Wednesday, June 22, 2016

HOW WE TAKE AMERICA BACK

My Opinion Piece By Teresa Beem

I have always been an activist. When my parents took us out of church school and placed us in public school when I was in fifth grade, I organized a protest outside of my home. We picketed my house with signs on which were written bad words and I got my brothers and sisters and the neighbor kids to walk in circles chanting, "This is what we learn in public school." I didn't win that campaign. I also remember getting a spanking.

When I was the student association president of the Seventh-day Adventist elementary school, Dallas Junior Academy, I staged my second protest against the idea of forced school uniforms. All I had to do was mention in my address to the school board that uniforms would make us look Catholic and that was it. Which I regret now that I am a thinking adult. But anyway, I was like thirteen. My campaign was successful,
though. So generations after me were allowed to wear mini skirts and saggy pants. (I will probably spend some time in purgatory for that one.)

My most extensive trek into community organizing lasted for more than a decade and that is when I started the first Seventh-day Adventist pro-life group in 1985. At its height we had three states chapters, we helped run a pregnancy center in California, we made videos, went around to elementary schools, high schools, universities and churches teaching about abortion and attempting to get the SDA church to change its hospital and doctrinal policies from pro-choice to pro-life. Outcome: unsuccessful.

At the same time, I got involved with the general Right to Life movement in America and volunteered to work for pro-life candidates. Which I still am active in. I have and my kids also, have been in the trenches and have seen a lot more than most people about how the process of political change takes place in the US.


The largest protests in history.....

I have organized and been in so many marches and protests in my life that I can't even begin to count them--lots. I have stood alone for days on the steps of several state capital buildings and legislative branches calling out for action. I have gone door-to-door many times passing out literature, talking to the populous about a particular idea, candidate, bill being introduced in Congress. I have stood in front of grocery stores gathering signature for petitions, spent hundreds of hours calling citizens asking them to vote for a certain candidate and calling and writing congress. Writing op-eds.... you know, the whole spiel....with more passion and energy and heart and tenaciousness and hope and .....nothing has changed. In fact, things have gotten a whole lot worse.

And so, when I write, I have some general knowledge I can share.

HOW WE WILL WIN? We won't.... because:
Conservatives do not want to get involved. Conservatives want to be seen as nice and non-confrontational. Conservatism by its nature is law abiding and actually have a more "live and let live" attitude than the progressives. The law of physics does not bode well for the conservatives to ever get anything done. They simply are not wired with the inertia of political success. They will not react until reacted upon.

William F. Buckley, Jr. is the prime example of a passionate, worked-up conservative. If one is really on fire for change, a conservative will sit down and talk rationally with the enemy, lobbing witty sarcasms at them. But the most you can expect of the lay-conservative is that they get so up-in-arms about something that they will go down and register to vote. Or go practice at a shooting range.

And so, when the good guys, the guys that keep the rules and support democracy are defeated in every battle by the bad guys who cheat and sabotage the game, the good guys simply cannot fathom that rule of law doesn't work. They huddle in a group that breaks off into warring factions about whether the referees have been paid off. Meanwhile the monolithic brotherhood of thieves laugh at us.

Progressives' nature use inertia to get their own way. They do not care if they are nice and many of the leaders thrive on confrontation. They have a determination to force their beliefs on others, because they think the are smarter and better than conservatives. They are willing to sacrifice for their cause which they believe to be based upon "rights." They use brilliant strategies to manipulate and propagandize the public. They know how to bring about change and are constantly reinforced that they are correct in their assumption that conservatives are dumb, because we don't do anything. We fall for it each and every time.

The progressives have been so successful in our nation that they don't even try and hide their agenda and their manipulation anymore.
They just label conservatives who disagree with their policies as "bigoted" or "racist" and conservatives recoil in horror and apologize for wanting rational policies. We are too polite and hate confrontation.

We are a nation that is bullied. And many conservatives are now waking up to the fact that unless we conservatives actually start acting like progressives as far as action (hence the Trump movement) and get past our self-identification as the nice, law-abiding passivity-mongers and actually sacrifice our time and efforts to wrestle things back to the way they should be--our nation has no, zero chance of being the great nation we remember ourselves being.

God is not going to come in and save us. No, if anything, we should be praying that God does not get involved because we deserve punishment, not mercy. (Christians, you know what I am saying here... don't get offended.)

From my experience, there are three things that secure the baby-boomer generation of conservatives as going down in history as the worst, most uncourageous, spoiled, ungrateful, lazy and stupid citizens that ever walked the face of the earth.

1. Our naiveté and laziness--Let's face it, we don't want to fight, or sacrifice. We want to be left alone. And so, conservatives will die out and no one will ever even notice. The USA will be like the extinction of the dodo bird
because we conservatives went gently into that good night, we did not burn nor rave at the close of our day, we did not rage, rage against the dying of the light.

2. Conservatives are now outnumbered. While America slept, the last two generations have been successfully brainwashed with disinformation. Most people under fifty do not see America as great nor see any reason to keep it as it was. They have willingly, in fact, gleefully placed themselves on the Joseph Mengele school of social experimentation. They don't mind the idea of a trans-human super species. So that idea that most
Americans are going to rise up at some point and take the nation back? You are in la-la land. Conservatives are now outnumbered. We lose.

3. For the conservatives who are left, who absolutely see the problem and will sacrifice and fight for their country, there is still one more and I believe insurmountable problem. There is no structure set up for the conservatives to change things. Our progressive counterparts learned this decades ago. There is only one ladder for change in politics. Once you have overtaken it, you can keep it and kick anyone off who attempts to rise on the ladder.

Once you have the universities, once you have the congress and presidency... I don't give a flying flip about the second amendment and the militia, because he who has control of the nuclear bomb button is he who controls the country. Once conservatives have gotten to the point that we are angry enough to start a war, we will also realize that we have no ability to win a war. There is no structure in place that we can unite under. And conservatives will never fight a war they don't think they can win. Liberals will. 
And that is why I do not think we will ever get our country back.

And there we are folks. Please explain to me, why I am wrong. I am hoping there is someone out there who will prove me wrong. 
DO it!!


And a conservative will rather be upset by
what I just wrote and its "negative" tone and that we just need to keep trying...and forget it, turn on the television and zone out rather than see my piece as a challenge to do something. 

Saturday, May 21, 2016

7 Tips On Christian Parenting in These Times




Things are getting irrational out there. In fact, not just irrational, but dangerously insane. And we as parents have a responsibility to protect our children, not just physically and mentally, but spiritually.

All children, even grown ones, should feel they can depend upon their fathers and mothers during times of crisis. It is never too late to be the source of strength for your offspring.  And the older and more experienced you are the more you are needed today.

So, how do we as Christians deal with parenting in these evil days? Here are but a few things I can highly recommend.


1. Do Not Ignore Problems

A common mistake parents make is to ignore or try to put a positive spin on reality. Most children older than six sense the danger of our times merely by turning on any social media. No matter how well protected from the "world" your children  are, do not assume they don't realize something is wrong. They listen, they see, and they will automatically panic if their parents stick their heads in the sand and flippantly dismiss or downplay problems.  

Parents who continually joke or minimize problems often increase the stress in children because they lose trust in their authorities. If children believe their parents to be jokesters or irresponsible they often will feel more vulnerable and helpless. 

Here is a rule of thumb: if you are joking to keep yourself from stressing, kids sense it and that will increase your children's panic. So don't joke for your own comfort or to draw attention to yourself.
Rather, let them see you acting responsibly. If you are using humor to calm your kids down and they see that you are in control and not minimizing danger, then you are safe to sparingly joke. 

Another suggestion. Be prudent when using the phrase, "Give it to Jesus." Children innately understand that God gave them you, their parents, to protect them. Some children misunderstand this statement as a parent rejecting or even abandoning their God-given responsibility to protect them. 

Let you children see your confidence in Christ and your ability as a Christian to handle even the worst of situations. Let them know you clearly see the problems in the world and are soberly, maturely and actively seeking solutions. Firmly let them know that with God, you got this... You will not fail to take care of them. 


2. Do Not Obsess Over Problems

Don't overdo point number one as far as discussing danger with your children. I have made the mistake of thinking my children didn't understand how dangerous the culture was. So I discussed news items to prove my position. 

I was told by my children that they didn't need a daily rundown of terrorizing headlines. Their calm demeanor was a coping mechanism of belief, not of disbelief, that times are bad. Our youth are scared out there. Even if they don't show it.

Let them see your confidence in Christ and your ability as Christians to handle even the worst of situations. (I know I am repeating number one--but this is crucial for both sides of the panic spectrum.) To balance your children, do not ignore nor constantly discuss the problems of the world. 


3. Make a Plan

If your children are eighteen-years-old or older and are interested, show them a game plan of what you are going to do so that they know there is a game plan to handle the cultural stresses of being a Christian in a post-Christian world. And usually that means parents need to come up with one! Be sure and base it on the principles of God's Word.

(For example: What will you do to protect your children in public restrooms? What will you do if your business is pressured to support what you consider immoral? Will you quit? Where is that line that you will not cross?) It's a good idea to think these things through and make a plan even if your children never see it.   

Now, how does a parent prepare himself or herself to be that strong, Christian who is capable of dealing with these evil times? I mean, you shouldn't lie to your children. We need to really be prepared. It is possible and you must do it! You owe it to your children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren not to fail them. Right now, let's be frank, everyone, even the adults could use a few spiritually, emotionally prepared adults out there.


4. Seek Wisdom

Our Father in heaven, didn't abandon us in these times. He has given us ample resources to draw strength from so that we may be good parents. Among the most necessary things we need is wisdom.

Wisdom is not something you acquire passively. The Bible says we are to seek out wisdom; the pearl is there for those who sell all to purchase the land and then dig for it. That takes effort and planning. 

Scriptures tell us that fear of the Lord is the
beginning of wisdom. That is a good place to begin. Renew a commitment to daily studying of scripture and prayer. In these days, a quick five minute devotion will not do. Sacrifice some time you had carved out to watch television or go to a game. Spend it with God and diligently pray for wisdom. 

Begin a daily routine of asking God for wisdom, then pick up a few books. I recommend Church history books. Other Christians have had to deal with what we are dealing with now. Our experience is hardly new. Read about what the saints and martyrs of the past have done during troubling times. God has given us a cloud of witnesses out there who have written much to help guide you into wisdom. 


5. Put on the Armor of God

Scripture tells us how we can spiritually prepare for when the evil day comes. I recommend reading through the book of Ephesians often, but chapter 6, verses 10-18 are especially helpful:
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.


6. Pray for Courage

When you are seeking wisdom, truth, righteousness with all of your heart and mind and soul, things will get rough. It is not an easy road, but keep in mind this is for your children and grandchildren and they are worth all the struggle and sacrifice. 

It is going to take a lot of courage. And as in all the things you will need for this spiritual battle, courage is a freely given grace of God. Pray for it. Make prayer your first line of defense in this battle to defend your children in today's world. 

And have faith that God will give you the joy and peace, courage and wisdom to be a hero for your children. You can guide them through the treacherous waters that lie just ahead. The light of your holiness (given freely to you by Christ) is a reflection of His light. And that is not deflecting from God, that is the responsibility God has given you as parents. Be a holy saint for them. 


7. Do Not Forget the Assembling Together

God never meant for us to handle things on our own. There is wisdom and strength and courage in Christian unity. Reach out to other Christian parents. Pray together. 
For some types of Christians it is easy to fall to the temptations of an us-against-them mindset. Scriptures tells us that is is in unity we are perfected. Don't isolate yourself and fear you are alone. Christ's Body on earth, His people need to stay close during these times. 

God bless you as He calls you and makes you parents for a time such as this.

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

NORTH CAROLINA, TRANSGENDER BATHROOMS AND THOUGHT CONTROL

North Carolina is being forced to sue the federal government to keep biological males from pretending they are females and using a woman's bathroom. This is a huge deal because not only is this going to affect North Carolina's government restrooms but pressure is mounting for all facilities--public and private--to bend to political correctness. Then these "anti-discrimination" laws will spread across the country. 

We are already seeing boycotts by businesses and entertainers threatening states that do not fall in line with their thinking.

Why is this such a big deal?

Because someone wants to pretend they are not what they are (which no one cares about) and force everyone else to behave as if that someone is what they are not.

This is about forcing someone to deny reality. Everyone must believe a man is a woman (even when in reality he is not). 


This mad push towards transgender bathrooms for a tiny fraction of the population has nothing to do with protecting minorities. Facts are that transgenders already use bathrooms of their self-identity without incident. They didn't need any legal protection.

In fact, making it legal or illegal for transgenders to use any bathrooms is logistically unenforceable. There is no criteria to judge if a man is a pervert who just wants to enter a woman's bathroom or if he truly believes himself to be a woman. We cannot set up bathroom police at every bathroom to quiz us about how we self-identify (or check) our genitalia at bathroom doors either to keep out or let someone in. 

All a bathroom police can do is verify reality--which is not what transgenders want. 

So, if this isn't really about human rights, what is the end game? 

Mind control.

Do not mistake this: If the transgender bathroom lawsuit ends up in the Supreme Court and the court make it legal for transgenders to go to any bathroom of their choice, nothing will change.

The sun will come up,
Americans will rise and go to work, there will still be traffic and birthdays. And the progressives will smile condescendingly at the conservatives: 

"Whew! Gay marriage passed and the sky didn't fall. Whew! Transgenderism became the new normal and the world didn't end. See, nothing happened! You were so upset over nothing!" 
Then, the left will point out that a state fighting such an insignificant law and suffering enormous federal penalties and business boycotts was a tragic waste of taxpayer dollars and a ridiculous fight. They will trot out the latest polls claiming the citizens were really for transgender bathrooms in the first place.

Again, the progressives will pull out the slogan "love wins" tempting those who have huge hearts and little wisdom to believe it.

And indeed, our children will see nothing change and believe the progressives were right. Except, looks will deceive. It it won't be fine. 

SILENT ARMAGEDDON

Our entertainment-saturated culture is always awaiting the big, Hollywood-styled moment awakens us to the danger. There has been no battle-cry, no thunder or earthquake, nonetheless, the US has forever fundamentally shifted. The apocalypse of the human mind has occurred. And historically, these worldview shifts are more effective in changing the future than millions of lives given in civil or world wars. 


Totalitarianism has come into America not with soldiers and guns, but with a benevolent and warm-hearted smiles that will enforce their agenda with an iron-fisted, dictatorial vengeance. If we take a look at reality, people are already beginning to fear speaking and fear thinking anything outside of progressive morals. Even if the information one is fearing is true.

There is a soft terrorism enveloping our land silencing expressions of reality. Reality has become the new sin.

Under this new totalitarian regime, you are considered a bad person to be in any way connected to history and scientific facts and empirical data.   

Your children will be reeducated into this new, acceptable worldview. 

Americans believe they are being nice by "hushing" those who disagree with their morality and their view of human rights. And soon, this new "nice" terrifying America will be one where it is no longer legally acceptable to speak or even know... 

... what is real.