Forgotten Language

When I was a little kid in elementary school, we had weekly class trips to the school library. I wasn't a big fan of books or reading when I was a kid. Honestly, reading is something that I'm just now starting to really enjoy... ha. Anyway, every time we had a trip to the school library, I would look at all the Shel Silverstein books or I would sneak over to the "big kids" side of the library and check out the Choose Your Own Adventure books. I loved those books!
Anyway, I've bought a couple Shel Silverstein books lately... I don't know why exactly... sentimental I guess. Suppose I should go get one of those Choose Your Own Adventure books now! But anyway, thought I'd share one of Shel's poems from Where the Sidewalk Ends.

FORGOTTEN LANGUAGE
by Shel Silverstein

Once I spoke the language of the flowers,
Once I understood each word the caterpillar said,
Once I smiled in secret at the gossip of the starlings,
And shared a conversation with the housefly in my bed.

Once I heard and answered all the questions of the crickets,
And joined the crying of each falling dying flake of snow,
Once I spoke the language of the flowers....
How did it go?
How did it go?

p.s. In case you haven't, you should check out The Giving Tree. It's probably my favorite of Shel's books.

Daylight will come

My heart and my prayers go out to Melinda & Brian... I love you guys and I'm thinking of you.
Since I realize that the words I offer can only bring small comfort... I'm offering you comfort from God's Word... and what He does and says will last... for all of eternity.

To everyone who might be experiencing loss, I pray that God will envelope you and surround you with His Love... may you feel His arms of peace wrapped around you. Know that He can be our strength when our hearts run out of faith. We grow weary but He does not. We must look to Him- God is our everlasting hope and our salvation.
He is our Daylight- and Daylight will come.

Isaiah 25:8
He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.

Isaiah 33:2
O LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.

Isaiah 49:14-16
But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me."
"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me."

1 Corinthians 15:52
In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

Hosea 13:14
I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?

Isaiah 51:3
The LORD will surely comfort Zion
and will look with compassion on all her ruins;
he will make her deserts like Eden,
her wastelands like the garden of the LORD.
Joy and gladness will be found in her,
thanksgiving and the sound of singing.

Lamentations 3:21-23
Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

Happy Memorial Weekend!

Hey! Just wanted to say Happy Memorial Weekend and thanks to all of our servicemen & women! And thank you veterans! God bless you all.

Speaking of veterans, I had a rare opportunity to take a flight in a WWII T-6 Texan Warbird last weekend.
Below is a 30 second video of some of the pics. I found this really cool site that makes music videos with your pictures... you should check out Animoto.com



And since I had so much fun... I made another vid with the pictures from our fun snow day back in March... enjoy!

Timothy Etzkorn

I've been on a writing hiatus. Actually, I've been on a hiatus in many ways lately. Not allowing myself to get emotional or feel anything. Maybe because I've been afraid that if I allowed it... there would be no ending it. That hiatus has ended.

It ended this week when I learned that Amber, my best-friend from high school, lost her father. Tim Etzkorn passed away suddenly in his home on Tuesday. This is a very hard loss for many... as he was such a wonderful and giving man. He was a father to many of us.
Personally, I do have a very wonderful father and am blessed to have him but there were many of our friends who weren't so lucky.

Tim was a father to the fatherless, a friend to the friendless. He loved the least of us and gave all he had to every one of us. I can honestly say I am a much better person because of Tim. I am a more generous person because of the example I saw in Tim's constant giving and caring for others. Tim and Patti always opened their home up to everyone. They have been true examples of Christ in my life and I am so eternally thankful for their love and friendship in my life. Thank you Brendan, Amber, and Megan for sharing your parents with the rest of us.
This is the most recent picture I have of Tim. And I realized how perfect it is... because the picture is focused on someone else... just as Tim lived his life... always focused on others. In this picture he's holding Brady, one of his many grandchildren. And Patti, his beautiful wife of 36 years is smiling in the background.
Although I have a great dad, Tim was another father-figure in my life and a very important one. I will always cherish all the memories spent with their family in my heart. I know there are many others who truly share the same feelings and sentiment. Tomorrow we will be honored to attend his funeral and lay his body to rest.
Yes, my hiatus is over and I am crying as I write this... but as Rita Schiano said in Sweet Bitter Love: "Tears are God’s gift to us. Our holy water. They heal us as they flow."

Just after I'd learned of Tim's passing on Tuesday, I opened up an email that a friend of mine had sent earlier in the day with a seemingly random scripture at the bottom. This passage comforted me so much on Tuesday and I shared it with some of the family this evening... and it is perfect. When I read it, I know that it's a specific message straight from God to give us comfort... and I read it with all the heavenly hosts in mind.

⁶But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. ⁷Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. ⁸For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. ⁹How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? ¹⁰Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
¹¹Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. ¹²May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. ¹³May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
-1 Thessalonians 3:6-13 (New International Version)

Thank you Tim for all the love and laughs... I look forward to you greeting me with one of your big, warm hugs again one day... soon.
Love you.

long overdue

I know, I know... I'm just not good at keeping up with blogging.
It's easier to blog when your thoughts come together and are easy to put into words. I've had a lot of fragmented thoughts as of late... no comments about my age. Speaking of my age and bday... it was fun... here are a few pics from that night. We ate an excellent meal at McGills, drank some fine wine, hit the slots, ate some Krispy Kreme donuts... and yes, we were driven around in a limo all night. Me and some of my favorite single girlfriends... we lived it up for the night.

Thanks for the great b-day girls!

the Rubik's Cube Lesson

Yes, it's been awhile. Things have been busy. I haven't been very good at keeping up the blog lately. Right now I'm working the 10 hour shift days at work in the month of January... so if you think of me... say a little prayer as I'm not especially looking forward to this month.
And in other news, I'm turning 30 this month. Hmm. 30. Weird. When I was a kid, I had lots of ideas of what my life would like at 30.

Anyway, I had a weird moment tonight. Tara Lynn (my roomie) went to bed early because she wasn't feeling well and I thought I might read a book and go to bed early too. But instead, I picked up a Rubik's cube. I guess I wasn't ready to sleep. After unsuccessfully working on it... I decided to look for tips online. I visited several sites... but none of them were very helpful. I was getting ready to put it down and call it a night when I saw another site. So I go to this site where it tells you to enter in the configuration of your cube... and it calculates the moves you need to make to solve the Rubik's cube. Ha. I thought I'd give it a whirl and see if it actually worked. So I fill in the blanks and the hit "solve". Ok... so then it tells me that I have 108 moves I need to make. 108 moves. Awesome. So I carefully begin to follow the step-by-step moves. Keep in mind, I've had a long day... and I'm kinda in this half-awake mode.
I get to about Step 26 and I'm thinking : what the heck am i doing? I hate Rubik's cubes. I should be going to bed and sleeping. No. I want to see if this works.

Step 35: I think this might be working. Cool. Only 73 more steps to go.
Step 50: Why am I doing this? 108 freakin steps? What's wrong with me? I'm wasting time.
Step 52: Did I mess up? Did I make one of the moves wrong? This just looks like a freakin jumbled mess.
Step 54: This website is probably just somebody's idea of a joke and they get bored idiots like me to fall for it... sitting here... carefully counting step by step. This is ridiculous.
Step 55: Over half-way there. But what if I messed up? Keep going. Pay attention.
Step 65: I just want to see this cube with solid colors on all sides for once.
Step 66: I'm not built for puzzles like this... I can't do this thing on my own.
Step 76: Hey, I think it's working!
Step 80: 3 sides look almost complete... but the rest still looks like a freakin mess.
Step 81: Is this what You do God? How many steps are there in my life? When all I can see is a bunch of different colors... and confusion... are You really solving the puzzle? Is this really working?
Step 87: All I have to do is follow Your steps?
Step 88: If I screw up on one now... then that will mess it all up. Pay attention. I don't want to start over.
Step 98: Still looks like a mess... I don't think it's working.
Step 103: Nope. Definitely not working.
Step 106: Wait... it might be...
Step 107: Maybe...
Step 108: Holy crap. It worked. Dang. That was ridiculous.
Step 109: Hmm, pretty sure God just taught me something through a freakin Rubik's cube.

So, God used a Rubik's cube to teach me a life lesson tonight. I'm not the type of person to put a spiritual context on everything... but I did learn something tonight. I'm 20 days away from my 30th birthday and my life is not what I expected it to be at this stage in the game. There's lots of different colors all over... on all sides... and I'm not real sure what goes where or how or when. I'm not made for figuring out puzzles like this on my own. I'm not sure how my hopes and dreams and passions and desires and abilities and talents and colors work together. I don't know how to make them come together and solve this puzzle called life... specifically the job side of life. But He does. And all He asks of me is to follow each step... one... by... one. It wouldn't work any other way. He has to get you to one place in life before He can move you up to another.
One thing I noticed as I was working on this thing: you had to get the piece or color that you wanted on the top.... you had to get it on the very bottom first. And then twist and turn and then... there it is... on the top. We have to be willing to be moved around... even when it doesn't look right or make sense to our heads.... as long as we hear God's voice directing us... that's what's important. It's through His steps that He will make sense of our lives. And if we mess up... He knows how to fix things. He knows how to solve the puzzle and make everything come together. Not only the things in my life and your life... but everything in everyone's life... and everything in the entire heaven and earth. I wonder how many steps that is? Probably a lot more than 108. I'm so glad we don't have to figure any of it out... we just have to follow His instructions.

Ephesians 1:9-11 (New Living Translation)
God has now revealed to us His mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill His own good pleasure. And this is the plan: At the right time He will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for He chose us in advance, and He makes everything work out according to His plan.

So, Happy New Year to you.

And Happy Birthday to me.

Merry Christmas vids

Thomas Jefferson

"And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep for ever."
-Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia,
Query 18, 1781

Thomas Jefferson's religious views have been debated and argued both in and out of court. But what do his writings, as sampled above, tell us? What did his actions tell us? I wonder what people in the future would argue about my religious views when reading my writings? What do you think they would say about you, yours writings, your actions? How will they sum you up? What conclusions will they come to? Or will they even read the things you wrote on your blog? Will they just go by the stories they heard of you? And which story will they hear? Do you think it depends on the storyteller? Will there even be stories to tell of you? Wouldn't you want them to base their conclusions on things you actually said and did? Just a thought. So what did Thomas Jefferson actually say and do?

Voices From Thanksgivings Past

I saw this on newt.org & I thought I'd share it.

The centrality of God in Thanksgiving in America comes through in the words of some of our greatest national leaders:

Virginia Governor Thomas Jefferson, in 1779:
[I] appoint … a day of public Thanksgiving to Almighty God … to [ask] Him that He would … pour out His Holy Spirit on all ministers of the Gospel; that He would … spread the light of Christian knowledge through the remotest corners of the earth … and that He would establish these United States upon the basis of religion and virtue.

President George Washington’s first federal Thanksgiving proclamation in 1789: Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.… Now, therefore, I do appoint Thursday, the 26th day of November 1789 … that we may all unite to render unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection.

President Abraham Lincoln, making Thanksgiving an annual national holiday in 1863, in the midst of the Civil War:
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people.

HOPE EVERYONE HAS A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

think you're informed?

I was excited to see that several of you enjoyed my American History 101 entry. Thanks for all the comments! I can guarantee you that I will continue to give you more of the same. I, like many of you, have been blessed with a very strong education built on historical truths. Unfortunately, it seems there's not many left in this country who have the same facts or knowledge... please help me spread light on this dark world. Teach your kids & grandkids.

Let me ask you, when you read a magazine article about your favorite actor or actress, don't you expect to see direct quotes from that person? Then why don't we expect it in our history books?? If you want to know the original intent of our founding fathers... read history books that quote them directly and reference where those quotes are pulled from. I really wish that the books in the American public school system followed this very logical & simple requirement... but they do not. This is why I will do my best to redistribute the wealth- the wealth of knowledge, that is. I will do my best to write more entries on American History from here on out.

Tara Lynn put a video on her blog last night that reminded me of a letter that was published in the Tulsa World newspaper on 11/8/08. Why? Because after watching the video (see below) I was thinking the same thing this guy was:

My disappointment in the result of the election is great. That disappointment is aimed at the American people. Those who were able to set aside and dismiss Barack Obama's associations with shadowy people and organizations. Those who chose to elect as president a man with such a short resume. Those who voted for him out of knee-jerk reaction to George W. Bush and the Republicans.
How many know that the Congress has been controlled for the last two years by the Democrats? How many know that the sub-prime mortgage crisis and Wall Street melt down has its roots in Democratic programs signed by Bill Clinton? More than 63 million voters had the wool pulled over their eyes. The Brooklyn Bridge has finally sold. Change was wanted so badly that a man has been elected that we know nothing about, to be president! Our enemies are dancing in the streets.
At least we here in Oklahoma know a snake oil salesman when we see one, 66 percent of us anyway. Remember the story of the Pied Piper? Obama is playing the flute.
I thought Joe the Plumber would make a difference. It turned out that the election was swayed by Joe the Gullible.
America, what have we done?

Again, this is why spreading knowledge is important... this is why I ask people to look at facts... because the misinformed outnumber the informed. Thanks for reading- see you next time.

God bless all our veterans

"Our obligations to our country never cease but with our lives."
—John Adams, letter to Benjamin Rush, April 18, 1808

Let's go barack to the Clinton era

Over the past several weeks, I posted more on my facebook than on my blog. But I'll try to change that... I'll try to post equally. Above is a video that I've posted on my facebook recently.
Have you noticed many of Obama's potential appointees are former Clinton advisors? And I thought he promised change? Oh well, so much for that idea... it sounded good anyway. Ha.

rude awakening

The truly funny thing is there are people who really do think that Obama is going to pay their bills and lower their taxes. It should be a fun 4 years... they're in for a rude awakening. Haha... and I will be laughing all along the way... and yes, I will tell you I told you so.

Yes I Can. And I will.

American History 101

Instead of talking about the election, I’ve had some other things on my mind lately. About why we’re here. And by “here” I mean the United States of America. Why are you here do you think? I mean, why weren’t you born in Ghana, or Egypt, or Indonesia? Ever wonder about that? I do.
I have to wonder how many of you will actually read this particular blog entry in it’s entirety. I think I’ll lose some of you… just because you don’t think it’s important... or it's just too much for you to read.
Anyway, a few of my close friends could tell you that in the last year or so I’ve become somewhat of a US history junkie. I’ve always been interested in history… but it’s become kinda like a hobby. I’ve been in search of true history… not the kind they make up in the movies… but the real, the true history… the kind you can only find in old history books… before they were revised and re-written. I went and bought some US history books and have become a student of a man who has a library of tens of thousands of original writings from the Founding Era. He’s kind of like the guy Nicolas Cage plays in those National Treasure movies… but way cooler because he’s actually real… and he owns more original writings of the founding fathers in his own personal library than anyone else in the United States. In fact, only the Library of Congress can compete with his library.
Every once in awhile I crack open one of those US History books and just read… but I think I prefer just soaking it in from my teacher. Wonder who it is? He has spoken to numerous state legislatures, consulted with both state and federal legislators on various bills, and has written amicus briefs in cases at the US Supreme Court. His exhaustive research has rendered him an expert in historical and constitutional issues and he serves as a consultant to state and federal legislators. He also addresses well over 400 groups each year. He has received numerous awards including several Who's Who honors and the George Washington Honor Medal.
He spent eight years as an educator and school administrator before founding WallBuilders. Did you know that Congress once printed Bibles for use in the schools? He owns one of the rare copies of that Bible. His name is David Barton.
The first time I heard him speak, I was in high school... it was probably 10 or 12 years ago. This man probably knows more about our US History and our founding fathers than any of us could ever hope to learn. That’s cool… I don’t care what anybody says… he’s awesome. Now I buy his DVDs and sit in my living room and take notes. No lie.
Besides there being confusion and indecision about the candidates in this election… there seems to be a new disease spreading… confusion about the founding of this nation. So, I thought that I would take the time to share some true American history with you.
I’m sick of hearing that the founding mothers and fathers of this nation did not intend for it to be a Christian nation. Really? The truth is that many of the original state constitutions actually sounded more like a requirement for seminary than a requirement for politics. You didn’t know that? Let me share some of those required oaths of office with you:

Delaware Constitution – Everyone [elected or appointed to office] shall make and subscribe the following declaration, to wit: “I do profess faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God, blessed forever more, and I do acknowledge the holy scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by divine inspiration.”

Pennsylvania Constitution – Each member [of the legislature], before he takes his seat, shall make and subscribe the following declaration, viz: “I do believe in one God, the Creator and Governor of the universe, the rewarder of the good and the punisher of the wicked, and I do acknowledge the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by Divine Inspiration.”

Massachusetts Constitution – written by Samuel Adams
[All persons elected must] make and subscribe the following declaration, viz: “I do declare that I believe the Christian religion and have firm persuasion of its truth.”

North Carolina Constitution – No person who shall deny the being of God, or the truth of the [Christian] religion, or the divine authority either of the Old or New Testaments or who shall hold religious principles incompatible with the freedom and the safety of the state, shall be capable of holding any office, or place of trust or profit in the civil department, within this state.

In 1892, the Supreme Court noted that each of the forty-four states then in the union had some type of God-centered declaration in its constitution. But yet, you’ll have people tell you that our founding fathers weren’t Christians.
When Tara and I went to Boston last year, we went on one of those bus tours of the city. I remember the guide saying disrespectful things about the “original settlers” and called them “hateful Puritans”. Well, I’ve got news… not all of them were “hateful Puritans”. It doesn’t take much research to find that out. Want to know the religious affiliations of the Founding Fathers? Find some info here.
We also visited the Granary Cemetery. This is where Paul Revere, three signers of the Declaration of Independence, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Robert Treat Paine are all buried… among other Revolutionary heroes and Boston Massacre victims. Anyway, while we were visiting that honored burial ground, there was a tour going through that we happened to find ourselves in the middle of. I was surprised to hear some of the things coming out of the tour guide’s mouth. He’s lucky that the dead didn’t rise up to choke the lies coming from his mouth. I’d hate to see what Paul Revere would have done to him. I couldn’t believe it… we stopped to challenge him and question him on some of his points… which he could not defend. When did American tour guides start spreading bias and untrue statements? These experiences still bother and concern me. I’m afraid that these things are becoming more and more common… and there’s not many who know any better… like kids… I guess that’s why I started buying US history books and filling myself with the true historical facts… before they try to re-write and take that away from us too.
I’m hoping to visit Washington, D.C. in the spring with some friends. Last time I was there, I really wasn’t able to see everything I wanted to see. On this visit, I’m hoping to see the Library of Congress. The intent and beliefs of the founding fathers can be found inscribed all over this building.
Two Bible verses can be found inscribed on the ceiling and walls:
The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth not. John 1:5
Wisdom is the principal thing therefore get wisdom and with all thy getting, get understanding. Proverbs 4:7
In the Main Reading Room, statues of Moses and Paul represent Religion, with the inscription, What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, And to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God. Miach 6:8
And in the another example of their beliefs can be found in the Science area, The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handywork. Pslam 19:1

If the founding fathers didn’t intend for American patriots to make following God a priority in this nation, then why is it that when you visit Washington, D.C., you run head first into something about God inscribed in stone? Why is it they required statements of faith of the elected leaders like the ones I've shared with you above?
I wonder how the founding fathers would feel about us just removing and taking that stuff out… taking God out of the picture... and making up our own version of history. Well, it seems another revision of America's religious history has been underway – this time at the new $621 million, 580,000 square feet Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C. Want to help keep God in the picture? Write or call the Architect of the Capitol communications officer (202-228-1793 or emalecki@aoc.gov) and tell them to correct the religious omissions that they’ve made to our US History.
And I’d appreciate if you’d think twice next time you hear something about our founding fathers & religion. Think twice when you hear people like Bill Maher… actually, if you hear Maher on the TV just go ahead and change the channel or turn off the TV… because not only is he absurd… but he’s also a complete idiot.
Don’t take the movies word for it. Don’t take the tour guide’s word for it. Don’t take my word for it. Find out for yourself. Go visit Washington, D.C. and go read some history books… go buy some Wallbuider DVDs… go investigate for yourself.

“A true patriot must be a religious man… He who neglects his duty to his Maker, may well be expected to be deficient and insincere in his duty towards the public.”
Abigail Adams

don't judge

more from the funny papers

just another cartoon from GaryVarvel.com

the funny papers

Opposite Way

I’m listening to one of my new favorite songs. It’s called Opposite Way by Leeland. I’ve been thinking lately- I’ve started to run the opposite way- and I would really love for you to join me.
Things have been really hard for me lately, I feel rejected in my own town. That’s why I haven’t blogged much lately- I haven’t had the inspiration to.

Not too long ago, a long-time friend of mine told me that I was opinionated. Well, I guess if she wants to call me opinionated because of my convictions and beliefs… that’s her opinion. As for me, it’s conviction. It’s strong beliefs I have- not opinions. Dictionary.com calls it confidence in the truth or existence of something not immediately susceptible to rigorous proof: a statement unworthy of belief.

Here's a list of just 5 people who had convictions in their beliefs.
Francis Lewis
New York delegate saw his home plundered & his estate completely destroyed by British Soldiers. Mrs. Lewis was captured and treated with great brutality. Though she was later exchanged for two British prisoners through the efforts of Congress, she died from the effects of her abuse.
Who was Francis Lewis? One of the brave 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. What was he convicted about? Religious freedom & liberty for all.
Call him opinionated if you want. There were those who did and still do.

Samuel Adams
One of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was instrumental in garnering the support of the colonies for rebellion against Great Britain, eventually resulting in the American Revolution, and was also one of the key architects of the principles of American republicanism that shaped American political culture.
He once said: "It does not take a majority to prevail ... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men."
Call him opinionated if you want. There were those who did and still do.

Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln began his political career in 1832, at age 23, with an unsuccessful campaign for the Illinois General Assembly, as a member of the Whig Party. The centerpiece of his platform was the undertaking of navigational improvements on the Sangamon River. He believed that this would attract steamboat traffic, which would allow the sparsely populated, poorer areas along the river to flourish. He was elected captain of an Illinois militia company drawn from New Salem during the Black Hawk War, and later wrote that he had not had "any such success in life which gave him so much satisfaction."
Before becoming the first Republican elected to the Presidency, Lincoln was a lawyer, an Illinois state legislator, and a member of the United States House of Representatives.
He was an outspoken opponent of the expansion of slavery & he introduced measures that resulted in the abolition of slavery, issuing his Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and promoting the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution.
He was the sixteenth President of the United States. He successfully led his country through its greatest internal crisis, the American Civil War, only to be assassinated as the war was coming to an end.
Call him opinionated if you want. There were those who did and still do.

Martin Luther King
An American clergyman, activist and prominent leader in the American civil rights movement. His main legacy was to secure progress on civil rights in the United States and he is frequently referenced as a human rights icon today.
"Our aim must never be to defeat or humiliate the white man, but to win his friendship and understanding. We must come to see that the end we seek is a society at peace with itself, a society that can live with its conscience. And that will be a day not of the white man, not of the black man. That will be the day of man as man... I come to say to you this afternoon, however difficult the moment, however frustrating the hour, it will not be long, because "truth crushed to earth will rise again." How long? Not long, because "no lie can live forever." "
King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and Congressional Gold Medal in 2004; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a U.S. national holiday in 1986.
Call him opinionated if you want. There were those who did and still do.

Sojourner Truth (aka Isabella Baumfree)
Truth was an American abolitionist and women's rights activist.
She was born into slavery in Swartekill, New York.
The state of New York began, in 1799, to legislate the abolition of slavery, although the process of emancipating New York slaves was not complete until July 4, 1827. Her owner, John Dumont, had promised Truth freedom a year before the state emancipation, "if she would do well and be faithful." However, he changed his mind, claiming a hand injury had made her less productive. She was infuriated. She continued working until she felt she had done enough to satisfy her sense of obligation to him by spinning 100 pounds of wool. Late in 1826, Truth escaped to freedom with her infant daughter, Sophia. She had to leave her other children behind because they were not legally freed in the emancipation order until they had served as bound servants into their twenties. She later said: “ I did not run off, for I thought that wicked, but I walked off, believing that to be all right.”
On June 1, 1843, Truth changed her name to Sojourner Truth and told her friends, "The Spirit calls me, and I must go." During the Civil War, Truth helped recruit black troops for the Union Army. She worked diligently to improve conditions for African-Americans and she met President Abraham Lincoln. In 1865, while working at the Freedman's Hospital in Washington, Truth rode in the streetcars to help force their desegregation.
In 1870, Truth tried to secure land grants from the federal government to former slaves, a project she pursued for seven years without success. While in Washington, D.C., she had a meeting with President Ulysses S. Grant in the White House. In 1872, she returned to Battle Creek and tried to vote in the presidential election, but was turned away at the polling place.
Truth spoke about abolition, women's rights, prison reform, and preached to the Michigan Legislature against capital punishment. Not everyone welcomed her preaching and lectures, but she had many friends and staunch support among many influential people at the time.
Call her opinionated if you want. There were those who did and still do.

I have recently asked friends to join me in praying for our nation. We meet on Sunday afternoons and pray for country, it’s leaders, it’s liberties, and it’s problems. The turn-out has been spectacularly small. How dare we take for granted what so many before us fought & died for. How dare we bask in apathy not only concerning our freedoms but also concerning our faith, our beliefs, our convictions.

I will not be apathetic. Call me opinionated if you want to- but it’s conviction- it’s belief. Has anyone ever accused you of being opinionated for what you believe and hold fast to?
Has anyone ever tried to intimidate you for what you do or don't believe? Well, get ready, it's happening.

As for me, I will continue to stand & believe as our forefathers & foremothers did. Go ahead, call us opinionated. I'm running the opposite way. And as Martin Luther King said, "...however difficult the moment, however frustrating the hour, it will not be long, because "truth crushed to earth will rise again." How long? Not long, because "no lie can live forever."

i wish we could time travel

I am under 45 years old.

I love the outdoors and hunting.
I am a Republican reformer.
I have taken on the Republican party establishment.
I have many children.
I have a spot on the national ticket for Vice President
with less than 2 years in the Governor's office.

Who am I?
Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States

Who did you think?

When did it become okay for people to question faith? I thought it was politically incorrect to question one's faith? Or does it just depend on which faith is in question?
I really wish that Charlie Gibson could go back in time and ask President Lincoln and our previous leaders the same questions that he's asked Gov. Palin. Wouldn't that be cool to hear their responses? I'd love to hear what they'd have to say... and I'd love to see what they'd do.
Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was a five-star general and the Supreme Commander during WWII, was instrumental in the addition of the words "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954, and the 1956 adoption of "In God We Trust" as the motto of the US, and its 1957 introduction on paper currency. My guess is that if Gibson could go back in time and ask these same questions to President Eisenhower.... well, I'm thinking Gibson would get his ass kicked.

Lastly, I would like to know what Gibson would ask of President Lincoln's beliefs? This is how our beloved Lincoln said it:
"The will of God prevails. In great contests each party claims to act in accordance with the will of God. Both may be, and one must be, wrong. God cannot be for and against the same thing at the same time. In the present civil war it is quite possible that God's purpose is something different from the purpose of either party—and yet the human instrumentalities, working just as they do, are of the best adaptation to effect His purpose. I am almost ready to say this is probably true—that God wills this contest, and wills that it shall not end yet. By his mere quiet power, on the minds of the now contestants, He could have either saved or destroyed the Union without a human contest. Yet the contest began. And having begun He could give the final victory to either side any day. Yet the contest proceeds."