What happened to inspiring people?

Barack Obama is my president. He is your president. If you live in America, whether or not you voted for him, he is our designated leader at this point in time.

That said, over the past month, I have been listening to him speak to the people of this great nation and all I hear is negativity. If I had a dollar for every time he said the words "catastrophe" and "crisis" this past month, I would be a wealthy woman. What ever happened to leading by example, by inspiration, and true hope. President Obama ran on "hope" and people bought into that vision of hope. Yet, when we listen to him speak now, there is no hope, it's all doom and gloom and how bad off we are.

I know Who I put my hope in. It isn't people, or policies, or projects, it is in the Lord Who created this great planet and on Whom this nation is founded.

I pray President Obama chooses to change his language and speak hope into the people of this day. I don't need the President to tell me how things are over and over and over again. State the facts and then let's move forward. Right now, he is stating the facts, but not giving vision for the future. The Bible said that without a vision people perish.

People keep comparing Obama to FDR. FDR tried to help the country out of recession/depression with the New Deal. Now, for the most part, the New Deal didn't work, but FDR was a person who spoke positively. He inspired the people of the day to look ahead, not give up, and not fear. Sadly, this president is choosing not to inspire.

President Obama, I ask you to cast vision. Speak with passion. Share the hope you promised.

The Fairness Doctrine - or should I say, the Censorship Doctrine

Here's a letter I've sent to both Senators and Congressman Chet Edwards . . .

I am hearing more and more lately about the possiblility of the Fairness Doctrine trying to be put back into place. I beg of you, not to vote in favor of anything that even remotely resembles the fairness doctrine.

This idea completely goes against free speach. All people have the same opportunity to be heard on tv, radio, or the internet - that's what is already fair. If they choose not to be heard through those outlets, that's their choice, but forcing radio, tv, or internet to have equal time on both sides truly becomes bondage and not freedom at all.

As a citizen who loves this country and the freedoms it stands for, I am asking again that if this issue comes up, you not support it in any fashion.

Thank you!
Lara Norris
College Station, TX

Leadership Excerpt from Andy Stanley

It was my turn to give the devotion before Children's Church and with all the crazy stuff going on in our country, this seemed an appropriate topic . . .

The Next Generation Leader
By Andy Stanley
(Ch. 13 paraphrased)

p. 131 “character is not essential to leadership”

- That may be a surprising statement at first, but I think this statement has been shown quite clearly this week. We have an Olympic swimmer who has “fallen from grace” with the picture of him smoking pot. We have people on Capitol Hill leading who have not paid taxes. The previous Illinois Governor has been impeached . . .and I’m sure most of us have had a boss or employer at some point who has had character flaws, yet they were still in charge.

p. 131 So, “character is not essential to leadership . . . but character is what makes you a leader worth following.”

p. 133 “Character is the will to do what’s right even when it’s hard. Character is about will because it requires a willingness to make tough decisions – decisions that sometimes run contrary to emotion, intuition, economics, current trends, and in the eyes of some, common sense. . . . As a next generation leader you must decide ahead of time what is nonnegotiable as it relates to right and wrong.”

P 134 “Character involves doing what’s right because it’s the right thing to do – regardless of the cost.”

p. 138/139 “Leading with character is not about doing right to avoid consequences. Leaders worth following do the right thing because it is the right thing. Virtue is not a means to an end. It is the end. . . . Leaders worth following acknowledge that their leadership skills and successes never give them the right to replace what God has put in place.”

p. 139 “Every leader wears two badges: one visible, one invisible. The visible badge is your position and title. (servant leader, captain, team leader, director, or pastor) The invisible badge is your moral authority. . . Your position will prompt people in your organization to lend you their hands on a temporary basis. But your moral authority will inspire them to lend you their hearts.”

- Isn’t that what we want in ministry – servant leaders who aren’t just lending a temporary hand, but are inspired to serve with their hearts?!

p. 140 “Moral authority is the credibility you earn by walking your talk. It is the relationship other people see between what you claim to be and what you really are. . . Alignment between belief and behavior makes a leader persuasive. You can manage people without moral authority, But you cannot influence them. . . John Maxwell was right when he said that people have to buy into the leader before they will buy into the vision. It is your moral authority that opens the door for the people around you to buy into your vision. You can pay people to work for you based on your position alone, but you cannot involve people in a cause or a movement without moral authority.”

When Dennis and I first became members of Covenant Family church, we had to “buy into” Pastors Danny and Janet before we bought into the vision of the church. It wasn’t until we did that, that we began to serve and help in Student Ministry. Then when we started serving in ministry, we had to buy into the people leading us before we bought into the specific ministry vision. People need to buy into you before their hearts will be inspired to buy into the vision of your area. Be that leader with influence. Don’t just have the “title badge”, wear the invisible badge of moral authority. It’s not always the easiest road, but it is an adventurous path worth taking.

As I was praying this morning, God also reminded me to make sure I am looking to Him for the perfect example of moral Authority. He will never let us down or make a mistake. People make mistakes. We have all fallen short or we wouldn't need Christ. So, don't put people on a pedestal where they don't belong. It's ok to have leaders you are following; in fact it's necessary to move forward in this life. Just remember, we are all human and Christ is the Ultimate example of a True Leader.

Letter to Senator John Cornyn

I found out this morning that the only Senator opposed to blindly handing over Hillary's appointment was one of our Texas senators, John Cornyn. I am so proud to have him in Washington! On his website, you can e-mail concerns or comment on issues @ http://cornyn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home
Here's what I told him - it's short and to the point!

1. Thank you for standing up and voicing concern about the Clinton's and Hillary's appointment. It's nice to know that someone up there doesn't have "group think"!
2. I am severely opposed to Gov't funding for abortions! If Obama feels the need for Gov't to finance anything - finance helping families adopt, not destroying babies. Abortion is a moral issue, not a political issue, just as slavery was. All human life, no matter race or age is valuable. Abortion should be abolished.
3. I am for the fair tax!
4. I am opposed to the "fairness doctrine" - that is a political term for "sensorship" and I don't like it.
5. I am a free market capitalist - not a socialist. Don't let the government turn this society into France. I'm sure France is a nice place to visit, but I don't want to live there.

Senator, please be encouraged! Please continue to stand up for what is right. There are far too few true leaders willing to fight the good fight. There are people out there, like myself, who have true conservative values and believe in the free market system. I value the vision our founding fathers had and I feel that vision is slowly fading away.

Keep the faith! Stand Strong!

Lara Norris

Here We Go . . .

So, I just turned on the radio and heard that our new President is ready to repeal the abortion laws that President Bush put in place. In other words, President Barak Obama wants to allow Government money to help fund abortions.

I personally feel that abortion is a moral issue just like slavery was. It isn't a personal right and it most definitely shouldn't be government sponsored! Life should be valued from beginning to end, no matter how young or old, no matter what color your skin. Life is given and should be taken only by our Mighty Creator.

I think governement has no place in this issue as far as funding goes, but if Barak Obama truly wants to lower the rate of abortions and feels the government must help financially, how about a federally funded program to help families adopt rather than paying them to help kill their babies.

I fear this is just the beginning of even more severe moral decline for this country.

It truly makes me sick to my stomach and saddens me at my core.

Sick and Tired of the Wimps in Washington

First off, let me state straight up - I am not a political guru by any stretch of the imagination! This year however, I have become almost obsessed with the lack of moral values, character, and plain common sense of our so called leaders.

I think so much of this was noticed in the race for the White House. I am a huge Sarah Palin fan, simply because the lady has class, character, and courage. She also has common sense - something that so many people these days lack, not only in politics, but in life in general. She is an independent thinker; believes in what our founding fathers stood for, and fights for her people, not her platform.

This year, all the democrats and most of the republicans disappointed me. Now, as President Elect Obama is placing his team together, I'm even more outraged at our leaders for not calling "foul"! For insance, I am in awe at the harrassment, and downright meanness of the liberal media toward "Joe the Plumber". He was raked over the coals for having $3000 in back taxes that he says he didn't know he owed. Should he pay up? Absolutely - and I don't think he ever argued that point. But then there's Tim Geithner - the man Obama is appointing as Secretary of Treasury. He has over $34,000 of back taxes and the democrats are calling it a "mistake". And, the media isn't grilling him - they aren't even questioning it! And this is a potential leader in our country. This whole thing just has me puzzled, and quite frankly, pissed off.

I find it appalling the lack of moral character that is required anymore. I fear this great country has seen it's greatest days unless we learn to stand up, be heard, and uphold what is right. I keep hearing a song in my head by Casting Crowns:
"It's a slow fade when you give yourself away. It's a slow fade when black and white have
turned to gray. Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid, When you give
yourself away. People never crumble in a day."
I think the same could be said for countries or kingdoms - they never crumble in a day. It's a slow fade when we choose to take prayer out of schools, allow abortions, gay marriages, socialistic ideas. . . shall I go on? Over the years, it has been a slow fade. America is giving herself away and only a very few see it.

I see it . . . and it is unsettling. I have 3 beautiful kids whom I want to have the opportunity to grow up in a free, God-fearing society. That opportunity is slowly fading. It's my job to instill those priciples in them, stand up for what's right, and teach them moral and ethical responsibility along with character and integrity in their choices. I hope and pray that they have courage to stand up for what's right. I also pray that as we move forward as a country that conservative values are reignited. That won't happen though unless we communicate with our leaders. Send letters to your congressmen. Don't water down your values to "go with the flow". Walk out your faith to the best of your ability and let God shine through you. Change can come - but it's going to have to start wtih me and with you. Then it will flow into our families and overflow into the communities. That's change we can believe in!

Give Me A Revelation, Show Me What to Do . . .

The Christian music group "Third Day" has a song out called, Revelation. It's been out for a few months, but it seems to really be hitting me in the gut right now.

I posted a few months ago about not really being sure where I fit into the whole Batteries Plus thing. Back in September, the church called me and said they were looking to hire someone to work 20 hours a week doing Children's Ministry stuff along with some other miscellaneous tasks. I was glad to have an opportunity to do something different. The job could start in 2 weeks or begin after the first of the year. . . they weren't 100% sure. Dennis was excited for me and said to take it. As the semester moved along, I began to feel extremely uneasy about working at the church, which made no sense to me at all. I've always wanted to be on staff at our church. I love the people and what we do and why not get paid to work doing what you love and believe in? I started talking to Dennis over the course of a few weeks just to try and sort through why there was no peace in this decision. I finally verbalized to him that I felt going to the church, at least at this point in time, didn't feel like the right decision. He didn't question me, but said I needed to call our Children's Pastors immediately. I did so and they still love me. I feel bad that it's taken this long to get to a point of realizing that direction, for whatever reason, was wrong at this time. I still am puzzled by the whole thing, but feel at peace with the decision.

That said, God: Give me a revelation. Show me what to do, 'cause I've been trying to find my way and I haven't got a clue. Tell me should I stay here or do I need to move. Give me a revelation. I've got nothing without You. - Third Day

I don't know, maybe this is an obedience test. Maybe it has something to do with the challenges Caleb's had at school and I'm going to need to be more available for him. Maybe I'm still supposed to stand alongside my man rather than cheer from the sidelines. Maybe the timing is just off. No matter what it is, I feel at peace with the decision and that's a great way to begin this new year.

I love You, God and I fully trust you with my future. For I know the plans you have for me; plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11