I’ve been meaning to post a new blog entry for several days now, but every time I found a possible topic or news story to discuss, something would happen that usually doesn’t when I’m writing a blog post…I was at loss for words. Right now, I just don’t have much to say about the payroll tax cut extension, Obama’s vacation, GOP candidates, or any other news stories. (Hard to believe, I know!) So I’m turning to a topic that is of much greater importance to me and millions of Christians at this time, something that’s more important than anything going on in Washington D.C, and the greatest “news” that we on Earth will ever receive—the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Most of us know the story—in simple terms, the Son of God, Jesus, was born in a lowly stable in Bethlehem to the virgin Mary and her husband Joseph. And we celebrate the birth of this child every year on December 25th. Glittering lights, presents, well-loved songs and decorated trees also accompany this time of year. Many people see this holiday as just that—an ancient birthday celebration with presents and great food for those who choose to celebrate it. But it’s so much more than just a date on the calendar. What does the birth of Christ really mean? Christmas means different things to different people, I’m sure, but I’d like to share what Christmas means to me.
Christmas is a time that makes me “slow down” in my personal life, in my worldly concerns, and reminds me of something much greater than myself. Christmas, first and foremost, reminds me of the unfathomable love of God; “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) It is humbling and awe-inspiring to realize that the Creator of the Universe loves us so much that he sent his own son to save us from our sinful ways. I am humbled because, though I am such an imperfect sinner, I am still always loved, always forgiven because of Jesus Christ.
Christmas gives me hope. Lately, I have been anxious and stressed about what my future holds, and the current state of our country and the world itself. Sometimes I feel like I’m walking around in the dark, flailing my arms wildly trying to find direction. But I am reminded that I am never alone so long as I follow Jesus. Though there is darkness everywhere in our world, I believe in the words of John 8:10 when Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Christmas makes me see Jesus’ light brighter than before and gives me hope for the future.
Most importantly, Christmas reminds me of the powerful omnipresence of God. He loved the world, so He sent His son as our Savior. God is not just a far away Creator, detached from his Creation—He is at work in everything. He is here, always. He is at work in my life, in your life, everywhere, despite attempts to silence the mention and the worship of Him in schools, colleges, and the public in general. And this is the most comforting fact of all. Christmas takes away the fear and anxiety I have of facing a secular world and gives me a stronger resolve to serve God in all that I do.
What does Christmas mean to you?
Take a moment to remember and say a prayer for the many men and women spending Christmas overseas, and for the families who are missing their deployed or fallen loved one during this time as well. Thank you, everyone, for reading, and I hope you have a very blessed Christmas!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Vid on Ron Paul Foreign Policy...
Hello everyone! Happy to say that today is my first day of a month long Christmas break. I found a rather interesting video this morning that I wanted to share. Watch the whole thing and let me know what you think of it!
Comments welcome! Also, don't forget to watch the GOP Debate tonight! :) Have a great day!
Comments welcome! Also, don't forget to watch the GOP Debate tonight! :) Have a great day!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Letter to the Editor #2!
I present to you... my second Letter to the Editor of the Webster Journal, in print! :)
If you're curious as to what this was all about, just scroll down for the editorial my letter was in response to. Thoughts and comments are welcome! Thanks for reading, keep checking back for new blog posts. And if you'd like to receive email updates when I post, comment and let me know or type your email in the box on the right hand navigation bar.
Have a nice evening:)
If you're curious as to what this was all about, just scroll down for the editorial my letter was in response to. Thoughts and comments are welcome! Thanks for reading, keep checking back for new blog posts. And if you'd like to receive email updates when I post, comment and let me know or type your email in the box on the right hand navigation bar.
Have a nice evening:)
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Remembering December 7th
Today I hope everyone will stop and remember the significance of this day. It's not just another Wednesday, but December 7th. Seventy years ago today, a vicious attack was carried out by Japanese forces against our nation, taking the lives of over 2000 service men and bringing the United States into World War II. In our fast-paced, busy lives we tend to forget about the magnitude of this attack and its importance, so I hope you'll take a moment to reflect. Thank you to those of the "Greatest Generation" who paid the ultimate price in defense of our freedom, and an equally as grateful thank you to those who continue to readily serve our country in the armed forces today!
In honor of this day, I want to again mention Soldiers Angels. Soldiers Angels is an organization that I have been priviliged to be involved with for the past year. Throughout that year, I have been able to directly support our men and women serving overseas by writing letters and sending care packages. I have made some great friends and being involved with S.A has truly changed my life. I hope you'll consider becoming involved with Soldiers Angels in some way, if you're able. If not, take a minute to thank a veteran! www.soldiersangels.org (If the link doesn't work, just copy and paste or google "Soldiers Angels"!)
I'm happy to announce that my last letter to the editor was printed in the Webster Journal! When I get a copy of the printed edition I will post a picture on the blog. Thanks for reading, have a great day :)
In honor of this day, I want to again mention Soldiers Angels. Soldiers Angels is an organization that I have been priviliged to be involved with for the past year. Throughout that year, I have been able to directly support our men and women serving overseas by writing letters and sending care packages. I have made some great friends and being involved with S.A has truly changed my life. I hope you'll consider becoming involved with Soldiers Angels in some way, if you're able. If not, take a minute to thank a veteran! www.soldiersangels.org (If the link doesn't work, just copy and paste or google "Soldiers Angels"!)
I'm happy to announce that my last letter to the editor was printed in the Webster Journal! When I get a copy of the printed edition I will post a picture on the blog. Thanks for reading, have a great day :)
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Another Letter: Defense Spending!
Hi all! I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving and hope December is starting off well for you. I've been busy keeping up with school, but in the midst of this I picked up another school newspaper at Webster and one of the editorials struck a nerve. And so, I wrote another letter to the editor I want to share with you.
Before you read my letter, please read the editorial it is in response to first. This was in last week's issue of the Webster Journal at Webster University. Here is the text to the article, or copy and paste this link: http://websterjournal.com/2011/11/29/editorial-congress—-just-big-enough-to-fail/
EDITORIAL: Congress--just big enough to fail
The defense budget for the United States military is facing cuts for the first time since WWII. Last summer, more than $500 billion in cuts were agreed upon between the White House and congressional leaders. And when the Super Committee failed to reach a new debt reduction deal a few weeks ago, they set off a legislative trigger: failure to reach a deal results in trillions in automatic cuts. An additional $500 billion will be axed from the defense budget over the next 10 years.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has painted a dark picture of America’s future with such cuts. Panetta said the cuts would result in the smallest Air Force in history and the smallest ground force since 1940.
The Journal knows it cannot sway the legislature to make radical decisions. We recognize much has been said about the impending cuts and the implications for the American military, and experts have varied wildly in their predictions of the consequences.
The Journal thinks it is high time for the cuts. In fact The Journal’s stance on cuts to the military is unequivocally in favor. We do not favor cuts to the military because we are pacifists or anti-war. We do not favor cuts because we are worried about debt or violence or the future of our military might.
We favor these cuts because failures should be forced to face their failure, and our leaders failed massively.
These cuts are trigged by a failure of our leaders to reach a compromise on our debt and spending problem. Our leaders are elected and paid (handsomely) to work together and run the country. When they cease working together, when they cease running the country, there should be consequences.
When congress failed to pass the DREAM Act, no immediate repercussions were felt in the chambers of the capital. When congress failed to end the Bush Tax cuts, their highest donors applauded them. When congress failed to punish criminal mortgage companies, only those already suffering felt the pinch.
Now, though, congress is taking the heat. Military officials in every branch have begged and pleaded with the leaders to find a deal quickly. The men and women in uniform every politician claims to love so much are happy to go on television and call them liars, failures and thieves.
America needs to fix its schools, prisons and public services. Our entitlements are going broke and our energy resources are suffocating, and congress has greeted each catastrophe with malaise and corruption. In our past, our bickering officials have come together over very little.
But even the military was considered an easy sell. No politician wants a reputation as soft on national security. But today’s elections produce cowards and malcontents, not real leadership
Now, even our military cannot be funded thanks to the stupefying partisan deadlock in Washington.
The Journal wants these cuts to happen, because we want to electorate to wake up and smell the failure. Then, we want them to vote.
And here is my response. Please note that I only had 200 words to get my point across. There are so many things I could have ranted on and on about with this editorial, but I had to stick to one avenue. So here's my reaction...
Dear Editor,
I was disturbed by The Journal’s reason for favoring upcoming cuts to the US military. You state that through major defense spending cuts, Congress should be “forced to face their failure” and you “want the electorate to wake up and smell the failure” and vote. I agree, incompetent leaders should be ousted in elections; but your stance on this issue is dangerous.
Your editorial states, “when [leaders] cease working together… there should be consequences.” You say military cuts would be the consequence. If an ill-equipped America is attacked again, politicians will not be the only ones paying the consequences. Those consequences could be deadly and affect American citizens, including Webster students and faculty.
Your editorial shows frustration for the current political gridlock preventing any real solutions to America’s problems. Your attitude, however, reflects that same obstinacy of current politicians. Instead of educating Americans to vote for leaders who will uphold and defend the Constitution, keep our country safe and put citizens back to work, you favor putting our nation at risk to prove a point to a stubborn Congress.
But in a society in which it is more popular to lay blame than to solve problems, I’m not surprised.
Sincerely,
Sarah Hinds
Well? What do you think? The first time I read the editorial, it's message was so bizarre I had to read it again carefully. And then it just made my blood boil. They're for military cuts because they think cutting this area will somehow "prove" to Congress that they failed. Well, this method of proving a point could prove to be costly for all. I think cuts could be made much more wisely to entitlement programs, foreign aid, etc. rather than defense. Especially when foreign relations at this point in time are so volatile.
Input is welcome! I hope to see my words in print again, and if The Journal chooses to print it, I'll post a picture on the blog!
Before you read my letter, please read the editorial it is in response to first. This was in last week's issue of the Webster Journal at Webster University. Here is the text to the article, or copy and paste this link: http://websterjournal.com/2011/11/29/editorial-congress—-just-big-enough-to-fail/
EDITORIAL: Congress--just big enough to fail
The defense budget for the United States military is facing cuts for the first time since WWII. Last summer, more than $500 billion in cuts were agreed upon between the White House and congressional leaders. And when the Super Committee failed to reach a new debt reduction deal a few weeks ago, they set off a legislative trigger: failure to reach a deal results in trillions in automatic cuts. An additional $500 billion will be axed from the defense budget over the next 10 years.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has painted a dark picture of America’s future with such cuts. Panetta said the cuts would result in the smallest Air Force in history and the smallest ground force since 1940.
The Journal knows it cannot sway the legislature to make radical decisions. We recognize much has been said about the impending cuts and the implications for the American military, and experts have varied wildly in their predictions of the consequences.
The Journal thinks it is high time for the cuts. In fact The Journal’s stance on cuts to the military is unequivocally in favor. We do not favor cuts to the military because we are pacifists or anti-war. We do not favor cuts because we are worried about debt or violence or the future of our military might.
We favor these cuts because failures should be forced to face their failure, and our leaders failed massively.
These cuts are trigged by a failure of our leaders to reach a compromise on our debt and spending problem. Our leaders are elected and paid (handsomely) to work together and run the country. When they cease working together, when they cease running the country, there should be consequences.
When congress failed to pass the DREAM Act, no immediate repercussions were felt in the chambers of the capital. When congress failed to end the Bush Tax cuts, their highest donors applauded them. When congress failed to punish criminal mortgage companies, only those already suffering felt the pinch.
Now, though, congress is taking the heat. Military officials in every branch have begged and pleaded with the leaders to find a deal quickly. The men and women in uniform every politician claims to love so much are happy to go on television and call them liars, failures and thieves.
America needs to fix its schools, prisons and public services. Our entitlements are going broke and our energy resources are suffocating, and congress has greeted each catastrophe with malaise and corruption. In our past, our bickering officials have come together over very little.
But even the military was considered an easy sell. No politician wants a reputation as soft on national security. But today’s elections produce cowards and malcontents, not real leadership
Now, even our military cannot be funded thanks to the stupefying partisan deadlock in Washington.
The Journal wants these cuts to happen, because we want to electorate to wake up and smell the failure. Then, we want them to vote.
And here is my response. Please note that I only had 200 words to get my point across. There are so many things I could have ranted on and on about with this editorial, but I had to stick to one avenue. So here's my reaction...
Dear Editor,
I was disturbed by The Journal’s reason for favoring upcoming cuts to the US military. You state that through major defense spending cuts, Congress should be “forced to face their failure” and you “want the electorate to wake up and smell the failure” and vote. I agree, incompetent leaders should be ousted in elections; but your stance on this issue is dangerous.
Your editorial states, “when [leaders] cease working together… there should be consequences.” You say military cuts would be the consequence. If an ill-equipped America is attacked again, politicians will not be the only ones paying the consequences. Those consequences could be deadly and affect American citizens, including Webster students and faculty.
Your editorial shows frustration for the current political gridlock preventing any real solutions to America’s problems. Your attitude, however, reflects that same obstinacy of current politicians. Instead of educating Americans to vote for leaders who will uphold and defend the Constitution, keep our country safe and put citizens back to work, you favor putting our nation at risk to prove a point to a stubborn Congress.
But in a society in which it is more popular to lay blame than to solve problems, I’m not surprised.
Sincerely,
Sarah Hinds
Well? What do you think? The first time I read the editorial, it's message was so bizarre I had to read it again carefully. And then it just made my blood boil. They're for military cuts because they think cutting this area will somehow "prove" to Congress that they failed. Well, this method of proving a point could prove to be costly for all. I think cuts could be made much more wisely to entitlement programs, foreign aid, etc. rather than defense. Especially when foreign relations at this point in time are so volatile.
Input is welcome! I hope to see my words in print again, and if The Journal chooses to print it, I'll post a picture on the blog!
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