My first few years in college I was befriended by multiple great upperclassmen. They were imperfect but Godly guys who had their heads on straight. That's something that can hardly be assumed of anyone on campus here at Mizzou.
Some of my best friends are these older, wiser guys. They seriously impacted my path and taught me so much implicitly and explicitly throughout our time together.
I'm now the senior getting ready to move on in life to the "real world". Sometimes I had this thought that pouring into younger guys wasn't totally necessary if I got involved in other good activities.
But then it occurred to me, "If I don't pour into the freshman and sophomores, who will be the older guy in their life that they can look to and say 'he guided me into becoming a Godly man'?"
So now I see pouring into young guys as an obligation. Engaging in discipleship is Jesus' final command to us before he rose into heaven. We shouldn't take this role lightly, but rather we must remember to pass on the wisdom that was previously passed to us.
Don't break the chain.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Overreaction to Mr. President
President Obama made his speech to schoolchildren today. The speech has been the center of controversy for a week now as many conservatives think he's getting political with children. Some parents don't like his message or just don't think he should be addressing their children.
A curious fact is that all of the hubub began before anyone even knew what he was going to say to the children.
You can see the text of the speech here.
I can honestly say that this is a solid message that children do need to hear. The one gripe I have with his message is when he says that children are "quitting on their country" or owe it to their country. That's flat out wrong. Kids work hard so they can become independent and provide for themselves, their family, and their friends. Children don't owe anything to America. Their country is here for them, not the other way around.
President Obama is a great communicator as Ronald Reagan was in the 80s. While I disagree with his message much of the time, his ability to inspire and spark hope in some minds is a blessing during such a time of economic woes.
A curious fact is that all of the hubub began before anyone even knew what he was going to say to the children.
You can see the text of the speech here.
I can honestly say that this is a solid message that children do need to hear. The one gripe I have with his message is when he says that children are "quitting on their country" or owe it to their country. That's flat out wrong. Kids work hard so they can become independent and provide for themselves, their family, and their friends. Children don't owe anything to America. Their country is here for them, not the other way around.
President Obama is a great communicator as Ronald Reagan was in the 80s. While I disagree with his message much of the time, his ability to inspire and spark hope in some minds is a blessing during such a time of economic woes.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Bush Commutes Ramos-Compean Last Day In Office - Great News!
Today we should all rejoice for justice finally being served in an incredibly unjust case.
Two border patrol agents shot a drug runner in 2005. Their names are Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean. Osvaldo Aldrete Davila was smuggling marijuana across our southern border when Ramos and Compean shot him in the buttocks as he ran from them. That seems reasonable. However, they were sentenced to 11 & 12 years for shooting the convicted drug-runner.
It was a gross misjustice for them to ever be convicted. But today President Bush relieved many people throughout the country who have been following this case by commuting their sentences.
I can't imagine how excited they and their families are. They will be released from prison on March 20.
Click here for the full story.
Two border patrol agents shot a drug runner in 2005. Their names are Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean. Osvaldo Aldrete Davila was smuggling marijuana across our southern border when Ramos and Compean shot him in the buttocks as he ran from them. That seems reasonable. However, they were sentenced to 11 & 12 years for shooting the convicted drug-runner.
It was a gross misjustice for them to ever be convicted. But today President Bush relieved many people throughout the country who have been following this case by commuting their sentences.
I can't imagine how excited they and their families are. They will be released from prison on March 20.
Click here for the full story.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
It's Official
Barack Obama is officially the president-elect.
I am disappointed to have a liberal president. But I can honestly say I am very proud of my country to have a black president. This really does show we have come a long way. I do not agree with many of his policies, but he and I both hope for a better America. So I will support his leadership, though it will frequently be with dissenting voice. I pray that he will lead our country in an honorable fashion and we will be better off after his term.
I am disappointed to have a liberal president. But I can honestly say I am very proud of my country to have a black president. This really does show we have come a long way. I do not agree with many of his policies, but he and I both hope for a better America. So I will support his leadership, though it will frequently be with dissenting voice. I pray that he will lead our country in an honorable fashion and we will be better off after his term.
Election Night
It's 10:00pm CDT on election night and Obama is running away with this thing. He has 207 projected electoral votes compared to McCain's 135 right now. Obama is leading in Florida, worth 27, and will obviously win California, worth 55. With those two he will officially clinch the presidency.
I am now turning my attention to the Senate race. This is the compelling story line now: will the Dems win 60 Senate seats for a filibuster proof Senate? If so, I might just transfer from Mizzou to some international school. At the moment they have 54 seats and Republicans have 38. If the red guys can score three more spots, my nerves will be calmed. Until then I will continue to pray over this country's seemingly bleak and blue future.
I am now turning my attention to the Senate race. This is the compelling story line now: will the Dems win 60 Senate seats for a filibuster proof Senate? If so, I might just transfer from Mizzou to some international school. At the moment they have 54 seats and Republicans have 38. If the red guys can score three more spots, my nerves will be calmed. Until then I will continue to pray over this country's seemingly bleak and blue future.
A Frightening Future
I am writing as if Obama has already won the 2008 presidential election. If my expectations are incorrect, then I will rejoice. If they are correct, then I'll continue in my politically unhopeful attitude.
Looking at the next four years and what might happen could give many conservatives a heart attack. We will have elected a president more liberal than possibly any previous office-holder. He has radical ties, radical ideas, big-government plans, and a far-left voting record. He comes to unite America...under a hyper-liberal banner. He's not moving toward the middle to unify, he's sucking us toward the left.
By tomorrow we will have elected a democrat-majority Senate, possibly even a filibuster-proof Senate. We will also have a vast majority of democrats in the House of Representatives. These are the "leaders" who have done only one thing the past four years. Which is to say they have done everything in their power to not let George W. Bush get anything done with his power.
These leaders began their adult lives during the 1960s. These are the people who belong to possibly the most hippie generation of all. Think about that. Obama + powerful hippies = 4/8 years of enormous government growth.
Obama has the same political leanings as FDR and his New Deal. He has the same social ideologies as LBJ and The Great Society. He has the same economic leanings as Jimmy Carter. Three presidents, three eras of government growth (not all of the things coming out of these presidents was bad, but as a whole...). Now, one president, one massive era of government growth.
Hey Everybody! Jimmy Carter already tried to tax the rich. Remember the years after putting that policy in place? Yeah, our economy tanked. Guess what? Our economy is already hurting and Carterism will hurt it even more. We are told that FDR's New Deal programs were not supposed to last forever. Hey Everybody! Guess what? Government programs never go away.
Americans listen up, we are going to take HUGE steps backwards from our position of freedom. A man named John Coleman once said, "The point to remember is that what the government gives it must first take away." Remember that! WE are the government. WE give away four months worth of our taxes every year so that brilliant politicians can decide what to do with it. We should keep more of our money and make decisions which WE feel are best for us. If WE make the decisions instead of THEM, WE will be better for it. If we let THEM, make the decisions, THEY will be better for it. That's a fairly simple concept in my opinion. Taxing more of our citizens' money is equivalent to giving up more freedom.
What this all comes down to is the fact that government programs, as a whole, do not benefit society. If taxing more and spending more was the key to social justice and eliminating poverty, then we would have a complete just society lacking poverty. Yet, we still deal with injustice and poverty so we must change our strategy.
I really can not think about this any longer, it is simply too depressing knowing that the people voting for Obama will be the same people that are hurt most by Obama.
Looking at the next four years and what might happen could give many conservatives a heart attack. We will have elected a president more liberal than possibly any previous office-holder. He has radical ties, radical ideas, big-government plans, and a far-left voting record. He comes to unite America...under a hyper-liberal banner. He's not moving toward the middle to unify, he's sucking us toward the left.
By tomorrow we will have elected a democrat-majority Senate, possibly even a filibuster-proof Senate. We will also have a vast majority of democrats in the House of Representatives. These are the "leaders" who have done only one thing the past four years. Which is to say they have done everything in their power to not let George W. Bush get anything done with his power.
These leaders began their adult lives during the 1960s. These are the people who belong to possibly the most hippie generation of all. Think about that. Obama + powerful hippies = 4/8 years of enormous government growth.
Obama has the same political leanings as FDR and his New Deal. He has the same social ideologies as LBJ and The Great Society. He has the same economic leanings as Jimmy Carter. Three presidents, three eras of government growth (not all of the things coming out of these presidents was bad, but as a whole...). Now, one president, one massive era of government growth.
Hey Everybody! Jimmy Carter already tried to tax the rich. Remember the years after putting that policy in place? Yeah, our economy tanked. Guess what? Our economy is already hurting and Carterism will hurt it even more. We are told that FDR's New Deal programs were not supposed to last forever. Hey Everybody! Guess what? Government programs never go away.
Americans listen up, we are going to take HUGE steps backwards from our position of freedom. A man named John Coleman once said, "The point to remember is that what the government gives it must first take away." Remember that! WE are the government. WE give away four months worth of our taxes every year so that brilliant politicians can decide what to do with it. We should keep more of our money and make decisions which WE feel are best for us. If WE make the decisions instead of THEM, WE will be better for it. If we let THEM, make the decisions, THEY will be better for it. That's a fairly simple concept in my opinion. Taxing more of our citizens' money is equivalent to giving up more freedom.
What this all comes down to is the fact that government programs, as a whole, do not benefit society. If taxing more and spending more was the key to social justice and eliminating poverty, then we would have a complete just society lacking poverty. Yet, we still deal with injustice and poverty so we must change our strategy.
I really can not think about this any longer, it is simply too depressing knowing that the people voting for Obama will be the same people that are hurt most by Obama.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Here We Go
Well, only one day left of obnoxious political commercials. I'm excited to be barraged by commercials for products that I should buy. I can hardly remember a time when I saw product commercials during my television viewing.
On a more important note, our national future is at stake tomorrow. Maybe we could say this at every election, but this one seems like it could be the most influential in the past two decades for the direction our country will take. If you don't want to give the government even more power than it already has...
GET OUT AND VOTE MCCAIN/PALIN!!!
On a more important note, our national future is at stake tomorrow. Maybe we could say this at every election, but this one seems like it could be the most influential in the past two decades for the direction our country will take. If you don't want to give the government even more power than it already has...
GET OUT AND VOTE MCCAIN/PALIN!!!
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