grows stronger. The Psalms give list after list of the great things God did for His children. In listing these things, the people were reminded of the ways God had delivered them in the past. This gave them courage for the moment and faith that God would not abandon them to the perils which they faced right then. How many times has God delivered you from a problem? How many times has He delivered your family from a problem? How many times has He delivered America from disaster? God has power to save us. Don’t let it be our sins that cause us to miss the blessings God has for us. We don’t have to say our thanks to God in a manner as fancy as the Psalmist does. We just have to be sincere. God reads our heart like we read the funny paper. He knows true thanksgiving versus empty words.

The United States has proclaimed a specific day for Thanksgiving. While this is not a holiday ordained by the Bible, it is a way of life that is ordained by the teachings of God. We are to thank God in everything. We are to thank him everyday.

I don’t know about you - but I am so ‘busted’. I consider myself a thankful person. But when I consider the blessings God has given to me personally, to my family, and to this country, I realize that I haven’t even scratched the surface of thankfulness. I am making a New Year’s resolution right now to become someone who is more deeply thankful than I have been in the past. I know it will be good for me, my family, my country, and the world. I hope you will take the time to consider your own attitude of thankfulness - and if you find it needs ‘adjusting’ - now is the time to start.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Truly give thanks to the One who has made every good thing in your life and in the world possible.

The song for this article is ‘Come, Ye Thankful People Come’. I love the last verse - it says, ‘Even so, Lord, quickly come, bring Thy final harvest home’.

God bless you. Thank you for reading my article.

Barbara Henderson
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http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/o/comeytpc.htm


Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home;
All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.
God our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied;
Come to God’s own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.
All the world is God’s own field, fruit unto His praise to yield;
Wheat and tares together sown unto joy or sorrow grown.
First the blade and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear;
Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be.
For the Lord our God shall come, and shall take His harvest home;
From His field shall in that day all offenses purge away,
Giving angels charge at last in the fire the tares to cast;
But the fruitful ears to store in His garner evermore.
Even so, Lord, quickly come, bring Thy final harvest home;
Gather Thou Thy people in, free from sorrow, free from sin,
There, forever purified, in Thy garner to abide;
Come, with all Thine angels come, raise the glorious harvest home.