The Bush Doctrine

Charlie Gibson in an interview with VP Candidate Sarah Palin made her seem like an idiot when asking her stance on the Bush Doctrine. First of all, the Bush Doctrine is no one thing. It is a multi-faceted work that has developed throughout the presidency and throughout the Iraq war. It is not fair to Sarah Palin to ask her for her stance on it. It would be like asking me if I agree with the democrats or republicans and wanting a yes no answer. 

Here is something Bush said when addressing West Point seniors in 2002:

"We cannot defend America and our friends by hoping for the best. We cannot put our faith in the word of tyrants, who solemnly sign non-proliferation treaties, and then systemically break them. If we wait for threats to fully materialize, we will have waited too long — Our security will require transforming the military you will lead — a military that must be ready to strike at a moment's notice in any dark corner of the world. And our security will require all Americans to be forward-looking and resolute, to be ready for preemptive action when necessary to defend our liberty and to defend our lives."

How is that a bad doctrine? Please, I would like your input here. 

Why I love America.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"

I have recently been studying the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and the Bill of Rights and have come to appreciate our government more. Although I don't agree with all of the amendments (event though I love the 2nd one), I am awed by the beauty and obvious faith of the countries founders. 

When I have more time I will write a complete post that shows the components of the Bill of Rights and the Amendments, however right now I need to get going to dinner. 

Some Quotes by Benjamin Franklin:

The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.

This will be the best security for maintaining our liberties. A nation of well-informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the religion of ignorance that tyranny begins.

God grant that not only the love of liberty but a thorough knowledge of the rights of man may pervade all the nations of the earth, so that a philosopher may set his foot anywhere on its surface and say: This is my country.

Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn.

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote

Caribou again!

So I am sitting here at Caribou with Jenny, Jeffrey, Michael, and...yeah me. It's pretty rad to have a free country where we can go and do whatever we want when we want too. I am so thankful for that! We are discussing how ridiculous evolution is and how people actually believe it. Sad. If you discount Genesis you discount pretty much the whole bible. Pray that people don't fall for evolution!

Psalm 37

Well I am sitting here in the Lake City Ambulance waiting for someone to call 911 and give me something to do...in the meantime I will write a blog about what the Lord has been doing in my life recently. I just got off the phone with a wonderful sister that I haven’t spoken with in more than a year. It was so encouraging. She is so sold out to the Lord it makes me want to be that way too. I told her about Michael and the new things in my life and in all of the trouble I feel I have, in speaking about it I noticed how blessed I am. I have a man who loves the Lord and seems to like me too… I have a loving family and church family, I have ministry opportunities like crazy.

I don’t know why it has been upsetting me that doors have been closing in my face. It makes it all so much easier. When a door closes it narrows my way and gives me less opportunity to stray. Last night I was so upset that I didn’t get a job I really wanted, so upset that I couldn’t sleep at all. I was up until after 4am thinking, mind racing wondering why I am such a failure. At about 4 I opened my bible (why I did not do it earlier…?) to Psalm 37 and started to read. I was so blessed. The Lord has a plan for me and it is a perfect plan that can’t happen if every door I push on is open to me. It is so specific to me, I am so honored that He has orchestrated my steps.

Its weird. Things aren’t working out to well for me from the outside looking in. Actually…it is pretty bad. However the Lord has done a work in my heart. I am content right now. I am content to be a girl in a new relationship with a man, content to be falling more in love with my Savior and content to be a ‘nobody’ for the Lord. I know many people don’t think I am a nobody, but it does feel like that is what my earthly credentials have given me. Yet I am ok with that. I don’t know why but right now I feel ok with it. Read Psalm 37 and be encouraged, pray for me too because I want to continue to have the joy of the Lord in my heart.

You know what I think that changing point was for me? Last night I was praying that the Lord would help me not to be fearful and not to be caught up by myself. I realized mid prayer that I am always asking for things from the Lord when I could just go for it and not be fearful and not worry what people think about me. I prayed for boldness. I realized that I just need to be bold. I can pray for it all I want but if I never try to make it happen it won’t, it’s not like praying for boldness will make something inhabit my body like in Men in Black and spit words out of my mouth for me. I pray for it and then I do it. I am in the ambulance listening to my Christian music while people are up front using the profanities they are so accustomed with, it doesn’t bother me in the least but it is a great contrast. They need Christ and I am bringing Him to them.

Yay!

Thanks God.

 

 

College.

I just want to get my degree and be done with it. I want to have a nice job that I like. I want to stop worrying about it. 

I am so sick of looking for colleges and realizing how long it will take me to graduate because I am behind in some things. And I feel like a big loser. I have about 50 credits done right now...but not all of them are transferable. So I could stay at the college in town here and be done with everything in 3 years. BUT I won't get accepted into that program until fall 2009. So that will mean it will have taken me almost 5 years to get my A.S. in nursing. lame. who wants to go around saying they spent the best 5 years of their life at a technical college getting a "2" year degree. yeah thats me...the loser over here.  (btw no one gets done in 2 years...its physically impossible, apparently the fastest ever at my college was 3 years)

I wish I could get a good degree from a good college and I wish I wasn't 21 and that I hadn't already wasted so much freaking time. 

I'm so done with this. I quit because I suck at life. 

September 11

I was driving home from the grocery today when I noticed a flag at half mast. I drove a little more and noticed they were all at half mast. "I wonder why they are lowered?" kept rolling through my mind until I got home and looked at the date. September 11th. Only seven years after the horrible day and the anniversary falls on a numb mind unaware to its coming. Time is an amazing healer of wounds. Now that the day is on my mind however I decided to do the one thing next to prayer that I know to do to try and point a persons mind in the right direction, I am writing a blog. 

First I would like to say a long overdue thank you to the firefighters who ran towards the burning buildings while everyone else was running away. I would like to thank their wives, their children, and thank the Lord for giving them the willingness and fortitude to be heroes. It brings tears to me eyes to think of they who ran into the building knowing they may never come out only hoping to save a life. It also brings tears to my eyes to think of the children who are growing up knowing their daddy is a hero that they will never see again or never even meet face to face. I admire the wives who supported their husbands having a job that they knew could someday require them giving up their life. I could not imagine kissing my loved one goodbye knowing that it might be the last goodbye I get. The worst part I can think of is that wife who sat at home watching the towers burn knowing her husband was running in there to save someone and then watching the building collapse. Sitting in scared anticipation until the dreaded red car pulls up in front of the house with the news that her husband is now a hero forever, but will never come home. That she will never feel his warm body next to her in their bed, could never listen to his breathing, could never hold him or kiss him, and could never tell him how proud she is of his sacrifice.

I also want to thank the firemen for raising the American flag to show that we were not defeated. I remember the first time I saw this picture. I was fourteen, a freshmen in high school, watching the towers burn in choir class. The only time everyone was silent. I remember Mr. Dulak putting his hand to his face and look like he was fighting back tears. Everyone was fighting back tears. I remember watching the towers collapse, and then when the smoke cleared I remember seeing this picture.

Next I would like to say to all those people who are out there protesting the war in Iraq to remember 9/11/01. We were attacked. To protect our people we fought back and justice is being done. My family is willing to put their life on the line. My brother and brother in law, my cousins, my friends are all out there willing to say "Take me so people in my country can live free". Don't ever go out with a little sign that demeans the sacrifice my brother is ready to give. Honor our soldiers. Give them a pat on the back and say thanks, do the same for our firemen and police men (and women). It takes a special person to make a career out of saving lives and putting theirs on the line. 

In closing I would like to remind you to pray for our country and our leaders. Pray for the families who are on the anniversary of losing a loved one. Pray that we would never forget the sacrifice and pray that people would come to know the Lord through the sorrow of remembering. 

Speaks to me...

This song by Brandon Heath really speaks to me. How many people could I daily share the love of Christ with that I don't? How many times do I pass by hindered by my schedule and shyness? I pray that the Lord would give me boldness...and give me His eyes that I would see the sinners so in need of His love. 

Looked down from a broken sky
Traced out by the city lights
My world from a mile high
Best seat in the house tonight
Touched down on the cold black tile
Hold on for the sudden stop
Breath in the familiar shock
Of confusion and chaos
Are those people going somewhere?
Why have I never cared?

Chorus
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the once forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
yeah .. yeah .. yeah .. yeah

Step out on a busy street
See a girl and our eyes meet
Does her best to smile at me
To hide whats underneath
There’s a man just to her right
Black suit and a bright red tie
To ashamed to tell his wife
He’s out of work
He’s buying time
Are those people going somewhere?
Why have I never cared?

Chorus
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the once forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
yeah .. yeah .. yeah .. yeah

I’ve been there a million times
A couple of million eyes
Just moving past me by
I swear I never thought that I was wrong
Well I want a second glance
So give me a second chance
To see the way you see the people all alone

Chorus
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the once forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
yeah .. yeah .. yeah .. yeah

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the once forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see