Random Reasons I Love My Mom

She is a good cook. Believe me, this is important, I love food.

She does my laundry. Yes, I know how to do laundry, but I hate folding it.

She taught me how to behave.

She sees the best in people.

She treated her parents well.

She never complains about my constant complaints of writer’s block.

She’s a good proofreader on a tight deadline.

She indulges my various addictions: books, bible teaching, baseball, coffee, chocolate, and jigsaw puzzles.

She has a desire for order and cleanliness, but dogs are still allowed on my bed.

She makes sure that I am dressed fashionably and appropriately for various outings.

She willingly moved around the country for my dad’s career.

She lets us eat in the car.

She holds me accountable.

She’s honest and open.

She likes my sense of humor.

She knows how to say, “I’m sorry.”

Since my childhood, she’s held in open door policy with my friends, and loved them as much as I do.

Her typing skills got me through high school and college.

She never told me I couldn’t do something because it was beyond my ability.

She is patient with my limitations. (not just my physical ones).

She never allowed me to be a victim of my circumstances.

She facilitates various impromptu trips to California.

She knows what I’m trying to communicate even when it comes out wrong. As a writer, this is an invaluable service.

She has cleaned up countless messes of mine.

She has stayed up late helping with school projects.

I always have a shoulder to cry on.

She understands that a writer spends most of their time thinking, and she doesn’t pressure me “to be doing something.”

Although we share a common faith, I was allowed to have my own spiritual journey.

She is my friend.

She allows me the freedom to disagree.

She has taught me the importance of solitude.

She read to me when I was little.

She anticipates my needs.

She prays for me.

She’s lived an authentic Christian life in front of me.

She has taught me the importance of generosity through her own life.

Because of her, I know what self-sacrifice is. That is what a true mother exemplifies, and I’ve never wanted or needed another.

Thank you God for choosing the mother I have before the foundation of the world. I’m forever grateful.

Moving Tribute to Margaret Thatcher

Senator Ted Cruz’s Tribute To Margaret Thatcher

Counting my blessings today….

Immigration Reform or Amnesty?

After losing the 2012 election, Republicans are, once again, searching for answers. They are being told that in order to have any hopes of winning a national election, they must reach out to minorities, specifically Hispanics. Dutifully, four Republican Senators have joined with four Democrat Senators and proposed a bill for “Immigration Reform.” This “Gang of Eight” would grant legal status to at least 11 million immigrants who are here illegally. Would this law help Republicans win Hispanics? More importantly, would it help the country? The answer to both questions is “No.” Here’s why:
First, we have done this before. Does anyone remember the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986? We granted amnesty to illegal immigrants in exchange for promises that politicians would finally secure the border. The late Senator Ted Kennedy said, “This amnesty will grant citizenship to only 1.1 to 1.3 million illegal aliens…We will secure the borders henceforth…we will never again bring forward an amnesty bill like this.”
What were the results of this legislation? Marco Rubio explains, “In 1986 Ronald Reagan granted amnesty to 3 million people. You know what happened, in addition to becoming 11 million a decade later? There were people trying to enter the country legally, who had done the paperwork, who were here legally, who were going through the process, who claimed, all of a sudden, ‘No, no, no, no, I’m illegal.’ Because it was easier to do the amnesty program than it was to do the legal process…If you grant amnesty, the message that you’re sending is that if you come in this country and stay here long enough, we will let you stay. And no one will ever come through the legal process if you do that.” (November 2009).
So, what’s changed for Rubio who is now a part of the “Gang of Eight?” My guess would be that he hopes to gain more votes in the minority community. But if history is to be our guide, Republicans who wish to gain politically because of amnesty are fooling themselves. The percentage of minority votes for the Republican Party has declined in almost every election. If Reagan had received credit with minorities in 1986, more minorities would have voted for George H.W. Bush in 1988. They didn’t. Why? Democrats believe in a bigger welfare state, and Republicans will never be able to compete with them on the “Santa Claus” mentality of unlimited hand-outs.
The fact is that U.S. Immigration policy has always been very generous. We allow one hundred thousand people to immigrate legally every month. That’s 1.2 million every year. This fact is often overlooked and needs to be the basis of any honest discussion on immigration.
But there are more pressing and practical concerns with this amnesty proposal. Those in favor of the legislation say that it is impractical to deport all of these people. Do you hear anyone on the police force say that, because they cannot catch all drunk drivers, they should refuse to enforce the laws against drunk driving?
How are we going to tell the difference between the law-abiding immigrants and those who are not? Currently, we have at least a half-million illegals who are fugitives. This means they have seen an immigration judge and have been ordered deported. Yet, our federal government either doesn’t know or doesn’t care where they are. This is in addition to the thousands who have committed crimes and now have been released from jail by the Administration due to budget cuts.
The reality is this, the government is supporting more and more Americans because the private sector continues to shrink. We had negative growth in the fourth quarter last year. Our government is 16 trillion in debt, and that doesn’t include our unfunded liabilities or Obamacare. Does anyone think that adding 11 to 20 million people to the government dole will make the debt decrease?
We are a nation of laws, and granting amnesty undermines that. As Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, son of immigrants, said of the recent proposal, “… I have deep concerns with the proposed path to citizenship. To allow those who came here illegally to be placed on such a path is both inconsistent with rule of law and profoundly unfair to the millions of legal immigrants who waited years, if not decades, to come to America legally.” Do legal immigrants’ opinions count? Apparently not, the vast majority of them oppose amnesty.
And what would the founders say? Alexander Hamilton believed that our country is dependent on “…the preservation of a national spirit and national character. to admit [people] indiscriminately to the rights of citizens the moment they put their foot in this country would be nothing less than to admit the Grecian horse into the citadel of our liberty and sovereignty.” George Washington said, “…by an intermixture with our people, they, or their descendants, get assimilated to our customs, measures and laws: in a word, soon become one people.”
Unfortunately, Republicans aren’t taking this advice. In an attempt to attract minorities, they are abandoning the principles of limited government and the rule of law on which the country and the Party are founded. This will result in an exodus of conservatives from the Party whose support is essential for its survival, and the collapse will only be a matter of time.
Until the country commits itself to returning to its founding principles and electing politicians, Republicans or Democrats, who will follow their lead, there will always be those who will flaunt the rule of law, immigration or otherwise, and those politicians who will eagerly court their vote whether it’s good for the country or not.

Sources Consulted:

Cruz, Ted. U.S. Sen. “Ted Cruz Statement on Immigration Reform Proposal.” Press Release 23 January 2013. http://www.cruz.senate.gov/record.cfm?.d=339434.

Hamilton, Alexander. Quoted in “Assimilation Not Amnesty.” by Michelle Malkin. November 12, 2012. http://www.michellemalkin.com/2012/11/12/assimilation-not-amnesty.

Kennedy, Ted. Statement on Simpson-Mazzoli, 1986. quoted on The Rush Limbaugh Show. 28 January 2013.

Malkin, Michelle. “Amnesty Gang to Law Abiders: You’re Chumps,” 30 January 2013. http://www.michellemalkin.com/2013/01/30/amnesty-gang-to-law-abiders-you’re-chumps.

Rubio, Marco. Quoted in “The 1986 Amnesty Damaged the Country…Another One Would Destroy It,” by Dave Gibson in The Washington Examiner. http://www.examiner.com/article/the-1986-amnesty-damaged-the-country-another-one-would-destroy-it.

Washington, George. “Letter to John Adams-1791,” quoted on “Founding Fathers on Illegal Immigration and the Safety of the Republic.” Compiled by James P. Hodges, PH.D. http://www.leadershipbygeorge.blogspot.com

Caught in the Net of Grace: Peter’s Story: Part IV

It wasn’t long before The Lord appeared to the rest of the group. He told us to go on ahead of Him to Galilee; we were to wait for Him on the mountain. Some of us did…at least for a while. But I was restless…

It had been a traumatic couple of weeks and I just longed for a sense of normalcy, so I went fishing. A half dozen of the other fellows, thinking they had nothing better to do, decided to join me. We borrowed a small boat, and off we went…

I don’t know if we were out of practice, but we fished all night and caught nothing. By morning, we were all tired, hungry, and more than a little irritated at ourselves and at each other. We were about to head for the shore when we noticed a Man watching us. He called out, “Children, you don’t have any fish, do you?”
“No,” we responded.
“Cast your net on the other side of the boat, and you will find some.”
Tired and confused, we were willing to try anything, so we did as we were told. Within minutes, the net became so heavy; we couldn’t bring it inside the boat. John looked at me and exclaimed, “It’s the Lord!” I couldn’t wait. I grabbed my outer coat and dove into the sea. The others followed along in the boat dragging the net behind them.
I reached the shore and was greeted by a roaring fire and the intoxicating smell of fresh bread and roasting fish. Involuntarily, my mouth began to water. Jesus was cooking breakfast.
“Bring me some of the fish you just caught,” He directed.
I went back and pulled the net to land. I retrieved a few of the still-squirming fish from the net, and brought them to the Lord. As He reached out to take them from my hand, I saw the scars etched prominently on His wrists. I was reminded again of the terrible price He had paid in order that I be spared the wrath for my own sin. My eyes caught His, and I knew I had fallen short once again. Instead of being on the mountain waiting, I had been on the water fishing. Yet, Jesus, in His grace, had come to meet me where I was. I could only pray that I would be given another chance to prove how much I loved Him. Soon that chance would come…

After we had eaten, some of the other disciples were laughing and talking amongst themselves, but I was lost in my own thoughts, wondering what would happen next. Jesus would answer that question with His own. I looked up to find Him gazing intently at me, not unlike He had done three years before. “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” as he pointed to the rest of the disciples. My mind flashed back to all my empty words and promises. I didn’t want to overstate my loyalty to Him. I said, “Lord, You know I am very fond of You.”
“Feed My lambs.”
He asked me a second time. “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
I answered Him, “Lord, You know I have great affection for you.”
He said to me, “Tend My sheep.”
He asked me a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you even have great affection for Me?” His words pierced me to the heart. As imperfect as I was, I truly loved Him. “Lord, You know all things. You know I love You.”
He repeated once again, “Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger, you clothed yourself and walked where you wished, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will clothe you and carry you where you do not want to go.” Jesus was telling me that I would die by crucifixion but that my death would glorify God. Then He said, “Follow Me.”
I looked up and saw John walking behind Jesus. I couldn’t resist my curiosity. I had to know. “Lord, what about him?”
“If I want him to live until I come back,” He answered, “what is that to you? You follow Me.” Then I remembered what Jesus had said about being His disciple so many months before. “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me.” In that moment, I finally knew what that meant. I was determined from then on that I would be obedient to His call.

Caught in the Net of Grace: Peter’s Story:Part III

It was the morning after the Sabbath, and the first rays of the sun were just peeking over the horizon. I was awakened by the persistent pounding at the door. My first thought was that it was soldiers come to round up the rest of the rebel’s followers. But instead of being greeted by swords and torches, I was met by Mary Magdelene who was panicked. “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put Him!”

Without a word, I ran in the direction from which Mary had come. John, following close behind, and being fleeter of foot than I, reached the tomb first. The stone which had been covering the tomb had been rolled away! Although John had reached the sepulchre before I did, he didn’t go in. But I had to see for myself. The linen sheet in which Jesus’ body had been wrapped was empty, and the handkerchief which had been around his head was lying, neatly folded, all by itself. I stared at the grave clothes, not comprehending what had happened.

I heard John come in behind me. He looked at the scene before him and excitedly exclaimed, “Simon, don’t you see?”
“See what?”
“He is not here.”
“I know…, but where is He?
“Simon, you’re looking, but you’re not seeing.”
“Seeing what?
“He’s not here…He’s risen!”
“Risen?”
“Yes! He’s alive!”
“Alive?” I was desperately trying to grasp it all.

Our excited bursts of conversation soon became contemplative thought. We returned to John’s house in silence, each of us pondering what we had just witnessed.

Back inside the house, doubts plagued my mind. John was convinced that Jesus had risen from the dead, but I wasn’t so sure. If He were alive, He probably wanted nothing to do with me. “I am glad, for your sake, you have hope,” I said. “I just can’t see what good it would do me, even if I had your faith.”
“What do you mean?” John asked.
“Don’t you see? I told Him I would die with Him if I had to, but when confronted with that choice, I denied I even knew His name. He would have no use for me now. And I can’t say I blame Him.”
“How do you think I feel?” John replied. “I deserted Him before I had a chance to deny Him.”

It was mid-morning and I was alone again, deep in my thoughts. I sensed His Presence even before I saw His face. “Lord…?” I turned. “Lord!” I fell at His feet and began to weep. “Lord, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Lord, Forgive me! I don’t deserve to be in Your presence. I’m so sorry.” Jesus put His hand on my shoulder. “Peter I’ve already forgiven you. I’ve shed My blood for you. Your sin is covered.” He raised me to my feet and my eyes met His. “It’s the reason I came, Peter. Don’t you remember? This was the plan from the beginning.”

The light began to dawn as He reminded me of all He had said. Then Jesus took me on a journey through the Law and the Prophets. He showed me in Scripture that He was the Seed of the Woman, the Redeemer promised in the garden. He was Abraham’s Ram. His work on the cross had been typified in the tabernacle in the desert and in the temple in Jerusalem. He was both the scapegoat and the perfect Lamb of Passover. He was the One the prophet Isaiah spoke of when he said “He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him…” God poured out His wrath on His own Son and Jesus bore our sins in His own body on the tree. Yet it pleased God to do so. Why? Because it is through the blood of Jesus that we have been freed from the penalty and the power of sin. Jesus had been sent by God the Father, not to free us from the temporal captivity of the Romans, but to deliver us from the kingdom of eternal darkness, and to bring us into the eternal Kingdom of Light….