Today, it seems that the most important thing on the agenda of the Oklahoma State House and Senate is the State Rock Song.
Really?
But, seeing as it is a Friday I was willing to excuse this until I started doing the math...
Number of Senators 48
Number of Reps 101
Minimum salary per legislator $38,400
Days in session 160
Total salary cost $3,878,448.00
Cost per session day $24,240.30
Cost per session hour (8 hour work day) $3,030.04
Cost for 2 hours $6,060.08
Again, the $38,400 is the MINIMUM salary. You get paid extra if you are the chair of a committee or if you are the Speaker of the House (btw, I think this salary is BEYOND reasonable). However, if the House and the Senate spent a COMBINED amount of time totalling 2 hours to debate, vote and revote on this bill (including all of the time it spent in committee and the time writing the bill) it cost the Oklahoma tax payers a MINIMUM of $6,060.08 for us to get a state rock song...Seriously?
Isn't there something more important to do with our money? Even on a Friday? Commercial moment:
Price of State Legislators' salary: $3,878,448.00
Price of State Legislators' salary per hour: $3,030.04
Estimated minimum price to vote on state rock song (only to have it overruled by the Governor): $6,060.08
Spending the Oklahoma taxpayers money by doing something that will actually matter in 48 hours: Priceless
Not Real Sponsors...
Why I care...Why I fight - as posted Oct. 20, 2008
At the beginning of last weekend I got really discouraged. I was sick of hearing the garbage from the media and the libs. I was sick of being yelled at, called names, cut off, and generally disrespected for no other reason than the fact that I like Palin. That’s what it really comes down to, I discovered. Because I support Palin.
It doesn’t matter what I think about McCain v. Obama’s tax plan, it doesn’t matter where I stand on the life issue, it doesn’t matter what I think about congress, it just matters that I support Palin. Because I hold the same ideals as Palin people are shocked, SHOCKED, that I might want someone who thinks like me being in office, yes, one heartbeat away from the presidency. Anyway, I was feeling pretty disheartened. I’m told by people on the right and the left that it is over, Obama is going to win, and that is that. It’s just how it’s going to be. I am forced to see my wonderful country turn socialist by one of the most dishonest men in America: Senator Barack Hussein Obama.
I just kinda shut down from politics. I didn’t want to talk about it anymore, I didn’t want to talk about anything. What’s the point? If he’s won and we’re all doomed, why fight, why care about ACORN, Ayers, “spreading the wealth around”, or the media attacking Joe the plumber? You’re just going to get yelled at by a bunch of people who can’t get over the fact that life isn’t fair. These are the same people who believe that Bush is solely responsible for the fact that life isn’t fair and some will have to work harder than others.
I was sick of it, I was done. But after events on Saturday and having the weekend to think about it, I came to realize why I care so much, why these conversations with my friends yelling at me and calling me names were on my mind, why I continually research, read, and discuss even though I really didn’t want to: her name is Feruza. Why do I care? Because of people like Feruza.
Feruza is a wonderful friend of mine from Uzbekistan. She’s a little older than me and doing her first year of school at O-Trip. She was just now able to come here this year to begin studying in America. This alone is a foreign concept to me because I have no clue what it is like to desperately want to go to another country and study to get an education. Sure, I would like to study abroad for the cultural benefits, but, I think the best education is found in America. Feruza spent the 4th of July with my family and has since fallen in love with the “real American family.” At least, she really likes my family. I asked her what she was going to do with her business degree. She said that she was wanted to stay here and own her own business because she really couldn’t do that in her country.
Think about it, a woman from another country wants to come to America so she can study, drive (which she can’t really do in her country and wouldn’t do because of some of the cultural ramifications), own a business (which she said women couldn’t really do in her country either), and just live in America. After taking Feruza out for one of her very first birthday celebrations ever it made me realize why I care about American government so much: (I mean, aside from being a Christian and it being part of our stewardship to Christ.) because of people like Feruza.
I want women (and men, too) to want to come to my country and be encouraged to start a business. I want people like Feruza to have hope that they can have whatever life they want for themselves. I want Feruza and people to live in a country where if you just work hard, you’ll get to where you want to go. You’ll have struggles, set backs, deception, and hard times, but in America, you have a better chance at success from just plain old hard work than anywhere else in the world.
I care, study, campaign, discuss, vote, pray and cry for the Feruza’s who haven’t been able to make it here yet. So, I haven’t given up. Am I sick of being yelled at by emo libs? Yeah. Am I tired of the media strangling the truth? Yeah. But God is faithful. Second Chronicles is very clear on what this country needs to prosper. Repentance.
If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the grasshopper to consume the land, or if I send pestilence on My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
So, all we Christians need to do to win this election is repent and live perfect. =)
Let me include another verse in here:
Let Your mercy be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
Philippians 4:5-6
The word used for prayer here is where we get our word “prosecute”. And the word for petition is the concept of begging for mercy. Bro. Tom put it this way, first, you are the prosecutor making your case to God, being specific, on why you are praying for the things you are, then you crawl up into the witness stand and beg for mercy.
So, let me challenge you, don’t sit and fret like I’ve been doing, and don’t get depressed that this thing is all over. The Lord is near and he will hear our cries. Repent and seek His face, make your case to God and then beg for mercy. Do it for not only yourselves but for Feruza’s everywhere.
Grace and Peace,
- Meredith
It doesn’t matter what I think about McCain v. Obama’s tax plan, it doesn’t matter where I stand on the life issue, it doesn’t matter what I think about congress, it just matters that I support Palin. Because I hold the same ideals as Palin people are shocked, SHOCKED, that I might want someone who thinks like me being in office, yes, one heartbeat away from the presidency. Anyway, I was feeling pretty disheartened. I’m told by people on the right and the left that it is over, Obama is going to win, and that is that. It’s just how it’s going to be. I am forced to see my wonderful country turn socialist by one of the most dishonest men in America: Senator Barack Hussein Obama.
I just kinda shut down from politics. I didn’t want to talk about it anymore, I didn’t want to talk about anything. What’s the point? If he’s won and we’re all doomed, why fight, why care about ACORN, Ayers, “spreading the wealth around”, or the media attacking Joe the plumber? You’re just going to get yelled at by a bunch of people who can’t get over the fact that life isn’t fair. These are the same people who believe that Bush is solely responsible for the fact that life isn’t fair and some will have to work harder than others.
I was sick of it, I was done. But after events on Saturday and having the weekend to think about it, I came to realize why I care so much, why these conversations with my friends yelling at me and calling me names were on my mind, why I continually research, read, and discuss even though I really didn’t want to: her name is Feruza. Why do I care? Because of people like Feruza.
Feruza is a wonderful friend of mine from Uzbekistan. She’s a little older than me and doing her first year of school at O-Trip. She was just now able to come here this year to begin studying in America. This alone is a foreign concept to me because I have no clue what it is like to desperately want to go to another country and study to get an education. Sure, I would like to study abroad for the cultural benefits, but, I think the best education is found in America. Feruza spent the 4th of July with my family and has since fallen in love with the “real American family.” At least, she really likes my family. I asked her what she was going to do with her business degree. She said that she was wanted to stay here and own her own business because she really couldn’t do that in her country.
Think about it, a woman from another country wants to come to America so she can study, drive (which she can’t really do in her country and wouldn’t do because of some of the cultural ramifications), own a business (which she said women couldn’t really do in her country either), and just live in America. After taking Feruza out for one of her very first birthday celebrations ever it made me realize why I care about American government so much: (I mean, aside from being a Christian and it being part of our stewardship to Christ.) because of people like Feruza.
I want women (and men, too) to want to come to my country and be encouraged to start a business. I want people like Feruza to have hope that they can have whatever life they want for themselves. I want Feruza and people to live in a country where if you just work hard, you’ll get to where you want to go. You’ll have struggles, set backs, deception, and hard times, but in America, you have a better chance at success from just plain old hard work than anywhere else in the world.
I care, study, campaign, discuss, vote, pray and cry for the Feruza’s who haven’t been able to make it here yet. So, I haven’t given up. Am I sick of being yelled at by emo libs? Yeah. Am I tired of the media strangling the truth? Yeah. But God is faithful. Second Chronicles is very clear on what this country needs to prosper. Repentance.
If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the grasshopper to consume the land, or if I send pestilence on My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
So, all we Christians need to do to win this election is repent and live perfect. =)
Let me include another verse in here:
Let Your mercy be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
Philippians 4:5-6
The word used for prayer here is where we get our word “prosecute”. And the word for petition is the concept of begging for mercy. Bro. Tom put it this way, first, you are the prosecutor making your case to God, being specific, on why you are praying for the things you are, then you crawl up into the witness stand and beg for mercy.
So, let me challenge you, don’t sit and fret like I’ve been doing, and don’t get depressed that this thing is all over. The Lord is near and he will hear our cries. Repent and seek His face, make your case to God and then beg for mercy. Do it for not only yourselves but for Feruza’s everywhere.
Grace and Peace,
- Meredith
This Is to All You Christians Out There - as posted Nov. 8, 2008
WARNING!
This is long. No really, it's long.
This is to all of you who have called for unity, who have given a call to “rise above partisanship”, who have written notes about this “historical” election (as if all presidential elections aren’t historical), have written notes about your disgust with “divisive” or “hateful” Christians and last and certainly least have personally (directly or indirectly) called me a hatemonger, divisive or some other name.
This note is for those of you Christians who have been posting scripture about being unified, or respecting your authority, or equality of all beings or other topics (obviously, there is nothing inherently wrong with that unless you take the scripture out of context which I don’t think anyone has).
I have one question for you: Where have you been for the past 8 years?
While Bush, the Iraq war, Sarah Palin, John McCain, Inhofe, and other leaders have been brutalized by other Christians or people in general, where have you been? Where are the notes, the tags, the posts, the comments, the name calling, where has this been? Where were the notes posting of the historical nature of Clarence Thomas, Condeleeza Rice, J. C. Watts or Colin Powell entering office? Where were the comments about the race barrier being broken then? Where was the excitement from you then?
Where has been the disgust with Christians who go and protest Bush for the Iraq war, or who say hateful things about Bush, or any leader (like Sally Kern)? Where has been the call for “unity” to everyone for the past 8 years? Where have you been, fellow Christians? Obviously, I know the answer to this question. What’s worse is that I know that you know the answer to this question. You could say that this makes the question somewhat rhetorical. Regardless, the answer is simple:
Silent.
You have been utterly, completely, deafeningly silent.
While Bush has been thrown under the bus, while Chaney has been dragged through the mud, while Inhofe, Sally Kern, and other leaders have been completely and utterly destroyed by other Christians or just people in general not ONE NOTE was written, not ONE COMMENT was made by you Christians about “unifying under our appointed leaders by God” or “rising above partisan ship” or “unifying to work for the future.” (note: caps meant for emphasis, not anger)
Nothing.
While you all were sitting on your religious butts either because you were apathetic, unknowledgeable or simply didn’t care, some of us were out there putting ourselves on the line and getting slaughtered because NO ONE had our back. And now, when those of us who have been up for long hours fliering, calling, knocking on doors, contributing actual money (*gasp* you mean, you give money to the candidates? As a college student?), when we rise up and say “This choice is wrong!” who do we get stabbed by? The very people we were fighting for. Who are the ones attacking us on forums? The Christians (or liberals who don’t know us and I take their comments with a grain of salt because they don’t know me, but I expect more out of Christians who actually do). Might I also point out that it is really easy to type things at an avatar, many of you have said things that you would never say to my face (and if you think I’ve done the same, think, it’s me you’re talking about /moderate sarc).
A.D.D. moment: To all you libs out who actually know me (like Jon, Jeff, and others), thank you for being civil. You’ve never personally attacked me or called me a hatemonger. It’s nice to have your comments. I know you don’t agree with me, think I’m too assuming, and that I probably make your eyes bleed by some of the things I say. During this you know exactly how I feel because you dislike Bush so much, so it doesn’t surprise you to see my disdain for Obama. You haven’t been calling for “unity” or trying any “holier than thou” tactics. I feel like we’ve always had great forums, especially during this. I hope you feel the same about me.
Okay, back to you Christians: If my comments to you, suddenly interested Christians, on notes, comments or anywhere else seem short or frustrated please take a moment and contemplate why this might be:
For those of us who have been working for the past 2, 4, 8, 10, or 15+ years (like myself) having Christians who have been interested in this election and politics in general for the past 3 months comment and tell you how to be after an election is a little frustrating. Having Christians who have never delivered a flier, contribute to a campaign, made calls, knocked doors, researched candidates, been to a party meeting or even had a political conversation (outside of the last 3 months) attack you is a little annoying. Hopefully, you can see why this might be.
So, before you start calling me and others names, calling us divisive, call us to unity, post scripture at us, or whatever you have been doing, try getting an election under your belt. Try actually DOING something in an election before you start lecturing us on political Godly unity. I hear you in church talk about the tenants of the Christian faith, talk about how much you love our country and yet you have done physically NOTHING, absolutely nothing, to make sure those Christian ideals are kept in government (prior to this election or probably even in this election).
Do I blame you totally for this? No. Because our church and just about every other church I have ever heard of sucks on educating its people on issues. When was the last time you heard about why abortion is wrong preached from our pulpit? When was the last time you actually heard an argument from scripture about homosexuality, about the need for war, about any mainstream political issue taught from our pulpit or heard it from any other? I don’t ever remember hearing a message from Tom over those topics or a Sunday School lesson over this. I don’t recall Tony tackling these issues although he has acknowledged them. I never heard a sermon over any of these issues on a Wednesday night while in youth with any of the 4 youth pastors I had. Needless to say, I believe the church has failed over issue education for its people. So keeping this in mind, I realized you haven’t been fully equipped by our church about these things.
This is my prediction for those of you Christians who just decided to tune in the fourth quarter (heck, we are in 3OT). You know, those you who only came along for the finish, to pretend you’ve experienced it or helped in some way: Two months after the inauguration your excitement will fizzle out. After Obama signs a few unscriptural bills into law or vetoes a few partial birth abortion bans or gay marriage bans your calls for unity will fade away. I suspect by summer you will have no interest or idea on what he’s doing, you’ll probably stop watching his speeches and go back to trying to stay as far away from politics and issues as possible. If Christian’s are anything, they are inconsistent. That’s what you have done before this (been uninterested or ignored politics) and so you have no past behavior to prove that you would do otherwise. Know this, I will be ecstatic to see you prove me wrong. I would be so happy to see you Christians come alongside and ferociously fight the good fight, but I highly doubt it will happen. Please, prove me wrong. I will close with this thought (and I stole it from an “unnamed source”):
Take heed when people start preaching unity, it means they want you to not question something (or stop thinking). When someone starts preaching “go along” for whatever reason, that’s the time to question the most. If you’re a Christian and this made you mad, good, then maybe you’ll get up and do something to prove me wrong. If you’re a Christian and this didn’t make you mad, excellent, it wasn’t meant to and that means you took this correctly (or this wasn’t talking about you). Everyone is entitled to an opinion, of course (and in our country they are allowed to post it! Thank God!). So please, respond with your thoughts and questions. I would love to read them.
Grace and peace,
-Meredith
This is long. No really, it's long.
This is to all of you who have called for unity, who have given a call to “rise above partisanship”, who have written notes about this “historical” election (as if all presidential elections aren’t historical), have written notes about your disgust with “divisive” or “hateful” Christians and last and certainly least have personally (directly or indirectly) called me a hatemonger, divisive or some other name.
This note is for those of you Christians who have been posting scripture about being unified, or respecting your authority, or equality of all beings or other topics (obviously, there is nothing inherently wrong with that unless you take the scripture out of context which I don’t think anyone has).
I have one question for you: Where have you been for the past 8 years?
While Bush, the Iraq war, Sarah Palin, John McCain, Inhofe, and other leaders have been brutalized by other Christians or people in general, where have you been? Where are the notes, the tags, the posts, the comments, the name calling, where has this been? Where were the notes posting of the historical nature of Clarence Thomas, Condeleeza Rice, J. C. Watts or Colin Powell entering office? Where were the comments about the race barrier being broken then? Where was the excitement from you then?
Where has been the disgust with Christians who go and protest Bush for the Iraq war, or who say hateful things about Bush, or any leader (like Sally Kern)? Where has been the call for “unity” to everyone for the past 8 years? Where have you been, fellow Christians? Obviously, I know the answer to this question. What’s worse is that I know that you know the answer to this question. You could say that this makes the question somewhat rhetorical. Regardless, the answer is simple:
Silent.
You have been utterly, completely, deafeningly silent.
While Bush has been thrown under the bus, while Chaney has been dragged through the mud, while Inhofe, Sally Kern, and other leaders have been completely and utterly destroyed by other Christians or just people in general not ONE NOTE was written, not ONE COMMENT was made by you Christians about “unifying under our appointed leaders by God” or “rising above partisan ship” or “unifying to work for the future.” (note: caps meant for emphasis, not anger)
Nothing.
While you all were sitting on your religious butts either because you were apathetic, unknowledgeable or simply didn’t care, some of us were out there putting ourselves on the line and getting slaughtered because NO ONE had our back. And now, when those of us who have been up for long hours fliering, calling, knocking on doors, contributing actual money (*gasp* you mean, you give money to the candidates? As a college student?), when we rise up and say “This choice is wrong!” who do we get stabbed by? The very people we were fighting for. Who are the ones attacking us on forums? The Christians (or liberals who don’t know us and I take their comments with a grain of salt because they don’t know me, but I expect more out of Christians who actually do). Might I also point out that it is really easy to type things at an avatar, many of you have said things that you would never say to my face (and if you think I’ve done the same, think, it’s me you’re talking about /moderate sarc).
A.D.D. moment: To all you libs out who actually know me (like Jon, Jeff, and others), thank you for being civil. You’ve never personally attacked me or called me a hatemonger. It’s nice to have your comments. I know you don’t agree with me, think I’m too assuming, and that I probably make your eyes bleed by some of the things I say. During this you know exactly how I feel because you dislike Bush so much, so it doesn’t surprise you to see my disdain for Obama. You haven’t been calling for “unity” or trying any “holier than thou” tactics. I feel like we’ve always had great forums, especially during this. I hope you feel the same about me.
Okay, back to you Christians: If my comments to you, suddenly interested Christians, on notes, comments or anywhere else seem short or frustrated please take a moment and contemplate why this might be:
For those of us who have been working for the past 2, 4, 8, 10, or 15+ years (like myself) having Christians who have been interested in this election and politics in general for the past 3 months comment and tell you how to be after an election is a little frustrating. Having Christians who have never delivered a flier, contribute to a campaign, made calls, knocked doors, researched candidates, been to a party meeting or even had a political conversation (outside of the last 3 months) attack you is a little annoying. Hopefully, you can see why this might be.
So, before you start calling me and others names, calling us divisive, call us to unity, post scripture at us, or whatever you have been doing, try getting an election under your belt. Try actually DOING something in an election before you start lecturing us on political Godly unity. I hear you in church talk about the tenants of the Christian faith, talk about how much you love our country and yet you have done physically NOTHING, absolutely nothing, to make sure those Christian ideals are kept in government (prior to this election or probably even in this election).
Do I blame you totally for this? No. Because our church and just about every other church I have ever heard of sucks on educating its people on issues. When was the last time you heard about why abortion is wrong preached from our pulpit? When was the last time you actually heard an argument from scripture about homosexuality, about the need for war, about any mainstream political issue taught from our pulpit or heard it from any other? I don’t ever remember hearing a message from Tom over those topics or a Sunday School lesson over this. I don’t recall Tony tackling these issues although he has acknowledged them. I never heard a sermon over any of these issues on a Wednesday night while in youth with any of the 4 youth pastors I had. Needless to say, I believe the church has failed over issue education for its people. So keeping this in mind, I realized you haven’t been fully equipped by our church about these things.
This is my prediction for those of you Christians who just decided to tune in the fourth quarter (heck, we are in 3OT). You know, those you who only came along for the finish, to pretend you’ve experienced it or helped in some way: Two months after the inauguration your excitement will fizzle out. After Obama signs a few unscriptural bills into law or vetoes a few partial birth abortion bans or gay marriage bans your calls for unity will fade away. I suspect by summer you will have no interest or idea on what he’s doing, you’ll probably stop watching his speeches and go back to trying to stay as far away from politics and issues as possible. If Christian’s are anything, they are inconsistent. That’s what you have done before this (been uninterested or ignored politics) and so you have no past behavior to prove that you would do otherwise. Know this, I will be ecstatic to see you prove me wrong. I would be so happy to see you Christians come alongside and ferociously fight the good fight, but I highly doubt it will happen. Please, prove me wrong. I will close with this thought (and I stole it from an “unnamed source”):
Take heed when people start preaching unity, it means they want you to not question something (or stop thinking). When someone starts preaching “go along” for whatever reason, that’s the time to question the most. If you’re a Christian and this made you mad, good, then maybe you’ll get up and do something to prove me wrong. If you’re a Christian and this didn’t make you mad, excellent, it wasn’t meant to and that means you took this correctly (or this wasn’t talking about you). Everyone is entitled to an opinion, of course (and in our country they are allowed to post it! Thank God!). So please, respond with your thoughts and questions. I would love to read them.
Grace and peace,
-Meredith
My thoughts - as posted Nov. 5 2008
So this is what God taught me while I was praying for this election:
I spent several nights in my room (as many of you know) crying, begging and pleading with God about this election. I begged for mercy and for Him not to turn us over to ourselves. I pleaded with Him to stop the corruption in the voter registration fraud and show the world His power by allowing a McCain victory (even though, it was really impossible because of all the fraud). There were two times that I really felt God speak to me.
Once while I was laying on the floor of my room and I was staring at the ceiling bawling over 2 Chronicles 7:14. I was begging God not to let my sin, my failures keep me from what He had for this nation. I remember saying, “God, if it were up to me, up to my life, up to the way I live without sin; if You said, ‘The fate of America rests on your ability to turn from your sin’ or ‘how you live your life’ then America would lose. Because I have sin that I hold on to.” And then God just said to me, “But the problem is, that verse is talking about people who are just like you, it’s because of you and people who are like you, who hang on to their sin, just like you, that I allow My nation to be the way it is.”
I was overwhelmed.
Then today as I was driving I was asking God to give me peace. I got on facebook and everyone was exploding. Dems were freaking out and reps were freaking out. Everyone was emo charged. So, when I left for lunch I just started asking God for peace. The same peace that God had given me the day before when I asked Him for it. I then said, “God, I’m just disappointed and I need peace to get over it.” Then God reminded me of what had actually happened last night.
Jeff Cloud won by 40%
Dana Murphy won at 52% over Jim “the snake” Roth.
Jim Inhofe won at 56% over punk kid Andrew “I’m a really bad liar” Rice.
John Sullivan, Frank Lucas, Tom Cole, Marry Fallin, and Jonathan Nichols all won.
Brian Maughn won County Commissioner (I don’t know by what margin but it was a tough race as well)
Dan Newberry won at 63% over Nancy “I switch my party after elected” Riley.
Jim Reynolds won by 159 votes. This was after a smear campaign by his opponent David Boren who lied and was funded completely by lawyers from Washington D. C. and he only started campaigning two weeks ago. Jerk. Anyway…
Randy Terrill won at 62% over his slimy opponent Troy Green.
Sally Kern won at 58% over her opponent, Ron Marlett that was funded by activist homosexual groups from California and he started campaigning against her long before hers started.
Mike Christian won a very tough race for Al Lindley’s seat. He has been campaigning for almost 2 years and has done a fantastic, clean campaign. He received 54% over the other two opponents.
And the list goes on and on.
Long story short, Oklahoma Reps picked up 3 seats and Senators picked up 2. This gives republicans the (can you believe it) FIRST ever Republican congressional majority. This is the first time in OK’s history that Republican’s will have a majority in the house and the senate. It was after God ran all that through my mind that He said, “And you’re unhappy? You think that I ignored you and all your pleading and begging?” This made me realize that God had provided for me. The people who actually govern me, not some bully-pulpit suit in the distance was actually on my side. They were the ones I asked for and they were the ones I needed. And I wouldn't trade these election results for any other. So, just as I was feeling all cocky God immediately said, “Why don’t you beg me to protect My country every day? Why aren’t you on the floor crying, begging Me to keep you safe every night?”
My friends (ha, get it?), we should not pray for our country just during election season. It shouldn’t even be more during election season. That’s when our elected officials aren’t doing anything to govern us, they’re just campaigning. We should be praying, begging, pleading, crying, discussing, debating (*gasp*), and educating ourselves throughout the years and our peak times should be the times that are the furthest away from election cycles, because that’s when our governors are actually doing something to govern us. So, if you, like many others and myself, had a fire lit under you to pray for our country’s leaders and the elections don’t let the fire die. We should be on our knees every night begging God not to give us over to ourselves and to keep interceding in our government. Think of it this way, today is the first day of working for 2010 (yes, there are elections then) and 2012. Call your county chairmen and find out who your precinct chair is. Go knock some doors, go to some meetings, go meet some officials, go get informed and by doing that, you will be fulfilling your stewardship to Christ with the responsibility that He has given you called the American Dream.
Stop being silent or whining. Go.
Speak up for those who have no voice. Speak up for those who are oppressed. Speak up, judge righteously and defend the cause of the oppressed and the needy!
Proverbs 31: 8-9
I spent several nights in my room (as many of you know) crying, begging and pleading with God about this election. I begged for mercy and for Him not to turn us over to ourselves. I pleaded with Him to stop the corruption in the voter registration fraud and show the world His power by allowing a McCain victory (even though, it was really impossible because of all the fraud). There were two times that I really felt God speak to me.
Once while I was laying on the floor of my room and I was staring at the ceiling bawling over 2 Chronicles 7:14. I was begging God not to let my sin, my failures keep me from what He had for this nation. I remember saying, “God, if it were up to me, up to my life, up to the way I live without sin; if You said, ‘The fate of America rests on your ability to turn from your sin’ or ‘how you live your life’ then America would lose. Because I have sin that I hold on to.” And then God just said to me, “But the problem is, that verse is talking about people who are just like you, it’s because of you and people who are like you, who hang on to their sin, just like you, that I allow My nation to be the way it is.”
I was overwhelmed.
Then today as I was driving I was asking God to give me peace. I got on facebook and everyone was exploding. Dems were freaking out and reps were freaking out. Everyone was emo charged. So, when I left for lunch I just started asking God for peace. The same peace that God had given me the day before when I asked Him for it. I then said, “God, I’m just disappointed and I need peace to get over it.” Then God reminded me of what had actually happened last night.
Jeff Cloud won by 40%
Dana Murphy won at 52% over Jim “the snake” Roth.
Jim Inhofe won at 56% over punk kid Andrew “I’m a really bad liar” Rice.
John Sullivan, Frank Lucas, Tom Cole, Marry Fallin, and Jonathan Nichols all won.
Brian Maughn won County Commissioner (I don’t know by what margin but it was a tough race as well)
Dan Newberry won at 63% over Nancy “I switch my party after elected” Riley.
Jim Reynolds won by 159 votes. This was after a smear campaign by his opponent David Boren who lied and was funded completely by lawyers from Washington D. C. and he only started campaigning two weeks ago. Jerk. Anyway…
Randy Terrill won at 62% over his slimy opponent Troy Green.
Sally Kern won at 58% over her opponent, Ron Marlett that was funded by activist homosexual groups from California and he started campaigning against her long before hers started.
Mike Christian won a very tough race for Al Lindley’s seat. He has been campaigning for almost 2 years and has done a fantastic, clean campaign. He received 54% over the other two opponents.
And the list goes on and on.
Long story short, Oklahoma Reps picked up 3 seats and Senators picked up 2. This gives republicans the (can you believe it) FIRST ever Republican congressional majority. This is the first time in OK’s history that Republican’s will have a majority in the house and the senate. It was after God ran all that through my mind that He said, “And you’re unhappy? You think that I ignored you and all your pleading and begging?” This made me realize that God had provided for me. The people who actually govern me, not some bully-pulpit suit in the distance was actually on my side. They were the ones I asked for and they were the ones I needed. And I wouldn't trade these election results for any other. So, just as I was feeling all cocky God immediately said, “Why don’t you beg me to protect My country every day? Why aren’t you on the floor crying, begging Me to keep you safe every night?”
My friends (ha, get it?), we should not pray for our country just during election season. It shouldn’t even be more during election season. That’s when our elected officials aren’t doing anything to govern us, they’re just campaigning. We should be praying, begging, pleading, crying, discussing, debating (*gasp*), and educating ourselves throughout the years and our peak times should be the times that are the furthest away from election cycles, because that’s when our governors are actually doing something to govern us. So, if you, like many others and myself, had a fire lit under you to pray for our country’s leaders and the elections don’t let the fire die. We should be on our knees every night begging God not to give us over to ourselves and to keep interceding in our government. Think of it this way, today is the first day of working for 2010 (yes, there are elections then) and 2012. Call your county chairmen and find out who your precinct chair is. Go knock some doors, go to some meetings, go meet some officials, go get informed and by doing that, you will be fulfilling your stewardship to Christ with the responsibility that He has given you called the American Dream.
Stop being silent or whining. Go.
Speak up for those who have no voice. Speak up for those who are oppressed. Speak up, judge righteously and defend the cause of the oppressed and the needy!
Proverbs 31: 8-9