Friday, July 18, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Bill of NON-Rights
I received the following in my email today. If a political candidate took this, posted it on the homepage of his/her website and said that it is what they believed and would fight for if elected, they would have my vote.
Bill of NON-Rights
ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.
ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.
ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful; do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.
ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes.
ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public health care.
ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.
ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.
ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful.
ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.
ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country. We don't care where you are from, English is our language. Learn it or go back to wherever you came from!
ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our country's history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!
ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.
ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.
ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful; do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.
ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes.
ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public health care.
ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.
ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.
ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful.
ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.
ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country. We don't care where you are from, English is our language. Learn it or go back to wherever you came from!
ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our country's history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
President ?????????
Yesterday a fellow pastor made the comment in a sermon that the best we could hope for was a godly Vice-President in the upcoming election. It got me to thinking about the faith of the men running for President of the United States. Plenty of people talk about being people of faith, but I wanted to check out the canidates in their own words:
Barak Obama:
"I find it hard to believe that my God would consign four-fifths of the world to hell. I can’t imagine that my God would allow some little Hindu kid in India who never interacts with the Christian faith to somehow burn for all eternity. That’s just not part of my religious makeup." - http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/386118.aspx
"I don't presume to have knowledge of what happens after I die. When I tuck in my daughters at night and I feel like I've been a good father to them, and I see that I am transferring values that I got from my mother and that they're kind people and that they're honest people, and they're curious people, that's a little piece of heaven." - http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/386118.aspx
"I've got two daughters. 9 years old and 6 years old. I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby. " -March 29, 2008, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
This notion that's peddled by the religious right - that they are oppressed is not true. Sometimes it's a cynical ploy to move their agenda ahead. The classic example being that somehow secularists are trying to eliminate Christmas, which strikes me as some kind of manufactured controversy." - BARACK OBAMA, Street Prophets interview, Jul. 11, 2006
"I felt that I heard God's spirit beckoning me. I submitted myself to His will, and dedicated myself to discovering His truth.
That's a path that has been shared by millions upon millions of Americans - evangelicals, Catholics, Protestants, Jews and Muslims alike; some since birth, others at certain turning points in their lives. It is not something they set apart from the rest of their beliefs and values. In fact, it is often what drives their beliefs and their values." -http://obama.senate.gov/speech/060628-call_to_renewal/index.php
John McCain quotes are coming tomorrow!
Barak Obama:
"I find it hard to believe that my God would consign four-fifths of the world to hell. I can’t imagine that my God would allow some little Hindu kid in India who never interacts with the Christian faith to somehow burn for all eternity. That’s just not part of my religious makeup." - http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/386118.aspx
"I don't presume to have knowledge of what happens after I die. When I tuck in my daughters at night and I feel like I've been a good father to them, and I see that I am transferring values that I got from my mother and that they're kind people and that they're honest people, and they're curious people, that's a little piece of heaven." - http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/386118.aspx
"I've got two daughters. 9 years old and 6 years old. I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby. " -March 29, 2008, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
This notion that's peddled by the religious right - that they are oppressed is not true. Sometimes it's a cynical ploy to move their agenda ahead. The classic example being that somehow secularists are trying to eliminate Christmas, which strikes me as some kind of manufactured controversy." - BARACK OBAMA, Street Prophets interview, Jul. 11, 2006
"I felt that I heard God's spirit beckoning me. I submitted myself to His will, and dedicated myself to discovering His truth.
That's a path that has been shared by millions upon millions of Americans - evangelicals, Catholics, Protestants, Jews and Muslims alike; some since birth, others at certain turning points in their lives. It is not something they set apart from the rest of their beliefs and values. In fact, it is often what drives their beliefs and their values." -http://obama.senate.gov/speech/060628-call_to_renewal/index.php
John McCain quotes are coming tomorrow!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
While my profession has called me away from Taylorsville, the majority of my family still lives there and I am kept up on the events of my beloved hometown. There were two bits of news that I received recently that caused me to be both sad and concerned. The first was the death of town councilman Bob Phillips. Bob had served our town proudly for so many years and his influence will be missed in the years to come.
The second was the decision by the town council to call for a vote on the selling of liquor by the drink within the city limits of our town. Some people, in defense of this policy, will say that there are financial benefits to be gained and that those who stand against this are simply doing so on “religious grounds”. Both of those facts may be true to an extent, but why would we want to ruin the innocence of our town simply to gain a few dollars in our town budget? I have heard claim that this will bring in nicer restaurants. Which ones? Why are we not giving our patronage to hometown restaurants? Most of the large chain restaurants (i.e. Olive Garden, Applebee’s, Chili’s, etc.) look for much larger markets than our town, and that isn’t going to change with liquor by the drink. There is also the downside to allowing access to alcoholic beverages, people drink and then get behind the wheel of their car. Right now, with our alcoholic beverage laws, a person can drink in their own home and not be on the road. With the passage of this law, there will be people driving after drinking, even if they are not above the legal level. Why would we want to allow this? The final question we have to ask is “where does this stop?” What will we allow in the future? What measures are in the future that will further take our town away from the place I was proud to grow up in. Growing up I always imagined coming back and raising my family like I was raised. I saw myself returning to the town I love, where there was a safe, friendly environment for my wife and kids. Is that dream slipping away? This would clearly be the start. Yes, people of faith should oppose this measure, but the opposition should be broader than that. No person who truly loves our town can support the Town Council’s proposal.
Rev. Micheal S. Pardue
Senior Pastor, High Shoal Baptist Church
Henrietta, NC
www.michealpardue.com
While my profession has called me away from Taylorsville, the majority of my family still lives there and I am kept up on the events of my beloved hometown. There were two bits of news that I received recently that caused me to be both sad and concerned. The first was the death of town councilman Bob Phillips. Bob had served our town proudly for so many years and his influence will be missed in the years to come.
The second was the decision by the town council to call for a vote on the selling of liquor by the drink within the city limits of our town. Some people, in defense of this policy, will say that there are financial benefits to be gained and that those who stand against this are simply doing so on “religious grounds”. Both of those facts may be true to an extent, but why would we want to ruin the innocence of our town simply to gain a few dollars in our town budget? I have heard claim that this will bring in nicer restaurants. Which ones? Why are we not giving our patronage to hometown restaurants? Most of the large chain restaurants (i.e. Olive Garden, Applebee’s, Chili’s, etc.) look for much larger markets than our town, and that isn’t going to change with liquor by the drink. There is also the downside to allowing access to alcoholic beverages, people drink and then get behind the wheel of their car. Right now, with our alcoholic beverage laws, a person can drink in their own home and not be on the road. With the passage of this law, there will be people driving after drinking, even if they are not above the legal level. Why would we want to allow this? The final question we have to ask is “where does this stop?” What will we allow in the future? What measures are in the future that will further take our town away from the place I was proud to grow up in. Growing up I always imagined coming back and raising my family like I was raised. I saw myself returning to the town I love, where there was a safe, friendly environment for my wife and kids. Is that dream slipping away? This would clearly be the start. Yes, people of faith should oppose this measure, but the opposition should be broader than that. No person who truly loves our town can support the Town Council’s proposal.
Rev. Micheal S. Pardue
Senior Pastor, High Shoal Baptist Church
Henrietta, NC
www.michealpardue.com
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